Journal 15

Mar 8, 2026, 3/25/753

The door opens and a mechanical clockwork dog runs out charging us along with at least 3 ruffians. Koda goes first shooting the dog for 7 damage. Koda goes next casting Cloud of Daggers on the doorway then uses Voice of Tyranny to also cast Command on the clockwork dog which the dog saves. A ruffian fires his crossbow, misses which the dog saves. Being far from Koda, reloads, fires and misses Koda again.

Being far from action Mickey casts Jump to move up into place. He then cast Truestrike (patient) and attacked the dog with his mace dealing 7 damage. Luna goes next dashing and running up as far as she can telling Elle to stay safe, she responding "Fat chance". Another ruffian shoots Koda, misses, reload and shoots again hitting Koda for 10 piercing damage. The dog tries biting O.L.Y.E. but misses. Icarus cast Chromatic Orb on the clockwork dog for a massive 21 lightning damage.

O.L.Y.E. moves up to just outside the cloud of daggers range and prepares to dodge. Koda casts Command then uses Voice of Tyranny again to cast Command a second time forcing 2 ruffians to approach through the Cloud of Daggers. The first ruffian approaches taking 10 piercing damage from the Cloud of Daggers. O.L.Y.E. attacks as he moves by but misses. Mickey attacks as he runs by choosing to try to shove the ruffian prone hits but does not knock him prone. Mickey casts Thorn Whip on the ruffian still in the room dealing piercing damage pulling him into the cloud of daggers for an additional 13 piercing damage. Luna goes next, running up casting Starry Wisp but misses. The next ruffian goes running into the cloud of daggers for 10 piercing damage.

Mickey swings his mace but misses, Icarus uses Shocking Grasp for 3 lightning damage then moves away. OLYE glows with green runes healing for life. Koda casts Shillelagh and Booming Blade hitting the ruffian in front of him and Booming Blade hitting the ruffian in front of him for 21 damage. Elle moves, not sure where. There are now 2 ruffians in front of Koda. One of the ruffians swings on Koda for 13 piercing damage and hits again for 4 more piercing damage. Koda holds his concentration on the Cloud of Daggers. Mickey runs out into the primary tunnel with Koda, Luna, and the 2 ruffians casting Thorn Whip on one of the ruffians for 1 piercing damage. Luna continues to move up casting Toll the Dead on a ruffian but he saves.

Nyx uses Flyby on the ruffian next to Koda providing advantage.

A ruffian flys on Icarus but Icarus successfully shields.

The next ruffian goes, stands up, swings his scimitar at Koda and hits him, despite a Silvery Barbs from Luna, for 4 slashing damage dropping Koda to the ground, bleeding out. That ruffian runs triggering Booming Blade for 5 force damage, enough to knock him out. The Cloud of Daggers also drops as Koda passes out. OLYE opens a compartment and Icarus's Bat familiar POLY flies out and lands on Koda. Icarus then casts Cure Wounds through POLY on Koda healing him for 15 health before flying back into OLYE.Back up, Koda stands again grabs his weapon and attacks hitting the ruffian with Shillelagh and Booming Blade as well as Wrathful Smite for 27 combined damage, the ruffian remains standing, Elle, still not visible does something. The ruffian that was just hit swing on OLYE missing, then drops his scimitar in surrender. Mickey moves up casting Sanctuary on Icarus. The other ruffian still in the room attacks Mickey for 9 slashing damage, however, Mickey's skin hardens into stone preventing 12 damage with Giant Ancestry. Icarus hits him with an arrow for 14 piercing damage. The last ruffian surrenders. Luna casts another Cure Wounds on Koda for 17 health restoring him to full.

Luna runs back to Elle who is investigating the clockwork room where we found the Ley Crystals saying this piece extracts Ley Energy and this piece here is a timer.

Pivot to the rest of the team. They begin questioning the two conscious ruffians who surrendered. Their boss is Thomas Gaskin. They were told by the cabal to stay down here and protect these two rooms.

Mickey uses his magnifying glass and attempts to pick the locks but fails and spring a trap for 14 fire damage to Mickey. OLYE is blown away and destroyed. Mickey uses Arcane Vigor to recover 8 health. The door is at least unlocked.

Back to Luna and Elle, Luna says to "Elle... what you're seeing here is dangerous, more dangerous than the Ooze Story. Yes, this equipment does extract leyline energy and yes, there is a timing mechanism but we don't know how all of this fits together yet either.

What we... what I need from you right now isn't a story, its discretion. If whoever built this finds out we're on their trail, people could get hurt. Trust me on this Elle, please."

Elle says she can be discrete but still wants to know. Luna tells her "I can tell you as much as is safe."

"Which is?" replies Elle."We know the Clockwork Cabal is planning something big, while we don't know exactly what yet, we are trying to stop them. When this is over, when it's safe I'll tell you everything."

"An exclusive?" Elle questions. "Yes, I promise," Luna replies.

Luna hears Icarus through the message pins saying there's several clockwork enemies beyond this next door and to come. Luna and Elle rejoin the group. Luna checks on Icarus asking if OLYE will be alright and gives Mickey Goodberries to restore his strength.