Episode 1309: What happens when the Paladin gets controlled

Today's adventure involves our regular group and a suit of power armor with an attitude.

Tsedek, our charming Tiefling Rogue

Itanis, a devious High Elf Wizard, fond of controlling any situation we may find ourselves in

Leoven, our quiet but effective Wood Elf Ranger

Magnus, the Human Paladin of Heironious, he has followed a vengeance path

Elle, the small but sparky High Elf Wizard, fond of blowing things up with lots of fire

When last we left this group we had chased Magnus and the power armor half way across creation. It had landed after Elle's failed attempt to Dimension Door herself and Magnus away from it due to Magnus being out cold.

After a brief skirmish with the armor it powers down and spits out Magnus. Yes, it was acting purely on its own without input from Magnus. Leoven confirmed Magnus was alive and Elle went ahead and did a heal* on Magnus just in case as we had no idea what was going on. Then the rest of the party caught our breath and had some food and water. Itanis also went ahead and removed the power packs from the suit of armor.

Magnus did wake up on his own about an hour later, completely confused. "What is going on? What happened to Tsedek? Did we free him from the spell? Did we destroy the fiends?" ​"Yes, Magnus, we were successful against the fiends. Tsedek was able to see his brother. What is the last thing you do remember?" ​"Fighting the fiend with claws and flames. Its attack was incredible! Searing pain, then darkness." ​Very quietly Elle responds with "Red fiend? Yes, his attacks were quite incredible. We were successful against him and his buddy the blue fiend. Then Tsedek was able to see his brother and the odd company he keeps. We were then returned to our reality and Gearbox was waiting for us. I then set up home for the night for us to rest and you took off running without us." ​"I did no such thing. I fell unconscious during the fight and woke up here just now. What do you mean I took off running?"

Elle looks puzzled "Look around Magnus. We're on a field. We're no longer on the side of a mountain in a weird dream state dealing with fiends. You're probably very hungry and in need of water at this point as well as you went to your room straight away."

"Tell me what happened, in detail if you would." while looking very concerned.

Elle looks around at the group, extremely puzzled at this point, and goes "Well after Tsedek got to see his brother Malek, we returned to our reality. I still do not know what was going on with that spell. But we were all exhausted and frazzled, so I put up a home for us to rest in. We all just kinda retired to our rooms at that point, spent. I'm not sure why/how but several hours later Tsedek realized you had left the home and were running without stopping this direction." ​After a brief pause she very quietly states "Magnus, you've been running for hours non stop." ​Magnus does not respond to this information, but goes into hard contemplation for a few minutes. He then snaps out of it "Where are we? Are there any towns or cities nearby?"

We put our brains, and Leoven's nature skills, together and realized at this point we're really not all that far from Dragon's Bane Keep. At that point Magnus summons Storm, the celestial Griffon, and states "If what you say is true, that this armor somehow possessed me, then I do not feel secure out in the open like this. We should head to Dragons Bane Keep, it is not far. Storm here will carry the armor - I do not wish to risk touching it."

Elle manages to not bristle at the "if what you say is true" dig while Magnus continues "I'm not sure you understand. A paladin does not lose a battle of wills to possession. This has exposed a flaw in me, to my great shame. I need to seek the guidance of my Order. First I would like to go to Dragons Bane Keep and speak with Melchizedor. He can tell me what Hieroneous requires from me."

"I ... um. Yeah this is not something I understand. Melchizedor is wise he would be far better suited for that. You do still need some water after all that running though at least." But Magnus ignores her in favor of arming himself and lost in thought.

Itanis and Tsedek take this time to figure out a way to secure the power armor in a bag of holding, separate from the power packs and separate from us. At this point we're not sure any of us should touch it if it could control our paladin, so it required some discussion and figuring out.

Pausing after the discussion on what to do with the armor, Magnus' shoulders slump a bit as he lets some tension off. He doesn't want to push the group to rush back to Dragons Bane Keep.

So off we go on foot back to our home, to talk to Melchizedor and maybe decompress a couple of days as we've had some trying situations of late. Everyone is quiet and contemplative on the way home. Magnus puzzling through the power armor taking control over him. Tsedek savoring seeing his brother and riddling through what he can do to be reunited. Leoven's recent near death experiences with the mind flayer and the vampire and just how hard this journey has been. Elle about the trajectory her life is on and where she should take things from here.

Itanis, however, doesn't really understand what the fuss is all about and is in somewhat of a positive mood.

Elle also is just vain enough that on our walk back, realizing the boons from the tarot card reading were going to expire soon and that the party was pretty safe at this point, she went ahead and used her reverse one event card. She reversed the Sphynx aging her 16 years, she's back to being 76 years old.

Upon our arrival to our home we find things have changed. First, we're starting to get store fronts down by the road. A small group of Dwarves has take up shop and set up a small brewery. Elle was delighted, greeted them all in their native language, and purchased some Dwarvish Whiskey to replenish her supply.

The other two shops were magic shops. Yes, two of them. The first one seems to be a legit, normal, magic shop. The second one, however, appears to be more of a thrift store level magic shop. The proprietor and Tsedek hit it off and start chatting. Turns out the proprietor is a trio of kobolds in a cloak. Their magic items are questionable at best but there were a couple of useful items found. Elle was disgusted by this shop so she left early and went up to the keep proper. Tsedek and Itanis did a little business.

Leoven and Magnus disappeared for a bit, and upon their return there's blood on their weapons and smiles on their faces.

Dragons Bane Keep has changed a bit too. Our second story construction is finished, so we have our own rooms to start making our own. Also, we now have a safe place to start setting up our side businesses and stow gear we don't need. The bath house is done, Elle made sure to use that while she was home. Our Teleportation Circle is completed so now Itanis can get us home when we need to get home. The dual purpose barracks (part magic school students, part guards) is done, and Elle's lab structure has been created.

We spend about a week to 10 days at our keep resting up, recuperating, and a few deep spiritual talks with Melchizedor. Well, Magnus and Tsedek do. Elle just quizzes Melchizedor on his selection for Captain of the Guard, an unfamiliar Tabaxi. There's a few patrols of the burgeoning town, checking out the residents, and some getting to know them. Itanis and Elle keep up the belief that Elle's lab is dangerous. Granted, right now it's just a shell of a building, but get it embedded in people's brains now before it does become dangerous or occupied.

But we manage to work out some of our own demons and Magnus has returned to us, super focused but healthy. We are back to being a team and ready to take on this dragon cult. We also leveled up at this point so gained some more powers.