Challenge #1

This is more of a mission set towards gaining a staging point- this could be a relatively early mission (depending on starting level), used to attain an HQ for the party within the City of Doors.

I see this as being a good second or third mission for a group of lvl 10 PCs, at least 4 strong.

The Academy

This massive structure, located in the sandstone district (within sight of the Slags) is believed to have been constructed in hopes of using the structure as a training facility for those entering the Cage. Sadly, things did not go as planned.

The academy rivals any building in Sigil for sheer mass- its heavy stone walls and jutting towers make it easily visible, even from across the Slags. The building itself is a cube-shaped complex, 1,000 ft. to a side. Few entrances can be found, short of underground entrances that are still, somehow, in operation (and even these are often trapped).

The passages inside vary greatly in size and composition, but most entrances lead to the Great Hall- a massive, chathedral-ceilinged masterpiece. Book cases abound, stocked with tomes and articles from all over Sigil and detailing any number of interests. Many an adventurer has braved the Academy in search of an out-of-print text; of which the Great Hall contains many. A dusty bar, still stocked to capacity, stands against one wall. Tables of varying sizes and dimensions litter the Hall, some upturned or broken, as do a number of computers, televisions and other electronics. Doors of varying substance and achitecture line the walls; each leading deeper into the forgotten facility. The only activity is that of the surveillance cameras, littered throughout the facility (some visible, others hidden), which slowly scan left to right- whether someone or something watches the feeds these cameras send is uncertain; but despite the fact that Sigil Power cut off its electricity years ago, the surveillance cameras continue to operate.

Beyond this, very little is known as to the construction of the Academy or its layout (see below).

History:

After witnessing the amazing feats accomplished by many of the Clueless within the cage, Ishar'vak (NG half-dragon{black} kobold Fgtr4/Rogue4/Clr2) decided to make a large complex in which to house these individuals; hoping to eventually establish a missonary/academy for wayward travelers who stumble upon the Cage, and use these lost souls to offer goods and services to Sigil at large. However, short after construction of the citadel was complete, an unwitting laborer within the depths of the citadel opened a hidden tunnel; which in turn lead to an ancient catacomb deep within Undersigil.

Here, it is said, an evil presence was awakened. Deep in the UnderSigil, a war rages- Four Great Minds clash, sending their armies to swarm and gnaw upon one another for the greater glory of their respective hive mind. It is said that one of these Great Minds was awakened fully and released once more into the world of the living- some claim it to be an ancient undead, others say it is an Elder Brain that was left behind by Illithid long ago and which sought out new servants within the depths of the Cage. Whatever the case, cranium rats in numbers unheard of began to spew forth out of the tunnel, followed closely by a number of twisted monstrosities bearing evidence of exposure to the Far Realm.

Ishar'vak fought bravely, but in the end was overtaken; sending the rest of his forces to safety as he stood alone before the flood of underworld terrors. Strangely, as the remaining Sigilians within the Academy fled, the pursuing forces seemed to stop giving chase.

Since then, none have encountered any more of these creatures, though whether this is because they have not survived or because noone has been fool hardy enough to explore the location fully is unclear.

Heavy electromagnetic readings are present in and around the facility, though the cause is unclear- they seem to function on a level very simliar to the alpha brain wave patterns found in most living creatures.

Despite its supposed abandonment, inklings are often heard of flickers of light being seen in or near the Academy, especially from the highest reaching of its 2 towers (which spans nearly 250' upwards). Recently, at the behest of the locals, the City Guard sent one of its newest robotic creatinos into the facility- a combination of bioengineering, ancient construct crafting techniques and cutting edge technology, The Mechiedolons are some of Sigils greatest assets.

However, upon entering the facility, 2 of 3 Mechies (as they have been nicknamed) immediately went off-line and could not be recovered. The last was also disabled, but was recovered just under a week later. It was found in a tunnel under Goatswood; accessible only through a small, Ditch-adjacent crevice between Radagast Street and Waterside. The machine was in shambles and, while its video feed was disabled, audio data was recovered: the tape presents the listen with the sounds of millions of squeaks and chirps, as well as what sounds like the scratching-gait of uncountable numbers of tiny, clawed feets scratching rock. At one point, the chittering stops and what sounds like shallow breathing and a meager voice can be heard vaguely, speaking in nonsensical circles.

The damage to the machine and DNA evidence recovered has led researchers to believe that cranium rats were in fact that cause of the Mechie's removal and destruction; though signs of larger denizens of the Academy show themselves in the bent adamant/steel alloy frame of the small robotic device (which appears much like a purplish scorpion with tank treads). Despite City Hall's denials, rumors have leaked to the press that a combination of illithid and draconic DNA was also found in small traces on the object.

OOC:

Basically, this introduces a villian (who could possibly serve as a long term foe) in the shape of whatever the DM wants really- cranium rat swarms, the Far-Realm warped monsters and, of course, The Administrator.

This is how i basically see this going down- the PCs, in a search for an HQ, learn of the Academy. Thinking themselves the big brave baddies (or because of some other hook) the PCs make their way to and into the Academy.

From here, they must first clear out the ancient structure (finding any number of nifty doo dads in the process) and find a way to seal the tunnel into UnderSigil. They also have to face the Administrator.

Ok, this might get alil confusing, so try to stay with me

Im not sure if I used the right name, but the Four Great Minds are, basically, the hives minds of the massive cranium rat armies which appear to war with one another beneath the streets. At least one of these Great Minds is, infact, an Elder Brain that was long ago lost to the Illithid race- likely its caretakers were dispatched by adventurers, who were themselves dispatched by the Elder Brain itself.

Seeking new caretakers, the EB reached out to the closest intelligent creature- the cranium rats. For whatever reason, the EB has amassed a great army of these beasts to fulfill various tasks; with the EB itself functioning as the hive mind of the entire 'army'.

When its prison was opened during the construction of the Academy, the EB struck hard and fast, clearing the sentient creatures away for whatever reason. It then sought to make itself a new servant with more mobility and intelligence- enter Ishar'vak. His beaten battered body was taken before the EB and an illithid tadpole (kept alive by eatting the brain matter and even flesh of various cranium rats) was implanted. Though the process did not take its usual route or creating a mindless horror, it did create something new and evil in its own right. The combination of Illtihid and Draconic bloodlines was never truly accomplished in the past, but it appears this has been the first successful experiement of this type- whether because of some new knowledge discovered by this EB or some other result.

Im thinking that, down in their hidey hole, the Illithids had managed to open a portal to the Far Realm directly beneath this EB. However, the arrival of an adventuring party quickly threw a wrench into the program, stopping the ritual and closing the portal- but not before the EB was heavily exposed to the craziness beyond. This may well account for the unusual powers and actions of this particular elder brain.