In which things continue to go a
tincy bit wrong Book Two, Chapter 3.1 (session 57, 26 th July
2018) The Party: Naergon Harna, elven wizard (diviner); Mads
Rangle, human fighter/warlock; Franz the Indifferent, human ranger (hunter);
Jamna Gleamsilver, gnome rogue (arcane trickster); Augustus Weatherby, half-orc
fighter/barbarian. Azbara, badly hurt casts
fog cloud across the hallway in front of the stairs and then steps back into the
darkness of the western corridor and fades out of sight. Augustus [death save
pass, due to inspiration, stabilized] and Mads [death save pass] continue to be
dragged away by cultists. Jamna shouts for Franz to cover their retreat and
runs upstairs and into the upper hallway. Rezmir advances behind Naergon and
attacks with her black greatsword but with a shower of black and purple sparks the
blade screeches off of Naergon’s magical shield. From beyond the fog cloud at
the northern junction, Captain Othelstan can be heard barking commands in
draconic (only Naergon comprehends these as commands to retire and secure the
corridors). Franz runs down the stairs, passing Jamna on her way up, his
driftglobe trailing behind. Seeing the dark shapes of cultists in the hallway
through the fog, he slams his staff to the ground and emits a thunderclap that
deafens many of the cultists in the area. Simultaneously a lightning bolt
erupts from the staff and slams into at least one cultist standing in the northern
corridor. Most of the cultists pull back after this, disappearing into the dark
recesses of the corridors, however three of them converge on Naergon in the
archway and stab him repeatedly, thankfully all but one blow is deflected by
his magic shield. Naergon casts dimension door and steps out into the courtyard
and the chilly night air of the desert above. Azbara, moves north up the
corridor following the cultists dragging the prisoners, he swallows a healing
potion as he does so. Augustus and Mads [death save “20” returns to
consciousness] continue to be dragged along the corridor. Despite his pounding
head and strange position, Mads can see several cultists accompanying him and
Augustus as well as the red wizard and Captain Othelstan following. Jamna stops
at the top of the stairs waiting for Franz and Naergon. Franz, seeing the obscured
figure of Rezmir run across the now empty hallway, turns and climbs out, his
driftglobe following. Reunited, Jamna and Franz meet up with Naergon in the courtyard
under the stars to discuss what to do next [23:30 pm]. It is quickly decided
that there is nothing they can do now, Naergon needs to replenish his spells
and they need more information if they are to come up with a plan to rescue
Augustus and Mads. Jamna fills as many water skins as possible from the well
and then with a heavily laden hippogriff they retire to the campsite at the
foot of the escarpment. Naergon casts Leomund’s tiny hut and they settle down
to a long rest. Meanwhile, Mads finds himself
dragged into a barred cell along with Augustus. The cult guards strip them both
of everything but basic clothing and then leave them alone. Looking around Mads can see that they are in a
sturdy cage with a locked gate within a sealed and locked chamber equipped for
some rather unpleasant interrogation techniques. To the front are a pair of
sturdy benches come butchers blocks, complete with shackles and a lot of heavy
staining. The only comfort to be found is that none of this looks to have been
used recently and so far the cult guards have treated them reasonably well. Several minutes later,
two cultists return and place torches in brackets at the entrance door and then
take position on guard. Checking Augustus over, Mads determines that he is
stabilized and just needs to sleep, hopefully he will wake soon. With little
else to do Mads settles in to a short rest [HD are spent] waiting for Augustus
to wake up or something else to happen. After about an hour or
so [01:00 am] the chamber doors open and Rezmir and Captain Othelstan enter
along with another pair of cultist guards. They provide water and dried rations
and then Rezmir begins questioning Mads on what the party hopes to gain by
fighting against the cult. All in all this amounts to quite the propaganda speech
with a brazen attempt to recruit them “ for
the glory and riches that await once the Queen returns, what fool would oppose
such magnificence? Why would you wish to face the wrath of Her Majesty when you
could bathe in her magnificence instead?” and on and on for what seems like
hours. In the end having gained little information and certainly not having
convinced Mads to join the cult, Rezmir sighs and leaves, “ We’ll talk again in the morning ”. Before he leaves, the Captain
gives instructions that “ the prisoners
shall receive regular food and drink but they should not be allowed to sleep,
ensure they are woken and disturbed on the hour, every hour. And let me know
when the orc wakes up.” Mads, once again settles down to wait, ruminating
on his visions and contemplating his connection with Zariel. Augustus finally
wakes up a couple of hours later (04:00 am). True to Othelstan’s
instructions, food and water is provided regularly and overall both are treated
well, notwithstanding the lack of sleep. Using the distraction caused when the guards
change and bring water Mads summons his imp familiar Ringo and sends him out to
look for his equipment. [08:00 am] Back at the campsite,
Naergon, Jamna and Franz devise a plan. Naergon will use his arcane eye to
scout out the complex below and hopefully identify where Mads and Augustus are
being held. If possible Naergon will then use dimension door to jump in and
pull one or both of them out. That decided they return to the ruined monastery in
the morning and whilst Jamna again refills the water skins and Franz stands
guard, Naergon casts arcane eye and sends it into the complex below [08:00 am]. The hallways are long
and dark, mostly deserted but here and there the eye passes a cultist standing
guard. It floats into a barracks, accessible from the western corridor, several
cultists are in the area, apparently ‘off duty’. Along the northern corridor
past the junction is a strange room full of a silvery fog, to the east past the
big fiery pit there are more shut doors. Returning west, the eye moves
northwards, through some kind of mess hall and then east along another guarded corridor,
which ends in another guarded and shut door. Part way down it branches north
and here Naergon can see Othelstan and some cultists in discussion. Beyond them
is yet another shut door, suspicious Naergon keeps the eye in the area for some
time. Eventually one of the cultists
walks to the doors at the eastern end of the main corridor and opens them.
Curious, Naergon has the eye follow, turning north through more doors into a
chamber with a well. The cultists begins to draw water and fill water skins but
Naergon is drawn to investigate some natural tunnels in the east. Tunnels that
branch and wind but eventually lead to a strange natural cavern with what looks
like some form of elemental forge embedded within it. However, there is no back
way in here, so the eye returns to the well just in time to follow the cultist
back towards Othelstan. Here the doors behind the Captain are opened and the
eye slips into the interrogation chamber where Mads and Augustus are being
held, Naergon watches the cultist give them food and drink. Nowhere has he seen
sight of Rezmir, the red wizard or perhaps more importantly Mads and Augustus’
gear. Eventually, satisfied he has seen all he is going to he pulls his
concentration and sight back to the courtyard above. Describing the scene to the
others, the plan to dimension door in, seems viable but how to grab both of the
prisoners with guards so close? It is decided, with a sense of guilt, that
Naergon will prioritize grabbing Augustus, who after all is better able to
fight with limited equipment. That decided, Naergon prepares himself, casts
dimension door and steps through, emerging in the cell with Mads and Augustus. There
is an immediate cry from the guards but before they can react, Naergon with a
sympathetic look at Mads creates another door and he and Augustus step through
back into the morning light of the courtyard [09:00 am]. It is immediately
apparent that Augustus is in need of a period of rest and Naergon says he could
do with checking his spell books, so all four once again retire to the campsite
and rest up during the long hot hours of the day. Jamna, scratches around to
find some equipment for Augustus from that taken from the hobgoblins. When Augustus
wakes, Franz loans him his magical longsword, it’s not Whoppum but Augustus,
immediately christening it Choppy, seems happy enough. In the early evening
they return to the ruined monastery, Naergon casts a ritual of Rary’s
telepathic bond on them, Franz casts pass without trace and they prepare to
descend [17:00 pm]. Meanwhile, Mads is left
on his own. After witnessing the appearance of Naergon and the abduction of
Augustus the cult make some changes. Othelstan and Rezmir appear and shout at
the guards a fair bit. Rezmir, stalks over to Mads and promises him that “ it won’t be so easy for you to escape, one
way or another I promise you an audience with Her Majesty ”. The red wizard
is summoned and he prowls around muttering and chanting, Mads has no idea what
he is doing but presumes it is some form of magical warding. Eventually the
activity amongst the cult peters out and Mads is left alone with his guards.
[10:00]. Again he settles into contemplation, letting his mind delve into the visions
he’s been having, the strange dreams that seem as real as anything, trying to
make some kind of contact. Sometime later [12:00
pm] as Mads sits in contemplation, there is a shiver in the air, followed by a
resounding cracking, tearing noise as the space in front of Mads’ cell is spilt
asunder. A rift, dark and ominous appears and grows, from within comes a deep
red glow as of a vast plane of fire, dimly the sound of combat and battle can
be heard raging. Stepping through the rift comes the figure that he has come to
know from his dreams:
The fallen angel Zariel,
Archdevil of Avernus, flame and smoke billowing from her sword and wings stares
at Mads, “ You called my love? I’m glad
you finally saw reason and have agreed to my bargain .” Turning as the cult
guard, gasping starts to draw his scimitar, she reaches out and touches him.
Mads watches as the life force is drained from the guard’s body, the face and
chest falling in and collapsing before Zariel throws the husk at the other guard
who is scrabbling at the door shouting for assistance. “ Shall we go then? ” she smiles and wrenches the cage door off its
hinges. “ I’m all in favour of destroying
this pathetic cult but your services can be put to so much better use in the only
war that truly matters. Come, I have no more desire to see you die in this
fetid place than you have, I promised my rewards would be great, all you ever needed
to do was to say yes ”. Reaching in, she touches Mads’ arm and then steps
back into the black fissure, Mads trailing behind. With a crack of thunder the
gate shuts, leaving the sole cult guard whimpering and clawing at the locked
door. Above ground, Franz,
Jamna, Augustus and Naergon descend once more into the cult chambers [17:00
pm]. At the bottom of the stairs, Franz activates his driftglobe and kicks it
into the centre of the hallway, revealing two cult guards, one to the north, and
the other to the east. Augustus, charges [rage] straight at the eastern cultist,
beneath the archway and wounds him twice. Both cultists scream an alarm, the
one to the north throws an orb at Franz but misses, the acid scarring the wall
behind him and then moves behind Augustus in support of his comrade. The second
cultist stabs at Augustus but misses. More cultists can be seen and heard
running towards the stairs from the west and north. Naergon steps off the stairs
and casts a wall of force sealing off the northern and western corridors. Jamna
shoots at the cultist fighting Augustus and hits [sneak]. Franz casts hunters mark
on the same cultist and shoots, hitting him again. Augustus roars “ choppy, choppy! ” and lays into the cultist
in front of him, hitting him twice. The cultists strike back at Augustus from
front and rear, stabbing him several times. More cultists can be seen running
around behind the wall of force heading east. Naergon casts firebolt at one of the
cultists fighting Augustus but misses, Jamna shoots the same cultist and kills
him [sneak]. Franz shoots the
remaining cultist and hits him twice, Augustus chops him down with a roar of
delight and advances into the fiery chamber. To the north, the doors burst open
and a cultist throws an orb at Augustus but it misses. More cultists can be
seen crowding the corridor beyond, including Captain Othelstan. Naergon moves
cautiously into the hallway [dodge] and lines up on the archway. Jamna steps
into the chamber and shoots Othelstan, wounding him. From the rear of the crowd,
the half dragon Rezmir pushes through and with a roar breathes a line of black
acid across the chamber at Augustus and Jamna, both dodge out of the way, only
Augustus taking damage. Azbara now pushes
through the crowd and casts three scorching rays on Augustus, all of which burn
him. Franz steps under the archway and shoots Azbara, wounding him badly.
Augustus roars in the captain’s face and hits him with a flurry of attacks
[action surge], in return Othelstan swings his flail but fails to connect.
Several cultists come soaring over the large pit of lava, seeming to fly and
coast with their cloaks trailing behind them, landing around Augustus they stab
him repeatedly. Naergon steps into the room and casts force cage, trapping a
cultist and Rezmir in the invisible prison. Jamna pulls out her rod of healing
and expends five charges on Augustus. Rezmir howls and batters at the cage, her
greatsword scouring the walls and leaving trails of glowing black and red
sparks. Azbara, nursing his
wounds retires back up the corridor. Franz, shoots another cultist, wounding
him. Staggering and breathing hard, Augustus and Othelstan flail at each other
but without effect. The remaining cultists attack Franz and Naergon, wounding
both; whilst another moves up to support Othelstan. Naergon turns and casts a
cone of cold, catching two of the cultists and Othelstan in the blast, hurting
all three, Jamna shoots at the cultist attacking Franz [sneak] and wounds it.
In her cage Rezmir roars and screams, pounding the walls again and again with
her sword, sparks flying as the screeching sound of the blade’s razor edge
grinding against the magical force wall drowns out the sound of other combat. To be continued . . . No
levels were gained this session: Naergon 13 th
level Mads
12 th level Franz
12 th level Jamna
12 th level Augustus
12 th level XP
earnt is now irrelevant as the rest of TOD is based on milestone XP In-Game
the session ended at 17:00 on 21 st Tarsakh 1485 DR as the heroes fight
their way into the cult lair Next
session Thursday 2 nd August (Dana absent)