In which
our heroes jump out of the frying pan Book Two, Chapter 3.1 (session 59, 9 th August
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. As
the sound of Rezmir’s draconic bellow fades away, Naergon turns to Mads and
says “ I don’t care, we have to rest .” Mads,
looking up at the early evening sky, “ That
means we won’t make it back here until mid-morning tomorrow ”. Naergon sighs
“ Yes, if that’s what it takes, we don’t
have a choice in this. We need to rest and whatever happens in that period of
time happens. Even if I thought for one moment that Franz was alive, I am in no
state to go down there and deal with Rezmir. ” With
heavy hearts they both turn away from the dark stairwell and with Jamna and the
heavily laden hippogriff begin the long walk back to camp. All three very aware
that the body of Augustus draped over the hippogriff may not be the only friend
they have lost. Back
at the campsite [20:00] Mads lays out the items recovered from Rezmir’s lair
and Naergon begins the rituals necessary to determine if any are magical. None
of Othelstan’s armour or weapons are magical and despite Mads’s high hopes the
ancient breastplate taken from the dwarven skeleton isn’t either. However, the
scroll tube Azbara carried does contain three spell scrolls (fireball,
dimension door, feather fall) nothing else, sadly neither his robes or dagger
are special Naergon
turns to the papers found in the desk, like the papers Jamna discovered at the
castle, these are collections of letters and documents that outline Severin’s
plans and the depth of connection between the red wizards and the cult. Or at
least the red wizards that support Rath Modar. It is clear that only a portion
of the red wizards follow Rath Modar and that they are not the majority. They
certainly don’t have the support of Szass Tam and in many respects appear to be
a rogue element within Thay. Next
they lay Augustus to rest, dredging a shallow grave and laying stones and rocks
over it, building a small cairn to mark the spot. There is a brief discussion on
resurrection, and what can be done but it is quickly decided that there is
nothing they can do for now and such things will have to wait on a return to
Waterdeep. For now, Augustus’s stuff (half plate +1, mantle of spell resistance
and the longsword +1 he borrowed from Franz) is stashed in Mads’s bag of
holding. Jamna helps herself to the ring of feather falling and the potion of fire
giant strength. Mads then offers his boots of speed to Jamna and his ring of
cold resistance to Naergon, explaining that with the gifts received from Zariel
these are now surplus. “ Ah yes, about that ”
says Naergon. “ What
is going with you? You don’t seem to be focused on the mission since you had
that little card game with those devils. In fact, you are becoming stranger as
the weeks go on. This last incident in the temple is quite concerning. I
promised I would be back for you, having had to save Augustus for reasons you
are fully aware of. However, at the back end of the fight with Rezmir, which we
got into on our way to get you out, you suddenly appear almost without a care
in the world. “ “ Where
did you get all your fancy new kit from? How did you get out of the cell and
why have you seemingly lost interest in the machinations of the dragon cult?
What is even stranger is that when we got to the cell, it had been damaged by
what seems a powerful force and one of the guards looked as though he had had
his very essence and soul drained from him . I really need some answers to all this. We are down to three and I’m
not sure you have our backs anymore or that you are actively working to bring
down the cult. I think it’s time for some honesty. Cards on the table time, so
to speak.” Mads looks across the small
campfire, “ Naergon . . . I've always been
honest with you and the others. Of our party, I truly think that I have the
least to hide. I am fully committed to ensuring that Tiamat DOES NOT
emerge in the prime material, dragon cult or no dragon cult.” “When we acquired that devilish book you hold, I told you
of my visions of the fallen angel Zariel and how she promised aid in stopping
Tiamat.” Mads looks down and clutches the haft of his glaive in white knuckles.
“Whilst twiddling my thumbs in that cage. I took that option. I called upon my
sponsor and asked that she grant the help that had been offered . . . with that
help however, comes a price. Fortunately, it seems to align with our original
goal . . . almost.” Mads sits back and seems to look inside himself for a long minute
before saying “ An age ago, Tiamat was
made prisoner under Zariel’s watch. Through the expected draconic trickery,
Tiamat targeted the ancient dragon cult on the prime
material and spread rumours of dragon masks that could be used to
bring her back. Severin believed that he had found a great secret and set about
bringing these masks together. The masks didn’t even exist until Tiamat had
planted the seed of this great secret in Severin’s mind.” Looking hard at Naergon, the fire
light flickering in his eyes, Mads continues “ When these masks are brought together at Tiamat’s temple, a ritual will
takes place that will facilitate her escape. The whole amassing of treasure, is
simply to have a worthy gift for Tiamat upon her arrival. “ “Zariel believes that her second in command, a pit fiend
named Bel was helping Tiamat contact the prime material. He is constantly
trying to usurp her, and making it seem that Zariel had lost her master’s pet
dragon would go a long way in getting bel a promotion. The more of the dragon
masks withheld from the final rites, the less of Tiamat’s true form
that will be summoned. She’s definitely coming back. It’s just how
powerful she will be that we don’t know. “ “The only way to stop this from happening is to disrupt
the ritual. Zariel has promised 3 legions from her army to aid us in this
mission. She knows about you Naergon. She knows about all of us and what we are
trying to achieve. Aren’t you worried
that these masks could fall into the wrong hands again? They say that history
repeats itself. I ask you to think wisely on how we can ensure that this never
happens again. These masks need to be taken to Zariel so she can keep them out
of the hands of power hungry mortals. It’s the safest course of action. “ “So, there you have it Naergon. My cards on the table. “ Silent until now, Naergon sighs “ Firstly, I don’t play cards with strangers.
Just look at where that has got you.” “My objective hasn’t really changed one bit. It was to
locate the dragon masks and deny them to the cult as it is clear they are
required for some form of ritual summoning relating to Tiamat. Zariel has a
point however, in that mortals cannot be trusted with the masks. However,
neither can she. Where that leaves me is trying to obtain the masks, or as many
as possible and then seeking to destroy them once and for all. I have no
intention of handing over any that we have to Zariel or the Waterdeep Council
now that I know more about their true purpose. “ “I think you should reconsider your intent to hand
them over and work with me to destroy them. I know that can’t be done lightly
but I will promise to aid you in your quest for Planar Travel and accompany you
should you wish to try to free yourself from any obligations to Zariel.” “Since the beginning we have all been bonded together. I
ask you not to forsake those bonds for a much darker path “ In
the gloom beyond the firelight, Jamna sits listening to the conversation
without interrupting. When Naergon finishes she stands, turns and walks away
speaking quietly into her bracelet. With
nothing left to say and the silence stretching ever more uncomfortably, Mads
eventually turns away into his bedroll. Naergon, remains sat by the campfire,
meditating on what he has heard. In
the morning [08:00] the three pack up camp and head back to Rezmir’s lair where
Naergon casts Arcane Eye and scries the lower level. There is no sign of Rezmir
or the surviving cultist. However, in the same burning slag pit that Naergon
and Mads dumped Azbara they find the badly burned body of Franz, long dead and
stripped of his equipment. There is a long, uncomfortable silence before Mads
says “ You know they treated Augustus and
myself tolerably well as prisoners. You know why they did this don’t you? ”
“ Yes ” snaps Naergon “ I do but for now all we can do is give him a
decent burial. Rezmir can be brought to account later”.” I’m not certain this
one is staining Rezmir’s ledger ” mutters Mads darkly, as together the lift
the body out of the pit. Mads
casts around above ground looking for any tracks that might be Rezmir’s. There
are a lot of tracks in the area, hobgoblins, the party and cultists alike.
However, Mads does spot what looks to be new footprints leading out of the
ruin. One print is that of a leather boot, the other a broad clawed foot –
Rezmir the half-dragon presumably. It is beyond his ability to track these far across
the crumbled rock scree surrounding the ruin but it is enough to convince them
that Rezmir has left. Naergon
says “ I think Rezmir’s most likely to
have moved on to that middle complex at the top of the stairs, I saw cultists
there when I last scried it .” Jamna suggests that the vampire lair might be
worth a look, “ I’m not going to any
vampire’s lair ” states Naergon with finality. With
heavy hearts the build another cairn over another fallen friend and silently
stock up on water from the well, re-pack the hippogriff and, without further
discussion or a backwards glance, set off east towards the central cave complex
at the top of the stairway carved into the face of the escarpment. On arrival,
whilst Jamna and Mads lay out a temporary camp [13:00], Naergon again casts
arcane eye and sends it soaring upwards as the three heroes prepare themselves
for the task of ascending the narrow staircase, that switchbacks its way up the
escarpment to the cave entrance 400 feet above. At the top of the stair is the entrance to a large natural
cave, some sixty feet wide, thirty deep and twenty high. Several stone columns
span floor to ceiling and the roof shelves down to about eight feet at the rear
extent. The cave floor is littered with dust and rock debris and the bones of
very many small animals – rodents and similar. Having scried here before, Naergon
has the eye move straight to the narrow crevice behind a double twist in the
rock at the rear of the cave, slipping through into the carved chamber beyond. The floor in this chamber is smoothly jointed stone
flagstones, the walls adorned with carvings of griffon like beasts and archaic
hunting scenes. In the far wall is a huge slab of jade forming a door, engraved
with a winged sun and figure design, there is no obvious locking mechanism on
the door although it looks as if it will open by sinking into the floor. Standing
guard are four cultists, Naergon has the eye swoop in trying to discern what
rank or type of cultist they are. Although he can’t be certain, he thinks that
these are ‘Dragonclaws’ – the lowest ranking cultists. The decision is made and the party begins the long climb. Mads
says “ we should ensure we keep one of the
guards alive, so that we can question him and find out how to open the door.”
“Agreed ” says Naergon and Jamna. “ We
should deal with the guards as fast as possible Mads” says Naergon “ if you enter, I’ll polymorph you into a
T-rex and that way you won’t suffer any real damage.” “And I can follow you
through the gap and assist ” says Jamna. Plan made, the three heroes quietly
emerge into the cave whilst Naergon’s hippogriff settles in behind them. As Naergon readies a polymorph spell and Jamna strings her
bow, Mads squeezes through the crevice at the rear of the cave. Before the
cultists can react Naergon casts his spell and Mads grows into a vast T-rex
that more than fills the chamber. Hunched and cramped the T-rex (Mads) bites at
the cultist to the north of the door, killing him whilst simultaneously slapping
the one to the south of the door with his tail, also killing him. He then moves
and expands into the chamber turning towards the remaining cultists. The
cultists, despite their shock draw scimitars and attack the huge lizard hitting
him several times. Naergon peers through the crevice but can see nothing other
than a wall of lizard scales. “ There’s
not much I can do ” he says. “ I can
squeeze through though ” says Jamna as she clicks her heels [bonus action:
boots of speed] and pushes past Naergon and under the T-rex into the south west
corner of the chamber. Turning she shoots the cultist in the south west corner
killing him instantly [sneak attack]. T-rex (Mads) roars and headbutts the door
but without any obvious result. The last cultist continues to slash at the
lizard in desperation. Naergon continues to peer through the crevice “ what’s happening ?” Jamna calls out “ Naergon, there’s only one cultist left, you
can drop the polymorph ” as she clicks her boots again [bonus action: boots
of speed]. She then moves to the north west and casts hold person on the last
cultist, instantly paralysing him. “ I got
him ” she shouts “ he’s held ”. Naergon ceases concentrating on his spell and steps through
the crevice “ is it safe?” Jamna moves
up and starts binding the cultists hands “ yes
Naergon, it’s safe, you can come in now ” she ceases concentrating, allowing
the cultist to move and speak. Mads, stepping forward as the form of the great
lizard dissipates, his scaled armour rippling with colour. He leans into the
cultist and demands “ how does the door
open? ” [intimidation]. The cultists,
eyes going wide and stuttering in fear and awe says “ you swing the wings down and push the centre ” as he cowers into the
corner. “ What’s behind the door? ”
asks Naergon, “ it doesn’t matter, we’re
going through anyway ” says Mads. The cultist, eyes moving from one to the
other says again “ move the wings and
press the centre but let me go first, I’ve had enough of this”. Naergon and Mads look at each other “ strip him of his equipment and throw him into the desert?” suggests
Naergon. “ just let me go, I ain’t done
nothing to you, I’m done with this cult ” whines the cultist. “ You’re going nowhere until we’ve opened that
door ” says Jamna. Mads pokes him in the chest “ if that door opens as you said it does, then we will let you go. If not
. . .” The cultist whimpers “ fine, that’s fine, thank you, I just want to
go ”. Mads turns to the door, examining the carving “ Naergon, this is going to take both of us to
do this ”. Then both of them simultaneously depress one of the wings and
rotate them downwards with a slight clicking noise. Once done, Mads pushes the
centre circle and the whole door starts to slide silently and smoothly down
into the floor. Behind them Jamna rips the cult mask and regalia off of the
prisoner before untying him and pushing him through the crevice into the cave.
She then turns to stare into the chamber beyond. Spanning a vast chasm is a broken and ancient pathway of
stone floating suspended in the air. Six hundred feet below, lave bubbles and
thick, hot air and smoky steam rises to eventually vent from the narrowing
chasm some hundreds of feet above. The initial thirty feet of the path in particular
is badly broken up, as if shattered long ago, the individual pieces floating
and turning slowly in the hot air. Beyond floating stairs rise and turn to the
south, out of sight. Standing
on the stable parts of this pathway are several cultists, their black cloaks
rippling and flowing in the hot air as they turn to look at the opening door.
Closest to the door are what appear to be a pair of ‘Dragonclaws’, behind them
a ‘Dragonwing’ and further back on the stairs a ‘Dragonfang’. As
Jamna turns, the cultists all flap their cloaks and float forwards across the
stones. The lead Dragonclaw provokes a reaction from Mads who swings but misses
[opportunity attack] before he slashes at Naergon, also missing. Mads then
eldritch blasts the first two cultists, knocking them both back ten feet and
off the path where they start to fall, cloaks flapping wildly. Mads then steps
back to the northeast. Further back, the Dragonfang throws an orb at Naergon
which hits, thankfully the cold that emanates from it does less damage than it
might due to the ring recently acquired from Mads. Naergon in turn casts grease
on the stable rock in front of the door and then also steps back at an angle to
the south. Jamna
shoots at the Dragonclaw on the path and hits. Cloak flapping the cultist keeps
his footing, from behind the Dragonwing surges forward, gliding to a stop on
one of the large turning stones. The first Dragonclaw flaps forward regaining
its footing and advances on Mads who reacts and cuts it down with his glaive
[opportunity attack]. The other Dragonclaw flaps its cloak but can only make it
as far as the stone covered in grease and falls prone as soon as he lands. Mads
immediately eldritch blasts him, shoving him off the greased stone where he
plummets, already dead, into the lava below. Looking up, Mads then eldritch
blasts the Dragonwing but misses twice. In the distance the Dragonfang flies down
the stairs pulling another orb from under its cloak. Naergon again steps into
the doorway briefly to cast grease on the block the Dragonwing is standing on,
the cultist immediately loses his footing and falls prone on the turning greasy
stone block. Jamna
shoots at the prone Dragonwing but misses, the cultist gets to his feet and
spreading his cloak glides forward onto the other greased platform managing to
keep his footing. Mads promptly eldritch blasts him but only hits him the once,
shoving him back ten feet off the rock, where he begins to fall, cloak flapping
in the hot air. The Dragonfang hurls an orb at Mads but misses, freezing ice
blooms across the edge of the doorway where the orb shatters, he then turns and
glides his way back up the stairs. Naergon steps into the doorway just long
enough to firebolt the Dragonfang. Jamna
shoots the Dragonwing dangling in mid-air, causing him to somersault slowly
before he regains control and flaps his cloak gliding in on Mads. Mads reacts
and hits with his glaive [opportunity attack] and the cultists slashes him in
retaliation with its scimitar. Mads attacks the Dragonwing, cutting him down
before moving south to stand next to Naergon. “What are you doing here?”
demands Naergon. “Just getting out of the line of sight of that ‘fang that’s
throwing orbs at us” replies Mads. In the distance the Dragonfang retires up
the stairs and slips from sight at the far end of the cavern. Naergon sniffs
and then moves across the doorway, searching for targets but can’t see anyone,
stopping beside Jamna against the north wall he says “I think we’ve dealt with
the door guards, now we’ll have to press on.” In
the cavern the stones slowly turn, dripping grease which falls far below, where
with a faint sizzle it vaporises in the bubbling magma far below. 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 14:00 on 22 nd Tarsakh 1485 DR (The
last Long Rest was completed at 08:00 that morning, no short rests have been
taken since) Next
session Thursday 6 th September