In which
our heroes cut a deal Book Two, Chapter 2.3 (session 55, 12 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. Deciding that breaking into the castle via that route was
risky due to the statues, Jamna reconnoitres the second balcony/ledge. Here
there are no windows but once again the wall behind the ledge disappears when
touched. Inside the room looks like some kind of guest quarters, albeit the bed
and tables are broken and thoroughly thrown about due to the crash. A door in
the opposite wall is hut and there are no signs of any statues or other risks. Meanwhile Augustus and Mads chip some ice off the side
wall in the hopes that once melted it will provide water to bolster their
dwindling supplies. Although difficult, they eventually succeed in removing a
slab and melting it. Unfortunately, when Augustus tries the water, it turns out
to be salt – sea water presumably. Resigned to the need to pillage the castle for supplies,
the rest of the party follow Jamna up to the balcony, using the hippogriff in
rotation. Once inside Jamna examines the huge ice/stone door opposite,
determining it is not trapped, however with the handle being 10’ up she finds
it hard to determine if it is locked. Sitting on Augustus’ shoulders, she turns
the handle but can’t shift the door. Peering through the keyhole, she sees a
dimly lit hallway, some 20’ across. Augustus and Mads together manage to eventually push the
door open and the party creep into the huge hallway, the ceiling 40’ above
their heads. To the west and south lay more huge doors. To the east the hallway
expands as it disappears into darkness. Figuring they’d already looked at the guest
quarters to the east, the party turn west and again Augustus and Mads use all
their strength to push the door open. Ahead they see a vast open courtyard, the late dusk sky
overhead, with stars glittering. Too late they realise they have opened a door
onto the courtyard behind the main gates. To their front the giants and ogres
still mill around. Trying to back pedal and pull the door shut, they watch as
one of the stone giants turns their way and barks something to its colleagues.
As the door shuts with a dull boom, giants and ogres are already moving towards
it. Retreating into the guest quarters with the balcony, the
party prepare to fight, hoping the close quarters and steep drop will work to
their advantage. Within moments the door is wrenched open and one of the stone
giants steps in and throws a boulder at Franz who stands on the ledge. Franz,
Mads and Augustus all step up and with Jamna sniping from the corner inflict
significant damage to the giant. Naergon then casts animated objects on his bag
of spikes and the giant roars in pain as it is peppered. Mads casts darkness and steps around to attack as a
second giant enters the room, swinging its great-club. Another rock ricochets
off the wall above Franz and disappears into the night beyond. Then from a
swirl of mist in the centre of the room steps the huge cloud giant, roaring “ GET OUT, GET OUT OF MY CASTLE, VERMIN ”. Franz, lowering his bow says “ We’re not part of the cult. In fact, we have slain many cult members
and dragons. Err like Chuth and the great white dragon in the north. We’ve
captured leaders of the cult like Varram and killed some elf prince as well.
We’re here in pursuit of Rezmir and Talis. Last we knew they were on board your
castle. Do you know where they’ve gone ?” With a shuddering breath, the giants growls “ I THREW THEM OUT WITH THE DAMN CULT AND
THEIR DRAGONS TOO. I CARE NOT WHO YOU ARE, YOU’RE NOT WELCOME HERE. THIS IS MY
CASTLE, MY HOME. GET OUT NOW!” Naergon speaks up “ Actually
we’d be more than happy to leave, delighted you’ve thrown the cult out. Good
decision I say. Would you happen to know where they fled to? We’re on a mission
to go and capture them you see?” The Giant, calming somewhat replies “ They fled to the great escarpment to the north, taking their wretched
minions with them. By all means leave and go hunt them down. NOW GET OFF MY
SHIP ”. “ Delighted to sir,
absolutely. We’ll be leaving immediately, very sorry for the disturbance .”
Says Naergon, behind him Augustus mutters “ Any
chance they can give us some water ?”. Naergon stares at him, shrugs and turns back to the
giant. “ I say, I don’t suppose you could
help us out with some water for the journey, you see we’re down to our last few
drops. That’s really why we tried to come in to see you. If we had some water
we’d be away to the escarpment immediately. Without I’m afraid we’re rather
stuck .” There’s a long pause as the giant stares at Naergon,
grinding his teeth. “ Very well, water I
can give you. If you promise to leave and never return. Go kill Rezmir and good
luck with that but THIS IS MY HOME and you are NOT welcome now or in the
future, understand elfling? ” A little while later, loaded down with sufficient extra
waterskins to last them two more days, and bags of fresh fruit to boot. The
party descend using Naergon’s hippogriff – except for Augustus, who smiles,
waves and steps off the balcony, drifting slowly to the ground. Retiring some way from the castle, the party settle down
for a short rest. Naergon picks up the book Jamna recovered. Mads looks across
at Naergon and says “ it’s written in
infernal, I can’t read it but I recognise it right enough ”. Naergon gives
him a piercing glance and then settles down and prepares a ritual to cast
comprehend languages. He then tentatively starts turning the pages. Pages that
seem to pull away from his fingers and resist him. The book is indeed written
in infernal and is called Beyond the Iron Gates . Written entirely in Infernal, it
describes various forms of devil summoning, but the final chapter describes the
use of massive summonings and the sacrifice of hundreds of souls to bring
Tiamat bodily out of the Nine Hells and into the world. The details of the
ritual make it clear that this is something that requires enormous preparation
and expense—but the actual magical formulae and chants are not given. Mads takes a deep breath, and whilst the others are
resting, opens a discussion with Naergon about the dreams he has been having.
Explaining that ever since that game of cards with the devils when hunting down
Varram he has felt the presence of a significant power. In particular he
describes the dreams he has had of the vast spectacle of Avernus, First Layer
of Hell and that Zariel, the Archdevil of Avernus has spoken to him. “ She says she will
assist us in preventing Tiamat’s release but I am fearful of the consequences
of accepting her help, although I’m not certain how much choice I have in the
matter .” Says Mads quietly. Naergon muses on the situation, recalling that
Tiamat is said to be imprisoned on Avernus at the command of Asmodeus. “ Yes ”, he says “ accepting assistance from Hell would be dangerous indeed. Although I
can see how the downfall of the cult would align with Asmodeus’ designs in
this. However, there would be bound to be a price, and a debt to such creatures
is not to be taken lightly. ” “ I know ”, avows
Mads, looking away and refusing to meet Naergon’s eyes. “ I wonder, that book it says the ritual will consume many souls. Where
does the cult intend those souls to come from? Do you think if we bring an army
to prevent them, we will just be providing the souls they need? And aren’t
devils always seeking new souls? I fear we are just pawns in a game we do not
understand. ” “ Indeed ”,
replies Naergon, “ indeed, there is much
to think on. Let me know if you have any more visions .” Refreshed, the party gather their belongings, using the
hippogriff as a pack mule and start the long overnight trek to the north. Two,
relatively uneventful days later, they approach the vast escarpment that rises
over a thousand feet, almost vertically, from the plain of sand and crushed
rock. It extends for several miles, east and west, slowly falling away at the far
edges. Deciding to spend the rest of the day utilising arcane eye to explore
the three sites of interest, Naergon first views the ruins to the west. Here there is what looks to be some kind of half-collapsed
monastery or small fort. Exploring the grounds, Naergon finds a well and then
pushes into the interior through the broken and open doors. Inside he spies
several alert hobgoblin guards but he cannot penetrate further as too many
doors are shut fast. Switching to the east, Naergon finds a large mound – some
kind of ancient burial site perhaps. Outside of which are the remains of a
pillared entry way, with raised platforms and broken steps leading into the
entrance to the mound. An entrance that looks to have been recently re-opened.
Venturing into the dark interior, past many leering carvings, statues and
gargoyles, Naergon comes to a dark crypt where broods an ancient withered elf,
dressed in the regalia of the dragon cult. As Naergon’s eye drifts closer, the
elf’s head snaps up and looks around as if detecting a presence. As Naergon
looks deep into its eyes, he sees the soulless intelligence of a vampire
staring straight back at him, her mouth opens to reveal glistening teeth as she
begins to rise. Naergon quickly retracts his eye from the mound. Changing to the central face of the escarpment and the
cave entrance visible half way up, at the top of a long winding stair zagging
up the rock face towards it, Naergon’s eye slides into the cave and finds a
narrow crevice at the rear. Pushing through this gap the eye emerges into a
worked stone chamber. Opposite stand two dragon cult guards in full regalia,
flanking a huge green stone door, engraved with swirling patterns. A brief discussion follows as Naergon recounts his
visions. Deciding that their first concern is water and given that water was
visible only in the vampire lair and probably at the ruined monastery, it is
decided that all else being equal hobgoblins are probably an easier target than
vampires. Not to mention the monastery will probably make a better base camp. Decision made the party start the march westwards,
unstated is the knowledge that they do not have the water reserves to make it
back to the other sites, let alone the fallen castle. Late on the night of 20 th
Tarsakh, they arrive at the entrance gate to the monastery. Augustus and Mads lead the way through the fallen entry
gates in the deep gloom. Once inside the courtyard, Mads calls out to the guard
he knows should be in the northern corridor. “ In the name of Maglubiyet, take me to your commander, I have much to
report.” Somewhat startled the hobgoblin calls back “ I cannot let you pass without the password ” and calls down the
hallway “ We have visitors, go tell the
boss ”. Mads, pulling himself to his full height, attempts to
bull his way through, “ I have no time for
this soldier, my mission is of great importance, let me through ”. Somewhat
cowed, but resolute the hobgoblin, again demands “ Password! ”. Exasperated Mads, charges and kills it, dragging it out
into the courtyard. Behind him Franz lights a torch and Augustus, seeing
movement behind the main double doors, moves forward. Arrows fly, mostly
missing, as Augustus charges into the monastery, hammer splattering hobgoblins
asunder. Rather belatedly remembering his driftglobe, Franz calls it to life
and the courtyard erupts into the glare of clear sunlight. Naergon steps over to
the well and confirms it has water in its depths. Augustus
pushes through the hobgoblin guards, followed by Mads, as more doors open and
hobgoblins come pouring out. Jamna and Franz shoot them down, as Augustus and
Mads bludgeon and slash their way into the building, the corridors soon awash
in goblin blood. Naergon, steps into the northern corridor as another hobgoblin
steps into it from an inner door. Mads appears behind it and eldritch blasts it
but fails to kill it. Behind him Augustus and Franz push into a ruined banquet
hall, seeking more enemies. And
there we left it. With
the successful conclusion of the Skyreach Castle encounter, a level was 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 23:00 on 20 th Tarsakh 1485 DR as the heroes fight
their way into the hobgoblin stronghold Next
session Thursday 19 th July I
will re-draft the character sheets over the weekend as the new charactermancer
software is clearly causing issues with the old-style sheets. Once done I’ll
let you all know and you can level up.
This
update is also online at <a href="https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/details/2734723/tyranny-of-dragons-rise-of-tiamat" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/details/2734723/tyranny-of-dragons-rise-of-tiamat</a>