Chapter 4.1 (Session 80, 19th March 2019)

In which a mountain is climbed   Book Two, Chapter 4.1 (session 80, 19 th March 2019)   The Party: Naergon Harna, elven wizard (Diviner) Mads Rangle, human fighter/warlock (Fiend: Archdevil Zariel) Jamna Gleamsilver, gnome rogue (Arcane Trickster) Tomaz Stormwind, human ranger (Hunter) Druscilla Oakenrock, dwarven cleric (Trickery: Mask) Talis Wintercrest, half-elven cleric (War: Bane)   Jamna moves east up on to the ridge past Tomaz and stays alert (dodge). The cultists at the wall shoot at Mads, hitting him once before ducking back down to reload. Tomaz casts lightning arrow (his hunters mark dissipates) and shoots at the cultists on the wall, the bolt misses but lightning arcs across the top of the wall and judging by the screams injures the cultists on the far side. Tomaz then moves south back down the path. Druscilla also shoots at the cultists on the wall, her bolt flies true and one of the heads is whipped back off the wall, she then advances slowly. Mads moves towards the wall and readies an eldritch blast to shoot the next cultist that appears. Talis advances along the western cliff towards a large boulder, doing her best to keep in cover [dodge], followed by Naergon [dodge]. There is the sound of activity and muffled voices and what sounds like commands being issued from beyond the wall and gate.   Jamna continues to move along the eastern ridge, hugging the cliffside and then casts mage hand whilst staying alert [dodge]. As the cultists at the wall again raise their crossbows Mads completes his eldritch blast [readied action] and hits one of them, jerking its head back savagely. One of the bolts slams into Mads, the others flying wide or skittering off his armour. Then one of the gates swings open and a dozen or more cultists charge out, some heading for Jamna, some for Mads and others for Druscilla. Behind them a cultist in fine silk clothes shouts encouragement and throws an orb at Druscilla, showering her in acid, the cultist then ducks back behind the gate. Tomaz shoots a hail of bolts [volley] at the cultists advancing on Druscilla, hitting all three, one of which cries out and drops. Druscilla pulls her rod of lordly might [axe], steps forward and swings at the leading cultist, cleaving his face in half, killing him instantly [critical]. Mads swings his glaive and attacks the cultists advancing on him, stabbing the left-hand one, cleaving the middle one in half and then crushing the skull of the first with the butt [critical]. From the gates more drakes come bounding, one heading for Jamna the other for Druscilla. Talis continues to advance along the western cliff, taking cover behind the boulder [dodge]. Naergon casts greater invisibility on himself and scampers after her. From behind the gate a cultist leans out and shoots at Jamna but misses as the gnome ducks aside.   Jamna moves her mage hand to alongside one of the cultists and tugs his cloak, as he turns to look Jamna shoots him straight through his right ear and out of his left eye [sneak]. The cultist drops in a heap. Jamna moves south along the cliff as the mage hand winks out. One of the surviving cultists charges Mads, who swings his glaive [AOO], the cultist staggers but still manages to stab Mads. Another cultist advances on Druscilla and stabs her. In the east a cultist charges after Jamna, stabbing her as she shelters against the cliff. More cultists advance on Mads and another reaches Druscilla, stabbing the dwarf. Another pair pursue Jamna. The cultists on the wall, lean over and shoot at Talis, one of the bolts catches her in the shoulder as she dives behind the boulder. The better dressed cultist leans out from the gate and throws an orb towards Tomaz, but it flies wide, splashing the cliffs with acid. Tomaz fires a volley at the drake and cultists surrounding Druscilla. The drake and one of the cultists take glancing wounds but the third bolt drops through the second cultists shoulder, deep into his chest, with a strangled gurgle he collapses. Druscilla swings her rod [axe] at the surviving cultist, cleaving him from shoulder to waist. By the wall Mads swings his glaive, chopping straight through the northern cultist. The second cultist looks worried momentarily as the glaive swings back and cuts him down. Mads steps forward and swings the butt at the well-dressed cultist but misses. Mads growls and swings again [action surge] with menace [menacing attack] and again [menacing attack] wounding the cultist with each strike. The drake near Druscilla attempts to bite her and swipe her with its tail but misses with both. To the east the other drake charges after Jamna. Talis hunkers down behind the boulder [dodge]. Naergon moves out onto the western ridge [invisible] and cast fire bolt at the well-dressed cultist, burning his shoulder. The dragonwing comes out from the behind the gate and closes on Mads, stabbing but missing.   Jamna, almost surrounded by cultists and drakes and with her back to the cliff, casts ray of frost but the ray misses the cultist. Then activating her boots, she races past the surrounding cultists who swing at her but miss down onto the path. The cultists on the wall lean over and shoot at Mads, all three missing. The three cultists in the east turn and chase after Jamna, the first stabs her in the back [critical] but the nimble gnome dodges away [uncanny didge]. The other two cultists run past and around her snarling and sneering at her as they box her in again. Against the wall another cultist advances on Mads and stabs him twice, the blades slipping through his armour with ease [critical + critical]. Tomaz shoots another volley at the cultists converging on the path, all three bolts fly true but none of them drop. Tomaz moves north along the cliff. Druscilla swings her rod [axe] against the drake, calling on Mask for a divine strike, the drake howls in pain as the poison bites. Mads casts hex on the cult leader and then attacks with his glaive [menacing], cutting him twice. The first drake attacks Druscilla but fails to contact, the second runs Jamna down and attacks, failing to injure her. Talis continues to hunker behind the boulder whilst Naergon fire bolts the cult leader. The dragonwing swings at Mads, missing with its first attack but hitting with its second.   Jamna disengages from the drake and races north east up the path, turns and casts ray of frost on the drake. The cultists ignore Jamna and close on Tomaz, the first one stabbing the ranger [critical]. Behind the wall the three cultists again shoot at Mads, all three bolts strike home [critical]. The hex spell dissipates as Mads loses his concentration. The cult leader stabs at Mads, slipping his sword under Mads’s ribs. Mads ripostes [reaction] with is glaive, shoving the broad blade through his throat. With a gasp and a gurgle, the cult leader falls. Tomaz drops his crossbow and pulls his spear forward and stabs the leading cultist, driving his spear through its spine. Tugging the bloody spear clear he turns and stabs the second cultist through the chest, the cultists groans and slides down the cliff, dead. Druscilla again calls on Mask and swings at the drake, cleaving through its skull. Mads takes a moment to gather himself [second wind] and then swings his glaive at the dragonwing, hitting it twice. The dragonwing staggers barely able to stand. The last drake runs down the path and attacks Druscilla, slapping her with its tail. Druscilla calls out “ someone go and heal Mads, I’m pinned here”. Talis stays behind the boulder, ignoring the dwarf. Naergon runs up to the wall and casts fire bolt on the dragonwing. The bolt burns through the back of its skull and without a sound he drops.   Jamna moves south and shoots at the drake but misses. The last dragon claw attacks Tomaz, slashing the ranger’s arm. The cultists on the wall shoot at Mads and all miss. Tomaz growls and stabs the cultist in front of him, slamming his spear through its chest. The cultist dies whimpering as Tomaz runs along the western ridge above the drake. Druscilla with a cry to Mask swings at the drake, the blade biting deeply. Mads runs through the gate, turning he sees three cultists on a wooden platform loading crossbows. Mads casts eldritch blast, slamming the central cultist twice into the wall, with a groan he slides down the bloody wall. Mads switches to the right-hand cultist and slams him too. Outside the drake attacks Druscilla in fury its bite penetrating her armour [critical] as it’s tail slams her too. Talis stays hidden under the boulder. Naergon runs up in front of the gate, turns and fire bolts the drake, killing it.   Jamna races north and through the gate and shoots one of the cultists on the wall, with a cry it falls backwards, dead. The last cultist drops its crossbow, draws a scimitar and hurls itself off the wooden ledge, cloak billowing behind it like ragged wings as it swoops down on Jamna, cutting the gnome despite her efforts to slip aside [uncanny dodge]. Tomaz shouts “ Talis why are you not curing our warriors?” Talis glares at him from behind her rock “ because I’m still recovering from being dead and I’m not a cleric of bandages, I’m a feckin’ war cleric you idiot. If you knew anything about Bane you’d know healing whiny Harpers wasn’t high on his to-do list” Tomaz turns and asks “ do you need healing Druscilla?” “Yes please” mutters the dwarf, as Tomaz jumps down off the ridge to stand beside her and casts cure wounds [11HP]. Druscilla steps into the path and casts mass cure wounds on Naergon, Jamna, Mads and herself [20 HP]. Mads advances on the remaining cultist and stabs it in the back and then, dropping hi glaive, grapples it to the ground. “I have a prisoner” shouts Mads.   As Mads ties his captive up, the rest of the party make their way through the gates and into the small blockhouse behind. There are tables, bottles, crates and bags of supplies. It looks like a way station on the path up the mountain. Naergon says “ we should repurpose some of these cult cloaks and whatnot. It might help us as we’re climbing up this damn mountain.” “Good idea” says Druscilla, “ there’s plenty of serviceable stuff on these chaps, we can kit ourselves out with disguises no problem.”   As they gather cloaks, crossbows and bolts Druscilla says “ I’m almost out of spells” “Agreed ” says Naergon “ it’s a problem. I can’t help but think this is the easy bit. What waits us up in the Well will be far worse I fear.” From inside the blockhouse Tomaz shouts “ well if we can’t get any information from the prisoner, we should kill him”. “Whoa, hang on we haven’t asked him anything yet” cries Mads “ at least ask him a question before you execute him !”   Tomaz turns to the prisoner “ So, how many more guardhouses are there between here and the conclave?” The prisoner looks a bit puzzled, frowns and says “ Err none!” “OK” continues Tomaz “ and how many more guards are there in this complex?” The prisoner glances one way and then the other, finally with a sigh of resignation he says “ the entire Blue Head and whatever’s left of Rezmir’s Black Head.” “ Right, so how many are in the Blue Head and how many do you estimate are in the Black?” demands Tomaz. The prisoner frowns “ well each Head has a pair of Wings, each of 3 Claws. I belong to the Third Nail, Second Claw of the Right Wing of Rezmir’s Black Head.” “How many is that per Head?” growls Tomaz, looming over him “ Err, about, about eighty, yes eighty plus, plus leaders yes ” the prisoner stutters nervously “oh and a couple dozen drakes usually .”   Tomaz steps back and turns to the party “ so, we could be looking at upwards of a hundred and sixty cultists plus whatever leaders they have up there. Do we want this guy tagging along or should I kill him now? Anyone object to me shoving a spear through his neck” “ What? Yes, I object, he’s my prisoner” shouts Mads. “ Why, what use is he?” demands Tomaz. “ What use to who? Us? He’s a prisoner!” stutters Mads in outrage. “ Why, what use is he?” persists Tomaz.   Mads gathers himself as Naergon enters the blockhouse. “ You belong to the Harpers, right Tomaz? And is that what they teach you to do, murder prisoners?” “No! No, it isn’t ” says Naergon loudly. Tomaz glares at the elven wizard “ that thing’s a liability. It can compromise us quite effectively just by shouting ‘we’re not cultists’ at the wrong moment.” “You know what?” replies Mads “ Some people in our party, now and before have been liabilities but we never thought of murdering them.” “Err, actually” interjects Naergon “ we did think about it. ” Mads pauses, stares at the elf and continues “ we never actually murdered them.” “No, that’s right ” agrees Naergon “ we didn’t murder anyone, that’s correct.”   “Look, we’re not murdering anyone” says Naergon “ so you can forget about that.” “But. . .I, I . . .I . . . we. . .”  stutters Tomaz, incandescent with rage . “No, Tomaz, he’s a prisoner. At worst we’ll tie him up here and leave him but we’re not murdering prisoners” “We could, tie him up, blindfold and gag him and send him on his way down the mountain” suggests Mads “he’ll be picked up by Neverember’s troops hopefully and be treated as a prisoner.  As long as he doesn’t run into any scalp-hunters like Tomaz”   “Anyway” continues Mads “have we done questioning him?” He turns to the prisoner, who is sweating nervously and staring from one to the other “how far is it to the Well?” he asks. The prisoner jerks his head northwards “it’s just up there” adding hurriedly “ you’re about half way up the mountain, so however long it took you to get here?”   Looking up the path, they can all see that the track winds through increasingly sparse scrub and bush, mixed with shards of rock outcrops, sometimes creeping around bluffs with sheer drops on one side, sheer rock walls on the other. At other times winding through small groves of olive and thorn. At the summit is a crown of almost vertical rock shards forming the wall of the caldera. The last couple of hundred yards above the scrub line are bare open rock, with razor sharp looking blades of rock jutting out from black lave flows. It’s a most unappetising vision.   Mads asks Naergon “ none of your agents made it this far, did they? So, we don’t know what’s ahead.” “We don’t know that” replies Naergon, looking up at the dragons circling the caldera. “ We know none of them returned alive from beyond the lower gatehouse. We don’t know what happened to them after that but we did receive verbal reports, speaking of this path, of tunnels under the caldera, of prisoners, treasure and large numbers of cultists but nothing we could use as a descriptor to teleport to. We have few details. We know the paths lead to tunnels that in turn lead into the caldera. We know it’s an ancient cult site, a place where dragons have come to die for centuries – that’s why the old Cult of the Dragon had a base here, it was a ready source of material for their experiments with dracoliches .”   Mads turns back to the prisoner “ which of the wyrmspeakers are in the caldera and when did you last see them?” “Err, err, my commander is Rezmir. I’m Dragonclaw Nine of the Third Nail . . .” “Not interested in your rank, what of the wyrmspeakers ” interrupts Mads. “ Err, well The Blue Head is the duty head at the Well, so Galvan the Blue will be with them ” he thrusts a shoulder forward, there is a black claw badge and the number ‘9’ sewn to his uniform “ I’m with the Black Head, under Wyrmspeaker Rezmir”. Mads interrupts “ you were, not any more. Rezmir is gone, he killed her ” he points at the still fuming Tomaz. “ Have you seen Severin at all?” “No. No. No, I don’t mix in those circles” he stutters looking somewhat awestruck. “ Never seen him, never seen Severin” he says, sweating, his eyes huge and dilated.   Mads turns “ does anyone else have any questions for my prisoner?” Everyone shakes their heads “ No, not really” adds Naergon. “I’m thinking we tie him up and send him on down the path ” says Mads “ Actually, I think that’s a bit risky ” Naergon muses “ me too ” adds Druscilla “ too much chance he is found by his own side” “Yeah, we should tie him up and leave him here ” decides Naergon. “ Very well” agrees Mads.   Mads walks outside “Talis? Have you ever been here before?” Talis looks up, black rimmed eyes red with exhaustion “No”. “And have any of your mates? What about Sandresyl?” Talis sighs, “ I really don’t know Mads. Considering the length of time Sandresyl’s , err . . . existed, erm in corporeal form, erm . . couldn’t rule it out!” she pauses “ But I doubt she’s been here since Severin’s been in charge.”   Mads stares at her “ has Sandresyl got any intention to take any actions against Severin in the near future?” “I don’t know, I haven’t really been involved with the cult for several months now as you know ” whispers Talis. “ But you’ve been in contact with Sandresyl surely?” Mads continues. Talis looks up sharply “ No! It’s been months since . . . last time I saw Sandresyl was when the castle crashed and that was what, six months ago ?”   There’s an extended period of silence as Mads stares out across the Desolation and Talis sinks further into her private misery. “How about this sword?” Mads asks finally “ Rezmir’s sword are you interested? You said to wait until later, and well it’s later now I guess.” Talis looks up, a faint glitter in her eyes, shadowed beneath her hat. “I’ll need time to attune to it. Do we have that time here?” “I think we need to rest ” says Mads “ so, I expect so. ” Turning he calls “ Naergon, Druscilla? Are we resting here for a while, grab our breath, replenish and sort gear out?” Druscilla emerges from the blockhouse “I say yes to that Mads. Don’t know about the others but I could do with a drink and a bite and a few minutes off.” From inside the blockhouse Naergon calls out “ yes, we’re resting here for an hour, someone make a brew. ”   Collecting themselves together, Mads finds himself having to drag Talis away from the prisoner, her hand clenched white knuckled on the hilt of her new sword. “ Maybe we shouldn’t just leave him here ” says Talis, a slightly glazed look on her face. “ Maybe giving her that sword wasn’t the best idea in the world ” says Naergon as he leaves the blockhouse. “I can take it from her ” offers Tomaz, stepping forward. Talis swirls around “ yes, why don’t you try, that could be fun .” Tomaz clasps his spear tightly “ you can’t be trusted, we all know it, they just won’t tell you to your face.” “Come on then” , says Talis eyes glazing slightly. Mads pulls her aside and up the path. Naergon steps in front of Tomaz “ just leave it be, handling that sword is going to be enough of a challenge without you raising the stakes.”   As they head out Talis whispers to Mads “ it would have been good to try the sword out though, could do with some practice.” “Err, yes well I don’t think there’ll be any lack of opportunity up there ” Mads points up to the caldera and the many dragons circling it. “ Now keep a lid on it, much though it would be amusing to see Tomaz gutted, he’s quite useful in a fight and I feel like I have enough enemies. And enough frenemies if I’m honest.” “But it wouldn’t be a major loss and it would make Hazirawn so happy” Talis whispers as she follows him.   With that the party head on up the volcano on the next stage of the climb. After an hour or so of clambering up and over rock bluffs and scrambling around rocky outcrops through scrub and gorse they turn one last corner to see a number of cultists and drakes heading down the path ahead – clearly some kind of patrol.   Ducking behind a nearby rock outcrop Mads whispers “ Tomaz go and negotiate with them, see if you can get us past without a fight.” Tomaz glares at him “no, Naergon’s our leader, I’ll take his lead on this not yours.” Talis looks around, eyes wide “ we should attack now, I’m thirsty, it’s time to drink. Let’s go!” “No, wait, hang on ” whispers Mads urgently, grabbing her arm “ wait to see what Naergon has up his sleeve. ”   A few moments pass before Mads asks “ if you were to stroll out there, in this black uniform, waving Rezmir’s sword around claiming that Rezmir was dead and you were in charge. How do you think they would react?” Talis tuns and stares at him wild eyed, there’s an inner struggle before she answers “ I don’t know, all this talk of uniforms and units, uniforms and Heads. It wasn’t like that in my time, it’s like an awful lot more order has been imposed on the cult since I was part of it. I have my doubts, I don’t think it’s this sword that grants Rezmir authority, I think it was the black mask and Severin’s command. But hey what’s to lose? Let’s try it, it gets me closer to them. . .” she turns and takes a step forward, Mads grabs her “whoa, not just yet, hang on ” and looks desperately at Naergon “ what are we doing?”   “Let’s try this” says Naergon dumping a pile of iron spikes on the ground. He then casts animate object on them and sends the cloud of flying spikes ahead through the scrub “ don’t step into that cloud” he says. Tomaz moves smoothly through the scrub behind Naergon’s cloud and volleys at the north-east nail of dragonclaws, his bolts finding targets in the drake and three of the dragonclaws, one of whom drops instantly with a cry of surprise [critical], Tomaz then steps back and crouches in an attempt to hide [vanish] amongst the heather and gorse [stealth 10]. The now alerted dragonclaws advance rapidly towards the party, some flanking along the Cliffside to the west, some racing for the patch of scrub and yet more covering the path, two of whom raise crossbows and shoot at Mads, missing. Talis casts Spirit Guardians and as the spectral images of fiends materialise she races forward along the path drawing Hazirawn “ Now we can drink freely!” She shouts as she races towards the cultists. Jamna creeps into the scrub and hides [stealth 25] and raises her bow, waiting for a clear target [ready action]. Mads looks up the path and casts eldritch blast at the dragonclaws of the western nail, the force bolts slamming into one of them and hurling it back ten feet. Mads advances to the cover of the rock pile on the path. The drakes bound forward in front of the cultists, one closing on Talis takes damage as her protective spirit guardians swarm it. Others move towards the scrub from north and east. Behind the western dragonclaws a dragonfang officer appears on top of the northern rock outcrop and throws an orb at Talis, it misses, shattering harmlessly on the path, acid hissing and spitting. The dragonwing sergeant advances down the path behind his dragonclaws and shoots at Talis, but misses. Druscilla moves up alongside Jamna and casts sacred flame on one of the dragonclaws of the second nail, holy radiance burns the screaming cultist [DEX save fail].   Naergon casts mirror image and then moves his animated objects forward to swarm one of the drakes on the path, the spikes hammering into the drake which roars in anguish and collapses, a shredded and bloody, mangled corpse. Tomaz shoots another volley of bolts against the third nail of dragonclaws advancing towards the eastern rock pile, three cultists stagger as bolts slam home. Tomaz moves back deep into the scrub and vanishes [stealth 21]. The dragonclaws of the western nail advance into Talis’s aura, both taking damage from the fiendish guardians, one screams pitifully and collapses as the shadowy fiends rend it. The second nail advances towards the scrub and the third and fourth flank round to the west. Jamna shoots one of the dragonclaws of the second nail, the arrow taking it in the throat, dropping it instantly [sneak attack readied action]. The dragonclaws on the path shoot at Talis, all three missing. In the centre the dragonclaws shoot at Jamna, the first bolt clipping her shoulder, the second nicking her cheek, the other four fly wide. Talis grins, steps forward towards the remaining dragonclaw and swings Hazirawn [in her head she hears the sword scream “ together we drink deeply. Purge the impure!”] but in her exhaustion the swing is wild and the dragonclaw ducks under it. Talis laughs manically as the cultist stumbles back. Mads shouts out “ go Jamna, strike true” [inspiration]. Jamna shoots at one of the dragonclaws of the third nail by the rock pile, the arrow slams home and with a gasp the cultist slides backwards, disappearing into the heather [sneak attack]. Mads steps round the rocks and casts fireball on the dragonclaws of the fourth nail in the east, burning all four of them to death as the scrub smoulders and smoke rises into the air. Mads steps back on to the path and draws his glaive [action surge] killing the first dragonclaw of the first nail and advancing on the drake hitting it twice. The drake beside Talis is killed by her guardians [in her head Hazirawn screams “ shut that spell down, I need to kill things, shut it down NOW!” ] Another drake advances on Mads but crosses Talis’s area of effect, taking damage from the fiendish guardians as it does so. Mads reacts and stabs it with his glaive [AOO]. The drake snarls and bites and swats at Mads but misses.  Two more drakes advance into the scrub towards Druscilla. The dragonfang officer on the outcrop throws another orb at Talis but misses, the acid splashing across the path, the dragonwing on the path shoots Talis, the bolt slamming home into her shoulder but she maintains her concentration [CON save success] despite the distraction of Hazirawn. Druscilla casts sacred flame at one of the drakes in the scrub but it ducks past the holy radiance [DEX save success] and continues to plod towards the dwarf.   Next time: what’s in the tunnel?   No levels were gained this session:   Naergon 16 th level Mads 15 th level Jamna 15 th level Tomaz 15 th level Druscilla 15 th level Talis 12 th level     XP earnt is now irrelevant as the rest of TOD is based on milestone XP   In-Game the session ended at 16:15 on 12 th Eleint 1485 DR [The last LONG REST was completed at 06:30 on 12 th Eleint] [The last SHORT REST was completed at 15:00 on 12 th Eleint]   Next session Tuesday 26 th March at 19:15