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RE: Game Session Recaps - frenzied67 - 06-16-2026
Episode 146 Gurthos 20th - 21st, 1032 C.E.
Eyeing the pile of flotsam and bodies, they briefly talked of making camp after sifting through the junk for loot. Not liking how badly her friends were damaged, Leiya upcast a Cure Wounds spell on Enkili, then a Mass healing Word on everyone. After that they began to sift carefully through the junk. That care paid off, because Leiya caught sight of a nasty grub crawling through the debris. Rot Grubs. She explained to everyone that these maggots could crawl into a person without their knowledge (anesthetic bite), and burrow to their heart, killing them in mere minutes.
Melosta’s servant then cast Aura of Purity on herself, creating a large 30’ field around herself that made everyone in it unpalatable to bug taste buds. Quickening the pace of their work, they resumed their labor; Leiya’s spell only had a ten minute duration. Several minutes later a table was lifted and tossed aside and everyone saw it at once. A parchment laid out like a wanted poster, but written in a language no one knew. That script gave the stout hearted heroes a case of heebie jeebies, an unholy and unclean language had been used to scribe this page.
Instead of a person, the Ruby Weave Gem was pictured on the poster. Enkili reached for it thinking he could slip the parchment free. Instead the parchment tore, and a putrescent limb fell on the lower half, smearing that part of the manuscript beyond recovery. The fighter wished his friends would have berated him rather than give him “those” looks. Blaylocke stated that he still had a spell that would allow him to read any script as long as it was not magic code.
They set the recovered parchment fragment aside to continue with their grim work. When the Aura of Purity was nearing it’s completion, the realization hit the group that they were working in the Hagborn Troll’s refuse pit. It probably would not store it’s valuables in such a place. Backing away from the smelly pile, Blaylocke began the ritual magic that would allow him to read their parchment. Enkili and Jolrael discussed the best way to cremate the remains when they were done. Leiya said more prayers for the dead, as they all rested for an hour.
The bard broke in on everyone’s rest with a strange question: “Has anyone heard of someone called Noshuul?” Everyone hesitantly said yes, but no one could recall where, or in what context. Blaylocke cast Skill Empowerment on himself to help his recall, but not even magical aid could dredge that knowledge to the forefront of his mind; other than landing on the idea that the name was demonic or hellish. Frustrated the bard then read the scrap of parchment aloud. “...Heart of Noshuul. When the gem is restored to Noshuul’s vessel the person will be well rewarded….” A fragmented segment alluded to the heart masquerading as a rare magical gem.
Leiya wondered if a Noshuul had something to do with a local place that had suffered a disaster long ago. Shol’s Hollow is a place she knew of, and the legend said that a falling star gouged out the area, destroying an entire village in the process. She said the region she named is located in the Srednyaya Dolinal, through Delnoc Pass. After they speculated for a while, they each fell silent, each of them wondering how many different puzzles they were trying to piece together.
After the rest, they climbed up to the platforms and ledges the Hagborn Troll had leapt down from. Within minutes they found where the creature had bedded down. They found a large well made tapestry the creature had used as its blanket, a large gold bracelet, and a silver necklace with gemstone pendant. Three flasks (one in a yellow liquid where an eyeball bobbed, a red liquid that glimmered when shaken, and clear liquid where a large fingernail rested at the bottom) were also found. Lots of copper and silver coins were also recovered.
Before leaving, the party returned to the trash pit and lit it on fire. No one remained behind to see if the cave had proper ventilation, as the place of horror became a crematorium. Enkili carried the Hagborn Trolls head with him. Blaylocke manifested his Leomund’s Tiny Hut spell where they bedded down for a full nights rest. As Leiya and Blaylocke were in the middle of changing shifts, they both saw a giant silhouette moving in the dark forest, silver eyeshine showing that the hut had been observed by the gangly, too tall figure. After a time the silhouette-in-shadow melted away into the utter black of the trees.
In the morning, Leiya lead everyone to where she and the bard had seen the figure. Though they found impressions that could have been foot steps, the marks were to undefined for anyone in the party to determine what or who had made them, or even where they came from or led to. On inspection, only the potion bottles had radiated magic. (in the same order as presented above) They had a Potion of Clairvoyance, Superior Healing, and Stone Giant Strength. Jolrael had spent a few hours using cantrips to clean the well made tapestry. The coins had been counted and they now carried 2193 copper coins, and 1567 coins of silver.
Leiya, Blaylocke and Jolrael were all able to contact the managers of their bastion facilities. Enkili was worried about his spy network (pub) not having direction, so Leiya hinted that she would have a set of Sending Stones made for him. On casting a minor spell, Jolrael warned everyone that sometime later in the day there would be sleet. This information impacted the party’s travel plans; instead of riding back to the city, they instead traveled on to the nearby village, and it happened to be the night of the Winter Bale Fyre. Arriving at the village in mid morning they were challenged by men at the gate.
These people did not come across as militia, trained guards, or having anything akin to martial discipline; they were just armed citizens taking their turn at gate duty. Leiya cast Tongues on Blaylocke so the two of them could converse with the gates guardians. Jolrael and Enkili only looked at each other as they were not privy to the dialogue. There was one point when Leiya asked Enkili to produce the Hagborn Troll’s head. The dramatic moment did not produce the results the priestess had wished for, the towns people guardian’s lost their welcoming interest in the group and assumed worried expressions.
As the locals eyed the forest edge, Leiya shot them questions. Evidently the heroes' triumph was not so cut and dried. It came out that this particular troll spawn still had its mother as well as three other siblings, and as this particular Hagborn Troll was momma’s favorite. Vengeance was likely to come down on the party from this killing, and possibly on the village as well. Never-the-less the gates were opened and the adventurers were invited to join in on the evening’s festivals.
Given seats around the fire in the town square, they met with and talked to the grandfather of the main gate guard. The horses were led off, to be curried, fed, and stabled. It was the elder who filled them in on the Hag’s offspring and that family’s penchant for revenge. When translated, Enkili proposed that, sleet or no sleet, they should camp outside the town that night for the villager's safety. Throughout the day, when groups of people took breaks from setting up the celebration Blaylocke performed for the people; Enkili helped the spectacle with some sword dancing performances.
As the day waned, Leiya asked if there were any villagers ill or injured that she could help. A man was carried out to her, trailing a young woman who Enkili assumed was a fiance; turned out she was a wife. At the time the food was flowing, and the celebration was building steam. After diagnosing the illness, Leiya cast Heal on the young man. Visibly the man’s pale and gaunt visage and withered limbs filled out and took on hale colors, as the villagers gasped at the miracle. Immediately the party stopped receiving wary looks and distant regard, they were embraced and lauded.
The family insisted that the little company stay with them for the night. Even though they had made plans to camp outside of the village, custom dictated that the heroes could not decline the offer. Enkili said that no matter how comfortable their accommodations, they would have to keep watch in case the Hag and her Troll blooded brood decided to strike. In the midst of all the rejoicing there was one who did not celebrate. The stricken man’s daughter, while happy her father was cured, did not seem to like the strangers in the village’s midst.
Leiya queried the elder about the girl, while everyone else looked at her for signs of fay strangeness; such as they had noticed with Diera who had been held by the Nighthags in an abandoned lighthouse. The girl was strange, but not in a “Hag” sort of way. Leiya spoke to her friends with Telepathy, upset by what she had learned. The elder had called the girl a child who was not a child. Jolrael subtly cast a Detect Magic spell on the girl, but did not share any discovery with his friends. Once more that term had crossed their path….
*Father’s day will be rocked by Dungeons & Dragons, see all of you on the calendar’s first day of Summer, June 21st.
Episode 147 Gurthos 20th - 21st, 1032 C.E.
* My apologies, the Father's Day game was cancelled and rescheduled for today, June 28, 2026. The man Leiya had cured is named Dorovev, his wife is Svetla, and the strange little girl is named Elya. Mikhil is the elder they had been conversing with throughout the day, the headman for the village Sosnova; over three hundred souls reside behind and around the palisade.
Through the remains of the celebration the party began to see Dorovev as a loud boastful fool. His wife, Svetla, would have been a saint if a religious component had been part of their relationship. Elya continued to remain standoffish, though never becoming hostile to the strangers her parents had embraced, the girl clearly did not wish anyone from the party coming to their domicile. Though they had not expected grand accommodations, the party did notice the signs of neglected upkeep. The house was neat, thanks to Svetla’s administrations, but repairs on the place were haphazard and showed a negligent hand.
Rather than show himself a gracious host, boorish Dorovev left settling the party to his wife so he could retire. His snores vibrated the walls before the heroes even had blankets. They were put up in the loft, while Elya was displaced to sleep in the same room as her parents. A barnyard stink wafted through the walls along with warmth; the people of this village had their animal pins up against their homes for mutual survival. Blaylocke regaled everyone with his Song of Rest, the magic music stimulating healing to everyone within hearing. The bard also took first watch.
During the second watch, Enkili was practicing one hand manipulations with his dagger while mostly listening for the sounds of danger. After a while he noticed that there was something different about the shadows of one corner on the ground floor. While peering intently into the strange dark, he caught actual motion, but at the same moment Elya’s voice came from behind him; prompting a near scream from the “bold” fighter.
In heavily accented broken Common, the girl warned him not to look into the room below. Through effort she got the fighter to back away from the edge, her inability to convey her thoughts in Common frustrated the girl to a great extent. She said that the Kikimora did not like to be observed, and it was already upset enough; that message took a great effort for Elya to convey. After asking if there was a way to appease the Kikimora, the girl started talking only in Onostian, and it took Enkili a moment to realize she was speaking to something behind him and not answering his query. Though his hand twitched for his sword, he stayed his hand when something behind him answered.
Pretending to be a statue proved hard for the fighter while Elya seemed to bargain and beg on their behalf. That stillness was tested even more when it became obvious that the creature at his back was interested in Leiya specifically. Obviously the girl talked the Kikimora out of it’s intentions, for the presence at Enkili’s back faded away. Her goal achieved the girl slipped away with a skill that brought Riardon to Enkili’s mind. Dextrous physical silence without the supernatural being used to maintain such stealth. Though he wanted to tell his tale, Enkili let his friends sleep while he remained back from the loft’s edge.
When he woke Leiya for her shift, Enkili told his story in full, even warning her to ignore the strange noises down on the ground floor. Being Onostian, Leiya knew a bit of lore about Kikimora. She told Enkili that they were house spirits that were neither good nor bad, that all depended on the homeowner where the things took up residence. They could bring fortune or misfortune in the tales she knew. The priestess pondered the old Onostian folklore while the hours slowly passed.
Eventually false dawn heralded the sounds of life from below. Svetla seemed to be directing Elya to gather eggs for breakfast, then the mother grew alarmed and angry. Evidently there was broken pottery and dishes down below, and Svetla’s first instinct was to blame her daughter. Elya denied any culpability, but after being browbeaten for a while, eventually surrendered and accepted the blame. Leiya was able to reason out this was a common occurrence in this house, the girl being blamed for the Kikimora’s displays of ire.
Leiya shook her friends awake before descending downstairs, at the same time Dorovev also woke up. Svetla did not allow Leiya to assist in the kitchen, so the priestess eventually followed Elya outside; it took a few minutes before she could locate the girl sulking in an out of the way place almost out of eye shot. Enkili, dressed in armor, passed through the house and began to do his morning workout routine. Blaylocke found all the broken pottery and told Svetla that he could repair it; he had to convince the good woman that he required privacy due to the secret “Dwarven craft” the work required. Onostians like almost all other known Erathian cultures were suspicious of magic.
While the bard was casting Mend in the loft, Leiya revealed that she knew about the Kikimora to Elya. At first the girl was upset that Enkili had talked about the spirit creature, but Leiya allayed her fears; Dorovev’s daughter revealed that the Kikimora had taught her stealthy practices, and stating that the local priests hunted such spirits. Meanwhile Dorovev strutted up to Enkili and began to boast how he could have been a great warrior, but had chosen to become a farmer instead. Since The Sainted Sword required space to exercise with it, the fighter had to stop his rigorous exercise. Fortunately the fighter noticed a pig squeezing past a broken fence post. Pointing out the escape artist saved Enkili from having to discuss how a warrior stood no chance against a trained fighter. As the farmer chased his pig down the street the fighter smiled then continued his sword drills, any other person may have recieved his help.
Elya, who, for possibly the first time ever, had a chance to talk about her secret, began to tell how the Kikimora had become murderous when her father had broken an old figurine. Before that moment, it had been neutral, for her father was not truly a bad man, he had even saved another man’s life after a fall through thin ice. Leiya let the girl know that there was always a way to appease the Kikimora, and they would work with her to set things right with the spirit.
Svetla, amazed by Blaylockes “craftmanship” put a large breakfast before the bard. The food was so good, Blaylocke was moved to song. His performance stopped Enkili in the yard, drawing the fighter inside. Through the kitchen window he saw poor Dorovev carrying his pig back up the road. A few minutes later, while the song still mesmerized (natural 20 performance check) Leiya and Elya came in to enjoy the music and food. Elya noticed the newly repaired pottery, and her face brightened. Dropping her fork, the girl rushed up to the loft.
She races back with the shards of a primal looking figurine of light blue stone streaked with dark blue veins. Leiya had to translate Elya’s pleas for Blaylocke to fix the statuette. The bard explained that he could put the stone carving back together, but he could not put any special powers back in it; the girl just wanted it done, not understanding that Blaylocke was referring to any enchantments the figure may have had. He took the shards to the loft where he went through a magical regiment of ritual spells to see if the construction was magical in any way. He then cast Mend one more time and restored the ancient figure; there had been no residual magic in the carved stone.
After the farmer effected minimal repairs to the pig pen, Dorovev returned to the house as proud as a man who had actually put in real work. This prompted Leiya into upbraiding the man in his own home. Fortunately she had the tact and wisdom to pull it off without igniting any resentment. With a small bit of input from Enkili, she managed to impress upon Dorovev that the streak of misfortune that had been haunting his family came from his laziness, boorish behavior, and puffed up pride.
Humbled, but thinking clearly, Dorovev promised to do better. He showed improved grit when Leiya offered to hire people to help him set his farm and house right, he declined the offer saying he should make his own attempt before summoning help. After breakfast they saw the farmer taking stock of what needed the most attention first, so they gathered up to meet Mikhil in the village square.
With the help of a cane and younger family members, Mikhil has his seat set up near where the bonfire had blazed the night before. The old man opened up with a query on whether the party was leaving or would they stay. When they said that staying brought danger on the village, they were told that the danger would fall upon the village no matter where the party went; making it clear that Sosnovka required help.
He then told the heroes of an old pact one of his predecessors had made with the Hag (I did not catch the names of the Hag or her remaining sons. Those names will come in episode 148), If the village survived after two days then the Hag could no longer plague them. Mikhil made it clear that the Hagborn Troll sons would come that night, and if they failed the Hag would come herself the following night. When questioned the headman inferred that the sons were relatively the same in size in power and might, though the eldest was more savage. Leiya and Blaylocke, in common, began to discuss trying to hide the villagers away in his Mordenkainene’s Marvelous Mansion for the next two days. It was pointed out that three hundred or more people would not fit….
*We will meet again on July 5th to continue with our planning. While Enkili would like to mount the head of the first Hagborn Troll on the gate to instigate a fight, the rest of the party is more inclined to use trickery to deny the Hag her vengeance on the village. Next Sunday should see both Ghosttusk and Ramsay Cowlishaw rejoining our ranks with their characters. Their presence was sorely missed this episode.
Episode 148 Gurthos 21st, 1032 C.E.
* Unfortunately tech issues robbed us of Ramsay Cowlishaw’s presence this game. Correction above: Sosnova’s population was closer to 250 souls than 300. The Hag is named Zlobniya, her remaining children from youngest to oldest are: Bolka (pain), Taga (grief) and Zagub (loss). Grablivi (ravenous/ gluttonous) was the son already slain, the most powerful of the Hag’s children.
While the shortcomings of Mordenkainen’s Marvelous Mansion were being lamented, Grynn (who had returned from under the magical tarp) suggested adding a spell of his to relieving the situation. He had the ability to cast Temple of the Gods, a very potent spell. Like the Mansion, this spell created a large space that could hold hundreds of people. Unlike the Mansion the Temple could not be hidden. Yet that resource became the backbone of the players plan.
It was determined that one hundred of the most vulnerable would be placed in Mordenkainen’s Marvelous Mansion, the last sixty seven would be housed in the Temple of the Gods, a place that would be more defensible than any part of the village. The remaining eighty three villagers were those young and hale enough to help take part in Sosnova’s defense. Enkili asked those villagers to break into three teams. Thirty three of the least capable but healthy villagers would remain in the Temple to shield the noncombatants.
The other two teams (twenty five people apiece) had the veterans and experienced combatants as their core people, along with seventeen of the more stable inexperienced folk. These teams would use guerrilla tactics to occupy two of the Hagborn Trolls, so the party could deal with one son at a time. Throughout the day the party and Sosnova’s leadership surveyed the village to see where to set up the two magical constructions. The bard’s spell was easy enough, it just needed a small space for the doorway between dimensions to be erected, but the Temple would manifest in the world. Just north of the village goats, pigs, and oxen from two pastures were removed to other pens, making space for Grynn’s Temple of the Gods.
Along the gravel path twenty feet north of Mikhil’s abode was the site of Blaylocke’s grand spell, and when the sun started to touch the tree festooned hills to the west the spells were intoned and manifested. Though not used to facing any form of magic, Sosnova’s people proved very practical. No one objected, no one fought for position in one manifestation over the other; people just shuffled through one door or the other. Defenders then sought places of concealment from which to spring their various ambuscades.
Enkili set up Grablivi’s head on the gravel path closest to where the main road entered the village, then he leaned against a hut with his potion of Stone Giant Strength in hand to while away the time. Leiya cast Aid on Jolrael (who soon went back under the magic tarp), Blaylocke, and Enkili; she then cast Death Ward on herself. Jolrael cast Armor of Shadows on himself, then paced eager and worried at the same time. As the dying sun’s shadows stretched forth to welcome the night, the promised twilight was broken by a shriek from the northeast of Sosnova. The heroes came to attention like a pack of wolves scenting prey.
Another scream sounded from the northwest of the village.
“Sons of the Hag, you can claim the head of your brother and go, or your heads can be added to the collection!” Enkili challenged as he removed the stopper from his potion. Grynn upcast Bless and covered everyone in the party with that spell. Bolka snarled a head collecting threat in Onostian before he was seen striding from the west. Blaylocke quietly tapped out Enkili’s theme song on his drums, buoying the fighter’s spirits (Bardic Inspiration). Then the Bard, still tapping the martial beat, cast Haste on the fighter.
Deprecating the party in Onostian, Zaguba was seen walking up from the south; the size of the brother’s making the heroes doubt their own prowess. Silent, Taga moved in from the east, all of the brothers stopped too far away. Leiya, remembering that the monsters they faced were vulnerable to holy light, placed Radiant Defense on Enkili; a special form of magic that had a spell like effect. This allowed her to summon her Spiritual Weapon, setting it to defend the party’s eastern flank. Bolka closed some distance, stopping well outside of a Human’s running distance.
Enkili, graced with a Haste spell, was able to close that distance though. He ran to the monster’s far side before plying the blade of his ancestors. Despite a Blur spell on Bolka, the fighter only missed once, his final attack a Menacing Attack which did not phase the Hag’s spawn. Leiya, repositioning her Spiritual Weapon, hurled a Guiding Bolt at Bolka. The righteous radiance seared the creature enough to make him cry out. Snarling something in Onostian, Zaguba was briefly surrounded by a cloud of sparkles… or something. Vanishing in the cloud, the Hagborn Troll reappeared in another shimmery cumulus manifestation right next to Blaylocke and Leiya (Misty Step).
Taga glided in from the east, loping and not lumbering as his size might have indicated. This son pinched the bard and priestess between himself and his other brother. Grimacing at his situation, Blaylocke did not flush from between the giants. Instead he cast Dispel Magic on Bolka, removing the Blur effect on the youngest son. Bolka’s wounds started to close as his Regeneration tried to keep up with the rain of damage he was taking. The monster then started to hammer at the fighter. His first shot missed which set Enkili up for a riposte, which did work. The second fist did hammer the armored man though, severely wounding the Mandagan.
Enkili flared with holy light when Leiya’s Radiant Defense detonated. The Hagborn Troll was killed in the flare, saving Enkili from at least one more attack. Though the fighter flickered in time and space, he did not become displaced from the here and now. Though he had intended his spell for Bolka, Grynn turned and hurled his Guiding Bolt on Zaguba; burning the creature and painting it in a glimmer that defied the creature’s Blur spell. The Halforc priest then moved to Zaguba flanking him with Leiya.
Taga began to rain blows on Leiya, intent on hammering her into sludge at his feet. She sidestepped or warded the first two blows, but the third attack slammed into her with the force of a diving roc. She stuttered in time, but remained temporally rooted. Zaguba’s final attack also hit. Leiya’s Death Ward was the only reason she was not felled, a rare Coin of Era’s was consumed to save her from the time displacement. Enkili sped in and began to attack Zaguba, flanking with Blaylocke. He missed once (badly) with his four attacks, then he Action Surged and took another series of swings. He hit all three times, his final blow was another failed Menacing Attack. Zaguba looked like a half butchered beast, hale one second, near dead a few seconds later.
Having one brother killed, and the other grunting mortal distressed sounds helped infringe on Taga’s attention for a critical moment which allowed Blaylocke to pull a tactical retreat. The bard scuttled just outside of both Hagborn Troll’s reach before he stopped and cast a Healing Word on Leiya. Afraid of Enkili’s threat coming true, Zaguba flailed at the fighter. His first fist saw the fighter weave and step to the side, but a back fist caught the plate clad fighter solidly. Enkili’s image warped as though rotating lenses made his distorted form enlarged and shrink with discordant rapidity; cut scene images seemed to have little to do with each other, other than having Enkili as the subject. He had been disjoined from time.
His pained cries changing in temper, Zagaba turned his last attack onto Grynn. The priest staggered from the blow, pain making him lose control of his Bless spell. All the Hagborn Trolls inflicted heavy damage. Leiya shifted so she was no longer flanked by the brothers, at the same time her Spiritual Weapon glided over and swung at Zaguba. Though the manifested weapon missed, Leiya had givern herself an opening to call down a Flame Strike on Taga and Zaguba. The later brother staggered three steps before falling, he looked like a pig left too long on the spit; Taga roared in outrage, finally taking damage in the fight that had only lasted twelve seconds….
*That is it for a while. July 12th will have no game, which means the next we meet will fall on July 19th.
Episode 149 Gurthos 21st - 22nd 1032 C.E.
* Jolly reappeared, shunted from the canvas of character storage.
Grunting with effort, Taga swung at Leiya, his huge fist fluttering her hair with it’s passage. It was the Hagborn Troll’s follow up punch that connected though. The blow should have staved in ribs and left the priestess as human wreckage at the fiend’s feet, but Death Ward magic actually rebuffed the damage… to an extent. Wide eyed, Leiya was about to comment on the miracle but Taga was not through throwing punches; his next shot did hammer her to the ground. A savaged puppet discarded in Onostian mud.
The huge creature then moved north a few steps then west so he could threaten Grynn (to the south), Blaylocke, and Jolrael (both north and together). The sorcerer uttered a word of power while his hands parted reality. Jolrael used Farstep to land at Leiya’s side. Kneeling down, the spell slinger poured a Potion of Superior Healing down her throat. As an added effect, Jolrael then ran east taunting the brute to chase him.
Though he thought about running, Blaylocke knew he should not let Taga have a free shot at his back. Instead the bard trilled out counter magic; his Dispel Magic tearing away Taga’s celerity and the magic making his form blurry. With the Haste removed, the Hagborn Troll slumped in place as lethargy slammed into him. At that point Blaylocke simply strode out of reach, Taga making a belated pathetic grab for the bard. Grynn also stepped away; he gulped a Greater Healing Potion, then upcast Mass Healing Word on every friendly person he could see.
Enkili reappeared to static form, no longer dilated temporaly; he was staring in the wrong direction and with the wrong posture of attack for the new moment he was now in. Leiya jumped up and cast Heal on the fighter, her Spiritual Weapon moved over and tried to pummel Taga’s back. The overly large figure, whether by intention or happenstance, stepped aside at the right moment so the spell crafted weapon missed. Grynn upcast Guiding Bolt and pelted Taga with the spell, lighting the hulking creature up; this also stole the bruiser’s ability to regenerate that turn. For once, the target was not surrounded by hounding heroes; this made Jolrael grin that special grin of his.
With circling whipping gestures the sorcerer brought a Whirlwind into existence right on top of Taga. The brute had to fall to hands and feet to cling to the ground, the winds that battered Taga tried to uproot the massive figure despite digging fingers and toes into the villages turf. Blaylocke took the opportunity to upcast a Word of Healing to place on Grynn. The bard then fired an arrow into the maelstrom and hit the Hagborn Troll. The high winds prevented Enkili from charging in to deal damage directly to the massive foe. He dabbled with the idea of drawing his bow, then thought better of it, he placed himself where he was before both clerics and readied to intercede when the twisted figure left the Whirlwind.
As the Hagborn Troll cast his eyes about within the wind storm, Leiya sent her Spiritual Weapon into the gale only to have the mace shaped magic miss. Despite her own pain, the priestess stepped over to Grynn and upcast Cure Wounds on him. Having doubts about his decision to not pull his bow, Enkili maintained his stance in guarding the healers. Knowing that the holy light of his Guiding Bolt spell both prevented the Hagborn Troll from regenerating and made it easier for his friends to hit the creature, Grynn unerringly hurled the magic through the winds. Melana’s cleric then produced his sling and prepared it for battle.
Instead of charging out of the Whirlwind spell, Taga used one hand to help him gesture through a spell. Sickening red light tinged with unsettling gray enveloped the hulking creature and then Taga simply vanished. Enkili began to look about while demanding to know where their foe reappeared, he was used to the Misty Step and Farstep spells he had seen before. Both Grynn and Blaylocke had to explain that Taga had used a Plane Shift spell and had not teleported a short distance. Taking stock of the battles aftermath, the party discovered that nearly half of Sosnovka’s warriors had been slaughtered by the brothers. Then a voice emanated from beyond the village bounds. Zlobniya vowed that everyone was doomed, and she would come the next night.
Preliminary plans were made before the villagers and heroes rested for the next night. The plan was nigh the same as before; preserve the villagers until the following morning when the old compact would expire and Zlobniya and her surviving son would no longer be able to bring woe. In the morning a blood stained wagon was found outside the village boundary, inside was the dismembered remains of a man, his head on the seat. Oleg had been an Onostian champion who had traveled to help Sosnovka against their Hag problem.
Mikhil was greatly distraught over this foul deed, now his village only had one set of protectors whom were mostly foreigners. Shortly after the headman had been calmed down, someone pointed out trinkets and fetishes that were now decorating trees surrounding the village. Between Leiya and Blaylocke, the knowledge of the Hag was produced in part. Slobniya came from a line of fiendish Hags sent from hell. They had a taste for children and not only for food, for they delighted in the corruption of innocence and purity. They were said to snag the souls of the dying soon after the last breath. A Hag of Slobniya’s prowess was said to wield the powers of a whole coven of Hags, without actually having a coven on hand.
This meant that their Hag was able to augment her spell casting as though several Hags were joining power. Hags were especially dangerous on their home turf. While Hags did not gravitate to similar spells or schools of magic, they all shared some resistances. Leiya and Blaylocke said that Slobniya would be resistant to cold, fire, bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing non magical weapons unless those weapons were silvered. She would also be highly resistant to magic and was said to able to become ghost like at will. Despite the heroes entreaties to stay, several village families attempted to leave.
Screams from the trees prevented a wholesale exodus. Bodies and body parts joined the dangling fetishes from nearby branches, and again, no one was seen placing the grim decorations, but Zlobniya showed herself while snacking on someone’s arm. As the sun sank behind distant hills, Leiya cast the Heroes Feast spell. As they dined the party reviewed their plans yet again, everyone of them feeling the unknown elements of their foe kept their plan from being fool proof. Leiya cast Death Ward on herself, remembering how well it had served her the prior night. Grynn chose to place his Death Ward on Enkili, but the fighter claimed his magic periapt provided similar protections. So the protective magic was placed on Jolrael.
Soon, as the party milled before the door of Grynn’s Temple of the Gods spell, and the last of the youth and vital villagers had been stashed inside Mordenkainen’s Marvelous Mansion, Zlobniya opened up the fight with a taunt. Leiya had to interpret for her friends. “It is time to know anguish, to savor pain, and taste the flesh of the innocent!” The party had thought the Hagborn Troll brothers had been large, but Zlobniya was built on a scale to rival the true giants of Erath.
Enkili, a fan of his peoples past barbarity, had placed the heads of the Hag’s sons on posts before their waiting area. Zlobniya cackled as though her offspring’s fate was hilarious. Her magic animated the heads and the posts, and the deceased trio danced off into the dark after a brief macabre caper, heading east. As his trophies moved off, Enkili drank his Potion of Speed, hoping that this would allow the bard to bring more potent magics to bear against the Hag. As the fighter gathered to charge Zlobnia, Leiya cast Radiant Defense on him.
Jolrael unwound a scroll he had been saving, and cast Enlarge/Reduce on Enkili, The man from Mandagar was now almost as tall as the Hagborn Trolls they had fought the last couple of days. Blaylocke played and sang Leiya’s theme song, granting the priestess a Bardic Inspiration. Grynn launched a Guiding Bolt at Zlobniya then charged forward, the spell made her laughter stop. Though the priest was closer, the Hag tried to ensorcel Enkili. The fighter, aided by the effects of the Heroes Feast, did not freeze in place.
Surprised at her lack of success, the Hag retreated just far enough that not even Hasted Enkili could reach her in one move. While fanning out to the west, Jolrael changed the nature of the spell he cast, turning a Fire Bolt into a Jolt Bolt, however, the magic flew wide. Enkili did start charging, but he swerved to the east and hid himself behind a small Slovnoskan home. Blaylocke made himself Invisible then moved a bit eastward. Lieya also hurled a Guiding Bolt at Zlobniya, the damage seeming so slight that she may have wasted her effort….
*Our next game will be July 26th. We have hopes that Ghosttusk will be joining us again, but he left instructions for someone to run his character, and what Grynn is supposed to do next if he does not.
RE: Game Session Recaps - frenzied67 - 07-29-2026
Episode 150 Gurthos 22nd 1032 C.E.
Grynn darted to the west then cast Spiritual Weapon right in front of Zlobniya, when her eyes turned to witness the manifestation, he used the distraction to pelt her with a Sacred Flame cantrip. The burns did not seem like much on the Hag’s huge frame; the Spiritual Weapon also connected when it swung. Zlobniya marched forward til she could see everyone. With mad glee she made her voice sound in everyone’s heads. “Home is where the Head is!” This presaged a sensation of being grabbed up by Leiya, Enkili, and Grynn. The Telekenetic grasp did not catch on the priestess or fighter, but poor Grynn was flung thirty foot into a shack near Leiya and the Invisible Blaylocke.
Jolrael had been prepared for such a situation, he cast the Feather Fall spell from his ring as the priest flew; however Grynn was being propelled by a spell and was not free falling, so the fast flung magic did not halt the flailing career. Slamming into the toolshed must have knocked Grynn out for half a second, because his Spiritual Weapon blinked out. The hag then turned on Enkili and cast a spell on the fighter that made the man sink to the ground and begin to snore, the Hag then moved north and a little west. Letting the concealment spell fall away, Blaylocke hit Zlobniya with Vicious Mockery. A Ray of Enfeeblement was flung almost faster than thought, but the bard ducked the retaliatory magic.
Jolly closed with the hag, charging in as if he were about to tackle the monster. Instead of grappling her about the knees, the sorcerer cast Thunder Step. While the sonic blast did not do as much harm as the party wished, Jolrael did appear right next to Enkili, but shaking the fighter did not rouse the man. Hobbling with the speed of a giant, Zlobniya closed within ten feet of both Leiya and Blaylocke; reaching distance for the overlarge Hag. Despite being within smelling distance of Zlobniya, Leiya hurled a Sacred Flame onto Enkili. Pain roused the fighter, who thanked the apologetic cleric.
Nails harder than horn lashed out at Leiya, Melwen’s vicar staggered with the blow and resulting pain. Using a gymnastic trick, Enkili vaulted to his feet and closed on the Hag. He swung and critical hit, hit, miss, then hit again, then he Action Surged, missed, missed and critical hit; each hit saw him attempt a Tripping Attack. Zlobniya was very strong and did not succumb to the fighters tricks even though he was Enlarged and Hasted, until the man actually caught her heel and upended her a part of his last attack. While the fighter was cutting the Hag to nigh ribbons, Grynn got up and stumbled into the fight. He grabbed at her shoulder and cast Dispel Evil/Good, trying to dismiss the vile creature.
His spell glimmered all over Zlobniya but she fought the magic successfully. Oh but the glare she had for Grynn after that. Still she had another target in mind for spiteful retaliation. The fluctuating lenses of time dilation formed around Enkili, but the fighter clung to the here and now with quiet desperation. Vexed that her spell failed, and that her foes were super tenacious, Zlobniya quickly cast another spell from her back and vanished in a cloud of sulfur and brimstone.
As the night before when Taga fled, Enkili spent the next several moments spinning about wondering if Zlobniya had used a short teleportation spell. Building up a charge for his Joltbolt (Firebolt variant), Jolrael also looked around. Breathing a sigh of relief, Blaylocke laid arrow to string and also waited for a target. Practical Leiya magically changed her eyes with a True Seeing spell, as that magic began to set on her she moved over to the set of doors of The Temple of the Gods. Her eyes instantly beheld the marks of Old Onostian writing over the people inside when she peaked in (later speculations made the party think this was the old bargain the Sosnovan’s had with the Hag).
Time ran out on Jolrael’s cantrip, but the sorcerer built up another as he hopped up on a wood bin to extend his vision. Enkili displaced and moved a bit west, holding the Sainted Sword ready in case Zlobniya would reappear. The Hag chose that moment to reappear in the same spot she had vanished from, startled, Blaylocke’s hasty shot flew wide. Again the Hag made a statement in Onostian, she looked healthier than when she had left. Blaylocke sang out again, casting Roalothim’s Psychic Lance at Zlobniya. That magic did not seem to be as effective as it had on past opponents, though it still stung the Hag.
Again Zlobniya’s creaky voice uttered statements in Onostian, she then created a green cloud the color of illness and corruption (Death Sphere). Blaylocke had a Coin of Fate vanish to protect himself, unfortunately Leiya was fully effective by the fell magic. Safely outside the grim colored cloud, Grynn once again grabbed Zlobniya from behind. His Dispel Evil/Good did not take effect on the giant witch again. He tried to create distance from Zlobniya, but he took a mighty swipe from the Hag’s claws as he moved away.
Ignoring the priest, Zlobniya scuttled over to Jolrael to threaten the spell caster. Leiya slammed the door closed then stumbled out of the Death Sphere. She cast Healing Word on Grynn, then hit Zlobniya with a Sacred Flame; this time it seemed the spell did full damage. As the Hag hissed in pain, Jolrael hit her with a Tidal Wave spell. He used Tempestuous Magic to carry himself off the wood bin and onto the roof of the house next to him. Though staggered a bit, Zlobniya was not swept off her feet.
Again the Hag tried to hurl Ekili, Leiya, and Jolrael with Telekinesis, but she wove too hurriedly and failed to grasp any of the three. Again she spoke in Onostian and her word were not translated, the translator was too busy trying to make Zlobniya feel persecuted. Grynn drew himself up and cast Banish on Zlobniya, but the Hag refused to vanish. The priest pulled out a Potion of Greater Healing and prepared to drink it. Blaylocke ran out of the Death Sphere and hurled another Roalothim’s Psychic Lance, again the spell did not meet expectations with it’s damage; Enkili’s theme song issued from the bard.
A Guiding Bolt from Leiya failed to take, so the priestess stepped back. Again Zlobniya seemed to mock them in Onostian, she hurled a Dispel Magic on Enkili. The fighter shrank to normal size and staggered, the lethargy of losing Haste leaving him weak and drained. The Hag then lifted into the air and flew a ways away. It took several seconds before Enkili felt his knees firm up and bear his weight. From her new eastern vantage, Zlobniya moved the Death Sphere a bit south, catching Blaylocke and Leiya in it’s tainted radius.
But the Hag was not done. Once again she tried to snare Enkili in temporal magic; the fighter growled and clung to his Now like a lion holding her kill against circling hyenas. Grynn manifested an upcast Spiritual Weapon near the Hag, but the spell missed hitting her. He moved east drinking his potion. Again Blaylocke’s stout legs brought him out of the Death Sphere, he up cast a Healing Word on Leiya. From on high, Jolrael cast Whirlwind on the Hag’s position, but as the winds began to swirl, Zlobniya Counterspelled the man. She taunted in Onostian as Jolrael dropped off the building’s west side.
Stumbling up the wood bin, then onto the same roof Jolrael had quit, Enkili brandished his sword at the still distant Hag. Zlobniya made sickening green energy pulse out of the Death Sphere to sting the Sorcerer. She then opened up a human skin bag and pulled out a blue glowing orb…. No, it was a face, a human face. The Hag swallowed the soul stuff of Oleg the witch hunter and healed herself; she then flew further east, too far for the fighter to catch her. Leiya jogged south to get out of the Death Sphere, she then tried to catch the Hag in a Force Wall sphere. Zlobniya also Counterspelled this magic.
The Hag then moved her Death Sphere so that Blaylocke, Leiya, Jolrael, and Grynn were inside. Moving west some more, Blaylocke exited the magic zone, then upcast another Raulothim’s Psychic Lance; again the Hag did not take as much damage as hoped for. The Hag then tried to hurl Grynn, Leiya, Jolrael, and Enkili with some form of Telekinetic force. Grynn was the only one the spell caught up; again the priest was slammed against a building thirty feet away. Enkili had to dash to get within melee distance of Zlobniya. As a reward, she clawed the fighter which ignited the Radiant Defense Leiya had put on Enkili; the man took more damage between the two.
Grynn tried to hit the Hag with his Spiritual Weapon, but she may well have been wearing plate mail. He then cast Mass Healing Word on Leiya, Enkili, and himself. Enkili ducked under another claw attack from Zlobniya, she was not expecting his Riposte. Her second swing did not miss; she even sent another pulse from her Death Sphere to do the fighter additional damage. Upcasting Healing Word on the fighter, Leiya moved south and east before also casting Sacred Flame on Zlobniya. Again the Hag proved too potent for that cantrip.
Cackling crazily, the Hag then flew away from Enkili and landed near the rest of the party. Jaw muscles clenching, Jolrael upcast Lightening Storm (Ice Storm variant). Zlobniya failed to Counterspell, but did make her saving throw. The sorcerer then moved south out of the Death Sphere. The Hag tried to punish Jolrael with some Will directed spell, but his natural twenty saved him from all harm….
*That was the last game of July. We will meet again on August 2nd sans Ramsay Cowlishaw. He has given us license to run Jolrael in his absence.
Episode 151 Gurthos 22nd - 23rd 1032 C.E.
In a hunched back spindly limb-ed parody of dance, Zlobniya capered over to Grynn and raked him with her bone like nails. She then swayed as if grace was what she truly mocked, and headed west to paw at Blaylocke; the bard did pay proper homage to grace in the way he avoided those finger spurs. The Hag kicked up her heels until she was back where she had started. Spite and glee writhed on Zlobniya’s features as she then wriggled her knobby knuckled finger at Enkili. The Fighter felt the world become capriciously non-firm, as his eyes saw a world beyond his normal reality. Willing his brain and body not to obey, he avoided some sort of banishing effect with the help of the Bardic Inspiration he had received.
Knowing that their foe was highly resistant to both fire and ice, Jolrael converted a Ray of Frost to a Ray of Lightening; despite Zlobniya’s great size, her deceptive quickness cause the beam to miss. For her part, the Hag moved her Sphere of Death so that it covered Grynn. Knowing the spell would drain his life if he stayed, Grynn first moved his Spiritual Weapon from the east, then he charged through her spell and tried to grab her. Though the priest got a grip, his upcast Dispel Evil/Good could not overcome Zlobniya’s magical nature.
Feeling desperation eroding his normal confidence, since his bag of tricks was nigh expired, Blaylocke resorted to hurling Eldritch Blasts at the Hag. His spirits lifted a bit as the first shot slammed into her throat (critical), his next shot hit, but the third missed. Some of her vile glee gone, Zlobniya took to the sky and made a short flight to the west, maintaining as much distance from herself and the mad fighter who was trying to end her. Thwarted yet again, Enkili did run through the top part of the Death Sphere hoping the Hag would make that one slip he craved. He pressed and rubbed some dirt into some of his wounds, pulling on inner strength to bolster his physicality (Second Wind)
Leiya cast Mass Healing Word on both Enkili and Grynn, that spell reaching clear across the field of battle. The priestess then charged west, clambering over the well used wood bin just so she could try to pelt Zlobniya with a Sacred Flame. The holy light flared then fizzled on the witch without actually touching her flesh. Still too far to close with Zlobniya, Enkili stood his ground, pulling his bow. The first two shots missed (one arrow a natural one), but the last arrow struck warty hide; the Hag barely noticed the shaft. Zlobniya used her Telekenetic ability to try and throw Blaylocke, Leiya, and Jolrael. Leiya and the sorcerer resisted being plucked from their feet, but poor Blaylocke was thrown north into the shack that was the Hag’s favorite target.
The Hag then scuttled closer by twenty five feet, she snared Enkili in a Hold Person spell. Blaylocke stood up and hurled three more Eldritch Blasts Zlobniya’s way; only the last bolt hit. As she glared at the bard, Grynn found an opening to throw an upcast Guiding Bolt. The spell splashed against the side of the Hags head (critical) and she was limned in holy light which made her temporarily easier to hit. He then moved his Spiritual Weapon west, slowly bringing it into the new theater of conflict.
Her mocking grin growing again, Zlobniya moved her Death Sphere over Grynn and Enkili; she threw a wink at the fighter who was frozen in place. That malicious twinkle in her eyes was short lived. Jolrael made a Lightening Storm (Ice Storm varient) open up directly over the Hag. The sorcerer tried to ride his Tempestuous Magic up and grab onto the shack’s roof. Though he scrabbled against the wall mightily, Jolly sank back to the ground failing to catch the roof’s ledge. Flying again, Zlobniya landed near Jolrael, Blaylocke, and Leiya who were all against the shack in the southern region of the fight.
Ignoring the Hag’s proximity, Leiya hit Enkili with a Healing Word, then turned another Sacred Flame on their foe, after that she placed herself between the bard and sorcerer. Zlobniya had to use a Legendary Save to prevent herself from taking damage from the priestess' cantrip. Grynn danced west to exit the Hag’s sphere, pulling his Spiritual Weapon after himself. Even though she was still an easy target from his last use of the spell, Grynn had to use his Coin of Birthright in order to hit Zlobniya with another Guiding Bolt; she remained lit up and easy to hit. A pinky finger twitched, then with a roar of effort, Enkili broke the grip of the Hold Person spell freezing him in the Death Sphere which was slowly draining his life force.
Zlobniya instantly hurled another spell onto the fighter. Enkili vanished from his friends sight; he found himself in a dim twilight world populated with dead figures who did not seem to see him. The Hag then turned on Grynn and hurled a Lightening Bolt on him, then followed that with a pulse from the Death Sphere. The cleric staggered barely attenuated with life. As further insult, Zlobniya then flew west. Suffering the same desperation her friends felt, Leiya ran west for about ten feet. She then cast Dawn over the Hag, holy light burning the giant witch. Leiya then stepped back five feet so she could cover her two friends. What had happened to Enkili?
Flying out of the light of the Dawn spell, Zlobniya landed near Grynn; her leering visaged bored in on the cleric with the promise of mayhem. Plucking a silver arrow from his quiver, Blaylocke fired it in a shallow arch then cast Conjure Volley. Still, the Hag was resistant to magic, and the shower of arrows was not as devastating as prior uses of the spell had been on other enemies. Yet the bard did receive a glare absent of the taunting glee the Hag usually gave. Was she tiring like the party was?
Dirty claws lashed out and Grynn staggered back, the priest refusing to fall from a blow that would have leveled stout Enkili (Relentless Endurance). Trying to fly to the roof again, Jolrael cast another Lightening Storm on the Hag. Zlobniya’s eyes no longer shone with manic glee, just the promise of death remained in those drab orbs. Again the sorcerer failed to catch the roof’s edge. Three bolts issued from Zlobniya’s hand as she cast Magic Missile. One bolt was for Grynn, who did fall this time, while the other two arrow-ed into Jolrael.
This time Zlobniya tried to catch Jolrael, Blaylocke, and Leiya with her innate Telekenisis. Only Jolly flew, flung into a nearby tool shed, or outhouse. Enkili returned, blinking in incomprehension at the sudden change. Struggling to his feet, the sorcerer found that his plans were almost awry, if not for his Tempestuous Magic he might not have been able to close with Zlobniya enough for the spell he chose. Running then flying close to the Hag, he unleashed an altered Aganazaar’s Scorcher (an Aganazaar’s Zapper). Though Grynn made his first Death Save, Zlobniya’s next despicable act put the cleric more firmly on Gurthen’s door. She clawed his body then studied him for a few seconds, like a burgeoning psychopath watching the bugs he had de-limbed.
Certain the priest was about to expire in pain, the hag then flew a few yards to the north. She then pulsed the Death Sphere and hurt Enkili. Though still too far to close with the Hag for melee, she was now close enough for the fighter to enact a plan he had been considering from before being shunted into a pocket dimension. He dropped his bow then sprinted out of the Death Sphere till he was standing over Grynn. A flask of Holy Water appeared within the mouth of his Bag of Holding. The vial flew true. Enkili used his only Coin of Birthrights to ensure the flask hit the Hag’s head, a critical hit.
Shrieking in utmost pain, Zlobniyas skin burned and peeled away, her eyes popped and oozed, then her form toppled to the ground and writhed until her voice grew too hoarse to make the screams carry. As she died the heroes all received a vision, even in death the Hag had one more wickedness to play. She showed them the original contract with the villagers of Slovnoska. They had bartered for eternal youth, not for protection. All around the weary heroes the houses and building aged, boards shed paint as they grayed and warped. Animals fell in their pens, withered, and turned to powder their bones bleached by centuries.
A glance into The Temple of the Gods revealed every Slovnoskan a mummified husk. Healing spells restored Grynn from the brink, then bolstered his health. As the bodies were gathered and moved to a central building, the party managed to acquire 3PP, 70GP, 5Ep, 130SP, and 180CP; as well as 3 Citrines, 2 Sardonyx, and 1 Moonstone. Leiya led the funerary rites over her fellow Onostians before the building was set alight, their pyre burning long into the night….
*One hell of a series of fights!!! All in all we were told to level up our characters, though the benefits of leveling up won’t take effect until we train. Our next game will be August 9th sans Ghosttusk. We were forewarned that Long John will be absent August 23rd. My fellow adventurers, please remember to level up your characters this week to minimize the Papers and Paychecks aspect of the game. See everyone next week!
**Addendum. Ramsay Cowlishaw has just contacted us about a show he and his band have on the 9th. Alas, we will be down 2