Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Highlights of Episode Ninety Six
Quenid 6th - 9th CE 1032

The innkeeper in Merefeld was less than pleased at being woken up after midnight, but the party did get rooms for the night. In the morning Blaylocke ritually cast Identify on the mystery cloak, revealing that it was a Cloak of Protection +1.  Four of the nine spells listed in the yellow spell book were deciphered, those being Identify, Disguise Self, Hold Person, and Invisibility.  The other five spells remain a complete mystery.  They make Anstarre near evening of Quenid the 8th, riding straight for Gorvenal Commons estate.

Jolrael had dealt with the man before, but had not prepared the group as to how eccentric he was; pudgy, shock haired, and high strung.  At first the man seemed willing to deny that he had gotten the green dragon's egg from Noska, then told them that he had it but didn't have it.  He brought them an unbroken shell, yet the egg was empty.  He had used magic to pluck the yolk out to make an omlette.  He then informed the party that Thurken the Slumberer was not the creature to go to in order to learn how to kill a green dragon; he recommended The Sage, a being that lived two days ride north of Anstarre along the river.

Gorvenal then drew a map on the back of a piece of paper that later proved to be a formula for crafting Invisibility Cloaks.  He then warned of the guardian that had to be defeated in order to see The Sage, but would not say what the guardian was.  "The door is the guardian, and the guardian is the door." was all the madman had to say.  Surprisingly the hand drawn map proved accurate, leading the adventurers to the sight of ruins so old that the remains barely seemed other than natural stone that had crumbled in geometric patterns.

While looking for anything that resembled a structure, the ground started to roil in the most unnatural manner seventy feet to the west.  A large metal head surfaced for a moment, then submerged back into the earth.  Again the earth seemed to boil twenty feet closer, this time the entire metal statue like creature rose form the seething soil.  Close to a dozen feet in height, this creature was manlike in shape, and extremely agitated.  Blaylocke instinctively tapped out a tune on his drum and gifted Enkili with an inspiration.  Jolrael hit the towering thing with his Tidal Wave spell, which failed to knock it down and did not do as much damage as it should have.

As Jolly created more distance by moving back, Blaylocke launched an arrow that sailed wide, then looped around the construct to strike Enkili.  Hurling a Firebolt at it, Riardon groaned when he witnessed the heat actually erased what little damage had been done to the metal thing.  The rogue then ran northwards to the brush growing there, taking shelter.  Moving closer to the strange being, Leiya cast Slow on it.  The magic sank into the thing but did not instill any effect whatsoever.  Enkili fired off two arrows which also not only missed, but u-turned around the being to slingshot back at Leiya; one of those shafts hit her.

Casting Bless on everyone but Riardon (he was too distant), Grynn stepped into the space between Enkili and Leiya.  When the thing moved a giant blade flowed out of its arms, becoming a huge sword.  Instead of slashing or trampling them, the thing exhaled a lung burning cloud of gas.  Leiya barely escaped the poison vapors but Grynn and Enkili were not so fortunate.  The pain was so intense that Grynn lost concentration on his Bless spell.  Keeping his distance, Jolrael hurled a Chromatic Orb (acid) which missed.  Blaylocke tried his Dissonant Whispers magic, but there was no mind to damage.

Taking the odd chance, Riardon pattered up behind the statue like thing and tried to grab it with a Shocking Grasp, but he slipped on loose gravel and discharged the magic static harmlessly into the ground instead of the golem.  Swinging its massive sword the creature all but stove in Enkili's plate armor, seriously harming the man, but Leiya was able to provide her protection to Grynn who almost was struck by the thing's return stroke.  Taking the opportunity, Grynn cast Mass Cure Light Wounds on Enkili, Leiya, and himself.  He then sprinted to get to the far side of the metal monster, creating a flanking situation for himself and Enkili.

Whipping his bow back across his back, Enkili let the Sainted Sword leap into his hand.  His first attack rang off the metal body and did no damage whatsoever.  he tried to trip it with his second attack, which did a little damage, but the thing was too strong to topple.  The Sainted Swords heat seemed to undo a chunk of the physical damage the blade dealt.  The fighter then bolstered himself against further harm (Second Wind), and restored some of his health.  Realizing how close Grynn and Enkili had come to dying in twelve seconds of time, Leiya ensconced the metal being in a dome of force (Wall of Force shaped to cover), trapping it behind the only magic that seemed to truly effect it.  This granted the party a ten minute interval to consider their options....

*Next game falls on February 2nd.  Xura celebrates another year of life.

**Seeking  Thurken the Slumberer may still be an option if this Iron Golem doesn't kill us all first.

***Enkili wants to ask the party if he can use the Cloak of Protection if no one else is wearing it.  On top of that, he thinks running away empty handed might be the best course to deal with this construct like creature.

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 32ep, 32sp, and 32gp to this point, party funds gained 8ep, 8sp, and 8gp; 8 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode Ninety Seven
Quenid 9th-10th CE 1032

*Note:  Last episode there was a "song of summoning" that had to be performed to summon the Guardian Golem.  This song did not make it into the notes or synopsis.

After the statue like creature was encased in the Dome of Force, Enkili stalked around the thing looking for anything to explain the words "The door is the Guardian, the Guardian is the door".  He found nothing.  Leiya opted for diplomacy, attempting to reach through the golem to the sage controlling it.  Her entreaties fell upon cold steel that lacked ears.  Grynn spent his time casting a healing spell upon Enkili, using an ability of his to siphon health into himself doing so.  Though the priestess' magic should have held the golem for ten minutes, her magic did not truly encase it.  So the golem began to sink into churning earth to extricate itself from her magical trap by going under the spell.

Not liking what he was doing, Enkili took off running, translating an old poem about a general who blindly lead his courageous troops into an overwhelming ambush due to a lack of scouting and preparation.  Riardon, whose every attempt to hit the creature had failed, also took to his heels.  Curiosity and the willingness to continue gathering intelligence on the golem made Jolrael step up next to the Dome of Force.  The sorcerer prepared a spell attack for when it emerged from the ground.

Grynn moved closer to Leiya to help shield her if harm came her way.  Leiya herself moved a little closer to the horses, but dawdled behind to help those who were not running away.  Still running, Enkili continued to move for the horses, Riardon almost closed with the fighter being much fleeter of foot.  Rising from the ground to stand right next to Jolrael, the golem received a surprise.  The sorcerer launched his prepared spell, which was Thunderstep; but he transmuted the percussive damage to become an acid burst.  Jolrael vanished and reappeared much closer to the horses.  The acid did etch the constructs surface, just not as deeply as any in the party wished.

As Leiya and Riardon ran, Jolrael actually moved closer to the golem, transmuting his Ray of Frost cantrip to do acid damage.  He missed.  He tried that again and had the same result after Enkili reached the horses and began to collect mounts to be moved back to his friends still close to the golem.  Riardon also reached the horses.  As her last act on the field, Leiya cast another Wall of Force, this time she used it as a barrier between the golem and Grynn so the priest was no longer imperiled.

Back in Anstarre Dajor Momo the major domo, showed them to his boss Gorvenal. Confronting the scholar they threatened the man, appealed to him, cajoled, blamed, and made a nuisance of themselves.  Despite the reservations many in the party had, Gorvenal had not sent them to the golem with ill intentions in his self absorbed heart.  The man even started compiling their account of the fight and helped piece together that they had scrapped with a form of Iron Golem called a Guardian Golem.  They discovered the construct was immune to poison, mental affecting spells, and all weapons of a non magical nature.  Fire was a restorative, and it was highly resistant to all forms of magic.

A plan began to form as the heroes compiled a list of resources that might lead them to a victory.  Antitoxin potions and Neutralize Poison spells to counter its breath weapon.  Arrows of adamantium for the archers, and other ideas began to be discussed....

*A thread on the forum called: Knocking on the Door will be created so that the party can strategize.  This will be located under the Erath Miscellany heading.

**Our next game falls on February 16. 

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 36ep, 36sp, and 36gp to this point, party funds gained 9ep, 9sp, and 9gp; 9 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode Ninety Eight
Quenid10th CE 1032

*Much of the start of this game was dedicated to strategizing and acquiring materials. While I would love to share our genius in planning, the process may either prove mind numbing or braggadocios to you our audience This will make this game session seem smaller than normal.

After spending a large portion of the evening strategizing, the party spent the night at the odd scholars home. In the morning many of the party spread throughout Anstarre to acquire the rare items they thought they would need. Riardon found ten adamantine arrows for a little over 700gp each. Leiya sought for and found two platinum rings just in case she wanted to cast a type of bonding spell. Ten antitoxins were purchased so that everyone would have at least two bottles on their person's. Blaylocke happily returned to the estate with a set of bagpipes.

That night, as the clerics rearranged their spells, Jolrael cast Druidcraft and found out that it would be partially cloudy through the next day.

Returning to the ruins where the sage lived the party arrayed themselves for battle. Enkili guzzled his Antitoxin and his Potion of Heroism. Also quaffing an Antitoxin, Blaylocke cast Bardic Inspiration on Enkili as well. Grynn drank his Antitoxin and cast Spiritual Guardians on his person. Jolrael quaffed his Antitoxin then started to flank wide to the north, ready to place his Storm Sphere spell when the golem appeared.

Taking extra time to cast spells, Leiya cast Aid on Grynn, Jolrael, and herself. Then she raised her voice in an unusual prayer; a guardian Celestial manifested from the heavens, winging down like a stoic avenger. Riardon sought cover in the brush after drinking his alchemical boost against poison, an adamantium arrow nocked and ready. As the rest of the party marched into position, Blaylocke began the song that summoned the Guardian Golem.

After the construct boiled out of the earth, Riardon let fly. Though he missed, his missile did not reflect back at anyone. Evidently the golem needed to see the missile in order to sling it back. Enkili only advanced twenty paces, hoping to force the construct to do a double move to reach him, readying himself to strike if the golem drew near. Jolrael's Storm Sphere expanded dramatically from a mote to a riled globe of natural fury. He made his storm spit forth a bolt of lightening that scored the earth before their foe, as if drawing a line in the dirt.

Skulking through the brush, Riardon was unable to close to optimum striking range. However he did strike true with his shot; two of ten adamantium arrows fired. Remaining behind the melee fighters, Blaylocke used his time to cast Haste upon Enkili. Advancing behind the fighter, her Spiritual Weapon on their northern flank, Leiya hurled a Guiding Bolt at the large metal thing only to miss. Winging down from its high vantage, the Celestial took Leiya's southern flank making itself the closest target to draw the golem.

Making a double move, Grynn passed everyone by and put himself near the construct, calling forth his own Spiritual Weapon behind the foe to strike it from behind. For the cleric's pains, the golem manifested its sword and hit Grynn hard....

*Our next game will happen on March 2nd. Stay well til then... or else!

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 40ep, 40sp, and 40gp to this point, party funds gained 10ep, 10sp, and 10gp; 10 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode Ninety Nine
Quenid10th CE 1032

Leiya made Enkili wear one of her new platinum rings, placing its twin upon her own finger. Warding Bond was the spell she cast, which would allow her to absorb half the damage he would take. She also ran her Spiritual Weapon towards the Iron Guardian, then ordered her angelic Celestial Spirit Guardian to swoop in on its wings and strike the golem twice; it then moved out of the construct's reach. In order to get at Leiya's summoned angel, the Iron Guardian trampled over Grynn to close with it; it spouted a cloud of poisonous gas over the Celestial Spirit Guardian and poor Leiya.

While the priestess and her summoned ally were preserved due to their earlier precautions, the Hasted fighter zipped passed everyone to stand next to Grynn; flanking the construct with the angel. He struck three times using his Coin of Eras to make one attack especially efficacious (crit). Jolrael's Storm Sphere belched out a flash of lightening that scored the earth at the golem's feet. The sorcerer himself lobbed a Chromatic Orb, the acid etching deep into the armored hide of the Iron Guardian; no resistance to that damage type.

This time, Riardon's adamantium tipped arrow sank deep into the manufactured creature's flank (sneak attack). Blaylocke, however, did not aim as carefully, the rebounding shaft struck Enkili. The Bard then inspired Leiya. Grynn's Spiritual Weapon closed in but missed its attack, the priest hit with his mace however; he pumped in a Divine Smite that left a huge dent where it struck. Again the lightening from the Storm Sphere lanced out to no avail, so Jolrael dropped the spell as he moved closer to the fray. He transmuted Aganazaar's Scorcher into an upcast acid based spell, which the Iron Guardian partially avoided.

Riardon's next arrow missed, almost striking the Celestial Spiritual Guardian. Grynn manifested another Divine Smite into his next attack and again made the armor ring as if struck by a smith. Sprinting along the golem's flank, Leiya moved up next to Enkili. She had her Spiritual Weapon swing at their foe, but it missed, so she applied a Radiant Defense onto her summoned angel. The Celestial Spiritual Defender missed with its first swing, but crumpled steel hide with it's back swing. The first time the angel hit, it had transferred temporary hit points to Grynn; this time it gifted the hit points to it's summoner.

Blaylocke's next arrow struck true, his face taking on rapture at how the metal rang. The bard then used a Healing Word on the large angel. Grynn's Spiritual Guardians ate through the Iron Guardian again, as it had been doing through the mayhem of the entire fight. So the construct struck him with its swords then hit Enkili with a follow up; Leiya saved the fighter from taking serious harm with her protective features. Enkili, wound up on Haste, was about to crawl all over the Iron Guardian, but it dipped its head too low and his first strike finished the construct.

With the tortured sound of distressed metal, the golem began to shift into a reality defying metal door that was thirty feet tall. No matter who was viewing the aperture, this door always seemed to be facing that person. Though Enkili pushed on the doors, everyone could swear it was still facing them allowing them to walk straight into the dark tunnel beyond. This corridor descended with a shallow grade for what seemed like one hundred feet.

They stepped out into a dark chamber. Distant walls could be seen through the shadow, but those walls receded from the viewer when approached, always keeping the same distance and remaining visible though nothing else could be seen. "Who are you to disturb my solitude?" a voice rang out; the sound of something titanic moved in the dark. That voice had come from a throat many times larger than anything this group had faced before.

In a confused babel, almost everyone began stating their case, no one organizing the collective thought to make them coherent at first. When it challenged them again, wanting them to state a good reason for them to be bothering it, Grynn finally challenged it back. He called for the sage to show itself. Naugaurn the earth dragon was so large that Enkili thought it was a mountainside that had been animated and shaped by some fell magic. Between Leiya and Grynn they persuaded Naugaurn to listen to them, the ancient being asking for a full account of their predicament with Naasheera the green dragoness.

Showing his skill, Blaylocke actually sang their story to the dragon. Impressed, Naugaurn told them that the heroes of before would be able to help them. It opened a portal to the afterlife to meet with the slain champion Colm of the West Fields (a man who had singlehandedly held an army at bay in a pass until reinforcements could arrive). To return they just had to speak Naugaurn's name to Colm. When they stepped through, they found a region of lush vegetation and a massive man eating exotic fruits....

*Our 100th game will be March 16th, just before Saint Patrick's Day.

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 40ep, 40sp, and 40gp to this point, party funds gained 10ep, 10sp, and 10gp; 10 days of coins.]