Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Episode 135 Naza the 8th, 1032 C.E.

Since Lord Bercel was currently going through copies of the papers the party had retrieved from the slaver stronghold, the party reviewed what was to be the next problem they wanted to tackle. With Grynn and Jolrael abstaining due to time constraints, Leiya and Enkili forwarded the idea of going to Onastia to free Miria from Knjazir Erbolg. Blaylocke advanced no reason to not go ahead with that plan. The idea was to have the bastion personnel begin to check into this duke from the north’s information when their current tasks were over.

A review of what the party knew came to the following: Miria was being held in Deros Kaden an Onostian city. Knjazir Erbolg fields a banner with a black falcon on a field of crimson. His reputation is nasty, though he has the ear of Onastia’s emperor. They may be related as the Knjazir title is equal to that of a duke or baron.

Dismayed over the thousand plus miles of sea travel they would have to undergo just to get into the northern lands, Blaylocke decided to check into people who may be able to transport them via magic. His first stop was at a local bardic college. Since his name was so renowned through the land, they asked Blaylocke to prove that he was indeed Blaylocke Anvilarm. The instructors however were not convinced by the song they made the Dwarf sing to prove himself. This forced Blaylocke to hand over eight tickets to his theater to see The Folly of Frodendahl as a bribe that might prove his credentials.

This graft was enough for Altos to hear Blaylocke out. This man, however, was not interested in a monetary deal with the party. Altos wanted a favor for a favor as he was eager in acquiring an urn lost in an ancient castle’s basements, a basement which was now part and parcel of The Freehold’s sewer system. The man warned of a gigantic frog like creature that killed anyone who ventured into the sewage tunnels under the city. This may be the giant frog creature the party had barely escaped from in their first visit to The Freehold, when they had been framed for murder.

The urn is supposed to be of a golden metal with a series of spiral like etchings around the body and may be part of a greater treasure. Lore is discovered about the froghemoth, it has a bite attack and two tentacle attacks. They also have resistance to fire and electricity, though electricity can stun them. They are also not very dexterous. Some have been recorded in nature attended by Bullywug followers. The site of the ancient castle was where Umber Square now stood, so that is where the heroes went after switching spells, quaffing special drinks, and making other preparations.

Finding the grate down was easy enough, and on climbing down they found themselves on a platform over the sewer sludge. As agreed upon, Grynn and Jolrael were to remain on the platform, then follow at a later point (IE. they were not playing today.) Leiya did cast Water Walk on everyone, but she reserved Aid for herself, Enkili, and Blaylocke. The priestess also bestowed herself with a Death Ward. There were four tunnels, east, south, west, and north, but the party had no idea which way to go.

They chose the eastern path at random and set out. About eighty feet down they came to a T intersection that ran north and south. Trying to sneak they turned south, this route ran for about thirty or so feet before there was a crossroad. The passage continued south, and east, but the path west opened into a large space. Curiosity pulled Enkili into the room, Blaylocke and Leiya followed. After sneaking forward for a bit, the fighter realized that this open area that continued on beyond their sight was perfect for a giant creature like the froghemoth. Turning back they didn’t make it far before they saw a massive wide mouthed head squeezing through the entrance.

Though it ducked down under the murky sludgy flow, it soon rose as it knew stalking was no longer necessary. Blaylocke and Leiya found themselves face to face with the froghemoth. Leiya raised her hands and tried to bind the froghemoth with a Slow spell, but the magic refused to adhere to the rubbery hide. But as the froghemoth’s eye stalks turned to the priestess, Blaylocke hit it with his Raulothim’s Psychic Lance. Ever hear an amphibian scream? The bard then danced away from the hulking creature without repercussion, and for added flair he granted Enkili one of his Bardic Inspirations. Enkili stepped in with The Sainted Sword and left three deep cuts in its blubberous hide.

Moving back near Blaylocke, Leiya then hit the froghemoth with a Guiding Bolt; limning the creature in targeting light. The bard hit Enkili with a Haste spell, just as the monster shook off the dazed state Blaylocke had left it in. It bulled by Enkili like the muscle bound fighter was a reed in the wind, but slight Leiya checked it from bullying her aside, it was forced to take a route wider than it had wanted. Ripples rolled into the room from the archway to the east, and from the darkness from within the chamber, but the heroes had more than enough on their minds to take notice. Enkili landed a parting shot on the frogehemoth as it moved away from him.

The extra movement meant the froghemoth was unable to attack anyone, but it brought both Blaylocke and Leiya under threat. Metabolism at double speed, Enkili plowed into the huge creature and so caught it’s attention that he was able to allow Leiya to escape it’s reach. He then did the same for Blaylocke with another use of his Maneuvering Strike feature. The fighter then landed two more attacks while his friends set themselves safely out of the froghemoth’s reach. That last attack removed the hulking froghemoth as a threat entirely.

Yet as the dead monster settled into the sewer muck, another began to squeeze into the room from the passage the party had come from, and a third froghemoth’s eye stalks rose from the sludge from within the chamber. As the monster from the east closed with Leiya, Jolrael came prancing atop the waters into the chamber, his quick eyes ascertaining the situation. Leiya surrounded herself with her trusty Spiritual Guardians spell. But even as the little angelic sprites began to tear into the monster, it bit Leiya causing her to lose control of the magic; despite her training to keep her mind focused through pain and distractions.

It’s tongue lashed out and tried to draw Leiya into the creatures wide maw, again her physical strength and desperation kept her from becoming prey to the creatures merciless endeavor. A tentacle hammered Enkili, knocking his armored figure about while wrapping him around, while another appendage thumped on Blaylocke. The bard was able to keep his attention on maintaining his Haste spell. Unable to close with the closest froghemoth, Enkili took his fury out on the tentacle holding him in place. Though his second attack missed, the other three hit, his third strike was virulent enough that he frightened the massive creature (Intimidating Strike).

From his place of nigh safety to the north and just inside the arch, Jolrael upcast Ice Storm on both froghemoth’s. He changed the spell from freezing winds and ice blocks to one of flickering lightening and falling ice chunks. Both monsters suffered from the spell, but the nearer froghemoth suffered more than the other; it was stunned. Blaylocke upcast his next Raulothim’s Psychic Lance and hit the nearer creature with it, as pain made it temporarily insensate, the bard chose to back into safety near the north wall. He also granted Enkili another Bardic Inspiration.
The southern froghemoth surged through the sewage and tried to bite Enkili, but the fighters violent movements against the tentacle holding him caused it to miss. It’s tentacles went for the bard, with one miss but with one hit as well. The bard was looking worked over….

*Well another week under out belt. Our next game will be March 1st, where we expect Ghosttusk to join us, as Ramsay Cowlishaw was able to late in this game. Remember, once these froghemoths are taken care of, our party still has to locate this ancient chamber and it’s valuable urn and other riches. Frenzied67 signing out this February 22nd.

Episode 136 Naza the 8th, 1032 C.E.

Grynn entered the chamber by squeezing passed Jolrael, and after a quick glance around, the priest upcast a Spiritual Weapon sending it to the least damaged froghemoth. The Spiritual Weapon hit, but Grynn’s crossbow shot missed badly (nat 1, grumble). Since the froghemoth facing Leiya was staggered by a spell effect, she walked away from it, then cast Flame Strike on the creatures. Despite all odds, the most hurt creature survived (made it’s save). The arrow Blaylocke sent sped over the hurt froghemoth, so the bard then healed himself a bit with Healing Word.

The damaged Froghemoth shook off the addled state it had been in, realized it’s prey had moved, then followed Leiya north. It pounced and swallowed Leiya whole. It then lashed Grynn and Jolrael with it’s tentacles, grappling them both in place. Knowing he was about to hurt Blaylocke and Grynn, Jolrael muttered an apology to the two then cast Thunderstep. While the boom rattled their bones, and hurt the froghemoth, the sorcerer teleported far to the south of the chamber. Grynn saved, but a magic coin in Blaylocke’s back pack faded, it’s magic protecting the bard from the full effect of the thunderous magic. The froghemoth also did not take the full brunt, but it did lose half it’s prey.

Enkili, shocked by seeing Leiya being swallowed, moved from between the two flanking froghemoths. He turned on the one Leiya was in and cut twice, killing the hulking figure. He then turned on the remaining froghemoth and rained two attacks on that one. The fighter then Action Surged and rained another series of attacks on the surviving monster. The last froghemoth disengaged, sank into the muck and seemed to swim away. Blaylocke, Grynn, and the fighter turned on the dead froghemoth preparing to open it up and retrieve their friend.

However, the last froghemoth surfaced next to Jolrael still hungry. The poor sorcerer was bitten savagely and swallowed. From it’s esophagus, Jolrael upcast Rime’s Binding Ice. This did not free the man, though frog like lips and tongue took freezer burns; and muscular action moved the sorcer deeper into the monsters digestive tract. Still under the effects of Haste and Water Walking, Enkili raced over the sewer water and closed with the last froghemoth. A flurry of strikes with The Sainted Sword, with one critical, ended the monster as a threat. Then the men began the process of retrieving their engulfed friends.

After checking to see if anything valuable was in the monster’s gullets, the party retraced their steps to the entry chamber. There they rested for an hour, bandaging their wounds while listening to Blaylocke’s Song of Rest. The choice of directions was casually pondered while they rested, but when they gathered themselves to go, Grynn began the ritual to cast Augury. He tried the north passage first and got a nebulous result after asking if this was the direction they should go. He tried the same spell to the west and had no result at all, the same for the south passage. When he cast Augury on the east hall, he again got the same both weal and woe response as he had gotten from the northern hall. All this took up forty minutes of time.

Feeling that the urn they sought was north or east, they took the northern route as they had already gone east, then south before. They came across two staggered intersections, a hall to the east then one heading west. The path continued north, and because of some irregular features along both the east and west walls ahead, they chose to continue north. The features they found happened to be grates set into the walls. Beyond those they could make out wide halls and mucky water; the halls were fifteen feet wide.

Enkili attempted to pry some bars loose or apart, but his attempt was halfhearted. As the passage north ended a few dozen feet from those grates, the party turned south and moved to the eastern side passage they had passed before. Blaylocke, who was leading, noticed that there were stones along the south wall that did not match the rest of the sewers make up. He announced that there was a walled up entrance before them. After poking around a bit, the bard discovered a possible mechanism that could allow them to pass through, but he had to use his thieves tools to trigger it.

A second attempt was required before Blaylocke made the wall roll up and out of their way. The room beyond was raised up above the flow of sewage, full of cob webs, skeletal remains, sarcophagi, and having four square supports holding up the cieling. The stones making up this chamber were older than those used to make the sewers in this section. Blaylocke entered and looked around first, then he moved to allow Enkili and Leiya into this chamber; Grynn and Jolrael remained out in the corridor.

A large stone box dominated the west of the rectangular room, and this drew the bard onward. Enkili moved south to a skeleton and a coffin. Leiya moved to cover both men, but her eyes caught sight of engravings on a nearby coffin, and off the big box itself. As her eyes took in the motif of an undead champion defending the room they were in, she also felt a wave of cold roll in from the west. Her warning to her friends came just before the scrape of metal against stone, and the rattle of bone on bone. Some webs were pulled free from the western wall as something moved there.

Knocking an arrow, Blaylocke waited for a target to reveal itself. Grynn moved into the room and saw where his friends were looking, but he had not heard Leiya’s warning. Leiya stepped away from the pillar she had been next to, which brought Jolrael into her view. Having everyone in her sight, she cast Spiritual Guardians and surrounded herself with miniature angels. Enkili displaced and moved up to flank Blaylocke, his sword ready to receive any assault. Sensing the heightening tension in the chamber, Jolrael squeezed by Grynn and readied his sling with his new walloping bullets.

Two points of light glowed from a rusting helmet as an armored figure moved from the shadows to close with Enkili, baleful eyes promising wrack and ruin on the party. Blaylocke’s arrow did not slow the undead figure, and despite an attempt to parry him, Enkili slashed the figure before it finished closing. Jolraels missile wizzed by everyone, letting out quite the pop as the bullet detonated against the western wall. A malevolent chuckle emanated from the dire figure before the room exploded into fire. The spell was not a Fireball, and was extremely more potent than that staple spell ever could be (Hellfire Orb).

Blaylocke was close to being dead, everyone else was also so tattered that the idea of running passed through everyone’s mind. Still smoldering, Grynn cast Aura of Vitality; using the spell to channel healing energies into Leiya. Barking a Smite spell, the Death Knight struck Enkili with its longsword. The fighter’s mind was assaulted by the magic, making Enkili less than efficient for several moments. Moving away from the front line, Blaylocke fished out a Potion of Greater Healing and quaffed it. With a quick vocalization, he also touched Enkili with a Healing Word spell.

Seeing her friends struggling, burned and hurting, Leiya knew she needed to buy everyone time. Forming her Wall of Force spell into a globe, she encompassed the Death Knight with the magic shutting it off from dealing any more damage. Not wasting any time, Jolrael reached into his gear and pulled out a Potion of Greater Healing; he sighed in relief as some of his pain was negated. Pacing in front of the globe glaring at the undead locked within, Enkili quaffed a healing potion with one hand while smearing dust and cobwebs into some of his other wounds (second wind) with his left hand.

Grynn used his Aura of Vitality to channel healing energies into Blaylocke, he pointed out a key that was hanging around the creatures neck. Realizing that Leiya was not going to drop the Wall of Force just yet, Enkili drank another potion and began to look for keyholes in the big stone box he was near. Plumbing her brain, Leiya guesses more than realizes that they were facing a Death Knight. Her Healing Word removed a swath of blisters from Blaylock’s fine Dwarven features.
Jolrael guzzled another potion, as did Blaylocke. The bard also imparted one of his Bardic Inspirations on Leiya….

*Well, that is it for this Sunday (3/1/2026). We are still stuck fighting this monstrosity who almost dropped the entire party with one spell. Enkili would not have survived another smite, so again owes his life to Leiya’s ingenuity. We have a pickle in our group, next Sunday, the 8th of March, is supposed to be our next game. This is Ghosttusk’s off week, as he too hosts a game. However Long John has a function, and Ramsay Cowlishaw has a meeting next week. Xura and Frenzied67 will be the only players available. We are going to play a oneshot instead of advancing our campaign understaffed. Yay, a day off from writing a recap!