Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Episode 155 Quenid 26th - 27th Melnid 5th  1033 C.E.

*Important items that should have been included in Episode 154: Morvath is seeking the Feather of Voss as the fourth of five artifacts he needs to destroy the Golden Oak of Shandeer.  Evidently The Golden Oak may be guarded by the Shandeeran (Elven) Guard.  Our party’s charge regarding Morvath is to “vanquish him or deliver him powerless before Druid’s Island”.  The Feather of Voss is hidden inside a dark monolith found within the dreadful Vast.  The mother crone of Hags had also whispered something to Grynn before departing.  As far as I know those words were not shared with the rest of the party.

**As usual, this scrivener got it wrong.  Morvath is not trying to destroy the Golden Oak, He is trying to harvest a talisman of power from said tree.  It is one of the five artifacts he is collecting.

After the lovely Aora had left the heroes fell into contemplation as they finished their tea.  Jolrael began to plot and plan their expedition to the Vast, wondering how the living map on his back had been changing since last they had checked.  Enkili focused on their more immediate task.  Baba Yaga’s prognostications played on the fighter’s mind, especially the line “A loved one is dead”.  The fighter feared that was referring to the enslaved urchin Miria.  He began to council the party to demand proof of life for the girl before they set out to destroy Noshuul’s demonic heart.  He was wary of being used by an evil man.

It took almost everyone to convince Enkili that the Knajir, though evil, was also a man of his word.  Which brought them to Silas telling them that they could learn more about Shol’s Hollow at the Krug Mervogo Duba (Dead Oak Circle).  Everyone realized that this possible opportunity may also be a trap.  Yet it was agreed that it may be worth the five mile ride and possibility of danger to glean any information.  Leiya mentioned something about Krug Mervogo Duba being active at night.

They had no more visitors that day.  Jolrael swapped out a Thunderstep spell in his Ring of Spell Storing for Fly in the morning.  As the spell lasted a day, Leiya cast Aid on Enkili, Jolrael, and herself.  They arrived near evening, that was the time that Grynn chose to protect himself with Death Ward, and Jolrael surrounded himself with his Armor of Shadows (Mage Armor).  Their path was blocked by a narrow stream.  Enkili bragged that jumping the creek would be easy for him, but everyone else would require help.

A plan for the fighter to anchor his silk rope to an Immovable Rod, then have Enkili hop some rocks and anchor the rope on the other side of the stream was devised.  The execution was less than smooth.  Despite his bragging before hand, the fighter ended up windmilling his arms, teetering over the water, or outright falling on his armored back side through the entire maneuver of hopping two rocks; even in recovering the Rod and rope.  They headed for a giant dead oak tree in the midst of a dead ring of trees.  The terrain was broken by trees, brush, and hill sized rocks thrusting through the snow and dead fall.

It came from the ground from the roots of the oak, a gigantic figure that phased through earth and tree.  It had the visage of a living dragon one moment, then the time rotted mien of a dragon’s cadaver the next.  In the moment it unfurled itself, it had the wing to tail tip membrane of a bronze, copper, or gold dragon, however it seemed green with verdigris, so it was hard to determine which of those creatures it resembled the most.  “Why have you come?” it demanded aggressively.

Naturally the heroes began to tell of their quest and ask their questions about Shol’s Hollow.  When it deigned to answer at all, it was with an ‘I can care less, why are you bothering me’ attitude.  Then Jolrael showed it Noshuul’s Heart after fishing it out from where he normally secreted the stone.  Even a ghost dragon can illicit avarice with it’s eyes.  It demanded that they hand over the faux gem immediately.  Overconfident in it’s abilities, the dragon ghost broadcast its intentions when it tensed to pounce.

Grynn dashed closer and flung a Bane spell faster than thought itself, yet even dead, the dragon shed the magic with preternatural ease.  At the same time Blaylocke laid Haste on Enkili while singing Grynn’s theme song (now a D12 Bardic Inspiration).  Leiya also quickly cast Aura of Purity on herself, then moved east until everyone was covered by the magic.  Grimacing at the turn of events, Jolrael stashed Noshuul’s heart away.  He then transmuted an Ice Storm spell into a Flame Storm spell.  The spectral monster was bombarded with fiery chunks and sizzling rains, yet seemed to absorb or ignore most of the damage.  His experiment made it seem that fire was a viable source of damage; the sorcerer shouted that fact aloud even as he ran to the south east to take cover next to a big stone shielded by skeletal branches.

The Sainted Sword seemed to jump into Enkili’s hands as the former soldier broke into a sprint.  Spell enhanced speed saw him fly up the rise the ghost dragon was on, he hit, hit again with a Goading Attack that worked, hit with a Menacing Attack that failed, and hit a fourth time.  Everyone had set themselves only somewhat scattered, which is exactly what the spirit dragon had wanted.  A black freezing cloud burst out in a rough cone, catching all the heroes within; only Grynn and Jolly managed to partially evade, saving themselves from the full brunt of cold and life stealing damage (natural 20 saves for both).

Even though trained to keep her mind on her magic, Leiya lost control of her Aura of Purity.  Even though they took the full brunt, Leiya and Jolrael had the benefits of the Aura to prevent a body paralyzing fear from freezing them on the spot; Enkili had ran out of the aegis of that spell and stiffened with a soul shaking dread.  Trying to get out of the kill box, Grynn scooted east until he was south of the undead beast.  He then massively upcast a Guiding Bolt spell (8th level).  The priest’s aim was true.

Holy light ate away at the spectral form, also leaving a tell tale of revealing light to coat the dragon; this was a type of damage that the spirit being was not resistant to.  Blaylocke’s next gambit was not so penetrating.  His Roulothim’s Psychic Lance slammed into the spectral beast’s mind, but did not hurt it as badly as the spell should have.  Taking a page from Grynn’s book, Jolrael massively upcast a fiery Chromatic Orb (8th level).  If the Orb was resisted it was not obvious, the damage dealt left the ectoplasmic form tattered and flickering.

Enkili had to wade through his darkest thoughts in order to regain control of his muscles, but he was able to shake off the fear.  Hoping to keep Jolrael from being targeted for the gem, Leiya cast Sanctuary on the sorcerer.  That is a spell meant to allow a healer to roam a fight to dispense aid and succor unmolested, Jolly would negate the protective magic when next he acted.  Leiya followed up with a Sacred Flame cantrip, but the ghost dragon allowed the magic to sail through it with no ill effect.

Ectoplasmic fangs and claws clanged against Enkili’s armored form, the fighter was flung about like a rag doll as the malign spirit missed a bite, but tore into him with two claw attacks.  The Mandagan’s vital essence was leached out of him with those slashes (necrotic damage).  Then it dove into the ground leaving Enkili no chance to strike back.  It flew out of the snow cover between Blaylocke, Jolrael, and Leiya.  With a tusky smile, Grynn massively upcast another Guiding Bolt (7th level); the spell again ate away the ghostly form and limned the thing with revealing light.

The priest ran south after that to help prevent providing the spirit dragon another series of targets for its ghastly breath weapon.  Chanting a new verse to Enkili’s theme song, Blaylocke gifted the fighter a Bardic Inspiration; the song changed and turned into a Power Word Stun spell.  The ghost dragon acted like a bull hit between the eyes by a sledge hammer, pulling up short with unfocused eyes, unable to see the world around it.  The Bard then moved a short ways north to avoid target clumping.

The dragon fought it’s head clear of the Stun effect, writhing with the titanic effort.  Blurring with his Hasted speed, Enkili flowed off the rise and closed with the dragon.  He rained blows down, then Action Surged to do as much damage as possible.  The fighter recorded two misses in the seven attacks, but with the five hits he also successfully landed a Goading Attack and a Menacing Attack; the Menacing Attack failed to take effect, and he also used a Distracting Strike that allowed Leiya to scoot away from the dragons reach.  She moved up near Blaylocke.

Stepping close to the huge undead thing, Jolrael massively upcast Thunderstep and teleported next to Blaylocke; the boom was so potent that Enkili’s feet left the ground from the concussive burst, and he was on the far side of the dragon.  The ghost may have resisted that damage a bit.  Realizing she was part of a clump of people, Leiya moved south about twenty feet, then she cast Sunbeam.  Though the specter saved it was still tremendously burned by the holy light.

Drawing himself up, Blaylocke upcast Dissonant Whispers and slammed the spell into the ectobeast’s brain.  The magic was so efficacious that the ghost dragon flew away in pain and fear, Enkili cutting it as it left.  It sailed over Grynn and regained control over itself as it hovered over a clump of dead oaks far to the south east.  Expressing rage, the ghostly figure dove through the trees back into the ground, the spectral ridges and spikes along it’s back showing it phasing through the ground until it “dove down” at the giant oak.

From concealment it spoke.  “I am Varg.  You have bested me.  Ask your question and begone!”  The Heroes sighed in relief then look one to the other.  How to phrase their question to gain maximum information?

*This is where we must leave off.  There will be a section under Erath Miscellany where the players can make suggestions for what we Ask Varg the Ghost Dragon.  They can also make other recommendations for our party’s immediate disposition, since we may come under assault by others who may have been watching from afar.

**Our next game is scheduled for Sunday, September 13th.  Long John will be at Comicon and Ramsay Cowlishaw may or may not have a show that interferes with his ability to join our gaming mayhem.  I hope both Gentlemen take the opportunity to supply their suggestions on the forum, their genius may save our characters.

***Ramsay C confirmed his pending absence, he and Jolrael will be an empty space in our hearts and our ranks.

Episode 156 Melwid 5th – Melwid 15th  1033 C.E.

*Long John was able to join us with pictures of many sci-fi and superhero actors and actresses in tow.  Ramsay Cowlishaw was missed.

After a brief brainstorm, Grynn turned to the giant dead oak and said, “What is the best most effective, most efficient way to defeat Noshuul forever?”  From it’s hidden or invisible position near that massive dead oak and it’s twisted wizened branches, Varg began to laugh.  The sheer malicious delight in the dead dragon’s voice made the mortal heroes immediately doubt the wisdom of their question.  “The answer Depends on your skill and wit… but I understand the intent of your question,” the ghost dragon seemed to relent.

“With a victory such as yours I hate to leave you with a “depends”.  Tell me what you know,” it demanded.  Taking turns, the party told of what they know of Noshuul’s Heart, Shol’s Hollow, and the choice between gathering the souls of the dead villagers or setting the Heart into the Vessel and battling that Vessel afterwards.  After a moment of pondering the dragon inquired if they meant to destroy the heart or curry Noshuul’s favor with it.  The vehement assertion that the Heart’s destruction was paramount stopped the sly insinuation.  Eventually the ghost drake boiled it down for the party.

“...More effecient is to take the first choice (place the Heart in the Vessel)…. Neither more effective than the other….  Best?  Depends on whether you can deal with multitudes of lesser foes at once, or a greater foe singly….  Therefore the answer you seek is… it depends.  Neither option is best.”  Then the spectral terror hit them with a question they had not asked before.  “Have you thought that there might be another option?  In fact there are a multitude of options.  Unfortunately, none will be permanent, unless you remove the knowledge of those who seek the Heart….  Or make it inaccessible.”  Suddenly changing back to the original subject they were asked, “You seem skilled in battling single foes, how are you at battling hordes?”

No one answered that question, but Enkili did query, “Could the Vast eat Noshuul’s heart away?”  Slightly surprised, but starting to sound bored, Varg admitted it did not know enough about the Vast to be able to supply that answer.  And that was the end of that conversation.  Turning about the party set out for Deros Kaden.  After a bit of hike the heroes neared the road they had followed to get to the Krug Mertvogo Duba when a winged monstrosity presented itself, eyes glowing with an inner wickedness that promised malice.

Leiya, Blaylocke, and Grynn automatically start to try to identify what they faced.  Enkili, while preparing to defend his friends, called the creature cute and offered it a home.  Blaylocke blurted out his information first, “It is a Nabassu!  Don’t look into it’s eyes!  Eater of the dead!”  He then played Enkili’s theme song (Bardic Inspiration), then cast Haste on the fighter.  Leiya cast Aura of Purity which surrounded the party, then shouted out that the Nabassu’s gaze was deadly.

Taking wing, it covered a short distance and landed short of the party and their waiting weapons.  Instead it stared at Enkili trying to separate the fighter’s life force from his body.  The withdrawal was so jarring that the southern man fought instinctively, holding on to his life force fiercely (saved).  Grynn also cast an aura type spell, surrounding himself and his friends with Beacon of Hope.  The priest then drew out his magic mace and hoisted his shield.

Out from the snow a low mound burst open directly north of the party, revealing a ghoul.  Its lascivious tongue lashed the air in a stomach churning manner, it scuttled across the snow til it was next to Leiya and Enkili.  From the south east another mound burst open and another ghoul tasted the air before closing with Blaylocke.  Grynn made his special Spiritual Weapon manifest next to the second ghoul and bard, Blunt Force Trauma crunched into the undead leaving a skunky haze behind.

Grynn then cast Sacred Flame on that second ghoul, but the magic could not attach to it (Ghoul saved).  Really wishing he could close with the Nabassu, Enkili was forced to hit the first ghoul twice before he slayed the undead, so he then could close with the otherworldly beast.  He hit the Nabassu with his first and second attack, but the second blow was a Tripping Attack that made the demon take a hard seat.  Unfortunately the Nabassu did not stay down.

Jumping up the creature of evil and chaos swarmed the fighter with tooth and claw.  The bite hit and drained Enkili of an alarming amount of his life force, the fighter refrained from retaliating when the claw attack missed.  As everyone was still battered from their fight with Varg the ghost dragon, Leiya chose to cast Mass Healing Word; including the ghoul in the life restoring magic.  The same energy that knitted her friend’s wounds made the ghoul burst like an overcooked sausage; Grynn’s Beacon of Hope maximized her healing magic.

Leiya then turned her attention to the Nabassu.  Her Sacred Flame spell danced over the blasphemous form like a starved man diving on a feast.  Blaylocke leveled three Eldritch Blast shots at the Nabassu, scoring two hits.  The bard grinned while keeping an eye out for more mounds that may have held ghouls.  Blunt Force Trauma wafted over to the Nabassu, but the cannabis cudgel did not hit.  Grynn’s Sacred Flame again failed to effect the demon, so the cleric closed with the creature, taking a flanking position across from the fighter.

Blaylocke’s next trio of Eldritch Blasts also had two of three hit, drawing an annoyed glare from the Nabassu.  Moving to stand at Enkili’s back, Leiya lofted an upcast Guiding Bolt over the fighter’s shoulder.  As the divine light ate at the demon’s form it also coated it with an eye catching glow.  Making gleeful sounds of pain, the Nabassu stepped from between Enkili and Grynn; Grynn received the bite and claw attacks it lashed out with.  Both the bite and the claw hits, and Grynn lost his Beacon of Hope spell; the priest looked very poorly afterwards.

The Sainted Sword flashed moon and star light as it cut the Nabassu, his fourth attack was a critical.  Still the demon remained alive, the fighter had moved over so that it was sandwiched between Grynn and himself again.  Blaylocke moved to the north west until he had a better vantage to fire his Eldritch Blasts.  After all three shots hit, the Bard then upcast a Healing Word on Grynn.  Realizing that it only had moments of life left, the Nabassu disengaged and flew straight up to about 60’ off the ground, straining for speed while awkwardly fighting gravity.

Judging her range, Leiya hurled a Guiding Bolt up at it.  The light splashed into it.  Glee filled the demon’s mortal cry as it passed from a living state.  The return to the Harp and Vine was uneventful from there, the encounter a spur that made the party realize they needed to end their quest sooner rather than later.  Using an adequate map, Leiya showed them that Shol’s Hollow was near the city of Deros Delnac, 550 miles to the west.  They purchased some war horses and set out after consulting the map and breaking their fast.

For three nights in a row they found a village to stop and take shelter at night, but the fourth night they had to camp “rough” (if you can count Leomund’s Tiny Hut (or better) rough).

The next day they set out as usual.  At first everything seemed fine, but eventually everyone noticed a nervousness with the horses.  Despite extra vigilance, the heroes found the unexpected happening again; their foe came from below.  A titanic segmented figure burst from the ground ahead of them.  They found it hard to look beyond the rows of teeth displayed in the creatures maw, yet they did start to see this worm like creature had a purple hue to its flesh.  Stating that he thought their horses would prove faster than this nigh mountain sized foe, Enkili turned his horse and moved away; looking back to make sure his friends followed.

As reins started to wheel the mounts about, the purple worm struck.  Blaylocke almost followed his mount into the worm’s maw, and even as he toppled to the ground a stinger that could skewer a cow stabbed into the Bard.  Leiya rode over and tried to lift Blaylocke from the ground, but she was unable to control her mount into getting that close.  Because the horse balked, Leiya was only able to offer Blaylocke an upcast Healing Word.  Shouting and waving her arms the priestess tried to lure the massive invertebrate south, it paid her little heed.

Grynn did not try to get closer.  Instead he cast Bannishment on the purple worm (he also imposed disadvantage on its saving throws by sacrificing his own Inspiration).  The spell caught, and the worm was shunted to another dimension for a minute.  The priest then rode over and plucked the Bard up.  They galloped far longer than the minute the spell held the titan worm.  Blaylocke bought a riding horse at the next village they passed through.  They stop for a day (in the wild) so that Leiya can perform the ceremonies for Melwid’s High Mass, it seemed that the priestess entered a dialogue with her goddess that did not end with the ceremony.  Though she had given her bastion workers the week off, they found that all her facilities had miraculously produced items and yields without mortal hands helping.

Blaylocke’s people also informed him that Noshuul was not a trued demon.  Rather the creature called Noshuul was something more and less, an outsider that lead demons but was itself unique.  An aberration from the outer planes.  More orders were directed to the bastion on Melwid 15th.  On the 16th, still a few days from Deros Delnac, they are accosted again.  A ripple in the air turned into a rip into reality.  Six supremely armored figures race out and assume a formation around an armored spider figure that stalked from elswhere.  In a metallic monotone the spider began to issue demands, then orders.  “The master desires the Heart.  Sieze the Heart...!”

*What a cliffhanger.  I wonder who/what our party is about to face.  Our next game will be September 20th.  Ghosttusk may be with us for this one.  It will also be his birthday this September 19th which comes with a magic coin for his character Grynn!

**All players, plumb the dark depths of your souls and then make suggestions for our annual Halloween game coming next month.  There is a thread in the Forum under The Commons header, Off Topic subheader, named Halloween Game Ideas.  If there is a game system you would like to play, or a scenario that appeals, go ahead and list it there.

Episode 157 Melwid 15th – 16th 1033 C.E.

As those armored figures tensed to begin their charge, Grynn threw himself off his mount and advanced with an upcast Bane spell spilling off his lips. He seemed to hit every enemy with that spell, including the armored spider. Half a heartbeat later the spider hurled a blob of webbing that encompassed Blaylocke, his horse, Gryn, Enkili’s horse, and Enkili himself. Blaylocke and his horse sidestepped the brunt of the sticky mass, but the bard cast Freedom of Movement on himself and stepped off the horse into the mass of webbing. The song slinger’s riding horse struggled free of some sticky strands then ran north with an equine scream.

Enkili and his horse had to stretch and stress break web strands in order to break free, once clear the fighter rode north until interposed between Grynn and the attackers. As Enkili was the closest, Armored Creature 1 closed and began swinging gauntleted fists at the fighter. Even mounted the fighter bobbed and weaved to make his foe miss. Leiya jumped off her horse and moved near Blaylocke, just outside of the mass of webs. She surrounded herself and her friends with an Aura of Purity spell. Her trained warhorse pawed at the snow, but remained as if rooted by the dropped reins.

Armored Creature 2 closed with Enkili, fists lashing out. Again the Mandagan swayed and weaved in the saddle and denied the enemy contact. Running along the southern margin of the web, Armored Creature 3 seemed intent on closing with the bard. Another armor clad humanoid shape closed with Enkili, attempting to slam the man from his horsey perch. Again Enkili used the horse and his reaction speed to avoid Armored Creature 4’s metal clad fists. The next Armored Creature ran north and a little east, the 5th being seeming to aim itself for Leiya.

The last Armored Creature (#6) also strove to hit Enkili, but the sidestepping horse and swaying fighter caused both punches to miss. Straining against the webbing trying to pin him in place, Grynn struggled mightily in order to free himself then upcast Spiritual Weapon. The joint shaped Blunt Force Trauma glided up to Armored Creature 4, and did not miss; steel plate bent as it tolled like a bell from the contact. Grynn’s aim was not as true as his spell’s, his mace whistling through air. Enkili controlled his mounts prancing in order to attack, but his first swing almost took the horses ear. His second attack did hit Armored Creature 6, knocking them back into the web with a Pushing Attack. Turning his attention to Armored Creature 1, he bent metal and gashed steel with his final two attacks.

After attenuating to the spell on himself, Blaylocke glided through the mass of sticky web strands and cast Haste on Enkili. The bard them moved back to where he had moved from, eyeing the Armored Creature to his south. When Armored Creature 2 swung again, he hit Enkili so hard that the fighter had to cling to his warhorses mane to keep from falling (critical hit); the second attack missed. After being hit by Blunt Force Trauma, Armored Creature 4 turned it’s attention to Grynn. The cleric proved as adept as the fighter in avoiding punches aimed his way.

Hoping the creature would get stuck in the webbing, Blaylocke also made Armored Creature 3 miss with it’s fists after it ran up on him. The silent metal encased bulk of the spider creature glided a few steps to the north, it then lashed out with its forelimbs. The Armored Spider missed Grynn, but Enkili suffered another critical hit and could not retaliate because the creature was behind it’s minions. It then shot a ray from it’s bundle of eyes, Blaylocke barely avoided having his muscles seize up on him; Aura of Purity assisting the bard's save.

Armored Creature 1 tried it’s luck against Enkili again, flailing limbs made no contact. Suspended in the webbing, Armored Creature 6 tried to extricate itself; it seemed to mire itself more into the sticky strands. Leiya cast a Guiding Bolt on Armored Creature 3, who was ineptly attacking Blaylocke. From the way the armor rang from her spell’s critical hit, she was able to discern that the armored figures were actually empty animated suits. She shared that fact to all within hearing distance. Armored Creature 5 charged down from the north and tried to hit Leiya, a left and right only menaced the empty air where she had been.

Armored Creature 1 did not fare any better trying to hit Enkili. Nor did Armored Creature 4 going against Grynn. Grynn retaliated immediately, his mace making armor ring like a bell; light flowed from him into the animated armor, which seemed to make the note carry while warping steel along with the weapon (Divine Strike). Even though it was hit hard Armored Creature 4 did avoid Blunt Force Trauma’s swing. Leiya seemed to be teasing Armored Creature 5 as she avoided it’s fists, the Bane spell was working hard on behalf of the party.

Another ray lanced out from the Armored Spiders nest of faceted eyes, Enkili avoided becoming paralyzed after taking the hit. A long forelimb almost pierced the Mandagan again, but his armor held. Grynn, however, did take a piercing leg from the spider, the steel limb stabbing the Halforc from behind it’s army of animated armor minions. Meanwhile, Armored Creature 6 continued to strain against the webs holding it away from the fight. A hardly used magic rapier appeared in Blaylocke’s smithy hardened hands, and one thrust was enough to unbind the magic animating the high carbon steel plate suit.

Grinning in triumph, Blaylocke turned from Armored Creature 3’s clattering remains and hit Enkili with a Healing Word. A mauled helmet from Armored Creature 1 sailed over the Spider creature from a swing of the Sainted Sword. As the empty armor scattered in the snow, Enkili slid off his horse and engaged Armored Creature 2. That suit of animated armor was rent by one attack, evaded one blow, then was knocked down by a Trip Attack. With Armored Creature 5 in her face, Leiya cast Word of Radiance on it; steel warped and rivets popped, but the empty plate armor remained on it’s feet. Bouncing up with a clatter of steel, Armored Creature 2 flailed away at Enkili to no avail.

The smoking joint, Blunt Force Trauma, swung at Armored Creature 4 but missed. While evading the Spiritual Weapon, 4 was opened up to Grynn’s attack. It staggered back with sprung plates swinging limply. A Word of Radiance from Leiya made Armored Creature 5 stagger back, metal parts falling away showing an empty chest cavity. Yet it did not fall. Armor ripped and clattered as Enkili dropped Armored Creature 2, then Armored Creature 4, before the fighter raced to get behind the Armored Spider. His first attack rent the spider’s steel carapace (critical) with a Goading Attack, while the second swing bent metal. Straining hard, Armored Creature 6 finally wriggled out of the web. It sprinted around to pinch Enkili between itself and its armored master.

Though her magic raiment muffled the blow somewhat, Leiya was staggered from a punch from Armored Creature 5. Blaylocke had been waiting for space to open between the priestess and her animated foe. Two Eldritch Blasts blew Armored Creature 5 into it’s less than hale component parts. His last magic burst hit the Armored Spider, then the bard sent the fighter another Healing Word. Bursting with unexpected ferocity, the Armored Spider lashed out. Enkili took a steel tipped leg to the chest, then had to fight off the effects of an eye ray attack that made his muscles want to seize.

Enkili’s stepped from between the spider and its last animated armor follower, he then tried to retaliate but was less than precise. A miss was followed by a critical Goading Attack, this was followed by another miss, then the last swing hit with a failed Menacing Attack. The fighter then risked an opportunity attack from Armored Creature 6 as he raced back around into Leiya’s Aura of Purity, he had almost lost the bout against the spiders last eye ray. Armored Creature 6 did not land it’s fist though. Risking herself by stepping into Armored Spider’s reach, Leiya positioned herself behind Enkili to grant him cover, her Guiding Bolt burst Armored Creature 6 into a shower of falling steel parts.

A pointed steel leg tried to pin Enkili, but the fighter sidestepped then used a Riposte Attack. After that unexpected damage, the Armored Spider tried again. Leiya used her Shield of the Faithful to burden that attack, making that steel tipped leg stab into snow covered earth instead of man flesh. A different type of ray issued from the cluster of eyes, and Enkili was slammed back by magical force. Seeing an opportunity to hit, Grynn waded in with his mace, but the spider sidestepped. Blunt Force Trauma also closed and swung. The spider did not ring hollow as the Spiritual Weapon slammed into it in a shower of cannabis sparks.

Shrouded in magic, Blaylocke casually walked west through the webs and fired off another series of Eldritch Blasts. One of the two hits was a critical, the bard then imparted another Healing Word on Enkili. Grynn and his Spiritual Weapon both miss on their next attacks. A Guiding Bolt from Leiya made the Armored Spider stumble as it was illuminated by the damaging magic, the priestess them prepared herself to interject on the spider creatures next attack. Shield the Faithful intercepted Armored Spider’s second leg attack which kept the fighter from being hit by both stabbing attempts; the eye ray again partially slammed the fighter, who was just now showing his own wear and tear.

Arcane energy began punching holes in Armored Spider’s figure, as Blaylocke’s Eldritch Blasts finished the giant creature off. Oddly the curled eight legged figure seemed to begin to fade from sight, then it collapsed into a central point and imploded out of reality. Battered and bruised, Enkili’s first thought was on Blaylocke’s runaway horse. Before he could mount up and start the search, Leiya held him back so she could patch him up with her Healer’s Kit. She frowned as the fighter rubbed dirty snow into the wounds she could not bandage with her available resources, yet she also knew Enkili often fared better after his little ritual.

Luck granted the party a boon, the horse was quickly found, and did not lead them on a merry chase. Soon they were all able to take an hour to clean and bind wounds and take stock of their situation. They did more after stopping to camp that night. Each shift on watch found the night oddly quiet, disturbingly so; yet they suffered no attack. Soon it was back to swaying in the saddle, strung in a lopsided line that allowed them to watch in every direction at once. The foothills had been long on the horizon, but this day they arrived. Just shy of noon the pass that would direct them into Deros Delnoc met their eyes. As they began to imagine soft beds and cooked food, their eyes beheld a stick figure shambling their way.

This emaciated figure was wrapped in rags, long tattered bandages that had once shrouded the dead figure walking their way. Dirty jewelry hung off thin limbs, seemingly ready to break and fall away. Leiya’s first instinct was to cast Aid on Blaylocke, Enkili, and herself. The unsteady undead’s pace quickened. Grynn dismounted and walked forward to hurl a Guiding Bolt spell, but the magic failed to adhere to the eternally grinning corpse. From the saddle, Enkili pulled his bow and fired. The first of three arrows lodged into the left eye socket, a critical hit. The other arrows hit as well, but the figure did not slow, did not seem harmed at all.

Telling his friends that normal weapons were useless, the fighter looked to his more magically adept friends for inspiration. Blaylocke answered the silent plea after studying the thing. He called out that it was a Mummy Lord, they would need magic weapons to hit it, and the thing was likely to use spells against them. But the main clue the bard shared was that it was vulnerable to fire. Blaylocke then rode to the northwest to a tree, in passing he sang Enkili’s theme song.

Speeding up to a jog, the Mummy Lord moved closer, showing the mystic glow of it’s eyes. Leiya slipped off her horse then surrounded herself and her friends with an Aura of Purity….

*That’s it for this week. October 4th, our next meeting, we may not have Ghosttusk’s scintillating company. We are hoping that Ramsay Cowlishaw’s computer problems will not prevent his inclusion, he was missed in this last melee, and needed in this upcoming fray.

**All players, please continue offering suggestions for our annual Halloween game coming next month.  There is a thread in the Forum under The Commons header, Off Topic subheader, named Halloween Game Ideas.  If there is a game system you would like to play, or a scenario that appeals, go ahead and list it there. So far the response has been great, yet not complete. The only conclusion so far is we do not want the Haunted Cabin in the Woods trope, which was last years Call of Cthulu game; and it was a blast.

*** The life of an entertainer is deviding Ramsay Cowlishaw's attention this October month. We will not have him on the fourth, but he may join us on October 11th. We hope he wows his crowds and brings those smiles. We have been granted permission to run his character, Jolrael. Will Jolly survive the uses our committee will place him in?

Episode 158 Melwid 15th - 16th 1033 C.E.

Quickly tying his horse to the tree, Blaylocke made a short sprint south so he could cast Haste on Enkili. He then granted Leiya a Bardic Inspiration by chanting her theme song. Blurring with mystic speed, Enkili closed with the Mummy Lord and landed a successful Trip Attack on it. Almost helpless on the ground, the fighter then tried a Goading Attack which landed but did not draw the thing’s focus onto himself. Wanting to keep tricks in his bag, Enkili then gave a normal attack followed by another; but that last attack was a critical.

From it’s supine position, the Mummy Lord transformed into a whirlwind of sand and flew to the north almost sixty feet away (55’ move and dash). Moving so that she could continue to keep Blaylocke covered and blanket the errant Enkili with her Aura of Purity, Leiya upcast a Guiding Bolt spell. The pure light ate away at the undead creature’s form rather than covering it with a tell tale glow; bones, dust, and rags fell in an untidy pile. Without needing healing, and showing no curiosity, the three heroes mounted up and moved along.

Yet supernatural forces made themselves known. All day the shadows seemed deeper, darker, more menacing than normal. A strange hush hung over the land as if all sorrow was not the only oppression in Onostia, and something worse was just waiting over the next hill. They made camp and felt the oppression all night long, yet they got a full night in. In the morning they had a short conference after preparatory spells were cast. They were at a crossroad, almost literally. South was the path to the dead village, almost two days ride hence. Then there was the path west to Deros Delnac. A possibility of information on the village, plus the lure of supplies drew the party west to the city, itself two days ride.

Just shy of midday the party rode over a rise to see a shallow valley for a spring thaw rill. In the lowest point they all beheld a familiar emaciated figure, with an oh-so-familiar shamble. The Mummy Lord stopped around a hundred fifty feet away. Leiya slipped off her mount and surrounded them all with her Aura of Purity. After a small dash the Mummy Lord caste a spell that surrounded everyone with an Insect Plague of locusts. Chaos erupted. Horses screamed, bucked, then died; Enkili and Blaylocke were both thrown and landed badly (prone).

The bard rolled to his feet and ran north out of the locust swarm, batting carnivorous grasshoppers off himself as he moved (dash); Blaylocke did half sing half chant Leiya’s theme song (Bardic Inspiration). Enkili did a shoulder flip back to his feet, and he too moved north. He judged himself too far away from the Mummy Lord to even try a charge, especially after Leiya had warned him about leaving the Aura’s protection. First casting Haste on the fighter, Blaylocke then chanted Enkili’s theme song (Bardic Inspiration). Again the Mummy Lord became a localized maelstrom and flew fifty feet to the northwest, whirling sand a chaotic swirl against the tundra of snow and dead grass.

Like a beast seeing prey flee, Enkili tore out of the Aura of Purity and pursued the undead north and west; he could not quite catch up. The Mummy Lord solidified from the sandstorm form and immediately tried to catch Enkili’s eye. The fighter had to work through it, but he did not succumb to the icewater fear those eyes instilled. Stalking closer, the Mummy Lord then cast Dispel Magic on Enkili, banishing the Haste the fighter had. The instant lethargy made the fighter sway and drop to an unsteady knee.

Raising her arms up in a gesture of power after advancing several feet, Leiya cast Firestorm on the Mummy Lord. Though it saved against the spell, it was also vulnerable to that element. Embers still burning on its body, the Mummy Lord caught Enkili’s eye and exerted its will. Fear tried to unhinge the Mandagan, but a timely use of the Bardic Inspiration helped the fighter shake the effect off. Stout legs churning, Blaylocke dashed closer to Enkili. The Fighter struggled to rise, to fight the weakness in his limbs from the passing of the magic he’d been under. Moments passed as he used the Sainted Sword to leverage himself to both feet.

Leiya closed some distance as well, but stopped to hurl a Guiding Bolt. The holy light consumed rags and desiccated flesh, but did not stop the undead menace; it was well lit though. A wave of dark energy burst from the Mummy Lord. Though it passed through Enkili, this wave did not seem to accomplish anything. The Mummy lord then intoned a spell and pointed at the fighter. Enkili staggered as a Harm spell ravaged him, dealing a lot of damage. The skeletal thin figure moved back. Enkili wavered for a moment, then surprisingly retreated back towards his friends, spinning around and taking the Dodge action while trying to will Blaylocke to attack their foe with a glance.

Advancing this time, the Mummy Lord cast a Hold Person spell on Enkili, the fighter stiffened into a statues stillness. Torn between wanting to help the fighter or striking out at the undead, Blaylocke wavered almost too long. When he did make up his mind, he hit the Mummy Lord with Immolation, his gestures and words certain. The locusts vanished from the bodies of the horses, Enkili staggered into motion eyes wide with wonder. The Mummy Lord held withered hands to the sky as if in repentance as it’s body was consumed by magic flame.

Ignoring Blaylocke and Leiya’s entreaties to heal him, Enkili took the time to examine the Mummy Lord’s remains; stomping into deeper snow in the valley. Burned brittle bone fragments sat in the ashen heap, but stirring the fluff revealed a leatherized heart. Spearing it with the sword’s tip, the fighter raised it to his face. A shadow seemed to lift from the land as the heart crumbled, nature felt normal as an oppressive air vanished. After gathering their gear from off the horses, they rested for an hour while Blaylocke filled their ears with a Song of Rest; Blaylocke had to use a Restoration spell on Enkili in order for him to even begin to heal.
With half the day to go, they shouldered the gear and began to march. As the Afternoon wore along, they saw a herd of what could have been deer or reindeer off in the distance. Their city slicker ways showed as they argued over what the wary animals could have been. The sun moved lower on the horizon which prompted the heroes to begin seeking a camp site, but that is when humanoid figures jumped from behind the scrub….

*Now that is another classic cliffhanger. We didn’t even have a chance to identify our attackers. At least our next game on October 11th we will most likely have the full crew. Ramsay Cowlishaw and Ghosttusk should both be there next Sunday.
**We are still seeking recommendations for our Halloween one shot. There is a thread in the Forum under The Commons header, Off Topic subheader, named Halloween Game Ideas. If there is a game system you would like to play, or a scenario that appeals, go ahead and list it there. So far we have some solid ideas listed.
*Late Note* The three players who contributed to the last game have recieved enough Experience Points to go up a level. We hope to survive to recieve the training.

Episode 159 Melwid 16th 1033 C.E.

A Human man (man11) stepped from the brush to the west and fired two arrows in quick succession. Blaylock twisted enough so that the first shaft only sank into his shoulder rather than his heart. The second arrow passed through where the bard had been standing a fraction of a second earlier. From behind, man14 stepped from the undergrowth of a hilltop and fired at Enkili, two shafts shattered against plate armor. Jolrael ducked the first arrow from man8 (to the west), but he was not quick enough to elude the second shot.

Dropping the saddles and bags he’d been carrying, Enkili charged westward with the Sainted Sword leaping to his hands. Still far short of the western enemies, he pointed the blade and exclaimed a word of power that had come to him from the blade. Man8 was thrown backwards, through brush and trees with the force of a trebuchet shot (A Telekenesis like effect). Even after tumbling fifteen feet of the thirty foot career, the archer groaned aloud and flailed his arms in feeble protest in the spot he had landed. To the south another pair of figures had appeared, a huge Dragonborn with blueish scales, and an old man in sigil embroidered robes.

Another archer also revealed himself on the southeastern hill. While the fighter was appreciating at his sword’s new power, Jolrael targeted the old man and Dragonborn with his ever trusty Tidal Wave spell. The sorcerer asserted that they (the bad guys) ought to be thinking twice about their actions, even as the Dragonborn’s legs were swept free from tidal forces. His chant not meshing with the tom tom beat he tapped out, Blaylocke used the musical discord to cast Confusion on Man11. The bard then made the music fuse into Enkili’s theme song (Bardic Inspiration). Drenched and irate, the Dragonborn clambered to it’s feet and charged Enkili, having to dash to all but reach the Mandagan fighter.

Not liking the size of the Dragonborn’s big ax, and the ease in which it handled the weapon, Leiya encompassed the creature in a Wall of Force globe. Smirking, the old man made a short eastward move so he could fire around the globe. Chain Lightening danced through, Leiya, Blaylocke, and Jolrael. Leiya saved and kept her concentration on the Wall of Force. Jolrael’s stormy nature granted him resistance to the Chain Lightening, but he failed his save so took half damage instead of one quarter damage. Blaylocke also saved, but he was unable to maintain his Confusion spell, the archer recovered almost before he knew he had been spell caught.

Man15 from the southeast fired twice, hitting Leiya with the second shaft. Two arrows flew from Man11, but Blaylocke spun aside from both shots. Standing then stumbling back toward where he had been flung from, Man8 tried to speed two arrows at Enkili; the second shaft was a critical hit. Whistling a lovely trill as he flung an arrow skyward, Blaylocke cast Conjure Volley which caused a rain of arrows to fall on the Dragonborn and the old man; the Wall of Force kept the scaley humanoid safe, but the old man had panic in his eyes after a handful of stab wounds. The bard then ran north so he was no longer clumped up with Leiya and Jolrael.

A Firebolt spell from the old man hit Leiya, and though she had a Ring of Fire Resistance on, she still lost concentration on her spell. The Dragonborn was free. The old man was not through though, he mumbled words of power, was surrounded by a metallic glittering cloud, then vanished (possibly a misty step spell). Closing the remaining distance between himself and the Dragonborn, Enkili let his sword do the talking. He missed his second attack, but the last swing turned into a Menacing Attack. Fear was an effect the Dragonborn was immune to. Man15 moved a dozen feet to the west then fired two arrows at Enkili; but both shafts whistle by with no contact.

Inhaling deeply, the Dragonborn then spayed Enkili with a weird shadowy firebreath. It was the fighters turn to stifle an inner panic, a terror wrought by the necrotic damage that had accompanied the burns. Beefing up her spell, Leiya hit everyone in the party with a Healing Word, she then tried to plaster the Dragonborn with a Guiding Bolt. Though the magic splashed against scales, the spell caused neither harm nor lit up the Dragonborn. Man15, and man14 were suddenly pummeled by Jolrael’s upcast Ice Storm spell; neither man saved, and both had a hard time keeping their feet for the next several seconds. They both looked hurt afterword.

Tempestuos Magic allowed the sorcerer to fly ten feet to the southwest, he then ran thirty feet in the same direction. Stumbling over fifteen feet west over large blocks of magic ice, man14 fired at Leiya, but the unstable footing made both arrows fly wide. The same happened to man15 who had not even tried to move; Leiya was in luck at the moment. Swinging his big ax easily, the Dragonborn cut into Enkili twice. Both slashes did more than cut, life was drawn from the Mandagan as well (necrotic); this seemed to be more than just a Dragonborn.

With the sudden disappearance of the ice, man14 was able to sink two arrows into Leiya from his hilltop advantage to the southeast. Though the most wounded in the party, Leiya cast Mass Cure Wounds so that she could benefit more than just herself; she was able to catch Blaylocke and Enkili in her spell, but Jolrael had moved out of her sight picture. Jolrael drew more ice and sleet from the sky as he pummeled man11 and the Dragonborn with another upcast Ice Storm. The sorcerer then glided ten feet to the southwest into another clump of foliage. Reacting with vengeance in his heart, man11 fired into Jolly’s bushes, he managed to hit the ex sailor with one lucky shaft while the other was shunted by branches.

Ekili started his attack on the Dragonborn with a Tripping Attack, but only succeeded because he killed the hulking figure. Since man11 was the only enemy within range, the fighter sprinted over. Two critical hits vivisected the archer. Drawing a short sword, man8 waded into the brambles with Jolrael and began to swing. He got one cut in with his two tries. Unlimbering his bow, Blaylocke sped an arrow into the brush at man8. As his target grunted in pain from the hit, the bard then bolstered Jolrael with a Healing Word. That is when the old man ran out form the bushes, a spell frothing his lips.

The Lightening Bolt he cast pierced both Blaylocke and Leiya. The bard saved but the priestess did not. Leiya staggered from all the damage she had been taking, and man15 hit her with one of two arrows, which almost dropped her. Also moving northwest to get closer, man14 fired at Blaylocke, again only one arrow hit. With a boom that made the ground shake, Jolrael vanished from his Thunderstep spell. Man8 almost succumbed to his wounds, but like Leiya, he kept his feet. Jolly appeared right behind the old man and said boo. As the old man turned with widened eyes, armor began to clatter as Enkili found a new victim within range.

Old man found himself flanked between Jolrael and the fighter, and Enkili was still in motion. A Tripping Attack floored the wizard, a critical hit half severed an arm, followed by a Goading Attack meant to keep the spell caster’s attention. Enkili then Action Surged. Dazed by the fighter’s frenzied violence, the old man failed to protect his head, and that was a fatal mistake. Enkili had to hold the remainder of his attacks. Ottiluk’s Resiliant Sphere formed around Leiya, as she needed to protect herself so she could heal.

The three surviving archers proved they were not mere bandits. With their wizard dead, they each quickly guzzled poison. Blaylocke closed with man8 and hit him with a Healing Word; he then tried to diagnose the poison but was still too far from the victim. With the practicality his nomad mother had trained him with, Enkili ignored the writhing bodies of the archers and knelt to loot the wizard. Though denied a prisoner to question, Jolrael also knelt and began to rifle pockets, he added a Detect Magic spell to help locate the real valuable merchandise. Inside her bubble, Leiya began to administer herself with a Healer’s Kit….

*These villains were a bit tougher than the last few encounters, and everyone is carrying the marks of that battle. Our next game will be October 18th. Ramsay Cowlishaw will be late for that game, and Ghosttusk will not be there at all. Speaking of Ghosttusk, the only reason he did not play this game was due to an opportunity to go fishing. We hope that he had a day of catching rather than fishing. Tight lines, my friend.
**We are running out of time to weigh in on our Halloween one-shot.
There is a thread in the Forum under The Commons header, Off Topic subheader, named Halloween Game Ideas.
Don’t let frenzied67 be the last one to offer an opinion, rumor has it that he’s taken more than one hundred hits of acid, which makes him legally insane under federal law.
***I wonder if Jolrael earned enough EXP to level up?

****10/18/2026. Today's game did not occur due to health issues. Sunday, October25th is to be our next gathering to game.