Introduction
Still in Brovenloft and it is nearly December! The available players return to the Skalrath in the hopes of clearing the impediments to their return to Trollopulous. This session is not the first time I've stared down the barrel of a TPK, but it is the first time such a high level party has been defeated in Machodor session history. Read on to see how.
Timekeeping
This session began on November 20th, with the player characters adventuring in Brovenloft until their presumed untimely demise.
Player Characters Present
Giuseppe (Level 8 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of the Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles, rider of Bonecrusher) with henchmen Bishoy (F6) and Tawadros (F6)Sheamus (Level 8 Irish Fighter from Brovenloft, rider of the Rocket Cycle and wielder of the Drewblade)Gurt the Green (Level 6 Paladin of Machodor, wielder of the Liberator, bearer of the Fabled Ice Jewel of Frigia, rider of Artax) with henchman Cedric (C4)Oblate (Level 3 Illusionist)
Downtime
Session Report
With supplies in the Dervish caves coming into question, and Sheamus down to just two more uses of his invisibility bracer, the adventurers were desperate enough to accept Gurt's proffered mud solution. Soon they had clambered out into the swamp covered in the stuff. By carefully sticking low to the ground they managed once again to evade detection as they advanced through enemy territory. About two hours later they arrived at the Skalrath, and were again faced with the problem of getting in without being attacked by hidden guards. They chose to brazen it out, attracting the attention of submerged Grothak that let fly spears at them from the safety of the water.
Combat #1: Undead Grothak sentries
Rounds: 1
Result: Party evadedHighlights: Instead of engaging the enemy the party relied on luck and armour to just run past the defenders, Oblate led the way in his lighter weight gear. But, as the Illusionist reached the ruined stone entrance to the Skalrath, several strange-smelling Grothak—flippers flapping, got in before him and disappeared down the stairs. Upon reflection Oblate thought they creatures smelled of death and decay.
The adventurers went in and tried to find the trail of the fleeing frogs, but it seemed clear that they moved via the swampy water that poured in from the outside, there was a lot of it and multiple directions they could have gone while staying in it. Giuseppe brought forth a prized magic item he only rarely uses, an Onyx Dog. The magic dog, Garm, complained that it needed a fresh scent to follow and there was none; the party considered going back to fight the Grothak still out there and so obtain a new source of the sent, but in the end choose to plunge on and hope to get a new scent as they went.
Once down inside at the bottom of the first stair, Sheena cast Locate Object and found that the Vreshka was in range, roughly south east. This direction helped make the decision on which way to go, and the party returned to the area with the mummy warrior general they had killed some sessions back. A door in that area they had not yet explored opened to reveal a long corridor with many niches in the walls—graves they knew would have some small amount of valuables in them, but the adventurers were goal focussed and push on past these without investigating them. They shoved open a wooden door at the end of the corridor, revealing—among other things—that it joined up with the large water logged cavern they had previously explored part of.
Combat #2: Undead Ambush
Rounds: 4
Result: TPK?Highlights: It seems likely that the frogmen sentries had warned the defenders of the adventurers' approach; The front rank: Giuseppe, Sheamus, and Gurt confronted two axe-wielding mummies at the doorway, these were flanked by more skeletons and undead Grothak; but it was impossible to tell initially just how many foes they faced. Worse, skeleton warriors now poured out from the carved sepulchre in the walls behind them, cutting off escape.
Initially the heroes were not too concerned, with two paladins and two clerics, they tried to turn undead, but with multiple undead types, and the inherently evil nature of the place, only a few skeletons were turned; not nearly enough, and the tougher undead could not be effected while the weaker ones remained. At the end of the first round a Hold Person spell, cast from somewhere ahead, settled on the front rank—Giuseppe and Sheamus failed their saves were out of the fight. A catastrophe. Sheena had been bringing Dispel Magic for the last few sessions, but needed Locate Object this time. Another Hold Person got Gurt next round and Bishoy too.
Meanwhile the mummies laid into the front liners with their axes, while skeletons mauled the back line. Incidentally, the first three rounds were all tied initiative, which gave the skeletons wielding short swords an advantage. The others fought bravely, Oblate trying an illusion, but it was hopeless by then. With his last breath Giuseppe—though held, forced words out of his throat to Garm: "fleetocave...tell...themwhathappened...Sever..avengeUS..." with no thought but to obey, the magic dog ran from the battle, jumped down in to the water and made a break for it. The last the beast saw they were all down and being wailed on while a new, even bigger mummy approached them, casting a spell.
Session Statistics:
Combats: 2
Rooms mapped: 3
Combat rounds: 5
Losses: see below
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