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| Giuseppe's map |
Introduction
Timekeeping
This session began on June 12th, 2025, with the player characters adventuring until June 17th. Downtime for these characters begins the next day.
Player Characters Present
Sever the Wrathful (Level 8 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength, rider of Mustang) with henchmen Thomas (C3) and Poindexter (M5)Giuseppe (Level 8 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of the Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles, rider of Bonecrusher)with henchmen Steelvien (F4) and Rhoikos (M4)Sheamus (Level 7 Irish Fighter from Brovenloft, rider of the Rocket Cycle and wielder of the Drewblade) with henchman McScales (Lizardman F4)Deadeye Donny (Level 5 Monk of Machodor)Julius L'Orange (Level 1 Fighter)
Downtime
Session Report
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| "I poke it with my spear..." |
Combat #1: Aspect of Ithaqua
Rounds: 6
Result: Party Victory
Highlights: Materialising right out of the center of the bridge, a hideous snow-formed, giant-sized, and vaguely human being, with the tell-tall pair of red eyes. It was a match for the image on the medallion Sever wore (taken from the hill giant steading). Its eyes flashed with unholy power, causing all to make a saving throw vs fear; Sheamus, Steelvein, and (not altogether reluctantly) Julias set off running (notably this was a different kind of fear to the spell, they started running immediately). McScales then decided to run after his boss to keep him safe.
Missile weapons from Giuseppe, Sever, and the henchmen did effect the monster, smashing through the body and causing damage, and there might have been some Magic Missiles as well. Donny stood up to fight toe to toe with the foe; until its racking claws knocked him off the bridge, to plummet down into the depths below. Sever, who had kept one foot on the rope, now snatched it up so that Donny only had to contend with careening into the wall.
With Donny making his way up, Sever went forward to fight, secure in the knowledge that he had his Wings of Flying if he too was knocked off the bridge. But the creature was now regenerating the earlier damage.
Just as it looked like victory was in the balance, the red-eyes flashed again and the pulse of fear saw Sever running back across the bridge, and practically over Donny, who dodged just in time. The monk then managed to inflict enough damage to cause the avatar to be destroyed. Its eyes became lifeless and the top half of the body toppled over the edge into the abyss below, the rest disintegrated
Victorious, yet battered and dispersed, the party spent some time getting themselves back together (none of the runners drew encounters of their own, lucky) and, as it was late in the day, decided to make camp right there. This was the first time they had done so in the open, on prior nights they had sensed that doing so was dangerous. A rain of giant icicles in the night, which nearly killed Julius and ruined Donny's tent, taught them the truth of their suspicion.
Day 4: The Glacial Rift
The next day by mid morning they were able to make it to the location on their map that matched where the teleport ring would send them. Nearby they found a pair of paths leading down into a rift in the glacier. The rift stretched over 300 feet long, and was almost as deep. There were signs of Frost Giant footprints everywhere. Mission accomplished (if you didn't count getting back anyway). The turned around and returned across the ice bridge well before dark.
This time they knew they wanted shelter, and after a searching into the evening, found what looked like another "crystal cavern". This one was occupied. Sever and Donny managed to surprise the occupants, and Sever, instead of going for Speak with Animals as he often does, cautiously backed out with the monk. Then Sever brought up Poindexter.
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| Vapoured Vapour Rats |
Combat #2: 7 Vapour Rats
Rounds: 1
Result: Party Victory
Highlights: The second use of Fireball in the campaign was not nearly as important as the first, but it was very effective.
They disposed of the bodies and made camp in the cave, with the night again passing uneventfully (I swear it's like the cavern wants them to reach the Frost Giant stronghold).
Day 5 & 6: Returning Home
Often when the players say "they'll do X on the way out." they either forget or for some reason things don't work out. In this case, as they passed the regal looking statue, they did investigate further and made a discovery. The Statue, of the Frigian Queen, Fria, spoke. Her words were initially unintelligible, however Sever was ready for this, having Poindexter memorise Comprehend Languages. In an interesting innovation, Sever had had his henchman leave one level 1 slot unused after resting the night. This, he argued, meant that Poindexter needed just 15 minutes to be ready to use the spell, rather than the usual 4 hours and 15 minutes. Since the magic-user was still fresh, having only walked a short way and without any combat or exertion of any kind, I allowed this (though I rolled for a random encounter, of course). I wouldn't make this a blanket acceptance of the tactic, probably any significant issue like damage would put the character out of a state in which they can memorise a spell.
Anyway, in translation the statue said: “Visitor know this: the Ice Jewel of Frigia is the heart of my rule, the anchor of our frozen realm. Should it ever be stolen, woe to Frigia—its glaciers will weep, its storms rage unbound, and Ithaqua’s chains will shatter. Guard it, or doom us all.”
Was this an actual communication, or just a recorded message? One player suggested the whole place was a place for Frigian school excursions. It seems as good an explanation as any.
Session Statistics:
Wilderness travel: 34 Miles
Combats: 2
Rooms mapped: ??
Combat rounds: 7
XP for the Vapor Rats and their treasure reduced according to DMG p84.
