Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 118 (Machodor #69): Journey in the Cavern of Ithaqua

Giuseppe's map
       

Introduction


This week the party was ready to forge a route to the Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl. 


Timekeeping


This session began on June 12th, 2025with 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


Giuseppe had a dream featuring the Shedu they met last session, who passed on some (sekret) information and corrected his map.

Session Report


Day 1: Descent and travel south.

Having mapped the route to the base of the mountain last session, the party were able to navigate at mostly 5-times speed, greatly reducing the chances of random encounters. Never the less they did find some interesting details among the pillars they noted down to investigate "on the way back". 

They had previous guessed at the distance to the frost giant stronghold at about 18 miles, so they had come prepared for a journey. The day ended with them having to cast about for a place to stay, they eventually found an underground "crystal cave" big enough for them to rest in, and as a bonus nothing was in there already. With the Fabled Ice Jewel of Frigia they were fairly comfortable all things considered.

Day 2: Non stop south

The miles stretched on as the terraced mountain receded. Light could be seen far to the south, as though un underground sun was just hanging there, obscured by mist. Back to the north this light was reflecting off some vast shiny edifice, but the player characters were not much interested in that and stuck to their plan. At various points along the way they were able to get a clearer view of the wider area, and it became obvious that they were not at "sea" level; but on a large plateau, that itself had terrace like ramps, miles away to the east and west. Perhaps these led down to the coast? Again, the day passed without enemy action and this time they found a fissure in the ice, open to the sky, that they climbed down and made camp in. 

Day 3: Wind chimes and a brush with the enemy

As they continued they had lots of weird encounters with the local geology, including "screaming" wind carved ice stalactites, yet somehow no creatures disturbed their trek. Finally, the way ahead was blocked by a frost-cracked chasm spanned by a bridge of ice. This was very dangerous looking, and so they party tied a rope to Donny and sent him forward, trusting to his agility. He squatted down, spear across his back, and made his way forward, until confronted with a rune right in the middle of the bridge. 


"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.

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.

Treasure & Items
Vaporised Vapor rat mixed with gold slurry and cracked gems 3500gp
2 Silver sludge balls 320gp
Puddle of melted Platinum 1200gp
5020gp total reduced to 1757xp (28(HD+SA/EA) vs 80(HD+SA/EA) )

Monsters
1 Aspect of Ithaqua 13,000 xp
7 Vapor Rats 490 base xp reduced to 171 xp (28(HD+SA/EA) vs 80(HD+SA/EA) )

14,928 XP & 5020 GP  Assignment
Sever (E) 1900 XP & 669 GP
 and Poindexter (E) 995 XP & 335 GP
 and Thomas (E) 995 XP & 335 GP
Giuseppe (E) 1900 XP & 669 GP
  and Steelvein(E) 995 XP & 335 GP
  and Rhoikos (E)  995 XP & 335 GP
Sheamus (E) 1900 XP & 669 GP
 and McScales (E) 995 XP & 335 GP
D. Donny (E) 1900 XP & 669 GP
Julius L'Orange (E) 1900 XP & 669 GP




Graveyard


Paul (Henchman Paladin level 3) Effected by the Imprisonment spell touch attack from a Styx Devil in session #117. Might not be dead, but is definitely at least six feet under for all intents and purposes.

Gurt the Green (Paladin level 6) killed by a poison needle trap in session #114 RAISED FROM THE DEAD (with a roll of 94!)

Solaire the Fallen (Henchman Fighter (paladin) level 3) killed by Stone Giants acting as catapults in session #114

Paul (Henchman Paladin level 1), reduced to 0 hit points by white dragon breath when climbing down a rope ladder in session #108. Killed not by the fall; but by the sudden stop at the bottom. RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Ignatius the Smiter (Cleric level 1), horrifically mutilated and killed by double hit from a Shoggoth in session #106

Domby (Henchman with Dex 5), double surprised and turned into a pin cushion in session #87

Luke (Half elf Fighter/Cleric level 1), tragically killed by a normal hydra while trying to cauterise one of its neck stumps in session  #86

Gurt the Green (Paladin level 3),  killed by a hydra bite in session  #86 RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Pleasance (Footman level 0), killed by a phase spider bite in session #81

Siegward (Henchman Fighter level 1), killed by a phase spider bite in session #81

Tawadros (Henchman Fighter level 4),  killed by a phase spider bite in session #81 RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Patria (Footman level 0), killed by a two headed snake bite in session #81

Deltacron (Dwarf Fighter/Thief level 1/1), threw his last flask of oil at, and was level drained to death by, a Vampire in session #76

Petrov the Prestidigitator (Magic-user level 1), wrong place, wrong time; killed by Sever the Ranger in session #72 RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Petrov the Prestidigitator (Magic-user level 1), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

Red (Paladin Level 1), always popular with the ladies, he was eaten up by a female Roc in the Pizza Slice of Doom during session #67

Jacques Ocular (Magic User level 1), a fat green worm burrowed into his head and turned him into a Son Of Kyuss in Brovenloft in Session #43

Pino (Dwarf Footman level 0), Killed by a Frost Giant axe in the head in session #39

Paro (Dwarf Fighter/Thief level 2/2)  Killed by Winter Wolves and frozen in session #39

Zabib (1/2 Elf Fighter/Magic User level 1/1), Killed by Frost Giant rocks in downtime prior to session #39







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Trollopulous Adjusted Session 118 (Machodor #69): Journey in the Cavern of Ithaqua

Giuseppe's map         Introduction This week the party was ready to forge a route to the Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl.  Timekee...