Trollopulous Adjusted Session 124 (Machodor #75): Crawling with Carrion Crawlers

a young O'Brien clan member

             

Introduction

Time once again to visit the halfling steading, the party find a truly unique situation and make out with a score.

Timekeeping

This session began on July 24th, 2025, with the player characters adventuring until July 25th. Downtime for these characters begins the 26th.

Player Characters Present

Sever the Wrathful (Level 9 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength, rider of Mustang) 

with henchmen and Poindexter (M5) and Thomas (C6)

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) Tawadros (F6) 

Marty O'Tool (Level 5 Cleric, wielder of the Mace of Saint Patrick)

Louie (Level 1 Illusionist of Machodor)

Downtime

The individual player characters completed their business (getting Raised from the Dead in the case of Sever) and met at the Halfling Steading.

Session Report

They were greeted by Cormac O'Brien, the clan leader. He informed them that his men had kept a close eye on the barrier they had thrown up to prevent access to the stairs that led down into the Cavern of Ithaqua far below; but, he admitted sheepishly, a squad of six halflings had failed to show up to their post and were now nowhere to be found.

They players noted this and set off down the stairs. First they checked in with the guards near room (2), who had were actually not very close the where the barrier was between (26) and (27). The halflings informed the party that they had fallen back to this area gradually over the last few weeks. It became clear that the proximity to the entrance to the Cavern of Ithaqua was too much for them.

From here they explored and found the pool in area (22), noting the underwater passage that went to the east from there and 4 spigots from which water poured into the pool.

Explored and found a pad locked area (with the lock open) in (24), went through it and up the corridor where they found a way to turn off the spigots, which they did, with an idea that the water would running of of the pool in 22 and allow them an easier time of travelling out of the shoot at it's bottom.

Next they found the wine cellar (25) and the missing six halflings. It was clear that they had skipped guard duty to get plastered here with the giant strength wine that was stored here (very strong wine that is, not wine that gives you giant strength, just to be clear. They returned the drunk halflings to Cormac, along with the very high quality wine they found--with warning not to drink it.

Giving the pool time to empty, they crossed to the south western section of the underground area to check it out, finding it largely abandoned prison cells and other giant facilities (9 &12-16). The latter included a torture chamber (15). Two Iron Maiden's stood flanking other torture machinery, and when Marty O'Tool investigated one, it sprang open. Something was inside! Another something sprang out at Tawadros from the other one. 

Combat #1: 2 Ghasts

Rounds: 2

Result: Party Victory

Highlights: Marty was delighted to be jumped by the undead creature, and hit him with his Mace. A quick re-check of how the Mace of Disruption worked and he had destroyed the thing, while the rest of the party took care of the other one.

In area (16) they found a number of dwarf bodies had been hack to bits, their legs still clapped in irons. It looked as though when the giants moved out they had decided these slaves were too much trouble to bring with them. In "restocking" this room I considered whether the influence of the nearby altar to Ithaqua may have brought some evil out of these poor dwarves, but the dice ruled differently and nothing happened when the party checked them over.

Having cleared out evert other place they knew of, the party was ready to take the plunge and crawl through the now empty cistern into area (23).

They ground the area literally covered in piles of bleached white bones. It was impossible to move without shuffling through the bones, as they got out of the river and formed up there was a tell-tall clink of coins. A search found some copper pieces, and as they walked through the next area another search turned up some jewellery. As far as the players were concerned, this was great! The only problem was it required an entire turn to search a 10' square section of cave floor, even with the help of Were'shbane's detection abilities, but the return on investment looked like it might be worth while. They kept it up until they neared a sink hole in the northern most section of the cavern. 

Combat #2: 3 Carrion Crawlers

Rounds: 4

Result: Party Victory

Highlights: The party had fortunately placed themselves so that only the front rank were in immediate danger. Giuseppe succumbed to a paralysing feeler after the battle had been largely won.

At the pace they were searching Giuseppe recovered before they needed to move far, and then the big payoffs started happening. Armour, weapons, a shield, and a rod of some kind, along with coins, gems and more jewellery. It was a new kind of fun, thanks Gary.

Could be a lot of treasure or a lot of nothing

It wasn't all plain sailing in the cavern picking up loot though.

Combat #3-5: More Carrion Crawlers

Rounds: 8

Result: Party Victories

Highlights: Any given encounter could have resulted in disaster but fortunately the party were never surprised (Sever's Ranger bonus once again) and so were able to beat down the monsters before they could become a serious threat.

When Louie found a magic blue ring--with stylised little fish marked on it--he impulsively put it on and, deciding it was a ring of water breathing, declared he would stick his head in the water and take a big breath in. It was instead a Ring of Swimming.

Finally with the last area searched the party found themselves opposite a sinkhole in the south west of the cavern; could there be more treasure in there. No, but there was this thing!

One ugly mother...

Combat #6: Giant Mother Carrion Crawler

Rounds: 4

Result: Party Victory

Highlights: This monster was three times the size of a normal Carrion Crawler, had three times as many Paralysing tentacles that were so long they interfered with blows aimed at its body. Even when "dead" it still thrashed about and paralysed Sever. 

The party gathered themselves for a rest and by the time they had their collective breath back, the paralysed had also recovered. They returned via the same route and reported back to a worried Cormac, "You'se been gone for hours!"

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel:  0 Miles
Downtime begins on: 26/July
Combats: 6
Rooms mapped: 11
Combat rounds: 18
Losses: Louie almost drowned, but he'll get better after a week of rest.

Treasure & Items

366 cp, 389 sp, 53 ep, 328 gp, 12 pp

3 Jewellery: 1900 gp

7 Gems:  1804 gp

Exceptional Wine: 7,600gp

Aegis of the Dire Wolf 1200xp

Rod of Cancellation 10,000xp 

Potion of Healing 200xp

Potion of Super-Heroism 450xp 

Potion of Gaseous Form 300 xp 

Ring of Swimming 1,000 xp 

12 arrows+1 240xp

Broadsword+1 400xp 

Hammer+2 650xp

Platemail+2 1,750 

Scalemail+2 1,100xp 

Scroll of Protection from Petrification 2,000xp

8 Greater Identification spells cast 4,800 (Identification costs have gone up to 600 gold machos, times are getting tougher in Minas Mandalf)

Monsters

2 Ghasts 580 xp

8 Carrion Crawlers 5,200xp

1 Giant Mother Carrion Crawler 1,980xp

39,170 XP &  GP 16,920 Assignment

Sever (E) 7,795 xp & 2,820 gp 

and Poindexter (E) 3,897 xp & 1,410 gp

and Thomas (E)  3,897 xp & 1,410 gp

Giueseppe (E) 7,795 xp & 2,820 gp 

and Tawardros (E) 3,897 xp & 1,410 gp

and Bishoy (E) 3,897 xp & 1,410 gp

Marty O'Tool (E) 7,795 xp & 2,820 gp 

Louie (E) 7,795 xp & 2,820 gp 

Graveyard

Sever the Wrathful (Ranger level 9), Killed by two pains in the Annis in session #122. RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Anri (Henchman Magic-User level 4), found dead with a ghastly chest wound in the Ice Castle, with her heart missing she was unable to be revived, in downtime after session #122 

Symeon (Henchman Cleric level 2), Only strong enough to wear studded leather, he was torn to shreds by Troglodytes in session #121

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