Trollopulous Adjusted Session 89 (Machodor #49); Waylaid by Hobgoblins

     

Before shot of a mass battle.

     

Timekeeping

This session took place on 10/10/2024, and the PCs adventured for 6 days.

Player Characters Present

Slippery Pete (Level 8 Thief, wearer of the Hat of Disguise and wielder of the Black Dagger)

Sever (Level 8 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength)

Bumblebore  (Level 4, Magic User of Machodor, wielder of the Wand of Paralysation) 

 and  Firedrake Familiar O'Malfoy

Comfort Rod (Level 5 Cleric, Psionicist and wielder Hammer of Giant Influence)

Deadeye Donny (Level 1 Monk, likes animals)

Introduction

In this session the player's plans go astray and they never reach their objective, yet have fun anyway.

Downtime

In the aftermath of the battle in session #48, Slipper Pete followed the fleeing Gnolls and Usma Loot Laden in order to infiltrate the Ice Castle and find Countess Echellet, if she was there. If any valuables found their way into his pockets, so much the better. He was even considering trying to sneak attack Usama if the opportunity presented itself. What happened next was a story worthy of Appendix N. Neither he nor the Gnolls reached the Ice Castle first, it was the Dragon Cult Leader on his red dragon who did so. As he approached Pete observed him flying off again, and he got a good enough view to be pretty sure the DCL had left empty handed. 

As a peak into how I handle such things, here are the discord logs:

and then once I found out what Usama's player was intending to do, I could get back to Pete's player as he made the castle battlements.

and then things got weird.

A favourite attack of this magic user

Showing his true nature, Usama surprise attacked his own allies, unknowingly catching the thief at the same time. Pete made his save, survived the lightning bolt, and got out of the way as the surviving Gnolls and Usama fought it out. After a sweep of the back rooms he found no sign of the Countess. He did find the torn up banners of the previous occupants of the Ice Castle, and a large circular hatch-like door which he could not open. By the time he returned to the courtyard all the gnolls were dead; and Usama, his wizard, and his Mammoth had vanished. All this happened while the players army was on the way back to Guarda, and Pete was able to re-join them before the next session. Note that, of course, Usama had no idea he had been observed.

Session Report

DMG p30

The session started in sombre fashion, with time catching up right on the heals of the party's activities in the previous session. A solemn Mass was held at the Guarda Cathedral for the militia and Pegasus Corps members killed in battle. The leader of the Pegasus Corps Air Cavalry 6th Company, Sir Colias, gave a eulogy and later pledged his help to avenge them against the Master of Winter and the Dragon Cult. With Sever now a fully fledged named level Ranger (the first in the campaign) he was able to recruit hirelings, and with Giuseppe and Gurt the Green out of action they were needed. 

I rolled a 95 and got 'Any FOOTMAN', which turned out to be 50 Heavy Foot with a Captain. Of course, these guys do not come with any equipment, that needs to be provided; but the player characters had been gradually accumulating arms and armour over the last year, and so they drew on these stores to set up with  the recruits with Scale Mail, Spears, Hand Axes, and a shield. Not bad. I'm excited to see where this goes as there are lots of rules to support running a mercenary company in the DMG, but I've not put them all together and seen them working in a campaign before. Along with these humans under Captain Falcon, there were still 45 Dwarves (though 15 were still recovering from last session's battle). From these they drew out enough to man operate the 3 captured Ballista; but I ruled they would only be at half efficiency until they could build up enough skill from practice.

So, with their army of 50 Men, 45 Dwarves, & 32 Pegasus Air Cavalry, backed up with the party members and 6 wagons they had captured (technically re-captured), they set off to verify Slippery Pete's findings regarding the Ice Castle. If they could confirm the Countess was not there, they would return to searching for the original Talibandit base. With the ground forces limited to three 3 mile hexes a day, Sever took 10 Pegasus riders with him to scout ahead (the speedy fliers could make it to the castle and back in only three hours).

Things had changed since Pete had left an abandoned castle behind. Recently restored banners flew on the battlements.

Sever was wary of approaching and exposing himself to the Ice Cannons Slippery Pete had identified were also on the battlements, never the less it was hard to get a good look without taking a chance from close range. When he did so he was lucky to not be as surprised as the gunner who stood dumbfounded looking back at him. Convess soared away before the gunner could react. So, the castle was inhabited, and the occupants now knew something was up. Was it time for Plan B? Sever returned to discuss this but the session took a different turn from here. There was a random encounter of 120 Hobgoblins to deal with!

Combat #1: 120 Hobgoblins

Rounds 2: Surprise 2 Segments, Party win

Result: Total Party victory

Highlights: If you're a bunch of Hobgoblins looking for trouble in the Bandit Mountains of Machodor; let me tell you, you do not want to get surprised by a unit of Pegasus Corps Archers. 

The initial aerial archery attack with surprise was devastating and then the ground units closed and ensured the remaining hobgoblins were cut down in short order. With the main body defeated, thoughts turned to lairs and loot rather than the mission. Sever was easily able follow the tracks made by the creatures, and so he set off in search of their origin with the army following; but the lair proved to be much further away than hoped.

The Hobgoblins had come from the aptly named: "Caves leading South"

They reached the caves before a major storm hit, so they had that going for them, and for the best part of two days followed the trail south. These were the same caves where the players had defeated an orc force with its baggage train last year. A branch led off to a bridge over a shear drop; and beyond was a curing tunnel that lead to a text book example of a hobgoblin lair. Sever staked out a spot nearby, hoping to ambush a hobgoblin or two while the main body caught up with him; but the ground force again run into trouble. This time it was 7 Fire Giants (by coincidence there had been a fire giant here last year as well). The creatures got a segment of surprise and launched a fusillade of stone projectiles; but, they were not overly aggressive, this was a warning fusillade. They then demanded tribute; which, in other circumstances, I'm sure the party would have seriously considered. 

However, Comfort Rod hefted his Hammer of Giant Influence and for the first time used its magic power in earnest. The giants' leader rolled a 1 for his save. At first I think they were planning to get the giants to join them in smashing the hobgoblin lair; but then someone though to ask them to bring out the treasure from their lair! This was a great idea, in theory; but in reality it turned out that the fire giants lair was some days' journey distant; and so they never saw them again. With that threat taken care off, they were ready to push on and join up with Sever.

He explained the situation, a gate house blocked access into a cavern beyond which presumably held the hobgoblin lair. Keen to get the job done, they opted for a frontal attack.

Combat #2: Hobgoblin lair

Rounds 6: Monsters win, Monsters win, Party win, Party win,  Party win, Party win

Result: Party crushed their enemies, saw them driven before them and heard the lamentation of the (hobgoblin) women. 

Highlights: Donny deflected multiple ballista bolts with with monk magic. A new combo tactic, I think it was called Light and Smite, was invented by Bumblebore and Comfort Rod.

for some reason he insisted it looked like this

In his extended downtime, Bumblebore had been working on a captured piece of the sentinel the players had defeated in the Pizza Slice of Doom some time ago. The result was effectively a Wand of Paralysation.

The gatehouse proved to be difficult to get through and was well defended. Slippery Pete went invisible and scooted past to "check the defences further in". He found a ziggurat in the center of the cavern, atop which was a (self)important hobgoblin who must have been leader and his bodyguards. The temptation to back stab the leader proved to much, but somehow he missed and so ran off, inadvertently giving the chief the courage to chase after him in the direction of the battle (which by now had got past the gatehouse).  The chief reached the battle in time to be the target of a repeat of the "Light and Smite" tactic, the remainder fled while they could and and the party looted a ziggurat (after setting off a poison gas trap that nearly did for Bumblebore!). 

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel: 42 Miles

Combats: 2

Combat rounds: 8

Treasure and XP

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 89 (Machodor #49)

Treasure & Items

Gems:

10 gp Obsidian, 10 gp Rhodochrosite, 100 gp Smoky Quartz, 100 gp Star Rose Quartz, 10 gp Tiger Eye Agate, 50 gp Tiger Eye Agate, 500 gp Aquamarine, 600 gp Coral, 100 gp Star Rose Quartz, 12 gp Moss Agate, 2000 gp Diamond, 80 gp Azurite, 500 gp Spinel, 5000 gp Star Sapphire, 20 gp Azurite, 5000 gp Amethyst.

Jewellery:

3000 gp Belt, 5000 gp Statue, 2700 gp Chalice, 1800 gp Sceptre

Total Value:  26,592 gp.

Scroll 3rd Level *2 (Tongues, Fireball) 4th Level *2 (Confusion, Fear) 1400 XP (to Bumblebore)

Potion of Flying 500 XP

Monsters

Mass Combat #1:

120 Hobgoblins grunts  3480 XP

6 leaders 12 assistants 684 XP

Sub Chief 52 XP

(1877 cp, 626 gp distributed to the troops)

Total XP: 4216

Adjusted XP: 1476

Hobgoblin Lair:

20 Hobgoblin Home Guards 570 XP

Chief Hobgoblin 64 XP

3 Giant Apes 810 XP

30,012 XP & 26,592 GP Assignment

Slippery Pete (E)  6002  XP & 5318 GP

Sever (E)  6002  XP & 5318 GP

Bumblebore (E)   7402 XP & 5318 GP

Comfort Rod (E)   6002  XP & 5318 GP

Deadeye Donny (E)   6002  XP & 5318 GP

Graveyard

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), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

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

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

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 88 (Machodor #48); Battle of the 5 Armies, Bandit Mountain Style

    

The Dragon Cult leader makes a move

     

Timekeeping

This session took place on 03/10/2024, and the PCs adventured for 6 days.

Player Characters Present

Slippery Pete (Level 8 Thief, wearer of the Hat of Disguise and wielder of the Black Dagger)

Giuseppe (Level 7 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of a Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles)

Primus (Level 4 Fighter of Machodor, wearer of the Medallion of the Rising Sun) 

Gurt the Green (Level 3 Paladin of Machodor, wielder of the Longsword+3)

Boduke (Level 1 Dwarf Fighter Thief)

Introduction

In the last session a patron kidnaped the Countess Echellet of Guarda, or so he thought, and that set off a cascade of events. This session these events in turn converged into a mass battle in the mountains, with three patrons and the PCs taking sides.

From this report onwards I will be including some Patron downtime actions to try and put the reader in a better position to appreciate what it is like to DM in this kind of campaign. Keep in mind that none of the events below were pre-planned or scripted by me, I'm just doing my best to keep up and ensure patron orders are interpreted in a way that produces the best opportunities for convergence.

Downtime

The Dragon Cult Leader allied with the Master of Winter, the latter concerned with keeping the pressure on the forces of civilisation and/or bandits muscling in on his territory; the former interested in obtaining a certain hostage - the Countess Echellet - he believed had been taken by the Talibandits when they attacked Guarda. 

At first, the forces of the MoW marched west (and were spotted by Sever last session); they continued until they were positioned to the east of the mountains presumed to be the location of the Talibandit's lair, and there with the Dragon Cult leader began searching for an entrance. 

However, before they could find anything, an attack by a force of gnolls from the south east was tracked back towards the Ice Castle. You see, unknown to anyone else; the leader of the Talibandits, Usama Loot Laden, and his allied gnolls had already taken the Castle and had then sent 50 gnolls back to base to inform the rest of the gang. 

Convinced that the Ice Castle was were they needed to go, the DCL & MoW and their troops set off in that direction, oblivious to the fact that the Countess was actually right where they had been searching. In time, under the direction of Giuseppe, Machodorian Pegasus Patrols scouted these troops matching the description of those Sever had sighted the week before and marching in the opposite direction (east) to the previous sighting; but as yet they were still an unidentified force.

Session Report

Saffira

This session started with a bit of mystery. Saffira, the maid of the household of the missing Countess Echellet, had been investigated by Slippery Pete during down time. She had been working at the villa for about a year, and was effectively running the place in the countess' absence. Incidentally, there was little of value in the villa, it was run on a spartan budget, anything valuable was sold to help the poor of Guarda. He had tried Thieves' Cant on her, but she showed only confusion. However, one morning he spotted her reading a note and then hastily getting rid of it. The thief retrieved the note, it read: "This is the last note you will see unless you provide the ransom. Next time it will be body parts. Bring the funds to the Ice Castle NOW."

Obviously this was important, to say the least.

The charismatic Pete persuaded Saffira to confide in him. He found out from the maid that the Countess had been afraid for some time that the Dragon Cult was out to get her, that they had people all through the town who were part of the cult. Saffira wasn't sure about her employer's paranoia until recently, but now she agreed. 

The players investigated the household without much to show for it, then went to the Garrison and spoke to Commander Sheffield there to get his cooperation. Knowing that the Garrison and Militia don't get on too well, and that the party had good relations with the latter, they would have their work cut out for them with Sheffield. The usual sort of D&D shenanigans followed where the PCs merely caused offence without finding out much. When Slippery Pete tried to pick his pocket and failed, the party were escorted out of the building by his subordinate Captain Falkorre; however, not before the Commander had agreed to their request to examine the troops for a certain "eye-disease". Believe me, this was serious and important.

Both the garrison and the 500 strong militia were investigated during the morning. I rolled for reactions from the various NPCs for this request, with various modifications based on the individuals dispositions. One of them, the Militia Captain Tallon, refused outright to be examined and declared he would challenge to a dual anyone who insisted on such an examination. Gurt, taking the role of the party heavy in Sever's absence, took him up on it and soon had beaten him into submission.

To cut a long story short, through clever investigation the party learned that the dragon cult had substituted an Echelle look-a-like to give them time to mass an army and get the real thing before the forces of Guarda could do so.

The players connected this information with the troops reported earlier by the Pegasus patrol. Gathering up their forces, 100 human militia volunteers, 50 dwarf heavy foot paid for themselves, and 32 Pegasus air cavalry made available by the 6th Company Commander, they moved out east. They had a problem in that Gurt had disabled the Captain of the human Militia; but the remainder consented to command by the martial PCs.

Late on the day of Sunday October 6th, the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, their army caught up with their foe. But what was actually going on here was initially hard to work out. A battered force of Gnolls, led by Usama Loot Laden mounted on a huge mammoth, had just been devastated by a surprise attack of some kind. 

hastily scribbled battle map

In red, a hundred men clad in outlandish red-dragon themed armour and sporting flags of similar design. In black, fifty Gnolls; but, clearly, fifty more had just been killed along with some a small human cavalry unit, by a combination of a White Dragon and a team of Ballistae (also in white) positioned on a ridge near the entrance to the Master of Winter's valley.

Combat #1: 100 Dragon Cultist Fanatics

Rounds 4: Party win, cultists win, party wins, cultists win

Result: Party victory

Highlights:  Giuseppe used his magical shield to block a ballistae shot. The power gap between Sever and Primus wasn't helped by my constantly getting the names mixed up. Dragon breath weapons attacks galore.

Their approach spotted, the white dragon made a run at the Pegasus Riders (as though it had some beef with them particularly). Its breath weapon wiped out 10 riders and wounded their mounts so badly they had to land immediately, these were the first recorded losses for the Machodor Pegasus Corps regular companies. The air battle then moved away from the ground battle (the White Dragon eventually retreated), leaving the player's army to advance on the dragon cultists who had turned to face them. Meanwhile the remaining gnolls had turned around and were making tracks back to the Ice Castle with Usama as fast as they could go.

The player's forces advanced; but, before they could engage, a Red Dragon, previously Invisible, breathed fire all over the militia unit; 60 were killed and 20 more fled. Only 20 remained, held to the will power of Gurt and Primus (who I kept calling Sever through out this session). 

At the same time, on the northern flank the dwarves were attacked by ballista bolts. It is not clear to me whether siege engines hit at 1/10 scale or not in mass battles, but I have been playing it that way. In this case though, Giuseppe, bearer of the Shield vs Missiles, managed to block a ballista bolt and save his square (ten) of dwarves from destruction.

Then the ground forces finally met; the enemy wielding vicious, short daggers, suffered from their lack of reach and lost many before they got in close. What had happened to the Red Dragon? It had immediately abandoned the scene and set off after the gnolls, in fact flying right past them and landing in the Ice Castle.

Meanwhile, Slippery Pete had gone into stealth mode and trailed both the Dragon and the gnolls, and he had quite the adventure in downtime.

The fighters among the ranks of the PCs rejoiced at remembering the rule that allows for multiple attacks against 0-level enemies. They cut down cultists left and right, and there were no levelled officers  among them to serve as a break (their main purpose of them being in the monster manual entries, I have guessed) against the fighter's onslaught. The dragon cultists proved to be true fanatics though, and fought to the last man. However, the Master of Winter's men were not of this sort. Several ballistae crews had already been taken out from the air by Pegasus archery and they'd had enough. With the wagons making a retreat, the party were not about to let them get away.

AI art really is bad.

Combat #2: Master of Winter's Ballistae & Wagon Train

Rounds 5: Party, MoW, Party, Party, MoW, MoW

Result: Partial party victory

Highlights:  The faster party members, supported by Pegasus air cavalry, initiated a running battle with the waggoneers, going as far as chasing them right into the Master of Winter's valley; but the sight of a returning white dragon gave them pause and they called it a day there.

The party searched the enemy and found what turned out to be quite a bit of loot the Talibandits had acquired from the Ice Castle. Then they returned slowly to Guarda, heavily laden down with the bodies of their dead. In this session they had gotten no closer to their objective of rescuing the Countess, which but had inflicted losses on their enemies and would have to be content with that.

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel: 48  Miles

Combats: 2

Combat rounds: 9

Treasure and XP

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 88 (Machodor #48)

Treasure & Items

The bodies of the Gnolls were loaded down with loot:

5000 cp, 3000 sp, 300 ep, 4225 gp

Gems (17):  100 gp Lapis Lazuli, 20 gp Malachite, 200 gp Jade, 200 gp Jet, 30 gp Malachite, 40 gp Lapis Lazuli, 45 gp Smoky Quartz, 50 gp Eye Agate, 50 gp Hematite, 50 gp Hematite, 50 gp Smoky Quartz, 50 gp Tiger Eye Agate, 50 gp Turquoise, 500 gp Garnet, 500 gp Jet, 500 gp Tourmaline, 60 gp Sardonyx. Total: 2495

Jewellery (7): 12000 gp Decanter,  3000 gp Necklace,  900 gp Belt, 600 gp Locket, 1000 gp Goblet,  1000 gp Anklet,  4000 gp Statuette. Total: 22,500

Total Value: 29,770 gp.

Monsters

100 Dragon Cult Fanatics 2950 XP

60  Master Of Winter Artillerists & Waggoneers  605 XP

Total XP: 3555

Modified* score:  1896

* details of the method for scoring mass battles will follow in its own post.

31,661 XP & 29,770 GP Assignment

Slippery Pete (Level 8, E)  5,954 XP & 5954 GP

Giuseppe (Level 7, E) 6,428 XP & 5954 GP

Primus (Level 4, E )  6,428 XP & 5954 GP

Boduke (Level 1/1, E) 6,428  XP & 5954 GP

Gurt the Green (Level 3, E)  6,428 XP & 5954 GP

Graveyard

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), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

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

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

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 87 (Machodor #47); Kidnapped!

   

     

not what it appears

Timekeeping

This session took place on 26/09/2024, and the PCs adventured for 2 days.

Player Characters Present

Slippery Pete (Level 8 Thief, wearer of the Hat of Disguise and wielder of the Black Dagger)

Sever (Level 7 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength)

Giuseppe (Level 7 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of a Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles)

Comfort Rod (Level 4 Cleric, wielder of the Hammer of Giant Influence)

Introduction

This session report has been embargoed until now due to certain information it contains (that I won't be drawing attention to apart from this disclaimer). Certain patrons, who until now had been busy establishing themselves or interacting with each other, are finally making moves that the PCs have chosen to interact with themselves. These concerns will dominate the next series of sessions and reports. Keep in mind that none of the dramatics that follow were pre-planned; but are all the direct result of patron actions clashing with PC agency, and impartial DM resolution.

Downtime

With the leaders of the Whyte Company of mercenaries, survivors of the Battle Braunstein session, killed by the Talibandit leader Usama Loot Laden when he attacked Guarda, command of the remnant fell to the Magic-User Blackthorn. He decided he had had enough of playing a good boy, and turned to a life of crime. He choose to strike at the most well known target in Guarda, the Countess. For the party, no downtime occurred as last session ended right before this one.

Session Report

"Countess Echellet has been kidnapped!" 

Having only just returned to Schloss Ragnar, the news came to the party at via the enigmatic Pegasus 6th Company cleric, Sixtus. It seems that he had means of getting this information almost in real time. Details were scarce, but there was no doubt that the Guardan leader, wounded in the previous attack on the town, was gone. 

The party immediately set off to investigate, as they approached the town they could see the place was in an uproar; word had gotten out. Three of the five militia companies in the town were setting off in three different directions to search for the countess. One heading out into the south west was nearly out of sight, while the other two were in a pushing and shoving match with Garrison guards manning the check points leading into the mountains north and east.

The party managed to settle matters down and got the other militia companies, even the one heading south west, to return to their tents. Then started the investigation proper.

Saffira the maid

At Echellet's villa they spoke to the chief maid, Saffira, who told them how she had stumbled upon the kidnappers and was tied up while they escaped with the countess. To cut a long story short, the party were able to confirm her story and turn up the information about the Whyte Company remnants and that they had left town, heading east, just the night before. When asked the Guards pleaded that, after all, they had no orders to stop people leaving; and yes they may have had a wagon or two that could have concealed a person in it.

It had been a long day but the party did not want to let the trail go cold. This was just as well as the patron playing Blackthorn had given me additional orders right before the session, but we'll get to that.

The trail, a score of horses and a wagon, was easily for Sever to follow; but, as the party plodded on in the night a terrific storm rolled in. Fortunately this was not before they found that the trail turned to the south west, heading into the dead end Valley of the Pillars. The party hastened to find shelter nearby to wait out the storm, which finally ceased being lethal near dawn. However, the rumbling overhead made it clear it was still too dangerous for Pegasus flight, so the entire party proceeded at ground level into the valley.

As they neared the middle of the flat valley, they saw the two rows of pillars that gave it its name. If Bonecrusher was concerned at returning to the place Giuseppe had rescued him from last year, he gave no outwards sign. Beyond the pillars, where there should have been an altar, was instead a copse of trees. Giuseppe nudged Bonecrusher forward to investigate, but before he reached the trees he saw a shining glyph take form; they had stepped on a Glyph of Warding and set it off, wounding the war horse and pissing off the paladin. This alerted the men on the other side of the trees and they sprang into action and surprised the party.

Night Raven

Combat #1: Night Ravens, Mounted Crossbowmen and their level 5 Cleric. (MM, Merchants)

Rounds, 5: Party Surprised for 1 Segment, Party win,  Enemy win, Tied Initiative, Party win.

Result: Party victory

Highlights: Sadly for Comfort Rod's henchman Domby, his lowly Dexterity of 5 meant he was surprised for 2 segments, and one of those he was the only valid target for the horsemen. With their crossbows firing at triple normal rate (as per DMG pg. 62) he did not survive. Otherwise, even with various advantages, the mounted crossbowmen were able to make little inroads in the party's HP.

Sever skimmed the ground with Convess so as to avoid triggering any further Glyphs (smart) and dispatched the Cleric there before he could complete his spell. Having little to show for a round of missile weapons the riders closed with Giuseppe and Sever while Slippery Pete and Comfort Rod took cover. Although they got in a few more hits, they also fell fowl of the attacks on 0-level by high level fighters rule and got a lot worse then they gave. After this they struggled on a bit longer and then broke for the valley's exit. Again Sever zoomed across at ground level and cut off their escape. They surrendered.

Slippery Pete went forward to examine the trees, and at his touch they disappeared; proving, if such proof was necessary, that he is an intelligent creature (at least for the purposes of an Hallucinatory Terrain spell). This revealed the enemy's tent encampment and wagon, and the altar that in a previous time Giuseppe had rescued his warhorse Bonecrusher. A panel in the altar had been opened, presumably by the enemy Cleric, and the treasure hidden within proved to be lucrative.

There was no sign of Echellet, or the magic user that was supposed to be leading the others. After a short period of extensive interrogation, one of the surviving Night Owls spilled the beans that Blackthorn had taken on the form of a weird oriental dragon and flown off with her and Crokus (a thief), intent on trading the countess to the Master of Winter.

Now, with Sever and Convess able to speed off in pursuit, the question became just how far ahead were Blackthorn, Crokus, and Echellet? Well, the (last minute) instructions were that Blackthorn would use Polymorph Self to change into a Tun Mi Lung Typhoon Dragon (this dragon is not in 1e btw (actually I'm informed it is in Oriental Adventurers)) and then carry the other two with him. All well and good, but at level 8 the spell would only last 160 minutes, not enough to reach his destination (the Master of Winter's valley). Travelling at half speed with the weight of two passengers, I calculated the distance travelled, then allowed that he had set off before the storm had started and then took shelter while he re-memorised another Polymorph Self spell (having also used Hallucinatory Terrain to hide his camp).

DMG pg. 40

So, for a 4th level spell it would take a minimum of 7 hours rest and study. This duration put him pretty much still at that spot getting ready when Sever would arrive. But I couldn't really make an exact call for this, even with all this detail; minutes could be the difference between Sever arriving on time and Blackthorn being gone.

 

Sever found the camp by noticing the tell tale, slightly out of place, forest high on a mountain side. He flew low over the tress in an attempt to achieve surprise and; meanwhile I had whipped up a quick d12 table, with 1 meaning the magic-user was long gone and 12 meaning he was just taking off. I then rolled...12!

Combat #2: Blackthorn (Level 8 Magic User)  & Crokus (Level 8 Thief)

Rounds, 1: 2 segments of Surprise

Result:  Solo Sever victory

a sight to ruin any villain's getaway

Highlights: Sever saw the dragon lifting off and clearing the illusionary trees; with a thief looking guy riding on top, and a bundle the size of a woman being carried below. He achieved surprise (they weren't expecting him) and had two segments, one to dive close and one to attack with his lance. The target might have been in dragon form, but Polymorph Self grants no additional hit points or other such bonuses; one lance hit and the mage was dead, and plummeting eighty feet to the ground in human form. The thief, suddenly ride-less, doing the same. Sever's problem now was the plummeting bundle the dragon had been holding; but the ranger had planned for that as well. He launched himself from the saddle* while activating his Wings of Flying, then swooped down and caught the falling bundle; which is a pretty cool ToTM image I think you'll agree.

*quick release being a standard feature on Pegasus Corps saddles

The party had had these for a year before putting them to use.

Landing carefully, he confirmed that the bundle did contain the young woman Echellet, who appeared to be unconscious. He then looted the enemy of spell books and other items, then headed back to meet up with the party. 

As he took to the sky once again, he saw, far off to the east, a force of men marching in his direction (west). They had a number of wagons, and maybe two hundred men; but he was too far away to tell more. It was no time for scouting, so he headed back. When he reached the party, who were part way back to Guarda with the prisoners, Giuseppe was keen to ensure the safety of Echellet; but, after a moment, declared: "That's not her!"

The woman Sever had brought back, still unconscious, looked a lot like the Countess; but the Paladin had spent considerable time with her in the past and he spotted subtle differences. What could it mean? Was the dragon cult involved? Only time would tell.

Addendum

Blackthorn had sent spies after both the bank of Guarda and the countess, I calculated the times required and rolled for the success of each operation. It turned out that the bank raid would take much longer to pull off. Frankly, when he first gave these orders I was a bit underwhelmed, and then while eating dinner I started laughing like a maniac when I realised the implications of the second plot. He didn't know she wasn't the real countess! But by kidnapping her the players would most likely find out.

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel: 42  Miles

Combats: 2

Combat rounds: 6

Treasure and XP

Treasure & Items

16000 gp Gem Encrusted solid Gold sacrifice platter

220 sp, 40 gp loose change

Spellbooks 10800gp (Sarumin is very happy to purchase these from Sever, in addition he is prepared to offer his services for a period of two weeks)

Total Value: 26851 gp.

Shield of the Strict Rule (Identified in Guarda by Comfort Rod) 2000xp

Potion of Healing 200XP

Potion of Gaseous Form 300 XP 

Onyx Dog 200 XP

20 Light Warhorses, 1 Medium warhorse

1 suit of human sized plate mail

20 * Scailmail, Light Crossbow, Longsword

Monsters

13 Night Owls (bandits) 325 XP

7 Night Owls (bandits) Captured and handed over in Guarda 210 XP

5th Level Cleric Malric the Grim  500 XP

8th level Magic-User Blackthorn 1540 XP Soloed by Sever

8th Level Thief Crokus 1600 XP Soloed by Sever

30,586 XP & 26,851 GP Assignment

Slippery Pete (Level 8, E)  7647 XP & 6713 GP 

Sever (Level 7, E ) 10787 XP & 6713 GP 

Giuseppe (Level 7, E)  7647 XP & 6713 GP 

Comfort Rod (Level 4, E)  7647 XP & 6713 GP 

Graveyard

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), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

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

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

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 86 (Machodor #46); The many heads of the Hydra

  

Local map for the session

     

Timekeeping

This session took place on 19/09/2024, and the PCs adventured for 7 days.

Player Characters Present

Sever (Level 7 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength)

Giuseppe (Level 7 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of the Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles)

Gurt the Green (Level 3 Paladin, wielder of the Longsword+3) 

Luke (Level 1 Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric)

Introduction

The party was keen to serve up some payback to the forces of evil running loose in the mountains, and were not keen to follow things up in the PSoD. 

Downtime

Some days ago the party learned that the town of Guarda had suffered and attack by Gnolls, led in some manner by humans (knowns as the Talibandits). During his wanderings Giuseppe had found an alternate and faster route through the mountains near Castle Irish.

Session Report

It was a rainy day as they set off, soon passing through a passage in the mountains that Giuseppe had found. Within was the dwarf fort settlement of the Gumli Clan. They charged a modest fee to pass, which included access to the interior of their fortifications and the common area. The players took a break in the "Short Inn" and found the locals to be enigmatic, then carried on south. They reached the area where the Merchant Company, the Lilac Leaf, had been attacked and largely destroyed by bandits, and here they examined the site, looking for clues. They found some strange ones, including what looked like the claw marks of a very large flying creature on the ground nearby. However, nothing pointed to any particular direction they could find the bandits.

As a plan B they figured they could hunt a hydra that in previous times they had noticed living in the area, it was on the way to Guarda anyway and perhaps there would be more clues to find there.

They spend the night in a narrow gully near the valley the party expected the Hydra to be in, and the next morning the rain that had been falling was cleared by a strong wind. They caught the beast as it was heading out for its breakfast.

Hydra baby photo

Combat #1: Hydra with 11 heads (MM)

Rounds 4: Monster, Party, Monster, Monster

Result: Costly (in  more ways than one) Party victory

Highlights:  These creatures can really absorbed some damage and dish it out. Luke and Gurt killed in battle.

The party had grown much more powerful since the first time they had encountered this hydra; but, as it bore down on their well prepared ambush, they saw that it too had grown. The monster now had 11 heads!

Giuseppe sent his henchmen out to fire from horseback on the creature from its flanks, then he bore in on Bonecrusher. Sever charged with Convess, and so did Gurt on his mount; with Luke, safely at the back of the formation, preparing fire to use on the creature. 

Heads were chopped at a steady rate, but the long writhing necks enabled the remainder to snap at anyone in melee. There was also the (well founded) fear that the heads might grow back, Luke went in to try and cauterise a neck stump, but was sadly bitten in two by one of the still intact heads. Then Gurt got piled on and went down with the exact amount of damage that was enough to kill him, his luck had run out. The mood shifted and the surviving party members grimly continued until the last remain head was severed and the creature went down, not to rise again. It was not the regenerating kind.

With the loss of two party members, thoughts turned to Raise Dead. Logistically they had to get the bodies to either Minas Mandalf or St. Raul, and then find a caster high enough who was available; there was a better chance of cleric availability at the Capital. Another matter was cost, funds were low, they needed to find the Hydra's lair, if they could, and secure any treasure it may have been hoarding. Sure enough, Sever was easily able to follow the creature's tracks to a cave entrance. Inside was an area the Hydra has been using for a bed, it was strewn with shiny objects, and nearby were the remains of what once had been a hidden room; but now the wall separating it from the cave was gone, probably battered down at some point by the hydra moving around. Here there were some clay pots, that turned out to be trapped, but the fighter heavy party just absorbed the damage through the selfless Giuseppe. Inside the pots were a lot of low value coins, some gems, and two pieces of jewellery. Was there enough here to pay for Raise Dead?

The party carried on to Guarda with the bodies of their slain companions, the locals kept a respectful distance, but did let them know that one unit of militia had prepared and stood read to go with them into the mounts to try and exact vengeance on the Gnolls and the Talibandits. Such matters were no long top priority to the party (but that would change later). Here they were joined by Comfort Road and then they travelled to Schloss Ragnar (known for the best prices on gems and jewellery). Their gains turned out to be enough for Gurt, but not poor Luke, the latter was buried in a ceremony befitting the demi-human.

Sever flew to Minas Mandalf with Gurt's heavy body strapped to Convess. Landing at the Scout Regiment level of the Pegasus Corps Tower in the heart of the city, he then rushed to the duty Cathedral. There was a quick check of the resurrection survival table in the PHB, and with Gurt's Constitution of 16 it was an easy roll to make. Now there was a short discussion as to whether this meant the Paladin had lost a point of Constitution; we all seemed to remember it this way. However, but we couldn't actually find a justification for this in the rules. It seems that AD&D 1e doesn't say anything about losing a point, just that your lifetime limit for Raise Dead is your Constitution. 

When Gurt had fully recovered, on September 24th, Sever flew him back to the party at Schloss Ragnar. Feeling like a new man, Gurt had an idea that they could hunt big cats west of Schloss Ragnar (who knows why?) but when the day dawned it was foggy. This wasn't ideal for hunting, but rather than waste another day, the party decided to try their luck anyway. Sure enough, they found something, and it found them. 

Combat #2: 13 Wolves (MM)

Rounds 2: Tied, Monsters win 

Result:  Party victory, 8 wolves retreated into the fog.

Highlights: Comfort Rod, Luke's player's other character, lost his horse.

Using my compass dice, I found that the wolves were approaching from the north west, and so was the wind. This helped explain why they had no inkling of the party's presence until they stepped into view. Sever tried his best to intimidate them, but once they saw horseflesh they attacked. After the victory the party set about butchering and skinning the wolves, and while they were doing so ten Trolls rolled up on them from the East.

The PCs were not about to take on this group
and evaded them before returning to Schloss Ragnar.

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel: 51 Miles

Combats: 2

Combat rounds: 6

Treasure and XP

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 86 (Machodor #46)

Treasure & Items

2 Jewellery

6000 gp Ring

8000 gp Comb

Total Value: 14000 gp.

7 Gems 

10 gp Blue Quartz, 10 gp Hematite, 10 gp Turquoise, 150 gp Jasper, 20 gp Moss Agate, 200 gp Star Rose Quartz, 50 gp Hematite. 

Total Value: 450 gp.

3000 cp

3000 sp

5000 ep

200pp

Wolf Pelts 50gp

Hydra hide & heart(250 gp from Professor Dorol)

Monsters

1 11 Headed Hydra 4285 XP

5 Wolves 325 XP

8 Wolves Escaped

10 Trolls Evaded

Total XP

23,025 XP & 18,415 GP Assignment

Sever (Level 7, E ) 7675 XP &  2638 GP

Giuseppe (Level 7, E) 7675 XP & 2638 GP 

  with henchmen Bishoy and Tawadros (F4, E) 3837 XP & 3069 GP

Gurt the Green (Level 3, E)  65 XP & 10 GP  -- wolf battle only

Comfort Rod (Level 4, E)  65 XP & 10 GP -- wolf battle only

Graveyard

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), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

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

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

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 85 (Machodor #45); Canoes in the Dark

 

A suddenly and inexplicably popular item acquired last session

     

Timekeeping

This session took place on 12/09/2024, and the PCs adventured for 2 days.

Player Characters Present

Slippery Pete (Level 8 Thief, wearer of the Hat of Disguise and wielder of the Black Dagger)

Sever (Level 7 Pegasus Corps Ranger of Machodor, wielder of Were'shbane and wearer of the Girdle of Cloud Giant Strength)

Giuseppe (Level 7 Paladin of Rome, Brovenloft, wielder of a Dragonslayer and the Shield of Protection from Missiles)

Sheamus (Level 6 Irish Fighter of Brovenloft, wielder of the Drewblade) 

Gurt the Green (Level 3 Paladin, wielder of the Longsword+3) 

Luke (Level 1 Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric)

Introduction

Some players love the Pizza Slice of Doom, while other players hate that they've been stymied at what seems like every turn. This session had something for both camps.

Downtime

The two weeks or so of downtime were spent travelling to Minas Mandalf with Prince Barin the Ranger, and his company, with a stop over in St Raul. On the way word caught up to them that Guarda had suffered an attack by Gnolls.

Session Report

The player packed their canoes once again and set off to the PSoD, there they retraced their steps (metaphorically in places), until they had reached the "bowl" area where last week they had found Prince Barin. The prince had said his men would have continued down a drain like exit to the bowl room if they had not encounter the PCs. He had also given his ring to Sever as a token of thanks. More than a token, this ring could open otherwise locked doors in the Sky City.

I have to someone shamefully admit to using the Wilderness Survival Guide for rules on Canoes.

Lifting the panel, they could see it was just as the Barin had described. Below was a channel heading west. The water there was just deep enough to use the canoes, so they lower them down and cautious began exploring. The water flowed gently in the same direction, and as they explored the water depth increased. Turning south, they soon found a landing just above the water line, with a door visible on the nearer wall. This temptation proved too much and they piled onto the landing and tied off the canoes. Using the ring provided by Prince Barin, Sever found that the door opened for him easily. The room beyond had a some trapped chests, tied to a paralysis beam firing from the ceiling. Slippery Pete failed to find it and, once triggered, a secret door opened and let in a bunch of hungry metallic beetles.

Combat #1: 14 PSoD Beetles (MM)

Rounds 2: Monsters win, Party wins.

Result: Party victory

Highlights: This trap could have been much deadlier. Even though it was set off, the party's tactic of just leaving the room and letting Sever open the chests paid dividends.

After collecting the treasure and a sample of the beetles, the party took to the water again and headed east. The passage widened and deepened and turned north, where another landing could be seen. This too had a door and the party repeated the process from earlier, this time finding nothing of interest. However, something of interest found them. I had rolled a 1 on the random encounter d6 and a 20 on the monster table. Due to the layout of the dungeon, I had already decided that any level VIII rolled would be a Purple Worm, but I never expected it to pop up right here when the party weren't even in the water.

Combat #2: 1 Purple Worm (MM)

Rounds 6: Monster wins, Tied Initiative, Party win, Party win, Party win, Party win.

Result:  Party victory

Highlights: Heroics from Slippery Pete and Sever, a near death experience for Gurt.

There could be no other interpretation, the monster was IN the water, and, as the party floundered about getting ready to push on, it struck. The 50' long worm opened its maw and in went Gurt, just like that. The other canoes, paddling for a better fighting location, first had to check to see if they capsized (WSG p 45) and by some miracle they stayed upright and buoyant. With Gurt in peril would they stay and fight, or what? No, they advanced in the hope of luring the worm to a battleground better suited them. All but Slippery Pete that is, who, in a fit of heroism, dived into the water and attempted to back stab the giant purple worm. This had mixed results and he ended up with his black dagger buried to the hilt in the hide of the creature and hanging on for dear life as it pursued the rest of the party.

Now, as they were not attempting to evade (which would mean leaving Gurt for dead), but to lure the creature after them, I didn't use to the evasion rules but instead simply went with initiative; if the worm won it would move first and attack, if it moved second the fast canoes would just out pace it. On the plus side, it could not get an attack in with its tail while chasing them. The first round was tied and the monster again tried to swallow a PC, missing and also just managing not to capsize the boat that PC was in (I forget who now).

And so several rounds passed with the party on a streak of initiative win; mapping was impossible as the subterranean river corridor first passed under the section where they had begun, then turned east and widened significantly. Along with this the speed of the water also increased. Meanwhile, Slippery Pete was stabbing away from the outside while Gurt, having had the prescience to prepare a dagger by dangling it from his mouth tied to a handkerchief (!), was stabbing away from the inside; although each round he was loosing the strength to do so.

unknown to the Paladin, he had 6 rounds to get out.

Suddenly everything changed, ahead a waterfall was rushing towards them, spilling out over empty space into the dark, and there was no missing it! The canoes were going over, but the players chose to approach the 50' fall in their own ways. Luke leapt out of his canoe, jammed his oar into the side of the rock and hung on for his life. Giuseppe and his henchmen, along with Sheamus and McScales, all jumped clear of the canoes to splash down into the water below. All but McScales and those in magic armour now had to try and get back to the surface to breath. 

But that was not the biggest issue. Of course, as well, over went the worm in pursuit of them, it didn't seem at all perturbed at doing so while Slippery Pete clung on to its back. Sever had chosen this moment to activate his Wings of Flying. These have a very limited use period, but were perfect for this situation. Next round with the other characters bobbing around and their stuff all over the place under water, the Purple Worm surfaced ready to chow down on them; the daggers of Slippery Pete and Gurt weren't going to stop it. And that's when Sever dived and let loose with Were'shbane. He chopped the creature with so much damage that I paused to calculate whether he had hit the section of the worm where Gurt was (some other MM entries specify this for creatures that can swallow their prey whole). He ended up being quite a distance away from the mighty slash, and so still had a job ahead of him to get out of the now dead monster; but soon enough he burst forth, having cheated death by seconds.

This was all pretty cinematic, but once they had scooped themselves and their loot back into righted canoes, and Sever had flown back up and rescued Luke, they had to asked themselves where the hell they were. Certainly not in the Pizza Slice of Doom anymore. After Sever had done a short survey until his wings were nearly exhausted, they realised they had passed into in the belly of the extinct volcano that the dungeon sat on. Water had come through via a break in the volcano wall and filled a large area, the edge of which Sever had not found, but they theorised could not be as far as the huge cave worm holes they had found here in the past. There was a gentle current heading south, but they chose to strike north, hoping to hug the wall of the place and work around until they reached a dry surface.

This information flummoxed some of the relatively newer players.

The water was strange, driven by the varying amounts of heat from below, some sections were almost too hot to paddle through and had to be navigated around, others were cold. Aside from their trusty Continual Light stones the place was very dark, and the light attracted many small fish to the surface to gawk at them. Oblivious to the risk, they went on until a Giant Catfish was attracted to the teaming fish around them. Fortunately Sever's Ranger senses tingled in time to avoid another aquatic battle (but I probably should have penalised the chances for this due to the light situation, oh well). Later, a similar thing happened with a pair of Giant Gar, also content to feed on the small fish and not bother the party. Eventually the group struck land and hid their canoes among the rocks.

Here the session faltered, there was a puzzling situation to solve: how to get back into the dungeon; but it was totally open ended. In the end the players instead focussed on the puzzle of just how to get the hell out of there. They went east into the steamy area of the vast underground chamber, again narrowly avoiding an enemy, in this case 50 Firenewts, and continued on. They had hit upon the idea of traversing to the other side and attempting to climb up out of the steam vent that they had reason to believe led all the way up to the ears in Mel Gibson's head (it's a long story). I wasn't going to rule out the method, but it wasn't going to be a quick or easy process, even with Sever's strength belt doing a lot of the work.

Finally they decided on an alternative plan, rest long enough for Sever to be able to use his wings again, then he could (hopefully) fly up out of the chimney like structures into the cyclopean city above, from there he could cross to the Irish outpost, get Convess and fly back to pull them out one by one. The night passed uneventfully in a miserable cold camp. Sever flew out to the surface above safely, but had to walk most of the way across to the Irish camp, at one point narrowly avoiding a shapeless horror moving about the ruins of a many cornered building.

United once again with the Pegasus, the remainder of the rescue was time consuming in game, but eventually the rest of the party were ferried back to the Irish camp, with Giuseppe holding the fort until then.

Session Statistics: 

Wilderness travel: 6 Miles
Mapped Dungeon area traversed:  1600 ft
New Dungeon corridor mapped: 270 ft
New rooms mapped: 2
Combats: 2
Combat rounds: 8
Total time in the Dungeon (approx): 4 Turns

Treasure and XP

Trollopulous Adjusted Session 85 (Machodor #45)

Treasure & Items

3500gp

Beetle carapace

Purple Worm stinger

Monsters

14 Beetles 300 XP 

1 Purple Worm 6120 XP

1 Giant Catfish Evaded

2 Giant Gar Evaded

54 Firenewts Evaded

1 "shapeless horror" Evaded

Total 6420 XP

9920 XP & 3500 GP Assignment

Slippery Pete (Level 8, E) 1322  XP &  467 GP

Sever (Level 7, E )  1322  XP &  467GP

Giuseppe (Level 7, E) 1322  XP &  467GP 

  with henchmen Bishoy and Tawadros (F4, E) 661 XP & 233 GP

Sheamus (Level 6, E) 1322  XP &  467GP 

  with McScales (Level 2, E) 661 XP &  233 GP

Gurt the Green (Level 3, E)  1322  XP & 467GP

Luke (Level 1, E)  1322  XP & 467GP

Graveyard

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), killed again by the toxic gas of an Achaierai in session #72

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

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 (Level 1 Magic User), 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