The Twentieth Session

March 21, 2020, Campaign: As the ground quakes, evil wakes

Since the Seventeenth Session

From two sessions ago: 2-22 notes.

The evil swords make people hostile (except to other sword-carriers) and will resurrect people if they die while holding the cursed blades. The people cease being auto-aggression when they see no more sword-holders.

Salris and Ryltar find the history professor dead, and found a journal.

The school held a rally to explain the problem.

Then we got hired by other Drow, who approached Ryltar, who were looking for competent adventurers. The leader of the expedition knows Ryltar, somehow, and he knows that they're unsavory people. They're paying us well, but Ryltar's plan is to sabotage their expedition in some way.

We traveled a day north, knocking 1 day's travel off our 11 days planned travel, 3 of which are by road followed by 8 days of cross-country. We're on the way to the city of Lean, to the southeast of Quadroads.

Day 2 of 11

We wake to encounter a caravan heading towards Sky Diamond Academy.

Most are on foot, walking alongside carts carrying bandaged bodies. Even the wlakers have bandages on their bodies.

Seeing us, two members of the caravan not to each other, and walk towards us. One is older, one younger, with similar figures. A father and son, perhaps?

Ryltar steps to greet them, and is greeted by them. The younger one asks whether we have any weapons they can have. They had encountered a giant centipede that ate their weapons, rather than attacking the party. It would eat whatever weapon it encountered, eating more metal weapons than the wooden weapons.

Salris gifts them his two daggers, which he doesn't need anymore. The caravan divulges a few crates, which they set down and open up.

The caravan's travelers met the beast two days' north of the SDA. We're heading south-west.

Jerry trades them Tula's 3 javelins for a shovel (at Salris' prodding), two rations, and two pints of oil.

We travel south-west for a day, through the forested terrain, and nothing happens.

Day 3 of 11

Around late afternoon, we begin to see more people on the road. We come upon an open market, on either side of the road, like a swap meet or flea market.

The road runs in a rut, and to either side are the goods, the traders' shop tents, and beyond that the traders' sleeping tents. It runs for a mile ahead of us. Up ahead we see an ornate, heavily-incensed pavilion. All the items are used, from rusty crowbars to other things.

As we travel through the market:

• Vurguron looks for a rusty crowbar
• Bugfood looks for a pearl with which to cast Identify. He finds a jeweler, and with Ryltar's assistance buys a string of them.
• Salris and Ryltar buy some rations
• Zelrathi buys nothing, nor Jerry

We pass through, ignoring the very shiny suit of armor that is prominently displayed at the pavilion, its shininess an exquisite contrast to the secondhand surroundings.

Day 4 of 11

Those not on watch are awakened by a small rumble, about a 4 or 5 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

We turn off the road, and travel to the south through the woods.

Jerry, Bugfood, and one other in our party notice a small glimmer off in the distance, through the trees. Jerry calls this out to the party, and we decide to go investigate.

It's a tea set, for two, with freshly-brewed tea in the pot, and a basket of stuff. It's very definitely magical, of the transmutation variety.

Bugfood casts Speak with Plants to talk with a nearby locust tree how long that teapot has been there, and who it belongs to.

Salris pours himself a cuppa.

The tree replies that the tea set has been there for two days.

Salris drinks some of the tea. It's tea, like a shitty Earl Grey. 4/10. Wouldn't buy it.

Zelrathi calls out that the basket isn't magical. It has a box of biscuits and jelly.

Bugfood casts Identify as a ritual, and while that completes he pours himself a tea.

The tea set is a Hot Pot: it's a magical half-gallon heater that keeps the contents hot, heats within a minute, and can be used for a weapon, even, throwing the liquid up to 10 feet. Salris takes it, as it's kinda a close-in weapon.

We spend a while discussing the possibility of how we might use it for queso or molten iron.

We travel south for the rest of the day, led by Jerry's 27 Survival roll in her favored terrain.

As we settle down for the evening, we feel another temblor. But there's really not much to talk about, besides rumors of what causes earthquakes.

Zelrathi's Druidcraft cantrips tell us that tomorrow will storm, and that the earthquakes will increase in intensity.

Day 5 of 11

Zelrathi tells us about his forecast. And indeed, it rains the rest of the day, in a steady downpour.

We remain on the right path, with Jerry's 28.

In the night, it continues to downpour. Zelrathi casts Druidcraft again, without tremors, but tomorrow will be dry.

Around the fifth or sixth hour of the night, Zelrathi sees a big cloud of bats fly off into the night, to the southeast. He turns to Vurguron, and asks what that might be. Between the two of them, they decide that there's a large cave system over there or other terrain feature.

Day 6 of 11

The last day of forest travel. The overcast sky breaks into part clouds, and over the day into clear skies.

With a natural 30 on Jerry's Survival roll, we continue. There's nothing of interest.

The forest continues to get denser.

And then we hear grumbling from the distance, and around us giant mounds of plants and vines come to life to attack us.

Against the mounds of vines

1. Round 1
   1. Zelrathi moves to Jerry and Salris, and casts a twinned Enlarge Person on each of them. They become Large creatures, now straddling their horses. The horses are spooked by the largening of their characters.
   2. One mound of vines tries two Slam attacks against Jerry, but misses each time.
   3. One comes behind Bugfood and tries to attack him and his horse. It misses the horse, and connects with Bugfood.
   4. A third mound of vines approaches Ryltar, and attacks
   5. Jerry slashes the vine-mound with her Slayer of the Unnatural, missing once and hitting once for 16 damage.
   6. Ryltar casts Slow on the mound next to him and the mound next to Bugfood, succeeding on the one next to him. THen he guides his horse away.
   7. Bugfood Blesses himself, Jerry, Vurguron and Salris. Then he sneks the Staff of the Adder.
   8. Vurguron jumps off his horse and attacks the nearest vines, and deals 44 slashing with his two attacks.
   9. Salris casts Hexblade's Curse on the nearest vine monster, and does a lot of cutting.
2. Round 2
   1. Zelrathi pops an Eldritch Blast at the most-damaged vine monster, and another at the one closest to him. One hits, but the other is absorbed by the vines. Then he heals Bugfood for one Healing Word.
   2. One vine mound hits swipes Jerry twice, for a total of 25 bludgeoning damage, but she passes both concentration checks to maintain Hunter's Mark.
   3. The second vinester hits Bugfood for 16 damage and a con save, which he saves against.
   4. The third vine monster moves up to Vurguron, swipes at him, but misses.
   5. Jerry splashes the nearest vine with a pint of oil, and then follows it up with 15 slashing. Then she retreats sideways, flanking the vine against the party.
   6. Ryltar moves out from behind the trees, and casts Ray of Frost against the vines that were attacking him, dealing 14 Cold to the vines. Parts of the outer tendrils snap off; it dealt less damage than he hoped.
   7. Bugfood swings the Staff of the Adder at the nearest vine, but it passes the poison test to take 4 piercing damage. Then he Balm of the Summer Courts himself for 9 healing plus 2 bonus HP.
   8. Vurguron does some attacks against a vine monster.
   9. Salris does 31 against his nearest monster.
3. Round 3.
   1. Zelrathi Fireballs the oil-covered vine monster, but it appears to be resistant to fire.
   2. Vine monster makes two attacks against Salris, for total 32 damage.
   3. Bugfood takes no damage from the other vine monster's misses.
   4. Vurguron Shields himself from another vine monster's attack, bringing his AC to 24.
   5. Jerry flanks the nearest vine, and slashes it twice, killing it. Then she moves her Hunter's Mark to the nearest vine monster, 30 feet away, next to Bugfood.
   6. Ryltar Mind Spikes the vine monster convenient to him, for 19 psychic damage plus it can't hide from him. He drops Slow.
   7. Bugfood Staff of the Adder's the vine monster next to him, for a little damage.
   8. Vurguron hits the monster, dealing 12 damage, taking it to half.
   9. Salris deals 27 total to his nearest vine monster, after flanking it against Bugfood.
4. Round 4.
   1. Zelrathi Eldritch Blasts twice the vine monster that Salris is against.
   2. With a natural 20 and a 13, the vine monster deals thirty-something damage to Bugfood.
   3. Vurguron Shields himself against an attack.
   4. Jerry deals 30 slashing to the vine monster that Bugfood and Salris are flanking, reaching over Bugfood to flank it as well.
   5. Ryltar does some damage to one of the monsters, coincidentally slowing it.
   6. Bugfood throws a fuzzy ball from the Bag of Tricks onto the battlefield, deploying a Giant Rat. It lands next to the monster attacking him, and attacks the vine monster a little.
   7. Vurguron deals 29 damage to the vine monster, halving its remaining HP.
   8. Salris does some more attacks.
5. Round 5.
   1. Zelrathi deals 13 damage to the vine monster near Salris, and then heals Bugfood with his Healing Light for a precious little 6 health.
   2. Vine monster attacks Bugfood for 27, bringing him down to 6 health. He passes the strength save.
   3. Vine monster smashes the rat into paste. It then spins around and punches at Vurguron, but misses.
   4. Jerry cuts the first vine monster in half with a 37, then she moves Hunter's Mark to the remaining vine monster and slashes it for 12.
   5. Ryltar Ray of Frosts the monster for 10 damage, halved to 5, reducing its speed by 10.
   6. Bugfood pops a trick from the tricks bag, summoning a boar to attack the remaining vine monster with Relentless Charge comboing its Tusk attack, but it misses.
   7. Vurguron slices through the final Vine Monster, "like an explorer macheteing through the jungle".

The last vine monster collapses, and they fall into rot almost immediately.

We take a short rest and heal up some.

At the conclusion of our short rest, we notice the Shambling Mounts beginning to pull themselves back together. Zelrathi Firebolts them again, destroying their remaining pieces.

We continue on for a short time, and come across an even bigger plant problem.

Against the Vine Beast

1. Round 1
   1. Salris casts Vampiric Touch, spurring his horse forward, and slaps it to deal 12 necrotic damage to the vine beast.
   2. Bugfood moves back a bit, and casts Bless as a third level spell, covering the entire Party save Zelrathi.
   3. Jerry flanks the vine monster, pops Hunter's Mark, and attacks for 12 + 25, chopping off two small vines that writhe on the ground. She calls out to Zelrathi, "Being big would be nice! Watch out for the vines!"
   4. The monster makes two spiky vine attacks, missing Jerry but grappling Salris with acidic vines.
   5. One of the Animated Vines attacks Jerry, for 16 piercing.
   6. Ryltar casts Slow on the mound of vines.
   7. Zelrathi heals Salris for a bit, then Eldritch Blasts the big vine monster for some.
2. Round 2
   1. Salris with his Vampiric Touch critically attacks the vine holding him, dealing 24 necrotic and healing himself to full.
   2. Jerry continues to attack the monster, dealing 28 total damage, cutting off two additional vines. She converts the Slayer of the Unnatural from slashing to bludgeoning damage.
   3. The vine monster attacks Jerry, dealing 24 piercing. Salris takes an acid attack.
   4. The vineling tendrils attack Jerry, missing, and Salris, missing.
   5. Vurguron advances on a vine tendril, slashing it and killing it. Having noticed the slashing chops off more tendrils, he attacks another tendril cutting it dead. Then he Action Surges, attacking twice. Two tendrils fall off.
   6. Zelrathi moves over to Jerry, and Enlarges her.
3. Round 3
   1. Ryltar casts Ray of Frost at the vine monster again, but misses the slowed creature.
   2. Bugfood attacks the tendril twice with Guiding Bolt, dealing 21 radiant and givin the next attack against it advantage.
   3. Salris twice Vampiric Touches the vine holding him, healing himself all the way.
   4. Jerry critically attacks (3d10 + 2d6 + 2d4 + 1 + str_mod) for 36 and again for 9, and takes 6 from acid from being grappled.
   5. Vurguron takes 31 piercing and is grappled by the monster.
   6. Tendrils attack Vurguron and Jerry. Jerry receives no damage; Vurguron receives some damage.
   7. Vurguron kills the main vine monster, and all its tendrils shrivel up and die as a result.

Bugfood heals Jerry up some.

Zelrathi burninates the shit out of the big vine monster, and it quickly burns up. Faster than the other ones. It drops a number of animal bones, and some dark rocks. We recognize the rocks: it's the weird obsidian pumice. Bugfood Identifies it, and realizes that it's bleeding off a magical essence. We decide to put it in a nonmagical bag.

With a 25 on Jerry's Survival roll, we make good progress through the forest, and near nightfall we come to the edge of the forest.

As night sets, we all prepare for a long rest. Zelrathi's Druidcraft tells us it'll partly cloudy, with no rain.

The night goes without issue, except for Bugfood.

Bugfood's vision.

Bugfood falls into his dreamlike meditative sleep. All he sees is darkness. He's running, running through trees, dense trees. Branches whip against his face, arms, legs. Fear, desperation, grief grip his heart. He keeps running. The darkness of the trees give way to bright light, and he sees a pleasant view of a stream, and across it a town with nautical motifs. Across the stream lies a stone bridge. Blood cascades over his eyes; he's covered in scrapes and scratches.

Fear grips him. He's desperate to get clean.

The desire to get clean is new to Bugfood, but he dives into the stream nonetheless. As he dips his arms and head into he warm water, the blood slicks off, and pools in front of him. It looks like a red mirror. He sees the reflection of himself in this mirror; his eyes are different.

He leans in closer to inspect this oddity. Two hands reach from the pool of blood, grab his arms, and pull him in, into the void beneath.

He wakes! But he knows that a word is right on the edge of his conscious memory. It's right there, but he can't recall it.

Next session

We'll be on the seventh day of travel.

Loot:

• One Hot Pot and tea set.

Next items:

• Continue on to Leen. We're on schedule.
• Figure out what's going on with the expedition.