DND Blog

A place to keep DND session recaps, from various campaigns.

The Hundred and Eighth Session

September 28, 2024, Campaign: As the ground quakes, evil wakes

The Prima Dominous competition: Can Vurguron defeat Sergith?

Table of Contents

  1. Last session
  2. The rest of the day
  3. The Prima Dominous
    1. The Sixth House
    2. The Twelfth House
    3. Vurguron and Sergith
    4. The stats
    5. The parade of champions
    6. The withdrawals
    7. The battle
  4. Next session

Last session

It was the day before the Prima Dominous, and we broke into the Third House. We broke into the Inner Sanctum, found the Scale of Bahamut hidden there, took it, and walked out. The First House Knight with us didn't care.

The rest of the day

The Party goes off to hide in the Magnificent Mansion, away from the Third House.

The Party stays in the Mansion for 24h, until after the Prima Dominous.

We wish Vurguron luck in the morning. Vurguron takes the Scale in Ryltar's Handy Haversack.

The Prima Dominous

As everyone files into the arena, there's a circle of House leaders, with the House Champions circled inside, and there Sergith encounters Vurguron.

"It was a pity for this day to come," says Sergith. "I thought I would be long gone before my power would be challenged again."

Vurguron, still tailed by his First House guard, pulls out the Scale of Bahamut.

Gasps and whispers among the heads of houses, and their champions. "To all the leaders who ally with Sergith: He is a liar and a crooked thief. I had to return it. I present it to the First House for safekeeping. If there are any who are allied with Sergith, now is the time to lay down your arms."

"And you see that I have told the truth: that the shield was never returned."

"That is why we have the Prima Dominous."

"What lengths, someone would go to, to disrupt our peace."

"This is for the betterment of South Haven," says Vurguron, and hands the shield over to the First House's guards.

The Sixth House

Vurguron is asked by the champion to meet with the Sixth House. He accepts.

"Your theatrics with the shield and Sergith are commendable. Your faith is strong, I see. And it seems that the higher houses, the Five Houses, are balanced among themselves. The First House is neutral, as always. Two and Five versus Three and Four. Another House among the Majors may tip this balance to those who offer them acceptance."

The Sixth House wants to be a Major House.

"Though the First House may not approve, I would be open to it."

"That does not guarantee my position. If you cannot guarantee my position, I cannot guarantee my support."

"We'll make it a guarantee." Vurguron is going to make it happen.

"Very well."

The Twelfth House

Strider Thuze asks Sergith if he's telling the truth. Sergith says yes, and Thuze can't tell if he's telling the truth.

Strider Thuze asks Vurguron

Vurguron and Sergith

Sergith walks over to Vurguron and asks to speak with him privately.

"Speak publicly," says Vurguon, failing an Intimidation check.

Sergith walks over to the wall, asks Vurguron to come with him.

Vurguron humors him.

Sergith speaks quietly. "When you defeated Kergis, did she suffer?" He knows.

"No, it was a fairly succinct death."

"Pity." He frowns. "My other question is more relevant to this day's festivities. What would you do to save this empire? Would you die to save this empire? For if you would, I would encourage you to die upon the stones in the arena. What would you do? Because I am the only one."

"The arena is where we will let the battle speak for itself," says Vurguron. "Is there anything else?"

"I wanted you to know that I am the only one with the insight to see this empire to a brighter future, and you would be the one to see its end."

"South Haven is a city of prosperity. I fear that you would bring it to its knees."

"Soon there will be no cities like this, anywhere."

"You speak in riddles, where we speak in actions. You are the lesser leader of the Third House. The only thing you've done is militarize the military. You've done nothing for South Haven and its people."

"I've positioned myself to lead the South Haven into a new light. You are the caster of shadows, the downfall of the Empire. I will leave it there," Sergith says, and bows, and draws back to his party.

Strider Thuze was listening in, but doesn't hear this conversation.

The stats

6 on the side of Vurguron, now that Sixth has joined. Higher total levels than Sergith.

7 on the side of Sergith. More action economy, though.

The parade of champions

The arena is a mass of cheering people, led by the Fifth House leader performing as the Master of Ceremonies. About a hundred thousand people here, around a stone stepped pyramid 80' square, with 5' between levels.

The withdrawals

The house of Beasts doesn't have a public reason to withdraw, so even though Strider Thuze believes Vurguron, he doesn't withdraw.

The battle

By the third round, the Fourth, Eighth, 10th, 12th, 16th, and 19th Houses are down, leaving only Sergith to face the combined mights of the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Seventeenth Houses, plus Vurguron.

Vurguron's allied champions start dragging the downed champions off the pyramid, until it's Sergith alone versus Vurguron, Second, and Fifteenth.

Sergith hits Vurguron with a three-headed whip which one head, once per day, poisons the creature for an hour and blinds them for an hour. This is quickly solved with a Greater Restoration and another healing.

Vurguron advances on Sergith and swings with his sword, hitting twice, but they're fighting at disadvantage to hit each other. Vurguron is under Blur and Sergith has hit him with a disadvantageous effect. But Vurguron has halved Serith's health in a single round.

Sergith crits but is canceled by Second House's Guardian Emblem.

Sergith uses his other once-a-day poison effect, which Vurguron saves against: poisoned and paralyzed.

Second House cleans Vurguron of his last poisoning and healing, and then steps out. Vurguron is at full health; Fifteenth House bows out as well.

With a 27 to hit, Vurguron hits. He has full health. Sergith had 3. He falls at the top of the pyramid.

Vurguron decides to spare Sergith's life. He puts down his sword, and raises Sergith above his head.

The cool, cold cloud parts of winter part, and a beam of light falls on the top of the pyramid. A radiant glow outlines an immense dragon. Bahamut time.

The steps of the pyramid raise. The First House's elite guards approach Vurguron, carrying the shield, and Vurguron raises it to the sky again. A thunderous roar comes, not from the crowd, but from the dragon.

The Heads of Houses come to the field to meet Vurguron.

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