Jasper DMs Con modules.

Ok since some modules are not season specific. My write ups are going here.
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CCC-Priory-01 session
Maritime Mayhem
PC killed 0 Monsters Killed 12
Had a very strong group of seven. Ginger a druid, Debbie a druid, Flick a rogue, Akmenos a bard, Zeal a paladin, Vydoc a fighter, and Wayland a fighter.
Debbie the mouthy goblin druid is awoken to a smack to face from Don Meepo the mafia boss of Oakhurst. It seems the don owes a favor to Marshall Martel. Since the group of adventurers had ask to join his union, he wants to try them out. Smacking the goblin again (Yes Meepo still has Sunless Citadel issues) he orders the group to report to Phlan and the Sleeping Snake Tavern.
The group arrives dirty and dusty from the trail and knock the dust off their boots. Zeal comments Martel is a silly name and the group would be able to take him, if the marshal gives them any lip. Flick giggles and pulls her lips as she counts forty well-armed guards guarding Martel.
Martel, “So you’re Don Meepo’s people. I have job for you. You are going to be prisoner escorts for the criminal Yami. “
Flick, “you have forty guards. Can you…”
Martel, “That is not important. I have send the cop wizard ahead to unnamed bay. You will board the Singing Stagwick sail to the pickup point. Grab Yami put him in these shackles. And return. “
Ginger, “who is Yami. What did they do?”
Martel, “Yami was the head of the dark Priory a death cult. Yami is wanted for treason, murder, kidnapping, torture, and singing opera!”
Flick, “what wrong with singing opera!”
“Have you heard the dm um Yami sing opera! “, Martel moaned.
The group heads out for the docks to meet their ship before high tide. They encounters one minor issue before boarding. Captain Tennille and crew demand they all sing before boarding as price of shipping them. Ok. I found out the bard was an instrumental bard only. And some of my players do have good singing voices. Yes I sung too.
Thanks to player running Ginger. He chose the next encounter. The sky watch spies a beached rowboat on a coral reef. A fair maiden is fighting for her life against Kuo-toa. The group jumps into the ship’s dingy and row to the rescue. Slowly. They rescue the maiden. The druid Debbie wild shapes into a rat to save space. The maiden starts kissing on the rat.
Maiden, “Oh you such a sweet little rat. I will kiss you, and kiss you, and kiss you, and toss you to swim with the fishes!”
“What! “Squeaks the rat as she sails forty feet into the ocean. The group is kind of upset when the maid disguise is dropped and they are facing a sea hag. (Yes I was a mean, icky, nasty dm.) Wayland finally wakes up and starts firing from the stern of the ship. Aka the player show up. The combat with sea hag was brief. The group sailed away leaving one of their members behind. Two hours later they returned to pick the bard up.
To celebrate their victory the crew challenge the party to a sardine drinking contest. Hey there is a ribbon for first place even. Ok I was getting rid of my prop pile. The bard one first place. To pass the time the crew teaches some of the pcs a few ship board jobs. This will come in handy later for those three would studied.
The group arrives at unnamed bay and pick up Yami, Zeal is not too happy to being this job. Especially after Yami spits in his eye. Zeal’s eye turns milky white and the crew start calling him Initiate. Zeal, Debbie, and Akmenos decide to play good cop and bad cop with Yami. While questioning Yami they don’t feel the sea getting rougher. Just as Yami is melting from the shackles, the thunderstorm hits.
Thumbs up to Zeal for reminding me to check the movement rate of the Merrows. It help save the group. The pcs who learned the sailor’s jobs run to their stations. Only Ginger gets in the way. She decided to help reef the sails. She ended up dangling 10 feet down from the mainstay. Then worsen the matter by Errol Flynning down the sails with a dagger.
Note this part was divided into two parts. Combat. And those doing skill checks to help save the ship. Complete five checks and don’t get killed. This was fun as people were missing their checks even with advantage. The abandon ship part was even funnier as beat up on the bard but missed everyone else. The group either trying to save the bard or ignore him and dive into the dingy. Of course they all had problems with cutting the dingy loose. I will warn dms not to follow the reinforcement rules too closely.
Oh by DM’s Fiat two crew got into the dingy. The group was totally unwilling to help save the crew.

CCC-Priory-02 session
Prison Pitfalls
PC killed 0 Monsters Killed 1
+1 Scimitar unlocked Table F, Potion of Poison Resistance Table B.
I had a weak group of 3 pcs. Guts Barbarian Paladin, Barbrah Paladin Bard and Zeal Paladin from the last session. Run time 56 minutes due lack of combat and going along to get along.
All aboard the railroad um rowboat. This adventure is pure railroad, lucky my group went along with it.
When we last saw our adventurers Zeal had escape the sinking ship with Ginger, Debbie, Flick, Akmeos, and Vydoc. We now see Zeal helping the new pcs into the mostly empty boat. Zeal does admit he used the shape changing Druid as lure for fish until a bigger fish ate the goblin. The welcome relief looks on the human sailors were unnoticed to the two Yuan-ti that were pulled aboard.
Running ashore on the Grand Sulu Island, the sailors make camp and go hunting. After bringing in a piglet and roasting it, they are jumped by five plus Yuan-ti. After beating up the human sailors, and bowing to the Initiate Zeal, the Yuan-ti take the group into custody. The group is disarmed, disrobed, and given prison greens to wear.
The next morning missing the sailors, the group is brought to the Court of Serpents and the Majesty seven. They don’t notice the extra pile of rags being brought into the chamber. The charges are trespassing, grave robbery for Zeal, and poaching. The group pled guilty to trespassing and poaching but not guilty to grave robbery. Rags the pile of rags who turns out to be a cocky human plead not guilty to all charges.
Zeal with great zeal takes over the courtroom and deposals the false witness testimony. 5 of the 7 convict the group. The main judge opposing the verdict is slain by one of judges. The group is marched up the inside of the pyramid to the prison.
The group puts their heads together for a great plan. They don’t want to listen to Rags. They trick one of the guards to open the prison cell. As soon as the cell door open the group over power the stupid guard, while Rags throws his burning hand on the second guard. While the group is armoring up, Rags releases the rest of prisoners to cover their escape.
As the group follow the prisoners, the other judge who voted group not guilty, orders them into his chambers to hide. Hiding and resting all night while the Yuan-ti put down the prison riot, the group try to escape in the morning.
The judge shows them the side door and they run for their rowboat. Two Yuan-ti block the way. A suggestion spell gets rid of one. And the group kills the other.
As they are rowing out of the bay, the rowboat rises out of the sea. A huge Dragon Turtle named Sulu declares he take the Initiate to the time and place of their home.
Note, this is straight railroad module. You keep adding guards until you have knocked out the pcs. And if the group has killed any Yuan-ti in the opening combat murder is added to the charges. However the verdict of the trial just depends on the backtalk the group gives the dm. The verdict also determines how many encounters are in the final section. I did change the short rest to a long rest because it made sense. This is a weak not related second act to the major plot of the trilogy.

CCC-Priory-03 session
Truths in Time
PC killed 0 Monsters Killed 3
Enduring Spell book Common TP 2 Unlocked
I had an average group of five pcs. Guts Barbarian Paladin, Barbrah Paladin Bard, Griffith a Paladin, Bitey McGee a paladin, and Zeal “the Initiate” Paladin. Except for Zeal a tiefling all the pcs were Yuan-ti. Bitey McGee was a new player. And it was an all paladin party.
The dragon turtle releases the rowboat into the bay of Phlan. As they grind their rowboat against the pier, young Al runs up happy more recruits have arrived to fight the evil Yami. The Initiate Zeal notices Phlan looks different. It is twenty years in the past. Al hands the initiate two potions of healing and leads them to the fight in the merchant square.
The party using very good tactics kill the shadow monk Yami. This causes Yami, the pcs, and the special effect demons are sucked into a portal.
As they grind their rowboat against the pier, an ancient elderly Al hails his returning heroes, and the Initiate. He drags them to an black Obsidian monolith which Yami erected in the town square. Al, “ Don’t….” Is a far as he gets as Zeal spits on the monolith which causes the party to get sucked in. Yami kicks Zeal in the stomach and flees into the shadow realm. The party chases Yami followed by an army of ghosts and shadows. Note I had fun extending this part. Guts aged 90 years or so due bad rolls. They chase Yami threw a door.
As they grind their rowboat against the pier, Al who appears the same as he send Zeal off the first time to arrest Yami in the first module; demands they slay Yami who has taken three kids and is holding up in the destroyed tavern. The group SLOWLY tries to attack. Yami ties his best to magic missile Zeal to death. But finally the group is able to close to melee range and smite him to death. Note box text had all pcs moving at half speed and only able to take an action or bonus action.

CCC-GHC-BK1-07 Session
The Peculiar Case of Selptan Felines
AP 4, TP 4 Downtime 10 Renown 1. Players note this is updated numbers. See Oops 2.
Monsters Killed 10. Cats Petted not enough.
Magic Items, Helm of Telepathy Table F, Scroll of Beast Bond Table A, Scroll of Snare Table A.
I heard good things about this a Save VS. Hunger 2019 so I bought it. It being a cat theme module I also bought some extra cat props to give out while running it.
I started out with four person group Debbie Druid aka Deathfang servant, Ben Tennyson Druid aka Cupcake servant, Vydoc Fighter Squeak’s toy, Ignis Paladin new player Truffles mule. This was a weak team. After the second combat Keg G Blackwell sorcerer joined. This made a strong OOPS 2. A weak team of five. (People I seem to mess up the APL when be join after the beginning. A lot. Check my math always).
The team is on the run. For the most of the day they have been being cash by the evil bandits of Black Wyvern. The are full due to some goodberries cast by Ben Tennyson. (Player is trying to recreate one the Ben Tennyson. He randomly rolls for the spell he going to cast.) And slightly exhausted. Okay everyone made their save. The group encounters Branwyne a scout and a brown bear. (Again I did not adjust the module downward).
The couple react to what the pcs ask with blank stares. They attack and subdued quickly. They remember the smell of rotting fish, then nothing. Branwyne is three from where last was hunting near the Black Turrets castle. The group lets the bear go off in the woods. But escorts the scout to the hamlet Selpt. Things are curiously quiet here. Everyone seems to be a cat owner and are taking care of their cats wells. A few stray cats start stropping the legs of the pcs. Meowing pitifully. They….
Okay OOPS 1. I had placed props out on the table. Cat Collar, cat toys, bowl, cat puzzle etc. Underneath them I place a cat handout. The players could chose a lovely take home prop. Or something else. They all chose a prop and were bonded with a cat. This was a good thing as we had fun playing as cats, and I got to be the pack leader. This was a bad thing due it became an easy mode on some monsters.
Thad the village leader own by Nugget ask the group to check out Bely and Scratches farm. Bely went to check out how his parents were doing. Arriving at the farm they notice the barn door being closed by the family. A hundred thousand angry Scottish Grey Squirrels start discussing the pcs heritage. With their small bagpipes and claymores they attack. Ok this was just a skin of a swarm of cranium rats. The party was kind of confused. Half tried to cut their way into the barn, the other attack the swarm but the swarm was defeated. (With the special ability of the cat bond a lot of psychic stuff don’t work. Oops 1).
Bely gives the group some information of a small squad of Black Turrets are hold up in a nearby cave. The party decides to attack it. OOPS 2. Okay this combat went south quickly. Mainly I had bump it up to a strong encounter. One thug escaping and getting back up. The result was the group surrendered. But was able to con the minions. The Keg G gave them the formula of turning lead into gold. And the two players with high persuasion both beat the boss’ insight check.
Due to time I advanced to episode three and even skipped some rooms. The group alerted the big boss. After defeating three chokers, they met the boss. A slimly version of Branwyne. In fact it was an adult Oblex with two chokers as buddies. Again due to everyone being cat bonded this was just a slug fest as the no one entered the room and the fighter plugged the hallway. I did pick on the paladin a lot this time but he was playing in the front lines.

In Volo’s Wake Mission 1 to 3 session
AP 3 TP 3 Downtime 5
Story Awards Tinus Treant Roots run deep. Tinus the baby Treant is your ally in the Crooked Forest. You may get help from the trees.
Magic Potion of healing, potion of climbing,
Note everyone gets a Potion of Poison resistance
+1 short sword unlocked.
The APL level changes almost with each story. I had Mara a Paladin, Nedeni Halfling rogue, Glint Stoneskull war cleric and new to AL player, Sariel a ranger, Zeal paladin sorcerer, and Ben Tennyson Druid.
The group arrives in Phandalin to find the rooms in the Come Butte Inn are tripled book. They are sleeping three to the bed and no one admits to snoring. The town is overrun with tourists going sightseeing and following Volo’s advice in Volo’s Guide to Monsters. Which is causing a lot of trouble.
The first morning the group is shaken out their beds due to wedding prep going on. The group is grumpy and are not prepared (or the dm was not prepared) for the action. But the group is able to win the dance off they crash during the wedding celebration. Lyta Rollings hire the group to find Lord Merryweather who has been missing for three days. They follow the advice of Lyta and head into the Crooked Forest. As Zeal is calling out very loud for Lord Merryweather, he hears a cry for help. Little Tinus Treant is being attacked by Needle and Twig Blights. After his rescue Tinus promises to be bud buddy with the group. He directs them to goblin cave where Merryweather is arguing what seasoning and at what temperature he should be cooked at. The party makes short work of the goblins. Merryweather is not please it took three days for the hire help to come to his aid.
The next morning Sildar Hallwinter a town council member has a problem the group can solve. His teenage daughter Alana and four boyfriends when to beach yesterday and have not return. The beach is in the Crooked Forest. Alana generally raids the butterfly sanctuary for flowers on the way to the beach and loves having ribbons in her hair.
The butterfly sanctuary turns up no clue to Alana whereabouts but on leaving Nedeni finds a ribbon. A few dozen yards another ribbon is found. The group finds nine ribbons. After two hours of searching Ben Tennyson spies the tenth ribbon twenty or so feet up a tree. As he gets up the tree he notices a small platform in the tree. He is startled when an arrow nearly misses him. The group has wandered into a Gnoll tree house complex. Alana and her friends start to scream for help. Most of the rest of the group start to try the tree.
Ok, the combat went south for the group. I zeroed out a few pcs. The trees were telling the group to jump off the trees and run away. But the pcs didn’t. Alana and her boyfriends escaped on their own. The town council member took pity on the group and gave them a magic sword.
The next afternoon Harbin Webster needs the group. His wife Delsy and two kids Milack and Ephenia have wandered into the woods following Volo’s guide. He needs them returned. (Yes I did butcher the plot hook). He has told Sariel about Delsy special boots which leave a distinct print. The group follows the shoe prints into the woods.
The group finds the sanctuary only to be attack by evil butterflies who demand the group answer a riddle before the butterflies will talk about x. Zeal answers the riddle correctly and get a white stone as a reward. And an additional poem.
They continue following the trail until they are attacked by a two head death dog which has the kids faces. Killing the dog releases the kids. Once the kids are release Zeal demands the group take the kids home immediately. (No one has ever done this. Due to the great roleplaying discussion, the group broke me. And know how long the next encounter takes. I just called the game there).

jasper said:

CCC-GHC-BK1-07 Session
The Peculiar Case of Selptan Felines
AP 4, TP 4 Downtime 10 Renown 1. Players note this is updated numbers. See Oops 2.
Monsters Killed 10. Cats Petted not enough.
Magic Items, Helm of Telepathy Table F, Scroll of Beast Bond Table A, Scroll of Snare Table A.
I heard good things about this a Save VS. Hunger 2019 so I bought it. It being a cat theme module I also bought some extra cat props to give out while running it.
I started out with four person group Debbie Druid aka Deathfang servant, Ben Tennyson Druid aka Cupcake servant, Vydoc Fighter Squeak’s toy, Ignis Paladin new player Truffles mule. This was a weak team. After the second combat Keg G Blackwell sorcerer joined. This made a strong OOPS 2. A weak team of five. (People I seem to mess up the APL when be join after the beginning. A lot. Check my math always).
The team is on the run. For the most of the day they have been being cash by the evil bandits of Black Wyvern. The are full due to some goodberries cast by Ben Tennyson. (Player is trying to recreate one the Ben Tennyson. He randomly rolls for the spell he going to cast.) And slightly exhausted. Okay everyone made their save. The group encounters Branwyne a scout and a brown bear. (Again I did not adjust the module downward).
The couple react to what the pcs ask with blank stares. They attack and subdued quickly. They remember the smell of rotting fish, then nothing. Branwyne is three from where last was hunting near the Black Turrets castle. The group lets the bear go off in the woods. But escorts the scout to the hamlet Selpt. Things are curiously quiet here. Everyone seems to be a cat owner and are taking care of their cats wells. A few stray cats start stropping the legs of the pcs. Meowing pitifully. They….
Okay OOPS 1. I had placed props out on the table. Cat Collar, cat toys, bowl, cat puzzle etc. Underneath them I place a cat handout. The players could chose a lovely take home prop. Or something else. They all chose a prop and were bonded with a cat. This was a good thing as we had fun playing as cats, and I got to be the pack leader. This was a bad thing due it became an easy mode on some monsters.
Thad the village leader own by Nugget ask the group to check out Bely and Scratches farm. Bely went to check out how his parents were doing. Arriving at the farm they notice the barn door being closed by the family. A hundred thousand angry Scottish Grey Squirrels start discussing the pcs heritage. With their small bagpipes and claymores they attack. Ok this was just a skin of a swarm of cranium rats. The party was kind of confused. Half tried to cut their way into the barn, the other attack the swarm but the swarm was defeated. (With the special ability of the cat bond a lot of psychic stuff don’t work. Oops 1).
Bely gives the group some information of a small squad of Black Turrets are hold up in a nearby cave. The party decides to attack it. OOPS 2. Okay this combat went south quickly. Mainly I had bump it up to a strong encounter. One thug escaping and getting back up. The result was the group surrendered. But was able to con the minions. The Keg G gave them the formula of turning lead into gold. And the two players with high persuasion both beat the boss’ insight check.
Due to time I advanced to episode three and even skipped some rooms. The group alerted the big boss. After defeating three chokers, they met the boss. A slimly version of Branwyne. In fact it was an adult Oblex with two chokers as buddies. Again due to everyone being cat bonded this was just a slug fest as the no one entered the room and the fighter plugged the hallway. I did pick on the paladin a lot this time but he was playing in the front lines.

Click to expand...

I had to read this one four times before I wrapped my head around it properly, and I was lucky enough to be able to bounce off a friend that had DM'd it up at GameHoleCon (?).

I'm never a fan of forced starts like that, but I explained that OOC before we started that the module was
a) CCC, that means local weirdness (meta campaigns, who knows what). Don't shoot the messenger.
b) worth it for the adventure, just roll with it.

I used the pursuers "probably the whole army if they need to" as a whip to keep the players pushing forward, worked very well.

I extrapolated the parents' cottage scene, they had a brief window of time to get inside before the cottage was surrounded by creepy woodland animals, they then had to burst out and break free back to the village, which I abstracted.

Absolutely amazing, huge tension the whole way.

If anything the climax was anti-climactic, but that's mostly on me, not using the Oblex to best effect.

Motorskills said:

I had to read this one four times before I wrapped my head around it properly, and I was lucky enough to be able to bounce off a friend that had DM'd it up at GameHoleCon (?).

I'm never a fan of forced starts like that, but I explained that OOC before we started that the module was
a) CCC, that means local weirdness (meta campaigns, who knows what). Don't shoot the messenger.
b) worth it for the adventure, just roll with it.

I used the pursuers "probably the whole army if they need to" as a whip to keep the players pushing forward, worked very well.

I extrapolated the parents' cottage scene, they had a brief window of time to get inside before the cottage was surrounded by creepy woodland animals, they then had to burst out and break free back to the village, which I abstracted.

Absolutely amazing, huge tension the whole way.

If anything the climax was anti-climactic, but that's mostly on me, not using the Oblex to best effect.

Click to expand...

I agree with climax not being great. If I were to run again, I would have start hunting the players after they explored a room or two. The props did get most everyone into the silliness. I would need a cat plush for a prop if I was going to run it again.

In Volo’s Wake Mission 4 to 6 Session
AP 3 TP 3 Downtime 5
PC Killed 1. Monsters Killed 15
Magic Item unlock Circlet of Blasting Table F, Ring of Mind Shielding Table F
Mission 4 Story Awards Hubbub the Fey Toad Summons Hubbub, use the Frog from the Monster Manual Int 8, 1 hour. No Combat. 3 uses.
Mission 5 Story Awards The Qualith Experience. You understand Mind flayer written language Qualith. Any Intelligence check made to translate Qualith auto succeeds.
I had a six person table which was weak to very weak. Garnack Scattershot warlock, Ben Tennyson Warlock divine soul, Urubi wizard, Mara paladin, Alejandro del Mar Fighter, and Flick rogue.
Mission 4 Cold Scales of Death
The town council asks the heroes to find Master Aumaro an old fart who has been missing for two days. Following the tracks into a small swamp they get attacked by a giant snake and flying snakes. OOPS. I mean a flying snake attacks each pc. Making short work of the snakes, the rogue rediscovers the trail. They meet Alice a wide mouth fey toad. Um Hubbub a fey toad. He tells them the old fart and four other villagers have been captured by Yuan-ti in a nearby quarry. Being amused by the old fart, the toad will create a distraction while the group rescues the captives.
The group works around to the back of the quarry. They throw down three ropes and signal the toad. I gave the pcs a choice DC 5 to climb down at their speed or DC 12 to repel down the fifty feet. The Yuan-ti move off to the pretty fireworks while most of the groups sneak down the ropes. The group frees two of the prisoners. (I allow the pcs to use their action to roll with advantage so the prisoners could climb the ropes. So a prisoner could move twice in a round.) Then the group decides to break stealth and attack the Yuan-ti. The Yuan-ti move to attack the party. One prisoner slips and falls to his death. The group gets the last surviving prisoner to safely. As Ben is climbing a rope he gets an arrow to his back and falls back into the quarry. Alejandro jumps off the cliff doing an Errol Flynn to rescue Ben, but Ben had bleed out before Alejandro to climb to the top of the cliff. (Ben had failed death save from the fall, and then rolled a 1). Skully now has 53 names. The group brings Ben to temple to get him raised.
Five days later.
Mission 5 Tentacled Maws of Evil.
Ilsa asks the group to help out a sick friend who is hiding out in a cave. The friend is a sick mind flayer called Cerali. Cerali tried to stop a ritual by the elder brain. The ritual will drive humanoids mad in a twenty mile radius. The group decides to sneak into the metal ship to stop the ritual. After sneaking pass the first two guards, they change their minds and want to loot um explore the strange ship. In the lab, Flick triggers the laughing gas trap which affects Ben and Mara. Continuing deeper into the ship, they rescue Dralkit. Dralkit tells the ritual is about to begin. He mentally implants a blocking code to all the spell casters brains. If they find the communication station, they can help stop the ritual. Ben, Mara, and Alejandro charge into the helm. Ben turns off to work on the communication panel. The fighter types attack the tentacles. The rest of the party stay in the hall and attack from range. Ben Tennyson is able to jam the ritual playing show tunes from the information banks.
Mission 6 The Many Eyes of Doom
Sildar one of the council members now believes most of the recent problems are due to the Beholder Gavmogon. The heroes decide to take out the beholder. They journey to Wave Echo Cave. Mara finds a recent blood trial leading to the east wall. Urubi spins the locker um wall combination to open the hidden doors but it also seals the group in the cave.
Following the east path and blood trail they come to a rickety bridge. The paladin Mara slowly walks across. This ticks off the huge constrictor snake. The snake TKOs the paladin and goes to attack the fighter Alejandro. Then sneaky snake notices the paladin is back up. So sneaky TKOs the paladin again, and gets mad which Alejandro attacks. Sneaky tries to attack Alejandro but misses because the paladin is smacking it head. So sneaky snake TKOs the paladin a third time but being weaken, Sneaky does not get his lunch because the party finishes him off.
The group follows the blood trail and stumbles into various traps. Being wounded they are not happy when a gazer attacks the group. The gazer is beaten quickly. Crawling down the corridor is a wounded Aladair. Ben Tennyson notices the knife wounds on the robe and wounds on Aladair do not match. (I was fast forwarding here due time.) They tie up the fake Aladair and kick open the door to the inner sanctum. The beholder flees but leaves three gazers to kill the party. Um I mean the three gazers are a speed bump but the bad beholder escapes.
Ok people, the last three Sundays I been off my game. I will be taking a couple of Sundays off to recharge. If I do show up on Sunday it will be to just run a pc.