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Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9058383" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 26px"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Session #115: Infinity Mayonnaise & Great Chiggley.</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</span></strong></p><p>Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8</p><p>Fellowyn Silverstream (played by George) Male Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger Lvl 8</p><p>New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8</p><p>Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1</p><p>Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">DEAD PCs</span></strong></p><p><s>Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8 </s>RIP</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">NPCs</span></strong></p><p><s>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by George) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick) </s>RETIRED</p><p><s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*</p><p><s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard </s>RETIRED</p><p>Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1 (When we remember)</p><p>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Servants/Familiars</span></strong></p><p>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</p><p>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">The Dark Squad’s to-do list-</span></strong></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">An extraordinary meeting of the Saltmarsh Town Council, the Dark Squad are going to get hired to end the smuggling menace (see below), scheduled for 10th Flamerule.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The smuggler's ship will be turning up sometime between the 14th and 17th of Flamerule, the Dark Squad (and particularly Ram) are keen to meet the vessel, particularly Ram- why, because as the rogue said- “I'm getting a boat.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer from Lowhill), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All of these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetary).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood- except she's not there any more, but a big red dragon is?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blackedge and the Goblin Stair?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame prepare the Witch's Tor for the coming of the starfall, the Witch's Tor is in the Drowned Forest, in the Mere of the Dead Men.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame track down the last member of the Pact, a wild elf adventurer called Giggles- and finally put her spirit to rest, and also recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE.</li> </ol><p></p><p>This is session 115, and yet another cracker. We're back, but for how long…</p><p></p><p>You’ll see what I mean by the end of this session.</p><p></p><p>And so, when we left the Dark Squad they were fighting a huge undead dragon, although fighting may be stretching the point a little. What they have done, so far, is trap the huge undead dragon in its lair with a hefty portion of Sickening Radiance for company, and then lean on the door so that it can’t escape.</p><p></p><p>More remarkably, and very mainly because my dice are broken, this tactic seems to be working.</p><p></p><p>There are a bunch of lesser undead (zombies) also in the fracas but… the Dark Squad are taking care of business.</p><p></p><p>Then, well- Daktari goes supernova (nearly), the Sky Pony barbarian atm is Hasted, Raging & Reckless.</p><p></p><p>Dak cuts down an Ogre Zombie, leaving Shatterspike (his magical longsword) buried in the guts of the collapsing undead brute, and then after taking a deep breath he dashes into the Dragon’s lair- drawing his Dragonslaying two-handed sword en route.</p><p></p><p>Note, this is another Durgeddin the Black manufactured sword, the Dark Squad found this beauty way back in session #93, in the <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8687866" target="_blank">Dragon Barrow</a>.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289261[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Then, after the spending of an Inspiration Point, Dak makes the save against the Sickening Radiance and… buries the Dragonslaying sword (twice) in the great undead dragon.</strong></p><p></p><p>Daktari FTW.</p><p></p><p>The barbarian even has movement enough left to dash back out of the room, as the great undead beast collapses behind him.</p><p></p><p>“Great Gonads of the Sky Pony!”</p><p></p><p>It’s something he’s taken to saying of late, don’t ask me why.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289260[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The rest of the undead continue to take a kicking, we all know (around the VTT) how this fight is going to end, but the Dark Squad love these little kick-ass moments, when they mop up the minions. It’s usually their time to shine, and to roleplay…</strong></p><p></p><p>Daktari-</p><p></p><p>“Here, Fellowyn- I will show you vat it is to be Great Gonads of Sky Pony!”</p><p></p><p>The barbarian rushes into a chamber full of zombie dwarves and lets the last of his Rage, Haste, etc. play out.</p><p></p><p>“I am killing zem one handed Felloyn. FELLOWYN! Come- watch me, I show you how it done.”</p><p></p><p>Note, Daktari’s latest shtick is to try to teach the Bladesinger how to fight.</p><p></p><p>Newt is soon to the party too, he makes it to the slaughter chamber and just starts blasting while screeching a variety of imprecations to Belphegor, his fiery first love.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the Dark Squad take a breather, only Ram bothering to remain on alert and watching the way ahead and behind.</p><p></p><p>The deed is eventually done and Newt and Dak return to their comrades- drenched in gore, no doubt.</p><p></p><p>There’s talk of a rest, but… Newt screeches into the former undead dragon’s lair-</p><p></p><p>“Hoard! Hoard! HOARD!”</p><p></p><p>Just about covers it.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289259[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Fellowyn finds the treasure pile, just around the corner from where Newt was looking- lots of coin, almost all of it low value, a few potions and…</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289258[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>A jug of alchemy is discovered and identified.</strong></p><p></p><p>It’s not a great treasure but this kind of wonderous item seems to always tickle the Squad, and so I put a few of them in every now and then.</p><p></p><p>The jug of alchemy pulls its weight.</p><p></p><p>“INFINITY MAYONNAISE!”</p><p></p><p>Daktari declares, as he stands staring- mouth agape, at Newt. The tabaxi has just explained the various liquids available from the jug.</p><p></p><p>“Infinity mayonnaise…” Daktari whispers to himself, and then sits- dumbfounded, and then has a little cry.</p><p></p><p>Daktari, it seems, is a big fan of mayonnaise, he has found his grail.</p><p></p><p>He’s having a great session the Sky Pony lad, so far.</p><p></p><p>MVP, I think, by the time we get to the end of this one.</p><p></p><p>Note, there are a variety of ancient markings etched into the floor, in this chamber, the Squad put on their thinking caps- they’ve seen these before- in a hard to get into underwater chamber accessed only via a sea cave, and at the time filled with nasty Sahuagin (see <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8670870" target="_blank">Interview with a Dhampir</a>).</p><p></p><p>The symbols depict planetary alignments, or else solar systems- perhaps even the solar system of which Faerun (Abeir-Toril) is part. The Dark Squad however are not experts in this field- they make drawings however- as they did last time, clever folk.</p><p></p><p>Then, after a little bit of healing from the Moonboar, the Dark Squad head on- no short rest, which may prove to be a less than clever thing to do. Newt has no spells, and lots of folk are still just a bit wounded.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289257[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Ram is sent out for a scout around. This after Vinnie spends a moment concentrating on the Symbol of Ub for the correct direction to head next.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, here’s a thing- and this is the DM writing (and talking to you the reader), why is the finale of an adventure always placed at the end? So, between sessions- the last and this one, I moved the climax (sorta) to… well, here.</p><p></p><p>And I do hope that the PCs read this because I don’t think they’ve figured it out yet, just to make clear- my players do not read this write up, a lot, if at all. Just sometimes when they remember.</p><p></p><p>So, an experiment, the following encounter is the climax of this segment of the Dark Squad’s travels, this is the big bad encounter, although in truth the big bad guy has not made it to the screen yet, even at the end of the session.</p><p></p><p>Cats and pigeons.</p><p></p><p>Let’s see if any of the players read this before the next session.</p><p></p><p>So, where were we… oh yes, Ram creeping ahead- down dirty, ancient, broken rat-infested corridors. I’ve been letting the players know this all the while- the map looks clear, nice- the reality is stinky, wet, broken and falling apart- an ancient and long forgotten tomb.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, Ram is being very cautious, and thus he’s moving very slowly- it doesn’t help that every now and then he has to stop to answer the questions being asked him by the voice in his head.</p><p></p><p>That’s right- the voice in his head, it sounds like the voice of Rambles Shambles Bowspirit, although somehow off- every now and then like a chorus of Rambles’.</p><p></p><p>The voice wants to know who Ram is?</p><p></p><p>Who his companions are?</p><p></p><p>What they call themselves?</p><p></p><p>Why they are here?</p><p></p><p>Ram takes the time to reply, and to explain- although in his usual off-hand/casual method.</p><p></p><p>The rogue explains that they (the Dark Squad) are here to recover Rambles’ Symbol of Ub, the voice in his head is less pleased by this particular news.</p><p></p><p>Then, while this is going on- very slowly, Fellowyn gets bored and goes for a wander, and triggers a trap.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289256[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>See the stone skull on the wall with the arc of blue before it, that’s spewing flames now, constantly, Fellowyn is singed, but still exploring- although more cautiously now.</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289255[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Then, as Ram continues to chat to his interlocutor, Newt decides to try a little exploring of his own too, what is it about cats and curiosity?</strong></p><p></p><p>See Newt?</p><p></p><p>Well, the statue before him, a cowled and hooded dwarf, suddenly breaths a noxious gas into the corridor- the tabaxi steps back just in time.</p><p></p><p>But the statue’s mouth is now agape- and the gas continues to spew out making access to the corridor difficult.</p><p></p><p>Newt however is a genius, he instantiates Gerald, his Bat familiar, and then sends the avian scouting.</p><p></p><p>Genius at work.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289254[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Well, not quite, Gerald is ordered to fly through the gas ahead- I checked this with Bear/Newt to make sure. Gerald fails his save and is paralysed by the still hissing gas and drops out of the air to thunk on to the dirty floor just ahead of the tabaxi.</strong></p><p></p><p>That didn’t work.</p><p></p><p>Scouting over.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile.</p><p></p><p>Fellowyn has Misty Stepped past the flame trap he triggered- it’s still spewing fire. Back to his comrades.</p><p></p><p>Note, at this point Ram is explaining to his friends the situation, vis he’s just had a chat with a chorus of Rambles Shambles Bowspirits’, and the little guy wants the adventurers to skedaddle (clear off) sharpish, only with added threats.</p><p></p><p>But the Dark Squad are adventuring…</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289253[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Daktari explores a side chamber and is engulfed in flame, the fiery inferno (and it is an inferno- big damage) spouting from another skull carved face on the wall here. Note, the trap, after flaming once, ceases working.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, it’s going well here.</p><p></p><p>Fellowyn instantiates his familiar, a metal (I think) owl called Archimedes. This after a short contretemps between the Bladesinger and Newt- “My familiar is better than yours…”, that kind of thing. The bird flies around the corner- across another section of the passage that looks to be trapped, and… gouts of flame erupt from the holes in the floor here. They continue to burn.</p><p></p><p>So, as I say, it’s going well.</p><p></p><p>Then, while the adventurer’s bicker and shout things at/too each other, someone (or something) shoots Archimedes, and now the metal owl thing is dead.</p><p></p><p>Newt and Daktari run through the flames ahead (and emerge entirely unscathed) just in time to see a swarm of rats emerge from the corridor ahead and skitter towards the pair.</p><p></p><p>They don’t however spot the shooter.</p><p></p><p>Daktari slashes and cuts the rodents.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289252[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Newt blasts them repeatedly and knocks the swarm back into the corridor they emerged from.</strong></p><p></p><p>At the same moment another swarm of rats emerges from the floor, ceilings and… well, everywhere, and launch themselves at Fellowyn, and Crit the Bladesinger.</p><p></p><p>Daktari races forward, intending to finish off the swarm before him, and… is shot by a small rat-like looking humanoid that was seemingly waiting for him to appear, the small figure was hidden in a corridor just to the north.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289251[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Shot twice, and both bolts are poisoned- and Dak fails both saves.</strong></p><p></p><p>Daktari is down to 10 hit points, that happened fast.</p><p></p><p>It gets crazy.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289250[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Not a great picture this one- George, I love these little images but- a bit bigger please, or else closer to the action- pretty please.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, down south Fellowyn, Ram and Ub are fighting a Rat Swarm, and missing a lot. Note other than a few extra hit points (approx. 35-40 hp total each) these are just plain ol’ rat swarms.</p><p></p><p>The swarms are maybe 50 or 100 XP each.</p><p></p><p>Fellowyn gets Critted again, and he’s AC 25/26 atm with all of his Bladesinger power ups running.</p><p></p><p>Fellowyn is bloodied and beyond.</p><p></p><p>The rat swarm has only suffered about six points of damage so far.</p><p></p><p>A titanic battle.</p><p></p><p>To the far north (in the image above) Dak is looking for the fellow that shot him, but… the creature seems to have run off, or disappeared, or...</p><p></p><p>Likewise whatever shot Archimedes is also no longer visible, another wererat (the PCs have figured this out) most likely- the Moonboar is on the spot and confused. No targets.</p><p></p><p>Note, Daktari has also come to the conclusion that the wererats are very much smaller, and are wearing the same clothes as the halflings that showed them into the tomb, all the way back in session 108 (<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8863328" target="_blank">The Shambles in the Shambles Tomb</a>).</p><p></p><p>The wererats, shouted consensus is, are Bonnie Bowspirit (granddaughter of Rambles) and her companions.</p><p></p><p>Then, during a moment of clarity, the Moonboar shouts out-</p><p></p><p>Remember, the Moonboar employs a gruffer, snorting, French/Mediterranean accent.</p><p></p><p>“Rambles iz a Rat Bastard- it zed [SNORT] zo on iz tomb!”</p><p></p><p>But none of his comrades have anything in reply.</p><p></p><p>Shame.</p><p></p><p>That’s probably worth thinking about.</p><p></p><p>Which just leaves the following conundrum.</p><p></p><p>Look back again at the last image- the one above.</p><p></p><p>Who’s that standing close to Newt?</p><p></p><p>That is a Tanarruk, a seven-foot tall, three-hundred-pound hulking Orc-like fiend armed with a razor-sharp glaive a little under twelve feet long.</p><p></p><p>Where did he come from?</p><p></p><p>Short answer- Newt.</p><p></p><p>Long answer, Newt uses his Rod of the Pact Keeper to recharge one of his spell powers, and then spends an Inspiration Point to cast Summon Greater Demon- hey presto, the Tanarruk.</p><p></p><p>Newt orders the beast to slay the rat swarms (& wererats) that are menacing the tabaxi, the fiend complies and then… makes its saving throw.</p><p></p><p>The Tanarruk is now no longer under Newt’s control.</p><p></p><p>“I am Great Chiggley!” The Tanarruk declares.</p><p></p><p>Do it in a Daktari voice- cod-Russian, up-tempo(-ish), but a bit dumb/slow.</p><p></p><p>“I am seek slash available for employ. I have fulsome CV and 90% rating on Faceslap. I am gottsa get paid- big time! I kill for money- you pay putty-tat, or I give you fat lip and then you die!”</p><p></p><p>The speech culminates in Great Chiggley waving his massive glaive in Newt’s face.</p><p></p><p>Remarkably none of Newt’s friends (by which I mean his adventuring companions) come to Newt’s aid, consensus is- the tabaxi can clear up his own mess. Although Daktari is trying to look out for the wererats while keeping an eye on the newly summoned Great Chiggley.</p><p></p><p>To note, Great Chiggley’s token will change on the next image, I found a better one.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289249[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Trouble? Another wererat (that’s him- the little guy furthest south) appears to the south of the corridor in which Fellowyn, Ram and Ub were fighting a rat swarm, and… shoots the Bladesinger, who duly fails his poison save.</strong></p><p></p><p>Fellowyn is down to six hit points.</p><p></p><p>Newt?</p><p></p><p>Newt uses a cantrip he learned from Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar (his other fiendish patron) ‘Friend a Fiend’ and then rolls a ‘27’ to persuade Great Chiggley to remain loyal, although Chiggers still gottsta get paid.</p><p></p><p>Great Chiggley delivers a running commentary because the DM so rarely gets to speak.</p><p></p><p>“I am killing ratz now, for furry masta. Then I gottsta gets paid, or else it fat lip time!”</p><p></p><p>Oh, and another swarm of rats has gathered and is on the rampage, so… everything is under control.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289248[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Or maybe not.</strong></p><p></p><p>The aforementioned wererat dashes past Ram, tumbling as it goes, and slicing the rogue’s ankles (with added poison) en route, and then scarpers- turning back just once to shoot Fellowyn once again.</p><p></p><p>Fellowyn is down.</p><p></p><p>And dying.</p><p></p><p>He fails his first Death Save seconds later.</p><p></p><p>Meantime Daktari and Great Chiggley are fighting rat swarms, and bonding.</p><p></p><p>Initiated by Dak, of course-</p><p></p><p>“Chiggley, I am Daktari- Great Gonad of the Sky Pony! I am liking your style- with your glaive work, and killing and killing.”</p><p></p><p>The Tanarruk glances at Daktari and then replies.</p><p></p><p>“I am Great Chiggley. Not plain old every-day Chiggley. I am great- know this and say this Daktari or else I give you fat lip and then you dead. I am however liking your hair, it iz smart but casual, and shiny-looking, do you do treatment?”</p><p></p><p>By the time the third rat swarm is decimated the pair are fast friends, in fact so good is the roleplay I ask Daktari to make me a Persuasion check.</p><p></p><p>He rolls a ‘20’.</p><p></p><p>Great Chiggley declares-</p><p></p><p>“I am here for good time not long time, puddy-tat, our contract is broken. I am employ by Daktari now- we have hair-raisin adventures together.”</p><p></p><p>Note, when Newt lost control over Great Chiggley I rolled to see how long the fiend would remain here before the spell/connection ended and he was whisked back to whatever hell he came from. When Dak rolled his ‘20’ I doubled that time and added a little extra.</p><p></p><p>So, you have Great Chiggley for a while longer.</p><p></p><p>Then Fellowyn rolls a ‘20’ on his second Death Save, and he’s back.</p><p></p><p>Daktari meantime hits the potion bottles.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]289247[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Then, the voice is back, like a chorus and it has further questions for the Dark Squad, and they can all hear it now.</strong></p><p></p><p>Also, several of the PCs are aware that something, maybe lots of somethings, seem to be mooching about in their brains.</p><p></p><p>Reading their thoughts.</p><p></p><p>But we’ll get to this next time.</p><p></p><p>The PCs, see the above image, are huddled in the corridor- perhaps not the safest place. To the north are more wererats, at least two of them- the PCs know this. There are lots of traps- most of them are still firing. There are endless amounts of rats- possibly, and the PCs have made a Monster Knowledge check now and realise that the wererats can transform into Giant Rats- and thus escape into the walls very quickly, or else travel within the swarms. There’s also another wererat to the south somewhere, maybe two of them, and... the PCs are mostly low on hit points, and low on powers.</p><p></p><p>A bit of an impasse.</p><p></p><p>So, this is what happens when you decide to just drop the climax on the adventurer’s mid-adventure (as it were).</p><p></p><p>Let’s see how it plays out.</p><p></p><p>Always a pleasure, never a chore.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 9058383, member: 16069"] [CENTER][SIZE=7][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/SIZE][/CENTER] [SIZE=6][B]Session #115: Infinity Mayonnaise & Great Chiggley.[/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=5]Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).[/SIZE][/B] Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8 Fellowyn Silverstream (played by George) Male Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger Lvl 8 New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8 Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1 Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8 [B][SIZE=5]DEAD PCs[/SIZE][/B] [S]Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8 [/S]RIP [B][SIZE=5]NPCs[/SIZE][/B] [S]Inverna Nightbreeze (played by George) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick) [/S]RETIRED [S]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/S]RIP* [S]Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard [/S]RETIRED Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1 (When we remember) *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. [B][SIZE=5]Servants/Familiars[/SIZE][/B] Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar [B][SIZE=5]The Dark Squad’s to-do list-[/SIZE][/B] [LIST=1] [*]An extraordinary meeting of the Saltmarsh Town Council, the Dark Squad are going to get hired to end the smuggling menace (see below), scheduled for 10th Flamerule. [*]The smuggler's ship will be turning up sometime between the 14th and 17th of Flamerule, the Dark Squad (and particularly Ram) are keen to meet the vessel, particularly Ram- why, because as the rogue said- “I'm getting a boat.” [*]Find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer from Lowhill), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All of these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetary). [*]Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood- except she's not there any more, but a big red dragon is? [*]Blackedge and the Goblin Stair? [*]To join the Pact of the Wild Flame prepare the Witch's Tor for the coming of the starfall, the Witch's Tor is in the Drowned Forest, in the Mere of the Dead Men. [*]To join the Pact of the Wild Flame track down the last member of the Pact, a wild elf adventurer called Giggles- and finally put her spirit to rest, and also recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE. [/LIST] This is session 115, and yet another cracker. We're back, but for how long… You’ll see what I mean by the end of this session. And so, when we left the Dark Squad they were fighting a huge undead dragon, although fighting may be stretching the point a little. What they have done, so far, is trap the huge undead dragon in its lair with a hefty portion of Sickening Radiance for company, and then lean on the door so that it can’t escape. More remarkably, and very mainly because my dice are broken, this tactic seems to be working. There are a bunch of lesser undead (zombies) also in the fracas but… the Dark Squad are taking care of business. Then, well- Daktari goes supernova (nearly), the Sky Pony barbarian atm is Hasted, Raging & Reckless. Dak cuts down an Ogre Zombie, leaving Shatterspike (his magical longsword) buried in the guts of the collapsing undead brute, and then after taking a deep breath he dashes into the Dragon’s lair- drawing his Dragonslaying two-handed sword en route. Note, this is another Durgeddin the Black manufactured sword, the Dark Squad found this beauty way back in session #93, in the [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8687866']Dragon Barrow[/URL]. [ATTACH type="full"]289261[/ATTACH] [B]Then, after the spending of an Inspiration Point, Dak makes the save against the Sickening Radiance and… buries the Dragonslaying sword (twice) in the great undead dragon.[/B] Daktari FTW. The barbarian even has movement enough left to dash back out of the room, as the great undead beast collapses behind him. “Great Gonads of the Sky Pony!” It’s something he’s taken to saying of late, don’t ask me why. [ATTACH type="full"]289260[/ATTACH] [B]The rest of the undead continue to take a kicking, we all know (around the VTT) how this fight is going to end, but the Dark Squad love these little kick-ass moments, when they mop up the minions. It’s usually their time to shine, and to roleplay…[/B] Daktari- “Here, Fellowyn- I will show you vat it is to be Great Gonads of Sky Pony!” The barbarian rushes into a chamber full of zombie dwarves and lets the last of his Rage, Haste, etc. play out. “I am killing zem one handed Felloyn. FELLOWYN! Come- watch me, I show you how it done.” Note, Daktari’s latest shtick is to try to teach the Bladesinger how to fight. Newt is soon to the party too, he makes it to the slaughter chamber and just starts blasting while screeching a variety of imprecations to Belphegor, his fiery first love. The rest of the Dark Squad take a breather, only Ram bothering to remain on alert and watching the way ahead and behind. The deed is eventually done and Newt and Dak return to their comrades- drenched in gore, no doubt. There’s talk of a rest, but… Newt screeches into the former undead dragon’s lair- “Hoard! Hoard! HOARD!” Just about covers it. [ATTACH type="full"]289259[/ATTACH] [B]Fellowyn finds the treasure pile, just around the corner from where Newt was looking- lots of coin, almost all of it low value, a few potions and…[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]289258[/ATTACH] [B]A jug of alchemy is discovered and identified.[/B] It’s not a great treasure but this kind of wonderous item seems to always tickle the Squad, and so I put a few of them in every now and then. The jug of alchemy pulls its weight. “INFINITY MAYONNAISE!” Daktari declares, as he stands staring- mouth agape, at Newt. The tabaxi has just explained the various liquids available from the jug. “Infinity mayonnaise…” Daktari whispers to himself, and then sits- dumbfounded, and then has a little cry. Daktari, it seems, is a big fan of mayonnaise, he has found his grail. He’s having a great session the Sky Pony lad, so far. MVP, I think, by the time we get to the end of this one. Note, there are a variety of ancient markings etched into the floor, in this chamber, the Squad put on their thinking caps- they’ve seen these before- in a hard to get into underwater chamber accessed only via a sea cave, and at the time filled with nasty Sahuagin (see [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8670870']Interview with a Dhampir[/URL]). The symbols depict planetary alignments, or else solar systems- perhaps even the solar system of which Faerun (Abeir-Toril) is part. The Dark Squad however are not experts in this field- they make drawings however- as they did last time, clever folk. Then, after a little bit of healing from the Moonboar, the Dark Squad head on- no short rest, which may prove to be a less than clever thing to do. Newt has no spells, and lots of folk are still just a bit wounded. [ATTACH type="full"]289257[/ATTACH] [B]Ram is sent out for a scout around. This after Vinnie spends a moment concentrating on the Symbol of Ub for the correct direction to head next.[/B] So, here’s a thing- and this is the DM writing (and talking to you the reader), why is the finale of an adventure always placed at the end? So, between sessions- the last and this one, I moved the climax (sorta) to… well, here. And I do hope that the PCs read this because I don’t think they’ve figured it out yet, just to make clear- my players do not read this write up, a lot, if at all. Just sometimes when they remember. So, an experiment, the following encounter is the climax of this segment of the Dark Squad’s travels, this is the big bad encounter, although in truth the big bad guy has not made it to the screen yet, even at the end of the session. Cats and pigeons. Let’s see if any of the players read this before the next session. So, where were we… oh yes, Ram creeping ahead- down dirty, ancient, broken rat-infested corridors. I’ve been letting the players know this all the while- the map looks clear, nice- the reality is stinky, wet, broken and falling apart- an ancient and long forgotten tomb. Anyway, Ram is being very cautious, and thus he’s moving very slowly- it doesn’t help that every now and then he has to stop to answer the questions being asked him by the voice in his head. That’s right- the voice in his head, it sounds like the voice of Rambles Shambles Bowspirit, although somehow off- every now and then like a chorus of Rambles’. The voice wants to know who Ram is? Who his companions are? What they call themselves? Why they are here? Ram takes the time to reply, and to explain- although in his usual off-hand/casual method. The rogue explains that they (the Dark Squad) are here to recover Rambles’ Symbol of Ub, the voice in his head is less pleased by this particular news. Then, while this is going on- very slowly, Fellowyn gets bored and goes for a wander, and triggers a trap. [ATTACH type="full"]289256[/ATTACH] [B]See the stone skull on the wall with the arc of blue before it, that’s spewing flames now, constantly, Fellowyn is singed, but still exploring- although more cautiously now.[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]289255[/ATTACH] [B]Then, as Ram continues to chat to his interlocutor, Newt decides to try a little exploring of his own too, what is it about cats and curiosity?[/B] See Newt? Well, the statue before him, a cowled and hooded dwarf, suddenly breaths a noxious gas into the corridor- the tabaxi steps back just in time. But the statue’s mouth is now agape- and the gas continues to spew out making access to the corridor difficult. Newt however is a genius, he instantiates Gerald, his Bat familiar, and then sends the avian scouting. Genius at work. [ATTACH type="full"]289254[/ATTACH] [B]Well, not quite, Gerald is ordered to fly through the gas ahead- I checked this with Bear/Newt to make sure. Gerald fails his save and is paralysed by the still hissing gas and drops out of the air to thunk on to the dirty floor just ahead of the tabaxi.[/B] That didn’t work. Scouting over. Meanwhile. Fellowyn has Misty Stepped past the flame trap he triggered- it’s still spewing fire. Back to his comrades. Note, at this point Ram is explaining to his friends the situation, vis he’s just had a chat with a chorus of Rambles Shambles Bowspirits’, and the little guy wants the adventurers to skedaddle (clear off) sharpish, only with added threats. But the Dark Squad are adventuring… [ATTACH type="full"]289253[/ATTACH] [B]Daktari explores a side chamber and is engulfed in flame, the fiery inferno (and it is an inferno- big damage) spouting from another skull carved face on the wall here. Note, the trap, after flaming once, ceases working.[/B] So, it’s going well here. Fellowyn instantiates his familiar, a metal (I think) owl called Archimedes. This after a short contretemps between the Bladesinger and Newt- “My familiar is better than yours…”, that kind of thing. The bird flies around the corner- across another section of the passage that looks to be trapped, and… gouts of flame erupt from the holes in the floor here. They continue to burn. So, as I say, it’s going well. Then, while the adventurer’s bicker and shout things at/too each other, someone (or something) shoots Archimedes, and now the metal owl thing is dead. Newt and Daktari run through the flames ahead (and emerge entirely unscathed) just in time to see a swarm of rats emerge from the corridor ahead and skitter towards the pair. They don’t however spot the shooter. Daktari slashes and cuts the rodents. [ATTACH type="full"]289252[/ATTACH] [B]Newt blasts them repeatedly and knocks the swarm back into the corridor they emerged from.[/B] At the same moment another swarm of rats emerges from the floor, ceilings and… well, everywhere, and launch themselves at Fellowyn, and Crit the Bladesinger. Daktari races forward, intending to finish off the swarm before him, and… is shot by a small rat-like looking humanoid that was seemingly waiting for him to appear, the small figure was hidden in a corridor just to the north. [ATTACH type="full"]289251[/ATTACH] [B]Shot twice, and both bolts are poisoned- and Dak fails both saves.[/B] Daktari is down to 10 hit points, that happened fast. It gets crazy. [ATTACH type="full"]289250[/ATTACH] [B]Not a great picture this one- George, I love these little images but- a bit bigger please, or else closer to the action- pretty please.[/B] So, down south Fellowyn, Ram and Ub are fighting a Rat Swarm, and missing a lot. Note other than a few extra hit points (approx. 35-40 hp total each) these are just plain ol’ rat swarms. The swarms are maybe 50 or 100 XP each. Fellowyn gets Critted again, and he’s AC 25/26 atm with all of his Bladesinger power ups running. Fellowyn is bloodied and beyond. The rat swarm has only suffered about six points of damage so far. A titanic battle. To the far north (in the image above) Dak is looking for the fellow that shot him, but… the creature seems to have run off, or disappeared, or... Likewise whatever shot Archimedes is also no longer visible, another wererat (the PCs have figured this out) most likely- the Moonboar is on the spot and confused. No targets. Note, Daktari has also come to the conclusion that the wererats are very much smaller, and are wearing the same clothes as the halflings that showed them into the tomb, all the way back in session 108 ([URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-114-return-of-the-dark-squad.672536/post-8863328']The Shambles in the Shambles Tomb[/URL]). The wererats, shouted consensus is, are Bonnie Bowspirit (granddaughter of Rambles) and her companions. Then, during a moment of clarity, the Moonboar shouts out- Remember, the Moonboar employs a gruffer, snorting, French/Mediterranean accent. “Rambles iz a Rat Bastard- it zed [SNORT] zo on iz tomb!” But none of his comrades have anything in reply. Shame. That’s probably worth thinking about. Which just leaves the following conundrum. Look back again at the last image- the one above. Who’s that standing close to Newt? That is a Tanarruk, a seven-foot tall, three-hundred-pound hulking Orc-like fiend armed with a razor-sharp glaive a little under twelve feet long. Where did he come from? Short answer- Newt. Long answer, Newt uses his Rod of the Pact Keeper to recharge one of his spell powers, and then spends an Inspiration Point to cast Summon Greater Demon- hey presto, the Tanarruk. Newt orders the beast to slay the rat swarms (& wererats) that are menacing the tabaxi, the fiend complies and then… makes its saving throw. The Tanarruk is now no longer under Newt’s control. “I am Great Chiggley!” The Tanarruk declares. Do it in a Daktari voice- cod-Russian, up-tempo(-ish), but a bit dumb/slow. “I am seek slash available for employ. I have fulsome CV and 90% rating on Faceslap. I am gottsa get paid- big time! I kill for money- you pay putty-tat, or I give you fat lip and then you die!” The speech culminates in Great Chiggley waving his massive glaive in Newt’s face. Remarkably none of Newt’s friends (by which I mean his adventuring companions) come to Newt’s aid, consensus is- the tabaxi can clear up his own mess. Although Daktari is trying to look out for the wererats while keeping an eye on the newly summoned Great Chiggley. To note, Great Chiggley’s token will change on the next image, I found a better one. [ATTACH type="full"]289249[/ATTACH] [B]Trouble? Another wererat (that’s him- the little guy furthest south) appears to the south of the corridor in which Fellowyn, Ram and Ub were fighting a rat swarm, and… shoots the Bladesinger, who duly fails his poison save.[/B] Fellowyn is down to six hit points. Newt? Newt uses a cantrip he learned from Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar (his other fiendish patron) ‘Friend a Fiend’ and then rolls a ‘27’ to persuade Great Chiggley to remain loyal, although Chiggers still gottsta get paid. Great Chiggley delivers a running commentary because the DM so rarely gets to speak. “I am killing ratz now, for furry masta. Then I gottsta gets paid, or else it fat lip time!” Oh, and another swarm of rats has gathered and is on the rampage, so… everything is under control. [ATTACH type="full"]289248[/ATTACH] [B]Or maybe not.[/B] The aforementioned wererat dashes past Ram, tumbling as it goes, and slicing the rogue’s ankles (with added poison) en route, and then scarpers- turning back just once to shoot Fellowyn once again. Fellowyn is down. And dying. He fails his first Death Save seconds later. Meantime Daktari and Great Chiggley are fighting rat swarms, and bonding. Initiated by Dak, of course- “Chiggley, I am Daktari- Great Gonad of the Sky Pony! I am liking your style- with your glaive work, and killing and killing.” The Tanarruk glances at Daktari and then replies. “I am Great Chiggley. Not plain old every-day Chiggley. I am great- know this and say this Daktari or else I give you fat lip and then you dead. I am however liking your hair, it iz smart but casual, and shiny-looking, do you do treatment?” By the time the third rat swarm is decimated the pair are fast friends, in fact so good is the roleplay I ask Daktari to make me a Persuasion check. He rolls a ‘20’. Great Chiggley declares- “I am here for good time not long time, puddy-tat, our contract is broken. I am employ by Daktari now- we have hair-raisin adventures together.” Note, when Newt lost control over Great Chiggley I rolled to see how long the fiend would remain here before the spell/connection ended and he was whisked back to whatever hell he came from. When Dak rolled his ‘20’ I doubled that time and added a little extra. So, you have Great Chiggley for a while longer. Then Fellowyn rolls a ‘20’ on his second Death Save, and he’s back. Daktari meantime hits the potion bottles. [ATTACH type="full"]289247[/ATTACH] [B]Then, the voice is back, like a chorus and it has further questions for the Dark Squad, and they can all hear it now.[/B] Also, several of the PCs are aware that something, maybe lots of somethings, seem to be mooching about in their brains. Reading their thoughts. But we’ll get to this next time. The PCs, see the above image, are huddled in the corridor- perhaps not the safest place. To the north are more wererats, at least two of them- the PCs know this. There are lots of traps- most of them are still firing. There are endless amounts of rats- possibly, and the PCs have made a Monster Knowledge check now and realise that the wererats can transform into Giant Rats- and thus escape into the walls very quickly, or else travel within the swarms. There’s also another wererat to the south somewhere, maybe two of them, and... the PCs are mostly low on hit points, and low on powers. A bit of an impasse. So, this is what happens when you decide to just drop the climax on the adventurer’s mid-adventure (as it were). Let’s see how it plays out. Always a pleasure, never a chore. Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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