DDAL Jasper DMs Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Session 7

Chapter 4 On the Road

Day 38 Morning to Day 64 Afternoon

Day 15 of road trip to End of the road

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 75 Villains Captured 10 Villains Escaped 99

Start Time 6:26 End Time 8:59

Take 10 Downtime days. GP varies.

Story Award. Enemy of Cartwrights. You shot Ben Cartwright and tried to crash the not wedding party. You have made a group of enemies.

I had a very strong group of eight. String Bean Assassin 4 Taxbaxi. Violet Life Cleric 4. Zhark bard 4 Bugbear. Mugen Druid 4 Human. Zip a Dee do dah barbarian 4 gnome. Nox Monk 4 fairy. Nerezza Monk 4 fairy. Crispy Mike warlock 4 abyssal tiefling.

Midnight Day 14. Mr. Happy. “Hello Mr. Zhark. You own me a heart. See this monster manual 2024. Page 238. You owe me a heart. Sign here for the oops mistake. Initial here on not Mr. Happy’s fault I didn’t die. And I am taking 1 death save from you the next time you go down.’

Now all the group saw was Zhark talking to empty air.

Day 15. The trip is going well and some more information is being gather. Around noon, a noble hunting party runs a fox hunt through the train. 8 of the wagons bolts including 1, and 6. None one goes to help wagon 6 but Violet is able to knock Alan off the buckboard and slow the horses as Alan and Abe try to catch up, a quick peek reveals 1 is a cult wagon. Longnose sends half the group to chase down Achreny and the rest go to chase the fox hunt.

They find Ben Cartwright walking a limping horse back toward the road. He is followed by a mage and guard.

Ben, “Who are you and what are you doing on my land. This horse is stupid and I am going to fire the stable hand who forgot to secure the saddle.” He punches the horse.

Mugen, “Hey I am druid. You be nice to animals.”

Ben, “My horse and my lands. Get off my back and my property, or suffer the consequences.”

Mugen, “Take the mage!” The mage takes an arrow, or two. Ben takes a mind spike and is unconscious.

Michael Landon, “Fireball!” The group was in fireball formation and starts to scatter.

Zhark, “Everyone calm down.”

Dan, “Boss will live but I think they need to give up their horses.” They continue to scatter and Dan shoots Mike in the back, knocking off his horse. Mugen casts healing word and retreats. The group scatters.

Michael Landon, “Hey spellcaster, suck fireball again!” Mike is knocked out again and Dan shoots him in the ass. The rest of the group high tails back to camp.

Dan, “take his horse. Let the fates decide if he lives or dies.”

Mike, “Nat 1!” The group arrives back at the wagon train only to be send back to collect the dead and horse by Longnose. Meanwhile at the smoking corpse.

Patron. “WTF. I didn’t give you permission to die yet. RAISE DEAD.” Mike comes to looking longing into the bard’s eye. During the night Nox spreads oil on wagon 5.

Day 16. Longnose briefs the party to be on the look out for a fire bug.

Day 17. On point Nox is told to right ahead with Jamna Gleamsilver. A human head is in the middle of the road. Nox flies closer, it is alive but the guy can not see the fairy. Nox tries to help Carlon by giving him a pair of chopsticks. Gleamsilver calls back to Longnose. During the digging out and mocking by Nox, Carlon tells his tale of woe. He said no to a cross-bow wedding of Inger Cartwright and her brothers buried him in the middle of the road. Carlon does mention he is Harper.

Day 20 taking a turn Wagon 5 loses a wheel and crashes. Cult loot spills out including a golden toilet brush. Nox mocks Essie and Edward about it and does not make friends with them.

Day 21-23 Nothing much happens but some investigations. The wagon with silence on it has exotic birds. And the Silk merchant in 13 has worms, which destroyed ninety percent of his load.

On the night of the twenty third, the bust Gleamsilver about her Zhentarium connections. She admits her connection and she too is spying on the cultists. She also knows one of the group is a fire bug. But she will keep their secrets if they keep hers.

Day 24 The fairies talk String Bean into mischief. They steal the wood chest Achreny and Noohar argued over. And some china from Samardag in wagon 17. String Bean hides it in wagon 5.

Day 25 starts of wet. And stays wet. Arriving at the Ponderosa Inn late in the afternoon. It has booked up. One room is booked by wearer of the purple Frulam and the rest of inn including the stable is booked by the Cartwrights. They are having a not wedding party. One guests with invitations are allowed in.

A kobold brings a note to Mugen. “Panther sweat. Room 13. Come in by the window.” Meanwhile Zhark has turned invisible and snuck in to the party. He discovers Carlon was spying on the Cartwrights and was busted. Mugen has a fun time. The Cartwrights leave at dawn.

Day 26. After dawn, Longnose, “MUGEN. Mugen! Get your hair ass down here. Guards circle up. We have a thief. Noohar reported his chest missing this morning. Don’t let anyone hook up the wagons. We will start with wagons 6 and 7. Violet and Zhark you are on manacle detail. We will manacle each driver before we search the wagons.’

The first circle of wagons come up empty of the stolen chest. The second circle of wagons is started. Number 5 wagon is search and Essie and Edward are busted.” Everyone gets tick off and about to slap leather.

DM, “Pause. You have a choice. You know which wagons have cult members. And some of their friends. You can fight or take the other option. I am not telling you the other option. Fight or consequences.” The DM takes a break.

Group. “Consequences!”

Wagons 1 to 5 are outraged about the search and think they have been set up. Before blood can be drawn a compromise is reached by Longnose. The wagon train will split. After an hour of no blood shed, the wagon train pulls out. Leaving Wagons 1 to 5 and wagon 18 behind. Mugen falls back to the end of the train and follows the cultists wagons for half a day. They turned off but appear to headed to Waterdeep. But there are many other side roads between here and there.

Day 40 The group arrives with a third of the wagon train missing. Longnose pays them out. Violet gets a bonus for no problems and healing duties. Everyone else is fined or makes the cut. She will leave a recommendation with the train guild. But she has noted some of their problems.

Voice, “Report for debriefing at the Trollskull manor.”

DM Note. Mission is failed. I have to see what will happen in Chapter 5. Bard needs at least a 6 page report on why they should be forgiven.

End of Session 579.

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Session 8

Chapter 5 Construction Ahead

Day 64 Afternoon to Day 79 Morning

Debrief to Day 7 on the road again

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 80 Villains Captured 10 Villains Escaped 99

Start Time 6:20 End Time 9:20

Take 10 Downtime days. GP 5.

I had a very strong group of seven. String Bean Assassin 4 Taxbaxi. Violet Life Cleric 4. Zhark bard 4 Bugbear. Mugen Druid 4 Human. Zip a Dee do dah barbarian 4 gnome. Nox Monk 4 fairy. Nerezza Monk 4 fairy.

The group slowly stroll through Waterdeep and do some light shopping. As they get near Trollskull manor a fire Genasi waves them over to his forge.

Emeric, “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. The Harpers thru everyone out around ten this morning. They are waiting on a special meeting with some special people.”

Nox, “We the special people.” Emeric looks at the band of adventurers and know the harpers.

Emeric, “Well okay but you are kind of late. Go right on it.”

A tall human in harper blue is seating alone in the manor. The bar is very clean. “I am Dex on of your debriefers.”

Nox, “Griefers I heard about you.”

Dex tries to break them up immediately but they want the bard with his five- and three-quarter pages of notes, give their side. Lif brings them a free beer.

Dex, “Nice story. Some interesting points. But a couple of points. We do individual debriefs when an operator goes south. Two the so called second wagon train has yet to arrive. Three one of you been doing a cult member. Four we have this manor for seven days. First night is free room and board but after that if you survive the debrief, you pay for your own food. Bard business office for your individual discussion. Violet Den with Mother Hubber. Zip basement this does not mean free Imp beer. String Bean second floor second bedroom by the privy. (DM can’t remember the rest”

The interviewers generally are asked to go over what happen, with some grilled on.

String Bean, “My character didn’t get grilled, she got baked on cat nip.”

The results of talks were interesting. No one knows who set the fires. No one knows who stole the wooden chest with flowers and put in wagon five. Memories around Rocky the gargoyle are unclear. The Cartwrights are naughty words. Six which is only a third of the eighteen wagons broke off on day 26. Longnose is an naughty word too. No one told them the wagons had to make to Waterdeep. All of them is lying, hiding, or is ashamed of something.

PCs, “Two of you people have tells Mr. Dex.”

The morning after they group comes down. Mr. Dex, “Lasfelro of wagon 11 has been murdered and the watch still has not all the parts. Rocky is missing. Do you know anything about it.” Some of the group investigate and others go have fun. (DM is NOT writing up the fun part.) String Bean finds out Bobby Ewing was need near the murder location as it is a bad part of town that is unusual. A gargoyle was seen in the sewers with an adventuring party.

Day three the so called second wagon train will be declared late at evening.

Day four. Violet hears about a gargoyle was sitting on a nearby temple. It was painted in rainbow colors and left when asked. Violet also paid in full Longnose penalty for not delivering the full train. Mugen does have fun times Frulam and she does recruit the group to guard and safety deliver a second wagon train to Mere of Dead Men waypoint.

Day eight (DM YEAH, I can start Chapter 5 But I did enjoy the stuff leading up to this point). The wagon train is headed out of Waterdeep to deliver road equipment and laborers to a stop over in the Mere of Dead Men. Leader Adred Briferhew of the High Road Charter Company is happy to have more guards. However, Teamster Troy Longnose halfling (32) sister of the other Longnose chews Bubble gum and wears plate is not happy.

Day 2 of Wagon Train 2. The gargoyle driving the wagon is ROCKY. Rocky has learned much. One being a rock he does not have worry about brown pants. Two Eric screams like a little girl when intellect devourers are discovered in the sewer of Waterdeep. Three being a wizard is fun. Rainbow colors and jester hats are cool too.

Various things happen with a bad ambush by an ogre and four orcs during day five. (Three crits on the ogre, meanwhile first combat hit for DM was a crit too.)

Wagons and other things uncovered so far.

1 Amalkyn the Black, Road stone and road equipment.

3 Chow wagon, Cookie Woman has a passenger who is has not been seen.

5 Carlton the Doorman. Lumber, road tools, camping equipment.

6 Guards and teamsters.

10 Rocky the gargoyle. Lumber, sand bags, road tools.

Leader Adred Briferhew

Teamster Troy Longnose halfling (32) sister and chews Bubble gum.

Teamster James Hoffa human

Laborers Gary doing one-year hard labor on the road.

Special Guest Stars.

Guard Jamna Gleamsilver Gnome (31) (91) female and shifty. The Zhents are not happy with the first wagon train being lost.

Guard Leda Widris (32) female. wants to see the thing called snow.

Guard Sulesdeg the Pole (33) 7 feet 5 inches from Shaar where he is the runt of the family.

End of Session 581.

The bard's 5 pages of notes.
Hello Ackyn Selebon,

We have finally reach Waterdeep after being on the road for 40 days. The trip was filled with many encounters. The first part of the trip we discovered the following about the wagons and guards:

Wagon 3 Charle and Azbara Jos as passenger (page 31). The wagon is part of the cult

Wagon 8. Beer –Beyd Sechepol Half Elf (32). Beer has not been tapped.

Wagon 10 Cooking oil –Lai Angesstun Gold Dwarf (32) money grubber.

Wagon 11. Lasfelro the silent and Gargoyle (32) Cargo?

Wagon 14 Oyn Evenmor (33) wagon has a silent spell on it.

Wagon 15 teamsters and guards.

Wagon 16 guards and party.

Wagon 18 Passengers.

Guard Jamna Gleamsilver Gnome (31) and (p 91) Shifty. Female

Guard Eldkin Agetul Shield dwarf (32) female perfectionist

Guard Leda Widris (32) female. wants to see the thing called snow.

Guard Orvustia Esseren (33) female. Hayseed first time outside Baldur Gate.

Guard Sulesdeg the Pole (33) 7 feet 5 inches from Shaar where he is the runt of the family.

Guard Tyjit Skesh Shield Dwarf (33) female and Angry at world.

Passenger Frank Franklin, Passenger George Franklin

Passenger Heide Franklin, Passenger June Franklin

Passenger Henry Mitchell, Passenger Blake black

Passenger Charle Rose, Passenger Chuck Flower

Passenger Aldor Urnpoleshurst (32), Passenger Green Imsa (32)

Passenger Radecere Perethun Rock Gnome (33)

Teamster Losvius Longnose halfling (32) female, chew tobacco and boss.

Also, late in the day 3 days out from Elturial, a 19th wagon was seen on the side of the road and wished to join the caravan. Initially the Teamster allowed them to join us, but as we road along with them trying to see what they were all about, I noticed they were a very ragtail bunch with no weapons and stage props from gear. I informed Longnose of this discovery. She pulled three of our party with her to convert the group and it started to get heated when our good barbarian Zip stepped in and settled the issue. We manacled them and threw the wagon out of the caravan and continued our trip gathering more in formation as we went. On day 6 we get attacked by Perytons and lose a couple guards and defend off the rest. I myself take huge hits but the cleric was able to healing word me before I succumbed to my wounds. (see day 15 for more). We discover more about which wagons belong to the cult (see wagon notes). We also discover we are being tracked by what we believe to be a panther though we think it is a druid. On day 10, we need to rest, and we find that wagon 6 has uncured furs which is possible that we got attacked because of this. We put together hunting parties to help cure the furs each night as we travel. Note on wagon discoveries below:

Wagon 1 Allen, Abe. Know the Franklins.

Wagon 2 Barry, Betty. Know Charlie.

Wagon 3 Charle and Azbara Jos as passenger (page 31). The wagon is part of the cult. Sabotaged with cut straps.

Wagon 4 Donna, Denise. The wagon is part of the cult. Set on fire. Whole train know they are carrying loot of some sort.

Wagon 5, Elsie & Edward, very upset that wagons are not kept with their group.

Wagon 6 Cured Furs Owner, Achreny (page 32). Owner does not bathe. And is an ass. (Thanks Nox)

Wagon 7. Recently cured furs, Fredrick 2 of the furs are panther.

Wagon 8. Beer –Beyd Sechepol Dead. Beer has not been tapped. Mugen is driver.

Wagon 10 Cooking oil –Lai Angesstun Gold Dwarf (32) money grubber.

Wagon 11. Lasfelro the silent and Gargoyle (32) Cargo none. Rocky has been recovered and said magic rat did the job. Gargoyle is lightly chained (chains most likely will not hold) considered the family guard gift from Mom

Wagon 12 wood Carvings –Noohar Serlim (32) and mute brother. Got into fight over chest with wagon 6.

Wagon 13 Nyhite Verther (33) Seems happy he will make his Bank on this trip.

Wagon 14 Oyn Evenmor (33) wagon has a silent spell on it.

Wagon 15 teamsters and guards.

Wagon 16 guards and party.

Wagon 17 Samardag the Hoper (33), Barrel Maker),

Wagon 18 Passengers.

Guard Jamna Gleamsilver Gnome (31) and (p 91) Shifty. Female. Was hired by wagon 6 to steal chest.

Guard Eldkin Agetul Shield dwarf (32) female perfectionist

Guard Leda Widris (32) female. wants to see the thing called snow.

Guard Orvustia Esseren (33) female. Hayseed first time outside Baldur Gate.

Guard Sulesdeg the Pole (33) 7 feet 5 inches from Shaar where he is the runt of the family.

Guard Tyjit Skesh Shield Dwarf (33) female and Angry at world. Dead.

Passenger Frank Franklin, Passenger George Franklin, Passenger Heide Franklin, Passenger June Franklin

Passenger Henry Mitchell, Passenger Blake black, Passenger Charle Rose. Known to 3.

Passenger Chuck Flower, Passenger Aldor Urnpoleshurst (32)

Passenger Green Imsa (32), Passenger Radecere Perethun Rock Gnome (33)

Teamster Losvius Longnose halfling (32) female, chew tobacco and boss.

Teamster Werond Torohar. Good with animals. Is a player. Thinks Mugen is Hot.



On the morning of day 15, I awake with a cold feeling of death when I see Mr. Happy (Reaper) approaching me on a skateboard carrying some paperwork concerning my near death experience with the perytons. Unbeknownst to me, when the Peryton claw attack landed it should have ripped my heart out of my chest; however, its clawed foot got tangled up in my leather armor giving the cleric time to heal me which Mr. Happy quietly informed me was a misnomer and I should be signing his skull. We both missed this on minor detail when attacking PCs and therefore I had to sign his paperwork stating this mistake wasn’t his nor my fault and that I would only have 2 death saves from now on. (Press hard, 3 copies, place blood fingerprint on last page.) Our little meeting was seen as I was talking to empty air.

After my meeting with Death, we continued on till about lunch time when we were surprised to see a noble hunting party running a fox hunt through the train. Some of the wagons get scared and bolt. Half of the guard chase the noble and the rest help to gather the wagons. During the gathering more information is found out about them. (see below). After confronting the noble (Cartwright) a fight ensues and we get quite toasty from a fireball. Our spell caster dies, and we escape. We then go grab more guards and come back but the cartwrights are gone and the spell caster is lying on his back quite toasted and burned but back with us. (Guess his master isn’t done with him just yet) Not much to report until the start of Day 26.

Morning of Day 26, Longnose is very irate and brings all of the guards to a meeting to discuss something that happened during the night. One of the merchants is missing a wooden chest and has asked the teamster for assistance. We are then assigned to search the wagons to find it. We find the missing chest in Wagon 5 which we also discover at the same time to be a cult wagon. The cultist are adamant that they did not steal anything but there is no proof on either side. Therefore, all of the cultist wagons depart the caravan at that time, there were 5 wagons as well as the passenger wagon that were all together. We parted ways, but the druid decided to follow the cultist wagons (see below for wagon names), for half a day and find they are taking a parallel path towards Waterdeep. Due to their treachery, we couldn’t find out where they were going after Waterdeep, but we did find out all the below information. When we departed no further actions/ecounters happened the rest of the trip. I am under the impressions, the cultist keep getting us attacked to keep suspicion off of themselves. The entire time, they kept acting suspiciously. It is not our fault that one of them wanted to gain more gold/treasure by trying to steal a box from one of the merchants. As much as we are new to being guards, we did the best we could with the numerous encounters and attacks setup by the cultist. I even lost my life defending them and their wagons.

Wagon 1 Allen, Abe. Know the Franklins. (Cult Wagon)

Wagon 2 Barry, Betty. Know Charlie. (Cult wagon)

Wagon 3 Charle and Azbara Jos as passenger (page 31). The wagon is part of the cult.

Wagon 4 Donna, Denise. The wagon is part of the cult. Whole train know they are carrying loot of some sort.

Wagon 5, Elsie & Edward, Cult Wagon and thieves, very upset that wagons are not kept with their group.

Wagon 18 Passengers:

Passenger Frank Franklin, Passenger George Franklin, Passenger Heide Franklin, Passenger June Franklin

Passenger Henry Mitchell

Passenger Blake black, Passenger Charle Rose. Known to 3.

Passenger Chuck Flower

Passenger Aldor Urnpoleshurst (32)

Passenger Green Imsa (32)

Passenger Radecere Perethun Rock Gnome (33

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Session 9

Chapter 5 Construction Ahead

Chapter 6 Castle Naerytar

Day 79 Morning to day 90 13000

Day 7 to into the swamp

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 88 Villains Captured 10 Villains Escaped 99

Start Time 6:30 End Time 8:50

Take 10 Downtime days. GP 500. Take a Level.

I had a weak group of three. String Bean Assassin 4 Taxbaxi. Violet Life Cleric 4. Mugen Druid 4 Human.

Day 7 The group was assigned to float. Harcourt Rocky Beard is in the food wagon and likes Violet. Perhaps they could hook up during the night but she puts him off. String Bean finds out Margent is on her way to the turn about to have a meet up with her husband for a night. He is doing another six months on the road team. Larry Ewing is on the outs temporary with JR and Bobby Ewing. The Ewings are on the outs currently with the Cartwights. Larry is surprised that the group Wimped Out but did not Wipe out.

Day 8. The Passenger wagon with the Nox and Nazarene throws a wheel, and Nox is sick with food poisoning. Wagon 6 with Zhark and Zip stay behind to help. About two hours later the Ewings show up and stop the wagon train. None of the them notice Rocky. Some questions are asked of the party.

JR Ewing, “I don’t care about the wooden chest with the two pieces of china. What happen to Mr. Lasfelro wagon. He didn’t make his delivery. And where is the rest of your wagons?” String Bean confesses she found the secret compartment but didn’t open it. She was with the fairies at the time.”

Mugen, “Kind of suspicious that the Faires are not here today. We left them a few hours back due to a thrown wheel.” The Ewings saddle up and head back down the trail. (I wrote this in and the person it was suppose to be for got sick. Arrgh!)

Day 9 Daniellie Star-Child tries to recruit the group. This goes badly as she is young, dumb, and broke. Radecere the rock gnome sets up a play date (not that type Nox) to play twenty-one. Mugen cleans him out.

The group arrives at the Carnath Roadhouse. A burly half-orc name Bog takes over. Half the wagons are unloaded before the party gets the clue, some of the wagons pulled into the warehouse is taking longer that normal. This is after the cult drop boxes are dropped off. Bean wanders in and notices one or two of the boxes being shifted into the storage room. Theses boxes must have been buried in the wagons.

During the rest of the afternoon, two temporary supply tents are set up to keep rain of the lumber. But the laborers are now prisoners working off their sentence. Aldred announces which wagons are splitting. And everyone is feed and bedded down for the night some in the Roadhouse, some in the tents. The group pitch their own tent in the court yard.

0100 the rogue sneaks into the warehouse and pops the lock on storage room. She finds a secret entrance but is stopped from exploring it. Some people are coming up the tunnel. She climbs back up to storage room, rushes out into the warehouse. The warehouse door is opening, she closes the lock and hides behind some of the chests.

Bog opens the storage door and lifts up the trap door. Multiple lizardfolk come out. Some talk to Bog as he sits on a very special chest. Flicking his cigar off to the back, he covers the Taxbaxi with hot ash. She does not understand lizardfolk but some of the crates are being moved into the tunnel. Time passes slowly for the thief. Finally, the business is concluded. Bog leaves and she waits for a few extra minutes.

Bog goes upstairs and after a quarter of hour go to investigate the warehouse, Mugen trips over box in the warehouse waking the roadhouse. As the place goes to alert, the thief pops the lock and tosses the two humans into the tunnel. She tries to jam the trapdoor. And the group rushes toward the unknow in tunnel. The open lock is discovered just as they drop out of hearing range. They hear footsteps toward them. They see light shining down from the trap door. Bog has been fooled by the lack of people in the storeroom. They follow the footsteps and nearly ambush three lizardfolk. Nearly.

String Bean, “but we got the loot box drop.” About a quarter of mile later, they exit the tunnel into the Mere of Dead Men. Blazes mark the trail deeper into the swamp. At one PM they find a small island. Only one canoe and four lead-tos are what is left. Being sleep deprived, the paddle back to the mainland and road. Arriving around five, they hide their boat and work their way back to the roadhouse and get into the chow line.

Bog discovers them. “Why did you go missing during the night? The warehouse was broken into and you were not at roll call.”

Violet, “Was anything stolen.”

Bog, “No but it was mighty suspicious.”

Mugen, “We when looking for Castle Naerytar.”

Bog, “In the middle of the night?”

Violet, “Hey leader Briferhew said our paid stopped at midnight. We could do what we want.”

Bog, “You expect me to believe that!”

Group, “NO. But the dice say so.”

Bog, “naughty word. It doesn’t matter; I will just manacle you to the floor tonight just for my peace of mind.”

Mugen, “Keep your grub. We are out here.” They walk off down the road. A few minutes later Danielle catches up with them and says she can get them close to castle by star navigation.

The next morning is the canoe for four, they roll back to island and just as the near the island three lizardfolk pop out the water.

Trask, “How do you feel about Tiamat?”

Violet, “Never met the lady.”

Mugen, “I am hooking up with one her minions. Nice chick.” This ticks off the swamp dwellers but some calm emotions, and quick talk. (AND high persuasion checks AGAIN.) Turns these neutrals into allies. They don’t like the cultists and know the way to the castle.

Arriving at the landing near the castle, the lizardfolk goes first and try unsuccessfully to bluff their way in. It does not happen. But the strength of Academy of Stargazers know not bounds. Danielle kicks butt and finishes off two of the enemy herself. (Two Nat 20s and hit more times than the cleric.)

We will pick this up on page 49 the outskirts of the castle.

High Road Charter Company

1 Amalkyn the Black, Road stone and road equipment.

2 Danielle Star-Child. Sand Bags, road equipment and lumber. Looking for castle Naerytar (45)

3 Chow wagon, Cookie Woman Azbara Jos as passenger (page 31)

4 Radecere Perethun Rock Gnome (33). Lumber, stone, road tools. Cult.

5 Carlton the Doorman. Lumber, road tools, camping equipment.

6 guards and teamsters

7 Harcourt rocky Beard. Beer and food supply wagon.

8 Margent. Lumber, Road tools, MREs.

9 Larry Ewing. Lumber, shovels, cult,

10 Rocky the gargoyle (mage) Lumber, sand bags, road tools.

Leader Adred Briferhew

Teamster Troy Longnose halfling (32) sister and chews tobacco

Teamster James Hoffa human. Shifty. On the take from everyone.

Guard Jamna Gleamsilver Gnome (31) (91) female and shifty.

Guard Leda Widris (32) female. wants to see the thing called snow.

Guard Sulesdeg the Pole (33) 7 feet 5 inches from Shaar where he is the runt of the family.

Laborers Gary, Henry, Luke kobold, Kristy, Malcom, Nicky female high elf, Oscar halfling grumpy, Peter Bugbear, Robert, Sue dwarf, Terry, Ursula kobold.

Wagons 6, 8, 9, 10, turn around

Wagons 3,5 going on.

Wagons 1, 2, 4, 7 are staying

DM notes. If not present use 10 downtime days to promote to level 5. Made some adjustments to the timeline. I did flip between Legacy lizardfolk and current when it made sense.

Companions Lizardfolk Grat, Chuxl, and Trask the vet. Danielle Star Child. Knight AC 14 uses a club as weapon.

End of session 583.

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Session 10

Chapter 6 Castle Naerytar

Blood on the Walls and in the Halls

PCs, “On the drapes, and our mates!”

Day 90 1300 to Day 91 Dawn

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 141 Villains Captured 10 Villains Escaped 99

Start Time 6:20 End Time 10:16

Take 10 Downtime days. GP 345.

Magic Items Potion of Healing, Mage Armor Scroll * 2. Jos spell book, Mage hand, Prestidigitation, ray of frost, shocking grasp, fog cloud, magic missile, shield, Thunderwave, invisibility, misty step, scorching ray, counterspell, dispel magic, and fireball.

Not A Magic item. No spell books. That was flavor text as Cultists don’t cast spells. (Sigh).

I had a strong group of Seven. String Bean Assassin 5 Taxbaxi. Violet Life Cleric 5. Mugen Druid 5 Human. Nox Monk 5 Fairy. Nerezza Monk 5 fairy. Zhark College of Lore bard 5 bugbear. Zip Wild Magic Barbarian 5 gnome. Danielle Star Child Knight.

A few minutes as Danielle is explain to the weak party, the rest of group rows up after getting lost in the fog. As they are getting ready to move out and Bullywug under a flag of truce show up and deliverers two letters. One from JR Ewing and the second from Pharblex Spattergoo. The group laughs and moves on.

Coming to the official landing about four hundred feet out, they spy the cultists camps. A stockade of cows, chickens, and pigs are next to the archer tower. Over a dozen huts and long houses hold lizardfolk and bullywugs. But being daytime they are out searching for the party. Seeing no one in the archer tower, they explore a longhouse while the cleric, barbarian, and druid hang back. The long house is mostly clean and there is not much in there.

String Bean, “Then why did we roll stealth?” The cat is grabbed by a croc as five of mates come out the various low swamps. Two fight over String Bean. Two fight over Zhark. And two wished they left Zip alone. This gets the bullywugs attention. Cheering for crocs start. Zhark and String Bean are in the moat and dragged under, and being subjected to death rolls.

The draw bridge rises. One croc is no longer not worrying about Zip. His brother is unhappy. The fairies dive bomb into the moat! Feed the lunch members a potion of healing and punch out the remaining crocs. The wet lunch members and fairies take to cover as they come under distance fire from the bullywugs.

Nox, “I would have given them short bows to make it fair.” And the rest of the group moves toward the archer tower using various huts for cover. The groups snipe at each other until.

Nerezza, “I go a nice idea. Hey Nox. Whisper. Whisper. Plan. Plan.”

DM, “What are you planning?”

Fairies and Zip. “Whisper, whisper, plan. Plan. EXECUTE BARBARAIN BOMB!” The fairies grab Zip by the collar and pants and air lift her into the air and drop her into the mess.

Nox, “You missed spelled mass.” DM, “No I didn’t”. Into the mess of bullywugs. Bullywugs start to die quickly, and then a misty step from the druid, they die faster. Meanwhile Violet and Zhark break out the tea and cookies and wait until the drawn bridge goes down. This does not happen as the Fairy Friendly Freight drops them on the tower.

The second wave of guards are dispatched. And String Bean goes long and falls halfway thru the short hallway. (DM the map on page 51 sucks.) She catches herself and the group decides to use the ground floor.

Nox, “This isn’t a castle. It is a shack.” The bard turns the corner into the court yard and see lots of bullywugs and lizardfolk exercising and going about their business. Zhark, “We are new cult members here to join up.” The enemies laugh. Zhark continues, “Yes Tiamat send us.” More laughter.

Enemies, “Didn’t you get the letter?” Zhark, “What letter?” Enemies, “The one that Nox read out loud at the top of the session.” Zhark, “Oh that letter. Since I didn’t read it. It doesn’t apply to me.” Javelins, spears, and bites take the bard down. Conjure Animals take bullywugs down and the second fight of the night is off to a good start.

18 seconds later, the Zip opens the door to the great hall which has too many enemies. Mugen, “This map sucks. Can we redraw it?” Zhark, “Hey each square is suppose to be twenty feet not five.” DM, “the map is now official we will redraw after this combat.”

18 seconds later. The map is redrawn and the great hall is looted. 30 minutes late the group explores the south west tower which is empty during the day. Checking out the central tower, they find Azbara Jos waking up from his nap.

Azbara Jos, “short time not see. No excuses. No lies. And yes fireball.” The group charges. Counterspell, silence, and a quick dash gets the fireball off and the group kills and loots a named NPC.

They decide to retreat to a safe space as they are all out spells and low on hp.

We will pick this up back at the first landing. So, one hour walk to castle walls. The castle will be on red alert.

DM Note. The map mess help and hurt the group so no worries. Book, “they killed my children!” Any way could you put your subclass on the sign in sheet, it helps trains the DM about that subclass.

New record is 53 enemies killed in a single session. This is not a record that needs padding Nox. Actual Game time about an hour.

End of Session 585.

Hoard of Dragon Queen session 11

Chapter 6 Castle Naerytar

Blood on the Walls and in the Halls Part 2

Day 91 Dawn to Day 92

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 217 Villains Captured 52 Villains Escaped 101

Start Time 6:11 End Time 9:47

NEW START TIME 6 PM

Take a level. 10 Downtime days. 1,288 GP

Magic Items. Potions of Healing *2, Dagger of Venom, Oil of etherealness.

I had a strong group of SIX. Violet Life Cleric 5. Mugen Druid 5 Human. Nox Monk 5 Fairy. Nerezza Monk 5 fairy. Zhark College of Lore bard 5 bugbear. Zip Wild Magic Barbarian 5 gnome.

Bullywug, “Here adventurers. Come out. Come out wherever you are. I have cotton candy for you.”

Bullywug 2, “That is wrong. It is supposed to be. Here Adventurers. Come out. Come out wherever you are. We have a nice princess in need of rescue.” The bullywugs stand ten feet away from the group hiding hold while the group laughs at them. The search party moves off and the next hour is spent low crawling, high crawling, crawdad crawling to just before the castle shack and avoiding the look out.

Nox, “What is our plan?”

Mugan, “I still a panther, can I climb the walls?”

DM, “No, actually yes they are wood.”

Nox, “we will could do the barbarian bomb boom again. But what about the bard and cleric?”

DM, “Are you actually having this conversation when you are sixty feet from the monsters. Who are sixty feet above you. And have not spotted you yet.”

Nox, “It is sixty-five feet from the nearest monster. And yes.”

DM. “Initiative. Panther has advantage because he has a plan.” And the first battle begins. The bard and cleric go invisible and the barbarian boom bomb starts killing poor little monsters.

Zip, “Hey they can jump and knock me out the air now?”

DM, “Yes I running the 2024 bullywugs and they go before you.” 18 seconds later the invisible duo shows up to the upstairs tower and wade through blood. And loot the bodies. Moving into the castle only two guards briefly exist in the court before dying.

Violet opens the door to I no L. Whatever. The door flies open to reveal 20 lizardfolks and the druid tosses in Conjure Wild Honey badgers covering half the room. The barbarian begins breaking monsters. The monks shoot arrows at the door man and the puree continues.

Seeing the dying people, the people in the back of the room try to run away. But the barbarian follows up the stairs to be pin cushioned by their javelins and daggers. The bard lays down some heavy metal bag pipes as the Conjured wild honey badgers catch up with the rear guard. The monks and druid snipe up the stairway and are ignored as the barbarian is the only target.

With more of them dying, DM shenanigans! The second floor living occupants dog pile the barbarian and anyone on or near the stairs. The whole pile ends up on the first floor prone and away from the Spectral Puree Puppies spell. As the group comes to a stop. A door across the courtyard opens.

Group ????

DM, “Bard you see a door across the courtyard opens, which you see since you are standing in the open doorway.”

Bard, “Who is hurt I will upcast Aid.” A bunch on bullywugs start charging across the courtyard.

Violet, “I slam the door. YOU IDIOT Bard.”

Bard, “I am not an idiot I have a ten intelligence.” As Violet goes to latch to door the monsters shoot.

Monsters, “Only three misses. We doing great. This is first time of tonight we actually are doing good.”

DM, “IT WAS THE DOOR!” The door disappears leaving Violet holding the door knob and dusting the boards and saw dust off her armour. The couple disengages away from the door, and Conjure Celestial Canines nearly finish off the lizardfolk on the ground floor. The bullywugs charge into the room.

Bullywug 11, “Wait a minute DM. I may have a 7 in my dump stat of int. But I not going in there.”

Bullywug 12, “There is blood and vascular um gut since the dm can’t spell. Spilling out of the doorway.”

Bullywug 13, “I made my INT check and I not going in.”

Bullywug 14, “I think I hear my mommy calling.”

Barbarian, “47.”

Bullwug 15, “What does 47 mean? And why is Conjure Chaos Chunks moving out the door?”

DM, “You guys forgot two things. One the monks move very fast. Two so does Zip.”

Bullywugs, “naughty word! Help!” The stable door flies open and out dashes 4 lizardfolk on 4 riding lizards. They move thru Conjure Chaos Chunks!

Druid, “No!” Only one lizardfolk survives!

Lizardfolk 57, “Why is the male monk smiling? Why does he have a feather, rope, and a copy of Playboy? Help me.”

Nox, “this will only hurt you a little.”

With most of the fighting troops gone. Nerezza, “They not gone. They are over there. And over there. And over there. And.”

The castle surrenders. The group fills three bags of holding to brim, (DM see weight still matters. And no, I am not going on a diet) with treasure, and weapons. Pharblex Spattergoo is captured. The fairies stay up top to guard the prisoners. And the other four move into the basement for cleanup.

Most of the basement is empty but it is damp. A ground fog covers the feet and sometimes the gnome while they are exploring. Zip nearly trips into an active teleportation circle. As the group backtracks, they get lost and find the giant lily pond. There are a dozen frog legs in the pond.

Zhark, “They taste like chicken.”

DM, “with a dozen eyes watching the party as they scoot on the ledge.”

Mugan, “Plant growth.” The PHB book is open. And.

The frogs slowly swim moving one or two squares toward the party. Zip gets greedy and dashes along the edge to a giant frog about to leave the water. She is swallowed. Leaving her glaive behind but her magical pixie farts come with her. The frogs slowly swim toward lunch. (This was a fun combat to watch.) The last frog dies from pixie farts and the group clears out the basement.

Deciding to chase the villains which escape they group leave the prisoners tied up.

We will pick this up in Chapter 7 just as you step out the teleportation. Take a long rest.

DM Note. No to the lizardfolk slave mount. Conjure Animals is AOE attack which is 30-foot square of you stinking animals.

You conjure nature spirits that appear as a large pack of spectral, intangible animals in an unoccupied space you can see within range. The pack lasts for the duration, and you choose the spirits’ animal form, such as wolves, serpents, or birds.

You have Advantage on Strength saving throws while you’re within 5 feet of the pack, and when you move on your turn, you can also move the pack up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see.

Whenever the pack moves within 10 feet of a creature you can see and whenever a creature you can see enters a space within 10 feet of the pack or ends its turn there, you can force that creature to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 3d10 Slashing damage. A creature makes this save only once per turn. WE did an oops.

New record 76 kills in one session.

End of session 586

Hoard of the Dragon Queen session 12

Chapter 7 Hunting Lodge

Chapter 8 Castle in the Clouds

Day 92 to Day 9 1400

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 230 Villains Captured 52 Villains Escaped 106

Start Time 6:03 End Time 9:33

Take a level. 10 Downtime days. 2,502 GP. Take a level but NOT a long rest. AKA you don’t you refill your spell slots or hit points if you are missing any.

Magic Items. Shield of arrow catching. +1 chain mail, Wand of Winter, potions of healing *2,

Story Award Black Dragon Mask Mugen ONLY. Dragongleam helm. 10 charges of daylight.

I had a strong group of SIX. Violet Life Cleric 6. Mugen Druid 6 Human. Nox Monk 6 Fairy. Nerezza Monk 6 fairy. Zhark College of Lore bard 6 bugbear. String Bean Assassin 6 Taxbaxi.

The group walks through the teleportation circle into freezing weather. As a nice 70 degrees is much cooler than the swamp. The smell of stale beer and other party scents assault their nostrils. Suddenly Nox is grabbed from behind a huge stench assaults him.

“Pete. Pete. You made it man. Did you bring the sorority girls? Only one? Pete. Pete. You missed a heck of party. Happy Birthday Tiamat. Happy Birthday Dear Tiamat and many more. You are not Pete?”, the winged kobold mumbles. Empty beer, wine, and other bottles litter the landing zone. A few years away a Happy Birthday Tiamat flutters in the wind.

“Oh, you are. You are the ones who are. Fade it. Made it. Expected. Yes. Two fairies. And I got a message for. The Droo. No. The Dude. No. The drool. Those. Those forest wizard dudes.”

Mugen, “You mean druids?”

“Yes druid. For a moo. For a move.”

Mugen, “YOU MEAN MUGEN.”

“Yes Mugen. You are a very smart guy. Frulam, says come on up. She has a party in her pants. And we had a party. Here. It was a great party, Pete. You are not Pete. Oh. She has a job for Mugen and his minions. Go on down to the lodge. It is that way. Just follow the path.” The winged kobold picks up a nearly empty beer and starts to polish it off.

The surrounding area has lots of kobolds tracks, some troll tracks, and guard drake tracks. The tracks are a few days old. The area is a nice wooden mountain many miles to the north of the swamp. The only item of note before getting to lodge itself is a troll and drake patrol just made a sweep on one of the cross paths.

Pushing into the mudroom of the hunting lodge, Mugen see boots of all sizes. Kobold, human, and other races. Moving into the grand hall the two elf size suits of armour are interesting. They seem to be able to cast freeze ray. Moving up the stairs, the assassin finally starts checking for traps. Opening the first door they come to, they are surprised. It is a bathroom with three tubs. A walk down roman tub and in back a servants and laundry tub. As they cleaning up Frulam Mondath shows up in new shiny plate mail.

Frulam, “Oh my sweet lover. You started with out me. Let me get the bubble bath. I have some information for you. But would you be a dear and have your minions murder a rival for me. A dwarf name Talis. He is somewhere below on the first floor. Please don’t kill the servants in livery, they are hard to replace up here.’

Mugen, “They wouldn’t mind. And you are going to remove the plate mail?”

Frulam, “Only a small part. And how long can you hold your breath.”

Book, “FADE to black. Fade to black.” The murder minions close and lock the bathroom door and put the don’t disturb sign up. Going down stairs the check up the mudroom and Nox wonders why there is no mud.

DM, “It is a mudroom. Ok. Oh. Entrance hall.”

Nox, “Why didn’t you say that DM?”

DM, “For a PC who has ticked off the Ewings and Cartwights. And just missed his honest hanging get with the theme.”

The cloak room is empty of everything after Nox shoves the cloaks and rain coats into the bag of holding. The Palor is not empty as Talis and his posse don’t like to bother.

Nox, “Nor do he like 52 HP of damage.” (DM random roll of Talis location. And guess which unexplored room they choose first.) The murders are mostly swift except for the last guard. The group spend the next hour looting first floor and scaring the servants.

After a very refreshing bath, Frulam gives the key to basement to Mugen, and he can do what ever with the prisoners. The group free the prisoners. Later that day Mugen pumps Frulam for more information.

Book, “This is supposed to be PG-13. It is on the cover.”

Frulam has the code words to the Wyvern stables down in the valley. And the codewords to sky castle. The wyverns are trained like homing pigeons. From the stables to sky castle then back. And please kill the half dragon Rezmir if you see her.

Arriving at the small village the next midmorning, the group enters the small tavern and starts buying the six laborers drinks. They spend a total of 2 gp. (serious look at the price list). While the bard is entertaining the tavern, Nox finds out secrets. Beautiful secrets. Avoiding the town named NPC, he commits six counts Misdemeanor Type C criminal mischief. We will start with cutting up the bridle of the only oxen in town, and let the reader fill in this low crime spree. The group flees from their crimes on the wyverns. They do a fly by on the castle and land at the front gate with their pass word access. The ogres wave them through.

The lower courtyard has the stables, cultist barracks, lower hall, kitchen, and stairwell to topside. Hungry from their crimes they raid the kitchen. 20 kobolds are preparing an ox for dinner, and other meals. They are led by a head chief awaken griffon. Chief is not happy with Frulam for not sending word about new guests. But Nox and Mugen smooth talk her and find out some stone giants are guests, so is Rezmir, and others. They are in the small hall.

The group eat a quick kitchen lunch and go to hall. Listening in on the stone giants Wigloft and Hulda they are getting ready to prep for a ritual. The bugbear barges into the room with Mugen while other use sneak options.

Wiglof, “I could swear I saw a small butterfly as he came in.” The couple is upset about the small person entering with out knocking. Small people belong across the hall and check out the nice view they installed last week. The couple needs some privacy to cast augury on not the bugbear business. Meanwhile the sneaks are stealing half the gemstones set aside for the ritual. Zhark says good bye and nearly has the door closed on his heels.

The small room is empty. Just beds with the mattress rolled up, and linen on top of that. The ice wall does disappear with a touch which opens to the balcony and a huge view of the very big sky.

Exploring more, they tick off the red wizard of Thay but quickly excuse themselves. Nox is talked out of mischief in the fridge room. Something about not wanting to be a live pixie stick brings common sense to him.

Knocking on the final room, Rezmir opens the door. “naughty word me. naughty word you. Breath Weapon!” She leaps back into the room and the assassination begins her and her four guard drakes against the six.

Nox, “No problem 42 HP.”

Rug of Smothering, “Excuse me. Big Bite on Fairy for 10.” Rezmir activates her Greatsword. No healing if you get touched by it.

Rezmir, “I touch the fairy, I touch the bard. Bad touch the bard. Hey get back here coward. Bad Touch Violet. Bad touch Violet. ACK.”

Nox, “Die you beast and your little doggies too. Why is Mr. Happy still here?”

Mr. Happy, “Violet just rolled a Nat 1 on her death save. Roll again!”

Zhark, “bardic inspiration”. Mugen, “Cosmic Care”

Violet, “3 and 3 and 6!”

Mr. Happy, “2 down 1 up.”

Zhark, “bardic inspiration”. Mugen, “Cosmic Care”

Violet, “3 and 4 and 6!”

Mr. Happy, “2 down 2 up. Last one.”

Zhark, “I am out.” Mugen, “Cosmic Care.”

Violet, “6 and 6!” The cleric stabilizes and the group takes a short rest while looking the chamber. The retreat back to the smalls room and we will pick this up next week.

DM Note. Well, I didn’t expect you to be a half a chapter ahead of me.

End of session 588.

Hoard of the Dragon Queen session 13

Chapter 8 Castle in the Clouds

Day 94 1400 to Day 116

PC Killed 1 Monsters Killed 230 Villains Captured 52 Villains Escaped 135

Start Time 6:15 End Time 8:10

Take a level. 10 Downtime days. 200 gp. Take a level.

I had a very strong group of six. Violet Life Cleric 7. Nox Monk 8 Fairy. Nerezza Monk 8 fairy. Zhark College of Lore bard 7 bugbear. String Bean Assassin 7 Taxbaxi. Zip wild magic barbarian 7 gnome.

A mop is grabbed from the kitchen supplies, as the group cleans up their assassination. They retreat back to the huge guest room reserve for humans. Using manacles, rope, and shoe laces, they secure the double doors.

String Bean, “We good, they never find us.”

Zhark, “Yes in just three hours we snuck into the castle, had lunch, stole from Stone Giants, ticked off a Red wizard of Thay, and chopped off the head of a head cultist. Anyone seen Mugen?”

Zip, “Something about head and Frulam. He took a wyvern to go she her.”

DM, “Okay 1 to 8 some one comes knocking about your crimes.”

Zhark, “16.”

As the tower chimes declare midnight the group set out to explore the rest of the castle. Going up the staircase to the landing, the temperature drops to the low forties. The northern route drops the temperature to the lower thirties as the walls have a thick coating of ice.

“I hear the pitter padder of little feet. At least two of them.” Bright light highlights the tunnel exit. An adult white dragon rolls off his bedding. “Are you coming out little ones.” He opens a barrel and bounces a dodge ball down the hall. It illumines the tunnel since has continual light on it. He rolls a barrel toward the entrance; it smells of lard.

“Just dunk yourself in the barrel human. I didn’t call for a midnight snack but I am feeling a little hungry!” Nox flies forward and yells, “We are not a small group!”

“A human, a gnome, and a fairy. Your group is getting smaller as it goes. What are your names? And do come in.” demands the dragon.

Nox, “I am alias number 4”. The other two come half way in to the cavern, as the dragon is distracted, he shadows steps behind it near a corner. The other mumbles their names.

Glazhael, “Where did the fairy go? No matter. Now why are you here out and about after midnight?” His tail twitching like a cat about to pounce. Occasionally just missing Nox. The two lie badly. So badly the dragon is amused. After about fifteen minutes, he dismisses them after activating his fear power. “And please roll the dodge ball back. I like playing with it.”

After a successful brown pants check, they move south of the landing. A few minutes later Zhark nearly gets pull out into the sky as a passing cloud wins try to suck him out. The other part of tunnel leads back to dragon. So, they backtrack pass the landing, and first dragon tunnel.

Suddenly up the tunnel light starts flashing. Dark. Light. Dark. Light. Dark. Gold Light. Dark. Piles of Gold. Dark. The dragon is bouncing the lit dodge ball off the walls of his treasure hoard. Nox takes two butterfly steps forward only to grabbed and pulled back by Nerezza. They back track again to the landing and go up to upper courtyard.

The stairwell leads out of a huge part of stone hill they were exploring. They see ogres walking the upper castle walls only because they obscure the stars. Moving into the court yard with the human being lead by Nerezza, the see a crumping tower a near the top of the hill. Like some one hit the brakes on the moving castle too fast and the tower didn’t have its seat belt on. Moving toward the south building they see another entrance to hill. But they decide to explore the four building to the south.

String Bean pops the lock on the first one, and they enter. House keeping has not been here for three days, but it a nice hotel room for Storm giants. In fact, the last guest left a dagger behind. (Great sword in a human terms.) The other two guest rooms had housekeeping five days ago.

String Bean pops the lock on the fourth building, hears and smells something. “Kobolds. Lots of Kobolds.” She relocks the door. They pause briefly as an ogre walks pass over head on his patrol. The five building is more a profession type with a nice profession door.

String Bean, “Easy Cheesy. Easy Cheesy. I got it. Just have to turn this.” Five minutes have gone by. She has gone through her master picks, her second set, her alibi set, her tossing set, and her rusty set of picks. She gives up. Nox looks closely at the bottom of the door. He shrinks himself down and flies under it. He goes to unlock the bar.

His ears are nearly shatter at the alarm. He flies under the door. And the group fast walks toward the stairwell. Two ogres run out the barracks pulling up their pants and stops them.

Ogre, “Who are you?”

Zhark, “I can’t hear you over the alarm. What type of Alarm is it? We are fellow cultists. Frulam just told us we could search around if we want. My twelve of you. With torches. Could you get someone in charge?” One ogre moves off exposing early morning butt crack. The other eleven encircle the group.

Zhark, “Nine, you only gave me large minis. So, it Nine right.”

DM, “Eleven, here the final three.” The ogres and Zhark talk but they don’t believe him. One minute goes by and the alarm is still on. And one or two the ogres are swayed by the bs but not the others. Three minutes go by.

DM, “Nox. Face the rest of the group as I whisper something to you. Don’t face me. Make eye contact with the group.” Whisper. “You feel a cold wind of beep.”

Nox, “OH naughty word.” A cold wind crests his shoulder. Two minutes go by and around the corner come a Storm giant in armour approaches.

Blagothkus, “I was just having a nice dream about Mirran. Who are you and why are you here? Oh, the moon elf vampire who has him by the shoulder in a bouncer come with me lock, is called Sandesyl Morgia. Come who are you?” Introductions are made again. Ten minutes of the bard’s BS goes by. Blagothkus is getting tired but has the alarm shut off and takes the conversation into his hall. He sets the table with wine and begins the questioning again.

Morgia, “This Nox has some strong shoulder. They twitching to show them off. Sorry not interested yet.” Ten more minutes go by and most of the BS is not working.

Blagothkus, “Again. Why are you here? The truth please.”

Nox, “we are here to chew bubble gum and sow chaos.” (Sorry Nox your real message seems to disappeared from Facebook.) The giant believes this.

String Bean, “I am here to catch rats, and play with ribbons. You got any ribbons.” The vampire releases Nox’s shoulder and goes over to a sewing basket and opens. She wraps the cat in six feet of it. A tear forms in the giant’s eye but is quickly wiped away.

String Bean “Hey what about the giant tears you guys have.” Suddenly the moonlight glistens off the platinum and golden tears of Nox and Violet. Blagothkus expression turns from hostile to thoughtful.

Blagothkus, “Okay here is the deal we been talking for over fifty minutes. I am going to have my ogres come in and manacle you people. In morning I will have you dropped off below wherever we are. You can walk back to your home. I will need your decision.”

DM, “Ok guys. You can slap holsters and fight. Or get secured and dropped off. No. No preplanning on what will happen after I secure you. I just need to know fight or capture.”

The group is secured and prep walked down the stairs. They are taken to the human lodging hose and further secured by the vampire tucking them into bed like moms used to do when the kid was sick. Packing the blankets so tight they act like extra restraints.

They are dropped off the next morning.

Epilogue.

Three weeks have went by went they finally get back to Waterdeep. The harper doesn’t even split them up for the debrief. Nox, Nerezza, and String Bean have a two-copper bounty from the Ewings. This is insult but let bounty hunters know the Ewings will owe them a favor. Nox has another bounty from Parnast of one cooked cow for plow stealing. The Harper pays them 200 GP and dismisses them. He then drops their applications for being harpers into the shredder.

The End.

DM Note. Told you guys to remind me about the tears. The cat saved you. I love the word play with dragon and giant.

End of Session 589.

I love and hated how they knew their lie was busted but like kids would stick with it.

Hoard of the Dragon Queen Review

TLDR Okay adventure but has first adventure problems. 3 Stars.

After Play review using Adventure League 15.1 guidance with a mixture of 2014 and 2024 monsters and pc classes.

I had a group with a total of eight players. The sessions were running around 3 to 3.5 hours each, with 3 to 8 players. I ran each chapter by tier instead of suggest chapter level but most pcs where chapter level.

First as always with the first couple of adventure hardcovers, the maps suck. They were drawn as art and not with use in mind.

Chapter 1 needs a location change as it opens with the party outside the city and with idea the pcs are going to go help. I created a tavern inside the city and started the pcs there. This chapter has both what the DM wants to throw at party for openers, and choose your quest selections. You will need to put some recurring NPCs out of harm’s way.

Chapter 2 is setup to be a series of combat or skill checks. Mainly combat. The skill challenges are not well defined and I suggest DMs look online for how to run good skill challenges. It does have a rescue VIP mission which depending on the players could be difficult to pull off.

Chapter 3 Returns the group to bad guys camps and gives you a dungeon to explore. But it assumes the rooms rarely communicate with each other. Depending on the how the group tries to enter the dungeon will set the tone from spying to dying.

Chapter 4 can be the most role playing heavy of the chapters. It is a road trip with various set and floating encounters. But the DM will have to juggle over a dozen npcs. And a few wagons. I suggest you take notes in this chapter. The wandering encounters and set encounters are nice but will need DM flavor to spice them up.

Chapter 5 Tries to redo the road trip but has less NPCs and a small road side inn as the main plot area. It requires the pcs to be proactive in investigation certain NPCs.

Chapter 6 assumes the pcs are part of enemy forces and gives no guidance if the group is going to do the kill them all method. Most rooms assume forces in other parts of castle don’t react to loud battles.

Chapter 7 The Hunting Lodge introduces a new NPC who is there to point the way to the next chapter. And combat is an afterthought.

Chapter 8 has a small town which is an excuse for a bar. The Skyreach Castle is interesting but the setup in the court yards assumes the group has their cult badges. And I would promote the Griffon in the kitchen to Awaken status. The other encounters are locked closets with little suggestions on how they would react to an alert or near by battle.

Warning Big power level difference in 2024 Classes even if you upgrade to 2024 monster suggestions.