Astrosicebear
First Post
SPOILER ALERT
For players that are progressing through Hoard of the Dragon Queen be aware this contains spoilers on chapter 6, Castle Naerytar.
SPOILER ALERT
Usually I dont write up play reports, but this was just too funny not to share.
My 4 players had made a pact with Snapjaw and the lizardfolk to assist in their takeover of the castle. The lizardfolk would gather their weapons and await the 'signal'. My players decided the best course of action was to keep the lizardfolk in the wings, enter the castle in crates carried by the lizardfolk, which put them in the kitchen storeroom. They exited and looked around a bit, and waffled on what to do. They ended up going into the lizardfolk tower and talking to Snapjaw some more, and got the all-ready signal. They told the lizardfolk to spread the word and they should await the signal.
All was going well. Until the lizard folk gave them some lay of the land. They told them of the spiders above them, and the ghosts and trash monster in the eastern tower.
My party decided to investigate. So they approached the eastern tower, took out the 3 guard drakes within 2 rounds, quietly, and looked around. The barbarian decided to jump across the pit to the stairs, which brought the otyugh out of hiding with a tentacle fwap, and the battle was on.
(Interesting encounter, the PCs couldnt get above the monster without jumping across the pit, but they were afraid of going down in the water, so they kinda fought it at the edge.)
They fought the otyugh for 3 rounds, and hurt it enough and moved out of its range to make it submerge. They thought all was clear and proceeded carefully up the tower. The rogue and barbarian anyways. The fighter and bard decided to stand lookout at the bottom. So the two up top get to the trap door, open it, and i describe the room, the bodies, etc. They enter. (really guys? a castle full of cultists, lizardfolk, drakes, and bullywugs, and youre going after ghosts?)
The six spectres animate and assault them. They run down. Fortunately spectres arent all that tough for level 5 characters, so the barb and rogue made short work of them, with help from the fighters magical bow found in an earlier act. But they were worn out, and decided to rest up in the tower, not only to recoup, but also eliminate the life drain from the spectres. They told the lizardfolk to wait until tomorrows signal.
So after the rest, they went into the keep. They went up to Borngray's room, and I rolled a percentile to see if he was in his office. According to text hes rarely in his chambers, so I have him a small chance to be there, damn dice. So hes sitting at his desk and writting a ledger. A few words, and bam hes dead within two attacks. So they find the passcode for the portal on a scrawled note and I thought they would search and leave. Well they didnt kill the raven and let it squawk, so it altered some guards. The bard half-elf decided to put on Borngray's clothes and disguise herself. So when the guards came, he made good rolls and gave them the all clear... then had a brilliant idea to ask the guards to summon Rezmir, as he found something interesting.
Guards agreed and left and the PCs plotted. So after about 15 minutes Rezmir, Azbera, Pharbalex, and 4 dragonwings show up. It wasnt an attack, but just a conference they moved to Borngrays room. Two wings went up stairs with rezmir and azbera and pharbalex, and two stayed below. The rogue trickster decided to create a silent image of Borngray at the table while the others were in borngrays chambers behind the closed door. The trickster used a great perform roll to lure Azbera to the table, where he was going to launch and attack. And thats where we ended for the evening.
So now its going to be an all out melee, rezmir is on hand, with azbera, two npcs who shouldnt die. And Rezmir has the mask on her head but not donned. So it will be an interesting next session, as there is only one way out, no windows. Im not pulling punches, but I think Rezmir will retaliate and then leave, and let Azbera and Pharbalex cover her escape. If Azbera survives the initial attack he will flee. It will be a good chase I think to the dungeon portal.
This chapter really shines I think more than on the written page. Its a big keep with alot of opportunities. HotDQ is growing on me as a module the more I play it and definitely finishes strong.
For players that are progressing through Hoard of the Dragon Queen be aware this contains spoilers on chapter 6, Castle Naerytar.
SPOILER ALERT
Usually I dont write up play reports, but this was just too funny not to share.
My 4 players had made a pact with Snapjaw and the lizardfolk to assist in their takeover of the castle. The lizardfolk would gather their weapons and await the 'signal'. My players decided the best course of action was to keep the lizardfolk in the wings, enter the castle in crates carried by the lizardfolk, which put them in the kitchen storeroom. They exited and looked around a bit, and waffled on what to do. They ended up going into the lizardfolk tower and talking to Snapjaw some more, and got the all-ready signal. They told the lizardfolk to spread the word and they should await the signal.
All was going well. Until the lizard folk gave them some lay of the land. They told them of the spiders above them, and the ghosts and trash monster in the eastern tower.
My party decided to investigate. So they approached the eastern tower, took out the 3 guard drakes within 2 rounds, quietly, and looked around. The barbarian decided to jump across the pit to the stairs, which brought the otyugh out of hiding with a tentacle fwap, and the battle was on.
(Interesting encounter, the PCs couldnt get above the monster without jumping across the pit, but they were afraid of going down in the water, so they kinda fought it at the edge.)
They fought the otyugh for 3 rounds, and hurt it enough and moved out of its range to make it submerge. They thought all was clear and proceeded carefully up the tower. The rogue and barbarian anyways. The fighter and bard decided to stand lookout at the bottom. So the two up top get to the trap door, open it, and i describe the room, the bodies, etc. They enter. (really guys? a castle full of cultists, lizardfolk, drakes, and bullywugs, and youre going after ghosts?)
The six spectres animate and assault them. They run down. Fortunately spectres arent all that tough for level 5 characters, so the barb and rogue made short work of them, with help from the fighters magical bow found in an earlier act. But they were worn out, and decided to rest up in the tower, not only to recoup, but also eliminate the life drain from the spectres. They told the lizardfolk to wait until tomorrows signal.
So after the rest, they went into the keep. They went up to Borngray's room, and I rolled a percentile to see if he was in his office. According to text hes rarely in his chambers, so I have him a small chance to be there, damn dice. So hes sitting at his desk and writting a ledger. A few words, and bam hes dead within two attacks. So they find the passcode for the portal on a scrawled note and I thought they would search and leave. Well they didnt kill the raven and let it squawk, so it altered some guards. The bard half-elf decided to put on Borngray's clothes and disguise herself. So when the guards came, he made good rolls and gave them the all clear... then had a brilliant idea to ask the guards to summon Rezmir, as he found something interesting.
Guards agreed and left and the PCs plotted. So after about 15 minutes Rezmir, Azbera, Pharbalex, and 4 dragonwings show up. It wasnt an attack, but just a conference they moved to Borngrays room. Two wings went up stairs with rezmir and azbera and pharbalex, and two stayed below. The rogue trickster decided to create a silent image of Borngray at the table while the others were in borngrays chambers behind the closed door. The trickster used a great perform roll to lure Azbera to the table, where he was going to launch and attack. And thats where we ended for the evening.
So now its going to be an all out melee, rezmir is on hand, with azbera, two npcs who shouldnt die. And Rezmir has the mask on her head but not donned. So it will be an interesting next session, as there is only one way out, no windows. Im not pulling punches, but I think Rezmir will retaliate and then leave, and let Azbera and Pharbalex cover her escape. If Azbera survives the initial attack he will flee. It will be a good chase I think to the dungeon portal.
This chapter really shines I think more than on the written page. Its a big keep with alot of opportunities. HotDQ is growing on me as a module the more I play it and definitely finishes strong.
