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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 7985281" data-attributes="member: 6809274">Epic climax to the latest adventure, with the player characters advancing to level 14 at the end of it. I'm running a modified Storm King's Thunder. The characters are in Skyreach Castle attempting to free Hekaton from Zhentarim mind control and thereby stop the giants' rampage across the North. Unfortunately, they're up against three clones of Manshoon, a dozen storm giant zealots, and an ancient blue dragon under a geas to guard Hekaton. Some highlights:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The characters were atop a hundred-foot tall tower that was collapsing on a flying castle in the middle of a massive thunderstorm.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The beast master ranger, arcane trickster rogue, and vengeance paladin were all giant-sized thanks to a magical boon. As was the ranger's drake. And the paladin's pegasus.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They were surrounded by Manshoon clones atop neighboring towers, two Zhent champions circling on nightmares, four storm giants rushing through the ground-floor door, and a roc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Ranger blocked up the front door and went toe-to-toe with the storm giants to stop them from entering the tower.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One Manshoon clone nullified the halfling bard with a Feeblemind spell.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The rogue took out one Manshoon clone with a giant-sized arrow that did over 100 points of damage.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The vengeance paladin dodged two Disintegration spells in the same round to close with two Manshoons and smite them both.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Knowing they only had seconds to live, the two surviving Manshoon clones both cast Meteor Swarm.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The meteor impacts devastated Skyreach Castle. It listed like the Titanic and started to fall out of the sky.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Thanks to Meteor Swarm, half the characters were knocked out and had to make death saves. One allied NPC was killed outright. The tiefling shadow sorcerer was slain, as well. She was previously revealed to be Manshoon's daughter, so that's going to make family reunions a little awkward.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The halfling used a divine blessing acquired one year ago IRL to regain consciousness and shake off Feeblemind.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The paladin started loading dead or dying characters onto his giant pegasus to ferry them off Skyreach Castle.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Meanwhile, a drow priestess of Lolth who is an allied NPC had found an orb of dragonkind aboard the castle. She took it to the ancient blue dragon in hopes of negotiating his help in escaping. Then she spotted Hekaton. Stepping forward, she cast Remove Curse to break the Zhentarim spell that held him in thrall. Unfortunately, the blue dragon was still under geas to guard Hekaton. With a single bite he dropped the priestess, then tore her apart with two claw attacks.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hekaton threw himself at the dragon and battle ensued.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The halfling bard used Dimension Door to appear in the middle of the giant/dragon throw down, grabbed the orb of dragonkind, and then used Teleport to take the orb to Waterdeep. Unknown to the other players, the halfling's soul is trapped in Hell and the soul occupying his body is the lackey of an Archdevil. Once in Waterdeep, the bard delivered the orb to his devilish masters (off camera).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Looking out across Waterdeep, the bard saw that it had been attacked, conquered, and occupied by frost giants.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The remaining characters escaped Skyreach, watched it crash, and then sorted through the rubble. They found a massive treasure hoard...and the body of Hekaton. Of the blue dragon there was no sign.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The paladin used Revivify to bring back the sorcerer. The other dead NPC is likely to be brought back by the bard in the next session with Raise Dead. The drow priestess is dead and unlikely to return.</li> </ul>I wasn't expecting the adventure to come to such an abrupt close, but I was really happy with how it all turned out. Lots of surprises against a widescreen backdrop. One PC killed outright, two making death saving throws, two dead allied NPCs. Not bad for a night's work. Everyone had a blast. Next session is in two weeks. It'll be interesting to see if the players realize they have a traitor in their midst. I expect skullduggery to ensue.</blockquote>

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