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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 8010861" data-attributes="member: 6809274">89th session with my group of five 14th level player characters, who hit 15th level by the end. They are in Waterdeep, which has been conquered by frost giants while Manshoon and the Zhentarim have seized Blackstaff Tower to gain control of its magics.The characters spent much of the session using the message spell to contact old allies and ask them for help. Treants from Goldenfields, drow exiles from Menzoberranzan, dwarven warriors, and even an elven princess all covertly entered the city. With this group of players, that kind of planning can suck up a couple hours...and it did.Eventually, four of the characters teleported to the Tower of Aghairon, where an allied priest of Ilmater had taken refuge. However, unknown to the characters, they had been scryed by the Red Wizards of Thay. Long ago, the characters had traded the Wizards a magical tome in return for information. Then they asked for the tome back, temporarily. Then they lost the tome to the Zhentarim. The Wizards had given the characters a deadline to return the tome -- or their lives would be forfeit. Well, this has not been a priority for the characters. So, without them realizing it, the deadline has finally arrived.Using their powerful sorcery, the Red Wizards diverted the teleportation spell to the Astral Plane. The characters found themselves in an asteroid field not unlike the one in Empire Strikes Back. The asteroid they stood on was slowly tumbling, so they had to make Athletics or Acrobatics checks to avoid falling off. On the asteroid was a short note from the Wizards letting the players know their time was up and this was their final warning. Moments later, an astral dreadnought attacked.The tiefling shadow sorcerer used the banish spell to return herself to the Material Plane. She found herself in the Red Wizard's enclave in Waterdeep, face-to-face with her tiefling half-brother who is a powerful member of that order. She tried to convince him to call off the astral dreadnought. No luck. Then she tried to convince him to join in the upcoming attack on the Zhentarim. No luck. Then she tried to convince him to extend the deadline for returning the tome. That bought them another 48 hours. And the half-brother loaned her a Staff of Power to help defeat Manshoon.Meanwhile, on the Astral Plane, the vengeance paladin, beast master ranger, and lore bard took on the astral dreadnought. Its antimagic cone was a major nerf, and with three attacks per turn plus legendary actions it could dish out a lot of damage. But, man, 14th level characters are tough -- even with only three of them. The CR 21 astral dreadnought went down in four rounds without dropping a single character or capturing one in its donjon. However, it did enough damage and drained enough spell slots to impact the upcoming battle with the Zhentarim.With the Wizards having delivered their message, the characters arrived suddenly at the Tower of Aghairon. Standing opposite them was the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Dagult Neverember. Dagult has been teased for over a year IRL and now he has finally arrived. Once Manshoon falls, Dagult will emerge as a major antagonist. On that cliffhanger, we ended.The players have lost their fear of the Red Wizards and are beginning to plan an attack on them. They've definitely reached the level where they're feeling a sense of impunity.Next session: Assault on Blackstaff Tower! This time for realz.</blockquote>

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