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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 8017518" data-attributes="member: 6809274">90th session for my group of five 15th level player characters in a highly customized, non-canon version of the Realms.Waterdeep has been conquered by frost giants allied with the Zhentarim. Manshoon, leader of the Zhents, has seized Blackstaff Tower and is trying to attune to the Blackstaff. The characters have arrived in Waterdeep, rallied their allies, and are planning to assault Blackstaff Tower.This session started with the characters teleporting into the Tower of Aghairon, where the Open Lord Dagult Neverember had taken refuge and was organizing a resistance against the giants. Previously, the characters were wanted by the authorities on false charges. Neverember tells the characters that he's cleared their names, and one of his spies has uncovered the identity of the Masked Lord that framed them. However, the spy has been cut off and trapped by the Masked Lord's minions, and so if the characters want this information they have to go save the spy. This is a thread that ties back to a totally different plot. I dangled it in front of the players because I want to wear them down a bit before they confront Manshoon. They weren't taking the bait. They were laser focused on getting to Blackstaff Tower and starting their attack.But we did discuss how they wanted to divide their forces. Basically, three scenes are going to unfold simultaneously. The player characters are going to attack Blackstaff Tower to kill Manshoon and free the Blackstaff. One PC and several NPCs (played by the, um, players) are going to destroy the laboratory on the other side of Faerun where Manshoon's clones are held in stasis. And, finally, a group of NPCs are going to attack the frost giant iceberg lair in the middle of Waterdeep Harbor (Svardborg from Storm King's Thunder). The players had been planning to let the attack on Svardborg happen off-camera, but I talked them into playing through it by letting them create 11th level characters of their choice. Basically, they can test drive a new build. I really love the Svardborg map and have been itching to use it for years...so the players met me half way.The session ended with the tiefling shadow sorcerer using plane shift to transport the characters into the center of Blackstaff Tower. The teleportation circle was guarded by two iron golems. The characters defeated them. And that's where we stopped for the night.The players have basically spent most of the last three sessions planning this climactic assault and so it feels good to be finally underway. This is going to be fun. When/if Waterdeep is freed and Manshoon defeated, the campaign will enter its final act. We've been playing for three years and it feels really satisfying to be nearing the end.</blockquote>

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