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Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8522036" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #076: Randall's Big Bad Head.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick)</strong></p><p><strong><s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong><s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard </s>RETIRED</strong></p><p><strong>Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Servants/Familiars</strong></p><p><strong>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</strong></p><p><strong>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 76, and another cracker.</p><p></p><p>But let's begin with the ret-con, because I missed this scene last session, it should have played out right at the end- when Vinnie had just been on his first walk-in-space (there's got to be a better way of writing that) to the Power Arm to find Ubmo. Well, I had another image of Tao to share with the druid, for his return journey, but- I forgot all about it.</p><p></p><p>So, on Vinnie's walk back to the main part of Tao, and while accompanied by Ubmo...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150498[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Tao, the external view- and that's Vinnie and Ubmo parading across to the central part of the space ship to meet back up with the rest of the Dark Squad. Oh, and that's Toril far far below.</strong></p><p></p><p>But then...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150499[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The lights come on and...</strong></p><p></p><p>“Wot iz 'appening Ubmo?” The druid enquires as he almost misses his step.</p><p></p><p>Ubmo is keen to explain, Ubmo is very keen to do everything- he's a bit of a young pup, but Vinnie doesn't quite follow Ubmo's explanation, at least not all of it. Ubmo talks about “the realignment of Tao's geospatial position using vectored thrust bursts”, and the druid just shakes his head, but then the explanation comes. Ubmo further states that “Tao is moving to intercept the coming of the great serpent...”</p><p></p><p>Vinnie recognises that bit.</p><p></p><p>Then, we're back into the ship, and we're caught up, the ret-con is over.</p><p></p><p>So, what follows, well... much more chatter of course, some of which is directed by the DM, we're having a catch up here, as proposed at the end of the last session.</p><p></p><p>But what a place to have a chat...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150500[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Ubmo, after chatting with one of the other 'machines' on the ship safely opens the large cargo bay doors, a shimmering transparent (magic) curtain- a force wall, prevents everything inside the craft attempting to escape into space.</strong></p><p></p><p>“It iz beew-ti-ful, n'est pas? It iz hour ol' wurld!” Vinnie helpfully captions.</p><p></p><p>So, that chat, Newt starts it with what I think is a very apropos question, and if you can deliver the line like a whispered threat, then do so.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, that's all very well Vinnie, but there are still a few things that I'm not sure about, do you mind if I elucidate?”</p><p></p><p>The druid nods and smiles patiently at the mild-mannered tabaxi.</p><p></p><p>Newt goes from zero to 1,000, and remarkably quickly-</p><p></p><p>“Where the EXPLETIVE hell are we? What the EXPLETIVE is that twinkly black-stuff [Newt points towards the star-scape]? And what would have EXPLETIVE happened to me if I had fallen out into that EXPLETIVE stuff? What the EXPLETIVE is that little ball of metal and flesh [points at Ubmo]? Why the EXPLETIVE is it here? Why are we EXPLETIVE here? What the EXPLETIVE is going on? Is this EXPLETIVE magic? Are we EXPLETIVE dreaming? Are we EXPLETIVE dead again?”</p><p></p><p>There's lots of laughter, and afterwards Vinnie begins to try to make sense... but the rant hasn't finished.</p><p></p><p>“And what the EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE is the man and the crocodile all about?”</p><p></p><p>Oddly it's Ubmo that replies to the last, and Vinnie who translates, Ubmo says- “Bad crocodile.”</p><p></p><p>So, that's the first chat- what is it about the man and the crocodile, Ubmo explains-</p><p></p><p>The man and the crocodile is a place.</p><p></p><p>The man and the crocodile is Ub (to make clear- both the man and the crocodile are Ub).</p><p></p><p>Ub will meet the Dark Squad when they have the five Symbols of Ub (the maze buttons) at the man with the crocodile.</p><p></p><p>Ub, and the Dark Squad, will save the world.</p><p></p><p>However, it's at this point that Ubmo learns that the Dark Squad don't have all five of the Symbols of Ub, they have just one. Ubmo thinks this too is “Bad crocodile.”</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad need to get the Symbols of Ub, as soon as they can.</p><p></p><p>Why?</p><p></p><p>To stop the coming of the Time of Ash, and to allow Ub to take his place (again) with the Gods!</p><p></p><p>“I wuz right!” Vinnie lets his friends know- Ub/Durgeddin is going for God.</p><p></p><p>Ubmo puts the druid right- Ub was a God back in the early days, then... but now he wants to be a God again, and to do that with the help of the Dark Squad he needs to thwart the Time of Ash, and... see previous.</p><p></p><p>“The programme is running! Yay!” Ubmo further tells Vinnie.</p><p></p><p>There follows a metric ton more chatter, and an extended rest while it's going on.</p><p></p><p>But for all of the back and forth above, let's get a to a simple summary of the plot-</p><p></p><p>To save the world from Ashardalon/the Time of Ash, the Dark Squad (latest incarnations etc.) need to find the five Symbols of Ub, and then meet with Ub in the man with the crocodile.</p><p></p><p>Simples!</p><p></p><p>There's lots more around the edges of course, it seems Ub has been busy for a long time, but... the Dark Squad have one Symbol of Ub, they know that Randall the Black left his Symbol of Ub in Deepbridge (and they know where this is). There are therefore three other Symbols of Ub to collect, they further know that these three were in the possession of-</p><p></p><p>Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit, a stealthy (nasty) halfling ex-pirate killer, and a local.</p><p></p><p>Antonio De La Crane, an alchemist druid from a (local) well-to-do family.</p><p></p><p>Giggles, a wood elf markswoman, said to have a thing for the undead, also from the region.</p><p></p><p>The three former members of the Eyes in the Night were, of course, about their business the best part of two hundred years ago, and so Rambles and Antonio are most likely dead, or else... undead.</p><p></p><p>Regardless, the Dark Squad need to find them.</p><p></p><p>Then, Ubmo makes brownies.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150501[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Dark Squad move on to a more pressing problem, what to do about Randall the Black?</strong></p><p></p><p>And the worry is, I am happy to report, the PCs are very much of the opinion that Randall is by far the toughest bad dude that they have come across so far, and they'd be right- I have 7,000 XP invested in Randall.</p><p></p><p>And so it suddenly dawns on all three players at once, the best plan is not to fight Randall at all, or else to do so for as long as they can...</p><p></p><p>It's also time for Newt to step up, and to channel a bit less of Belphegor, and a bit more Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar. The tabaxi uses some of his magic to make the patterns on his fur resemble a white shirt front, complete with bow tie- a bit of elan, that's what's needed.</p><p></p><p>Soon after (about thirty minutes later) the plan is formulated, and it's a good one...</p><p></p><p>And so the Dark Squad depart Tao the same way that they came, and with Ubmo in tow, and then through the Fire and Light, nodding to various dwarven statues as they go, and all the way back to, here...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150502[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>We're back.</strong></p><p></p><p>But here's the thing, and it's a strange thing, and only one of the PCs notices it.</p><p></p><p>Time just went backwards, or else... Nope, can't explain it.</p><p></p><p>We'll leave it at that.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad advance, cautiously, into the vast dwarven crypt to Ub far beneath Squabblepot, “Randall, coeeeee...”</p><p></p><p>And, of course, Randall the Black appears from above and floats down, just to remind you Randall is an undead looking robed gnome, with parched skin and jutting cheekbones, in places slightly protruding through the flesh. Oh, and he's swathed in chains, the metal snakes swim and curl and crush the mad gnome like an embrace.</p><p></p><p>So, the chat starts up, and keep in mind that Newt has just used his Friend a Fiend cantrip, a spell given to him by Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar (it's very similar to the Friend cantrip). Then, while Vinnie and Newt are still explaining all that they saw in Tao, and Randall is really starting to fret, well... Newt adds a Suggestion spell to the mix.</p><p></p><p>But let me declare, from this point forward (and for a good long while) this evening, my dice are broken. I don't mean a bit broken, I mean broken to the point that all three players commented upon it at one point or another.</p><p></p><p>Even offered me sympathy.</p><p></p><p>Gah! I hate that.</p><p></p><p>So, the Dark Squad (no Ubmo) are walking through the ruined crypt, and heading for the exit- Randall is slightly losing it- “What about me?” accompanied by teary jags, and interspersed with- “Its ME or YOU- NEWT, I'm going to tear you a new one...”</p><p></p><p>But the chatty duo just keep on talking- “No, monsieur Randall, we will be but a mo-ment, we 'ave a leetul more investigating to be done, and zen we will get you owt of zis place. Imagine zat monsieur, to be free agin? Can I, in zer meantime get you any-sing- a Soduko?”</p><p></p><p>And, from Newt, “No, mighty Randall we will be back to once again bask in your glorious power, and to break the bindings that thwart your egress. [sotto voce] Come on Vinnie- walk faster, keep up people...</p><p></p><p>Oh, and Vinnie has also used his Symbol of Ub to wake the great dwarven golem at the other end of the chamber.</p><p></p><p>Also, Ubmo is still hiding by the door from Tao.</p><p></p><p>We get to just about here...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150503[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Randall is shuttling back and forth between Newt and Vinnie, pleading (and then threatening) to be allowed out of his present prison, or just to take Newt's place in the Dark Squad.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, them rolls, and my broken dice...</p><p></p><p>The initial check, after the Friend a Fiend cantrip, and Newt's silver-tongue, I said to Bear, it has to be over 20. He rolled an adjusted '30'.</p><p></p><p>Then Randall's saves versus the Suggestion spell (with advantage, Magic Resistance) = '1' & '3'.</p><p></p><p>But I'm not letting them get away without a fight, and so Randall- in despair, finally loses control, and the chains snake out and even with advantage... my first attack roll was a '1' & '2', I remember that one. I don't remember the rest.</p><p></p><p>Randall lands his first hit (he makes three attacks/turn at +8 to hit), and he's more or less exclusively targeting Newt (AC 16) in the fourth round of combat, and again- he had advantage on all attacks on the first turn.</p><p></p><p>You do the EXPLETIVE maths.</p><p></p><p>I despair.</p><p></p><p>But this is what happens...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150504[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Vinnie covers the terrain with Spike Growth and gets the dwarven golem up and at Randall- the flying gnome fiend gets smashed once or twice (but he's resistant to almost everything). Ram just stands statue and shoots stuff, as does Inverna. Daktari wades in to the lemures, and Newt gets as far away as he can- because everyone can see that the all of the other bad guys are targeting the tabaxi.</strong></p><p></p><p>Oh, and Ubmo finally reveals himself, and the players thought that he would be a liability- so wrong, over the course of the next ten or so turns the modron flies about blasting foes with Lightning Bolts.</p><p></p><p>Yay!</p><p></p><p>Ubmo says 'Yay!', a lot.</p><p></p><p>Only in binary.</p><p></p><p>The fight rumbles on, and Randall- still screaming and shouting the odds eventually corners Newt in the corridor out of this level (and the end of the map, the stairs up are a little way further back).</p><p></p><p>“It's just me versus you!” Randall states, ignoring the fact that all of his minions are also closing in, while the remainder of the Dark Squad are also making their mark.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150505[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Moonboar uses his slippers of spider climbing to get up to the ceiling of the barrel-shaped passage, and to engage with Randall who is flying up there.</strong></p><p></p><p>And eventually I land a bloody hit, actually two of them- Newt and Vinnie are both wrapped in chains, grappled and restrained, and also being crushed by the aforesaid appendages.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150506[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>And at bloody last I've got the spined devils into action.</strong></p><p></p><p>Then, my dice start working again- the Moonboar takes a ton of damage (and he's resistant to lots of stuff), both the druid and Newt are quickly bloodied and beyond, and the spined devils just keep on hitting with their fiery tail spikes.</p><p></p><p>Apologies but there's not another image before the next one.</p><p></p><p>There was a turn or two of high tension, and so no pictures from the players.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150507[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>But then the raging Daktari also remembers that he has slippers of spider climbing on, and so he makes it to Randall, and... Shatterspike does the rest, and with a Crit- which also helps.</strong></p><p></p><p>But that's not all...</p><p></p><p>The chains that were wrapped around Newt and Vinnie shatter and crumble, as do those wrapped around Randall's body- but not before they have crushed and shattered the ancient (and brittle) gnome.</p><p></p><p>Just leaving the head, which bulges and suddenly births...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150508[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>I did say I had lots of XP invested in Randall.</strong></p><p></p><p>The newly revealed being issues its instructions-</p><p></p><p>“I am Zypop, High Avatar of the Lord of All Time!</p><p></p><p>I am a messenger of the OLD ONE!</p><p></p><p>I bring you DEATH!</p><p></p><p>I bring you DESTRUCTION.</p><p></p><p>In the name of the GREAT SHADOW SERPENT.</p><p></p><p>I signal the end of TIMES!</p><p></p><p>The great shadow serpent is coming...”</p><p></p><p>And then starts firing eye rays at the Dark Squad, and here's the thing, my just over 100 hit point bad guy lasts maybe two turns- and every attack I make is either a miss, or else if there's a save involved then the PCs make it. Including the creature's auto (within sight) Stunning Gaze.</p><p></p><p>In a grump, at the finale, Zypop explodes- doing more damage with its flying brain chunks than it did when it was alive.</p><p></p><p>Newt is on about ten hit points, the Moonboar- just one hit point, Daktari is bloodied and the others- barely a scratch, but Inverna and Ram have been keeping out of the fight, which has mostly been happening in the air and above their heads.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the devils seek to flee the place, but lemure's don't go anywhere quickly, and then Newt sends out some sort of very nasty radiant burst, and that's pretty much all she wrote.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150509[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Newt drops his last bomb.</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]150510[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The last of the devils are trying to flee, Ubmo gets in another lighting bolt... YAY!</strong></p><p></p><p>Note, it was Daktari what killed both versions of Randall, he delivered the killing blow for both creatures, and that's the barbarian's new best kill, twice over.</p><p></p><p>The fight is done.</p><p></p><p>As is the session, although there's just time to realign the Dark Squad's to-do list.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list-</p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Go back to Squabblepot, chat with the gnomes and take their job offer- to get a bunch of giant goats to the Falcon's Nest, the Dark Squad want to be in this direction anyway.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Go to the Moon Pool, need to climb to the top of Silverhill and be inside the stone circle there before midnight, and then stay within it until dawn's first light. Then journey down the hill and into the centre of the Silverstand (forest). Meet Wildroot there, and enter the Moon Pool, and then the Treant will set the Dark Squad to their task, that's what Belphegor said.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Remember, we've got to find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All of these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetery).<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Return to Fallowstone Holy, church of Oghma, pick up info (Witch's Tor & Pact of the Flame, although the Dark Squad probably know all about this stuff already). What else do you need to find out about? See above, and below.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Warn Ashby- the Soggy's (Sahuagin) are coming! <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Vinnie needs to be back for the next Saltmarsh Council meeting on the 1st Kythorn (June).<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade in the Dreadwood?<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blackedge and the Goblin Stair?</li> </ol><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8522036, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #076: Randall's Big Bad Head. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8 New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8 NPCs Inverna Nightbreeze (played by Goonalan) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick) [S]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/S]RIP* [S]Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard [/S]RETIRED Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1 *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Servants/Familiars Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar[/B] This is session 76, and another cracker. But let's begin with the ret-con, because I missed this scene last session, it should have played out right at the end- when Vinnie had just been on his first walk-in-space (there's got to be a better way of writing that) to the Power Arm to find Ubmo. Well, I had another image of Tao to share with the druid, for his return journey, but- I forgot all about it. So, on Vinnie's walk back to the main part of Tao, and while accompanied by Ubmo... [ATTACH type="full"]150498[/ATTACH] [B]Tao, the external view- and that's Vinnie and Ubmo parading across to the central part of the space ship to meet back up with the rest of the Dark Squad. Oh, and that's Toril far far below.[/B] But then... [ATTACH type="full"]150499[/ATTACH] [B]The lights come on and...[/B] “Wot iz 'appening Ubmo?” The druid enquires as he almost misses his step. Ubmo is keen to explain, Ubmo is very keen to do everything- he's a bit of a young pup, but Vinnie doesn't quite follow Ubmo's explanation, at least not all of it. Ubmo talks about “the realignment of Tao's geospatial position using vectored thrust bursts”, and the druid just shakes his head, but then the explanation comes. Ubmo further states that “Tao is moving to intercept the coming of the great serpent...” Vinnie recognises that bit. Then, we're back into the ship, and we're caught up, the ret-con is over. So, what follows, well... much more chatter of course, some of which is directed by the DM, we're having a catch up here, as proposed at the end of the last session. But what a place to have a chat... [ATTACH type="full"]150500[/ATTACH] [B]Ubmo, after chatting with one of the other 'machines' on the ship safely opens the large cargo bay doors, a shimmering transparent (magic) curtain- a force wall, prevents everything inside the craft attempting to escape into space.[/B] “It iz beew-ti-ful, n'est pas? It iz hour ol' wurld!” Vinnie helpfully captions. So, that chat, Newt starts it with what I think is a very apropos question, and if you can deliver the line like a whispered threat, then do so. “Yes, that's all very well Vinnie, but there are still a few things that I'm not sure about, do you mind if I elucidate?” The druid nods and smiles patiently at the mild-mannered tabaxi. Newt goes from zero to 1,000, and remarkably quickly- “Where the EXPLETIVE hell are we? What the EXPLETIVE is that twinkly black-stuff [Newt points towards the star-scape]? And what would have EXPLETIVE happened to me if I had fallen out into that EXPLETIVE stuff? What the EXPLETIVE is that little ball of metal and flesh [points at Ubmo]? Why the EXPLETIVE is it here? Why are we EXPLETIVE here? What the EXPLETIVE is going on? Is this EXPLETIVE magic? Are we EXPLETIVE dreaming? Are we EXPLETIVE dead again?” There's lots of laughter, and afterwards Vinnie begins to try to make sense... but the rant hasn't finished. “And what the EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE is the man and the crocodile all about?” Oddly it's Ubmo that replies to the last, and Vinnie who translates, Ubmo says- “Bad crocodile.” So, that's the first chat- what is it about the man and the crocodile, Ubmo explains- The man and the crocodile is a place. The man and the crocodile is Ub (to make clear- both the man and the crocodile are Ub). Ub will meet the Dark Squad when they have the five Symbols of Ub (the maze buttons) at the man with the crocodile. Ub, and the Dark Squad, will save the world. However, it's at this point that Ubmo learns that the Dark Squad don't have all five of the Symbols of Ub, they have just one. Ubmo thinks this too is “Bad crocodile.” The Dark Squad need to get the Symbols of Ub, as soon as they can. Why? To stop the coming of the Time of Ash, and to allow Ub to take his place (again) with the Gods! “I wuz right!” Vinnie lets his friends know- Ub/Durgeddin is going for God. Ubmo puts the druid right- Ub was a God back in the early days, then... but now he wants to be a God again, and to do that with the help of the Dark Squad he needs to thwart the Time of Ash, and... see previous. “The programme is running! Yay!” Ubmo further tells Vinnie. There follows a metric ton more chatter, and an extended rest while it's going on. But for all of the back and forth above, let's get a to a simple summary of the plot- To save the world from Ashardalon/the Time of Ash, the Dark Squad (latest incarnations etc.) need to find the five Symbols of Ub, and then meet with Ub in the man with the crocodile. Simples! There's lots more around the edges of course, it seems Ub has been busy for a long time, but... the Dark Squad have one Symbol of Ub, they know that Randall the Black left his Symbol of Ub in Deepbridge (and they know where this is). There are therefore three other Symbols of Ub to collect, they further know that these three were in the possession of- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit, a stealthy (nasty) halfling ex-pirate killer, and a local. Antonio De La Crane, an alchemist druid from a (local) well-to-do family. Giggles, a wood elf markswoman, said to have a thing for the undead, also from the region. The three former members of the Eyes in the Night were, of course, about their business the best part of two hundred years ago, and so Rambles and Antonio are most likely dead, or else... undead. Regardless, the Dark Squad need to find them. Then, Ubmo makes brownies. [ATTACH type="full"]150501[/ATTACH] [B]The Dark Squad move on to a more pressing problem, what to do about Randall the Black?[/B] And the worry is, I am happy to report, the PCs are very much of the opinion that Randall is by far the toughest bad dude that they have come across so far, and they'd be right- I have 7,000 XP invested in Randall. And so it suddenly dawns on all three players at once, the best plan is not to fight Randall at all, or else to do so for as long as they can... It's also time for Newt to step up, and to channel a bit less of Belphegor, and a bit more Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar. The tabaxi uses some of his magic to make the patterns on his fur resemble a white shirt front, complete with bow tie- a bit of elan, that's what's needed. Soon after (about thirty minutes later) the plan is formulated, and it's a good one... And so the Dark Squad depart Tao the same way that they came, and with Ubmo in tow, and then through the Fire and Light, nodding to various dwarven statues as they go, and all the way back to, here... [ATTACH type="full"]150502[/ATTACH] [B]We're back.[/B] But here's the thing, and it's a strange thing, and only one of the PCs notices it. Time just went backwards, or else... Nope, can't explain it. We'll leave it at that. The Dark Squad advance, cautiously, into the vast dwarven crypt to Ub far beneath Squabblepot, “Randall, coeeeee...” And, of course, Randall the Black appears from above and floats down, just to remind you Randall is an undead looking robed gnome, with parched skin and jutting cheekbones, in places slightly protruding through the flesh. Oh, and he's swathed in chains, the metal snakes swim and curl and crush the mad gnome like an embrace. So, the chat starts up, and keep in mind that Newt has just used his Friend a Fiend cantrip, a spell given to him by Humphrey Far-Fer-Nar (it's very similar to the Friend cantrip). Then, while Vinnie and Newt are still explaining all that they saw in Tao, and Randall is really starting to fret, well... Newt adds a Suggestion spell to the mix. But let me declare, from this point forward (and for a good long while) this evening, my dice are broken. I don't mean a bit broken, I mean broken to the point that all three players commented upon it at one point or another. Even offered me sympathy. Gah! I hate that. So, the Dark Squad (no Ubmo) are walking through the ruined crypt, and heading for the exit- Randall is slightly losing it- “What about me?” accompanied by teary jags, and interspersed with- “Its ME or YOU- NEWT, I'm going to tear you a new one...” But the chatty duo just keep on talking- “No, monsieur Randall, we will be but a mo-ment, we 'ave a leetul more investigating to be done, and zen we will get you owt of zis place. Imagine zat monsieur, to be free agin? Can I, in zer meantime get you any-sing- a Soduko?” And, from Newt, “No, mighty Randall we will be back to once again bask in your glorious power, and to break the bindings that thwart your egress. [sotto voce] Come on Vinnie- walk faster, keep up people... Oh, and Vinnie has also used his Symbol of Ub to wake the great dwarven golem at the other end of the chamber. Also, Ubmo is still hiding by the door from Tao. We get to just about here... [ATTACH type="full"]150503[/ATTACH] [B]Randall is shuttling back and forth between Newt and Vinnie, pleading (and then threatening) to be allowed out of his present prison, or just to take Newt's place in the Dark Squad.[/B] So, them rolls, and my broken dice... The initial check, after the Friend a Fiend cantrip, and Newt's silver-tongue, I said to Bear, it has to be over 20. He rolled an adjusted '30'. Then Randall's saves versus the Suggestion spell (with advantage, Magic Resistance) = '1' & '3'. But I'm not letting them get away without a fight, and so Randall- in despair, finally loses control, and the chains snake out and even with advantage... my first attack roll was a '1' & '2', I remember that one. I don't remember the rest. Randall lands his first hit (he makes three attacks/turn at +8 to hit), and he's more or less exclusively targeting Newt (AC 16) in the fourth round of combat, and again- he had advantage on all attacks on the first turn. You do the EXPLETIVE maths. I despair. But this is what happens... [ATTACH type="full"]150504[/ATTACH] [B]Vinnie covers the terrain with Spike Growth and gets the dwarven golem up and at Randall- the flying gnome fiend gets smashed once or twice (but he's resistant to almost everything). Ram just stands statue and shoots stuff, as does Inverna. Daktari wades in to the lemures, and Newt gets as far away as he can- because everyone can see that the all of the other bad guys are targeting the tabaxi.[/B] Oh, and Ubmo finally reveals himself, and the players thought that he would be a liability- so wrong, over the course of the next ten or so turns the modron flies about blasting foes with Lightning Bolts. Yay! Ubmo says 'Yay!', a lot. Only in binary. The fight rumbles on, and Randall- still screaming and shouting the odds eventually corners Newt in the corridor out of this level (and the end of the map, the stairs up are a little way further back). “It's just me versus you!” Randall states, ignoring the fact that all of his minions are also closing in, while the remainder of the Dark Squad are also making their mark. [ATTACH type="full"]150505[/ATTACH] [B]The Moonboar uses his slippers of spider climbing to get up to the ceiling of the barrel-shaped passage, and to engage with Randall who is flying up there.[/B] And eventually I land a bloody hit, actually two of them- Newt and Vinnie are both wrapped in chains, grappled and restrained, and also being crushed by the aforesaid appendages. [ATTACH type="full"]150506[/ATTACH] [B]And at bloody last I've got the spined devils into action.[/B] Then, my dice start working again- the Moonboar takes a ton of damage (and he's resistant to lots of stuff), both the druid and Newt are quickly bloodied and beyond, and the spined devils just keep on hitting with their fiery tail spikes. Apologies but there's not another image before the next one. There was a turn or two of high tension, and so no pictures from the players. [ATTACH type="full"]150507[/ATTACH] [B]But then the raging Daktari also remembers that he has slippers of spider climbing on, and so he makes it to Randall, and... Shatterspike does the rest, and with a Crit- which also helps.[/B] But that's not all... The chains that were wrapped around Newt and Vinnie shatter and crumble, as do those wrapped around Randall's body- but not before they have crushed and shattered the ancient (and brittle) gnome. Just leaving the head, which bulges and suddenly births... [ATTACH type="full"]150508[/ATTACH] [B]I did say I had lots of XP invested in Randall.[/B] The newly revealed being issues its instructions- “I am Zypop, High Avatar of the Lord of All Time! I am a messenger of the OLD ONE! I bring you DEATH! I bring you DESTRUCTION. In the name of the GREAT SHADOW SERPENT. I signal the end of TIMES! The great shadow serpent is coming...” And then starts firing eye rays at the Dark Squad, and here's the thing, my just over 100 hit point bad guy lasts maybe two turns- and every attack I make is either a miss, or else if there's a save involved then the PCs make it. Including the creature's auto (within sight) Stunning Gaze. In a grump, at the finale, Zypop explodes- doing more damage with its flying brain chunks than it did when it was alive. Newt is on about ten hit points, the Moonboar- just one hit point, Daktari is bloodied and the others- barely a scratch, but Inverna and Ram have been keeping out of the fight, which has mostly been happening in the air and above their heads. The rest of the devils seek to flee the place, but lemure's don't go anywhere quickly, and then Newt sends out some sort of very nasty radiant burst, and that's pretty much all she wrote. [ATTACH type="full"]150509[/ATTACH] [B]Newt drops his last bomb.[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]150510[/ATTACH] [B]The last of the devils are trying to flee, Ubmo gets in another lighting bolt... YAY![/B] Note, it was Daktari what killed both versions of Randall, he delivered the killing blow for both creatures, and that's the barbarian's new best kill, twice over. The fight is done. As is the session, although there's just time to realign the Dark Squad's to-do list. The Dark Squad’s to-do list- [LIST=1] [*]Go back to Squabblepot, chat with the gnomes and take their job offer- to get a bunch of giant goats to the Falcon's Nest, the Dark Squad want to be in this direction anyway. [*]Go to the Moon Pool, need to climb to the top of Silverhill and be inside the stone circle there before midnight, and then stay within it until dawn's first light. Then journey down the hill and into the centre of the Silverstand (forest). Meet Wildroot there, and enter the Moon Pool, and then the Treant will set the Dark Squad to their task, that's what Belphegor said. [*]Remember, we've got to find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All of these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetery). [*]Return to Fallowstone Holy, church of Oghma, pick up info (Witch's Tor & Pact of the Flame, although the Dark Squad probably know all about this stuff already). What else do you need to find out about? See above, and below. [*]Warn Ashby- the Soggy's (Sahuagin) are coming! [*]Vinnie needs to be back for the next Saltmarsh Council meeting on the 1st Kythorn (June). [*]Nightshade in the Dreadwood? [*]Blackedge and the Goblin Stair? [/LIST] Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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