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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8687866" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #093: Enter the Dragon Barrow. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8NPCs<s>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by George) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick) </s>RETIRED<s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*<s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard </s>RETIREDUbmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1 (When we remember) *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.Servants/FamiliarsGerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New TricksOwly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiarThe Dark Squad’s to-do list-<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Vinnie needs to be back for the next Saltmarsh Council meeting on the 1st Kythorn (June).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Awaiting new answers to new questions from the priests at Fallowstone Holy, info will be sent to Saltmarsh for around the 10th of Kythorn (June).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">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 from Lowhill), 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 Cemetary).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blackedge and the Goblin Stair?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame you need to find the hidden weapons left to fight Ashardalon, these are in a dragon-in-flight shaped barrow in Farrow Woods.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame prepare the Witch's Tor for the coming of the starfall, the Witch's Tor is in the Drowned Forest, in the Mere of the Dead Men.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame track down the last member of the Pact, a wild elf adventurer called Giggles- and finally put her spirit to rest, and also recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE.</li> </ol>This is session 93, and it has been a long lay-off, no game on the 28th and so it's been three weeks, we were all very ready...But first a word from our sponsor-[ATTACH=full]253147[/ATTACH]Wise words from the stately cat-thing, Newt there- it's not a glib motto for the tabaxi warlock, it's a way of life.We move on.If you recall the Dark Squad were getting their backsides kicked (some of 'em) by a trio of undead centaurs, although the various members of the team have failed to fully identify the undead monstrosities that are at present assailing them.[ATTACH=full]253148[/ATTACH]The Dark Squad suspect that the new enemies are the guardians of the Dragon-in-Flight tomb, it's an odd thing really, from a DM P.O.V.What's odd?I'll tell you, the floating eyes/watchers-in-the-wood (see last session) were also guardians of the tomb- the Dark Squad (and in particular Vinnie) had a chat with these odd fellows, and assured them that they were the good guys, and... well, the watchers-in-the-wood stayed away.My point, the Dark Squad could have tried the same tactic, it just might have worked.But, they didn't, and so... the fighting.Nicky takes a proper beating, he's swiftly down to six or seven hit points in then opening rounds. Newt also suffers greatly- and yowls a lot about it- to anyone that will listen. Even Daktari takes a kicking.[ATTACH=full]253149[/ATTACH]But the Dark Squad keep putting the bad guys down, it's a war of attrition folks- although pretty swift, particularly as Daktari's '20' streak continues for a while, he manages a Crit every turn for the next three rounds.And soon after the fight is over.Further investigations conclude that the nag-rag-and-bone piles- all that remain of the guardians, were centaur mummies.Which explains (in a minute- keep reading) why Vinnie (the Moonboar) finds it impossible to heal the wounds inflicted by the guardians.Bugger!Furthermore, the Squad are fairly certain that the undead guardians here were once members of the Pact of the Flame, they're that old- and very elven in feature, and clothing. This after several very high skill checks.Then rest, but note the watchers-in-the-woods are keeping their eyes on the Dark Squad, the spectral observers are now gathered all around the clearing.[ATTACH=full]253150[/ATTACH]A Leomund's Hut Venn Diagram. Note the moment after this image was 'snapped' Daktari decided to move next door.So, that's Nicky's Leomund's Tiny Hut on the left, and Newt's on the right.Within Newt's Hut, lit by flickering spectral light, the surface of the sphere opaque, a jumble of grind and whirr (a percussionist sponsored nightmare soundscape) plays, while the squatting tabaxi chants and salaam's in guttural (& menacing) infernal.Meanwhile, inside Nicky's hut the very faint smell of blood is masked by a variety of flowery and/or herbaceous aromas, a little bit of mood lighting, a Brian Eno track, and a scented candle or twelve. Oh, and lots of scatter cushions.When the short rest is over Newt is sitting on his own, save for Ram who sits within the union of the two sets.Then, as above, when the healing should be done the Moonboar discovers he is still injured, and after further investigation also subject to the centaur mummies' curse, but the Dark Squad don't have the magic they need to make things right.And so we go on, and after a little more investigating Daktari eventually remembers where the entrance to the barrow within is, basically he just read back through session 84, that's when the barbarian experienced this place before.[ATTACH=full]253151[/ATTACH]We're in to dark tunnels, and Dak is heading south- note Nicky (& Dak) both know that the great weapon they have come here for is to the north, but... Dak met a Sky Pony to the south, and so that's his target.Alas, en route to the spot Ram (I'm fairly certain- although no pictures exist) finds a trap the hard way, the floor ahead- or else a five foot section of it is illusionary and conceals a thirty foot deep pit lined with projecting spikes.The rogue gets an ouchy, Nicky makes it better.We go on...[ATTACH=full]253152[/ATTACH]If you scooch real close in to the above image (you can click on it and enlarge it) you can see the mortal remains of a long dead horse, Daktari can hear a voice in his head, the same sing-song voice as the last time he was here.“Sing our song, my love- sing it with all your heart.”Which, inevitably, leads to a cod Russian, mostly spoken word, version of Minnie Ripperton's, “Loving You”, the barbarian even gets his friends to join in with the chorus- and they do.It made me cry, but y'know, because I was laughing that hard, no other emotion is evoked, just levity.While all this is going on Dak is cradling the skeleton nag's head in his loving arms, Nicky is making notes, Vinnie... well, he doesn't know where to put himself.Also note Newt, getting bored, has encouraged Ram to head into another crudely excavated ancient tunnel, the rogue spots a trap ahead, and then semi-safely triggers it- the following ceiling/rock fall is minimal, only Newt gets hurt.Which does little to improve his temper.But back to Dak, the voice of the long dead Sky Pony whispers the following words directly into the barbarian's brain-"Now take my skull, and four hooves, treat them reverently my love for I am racing back to be with you...""A skin you will have to find and forge for me, it must be made from the finest shadow.""A heart too, for my love to run true- you will need to acquire for me the pump of life... it must be suitable, my love.""It must be- half-night, half-shadow, half-death, half-life, half-lost, half-found, half-fey, half-undeath and it must be filled, of course, with your love...""Only then will I come to you...""Oh, Daktari.... I cannot wait to be with you my love...""Oh, Daktari, I had forgotten how lustrous your hair is..."Daktari is made up.A short while later the barbarian shares the above information with his companions, and asks advice from Newt, ostensibly about acquiring a shadow hide, and a heart to meet the above requirements.I'd like to say that Newt's advice is helpful.I'd like to, but I can't.The warlock simply lists the various pieces of viscera that he has acquired, so far, on his journey. He collects mementoes does our Newt.[ATTACH=full]253154[/ATTACH]Soon after, Newt grows bored again- Daktari (see above) is still rambling on, and so the tabaxi investigates the next tomb over, there are two sarcophagi here, illuminated by everburning candles, etched in to the lid of each is a tall thin elf.No pictures exist of what follows.First, Newt tempts fate and flings open the first sarcophagi- the tabaxi warlock is instantly caught in a cloud of acidic gas which stings his eyes and burns his fur. He's not happy.He flees back to his companions, to tell his sad story.A minute later, after the acid cloud has dispersed- and Newt has finally stopped bitching, Ram is sent back into the tomb to explore.There's nothing in the first sarcophagi, and so after checking for traps- and very specifically little holes from which an acidic gas might spurt... there are none, the second sarcophagi is trap free, he opens it.And is caught in a second acid cloud- note Ram rolled a '1' on his check above, he was absolutely certain there were no traps to be found.The second sarcophagi is also empty.Bugger!I seem to remember swearing at this point.[ATTACH=full]253155[/ATTACH]Then, with the Dark Squad making their way back to the middle section of the barrow, a bunch (actually a trio) of floating spectral lights turn up and start blasting folk with lightning.Note, it's at this point that the DM (and the players) remember about Ubmo.There he is. YAY!Ubmo says “YAY!” a lot, only in binary (like the sound of a game loading on a Spectrum 48k) which only Vinnie understands.[ATTACH=full]253157[/ATTACH]The will-o'-wisps keep disappearing- flying off, and then reappearing somewhere else in order to lightning blast a different member of the Squad.Between the two images above the Dark Squad spend in excess on thirty minutes getting frazzled, chasing after, and/or readying actions in order to make the annoying little floating light-bulbs go away (permanently).Eventually, two of the wisps are killed, the last one gets away.[ATTACH=full]253158[/ATTACH]And the Dark Squad, at last, progress to the main chamber of the barrow.The gargantuan dragon skeleton's skull is impaled by a beautiful greatsword, which- “touch noth-zing ere!” is later identified by Newt and Vinnie as being a dragonslaying sword.The weapon they are here to collect.There are two more sarcophagi, similar in appearance to the others found here, although there's some ancient elven text on the stone- the great wyrm was called Aegis, and the slaying of the beast instigated the formation of the Pact of the Flame.Note, see the yellow square (on the above image) in the passage to the south of Vinnie, that's another illusory floor, with another spiked pit trap beneath it.Ram, constantly prodding the floor ahead, found this one.The Dark Squad stop to chat for a while.The issue being-“Yew knor, wen yew tak zee sword- zer my-tea dragun will cum alife!”Vinnie precis what comes next.And so after thoroughly checking the chamber over once again, the Dark Squad get ready, and into position- ready for the dragon's attack.[ATTACH=full]253159[/ATTACH]Note, Daktari and Nicky are sitting (balanced) astride the great dragon's skull/head. Newt is hiding, as is Ram.Ready.Daktari grasps the hilt of the dragonslaying greatsword in two hands.READY!The sword slips out of the dragon's skull, no longer impaling the great wyrm, and... nothing else happens.The barbarian struggles to his feet and holds his new blade aloft (note the ceiling here is much higher). From on high he makes a grand speech-“Be hold! I have new sword!”And then gets punched- a mean right-hook to the side of his face, with a follow up swift left to the breadbasket that breaks a rib or two.The barbarian manages to cling on to his precarious spot but then decides to leap down from atop the dragon anyway.There is no visible enemy in the chamber.There is however a fair amount of confusion present.“Sumthing hit me! Hit me har...”The barbarian begins but then get's punched again, this time in the back of the head- and it's a crit (for approx. 28 damage), and the big barbarian is bloodied and beyond.But still, there's no enemy to be seen.Dak scrambles for and then glugs down a potion of greater healing.His companions collectively scramble and... accomplish nothing.Until...Nicky bathes a section of the chamber in Faerie Fire.[ATTACH=full]253162[/ATTACH]He's a clever lad.And the outline of an amorphous (although with clean lines) creature is revealed, the enemy looks and moves like the wind.At the same time the last will-o'-wisp shows up and frazzles Newt some more.It kicks off.[ATTACH=full]253163[/ATTACH]And for a while I was really on to something here, my Invisible Stalker started with over 150 hit points, and hit hard- but then the inevitable Dark Squad pile on, and even with a fair amount of missing (Newt missed six Eldritch Blasts in a row- three of them '1's, it didn't improve his mood) the Stalker takes a beating.Then Newt casts Blindness and the Invisible Stalker fails its save (and it has darkvision, but not blindsight), but that of course doesn't prevent the elemental from knowing where its quarry is- Daktari.That said the Dark Squads victory is inevitable.But that's the end of the session, save for one more thing- shame on you, all of you (players), you were so certain that the dragon was going to come back to life (or equivalent). I'm slightly insulted, that would have been way too obvious.Stay safe and well you lovely people.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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