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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8694360" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #094: Enter the Dragon (from the 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 94, and yet another cracker...Remember, I wrote this last time-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.Well, check out the title of this one for the giveaway, but we'll get to that.[ATTACH=full]254019[/ATTACH]Here they are! The Dark Squad, after a brief chat and a modicum of healing, get on- they've the rest of the barrow to explore- actually just one chamber.And...[ATTACH=full]254020[/ATTACH]Here it is.So, Ram sneaks his comrades into the final part of the tomb, checking for traps and being very cautious- there's another illusion covered pit trap at the entrance to this chamber.And the squiggle of elven script on the lintel over the entrance here, Ram translates- remarkably, he's the only one of the Dark Squad that can read elven.It says, “The Seekers in the Shadows”.Which causes a few words of concern.“Zat name is very family-ar, n'est-pas?” Vinnie states.“It's another bunch of us! Eyes in the Night- Dark Squad... that kind of thing!” Newt growls back.“Be on your guard, watch well Ram, there are bound to be traps here.” The tabaxi warlock adds, like he's a team-player, or else he cares about his companions.[ATTACH=full]254021[/ATTACH]The same picture again, but for a reason.There are four sarcophagi here, similar to those found elsewhere in the barrow, but along with the usual bas-refiefs of ancient elves- one on each, there's a lot of text on these tombs. Again, Ram translates, and the text explains who lies within each sarcophagi.And to save time I'll also include the text that is later discovered within each of the sarcophagi, as I go along, note this isn't the order the Dark Squad did things- they did all the translating on the outside first before the rest of the Squad fled the chamber to allow Ram to be alone with the tombs and the traps.All of the sarcophagi turn out to be safe- no traps at all.And so, we start with sarcophagi number one, which depicts a ferocious looking (and scantily clad- think Vallejo, chainmail bikini) elven maiden, in translation the text on the tomb says-“Tardaki, sword elf maiden strong of arm and swift of foot, although woe betide those that would anger her for she was possessed of a frightful temper.She will be remembered for her lustrous hair, red with the blood of her enemies.Her spirit soars above yet, like a flying horse, she guards the heavens.”And within is written-“LOVING YOU IS EASY BECAUSE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!”Daktari is, of course, delighted- he even treats us to a chorus or two of his new theme song.Next.The second sarcophagi depicts a plain looking, non-descript male elf, kinda angry looking- Vinnie spots a series of slits on the sculpted elf's neck- an aquatic elf then, and the text here says-“Sham-Bo-Ram the sea elf, whose heart had fled long hence, or so the rumours said, even afore the battle against the Dragon.Swift of blade he was, although less swift to trust, but very quick (and yet quiet) to anger.Revenge was his watch word, he sought to set his people free, and so rejoice for he freed a great many folk- their souls he sent winging to their dark gods.”And within... well, that's a secret, and remember Ram is the only one of the Dark Squad that can speak elven, and so when he reads what is written within he keeps quiet, he says nothing. And nothing his comrades say can change his mind, that is until much later- after the half-elf has had a think about things.This is what it says inside Sham-Bo-Ram's tomb-“WARE YOUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS, THE LAUGHING ONE'S BROTHER WILL BETRAY YOU!”And after Ram has had a think about it, and told the rest of the Squad the above message, he also has the answer, maybe- the laughing one is Giggles. A member of the Eyes in the Night, the last incarnation (it is thought) of the adventuring party, prior to the Dark Squad, of course.Next.The third sarcophagi depicts a stick thin, well-dressed and snooty looking high elf, possibly a noble, and the text states-“Went, the high elf, whose mind was long lost, and whose heart was either black or else broken.A raging furry whose flaming spells sent Aegis the dragon back to hell, possibly there to serve as the terrible Went's new master, for he sold his soul cheaply.The oathtaker was lost to us- his fury spent his life, his friends fled, and in his fowl fool anger he lost his all, and he fell- again, into darkness.Went, was sent Far-Far away.”And when Ram translates the above- mainly aiming his speech at Newt, of course, he makes clear to the tabaxi that the 'Far-Far' in the last sentence is capitalised.Far-Far away? Doesn't that sound like someone else we know?Newt's reply- “Oh, NO!”And on in the inside of the sarcophagi-“THE MAN AND THE CROCODILE AWAIT THEE!”Newt, for whom the above has become (at times) a bit of an obsession, manages not to flip-out.Food for thought, but remember Newt is very much of the opinion that the plot will play out- whatever he and the other members of the Dark Squad do. He's in it for the ride, not to fathom riddles.Next.Then the last sarcophagi, this one showing a heavy set elf- as broad as two of his kind, barrel chested but dressed in simple attire, and the text-“Veldino, the loquacious, and yet strangely accented, moon elf savant.All that was wild and free in nature loved him best, and in the pale moonlight he bathed and was adored.He was a friend to the pale dwarf, and thus began our service, and our misery.”Just in case you missed it, Vinnie's full name is- Vincenzo Del Vino (Vinnie of the Wine).The above translation causes much more chatter- the pale dwarf is, of course, Ub.Note, when I say- 'of course' above, I mean that's what the Dark Squad think. The opinions expressed here are those of the adventurers, not the DM- of course.But there's a lot more text within-“Veldino it was that gave name to our endeavour, for our service it has been fore-said shall be known across the ages, our time will come... and once spent, it will come again.We are forever consumed, for we are the Pact of the Flame.Our course, of course, was named in honour of the one that sacrificed his all, to save the people so that they would live free.Our beloved hero, the terror-schemer-of-destruction.Like a candle in the wind, Went- went.We shall miss him now that he has gone, for in life none missed (or cherished) him at all.Thus Went, went- and in doing so he (Went) went well.IF THE WEAPON HAS BEEN CLAIMED THEN THE GREAT DRAGON IS RELEASED, AND IT MUST BE FOUGHT AGAIN.WARE ALL! THE TIME OF ASH APPROACHES.”Which is a lot to take in.Also present, within the tombs, are a whole bunch of (low level) treasures- potions and scrolls, a lute of illusions (in Went's sarcophagi), a driftglobe (in Sham-Bo-Ram's tomb), and a necklace of fireballs (in Takdari's tomb, note the necklace is very tribal, the fireball beads are rune-carved shrunken kobold skulls).So, the barbarian can throw fireballs now, and Newt is showering him with compliments- the ability to destroy things with fire is the ultimate power, according to the tabaxi warlock.There follows a very long chat, over an hour around the VTT, and in the hut-[ATTACH=full]254022[/ATTACH]They're all playing nicely in the one hut (Newt's) now.The result of the chatter is this.The ancient elves here fought and killed the dragon Aegis, the huge skeleton they found earlier.The elves here were the 'Seekers in the Shadows', fore-runners (progenitors) of the Dark Squad.This thing is circular- 'for our service it has been fore-said shall be known across the ages, our time will come... and once spent, it will come again.', or else on repeat.Nobody liked Went, the high elf, although the Pact of the Flame started here, and was named after the fiery bastard who's spells (ultimately) did for the dragon- Aegis.Last bit, the dragon (Ashardalon), now that they have claimed the sword, has been unleashed.The Dark Squad conclude- Ashardalon is abroad, although as Newt stated- 'Of course Ashardalon is abroad- who do you think destroyed Castell Gwythyr?”Castell Gwythyr was reported destroyed way back in session <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-dark-squad-in-the-secrets-of-saltmarsh-093-enter-the-dragon-barrow.672536/post-8148293" target="_blank">27c</a>, and an ancient red dragon was spotted in the vicinity a day or two before the event was discovered.It took an hour and an extended coffee break to get through all of this, including Ram's revelation (see above).Then, after a short rest (only) the Dark Squad exit the barrow.[ATTACH=full]254023[/ATTACH]To discover that they are surrounded.Note the above image hardly does justice to the situation, there are an army of shadowy battered and broken elves surrounding the barrow- they look like ancient soldiers that have lost (or won) a war. The tokens on the image above merely represent the front line of the massed ranks, there are hundreds more fallen spirits crowding behind.The watchers number in their hundreds, if not thousands.The Dark Squad go for their swords and spells, when they eventually become aware of the situation, they were still chatting about various revelations when the exited the barrow, for which read all of them had their screens focussed on the centre of the image. It wasn't until Ram chimed up with an “Uh-Oh!”, followed by, “Scroll out on the map...”. Then comes the swearing.However, then the Dark Squad decide to get mouthy for a while, or rather Vinnie tries to explain again to the assembled masses who they are (the Dark Squad- the heroes) and their intentions (to fulfil the prophecy- slay the dragon et al). Newt's version of mouthy is just swearing and threats, while intersperse the druid's honeyed words.They do good cop/bad cop simultaneously, and not for the first time.The silent spectral elves watch on, their weapons ready.The stand-off continues for a short while, until an elven voice comes from the ranks of the watchers.Ram instantly translates-“Stand ready, by the fire and the fury... It COMES!”And while the elf watchers ready their weapons they still do not attack.And the Dark Squad are still targeting- Newt is manoeuvring his Fireball template on the map, the adventurers are stacking readied actions- waiting for the army of elves to make the first move.And so they're all surprised when the barrow on which they are standing suddenly tears itself apart.[ATTACH=full]254024[/ATTACH]Enter the Dragon (from the Barrow). That's right- Aegis is back.Did you really think I was going to leave a gargantuan skeletal dragon unfought? Shame on you?The massive skeletal wyrm has a ball of fire and shadow burning in it's skeletal ribcage- it's furious heart. The great dragon manages to poke a good thirty feet of its head, neck and body out of the barrow.Several members of the Dark Squad are knocked prone by the dragon's turmoil entrance, and then more still as Aegis unfurls its seventy foot skeletal wings and flaps furiously- allowing the beast to eventually get free of its grave, and in the process flattening (and battering) the Dark Squad some more.It gets violent.Particularly when Aegis unleashes a breath weapon that is one quarter cold necrotic nastiness, to three quarters splintered piercing bone.[ATTACH=full]254025[/ATTACH]Where's Newt? The tabaxi was last seen running south east and down the barrow, alas the ranks of the spectral elves coalesce and make it very clear to the warlock, there's no exit to be had this way.Newt reports this event to his colleagues, who atm have bigger fish to fry.Note, Ubmo is destroyed in the opening moments- the Supreme Being, of course, reappears unharmed (YAAY!) next to Vinnie moments later.We get to fighting.[ATTACH=full]254026[/ATTACH]Note, Ubmo has just been destroyed again, this after he had the audacity to hit Aegis with a lightning bolt.Further note Ubmo's attacks are chosen entirely at random, on a 1) he grabs out his dagger and stabs, on a 2) he flings a javelin at the enemy, on a 3) he casts Witch Bolt, a 4) for the Lightning Bolt.[ATTACH=full]254027[/ATTACH]And now we're into it, this is maybe three turns and perhaps an forty minutes later.Ubmo has just been destroyed for a third time, Vinnie has conjured a Giant Constrictor Snake, which is attempting to grapple the gigantic Aegis. The dragon has taken a beating- Daktari has been coming up '20' again- and his newly acquired dragonslaying two-handed sword is working well, it also helps that he's in a raging frenzy, and reckless with it.Nicky has his Spiritual Weapon in the battle, and is surrounded by his Spirit Guardians- and guess what? Aegis, as it turns out, is vulnerable to both bludgeoning and radiant damage.However the dragon is immune to necrotic damage, and resistant to many others- including fire, which has left Newt yowling (in retreat) and taking pot-shots from afar.Note, Newt does a lot of missing.But his dice are on fire compared to...At this point Ram hasn't managed to land a hit yet. You read that right, his dice have abandoned him.Aegis' AC is high.The rogue has also taken a beating.But look again, the dragon has a number of Legendary Actions, it keeps swatting about with its tail- targeting whoever just hit it hard, and every now and then it unfurls its wings again and flaps furiously, flattening the Squad (the save is Dex 20) and clubbing them about their heads.Aegis is trying, but failing, to get aloft.Nicky, Ram and Daktari are down to their teens in hit points, the barbarian is the worst hurt- Aegis keeps on smashing, clawing and biting the him because he keeps on hitting with his dragonslaying sword.Daktari shatters his way through the dragon's ribs, and is at present slicing and stabbing at the bolus of flame and shadow that is the great undead wyrm's heart.Note, when it got to three blood drops on the Aegis token (see the image above) I added another 100 hit points to the dragon. Why? Because it would frustrate the heck out of the players.Worked.Ten minutes later and...[ATTACH=full]254028[/ATTACH]Ubmo's back, the Giant Constrictor has survived Aegis' breath weapon, but remarkably (+12 to hit) the great wyrm (Restrained) has otherwise been missing a lot.Eventually...[ATTACH=full]254029[/ATTACH]And the killing blow, disappointingly, comes courtesy of the druid conjured Giant Constrictor.Aegis is destroyed, and in the following twenty or thirty seconds reality unravels- the great skeletal dragon is sucked back into the barrow- its scattered and broken parts having tumbled back to the whole, and...Reality remakes itself.The barrow is exactly as it was before Aegis emerged.The elven watchers-in-the-woods are all gone.The Dark Squad are suddenly surrounded by bird song, and the aromas of the forest.That was nearly 10,000 XP in action.Then, after another rest, and yet more healing- the Dark Squad make their way to the fairly nearby Farhill Mine, they're spent.I had to dig the Farhill Mine out- I tend to delete out stuff that I'm not using to keep Fantasy Grounds Unity slim, so there's no lighting or fog of war et al in this version.[ATTACH=full]254030[/ATTACH]Back to Farhill Mine.But that's the end of the session.It's back to Saltmarsh (after Farhill) next session, and that's admin week- time to ditch the million and one items the PCs have been carrying in their inventories, and also time to fix lots of macros and buttons that have broken due to the various updates on FGU.Oh, and keep in mind Vinnie has still got Mummy Rot, that needs fixing.So, a quiet session next time.Stay safe and well you lovely people.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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