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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9764355" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #167: The Ceremony.Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 9Fellowyn Silverstream (played by George) Male Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger Lvl 9New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 9Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/2Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 9DEAD PCs<s>Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8 </s>RIPNPCs<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> RETIRED<s>Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1</s> EXPLODED<s>Ubdug (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 2</s> EXPLODEDUb-Pam (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 3*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.Servants/FamiliarsGerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New TricksOwly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiarArchimedes (very scruffy & old, Owl) Fellowyn’s familiar.The Dark Squad’s to-do list-<ol> <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 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).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood- except she's not there anymore, but a big red dragon is?</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 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 recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE.</li> </ol>This is session 167, more of the same and then… something a bit different.[ATTACH=full]418137[/ATTACH]The Dark Squad are running on fumes atm, a few potions (of healing) and maybe half-a-dozen 1st level spell slots for the casters- that’s between them. Daktari has no rages left and so every hit counts double (if you follow my logic).The barbarian is letting his colleagues know this, he’s not going to last long at the present rate of attrition.[ATTACH=full]418138[/ATTACH]Newt is not in a good mood, he’s just been ambushed by a fire elemental myrmidon, although my dice are broken- with three good attacks I failed to land a hit. The warlock blasts the elemental away from him and takes to the air (back on his broom).Meanwhile…[ATTACH=full]418139[/ATTACH]Hgraam is furious, a fire snake explodes after another crunching hit (Crit) from the stone giant’s club. Hgraam is usually a very sanguine fellow, but not now, he will not be denied- the temple must be found and the ceremony undertaken.Back to Daktari.[ATTACH=full]418140[/ATTACH]“It iz really starting to hurt now. Guys?” But the Moonboar has his back.A turn or so later…[ATTACH=full]418141[/ATTACH]The second myrmidon (the first has been destroyed) chases Fellowyn for a while, which is unnerving for the bladesinger as his blade is non-magical, and he’s out of songs- therefore he’s reduced to being a wizard in a hotel bathrobe (that’s what he wears). It doesn’t help that he has only 15-20 hit points left.The wizard and the barbarian are in chorus, the line the pair keep on delivering being- “a little help, PLEASE!”[ATTACH=full]418142[/ATTACH]But this is the Dark Squad, and they will not be denied. Although we stopped for a moment and the DM helpfully calculated (during a break) that for the last two or three turns then the big hitter for the Dark Squad is… Ub-Pam, the flying, spinning Modron is a dervish. Five fist attacks at +8 for 1d6+3 bludgeoning each, and she keeps rolling Crits.Daktari is delighted, and non-Daki-Kong, so he makes his feelings known.“That iz it Pammy, sock zem in the jaw, like I showed you!” Remember dumb cod-Russian for the voice.[ATTACH=full]418143[/ATTACH]Just one elemental left, and you’ll note Daktari has been healed, the Moonboar had one fifth level spell left that he was not telling anyone about (but I knew) but he’s had to spaff it on a maxed Cure Wounds just to keep Dak on his feet.And… we’re there. The last enemy destroyed.Now to find the temple.Open the door, and…[ATTACH=full]418144[/ATTACH]Here it is.Although the Dark Squad are… what’s the word? Confused- this is a temple? Well, maybe.Then, only a minute or so after the Squad and Hgraam get settled the far doors open (to the south) revealing a long empty flagged stone corridor which trails off into darkness.A reverberating sound, far off- echoing, and yet every now and then- the sound moves to close-by. Odd.DM Note, I played the PCs a snippet of Tibetan Buddhist Monk style long horn action here, those raspberry reverberating trumpet sounds, all wobbling bass and breath. Portentous.Then… the doors (to the south) shut again (again unaided- there’s no-one there/to be seen).Hgraam, clears his throat- “Ahem, Majesty”, and takes a knee.[ATTACH=full]418145[/ATTACH]The Deepking appears, he’s a lot like the duergar in the picture, in fact- exactly like the fellow in the picture. Armoured, angry looking (or else he looks like he has the potential for violence) but otherwise- a thick-set brooding older dwarf.Hgraam does the introductions- “May I formerly introduce His Royal Highness Drumdawr Blackheart, Lord of Gracklstaugh, Scourge of the Black Lake. Lord of all Duergar. The Deepking!”Then the Dark Squad (including Ub-Pam) make their intros and obeisances (well, most of them).Note the PCs received a litany of cautions earlier in Hgraam’s intro to this moment- half-a-dozen warnings all aimed at Fellowyn (who is a drow atm if you remember). Basically, Hgraam has repeatedly told the PCs- Fellowyn Silverstream is a meddling eladrin fool and that his tinkering at the edges of Ub’s prophecy has almost brought the end of the world. IN CAPITALS- NOBODY LIKES FELLOWYN SILVERSTREAM. HE IS VERBOTTEN.So, back to intros.Yes, that’s right.Fellowyn introduces himself, as himself.We break for repercussions, Hgraam is very unhappy to find Fellowyn is here again, remember Fellowyn has been on the roster for half-a-dozen previous incarnations of the Dark Squad- he keeps turning up.The Deepking disappears.The ceremony it seems, for a short while, is off.Let’s just take a moment here to appreciate George who plays Fellowyn, when he introduced the eladrin wizard to the party his schtick was- he has been around for a long while (he thinks) but he’s got no/few memories of his past. He thought he was being clever, or creative. Well, I’ve been screwing around with him ever since.Stuff keeps on appearing from Fellowyn’s past, the Dark Squad’s journey through the creepy goblin infested tower- the one stuck in the tor here, concluded by finding lots of the ancient eladrin’s stuff in the basement of the structure.The Dark Squad’s initial investigations of Castle Argentriver lead them to believe that this too was made/used by Fellowyn.As is/was the chest that they found on the ship in the jungle.So, a round of applause for George/Fellowyn because he keeps on taking the hits.Fellowyn saves the day, of course he does, he makes a stuttering speech in which he apologises for all that he has done, and in the same sad old man voice- etched deep with regret, he pledges to do his best to put things right.The Deepking reappears.The ceremony is back on, Hgraam issues instructions."Right then, let's get to business- grab out the chest- place it in the centre of the temple, on the bridge- do you see the place.""No, on the bridge- between Toril as it is now and the future Toril, the Toril that will come to pass- depending on your actions, of course.""The bridge! You have been here before? Have you had a bump on the head since then..."The PCs have, of course, no idea what Hgraam is going on about- there are just a bunch of circles and lines etched into the flagged stone floor.But by following the giant’s pointing finger they manage to find the spot.[ATTACH=full]418146[/ATTACH]"That's the place- the bridge!""Now open up the chest and put the three maze buttons in the inside slots."The Dark Squad complies.Nothing happens."Well, shut the chest then. It won't work without, I swear it's like you don't know what you are doing." Hgraam chides.Note, the Dark Squad have no idea what’s going on here.Everything, in short, is as it should be.Then this happens…Daktari shuts the chest.BLINK![ATTACH=full]418147[/ATTACH]“Hey! We iz very small!” Daktari squeaks.[ATTACH=full]418149[/ATTACH]Here we all are.But Daktari has it the wrong way around.It’s everything else that was outside of the chest that has been made big.Very big.Massive.The pillars in the temple are at least a hundred feet tall."Here we are... the Temple of the Prophecy, built by Ub's own hands- but that was a very long time ago."Hgraam bows a few times, closes his eyes- reaches into his bag and brings out a large (2'x3') sheet of metal.It's adamantine, Newt identifies it straight away- and very similar to the adamantine sheets the Dark Squad found, but had to leave, beneath the gnome settlement of Squabblepot.There are lumps and bumps on the metal (like braille).Later the Moonboar will spot that the language on the metal tablets looks a lot like binary- Ubmo taught the (anthropologist) druid binary."The words of Ub..."Hgraam begins."To unlock the future and put an end to the spectre of the past.""Gather in the goblin's gaze beneath the twin streams of silver.""Build the temple there and take your places.""One by one, in order of merit, choose your station within the prophecy."Hgraam goes on, when everyone has settled."Are we ready, Majesty?""I will state your title- when you are called, take your place within the map of the prophecy, say what you have to say, or else perform any obeisance, as you deem fit.""Remember, the traitor will be destroyed here this day!""It's important we get this right."The Dark Squad have not a clue, but- and this is how you know they’re pro’s, they’re saying nothing.Hgraam reads and intones- "And so, in order of merit...""THE DEEPKING!"The Deepking disappears, and then about thirty seconds later reappears, standing within the compass of a symbol which may or may not be a crescent moon in shadow.Hgraam states- "The Black Shadow of the Moon, very good majesty."And then the stone giant calls for the next participant- "THE DELVER!"Nobody moves. Which one of the Dark Squad is…"THE DELVER!" Hgraam shouts louder still."Oh, that's me..." And then he remembers."I will take Toril." Hgraam goes over to stand within the compass of the largest circle (planet) with the ‘prophecy’."Next...""THE DARKHORSE!"“It iz me go!” Daktari recognises his moniker, he is Uthgardt, he is Sky Pony- and the Sky Pony (Pegasus) of his dreams is black. He is therefore the Darkhorse. He thinks.Correctly as it happens.But where does he go?And so there follows a slow, stop-start meander, the barbarian is trying to read Hgraam’s look- is he heading in the right direction, is he going wrong- which bit of the picture/puzzle/prophecy does he stand on.But the DM and Hgraam isn’t helping.Note, the above charade is played out every time one of the members of the Dark Squad is called into action here.Hgraam and the DMs silence throughout is absolute.Here’s the thing chaps.Wrong way round.Again.Where you place your PC now is nothing to do with anything that you have done in the past, or else dictated by some nugget of info that you have collectively missed, or... Well, it’s not that at all.Where you stand in the prophecy is about what’s going to happen to you (the Dark Squad) in the future.[ATTACH=full]418150[/ATTACH]Daktari finds his spot in the prophecy.Hgraam names the place- “In the Jaws of the Great Dragon.”The barbarian is less pleased, and less pleased still when the bit above about the future is made clear a little while later.But we’ve got a ceremony to conduct, Hgraam continues."THE DARK ELF!"Easy! Fellowyn, shuffles around for a bit and eventually stands statue on…“Toril as it was- the ancient past.”That worked out well for him. Fellowyn is the past, or so it seems.We go on…"THE DREAD!"There’s Vinnie, Ram, Newt and Ub-Pam still to find their spots in the great plan.Which one of them is the Dread?"THE DREAD!"Newt goes to move but is tutted by Hgraam back to his former spot.The warlock isn’t the Dread.Hgraam, eventually, nods sternly at Vinnie/the Moonboar. He’s the Dread.Vinnie is confused, why is he the Dread?Although, after Vinnie has wandered over to find his spot on the plan-“The Light of the New Moon” Vinnie is very pleased with his choice.Hgraam whispers an aside- "It is my contention Vincenzo that THE DREAD is a typo, a misprint, as it were- I believe he meant to say- THE DRUID! Makes a lot more sense."But we go on, we always do."Next in order of merit." Hgraam calls out."THE DEVILSPAWN!"Newt is signaled (again) back into place. The warlock is not the Devilspawn, and neither is Ub-Pam, which just leaves Ram.Who, looking very confused, tries again to play ‘hot’ and cold’ with Hgraam’s look, trying desperately to fathom where he should be standing- this after the last two PCs seemed to find their spots on the map.Ram settles for an out of the way circle, and…“The Empty Vessel Boat” Hgraam intones naming Ram’s place in the prophecy.The Dark Squad think that the ‘empty vessel boat/room’ is the spaceship that they’re going to be exploring next.So, that’s nice.We go on.And then Hgraam calls- "THE DECEIVER!"And Ub-Pam, without hesitation, strides forward into the prophecy and takes her spot.“The Head of the Dragon!” Hgraam states, darkly.And then…"That's it, oh... P.T.O.- Oh, hang on..."Hgraam coughs, a little embarrassed- "& the cat."Newt is not best pleased, but… that’s really no concern of mine, and also- he’s not best pleased quite a lot of the time, even when things are seemingly going swimmingly.Newt flies to…“The Fire of the Sun!” He’s happy with that.And at that exact moment- when Newt takes his spot- several things happen quickly.Unseen, far above a hole appears in the ceiling of the temple.A big hole.Vast.Certainly, big enough to free the tower that was (previously) interred/lodged within the tor.[ATTACH=full]418151[/ATTACH]Here it is, and with the various members of the Dark Squad et al distributed within the plan/image of the prophecy.The tower plummets down and lands squarely on top of…The traitor.Ub-Pam.The bricks and associated jumble of rock, stone and whatever else that made up or else was within the tower is safely encapsulated, it’s as if there is a circular wall of force- from floor to ceiling (approx. fifty feet in diameter) extending all the way up to the hole in the ceiling.Then…[ATTACH=full]418152[/ATTACH]A beam of coruscating golden light surges down from the hole up above, focussed on the rubble pile (what’s left of the tower), at the bottom of which is Ub-Pam.The light burns and disintegrates everything that it comes in contact with- the rubble first, of course, but then all the way through to the trapped Modron.Ub-Pam is unmade, at which point she swiftly regenerates, and is as swiftly unmade again.There’s quite a lot of screaming from Ub-Pam, and a lot of shouting for Daktari, who is distraught, particularly when he discovers that he can’t get in to rescue Ub-Pam, although… Ub-Pam answered to the name of Deceiver, and is in the eyes of the prophecy/Ub- the traitor.So, Daktari has a lot to think about right now, which isn’t his strong suit.“PAMMY!” He keeps on shouting- sometimes with an edge of forlorn, but mostly loudly and in confusion.The Deepking suddenly appears next to Hgraam."Is that it?" He asks.Hgraam nods- "Now the oath."The Deepking swivels to face the Dark Squad, who have gathered. "Do you swear by everything that you are, and by all that you have, and by all that you will ever have, and ever will be, to complete one simple task for me?" The Duergar’s voice is broad Yorkshire, just for info."One task. One job- that's it. Swear it and then you can have the bluddy key."What's the task, several PCs enquire-"Murder!" The Deepking makes clear.Who? The Dark Squad want to know.But the answer comes at a price- they need to swear their oath first.Remarkably there’s no discussion here.In initiative order they all swear an oath, each in their own inimical style. Note, Newt’s swearing of the oath involves repeatedly insulting the Deepking and proclaiming (trumpeting) his own magnificence.“He’s a feisty bugger, yer cat.” Is all the Deepking has to say about that.Oath sworn.The Dark Squad need to murder-"Gwendawr Blackheart, or as I know her...""Mum!"To make certain Gwendawr Blackheart is Gwen, the duergar skeleton conjured by Buggles (blowing a magical whistle) all the way back in the Sunless Citadel.Note, while the chat is going on Ub-Pam is still repeatedly being destroyed and then regenerating within the fiery furnace beam.Further note, Fellowyn has figured out what’s powering this ongoing explosion- it’s Castle Argentriver, his castle, the fuel for this explosion is his time-travelling castle. Which is now no more.[ATTACH=full]418153[/ATTACH]“Here's yer key.” The Deepking hands over a solid gold (maybe) puzzle egg.The duergar continues- "He said to put it in the fire...""We're done. Don't fail me. Let Hgraam know when it's done. I 'ope never to see any of yew again.""Oh, and have fun in there; keep in mind Ub said you only get out again, how'd it go Hgraam?"The stone giant intones- "When they've found another button and learned how hard it is to kill a God!""That's it, enjoy yerselves!"And with that the Deepking departs, or else disappears.The Dark Squad do as they are told; Ram tosses the gold egg into the fire- remarkably it passes through the forcefield that keeps at bay the fiery fury.The roiling terror within the forcefield intensifies- dramatically.Ub-Pam dies harder."Daktari!""DAKTARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"Until a final blinding explosion which leaves all observes seeing stars, and nothing else.Ub-Pam is gone, the rubble is gone, and the fire and the fury is over.Everything is exactly as it was before.Except for the things that have gone- that are no more.All that is left of the terror and the power is…[ATTACH=full]418154[/ATTACH]A door.See you next time.Making the PCs for the Alt Game next week, and then I’ll be building the last bit of the WFRP Campaign.I’ve got another write up on the go, it can be found here-<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-5e-not-kots-5a-dragon-castle-enc-6.712348/" target="_blank">[D&D 5e] Not KotS 5a Dragon Castle. (Enc#6) | EN World D&D & Tabletop RPG News & Reviews</a>It’s a 5e version (sorta) of Keep on the Shadowfell, and lots of fun.Stay safe and well.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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