Check In Question: What makes you nervous?
- Cordelia: Getting something wrong. Surina gets nervous when she needs to speak.
- Miranda: One thing (in the list of many) that makes me nervous is performing in front of a live audience. I have performance anxiety. Lysithea gets nervous when she thinks someone might be smarter than her.
- Kevin: What doesn’t? Many social situations or things where there’s things to be done and I don’t know how to do it. Gobbles gets nervous around quicksand.
- Justice: Lots of things. Life? No, change. Marcus Beauregard is nervous about not having enough money.
- Victor: When I have to get a shot. It makes me cry. Draggy gets nervous around ghosts.
The party is back in Rouge Hareng’s ship, sailing to Dalvok with Slogoth, Mateen, and Sable to return the comet to the Temple of Bahamut (see Session 4). To pass the time, Sable mentions that there are rumors of an uncharted island that is supposedly completely deserted.
Sable: I’ve heard that treasure beyond all belief is buried on the island. But also that a hermit was abandoned on the island.
Gobbles: The island is made entirely of cheese. The island is also being stalked by a powerful creature of some kind.
Lysithea: I’ve heard that the reason the island is uncharted is because the island actually moves.
Surina: It moves?
Lystithea: Yes, like it’s on the back of a creature or something.
Surina: On the back of a creature?!
Lysithea: Yes…
Draggy: I hear there’s a creature called Yoshi there. Also the island has a lot of sharks.
Surina: I’ve heard there is a Beholder there. I’ve also heard the island is a desert.
Mateen: Well I’ve heard there’s a special spice that would make any food the spiciest made.
Surina: Spiciest?!
Mateen: I’ve also heard there are creatures called Lava Lizards all over the island.
The party finally arrives at Dalvok.
Slogoth: Well, let’s get this over with so I can get back to my business.
Surina skips off happily towards the Golden Griffin Adventuring Company building. Slogoth walks nonchalantly with his hands in his pockets, looking around. Perception check (Gobbles 13, Surina Nat 20, Lysithea 10, Draggy 5). Surina sees Slogoth constantly dipping back, weaving in and out of the party, trying to actively look like he’s hiding from people as they walk through Dalvok. As they pass by the temple he takes the curviest way away from the temple.
They arrive at the guild building and it looks like it got an upgrade. It’s been freshly painted, there’s a new sign, and a lot more recruits. Akron walks up to the party with a huge smile on his face.
Akron: My best employees!
Gobbles: Hello there, old friend.
He gives Surina a big hug.
Akron: We’ve heard what you all have done!
Lysithea: What did you hear specifically?
Akron: That you saved caravans! That you saved a town from a curse! That you solved a not-murder! News is traveling fast and we get more and more every day. I knew it was smart hiring you, Surina, and the rest of you! You all get the best rooms in the guild house while you are here!
Gobbles: Yay.
Akron: Though, we did get reports that the camels are not with you.
Gobbles: They’re guarding a festival.
Akron: So, until we get those returned we may have to dock that from your pay.
Lysithea: We will be returning to their location in about a week.
Akron: So about that original mission, did you accomplish that for the temple? They’ve been asking.
Surina: The comet?
Akron: Yes yes, the comet! Did you finish it?
Surina: Yes, but we need to take it to the temple. It’s in Slogoth hole.
Akron: Great, great, great. I would say, go deliver it now.
Lysithea: We will do that now. Come you *to Slogoth*.
Slogoth: Well, about that. How about I just shake it out here and we can just go on our way.
Lysithea: Issues with the temple?
Slogoth: Issues with everything. I’m not welcome here.
Lysithea: Gee, I wonder why.
The walls are covered with Wanted posters, and at least half of them are for Slogoth. He’s wanted for a new crime called Lamacide, pug trafficking, snacks evasion, pick pocketing, woodpecker baiting, impersonating a dentist, BINGO fraud, and the list goes on.
Lysithea: Well, you could just hand over your portable hole.
Slogoth: No!
He unfolds the hole and shakes it out, forcing out the giant meteorite and broken chunks in the middle of the hall. Gobbles empties his pockets, still filled with meteor chunks, onto the pile.
Slogoth: Whelp, pleasure doing business with you all.
Gobbles: It might be easier to do stuff… have you tried not committing crimes?
Slogoth: No, I have not tried not committing crimes.
Gobbles: Well it makes things easier.
Akron is looking back and forth between Slogoth and the posters.
Gobbles: Slogoth, how about you turn yourself in and use the reward money to pay back the things you took and then there will be no repercussions.
Slogoth: That doesn’t sound good.
Gobbles: I mean, you’ve got a 50/50 chance. It either works or it doesn’t.
Slogoth: Listen, it’s been fun, but I gotta slip. You know I have friends and they have friends and I hitched a ride and I gotta get back.
Gobbles: Well thank you for all your help. We’ll probably catch you again later.
Lysithea: *reading the names on the Wanted posters* So is your real name SLOGOTH or SLOGO or 8 BALL ALCATRAZ or STEVE PININGTON? *blank stare at him, then looks at Akron*
Slogoth runs out.
Lysithea: You guys can chase after him if you want. I’ve had enough of him.
Gobbles: I’m sure we’ll wind up seeing him again.
Lysithea: Do you have a cart or something we can put this on so we can roll it to the temple?
Akron: Now that you mention it, we have the Professor’s cart.
Lysithea: That’s good to know, but it’s not the right kind of cart.
Akron: We have people who can carry it. Hey, you all are people.
Lysithea gives Akron a scornful look.
Surina: We would like some help, please. (persuasion, 19)
Akron: Fine, fine, fine.
He calls in some recruits to help. The meteor is giving off a purple glow and it’s very heavy. With the help of the party they are able to move the meteor from the guild hall to the temple. There’s a lot of “oohs” and “aahs” heard from observers as they make their trek. Upon arriving at the Temple of Bahamut, Gobbles runs past the party to the middle of the atrium and starts spinning with his arms in the air in praise of Bahamut. As he does this Thistle Winkle Frost summons balloons and streamers to fall from the ceiling on top of Gobbles (stealth 18). The priests just stare.
Gobbles: It’s cool, I’m a Paladin of him. *points to his shield of Bahamut*
Priests: *nod* We’ll accept it. That has never happened before.
They motion for everyone to bring the meteor to the back rooms.
Head Priest: We thank you. We may have other things to give you later. But for now, if each of you would please step into the Bahamut symbol. *turns to Gobbles* Shoo off for a second.
The priests form a circle around the symbol. Perception (Gobbles 24, Surina 15, Lysithea 18). They all notice a very ancient cloaked figure emerge and take a spot on a high altar. Gobbles notices the figure is definitely a Dragonborn. Even though it’s completely cloaked in the finest material there is, Gobbles notices a hint of gold underneath. There’s a murmur and awe around the priests – This is the Ancient One.
Head Priest: Each one of you, step into the circle one at a time.
Instantly all of the balloons and streamers from Thistle Winkle Frost disappear. Surina steps in the circle first. She feels a light bathe over her. She feels warm and happy, like all of her troubles have melted away. She steps out of the circle. Gobbles goes next. He feels a little fight inside him at first. His Warlock level is fighting against the light, causing discomfort to some of the priests who can’t tell what he is (he is level 1 in several different classes). But it lasts for only a moment and he feels the same holy warmth wash over him. Lysithea very cautiously walks into the circle. She feels a wave of confidence pass over her. The light looks much darker (Shadow Sorcerer) but it’s a great feeling. The rest of the party takes turns walking into the circle, feeling the same warmth and confidence.
The party has been blessed with a gift from Bahamut. Everyone now has a special Dragon Breath that they can use just once. Lysithea can cast her as a Black Dragon (acid damage in a 30ft straight line), Gobbles as a Gold Dragon (6th level fire cone 15ft), Octavia as a Green Dragon (poison damage 15ft cone), Professor as a Brass Dragon (fire 30ft straight line), and K’un-Lun can cast his as a Silver Dragon (cold damage 15ft cone). Surina and Draggy, who already have Dragon Breath, can cast theirs once as an 11th level spell.
With the ceremony complete the Ancient One descends from the altar and disappears from sight.
Head Priest: Once again we thank you. As further payment we will forge you armor.
The wizards of the temple will make the party either armor +1 or armor of a certain resistance. Since Lysithea cannot wear armor she gets a Wand of Mage Armor. It has 3 charges and it recharges a d4 up to 3 on a long rest. The wizards also inform Professor that his necklace (see Session 7) is a Necklace of Prayer Beads, made of 4 magical beads: 2 are Cure Wounds, one is Greater Restoration, and the last is Bless. The wizards attune the necklace to Professor so that he can use it. The wizards also tell Lysithea her staff (see Session 7) is a Staff of Swarming Insects and attune it to her.
Lysithea: I need to go get some pets…
For final payment, the wizards of the temple bless everyone’s weapons, making them +1.
The party takes their leave of the temple and returns to the Golden Griffin Adventuring Company. Upon returning the guild pays them a hefty sum for all of their accomplishments. The party goes shopping and buys things, both necessary and fun (Lysithea goes insect shopping, and Professor buys a lot of unnecessary trinkets).
The party now has a new pressing manner – the concert tickets to the festival in Ryphyet (and retrieving the camels). The quickest way to get there is by boat. The guild has offered Rouge Hareng a job, which he happily accepts since he’s out of work. The guild gives him a new crew (since his last crew died) and repairs his ship. After a few days of shopping and rest the party sets sail to Ryphyet.
The winds start getting rough as they sail. The sky grows dark as the boat sails on and on and on. (If anyone knows this reference it will make our DM very happy). Gobbles is in the cargo area, Lysithea is on deck reading, Surina and Draggy are relaxing in the common room, and the rest of the party is sleeping below.
Rouge: THINGS ARE GETTING TOO ROUGH OUT HERE. I WOULD SUGGEST EVERYONE GO INSIDE IF THEY CAN.
Lysithea: ARE YOU GOING TO BE OKAY?
Rouge: PROBABLY NOT BUT WE’LL SEE. THIS IS USUALLY CLEAR WATER, EXCEPT FOR LAST TIME. AND THE TIME BEFORE THAT.
Lysithea: DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE?
Rouge: HOW MUCH SEA TRAINING HAVE YOU HAD?
The boat is swaying back and forth. Constitution save (Gobbles 3, Lysithea 15, Surina 7). Surina and Gobbles are getting sea sick and take an exhaustion level (disadvantage on ability checks). Lysithea goes inside to the common room.
Lysithea: If anyone knows what they’re doing the captain needs help.
Crew: We just wanted an adventure…
Lysithea: Oh, you poor things…
Gobbles feels claws grip into his head.
Thistle Winkle Frost: Uh oh, new friend.
Gobbles: What uh oh? Thistle what’s going on?
The boat feels like it stabilizes a bit and then…. CRASH (reflex saving throw Gobbles 12, Lysithea 8, Surina 18). Surina stands on her feet, but everyone else falls prone and takes 1 damage.
Rouge: LAND… HO?
Lysithea: Why?!
Surina, Gobbles, and Lysithea walk out to the deck and see they are on a large island. Palm trees and desert make up the scenery, with mountains far off in the distance. Right off of the beach is an oasis with a huge herd of grazing cows.
Gobbles: Holy cow.
There’s a scraggly hermit with brown clothes and a huge white beard running to the ship, shaking his fists.
Hermit: Get off my island!
Gobbles: Oh look, it’s the Professor.
Rouge: We can’t get off the island right now.
Surina: Why? Is anything wrong?
Rouge: Our boat’s on a sandbar.
Lysithea: How do we get it off?
Rouge: Well, I’m going to have the crew start pushing to try to get us off. It’s going to take us some time.
Herman: GET OFF MY ISLAND!
Surina: WE CAN’T!
Gobbles: HELLO MY NAME IS GOBBLES! WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
Gobbles, shaking his fist in the air mimicking the hermit, runs right off the side of the boat. Thistle Winkle Frost grips his hair and flaps his wings to slow his descent as Gobbles continues to run in mid air.
Herman: My name’s Herman and this is my island. You all are here to steal my cows!
Gobbles: No, we’re here to pet your cows.
Surina: Pet? No, no, no. *climbs down the side of the boat*
Lysithea: We just crash landed here. No one wants your cows, except maybe the Goblin.
Gobbles: I just want to pet them. I’m not capable of cow ownership!
Herman: That’s what the other’s said too! They make strange noises at night and they steal my cows!
Surina: Did you get them back?
Herman: No! They take them and do weird things with them! I just have them for cheese and milk.
Gobbles: This is the island of cheese.
Lysithea: Please believe us, we’re not here for your cows. We just crashed here. *points to boat*
Herman: Well, fine. I guess y’all can stay here till you get your ship off. But no looking at my cows!
The party currently stands the beach of the island. Herman goes back to the oasis with his cows. Gobbles tries his hardest to not look at the cows.
Surina: I’m going to explore.
Lysithea: I may as well go with you.
The party begins walking around the island. They pass the oasis and Herman’s hut with his giant fenced-in area for the cows. They start seeing weird totem figures hanging from trees. Everyone rolls perception (Lysithea 9, Surina 8, Gobbles 13). They continue walking and don’t notice anything in particular, but it starts feeling like they’ve seen these trees before.
Surina: This is getting so weird.
Lysithea marks a tree, which they end up passing a few more times.
Lysithea: This is definitely weird.
Surina: Yeah. I’m going to mark a tree now and see what happens.
They keep passing the same trees over and over as the sun begins to set.
Lysithea: Um… I think we’re lost.
Surina: Yeah. What should we do?
Lysithea: Gobbles, go climb a tree.
Gobbles attempts to climb a tree with Lysithea and Surina ready to catch him. He sings a bardic inspiration…
Gobbles: Climbing a tree, don’t want to die, don’t wanna splat like that other guy.
(Athletics Nat 1) Gobbles starts climbing the tree, but he keeps passing the same branch. Lysithea and Surina simply stare at Gobbles as he climbs the tree horizontally, going around the base of the trunk in circles.
Lysithea: Uh, Gobbles?
Gobbles: Yes? Is it working?
Lysithea: You feeling okay, buddy?
Gobbles: I don’t know how I feel about this island. How high up am I?
Lysithea: You need to go up, dear. You’re going in circles.
Gobbles: What? That doesn’t seem right.
Lysithea grabs him and turns him the right way. With assistance Gobbles starts climbing the tree correctly. He gets to the top and he sees in the distance a giant rock head with torches in the eyes off. They weren’t able to see it before, even though they were heading it that direction. They can’t seem to get there.
Gobbles: I see something in the distance.
Lysithea: Can you be more descriptive?
Lysithea and Surina start walking towards the rock, with Gobbles giving them directions from the treetop. He loses sight of them when suddenly Surina and Lysithea come up to Gobbles in a tree.
Gobbles: Well that didn’t work.
The party decides to try to walk back to the beach.. and make it to Herman’s hut with no issues. They see Herman herding his cows into the pen.
Herman: *cackling* Got lost did ya?
Surina: Yeah, cause the trees kept repeating and repeating and repeating and repeating…
Lysithea: What’s up with this island?
Herman: I don’t know! That’s why I just stay with me and my cows. It’s the weird things that come at night.
Gobbles: Sticking with the cows is probably a good mooooove.
Lysithea: Oh my god…
Herman: Listen. Y’all still staying the night, right? Can’t get the boat out yet? I’ll pay you all to guard my cows in the nice gold currency that I have.
Lysithea: That’s very nonspecific but alright. We have nothing better to do.
Herman: It’s some buried treasure that I have.
Lysithea: Can you give us any information about what’s been happening to your cows?
Herman: They’ve been going missing!
Lysithea: I mean more specific than that.
Herman: No.
There are currently 8 cows. The party has time to prepare. They set up a barrier with some crates and things Herman had laying around, and place themselves strategically. Lysithea casts her Mage Armor as night falls. All is quiet when the party sees a Blue Dragon wyrmling and 2 perytons fly in. Gobbles and Lysithea duck behind their cover (stealth Gobbles 22, Lysithea 15). Surina and Draggy stand determined, side by side in front of the cow pen gate. Initiative (Gobbles 9, Lysithea 4, Surina 17, Draggy 15). Because of Draggy the party knows that Blue Dragons breathe lightning.
Saddle Up, Cowboy
One of the perytons divebombs Surina and gores her with its antlers, but it just clangs off of her armor. It tries to talon attack her, but it’s talons get blunted as they scrape against her armor (Nat 1). Surina swings back with her longsword, hitting the peryton with a 22 and doing 13 damage. She attacks again and hits with a 13, doing 10 additional damage. Draggy swings his ax at the peryton, hits with a 16 and does 10 damage, defeating the beast. Gobbles, still in the pen, creeps away from the cows and casts Eldritch Blast at the other peryton. He hits with a 16 and again with a 19. The twin thin beams of confetti do a total of 15 force damage. Because of the blessing of Bahamut the party understands when the dragon shouts “Get those cows!”
Surina: Oh no you don’t!
The wyrmling lines up with Draggy and Surina and uses its Dragon Breath. They roll a dex saving throw (Surina 19, Draggy Nat 20) and both succeed. Surina takes 10 damage. Draggy takes only 5 (resistant because he’s a blue dragon), but he can 5ft step towards the wyrmling. Lysithea, from behind a crate, casts Fire Bolt on the peryton, and spends a sorcery point to shoot twice. She hits with a 23 and a 16, doing a total of 11 fire damage. The peryton dives towards Surina with a 20, doing 10 damage. Surina swings her sword back at the beast and hits with a 15, slaying the beast with 13 damage. Draggy swings his sword at the wyrmling and hits with a Nat 20. He hits for 17 damage, then swings again, hitting with a 22 and doing another 12 damage. Gobbles pops 2 more Eldritch Blasts at the wyrmling, but misses both attacks. The wyrmling bites at Draggy, dealing him 8 damage (the lightning damage has no effect on Draggy). Lysithea casts Magic Missile as a second level spell at the wyrmling, doing 15 damage total. Out of the darkness walk 2 giant elks and a polar bear. Surina moves around and attacks the wyrmling, but misses. She swings again and hits with a Nat 20. She does a total of 17 damage and slays the wyrmling.
Surina: Bye bye forever!
The polar bear and the elks move in, but cannot reach the party because of a strategically placed barrier. The party delays until Surina can talk to the animals using her Ring of Animal Influence. She spends a charge and casts the spell on the polar bear, who fails its saving throw.
Surina: Would you please leave and stop attacking these poor cows?
The polar bear seems very less aggressive right now. Draggy chooses to delay again in hopes that they will stop attacking. One of the elks charges Surina but aims poorly and misses. The other elk charges in at Surina, but also misses. Gobbles casts Dissonant Whispers, scoops up some milk and whispers to one of the elks….
Gobbles: Milk is delicious. Go find some, but not from these cows.
The elk crit fails its saving throw. It takes 9 psychic damage and runs 40ft away from Gobbles. In its retreat Surina gets an attack of opportunity. She hits with a 25 and deals 12 damage to the elk, who is fleeing in terror from Gobbles. However, when Gobbles reaches his hand into the milk he notices that the once pure looking milk starts looking black and is getting thick in his fingers. From the barrels burst 2 large, black, oozing puddles.
Gobbles: What is this island? I think we really need to get off this island guys!
Lysithea rolls arcana (Nat 20) and knows everything about these puddles.
Lysithea: These are black puddings…
Gobbles: Mmm, pudding.
They are immune to acid, cold, lightning, and slashing. They cannot be stat changed. They are amorphous, and have a corrosive form. A creature that touches it or hits it with a melee attack within 5 feet takes acid damage. Any non-magical weapon corrodes. Lightning and slashing actually splits the oozes.
Lysithea: DON’T TOUCH THEM WITH ANYTHING BESIDES MAGIC! IT SPEWS ACID!
After a quick calculation she shouts…
Lysithea: IT’S GONNA GET HOT!
Fireball. Lysithea casts it where it hits both oozes and all of the crates, but none of the characters or the fences. The flames do 32 damage to both of the oozes, both of which failed their saving throw. One of the oozes attacks Gobbles, gelling through the fence to hit him. Fortunately its attack misses Gobbles, who dodges expertly with his tiny body. Surina attacks the elk, which is still bombarding her, and hits for 12 damage. She attacks again, hitting with a 24 and doing 9 more damage. The elk is defeated. The other elk runs off and so does the polar bear, but they just kind of disappear. Gobbles casts Green Flame Blade, turning his warhammer into a green-confetti flame. He hits with a 12 and activates Fury of the Small, doing 7 bludgeoning damage, an additional 5 damage, and an extra 2 fire damage, plus 7 fire damage to the adjacent ooze. The ooze splashes with the impact, dealing 7 acid damage to Gobbles. Lysithea casts Scorching Ray at the more damaged ooze. Her rays hit with a 12, 14, and 18, doing a total of 24 fire damage. The ooze attacks Gobbles and hits with a 23. Gobbles takes 6 bludgeoning damage and 24 acid damage. Gobbles reacts with Hellish Rebuke. The ooze succeeds its saving throw, but the 9 damage it takes defeats it. The pudding melts and bubbles down into a puddle of ooze and confetti.
Gobbles: I need an adult with bandages…
Lysithea: That was gross.
The looming darkness from whence the monsters have been emerging begins to condense into a singular form. Through the flames of Lysithea’s Fireball the party can see the shadows merge into a shape. The party hears this shaking, loud…
Shadow: MOOOOOOOO!
…as the largest shadow-cow steps forth from the darkness.
Lysithea: Well that’s something you don’t see everyday.
The “Moos” shake the earth.
Herman: KEEP IT DOWN OUT THERE! SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP!
Surina: BUT THERE’S A GIANT SHADOW COW!
In describing the scene, Kevin says “One Udder Angel” is playing in the background.
Surina runs over to Gobbles and uses Lay on Hands. She has 25 HP in her pool of healing power and lends all of it to Gobbles.
Gobbles: Thank you, Surina!
Thistle Winkle Frost: New friend, I think this is what I was scared of.
Gobbles: This is udderly terrifying.
Gobbles’s head suddenly feels a little lighter.
Gobbles: This is fine.. This is fine…Thistle Winkle Frost, you still there buddy? Hello?
The cow slowly makes its way towards the party, but doesn’t make it into attack range. Gobbles casts Bardic Inspiration on Surina, granting her an extra d6.
Gobbles: *to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush* Don’t let us get killed by the murder cow, murder cow, murder cow…
Gobbles then casts Eldritch Blast on the remaining ooze, dealing a total of 15 damage. Draggy attacks the ooze with his warhammer. His first attack hits with a 16 and does 14 damage. His second attack hits with a 17 and does 14 more damage. The ooze is defeated and collapses in a pile of goo.
Surina: Goodbye forever!
The splash from Draggy’s attack does 1 acidic damage to both Draggy and Gobbles, who are in the splash zone.
Lysithea: KILL IT WITH FIRE!
Lysithea’s Fireball lands on the Shadow Cow, which fails its saving throw. The Shadow Cow is enveloped by fire and takes 31 fire damage. Surina casts Hunter’s Mark on the shadow, followed by Bane. The Shadow Cow fails its saving throw, so for the next 10 rounds it must roll a d4 and subtract that from its attack or saving throw roll. The Shadow Cow moves forward and everyone has to make a dexterity saving throw (Gobbles 18, Surina adjusted 20, Lysithea 19). The players collectively sigh with relief. They will only take ½ damage to the Shadow Cow’s necrotic breath attack.
Cow: MoooOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Each party member takes 15 necrotic damage.
Lysithea and Gobbles simultaneously react with Hellish Rebuke. The cow fails its saving throw against both retaliations. It takes 6 damage from Gobbles, and 10 from Lysithea. Gobbles nopes out a little bit and backs up to the edge of the cow pen. He then uses Dissonant Whispers and whispers to the shadow…
Gobbles: These are real cows. You are not a real cow. You should go somewhere else.
It fails its saving throw, takes 13 psychic damage, and it runs 10 squares away from Gobbles (it’s technically not on the map anymore, but it is 70 ft away from Lysithea). Lysithea casts Scorching Ray at the shadow, hitting with a 24, adjusted 20, and a 23. Her attacks do a combined total of 23 fire damage. Surina moves towards the shadow cow and throws a javelin. She hits with a 22 and does 11 damage. She throws another javelin but misses. The Shadow Cow mooooves towards Surina and tries to bite her.
Surina: OH NO!
Surina’s Bane lowers the attack and it misses her. Gobbles cowers behind a cow and shoots Eldritch Blast twice. His first attack misses, but his second hits with a 13, doing 8 force damage. Draggy moves forward and swings his warhammer at the shadow, but misses both attacks. Lysithea casts Magic Missile as a 1st level spell and does a total of 7 damage. Surina attacks with her longsword and hits with a 21, doing 18 damage. She then casts Divine Smite as a 2nd level spell, dealing an additional 14 radiant damage. She attacks again, using Gobbles’s Bardic Inspiration, and hits with a 16 for 11 damage. She casts Divine Smite again as a 2nd level spell, doing 24 radiant damage. Surina brought its health from 89 to 22 in her one turn. The Shadow Cow attempts to bite Surina and hoof Draggy, but misses both attacks. The Shadow Cow takes a deep breath in and inhales all of the surrounding shadows, replenishing its breath weapon. Gobbles’s head suddenly feels a little heavier again. Gobbles casts Eldritch Blast 2 more times, hitting with 2 Nat 20s.
Thistle Winkle Frost: CHARGE NEW FRIEND!
His attacks do a combined total of 26 damage. Thistle Winkle Frost is seen riding one of the blasts like in the scene from Dr. Strangelove. The cow explodes! It begins raining milk on the surrounding area. All that’s left of the Shadow Cow is it’s bell that reads “Yoshi”. Lysithea picks up the bell and adds it to her collection.
Surina: Bye moo-moo cow! *tap dancing in the milk rain*
See You Later, Shadow Cowboy
Herman exits the hut.
Herman: What’s all that dang-nabbit noise? And why is it raining milk?
It’s suddenly day, and the once huge island has become a small island with just Herman’s hut, the oasis, and the grazing cows.
Lysithea: What in tarnation just happened?
Herman: Whelp, I guess y’all accomplished your goal.
The cows are completely safe.
Surina: *relieved* All of them are safe!
Gobbles: *petting a cow* I hope you all can appreciate what just happened here.
Surina: Gobbles! *like from a 70s/80s sitcom*
Cow (Thistle Winkle Frost): Well done.
Gobbles stops in surprise, thinking the cow just responded to him.
Gobbles: *speaking 5 octaves higher* Uh.. Okay. *skitters away*
Gobbles: So guys, when is the ship going to be not here?
They look off and the ship is safe in the water.
Surina: *starts jumping up and down* It’s sailing off without us!
Lysithea: No, I think they’re going to be just as surprised as we are.
Herman begins digging.
Herman: I’ve been saving this.
He pulls from the earth a huge chest and pops open the lid.
Herman: I promised you a golden reward.
It is a huge cheese filled with cheese. Magical cheese. The chest will never run out of cheese. The party now has infinite cheese in a giant chest.
Herman: This is the best type of cheese you’ve ever had.
Gobbles: *bows down to him* This is the greatest reward we could ever have hoped for. I hope you and your cows fly on the wings of eagles.
Lysithea: You know what, that wasn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened. Thank you for the food. *trying to remain calm because she secretly loves cheese*
Herman: Now get off my island!
Lysithea: With pleasure.
The party makes it back to the ship with a chest of infinite cheese. As they sail away and look back the island shimmers out of existence. Strange lizards are crawling all over the ship.
Rouge: I don’t know what to do! We throw them off and then they’re back! I don’t know what’s happening! We were crashed on the island, then suddenly fine in the water! I’m so confused…
Lysithea: I will do my best to explain this to you.
Will the party ever get to the musical festival in Ryphyet? End Session
CheckOut
Spotlight on Another Player:
- Cordelia: Kevin’s weirdness.
- Kevin: Justice for an island of cheese incorporated, that flawless victory. You incorporated in 2 seconds all the ridiculous rumors we came up with. That was absolutely fantastic.
- Miranda: Both kids. Victor actually participated a little bit. Cordelia’s roleplaying today was just excellent. I really enjoyed your character being spazzy like she is. It was amazing.
- Justice: Cordelia remembering that she had her Ring of Animal Influence that she could use. I gave it to her and forgot that it was a thing.
Challenge/Something Learned:
- Cordelia: Defeating a Shadow Cow.
- Kevin: Cows and pudding hurt.
- Miranda: A challenge for me today was balancing Victor’s neediness (just had surgery) with play.
- Justice: You know I’m good at it, but improving an entire adventure sometimes with people dropping out and coming up with the encounters and challenge ratings.
Prediction/Hope for Next Session:
- Cordelia: The music festival!
- Kevin: The music festival. We have tickets that so far haven’t caught on fire.
- Miranda: I hope people can participate so that we can see what this music festival is.
- Justice: You know what? The music festival. Cause I’ve been saving up all the puns I’m going to use for band names. I have a program made out!
Analysis: What an amazing session! Both kids actively participated, plus cow puns! I’m not sure what was different, but Cordelia had so much fun this session! She not only talked as her character but acted as well! Everytime she spoke she was acting, quite hyperly and spazzily. She was completely in her element. She did have one setback mid-battle, though. When she had Surina move towards Gobbles to heal him she accidentally said “javelin” instead of “Lay on Hands” and she had a momentary shut down. Cordelia has anxiety, so her little mistake was a big deal to her. I had her take some deep breaths and walk away for a minute to collect herself, and then we were able to calm and redirect her. The second she started feeling better she got right back into character and healed Gobbles. She had fun the rest of the session, and didn’t think about her mistake again (at least I hope). We were all so proud of her. She’s been repeating some of the things she said in game in play the past few days, with “Bye bye forever” being her favorite. I hope she can do this again next session.