Check In Question: What would be the symbol on your calling card?
- Miranda: My would involve a violin with Mickey Mouse ears on the scroll and the Cardcaptor wand as the bow and dice all around it. Lysithea’s would be a book inside a purple Fireball, but the book is not on fire – it is the Fireball.
- Kevin: It’s going to be me in a yellow tuxedo giving double thumbs up. Gobbles would be Bahamut with Thistle sitting on his head.
- Justice: Mine would be a DM screen but with instruments and music notes on it. Gordon Clamson’s would be a clam with a dagger shucking it.
- Cordelia: Mine would be a painter’s palette with a paintbrush going across it. Surina’s would be a sword and shield.
When we last left the party they had set the plains on fire (Lysithea: I put them out!), chargrilled some Gnolls and exploded a Giff, who had attacked a caravan. After experiencing the village of Ucun the party left with Samuel of the Otterace and his son hoping to find passage up river to the jungle. It was on their way to Ortunia, the city of the Otterace, that they encountered the bandit Gnolls and Giff.
Samuel takes a look around at scorched earth and the defeated bandits.
Samuel: Well, I need to get back to my son. You all can clean up here.
Lysithea: Hold on a second! We won’t know where to go if you leave!
Samuel: Good point.
Gobbles walks over to inspect the body of the Giff. All of the pistols and gunpowder on his person have exploded, but it is still possible to make out parts of his nice clothes. There is a patch on his clothing that indicates he was part of the Pishka Mercenary Company. Gobbles rips the patch off, which looks like a container with gold pieces going into it next to a P, and gives it to Lysithea to put in her evidence bag. There is nothing of note on the Gnolls.
They next inspect the ransacked trading caravan. It was once full of supplies, but all of it had been rummaged through by the Gnolls as if they were looking for something. Unfortunately there were no survivors of the attack. As the party looks for some way to identify the bodies Samuel walks over.
Samuel: That happens occasionally. This area has a lot of bandit attacks. It’s not safe to trade here.
Lysithea: What do you normally do when this happens? Do you just leave the caravans?
Samuel: Oh, yes. We can’t use it. Nature takes it.
Lysithea: Do you report it to anyone?
Samuel: To who?
Lysithea: I don’t know, maybe the people of Ucun?
Samuel: This happens too often to report every single attack.
The party feels uncomfortable just leaving the caravan, so Octavia volunteers to run back to Ucun to report the attack.
Gobbles: So the mercenary group and the Gnolls are working together. Is that, like, a new thing?
Lysithea: That’s a good question.
Samuel: Well, the Gnolls, you know, they’re very chaotic and will attack anything. So yes, that is something new.
Lysithea: It looks like they were looking for something specific, and it must be something important if they were working together.
Gobbles: The question is was it something specific to this caravan itself, or are they having some kind of ridiculousness going on where they’re setting up caravans to come through here where they can ambush them?
Lysithea: Exactly. They don’t know which caravan whatever it is they are looking for is on so they are attacking all of them. That seems important. (Investigation 14) It does seem odd that there is a river nearby, and that trade goes up and down the river, and yet here is a caravan transporting things on land just a mile from the river when the river would have been faster. That seems weird.
Samuel: You do have a point. Usually to avoid bandits and things like this they would take the river. *shrugs*
Lysithea: What do you know about this mercenary company?
Samuel: Oh, the Giffs, they are from the other side of the river. We’ve seen them about but they’ve caused us no trouble. They know better. Shall we get back to your wagon and my son?
Samuel leads the party back to the undisturbed wagon with the sleeping Professor and K’un-Lun inside. The other Otterace who informed Samuel of the attack were standing guard.
Otterace: Has it been taken care of?
Samuel: Yes.
Together they continue towards the river. The sounds of the rushing river can be heard long before the river is seen. As the river comes into view the party notes the distinct lack of a city. Lysithea is assuming something strange is about to happen and waits for it to be revealed instead of asking questions. On the edge of the riverbank is a slew of Otterace, who run to Samuel when they see him approaching.
Otterace: It’s been stolen! It’s been stolen!
Samuel: What?
Otterace: The pearl! The clam!
Samuel: What do you mean?
Otterace: There were more bandit attacks and we sent the guards to take care of it. When they came back they found it was stolen! Gordon followed them. It was the Red Mist!
Gobbles: Is that a mist or the name of the group?
Otterace: It is a group. Thieving, conniving group. They make their base up in the hills.
Lysithea: Why… are there so many bandits and things in this area where there’s almost nothing? There’s no major cities, no giant towns, and just ALL of the bandits?
Lysithea, in her studies, has heard of the Red Mist before. They are an old group with a symbol made of red and fire.
Samuel: Friends, friends, here’s the big deal. This pearl gives us the magic power to go, to travel on the river.
Lysithea: That seems important.
Samuel: Yes, and to help you we would need this pearl back.
Lysithea: And you’re sure it was the Red Mist?
One of the Otterace holds up a calling card left by the bandits. The card, which is not magic in any way, is a bright, burning red with the symbol of fire on it.
Lysithea: Well, they’re obviously cocky enough to leave a card thinking that they’ve completely succeeded.
Gobbles: Or it’s a red herring.
Samuel: Hold on, let me show you our city so that you can see why this is so important.
Lysithea: It seems important already.
Samuel dives into the water and, after a few minutes, a magic door opens on the river side leading down into the river. Gobbles fits into the door no problem. Lysithea has to duck to fit, and Surina has to squeeze her way in.
Samuel: Welcome to Otunia, our city.
The magical underwater city is almost a bubble at the bottom of the river. There are hundreds of dens, homes to the Otterace. Children are seen running around, playing. There are tiny holes leading out of the city that the otters can safely use to exit into the river.
Samuel: Usually the only way to get in from land…
He walks over to a lever, which controls the magic that allowed the party to enter.
Lysithea: So the only way to get in is from within already. Which means there’s either a traitor here or the bandits figured out another way to get in.
Samuel: We thought we were careful. And the news that Gordon, oh, good Gordon, he’s our top soldier out here, he’s out there tracking them. But, seeing as how you all are adventurers… The problem is, we’re now down some of our guards. They’re still off dealing with bandits, as you can see.
Looking around the party sees no guards, just women, children, and the elderly.
Samuel: Without the pearl, we’re kind of defenseless.
Lysithea: So the pearl also provides defense?
Samuel: Well, the pearl provides us our magical protections and whatnot. And it’s our sacred pearl.
Samuel leads the party to the temple of Otunia. The walls of the giant temple are dripping with graceful water. Gobbles gets a familiar feeling upon entering the temple (wisdom 17). There is Fey magic here, or there was Fey magic here. Gobbles can tell that the Fey magic came from the pearl itself, and that the Fey magic lifted these creatures up, granting them sentience and intelligence. Samuel leads them to a pedestal where the clam shell with the pearl used to be.
Gobbles: Has anyone been hanging around the shell, maybe acting otter than they usually are? I mean, all of you may be seeming otter soon.
Samuel: So, if we could get help guarding our place… young lady *motions to Surina* would you help guard our place while your friends go and help get our pearl back?
Surina nods with assurity.
Lysithea: Yes, our strongest person will stay here to protect you.
Gobbles: Surina, also convert them to Bahamut. If there’s time.
Samuel: Don’t worry, Gordon will be there to help you.
Seeing how much damage Samuel did to the bandits as only a fisherman, Lysithea is actually comforted knowing that an Otterace soldier will be there to assist.
Samuel rolls out a detailed map of the riverside and points to the exact location of the Red Mist base. Curious, Lysithea pulls out some of Professor’s maps to compare. Otunia is not on any of Professor’s maps. When comparing the location of the base, there is a town on Professor’s maps where the Otterace say where the base is. Lysithea points this out to Samuel.
Samuel: It’s a.. I mean… have you been to that town? We tried to trade with them, but there’s usually no one there.
Lysithea: Abandoned town? Ghost town?
Gobbles: Free town!
Samuel: There’s no ghosts there. We sent some traders there once or twice, but no one wanted to trade. Then they started getting attacked. Yup, that’s where the bandits are. The people we saw look like her *points to Surina* but red. Some of them were small like me, and others tall like her.
Lysithea: So Kobolds and Dragonborn, and they’re all red.
Gobbles: I guess they are all less than friendly.
Lysithea: And resistant to fire…
Professor and KL are still sound asleep, Octavia is on her way to Ucun, and Surina is settling in to help guard Ortunia, so Lysithea and Gobbles head out towards the bandit base. Lysithea is not feeling very confident, knowing that it will just be her, Gobbles, and this Gordon fellow infiltrating a bandit base full of Kobolds and Dragonborn.
There are small paths leading to the village where the bandit base lies. As they get closer signs of “BEWARE” and “KEEP OUT” begin to appear, each with the fire symbol painted on them.
Lysithea: This is clearly the right place.
They get to the town, which has a few houses made of mud. A red Dragonborn walks up to the party as they enter the town.
Dragonborn: We don’t want any! We don’t want any! Shoo!
Gobbles takes out the Red Mist calling card and holds it up for the Dragonborn to see.
Gobbles: Oh no, it’s fine. We’re good. Here’s my season pass. (deception 22)
Dragonborn: Season…pass?
Gobbles: Yeah, exactly. Thanks!
Gobbles tries to continue walking past the Dragonborn.
Dragonborn: But…*in Draconic* I didn’t know we recruited any non-dragon type…
Thanks to the blessing of Bahamut the party can understand what the Dragonborn is saying.
Dragonborn: I assume you know where to go, then?
Gobbles: Yup!
The Dragonborn nods, then leans back on his big sword. (Arcana Gobbles adjusted 20, Lysithea 19) Behind the Dragonborn is a box, which is giving off a weird feeling. The Dragonborn is definitely hiding something magical, but they decide to not stick around to find out what. They nonchalantly walk away from the Dragonborn when they hear a “pssst”. They look around and find an Otterace peeking up from a grassy area outside a building, motioning for them to follow.
Gordon: *whispering* Good thinking about those draygons. Good thinking.
Gobbles: Hi, I’m Gobbles the Goblin. Nice to meet you.
Gordon: I’m Gordon. Good to meet you.
Unlike Samuel, who was pretty much naked except for his fishing gear, Gordon is dressed for stealth, and has a belt with daggers. With a scar between his eyes he looks very formidable. The rest of the Otterace looked pretty cute and docile, but Gordon looks like the fierce predator that otters are.
Gordon: The Red Mist don’t get any non-draygons, though, so you’re here to get them, too?
Lysithea: We were sent by your village to help you reclaim your clam.
Gordon: Good. Good. Follow me.
Gobbles mentions the magical sensation coming from the box.
Gordon: Oh, I saw that, too. They are crafty things, those draygons. They have magic. You know those snakes that are tasty and yummy?
Gobbles: Snakes, yes.
Gordon: These aren’t. They’re metal. Metal snakes.
Lysithea: Where’s Professor when you need him?
Gordon jumps up and opens the door of the building, then slithers inside. The outside of the building was meant to look like a home, but inside there is simply a ladder leading straight down.
Lysithea: Oh look, there’s the hideout.
Gordon: If you would have gone into any of the other buildings they would have blown you up.
Lysithea: How long have you been staking this place out?
Gordon: I know about this place. We know about the draygons.
Gobbles: That’s an answer.
Gordon: They aren’t supposed to bother us, and we aren’t supposed to bother them.
Gobbles: Who made that arrangement?
Gordon: Our village Elder and the draygons.
The party realizes that they did not meet the village elder.
Gobbles: Do you know the name of the dragon, the draygon leader?
Gordon: They just go by The Red Mist.
Gobbles heads inside the building, then crawls down the ladder head first.
At this point Justice leaves the DM seat and Cordelia takes over. We have entered a dungeon of her creation, and she will lead us through it. Justice will be playing as Gordon Clamson, an Otterace rogue. And so the heroes enter the lair of the Red Mist…
Gobbles finds himself in a room lit by torch light. The walls are covered in moss, and there are 2 doors – one to the right and one to the left. Gobbles moves out of the way of the ladder so that the others can follow, but as he takes a step a fire wall shoots from the ground, cornering Gobbles. Gobbles goes rigid, trying to stay perfectly still so that he doesn’t get burned.
Gobbles: Ah… I need an adult!
Lysithea climbs down the ladder and assesses the situation. She looks at where Gobbles is standing, realizing he’s standing on a trigger of some kind.
Lysithea: Gobbles, come take a step towards me.
Gobbles looks where he’s standing and realizes he’s on a pressure plate. He looks around to make sure there aren’t any others (perception 25), and, not seeing any more pressure plates, gingerly moves towards Lysithea. As soon as he steps off the plate the flames go out.
Lysithea: Okay, so don’t step there again.
With the fire out, Gordon slides down the ladder. They can easily see a few barrels off to the side of the room. Gobbles very carefully peers into one of the barrels. He is relieved to find food, mostly meat. Without checking to see if it’s cooked or to inspect what kind of meat it is Gobbles takes a bite (constitution save 16).
Lysithea: Oh my gosh, Gobbles!
Luckily Gobbles is fine. They look left, then right, inspecting the doors.
Lysithea: There’s 2 doors and Surina is not here to knock on them! Last time I knocked on a door it tried to eat me. Hmmm… Eenie, meenie, miney, Gordon which way should we go?
Gordon scurries to the door on the right and puts his ear to it (perception 12) and hears some voices speaking Common.
Gordon: *hushed tone* Well, there’s speaking on the other side of this door.
Taking a clue from Gordon, Lysithea goes to the door on the left and puts her ear to it (perception 17). She hears clicking, and the sound of metal scraping on metal.
Lysithea: Oh, I hear… that’s not a pleasant sound. There’s metal on metal coming from this room. Could those be those metal snake things you were talking about?
Gordon: Probably, or some other contraption they have.
Lysithea: Is this something we want to take care of before we continue? Or do we want to take care of the speaking people? Cause either way we’re about to get in a scuffle, me-thinks.
Cordelia begins to maniacally laugh at this point.
Gobbles: So the speaking things are likely more intelligent than clickity-clack things, and since we can hear them talking, these are not sound proof walls.
Lysithea: Could you hear what they are saying?
Gordon: Oh, they are talking about stupid things. They’re just bragging. They seem not-intelligent.
The party decides to take care of the talking people first, knowing they would come running if they heard a scuffle with whatever mechanical contraption lies in the other room. Gobbles and Lysithea move the barrels of meat to block the door of the metal sounds just to make sure they don’t break through before they are ready to fight them. Lysithea casts her Mage Armor in anticipation. The line up by the door to the right and prepare to stealthily open it (stealth Gobbles 11, Lysithea 19, Gordon 21). Sitting around a table are two red Dragonborn and one red Kobold, all wearing the Red Mist symbol on their armor. As the door opens, Gordon and Lysithea are able to remain hidden, but the creatures immediately notice Gobbles.
Kobold: Hey! Who are you?
Gobbles: Hi, I’m Gobbles the Goblin. Nice to meet you.
Lysithea facepalms silently in the shadows. Gobbles pulls out the Red Mist calling card and holds it up, clearly making the dragon shape of Bahamut on his shield visible. The Red Mist does not like Bahamut and they prepare to attack.
Begin Fight
(Initiative Gobbles 15, Lysithea 10, Gordon 8) Gobbles, recognizing that these people are not friendly, casts Shield of Faith on himself as a bonus action.
Cordelia begins to whisper, “This is so cool, this is so cool!” to herself behind the DM screen.
Gobbles scurries into the room and (athletics 10) hops up on the table they are sitting at. He then casts Arms of Hadar! Three pool noodle tendrils lash out and begin to bash the Kobold and 2 Dragonborn. The targets are able to avoid most of the trashing and only take 3 damage each.
Gobbles: Ruh-roh…
Gobbles realizes that the attack did not have as much of an effect as he was hoping and that he is now standing on a table, surrounded.
Gobbles: Do any of you guys want to convert to Bahamut now?
The Kobold lets out a Draconic Roar to bolster his allies, then takes out his shortbow and fires at Gobbles (attack Nat 1); however, as the Kobold goes to fire at Gobbles he releases the string and the arrow falls flat to the floor. The Kobold fires again (attack 12), but the arrow plinks off of Gobbles’s armor. One of the Dragonborn takes a swing at Gobbles with his battleaxe (attack 22), but Gobbles blocks the attack. The Dragonborn swings again (attack Nat 20) and cleaves into Gobbles for 18 damage.
Gobbles: I need an adult!
The second Dragonborn tries to stab Gobbles with his axe (attack 22), but Gobbles is able to dodge the attack. He lunges at Gobbles again (attack 24), but Gobbles casts Shield as a reaction and blocks the attack. Lysithea moves into the doorframe, leaving enough room for Gordon to enter. Knowing that these creatures are resistant to fire, she casts Ray of Sickness on the Kobold (attack 19). The Kobold takes 10 poison damage (constitution save 19) but is able to withstand the effects of the poison. Gordon scurries under Lysithea’s legs into the room right behind one of the Dragonborn. With one of his shortswords he stabs the Dragonborn (attack 18) for 22 damage. Gobbles, recovering from the massive blow he took, points his finger at the second Dragonborn and casts Guiding Bolt (attack 18). The Dragonborn takes 19 radiant damage and begins to glow like a disco ball.
Gobbles: Stab this guy in the stab hole!
With his shout, Gobbles casts Bardic Inspiration on Gordon. The Kobold fires at Gobbles with his shortbow (attack 14), but the arrow goes wide. He fires at Gobbles again (attack 18), but Gobbles ducks out of the way. The first Dragonborn swings at Gobbles (attack 25), but once again Gobbles reacts with Shield to block the attack. The Dragonborn attacks at Gobbles again, but Gobbles’s shield deflects the blow. The second Dragonborn swings twice at Gobbles, but Gobbles is safely hiding under his shield. Lysithea casts Chill Touch on the second Dragonborn (attack 15), but the spell does not penetrate his armor. Gordon moves his shortsword to his left hand and in his right hand a psychic blade forms. He stabs at the second Dragonborn with his Soulknife (attack 26) for 23 damage. When Gordon pulls the Soulknife out of the Dragonborn no trace of contact exists. With his bonus action he stabs with his shortsword (attack 21) for 12 more damage. The Dragonborn is barely standing.
Gobbles activates Green Flame Blade and swings his warhammer at the second Dragonborn (attack 16), but the Dragonborn dodges the attack. The Kobold shifts his focus and fires at Lysithea (attack Nat 1), but the arrow shoots straight backwards, landing in the wall behind him. The Kobold shoots at Lysithea again (attack 14), but her Cloak of Displacement causes her to phase out and the Kobold misses. The first Dragonborn swings at Gobbles (attack 19, 25), hitting once for 14 damage. The second Dragonborn tries to take Gobbles down, but Gobbles dodges both attacks. Lysithea fires Fire Bolt at the second Dragonborn (attack 22) for 16 fire damage. Even though the Dragonborn is resistant to fire damage it falls down, defeated.
Lysithea: Goodbye forever!
Gordon moves to one of the corners of the room and reaches around to stab at the Kobold (attack 16) for 18 damage. He stabs again with his Soulknife (attack 19) for an additional 7 damage.
Gobbles: *singing* Gobbles, bleeding to death in a dungeon!
Gobbles casts Hexblade’s Curse on the Kobold, followed by Toll the Dead (wisdom save 14) but nothing happens. The Kobold shoots at Lysithea with his shortbow (attack 12, 11) but Lysithea phases out and both arrows miss. The remaining Dragonborn swings at Gobbles (attack 17) but Gobbles’s shield protects him. As the Dragonborn raises his axe to cleave into Gobbles again (attack Nat 1) the axe slides out of his hands, landing on the floor behind him.
At this point Cordelia forgot that Dragonborn 2 was defeated and thought it was his turn. Realizing her mistake she put her hands in her face and we thought she was going to shut down; however, she recovered almost immediately and resumed the fight.
Lysithea casts Chill Touch on the remaining Dragonborn (attack 26) dealing 11 necrotic damage. Gordon stabs at the Kobold from around the corner (attack 18) for 22 damage. As the Kobold falls down defeated, Gordon runs behind the remaining Dragonborn and stabs at him (attack 21) for 9 damage. Gobbles leaps off the table and lands directly in front of the Dragonborn. He then casts Toll the Dead (wisdom save 9) and a huge bell rings out, dealing 18 necrotic damage to the Dragonborn. The Dragonborn turns around, picks up his greataxe, and swings at Gordon (attack 15), hitting for 12 damage. He swings at Gordon again (attack Nat 1), but he aims too high and swings way over Gordon’s head. Lysithea casts Ray of Sickness on the Dragonborn (attack 24) for 5 poison damage (constitution save 11), and he is now poisoned until his next turn. Gordon stabs the Dragonborn (attack 18) for 26 damage, then again (attack 21) for 8 more damage.
Gobbles attempts Toll the Dead again (wisdom save 15), and a bell rings faintly, but nothing happens. The Dragonborn, annoyed by the tiny bell that tried to hurt him, turns around and swings at Gobbles (attack 13, 8) but misses. Lysithea casts Chill Touch on the Dragonborn (attack 17) but cannot penetrate the armor. Gordon tries to stab at the Dragonborn (attack 16) but misses. He stabs again with his Soulknife (attack 21) and, dealing 23 damage, takes down the Dragonborn.
End Fight
The party takes a moment to breathe after the difficult fight. After catching their breath they proceed to search the room and the bodies. They are able to find a little bit of money and a key in the pockets of one of the Dragonborn. Gobbles eyes the greataxes the Dragonborns were using, but after careful consideration, realizes they are too big for him to use. He does, however, take one of the tabards with the Red Mist symbol the Dragonborns were wearing and puts it on. Lysithea looks at Gobbles wearing the way too big tabard, then looks at the one the Kobold was wearing.
Lysithea: Gobbles, dear, this one would actually fit you over here.
Gobbles: But this one’s bigger! Provides more protection.
Lysithea: I need you to not trip as you run and scurry.
Gobbles: I guess…
Gobbles reluctantly switches to the Kobold’s tabard, which fits him perfectly.
Gordon: That’s a smart idea.
Gordon takes his sword and hacks at one of the Dragonborn tabards, cutting it until it fits him.
Lysithea: I guess we’re playing dress up now.
Lysithea takes the last tabard, which fits her just fine.
Gordon: So, to the other door?
Lysithea: Yeah, let’s go take care of whatever that is now so that it doesn’t come after us later.
Lysithea and Gobbles move the barrels of meat out of the way, placing one of the barrels at the base of the ladder in case the Dragonborn from outside decides to come down. Gobbles, with his Shield of Faith still up, tries to open the door but it is locked. Gordon takes the key they just found and unlocks the door. The door creaks open slowly and the party catches glimpses of two iron cobras that have been activated.
Lysithea: Always with the snakes!
Gobbles: Pets! So we’re going to keep these and give them to the Professor.
Lysithea: He can make his own snakes.
Begin Snake Fight
Gobbles pops into the room and casts Word of Radiance (constitution saving throw Cobra 1 21, Cobra 2 adjusted 20), but the cobras are able to withstand the attack. (Arcana Gobbles 14) Gobbles realizes that because these are magical constructs they are strong against magic.
Gobbles: *singing* They will resist our magic! We gotta punch them with magic!
Lysithea: Punch with magic?
Gordon: Oh, I can do that!
Gobbles: Punch with magical thingies but they’re strong against spells.
The cobra on the right makes a strike at Gobbles (attack 16) but misses. Lysithea positions herself in the doorway and casts Scorching Ray (attack 23, 23, 11). The first 2 rays hit the cobra on the left for 13 fire damage, but it scurries out of the way before the third ray hits. The scorched cobra lashes out at the creature closest to it, which happens to be Gobbles (attack 16), but he dodges the attack. Gordon sheathes his shortsword and gets behind the cobra on the left. In the hand the shortsword was in another psychic blade forms. Gordon stabs the blade into the cobra (attack 17) for 23 damage. Gobbles fires Confetti Eldritch Blasts at the same cobra (attack 22) for 12 damage. The impact of the blast causes the cobra to fall apart. The remaining cobra lunges to bite Gobbles (attack adjusted 20) but Gobbles’s shield absorbs the impact. Lysithea casts Fire Bolt as a twinned spell (attack 14, 18), hitting the cobra twice for 14 fire damage. Gordon climbs over a chest to get into flanking position and stabs the cobra with his Soulknife (attack 21) for 18 damage. Gobbles tries to attack the cobra (attack 12) but misses. The cobra realizes that Gobbles is too wiggly of a target and turns to attack Gordon (attack Nat 20). The cobra bites its fangs into Gordon, dealing 9 damage (constitution saving throw 5) and paralyzes him. Lysithea shoots another Fire Bolt at the cobra (attack 13) and hits for 11 fire damage. Gordon centers himself and is able to shake off the paralysis. Gobbles pops out more Confetti Eldritch Blasts (attack adjusted 20, 19), hitting the cobra for 6 force damage. The cobra short circuits and falls over.
End Snake Fight
With the iron cobras now broken the party inspects the chest that Gordon climbed over. There is a note on top which reads, “Only for Sabe. Do not open.” The party checks the chest for trap (arcana Lysithea 8, perception Gobbles 11, Gordon 21) but do not find any.
Gordon: I say we just open it.
Gobbles: You have the honor. *hides around the corner*
Lysithea: Go for it, guy! *prepares a spell*
Gordon leaps into the air and belly flops onto the chest, popping it open. Inside the chest is a small Warhammer of Warning.
Gordon: Well I don’t use these weapons.
Gobbles peeks out from behind the corner…
Gobbles: Ooh, what is that?
… and scurries over to the chest. Gobbles goes very wide eyed as he picks up the tiny warhammer, which fits him perfectly, and holds it over his head Legend of Zelda style.
Cordelia was so excited to put this item in the dungeon for Gobbles. She had been planning on leaving an item for Gobbles from the beginning. She did leave items for the rest of the party, inspired by the items found in the jackal tomb, but they were an afterthought.
Gobbles: Oh my gaaawww…
Gobbles, with his eyes fixed on his new weapon, hands his old, trusty warhammer that has been with him for countless adventures over to Lysithea.
Lysithea: What am I supposed to do with this?
Gobbles: This warhammer has now been blessed by my god to give you the same benefit.
Gobbles will now gift his cleric advantage on initiative to other party members, but only if they are carrying his old warhammer.
We had a brief discussion on whether we wanted to stop here for today or keep going. Cordelia immediately interjected, “KEEP GOING!” We agreed, but also reminded her that we are not finishing the dungeon today and that she will get to DM again next week. This also includes asking the check-in question, to which she gasped with delight.
The party inspects the rest of the room, but there is nothing else inside. They head back to the room with the Kobold and Dragonborns.
Gordon: I guess these tabards didn’t help with the snakes. Does anyone have anything? I’m hurting.
Gobbles: Do we want to rest and catch our breath?
Lysithea: That’s probably a good idea.
Gordon: Those things, I told you they’re not edible.
The party decides to take a short rest. Gordon sits quietly and recovers a bit. Lysithea sits with the iron cobras and takes notes on their mechanics, abilities, and how they were built. Gobbles takes one of the cobras and places it into the barrel of meat by the ladder, fixing it with it’s mouth open so that it will pierce the next person to climb down the ladder. After an hour the party heads towards the next door. Gordon decides to sniff the air around the door before opening it (perception 23), and smells something rancid coming from the next room. Lysithea puts her door to the ear to see if she can hear what’s causing the odor (perception 15) and hears nothing.
Lysithea: I hear nothing. That’s concerning.
Gordon: It smells really bad, though.
Lysithea: What kind of bad?
Gordon: Disgusting. Foul. Fouler than *points to dead Kobold and Dragonborn*…
Lysithea: Well, I guess we should open the door…
The door is not locked and the party enters the room. There is a set of double doors immediately to the left, and a kitchen further in, complete with stove and food storage. Gobbles is worried about more pressure plates, so he investigates the floor as he enters (investigation 12). Not noticing anything, Gobbles runs into the room. When he reaches the back corner a hoard of rotten food drops down from the ceiling onto Gobbles (constitution save 5). Gobbles is now poisoned, being covered with rotten fruits, veggies, and spoiled meat.
Gobbles: What is this? *takes a bite*
Lysithea: *disgusted* Oh, Gobbles!
(Constitution save 11) Somehow Gobbles is fine after ingesting the rotten food.
Gobbles: I don’t know, this food is only medium tasty.
Lysithea: What is wrong with you?!
Gobbles: I don’t know. Is that not how it works?
Lysithea, stepping around the spoiled food, inspects the trap. She discovers that Gobbles had stepped on a switch, which caused a box rigged to the ceiling to tip over and dump the contents on him.
This trap was pure Cordelia. I’m not sure what inspired it, but it was completely of her own design. She was very happy that Gobbles was the one to activate it.
They hear Thistle groan as he shakes off some of the slime from the rotten food. Gobbles offers him some of the rotten food.
Thistle: Blech…This is like something I would make, new friend. This is my type of trap.
Gobbles finally uses Prestidigitation to clean himself and Thistle up. Gobbles then takes some of the rotten oranges and starts squeezing the juice onto his armor. Gordon, who has not experienced Gobbles before, looks on in horror.
Gordon: No wonder they could tell when you opened the door.
They inspect the rest of the kitchen, finding nothing of significance. Gobbles was extra thorough and climbed into the oven to inspect it. Upon finding nothing they decide to proceed through the double doors. The two giant, wooden doors open up to a pantry, with a crate and keg inside.
Cordelia begins laughing diabolically to herself.
Gordon: Oh, I could use a drink.
Gordon walks into the pantry, grabs a mug, and gets ready to pour himself a drink.
Lysithea: Based on the rotten food that just fell, I’m not in the mood to eat or drink anything.
Gordon: I need something to wash the smell out.
Lysithea: Wait!
As Gordon begins to pour his drink a tongue leaps out from the keg and grabs Gordon.
Lysithea: Not these things again!
(Initiative Gobbles adjusted 20, Lysithea Nat20+2, Gordon 17)
Mimics!
Gordon: Help! Help!
Lysithea: Next time let me test it with magic before you touch something!
Lysithea, from the opposite side of the doors, fires a Fire Bolt at the keg mimc (attack 17), hitting it for 17 fire damage. Gobbles runs into the doorway and casts Toll the Dead (wisdom save 8). A loud bell begins to ring, damaging the mimic for 14 necrotic damage. Gordon wiggles and struggles (athletics 18) and manages to escape the mimic’s grasp. He grabs his shortsword and swings at the keg (attack Nat 1), but the mimic grabs onto the sword.
Gordon: What is this thing?
Gobbles: Call them “Sticky Bandits”.
Gordon and the keg are now playing tug-of-war with the shortsword. The mimic pulls hard and chomps down on Gordon (attack 22), dealing 6 piercing and 2 acid damage.
Gordon: Ow! Who designs these places?
Lysithea: Very imaginative people.
Lysithea sends out another Fire Bolt (attack 15), hitting for 11 fire damage. Gobbles casts Toll the Dead (wisdom save 15), accompanied by the sound of Thistle ringing a tiny bell, but the mimic is able to withstand the sound. Gordon is still battling with the mimic for his shortsword when suddenly…
Gordon: Oh, duh!
Gordon releases the shortsword and summons his Soulknife in his hand. He pierces the mimic (attack 25) for 6 damage. The mimic is excited it won tug-of-war, but angry that it got stabbed, so it drops the shortsword and grabs onto Gordon (attack 14) and squeezes him for 7 damage. Lysithea, ready to be rid of the mimc, blasts a giant Fire Bolt at it (attack Nat 20). The mass of flames hit the target for 29 damage, and the mimic releases Gordon as it falls down, dead.
Lysithea: Okay, so Otter-guy, those things are mimics and if there’s one, my guess is there’s probably another. So just back away slowly from anything in the room..
Gordon: I see. Yes…
Gordon starts backing away slowly, but Gobbles rushes in and starts climbing on the crate to get a better view.
Lysithea: Gobbles, no! You’ve learned nothing! We have Mage Hands!
Gobbles: I also have Goblin-feets!
Gobbles is about halfway up the crate when the mimic grabs onto him.
Gobbles: I found it!
Gobbles places both hands on the mimic and fires Confetti Eldritch Blasts (attack 10, Nat 20), hitting once for 7 damage.
Thistle: Good idea, new friend! Let’s blow them up from the inside!
Gordon moves in and stabs at the crate mimic (attack 5, 19). His first swing goes wide, but the second attack hits for 20 damage. The mimic pulls Gobbles in and bites into him (attack 17), but its teeth cannot pierce Gobbles’s armor.
Lysithea: *singing* Kill everything with fire!
She shoots a Fire Bolt at the mimic (attack 15) for 10 fire damage. Gobbles takes a minute to think of something that is clearly (not) crucial to this moment in time.
Gobbles: Oh yeah, those Dragonborn were wearing full plate. We should take those when we go. *looks at the mimic* Oh yeah!
He fires 2 Confetti Eldritch Blasts at the mimic (attack 13, adjusted 20), hitting for 13 force damage. Gordon stabs at the mimic with psychic blades in both hands (attack 11, 26), missing with the right, but hitting with the left for 18 damage. The mimic releases Gobbles as it dies.
No More Mimics
With the mimics defeated the party begins to thoroughly inspect the pantry. They only find food, some rotting, some fresh. There are no doors or other exits.
Lysithea: Gobbles, I think it’s time for you to use your superpower and start poking everything.
Gobbles proceeds to poke everywhere on the walls and floor all the way back to the entrance when he comes across a knob hidden in the wall.
Gobbles: Hey guys, I think there’s a door here.
What else will the party find in the base of the Red Mist? End Session.
Check Out
Spotlight on Another Player:
- Miranda: Cordelia for how quickly she recovered when she made mistakes. She didn’t let her mistakes get her down.
- Kevin: Cordelia, of course. I like how she kept the second mimic back and let us trap ourselves on it. Also, the trap with the rotten food was very, very funny. And also the warhammer is very appreciated.
- Justice: Cordelia for wanting to do all the math herself. She was determined to do it all herself and wouldn’t accept help.
- Cordelia: Everyone for playing my dungeon.
Challenge or Something Learned:
- Miranda: I learned that Cordelia is an unforgiving DM that will hold nothing back.
- Kevin: Cordelia is a mastermind.
- Justice: I don’t play melee characters very often, so I learned how to play a rogue.
- Cordelia: Thinking of how to react when Gobbles did crazy things.
Hope or Prediction for Next Session:
- Miranda: I hope more people can come and experience the glory of Cordelia’s DMing.
- Kevin: I’m looking forward to Part 2 of Cordelia’s dungeon.
- Justice: Part 2 of Cordelia’s dungeon. I know what’s coming and it’s going to be fun.
- Cordelia: I hope you find the secret door.
Analysis: I am so incredibly proud of Cordelia! She is a fantastic DM! She had been looking forward to DMing for a while, and was counting down the days. She did not accept any help with the math involved. She had her own system and kept track. I was particularly impressed with how she was able to answer any player questions and improvise dialogue. Her confidence blew me away. I’ve never seen her recover from mistakes as quickly as she did in the DM seat. There were a couple of times where she forgot who was next or that a creature was already defeated, but she bounced back immediately. Just wait and see what she has in store for us in the next session!