Check In Question: What is your favorite book or story?
- Justice: Mine is To Kill a Mockingbird. That is my favorite book. Gordon can’t read, but his favorite story is The Adventures of Duncan Oyster, about an otter that goes on a river rafting adventure to the swamps of the south.
- Miranda: Lord of the Rings!!!! Lysithea’s favorite book is the Encyclopedia Cordetanica.
- Kevin: Mine is either Watership Down or the Sword of Truth series. Gobbles is either a story he was told about a righteous paladin of Bahamut fighting the forces of evil or the Hydra-Meat menu.
- Cordelia: My favorite is Dear Girl. Surina’s favorite book is The Fire Sword in the Stone.
Cordelia is back behind the DM screen, ready to lead us further into her dungeon!
When we last left the party they were in the lair of the Red Mist, a bandit gang that plagues the lands west of the Plishpy River. Lysithea and Gobbles, with the help of Gordon of the Otterace, have been exploring the treacherous lair in search of Otunia’s magical clam and pearl, which grants the Otterace with sentience and safety. After defeating some of the bandits, mechanical cobras, and mimics, they enter another room unsure of what awaits them.
Gobbles opens the door and the party cautiously enters the room. Torches line the walls and provide light. There is a gate to the left, which Gordon tries to open. The gate is locked, and there are no other doors. Gordon sticks his face into the gate to see what’s on the other side. At the end of a long hallway are two oaken bolters, which do not appear active at the moment. The party begins to inspect the room, searching for a key or a secret panel. Lysithea picks up a torch off the wall to bring around the room to help see better; however, when she lifts the torch from the wall she hears a clicking sound and a secret wall to the right opens.
Lysithea: Well, would you look at that. Maybe we can find a key for the gate this way.
The party enters a small hallway with a door to the right at the end. The temperature starts to rise as they get closer to the door.
Lysithea: Ah, it’s starting to feel good in here. I am liking this.
Gordon: I don’t like this. Don’tcha know, this is too hot.
Lysithea: I’m from a volcano. And you’ve got all that fur.
Gordon: I like my chilly waters.
Lysithea: I do not like cold.
(Constitution save Gobbles 14, Lysithea 15, Gordon 9) The heat is too much for Gordon, who starts to feel exhausted. Gobbles gingerly walks forward, looking out for traps, and comes up to the iron door. He places his hand on the door, which is hot to the touch. Gobbles casts Shield of Faith on himself, anticipating danger. He then scurries back around the corner, peaks his head out, and opens the hot, iron door with Mage Hand. Draggy, who was helping Surina guard Otunia, suddenly appears! (Initiative Gobbles 9, Lysithea 17, Gordon 9, Draggy 14) Inside the room is a large pit of lava, with stone walkways around the edge. Two fire elemental myrmidons and one salamander are on guard in the room. There is a key hanging from the ceiling over the center of the lava pit.
This is the room Cordelia was the most excited for. She was very eager for us to reach the room, and was making excited little sounds to herself as we approached. I’m not sure what inspired her to include a room full of lava, but she was very proud of it.
(Arcana Lysithea 11, Gobbles Nat 20) Gobbles informs the party that the myrmidons are resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks, are immune to fire and poison, and are susceptible to water. He also knows that myrmidons are elementals conjured and bound by magic into reality into suits of plate armor. They are bound servants that have no idea they are bound servants.
Begin Heated Fight
The party, still in the hallway, sees one of the myrmidons move into the doorway. It swings its two scimitars at Gordon (attack 22, 19), hitting him twice for 15 damage. The salamander, which stands in the far corner of the lava room, fires with its longbow at Gobbles (attack 23, 24). Luckily, Gobbles is still around the corner and the arrows bounce off the wall. Gobbles notices that the tips of the arrows are red-hot as they clunk against the wall.
Lysithea: AH! There’s a thing right there!
She takes a few steps back into the hallway, slightly panicked since the beasts are immune to fire and she is a very fire-happy sorcerer. She casts Chill Touch on the nearest myrmidon (attack 24), hitting for 6 necrotic damage. She then summons her Hound of Ill Omen, and sics it on the salamander. The Hound rushes in and bites the Salamander (attack adjusted 20), dealing 10 damage (strength saving throw 19). When the Hound sinks its teeth into bite it takes 9 fire damage from the salamander’s heated body. Draggy rushes forward with his battleaxe and cleaves into the myrmidon (attack 23, 13) hitting once for 14 damage, but missing his second swing. The other myrmidon moves forward into the hallway and swings its scimitars at Gobbles (attack 19, 21), but Gobbles’s shield protects him.
Gobbles: *singing* Don’t get killed by the fire dudes!
Gobbles casts Bardic Inspiration on Gordon, then points his finger at the salamander and casts Toll the Dead (wisdom save 15), but nothing happens. Gordon summons his Soulknife and stabs into a myrmidon (attack 22) for 18 damage. He summons a second psychic blade into his other hand and stabs again (attack Nat 20), for an additional 17 damage. The myrmidon attacks Gordon back (attack 18, 17), slicing him with its two scimitars for 14 damage. The Hound has the salamander cornered, so it shoots at Gobbles with its longbow (attack 19, 15) but Gobbles’s corner cover protects him. Lysithea casts Tasha’s Mind Whip on the salamander (intelligence save 7). The psychic energy lashes out and hits the salamander for 13 psychic damage. The Hound bites the salamander (attack 23), piercing it with its teeth for 7 damage (strength saving throw 22) and taking 7 fire damage. Draggy swings at the myrmidon (adjusted 20, 17), hitting once for 14 damage. One of the myrmidons swings at Gobbles (attack 12, 26), missing its first attack but hitting with the second for 6 damage, causing Gobbles to lose his Shield of Faith.
Lysithea: Kill it!
Cordelia started doing a hoppy dance, pointing towards the salamander. She wanted to communicate with us about one of the items the salamander had. I told her that we can’t even get there yet, since we are still in the hallway battling the myrmidons. She couldn’t contain herself any longer and blurted out, “It’s got a Ring of Fire Elemental Control!” She felt better after telling us and calmed down.
Gobbles attempts Toll the Dead on the salamander again (wisdom save 12), but once again nothing happens. Gordon stabs at the myrmidon with both psychic blades (attack 18, 14). One of the blades pierces the myrmidon for 30 damage, but its recoil causes Gordon to miss his second stab. Gordon disengages and runs around the corner into the previous room. With Gordon now gone the myrmidon moves forward and towards Lysithea. Draggy (attack 21) is able to hit it as it moves for 8 damage. The fire elemental swings its scimitars at Lysithea (attack adjusted 20, 26) slicing her twice for 15 damage. The salamander, unable to move due to the mind whip, fires at Gobbles again (11, 18), but the arrows continue to pierce the wall. Lysithea casts Magic Missile as a second level spell at the myrmidon in front of her, hitting for 15 damage. The fire elemental disappears, but the plate mail it was wearing drops to the ground. The Hound bites the salamander again (attack 23) for 12 damage (strength saving throw 9). The Hound takes 5 fire damage, but knocks the salamander prone. Draggy moves in to flank the remaining fire elemental (attack Nat 20). He cleaves into the myrmidon for 18 damage, then swings again (attack Nat 20) for an additional 14 damage. The myrmidon retaliates at Draggy (attack 11, Nat 20), missing its first attack but slicing Draggy on the second swing for 8 damage.
Gobbles once again casts Toll the Dead on the salamander (wisdom save 7) and finally hits. A giant bell rings out and deals 15 necrotic damage to the salamander. Gordon slithers back into the hallway and stabs at the fire elemental (attack 23, 16). Only one of his psychic blades is able to pierce the myrmidon for 23 damage. Gordon then disengages and runs back around the corner. The salamander stands up, takes out its spear, and jabs at the Hound (attack 24). The Hound takes 9 piercing and 6 fire damage. Seeing the Hound still standing, the salamander lashes at it with its tail (attack Nat 20). The Hound disappears as it takes 14 damage. Lysithea casts Ray of Sickness (attack 19) on the salamander. The salamander takes 11 poison damage (constitution save 12) and is now poisoned. Draggy swings his battleaxe at the myrmidon with all his might (attack Nat 20, 18), cleaving into it for a total 24 damage.
Gobbles points his finger at the salamander (wisdom save 9), and another giant bell rings out, dealing 14 necrotic damage. Gordon scurries back into the hallway again and stabs at the myrmidon (attack 17, 15). Seeing both attacks miss, Gordon flees back to safety around the corner. The salamander slowly begins moving around the lava room, hiding from view of the party. Lysithea, unable to see the salamander, casts Magic Missile at the fire elemental for 10 force damage. Draggy swings his axe at the myrmidon (attack 21, 25) for a total 21 damage. The elemental strikes back at Draggy with its scimitars (attack 11, 22). Draggy is able to dodge the first attack, but the second one hits him for 8 damage. Gobbles casts Toll the Dead on the myrmidon (wisdom save 6). The fire elemental disappears and its armor drops to the floor as it takes 18 necrotic damage.
Gobbles: Yay, see you next Tuesday!
Gobbles then scoots forward in the hallway, but stays behind the corner, knowing what’s on the other side. Gordon moves into the hallway just a little and readies a throwing dagger. The salamander turns the corner and enters the hallway. Gordon immediately throws his dagger (attack 18), which pierces the salamander for 3 damage. The salamander lunges its spear at Gobbles (attack 23), hitting him for 5 piercing and 3 fire damage. The salamander then whips its tail at Gobbles (attack 19), but Gobbles is able to jump over it. Gobbles makes a mental note that he will bardically call that maneuver, “The Heated Tale of the Heated Tail”. Lysithea moves forward so that the salamander comes into her view and casts Ray of Sickness (attack 16). The salamander takes 12 poison damage (constitution save 10) and is poisoned once again. Draggy runs forward, swinging his axe at the salamander (attack 13, 21). His first swing goes wide, but he hits on the second for 11 damage. Draggy takes 9 fire damage from striking the heated body, but the salamander falls over, dead.
End Heated Fight
As the salamander’s body melts away a string ring falls off of its finger. Lysithea picks up the ring (arcana 14) to discover it is a Ring of Fire Elemental Command. Lysithea stores the ring in her bag for safe keeping.
Yes, instead of having the ring melt away with the salamander Cordelia gave us a legendary item.
Lysithea, with her Ring of Water Walking attuned, walks across the lava and grabs the key.
Cordelia really wanted this to happen. She was super excited about Lysithea walking across the lava.
Gobbles runs back to the pantry room and grabs a cup, then scurries back into the lava room and tries to scoop some lava up; however, the cup melts.
Gobbles: I think this water is a little too spicy.
He then inspects the armor the fire elementals were wearing, hoping they are mythril. Unfortunately for Gobbles, it is just plate mail.
Gobbles: Hey Gordon, would you mind carrying these for us?
Gordon: No! No. No.
Gobbles: It will be worth a lot of money. We can sell them.
Gordon: We’ll come back for them.
The party closes the door to the lava pit and goes back to the room with the gate. Lysithea replaces the torch, which seals the secret wall. They use the plate mail to bar the door to the previous area and, out of view of the gate, sequester themselves in for a long rest. Luckily, no one comes searching and the party is able to rest and recover.
Gordon: Okay, that was exhausting, but we still need the pearl.
Gordon’s fangs appear to be longer and sharper, and his appearance has become a bit more wild-like.
Lysithea: You feeling okay, there?
Gordon: No. No.
Lysithea: We are rested. We are healed. We have spells. Let’s unlock that gate. Who can prep a shield? Because I’m afraid those bolters are going to fire at us the second we open the gate.
Cordelia laughs an evil laugh to herself.
Gobbles grabs some of the plate mail to use as cover and unlocks the gate, while Lysithea, Draggy, and Gordon hide around the corner. When Gobbles unlocks the gate the bolters activate.
Gobbles: Oh snap.
Begin Bolter Battle
(Initiative Gobbles 5, Lysithea 16, Gordon 20, Draggy 10). The oaken bolters at the end of the hallway have red dragon heads and look like giant crossbows. Gordon dashes down the hallway and, standing to the right of the bolters, stabs at them (attack 14, 9), but his blades plink against them. Lysithea comes out from around the corner and stands next to Gobbles in the gateway. She shoots Fire Bolt at one of the bolters (attack 11), but her attack misses. One of the bolters fires an explosive shot at Gobbles, Lysithea, and Draggy. Gobbles and Draggy both take 14 fire damage, and Lysithea takes 7. Draggy fires his crossbow as he runs down the hallway (attack 21). His arrow pierces one of the bolters for 4 damage. Gordon, seeing that the arrow did not do much damage, sheathes his shortsword. The other bolter fires a harpoon at Draggy (attack 21). The harpoon pierces Draggy’s armor for 7 damage and grapples him in the process. The bolter then fires a lance at Draggy (attack 18), hitting him for 18 damage, and pulls him in. Gobbles, still hiding behind the plate mail, pops two Confetti Eldritch Blasts at the bolter next to Gordon (attack 7, adjusted 20). One of the blasts goes wide, but the other one hits for 7 damage.
Gordon summons his Soulknives and stabs at the bolter (attack 13, 21). Only one of his psychic blades is able to pierce the bolter for 13 damage. Lysithea shoots Fire Bolt as a Twinned Spell at the bolter by Gordon (attack 16, Nat 20). The bolter begins to vibrate and falls apart as it takes 40 fire damage from Lysithea’s attacks.
Lysithea: You take that for firing an explosive at me!
Draggy struggles and tries to hit the bolter still grappling him (attack 12) but cannot make contact. He wiggles a bit more and manages to strike the bolter (attack Nat 20), hitting it for 13 damage. With Draggy still harpooned, the bolter fires an explosive shot at Lysithea and Gobbles (dexterity save Gobbles 3, Lysithea 14). Gobbles takes 8 fire damage, and Lysithea only takes 4 thanks to her fire resistance. Gobbles hops out from behind the plate mail, dashes down the hall, and double Confetti Eldritch Blasts the bolter (attack 22, adjusted 20) for 9 damage.
Gordon tries to stab the remaining bolter (attack 15, 13) but his psychic blades are useless against it. Lysithea shoots Fire Bolt at the bolter for 17 fire damage. Draggy, still grappled, strikes at the bolter (attack 24, 14) for 13 damage, but misses his second attack. Wanting to be free, Draggy Action Surges and strikes the bolter again (attack 25). The bolter vibrates and falls apart as it takes 8 damage from Draggy’s axe. With both bolters broken, Draggy cuts himself free.
End Bolter Battle
The long hallway makes a right turn past the bolters, with one door straight ahead and one around a corner to the left. The door straight ahead is locked, but the one to the left is unlocked. The party decides to take a short rest to recover from some of their bolter injuries before proceeding. Once refreshed, the party enters the room to the left. The room begins with a narrow hallway which expands into a long chamber. At the backside of the room stands a Kobold and a stone golem.
Kobold: I am Scarlet Smog!
Gordon: *whispers* I thought we were here for the Red Mist…
Lysithea: I think that’s his name…
Gobbles brazenly and confidently pulls out his Red Mist “season pass” and waves it in the air.
Gobbles: We’re allowed to be here! Don’t attack us! We’re just passing through. (Deception 22 vs Insight 16)
Cordelia was a bit thrown by Gobbles’s actions, so she allowed Justice to help her with some (not all) of the dialogue.
Scarlet Smog: Okay, but you’re not red! You’re more orange.
Gobbles: Yeah, I’m getting there.
Scarlet Smog: And who are the others?
Lysithea: We’re with him.
Gobbles: Yeah, they’re guests.
Scarlet Smog: But, that’s blue. She’s purple!
Gobbles: That’s why they’re not full members yet. We’re going to get them colored right, don’t you worry.
Scarlet Smog: Well, I don’t believe you… but… *stops to think*
Cordelia quickly came up with a password for the Red Mist bandits.
Scarlet Smog: Well, if you are part of us, what’s the password?
Gobbles: It’s either going to be “cheese” or “fire”. I don’t remember what it is right now.
Cordelia’s eyes go wide and everyone bursts into laughter as Gobbles guesses the correct password. The party will not be fighting the Kobold, stone golem, or hidden oaken bolter in this room.
Scarlet Smog: Well, the first part isn’t right, but you do know the password. If you’re new recruits the boss is going to want to see you. Head on up.
Gobbles: Alright, thanks.
Scarlet Smog hits a switch, unlocking the other door. The party thanks him and quickly take their leave of Scarlet Smog. The door leads to a set of stairs leading up. Once safely out of earshot, Lysithea and Gordon applaud Gobbles for his deception and luck. On the second floor there is another long hallway lit by torchlight. The walls are lined with Red Mist banners. There’s one door about halfway down the hall on the left, and another door at the end of the hall on the right.
Lysithea: Right. Eenie, meenie, miney, which door should we pick? The closest one?
Gobbles: The obvious choice is we’re going to take these Red Mist banners and make sashes out of them so that everyone can have a uniform.
Lysithea: We already have the tabards…
The party decides to check the first door on the left. Inside is a very small room. There are two torches on each side wall, and a wall at the back, no doors or windows.
Gordon: That’s not what I’m looking for. It’s just a dead end.
Lysithea: Nothing’s ever just a dead end, I say from painful experience.
Lysithea does not trust the room and looks around before stepping inside (perception 10). Upon seeing no obvious traps, she steps inside and checks the back wall (investigation 12).
Lysithea: There’s a secret door here! We need to figure out how to activate it. I’m going to suggest, based on the previous rooms, maybe a torch.
Hearing this Gordon enters the room.
Gobbles: Which torch do you want me to activate from out here?
Lysithea: Eenie, meenie, miney, moe it.
Gobbles, using Mage Hand from outside the room, pulls on a torch on the left wall. The door suddenly slams shut…
Gobbles: Good luck!
… and acid starts pouring into the room.
One of the most evil laughs I have ever heard erupts from Cordelia. This was another trap of Cordelia’s design.
The acid is pouring into the room at the rate of 2 feet per 6 seconds. Lysithea and Gobbles take 21 acid damage. Lysithea picks up her cloak as Gordon scurries up onto her shoulders…
Lysithea: Get off!
… and reaches to pull on another torch, but nothing happens.
Lysithea: How dare you!
Gordon: Fine.
Gordon leaps off of Lysithea and hangs from the torch. Lysithea pulls on the 2 remaining torches, one with her physical hand and one with her Mage Hand. When she pulls the torches the secret wall opens, the acid drains from the room, and the door unlocks and opens.
Lysithea: I need to get my hooves polished…
Lysithea looks up and the secret wall has revealed a room full of treasure. From Gobbles’s perspective, he pulled a torch with his Mage Hand, the door closed, and a couple of seconds later the door reopened and now there’s treasure.
Gobbles: Yeah, I did it!
The party begins to search the treasure room for Otunia’s clam and pearl. One of the first things they find is a Bag of Holding, which they begin to fill with the treasures they find, including a gold ring set, a golden bird cage with a golden, filigree mechanical bird, a gold bracelet, 21 gems worth 100 gold each, art worth 250 gold each, a Potion of Invulnerability, Potion of Clairvoyance, Potion of Gaseous Form, Helm of Comprehend Language, a tentacle rod with three tentacles, Shield of Missile Attraction, Ring of Free Action, a cloak of mysteriousness, a Headband of Intellect, and a Deck of Illusions. Lysithea immediately takes off her Ring of Water Walking and puts on the Headband of Intellect. Gobbles helps himself to the Helm of Comprehend Language. Thistle repositions himself on top of the helm as Gobbles puts it on.
Thistle: Stylish, new friend.
They plan on giving the shield to Surina, the cloak to Octavia, and the tentacle rod and illusion deck to Professor. They are excited at finding such an amazing treasure hoard, but their joy doesn’t last long as they notice a distinct lack of pearl.
Gordon: Where’s the pearl?
Lysithea: I guess we have to keep looking. But I am hurt, and I need to polish my hooves.
The party goes back to the hallway and proceeds to open the door at the end.
Cordelia shouts, “Yay!” when we open this door, and you’re about to find out why.
Gobbles enters first. He takes one step, and then falls into a pit of spikes. Gobbles quickly activates Featherfall, and instead of falling into the pit he gracefully floats across the pit, avoiding injury.
Lysithea: People just live here?!?
Gordon: I feel we are getting closer to the big-bad area.
More evil laughter from Cordelia.
Gobbles pulls a ladder off his Robe of Useful Items and lays it across the floor for the party to walk across. The ladder reaches the span of the hallway. The party very carefully walks across the ladder, avoiding the other pitfall trap, and opens the next door. Gobbles picks up the ladder and starts to lay it across the floor in the next hallway when suddenly a heavy chain flail comes swinging down, narrowly missing Gobbles, and smashes the ladder in two.
Gobbles: We have 2 ladders now, guys!
The chain flail continues to swing back and forth, but it does not go all the way to the floor. The party all lay flat on the floor and begin to crawl down the hallway, under the flail. As they approach the next door a second heavy chain flail begins to swing. Holding their breath, they are able to safely crawl to the next door. They push it open and quickly crawl inside to safety. Before taking another step into the banner-lined hallway, Gobbles takes his warhammer and Lysithea uses her Mage Hand and they check every square inch. They do not find anything, and finally proceed down the hall. The hallway appears to be safe, so they decide to take another short rest before proceeding.
A series of strange, evil noises proceeds to escape from Cordelia in anticipation of what comes next. Justice proceeds to draw out the room on the map, while the party completes their short rest and Cordelia watches and madly cackles. We are suddenly very worried that we don’t have the rest of the party…
The party enters the next room, which is roughly 50ft x 90ft. Standing at the back of the room is a young adult Red Dragon.
Dragon: I am the Red Mist. Who steps into my bandit hideout?
Gobbles pulls out the Red Mist “season pass”.
Gobbles: Hi, I’m Gobbles the Goblin. Nice to meet you.
Red Mist: I do not believe that. You are not one of my bandits.
Gobbles: I haven’t claimed that, yet. I just pulled out my season pass.
Red Mist: I do not have season passes! What sort of creature are you?
Gobbles: The best kind! Do you know how much you’ll be able to make if you sell season passes?
For the record, if Justice was DMing he would have had the dragon contemplate that; however, Cordelia the DM ruled that the dragon does not fall for it.
Red Mist: No! This is insulting to my intelligence! I can smell my stolen property on you.
Gobbles: You’re welcome. We brought it to you.
Lysithea: What about his stolen property? *points to Gordon*
Red Mist: I stole it fair and square! It is mine!
Lysithea: So, we stole this fair and square!
Red Mist: Not if I beat you!
Lysithea: We’re going to die.
More mad cackling.
(Arcana Lysithea Nat 20+5) Lysithea knows that, unfortunately for her, red dragons are immune to fire. They have fire breath which hurts a lot. Red dragons are tyrants, the most evil of the evil dragons. However, this dragon appears to have just reached the adult stage of its life and is still coming into its own. She can also tell that the dragon has designed this area as a lair, and that the room they are currently in is over the lava pit room based on the warmth of the floor.
Lysithea: Feels good in here.
Gobbles, realizing that the dragon means to beat them physically, puts away his chess set. As he does so, his oath to Bahamut fuels his determination, recognizing that this evil dragon needs to perish. (Initiative Gobbles Nat20+1, Lysithea Nat20+2, Gordon 13, Draggy 13).
Begin Dragon Battle
Lysithea runs into the right of the room, hoping to spread out the party to discourage dragon breath.
Lysithea: Hound! Jeffrey! Help!
Lysithea immediately summons her Hound of Ill Omen and sics it on the dragon. The Hound apparates and stalks in behind Red Mist. As the Hound appears, Lysithea throws out Jeffrey and uses her Staff of Swarming Insects to make him giant size. The Hound tries to bite Red Mist (attack 15) but cannot penetrate the dragon’s thick scales. Giant Jeffrey scurries up to the dragon and strikes out with his claws (attack 10), but Red Mist ducks out of the way. Jeffrey then pierces the dragon with his stinger (attack 23), dealing 4 piercing and (constitution save 21) 16 poison damage. Gobbles strides forward confidently…
Thistle: CHARGE!
… whispering the words to cast Shield of Faith on himself. Using the power of Bahamut he sends out a Guiding Bolt (attack 15), but misses. The room suddenly begins to shake as an earthquake erupts from beneath the dragon (dexterity save Gobbles Nat 1, Gordon 17, Lysithea 5, Jeffrey 7, Hound 5, Draggy 12). The entire lair shakes, knocking everyone except for Gordon to the ground. Gordon dashes to the dragon, swinging his shortsword wildly (attack 21). He strikes Red Mist in the leg for 20 damage. Draggy stands up and starts making his way to the dragon. Red Mist lowers his neck and bites into Gordon (attack 21), dealing 19 piercing and 4 fire damage to the otter. Red Mist then swipes its claws at Gordon (attack 15, 19) for 12 more damage.
Justice comments that Gordon is now at 2 health, to which Cordelia cackles with evil glee.
Lysithea stands up and casts Tasha’s Mind Whip as a 3rd level spell (intelligence save 6). The psychic energy lashes at the dragon for 18 psychic damage, and the dragon takes the full effect from the spell. The Hound stands up and bites Red Mist (attack 19), piercing his tail for 4 damage (strength saving throw 16). Jeffrey rises and snips his claws at the dragon (attack Nat 20) for 12 damage; however, the dragon is able to escape from the grip. Jeffrey pierces the dragon with his stinger again (attack adjusted 20) for 11 piercing (constitution save 12) and 10 poison damage. Gobbles kickflips back up from the ground, brushes himself off, and dashes to surround the dragon.
Gobbles: Hey Red, you missed.
Gobbles casts Dissonant Whispers on the dragon (wisdom save 21), but Red Mist takes only 7 damage from the sounds of Gobbles’s voice. Red Mist takes a look at Gordon, and magma rises from the ground beneath him.
When Cordelia was deciding who to hit with the lair attack, Justice made the mistake of saying that she could take Gordon out with this hit. Her eyes lit up and she pointed at Justice, indicating that she was going to attack him.
Gordon tries to leap out of the, using evasion to slither faster, but he is still hit by the magma for 6 damage. Gordon falls unconscious, and fails his first death saving throw.
I commented that Justice needed to banish his dice because of the low rolls and asked where dice jail was. Cordelia immediately grabbed it and put it in her domain, out of our reach. She just denied dice jail to her father after knocking his character unconscious.
Gordon: They got me, lassie! I can only do one accent badly!
Gordon fails his second death saving throw. Draggy moves forward slightly and fires his crossbow at Red Mist (attack 19crit), piercing the dragon for 11 damage. He then takes a deep inhale, and exhales a line of lightning at Red Mist (dexterity save 21). Red Mist ducks out of the way and merely gets grazed by the dragon breath for 7 lightning damage. The chaotic evil dragon looks down at the unconscious otter and slams its claws into him (attack 25).
Gobbles: NOOOOOOOO!
Lysithea: Oh my gosh! No!!
That’s right. Cordelia just executed her father’s character without batting an eye. In fact, she was eager to kill his character. I felt a sense of terrified pride. Justice commented, “She took me out” with disbelief. Cordelia then let out an evil laugh as she crossed Gordon’s name off the initiative list.
Red Mist lifts its massive claws away, revealing Gordon’s dead body. The dragon chuckles to himself with pride as it turns to bite Gobbles (attack 12), but Gobbles angrily bounces Red Mist’s face away, his oldest otter friend having just been killed.
Gobbles: No! Evil dragon!
Red Mist swipes its claws at Gobbles (attack 17), but the Goblin bounces the claws away with his shield and righteous anger. Lysithea, unsure of what to do, casts Ray of Sickness at Red Mist (attack 13), but her sadness and anger causes her to miss. The Hound tries to bite the dragon (attack 13), but Red Mist moves out of the way just in time. Jeffrey, sensing Lysithea’s emotions, grabs onto Red Mist with its claws (attack Nat 20) for 6 damage (strength saving throw 13) and grapples the dragon. With his claws holding the dragon down, Jeffrey jabs with his stinger (attack 21), piercing Red Mist for 6 piercing (constitution save 17) and 8 poison damage. In his righteous anger, Gobbles stows his shield on his back and grips his warhammer with both hands. He smashes his warhammer into the grappled dragon, activating Fury of the Small, Diving Smite as a second level, Hexblade’s Curse, and sneak attack (attack 19crit). With all his might, Gobbles smashes down on Red Mist’s head for 12 bludgeoning, 10 sneak attack, 7 Fury of the Small, 28 radiant, and 3 Hexblade’s damage. Red Mist falls over dead from the 60 damage of Goblin anger.
End Dragon Battle
Gobbles: That was for Bahamut and Gordon, you dragon!
The Hound of Ill Omen disappears, and Jeffrey shrinks to normal size and scurries up Lysithea into his little cage. As Red Mist falls over his body moves to reveal the Otterace’s stolen clam and pearl. Gobbles takes one of Red Mist’s scales and fixes it to himself like a prized badge. Lysithea solemnly picks up Gordon’s lifeless body and, with the pearl, they begin to exit the lair. On their way out, they see Scarlet Smog setting up the oaken bolters.
Scarlet Smog: Man, they destroyed my precious things.
They try to make their way past him, hoping to avoid another fight.
Gobbles: By the way, Red Mist retired. My orders are, this is now a pacifist organization. I’ll check in on you. Bye.
They scurry past Scarlet quickly. On their way out they grab the plate mail the Dragonborn from the first room were wearing and shove the pieces into the bag of holding. They climb back up the ladder at the entrance, and seal it shut.
For once, Gobbles is not in a cheerful mood. They walk in silence back to Otunia. As they approach the river city otters begin to run up to them.
Otterace: Did you get it back?
Lysithea: At great cost, we got it back.
Otterace: What happened?
Gobbles: Gordon died a hero.
Lysithea and Gobbles tell the tale of their adventure in the lair of the Red Mist. They make sure to mention that Scarlet Smog, the second in command, is still alive and remains a potential threat. The Otterace, with the help of Surina, discovered that one of the Kobolds of the Red Mist disguised themself as an otter and snuck in, which is how they were able to steal the pearl. One of the otters carefully takes the pearl and rushes to place it back in the temple. A sudden burst of Fey energy that sweeps over the city as the pearl is placed back on its pedestal. The otters of Otunia immediately look less feral as the magic washes over them.
With the pearl back in place, the city comes together to mourn the loss of Gordon. They prepare a special raft, which they place his body on, and send it out onto the river. Before the raft and Gordon are out of sight, one of the otters fires an arrow. As the arrow hits its target the raft becomes engulfed in a mystical, green fire. The flames consume the raft, then explode into a swarm of butterflies that fly into the air. (Arcana Lysithea Nat20, Gobbles 14) Gobbles recognizes the magic is the same that powers his warlock abilities. Lysithea watches the beautiful butterflies flit away, knowing that Gordon’s spirit has returned to the Feywild.
End Session
Check Out
Spotlight on Another Player:
- Miranda: Cordelia for how ingenious your traps were. I know you made them up yourself.
- Kevin: Cordelia for taking out Gordon and that whole dragon fight with how the layer actions worked.
- Justice: Cordelia for playing evil very well.
- Cordelia: Gobbles for his mega attack at the end that defeated the dragon.
Challenge or Something Learned:
- Miranda: I learned that acid hurts, and rooms full of acid hurt more.
- Kevin: The brutality of this dungeon. Trapped dungeons can be very, very deadly.
- Justice: I learned that to counter a certain sorcerer put fire resistance and fire immunity.
- Cordelia: I learned how to be a Dungeon Master.
Hope or Prediction for Next Session:
- Miranda: I hope Cordelia makes another dungeon and DMs again.
- Kevin: I’m looking forward to seeing how the jungle turns out and if we find that “great explorer” and what ridiculous situation he’s gotten himself into.
- Justice: I hope I can make a dungeon as evil as Cordelia did.
- Cordelia: I’m looking forward to playing Surina again.
Analysis: She killed her father’s character! Without question, without hesitation, with maniacal eagerness, she killed her father’s character. Cordelia’s confidence with her actions, her story, her math, her consistent evil laughter filled me with parental pride. She knew precisely what she wanted to do, and she did it. I can’t wait for her next dungeon!