Session 14: Death of a Hero, Death of a King Report
General Summary
CRAGMAW CASTLE, NEVERWINTER WOOD
After taking on the goblins in force up to this point, the party takes down three last goblins on the lower level of the Cragmaw Castle Ruins.
A long rest is in order as they know they must take the fight forward to win.
CAMPSITE OUTSIDE OF CRAGMAW CASTLE
After a few hours sleep, the party is interupted by five boars that have seen the camp and decided to investigate
Zephyr, being on watch, decides to use his breath weapon to intimidate the beasts.
Varis chooses to remain in his bedroll out of disagreement with the decision to attack but Varis and Nyx get up and try to offer support.
Having made the first attack, the boars visciously attack Zephyr while Nyx tries to draw them away with pyrotechnics but this ends of failing.
Nyx tries a second option by making an illusion of food. Two of the boars are persuaded but the others remain firmly focused on attacking Zephyr
In a moment of great sadness, Zephyr not only dies but winds up being consumed by the ravenous boars who are not only quite strong but also very hungry.
The remaining party members flee to another campsite and finish out their rest away from the dismal scene.
CRAGMAW CASTLE, NEVERWINTER WOOD
After cleaning up camp, the party arrives back at the castle after lunch time
Doing a final sweep of the upper level, the three remaining heroes end of fighting an owl bear that was being held in a crumbling tower.
Varis winds up going unconscious after a massive couple of hits
In a fury to determine the best way forward, Dakari and Nyx plan well and Nyx is able to finally take down the owl bear with some punishing magic missles
Badly beaten down, the party takes another long rest and returns to the castle late at night
They make their way now to the second lower level and Varis helps lead through the darkened quarters.
They are able to take down a giant spider and also pick the lock on a bedroom that holds a bugbear who is easily dispatched.
As they continue through the eastern part of the area, they hear two creatures arguing behind a door. Varis decides to disguise himself like a hobgoblin.
Varis then tries to get the two to open the door and the party hears a bell which presumably alerts the others upstairs that help is needed. No help will come.
Varis eventually gives an inspiring speech that winds up getting the two to open up the door.
When the door opens, King Grol makes fun of Varis for his poor hobgoblin trick. The party then sees a weakened Gundren Rockseeker lying on the floor.
Gundren asks the party to not kill King Grol as he has been so gracious in his treatment even though he has been held prisoner. Eventually, however, Gundren gets up and runs out of the room and King Grol screams for the party to get him but then changes it to "her" revealing that it is not really Gundren who is escaping.
The party tries to chase the fake Gundren by moving to different floors. Nyx stays with Grol who angrily rushes to another room where the real Gundren has been locked up.
Grol is fiercely angry as he knows that Nezznar the Black Spider is going to come down on him hard for his failures.
Dakari eventually returns and finds Nyx with the saddened Grol who has lost his will to fight due to fear of what Nezznar will do to him. He realizes that his life is forfeit because either the party will kill him or Nezznar will.
Grol agrees to release Gundren if they let him live his last days in peace in the castle before his death comes. The party accepts his offer.
Grol then goes to the corner of the cell in his grief. Upon Varis' return, he debates whether or not to kill Grol on the spot. He decides to slit Grol's throat in vengeance with intent to return the head to Reidoth who mentioned wanting proof of his death.
