Session 24: A Cry for Halp Report
General Summary
Session 24 – Wednesday January 4, 2023 – A Cry for Halp!
4 Hour Role Play/battle session 5:30 PM to 10:00PMThe Stone Bearers. Party of 8:
It is the 13th day of the month of Uktar (The Rotting) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Mid November.)- Abrash – Wood (Dessert) Elf, L5 Druid – Jacob Munson
- Ajani– High Elf, L5 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
- Gazlowe – Goblin, L5 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
- Thomas – Human, L5 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
- Isabella – Forest Gnome, L5 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
- Cedrik – Human, L5 Bard – Dan King
- Gurthen – Dwarf, L5 Paladin – Spencer Armstrong
- Elliwick – Gnome, L7 Wizard – Rachel Rosborough
What am I doing here?
Seeing the opposing forces strength, Elliwick cast Blink on herself. Temporarily leaving the material plane she popped into the Ethereal plane. The hand of a goblin reached out and grabbed her and held on. Darkness consumed her and then she saw the black orb around her dissolve. She found herself with 2 others emerging from the Ethereal plane. Gazlowe shouted out, “Hello, hello, were back.” Abrash ran to hug his brother. Elliwick looked puzzled at her new companions. Gazlowe thought he had grabbed Amelia, but instead had somehow grabbed Elliwick. Elliwick cried for a minute and then told a little of her background. The others said, “We are the stone bearers” in unison. They all formed a quick bond and agreed to adventure together!What if there are more spiders?
Gazlowe questioned the group’s recent decisions and Abrash seemed not to trust either the Shield or the Sword. Cedrik was busy getting the troll Jar-Jar out of the ground. Jar-Jar reattached his foot and said, “You’re too dangerous” and then he left. They party searched the body of Quint and took a few gold pieces. Thomas collected a vial of venom from the Goliath longlegs. The party then decided to search for any more of the Goliath Longlegs. Collaboratively, they were able to discern tracks of the Goliath longlegs, through the trees. They followed the tracks to a large whole in the ground (eating good berries along the way.)Seeing the sloping entrance, they discussed several options of how to eradicate the creatures. The party took a short rest and chopped down a about 17 trees. Gazlowe prepared the logs with grease while Abrash and a few others walked down the sloped entrance into the spider’s lair. They saw dead bodies wrapped in webbing along the hall. They came to a massive egg sack with a portion protruding from a huge crack in the wall. Isabella suggested they bring the greased logs down and set it on fire but instead Abrash ripped it open with his thorn whip and Cedrik cut it open with his small sword.
Isabella screamed as Baby Goliath long legs (the size of a giant spider) started swarming from the egg sack. She swung her axe at a spider and then turned and ran. Cedrik cast a spell to slow them down with a cube of molasses. Abrash touched Ajani with long strider. Ajani screamed and ran. Thomas lit the egg sack on fire with a candle he had and then fled.
Gazlowe, hearing the screams of his companions rolled a burning log into the hole. Isabella leaped over the rolling logs and Cedric did with some help from Abrash. Gazlowe was just barely able to make it over, but Abrash got hit square on and became pinned under the burning log. Ajani ran back and put out the fire with his ray of frost. Elliwick walked down a little way and cast scorching ray at the webs, setting all the webs on fire. Thomas tried to free Abrash but didn’t have the strength to move the log. It took a couple tries but Gurthen was able to get the log off Abrash and they all fled before Gazlowe sent a 2nd log down.
Only Gazlowe can start forest fires…
The spiders in the cave burned and let out horrific screams. They sensed the rest of the spiders in the forest hearing the killing of the baby Goliath Longlegs and decided to leave. A spark flew out of the cave and ignited the remaining 15 logs. The logs burst into flame with such force that a log rolled into the forest setting highly the flammable spider webs on fire and thus igniting a significant portion of the forest on fire. Cedrik quickly cast skywrite and wrote “Another victory for the SCAG!” as the party fled the scene. They made their way back to the Elf village of Nordaheril as it began to snow.One quest completed, more offered.
The party made it back to Nordaheril and met with Mayor Vaughn. They explained that they lost Quint, but they were successful and killed all the Goliath spiders. They also alluded to the SCAG setting the forest on fire. Mayor Vaughn thanked them for their help and provided them a magical tent that had 8 rooms inside. He told them that he had one more very simple task for them to perform. He explained that the village relies on trade and there appears to be an Ogre on the main road that is scaring people away. He offered them 250gp to get rid of the Ogre. The party setup their tent and spent the night in the village.Before they went to sleep, they answered a knock on their door. A local merchant, a halfling named Marace Talbot, asked the party to help. He told them that his daughter is very ill. He explained that he lost his wife months ago and now his daughter is all he has left. The local clerics couldn’t cure her, and he was forced to go to the Wyrm Witch. The Wyrm Witch promised him a potion that would cure her for 1,000 gp and Marace paid it. But when he went to collect it, she demanded that he fetch her four big toes of a frost giant, a vial of young blue dragon blood, and the fresh scales of a young red dragon. Even if he could achieve those tasks, his daughter doesn’t have that much time.
Helping Marace
Abrash asked, “You want us to go steal the potion that you already paid for?” Marace said, “Yes and I’ll pay you 500gp to do it.” Gazlowe, Abrash and the rest were angered by Marace’s situation and very inclined to help. The party went to Marace’s home and met his daughter Fenara. Gurthen examined her and laid his hands on her. She immediately looked better but with a quick medicine check they realized that his healing was only temporary.Marace explained that the Wyrm Witch lives in the body of a long dead ancient Black Dragon. The Stone Bearers agreed to head to the lair of the Wyrm witch in the morning. Marace agreed to meet them in the morning and show them the way towards the Lair.
Before bed Thomas and Gazlowe had a little chat about setting things on fire. Gazlowe agreed that he would put 1 electrum in a collection jar every time he sets something on fire that the party agrees he shouldn’t have.
A funny thing happened on the way to the Lair
In the morning Marace explained to the party how to reach the Wyrm Witch’s lair. The party set off to the lair and promised Marace they would return with a potion to heal Fenara. As they left the village and walked down the main road, they came to an Ogre sitting on a log and holding a sign that read: “Ned Halp! Haz Guld.” The party stopped and saw the Ogre was crying. They asked what was wrong.The Ogre, Trok, explained that he and his brother were employed as guards for Scaly Scarsah. She made them drink a potion that made his head feel funny. He didn’t like it so he stopped taking it and that made Scaly Scasha mad. Trok’s brother, Krup and another Ogre, Todo tried to make Trok drink the potion but Trok ran away. Trok begged the party to save Krup from Scaly Scarsha and he’d pay them with what he has. He showed them a 2lb bar of platinum (worth about 100pp) and said he has more. Gazlowe’s eyes bulged out when he saw the bar of platinum and he quickly agreed to help. Trok told them that Scaly Scarsha lives in a secret cave, and he told them he could take them to it, but it’s guarded by others who stay hidden.
The entrance
Trok took them through the forest to a cave and said “Krup in there.” He told them that he hadn’t seen the other guards but knows they are there. The party saw the entrance to a cave in the side of a cliff. In front of the cliff was a river and a small isthmus granting passage. As they passed over the narrow land bridge, they were surprised when 5 Merrow attacked. The party was quick to regain their senses and fought back. Cedrik was grabbed and pulled into the water. Ajani cast lightning bolt and badly wounded a few. Abash took out the one holding Cedric. Isabella hit one with her axe and it disappeared under the water. Isabella turned and killed another. Gurthen took out the remaining two with his axe. The party collected a couple harpoons and moved into the cave.Grimlocks and Basilisks
The party walked deeper into the cavern and came to a larger area. The ceiling rose to 40 feet high with stalactites reaching down. A River ran through the cavern from east to west with twin waterfalls spilling over a cliff face on the eastern side of the cavern. A stone bridge crossed the river just past the halfway point of the water’s flow, and several stout humanoids could be seen on the far side of the river. The party saw a group of Grimlocks patrolling the other side of the river, but the Grimlocks didn’t notice the party.Gazlowe greased the bridge. Abrash heard something just out of their visual range scurry away. Gurthen ran up and jumped the river. One of the Grimlocks stepped on the bridge and fell into the water. The party noticed the strong current and Cedrik was able to force another into the water. With Gazlowe the only person near the Grimlocks, they focused on attacking him. The party saw two basilisks crawl into view and Ajani yelled out “Don’t look at the lizards.”
Other than Gurthen the party stayed at range. Gurthen made his way through the Grimlocks killing them with his axe. Gazlowe cast a Vortex warp and pushed one of the basilisks into the fast-moving river. Ajani used his telekinetic powers to push a Grimlock into the water and then killed another with a chromatic orb. Cedrik pushed another into the river. Isabella threw both of her javelins at the remaining basilisk and killed it.
