Session 21: Entering the Shield of Niptu's Keep Report

General Summary

Session 21 – Wednesday December 14, 2022 – Entering the keep of the Shield of Niptu

    4 Hour Role Play/battle session 6:00 PM to 10:00PM

The Stone Bearers. Party of 5:

It is the 3rd day of the month of Uktar (The Rotting) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Early November.)

• Abrash – Wood (Dessert) Elf, L5 Druid – Jacob Munson
• Ajani– High Elf, L5 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda (School)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L5 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi (School)
• 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

Weapons Training

Thomas began working with Rolf and focused some of his energy into the Ethereal plane, loosening the boundary between the planes. Gazlowe, simultaneously, tinkering with his tools, appeared in the Ethereal plane. Thinking he could control it, he tried to take everyone back to the Material plane. However, he only succeeded in transferring Gurthen and Cedrik Back to the Material plane, simultaneously summoning Ajani into the Ethereal plane and trapping himself temporarily. He continued to fidget with his tools. Thomas joined the others as Grigori summoned the party.

As a favor to Grigori, Tina (The White lady) had her weapons master, Zeno Gillar, teach the Stone Bearers the Elven Way of using weapons. See – Elven Weapons . The Party learned:

• Abrash: Staff and Javelin.
• Ajani:
• Gazlowe: Boulder Gauntlets, Light Crossbow, Lucerne
• Thomas: Chain Whip, Improved Spare the Dying
• Isabella: Great Axe, Long Bow and the Great Maul
• Cedrik: Rapier and Boomerang
• Gurthen: Great Hammer, Great Axe and the Lance

Lodnar Detinbec

After a day of training, Grigori gathered the Stone Bearers together and introduced them to Lodnar Detinbec. Grigori told them that Lodnar is the spy they have embedded in the Shield of Niptu and he’s a guard at the keep where they suspect Niptu’s body is located. Abrash asked Lodnar, “How long have you been in service of the White Lady?” Lodnar had no idea what he was talking about. They asked him, “What’s in this for you?” Lodnar told them “Gold.” He then asked the Stone Bearer’s what they wanted to know.

Lodnar told them they can’t really sneak in because those who enter the gate are well known. Even though there are only about 80 men in the keep, nobody unknown is ever granted access. Thomas asked if it’s possible to bribe anyone. Lodnar told them that there’s only 1 other guard they can buy. Judas (pronounced “Jhua’-das”) can be bought for about 30 silver to look the other way. Judas has no real commitment to the cause like everyone else there.

Lodnar explained that the guards work in 8-hour shifts with about 1/3rd on duty, 1/3rd resting and 1/3rd in training at any point in the day. But the timing of the shifts changes slightly and the rotation changes every day. The party reasoned that the secret passageway is the wiser choice. Lodnar explained that there is usually only 1 guard on duty at the secret door and 1 at the other end of the passage. Lodnar also told them that there is a Troll and a Human currently in the prison.

They asked if the man with the Golden mask was there. Lodnar explained that the leaders come and go. He said sometimes Stwino Lurchlich is there and the #2 guy Glasodu but he didn’t know their schedules. Cedrik examined the secret passageways on the map and suggested they get into them somehow to sneak around. They gave Lodnar 30 pieces of silver to give to Judas in case they get caught. They want Judas to slip them the key and tell them where their equipment is. Lodnar took the silver and headed back to the Shield of Niptu’s keep.

Elven Gifts

After several days of training, the White Lady brought special gifts to the party. She told them that Grigori told her that the party could use some special help. She told the party that the Elves of Nordahaeril inscribed magical runes into weapons and she brought them magical +1 versions of their favorite Weapons.

Abrash, rather frustrated with all the Elven weapons training, skipped a few days of classes and went into the wood to contemplate nature and his spells. He encountered a beautiful young wood elf named Arlen. While she was young for a Wood elf, she was still considerably older than Abrash. Abrash explained why he wasn’t training with the weapons and told her of his home in the desert. Arlen helped Abrash learn some Druid Spells and showed him some interesting Beast forms.

Cedrik wandered through the forest and came upon Abrash and the beautiful Elven maiden teaching Abrash some druidic feats. Then Cedrik began casually hoping for an Elven bard to help him. He heard a lovely voice singing “La la la la la la la la la” and found a handsome, impeccably dressed bard named Beldroth. Beldroth took an immediate interest in Cedrik and taught Cedrik some Bardic spells. Beldroth showed special interest in Cedrik, and after a while Cedrik became a bit uncomfortable and was not as interested in learning more bardic traits from Beldroth.

To the Keep

The white lady gave 3 healing potions to the party and asked Grigori if there was anything else they needed. Grigori was satisfied that the party was prepared, and he led them to the keep. The party asked for some elves to help provide a distraction. Grigori persuaded the White Lady to provide 5 Elven fighters that could distract the guards to the outside of the keep, if the party set off alarms while inside the keep. Gurthen summoned a spiritual steed (Low-Will) to accompany him. Abrash waved bye to Arlen who smiled sweetly at him and blushed. Beldroth waved goodbye to Cedrik who tried not to make direct eye contact.

As they neared the keep, Abrash cast Pass Without a Trace on the party, and he cast Longstrider on Gurthen. Grigori pointed to the ravine where the secret entrance was and thanked the party for their sacrifice, then he and the other 5 elves left the party to hide in the forest. The party found where the secret door should be and Gurthen using his stone sense was able to identify a guard behind the stone. Cedrik identified where the door was and Thomas was able to recognize that the door pushes in. Gurthen, Isabella and Cedrik pushed the stone door in, and it made a loud scraping sound as it opened. Thomas spotted a button in the stone face and pushing it, raised the door an inch so that it pushed in easily.

Guard room

Alerted by the loud scraping of the door, the guard inside the secret room loosed an arrow from his bow when he saw the first stone bearer open the door, striking Cedrik. Gurthen charged forward and landed 2 blows with his Great Maul, the 2nd one was a critical hit and killed the guard. Searching the desk they found an iron plate with dents in it, a set of keys, a small hammer, and a book. The Book was: Fifty shades of elf by Julia Quinn. It had a picture of a long-haired, muscular drow holding a beautiful busty moon elf maiden in his arms and she's biting her lip as he kisses her neck.

Thomas sat the dead guard in his chair. The party figured out that the dents in the plate were made by the hammer. Cedrik took the hammer; Thomas took the keys and Gurthen grabbed the book. Gurthen then used his stone sense and sensed 2 large creatures in the next room. Abrash cast mage hand and then turned himself into a bear. Gurthen told the party to get ready to attack. He counted: “3… 2.. 1!” He then tried to open the door, but it was locked. Thomas unlocked the door and they tried again.

Trash room

Gurthen was first into the room and he saw a few large piles of smelly garbage and 2 large Otyughs awaiting their entry. Gurthen ran forward with his war hammer and smashed the first Otyugh. His 2nd hit also landed and he cast searing smite, setting the creature on fire. Abrash as a bear ran in and slashed the Otyugh. The Otyugh bit Abrash the bear and smacked him with 2 tentacles knocking him out of his wild shape and breaking his concentration on Pass Without a trace. The Otyugh grappled and restrained Abrash. Isabella raged and recklessly attacked the Otyugh but missed wildly with both strikes. She tried to retreat but the Otyugh Grappled and restrained her too.

Cedrik cast Vicious mockery psychically wounding the creature, saying “Oh, you’re poor!” The 2nd Otyugh ran to Cedrik and grappled him with his long tentacle. It then smashed Cedrik's head into the wall and stunned him. Thomas grabbed the guard and threw him at the 2nd Otyugh holding Cedrik. Doing this knocked the metal plate onto the ground. In response, the Otyugh released the stunned Cedrik, and it moved back 15 feet. Thomas noticed that it was the plate that triggered the reaction. Thomas picked up the plate.

Gurthen continued to hit the Otyugh and he hurt it. Abrash slid out of the Otyugh’s grasp and slid away from the combat. The Otyugh ended his burning condition and then critically smacked Gurthen for 30 hp. Gurthen became restrained in the Otyugh’s grasp. Isabella slashed the Otyugh with her great axe and bloodied it. Thomas yelled out, “Where’s the hammer?” Cedrik raised his hand and Thomas grabbed the hammer and started banging the plate. The Otyughs dropped the restrained party and backed against the wall.

Moving down the passage.

Thomas, like a lion tamer, banged on the plate keeping both Otyughs at a distance from the party. Very hurt, the party ran behind Thomas. Gurthen got the keys from Thomas and then put Low-Will back into the guard’s room and locked it. They made their way down the passageway and the Otyughs no longer pursued. The party ate 85 of Abrash’s good berries leaving him with only 5. Isabella was only down 5 hp and Thomas was only down 1.

At the far end of the hall, they found the door into the basement of the keep. They carefully planned their attack. Gurthen used his stone sense to identify one guard about 10’ into the room. He helped Isabella aim her bow. Thomas quickly opened the door and Isabella killed the guard with a single shot to the neck. On the guard’s desk they found another plate and hammer, a 2nd key ring with identical keys to one they already found. There was also another book: “Dark Desire" by Julia Quinn, with a picture of a lithe Female drow walking away from a muscular dwarf wielding a massive hammer.

Storage room

They looked around and found that they were in a storage room. In addition to the guard’s desk and the dead guard (which they again made to look like he was sleeping) was a large number of crates. In addition to the door they came through there were 2 others plus a ladder leading to a trap door 16’ overhead. Abrash cast “Pass without a trace” again. Isabella stacked some of the crates in front of the door to the guards’ quarters. Abrash used his carpentry tools to cut some of the rungs of the ladder, effectively making it a trap. Using his Stone sense, Gurthen sensed one creature about 60’ away. Thomas used the keys and unlocked the door to the south. They made their way down the passage a bit to another locked door where the prison is. Thomas tried the remaining keys but none of them fit. They called out to Gazlowe…

What’s Next:

• Disintegrate Niptu’s Body and let Revalor Miadi know.
• Revalor is hiding with family at cottage along the Delimbiyr River between Zelbross and Loudwater.
• Meet Victor Rathmore at Blackmoor’s on 23rd (date missed) to return gem and hand over Revalor
• Gazlowe to find out about Adventurer’s guild
• Find out about the Red and White Ladies and report back to The Lord’s Alliance.
• Find out about mysterious slave trade in the High Forest.
• Train the Hellhound Johny Cash
• Purchase the Firestone Keep and rebuild it.
• Gazlowe not happy with helm purchase
• Party to utilize the herbs Abrash and Ajani found.
• Gazlowe to make a permanent mayonnaiser for Flicktongue
• Restore Abrash and Ajani’s homeland.