Session 44: The Beautiful Report

General Summary

Session 44 – Wednesday July 17, 2023 – The Beautiful

4.5 Hour Battle/role play session 5:30 PM to 10:10PM

The Stone Bearers. Party of 5

It is the 3rd day of the month of Nightal (The Drawing Down) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Early December.)

• Abrash – Wood (Desert) Elf, L7 Druid – Jacob Munson
• Ajani– High Elf, L7 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L6 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Thomas – Human, L7 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L7 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L7 Paladin – Will Johnson (Absent)

Rescue the other children.

Thomas Sneezed and both Gazlowe and Juan disappeared into the Ethereal plane. Abrash finished off the Witchalder with a single firebolt through its chest and then he heard the muffled cry of another child. Everyone joined in the search. Ajani confirmed that the voice was somewhere in the room. Ajani also noticed that the water from the cracked support beam was starting to trickle in faster and faster. He told the party to hurry. Pounding the wall, Abrash found an area that sounded hollow. Then he noticed that the stream of water coming from the hall going under the wall.

Abrash and his “Green” summoned fey started smashing the wall. Isabella came over to help and they worked together to break the door. Ajani cast shape water on the beam to freeze the water and that slowed its flow. The others broke the door open and found 4 cages with a skeleton in each. In the floor they saw a grate with a child in the floor. They broke open the grate and rescued the girl. She was an elven girl about equivalent to a 12-year-old human. Isabella and abrash took her to the kitchen to warm her by the stove.

In the lab they found enough materials to make a set of alchemist’s supplies. The hags also had keys for the doors and cages on a leather necklace. Thomas tried to get the ears and teeth from the hags. He failed with the wood hag but succeeded with the Red hag. Thomas mutilated one of the Wood hag ears but preserved the 2nd in case he finds another Sylvan speaker. Thomas sneezed and Gazlowe showed up. Thomas collected 12 of the Hags fingers as trophies and the found 9 more doses of Bloodantimoniumumum. He also took all the blood from the pot where the boy’s blood was drained. He noticed that the blood was altered somehow.

Finding their home.

Ajani spoke with the children. He couldn’t charm her, but he was calming enough that the girl spoke with him and told him her name was Lyra Inadove and her brother was Ruvan. The boy was suffering from blood loss and several levels of exhaustion. The girl was weakened from Hypothermia. They noticed the girl had a necklace with 3 stone beads and the boy had a necklace with 8. Gazlowe, looking at the children saw they looked very plain with their clothing and had nothing of significant value. He asked her if she knew of the Red or White ladies, and she had no idea what he was talking about. She asked them if they know “The Beautiful” and they said no.

The party healed up a bit. Isabella carried the boy and Gazlowe gave the girl Lyra a piggyback ride. Lyra was able to point the party through the woods towards her home. Her home was in the opposite direction from which they came (away from the swamp.) The journey took about 6 hours. At dusk, they saw a glowing campfire in the distance. Before they saw the actual flame, several elven guards dressed in plain garb holding primitive spears stopped the party.

We saved the children!

The party introduced themselves in the same staggering way (not exactly in unison) “We are the Stone Bearers.” And they explained they rescued the children from the hags. Lyra confirmed that they were telling the truth. The guards asked if the Stone Bearers knew “The Beautiful” and again they said no. The party was escorted by the guards (under a close watch) into the village. The village was very primitive, the people wore simple items, no jewelry and wielded simple weapons and tools. They all looked happy, and they had bountiful amounts of furs, skins, and fresh meat being grilled over open fires.

They were met by the children’s parents Alasse and Rathal who thanked the Stone Bearers and received their children with great care and gratitude. The leaders of the tribe of the Stone introduced themselves as Illitra “The man of the tribe” and Tanelia “The Lady of the tribe.” Illitra was exceptionally muscular for an elf and Tanelia was exceptionally beautiful and graceful. The Elves asked the party about the circumstances of the children and the Stone Bearers explained the story truthfully.

The Elves told the party that they are welcome to spend the night with the Stone tribe and enjoy the food and wine and the gratitude of the tribe for saving the children but on the condition that tomorrow they meet “The Beautiful.” Thomas asked if The Beautiful was the Red or White lady. The elves only said that “The Beautiful is The Beautiful, she has no other name.” They described her in vague terms like Majestic, or “Beyond Compare” and didn’t answer any direct questions. They instead said, “Tomorrow you will meet The Beautiful and tonight you enjoy the comforts of the Stone Tribe. But please prepare something to sacrifice to her.”

Something odd about these people.

The party mingled and were given plenty of food and wine along with tents if they desired someplace to sleep. Abrash cast detect thoughts as they inquired about The Beautiful. The other Elves were surprised that the Stone Bearers didn’t know The Beautiful. Ajani asked about proper protocol and was told to bring a gift of some value to present, and they would be protected. As Abrash detected the Elves thoughts all he got was peace, joy, beauty, and a beautiful lush green area of the forest.

Isabella interacted with Lyra and learned that she was essentially kidnapped by the hags who had disguised themselves as a family member. Gazlowe tried to introduce a form of currency to the tribe using the fake gold pieces he had from the Clockwork Queen. However, he quickly learned that they have no need of currency real or otherwise and things of value are given to The Beautiful who provides just about all they need. The party was given more food and dried food to snack on (1 day’s provisions of Dried food.)

Thomas and Ajani slept in the magical tent and the others accepted the accommodations of the elves. After meditating, Abrash wandered around the camp and studied their defenses which he found to be very good. However, he did note that there were a few places where a very stealthy person could sneak through if they timed it right with the guards’ random patrols. In one of those spots, he noticed movement in the brush, and he approached. He found an older wood elf who looked rather crazed and disheveled. He looked at Abrash and said, “They are deceived!” and he slipped away back into the bush and into the forest.

What do we do?

Abrash told Ajani and Ajani suggested they leave. Thomas was waking up and he deferred to the others. Abrash suggested that the elves may be in trouble and may need help, but he wasn’t sure how to help without walking into the trap. They got the others, and discussed the situation. The party was mixed on how to proceed. Gazlowe realized that these people are familiar with gold and treasure, and they most likely gave everything to “The Beautiful” so if they killed “The Beautiful” they get all the treasure!

Isabella suggested, “Maybe it’s a Dragon!?” Ajani suggested they have already done good. The party voted and even though they were split, the majority agreed to help the people and meet “The Beautiful” but be aware that it is a trap. The others went along because of their friendship. Before they left, Thomas finished the necklace of language and anyone who wore it would be able to communicate in Druidic.

The Beautiful

In the morning the Elves gathered the Stone Bearers and Illitra led the party to a large hill in the forest. There was a large creek flowing into a cave in the side of the hill. They boarded the raft and entered the cave. They found that the hill was mostly hollow with a large hole in the top (like a small dormant volcano.) The entire cavern was green with plant growth, trees and several plateaus. The place looked very elven or Druidic filled with lush green and the center illuminated by the sunlight from above.

The acoustics were odd making it hard to pinpoint where sound was coming from. From the shadows they heard a large female voice call out “Who enters my presence?” The party responded, “The Stone Bearers.” Illitra introduced himself and the Stone Bearers as friends of the Stone Tribe. Illitra then offered a gift of aged Wildberry wine and laid it in the grass telling “The Beautiful” that it was the best of the crop and 5 years old.” The voice of the Beautiful replied, “I accept your offering.” Then called out “Who are the Stone Bearers.”

The offerings of the Stone Bearers

Gazlowe proclaimed, “The Heroes of the High Forest.” Iillitra backed up their claim and explained that the Stone Bearers had saved 2 children of the Tribe and he then thanked The Beautiful for using the Stone Bearers to rescue the children. The party determined that voice was coming from a ledge to the east but couldn’t see into the shadows. The Beautiful asked what gifts the Stone Bearers bring.

Ajan presented a wonderful Haiku about the Beautiful and she accepted his gift “This time.” Isabella presented an old Harpoon she found in the river. The Beautiful didn’t accept Isabella’s offering and Isabella pulled it back and started to look through her backpack for something else. Gazlowe offered a gold ring from a fallen soldier and The Beautiful found it acceptable as he laid it in the Grass. Abrash offered two bottles of wine that was accepted. Thomas told The Beautiful that he was providing a vial of Aboleth Mucus that is very valuable. However, what he presented was a vial of Undead Aboleth that wasn’t worth nearly as much. The Beautiful saw through the deception and beckoned Thomas to approach. Thomas walked away and Isabella drank a potion of Frost Giant Strength. After a few moments, Thomas returned.

The Beautiful told Isabella (Who hadn’t produced a decent sacrifice) to approach. Isabella walked into the darkness. A few moments later she returned saying, “She’s the most beautiful thing in the world!” Thomas whispered to the others “Actually it’s a dragon who tried to modify my memory but failed!” They all saw that apparently it succeeded on Isabella. The Dragon told them that were now under the protection of the Beautiful and to return tomorrow. Illitra started to lead the party back to the entrance, but Gazlowe had different ideas. Gazlowe cast Vortex Warp and teleported Ajani to the top of a tree closer to the Dragon. Ajani looked into the shadows and saw the face of an Adult Green Dragon.

For the Treasure!

Isabella believed that the creature was an angle of immense beauty and told Gazlowe No! A fog surrounded Ajani and he became charmed by the Dragon. The dragon said, “Stay there, I’ll be back” and she flew within 60’ of the others who were gathered together and breathed poison on everyone killing Illitra outright and badly wounding the others. Thomas shot an arrow at the dragon but even with a good shot, it bounced off her scales. The Dragon beat her wings trying to knock Ajani out of the tree, but Ajani held firm and The Beautiful simply flew back into the shadows.

Gazlowe cast mirror image and went towards the dragon. The Dragon Roared loudly and was able to frighten Thomas and Isabella. Abrash summoned his fey to the Dragon’s back and then Abrash turned into a Giant eagle. The fey spirit hit the dragon. Isabella threw a splash potion at Thomas and then healed him some more by pouring another potion down his throat. She was then able to shake her frightened condition. The Dragon swatted at the Green with his tail. Then a wall of thorns appeared in front of Gazlowe preventing him from moving forward.

Ajani fell out of the tree on purpose and shot a psychic lance knowing it was going to hit. The dragon however shed some scales and resisted the hit anyway, but her AC was reduced by 1. The dragon still took a little bit of psychic damage. The dragon laid into Isabella even when Thomas was trying to prevent it, Thomas was able to prevent 1 of the claw attacks but the dragon was able to significantly hurt Isabella. Thomas swung at the dragon with his whip, and it bounced off her armor. Thomas remained frightened. Gazlowe punched the dragon, but she still looked barely hurt. The dragon’s tail struck the Green again. As a giant eagle, abrash was unable to land a blow on the dragon. The dragon again used his tail and killed the Green before it could land another blow. Concerned that things were bad, Isabella downed a potion of speed, ran up the dragon’s tail, raged and then swung her axe but missed.

The dragon’s lair sprouted an area of grasping vines where Gazlowe and Thomas were, but they were not restrained. Ajani again used his portent and psychic lance and again the dragon used her legendary resistance, shed some more scales to succeed and again it’s AC was reduced. The Dragon hit one of Gazlowe’s duplicate images and Thomas, then then flew up and took some damage from Thomas. It spit a ball of poison and hit Ajani. Ajani was wearing a belt of dwarven kind and resisted some of the poison, saving his life. Thomas shot at the dragon twice and missed. Gazlowe shot a firebolt, but it too missed. Abrash became very worried as he saw the dragon’s tail smack Isabella.

The Turn of the tide.

Abrash dropped his Eagle form and cast polymorph on Isabella turning her into a Giant Ape. The dragon’s tail struck the Ape. Isabella as the giant ape landed 3 fist attacks and the Dragon was suddenly bloodied. The lair shot a charming cloud at the Giant ape, but Isabella miraculously shook it off! Ajani shot a chromatic orb but missed. The Dragon’s tail smacked the ape again and then she dove into the water with the Ape on her back. The dragon then clawed and bit the Giant ape, hurting it and caused the Ape to lose its breath underwater. Gazlowe used catapult to drop a rock on the Dragon and the dragon used its last legendary resistance shedding all her remaining scales to absorb the blow but as a result her AC dropped to 16. Abrash jumped into the water and cast water breathing on the Giant Ape, saving its life.

The Giant Ape landed 3 more blows on the Dragon, and the Dragon was looking bad. Ajani grabbed some bloodantimoniumum and some healium and cast a chromatic orb at Thomas healing him. The dragon attacked the giant ape and wounded it badly and tried to get away from the ape, but the ape held on. Gazlowe hit the dragon with magic missiles. The dragons tail swung at a critical spot on the ape, but Thomas (through the ethereal plane) forced the dragon to try again. The dragon still hit, and the Ape was in bad shape, but Thomas saved her life. Abrash wild shaped into a giant Octopus and swam to the Dragon. With his legs wrapped around the Dragon’s neck he twisted. Even under water the snap was loud, and the dragon’s lifeless body started to sink.