S031: Stop Hitting Yourself
The Menagerie are tested by Tharros
General Summary
Around... Fellnight 08, 2020KC (☣️Feywild Time☣️)
Feywild Fields North of Skola Vale, Feywild, Skola Vale The Dark Rain Forest, Kampos Recap
The party navigated through constricting caverns, with Shadow tracking their quarry and marking their path through the labyrinth. They discovered a chamber where numerous mean locks held two prisoners: a weakened Dryad and a Tabaxi chained to the walls. Bastion initiated combat with scorching flames, and the battle intensified when a massive Meenlock leader manifested each party member's deepest fears as shadowy illusions—Barlo saw his accusing father, Shadow witnessed her suffering family, and the others faced their own psychological torments. The large Meenlock Grappled Barlo with its mandibles while smaller creatures joined the assault, but Shadow delivered the killing blow by severing the leader's head, revealing a mysterious blue gemstone embedded in its skull. With the leader's death, all Fear manifestations vanished, and the party quickly dispatched the remaining mean locks.
After freeing the prisoners, the Tabaxi revealed himself to be Shadow's brother Beast, who had endured months of torture after being captured while trying to rescue his girlfriend. Most disturbingly, Beast explained that his captors—a witch and someone named Bargle—had known about Shadow and the entire party, suggesting his capture was deliberate. The party discovered a chest containing an elaborate book that Beast immediately claimed as important to his capture, along with gemstones and a golden locket. Calliope identified the mean locks as Feywild creatures created from torture and nightmares that could Teleport in Darkness. After Shadow guided them out using her markers, the party rested under Calliope's protective dome before deciding to return to the village, troubled by the revelation that an enemy who knew about all of them was operating in the Feywild.
After freeing the prisoners, the Tabaxi revealed himself to be Shadow's brother Beast, who had endured months of torture after being captured while trying to rescue his girlfriend. Most disturbingly, Beast explained that his captors—a witch and someone named Bargle—had known about Shadow and the entire party, suggesting his capture was deliberate. The party discovered a chest containing an elaborate book that Beast immediately claimed as important to his capture, along with gemstones and a golden locket. Calliope identified the mean locks as Feywild creatures created from torture and nightmares that could Teleport in Darkness. After Shadow guided them out using her markers, the party rested under Calliope's protective dome before deciding to return to the village, troubled by the revelation that an enemy who knew about all of them was operating in the Feywild.
Summary
Following their escape from the Meenlock tunnels, the party took a moment to breathe and interrogate Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast. The air was thick with tension as Shadow in the Snow made her distrust of the Tabaxi clear, citing his past betrayals for the sake of a mysterious book. Barlo pressed for news of his sister, Mellow, only to find that time in the Feywild had muddled the timeline—Beast had lost her to the villainous Bargle and a Warlock of Tharizdun months ago.The focus shifted to the Journal of Grognard, a magically and mechanically sealed Wizard’s book. Through a combination of Barlo’s lockpicking, his mysterious ancient music sheets, and Calliope’s musical talent, the book was opened. Inside, they found blueprints for an Adventurer Class Airship written in Loross, an ancient Netherese tongue. To keep the book safe, the party executed a ruse: they sent Beast and the rescued Dryad back to Skola Vale, letting Beast believe Bastion held the journal while Sas actually hid it within her shell.
Their trek through the Feywild led them to a chrome-brick well filled with quicksilver. After several experimental attempts—resulting in the Familiar Princess being shunted between planes and the Bear Arktos falling into a deep magical slumber—the party plunged in. They were transported to a surreal, orange-hued mirror chamber to meet Tharros the Wanderer. Tharros revealed he had been observing them and challenged them to a grueling battle against Metallic Mimics—liquid reflections of the party themselves. Emerging victorious, the group felt a surge of new power, reaching Level 7, and claimed a hoard of legendary treasures before continuing their hunt for the Hag.
Scenes
Interrogation of the Beast
The party learned that Barlo's sister, Mellow, was captured by Bargle and a Satyr Warlock. Beast claimed he only wanted the book to trade for her life.The Musical Cipher
Barlo provided old, torn music sheets of unknown origin. Calliope matched the chords to the mechanical melody of Grognard’s Journal, successfully unlocking the Netherese artifacts within.The Shell Game
Deeply distrusting Beast, the party staged a deception. They sent him back to the village for "safekeeping" while Sas secretly stowed the Airship blueprints in her shell.The Quicksilver Well
In the Feywild fields, the party discovered a metallic well. Arktos touched the liquid and fell into a deep Sleep, forcing the party to leave him behind temporarily as they entered the portal.The Trial of Tharros
The party met Tharros the Wanderer, who dismissed their previous "Monster Hunting Guide" as a fake. He forced the party to fight metallic versions of themselves.A Massive Windfall
After defeating the mimics, the party discovered a chest containingLevel Up
The group successfully reached Level 7 through the experience gained in the chrome chamber.Session Conclusion
Left in at the well in the Feywild Fields North of Skola Vale heading to Spider Forest of the FeywildExperience & Leveling Combat Experience: **Complicated** | Total: 23,000 (Next Goal: 23,000) Group Levels up to Level 7
Current Location: Left in at the well in the Feywild Fields North of Skola Vale heading to Spider Forest of the Feywild
Rewards Granted
- Flame Tongue Shortsword
- Instrument of the Bards (Pan Flute version of a Cli Lyre)
- Bracers of the Illusionist
- Ring of Protection
- Amulet of Health
- Animated Shield
- 200 pp
- 2 potions, greater Healing Potion and Potion of Diminution
Experience
t Combat Experience: **Complicated** | Total: 23,000 (Next Goal: 23,000) t
t Group Levels up to Level 7 t
Missions/Quests Completed
- Got to the plains. Fell for Tharros' trap. Defeated the chrome doppelgangers
Character(s) interacted with
Characters
Bargle
Bargle is an "evil" Wizard from the world of Mystara . A pale-skinned Human with a well-manicured goatee who appears to be the leader of the enemies in the Grand Chamber. He was expecting the party and expresses disappointment that a Red Dragon did not stop them. He finds Barlo's name amusing. He was first seen the Ziggurat of Tharizdun, below Skola Vale . He is later named on the Lord of the End of Everything documents found in the Floating Keep of Tharros Near Outding in what appeared to be the handwriting of Tharros the WandererBrother of Shadow Belly of a Beast
Beast is a Tabaxi and a brother to Shadow. He has a roguish background and a relationship with Barlo's sister, " "Mellow"". It seems he and Shadow stole a book, later revealed to be Journal of Grognard, Meenlock CavesFistandia
A powerful mage, priest of Mystra. She is also the "author" of The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, a magic item that is linked to a permanent mansion... and now much more due to tinkering by Pradam EstorichGrognard
An adventurer and friend of Bastion's parents who originally owned the Stone Skin Brooch before giving it to Bastion's mother. He was also a storyteller from Barlo's youth who took Barlo in as a boy and told tales of grand adventures, including slaying dragons and fighting harpies. He left Barlo's community before Bastion was born.Mellow Robin "Mellow"
Barlo 's sister who was dating Brother of Shadow, Belly of a Beast and later captured.Princess
Sapphire Branch "Branch"
Another sibling of Barlos.Satyr Warlock of Tharizdun
When the party went into the Ziggurat they met this Satyr who was a devoted follower of Tharizdun.Tharros the Wanderer
This powerful Wizard had many hidden locations that the party continued to come across. Here it seems he has them fight metallic mimics of themselves.Deodara
This Dryad was also being held by the meenlocks for some reason.
Creatures
Created Content
12 (Fellnight)
Around... Fellnight 8, 2020KC, Late Afternoon (☣️Feywild Time☣️)
Locations
- Feywild Fields North of Skola Vale An area of the Feywild that the party explored.
- Feywild Forest North of Skola Vale A forest they explored a bit of.
- Feywild The magical plane where the caverns are located. The landscape subtly changes over time, and the light has an unusual quality that makes it difficult to discern the passage of time. The party emerged from the caverns to find the light different than when they entered, and witnessed strange V-formation creatures flying low across the fields.
- Kampos A heavily forested Western continent with mostly fey or anthropomorphic humanoids.
- Meenlock Caverns Skola Vale, Feywild Side A claustrophobic network of twisting, constricting passageways with a low ceiling about six feet high. The walls occasionally shake and dirt falls as if something is bumping from the other side. The main chamber contained the mean locks' lair with refuse from the dead, haphazard beddings, and two prisoners chained to the walls. A Dryad's glowing leaves provided the only natural light in the darkness.
- Metallic "Water Well" in the Feywild A well that the party came across that made them "fall asleep".
- Skola Vale A large area that exists both on the material plane and the feywild.
- Spider Forest of the Feywild This forest in the feywild was full of various spider creatures.
- The Dark Rain Forest A large forest on Kampos, its growth is fueled by the feywild connection of Skola Vale.
- Village of Skola Vale The main connection of the Skola Vale into the Material Plane.
Items of Note
- Adventurer Class Airship
- Amulet of Health
- Animated Shield
- Bag of Holding
- Black Obelisk
- book
- Bracers of the Illusionist
- Enderbox
- Flame Tongue Shortsword
- Healing Potion
- Instrument of the Bards
- Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves
- Monster Hunting Guide
- Potion of Diminution
- Ring of Protection
- Rock
- Scroll of Telescription
Factions
Misc
Related Reports
Original Notes
There was more talking with Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast.The Dryad is from Village of Skola Vale and would really like to get back.
Dryad: "Um, I do know my way I mean, if you guys have other things you guys have to do, I understand I if the other prisoner that was with me, I, I can show him how to get back there as well if that's the case. And then I mean, I'm sure we'll be fine. I know a few little shortcuts."
Barlo asked Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast about the last time he had seen Mellow Robin "Mellow". Beast says it was months ago. Also: "Yeah. As far as I can remember, it seemed like it was months ago. But I'm not going to lie. I don't know how long I've been in that in that hole. To be honest, the time has been very odd since I've been here. Not to mention it's not like I was able to track any time well."
Barlo also asked who took her, he was just with her last year.
Beast: "Yeah, I when I tried to rescue her, she was being held by Bargle. He and the Satyr Warlock of Tharizdun were responsible for him for hiring me to get that book and then after that, they ended up taking her away at some point. And so when I realized that they had her, I went to go try and see if I can get her back.
And I wasn't really able to."
The party got Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves opened and a music began to play softly before it quickly stopped. this is a Wizard's book and the sigil is of Grognard.
He raised Bastion Bladesinger, and was a friend of Barlo as a child, and visited the party at the Black Obelisk, as part of the Two Obelisk Strangers.
The Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves has a latch.
Barlo picks the lock and then when he finally gets it to click, he hears some strange tune play in the air.
Bastion rumminates on how best to learn more about this item. He is sure if a Wizard of merit, or Grognard himself, was here it would be no problem. Examining it he knows this is a protected book for a Wizard of some sort. These can tend to be magically and mechanically trapped. He attempts to Identify it -- not magical, persay. It does have some elements of magic though, but nothing that the Identify spell can discern. He also sees the sigil he identifies as being that for Grognard.
He also thinks of the melody, is it a song he remembers Grognard singing?
Calliope thinks about what she heard and recalls how it sounded.
Barlo pulls out some old torn sheets with musical notations: "does this look like what you're playing? Is this what you're playing? Because I have no idea how to read this."
Barlo pulled out some music sheets he had and Calliope Galanodel matched the song to the book and 'success'. She notices a similar chord progression between what she heard and what the paper has -- assuming the missing piece is what she heard.
She plays it on her pan flute.
Bastion starts going over ways to reach Grognard. He realizes he can't use the Scroll of Telescription as he is on another plane. He doesn't have a Message spell or similar magic.
He writes a note that he needs to get a hold of Grognard and puts it in the Enderbox. They mystical shadow that usually exists on the bottom of the box is gone. Probably also because of them being on another plane. He tries the Scroll of Telescription anyways, also no luck.
So, Barlo picks the lock again, and as the melody begins, Calliope finishes the tune.
Barlo doesn't recall how these sheets got into his possession, only remembers that he has had them for a long time.
It is mostly in Netherese, Loross to be more exact - an ancient language of the Netherese. It has drawings of various items throughout. The book is full of various types of paper and some are very thin sheets of some metal-like substance.
There are blueprints of the Adventurer Class Airship as well.
Beast was acting very strange.
Someone asked Beast whey he was trying to stop them from looking into the book. He replies that he wasn't, he only knows it is very important to the ones holding Mellow Robin "Mellow". He doesn't want anything bad to happen to the journal.
They ask if he might know where to start looking for Bargle, where he might have taken Mellow Robin "Mellow" or anything else he heard or saw. The reply was that he knew where she was, but it's doubtful they are still there. They were already moving when he was brought to the Meenlock Caverns Skola Vale, Feywild Side. That's when the book was buried. Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast believes that Bargle wanted the Meenlocks to also protect the book. It seems to have a lot of different types of secrets.
The party discusses if they should go try to find the siblings, or continue in the Hag hunt.
Discussing Beast and Dryad going back to Village of Skola Vale he says he can take the book with him. Shadow says: "I don't trust you, beast. You've already proven that you're willing to do anything and risk anyone to have this book. You don't deserve it."
Beast: "I don't want the book I think it just might be a way to get her back. That's all.
I'll take her back to the Village and I'll wait there for you guys to come back OK?"
The party sent Beast and Dryad back to Village of Skola Vale.
Barlo brings up his sisters, Mellow Robin "Mellow" and Sapphire Branch "Branch". He also does not seem to like Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast.
Sas W.T. Rayce has the book in her shell, the party acts as if Bastion Bladesinger has it -- in case Beast has a plan.
Shadow says: "He betrayed very good people in the village to get this book. He used to do it I've no idea what he's doing and people got hurt. Good people got hurt for this book. I don't know why he wanted the book.
She got the book? Yeah, so I don't know who he's working for. I don't know how long he's working for people. I don't know he's by himself. I don't know if he's with the group. I feel like I don't know anything about him, so I just don't trust him. Don't let him anywhere near maybe we still pretend like."
Shadow in the Snow talks about how Brother of Shadow Belly of a Beast would work a lot of odd-jobs as a laborer or doing crafts.
Barlo's older sister, Sapphire Branch "Branch" trades in jewelry and gemstones. An artisan who makes jewelry.
Off to find the Hag...
Off in the far distance a Unicorn is spotted jumping from cloud to cloud and changing the colors of the clouds. It is white with a bright orange mane.
They see a well made of a chrome looking brick material. it is about 2-3 feet high, 3 feet diameter with a quicksiilver liquid in it.
Metallic "Water Well" in the Feywild, Feywild
Calliope Galanodel touches it with her glove to learn more of it, and she disappears.
Discussion about a rope. Someone threw in a Rock.
Bastion Bladesinger has Princess Fly into it...
Arktos sniffs it, and as he touches it -- he falls asleep
Arcana check, it contains magic.
Shadow in the Snow uses Beast Sense to see through th eyes of the sleeping Arktos. He is in a very deep Sleep.
... Princess sems to have gone to her plane.
Shadow in the Snow grabbed Arktos and touched the well, but Arktos stayed behind - still asleep and he was left behind.
They all touch the well...
The party finds themselves falling very slowly in a circular orange room with chrome and mirror everywhere.
In the center of the room is Tharros the Wanderer.
Tharros the Wanderer: "I knew that with you guys, the well would bring you here. I've been watching you. At first, it was because I wanted my stuff back.
Then I realized the Monster Hunting Guide was a bit outdated and I have a better copy, besides most of the notes in that one are not true.
I'm not too concerned with the notes and the book you took from Fistandia was a temporary experiment. No longer works and it's a good thing as it is in your Bag of Holding."
5 liquid puddles turn into metallic reflections of the party.
The Battle:
☠️ ☠️ ☠️ ☠️ ☠️ ...
t Combat Experience: **Complicated** | Total: 23,000 (Next Goal: 23,000) t
t Group Levels up to Level 7 t
They are rewarded with a chest that had some great awards:
- Flame Tongue Shortsword
- Instrument of the Bards (Pan Flute version of a Cli Lyre)
- Bracers of the Illusionist
- Ring of Protection
- Amulet of Health
- Animated Shield
- 200 pp
- 2 potions, greater Healing Potion and Potion of Diminution
**Left in at the well in the Feywild Fields North of Skola Vale heading to Spider Forest of the Feywild **
Notes
Notes
- Saw unique Feywild creatures.
- Tharros had set a chrome well trap.
- Defeated the doppelgangers.
- The monster book is outdated. The "Mordenkainen" book by Fistandia doesn't work?
- What is up with Tharros and what is he testing for?
Transcript
AI TRANScript NTORoll20 Chatlogs
Roll20 Chatlogs
Table of Contents
Campaign
The Wild Cards
Protagonists
Session 031: Stop Hitting Yourself Report
Table of Contents
Bastion Bladesinger
/
Sas W.T. Rayce
Calliope Galanodel
Barlo
Chaotic Neutral Tabaxi (Smuggler)
Barbarian 8
Barbarian 8
85 / 85 HP
STR
18
18
DEX
16
16
CON
16
16
INT
10
10
WIS
11
11
CHA
14
14
Shadow in the Snow
Report Date
20 May 2022
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Plots