Dubzaron Session 74: Return to Queen's Rest Mountain

 This session was played on 09/28/22 using 1 day of adventure and needing 1 day or rest; PCs can act again on 09/30/22.

Participating PCs

Billy (Explorer L5), Gront Coldsky (Barbarian L3), Marion (Paladin L1), Norman (Gnome Trickster L1), Olivier (Paladin L6), Timothy MadEye (Venturer L7), Xanthos (Cleric L6)

Hench: Xanthos: Lysander Fighter L1, MadEye: Saturnis Fighter L4

Session Report

The party returned to Queens Rest mountain and went inside the volcano. Upon arriving they decided to go back at the entrance being guarded by lizardmen. Billy drank a potion of invisibility and snuck up to confirm the same number of lizardmen had now been called to the room the party had hit hard last week. About 16 lizardmen, 2 champs, and a thracian. Billy laid oil down in the room whilst invisible and did not get caught (phew!). He snuck out and the party got a surprise round on the lizards with the help of the gnomish trickster doing a mission impossible style security camera image imprint over their approach. It's like MI: Ghost Protocol, maybe you remember it? I was kind of uncertain about this tactic since it seemed like a replacement of a spell that already existed: Mass Invisibility. So I made the following ruling for this illusion tactic. 

Ghost Protocol Illusion: -1 to being surprised roll for bad guys. Success = Disbelieve illusion check because hearing sounds like footsteps that shouldn't be there.

But it did work and the PCs got Surprise.

The surprise round ended with a couple of regular lizards and their thracian big boss killed! But the lizardmen mad their morale check to fight on the first full round of combat. The gnome popped off the Horn of Blasting which destroyed the lizardmen's wooden barrier at the top of the stairs the lizards were holding. It didn't do enough damage to kill any of them but many were deaf. 

This went pretty well with Olivier, Xanthos, Gront and Marion holding the front line for a while, killing some lizardmen here and there. But then 2 giant chameleons (who were hiding along the wall) appeared and used tongue attacks to pull xanthos and olivier towards them into the room and biting them. Those two lads got hemmed up in a battle with their chameleons and MadEye his fighter henchman filled in that part of the front line. 

About the time MadEye, Saturnis, Gront and Marion were cleaning up the mob of regular lizardmen, 2 more champions and 2 more chameleons came from the other room. A bit behind them, unnoticed was a powerful thracian cleric of some sort. When he cast Hold Person the following round he nabbed MadEye Gront, and Saturnis and things started falling apart for the good guys.

Xanthos was killed the following round as the thracian cleric stepped in with a flaming magic sword and cut him down. This was a huge loss and the players started to get pretty nervous.

Billy, still firing into the battle from missile position, fled into the volcano area and was not pursued. Olivier and Marion also disengaged and fled. Norman the gnome had another ghost protocol illusion thing on by this time and tried to sneak up as the battle was winding down (semi-invis) and use prestidigitation and pickpocket to slip the first thracian's clearly magical spear away. He failed his pickpocket so I ruled there could be a disbelieve illusion check on his weird version of not-quite-invisibility and the thracian cleric rolled a nat 20. The gnome was tackled and imprisoned (tied up) along with MadEye and Gront. 

After the battle Xanthos made a pretty bad mortal wounds check and was bleeding out. The thracian cleric could have probably saved Xanthos but the reaction check deemed he instead watched with bemused laughter as the lawful cleric of Naurivius bled out on the floor. Reaction checks down the line of captured PCs indicated the gnome was killed immediately for being annoying, MadEye was gagged to shut him up, and Gront was kept tied up and possibly to be ransomed if the big boss can imagine a safe way to do so. 

Billy came back up to yell out terms and that they had plenty of money to pay ransom but reaction check went against Billy and deemed the lizardmen were offended by him and they chased him off. Billy easily won a dungeon chase since he had twice the movement of the lizardmen and didn't flub his paralyze check to make a hard right turn up the stairs out of the volcano, as per ACKS dungeon chase rules. The thracian cleric, despite having wings, was not offended enough by Billy to personally fly after him, sending his slower cronys.

At the top of the volcano Jeremiah Johnson, who guided them out to the mountain dungeon, was like "wtf really? again?!" and he escorted the surviving 3 PCs back to FOB Queen.

Afterword

I was a bit surprised the PCs chose to go back at the lizardmen. I believe this may have been due to Sunken Cost Fallacy. They lost some men and resources last session against the lizards and maybe thought "well we have to ALMOST have them, right?" 

Kyle's Patron quest was to find the Queen who was magically asleep somewhere in the temple. He was offereing a big pay out to find and wake her but also offering like 150 gp (and thus XP) per room the PCs found and mapped. If I were me I'd have focused on those elements but I'm sure the supposed lair treasure horde the "surely weakened" lizardmen must be sitting on was attracting the greed of the PCs.

What I've found very interesting about running 1:1 Jefforgaxian Time D&D is how things like taking PCs prisoner is very feasible and effective. That is time the PC has to sit out of the downtime game and maybe future sessions, even if he's safely ransomed back.

This whole situation led to some really great worldbuilding and downtime stuff. Firstly, the two Paladins were visited by their deities who called them cowardly punks for running from the battle without trying to at the least claim Xanthos's body. Both Paladins lost their paladin powers and couldn't level/gain XP until they helped recoved Xanthos's corpse for proper cremation or possibly resurrections. The Lawful gods like Xanthos, He's mid to high level.

Gront was in fact successfully blackmailed from the lizards to the Patron Player Kyle OConner. Being a barbarian of the same background as Kyle I ruled the Lizardmen didn't want to make a direct enemy of Kyle by killing one of his tribesman.

The lizardmen fed MadEye to their giant Chameleons.

Billy ran off to New Cyfaraun during downtime to beg for Gaius's help; a PC who ascended into Patron status. Next session you'll see how these worlds collided as Gaius arrived with his big army to try and help deal with the lizardman menace that has twice now stymied this newer and lower level PC party.

Stay tuned!

Deceased

Dama (L1 Venturer) played by RR.  Current total xp: 75. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.

Darius LeVay (L1 Assassin) played by JB. Current Total XP:451. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.

Donald the Guardsman (L1 Fighter) played by MP. Current Total XP:570. DECEASED. Intra-party justice in Session 3.

Felix (L1 Thief) played by Nicholas. Current Total XP:431. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.

Hektor (L1 Paladin) played by Moai. DECEASED. Cause of Death: goblin warg rider throat removal surgery in Session 2

Leonidas the Inquisitor (L1 Cleric) played by RR.Current Total XP:498  DECEASED. Frozen undead blistering cold aura left his skin frostbitten and broken in Session 6. Body not recovered.

Mard the Mage (L1 Mage) played by Nicholas. DECEASED. Frozen undead blistering cold aura left his skin frostbitten and broken in Session 6. Body not recovered.

Yolo Baggins "My friends call me Swaggins" (L1 Gnomish Trickster) played by J. DECEASED. Paralyzed and eaten by ghouls in Session 12. Body not recovered.

Jack Filcher (L1 Thief) played by C. DECEASED. Shot full of arrows by Inthorn's brigands in Session 12. Body not recovered.

Swoleous Maximus (L1 Paladin). DECEASED. Captured then drawn and quartered by Inthorn the Brigand warlord in Session 12. Posthumously named "Petty Hero of Turos Tem" by Legate Valerian. Ashes offered a place of pride in the Hospital.

Damianus (L1 Cleric). DECEASED. Captured and beheaded by Inthorn the Brigand warlord in Session 12. Posthumously named "Petty Hero of Turos Tem" by Legate Valerian. Ashes offered a place of pride in the Hospital.

Bucky (L1 Barbarian). DECEASED. Became a illegal pit fighter during his downtime. Had two bouts to the death, winning the first and losing the second. Was killed by Young Jack Sparrow who sashayed into the ring, drank rum, and mogged on Bucky before putting a dagger into his ribs, killing him. This happened during downtime between Session 17 and 18.

Broll Wolf-Eater (L1 Barbarian). Current total XP: 1079. DECEASED. Carried off by harpies after falling for their enchanting song in Session 19.

Brother Franklin (L1 Cleric). DECEASED. Decapitated by a mad cultist of a Lovecraftian slime thing in Session 19.

Felix the Elder (L1 Bard). Total XP 825. DECEASED. Captured by mad cultists and fed to a Lovecraftian slime monster in Session 19.

Templar Flavius Africanus (L1 Cleric). Total XP 7. Killed by the claws and beak of mad harpies in Session 19.

Xendi (L1 Explorer). Total XP 6. DECEASED. Carried off by harpies after falling for their enchanting song in Session 19.

Yllmeeton (L3 Shaman). Total XP 4,563. Bludgeoned by the corpse of a bowmen by Rosie Odonnel hag in Session 21.

Longinus (L2 Assassin). Total XP 2,036. Had his face ripped off by Rosie Odonnel hag in Session 21.

Mandonio (L3 Fighter). Total XP 4,779. Charred to a leprous crisp by diseased Dragon breath in Session 22.

Corydon (L1 Joker). Total XP: 0. Burnt to a crisp by chimera breath so thoroughly his corpse wasn't even fit for the crows. Died with a smile on his face and a song in his heart. that's life and as funny as it seems... some people get their kicks, stomping on a dream... In Session 25.

Donny Keebler (L1 Elven Spellsword). Total XP 2,238. Had his legs burned completely off by chimera fire breath in Session 25.

Marina (L2 Fighter). Total XP: 2,204. Burnt into ash by a chimera fire breath in Session 25.

Gundro (L2 Gnomish Trickster). Total XP: 2,575. Had his mouth and tongue bitten off by a lizardman ambusher in the dank sewers below Cyfaraun in Session 26.

Polydoros (L1 Fighter). Total XP: 0. Had his legs ripped off and eaten by Akira monsters in the dark canopy of the Viaspen Forest in Session 28.

Odrum (L1 Explorer). Total XP: 287. Javelin to the heart from the hands of weird vine goblins hidden in the walls of Ferigno's lair in Session 30.

Garvin the Nutless Wonder (L1 Mage). Total XP: 0. Fell off the side of Ferigno's lair 20 feet to his death in Session 30.

Blackmoon (L1 Assassin). Total XP: 768. Choked to death by BOB from Twin Peaks while stealing treasure from Ferigno's dragon horde in Session 30.

Xanthus (L2 Cleric). Total XP: 2,364. Choked to death by BOB from Twin Peaks while hanging out on the roof of Ferigno's lair in Session 30.

Lord Zyklon (L1 Elven Spellsword). Total XP: 0. LORD ZYKLON DISEMBOWLED LORD ZYKLON upon finding himself on the losing side of the Desolation of Turos Tem.

Turin (L1 Cleric). Total XP: 0. Eaten by Wargs in Session 32.

Rat Face (L2 Thief) Total XP: 1,577. Seemingly grabbed in the dark by a Xenomorph in Session 36. In a sinkhole your party can hear you scream! 

Smarticus (L1 Mage) Total XP: 0. Captured by a Xenomorph in Session 36 for all the party to witness. Taken deep into a sinkhole.

Hearticus (L1 Cleric) Total XP: 0. Gored to death by giant horned beetles in Session 39 after projectile vomiting all over himself from the stink of sewer sludge.

Mickey Mouser (L1 Thief) Total XP: 0. Gored to death by giant horned beetles in Session 39 in the happiest place on earth: the Cyfaraun sewer!

Aenes (Level 1 Paladin) Total XP: 62. Swarmed by giant flies in the sewer beneath Cyfaraun in Session 40.

Acianus (Level 1 Mage) Total XP: 0. Chopped to pieces in Session 42 by a six armed demon statue from behind and quickly forgotten about by his compatriots who saved MadEye and lamented Hardar instead. But I'll never forget you Acinanu nanu...nanite... nananaa...

Hardar (Level 2 Mage) Total XP: 2,832. Chopped up in Session 42 by a six armed demon statue as he held his Darth Vader Choking Grip spell long enough for his compatriots to escape an unwinnable battle. His dream to become the most evil being in the universe suffers eternally the indignity of being remembered for self sacrifice and laying his life down for his friends.

Nubbs (Level 3 Thief) Total XP: 4,017. Swarmed by scarabs which bored into his ears and brain in Session 45.

Grummz (Level 1 Dwarven Vaultgard) Total XP: 0. Ripped limb from limb by a throng of skeletons and their undead golem leaders in Session 46.

Grommzs (Level 1 Dwarven Vaultguard) Total XP: 2,168. Torn to bits and eaten by trolls in session 48

Rapunzel (Level 4 Priestess) Total XP: 11,540. Torn to bits and eaten by trolls in Session 48.

Schizo (Level 1 Mage): Total XP: 0. Frozen to death by an assassin's guild ruffian bard wielding a Wand of Cold in session 54.

Marteen (Level 1 Thief): Total XP: 0. Fell to his death in Lamalla's Temple upon a pile of dragon horde gold. Corpse eaten by Sheila the Beautiful, an Ancient Blue Dragon in session 56.

Ambrose (Level 2 Cleric): Total XP: idk. Strangled to death by cursed octopi in a canoe on Lake Laman claiming the Sinister Stone of Sakkara for Law and eventual destruction in session 63.

Traiticus (Level 9 Fighter): Total XP: alot. Head split in half by Froggo's bronze magic "Fren Axe" during Operation Muscle Thunder on 08/09/22.

Alina (Level 7 Mage). Cut in half at her belt line by Froggo's bronze magic "Fren Axe" during Operation Muscle Thunder on 08/09/22.

Olgar McKenzie (Level 5ish Barbarian). Soul eaten by Stormbringer wielded by the Manson the mad assassin during Operation Muscle Thunder on 08/09/22.

Celeste (Level 7ish Witch). Soul eaten by Stormbringer wielded by the Manson the mad assassin during Operation Muscle Thunder on 08/09/22. Said Ancient Soul caused a backfire effect and blasted Manson's face off leaving him dead in the sea foam.

Allen A'Dulles (Level 1 Bard): Petrified by a basilisk in the Meniri Mountains in Session 66.

Cyfaraun (Level 1 Elven Spellsword): Eaten by basilisks in the Meniri Mountains in Session 66.

Tamryn (Level 1 Elven Spellsword):  Petrified by a basilisk in the Meniri Mountains in Session 66

Allen the Bard (Level 1 Bard): Petrified by a basilisk in the Meniri Mountains in Session 66.

UnNamed Venturer (Level 1 Venturer): Killed by astral demons and sucked into the vacuum of spacetime in Session 66.

Major Garland Briggs (Level 1 Explorer): Killed by the crossbow bolt of an angry thracian in a dormant (?) volcano dungeon called Queens Rest Mountain. Then his body was eaten by giant chameleons as the rest of the party made their escape in Session 73.

Autumn Leaves (Level 1 Elven Spellsword): Died to lizardman crossbow bolts to the tears of her adventuring compatriots who tried to revive her after absconding with her corpse just outside Queens Rest Mountain in Session 73.

Xanthos (Level 6 Cleric): Cut down by a flaming blade by a very powerful thracian lizardman below Queens Rest Mountain in Session 74.

Stormin' Norman (Level 1 Gnomish Trickster): Captured by the lizardman tribe below Queens Rest Mountain whilst trying to use illusionist tricks to steal a magic spear. Was subsequently fed to their Giant Chameleons for being an annoying gnome in Session 74.

Alexa this is so sad play "Lizard Life" by ZZ Top