This session was played on 10/05/22 using 1 day of delving and 1 day of rest. PCs can act on 10/07/22.
Participating PCs
Edelweiss (L4 Mage Magical Scholar)
Gront Coldsky (L3 Barbarian Housecarl)
Marion Morrison (L1 Paladin Vanguard)
Laru (L5 Thief)
Olivier (L6 Paladin Champion)
Hench: Edelweiss: Bella (L1 Assassin), Lillian (L0), Viktor (L1 Assassin). Laru: 5X (L2 Thief), Maro (L1 Mage), Zaidu (L2 Bard)
Session Report
Well the party was back at Queens Rest mountain for the third time. This ended up being the final time at least for 2 weeks. At this point some of the players likely felt like they HAD to Return Again to Queen's Rest Mountain. MadEye was captured last week and they wanted to gather his remains for proper cremation (or resurrection which is what actually happened). The two paladins, Marion and Olivier, had been visited by their Deities last week for abandoning the body the 6th level Lawful Cleric Xanthos when they fled from the battle with the lizardmen. Likely the smartest play to save one's skin but not exactly the behavior or Lawful Paladins of the Empyrean Pantheon!
So those two paladins, to get their paladin powers back, had to be part of a team to recover Xanthos's body.
In downtime, last week, Billy went and got Gaius (PC Patron Legate) and led him out to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Queen with 2 companies of New Cyfaraun regulars. If you haven't picked up by now, FOB Queen is a tower that the Patron Barbarian Kyle O'Conner built in real play to give a safe place for PCs to rest between sessions when they were doing weekly delves at his nearby dungeon "Queen's Rest Mountain".
Some of the BROSR critics have whined about how 1:1 Jeffrogaxian Timekeepking doesn't allow PCs etc to adventure deep into the wilderness away from civilization. Not true! It merely presents a challenge for PCs or Patrons to tackle to get the game world and play style they want. Real players find real solutions to the various restrictions the rules put upon them.
Kyle approved of Gaius's visit and traveling companies, it seems. I believe he may have made a bellittling comment to Gaius in downtime chat since FOB Queen has like 8 companies of soldiers are something absurd so Kyle wasn't scared of the Lawful Auran Gaius marching around his lands with 2 (two).
On 10/05/22 Gaius added his companies to Jeremiah Johnson's (hench explorer to Kyle) ranging companies to march to Queens Rest Mountain with the party. They climbed the mountain and the PCs, sans troops, went inside. Gaius took them straight to the Lizardmen's entrance to the temple which had its doors closed. Billy knocked and Viktor (iirc) could speak lizardman through the door to communicate with the lizardmen beyond. The party (Gaius primarily) offered the lizardmen cash for the remains of Xanthos, MadEye and whoever else was in there after getting eaten by giant chameleons. The lizardmen demanded about 2,400 gp. Gaius wanted to add in a free magic sword if the lizardmen would help the party acquire Queen Alicia, the "sleeping beauty" Kyle has informed the party was inside the temple and who he wanted them to save (offering the PCs a big payout for this!)
Suddenly a deep angry lizard voice boomed through the door in Auran common language upon this request: "Queen Alicia is ours and nothing will stop us from our mission to find her!" Seems the lizardmen don't like the Queen much so PCs must have realized they'd be in a race vs the lizardmen to wake her up first if they wanted Kyle's big cash payout.
Gaius shrugged and agreed to pay the lizardmen what they want and the bodies of Xanthos and MadEye were secured. Gaius's cleric henchmen did a Commune to assure the bones and gore the lizards gave them included MadEye and Xanthos. The god Turas then appeared and slapped Olivier and Marion on the back with an "attaboys" for saving Xanthos's bodies and their Paladin powers were returned. Gaius asked Turas why he wasn't in the Cosmic Battle for the #FateOfStormbringer and Turas stated he was too busy getting a mad pump since all the gyms were closed the last few years.
Gaius and his henchmen left, to the chagrin of the lower level adventurers. I was grabbing a drink but I think there was some heated discussion on the mics with Gaius's player that he should remain with the party. He was also running Olivier which I wasn't super happy with since I generally deny Players the ability to run two PCs at once for a few reasons:
-it's kind of unfair to the other players. Why should one player get to level two PCs at once and not another?
-it's hard to keep track of. Unfortunately ACKS isn't as easy to run big DND skirmish combats as 1e (shut up Jeffro) so it's not easy to trust a player to keep track of two leveled PCs.
I gave the player's permission to run two PCs in this case since we're getting into new territory now of a PC who properly ascended to Patron status in real play. The first of the #BROSR , I believe. Dubzaron is always setting records.
However, Gaius's player admitted he was doing IRL stuff while he was playing and would mostly be depending on the Caller to keep his Paladin Olivier rolling forward and making calls for his actions and such. He also felt Gaius didn't care about Kyle's reward or waking up the supposed sleeping beauty in the dungeon. So Gaius left and took his leveled Cleric henchmen with him.
In hindsight Gaius may have been saved from a major issue in the form of level drain so it was probably bad for the Party but good for Gaius that he didn't continue on.
The party then explored the cavern entrance near the rift on the stone which dropped down to bubbling lava. They contemplated letting Gront climb across to go up the ramp stairway there into a far eastern entrance to the temple but finally settled on going to the middle entrance stairs (about 100' east of the lizardman guarded entrance). At the base of the stairs Gront noticed 5 black widow spiders slowly eating a lizardman captive and the party decided to leave it be despite possible treasure hanging up in the web.
Laru went ahead first and looked around the room at the middle entrance. He found a large bell shaped room with 2 doors on the east and west walls and a double doors on the oppose wall far off that had been broken down. He saw large 15 foot tall statues in this entry room that had expensive ruby eyes. And crates of workers tools like chisels and stuff. He went back to get the party and they decided to pass through the room to the double doors on the other side.
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| amber golem |
The party, by this time, was realizing none of their regular and even their +1 weapons was hitting the stone statue for any damage. It kept laughing at them.
Olivier wrestled the statue for one round but was unable to knock it down or hold on to it for long. Edeleweiss debated trying to wrap chains around the statue to tie it down or trip it or something but after losing 2 folks the party decided instead to flee. The statue had been breathing a thick smoke the whole time which was making everyone who didn't save vs breath feel groggy and move at half movement so, for many of the PCs, running away was going to be a challenge. Marion in particular was moving extremely slow.
Edelweiss set off some oil she placed on the ground earlier as she fled and the statue chose not to pursue through the fire. The party triaged the dead but neither survived.
Meanwhile Laru was climbing one of the 15 foot statues with ruby eyes to chisel out the eyes. There was a chain on the back of the 1,000 gp value ruby which opened something inside the statue like a little box and a ghostlike creature phased out of statue with intent to attack Laru. Wraith!
Laru was hanging on the 15' tall statue and took out his silver dagger to try and fight back but missed. When the spirit touched him his lost 2 levels to Energy Drain and he decided to cut his climbing rope and fall to the ground to escape. Edelweiss shot the Wand of Lightning Bolt which Kyle was letting her borrow and killed the creature instantly.
The party then decided to take the rubies from the other statue but with Laru ready to drop to the floor and run off with the rubies before the assumed spirit in that one could get him, and Edelweiss ready to lightning bolt it. That plan worked and the ghost thing on the other statue came out and was lightning bolted to death before it got off a round of combat.
Some ghouls broke through a western door at this time, apparently wandering in to the sound of lightning bolts but the party decided to depart the dungeon and successfully fled those. They got back to FOB Queen with Jeremiah Johnson and Gaius's troops without incident.
Afterword
It's very cool how simple dungeon delves were impacted and also impacted the macro Patron worldbuilding stuff. I didn't have to force it. But when, last week, the Party ended up with some important PCs getting captured and such, they went to Patrons for help. Gaius in particular, since he's good friends with a few of the captives and survivors of the last session.
This, in turn, developed into what I think was a bit of an uncomfortable situation between Kyle and Gaius on the Patron scale. They had to come to an understanding about the troops Gaius wanted to march with and what he was trying to accomplish.
The following week, after all this Queens Rest stuff was wrapped up, Gaius arrested some diplomats of Kyle's who were visiting his (Gaius's) Legature for general court business. Was there some element of the Queen's Rest sessions which caused bad blood leading to this? I have no clue since DMs aren't privy to much of the behind the scenes Patron shenanigans. But I think it's possible.
As far as I know Gaius and Kyle are now pals and everything is fine. A misunderstanding? Perhaps.
The PCs did pretty well except for Laru who unfortunately, after having been out of Session Play for like 5 months, came back just to be level drained. That sucked bad.
Additionally the GP take for the session was hindered badly by the fact Kyle O'Conner put a price of 2k per charge used of the Wand of Lightning Bolts he gave the party for their delve. lol, gotta love patrons.
As far as MadEye and Xanthos go, they were ressurected somehow a few days later. The Lawful Gods are surely happy about that but I do wonder about the difficulty or whatever of a campaign where rez is easy to come by. Perhaps it's not easy to come by? I haven't looked too deeply into it since downtime play is generally handled by the Players themselves via solo play with Rules As Written for market forces and the like, going on the honor system.
The Lawful gods were happy to have Xanthos back the next week when he helped strike a blow against the fish goddess and help Law fight back against the Curse of Lamalla. 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. Ressurected about two weeks later.
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 "Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton
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