The Old Lands - Session 3 (2/10/2025)

Bast the Untethered preparing to read into the fate of Stevia. Bast is an ancient witch. She has served the Silver Temple since the First Age of Kol and has served as a member of the Undead Legion for almost as long.

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025

FULL OUTLINE

The session began with corrections to the party's inventory, replacing a scroll of fireball with a scroll of mass Healing Word. The party discussed their recent mission, including rewards of 1325 gold, sending stones, potions of mind reading, and pistols.

The party then encountered a locked door in their room in the inn. The door was trapped and had a note saying "fuck off." Oberyn ignored the sign’s warning and the resulting trap caused him 23 points of force damage.

The party then traveled to meet up between patrician officer and a mysterious third party. They encountered illusions and magic along the way. Other than the strange magicks causing them to almost miss the meeting, the travels were relatively harmless.

The party came upon a Patriciate Officer (and War Cleric) named Daedra. She was meeting a noble from a lower house of nobility from a City called Rhaglunieath. It became quickly obvious that this meeting was a trap set up by the drow to get information from Daedra and steal something powerful from her.

The party quickly intervened. They fought against drow and thought spies, with the hopes of keeping Daedra alive. Crowd control played a key role in the battle with Daedra using spirit guardians and Stevia casting cloud of daggers and a critical silence spell. Oberyn proved himself to be a formidable tank while Grim picked off enemies and chased down prisoners. Daedra, unfortunately, did not survive, but they were able to kill the drow gunslinging noble before he fled with her loot.

The session concluded with the party successfully recovering a book from the drow gunslinger. They also captured two duergars from the Drow’s party. The party needed to escape the scene and rest first, but they would plan on interogating the prisoners later back at the safety of the Black Doe. It proved important for the party to get back to the safety of the Black Doe as soon as possible, especially before anyone may notice Daedra or the Drow gunslinger missing (and cast divine spells looking for them).

The party found another page from the Book of Vile Darkness. It seems to contain ancient knowledge and a spell, "cataract to fire." Daedra also had a journal with notes about Beau Abernathy’s research, including his recent focus on finding a tarrasque and great teleportation magic.

When the party got back to the Black Doe, they locked up the prisoners in the cells safe from divine magicks. They then decided to rest for the night. Back at their room in the inn, they discovered discover a ghost cat that could walk through walls. It seem obsessed with the trapped, locked room. This seemed to be the Cait Sith Bast previously talked about. The Cait Sith then popped open the door and seemed distressed, as if it couldn’t find something or someone. Grim decided to enter the room and go through things within the room. He did, however, decide to not to steal valuable items or the journal, opting instead to leave them untouched. The session concludes with the group returning to their base, leaving the items as found.

Action Items

• Sketch the runes on the black obelisk and try to decipher their meaning.

• Investigate the significance of the black obelisk and the area where the battle took place.

• Determine if the journal found in the room belongs to someone who has been keeping tabs on the group, and decide how to proceed.

Decisions made

• The party decided to correct an error by replacing a scroll of fireball with a scroll of mass Healing Word.

• The group chose to investigate a strange anomaly and gather information.

• They decided to travel to meet a patrician officer following a lead about Abernathy.

• The party opted not to steal items from a mysterious room, respecting the owner's privacy.

Issues & Risks

• The party encountered a dangerous situation with Darrow attackers and a Drow gunslinger.

• There was concern about the significance of a book containing divine magic and ancient knowledge.

• The group worried about the implications of someone spying on them and keeping detailed notes.

• They were concerned about potentially interfering with fate or angering an unknown entity.

Next steps

• The party agreed to record and sketch the runes from the black obelisk for future investigation.

• They decided to keep an eye on the mysterious journal to see if new information is added over time.

• The group planned to return to their base and report their findings to Gina Lombardi.

Outline

Correcting Errors and Initial Session Recap

-The DM initiates the session by correcting an error involving a scroll of fireball being replaced with a scroll of mass Healing Word.

-The party treasurer notes the change and places the scroll in her inventory, while Oberyn deletes his.

-The DM 1 recaps the previous session, mentioning the party's start at the Black Doe, meeting Gyna Lombardi, and sharing theories about a strange anomaly.

-The party is rewarded with gold, sending stones, potions of mind reading, and revolvers, which are later corrected to pistols by Grim and the DM.

Character Inventory and Equipment Adjustments

-The DM continues the recap, mentioning Oberyn's bracers of archery, a scroll of mass Healing Word, and a carpet of flying.

-Stevia inquires about a crystal scry ball, which Speaker 1 confirms is part of the inventory. It is the very rare version and not the legendary version, which means the crystal ball can “only” cast scrying and no other spells

-The party discusses the use of divinations and contact other plane to ask a god about a potential relation to Hank.

Session Progress and Character Actions

-The session resumes with the party waking up in their rooms at the Black Doe, rolling wisdom saving throws. Everyone seems to fail these mysterious rolls again.

-The DM describes the party's gear and upcoming travel to meet a patrician officer.

-The party encounters a fruit basket left by Gyna, containing exotic fruits and blood strawberries. There’s also a note left by Gyna suggesting she’s excited about the party’s growth and potential opportunities to work together more.

-Oberyn attempt to open a door with a note saying "fuck off," leading to a trap that deals force damage and knocks him back.

Encounter with Drow and Thought Spies

-The party heads out and encounters a black obelisk from the First Age of Kol, indicating powerful magic and ancient connections.

-They see duergers who are led a drow gunslinger, and thought spies who are led by the patrician officer. The officer seems to be a war cleric named Daedra.

-Grim attempts to stealthily approach the group, while Oberyn and Stevia try to get closer without being noticed.

-The drow and thought spies engage in a tense standoff, with Grim successfully stealthily approaching.

Combat with Drow and Thought Spies

-Grim resists being stepped on by a drow and successfully attacks another drow, dealing significant damage.

-Stevia casts a sphere of silence, which affects the drow and thought spies. Magic is effectively prevented for a round. This proves to be monumental for the battle.

-The drow and thought spies attack the party, with Oberyn and Stevia engaging in combat.

-Daedra, a patrician officer, joins the fight, casting spirit guardians and attacking the drow.

Intensification of Combat

-The drow and thought spies use various tactics, including casting fairy fire and blur.

-Daedra's spirit guardians deal significant damage. Daedra takes a beating but she manages to hold her own…for now.

-Grim continues to attack the drow, dealing more damage and successfully hitting the drow gunslinger with hunters mark.

-Stevia uses her mage hand to grab a book from the drow gunslinger, who is casting a spell to escape. This theft prevents him from escaping.

Final Confrontation and Victory

-The drow gunslinger attempts to escape, but Stevia successfully grabs the book.

-Grim and Oberyn continue to attack the remaining drow, with Oberyn using his great weapon master ability.

-Stevia casts cloud of daggers on the drow gunslinger, dealing significant damage.

-The drow and thought spies are defeated, with the party successfully recovering the book.

Combat with the Gunslinger

-Grim decides to protect Stevia from the gunslinger by getting next to her.

-The gunslinger attempts to curse Stevia and then cast levitate on her. Stevia resists the spells.

-Grim and Stevie engage in a physical confrontation with the drow gunslinger, with Grim dealing significant damage while Stevia continues to muck up the drow’s escape.

-The drow gunslinger uses their innate ability to misty step away from Grim, but Grim manages to hit him again. The drow gunslinger dies and two duergar remain.

Neutralizing the Enemy

-Grim decides to take out the remaining Drow, leaving one prisoner.

-Drow offers his pistol to Stevie for pistol whipping the prisoner.

-The group discusses taking the prisoners with them for interrogation.

-This would be the day the party met Narf Spittleshiv. He was one of the duergar prisoners they took.

-Stevia and Grim find a magical item and gold in the Drow's possession.

Investigating the Area

-The group finds a book with ancient knowledge and a spell called "Cataract to Fire."

-Oberyn investigates the Drow's body and finds notes about Beau’s research.

-The group discusses the significance of the area and the runes they find.

Encounter with the Ghost Cat/Cait Sith

-Upon returning to their room, the group finds a black cat that can walk through walls. This is the Cait Sith Bast spoke of earlier.

-Grim investigates the room and finds a journal with notes about their adventures.

-The group recognizes the handwriting, but does not know who it belongs to. The anomalous effect on memory seems to keep impacting them.

-Grim decides to leave the journal and other items untouched, opting for curiosity over theft.

Reflections and Decisions

-The group reflects on the significance of the Cait Sith and the journal.

-Grim decides to leave the journal and other items in the room, hoping to avoid confrontation.

-The session ends with the group deciding to leave the room as they found it.

Cataract of Fire Investigation Recap

Grim - detect magic - book radiates intense detect magic

Oberyn - history check - This book seems to be an extensive collection of the primordial history of Auriel and Ahriman. There are even parts of sacred texts for both Ahriman and Auriel's Cults found within these texts. The spell - Cataract of Fire - is found within well quoted excerpts of the first Book of Auriel. This is buried in a chapter about the beginning of a never-ending family feud started in the halls of Citrigadda.

Stevia - Arcana check reveals a spell that was revealed for only a moment.

Tranquility is a lie.
We all have passion.
Through passion, we gain knowledge.
Through knowledge, we gain power.
Through power, we gain change.
Through change, our curse is broken.
We will bring Absolution and Fire.

-An excerpt from the First Book of Auriel

CATARACT OF FIRE
Cataract of Fire
Level: 13
Casting time: 1 minute
Components: V, S, M*(pituitary gland of a tarrasque, large brass gong)
Range: 300 feet radius (first ring), 2600 feet radius (second ring)
Target: Self Attack(save): Sanity Save
Damage(effect): Necrotic and Radiant
School: Evocation
Duration: Instantaneous
A white light filled with a pestilence of gnawing insects and doused in black flames strikes the caster, causing a remarkable explosion of overwhelming necrotic and radiant damage.

All creatures, including the caster, within 300 feet of impact must make a DC 24 Sanity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 40d6 necrotic damage and 40d6 radiant damage, or half as much damage on a successful one.

All creatures outside of the first 300 feet of impact but within 2600 feet of impact must make a DC 18 Sanity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 20d6 necrotic damage and 20d6 radiant damage, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Magical effects within the affected area are dissolved as though under an empowered disintegrate spell. Magical items, force effects, and energy fields are simply destroyed by cataract of fire.

Can be cast by using multiple spell slots at once. The total level of these spell slots must = 22 levels. The spellcaster can also sacrifice themselves by using their life force to cast it. This will result in the death of their character upon the completion of the spell. Interrupting the spell, such as stopping the spell early or a successful counterspell, does not result in an instant death to the caster. It instead results in 6d6 necrotic damage and 6d6 radiant damage (which can still kill the caster)

Daedra’s Notes Regarding Beau Abernathy

-Beau was searching for "divine parts" and bought some from this drow gunslinger. They don't know what, but Beau paid over 50,000 gold pieces for it.

-Beau was also searching for a tarassque. Did he want it for this spell or something else?

-Beau was researching teleportation and summoning magicks

Recap of Items Found in Locked Inn Room

-a warhammer, a set of chain mail, a light crossbow + 20 bolts, a priest pack, a holy symbol, a hat of disguise (2024 version https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/4651-hat-of-disguise ) and 242 gp.

-Party left these items and the mysterious room alone.