The Fractured Lands - Session 3 (2-22-2025)
The White Rabbit, Lilith - The leader of the rebellion brewing near Rhaglunieath
February 22, 2025
The group continues their exploring of a dungeon. This session, they first enter a temple-like room with gravestones, a winged warrior statue, and intricate doors. They find a plaque inscribed "Only the Worthy are granted recompense." Exploring further, they discover a dark, spiraling staircase leading to a flooded cavern with decomposing bodies
Aquatic darklings fail to surprise the group and attack. The battle is tough and gritty. Luck seems to be against the group – attacks that usually land fall short while unlucky moment after unlucky moment leads to the darklings swarming the party. The group hung tough and used keen observations about light and the environment to overcome the darklings but not before Murf almost died.
After defeating the darklings, the group retrieved a metal key from a swarm of bone keys. They also took a moment to regroup and regain some health, though time was not on their side. In a rush, the group pushes forward to find to find another floor and room. Inside was a sarcophagus with the inscription "Only the Worthy are granted recompense." The group knows their next challenge awaits them within this sarcophagus.
Marak leads the way without hesitation – he bows before the sarcophagus, and with the rest of the group right behind him, they push forward. In a role-playing game session, the players navigate a challenging encounter with a gigantic white moth that glows with a soft moonlight. It seems this moth creature has a deep connection with the tomb it is guarding
Combat with the lunar moth guardian ensues!
Marak attempts to persuade the Lunar Moth Guardian with a 20, successfully convincing it to accept him as worthy. Murf goes next. Murf also uses the influence action to roll a persuasion check. Murf, sensing aa religious significance and connection with Lillith’s following, shares his recent personal growth with the Lunar Moth Guardian. Murf has grown to no longer be absolutely terrified of death and shares his fearless loyalty to whatever divinity the Lunar Moth Guardian represents.
Markus, however, continued to struggle with his rolls, leading to the Lunar Moth Guardian attacking Markus and nearly killing him again. Markus finally lands a crucial, desperate attack, pushing the moth back and proving his worth.
The session ends with the discovery of a young woman with vibrant red hair, dark adventuring gear, and a giant witch hat in a sarcophagus room. The session ends there with the party informed by the DM they have leveled up.
Action Items
Investigate the room and the door behind the statue.
Defeat the dark creatures in the flooded cavern.
Retrieve the metal key from the swarm of bees.
Open the door in the temple room and enter the tomb.
Persuade the moth-like creature each member is worthy.
Decisions made
The party decided to enter a room with a waterfall and investigate further.
They decided to follow the current in a flooded cavern towards a glowing area.
Marak attempted to persuade the Mothman instead of attacking it.
Issues & Risks
The party encountered dangerous creatures called darklings in the flooded cavern.
There was concern about potential traps behind the wooden door.
The group worried about bees being present based on a riddle they found.
The characters were at risk of failing the Lunar Moth Guardian’s test and potentially dying.
Next steps
The party needs to level up their characters before the next session.
Marak will begin the next session by exclaiming "Holy shit."
The group will exit the dungeon and return to the rebel camp in the next session.
Outline
Session Three Begins
-The DM initiates the session, confirming everyone's readiness and describing the room's layout, including grave stones, a winged warrior statue, and intricate doors.
-Marak and the DM discuss the caked-up statues, with Marak suggesting they are imps, and Emily agreeing.
-Murf and Marak discuss the gravestones, with Murf rolling a history or religion check and finding many names foreign and some etched with ravens and spiders.
-Marak expresses unease about being watched and suggests checking for any presence, while the DM describes a book with the inscription "Only the Worthy are granted recompense."
Exploring the Room and Finding the Door
-Marak and Murf discuss the wooden door behind the statue, with Marak deciding to investigate it.
-The DM describes a plaque next to the door with an inscription about seeking where the swarm is thickest.
-Marak decides to open the door, with Murf positioning himself to detect any invisible creatures.
-The door opens to reveal a dark, spiraling staircase leading downward, with a faint rumble heard in the distance.
Descending the Staircase
Marak to investigate the staircase, noting the lack of a hole in the middle and the presence of torches.
-The group decides to light the torches to avoid tripping and proceeds down the staircase.
-At the bottom, they find a small landing with a shallow pool and a waterfall, leading to a cave mouth.
-The group notices bodies in various states of decomposition in the water, indicating recent deaths.
Encountering the Darklings
-The group hears a screech from the water and decides to investigate, with Marak using a Starry Wisp to light the area.
-The darklings rise from the water, making a loud screech, and the group prepares for combat.
-Marak enlarges Murf, providing advantage on strength checks and attacks, and uses Bardic inspiration on Markus.
-The group engages the darklings, with Dillon Bradley and Murf harming the Darklings. Markus landing critical hits and using Steady Aim for advantage on future attacks.
Combat with the Darklings
-The darklings attack, with some missing due to the light from the torches.
-Marak and Murf continue to fight, landing fatal hits, while Markus uses his bonus action to steady his aim, causing him to have advantage on his attacks.
-The group manages to defeat the darklings, with Marak using Healing Word afterwards to help restore the HP of the group.
-The group finds a greater healing potion and decides to short rest, with Marak using a spell scroll to cast Catnap on everyone.
Exploring the Cavern and Finding the Key
-The group explores the cavern, with Dillon Bradley deciding to investigate the whirlpool and the keys floating in the ceiling.
-Murf uses a rope of climbing to retrieve a metal key from the ceiling, taking damage from the bone keys.
-The group returns to the room with the staircase, with Marak using the metal key to open a door leading upstairs.
-The group decides to rest in the room, with Marak opening the door and finding a sarcophagus with the inscription "Only the Worthy are granted recompense."
Entering the Portal
-Marak decides to prove his worthiness by bowing down in front of the sarcophagus, despite his character's doubts. A dark portal opens.
-The group enters the portal, finding themselves in a dark area with a light in the distance.
-The DM describes the environment as a theater of the mind, with the group moving forward and encountering a creature.
-The group prepares for the next challenge, with Dillon Bradley feeling confident and ready for whatever lies ahead.
Lunar Moth Guardian Encounter and Initial Reactions
-The group discusses the strange Lunar Moth Guardian with the DM. The group is clearly nervous for their next fight. Collin shares a song about “the mothman” and everyone humorously sings it.
-The DM calls for initiative. The Players express their readiness and concerns about their bad luck and bad dice rolls.
Marak’s Persuasion Attempt
-Marak decides to kneel and humble himself to persuade the Lunar Moth Guardian he is worthy.
-The DM confirms Dillon's high roll of 19, allowing him to go first in the initiative.
-Marak explains his character's motivation, aiming to show humility and persuade the Mothman despite the risks.
-The Moth is convinced of Marak’s worth, especially after his effectiveness in battle. With a flap of the creature’s wings, Marak disappears.
Murf’s Turn and Mothman's Attack
-The DM announces the Moth’s turn for initiative, targeting Murf. The Lunar Moth Guardian’s attack is powerful and furious, but Murf manages to take the hit and stay standing.
-Murf looks to also use the influence action on the Lunar Moth Guardian.
-The DM sets a high bar for Murf’s persuasion roll, noting the difficulty due to Dillon's successful attempt.
-With some divine luck via his lucky feat, Murf is able to show the Moth he sees the religious significance and the workings of fate happening. He pledges his unwavering, newfound loyalty to the cause and the Lunar Moth Guardian accepts his worthiness.
Markus’ Attempt and Mothman's Persistence
-Markus attempts to shoot the Moth, but his poor roll and lack of Bardic inspiration lead to failure.
-The Lunar Moth Guardian continues to attack, with the DM describing its relentless pursuit of Markus.
-Markus tries again, but his repeated poor rolls lead to further frustration and near-death.
-The DM describes the Moth’s next attack, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation. Markus might not survive this moment.
Marku’s Success and Mothman's Defeat
-Markus finally succeeds in hitting the Lunar Moth Guardian with a (dirty) 20. Impressed, the Moth retreats back and declares Markus worthy.
-The group officially succeeds their challenge, to the extreme relief to the party, and the DM describes what happens next
-The group returns to the sarcophagus room, where they find a young woman with vibrant red hair, a black cloak, and a big witch hat.
-Marak decides to end the session with his character exclaiming "holy shit,"……setting the stage for the next session.
Post-Session Discussion and Future Plans
-The group levels up and discusses their strategies for character advancement.
-Emily Lutzen confirms the next session's starting point and the need to talk to the young woman in the sarcophagus room.
