I should have probably started titling these things in my own notes, but here we are. Before we begin the session, let us see our roster after a Long Rest.
Post-Rest Party Status (After Attunement)Alias (Gnome Rogue 4, Assassin archetype)
HP: 31/31
Attuned: Ring of Sustenance
Conditions: None
Restored Sneak Attack usage and Cunning Action economy
Nindur (Tiefling Wizard 4, Diviner)
HP: 30/30
Attuned: Staff of Striking
Portent Rolls Recharged
Wand of Secrets: 1/3 charges
Cuthbert (Hill Dwarf Paladin 4, Oath of the Crown)
HP: 40/40
Lay on Hands: 20/20
Strength drain restored
Lucille (Halfling Ranger 4, Hunter)
HP: 32/32
Favored Foe: 2/2
Strength drain restored
Fenthick (Half-Elf Cleric 4, Order Domain)
HP: 27/27
Attuned: Mace of the Watchful Dead
Channel Divinity: 1/1
Turn Undead: 1/1
With the party rested and healed, the group heads from Room #4 (Steel Spider Tower) up Room #7 (Breached Tower). As the party moves, a random encounter is rolled (1-in-8): 4 - No Encounter.
I roll on my weather chart with a d10 getting a result of: 6 - Cloudy, but no precipitation. There is a slight breeze, but otherwise conditions have calmed and besides a small pool at the bottom of the initial divot in the tower’s base, the fresh water has washed over the sides. The party appears to be alone.
---
“I would say the job is done, but we never found the ogres, despite seeing the tracks,” Lucille said as she walked with the group. Having checked every room, dealt with every threat on the ground floor, the party was a little more relaxed about moving at a casual rate and speaking more openly than the initial trek into the castle. The party still generally moved in an order, with Cuthbert taking saturn as a leader while Alias was behind, supporting him.
“Those were fresh tracks, the ogres are in the upper floors,” Ives said. She was the third in line, behind Alias and in front of Nindur, the latter could easily see over the top of the gnome and halfling and catch side glances that Cuthbert gave Ives as they moved.
“Well, if they are upstairs we’ll find them soon enough,” Cuthbert said as they reached the door leading into the stairwell, “Not sure how the ogres made it through this entire complex without running into trouble.”
“They must be working with someone or something that has an influence over the castle and everything we have seen. That or they’ve just been lucky about avoiding trouble,” Alias said, checking the door going into the stairwell before giving her nod of approval. Opening the door, for the first tim the party actually had a chance to look into the room and found two sets of words written out in chalk. One was done in elegant spirals and arcane symbols. The words below the first set were written out in a cruder language.
Q: Does Ives speak Ogre as part of her training as Ranger with canny?
A: Yes, but some of the words are so sloppily written that she still needs to study them. She still has a chance to understand what has been written.
---
Ives History check: 15 vs. 12 - Success, she deciphers what the ogres have left behind.
---
While Ives cannot read the spirals of the original inscription, she is able to finally decipher the message about saying the password Gorgon means there is no fire.
“It must mean a trap is somewhere in this room,” Alias said, after Ives repeated what she initially said.
She and Cuthbert stood in at the landing leading to the second floor. All they could see were a set of steps and stone walls on either side.
---
Cuthbert makes a History (Int) and uses Stonecunning for a result of: 17 - He is confident that the walls are safe.
Alias being alerted to the idea of a trap starts looking over the stairs as carefully as possible. Her Passive Perception 12 is too low to automatically detect the trap at DC: 14. Instead, as GM, I would secretly roll to see if she detects it as part of her Perception check: 21 vs. 14 - She spots the run under the staircase.
---
Alias knelt down in front of the fourth step and saw the same spiral pattern as written on the wall etched below the plane. While her magical experience went as far as being able to effectively resist mental magic, she had no idea what such a rune did beyond being involved in fire as Ives’ read off. She did have her tool kit with her and the knowledge that she needed to break the symmetry to nullify the ward.
“You may want to step back,” Alias warned.
“Why’s that?” Cuthbert asked.
“Well, my friend, if I get this wrong, we both may get a bit of fire in our faces.”
---
Alias Disable Device check - Bonus Action (Thief Ability) - Fenthick shifts past Cuthbert and casts Guidance to give her a bonus d4. Result: 16 + 4 (Dex/Tool) + 3 (Guidance) = 23 vs. DC: 10 - She is able to scratch the rune without setting it off.
---
Alias rose and looking back at Cuthbert and Fenthick in the room, she gave them a slow nod before taking the final plunge to test her work. The step remained simply a stone step and the rest of the room remained placid, save for any tension that lingered in the group.
Alias looked at the others and said, “I think we are safe… for the moment.”
---
The party moves up the stairs with Alias leading the way, followed by Cuthbert, Nindur, Lucille, and Fenthick. Alias had managed to disable the rune, making it safe to walk up the stairs without needing to give the password. At the top, Alias notes there are two different doors. One straight ahead, the other on her side. She listens at the keyhole into Room #15.
While the ogres are doing little to hide their activity, Alias’ passive perception is too low for an automatic detection. She rolls a Perception check to see if she detects the ogres, as noisy and intrusive as they can be.
Alias Perception: 11+2 = 13 vs. DC: 12 - Success.
She hears at least two ogres playing cards, drinking, and arguing about this and that from the room. She then goes over to listen in on Room #14.
Alias Perception: 21 - She hears the sound of glass clinking on the table, the swish of liquid, suggesting that someone was working with liquids and other volatile ingredients given how careful and purposeful the movements are. Neither paint a picture that the party was walking into empty rooms with unguarded treasure. A few steps south from the entrance was a third door that could potentially be checked.
---
“Which way do we want to start? There’s ogres next to us,” Alias whispered at Cuthbert.
“Looks like Lucille’s villains are next to us,” Cuthbert said, “Let’s get this over with.” He passed the word down the line, everyone was rested, everyone was in agreement to stop the ogre raids first and foremost. ---
Alias makes a Stealth check to try and enter the room quietly. Stealth: 25 - Success. She has quietly entered the room to find two ogres with a dire wolf laying in front of a burning hearth while a bruised and battered orc is sweeping in the corner. Knowing she probably lacked the ability to hit one of the ogres and take him out completely, she looks for an item on the ground.
Q: Is there something loose that she can throw to draw the ogres away?
A: Yes, no modifier.
Alias makes a Sleight of Hand check to discreetly kneel, lift a stone and hurl it across the room. This is considered a Bonus Action: 21 - Success. She hurls a stone into the nearby wall that cracks against the surface.
---
“Whazzat?” One of the ogres perked his head, hearing the noise. He glared at the orc and jerked his head towards the wall, “Check that out, that’s what we keep you around for.” While the orc is sent across, the room appears to be distracted.
Alias gives the signal for Cuthbert to advance into the room. He moves to the first ogre that is sitting and brings his sword down on the ogre in a surprise round.
---
Surprise Round
Cuthbert moves on Ogre #1 and attacks. Natural 20 - Crit. Spends 1 Spell Slot (1st Level - ⅔ Remaining for +2d8 Radiance). Damage: 39. Ogre #1 HP: 20/59
Alias aims from around the corner and fires at Ogre #1. Attack: 22 - Hit. Damage: 17. Ogre #1 HP: 3/59
Nindur lobs a web into the room that potentially covers Ogre #1, Ogre #2, and Dire Wolf. Dex Save vs. 13 results in the following:
Ogre #1: 4-1 = 3. Failure
Ogre #2: 3-1 = 2. Failure
Dire Wolf: 17+2 = 19 - Success
Lucille moves in and fires an arrow at Ogre #1. Attack: 12 vs. AC: 11 - Hit. Damage: 7. Ogre #1 HP: 0/59 - Slain
Hordebreaker on Ogre #2. Attack: 15 - Hit. Damage: 10. Ogre #2 HP: 49/59
Fenthick casts Bless (1st level - ¾ Slots Remaining) and empowers Cuthbert, Alias, and Himself. With Lucille already having an impressive +8 attack, she seems to have plenty of advantages. He is a step behind Cuthbert.
Ogre #2 attempts to escape Web: 4-1 = 3 - Failure. He is restrained and is pulling hard against the web. Cuthbert is just out of a reach for an attempt at even a Disadvantaged attack.,
Dire Wolf advances on Cuthbert and attacks with a bite. Attk: 21 - Miss
The orc only has a knife and a broom. He is frozen for the moment as he sees the first ogre fall.
----
Round #1
Party: 20
GM: 1
Cuthbert squares up with the Dire Wolf and attacks with his warhammer. Attack: 17 - Hit. Damage: 7. Dire Wolf HP: 30/37
Alias Aims and attacks Ogre #2. Attack: 21 - Hit. Damage: 14. Ogre #2 HP: 16/37
Nindur uses Ray of Frost. Attack: 18 - Hit. Damage: 2 (Cold). Ogre HP: 14/37
Lucille Marks Ogre #2 with Favored Enemy. She attacks with Short Bow. Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 8 + 4 (Force) = 12. Ogre #2 HP: 2/37
Fenthick moves up to where Ogre #2 is. He stays outside the grasp of the web, holding action to guard the ranged users of the party for further attacks from the trapped ogre or the orc.
Ogre #2 tries to break free from the Web. Save: 7-1 = 6.
Dire Wolf attacks Cuthbert. Attack: 19 - Miss
Orc curls in the corner, keeping the knife in front of him.
---
Round #2
Cuthbert attacks Dire Wolf. Attack: 19 - Hit. Damage: 7. Dire Wolf HP: 23/37
Lucille attacks Ogre #2. Attack: 16 - Hit. Damage: 9. Ogre #2 HP: 0/59 - Slain
Alias aims at Dire Wolf and attacks with Sneak Attack: 16 - Hit. Damage: 13. Dire Wolf HP: 10/37
Nindur attacks Dire Wolf with Ray of Frost. Attack: 17 - Hit. Damage: 3. Dire Wolf HP: 7/37
Fenthick moves and attacks Dire Wolf w/ Mace. Attack: 12 - Miss
Dire Wolf, seeing its masters dead, uses a Disengage action and flees through the door to try and make an escape. At 40 feet it makes its way through the door, rushing past most of the group. Because it has to maneuver as part of its disengagement, it is still possible for it to be attacked next round if one of the range members gives chase.
Orc maintains position with knife in hand, he is clearly a somewhat non-combatant unless attacked.
---
Q: Does the wolf’s hasty retreat alert the parties in Room #14 whose door is right beside Room #15’s?
A: Yes, no modifier. The Thulid is aware of a scuffle outside.
Q: Does the Thulid investigate?
A: Yes, no modifier. The Thulid does walk up to the door and look out, thinking it is the ogre fighting. It sees the Dire Wolf run into the hallway and stands in the doorway of its lab watching for a moment.
Special Round
Lucille moves and tries to hit Dire Wolf with an arrow. It is possible she does not spot the Thulid until it’s too late.
Lucille Perception: 10 vs. 15 (Thulid Stealth) - She is too focused on the wolf to use Passive Perception, and her roll is low. She has an arrow on the dire wolf without realizing that the lab door is opened.
---
Thulid attempts a Charm Person on Lucille.
Lucille Save: 12 vs. 13 - She feels a sudden psychic tendril touch her spin and influence her mind. (⅔ 1st Slots Remaining)
I have him in my sights… the last thought that Lucille had before feeling that cold tendril of energy slide up her spine and affect her conscious thought. She had suddenly become entwined to another figure.
---
The Dire Wolf escapes as Alias and others turn to see Lucille standing still in the doorway…
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