If I Fireball the cages, would that hit any of us?
(The room is too small for that. However, you could do Flaming Hands on the NE corner, and still avoid the bookshelf in case Hildigrim wanted to look it over.
After the 2nd grimlock is down, there isn't anything to stop the party from searching the room, and then exiting it. Pascal would have time to summon the Fire Elemental, and use his last 2 3rd-level spell slots to Fireball the room from the outside.
I wouldn't post images, but it would be like the movie "Aliens", when Ripley empties her flamethrower and grenade launcher in the queen's den.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Pascal noticed that all 15 of the Intellect Devourers became violent and angry when Yrax died. He was hoping at least one of the brain-cats would be nonchalant, or maybe start clapping, but these ones are unfortunately devoted to their former master.
Pascal is up. (Still have a live grimlock guard in the NE corner.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Quillary expects the dude to be dead by the time she gets to act, but if not will move the Moonbeam over there for 24 radiant damage or half on a Con Save vs DC 15. Or, if he has expired and a brain cat survives the burning hands, then on a brain cat.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
New quest, we need a brain-cat mascot for Road's End
Drusk thinks that sort of mascot would be creepy. He much prefers the helping ghost, or Quillary's recent addition of TwiGroot (awakened shrub).
Hilidigrim hadn't posted yet, but I imagine he would Disengage, and run for his life away from the guard before it exploded from Moonbeam, tidal wave of flame, and frustrated barbarian blows. (Yeah, it started with AC 17 HP 58, but its dead now.)
Pascal is eying the kennels and muttering about fireballs. Everyone calmly but hurriedly scrambles for the exit.
On his way out, Hildigrim quickly grabs some books from the bookshelf, but also grabs an amulet from around Yrax's neck. When Hildi came in the room, he saw a glow around it, while his Detect Magic spell was still active. It is "an electrum pendant in the shape of an eye surrounded by grasping tentacles hangs from a mithril chain. You have the feeling you are being watched whenever you were this amulet." (In particular, Hildigrim feels drawn to this amulet. Not quite at a "my precious" level, but close enough to know this isn't an ordinary keepsake.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
(OOC: A few questions that need to be answered before the end of this module. After some bookkeeping, we will continue into the next module in the series.)
Drusk is a bit queasy after Pascal's noshing. But he does appreciate the poetic justice for what happens to the mind flayer.
Just to be thorough, Pascal will summon the fire elemental, to make sure none of the intellect devourers survive the barrage of fireballs. (Spoiler: they don't.) The room does burn more fiercely than you expected, so the party wants to get away from this building before other people (or things like Flameskulls ) arrive to investigate.
On the way out, the party sees an open panel along the corridor, before you get to the trapped hallway. There is a big vertical lever, in the down position. A sign next to it is written in Undercommon, with block letters in raised relief (since the grimlocks are effectively blind). Even without fluency, the words are simple enough to understand: "DOWN TRAP OFF. UP TRAP ON." The party travels quickly through the hallway, without any problems.
You have to pass by Skull Square on the way back to the inn. Frankie, Artemus, and Irontusk notice your group, your injuries, and ask what has happened. What do you want to say to them?
Just before you get back to the inn, you notice the gang of bugbears stumbling outside. They are tipsy, and in a good mood from their gambling. They don't notice the party yet... I am not going to run another combat, and Drusk is a bit tired of the killing. But he wouldn't mind a little payback, especially with a twisted sense of humor. Describe what happens to the bugbears.
Volothamp is having another meal at the Guts & Garters. What do you want to report to him?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
The module is over? I figured we'd be headed to find either the Zhentarim tiefling named Bosskyn, the drow courier named Cory’bant’ex, or Bosskyn at the Keel Haul in Middle Skullport.
When he sees Mugrub's friends, Hildigrim gives them a head nod in greeting. "The mystery has been solved," he says, looking slightly pleased, but also solemn. "The mind flayer Yraxilinith was to blame for your friend's death as well as the other unexplained murders. The murderer has been vanquished."
Hildigrim is too tired to worry about the bugbears. He's also been pushed a little bit past his usual line of necessary versus unnecessary violence, so he doesn't have any desire to inflict pain upon these bugbears just because they were rude hosts.
At the Guts & Garters, Hildigrim doesn't greet his idol with quite as much fervor as usual. He explains that the key had been sold and is now in the hands of the Zhentarim, but doesn't volunteer the names or place they were told, and he doesn't bring up any of the other parts of the adventure.
The module is over? I figured we'd be headed to find either the Zhentarim tiefling named Bosskyn, the drow courier named Cory’bant’ex, or Bosskyn at the Keel Haul in Middle Skullport.
(DDAL08-10 "The Skull Square Murders" is over. The sequel, DDAL08-11 "Poisoned_Words" is about to start, and it begins with the party going to the Keel Haul.
I do have the third one in the series, DDAL08-12 "Xanathar's Wrath", but I'm not going to use that one. It would be a pain to do in PbP, and runs better in person where ideas & plans can be discussed quickly at the table.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Jorin is apt to apply some pain on the bug bears, but when he sees Hildigrim's apprehension, he has a change of heart. When they get a moment away from other he'll ask, "What is eating at you my friend? We had a good, hard fight against an evil foe. The world is better by our hand than when we woke this morning."
Frankie is glad to hear the murders will end. Irontusk and Artemis start debating if your party did the right thing. (In a place without law enforcement, maybe vigilantes are the only way to get justice? Most of the victims did bad things, should a mind flayer be dispensing death penalties as it wants?)
Your group sneaks away before the orc or the hobgoblin get a chance to pull you into their argument.
Your group avoids being seen by the bugbears, in order to get more rest.
Drusk does not realize that Hildigrim was holding back information from Volothamp, so he mentions that the key is being taken to Bosskyn at the Keel Haul. Volothamp thinks about this, then mentions he would like to hire the Road Enders to visit the Keel Haul to find out if Bosskyn will sell the key. (He will discuss wages in the morning, after a night's rest for the party.)
Module wrap-up
Everyone advance to Level 7. (Plus take a long rest, before the next module starts.)
Hildigrim was planning on taking the psionic subclass, so I figured a necklace from a mind flayer would be a reasonable focus item. Plus, it is an item he could use: amulet of health (That is why Yrax had so much more HP than a normal mind flayer.)
The party gets paid. I'll add it to the communal funds, unless someone would like to add to their personal funds. (Just let me know how much, and I'll take it out of the group funds.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hildigrim looks at Jorin with discontent bordering on worry. "How is what we did better than what he was doing? He was murdering murderers. One could even call it hunting because he was eating them like someone might do with a bear or direwolf that is killing its livestock. All we did was kill him and turn him to ash. Him ... a citizen of this community." He squints a little. "It's just not what I imagined when I dreamed of becoming an adventurer." He sighs. "I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
That night, Hildigrim takes a close look at the amulet he removed from Yraxilinith's neck and is forever changed.
Quasi, reading back over the psionic focus description, this is specified: "It is a handheld object that has special meaning to you, but that can’t be a weapon or magic item." DMs have the right to bend or break rules, but I wanted to make sure you were doing that on purpose.
Quasi, reading back over the psionic focus description, this is specified: "It is a handheld object that has special meaning to you, but that can’t be a weapon or magic item." DMs have the right to bend or break rules, but I wanted to make sure you were doing that on purpose.
I wasn't aware of that. But if you are okay with it, consider the rules bent.
(if you wanted to use something else as a focus, go ahead and do that instead. It just seemed like a mind flayer's amulet would be a convenient storytelling device, even if it is a magic item too.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
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OOC: It's always nice when you can feel like a contributing member of the fighting party and not just RP fluff.
If I Fireball the cages, would that hit any of us?
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
(The room is too small for that. However, you could do Flaming Hands on the NE corner, and still avoid the bookshelf in case Hildigrim wanted to look it over.
After the 2nd grimlock is down, there isn't anything to stop the party from searching the room, and then exiting it. Pascal would have time to summon the Fire Elemental, and use his last 2 3rd-level spell slots to Fireball the room from the outside.
I wouldn't post images, but it would be like the movie "Aliens", when Ripley empties her flamethrower and grenade launcher in the queen's den.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
(Course... I’m tempted for a Brain Cat pet...)
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Pascal perception: 19
Pascal noticed that all 15 of the Intellect Devourers became violent and angry when Yrax died. He was hoping at least one of the brain-cats would be nonchalant, or maybe start clapping, but these ones are unfortunately devoted to their former master.
Pascal is up. (Still have a live grimlock guard in the NE corner.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
The remaining grimlock guard will move west, to attack the halfling that slew its master.
Start of round 5. Initiative order: Hildigrim, Pascal, Drusk, Jorin, Quillary, guard1
Everyone can go before the guard goes again.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
New quest, we need a brain-cat mascot for Road's End
Jorin continues his berzerker fury on the remaining grimlock.
Edit, dice are loving me lately!
Pascal is going to just burning hands the whole area, “Try to keep the brains in tact! I can make some great recipes!”
Burning Hands Lv1: 17 fire damage
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Quillary expects the dude to be dead by the time she gets to act, but if not will move the Moonbeam over there for 24 radiant damage or half on a Con Save vs DC 15. Or, if he has expired and a brain cat survives the burning hands, then on a brain cat.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Drusk thinks that sort of mascot would be creepy. He much prefers the helping ghost, or Quillary's recent addition of TwiGroot (awakened shrub).
Hilidigrim hadn't posted yet, but I imagine he would Disengage, and run for his life away from the guard before it exploded from Moonbeam, tidal wave of flame, and frustrated barbarian blows. (Yeah, it started with AC 17 HP 58, but its dead now.)
Pascal is eying the kennels and muttering about fireballs. Everyone calmly but hurriedly scrambles for the exit.
On his way out, Hildigrim quickly grabs some books from the bookshelf, but also grabs an amulet from around Yrax's neck. When Hildi came in the room, he saw a glow around it, while his Detect Magic spell was still active. It is "an electrum pendant in the shape of an eye surrounded by grasping tentacles hangs from a mithril chain. You have the feeling you are being watched whenever you were this amulet." (In particular, Hildigrim feels drawn to this amulet. Not quite at a "my precious" level, but close enough to know this isn't an ordinary keepsake.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
On his way out, Hildigrim comments, "Clean up, will you, Pascal?"
OOC: Sounds good. Is the twirly, swirly killing machine active or disabled?
Pascal will do so! Buuut not before munching the Mindflayer’s head. This has been one stressful day, and kalimari is just the thing to relieve stress!
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
(OOC: A few questions that need to be answered before the end of this module. After some bookkeeping, we will continue into the next module in the series.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
The module is over? I figured we'd be headed to find either the Zhentarim tiefling named Bosskyn, the drow courier named Cory’bant’ex, or Bosskyn at the Keel Haul in Middle Skullport.
When he sees Mugrub's friends, Hildigrim gives them a head nod in greeting. "The mystery has been solved," he says, looking slightly pleased, but also solemn. "The mind flayer Yraxilinith was to blame for your friend's death as well as the other unexplained murders. The murderer has been vanquished."
Hildigrim is too tired to worry about the bugbears. He's also been pushed a little bit past his usual line of necessary versus unnecessary violence, so he doesn't have any desire to inflict pain upon these bugbears just because they were rude hosts.
At the Guts & Garters, Hildigrim doesn't greet his idol with quite as much fervor as usual. He explains that the key had been sold and is now in the hands of the Zhentarim, but doesn't volunteer the names or place they were told, and he doesn't bring up any of the other parts of the adventure.
(DDAL08-10 "The Skull Square Murders" is over. The sequel, DDAL08-11 "Poisoned_Words" is about to start, and it begins with the party going to the Keel Haul.
I do have the third one in the series, DDAL08-12 "Xanathar's Wrath", but I'm not going to use that one. It would be a pain to do in PbP, and runs better in person where ideas & plans can be discussed quickly at the table.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Jorin is apt to apply some pain on the bug bears, but when he sees Hildigrim's apprehension, he has a change of heart. When they get a moment away from other he'll ask, "What is eating at you my friend? We had a good, hard fight against an evil foe. The world is better by our hand than when we woke this morning."
Frankie is glad to hear the murders will end. Irontusk and Artemis start debating if your party did the right thing. (In a place without law enforcement, maybe vigilantes are the only way to get justice? Most of the victims did bad things, should a mind flayer be dispensing death penalties as it wants?)
Your group sneaks away before the orc or the hobgoblin get a chance to pull you into their argument.
Your group avoids being seen by the bugbears, in order to get more rest.
Drusk does not realize that Hildigrim was holding back information from Volothamp, so he mentions that the key is being taken to Bosskyn at the Keel Haul. Volothamp thinks about this, then mentions he would like to hire the Road Enders to visit the Keel Haul to find out if Bosskyn will sell the key. (He will discuss wages in the morning, after a night's rest for the party.)
Module wrap-up
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hildigrim looks at Jorin with discontent bordering on worry. "How is what we did better than what he was doing? He was murdering murderers. One could even call it hunting because he was eating them like someone might do with a bear or direwolf that is killing its livestock. All we did was kill him and turn him to ash. Him ... a citizen of this community." He squints a little. "It's just not what I imagined when I dreamed of becoming an adventurer." He sighs. "I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
That night, Hildigrim takes a close look at the amulet he removed from Yraxilinith's neck and is forever changed.
Quasi, reading back over the psionic focus description, this is specified: "It is a handheld object that has special meaning to you, but that can’t be a weapon or magic item." DMs have the right to bend or break rules, but I wanted to make sure you were doing that on purpose.
I wasn't aware of that. But if you are okay with it, consider the rules bent.
(if you wanted to use something else as a focus, go ahead and do that instead. It just seemed like a mind flayer's amulet would be a convenient storytelling device, even if it is a magic item too.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)