The Long Road - Game Thread

OOC > I’m pretty sure Quillary missed, but I imagine her still pounding on its armor in her wild abandon.

Seeing jacbson go down, Jorin is fully enthralled to the battle and joins Quillary in attacking the last foe. 

• Action: Reckless Battleaxe!
  • First Attack: 30 Damage: 22
  • Second Attack: 26 Damage: 17
• Bonus Action: Reckless  Moonblade Attack: 28 Damage: 16
• + 6 radiant damage to the first blow that connects!

CON save vs. DC 15: 10  saves

(Does the Fiery Strikes recharge?  Need a six: 2  nope)

The Myrmidon will swing 3 times at Jorin.

• A1: 24 Damage: 9  miss
• A2: 22 Damage: 6  hit for 2
• A3: 15 Damage: 9  hit for 3  (Jorin at 27 hp)

(OOC: I was getting worried when everyone was missing, but 48 damage from Jorin helps. It has taken 98 damage.)

Party is up!

Drusk will swing his mace and use the Spiritual Weapon.

• Attack: 11 Damage: 5
• SW Attack: 23 Damage: 7
• both hits, it has taken 110 damage total. Hurting but still standing. Who will finish it off?

OoC - this has been a fun module

Indeed. Let’s end it.

Pascal will fire a Ray of Frost into the Myrmidon.

Attack: 17 Damage: 6 cold damage

OOC > Lots of weeding in the garden today, so I’m just copying and pasting most of Quillary’s last move...

Quillary is taking out her fear and frustration (some more) on the Myrmidon, grunting and screaming and pounding on it, barely noticing that Jacobson is down.

Move: Nowhere.
Action: Pound with magic cudgel, 11 to hit, for 6 magical bludgeoning damage plus 2 poison damage
Reaction: Halo of spores on the Myrmidon, Con Save vs DC 15 or 2 necrotic damage.

Symbiotic Entity Wild Shape for this and 57 more rounds, or 12 more temp hp
Faerie Fire for this and 6 more rounds or Concentration (if even needed, since Jacobson is down)
Shillelagh for this and 7 more rounds

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Let me know if he's still alive on Hildi's next turn.

(OOC: I'm guessing Jorin will finish it off. Hildi can do the honors, unless you were hoping to do something else instead.)

Hildi's action for this round is talking with Jakobson.

DM:

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Hildi's action for this round is talking with Jakobson.

DM:

If he hasn't expired before his next turn, Hildi's going to expend one of the charges of his healer's kit to stabilize Jakobson.

(I like the thought, but you realize he is gone, being consumed by the fires that brought him back. His Flame Shield is still active, which prevents you from doing what you propose, and it would damage Hildigrim if he tried... Jacobson is only staying conscious long enough if you want some parting words with him.)

Hildigrim can modify his action, and Jorin is still up. (The Myrmidon is still rampaging, but it looks ready to topple over.)

Hildigrim looks pained as he watches Jacobson die. "I ... I think she was jealous ... of Vanifer. I think she wanted you all to herself, and since she couldn't, she acted rashly. But there is a thread we can pull. I promise you ... this is a mystery I will solve if I can. Rest easy. And perhaps you will be reunited with your love in the flames of your afterlives."

Pascal calls over, “Hildi! They was gonna nuke a town for no reason! A bit of the wrong person to give last rites to!” Pascal focuses his eyes on the Myrmidon, “Plus they put armor on fire. Now that just ain’t right.”

(The Myrmidon has 7 hp left. I'm going to roll for Jorin to swing 3 times recklessly. If he hits once, then combat is officially over: 9, 18, 8 )

Pascal just missed with his Ray of Frost (17 vs. AC 18). Jorin winds up, and his battleaxe smash causes the armor to crumble in a heap, rusting away as flames escape from the shell. Just to be certain, he smashes it 2 more times.

Drusk looks oddly at Pascal. "I've never heard of the lizard-folk ritual called 'nuke' before, but it sounds dangerous."

Drusk smiles at Hildigrim. "You are a better man humanoid than me. I was going to rub it in Jacobson's face that Ravia did not betray him, but went to Elmwood to get those fancy crystals as a gift. But it was more important that you gave a gift of joy, even to one who did not deserve it. When next I pray to Lliira, I will meditate on the lesson you have shown me today."

(2 more posts after this one, to wrap up the module. Feel free to banter between yourselves, or ask the DM any questions.)

Hildigrim takes a deep breath, and stands, his eyes lingering on the still form of Jacobson. "Sometimes, we do things we regret when we're upset or angry," he explains. He looks at Pascal and Drusk. "Add love into the mix, and ... " He gives a little shrug. "At least, that's what I've heard. He has me wondering, though. I'd like to visit that cleric in Mulmaster and ask him some questions about Ravia. Assuming he got out of Elmwood in time. What was she up to? I'm going to be contemplating this mystery until I can exhaust all leads."

OOC: Is Jacobson wearing anything salvageable?

(Module rewards)

The payments mentioned by Neverember and Vajra are paid.

• Jorin, Quillary, and Drusk add a regular potion of healing to their inventory. (Hildigrim and Pascal got their potions before the adventure started.)
• Over the next few days, Neverember arranges for the guild fees to open a restaurant to be paid (250 gp value), and will take care of advertising and the first month's expenses (for any week's with low revenue) when the Road's End does open.
• Due to the unexpected Jacobson fight, Vajra throws in bonuses. One person gets a potion of healing, greater. (Tell me who.) And Hildigrim can chose a 1st level spell he doesn't know, which Vajra personally transcribes into his spell book before you go back home.
• Pascal notices the brazier used by Jacobson is still around. It is high quality, being magic and all. It has Imix iconography painted on it, but Pascal determines it is safe to scrape off that graffiti and give it a classier coat of paint. More importantly, he has a cooking grill that is just the right size to fit over the coal bed. During your travels, it can be used as a hibachi. (When not cooking with it, Pascal should add a Brazier of Commanding Fire Elementals to his inventory.)

(EDIT: I just saw Hildigrim's last post. Nothing else on Jacobson survived the fires except the magic brazier... Since I dont have other modules from the second season, based on "Princes of the Apocalypse", I'll give a "spoiler" about Wylan, if you want it.)

Quillary comes out of her fugue once Jorin has dispatched the Myrmidon. She listens quietly, a little to the side, as Hildi talks of love and forgiveness, and Drusk of humility. On the way back, and in interactions with the group, she is reticent to talk, "I have much to think on. No not just about the fire... I had a... fire holds a searing place in my mind, but that is a separate issue. No, I am troubled by forgiveness, and where the opportunity to forgive ends. Jacobson fought mightily to remain past his death. Was it to hate? Forgive? Love? I do not know."

Hildigrim will hold onto the greater healing potion if that is what people want, but he has no particular desire for it.

He graciously and thankfully asks Vajra for the spell comprehend languages.

As soon as possible, Hildigrim purchases 10 gp worth of charcoal, incense, and herbs and borrows Pascal's new brass brazier to bring his familiar back in his regular tiny owl form. Let me know if that happens before or after going to supper at Mom and Dad's.

He also needs to buy 50 gp of components to transcribe sleep into his spellbook.

Drusk to Quillary: "Seemed like Jacobson, like others who seem so eager to deal death to those around them, was greatly scared of facing his own mortality."

(Last of the module wrap-up. Everyone can reset with a Long Rest, but you are still 6th level. You will level-up after the next adventure.)

After Vajra finishes writing a spell into Hildigrim's book (reward from post 3221), she thanks you and says farewell. Tinker (the historian) is still upset about what was discovered, but he is getting past that.

Shinebright looks chastised, and a little bit sour after seeing the mess in his cellar. He seems to have forgotten that your party cleared out the shambling mound and the demons down there, but you expect him to continue cooperating with you as long as he still has IOUs to work off.

You get back to the Road's End late in the evening. You are exhausted, but not quite eager to sleep, and perchance to dream. But you will have to get your rest. Tomorrow is the Wintershield celebration, and you are leaving early in the morning so you can spend most of the day with Hildigrim's family.

(OOC: I'll wait some time for conversations during the evening, game-time. When people are finished and ready for the next event, let me know.)

OoC - oh dang, sorry crew.  I didn't realize i missed a new round of combat.  Glad Quasi did Jorin justice with this blade swinging!  Remind me again, was the payment just the gold for getting the inn up and running or should we each be adding something to our characters' coinage?

On the walk back to Road's End, Jorin was initially quiet but after an hour or so, his upbeat and happy manner returned.  He was seemingly over the discomfort caused by his realization that he enjoyed the battles in the memory, against the heroic champion, just as much as he had enjoyed battles against more evil foes. 

Perhaps he simply liked to fight and to kill and didn't so much matter the alignment of the blood and gore that soaked his axe.  It was a complicated thing to work out and so Jorin was happy to box it up for another day.

That evening, after changing out of his armor and into his blue and white tunic, he breaks bread (and marrow filled bones) with the group.  "Say Hildi, will we be heading to your parents house now?"

OOC: Drusk, you and I posted at the same time, so check out my post #3223, please. I'll assume all the shopping happens after "tomorrow".

As the party nears the Road's End, Hildigrim can tell no one is in a hurry to sleep, so he suggests they share a nightcap — perhaps something warm and soothing to encourage restfulness. He is excited, but also a little nervous about the following day, so he starts rambling on about his family.

"So, there's Mom and Dad, Mileen and Horitage; my twin brother, Fortegren — we don't look that much alike — my brother Festerwin; sister Elsinphiss; brother Tamillim; and the baby, Ulamphee, who's named after my gramgram. Since it's Wintershield — Hainard's hairy toes, the speed at which this year passed is astounding — they should be in attendance as well — Gramgram and Popsy — my dad's folks. Popsy's name is Terrafer. Anyway, Dad's sister, Goldereen should be there. She helps Popsy run the family's warehouse with her husband, Gowin. Their last name is Matingshire. They have five kids — all girls: Lucifane, Brannonwen, Yetholoway, and the twins, Hathylmin and Watrameen. They're all older than Forte and me ... but none have gotten married. I'm not sure why." Smiling, he says, "Have you noticed we have a thing for three-syllable names in my family? Gramgram and Popsy wanted more than just the two kids, but Gramgram had a lot of miscarriages. Dad and Aunt Goldy were the only ones that lasted full term — in the opposite order," he says, crossing his wrists with pointer fingers extended to indicate switching places. "Both Gramgram's and Mom's families are way down south, and they don't get up here very often. Gramgram is Mom's second cousin three times removed or something. We used to go down there every other year, but it's been a few years since we spent a Wintershield in Tethyr." He makes a thinking face. "Or any holiday, for that matter." He pauses. "Anyway, Popsy's family's been in Waterdeep for generations. It was Popsy's grandfather who started the Goodbody fishing business. It's endured all this time and has been handed down from generation to generation. Forte will take over when Dad's ready to retire," he says quickly. "At some point, the family opened the warehouse. I don't think Popsy did that, but he might have. Anyway, Aunt Goldy didn't have any desire to take over the fishing, so once Dad was old enough, he took over that part. Popsy's got a bad back, so he was glad to keep to the warehouse. All kinds of things go in and out of the warehouse. All, legal, of course," he says with wide eyes. "Anyway, nobody works on Wintershield, so everyone should be there. Mom really likes to host, and Aunt Goldy and Uncle Gowin moved into a smaller house once the girls all moved out, and we still have 'the big house'." He takes a breath. "What else? Oh, yes! Popsy always drinks this drink he makes every Wintershield. It smells awful, and Dad forbid me from trying it. He said he tried it once, and it gave him a two-day stomach ache. Popsy says it gives him visions and offers it to everyone, but no one else drinks it. If he offers it to you, I suggest you either act like you didn't hear him, or take some, but don't drink it. We'll just stay through the big meal at sunset, and then we can leave. After that, they'll start talking a lot of business — the fish forecast for next year, ways to improve sales at the warehouse — a plethora of uninteresting topics. Mom won't mind; she understands."

Pascal just blinks at the word vomit that just sprayed from Hildi, “That’s nice.”

Back to examining the hibachi!