Diving Arganos
This session was played on 8/24/22 so PC's can take actions beginning 8/30/22
Foreword
Events are continuing to percolate in downtime even as Stormbringer hurtles to Ammonar in terminal orbit. I will leave it to BDubs1776 to update whether or not Cybele has been destroyed in his next post. Rumors are circulating that the Legion has failed in the West as the Exarch begins shipping all reserves out from the Arganos region. Is it to defend the capital, Aura? To reinforce the fight against the Skysos? Who knows?
Session Report
 |
| RedBull gives you gills! |
The PC's had been chatting and planning in a private downtime channel, which is how we all roll. I had absolutely no idea where they were headed with some chatter suggesting South to Orn to take on a dragon. Outmatched by some cookie bakers and now ready to face the Great Dragon Sheila. They certainly don't lack for confidence!
They decided to spend a few days gathering intel around Arganos. The process for this was a simple daily roll greater than the character's Hear Noise number. Make it and you get a rumor. Make several and you get more setailed information. Yes, we allowed stacking of multiple different character successes gaming it as the next rumor was obtained by following up on the first one, no matter who got it. System works great...unless you miss a roll by greater than 14. Or roll a 1.
Cue Mountlandis the Handy (Dwarf Machinist L1) who had just made the acquaintance of Orin Alecrafter (Dwarf Craftpriest L1)in the Ersatz Dwarf Vault. Really more of a dwarf slum, full disclosure. Still, it is a functioning community of dwarves just to the north of Arganos and Mountlandis was welcomed in. Until he started asking too many questions about local happenings. The fact he had his hand blasted off by some shoe shining elves up in the hills didn't endear him too much either. He was politely asked to leave and never return.
The first day of rumormongering was less than unsuccessful so the party went at it again. Some successes this time. Except for Mountlandis...who again bungled the roll. This time he drew the ire of the local constabulary who hauled him in on suspicion of treason. Dwarves need to know their place and that place was not nosing around decent human folk in times of war. The Elite Player quickly rolled up a new character and Savory Dulles, Hammer of Turas (Cleric Exorcist L1) was created and easily introduced to the group by Curate Xanthos (Cleric Mendicant L4). Scamicus (Thief Cat Burglar L1) in fact did obtain actionable information in a gambling den built off the rumor obtained at the vault by Orin and in town by Xanthos while Edelweiss the Studious (Magical Scholar, L1) continued studying for a proficiency from a crumbling set of scrolls bought during downtime. Three rumors stacked after four days of checking with only one PC now out of play.
Jacque Scamicus clearly overheard some grumbling about chthonic cultists working the warehouses of Gaspari, a well known and respected Arganos trader. Something something about warehouses and sea caves, muddled information. What to do?
Why, ask Xanthos to Commune with Naurivus, of course!
 |
| Naurivus is always happy to see Xanthos!! |
Through appropriate dramatization and improv fog horns, Curate Xanthos learned the location of the chthonic cult operating out of a Gaspari warehouse and iirc that Gaspari was not aware.
With this information in hand and 16 light infantry in tow, the party headed to the south part of the city until they came to an inn relatively near the intended target. The inn was Fish Heads, although it really wasn't clear at the time that their was an apostrophe in the name. No one asked me about the inn keepers Innsmouth look and it didnt seem necessary to elaborate on at the time. #FutureHooks
From there, the party cased the warehouse with Neutralio taking point. It was a smallish, rectangular stone warehouse, perhaps 100' on the long side facing the road on the one side and the sound on the other. On one of the shorter sides was a path leading to a wharf which was opposite a closed set of barn doors on the building. Much of this was determined after the fact because Neutralio managed to get surprise on the outside guard and immediately grappled him. Success! The guard was dragged behind a building across the road. While he was interogated, Jacque Scamicus inspected the building and then climbed on top. There was a skylight through which he could see two workers moving a crate away from the barn door.
The party determined the guard was a cultist with a kraken tattooed on his neck and also determined there was an entrance to an underground cave system in the warehouse. Armed with this information, and the key to the front door held by the guard, they assaulted. It was a quick combat and both cultists were dispatched. The office shack led to a stairwell down into a narrow hewn limestone tunnel. It was very damp without quite having water running down the walls and floor. Torches hung in sconces along the walls at regular intervals allowing easy vision.
At the first T intersection they listened and heard water burbling and crashing to the right and nothing to the left. So, to the right it is!
After a 60' walk they came to a cavernous room some 100' in diameter carved out of the limestone. in the center of the room was a pool that would wax 80' in diameter and wane to 20' in diameter. At the outer rim of that pool were five giant crabs facing the pool arranged in a pentagram, two close to the entrance, two farther away, and one directly opposite the entrance on the opposite side of the pool. The crabs just stood there, pondering the tidal surge, motionless. What means?
Five giant crabs against a basically first level party would pretty much be a TPK. Judging this rightly, the party turned and left to go down the OTHER tunnel. Unfortunately...that brought them face to face with three lizardmen! Gnotmarne was first to react and hurled a vial of military oil which caught the first one square on and splashed the second one. Damage roll was solid and the hit point roll was not...down went one lizerdman! The second lizardman avenged his fallen brother and promptly shredded Savory Dulles' inguinal region resulting in exsanguination. Neutralio met an almost as ghastly fate when his ear was bitten off, along with part of his head. A shifting conga line of dwarves commenced alternating closing and attacking until finally Orin and Gnotmarne landed solid blows cleaving the lizardmen with the second one cleanly burst in two by the hammer blow. Xanthos proceeded to triage the fallen. Alas, poor Savory, we hardly knew ye. Neutralio was more fortunate and was able to be healed. Living, but dazed and confused, he could be led a short bit but would require 2 weeks of bedrest and would not be able to participate in any action...other than to absorb damage.
 |
| This one has staying power! |
Not much treasure to be had here, and the door led to the outside a block or so away from the warehouse, so back down they went. As they headed down the tunnel...oh no!! The crabs were headed towards them!! The players strategized what to do about the crabs when the crabs stopped at the lizardmen corpses and took them back with them to the tidal pool room...along with the corpse of Dulles! So sad!
With that bit of information, the team decided to bring the cultist bodies from the safehouse and place them in the hall past the intersection. While the crabs were distracted, they would unleash Berserkers on the unsuspecting cephalopod! What could go wrong with a plan like that?
Well, tbh, not much. It worked as billed and while the octopus was engaged, Jacque Scamicus jumped into the tidal pool. Down he went! Fully encumbered...wait...oops. The rope! And its dark down here! How long can I hold my breath? From a mechanics standpoint, a person can work underwater holding their breath a number of rounds equal to their CON after which...they are drowning! This was something of an ad hoc rule originally when it came up in The Sunken Stone of Sakkara and it probably bears revising. Perhaps a save vs. Death each round to continue working? Future best practices...
Jacque Scamicus should be called Scamicus the Fortunate because at the bottom of the pool some 60' down was an altar giving off a hideous green glow which allowed him to see well enough to start scooping up gems...and to see the rope lowered by Gnotmarne. He could also see a large, round, very dark, tunnel heading out toward the sea. As he was being pulled back up, the octopus carcass was sinking. There was a chest down there by the altar...very heavy! Scamicus did a second dive and secured the rope to the chest and up again they went.
At the top, the crabs were returning with the dead cultists but were held off by burning military oil in the tunnel. Once the berserkers were done with the octopus, they were sent after the crabs. One was killed but the berserkers fared very badly. In came the crabs as Scamicus returned to the surface! They dumped the cultists in the pool and then began to move towards the chest. The party came up with the idea to walk away from the chest and then drag the chest behind them Unfortunately, the crabs posted up on the chest and were too big to drag. They clustered around it and dropped it back into the pool, climbing on top to ride it down. Pained moans from the PC's!!
Well, at least they had the two full bags of gems! They went back to the warehouse and opened the crates: One barrel of wine, several barrels of beer, and one smaller box within a crate containing...more gems! All totaled 13 stone weight of gems being hauled out. The mercs were put to work hauling the trade goods as well as keeping the prisoner in custody as he was remanded over to the authorities.
Total time in session 5 days. One day of rest on 8/28, downtime actions open 8/29.
Deceased
Dama (L1 Venturer) played by RR. Current total xp: 75. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.
Darius LeVay (L1 Assassin) played by JB. Current Total XP:451. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.
Donald the Guardsman (L1 Fighter) played by MP. Current Total XP:570. DECEASED. Intra-party justice in Session 3.
Felix (L1 Thief) played by Nicholas. Current Total XP:431. DECEASED. Poison gas in Session 3.
Hektor (L1 Paladin) played by Moai. DECEASED. Cause of Death: goblin warg rider throat removal surgery in Session 2
Leonidas the Inquisitor (L1 Cleric) played by RR.Current Total XP:498 DECEASED. Frozen undead blistering cold aura left his skin frostbitten and broken in Session 6. Body not recovered.
Mard the Mage (L1 Mage) played by Nicholas. DECEASED. Frozen undead blistering cold aura left his skin frostbitten and broken in Session 6. Body not recovered.
Yolo Baggins "My friends call me Swaggins" (L1 Gnomish Trickster) played by J. DECEASED. Paralyzed and eaten by ghouls in Session 12. Body not recovered.
Jack Filcher (L1 Thief) played by C. DECEASED. Shot full of arrows by Inthorn's brigands in Session 12. Body not recovered.
Swoleous Maximus (L1 Paladin). DECEASED. Captured then drawn and quartered by Inthorn the Brigand warlord in Session 12. Posthumously named "Petty Hero of Turos Tem" by Legate Valerian. Ashes offered a place of pride in the Hospital.
Damianus (L1 Cleric). DECEASED. Captured and beheaded by Inthorn the Brigand warlord in Session 12. Posthumously named "Petty Hero of Turos Tem" by Legate Valerian. Ashes offered a place of pride in the Hospital.
Bucky (L1 Barbarian). DECEASED. Became a illegal pit fighter during his downtime. Had two bouts to the death, winning the first and losing the second. Was killed by Young Jack Sparrow who sashayed into the ring, drank rum, and mogged on Bucky before putting a dagger into his ribs, killing him. This happened during downtime between Session 17 and 18.
Broll Wolf-Eater (L1 Barbarian). Current total XP: 1079. DECEASED. Carried off by harpies after falling for their enchanting song in Session 19.
Brother Franklin (L1 Cleric). DECEASED. Decapitated by a mad cultist of a Lovecraftian slime thing in Session 19.
Felix the Elder (L1 Bard). Total XP 825. DECEASED. Captured by mad cultists and fed to a Lovecraftian slime monster in Session 19.
Templar Flavius Africanus (L1 Cleric). Total XP 7. Killed by the claws and beak of mad harpies in Session 19.
Xendi (L1 Explorer). Total XP 6. DECEASED. Carried off by harpies after falling for their enchanting song in Session 19.
Yllmeeton (L3 Shaman). Total XP 4,563. Bludgeoned by the corpse of a bowmen by Rosie Odonnel hag in Session 21.
Longinus (L2 Assassin). Total XP 2,036. Had his face ripped off by Rosie Odonnel hag in Session 21.
Mandonio (L3 Fighter). Total XP 4,779. Charred to a leprous crisp by diseased Dragon breath in Session 22.
Corydon (L1 Joker). Total XP: 0. Burnt to a crisp by chimera breath so thoroughly his corpse wasn't even fit for the crows. Died with a smile on his face and a song in his heart. that's life and as funny as it seems... some people get their kicks, stomping on a dream... In Session 25.
Donny Keebler (L1 Elven Spellsword). Total XP 2,238. Had his legs burned completely off by chimera fire breath in Session 25.
Marina (L2 Fighter). Total XP: 2,204. Burnt into ash by a chimera fire breath in Session 25.
Gundro (L2 Gnomish Trickster). Total XP: 2,575. Had his mouth and tongue bitten off by a lizardman ambusher in the dank sewers below Cyfaraun in Session 26.
Polydoros (L1 Fighter). Total XP: 0. Had his legs ripped off and eaten by Akira monsters in the dark canopy of the Viaspen Forest in Session 28.
Odrum (L1 Explorer). Total XP: 287. Javelin to the heart from the hands of weird vine goblins hidden in the walls of Ferigno's lair in Session 30.
Garvin the Nutless Wonder (L1 Mage). Total XP: 0. Fell off the side of Ferigno's lair 20 feet to his death in Session 30.
Blackmoon (L1 Assassin). Total XP: 768. Choked to death by BOB from Twin Peaks while stealing treasure from Ferigno's dragon horde in Session 30.
Xanthus (L2 Cleric). Total XP: 2,364. Choked to death by BOB from Twin Peaks while hanging out on the roof of Ferigno's lair in Session 30.
Lord Zyklon (L1 Elven Spellsword). Total XP: 0. LORD ZYKLON DISEMBOWLED LORD ZYKLON upon finding himself on the losing side of the Desolation of Turos Tem.
Turin (L1 Cleric). Total XP: 0. Eaten by Wargs in Session 32.
Rat Face (L2 Thief) Total XP: 1,577. Seemingly grabbed in the dark by a Xenomorph in Session 36. In a sinkhole your party can hear you scream!
Smarticus (L1 Mage) Total XP: 0. Captured by a Xenomorph in Session 36 for all the party to witness. Taken deep into a sinkhole.
Hearticus (L1 Cleric) Total XP: 0. Gored to death by giant horned beetles in Session 39 after projectile vomiting all over himself from the stink of sewer sludge.
Mickey Mouser (L1 Thief) Total XP: 0. Gored to death by giant horned beetles in Session 39 in the happiest place on earth: the Cyfaraun sewer!
Aenes (Level 1 Paladin) Total XP: 62. Swarmed by giant flies in the sewer beneath Cyfaraun in Session 40.
Acianus (Level 1 Mage) Total XP: 0. Chopped to pieces in Session 42 by a six armed demon statue from behind and quickly forgotten about by his compatriots who saved MadEye and lamented Hardar instead. But I'll never forget you Acinanu nanu...nanite... nananaa...
Hardar (Level 2 Mage) Total XP: 2,832. Chopped up in Session 42 by a six armed demon statue as he held his Darth Vader Choking Grip spell long enough for his compatriots to escape an unwinnable battle. His dream to become the most evil being in the universe suffers eternally the indignity of being remembered for self sacrifice and laying his life down for his friends.
Nubbs (Level 3 Thief) Total XP: 4,017. Swarmed by scarabs which bored into his ears and brain in Session 45.
Grummz (Level 1 Dwarven Vaultgard) Total XP: 0. Ripped limb from limb by a throng of skeletons and their undead golem leaders in Session 46.
Grommzs (Level 1 Dwarven Vaultguard) Total XP: 2,168. Torn to bits and eaten by trolls in session 48
Rapunzel (Level 4 Priestess) Total XP: 11,540. Torn to bits and eaten by trolls in Session 48.
Schizo (Level 1 Mage): Total XP: 0. Frozen to death by an assassin's guild ruffian bard wielding a Wand of Cold in session 54.
Marteen (Level 1 Thief): Total XP: 0. Fell to his death in Lamalla's Temple upon a pile of dragon horde gold. Corpse eaten by Sheila the Beautiful, an Ancient Blue Dragon in session 56.
Ambrose (Level 2 Cleric): Total XP: idk. Strangled to death by cursed octopi in a canoe on Lake Laman claiming the Sinister Stone of Sakkara for Law and eventual destruction in session 63.
George Guildenstern (Level 1 Dwarven Delver): Total XP 0. Charred beyond recovery by elven treachery in Session 67.
Mathil (Level 1 Mage): Total XP 0. Charred beyond recovery by elven treachery in Session 67.
Marn (Level 4 Mage): Total XP??. Charred beyond recovery by elven treachery in Session 67.
Savory Dulles (Level 1 Cleric): Total XP 0. Exsanguinated after groin was shredded by lizardman in Session 69
Alexa this is so sad play "Holy Diver" by Dio
Comments
Post a Comment