Defenders Summary #58: Mission Impossible, the Escape
Party Roster:
Felix, 6th level fighter, 59 hp, played by Alex
Kodo, 5th level woodsman, 59 hp, played by Rob
Balinor, 6th level fighter, 56 hp, played by Joel
Cassian, 6th level cleric, 37 hp, played by Katherine
Morgan, 6th level fighter, 35 hp, played by Alan
Kain, 5th level cleric, 34 hp, played by Jeff
Donald, 6th level mage, 33 hp, NPC
Quentin, 7th level druid, 31 hp, played by Jeremy
Alduin, 6th level thief, 26 hp, played by Vic (Alan this game)
Chiaro, 2nd level illusionist, 5 hp, played by Aaron
The party had just defeated a group of goblins in the fortress near the Grandfather, and needed desperately to escape…
Detect Magic helped pick out magical items, and Sleeping and Held people were finished off. The head of the heavily armored shaman was taken back for “questioning.” The evil but non-magical statuette was left behind.
The shortsword goblin’s head would not be cut off, due to a weird adamantite magical neckbrace thing. Even after we took it off, the creature could not be decapitated.
A peek out the arrow slit revealed that there were about 100 goblins on the far walls, with a near cluster of goblins encircling the tower only a few feet away. Not to worry, we came up with a plan.
The goblins on the outside were encircling the tower, and several had a battering ram and were trying to open the door the quick way. Three tries had failed, but the door was weakening. Then a fog cloud suddenly appeared on one side of the tower. Goblins rushed over there, reinforcing their men against the inevitable desperate party. But the attack didn’t come. The other goblins rushed forward and smashed the door down, triumphantly racing inside to slay the intruders.
But they found nothing.
What happened? Kain threw an Obscurement on the far part of the tower, opposite the arrow slit. When all the goblins rushed over there, Quentin Stoneshaped an expanded arrow slit for us to crawl out of. The party became invisible and a Levitating Donald lowered ropes and helped provide stable platforms for the party to descend. Chiaro cast a Phantasmal Force of the wall as it was before it was Stoneshaped, making our escape virtually undetectable.
The doors held against repeated smashing by the goblins. One of the dogs had a chance of noticing us, but did not. One of the goblins did as well, but also failed. We touched down and slowly moved away from the scene, just as the goblins broke the door down on the fourth try.
Sneaking over the wall, we reached the woods. We encountered no goblins, and made it to the tower. Hoping the owlbear would not come out and attack, we waited on the top and sent the signal, a weird stone that made a loud whistling noise, drawing the attention of the goblins. The party entrenched for ranged combat and waited.
A minute later, Illic and another man appeared. Illic began Shrinking the party, and the other man took out an object and rolled it into the owlbear’s cave. There was a loud boom, and then a growl. The party vanished.
Dunstill and Illic’s new ship, the Shockwave, was on fire.
Or at least the sail was. This appeared to have no effect on the ship’s motion. Dunstill and the Captain were on deck giving orders. Dunstill was unarmored and wielding a spear. The ship was repeatedly ramming the goblin ships, though it had only sunk one so far.
The party went downstairs and Morgan ditched Thunderstruck, which actually posed a significant security risk (apparently the ship can turn away lightning bolts). We made one more pass, where a group of goblins were stupid enough to attempt a boarding, and they died at the hands of the marines, Dunstill, Balinor, and Kodo.
Dunstill was the quickest spear fighter the party had ever seen!
The ship then put a weird black sail on, and began whipping away from the goblin isles at high speed.
Of course, what three week triumphant return voyage would be complete without a sea monster attack.
(Guess who rolled a 1)
Some kind of slavering monster appeared over the railing one evening, and was promptly shot by five ballistae, was unable to kill the crewmembers behind the deck’s railing, and then had its brains fall out due to a backstab from a mysterious woman with equally mysterious daggers.
Well, that was fun.
The party landed in Koralgesh, where we had an interesting discussion with Dunstill and Illic about the treasure division and party philosophies, and then we parted ways, but not before Dunstill offered us the option of being contacted for future jobs, wanting our response sometime in the future. Balinor heartily recommended this, but the party ignored him, suspecting he had a bad case of hero worship.
The treasure was a bizarre set of items:
To the party:
Ring+1, with weird unknown power—see below
Ring of Jumping (about a dozen charges)—between Kodo and Morgan and Alduin
Ring of Heroism—gives wearer +1 to hit, +2 on fear saving throws, -5 negative function, and wearer’s hair no longer gets mussed. Penalty: -2 wisdom while wearing it. This
went to Balinor
Pearl of Godly Wisdom—allows one extra spell to be cast by cleric using it (1st--4th level only) – Cassian
Spear +1—Quentin (Quentin’s scimitar +1—Kain)
Large Shield +1, smoke shield (spews out clouds of smoke and grants wearer blindfighting)—Kodo, who traded his large shield +1 to Dunstill and Illic for the spear +1
25 +1 first flight short arrows—Alduin
Potion of Flying, Extra Healing
Other weird items that were paid in salvage tax or given to Dunstill and Illic:
Ring of Forgotten Skills—removes all proficiencies and returns a week later with ONE of them at supernatural skill levels (determined randomly, effects wear off after a week or two)—most useful by a specialist, ie. Historian, sage, etc.
Magic buckler that failed identify
Wand of Defoliation—useful against shambling mounds (slime bags), evil treants, etc.
Potions of Clairaudience, Growth
Neckband of the Kepta—(as in Robe of the Kepta) this is the no decapitation item—cannot be removed by any means until death of wearer, given in salvage tax to Koralgesh
Scarab Brooch—protects against two level drains, grants +1 to saves vs. magic
Weird stuff.
Chiaro spent the winter drilling and training in Koralgesh (it will be resolved next game)
Morgan spent time in the Koralgesh Log Library over the winter after turning down a chance to flip burgers at the sandwich place.
Felix, Quentin, Balinor, Cassian, Alduin, and Donald spent the winter in Restenford. Apparently there is an interesting event that will take place that we will resolve next time!
In addition, Cassian cast an Augury on Felix wearing the mysterious ring+1. The result: “Tragic loss is within your reach.”
Finally, Kain and Kodo went to Teft to drill, train, and trade for magical handaxes. Kodo was successful and we repurchased the handaxe+1 we had given to the Petethalian navy after the Brinea adventure, for the short sword+2 and some cash and credit (about 2000 gp).
We nearly went completely broke, but managed to make ends meet by selling the Ring of Repairs for 2500 gp through the Koralgesh merchants.
We managed to train Quentin and donate to the druids by giving the Baron the plate mail +1.
Quentin trained to 8th level, gaining a black bear form, and 6 hp to put him at 37.
Chiaro trained to 3rd level.
Kain trained to 6th level, gaining 9 hp to put him at the very high total of 43.
The party will reunite in Restenford in March, 2181. Stay tuned!
Joel/Balinor
Log Supplement QQ: QQ
The ring+1 was brought to Restenford, where Cassian cast an Augury on Felix wearing the ring. The result: "Tragic loss is within your grasp."
Ouch. Another bad deal for us.
If it wasn't clear in the summary, the shortsword+2 was traded for the handaxe+1 and 2000 gp (we gained money).