Summary
(GM's note- Brittany couldn't make it, I ran Caeli)
Eleasis 24
After defeating the beholder and breaking the demon amulet, the party back tracks to what they think was the beholder's lair. Inside they find a domed chamber, bare and surprisingly smooth. against one wall is a deep, narrow pit which is the source of the smell of dead meat. Down the deep hole is the beholder's garbage pit with assorted old bones. Above them, at the apex of the dome is a ten-foot diameter circle. Mirag flies up to it and pulls himself through into a smaller, domed chamber. There are several pedestals scattered around the room, but Mirag has no light. He flies back down and tries to have Caeli and Risa ride him as he flies, but he can't quite manage it. He casts Spider Climb on Andre, then Kiri casts Light on a coin and gives it to Risa. Mirag flies back into the upper chamber with Risa. On the pedestals, they find a black cloak with a feather pattern, a silver wand with a black web pattern, the skull of a dragon-like creature, and a silver ring with a ram's head. Another pedestal has a hollow top, it is filled with mixed coins and a few gems, there are also a couple of paintings on the wall, one human made, one possibly drow made. Everyone returns below to rest. Part way through the night, a group of kobolds arrive, bearing a freshly killed deer. When they see the party, they squeal, drop the carcass and run. The party has fresh meat for breakfast.
Eleasis 25- Eleasis 27
The adventurers return to the cave and travel downward until the find the underground lake. It's only a few hundred feet wide here but stretches out of sight in both directions. From what they learned of the yuan-ti stronghold's entrance, Thorn thinks they need to go to their left. Kiri casts Water Walking and they set out across the lake.
A few hours later, they see lights in the distance, possibly small bonfires or big torches. They douse their light and approach with Silence on a coin. They find a cave opening, sealed with iron bars and a stone dock projecting out into the water. An oar driven boat is tied up alongside, yuan-ti overseers watch as a mixed group of slaves unload the boat and carry cargo through a gate in the wall of bars. The party decides to attack. Mirag casts Fog Cloud on the dock to cover their approach. the slaves drop the crates and run. Mirag wildshapes into a crab and climbs up onto the dock. Andre and Caeli climb into the boat. He shoves an archer into the water and engages the snakeheaded malison. Caeli casts Melf's Minute Meteors and starts hitting the swordsmen she can see on the dock. Risa climbs into the boat and fights a yuan-ti in priest robes. Thorn climbs onto the dock, shoots and kills the priest. Risa goes to help Andre. Kiri climbs onto the dock and plays her harp and casts Bane on some of the yuan-ti. Mirag drops his wildshape and hits a group of yuan-ti with his roar breath weapon. Thorn attacks the swordsmen on the dock.
Kiri casts Spiritual Weapon to help Andre. Andre kills the archer and then the malison. Caeli finishes her meteors and switches to Firebolt. The party moves up the dock to help Mirag. They move in to attack the yuan-ti in the cave and Thorn, Risa, and Mirag finish them off.
The party moves into the cave and the slaves peek out of cover. They're a mixed group, humans, dwarves, drow, even an orc and a pair of goblins. They are concerned about the adventurers, especially Mirag, but a dwarf spokesman steps forward. The party learns the yuan-ti strong hold is too small to support itself, food and other supplies are shipped in from a large yuan-ti city about fifty miles away down the lake. There are a couple dozen yuan-ti living here, plus some slaves. The party lets them go and tells them about the cave that they came down from the surface in. The slaves discuss it and decide to take the boat back to the cave; some may return to the surface.
The party moves further into the cave, finding storerooms and a ramp leading up. It takes them into a large chamber, a natural chamber that has been enlarged. Several passageways lead off, but inside the chambers are tables and chairs and couches and a lot of yuan-ti!
Thorn tries to shoot but hits Andre in the back and misses his second shot. An abomination tries to blind Andre with a flash from its sword but fails. Risa blast most of the enemy with Fireball form the Inferno Staff and Caeli hits some more with Shatter. Mirag attacks and casts Healing Spirit. Andre attacks the abomination, and Kiri begins playing the Harp. A malison throws down a figurine and it turns into a giant honeybee! Kiri casts Dispel Magic and drives the figurine back into statue form. Mirag rages and the party moves forward, killing the wounded yuan-ti. Once the battle is over, they start searching the area. They find side passages to living quarters and a kitchen. Another tunnel leads to a bathing area with hot springs. The find a a main tunnel leading deeper into the complex and Mirag wildshapes into a squirrel to stealthily scout one. But he walks over a lightning Glyph which kills his squirrel form and returns him to his massive dragon bear form… in a five-foot-wide passage. The party comes to help and guards at the other end come, drawn by the lightning. Kiri casts Freedom of Movement on Mirag and he starts to crawl forward, making it almost all the way down. The guards bombard him with poison arrows. Andre and Risa run up behind Mirag and SHOVE and he pops out of the tunnel, knocking the two archers flat. Mirag, Andre and Risa slay the archers.
(Second session)
The party explores the room and rests. Looking out the arrow slits, they see a narrow passage separated from their side by a narrow canyon. Opening the door, they find a raised drawbridge. At one end is a pair of levers, pulling one lowers the drawbridge. They think they have found the main entrance to the fortress from the surface. The passage is sealed by a stone door, opened by a capstan crank.
The party moves back into the passageways and Thorn heads down into a new passage and hits a lightning Glyph. The party stacks up and moves down the passageway to doors and move through into an empty room with desks and papers. As they move in, wizard yuan-tis appear out of invisibility and begin hurling spells. As the party attacks, warriors also appear from invisibility. Kiri plays the Harp and heals the party as they fight, Thorn casts Silence to stop the wizards and dashes from enemy to enemy, killing three. Risa batters them adnd drops one and Caeli's spells and Andre's axe claim another.
Mirag is exploring as a squirrel and finds a small set of prison cells with three victims. He can't budge the bar on the door in squirrel form and dashes back for help. Beyond the first room, the party finds and autopsy room with the remains of two victims on tables, a planning room with maps and charts showing where and when the plague was released and a cave turned into a holding center with a couple of dozen prisoners, including a few who show signs of the plague. There are some kobold slaves hiding in a corner. They go and release the three other prisoners; they warn the party of a giant yuan-ti priestess with a serpent body. They get all the prisoners some food and head off to the final room.
The last hallway ends in a carving like a giant snake's mouth with double doors at the back of the throat. They enter and find a large, egg shaped chamber with a blood covered altar and statues of the snake gods. The high priestess turns and tries to stop them with Hypnotic Pattern. Caeli tries
to hit her with Lightning Bolt and is Counterspelled. Thorn charges in with Silence again. Kiri plays the Harp and hits the priestess with Sacred Flame. Andre hurls javelins, Mirag moves closer and Risa hits and tstiuns the Yuan-ti. Caeli hits with Chromatic Orb, Mirag goes back to dragon bear form and attacks with claws, and Thorn gets in the killing blow. Theystrip the priestess of treasure including a fine scimitar and Caeli pries the emeralds from the staute's eyes.They return and gather the prisoners and lead them out, taking some food from the stronghold. The cross the drawbridge and crank open the stone outer door, but Kiri finds another thunder Glyph while leading the party to safety. Thorn leads them to shelter in the woods, and they camp for the night. In the morning, the party cures as many of the plague victims as possible and Kiri casts Create Food and Water and Mirag casts Goodberry. They lead the people back to Fydale. They find reinforcements waiting there, the town sent for help after the party stopped the last kidnapping. Food and shelter are provided for the rescued prisoners and the officer in charge interviews them. He will take an expedition to destroy the yuan-ti stronghold if possible.
This concludes the Serpents of Oran campaign storyline. Everyone still has personal plot lines to resolve.
Silly Quotes and Smart Remarks
Before the game, discussing summoning a swarm of flying poisonous snakes
JoAnne "I can just hear Brittany; 'What the fuck?' "
Jim "She's not going to be here today. Of course, I would have to reply 'No, what the flying fuck' "
The pit the beholder used to discard bones and garbage was referred to as the meathole and it became a running joke.
Jim "I'm afraid this is going to be another buttstroke"
Jack "He didn't know we had a flying bear"
Nick "We didn't know we had a flying bear"
Jim "'Why didn't you list that among our assets?'"
Jack "Instead of saying dragonbear, I should be Bearagon"
Mirag wildshaped into a crab to sneak in
Nick "Roll to scuttle"
Risa casts Fireball from the Inferno Staff
Katya "Extra-crispy style"
Mirag is stuck in the narrow passage
Jim "Easier than shooting a bear in a tunnel"
Jack "Who put Bear in a tunnel? No one puts Bear in a tunnel!"
Discussing clearing the stronghold
Evan "Soon there will be None-ti. There was one-ti, now they're gone"
Jim "That's a Chmiel"
Brittany, Counting Count voice "One-ti, two-ti, three-ti, ha, ha, ha…"
Mirag in squirrel form is trying to communicate
Jim "The squirrel will now explain in mime"
Brittany "What is it Lassie? Is Timmy stuck in the well?"
