Post by Dungeon Master on Nov 2, 2016 11:08:11 GMT -8
In the next session, the party explored Zelkor's Ferry.
A new character joined us for this session Rocky, a Dwarf (Arcanist|Slayer)...
They had a chance to interact with a few more of the NPCs there. I modified the town a little, by making the Bristleback (Tavern owner), the Captain of the guard (Skorma) and the Sergeant of the Guard (new NPC) as retired adventurers. That makes the outpost a lot more secure and a safer refuge, at lower levels, and ensures that the PCs cannot just take it over and kill everyone... at least for a few levels.
The party decided to explore the area around Zelkor's Ferry, since the Rappan Athuk foothills were a bit over their heads.
They managed to acquire a few rumons, including the 'Mouth of Doom' from Pappy (in the Inn) (from the Player's Guide), along with mention of the Cloister of the Frog-God, a Gnoll Scouting Outpost (for a massive gathering of Gnolls intent on destroying... something, unless they're dealt with later), a Giant Red Bear, an Ogress somewhere in the woods, and a Cave full of Stirges.
They were exploring the woods, when they came across a Druid lady, who unlike the Druidess outside of Grolleck's Grove was almost hostile. The more intuitive (higher Sense Motive) characters basically decided she was looking for a reason to kill them, as she warned them to not despoil nature. She eventually told them of a Spider Colony, which was not natural, and that they could prove their worth by taking it out... the party basically left her as soon as they could.
The Gnoll outpost was a joke, the party decimated the five Gnolls in a couple of rounds. The Gnolls were not even close to a minor challenge.
The party opted to head more towards the Mouth of Doom, rather than tackle of Cave of Stirges.
They ran into another pack of Wolves (3x Dire, 6x Normal), and for whatever reason (the Psychic Warrior|Cleric was late for the session) decided to space themselves out, gaining flanks and such but also granting flanks to their advesaries and allowing the wolves to gang up on the weaker characters. It looked like it was going to be a total wipe, but shortly after Ulric's player arrived they managed to turn the battle around. Loki (the Zen Monk | Ranger) was the only death of the battle.
He opted to come back with an identical character, named Thor, whom they found wandering the nearby region.
The party got to the entrance of the Mouth of Doom, but opted to camp for the night rather than descend within. A group of Kobold Raiders, from the upper reaches of the Underdark happened to chose that night for their surface raid. These were not ordinary Kobolds, but rather battle hardened (same level as the PCs, also Gestalt... all of them were (Fighter 3 | Rogue 3 (Unchained Rogues)).
The battle was rather hard, again because the party split their resources... an ongoing thing, I think. Ulric went to the Northern end of the battlefield; Silk (Rogue|Fighter/Cleric) and Rommel (Bard|Paladin) opted to go South. Thor, and the healer Ramiriez (Paladin|Oracle) were kind of in the middle, with Rocky circling about the edges.
In the end, the party came together and denied the Rogues the sneak attack field-day they had been enjoying.
The party headed into 'The Mouth of Doom', but haven't really gone all that far. Pretty much explored the first room very carefully, having heard of how deadly Rappan Athuk can be.
They've poked their heads about, but haven't gone too far.
Unfortunately, Rocky's player is going to miss the next eight sessions. Cannot avoid a two-month committment to real life.
Ulric's player won't make the next session, due to watching his team (Chicago Blackhawks) in Game 7 vs Anaheim...
Could be an interesting session tomorrow... Five deaths in Eight sessions... with a good chance at a party wipe for next session, given the tactical acumen of the players who will be present.
A new character joined us for this session Rocky, a Dwarf (Arcanist|Slayer)...
They had a chance to interact with a few more of the NPCs there. I modified the town a little, by making the Bristleback (Tavern owner), the Captain of the guard (Skorma) and the Sergeant of the Guard (new NPC) as retired adventurers. That makes the outpost a lot more secure and a safer refuge, at lower levels, and ensures that the PCs cannot just take it over and kill everyone... at least for a few levels.
The party decided to explore the area around Zelkor's Ferry, since the Rappan Athuk foothills were a bit over their heads.
They managed to acquire a few rumons, including the 'Mouth of Doom' from Pappy (in the Inn) (from the Player's Guide), along with mention of the Cloister of the Frog-God, a Gnoll Scouting Outpost (for a massive gathering of Gnolls intent on destroying... something, unless they're dealt with later), a Giant Red Bear, an Ogress somewhere in the woods, and a Cave full of Stirges.
They were exploring the woods, when they came across a Druid lady, who unlike the Druidess outside of Grolleck's Grove was almost hostile. The more intuitive (higher Sense Motive) characters basically decided she was looking for a reason to kill them, as she warned them to not despoil nature. She eventually told them of a Spider Colony, which was not natural, and that they could prove their worth by taking it out... the party basically left her as soon as they could.
The Gnoll outpost was a joke, the party decimated the five Gnolls in a couple of rounds. The Gnolls were not even close to a minor challenge.
The party opted to head more towards the Mouth of Doom, rather than tackle of Cave of Stirges.
They ran into another pack of Wolves (3x Dire, 6x Normal), and for whatever reason (the Psychic Warrior|Cleric was late for the session) decided to space themselves out, gaining flanks and such but also granting flanks to their advesaries and allowing the wolves to gang up on the weaker characters. It looked like it was going to be a total wipe, but shortly after Ulric's player arrived they managed to turn the battle around. Loki (the Zen Monk | Ranger) was the only death of the battle.
He opted to come back with an identical character, named Thor, whom they found wandering the nearby region.
The party got to the entrance of the Mouth of Doom, but opted to camp for the night rather than descend within. A group of Kobold Raiders, from the upper reaches of the Underdark happened to chose that night for their surface raid. These were not ordinary Kobolds, but rather battle hardened (same level as the PCs, also Gestalt... all of them were (Fighter 3 | Rogue 3 (Unchained Rogues)).
The battle was rather hard, again because the party split their resources... an ongoing thing, I think. Ulric went to the Northern end of the battlefield; Silk (Rogue|Fighter/Cleric) and Rommel (Bard|Paladin) opted to go South. Thor, and the healer Ramiriez (Paladin|Oracle) were kind of in the middle, with Rocky circling about the edges.
In the end, the party came together and denied the Rogues the sneak attack field-day they had been enjoying.
The party headed into 'The Mouth of Doom', but haven't really gone all that far. Pretty much explored the first room very carefully, having heard of how deadly Rappan Athuk can be.
They've poked their heads about, but haven't gone too far.
Unfortunately, Rocky's player is going to miss the next eight sessions. Cannot avoid a two-month committment to real life.
Ulric's player won't make the next session, due to watching his team (Chicago Blackhawks) in Game 7 vs Anaheim...
Could be an interesting session tomorrow... Five deaths in Eight sessions... with a good chance at a party wipe for next session, given the tactical acumen of the players who will be present.