Loudwater

Loudwater

Monday 5 September 2016

Postscript

With the defeat of Orcus and Szass Tam, cosmic balance is restored and peace returns to Faerun. In the east, the Shade Lords are destroyed, Gerin Legatus of the Shadovar rises to prominence in a much weakened Netheril. Far to the east in Thay, the power of Undeath has greatly weakened with the fall of Orcus. The Red Wizards under Lord Myuni soon re-establish rule of the shattered realm, and Myuni is acclaimed as Prime Archon.
In Loudwater, Lirael Widdershins is acclaimed Queen of the Shining Vale, and in time the Legendary Sovereign founds a dynasty of mighty Ranger Monarchs, aided by the doughty Dunstan Ironforge who with his lady Serka also founds a long line of Ironforge dwarven warrior-smiths.
His work on Faerun done after a final battle with a great demonic spider that attempts to make off with the body of the Queen-Consort Sir Jorah Blackthorn (subsequently resurrected by the Green Regent Halvath), Jareth the Invincible Vanguard sets off in search of new worlds to conquer.
In Ched Nasad, Matriarch Dhaunayane Nasadra long enjoys the Favour of Lolth, re-establishing House Nasadra with an iron grip over the city. In time Dhaunayane and her many daughters rebuild Ched Nasad as a city to rival even Menzoberranzan.
Of Paelias the Eladrin, believed lost in battle with the cyclops army at the Tomb of Sartine, there is no sign.


Finis

Monday 15 August 2016

Session 103 9/4/1485 RL 30 The Final Battle: Orcus




The Heroes of Loudwater battle Orcus to save Shar from Tharkorsil's Seat.




Orcus & Szass Tam killed, Shar rescued, Selune sends the Heroes of Loudwater home.

Monday 8 August 2016

Session 102 RL29 9/4/1485 Dragotha

Hallomakk Stromm Sends to Lirael that Waterdeep is under attack by Undead of Orcus. He summons Ardan the Untouchable and sends him to Ched Nasad. Lirael is also joined by Ralf, a wandering Underdark demonslayer.
With difficulty Dhaunayane manages to re-open the portal, only three can get through - Ralf Ardan & Lirael, to face the dangers beyond...





XP
Dragotha, gargantuan dracolich - level 31 Solo - 115,000
2 Glabrezu 20,400
8 Ghouls 18,000
Total: 153400/3= 51,133
Ascend the Tower to the Final Conflict - level 30 major quest = 19,000 each
Total 70,133
70133+750.449=820582
825,000 XP for Level 29
+10,000 Session Account
830582 XP
LEVEL 29 REACHED
1 million XP for Level 30

As the party rests overnight in Ched Nasad, Hallomakk Stromm Sends that Waterdeep is under attack by undead...

Lirael's Account

“Hurry!” said Dhaunayane as she struggled to hold the portal open. Sweat dripped down her dark, narrow face. “I can’t hold it open much longer!”

Lirael pushed through, even though she caught a glimpse of bleached white bone that made her hesitate. Arden the Untouchable joined her, as well as the enigmatic demon hunter Ralf, cradling his ridiculously large Demonbane axe in his hands. It was good to see Arden again, even in such circumstances. He had grown even more powerful in his absence and all indications were that they would need his expertise. Dunstan and Jareth were both nursing wounds from previous forays as they tried and tried to reach Orcus in his stronghold. Dhaunayane looked exhausted.

“We’ll join you as soon as we can,” said the drow, “but for now, go and Lloth be with you.”

“Tempus, more like,” growled Ralf. He didn’t trust the drow and had made that plain, though he’d lived in and among them for the last ten years. 

There was a moment of dizziness and dislocation as they emerged on the other side of the portal. Then there was a moment of sheer panic as they beheld the gargantuan hulk of Dragotha, a dracolich. The stench of brimstone and carrion washed over them. Arden immediately went on the attack, as if he had been expecting the dragon to be there. His shots rang straight and true, riddling the skull of Dragotha with arrows. It was disconcerting to see the arrow sticking straight out of its eye socket as it stared at them with malevolent but impotent rage.

Lirael backed up to get a better shot while Ralf ran in to attack the dragon’s relatively unprotected chest. The two treachery demons began closing in from either side but soon began to change their minds as Dragotha began to succumb to their concentrated attack. When the dragon fell, one of the demons fled. Lirael and Arden continued to follow it with their arrows, unwilling to meet that particular foe again and it finally fell with a piercing dying scream into the pit of undead below who, by the sound of it, found treachery demon to be a particularly nice treat. Ralf sliced into the remaining demon and soon the three were staring at each other, wondering if they should go on or wait for the others. Was there time? To be honest, none of them had expected to make it this far.

Lirael took a deep breath. “Let’s go,” she said. “The least we can do is scout ahead and see if Orcus is across the bridge.” She felt in her pocket for the weight of a polished stone that Jorah had given her once, what felt like forever ago, after a picnic. It wasn’t fancy or grand, but it was solid. Just like Jorah. She hoped she would see him again.

They carefully crossed the bridge, avoiding the place where Jareth had nearly fallen to his doom. There were no more treachery demons or vrocks or even dragons, but instead a small horde of fawning undead at the feet of a fat, purring rakshasa that was all too familiar. He stood and welcomed them, if that is what you would call it.

“You are on the wrong side of history here,” said Lirael, wishing she had something to stuff in her ears against the honeyed words of his she knew would come. She prepared herself mentally to use the Turn Undead ritual that she had recently learned but it soon became apparent that it wouldn’t be necessary as the ghouls quickly fell to their arrows and the rakshasa, no longer preening, ran for the stairs.

“What should we do now?” asked Ralf. “You’ve been here before. Should we go after the beast?”

Lirael eyed the statues, still glowing with an eerie necrotic energy, and the pile of undead. Then she eyed the pit. “Let’s get rid of them,” she said. “I’d rather they not re-animate at our backs.”

Together they pushed the dead undead into the pit and then poured gallons of holy water that they had been storing in the portable hole over the statues until they had crumbled into a seething pile of rubble. Shrieks from whatever undead lurked in the pit below echoed up to them and then died out as the holy water did its job.

There was a loud rumble as of a host of undead rising and a shiver went down all their spines.

“If your friends don’t get here soon, we are doomed,” said Ralf. He hefted his axe. 

Arden nodded grimly. “I fear we cannot delay much longer. He only grows stronger.”

“They’ll get here,” said Lirael. “They have to. If they don’t, it won’t just be us that’s doomed.”

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Session 101 8-9/4/1485 Glyphimor

XP
2 Vrock Warwings level 27 - 11,000 x2 = 22,000
Glyphimor the Balor, level 27 solo - 55,000
2 Glabrezu (not defeated) with corrupted statues, level 23 elite 20,400/2 = 10,200
1 allied Lolth's Reaver destroyed
Group flee back to the battlements, killing Glyphimor when he pursues.
Jareth battles vrocks & ghouls off-camera.
After destruction of Glyphimor, Dhaunayene Nasadra opens Portal back to Ched Nasad, group retreat to rest overnight. A gargantuan dracolich settles atop the central Pillar of Night.
Total: 87,200/3.5= 24,914 each

24,914+725,535= 750.449
825,000 XP for Level 29






Sunday 3 July 2016

Session 100 8/4/1485 Nalfeshnee Tyrant

Group battle and defeat the Larva Mage Magrathar, a Nalfeshnee Tyrant & 2 Vrock Warwings. Crossing the bridge from Magrathar's Teeth to the Pillars of Night, Jareth almost falls into a crevasse, but is saved by a web spell from Dhaunayane. They see a gargantuan dracolich afar off, flying towards them, and more circling vrocks. Approaching the Pillar, the Balor Glyphimor and two Glabrezu step out to confront them.

Magrathar level 31 elite - 46,000
2 Vrock Warwings level 27 - 11,000x2=22,000
Nalfeshnee Tyrant  level 29 elite - 30,000
Cross the Bridge level 30 - 19,000
Total 117,000/4= 29250

Level 30 Quest Award - Enter the Pillars of Night +19,000 each

29250+19000= 48250

PCs: Dhaunayane, Jareth, Lirael, Dunstan.

48250+677285=725,535
825,000 XP for Level 29




Saturday 18 June 2016

Typical Soldier

Soldier
Level 8 Minion Soldier
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 75
DT 10/5
AC 24; Fortitude 20; Reflex 20; Will 20
Speed 5
Initiative +5
Perception +4
Standard Actions
m Halberd (weapon) • At-Will
Attack: Reach 2, +13 vs. AC
Hit: 8/12 damage.
M Powerful Strike (weapon) • Encounter
Attack: Reach 2; +13 vs. AC
Hit: 12/18 damage, and a small or medium  target is knocked prone.
R Crossbow (weapon) • At-Will
Attack: Ranged 15/30; +11 vs. AC
Hit: 6/9 damage.
Skills Streetwise +9
Str 16 (+7) Dex 13 (+5) Wis 11 (+4)
Con 15 (+10) Int 9 (+3) Cha 10 (+4)
Alignment any     Languages Common
Equipment scale armor, crossbow bolts (20)

Tuesday 14 June 2016

Session 99 RL28 7-8/4/1485 Balors & Worms










Dhaunayane arrives atop her Lolth's Reaver, having driven back the Cyclops army outside when Lolth sent her Reaver, then traversed through Sartine's Tomb into the Shadowfell. Paelias is missing, possibly overwhelmed by the Cyclops horde. The group kills two Balor sentries & Dhaunayane Portals the group back to Ched Nasad with disabled Reaver to be repaired. Return next day to Portal atop wall with five short-lived drow minions, battle toad demons and ghouls. A Larva Mage worm-thing, Magrathar, who claims to have served Shar as master of the curtain wall, is accidentally summoned into the Portal by Dhaunayane as boar demon & vrocks sweep down from atop the tower...

XP

7/8/1485 First Assault
2 Balors L27 elites 22,000x2=44,000/3= 14666 each

8/8/1485 Return
2 Hezrou toad demons L24 6050x2=12100
11 Abyssal Horde Ghouls L26 minions 2250x11=24750
Total: 36850/3.5=10528

14666+10528=25194

In battle with:
Magrathar the Larva Mage, Nalfeshnee Tyrant, 2 Vrocks.

25194+652,091=677285
675,000 XP for Level 28
LEVEL 28 REACHED
825,000 XP for Level 29







Monday 16 May 2016

Session 98 7/4/1485 The Pillars of Night




Tomb of Sartine
Pass the Angel of Vengeance - 16,000
The Dim Fissure - 11,000
The Fire Temple - 13,000
Pass the Efreet & Azers - 14,150

Enter the Shadowfell, reach the Pillars of Night - 39,000

The Shadowfell - Arrival Battle
2 Rot Harbingers Lvl 30 - 19,000x2=38,000
2 Draconic Wraith Souleaters Lvl 29 - 15,000x2=30,000
Draconic Wraith Lvl 29 - 15,000

Total: 137,150/3=45,716
45716+606375=652,091
675,000 for Level 28








Monday 9 May 2016

Session 97 7/4/1485 In the Tomb of Sartine



XP
Ossuary Vestibule 
2 bone nagas level 26 Elite - 18000x2=36000
1 boneclaw level 24 - 6050
Lightning Obelisks level 28 elite trap - 26000
Slaughter Crypt
2 Slaughter wights level 28 - 13000x2=26000
Bodak Death Reaver level 28 elite - 26000
5 abyssal ghouls level 27 minion - 2750x5=13750
Penetrate sigil warded gate level 28 - 13000
Total: 120800/3= 40266

40266+556,109=596375
+10,000 Session Account=606375
675,000 for Level 28


Inside the Tomb of Sartine - Lirael's Account

{Gerin Legatus arrives after the overnight rest and says he is creating a Linked Portal back to Oreme. Gives Lirael a Shar amulet, tells her to present it to any uncorrupted tomb guardians to be allowed safe passage. In the caves Paelias & Dhaunayane are holding off an army of cyclops summoned by their priests, angered by the death of their Carrion God.}

“Let’s get this started, then,” said Jareth after Gerin and his men had departed for safety. The doors opened with an ominous scrape of old wood against rough stone. Lirael had a glimpse of the towering shape of a boneclaw and then the rattling sound of bone against bone drew her attention to a bone naga slithering through a mass of gleaming white skulls. Human skulls. Was it one or two nagas? It was hard to see among the bones.
“Lovely,” muttered Dunstan under his breath. “There’s a feckin’ huge pit in there. I hate pits. Bound to have something nasty in it, too.”
On the off chance that some glimmer of loyalty to Shar remained in her former minions, Lirael raised up the divine amulet Gerin had given her. The boneclaw merely laughed, it’s bony jaw clattering with barely contained glee. She put the amulet back in the pouch at her waist. So much for that.
A crackle of blue spit across the room, crossing from one carved stone pillar to another. There was writing on them, but there wasn’t time for more than a quick look. Fate. Destiny. Winter. Stark.
Lirael shot at the bone naga, noticing another emerging from the pile at the same time. She hoped there were no others lurking in the shadows. She hit with her arrow and it charged the door with a hiss that echoed off the walls, straight at Jareth.
“I hate snakes,” he said as he fought it off. "Why did it have to be snakes?" They thought it was done attacking and then it came at them again, swaying hypnotically.
It became a blur of battle after that, the deathclaw and nagas closing in and Jareth and Dunstan responding with blow after blow and reeling from the necrotic energies. The pillars came alive again, sending flaming blue lightning into them. Lirael loosed one of her stock of flameburst arrows, wishing Paelias and Dhaunayane would hurry up and return from dealing with the Cyclops.
But sooner than any of them had thought possible, the boneclaw and nagas lay dead. Jareth ground his heel into one of the nagas as he went over to the nearest pillar and inserted the key. It shocked him, but the light that had seemed to come from within it faded and went out. He shut down the second one and they all stared, with varying amounts of dismay, at the large pit that blocked the hall leading to whatever lay beyond.
“Let’s take a quick rest and take stock,” said Jareth, going over to poke in the grisly pile of skulls that had been home to the nagas, crowing over the platinum pieces he found hidden therein. Lirael, untouched by the battle so far, cast the Speak with the Dead ritual on the boneclaw, his grin now cracked. She questioned him as to the traps and enemies that lay on the other side of the pit and he grudgingly supplied answers, defiant even in death.
When she’d had all the answers out of him she could get, they tossed his remains and that of the nagas into the pit. They fell among the poisoned spikes that decorated it.
“Feckin’ deep,” said Dunstan. “I hate pits, I tell you.”
Jareth laughed. “I’ll show you how it’s done, shorty,” he said and took a running start and cleared the pit, teetering for a second on the edge before finding his footing. Lirael joined him, using her spider climbing boots and the wall along one edge.
“Yer crazy if you think I can do that,” said Dunstan.
They were trying to talk him into taking the leap of faith when the stink of something foul warned them something was coming. They turned to see two Slaughter Wights rushing at them, their black skin fetid and slimy. One charged directly into Lirael, attempting to push her into the pit. She felt the power of her new ring charge through her and she stood solid, thanking in her head the merchant who had showed it to her. Worth every gold piece it had cost to see the wight growl in frustration and surprise. The second tried to do the same to Jareth with as much success.
Jareth had fought the wights back into the room they had come from when a Bodak Death Reaver Knight swept into view, naked and carrying no weapons, but oozing an aura of blackness and death. Jareth was undeterred after some healing from Dunstan, still trapped on the other side of the pit. The bodak gnashed his teeth and called for help.
Five abyssal ghouls rushed out and charged Jareth and Lirael. After the first two missed their mark on the heavily armored Jareth, the rest attempted to bypass him to attack Lirael, but they never made it that far as Jareth cut them down as they tried to pass. A head rolled to Lirael’s feet and she nudged it into the pit, where it ping-ponged off the walls and landed on a spike below. Black gore from the ghouls spattered Jareth, but he wiped it off against a wall, barely noticing the burning.
As Jareth and Lirael continued the attack, Dunstan attempted the pit after some shouted encouragement from Lirael. It wasn’t enough – his stubby fingers grazed the far edge of the pit and then he fell into it, his fall luckily arrested by magic, though not enough to save him completely from harm. A string of curses fell from his lips as he went.
In the end, much to the surprise of the bodak, Jareth pummelled him so thoroughly that the remains were unrecognizable. Pulling Dunstan out of the pit with a rope, they all took a quick breather as they studied the four foul looking toad statues in the Slaughter Crypt. The glowing sygils in their ugly mouths looked removable. They bore the same words as on the pillars from the vestibule, but in a different order. {Dhaunayane drops by and uses her Arcana ability to i.d. the sigils as linked to a trap on the southern door}.
Before Lirael could say much of anything, Jareth had switched the symbols around and taken a blast of necrotic energy. Nothing happened save for Jareth's health taking a turn for the worse. The pall of death hung on him.
“Hang on a minute!” she said as he went to rearrange them again. “I’ve got my darkhide on. Let me do it.” After a few more tries, they had the symbols in the right order and they all heard the click as the far door unlocked. They stared at it, wondering exactly what lay on the other side. Were they ready for what lay within? Were Paelias and Dhaunayane ready to join them?

Saturday 7 May 2016

XP for session accounts

Standard award for a full account will be equal to a Quest award, ie:
Level 27: 11,000
Level 28: 13,000
Level 29: 15,000
Partial accounts & vignettes will get proportionately less.

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Session 96 RL 27 6/4/1485 Guardians at the Gate

Lirael meets Mielikki in the forest. Back in Loudwater, a rather tired looking Lady Moonfire discusses making her ruler of the Gray Vale - or the Shining Vale once more. Hallomak Stromm summons her to Waterdeep, where she is sent to join the others in the Gloomdeep Caverns on their quest for the Tomb of Sartine and a secret backdoor to the Pillars of Night, where Shar is held captive by Orcus in Thakorsil's Seat.

The party trek through the caverns to the doors of Sartine's Tomb, guarded by powerful golems, gargoyles, and a gibbering abomination. Much fighting ensues... At last the victorious band open the gates, seeing a short corridor beyond, and discuss making camp.



XP
Lirael Conversation with Moonfire 11,000
2 Golems Level 27 Elite 44,000
2 Nabassu Gargoyles Level 28 26,000
Gibbering Abomination Level 28 13,000
Floor Trap etc Level 27 Obstacle 11,000
Enter Sartine's Tomb 11,000
Total 116000/4=29000

29000+527,109=556,109
550,000 for Level 27
LEVEL 27 REACHED
675,000 for Level 28

Monday 18 April 2016

4e Cannons

Black-Powder Cannon
Ball Shot: Attack Ref +0
Damage: 10 (15) per lb weight of ball, eg 4 lb cannon ball does 40 hp damage (crit 60 damage)
Grape Shot: Attack Ref +10, Area Burst 1 (3x3) (short range) or Burst 2 (5x5) (long range)
Damage:
Short Range: 1d6 per (nominal) lb weight of ball, eg 4 lb does 4d6 (crit 24) Miss: Half Damage.
Long Range: 1d6 per (nominal) 2 lb weight of ball, eg 4 lb cannon does 2d6 (crit 12).  

Monday 4 April 2016

Session 95 3-6/4/1485 DR Against the Carrion God



After six months of searching, Paelias locates the Shadovar Emissary Gerin Legatus in the Netherese city of Oreme. Paelias rescues Gerin Legatus & 4 Netherese soldiers from rampaging Thaluud Tomb Tappers - Gerin & Paelias destroying one each; most of the soldiers are squashed but Paelias leads the survivors out by the Shadow Roads.
In Waterdeep, the group meets Hallomak Stromm - and Selune. Selune blesses them and their gear; the priests supply Potions of Vitality.
Transported by Paelias to the Gloomdeep Caverns north-east of Oreme, they battle Cyclops and their Carrion God, seeking the Tomb of Sartine and Gerin's promised secret approach to the Pillars of Night, where Orcus holds Shar in Thakorsil's Seat. Gerin is horribly wounded by the Carrion God but survives, to be tended by the two soldiers with him.

XP (each)
Gerin Legatus rescued 6750
Crawler Nest 1625
Cyclops Storm Shaman 2750
3 Cyclops hewers (2 fled) 6750
Enormous Carrion Crawler 5500
23375+502,734= 525109
Roleplay & Exploration, Gerin kept alive +2000
Total: 527,109
550,000 for Level 27