I've decided that (subject to DM's and player's permission) I will be live-tooting this evening's session of #RimeOfTheFrostMaiden #IcewindDale campaign! I'll be starting around 7:30PM UK time 😀
OK, I have permission, so we're off! We're in #IcewindDale, the North of this world, a place that is dark, and very cold! My name is Gylla, and I am a half-drow sorceress. I used to be royalty in the Underdark, but I escaped to the when I found out about my family's history: we have human blood and we've been hiding it.
I am regal, beautiful, extremely charming, and I have a cruel streak. I also love #dogs.
We're currently in a fort, full of #Duergar, who are flying a dragon (a mechanical one) to attack Ten-Towns and bring some sort of apocalypse. We've found out that one of three Duergar guards in one of the towers is an ally and will know a codeword. I have telepathy (aberrant mind sorcerer ftw!) so I'm asking them, in their minds: "Say the codeword, you fools, or die!", as my companions wait in hiding to attack.
One of the #Duergar whispers the codeword, and we enter initiative! We get a #SurpriseRound!
Dorval is there first and whispers "Surrender, or diiiiie!"
Prosix rolling Stealth at disadvantage: "Oh, we know how my stealth checks are". Rolls a 20. You should always trashtalk your rolls (or your dice!) before the roll.
The #Duergar are paralyzed, so we get advantage on all attacks! Grit stabs with a shortsword and crits! Unlike me, Grit is a nice person, so he actually tries to do non-lethal damage. These Duergar are gonna be short work.
Both hostile #Duergar are down, and we're up the tower. We're overlooking a central forge, which is very hazy. We can see and count the people, but they look like shadows because of the smoke. It's hot in here, which is strange for Icewind Dale. The forge is tall, and pyramid-shaped, with the top cut off.
On a platform there's a massive black shape, which is clearly the construct dragon we've been worried about. There's a Duergar dressed in black working on it. He's using a jet-black gauntlet on the construct he's working on, which seems to match the material of the dragon. This is quite the scene! I can see 20 enemies, including a few #Quaggoths. This does not bode well!
Grit is trying to get the remaining Duergar to talk to us. First, he tries to be charming, then he tries a threat. He's not very persuasive, so I step in. A +8 in persuasion has its advantages: I sweet talk them into telling us: the Duergar near the forge are all enemies, but the next shift are in the payroll of Grandwulfa (a Duergar who is on our side).
We're trying to think of what to do: we have allies in the mess hall, and allies in the rest of the towers. We're goint to #SplitTheParty! I'm going to the mess hall to try and rally the Duergar allies there. Now: get this. I am a half-Drow, 6'4 tall. I also own a hat that allows me to cast disguise self at will. Since I'm going to the mess hall, I'm... disguising myself as an extremely tall and thin #Duergar. Because of course I am.
I have an extremely beautiful, inky black, flowing, beard, and a soft face, and really pale skin.
Now, before we move, the dragon flaps its wings releasing as if in a test and releases smoke. Apparently it's the final checks.
3 of the party (Prosix the Warforged, Dorval the Dwarf and Grit the Goblin) are heading to the next watchtower. #Stealth checks all around. Stealth may be my favourite #DnD skill!
I completely forgot to mention the NPC members of our party: Thwip, the best #kobold ever, who we adopted in a dungeon adventure where I almost fell to to my death while getting possessed by an #Illithid; Jugda, a Goblin who has massively helped us out; and Creg, who's small and dangerous.
The "take down the guardtowers" were doing well. They took over the first tower, but their stealth checks have been... less than good. Thank god for Pass Without Trace or we'd be... well, effed.
Now it's Nenya and my turn. We go to the mess hall and I go in, and my very charming self loses their words. I say "Hello everyone... *codeword*... I need help".
I convince the #Duergar in the mess hall to change shifts early so we can sneak into the forge facing fewer enemies. We need to overpower Xardarok (the Duergar working on the dragon construct) to avoid the dragon just... doing away with us. I'm following the Duergar from the mess hall into the forge.They tell me to follow them closely because the hallway is booby trapped! I tell the rest of the party telepathically, and we get ready to attack. #DnD
Just in time for a mid-session break! Cup of tea (or a coke) and I'll be back. #DnD
So we have commandeered 2 of the watchtowers and the enemy #Duergar are heading to mess hall. We've slipped into the forge, and as Nenya approaches the dragon, she feels something take over her... And we're ready for part 2 of this session!
My plan to tell the Quaggoth to jump into the forge has been met with distaste by the rest of the party: apparently Quaggoth are stupid, but have survival instincts. #DnD
The #Quaggoth look at me strangely (remember: I am a tall and skinny #Duergar) and one asks me: "What is wrong with you?" I reply "I have glandural problems". He wishes me better.
The forge has a Red Dragon Heart inside it, it's what powers it. It's astounding: it's 10 feet across, and it's strange to see a disembodied heart. #DnD
The rest of the party are walking around the forge to the door that isn't trapped. Grit nat 20s his stealth check, Dorval rolls a 2, Prosix rolls a 15. Both Jugda and Creg roll over 20, so they make it through no problem. Thank god for group checks! #DnD
Some of the Quaggoth are picking up hammers and working on something from the lava on the anvils near the forge. I am still looking at this heart. Nenya is looking at the Duergar dressed in black with the black gauntlet working on the dragon: his name is Xardarok and he looks very strong: possibly a caster and a fighter. The towers are full of our allies providing cover. #DnD
Before they charge in, Grit uses his Charm of Biting Cold to charge his weapon and Prosix casts Mirror Image, and three more Prosix appear around him. We've rolled initiative (in typical fashion for this campaign, I've rolled a 5. #DnD #combat
Nenya rolls a sleight of hand to try and take the crown off the head of Xardarok and... succeeds! He doesn't seem to notice that he's lost his crown. Now she's trying to get the gauntlet off his hand, but it feels like less of a gauntlet, and more like a part of Xardarok, that can't be easily separated. He still doesn't seem to notice. #DnD #Combat
Prosix decides to just... approach the dragon using Kinetic Jaunt. He gets close, succeds on a mystery wisdom save, and casts Faerie Fire. Both the dragon and Xardarok start flickering as though they were emitting purple flames! We can all attack them with advantage now, as long as we can see them.
Now for Thwip, our adopted #Kobold! He runs into the forge room and throws a dagger at Xardorok, who takes some damage. So far so good for this #combat! If only enemies didn't have turns. #DnD
Now for Creg the Goblin, who steps out and uses his #longbow to attack Xardorok. He flies arrows twice, and hits twice. 15 points of damage is nothing to be scoffed up. #DnD
Jugda is next. The Goblin also walks into the room and stands firm between Creg and Thwip. She nocks an arrow and hits! And again. Another 15 points of damage!
Now for our #Duergar allies who we've asked to fighte the #Quaggoth. The ones in the forge enlarge, becoming as tall as me but much wider, and attack the Quaggoth with their javelins. The ones on the towers throw their javelins. All of them hit different Quagoth (there are 6 of them) for 49 hit points! #DnD
@minimammoth never split the party! nooo!
@diaz what's the worst that could happen?
@minimammoth DON'T SPLIT THE PARTY
@a It was fine! The one time ever that it was fine.