Session 25: Day 4 of Coldeven Afternoon - The Defeat of Explictica (the Naga)

 Raime - NPC w/Whiskers - Weasel

Calbach - Brad

Armatzi - Alex

Lhoss - Leigh

Gnorcia - Lillian

Chiki - NPC

Angos - Ryan

Ronan - Nick

After resting on the shores of the waters of the underground lake (map rm#37) we all climbed into the boat on the shore and proceeded across the water toward what we hoped would be glory.

As we left shore, Ramne, the trickster magic user he seems to be, cast a new spell we had not seen before which surrounded us in a bubble of magic with properties we did not know.

We crossed the underground lake, heading East as best we could tell, and encountered a creature on a farther shore that struck out at us with a spell that struck the magic bubble and exploded harmlessly like fireworks above and around us.

After the creature (Explictica (the Naga)) attacked, she placed a charm on Ronan who was no longer able to fight do to the compulsion of the spell making him want to please Explictica. Calbach launched a volley of arrows against Explictica and did minor damage. The rest of the party, except Ramne, left the boat and proceeded to shore to attack. Battle ensued during which time Calbach and Armatzi, who had joined the party on shore, were charmed. Gnorcia cast a gaze reflection on herself, which gave her a little respite, but she was then bitten by the vile creature and fell into a stupor. When all seemed lost, Ramne case a dispel magic upon all the charmed persons (who were just standing around, as Explictica arrogantly ignored them). Explictica continued to attack using bite, spells and charms but was eventually defeated by two well placed daggers from Angos. 

The creature's treasures were discovered and a Bag of Holding was seized to assist in carrying the large amounts of loot (Coin, gems, jewelry and the like) out of the caverns. There were many other magic items - Armatzi sampled several potions and determined what they are - fortunately none of them were dangerous.  A couple turned out to be healing potions, and one was used on Gnorcia, who was restored to a wobbling form of consciousness. Lhoss grabbed a horn and blew on it, and was covered by blinding bubbles. She dove into the water and washed them all off. A pair of elven boots were found, and a ring of protection. Ramne claimed a potion and another unidentified ring. 

The group re-united with the former prisoners in the burned out troglodyte hatchery (map rm#34) and claimed the rest of the treasure, placing it into the Bag of Holding, nearly filling the bag to capacity.

Our final discussions were:

What is to be done with the little dinosaur?

Do we finish clearing the rest of the dungeon?

Do we head directly back to the village with Raime (he has asked for accompaniment)? 

Session 24: Day 4 of Coldeven, morning

It was early in the morning, we reckoned, as we got our start exploring the caverns again. The freed prisoners were wary of following us further as we explored, yet were persuaded when Lhoss told them the party had encountered troglodytes in the Dim Forest and Gnorcia pointed out that many in Orlane had been turned by the naga so town would also be unsafe. The solution was that Chiki would fall back about 20 feet with the freed prisoners and protect them in the case of danger. They could be under the protection of the group without being near the battle, should danger arise.

These caverns are nothing but smelly muddy walls and the occasional door. The party came across one of those occasional doors. Lhoss, being inquisitive and a bit impetuous, yelled "I wanna open that door!" and did. Behind it was trouble. A cleric and his shadowy assistant were poised to attack, as if they had expected us. The cleric immediately intoned "Welcome to your doom!" and let us know that he would not be easy to defeat. We'll see about that!

The cleric immediately immobilized Armaziti and Ronan; Calbach was hit with ice. Lhoss attempted her sleep spell, but the cleric was too powerful and it was ineffective. Ramne launched magic missile and dispelled the magic that had immobilized Armaziti and Ronan. Angos attempted to double-dagger attack the shadowy figure, but it seemed to have no effect. Ronan tried to burn the creature with his torch, but the creature was able to evade his attack. Calbach, in a near-death experience, met his deity and learned the creature is a negative material plane wraith. We will need to ask Calbach what other divine secrets were revealed to him at another time. He was sent back to us because his work is not yet finished. Good for us! After much hard fighting (and Ramne's powerful spells), our work of killing the evil cleric and wraith were finished. I don't know if I'd say it was easy, but they were defeated. Gnorcia found a ring of keys on the cleric and pocketed them. Lhoss found a decorative hammer with a snake head.

The party wanted to be thorough in exploring the cavern, so we backtracked and attempted to make our way through all parts of the cave system. Ronan, taking the lead was surprised when a giant spider jumped on his back. Armaziti pointed out that two feet isn't a very big creature, but Gnorica chimed in that two feet is quite big for a spider! Thinking quickly, Ronan fell backward and was able to squish the arachnid. A few quick stabs from Angos finished it off.

In another cavern, the party found a chest. With fresh memories of the pair of chests containing vast wealth, Gnorcia examined the chest for traps. Finding none, she attempted to open it. Unfortunately, there was a trap and she activated it. Timbers supporting the room collapsed, trapping Ronan. Gnorcia attempted to see what was contained in the chest; she did not see anything. Calbach rescued Ronan and the entire party was able to escape the collapsing room.

Sensing the group was closing in on the naga, the freed prisoners did not desire to move forward. The adventurers  decided that the townsfolk should hole up in the cavern with the concealed treasure. As they were unarmed, Lhoss gave them the decorative hammer. Wishing to unburden herself from some weight, Gnorcia gave them a hammer she had acquired at some point. Chiki left a dagger. With a sense of apprehension, the band pressed forward.

As we rounded a corner, we saw what looked like a small tyrannosaurus rex chained to the wall. It did not seem able to slip its chain and if the group kept its distance, the monster could not reach us. It growled and howled terribly at us. Lhoss suggested trying to slaughter it while it was chained up ("What if it did get free? What then?") but she was overruled. Just past the scaly creature ("We even have a weapon that works really well agains scaled creatures! No? Ok.") there was a large boat that was big enough for our whole party and a pole to propel it across the lake it was floating in. It was mid-day and sensing that we were nearing our goal, we stopped to rest and prepare our spells. 

Session 23: Coldeven Day 3, late afternoon, through the morning of Day 4

Healed and rested, we set out again. We explored the last chamber to the south and found piles of bones, both humanoid and animals. From there we headed south through some mud and back to where we had already explored. We heard a low whistle which could have been the sound of wind whistling, or something else. As we moved eastward a little farther, the whistling stopped.

Lhoss found a door covered in mud and was able to open it. Behind it was a small closet with a 2-person boat. Loss and Calbach got in the boat and headed southeast until they found two wooden chests on a shelf. Callbach shot arrows at them and Lhoss checked them for traps, but was not able to pick the locks. She finally managed to break open one of them and when she did a poison needle shot out! Fortunately, it missed her! Inside she found a treasure of coins! Calbach smashed the top of the second and the sound echoed through the chamber so he didn’t try again. They decided to haul the chests back to the rest of the party.

It took a lot of work to get the first chest into the boat, and there wasn’t room for Lhoss so she stayed behind while Calbach ferried it across. As soon as Calbach disappeared, Lhoss saw an eye pop out of the wall and heard a mocking giggle! She stabbed at it but it quickly vanished back into the wall as she shouted, “I see you!” Two trips later, we were all reunited. Chiki was delighted to discover the treasure and when I wasn’t able to unlock the second chest, he gleefully smashed it open! Altogether we had discovered 300 platinum, 600 gold, 100 silver, 600 electrum, a bracelet, and 20 small gems! We divvied up the treasure into sacks and we each dragged a sack back to the cave with the bones, where Lhoss covered it in an old cloak and piled bones around it to hide it.

We then headed to the northeast of the boat closet and found a swollen door that Lhoss pried open to reveal a large square-shaped chamber with a pillar in the middle. A nasty, cadaverous figure, humanoid and zombie-like, started moving slowly toward the group.

Calbach shot an arrow at it and missed, Ronan charged it with his longsword and missed, and Aramazi ran in and smashed it with his mace, splashing gore around the room. Chalkboi ran and hit it, knocking it down, apparently dead. It then stood up again! Chalkboi, Calbach, and Aramazi all turned and ran in terror! The creature grabbed Aramazi as he started to run, wrapping his hands tightly around his neck. Ronan attacked it with magic missiles, nearly killing it, and Lhoss, Gnorcia (that's me), Ronan, and Chiki all tried to attack it but our weapons were useless and bounced off it!

Ramne shouted for us all to move to the west wall and we ran as he attacked it with a lightning bolt. The lightning bolt hit it, bounced off the wall, hit it again, and ricocheted out the door and into the mud wall outside. After the others returned from running in terror, we ate, slept, and re-memorized spells.

On the morning of Day 4, when we awoke, Lhoss tried unsuccessfully to open a door to the north. Aramazi came in and smashed it open, revealing a hallway with another door on the left. Lhoss picked the lock on that door and it opened to reveal four people behind bars. They said they were Frud, a merchant who had been headed to Hookhill, Fred and Claire, two children of the carpenter in Orlane, and Wendy, an Orlane farmer. They said the Naga’s charm failed on them and they have been held captive here ever since. They also said to beware the naga’s eyes because that is how it charms people! I was able to pick the locks on two of the doors and Aramazi and Calbach smashed open the other two locks. They were all grateful and excited to be free.