Valiant Swords of Greyhawk - Session 9: The Moathouse Epilogue and the King’s Road

 

Our Heroes:

• Braeden (Human Ranger)played by Battletech Terry
• Sir Kentor (Human Paladin) played by Paladin Steve
• Sir Lantor (Human Fighter) played by Boom Gun Brandon
• The Mighty Xyzzifax (Human-ish Wizard) played by Blaster
• Samson (Halfling Mechanist) played by Shootist Will
• Jaric (Human Cleric) played by Variable David
• Inigo Vulnstack (Elven Rogue) played by Invisible Paddy

 All are level 2 or 3 at this point. Grognard Mike is out this week so Malice is hanging out in Hommlet , where we begin this session ... 

The player version - written from a particular point of view:
(and yes, he calls them minions sitting around the table too)

• The MIghty Xyzzifax, played by Alex
• Minion Braeden played by Terry
• Minion Kentor played by Steve
• Minion Lantor played by Brandon
• Minion Samson played by Will
• Minion Jaric played by Dave
• Minion Inigo played by Paddy

Back in town, Malice continues to suffer from a horrendous case of food poisoning from the Paladin’s undercooked chili. The party, now flush with cash from the liberation of the moathouse from the clutches of the temple cult, opts to do some shopping.

The Generous Xyzzifax pays 100 gp to the innkeeper to cover the bill for his room, and purchases a scroll of invisibility from Burne.

Minion Braeden visits the Jaroo the Druid, checking to see of any useful herbs to acquire.

Minion Kentor asks around and manages to acquire a suit of full plate armor by bartering with Otis, a local. The price is negotiated to include the beginning of a potential courtship of Otis’s granddaughter, Matilda.

Minion Kentor arranges to have the armor re-sized, and later in the evening, treats the maiden Matilda to the finest feast the Inn of the Welcome Wench has to offer, a seven course meal, and the most expensive wine in Hommlett. Matilda is infatuated. The next day, minion Kentor is uncharacteristically slothful, with bags under his eyes, and claims to have been up all night “polishing his new armor”. Xyzzifax is not sure whether minion Kentor is laughably Vain or a cunning liar.

Matilda is now a recurring NPC in the campaign.

The party ventures forth, returning to the moat house, on a mission to eradicate the remaining bugbear infestation. Upon initial observation, the Porticulis has been raised. Minion Bubo is sent to scout further, and is unable to detect the presence of bugbears where they were previously located. In fact, it appears that the entire Moathouse dungeon is empty, until minion Bubo is unfortunately intercepted in mid air. Xyzzifax feels his familiar’s life force’s sudden absence, but he knows his faithful servant will return within the hour.

The Mighty Xyzzifax directs his minions to the room where minion Bubo met his unfortunate end, and the party is faced with two carrion crawlers, feasting upon the bodies of the now decomposing gnolls. The first two fall easily, but three more appear! Kentor and Lantor are paralyzed, and minion Jaric unveils his new staff of striking, which after two strikes, explodes a carrion crawler, covering the group in its bug guts. One carrion crawler escapes down the long passageway leading out of the dungeon, with the final crawler killed by an expertly aimed crossbow shot from minion Samson as it too, attempted to flee. and the group now sees that every interceding door (two of which were previously wizard locked) have been smashed down. After a quick survey, the party finds that the remainder of the dungeon is now empty.

Bubo's demise was to a carrion crawler on the ceiling. I have to put some familiar-risk into it here and there and creatures not particularly bound to the floor seemed like a a good way to do it. 

Paladin Steve on whiffing and blowing his save:" I used all of my good rolls on a date."

After some debate the party elects to follow the high road into the forest, in the direction of Nulb, a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

As the party travels along the road, minion Braeden senses something amiss, but he is unable to tell exactly what it is. His ranger senses are tingling. The party takes defensive positions, with Xyzzifax flying into the canopy, and minions Jaric and Samson direct the cart and minion donkey forward. The trap is sprung as an ankheg erupts from the ground, and devours faithful minion donkey!

The party launches into action, and with combined strikes, and a powerful magic missile attack from the Mighty Xyzzifax, the ankheg is felled. The fight is not over however, as two more erupt from the ground, flanking the cart. They begin by spraying minions Kentor, Lantor, and Jaric with acid breath, but the group manages to avoid the worst of the spray. Xyzzifax produces his trusty wand of lesser petrification, and uses it on on of the ankhegs. However, the wands magic seems to sputter, utterly expending, barely getting the spell off before the wand itself turns to stone.

The second ankheg ferociously tears into minion Samson’s shoulder, spitting acid into the wound. Samson briefly screams before losing consciousness,as the large insect, with two free legs, scrapes a shallow hole into the ground, deposits minion Samson into it, then covers him. Seemingly saving him for a tasty snack later!

Minions Kentor and Lantor yell in a rage, and together, slay the wretched beast. The final remaining insect, suffering from being turned to stone, suffers attacks from minions Inigo and Jaric. Minion Jaric who once again displays the power of his staff of striking, unleashing powerful strikes. Staggered, from this mighty blow, the final beast falls to another salvo of magic missiles from Xyzzifax.

They were pretty shocked when the ankheg buried Samson. This is a new ability these things have in the Monster Vault and I knew it would be fun - it was immensely entertaining. Giving monsters interesting abilities beyond claw/bite/cast a spell was a lot of fun in 4E D&D and it is really encouraging to see that kind of thing returning.