Into the Gray

Session Summary

We loot the goblin bodies and the miners use goblin body parts around Valdethirsk's walls to deter more attacks. Wash convinces us to team up to go hunting for artifacts in ruins nearby. The ruins are not far out, where we find and kill aggressive owlbears - a manmade monstrosity.

Log

We stand in front of the building surrounded by the burning bodies of goblins.

After Star and Arachne search the bodies for clues or loot, Wash offers loot and riches in exchange for helping him with a quest. The offer is extended to the entire party.

The main town lady, Tubam, comes out, asks what happens, and hands Star 10gp. #income

Wash inexplicably sounds like he came out of somewhere in the US South.

Miners come out to start setting up goblin bodies as a deterrent and fix the door.

I ask what’s going on. Wash is looking for artifacts in a nearby dungeon. He sweet talks us into going along, saying that this would be like a test for our warrior skills.

Star asks if there are any specific dangers to expect. Twinkletoes asks if it’s nearby.

I am interested because it might have challenges and shiny objects that I get to take with me.

Wash goes in to talk to Tubam before we leave. Star offers again to help rebuild. She declines and says they’ll be fine, and she’d like to pay us more for our defensive services when she’s able.

Tubam talks to us about the caves. It looks pretty abandoned. She points to the north east of the town, indicating where we need to look. It’s likely about five miles out. 

Leaving for the Caves

 We head out, Star introduces himself and asks me for my name and what kind of elf I am. He admits he is a half-Drow. I have no idea about Drows so this is all news to me, what kind of elves there are in the world.

Wash approaches Elzara and asks if she’s a blacksmith. He asks her to make him a new shield. He ‘lost’ his last one. She says she can probably help when they get into a town with a blacksmith forge she can use. 

I pull out my pan flute as we walk along. It’s not that great. Star pulls out his own flute, Twinkletoes pulls out her lute. Elzira walks ahead by 10 feet to avoid listening.

Arachne is annoyed by the rest of us but intrigued by Twinkletoes’ skills. 

Eventually, we see the entrance that Tubam talked about. We’ve been singing and making merry. I’ve been passing around a small bottle of ale.  

“Hold up there, folks.” Wash stops us. He has seen some footprints that look like an owlbear. 

“What the hell is an owlbear,” Arachne growls.

Wash explains. It seems like there’s at least one or more leading to the entrance of where we’re going. 

We step inside, seeing ruins at the beginning of the cave system. It’s clearly been worked by drills and there are old support structures. The back has a natural tunnel, to the left is a more proper system.

“I jump into stealth!” yells Star. 

Arachne offers that she has an ability to grant advantage of stealth checks for one hour, the Trickster’s Blessing. He accepts. 

Wash suggests we follow the footprints so that they can’t surprise us. There are multiple paths and Arachne, Star, and Wash try to identify which is the fresher set. 

The tunnel to the left looks most recent and fresh. 

I twirl small flames around my fingertips. 

As Star enters the next room, he sees an owlbear sleeping in the corner. Arachne’s mouth hangs open as she sees it. 

Initiative

#encounters #encounters/owlbears

The fools attempt to put together a sneak attack. Star deals 3 damage and runs back out of the room to hide. Arachne throws a Sacred Flame and misses. I throw a fireball for 3 damage.

We’re all pretty squished in the hallway. Elzira and I stand behind Arachne, Star, and Twinkletoes are shoulder to shoulder in the doorway. Elzara stands ahead of them in the doorway. Wash waits from a distance.

Elzara walks up and attempts to smash it with a hammer, but misses.

Arachne is begging her deity for guidance to actually strike the bear. She shoots another Sacred Flame, the owlbear simply jumps over the flame, dodging it. Arachne is livid and shouting at her deity.

I attempt to leap into a forward roll, attempting to cast Fire Bolt, but trip on my own feet, shoot the ground, and get smoke in my face instead. (Crit 1) Disadvantage on my next attack roll.

Twinkletoes steps to the corner and prepares a rapier attack if the owlbear gets in melee range.

 Star steps forward again and shoots with his shortbow, dealing 9 damage. He walks down to see what’s down the other hallway. He sees another chamber but nothing combat-related. He jumps back into stealth.

Elzara aka “Will Make Shield” does a smoosh-smoosh with her hammer, dealing 4 damage. 

The owlbear is enraged, swiping at Elzara but missing. It lunges with its beak, but also misses. 

Arachne is praying angrily and casts Sacred Flame again, but again misses. Arachne is standing there asking “Why?” over and over again.

I cast Fire Bolt again while giggling at myself for falling, but it hits the wall harmlessly, completely missing the owlbear. Wash shouts “What are you aiming at??”

Twinkletoes walks up to the owlbear to stab-stab. She unfortunately misses.

Elzira walks up casually and casts Fire Bolt for 8 damage. He then also casts Ray of Frost, but misses.

Star continues looking in the other room, finding old desks and papers. He sees footprints leading further into the cavern. He runs back and shoots his Shortbow. He definitely misses. 

Elzara swings her smoosh-smoosh for 7 damage. 

The owlbear is enraged, attacking Elzara but falls over and needs to get back up. 

Arachne is still muttering angry words at her deity. “I don’t think I’ve asked for anything all that unreasonable!” Arachne finally tickles the owlbear with Sacred Flame for 2 damage. “Thanks, thanks.”

I run over because I want to know what the owlbear feels like, so I touch it for 2 damage with shocking grasp.

As I touch the bear, two more owlbears enter the room.

Wash suddenly becomes more concerned and actually goes to attack. He draws his Longbow, dealing 12 damage to the second owlbear entering the room. 

Twinkletoes attacks the original owlbear with their rapier again, hitting successfully, dealing 10 damage. 

Elzira casts Fire Bolt again, dealing 2 damage to the first owlbear who just ran into the room. 

Star casts Dancing Lights and collects all the light in front of one of the second new owlbear’s faces to give them disadvantage. (1 minute, 10 rounds)

Wash runs to stand between Arachne and the owlbears. He drops his bow while doing this and draws his sword. 

Elzara misses with her hammer.

The owlbear looks at her with determination, missing with its claw, but deals damage with its beak, dealing -6 damage.

Arachne just keeps chanting, “Please, please, please,” and casts Sacred Flame. The spell deals 4 damage on the nearest owlbear to her. 

I use my quarterstaff to whack the owlbear for 5 damage, it finally keels over and dies.

The two new owlbears remain.

Arachne uses her reaction to cast Shield of Faith on Wash. The owlbears attack him viciously, but miss him entirely.

Twinkletoes slashes with her rapier, but misses.

Elzira reluctantly casts Mage Armor on Wash so that he has 18 AC.

Star takes aim with his Shortbow, dealing 10 damage on the first owlbear who entered the room. He goes back into stealth.

Wash attempts to stab but rolls Nat 1 twice. Wash falls prone and drops his sword. He uses his action to grab his sword and stand back up.

Elzara rushes over to hit the first owlbear who ran in, but rolls Nat 1. Her hammer gets stuck in the ground and it’s going to take a free object interaction to pull it back out. 

Arachne’s chanting “Come on, come on, come on,” and deals 3 damage with Sacred Flame.

I run up and use Green-Flame Blade to attack the first owlbear that entered the room with 7 damage, the other taking 4 damage with my fire.

The owlbears turn around, angry AF. The first one swipes and pecks at me, but misses. The second one attacks with its beak, dealing -20 damage. I cast Shield as a reaction, adding +5 AC. It doesn’t matter because they rolled a Nat 20.

Twinkletoes hits 10 damage to the first owlbear with her rapier. She casts Healing Word on me for +6 health.

Elzira throws Fire Bolt and lands 5 damage on the first owlbear.

Star shoots his shortbow on the first owlbear for 8 damage.

Wash swings with his sword, dealing 9 damage to the owlbear on the first owlbear.

Elzara swings, but loses the grip on her hammer and it flies to the corner. She walks over to her hammer.

Arachne busts out another Sacred Flame, but misses. 

I strike with Green-Flame Blade, finally killing the first owlbear with 9 damage. I strike the second with 4 damage of fire. The second owlbear strikes, missing with its claws but hitting with its beak, but I am able to save my own ass by casting Shield again. I have one spell slot left.

Twinkletoes strikes with her rapier impressively, dealing 11 damage.

Elzira casts Fire Bolt, but misses.

Star shoots, dealing 8 damage with his bow.

Wash swings passionately, but misses.

Elzara steps up and draws a handaxe, landing a blow for 5 damage.

Arachne casts Sacred Flame, “I’m not asking for a lot!” she screams. It finally lands for 3 damage. It dies. She mutters a word of gratitude. 

Demons and Deities

It’s about 3pm. 

Arachne and Start talking about their goddesses and demon deities. Elzira knows history really well and tells us about Tatiana. He says that she’s an evil witch and he tries not to trust her. Elzira says, “She’s the queen of the Summer Fey, what are you talking about?”

Star says, “I thought she was a fiend, but she’s actually an archfey. I thought she was begging me to kill people. Maybe I should start listening to her.”