Into the Gray

Session Summary

An Umber Hulk has made its way into the trees somehow. After a harrowing battle, we manage to defeat it. Twinkletoes is the only one to remember the battle. We learn from the people in the caravan that forgetfulness is a common side effect of these creatures. When we pull into Gendry, we are told by the watchman to meet Wash at a local tavern. He has already met with his employer and partner, Kai-Yo Taye. We stay at the nearby inn, the Lazy Bear, and begin working together to learn new skills.

Log

#encounters #encounters/umberhulk

Tuesday, 11am, walking next to the wagon. The road is about 20 feet wide.

We see movement in the trees. The wagon comes to a halt. They call us up. “We’re pretty sure that’s a Umber Hulk.” They say we need to go up ahead and take care of it further away from the cart.

Meta: An umber hulk is a massive bipedal tweezer insect. Being close to it is dangerous.

The Umber Hulk hasn’t noticed us yet so we have some time to set up.

Star starts setting up a trap in the trees. Arachne tries to stealth up towards the creature but is pretty loud and attracts its attention.

The Umber Hulk leaps onto the road but sees us all heading back into the trees so he dashes back in as well.

I cast Chaos Bolt, but it misses.

Elzira throws Fire Bolt at him but misses.

Twinkletoes casts Shatter and hits the Umber Hulk dealing 15 damage.

The creature runs up and manages to avoid the initial rope but still steps on one of the spikes afterward, wounding its foot. It makes a horrible bellowing noise we all regret hearing.

Everyone within 30 feet of the Umber Hulk at the start of their turn makes a DC 15 charisma saving throw.

Arachne backs up and misses with Guiding Bolt, but then casts Spiritual Weapon that manifests right next to the creature and deals 4 damage. This causes a shallow slice in its armor, making it mad.

Elzara steps up next to Twinkletoes and Elzira, prepared to protect them.

Elzira fails his charisma throw and takes -7 damage. After this he attacks Elzara suddenly. Elzara has incredible battle senses, and manages to dodge his attack, seeing that something is wrong. “Dude!” Elzara is pretty pissed.

Star also fails his charisma throw and takes -6 damage. He runs south, using all of his movement. 

Chromatic Orb misses the first time with 16, but hits with 25. I deal 10 damage. I am horrified by everything I just witnessed and run across the road to put distance between me and the creature and everyone else.

Twinkletoes attempts to put the creature to sleep (19 HP) but fails. She gives Elzara Bardic Inspiration. She runs across the road at a distance from me as well. 

The creature runs towards Elzira and Elzara, screeching. It strikes at Elzira using its mandibles, and Elzara goes to protect him. It successfully pinches Elzira despite everyone’s best efforts dealing -13 damage. It has two claws! It strikes Elzira again, knocking her out, then swipes at Elzara. It falls over, but gets back up. 

Arachne casts Healing Word on Elzira, granting 7 healing and reviving him. She then casts Bless on Elzara, Elzira, and Star which grants 1d4 to all attack and saving throws.

Elzara is inspired and blessed and manages to make her Charisma saving throw. She misses her main swing, but swings again with the warhammer. She deals  4 damage.

Elzira again loses control and attacks Elzara, but misses.

Star jumps into stealth and rolls with advantage to shoot his shortbow and because he was blessed (over 17 AC), dealing 19 damage.

I sacrifice my Level 2 spell slot to create 2 Sorcery Points. I then cast Chromatic Orb with a whopping 22 attack roll, dealing 23 damage.

Twinkletoes casts Healing Word on Elzira, granting 8 healing, and then gives Bardic Inspiration to Arachne.  

Those close to the creature can see it is pretty wounded. It attacks Elzara, first using its mandibles and missing, followed by each of its claws, dealing -11 damage with its first claw, and -11 damage with its second.

Arachne is feeling extremely inspired and casts Guiding Bolt, dealing 1+6+12+15 damage. She yells, “Yes! Thank you!”

This completely destroys the Umber Hulk. 

Star runs over to give her a high five. Surprisingly, she reciprocates.

Myself, Elzira, and Star all fail a Charisma throw. Our memories are a bit hazy all of a sudden regarding the fight. We don’t really remember the Umber Hulk or the battle overall. We know something was wrong, but could not tell you why. 

Arachne is uncomfortable that we don’t remember and mad she gave a high five to Star when he didn’t even know why.

Twinkletoes comes over to retell the story with excitement.

The caravan people compliment our abilities to handle the fight, and explain that forgetfulness is a common side effect of fighting an Umber Hulk. 

Being told what happened does not jog our memory and we are aware that it's messed up. We probably would not remember what an Umber Hulk looks like, but we would remember the mind-screw feeling.

Unfortunately, Star forgets his traps because of the haze.

I ask the caravan people about those who know or teach magic. They tell me there are organized magic teachers up north. I need to ask around town, there are definitely mages around but teaching is not super structured.

It’s now evening, we arrive in town around 5pm. 

As we get to the gate, the guard at the gate sees us and calls out to our group, “Hey, I have a message for you. Would you come over here real quick?”

We head over. “A gentleman came here a few days ago, said you should find him in the tavern . Go in town, it’s just on your right, Ishun’s Tavern. It’s a little ways down the road, big sign, can’t miss it.” 

Star asks if he’ll be there now. The guard tells us most likely, and if not now, within the next couple of hours.

As we arrive at the tavern, Star notices his bag is lighter than usual. He checks his bag and asks whether he set a trap. He is very put out that he left that behind and resolves to visit the general store as soon as he can to replace his lost traps.

On the edges of towns are a bunch of houses, the housing is pretty crowded. It looks like the houses closer to the edge are more run down. 

Note to self: I’d like to buy Cook’s Utensils. 

Across from the tavern are a couple of small buildings. Restaurants, potions, and what looks like a smithy. We recognize Kokorun as being the smithy we wanted to visit. 

We enter, and to our surprise, Wash is waiting for us! 

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Wash drawls. It’s a little early and so The Golden Mug tavern is relatively empty. 

“We made it! How was your trip alone?” Star asks.

“Looks like you had a harder time than I did,” Wash digs. 

“They tell me we ran into an Umber Hulk, but I don’t remember,” I shrug.

We all go to order our drinks and meet at a massive table in the corner. I spend 2sp on a gallon of beer. Twinkletoes does the same and gets pretty tipsy. 

During conversation, Wash starts asking around to see who actually knows what happened. Twinkletoes jumps up on the table and dynamically tells the whole story, albeit a bit embellished for the drama.

Star is laughing and puts his hand on Wash’s shoulder, “I don’t remember any of this!”

Wash peels his hand off and says, “It sounds like y’all fought an Umber. What were you guys doing out in the plains fighting when there’s a nice road?”

We explained it was hiding in the trees. Wash says this is super strange.

“Isn’t that what the trees are for, to keep away the monsters?” Star says.

“That is what they’re for. Typically mind melting monstrosities avoid the roads.” 

He asks whether we told the druids. We have no idea. He suggests we tell the town guard. 

After some probing, Wash explains he was meeting with his employer, Mr. Kai-Yo Taye. I ask what he’s hired for, and he’s a researcher looking into the fancy ruins. I ask if he still wants a shield from Elzara. 

Arachne asks whether this job comes with lots of travel. Wash says, “Generally.”

I ask Wash where we’re staying and whether our employer covers lodging expenses. He then gives us a doodle to find the workshop in the morning. There is an inn next door that costs 8sp/night. #costs

It’s probably 8pm in the evening at this point. Anything not food and beverage related seems to be closed. I’m pretty exhausted and mind-fucked so I’m ready to go to the inn, the Lazy Bear.

Twinkletoes followed us all to the inn and asks me about how I learned spells before I went to bed. I explain that my adopted dragon parents gifted me with magic, after that it’s talent and natural if I focus on the idea hard enough and practice. She’s interested in learning Fire Bolt and I am excited to teach it to her.

I go to check in for a room at the inn, and I attempt to be very charming to the front desk person. “Well aren’t you darling,” she says. “Looking for anything specific?” #relationships

I’d like a view, I tell her. She gives me the 3rd floor on the back with a view of the farms, the best view in the place. I give a wink and take my keys after paying, to go stay in my room. 

Arachne reserved her room earlier and has headed straight back to meditate.

Star asks about breakfast and food options, but they only do lodging.

Elzira asks about bathing options. There is a common area, bath not shower.

Star goes back to the bar and asks Wash some questions. He orders a drink. He asks Wash to teach him about the dangers in the area, so he can train to survive better. “Stick around and look, if you see a print bigger than your hand, start running into the other direction.” He carries on giving tips on how to safely get around the town and area.

Elzira is bathing in the middle of the night again at 3am and then goes back to bed. #bathtime

In the morning I’ll catch Star to talk about training for the Mobile Feat: How to sneak away from an enemy and how to move quickly over difficult terrain.

Meta: I can earn proficiency with Cook’s Utensils if I train enough!

Meta: Level 4!

When I attuned with my staff I understood that there are magical modular enhancements I can find to increase its power. i.e. Find and put a magical enhancement item into it (requires re-attunement with the White Quarterstaff|staff).