1 March 2019

Once again we begin our session in Neverlight Grove with our group of adventurers.

The adventurers know they need to head out and fight the shambling mound that they have agreed to vanquish, but decide it to be best if they first speak to Basidia before heading out. There is concern within the party that they may return only to find Neverlight Grove devoid of sane and friendly mush-folk with no means to reconnect with them. So they seek out Basidia first.

Basidia informs them that if the sane mush-folk of Neverlight Grove are required to flee prior to the return of our adventurers they should cross back over the dark lake and then head south. There they will find Araumycos, a great ancestor of the mush-folk and a safe place for them to rendezvous. Shuushar has heard of this place in rumor and the party is generally of the opinion that they can find this place if need be. Autun implores Basidia to take Drupo with them when they flee, and Basidia agrees to take Drupo and as many of the young ones as they can. Basidia wishes them luck on their hunt of the shambling mound.

The Shambling Mound

The party then leaves to seek out and vanquish the shambling mound, taking Gumfus along as well as their guide. Along the way they encounter deep claw marks in a tall mushroom. Caius remembers the strange decaying beast they found when returning from vanquishing the Grick Alpha. The claws of that beast are roughly the same size as the claw marks found. Agreeing that they are likely related, the party decides to move slowly forward, unsure as to whether there are more beasts like this in the area.

The party continues onward and encounters what look to be Shambling Mound tracks, and at the end of them a Shambling Mound that they succeed in surprising. The ensuing fighting is fierce. Bree actually succeeds this time in casting Faerie Fire, which illuminates the Shambling Mound making it easier to hit. Ezri is once again on point with her Moonbeam from on high. Caius stands fast with his shield, Autun strikes overhead blows with his Axe, and Kais and Jimjar are quick with their bows.

Shortly after the battle commences, Shushaar pierces the air with an indefatigable CROOOOAAAAAK, startling the party and alerting them to the presence of a second Shambling Mound approaching from them rear. This second mound quickly engulfs Jimjar and the party must split their attention between both monsters. Choosing tactically to focus on the first, already injured, mound the party continues hacking at it while exercising a delaying action against the second. Eventually, Caius is able to smite the weakened first mound with his shield and the party turns their attention to the second shambling mound.

By this time Jimjar has worked his way free of the second Shambling Mound and the mound has instead engulfed Ezri. Ezri scrambles trying to free herself, but is unsuccessful and blacks out. Coming to after being healed from afar by Autun, Ezri shapeshifts into a spider. But only with the help of Caius' inspiration and with Bree yanking at her arachnid limbs is Ezri able to escape. Free to now worry the beast from both afar and afield, our party quickly dispatches it. The death blow once again arriving via Caius' shield of Reckenmark.

Once relieved of the excitement of battle and able to look around the party becomes aware that Jimjar is holding a new shield and Ezri is holding a new sickle. Both retrieved from inside of the second mound from which they were trapped inside. After discussion it is decided for Ezri to take the silvered sickle and for Caius to take the new shield.

The party then settles down for a short rest before packing up bits of each Shambling Mound and heading back. They then stop for a long rest on their way back to Neverlight Grove. The party dreams, but the rest is otherwise uneventful.

Once back at Neverlight Grove the party reports their success to Loobamub. He is concerned that there were two Shambling Mounds since they are known to always travel in mating pairs and the mush-folk believe to have already smited this one's mate. However, Loobamub is pleased to hear that they have been vanquished and is happy to snack on the twigs they have brought back.

The party then decides to visit Basidia at the inner-circle. Upon arriving at the inner-circle Basidia and Phylo are deep in discussion and the party must wait. After the discussion has ended Autun attempts to get Basidia's attention, but Basidia makes it clear he does not want to meet at that moment, so the party retires to camp.

Once in camp Caius goes to meet Basidia. Basidia's message is short, "We are leaving NOW!"

Exodus

The party and the remaining sane mush-folk gather at the Circle of the Hunters and prepare to make their exodus to safety. Only about 20% of the population of Neverlight Grove are present, but to Autun's glee Drupo is present and they fondly greet one another. Almost all of the Circle of Hunters is there, but most of the others are either very young or very old. Basidia explains the plan is for the Circle of Hunters to guard the front while our adventurers guard the rear. Everyone is in agreement that this is a good plan.

And thus they venture forth..

---

Prior: 22 February 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 8 March 2019

---

The party has leveled up to level 5!

---

Inventory

Gained

• shambling mound debris (tinder)
• shield (carried by Caius)
• silvered sickle (carried by Ezri)

Party inventory (excluding Gained items above)

• 80cp 451sp 206gp
• misc gems worth 15gp
• 7 gems x 2gp each

• all of our original possessions, except disposables

• Potions of Greater Healing, 1 each (4d4+2)
• 2 potions of healing
• 2 gourds of antitoxin (gives 1 hour of advantage on saving throws against poison)
• 1 flask of holy water (carried by Autun)
• 11 unicorn hooves (goodberry)
• spell component pouch

• bag of holding
• scroll of Protection From Fiends in a box of surface wood
• one pair of spectacles of darkvision
• a Quiver of Ehlonna (carried by Kais)
• Bree's Book of Shadows

• pouch with incense (worth 5gp)
• a Dwarvish recipe book
• a Dwarvish poetry book
• a bone flute
• a strange hourglass (worth 2gp)
• bracelet (silver) worth 6gp
• silver hand mirror
• small wood box
• silver headdress
• 3 rings with gems (from dead drow)
• 2 longbows (one kept by Kais, one kept by Autun)
• necklace with 3 headed flail
• decorated quiver (5gp)
• drow underwear
• a bunch of hairpins (fished out from between the teeth of the elf-Quaggoth)

• 1 studded leather armor (kept by Kais)
• 1 bag of pitons (kept by Kais)
• 2 short swords (kept by Kais)
• 3 daggers (kept by Kais)
• 1 hand crossbow (kept by Kais)
• 1 bag of caltrops (kept by Kais)
• some rope

• 24 +1 arrows
• 43 arrows
• 12 spears
• 2 cases of 20 crossbow bolts (kept by Kais)

• (drow) rations
• a lot of salt
• a lot of fish
• blue cap mushroom spores
• water orbs

---

Prior: 22 February 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 8 March 2019