10 January 2020
Marching to Battle
Hearing | Gurnik's message, Stool's Irregulars go directly to the Diggermattock hall. Upon arrival, they see a third desk has been pushed to the center. Chipgrin, Senni, and Dorbo are all standing around a map of area occupied by the Pudding King listening to Kazook.
Kazook explains that he can provide water-skin like flasks of an oil which can be used to protect blades from the corrosion caused by many oozes, jellies, puddings, and the like. He will return to his shop and make as much as he can.
Senni asks for an update from the Irregulars. Exhausted from the sleepless journey back, Autun reports that Entemoch's Boon is restored, the basilisk which had occupied the area have been dispatched, and the Stoneheart Enclave are on their way to the Boon to summon more earth elementals. This news seems to alter the planning and the 3 leaders quickly agree that they should wait to for the enclave, and Senni adds, for the Irregulars to get some sleep.
Hesitantly, the leaders broach the subject of the Irregulars' involvement. They've devised a plan, and central to it is Stool's Irregulars taking great risk. The irregulars want to know the plan, and perhaps modify it, but make it clear that of course they will fight with them, they've already been expecting it.
Their plan is to have the main fighting force, including the hastily trained militia, engage the oozes on the southern end of the tunnels, while a strike team consisting of the Irregulars and a platoon of forty highly trained troops -- the best that Chipgrin and Dorbo can assemble -- go in via a northern entrance. The main force will draw the bulk of the oozes out by attacking, retreating, and re-engaging in stages while the strike team's mission is to find and destroy the Pudding King.
Autun looks to his sword and asks Dawnbringer about oozes and the Pudding King. After a moment he reassures her that the goal is to take on fiends.
Caius goes to Kazook to see if he can obtain some get extra spell gems. Kazook is not a warrior, he's a merchant, yet he will be with the main fighting force tomorrow. Caius claps him on the back and inspires confidence. For that moment at least Kazook is hopeful. Caius returns with six spell gems, three fairly small gems and three somewhat larger ones, as well as six flasks of corrosion resistance, three of which he sets aside for Kais, and one of which he sets aside for Ezri.
Ezri and Autun find that smithy is crowded, everyone working to pound out as many rough swords and shields as they can, and Thrain Thirgoim is barking instructions as non-stop. Autun shouts over the din asking for permission to use the crushing mill and grinders. Thrain points to the mechanisms and warns the not to hurt themselves. Ezri and Autun put out the word that they need to trade as much gold for diamonds as they can, and they collect up quite a collection from the merchants and populace. Ezri at the press with Autun adding muscle, they proceed to grind the diamonds to dust. Using the wheel, they grind a large amount of silver coins to dust as well. Ezri and Autun find Gurnik and give her the diamond dust and level 5 spell gem.
Kais visits Gurnik's temple. There he sees people meditating, shuffling around in a slow circle, and all the while a drum beats slowly. He finds a seat and meditates. While meditating he experiences a vision of his home and the people he once knew, he can still hear the drums but they seem faster. An insight is born within him and when he opens his eyes it seems the drums were slow all along, yet he still retains a special memory of the dream-like experience.
Caius and Bree take the spell gems to their room and get to work. Caius imbues a gem with Healing word which he gives to Bree. Bree enchants two gems with Faerie fire which he gives to Caius and three gems with Fireball to hand off to Autun, Kais, and Ezri. Then Bree gets to work on brewing Alchemists' Fire, and make a batch big enough for ten vials, enough for each Irregular to have two. Meanwhile, Ezri and Autun return to the inn so that Autun can use some of the silver dust to prepare some holy water for Bree. Eventually, each collapse into a much needed sleep.
But there's just enough rest, when they wake to horns calling. Tappy provides a quick breakfast and sits down with the Irregulars to quickly wolf-down some food for himself as well. Various people not fit enough for combat and Shuushar have arrived at the inn, with the plan to shelter there with Rumpadump and the children until the combatants return. As the Irregulars leave the Inn, they see a number of earth elementals moving past, each with a Stone Enclave member riding on the shoulder.
Gurnik arrives and gives Kais the Greater restoration gem. She begins to ask about settling the balance of the exchange, but Autun waves away the question stating that it can be sorted out after this is over. Gurnik informs them that Jimjar is with the main force, as is Jadger, the Burrow Warden, and his ghosts.
Irregulars hustle to the gate and find Rocky and forty veteran troops assembled and waiting. Theria is the commander of the gnomish were-rat soldiers. She explains that her squad operates using guerrilla tactics splitting into independent sections or fire-teams as needed. Dicks is the Blingdenstone svirfneblin commander. He explains that his squad fights in disciplined formation typically as a single unified force.
They soldiers have orders to shield the Irregulars so that Irregulars will not be slowed down in their pursuit of the Pudding King. Between the two squads, there is some disagreement as to which entrance to start with. Dick's troops favor the north most entrance, Theria's favor the entrance just south as they are a bit familiar with what lies beyond. Cauis steps in with a commanding voice and gives a rousing speech. His words lift the moral of the whole platoon, and bolster the fortitude of the five Irregulars and Rocky. Caius, assuming the role of the platoon's commanding lieutenant, decides the team shall take the furthest north tunnel to reduce the amount of backtracking in the sweep searching for the Pudding King. The leave the gates and head towards the north tunnel.
One the way, enchanted with some help tongues and comprehend languages, Bree and Rocky work out a quick set of hand-signals comprising a half-dozen useful signs, including "danger", "no-danger", "retreat", and "pudding king".
As the the strike force arrives at the north-most entrance, sounds have already begun of battle in the distance. They get to work to clear the rocks.
Rocky slips down into the earth and vanishes, returning moments later and signs "no danger", then aids in the clearing of the rock. Twenty minutes later, the efficient bucket-brigade clears the enough rock for Autun -- the largest of the group except Rocky -- to pass through, and the rest follow. On the other side the walls are slimy.
They travel in nearly one hundred feet when about forty black puddings appear. A ten-person section of Theria's troops break off and begin to route the oozes creating spinning wheels of flame with torches on ropes. The rest of the troop continues to advance.
Further in, nearly two dozen gray oozes advance on the platoon. Dick's squad corrals the oozes in a shallow alcove, allowing the remaining force to press on.
Rocky, Caius, Bree, and Autun are front-most, Ezri and Kais behind them, and the remaining soldiers catching up. As they enter a chamber opening, two large black puddings are ahead of the now smaller crew. These puddings go straight for Caius, striking out at him with great slimy pseudopods. The acid of the puddings dissolves his armor and badly burns his flesh. Moments later, two ochre jellies drip down from the ceiling behind Ezri and Kais. Bree slashes at one of the black puddings and it splits into two as her dagger corrodes. Rocky pounds on the puddings, Bree casts shadow blade, and Autun strikes with Dawnbringer while [Syrine]] flys around calling and flapping which distracts the puddings, but the black puddings continue to lash out at Caius. So severe are the acid attacks that Caius falls to the ground, unconscious.
As the jellies close the distance to them, Kais, in true elven style, looses arrows which strike the jellies while and uses his mage hand to prepare his rapier for with Kazook's protective oil in preparation for the melee. Just then, another ochre jelly shows up to join the other two. Ezri's flame blade stikes true as Kais pierces with his sword.
Caius returns to consciousness hearing his own voice commanding him to rise, as Bree unleashed the healing word from the spell gem which contained it. Rocky, Autun, and Bree manage to destroy one of the black puddings. The remaining soldiers take on the ochre jellies as well, and manage to route two of them away.
Ezri and Kais finish the remaining ochre jelly and the Irregulars focus their fury on the remaining black puddings. Rocky smashes one like a pancake, Autun crisps one with Dawnbringer's radiance and Kais finishes it off with a perfectly placed arrow.
The dampness becomes quieter, yet the sounds of battle can be heard in the distance.
They press on.
Prior: 27 December 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 17 January 2020
Lost & Gained
Gained
- 3 x spell storing gems level 3, loan from Kazook Pickshine, (fireball x 3)
- 3 x spell storing gems level 1, loan from Kazook Pickshine, (fairie fire x 2) (empty x 1)
- Greater restoration in the level 5 spell storing gem
- 450 sp worth of silver dust
- 2 holy water
Lost
- 1100 gp for diamond dust
- 500 sp for silver dust
Inventory
The inventory of Stool's Irregulars. This inventory includes the gained and lost items listed above.
| Cash & Valuables | Worth |
|---|---|
| Platinum pieces | 54 pp |
| Gold pieces | 4188 gp |
| Silver pieces | 5604 sp |
| Copper pieces | 4047 cp |
| Various gems | 60 gp |
| Pouch of varied surface coins | indeterminate ( found with the Obelisk) |
| 6 x 100gp gems | 600gp |
| 4 x 150gp rubies | 600gp found on starved drow |
| 2 x 100gp gorgets | 200gp found on starved drow |
| 4 x 75gp rings | 300gp found on carved drow |
| pearl encrusted suede cloak | 250gp found on carved drow |
| Consumables | Number | Gained | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potion of Greater Healing | 6 | reward from Basidia | distributed jointly |
| Potion of Healing | 2 | (various) | distributed jointly |
| Anti-toxin | 2 | hook horror den | Ciaus, Kais |
| Pygmywort | 18 | found in Gracklestugh, Bree's room, a pit | distributed jointly |
| Bigwig | 8 | mushroom pit in Whorlstone tunnels | distributed jointly |
| Alchemist's Fire | 2 | made by Bree with recipe | Bree |
| Acid | 4 | made by Bree with recipe | Bree |
| Drow poison | 10 | dead drow | Kais, bag |
| Keoghtom's Ointment | 5 | found in Nerrick's chest | bag |
| Scroll of protection from Fiends | 1 | gift from head of the Circle of Hunters | bag |
| Potion of fire breath | 1 | ? | Bree |
| Wind bag | 2 charges | gift from a badger | shuushar |
| Oil of sharpness | 1 / 5 | found in the temple | kais |
| +1/+1 arrows | 16 | boneyard | Kais (13) Autun (3) |
| Philter of love | 1 | found with Dawnbringer | bag |
| Potion of force resistance | 1 | found in Rockblight | bag |
| Holy Water | 2 | Autun's Ceremony | Bree |
| Magic Items | Gained | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Bag of Holding | from a trapped drow | Autun (mostly) |
| +2 Dawnbringer | sarcophagus | Autun |
| +1 shield | From the gullet of a Shambling Mound | Caius |
| A Rope of climbing | gift from a darkling | Kais? |
| Quiver of Ehlonna | found in a hook horror den | Kais |
| Instrument of Illusions | Caius | |
| Boots of Elvenkind | gifted by Errde Blackskull | Kais |
| Rod of the Pact Keeper | found in the corpse of the reanimated Buppido | Bree |
| Goggles of Night (2) | gift from the Bregan D'aerthe and Badger tunnels | Caius & Autun |
| Stone Speaker Crystal | a gift from Hgraam | Bree? Jimjar? |
| Folding Boat | gifted by Errde Blackskull on behalf of the Deep King | Shuushar? |
| Preacher's Pendant of Sending | found on the corpse of drow priestess | Autun |
| Necklace of force (6 beads) | found in badger tunnels evocation? | bag |
| Necklace of fireballs (6 beads) | found with Dawnbringer | bag |
| storing gem level 5 (Greater restoration) | payment from Kazook Pickshine | Bree |
| 3 storing gems level 3 (fireball x 3) | loan from Kazook Pickshine | Autun, Kais, Ezri |
| 3 storing gems level 1 (Faerie fire x 2) | loan from Kazook Pickshine | Bree, Caius, Cais |
| Stone of Good Luck | given | Ezri |
| Spell components of particular note | Spell | Number | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond 300 gp | (Revivify) | 2 | bag |
| Incense & Charcoal 10 gp | Find Familiar | 2 | Kais |
| Incense 15 gp | 1 | bag | |
| silver dust | Ceremony | 450 sp | bag |
| Story items | Gained | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Book of dwarven history | found amongst Kobold skeletons | Caius |
| Book of dwarven recipes | found amongst Kobold skeletons | Ezri |
| Silvered sickle | From the gullet of a Shambling Mound | Ezri |
| A book on Drow heresies | found on the corpse of drow priestess | Autun |
| Thieves' lantern | found in a strange cottage | Kais |
| A notebook with a record of objects | Obelisk | bag |
| Portrait of Ilvara | found on the corpse of the reanimated Buppido | bag |
| House of Mizzrym signet ring (3 gp) | bag | |
| Insignia of House Mizzrym (6) | Collected from various dead Drow | bag |
| Pouches of surface potpourri (12) | bag | |
| Feather of unknown bird | found with the Obelisk | bag |
| Recipe for Alchemist's fire | Lorthio's Lab | bag |
| Recipe for Acid | Lorthio's Lab | bag |
| Book of Nerrick | from Nerrick's chest | Bree |
| crappy poetry about gemstones | 10 May 2019 | bag |
| gnoll? necklace with 3 headed flail (Yeenoghu??) | Ilvara's bedroom | bag |
| a lockable chest (60x30x30) | bag | |
| bone flute | found in boneyard | Caius |
| bone hourglass (worth 2gp) | found in boneyard | Autun |
| small wood scroll case | gift from head of the Circle of Hunters | bag |
| small wood box | Ilvara's bedroom | bag |
| Component pouches (2) | distributed jointly | |
| 4 yellow gems from a crazed, bezerk earth elementals | Rockblight, Steadfast Stone | bag |
| Head of Medusa | 11 October 2019 | pickled, in the bag |
| Crystal, mostly transparent | recovered from stone gnome in crystal garden | Kais |
| Bree's basilisk egg | found a basilisk in Entemoch's Boon | Bree / Shuusar |
| Mundane communal supplies (in bag or distributed) | Number |
|---|---|
| Arrows | many (~200) |
| Bolts | many (~90) |
| Rations | many (~150) |
| bottles of surface wine | 3 |
| Torches | ? |
| Kindling | 5 fires |
| Firewood | 6 fires |
| Salt | 15 fish worth |
| Fire lichen | 6 meals' worth |
| Fishing tackle | 4 |
| Hemp Rope | 2 x 50 ft |
| Silk Rope | 2 x 50 ft ( escape, Gracklestugh market) |
| Grappling hook | 2 |
| Autun's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Healer's kit | 1 | origin |
| necklace with unicorn head | 1 | origin |
| pouch with herbs (garlic, thyme, basil, ginger, mandrake root, belladonna, wolvesbane, yew leaves, cinnamon bark, firelichen) | origin | |
| bag of pitons | 2 | origin, Velkynvelve |
| clothes travel, high hard boots, belt, belt pouches | 1 | origin, Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| broach of giant origin | 1 | origin |
| purple velvet cloak | 1 | Cottage |
| leather backpack, bedroll | 1 | origin |
| splintmail and jerkin with unicorn head | 1 | origin |
| tarps 10'x10' for simple tent | 2 | origin |
| 10' pole | 1 | origin |
| torches | 10 | origin |
| water/wineskins | 2 | origin |
| tinderbox, flint, steel, carving knife, whetstone | origin | |
| messkit, dented pot | 1 | origin |
| sticks of incense | 5 | origin |
| bag of caltrops | 1 | ? |
| longbow | 2 | origin, ? |
| greataxe | 2 | (extra from from ettin) |
| handaxe | 1 | origin |
| extra bowstring | ? | |
| arrows | 33 | ? |
| hand mirror | 1 | purchased in Blingdenstone |
| Bree's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Bree's Book of Shadows | found hidden amongst Kobold skeletons | |
| hand mirror | 1 | purchased in Blingdenstone |
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| hobit-kini | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Caius's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Belt from surface leather | Bought from Ylsa in Gracklstugh | |
| hand mirror | 1 | purchased in Blingdenstone |
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Ezri's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Necklace with silvered spider fangs | 1 | taken from dead Ilvara's drow "pirates" |
| Drow spiderwebby headdress (10 gp) | 1 | Ilvara's bedroom |
| silver handmirror | 1 | Ilvara's bedroom |
| Perfumes, ~2gp each | 6 | Obelisk |
| drow underwear | 1 | Ilvara's bedroom |
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| nice dress | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Studded leather armor | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Jimjar's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| short sword | 1 | his own gear, reclaimed in Velkynvelve |
| short bow | 1 | his own gear, reclaimed in Velkynvelve |
| Bone dice, seemingly very fair | 2? | dead drow |
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Kais's Inventory (excluding items in general inventory list) | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Belt from surface leather | 1 | Bought from Ylsa in Gracklstugh |
| bag of pitons | 1 | ?? |
| studded leather armor | 1 | Velkynvelve |
| short swords | 2 | Velkynvelve |
| daggers | 3 | Velkynvelve |
| hand crossbow | 1 | Velkynvelve |
| bag of caltrops | 1 | Velkynvelve |
| longbow | 1 | |
| rapier | 1 | starting inventory |
| thieves' tools | 1 | starting inventory |
| burglar's pack | 1 | starting inventory |
| very old "fox and foxgloves" scabbard | 1 | starting inventory |
| Hairpins | 4 | Picked from Derendil's teeth |
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Rumpadump's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Leather armor | 1 | Made by Ezri from Bree's old armor |
| dress beret | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| Shuushar's Inventory | Number | Gained |
|---|---|---|
| travel clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
| dress clothes | 1 | Blingdenstone |
Prior: 27 December 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 17 January 2020