Session 98: The Dragon Rivals Report

General Summary

Session 98 – Wednesday October 16, 2024: The Dragon Rivals

4-hour social /exploration (level up) session 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

The Stone Bearers. Party of 5:

It is the 18th day of the month of Alturiak (The Claw of winter) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Mid Feb.)

• Ajani– High Elf, L17 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
• Cassidy – Human, L17 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L18 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L17 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L17 Paladin – Will Johnson
• Seften Mitcaver – Human, L17 Cleric – Jacob Munson (Absent)

The Really Ancient Wyrm

After the echoing casting of the spells that killed the last Fire Giant in front of the open door to the sleeping Dragon, the dragon awoke asking, “What is this racket that awaketh me?!?” Cassidy sneezed and Abrash and Gazlowe exchanged places. Gazlowe said, “Nice timing!” Ajani, standing outside of the secret passage to the dragon looked to Gazlowe for his opinion. Gazlowe encouraged a conversation, “He hates Niptu, we hate Niptu…” Ajani said, “We know you’re not too happy with Niptu, perhaps we could talk for a moment?”   The old dragon emerged from his den and his pet lightbender left Isabella and went to its master. The rest of the party left the treasure room (without taking anything) and went cautiously to greet the dragon Xaantikorijek. The dragon came out, clearly disturbed, but not yet hostile. The party spoke very respectfully to Xaantikorijek, stroking his ego and explaining they want to kill Niptu. It took a while for the dragon to remember (he seems to have some memory issues.) But after reflecting on his mural for a moment and re-reading his notes he did remember and continued the conversation with the Stone Bearers.

An ally if you do this other thing first…

The party mentioned they killed the White and Green Dragon, and they chased off the Black dragon and they know of a Red Dragon. Upon mentioning the Red Dragon, Xaantikorijek became visibly angered and nearly enraged. He spoke in terms of pure hatred of Forzaantilirys (Draconic for “The Ashen Song.”) He told the party that The Ashen Song had killed his wife and children. He told the party, “Bring me her head and I will trust you.”   Xaantikorijek was able to project a vision into Gazlowe’s mind a of Forzaantilirys’ volcano. He deeply sniffed each of the party and noted that he had not stolen from him. Cassidy attempted to break the hold that Niptu has on her. Xaantikorijek probed Cassidy’s mind and noted her dark past. He allowed it, but the process was not going to prevent Niptu from using the Orb again.   Xaantikorijek was grateful for the attempt and saw the party was powerful. He decided to prepare the party for its fight with the more powerful red dragon Forzaanilirys and offered them each anything from her treasure pile that they could carry in their hands. He also spent the next 4 days preparing the party for the battle and the party leveled up. (See below for treasure obtained.)   The dragon offered wisdom and insight to the players. He told Isabella of the ancient war between Heffalumps and Woozles. He explained the befriending Snufflesnort can rid her of the Woozle issue in her forest. “He may request an offering or a sacrifice.” Gazlowe asked what the greatest treasure is. The dragon told him “Knowledge.” Gazlowe didn’t care too much for that. Ajani asked to seek knowledge, and the dragon let Ajani examine his books. He also prepared them for the volcano, warning them of the extreme heat and if they take too long the heat will exhaust them.

To the Red Dragon’s volcano.

After 4 days of training and preparation, Ajani teleported the Stone Bearers directly to the volcano and the party stood at the edge of the tree line halfway up the outer side of the volcano. The party studied the plethora of guards walking along the top of crater. The party determined the timing of the guards and stealthily passed the guards and began their decent down into the volcano. They saw an entrance down near the lava and headed it towards it. However, the guards spotted them. The guards threw boulders at the party. As the boulders headed to the party, Gazlowe used the invisibility cube turned invisible and passed the cube to Ajani. Cassidy and Isabella got hit by the boulders. Cassidy turned invisible. Juan took off on Bird into a cloud of poisonous smoke, fortunately only Juan was poisoned. Juan flew bird down to the cave entrance and then touched himself and neutralized the poison. Ajani used the cube, turned invisible and passed it to Isabella. Isabella turned invisible. The guards peered down into the crater where they threw the rocks and cheered as they saw no survivors!

Into the super-heated caves.

Cassidy used her red-dragon scale male to help navigate to the nearest dragon. They found their way into a chamber with blackened bones littering the floor. As the party moved to the bones, they were attacked by 4 haunts throwing bones at them. One encompassed Juan and started crushing him with force. Gazlowe cast shatter but the thunder damage didn’t do as much damage as he hoped.   Ajani cast gravity sink hole sucking the spirits back and hurting them. Cassidy recalled the resistances of the creatures and whipped the creature with radiant damage. Another creature engulfed Isabella. Isabella pulled out a new magical great axe given to her by Gazlowe and sliced into the spirits. Isabella and Cassidy were struck by flying bones. Juan slashed into one of the creatures and bloodied it. Juan continued to get crushed by a Haunt. Gazlowe punched with his gauntlets. Ajani cast another Gravity Sinkhole. Cassidy whipped one of the Haunts leaving it badly bloodied. It screamed in pain causing psychic damage to the party, Cassidy and bird were hurt the worst.   Isabella killed one of the Haunts. Another screamed hurting everyone and destroying Bird. One of the haunts turned invisible. Juan killed one of the creatures and struck another. Gazlowe continued to punch. Ajani cast another Gravity Hole behind the creatures to pull them away and it left one badly bloodied. Cassidy (able to see invisible creatures) moved up and whipped the creatures. Isabella finished off both remaining Haunts.   They looked at one of the walls and saw a large draconic eye gazing at the party. The eye faded back into the lava. They realized, the dragon knows that they’re in her lair.

Trophy room

Cassidy drank the potion of Bestest Superiorior healing and continued to expertly (and quickly) navigate the tunnels. They came to a large trophy room occupied by 8 stuffed blue dragons of various sizes and ages. On the west end of the room, an enormous empty plaque meant for displaying a creature’s head was mounted over an exit tunnel. It read, “Xaantikorijek.” Cassidy spotted draconic runes in the archway. She read, “My rage burns at the loss of my beloved Frezzelvarax. This chamber is a tribute to my beloved.”

Rewards Granted

Treasure

From the dragon hoard:

• Juan – Efreeti bottle
• Ajani: Staff of lighting
• Gazlowe:1 5,000 gp diamond, board game
• Cassidy: Ring of lightning resistance
• Isabella: Silver box w/ Potions
• Red dragon Scale male to Cassidy
• Consumable Staff of fire to Gazlowe
• Ring of Fire Resistance to Ajani