GB Chapter 23: Castle Squatters

General Summary

Opening

• The gang compares notes; after some intense dreams from his patron, Balcazar told the group that Sharpjaw is still alive (now Darkjaw) and wreaking havoc everywhere he goes. The group agrees on how dangerous this is, and that he needs to be killed immediately if they see him
• The gang enters the Moonfather’s Castle and find the Crystal Library. Balcazar gets 2 additional Thought Crystals (3 total), while the rest find 5 each (6 total). They learn about Wizard Santa’s operation, deciding that they must go to Santa’s Workshop.
• They next find the Laboratory, where they learn of the Moonfather’s twisted experiments on the Twins. They speak in fear of him, giving Master Obu & the others all the information they need about what they must do. They talk openly about going to the North Pole, killing Santa, then coming back here to kill the Moonfather. Balcazar, Draconius & Master Obu gather 3 Thought Crystals containing Magitech blueprints, while Fork finds a flask with the Order of the Half Pint’s logo on the side (if he does an Arcana check or fills it with alcohol, he might discover its special properties).
• As they try to leave, the Moonfather telekinetically seals the door, egging them on to fight him since they were so confident.
• The gang heads up one of the towers and finds the Observatory. They try to fly out after “breaking” the wall, but end up colliding with the planetarium ceiling in the Observatory. The Moonfather is floating in there, waiting for them.
• After some dialogue, Master Obu blows his Wish Card on a carefully worded wish to take them to Santa’s Workshop. However, as they move through the Daidrin Gaioforce to the workshop, they are caught by sleet gusts channeling dark electricity, sending them back to the Observatory. The Moonfather chuckles at their attempt, and Master Obu now has a normal joker card (albeit with a spark of magic left in the ink). Fork throws a dart, which passes through the Moonfather and reveals the Silent Image he was casting (using Message to speak to everyone).
• The gang devises a plan using Balcazar’s telepathy; Draconius or Master Obu threw a Major Image spell as a smoke Bomb, while Fork created a Moon Mirage of all of them on Rexy’s back in the center.

Combat: The Gaiobros vs. The Moonfather

Initiative

• Fork: 10
• Master Obu: 1
• Rexy: 10
• Balcazar: 17
• Draconius: 17
• Stonius: 16 (40/40 HP)
• The Twins: 16 (Boy 64/104 HP, Girl 84/104 HP)
• The Moonfather: 15 (0/250 HP)

Round 1

• Draconius: Twinfire for 37 fire damage to Moonfather, uses Reaction to Plasma Catch (2nd level slot) and burns away the illusion.
• Balcazar: Fires Madrakor’s Gauntlet for a 7 damage titty twister, then Blight for 46 necrotic damage (53 total).
• The Boy: Together with Draconius, casts Soul Recall to summon Stonius’ soul. Stonius uses his Acid Breath for 19 damage.
• The Girl: Casts Cone of Cold against her father for 47 cold damage. Moonfather casts Daidrosense [cantrip, 1 Legendary Action] to gain blindsense/tremorsense, removing their advantage from the smoke illusion.
• The Moonfather: Casts Fractal Rain [8th-level spell, experimental/unfinalized effects] for 40 damage on everyone except Fork.
• Fork: Stealths, fails, jumps up and Shock Therapy’s the Moonfather for 34 lightning & 11 psychic. The Moonfather casts Moon Heal [3rd level spell, 2 Legendary Actions] and restores 55 HP to himself.
• Master Obu & Rexy: Rexy bites him for 28 piercing, then casts Shock Therapy for 16 lightning & 14 psychic (30 total). The Moonfather Moon Walks [1 Legendary Action] away, but not before 9 bludgeoning damage from Obu

Round 2

• Balcazar: Madrakor’s Gauntlet a titty twister to the other nipple for 6 damage. Cast Blight for 34 necrotic damage.
• Draconius & Stonius: Double attacks with scythe, nearly killing the Moonfather. Action Surges for more swings, but misses. Stonius spews a Gamma Flame (2nd level spell) to finish him off, incinerating the Moonfather in sparks of moonlight.

Aftermath

• The Gaiobros claim the Moonfather’s Castle for themselves. They are welcome to rename it whatever they wish. They explore the castle in greater depth to learn all the things. In particular, they learn that the Moonfather they just killed was actually a Moon Phantom, merely a magical reflection of the true Moonfather’s power. However, it was still this Moon Phantom that fathered the Twins and was all around a bad person, so who knows what the true Moonfather is like.
• Draconius discovers the Devil Cellar (the basement that leaked deathly dark energy) and finds a Soul Crystal. With agreement that he’s working on a way to bring Stonius back to life, Draconius (with help from the Boy) places Soul Stonius into the crystal before Soul Recall ends.
• Everyone in the party now has many things & decisions at their disposal, which will be detailed in their own sections below. Balcazar & Draconius are both approached by their patrons in private (these players will have these Secrets sent to them).

Balcazar

Thought Crystals & Arcane Ideas

The Christmas Coverup

A magitech Thought Crystal blueprint from the Lab for an Iron Man-like suit

“Zaelim the Moonfather” Thought Crystal

“The Divine Wars” Thought Crystal

Draconius

Thought Crystals & Arcane Ideas

• “The Gaios War” Thought Crystal
• A magitech Thought Crystal blueprint from the Lab for magitech armor
• “Soul Wand” Thought Crystal blueprints
• "Layers of the Thugoran Chaos" Thought Crystal
• "Thatos & the Pantheon of Chaos" Thought Crystal
• "Demon Lords" Thought Crystal
• "Reincarnation, the True Immortality" Thought Crystal

Master Obu

Thought Crystals & Divine Ideas

• “Cyr & the Pantheon of Darkness” Thought Crystal
• A magitech Thought Crystal blueprint from the Lab, can study in downtime to gain ideas for a Gaiostone containment device
• “Health Benefits of Eating Souls” Thought Crystal, Obu can study it in downtime to gain potential benefits
• The Twins' Biology & Experiments Thought Crystal
• "Avernion's Ascension" Thought Crystal, which Obu can attempt to read during normal or downtime
• "Layers of Darthalheim" Thought Crystal, can be used as a broad reference for the stated realm.
• “Mystical Recycling” Thought Crystal, gives Obu an idea. The expended wish card that has a spark of magic left. With the right tools and rolls, it could be broken down and crafted into a Wish Pen, then recharged with the proper magic.

Fork

• "Baked Weapons" Thought Crystal, detailing several recipes for magically-enhanced baked weaponry similar to Fork's Throwing Pretzels
• 4 other Thought Crystals with ideas for whatever Fork may desire
• Flask with the Order of the Half Pint’s logo

Rewards Granted

• 15,000 XP for killing the Moonfather
• 5,000 for rescuing children from an abusive household
• All the loot & knowledge listed in the session report above

Character(s) interacted with

Zaelim The Moonfather

Report Date

16 Jun 2022

Primary Location

Moonfather’s Castle

Secondary Location

Cyregnor

Related Plots

• The Daidrin Expedition

Related Characters

• Zaelim the Moonfather