GB Chapter 45: Broken Mistrust

General Summary

Pre-Sesh

Admin

• All Gaioforce spells are updated & fully written through 8th level. Instead of the old system, you can now find the descriptions of each Gaioforce spell in the Gaioforce Master Spell List . You aura-specific spell list will still be in the articles for your respective Gaioforce auras, but the details will be maintained on the Master Spell List going forward, including the date of last update in it's header. You may find that some spells have been removed from your lists; this is because they were incomplete/unwritten and I realized it was impractical to write descriptions for 43 additional spells over the course of a few days. Instead, I have moved all incomplete spells to the Incomplete Spell List, which is located towards the bottom of the master document.
• Preparing/Learning Complete Spells: Now that the Gaioforce spells on your list are finalized (though not necessarily play-tested), I will ask that everyone have any Gaioforce spells known or prepared (based on your class rules on spellcasting) by the time of the next session (GB Chapter 46). We will follow the normal 5e rules of spellcasting/spell preparation after that. However, if we play-test a spell that you've prepared/know and determine that it needs to be changed or removed, I will allow you to immediately swap it out with another Gaioforce spell if you choose to do so (for simplicity & narrative, cannot replace 5e spells via this method). Due to a reward you all received in GB Chapter 41, any of you with spellcasting ability (that includes Fork because Gaioforcee) can add one Daidrin spell to their list of spells known/spellbook (doesn't count against your total)
• Casting Incomplete Spells: Your aura-specific spell lists from the Gaioforce documents only include completed spells. However, you can still view my incompleted spells in the master document, most of which have their Gaioforce aura and level specified. If you see a leveled spell on the Incomplete Spell List that you want to cast, please let me know and, if my vision of the spell is complete enough, we will homebrew it in the moment and cast at its base level (for simplicity, cannot upcast incomplete spells). You can request to do this once per turn, upon which I will homebrew/explains the mechanics and give you the chance to accept or reject the spell. If you reject it, choose another spell from your prepared/known spells or take a different course of action. If you accept it, you cast the spell and expend the appropriate spell slot/resources, regardless of the result. If you like this spell after casting it, you can immediately swap it into your spell list and replace an existing Gaioforce spell (for simplicity & narrative, cannot replace 5e spells via this method) and I will add the newly completed spell to the completed spell list within the master document/reference it to all relevant aura-specific spell lists. If you don't like it, you don't need to shuffle any of your prepared/known spells around, but the casting stands/cannot be retconned unless the result was adversely game-breaking. For logistical purposes, you can only cast incomplete spells that have levels and auras associated with them; you can look through the unassigned spells and recommend effects/levels, but they will not be castable until at least the next session.
• XP earned from last session: 4,000 XP (MB, Balcazar, Fork & Master Obu), 2,000 XP (Draconius). 4,000 XP figure is made up of: 3k (for showing up, 1,000 XP/hour) & 1k (for coming up with a creative solution to their Gothicca problem). 2,000 XP figure is made up of: 1,000 XP (default for absent players) & 1k (for narrowly escaping Queen Solya in a 1-on-1 mage duel).
• Once you have added all spells, XP & items to your character sheets, send me the updated version by the next session (GB Chapter 46).
• PvP is banned beyond non-damaging effects

Chazzle's Return

After leaving the Gaiobros and wandering the arctic wastes of Cyregnor for weeks, Chazzle finally finds his long-lost mammodon war band, led by his father. However, he finds them as zombies, having just run into a troop of Roving Shadows soldiers and killed most, but falling to the the Wight Captain & his remaining undead. The Wight Captain was in the process of using his authorized magicks to reanimate the mammodons when Chazzle arrived, already having reanimated his father. Chazzle slays his father, the Wight Captain & his remaining troops, to which the captain only says “Hail the Shadow King”. Pronoxus takes advantage of Chazzle’s emotional rage and uses it to enchant his greataxe with his essence, creating the Pentaphant’s Wrath and directing Chazzle towards Necropolis/The Shadow King for vengeance. Upon arrival, Chazzle duels & destroys Sir Gorien, then busts through the front gate. Surrounded by the Necropolis Guard, Chazzle is approached by the Death Minister, who has been tasked by the Shadow King to send any “interesting” characters up to Zalcovia. Through deceit, the minister guides Chazzle to the Temple of Rebirth, and after the latter kills a few mummy guards while demanding to see the Shadow King, Sister Venoria allows him entry to the mountain path. Chazzle uses his boss-ass mammodon survival to traverse the deadly face of the Nairvithone Mountains, killing a few yeti zombie that attacked him along the way. He then makes his way into Zalcovia through the icy support beams that help suspend the temple between the mountain peaks. He makes his way through the ziggurat (through Survival checks & occasional mummy slaying) and up to the top, where he encounters the party in the midst of their inter-party debacle.

Chazzle's Inventory

Magic Weapon: The Pentaphant’s Wrath

• Greataxe, +1 to attack & damage rolls
• additional 1d8 fire damage per attack
• once per Long Rest, you can use the axe to activate Demonic Rage, which piggybacks on your existing barbarian rage (if you aren’t currently raging, you start raging and expend a use as normal). Demonic Rage gives you three attacks per attack action, doubles your rage damage bonus, and increases the fire damage to 2d8 per attack. However, roll 1d6 upon activation (reroll 1s & 2s your rage lasts for this many rounds, then you fall unconscious for the same amount of rounds (can only wake up if you take half or more of your current HP)

Other items

• Anything in his inventory when he left the party
• Dire Wolf meat (rations for 10 days)
• Folding saxophone (with successful Performance checks, can play in combat with both hands free for fighting)
• Warchief’s Mantle: a cape made of mammoth fur and adorned with the tusk-like teeth of its previous wearers. As a Bonus Action, Chazzle can make a DC 15 Intimidation check (disadvantage if he is charmed or frightened by the target or the target’s allies) to mark one creature that he can see, ordering his “troops” to attack. Anyone within 60 ft of Chazzle that can hear his command gets advantage on attacks against the target until the end of Chazzle’s next turn.
• Horn of Soiling: An ivory warhorn carved from the tusk of Gondruk the Ivory King, a feared half-giant mammodon warlord slain by Chazzle’s father. As a Bonus Action, Chazzle can make a DC 15 Intimidation check (disadvantage if he is charmed or frightened by the target or the target’s allies) to unleash a morale-shattering note from his hornflute. Anyone within 60 ft of Chazzle that is not an ally and can hear his note must make a Wisdom or Charisma saving throw (DC is the total from Chazzle’s check) or be frightened of Chazzle & his allies until the end of Chazzle’s next turn.
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The Sesh

Betrayal (Business as Usual)

• The gang starts in the hallway near the Pharaoh's Throne in Zalcovia, locked in a tense stand-off between MB, Balcazar & Draconius. Draconius unsuccessfully tries to car salesman talk his way out of trouble, but his coworkers aren't having it.
• When Draconius finally agrees to go with them to Gothicca, MB does not agree to take him unharmed and stabs him through the back, downing him. Stonius immediately attacks when MB tries to take their prize on their steed.
• Chazzle, the long lost Mammodon companion of the party, shows up nearby on his rampage towards the shadow King, sees an undead knight (MB), and attacks after greeting the guys with his sax. Chazzle & Stonius ping pong MB to death, ending their perverted scourge for now. Solya is disappointed, using her magic to soak MB into the undergrowth so that she may "improve" them. Chazzle quickly searches MB and acquires the Iron Flask.
• As MB is claimed by Zalcovia, a dark red flame begins emanating from the Blade of Phallicus, floating in the air then speaking a message from Sevuctus, Thugoran (demon) Goddess of Lust. She denounces MB to their "new master" and destroys the blade, freeing Phallicus to Sevuctus' will once more. Solya shows concern that a god's power could reach through the Divine Veil, to which Balcazar determines that she might have planted the spell within MB or the Blade of Phallicus when they forsook their vows to her (doesn't tell Solya). Balcazar also insults Solya at some point and earns her Dreadful Glare, horrifically frightening him for a bit. Solya eventually leaves (with the Twins) as the party figures out their next move with Gothicca.

Fulfilling the Deal

• The guys talk to Draconius & Stonius about their plan to swap Draconius' soul with Stonius', giving the body of Draconius over to Gothicca to satisfy their end of the deal. After some heartfelt RP, Stonius agrees to the plan. However, Stonius warned that Thalonius would reclaim him if anything puts me in lethal danger, plus that he'd be angry with Draconius like never before.
• Chazzle leads the crew to a cave in the wall of a mummy blight coordidor, previously slain by him on his way up. They perform the spell and successfully fend off Thalonius during the Soul Swap of Draconius & Stonius. The party Long Rests, while Thalonius keeps trying to break through.

Breaking the Deal (return to form)

• In the "morning", Chazzle convinces the party to kill the dragon instead of giving up Stonius, which everyone mostly agrees to. The gang rolls up into her cave while Soyla taunts them in the halls. Balcazar drops the c-bomb on her, to which she uses her Dreadful Glare to scare him into temporary paralysis, like a night terror.
• The gan moves through the undead foliage of the Aeortic Caverns, a 300 ft tunnel down to the Heart Chamber. As they plot how they'll go in and whether they are gonna open up with offering Stoconius or fighting Gothicca, Thalonius makes another attempt to reclaim Stonius. However, Thalonius' arrogance in not using more of his power, combined with the shared might of the Gaiobro, allowed the Gaiobros to repel Thalonius for a bit longer this time. The party hypes each other up and makes any final preparations before "concluding" their deal, one way or another.

Rewards Granted

XP Earned

• Balcazar: 13,000 XP. Figure is made up of: 3,000 for attendance, 5,000 for successful Soul Swap against Thalonius, 5,000 XP for successful Counterspell/Dispel/Redirection against Thalonius
• Master Obu: 13,000 XP. Figure is made up of: 3,000 for attendance, 5,000 for successful Soul Swap against Thalonius, 5,000 XP for successful Counterspell/Dispel/Redirection against Thalonius
• Chazzle: 18,000 XP. 3,000 for attendance, 10,000 for killing MB, 2,500 for successful Soul Swap against Thalonius, 2,500 XP for successful Counterspell/Dispel/Redirection against Thalonius
• Draconius: 12,000 XP. Figure is made up of: 2,000 for attendance, 5,000 for successful Soul Swap against Thalonius, 5,000 XP for successful Counterspell/Dispel/Redirection against Thalonius. In addition, I added 500 XP to the previous session report due to how I changed the attendance calculation
• Fork: 7,000 XP. Figure is made up of: 1,000 for attendance, 1,000 for carrying unconscious Draconius, then the Sack of Holding, 2,500 for successful Soul Swap against Thalonius, 2,500 XP for successful Counterspell/Dispel/Redirection against Thalonius.

Items/Resources used

• Balcazar: 3rd level spell slot (modified Counterspell against Thalonius)
• Master Obu: 3rd level spell slot (modified Dispel Magic against Thalonius)
• Chazzle: none
• Drastonius: 3rd level spell slot (modified Counterspell against Thalonius). Currently in Stonius' body.
• Fork: none

Items Gained

• Chazzle: Iron Flask & 500 gp

Character(s) interacted with

• Soyla: ???
• Gothicca (mentioned): Gothicca 
• Thalonius (magical presence): Ascension of Thalonius 
• The Shadow King (mentioned): ???
• MB/Chazzle: hell yeah

Report Date

29 Oct 2023

Primary Location

Necropolis

Secondary Location

Cyregnor

Related Plots

• The Daidrin Expedition