Session 36: That is so Metal! Report
General Summary
The trolls were very tough, and the party began to discuss, huddled among the support girders on the bottom of the barge and struggling through the effects of trying to speak while underwater, what to do next. Options like staying on the boat through the Dark Passage, or climbing the thousand meter cliffs of the Deathless Rise. Roy even considered using Carver's Confounding Aura to make something seem magical or something similar. The party was very concerned about perhaps having to pay some price to leave at the Black Docks due to the common understanding that ships that dock there must sacrifice their weakest member as a "dock fee". Much of the discussion centered around the concept of sacrifice; although their understanding of the situation was quite muddled. One option that was seriously considered, to climb the cliffs, was unpalatable because many unliving horrors can climb walls easily, and fighting on a ciff against a creature that treats it like level ground would be suicide. There was quite an argument over Cigfran 's assertion he would not make a deal, and Roy 's assumption that a deal would have to include everyone. In the end cooler heads prevailed and the party agreed to wait until a deal was demanded before fighting over who would make a deal or not. The final choice was to leave the ship at the Black Dock and hope for the best. The ship finally approached the Black Docks as dusk approached. The trolls swam away as the ship approached the docks, slightly before they docked at the quay, and the party took this opportunity to drop away and swim ashore. Jeeves rose up and looked about, but in the gathering dusk mistook some trees for more trolls. Cigfran rose up, and saw reality, but also attracted attention and was nearly killed by a flurry of crossbow bolts. Jeeves tended the wounds, and the party more carefully rose up undar a smaller dock. Noticing that the rew were completely occupied docking the barge, then took the opportunity to rush forward, but were noticed when Roy broke and cried out in surprise at seeing the giant troll growing metal spikes and plates over it's flesh, and had to run. They passed the blackened and burned warehouses at the edge of this burned out ruin of a small town, and suddenly their vision changed. What had been the ruin of a small town, was now an immaculate small city with clean and well maintained white cobblestone streets. The shimmer of a magical shield behind them absorbed a few more crossbow bolts before the mercenaries gave up shooting. They were greeted by a young woman in a whilte dress, who led them to a large grey town near the center of town, and motioned them to go in. There they met a shopkeeper, a former sailor, who talked of how they, like all others here, had been a very bad ship's crew who was sent as a "sacrifice" and was so happy to find a place where they could belong that they never left. After waiting for a few minutes, they heard a sound from the door beyond this waiting room near the entrance. An unassuming individual stepped through the door, apparently "The Master", the leader of the city. This man led the party further into the large tower. Reaching the central chamber, the man they followed shimmered and disappeared, and they found themselves facing an immense, 200 foot long, rainbow serpent, with a head larger than two grown men. The being, speaking in their thoughts, described itself, and asked them to ride its back to the roof to see the situation. Arriving on the roof, they saw the metal-hybrid troll assaulting the outer wall, and The Master, pointing, said "That, is happening". They asked the party's assistance to defend the tower and stop the few that had made their way through to the city from killing the people of the city; it asked them "Could you please stop them killing my children?". The party considered their options, and the being offered to transform them to elemental beings. Most of the party transformed into elementals (Ice for Roy , Earth for Boris, Fire for Jeeves , Air for Goto), and Roisin Marshfield became a Unicorn. Cigfran received a blessing to help with the distance. As they looked out over the city, they saw mercenaries murdering at random, and a couple of massive trolls consuming anyone they could reach.
Cigfran fired, but missed. Roisin Marshfield, the unicorn, charged forward up to a mercenary. Goro, the air elemental, flew forward toward a troll. The troll rushed forward, grabbed a halfling, and ate them like a quick snack. Roy the ice elemental dashed toward a mercenary. The mercenary next to the unicorn attacked viciously, and battered that beautiful creature mercilessly. Jeeves the fire elemental flew forward looking for an enemy to burn. Boris the Earth elemental charged forward as best he could. The Master launched a powerful magic that summoned a swarm of meteors to devestate the forces attacking outside the wall protectnig the city. Cigfran fired a bolt at a mercenary who began rushing toward the tower. Another mercenary fired at Cigfran , wounding him. Other mercenaries wandered about, killing more innocents. Roisin Marshfield the Unicorn attacked the mercenary before her, but failed to connect, and teleported into a better strategic position. Goro the air elemental reformed into a whilrwind and battered the troll. The troll reacted by trying to claw and bite this insubstantial thing assaulting it, and hit with claws, severely injuring the elemental. Jeeves the fire elemental flew over and passed through and around a couple of mercenaries, burning them. Some mercenaries moved to flank Roy the Ice elemental and stabbed at it repeatedly, but it's icy form resisted much of the harm. Boris the earth elemental moved near a mercenary, but was not fast enough to do more. The Master conjured a firestorm covering the area between the defensive wall and river, roasting what few mercenaries and normal trolls remained, and further damaging the overpowered partially metalic troll. Cigfran moved to crouch behind the defensive crenelations and shot the mercenary trying to enter the tower. The mercenary that Jeeves the Fire Elemental embraced rushed away and frantically put out the flames. Another mercenary shot at Roy the ice elemental, striking twice. Roisin Marshfield the unicorn charged at a mercenary and struck with its horn knocking them prone and trampling them. Goro the air elemental regained its whirlwind attack and attacked the same mercenary with a whirlwind, flinging him into the nearby troll. The troll assumed this was the mercenary attacking, and tore into that fool, nearly killing them. Roy the Ice Elemental tore into a mercenary with its ice claws, opening frozen gashes. The mercenary attacked by the troll tried to run away, but the troll tore off their head and spent the next bit eating the mercenary. Jeeves the fire elemental followed the same mercenary, reigniting them and then burning them badly. Another mercenary slashed at the ice elemental, damaging it, and its fellow also struck once. Boris the earth elemental ran after the mercenaries attacking Roy , leaving the much weaker Roisin Marshfield and Goro to face the powerful troll. The Master conjured a powerful cloud of flame on the massive troll outside, burning it horribly. The other troll inside the city climbed the tower, and Cigfran fired again at the mercenary burning away inside the fire elemental. The burning mercenary tried to get away from Jeeves , and fired a crossbow at the flaming being. Roisin Marshfield the Unicorn charged at the massive troll, but tripped and ended up not quite reaching the troll. Goro the Air Elemental flew up and slammed the troll strongly. The troll stepped up, launched a whirlwind of claws, tore the unicorn to bits and severely damaged the air elemental. The unicorn returned to Roisin Marshfield form, but the immense damage carried through and was enough to leave her unconsious and bleeding on the ground. Roy the ice elemental encased a mercenary in ice, but the mercenary resisted the worst effects. Jeeves the fire elemental flew up and burned the mercenary climbing the tower, using "bad touch" to burn them very badly. The mercenary attacking Roy struck again, dealing moderate damage. Boris the earth elemental bashed the mercenary, breaking a rib. The Master rushed away to avoid being torn apart by the troll. The burning mercenary leapt from the tower to get away and put out the flames.. Another mercenary fired at Jeeves , and burned a bit as they failed to put out their own flames. Another mercenary shot Roy . Goro the Air Elemental rushed over to Roisin Marshfield, taking a claw for his trouble, and lifted Roisin Marshfield up into the air toward the tower. The troll, with no competent enemies, rushed to the nearest townsfolk and ripped apart a couple of them. Roy the Ice Elemental tore into a mercenary with it's ice claws. The troll atop the tower began pounding on a magic circle. Jeeves the fire elemental rushed up and began touching the troll, burning it heavily. The mercenary between the elementals stabbed Roy a couple times. The other mercenary also stabbed Roy the Ice Elemental. Boris the Earth Elementai slammed the mercenary between the elementals with powerful crushing blows of rock fists. The Master allowed the flaming cloud outside to dissipate and the troll on the roof slowed and began to turn to stone. Cigfran shot the troll that was turning to stone. The mercenary climbed the tower again, now that the fire elemental was out of sight. The other mercenary moved off. Another mercenary again shot the ice elemental, striking thrice. Goro carried Roisin Marshfield into the tower. The other troll rushed up to the elementals and launched another whirlwind of claws, tearing into both elementals and two mercenaries as well. Roy ceased to be an ice elemental, and stepped back using a magical shield to deflect a claw, then cast the powerful spell Wilderin's Mystic Syrup, slowing two of the mercenaries. The troll on the roof continued to try to shatter the circle. Jeeves the fire elemental moved to embrace that troll, lit the building on fire, and failed to further burn the troll. One of the slow mercenaries tried to run away, but the earth elemental smashed it into the ground, dead. The other slow mercenary tried to get away, and was clawed by the troll, then shook off the spell. Boris the earth elemental again ignored the powerful troll, and beat on the remaining mercenary instead, bashing it once. Cigfran fired at the troll on the roof, striking it in the head. the mercenary on the tower rushed up to Cigfran , but Cigfran is hard to pin down and moved away suddenly. Another mercenary put out the flamse, finally. The mercenary next to the earth elemental moved to keep the elemental between him and the troll, then fired at Roy , but Roy 's shield deflected some of the attacks. Goro the air elemental flew over to attack the mercenary on the roof, slamming it powerfully. The troll on the ground attacked Boris, and Roy launched flaming rays at a mercenary. The troll on the roof turned entirely to stone and became a statue. Another mercenary fired at Roy , but missed. Boris the Earth Elemental moved closer to Roy , the Troll slashed them, and then Boris moved past one mercenary to attack another; taking another hit, then slamming the mercenary viciously. Cigfran fired at the mercenary on the roof, killing him. The mercenary near Boris fired at Roy , striking twice. Another mercenary fired at the fire elemental, striking three times. The troll charged up to Boris, and again unleashed a whirlwind of claws, tearing into the elemental and harming a mercenary. Roy tolled the dead on a weak mercenary, killing him. Roy then attempted to place the other mercenary in stasis, but failed, then ducked around a corner. Jeeves the fire elemental flew through a mercenary and the troll, burning them, then moved on to the other mercenary, taking a claw to the back, and burned the mercenary. The mercenary moved aside, and shot at Roy , striking him down. Boris slammed the troll. The Master launched a powerful ray of energy at the troll, but missed. Cigfran rushed into position, fired, and missed. The mercenary continued to burn, but put out the flames. The troll burned a bit, and tore into unfortunate mercenary, tearing off the head, popping in its mouth, and chewing it like popcorn. Roy lay unconscious on the ground. Jeeves the Fire Elemental burned the mercenary further. That mercenary continued on fire, moved away from this living fire creature, and shot at he elemental. The mercenary struck thrice, dealing modest harm. Boris the Earth Elemental slammed the troll again, as The Master launched a divine Flame Strike to consume the huge troll there, leaving nothing behind. Cigfran fired at the troll, striking powerfully. Goro floated to The Master, and was swallowed. The troll attacked Boris, and struck three times. Also burning slightly. Roy continued to lay on the ground bleeding out. Jeeves the fire elemental continued to chase down the mercenary, who began screaming as this living fire continued to burn them horribly stepped back and struck at the flames, but did little. Boris slammed the troll more. Cigfran again fired at the troll, striking powerfully. The troll clawed at Boris the earth elemental, striking five times, leaving Boris back in his normal form. Roy woke up. Jeeves the fire elemental touched the mercenary twice more, burning them quite severely, as they fell to the groun a smoking corpse. Boris struck with the rod of justice, and attempted to paralyze the troll, but the troll resisted. Boris also used a spiritual weapon to strike the troll. The Master spit out a new creature, while Cigfran fired again and struck the troll modestly. The troll tore into Boris, leaving him bleeding and unconscious on the ground. Roy consumed a heavenly herb to enable a spell, and quickly ducked behind a corner. Jeeves the elemental moved into the troll, burning it, and also touched it to burn more. The Master took actions unnoticed. Cigfran fired again, with another solid strike. The troll continued to burn, and fell; waiting for regeneration to recover it. Roy stepped out to cast a powerful rainbow spell, but missed as the massive creature was not where he expected, it having fallen to the ground. Jeeves the Fire Elemental again burned the troll. Cigfran began rushing downstairs to save Boris. Roy rushed up to try to help Boris. Jeeves burned the troll again, and it caught, burning to ash in moments. Jeeves returned to normal, and the group gathered their friend's body to bring him in to see The Master. The Master revived Boris. Roy asked if his eye might be restored, and The Master agreed to do so if they hunted down the entity behind the attack and killed them. Roy imagined that ZCorthrin was working for Roy 's master, but it was entirely possible this was just a side plot ZCorthrin engaged in to gather yet more money. Jeeves woke Roisin Marshfield, and Boris healed his wounds a bit. The Master asked for a promise to, when possible, hunt down whomever was behind the attack, and destroy them. Roy made that promise, and the massive head darted down and swallowed Roy . A minute later Roy was spit out, covered in white milky slime and told to stand. Roy stood, looking a bit sad at the covering in slime. The eye patch he had used to enhance his sight was gone, but his eye was restored. The Master granted Roy leave to clean himself. The Master spoke for a bit. "Hmmm, it is a conundrum. How will you continue your journey. You must continue to your next destination, and then you must see the Ki'Rin. My cousin will know what you need to do from there. For now, join my community, perhaps in a year you will be ready to leave."
Notes
The Master cast a total of a 9th, 8th, 7th, two 6th, four 5th, and three 4th level spells to destroy the huge troll-construct hybrid outside the gates, if the enemy spellcaster had been present the attack would have succeeded. The friends of the town (people who live outside, but help; mostly survivors from ships that broke the rules) were asked to begin seeking for powerful good individuals to help the town; the party knows this, as it was done after a public vote while they were in town..
Cigfran
Roy
Boris
Jeeves
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