Dwarf OSE+ Dark Citadel Session #30 (25 SEPTEMBER 2024)

    Cliffhangers, it seems I addicted to leaving my game on a cliffhanger. We picked up this session missing a PC who was stuck at work which made the Cliffhanger problematic and is why it is discouraged by allot of DMs out. We still say DM right ? Or is it fashionable to say Gamemaster, Judge or what-not. instead of Dungeonmaster, Pfft anyway. We had to NPC his character at least for this encounter.

    It was the revealed group of Dopplegangers and with Geoff still unable to act fully after being revived during their, hold a minute. That was two sessions ago and he would have been fully capable of acting. But did not under a false assumption, hmmm We will just say that he was steering the ship and leaving the helm would have resulted in a disastrous wreck on the Dark River. Oddly everyone else was thinking the same thing ....

    We had a late start as well so we dived into this battle on the deck of the unfolded floating Folding Boat. This dragged out, Ryxxor casts Striking upon Redrum's eerie looking mace seized from an Orcus priest in previous session and I highlight that Striking illuminates the enchanted weapon. Hits actually create a shower of eldritch or divine energy akin to the glowing hands effects from the Last Dragon as a visual reference. Namman immediately uses his War Chant ability to bolster the Brotherhood's fighting ability while Gremmin frantically uses the Wand of Magic Missiles he carries. The Dopplegangers weave amongst the party attacking randomly then suddenly converging upon single targets in groups of threes but are thinned with attrition. The creatures Dwarf appearance distorted into a gray skinned half dwarf half something else with huge tooth maws. I keep rolling consistent 10 11 and 12 damage on a d12 making the Dopplegangers a terrifying opponent. Several PCs have nearly half their hit point s removed in a single hit but eventually the yare triumphant. However, Norburt is slain with a maximum damage hit by a Doppleganger and his head bitten off in the middle of combat. The end of the battle has the deck of the folding boat covered in Dwarf blood mixed with the black ichor of the Dopplegangers.

    Landing at the Emerald Keep as Geoff has declared his stronghold to be called they rest there and Gremmin returns to the treasury discovered there to attempt to unlock a chest from previous sessions. HE finds a trap and a button to disable to but is still unable to pick the lock. Grumbling that he can return at a higher level to do so later. This is observed by Namman & Redrum from the guard chamber by the vaults. They return to their Strongholds and there is a division of treasure. A PC comes up 6 XP short and it is mentioned that I had said something about incorporating the Funeral Pyre rule from Dragonslayer. They give a lesser version of our Heroic Send Off Rule to the Retainers and Namman and Geoff level up to 4th level as Fighters. Classed retainers who are entombed or given a funeral pyre can have 100GP/level donated by PCs who then have that donation in XP. It is enough to help level them and bring the average of the almost purely multi-classed party to 4th.

    We go over Arcane research on the magical items found in the ruins on the lake. We allow Dwarf to determine value of Gemstones similar to how we are allowing Arcane Research into magical items and it appears they are staying in their strongholds for a month to scribe a few scrolls after leveling. Some items are set up for in between session threads in discord and it is a general discussion for the rest of the session. It does not seem like we get allot done but in all actuality we do. I go over the Domain Rules I set up for those with strongholds and how that generates income. Redrum decides to have a statue of Norburt created and we figure out how much that is going to cost and a general call is sent out for Retainers with Gremmin sending a missive to the Elves at Tanila Glenya's Enclave for a Magic-User retainer. We end the session with a general plan to return to the Dark Lake after resupplying, recruiting and crafting scrolls.

       IT does not have to be an entire session of exploration for a fun session. Game Well, Game Often Y'all and remember. Less Talk more Walk when it comes to gaming