Session 65: Back to the Well

3/17/24-3/19/24, rest 3/20, active 3/21

PC: Gwendolyn, Flynn, Aldric

Hench: Madrof, Mahin, Amadayo, Poe

#ACKS

A bit of a bombshell was dropped in downtime as Zektel of Team B related to the party that Lord Tyring (Patron Paladin) apparently had evidence against that group pointing to their alleged involvement in the December arson in Bellport. A long conversation was had in regards to what actions they may take to mitigate this danger. Ultimately, the players decided on playing Team A for the session in order to keep Team B flexible in case they had to flee the country or something.

Redtoe’s player couldn’t convince anyone to take on any of his offered treasure maps, so the group went back to Ornaron’s Spear, the underwater dungeon off the coast of Bellport. A quick encounter with a couple Hobgholls was their only real challenge before arriving at the great mural with platinum accents. In true adventurer fashion, they destroyed a beautiful piece of artwork in order to pry the platinum accents out of it.

The group continued on through the room that was previously pouring blood rain, this time only experiencing a drizzle. Flynn was curious about the portal but they moved on. Lots of buffs were stacked prior to entering the room where they believed an ochre ooze waited. It did, and was waiting for them due to the “We Will Rock You” that Gwendolyn was chanting for Inspire Courage.

The thing was very tough and immune to most types of damage, huge and slimy and cleaving through summoned manes easily. Once Aldric was able to get some fire on it they realized that was the move and big AC kept them safe while the rest of the party got after it. Unfortunately there was no treasure so they moved on.

The next room had gale force winds blowing debris and sand and grit everywhere, clearly dangerous to anyone who would brave the storm to collect the treasure that had accumulated in the corners and creases. A successful dispel magic from Flynn calmed the storm and they counted up a solid loot score. Sharing the load and leaving a bunch of copper behind, Team A extracted to the boat where Flynn convinced everyone to return to the dungeon and look at the portal or the bottomless snake statue on a previous level by mocking them for having no sense of adventure.

Bullying works. Back into the dungeon and straight to the snake hole, a large coiled serpent of obsidian with a cavity in the center. I frankly had no idea what this was so when the party secured a rope and Flynn started climbing down, I relied on my ever-trusty 2d6 to tell us what was up. I let Flynn roll it in the open and assigned very vague “low bad high good” criteria in my head. He rolled very poorly and the party was chattering a bit about what that might mean. I grabbed one of their ideas and behold, there’s a giant worm at the bottom that tried to snap up Flynn. And did. And killed him in one shot. Gulp.

The rest of the group reeled in the suddenly slack rope and dipped out, convinced by the massive chewing noises and uneasy feeling that this thing wasn’t gonna stay down there that there was no helping ole Flynn the Crusader.

The rest of the session was discussion around the heroic funeral and reserve xp systems in ACKS, which we’ve never used before. I suspect after this session everyone’s gonna have a clear will written up.

Musings:

I didn’t expect them to go back to the dungeon but I’m glad they did since there was a solid score of treasure still there. Sucked for me to know that it was left behind. Flynn’s push to adventure was the right call imo, playing tee-ball is boring. It didn’t work out this time but if it had, he’d be a hero. Either way my man’s gonna get a big ole send off so that his next PC doesn’t have to start at 1st level. I can’t imagine anyone goes back in that place but there’s still a giant worm in a hole and a portal to an unknown location awaiting those of adventurous nature to discover.