Sleeping Giants Game 7

The heroes defeat a group of skeletons then claim their rewards - several magic items. They then split up; Stratton, Nil & Ford stumble upon Yusdrayl performing funeral rites for several dead kobolds. A massive fight ensues, ending in many more dead kobolds. Jordan, Lyla & Ana make short work of a hobgoblin. The group meets back up in the end, starting a short rest that will not end with them feeling rested...

Intro

Stratton's Admirer

You sit on the cold stone floor of this fortress, catching your breath from the close call with Calcryx. Your adrenaline is still pumping, and your little kobold hands are shaking. You can’t let your group down though, they need your soothing voice to wash over them while they recuperate. But first, you’ve got to calm your own nerves.

You reach into your leather armor and grab hold of that gift given to you all those months ago. Your breathing starts to calm immediately, and your heart slows. You pull it from your vest and crumple it in your hand, as a sort of stress relief toy. You look down, and for a few moments your mind begins to wander, as you recall the story of how you came in possession of this small, deep blue silken handkerchief.

It was about a year ago. The Cirque DeLirium was finishing up its tour through the Sterile Sands, and it was your final night in one of the cities along the way. Together, you and Benedicht the Half-Elf delivered a near-perfect performance of “Short and Tall”, the comedic duet that served as the headliner of the show. The final verse was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. All eyes were on you, and you still cherish that feeling to this day. When you close your eyes, you can still see the smiles in the crowd, and the roses being tossed onto the stage.

It was upwards of an hour before you were able to catch your breath after that. As usual, you attended the after-party where you met some adoring fans and signed dozens of autographs. Every drink was on the house, and all of your hilarious fart jokes were met with the genuine laughter they deserved.

Things were finally settling down and people were trickling out when she approached, seemingly from nowhere. It was rare enough to see a fellow gnome on this side of the mountains, let alone one who was as star-struck as she was attractive. She smiled sheepishly as she approached you, practically averting her gaze behind her eyeglasses. As you took the sight of her in, you realized she was dressed very differently than most others in the city. She wore loose-fitting, almost robe-like clothing, with a deep blue silken scarf resting decoratively on her shoulders.

“Mr. Pipsquanchy?” she said as she approached, stopping a few feet in front of you. “Your performance tonight was spectacular, I was in awe from the moment you set foot on stage.” She takes a deep breath, clearly attempting to calm her nerves in front of you. “I.. don’t do this very often, and I know you are leaving soon, but I was wondering if you would be available for coffee, or breakfast, or lunch, or… well, any kind of food or drink I suppose? I know a great café right down the street from here.” She looks at you wide-eyed and smiling, awaiting your response.

You pause for a few brief moments before responding, “Do you have a name, or can I call you mine?” She blushes visibly before telling you her name is Misha, but that she’d be more than happy for you to call her yours. You ultimately agree to a date the following day, and she looks thrilled. She has to physically stop herself from hugging you right then and there. The two of you make some more small talk, setting up the exact plans before she excuses herself and lets you enjoy the rest of your evening by yourself.

Recap

Recap notes, by Laura

"DAY 3 ~ 4:05am"

• Stratton = still Meepo - freaking out just after Calcryx. I pull my "stress reliever" - small deep blue handkerchief from ~a year ago following show with Benedicht performing "Short & Tall" to standing ovation. At after party, "she" approached - a fellow gnome! Very attractive, with different clothing. Clearly star-struck and attracted to Stratton.
• Stratton: "Do you have a name or can I call you mine?"
• Name: Meesha.
• They agree to meet the next day! For foods... (end flashback)
• Still during short rest. Nil asked for help with her "mehcanical cancary" - I rolled a 1 - disadvantage now on any checks involving knowledge of mechanical birds.
• Back to door open with skeletons inside - Jordan notices and tells the group there are skeletons inside each with a sword at their side. Jordan takes a step inside.
• Nil notices 5 distinct auras on each skeleton. Black aura - necromancy
• There is also a whistle and potion inside - both with auras which nil notices.
• Jordan goes to attack a skeleton, but it blocks it.
• Attack starts:
• Nil casts Mage Hand to grab the whislte.
  • The skeletons notice this and turn to Nil immediately to concentrate their attacks on her.
• Stratton casts Vicious Mockery and gives last Bardic Inspiration for the day to Nil.
  • Mock: "Yo momma's so ugly, clerics try to turn her". 2 damage
  • Inspiration to Nil: "Your hair looks especially nice and shiny today."
• Lyla - Eldritch Blasts and a skeleton's chest for damage
• Ana - Shoots arrow with short bow for 8 damage
• Jordan hits skeleton with shortsword for 8 damage
• Skeleton: Stabs Nil (9 damage), other tries, misses
• Skeleton attacks Jordan for 13 damage
• (PIZZA TIME) ...Attack continues...
• Stratton - shoots arrow, but misses
• Lyla destroys a skeleton (the one I insulted)
• Ana shoots with short bow - does a bunch of damage
• Ford stabs for 9 damage and destroys skeleton
• Jordan moves to sarcophagus - gets stabbed on the way - grabs the whistle - they all turn and look at Jordan who readies with shield
• Nil shoots skeleton with firebolt - 9 fire damage (with help of B.I. die) - explodes
• Stratton hits skeleton with another arrow - 4 damage
• Lyla explodes another skeleton with Eldritch Blast
• Ana punches skeleton in the face - 5 damage
  • Skull spins around, then slumps to the wall
  • Flurry of blows - moves to last skeleton and hits for 5 damage again
• Ford stabs at remaining for 8 damage - kills it!
• Jordan has the whistle
• Nil took the potion (abjuration magic)
• Ford finds 6 peridot jewels in shape of dragons in secret compartment in room
• Nil tastes potion - potion of resistance - fire resistance!
• Jordan notices writing on the whistle
• Stratton reads whistle: "Night Caller" (written in dwarvish)
• Ford inspects candle on altar which he notices also emits magic (evocation magic) - it doesn't emit heat or smoke. He tries to blow it out, but finds it cannot be snuffed and for the candle, it's emitting a lot of light - Ford wraps the candle up to hide the light
• Jordan inspects altar
• Nil investigates room, but rolls a nat 1 - now at disadvantage for searching rooms with altar and/or sarcophagi
• Sarcophagi have carvings of robed elves on them - no additional knowledge found here
• Nil wants to check on the kobolds - Stratton accompanies - so does Ford
• Lyla wants to find the humans
• Ana pulls out needle again - it points west and down
• Ana goes to the door hopefully leading on to the humans
• Jordan waits ~30 seconds before following Ana
• Lyla casts 'augury' - her spirit animal appears - green leopard - Lyla asks what will befall her if she follows the OSIS guys? Leopard - "Weel or woe" I guess. "Dragon won't kill you, but kobolds won't be happy" - She tells Jordan the kobolds won't be happy...
• Jordan thinks OSIS will probably be okay
• He tells Lyla Ana needs more assistance going into the unknown
• OSIS - goes to inspect the kobold situation
• Listens at door, hears nothing, sneaks
  • Nil rolls 22, Stratton 23 for stealth
• Ford notices something down the hallway - a foreign language - Ford relays this to the team.
• Nil sneaks up to listen - hears it, can't make it all out, but it's in Draconic - possibly funeral rites/prayers
• Sneaks up again, closer room
• Nil can understand the voices now - it's definitely funeral rites and for more than 1 being
• Stratton sneaks off ahead - loses balance and falls into hallway - sees the throne room from before (kobold) - sees Usedreal still alive in white robe over several small dead kobolds.
• Usedreal doesn't buy Stratton's pleading and sends the 6 guards after him. Stratton runs.
• Usedreal casts spell on Stratton freezing him, I roll the Wisdom save but Usedreal looks very angry.
• Stratton notices that several of the doors in the throne room are blown up
• Nil casts Minor Illusion with dragon roar, but they don't fall for it
• Ford readies ball bearings to spread them in the intersection
• Stratton sees all the kobolds running for him - 2 go to attack him and both hit - total - 10 points of damage = 16 total
• Usedreal gets covered in a magical/mystical armor
• Stratton disengages to run to the end of the hallway where Nil and Ford are waiting
• Nil fires firebolt for 3 fire damage at Usedreal then hexes Usedreal and runs back up the hallway
• Ford spreads the ball bearings in the hallway intersection
• They go for Stratton again - 2 attack, both miss, but Usedreal pulls a small diamond out of pocket and creates a small fireball - it just hits with a 13 - hits for 11 points of damage (now 5 HP left)
• Stratton disengages again, runs behind Nil - Nil moves back up towards and onto the ball bearings (carefully) and casts Thunderwave.
• Nil casts Thunderwave - 3 of the 5 that chased us failed and take 10 thunder damage. Succeeded 2 take 1/2 = 5 damage and the ones that fail are pushed back 10 feet - they're also dead now. It emits a loud sound (BOOM) audible up to 300 feet (hopefully alerting the rest of the party)
• Ford shoots one and kills it super dead - stuck in wall
• Remaining kobold misses attack on Nil
• Usedreal yells for more guards and then shoots ice at Nil for 9 damage
• Stratton casts Dissonant Whispers to kill the remaining kobold and runs away
• Nil casts telepathy to tell her to give up and then attacks Usedreal with fire damage, she still looks good. Nil runs!
• Ford casts Magic Missile for 10 damage
• Stratton hides in "Meepo Room" and readies bow with special arrow
• Nil and Ford both withdraw and hide with Stratton behind bench in Meepo room.
• (PAUSES HERE)
• Back to Ana, Jordan and Lyla
• Ana has an encounter with a hobgoblin
• Ana rolled nat 20! Now had advantage on fighting hobgoblins - but only one on one
• Jordan and Lyla arrive
• Jordan tries to hit it with war hammer, but misses
• Lyle intimidates it! Causing it to fear and back away back into previous room with caltrops. It treads on a caltrop.
• Ana walks up to frightened hobgoblin, starts carressing it and making calming noises, then sticks her thumb in its eye to finish him off!
• At this point, they hear the loud BOOM!

... ... ... ... ...

• CURRENT TIME: ~4:20 am
• Ford, Nil and Stratton in Skeleton Room and we are joined by Lyla, Jordan and Ana
• We try to short rest, BUT! It will be interrupted! - NOT successful!
• Experience = 150 points each -> 1250 now
• Jordan, Stratton and Ana all get inspiration!
• At this time, NO SPELL SLOTS. NO BARDIC INSPIRATION. 5 HPs
• 2 hobgoblins are going to interrupt
• FORD ALARMS THE DOOR BEFORE SHORT REST