Session 8: The Sundering of the Bros

 

The Bros are all trained up and newly buffed up with additional bro-cenary troops under Brogallo's command. A roll on the rumor table comes up with a 7, so the Bros are heading back to the Ruined Monastery to see what compelled the Oni to invade the territory and devastate Gunnolfsfell. They decide to forgo the road and cut through hex 301.300 (containing the Shrine of Lethria) to reach hex 302.301 (containing the Ruined Monastery). Random encounters both come up positive, which means we'll be rolling on the temperate wilderness tables on DMG pg 184 to see what they discover. Note even though the Cold Wastes are a northern tundra environment, I'm using the real world calendar as the campaign calendar. Since it's July and a balmy 92 degrees Farenheit here in Boston, MA it seems kinda silly to roll on the subarctic table.

Hex 301.300 is mountainous and comes up with an 11 which means Dragon and a potential world of excrement falling down on the Bros. A further roll on the Dragon Table (pg 185) gives us two 7HD (35hp, 35hp) adult average size White Dragons (per rolls on AD&D MM pg 29 and 34). They're not in their lair (31% and need a 20%), so I say they're a mated pair of dragons hunting for some food. They can speak (18%) but aren't spell casters (71%).

Hex 302.301 is forested hills and comes up with an Ogre. Given previous events, I'm ruling this is the Oni Chief and his remaining clan members who have been lurking in the area, nursing their wounds, and waiting for the chance to enact their revenge. I decide they've been quietly stocking the party invisibly waiting for their chance to kill the human weaklings and retrieve their treasure maps.

We'll resolve the dragon encounter first to see if The Bros survive to face the Oni and the Ruined Monastery.

Neither party is surprised (Party 6, Dragons 5) and the party loses initiative (4 to 3). A reaction check comes back at 53% (Neutral - uninterested - uncertain). I decide the Dragons are going to attack since I've already established they're hungry and looking for a snack. Encounter distance is 11" - well within combat range.

Round 1 actions:

Blastikus: Use Potion of Evil Dragon Control (seriously how awesome are random rolls?? It's not like I planned this encounter!)

Brogallo: Attempts to rally bro-cenaries and flee, seeing nothing but death if he remains 

Brother Fitzy: Casts Resist Cold

Brother Sully: Casts Resist Cold 

Kleptikos: Turns and runs, not willing to become a dragon snack

Mighty Redneck: Attacks with long sword

Round 1 (Party 3; Dragon 4):

The terrifying beasts of Chaos Manifest are imbued with an alien aura of utter wrongness, anathema to the natural order of the world and apex predators unchallenged by the mortal beings of this realm. The bro-cenaries fail their saving throws (with pathetic roll of 2) and are rooted to the spot in abject fear at the dread majesty of the ancient enemy. The Bros are all 6th level so are sturdy enough to shake off the effects of the dragons' horrific nature.

Dragon 1: Breathes on the party (80% roll per AD&D MM pg 30) for 35hp of damage

Blastikus: Makes save vs BW and takes 18hp leaving him at a frosty 1hp

Brogallo: Fails save and goes to 6hp

Brother Fitzy: Fails save and goes to 2hp

Brother Sully: Fails save and goes to 5hp

Kleptikos: Makes save vs BW and takes 18hp leaving him at 12hp

Mighty Redneck: Fails save and goes to 5hp

Dragon 2: Attacks Brother Fitzy and hits with 2 claws for 6hp, killing him...decisively!

Blastikus: Drinks the Potion of Evil Dragon Control; Dragon 1 fails the save but Dragon 2 makes it (with a natural 20 no less)

Brogallo: Reaction roll of 74% with a successful followup rallies the troops and they all flee

Brother Fitzy: DEAD

Brother Sully: Loses spell

Kleptikos: FLED 

Mighty Redneck: Misses

Round 2 actions:

Blastikus: Tells Dragon 1 to convince Dragon 2 that the party is their friend and they should stop trying to eat The Bros (let's see what reaction rolls determine...)

Brother Sully: Casts Cure Light Wounds on himself

Mighty Redneck: Attacks Dragon 2 with long sword since he doesn't know what Blastikus had planned

Dragon 1: Attacks Brother Sully

Dragon 2: Attacks Redneck

Round 2 (Party 5; Dragon 4):

Blastikus: Gets an adjusted reaction roll of 75% with a successful follow up so Dragon 1 reacts positively and convinces his mate to stop attacking

Brother Sully: CLW heals him for 4hp

Mighty Redneck: Misses

Dragon 1: Stops attack due to Potion of Dragon Control

Dragon 2: Stops attack due to mate's influence

Noting the disappearance of Brogallo and Kleptikos for future retaliation, Blastikus attempts to get some information from the dragons before sending them on their way.

"O great ones, we are overwhelmed by your mercy! What great beings of power you are!"

Never one to shy away from recognition of his obvious draconic superiority, the male says "Zenabarithon is pleased by your fear and recognition of the proper order of the Cosmos, fleshling. My mate and I are hungry, though, and you do look rather delicious..."

"We are unfit for the refined palate of Your Greatnesses. Surely, a multitude of plump villagers in the lakeside villages to the southeast would do more to satisfy your ravenous hungers?"

Horrified, Redneck shouts "You miserable bastard! How dare you..."

Brother Sully rapidly smacks Redneck across his mouth "Be silent, you oaf! Our fate hangs by a thread!"

The party is brought to their knees by the thunderous laughter of both dragons.

"Let us leave these primates to their own devices, my queen. These fools will do our work for us - ha! They are but a morsel best left to rot. Let us indulge ourselves in some waterside dining", Zenabarithon says as they both take to the air.

"I like you, fleshling. Make sure the Oni in the woods don't make you their meal, instead. They've been following you for miles and are waiting in Kenarath's Monastery, you know", Zenabarithon tells the survivors as he wheels away into the sky with his mate.

"Hmmm", Blastikus thinks to himself, "I didn't know that was the monastery's name. I'll have to look into that later...and into Zenabarithon as well."

Turning to address his companions, Blastikus is surprised to see that only Brother Sully remains. "What happened to the oaf?"

Brother Sully stares at Blastikus with jaded eyes before saying, "You must be joking or insane - what do you think happened? You sacrificed hundreds of peasants to save our hides. His sanctimonious personality can't abide that! We're lucky he's too battered to slit our throats here and now. He's going to be a problem later."

"For me or you?", Blastikus says in a low voice.

"Both. I'm going to have troubles of my own for daring to raise my hand against the literal manifestation of Chaos Made Flesh without worrying about your homicidal urges. Why don't you stow the murderous attitude for now, eh? We've done well together and I don't see the need to  disrupt a profitable venture with petty betrayals", Sully says while subtly changing his stance in anticipation of violence.

Blastikus sighs wearily before responding, "Agreed. I think Valthrun might be an unwise destination given our current...complications. Let's round up the horses, bury your brother and leave for Old Brightwood - it's quieted down by now. He'll expect us to go to Fort Rackham since you've got friends there and might poke around Tallow Watch while he's there. We need time to regroup and find some reasonable traveling companions. I'll send word to my idiot servants in Eilifsdalsa to let them know."

"Might as well. Pity about Fitzy, though. He wasn't a bad sort - I was starting to grow fond of him."