Deadly Dungeon: Episode 16

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==Session 16: The Court of the Raven King (11th Party - Floor 9)==
=== Characters ===
* Indie Ford - Arcane Trixster Rogue 5, Bard 1
* Horde 'Farrison the Mad' - Way of Shadow Monk 6
* Deckard Harrison - Champion Fighter 6
* Han Solo - Artificer Artillerist 4, Fathomless Warlock 2
===Episode Synopsis ===
At first there is darkness, pure and absolute, and slowly a trio of shapes come into partial view, dim and smoky. The first seems to bulge with muscle, his shirtless arms curled down to hold a belt across his waist. The second, taller and lankier, wears a fedora and some sort of gloves, their tips ending in long metal blades. The third seems plain by comparison, his silhouette that of a regular man, but for the axe he wields, shining in its own unnatural light, and the devious wicked smile across his face.They step forward, converging upon a large cauldron that materializes in the darkness, and their features become more clear.Rocky, the Titan of Strength Freddy, the Titan of Nightmares Jack, the Titan of GreedAs they gaze into the fire, they dance hauntingly and begin to chant some unholy song, and a familiar face comes into view in the cauldron. Old, worn, but friendly - Harrison himself. Then the image changes, bubbling and morphing, and we see an aged Harrison, bearded and ragged, standing atop a waterfall. HE JUMPS, and the image changes....that same face, but now in a suit, punching a shadowfaced goon in the face. He grabs the thug, and THROWS THEM FROM THE PLANE, and the image changes...to a young face, wearing the drab olive of a military uniform, as a white square of light opens in the darkness of the cargoroom, revealing a thick lush jungle canopy below, AND HE FALLS, a star-spangled parachute opening as he drifts down... And then a flash of light as all three Harrisons appear in the darkness, but this time in one form, one changing, warbling, disharmonious being, that stutters and sputters as it struggles to hold its own cohesion. In front of it, a man comes into view, illuminated only at his thick glasses, which he lowers to reveal the eyes of Lucas."I see you are struggling, dear friend...perhaps I can offer you a way to stabilize, to return to your true forms and place? A...Remastering, of sorts?" he says, an invisible smile forming across the patron's face."I accept," the Horde says, as it now refers to itself, and then there is darkness once again....The party spawns into the dungeon in a room with 4 bookcases, two chairs and tables, and a double door to the south. There are four sconces on the walls emitting light, with no heat. Four characters stand in front of each other, all with the same face, and start speaking to each other. Horde gives Deckard a shield, and Han gives Indie a magical whip. Indie attunes to it while Deckard and Horde look through the bookshelves, finding nothing of value. Horde shifts into a character with a grey beard who looks for his wife's killer. Han activates his Protector Cannon to give the entire party Temporary HP. The party gathers by the door and moves through. 
They find themselves in a room with two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and four statues of ravens with their wings folded in. There are two staircases, one leading down and one leading up, as well as four doors leading to the east and west. There is also a large door to the south. The Raven King enters from that door, wearing chain mail with a hand crossbow and a whip at his sides. He beckons them forward, and tells them that his advisors have grown treasonous, and it's time to clean house. He tasks them to eliminate four of his followers, so that he may consolidate his rule. There are six locations that hold his followers; The Armory, The Battlements, The Firing Range, The Red Lodge, The Nursery, and The Kitchen. He tells them they may choose who they defeat, but when they are finished to come to his throne room for their reward. The party decides to go to the Kitchen first, and moves to the door.
On the other side, they find a massive kitchen, sized for a giant. There are many tables, cupboards, food, wine, and a large pizza oven. There is also a giant named Gorbus dressed like a chef, who immediately attacks the party. Han starts the fight by blasting Gorbus with Eldritch Blast and pushes him back away from the party. Indy hits him with a shot from his Shortbow, and then Gorbus animates numerous kitchen implements to attack the party. A kitchen knife stabs Indy as Gorbus throws a cleaver and smashes him. Horde moves under a table and Shadowsteps to the shadows of a different table, and then slashes Gorbus with his sword. Deckard misses his attacks as Han blasts Gorbus and pushes him back again. Gorbus directs the implements to attack Deckard, missing, and then grabs a pot off the stove. Deckard kills a Kitchen Cleaver as Han hits and pushes Gorbus back. Indie slashes a Kettle with his whip and drops it, then hides under a table. Gorbus moves up to Deckard, and as soon as Horde moves closer he spills the pot over Deckard and Horde, burning them both. Deckard stabs Gorbus twice and moves out of the stew, while Han pushes him back again. Indy hits Gorbus with a Shocking Grasp, and Gorbus calls forth two Yeast Elementals (Whetley and Clint Yeastwood) from a pot. Gorbus grabs another pot and flings it on Deckard, burning him and causing him to slip to the ground. Horde moves in and drops Gorbus, causing the pots and pans to drop to the floor. Deckard throws a Javelin and hits Wheatley as Han blasts it towards Indie. Wheatley regains health by consuming its own sugar as it and Clint Yeastwood miss their attacks against Indie. Indie hits Whetley with an arrow as Horde hits it with his sword, and the sword gets stuck in the Elemental. Deckard stabs Clint Yeastwood as Han lines up to attack the Elementals as they move in front of the oven. Wheatley moves forward and gets pushed into the oven, dealing fire damage. The Elementals close to Deckard as Indie smashes an oil flask on the ground by Wheatley. Horde shadowsteps over to Wheatley and lights Wheatley on fire with his tinderbox. Deckard stabs Clint Yeastwood, and then Han blasts it back into the oven. Clint Yeastwood tries to slam Horde and misses, and Horde smashes it with his fists. Deckard critically stabs the Elemental, grabs a torch to light in the oil fire, and burns Clint Yeastwood. With the Elementals and Gorbus destroyed, the party moves around the room and inspects it. Indie opens a treasure chest, finding a Potion of Healing, and grabs a jar of salt. Han gets the pizza and a bottle of wine, and shares it with the party. Deckard grabs a bottle of scotch, and also drinks a Potion of Healing. Indie puts the Potion of Healing in a recycling chest, and gets back a Potion of Heroism. The party gathers by the door and moves back through.
The party then moves back to the main hall, and finds that one of the raven statues has spread it's wings out. The party gathers by the door to the Armory, and moves through. They find a room with two candleabras giving off light, a large crystal, numerous racks of weapons all over the place, two treasure chests, a recycling chest, and a spectral wraith with weapons and armor named Brodder. The party immediately moves into combat as Han blasts Brodder and moves him back. Brodder uses the energy from the wound to call three Sword Wraith Warriors into the battle, who appear and move into battle. Horde shadowsteps over to hit Brodder and then runs back. A Sword Wraith Warrior critically slashes Horde as Deckard critically stabs him. The next Sword Wraith Warrior steps in range of Deckard, who critically stabs him, and then lands a hit on Deckard. Indie slashes a Warrior with his whip as Han blasts it back. The third Warrior shoots at Deckard and misses, and then Brodder steps up and slashes Deckard three times leaving him bloodied. Horde steps up and smashes Brodder with his fist. A Warrior steps up and grabs a Potion out of a treasure chest. Deckard critically stabs Brodder as a Warrior steps up and slashes Deckard. Indie casts Healing Word on Deckard and slashes a Warrior with his whip, killing it. Han steps up and reactivates his Protector Cannon, and then blasts Brodder away. Brodder steps up and slashes Deckard, and then Horde punches Brodder with Stunning Strike, paralyzing him. A Warrior drinks his potion (Potion of Speed) and is Hasted. Deckard stabs Brodder as Han casts Hex on Brodder and blasts him back. Horde punches a Warrior and moves away. As the Warrior moves up, Deckard stabs him and kills him. Deckard moves up and stabs Brodder twice as Indie slashes him with his whip. Han blasts Brodder back, and the Brodder rushes up to Horde and drops him with three slashes of his sword. Horde unbelievably stands right back up and punches Brodder three times. Indie stabs Brodder through with his Rapier, and then dashes forward to the last Warrior. Han blasts the Warrior, who moves away from Indie and gets stabbed, but shoots a desperate arrow at Horde. Horde catches the arrow in midflight, and then shadowsteps over to the Warrior and punches him. Deckard moves and stabs the Warrior, and then Indie critically slashes the Warrior, dropping him and ending the fight. Indie checks the treasure chest, finds a Scroll of Burning Hands, and then uses the recycling chest to find a Pearl of Power, which he uses. Deckard and Horde both drink Potions of Healing. Deckard grabs an extra Javelin, and everyone moves to the door and heads through. 
The party finds themselves back in the main hall, where another Raven statue has spread it's wings. The party moves up to the door for The Red Lodge as Horde drinks another Potion of Healing. The party moves through the door, finding a small clearing in a forest with pile of oil in the center. The party prepares for a trap, and after a minute an ethereal giant appears and tells the party that only the sadistic may pass; only those willing to suffer. The party decides not to face the challenge, and moves back through the door. They gather by the Nursery stairs, move down, and move through the door. The party finds themselves in a room with a large pillar in the center, and there are mushrooms and fungus everywhere. A strange creature appears, named Agara, who has no face and starts to threaten them. The party casts Light on Deckard and Han, and Agara moves hostily to engage. As Deckard moves forward, the air becomes heavy and thick, and Deckard gains a stack. Deckard moves up and stabs Agara, which causes a spore to create a Myconid next to Deckard. Deckard stabs the Myconid as Han creates a spectral tentacle to smack the Myconid and blasts back Agara. Horde shadowsteps over to Agara and punches it with Stunning Strike, paralyzing her. Indie moves up and uses Shocking Grasp to shock Agara. The Myconid tries to pacify Deckard, who overcomes the spores and kills the Myconid. Han moves his Hex onto Agara and blasts her twice. Horde moves up and punches Agara, stunning her again. Indie slashes Agara with his Whip, spawning another Myconid, and then Deckard moves up to stab the Myconid. The spores start affecting Han and he is poisoned, as he moves up the tentacle to hit Agara and blasts her twice, killing her. Horde steps up to the Myconid and kills it, then the party rushes for the door. As the party gathers by the door and concentrates on it, the spores start heavily affecting the party. Deckard, Indie, and Han move through, but Horde takes too many spores, and goes unconscious. Deckard immediately goes to move back through the door after him.
Deckard finds Horde unconscious and barely breathing. Deckard picks him up and touches the door. Deckard holds onto Horde and moves through the door, entering a white void. There is no definition to the room. Deckard is greated by a strange woman wearing huge earring that look like the moon, and wearing a simple purple dress. She is holding a leather book and a fountain pen. She greats Deckard, and informs him that she is an author, and is very intrigued with his story. She tells him that she has the power to allow them to advance, even though she feels it was not earned. She tells Deckard that he must offer her something in exchange for bringing Horde back.
Deckard asks the Author "Where are we?". She responds "On a blank canvas; we are brainstorming". Deckard asks "What is the purpose of the brainstorming? What are we brainstorming for?" She responds "There is a balance of karma; Horde didn't make it through of his own accord, and if any of you can offer me something, he can make it back through your sacrifice". Suddenly, Han and Indie appear. Han offers some of his luck, and Horde is awakened and offers some of his abilities. Han asks "What is it you value? What do you seek?". She responds "I seek to understand you story; your strengths, how you perfom under great pressure". Indie offers his Bardic spellcasting abilities. The Author ponders this, and tells them that if Horde gives up his Ki and one other member sacrifices a part of themself, then they can continue. Deckard steps forward, offering up some of his vitality, but tells the Author that he wants a real answer to his question. He asks "What are you really trying to prepare for?". The Author responds "I am trying to understand the mind of warriors; those who are able to defeat insurmountable odds, and how you do it. Myself, and others around me, need to understand how to do this". Deckard asks "What insurmountable task lies before you?". The Author responds "There is a great beast that plagues my land, a land I have recently made my home. That beast must be dealt with, and the leaders of my land cannot abide by it any longer". She touches Horde, taking all his remaining Ki points, and touches Deckard, taking his Relentless Endurance. She wishes them luck, and the party finds themselves back in the main hall with another Raven statue with spread wings. The party moves to the staircase for the Battlements, as Han casts Cure Wounds twice on Deckard. Deckard drinks his Potion of Heroism, giving him 10 temporary hit points and the effect of the Bless spell for an hour. The party then moves up the staircase and through the next door.
The party finds themselves on a snowy battlement, with a brazier in the center and a treasure chest to the north. The area around them is freezing cold. The party sees two flying creatures, named Frim and Frow. The party immediately moves into combat, as Indie hits Frim with an arrow. Frim moves towards the party and Dodges. Horde grabs a Potion of Invunerability from the chest, and moves back to the party. Han moves Hex to Frow and blasts it, knocking it back. Frow moves up to Han and slashes him with his Longsword, and then Han luckily dodges a claw attack. Deckard drops a rope and grappling hook by Indie, who unsuccessfully tries to grab Frow with it. Frim recklessly dives in and slashes Horde twice. Frim flies away and takes a critical hit from both Horde and Indie. Horde hits Frim with two Darts as Han blasts Frim, knocking him away. Frow moves in, taking a hit from Deckard, and grapples Han, pulling him into the air. Deckard steps forward and grabs ahold of Frow, holding him in place and drags him backwards. Deckard then drops his Pike, grabs his spear, and stabs Frow. Frim recklessly slashes at Horde with his sword, and then takes a hit from both Horde and Indie as it flies away. Han, while grappled by Frow, blasts Frim and knocks him back. Frow recklessly attacks Han, hitting him once. Deckard stabs Frow twice and Indie slashes it with his Whip, and Frow goes down. Frim dives in and tries to slash Horde, but misses and takes a stab from Deckard. Horde punches Frim and kills him. The party moves back to the door and moves through. 
The party finds themselves in the main hall, with all four Raven statues with spread wings. The party immediately moves to the southern door. Han casts Cure Wounds on Horde, and Indie casts Cure Wounds on Horde and Deckard. Deckard drinks the Potion of Invulnerability right before the party moves through the door. They find themselves in the throne room of the Raven King, with 6 Raven statues, 4 braziers, and a throne with the Raven King sitting on it. There is stained glass windows above the room. The Raven King motions them forward, and then accuses them of betrayal, and a fight starts. Bursting through the windows above are 8 Murders of Ravens. The Raven King casts Slow, hitting all of the party, and then moves back to a corner of the room. Indie slashes and misses the Raven King, and Deckard steps up and critically stabs the Raven King and breaks his concentration on Slow. The Murders of Crows move in and peck at both Horde and Indie. Horde punches two Murders of Crows and climbs the statue above the Raven King. Han uses Hex on the Raven King and blasts him twice. The Raven King moves away from Horde, taking a punch, and then whips Horde twice. The Raven King then commands a Murder to peck at Han, missing. Deckard uses Action Surge, stabbing the Raven King three times and causing him to cast Shield to avoid a fourth hit. The Murders of Crows peck at Indie, Han, and Horde, and Horde is killed by repeated attacks. Han summons a spectral tentacle to smack the Raven King, and misses his shots. The Raven King slashes Indie once and Deckard moves in, dropping his Pike and pulling out his Spear. The Murders peck at Han, Indie, and Deckard, causing significant damage and knocking Han unconscious. The Raven King slashes Indie once and commands a Raven to peck him. Indie uses a Bardic Inspiration dice to inspire Deckard, and then casts Magic Missile to damage The Raven King. Deckard strikes at The Raven King, who moves a Murder of Crows in the way that Deckard puts down. Deckard then stabs The Raven King with his Spear and smashes him with the butt end, bringing him low. The Murders peck Indie and knock him unconscious. The Raven King slashes Indie once, as Deckard stabs a redirected crow. Deckard misses his next two attacks. The Murders kill Indie as Han stabilizes on the ground. The Raven King slashes Deckard twice, and directs a crow to peck him, bringing Deckard to 1 HP. Deckard waits for the right moment, and critically stabs The Raven King through the neck, killing him. The Murders of Crows fly out through the broken windows, and Deckard takes a seat next to Han, resting. 
Eventually, the room starts to fade from view. Deckard picks up Han and moves to the door in the back of the room, going through. There is a set of stairs, and Deckard moves up them, traveling for what feels like hours. All time based effects active will fade. There comes a light, and Deckard exits the stairs, finding a room with a small ledge that leads out to a circular disc over a great chasm. It seems to be floating in place. There is a strange fog that blocks vision, with only a few rays of light shining through. On the other side is a platform with a door, and next to it is a lever, that Deckard cannot pull. Deckard sits on the edge of the ledge, looking into the chasm, and drinks a glass of scotch as the room fades out to white. As the room fades out, Deckard says "I hope you found what you are looking for". Right before Deckard loses consciousness, he hears the voice of The Author, saying "Thank you"........... 
=== Death Synopsis ===
* Horde dies to a Murder of Crows
* Indie dies to a Murder of Crows
* Han survives the dungeon, unconscious
* Deckard survives the dungeon with one HP remaining
=== Post Mortem Recap ===
* The group happily goes to sleep after an almost 8 hour session
* Deckard crit 10 times over the course of the session for a total of 280 damage (before reduction against enemies with resistance to magical weapons). No damage was rolled on the last crit.
* 
Category:Deadly Dungeon Episodes