Marsh to the Beat of Your Own Drum

25th August 2023

## Adventurers Attending

* Hilda Millgrove
* Narla
* Sven
* Fizz
* Kandy

## Mission Notes

Hilda, Narla, Sven, Fizz and Kandy were hanging out in the guildhall when Beefington called them into the office for a briefing on a job. Beefington explained there were complaints of excessive drumming noises somewhere in the Black Swamp and guild members were to investigate the source of the drumming and eliminate it. He pointed out the approximate location on a map and the party set off to the swamps.

Hamer dropped everyone off at the marshlands and the party continued on foot towards the swamplands. Fizz made a drum with the help of Narla and played it, while Hilda joined in with her lute, in an attempt to attract the drummers, but no one came forward. Moving further into the swamp, Sven and Narla noticed there was a giant green belly jutting out from behind a tree. Being cautious, Sven activated his wand of enemy detection and determined the creature was not hostile. When the group moved closer, two trolls, Barnabus and Gossamer, came out from behind the trees and proclaimed that the party must answer their riddles three (each) to gain passage. Though the party failed to answer two of the six riddles correctly, the trolls did not seem to mind and even made a note to come up with harder riddles for Hilda.

Journeying further into the swamps, Narla and Sven spotted vegetation that was native to the underdark and dubious ooze on the trees. Narla noticed the growth pattern of the vegetation and led the party to a cave mouth. Sven and Fizz led the party by stealthing and scouting ahead. They came upon a cavern where they saw three serpentine monstrosities resting with drums lying about. Sven attempted to sneak past the yuan-ti pit master and grab one of the drums but was unsuccessful. In draconic, the pit master scorned Narla, Fizz and Sven for debasing themselves by allying themselves with other members of the party - looking pointedly at Hilda and Kandy, alluding to their non-monstrous lineage. After some struggle, the party defeated the pit master along with the two yuan-ti broodguards.

After a short rest, which involved Sven and Fizz harvesting and eating parts of the yuan-ti while Kandy took one of their heads, the party came upon another cave chamber after going through a long tunnel. In this huge chamber, there were drums scattered about, a crudely made altar in the northern part of the room and a set of double doors behind it. Present in the cavern as well were a giant monstrosity and another yuan-ti. Sven cast invisibility on himself to sneak past the giant while Fizz attempted to talk to it. An ettin ceremorph, the giant spoke to Fizz with telepathy. It told Fizz that she would not benefit from the drumming but asked if Fizz wanted more. At that point, it had noticed Sven and started attacking the group. After a tough fight, the group successfully defeated the ettin ceremorph and the yuan-ti malison. Hilda noticed the yuan-ti’s scimitar emanated a magical energy and took the blade.

The party investigated the cavern and discerned that the doors were protected by a magical ward that the group were presently unable to dispel. The group made note of it, gathered the drums and burned all but two. The group gave a drum to Barnabus and Gossamer and promised to visit. Without Hamer - Narla, Sven and Fizz went to visit Fort Adaar while Hilda and Kandy walked back to Otha’s Rest.

## Loot

* Standard Level Gold and Experience
* Sword of Vengeance

## Rumours

* What were the drums for and how were the yuan-tis (Wardens of the Oubliette) involved?
* What is the connection between the Wardens and the ceremorphs/ ilithids?
* Where do the doors lead to?

## Player Diaries

### **Hilda Millgrove**

Being told to investigate a strange drumming noise coming from the black swamp, Hilda Kandy Narla and two new faces headed there to investigate. On the way there they encountered some trolls that requested they answered riddles in order to pass through them. They seemed playful enough and after answering most of the riddles, the group were allowed passage. The party arrived at their destination, a large cave. During exploring it they found some weird snake creatures who were sleeping and guarding some drums. They attacked the group but they were quickly dealt with, and the party continued to explore the cave looking for more drums or clues. They arrived in a bigger area of the cave where a large creature with tentacles and tusks stood with another snake-like creature around some drums and also a portal to who knows where. Another fight took place and the group was victorious again, Hilda swiped a magical scimitar that, when back at her apartment, whispered in the back of her head thoughts of violence and murder, making her wonder if the creature that attacked her gave into these whisperings.

### **Kandy**

I saw Big Beef for the first time today and he was a bit weird. He wanted us to find some Drums in a Swamp. So off our Team went. On the way there we came across 2 Troll that needed riddles to be answered to let us cross. I used my expert powers of persuasion to get atleast one of the answers for free . But they were a good pair ;). We got to a cave which was full of Underdark fun~gusz and i dared Fizz to eat some, just to see what would happen but Narla wasn't happy about this. We found some snake things and i telported past the small ones to pull on Svens tail to wake him up as he was sleeping on the job. After the snake "Boi"s were killed i carefully removed a head and watched as Fizz and Sven kind of like devoured the rest. The next fight was a big thing that i just stayed away from. I hid behind an imagionary Box . After it was killed we burn all the Drums but one and headed back to Base.