C2 E48

Before we explore our options in other locales we need to make sure all our little problems are all tied up here in Rimeford. Suffice it to say that these two weeks have created a few messes here and there and we would be remiss if we didn’t at least try to make them better. We are also not admitting fault at this time. Coincidences happen.

## **Story**

### Long Story

Okay, what's going on around Rimeford? Well, in the mines, there's a family of Hook Horrors hanging out. Selene and Screech were supposed to have dealt with them, but instead they ran away. And with the immanent arrival of the Order, they best be getting to some Hook Horror hijinks. And by that, I mean killing them. T'Chuck, however, doesn't like going down there. The mines, it's been said, are dark, and full of terrors. Or, Horrors. What have you. So, to "grease the pot", or something, they decide to go talk to Granona Flintbeard.

Granona was once a sweet and kindly woman. Nowadays, the gruffness of her voice seems to have made her hardened and grizzly. She's still great, though. T'Chuck tells her that they're going to be traversing into the mines to clear out the Horrors. BUT, he asks, would they be able to expect some kind of monetary compensation? Say, about 15 gold, total? No, wait, not total. Each! 15 gold each! Yeah, that's it! She agrees, pending the approval of her boss, one Mr. Screech Echo.

At that, Beholder-doodle suddenly realizes that he needs to heed the call of nature, so he steps out. And in steps Screech! What a coincidence! Granona asks him to sign off on the payment, and there's a prolonged discussion about who's getting paid what, and how much Beholder-doodle will keep. None, probably. Eventually, Screech does sign off the order, but slyly changes the 60 gold that would be paid out, to 45 gold. That rascally devil...

At that, Screech suddenly realizes that he needs to heed the call of nature, so he steps out. And in steps Beholder-doodle! What a coincidence! Here's the problem though: Everyone's favorite superhero dog can't see in the dark. What to do? He remembers that Lucee had promised to make him a special pair of Theonite goggles that would allow him to see in the dark. That could come in handy, so he asks R'Oarc to send a message to Lucee via Sending Stone. Lucee agrees to hand over the goggles, but R'Oarc must meet them tonight at midnight, behind the stables. Their usual meet-up spot (the graveyard) is a no-go, due to the fact that Wally Bonebraids recently died. R'Oarc neglects to mention that she herself was the one who killed Wally, and instead agrees to meet up tonight. So, no Darkvision Goggles, but Beholder-doodle still needs to see in the mines. What to do? Granona graciously gifts him with a special helmet, affixed with a candle. And with that, she points the party in the direction of the mines, and they away.

They enter the mines. Selene and Screech, having been here before recently, know the way through, so they lead the party down, deeper and deeper. Soon, they come across a crevasse that Beholder-doodle had grappled across before. The rope is still there, but B.D. decides to use a new grappling hook to swing across. Show off. Selene uses a mage hand to pull the rope back, and one by one, everyone makes it across. T'Chuck vomits.

Up ahead, they can hear a strange cawing sound. The stealthiest amongst them (Beholder-doodle) ventures forth to investigate. There are three Hook Horrors, one big, on medium, and one small, all gathered around a table. Laying on the table is a screaming knocker, whom the Horrors are hard at work "tenderizing". Not much to plan for in this one, friends. The party just leaps headfirst into battle. Although, Selene does summon a *Hound of Ill Omen* to help fight, and T'Chuck casts *Emboldening Bond* on everyone. So, it's not like they did NOTHING. I just mean, there's no grand plan. Classic smash and bash.

The fight is long, but short at the same time. Listen, you don't need me to go through every point, beat by beat, do you? That's what the *Rolls* section is for. Essentially, Beholder-doodle kills the smallest Hook Horror, and Selene uses a new spell, *Mind Sliver* to psychically destroy the largest one. As for the one who's juuuuuuust right, Beholder-doodle ends it by flipping over a nearby cauldron, and trapping it inside.

And the Hook Horror threat is no more!

### Short

After convincing Granona Flintbeard to pay them 15 gp each, the party heads into the mines. There, they encounter the three Hook Horrors, and make handy work of them. Or, should I say "hooky" work. Since they have hooks for hands? You get it...

## **Trivia**

* Day 14 of the campaign.
* There are 10 Flintbeard clan Dwarves who work in the mines, and 30 humans. T'Chuck knows some of the minors.
* Granona's voice is different again. It was initially southern and sweet. Then it became a wacky cockney accent. Now, it's kind of like a pirate? I guess?
* Screech claims that for tax purposes, the full 60 gp amount is being paid out, but Beholder-doodle's cut is going to be going back into a subsidiary for R and D purposes.
* R'Oarc had promised Lucee to help move them from the White Spire to the crypts of Rimeford last night, but didn't do that. Maybe that was a good idea, since Wally Bonebraids died lol.
* Selene's Hound is a Direwolf, but medium (instead of large), and a monstrosity (instead of a beast).

## **In This Episode...**

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - T'Chuck
* Jennifer Cheek - Selene von Esper
* Nika Howard - R'Oarc
* Mike Bachmann - Screech Echo / Beholder-doodle (Screech)

### **Non-Player Characters**

* Granona Flintbeard
* Lucee

### **Locations**

* Drunkeros
	+ Whispering Peaks
		- Rimeford
			* The mines

### **Quest Log Updates**

* [On-Hold] - Stop The Cult of Ugnos
	+ [On-Hold] - Investigate Thistledown
* [Active] - Protect the dragon
	+ [Active] - Keep the dragon hidden from the Order
		- [Complete] - ~~Eliminate the Hook Horrors from the tunnels beneath Rimeford~~
* [R'Oarc][Abandoned] - ~~Help Lucee move from the White Spire to the crypts in the graveyard~~
* [R'Oarc][NEW] - Meet with Lucee at midnight behind the stables, to pick up Screech's goggles

### **Quotes**

* **"Gary Gygax said they have no souls!"** ~ *Tim Lanning*
**"We're allowed to show 'em nude!"** ~ *Mike Bachmann*

* **"What if I fall forever, and I die of dehydration?"** ~ *T'Chuck*

* **"It's 'Doodle' time!"** ~ *Jennifer Cheek*

## **Rolls**

* Some of the party members roll *Nature* to see what they know about Hook Horrors
	+ **R'Oarc** - 5
	+ **Screech** - 4
	+ **Selene** - 14
		- They have a low intelligence, and are very fierce.

* **T'Chuck** rolls *Persuasion* to convince Granona to pay them 15 gp each - 16
	+ She agrees, pending Screech's approval

* They all roll *Athletics* to swing across the crevasse
	+ **Beholder-doodle** - Nat 20
		- He does this thing
	+ **T'Chuck** - 21
		- He is nimble as he swings across
	+ **R'Oarc** - 20
		- She swings across "amazingly"
	+ **Selene** - 23
		- Yep, she's there

* They all roll *Stealth* to sneak around the tunnels
	+ **Beholder-doodle** - 18
	+ **T'Chuck** - 20
	+ **Selene** - 19
	+ **R'Oarc** - 22
		- They are all stealthy

*Combat Begins vs 3 Hook Horrors*

* *Initiative*
	+ **Beholder-doodle** - 27
	+ Small Hook Horror
	+ **T'Chuck** - 18
	+ **Selene's Hound** - 17
	+ Medium Hook Horror
	+ **Selene** - 9
	+ **R'Oarc** - 9
	+ Big Hook Horror

*Surprise Round*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Melee Attack vs Small Hook Horror {x2} - 17 + 14, Nat 20
		- Hit, Hit - 14 + 11 damage

* **T'Chuck**
	+ Casts *Bane* on all three Hook Horrors, requiring DC 16 Charisma Saving Throws
		- Big Hook Horror - 2
			* Fail - Is Bane'd
		- Medium Hook Horror - >16
			* Success - Is not Bane'd
		- Small Hook Horror - <16
			* Fail - Is Bane'd

* **Selene's Hound**
	+ Melee Attack (Bite) vs Big Hook Horror - Nat 20
		- Hit - 11 Piercing damage, also requires a DC 13 Strength Saving Throw - <13
			* Fail - It is knocked prone

* **Selene**
	+ Casts *Mind Sliver* on Big Hook Horror, requiring an Intelligence Saving Throw - 8
		- Fail - 8 Psychic damage
	+ Uses a Bonus Action to *Telekinetic Shove* the Big Hook Horror, requiring a Strength Saving Throw - Low
		- Fail - It is shoved from behind into the fire

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Melee Attack (Rapier) vs Medium Hook Horror - 23, 14
		- Hit, Miss - 4 damage

*Round One*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Melee Attack vs Small Hook Horror {x2} - 14, 20
		- Miss, Hit - 16 damage (to balls)

* **Small Hook Horror**
	+ Melee Attack (Hook) vs Beholder-doodle {x2} - 16, 14
		- Hit, Hit - 22 Piercing damage

* **T'Chuck**
	+ Casts *Guiding Bolt* on Small Hook Horror - 1
		- Miss
	+ Uses the Help Action to Help the next person to attack the Small Hook Horror

* **Selene's Hound**
	+ Melee Attack (Bite) vs Big Hook Horror - 23
		- Hit - 9 Piercing damage

* **Medium Hook Horror**
	+ Melee Attack vs R'Oarc {x2} - 12, 24
		- Miss, Hit - 11 Piercing damage

* **Selene**
	+ Casts *Fire Bolt* on Big Hook Horror - Nat 1
		- Miss
	+ Uses a Bonus Action to *Telekinetic Shove* the Medium Hook Horror, requiring a Strength Saving Throw - 18
		- Success - Not shoved

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Casts *Healing Word* on Beholder-doodle, healing him for - 11 HP (Bachmann rolls)
	+ Melee Attack (Rapier) vs Medium Hook Horror - 3
		- Miss

* **Big Hook Horror**
	+ Hops out of the cauldron, spilling hot Knocker broth onto the floor

*Round Two*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Melee Attack vs Small Hook Horror - 19
		- Hit - 16 damage - *Kills It*
	+ Melee Attack vs Big Hook Horror - 15
		- Hit - 8 damage

* **Selene's Hound**
	+ Melee Attack vs Big Hook Horror - 22
		- Hit - 9 Piercing damage

* **Medium Hook Horror**
	+ Melee Attack (Hook) vs T'Chuck - 24
		- Hit - 11 Piercing damage
	+ Melee Attack (Hook) vs R'Oarc - 12
		- Miss

* **Selene**
	+ Casts *Mind Sliver* on Big Hook Horror, requiring an Intelligence Saving Throw - 6
		- Fail - 9 Psychic damage - *Kills It*
	+ Uses a Bonus Action to *Telekinetic Shove* the Medium Hook Horror, requiring a Strength Saving Throw - Low
		- Fail - It is shoved into the cauldron

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Melee Attack (Rapier) vs Medium Hook Horror - 19
		- Hit - 4 damage

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Shoves the cauldron over to cover the last Hook Horror, killing it!