Temple of Elemental Evil Session 8

DM Notes:  Well as we approach the release of the 5th Edition Players Handbook new people keep showing up.  With 4 more new people we had some large groups (only 2 DMs so both tables had around 10 people).  I did not want to turn anyone away so I ran the bigger group and I hope next time we can get another DM to start a new table.  Also our store received the new Encounter's packets.  Looking though it I was impressed by the folios that were included and have my DM folio sitting on my desk right now.  I am glad that Wizards sees it needs more people to step up for DM work and the DM packet contained some great bonuses if we ever get to play and not run a game.  One of the new players wanted to make his own character so I let him make it and join in when it was done.

Group:

Chris - Oeridian Druid, Merc from Furyondy

Marshmallow - Warforged Paladin of St. Cuthbeth, Protector of Gran March

Peep Marsh - Oeridian Rogue, Spy for the Gran March

Who Hootsalot = Sylvan Druid, Guide from the Gran March

Kurana - Dragonborn Cleric

Anderron - Dwarf Cleric of Mordin looking to help the Church of St. Cuthbeth in Hommlet to push back the evil

Ardeshir Roshani - Apprentice to the Circle of Eight Mordenkainen.  Looking to gain more magical power.

Heyiamnot - Dwarf Mage, Former Priest

3 new people came.  All 3 new to D&D (or had been years since they had played)

Wizard 1 - Looking for Bandits

PreGen Wizard - Wanting treasure

PreGen Fighter - Friend of PreGen Wizard, Looking for treasure

After a big fight upstairs the group went downstairs and down the hidden ladder to the crypt.  From there they slowly moved though the winding passages and started to hear what sounded like a Dragon breathing (failed listen checks and they could feel wind blowing against them in a rhythmic pattern).  The party came to a T intersection and 5 went south while the others headed north.

SOUTH PARTY:

Who, PreGen Wizard, PreGen Fighter, Chris, Wizard 1

They followed the smell of water and ended up in a room with a natural spring in it.  They also noticed some treasure around the pool of water and decided to go for it.  The PreGen Fighter walked up and reached down to grab what looked like a scroll tube and failed, causing him to fall face first into the water.

This woke up a Huge Crayfish in the water and the Crayfish went to attack the Fighter.  With a mighty snap of one of his claws the fighter was taken down to 2 hp.  Next the wizard ran over and tied up a rope and tossed it into the water so the Fighter could climb out.  Chris ran straight for the Crayfish and slipped on some rocks.  He fell into the water and was also prone next to the Crayfish.  Who took out her bow and launched an arrow straight at the Crayfish.  The arrow was true and it pierced the Crayfish's eye sending ichor everywhere (max damage on the dice).  The fighter tried to climb up the rope but failed twice (needed anything but and 1 and rolled 1 twice on a d20).  Chris tried to stand up but failed but he did heal up the fighter.  The Crayfish attacked again and missed Chris but hit the fighter again taking him down to 1 hp.  The wizard tossed some magic missiles at the Crayfish blooding him and hurting him badly.

Wizard 1 was hearing the noise and quickly ran down the hall and saw the Giant Crayfish.  He also launched a volley of Magic Missiles killing the Crayfish which sank into the depths of the pool.  The group finally got the fighter out of the watered and patched up and also got Chris out of the water.  The group tried to get some of the money but kept knocking it into the pool (it was too slippery).  They heard some fighting north of them so they ran north looking to see what was happening, passing Heyiamnot who was running away in fear.  The wizard did make one last grab and caught hold of a scroll tube before it felling into the water.  In the tube was a scroll with 3 spells.  This will be useful soon I think…

NORTH PARTY

Marshmallow, Peep, Kurana, Anderron, Ardeshir, Heyiamnot

This party found a side passage and a door.  They quickly figured out that there was no lock on the door and opened it.  Anderron ran into the room and saw it was full of 17 gnolls, he quickly turned tail and ran even after they asked him a question.  Heyiamnot heard the question and they were asking who they were and what they were doing.  Heyiamnot responded to them and the leader of the Gnolls came forward and they talked about who they were and that they were not happy with the leader of the moathouse.  For the price of 180 gold they would be willing to leave and let the group deal with the leader of the moathouse.  All while this was going on Marshmallow moved into the room to be able to defend everyone and Anderron also formed a battleline to protect the others.

Ardeshir was getting bored and when Heyiamnot said if they paid the Gnolls would leave, Ardeshir decided he did not want to give money to them.  He cast light on the Gnoll leader lighting him up like a lamp.  The Gnoll took this for an attack and charged Ardeshir.  Anderron took a swipe at the Gnoll but missed and the Gnoll missed Ardeshir.  This started a major fight, The Gnolls drew weapons and moved forward trapping Marshmallow.  Anderron ran back into the hallway with Heyiamnot leaving Marshmallow and Ardeshir to deal with all 17 gnolls.

Marshmallow was a wall saving Ardeshir from many attacks and able to protect them both.  She took 12 attacks and only suffered minor damage.  Peep moved forward and double crit the gnoll leader (crit with both weapons).  She decapitated the gnoll and quickly moved back into the shadows.  Kurana and Anderron burnt 2 gnolls with sacred flame and Ardeshir moved up to unleash his powerful attack.  With a stomp on the ground his thunderwave exploded killing 4 gnoll and hurting 2 others.  The Gnolls kept pouring into the area adding more attacks to all the heroes.  2 gnoll archers found cracks in Marshmallow's armor and she went down (got 2 crits on her).  Ardeshir followed after with some powerful attacks taking him down.  Anderron and Peep also took some damage as the gnolls were slowly being killed off.

At this time the others from the south started joining in and using up healing potions to get the injured back up and fighting.  We had to call it a night but in the end only 8 gnolls were left but Kurana and Marshmallow were down on the ground bloody.  What will happen next…

DM Note: Thunderwave.  Great spell but one drawback.  Any creature w/300ft will hear the thunderwave.  This means that anyone that is near this area knows that they are here.  This might cause a problem for the group as they are hurting and running out of spells and healing.