Spelljammer
        Trials of the Feathered God
Current Turn?NoSubject:Steve Takes Over for One Night
Campaign:GreyhawkTurn Start Date:8/20/597
Adventure:Trials of the Feathered GodTurn End Date:8/20/597
Adventure Number:AAHCharacters:Barthon Brightwave, Darkthorn, Dyson Teague, Kalin, Lorcan Smythe, Orielne, Wiley Finch
Turn Number:2.1Send To:fivewands@championsoftheempire.com
Greyhawk Campaign?YesCombat Turn?No
Name
Lethal
NL
Current
END
PROT
LOW
DEF
ROF
Flash
Heal
Luck Pts
Fate Pts
Darkthorn
0
0
109/109
/0
11
3
78
10
0/0
4/day
2/2
0/1
Dyson Teague
0
0
90/90
2/2
12
4
89
12
0/0
1/day
2/3
1/2
Kalin
0
0
74/74
/0
8
3
65
0
0/0
1/day
1/2
1/1
Lorcan Smythe
0
0
64/64
4/4
10
1
30
0
1/1
1/day
1/2
1/1
Wiley Finch
0
0
85/85
/0
11
4
63
18
0/0
1/day
1/2
1/1
Barthon Brightwave
0
0
74/74
12/12
10
4
87
18
0/0
1/day
2/4
3/3
Orielne
0
0
91/91
/0
10
0
88
20
0/0
2/day
1/2
0/1
Mage/Psioncist Name
Psionic Pts
Spell Pts
Spell Pool
Miscellaneous Information
Lorcan Smythe
/
19/19
19/19
Wiley Finch
/
17/17
10/10
NameNotes
DarkthornRanger Pool (21/25), 25% DR Crushing, Elemental & Non-Elemental, Levitate
Dyson Teague
KalinCleric Pool (23/25), Levitate
Lorcan Smythe
Wiley Finch25% DR Elemental, Familiar-Cristo
BarthonMagic Points (17/19)
Ori25% DR Piercing, Slashing & Crushing
05/06/2021 (GM-Steve)

The group is attacked by a massive swarm of undead birds as we are travelling through a relatively dry section of the swamp on tree steeds. We saw them coming from a ways off and initially thought they were birds so Lorcan started in on a Circle of Protection vs Animals. They arrived just before he could finish it but it probably would not have done much good. Everyone was getting attacked by at least half a dozen of the largest birds (crow to raven sized) each round but just about every hit from someone in the group destroyed a bird. Finally, when at least 70 of the birds had been destroyed, the rest flew back the way they came. Both Lorcan and Kalin suspect that the birds were symbiotes of a sentient tree known as a Hangman's Tree, which drains the life energy and flesh from birds that land in its branches to create the undead birds. Hangman Trees usually also have human, demi-human and humanoid corpses hanging from it that the tree can drop and sic on anyone threatening it.

Kalin also recalls that wounds inflicted by the birds and skeletons are very difficult to heal while the Hangman Tree still lives. Each die of healing would only heal a single point. Thus, a Cure Light Wounds would heal 1 point. A Cure Serious Wounds would heal 2 points, etc.

The group makes a plan of attack against the tree and then heads towards it, following the direction that the birds had taken, and reinforced by Darkthorn's Environmental Sensitivity sense that pinpoints the location of the tree. After a few hundred feet, they intersect a path. They continue along the path towards the tree but, as they do so, the remaining birds of the undead swarm reappear ahead of the group. When Kalin starts to cast a Light Eruption spell, the birds disperse quite a bit such that, when the spell goes off, in only kills a couple of dozen instead of the scores that Kalin had intended.

The group continues forward entering the ruined remains of a swamp village. The remaining undead birds continue to fly about nearby. Rounding the corner of a mostly ruined building, the group sees the Hangman Tree ahead in the center of the ruined village. Dozens if not scores of skeletons hang from the branches low and high and begin to fall as the group comes into view. As each skeleton hits the ground, it breaks into its component parts creating a rapidly growing pile of bones at the base of the tree. Barthon, Ori, Dyson and Darkthorn move forward but, as Kalin considers the group's plan of putting a Wall of Fire around the base of the tree to slowly incinerate it, he realize that as soon as he starts casting, the remaining birds will swarm him and interrupt the spell. Thus, the new plan is to have the fighters move forward and attack the tree. At about this time, monstrous creatures comprised of the bones of the fallen skeletons rise out of the still growing pile of bones under the tree. The creatures are still skeletons but each one is a fusion of bones from many skeletons and each stands a good 10 to 12 feet high, with many limbs and skulls placed randomly around their bodies.

Ori and Dyson step up to attack one while Barthon and Darkthorn attack the other. Beyond, more such creatures are forming.

GM: We really just started this battle but it is already clear that, while Dyson, Ori and Darkthorn have effective weapons against the skeletons, Barthon's blades are not as effective.

Meanwhile, further back, Lorcan, Kalin and Wiley realize that they will not be able to cast spells as long as the birds are able to swarm so they begin to kill some of the remaining birds. Wiley and Lorcan use their blades while Kalin uses the power of Pelor to destroy them.

GM: On the next round of combat, a spell caster will be able to cast a spell even while being attacked by the birds if they make a 1x WP roll (2x if someone is covering and destroying birds while they cast and 3x if two others are covering). Otherwise, if all three spend the next round destroying birds, the rolls needed increase by one the following round (2x to cast, 3x if 1 covering and 4x if 2 covering). These numbers will continue to improve as more birds are destroyed.

GM: As Dyson, Ori, Barthon and Darkthorn are fighting the large skeletal monsters, Dyson sees the corner of a chest sticking out of the ground near the base of the tree where it is partially buried. Both Kalin and Lorcan had mentioned that Hangman Trees are known to have treasure so this could be where it is kept.

GM: This is where we stopped for the night.

GM: Jason, I will need at least part of one more session to wrap this up. Hopefully you will recover quickly. All of our best wishes go out to you!


05/13/2021 (GM-Steve)

GM: Those who make a 2x PER roll and are closest to the tree can see a small swarm of glittering insects flying amongst the branches and around the trunk of the tree about 10 to 15 feet up.

The battle with the skeletons and the tree continue. A couple people notice the glittering bugs flying around the tree. The skeletons are fairly tough but the group starts whittling them down. Then one of the glittering bugs glows red briefly and then a fireball shoots out and hits Kalin, Lorcan and Wiley. The fireball also destroys a lot of the remaining undead birds, allowing spell-casting. Kalin casts a Wall of Fire 20 feet up circling the tree. However, before it can do any damage, another glittering bug glows blue and the entire tree disappears and reappears next to Kalin.

Barthon moves over to attack the tree but then an invisible force picks up Kalin and Barthon and tosses them forcefully away from the tree, causing some damage. Barthon leaps back to continue attacking. Magical piercing weapons seem to do the most damage but his flaming sword is also effective.

Once Darkthorn takes out a couple of skeletons, he pulls out his bow and starts shooting at the tree.

By the end of the night, all of the skeletons have been destroyed but the pile is shifting and another one will rise if no one moves up to engage the trunk of the tree. Meanwhile, Lorcan has been using Water Bolts to destroy glittering bugs, one at a time. Wiley is down (at exactly 0 HP) and Barthon is barely conscious (1 HP). Kalin is badly wounded and everyone else is either bloodied or close to it. Meanwhile, the tree is also looking bloodied from the constant barrage of attacks. The most recent is Dyson using his returning throwing axe to attack.

GM: This is where we stopped for the night.


05/20/2021 (GM-Steve)

Finally kill the Hangman's Tree and recover its treasure. It takes a long day of searching to find the Ioun Stones that Lorcan hit with Water Bolts.
  • 9 Ioun Stones
    • +10 Normal Saves - Darkthorn
    • Sustain without air - Kalin
    • Burned out
    • Absorbs SK spells (50 SP) - Kalin
    • 1 CSW per day on self only - Dyson
    • +10 to Attunement - Darkthorn
    • +1 Damage per MM - Wiley
    • Fireball once per day - Barthon
    • Dem Door once per day - Lorcan
  • +15 Ring of Defense
  • Armor of Feather Falling
  • Coins

Jason took over at 11:25 or so. Overland map.

We find a deep water section where we bury the chest containing the Demon Heart.

We find a trail. We follow it until nightfall. The next night we reach a lizardman village.

Darkthorn and Dyson circumnavigate the village, stopping occasionally to observe. We both make all four Move Silently rolls (Darkthorn thanks to using Ranger Pool points and Dyson thanks to a Luck point).

Wiley Wizard Eye next session.

GM: This is where we stopped for the night.


05/27/2021 (GM-Jason)


Show details for Spells and Limited Use Items and AbilitiesSpells and Limited Use Items and Abilities
Hide details for Spells and Limited Use Items and Abilities


Name
Spells

Spells Memorized

Darkthorn
1. 5
2. 4
3. 2

  1. CLW, CLW, Endure Heat/Cold, Protection from Evil <Ranger>
  2. Slow Poison, Barkskin, Resist Fire/Resist Cold <Ranger>
  3. Tree Steed, Tree Steed, Commune With Nature <Ranger>
One spell of each level must be from the Animal, Plant or Ranger Realm but need not be chosen ahead of time.

Kalin
1. 6+P+SC
2. 6+P+SC
3. 5+P+SC
4. 3+P+SC
5. 2+P+SC

  1. Bless, CLW, CLW, CLW, Faerie Fire, Endure Heat/Cold <P-Remove Fear>, <Single Class>
  2. Augury, Greater Command, Slow Poison, Slow Poison, Spiritual Weapon, Silence 15' r <P-Resist Fire/Cold>, <Single Class>
  3. Prayer, Prayer, Sunlight, Tree Steed, Tree Steed <P-Dispel Magic>, <Single Class>
  4. CSW, Mass Healing, Neutralize Poison <P-Protection from Evil 10'r>, <Single Class>
  5. Anti-Plant Shell, CCW <P-Wall of Fire>, <Single Class>
One spell of each level must be from the Protection Realm.

Lorcan
24

  • GK - Deluge, Detect Magic, Fireproofing, Flotation, Liquid Purification, Mage Wind, Navigation, Speak with Aquatic Mammals, Summon Aquatic Mammals, Water Breathing
  • SK - Bolt of Water, Solid Fog, Torrential Geyser, Wall of Water, Water Walking, Waters of Vision, Windsail
  • COP - Animals, Greater, Detection, Holy Minor
  • Spell Wand (7) - Deluge, Solid Fog, Torrential Geyser

Wiley
19

  • GK - Armor, Evil Eye, Invisibility, Lesser Enchantment, Location, Speak with Enchanted Creatures, Telekinesis, Walking Unseen
  • SK - Levitation, Mage Lock, Magic Missile, Opening, Passwall, Remove Curse, Web of Entanglement, Wizard Eye
  • COP - Animals, Missiles
  • Counterspells - Holy
  • Ring of Spell Storing - Visibility Field (4th level Cleric spell)
  • Ring of Spell Storing -



Limited Use Abilities
WhoAbilityNotesUses per DayUsed
KalinCure Light WoundsHealing Charm (self use only)1
KalinPelor's Penance12 charges but special recharge129
OriCell Adjustment2d6+411
DysonCure half HP from current woundsArmor of Cure Wounds1
DysonMind CloakHelm of High Sorcery1
DysonTelekinesisHelm of High Sorcery1
DysonMind LinkHelm of High Sorcery11
DysonMental BoltHelm of High Sorcery1
DarkthornLongbow ChargesMagic arrows or Speak With Dead