View source for Session 2: Journey Across Lake Mulsantir

[[File:Gorge of Gauros.png|thumb|600px|Gorge of Gauros]]

== Summary ==

After escaping the wagons and fighting their captors, Cedani joined the party. She was startled by Glenn's appearance, mistaking him for a Slaad due to his frog-curse. Octavius discovered a sealed letter (on the body of Vezim Sepret).

It revealed orders by Tharos Orakul, a High Diviner of the Red Wizards, to subjugate the town of Ironjaw's Mirth -- and through premonition, to capture any amphibian creature encountered and to slay "the owl". The party made their introductions, sharing their backgrounds and missions, including Cedani's connection to a poetry shop in Sigil and Glenn's curse by the wizard Manshoon. Chai remained behind to care for her charmed guard and, after speaking to the druid Imzel, took one of the horses and rode east with her new ward.

The rest were sent north by Imzel to meet with her ally Galdren in the town of Lirensk. They took a rowboat from an abandoned fishing village and rowed north across Lake Mulsantir.

There, the adventurers faced an attack by unnatural, winged quippers, likely creations of the Red Wizards. The fight tested their combat skills, with Cedani and Cove dealing significant damage to the creatures. After overcoming this threat, the party continued their journey across Lake Mulsantir, encountering an island shrouded in green mists, which Octavius identified as acidic.

Upon exploring the island, they discovered a ritual site with a Gelatinous Cube, a servant of the Faceless Lord Juiblex, summoned from the Abyss in an ill-fated summoning. The group engaged in a tactical battle against the Cube, managing to defeat it from a safe distance. Their victory allowed them to recover valuable items, including a magical cloak and a spellbook containing the ritual used to summon the Cube. The session concluded with the party rowing back into the lake, pondering who this Galdren is as night fell and the mysteries of their quest deepened.

== XP Award ==
* 40 XP for defeating the quippergulls
* 90 XP for defeating the Gelatinous Cube
* 50 XP for creativity during the battle
** 20 XP per player for succeeding in various skill checks ([[XP for Skill Checks]])
* '''Total: 200 XP'''
* '''Current XP: 100 XP -> 300 XP''' (Level 2)

== Things That Happened ==

=== Meeting at the Wagons ===
* '''Date:''' 2nd of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), 1372 DR
* Cedani approached and joined the party from her set of wagons. Soveliss sat on a wagon, listening, and Lureene was speaking to Imzel.
* '''Missing player handling:''' Chai explained to Thenn (the Charmed Guard) why he needed to be in manacles, and said she would stay with him until Imzel could find him somewhere safe to be held.
* Cedani immediately panicked at seeing Glenn, thinking he was a Slaad and for him to not touch her. He explained his curse to turn into a frog.
* Octavius read a sealed letter:

<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
Vezim Sepret,

After our failure at the Pillar of Stars, the currents of fate have shifted. Our path must be recalibrated to meet these changes head-on, ensuring our ascendancy does not slip from our grasp.

My precognition have unveiled an imperative: an enigmatic entity known to me only as 'the owl' must be eradicated. The clarity of this vision, amidst the usual obscurities of foresight, underscores its urgency. Prepare for a potential encounter as soon as tonight. Let no hesitation stay your hand; its removal is vital for our cause.

Amidst your duties near Ironjaw’s Mirth, a creature of unique interest, an amphibian, has surfaced in my visions. Its peculiar nature and affliction intrigue me, although it remains a lesser concern. Capture it for my analysis if you can – it may harbor secrets yet unknown to us.

For Ironjaw’s Mirth itself, let the might of the Red Wizards be undeniably displayed. Subjugate the town, enslaving all sparing none. Their fate will echo as a grim warning against defiance of Thay's will.

Execute these directives with unyielding resolve and efficiency. Our path to supremacy must remain clear and unobstructed.

In the service of the Red Wizards,

Tharos Orakul
High Diviner, Tharchion of Surthay
</blockquote>

* Cove secretly fed Breezewhisker a nut. She flew off to eat it in privacy.
* Characters made their introductions to one another.
** Octavius mentioned seeking information for a Slaad in Sigil related to the batrachi.
** Glenn explained that he was cursed by the wizard Monshoon, the leader of the Zhentarim.
** Cedani mentioned that her nana has a poetry shop in the Market District of Sigil.
* Lureene finished her conversation with Imzel, stating that she would head to her order and ask them to turn their attention to Thay instead of the Endless Wastes.
** Cove helped free a horse from a wagon and Lureene rode to the east.
* Cove spoke to Imzel in druidic about a topic very important to her.
* Imzel explained to the party that other villages have been attacked and she'll be tracking their wagons.
** She explained that they must speak to Galdren, a man sympathetic to their cause against the Red Wizards.
** He is in the town of Lirensk, north of Lake Mulsantir -- and that they should row a boat across over night. There's an abandoned village to the north.
* Soveliss asked for the original letter from Tharos Orakul, and received it after Octavius scribed a copy.
** He gave Cedani a piece of his sunburst amulet, saying he would send word once he learned more of Tharos.
* He rode to the west.
* Imzel offered healing to Cedani and goodberries to Glenn.
* Imzel took her leave to the southwest. Chai and the Charmed Guard followed on a horse.

=== The Abandoned Village ===

* Cove, still fueled by a Potion of Cloud Giant Strength, pulled a wagon with the rest of the party inside.
* The air smelled foul and felt like static at times.
* The party explored two abandoned shacks and an abandoned fish gutting stand.
** It looked to have been abandoned in a hurry.
** There were bite marks from quippers on posts and buildings, which should be impossible.
* Cedani threw an old leather shoe into the lake. No monsters revealed themselves from the deep.

=== Lake Mulsantir ===

* The party began rowing a boat across the lake. No edge was in sight.
* There was a complete absence of life in the lake.
* Cove spotted a group of quippers approaching the boat -- and they suddenly lept into the ear, revealing wings of scale-feathers.
** The party deduced that these were unnatural creations made by the Red Wizards.
** They also recalled the history of the area, where a small war was waged between the Red Wizards and the Rashemi over Lake Mulsantir.

=== Encounter 1: Quippergulls ===

* Highlights:
** Cedani suffering a brutal bite on her neck.
*** Cove healing her with a Healing Word. (Gravel ASMR.)
** Glenn effortlessly batting them aside with his shield.
** Octavius missing and striking the boat.
** Cove crushing a quippergull to death with her quarterstaff.
** Cedani spearing a quippergull to death in a single stroke.
* The quippergulls look edible.

=== The Island of Green Mists ===

* The party continued rowing north. The sun started to set.
* They spotted green mists in the distance, and as they got closer, saw they were coming from an island.
** Octavius recognized that the mists were acidic.
* Octavius scouted the island from above, and Cove from beneath the waters.
** It was a small island, with an abandoned boat, a backpack, and a pit with a rope ladder leading down.
** A green stone arrowhead was found by a dead tree.
* The party peered into the pit, spotting a ritual spiral made of black pearls, salt, and a black oil.
* Glenn threw down a copper, attracting the attention of a Gelatinous Cube.
** Inside there was a skeleton of a dead man, along with a completely unharmed ornate red cloak.

=== Encounter 2: Gelatinous Cube ===

* Highlights:
** The party assailed the cube safely from above the pit, out of reach of its pseudopods.
** It tried to spin earth and pearls beneath it to rise above the pit, but was countermanded by Cove shaping earth, moving it from below it to above it.
** Glenn saying "Fete!" a lot with a magic ring.
** It fell to a barrage of icy blasts and fiery blasts of magical energy, suffering over a dozen blows in the span of 30 seconds.
* Octavius flew down, snatching up the cloak.
** Inside he found a spellbook
* Glenn asked for pearls, so Octavius scooped them into a backpack.
* Cedani earned Inspiration for a good joke about the cloak not protecting the dead wizard.

=== After The Fight ===

* Rowing back into the lake, the sun now having fully set, Octavius examined the spellbook.
* It contained several spells, along with the following text:

<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
Greetings, seeker of dark truths!

Through my tireless studies, I have uncovered a ritual of unspeakable power—a rite to call forth from the Abyss a servant of the Faceless Lord, Juiblex himself, a Gelatinous Cube. The details of the ritual lie herein.

Components:

* '''Ritual Circle:''' A chaotic swirl crafted from a blend of crushed black pearls and salt. Within this circle, you must etch abyssal runes, all narrating tales of dominion and fealty to the dark abyss.
* '''Three Fresh Humanoid Sacrifices:''' Yes, three, but why limit oneself? My experiments will soon employ four victims to amplify the ritual’s potency. Place the victims around the circle, hands upturned in supplication.
* '''Ectoplasm of a Specter:''' As the bridge between our world and the Abyss, place this in the ritual's heart.

Procedure:

# '''Ritual Grounds:''' Ensure utmost privacy. Interlopers are distractions at best and disruptors at worst.
# '''Etching the Circle:''' With reverence, craft the summoning site, whispering invocations to Juiblex as each rune is carved.
# '''Arrangement of Sacrifices:''' Position each victim, their hands reaching for the abyssal skies. They should touch the summoning circle but must not be equidistant. While the original texts specify three souls, my genius compels me to employ four.
# '''Ectoplasm:''' Deposit this ethereal essence at the circle's core. Beware its haunting cries and murmurs.
# '''Invocation:''' Stand tall outside the circle, reciting the dedicated chants. Pour your admiration for Juiblex and the abyssal hunger into every word.
# '''Summoning:''' As your chants climax, the ectoplasm will dance violently, signaling the abyssal energies at play. With a final surge, a Gelatinous Cube, infused with Juiblex’s essence, will form, consuming the sacrifices.

I have already enticed some villagers with promises of hidden treasures on this secluded isle. Little do they know, *they* are the treasure — my offering to the Abyss!

-T
</blockquote>

* Octavius then identified the cloak as a Cloak of Protection.
* The party then continued rowing north as night approached.

== Maps ==

[[File:Map_-_Session_2.png]]

* Southern combat: Quippergulls
* Northern combat: Gelatinous Cube

== NPCs Encountered ==
* [[Breezewhisker]], The Flying Squirrel
* [[Imzel Ulmokina]], The Rescuing Druid

== Loot ==
* 37 gold pieces
* A Cloak of Protection
* A backpack of pearls
* A spellbook with a ritual of ooze summoning

== Memes ==
* Glenn: Damn I wish I could read

== DM Thoughts ==
* I do like color printouts of everything.
* This session demonstrated that, like Morrowind, there are difficult encounters in an open world with high rewards, and there is agency in pursuing them.
** It also demonstrated that evil aligned parties may have access to more power, like with the ritual to summon an ooze.