Shadowdark Session Recap: 11/1/2024 Geeks & Games – Shadow Deaths

Summary

The party discovered a ruined gatehouse with a bridge spanning a chasm, their curiosity drawing them to explore further. While clearing rubble from a stairwell, they were suddenly attacked by a troll that nearly killed one of their companions before dramatically leaping into the chasm while engulfed in flames. After camping and returning the next day, they encountered two climbing trolls climbing up the cliff face, which they dispatched through clever use of oil, fire arrows, and crossbow bolts.

Upon descending to collect the troll heads, they discovered a strange and terrifying Trollspider lurking under the bridge. The creature proved to be a formidable opponent, regenerating from their attacks as they struggled with poor combat performance and difficulty in using fire effectively against it. In a horrifying turn of events, the monster managed to paralyze Thraani and drag her down into the chasm.

The party could hear infernal chanting echoing from below the gatehouse as they carefully climbed down the cliff face to continue their pursuit. During the ensuing battle, the trollspider bit Doublé Mark the bard and paralyzed him. Doublé met a tragic end when another party member cut the Trollspider’s web as it carried Doublé off, causing both spider and bard to plummet. The remaining adventurers managed to slay the Trollspider hybrid and recovered various treasures from fallen adventurers who had met their doom before them, including a valuable sword and amulet.

The survivors returned to town with both their original quarry of troll heads and the Trollspider’s head to claim their bounties. They spent time restocking their supplies, including purchasing a stubborn mule named Trip, and enjoyed some well-earned carousing in town. The experience had hardened them, and they found themselves more capable than before, having gained new levels of experience from their harrowing adventure.

Scenes

Initial Troll Encounter at the Ruined Gatehouse

• Party discovers large dinner plate-sized footprints leading across a bridge
• Find a rubble-filled stairwell in ruins of old gatehouse
• Spend hours clearing rubble from stairwell
• First Troll attacks during meal break
• First Troll nearly kills party member before leaping into chasm while on fire
• Party camps away from site overnight
• Return at dawn to continue clearing rubble
• Spot Two Climbing Trolls ascending cliff wall
• Party prepares oil-soaked arrows and takes positions
• Successfully hit trolls with fire arrows and crossbow bolts
• Trolls attempt to flee but are stuck climbing
• Both trolls are killed with ranged weapons and fire

First Encounter with Trollspider

• Party descends to collect troll heads
• Discover Trollspider creature under bridge
• Creature speaks broken Giant language
• Thraani prepares to fight new threat
• Party spots Trollspider climbing up stairs
• Thraani attacks with warhammer, breaking spider’s legs
• Trollspider regenerates wounds and eye damage
• Failed attempts to hit creature with fire arrows
• Trollspider paralyzes Thraani with poison
• Trollspider drags paralyzed Thraani down into chasm with web

Town Resupply

• Party retrieves troll heads
• Travel back to town takes 3 days
• Sell troll heads for 25 gold each
• Purchase supplies including oil flasks
• Buy stubborn mule named Trip for 20 gold

Return to the Underground Chasm

• Party returns to dungeon area
• Squeeze through rubble into Brimstone Chamber
• Discover strong smell of sulfur and brimstone
• Find flickering candlelight and hear muttering
• Character hears infernal/diabolic chanting below
• Party debates whether to investigate or find another route
• Group decides to climb down the cliff face instead of continuing forward

Final Battle with Trollspider

• Trollspider spots the party and attacks
• Party attempts to light torches and use fire arrows
• Trollspider paralyzes Doublé Mark with its bite
• Trollspider carries paralyzed Doublé Mark (the bard) down on web
• Darin cuts the web, causing both Trollspider and Doublé Mark to fall to their death
• Party recovers bodies and searches for valuables
• Gremdar finds fancy longsword with fat ruby in pommel
• Thru found a gold amulet inset with a single rough-cut sapphire
• Recover Trollspider’s head for bounty

NPCs

Thraani

Human fighter from a barbarian clan with an intense hatred for trolls due to them killing her family. Wields a warhammer and is eager to fight trolls. Met a tragic end during an encounter with the trollspider when she was paralyzed and carried off as trollspider food.

First Troll

Tall, long-limbed, warty green creature with a hooked nose and black bristly hair. Attacked party during their meal break and demonstrated regenerative abilities before being set on fire.

Climbing Trolls

Pair of trolls that attempted to climb up the cliff face, were defeated by fire arrows and crossbow bolts.

Trollspider

Hybrid creature combining troll and spider features. Has eight eyes, greenish warty skin, spider-like abilities including web spinning and a paralyzing bite. Can speak broken Giant language and possesses regenerative abilities. Notable for its bulging white eyes, venomous fangs, and ability to regenerate damaged body parts.

Locations

Brimstone Chamber

Underground chamber filled with strong sulfurous smell and featuring flickering candlelight

Underground Chasm

Dark chasm with webs containing human and dwarf-sized cocoons, featuring a wooden door to the west and a 5-foot hole to the east. A deep cavern with an 80-100 foot drop, featuring a bridge crossing it and murky black water at the bottom.

Ruined Gatehouse

Ancient ruins with crumbled foundation stonework, debris, and a rubble-filled stairwell. Located beside a 50-foot wide chasm with a 15-foot wide bridge spanning it.

Spells

Detect Magic

Spell mentioned as available from town wizard for 10 gold, used to identify magical properties of found items

Cure Wounds

Healing spell that requires penance of 5 gold at temple if miscast

Items

Ruby-Pommel Longsword

Valuable longsword found on a fallen knight’s body, featuring a fat ruby in its pommel

Sapphire Amulet

Gold amulet with rough sapphire found on barbarian’s body

Troll Heads

Severed heads of trolls worth 25 gold each, collected as proof of kill

Oil Flasks

Used to coat arrows and create flammable areas to combat trolls’ regenerative abilities.