DnD Adventure Log

Characters:

• Oogway: A Wizard Bladesinger, Oogway is a turtle who emerged mysteriously from a serene lake. Known for their serene wisdom and formidable combat magic, Oogway wields their blade with grace and precision. Despite their slow movements on land, Oogway’s mind is lightning-fast, and they have a penchant for philosophizing at the most unexpected moments.
• Olfin Darning: A Hexblood Paladin, Olfin walks the line between light and shadow. Bound by an oath, Olfin channels divine power to vanquish evil, but their Hexblood heritage hints at a past intertwined with dark bargains or fey influences. Resilient and steadfast, they are both a protector and an enigma to their companions.
• Liren: A Dragonborn Barbarian, Liren exudes raw strength and indomitable will. Though naturally wary and untrusting of others, Liren shares a unique bond of trust with Malron. In battle, Liren is a force to be reckoned with, unleashing their primal fury to protect the party and overcome foes. Their distrustful nature is balanced by their unwavering loyalty to those they hold dear.
• Gumbo: A Half-Orc Rogue, Gumbo is a resourceful and pragmatic adventurer with a knack for finding the unexpected solution. Whether it’s picking a lock or silently dispatching a foe, Gumbo’s skills are invaluable to the group. Despite his tough exterior, Gumbo occasionally reveals a sly sense of humor that keeps morale high in tense situations.
• Aera shan Ravanór: A nimble and cunning Wood-elf Rogue. Her sharp wit and unparalleled agility make her a master of stealth and infiltration. Aera has a knack for navigating complex situations with precision, preferring to outsmart her enemies rather than confront them directly. With piercing eyes and a calm demeanor, she carries an air of mystery and confidence. Her favored weapons are twin knitting needles and her bow. Aera is deeply loyal to her companions, though she often masks her emotions behind clever remarks and a cool exterior.
• Shabasta: A porcupine bard with a flair for the dramatic, Shabasta combines enchanting music with prickly wit. Their spiny nature extends beyond appearance, as they excel at weaving biting satire into their performances. Shabasta’s unusual form surprises friend and foe alike, and their sharp melodies inspire courage in allies while disheartening enemies.
• Malron Lichtstrahl: A Reborn Cleric of Lathander, Malron has dedicated their life to the service of the Morninglord, guided by the teachings of a wise Dwarven priest. Their path took a fateful turn during an expedition to clear a crypt for a wealthy benefactor, where Malron was poisoned by a Giant Spider and seemingly lost to their comrades. Though not truly dead, an attempted Resurrection from Malron’s mentor inadvertently allowed a lingering ancient spirit to enter their body. Malron’s indomitable will prevailed in retaining control, though this bond would forever alter their existence. Malron now exhibits traits of the undead—able to forego food, water, and even breath—and possesses newfound abilities as a Spirit Medium, hearing whispers of other souls and benefiting from the knowledge of the Elf spirit cohabitating within them. Their connection to Elvish and Sylvan languages hints at the spirit’s origins, and Malron has since embraced the duality of their existence to better serve both the living and the departed.

Summary:

Lady Fiona needed to drop the guards to allow us entry into the ethereal realm. We ventured into the cellar with her, where we encountered peculiar sights: four skeletons lying in beds, a pentagram on the floor, and a curved dagger inscribed with the phrase “in death.” Scratches reading “traitor” were visible, remnants of a previous dweller. Fiona deemed the cellar a secure location despite her inability to remove the markings.

Victor utilized the hag’s heart stone to transport us to the ethereal realm. A teenage voice exclaimed “Victor!” behind us, revealing a fading figure with legs disappearing below the knees into the mist.

Victor began drawing a teleportation circle to save her, requiring ten minutes to complete. Boyish laughter emerged from the mist, revealing the spectral silhouette of Erasmus, a 14-year-old spirit assisting Stella in hiding. Erasmus warned us of the spirits aware of our presence and described the gallows speaker waiting outside for the ward to be dropped.

Oogway queried Erasmus about the gallows speaker’s vulnerabilities, learning it had no weaknesses and resisted spells, necrotic damage, poison, grapple, stun, and prone effects.

Victor’s spell acted as a beacon, attracting spirits intent on stealing Stella’s body. Erasmus instructed us to attack any spirits within 15 feet of Stella.

A giant fight started which we were able to win, but at a large cost. Shabasta died during the battle and no one was able to bring him back. Stella was rescued for which Lady Fiona was grateful.

Key Locations:

Cellar: A secure, eerie location marked by skeletons in beds, a pentagram, and a dagger with mysterious inscriptions.

Ethereal Realm: A mist-filled domain inhabited by restless spirits, phase spiders, and Strahd on his nightmare steed.

Encounters:

Combat: Spirits entered the area, attempting to claim Stella’s body. The gallows speaker appeared, bearing us no ill will but demanding to take Stella and Lady Fiona. After a long hard battle we defeated the gallows speaker, but in the process Shabasta died and no one had a resurrection spell available.

Loot:

Tome of Strahd: Retrieved during the adventure.
Spirit Mirror: Obtained and resized to a hand mirror for observing the ethereal realm.

Notable NPCs:

Erasmus: A spectral 14-year-old assisting Stella, providing warnings and descriptions of the gallows speaker.
Leo Dilisnya: Former guard of Castle Ravenloft, revealed his intentions to claim Stella and Lady Fiona, and shared his history with Strahd.

Plot Points:

• Victor’s teleportation circle attracted hostile spirits.
• Erasmus warned of the gallows speaker and other ethereal threats.
• Leo Dilisnya claimed connections to Castle Ravenloft and Strahd.
• We defeated the gallows speaker and rescued Stella from the spirit realm
• Shabasta fell in battle, with no means of resurrection available.

Session Highlights:

• Oogway’s inquiry revealed critical information about the gallows speaker’s resistances.
• Victor’s tense efforts to complete the teleportation circle added urgency.
• Stella’s misty partial disappearance and Erasmus’s warnings set the tone for eerie danger.
• Retrieval of the Tome of Strahd and Spirit Mirror opened new possibilities for exploration.
• Memorable dialogue from Leo Dilisnya and Lady Fiona enriched the unfolding narrative.