Location: In the forests south-southeast of Mount Lavanor

Date: Summer, 1333 Avard

Characters: Este, Halite, Nalani, Galadriel, Isaac, Xydeco, Izabella

Another roc-hawke arrived just ahead of the encroaching storm, two orcs bearing a passenger. The passenger dressed all in black, and used a silver amulet to scry upon them – a fact that did not escape Nalani. The passenger was a knight of Rakore named Izabella, tasked with sending Galadriel back to Lok Magius (care of the new roc-hawke), and tasked with protecting Lord Gray Lakes until his trial (causing shared looks between Isaac and Xydeco, Halite and Nalani). Galadriel happily skipped out on the chaos and mess the team seemed to create, leaving a professional and stoic Izabella in her place. As the roc-hawke left, Izabella found herself in a quagmire: Lord Gray Lakes was determined to put himself in danger, clearing out the barn of the carrion-crawlers and rescuing his twin. The team hoped to bring the remaining two roc-hawkes in to deal with the crawlers, but they would likely cause as much damage as rescue, perhaps killing Este's twin and anyone else still inside. Instead, the team worked together, working from above to kill two of the crawlers through the windows of the top of the barn. One of the adult chuul become involved, however, showing that they could climb where the crawlers did not. Xydeco was nearly snatched from the top of the barn roof, but something happened to the chuul's claw, and Xydeco managed to sever it off. The chuul, undeterred, used it's other claw to pull Xydeco from the roof and sweep into the barn – the enchanted vicious spear that had been holding it barred removed by Nalani in an aborted plan the chuul stepped into. Inside the barn, Xydeco managed to escape, but the chuul and the remaining larva crawlers pulled back to Este's twin. Nalani stepped forward and attacked, killing the chuul with necromatic energy, revealing to all of them that she was a necromancer of formidable power. Into this stunning revelation, Este, Isaac, and Halite attended to Este's twin with extreme caution.

Date: TUE27JUN2017

DM's Notes: Organizing play time is a bit difficult with so many families to juggle, but it makes it even more entertaining when you finally can all sit together and play. It's also entertaining watching youngsters learn to separate their characters from themselves and still enjoy playing. It's a difficult thing for SO many people to do: to separate who they are, from who they play or project. I think it's even more difficult when you're a tween or teenager, because you're still learning and exploring who you are. That makes it even harder to separate yourself from your characters in Dungeons & Dragons.

Reference: Campaign IX
Previous: IX-11-21
Next: IX-11-23

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We scramble to the roof, being careful of Nalani's hands. There is a general feeling of unease separate from the carawlers in the barn. We ahve the feeling like we are being watched. Este casts detect magic and discovers that someone is scrying on us. The feeling is getting stronger, but we disregard it for now since there's nothing we can do about it. Halite heals Nalani's hands. From the roof of the barn, we see a third rockhawk approach. Nalani casts 'message' at the rider: 'Who are you bringing; what is your purpose here?'. There's no answer, but they alight on the wall and a cloaked and hooded figure dressed in black descends. The person is holding up a silver necklace. Este's magic is still active, lighting up several people in our party and their accessories, including the newcomer in different colors and intensities. The newcomer has a shield; a Knight approaches and announces that Galadriel has been summoned to LockMages. Izabella, the knight, is assigned to protect Lord Grey Lakes until his trial.

Este is surprised he is unaware of an impending trial. After brief introductions, and a quick explanation of our current situation, Izabella agrees to lend her sword and skills to help us. Galadriel mounts the rockhawk and leaves the party while we prepare to try to deal with the crawlers inside the barn. They are pounding on the doors; we know they won't hold for long. We flank the roof, and Nalani uses acid splash to burn through the protective webbing inside the barn. We see a crawler move to repair the web, and the party attacks. Izabella severs a few tentacles, Este deals damage, Halite conjures his spiritual weapon. Este sends a hail of thorns and Issac aids Izabella with bardic inspiration. Nalani uses acid splash to widen and lengthen the hole in the webbing, and Izabella hits the crawler again. Several of the crawlers are bloody at this point; Este finally kills one with a bow.

We realize that the elf that kidnapped Este is bound in webbing inside the barn. Nalani calls down to him but only receives a muffled response; we suspect he is paralyzed as well. There's another animal inside the barn; an elk. There is a storm approaching. One of the crawlers is feeding on the body of the one Este killed; Xydeco sneak attacks it, Halite strikes with his hammer. Isaac throws a flask of oil and a torch onto it. The oil flask doesn't break, so it doesn't catch fire. Este uses his bow and fires the killing shot for this crawler as well. There is a sound like nails on a chalkboard from within one of the other buildings. Nalani uses Mage Hand to lift the spear that is holding the door shut. Xydeco and Halite move to cover the doors. One crawler comes out and Halite attacks. The webbing seems to be vibrating; something is coming and it's making a high-pitched tone. Xydeco attacks the crawler as an adult chuul comes into view. Issac tried to befriend it and Xydeco attacks, but does no damage. Izabella casts Cloud of Daggers, but dark somehow. The chuul approaches and attacks Xydeco. Nalani throws 'seeds that entangle and enemy's feet'. Vines grow to entangle and enclose the chuul, which restricts its movement. Izabella is distracted by the sound; Este attacks but is ineffective. Halite helps Xydeco, and while they are distracted, Nalani uses Inflict Wounds to destroy one of the chuul's claws. She's never used a necromatic spell before; she managed to stealth it. All the others see is a flash of green and purple light and the chuul's claw disintegrating. Only Este sees what actually happened, but Nalani shushes him to keep her secret. The fact that Nalani was able to do so much damage with a single spell is impressive. Este and Nalani attack the chuul again, and Xydeco severs the damaged claw. Isaac gives Este a magical boost, but the chuul grabs Xydeco, goes through the Cloud of Daggers and into the barn.

We descend from the roof of the barn to the ground, some more gracefully than others. Nalani injures her knee in the process. Xydeco breaks free of the chuul, but it almost trapped by the 2 remaining crawlers in the barn. He escapes and comes outside. The chuul and crawlers move to the farthest corner of the barn. Halite rushes in and snips a cocoon from the ceiling to re-fuel. Este is the only one who sees her; he and Izabella attack the crawlers. One of them explodes, leaving one remaining crawler and the chuul to deal with.

Nalani fires a crossbow bolt, but does minimal damage. Xydeco needs healing, so he is moved closer to Halite. Issac creates a Molotov cocktail and moves into position to attack. The chuul moves closer to us and grabs Halite in its claw while the the carrion crawler moves closer, grabs Issac and bites him. Nalani, hidden, touches the chuul from behind and casts Inflict Wounds, which kills it. Izabella attacks the crawler but deals no damage. Este attacks and misses the crawler, but hits one of the cocoons and splits it open, revealing a person inside. Halite attacks by setting the crawler on fire. Zydeco attacks and finally kills it. Isaac disassembles the Molotov cocktail and corks it for later. Nalani ignites Elidor's Blade and kills the elk. Isaac casts 'detect magic' and sees Izabella's sword as well as many other items belonging to various members of the party light up. There is no glow around the cocooned elf. Halite frees the elf from the cocoon but binds him and checks to see if he's a magical creation; he looks *exactly* like Este. A doppelganger would light up, but there's no glow. The Este look-alike is hurt, so Halite heals him so he doesn't die, though he is still affected by the carrion crawler poison.

(*next game: interview the bound elf; take a short rest. The storm is coming; we should call the orcs to us to shelter in the barn*)

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