Session 18 Player Notes — Welcome to Faerun

These are the players’ own session notes, preserved from the party’s game document. They capture the table’s perspective — what the players saw, did, and said.

Key Events

• Battle with Claramond and Charles (paladins of the Opposable Force) outside Highpoint’s walls
• Lux lands the flying city in Faerun with the help of his celestial guardian angel and 1000 angelic figures
• Lyra negotiates with the Opposable Force, throws the book into the city’s engine to release them from their oaths
• Clifton gives Alora Amathur his shield and departs; the city begins to rebuild
• Lyra and Arawn raid the royal vault (Lyra gets petrified, then cursed by a sleep trap — Elixir of the Undying recovered)
• Hill giants attack the settlement — Against the Giants begins. Party levels up to 12

Session Notes

Clifton’s Warning and the Paladin Battle

Clifton turns to Lyra: “You need to be quick and tell me what you’ve just done.”

“I’ve stopped a great evil from taking over the city. His plans were monstrous.”

“I’m putting all of my trust in you right now. I know that you’re all capable of heroics and we’re going to have to pull all the acts out of the hat.”

“I’ll set you up a date with that one.” She raises her eyebrows towards Alora Amathur. Clifton gulps, his cheeks turn pink.

“If we’re all alive I’ll take you up on that.”

The ethereal city is still rising against the ocean. We hear a boom to the right as a wave erupts from the top of the arcane tower, and the power rolls across the city, glass shattering. All the clothing hung out to dry erupts into fire. Rain from the stained glass window that depicted Ilmater starts raining down, and the faces of terrified onlookers are looking at us as the protectors of Hightaeria. Three figures are flying towards us — one jumps from his mount and lands 15 feet from the ground in front of us. She has her eyes fixated on us. She has a metal ball and she yells: “Clifton the oath breaker, surrender now or this time there will be no prisoners.” She opens the ball and there is a black energy swirling inside.

One of the other paladins goes over to Jesse and performs a Revivify — but nothing happens. He pulls a diamond the size of a fist and drops another Revivify but the body of Jesse Milspear just lies there.

“Lyra Milspear, you have claimed royal souls and that deserves retribution.”

Clifton demands that reason prevail, rolling a Nat 20 on persuasion.

The third rider approaches. He insults Clifton, calling him love sick. Alora Amathur senses that he is being egged on. She warns him to be reasonable. He pulls his sword into a ready stance.

The paladins attack Clifton. Clifton and the paladin have the same dark energy on their sword. It is a dance of sword work and they are so evenly matched. Charles (the one who insulted Clifton) swings at Alora Amathur. Arawn casts protection and black ethereal wings attempt to shield her, a tiny sliver of gold (from Mount Celestia) and Alora Amathur is protected from Banishing Smite.

Claramond gets her sword to glow with the same darkness and pushes a ball towards Clifton. It starts to grind into the side of his armour. He drops to his knees and Alora Amathur takes half of his damage (36 points).

Arawn puts Slayer’s Prey on Claramond. Both strikes miss.

Lyra comes up behind Claramond and jumps out of the shadow and attempts to stab her in the back. She slips through the shadows behind her. The blade makes contact, but it slips off of her armour. She slips back through the shadows into Clifton’s shadow.

Alora Amathur casts Spirit Guardians — 44 points of damage to Charles and Claramond. The third paladin flies off with the body of Jesse Milspear.

Control Room — The Other Group

The other group are fighting a paladin.

Kaladin the Paladin is struck by the other paladin. The sword slices through his armour and body, the armour reforming as the sword is withdrawn.

Guts swings and hits him once — 28 damage.

Reaghl attacks the paladin. Five attacks, one hit (17 damage).

Serril drops first level Cure Wounds using his little owl, Hope, on Kaladin.

Lux casts Fireball backwards over his shoulder. He hears in his mind the voice of his celestial angel. “Let me guide you.” Lux guides the city in the direction of the angel.

Kaladin lays on hands on himself.

Guts takes 74 points of force damage. Guts is hit again and he disappears. Layers of heat wave burn down on him, and then Guts reappears in the observatory.

Reaghl uses reaction Psionic Reprisal. He tries to attack, swings and misses, then hits twice. 11 damage first hit, 6 damage second hit, psionic smash 12 damage. The paladin puts his shield down and falls to the ground. He then stands up again. “Your party kills royals and I have to go through this shit.” His friend lays on hands and the damage done on him starts to roll away. “Just like we’ve done in our training brother.”

Serril casts a spell and a green light emits (Beacon of Hope).

Lux Lands the City

Lux casts Prestidigitation (4th level) booming his voice out over the city. QANTAS pilot style — “This is your captain speaking. Attention all agents of the city. This is Lux Armiger the Light Bearer and controller of your destiny as I am in control of the city in its current state. Cease all activity, all aggression and hostility towards any Nemesis member or suffer and be responsible for the death of all that live in this city. This is not a bargaining or a threat. It is what I will do.” Nat 20. A calmness falls over the entire city. The two paladins take steps back, 15 feet backwards.

On the other side of the city, the fighting happening between Clifton and the paladins pauses. The arcane tower booms, and a ball of energy rocks through the group and the ball of energy destabilises. The paladins take a step back.

Arawn moulds his space hands around the orb of annihilation. He takes 20 points of force damage. The ball explodes.

Alora Amathur wakes to Clifton raising her, screaming to get the others out of there.

Charles smites at the book over and over again.

Saving the City — The Final Push

Kazros needs something magical to help the city. The whole party is back together.

Kaladin tries to give up the Wand of Missiles. Reaghl slaps him across the face. “That’s not yours to throw away.”

We all throw in an assortment of items until Lux challenges the paladins to fix the issue.

Lyra challenges the paladins to do the right thing. “I will release you from your oath if you help” and throws the book into the thing keeping the city afloat.

Each of the paladins of the Opposable Force pull their swords, their Holy Avengers, and begin throwing their magical items and as many things that can fit into the space as they can.

Lux attempts to land the city. Now that he can see the paladins are invested in their survival and that the town matters to a lot of people. The celestial guide floats up outside of the observatory. He extends a hand to Lux. “Come and land the city.” He walks over to the guide, grabs his hand, drops him. Lux opens his wings. Barnabus and Kazros get to work. 1000 angelic figures pull on celestial chains, and Lux can see ley lines to the celestial city. We are safely landed in Faerun. In an instant, the angels fade and the angelic guide turns to Lux — thumbs up. His wings push him back and he fades into nothing.

Lyra claps Charles on the back. “Thanks buddy.”

He wraps an arm around her and jostles her. “Good job.”

Lux hears Serril’s voice. “All you need is faith.”

Aftermath — A New Beginning

Over the course of the evening the people settle down, and the members of the Opposable Force stand forth with Lyra. While they don’t understand what is happening, their faith is increased in Nemesis. People are greeting us and wanting to know us. We feel a great triumph.

Clifton comes up to Alora Amathur. He says to all of us: “Each time our paths cross I feel a strong connection to you all. I feel free. If you will accept it I’d like to share a parting gift. Alora Amathur, your presence has been a steadfast beacon in a stormy sea.”

He gives her his shield, turns and walks off into the distance. The shield has a sun with beams coming out of it. Added to the side of the shield is a skeleton hand with scales, the symbol of Kelemvor. Alora Amathur touches the other side of the shield, and Ilmater’s symbol appears, creating balance on the shield.

High Priest Barnett approaches and Alora Amathur helps set up some hospitals to help the community.

Clifton sways the members of the Opposable Force to help reestablish the city. The royal family is gone and the Council of Stewards are nowhere to be found except for High Priest Barnett. Prime Gerard is nowhere to be found. Lux sends a message but does not get a reply. The city goes through a few days of re-establishing order. Clifton and the Opposable Force try to field off the city from entering the palace.

The Vault Heist

Lyra and Arawn sneak into the vault. Lyra checks a chest within the vault for traps and comes up clear. She tries to pick it up, but in pulling it up she triggers something and is petrified, turning to stone. Arawn runs to get Alora Amathur. She is very disapproving, telling Arawn he should have known better.

She casts Greater Restoration on Lyra, bringing her back, before casting Dispel Magic at 6th level. Hating herself just a little bit. She feels the magic press into the box and something clicks into place. Lyra attempts to open the box again. It’s really difficult and she requests Arawn helps her. It’s enough for the box to open and something wafts out of the box. Both of them fall asleep. Alora Amathur can see that inside is the Elixir of the Undying.

Alora Amathur hits them hard and forces them to wake up. Lyra goes in and picks up the potion. Every eight hours they both fall asleep again.

She requires two days to cast Greater Restoration on each of them to remove the curse.

Lyra then transports everyone back to our castle.

Lux and the Undermountain

Lux has gone through the mirror to the Undermountain (underneath Waterdeep, a mountain of dungeons that Halaster, the Mad Mage, has created). Lux watches some mages trying to enter the portal to go as far as they can without losing their riches.

Lux decides to move the mirror from the bathroom to the study.

Against the Giants — Hill Giant Raid

In the early hours of the morning we wake up to the screams of the city. We all rush out. We see two large masses running into the woods and a third near the cottage.

Round 1. Arawn unleashes his bow and hits the giant (Sledgie), which is two to three times taller than Reaghl. 20 damage. There is a broken, slurring Common, then a more articulate Common from the trees on the other side of the wall.

A rock flies through the trees and smashes into our group. 34 damage for Kaladin, but Alora Amathur reaches out and takes 17 damage from him.

Guts runs 40 feet forward, barging through the fence. He lashes out with the sword, swinging twice but hitting once. 15 damage.

Lux strikes with a Fire Bolt. 18 damage.

Lyra double dashes towards the giant, hiding in the haystack.

Serril sends a message to an amputee giant: “There are enemies in front of you.” He receives a message in return but they are not speaking Common.

Sledgie strikes at Guts with his hammer. It does 27 points of bludgeoning damage. He tries to drop his weight and sit on Guts, but misses. He reaches into the house, grabs a little kid then smashes through the fence.

Guts’ reaction Sentinel means Sledgie’s movement is reduced to zero. He hits out at Sledgie doing 16 points of damage.

Alora Amathur casts Spiritual Weapon, funnelling the damage that she held from Kaladin, inflicting 29 damage. She then casts Sacred Flame, lashing out and inflicting 18 damage.

Nemesis see a small boy thrown through the air.

The other giant throws a rock at Kaladin — 27 damage. Alora Amathur takes 13 points (2 of 6) of Kaladin’s damage.

Kaladin fires Magic Missiles at the giant. He collapses, squashing the girl. The blood of the giant explodes. The little girl screams in terror, somehow, still alive.

Round 2. A boulder is thrown but it misses and hits a tree. The tree falls over and hits some of the villagers.

Arawn tried to catch the kid but missed. There is a thud.

Guts strikes at Sledgie but smacks his sword into the guttering of the house. He pulls it out of the guttering and tries again. He has chopped the head off of the giant. He pulls the girl out from the giant, but she is in a bad way.

Lux rushes towards the girl to lay hands.

Lyra pokes her head out of the haystack and sneezes (allergies). New giant throws a boulder towards the group. Lyra yells out “Four!”

Lux takes 55 points of damage.

Serril moves forward 30 feet to the trees, then sends Hope to the little girl with a Cure Wounds spell.

Alora Amathur moves Spiritual Weapon 60 feet towards the new giant, then casts Cure Wounds on Lux, sending Lupin to deliver 27 healing points.

A giant rock lands against the window of the hut.

Kaladin dashes towards the new giant and clambers up onto the tree.

Round 3. Arawn casts Slayer’s Prey on the new giant, then shoots him. It misses. His second arrow hits, inflicting 9 points of damage.

Guts runs through the hay bale, hay flying everywhere as he runs 40 feet towards the new giant. Guts engages his propulsion arm, doing 11 points of damage.

Lux shoots at the new giant with a Fire Bolt. 26 damage.

Lyra takes her crossbow to shoot the new giant but misses.

Serril casts Cure Wounds and heals Lux for 16 points. Calls Hope back to his shoulder.

Alora Amathur moves Spiritual Weapon twenty feet closer, then uses the longbow but misses the new giant.

The new giant stumbles through the wall and hits Kaladin. Alora Amathur takes 14 points (three of six) of his damage.

Kaladin casts Hellish Rebuke but the giant saves, still taking 5 damage. Kaladin lays hands on himself, healing and then kneeling beside the giant to catch his breath.

Round 4. Arawn fires two arrows towards the new giant.

Guts swings with his sword. 45 points of damage. The hill giant falls to the ground, dead.

One last rock flies through the air and hits Kaladin. 36 points of bludgeoning damage. We hear the thump of footsteps leaving into the distance. Kaladin takes a knee, then calls out wearily: “Good job, everyone. Good job.” We can hear the screams of the children as the light is slowly creeping into the sky.

We hear parents crying “my babies, my babies!” Reaghl shrugs. “Think of the savings.”

Someone calls out “Fuck you, Reaghl.”

We have a short rest.

We level up to 12!

Items & Loot

• Clifton’s Shield — Alora Amathur (sun with beams; Kelemvor’s skeleton hand with scales on one side, Ilmater’s symbol on the other)
• Elixir of the Undying — recovered from the royal vault (cursed chest: petrification trap, then sleep curse)

NPCs Encountered

• Clifton the Righteous — Gave Alora Amathur his shield and departed. Helped reestablish order in the city. “Henry Cavill in the Witcher” energy
• Claramond — Paladin of the Opposable Force. Fought Clifton with the orb of annihilation
• Charles — Paladin of the Opposable Force. Insulted Clifton, fought Alora Amathur. Later befriended Lyra
• Kazros — Helped with the city landing
• Barnabus Dazzlebelt — Assisted with the city landing
• High Priest Barnett — Only remaining Council of Stewards member. Worked with Alora Amathur on hospitals
• Prime Gerard — Missing after the city landed. Lux’s message unanswered
• Lux’s Celestial Guardian — Guided Lux to land the city. Thumbs up, then faded away
• Sledgie — Hill giant, killed by Guts (beheaded)

Notable Quotes

“I’ll set you up a date with that one.” — Lyra, gesturing at Alora Amathur. Clifton gulps.

“If we’re all alive I’ll take you up on that.” — Clifton

“This is your captain speaking. This is Lux Armiger the Light Bearer and controller of your destiny…” — Lux, full QANTAS pilot mode, Nat 20 intimidation

“That’s not yours to throw away.” — Reaghl, slapping Kaladin for trying to sacrifice the Wand of Missiles

“All you need is faith.” — Serril

“Alora Amathur, your presence has been a steadfast beacon in a stormy sea.” — Clifton’s parting words

“Think of the savings.” — Reaghl, as parents scream for their children after the giant attack

“Fuck you, Reaghl.” — Someone in the crowd

“Good job, everyone. Good job.” — Kaladin, taking a knee after being hammered by rocks all fight