Dungeons and Dragons ("DnD"): Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Episode 1 Part 2 Adventure #8

Date of Session: July 11, 2019 (9pm to 1:30am)

Number of Players: 4

1. Legendary Hero Menos (Dragon-born Paladin)

2. Kai-tick, Kin-slayer and “Servant” (Aarakocra Rogue)

3. XerX, the “X” Archer (NOBLE Half-Elf Ranger)

4. Bubby, the God-Child and “Master” (Aasimar Cleric)

Let’s pick up where we left off. A brief recap: The Enforcers have arrived in the small town of Greenest to find the fourth Dragon Egg before Mas O and his armies do, and find themselves in an endless array of battles against Goblins, Kobolds, and Bandits, where they are rescued twice by a Fighter named Zora, XerX’s childhood friend.

Eventually, they make it to the Castle Greenest and meet Governor Nighthill, who tells them about Killer-God, the woman who possesses the Blue Eyes White Dragon. However, this woman does not claim to be Killer-God but Mas O himself. The mystery deepens as his motives to end the world are clear but vague.

However, the Enforcers venture into the sewers to reach the Sanctuary, the last place Governor Nighthill placed the town’s “White Stone of Legend”. Swarms of rats block their way, but everyone, except Kai-tick manages to escape. His character flaw of being claustrophobic prevented him from following the others.

Kai-tick searches for another way to escape and trains against the rats to perfect his Monk fighting style. This player wants to multi-class and doing things to achieve such goal in-character wise.

Menos, XerX, Bubby, and Zora get dumped into a river and encounter more enemies. After taking care of the dozens, this is where we began Episode 1 Part 2 of the Campaign:

Menos and XerX were the two players who arrived first. Everyone else was late so I did things to keep the game moving until they arrived from work. Bubby had to be “asleep”, so Zora carried him for most of this session. Menos and XerX planned to fight while making their way to the Sanctuary. On the way though a blazing neighborhood area, they decide to make a pit stop in a house to help a woman in danger. XerX + Menos saved the day but did questionable actions like making Zora wait outside so he wouldn’t see it.

Afterwards, the Enforcers arrive at the Sanctuary. The place was either heavily guarded or heavily armed depending on the context. Menos and XerX weren’t sure if the 52 enemies surrounding the Church were guarding it or preparing to attack it. They were indeed guarding the place, but these Goblin NPCs made everything confusing. Menos and XerX didn’t know what to do or how to get inside to retrieve the fourth Dragon Egg.

XerX conjured his fog technique to distract the armies while he shot an arrow to the third story window. He successfully latched and climbed. Menos watched from afar to protect Zora and Bubby while questioning Goblins they captured in the fog. I was impressed in this scenario because XerX and Menos were coming up with some good ideas.

XerX successfully opened the window without making noise and entered the Church. I’ll use Church and Sanctuary interchangeably. When he entered the attic space, he spotted a ton of boxes and a door. Instead of simply opening the door, XerX pressed his ear up to it and listened to some mumbles on the other side. Then, he tried to push the door open, but failed to realize it was a “pull”. He made noise with his awkward attempt.

Two Knights shouted from the other side as they were standing guard. XerX held the door closed and tried to figure something out. This was an amusing fight scene, and I couldn’t stop laughing. The amount of nat 1s I rolled were ridiculous, and XerX’s quick thinking was impressive. I truly underestimated this player. XerX’s hold didn’t last and the two on one begun.

XerX recognized one of the Knights too: Doug. A Knight he fought to train with back in a Phandalin Session, the one where they first met the main villain Mas O. This D&D history is growing so fast, like this is a lot to keep track of. Luckily, I’m a writer and can handle this insanity.

Doug swung his sword (my first nat 1) and got it stuck in the threshold. Knight #2 had to waste an action to push through his friend because he was blocking the entrance. Insert awkward anime protagonist waiting for his opponents to get their shit together. XerX is feeling confident and fires his wind arrows for the first time; an interesting home brew creation. The roll wasn’t high enough however, and the Knights began their moves.

Knight #2 and XerX faced off. During the scuffle, Knight #2 hits the nat 20 revealing Mas O has been training them. He unleashes the now named technique, “Mas O Strike” upon XerX. This attack and previous slashes put XerX in critical condition. Doug also joins the fray after getting his shit together, and things looked dire. I thought I was going to end a second character of XerX’s (formerly known as Kenji).

But, XerX uses his stealth to hide in the attic’s box clutter. The Knights’ perception rolls weren’t the highest, so they end up searching the opposite side of the attic, giving XerX the opening he needed to escape. As he is below 5 HP, I made XerX roll strength checks; to determine if he could climb down safely using the arrow rope. He was doing great on rolling until the halfway point: the low 2 made XerX lose his grip and into his own fog. A mercy was bestowed: XerX fell on one Goblin killing the runt immediately upon impact.

I rolled perceptions. Nobody could determine the origin of the sound. XerX was invisible in his own mists but was in no condition to risk his life. So, XerX ventured carefully out to share his near-death experience with Menos and Zora. I was honestly impressed and it’s been awhile since I had this much fun playing D&D. A month break was too long…

Menos was like “what the fuck happened?” and used his lay on heals + potion of healing to get XerX back to good health. Zora was shocked and loud to see his rival defeated so badly. XerX was not pleased to have Zora see him like this: weak and humiliated. XerX shares what happened and that Knights were already inside. This really confused the players because they didn’t know why the armies were protecting it. The armies were guarding the Sanctuary and revealed a magic barrier was also present on the door. If XerX and Menos planned to get the fourth Dragon Egg, they had to get past 50+ foes.

It’s about to get Game of Thrones Battle of the Bastards / Avengers: Infinity War Battle on Wakanda if XerX and Menos screw this whole thing up. Their next interesting idea, an idea I’m glad didn’t happen, was tying themselves up with rope to navigate the armies through the fog. As Menos doesn’t have a visual, XerX thinks he can lead him through. However, as Zora points out, they didn’t account their body types going bumpy bump bump against the tight formation armies (6x4 column by row) of the Goblins and the Knights (4) leading them.

Then, Bubby and Kai-tick arrive at the table session. This awakens Bubby into a new evolution. Everyone, including all the Goblin armies, caught notice of the lightning transformation as it blew the fog right off the map. What a dramatic entrance… the Hathor Mark (Dragon Claw tattoo) on Bubby’s left hand glows and burn red, gifting Bubby a new God-like outfit (HE HAS A CAPE) and a legendary weapon known as a Mjölnir, the Hammer of HaTHOR.

Bubby and I had a short role-playing moment the night prior because we talked about them coming later and prepared this set-up. The moment worked out perfectly; power comes from within, Bubby, God-Child and Master of Kai-tick.

Using the Master-Servant connection Bubby shares with Kai-tick, he summons the Kin-slayer to the battlefield to do the impossible. Bubby was struggling to be leader, but a strange understanding united the Enforcers + Zora: They had to fight to survive all the Goblins and Knights who begin to charge them… Kai-tick had no context on the armies and fought to survive the impossible odds stacked against them.

The longest but grandest fight scene unfolded. Goblins overwhelmed Menos and XerX a couple times, knocking them close to death. Bubby was playing the supportive cleric and somewhat aggressive fighter using the Hammer’s projectile capabilities to keep distance between him and the Goblins. The 4 Knights soon joined the fray and engaged Zora first.

Zora held his own against one Knight for most of the fight sequence as I rolled somewhat horribly for their one-on-one duel. Kai-tick, Menos, and XerX (Bubby supported whoever he could behind) battled the other three groups, dividing them up by the dozen. Menos and XerX were knocked unconscious a few times while Kai-tick attacked and disengaged to avoid hardcore close range combat.

As they began to expend resources, the Enforcers realize the two groups had quietly sat back and waited until they were weakened. Bubby and the others were losing hope, but Zora wouldn’t allow them to give up, yelling to have faith and then… the Knight made a high roll and slashed. Zora wasn’t dead but had lost the advantage.

Bubby, channeling his power into the Hammer and earned inspiration, landed a Nat 20 to devastate the last Knight fighting Zora, creating a massive crater in the process. This made Kai-tick go, “Why didn’t he do that to the armies earlier?” as the remaining armies fled from their post. The Enforcers, barely alive, “decide” to let them leave… the players were truly terrified and tired. This was my favorite part of the whole session.

Afterwards, everyone caught up on what happened and the Sanctuary’s magical barrier. Kai-tick suggested using Bubby’s new God Hammer to smash the protection and maybe Zora’s unique Demon-Dwelling Sword. They are the most powerful weapons here based on the biggest fight scene ever. Bubby and Zora agree to destroy the barrier.

Bubby goes first and blasts the Hammer into the barrier, landing big cracks against it. Then, Zora swings his Demon-Dwelling and smashes the magic shield, absorbing the magic inside the blade. Kai-tick takes notice, but none of the other characters believe him or don’t care enough. We didn’t spend much time on this new development.

The Sanctuary’s last line of defense is finally gone. The Enforcers are back together. It’s time to face the music and whatever awaited inside. XerX warned the group about two knights upstairs but knows nothing else. The team heals up and prepare for a potential battle. They were afraid but continued onward into the Church.

Everyone entered together. Standing at the alter was… Killer-God, also known as Mas O, brother of Menos. The team drew their weapons but knew they stood no chance if she indeed possessed the fourth Dragon Egg, the “White Stone of Legend”. Not wanting to face a Blue Eyes right after the war outside, the Enforcers get Mas O to talk about what he’s been doing.

Mas O reveals Killer-God is a mere body possession trick, and that the “Prime” is making a visit to Menos’ parents with Mirna. Menos demands to know why Mas O wants them, and he reveals that he also desires the legendary sword, the blade of their Ancestors. This will be important later…

Mas O reveals that the “White Stone of Legend” is a fragment of the Fourth Dragon Egg, which had been split into three fragments. Mas O (as Killer-God) possesses two shards, and merges them together, summoning TWO Blue Eyes White Dragons while everyone was still INSIDE the Church. Saving throws were made, except Bubby who took damage from explosion.

Rest in Peace, Doug and Knight #2. I forgot you were upstairs until I did the thing. Sadly, you guys did not survive the explosion. Moving along here…

The Enforcers are not prepared for battle, especially against two fearsome Blue Eyes, and try to compromise. Kai-tick offers to show Mas O the last fragment (the one he can’t find) in exchange for letting everyone else leave to the Castle Greenest. Mas O agrees to these terms and flies off with Kai-tick, giving the Enforcers a chance to escape.

Bubby uses Vin the Genie to transport everyone minus Kai-tick back to Castle Greenest, hoping to figure out their next move against Mas O and his Blue Eyes White Dragons. I couldn’t believe the next part that happened, but it opens up interesting possibilities.

This is where Bubby shares his knowledge of the Dragon Eggs and their connection to the first Ancestors who were trusted to protect them. Bubby is one of the descendants who’s bloodline (Hathor) can wield the Dragon Eggs, and the team discovers together that Boy and Girl are Heirs to the “White Stone of Legend”.

XerX and Menos try to get “violent” or “mean”, whatever you want to call it… it wasn’t nice behavior to Boy and Girl. They took care of Axel, Menos’ warhorse too, and nobody shows appreciation. Kids in my D&D campaigns never get treated nice by the players. XerX tries to get the kids to give him the last fragment, knowing Mas O would eventually circle back to retrieve it. Boy and Girl are clueless about Ancestors, Blue Eyes, and Mas O’s Killer-God. They weep for the “Hero of Kin” to save them from the violent Enforcers.

Zora protects the small kids from XerX’s arrow being drawn, hating what the previous adventures had done to his childhood friend. Zora tries to get XerX to remember their dream of being Captain someday and how hurting kids is crossing a dark line because they grew up as orphans and are friends with orphans back home. XerX fires his wind arrow to shut Zora up, but misses and nails Girl in the leg.

Governor Nighthill and everyone else is outraged about the crazy development. Girl cries and Boy wants to fight XerX. Menos is conflicted on what to do, but Bubby and Zora don’t approve of the reckless action. XerX declares being Captain is no longer his dream, as he feels the shame of his previous defeats and resents the growth of Zora, who held his own against the Knight during the all-out battle scene. He also considers joining up with Mas O to acquire more power—to surpass all his rivals including Kai-tick the Kin-slayer.

Speaking of the Rogue, he returns to Castle Greenest warning everyone that Mas O is coming to attack. Governor Nighthill was in the midst of trying to evict XerX from the castle but decides to put the situation on hold until Mas O and the Blue Eyes are dealt with. Kai-tick is caught up on the situation, and has a talk with Boy and Girl about the missing fragment. Boy and Girl claim to have nothing of value, only these pictures of themselves inside card-photo cases.

Kai-tick examines the photos, triggering his Hathor Mark (Servant Dragon Wings tattoo) to glow in response. It forced the photos to merge together and reveal its true form as an artifact of the Blue Eyes. Then, Kai-tick apologizes to the kids for “destroying” the photos. They forgive their Hero of Kin and are glad to have him by their side. XerX, coerced by his teammates, offers Girl a packaged food item he acquired from the Church as an apology for shooting her in the leg. She eats the “cookie” and all seems…

A voice is heard, calling out for the Enforcers. Governor Nighthill and Cass the Red plan to evacuate his people through the underground tunnel where all the rats live. Cass the Red is Governor Nighthill’s right-hand who was almost killed by the Blue Eyes alongside him, and Vin the Genie restored the two men to full health. Menos secretly joins them on this mission to protect the people while the rest of the Enforcers + Zora and later Cass amble to the rooftop of the Castle Greenest.

There, they notice 50+, maybe more, Goblins following an unfamiliar Dragon-born. He calls himself Lannister and requests a one-on-one duel on behalf of Mas O, who had to leave Greenest earlier than expected. Lannister, under his Commander’s orders, wants Menos as an opponent (Trial by Combat). However, since Menos left with the Governor, Kai-tick takes his place wanting to try out his new fighting style. Zora and Bubby agree, but XerX merely watches alongside Cass the Red.

Lannister has the two fragments of the White Stone of Legend in his possession and wages them in the duel as he wants to acquire the last piece from Kai-tick. They toss them into the air and begin the honorable trial by combat duel. Kai-tick’s drunkness, somewhat bizarre throughout this session and the last, was all build up to this battle.

Tapping into this new ability of his, Kai-tick the Kin-slayer begins to slaughter Lannister and dodge every attack of his. The Goblins are helplessly watching, but Lannister isn’t a Dragon-born who gives up easily. Lannister, to reach Kai-tick’s flying abilities, jumps off his spear once or twice and swings using his Great Sword. The final battle of the session ended with Kai-tick’s victory and the White Stone of Legend in his possession. However, when he tries to summon the Blue Eyes White Dragons, he remembers Mirna’s speech and Bubby’s about the bloodlines controlling the Nine Dragon Eggs.

The Goblins honor the deal and take the gravely injured Lannister with them to… find out in the next episode of D&D! The Enforcers survived episode 1 and next session we will be starting episode 2. There are a total of eight episodes in the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, and playing out that first episode was total bonkers. I’m excited to throw more terrible things at them. Episode 2 is called “Raider’s Camp” by the way.

Thanks for following our Hero’s Journey.