Download: https://t.co/eenvjl46CV
As an apology for no game tonight, here are my notes from the last session! Mind you, I deleted a section at the end with stuff still to come (and backup notes in case they turned around), but this should show my outline for the events that DID transpire! -The Paths through the Underground/Underdark—(9 days of travel)Wandering through the dark tunnels, the rushing sounds of the underground river begin to fade as it diverges from the cavern. You walk on for miles, the smell of hard water and wet earth. Natural chambers and cavern passways are chained together by the stretches of burrowed earth left in the wake of this massive worm-like creature.Clusters of crystal and other beautiful minerals occasionally line the walls and ceilings of the chambers, glittering with the little light you have to shove back the darkness.Day 1 goes without issue… sleep.Day 2 –RopersAfter a few miles of winding tunnel, you emerge in a smaller grotto of stalactites and stalagmites dripping with condensation. Unsure if the same underground river, or another water source, is nearby, you can see quite a bit of ground water does funnel down into this area. Seeking the next burrowed entrance left by the Kryn…—ENCOUNTER –Ropersx 2—Day 3 goes without issue…sleep.Day 4 -Kobold TrapPartway into the journey, the path becomes a protracted tunnel, snaking through the rock for hours without end. Eventually, you begin to notice other smaller tunnels intersecting with the burrowed canal. They appear partially ruined by this fresher tunnel, many of them now filled or partially collapsed.They are no more than 2-3 feet wide, and numerous (dozens).In some of the rubble, you can find broken tools… a hammer, some soiled leather, a knife.The tunnel finally seems to open into a small 15-foot high, 30ft long chamber of dirt and rock, where a rather rancid smell lingers. Glancing within, a handful of the smaller tunnels seem to intersect with it, and whomever enters first (if not Cad), their leg is SNARED by a noose and they must make a Dexterity Saving Throw (DC 15) or be lifted into the air to dangle from a small trap (restrained, DC 16 to escape). The snare also drags a cable tied to numerous pans and metal scraps, making a ruckus!Chattering and tiny warcrys begin to fill the tunnel from all sides… as dozens of small kobolds rush into the room, and from behind!-ENCOUNTER: Kobolds x 26, Kobold Inventor x 1-“Loud food! Loud meal!”When seeing the group, they bark and growl. (if noticed, they appear rather fearful)“You! Give us stuffs! Give us foods! Drop things you have, or we stab stab!”If asked about tunnel “Big worm eat through! Bring ingoeth! In and out, gone quick, leave mess!”They must parlay with them, avoiding a battle with a significant trade, or intimidation. Otherwise, a fight ensues! Either way, two kobolds are too scared and freeze up.They are brothers Spurtand Bex, scavenger kobolds. They are timid, but know the tunnels well…ish?
Day 4 goes without issue.Day 5–Rude Awakening(Trapper)Waking within your magical hut, you notice the dome is somewhat obscured… something like a heavy blanket seems to be laying across much of the dome. If you watch closely, portions of it seem to be shifting eeeever so slightly.Day 6 goes without issue…sleep.**You begin to get the sense that this path you are taking, following the burrowed trail of the worm,is perpetually bordering between the “underground” of Wynandir, and the “Underdark” itself. Day 7 goes without issue…sleep.Day 8 –The Fire Giant CitadelPushing forward, the rock and earth that make up the caverns begin to shift in color and make-up. Elements of smooth, black mineral begin to show through in places, with flaked shards of dark glass-like material can be found crumbled in loose scatterings.The air of the tunnels seems to be growing steadily warmer as your progress. The heat begins to grow uncomfortable as you look ahead to where the tunnel seems to open into a low, red glow. Approaching the egress, you can see an open plane of worked stone, like a courtyard. Across the open field of rock, over 100 feet away, lies another wall of sheer stone riddled with obsidian reinforced in places with heavy stone blocks forming elements of a wall. To the right, another cavern wall of pure, jagged obsidian carries a slow flow of molten rock to the floor of the region. To the left, the courtyard appears to stretch on towards a chamber of immense size that houses a massive subterranean citadel of black stone and iron, thick chains of dark metal strung from its tower peak to the various edges of the cavern. Small peaks of distant buildings are barely visible, an dull halo of red light framing your only signal as to their existence. You can see what appears to be a bridge in the center of the courtyard, underlit by a controlled flow of magma being funneled towards the central stronghold. What REALLY catches your eye, however, is standing across the way from your exit…standing there you see a burly, grey-skinned giant standing around 20 feet tall, adorned in heavy armor of dark iron riddled with metal torns. It is leaning against the chamber wall, carrying what looks to be two tower shields nearly as tall as itself, both bearing menacing spikes.To your left, just outside the exit, stands a tall giant in more mobile iron, clutching a dangerous-looking maul the size of Yasha, also leaning and looking disinterested.Perception 18+ -You notice that across the courtyard, to the right of a 15 foot stalagmite, in one of the few pockets of non-obsidian stone, there lies an entrance to another worm tunnel… apparently the Kryn passed through this area themselves, perhaps their presence triggering the need for a local sentinel.-ENCOUNTER –Fire Giant x 1, Fire Giant Dreadnought x 1https://t.co/eenvjl46CV https://t.co/hs9hVTydBp— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
Do note that the days got shifted slightly, and a small encounter was cut in the moment to maintain player momentum (and to get to introducing our guest). These are the kind of things that the DM can trim or shift behind the screen to aid in the flow of the story. This particular session was fairy straight forward, so long as they progressed in the tunnel, so the notes reflect that. Some sessions can be more open-ended, with scattered “possibilities” in the back of your notes. That was what I deleted, in case they went back to the Empire.
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
would there ever be a chance to see how you prepared a session for a city like Emon/Whitestone/Westruun from last campaign? With any spoiler related stuff that can still apply cut of course. Preparing cities always feels very overwhelming and seeing what a skilled DM does mayhelp I may put something together over the weekend when I get a moment!
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
Is Caduceus’ passive perception really that much better than everyone else’s, or is there a different reason the snare wouldn’t have caught him? His passive perception is precisely why it would not have caught him has he entered first. His is the highest!
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
Feels like this was a more rail roady one though – he knew they’d decided to go into the tunnels so theres not much they can do to go off the beaten track. Still I found it fascinating to read over and gives me hope that I can improve! True that. Hoping to post something a little more “open” in the near future.
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
Can I ask what you meant by if not Cad for the kobold snare?
Was that if no-one stepped forward it would happen to Cad or it wouldn’t spring for Cad? If the second, why???Just really curious either way. Otherwise, love the simple nature, will have to do similar in future Because if he was in front for some reason, his passive perception would have noticed the signs of something amiss on the ground…
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
I noticed there were no loot tables. Is that separate or how do you determine loot when you DM? I write up and print out items they may find/gold on the actual monster sheets most of the time.
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
Thank you for the insight! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who prepares descriptions. I’m trying to get better at improv though for when my players go.. literally everywhere but where I’ve prepared 🙂
— Abbey (@AbbeyAdventures) February 7, 2019
The descriptions both help you as a guide in a pinch, and just the process of writing them helps you recall the details in the moment so you can improv around them! https://t.co/4ZfdZg25NT
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019
I have a real struggle with reading my descriptions but keeping eye contact with the players as they’re listening, any tips or wise words? Sometimes it helps to just write bullet points you can improv the details around, or just have trust that you don’t need to read the description verbatim (so long as you can recall/quickly remind yourself with a glance)
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) February 7, 2019