Rappan: Assaulting Immarassrath, 2nd try pt. 2

Session 285  was played on 06/19/25

Morgana, wizard 10 (Rob)
Borumar, Triton Thief 11 (Josh)
Blotto, Goblin Fighter 8 (Lanse)
Nick, Fighter 9 (Me)
Koltic, Cleric 9 (Cindy)
Aroon, Fighter 8 (NPC)
Jameth, Fighter 8 (NPC)
Lor’Koth, Dwarf 8 (NPC)

The party stands invisible, largely silent, and very bored for a good 3 hours waiting for the patrol shift change and the doors of the fortress to open. When they finally do, they shuffle in, and bank to the side out of the way of the lizardmen about to march in and out of the fort. There is a table with a gnome sitting at it right by the doors, and he scribbles into the book as the party passes by, but also doesn’t seem to notice them? He has a chain locked to his ankle, but the short length of the chain isn’t attached to anything. Weird. 

Within the fort are a variety of tents, some bigger than others, a fire with a large boar roasting away, and in the middle a massive stump with a large gap at the base. Around the doorway-like gap are runes. Sitting in front of it is another table with another gnome. 

The party avoids distractions, and heads for the stump, drinking their potions of poison resistance, as Morgana checks the runes. A number of lizardfolk females and young come and go, and the gnome makes an entry in his book as they do. Morgana whispers that as best as she can tell the runes are gibberish. The party passes the gnome and he makes a mark in his book without looking at them. 

Within the stump is a carved stairway heading in and down. It comes to a large open area within the stump, open to the sky. From the stairs are a series of seats like bleachers or pews looking down to the main area that contains a massive green dragon lounging upon an even more massive pile of gold. Off to one side is a large opening in the ground.

 “You might as well come in” the dragon rumbles. 

“Fuck” Nick says, striding forward, while Morgana and Koltic duck back around. Blotto and the Amigos (all still invisible) follow Nick and start to spread out so that any breath weapon attacks can’t hit everyone. Before they could fully spread out, Immarassrath flicks a glowing bead into the middle of the party, and a fireball explodes out of it, engulfing almost everyone in flames. Morgana and Koltic in the back both take the hit but keep on standing. Morgana tries to polymorph the dragon, but the spell is reflected back. Thankfully Morgana makes her save. The fighters charge in, Nick throwing his spear while Koltic casts Cureall on Morgana. The dragon breathes on the rapidly approaching fighters, and is put out that most of them keep coming. It bites Nick, who chops into the dragon’s neck with his ax. Aroon and Blotto get smacked, and both drop. 

Spitting Nick out, the dragon decides to make a strategic retreat, and jumps down the large hole in the side of the room. Morgana summons a water elemental and sends it down the shaft to keep the dragon busy while the party regroups. From below there’s a flash and a bang and some roaring as the dragon kills the elemental. 

Strategies are discussed, and flooding is out, and also impractical… Hoping the dragon will lick it’s wounds and exhibit some patience, the party returns to the surface, and checks on the halfling accountants. They’re magically controlled via the chains, and don't know what it is they're writing in the books. The party tells them to keep their heads down for now.