Skip to content

Dunmari Frontier - Session 111

Approaching Drankor: in which the party plans their attack on their dopplegangers

Featuring: Seeker, Delwath, Kenzo, Wellby, Riswynn
In Taelgar: May 21, 1749 DR to May 22, 1749 DR
On Earth: Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Vindristjarna and outskirts of Drankor

The Dunmar Fellowship prepares to cautiously enter Drankor and deal with undead threats and doppelgangers.

Session Info

Summary

  • The Dunmar Fellowship returned to Vindristjarna with a massive crystal block and reunited with their crew.
  • Milo and Tilly departed to find their former crew, while Willow and Micah decided to stay.
  • The party planned to approach Drankor, strategizing on how to deal with undead and doppelgangers.
  • Riswynn cast Hero’s Feast for immunity to fear, and Delwath used scrying for reconnaissance.
  • The party made final preparations for a cautious entry into Drankor, planning to use teleportation to ambush Bizarro Delwath.

Timeline

  • May 21, 1749 DR, evening: Set course for Drankor, and discuss plans.
  • May 22, 1749 DR, morning: Arrive on the outskirts of Drankor. Scout in Vindristjarna Prepare to attack dopplengagers.

Narrative

The party returned to Vindristjarna after their recent adventures, bringing with them a massive crystal block containing the Cloudspinner in suspended animation, among other treasure from the black dragon Ra’ghemdros. They reunited with Riswynn, and the crew of Vindristjarna, who were eager to hear about their exploits. They unloaded their treasure and discussed dividing it, while joking about potential uses for the magical items.

After sorting through the treasure, the party began making preparations for their next steps. Milo Thistlefoot and Tilly Brineheart decided to leave the group, intending to sail west and track down their former crew. Two halfling crew members, Willow Copperharp and Mica Copperharp, chose to stay with the party for a while. The remaining crew discussed their course of action regarding Drankor and Apollyon’s phylactery—a plain adamantine dagger—and debated the risks of taking Vindristjarna into the city. They ultimately decided to set course towards Drankor, planning to scout and gather information once they arrived.

As they approached Drankor, the party discussed their strategy for entering the city. They considered scouting and scrying to gather information, recalling that the city was overgrown and potentially inhabited by skeletal undead. They also weighed the risks of flying over the river versus approaching from the west. They discussed how to deal with Apollyon’s doppelgangers, deciding to use scrying to better understand their enemies’ positions and to minimize risk as much as possible.

The party finalized their preparations for approaching Drankor, deciding on their tactics. Riswynn cast Hero’s Feast, granting themselves and key crew members immunity to fear, and Delwath scryed on their doppelgangers, locating them at the docks. The party planned to use invisibility and misdirection to gain an advantage, hoping to defeat the doppelgangers one by one rather than facing them all at once. They decided to maintain a cautious approach while preparing for potential confrontation.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Drankor, the party spotted notable landmarks, such as the Teeth of Drankor and the Temple of the Eight Divines. They used scrying to locate Delwath’s doppelganger on one of the towers and considered teleporting directly to confront him. Meanwhile, Kenzo sensed Wellby’s presence near the docks, preparing an ambush. The party debated their options, eventually deciding to move cautiously to avoid triggering the city’s defenses while they strategized how best to isolate and confront their enemies. The session ended as the party made their final preparations for a confrontation in Drankor.

Detailed Summary

Return to Vindristjarna

The party returns to Vindristjarna after their recent adventures, reuniting with the crew and unloading their treasure.
- The folding boat, crewed by Milo, Tilly, and halfling sailors, emerges from a supernatural storm and returns to Vindristjarna.
- Riswynn returns alongside Kethra, radiating confidence from her recent connection with her gods.
- The rest of the crew gathers on deck, eager to hear about the party’s adventures.
- Seeker, Delwath, and Wellby reflect on their recent experiences: Wellby is elated, Delwath feels grim and reflective, and Seeker appears contemplative.
- The crew, including the orc twin sisters and other companions, reacts to the return, with Nuzkar pledging to find a way to free the encased cloud spinner.
- The party begins unloading the treasure, including a massive crystal block containing the cloud spinner in suspended animation.
- A discussion about dividing the treasure and magic items takes place, with the crew joking about potential uses for the various enchanted artifacts.

Departure from Vindristjarna

The party sorts through their treasure and makes preparations for their next steps, deciding on their course towards Drankor.
- Milo and Tilly prepare to leave the party, planning to sail west to track down their former crew and outfit a new ship.
- Two halfling crew members, Willow Copperharp and her husband Micah, ask to stay with the party for a few weeks; Willow wants to witness and tell their story, while Micah is curious about what lies ahead.
- The party says their goodbyes as Milo and Tilly sail off, and a calm settles over the group as they discuss their plans.
- The discussion centers on Drankor, with the party strategizing how to locate Apollyon’s phylactery and debating the risks of bringing Vindristjarna into the city.
- The crew recalls what they know about Apollyon’s transformation into a lich, his phylactery, and how it could be found.
- Ultimately, they decide to set a course for Drankor, with plans to scout and gather more information upon arrival.
- The group also discusses the possible dangers in Drankor, including the presence of plague mist and the magical towers known as the Teeth of Drankor, capable of striking attackers with lightning.
- They recall that Apollyon’s phylactery, a plain adamantine dagger, was last seen at the Temple of the Eight Divines in Drankor, and they plan to use various spells and abilities to search for it.
- Faldrak sets a course towards Drankor, with the ship expected to reach land by nightfall.

Planning the Approach to Drankor

As the ship begins moving towards Drankor, the party discusses their approach and the potential obstacles awaiting them.
- The crew retreats inside as a brief afternoon thunderstorm breaks, with the treasure pile partially covered on deck.
- The party debates their strategy for entering Drankor, including options for scrying and long-range scouting to gather information about the city.
- They recall a past report describing Drankor as partially overgrown with jungle vines and inhabited by skeletal undead, possibly with lingering plague mist.
- The party considers their options for approaching the city, weighing the risks of flying directly over the river versus approaching from the west through the jungle to avoid the magical defenses along the river.
- They also discuss the doppelgangers created by Apollyon, their tokens, and how to defeat them without allowing them to reincarnate.
- A decision is made to attempt scrying on the doppelgangers and to further plan how best to face Apollyon and his minions while minimizing risks to the ship and crew.

Preparations and Strategies for Drankor

The party finalizes their preparations for their approach to Drankor, deciding on their tactics and discussing their upcoming challenges.
- As night falls, the party decides to maintain their course towards Drankor, planning to reach the outskirts by dawn, about 20 miles away.
- They debate who should be the target of a simulacrum spell, ultimately deciding on Delwath due to his versatility in both offensive and defensive roles.
- The crew discusses their advantage of having additional magic items, Hero’s Feast, and other spells that might improve their chances in the upcoming battle.
- The party plans to approach Drankor from the opposite side of where the doppelgangers are stationed, hoping to provoke a reaction without exposing themselves to the city’s magical defenses.
- A Hero’s Feast is cast to grant the party and key crew members immunity to fear effects and other advantages before the upcoming confrontation.
- They scry on the doppelgangers, revealing that Seeker, Riswynn, and Kenzo’s doppelgangers are stationed on the docks, seemingly in a dormant state.
- The party plans to use invisibility and misdirection tactics to gain an advantage, hoping to isolate and defeat the doppelgangers one by one rather than facing them all together.

Arriving at the Outskirts of Drankor

The party reaches the outskirts of Drankor and begins strategizing on how to approach their targets while minimizing risk.
- As dawn breaks, the party finds themselves about 15 miles south of Drankor, with the jungle and river visible below them, and ruins of the city peeking through the dense trees.
- They spot landmarks such as the Teeth of Drankor, tall towers with a crystal dome, and the massive dome of the Temple of the Eight Divines.
- The party uses boosted clairvoyance and scrying to locate Delwath’s doppelganger, discovering him on top of one of the Teeth of Drankor, surrounded by six arcane runic circles.
- They consider the possibility of using Dimension Door to teleport into the tower to confront Delwath’s doppelganger, debating whether to risk using spell slots or rely on other tactics.
- Kenzo extends his consciousness to locate Wellby, who is found hiding among ruined warehouses near the docks, seemingly preparing to ambush anyone who approaches.
- The group discusses their options, including using the Rainbow Bridge to create a distraction, dimension dooring into the tower, or potentially baiting the enemy into revealing their plans.
- The party ultimately decides to move cautiously, keeping their distance from the city’s magical defenses while strategizing how to isolate and deal with the doppelgangers effectively.

Final Preparations and the Ambush Plan

The party makes final preparations for their confrontation in Drankor, deciding to lure out their enemies and gain the advantage.
- The ship flies around the city, observing the terrain and attempting to scout potential landing zones while avoiding the dangerous red mist that fills a valley near Apollyon’s tomb.
- They identify landmarks such as the Grand Plaza, surrounded by statues and a large fountain, and the Temple of the Eight Divines, which appears undamaged.
- The party discusses their plan to create a distraction using the Rainbow Bridge to lure the doppelgangers away from their positions and into a favorable battleground.
- They decide to avoid flying directly over the red mist or Apollyon’s tomb, recognizing the potential dangers posed by the mist and choosing instead to stay on the western side of the city.
- The group debates various options, including using the ship’s ice shield to absorb lightning strikes from the city’s defenses or teleporting directly to Delwath’s doppelganger atop the tower.
- Ultimately, they agree on a strategy that involves using the Rainbow Bridge to make their presence known and waiting to see if the doppelgangers come after them, hoping to lure them into an ambush.
- The session ends with Seeker preparing to use Chance Weaver’s dice for a teleportation attempt into the lightning tower, with the party ready to strike as soon as they have an opportunity.