Session 48 - Inside Oyaviggaton (2026.04.12): Difference between revisions

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Session 48 backfill: major enrichment — add omitted arcs (curing Mend Nets; befriending ice toads/Marfold and trolls/Ralph; recruiting troll allies; reviving frost giant Hrimther; scriptorium/Improved Eye; Arauthator's mad mate & tiefling-rider motive; Thorn-Born Star prophecy) and correct the ending: the Arauthator battle BEGAN this session (ended mid-combat). Preserved prior detail/lore sections.
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=== Summary ===
=== Summary ===
Following their rest on the ice hunter village plateau, [[Deez Nuts]] enters the lair of [[Arauthator]] through a secret passage revealed by [[Bone Carver]]. The shaman leads them through her hut into the frozen caverns beneath [[Oyaviggaton]], warning them of the dangers within: kobolds, ice trolls, giant toads, and the dragon's preference for freezing his enemies into decorative ice sculptures.
Following their rest on the ice hunter village plateau, [[Deez Nuts]] enters the lair of [[Arauthator]] through a secret passage revealed by [[Bone Carver]]. Before descending, the party works through its guilt over having killed the enslaved ice fishers on the way north — [[Xanphina]] especially — steadying themselves with a group hug and a motivational speech from [[Alexios]] (granting temporary hit points, a ritual he repeats through the session). [[Bone Carver]] and the ice hunters provide a hand-drawn map, crampons, and warnings of kobolds, toads, trolls, and treacherous ice.


The party navigates the treacherous ice tunnels, discovering frozen corpses embedded in the walls—including the guards who accompanied [[Maccath the Crimson]] and ice hunters who attempted to escape Arauthator's tyranny. The circular tunnel system features slippery ice floors, uneven terrain, and ceilings roughly 20 feet high. [[Bone Carver]] provides crucial intelligence about the layout: kobolds infest the upper areas, trolls and toads patrol the middle sections, Maccath is imprisoned in a southern cave under guard, and Arauthator's treasure hoard lies deeper within.
Rather than carve through the lair by force, the party chooses diplomacy. They first find and cure a diseased ice hunter, '''Mend Nets''' (Alexios's Lay on Hands), sending him home — a small redemption. Descending the spiral stair past murals of draconic propaganda and giants frozen in defeat, they win over the lair's oppressed inhabitants one community at a time: the giant ice toads led by the scholar '''[[Marfold]]''', then the ice trolls led by '''[[Ralph]]''' (with Gunner and Blade). Both peoples serve [[Arauthator]] only out of fear and want him truly dead; they become guides and, in the trolls' case, allies recruited for the coming assault in exchange for magic weapons.


The party eventually locates Maccath the Crimson in her makeshift prison-laboratory, a cave decorated with the symbol of the [[Arcane Brotherhood]]. The tiefling sorcerer, though under constant watch by kobold attendants, has spent her captivity studying Arauthator's collection of stolen magical items and spellbooks from the Arcane Brotherhood's archives. Despite her imprisonment, she has maintained her scholarly focus, copying spells and researching the [[Draakhorn]]—the ancient artifact whose call summoned dragons across Faerûn.
The party reaches '''[[Maccath the Crimson]]''' in her tented study, who delivers the session's great lore dump on the [[Draakhorn]] and on Arauthator himself, and gifts the party cold-warding gear and dragon-slaying arrows. In her scriptorium the [[Eye of Gilbraxis]] "demands" a black necromancer's spellbook; [[Shade]] bonds it into the book, creating the '''Improved [[Eye of Gilbraxis]]'''. The party then revives a [[Frost Giant]] frozen among Arauthator's trophies — '''[[Hrimther]]''' — using "circle magic" to thaw him and Revivify to restore him; he pledges his axe to the cause.


Maccath provides critical intelligence about Arauthator's capabilities: he is an ancient dragon who has learned to cast spells beyond normal dragon abilities, favors cold-based attacks and has a penchant for freezing enemies solid, possesses a vast treasure hoard taken from various conquests, and knows the location of every single piece of treasure in his lair. She equips the party with magical items to aid in their fight: a Ring of Resistance to Cold, special arrows that deal massive cold damage (6d10 on a failed CON save), and a powerful necromancer's spellbook that [[Shade]] attunes to the Eye of Gilbraxius.
Finally, with troll allies, a frost giant, and full cold resistance, the party descends into Arauthator's lair. [[Shade]] attempts a parley; the dragon reveals he wants a tiefling wizard to ride his mad mate (see [[Arauthator's Mate]]) and offers Shade the role. She refuses — "I'm just gonna start blastin'" — and the battle is joined. The session ends only a round or two in, mid-combat, with the slaying of Old White Death deferred to the next session.
 
The session includes several combat encounters with kobold swarms as the party explores the caverns. [[Alexios]] uses his Polearm Master feat to strike enemies as they approach, the party discusses tactical positioning in the confined ice tunnels, and they learn about the regional effects of being near an ancient dragon's lair, including unnatural winds and freezing temperatures.
 
The session ends with significant revelations: Maccath confirms the [[Draakhorn]] is at the [[Well of Dragons]] where the [[Cult of the Dragon]] sounds it continuously, Arauthator possessed the Draakhorn for years before the cult acquired it, the dragon has extensive knowledge of arcane magic and a collection of stolen spellbooks, and the party is now better equipped to face Old White Death. The session concludes with [[Wes]] offering players the opportunity to respec their characters, with [[Shade]]'s player expressing interest in changing from Bard to Wizard.


=== Notable Events ===
=== Notable Events ===
* [[Bone Carver]] revealed a secret entrance through her hut into Arauthator's caverns
* [[Bone Carver]] led the party through her hut into Arauthator's caverns; provided a map and crampons
* Party discovered frozen corpses in ice walls: Maccath's guards and escaped ice hunters
* The party cured the diseased ice hunter '''Mend Nets''' ([[Alexios]]'s Lay on Hands) and sent him home
* Found [[Maccath the Crimson]] imprisoned in a cave, guarded by kobolds
* Befriended the giant ice toads led by the scholar '''[[Marfold]]''', gaining guides through the upper tunnels
* Maccath shared extensive knowledge about the [[Draakhorn]] and Arauthator's abilities
* Befriended the ice trolls led by '''[[Ralph]]'''; recruited Ralph, Gunner, and Blade for the assault by trading away magic weapons (Corpseslayer Mace, Dagger of Venom, Glimmering Moonbow)
* [[Shade]] acquired a necromancer's spellbook attuned to the [[Eye of Gilbraxius]], gaining 5 charges of necromancy spells
* Found [[Maccath the Crimson]] and received her [[Draakhorn]] research, a Ring of Cold Resistance, and two Arrows of Slaying (Dragon)
* Maccath provided a Ring of Resistance to Cold to help survive Arauthator's breath weapon
* [[Shade]] bonded the [[Eye of Gilbraxis]] into a necromancer's spellbook, creating the '''Improved Eye of Gilbraxis''' (no attunement slot; 5 charges of necromancy spells)
* Party received special arrows (6d10 cold damage, CON save) designed to harm the dragon
* Revived the frost giant '''[[Hrimther]]''' from Arauthator's trophy ice via "circle magic" + Revivify; he joined the assault
* Learned Arauthator can cast spells beyond normal dragon abilities
* Maccath revealed [[Arauthator's Mate]] — a mad ancient white dragon with a dead tiefling rider — and that this is why Arauthator hunts tiefling wizards
* Discovered the dragon's habit of freezing enemies into ice sculptures as decorations
* [[Keyleth|Key]] asked Maccath about the "Prophecy of the Thorn-Born Star" ("five heads rising from the shadow's root"); Maccath agreed to research it
* Confirmed the [[Draakhorn]] is at the [[Well of Dragons]], sounded continuously by the cult
* Redistributed cold-warding gear so all six party members have cold resistance
* Encountered multiple kobold swarms in the tunnels
* Cleared multiple kobold swarms throughout the tunnels
* [[Alexios]] used Polearm Master and shield to provide 12 temporary HP to the party
* Descended into [[Arauthator]]'s lair; [[Shade]] parleyed, refused the "rider" offer, and '''the battle with Old White Death began''' — the session ended mid-combat
* Party discussed character respeccing options at session end
* Confirmed the [[Draakhorn]] is at the [[Well of Dragons]], sounded continuously by the [[Cult of the Dragon]]


=== XP Awards ===
=== XP Awards ===
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=== Notable Characters ===
=== Notable Characters ===
* [[Alexios]] (Richard) - Provided 12 temporary HP each morning with Athena's blessing, used Polearm Master to strike kobolds as they approached, cast Lesser Restoration, manned the front lines
* [[Alexios]] (Richard) - Cured Mend Nets with Lay on Hands, gave morale speeches (temp HP), front-line; used Jaunty Boots to fly Xanphina to the dragon
* [[Xanphina|Zan]] (Amber) - Front-line fighter navigating the ice tunnels, has resistance to cold from magical boots
* [[Xanphina|Zan]] (Amber) - Wrestled with guilt over the killed fishers; in the lair, raged and grappled/restrained Arauthator with [[Garmok's Flail]]
* [[Karma]] (Shanna) - Negotiated with NPCs, explained the party's mission
* [[Karma]] (Shanna) - Led most NPC negotiations (toads, trolls, Maccath); cast Revivify to restore Hrimther; cast Wall of Fire on the dragon
* [[Shade]] (Sarah) - Acquired the necromancer's spellbook and attuned it to the Eye of Gilbraxius, gained new necromancy spells, discussed changing from Bard to Wizard
* [[Shade]] (Sarah) - Bonded the Eye into the necromancer's spellbook; parleyed with Arauthator and refused his offer, starting the fight; planning a Bard→"dark wizard" respec
* [[Gootcha|Gooch]] (Ashley) - Explored the caverns with the party
* [[Gootcha|Gooch]] (Ashley) - Explored and fought through the tunnels (joined under Patty's account)
* [[Keyleth|Key]] (Patty) - Scouted and attacked enemies, dealt 6 damage in combat
* [[Keyleth|Key]] (Patty) - Scouted and sniped; raised the Thorn-Born Star prophecy; landed a crit on the dragon with Worm Reaver
* [[Bone Carver]] - Ice hunter shaman who led the party into Arauthator's lair, provided intelligence about the cave layout, warned about trolls, toads, and kobolds
* [[Bone Carver]] - Ice hunter shaman who led the party into the lair and provided the map and crampons
* [[Barking Seal]] - Ice hunter chieftain (mentioned)
* [[Maccath the Crimson]] - Tiefling wizard of the [[Arcane Brotherhood]], held ~3 years; delivered Draakhorn lore and gifts; revealed Arauthator's plan for his mate
* [[Orca Heart]] - Ice hunter champion (mentioned)
* [[Marfold]] - Giant ice toad scholar; allied guide through the tunnels
* [[Maccath the Crimson]] - Tiefling sorcerer, member of the [[Arcane Brotherhood]], world's foremost expert on dragons and the Draakhorn, held prisoner by Arauthator for months, provided magical items and crucial intelligence
* [[Ralph]] - Ice troll leader; recruited with Gunner and Blade for the assault
* [[Hrimther]] - Frost giant revived from Arauthator's trophy ice; pledged his axe
* [[Arauthator's Mate]] - The dragon's mad consort, with a dead tiefling rider (revealed, not yet seen)
* [[Arauthator]] - Ancient white dragon "Old White Death"; parleyed, then attacked
* [[Barking Seal]], [[Orca Heart]] - Ice hunter leaders (mentioned)


=== Locations ===
=== Locations ===
* [[Oyaviggaton]] - Arauthator's massive iceberg lair in the [[Sea of Moving Ice]]
* [[Oyaviggaton]] - Arauthator's massive iceberg lair in the [[Sea of Moving Ice]]
* Ice Hunter Village - Starting point on the plateau above
* Bone Carver's Hut - Conceals the secret entrance to the caverns
* Bone Carver's Hut - Conceals the secret entrance to the caverns
* Arauthator's Caverns - Circular tunnel system with ice walls, 20-foot ceilings, slippery floors, uneven terrain
* Arauthator's Caverns - Circular tunnel system: ice walls with frozen corpses, 20-ft ceilings, slippery sloped floors
* Ice Walls with Frozen Corpses - Maccath's guards and escaped ice hunters frozen as decorations
* Ice Toads' Room - Marfold's scriptorium-like workspace
* Kobold Chambers - Upper sections of the cavern system
* Ice Trolls' Room - Ralph's domain
* Maccath's Prison Cave - Southern cave where she is held, decorated with Arcane Brotherhood symbol
* Frozen-Trophy ("Statues") Room - Giants frozen in clear ice as Arauthator's conquests; where Hrimther was revived
* Arauthator's Treasure Room - (Mentioned) Contains vast hoard from various conquests, location known to the dragon down to every single coin
* Maccath's Study & the Scriptorium - Her tented prison-laboratory and the salvaged-spellbook archive (much laced with diabolical lore)
* Arauthator's Lair (below) - Large cavern of ice pillars, ledges (four height levels), traps, and water pools; the dragon's hoard frozen into the ice
* [[Well of Dragons]] - (Mentioned) Cult stronghold where the Draakhorn is kept
* [[Well of Dragons]] - (Mentioned) Cult stronghold where the Draakhorn is kept


=== Factions ===
=== Factions ===
* [[Arcane Brotherhood]] - Maccath's organization, attacked by dragons years ago, many items and spellbooks stolen by Arauthator
* [[Arcane Brotherhood]] - Maccath's organization; Arauthator looted its items and spellbooks years ago
* [[Cult of the Dragon]] - Possesses the [[Draakhorn]] at the [[Well of Dragons]], sounds it continuously to summon chromatic dragons
* [[Cult of the Dragon]] - Negotiated the [[Draakhorn]] from Arauthator ~6 months ago; now sounds it at the [[Well of Dragons]]
* Ice Hunter Clan - [[Barking Seal]]'s people, held hostage by Arauthator for generations, helping the party
* Ice Hunter Clan - [[Barking Seal]]'s people, held hostage by Arauthator
* The lair's oppressed peoples - Ice toads ([[Marfold]]) and ice trolls ([[Ralph]]), allied to the party; the [[Scrag|Scrags]] remain loyal to Arauthator


=== Items ===
=== Items ===
* '''Ring of Resistance to Cold''' - Given by Maccath to help survive Arauthator's cold attacks, provides resistance to cold damage (half damage)
* '''Ring of Cold Resistance''' - From Maccath; no attunement required
* '''Special Arrows''' (quantity unknown) - Deal 6d10 damage on failed CON save or half on success, becomes regular arrow after dealing damage
* '''Arrows of Slaying (Dragon)''' (2) - On hit, the dragon makes a CON save or takes 6d10 (half on success)
* '''Necromancer's Spellbook''' - Attuned to the [[Eye of Gilbraxius]], grants Shade 5 charges for casting necromancy spells (1-5 charge cost per spell)
* '''Improved [[Eye of Gilbraxis]]''' - The Eye bonded into a necromancer's spellbook; no attunement slot, gains 5 charges of necromancy spells
* '''Scimitars''' - Light weapons mentioned as available, allow bonus action attack when dual-wielding
* '''Frostbrand Scimitar''' and '''Acheron Blade Scimitar''' - Identified in party inventory
* '''Arcane Brotherhood Spellbooks''' - Multiple spellbooks from slain wizards in Maccath's cave, she has copied all useful spells
* '''Magic weapons traded to recruit trolls''' - Corpseslayer Mace, Dagger of Venom, Glimmering Moonbow (given permanently to Ralph, Gunner, and Blade)
* '''Winter Strider Boots''' - (Previously acquired) Allow ignoring difficult terrain from ice/snow, grant cold resistance
* Cold-warding gear redistributed (rings of warmth, ring of cold resistance, a Protection from Energy scroll) so all six have cold resistance
* '''Crampons''' - Ice climbing equipment provided by ice hunters
* Scriptorium scrolls offered by Maccath: Gaseous Form, Protection from Energy, Water Breathing, Evard's Black Tentacles, Fire Shield, Wall of Fire, Hold Monster, Chain Lightning, Disintegrate
 
=== Combat Encounters ===
* '''Kobold Swarms''' - Multiple encounters in the caverns, swarms with 6 HP each, gain advantage when 2+ remain, attack as a group
  * Swarm B attacked Xan (missed) and Alexios (missed)
  * Alexios used Polearm Master reaction to deal 13 damage as they approached, reducing one swarm to 2 kobolds
  * Keyleth dealt 6 damage to kobolds
  * Combat was ongoing at session end


=== Creatures Mentioned ===
=== Creatures ===
* '''Ice Trolls''' - Intelligent creatures serving Arauthator, guard Maccath, patrol the caverns
* '''Kobolds''' - Fanatically loyal to Arauthator (worship him as a god); weak, breed prolifically; fought as swarms
* '''Giant Toads''' - Large creatures serving the dragon, patrol with the trolls
* '''Ice Toads''' - Intelligent, cold-aura'd; not loyal to Arauthator; allied via Marfold
* '''Kobolds''' - Numerous, infest the upper caverns, described as "nasty creatures" by locals, unpredictable, breed rapidly, die easily
* '''Ice Trolls''' - Cold-attuned, terribly strong; two subtypes present; allied via Ralph
* '''[[Arauthator]]''' - Ancient white dragon, the primary threat
* '''[[Scrag|Scrags]]''' - Aquatic troll-kin loyal to Arauthator ("true believers"); three in the lair
* '''[[Frost Giant]]''' - Immune to cold; one (Hrimther) revived as an ally
* '''[[Arauthator]]''' - Ancient white dragon: cold breath (CON save), Frightful Presence (Fear), rend/claw, conjures an ice elemental, terrain/illusion spells, legendary resistances and actions, lair effects


=== Notable Moments ===
=== Maccath's Draakhorn Lore ===
* [[Bone Carver]]'s warning: "He has a particular joy in freezing anyone into blocks of ice"
* Arauthator possessed the [[Draakhorn]] for years; the [[Cult of the Dragon]] negotiated it away ~6 months ago and now sounds it at the [[Well of Dragons]]
* Seeing the frozen corpses of Maccath's guards embedded in ice walls
* Its call reaches all dragons within roughly 2,000 miles; it was originally built to signal danger to chromatic dragons, and is now being misused to summon
* The ice hunter clan members also frozen in the walls from a failed escape attempt
* It is over-broad enough to be reaching metallic dragons too (the party's copper-dragon report)
* Maccath's calm demeanor despite months of imprisonment, maintaining her scholarly work
* The horn is not a ritual component itself — it gathers powerful dragons to guard the horn and the Tiamat-summoning site
* The Eye of Gilbraxius learning new necromancy spells from the stolen spellbook
* Shade taking damage to use the eye to attune the book: "You take one damage. You're getting used to this, it doesn't bleed as much"
* Maccath's matter-of-fact explanation of Arauthator's capabilities and treasure hoard
* The revelation that Arauthator knows the location of every piece of treasure: "As a dragon, he knows the place of every piece of treasure"
* Discussion of boots granting cold resistance: "I have resistance to cold damage with my boots"
* Alexios providing 12 temporary HP each morning through Athena's golden radiance
* Combat tactics discussion in confined ice tunnels
* End-of-session respec offer: Shade's player wanting to become "a dark wizard" instead of a bard
* Wes's philosophy: "DnD doesn't let you respec, but we're here for fun"
 
=== Draakhorn Intelligence Gathered ===
* The [[Draakhorn]] was in Arauthator's possession for years
* He stole it as part of his collection of magical items
* The [[Cult of the Dragon]] somehow acquired it from him (circumstances unclear)
* It is now at the [[Well of Dragons]] where cult leaders sound it continuously
* The horn summons all chromatic dragons within approximately 1,500-2,000 miles
* Originally built to signal danger to chromatic dragons
* Maccath is the world's foremost expert on the Draakhorn's capabilities
 
=== Arauthator Intelligence Gathered ===
* Ancient white dragon, one of the oldest and most powerful
* Learned to cast spells beyond normal dragon abilities (unique trait)
* Favors cold-based attacks: breath weapon plus other cold spells
* Freezes enemies into ice blocks as trophies/decorations
* Possesses vast treasure hoard from various conquests over centuries
* Knows exact location of every treasure piece in his lair
* Attacked the [[Arcane Brotherhood]] years ago, stole magical items and spellbooks
* Holds the ice hunter clan hostage for generations, forces them to hunt for him
* Keeps Maccath alive for unknown reasons, guards her with kobolds and trolls
* Has powerful lair regional effects (unnatural winds, extreme cold)


=== Session End ===
=== Session End ===
The party remains inside Oyaviggaton's caverns, having met Maccath and gathered critical intelligence and equipment. They are better prepared for the eventual confrontation with Arauthator but must still navigate the dangerous lair, potentially deal with trolls and toads, and decide when and how to engage Old White Death. The session ends mid-exploration with kobold combat ongoing.
The party has descended into [[Arauthator]]'s lair with troll allies and the frost giant [[Hrimther]], and the fight with Old White Death has just begun — [[Shade]] having refused the dragon's offer to make her his mate's rider. The session ends mid-combat (round one or two), with the dragon about to summon an ice elemental and [[Gootcha]] yet to act. The slaying of Arauthator is deferred to [[Session 49 - Old White Death (2026-04-26)|Session 49]]. (Out of game, the DM offered players an optional mechanical respec; [[Shade]]'s player intends to shift from Bard toward a "dark wizard.")
 
Players discuss potential character changes, with Shade's player expressing desire to switch from Bard to Wizard ("dark wizard") while maintaining the character's story and the Eye of Gilbraxius connection.
 
=== DM Notes ===
* Session ran approximately 5 hours 33 minutes (based on timestamps)
* Character respec discussion at end suggests major character development opportunities
* Shade acquiring necromancy spells foreshadows potential class change
* Maccath providing gear suggests she expects the party to fight Arauthator
* The session sets up future confrontation with the dragon
* Multiple exploration paths available: treasure room, deeper caverns, troll/toad areas


[[Category:Sessions]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]]
[[Category:Sessions]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]]

Revision as of 01:00, 18 June 2026

Session 48 - Inside Oyaviggaton

Summary

Following their rest on the ice hunter village plateau, Deez Nuts enters the lair of Arauthator through a secret passage revealed by Bone Carver. Before descending, the party works through its guilt over having killed the enslaved ice fishers on the way north — Xanphina especially — steadying themselves with a group hug and a motivational speech from Alexios (granting temporary hit points, a ritual he repeats through the session). Bone Carver and the ice hunters provide a hand-drawn map, crampons, and warnings of kobolds, toads, trolls, and treacherous ice.

Rather than carve through the lair by force, the party chooses diplomacy. They first find and cure a diseased ice hunter, Mend Nets (Alexios's Lay on Hands), sending him home — a small redemption. Descending the spiral stair past murals of draconic propaganda and giants frozen in defeat, they win over the lair's oppressed inhabitants one community at a time: the giant ice toads led by the scholar Marfold, then the ice trolls led by Ralph (with Gunner and Blade). Both peoples serve Arauthator only out of fear and want him truly dead; they become guides and, in the trolls' case, allies recruited for the coming assault in exchange for magic weapons.

The party reaches Maccath the Crimson in her tented study, who delivers the session's great lore dump on the Draakhorn and on Arauthator himself, and gifts the party cold-warding gear and dragon-slaying arrows. In her scriptorium the Eye of Gilbraxis "demands" a black necromancer's spellbook; Shade bonds it into the book, creating the Improved Eye of Gilbraxis. The party then revives a Frost Giant frozen among Arauthator's trophies — Hrimther — using "circle magic" to thaw him and Revivify to restore him; he pledges his axe to the cause.

Finally, with troll allies, a frost giant, and full cold resistance, the party descends into Arauthator's lair. Shade attempts a parley; the dragon reveals he wants a tiefling wizard to ride his mad mate (see Arauthator's Mate) and offers Shade the role. She refuses — "I'm just gonna start blastin'" — and the battle is joined. The session ends only a round or two in, mid-combat, with the slaying of Old White Death deferred to the next session.

Notable Events

  • Bone Carver led the party through her hut into Arauthator's caverns; provided a map and crampons
  • The party cured the diseased ice hunter Mend Nets (Alexios's Lay on Hands) and sent him home
  • Befriended the giant ice toads led by the scholar Marfold, gaining guides through the upper tunnels
  • Befriended the ice trolls led by Ralph; recruited Ralph, Gunner, and Blade for the assault by trading away magic weapons (Corpseslayer Mace, Dagger of Venom, Glimmering Moonbow)
  • Found Maccath the Crimson and received her Draakhorn research, a Ring of Cold Resistance, and two Arrows of Slaying (Dragon)
  • Shade bonded the Eye of Gilbraxis into a necromancer's spellbook, creating the Improved Eye of Gilbraxis (no attunement slot; 5 charges of necromancy spells)
  • Revived the frost giant Hrimther from Arauthator's trophy ice via "circle magic" + Revivify; he joined the assault
  • Maccath revealed Arauthator's Mate — a mad ancient white dragon with a dead tiefling rider — and that this is why Arauthator hunts tiefling wizards
  • Key asked Maccath about the "Prophecy of the Thorn-Born Star" ("five heads rising from the shadow's root"); Maccath agreed to research it
  • Redistributed cold-warding gear so all six party members have cold resistance
  • Cleared multiple kobold swarms throughout the tunnels
  • Descended into Arauthator's lair; Shade parleyed, refused the "rider" offer, and the battle with Old White Death began — the session ended mid-combat
  • Confirmed the Draakhorn is at the Well of Dragons, sounded continuously by the Cult of the Dragon

XP Awards

  • Total XP earned: Not recorded
  • Current level: 9

Notable Characters

  • Alexios (Richard) - Cured Mend Nets with Lay on Hands, gave morale speeches (temp HP), front-line; used Jaunty Boots to fly Xanphina to the dragon
  • Zan (Amber) - Wrestled with guilt over the killed fishers; in the lair, raged and grappled/restrained Arauthator with Garmok's Flail
  • Karma (Shanna) - Led most NPC negotiations (toads, trolls, Maccath); cast Revivify to restore Hrimther; cast Wall of Fire on the dragon
  • Shade (Sarah) - Bonded the Eye into the necromancer's spellbook; parleyed with Arauthator and refused his offer, starting the fight; planning a Bard→"dark wizard" respec
  • Gooch (Ashley) - Explored and fought through the tunnels (joined under Patty's account)
  • Key (Patty) - Scouted and sniped; raised the Thorn-Born Star prophecy; landed a crit on the dragon with Worm Reaver
  • Bone Carver - Ice hunter shaman who led the party into the lair and provided the map and crampons
  • Maccath the Crimson - Tiefling wizard of the Arcane Brotherhood, held ~3 years; delivered Draakhorn lore and gifts; revealed Arauthator's plan for his mate
  • Marfold - Giant ice toad scholar; allied guide through the tunnels
  • Ralph - Ice troll leader; recruited with Gunner and Blade for the assault
  • Hrimther - Frost giant revived from Arauthator's trophy ice; pledged his axe
  • Arauthator's Mate - The dragon's mad consort, with a dead tiefling rider (revealed, not yet seen)
  • Arauthator - Ancient white dragon "Old White Death"; parleyed, then attacked
  • Barking Seal, Orca Heart - Ice hunter leaders (mentioned)

Locations

  • Oyaviggaton - Arauthator's massive iceberg lair in the Sea of Moving Ice
  • Bone Carver's Hut - Conceals the secret entrance to the caverns
  • Arauthator's Caverns - Circular tunnel system: ice walls with frozen corpses, 20-ft ceilings, slippery sloped floors
  • Ice Toads' Room - Marfold's scriptorium-like workspace
  • Ice Trolls' Room - Ralph's domain
  • Frozen-Trophy ("Statues") Room - Giants frozen in clear ice as Arauthator's conquests; where Hrimther was revived
  • Maccath's Study & the Scriptorium - Her tented prison-laboratory and the salvaged-spellbook archive (much laced with diabolical lore)
  • Arauthator's Lair (below) - Large cavern of ice pillars, ledges (four height levels), traps, and water pools; the dragon's hoard frozen into the ice
  • Well of Dragons - (Mentioned) Cult stronghold where the Draakhorn is kept

Factions

Items

  • Ring of Cold Resistance - From Maccath; no attunement required
  • Arrows of Slaying (Dragon) (2) - On hit, the dragon makes a CON save or takes 6d10 (half on success)
  • Improved Eye of Gilbraxis - The Eye bonded into a necromancer's spellbook; no attunement slot, gains 5 charges of necromancy spells
  • Frostbrand Scimitar and Acheron Blade Scimitar - Identified in party inventory
  • Magic weapons traded to recruit trolls - Corpseslayer Mace, Dagger of Venom, Glimmering Moonbow (given permanently to Ralph, Gunner, and Blade)
  • Cold-warding gear redistributed (rings of warmth, ring of cold resistance, a Protection from Energy scroll) so all six have cold resistance
  • Scriptorium scrolls offered by Maccath: Gaseous Form, Protection from Energy, Water Breathing, Evard's Black Tentacles, Fire Shield, Wall of Fire, Hold Monster, Chain Lightning, Disintegrate

Creatures

  • Kobolds - Fanatically loyal to Arauthator (worship him as a god); weak, breed prolifically; fought as swarms
  • Ice Toads - Intelligent, cold-aura'd; not loyal to Arauthator; allied via Marfold
  • Ice Trolls - Cold-attuned, terribly strong; two subtypes present; allied via Ralph
  • Scrags - Aquatic troll-kin loyal to Arauthator ("true believers"); three in the lair
  • Frost Giant - Immune to cold; one (Hrimther) revived as an ally
  • Arauthator - Ancient white dragon: cold breath (CON save), Frightful Presence (Fear), rend/claw, conjures an ice elemental, terrain/illusion spells, legendary resistances and actions, lair effects

Maccath's Draakhorn Lore

  • Arauthator possessed the Draakhorn for years; the Cult of the Dragon negotiated it away ~6 months ago and now sounds it at the Well of Dragons
  • Its call reaches all dragons within roughly 2,000 miles; it was originally built to signal danger to chromatic dragons, and is now being misused to summon
  • It is over-broad enough to be reaching metallic dragons too (the party's copper-dragon report)
  • The horn is not a ritual component itself — it gathers powerful dragons to guard the horn and the Tiamat-summoning site

Session End

The party has descended into Arauthator's lair with troll allies and the frost giant Hrimther, and the fight with Old White Death has just begun — Shade having refused the dragon's offer to make her his mate's rider. The session ends mid-combat (round one or two), with the dragon about to summon an ice elemental and Gootcha yet to act. The slaying of Arauthator is deferred to Session 49. (Out of game, the DM offered players an optional mechanical respec; Shade's player intends to shift from Bard toward a "dark wizard.")

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