Session 44 - Garmok's Mine

Session 44 - Garmok's Mine

Date: 10/25/25

DM: Wes

Summary

Pre-session Notes

Gootcha got the Harper's Signet Ring last time but the DM forgot to tell her about it.

Does not require attunement but only a harper knows how to activate it.

• 3 spells. 3 charges
• Disguise self is free
• Muffle and Gaseous Form each use a charge

New House Rule on Attunement:

• Attune at any Time EXCEPT during Initiative
• Change your attuned items at any time
• Do not need to wait for a long rest
• When initiative is rolled: A character can change attunements any time before they take their first action / reaction / bonus action / move

The Mine Continues

The party begins a new day after taking a short rest in an abandoned dwarven barracks in this mine. After looking over the other items found in the hidden store room (a wand of protection from Good, Plate Armor. +2 of Radiant Resistence, and a bunch of blood red coins), the group begins to explore again.

While moving back to where the Bronze Blades had been rescued, Key notices that part of the cave wall appears to be another cave that was covered over with stone.

The strongest members of the party, Keyleth, Alexios, and Xanphina proceed to try moving the stones but can't seem to find good leverage. Gootcha comes to the rescue with her gauntlets of giant strength. However, as the group is moving the boulders they take a shift and suddenly pour out into the cave.

But this party has been watching Karma long enough to practice her cat moves and everyone nimbly jumped out of the way of the falling boulders.

The Infernal Rift

Ahead, they see a dark tunnel with dry heat pouring out. As the party moves into the tunnel it looks almost as if one of the nine planes of hell has started to take over this part of the mine. There's a rift in the center of the room with red light and heat bathing the room.

In the middle of the room above the rift is a huge horned devil wrapped in spectral chains. The chains come from the ghost of an orc holding a flail that is the source of the spectral chains.

The Devil attempts to bargain but the orc cuts him off and shouts for help, "Push him back into the rift, he's almost free!"

On the other side of the room is another devil and a hell hound that look to be trying to free the bearded devil.

The party quickly moves into the hellish room and begins attacking the Devil with all their might. The devil uses his barby beard to attack at the party, lashing out with more reach than one would expect from a beard.

The Bronze Blades assist as they're able with webs, heals, and other distractions while Deez Nuts beat the devils down. The devils regretted coming to this place, they did not realize Deez Nuts are the best there've ever been.

With the orc restraining the bearded devil, the combined might of the lands two best adventuring parties make quick work of the evil infestation.

Gootcha lands the final blow on the Horned Devil with her crossbow which prevents him from reforming in Hell as he is sent directly to the Raven Queen who likely has some questions about how the devils of hell are interfering with the natural course of events.

As the devil is killed the spirit of the orc fades away with his flail near his centuries old corpse.

Dragon Attack

Just as the party begins to relax a ruckus is heard from the entrance on the other side of the room as a swarm of kobolds comes into view. The party exchanges blows, the kobolds pebbles are no match for the might of the Bronze Bladed Nutz. But a larger danger is coming down the same tunnel.

A massive adult black dragon comes into view and immediately exhales a line of acid. Gootcha dodges uncannily to barely survive the dragons breath weapon. Karma uses the power of Eldath to pacify the dragon while Xanphina's spirit ancestors protect herself. Cedric, Thistle and Alexios are downed immediately and almost everyone is burned by the acid.

Sister Alira of the Bronze Blades uses Mass Heal Wounds to bring Cedric, Thistle and Alexios back into the fight.

Xan picks up Garmok's flail to attack the dragon.

The dragon, Voaraghamanthar, may have gotten the jump on the parties but they quickly peppered him with spells and attacks, driving him back into the tunnel.

Voargaghamanthar's preservation instincts kick in and he casts darkness covering the entrance to the cave and begins moving away from the party.

The party takes the opportunity to heal up with spells and the massive pile of healing potions they've acquired.

Fearing that the dragon may have left behind a trap of some sort, Alexios summons a swarm of Dire Rats and sends them into the magical darkness. Almost immediately, the rats stop moving but do not appear to be injured.

Alexios casts burning hands into the darkness where the rats became stuck. The rats became a little singed but were freed from the tangle of roots that also burned up from the spell.

Still fearing traps, Karma calls a bat familiar to herself to fly into the darkness and tunnels beyond and report back. Using the bat's senses, Karma maps out more of the cave system and find more kobolds and the dragon ahead in a room filled with treasure.

The kobolds are primed to attack anything and throw pebbles at the bat, killing it immediately.

The Final Assault

The party takes time to carefully plan their attack. Keyleth uses Pass Without a Trace to make everyone super stealthy and Alexios uses his Jaunty Boots to dimension door into the back corner of the room and uses a scroll of Fireball to light up all of the kobolds and the dragon.

Keyleth moves into the room and looses a couple arrows at Voaraghamanthar. The second one hits particularly hard and is followed up with a Hunter's Mark and a Hail of Thorns. Voaraghamanthar, beginning to fear this party of adventurers, consumes the life energy of one of the swarm of kobolds to deflect the damage of the thorns.

Voaraghamanthar turns his gaze to the party and Fear overwhelms Keyleth causing her to drop her bow and turn to flee.

Karma uses the Improved Staff of Iskralathrax's Horn to use the power of a previously defeated white dragon on this black dragon.

Sir Cedric of the Amazing Bronze Blades uses his charisma to remove the fear from Keyleth and turn her back toward the fight.

Voaraghamanthar is using any opportunity to move further from the party down the cave to the south.

Xanphina is the first to chase him down the tunnel. She attacks with a Javelin of Lightning and a Trident, knocking the dragon prone.

Alexios nearly succumbs to the fear in the face of the terrifying dragon but in a moment of inspiration find the courage to continue.

Voaraghamanthar casts invisibility on himself as he attempts to flee.

The party fires shots at where he was but none appear to hit. Voaraghamanthar continues to try and slow the party with swarms of insects. Boomer casts See Invisibility on Xanphina and she's able to see Voaraghamanthar as he's about to dive into a pool of water where the cave ends.

Voaraghamanthar lets loose another line of acid, catching Xanphina partially as she dexterously dodges out of the direct line of fire.

The party sends some healing energies to Xanphina as Gootcha uses the Gem of Seeing to give herself the ability to see the invisible dragon.

She guides Alexios's hand as he casts Guiding Bolt. The energy flies from Alexios's hand and hits Voaragmanthar squarely in the b-hole as he's trying to flee. The energy from Alexios massive bolt melt Voaragmanthar's insides and his body floats back to the surface as the life left him.

More Cultists

Once more, the party breathes a sigh of relief as the final enemy has been slain only to be surprised as cultists come at them from behind.

Even though the party is heavily battered, they make quick work of the cultists.

With the caves finally cleared out, the parties collect the loot from the treasure room and successfully salvage scales from Voaraghamanthar's remains to fashion into armor.

The parties make their way back to the dwarven barracks to rest and heal their wounds. Fearing new dangers, Alexios stands watch while his compatriots rest.

Gelatinous Cube

Alexios stands watch with his glaive and Sentinel shield. But even as prepared as he could be he was surprised by a Gelatinous Cube that was drawn to all of the warm bodies in the barracks. The Cube attempted to engulf Alexios but—while he may have been surprised—he was able to dodge away from the cube and wake everyone up.

Gelatinous Cubes are not particularly hardy creatures though they are useful for keeping dungeons and cave clean. Deez Nuts finish off the cube and finally, take a much deserved long rest.

XP Awards

To be added by DM

Notable Characters

• Alexios
• Gootch
• Karma
• Keyleth
• Raven Queen
• Shade
• Xanphina
• Sir Cedric (Bronze Blades paladin)
• Boomer (Bronze Blades member)
• Sister Alira (Bronze Blades cleric)
• Thistle (Bronze Blades bard)
• Whisper (Bronze Blades rogue)
• Garmok the Chainbearer (ghost/spirit, orc hero)
• Voaraghamanthar (adult black dragon, slain)

Locations

• Mine of Garmok

Factions Involved

• Cult of the Dragon
• Harpers
• Scales of Eldath
• Bronze Blades (adventuring party)

Items Found

• Harper's Signet Ring (Gootcha)
• Plate Armor +2 of Radiant Resistance
• Wand of Protection from Good
• 6,400 gold (blood red coins)
• Garmok's flail (picked up by Xanphina)
• Ring of Evasion
• Periapt of Wound Closure
• Strange crown
• 350 platinum
• 2,500 gold
• 1,400 silver
• 330 copper
• Eye agate (10gp gem)
• Jade (50gp gem)
• Jet (50gp gem)
• Aquamarine (500gp gem)
• 2x Star Sapphire (1,000gp gems each)
• 2x Gold bracelets (25 GP each)
• Carved Ivory Statuette (250GP)
• Silver chalice set with moonstones (750GP)
• Funerary urn with unknown remains
• Scroll of Protection from Aberrations
• Spell Scroll of Summon Greater Demon (lvl 4)
• Tome of Leadership and Influence
• Potion of Cloud Giant Strength
• 2x Potion of Greater Healing
• Voaraghamanthar's black dragon scales (salvaged for armor)