Location: Dragonkeep in the Lortmill mountains. Located in the world of Greyhawk
Date: 25th of Harvester, End of Summer
***
The Beta Crew [player characters]
Pyra - Tiefling female, Rogue [played by Jake]
Vencer Astorio - Human male, Wizard [played by Connor]
Irakul SlyWarrior - Goliath male, Fighter [played by Braydin]
Faust - Warforged, Warlock [played by Devin]
Valoran - Elf male, Ranger [played by Campbell - not at this session]
Notable NPC: Skrit - Kobold [male] Priest of Istus - town mayor of DragonKeep
Dungeon Master: Sleet
[DM: Note this is part 2 of a single session in August, 2025. Please see blogpost for details re: the 1st half of the session focusing on the RedWater Fellowship in the city of Axegard, in Greyhawk]
Late Morning - The Beta Crew are deep in the silver mines under DragonKeep in the Lortmill Mountains. Having just recently defeated a troglodyte incursion into mines and then assisted the derro against the troglodytes.
The Beta crew decide to gather names of potential missing people to then 'negotiate' with the derro. [Legends ay derro are disfigured dwarves an early offshoot - that were slaves and servants to the evil and mysterious illithid - mind flayers - before they were able to escape somehow]
They briefly consider delaying the feast with the derro but decide against it, making an excuse to the derro leader that they need to report back to guards and secure areas. The derro leader does not seem to have an issue with this, Verang Martana Ebansang (the female derro leader) grants them four hours and offers to provide names of slaves upon their return.
They take their leave and travel the former dwarven and gnomish passages and chambers and then into
the silver mine tunnels. On the way, the discuss options, agreeing to trade for slaves, make the derro allies, kill the derro. All partake in the emotional discussions as they knew people from their town had relative sin friends in the slaves. Pyra and Faust question the derro leader's sanity and desperation for a truce and alliance.
Perhaps if they return with a larger force, they could destroy these evil slavers. Who the adventurers think in the end would betray them anyway!
Vencer comments with a slight smile, "It is time for a Red Wedding Feast."
The whole team knew what this meant. They would attend the dinner and at an opportune moment, attack the derro leaders hoping to kill as many as possible. Then prepare a trap with the Beta Crew's support forces, mainly kobold miners who had no love for the derro. Key to this strategy in the end was the safety of DragonKeep town. Having an evil laver force that close under the town would pose too great a risk. It had to be done.
The Beta Crew muster their kobold allies. Mainly minds, the kobolds were overjoyed at the word the troglodyte menace was taken care of. They were perturbed at the mention of the derro and battle with them, but the persuasive talks of Pyra who led the miners in the tunnels was what brought al large number to raise arms and stand ready. At the start, Irakul had 9 proficient kobolds, then with Pyra's words, that swelled to 28!
Other races in the town, humans, dwarves, hobbits, orcs and others would continue to guard and maintain the town. The mines were Pyra's and her kobold miners area of expertise. Together the Beta Crew and the kobold miners would be victorious!
• Irakul SlyWarrior was able to arm the kobolds with available equipment from Dragonkeep: spears, crossbows, daggers, short swords, and small round shields. Pyra's foreman, among the kobold miners receives a mastercraft longsword the delighted small creature babbled and yipped holding the long blade in to hands.
The Beta Crew also possesses a "manual of flesh golem" but this would of course take too long, Vencer suggests it would make an excellent guard in their vault under the main keep in the town.
That afternoon, the Beta Crew rests for 8 hours - gaining all their spells and abilities back - and confirm the final plans for the deception. They miss the deadline of 4 hours, but plan to negotiate and talk their way through that with the derro.
Faust considers poisoning the derro, but Pyra notes dwarves (a derro subspecies) are immune or highly resistant to poison usually, so this was tossed aside. Other ideas involving "rock grubs" they had in clay pots, putting them in the food or other deceptive moves, are discussed but in the end, abandoned.
They solidify the "Red Wedding" plan: enter diplomatically, but attack at an opportune moment. Kobolds will set up an ambush in the vast chamber holding the cursed dragon goddess skeleton. The Beta crew would retreat, hopefully bringing the enraged derro - leaderless - along. Ranged around the balconies, the kobolds would have missile weapons, crossbows, short bows and flasks of oil ready to hopefully surprise the derro chasing after the Beta Crew
The kobolds are instructed to attack any "dwarf-looking thing" that comes out of the complex, as they have never seen derro before.
It was now evening around 9:00 PM. The heroes approach the derro complex. Once the party arrive in the vast chamber where the skeletal remains of the dragon goddess, Pyra as the rogue scouts ahead, setting up a gas trap connected to a pull mechanism near the entrance (a 30ft wide hole in the wall leading to the derro area they knew.
Sneaking down the wide passage, she saw two derro crouched behind rubble 30ft down a passageway, appearing alert.
The Beta Crew proceeds into the derro complex, Vencer casting a "light" spell on his staff. With diplomatic pretense they approach the two derro guards who stand and halt the Beta Crew. Vencer speaks in broken Dwarfish, apologizing for their lateness, claiming delays due to diplomatic envoys about the war on the surface. The derro seem to understand only a little.
One derro leads them through various rooms, the other staying in the passage. The party pass through a circular chamber with glittering colored stones and an eternal flame, then a room with gnome statues flanking smashed-open doors leading to darkness, indicating derro control but incomplete clearing.
They reach a large, P-shaped room with mechanical-looking frescoes, where they hear strange, "weird sounding" music. Vencer confirms this is skilled gnomish workmanship, still functioning even after these many hundreds of years.
Two pens hold slaves (human, orc, elf, hobbit, goblin, drow). Approximately 50 derro are seen, with 30-40 slaves.
The strange lilting flute like music emanates from what looks to be a former gnomish temple, now the derro feasting chamber. The derro escort gestures to the temple as the location of the "feast." He sounds a horn, and all the derro look up. As the Beta Crew descends stairs towards the temple / feast chamber, the derro escort returns to the top - assumedly heading back to his post in the passage. Pyra recognizes one of the drow slaves as potentially one who escaped during a previous encounter. Many months passed! [DM: please see blogpost]
Six derro guards salute the Beta Crew as they approach the temple feast area. Vencer repeats his diplomatic excuse for lateness, his smooth way easily assuages any fears or doubts.
The Beta Crew are seated at a U-shaped main table. Two elves and human servants (all gagged slaves)
pour drinks and serve mushroom, moss, grub, insect, and graell meat.
Graell, one of the derro advise are a versatile animal, similar to a goat but larger, used for meat, milk, transport and more in the caverns and tunnels in the depths. The Beta Crew sit at the head table with the leader's son. Four other derro sit at one lower table, three older derro at another.
The derro leader's son raises a mug to the Beta Crew, expressing interest in trade and their culture. As the drinking and early talks commence, an elf servant stumbles, dropping a platter, and is dragged away by a derro guard for punishment. This seals the deal with the party, soon.. the Red Wedding surprise attack would take place!
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| Faust |
The Beta Crew (except Faust, who ingests some graell) all avoid eating or drinking, making it look like
they do but then, the ambush is triggered. Faust is poisoned - feeling quite nauseated and worse, it seems the derro had similar plans to take out the party!
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| Pyra |
Pyra stealthily stabs Verang Martana Ebansang in the neck with her dagger, dealing critical damage! Slicing across her throat, the derro female stumbles and falls back barely moving. Valoran the ranger looses an arrow at the leader's son, dealing significant piercing damage, and then shoots him again, leaving him choking on blood.
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| Vencer's lightning |
are many derro out there, but taking out as many leaders as possible before the derro realize they vastly outnumber of the party was key.
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| Valoran |
The Beta Crew then retreat up to the main passage back to the cathedral where the kobold allies await.
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| Irakul |
By the time they reach the main cathedral entrance, Faust is no longer affected by poison and are being chased by a mob of derro. The Red Wedding ambush so far looks to be working..
Until next session.
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