Here’s the write up from our latest Tomb of Annihilation session in which the characters battled goblins from the Biting Ants tribe and reached Vorn, the shield guardian.
I used a couple of encounters from Cubicle 7’s Uncharted Journeys again this session, and switched the goblin stats for the goblins and goblin captains in the new Tales of the Valiant: Monster Vault.
Begin here with Session 0 – Caves of the Cockatrice
30th Eleint, 1495 DR (contd.)
As the party emerge from the House of Man and Crocodile, they are ambushed by Batiri goblins from the Biting Ants tribe – three battle stacks, led by Yokka the boss. Certes attacks the bottom goblin in each stack with scorching rays, then Rhamash catches the arrow fired at him and throws it back. Tharhul is under attack from a stack of goblins and Yokka but has trouble landing blows on the enemy. Eysleigh casts spike growth, making it hard for the goblins to advance, and the characters defeat them. Two goblins surrender while the cowardly Yokka disappears behind the tents and escapes.
The goblins tell the party that Yokka had experienced a vision of great treasure inside the shrine and was hoping to steal it from the adventurers and take it to Queen Grabstab in the nearby village of Yellyark. Eysleigh manages to convince them that there was no such treasure to be found. They let the goblins go.
Highharvesttide
The party head off towards Vorn’s location. Towards the end of the day, Tharhul and Rhamash find a cave behind a shimmering, noisy waterfall. There are signs that others have camped here before, and the minotaur discovers a rotting quiver of silvered arrows and a magical deadfall arrow behind a rock.
1st Marpenoth
A white furred gorilla dashes past the party, pursued by a group of goblin hunters. The party decide to intervene to save the creature. Certes casts sleep, knocking out two goblins, while Rhamash dashes between the ape and the Batiri and blocks their path. Eysleigh casts spike growth which proves very effective again, although some of the goblins leap to safety.
The last two goblins left standing surrender – they hoped to bring the white gorilla’s pelt to Queen Grabstab. Eysleigh gives them a stern lecture about the importance of biodiversity and lets them go back to Yellyark with their sleeping companion. The druid casts speak with animals to talk to the ape, then heals its wounds.
2nd Marpenoth
Tharhul is leading the group when he smells a foul stench from up ahead. The source of the smell is a giant orange and pink flower, the size of an elephant, growing from some fallen logs. The flower communicates with the group telepathically, asking them their names and about their adventures. In return, it reveals that Queen Grabstab wears an amulet around her neck with the word “Vorn” written on it. The flower also tells them that many of the Order of the Gauntlet soldiers at Camp Vengeance are sick and repeats the story of Ras Nsi leading an undead army against the city of Mezro 100 years ago.
4th Marpenoth
The characters arrive at the spot marked on their map. The shield guardian Vorn stands motionless in a clearing surrounded by offerings of flowers, skulls, and other items. Four vegepygmies are there, making offerings and seemingly praying to the statue. Their thornies (dog-like steeds) stand nearby.
Certes observes them for a while, then enters the clearing and makes his own offering to Vorn. The vegepygmies let him pay his respects, then mount their thornies and ride off. Certes examines Vorn and verifies that a magical amulet is needed to command the construct. The group decide to head to Yellyark.
6th Marpenoth
The party are ambushed by a pack of five deinonychuses. Tyke is knocked unconscious but healed by Eysleigh.
8th Marpenoth
The characters arrive outside Yellyark which is surrounded by posts topped with skulls and severed heads, warning intruders away.
Certes adds to the party menagerie by casting find familiar. Superb the starling flies over the village, allowing the group to identify the queen’s tent, and determine that there are at least 20 goblins present, as well as a human prisoner, locked in a cage. They discuss their next move….
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Richard Green | Game Designer 