Red Hand of Doom - Session 54: The Inner Sanctum

August 10

As they approached the shaft leading to the Inner Sanctum, Dameron gave an inspiring speech about how the light of St. Aster had brought them this far. Then he lit his Candle of Invocation, cast Bless, and drank his Potion of Invulnerability. Sausages gave Gruffudd a rainbow-colored fruit that gave him the same benefits as a Potion of Invulnerability when he ate it. Balthasar Hasted himself.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 53: The Lower Fane of Takhisis

August 10

The cavern thundered as the twenty-foot-tall Bluespawn Godslayer approached.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 52: Into the Fane of Takhisis

August 10

As Balthasar performed a ceremony for the deceased drakkenwhyte, he addressed his remaining brothers, “We stand in the shadow of a grievous loss. Brave souls—our kin, our family—gave their lives this day in a battle against an ancient terror. They faced fury and lightning with unyielding courage, knowing that their sacrifice was not for themselves, but for the greater good.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 51: Slaying Turgarun the Blue

August 9-10

The day after the battle, Dameron cast Word of Recall on the Morninglory Temple. Camwise cast Scrying on the Black Bolt and then the War Duke but could not scry on either.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 50: Defeating the Red Hand Horde

August 8

The air grew heavy and there was a foulness in the wind. As forces gathered in the darkness and light, there was a crack of thunder and lightning in the sky. The blood of all those slain, from folk both foul and noble, drained upward into the night sky in a quintet of ichorous streams. As the lighting flashes faded, the Daring Friends gazed up to see that the blood had gathered above the horde and morphed into a massive, shifting image that morphed from a five-headed terror, into a single head with hellish eyes, and finally settled into a mortal portrait of a scaled hobgoblin, crowned with horns. The massive figure in the sky looked down, a sneer of triumph on its face. It was the face of Azarr Kul, warlord and high Wyrmlord of the Red Hand. It’s voice echoed through the night.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 49: Slaying Abyxrla

August 8

The Fire Elemental thrashed at the Iron Bands of Binding. Jaervellios struck a Redspawn Firebelcher with an arrow. Balthasar was struck by lightning. Gruffudd blasted two Redspawn Firebelchers to pieces with Call Lightning. Camwise blasted a Redspawn Firebelcher with his Wand of Lightning Bolts. Advancing toward the dragon, the Hill Giants tossed boulders at it. Aaqastal rattled the Fire Elemental with Confusion. Dameron sprinted toward the dragon. The Redspawn Firebelchers closed in on the Abyxrla.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 48: Giant Assault on Brindol

August 7

After spending the day making preparations throughout Brindol, The Daring Friends braced themselves for the impending assault.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 47: Inside Castle Amber: Goldenbow

August 6 - Day 4

The revived prince introduced himself as Dristan and explained that he was cursed by a beautiful woman who turned out to be one of the hags. The Daring Friends escorted the prince back to the house and discussed their missions, sharing The Chanson of the Grayl with him. Prince Dristan suggested the case could refer to a reliquary and the Meroving sceptre might belong to the old Merovingian bloodline. He also mentioned the passing of Roland, who was betrayed by one of his own and is now remembered in song.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 46: Inside Castle Amber: Six Tombs, Three Hags

August 6 - Day 4

As the crushing juggernaut pivoted to face the Daring Friends, it rammed into Balthasar and Dameron. The priest used his Force of Will to resist it. Camwise hit it with an acid arrow as he retreated north. Dameron withdrew into a side corridor. Balthasar used his Air Charm to cast Whirlwind Kick, knocking it ten feet back, spinning past it, and retreating further into the room beyond.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 45: Inside Castle Amber: Shadowy Knights of Etienne

August 6 - Day 3-4

They each took an item from the large pile of treasure. Gruffudd took the chest of gold and gems, Camwise took a Helm of Reading Magic and Languages, Balthasar took an Elixir of Life, and Dameron took the Staff of Healing.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 44: Inside Castle Amber: Slime and Treasure

August 6 - Day 3

After escaping from the Sphere of Annihilation, Sertieren clung to Balthasar’s cloak as the Daring Friends took a different route to one of the remaining tombs.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 43: Inside Castle Amber: Death and Darkness

August 6 - Day 3

After a short rest, the Daring Friends explored the sacrificial chamber. A statue of a halberd-wielding wearing unfamiliar garb stood to the north. Gruffudd used Thunderwave to destroy the sacrificial circle. Camwise found a map of the grounds and a priest’s journal containing several scrolls (Enervating Light, Dispel Good & Evil, Commune, Raise Dead).

Red Hand of Doom - Session 42: Inside Castle Amber: Out of the Well and Into Hell

August 6 - Day 2-3

After taking a short rest and exploring the Jabberwock’s cave, the Daring Friends followed the trail back to see Frederick D’Amber with the head of the Jabberwock.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 41: Inside Castle Amber: Theater of the Jabberwock

August 6 - Day 2

Waking, the Daring Friends did not recall ever stopping to rest. A wild-looking bearded man stared down at them. Looking around, they found themselves near a small, ramshackle stone building in a clearing with a cave entering a nearby hill. The man spoke in a foreign language while he swung a cudgel in the air.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 40: Inside Castle Amber: The Inner Garden

August 6 - Day 1

Challenging the rock troll, Balthasar dashed atop the log bridge. Dameron hit it with a Sacred Flame as his wolves blasted it with cold breath. Gruffudd hit it with a Thunderwave. Impacted by the cold and thunder, the troll leaped off the log, grappled Gruffudd and Dameron, and took a bite out of the dwarf.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 39: Inside Castle Amber: The Garden

August 6 - Day 1

While they took a short rest in the library, Dameron perused the books on the shelves, noticing one with the image of a sun.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 38: Inside Castle Amber

August 6 - Day 1

Balthasar asked Aaqastal about the Castle Amber Miniature and how Rufus is connected to it or the castle.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 37: The Wizard Duel

August 6

In the morning, Camwise cast Contact Other Plane and questioned a being of fire about Aaqastal the Unnumbered, learning what he could for the upcoming duel.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 36-37: Return to Brindol

August 5

After two days of flying, the Daring Friends arrived at Brindol as the sun was settings on the night of August 5. Only a few miles from Brindol's western border, the campfires revealed the massive size of the Red Hand horde waiting there. Brindolian workers were hastily retrieving the last of the wheat from the fields and some were being attacked by Red Hand skirmishers. It appeared the Daring Friends had returned just in time.

Red Hand of Doom - Session 36: Rescuing Rezyrius

July 27-August 4

On the morning of July 27, the Daring Friends took off on owls flown by elven riders.