I just realized that I missed the notes for the July session when preparing to write down the notes for the August session, so you’re getting two session diaries back-to-back. First up, July.
The characters (The Vingaardians):
- Drystan Silverhart – Level 9 Aasimar Paladin (Knight of Solamnia)
- Yseult De Lorimar – Level 9 Human Warlock (Noble)
- “Fletch” Siannodel – Level 9 Kagonesti Elven Ranger (Folk Hero)
- Sabelina – Level 9 Human Cleric of Gilean (Acolyte)
- Sidekicks: Hrigg Roundrook and Tem Temble
Last time the characters had almost-but-not-quite thwarted the Red Dragon Army’s attempts to take control of the City of Lost Names and turn it into one massive or several smaller flying fortresses.
This was generally a RP-heavy session. We had a quick fight with a Red Dragon Army Patrol the party came across as the characters made their way back to the ships to return to Kalaman to prepare for an upcoming siege. On arrival, however, the players put their attention into things they could do to help prepare for the siege, leading me to go through each player and picking out what they wanted to do for some specific role-play opportunities. I’m going kind of from the least plot-heavy to the biggest, though this is not in the actual order these played out.
Of these, probably the shortest and simplest of these was with Drystan. He decided to head to the forges to help out. He had functionally no smithing experience, but with a good strength and con score he was able to work the bellows and bank coal as needed. I’m going to admit I kind of expected him to help train troops or something like that, but it gave for some more time for other characters scenes.
Next is Sabelina’s. She didn’t really have anything in mind, so just wanted to wander the town. The book gave as a RP encounter the characters could run into an old man in town telling stories about Huma. Being something like that basically kicks off the Dragonlance Chronicles storyline at the Inn of the Last Home, and considering that character’s true identity, I decided to run with it and have the character be Fizban, though not quite in his semi-obnoxious forgetful mode. This is one of those cases where the player in the scene generally not being familiar with the Dragonlance Chronicles, and some of the players who weren’t having some familiarity worked out a little. The player in the scene had the appropriate reactions for the characters and had some RP, while the players who knew the books were silently reacting at me dropping that character in, keeping them engaged when not in the limelight.
Fletch’s player, independently of me bringing up any suggestions, decided to check in with the refugees from Vingaard. The adventure book had a suggestion for this, with the watch clamping down on movement into or out of the city, leaving some of the refugees stranded outside. Fletch had a conversation with the guard, ultimately successful, to allow the refugees who couldn’t fight to shelter in the city and to take volunteers from the refugees to join in the defense, bolstering the number of troops who could fight in defense of the city.
Finally, there’s Yseult. I decided to move up a plot point from later in the chapter here – Lord Bakaris the Elder receiving a note indicating that his son was alive and had joined the Red Dragon Armies, and urging him to join them. Yseult, as another noble in the party, was able to get Bakaris to open up to her, and while she wasn’t able to get him to ignore the idea of defecting, she did persuade him to think about the town and the people defending in its walls before leaving, that this is bigger than him.
I wrapped up the session with the Red Dragon Army approaching, and the looming floating fortress of Soth’s Temple of Takhisis flying above them. Next session, the battle begins.
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