As an apology for no game tonight, here are my notes from the last session! Mind you, I deleted a section at the end with stuff still to come (and backup notes in case they turned around), but this should show my outline for the events that DID transpire! -The Paths through the Underground/Underdark—(9 days of travel)Wandering through the dark tunnels, the rushing sounds of the underground river begin to fade as it diverges from the cavern. You walk on for miles, the smell of hard water and wet earth. Natural chambers and cavern passways are chained together by the stretches of burrowed earth left in the wake of this massive worm-like creature.Clusters of crystal and other beautiful minerals occasionally line the walls and ceilings of the chambers, glittering with the little light you have to shove back the darkness.Day 1 goes without issue… sleep.Day 2 –RopersAfter a few miles of winding tunnel, you emerge in a smaller grotto of stalactites and stalagmites dripping with condensation. Unsure if the same underground river, or another water source, is nearby, you can see quite a bit of ground water does funnel down into this area. Seeking the next burrowed entrance left by the Kryn…—ENCOUNTER –Ropersx 2—Day 3 goes without issue…sleep.Day 4 -Kobold TrapPartway into the journey, the path becomes a protracted tunnel, snaking through the rock for hours without end. Eventually, you begin to notice other smaller tunnels intersecting with the burrowed canal. They appear partially ruined by this fresher tunnel, many of them now filled or partially collapsed.They are no more than 2-3 feet wide, and numerous (dozens).In some of the rubble, you can find broken tools… a hammer, some soiled leather, a knife.The tunnel finally seems to open into a small 15-foot high, 30ft long chamber of dirt and rock, where a rather rancid smell lingers. Glancing within, a handful of the smaller tunnels seem to intersect with it, and whomever enters first (if not Cad), their leg is SNARED by a noose and they must make a Dexterity Saving Throw (DC 15) or be lifted into the air to dangle from a small trap (restrained, DC 16 to escape). The snare also drags a cable tied to numerous pans and metal scraps, making a ruckus!Chattering and tiny warcrys begin to fill the tunnel from all sides… as dozens of small kobolds rush into the room, and from behind!-ENCOUNTER: Kobolds x 26, Kobold Inventor x 1-“Loud food! Loud meal!”When seeing the group, they bark and growl. (if noticed, they appear rather fearful)“You! Give us stuffs! Give us foods! Drop things you have, or we stab stab!”If asked about tunnel “Big worm eat through! Bring ingoeth! In and out, gone quick, leave mess!”They must parlay with them, avoiding a battle with a significant trade, or intimidation. Otherwise, a fight ensues! Either way, two kobolds are too scared and freeze up.They are brothers Spurtand Bex, scavenger kobolds. They are timid, but know the tunnels well…ish?
Do note that the days got shifted slightly, and a small encounter was cut in the moment to maintain player momentum (and to get to introducing our guest). These are the kind of things that the DM can trim or shift behind the screen to aid in the flow of the story. This particular session was fairy straight forward, so long as they progressed in the tunnel, so the notes reflect that. Some sessions can be more open-ended, with scattered “possibilities” in the back of your notes. That was what I deleted, in case they went back to the Empire.
would there ever be a chance to see how you prepared a session for a city like Emon/Whitestone/Westruun from last campaign? With any spoiler related stuff that can still apply cut of course. Preparing cities always feels very overwhelming and seeing what a skilled DM does mayhelp I may put something together over the weekend when I get a moment!
Is Caduceus’ passive perception really that much better than everyone else’s, or is there a different reason the snare wouldn’t have caught him? His passive perception is precisely why it would not have caught him has he entered first. His is the highest!
Feels like this was a more rail roady one though – he knew they’d decided to go into the tunnels so theres not much they can do to go off the beaten track. Still I found it fascinating to read over and gives me hope that I can improve! True that. Hoping to post something a little more “open” in the near future.
Can I ask what you meant by if not Cad for the kobold snare?
Was that if no-one stepped forward it would happen to Cad or it wouldn’t spring for Cad? If the second, why???
I noticed there were no loot tables. Is that separate or how do you determine loot when you DM? I write up and print out items they may find/gold on the actual monster sheets most of the time.