Session 0041 : The Dorian Show

Date: December 6, 2025 In-Game Date: Morning of the 30th of Weißhexe, 3023  

A Dire Warning and a Change of Plans

The session began with a recap of the last session's ending, which occurred in the early morning, around 4:30 AM, in the forest south of Oak Haven. The party was awakened by a dire warning from a mysterious, powerful tree-like creature. The being, which could have easily crushed Lev, instead warned him to flee, stating: "Leave the forest, you fools. The worms have risen once again. Flee the region, you and your kind. Nehwon is doomed."   Shaken by the encounter and the previous day's sighting of an adult dragon, the party decided to alter their travel plans. Instead of traveling in the open, they would hug the treeline for cover as they continued south in search of their companion, Ikiri. Before setting out, the spellcasters used their remaining slots to cast Goodberry. Lev's attempt to contact Ikiri with the Message spell yielded no response, deepening their concern.  

Distant Observers and a Forest Disturbance

Around noon, the party spotted a group of approximately 15 armored individuals traveling northwest across the plains. The group came from the same direction where the dragon was sighted. Concerned, the party moved deeper into the trees, but not before two horsemen from the distant group broke off, holding illegible banners. The horsemen appeared to look directly at the party before rejoining their group and continuing on.   An hour later, around 1:00 PM, Dorian Greymantle felt a deep rumbling, like a small earthquake, emanating from within the forest ahead. It seemed to be moving from deep in the woods toward the treeline. Dorian halted the caravan, alerting the others to the "disturbance in the forest" as the session ended.  

The Stampede and the Green One

The Elk Exodus As the party considered making camp, Dorian witnessed a massive stampede of hundreds of panicked elk pouring out of the forest onto the plains. The animals were described as "driven as if, like, running from a forest fire." One young bull, with missing fur and a horribly burned-out eye, broke from the herd and trotted near Dorian before continuing on.   Seeking Answers The party investigated the strange event. Lev cast Detect Magic and detected a "horrible recipe" of fading enchantment, transmutation, and faint necromancy, though a Religion check failed to identify its source.   Lilly Genrill used her ability to speak with animals to communicate with a mature elk cow. With a successful Persuasion check (a natural 20), she calmed the animal, who shared these cryptic warnings through telepathic impressions:
• "The green one comes from beneath the roots."
• "The trees are leaning towards his voice."
• "Roots are devouring roots and leaves are drinking blood."
  When asked if the "green one" had wings, the elk confirmed, "Yes, and eyes like a snake." The elk, whose name was an image of a Golden Rising Dawn, then rejoined its herd.   Deciphering the Clues The party connected the "green one" to the dragon they had seen. Cathlynn Strongbow, recalling her studies, made a History check (natural 20, total 24) and remembered a chapter on the "arboreal response to draconic resonance." She explained: "Green class dragons exhibit a secondary influence field... Detectable through consistent vegetative orientation towards the source... I think the tree's leaning means they're leaning towards its lair... it's as if the vegetation around its lair kind of respects or reveres the lair itself."   The party realized the trees were literally leaning towards the green dragon's lair. This gave them a terrifying but crucial way to track, or more importantly, avoid the dragon's den. They decided to press on, using the leaning trees as a guide to stay away from the lair.  

A Quiet Unease and a Goblin Chant

A Cold Camp
The party continued their journey, noting the unnerving quiet of the forest. They made a "cold camp, no fire" in a secluded clearing, keeping the animals haltered for a quick escape. Night watch shifts were established.   The Night Watch • Lev's Watch: Passed without incident, though he noted the fog and lack of insect sounds were "spooky."
• Dorian's Watch: Towards the end of his shift, Dorian heard a faint, almost subliminal sound, like phantom music, coming from the north or northwest.
• Cathlynn's Watch: Troubled by Dorian's report, Cathlynn transformed into an elk to patrol. About an hour into her shift, she urgently woke the party, gesturing insistently towards the north.
  The Goblin Chant Now fully awake, the party heard a rhythmic chanting from multiple voices. Lily (Perception 22) pinpointed the source as no more than 300 yards north and clearly heard the words: "Magrubiat dracur, bloth veknar."   Dorian, who speaks Goblin, translated the chant: • "Magrubiat dracur" means "Lord of War," identifying Maglubiyet, the goblin god of war.
• "Bloth veknar" means "Drink deep the offering."
  A Close Encounter Dorian, revealing a deep-seated hatred for goblins, scouted ahead. With an exceptional Perception roll, he heard a twig snap and spotted a goblin scout incredibly close to their camp. A second goblin appeared, and Dorian overheard one say, "we make rest here. Permanent rest." The goblins then moved about 40-50 feet further north and began to light a campfire, establishing their own camp a mere 100 feet from the party's. Dorian returned to the party to prepare for the imminent threat.  

The Goblin Ambush

The Hunt and the Ambush The game resumed with Dorian scouting the goblin party. He moved stealthily along the treeline (Stealth 14) to get a better vantage point. Just as he settled into a new position, a whistle cut the air as an arrow flew past him, landing "right next to your heel." A goblin voice shouted from the direction Dorian had come from, "You've been spotted."   Back at camp, Lily (Perception 17) and Cathlynn (Perception nat 20) heard the arrow. Lev (Perception 5) remained oblivious. Cathlynn, still in elk form, immediately began heading toward Dorian. Lily, after a quick mental refresher on goblin physiology (History nat 20), prepared to Wild Shape into a Black Bear. The reinforcements were set to arrive in two rounds.  

Combat Round 1: The Ambush is Sprung

• Dorian's Turn: Dorian spotted movement in a tree where the arrow originated. He and his companion, Brutus, moved for cover. Anticipating an advance, Dorian cast Cordon of Arrows, planting four magical traps to protect his flank.
• Enemy Movement: Goblins and a Hobgoblin began running towards the commotion, converging on Dorian's position.
 

Combat Round 2: First Blood

• Dorian's Turn: Seeing the enemies had not yet spotted his new position, Dorian cast Hunter's Mark on a hobgoblin. He then unleashed a volley of arrows.
— Shot 1: A natural 20. The crit table granted an extra attack. The arrow dealt 9 total damage.
— Shot 2: Another natural 20. The crit table gave the hobgoblin disadvantage on its next attack. The arrow dealt 11 total damage.
— Shot 3: A roll of a 19. A hit for a massive 17 total damage.
The hobgoblin was left looking like a "pin cushion" but was somehow still standing, its speed reduced by Dorian's magical longbow.   • Enemy Turn: The goblins charged into Dorian's trap. — Two goblins failed their saves against Cordon of Arrows, taking 3 and 2 damage respectively.
— One of the wounded goblins attacked Dorian, hitting for 6 slashing damage.
— Another goblin charged, failed its save against the cordon for 3 damage, and then hit Dorian for 7 slashing damage.
— A hobgoblin with a longsword missed Dorian.
— The grievously wounded Hobgoblin Archer, hampered by disadvantage, missed his shot badly.
  The round ended with Dorian surrounded but having dealt a devastating blow.  

Combat Round 3: A Hail of Thorns

• Dorian's Turn: Seeing four enemies clustered together, Dorian declared, "I'm going to try something heroic... This is a 'hold my beer and watch this' kind of... if it works, it's going to be spectacular."
— He fired an arrow at the lead hobgoblin, hitting for 13 damage.
— He then used his bonus action to cast a 2nd-level Hail of Thorns. The hobgoblin succeeded on its DC 14 Dex save but took half of 15 piercing damage. The combined damage ripped its face apart, and it was "fucking gone."
— The three surrounding goblins all failed their saves, each taking the full 15 damage and being eliminated.
— With his second attack, Dorian shot the last remaining goblin in the group, dealing 6 damage and leaving it wounded.
  The Cavalry Arrives • Lev, Lily, and Cathlynn arrived on the scene.
• Lev's Turn: Lev charged the wounded goblin, cutting its arm off and halfway through its torso. "He's gone."
• New Enemies: More goblins, another hobgoblin, and two new, massive figures emerged. Described as "12 feet tall each... just a mountain of fucking muscle and scar tissue," these brutes wore iron collars and wielded thick, rusted chains.
• Lilly's Turn: As a Black Bear, Lily charged a goblin, her bite attack hitting for 7 damage and killing it.
• Cathlynn's Turn: As an Elk, Cathlynn charged a hobgoblin, but her ram attack missed.
• A goblin commander shouted at one of the chained giants, pointing at Cathlynn: "Clash the cross elk! Get that filthy elk!"
 

Combat Round 4: The Ogres Attack

• Ogre 1 vs. Cathlynn: The ogre swung its heavy chain in a powerful overhead blow, but the clumsy attack (roll of 9) missed, slamming into the ground beside her.
• Ogre 2's Advance: The second ogre charged towards Lev, crashing through the trees.
• Hobgoblin C's Retreat: The severely wounded hobgoblin from Round 2 decided to flee.
• Dorian's Turn: Dorian took a shot at the fleeing "coward hobgoblin C." He hit for 13 piercing damage, striking the creature in the calf. To the party's surprise, the hobgoblin cried out but remained standing, leading to the conclusion that it must be a Hobgoblin Captain.
 

Round 3 Continues: Thorns, Spirits, and Claws

The battle in the woods continues.
• Dorian: Having already struck a hobgoblin with an arrow, Dorian uses his bonus action to cast Hail of Thorns. "Oh, my God. Okay. So this one is only going to be at level one," he notes. The hobgoblin fails its DC 14 Dexterity saving throw with a roll of 9, taking 8 piercing damage as the thorns erupt from the arrow, killing it. Dorian then turns his attention to an Ogre Chained Brute, loosing an arrow. "Hopefully, in the face," he declares. The attack hits with a 21, dealing 15 damage. "I gave him a what for?" Dorian says, correcting himself, "Oh, no, I gave him a shot in the face because he deserved a shot in the face."
• Lev: Engaging the same wounded ogre, Lev casts Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action. He then swings his greatsword, hitting for 7 damage. His spectral weapon follows up, striking with a 23 and inflicting another 12 damage. The ogre remains standing and is decidedly "not happy."
• Goblins & Hobgoblins: — A goblin rushes Cathlynn the Elk, hitting with a 17 and dealing 3 damage.
— Another goblin attempts to shoot over its ally at the elk but rolls with disadvantage, missing with a 7.
— Hobgoblin C charges Dorian, scoring a critical hit with a dirty 20 and dealing 9 slashing damage. Dorian quips, "'Tis but a scratch."
— Hobgoblin D swings at Cathlynn the Elk but rolls an 11. The DM describes it as hitting the massive creature but failing to cause harm: "Sometimes it's hard to miss the sight of a barn, but do you harm the barn?"
• Blackbeard (Lily): In bear form, Lilly attacks Hobgoblin D. Her bite is a dirty 20, hitting for 6 damage. Her follow-up claw attack hits with a 13, adding another 4 damage. The hobgoblin is now bloodied and "pissed." For her bonus action, Lilly summons her Hawk Spirit Totem. After a brief rules discussion, the group confirms its effects: allies within the 30-foot aura gain advantage on Perception checks, and attackers gain advantage on attack rolls against targets inside the aura. Lily places the aura to encompass the Ogre Chained Brute and Hobgoblin D.
 

Round 4: Fireballs and Falling Foes

• Cathlynn (Elk): Cathlynn attacks a goblin with her hooves, rolling a natural 20. The hit deals 8 damage, killing the goblin instantly.
• Ogres: One ogre fails its Chain Smash recharge, with the DM describing it tugging at the chain, confused: "Won't move. Chain don't move." It misses Cathlynn with a punch. The second ogre also misses Lev with a Chain Smash.
• Dorian: Dorian fires two shots at the hobgoblin that wounded him. The first misses, but the second hits with a 23, dealing 14 damage and felling the hobgoblin. He commands his companion, Brutus, to charge an ogre, but the attack misses. • Lev: Lev hits the ogre before him for 13 damage with his greatsword. His Spiritual Weapon follows up with a dirty 20, but the damage is not enough to kill the brute.
• Hobgoblin Spellcaster: A previously unnoticed hobgoblin unleashes a Fireball that engulfs the Black Bear (Lilly) and the Elk (Cathlynn). Both must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw.
— Lilly (Black Bear): Rolls a 17, succeeding on the save but taking 14 half-damage, leaving her with 5 HP.
— Cathlynn (Elk): Rolls a 19, also succeeding and taking 14 damage, leaving her with 5 HP as well.
• Lilly (Black Bear): Singed, Lilly attacks the spellcaster. Her first attack is a critical fail, but she uses Heroic Inspiration to reroll, hitting for 4 damage. Her second claw attack also hits, but the hobgoblin remains standing. The tree behind her is now on fire.
• Cathlynn (Elk): Cathlynn attacks the same hobgoblin, hitting for 10 damage.
• Ogres (continued): One ogre again fails its recharge and misses Cathlynn with a fist. The other also fails its recharge and uses Chain Sweep.
— Lev: Fails the DC 14 Dexterity save with a total of 5. He takes 11 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.
— Brutus: Also fails the save, taking 8 damage and being knocked prone.
 

Round 5: The Dorian Show

• Dorian: Dorian repositions, moves his Hunter's Mark to the hobgoblin spellcaster, and fires. The arrow hits with a 17, dealing 10 damage plus 6 from Hunter's Mark. He then activates Hail of Thorns. The hobgoblin fails its save, taking an additional 6 damage. The DM notes, "he survives the arrow only to be consumed by the thorns."
• Dorian (continued): With only two ogres remaining, Dorian targets the last hobgoblin. His first roll is a natural one. "I'm going to use Heroic Inspiration, because I rolled a one," he announces. Realizing Lilly's Spirit of the Hawk grants him advantage, he uses the second roll, a 23, to hit. The arrow deals 16 damage. The DM describes the kill: "You hit him right in the left temple, and it goes all the way out through his right temple. He is no more. He is a past hobgoblin." The DM declares, "It's the Dorian show this session."
• Lev: Prone before an ogre, Lev uses half his movement to stand. He pulls back his greatsword and, with a single thrust, stabs it through the ogre's belly, killing it instantly. "You knocked my ass down. Guess what motherfucker, boom," a player comments.
• Black Bear (Lily): Lily attacks the final ogre. Her bite misses, but she rerolls with advantage from her totem, hitting for 8 damage. Her claw attack adds another 5 damage.
• Captain Elk (Cathlynn): The elk strikes with her hooves for another 7 damage.
• Dorian's Finale: Dorian moves for a clear shot, casts Hunter's Mark on the last ogre, and fires with advantage. The first arrow hits with a 24, dealing 18 damage and triggering Hail of Thorns for 1 additional point. His second arrow also hits, dealing a decisive 20 damage. The DM narrates the final blow: "And that last arrow goes into his right eye and kills him."
 

Aftermath: What's in the Box?

With the combat over, the party reverts to their normal forms and begins to heal. Lily, briefly remaining a bear, uses her keen smell to investigate the ogres' camp. She detects a "very wonky" smell of death from a large, pear-shaped burlap sack.   Reverting to her Humanoid form, she and Dorian open it. The DM has them roll Perception with advantage. Dorian's eyes register the contents first. "The person is indeed dead," the DM states grimly, "because no one can live without a head."   They recognize the armor on the headless corpse. It is Ikiri Kcarm.   Upon hearing the news, "Cathlynn loses her shit." Inconsolable, she mourns her friend. The party searches for the head, checking a nearby cauldron, but it is empty. Dorian begins searching for a sacred-looking tree to bury Ikiri's remains. Lily offers to use her druidic abilities to help with the burial by using "Mold Earth". They do so and before covering the body, Dorian Greymantle smears some of his own blood onto Ikiri Kcarm hand so that she won't be in the grave alone.