(S02) The Gauntlight Ascent

Vaultbusters awaken at the Otari Garrison after recovering from their wounds. Lt. Ebru Zox of the Otari Guard greets the players when they emerge from their temporary housing. He informs the players the guard brought them to the garrison to heal after they fell in combat. He gestures towards the mess hall where they meet Captain Lardus Longsaddle.

The Captain informs the party that the events have spooked the townsfolk and led Mayor Menhemes to draft a bounty to be sent out to Absalom. Cpt. Longsaddle doesn't want to deal with the troublemakers such a bounty would bring, so he asks the party to Investigate the Gauntlight. They accept the terms of the quest and Lt. Ebru leads them outside of town, through the Fogfen, and to the outskirts of Gauntlight Ruins. He wishes them the best and then returns to town.

Damp Entrance

The party entered a dilapidated watchtower with destroyed wooden furniture. In the rafters, two mitflits tried to deceive the party with pixie impressions. Once were discovered, they cast bane on the party and fled into the eastern wing of the keep.

Decrepit Drawbridge

As the party reached the bridge, it gave way beneath them! Jek fell into the pond below alerting the slumbering slurk. After the party fell the beast, they advanced on (with Jek still under the influence of the slurk's slime).

Central Hall

The party gets the drop on two mitflits and a giant maggot, which the mitflits treated as a pet/mount. The party takes note of the rundown appearance of the hall and note signs of an ancient arcane battle taking place here.

Maggot Stable

Two giant maggots attack the party once they enter the room. After the threat is dealt with, the party notices a half-eaten giant frog, which appears to have been consumed by a draconic creature (who Kaynan later identifies as a river drake).

Sinkhole

While Navlok and Jek were dealing with the encounter in the maggot stable, Kaynan ventured off and discovered a 10-foot deep sinkhole. Within the sinkhole, multiple mitflits were conversing and beginning to take action against the arrival of an enemy. Kaynan exited the room promptly.

Dining Room

After the party enters the room, the doors slam shut and lock themselves. Spectral energy begins swirling around the room as ghosts of kobolds begin to rise from beneath the rubble in the room's center. The session ends as the party is faced with an enemy they cannot directly fight...