Ah week five, the climax of the first chapter, the end of the parties long trek across the desert of Athas. We ended up with only three players once again this week so I had everyone play two as they entered this epic chapter ending encounter.
With the party backed into a box canyon, the storm closing off their exit, the group of Ssaurians appeared to strike them down. And just as the party appeared to have the upper hand from beneath their feet a massive insectal crew rose, its hungry eyes glaring.
It was a rough fight. The party started out strong with Castri doing a pair of critical hits that nearly toppled one of the lizard men. Unfortunately that early success did not continue as he group rolled poorly for the next two rounds, while I rolled several crits of my own and was just rolling high in general. As the session progressed Castri, Phye, Yuka, and Shirkirr all dropped. Some lucky rolls got Phye and Shikirr back on their feet, but in all honesty it was the big bug that really won the session as it killed off the last two lizard men and then in its bloody condition it fell to the parties last few strikes. Yuka and Castri unfortunately died, which means next week I get to explain the special death rules for this season.
Essentially because they are pregenerated characters death can’t be permanent or I’d run out of players. So instead it is played as them being knocked unconscious and given a minus one debuff to all defenses for the next two sessions. Annoying but at least they get to keep playing. Of course next week also starts chapter two so they will all be leveled up as well which should make it easier to adjust.
Now as for some special rules that would have been interesting in this fight. The giant insect, known as an Ankheg, was supposed to be controllable with a nature check. Unfortunately for the party Castri, who had that skill, was down before its arrival. So rather than overwhelm my players, who were already getting spanked after all, I didn’t let the lizard men attempt to control it either. Interestingly enough my players devised some interesting tactics when they realized the creature attacked the nearest enemy. Risking opportunity attacks they pulled the creature in range of the lizard men and then ran for it. Then from a distance Barcan and Jarvix kept up a pelting of ranged attacks on the monsters as the lizard men and Ankheg fought for survival.
At encounters end the group finally got their long awaited full rest after entering a hidden cavern. As they regrouped and healed their many wounds the lizards blocked the exit, leaving the party trapped within the mountain with only one dark passage available. But where that passage leads will have to wait till next week and the start of chapter two.