Mama's House - 4AD Actual Play 7

Can they handle what she has in store?

For the previous write-up, click here.

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Late-semester fatigue was setting in.

The four took their usual table at the Tipsy Owl. All were anxious – final exams were just around the corner. Research reports were due.

Faelith was nigh trembling as she pored over a dusty book of lore. Ithar recited prayers under his breath. Maybe he was praying for a miracle, or possibly preparing for a recitation. It was hard to tell.

Garron knew his grades were shit. He wasn’t even trying. Thessa’s friends at the guild had already stolen the answers to her exams. She just relaxed and watched bar patrons.

“You realize this is our last delve into that dungeon, right?” Faelith broke the silence.

“Yeah, so?” Garron replied.

“If we don’t clear out the boss, we’re going to fail the course.”

Ithar broke from this recitation.

“I didn’t know that! I can’t fail this course or I won’t make it into the Guilded Order!”

“Guess none of you read the syllabus.” Faelith shook her head. “Just remember, we need to make this one count.”

Everyone was fired up now. Though the walk to the tomb was silent, each person knew they had to press hard. No more leaving early. They had to find the ruling monster.

The first room was just as they left it. Empty.

Wandering Monster - Roll 1 - Nothing

The passageway to the east was still unexplored, so they headed down the hall. Nothing special about the corridor, but the door at the end was decorated with a silhouetted beast.

“Looks promising,” Thessa said as she turned the knob. The door was unlocked.

Thessa stepped inside ahead of Garron. When the rest of the party got inside, Thessa was holding a finger to her mouth.

They quieted down.

The floor was wet mud. Strange trees somehow grew from the ground and walls. And at the end of the room slept a 15-foot hairy beast. Curled up and snoring. Around its neck was a collar with its name. Leonard.

Encounter - Roll 10 - Weird Monster - Roll 4 - Catoplebas
Level 4, 4 Life, Reaction, roll 2 - fight

Garron said in a hushed voice. “This thing is someone’s pet? Down here? I say we skewer it before it wakes up.”

Faelith was lost in thought. She’d learned about these things in her Bestiary 205 class. Couldn’t remember the name.

“Catoplebas! That’s it!”, she blurted excitedly.

Leonard heard. His eyes opened as he stood to full height, growling and snorting.

Everyone gave Faelith a quick, hard stare, then prepared to fight.

Catoplebas

Gaze before combat

Garron save, roll 6, success
Thessa save, roll 3, -1 health
Faelith save, roll 3 – 1 health
Ithar save, roll 5, success

Garron attacks, roll 3+2 = 5, Hit, -1 Life
Thessa attacks from shadows, roll 6+1 =7, -Life
Ithar attacks, roll 5, Hit, -1 Life
Faelith attacks with lightning bolt, roll 5+2 = 7, Hit, -2 Life, Dead

Treasure – Ring (90 gp)

It’s stare fell across them and met Thessa and Faelith’s eyes. Both were wracked with pain and nearly doubled over.

Garron didn’t see it. He was admiring his reflection in his newly polished blade. Ithar’s eyes were closed, and he felt nothing. His pre-fight prayer had saved him.

The warrior charged in recklessly, burying his sword to the hilt. Leonard wailed in pain. Thessa’s blade flashed and punctured its neck. Ithar clubbed it with all his holy might directly on the head.

Leonard was staggered. Whimpering.

Then, a flash of light and a whiff of ozone flew from Faelith’s hand. Her lightning bolt finished the injured beast and set its hair alight.

Nobody felt good about this one.

There was no doubt Leonard was aggressive, but they just killed somebody’s pet. Poor little fellow.

Thessa pocketed a small ring she found. If they weren’t going to pay attention, then she earned it.

It didn’t take long to figure out where Leonard’s owner was. The north door was clearly marked, “Mama’s House.” The tacky, hand-made sign was not inviting.

“Guess we’re gonna meet Mama!” Garron declared excitedly. He was still impressed with his swordsmanship. “She’s not gonna be happy we killed her dog thing.”

Ithar and Faelith stood back as Thessa tried to pick the lock.

Door – Level 5 – Thessa attempts lockpick - Roll 1 – Fail

Garron attempts bash, Roll 6, Success

After a single try, she gave Garron the nod. The big man threw everything he had into the door, and it splintered open.

Mama wasn’t happy at all.

Encounter – Boss – Medusa – Roll 3+3 = Final Boss

Level 4, 4 Life, Reaction – Fight to Death

A medusa. She put down her book and slithered closer on the serpentine body that replaced her human legs. Mama finished her coffee in a single drink and scowled at the party.

All around the room were garishly decorated statues of adventurers in strange poses. She’d painted a few and decorated others with hats and beads.

“The problem with kids these days is they’ve got no manners. Barging into my house like that. Breaking the door all open. Guess I’ve got to teach you a lesson,” she hissed.

Mama’s eyes glowed red as she stared with incredible intensity.

Garron save vs petrification, roll 3, fail
Thessa save vs petrification, roll 3, fail
Faelith save vs petrification, roll 1, fail
Ithar save vs petrification, roll 5, success

Ithar watched in horror as Garron, Thessa, and Faelith slowly turned to stone. Somehow, he wasn’t affected. He said a quick prayer. He had to face this creature alone.

Ithar casts Bless on Faelith to remove the curse, roll 6, success

He decided to call upon the gods. They favored him, and Faelith became flesh again.

Mama attacks Ithar, defense 5, miss

Mama was pissed. She swiped at Ithar with her razor-sharp fingernails. The cleric knew he had to win or his friends would die. He deflected the attack with his mace.

Ithar attacks Mama, roll 2, miss
Faelith attacks Mama with fireball, roll 2+2 = 4, hit, 3/4 life

Ithar’s counterattack was too slow. Mama slithered quickly to the left. He covered up his face just in time to see an Faelith’s fireball smash into her chest. She was still alive, but her reading glasses were ruined.

Mama took an enraged swipe at Ithar, but his defense was too strong. Two of her perfectly manicured nails snapped off on his chainmail.

She shrieked in pain.

Mama attacks Ithar, defense roll 5, Miss

Ithar attacks, roll 6, hit, 2/4 life
Faelith casts Bless on Thessa, roll 5, success

This time, Ithar’s mace landed squarely on the side of Mama’s head. Her expression began to change to fear.

As Ithar battled the crotchety gorgon, Faelith cast her own blessing. Thessa was flesh again. Only Garron remained a statue.

Mama attacks Ithar, roll 3 defense, hit, -1 life
Ithar attacks Mama, roll 4, hit, 1/4 life
Thessa backstabs Mama, roll 5, hit, dead

Mama launched herself at Ithar in desperation, slashing open his chest with her nails. He took the pain without flinching and swung his mace. It connected hard against her ribs. Taking advantage of the excitement, Thessa slipped behind Mama and finished her with a knife to the back.

The gorgon fell face-first onto the stone floor.

Everyone was exhausted but excited. They’d slain Mama, the great beast of the tomb.

“What are we going to do about Garron?” Faelith inquired.

“I think if I rest a moment, I can turn him back,” Ithar replied. I need to pray first.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Thessa interjected, “I mean, he’s nice to look at, but when he’s a statue, we don’t have to hear him talk.”

Thessa smiled and stroked his petrified arm muscles.

“We can’t leave him this way!” Ithar rose and said the holy words. As he spoke, the color and movement returned to Garron’s body.

It worked.

Garron looked at the carnage and threw his sword on the ground. “You killed it without me? I missed the whole fight?”

Everyone nodded.

Ithar levels up to 2nd level (+1 life)
Thessa levels up to 2nd level (+1 life)

Faelith was busy flipping through some sheets of paper.

“It says in the syllabus that if we kill the main boss of the tomb, then we’ve completed the course. We’ll all get A’s!”

She seemed more excited about the grade than the battle. Thessa tossed her a Wand of Sleep she’d found leaning against the wall.

“Here’s another magic stick for you, Fae. I owe you one for reversing that stone thing – I don’t want to be a statue.”

Their grades secured, the four decided it was time to leave.

No need to take any more chances. They just wanted the grade anyway. Nothing troubled them on the way out.

Faelith said, “Our last class is on Monday, when we give the oral reports of our adventures. I think we made a great team!”

All of them agreed and trudged back to the Tipsy Owl to celebrate.