Session Overview
The party continued their assault on Skyhorn Lighthouse, facing wave after wave of eel folk hunters who proved willing to die—literally explosively—rather than surrender. Through tactical use of Spike Growth, summoned badgers, and concentrated ranged attacks, they eliminated the remaining enemies and captured one sleeping eel folk. A thorough search revealed a hidden passage leading down beneath the lighthouse, along with modest treasure. Unable to communicate with their prisoner and exhausted from combat, the party returned to the Annabelle Lee for a long rest while Captain Coppertree’s crew maintained watch over both ship and lighthouse.
Fionn’s Journal Entry
[Written aboard ship by lamplight, several drinks deep, pipe smoke curling through the words. Handwriting looser than usual, sketches simpler.]
They kept exploding. Pop pop pop. Like wet firecrackers. Terrible.
[Simple sketch of eel head with lightning bolts]
Lost Three and Four today. Still dancing when they went. Gold dust everywhere. Corvin’s thorny field was brilliant though—like brambles but angrier. One eel ran straight through screaming the whole way. Then exploded. Why do they do that?
Healed Lumina good. She needed it. We all need each other. Forest can’t exist with just one tree. That’s—that’s profound. Should write that down. Oh wait. Am writing.
[Smudged sketch of nautilus shell]
Found hidden door in floor. Under boxes. Goes down. Tomorrow’s problem.
The last eel killed himself. Just… stabbed his own throat. Watched all his friends die first. What kind of oath makes you do that? Worse than my clan’s mushroom circle ceremonies and those get WEIRD.
[Margin note: “Corvin calls them ‘eelians.’ Cute. Told him badgers don’t mix with eel folk. Very true. Scientifically accurate. Would write paper about it but… tired.“]
Captured one. Badgers carried him down the stairs doing their little dance. Very dignified prisoner transport. Nobody speaks eel. Tried seven languages. He just says same thing over and over. Stubborn.
Tiffany made the ale taste better. Magic is wonderful. Should tell her more often. Also asked if she calls her patron’s name during spells? Important spiritual question. She seemed… annoyed? But concerned friend asks these things.
Ship’s watching the lighthouse. We rest. Tomorrow: iron door above, dark hole below, missing ship somewhere.
Tonight: pipe, ale, Corvin’s rosemary still in my pocket. Good day. Nobody I care about exploded.
[Final sketch: three badgers stacked on each other’s shoulders, very wobbly]
That’s how they carried the prisoner. Beautiful.
Attendees & Status
Present:
- Jinks playing Fionn (he/him) - Level 6 Firbolg Druid (Circle of the Land)
- Sidney playing Lumina (she/her) - Level 6 Dragonborn Paladin
- Erik playing Tiffany (she/her) - Level 6 Warlock
- Ryan playing Corvin Hootsprint (he/him) - Level 6 Owlin Ranger
- Justin as Dungeon Master
Discovered/Known Locations
- Lighthouse Main Floor: Semicircular room with evidence of violent occupation; nautilus shell tapestries torn and shredded; smashed furniture and barrels; spiral stone staircase ascending to upper levels; northern storage room accessed
- Storage Room (Northern Door): Moldy storeroom containing barrels, sacks of flour/grain, some smashed crates; provisions sufficient for a lighthouse keeper for approximately one week; no creatures detected
- Hidden Floor Grate: Concealed beneath crates and dust in main floor; rusty ladder descending into darkness below the lighthouse; purpose unknown
- Upper Lighthouse: Spiral stone staircase passes one window opening overlooking shore and ship; terminates at large iron door (closed, not investigated)
- The Annabelle Lee (Brig): Below-deck holding area where captured eel folk #1 is secured and guarded
Key Events
- Combat resumed with remaining eel folk hunters (numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Fionn cast high-level Cure Wounds on Lumina, restoring significant health
- Fionn’s eight summoned badgers (numbered on their bellies for tracking) formed defensive wall blocking doorway
- Corvin cast Spike Growth centered near doorway, creating large radius of thorn-covered difficult terrain
- Eel folk #5 committed suicide with coral knife upon seeing party’s strength; explosion damaged Lumina and surrounding badgers
- Eel folk #6 killed by Tiffany’s Eldritch Blast; explosive death
- Eel folk #7 charged through Spike Growth taking massive damage; killed by party; explosion killed badgers #3 and #4, damaged survivors
- Eel folk #8 charged through Spike Growth; killed by Tiffany’s Eldritch Blast; explosion damaged remaining badgers
- Eel folk #3 witnessed all companions’ deaths from interior room and committed suicide rather than face party
- Eel folk #4 held position but did not attack (presumed suicide off-screen)
- Party secured sleeping eel folk #1 alive (still under effect of Lumina’s Sleep spell)
- Tiffany’s pseudodragon familiar scouted upper staircase; discovered large iron door at top
- Party investigation (Lumina and Corvin both rolled natural 20s) revealed hidden floor grate concealed beneath crates and dust
- Storage room searched: found provisions, nothing dangerous
- Collected 24 gold pieces and coral/shell trinkets from bodies
- Fionn’s three surviving badgers carried sleeping eel folk #1 down slippery stairs to ship in synchronized procession
- Captain Coppertree’s crew attempted communication with prisoner in seven different languages; prisoner responded with identical phrase repeatedly, then went silent
- Prisoner secured in ship’s brig under guard
- Party took long rest aboard the Annabelle Lee while crew maintained watch
Character History & Reveals
- Fionn: Demonstrated genuine care for his summoned badgers despite them being temporary fey spirits; expressed philosophical confusion about what drives creatures to suicide over surrender; revealed his characteristic approach of asking well-meaning but socially awkward questions (asking Tiffany about warlock spiritual protocols); enjoys substances and drinking after stressful situations
- Lumina: Cast Magic Weapon on her great axe before combat; struggled significantly with javelin accuracy throughout the fight; showed vulnerability by accepting Fionn’s healing without protest and acknowledging Tiffany’s superior combat effectiveness; maintains protective instincts even when frustrated with own performance
- Tiffany: Casually referenced knowledge of Waterdeep’s red light district when describing eel folk smell; uses Prestidigitation for practical comfort improvements; keeps her pseudodragon familiar out of combat to protect it; revealed her defensive philosophy is simply “running away”
- Corvin: Immediately shifted to journalistic documentation after combat despite being wounded; flew to crow’s nest to write initial article thoughts; interviews party members for quotes; calls eel folk “eelians” in his writing; advocates for thorough area security before advancing
Important NPC Interactions
- Captain Sheila Coppertree: Coordinated ongoing ship repairs from water elemental damage; organized seven crew members to attempt communication with captured eel folk in multiple languages; authorized prisoner secured in brig with guards; ordered ship’s cook to prepare food for crew and party; arranged guard rotations for overnight watch on both ship and lighthouse; accepted party’s recommendation to post lookouts; expressed concern for crew exhaustion and agreed everyone needed rest; mentioned repairs should complete by morning; offered to share her personal stash of better alcohol with party
- Ship’s Crew (~10 sailors): Attempted communication with eel folk prisoner in seven different languages without success; prisoner gave identical response repeatedly before falling silent and defiant; conducted repairs throughout evening on damaged rudder and sails; maintained professional watch rotation overnight; no one aboard speaks eel folk language
- Eel Folk #1 (captured): Only survivor of lighthouse battle; kept asleep by Lumina’s Sleep spell during entire combat; remains defiant when conscious, responding with identical untranslated phrase to all communication attempts before falling silent; secured in ship’s brig under guard; appears to be standard hunter/warrior, not leadership; maintains silence after initial repeated phrase
Loot Acquired
Party Treasure
- 24 gold pieces total (6 gold each distributed among four party members)
- Assortment of coral and shell trinkets (decorative, no specified monetary value)
Personal Acquisitions
- Lumina: Collected 2 thrown javelins that missed targets
- Corvin: Recovered 3-4 arrows that missed targets
Notable Item Details
- Eel Folk Weapons: Rustic daggers and spears made from sharp coral pieces, shells, and shark teeth; each appears unique and handmade; no magical properties detected; decorative/trophy value only
- Lighthouse Provisions (not collected): Bags of flour and grains in storage room, standard supplies for approximately one week
Notable Quotes
Corvin: “Well, there’s a door right there—what’s behind it? Do we know what’s behind this door? […] These guys are locked down. Let’s secure this floor. We should know what’s behind this door first.” (Advocating for thorough exploration before advancing to upper levels)
Lumina: “Well, at least you’re hitting them.” (To Tiffany, expressing frustration at her own missed javelin throws while acknowledging Tiffany’s consistent effectiveness)
Tiffany: “They still smell better than the red light district in the docks in Waterdeep. That’s all I’m saying.” (Providing colorful quote about eel folk for Corvin’s article, casually referencing her background knowledge)
Fionn: “I enjoy all the fruits of labor. Each experience that I have with a drink is a new one and always comes with fond memories. Although this has been better than most of my days. One time I tried to brew something that did not go very well.” (Philosophizing about drinking while steadily consuming ship’s ale)
Next Time
- Investigation of large iron door at top of spiral staircase
- Exploration of hidden passage beneath lighthouse (floor grate with rusty ladder descending into darkness)
- Continued search for the missing Jade Lion, its crew, and young Raph Frogwater
- Location of Elder Forgoth’s mysterious package
- Potential interrogation attempts with captured eel folk if communication method found
- Resolution of why eel folk occupied lighthouse and their connection to nautilus shell symbols
- Discovery of what eel folk were guarding or seeking in the lighthouse