Session Overview
The party explored several rooms in Château Amber, encountering various challenges including a trapped letter floor puzzle, humanoid constructs in a laboratory, and a frost salamander. The session featured multiple combat encounters and environmental puzzles as they continued searching for a way out of the mansion.
Thal’s Journal Entry
Written in precise handwriting, with margin doodles showing stick figures attempting to solve a floor puzzle before being scattered by an attack from lab creatures, and a frost salamander turning a hammer into an icicle
Just when I thought this mansion couldn’t get more peculiar. Found ourselves facing down a floor covered in letters - because of course there’d be a literary challenge in a house this pretentious. Not that it mattered much since I spotted a concealed door that let us bypass the whole thing. Sometimes the direct approach isn’t worth the headache.
That bit of cleverness led us straight into a laboratory full of naked humanoid constructs. Should have known better than to expect an empty room in this place. At least they were kind enough to wait until we fully entered before attacking - almost polite, really. After that delightful welcome, we stumbled into a six-legged frost salamander that turned every strike against it into an exercise in pain tolerance.
Crew Assessment:
- Combat Capability: Improving coordination, though still prone to charging in
- Reliability Factor: Mixed - some show caution, others leap before looking
- Spiritual State: Ranging from tactical to reckless
- Sea-Worthiness: Would need serious lessons in checking for traps
- Notable Moments: Finding hidden passages while others debate word puzzles
Attendees & Status
Present:
- Jinks (Thal) - Half-elf Rogue/Monk
- Sidney (Hawthorne) - Changeling Bard
- Justin (Grok) - Half-orc Cleric/Druid
- Ryan (Selnove) - Deep Gnome Barbarian
- Erik as Dungeon Master
Setting & Atmosphere
- Room with letter floor puzzle
- Laboratory containing vats and cauldrons
- Freezing chamber with frost salamander
- Various connecting corridors and hidden passages
Key Events
- Discovery and bypass of letter floor puzzle through hidden door
- Encounter with hostile construct beings in laboratory
- Combat with frost salamander in freezing chamber
- Tactical retreat and regrouping after difficult battles
Character Moments
- Thal discovering and utilizing hidden passages
- Grok considering transforming into various creatures during combat
- Selnove demonstrating tactical combat decisions
- Party coordinating during challenging encounters
Important NPC Interactions
N/A - Only hostile encounters with constructs and creatures
Loot Acquired
Party Treasure
- 600 silver pieces
- 800 gold pieces (Found in the room with the frost salamander)
Emotional Highlights
- Tension during combat encounters
- Satisfaction in finding alternate solutions to puzzles
- Strategic planning during difficult battles
- Relief when discovering successful tactics
Narrative Consequences
- Discovered new areas of the mansion
- Gained insight into mansion’s magical nature
- Demonstrated need for caution in exploration
- Established presence of construct defenders
Player-Specific Notes
Thal
- Successfully spotted hidden passages
- Maintained tactical approach to combat
Hawthorne
- Contributed to combat coordination
- Assisted in strategic planning
Selnove
- Showed combat prowess
- Demonstrated tactical thinking
Grok
- Explored shape-changing options
- Provided healing support
Notable Quotes
Grok: “We don’t want to fight and we’re not trying to steal anything. We come in peace!” (Attempting diplomacy with constructs)
Grok: “I’m starting to think this house is weird.” (Reflecting on their situation after another strange encounter)
Thal: “Don’t complain about me trying to run away - you tried to run from the damned lizards!” (Calling out Grok’s hypocrisy during combat)
Selnove: “Stay out of goop!” (Warning about laboratory hazards)
Hawthorne: “Gee whiz, I really can’t read. Maybe you could read it to me?” (In disguise as a child, attempting to manipulate information from a situation)
Thal: “Sorry guys, I’m here to live, not to die. I haven’t even taken any money!” (Justifying tactical retreat during frost salamander combat)
Cliffhanger/Unresolved Questions
- Purpose of the laboratory and its constructs
- Nature of the letter puzzle’s solution
- Connection between various mansion defenses
- Way to progress further into the mansion
Next Time
- Continue exploration of remaining rooms
- Search for clues about mansion’s nature
- Address wounds and recovery needs
- Plan approach to future encounters