Spelljammer Recap #9

 

Spelljammer Recap 9 Sunday March 23, 2025 @ 12:00-7:00 P.M.

<<WARNING SPOILERS FOR THE LIGHT OF XARYXIS! >>

 CHAPTER 9: DISCORD AND DIPLOMACY     

     Just then Prince Xeleth crashed through the glass dome surrounding Starbase Vocath on the back of a young Solar Dragon. Prince Xeleth boomed out, “I am Prince Xeleth of the Xaryxian Empire. I have come to save my sister. Surrender her to me, or die.”

    A fleet of a dozen star moths surrounded Vocath’s Starbase. Vocath lowered the force field around the arena. Princess Xedalli cast an illusion and then teleported into the arena. The party noticed footsteps in the sand. Princess Xedalli dropped her Ring of Shooting Stars into the sand and used telepathy to tell Nebun that he would need it to get to Xaryxispace. Princess Xedalli then teleported back and ended the illusion. Nebun noticed the ring was missing once the spell ended. Princess Xedalli agreed to go with Prince Xeleth back to Xaryxispace for his coronation.

     Vocath agreed to let the party try to form a coalition to fight the Xaryxian Empire. He let them have two hours to rest and get themselves presentable after cleaning off all the blood from the arena. Nebun used this time to attune to the Ring of Shooting Stars.

     Captain Elaina Sartell convinced the Human pirate captain of the space galleon Tarrasque, Dakaer, to join the alliance. Tamayo convinced Rika to join the alliance with the help of a star chart from WuKong as she wished to lead her Aarakocra people out of Doomspace and into a new Wildspace system. Rika was the second in command of Kree’esh of the shrike ship Skyrra. The star chart WuKong gave her said Humblespace.  Takana, a Thri-kreen in command of the scorpion ship Vrusk, was easily convinced with food from P40-X and Tamayo’s silver-tongue. Zoth’ess, a Ssurran from Fyreen in command of the wasp ship Gadabout, was convinced to join the alliance for 500 gold pieces to pay back his debt to Vocath. The party used Mending to repair his ship’s broken legs. Vortshu, an Aartuk from Aruun in command of the lamprey ship Remora, was the hardest to convince. He defeated Tamayo in a wrestling match and then was bested by WuKong who convinced him to join the alliance. Having convinced all five factions to join the alliance, Vocath added two hammerhead ships and five squid ships manned by Human, Thri-kreen, Aartuk, Aarakocra, and Ssurran mercenaries.

    The party long rested as it took ten days to assemble the alliance. Captain Elaina Sartell resupplied the ship and hired an extra crew member.

     It took the coalition thirteen days to leave Doomspace, with the other ships following Flapjack, Topolah, and Captain Elaina Sartell’s navigation aided by the Wildspace Orrery.

    After reaching the Astral Sea, the party encountered the Second Wind. The Second Wind was commanded by a Tiefling spellcaster called Fel Ardra. She had been searching for The Moondancer at the behest of Mr. Flinch trying to find Commodore Krux and to collect on the debts she was owed by Commodore Krux. P40-X told Mr. Flinch about Commodore Krux being a soul stored inside of her. The party convinced her to join the coalition by negotiating a 1,200-gold piece repayment plan with 1,000 gold pieces up front. Mr. Flinch made P40-X a new outfit. 

 CHAPTER 10: SPACE INVADERS     

     On the way to Xaryxispace, the group encountered a female Githyanki Knight called Dagaz riding a red dragon. She landed on the deck of The Moondancer and asked for any information about Mindflayer activity. Nebun told her about the encounter with the Lucent Edict and that there were no living Mindflayers aboard that they had found. Satisfied that they were telling the truth, she flew away on her red dragon.

     After two more days, the group arrived in Xaryxispace. Flying for most of a day, the group neared the Imperial Citadel and managed to ambush one of the Star Moths flying patrols around the Imperial Citadel. With that, the six faction fleets in the coalition started to engage the six Xaryxian Empire Star Moth patrol fleets.

     The party engaged the Star Moth Xaryxis, in the command of Commander Vael. The two ships exchanged mangonel and ballistae fire as they approached one another. Tamayo cast Ice Storm dealing damage to the Star Moth mangonel and surrounding crew. But this also triggered Wild Magic with Grease emanating from her and she fell over along with Captain Elaina Sartell. Nebun cast Guidance on P40-X to help her aim. WuKong summoned his astral arms.

    Nebun used his Ring of Shooting Stars to make a ball of lightning that rolled over a ballista and the crew manning it. When the ballista was destroyed the crew manning it went into the lower deck of the ship to hide. Topolah cast Fly on WuKong, allowing him to fly over to the back of the Xaryxis and start attacking the Astral Elves manning the mangonel, knocking one out. The Will o’ Wisp started draining the life from the unconscious Astral Elf taking them from an alabaster complexion to a sickly gray color.  Grimzod Gargenhale shot his heavy crossbow at the Astral Elves fighting WuKong and hit one. Warwyck Blastimoff fired his musket twice at the Astral Elves but missed. Captain Elaina Sartell couldn’t move anywhere because of the grease.

    P40-X hit the second ballista. The Astral Elves couldn’t fire the mangonel, so they used their Astral Elf radiance ability to enchant their longswords as they drew them and surrounded WuKong. Tamayo continued flailing about on the deck of The Moondancer. Nebun rolled the ball of lightning onto the second ballista, destroying the ballista and dealing damage to the three Astral Elves manning it. WuKong dropped one of the Astral Elves with a three-hit combo. The Will o’ Wisp drained another Astral Elf of all life. Grimzod Gargenhale shot one of the Astral Elves dead. Warwyck shot his musket twice and one of the shots grazed an Astral Elf while one nearly hit WuKong. Captain Elaina Sartell managed to get up from prone.

     P40-X launched a mangonel stone at the Star Moth mangonel that almost hit WuKong. The Astral Elves manning the second ballista ran inside the lower deck of the Star Moth to hide. Tamayo cast Fireball and hit the Astral Elves and the Will o’ the Wisp for minimal damage. WuKong leapt out of the way with his Evasion and flight. The remaining Astral Elves attacked WuKong and hit him twice. WuKong used his Hadozee Resilience to mitigate some of the damage. Nebun leapt over to the Star Moth through the open window and moved the ball of lightning to deal damage to the ship’s hull. WuKong knocked out one of the Astral Elves. The Will o’ Wisp drained an Astral Elf and recovered its lost health. The Will o’ Wisp then fled back to The Moondancer. Grimzod Gargenhale dropped the last Astral Elf on the sterncastle of the Star Moth. Captain Elaina Sartell waited for the grease to wear off.

     Meanwhile, in the battle raging around them, Captain Kree’esh was killed by a ballista bolt. The shrike fleet was down to just the Skyrra. Lieutenant Rika withdrew the Skyrra from battle and led the last of her people towards the Astral Sea to find Humblespace. Captain Vorthsu’s lamprey fleet was destroyed and he died cursing WuKong and Tamayo as well as The Moondancer ever arriving on Aruun. Captain Takana’s scorpion fleet was destroyed in glorious battle. Half the Star Moth battle groups were derelict and Captain Zoth’ess had his wasp fleet on the move to other sectors.

     P40-X fired the mangonel and destroyed the last Star Moth siege weapon. She then dashed over to the Star Moth lower deck through an open window and made it to the ladder underneath the forecastle. WuKong snuck inside the lower deck of the Star Moth as one of the Astral Elves went upstairs to inform Commander Vael of the situation.  Tamayo cast Firebolt and burned down one of the Star Moth’s wings before leaping over to the Star Moth sterncastle. Nebun opened up the door. He moved the ball of thunder inside and wiped out one of the Astral Elves. Then he closed the door. Grimzod Gargenhale shot his heavy crossbow penetrating the Star Moth’s hull with a crossbow bolt. Captain Elaina Sartell waited for the grease to wear off.

     P40-X climbed up a ladder to get to the Star Moth forecastle.  She spotted three Astral Elves behind glass on the bridge. She shot her pistol at the glass and shattered it by using her faeries to cut a circle in the glass where her bullet had weakened it. Then she shot the female Astral Elf wearing the Spelljamming Helm after casting Hunter’s Mark on her. The Astral Elf Spelljammer took off the helm and hit P40-X with a rain of radiant light but P40-X maintained her concentration on Hunter’s Mark. The Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard moved his body between P40-X and the Spelljammer. He hit P40-X with a ray of radiant light but again she maintained her concentration. Commander Vael teleported right next to P40-X.

     The Astral Elves tried to get through the door, but couldn’t push Nebun out of the way. The other Astral Elves got told to fan out by the returning Astral Elf messenger. WuKong, ambushed one of the Astral Elves and killed him by breaking his neck. Tamayo went down to the lower deck. She cast Lightning Bolt that WuKong dodged and then hit an Astral Elf, killing him instantly as it hit the ceramic wall of the Star Moth and ricocheted back into him as his corpse fell before striking two other Astral Elves. Tamayo was limned with brilliant yellow light from a Wild Magic surge. The light blinded WuKong and he fell over backward onto the stairs. Nebun cast Glyph of Warding on the door handle and he climbed up the ladder to be out of the blast radius. WuKong got up and tried to punch an Astral Elf but punched Tamayo in the back instead. He blindly flew up the stairs to the Star Moth sterncastle. Topolah cast Firebolt and burned the other Star Moth’s wing. Grimzod Gargenhale shot his heavy crossbow and struck Commander Vael. Captain Elaina Sartell ran to the ballista and fired at the Star Moth’s hull.

     P40-X stabbed Commander Vael twice with her rapier and once with her faeries. Commander Vael attacked P40-X twice but missed. The Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard tried to hit P40-X with a ray of radiant light again but missed. The Astral Elf Spelljammer tried to break off the Star Moth from combat but the ship wouldn’t move. So, she dropped her helmet and said, “I surrender!”

    The Astral Elves downstairs opened the door and were dissolved by acid from Nebun’s ward trap. The other Astral Elves were confused by the two-pronged attack, so they put their longswords back in their scabbards and unslung their bows while enchanting their quivers with radiant light. Tamayo turned the corner and cast Firebolt at the Astral Elf, burning him. Nebun went back below deck, opened the door and entered the room, casting Spike Growth around the two Astral Elves that were left. WuKong flew around the ship to the other side, using his astral arms to punch through the hole in the glass at the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard. The angle was awkward, so only one of the punches landed. Warwyck Blastimoff shot Commander Vael twice, once with a critical that did major damage. Topolah cast Fly on Grimzod Gargenhale and he flew over and used his necrotic touch on Commander Vael, “This is for my destroyed fleet and The Last Breath!” Commander Vael was slain and instantly became a Vampirate. Grimzod Gargenhale laughing said, “It is high past time I started to form a new crew!”  Topolah cried out, “You told me you wouldn’t do that anymore!” Vael the Vampirate said, “Who am I? What is happening to me?” Unable to hit anything besides the Star Moth and with a fight happening on the forecastle, Captain Elaina Sartell moved her crew to man the mangonel instead and launched a boulder at the Star Moth that missed.

     As Commander Vael died, screaming was heard resounding from the white-hot sun of Xaryxis. Seven Solar Dragons left the star, five of them heading to the remaining coalition fleet, and two of them heading towards The Moondancer and The Xaryxis. The Solar Dragons and remaining Star Moths fought the coalition fleet in tandem, destroying the remnants of Vocath’s mercenary fleet in the last hammerhead and squid ships. However, one of the Solar Dragons met its end from a mangonel stone thrown by the Treant Starbough on The Second Wind. Captain Dakaer of The Tarrasque managed to destroy a Solar Dragon by pin cushioning it with several ballista bolts. Captain Zoth’ess continued to use his strategy of landing on forecastle of the Star Moths with his Wasp ships, preventing their ballistae and mangonel to fight them effectively. He then let loose his fierce Ssurran warriors to break the bridge and slaughter the Spelljammer to take the Spelljamming helm. The last Star Moth drifted aimlessly as the Wasp ships flew off the forecastle and began engaging the Solar Dragons with their ballistae.

       P40-X shot the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard but missed once. Her faeries followed the bullet and were funneled inside the bridge, hitting him in the shoulder before returning to P40-X.  The Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard cried out, “Commander Vael! No!” Then he struck Grimzod Gargenhale with a ray of radiant damage. Grimzod used his Uncanny Dodge reaction to prevent his disintegration. The Astral Elves downstairs shot Nebun twice and Tamayo twice, but Tamayo used a Shield spell reaction to block the two arrows. One of the Astral Elves was blinded by looking at Tamayo's brilliant aura, so he couldn’t see the spikes at his feet to avoid them and took damage from the Spike Growth. The Solar Dragons approached the ship. Tamayo cast Firebolt on the blinded Astral Elf but missed. Nebun poisoned a bolt but his shot hit the wall of the ship instead of the Astral Elf. WuKong punched at the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard again, and hit once. Grimzod Gargenhale said, “So you wish to join your commander in death?!” He tried to grab the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard through the hole in the glass and hurt him with his necrotic touch. Meanwhile, Lefty crawled from his shoulder down his arm and leaped off, grabbing the Spelljamming Helm. Topolah cast Ice Storm, targeting the incoming Solar Dragons. Captain Elaina Sartell shot the mangonel but missed a Solar Dragon at long range. Warwyck Blastimoff, readied his musket for when the Solar Dragons entered his long range.

        Captain Dakaer crushed a Solar Dragon with a mangonel stone. The Wasp ships peppered a Solar Dragon with ballista bolts until it drifted lifeless in space. Captain Fel Ardra killed a Solar Dragon with a ballista bolt. With the Solar Dragons defeated, the fleet moved back towards The Moondancer to try and help if they could reach them in time…

       P40-X ran up to the hole in the glass and shot at the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard at a 45-degree angle with her pistol. One attack missed, but the other one hit him in the left shoulder with a bullet and her swarm of faeries. The Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard slashed at Grimzod Gargenhale’s right arm and he disintegrated into a cloud of necrotic ash. Topolah screamed out, “No!” The cloud of ash hit WuKong, P40-X, and the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard. Vael the Vampirate said, “I am free! I will have my revenge!” The two Solar Dragons approached the ship and unleashed radiant breath that disintegrated Vael the Vampirate instantly. The Astral Elves below deck missed their attacks against Nebun and Tamayo with one taking damage from the Spike Growth. Tamayo cast Firebolt and killed the blinded Astral Elf. Nebun cast Guiding Bolt but missed. WuKong moved over in front of the hole in the glass and unloaded a flurry of blows that knocked out the Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard. Lefty threw the Spelljamming Helm out the window onto the forecastle deck. He then crawled over and choked the life out of the unconscious Astral Elf Honor Bodyguard. Topolah cast Cone of Cold and hit both of the Solar Dragons. Warwyck unloaded his musket thrice on the lead solar dragon. Captain Elaina Sartell struck the lead Solar Dragon with a mangonel stone.

       P40-X shot a solar dragon twice and then slid down the ladder to go below deck. The last Astral Elf hit Nebun with a longbow arrow and he lost concentration on Spike Growth. The Solar Dragons attacked WuKong with their tail and bite attacks; hitting with the tail attacks only. Tamayo cast Firebolt and hit the last astral elf from behind. Nebun fired a crossbow bolt into the last astral elf’s jugular. Nebun then cast Mass Healing Word to heal himself and P40-X as a bonus action. WuKong unloaded a flurry of blows on the lead solar dragon, hitting twice. Topolah cast Magic Missile and dealt some damage to the lead solar dragon. Warwyck Blastimoff fired his musket twice, hitting the lead solar dragon once. Captain Elaina Sartell missed the lead Solar Dragon with a Mangonel Stone.

      P40-X clambered up the rope ladder and shot the lead Solar Dragon with her pistol twice. The first shot removed a dragon scale. The second shot pierced the skin and her metallic faeries traced the bullet inside and carved out the Solar Dragon’s heart. The last Solar Dragon did a fly-by attack that missed WuKong but hit P40-X with its tail. In this position so close to The Moondancer, Captain Elaina Sartell could only have the crew load it as the Solar Dragon was inside the firing arc of the mangonel. Tamayo went up to the sterncastle of the ship looking for a way to help while keeping her aura of blinding light away from her allies. Nebun climbed up the ladder and cast Guiding Bolt but the Solar Dragon seemed immune to it. WuKong flung out two darts and struck with one of them on the Solar Dragon. Topolah cast Ice Storm on the Solar Dragon. Warwyck Blastimoff hit the Solar Dragon once with his musket.

    P40-X shot her pistol twice at the Solar Dragon but only hit once, shooting a bullet that her faeries followed to a dragon scale that they ripped off. The Solar Dragon did another fly-by attack and hit WuKong with its tail.  Nebun poisoned a crossbow bolt and fired at the Solar Dragon but missed. WuKong threw two darts at the Solar Dragon and hit once. Topolah cast Ice Storm on the Solar Dragon. Captain Elaina Sartell unleashed the mangonel stone and struck the Solar Dragon. Warwyck Blastimoff fired his musket and pierced the skin with the missing dragon scale, and the Solar Dragon was killed. 

[At the beginning of next session, the group gets to loot The Xaryxis and go to Level 9.]

Spelljammer Recap #8

 

Spelljammer Recap 8 Sunday February 23, 2025 @ 12:00-6:00 P.M.

<<WARNING SPOILERS FOR THE LIGHT OF XARYXIS! >>

CHAPTER 7: TRUST ISSUES

      Suddenly two Bulettes erupted from the ground, leaving it broken and unstable. They swallowed two of the dead Aartuks. The Bulettes seemed to tense while sniffing at the air realizing living prey were around.

     The party prepared to face a new enemy as the terrain around them crumbled and burned…

     Warwyck swung his longsword twice at the new threat and struck once. Grimzod Gargenhale flew down from the ship. WuKong punched at the Bulette next to him three times and struck twice. One of the dead Aartuks desiccated instantly. P40-X cast Hunter’s Mark on a Bulette. Then she fired her pistol twice at the Bulette and hit it once with her faeries. Nebun cast Spike Growth on the area surrounding the Bulettes.

     The Bulettes attacked twice and missed both WuKong and Warwyck.

     Tamayo cast Ice Storm which hurt the Bulettes and put out some of the forest fire.

     Warwyck retreated from a Bulette. Grimzod shot his heavy crossbow at a Bulette. The crossbow bolt pierced the armor and dug into its flesh. WuKong fell down after losing his balance while missing two punches with a wild swing and then he got up and retreated. One of the dead Aartuks turned to gray ash. P40-X fired her pistol twice at the Bulette and hit it once with her faeries. Nebun tried to use Sacred Flame but missed.

     Both of the Bulettes leapt up, taking damage from the thorns of the Spike Growth. One Bulette tried to belly flop onto WuKong but WuKong nimbly dodged out of the way. The other Bulette leapt on top of Warwyck and P40-X and crushed them both. P40-X lost concentration on Hunter’s Mark.

      Tamayo cast Sword Burst but the swords bounced off the Bulette’s armor.

       Warwyck was completely pinned to the ground by the Bulette. Grimzod used his necrotic touch on a Bulette, draining it of all life. WuKong punched the Bulette that tried to belly slam him thrice, hitting twice. The last dead Aartuk quickly changed from brown and green wooden flesh to desiccated gray ash. P40-X got up from underneath the dead Bulette and cast Hunter’s Mark on the remaining Bulette. She drew her rapier and attacked twice, hitting once with her fairies. Nebun dropped concentration on Spike Growth and touched the last Bulette with an Inflict Wounds spell dealing good necrotic damage.

       The last Bulette attacked WuKong twice but missed.

     Tamayo cast Sword Burst and the swords dug into the last Bulette’s flesh and it dropped.

      The party used dirt to bury the forest fire after it had spread somewhat.

       P40-X harvested meat from the Bulettes. She found a Bag of Holding with money and broken glass inside the Bulette’s guts from one of their victims, possibly the eaten Aartuk. In the wreckage of the battlefield there were burnt scroll cases and broken glass vials. Nebun looked at the glass remains and figured out that it was once a crystal ball. Nebun collected an Aartuk sample.

       Warwyck Blastimoff thanked the party for the save. He wondered how they had found him. P40-X told him about her being a soul vessel that had captured Commodore Krux and that she could hear his voice. She told him about the lost message stone he used to send messages to him and Mr. Flinch to prove it. Warwyck didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about it. His friend was dead but also not dead? Warwyck told the party about his failure to negotiate with the Aartuk. He said the only one with enough prestige in the sector to form a coalition was probably Vocath, a Mercane arms merchant. He lived on a space station in orbit of a green gas moon that he had renamed Vocath after himself. The moon was three days travel away. So, the party took a long rest as Captain Elaina Sartell, Topolah with the Wildspace Orrery, and Flapjack the Flumph with the Spelljamming Helm, plotted their course through the dangerous gray crystalloid asteroid fields of Doomspace to arrive there.

      Nebun tried to make a poison using the Aartuk sample but failed.

      P40-X talked to Commodore Krux in her head. Commodore Krux told her about his ship, the Second Wind, a living ship with a Treant on deck named Starbough, and his second in command, Mr. Flinch, a Hadozee master tailor and seamster, who could repair any sail. He also told her his ship was currently piloted by Fel Ardra, a Tiefling sorceress. Fel Ardra was using his ship to look for adventure and treasure near the Rock of Bral before his untimely demise. P40-X tried to give some of the money from the Bag of Holding to Flapjack the Flumph. The Flumph glowed yellow and telepathically told her that Captain Elaina Sartell handled money while waving his tentacles around. So, she found Captain Elaina Sartell and gave her some money to put into the ship funds.

     WuKong mediated on the deck. Grimzod Gargenhale gave Nebun a chest of 1,700 gold pieces, the remains of the treasury of the Last Breath, to use to purchase anything they might need from the war merchant Vocath.

 

CHAPTER 8: ARENA OF BLOOD

     The party arrived at Vocath’s starbase orbiting Vocath’s moon. They landed at Dock 7 with Princess Xedalli and Warwyck Blastimoff. They told the guards that they wanted to meet with Vocath. Nebun noticed they had glowing tattoos on the backs of their right hands. The guards quickly relayed that message to Vocath and told them to take a tour of the facility while they waited. So, they circled the facility and looked at all the various docked ships and factions along the promenade.

     When they returned, they were admitted and escorted to Vocath’s throne and treasure room by his personal bodyguards, Y’thraka, a Githyanki, and Sergeant Burt Fluke, a Giff. They discussed their plan to build an alliance to take on the Xaryxian Empire. Vocath said that some of the factions might be impressed if they performed well in his arena. Princess Xedalli refused to participate but Vocath graciously allowed her to watch from his viewing balcony. After they agreed to three fights in a row with no rest, he allowed them to trade with him for weapons and armors. P40-X bought two force grenade clusters for 200 gold, a +1 rapier for 500 gold, and a +1 pistol for 500 gold. Nebun bought a +1 mace for 500 gold. Tamayo and WuKong bought a +1 Cloak of Protection for 500 gold each. P40-X knew how to use the force grenades because Commodore Krux told her how. She passed one of the clusters to Warwyck who as a Giff also knew how to use them. Vocath allowed them to short rest to attune to the Cloaks of Protection. Vocath then teleported the party and Warwyck Blastimoff into the arena.

       The arena was covered in a spherical wall of force which protected the crowd from area of effects and allowed combatants to wield any of their powers without fear of hurting bystanders. The floor of the pit was covered with sand, rocks, boulders, and even weapons like knives, spears, swords, and axes in poor but usable condition. A scintillation of light occurred from a mirror just underneath Vocath’s balcony and two giants appeared. The crowd roared, “Gnasher! Thrasher!”

     Gnasher moved first. He grabbed a couple of boulders and chucked them at WuKong but they missed.

      Warwyck fired his musket twice at Gnasher but missed. WuKong summoned his astral arms and punched at Gnasher twice, hitting him in the feet while aiming for his ankles. P40-X ran under Thrasher’s feet and stabbed at them with her razor-sharp metal fairies and new rapier.

      Thrasher picked up a rock but dropped it on his own foot and P40-X.

       Nebun cast Spiritual Guardian and excluded his allies from the effect. Tamayo cast a Witch Bolt on Gnasher.

     Gnasher tried to grab WuKong with all four arms but WuKong jumped backwards out of the way.

      Warwyck fired his musket twice at Gnasher but missed. WuKong attacked Gnasher four times but only managed two hits.  P40-X struck Thrasher twice with her rapier and once with her faeries in the foot that got smashed by the rock.

      Thrasher took damage from within the field of the Spiritual Guardians and attacked with Nebun with one pair of arms and P40-X with the other pair. Thrasher hit Nebun and P40-X once each.

       Nebun cast Sacred Flames at Gnasher but missed. He moved so his Spiritual Guardians would hit both of the giants. Tamayo concentrated to deal damage to Gnasher with her Witch Bolt.

       Gnasher took damage from the Spiritual Guardians. Gnasher punched WuKong four times with his fists, hitting twice. WuKong used his reaction to use Hadozee Resilience to reduce the damage of one of the hits. Gnasher moved away from WuKong to try and get out of the Spiritual Guardians area but he couldn’t use an opportunity attack since WuKong had just used his reaction.

        Warwyck fired his musket twice at Gnasher but missed. WuKong got a critical on his punch and ripped out Gnasher’s Achilles tendon. Gnasher fell over and then WuKong kicked him in the ribs on the ground. Gnasher spat out blood and then went still.

         P40-X stabbed Thrasher twice with her rapier and once with her faeries.

        Thrasher tried to move but immediately dropped to the ground from the Spiritual Guardians.

       Tamayo and Nebun performed for the crowd.

        With the first round completed, the giants disappeared. Then a huge armored giant, a large brown Scavver, and a gray Scavver appeared. The crowd roared, “Brutus the Beastmaster!”

        WuKong went first, hitting the gray Scavver twice but then falling over with an off-balance third attack. Tamayo went next and cast Lightning Bolt through all three enemies, frying the gray Scavver that stopped floating and dropped out of the air onto the ground. Nebun cast Inflict Wounds on the brown Scavver and it fell to the ground dead. P40-X refused to gut the Scavvers and instead cast Hunter’s Mark on the giant. She lunged at the giant, delivering a critical hit to the nose. Her follow up attack was blocked by a nearly invisible shield.

        Brutus took damage from the Spiritual Guardians. Brutus spewed acid breath at P40-X and Nebun. Nebun used his Dampen Elements reaction to give P40-X resistance to acid damage. P40-X lost concentration on the Hunter’s Mark. Brutus then tried to run away from Nebun and P40-X, triggering an attack of opportunity from P40-X that she missed. Nebun couldn’t use an opportunity attack because he had used his reaction.

       Warwyck tossed a force grenade at Brutus that did minimal damage. It seemed like a barrier went up that shaped the blast away from Brutus.

        WuKong got up and threw two darts at Brutus. One hit and found a small chink in the armor to hurt the giant. Tamayo cast lightning bolt through a gap in between Warwyck and WuKong that seemed to dissipate somewhat before it reached Brutus. Nebun cast Cure Wounds on P40-X. P40-X shot Brutus twice with her pistol.

       Brutus took damage from Spiritual Guardian. Brutus swung his great club twice hitting Warwyck and WuKong. WuKong used his Hadozee Resilience to soften the blow. Brutus moved away from Nebun’s Spiritual Guardian range.

       Warwyck tossed a force grenade at Brutus and killed it when Brutus failed to block it. WuKong gutted the gray Scavver for food. Tamayo performed for the crowd. Nebun botched skinning the brown Scavver for less food. P40-X cast Cure Wounds on herself.

       Vocath shouted, “Well done. Now prepare yourselves for the Terror of Doomspace, Queen Gorma!” Brutus and the remains of the Scavvers disappeared. A friendly space guppy appeared. Nebun cast Speak with Animals and learned that its name was Bubbles. P40-X used Animal Handling to further soothe and befriend the beast. WuKong and Tamayo performed for the crowd.

      Vocath dismayed said, “Forgive me, let me try that again.” Vocath summoned a Giant Megapede that swallowed up Bubbles with one gulp. The crowd screamed out, “Gorma!  Gorma! Gorma!”

     WuKong punched at Queen Gorma four times, hitting three times. One was a critical hit that crushed one of her many legs. Nebun cast Inflict Wounds on Queen Gorma for good damage. Tamayo cast Lightning Bolt that Queen Gorma partially dodged. P40-X with oil welling in her eyes screamed about Queen Gorma killing her friend. She cast Hunter’s Mark on Queen Gorma.  She shot at Queen Gorma with her pistol and dealt a critical hit to her belly while using her faeries to try and slash open her abdomen to save Bubbles.  Warwyck tossed a Force Grenade at Queen Gorma that did minimal damage.

      Queen Gorma took damage from the Spiritual Guardian. Queen Gorma drained the life of everyone nearby.  This caused Nebun to lose concentration on the Spiritual Guardian spell and P40-X to lose concentration on Hunter’s Mark yet again.

       WuKong unleashed another combo on Queen Gorma, hitting twice. Nebun picked up a rock and placed a lightning sigil on it. Nebun cast Glyph of Warding on the rock. He dropped it next to Queen Gorma and then walked away. Tamayo cast Fireball at Queen Gorma exploding it near the force wall so that it only hit the Megapede. P40-X ran up and kicked the lightning sigil into Queen Gorma’s body and it fried everyone nearby except Nebun. She then hit Queen Gorma in the belly with her rapier and faeries. Warwyck tossed his last force grenade at Queen Gorma for great damage.

         Queen Gorma bit P40-X and she fell unconscious. Queen Gorma then used a psychic bomb on Tamayo that she countered with a Hellish Rebuke that burned Queen Gorma to death.

       Just then Prince Xeleth crashed through the glass dome surrounding Starbase Vocath on the back of a young solar dragon. Prince Xeleth boomed out, “I am Prince Xeleth of the Xaryxian Empire. I have come to save my sister. Surrender her to me, or die.”

[End of session and Chapter 8. Characters have leveled up to Level 8!]