Denckash & The Cave Bug - Mapping the Hex pt 13

I will say, for fans of our favorite Dragonborn druid, I will give you a choice. You may stop reading and I will tell you he found his mushrooms, he returned to the Goliaths and, by and large, was able to get his homelands back in the Duchy of Scheck, and I could be right. That can be your takeaway and I will not fault you. Alternatively, you may continue reading, but please don't say I didn't warn you.

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Denckash awakens from unconsciousness and attempts to make a rudimentary camp for a short rest.

CL=5, Chaos Roll 1d10=8, no modifications

He won't start a fire, but he will try to make a bed on the ground here for a short rest to regain some stamina

This will be tricky because it is in an uncertain dungeon, so I will roll for a random encounter then roll for my hit die to regain some health

Random Encounter= d100=90, no!

Hit Die= 1d8+2=10 OH THANK GOODNESS

Recuperated and rested after about an hour and a half, he continues on through the tunnel. It opens up into a large cavern.

Cavern: Roughly trapezoidal around 30ft.

Exits: 3 (including the one PC came in)

Exit 1: Entrance from sinkhole

Exit 2: Tunnel

Exit 3: Cavern

6d12 Triggers: Random Encounter & Trap (yay)

Random: Medium Encounter: Young Kruthik

Trap: Poison Gas, Notice DC: 17 Save DC: 14 Dmg: 1d6

Is the trap at the entrance way? 50/50 50%, d100=12, yes!

It is right at the doorway.

Does Denckash notice as he walks in? Perception (Wis) DC17, d20+3=7, fail!

He hears a hiss and notices a green gas seeping in from the walls of the tunnel

Con Save DC14, d20+2=6, fail! Dmg: d6=4, 6/10

After a brief coughing fit, he can hear a skittering coming from the chamber. He tries to inch in closer to get a look.

Stealth (Dex) DC15, d20+0=14, fail

His footsteps echo throughout the tunnel. As he enters the dank chamber, he is met by a chitin-plated reptilian looking creature on spiked legs with a reptilian face. It is 30 ft away from where he stands.

Does he know what it is? Nature (Wis) DC17, d20+1=17, success! +5xp

Denckash recognizes it as a young Kruthik. He knew if there was one, there was probably more. But he was stuck. Hopefully, the coughing fit and his failed attempt at stealth didn't tip him off. The odds were not in his favor, though.

Monster Intentions: Monster simply attacks, out of instinct.

ROLL FOR INITIATIVE

Kruthik: 16

Denckash: 11

The Young Kruthik attacks and stabs Denckash, d20+5 vs AC11, d20+5=14, Hit! Dmg 1d4+3=7, Denckash falls.

The young kruthik, hungry after tunnelling up closer to the surface, begins to devour Denckash.

Thus ends the adventures of Denckash.

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Unceremoniously, Denckash has met his end. Logically, I could have potentially spared him, make the Kruthik retreat after slaying his opponent, and then roll for death saves. Of course, I could have saved him from the icy claw of death but I felt that it would be far too risky to put him through that. Would it have made for a harrowing tale? I think so, but I felt it was time. He may come up in legend. He may be whispered about in that Goliath camp he was on a quest for. We may never know. Susshannah is a sizable province, however, and there is a whole world to explore still.

This isn't the end of my stories, nor am I going to abandon this blog. More is coming, rest assured. In the coming weeks, while I cook up more tales, be prepared for a myriad of sneak peeks, world building notes, and other nonsense my mind conjures.

Until next time.