📘 Session 5 – “The Modron’s March”

(Verse 1)
Come gather, good folk, let this tale ignite,
A fireball’s roar shook Trollskull at night.
A boy held beads of a deadly chain—
But who pulled the string? What mind, insane?

(Chorus)
So strum the lute, let the tale unfold,
Heroes of Trollskull, brazen and bold!
Eyeless shines with radiant flame,
Captain Mercer plays the shadows’ game.

(Verse 2)
To Gond’s great halls the party sped,
Where brass and cogs marked the path ahead.
Captain John scaled the temple wall,
Slipped not once—no fall at all!

(Bridge 1)
There Nim confessed with gears grown cold:
"I built him, yes—but he broke the mold."
A Nimblewright lost, with fire in hand—
We took the task, by Mirt’s demand.

(Verse 3)
Into the sewers, deep and vile,
The detector clicked—crept every mile.
They found a cult in serpent guise,
Rituals writ 'neath traitor skies!

(Bridge 2)
Eyeless stood where the torches failed,
Wreathed in light, his purpose unveiled.
Dren charged in, maul like thunder,
Struck down foes, tore spells asunder!

(Verse 4)
Captain John, in deadly dance,
Dodged through strikes like fate’s own chance.
Slim Jim mended wounds with grace,
A blur of bandage, charm, and mace.

(Verse 5)
Silas grinned—his boots now charred—
Two fireballs flew from his hand unmarred.
Scrolls we claimed in smoke and fear:
Flaming Sphere, Animate Dead, and more unclear!

(Final Chorus)
So raise your mugs, let echoes fly,
Varrick sings ‘neath Waterdeep’s sky!
Eyeless burns with righteous gleam,
Dren smites foes in every dream,
Slim Jim steadies, Silas schemes,
And Captain John haunts alley seams!

(Outro)
From gears to ghosts, from flame to blade,
The hunt begins, the path is laid.
Trollskull’s crew, in legend steeped—
By fire and fang, their oaths were deeped.

In Waterdeep where sparks did fly,
A fireball lit the morning sky.
Through temple halls and secrets sworn,
A Nimblewright was thusly born.

To sewers deep the brave did crawl,
Where snakes with spells began to brawl.
Steel did clash and spells did flare,
As Eyeless fell 'neath poisoned air.

John struck true with blade so keen,
And Dren fought on with health so lean.
Slim Jim rose and then was floored,
While healing hands and faith restored.

But through it all, with spells alight,
One serpent’s bane stayed out of sight—
Oh Silas, bold, with magic mean...
Was untouched, yet cursed: his boots unclean!*

John struck true with blade so keen,
And Dren fought on with health so lean.
Slim Jim rose and then was floored,
While healing hands and faith restored.

🪐 Campaign Arc

Campaign: Spelljammer – Homebrew Hybrid
Session Title: The Modron’s March
Dungeon Master: James/Jamie (Sicareus)
Setting: Underdark, beneath the Sword Mountains

🧭 Overview

Session 5 picks up mid-combat with spiders and a Drow from the previous session. As the party fought, a second Drow—DeSeth—emerged from the darkness and assisted them, while the original Drow fled. After surviving the ambush, DeSeth urged the party to follow him, only to fall into a trap himself—pulled into a stalagmite-shaped ambusher known as a Roper. Together, the group defeated the monster and pressed forward, eventually encountering a strange mechanical being from beyond the planes: a Modron named Mono.

Initial confusion led to Mono being mistaken for an enemy—Valen threw oil, and Dino followed with a flaming lantern, fortunately without damaging the construct. With some effort (and spells), communication was achieved, and the party gained a reluctant ally. Mono revealed a map showing the location of a Mind Flayer-run prison and portal, confirming Spelljammer influence and setting the next course of action.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Party Members

📍 Key Locations

• Underdark Tunnels: Caverns beneath the Sword Mountains, filled with threats and Mind Flayer influence.

• Drow Enclave: A peaceful, moonlit settlement aligned with Eilistraee.

• Mind Flayer Prison (Objective): A repurposed war-den holding the last of the Rassalantar villagers.

• Mind Flayer Portal Site: Also marked by Mono; potential extraplanar exit or Spelljammer ship zone.

📑 Session Highlights

🕷️ Spider Ambush & DeSeth’s Arrival

• Party continued combat against spiders and an enemy Drow.

• DeSeth, a second Drow, appeared mid-fight and aided the party with attacks and healing magic.

• The original Drow fled into the tunnels.

🪨 Ambushed by the Roper

• While following DeSeth, a Roper disguised as a stalagmite ambushed him.

• It grappled multiple party members. Dino, Steel Defender, and Rigg delivered major blows.

• The party coordinated to bring the creature down without casualties.

🤖 First Contact with Mono

• In the dark, the party mistook Mono—a Modron—for a threat.

• Valen threw oil; Dino threw a flaming lantern.

• Mono, unharmed but confused, began to retreat until Valen used Comprehend Languages (via Hat of Wizardry).

• Jinks soothed it mentally and socially, earning its grudging companionship.

🗺️ Intelligence from Mono

• Mono revealed:

•  

  • It stowed away from a Spelljammer ship.

  • It witnessed Mind Flayer activity near a prison and portal.

  • It created a crude map for the party marking both locations.

• Mono agreed to travel with the group reluctantly, following Jinks' lead.

🕯️ Drow Enclave & Mission Prep

• DeSeth guided the party to his enclave—a haven for non-Lolth Drow.

• A Drow priestess blessed the party and confirmed:

  • Most Rassalantar villagers are dead.

  • Survivors are held in a Mind Flayer-run war-den prison.

• The party chose to rescue the prisoners first, before investigating the portal.

🎁 Loot & Discoveries

📌 Current Status

• Location: Resting at the peaceful Drow enclave.

• Next Objective: Infiltrate the Mind Flayer prison to rescue survivors.

• Party Level: Reached Level 5 by session’s end.

• Companions:

  • Mono (reluctant Modron ally).

  • DeSeth (temporary Drow guide, loyal to Eilistraee).

🔍 Ongoing Threads & Plot Hooks

• Mind Flayer Prison: Priority mission; holding remaining Rassalantar villagers.

• Spelljammer Portal: Possible exit point or extraplanar threat zone. Mono witnessed activity here.

• Mono’s Origins: Connection to Mechanus and Spelljammer tech raises questions.

• Drow Allies: Non-Lolth Drow enclave may offer long-term support or Underdark knowledge.

• Villager Fate: Unclear how many are alive or why they were spared.

• Spelljammer Involvement: Increasing extraplanar signs—Spelljammer ships, Modrons, and portals all imply planar-scale threat.