(S078) Mordenkainen's Contingency

Meeting a simulacrum of Mordenkainen, the party learns of Vecna's orb ritual and teleports to a perilous Southern Jungle temple, triumphing over lava-breathing stone constructs.

📝 Session Summary

The Wild Cards were called The Menagerie by some until they came up with the name The Wild Cards.

• Barlo: A grizzled tabaxi barbarian who has been doing some work for a network that one should be wary of.
• Bastion: An orphan human who spent his life studying magic and blades, even though his elder pushed him away from the sword. He replaced Reginald.
• Calliope: This bardic faun joined the party late when she needed to find help to save her homeland.
• Reginald: A leonin cleric who was off to show his family's royal background and would later find out there were secrets leading to him becoming a king.
• Sas: A tortle hermit was given an item of power and a quest.
• Shadow in the Snow: This tabaxi got a coin, and her curiosity set her on a path.

🎬 Scenes

• Scene 1: Barlo's Backstory — From The Bronze Canyon in Kampos. Gave up Tabaxi name, "Smiles". Help move people. On way to Eushia to help Black Road with a client. Currently on ship near Carrune.
• Scene 2: Bastion's Backstory — When Bastion Bladesinger was very young he lost both of his parents to a plague. He took care of himself as he taught himself how to use the rapier his father once wore. He lived in Dyrt and watched all of the great knights. He also had an interest in the ways of magic and he wished he could do both – use swords and excel in magic – like many elves he had heard about.
• Scene 3: Calliope's Backstory — Calliope was born into the nestled highlands of the Oraniad Mountains. The Skola Vale, wild and free, blessed by the gods and inhabited by whimsical Satyr and Faun. Deep within it among the lush valley, reside the Dawngreets, a long generational line of storytellers and lore keepers.
• Scene 4: Reginald's Backstory — He was born at home, a modest-sized mansion where his family lived a modest means – even though his father could never stop talking about how they were royalty and yet this was the only lands they currently possess. His childhood was generally a happy one full of several friends. He was an only child.
• Scene 5: Sas' Backstory — Sas was born on the continent of Oth'Mar – a content mostly inhabited by Tortles and is far to the south of the Carrune Isles.
• Scene 6: Shadow's Backstory — Deep in the snowy mountains high in the north, there lived a large group of Tabaxi, The Blinding Wild Clan.

📜 Missions & Quests

• Completed:
  • Established individual party origins and initial connections to the world of Dierde.
• Active / Discovered Threads:
  • Barlo's ties to the smuggling rings and the Black Road.
  • Bastion's mysterious past and fallout with Grognard.
  • Calliope's quest to save the Skola Vale.
  • Reginald's pursuit of his family's royal mint commission and claim in Neyer.
  • Sas's vision of the Cat Goddess Bast and journey to find her lost lands.
  • Shadow's golden coin and mystical calling from her clan shaman.

NPCs

S078: Mordenkainen's Contingency

Date: 2024-12-07

Short

The adventurers met with Mordenkainen, a simulacrum created by Paradox, who informed them about Vecna's plan to restore power using specific orbs. After discussing various options including finding the Sword of Kas and seeking the Cats of Ulthar, the group decided to pursue ingredients for a dream-protection potion. They teleported to a Southern Jungle in search of white resin, where they discovered an ancient Yuan-ti Temple. Inside, they engaged in a dangerous battle against Snake-Headed Creatures and Stone Statues with lava-breathing abilities. Through coordinated efforts and tactical spells, the party emerged victorious when Sas delivered the final blow to a massive statue, turning the surrounding lava into obsidian.

Summary

The adventurers gathered to meet Mordenkainen, a simulacrum created by Paradox, who shared vital information about their ongoing conflict with Vecna. Mordenkainen revealed that Vecna required specific orbs to complete a ritual that would restore his power. The party carefully considered three potential courses of action: locating the legendary Sword of Kas, seeking out the mysterious Cats of Ulthar in the dreamlands, or addressing the immediate threat of one of Vecna's orbs. During their discussion, they also learned of a special dream-protection potion that could be crafted using ingredients found within a Yuan-ti Temple.

After weighing their options, the group was teleported to a dense Southern Jungle in search of white resin. They were well-equipped for their journey, having received several useful items including a bismuth stone for communication, a portable alchemy and herbalism set, and a special monocle to guide them to their destination. Moving stealthily through the jungle for about an hour, enhanced by a Pass Without Trace spell, they discovered an ancient temple structure adorned with snake motifs and surrounded by dangerous lava pits. Upon entering the temple, they were immediately confronted by a fearsome Snake-Headed Creature, forcing them into combat.

The battle that ensued was fierce and treacherous, with the party facing off against formidable Stone Statues that possessed the ability to breathe lava and deliver devastating melee attacks. The group employed various tactical maneuvers and spells, including Wall of Fire and Steel Wind Strike, while carefully navigating the hazardous room filled with lava pits. Barlo channeled his rage abilities effectively, while his companions coordinated their attacks with precision. The climactic fight reached its conclusion when Sas struck the decisive blow against a massive statue, causing it to crumble into pieces as the surrounding lava cooled and transformed into gleaming obsidian.

Scenes

Strategic Meeting with Mordenkainen

• Mordenkainen approaches the party on their ship
• Party moves to the Captain's Meeting Room
• Mordenkainen reveals himself as a simulacrum created by Mechlin/Paradox
• Bastion recalls and speaks the codeword 'Dendar the Night Serpent'
• Mordenkainen explains about Vecna's need for orbs
• Discussion of the Sword of Kas as a weapon against Vecna
• Information shared about the Cats of Ulthar in the dreamlands
• Party learns about a dream-protection potion/balm
• Group decides to pursue the Yuan-ti Temple path

Equipment Distribution and Departure

• Party receives a bismuth stone for communication
• Sas receives a portable alchemy/herbalism kit
• Bastion receives a monocle to help find their destination
• Party informs ship crew of their plans
• Party teleports to Southern Jungle
• Encounter with large black cat with green stripes
• Cast Pass Without Trace for stealth
• Find tracks of both humanoids and large snake-like creatures

Battle in the Yuan-ti Temple

• Enter Yuan-ti Temple with lava pits and Stone Statues
• Detect Magic reveals magical nature of statues
• Combat begins after Arty trips
• Shadow attacks Snake-Headed Creature with arrows
• Snake-Headed Creature uses slow effect on Barlo and Arty
• Snake-Headed Creature attacks with tail and spews lava
• Multiple Stone Statues attack the party with lava breath and melee attacks
• Barlo enters rage and moves tactically across the battlefield
• Sas uses Shillelah with silvery flame effects
• Bastion casts Steel Wind Strike but mostly misses
• Shadow becomes invisible and makes strategic attacks
• Calliope creates a Wall of Fire
• Sas delivers the killing blow to the main statue, causing it to crumble

Memorable Moments

Mordenkainen, a simulacrum of Paradox, reveals Vecna's need for specific orbs to complete a power-restoring ritual

During a strategic meeting to decide the party's next course of action

Sas strikes the decisive blow against a massive lava-breathing stone statue, causing it to crumble

Concluding a fierce battle in the Yuan-ti Temple as the surrounding lava cools into gleaming obsidian

NPCs

Mordenkainen

A simulacrum created by Mordenkainen, appears as a gentleman with a goatee and dark hair. He provides the party with information about their options against Vecna but is careful not to direct their choices.

Vecna

A powerful entity trying to return to power through collecting orbs for a ritual. Currently exists in dreams rather than physically.

Snake-Headed Creature

Large snake-like being with humanoid arms encountered in the temple. Capable of using magical effects like Slow and can attack with its tail and spew lava.

Stone Statues

Animated stone constructs capable of breathing lava and making powerful melee attacks. Led by a larger main statue that seemed to control the smaller ones.

Locations

Captain's Meeting Room

A meeting room on the party's ship where they discuss plans with Mordenkainen

Yuan-ti Temple

Ancient structure with snake motifs, four lava pits, snake-carved pillars, and statues. Contains evidence of recent activity from both humanoid and snake-like creatures. Special leaves grow near the magma/lava, and information about the Sword of Kas might be found here. The lava pits provide dim lighting and have begun cooling into obsidian after recent events.

Southern Jungle

Dense jungle environment with various wildlife, including unusual cats with green stripes. Located in the southern hemisphere.

Items

Sword of Kas

A powerful weapon that could potentially be used to fight Vecna in the dream world before he manifests physically

Dream Protection Balm

A potion made from special leaves that grow near magma in Yuan-ti temples, used to protect against dream-based threats

Orb

A powerful artifact desired by Vecna for a ritual that would allow him to return to power

Bismuth Stone

Multicolored mineral stone that can be used to communicate with allies

Stoneskin Broach

A magical item that grants resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage for an hour when activated as a bonus action

Spells

Simulacrum

A spell that creates clones, used by Mechlin/Paradox to create Mordenkainen and others like him

Steel Wind Strike

Used by Bastion to make multiple attacks against different targets while moving across the battlefield.

Shillelah

Cast by Sas, causing their club to take on a silvery flame effect and deal magical damage.

Wall of Fire

Used to create a ring of fire that deals damage to creatures within its area and blocks line of sight due to being opaque.

Shield

Used defensively to increase AC against incoming attacks.

Classic

Last we left off, our intrepid adventurers met with Mordenkainen, a simulacrum created by Paradox, who unveiled crucial details about their ongoing struggle against Vecna. The ancient lich's plans to restore his power through a ritual involving specific orbs were revealed, presenting the party with three potential paths: pursuing the legendary Sword of Kas, investigating the enigmatic Cats of Ulthar in the dreamlands, or confronting the immediate threat of one of Vecna's orbs. They also discovered the existence of a dream-protection potion, craftable with ingredients from a Yuan-ti Temple.

Their path led them to a dense Southern Jungle, transported there in search of white resin. Armed with various magical implements, including a bismuth communication stone and a guidance-providing monocle, they made their way through the thick vegetation under the protection of Pass Without Trace. Their journey brought them to an ancient temple, its serpentine architecture rising ominously amidst pools of molten lava, where they encountered a fearsome Snake-Headed Creature upon entry.

What followed was an intense battle against formidable Stone Statues with the power to breathe lava and deliver crushing blows. The party demonstrated their tactical prowess, with Barlo channeling his rage while his companions wove spells like Wall of Fire and Steel Wind Strike through the battlefield. The confrontation reached its climax as Sas delivered the final, devastating blow to a massive statue, its destruction marked by the cooling lava transforming into sheets of obsidian around them...

Snarky

When last we left our adventurers, they were getting a crash course in 'How to Stop an Ancient Lich 101' from Mordenkainen, a magical clone with a penchant for exposition. The gang learned that Vecna, everyone's least favorite power-hungry undead, was on a cosmic scavenger hunt for some seriously powerful orbs. Talk about your high-stakes collect-a-thon! Between legendary swords, dream-walking cats, and magical orbs, our heroes had their pick of world-saving quests to tackle.

But first, they needed to make a quick pit stop in the jungle, because apparently, no epic quest is complete without a trek through dangerous terrain. Armed with an assortment of magical gadgets that would make any adventurer jealous - including a fancy monocle and a portable alchemy set - they snuck their way through the wilderness like a group of particularly well-armed ninjas. Their destination? A temple that looked like it was designed by someone with a serious snake obsession and a concerning fondness for lava decoration.

Just when they thought they'd mastered the art of jungle navigation, they stumbled into what could only be described as the world's most dangerous game of 'The Floor is Lava' - except this time, it really was! Facing off against stone statues that apparently missed the memo about statues being supposed to stand still, our heroes pulled out all the stops. Between walls of fire, whirlwind sword strikes, and some good old-fashioned rage-fueled combat, they managed to turn their rocky opponents into pebbles and the lava into some surprisingly stylish obsidian flooring. Talk about home improvement!

Middle English

Harken ye, brave souls of might and main,
To tales of Mordenkainen, Paradox's strain,
Who spoke of Vecna's dark design,
And orbs of power most divine.

Three paths before our heroes lay,
The Sword of Kas to light the way,
The Cats of Ulthar's mystic lore,
Or Vecna's orb to fight before.

To southern jungles deep and wild,
Where ancient temples lay exiled,
With bismuth stone and monocle rare,
They crept through verdant jungle air.

Lo! A temple wreathed in flame,
With serpent visage carved in shame,
Where snake-head creatures stood in wait,
To guard the temple's ancient gate.

Stone guardians with breath of fire,
Made battle fierce and situations dire,
With Wall of Fire and Steel Wind's might,
Our heroes pressed into the fight.

Brave Barlo's rage did shake the ground,
As companions struck with skill profound,
'Til Sas's blow did end the fray,
And turned the lava into stone that day.

Thus ends the tale of valor true,
Of heroes bold and dangers new,
In temple halls where serpents dwell,
And victory's song rings like a bell.

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16