Play Report Mar 3 2026 - Crow's Keep #28
Introduction
Short session and report here. I always have had a soft spot for this type of expeditionโthe players identify a very specific goal that they assume is somewhere they have already been, and recontextualize a familiar place.
With that all said, that type of session is generally pretty straightforward. This was also not helped much by the linearity of Zelligarโs sanctum as written in OAR #1, which is one room after another. I was able to add a few splashes of intrigue, such as the orc recipe the characters had long theorized about.
I was happy with Pancake! I used the demon generator in the DCC book to make the little shit. He was a very threatening lone enemy, and I took pride in clearly signposting and portraying the XP drain. This was also the first time we referenced any specifics about the theology/cosmology of the setting, which has to be a record for an elfgame. I kept it simple and gave my โlaw-sky, neutral-surface, chaos-underworldโ spiel.
Always nice to have a new player, too!
Report
In attendance:
- Aislinn, level 1 thief
- Boris, level 1 dwarf
- HBGB, level 2 halfling, and his retainer Ingham the cleric
- Tan Gnollbane, level 1 elf
Introducing Bart the Butcher, a level 1 warrior!
Following the deadly clash at the Caves of Chaos, the Ogre-whelming Force sought to lift the myriad curses laid upon them. Figuring that Zelligar's sanctum was their best betโand still owing Mallory Weaver a favorโthey set out once again for Quasqueton.
The Woodfolk, still mourning the death of Rรณisรญn, were now ruled by an older bravo by the name of Seamus. He granted the band leave to continue exploring Quasqueton, but warned them some Woodfolk blamed the band for their Queenโs death.
Beyond the portal in Zelligar's hidden chambers, the Force examined a room filled with many statues of the vainglorious wizard. Tan quickly identified one was not like the others, missing a pedestal and showing Zelligar in a state of panic. The band deduced that surely this was the real Zelligar, perhaps dormant or petrified, and elected to smash him. They claimed his head as a trophy.
As if to avenge its likeness, one of the statues animated and began spewing flame at the band. However, Tan responded with quick salvo of magic missiles, destroying the guardian.
Pressing on, the band turned the wizardโs laboratory upside down looking for any scroll or research material that might hold a lead on breaking a curse. A bloodstained cauldron loomed in the north corner of the room. Signs of dark summoning were all about, and proven when HBGB uncorked a bottle apparently containing a pixieโinstead, a two-dimensional mantis demon calling itself Pancake emerged and sought to slaughter the party!
Pancakeโs paper-thin claws spilled much blood, and his bizarre shifting form caused HBGB and Aislinn to faint dead away! Pancake then jabbed HBGB with a syringe-lile stinger, draining him of his memories.
Bart wrestled the Pancakeโs tail away from the rest of the party, who fell upon the demon! They eventually shredded the demon, who promised to see Ogre-whelming Force againโฆ
With the battle won, Tan found a secret door leading into a vast library, no doubt Zelligarโs pride and joy. The band found a lead in the form of a map of the area, depicting an old church where it was said the monks baked a purifying bread.
The band also stumbled upon a lesser spellbook of Zelligarโs, as well as the recipe for orcs. Both books were missing pages and covered in ominous bloody fingerprints. The band was certain that the cauldron in the laboratory had been used for orc-brewing, and one of them may know the recipe.
Now hunting for gold, the band pushed beyond the library and found what appeared to be a lavish tomb for Zelligar, though the band doubted he was interred there. Aislinn carefully opened the puzzle-like lock to the sarcophagus, using a trick to sidestep the puzzle and springing a grisly portal trap that may well have severed her limbs had she not pulled away.
Inside was a mummy bearing a staff like a stalagmite and a strange flagstone. The mummy attacked, but Aislinn was quick and luckyโas it grasped toward the band, the portal trap was sprung, sending its bottom half hurtling toward oblivion. The band then carefully dealt with the revenant and Bart claimed its head as a trophy.
Beyond the mummyโs tomb was an unfinished treasury, empty but nevertheless lined with grand gold tiles. The band retreated to make plans to strip the gold and find the shrine. With any luck, the curses would soon be lifted!