245 - DnD live play - McDnD - Maybe we should pee ourselves - episode 3

several generations of McCann's playing DnD back in 2018

We fight the evil and attempt to build the hammer to crush the seed.

Grandfather - Mac McCann

Dad / Son - Andy McCann

Sister - Justine McCann

Son / grandson - Evan and Levi McCann

Nephew / Grandson - Joseph McCann
Family Friend - Justin Labrecque

Campaign Setup and Recapping Previous Events: The party reviews what happened in their last session, including their investigation of towns where halflings and gnomes (mostly women and children) have been mysteriously taken to a keep. They have three magic rings distributed among party members and previously encountered suspicious activity with missing residents.
Ambushing the Drow Caravan: The party spots a caravan in the dark consisting of drow (dark elves) and spider-like creatures called driders transporting children in carts. Despite some hesitation about engaging, they decide to attack to rescue the children, demonstrating role-playing over tactical safety—earning them inspiration from the DM for this choice.
Combat with the Driders and Drow: A challenging battle ensues where the party faces two drider (spider-centaur creatures) and several drow escorts. Taberlin takes significant damage multiple times, going down to zero hit points twice during the fight. The party uses various spells including witch bolt, magic missile, and scorching ray, eventually defeating the enemies despite their high armor class and difficulty to hit.
Rescuing the Children and Looting: After victory, Sigri successfully convinces the terrified children to flee into the woods. The party finds 10 gold pieces each and two healing potions, plus a vicious weapon that Sesh claims. They also encounter pregnant halfling women who explain that creatures regularly come to take children every few months, with none ever returning.
Approaching Shadowfell Keep: The party travels to the keep using a borrowed horse and carriage, encountering a cyclops guard at the gate who they must fight. After defeating the cyclops, they notice something is very wrong—all the humans in the keep are moving in a zombie-like, entranced state, performing repetitive, meaningless tasks with rotting food and supplies.
The Enchanted Population: Inside the keep, they discover all residents are under some kind of spell or mind control, moving in predetermined paths and unable to respond normally to stimuli. They're slow, awkward, and their tasks are pointless (like carrying rotted food). Even when physically confronted, they simply repeat phrases like "Welcome to Shadowfell Keep."
Confronting the Possessed Lord and Hero: In the throne room, they find Lord Taliesin sitting rigidly on his throne while a kneeling knight (later identified as Sir Thomas, one of the missing heroes) appears to be controlled by an external force. Sir Thomas's body moves fluidly in combat while his voice pitifully begs to be killed, showing the disconnect between his actions and his will.
The Battle with Sir Thomas: The party attempts to subdue rather than kill Sir Thomas, using entangle spells, grappling attempts, and non-lethal damage. They recognize him as one of the heroes they were sent to find. Despite their efforts to restrain and knock him unconscious, he eventually breaks free and takes his own life, but not before pointing them toward a secret entrance behind a statue.
Escaping to the Cellar: As Sir Thomas dies, all the entranced people—including Lord Taliesin—turn toward the party in unison with Lord Taliesin saying "I'll get you yet" in a voice that doesn't match his rigid body movements. The party rushes through the secret door to a cellar and locks it behind them, ending the session on this cliffhanger.