248 - DnD live play - McDnD - You can join me - episode 6

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 Character Progression: The party returns to the wizard's castle after their previous adventure, delivering artifacts including Thor's hammer and various trinkets. The wizard explains these pieces increase their chances of successfully smashing an evil seed, with each component adding 5% to their success rate. Characters are leveled up to 3rd/4th level to experience their full potential more quickly.
Teleportation to Shadowfell Region: The wizard uses a magical ring found by the party to teleport them to Shadowfell Forest near Shadowfell Keep. They arrive on a stone platform surrounded by swampy water, with mountains visible to the east. A new character, Sesh (played by Justin), joins the party after helping them defeat their first enemy.
Combat with a Spectator Guardian: The party encounters a floating creature with tentacles and multiple eyes (a spectator) that challenges their presence. After failed deception attempts, combat ensues. Sesh drops from a tree with a surprise attack dealing 26 damage, and the party works together to eliminate the creature, with White Fang delivering the killing blow through its eye.
Discovery of Displaced Populations: Upon reaching the first village, the party fights amphibious fish-like creatures (bullywugs) led by a boss with spellcasting abilities. The combat showcases various character abilities including Kieran's sacred flame, Taberlin's shocking grasp, and Sesh's ranger skills with colossus slayer ability.
Village Investigation and Revelations: After defeating the fish creatures, the party discovers the village inhabited by displaced halflings and gnomes—populations that have mysteriously disappeared from their home region of Condor. The captives reveal they've been forced into farming and herding, with the elderly and men being taken away in carts heading east.
Loot and Strategic Planning: Searching the defeated boss yields an instrument of the bards (a flute). The party learns that cart convoys have been transporting prisoners toward Shadowfell Keep, and they find evidence of a disturbing worship practice involving humans with squid-like creatures for heads.
Party Dynamics and Character Moments: The session highlights role-playing elements including Kieran's impulsive fireball threats, Taberlin's shocking grasp combat style, Sigri's critical failures with thrown weapons, and White Fang's tactical healing potion use. The intergenerational nature of the gaming group adds humor and teaching moments.
Journey Continuation and Night Camp: The party debates their next move—whether to head directly to the keep or investigate other villages. They ultimately decide to check another village but choose to camp overnight, recognizing that the amphibious creatures have disadvantage in sunlight, making daytime encounters more favorable.
Game Mechanics and House Rules: The DM explains various custom rules including rewarding creative role-playing with advantage, fast leveling to explore character capabilities, careful spell metamagic allowing sorcerers to protect allies from area effects, and tracking initiative and damage throughout complex combat encounters.
Mystery and World-Building: The session establishes a larger conspiracy involving the displacement of specific races, the transformation or disappearance of humans, and an organized effort to transport prisoners eastward. The abandoned natu