Session 4 — Escape from the Tarrasque

Summary

The party escapes from inside the Tarrasque's digestive tract and discovers powerful magical artifacts. A crisis erupts when Othorion acquires the cursed soul-devouring sword Blackrazor, which immediately possesses him and turns him violent. The party subdues Othorion without lethal force while managing multiple cursed and powerful magical items. After exiting the creature, Roland attempts to invoke the Titan's Tooth command words but fails catastrophically, suffering 8 levels of exhaustion. Haldak successfully commands the Tarrasque to sleep, allowing the party's escape into the Underdark.

Key Events

• Entrance to Ascending Colon Chamber

  • Party moves through digestive tract into second ascending colon
  • Massive chamber covered in feces like thick mud; extreme stench and methane hazard
  • Constitution saves for poison exposure; four party members poisoned (24 hours): Haldak, Roland, Othorion, Blup Blup
  • Immune party members: Selene, Kefkis, Kavu

• Loot Discovery

  • Party finds multiple magical items too magical for Tarrasque digestion:
    • Tortoiseshell Shield (magical, requires attunement)
    • Magical Quiver (unidentified)
    • Blue Crystal Stone (destroys when picked up, revealed as Shard of the Astral Sea)

• Infernal Hammer Discovery

  • Roland discovers hammer with infernal runes in red metal with hellfire tracery
  • Three inscriptions in Infernal (translated by Selene):
    • "Forged in the fire of Avernus, let the unworthy burn" (Bel's Forges)
    • "In the darkness by them... when you are ready to stop running from what you are" (Asmodeus's handwriting)
    • "She still loves you. That is why she fell." (Bel's handwriting)
  • Roland's eyes flash hellish red upon contact; becomes entranced by hammer
  • Party suspects connection to Zariel and Asmodeus

• Black Razor Acquisition & Possession Crisis

  • Othorion picks up Blackrazor (soul-devouring sword)
  • Weapon attuned automatically to Othorion despite resistance
  • Sword possesses Othorion, convinces him party members are enemies
  • Focuses ire on Kefkis (who attempted to take it)

• Combat: Party vs. Possessed Othorion

  • Kefkis attempts non-lethal subdual, ripostes with Blackrazor
  • Blackrazor deals critical hit (38 damage) through Kefkis directly to Selene: piercing wound chest-to-back, left of heart, through one lung
  • Blackrazor curse applied: Selene can no longer heal via non-magical means (short/long rests ineffective)
  • Kefkis grazed for 13 damage by Blackrazor's riposte
  • Party Intervention:
    • Lireal casts Hold Person on Haldak (misdirected, wrong target)
    • Kavu attempts Command spell on Othorion — Blackrazor succeeds on save
    • Haldak casts Novice (powerful time magic spell) on Othorion
      • Forces Wisdom save DC 15
      • Removes proficiency bonus from attack rolls, ability checks, saving throws
      • Risks permanent loss of proficiency if sustained over 1 minute
    • Roland non-lethally strikes with greatsword
    • Selene hits twice with bow, non-lethally
  • Othorion knocked unconscious after multiple non-lethal blows

• Post-Combat Restraint & Item Management

  • Othorion bound and restrained; cannot remove Blackrazor
  • Sword remains in hand despite attempts to drop it; hovers in hand even when bound
  • Party debates whether to keep restraints while Othorion recovers
  • Guard duty assigned
  • Infernal Hammer placed in Kavu's bag (party secures despite apparent intent to reach Roland)
  • Shard of the Astral Sea attunement: requires short rest + DC 12 Arcana check (sorcerer required)
  • Shard of the Astral Sea attuned to Selene
  • Blackrazor left on ground, later moves back toward Othorion's proximity
  • Party debates leaving items behind vs. securing them

• Exit from Tarrasque

  • Party reaches the Wall of Waste (exit area)
  • Stool breaks free and allows passage
  • Tarrasque reacts violently to breaching
  • Greater Stool Elemental manifests; party defeats it
  • Stool leaps into elemental and fuses with it, growing enormous
  • Fused Stool tears open Tarrasque's exit

• Failed Invocation & 8 Exhaustion

  • Roland attempts to invoke Titan's Tooth (infernal artifact from earlier session)
  • Attempts command words BECKONALOTH then ZUMGALOTH
  • Fails Arcana check
  • Suffers violent thunder damage
  • 8 levels of exhaustion inflicted as consequence

• Successful Invocation & Escape

  • Haldak takes control and successfully invokes command words
  • Tarrasque falls asleep
  • Party escapes into vast Underdark cavern
  • Tarrasque remains alive and sleeping

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Party Notes

• Roland: 8 levels of exhaustion (critical vulnerability); infernal hammer connection ongoing; eyes flash red when in contact
• Othorion: Unconscious, restrained, attuned to Blackrazor against will; possessed by sword; will require significant recovery
• Selene: Gravely injured by Blackrazor; piercing chest-to-back wound through lung (left of heart); cannot heal via non-magical means; curse from Blackrazor; attuned to Shard of the Astral Sea
• Kefkis: Grazed by Blackrazor (13 damage); attempted to restrain Othorion; made non-lethal combat work
• Kavu: Managing bag of holding with multiple dangerous magical items; concerned about party management
• Haldak: Successfully commanded Tarrasque to sleep; cast Novice spell during combat; found Shard of the Astral Sea
• Lireal: Cast Hold Person (misdirected to Haldak); objected to unidentified magic during combat
• Stool: Fused with Greater Stool Elemental; grew enormous and tore open Tarrasque's exit; party notes attempt to protect innocence

Threads Opened / Advanced

• The Infernal Hammer's Nature: What is its true purpose? Why does it affect Roland specifically? What does Asmodeus's inscription mean about wielder being "his blood"? Is Roland connected to Avernus or infernal lineage?

• Black Razor's Origin and Binding: How can it be removed from Othorion? Is it a known artifact? What is its ultimate purpose? Will it force Othorion to attack allies when he wakes? How can the curse be lifted?

• Selene's Magical Wound: Lung wound cannot heal through normal means; must find magical healing; permanent until resolved

• Roland's Exhaustion Crisis: 8 levels of exhaustion is critical vulnerability; need recovery strategy and possible magical solutions

• Exit Strategy: Successfully escaped Tarrasque; now in Underdark cavern; need to assess location and plan onward journey

• Zariel Connection: Hammer explicitly mentions Zariel's sacrifice and continued love; implications for infernal politics and Roland's connection

• Party Dynamics & Trust: Trust questioned when possessed companions turn hostile; need protocols for possessed party members

• Magical Item Accumulation: Acquiring multiple powerful items with unclear or dangerous purposes; need storage and containment strategy