0x0004 HEXBLADE_INITIALIZATION
SESSION DATE: January 26, 2026
PRESENT: Syntax, Xaphan, Jafar, Arthas
Deep Dive
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Adventure Photos
Adventure Song & Lyrics
![[HEXBLADE_INITIALIZATION.mp3]]
[INTRO]
Searching the north.
Garden of bone.
Skeletons tending the seeds of the stone.
Bioluminescence—violet and cold.
Stories of dragons waiting to be told.
Initiating upgrade.
Accessing the core.
Syntax is changing.
Syntax wants more.
[VERSE 1]
Step through the hallway where granite is carved
Feeding the shadows where the light has been starved
Marble dragon watching with glowing red eyes
"Illuminate my spirit"—the sorcerous rise
Jafar pulls the brick, release the black cloud
A shape in the darkness, a humanoid shroud
Xaphan and Arthas, the kinetic sweep
Sending the shadow back into the deep.
[BUILD-UP]
Data archived.
Threshold met.
Higher protocols.
System set.
Level Three.
Code rewrite.
Shadow dead.
Absorb the light.
INITIALIZE.
[DROP]
[VERSE 2]
Enter the archives, "Fus Roh Dah" found
Dragon scale binding, secrets underground
Acid Arrow scripts and the Scorching Ray
Tools for the unit to burn them away
Rift in the cavern where the fire snake crawls
Heat signatures rising on the stone walls
Arthas is falling—thermal crash.
Reboot the system. Avenge the flash.
[BRIDGE]
Vial of hex.
Whisper of steel.
Forging the pact.
Making it real.
Sapphires gleaming.
Venomous hive.
Toll the Dead ringing.
Keep 'em alive.
[BUILD-UP 2]
Ambush in the dark.
Hobgoblin blade.
Arthas is down.
The debt must be paid.
Invoke the Hell.
Reboot the line.
Draw the daggers.
Everything is fine.
NOW!
[DROP 2]
[OUTRO]
Precision strike: Four damage.
Target neutralized.
New daggers acquired.
Tactics optimized.
Long rest completed.
Subclass: Hexblade.
Syntax upgraded.
The bargain is made.
World Anvil Journal
[BOOT_SEQUENCE_STARTING...] [OK]
Core Processors Initialized [OK]
Mana-Battery Levels: 100% [OK]
Vocal Synthesizer: SET TO MONOTONE_DEFAULT [OK]
Optical Sensors: CALIBRATED (Deep-range scan) [SYSTEM_MESSAGE]
Welcome, Unit: [SYNTAX].
Beginning Log Entry...
SESSION ID: 0x0004 HEXBLADE_INITIALIZATION
LOCATION: THE TWILIGHT GROVE / FORGOTTEN LIBRARY OBJECTIVE: ASCEND THE SYSTEM HIERARCHY / NEUTRALIZE REMAINING HOSTILES
[LOG_START]
[14:00] COMBAT_LOG_11: North Garden Clearing.
- Targets: Twig Blight (1), Skeletons (3).
- Performance: Unit: Syntax deployed [BLESS] subroutines.
- Outcome: Hostiles neutralized. Logic: Routine maintenance.
[15:15] HAZARD_LOG: The Dragon Runic Circle.
- Discovery: Red dragon marble statue with glowing ocular sensors.
- Inscription: "Let the sorcerous power illuminate my spirit."
- Interaction: Unit: Jafar detected a structural anomaly behind the statue.
- Hostile Encounter: Shadow entity emerged from the dark.
- Resolution: Unit: Xaphan and Unit: Arthas delivered synchronized kinetic strikes. Entity dissipated.
- System Update: Unit: Syntax efficiency increased. Accessing higher-tier protocols. [LEVEL_3_UPGRADE_COMPLETE].
- Subclass Initialization: [HEXBLADE_PROTOCOL_ACTIVE].
[16:45] INTEL_UPDATE: The Ancient Archives.
- Loot: "Fus Roh Dah" tome (Dragon lore), Spell Scroll [SCORCHING_RAY], Spell Scroll [MELF_S_ACID_ARROW].
- Pathing: Descending staircase detected, but party opted to investigate biological rifts.
[17:30] COMBAT_LOG_12: Fire Snake Re-engagement.
- Target: Salamander Fire Snake.
- Status: Unit: Arthas sustained [SYSTEM_CRASH] due to thermal aura.
- Recovery: Unit: Jafar deployed restoration magic. Unit: Syntax maintained [HEX] lock.
- Outcome: Target neutralized via [TOLL_THE_DEAD] frequency. Experience archived.
[20:00] RECHARGE_INITIATED: Long Rest in Rift Cavern.
- Status: [INTERRUPTED].
- Hostiles: Swarms of venomous biologicals (Snakes) emerged from rifts.
- Damage Report: Unit: Syntax sustained puncture wounds to chassis.
- Resolution: Swarms dispersed. Rest resumed.
[08:00] COMBAT_LOG_13: The Treasure Seeker's Ambush.
- Enemies: Hobgoblin Warrior (Leader), Goblin Warriors (2).
- Status: Unit: Arthas and Unit: Xaphan sustained catastrophic damage. Both units [OFFLINE] temporarily.
- Tactical Response: Unit: Arthas utilized [INVOKE_HELL] to force a system reboot for himself and Xaphan.
- Performance: Unit: Syntax engaged in melee with dual daggers.
- Analysis: Melee strike 01: Failure. Melee strike 02: [PRECISION_STRIKE] (4 damage). Target neutralized.
- Chase Protocol: Final Goblin unit utilized [NIMBLE_ESCAPE]. Pursuit unsuccessful.
- Outcome: Area secured. 6GP and physical shield recovered.
[LOG_END] [SYSTEM_MESSAGE] Data synchronized. Subroutines updated to Hexblade standards.
Private Notes
- We continue north into the room that featured the bugbear obsessed with doors. Jafar checks the western door for traps. It doesn't appear to be trapped or locked. He opens the door. Inside are skeletons tending to the garden, along with a twig blight in the center of the room, very similar to our descent into the place. Jafar fires off a spell at them. INITIATIVE!!!
-
Round 1
- Twig Blight - Attacks Jafar with its claw, misses.
- Skeletons - Attacks Jafar with shortbow, misses. Another fires at Xaphan, hits. Another attacks Arthas, misses.
- Jafar - Steps back, provoking, but it misses. Fire Bolt hits the twig blight. Moves further away.
- Arthas - Steps up to the door, attacks twig blight with his flail, hits and kills it.
- Syntax - Moves toward Jafar and casts Bless on the rest of the party.
- Xaphan - Moves in, attacks with longsword, hits, pumps Divine Smite, killing it.
-
Round 2
- Skeletons - Steps away from Arthas, provoking, which hits. Attacks Xaphan, misses. It continues moving away, provoking from Xaphan, which hits and kills it. The last remaining skeleton attacks with a shovel, and hits.
- Jafar - Fire Bolt at the skeleton, misses.
- Arthas - Moves up to the skeleton, attacks with his flail and hits and kills it.
- Combat over. We each receive 43 xp.
-
- We look for loot. The only thing we find is 12g.
- We continue northward. Jafar checks the door, finding no traps, and the door isn't locked. Jafar suggests readying ourselves before opening the door. We open it, and it appears it's nothing but purple bioluminescent fungus. We take some time to look for stuff, but ultimately come up empty handed.
- There IS a door in the southwest side of this room. Jafar checks it for traps, and finds nothing once again. He opens it. It's a hallway. Dragon carved granite blocks line the walls and ceiling, with stony debris on the floor. A marble statue of a red dragon stands along the wall. It's eyes are glowing, but do not appear to be following our movements. A five-foot diameter tile is set in stone in front of it. Runes are carved around its edge.
- Xaphan suggests looking for traps. We all take a moment to do so. Xaphan, knowing Draconic, says the runes on the circle say "Let the sorcerous power illuminate my spirit." Behind the statue, there is a loose stone. Jafar checks it for traps, but finds none. He thinks he can pull it out of the wall, so he does so after warning us to stand back. Inside is a small pouch and two flasks. He sticks a crowbar into the recess to pull them out just in case he missed a trap. As soon as he starts scooping them, the slight darkness around him begins to take a vaguely humanoid shape as a shadow figure takes a swipe at Jafar. INITIATIVE!!!
-
Round 1
- Xaphan - Moves up next to Jafar, attacks with longsword, misses.
- Shadow - Draining Swipe at Jafar, misses. Bonus Action to Hide.
- Arthas - Searches for the Shadow and finds him. Bonus Action to Baleful Interdict the Shadow.
- Jafar - Disengages and moves away to the hallway we came in from.
- Syntax - Thinking about the words on the tile, attempts to Eldritch Blast the tile, but nothing happens. Oh well.
-
Round 2
- Combat over. We each receive 30 xp, which is enough for 3rd Level!
-
- In the recess, Jafar finds 34g and two flasks of Alchemist's Fire.
- Xaphan stands on the circular runic tile and says the words on them. Spectral flames harmlessly envelop him, granting him advantage on Charisma Checks for the next 24 hours. Nice!
- We take a quick Short Rest in this room, which goes by uneventfully.
- Jafar checks the door in this room for traps and finds none. He opens the door. Books, bindings and scrolls are strewn about in the room beyond. We take a moment to look around for stuff. There is a Spell Scroll of Scorching Ray that Jafar finds. We look around for more goodies and find Spell Scroll of Melf's Acid Arrow, and a tome of dragon lore, bound in dragon scales, worth 150g. The title is "Fus Roh Dah". Score!
- There is yet another door. As usual, Jafar checks it for traps, and finds none. And it's not locked. He opens it, and beyond is a staircase, damp and crumbled, descending sharply. But we decide to double back and look at the small tunnel in one of the goblin rooms we skipped.
- There's a debris-strewn floor which leads to the burnt area we skipped near the entrance. Everything seems shifted to the west.
- We continue southwest, and find a rift which widens into a cavern-like chamber, with small 2' diameter holes. Syntax says "Caution, Fire Snake!" just as they enter. INITIATIVE!!!
-
Round 1
- Xaphan - Toll the Dead, it fails its save and hits.
- Syntax - Moves in and Readies an Eldritch Blast for when the Salamander FIre Snake enters his line of sight.
- Salamander Fire Snake - Moves, entering Syntax's line of sight, triggering his held action, which misses. Moves up to Arthas and attacks, hitting for some major damage. FIre Aura does extra damage, which knocks Arthas out. Ouch.
- Arthas - First Death Save, successful. One success, no failures.
- Jafar - Cure Wounds on Arthas, bringing him back to consciousness.
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Round 2
- Xaphan - Longsword attack hits. Bonus Action Healing Word on Arthas.
- Syntax - Hex (Wisdom) on fire snake, Toll the Dead, he fails his save, and take some damage.
- Salamander FIre Snake - Attacks Jafar, hits, Fire Aura..
- Arthas - Bonus Action Baleful Interdict, stands up, flail attack, hits, pops the Baleful Interdict seal for an extra point of damage.
- Jafar - Fire Bolt at the fire snake, misses.
-
Round 2
- Combat over. We each receive 50 xp.
-
- We discuss taking a long rest, which we all agree would be a good idea.
- We take some time looking for loot first, and find two sapphires worth 50g each.
- We start a long rest in the fire snake's room, but soon into the rest, we begin hearing wriggling and writhing. Up from the ground pops swarms of snakes. INITIATIVE!!!
-
Round 1
- Venomous Snakes - Attacks Arthas, hits. Another one attacks Xaphan and misses.
- Jafar - Fire Bolt at some snakes, hits and kills it.
- Syntax - Bonus Action to move the Hex from the previous encounter, Toll the Dead for some damage.
- Arthas - Baleful Interdict, flail attack hits, doing enough to kill it before having the chance to pop the seal.
- Xaphan - Misses a longsword attack.
-
Round 2
- Combat over. We each receive 25 xp.
-
- No loot. We continue the long rest without further issue. TNGBU, and we can level up now! I chose Hexblade as Syntax's Warlock subclass.
- After waking up, we venture forth into the shifted corridor just next to the cavern we slept in. At the end is a stone door. As usual, Jafar checks it for traps, and finds that it is not trapped, but seems to be stuck closed. It'll likely need to be forced open.
- Jafar summons a crowbar using his Tinker's Magic and hands it to Arthas to attempt to pry the door open. Arthas is able to pry it open successfully.
- An arrow immediately flies toward Arthas, missing. INITIATIVE!!!
-
Round 1
- Hobgoblin Warrior - Says "The treasure is mine!" and fires another arrow at Arthas, missing again.
- Goblin Warrior - Comes out of hiding and attacks Arthas, hitting.
- Arthas - Baleful Interdict on hobgoblin, moves in and attacks, misssing.
- Xaphan - Toll the Dead at hobgoblin, which fails his save
- Syntax - Toll the Dead at hobgoblin, but it saves.
- Goblin Warrior - Comes out of hiding and attacks Xaphan, hitting. Nimble Escape to Disengage.
- Jafar - Ray of Sickness at hobgoblin, missing thanks to Half Cover.
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Round 2
- Hobgoblin Warrior - Longsword attack at Arthas, hits him hard.
- Goblin Warrior - Moves up to Arthas and attacks with a scimitar, hitting him and knocking him unconscious.
- Arthas - First Death Save successful. One success, no failures.
- Xaphan - Healing Word on Arthas to bring him back to consciousness. Moves up to hobgoblin and hits.
- Syntax - Moves in, Hexblade's Curse on hobgoblin, Eldritch Blast critically misses. Again.
- Goblin Warrior - Moves up to Xaphan by passing a prone Arthas, provoking, which misses. Attacks Xaphan, hitting.
- Jafar - Moves in and casts Healing Word on Arthas. Fire Bolt at the hobgoblin, missing.
-
Round 3
- Hobgoblin Warrior - CRITS Xaphan, doing enough damage to knock him unconscious. No bueno.
- Goblin Warrior - Scimitar attack at Arthas hits.
- Arthas - Uses Invoke Hell to give Xaphan 12 HP of healing, and himself 3 HP of healing. Stands up and attacks the hobgoblin with his flail, hitting, and popping the seal, which is enough to kill him.
- Xaphan - Stands up and attacks the nearby Goblin Warrior with his longsword, hitting. Healing Word on himself.
- Syntax - Moves into melee with the northern goblin warrior and attacks using his dagger, which misses horribly. Bonus Action to attack with his offhand dagger, which CRITS, doing a whole FOUR damage (lol), but it's enough to kill it!
- Jafar - Fire Bolt misses.
-
Round 4
- Goblin Warrior - CRITS Arthas, doing max damage and leaving him with ONE hit point! Nimble Escape to Disengage. We decide to pursue.
- Arthas - Moves out of the room giving chase to the running goblin warrior, attacks with his flail, and hits.
- Xaphan - Chases the goblin, uses Sacred Weapon to enchant his Longsword, but misses the attack.
- Syntax - Gives chase, Toll the Dead, but it saves.
- Jafar - Gives chase, Fire Bolt hits, for one single point of damage.
-
Round 5
- Goblin Warrior - Nimble Escape to Disengage, Action to Dash to make his escape.
- Combat over. We each receive 50 xp.
-
- We head back into the room we started the combat in. Inside is yet another dragon statue. We find 6g and a shield. There is literally nothing else in the room.
That's it for this session!
Adventure Loot
- 2x Alchemist's Fire
- Spell Scroll of Scorching Ray
- Spell Scroll of Melf's Acid Arrow
- Dragon lore tome titled "Fus Roh Dah" (150g)
- 2x Sapphires (50g each)
- Shield
Loose Gold Found
| Platinum | Gold | Silver | Copper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | |||
| 34 | |||
| 6 |
Total:
Converted:
Split: