D&D (Beyond the Wall) April 24th, 2016
Taken by Sean

The Story Continues

Far, Far, Far in the Past – with a different system – somewhere other than where the current game takes place. Pre-empire. Old gods. A scattered world.

Parn & Sigri were bullied in a tavern. They stood up against those who would besmirch the name of Parn and bested them in a brawl, before sending them down the hill in barrels!

Korbin and Leora accidentally summoned a spirit of Chaos, which they managed to send packing on its own.

Leora and Parn met a night in the forest and broke bread over sharing of stories. The knight is an elf from the land of Loren.

Sigri was fighting with her mother and stomped off into the woods. She ended up as the Watch Tower with Korbin. She vents to him as the sun sets – and then a swarm of birds (Slaughn) descend upon the tower. Sigri manages to drive them away with her shield.

… and so the adventure begins.

Leora is in the forest finding mushrooms at the behest of the Witch. Things are going well, when suddenly the trees exploded with movement as a hoarde of Vultures decend upon her. They wound her before flying away, and she manages to choke one of them too death. She takes the dead vulture and departs – not sure what is going on.

Meanwhile, Parn awakens from a nightmare, finding himself more fatigued than when he went to sleep. The images plauge him but they are just beyond his comprehension.

Sigri and Korbin are on their way to the stump, calling out to any who will come and listen. As they pass the graveyard by the old tree, Korbin notices something out of place. There is… a star in the sky. One that is not normally present. It is the star bearing a demons name (Germauken).

Leora has begun preparing the Vulture to be used, and realizes that the vulture is branded with the info of one of the local farms. She heads towards Parn’s place of work and seeks him out to ask what he knows. Together they make their way towards the center of the town.

People are sort of panicking a little bit, but the party steps forward to try and guide and direct them. They manage to calm them, but at the same time, they don’t have much direction yet. Villamina tries to offer some insight into things.

… the next day.

Korbin decides that the boredom needs to be put at bay – so he is encouraging them to investigate. He runs around and grabs everyone up. Korbin manages to talk to Villamina and not die (Close) and then tries to convince Leora to come with him.

Parn and Sigri notice a wagon traveling up the trail but it’s at a distance.

The group gets together, takes the Ferry, and heads for the Carlton fram. They decide, after some discussion, to try and cut through the village. Sigri feels a call of something from within, some sort of Fae aspect that she can’t quite place – but she smells a whiff of something in the wind as well.

The party considers things, and eventualyl decides to push further onward. The smell seems to be coming from crude stone altar. It has been recently formed, and upon it is a ritual sacrifice! It turns out to be the elvish warrior that Leora and Parn met before.

D&D 5E March 13, 2016
Taken by Sean

Burren Unarmed attacks are one die higher (min D4)

H2. Allies and Rivals
Ally | Rival

Hurf -
Uraki -
Candor -
Theodosia -

Previously…

How did Hurf beocme a monk? maybe we don’t know yet. Not collections. Hurf was a master of Bonzai trees, and eventually earned the trust of the monks.

The Story Continues

Today: We are going to build Port Hope.
Sights/Sounds/Smells – Chaotic, poorly Organized. “All Roads Lead to the River” – Fish & Barking Merchants.

Nauticle Architecture born of necessity, an everchanging cornicopa of smells in frequent whisps of smoke and vapor, with squaking gulls and barking merchants.

Who stayed at home: Pluvius (Retired), Hortensia, Vistra (Went back with Ghim), Gallhad (Working on the Spa), Reggie (Afflicted and driving it towards his Mychonid Connection), Khiara (Staying and Training)

Who went – Ghim (mail duty then returning), Zsofia (sailing), Theo (Wants a Story!), Uraki (Wanderlust and Fight’n),

Who is new – Relyn, Smarri, Candor, Herf (from the Highlands)

Who is AFK – Icare, Slav

…
Candor, Smari, Relyn, and Vistra have escaped the strange dungeon/workshop of that creature. After some conversation, they decide to destroy the artwork and the tools despite their inherent value.

Note: If Smari wants to have pocketed an item, she can.

The party comes together, and then jumps forward a little bit. The party finds themselves in a chamber made of metal, with a sarcophogous open in the center. The block is… sinking in some sort of spot, and Theodosia’s elemental is holding the doorway.

It is the casket of a powerful Burren Druid who was secretly burried in this elaborate casket. We are here because this druid is an ancestor of Hurf, and they have been looking for her for a few years – we have come here seeking her holy symbol, a druidic artifact. The symbol is – an carved ivory totem of a Dove. Outside is an…enemy…

A Rival Druid! Hundred of Predatory Birds. (Female)

We have the artifact. And if we don’t have it, she can’t reincarnate. Hurf knows this. He has been brought here for a reason. (Her name is Ella) They discuss, and decide that they will trya nd tunnell away. Using the earth elemental, they will try and tunnel away.

As they tunnel, suddenly a bunch of underground creatures begin showing up, clawing and biting at them. The party flees, slaughtering little clawed bastards in the process. Eventually they escape and end up in an underground chamber,

However, even then pursuit continues. Clawed elemental things show up. Two of them. Theo hits them with a blast of sound – but it doesn’t quite seem to stop them. Hurf gives them a blast of wind, hurling one of them backwards. The party does its best to attack, but to no avail. The clawed creatrues – 4 of them – Swarm the party. Hurf is Badly hurt. Candor goes down.

The party rushes upwards, fleeing frantically as they try and escape the burrowing creatures. Through some chance they manage to escape, and somehow survive.

D&D 5E February 28, 2016
Taken by Sean

NEW RULE! Cure spells can take the hit point average the same as you can do when you cast spells

The Story Continues

Oath of the Deep Light (Reskinned Oath of the Ancients)

Ryln (the Druid) has a headache… and so it begins. He is apparently horribly hung over but there are some strange sounds outside of his tent. No wait, he is hanging by his ankles. That makes this WAY worse than a hangover. His feet are bound in chains, and his mouth is gagged with some sort of metal gag. After some consideration he decides to try and break free, but isn’t completly free. Something is whistling and approaching, even while some other figure is clearly trying to communicate with him…

Meanwhile, Candor is in a similar situation. He tries to find the ground, but to no avail. So instead he swing back and forth – finding Ryln. Together, they work to have Ryln pull upwards, using Candor as a rope. After that, Candor manages to catch the chain that was attached to Ryln. They make some progress, but not completly.

At the same time, Vistra is investigating disappearances. People have gone missing. She finds a scene where many things have been scattered, but left behind and not looted. She finds a near dead dwarven woman and heals her – gasp – it’s Smari. Surprised, she tries to wiggle away. They chat. The paladin invites her to help investigate the campsite. She is dazzed, but her memories begin to come back. She remembers who she is… and remembers that she doesn’t have the MAPS!

A quick investigation of the site… things have gone missing, but not necessarily the traditional valuable things. Someone who knew what they were looking for took things.

Smari sees some shit – (29 perception) – and realizes that fine pieces of art are missing. She tries to explain what she has seen to the Paladin. Together, they try their best to piece together what might have happened. Its all very hazy.

Something has clearly addled everyone’s mind.

Meanwhile, Candor and Ryln are still trying to make a hasty escape. It isnt going particularly well. One of the other prisoners is drawn upward, and then swept out. Ryln manages to monkey bar across the top, and Candor manages to swing back and forth until he gets to the top – hastily, they then try and make an escape.

Smari & Vistra using some magical mumbo-jumbo to try and locate the direction inw hcih the stolen art objects and maps might lie. They are lead to a garbage pit. At the bottom of this pit is a small archway… Smari is pretty sure that those they are pursuing lie beyond the door at the bottom. The stonework is old and strange, and she has seen it elsewhere.

They manage to make it to the bottom, where the entrance waits. However, there is a garbage trap that the duo manages to setoff. Smari leaps to the side, but Vistra falls and is smashed by some of the fallen garbage. It is quite disgusting. They work together to pull the Paladin out of the garbage, but it’s quite a mess. She takes damage but eventually manages to break free.

Meanwhile, Candor and Ryln manage to get themselves free of the gags, though at considerable pain. Fortunately, Ryln is able to heal the damage that has been done. They realize that others have been captured, so they attempt to rescue them.

The two drwaves continue pressing their way onward, picking, winding, being careful adn mostly stealthy… for a trapsmith and a crazy paladin in super heavy armor. They find a body that has been horribly displayed in a macabre sense. Horrid. Suddenly a voice screams in anguish – right in their ears!

The other two hear the chaos, and Relyn, currently in the form of a sea-dog wants to go help, Candor casts invisibility on Relyn, who is rushing off to help. Meanwhile, the dwarfs try to build up their resistance to the screaming., but its hard to place where this infernal screaming is coming from.

“9 to shortsword the shape.”

Smari tries to shoot it with a crossbow, but misses. However, it launches a sonic attack back in her direction… she manages to shrug off most of it. Vistra realizes, thanks to her magical necklace, a whole lot about these creatures, who happen to be strange ‘artist’ creatures who torture their victims.

The players attack this strange creature, doing whatever they can to take down the creature. Melee creatures are attacking left and right. It is lit with light, slowed, and otherwise weakend. Smari takes a brutal hit… but stays up. Candor is managing to pull up the fallen – which may, or may not, be important. Eventually, the Paladin get’s its attention and Smari lands a nice sneak attack. As the creature is slowed, glowing with holy fire, and assaulted on all sides … it is taken down, its head smashed by a powerful blow from Vistra!

Everyone lets out a sigh of relief.

“Sweet!” – the GM

They find an artists studio – a grisley studio – with corpses, and brushes and cavases, all made out of various body parts. They also discover their msising works of art, simpyl colelcted off to the side. A true artist!

D&D 5E January 24, 2016
Taken by Sean

IMPORTANT: New Charachter Stats! 3 set of 3d6, in order as rolled. Pick a set, then roll a d6 and add that many points.

Criticals always do double damage

Previously…

Jeanne recants the exploits of Zsofia’s faithf and the fiasco that was The Glitter Dragons. Gharm, it is determined, has been writing a lot of letters to the family of dead dwarves.

The Story Continues

Logistics – Where will the PLAYERS go now?
It sounds like we will do a little bit of Community Building.

The boat is returning, but they are late and the smugglers are quite worried about the ramifications later. Khiara is still hoping to meet the Were-Bird (Heaven), but it doesn’t look like she is going to be able to because nobody knows. Their other captain slipped away as well, a were-shark named Hunger.

It is decided that the ship will be left in the care of Malvina, while the party checks in to see what the rest of the people want to do about the boat. Slav gives Malvina one of his Po’ke Balls as a protective measure.

However, when they are leaving the docs they are caught by some guard members. Bribary works though. Yay! They make it back to the keep. More rejoicing. Now what to do? Apparently, kill them. But how? And why? And where. We… make lots of choices.

The pack of were-orcas is murdered – it is a blood bath. But, maybe Lycanthropy affects someone? One guy is taken captive. (Jinkins) After some banter, where he refuses to relent, Zsofia sees him as… sacred… and decides to intercede. Guards start showing up though, so we scramble quickly.

Several Different Groups Break Out:

Pluvius stays behind on the ship to watch over things. ..

… and some shit happens… who knows, I was upstairs?

Zsofia is being offered the chance to turn into a were creature. Jinkins will stay around and be loyal to her, so long as she agrees to shield him. She agrees. Duh, dun, dun! They get all scratchy and stuff. But ultimately, the bite does it. Mmmm!!

Jenkins is now Zsofia’s level 3 Henchmen!
Gallahad has aquired a pack of level 1 charachters.
Reggie has Miconyds.
Icare – a group of level 1 thieves
Ghim – a group of businessmen/miners
Pluvius – an Apprentice – Burren
Uraki – her single henchmen – Bozo – the Boy Thief
Hortensia – Chooses to Hold Off!
Khiara aquires a pack of level 1 rangers from New Thisonfourd
Theodosia – a group of fans/contacts
Slav - > Special message to GM

Slav has gone missing, as well as Nigel. They found an indication that the group has somehow teleported away. Or was maybe burnt. It’s super hard to tell. As they are investigating, Slav speaks to them through the skull – and the staff becomes anchored on the tower.

A trip to Port Hope! – Who’s going? Reggie, Zsofia, Theo, Khiara, Ghim, Gallahad

Back Home! Uraki, Icare, Hortensia, Pluvius & Company!

Or Maybe Not – changing charachters.

Khiara! Gallahad Theo, (Rogue), (Elvish Knight)(Druid Water)

Hurf, the Burren Monk is from Ellom the Burren Monestary.

Hurf met Sternfinger on the way to port hope. They fell in together, where Hurf offered to help protect her.

Ryln Rinsorrow – Druid of the Sea. Found the drifting body of (Angel-touched).

D&D 5E January 10, 2016
Taken by Sean

Criticals always do double damage

Previously…

God Only Knows:
Werewolves and teleportation and Dwarf Lizards
So, we discuss possible life goals for everyone and the GM takes notes. And work out Wealth. It takes a while.

The Story Continues

The party has learendd that those who were supposed to be here are not. But, there isn’t much they can do.

Meanwhile, Reggie seeks the help of Gallahad inr emoving his curse. They agree that if he cleans up the Jacobian shrine then that will suffice. Reggie does so, and Gallahad cures him… though it includes putting a fancy ribbon on his legs.

Zofia prepares to go see the town Priest, so she has a ‘Spa Day’ with Gallahad and Uraki. They make a spa area out of the old well. This seems like the best way to get ready. And they make some very, very fabulous things.

Theo is making a name for herslef by telling stories, while Icare is working on a Brothel for the Glitter Dragons.

Reggie is sneaky sneaky around town and discovers the actions of what looks like some sort of thieves guilds. However, they avoid him and he flees, fearing that he has been suspected. In the form of a cat he comes across the others. There is pointless fiascos… but eventually information is relayed.

Uraki and Reggie go to the bar, while the other two (Gallahad and Zofia) go to speak to Hardcastle.

Zofia makes an offer to the Rayonight priest and asks him, in a round about way, about History and how she can learn about it. He isn’t much of a book ’lern’n person though. He suggest she speak to people from the “Northward Kingdoms”, and mentions the Marquis. However, he doesn’t have much real information. He does however caution her that things are afoot.

Apparently, someone has been recruiting for the Harbinger – Deacon, masquerading as her is apparently recruiting. They go to the location and see a statue of Zsofia. Deacon, who is clearly enamored and obsessed babbles about how Great Zsofia is and theirefor he was using HER image to recruit. They are lead into the back room of a shrine.

Meanwhile, Reggie catches someone trying to steal from Uraki and he stabs them… pinning their hand to Uraki. She puts down her drink and grabs the assailant – a child. Apparently he is recruiting for the church of Zsofia. They capture him and insist that the boy lead them back to the temple. ..

It is all very confusing.

Zsofia doesn’t want to have anything to do with this, and they all suspect that Icare is somehow involved.

Icare decides to go check on his Brothel – named ‘Sparkle Motion’ – but the guy at the door doesn’t seem to recognize him. While he is trying to figure out how to enter, the group approches and they are invited in. Strange. Clearly Deacon, who Icare knows, has been doing some very agrressive recruiting… with an angle towards worshiping Zsofia.

It looks like this business is thriving!

Ikare and Zsofia have decided that Deacon needs to be killed. They meet up in the Alleyway to speak together. Gallahad is privy as well:

There is a long conversation with Gallahad, Ikare, Zsofia, Hardcastle and Decon. They go back and forht and hardcastle makes it clear that he doesn’t trust Icare. However, they are unable to come to a conclusion. What will they do abotu this ownerless thieves guild?

Zsofia decides to go back and pray, but finds Deacon dead from Suicide. She decides to raise him from the dead and make him an official desciple. During the resurection, more spirits come – Oswalde shows up to assist, but so does Icare – who realizes that Zsofia has chosen Deacon over their friendship. Oswalde is lost, but Deacon comes back.

However, it seems like the Brothel has been taken as ‘property’. Several people decide something must be done… but later.

D&D December 13, 2015
Taken by Sean

Criticals always do double damage

H2. Allies and Rivals
Ally | Rival
- Pluvius: Slav | Hortensia
- Slav: Pluvius | Khiara
- Khiara: Hortensia | Slav
- Theodosia: Slav | Hortensia
- Hortensia: Slav | Pluvius

Previously…

blah

The Story Continues

We open by discussing possible ways to create a charachter swapping effect. Essentially we want to be able to swap players out. Perhaps with a combination of the magic of the boxes and the crystal shards?

Somehow they are connected – and for now two locations exist at the same time. Ther is much discussion about how to take advantage of this – as well as a discusion about a curse that has been offered by a now dead Dwarf. Pluvius decides to use Ottulukes Sphere on Hortensia to see if he can ‘eject’ her? Something happens where she sees the massive chamber as it was before, recognizing it as an illusion. She appears back at home base.

She is met by the elf caretaker (Afwon) – but is very confused. However, because of an old letter that was sent they are able to deduce where she came from. Hurray! Meanwhile, the rest of the party is trying to figure out how to get them back. Many ideas are passed around, and Theodosia manages to eject herself. However, Slav gets tired of waiting and decides to close the box… and they all pop back to camp. Hurray again! It looks like we might be able to use them to telport from one location to another.

The party rests and discusses what they might try and do – many options are offered, including the return a magical staff (with a head on it) to Slav. Slav meditates with the staff, and tries to remember what he knew about the other dead lizard. In the morning they vote on what to do – try to awaken the old dragon kind, or leaving it. It’s close but the party decides to try and awkaen the old dragon person.

Pluvius creates a teleportation circle and we jump back into the deep underground creep zone. A magical circle is placed around the dead body – Slav begins a ritual, which ends with a massive cloud of gas… he wretches, but manages to resist something even worse invading his mind. A moment later, a force ripples through all of the gathered people… which they resist… and then it settles on the dwarven corpse.

He apears to have reanimated into the Dwarf. Yay, ancient Lizard Priest in a Dwarf body! We talk and try to convince him to e our Ally. Then we decide that teleportation might be a good option.

Teleport Part of the Party Home – then Pluvius and Theo will use Dimension Door to escape, and later travel back with the rest of the group.

It still involves a considerable selection of spells. Unfortunately, things go awry and the party is teleported – into the middle of the sea. Not that Pluvius knows.

Meanwhile, the remaining people decide to go clear the treasure out, – which is a rather significant sum of money. A fortune really. And some decorative Armor (and magical armor!) The Marquis is offered the keep and the party departs. Pluvius and company returns – to find out that they never made it.

Back in the water, the party sees a boat belonging to their old pirate friend… and they decide to signal it. This is Vernando’s vessal – but it’s the best option they have.

They are drawn abord, but the crew wants to know “what their price is”. Hortensia makes it fine, as does Slav and Nigel (with Slav’s help), but Khiara is sent to the front. Vernando tells the Vixen of the sea (Khiara) that she broke his heart… but invites her to dinner.

D&D November 8, 2015
Taken by Matt

Criticals always do double damage

H2. Allies and Rivals
Ally | Rival
- Ghim: Gallahad | Hortensia
- Gallahad: Ghim | Hortensia
- Uraki: Gallahad | Hortensia
- Zsofia: Hortensia | Ghim
- Hortensia: Zsofia | Ghim

Previously…

Previously we had a huge battle after which we left the dungeon for a long rest. The game begins at camp.

The Story Continues

The group fast travels to the beginning of the second floor. The room that they initially enter is ravaged by repeated battles with a fresh trail of dwarf blood leading through a door on the side. As Gallahad extends his evil sense he finds that beyond the door there is a “Holy Salon” (Note: Gallahad’s devine sense is able to detect consecrated or desecrated spaces, the sense oriented according to the Character’s alignment. Ex: the holy salon aligns with gallahads morals thus he detects a consecrated space)

Gallahad convinces the group to visit the salon for a quick mannie/pedi maybe a perm for Zsofia. The room is a meeting hall with one wall having a huge portrait of a nobleman that omega team traveled with. Lord Darren Erdia is the one in portrait. There is also a table with cabinets and in one of the cabinets there is a bottle of liquid with a set of small pewter cups. Zsofia realizes that there is a ritual involved and Gallahad remembers that Darren liked to toast himself a lot. Gallahad, Uraki & Zsofia toast Darren and as the toast ends there is a click and the painting swings open to reveal a secret passage. Hortensia finds “A Young Nobles guide to picking up ye olde hotte Chyckes” and pockets the book for future reference.

The secret passage goes up towards another room. In the room there is a loosely fitted stone door, Ghim takes a look and almost looses an eye to a tentacle that shoots through. The group engages the monster. Its a gooey pudding like monster with tentacles made out of tongues. The group fights valiantly with Miss Tongue Tentacles, at some point in time in the battle the maiden splits into two, yet that phases them not and Gallahad delivers finishing blows to both monsters. Getting covered in goo in the process. Everyone resists the urge to vom except gallahad but he knows better to vomit in front of others so he politely steps aside to vom out of the view of the party.

IN the room that the monster came out of is a pile of weapons and armor. We find desintergrated set of human armor, a shield, some random crap, a cool looking spear with a spear head that appears to be some precious gemstone, and a slightly pitted and gemmed crown. Zsofia takes the crown (for Icare), Ghim takes the shield and Gallahad carries the spear.

The group heads away from the recent battlefield and goes down a passage that ends at a wall. Searching for a way through Uraki finds the switch and Zsofia notices a trail of blood coming out of the wall. The wall opens to a gathering hall with four giant toads hanging out and they attack! We easily dispatch the toads and the group retreats and shuts the door behind them.

The group follows the blood trail to a damp chamber with mold growing in it. The trail leads through a doorway that was once hidden. Uraki uses her talent of breaking shit to open the door. Sadly she is the first to be consumed by the green slime, in the process of getting burning the slime off Uraki she is cursed to not wield any weapon containing metal for 4 days. Like cinderella, we have uraki try on different weapons until she finds the attractive gemstone tipped spear to be her suitor. The passage continues on to a ledge which the group climbs down.

It opens to a cavern with faint whisperings of water. We see the trail leading one direction, but in the other the group discovers some franken-lizards, which were planning an ambush. Ghim’s superstitious mind exposes the plot. It turns out these baddies double when dealth physical damage, and the group quickly realizes they don’t stand a chance against the horde of lizards-ish… so they run, only after Uraki has a gasoline fight in their hive.

A dramatic retreat sequence ensues… During the escape Ghim finds a note left by Gharm warning him to not follow their path, and also conveying a very sad dwarf scene. Ghim then LIES, GHIM HAS LIED, and tells the group that the note from Gharm indicates that there is safety ahead. The group goes down and down and down, eventually reaching a cavern with curious fleshy walls and webs with flesh in them AND SPIDERS!! Hortensia comes through and finds a small passage into another chamber with a light at the far end. She makes the passage larger for the rest of the group, but loses her mind in the process because she killed everyone else in the party in the process. Ghim picks up the puddle that is hortensia and the group charges forward to the light and encounters a stone wall spanning the chamber with a breach in it. On the other side of the wall is a lizard person coffin but its broken and the corpse is dessicated. Where the head of this corpse should be is a ball of flesh with little tentacles of flesh spreading out into the rest of the chamber seemingly infecting the rest of the chamber. Gallahad valiantly tried to purify the corpse but fails despite his friends contributions and support. In the room beyond is another divining chamber that has been recently collapsed with a dwarf corpse that has been burned. On the dwarf’s face are carvings that say “stone” in various ways. The group walks up to the pedestal and hortensia’s box begins to buzz and when she drops it it expands and lo and behold pluvius and Slav are on the other side. They figure out a way to create a portal between these boxes.

D&D October 25, 2015: Sean

Allies and Rivals

Ally | Rival

- Ghallahad: Hortensia | Ghim
- Ghim Zsofia | Hortensia
- Slav Hortensia | Ghim
- Hortensia Slav | Ghim
- Zsofia Ghim | Ghallahad

Catching Up…

Identified some treasure and magical items. Revisit the fact that we have a really large camp. Barstow (Butcher), Talen (Faithful Human), Kate (expendable), Gearda (Gullable), Thelan (Suspicious Elf)

The Story Continues

Gerwalde and Nebeln deside to head out, as do the agents of the Marquis and some of the refuges. However, we also realize we have a new attendant – Hortensia! The group decides to camp for the night, and there is a heavy rain. The next morning the party enters the place, deciding to close the old passage before pressing onward to the basic stairway. When they arrive at the spiral staircase however, they are attacked by living version of those brutal warrior half-giants.

COMBAT BEGINS

Hortensia unleashes a blast of magical energy, even as the creature continues to swing towards Ghim, smacking him hard. Ghim goes at it, smashing it with his flail twice. Gallahad charges in to help, fueling divine energy into his trident as he lashes out and stabs into a second creature that has joined the fray. Before anyone else can help, the room is filled by a wretched cloud. Slav falls back, while Zsofia vomits. Ghim continues to fight with the burly creature, trading blows. Gallahad attacks ferociously, drawing the ire of one of the beasts and takes a powerful bash as well.

Slav runs forward, casting a sickness spell on two of them, and the creatures respond by casting another spell. Meanwhile, Zsofia manages to summon winds to try and blow away the stinking cloud and the new halfling rushes forward to offer aid. Slav is then attacked, but shields himself and heals the wounded Ghim. Moments later, Gallahad takes a brutal hit, then struggles to his feet and smashes the creature with a pair of divine smites.

As they fight, there is the sound of more magic being cast and the two remaining ogre-men seem to move with greater speed. Zsofia spins her blast of wind around, clearing the last of the stinking cloud and buffeting everyone with a blast. Then, one of the beasts knocks Gallahad to the ground, only to have Slav draw him back to his feet. The paladin charges back into the fray, taking damage as he dishes it out. Ghim cheers everyone on even as he continues to smash away, taking one of them down and rushing downt he hallway.

Then – BOOM – Fireball! The halfling goes down, while the others manage to survive the blast. However, Gallahad goes down before a torrent of attacks once more. At the end of the hallway, Ghim attacks the newly discovered foe – landing a blow. Meanwhile, Slav and Zsofia manage to draw the attention of the massive one that was beating on Gallahad. The halfling shocks one – shaking it’s conviction for a moment, before it pummels Ghim.

Slav guts one of the massive foes, taking it down, even as an incoporeal form slips past him. Zsofia rushes to join Ghim and Hortentia in fighting the last one. Together they take down what appears to be the last one…

COMBAT ENDS

Slav sends two massive zombies downward, and retains one to serve. After some conversation, the party planned to continue onward (closing off the stairwell by the well). They rest in the chamber where coins can be found, trying to recover a little bit.

Down the stairs they find blood and the signs of a major battle, as well as a fresh trail of blood. Slav points out the direction of Ghim’s brother’s ring… it lies below!

D&D October 11, 2015: Matt

(FINDING TRAPS IS A WISDOM PERCEPTION CHECK)

H2. Allies and Rivals

Ally | Rival

- Icare: Zsofia | Chiara
- Ghim Chiara | Icare
- Slav Zsofia | Ghim
- Chiara Zsofia | Icare
- Zsofia Chiara | Ghim

Previously…

Icare was asshole and there was a dwarf suspiciously killed in a pit. There was some gibbering mouthers, evetnually the group found a room with a big book and shadow creatures swarming around it. Friendly fire happens, Icare almost hit chiara. Everyone was given a vision of Icare stabbing Chiara in the back at the end of the session.

The Story Continues…

…with the group standing around the now dissolving corpse of otyugh. The group moves towards the unexplored room in at the south end where the otyugh came from. In it are the remains of spent candles and a corpse of an ogre thing with various parts of it missing or dissolved. Strewn around the room are the ogre’s intestines yet the flesh on the body is preserved. It is laying upon two pieces of a staff with runes, carvings, and gems. On one half of the staff has someone’s hand on it with two magic rings still on the fingers. At one end there is evidence of a bed. Slav takes the rings and puts them on, instantly the hand turns to dust. Icare takes the two halfs of the staff. Icare moves to the middle of the room, snaps his fingers and lights all the candles the room, channeling nyll in the process, most the group is impressed by his stance, Zsofia is thrown into the world of guilt over his death. The room is devoid of dwarven influence with a locked and trapped seaman’s chest in the corner. Icare deftly disarms the trap and opens the chest. Inside is a butt-load of gold and a wand with carvings and eyeball like pearl at the end. Slav gives into the urge to talk in rhyme: “Maybe I can have a look, before the wand is took…” Craig carries the chest.

The group continues clearing the first level of the dungeon. They find a looted and trashed store room with nothing of note in it. The group heads towards another room that appears to be a trashed storage room with another passage leading off it. The group ends up at a well in the room after following the solitary tracks of a dwarf. Said dwarf is found floating at the bottom of said well. Slav casts suggestion on Icare, that he resists, yet Icare chooses to climb down there. Along the lip of the well are etchings that just say “Shut up, shut up, shut up….” repeatedly all the way down. When Icare touches the corpse the water attacks him!

The gray ooze instantly dissolvles Icare’s armor and the group begins to attack the ooze. Slav casts “Toasty toasty, slime is roasty!” Zsofia uses control water to flush the water in the well down. The Ooze get’s flushed the dwarf body smacks the bottom. Once the water is gone two doorways are revealed. The group finds a lever above to switch and do so. The archways open and the upper level turns into a spiral staircase which Zsofia and Ghim fall down “gracefully”, in the process they trebuchet the corpse, which bursts when it slams into the ceiling. One archway opens to a pile of Zsofia-Ghim, the other looks to descend further. Icare gets a sense that down there is great power and treasure, yet also a final end. Slav casts augery and gleans some information about the danger ahead all in well crafted rhyme. Slav relays to the group “My friends I think we should go, but there are things that you should know, something forgotten and important waits, just beyond these long closed gates. Slav must ask you this one thing, when the cup is found to your lips no bring.”

The group decides to leave the well room and heads to another where they find evidence of a dwarf hold-out where many shineys are. Slav notices some shining crystal which appear to be parts of a crystal devining bowl. Ghim gets a sense of the battle, and finds a note indicating that the dwarfs pushed down further in their retreat. The group leaves that room and finds another that has a stairway that leads up. Above we hear the sounds of someone mining and mutting incomprehensibly; the group heads up. They find a mad dwarf mumbling who immediately turns and attacks the group. The dwarf is easily subdued, yet is still adamant about attacking whomever is closest. As the group focuses on the maddened dwarf Icare is left un-watched and slips away, intending to return to the chimney and leave the dungeon. The door that the maddened dwarf was working on clearing is in fact one of the exits to the roof of the fortress. They clear the way and the group sans Icare exit the dungeon. They return to the camp.

Icare returns to camp before the rest of the group, and is surprised to find that everyone out here is also angry with him. Elo is claiming that something vicious was said, Odette approaches Icare asking for “another go”, Theo and Uraki are both looking at him with longing and decides in the confusion to retreat to his tent. When he enters he is assaulted with the seductive image of another Icare (doppleganger => D’Icare). Icare and D’Icare exchange information and not immediately kill each other. Icare convinces D’Icare to take his place and attempt to assassinate Chiara, while Icare waits at camp.

D’Icare heads back to the fortress to prepare to assassinate Chiara. But Zsofia was able to detect sneaky D’Icare at which point D’Icare changed his plan and convinced Zsofia that Icare is the Doppleganger, meanwhile Chiara extends her senses and is able overhear this conversation. Zsofia and D’Icare begin to head back to the camp, the rest of the group by now is ahead of them. Icare by this time has been called out by Gallahad to answer for the drama that D’Icare caused. At that moment Nyll breaks forth from his spirit binds and takes over, deftly avoiding any questions that may expose his plan w/ D’Icare. The scene is interrupted by Ghim entering with the skytouched dwarf which Gallahad is quick to lay his hands on. The dwarf expells some white goo and then falls into unconsciousness. Icare takes this momentary distraction to try to make it to Zsofia to expose the doppelganger. A confusing battle ensues where the doeppelganger impregnates Icare with its spawn but eventually the group figures out the real Icare, and D’ICare is dispatched.

As far as the group things, D’Icare was there in the dungeon the whole time while Icare was left at camp. All returns to normal.

After D’Icare has been dispatched the combined group gathers to figure out how to detect other doppelganger. Slav, Gallahad, & Zsofia devise a ritualistic lesser restoration to try to cure Icare of this affliction. The ritual works and the doppelganger spawn is released along with the spirit of Nyll’s Grandfather Paladin. Icare has now sunk further into evil.

September 27th, 2015 – Sean

Allies and Rivals

Allies & Rivals:
- Icare Zsofia | Gerwaldde
- Ghim Gerwaldde | Icare
- Slav Khiara | Gerwaldde
- Zsofia Icare | Gerwaldde
- Khiara Ghim | Slav
- Gerwaldde Ghim | Icare

Catching up on Last Time…

Corine gets an update. Character Updating.

The Story Continues…

It is determined that in the old world, Monsters are rare, and many of the characters don’t have experience with most monsters.

… Ghim has blown his horn and charged off in a random direction. Or at least, random to the rest of us. He insists that he is using Dwarven Maze solving logic to determine which way to go. The party follows, though less ambitiously. The blowing of the horn seems to have awakened the dungeon, and Ghim is specifically drawn to the sound of Dwarven Dogs. Alas – these dogs are no longer themselves, they have clearly been destorted and taken over by these things.

COMBAT BEGINS

Ghim is infuriated by the deception and smashes away, crushing one right away. Khiara rushes forward, using her supernatural speed and unleashes some arrows. With the help of Phill another one goes down. Gerwallde slings innefectively, while the rest of the party advances and catches up. Icare fires some bees at one of the dog-things. Meanwhile, they throw theirselves at the party with feral abandon, and don’t seem to be staying down.

Khiara fires a hail of thorns while Slav fires in a blast of scorching rays. Gerwaldde goes to town with some sling stones, smashing the one that’s on her but it doesn’t go down. The players continue to fight, and Ghim manages to destroy one of them. Some of them seem to be loosing their resiliance. The party continues to smash and at long last they are all dispatched.

COMBAT ENDS

Icare opens a door by knocking it down. As the party tries to figure out what to do, they hear a voice of a Dwarf coming from somewhere. A note remains, guiding the party towards the beer hall. As they advance, they find a pit trap that has been sprung, in which a dwarf appears to be trapped! The party begins to try and look at it. Then by what appears to be chance, they open it…

COMBAT BEGINS

But not before a strange thing appears – a massive gibbering mouther! It breaks into 4 parts, 3 of which are caught in the webbing! Icare tries to run, and Khiara chases after him, swinging a great sword! Slav breath’s fire, and burns the webbing. Ghim engages them in Melee, while Icare shoots an eldrich blast. Gerwaldde stands there, paralyzed with inactivity. Khiara rushes forward and attacks with a great sword! Smashing and swinging and spell casting. Khiara is overwhelmed for a moment, but Slav manages t o finish it off with a burst of fire. Craig the Zombie beats one in to submission as well, leaving only 1… and as it advances on Slav, Zsofia finishes it off!

COMBAT ENDS

Now the party turns to the dwarves in the pit – one of which is dead. However, there is the question of whether the dwarf is a doppleganger or not. Icare really wants to take blood. So he does, dispite protestations of the group. In the process, he kills the dwarf! The party is freaking out a little bit, but Icare lies sucesfully. There is some posturing and anger, and Icare is clearly not concened with pissing people off.

Ghim tries to advance down the stairs angrily and a slime falls on him!

COMBAT BEGINS

Ghim is engulfed by the ooze, and the party beats the crap out of him to rescue him!

COMBAT ENDS

After some discussion, the party decides to finish explopring this floor. Following the tracks leads to a beer hall, where clearly a massive explosion. Ogre bits are scattered eveywhere, and the dwarves are nowhere to be found. However, one is dead beneath the remains and he still wields a magical hammer which Zsofia takes.

The party continus to exploore, coming to a baricaded door which has some sort of creatures on the other side. After a few minutes the party decides to continue onward, and winds their way through the halls. Here, they come to some room that looks like a place of worship. On the far side is a book, cloaked in shadows. Icare and slav approach, and the shadows attack!

The shadows begin to swallow Slav, draining his life. Slingstones and Eldrich blasts come flying, and then Slav drives some of them back with holy rebuking. Zsofia rushes forward to his aid and smashes one of them out of existance! Ghim follows suit and smashes another, and within a few minutes the creatures are bested. On the pedestal is a ‘tomb of cruel lies’. It details the workings of the Bestow Curse Spell. As the party is examining it, another one of the mad things arive. Only this one is MUCH larger and grosser, smelling like a cross between London and New Orleans.

COMBAT BEGINS

Kiara fires a pair of arrows into the massive, even as it lunge forward and colapses on her! Slav tries to heal her, but his power is waning. Meanwhile, Icare tries to shoot Kira with a poison dart! Ghim and Zsofia rush to her aid, smashing with hammers while Gerwallde peppers it with stone. Kiara manages to break out of it’s grasp, and it turns it’s attention towards Ghim grasping him. At the same time, the party sees an image of Icare stabbing Kiara in the back. Zsofia blasts the creature with magical shattering. More blows come, and Ghim manages to break free! It flails out wildly, but a moment later Slav catches it with some flames and it goes down!

COMBAT ENDS

Thoughts for Next Time…

blah

September 13th, 2015 – Sean

Allies and Rivals

Allies & Rivals:
- Icare Zofia | Slav
- Ghim | Icare & Slav
- Slav Icare | Ghim
- Zsofia Icare | Slav
- Khiara Slav | Zsofia

Catching up on Last Time…

Who all has come together? 12 PC’s, Ello, Odette, and 10 followers.

The Story Continues…

We stand before the great door/entrance to an ancient citidel. From an unimportant kingdom. A tower also stand nearby, the beacon that drew the party in initially. This area would serve as an excellent staging point for exploring the storm-wracked isle.

Icare tries to open the door with the power of his dark magic. He cannot, however, tell if it can be opened. They decide that maybe going OVER the wall is better. A rope is thrown up and anchored, and Icare presents an illusion to check things. The party then proceeds to climb up to the top and survey the area. The roof seems very secure. Several options are available.

Slav tries to perform an Augury, while meanwhile Zofia rips the grate free with her bare hands. Ghim decides that removing the grates manually is doable. So, he does it. Woot. However, there appears to be a trap. After some testing, they decide their is no trap. Icare and Khiara decend slowly down the chimney. At the bottom there is some sort of hideous creatures, ogrish in apperance, that seems to e trying to get too them.

Icare supports Khiara as she shoots two arrows at the beast. It pops a head out of it’s shoulder and starts freaking out. This creature is strange, strange, strange. It splats it’s head against the wall and climbs up, even as Icare warps down and Khiara falls shooting it even as she is swallowed in it’s mass. The party attacks!

Eventually they destroy the hideous beast, which explodes in a mess of sick grey matter. However, even then it seems to be still living.

Slav performs an act of divine authority and goodness, summoning the long-dead to aid them.

Then, the party begins to inspect the room. There are a variety of murals dipicting humans murdering elves. The massive doors appear to be sealed – permanently. The party searches for a bit – and finds a secret door. Inside they find what appears to be a trophy room. There is some magic armor – but only Icare notices it and he doesn’t say anything.

Beyond that room is a meat locker styled room with lots of things hanging – including 3 dwarves – one of which is the bodyguard of Garm. Then Ghim hears the voice of one of the dead – and after ignorning Gerwalda’s warning, Ghim rushes to see what it is.

There is a dwarf chained to the ground – and he seems to be ttrying to warn Ghim. But it’s another of these aberations! Ghim kills it, and after wards the group decides to bleed everything and see if it has white blood. Gerwalde bleeds white, so the party isn’t sure what to do with her. Much bickering ensues.

Thoughts for Next Time…

• Icare is Dick
• Khiara not like Slav
• What the hell is Gerwallde?

August 9th, 2015 – Sean

Omega Team!

Allies and Rivals

Allies & Rivals:
- Gallahad Theo | Uraki
- Gerwaldde Slav | Reggie
- Pluvius Uraki | Reggie
- Reggie Uraki | Gerwaldde
- Theodosia Gallahad| Uraki
- Uraki Pluvius | Theo

Catching up on Last Time…
We have just escaped the underground army-storage facility.

The Story Continues…
There are refuges that have survived – Gallahad has rescued them, and gathers them together. As it turns out, 3 of them are of his faith. However, the party now stands on a hilltop watching the city burn below. Crash has disapeared – pursuing the bad guy. Gallahad is kinda numb, and wants to go back to the battlefield. Gerwallde explains a little about her friends and why we should go find them.

The party decides to rest, but spend the whole night moving. During the night, a single shaddy elf “Thelayan” manages to prove himself by leading off the trailing lizard. Richard the stoic human died during the nibght, when he tripped and fell behind, before being skeward.

Reggie returns to scout at the behest of Gallahad. He does not reveal much of interest, but comes back and reports to Gallhad that the other Paladin was gone. But… he left markings. The party decides to leave the paladin and head to the south.

Brutal Refuggee – Halfling – Adventuring Butcher – Barstow – Helps Uraki stop the fleeing lizard man.

The party presses onward for the next couple of days, ruggedly moving, before coming to an inspiring vista. They come across a giant statue of Jacob the farstrider. 10-15ft statue, made of DYI concrete. That statue is wrapped in leaves and vines, largely obscured, and the building behind it is totally destroyed. The frozen party members recognize the statue.

Large, Faithful Woman – Strange Mix – Gullable – Gearda – She doesn’t like this idea, but Gallahad and company are able to convine her. Beneath it there is a magical box, and Reggie decides to open it – for which he gets two left feet! Inside are two slippers- and some scrolls. Reggie pockets one of them.

And at last, the party rests!

Gerwaldde and Reggie set a few traps, and then the party departs.

The party sets off and comes across another vista – ancient and foreign. It’s red sand which is turning the ocean red here, with black rocks as well. The party decides to decend down to the beach and take a look. They trudge across the shore, heading towards the ‘red beach’. Turns out they are bugs. We run like hell.

Or, Kinda. Pluvius bubbles himself and starts rolling over them. Reggie turns into a beetle, and Gerwaldde drops a bunch of chicken feed(or maybe feet, it’s unclear). She also throws a molotov cocktail – and discovers that the tar left behind is highly flamible. The beach is now covered in glass. And, as they explore, they find a bunch of gems. The party finds 27 random gems.

That night, the party sees a giant bird fly overhead that night carrying a boat.

The next day they find a trail, which has been marched on by an army of Lizards. Uraki recognies this trail from long, long ago. Gallahad has begun to try and recruit those who are interested. As they travel, they see a tower and some indications that their has been some back and forthl. Reggie and two others start scouting through the forest, while the others advance up towards the tower. They find a rope going upward -

Reggie tries to climb up as a goat. He’s not very good at it. There is a body of a dead dwarf here. But, it has recently been looted. Reggie tries rolling the body down, but it is too far gone. Reggie takes the rope, and leaves Theylan to examine the body. When he starts to take off his pants, Gerwallde hits him with a sling stone. Knockms him out… leave him…

Meanwhile…

The other group heads up the path, and along the way finds a burned watch tower. A corpse is found here – and then some others. This was a dwarven campsite that has been destroyed. However, there is a tunnel under it as well, which is kind of interesting. There are – tragically – a huge group of make-up wearing dwarves.

Gallahad is really interested in going to check on Theleyhan, . so Reggie Gallahad and Pluvius head back to check on Theleyan. They find him, wake him up… and help him get some pants. Eventually the group joins together once again… and heads off for the tower.

Horezontal Slide Transition to Alpha TEAM

They have reached the Tor at the top, and surveyed the ruins of a massive human settlement. They decided, after some consideration, to stop and rest for the night. Zofia is on watch, and she feels like she is being watched by something beyond the walls. Reggie sweeps in, avoids an illusion (well done), and casts entangle on the tent where Zofia and Nebeln are hidding.

Omega Team atttttacks! Alpha Team is disorganized in their defense. Fortunately, things are stopped before anyone dies. Then there is much hugging and greetings.

Thoughts for Next Time…

We will each choose one for next time. Ghim, Slav, and… who knows?

July 26th, 2015 – Sean

Omega Team!

Allies and Rivals

Allies & Rivals:

- Gallahad Uraki | Theo
- Gerwaldde Uraki | Theo
- Pluvius Uraki | Reggie
- Reggie Theo | Pluvius
- Theodosia Reggie | Reggie
- Uraki Pluvius | Gerwaldde

Catching up on Last Time…

The GM Decides to discuss Hero/Plot Points. Inspiration is going away because people keep forgetting.
See Page 264 of the DMG for Hero Points. Plot points allow you to add an element that becomes ‘True’. The player to their right gets to add a complication.

Recapping? DM Ops to Skip for now. Refesh about the God Squid and the Kuo-tua.
Re-cap. Uraki has leaped from a tower into a courtyard (after they all had some crazy death march). The courtyard is full of (2-400) lizard soliders. The lizards are attacking the keep, while the Expiditionary force defends it (including magical protection) at the gate. The lizards have lots of guys, and some ‘dire crocodiles’ and spell casters (Shamans?). Except for the keep, the lizard army appears to have overrun the town.
The Current Plan: Scarab of Enraging Enemies – Uraki made about 50 lizards go crazy-town on each other, while Pluvius gave her some magical protection (Hamster ball).

The Story Continues…

Theo and Reggie have beem stuck with the Miconids – where they have learned more about the fungal people. Theo begins to see this group and it’s connection with the ‘everything’. Reggie begins to see the mushroom as an ‘platonic’ lifeform. They meet with the Shaman after waking, and Theo tells of her great story and how she hopes to expand it – which the Myconids seem to approve of. They ask us to remove the dome from the top of their home. Theo and Reggie decide that Fireballs are the way to go about it. They setup the explodo-potion, fireball, and the thunderwave spell. Booom! Mostly Succesful.
Once The two exited, they spotted the other group. Reggie turned into a Rat and let Theo carry him. She wasn’t exactly super stoked about this, but she did it. After a hard march and climb, Theo comes upon a war scene. Reggie sneaks forward to scout – he spots a figure who is also hidding. A female Lizard lady. Neither of them recognize the figure, so Reggie decides to sneak forward.
It appears as though there is some sort of Battle going on, and their ‘Friends’ are already there. Theo and Reggie approach after a brief consideration. As they approach, Reggie finds Crash ‘touching’ Gerwaldde – and they seem to be ‘friends’. She tells Gerwaldee that she needs to get inside the keep. While they are discussing things, a crazy powerful dude begins to destroy the door.

Narrative Army Combat: Summary -

Detailed Combat Notes -

Theo rushes forward to help Uraki – through the sprawling infighting – but she is caught up in the fray. Gallahad finds himself face to face with a Crocasaurus, which he tries to avoid with Sanctuary – which works! Meanwhile, Pluvius Unloads with the magic missle wand – shooting 10 magic missles at the flying badass dragon wizard- but he stops it with a shield. Switch back to Reggie/Gerwaldde/Crash – they go through a magic door – and end up in a burning tower. Meanwhile – Uraki runs over a bunch of people and almost hits Theodocia.
Rounds 2: Theodica uses thunderwave to blast a few of them, scattering lizardmen. Gallgahad casts Shield of Faith, springboards off a cage full of innocent people and leaps towards the pen… only to have the massive beast shoot eletricity and hit Penny with a massive strike of lightning. Pluvius holds his own. Reggie and Gerwaldde decend, but the tower colapses and all three of them tumble towards the ground… crash landings all around. They are now under the keep – and Crash seems to recognize this place. Back on the battlefield, Uraki pushes through, plowing forward in her hamster ball. More crunching. But then she runs into the giant lizard and chops it something fierce!
Round 3: The lizard is distracted by the attack – “fork that mother-fucking thing” – so Gallahad takes an attack, Critically hitting. The lizard ignore the attack and hits Uraki takes the blunt of it’s retaliation, and shrugs it off (mostly). Pluvius Delivers some magic, but arhcers fire on his position and pepper him with arrows. Down below, Theo runs forward to join Uraki and lobs a fireball at the beast. The little ones continue to follow Crash into the darkness, exploring this dark place and come to a great door… that they cannot open. Uraki has a change of heart and decides to flee.
Round 4: Theo is a little shocked to find herself alone… turns to flee… and trips. The lizard decides to squish Theo – which it does. Gallahad tries to save her, leaping on the beast and stabbing it with the trident. It then swats Gallahad with it’s tail and sends him flying. Pluvius sees all of this and decides to GTFO. Reggie feels the suffering of Theo-docious. Gerwaldde tries to cut off Crashes tail – but it is revealed that she is the one who needs to open the door with HER blood. Gerwaldde does not seem to like this plan.

BREAK

A brief discussion about Gerwalde’s expectation and Slav’s Blood. Meanwhile, Crash explains that this is what Slav needs. Reggie tries to convince Gerwaldde that she should cut herselfr and gets beat up for it. Up above, the gates are blasted with magic and begining to give way – melting with Acid. The lizard hoard is turning towards the gates. Gallahad readies his shield and strikes – but not much – the creature bites him and tramples him – Gallahad goes down as well! Pluvius and Gallahad running away from this clus-ter-fuck. They stop – looking back – and the crocasaurus busts through the wall, coming towards them. Pluvius tries to Banish, and fails, while it crashes into Uraki and does some solid damage. Re

Reggie is still trying to convince Gerwallde that she should use her blood. Gerwallde tries to blink through the wall instead. That fails partially – she ends up in the door, but pops through to the other side. This appears to be a tomb of the lizard people – and there is a giant Iguanadon dinasour here. And also, as it turns out, the bad guys are coming soon…

Uraki gets the dinos attention, but doesn’t stop it and it grabs her. Pluvius steps in with a blast of magic missle fire. Things look bad, but as it goes to swallow Uraki… (“I think I’m fucked at this point.”), she shoves her axe upwards from within his mouth and pierces it’s brain, before ripping her way out through it’s heard.

Gerwalldde hatches a plan to get the door open – she murders the creature guarding the other side and tries to use it’s blood… no dice. So she presses onwrd and fines a platform with some stuff on it… a cabinet with many viles. She can read some of them, but doesn’t really follow all of them. That’s cool though, she startsstealing things – and then mixxing the vial and water (and he saliva) – cooking time! Then – for some reason – she decides to drink the blood. Why not?

Slav’s Mind Jumps into her body! – (Played by Rachel) Using Slave’s knowledge she begins trying to figure out how to solve it. Outside, the two lizards try to buy some time.

Up above, the wounded are drawn together and recesitated. Ello is recovered.

Slav-wallde is trying to decide what to do with the new situation at hand. But she seems to be struggling. Eventually, she manages to take control of a MASSIVE FUCKING EARTH GOLEM. The golem and Reggie ride into battle, while Crash and Slave-wallde close the doors. Then, Gerwalldde is back in her body.

Healing has taken place on the surface. Everyone is badly wounded, but alive and well enough. The battle continues, but they are on the periphery. Networks of communication are opened via comm-shrooms.

Eventually, we decide the following – The Golemn will close the passageway, then take us out, then close off the passage and smash the crystal bowl.

Thoughts for Next Time…

Join Up?!?

July 12th, 2015 – Matthew

Omega Team!

Allies & Rivals:

(Allies & Rivals were skipped this session since the two problem characters were absent. Everyone got one bonus to start instead)

This session picks up with omega team just as they are swimming away from the fire-bomb as it explodes the tri-octo (ret-con)

It starts with Gerwaldde as the water breathing fungus is fading away; she is drowning. Then she starts to hear a voice in her head, then a magical clawed hand grips her head and is dragging her out of the water. Things get brighter, she starts to see things and realizes that a lizard Nyll is floating next to her in lotus position floating up with her. Liznyll is eating frog legs. She remembers that there is a task that she needs to do in this valley. She breaks the surface, spitting up a world of water and falls back floating on the surface and realizes that her bag is missing. On top of the world ending loss of her bag she is also wearing small childhood halfling clothing grasping her favorite childhood toy. Then she is yanked from the water onto a rocky shore and looking down on her is another lizard ruler, this one is a bit yellower. It tells her to WAKE UP, MORE ARE COMING and she wakes on the shore of the lake in the valley. The shore of the lake is much larger, the lake smaller and along the shore are the shapes of Pluvius, Uraki, and Gallahad.

The top of the ziggurat is now exposed. The walls of the tower are covered in fungus with the crown enveloped in a bubble. The wall damming the lake has been blown away and now the lake has resumed its course as a river toward the ocean. As the group looks around they see smoke billowing from the town on the ridge and at the same time they hear a thunderous

CRACK as the ziggurat topples, with the fungal bubble on top bursting first releasing stuff into the air. The team determines to rush back to the town to save the villagers and their mounts and companions. They assume Theo and Reggie will be fine.

The group huffs it back to the town and reach it by sunset. Gerwaldde stealths it into the burning village and sees tens of lizard soldier people around whom are waiting for another “God” to meet with their current god. She also hears fighting within the runes. On her way out she sees the yellow faced lizard in the forest but decides to not persue them and instead get back to her waiting companions. The group decides to charge into the ruins to save the fighting humans in the ruins. They charge in and begin to saves them

The group initially runs into a battle with three lizard soldiers and quickly dispatch them but raise the alarm in the process. The team comes up with a plan to use Uraki’s warm breeze scarab (The Scarab of Enraging Enemies) to enrage the army, by her jumping into the middle of the horde and using the item. The team waits, a scouting party appears in the initial battlefield and Uraki begins to lead them towards the horde, gathering the dispersed lizard soldiers from the ruins in the process. She comes upon the siege of the fortress of the humans with hundreds of lizard soldiers in the courtyard. She accomplishes this by bounding from ruin-top to ruin-top with winded pluvius miraculously following along. Gallahad and Waldde follow on the ground and the team arrives at the siege at the same time. Uraki jumps from her vantage point screaming and lands in the middle of a horde engraging 50 out of 70 in the horde out of a total of about 500. As Uraki lands a force bubble pushes all the lizard soldiers out of her immediate vicinity as pluvius casts his impervious hamster ball on her. Gallahad sees this, makes eye contact with Captain Alfred on the parapets of the fortress and realizes he must save them.

Gallahad and Waldde arrive on the opposite side of the seige, Gallahad quickly determines that he must save the prisoners and steeds penned nearby and at the same time a mysterious large scaled lizard appears behind Waldde and tells her that “He is a distraction, you must get inside.” Crash is behind Waldde tells her that she must get Crash inside in order to combat the other lizard leader. Crash instructs Waldde to to prep the last molotovs, opens up a dimension door and pulls Waldde through. The Game Ends There

June 28th, 2015 -

Alpha Team Returns!!

Allies & Rivals:

- Icare Slav | Ghim
- Nybelln Ghim | Zsofia
- Ghim Chiara | Icare
- Zsofia Ghim | Nybelln
- Chiara Ghim | Icare
- Slav Icare | Icare

When last we left The Adventurers, we were on a boat after losing Crash in the dungeon.
Fast forward through the voyage.

Arrival at the Expeditionary Camp. A week has passed here.
We came across a pod of the sea creatures that we saw in our very first
session, living in the ocean.

We set out with two boats, a bout of syphilis (?) hit the other boat and they
had to turn back.

Sally grew a mouth.

We saw many ruins, a network of old civilizations.

We saw a giant fire from a big black plume of smoke from inland while we
passed, don’t know what it was.

We see a beach! We get out at the beach. The Marquis stays on the boat.
He sends two representatives, Anna the Asset Management Specialist, sword
& board, and Wedge, claymore-guy. Slav starts giving them orders, this is
a comfortable dynamic for them. Also the orders correspond with those of
the Marquis.

Note, it’s been four weeks since Icare’s vision.

We sense a storm, Zsofia tells us that it will pass. We see wood ship-debris,
but we none of us are experts. Icare goes a-huntin’ for treasure. Chiara
uses her senses to detect undead.

Rachel wants to turn Sally the doll into a familiar for Nybelln. For now,
Sally must content herself with following Icare with her eyes as he searches
for things that she (& Nybelln?) already sense.

Working together, Icare assists Zsofia in her search of the beach. This
debris is old – very old – at least a few hundred years old. Zsofia
recalls something about a Cape Jane Mercantile expedition which went
missing. We probably found one of their ships. Note: Omega team worked
for this company in the past!

Chiara can scent a dragon in the distance, as well as the Fae, familiar from
before when we fought the faerie at the Fort. Also senses a fiend.

Icare trying to get Anna to dig up the beach (??) to find treasure & not
tell the Marquis, it doesn’t work. Icare personally declares that Anna
will get her comeuppance for not listening to him.

Ghim rallies the team. Based on Ghim’s notes and Chiara’s coastal expertise,
they locate the camp within a couple hours. The trail leads north up the
coast – this could become the Coastal Road. They find a burnt watchpost.
Icare finds an arm caught in the watchpost when he pokes it.

Icare has a feeling that in about twenty seconds, they will encounter a
sight that will disturb Ghim, and Slav and Icare decide not to say anything.
Icare sees dwarf-shaped burn marks, and when he looks up into the hills
sees a big round tower, a few miles away.

Chiara can tell that the tracks of many many Slavs came through here (not
Slav). Beyond is a Gorimssen camp that is no more. 3w-old blood spatter
on the ground, this place has been trampled and torched.

Ghim attempts to identify bodies, Chiara helps, Nybelln sets up a series of
rocks and stones, along with some pretty crystals which seem to have come
out of nowhere, and Nybelln begins flipping bodies so they are face up,
and cleaning their faces, putting makeup on them and dressing their faces
for death/burial ceremony.

Slav saw a vision of this. The other Lizard people torched this encampment.
Other major Lizard person woke other lesser lizard people to torch this.
Slav says “this looks like the work of my people, but very undiplomatic.
We should have enslaved them instead.” Only dead present are dwarves.

Ghim is able to figure out which of the structures was his brother’s. Finds
no body of his brother. Finds a false floor, dwarf-sized crawlspace below.
Finds a chest in the crawlspace. The chest can open with the family signet
ring which – ba-bam! – Ghim has! Opens the right half of the chest. Finds
record-keeping books, one of them is a journal, one is accounting, one is
written in cypher. Amber monkey figurines, one fragile tiny brass key, and
one old key which smells like cinnamon.

Icare is going to root thru the tents. He finds heavy footfall, and a
trap that has been sprung, a mechanism to take out whoever may have tried
to sneak up on the camp. Below, there are cracks leading to a cave.

Gorm wrote some notes about the fort, made plans to begin expedition after
securing perimeter. They encountered some kind of many legged arachnid,
lost two people. This was a human structure. The fort was burned when Gorm
and co found it. Icare finds Stuff that he is probably not going to share
with people ;-) and then gets himself stuck 35f down the cliff.

Zsofia starts to panic, “where’s Icare?!” Icare is stuck

Ghim looks around, finds the place where Icare climbs down, slides down the
rope, falls down, takes 18damage!! :(

Chiara tries to see if she can track Icare, she can’t. Nybelln ventriloquys
Sally into wanting to go into the tunnels. Sally likes tunnels.

Something is stalking the tree that Icare is in! It is one of the Iguanadons
which he blew a dart up the ass of, once. Ghim looks at the map his brother drew,
heads back to camp.

Icare uses the blowdart, rolls a natural 1, and the dart becomes BEES which then
attack Icare. He does a reflex save, makes it, but takes 17 damage and passes
out.

Chiara lights a fire. How insensitive. A beacon fire is lit as a result
of an arm-wrestling contest between Chiara and Zsofia.

Icare is trying to escape the wretched bees lol so he falls, and then shadowsteps
40 feet down, safely. Runs toward-ish the camp.

Slav sleeps, Nybelln sleeps, Ghim stays awake.

Icare successfully hides from the iguanadon. Is not allergic to bees. Is
able to zero in on the beacon, gets back ~few hours before sunrise. Chiara
heals him, and Icare THANKS HER. WHAT. WOW.

Slav repairs the rope down into the tunnel. The party takes the long
way around to the tunnel. There is rustling in the brush !!! THE IGUANADON
APPROACHETH

Iguanadon kills Anna immediately, so Nybelln peaces out with Rope Trick,
which lasts for an hour. From up there she sees the party wipe the Ig out,
and then Slav frightens the rest of the small lizards away. Slav has learned
to dominate/intimidate/command lizards.

The dwarves looped back around & met the road, then some went to the tower, then
one went north.

2015-05-24 Forthalome DnD Notes, logged by: Sean and then Matthew

Step 1 : Recap and Suspense Reduction
Allies/Rivals
Gerwalda – Uraki/Theo
Uraki – Reggie/Theo
Theo – Reggie/Galahad
Reggie – Uraki/Galahad
Galahad – Uraki/Theo

Ally – Give Inspiration AFTER a roll
Rival – Take a roll and ‘bank’ it

How do we keep fungus from growing on them? Bardic Inspiration, Paladin Protection and Lots of Rags
Theo remembers a song about the food of the mushroom people. After some conversation, we decide that Theo is going to talk, and Gallahad is going to escort her. Gerwalda is really, really, really knowledgeable about makign silk scarves.

Crossing a spike pit, gallahad thinks he succeeded wonderfully (nat 20 x2) but that feeling disappeared (theo and reggie stole the 20s) and then epically failed in crossing. Tentacles burst out from the pit and dragged him into the pit and a battle ensues. After the battle uraki searches the pit and finds some more poop feathers, disk blades, unusual weapons, and pouches of shineys.

The group approaches the door that looks remarkably like a human body part that the group has been forbidden to make jokes about, but everyone knows that Icare would be well suited to tackle this challenge. Gallahad and Theo go through the door together to try to engage the mushroom people in diplomacy and encouter the screaming mushrooms. They wait with the screaming mushroom for the mushroom people. They don’t come and they decide to move deeper in search of the target. They find some mushroom people to entreat with. The discussion goes well, they tell of their own struggle against the shade creatures (Kwatwah?) and the negotiate safe passage through the mushies home along with an escort. They go back and retrieve the rest of the party. Gallahad is now the speaker of the plants.

The group begins their escorted walk through the mushies home. They find that the dragon people were around along with the mushies at some point. The mushies soon find that the team is trustworthy so they loosen up a bit. The mushies tell of their history and as it turns out everyone was in a hullucinogenic sleep, and the team figures out how to wake up. Gallahad finds some finely tipped spears, and a slav lizard skull with gems embedded in it’s eyes and teeth. Gerwalde donates a topaz to identify the broken staff.

The Skull of Nihiljorithex the Traitor – NihilJorithrex chose to awaken his god that took part in world changing events 3000 years ago. They were one of three traitors, but they were named the traitor. It is a 13th level wizard in a box. When the weilder evokes the the name, it casts a random spell from that knowledge base. when this happens the wielder can then cast that spell again. Each time the wielder uses it the percentage chance of releasing Nihiljorithrex.

EVeryone decides to ingest the water breathing fungus, Theo and Reggie permanently grow fungal gills everyone else just grows gross boogers around their nose and now we can breathe under water!

The team ventures forth beyond the exit of the mushie home and find a honeycomb network of spherical rooms (much like Alpha’s fortress) where they encounter their first kwatwah. A montage like thing ensues as we enter into the sunken part of the temple and eventually find the last chamber which is at the bottom of the mushies bridge column. Montage end

The team encounters the kwatah boss and in the bottom of the pit is a three beaked giant octopus spewing the shadow poison that they sought to end. A demoralizing battle ensues in which pluvius saves the team multiple times and reggie crafts a fire-potion bomb in order to esssplode the tri-octo monster. after much fighting Reggie has set us up the bomb and the team begins to retreat in anticipation of the devestating explosion. Theo launches a fireball at the bomb it hits…

The bomb explodes dealing 1600 damage to the tri-octo. As the group is retreating Pluvius signals to get close to him as he plans to cast web around the group to sheild them from the blast…

Everyone but gallahad made it to the web at the end and the group wakes in the dream with the mushies. The physical bodies are all in comas, but they all be having a good time in the dream. The amount of XP is epic and omega group survives plus two levels….

(everyone still has to level up their characters from 6 to 8

Also I think Pluvius rolled some crazy crits and learned Pluvius’s underwater Diving Bell

April 26th, 2015 – Corinne

Omega Team!!

Allies & Rivals:
Reggie +Pluvius, -Gerwaldde
Theadosia +Reggie, -Gerwaldde
Gerwaldde +Uraki, -Theodosia
Pluvius +Reggie, -Gerwaldde
Uraki +Gerwaldde, -Gerwaldde
Galahad is absent :(

At the owlbear cave. Feel a draft coming from within the cave. Reggie and Gerwaldde decide to throw coins
to signify the threat level.

Coin threat level:
Copper, It’s all clear – Silver, minor threat – Gold, major threat, – Platnium, Oh shit threat

Cave slopes gradually. Party has to climb down the cramped natural cave.

Reggie and Gerwaldde smell a sweet smell. Reggie tosses a copper back to the rest of the party. The group proceeds.

Uraki recognizes the scent as fungal, plant like.

Gerwaldde estimates it will take half a day to clear the rubble.

Uraki wants to be the best at moving rocks, Pluvius, Galahad help. Gerwaldde directs moving rocks.

Theodosia is writing a song about owlbears outside.

The rocks are cleared after an afternoon.

• Lunch ** – Peppered owlbear meat skewers in ‘egg sauce’ (or hollandaise).

Reggie tells the party that the vegetation is poisonous, ‘do not touch!’ The poison is typically used to crush into
a paralytic powder. Putting a bandana over your nose should be enough to prevent the poison.

The party wraps their faces to prevent the poison.

When Pluvius casts his light, the fungus responds by faintly glowing. The light spreads down the cave and the glow
remains.

“Uraki is dumber than a box of hair”

Reggie and Gerwaldde climb down the cave cliff, tied to a rope. Reggie and Gerwaldde have a ‘moment’ where they both
realize they are both criminals and work together well.

They find a spiked pit at the bottom. They find a long dead corpse of an owlbear on the spiked pit. The body is
covered in gross fungus that has released spores. Reggie recognizes the fungus on the corpse is long dead.

There are stepping stones to get across the spiked pit.

Pluvius casts feather fall and Uraki throws the party across the spiked pit and they gracefully float across.

The second pit looks like it was formed by some sort of earthen magic. The vegetation is growing thicker as the
party decends.

There is a giant plant sphincter that is blocking the passage. It seems to be producing gas as it opens slightly.

Pluvius casts light on a blow gun dart that is shot at the plant, which is absorbed.

Player characters cannot refrence buttholes for the rest of the session.

The party decides to tie a rope to reggie and have him crawl through. He comes out through three feet of sludge.
There is a carved cave on the other side. There is screeching from the other side. There are two massive mushrooms
on the other side with diamond like holes that are screaming.

The party pulls the mushroom cap through the membrane.

Uraki punches through the seal and rips it open and KOs the screaming mushroom.

The passage leads to some steps of an alcove. The passage opens up into a cyllender with bridges crossing below
and across.

“Why use a rock when you have a half-orc”

Reggie and Uraki have a whispering argument in the middle of the bridge. Uraki wonders why the mushrooms are getting
closer and asks if Reggie thinks that the mushrooms know if we killed them.

When Gerwaldde comes out to the middle of the bridge, the air seems to change and Reggie and Gerwaldde start trippin’
balls. Uraki carries them back to the rest of the party. Pluvius makes the web to hope to stop the airflow. The
mushrooms are obviously coming towards the party.

They leave the cave to take a rest. They pile owlbear corpses in front of the cave. Gerwaldde burns the hankerchiefs
that are soaked in wet mold.

The party questions the logistics of the mushrooms being ‘mushroom people’.

As the party wakes up, there is a film covering the tiny hut. They decide to throw a bedroll outside of the hut.

Pluvius casts remove curse upon Gerwaldde and she drops the guitar pick of mediocrity, and the cursed dagger.

Theodosia casts dancing lights inside the cave to check for mushrooms. She is terrified to find a mushroom inside
the cave and she starts screaming. Her scream matches the scream of the mushroom when it starts screaming.

They eat breakfast and throw rocks at the mushroom to trigger the alarm.

They enter the cave and there is no more mold in the cave.

“We spent the whole morning terrified of a screaming mushroom”

Terrified that their stuff may be infected with fungus, they desperately set all their stuff out in the sun.

Pluvius casts alarm on the entrance of the cave. They plan to send Galahad for help and then enter the cave and
talk to the ‘smart’ mushrooms or kill them with fire.

March 8th, 2015 – Sean

Omega Team!!

Allies & Rivals:
Reggie +Galahad, -Gerwaldde
Theadosia +Pluvius, -Gerwaldde
Gerwaldde +Uraqi, -Galahad
Galahad +Uraqi, -Gerwaldde
Pluvius +Reggie, -Galahad
Uraqi +Galahad, -Gerwaldde

Nathanael gives a brief lesson on how to troubleshoot the touch pad. Huzzah
Reggie gets a death boon – 5% chance of gaining immunity, when exposed to a poison or toxin

<afternoon />
Galahad cures Reggie of the addiction! Reggie realizes how addicting it is, and advises Galahad. Then he tries to cure Theodosia – fails. They discuss leaving in the middle of the night – Theo and Gerwaldde try to sneak off, but are noticed by Galahad (and partially by Reggie). Galahad admonishes them that this is NOT the way – They need to be thoughtful of Hero-Wisdom. Reggie persuades Gerwaldde to stop … with some paralytic poison.
The group decides to camp, and Galahad tries to convince Gerwaldde to stay – but is unsuccesful.
Still, they give Gerwallde a bit of a make-over while she is paralyzed and tied up, and the group sleeps in Leomond’s Tiny Hut. Or tries to – Gerwaldde isn’t very happy – negotiation.

“You are threating me with Shitting myself -” Gerwaldde

(Negotiation takes long enough that even Nathanael thinks it’s gone on too long.)

<nighttime>
Uraqi has seen few animals approach. Much lower than during the day/sunset. However, she notices the darkness moving across the way. She also hears a splash from somewhere. She tries to show it to Gerwaldde – same thing. The two decide to go check on it, and leave the dog to guard. 15-20 minutes into the walk, they feel like their is a shadowy fog around them. Later still, it becomes even thicker – and it carries the scent of shadow-bacon. Mmmmm, so delicious. So, they press onward – just a little further, Gerwallde decides…

Then, Gerwallde gets a compulsion to go back to the rocky outcropping. They can barely see the water from here – Gerwallde wants to dive… “You’re being real creapy” – Uraki tries to convince her using her sweet, sweet 9 Charisma… but insists that she won’t let her jump. Force is involved. They walk down, Gerwaldde jumps in – Uraki jumps in after her and rescues her. They return to camp…

… and Uraki wakes Gallahad by caressing his hair.

(It is determined that Leomond’s Tiny hut is periwinkle blue)

<morning>
Galahad cures Gerwaldde – but she is NOT happy about it. Pluvius casts indentify on the potions – extra burning. He gives them back to Reggie, and he offers to repay Pluvius with a pearl. Galahad then tries to cure Theodosia – she resists… but gropping ensues, and she continues to resist, until at last he manages to heal her. It is the most erotic healing session ever.

Breakfast is blesssssed by Gallahad. Purified!

The party then circumvents the lake, to get a good feel for things, and then heads back to the Owlbear cave. There are many signs of evil as we draw closer to the owlbear cave.

<eve />
We setup camp at the boulderfield. Nothing happens during the night. Massive Ivory Tusks were found.

<breakfast,>
- Slivvered heart fillet in a potato-mushroom gravey, served with a side of Enlarged Land-Oysters. And Coffee. -
Everyone loves it. Right? Right!

<morning,>
Party sets off for the cave of the OwlBear. (2 Hour Hike)
- players get derailed for a while -
“No more bullying us with your screaming when we tie you up.”

A plan is created for scouting – the thieves will communicate with thieves can’t, and throw coins back to indicate threat. Several corners are rounded, as the party goes down. Stench begins to fill the air. Reggie murders a baby Owlbear, then rushes back to warn the party – Gerwaldde follows, ready to attack. Reggie warns the party (Kill all the babies!).

<owlbear>
Momma owlbear appears, charging Galahad the Valiant. He attacks and hits, sticking it with the trident. Reggie rushed forward, stabbing the beast, even as Theodosia healed the paladin. Gerwaldde realized that her weapon is cursed… when she failed to attack with it. Uraki charges forward, slashing it with her Battle Axe. Finally, Pluvius joins in the fray, blasting it with a Magic Missle and blows it into tiny pieces! Huzzah!

But more are comming – Daddy rushes forward and swats at Uraki and Galahad, but to no avail! Theodocia lands a fireball on a group of babies rushing forward! But then the baby owelbears ovverrun the party – Gallahad is hit, Uraki is Hit, Gerwaldde is hit, much pain is had! The PAIN! Fur and feathers everywhere.

Gerwallde then goes crazy and murders the hell out of one Owlbear baby. Pluvius Fireblasts the last one.

“no, no, thats a one time stab.”

Reggie stabs, then falls back. Theodocia the bard sings a song of stabbing – with her sword. Gallhad Smites the owlbear – but then the owlbears swarm again, slashing and murdering with avian claws and beaks. Gerwaldde makes sure to stab one that has been burnt, it goes down. Uraki sticks on Big Pappa, taking him down! Eagerly, she takes a bite out of it’s heart.

“As you gnash into the owbear’s heart…”

Pluvious blasts out another swarm of magic missles – blowing up another owl bear. Then Reggie cuts one up real bad… dead. Theodosia gropes Galahad some more under the pretense of ‘healing him, while he stabs another cub. Owlbear cubs are going crazy, but haven’t take anyone down. Gerwalda contionues to fight valiantly, while the barbarian shows her how it’s done – murdering TWO.

Reggie helped take one d own, Gerwaldde stabbed herself. Theodosia Heals Gerwaldde’s self-inflicted wounds. Galahad rips the intestines out of his, with the trident. Undaunted, the owlbear babies attack like mad. Gerwallde, eager to draw some more blood attacks like crazy – but doesn’t drop it. Uraki continues to slaughter, dropping another… leaving one, on Gerwaldde… but Galahad takes it out, and an angry Gerwaldde stabs the crap out of heself.

Owlbear looting happens -

February 22nd, 2015 – J-Dub

Omega Team!!

Allies & Rivals:
Reggie +Gerwaldde/-Theadosia
Theadosia +Galahad/-Reggie
Gerwaldde +Reggie/-Theadosia
Galahad +Theadosia/-Reggie
Pluvius +Theadosia/-Galahad
Uraqi +Reggie/-Theadosia

Valley, vista, lake whose water is not disturbed by wind

The mayor is outfitting the party with rations and human beer.
Going forward to clean out shadow beasts – Galahad and Uraqi lead the way, finding a shortcut through a ravine

Party makes their way through the ravine with Ello and Odette. Bringing Lazarus, Vex (the dog), and Penny.
Ello and Vex hang out together.

Reggie’s Death Boon is a 4th Failure save

Galahad notices the Owl-Bear cave and we are able to avoid it. And the loot.
Reggie sneaks up to remains and finds a colorful blue ribbon for Galahad, and some other loot.

We sally forth at Galahad’s discretion to our campsite in the woods. Find a lean-to with a view of the lake.

During the night, Galahad sees movement on the water, and wakes Gerwaldde to check it out. Just rain.

The Bad News Adventurers awaken, eat kitten paws for breakfast and begin discussing the
disturbing nature of the lake, as an animal trumpeting sound interrupts. We begin circling the lake
in the direction of the animal sound. Galahad realizes the lake
resonates evil/alienness.
Galahad and Uraqi begin skipping boulders…
After several ridiculous experiments, Pluvius notes that he believes the lake to have something to do with the
Shadow Cats.
We begin to make our way toward the screeching sound, Galahad leading the way…when Theadosia gets a premonition
of something huge headed our way. Thrashing of sound as something rushes toward us.
Reggie races towards the woods, dives in, and…jumps into the path of a hairy tusked shadowy Mastodon which steps on
Reggie.
Gerwaldde belts a stone at the monster.
More shadow cats appear as they were chasing the mammoth.
Thea dispels the dark magic on the Mastodon which washes over Reggie
The Mastodon attacks the shadow cat closest to him and Gerwaldde takes out the shadow cat, the darkness is slurped up
by the Mastodon. One of the lions whose magic was dissipated, runs away.
Thea dispels magic on the last lion as Galahad attacks.
Reggie sees a downed shadow lion and sticks his head in the animal to absorb the shadow magic.
The mastodon begins charging toward the water. Thea casts fireball on the poor creature.
We decide to let it go.

After the creatures all leave, we decide to inspect the lake – Reggie drinks from the lake…continues drinking,
says it makes him feel better. Galahad casts Zone of Truth and asks Reggie why he is drinking the water. Reggie admits
his addiction to shadow dust.

The party gets to a watering hole and some of the party decides to speak to the shadow fucking animals, and Gerwaldde,
Galahad and Theadosia go to explore the area.

Exploration – like a safari type experience. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Gerwaldde does find a cliff with a valley view – gets a glittering view of a structure down in the water & reptiles
swimming around.

Animal Chat – Uraqi has trouble finding an animal to talk to. Spoke to a cougar – it said it goes up and back and forth
and up walls.

Pluvius has a vision of the past, the lizard people’s rise and fall, and this particular lake. At some point,
something has broken – a thing on display, this thing is still down there.

Reggie steps into the water and tries to drown himself, Uraqi jumps in after him.

As she pulls Reggie up, he is being consumed with the blackness. As Galahad tries to cure Reggie,
Reggie attacks him.
Gerwaldde stabs him with his own cursed blade and takes him down. Gerwaldde now has the cursed blade.
Theodosia and Gerwaldde are super strong and addicted, Galahad is only strong.

Reggie wakes up and everyone is flexing.

(to be copied from session notes)

February 8th, 2015 – RK

Jeanne is making a new character, Talaedra had “stuff” to do in the woods,
so SO LONG, TALLY.

We’ve come onto a town: Camp Alfred, where more and more are gathering
all the time. Dangerous lands, townsmembers are used to colonists.
Rather ramshackle – few permanent structures.

HOW THEODOSIA CAME TO BE:
She was with a small group, conscripted into military service. Her
heart’s not really in the military. Ambition is finding The Great
Hero about whom to write the Greatest Song. 19 or 20. Is hired for
her musical abilities, is a poet, singer & storyteller. Occasionally
writes epics for her bread.

Gallahad’s out of this round (matt’s sick today). Colonel Alfred is
rather taken with Gallahad and whisks him off to do Paladin things
together.

Urraki goes & talks some shit with the soldiers, starts fights, etc

Theodosia is just about out of money which is why she’s at Camp Alfred.
SHE HAS A BAG OF HOLDING, possessive & needs to be coaxed to give items
back.

At the tavern, Pluvius is drinking, Theodosia’s performing, Reggie is
picking pockets, Gerwaldde is playing dice, Urraki’s starting fights.

Gerwaldde fleeced the shit out of the town and not only recuperated
the costs of carousing (4g/d), but also 140g more. Reggie made a little
money, & Pluvius made an enemy of the cook after trying to light-heartedly
make fun of the food.

Theo is very interested in the tales of Ghim and the lair of the
basilisk, so we are following the trail of Gorm Gorimssen.

Most people plan to get a room except Reggie, the dog-lizard.

SUDDENLY, about to disperse for the evening, the group hears a cry! The
door flies open to a man being ripped apart by horrible shadow creatures!
Three facts about the creatures!
1 – They come in the night & steal the townsfolk
2 – Darkness congeals around them
3 – Fire only makes them stronger
4 – (learned afterward) Weak to light

Theodosia rallied ~50 townspeople to fight with us!

We killed four beshadowed mountain lions. The military thanks us for
our assistance & starts to triage wound victims. Reggie helps kill all
the people who are suffering & won’t make it with an amazing CHA roll.

Pluvius, Reggie & Urraki all inhaled shadowstuff. Reggie had an itchy,
twitchy, nonrestful night of sleep due to addiction of shadowstuff.
Reggie is now heavily addicted to shadowstuff. Pluvius is minorly
addicted. Urraki was fine after a night’s rest. Gallahad killed 1 too.

Urraki separated out the mountain lions which had been shadow-taken.

Pluvius noticed that bc door was blown off, doorframe was warped
unnaturally into a circular shape. Something about that ability shapes
reality.

Gallahad and Theodosia have a charisma-off – they’re both megababes.

Gerwaldde is convinced by Gallahad to pay for breakfast. He’s _{so
haaaandsome}

We’re escorted to another giant many-spherical-roomed fortress which is
a bit denser and smaller. We meet with the Colonel, he praises our
efforts of the previous evening and implores us help him in the valley
where lie these shadow beasts. Reggie is weird and rude to the Colonel.
We’re going to go rout out the shadows.

(copied from notes)

January 25th, 2015 – CS

Alpha Team:

The party, having defeated the necromancers and their undead horde, discuss how to proceed from there.

Allies/Rivals
Ghim: Chiara / Nibelln
Nibelln: Slav / Zsofia
Zsofia: Chiara / Nibelln
Slav: Ghim / Chiara
Icare: Zsofia / Slav
Chiara: Ghim / Slav

Inspiration: Ghim, Nibelln, Slav, Chiara

Loot from necromancers and zombies:

Gorgeous War flail – intricately etched with dwarven runes, covered with dried caked blood

- Ancient dwarven war flail – +3, plays music as it hits. Heroic weapon, war flail of Hjorvard the last
Blood Skald. For it to work for the day, it must be ritually anointed in the fresh blood of the living

Handful of rings and jewelry

3 scrolls of animate dead
1 scroll of raise dead
2 scrolls of inflict wounds

The group decides, with night time quickly closing in on them, to leave Chiara in the large chamber for the night, while the rest of the group keeps watch outside.

Ghim, Zsofia, and Chiara move the zombie’s corpses out into the hallway, and Nibelln, Slav, and Icare are looting the bodies while Icare and Slav argue. Nibelln takes the necromancer’s hand.

Ghim and Zsofia start destroying the zombie’s corpses, while Chiara does her best to put rubble in front of the door. Suddenly they all realize; “Where’s Krash?”

Chiara discovers Krash is in there with her, and tries to alert everyone, but they are unable to hear her. Krash tries to communicate with Chiara, who is resisting the urge to change.

Chiara remains in control of her actions as she changes, but she will not remember what occurs after she wakes up.

Due to the carnage, right outside the door to the chamber is unsuitable to use as a campsite.

There’s a good camp site a bit farther back, but there’s a pit impeding the party’s path to it.

Icare and Nibelln make their way to the other side, and help everyone across. We set up camp and settle in for the night.

On Ghim’s watch, he notices three two-headed jackal like creatures slinking towards the camp. Ghim wakes everyone up, and Zsofia chains them to the ground with Chains of the Deep.

COMBAT!

Zsofia blasts the jackals with a shatter spell! One runs away, the other two leap across and engage the party. Everyone makes quick work of the jackals, with Icare and Zsofia landing the finishing blows. 7 more come, and Zsofia uses a gust of wind spell to knock them all into the pit.

The party makes their way back to the chamber, and the doors are wide open with the defensive runes activated.

There’s no obvious signs of anyone entering or leaving.

Chiara wakes up in one of the side rooms, not remembering what happened. There is blood smeared on her
hands and face.

The doorway is no longer covered in zombie goop, and is glowing with a blue light.

Chiara tries stepping through the doorway, and is not harmed by the defensive runes. The blood smeared on
her glows a blue light as she steps through, and it becomes clear they are runes painted on her with blood.

Krash is nowhere to be found!

Slav discovers that the necromancer was following the god Uchorah-Thanaphor, who is considered number one and must never be awoken. The symbol that Chiara found carved on her son is the symbol of this god.

The party makes its way out of the caverns back to Huevigg, who comments on the party’s tardiness.

Slav brings up that there’s two options that make sense at the moment; either to leave and venture after Ghim’s brother, or to continue exploring the caverns.

Icare plants a pearl on Huevigg for some reason.

The party decides to leave the caverns and go elsewhere, and everyone levels up to level 6!

We make it back to our fort and drop off some supplies, and find out that Panner’s Hollow has exploded with wealth!

Ghim goes forth to negotiate an expedition to where they last heard his brother, Garm Gorimsson, was seen.
Ghim’s using the Gorimsson’s name and his past merchant experience, and some help from Slav, in his
negotiations.

Ghim manages to find a pair of ships trying to find interest on doing an exploratory venture, and
the Vallentrellis family puts up a significant amount of money to help finance the expedition, with the
Marquis Emile Vallentrellis tagging along.

7,000 gold has been invested into the party by the Marquis.

Slav meets up with the self respecting Gerrymanderer, and they have a long conversation.

Ghim invests in the copper mine claim a total of 1,750 gold. 1,000 of his gold, 500 of Chiara’s,
and 250 from Icare.

Zsofia spends 500 gold on creating a shrine to her new god.

Slav invests 1,000 gold into the keep.

Chiara is investing 500 gold into growing the town.

Icare is buying a building for 2,000 gold.

Icare spends 100 gold defending his future brothel.

Zsofia and Nibelln go carousing, and Zsofia falls in love with Deekin the kobold.

IMPORTANT! KOBOLDS HAVE JUNK!

(copied from the game notes)

January 11th, 2015 – CK
The party heads back down into the pit to find the necromancers that killed Chiara’s son.

Allies/Rivals
Ghim: Icare – Rival | Chiara – Ally
Nibelln: Icare – Ally | Zophia – Rival
Zophia: Nibelln – Rival | Ghim – Ally
Slav: Icare – Rival | Nibelln – Ally
Icare: Zophia – Ally | Slav – Rival
Chiara: Ghim – Ally | Nibelln – Rival

Krash is noticibly nervous about going down into the pit. Going down into the pit, the group finds
signs of undead activity. The party stumbled into a next of the undead. There are a nest of ancient
passages.

There is a mass of undead with the symbol of the necromancers. The party has sealed themselves behind a door when running from the horde of undead. There is a long vaulted hallway with doors smashed open similar to the hallway where the group teleported before. The rooms in which had weapons in the other hall, have tools in this one. The pillars are smashed and contain eggs. One of the rooms spirals upwards and water drips from the ceiling.

Nibelln casts wraith form to try to go into the cracks in the ceiling. She gets through the cracks in one of the walls and see more undead heading towards the hallway.

In the hallway, Krash seems to has mysteriously disappeared. Slav and Ghim prepare the hallway for combat.
Krash is depressed by the fate of her people and generally dislikes that we are “Arming the Food.”

The group fights the army of undead. There is a bolt of lightning that comes down the hallway during the fight. An undead thunder lizard joins the battle! The party aptly destroys the undead horde, one of the necromancers turns invisible and seems to have escaped.

They decide to stay in the hall for the night and lock Chiara in one of the side rooms. Slav tells Krash that Chiara has inflicted a curse upon herself.

Scenes and Events

A Week of Omens and Change

- Afwanne is stunned to see them suddenly reappear back home.
- A NEW PARTY MEMBER JOINS! A Svirfneblin Illusionist… clown?
- Slav remembers much, much more (but not all) about his former life, including his true name, title, and purpose.
- Zsofia receives continued visions of another deific force, a nameless sea god who calls to her from the storms off the coast.
- Icare’s fence Rodolfo attempted to strong-arm him into a protection racket. Icare went “poof” and planned to kill him.
- Icare, Chiara, (svirf), and Zsofia lay the groundwork for the eventual establishment of the Glitter Dragons Thieves Guild, by carrying out a daring midnight raid on Rodolfo’s office, and murdering him and most of his crew.

Story Section

- thing that happened
- thing that happened

Story Section

- thing that happened
- thing that happened

Story Section

- thing that happened
- thing that happened

Party Roster

Team Alpha

• Galahad, a human paladin who personifies the glory of Fabio
• Gerwaldde, a halfling bandit who is once again forcefully thrust into the company of new people
• Pluvius, a booksmart but clueless human Abjurer
• Reggie, a kobold assassin rogue with a weird affectation for coins
• (elf druid)
• (half-orc shaman)

Team Bravo

• Chiara
• Ghim
• Icare
• Slav
• Zsofia
• (svirf clown)

Loose Threads

Portents of the Future

• The nameless sea god is calling Zsofia to the islands off the near shore. What secrets lie within?
• Slav intends to reach his sleeping former comrade and wake them. Is this wise?
• Icare has begun paving the groupd for a new Thieves’ Guild. But will he succeed? And what of his other rivals, those who tried to execute him back in New Thissenford?
• Chiara has but one more week until the next full moon. Will the team be able to restrain her hunger? Or will they resort to the curing brew? Do they even know that it really works?

NPCs Encountered

New Creatures and Enemies

Misc Loot of Note

Interesting New Facts and Tidbits

Chapter Rewards

Death’s Door

XP

Group Rewards

Individual Bonuses

Scenes and Events

Leaving Town

- hired Vernando

Back on the Trail, Part 1

- encountered the Murder of Crows (and gulls) over a field of bleached white bones
- encountered the ancient god obelisk

The Smugglers’ Cove

- found a hidden smuggler’s cave
- ello and vernando were able to climb down and secure a way up and down
- found crab men inside!
- smugglers approached… slav managed to take out several of them before they even reached the cave, through clever use of utility spells
- cleared out part of the cave and killed some smugglers, but had to vacate due to rising tide.
- fired Vernando, but let him keep the boat

Back on the Trail, Part 2

- thing that happened
- fell into a pit! RIP two horses (but the pony survived! what a trooper!)
- fought eight Quillback Saurians (new)

The Ancient Waterfall Complex

- weird mysterious teleporter doors! Only Slav can operate them
- seven spirals of wide stairs, trapped to collapse
- a glorious passage extends underneath the waterfall
- Icare’s “oops” alerts the guardian basilisk
- fight!
- collapse the stairs to bury the poisonous corpse!
- Ghim digs a tunnel through the rubble…
- Encounter with the “Tunnel of Love” waterfall tunnel trap: sea shadows try to drown the party!
- Icare leaps through the other side, gets to exactly Zero hp! Begins drowning…
- Zsofia renounces her deity, Icare gets saved by an unknown force…
- finally rejoined the others and got the horses back outside
- Explored the tower, found other doors.
- found a draco-griffin-thingy roost at the top
- found the basilisks’s lair, and some loot!
- marked all the traps (they were on the floors, walls, and ceilings of the stairs)

The Vault of the Ancient Lizards

- slav opened the vault doors below
- cut off slav’s tail to use his blood to disable the protective wards on the threshold
- found a massive long hall with enormous vaulted ceilings. Many vertical pillars, and much of that mist (non-maddening, though)
- locked side rooms full of arms and armor – enough for thousands of troops!
- found another scrying chamber! but icare activated the trap
- lights turned red, doors began to seal, Gerwaldde escaped to tell the hirelings
- Icare and Slav activated the crystal bowl with lots of blood (ew) mixing in others from vials
- contacted the one that icare initially woke up, mind-shared with the three of them.
- the newcomer was in the middle of a small village to the south, surrounded by lizard warriors and dead humans and dwarves
- the party managed to somehow TELEPORT away just before a 60-foot-tall stone golem attacked!
- they arrived back in the divining chamber of their fortress just north of eaststeading…

Splitting the Party

- GREATEST PRANK EVER!
- Gerwaldde, alone in the tower, freaks out
- finds that all of the stone and rubble and dust lying around was actually petrified body parts, ALL of which has now been unpetrified
- loots the messy corpse of a dead elf
- meets THE NEW PARTY: Human Paladin, Elf Druid, Kobold Rogue, Human Abjurer, and Half-Orc Shaman
- game is now divided between two groups of PCs, exploring different aspects of the world.

Party Roster

• Chiara
• Gerwaldde
• Ghim
• Icare
• Slav
• Zsofia

Loose Threads

Portents of the Future

NPCs Encountered

New Creatures and Enemies

- quillback saurians
- evolved basilisk
- Sea Shadows (drowning, STR drain; Base STR 12)

Misc Loot of Note

Interesting New Facts and Tidbits

Chapter Rewards

Death’s Door

XP

Group Rewards

Individual Bonuses

Much has transpired since my last significant entry, but I find the events of today significant enough that I feel compelled to commit them to paper.

We have recently welcomed into our circle an individual by the name of Ronalado, or something to that effect – I am still far from mastering the dialect of these people. He seemed to be a cable fighter, but his demeanor seemed to be more in line with the one called Icare – flamboyant and unpredictable. Still, he seemed to have found a place within our circle… until an opportunity arose to elevate himself above us. He seemed to believe that it was his skill, not his social status, that should dictate his value to us – and when asked to do more, he expected to be… elevated above us.

Do not get me wrong – I have no qualm with serving those who stand above me, but this idea of a self-driven elevation seemed alien to me. Moreover, it seemed to raise the hackles of my companions as well. Though they seem to struggle in choosing a leader, they have somehow found a balance by virtue of a council, of which I seem to be part. Needless to say, the rogue’s antics were frowned upon, and he has since parted ways.

But even in his departure, he left words that have given me cause to think. Two of those who travel with us are like-unto the beasts. They are not in the circle, but clearly they are more valuable than the pack animals. I had assumed that they were servants – both of them warm and kind, but servants none the less. This rogue thought otherwise… and now, it seems to be a matter of consideration among the others as well. They speak of giving the one named ‘Ello’ a full ‘share’, which as far as I can see is the only indication of status. Is this a sign of social elevation? It seems foolish to base such things as social status on accomplishment, while ignoring both breed and birth right…

I am not ashamed to admit that I still do not understand. But perhaps, I will, in time.

Later that day we came across something else – an ancient shrine to one of the 10 greater gods. It seemed to be ripe with power still, and showed a vision to the priestess Zsofia. I suspect that the vision might mark the calamity that acompanies my deep sleep… but it could also be the future to come.

Strange though, is the fact that Zsofia knows nothing of the ten. In fact, none of them seem to… and of the lot, only Zsofia seems particularly devout, praying to her traveling god (note: remember that it is Jacob, not Jo-bob. This miss pronunciation seemed to anger her greatly. Perhaps the word jo-bob is an insult, or signifies a rival of this walking god.) How is it that so much has been lost? Have new gods risen to fill a void left behind, or are they usurpers that claim the through while the true kings and queens sleep?

I consider it a travesty that I can recall so little, but each new experience awakens a bit of my past. Perhaps, when we have reunited the Dwarf with his brood-mate, we can seek out the resting places of… the others… I know not what to call them, for they feel like both rivals and allies… but either way, they may be able to help me remember what has been lost to time.

My companions are gathering up the sweaty pack-beasts they insist on riding, so the time is at hand to depart. Barring disaster, I shall write more later.

Scenes and Events

Trek Back to Eaststeading

- Slav is everyone’s ally – “Cause of the pee” they said

Preparing for the Coming Battle

- New NPC, Rodolfo the human shoe-shiner and fence
- New Farstrider notes: They are postmen! And their shrines have books of knowledge and local lore that priests update when they pass through.
- Gorimsson Business in Eaststeading: 100g/month rent, two months paid
- Ghim made a family deal with Gerhardt Goldcastle, dwarf jeweller
- Ghim arranged for his shield to be embossed with gems and carved into a jackolantern
- Gerwaldde bought Strawberry the pony
- Slav tried to buy a baby from a whore and a john
- long chat with the Gerrymanderer, who met Slav
- Gerwaldde hid, and suddenly she can understand Slav’s language!

Return to the Ancient Tower

- set up a “trap” for the red cap
- they really kicked the shit out of it, good job

Party Roster

• Chiara
• Gerwaldde
• Ghim
• Icare
• Slav
• Zsofia

Loose Threads

Portents of the Future

NPCs Encountered

New Creatures and Enemies

Misc Loot of Note

Interesting New Facts and Tidbits

Chapter Rewards

Death’s Door

XP

Group Rewards

Individual Bonuses

Lore: The ‘Sar Tas’ is Slav’s spell book, as well as his Journal. Traditionally, the disciple writes from left to right when inscribing spells, beginning from the front of the book, while the journal is written right to left, beginning at the back of the book. The intent is that eventually the two writings will meet, and a Disciple who has been exploring the world and his thoughts, will have as much musings as spells, and the two will meet in the middle. Either way, the ‘weighing of the words’ is considered a method for judging a Disciple’s path, and that moment is considered a significant one.

The term ‘scribbling’ is one of humility, as the disciple tries to down-play the value of his own words at this stage. Generally, the script is all well written and carefully inscribed. At this point, lacking a proper writing tool, Slav writes in ash – carefully writing, and rewriting the pages so it isn’t dusted away.

Entry – Rebirth

It is with great pleasure that I turn my hand to writing once more. My initial captors did not offer me a method to write, and tragically much of what I experienced is dulled from being deprived such recordings. How clearly I could share the details of my pain and servitude, had I been afforded the chance to record them. Instead, my mind already tries to push them behind, and to forget the time in which I was a servant to them, or as they say, ‘their bitch’.

The past two days have seen my fall in with a much wiser and more amicable group, who have gifted me with a Sar Tas, several fangs, and even a pair of simple clothing. Clearly, they still see me as the ‘bitch’, but I cannot fault them for this – I am an outsider in this hairy circle of companions. And what a strange circle it is – I still cannot fathom who leads them, truly, and even direct questions have yielded little clarity. I think, perhaps, they are like the Hydras of old – many headed and ferocious, but sometimes apt to bite at itself.

I will speak of them clearly here, and I have little fear that they may take my words ill – in fact, I have little confidence that any of them, save the Priestess and the Drunk, can even read and write. I have never seen them draw forth paper and ink, even though I have been within their company for several days. Still, even if they were to read it, I trust that they would see my words as true and fair. Either way, I must catalog them to be true in my observations.

Afwanne – Despite being a figure capable of magic, this strange figure seems to be an outsider in the group. The others frequently engage in debate, but he/she is just as comfortable keeping to herself and her drink. I assume the liquor addles her mind to the point that she is not fit to advise.

Ello – This large figure is certainly the most straight forward of the group, and has proven his talent with music and muscles on several occasion. Like me, I expect that the group sees him as a servant. As their ‘bitch’ he serves, but is given little say in matters. From what I gather, this suits him well enough, and he seems happy to carry on as he does. Tragically, I believe the humans, with their flapping lips and flailing arms are deft to the subtleties of his communication.

Gerwalda – This tiny figure insists that she is not a child, despite her stature, but I can think of no better way to describe her. Small, foolish, and prone to misadventures and missteps. Based on her respect for the Dwarf, I think it possible that she is part of his clutch – or litter – I forget the term for such offspring.

Ghim Gorimsson – At first, I thought this figure might be a leader – the other group had placed one of these Squat fellows at their head, yet that appears not to be the case. Still, he is level headed and prudent in his actions, which bodes well. I have also noted that he appears to pay homage to some gourd-based demon. I am not familiar with this figure, nor it’s ghoulish pumpkin visage, but Ghim finds great solace in it.

Icare – I have yet to see anything concrete about this figure. At times, he claims authority, at other times he seems only to care of himself. Sometimes, he acts cleverly and clearly, and othertimes he resembles a jester. He seems overly attached to possessions, and would rather horde them than see them put to use. Yet, perhaps this is the way of his people – I have noted that they are careful to parcel out their shared resources, and seem content to squirrel much of it away on their pack-beast. Either way, this man is a wild-card, and I fear what trouble his temperament might bring.

Kiara – I might have thought this one of little note – clearly a warrior, and a capable archer. Yet we have recently seen that she harbors a transformation most foul. We have restrained her in order to protect and observe, but it is clear she gives her form over to that of a demon-wolf. It is also clear that this ‘trait’ is new, as the party seems repulsed by it. The only cure they have found so far is sedation, but that hardly seems as though it will serve them in the long term.

Odette Miller – I suspect this one is a nurse-maid of some sorts, perhaps sent to watch over the child and the mad-one. She cooks well, and tends to their possessions, but seems both frail and squeamish. I must assume she is along as some sort of bribe, caretaker, or servant of the others – though I think she would be better left at home.

Zsofia – This woman is clearly a priestess, and she serves someone known as Jacob, who she reveres greatly. In many ways, I see that she should act as the head of this group… but also I see that she gives much attention to the mad-one. It seems caring and protective, and also not without a bit of bite. In this way, she perplexes me as much as the others – with her might, cunning, and magical talents I can only wonder what she gains from their companionship.

Normally, I might be concerned by their chaos – yet, in a way, it seems fitting for this world. The world seems different, the order that I knew lost to a time I cannot even measure. Yet, if there is any chance of recovering those lost memories, and finding what remains of my people, it will lie with this entourage. They are brave and foolish enough to go where no one else is willing to, and accept both the mad, cursed, and forsaken into their ranks. I cannot tell if it is compassion or desperation that gives them such open arms – perhaps a bit of both.

Scenes and Events

The Wizard is Dead: Long Live the Wizard

In the wake of Nyll’s death, the party is somewhat traumatized – especially Zsofia, who feels that her failure to protect him is an insult to her god.

Icare is startled to discover that Nyll’s Wand has apparently “taken a liking” to him. He sneaks off with it to see if he can actually use it, and after a bit of experimentation he is able to activate, and with little effort. While he is quite excited by this, Gerwaldde – who secretly followed him to watch – is somewhat horrified, to the point of physical sickness. She immediate;y seeks out her good friend Ghim, and says: “You’re a dwarf and you’ve seen some shit, I know that… There was this tongue… I gotta go take a bath…”

Zsofia panics upon finding Icare missing, and when he returns she scolds him most mightily.

They find a dwarf-made canoe hidden on the other side of the water. Chiara swims across and brings it back over to begin ferrying the people one by one back to the shore and out of the lake.

However, there is an ambush on the other side! Some crazed bandits attack – in fact, they;re some of Gerwaldde’s old bandit crew! And they have some weird lizardman they’re towing along as a prisoner? Eh? The heroes dispatch the bandits mightily, however, and Slav the amnesiac lizardman joins the party (cue jointheparty.mp3).

Chiara’s Gone Missing

Ghim and Gerwaldde take Nyll’s corpse back to town via the canoe, while everyone else hoofs it over land. Slav, Chiara and Icara hang out just south of the lodge, while the rest go in for rest and a bit of relaxation. Some shopping happens, with the last merchants who are just now closing up their shops and heading back north to the coast and the warmer climate. The party also hires on Afwanne as a continuing hireling, in addition to Ello (burren minstrel) and Odette (merchant and cook). Icare even trades Nyll’s spellbook for Afwanne’s fabulous cloak. They also discuss their next plans heavily, and decide to try and root out those bandits once and for all, both curing a blight on the region and perhaps finding out more about Slav’s identity.

During the night, however, Chiara goes missing, having run off as she once more felt the lycanthropic transformation upon her. The rest of the team gets worried at her absence and assembles a search party, but they are unable to track her. Meanwhile, beast-Chiara stalks the outskirts of the town, finds a lone merchant taking a piss, and savage him. Shortly afterward she ransacks his wagon and accidentally sets it on fire, then runs off into the night.

She awakes again the next morning, covered in gore and aghast with the stark clarity of the night’s memories. She washes and returns to camp, and passes her absence off as “needed alone time.” This upsets Zsofia, but everyone moves on anyway.

Into the Quarry

By midday they have located the quarry – the target of their current adventure, and known bandit lair. Gerwaldde’s been here before, and she suggest they try a rarely-used back entrance. They find it partially-collapsed under a rockslide, and fight some angry rock-crabs at the bottom. The crabs were quite a match for them, though, so wounded and low on resources, they return to the top of a nearby hill for rest and planning.

At camp, Chiara finally drops the bomb: “I think I’m a were-rat.” This shocks everyone, including Zsofia, who pledges to kill her if she harms innocents. There is some intense argument and negotiation, after which a plan of action is finally decided.

- Slav gave Ello a magical silver lute
- Ello and Slav can communicate easily!
- Zsofia and Gerwaldde come up with an idea to make a “joint” of paralyzation (yay knowledge smokeables!)
- the party makes the joint! Slav lights it with his firebreath
- Gerwaldde and Icare both take a hit
- chiara smokes the whole thing, and is allllllll riiiiiiight
- next they tie her to a tree. Slav does ceremony to try and heklp, icare does the ropes, afwanne will be on sleep spell duty
- watch order: ghim / icare / zsofia / afwanne / slav
- party kills a single rage ogre! 56 HP, 6 HD
- they push its body down the hill and toss it into the quarry hole.

Into the Quarry – Attempt #2

- found rageborn fertility statue, 10 feet tall
- found dessicated spider corpses
- found a fancy magical earring! (Cha +1) on a human corpse
- chiara and icare failed to save vs the mist! ooooh
- after several fights and a trap, Icare is now eating a corpse, and Chiara is cowering in fear
- Slav uses blood magic and a weird ceremony to make temporary mist-immunity potions

Into the Quarry – Attempt #3

- uh, we’re just gonna skip that optional side dungeon, ok?
- a shitload of money!

Wrapping Things Up in New Thissenford

- turns out that Gerold of Hightower was brutally murdered the night before ans his cart set on fire. Who coulda done that?

Party Roster

• Chiara
• Gerwaldde
• Ghim
• Icare
• Slav
• Zsofia

Loose Threads

Portents of the Future

- Icare is now manifesting Nyll’s abilities!

NPCs Encountered

New Creatures and Enemies

- Rock Crabs
- Rage-ogre
- Desiccated Spider Husks
- Crazed Bandits
- Pygmy ragers that explode
- Deep Ragers (Flopstick and Meathammer!)

Misc Loot of Note

Interesting New Facts and Tidbits

Chapter Rewards

Death’s Door

XP

Group Rewards

Individual Bonuses

Let the games begin, hurrah!

Scenes and Events

Arrival at New Thissenford

After the both exhilarating and harrowing events of their journey, the party arrived in New Thissenford with only the current day between them and the kick-off of the First Annual Highland Games. They escorted Gerald of Hightower’s wagon to his final chosen set-up spot, and he paid them for their time and trials.

On the way into town, they passed a fairly small graveyard, and nearby was an old gnarled Hanging Tree, from which gently swayed the dangling fresh corpse of a large, hooded man. Other than that, of note was the fact that the grave yard was remarkably small for a community in such a harsh climate, signifying that the camp probably has its own Crusader (likely a Raenite) tending to its needs.

After the pay-out there was a brief reunion with Treyhern, the personal valet of their previous short-term employer, the Marquis Valentrellis. Treyhern expressed concern for his missing cousin Veitan, who was sent forth as a lone rider the night before. The party secretly suspects that Veitan was killed in whatever explosion collasped the path that night, but they keep this suspicion to themselves for now.

Also during this time, Icare met and mingled with the newly-encountered Burrenfolk – massive bear-people who apparently live in this region. There was much drinking and talking and banjo-playing shared by them, indeed. He met at least three of them, named Hurf, Dingle, and Ello.

While the rest set about buying tents and creating their own camps, Nyll met with the current “leader” of the town, who was actually the brother of the merchant Feldrinas they had assisted much earlier in the campaign. Through this man, and the rest of the party’s rumor-mongering, the following bits of information were discovered:

• A new mining prospector’s town (called Panner’s Hollow) has sprung up just a few days deeper into the hills – they’ve found gems and precious metals galore! It’s the right time to go check things out before everyone stakes a claim!
• A Gorimsson has arrived to win the Games! [Kinda true: Ghim has arrived!]
• Adventure opportunity: the manservant of the Marquis is organizing men to search for his missing rider. He fears something in the dark of the woods.
• The former Cleric of the town, a Raenite named Martin, was just yesterday murdered by a crazed logger named Wendel Gort. Gort was caught in the very act and hung shortly after. He is now also suspected of being responsible for two other murders shortly before Martin’s.
• The former patron and namesake of the town, Lord Thissenford, had built a mansion-like hunting lodge just up the river on a beautiful private lake. Two weeks ago, that lodge burned to the ground, leaving no trace of the Lord. There’s no proof of cause, but given recent crimes, the suspect is the late Wendel Gort.

With both Lord and Cleric gone, the town has no one who can officiate the Games, and that would be a bad omen indeed. Nyll tries to convince Zsofia to do it, but she’s reluctant. He uses some clever illusion magic to convince the rest of the town that she’s the chosen one, however, and she changes her mind, agreeing to do the job.

Our session concluded there, and will kick off again next time with…

The Games Begin!

On the second morning, the Games officially began. The crowd was successfully taken in by Nyll’s magical theatrics, and truly believed that Zsofia was officially there to bless the opening of the event. Everyone followed her up to the main podium, where she gave a rousing convocation, commencing the events with the blessing of Jay-kob the Farstrider, Patron Ascendant of Travelers. Much applause followed, and all the while Icare and Gerwaldde picked the pockets of the distracted attendants.

At this point, the Signup roster was complete. The list of contestants:

• The Party of Heroes (5): All five of the players chose to participate. The entrance fee was minimal, and it was well worth it for all the free food and booze!
• The Burrens (2): Hurf and Dingle of course chose to try their might in the competitions.
• Borgun Sternfinger, aka “The Ünderhammer,” a famous dwarf adventurer from the homeland
• The Marquis Emile Valentrellis, aka Emile Hardcastle, Icare’s one-time secret lover and the party’s one-time potential employer.
• Revelle, a lone black-haired elfess of unknown origin.
• Ari Heivem, some random human bloke
• Miro and Milo (2), the Halfling fraternal twins
• The Lumberjack Contingent (6): Tancia and Gorfela (the sisters), Maxwell, Rupert, Vilhelm, and Waldegund.

The Games, Explained (Mechanics)

We worked out a set of mechanics to use specifically for these events, so as not to just make everything a boring old one-roll, pass-fail, single-die test. Each Games event is a matched “Feat of Athletics.” For every such event, each contestant rolls 2d10 added together (instead of the usual 1d20 roll). The goal is to roll as high a total as possible under your relevant attribute for that Feat, without going over. For example, the Keg Tossing event is a Feat of Strength, and participants rolled to get under their Strength score.

Different circumstances might give you an advantage, such as being trained in a very relevant skill, or being the size of a bear-man. Whenever you have an advantage, you roll another d10 in the set, and then pick the more favorable two dice of the results. If you manage to hit the exact score of your attribute, your final result is considered an amazing four points higher. So if you have STR of 13, and you roll a total of 13, your successful result is treated as if it were actually a 17.

Additionally, each character starts with a Bonus pool of three D10 dice, directly modified by both STR and CON bonuses and penalties. Characters with d6 Hit Dice (Crusaders, Elves, and Thieves) get +1 additional Bonus Die for each character level. Characters with d8 or higher Hit Dice (Bowmen, Dwarves, Fighters, and Vulterrans) get +2 additional Bonus Dice for each character level. Any participant can sacrifice (as in not going to the central kitty) any number of their personal Risk Dice (bennies) for the session to add more dice to the pool on a one-for-one basis.

Each die added is a D10. Once each participant’s Bonus Pool is built, all of them are rolled – and this is done before any of the games are played. Write down each die’s result separately. During each following Feat of Athletics, after their 2D10 roll is made, a contestant can choose to modify the result by plus or minus the scores of one or more of their already-rolled bonus dice. Cross those individual dice out of your bonus pool forever. Bonus dice must last you the entire two days of events, so spend them wisely!

The events are scored based on the final roll total. Each of the events has a maximum of 5 base points you can score, and you score a point for every increment of 4 points of your final rolled test. A roll of 1-4 would be 1 point, 5-8 is 2 points, 9-12 is 3 points, 13-16 is 4 points, and 17-20 is 5 points. If your roll is under your Stat, you gain that many points. If your roll is over your stat, you lose that many points. And if your roll hits your stat square on the mark, you gain points as if you had rolled 4 higher (critical success!).

Every event has a Score Multiplier. These are randomly rolled immediately before the new event is played out. The GM will roll a single D10. A result of 1-4 = x1 multiplier, 5-7 = x2 multiplier, 8-9 = x3 multiplier, and 10 = x4 multiplier. Your final score result from that related Feat is multiplied by that amount.

Finally, if ever your score reaches negative, you’re disqualified and out of the ranks for good.

The Games Events: Day 1!

After a hearty breakfast shared by all, the events of Day 1 were announced: a Drinking Contest, a Keg Tossing contest, a Drunk Tossing contest, an Arm Wrestling contest, a Sheaf Tossing contest, and finally the Highland Games Trivia contest would conclude the day’s competitive events.

Rather than break everything down into play-by-play recounts, I’ll just share some of the more memorable highlights of the Events:

• During the Drinking contest, only three contestants didn’t cut the mustard: Gorfela, Vilhelm, and the Marquis. They were added to the list of Drunks to be tossed in a following event (the rest being rowdies arrested from the previous night’s mass of drinking and revelry).
• Icare was randomly roped into filling in for one of the missing announcers for the second contest, and did a fantastic job of it.
• During the Keg-Tossing contest, Dingle the Burren got a bit confused and just kept drinking from his keg, and passed out, joining the list of drunks-to-be-tossed.
• There was much tossing of drunks, oh yes! Most of it was proportional, although Zsofia got stuck with tossing Dingle, which she did most mightily.
• During the Arm-wrestling contest, contestants were paired off by relevant scores. The matches were pretty much spot-on, and the only disqualified negative score went to Miro the halfling.
• The Trivia event was pretty silly, and several new world facts were established as a result (and others just plain vetoed out of silliness).

When all the contests of the day were complete, Zsofia (the most consistently bad ass member of the group) stood in the lead with 57 points, followed by Borgun Sternfinger in second place with 53 points. Tied at third place with 51 points each were the burren Hurf and the surprisingly-strong elfess Revelle. Fourth place was held by the lumberjack Maxwell at 41 points, Somehow, the tiny Gerwaldde is also doing well enough to have attained sixth place, with 37 points, only one behind Ghim’s 38-point hold on fifth. Even Nyll scored an amazing 35 points, a testament to the power of his sheer ambition.

The conclusion of the day’s contests quickly transformed into more mass revelry. Icare and Gerwaldde spent some time picking more pockets, and Gerwaldde even managed to score something from the pocket of none other than the Ünderhammer – specifically, an ancient metal key with the head of a bearded dwarf. Shiny! At some point she even managed to get lucky with Milo, the still-in-the-running Halfling contestant. Score!

This was followed by drinking, chatting, socializing, and much inter-athlete flirtation. After uncharacteristically complementing Nyll on his good ranking, Zsofia wandered off to the “winner’s tent” to join the other top-ranking contestants. She ended up in an impromptu three-way flirt-off between herself, the elf Revelle, and the dwarf Borgun. Well, one thing led to another which led to yet more, and the next morning they wake up in a sans-clothing dwarf-human-elf sandwich. Oh my!

Icare’s luck wasn’t so good, though. He attempted to flirt with Maxwell, but accidentally called him the wrong name “Marcus,” which garnered the response of another guy actually named Marcus (a big beefy “man with the strength of a bear, that has the strength of two bears”), and the two ended up off in yet another tent. “Save vs Rod/Staff, Icare.”

On the less-sexy end of things, Nyll wandered the camp and cast out his mind, opening it to the world, looking for feelings of power and strangeness. He was contacted almost immediately by some form of spiritual presence, accompanied by harplike music, a seemingly-angelic force that promised him ways to change the world. This concluded with a tug in the direction of the woods, and a sudden awareness that a nexus of ley line energy lied in that direction, and not too far away!

Finally, Ghim’s own wanderings led him to something else interesting: an encounter with a crazy (aka “sky-touched”) dwarf from the wilds. The poor thing could barely form sentences, and had clearly been through something traumatic, and recently. Adding complications to the situation was the clear-as-day branding of a marked bandit on his hand (missing knuckle from a finger). He talked of “the ancient waters that see all” and the end of days, and the night coming to swallow them all. Ghim took him off with him to talk to Amden who had become a friend and advisor over the last few days. Amden agreed to take care of the dwarf, as dwarves tend to do.

Our session concluded there, and will kick off again next time with…

The Games Events, Day 2!

We’ve got a new player joining us this time, Matthew’s friend Corinne, taking over the role of Chiara.

After a morning of hangovers and some awkward post-romantic realizations, everyone gets back to the breakfast tents for the opening of Day 2 of the First Annual Forthalome Highland Games! We also learn that Zsofia has a sure-solid preventative for hangovers: exercise, power squats, and a concoction of moss and leaves. Interesting.

To start things off and get Corinne right into the thick of things, we play out a short series of scenes from the day before. Earlier the first day, we learn that Chiara has been busy trying to get chummy with other local woodsfolk, so that she can possibly find more work should the whole “adventuring party” thing fall through. Always need something to fall back on, right? Anyway, she learns that one of the local woodsmen is a Trapper named Marcus, who has trapped and brought with him a number of foxes, which are to be hunted as part of the opening event of Day 2. She then secretly decides that she is going to free those foxes, and gets to planning.

On the evening of the first day, she gets her chance. When the cage wagon is finally left unwatched for a moment, she moves in and unlocks their cages, using a bit of putrid meat-oil (ewwwwww) as lubricant to keep the cages from squealing. Her training keeps them following her into the woods, where she sets them on their way.

Anyway, back to the morning of the second day, Icare wakes up in bed with said Marcus, and while making an exit he steals an exquisite fox-fur cloak from the man. He immediately sets out into the woods and buries the cloak, but Chiara witnesses him. After he departs, she digs it back up and burns it, willingly sacrificing what could be a magic item for her character’s beliefs, and immediately gaining XP.

Anyway, the next day of The Games is played out. The planned events of the day are (along with base stat and score multiplier)

• fox hunt! (canceled last minute! all been set free!)
• archery (DEX) x2
• stone put (STR) x1
• knife-throwing (DEX) x1
• hammer throw (STR) x4
• axe-throwing target competition (STR) x4
• caber tossing (STR) x4
• dance thrown-down (CHA) x4

Highlights of the proceedings:

• The Fox hunt is canceled, due to all the foxes having been freed!
• During the Stone Put, a brawl breaks out as Marcus finally catches up with Icare, thinking the thief both stole the cloak and set free the foxes. But everyone joins in while the stones are still being thrown, resulting in a very memorable new sport invention.
• After the brawl, Icare is jumped by thugs! They attempt to get him to leave with them, but he sends forth his magical dagger at their leader instead. They knock him out, though, and he doesn’t come back to until much later that evening…
• A nice three-way dance performance by Gerwaldde, Ghim, and Borgun, showing traditional dwarven kick-dancing.

In the end, the final rankings are:

1. Zsofia the Walking Harbinger, with 154 points
2. Borgun Sternfinger, with 124 points
3. Ghim Gorimsson, with 116 points
4. Revelle, with 116 points
5. Gerwaldde (!!!) with 103 points
6. and Hurf the burren, with 100 points

After the conclusion of the final events, there’s yet another long night of partying. The first, second, and third place contestants each get some hefty cash rewards, and the first place winner is also named the Honorary Spiritual Patron of the town for the next year, and given the, ahem, “presidential” suite at the Lodge for the full year (it’s not penthouse-quality, but it’s still pretty awesome). Zsofia moves her stuff into the suite and then immediately sets to the noble and time-honored task of getting completely trashed.

I… I admit to losing track of what happened to Ghim. Someone care to fill me in?

Nyll convinced Chiara to escort him into the woods in search of that magical energy he felt the night before, knowing that her woodsy skills would be most useful on finding their way back again. After a mile trek into the woods, though, they are diverted by a distress call… wait was that Icare?!

Icare has woken up buried neck-deep in the ground out in the woods, being eaten alive by poisonous ants that were deliberately set next to his head. Making matters more complicated, he is also in some ridiculously complicated trap that turns out to be made from the skull of a dragon. Chiara and Nuyll manage to partially disarm it, freeing Icare but somewhat hurting him in the process. Chiara runs back to get some healing draughts, leaving Icare with Nyll…

We conclude our session there. Probably only one more to go of this Chapter!

What’s Out There in the Woods, Anyway?

Our final session involves the exploration of the weird energies deeper in the woods. We pick up where we left off last time, with Nyll “guarding” Icare while Chiara runs back to the camp to get help. Unfortunately for Chiara, night is falling as she makes the return trek, and the full moon rises bright above the woodlands, triggering some kind of horrible transformation! Yay lycanthropy! Thankfully, because she has invested some prior “death rewards” into eventual control of the form, I allow her some saving throws (which she makes) to run off another direction into the woods instead. The benefit of this is that while she is definitely not in control, neither does she run toward the town nor back toward her companions, effectively removing her from the scene as a potential additional threat.

Nyll and Icare trek forward, really wanting to know what’s deeper in the woods. They discover a beautiful and serene misty lake, and the charred ruins of a small “keep-like” lodge on its shore – this must be the remains of the old Thissenford Lodge! Nyll is quite certain that the call of power is emanating from beneath that lodge, which is a two-tower structure spanning the water between the lakeshore and a small rocky island in said lake. Without waiting for reinforcements (because Nyll is in fact being magically compelled to want to know more), they navigate the treacherous rubble and enter the ruin.

Meanwhile, back at the camp, Zsofia is partying it up when she has an incredibly sobering and humbling vision from her Patron Saint, Jay-kob. The vision appears as a great armored paladin standing before her, and chastises her for celebrating her own personal selfish victory while those she has sworn to protect are in danger. Before he leaves her, he removes his helmet and reveals his face: a white-haired, busy-browed, “Mark Twain”-looking older man with a striking resemblance to Nyll! (Potentially a vision of Nyll’s very grandfather)

Zsofia ceases partying immediately, and finds Ghim and Gerwaldde. They divine the general location of Icare and Nyll (G & G had seen them heading into the woods with Chiara earlier), and head in that same direction. Their panic is increased when they find Chiara’s torn gear thrown madly about a torn-up hollow in the woods, and they pick up their pace, fearing the worst.

They arrive at the tower just in time to see the bodies of Nyll and Icare – fallen in battle! – being dragged into the nests of the roach-monsters that downed them moments earlier. The heroes make a quick work of slaying these creatures, and as fortune would have it, they arrived in time to still be able to heal their fallen allies, bringing them back from the very brink of death.

Nyll is thankful of the rescue, and persuades them to keep pushing into the ruin, to discover what lies within. The surface ruin is pretty barren, having been burned down at some point in the last month or so, leaving only the stone outer walls still standing. Some pieces of buried treasure in the form of candlesticks and such remain, but for the most part the ruin is picked clean. They even cross the precarious span between the two towers, making their way to the separate island but accidentally collapsing the span behind them.

On the island they find another secret: a hidden cellar entrance covered by a well-placed bush. They break in and find an underground stone dungeon, clearly dug and constructed by dwarves, sometime in the last year. Inside they discover the true hidden lair of the late Count Thissenford. As it turns out, Thissenford was a man of many eclectic personal interests, including fine cigars, violins, Restructionist Commonwealth-period sculpture, and necromancy. Thissenford’s basement is full of all kinds of nick-nacks and boxes and furnitures, and he could safely be called a “hoarder” by modern definitions of that word.

Of note among the things found within are some twice-dead dwarf corpses (killed, reanimated, and killed again, all before the party arrived), some carrion crawlers (which they dispatch), another corpse – a halfling thief! – that looks just like Gerwaldde, a room full of “taxidermied” undead “trophies” of Thissenford’s various experiments (his wife, his servant, and his mother in law; all blasted to ash by Zsofia), and a magical study full of all kinds of interesting books and implements (Nyll takes one book for now, intending to come back and take more later).

Of even greater note is the final chamber built around an underground Ley Line Nexus, clearly Thissenford’s attempt to harness its power for his purposes. Also, the Angelic being just hanging out in it – well, only Nyll sees an angel, actually, as everyone else sees a massive worm-monster just waiting to eat all of them. Combat immediately follows! Nyll (charmed by the creature) tries to intercede, but gets hurt and knocked out. Ghim blows his awesome dwarf-horn – twice! – and triggers a countdown for an impending cave-in. The clock is now kicking down as they try to escape. During the escape, Chiara and Zsofia try to fight it while also simultaneously trying to get Nyll’s near-dead body out of danger.

Three really interesting decisions are made here while the rest of the party flees. First, Icare gets grabby and opens the final unchecked door of the basement complex, which lets free five dwarf zombies which were being kept inside! Second, Chiara drops Nyll (leaving his body to be handled by Zsofia) and focuses entirely on killing the worm-thing – and she succeeds! Third, Zsofia remains as the cave-in happens, choosing to put rescuing Nyll as a higher priority than saving herself, even leaving her precious Order Shield behind. Awesome.

Dice are rolled, damage is dealt, and in the end Zsofia comes running out with Nyll’s body right as the rocks finally close the basement off for good. But it’s too late: as Nyll is laid down for the application of healing, his last hit point fades away and his soul is gone across the door of death. Thus occurs the first PC death of this campaign. Zsofia is devastated, and we end the game session right there.

In retrospect, if Chiara had not stopped to fight the worm-thing, Nyll probably would have made it out in time to get saved. However, the thing also would not have been killed, and might have either kept on coming or escaped to come at them another day. Plus, they wouldn’t have gotten the XP for defeating it.

Party Roster

• Chiara
• Gerwaldde
• Ghim
• Icare
• Nyll (RIP)
• Zsofia

Loose Threads

• What’s the deal with the hanged murderer?
• What caused the Thissenford Lodge fire?
• What made the dwarf bandit so crazy?
• What really happened to Treyhern’s rider?
• What the hell was that Worm-Thing?

Portents of the Future

• Panner’s Hollow sounds like an interesting place to check out next!

NPCs Encountered

• The Burrens: Hurf, Dingle, and Ello
• Marcus the Fox-Trapper
• Mister Knife-in-Your-Back, the now-probably-dead thief
• Mohlo the Sky-touched Dwarf

New Creatures and Enemies

• Massive Roach-Monsters
• Dwarf Zombies
• The Worm-Thing in the Thissenford Basement

Misc Loot of Note

• The book Nyll grabbed in the Thissenford dungeon

Interesting New Facts and Tidbits

Throughout play, we established new new facts about the world:

• When dwarves go crazy, other dwarves refer to them as “sky-touched.”
• “fat-belly stew” is a dwarven delicacy, from fat-bellied scorpion moles
• cut-and-branded knuckle on the right hand is sign of a captured Bandit in the new world. You’re given “one more chance” basically.
• TRIVIA: Gorm Gormson (Relative of Ghim) was founder of Port Hope.
• TRIVIA: Smith Anvilleg is the greatest smith in the land.
• TRIVIA: The nearby River is knows as Tears of the Weeping Mountain

Chapter Rewards

Death’s Door

Only two characters tempted death and came back from it. Icare and Nyll both were downed during their exploration of the ruined Manor, but were brought back to health by their allies. I haven’t decided what Icare’s bonus will be, but I’m thinking it might have something to do with Nyll’s influence.

XP

These are specifically before individual class XP multipliers, and have not yet been divided by the number of characters involved. We will determine final rewards at start of the next session.

Group Rewards

• Participate in the Highland Games! (All) Base XP 300 each
• Defeat Marcus (Minor, All): Base XP 120 total
• Defeat the 3 Roaches (All): Base XP 360 total
• Defeat the Worm-Thing (All): Base XP 1400 total

Individual Bonuses

• Participation Bonus (aka “just showing up and playing” each session, worth 100 XP/session):
  • Chiara: +200
  • Gerwaldde: +300
  • Ghim: +400
  • Icare: +400
  • Nyll: +400
  • Zsofia: +400
• Make it to the top 6 in the Games! (Zsofia, Ghim, Gerwaldde) +300 each
• Win the Games! (Zsofia): +300
• Setting the foxes free (Chiara): +100
• Continued fantastic dwarf-playing and world-building (Ghim): +200
• Defeating Knife-in-Your-Back (Icare): +100
• Actually trusting Nyll (Chiara): +100
• Awesome Sexy-Times (Zsofia, Icare, Gerwaldde): +200
• Dat Jack-o-lantern (Ghim): +200
• Minor Loot from the Manor (Icare): +120 (the GP value of all of that stuff)
• Damn fine charmed-character role-playing that led to his demise (Nyll): +400
• Clever Use of the Dwarf-Horn (Ghim; seriously, it caused all kinds of cool things to happen, including deafening everyone and making them immune to the monster’s charm-song): +300
• UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS (Icare): +200
• Killing Blow to the Worm-Thing (Chiara): +200
• Defeat Nyll (technically Ghim killed him with that cave-in…): +100

I have been so thoroughly lost in my explorations of this world that it is only now that I realize I have not scribbled down what I have witnessed. Though my mind is sharp and crisp, it may not always be so – age and the arcane arts may take their toll.

Note: My apologies to my future students and disciples for the color of this ink. It is certainly not fitting for the style of text, where a reddish black would have been more appropriate. Unfortunately, I believe that Amden Sternfinger, the Dwarven Brewmaster who we travel with has taken a liking to my Ink as a ‘fancy new flavor enhancer’. My only condolence is knowing that his customers will likely be experiencing some terrifying mornings when their bowl movements and urine come out dark red.

But, I digress. Allow me to speak on a matter most intriguing to me -

Zoological Observations

The creatures here continue to be amazing, and I am left wondering how such a vast difference exists between the old world and this one. We have encountered all sorts of strange, niche-focused creatures, as well as indications of an entire reptilian or draconian based society. But few, if any, are familiar to me. Given normal species distribution, some of them should have show up in other parts of this world – at the very least, the massive Roc-like birds should have made an appearance.

But all of my studies indicate that to not be the case. It is possible that this diverse biological array comes from elsewhere, or it’s possible that they are recovering from some long passed cataclysm and have not yet needed to venture elsewhere. But, one thing is certain – this place, and it’s creatures are foreign to everything we’ve known.

Geographical Observations

The landscape continues to be interesting, with a particular edge of harshness. The cliffs and hills are blasted by the winds, stripping away the soil almost as quickly as it can accumulate. This has lead to some incredible sights and sounds, as well as the opportunity for profit. Already we have found forgotten ruins and a freshly exposed vein of precious metals. What more does this land hold that I might learn, or profit from?

Magical Observation
My tutelage is nearing it’s conclusion, which is well enough; I am eager to fully claim my title as Nethermancer. Yet, despite my Grand-Mother’s claims that she is eager to be done with my, I suspect she may yet try to keep my company. Perhaps not as a student, but in some other capacity. I suspect that she may hope to gain passage into our world through my growing power. Only time will tell, but I consider it wise to be cautious in this matter.

Meanwhile, I continue to find the magical energies of this world strangely warped. Though they are not tethered to places of power, as they would be in the old world, they still have a certain pattern to them. I have yet to figure out what it is, but there is a flow and rhythm to it. Discovering and harassing that power will be crucial to my rise in power.

This must conclude my writing for now; we are about to set out, and I will not have my handwriting marred further by the bouncing of a wagon. What I have to say, what I have to record, is too important to suffer such flaws.

Scenes and Events

Travel Arrangements

- enter mule #2, aka Lazarus (and the charmed merchant)
- Afwanne’s speech, the Broodmother’s head
- possible patron, the “Marquis”
- Icare fucks it all up
- acquire new patron, MUCH lower pay

Travel to the

Day One

- the ash-bark birch trees
- the dickfruits
- the sloth-centipedes in the trees
- dickfruit cider! and bones?
- Icare vomits forth a coin, while Nyll feels a watchful presence…

Day Two

- Afwanne’s adventures with Meth
- The strange spike-rock ridge, and the flying Rocs; ruins of wagons and other things at the distant base of those rocks
- discovery of the Ore mine!
- more contract negotiation

Day Three

- Chiara’s hunting excursion leads to discovery of poopfeathers
- mid-day battle at the stream! / battle at the poopwall! / the dinosaur!
- Icare the saviour of the fords!
- Zsofia’s vision: “the first person you see” (Icare!) will lead her to a new Path of the Farstrider!
- Zsofia and Chiara acquire “Death’s Door” upgrades
- Icare kills a lone lizard pygmy!
- the halfling in a bag! Gerwaldde joins the party
- Gerwaldde knows local bandits, led by a dwarf (recently promoted) named Borgul, 1d4 x 10 of them present at any one time
- the storm comes!
- night camp: camp early/leave early (amden’s challenge to the suggestion of early camp), short watch, icare’s dream, ghim’s fearful sights during his watch, Nyll + Gerald = BFFs, Chiara and the raw meat

Day Four

- the chasm
- the Odette situation, and the ensuing party rift
- Nyll’s new ley line?
- new arrivals! the marquis!

Days Five through Eight

- trip takes a few days longer

Party Roster

Loose Threads

Portents of the Future

NPCs Encountered

- that merchant guy who loves Nyll
- Lazarus, mule #2
- the “Marquis”
- the merchant’s assistant girl
- Amden Sternfinger

New Creatures and Enemies

- centimede sloths? in dickfruit trees?
- Rocs? Details unknown…

Misc Loot of Note

Chapter Rewards

Scenes and Events

Battle at the Gates

- Effective use of Hold Portal!
- What’s in the stolen chest?
- Nyll gains a new wand.

Icare Gone Missing

- Paid his price of the bargain by giving up 24 hours of his life to a succubus
- Woke up in the bed of the son of Jonah Hardcastle

Settling in at Eaststeading

- Learn: Murders in town? Huh?
- Learn: Attempts to rebuild nearby Ancients fastness were halted due to “haunting” conditions
- Learn: attempted raids from the “pygmy reptilioids” have increased over the last few months.
- Carousing at the bars for information
- Zsofia gets “politely mugged”
- Ghim begins to develop his own superstitious religion
- Nyll meets Xavier, the Self-Respecting Gerrymanderer

First Journey to the Ruined Keep of the Ancients

- Nyll gets fucked with on the road by a malicious something-or-other
- Found a collapsed well of Eeeeeeviillll
- Rats! Rats everywhere! Retreat!
- Nyll gets fucked with some more, loses his original wand

Second Journey to the Ruined Keep of the Ancients

- Back with reinforcements!
- One torch, keeps the sea of rats at bay
- The second effective use of Hold Portal
- fought some giant rats and some were-rats
- maybe Chiara is cursed with lycanthropy?
- found some treasures, including a magic earring and a signet ring of House Thissenford
- bloody corpse of Sparky the mule
- gave a Redcap his “treasure” back

Party Roster

• Nyll: Magic-User and Master of Contracts
• Icare: Trap-finder and Dandy Dilettante
• Afwanne: Scandalized Elf on the verge of Disowning
• Zsofia: Wandering Cleric of the Farstrider
• Ghim Gorimsson: Dwarf Adventurer and Mining Expert
• Chiara : Archer and Tracker

Loose Threads

• What’s up with that huge milky white sphere?
• Has the Redcap been truly appeased?

Portents of the Future

- first-annual highland games at the New Thissenford logging town, in the “Shivers” to the west
- recent storm has revealed newly-uncovered ruins in the rocky islands off the eastern coast
- Gharm is still an unknown, said to have traveled south to the lost expeditionary camp.

NPCs Encountered

New Creatures and Enemies

- the lizard-pygmies
- the armored dinosaur thing: 8 HD! AC 0! 3D6 damage! whoah!

Misc Loot of Note

• New Wand for Nyll
• Book of spells split between Nyll and Afwanne
• Gnarly earring made out of a tiny rat skull: a Ring of Vermin Control
• Non-magical signet ring of House Thissenford

Chapter Rewards

It is with a tired hand that I write today’s entries, for the hours have been long. Our travels have taken us inland after we discovered the ambush of an expedition party. The path was arduous and wrote with danger, but my companions seem to somehow form a well rounded set of skills. What they lack in academic knowledge they make up for in worldly talents.

But such things are not what truly interest me – today’s explorations have led us to discover a branch of humanoid’s entirely unknown to me. They were large and brutishly strong, while their clothing and use of primitive tools suggested only a base intelligence. If that had been it I would have still been elated – an entirely new branch of the human tree, hidden away in this shard of the world! Sadly, none could be captured for questioning – those who travel with me are all to familiar with lethal force. Still, I have learned much from observing their habitat and their physiology. I suspect they may be some offshoot of Orc, to be honest, though the particular habits of their queen, or Brood-Mother, make me wonder what other taints have afflicted their bloodline.

It is this aforementioned queen that I find most interesting of all. A massive, oozing pile of flesh, which seemed to exist only for consumption and procreation. Surely, the finer points of movement, let alone higher thought, were lost to the creature. Yet, they possessed a certain cunning and ferocity that I had to admire.

My cohorts have proposed that the creatures be named ‘Wart Men’ or some other crude variant, for the warrior males were all predisposed unsightly STD’s. I, however, find something that captures their nature to be more appropriate – “Rage Born” or “Wild Spawn” both strike me as interesting, but I will be hard pressed until such time that I learn more.

Beyond the realm of these creatures we have discovered a long sealed passage. I have high hopes that it shall hold some clues to this places’ mysterious past.

Nyll