Journal

Session 4 “The Litchway” [Stylised write up.]

Game Master

OK as I fell behind this may be a bit inaccurate as that darn real life got in the way of story writing (again!). I would appreciate the players using the comments to insert any edits as needed if I assign an action to the wrong player etc or any other general goof up. NB Absent this week due to illness/work Phaedra & Rats Magee.

“There is something familiar about this one?” Phaedra muttered as she retrieved the last of her throwing needles from the ugly man’s corpse.

Felix looked puzzled but didn’t argue. Tem had said he was a bad man and that was enough for the little Hobbit. Meanwhile may as well see what he had in his pockets – the rest of the room while he was about it.

Meanwhile Temerian had approached the shocked and shaken woman bound to the cot and freed her. “You have nothing to fear of us..” he said awkwardly; the human tongue did not site easily with him yet. “How are you called? How came you to this place?”

“I am Pinella” she began after taking a long pull on the water offered her. “My companions and I were exploring these ruins a week or more past. We were ambushed by some rogues and captured, at least I don’t thing any escaped from the five of us. Some are dead for certain, the sorceress had them dragged away and all I heard was distant screams. I think Paxon our priest may live still I thought I hear him chanting prayers from my cell.”

“Cells? With locks?” Piped up Felix, waving a bunch of crude keys he had taken off the cooling corpse.

Pinella nodded. “Through there” she said with a toss of her head to the western door way. “Vivlok would drag me from my cell to here whenever he wanted his way..” she burst into tears, and Phaedra sat down next to the shaking girl and wrapped her in a thin blanket.

“Go see to any others” The Hooded Cleric whispered. “I shall tend to this one, call me if there are indeed more unfortunates”

Happily Felix tried the door and he and Temerian stepped into the Cell block.

 

“Well, if that’s made of wood we could carve our way in if we wanted to?” Jospeh pondered as the three of them looked up from the waters of the underground river. His arms ached from climbing sideways along the rough walls laying out a length of rope on spikes so Arvid and Mogar could follow.

“If ya can get me up there I can bash my way in sure” Mogar replied.

“I can assist with that!” Arvid crowed rising higher into the air on his glowing disk of magical energy. He had barely got the end of the rope tied tot he wooden structure when the spell eventually gave way and he tumbled back into the shallow water.

“Thanks, go dry off” grinned Joseph shinnying up the rope. “Lemmie examine it first Mogar, if I can’t worm my way in I’ll swap with you and you can bash as bigger hole as you like!” good as his the nimble thief produced a crow bar and soon had a couple of planks free. Squirming mightily he wriggled into what he could now see was some sort of causeway or bridge. “Got in, but I don’t think you’ll fit Mogar if you want in then I’ll leave you the crowbar, see if you can make a bigger hole!” Mogar grunted and started to climb laboriously up the length of rope.

On the floor of the cave river Arvids ears tingled: “Arvid, this is Temerian, listen the spell does not last long. We have gained entrance and met and slain a guard. We have found prisoners, come join us…” Eyes lighting up the mad priest hauled himself back along the rope line to the edge of the wharf and the secret passageway.

 

“I think I managed to send a message to the others” Temerian declared to Felix and Phaedra. The three of them stood in a narrow cell over an unconscious man. Pinella was correct their party’s cleric one Paxon still lived as did one other. But despite her best efforts Phaedra could not rouse this man from his death like sleep.

“Good, we may need them.” Phaedra declared. “According to the girl there are two Jailers that take it in turn to watch the captives. Eventually the dead ones relief will show up we had best be either ready for them or else, gone by then.

“lets see whats in this room first?!” Piped up Felix reaching for the door at the far end of the block.

“Use caution short one!” Temerian urged, though he also was curious.

The pair cautiously opened the old wooden door and peered inside. The room was dimly lit by a single torch opposite them and was maybe ten feet across and apparently filled with nothing but smashed wood dust and other detritus. The trash had been roughly swept aside out of the middle section of the floor that led to the outline of another door. Idly Felix shuffled to the right and stooped to examine something in the dust. Suddenly a hideous roar like an angry tiger erupted from that side of the room sending the Hobbit skittering back.

 

Seeing nothing about Joseph helped the big man wriggle onto the walk way. He had needed to bash a couple of cross beams out of the structure to admit the big warrior. He had wanted to search more but shortly after Mogar began testing the hole for size the glow of Arvids disk had faded out, leaving them in the dark. A short trip up the passage had revealed an unlit torch in a sconce by a simple wooden door.

Lighting that Joseph had made his way back to assist Mogar. “Where the Preist?” he asked puzzledly. Looking through the staved in side of the walk way Arvid was no where to be seen? Mogar just shrugged, he was just glad to be out of the threat water, chain mail was not known for its buoyancy!

“Wait here I saw a door up this end, I’m going to check it” Joseph Pope (II) cautioned the big warrior. He had barely gone half way when he heard Mogar arguing with somebody behind him. Expecting it to be thier tardy cleric he almost carried on with his task, until he heard the gravelly tones of a Dwarf join the conversation!? Hurrying back he saw Mogar stareing down three individuals he had never seen before. Scanning their faces he couldn’t match them to any of the wanted descriptions he had carefully tried to memorise.

“Well why din’t you bring the wine then?” Mogar rumbled at them. Naked confusion stood out on the Dwarfs face and the other two (a man and a woman) looked suprised and shocked as well. Finally the woman found her voice.

“Who the bloody hell are you anyways! We’re not your servants” He hand was hovering next to her short-sword and the Dwarf already had a mean looking warhammer out and ready.

Joseph strode forward and projected all the confidence and swagger he could right back at them. “Vivlok sent us, you know he is go get some wine before he gets mad at us all!”

“An’ who is you mister!?” the Dwarf grumbled

“Yeah how you know Vivlok?” Asked the man right behind him.

“Oh we’re the new guards” Joseph replied coolly “Didn’t he tell ya? Oh well that’s all..”

The woman at the back looked at them with deep suspicion. “You all stay here!” she declared “I’ll go ask the mistress, you and Trob keep them in sight til I get back got it?” Her companion nodded, eyeing Mogar still with suspicion. She disappeared to the south back the way they had come.

Even odds at least. Thought Joseph as she left, lets see if I can keep them talking just a little longer…

“So you like it here?” He asked nonchalantly

“its sokay” the Dwarf mumbled back. “Underground prefer it, here but no like the..”

“Don’t talk with them till Runas gets back” The man cautioned, interrupting his partner. The Dwarf stopped and sank into a sullen, glaring silence.

They tried again, as the Dwarf was seemingly only now interested in a stareing contest with Mogar looking at the suspicious man instead.

“So whats Dark Odo like to work for? Not met her in person yet…”

“Huh?” grunted the man looking surprised “She is the mistress; nobody calls her by name, Vivlok woulda told you that!” He cried drawing his sword.

Crap! Joseph thought “Look out Mogar he…” But the Warrior never needed the warning nor the help it seemed. As the Dwarf dashed towards him Warhammer swinging at his nuts. With an almost contemptuous sidestep and kick Mogar dodged the Dwarf and kicked him through the Hole in the bridge!

“Your friend not so bright heh!” The Warrior smiled an evil grin at the suddenly alone human approaching him. Weapons clashed in the half darkness, and the man slipped on his backside. Crab like he tried to scuttle back out of the big mans way but took a nasty cut to his leg before he could get back to his feet.

Alert for any reinforcements yet reluctant to fire his bow past Mogar in the narrow passage Joseph suddenly became aware of what sounded like a growling animal somewhere behind him…

 

“Where is it! Where is the beast!” Temerian cried arcane energies gathering in his eyes as he prepared to blast the beast when it came into view. He and Felix cast about in vain looking for the animal but none came. The hideous noise seemed to come out of nowhere.

Eventually the pair realised that the “roar” was exactly the same over and over again. Niether knew a fig about Tigers but they didn’t sound so repetitive, even Felix was sure of that.

“It is but an illusion for the unwise!” Called a familiar voice from behind them.

Arvid Klerx stepped resolutely to the rooms edge and extravagantly waved his hands about. “See there is nothing there but sound and seemings!”

“Oh hello funny Man!” called Felix happy to see a familiar face.

“I am no ‘funny man’ short one. I am Arvid the Great, messenger of the five!” the Cleric retorted with passion.

“Where are the othe..” Temerian began to question the newly arrived cleric when with a crash the door sprang open: revealing Joseph in the door frame dagger in hand torch in the other.. The hulking form of Mogar was visible in the shadows behind him. “Ah! never mind” he concluded.

After a few minutes the group briefed itself on their several experiences. Arvid could not rouse the comatose prisoner with his invocations either. Frustrated the man stamped to his feet. We should seek out the source of his injury not fuss over him now. He declared impatiently.

“let me see this Jailer you killed” Joseph declared ignoring Arvids advice. Temerian led him back to the jailers room but inexplicably it was in pitch darkness, No light would enter it the mans copse shrouded from view.

“One moment I can rid us of this I belive” The Elf Mage muttered calling a specific spell to mind.

 

Meanwhile Arvid had gone back to examine the other side of the bridge, the bridge He had discovered from below! He knew the Five was leading them to the right goal and so he pressed on down the passageway. Mogar tagged along a short ways behind him. “You do know the one I wounded escaped back this way?” He asked the cleric.

“Yes yes I see his blood upon the floor my fine friend. It is no matter we should press on!”

A wave of nausea ripped over Mogar, and his eyes felt suddenly heavy. Shaking himself back awake he saw Arvid had apparently taken leave of his senses and was making a little Jig as he skipped and pranced down the passage way.

“It is magical compulsion” Arvid hissed through a grimace. As his involuntary steps carried him towards some kind of well lit opening at the end of the passage way.

I had best stop him, thought Mogar, If he gets into the open he’s and easy target. Out loud he called over his should to his distant companions “Hola! we are attacked!”

Temerians magics had pushed back the darkness now obscuring the jailers room enough for Joseph to see the disfigured corpse upon the floor. “yep” he crowed with satisfaction, “that’s one of them Vivlok, we’ll have a bonus waiting for us once we get that one back to the base..”

Temerian simply nodded, then inclined his head to once side. “Do you hear that?” the elf stated levelly. “Mogar calls us.”

Felix had heard the big mans bellow as well and the Halfling had scooted down the passageway just in time to see Mogar crack Arvid over the head with his quarterstaff.

“That wasn’t verey nice!” he called out accusingly to the Big warrior.

“He’s not in control of himself!” Mogar flung back over his shoulder at the small critic.

“oh never mind then!” Felix agreed drawing his dagger “Shall I help?” he asked quizzically cocking his dagger to take out a Kidney.

“No not with that!” Mogar cried in alarm, knock him down or something don’t kill him!” A harsh bray of laughter started to be heard coming from the the room up ahead. Several voices, and not all of them sounded human to Mogar’s ears…

Arvid still bereft of his own volition skipped into the room. Arrayed in front of him was a trio of evil looking Gor’bayen and behind them was an upturned table with two humans with short bows cocked and at the ready behind it. At the back of the formation a well armoured man waved a spiked flail with golden chains menacingly at him.

Felix slipped in the room using the involuntary gyrations of Arvid Klerx to shield himself from the enemy. In vain he sought a patch of shadow to use, but torches burned on every wall. Awaiting his opportunity he descided to just stab anyone that came for Arvid while he couldn’t help himself.

Mogar tucked his staff behind his pack and readied his sword and shield then cautiously stepped into the room. A pair of arrows volleyed right at him one skipping off his chain covered flank. Couching their swords two of the Goblins advanced to meet him. The Spear wielder edged towards Arvid…

Temerian and Joseph arrived in time to see Mogar charge past the two Goblins, his armour ringing as the surprised creatures tried to slash at his flanks. Stepping suddenly up and over the Tables barrier the Warrior smashed downwards on the Bowman cutting his head almost in half. Dimly Joseph recognised him as the fellow from the bridge that Mogar had hurt before.

Temerian sketched a glowing rune in the air with his writing quill. From a rent in space something like a fiery spike of stone spat forth to smash into the chest of the fellow seeming to command the defenders. The man was blown backwards and landed in a heap against a far door. Smoke rising from the hole in his chest to mingle with that of the torches.

Joseph standing by the entrance took careful aim with his bow at one of the goblins. Felix dated between Arvids legs just as the spear wielding Goblin stabbed at the helpless Arvid. Both Goblin and Arvid fell almost on top of the Halfling. The goblin dead Arvid unconscious…

Suddenly Mogar turned and with a wolf like howl threw down his sword and grabbed his staff once more. Barrelling forward he used it to crowd Tem & Joseph back to the rooms entrance. “Leave my friends Alone!” he screamed into their faces.

Temerians practised eye saw the compulsion and the agony of resisting it writ large on the Human warriors face. “He is controlled!” he barked in warning to the others. Inwardly he reasoned that the sorceress herself must be observing the battle either invisibly or mayhap via a spy hole of the like. No matter the grim necessity he had to take down his erstwhile companion or the Warrior might slay them all! A pair of smaller eldritch bolts blasted Mogar against the wall tearing at his body but sparing his life by the narrowest of margins. Joseph and Felix wrestled their friend to the ground and pummelled him into unconsciousness.

One more spell, I need one more spell to see us safe. The Mage thought wearily. May the fates be with me. Drawing deep from his reserves of stamina he concentrated as never before. The enchanted quill swept back and forth describing runes and symbols in the air that lingered with a faint golden light before fading: With a cry he proclaimed the trigger word and like a pent up spring his magics unfolded into a shimmering glassy wall stretching from the passageway to the wall some 20 feet, carefully enclosing the supine forms of Mogar and Arvid as well as his companions sitting upon Mogars chest.

An arrow sprang back as it hit the adamant energy barrier and Temerian smiled to himself. They were safe. For now…

 

Ok! Ok, ok that is IT. I know the session went on just a little longer but 3000 words is my limit in a single sitting! I’ll append the last actions of this session to the start of the next which I hope to do in a day or so fair enough? Hope you enjoyed it!

Grimwardens Journal entry 02 [Or what happens back at camp while you adventure]

Game Master

Instinctively I ducked and rolled away from the waters edge. Coming to a crouch I scanned the area. Two huge bird like creatures had dropped from the shadowy recesses of the grotto above us. One had swooped at me and was now circling back the Other had latched onto one of the men.

With an Oath and a cry of revulsion the fellow tore the thing from him and hurled it to the ground. Grotesquely its long snout writhed like an octopus’s tentacle and dripped the troopers blood. Vampire birds!

Chanting a simple spell of warding. I watched as the archers in the squad filled the air with shots at my assailant, two bolts took it down but the thing wouldnt die and instead flopped about the Wharf pathetically until another man finished it off.

The other took back to the skies, weather to escape or to have another swooping attack I couldn’t tell. In a moment it was full of bolts and splashed into the shallow waters of the bay.

I grimaced, that was unfortunate. “Good shooting all of you,” I called rejoining the men in the tower.. “But the blood in the water might stir up any Lizard folk I am thinking. So stay sharp archers. You see any of those scaly bastards shoot it, don’t wait for orders.”

“Got something over here!” called one of the two bowmen on the ruined coastward tower.

“What is it?”

“As I followed that stirge down I saw something in the wreck. Looks like its still full of cargo. I can see a metal box lying on top of the sunken deck.”

“Huh OK take two more and look into it. Far as I am concerned anything found is salvage. Take a careful look and drag anything worth having back to the tower.”

A tense half hour passed.

No sign of the Lizard folk, but the boys dragged a few salvageable items from the barge. Nearly lost one of them to some kind of giant freshwater leech that was using the rotting wood as its nest, but the haul was worth it. Nice gold cup and a few other nick nacks to go in the war chest.

Probably not the best idea to sell them off in Newsandport though. At a guess the “Lads” just pillaged the last funeral barge sent here after the attack… Still the dead don’t mind, just the fanatics of the local cult. “Eternal flame” my arse, call it what it is: A death cult. Lets hope the daredevils in squad one don’t try and flog anything off incautiously they loot from the Temple interior. I just know they’ll pocket some of what they find; only to be expected. Lets just hope they is discrete about it!

Session 3 “The Litchway” [Stylised write up.]

Game Master

So smaller write up here as we split the time between finishing off the levelling process and changing scenes. But I want to keep these going if I can.

From the prow of the fishing ship the distant coast that once held the Sandlanders settlement slowly cam into focus. Three, well two and a partial tower sat in the mouth of what appeared to be a sea grotto. The captain steered the boat towards one of the two barge bays all the while nervously looking at the water about the ship. He explained that it was not uncommon for lizard folk to attack ships that ventured too close to this shore and that as soon as the troop was disembarked he’d retreat further back into the bay.

“Climb one o those towers..” he began “… light a lamp at the highest point and I’ll no to come an’ fetch ye. But I’ll not stay closer than a mile otherwise.”

“We’ll take care of that.” Grimwarden grunted squinting at the two remaining towers. The cranky Dwarf possibly assessing them for the most structurally sound.

Joseph, Felix and Tem began to examine the main doorway in detail. It was a large affair some 20′ high festooned with the Bone & flame motief of the local cult, now the once grand decoration was sadly weatherbeaten. But still traces of bright paint glinted from portions of the carved stone. Arvid seemed more interested in the western entrance and the rickety bridge leading to the coastal path for now. Phaedra stood in the middle of the wharf, hooded as always but seemingly watching everything from beneath her shoud. Mogar glanced about looking for enemies perhaps, and they all threw more than one suspicious glance at the half concealed and temptingly half open set of double doors on the seaward side of the wharf. The darkness of the temple interior awaited. But nobody wanted to try the obvious route it seemed!

“Ah hah!” came the cry from the fellows by the door. A small perhaps three foot square section in the doors lower right section had come away revealing a small compartment and a leaver. Fastening a rope to the leaver Joseph pulled it fully flat to the floor, and from somewhere to the east a dull rumbling vibration as of stone shifting could be just made out. Could it be they had disarmed a trap on the most obvious way in?

“Wait there is more inside!” Someone said as Temerian half stooped into the compartment and did something within. “Second secret door inside..” the Taciturn elf half explained to the rest.

It was true the back of the Leaver compartment had come away revealing a crawl space. “I’ll never get down that little hole” grunted Mogar eyeing it suspiciously. “Well maybe if you took of all that heavy gear you might just…” Mogar glared daggers at the group. Clearly the idea of taking his armour off wasn’t sitting easily with the warrior!

“I can manage easily enough!” chirped little Felix. The halfling barely had to bow his head to walk into the smaller space.

“What do you see!?”

“Not much it turns west and heads deeper in as far as I can make out.” he replied. “I’ll explore!” Without further ado the alfling edged into the small passage way.

“I can fit as well” declared Tem, the wirey elf dropping to his knees and squirming in after the Hobbit.

“I as well” Phaedra stated abruptly. The small woman also following Temerian on her knees into the darkness.

“Leave them, I have found the true way inside!” Arvid half cackles from the edge of the wharf. Joseph & Mogar stomped over to where the strange cleric was gesticulating expansively. “See I thought there would be a passage. Did not the local priests say the place was overrun after an earth tremor? The great Godz whom I serve revealed to me that there had then to be a crack int he stone through wish their enemies entered! We may do the same!” he said triumphantly.

“‘Cept we cant swim like Lizard folk” Mogar muttered eyeing the water filled rift in the grotto’s edge.

“You might not have to big guy” Jospeh grinned unspooling a length of rope. “I can rig up something to help you I think. Gimme a minute or two” Swiftly the rogue clambered out on the fractured and uneven rock of the grotto. Every ten feet or so he paused to bash a spike deep into the grotto’s sea weathered stone.

At the edge of the visible fissure he paused. “Yeah goes in as far as I can make out. Gonna need torches or something from here on in.”

“Go on nimble one!” Declared Arvid. “The Lord of light that I serve will guide our way” Recklessly the strange cleric sprang onto the rock clinging to the line tied to the rock wall. At the edge he paused and muttered something strange and a glowing disc began to hover int he air near Joseph and he edged deeper into the dark water floored crevice.

“Yeah, now I see it there is a side passage that heads towards wherever that big door woulda led I’d guess” Joseph stated squinting in the passage now illuminated by the Clerics light.

“We head towards that then!” Exalted Arvid.

In a few moments more the three of them clung to the rock by the side passage. Looking at the way the water flowed over the stony bed it was clear that the water of this passage was maybe 4’ deep only. Suddenly Arvid slipped and demonstrated the depth. Chest high the priests fervour seemed undampened. And instead slowly he rose upon his glowing disk out of the water and int the passage way.

“Look some crafted structure my friends!” He cried pointing up at what appeared to be wooden panels set near the ceiling of the fissure.

 

Felix snuck forward happily along the rough hewn passageway. Really this wasn’t much smaller than uncle Jeremiah’s closet he had hidden in as a lad. Edging up to the first twist in the passage he peered cautiously around the edge. But there was nothing to see. Still the crudely made crawl-way edged deeper into the side of the cliff. Behind him the quiet elf and equally Taciturn human woman toiled along on their hands and knees. The bells and bones of Phaedra’s stick making the loudest sound in the confined space… She never felt nervous yet she felt as if she was being followed, but she could neither turn nor hear anything behind her in the cramped darkness.

“Going south now I think?” He whispered over his shoulder and carried on. But only a few steps revealed the depressing site of the diggings end. “Looks like a dead end chaps – sorry!” Felix stated apparently unconcerned that if true there wee now two big ungainly types between him and the way out!

“Unlikely” Stated Temerian. “I shall look. I lie flat and you climb over me so I may see.” Obediently Felix clambered across the supine elf. Trying ever so hard not to laugh as he did so.

“Yes I see it, it was above your eye Halfling” the ELf declared reaching up near the top of the crawlspace. A faint jingle of a chain was the only warning as another panel abruptly dropped out of the wall to one side. Tumbling into the revealed room Temerain looked about. It was some sort of chamber. Not crudely fashioned as the crawl-way but obviously well made. But more importantly he now faced a half naked man who was turning about in startled surprise at his sudden appearance.

From one knee Tem took in the battered sleeping cot behind the man and the struggling figure of what seemed to be a female cruelly tied to it. It seems his appearance had interrupted villainy most foul! Observing the man flailing for the giant sword leaning against the wall near him Temerian brought his powers to play and a shield of force sheathed his form.

With an Oath the foul looking man charged forward and smashed his blade down on Temerians head. With an actinic flash the mage’s ward held and the deadly edge stopped short of taking the elf’s head off. Dropping into the room little Felix stared at the combatants. “That’s not very nice!” he said sadly “Why can’t we talk this out?” he muttered wistfully.

“This not nice man he hurt woman!” Tem snapped back irritated perhaps at the innocent Halflings naivety. “Be nice to her and stop him!”

“Oh Ok!” stated Felix drawing his knife and stabbing at the mans waist.

Tem drew his quill and sketched a symbol into the air. A moment later the pock facd ravager was sprawling back as two blasts of eldrich force. Shaking his head the warrior braced himself to spring back when suddenly he stiffened. Two slim steel needles protruding from his shoulder and neck. Silently Phaedra observed the dieing man before retrieving her thrown darts.

Ok close enough. To any unrelated reader. Yes they really have split into two parts. And no I don’t know how best to reunite them at this point…!

Grimwardens Journal entry 01 [Or what happens back at camp while you adventure]

Game Master

So landfall soon, and the real job of shaking these wastrels into something approaching real soldiers begins. This squad seems to be one of the most scrambled and dysfunctional of the lot. Why Zath insists on training up peasants and malcontents I shall never know. Its all well and good declaring that “All should have a chance to show their potential” when its not you that has to draw that potential out! Wizards and their patrons! Been sniffing the sulphur again I fear.

Still if they fail they are easily replaced I supposed. I may be surprised this time; perhaps!

The following day we all went about our business tracking down the first leads to bring these blaggards to their much deserved justice. It seems we were all sucessful to one degree or another. Master Pope managed to get some information from the city watch that our quarry indeed passed through these parts. They seem to have split up however but as I suspected at least one of them seems to still be in the local area though not within the Town precincts.

It appears that the Enchantress Dark Odo and her scarfaced accomplice Vivlok are lurking nearby. A rumor brought to us by Mistress Calistra seems to indicate this wizardess somehow obtained permission to explore the abandoned Holy Site of these sour faced folk some ways down the coast. She and her band of followers never returned, but interestingly a mysterious boatload of “hunters” has appeared in town every week to claim some of the Lizardman bounties and buy supplies shortly thereafter.

This is an encouraging start! That upstart woman should never have been taken under Master Zathabarius’s wing. Still she tried to use him an now vengeance comes from him. Such is the wheel of life! I would surmise that Odo and her surviving guards have established a robbers base in or near the ruined Temple vault. We shall see as we plan top explore it on the morrow.

To that end I have charted a fishing smack to sail us across the estuary to the ruin’s locale. Horses and other draft animals seem to be very short supply here indeed though I see master Temerian has located a few at least, perhaps we can purchase at least a cart horse and a wagon for our supplies after this foray?

Mercifully the bay was comparatively still as we made our way to the abandoned temple of the Sandlanders. I heard the captain of our vessel muttering some last minute advice to some of the novice troops and made sure I was able to hear the man:

“…Climb one o those towers..” he began “… light a lamp at the highest point and I’ll no to come an’ fetch ye. But I’ll not stay closer than a mile otherwise.”

Not suprising, these folk talk a good game but whenever the thought of fightng any of the Lizard people that despoiled thier home comes up they turn tail! No matter let them fish and farm perhaps later this would be a good place to establish a chapter house for the Band. Plenty of work gaurding and raiding the Lizards for them maybe. But for now we needed to make a good start to this mission.

“We’ll take care of that.” I stated flatly. The tower nearest the coastal edge seemed to be the most intact. I’d take second squad to secure that while first squad made a reconnaissance of the Temple. Besides I think I saw a land path leading up through the cliff to the coastal cliffs nearest that tower. If I was right we could cover both the Temple and any likely escape routes. It was probably what the towers builders had in mind in any case.

Squad one moved towards the most obvious feature of the Wharf. The large ornate doors set into the cliff face facing it. A few seemed to be checking out the small inlet on the coastal side as well. Not bad, but I noticed nobody had even set a watch on the most obvious (and therefore most suspect) entrance to the Temple: The large open doors to the left of us. Wearily I sent two men to check out each of the other  tower while the bulk of us headed to the the one by the passage down from the cliffs.

There was a wrecked funeral barge in one of the docking bays, partially submerged. It could have been a hiding place for Lizard folks to I bade my lookouts in the ruined tower to cover it with thier bows as well. That tower was half gone and unsafe so I wouldn’t risk more than a couple of the more nimble fellows to watch it.

The two intact towers were damp and full of storm wrack as might be expected, but otherwise empty and gave good cover. I got the men to gather anything that looked like it would make a fire – just in case we were hear overnight and then went to check on fist squad.

Naturally they had disappeared in to the Temple. Presumably they had picked a path and begun their exploration. I saw what appeared to be a secret panel popped out of the still sealed central door lieing on the ground beside it. Well spotted I thought as I turned back towards our camp.

“Above you!” Came the call from one of the watchmen….

Landfall (at last!)

Game Master

After some agonising hours (at least from the dwarfs point of view) the walled seaport town of Newsandport comes into view. High walls of stone surround a modest sized settlement and grisly desiccated corpses of some kind of non human decorate gibbets placed a bow-shot from the walls.

Part of the delay was the Captains insistence on waiting on a pilot boat from within the harbour. Many of the senior guild-members insisted that they sail right on in but the crusty sea captain simply stared them down and pointed to the two huge arbalests mounted either side of the harbours breakwaters. Shuddering you see his point; a hit from one of those things would stave a hole the size of a cow in the side of your ship.

Bormir hanging grimly from the side gazed at the walls and roofs of the town critically. Mostly very new construction he thought. Not even as old as he was, hastily done too as so much of human architecture seems to a dwarfs practised eye.  His attention is dragged away from there architectural  critique by Senior Guild-member Leonardus calling the apprentices over.

“As you can see, and much to your relief no doubt, we’ll be making port within the hour. The Idlewind itself will be in port about a day maybe two replenishing the water stores and doing abit of minor trading.  Soon after that we’ll be off again heading for Kingsport on the far side of the Island for our own missions.  I have been here once or twice and while no metropolis it has the basics for your comfort! A decent pub as well as a blacksmith and even boasts a small library for those so inclined.

“One thing you especially need to know, the folks here abouts have little sense of humour, especially with non humans you’ll be largely ignored I guess, at least the stouter members of your squad initially. Think nothing of this, these people are still hurting from when an invasion of Lizard folk sacked there older settlement down the coast some fifty years ago. There is a bounty on Lizard folk tails of about 5 gold a piece if you get the opportunity. Gaining a few of these may go a long way to winning you some genuine respect and co operations with the locals in general perhaps.

“Our information is that a the group you have been assigned to track and bring to justice, disembarked here and almost immediately got into a dispute with each other about something. It is likely they split up, but some may be still hanging around nearby either under there own names or under alias’s. Once you get the locals to talk to you you can find out more I surmise. I presume by now you have each studied the Warrants entrusted to you and have some idea of whom your looking out for? If not, do so immediately!

“There is a small but powerful church here of a sect called the Church of the Eternal flame. Don’t know what there about they seem to be a purely local religious group. Still they have real power so their god or demon or whatever it is has some authority. Try not to antagonise them, its from them the bounty on Lizard-man tails gets paid I should point out. Get in good with them and they may help you further.

“Now any questions before we hit port?” he concludes, looking each of you in the eye in turn.”

Excerpt from the Captain of the ship “Idlewind”

Game Master

Dear god! The things I have seen in my time! Normally I don’t mind the charters from the Guild of Hunters but this lot. Oh dear oh dear… I don’t know weather to spit, laugh or cry!

I guess everybody needs to start some place. But this is the first time in my long years as a sea captain that I have seen such a bunch of raw recruits. I mean half of them don’t know each other beyond there guild names, half seem excited to be on the first commission the other half dreading it.

Looking at their leaders relaxing drinking MY rum on the fore deck I think I figured it out. The Bounty hunters are a hard lot; almost as hard as the sea, this is a sink or swim venture for them. Some of the new folks will die but those that don’t and actually manage to bring to justice a few of the names on that Bounty list will be worth the Guilds time and money in training further.

A harsh system but I see the logic in it even if there is small compassion.

But compassion in there line of work would be almost unknown I suppose. I wish them well this motley crew but I do not envy them. I shall stay with the sea.

Xp System

Game Master

So as I have been asked about the XP system a couple of times of late let me put the guidelines out here for you all.

I set up a chart showing the XP needed for the various levels here already but how its awarded is something that might be of interest.

First of all DCC doesn’t hand out XP purely for combat or for treasure discovery. Instead it bases Xp awards on the comparative challenge to the Players on a per encounter basis. All that is required is that a player participate in an encounter in a meaningful way for them to get the same reward as anyone else. In practice its kinda hard NOT to get some xp each encounter this way, you’d have to actively be trying to avoid all contact with the Monster or other challenge to get nothing at all.

Encounter Challenges come in five basic types:

Trivial: This is an encounter where there is at most only a small chance of a party member taking damage, or needing to expend some kind of resource (money, spells etc) to achieve it. Generally these encounters award 0 or maybe 1 Xp

Easy: There is a chance that a party member could take notable harm here or have to expend some effort to overcome them. But the chance of a fatality is still low. These encounters generate 1 -2 Xp to all participants

Normal: The party members involved will know they are in a fight here or have to expend some brainpower or effort to overcome. A moderate chance exists that somebody could die if you screw things up or get unlucky. Typically these get you 2 – 3 Xp

Challenging: Chances of death or significant loss of another kind are high here. A fatality is not guaranteed but folks will get hurt badly if you mess up or the other Guys get lucky. 3-4 Xp each.

Heroic: To overcome this; somebody is going to have to dance with death here if you are to escape let alone prevail… 4 – 6 Xp each.

Now a single room in a dungeon is not necessarily an encounter of course. It can be and sometimes an encounter can migrate in status as you go through it. For example a simple encounter could jump two steps if the Rogue fails to Kill that guard and he summons help when you were hoping for stealth…

In the last session I judged that despite the fact you’d be coming one at a time getting the drop on a Villain about to ravage a prisoner was likely an easy challenge unless either his dice were real good or your were real rubbish. So Tem, Felix & Phaedra all got 1 Xp from that alone. had the passage leading there had a trap or alarm to overcome that might have bumped it up a grade at least.

Likewise although there was no combat, Jospeh, Mogdar & Arvid had to make multiple skill checks to discover the concealed passage into the complex. As it happened all that happened was Arvid slipped and got a bit wet. But in theory they could have dropped into the water and drowned if the dice had gone against them so a 1xp Award for a trivial- easy “encounter” was justified. Had a random Lizard man patrol poped up while they were on the rope line then that woulda jumped it to a Normal or even Challenging encounter right away, as they would have been fighting at a disadvantage.

Naturally good role playing and playing one character traits Class and Alignment will always garner a point or two along the way as you would expect.

Gaining Luck is explicitly linked to playing your alignment. So neutrals need to alternate between something that could be considered planned and acts of spontaneity. Lawfuls should plan and think ahead, Chaotic.. Well you get it. Occasional spur of the moment acts (good or evil) will keep you on track there 🙂 Generally at the end of any story arc (Mini scenario) there will be a point or two of luck to all survivors in any case.

 

Session 3 Awards

Game Master

First of all thank you for a very enjoyable game!

Sorry if I hurried you through the translocation from the starter adventure area to the Campaign proper. Hopefully I can post some info on your surroundings here that those of you with leisure time can read up upon in lieu of Role playing it out in session.

Well the inevitable extra time needed to finalise some characters cut into adventure time though not as much as I feared but apart from the fact you split right down the middle I thought it went OK. You are all getting into your characters and everyone had at least one decent idea/in character quirky bit in the town so I am going to class the town work as a simple encounter for 1 XP each

Once you got to the start of the dungeon proper there was again some solid (if rather [Justified] Paranoid) ideas. Tom may I just say that in all the years I have run variants on this adventure (the core adventure is 39 years old as of next month BTW) You are the first to look for the “Water entrance” that the rumour said the Lizard folks used. A few teams have also found the secret door but most have traipsed happily into the Open “front door” believe it or not LOL! Right so this will be new for all of us in some ways!

So there were three basic encounters done I think. One covering the town planning and info gathering. Then one done by the group that went in via the secret passage and a third by the Cavers that found the side water way.

So Basic award is 2 xp each to each character for the session, plus some individual awards based on bright and sensible ideas Role Play and so forth.

  • Ben. I am so glad we have Mogar as a front line fighter! I suspect though he comes from unlikely begging he may surprise us with his strength in the end! Good job on info gathering in town and not simply dropping your armour to go into the crawl space, I expect you woulda won had it been you instead of Tem in their first but probably taken more damage than needed. +2 Xp
  • Dave. Well you nailed it with Felix, I didn’t get which special card you had got until I saw it but the good news is: When I saw it I went “doh! How did I miss that!” Perfectly done. Gonna have to work on that perception ability though eh. I mean a dead end in a dungeon behind a secret door 😀  +4 Xp
  • Lori. Couldn’t say at the time how much I was laughing on the inside as Phaedra did her “Undead test!” on the party as we started ROFLMAO! Probably just as well you didn’t splash the familure with Holy Water in the end. But its definitely NOT undead! +2 Xp
  • Mat. Let me be clear… Temerin is NOT stealing a horse right before you go on a boat nope, nada, nix to that! That said LOL! Good call on the spell casting as well, sorry I forgot to bring your spell book with me (I have it now in my gaming bag!) Playing a spell-caster in an unfamiliar system is always an added challenge so Bravo. +3 Xp
  • Sam. Thinking back I do see how you were attempting to play your card 🙂 It was almost a shame that after Joseph’s detailed work examining the secret door the Elf walks up and spots it almost right away! Still good in character play, Arvid and Mogar would have gotten a lot wetter sooner without the smart work of running out a guide line as you did. Also good thinking on prearing for the “Boss battle” as you did, +3 Xp
  • Tom. Ahh man of many godz! I see I see how you were setting up for your cards instructions but in part the luck of the dice denied you. I Failed to roll a random twice while you were all assembling on the Docks, But I sense you have some ideas still as you explore the side entrance you have found. Loved the creative use of the special spell. But as I recall you did get one Goof as you first tried it, so your disapproval is a 1 Or a 2 for the balance of the game day. Remember that 😉 +2 Xp

OK as before I’ll make a back up XP post to make sure folks know what they scored. Those that left their character sheets with me I’ll add them on automatically never fear.

The rest of your “Warband” along with your back up characters I am going to say is going to take over one of the semi ruined Watchtowers on the wharf, in case you are wondering. Makes most sense to take over something vaguely fortified as its right there, don’t you agree? In subsequent adventures they may not be so near to hand, But the “Camp” will never be more than three or four hours away at any time (Say 10 miles maximum) It will all depend on the individual circumstance of the Adventure in question.

 

Standard Equipment Gift

Game Master

Well as you may have guessed that now you are fully fledged adventurers you get some bonuses.

Essentially the back story of this game is that after your “adventure” in the woods you collectively impressed the New Mercenary Commander Zathabarius.

He has offered you all slots in his Mercenary band and in return for a couple of years service is footing the bill for all your basic training to the class of your choice, but as no soldier goes out without basic equipment: The following is all issued to you:

Standard Equipment assigned by the Company of the Justice Moon (Bounty Hunters)

Leather armour. Mages may opt for Padded instead. If you have better from any source you can use that no issue. This is for those that were not so fortunate.

Dagger
Plus choose from :Short-sword, Mace, Hand Axe or Spear

Those with a strength of 13+ May also select Broadsword or Long sword.

Those with Agil 13+ may opt for a Short-bow + 20 Arrows OR a Medium Crossbow + 25 Bolts

If you don’t choose a bow of some sort you can also add a small shield or Buckler

Anyone with a Luck of 15 will be given a flask of Healing elixir 4 Doses curing 1d3 hp/ dose.

Anyone with an Int of 15 will get a small case of cartography materials, including a spy glass and are tasked with recording and mapping as needed.

Your troop will be organised into a Warband of 20 in total. There will be an NPC quartermaster for this (Axel Grimwarden). My “Plan” if you will is that your Active players will form a sort of “Away team” that will sally forth on Missions, while the balance of your squad will hold a base camp nearby. Naturally if somebody cant make it to a session as soon as it is practical that Character will be assumed to be “recalled ” to camp.  Likewise in the event of a death you can activate a secondary Character who was back in camp etc.

This also means that you are free to customise the Party from the available characters as you desire based on preference and the particular mission (as you understand it). Secondary characters will accrue exp at a rate short of the active characters but not so much that they will get more than one level removed from that of the Active group. So if you die at worst you will be playing a character One level below your deceased main’s level.

Anyhoo wanted to put this up now in case anyone else is an insomniac like me. Will explain more and better during the next session 🙂

Session 2 “Who invited the Orcs” [Stylised write up.]

Game Master

Travelling on your little group of survivors from the massacre of the Fayre came to a sharp ridge in the forest, going around the defile would have taken you out of the way for some considerable distance. While the group pondered how best to proceed Boggis rejoined them having evaded the Orc he had been left to distract, and although covered in small scratches and sporting a burned hand the Gongfarmer lived!

So without further ado a rope was fetched and Felix the Halfling heaved up the embankment. He seemed to land easily but the fellow didn’t seem to get what was required of him and the the thrown rope was thrown back again by the drooling Hobbit.

But it was a small set back and soon others stood atop the ridge when a voice called out a warning. Two wolves were closing rapidly. The other halfling, (the angry one) was mid climb as the first came into sight. In some confusion Big Jon’s axe nearly cut the rope the Halfling held onto, but he scrambled up none the less.

Arrows, bolts and stones flew out to rake the bushes about the charging animals but still they came on. SOme of the group still awaiting their turn on the ground were separated by the Wolves charge. Rodger Magee being bowled over and into thick bushes by the first attack. With an Oath his brother scrambled back down and dove after them.

Split by the Wolves sudden charge some confusion reigned. More shots were fired some wildly into the bushes at anything thta moved. Then suddenly a cry of pain rang out. The Halfling had stabbed Big Jon! As the stricken woodsman toppled down the slope the bellicose Halfling scrambled back down eager it seemed to spill more blood.

At that moment the Orcish handlers of the trained wolves arrived and a sharp fight ensured. At the end of it the maddened halfling had joined Big Jon in death (possibly to the relief of many) and perhaps a third of your number was now lost at the foot of the rise. With more orc possibly on the way woulds were bound but the reduced group pressed on…

Still at the foot of the ridge a fierce fight ensued as a half dozen Orcs caught up with the Magee brothers and Arvid the Hunter and a few others. The fight was long and everyone suffered a wound but in the end the companions prevailed slaying all but one of the Orcs, before the last of them fled.

Meanwhile on the top of the ridge it seemed that your guide had deserted you! However trusting to fate the group rallied and pressed on along the path he had indicated as fast as they could. This was not really that fast as Bormir the dwarf was badly hurt. He had fallen in the fight with the Orcs but had merely been stunned rather than slain. Still the Dwarfs brains had been addled as it took two to half carry half drag him down the earthen trackway.

Perhaps a mile down the way the familiar aroma of Boggis again was discerned. Evidently he had slipped after the errant guide and they were now returning somewhat shamefacedly to the group.

“The Manors not a mile further” the exhausted young mercenary rasped out. “But there no way to get there the damn Orcs are ahead of us and sieging it!”

A spyglass was produced and the situation indeed seemed dire. A little over a mile down the road there was a clear camp of Orcs with bonfires burning and arrows being exchanged (you guessed) between them and embattled fortified Great House.

But all was not lost, riders from the Justice Moon company came across your position before too long. The few dragoons left at the Manor had been ordered out of the confines of the stone building and ordered to comb the surrounding area: avoiding combat if they could to warn and bring News to any bands of survivors such as yourselves. Even better than that they had a flask of Healing elixir of master Zathabarius’s own manufacturer. Oe draught of that and the stout Bormir was clear headed and back on his own too feet!

Seeing some of the group was still injured it was decided they could take Master Felix with them as they circled the camp and hoped to rejoin the fortress via the rear gate. As they discussed this suddenly the mysterious Phaedra began to shake he Bone rod and cried out in prophetic ecstasy. The forests light seemed to darken and the peal as of distant thunder echoed over the land as the Shaman spoke.

Deeply impressed one Dragoon offered her his horse saying she belonged back at the manor where her (apparent) powers might best assist the Master Zathabarius. He would stay and firm the defence of the group as it wa snow inevitable that the Orcs would stumble across their gathering ere long.

Moving into the forest where the trees would cover the flanks, the diminished group set themselves to make a stand if the Orcs should discover them before help did.

Zaltor and Boggis hid in the bushes a length of chain strung between them to trip the unwary. Temerian and Skirelli climbed a tree each and strung thier bows. The rest gathered in the center of the small clearing as bait to any that stumbled across the crude trap.

Trap? Wishing Rats were still with them hurriedly some stakes were sharpened and some snares hastily fashioned out of the remaining rope. Then the group settled in to wait the storm.

Ere long Temerians’ elven eyes spotted movement. Wolf scouts heading your way, and what had to be their handlers not far behind. Suddenly one wolf stopped as if scenting something and they came bounding into the edge of the clearing. This was what Boggis and Zaltor were waiting for. Tightening their chain just as the beasts burst into the clearing they succeeded in tripping one charging beast, quickly Mogar dispatched it before it could recover from being stunned. The other wolf was also cut down by an arrow and a blow from the main group and the Trapped chain tripwire was hurriedly reset.

Not a moment too soon! The patrol of Orcs soon missed their scouting wolves and charged after them. Some few fell to the chain tripwire but one of them that stayed on his feet dealt brave Zaltor a fatal blow!

Bellowing like a maddened bull the Orc champion leading the band charged forward where Bormir the dwarf faced him down. Catching the Orcish sabre on his twin picks Bormir drove the weapon into the ground then struck back with a cruel upper cut that would have ended the Orcs breeding rights had it not killed him!

Blades flashed and arrows flew, but in the end the Orcs fled leaving half their number on the floor bleeding.

As the Orcs routed away their cries of anguish caught the attention of Arvid and Rats who were toiling along behind them, having bound their wounds and struggled up the rough slope. Arvid slew one with a well placed arrow, but young Pug Magee seemed to everywhere at once with his captured dagger. Claiming three of the Orcish band.

Tracking them back they were reunited with their fellows and although a few straggler Orcs again harassed their encampment, they survived some hours with the only casualty being their young Guide, who, perhaps shamed by the villagers courage, had fought as hard as any but perhaps too long as the nearly the last Orc to discover them took his life.

Werely beyond belief the huddled group of survivors weathered the next few hours until the sound of another Mercenary Patrol brought them food and relief as they were escorted to the safety of the Fortified manor at last…

Okies that will have to do 🙂 As I say any of you that wants to add comments or even a post from your viewpoint is more than welcome. Still this ought to serve to keep anyone who had to miss the session a rough idea of what happened eh! Onto the next session!