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Paths Not Taken by Simon R. Green.

For the second time, I am running the Freeport Trilogy from Green Ronin.
This is an account of the campaign as seen through the witting of Victor Von Vargas, a bard that is obsessed with death.

Here is the cast of characters:

Victor Von Vargas: Human Bard (Played by Chris)
Kerishen Tormalyne: Human Swashbuckler (Played by Amy)
Frek: Hellborn Cleric (Played by Mark)
Verwyn Synt: Elven Wizard (Played by Robin)

From the pages of the personal journal of Victor Von Vargas…

I being a healer with a small amount of bard training, begin this journey with the intent to travel to Freeport to aid with the pains and suffering that must be being accumulating amongst the workers attempting to construct the massive Lighthouse of Drac, a.k.a. “Milton’s Folly”. I hear they are working night and day to complete the project and there are surly no small amount of injuries, petty or otherwise, that shall need tending to. I will be able to live quite comfortably after words, and continue my research on the great mystery of Death.

Day 1: Afternoon –
Arrive in Freeport, leave docks, and fight off press gang. I go down fighting.
The sinister looking Frek, a cleric of some sort, seems to have saved me.
Kerishen, a human woman of some nobility with a quick eye and hand for danger, was nearby during our attempted abduction. A female elven wizard called Verwyn allied herself with us a well. We fought our way free of the thugs. Verwyn lost a dagger to the back of one of the thugs. We received healing, and a job from a cleric named Brother Egil. He needed us to help him find one of his fellow librarians named Lucius.
Lucius left the employ of the Temple of Knowledge for reasons unknown and returned about 10 months ago. He seemed to have changed, but could not remember his travels. Lucius recently tried to retrace his steps and has disappeared. Brother Egil has provided a key to Lucius’s home and some payment, so we agree to investigate.
There are so many notes, papers and books, and so little time. One note points us to a Captain Scarbelly, the very definition of local thug. An Orc captain, with a Orc crew on board a ship called Bloody Vengeance. We took our rest at a fine local inn The Scholar's Quill as I contemplate my own mortality before a fitful sleep takes me.

Day 2: Morning –
We meet at the Temple of Knowledge and are introduced to Milos, a smarmy, arrogant bastard, of a priest. We found out little and he brushed us away and said he would make arrangements for us to see the high priest in two days time.
Back to the docks. Carashin speaks orcish and she takes Frek along for company, as they parley with Scarily. They are safer as I fear another attempt from a press gang. We learn that Lucius traveled with Scarbelly and spoke to him 1 week ago about his forgotten past. The year old dock records are also of little help.
Night –
We are ambushed by a group of Yellow Shield mercenaries. We prevail.
Rittoro, a Yellow Shield, is carrying Lucius’s dagger. He directs us to a man named Enzo.
Enzo relates that a cult known as “The Brotherhood” of which he is a new member, paid to have us removed.
He also tells where to find the cult’s hole in the ground.

Day 3: Morning –
We send for Brother Egil, who provides some healing. We inform him of the developments, and he joins us as backup as we go to the abandoned stone building housing the cult.
We buy some weapons. Kerishen generously throws money at everything. I knew she was some form of nobility, but what noble allows their daughter to learn to fight with such a crude weapon as a chain? I will look into her past later.
After entering the basement, we find that the Priest Frek, has the ability to disintegrate multiple foes with a mere word, at least undead foes.
We also encounter Serpent Folk, a race of snake people thought long lost to history. They are guarding the Brotherhood’s temple. An interesting development that needs proper research, perhaps they found a way to cheat death?
We enter the brotherhood’s yellow temple and find Milos presiding over an obviously evil alter. After we kill him and his giggling minions, Milos reverts to his true serpent form, leaving us to wonder how many and who of Freeport’s people are actually serpents in disguise. Lucius is also found as is a letter conveying that N’Tal is coming to Freeport and to make sure all is ready, signed “The Brotherhood.”
We Take our finding to the high priest of knowledge and retire. I should speak with Frek about his abilities and views on Death.

Re-reading The Hobbit.

Hex and the City by Simon R. Green

Nightingale's Lament by Simon R. Green

Death Angel's Shadow by Karl Edward Wagner

You might also want to check out Cage of Delirium from Goodman Games. It comes with an audio CD to help make the mood. I was with a group that went through it and it was pretty creepy.

Cage of Delirium.

Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green

Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green

It wasn't long before Fix arrived. Harry hoped

out that Fix would meet him at McAnally's

in Chicago. McAnally's tavern would be a good

to speak to Fix: the current Summer Knight.

to have driven any bystanders off the streets.

looked around to see if any spectators had

Wyldfae mercenaries running around Chicago?" Mouse gave Harry

Harry wondered aloud: "Why does the Summer Court

With another blast from Harry, the thing was

it was unlikely that he would get any

concept of good and evil. Pathetic!" With that

You mortals have some many weaknesses that we

more power in the mortal realm and there's

Destroying me won't change a thing!" Despite its

in half. The rain quickly began to extinguish

from the blasting rod and struck the Wyldfae

blast first and ask questions later. Harry aimed

The Egyptian by Mika Waltari

"Wizards shouldn't meddle in things that don't concern

blasting rod at the creature. "What business does

had appeared on the horizon. "This can't bode

The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard.
I have read most of these stories before in other collections but it is still fun to revisit R.E.H.'s stuff.

the fey creature significantly. At least that is

the Nevernever, likely a Wyldfae mercenary that was

just typical. When it rains, it pours." Harry

Harry readied his blasting rod and his 44

my digestive system. Runeblades are hard to swallow.

on the brakes, sending the cloaked figure flying

Elric drew Strombringer and strode towards the Citadel.

in pain. "Not Black Blade! For some reason

Singing Citadel appeared, its haunting song sounding out

and thinking "Hawkwind should have made it bigger."

Chopper by Mark "Chopper" Read. A very scary and, at the same time, fascinating and engaging book.

The voice of Dio invoked "Heaven and Hell".

Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell. The first Black Sabbath album with Ronnie James Dio.

Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley

Moonglum climbed on the back of the dragon

beetle. A black cloak concealed the owner's features.

Mean Streets which is a collection of urban fantasy novellas by Jim Butcher, Kat Richardson, Simon R. Green, and Thomas E. Sniegoski.

didn't play it either. It was overdubbed by