Useplanb's Campaign Journal *Spoilers*


Second Darkness

51 to 58 of 58 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>
Grand Lodge

The next rune was relatively close, considering the size of the caverns that we now walked in. Some sort of plaza is what the stone woman told us. Within was supposed to be a abyssal harvester, but none of us had ever heard of such a creature much less how to defeat it. Going into a fight blind is never the smart thing to do. It can be fun, but not smart.

When we arrived, the 'plaza' was a bunch of crystals thats looked to either have been grown in place or physically placed where they now were. Several had fallen over or broken over time and there was a shimmer in the air within the plaza as a whole. It almost looked like water but it was standing rather than laying down. Making sure I had blessed myself with a few spells I moved into the plaza and began to look around.

As we all moved within the structure several of the others seemed to notice eyes staring at them but would disappear when they looked directly back at the eye. As a whole, the area was rather unnerving as there was no obvious creature to attack. The runes that we found here were different than the other area with the ropers. There were several of them and they were on the ground near a back wall of crystal.

As we approached the runes we could feel their magical energy wash over us and calm our frayed nerves. It was a peace that I had never felt before and in retrospect it was the worst feeling I have ever had. Climbing over the wall near the runes I found a back chamber that was also empty and was quickly joined by the dwarf who also looked perplexed as to what to do. Suddenly there was a loud crack from the far side where the cleric of the drunken hero slammed his giant stein down into one of the runes.

This attack as it were was what the creature was waiting for as suddenly multiple tentacles appeared from nowhere and attacked. Two tentacles that seemed to tear open a hole in the air near me shot out and attempted to grab me but found that my blessing prevented it from gaining any purchase on the grab. Two similar tentacles attempted to grab the dwarf but he managed to duck out of their way. A scream of pain from the far side of the wall told us that the pale woman had probably been similarly struck. A few swipes with the Fang and the tentacles were severed and retreated back to where ever they came from. As I was finishing the tentacles, the dwarf had finished his and was slowly making his way back over the wall.

By the time I arrived there were no tentacles in sight and the dwarf was furiously attacking the runes on the ground. Again their magical energy washed over me and I was impressed with how much fun the dwarf was seeming to have even though it was destructive and wrong. So I decided to join in with Rolfe and gleefully smashed away enjoying the sensation of doing something I loved with a true friend.

Suddenly there was a large magical explosion that had no real force but was powerful none the less. A giant ribbon of energy shot out from the runes reaching all of us within the plaza and tore at our souls. The pain was excruciating and once again the pale woman screamed and fell but the cleric of the drunken hero was able to save her. Everyone looked pale and in pain. Something shredded our souls and I found myself wondering why I even cared what the dwarf had been doing. Instead my anger returned, and I roared at this harvester to show itself to no avail. As everyone retreated from the plaza I lingered hoping my lone self would draw it out so that I could beat it to death, but nothing came. Begrudgingly I left to join the others where the others said we would have to abandon our quest as none of the others save the dwarf, monk and I were able to continue. No amount of my trying to convince them to push on and see what they were made of would convince them to do so.

Thats when the cleric of the drunken hero said that he could use his magics to make us arrive back in Kyonin where we could gather the supplies needed to repair the damage the magical ribbon did. Once that was done, we could rest and return to this very spot to continue our quest to stopping Alevra. Angry at the thought of running but knowing that we needed to I nodded and so we were magically teleported to Kyonin. The dwarf claimed that he was going to talk with the queen, which I imagine would not go over well, but I was beyond caring at this point. Instead I grabbed his magical bag and the gambler and I went out into the city proper to sell as much of the items as we could in order to purchase what we were going to need. Thankfully the elves had an ample supply of diamonds and diamond dust.

Once we retrieved all the items we needed we met up with the others at the church of calistra where many of the diamonds were used to restore the damage from the explosion. With the remaining money everyone ran out into the town to look for items except the dwarf. Needing only a few hours of sleep myself I took my time and eventually came upon a magical stone that would float about my head. The vendor told me that the stone would slowly heal my wounds, which sounded like an excellent idea. Only the gambler remained out late looking for items to purchase and did not get a full nights rest, but one use from a wand we purchased removed his fatigue.

The next morning we gathered up and the pale woman cast a spell and we arrived back where we had left the night before. Once again using our map we began our trek to the third rune where it was decided before hand to study the location before stumbling in and having a repeat performance of last night.

This area was a fortress of some type and appeared to be full of drow. At least I know how to kill them without any help. After the acid tongued human and gambler poked about the acid tongued human returned to tell us of how we were going to enter. Moving to the back side of the fortress we were magicked to the top of a tower where we began our descent inside. As we moved down the stairs an explosion of black mist gave away our position as the poison moved into our bodies. It would seem that all of us were affected in some way but the worst of the poison failed to injure anyone. The drow poured into our tower where they promptly began to die. Lets hope the rest of the fortress puts up more of a fight.

(PLAYER COMMENT: We ended just as we entered into this area so I will have to wait to see how we screw the pooch here.)

Grand Lodge

We consolidated on the door that led into the large tower while bracing the other door at the end of the hall that led to one of the smaller towers. I decided to hold back while the others entered into the large tower where combat began and magics were flung about. I stood in the hallway looking at the door for a few seconds before I decided that removing the bodies and heading out to see what I could find would not be well received by the others. It was also at that time that I heard a yell and the room suddenly became very quiet.

Moving into the doorway I could see that a portal had been opened in the wall of the tower that led to the courtyard. Moving into the room were several of the half drow half spider creatures. Seeing that they were about to pour past the acid tongued human and would make short work of the pale woman who was next in their path, I moved up to plug the hole. Within a matter of moments the Fang and I went to work and dispatched two of the creatures without a scratch. The drow wizard proved a pain to get to as he hid behind some magical wall of force and the others killed some sort of assassin. Eventually though, as with all things, we destroyed the rune’s defenses and moved to investigate the rune.

As we got closer we could tell that the rune projected waves of nervousness, failure and open exposure. Not liking that feeling I laid my hands on the rune and instead of talking nicely to the rune, I shouted every known expletive I knew in anger and rage to cow the rune into submission. This seemed to work because as I shouted at the rune the ground began to shake before the feeling of failure dissipated. Nodding in satisfaction that the rune had been deactivated the others began collecting up valuables while the cleric of the drunken hero and I looked to patch up wounds suffered by the others. When that was completed we did another cursory look about and found no more drow within the small fortress so we moved on towards the next rune.

The next rune was hidden within a giant mushroom where we learned that the large creature I had avoided when we had arrived back in these dark lands resided. Knowing that the creature was covered in the black blood preparations were made as we moved up into the mushroom that had part of its stalk eaten away. As we approached the spores that floated in the air around the mushroom clogged our noses. It was also readily apparent that the spores affected the mind and body somehow. It must have been rather week for no one seemed to be bothered by its effects, but the pale woman did remain outside of the mushroom during our investigation. As we entered into the mushroom I asked for a blessing for Gorum and increased my size, hoping that it would have a difficult time swallowing me whole. The creature was deep within the main hollowed out chamber and arose as we entered into the fungus. It began the fight by breathing a noxious spray that burned the flesh with acid. Most of the group was sprayed and the damage it wrought on my flesh was severe, even having the ability to resist a large portion of acidic damage. The fight though was quick, as everyone attacked the creature quickly doing as much damage as could be done to prevent it from breathing again. Sadly right before it died the creature used some ability that allowed it to travel through a magical portal and then breathed on us again. Thankfully the cleric of the drunken hero was working with his god to make sure that all of us were healed as best as he could.

Once defeated we found the rune in a small chamber off the main area where we fought the worm. This rune though seemed to project fear and terror. It wanted us to run away but the gambler was able to convince the rune somehow that it was safe and in a small amount of time the rune deactivated. During this time both the dwarf and I as well as everyone else, save the pale woman, were affected by the runes power. The screams that we would generate when its power grabbed hold of the mind probably kept anything within earshot of the mushroom at bay.

A small discussion about resting began but assurances that both the cleric of the drunken hero and I were good to go persuaded the rest to continue on to the final rune. All we knew of this location was that the creatures we encountered that swam within the black blood were known to inhabit the area. We also remembered that they could breath a mist like cloud that drained the body of its strength, so we would have to be careful.

When we arrived we could see several of the creatures outside of a small structure and after a quick scout by the gambler we made a rapid assault using teleporting magics from the cleric of the drunken hero. Even though they had open ground to prepare for an assault the sudden appearance of us a few feet away from them left them no time to report our presence. I assaulted a large creature that in some small way resembled the others while the rest of the group dispatched the guards. Descending into the structure we found a cave like system of either carved stone hallways or hand dug tunnels. Eventually we came to a room full of sand with several of the creatures inside, one of which was dressed differently. As I moved across the sand to engage them a creature that had burrowed under the sand attacked. As I was prepared for such devious tactics, the ability Gorum granted me to avoid being grabbed made its attacks futile at best. Within a few seconds we had killed the female creature and two of her guards, as well as the creature from the sand.

Taking stock of our resources we continued to press on after looking about the room and not finding any rune.

Grand Lodge

We continued through the complex searching and only finding more corridors containing more of the creatures with their foul breath attack that drained ones health. Thankfully for the pale woman she was protected from their attacks. The dwarf, gambler, acid-tongued human and I took the brunt of their attacks and then returned the favor by destroying them. Eventually we came to a room that had two large demons guarding a rune on the wall. Having fought them before, but never two at a time I grinned, pulled the Fang and ran in. They still hit hard but didn't like everything in these dark lands, not hard enough. Even though they unleased their foul magics at me, my will was stronger and within a few seconds were just corpses in the room.

The rune projected a feeling that it was safe, and all seeing. Touching the rune I tried to cow it into shutting off like the rune from earlier in the day but to no affect. The gambler though managed to somehow turn it off using his skills so we left to rest before our final hike and confrontation with Azrinae.

After resting I gave a few extra prayers to Gorum to make sure he was witness to the days events as the journey was almost complete. After walking for about four hours we reached an area within these dark lands that contained a large lake with some sort of temple on an island in the middle. A bridge connected the island and so we began our preparations and prayers. Using everything I had available I made sure to enforce the fighting prowess of the others and once that was done, we marched across the bridge to kick down her door and end her threat.

R.I.P. Tsadok

(PLAYER COMMENT: Effing dice. Everything was going well until I failed one save that I needed to roll a 8 or better on. So I used my token and rerolled my save with a +4 bonus and loosing its +1 Attack for the remainder of the fight. Rolled a 1. Gah! I wouldn't let them bring me back because I told them [sometime around the Celwynvian fights] that if I died in battle that I didn't want to be raised. If that was always available then there was no glory in combat. No fear of dying. No true Gorumite should ever be raised from the dead. So it sucked to go that long and die from a stupid glyph, but in the end I had fun. Although as I went home I was pissed. Effing dice.)

Grand Lodge

I just want to put a shout out to the GM for doing a respectable job for his first real GM of the Pathfinder system. He had done a couple of other smaller games, 2-4 session length ones. This one starting eight months ago and only skipped a few weeks for holidays and such. I had a great time!

Thanks to Paizo for putting it together. There are a few rough patches and the entire AP could use a serious touch up now that Pathfinder as a whole is up and running. I think a rewritten Players Guide and minor correction of a few of the elven NPCs would help players stomach some of the douche-baggery that the elves project.

I also want to thank the other players for making the game fun (although we always have way to many non-sequiters and interruptions for my liking), but that is to be expected when good friends get together.

Lantern Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

AHOY there all ya lads and lasses, a moment of silence as ya toss back tha’ there next pint if’n ya please! Lift yer glasses and stand off yer arses one last time in tha name of one of tha best of us tha’ shall no longer be counting his blade amongst our numbers. To Tsadok, may his mighty Fang ever fight on in tha next life as it did in this one. For Gorum, for glory, ye shall be missed ya old dirty scoundrel! May it forever be decreed tha’ here in my bar, tha greatest most famousest watering hole in all of Riddleport, tha wonderous Golden Goblin, tha’ clerics of Gorum get a free pint on tha house as long as they be liftin’ tha’ pint in Tsadok’s honor! An so tha’ we never forget, we’ve hung his shield there, above tha bar, so tha’ his spirit can forever shield us from bad luck, demons, and dirty stinkin’ Drow elves!!

How did tha’ final battle go, the one that ended the journey of our stout orcish companion? Well let me tell ya it were a cheatin’ affair it was! We be knowin’ tha’ there bridge and tha giant doors hid our greatest fight yet, an so we did tha sensible thing (for once) and spelled ourselves up proper. Tsadok spent a moment or two makin’ sure his mighty Fang was ready ta taste blood while callin’ upon Gorum ta watch this historic battle. Me? Yours truly drank a brew an thanked tha sea tha’ one way or another I’d be outta them caves an back ta tha life I love, salty air an billowy sails me hearties! Tha others said their prayers or checked their blades one last time as we all avoided sayin’ what we was thinkin’, it would be her, or us, one final showdown on her turf.

Of course she cheated. Somehow tha’ nasty slimey darkelf knew we was comin’ an was ready ta meet our charge. She an her twenty closest mates was all there watchin’ as we opened them big iron doors, an tha’s when all the Hell’s broke loose. She was standin’ there smirkin’ with about ten black-hearted drow clerics, three of tha biggest golems ya have ever laid yer eyes on, archers (did I mention tha’ arrows make life full of no fun?) an some nasty six armed halfsnake demon tha’ really wanted ta see if’n my insides tasted like chicken!

As tha doors parted, Tsadok and me was both enlarged (thanks ta his Gorum magic juice) an we both stood there side by side takin’ up every bit of space of them doors, we just looked sideways at each other and clinked blades as a final warrior’s wish fer good luck. It were an emotional moment, ta be sure, though he’d tell ya it never happened. Then we did what we does best, rushed right inta tha middle of all tha’ mess screamin’ our damn fool heads off as tha rage took hold and our vision turned red! Tsadok, tha’ fearless tusked mook, dived right in an took on two golems an some clerics all by himself, right up tha middle. I skirted right an tried ta flank but ran into a golem of me own as well as a cleric or two.

The clerics spent most of their time dispelling and healin’, but in tha end their magics were no match for tha raw damage we was slingin’ about. Between Fang an me own Seablade, we cut through them like a frigate’s hull through a silent night’s tide. Now, while we was fightin’ our way there, that crazy monk of ours jumped right past all of us an went toe to toe with Alevra directly! It was a good thing too, his stunning fist an other crazy monk-magics kept her busy and staggered while we dealt with all her friends. Eventually though, Saru’s monk power could not withstand tha onslaught an he fell under her power.

Our rogue also had ta be resurrected in tha middle of tha battle as he took a few too many hits from tha’ dirty drow. Between tha archers an Alevra he withered under a constant barrage and our wonderful cleric of tha drinking god had ta bring both tha monk an tha rogue back ta tha land of tha living. Tsadok told us earlier tha if he died in battle tha’ we was not allowed ta bring him back, but tha others had no problem being made upright again!

Finally Tsadok an I cleared most of them little guys out of there, I even took down tha’ crazy snake demon thing, an there was Alevra standing wide open an ready ta be charged. Tsadok charged her first, an as he got close with Fang blazin’ away ready ta cleave out her black heart, a rune on tha rocks next ta her flared ta life an Tsadok fell dead an his corpse slid to rest at her feet. She looked up at me an smiled, which of course pushed my rage ta a whole new level. She expected tha’ rune ta do tha same ta me, but no sir, this dwarf made it ta her with no toubles. I heard our sorceress Maleeka off in tha back casting spells as she ran, she was tryin’ ta dodge some small ball of inky blackness tha’ was trackin’ her about in that back of tha battle. I dunno what she was able ta get done while she was runnin’ about, but at least once somethin’ happened an Alevra was a bit less shiny and buffed.

Tha battle raged back an forth, we got some good shots in, Alevra got some mean spells off, but thanks ta tha efforts of our cleric we was able ta deliver tha killin’ blow an finish off one of tha greatest evils I’ve ever known. In dramatic fashion I was tha one tha’ ended her life as me trust Seablade nearly cut tha’ nibly-bimbly evil cleric in half. She smiled as me blade bit into her skin, like she knew somethin’ I didn’t, but then after a second tha’ smirk turned ta horror as she realized she really was dead. Maleeka told us later tha’ she had dispelled a contingency spell tha’ would have whisked Alevra away so she could heal without Alevra noticin’… HAH!

So, we saved tha world no thanks ta all you rotten bums sittin’ here downin’ yer beers, which by tha way tha Golden Goblin thanks ya fer yer patronage so drink up an buys more says I! After we stopped her an her evil plan ta smoosh all yer fine heads with a giant space rock, we decided we’d had enough. He gathered up our loots, went back an talked ta tha elves about some other carts of treasure we had left in their care, an then we headed back ta Riddleport. We hadn’t received not one single payment for sellin’ tha Golden Goblin before we left, so when we came back we decided it was still ours. Folks thought we was menacin’ before we left, well when we showed back up all outfitted an even more lethal than before, well they had no problems signin’ tha deed right back over ta us.

So tha’s how she ends boys an girls. It were an epic tale of hope and murder, of greed an bloody booty, an I hope y’all enjoyed every minute of it. Now remember, tha Golden Goblin is not responsible fer anythin’ I’ve said, an sponsorship does not imply endorsement! If’n any of ya’s was offended durin’ tha course of me longwinded stories, well then ship out says I an make room for some other landlubber ta belly up an spend coin on tha worst beer in Riddleport! G’day and bottoms up!

*Just a quick thanks to our GM for this adventure path, it was his first time GMing and we had a lot of fun with him and as a group. Also thanks to UseplanB for motivating me and others (at times) to post here and share what was happening in our heads during the game sessions. The journal has really helped add to the picture of what our characters were doing that we as players did not do a good job conveying at the table. I highly encourage other groups to do the same as it really makes a difference and helps flesh out your characters. As a disclaimer, any names or places that I got wrong, well I don’t pay the best of attention to details and so was able to just fold it into the character, just go with it and be happy. Take care, and thanks for reading.


Congrats to everyone involved on finishing Second Darkness!

It may be too early to ask, but do you know what's next for your group?

Oh and once again, I really enjoyed reading this thread! Thanks UseplanB! (and Kallidos and Khlaive!)

Lantern Lodge

I believe coming up next one of the other group members will be running a long term campaign of his own design. We will be taking a break from the adventure paths for a bit but I'm sure we'll come back to them later.

Grand Lodge

There were hints by the GM that we shouldn't "retire" the characters per sé. As for what he may or may not do I don't have a clue.

But Kallidos is correct. We have a home brew campaign with a modified Caliphas (much larger city now) as the central point to the next campaign. The GM (acid tongued human) is one of the players who typically GMd for our Friday night group. Kallidos is also running a complete home brew game between the Second Darkness campaign and our other one starting and for when the GM needs a break.

Got a Oath of Vengeance paladin worked up for the Caliphas setting and a dwarven monk-zen archer in the works for our interim game.

Not sure if I will post journals or not. Unsure where the best place to do so would be.

Thanks for reading the campaign Laric and I am glad you enjoyed them. Getting through my rambling mess, rife with typos and poor sentence structure is an impressive feat.

51 to 58 of 58 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder Adventure Path / Second Darkness / Useplanb's Campaign Journal *Spoilers* All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Second Darkness