And a note on our Fourth session... it was Denick and Sarina in the tiled room where the Mouther came out of the Well... not Bosco, and it was Sekeema, that ran for Joe, after he snapped out of his "little" episode. The spiked chain was put to very good use against the beast...
Everyone should have a guy like this around. You know, to point out your errors... constantly. It's great fun! If nothing else, Stanley keeps me humble. ;)
From the Journal of Mithos Ironaxe, priest of Moradin
24 Fireseek, 597 CY
It has been nearly 14 years since I received the dream from Moradin to travel to the ruins of Tomoachan, but to me it only seems like yesterday. I had thought, at the time, that my mission must have been very important if I was to travel by ship over the ocean. The OCEAN!
In my visions I was told that I would wait for awhile at the entrance to the ruins where my quest would reveal itself. I thought that I had failed in my quest when I was surprised by the basilisks that had been nesting just inside. I felt the coldness travel up throughout my body and then darkness.
It seems like only yesterday but it has apparently been 14 years. The group that rescued me calls themselves The Rusty Raiders (are they serious?) and I have decided to journey with them as a debt of gratitude for their rescue. I must also pay penance for failing to complete the tasks set forth by Moradin. Perhaps I can, in some small way, make up for my shortcomings with these people. They seem good enough.
Some times all a person needs is a good friend.
18 Readying 597CY
Joe leaves from the Captains quarters with a blank stare and slowly walks to the bow of the Sea Wyvern with out acknowledging any one onboard deck. He begins a vigil looking out to sea as if looking a thousand miles away. Moments pass as the world around him swirl out of sight.
A specter approaches from his left rear clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. The specter lifts his hand and places it upon Joes shoulder, a moment passes and the specter speaks; Joe, Joe…are you all right?
“Honestly sir…no. I am not alright as a matter of fact I am all wrong.”
“Why do you think you are all wrong?”
“Well I made an oath a pack and it is like everything I have promised and believed in just went out the door.” Joe stops momentarily to look upon the man next to him as if looking at a long lost friend. “I know you, don’t I?”
“Of course Joe, do you not remember the well?”
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, somewhere in a cemetery in Gradsul
Falling, falling, falling down in a deep dark place no place to grab and no where to go, until a great splash surrounds me and the sounds of water foaming around me yet I am able to stand up. I am scared, crying, I am hurt, I think. There in the dim light is a man no; it’s not a man but the skeleton of a man. I am more frightened and there beside the man is a sign. A sign, a sign that spells R-U O-C-K, I scream and everything goes black.
Aboard the Sea Wyvern:
You were there. You watched over me and took the fear away you are Ru Ock.
The Specter giggles. Yes, I have always been there.
I remember even as I was growing up you were there even as I went through school. You helped me to deal with the bullies even when I lost the fight. My parents didn’t under stand. That’s right. It’s been a while.
Yes, you nearly died not too long ago, once in the mountain of fire and Iron and once on board this ship.
Yes. I was truly ready to die at both situations.
I know.
But now, I seem to be making a mess of everything. Amella is totally disattached and I feel to blame for every thing that has gone wrong.
Joe, look out there. The Specter points his hand to the waters. What do you see?
Joe responds, water.
Look deeper Joe.
I can’t the water is too deep.
Can you not see the bottom?
No, like I said the water is too deep.
Ya see Joe everyone has a lot of water and you must trudge through that water to get to the bottom.
But Ru Ock, it’s nearly impossible to get to the bottom with having to deal with the dangers of diving to the bottom.
Ya see Joe you must be willing to face those dangers with those who you love and care for. That is called sacrifice. In that sacrifice you must come to the understanding that love not only requires sacrifice, but accepting a person for who and what they are, good, bad or indifferent, that in and of itself is total love.
But what about all those people who have died on board this ship?
Joe, each and every person on board this ship came by their own freewill. They knew the dangers and the threats that lie each and every day while sailing. You are no more responsible for the lives of others than you are responsible in the changing of the sea.
But what about those pirates?
What about them?
We nearly had them in our grasp.
Yes you nearly did, but in that what did you learn?
That at some point in time you have to make a stand no matter what the outcome.
Are you prepared to face the outcome?
Yes.
Then you have learned.
But what about that Sea Hydra?
What about it?
We let down our guard and all those people died needlessly.
Joe tell me about that lagoon?
The Lagoon?
Yes the Lagoon, tell me about it, all of it?
Well…It was beautiful, it was really amazing, we sat on a rock and simply enjoyed the moment. It was the first time for all of us finding some peace in this voyage. I truly loved it. But that darn Sea Hydra!
Joe, listen to yourself. You had a perfect love and a perfect peace. Ya need to focus on that. Ya see Joe there is always going to be some one or something that is going to try to take away your joy, take away your peace. Focus on the good things and they will come more often to you. It is too easy to focus on the ugly things in life, but the challenge is to focus on the good things in life. Do you understand Joe?
Yea I think so. But what about Amella?
What about her?
What should I do?
Learn. Remember Joe everyone has freewill, we must exercise the right of others to do as their conscience dictates even if their conscience has been seared with a hot iron. There are deeper issues here Joe, so how far are you truly willing to go.
Joe continues to stair off out to sea. I guess I have a lot to learn.
Ru Ock smiles and continues to be at Joe’s side.
Friday Night
February 2
Let me preface this by saying that we lost Paul as a player this evening (Joe the paladin). I would like to say it was a peaceful and respectful parting of ways, but it wasn’t. Sometimes the death of a character is a really, really big deal for a player and when a fellow player is blamed for it things can get ugly. Often someone is going to walk away from the game. Such was the case with this session. I’m sorry to see Paul go and wish him well.
18 Readying, 597 CY
After the fight with the hydra when everyone had calmed somewhat, Dennick volunteered to search the bottom of the lagoon for any treasure or other interesting finds that a hydra might happen to have collected over the years. Mithos cast a spell of water breathing on him and Dennick jumped overboard.
After a lengthy search Dennick managed to collect the heads of the hydra, a really nice suit of chainmail, and a cloak shaped like a manta ray.
19 Readying – 25 Readying, 597 CY
Over the course of the next 6 days there were some interesting events aboard Sea Wyvern that bear mentioning.
First, the Rusty Raiders were forced to maintain peace amongst the passengers. When two men and their families squared off against each other over the loss of Mister Skald, the ship’s deceased navigator, Dennick, Sakeema, and Joe were forced to break up a knife fight between the two men of each family. One blamed Skald for all of the bad luck the ship had had since leaving Sasserine and was quite verbal about it and celebrated his death. The other family had liked the quiet navigator and took offense to such unjustified blather. Thus, the knife fight.
Fortunately, no one was hurt and things were smoothed out. To keep things that way, Dennick put the larger family in Id’s former cabin which he had claimed for himself since Id’s death. He decided to bunk with Urol the gnome since he liked the little guy and found him to be interesting company.
Second, about halfway to Renkrue, their next stop, the party discovered that a good portion of their food supply was severely infested with weevils. They would definitely need to get fresh foodstores and hope that there were no delays in reaching the Isle of Dread after leaving the Olman village.
Third, Sakeema noticed one morning that the spellbooks and other research materials he had inherited from Id since the wizard’s death had mysteriously found their way into Id’s old cabin. The family there were as puzzled about it as Sakeema was. The ranger aspiring to be a wizard collected the books and took them back to the VIP cabin he shared with the other party members and locked them in his footlocker.
The next morning, Sakeema found the footlocker out in the middle of the cabin, apparently moved from where Sakeema kept it under his bunk. No one had been seen touching it and Sakeema was getting quite agitated. He decided to fake his trance that night and keep watch for the culprit.
Around midnight, Sakeema noticed the room had gotten very cool and his footlocker was being dragged out from under his bunk and the lock being prodded at by unseen hands. Sakeema demanded, “Who are you and what do you want?” A disembodied voice coldly replied, “Unlock the chest.”
Sakeema ran towards the footlocker hoping to grapple whatever unseen force was there. As he did he saw the wispy, smoky form of a man suddenly appear and waft right through him. Sakeema never touched him, but had a momentary feeling of a shared consciousness. The apparition disappeared thereafter and nothing else happened that night.
Sakeema repeated the same thing the next night without saying anything to his friends yet. The same thing happened. However, when the wispy form appeared and he felt the sudden shared consciousness it was the last thing he remembered before finding himself seated in Id’s old rooms with his spellbooks and research tomes spread out before him.
Joe and Mithos explained that the ghost of Id was apparently aboard the ship and had possessed him during the night. While possessed he had angrily kicked the passengers in his old cabin out and taken it back. When Joe and Mithos came to see what all of the commotion was about he angrily told them to stop disturbing his studies. When Joe realized it was Id inside of Sakeema, he gravely told the wizard, “Id, you’re dead.” In the strange dual voice of one possessed, Sakeema answered back, “Id is too powerful for death.”
Mithos tried to drive the ghost of Id out of Sakeema’s body, but couldn’t muster the energy required to succeed. Instead he was manhandled by invisible force that hurled him away and when he tried again, was struck with magic missiles as the ghost of Id got increasingly hostile.
In the end, since Id was not hurting anyone if left alone, the shuffled the evicted family of passengers into the VIP cabin and left Id/Sakeema alone.
After that encounter, the party left Id’s old cabin empty except for his books, which Sakeema and the ghost of Id compromised to share. The whole thing was kept pretty quiet so as not to “spook” the passengers and crew, though Captain Amella was informed of the supernatural development.
26 Readying – 28 Readying, 597 CY
The 2 ships arrived together at the tiny Olman village of Renkrue on Waterday and spent a restful and peaceful 3 days among the natives. The Olman villagers were friendly and accommodating. Some of the young female villagers took a liking to Tavey the cabin boy, which was amusing to Joe and the rest of the party that had taken him on in Sasserine.
There wasn’t much excitement, which suited everyone just fine. After reprovisioning and doing a bit of trading with the islanders, Blue Nixie and Sea Wyvern prepared to set out on the last leg of their voyage across the dangerous depths of the Pearl Sea.
1 Coldeven – 9 Coldeven, 597 CY
The ships encountered some light rains and choppy waters during their first couple days of this last stage of their voyage. On the sixth day out from Renkrue, they passed a small island of immense cliffs topped by thick jungle. There was only passing interest in stopping to investigate. Everyone was more interested in reaching the colony as quick as possible since supplies needed to rationed carefully.
10 Coldeven, 597 CY
The tenth day brought angry, black storm clouds from the southeast punctuated by brilliant lightning flashes and booming thunder. The sea turned into a boiling frothing maelstrom and it took every able bodied crewman and adventurer aboard Sea Wyvern to keep her from rolling or washing in the violent swells. In the fight to overcome the storm the two ships soon became separated.
11 Coldeven, 597 CY
After a long restless night of fighting to keep Sea Wyvern in one piece, Godsday dawned quiet and foreboding. A thick fog lay over the sea and the sails drooped listlessly. As the sun burned the fog off the crew of Sea Wyvern found themselves stuck in a vast Sargasso that seemed to stretch away to the horizon. To aft, there was about ¼ mile of the thick mat of seaweed miring the ship in. Other ships in various stages of decay covered in seaweed could be seen off in the distance. One of these ships was actually not too far away to port.
The adventurers tested the feel of the mat of seaweed and found it to be so thick that one could actually stand on it, though water pooled around their feet if they stood in one place too long. While Captain Amella equipped her crew and passengers with long hooks and poles to try to free Sea Wyvern with little to no success, the Rusty Raiders set out to explore the nearby vessel.
Up close they saw it was named Rage, a busted up caravel crushed in the grip of the Sargasso. They boarded and noted signs of combat and bloodshed on its main deck which listed to one side. They descended belowdecks to see if the Captain’s log had survived. Perhaps they could learn a bit about its fate from what its Captain had written.
When they began to enter the Captain’s cabin, the decking buckled and twisted causing a journal to drop from a drooping table into a large hole in the decking. Joe jumped in after the book to save it and found himself at the bottom of a 5-ft. hole the bottom of which was the Sargasso the ship rested on. Immediately the seaweed strands came to life and lashed out at Joe. Creatures of slime and algae as well as thick coils of sea weed formed into manlike shapes and began attacking the rest of the group. The fight raged for several moments and when Bosco the sorcerer cast a long line of sizzling, hissing rainbow colors at 3 of them in his sights he accidentally clipped Joe.
The plant monsters dropped not long after, but peering into the hole the party realized that Joe was dead. He had taken too many hits from the plant creatures and had been hit full in the face by the rainbow energy Bosco had unleashed.
**End of sixth session**
(weeps for Joe)
(weeps for Joe)
Oh no, Joe, say it ain't so! He was the most active player on this thread. What happened Steve?
What happened Steve?
Aside from what was described in my last post? In short, a few tactical errors, some good attack rolls by the plants, and miscommunication between players. Pretty much all of the classic blunders and foils that gets a PC or two killed.
We'll miss Paul, but the campaign will continue without him. Oddly, I got an e-mail the very next day from someone who wanted to join the campaign and was interested in running a paladin. How's that for irony?
Journal # 2
I sit here in quiet contemplation, I have let people get close to me, and what happens, they die. Yes death happens, but why does it seem to follow me around. I was perfectly happy with just surviving, and being a loner, but then, I start to actually care what happens to the people around me, and BAM, death. It does not matter why Joe died, just that he died. Some would argue that friendly fire is worse, but, in the heat of battle things happen, and while Bosco does feel really bad, I try to tell him, that sometimes things happen, and you can not be held accountable for every little thing that you cause in combat. I will miss Joe, more than I really care to admit, but I will continue to live, and fight on. And with that my final thoughts on Joe, may his spirit rest with his god, where ever that maybe.
And speaking of spirits, it appears as though we now reside on a haunted ship. The wizard that was part of these Rusty Raiders whom I happen to fallen in with is apparently “to powerful for death”, his words, not mine. The ghost of this Id person leaves everyone alone, as long as they leave him alone and allow him to study his books at night. I have no thoughts on this one way or the other, but I am not sure how our passengers would feel if they found out they are on a haunted ship. Most of them feel we are doomed anyway, with all the bad things that have happened on this voyage. It is not my place to tell them though, so as long as the owners of this ship have no problem with him staying then, I have nothing more to say about it.
And speaking of the Sea Wyvern being doomed, it appears as though we really are. We have run into something called a sargaso, it normally is something that is a little bit of an inconvenience to sailors, a patch of nasty sea weed stretching for a mile or so, but this batch, which we have ended up stuck in and when I say stuck, I mean really stuck, at least a fourth of a mile or so to the nearest edge, stretches to the horizon as for as the eye can see. Looking out over the water we see other ships which have fallen into the grasp of this killer. There was one not far away, and so we decided to go explore it, and see it there is anything that might help us. This exploration would end in Joe’s death. We did retrieve the captain’s log though, so maybe we did find something that will help us. Well I should go and see what was in that log, and find out what the captain needs me to do… I have not given in yet, this stupid sea weed will not beat us.
Joes Story
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1000AM Tradesman Manor just outside of Gradsul
Theodore and Julia (Joe’s Dad and Mom) are resting at the Manor, when they suddenly both get up from their easy chairs overcome with a strong premonition, “Something is wrong with Joe!”
Mother begins frantically searching through the house as Joe’s Dad, getting dressed, instinctively reaches for his sword. Dad mentions that “the boys most likely were playing out in the grove“.
Julia searches the house, taking inventory of the children in different rooms. First the nursery: Elsirus with Beatrice and their nanny Millie telling a story called “a chicken and a chicken that wasn‘t“. Julia in a anxious tone asks Millie if she had seen Joe, but Millie last saw Joe out in the yard playing. Cameron is in the boys’ room playing with his toys, while Deanna is preparing lunch in the kitchen. Hurriedly, Julia continues down the long corridor down to the boys’ room and indeed sees Cameron playing with his toy soldiers and a pretend castle. Julia asks Cameron, “Do you know where Joe is?” Cameron looks up a bit surprised, pauses for a moment and replies that Joe is out with Michael. (Michael is the eldest, responsible for watching over his siblings).
Julia begins to grill Cameron, about where Michael may have gone with Joe. “Well”, Cameron says as if hiding something, “they are most likely at the grove“. Immediately, not accounting of Cameron’s reluctance, Julia runs downstairs, hoping to intercept Joe’s Dad, to share the information.
All the kids are watching their Mom running back and forth. Deanna comes out of the kitchen wondering what all the commotion is. ”Where is Joe?, have you seen him?”, Julia asks, with tears in her eyes.
Joe’s Dad quickly exit’s the Manor heading to the grove, faintly visible on the periphery of the forest.
From a distance they all hear Theodore calling out for Joe. After a while, disappointedly hearing no response, Theodore runs back to the house and orders the formation of a search party.
Catching up with Theo, Julia reports that everyone except for Michael and Joe are in the house, and that Cameron thought they were last playing in the grove.
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1015AM The Old Cemetery.
Knocking over headstones at the old cemetery, Michael, thinking that he heard Joe’s scream, realizes that Joe is nowhere to be found. Overcome with a sense of dread, he cries out for Joe, searching throughout the cemetery. Alarmed by the futility of his search, Michael is overwhelmed by fear and heads for the Manor, crying all the way home. Grimy and tired Michael makes his way to the property line of Tradesman Manor. He can see his Dad with a small contingency of servants and stable hands on horseback, heading in the opposite direction: towards the grove. Michael, yells at the top of his lungs in hopes to catch his father’s attention.
But, Michael’s father with his servants race out of sight, deep in to the forest, to search the grove for missing Joe.***
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1100AM Tradesman Manor
Cameron while hearing the fervor of his mothers despair and now that the entire family is up in arms begins to come down the stairs crying. Julia turns around seeing his son’s condition tells Cameron that it will be alright. Cameron ill at ease of his mother’s words tells her that it won’t be alright. Julia puzzled looked at Cameron surprised and asked what he meant. Cameron in a fit of tears cries out that Michael and Joe are at the old cemetery. Julia’s face goes flush as Michael comes running through the front door covered in mud, sweat and tears. Exasperated from his marathon, Michael cries to his mother that he can’t find Joe. Julia’s face immediately turns to anger as the boys have been told countless amount of times to never to go to the old cemetery. The tears increased between Cameron and Michael as Julia also broke down in tears grabbing and clutching on to her two boys to help ease their pain.
Moments pass as Julia finally gathers composure. Wiping the tears from her face as well as her boys she begins to give out orders. Cameron I want you to get your dad out of the grove and tell him where we went. Cameron briefly sniffles and runs out the front door of the manor. Deanna, go down to the temple of Pelor and get Brother Icairious and let him know what has happened. Deanna immediately puts down her apron and begins to run to town to the temple of Pelor. Millie, stay with the babies and Michael you are with me. Julia picks up her husbands back pack and begins a journey to the old cemetery with Michael leading the way.
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1200PM Temple of Pelor.
Deanna enters into the chapel proper and hails a nearby acolyte. Trying to catch her breath she explains of the need to speak with brother Icairious. They both immediately enter the chapel area as the brother standing upon the pulpit giving a sermon with nearly a hundred patrons sitting in the pews. With the sudden entry of both the acolyte and Deanna, Brother Icairius stopped his sermon as the entire congregation watched on as the two quickly moved to the pulpit. Deanna explained the situation as her words seemed to echo through out the temple. The patrons began speaking one amongst the others as many of them began leaving their seats as to go to the nearby old cemetery. Icairious even though spoke out in dismissing the congregation people were already heading out of the pews and into the chapel proper. Men were taking up horses while others returning to their homes to get some gear. It was like a small army was leaving for the old cemetery. Horses, wagons, blood hounds and entire contingency of people began a forced march to the old cemetery.
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1300PM Beyond the Grove
Cameron with all haste runs through the grove in hopes to find his dad and the search party. Apparently they have moved on and expanded the search and rather than turning back to the Manor House Cameron continues through the grove to the outer fence of the Estate. As Cameron continues he can hear from afar the sounds of men calling out for Michael and Joe. Managing to make it through the tree line he can see his dad’s men searching in the pattern of a strait line with his dad sitting atop his black stallion calling out for his son’s squinting in hopes to see a clearer picture of them in the nearby wood. Cameron calling out from the top of his lungs gets his fathers attention. Theodore turns his horse and quickly rides to meet with his son. Out of breath Cameron tells his dad of what he was told as Theodore picks Cameron up on the saddle and returns to his men. The men began gathering up their horses and those who had no horses began the trek to the old cemetery.
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1300PM Through the Wood
The pace between Julia and her son Michael was slow and difficult. Michael was already exhausted from running home to bare the news. As his mother was trying to ensure a firm path, her foot gave out from under her and began to fall. Michael instinctively tried to grab his mothers hand but to no avail, she began a spiral into a wash falling awkwardly into its rocky and wood congested place. Julia can hear the strain in her ankle and new before she came to a halt that it was broken. Michael trekked down to his mother seeing her crying with pain. His eyes began to swell with tears feeling guilty for all that has happened so far. As Julia tried to grab hold of something sturdy to help her back on her feet, it was useless, her ankle was broke. Julia tried to ease Michael’s frustration encouraging him that things will be alright. Julia shifted herself to grab hold of her husbands bag to find whatever resources that were their. As Michael looked on he managed to gather some wood in hopes to make a brace and a cane. Than began working together to help his mom get her ankle set so she could get out of the wash. They both tried together but both of them combined were too tired. Julia took out some treats that her husband had in his bag and split it with Michael which help lift up both of their spirits. They drank some water from her husband’s canteen in which they both shared. Sitting their encouraging one another that soon some one will come and find them off the foot path, they sat and rested, waiting for the first signs of life.
More to come...
Joe's Story
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1500PM The Old Cemetery
Theodore enters in a small clearing to an area of grave sites from long ago. Most of the graves and memorials are over grown with brush and vegetation. Most of the headstones knocked on to the ground as if it was done more recently were a clue of his sons doing. Beyond the sounds of his horse stirring, the silent in the trees and the wood was alarming. Theodore yelled out, JOE! JOE! JOE! The silent was suddenly disturbed by another voice. DAD! DAD!
Michael? Theodore responded. Unaware of there predicament Theodore began following after the voice of his son Michael. Others from his group began to arrive as they too followed after Theodore.
Dad! Dad! We are over here! Mom’s hurt! Theodore began lifting up his stride as he bean to approach a long wash. There at the bottom of it he could see his wife Julia lying down beside Michael who standing up with dry streaks of tears on his face. “By the gods” what happened?
Julia responds, “I broke my ankle.” Theodore grabs a rope off his saddle as the rest of his men start doing the same thing. One at a time they come down off the side of the wash making inventory of the situation. The men begin making a gurney while Michael makes his way up the wash. Michael relieved of their rescue walks over to the nearby cemetery. Calling out again for Joe, As the men manage to get Julia out of the ravine some are tasked to take her home. Julia argues to remain as the two agree until more help arrives. The men turn their attention to the search for Joe and begin fanning out around the cemetery. As the men did so Theodore began to question Michael.
Apparently the boys use to come here and tell scary stories. This would explain why many nights they would be up to the wee ours scared. More recently they had taken it upon themselves to add vandalism to their scary stories. Cameron had grown tired of coming to the Cemetery while Michael wanted to teach Joe the lessons of knocking down tomb stones. It didn’t take long to figure that Michael got a little bit over grossed in his deeds when he realized Joe was missing. The question still remains, how long?
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1600PM The Old Cemetery
The Tradesman servants continue to search the area of any sign of Joe. Theodore tries every means of tracking his son’s whereabouts and fails. Frustrated by his attempts more people begin showing from Greater Gradsul. The Servants of Pelor, local families as well as some of the militia. A hundred people totaled who were there to help find Joe. The blood hounds for some unknown reason are unable to track in this area, so they went to the outer parts of the cemetery.
Freeday 7 Wealson 585CY, 1700PM Old Cemetery
Sun is going down and the men begin preparing camp for an over night when Niegel Bear Trap arrives offering his skills in tracking. Some people sensed he was a bit on edge but it was believed it was because he had once tracked a Troll cave near by. Needless to say a search party was gathered to accompany Niegel to the cave while others began to return home and come at first light.
Sturday 8 Wealson 585CY, 0000 Hour Old Cemetery
Tracking party returns after searching Troll cave, some how the party got separated from Niegel but was able to find one another once again in the trail back. The men bed down for the night and wait first day light.
Sturday 8 Wealson 585 CY, 0600 Hour Old Cemetery
Encampment comes alive once again as Niegel offers to track down some local caves in hopes to find Joe. This time Theodore accompanies Niegel and the men to try his skills at tracking.
To be continued...
Joes Story continued...
Sturday 9 Wealson 585 CY 1200 Old Cemetery Extension
Water begins trickling down in the lower cavern saturating the area in which Joe is sitting. Joe begins to cry out, yet over the noise of the trickling water and the thunderstorms over head muffles his voice to any nearby rescuers. The cavern slowly fills with water as the skeleton slowly submerges below the on coming rain. Joe yells out once again, yet the rain storm does not hold back its fury.
Sturday 9 Wealson 585 CY 1205 Old Cemetery Extension
The search party continues to search around the old grave sight when Theodore notices another oddity, a stone grave mausoleum has water seeping through some boarded up hole next to it. The stone grave when touched turns out to be nothing more than a wooden box that at one time was intended to cover the hole. Looking down into the hole Theodore could see what apparently is a old well which at the moment was filling up with water. Theodore instinctively hollers out, JOE! JOE! ARE YOU THERE?
Dad? DAD! DAD! I’M IN HERE. ITS FILLING UP WITH WATER DAD PLEASE HELP ME!
The hole is too small for any man to go in when Michael stands up to see if he could help. At that point Theodore ties the rope around Michael who more than willingly takes upon himself to do so. Theodore lowers the rope as the others assist. Joe is standing up now unaware he is clutching on to the arrow and sash. Michael is lowered and begins to untie himself and tie Joe. Quickly he is raised up into the hands of his dad and then onto the acolytes when the rope is lowered once again to retrieve Michael. The water in the well has risen another foot where Michael is just short of having to tread water. Hastily Michael ties off the rope and the remainder of the party pulls him out of harms way as the well continues to fill.
Just before Joe passes out with exhaustion he tells about a man who was down there named Ru Ock.
Sturday 9 Wealson 585 CY 1300 Old Cemetery
Once they arrive at base camp the acolytes tend to Joes needs as Theodore was looking on he can see two items that Joe was holding in his hand, one within his belt. A arrow and a sash. Theodore immediately recognized the sash. It was his fathers and after close examination realized it was Nigels arrow. After looking back at the well, Theodore carefully put aside these new found possessions in a place where he can examine them further.
Sunday 10 Wealson 585 CY 0800 Old Cemetery
The storm had passed and the camp was broken down as Joe and the Tradesman family returned to the Manor House. Strangely enough Nigel never returned to base camp even to see if he was home appeared to be abandoned as well.
Epilogue:
For years Joe would speak of his Friend Ru Ock and it seemed Ru Ock was the true hero of the day. As for the well; eventually Theodore had it examined by the local constable and discovered that there was a man at the bottom of the well. The remains were taken to the temple of Pelor and Brother Icairius confirmed in fact that it was truly Theodore’s dad. A bounty was up for the return for questioning of Nigel Bear Trap, but as the days continued Nigiel was never seen again.
Icairius finally was able to make the Old Cemetery as new, even was able to post a sign of its original name, “True Rock Cemetery’. Theodore gave his dad Darius Trades man a proper burial and up to the day in which they departed for Sasserine they continue to visit his grave sight at the True Rock Cemetery. As for Joe, well, that’s a on going story. Just remember, everyone needs a friend.
11 Coldeven, 597 CY
Joe awakens from th other side of death and their standing beside him is Ru Ock. Ru Ock where am I?
Your finally home Joe.
Joe Smiles.
Joe, by the way my name is not Ru Ock.
Really?
No Joe, it is …
Fade to black.
I’m Done
Nice wrap up, Paul.
Friday Night
February 9, 2007
OK. First off, we have a new player. His name is Don Hendricks and he will be running the human warlock, Tormos. Second, Rob was never excited about Mithos the dwarven cleric, so we dip into the crewmen picked up in Renkrue and presto! Rob’s new character, Markos the Black, a human swashbuckler.
Continuation of the Captain’s Log as scribed by Captain Amella Venkalie…
Godsday, 11 Coldeven, Common Year 597
Morning. It seemed that the gods of the sea had answered our prayers by saving us from the ravages of the storm we faced over the course of the past two days. The new crewmen we were fortunate enough to take on in Renkrue (luck, that our reputation had not proceeded us there) proved competent and a great boon. However, the becalmed seas and the sight I laid eyes on after the morning fog burned off make me wonder if perhaps that isn’t the case after all. We are separated from Blue Nixie and have no idea whether she fared better than us or if maybe she is mired in the same vast Sargasso that we have found ourselves trapped in. I don’t even know where we are. We could be anywhere.
Midmorning. This mat of seaweed stretches to the horizon. We are fortunate in that there is but a ¼ mile to aft to open seas. The problem lies in the fact that no matter how I set the crew and passengers to work on tearing the stuff free from our hull, it seems to grow back at an alarming and supernatural speed. The shapes of nearly half a dozen other ships stuck lifeless in this green hell bodes badly for us. The quiet and the stench of rotting kelp baking in the sun reminds me of a ship graveyard.
Joe and the others are going to investigate the mired ship that lies off our port bow a few hundred feet away. They are going to see if a log was left that we might gain some helpful information from.
Midday. The others have returned in company with an odd looking sailor by the name of Tormos, last survivor of the Rage, the ship they went to investigate. The man has red eyes, teeth that are a bit too sharp, and fingers stained purple and black from god’s know what. More troubling than him, though, Joe is dead-killed by plant creatures lurking in the ruined ship. I’m shocked as I record this. Joe had become quite dear to me and I find myself troubled by our last real private meeting where he laid his heart open to me after the incident with the hydra. I turned away from him. I had to. He was young and naïve. He wanted to marry me! I had to put a stop to it. I still love my dear Heldram and will never love another the way I loved him. Now Joe is dead like my dear Heldram. Am I a curse to the men that swear their love to me?
I will return to my duties. It is all I have that is keeping me sane at the moment. The stillness and the queer sounds that come to us from the vast stretch of green are unsettling. Tormos claims that the Sargasso is alive with plant creatures that attack in the night. He has given us some tips on how to keep them from entering the ship and believes that an answer to our problems may be found at the center of the Sargasso in the ruin of the oldest ship mired in its embrace. Tomorrow the Rusty Raiders and this new sailor along with one of the new crewmen will trek out to the ship to see if they can learn anything.
Dusk. I’ve had a chance to read the log of the Captain of the Rage. Dear gods! Even now as dusk approaches I can see forms moving out in the vast stinking green as if awaking like a spider that has discovered something juicy caught in its web. Heavens have mercy on us! It is as if we are about to relive the last days of the Rage.
First Watch. The creatures have come at us in 3 waves this evening. We all stayed belowdecks, myself with my crew protecting our passengers in the cargo hold while our adventurers stood guard above us. The first wave wrenched the cargo hatch off the main deck and dropped down among the adventurers. They were destroyed quickly enough. These were followed by another wave on the deck. While they attacked, two others squeezed into the ship somehow and attacked us in the cargo hold. We held our own until Dennick and Bosco dropped down to help us and destroyed the things.
It will be a long night. A soft cooing can be heard from the dozens of creatures sighted out in the mire under the moonlight. They whisper, “Outsiders, outsiders, outsiders…”
Waterday, 12 Coldeven, Common Year 597
Morning. There were no other attacks during the night, but most of us couldn’t sleep. My dreams were filled with drowning suffocating weeds pulling me into the briny depths when I could manage to get to sleep. We are quite fatigued and slipping inexorably towards desperation. The adventurers are about to set out with Tormos to investigate the ruined ship at the center of the Sargasso. I have to wonder as I watch them gather their gear if I will see any of them again…
**End of the 7th session**
Friday Night
February 9, 2007OK. First off, we have a new player. His name is Don Hendricks and he will be running the human warlock, Tormos. Second, Rob was never excited about Mithos the dwarven cleric, so we dip into the crewmen picked up in Renkrue and presto! Rob’s new character, Markos the Black, a human swashbuckler.
Continuation of the Captain’s Log as scribed by Captain Amella Venkalie…
I just wanted to add my thanks for keeping up this campaign journal... I've been reading these adventures avidly, and am dying to run them myself... I'm living vicariously through your tabletop!
With the accelerating death rate among the Rusty Raiders, though, do you think it's time to start a "Savage Tide Obituary" thread yet? I'm counting three dead PCs (Id, Joe, and the other one early one I forgot), and a few more who dropped out along the way... I do appreciate that you recently recapped who's even in the party these days... Man, do the Rusty Raiders need a cleric, druid, or favored soul!
I'm looking forward to seeing if they survive this "Night of the Living Dead" sargasso patch! Thanks!
I just wanted to add my thanks for keeping up this campaign journal... I've been reading these adventures avidly, and am dying to run them myself... I'm living vicariously through your tabletop!
With the accelerating death rate among the Rusty Raiders, though, do you think it's time to start a "Savage Tide Obituary" thread yet? I'm counting three dead PCs (Id, Joe, and the other one early one I forgot), and a few more who dropped out along the way... I do appreciate that you recently recapped who's even in the party these days... Man, do the Rusty Raiders need a cleric, druid, or favored soul!
I'm looking forward to seeing if they survive this "Night of the Living Dead" sargasso patch! Thanks!
I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying it. The loss of Joe the character and Paul the player was kind of like Jack from Lost being killed off, but the campaign marches on.
The deaths of all of the PCs that have bit it so far are actually posted on the Savage Tide Obituaries thread already. So far, in order, our deaths have included Mathias Bendecker, Terren Whistlegap, Id, and Joe. NPCs have died as well, but I don't count them in the obituaries. Mithos the dwarven cleric will remain with Sea Wyvern as the ship's priest and is now an NPC. So they do have some clerical power should they need to call on it. Had Dan decided to keep playing Athearis the half-elven druidess, he would have been in hog heaven once they reach the Isle of Dread in about one or two more session, but, meh. Whatever.
Just to update the current line up, here's who's playing what:
April: Sarina, halfling rogue
Dan: Bosco, gnome sorcerer
Don: Tormos, human warlock
Jon: Sakeema, elven ranger
Rob: Markos the Black, human swashbuckler
Stanley: Dennick, human fighter
Well, for the record, Markos the Black is actually my own version of a swashbuckler. Bard/fighter/dragon disciple and later down the road, dervish. Unless you have to be female for that one. I'm kinda missing Mithos, though.
I doubt I will be happy for awhile with any character aside from Id. Markos has a good personality, though.
Well, for the record, Markos the Black is actually my own version of a swashbuckler. Bard/fighter/dragon disciple and later down the road, dervish. Unless you have to be female for that one. I'm kinda missing Mithos, though.
I doubt I will be happy for awhile with any character aside from Id. Markos has a good personality, though.
Oops! I kinda had the feeling I got that wrong. I probably heard you say "swashbuckling" to describe him or something. Thanks for the correction.
Lately I’ve felt that as things occur around me that I’m in some sort of trance , one in which I observe what happens but can’t respond. No emotions. As if I’m dead inside. Perhaps I’m still not quite over my aunt’s death or that of my cousin. (Or perhaps because I haven’t been gaming lately!) Finally I’ve been awakened from my slumber, only to find Joe dead and Sakeema the only last survivor of our original group. I’m not quite sure that I trust him yet. I keep hearing him in my nightmares agreeing to throw me overboard with the rest. And every time he mentions “our” boat, I can imagine in his cone-shaped elven head he is picturing me being once again tossed overboard so that he can lay claim to the ship. I’ve got to admit, I also feel that there is an alliance with Bosco and Dennick that has me concerned. Maybe I’m just paranoid. In splitting treasure Bosco claimed the best cloak in the world….the cloak of the Manta Ray, only then to turn around and give it to Dennick when he knew we were at odds over it. Then while traveling through the Sargasso Dennick so graciously carries Bosco on his shoulders. Booooo! The gnome has feet, (not as attractive as mine) let him use them! And now our new “friend” Tormos, with a dashing smile which turns haunting when you see his sharp teeth! I’m just paranoid. Just a little paranoid. Or maybe it’s just this creepy place.
Mental note.... hmmm it appears as though Sarina will maybe just get this cloak after all, for it looks like I will not be making it out of this cursed ship alive... These freaking weeds are really beginning to piss me off. Even with the bag of tricks my new friend has, I do not think that he will be able to help me out of this. Oh well, it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Note to readers: Since I was writing my last entry from the perspective of the Captain of Sea Wyvern, I left off a bit of what happened when the PCs reached the wreck at the center of the Sargasso. I also didn't write about it because we're in the middle of an uresolved combat between the characters and several vine horrors bolstered by animated vines of seaweed. Dennick has good reason to fear for his life since he's being crushed in the grip of one of the animated vines.
Friday, February 16
We finished up the Sargasso section of The Sea Wyvern's Wake.
12 Coldeven, 597 CY
The adventures had sloshed their way across the Sargasso seaweed mat all day to finally reach the partially sunk wreck of a large ship named The Thunderer. As they neared it, the Sargasso seemed to stir. Behind them, hundreds of plant men abominations rose up to move in on them whispering "Outsiders... outsiders... outsiders..." They knew there was no turning back at this point. Tormos had the arcane ability to fly, but the rest of them were stuck if they didn't find whatever it was they were after here and "fix" it.
Inside the sinking ship, the party was confronted by waves of vine horrors and animated patches of seaweed and kelp that filled every part of the decrepit vessel. Tormos and Dennick were grabbed by the slimy gobs of plantlife while the others tried to destroy the creatures that were animating them. Dennick survived, but Tormos did not.
Checking up top to see how close the plant creatures had gotten the party noticed one of the crewmen from Sea Wyvern named Larthros running as fast as he could from the swarm of plant creatures that were creeping ever closer to The Thunderer. Larthros reported that Captain Amella had sent him in pursuit to report back if they didn't survive whatever abomination was waiting for them out here. Larthros was just as hemmed in as the others now so he joined them in delving deeper in the belowdecks areas of the ship.
The bottom level contained a gaping hole with a slimy shaft descending from it to dark churning waters and gibbering monstorsities of half formed plant men clinging to the slimy shaft to the bottom.
A vicious fight ensued against the Mother of these creatures, a huge pile of reaking sea weed, kelp, shark teeth, barnacles, and other flotsam vaguely resembling something bloated and humanoid shaped. The abomination was covered in partially developed young that gibbered and shrieked, clawing at anything close enough for them to reach.
Larthros fell to the bottom of the watery pit and was slaughtered by the murderous children of the Mother. Sareena was slashed and bitten multiple times until she was slain. Bosco used an enlarge person spell to make the throughly beaten down Denick bigger and more formiddable a combatant. Markos the Black sang a rousing song of bravery and victory against overwhelming odds that bolstered the surviving party members. Sakeema sank numerous arrows into the creature while Denick slashed it repeatedly with his hulking chain.
The return blows from the Mother were vicious and nearly fatal several times if not for the party's store of healing magic. Eventually, the plant abomination could take no more hits and blew apart with the last hit.
The ship shuddered and started to lean to aft. The party quickly gathered up the treasure they found in the main hold, grabbed Sareena's body, and went topside to see if The Thunderer had a serviceable skiff. She did indeed have one that could still float. They jumped in and as the dead galley sank beneath them they floated among the bits of Sargasso that were breaking apart.
All around them, other ships began to sink into the ocean. A bit later the welcome sight of Sea Wyvern's sails came in view and they were picked up.
With the Sargasso still haunting them and costing them a high price in lives, the journeyed on towards their destination.
Mithos was told about the wrappings that the party had found in Tamoachon and was able to explain after studying them, that a person wrapped in them for 24 hours would be brought back to life.
Sareena was wrapped head to toe and for 24 hours Mithos offered prayers and kept vigil over her.
13 Coldeven, 597 CY
Late in the day Sareena breathed deeply and her eyes fluttered open. Mithos administered much needed healing spells and Sareena was back among the living, healthy, slightly drained of vitality, and a bit haunted by her memories of the Mother of All.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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Yikes! It just seems to be getting more and more lethal! In the beginning it seemed like there were characters developing and there was a nice "family against the odds" thing going on. Now it's more of an epic struggle with deaths left, right and centre.
Nice to hear that Sareena made it back :)
Yikes! It just seems to be getting more and more lethal! In the beginning it seemed like there were characters developing and there was a nice "family against the odds" thing going on. Now it's more of an epic struggle with deaths left, right and centre.
You get that feeling too? When these guys finally get to just relax for a while in Farshore, I think both the players and their characters will feel a great sense of relief. I woulnd't be surprised if they wanted to just settle down to a life of dirt farming after so many harrowing experiences. Of course, the adventuring itch is too strong a compulsion to ignore for them ;)
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You get that feeling too? When these guys finally get to just relax for a while in Farshore, I think both the players and their characters will feel a great sense of relief. I woulnd't be surprised if they wanted to just settle down to a life of dirt farming after so many harrowing experiences. Of course, the adventuring itch is too strong a compulsion to ignore for them ;)
And they still have Olangru...
I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying it. The loss of Joe the character and Paul the player was kind of like Jack from Lost being killed off, but the campaign marches on.I just wanted to add my thanks for keeping up this campaign journal... I've been reading these adventures avidly, and am dying to run them myself... I'm living vicariously through your tabletop!
Thanks!
Steve—I second what AY said…I also really appreciate you putting your campaign here for all of us to read!
The Isle of Dread has always been my favorite “dungeon” from the old days…probably because I have always been partial to playing a ranger, druid, or a variation of a ranger/druid! I’m really glad that you and others have gotten together to bring it back, updated for the new rules, and the media that DUNGEON gives you to elaborate on all the adventures…an underground city…I never saw that one coming!
Well, back to the campaign…I’m really sorry that so many characters have been getting killed off! You must have more “adventurers” booking passage on the Sea Wyvern then any other ship sailing out of Sasserine!!! And losing Joe/Paul definitely appears to have been a major blow! He seemed like the best leader/tactician for the group…if only the rest of the party would have listened to him more often they might have seen more success up until now? Well, no sense crying over spilled wine! I know the players may be trying their best to stay in character and I’m not going to say that I could whip them into fighting shape but I would just encourage someone to take the lead and attempt to have the team be a little more tactical and less impulsive in their plans?
Do you think you may want to give them a few more aquatic encounters or maybe a stop over on a small island before they make landfall on the Isle of Dread? It seems like they all could use a little R&R, and maybe the opportunity “to cut their teeth” a little more before getting to the Isle and all hell breaks loose? Just my two-cents…
How I wish my life was a bit simpler now and that I might have the opportunity to adventure with your folks, but I guess I will have to be satisfied with reading your updates and cheering from the sidelines! Best of luck to the party and know that they have a Ranger/Druid/Mage who envies them and hopes they enjoy the new, improved Isle of Dread as much as I did ~15 years ago!
Fair Winds and Following Seas to you all!
Thanks a lot for all the nice words and observations, Jaegyr. I'm pretty merciless as a DM (ask my players!), but you're right, these guys have had it pretty rough. I'm considering throwing in a break here and there in the next couple of gaming sessions. However, things are not quite so dreary around the gaming table as reflected here in the journal. We're all having a ton of fun with the campaign (well, with the exception of Paul who is no longer with us) and looking forward to getting further into it. My guys are quite excited about getting to the 5th installment which I wrote and seeing how it turned out.
As for Paul, I don't have anything bad to say about him. That said, he as a player had not won the confidence of his fellow players. There was a kind of "do as I say, not as I do" thing going on at the game table that undermined his attempts at being a leader.
I am quite excited about Rob's new character. I think he will make a really good edition to this party and fill the void that Joe left. Now if only Rob could show up for every session :|
Well, keep reading and thanks again for the encouragement.
One second I find myself running and running just trying to catch a breath and take a potion of healing and the next I’m sitting with my Aunt and cousin arguing over who has the biggest, fuzziest feet while sipping tea and having the most incredibly delicious piece of pumpkin pie. This happiness goes on, I don’t know if for a second or maybe an hour when I hear the voice of Denick at a far distance. At first I try to ignore him as to not spoil my wonderful conversation but soon I hear his voice in my head, asking me to come back…mentioning that he will be willing to trade me for that wonderful Manta Ray cloak. He mentions something about being the owner of the ship and he keeps talking and talking…and I feel like telling him to just be quiet, he is ruining my tea time…he sounds so sad….talking about how he chose to save me even though others died. I tell my aunt “save me some pie”.
Friday, February 23
We had another new player join us tonight, rescued from a horrifically lame game he had been languishing in when I found him ;) Anthony is bringing in a Healer class character (from Miniatures Handbook) named Doldramus, which should be quite welcome to this group. Don’s new character was also brought into play; a Wizard/Rainbow Servant named Tharivol. Hopefully these two will join in on our journal and describe their characters a bit more.
12 Coldeven – 16 Coldeven, 597 CY
Following the breaking up of the Sargasso sea mat, Sea Wyvern enjoyed good winds and smooth sailing for several days. About 3 days had gone by when Sakeema spotted a small skiff in the distance. Captain Amella altered course a bit to intercept the small vessel. As they neared it, they could see that two men were floating aimlessly in the ocean having no oar, rudder, or sail. One was a human monk or something and the other was a short elf with the look of the Amedio Jungle about him.
The two castaways were brought aboard Sea Wyvern, both sunburned and weak from exposure. One of them, a human male named Doldramus, was a clerical type and had kept the two of them alive for the past couple weeks by praying to his god for food and water every day after their ship had sunk in the same storm that had mired Sea Wyvern in the vast green sea mat. The other, Tharivol, was some kind of exotic elven wizard. Not a whole lot was forthcoming about them, but they were certainly capable of helping out aboard the Sea Wyvern, so when she got the OK from Serena and Sakeema, she found work to keep them busy with and entered their names in the ship’s log.
17 Coldeven, 597 CY
Mid morning, Sakeema and the new passenger, Doldramus, noticed a smell in the air and an ill wind that warned of a coming storm. This ill-omened news was slightly forgotten for a short while when Sakeema cried, “Land ho!” Off in the distance the dark speck of the northern shores of the Isle of Dread had come into view to his sharp elven eyes and pretty soon it was visible to everyone else on the ship. Ragged cheers went up. They were finally closing in on their goal!
The cheery mood didn’t last long, though. By noon a vast wall of grey clouds and lightning strokes loomed in the distance masking the shores of the Isle. For the next couple hours, preparations were made to get through the storm until by 2:00 in the afternoon rain began pelting the Sea Wyvern, at first soft and soothing, but quickly increasing to a hard, stinging torrent. Lightning struck over and over and the storm seemed to go on and on.
The competence of Captain Amella behind the wheel and the help of Denick, Sakeema, and Tharivol with the rest of the crew kept Sea Wyvern riding high on the waves. They really thought they would get through the storm unscathed until a horrible grinding sounded from beneath the waves and Sea Wyvern suddenly came to a jarring stop and lurched dangerously to port. Those on deck were hard pressed to keep from sliding overboard and poor Denick was unable to resist being swept off the deck and into the churning waves.
As Captain Amella called out orders and took stock of the situation, Denick fought the waves and began swimming back to the ship. A shrill whistling cry pierced the night above the sounds of wind, tattered sails flapping, and the report of thunder. A massive sea worm with a gaping lamprey-like maw of sharp teeth and a head ringed by long, sharp quills emerged from the boiling sea and bit at Denick, saturating the sea with his blood.
Others were racing to get to the deck while Sakeema fired arrows at the serpent and Bosco cast spells at the creature from a port hole below decks. Doldramus was ready to heal anyone that took wounds and Tharivol supported the others with barrages of spells of his own. Mithos hit the thing with a searing light spell that momentarily lit the scene of battle in a bright flash. Serena also helped by firing bolts at the thing from a port hole in fore section of the below decks quarters. Fortunately, the monster was killed before it could do more damage to Denick or anyone else on the stuck ship. Denick was hauled up on to the deck and everyone began working to get the ship off the reef it had run aground on.
Soon the ship was off the reef and heading south. The dark shapes of the northern cliffs of the Isle of Dread were now somewhat visible as Sea Wyvern limped onward. The reef had badly damaged the vessel. The ship was holed in several sections. Everyone on board that wasn’t working on the deck was put to bailing water. This went on through the night until the ship grinded onto a rocky, storm tossed beach.
The last journal entry of Captain Amella Venkalie…
Godsday, 18 Coldeven, Common Year 597
Morning. It appears that our journey has finally reached an end. Despite my best efforts to save this ship from treachery, monsters, becalmed seas and monstrous plants, and the worst storms I have ever encountered, Sea Wyvern has finally succumbed to the ravages of the Pearl Sea. We are holed and beached on the northeast portion of the Isle of Dread (if my geographical skills are accurate, which I am not entirely certain of). Even magic cannot repair the damages without all of the necessary supplies we need. We have a single cask of tar in the flooded hold. The others along with a good portion of our supplies must have been lost in the gaping holes in Sea Wyvern’s wounded belly.
As my crew and I and our adventuring employers and their comrades discussed our options on the beach, a horrible monster emerged from the jungle to find a meal among us. I don’t know exactly what it was. It was huge and looked like some kind of wingless dragon with tiny vestigial forearms and a massive gaping maw and its overly large head. It walked on thickly muscled hind legs and shook the ground with each step.
Markos, that crazy fool, immediately charged at the creature brandishing his swords while the passengers (gods bless their common sense) fled back into the sea. I shouted that they would be safe there since the thing couldn’t swim. I have no idea whether this is true or not, but it worked to get them safely out of harm’s way. Denick followed behind Markos, growing larger as he went thanks to the enlarging spell the gnome Bosco like to cast on him.
The others standing near me either used ranged weapons or cast spells at the behemoth. I found nothing useful I could do, so I too fled into the sea with the passengers.
Markos, I think was attempting some fool flanking maneuver when the creature dipped its head and suddenly had him in his mouth. Denick hit the think with that oversized chain of his, but a moment later the monster gulped Markos down. It turned to flee back into the jungle where I suppose it would have happily digested Markos, but another barraged of attacks dropped the beast. Everyone watched mutely as we supposed we had lost another life when suddenly Markos cut his way out of the beast and clambered out covered in reeking slime and stomach acids that he quickly washed off in the sea. There were many passengers awed by the sight. I admit it was something to behold. Our cabin boy, Tavey, seems quite taken with him. Good for the lad. Since Joe’s death he has been withdrawn and moody. Perhaps a new hero will help him get over it.
Noon. We have decided to make our way down the eastern coast with Urol’s knowledge of the flora and fauna and the lay of the land along with the maps I have rescued. The passengers have been loaded up with the supplies we could rescue (only 3 days worth of food) and the men armed with the crossbows we had in the hold. There are 30 of us. The gods only know how many of us will actually reach the safety of the villages of the natives on the southern peninsula. Realistically speaking, this will probably be my last entry. I have fulfilled my duties as best I could.
Later that day…
The shrieks and caws of exotic birds and unidentified jungle wildlife echoed through the air as the survivors of the Sea Wyvern trekked southward. From behind them a high-pitched warbling screech brought Doldramus out of his thoughts. Two others answered. Doldramus advised the others that he believed a large flightless type of scavenger bird indigenous to this area must have found the carcass of the monster slain on the beach.
The party looked behind them at the massive swath of crushed vines and bushes the plodding steps of 30 people had left in their wake. There wasn’t much hope of covering their back trail.
Late night…
The group was organized into a concentrated gathering of passengers and crew at the center of a suitable campsite Sakeema had found as the sun was sinking behind the mountains looming over the jungle. The adventurers were set around the perimeter to protect them and watches were assigned.
During the 2nd watch, Denick and Markos heard the shuffling of bushes on the opposite side of the camp and suddenly three large birds with massive beaks and sharp claws rushed into the clearing. One attacked a sleeping passenger, a woman that had come on the expedition for the chance at farming new and exotic plants in this fertile land. In a single plunging stroke of the creature’s beak it crushed her head. The others looked to be focused on the snoring body of Mithos the dwarf. Denick lashed at the closest one with its chain eliciting an angry squawk and a changed in direction so that it now was going to attack Denick. The other clawed and bit at Mithos bringing the dwarf awake with a scream of pain.
Once everyone was awakened, it took only moments to kill two of the oversized predator birds, but the third managed to drag the woman it had attacked off into the jungle by her neck and was never seen again.
**End of Session**
Markos the Black, Human Bard 3, Fighter 2, Silver Dragon Disciple 1, CN, wielding a rapier and short sword.
From the Book of Noteworthy Deeds, Chapter 11, by Markos, as narrated from Markos the Black to Markos the Black.
Ladies man, adventurer, rogue, singer. Markos the Black is all these things and more. He is now a hero. Yes, that's right, a hero. It was Markos who bravely charged that fiendish, colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex on the beaches of the Isle of Dread.
After saving dozens of people from drowning in the turbulent waters off the coast of the Isle of Dread this massive beast straight from the Nine Hells charged the people resting on the beach. Women and children ran from the beast and he knew he would have to act quickly to save them.
He bravely charged up the beach screaming for everyone to flee. The monster snapped at him once, twice, three times, all of which he narrowly dodged with the honed skill of seasoned warrior. The beast had its mouth hanging open and, with no regard for his own safety, Markos the Black jumped in to the beasts gaping maw knowing that the only chance he would have of destroying the beast would be from the inside out.
The monster thought Markos would make a tasty snack. No amount of milk of the poppy could have cured the upset stomach the creature must have gotten after that meal.
A blast of fresh air and cheers greeted Markos as he cut his way from the fetid inside of the foul beast.
But Markos, the true hero that he is, needed no thanks. To know the people were safe was all that mattered to him.
Markos, after managing the logistics of supply, managed to rally the people for the long and arduous trek ahead of them. They would follow him, they said. He, and he alone, would lead them to their salvation.
Later that evening a group of odd, foul birds which had been following attacked our resting party. Luckily Markos happened to be on guard at the time or surely the party would have perished. With some help from the rest of the group Markos managed to dispatch the creatures back to the abyss from which they were spawned. Once again, Markos emerged unscathed, and the hero of yet another battle.
What surprises would tomorrow hold? Only Olidamarra knows.
He bravely charged up the beach screaming for everyone to flee. The monster snapped at him once, twice, three times, all of which he narrowly dodged with the honed skill of seasoned warrior. The beast had its mouth hanging open and, with no regard for his own safety, Markos the Black jumped in to the beasts gaping maw knowing that the only chance he would have of destroying the beast would be from the inside out.
The monster thought Markos would make a tasty snack. No amount of milk of the poppy could have cured the upset stomach the creature must have gotten after that meal.
A blast of fresh air and cheers greeted Markos as he cut his way from the fetid inside of the foul beast.
But Markos, the true hero that he is, needed no thanks. To know the people were safe was all that mattered to him.
Markos, after managing the logistics of supply, managed to rally the people for the long and arduous trek ahead of them. They would follow him, they said. He, and he alone, would lead them to their salvation.
LOL. Great post, Rob. So now it's a fiendish and colossal T-Rex, is it? ;)
LOL. Great post, Rob. So now it's a fiendish and colossal T-Rex, is it? ;)
I submit that it was. :]
What kind of Bard would Markos be if he didn't stretch the truth a little? I think I'm going to enjoy playing this guy.
Hmm...I just noticed that my post looks doubled...sorta? I'm not that retarded..... :[
Steve...you have to get another avatar. Your old one was so much more cool than that lame "Men in Black" take-off.
Just my two cents.
In the meantime, keep those guys on their toes!
Steve...you have to get another avatar. Your old one was so much more cool than that lame "Men in Black" take-off.
LOL. OK, Ok. Settle down. I was tired of the old one.
How's this one, then? I was always a fan of the Failed Wil Save articles, but maybe the cool guy sunglasses Wesley wasn't quite me. How about poker face, Wesley?I'm patiently waiting for whoever is responsible for updating the avatar images to start moving back to older issues so I can snag the illo for Aarrak from Fiend's Embrace, issue #121. It may never happen, though :(.
Ok, well I was going to post but I am just not feeling it... so hopefully I will be feeling it later this week...
Ok, well I was going to post but I am just not feeling it... so hopefully I will be feeling it later this week...
Oh, you're going to be feeling it all right come Friday night.
BTW, nice cheater way of posting something in the journal without actually saying anything.
Friday, March 2
Last week I jokingly mentioned that I had rescued Anthony, our newest player, from “a lame game he had been languishing in”. Guess the joke’s on me since he pulled a no call, no show on us last night. :\ So much for our healer. Guess Mithos gets stuck with first aid duty.
19 Coldeven, 597 CY
Next morning the party broke their fast and looked over the maps Lavinia brought along. Urol pointed out the group’s course, which would take them into a pass he believed existed in the eastern edge of the mountains looming to the south.
A light rainshower drenched everyone for about an hour and then quickly ceased. About midmorning, a trio of more the large flightless predator birds attacked. There were a few wounds to tended to afterwards, but the party seemed OK.
A bit later into the day Sakeema had taken point and suddenly came running back with distressed bellows coming from somewhere behind him. He shouted for everyone to get outta the way. The ground trembled as suddenly a huge dinosaur with a long sinuous neck, elephantine body, and long swishing tail came lumbering straight at them. Six of the terror birds were biting at its flanks and herding it northward.
The party took shots at the terror birds – spells, arrows, the long reach of Denik’s spiked chain, Markos’ flashing blades, and a flurry of crossbow bolts. The party accounted well for themselves, however, 3 of Sea Wyvern’s passengers were trampled to death by the huge dinosaur, which got away from the hunting birds thanks to the party’s aid.
The dead were buried and a dispute started up afterward. Some of the passengers felt it was safer to just go back to the Sea Wyvern while the adventurers went for help. There was a warm contention among everyone over this. In the end, Markos and Denik were unable to sway the 4 most outspoken craft folk and farmers that wanted to go back. They grabbed their belongings and began trekking back the way they had come.
There was an ill mood among the rest of the party as they let the others go and continued southward.
Not too long after that, the group came to the edge of a large depression in the jungle where nothing but tall, scraggly weeds grew and pools of water collected in different areas. In the distance, mature versions of the huge behemoth the party had saved earlier grazed on the grass and drank from the pools. Urol immediately wanted to go get a close up look and he was sarcastically told to go ahead. Urol merrily took off and a moment later Denik went after him, returning a few minutes later with the crestfallen gnome.
The party thought for sure that something would attack them as they crossed the massive crater, but nothing happened to them and the continued on once the climbed the other side.
In the late afternoon, the party spied a jumbled heap of ancient Olman ruins: tall standing stones, massive granite heads, and tumbled down rocks that may have once stood in some kind of significant formation. The ruins appeared draped in gossamer sheets that fluttered in the wind.
Once they got closer it was apparent that the “sheets” were layers and layers of webbing wherein hundreds of spiders scuttled about. Through the strands of webbing, the party spotted an ancient crone sitting on a throne of thick webs. She gestured for the party to come to her.
No one except Markos seemed to have the courage or perhaps foolishness to go talk to the woman. He strode up and conversed with her for several moments. She then turned into a huge hairy spider and scuttled into a web tunnel while Markos quickly backed out of the ruins nervously.
He advised everyone that the ancient woman warned of more terror birds to the south of the ruins and that there was a pass through the mountains called Dark Mountain Pass that they should be able to reach in a couple of hours.
Nearing dusk the party began trudging up the rocky foothills of the mountains following the old crone’s directions. Several terror birds emerged from their nests somewhere up ahead and began screeching at the party menacingly. A 5th terror bird much bigger than the others and brightly plumaged joined the rest and the creatures began charging down the hillside to attack.
The ensuing battle was a close one. Sarena was grabbed in the beak of one of them but landed a couple of well-placed blows that severely wounded it. Denik lashed at everything that came within the long reach of his chain after Bosco had enlarged him. Tharivol rained fireballs and magic missiles at the monsters. Markos, also enlarged, slashed at the creatures repeatedly. And Sakeema rained arrows on the beasts.
Denik went down under a flurry of claws and bites from the largest of the birds. Markos was there to keep the creature off of Denik while Mithos moved up and healed his wounds. In short order, all of the monstrous birds were killed.
After the fight, Urol and Denik retrieved 3 large eggs from one of the nests and the gnome excitedly chattered about raising some chicks. Markos found a ragged cloak on a dead body and retrieved it. Throwing it over his shoulders and fastening the clasp, he seemed just a tad more attractive and charismatic to the rest of the party.
**End of session**
Savaun--great stuff! I don't know how much of it is true, given Markos's flair to "elaborate" on events, but it looks like this party might actually have a leader to rally behind!!!
Keep the party crisp and tight! And hopefully this will mark an upturn in the fortunes of the characters, under the leadership of Markos :-)
Enjoy the island, wish I was there!
No session this week. Half of my players bailed on the game, so the rest of us did one of my favorite things: playtest!
Now, hopefully the module we were trying to work the bugs out of gets the coveted greenlight from Paizo and eventually sees print.
Our playtest last Friday was quite fun and my players want me to run the full version. So, we're taking a short break from the STAP and should be back to it in about 3 weeks. Our group will back to tackle Dark Mountain Pass on the Isle of Dread at that time.
::ping::
Had to dust this off before it got buried ;) We have one more session to go on our playtest break and then we'll be back to our regularly scheduled STAP campaign.
Friday, April 6
Well, we had a very good playtest break and now we return to our regular campaign.
This session deserves a name, so I’m calling it...
Dude! The Pudding Scored a Crittle!
Or…
The Unfortunate Demise of Markos the Black
…When last we played, the party had defeated the terror birds nesting near the entrance to Dark Mountain Pass as day was turning to night…
19 Coldeven, 597 CY
With night fast approaching, the party found a suitably hidden depression to camp for the night within sight of the entrance to Dark Mountain Pass. Fortunately, the tired group slept without interruption.
20 Coldeven, 597 CY
The party was up with the sun and were soon breaking camp, strapping on armor and gear, and shrugging into their packs. Marching up the tunnel through the mountain, the party took a moment to survey their surroundings. Urol informed Markos excitedly that the tunnel was several miles long. He hoped he’d get chance to see some interesting cave critters and plants.
As the party trekked through the long tunnel, they kept hearing sounds, and catching hints of movement behind them, just beyond the radius of their lanterns and torches. Stopping to investigate proved fruitless. The remaining passengers and crew from Sea Wyvern grew increasingly nervous and tense. Urol, however, was delighted to find a species of albino cave crickets and scampered after several of them to catch a few specimens.
Eventually, the party came to an end of the long tunnel where it entered into what Urol described as an ancient Olman outpost. He said it had been here when he visited the island before, but he didn’t remember much of the details since their wizard simply teleported them past it.
Markos and the rest of the party agreed that the crew and passengers should wait behind while they made sure the area was safe for them to travel through. In the first chamber they found a stone throne on a dais where a human ribcage was stuck to it by a spear. Markos recovered the spear with no incident and also found an ancient necklace sitting on the throne. A pool along the wall appeared to have good drinkable water. They spotted a red rod sitting at the bottom of the pool. Markos stripped down and dove in while Tavey Nesk, the cabin boy, watched his things for him. A moment later he emerged with the rod – a 2 ½-ft. long red stone cylinder. It bore no magical markings and clearly radiated no magical dweomer. However, the party hung on to it and proceeded up a set of wide stairs to a yawning chasm crossed by two stone bridges to double doors on the opposite wall. A pair of tall statues of ancient Olman warriors flanked the staircase on the near side, but were otherwise unremarkable aside from signs of long years of neglect and wear.
As Dennik and Sarena crossed the eastern bridge, a gargantuan albino centipede scuttled down from the wall and attacked. At the rear of the party, a second gargantuan centipede attacked the party members that were hanging back. Though severe wounds were inflicted on Dennik, the party slew the two giant vermin and crossed the eastern bridge to the double doors. The heavy portal was stuck and it took a lot of effort to finally shove the doors open.
The room beyond the doors was fairly large but unremarkable. The far corner wall had collapsed revealing a large pool of brackish water. Double doors stood at the other side of the chamber.
The group all entered and began looking around. Markos decided to investigate the pool. Others approached the second set of doors.
As Markos stepped up to the pool, he and Sarena both noticed the surface of the dark water quiver unexpectedly. Sarena called out a warning and fired a crossbow bolt into the murky surface. Where it hit, the water seemed to split and suddenly two dark slimy things began moving up out of the water… Black Puddings!
Both of the horrible oozes struck Markos before he could step away and he was pulled into the farthest of the two and disappeared inside its slimy mass. Sakeema fired several arrows, which resulted in his target splitting again. He then drew his sword and ran up to attack, but the things struck at him with slimy black appendages before he could get close enough to hit them. One of them wrapped its acidic tendrils around him and he too was pulled down into the murky water inside the body of the huge ooze.
Tharivol hit one of the oozes with magic missiles and Mithos attacked with a searing light spell. This was enough to destroy the one holding Sakeema. Of Markos, there was no sign, only a bubbling, hissing rising up from the water as the ooze holding him dissolved Markos to goo.
Tharivol cast a spell that exchanged the places of his snake familiar and Sakeema. Acting quickly, Denick used his strand of prayer beads to stabilize the elf once the spell transported him at his feet.
Sarena was the last person in the chamber and was about to get surrounded by the two remaining black puddings. She quickly drank a potion of gaseous form and rose up into the air heading towards the exit.
Another spell from Tharivol struck one of the damaged oozes in a cacophonous burst of sound and destroyed it. That left only one, which was now sliding along the ground out onto the bridge following the party as it withdrew to the other side of the chasm.
Mithos and Denik decided to try and push one of the massive statues over onto the thing once it got close enough. Tharivol agreed to act as bait. When the slimy black ooze was finally close enough, Mithos and Denik pushed as hard as they could. The statue slowly leaned outward and then finally fell over onto the pudding with a resounding SPLAT! sending bits of black pudding spraying everywhere.
**Unfortunately, that’s as far as we got during this session. Markos is dead and Sakeema had all of his clothing and gear dissolved. Welcome back to the STAP, guys! **
Since Markos has seen fit to die in a most horrible fashion I cannot post for him. I am developing my new character, a half-orc barbarian (gasp!) from an Olman tribe.
Im going to work with Steve to figure out how to best bring him in and have him fit within the framework of the adventure and with the Olman. Ive never played either of these before so it should be fun.
Hopefully my survivability will increase!
If I know Rob, whatever new character he decides to bring in will be interesting and fun. ...and I will be forced to kill him... again. >8-]
Friday the 13th. Yes, indeed, it felt like it too.
Not that there was bad luck or unfortunate incidents or anything. No. The problem was that this was the hardest time I've ever had trying to run a game in a long, long time.
Short summation... The characters got Sakeema clothed and equipped with spare stuff they've been hanging on to and experimented with the red stone rod they found and realized that they needed another just like it to operate a wierd mechanism to open the doors that would allow them to exit Dark Mountain Pass to the other side of the mountain.
They explored a bit and found the secret tomb of one of the ancient Olman lords and caused the 3 mummies guarding it to attack. During that battle, Rob's new half-orc/half-Olman barbarian Malakor was introduced. Towards the end of the battle he entered the catacombs to aid the pale skinned ones with a charging, frothing fury of one-handed great swordedness (makes perfect grammatical sense to me!) only to roll a critical miss. Next player downs the last mummy that he was supposed to obliterate. Heh. Great entrance.
Anyway, they found the blue rod they needed in the hidden crypt and consequently triggered the spear trap almost killing every one of them except Sakeema who had decided to stay outside the crypt to watch their backs and Malakor who only got hit by one spear.
They put the rods in the corresponding pillars and turned them to open the big iron doors and exited out the other side of the mountain down to the beach along the eastern side of the Isle of Dread.
End of session.
Why the end of the session after so little action? Because nobody except Stanley could stay focused on the game for more than a minute at a time. I gave up on actually running a "real" session very early in the night. Yeah, it happens to all DMs some time or another.
Hopefully, next week when I run the game on our floating Saturday, we can get a lot more gaming done.
Yes, hopefully we can actually get something done next Saturday. It has been to long since we actually got this AP advanced in story at all.
With all of the stuff that's happened in the last few days, I find myself feeling like my sails are hanging limp. I really don't feel motivated to finish the STAP and my players are pretty much feeling the same way. It's an awesome adventure path and I hope to come back and run it again anew with another gaming group down the line, but for now, I'm going to concentrate on running my group through the playtests of Gallery of Evil, a new GameMastery module, and Sins of the Saviors, Chapter 5 of Pathfinder's new Rise of the Runelords adventure path.
I'm also planning an experimental campaign in which my players will be playing themselves in a homebrew setting based on a favorite novel of mine. They are all quite excited about all of these, and that's been lacking lately and especially with the recent news.
Thanks, everyone, for reading our journal and chiming in from time to time. As much as I love writing adventure journals, I'm sure I'll be back to post another. I may even post about my experimental campaign, The Pact Lands. Good gaming!
Id, and I, would also like to express his sincere thanks to those that read his journal entries. The best part about those were receiving the feedback.
I like the play testing, but Im looking forward to beginning a new campaign from ground 0. You can bet that Id will be back.