This is just a summary of how things went at my game, maybe someone will find it useful or interesting.
Players:
Noah the fighter - LG human Fighter 2, prominent member of the townguard, he his large sized because he likes playing big characters. He's currently in a volatile relationship with Shayliss. He wandered into town about 5 years ago just in time for the Late Unpleasantness, he's human he thinks, but he hasn't aged in about 40 years.
Furrlana - CG fey Druid 2, has a grove and is student to Madam Nishka Mivanti (sp), she claims to be a dryad and carries around a wooden staff that is growing leaves and shifts into whatever shape she desires, she is from Sanos Forest where she keeps a glade. Someone keeps stealing her undergarments from her room in the Rusty Dragon.
Ally - NG elven Cleric of Royka (custom demigod of Desna) 2, she's a bit of a nutcase always seeing little blue goblins causing mischeif, she spent a substantial amount of time in the Sanitarium.
Justin - CG human Sorcerer 2, this 16 year old just doesn't know how to stay out of trouble, his recent shotgun wedding to Marilyn (age 24 with a child) was a suprise to everyone, but his fellow adventurers who may have manipulated the situation.
Game Start:
Everyone wakes up and starts their day early, its been a week since the Heroes of Sandpoint bravely tracked down and captured Tsuto Kaijitsu and rescued his sister Ameiko. The heroes have promised to finish exploring the catacombs beneath to vanquish any more monsters like the quasit they found. The weather is a little foggy and a drizzle of rain is inconsitant during the day. Regardless, they had some personal things to get out of the way.
Noah woke and went to the Red Dog Smithy where he works for Das Korvut as a red smith (coppersmith), even though Korvut wasn't up yet he got started, almost relieved that he didn't have to deal with the somewhat verbally abusive boss. When Korvut eventually awoke he unleashed a slur of bitter insults as he had obviously been drinking the night before and didn't appear to get any sleep, Korvut accused him of "You killed my boy, you and Hemlock!" And the drunken exhausted Korvut weakly attacked Noah. It was ended quickly with Corporal Baervar(sp) of the town watch assisting Noah and throwing Korvut in the drunk tank. Regardless the accusation hit home as Noah felt guilty about the whole Chopper incident and somewhat suspicious of Sherrif Hemlock's involvement in Captain Avertin's death. He left to find his party after making sure the smithy wouldn't burn to the ground.
Furrlana bemusedly went to seek out her mentor after furiously searching for many missing undergarments and curiously eyeing all the men in the Rusty Dragon, most of which spent some time noticing her delicate yet enticing figure. She walked the streets a bit wondering about an event earlier in the week, apparently a rare bush had begun growing in her secred glade, a rare bush from the cinderlands that only grew in soil from the tops of mountains, someone had seemingly snuck into her glade placed the soil and special stones and had the good fortune to be able to grow a Goodberry Bush. (secretly it was her dryad mother, whom she hasn't seen in many years) She wandered until she had breakfast with Madam Niska, then went to find her party.
Ally had the misfortune of running into the owner of the Sanitarium, she seemed to have some adverse reactions as memories of her traumatic childhood flashed back with a vengeance, she became terribly confused and found herself standing in the living room of Banny Harker, who was apparently in the middle of a morning tryst with a local girl Katrine Vender, of course she didn't recognize either one. She thought she saw a glowing blue butterfly on his bookshelf, but she fled the scene embarrased by her actions and the less than half dressed and furious Banny Harker. She had apparently battered his door down and dislodged some of his furniture. She ran to find her party.
Justin hadn't talked to his wife in about a week, well not in any unbarbed tones. Marilyn's brother had apparently moved into their house after "falling down the stairs" and loosing his pinky finger on his left hand. Marilyn's brother had secretly made a loan with the local scarzani to buy a masterwork silver dagger for his new stepbrother, of course he didn't tell anyone, and he wasn't able to pay. Either ways, the youngest member of the heroes recieved a summons by the noble Titus Scarzani, he apparently wanted to "finance" the heroes and recieve some political promotion for a monthly stipend of funds. After the meeting he chose not to make the decision for the party, so he left to find them and discuss the proposition.
The party.
They managed to join up in front of the Rusty Dragon, seeing a few local employee's of the town's brothel coming in for breakfast. They went to a back room to discuss Titus' proposition, when after a few minutes someone pounded on the door, opening it a Hellknight thrust out a warrant and demanded entry, they complied and the room was quickly tossed by a few other townguards, a hellknight observing. Apparently not long ago the Hellknight ship had pulled into the harbor completely blockading the small town, they were searching for a known Shoanti terrorist and rebel leader named Pikrak. Many of the local integrated Shoanti would certainly be offended by the presence of the Hellknights who not so long ago battled their people in Bloodsworn Vale. The Heroes quickly set out to stop a possible bloodbath of politics and potential riots. For the most part the citizens seemed to be complying.
Through some quick talking the Heroes came to suspect that Madam Niska may be a likely candidate for hiding this Shoanti Hero Pikrak. They quickly went to her house where she denied anything to do with the situation, the old woman quickly clamed up to accusations she was harboring a fugitive. The Heroes left her house and watched as the Hellknights attemtped to serve a warrant to her, she spit at them and slammed her door on them. One of them kicked in the door and seconds later flew out of a nearby wall, landing in a crumpled mess on the street. Noah quickly performed a heal check and noticed the imprint of what appeared to be Niska's hand into the knight's fullplate. This made him very curious as everyone around began talking about how powerful a spellcaster Niska was. Mayor Deverin and the smart thinking Heroes quickly found paperwork that proclaimed Niska's house was foreign soil until the time of her death and was immune to Magnimarian warrants. Sometime later the Hellknights left the town without finding their fugitive, rumors were buzzing that Pikrak had escaped to Riddleport. (I changed Niska into a Dragon Turtle with some spells. She owes her alliegance to the local Varisians and Shoanti, who have cared for her kindly over the years.)
The Heroes begin investigating a strange break in the morning of the Hellknight search, the interrogation of Banny Harker leads to one of their own, Ally. Banny is terribly embarassed when the details of his story come out and he attempts not to reveal name of the woman who apparently shared his bed last night. After some scandalous threats, he privately reveals his relationship with Katherine Vinder. The Heroes are also curious about what Ally was doing in his house, Banny says she was staring at a bookcase, which they give a thorough search. Justin finds a scorched book that disentegrates in his hand leaving only a few pages, they find Nualia's diary. They begin to slowly put together the puzzle pieces of a tormented youth.
After reading the journal they want to investigate Chopper's Isle, fearing a cover up by Sherrif Hemlock. They rope up and climb the 120' tall cliff and search the small island after some excavation they find a large stone slab underneath the ruins of the house. Uncovering it Noah sees a strange bird monster at the end of the descending staircase, he stops just short of attacking an inanimate statue of Pazuzu. They begin investigating and find all sorts of crude carvings in the wall in a language they don't understand, they spend some time trying to identify the strange bird statue. After some time they hear the sobbing of what sounds like a young boy, the sound echoes and fades. The Heroes start slowly checking the dusty rooms noticing no footprints on the floors, they open a room that has some strange skeletal hands pittoned to the walls and see a young boy cowering and crying in the corner. Furrlana beckons the boy gently and holds out some food, he looks at her and his face turns into something skeletal and ferocious, it attacks. The battle is shortly won after Justin falls into unconsiousness and Noah and Furrlana temporarily loose their voices.
They stay the night on the island strangely haunted by the cries and sobs of a child. They enter again and go into another door that leads to a spiral stair, but in the hallway they see a ghostly man with what looks like a bird mask sharpening a large knife in the hallway. They attack it, but it disappears, leaving them with a haunting feeling. They descend the stair a little creeped out and it leads down and into water below, they can smell the salt and surmise it is seawater, but there is no where left to go. Furrlana happens to see what looks like the trace outline of a doorway hidden in the wall right above water level. They use the knock spell and it opens revealing a horrid little chamber that appears to have been sealed for some time. Inside they find the bones of a dead fox with a collar and scriptures now identified as belonging to Pazuzu the Greater Demon, a teddybear, and the bones of a child wrapped up in the corner in a blanket. They discover these are the remains of Das Korvuts young son, who went missing right before Chopper began his murderous spree. They take the bones to the church, bless them, and lay them in consecrated ground. Korvut is relieved but in a bad state, but at least he has some closure, he burries his son next to his wife who was one of Chopper's first victims.
Soon the Heroes enlist Father Zantus, Mayor Deverin, Hemlock, and Brodert Quink the Sage to pour over everything in Chopper's Isle. Quink seems a little obsessed and Korvut smashes the statue of Pazuzu to dust with a rage that only a grieving parent can muster.
The Heroes decide to take the rest of the day off relaxing at the Rusty Dragon and at least in passing get to meet some rangers from Fort Rannick, one of them particularly in a drunken state hitting on Furrlana, unbeknownst to her his name was Kaven.
Next week, finishing the Catacombs of Wrath. Hopefully, lol.
I forgot.
They also took a short trip to Magnimar to do some shopping, Ethram Valdemar was kind enough to give them free passage on one of his ships. Ameiko Kaijitsu also came having to file some paperwork with Magnimar's High court.
Furlana decided to separate from the group and do some research into some strange symbols they found in Chopper's Isle, she decided a temple of Asmodeus would be a good place to start. She finds one and quickly finds herself detained by a townguard who takes her down to the Shadow District for booking. He takes the fey's staff away and throws her in a cell with her pleading to get her staff back. (Her staff is like a Dryad's tree if she gets to far she will begin to die.) They tell her if she will just sign some papers they will let her go and she can have her staff, unfortunately she can't read what they want her to sign, it was in infernal. She refuses to sign and casts Message, her party shows up and threatens the "town guards" who are just Scarzani thugs, after some threats they agree to release her for 40 gold. The party leaves Magnimar with a bitter taste in their mouths.
The Heroes return to Sandpoint just in time to have dinner with the very appreciative Alergast and Amelee, who's son the heroes saved from a goblin in the closet. Apparently, Furrlana brings up Nualia and Amelee gets upset, later revealing that Amelee feels terribly guilty for torturing the dead Nualia in school when they grew up. Amelee reveals that her academy clique teased the poor girl and told Tobyn that she was secretly meeting a boy named Delek down at a cave at night.
The players go down to the beach to the cave and they find a heart scratched into the cavern wall it says D loves N. Presumably Delek loves Nualia, but strangely its been scratched out by a long gouge mark. They begin next game at the cavern, that leads back to the Catacombs of Wrath.
|
James,
Loved reading about your game, its been very interesting here on the boards to see the other GMs take on Burnt Offerings and how they shape their game with events, NPCs, etc.
A dragon turtle is not something I would have considered in the role of Madame Mvashti, I wish I had thought of that. Instead, in my game, Madame Mvashti is the spiritual cousel/representative of the Varisians in Eastern Varisia. Unbeknownst to anyone but a few select elder Varisians, is that Madame Mvashti is a title, not a person. They are all witches that follow Desna, and when one gets too old to fulfill the role or dies, a younger one comes to take her place, using a ring of non-detection, a pendant of disguise self, and good bluff checks. There are rules for playing the part of the role, like what sort of tea to drink, when to take walks, etc. This allows the old-school Varisians to have a sort of embassy/temple in Sandpoint that they never have to pay for, because she will never "die".
I picked a Dragon Turtle because of the obvious seaside adventure, but also because I wanted to be able to tell the story of the Gray Dragons from AP#4 p.71. Being aquatic periodically she has to go back to the water, which should add some wierd quirks to the character. Her feyish student in my game has noticed a number of times Madam Niska's clothes appear to be damp and smell of brine*.
*Recently we finished the Rise of the Overmind 2nd Ed. module so OOC she probably freaks a few players out.
Either ways, it helps me to explain that she isn't aging and why the locals reviere her so much, of course none of them know directly, but there may be stories that she is supernatural.
I've had a player OOC ask me is she an Annis Hag. I just smiled.
Right now I'm not planning on her creating a route or anything, she definitely can't compete with Longtooth, because she can't fly. It might be cool to have them have a cinematic battle on the shore Fire Dragon versus Dragon Turtle (steambreath) at the Hagfish. Then again that will totally blow Madam Nishka's cover, unless all the witnesses are loyal Varisians and Shoanti. I may introduce an extra squad of giants that mysteriously end up dead near her house.
I always like to drop clues to neat stuff for curious players, because what's the point of a mystery if the players can't figure some stuff out.
I do think that Longtooth will definitly win against the aging Dragon Turtle. His melee stats give him a ridiculous advantage against her, they are both immune to each other's breath weapons.
AP#1 Game#5
I forgot to introduce our most important character. Bacon, the irritable boar, who wears a norse helmet with horns that has a button on it that says, "I'm awesome". Traditionally Bacon is good on a sandwich and he's the animal companion I assign to lazy druids who won't pick their companion out, lol. Typically he ends up being my game's comic relief as he charges at inopportune times and squares off with players giving them his "evil stare of doom". He seems to be far too intelligent for a simple boar and he likes bacon. Back to the story.
Noah, Furrlana, Ally and Justin made their way down to the caves on the beach, there were several children playing in the morning fog, mostly kicking a small leather ball around, the others attempting to block the ball from getting into the cave opening. Inside they found a small etching on the wall not to far in, it said "D loves N" surrounded by a heart, though a rigid gash was struck through it. Justin observed that there were a few lost shoes and applecores in the cave, but nothing overtly untoward. At places Noah was having to squeeze given his large size and the tunnel lead back to what appeared to be a deep but narrow pool, the tunnel continued on, but the Heroes spotted claw marks at the edge of the water, as if something with large claws had burrowed here. Noah surmised it could have been a smaller dragon, but the marks were between 100-30 years old. Noah contemplated the pool, tied a rope around himself, Justin cast light on him, and he dived in.
By himself Noah pulled himself through a twisting tunnel of sharp rocks flooded by seawater holding his breath. Almost before he reached his halfway point he found a small air pocket, there was almost no current so he decided to continue. He swam down and found two holes in the underwater tunnel trying both only one lead anywhere else, it lead to a cavern half filled with water, but he decided not to break the surface, even though he still had his light spell up. He went back and this time, the party followed, exempting Furrlana's animal companion Bacon. Surfacing in the half submerged, but much larger cavern the Heroes could see glittering uncut gemstones in the walls. Stalactites dripped from the ceiling into the brackish pool. Some of them were afraid to swim onto thin strip of sandy beach that bordered the water, searching the shore Noah found strange dragon tracks that seemed to be somewhat fresh intermixed with what appeared to be human footprints of someone with a limp.
Furrlana was highly disturbed that a turtle type dragon may be preying on people in town, but Noah remarked that there were children playing by the exit, and no one had been reported missing. Justin was sizing up the gemstones on the wall, but cast detect magic first, and they had some faint magic on them. Noah had a moment of clarity as he told Furrlana she might not be so critical of her mentor, they had a quick discussion about how it was probable that Madam Niska was a dragon. They quickly left without further exploration.
They spent the rest of the afternoon mapping out a network of strange ancient tunnels underneath Sandpoint (I added more, it seemed the goblins needed a way to get to Junker's Toss). Finally, after seeing what amounted to years of goblin tracks and a tunnel that led well outside of town, the Heros started making their plans to collapse a few of the tunnel sections, they enlisted the town's carpentry guild who denoted it would take some time, but they could do it. They continued on into the Catacombs (of Wrath) and Furrlana attempted to sample the waters from the minor runewell, its mere touch caused Furrlana to pass out and she happened to fall into the pool (max cold damage). A sinspawn was summoned and attacked, it was dispatched in short work. Ally brought Furrlana back to health with a bit of divine magic. They saw the pool darken and Furrlana began experimenting throwing various objects into the pool, coins, stones, rations, and finally a drop of blood, to which another Sinspawn (also known as those creepy things from Blade 3) jumped out and attacked, this one was dealt with as well, but not before Noah became a victim of its spasming anger affect, the effects wore off and they continued to explore.
In another room they found a statue they had previously ignored and Justin had the piece of mind to remove the expensive looking ranseur. They spent some time studying the statue's carved book, not that they could open it, but they were curious about what it represented. Soon they walked down a corridor going up a few small flights of stairs and Ally seeing an oddly hinged door raced ahead. She found her self alone in a room with a pool surrounded by fresh blood and quickly some bat creature shrieked and attacked her. (Everyone failed their saves.) They all stood paralyzed as the creature went character to character performing its Vargoyle Kiss, except for Furrlana's animal companion, several rounds later Furrlana finished the flying menace off. Unfortunately, Noah and Furrlana noticed that their hair began falling out in clumps. Ally and Justin quickly realized what was happening and dragged the two quickly onto an emergency boat trip to Magnimar. By the time that they got there, both Noah and Furrlana had lost all their hair, their ears had grown into leathery wings, tentacles sprouted from parts of their faces. Ally quickly ran out to the nearest temple and secured a healer who cast remove disease on them with just a few hours left.
And thus ends the short game. More later, enjoy.
AP#1 Game #6, Level 3
New Character
Krista - the CG human Barbarian 3. Krista has joined the rest of the adventurers hailing from the unknowns of Varissia, she doesn't talk alot about her past, but she's strikingly beautiful for such a rugged and strong barbarian. Additionally, she's only 14 years old, but she appears to be around 20ish.
Last time we left the party had traveled expediciously to Magnimar, now being called "The Mag", to cure their Vargouille afflictions. Both Noah and Furrlana(Ferlanria) had been afflicted and were saved by the knowledgeable actions of their cleric Ally(the insane elf). They began by each mulling around Sandpoint for some time and shortly before regrouping for another expedition into the Catacombs they spent some time with their loved ones. Each of them recieved a small gift usually in the form of a potion or scroll(A random roll from the Magic Item Compendium level 1/2). So anyways Krista was introduced to everyone, she knew Ferlanria (the fey druid) and they set off. First they finally explored the room with the previously slain Vargoulie, noticing that there was blood in the room they all looked around, Ferlanria was positive their was a secret door, although none was found. Ally performed tests on the strange water surrounded by skulls as well as Justin. In the end, Ferlanria decided that she eventually wanted to turn this strange water conjuration pool into a fountain for the city above, but that would come later as she earned more Steel Pieces(roleplay money, usually 1/2 monetary reward). Anyways they moved on and saw the staircase in B5 and made some assumptions about who's house it might lead into, but then they noticed it was blocked. Noah and Krista decided they would start digging it out, while the others went back and forth moving rocks and bringing fresh food and drinks to the muscle bound pair. They worked for several days clearing rock, but were undetered by the momentus work it required eventually popping up in an alleyway near Junker's Way. Only terrifying a homeless man they were proud of their efforts and notified the town militia of the possible security breach. The town guard quickly lumbered it up for the time being until a more permanent covering could be made, perhaps a stone door.
Halfway through the digging Ferlanria and Ally were getting some fresh dinner and Ally had one of her hallucinations of a little blue goblin running around, she immediatly dropped her groceries in the street with a crash and bounded after it. Ferlanria angrily cleaned up the mess, but Ally found the blue goblin (a mite) pointing at a woman walking home who Ally recognized as Hannah, the town midwife. Ally quickly followed her and cheerfully Hanna talked to her on their way home. Once in her shop Ally sat on the floor and asked Hannah about the Nualia some years ago. Hannah immediatly clammed up and shooed the elf Ally out of her shop. Ally tauntingly said she would be back with the city guard to interrogate her. She left though, but Ally knew she had seriously unnerved Hannah.
They finally went down and each took turns dropping into the cage in the tunnel that led to (B6) the prison room, Krista heard the sounds of snarling and called out to it, the sound stopped. The party tossed rations and a light spell out from the bars trying to use the cell as a "shark cage". Eventually Ferlanria jumped down into the cage and began cooing to what she believed where animals and that's when the pair of sinpawn rushed the cell. Only one was able to stick its arms through the bars and reach her scratching her before her party quicly pulled her up, the beast clawing at her. In response, the party formed up and rushed the door to the prison, the creatures were hanging under the platform and climbed up to meet them. Krista and Noah were in front, but they seemed to only be interested in Krista. After being hit several times, Krista was bloody, but the sinspawn couldn't stand the blows of her axe, she was proving an efficient adventurer and a skilled barbarian, if a little impulsive.
They spent some time looking and searching the tortur chamber and accompanying cells with disfigured skeletons. Ally and Justin found a strange spellscroll, but were finally able to read it with a read magic spell. Justin had found a unique spell (something from the spell compendium, Blast of Force). Intrigued by strange unknown spells they moved on.
They went down and were somewhat horrified by the sickly four armed goblin with eyeballs in its chest, it quickly projectile vomited on Krista and Justin, none injured to badly. Krista and Noah began their pummeling and quikly they took it down before Korvus could do much damage. Afterwards each zombie was killed by Noah, well each of them wanted to kill one at least, lol. Moving on they saw a stairwell and a strange room with flickering light.
The strange room had wierd flickering writing on the wall and many objects floatin in it a dead bird, a wand, a slew of maggots, a bottle, a scrollcase, and a tiny box spinning at the top of the "zero G" room. Noah was cautious, but Ally giggled like a little girl and jumped in excitedly, quickly followed by an excited Noah. They quickly found out that they could bounce off the walls acrobatically and they began gathering up the items. The rest of the party entered as well Noah attempting to "splash" maggots at Ferlanria with his shield. Each of them bounced around, but they began passing the strange cube back and forth it was runemarked much like everything else. (I stole this from moonbeam roughly) But they were never able to open the small adamantine box though they had many ideas of how to melt it down, throw it, or locksmith it. They decided it would be better to take it to the town locksmith given they had no rogue anymore, he apparently skipped town.
They left after checking out the stairwell that went down that was obviously collapsed. They left it well enough alone and decided to take a day off after all the exploration.
Krista ended up meeting with Titus Scarnetti in the Rusty Dragon on one of his rare visits to the establishment, they enjoyed drinks and he brought her back to his estate for a nightcap. They slept together after Krista had a large amount to drink. In the morning she found a note, "Thank you for the lovely evening, the maid has prepared tea and breakfast for you, here is 10 gold for your services." Uninsulted Krista took the gold and had the free breakfast, which she noticed the tea was laced with pinroot extract, a popular item at Hannah's store.
Ally had spent the night being interviewed by Cyruk Drokus, but she politely refused his offer to audition. She had been hit on by nearly every single man in the bar and probably some not single ones as well, Ally was strikingly attractive, but a minority in this human populated town.
The next day everyone discussed their plans and somewhat undecided they had talked to Shaelu who had mentioned the goblins were marshalling at Thistletop. The heroes decided to rent a ship from Ethram Valdemar and a small crew, they got a Cog and had it rowed out to the strange little head shaped island on a stormy day. They reached it by nightfall and decided to wait until morning on the small cramped boat, the next day they could make out he shape of a face, though they had the impression it might have been a face with a beak, given their encounter with a statue of Pazuzu at Chopper's Isle. Either ways they noticed goblins and a small fort on top of the rocky head. They beached the boat on a nearby sandy shore and Ally spotted a seacave. (I messed upon the tides.) They walked right in, perhaps it was low tide, and noticed the howling hole above them, and not being particularly quiet they began making plans to go up the hole. Unfortunately they woke up the bunyip which terrified about half the party as Krista dived into the water to do battle with the fierce creature. Ferlanria summoned a dolphin and the battle ended with the Bunyip trying to flee, but the dolphin finished it off in the open sea. A goblin spectating from the Howling hole was "gunned down" by three simultaneous shots. They searched the room finding a number of items in the bonepile and decided that grappling up the 70' gap would be too dangerous given a goblin could cut the rope.
Outside they grappeled and climbed up the cliff face, meeting no resistance they made their way through several areas. The goblin refugees had no chance to survive, one in a panic threw down its weapons and begged for mercy, unfortunately Krista was not so merciful, she killed four of the ten goblins. Noah was fighting poorly that day. They navigated the maze and found several goblin dogs tethered to stakes, they made short work of them with ranged weapons.
Marching on and somewhat lower in resources they continued on confident in their abilites and unscared by puny goblin resistance. They soon found what looked like a bedding area Ferlanria recognized several long hairs as belonging to a firepelt cougar, a beautiful animal and she became incredibly excited about the possibility of a new pet. She began cooing and calling for it. A few rounds later Gogmurt mounted on Tangletooth sprang at her from the bushes (I may have screwed up some abilities, but it was fun.) striking her and suprising her. Ferlanria cast entangle, Gogmurt responded entangling the heroes. The beast and rider quickly dashed back off into the brambles. Several rounds of this hit and run tactics resulted in the party, except Krista boxing up in the center of a clearing with readied actions waiting for the beast to leap out. Justin casts several damaging spells at Gogmurt angering him, while Ferlanria cast spells to increase her armor, Gogmurt noticed and changed to Justin, Noah found it difficult to put him self in the way and Justin was savagely attacked several times and knocked to the ground. Ferlanria attempted to call the druid out, the druid attempted to call Ferlanria in. Appartently they had now met a wise adventurer goblin who used tactics and had the skill to back it up. Noah was being incredibly clumsy with his bow and Ally steadily healed the group, but for several rounds Gogmurt rushed around them in the woods repositioning, the entangle hindering the group, but not Tangeltooth(he made most of his saves, high reflex). Gogmurt visciously focused on their healer knowning he couldn't match her healing abilties. He finally struck her dead, Justin was nearly dead as Gogmurt switched and began attacking Noah who was proving himself a bother with his bow. On the next run after exhausting many of his healing spells Gogmurt decided to flee (4 hp left, with no heals left). Ally had been killed.
Ferlanria angrily howled into the bushes and bitterly wept over Ally. Justin was barely alive and Noah on guard, Krista seemed unphased. They quickly took Ally's body down to the boat talking about how they could possibly bring her back, Ferlanria vowing to do anything she could to bring her fey worshiping friend back from the beyond.
***Next game will be a few weeks away, stay tuned.
****I'm going to be running this same game for a second group, I'll probably post a campaign journal somewhere else, but considering the group is nearly entirely men, it will be played differently I'm sure. The group I've been posting about has 3 women and 2 men players. Once I told them I was posting about the game, they very much wanted to read about it.
Whenever things seem to be boring in town, I take out a pair of percentiles and roll up a random NPC, I'd use the cityscape one, but Sandpoint is a little small for "wandering thugs". Its always nice to have the hunchback from the Boneyard show up and eyeball them and then limp away. They always get suspicious :)
As of right now Ally's player is deciding on a new character. She's somewhat new to dnd, I will miss her little blue goblin hallucinations and in AP2 there will be less awkwardness around Habe and his Sanitarium.
Noah's player decided to pull off the large size, I'm guessing partially due to the dungeon crawly nature of the game. He's still 7 feet tall, but only occupies a medium space. I usually let people tinker with their characters a little, as long as they aren't conceptually different.
Ferlanria's player desperately wants Ally's character back in the game given they had similar feyish backgrounds, even as an NPC. I might let her purchase a reincarnation with Steel Pieces (roleplay gold), but she will be too weak to travel with the party for a long time.
I had a subtle idea that Ally's Player might pick up Nualia as her character if they manage to coerce her to their side. I'll let ya'll know.
AP#1 Game#7 Level 3
Fariah (LN elven Half-Dragon(2) Druid 1) - Ally's character ended up being replaced by an elven half gold dragon (savage progression) Druid, who I let have her animal companion at total ECL value. Her animal companion was a small white tiger (panther stats) who her character was utterly in love with. I'm not sure on the name, typically I have players send me a write up, but she didn't have time.
Razia - (CG gnome bard) - This is a new player who's character name was otherwise inpronouncable, thus shortend. This gnome has alot of family in town, but hasn't sent me a character write up yet.
Noah - Noah's player finally thought being a vanilla fighter was boring and unbalanced his stats (they were 12's and 14's) and wanted to go large again.
Ferlanria the druid, Justin the Sorcerer, Krista the barbarian are all present.
One last note, if anyone is keeping up with my "Second Journal" thread, there was some bleed over this game, because I thought it would be interesting.
Game Start.
Fariah was traveling to a town on the coast, it was rumored to beset by hundreds of goblins who were burning and polluting the wilds. She came from far away and was getting used to strange receptions, but not as awkward as her introduction to a camp of 6 goblins an awkward moment passed and her young white tiger made quick work of them. She had been seeing goblins in the woods for days, they all seemed to be migrating northwest. Out in the woods she heard more sounds of combat and she snuck closer, in an open field a pair of adventurer's had made camp and were beset by tens of goblins, Fariah seeing them slowly being worn down decided to jump in and help, the battle was quickly won. The adventurer's were a dwarven paladin who had been injured by slavers near Windsong Abbey and a silver haired assamir girl, thanks, but not names were exchanged and Fariah was in a hurry to get to Sandpoint.
Ferlanria, Justin, Noah, Krista, and a female gnome offloaded from the ship in the Sandpoint docks, they waved goodbye to Ethram Valdemar and several of them went off to the Rusty Dragon. The small gnome was the reincarnation of Ally, but had lost almost all of her power (now an NPC). She was friendly enough, but Noah seemed to take it particularly hard that his friend had changed and he fell into drinking. Krista was looking particularly haggard, she was intentionally trying to avoid Titus Scarnetti. Justin had just left his house and went down to pick up some flowers for his wife, things had been going much better in the household. He also made his way down to the Rusty Dragon where a gnome bard, Razia, had just walked in and began playing a song about the Sandpoint heroes, something reminiscent to the Ballad of Jayne (firefly hehe). Not to long after that the half-dragon Fariah walked in apparently looking for the heroes. She walked straight up to both Noah and Krista and told them she was here to do something about the goblins, both Noah and Krista greeted her sarcastically saying essentially that they would welcome the chance for her to lure them out to some trap where they can show her how good they are with their weapons. A little put off by this Fariah told them she would show them the goblins she had killed two days walk outside of town and that two adventurer's who would soon arrive would corroborate her story. Needing more help, but in somewhat dark moods they decided to check her story.
Justin and Razia didn't make the trip they stayed behind in town. The others encountered some small goblin resistance as they wandered through the thick of the forest and two days later Fariah was able to locate with some accuracy the camp of the two adventurers, they found a used healing kit, a few used potions, and several sets of tracks. They headed back to town after looking around and thinking that it might be good to meet up with the other adventurers and share information, Noah was anxious to get back to Thistletop and dish out some revenge to Gogmurt and Tangletooth.
When they got back there were lots of people at the Rusty Dragon Azure, a blue haired human in a see-through blue dress, she worked at the Pixie's Kitten. There was also a drunk teifling that worked for Gorvi being a lout. Savah the armorsmith was also there talking to Razia, apparently they had worked out a deal where Razia would advertise to the heroes as well as the townsfolk. There was also an injured dwarf who was easily distinguished as a paladin, he was missing his right foot and had only a nub, he was slow to walk and his adventuring days were at an end. A few of the heroes went over to talk to him, he explained that he and his friend were in town from the Windsong Abbey, they were trying to meet up with some friends in town. And that's when Nualia walked into the Rusty Dragon, at least someone who looked exactly like her, except the cleric robes of Iomeda. Noah moved defensively, Krista drew her ax and moved to block the door and Ferlanria went right up the middle.
Before Ferlanria attacked she called Nualia a demon, at which point the dwarf paladin arose, Krista put her axe out at him, not swinging yet. The girl who looked like Nualia screamed help and dived back behind a table, the dwarf stood protectively over her and demanded to know what was going on. Ferlanria insisted she was a demon and the dwarf Morgrym rebutted her calling her a damn liar. Krista held her axe menacingly and the assamir bolted for the door, the dwarf yelling for them to leave her alone. Ferlanria bolted after her and Krista moved to stop the dwarf from following, he told her she had no right to stop him and she finally let him pass.
On the street Ferlanria, the fey, caught up to the assamir and grabbed her by the arm. The assamir started screaming for help and meekly yelled that if the "tree thing" didn't let her go she would be forced to use her mace. Ferlanria shoved Tsuto's journal in her face and told her that she might have family in town that looked like her. After some diplomacy the girl eventually said she would hear her out and that her name was Ellris Brandle, not Nualia. When they arrived back at the Rusty Dragon Ellris allowed the heroes to read a note that her mother had written that she had a sister who was in Sandpoint. The heroes in no kind terms told her that her sister was the demon in Tsuto's journal and that she had been murdering people and they were on a mission to kill her. The strain was too much and Ellris sobbed that her only remaining family was a monster, which she insisted was a lie even after seeing all the evidence.
Fariah was beginning to feel uncomfortable with these new heroes and their harsh tactics. Razia still hadn't formally joined the adventurers and was also a bit dissapointed that the stories of their heroism should be marred by such foolery and cruelty. Ellris poured through all the notes of her sister asking about the various names mentioned such as Banny Harker, Delek Viskanta, Amele, and Hannah. Finally Ellris was convinced she needed to talk to all of these people, and Krista escorted her. She started with Hannah whom was disturbed and happy at the same time to see the image of Nualia standing in her doorway. Hannah quickly led Ellris out of town and Krista stealthily followed, the two went to a house and Krista went and brought the heroes. After some time Noah knocked and a tearful Ellris opened the door. The heroes all looked at each other, a strange realization passing through them, not only did Nualia have a sister, but also a son. They were eventually allowed cautiously to see the strange child, Hannah had been keeping the deformed child hidden for 5 years, but other than his strange looks he was a normal playful 5 year old, calling Hannah, Mommy Hannah. The heroes denoted the child's somewhat freakish appearance, but then Fariah, the half dragon, stepped in and set them straight. Noah seemed happy that the child was alive and they began discussing that perhaps if Nualia knew her son wasn't dead, which they saw as the pivotal point for her, that she might be able to be changed.
With this new knowledge they set off for Thistletop almost immediately. They secured another boat fromt he Valdemar's and took it out at night to Thistletop. They beached the boat at night on the shore and arrainged a signal for the ship to return. Since they couldn't very well see at night they camped in the bunyip cave since they had previously killed it. The next morning they scaled the cliff face and back into the maze of thistles finding it nearly empty of goblin activity. They searched for Tangletooth, Ferlanria had become somewhat obsessed with the exotic firepelt cougar, as the others seethed with vengeance against Gogmurt the goblin druid who killed Ally.
Finding nothing in the thistle maze they moved on and found a bridge, on the other side of which they found several goblins playing a strange game with a seagul. The now large sized Noah, the white tiger, Justin, Fariah, and Bacon (Ferlania's boar) all rushed across the bridge declaring, "CHARGE!!!" And that's when the bridge snapped. Noah somehow (nat 20) made it all the way to the other side, the white tiger luckily got tangled in the ropes, but Fariah, Justin, and Bacon all fell into the crashing waves below. At this point the four goblins began screaming and Ferlanria hit them with entangle. Noah looked for a safe place to dive as his unconscious companions began to drown (I rolled low damage). Bacon was floundering in the waves, but started swimming towards Justin as Ferlanria pleaded with him to drag him to safety. Noah dived in and was able to get to Justin through the rough waves as arrows from the tower and the somewhat entangled goblins began volley after volley on him. Ferlanria and Razia were firing back as Gogmurt and Tangletooth rode out from the small fortress, no bridge between them Gogmurt began taunting and slinging bullets at Razia and Furlanria, while yelling for the goblins in the fort to fire down on the swimmers. Fariah's white tiger bounded from the bridge to the cliff and into the water, getting hurt, but not taking full damage, he splashed right next to Fariah and tried to drag her to shore, like a mother cat would a kitten. Noah was struggling with Justin and trying to avoid the swimming pig Bacon and drag them to a close shore, but the current was dragging them around and pulling them out further. Arrows were striking Noah and the white tiger, but Noah managed to postion himself behind a cliff as he was drug along by the current. The white tiger went to the closest land it could get to, but there wasn't anyplace to stand, just to hang on, so the white tiger had Fariah's unconscious body held in its jaws by the neck and was clinging to a cliff with both its paws, two arrows hit the poor tiger but it clung fast. Noah was able to give Justin a potion and Justin began flailing in the water, but at least this time he had a chance to swim. Bacon found some nearby shore out of the fire of arrows.
Fariah's tiger bleeding with several arrows in it, heroicly tried to hold on to the cliff, it was confused by several instincts, save its master, save itself. It looked around, another arrow hit it, its strenth waining it spotted a small hole in the side of the round cliff that it might be able to get to. It bravely lept into the sea once again dragging Fariah's body into the Tentamort Cave. Bleeding and almost dead (3 hp) the tiger was face to face with the tentamort. The tiger launched into an attack wounding the tentamort, but the tentamort overpowered the tiger and stung it. Fariah was unconscious and had a dazed vision of some cthuluish monster devouring her white tiger. And that's when Noah who had been swimming under arrow fire popped up into the cave and with a critical hit slew the tenamort in one strike. He quickly revived Fariah and after a few potions they swam back to the other cliff taking fire from a few more goblin arrows. Fariah was heartbroken at the death of her tiger who died bravely saving her.
End of game 7.
Note: I felt horrible killing the tiger, but you have to let the dice fall where they may. At least it died bravely protecting its master. Technically Justin and Fariah should have died a round after they failed their saves, but I allowed them to make extra saves because the animals/Noah were pulling their heads above water, thus they just took extra drowinging damage rather than death. The player's were fairly put off by the bridge encounter and now they really hate Gogmurt, like with seething anger, twice he has beaten them now in their eyes.