To start us off on this adventure, I will give some context. Myself and my players will make up 4 gestalt characters with some other house rules in place just for this game. I encourage my players to post here as well after each session while the game is fresh in their minds. They will, after all, remember more details than just me alone (they will also receive in-game bonuses for doing so). When the game is set up and ready to play (which will be soon), I and my adventuring companions will post details.
I encourage my players to post here as well after each session while the game is fresh in their minds.
...If we don't have work right after the session :) Looks like I'm up first.
Nexus Exodus, NG Wizard//Monk 1
26 years ago, An amazing astrological event occurred, though most people never noticed. With a careful eye and the aid of magic or technology, the southern sky gave birth to a conjoining of two far-off galaxies. The monks of the Twilight Monastery saw this fortuitous event as signs of some major clash occurring in there own world. But the investigations into the matter were interrupted by another event; a child.
It was only by luck he was found as the gate was being closed for the evening. Orphaned on the steps of the monastery, the baby could be no more than a few weeks old. Warily, the monks inspected the bundle left to them. He seemed healthy, yet peculiar. He did not cry, even left alone in the cold: nor did he even seem to notice the people around him. He simply stared at the darkening sky with odd eyes: one green, one blue.
The monks took the child to Izenfen an asked what should be done. Izenfen simply stated, "We will watch him". As the monks attended to the child, Izenfen sat quietly in thought. What were the chances of a child with eyes the same colors as the mating galaxies above?
The child grew with a fanatic hunger for knowledge, whether it be the martial arts of the warrior monks or the speculative documents of the scholars. He saw them as the same. In fact, he often saw the whole world through connections, which is why he was named Nexus. Nexus loved his surrogate family and took to his duties at the monastery with great pride; yet he new he could not stay after the clash between the monastery and the Diamond lake miners that took the life of his friend, Imonoth, and 22 miners.
Nexus continued to live with the monks until he was Twelve, watching the home he new change due to Izenfen's depression and isolation imposed by his daughters death. Nexus felt it as well, but tried to shut out the pain of loss and force himself to continue. He new eventually he would have to bid his home farewell, so moved down to Diamond Lake in hopes of obtaining enough money to get far away; to try and break his connection.
Life in diamond lake was hard and Nexus did what he could to survive. Most often he would run errands and deliveries to pay for his room at the tap house. He never kept his property with him for fear someone may take everything he worked for and prolong his escape from his pain. Instead, he kept his wealth well hidden in a small, nameless, and abandoned cairn a few miles outside of town. These qualities protected his investments but endangered his life.
Once, after dropping of his weeks earnings, Nexus stumbled on an instance of banditry. A man stood over another not twenty yards from his cairn. The bandit noticed him and attacked. Without a thought, Nexus' training welled up and the bandit was on ground. Nexus had not noticed the bandit's previous injuries, and feared he may have killed him outright. That thought was quashed after Nexus looked to the other man. The victim was most certainly dead.
Nexus decided the bandit deserved his fate, left him, and proceeded to check the other man for identification or signet. The victim was a student out of a college in greyhawk; his pack containing several books on different subjects of magic, inks and quills, parchment, and a spellbook. Nexus could not turn in the items, as his own character may be called into question. He couldn't return them to Greyhawk either as he didn't have the funds to send himself let alone the victims accouterments. His final decision was to keep them until he could return them himself. Until then, he found his curiosity overwhelming.
Nexus' ability to see connections gave him a natural affinity for magic, as it further strengthened his concept of all things being born from similar origin, hence them being connected. Over the years, he began to forget his need to be away from this area as he lost himself more and more in his magic conceptualizations. He spent more and more of his money on anything even remotely related to magic, from macabre figurines to spell charred weapons. After another nine years he had obtained quite the hoard. His study, however, had made him careless.
Late in the fall, he found his cairn hideaway ransacked. Everything was either destroyed or stolen. His first thought was bandits, but he knew it could have just as easily been the youth from town. He spent a cold winter with nothing that year, thinking of how he abandoned his life in the monastery. He decided he would return, and forget his magical passion.
As he returned up the road to Elmshire in early spring, he encountered a robed middle-aged man with a long flowing beard next to a broken cart. The man introduced himself as the wizard Allustan, mayor Lanod's brother. He asked Nexus if he would help him lift the cart so he may fix it. Nexus did so, and with a few words and gestures, the cart was fixed. As was Nexus' ennui. Surly this must be a sign, just as the monks taught. A connection.
Nexus returned to Diamond lake with Allustan, explaining his predicament the whole way. Allustan thanked him for the help and told him to come back by when he had settled in. After an anxious few days, Nexus returned to Allustan's house to find and offer of a surrogate apprenticeship.
Nexus still doesn't know what Allustan saw to accept him, but he has proudly served him for the last five years.
...Wow. That went on longer than I thought. Hope that fits the campaign. If i need to change anything, Swiv, just let me know.
Gee, thanks, Swivl. I don't even blog on FaceBook, now I have to create an account to post here?!? *sigh* I'll see what I can do.
As for you, Ody...KMA! Loved your typos and grammatical errors ;p
I encourage my players to post here as well after each session while the game is fresh in their minds....If we don't have work right after the session :) Looks like I'm up first.
Yeah, I know, but at the very least we can try to remember the next day. Only the most important stuff should go here anyway.
Gee, thanks, Swivl. I don't even blog on FaceBook, now I have to create an account to post here?!? *sigh* I'll see what I can do.
As for you, Ody...KMA! Loved your typos and grammatical errors ;p
This is for us as a group, so we can look back at the adventure and not necessarily rely on our memory. If you'd rather not, then by all means don't, but you'd be missing out on that (plus some extras to help us survive this game).
It doesn't have to be much, just what you'd like to.
EDIT: Ody's origin is fantastic. For the rest of us, we probably don't need so many details. Shorter posts should work just fine, as long as you don't leave pertinent info out of it.
Hazard "Highhead" Stormwalker, Half-Giant Duskblade//Fighter
*Crack*. The sound of a whip cracking against his lump of a back. This is the earliest memory he has. With no idea of his origins, he found himself as a slave to hairy creatures with dog-like faces. He didn't know what they were saying, but he knew to do as he was told. He understood the whip more than the barking. The desert sun provided no respite or rest.
He wasn't alone in his slavery; one other, in fact, looked just like him. This was his brother, he decided, because even if he wasn't, it's his best chance at a companionship.
Long under the service of the cracking whips and cackling gnolls, he hated his lot in life. One fateful night, he had had enough of his servitude. He and his brother decided it was time to set themselves free. A storm broke out, and the thundering from above sounded just the same as their masters' instruments of persuasion. An infuriating reminder, he thought, but one that will change.
His brother made the first move, and move he did. Running far enough to lure a few wet mutts to him, he beat his chest and roared. Hazard grabbed the whip off of his watcher, kicked him away, and began whipping his now yelping master. Creating a scene of chaos, the remaining slaves take advantage and make for their escape, with some staying behind to exact revenge on their former dogged owners.
Not long after the revolt, Hazard found himself face-to-nuzzle with the lead gnoll. With a foaming snarl, he charges. Not having nearly enough experience fighting, Hazard is no match, and is soon overtaken by the rabid foe. Pinned to the ground, his fate is ready to be sealed. A mighty swing from a battleaxe is interrupted by his brother, grabbing the hound from behind. His brother calls to Hazard, saying to finish him off.
Hazard weakly stands in the pouring rain, lifting his large figure slowly. Looking at his newly-favored weapon, he unfurls the whip with intention to strike. *Crack*, *crack* again. One last *crack*, and it's the most thunderous ever heard. As he strikes one last time against his former owner, a flash of light brighter than the sun fills his eyes. Lightning struck. Hazard blacks out in a moment, and forgets many moments in his past.
An unfamiliar voice beckons him awake. Hazard can't quite open his eyes, and has trouble with understanding his surroundings.
"Lieutenant Venderin, this one's alive."
After a pause, a woman's voice breaks the silence.
"Patch him up, and bring him along. We're headed to Diamond Lake."
He never found out what happened to his brother, but he did soon find that his life was in debt to the Greyhawk Militia.
Quickly finding himself among the poor, Hazard swore that he'd pay the soldiers back in proper service. Staying at the garrison in town, he realized how rare he is, and how unwelcome a quality it is in Diamond Lake. Only the most tolerant would even speak to him, while the rest were content with spitting on him and looking the other way. Even fellow soldiers had trouble trusting the brute, perhaps because they were intimidated. Nonetheless, the lieutenants found Hazard to be friendly, which forced their subordinates in line.
Several years have passed, and Hazard's term of service is up. Suspect movements within the commanding ranks seem to conspire against him, as more officers that loathe Hazard rise in power and influence. He's denied renewal, and kicked out of service. With nowhere else to call home, he's stuck in Diamond Lake.
Hazard "Highhead" Stormwalker, Duskblade//Fighter
He could always get a job at the Spinning Giant, at least part(half)-time :)
THANK YOU, I'll be here all week!
Hazard "Highhead" Stormwalker, Duskblade//FighterHe could always get a job at the Spinning Giant, at least part(half)-time :)
THANK YOU, I'll be here all week!
badum dum........................................................................ ........................................................................... ........................................................................... ........................................................................... ........................................................................... ........................................................................... .....................................tsshhhhhhhhh!
Arathana Moonshadow, Oracle of Battle/Fighter
On a Life Quest aimed at discovering more about the Divine gifts that the Gods had bestowed upon me, I came to the Free City of Greyhawk. I had wanted to join in the fight during the Gnoll Wars but every garison I teamed up with shied away from me after the end of each battle. While they expressed their appreciation for my ability to heal them when they were down they also told me I seemed possessed, speaking in a language that few, if any, of them ccould understand.
I have no choice but to believe their words. It was only by their gestures that I knew they needed me. The speech issuing from their lips in the heat of battle was foreign to me. Only after the last of our enemy had died, or run like a coward, could my comrades and I again converse.
Eager, as always, to aid those in need I am heading to the mining town called Diamond Lake. I have heard tell that they are locked in a constant battle for control. Surely someone there will be in need of a Healer, especially one who can handle a weapon as well. I do so love a good fight...
He could always get a job at the Spinning Giant, at least part(half)-time :)
THANK YOU, I'll be here all week!
Don't hate just because I bothered to type out my race.
Nothing of value.
See, I can do that, too.
Oh, um, nice post Klooless.
ok here we go.
Vitali, LN, Half-elf, Monk//Sword Sage
Vitali's mother was a monk at the Twilight monastery. One night while on a trip back from town, she was ambushed by some thugs. Although she could hold her own cause of her training, she just made the thug more angry, and they overpowered her and wore her out. After they beat her, and raped her, she was left to die. She some how made it back to the monastery.
She carried the child to term, under the advisement of the other monks, instead of trying to get ride of the bastard child before it was born. When Vitali was born they discovered that he was half-elf. After the child emerged from his mother, while everyone was caught up in the birth of the child, vitali's mother took her own life.
Vitali was never informed of the circumstances of his birth. Just that there were complication during his birth and his mother died.
Ever since Vitali was 5 years old he has been trained in the art of stealth. At the age of 15 he had his true test of his skill. When the miners attacked the monastery trying to use the Censer, Vitali held his own. After the miners fled, and it was discovered the Imonoth was the only casualty. Vitali was sent out with some of Izenfen's masked assassins, and the next day the miners were found dead, The miners never saw them coming.
A few years later, Nexus the boy with two different colored eyes, ran away from the monastery. Izenfen ordered Vitali to keep an eye on him, keep to the shadows and make sure that no harm come to the boy. told him the boy has a great role in his future.
Vitali has been keeping an eye on him ever since. Keeping his distance and helping in subtle ways, never getting caught.
there you go, its not great. oh well its longer than i thought it was going to be.
I won't require a post for this session, seeing as it was a short one, but if you have something to add, feel free. We got started in a bit of a meandering way, but all found ourselves outside the whispering cairn at the old mine manager's office.
In the cairn itself, we caught the attention of a few wolves who attacked us outright. Looking at their nest later, we found that they had a taste for human flesh. Plus, a couple of them were starving.
The cairn itself has already revealed a bit of its origin, as we discovered the wall pipes' Auran "words" (Hazard speaks the language), as well as the symbol of elemental royalty Vaati (Wind Duke) on a broken object, possibly an artifact. The object also had arcane symbols related to transportation along its edge.
This time we went from just inside the entrance through the architect's area and to the beginning of the workers' area encountering a lurking strangler, a gas trap, an earth elemental (that we left alone in its hibernation), some corpses, bits of treasure, brown mold, a swarm of acid beetles (that we fled from), a mad slasher (we killed it while running away from the swarm), a crusher trap, and a fatigued bombardier beetle.
Post your character's perspective, and add whatever details you need as far as what we did.
OK... so it's no surprise that I HATE spiders. But I just really wish I could be one right now as there is a doorway about 40 feet above floor level that I need to get to. Looks like the last guy that tried fell to his death, and I would really prefer NOT to have that happen to me, or anyone else in my party for that matter.
Also, there is this lift that has me quite perplexed. Anything that is in it when it descends gets crushed. I wonder if maybe Vitali can find some way to disable whatever it is that is causing this.
Sigh... I must get some rest now. I have been feeling somewhat fatigued as of late.....
OK... so it's no surprise that I HATE spiders. But I just really wish I could be one right now as there is a doorway about 40 feet above floor level that I need to get to. Looks like the last guy that tried fell to his death, and I would really prefer NOT to have that happen to me, or anyone else in my party for that matter.
Also, there is this lift that has me quite perplexed. Anything that is in it when it descends gets crushed. I wonder if maybe Vitali can find some way to disable whatever it is that is causing this.
Sigh... I must get some rest now. I have been feeling somewhat fatigued as of late.....
There is a path, yes, but I don't remember mentioning a doorway. It's always an option to go back to town for any resources we discover we might need. Spelunking at the least was a common pastime for the folks of Diamond Lake.
There is a path, yes, but I don't remember mentioning a doorway. It's always an option to go back to town for any resources we discover we might need. Spelunking at the least was a common pastime for the folks of Diamond Lake.OK... so it's no surprise that I HATE spiders. But I just really wish I could be one right now as there is a doorway about 40 feet above floor level that I need to get to. Looks like the last guy that tried fell to his death, and I would really prefer NOT to have that happen to me, or anyone else in my party for that matter.
Also, there is this lift that has me quite perplexed. Anything that is in it when it descends gets crushed. I wonder if maybe Vitali can find some way to disable whatever it is that is causing this.
Sigh... I must get some rest now. I have been feeling somewhat fatigued as of late.....
I believe we need to head back to town regardless. Nexus will be in need of more canaries to keep Book Worm sated. As for the aforementioned 'doorway', I was referring to the hole in the wall at the start of the pathway. Guess I need to be more literal next time. My bad
I believe we need to head back to town regardless. Nexus will be in need of more canaries to keep Book Worm sated. As for the aforementioned 'doorway', I was referring to the hole in the wall at the start of the pathway. Guess I need to be more literal next time. My badThere is a path, yes, but I don't remember mentioning a doorway. It's always an option to go back to town for any resources we discover we might need. Spelunking at the least was a common pastime for the folks of Diamond Lake.OK... so it's no surprise that I HATE spiders. But I just really wish I could be one right now as there is a doorway about 40 feet above floor level that I need to get to. Looks like the last guy that tried fell to his death, and I would really prefer NOT to have that happen to me, or anyone else in my party for that matter.
Also, there is this lift that has me quite perplexed. Anything that is in it when it descends gets crushed. I wonder if maybe Vitali can find some way to disable whatever it is that is causing this.
Sigh... I must get some rest now. I have been feeling somewhat fatigued as of late.....
No worries. Just, you know, when you find what's up there, you'll know why I was trying to clarify. We'll get a trek to town in soon I imagine.
I hate you, Paizo message board. This is the millionth time you have eaten a post I had taken hours to type.
I hate you, Paizo message board. This is the millionth time you have eaten a post I had taken hours to type.
wow... that totally blows. Maybe if you type it in word first and just copy and paste. OH... btw...when's your b-day, Hun, so I know when to have your cake ready?
I hate you, Paizo message board. This is the millionth time you have eaten a post I had taken hours to type.wow... that totally blows. Maybe if you type it in word first and just copy and paste. OH... btw...when's your b-day, Hun, so I know when to have your cake ready?
ugh... never mind. Dweeb boy told me we missed it. And I had the coolest cake all planned out, too...
I'm feeling a little out of practice right now. 5 critical roles and 4 of them I roll 1's. Let's take this point-by-point.
Point One-Lurking Srangler: Why do things like this exist? If I ever see one of these foul creatures again, I will obliterate it from a distance. These creatures are too powerful in close combat, especially for their size. (Mechanically, this thing is way to powerful for its CR)
Point Two-Gas Trap: Despite being horribly handicapped by the toxic event, I can at least understand the concept of gas pockets building up underground unlike the creature in its vicinity (point one)
Point Three-Earth Elemental:I'm intrigued as to what we may learn from such a creature, but that is for another time. Let the creature rest until we can communicate with it, otherwise I fear it may turn violent.
Point Four-corpses: I thank these lost souls for it seems every one has been a warning or a hint to help us out.
Point Five-Treasure: The goggles of minute seeing have ended in better hands, in spite of its owner. I hope the wands in my possesion prove helpful.
Point Six-Brown Mold: See point seven
Point Seven-Beetle Swarm: This seems to be the biggest problem in our near future, as we have no way of dealing with it directly. As it stands, I have two plans. The easy and most likely not to work, lure the swarm to the room that tires and hope they pass out. The second and most elaborate consists of luring the swarm to the brown mold. By cutting a tight path through the mold with rays of frost and acid splashes, leaving an open area in the middle, we set the trap. Vitali, being the best at spelunking, will be our bait leading the swarm through the brown mold. By the time the swarm makes it to the center of the trap, vitali should be through, allowing hazard to light the opening on fire, which causes the brown mold to close the exit. At the same time, Amathana will fire an arrow or bolt or some flaming projectile at the entrance, sealing the swarm in an area of brown mold.
Point Eight-Crushing trap: Until I can cast gaseous form, no one goes in.
Point Nine and Ten-Mad Slasher and Bombardier Beetle: This place seems to be crawling with insectile creatures. I'll have to remember to prepare less color sprays
Point Eleven-Lanturn Puzzle room: We may need to go back to town for a portable crane or scroll of something or other to reset the slab arrow.
Point Twelve-Vitali: I am vastly irritated and bewildered at the situation he has put me in. irritated that Izenfen couldn't leave me to my own devices, and bewildered at him for revealing himself after nine years of observation. How am I expected to trust him. My only solace is if Izenfen hasn't ordered him to reveal himself, He's a dead man anyway.
Big couple of days. We went from the Laborer's quarters, through all that, including the underwater section, past the face trap, the balance beam room with the iron ball trap, found the farmstead outside Diamond Lake, went through and burned down the old observatory, and opened up the room past the balance beam room only for it to shut on us shortly afterwards.
We encountered an acid beetle swarm with another bombardier beetle, a mad water elemental, a lacedon while underwater, a grick, Alastor Land the boy ghost, a wounded owlbear mother with her baby, Kullen the albino half-orc and his band (we bribed them), 3 skeletons, 9 zombies that didn't fight but instead helped illustrate the madness of a necromancer, Filge the necromancer himself, along with 4 zombies and 1 last skeleton, and the two wind warriors who kicked our ass and kicked us out, shutting the door behind them.
Let's hope that earth elemental has the same thing in mind as we do.
That lacedon was scary, Filge was sick, those wind warriors were too strong and I don't have any idea how my brother fits into all this. Either Allustan is lying or he caught a glimpse of something much bigger than he knows.
We went back to town to stock up on things we might need to get us through this Gods-awful cairn and to have Allustan check out the lanterns that we had found. They disappeared shortly after we gave them to him to look at (we found out upon our return to the cairn that they had all reappeared in their original hanging positions). With the red lantern still missing, we resumed our search of the water logged underground passage.
A water elemental and a lacedon later, we were able to blast open the drainage hole with the help of Nexus' wand. The door at the other end of the room was quite anti-climactic, as it was only the bathroom, but we did discover another room which housed a corpse containing the final lantern.
Back in the room with the dais, we were able to light all seven lanterns. A spectral head presented itself momentarily, seeming to sigh with relief. It only stayed for a second or two so this seemed a good sign.
After a good deal of trial and error (got a good laugh as Nexus and I kept falling while wearing the ring of Feather Fall) we all finally made it to the opening at the top of the shaft. Vitali had a bit of a scare with a clicking floor plate that turned out to be just that... a plate in the floor that clicked. The trap must have been disarmed when we lit the lanterns as the face at the end of this hall looks much like the brief spectre.
Past this obstacle was a balance beam of sorts with a pit of metalic balls below. We met the ghost of a young human here. He asked that we return his bones to his family's farm so that he may lay beside them in death in exchange for unlocking the door at the other end of the beam. This started a whole new side quest, as Nexus informed us upon his return from the grave that the boys family had all been dug up.
We went to the boys farm, only to find it occupied by a mother owlbear and her cub. The mother, being previously injured, but up a fight and we had to put her down, but Nexus was able to find a new home for the cub.
Further inspection of the farm house and surrounding land, as well as a trip to a local pub for information, led us to the old observatory where a mad necromancer had taken up residence. A few brief encounters later, we did away with some zombies and 4 skeletons. The skeletons turned out to be those of the Land family, kin of the ghost boy Alastor that we were trying to help. Nexus set the observatory ablaze and went about re-interring the family back into their proper graves.
It finally seems as if we were going to make more progress in the Whispering Cairn, but in the room beyond the beam we encountered 2 air elementals. An unsuccessful battle later, we were once again locked out of the room. I guess we will have to head back to Diamond Lake to rethink our strategies. And with Alastor finally at peace, he is no longer there to let us back in...
(I know there are things I have forgotten... hell, I'm surprised I remembered this much lol)
The hibernating earth elemental may be our only way back in. I'm hoping that the creature's dislike for its opposing element is stronger than its dislike for the people who will wake it. With our replenished spells and a possible ally, maybe this will go a different direction.
This session we made the transition from one book to the next. Our only fight was with the Wind Warriors, as the elemental was negotiated with and helped us into the true tomb. We actually made short work of them. Afterwards, we made a deal with Balabar Smenk to help get us into the Dourstone Mine. We left off with us going down the elevator into the cult's temple.
I knew many townsfolk didn't like me, but to have the earth elemental spit pebbles at me was surprising. I didn't even speak to it. Finding the treasure in the cairn was nice, but I'm no closer to finding my brother. Now I'm deep underground in the other direction. I doubt any clues are nearby. For now, I must focus my energy against this cult, the Ebon Triad. Who knows how dangerous these guys are.
Smenk, i don't trust him, he is a lying fat mouth, the lies just pour out his mouth.
LOL
I'm sorry, but this had me rolling. Yeah, he's a lying fat mouth alright. And yes, the lies, they pour. This is all true. Just the way you put it.
Nexus, thank you for taking the time to learn the Earth Elemental's language. I don't know how we would have gotten through that door with out him. Hazard, I've known you since your garrison days and I don't know why the elemental was so rude to you. Maybe you reminded him of bad memories. I hope your brother was not involved as I would really like to meet him one day.
I had hoped we could focus more on finding Hazard's brother until we were summoned by Smenk. Loathsome man but powerful and feared. Still not sure if I should be honored or disgusted by his needing our party to aid him. We will be the ones risking our necks while he sits there in his home whining about the gold it cost him. The Ebon Triad cultists are seeming like the bigger threat at the moment, however.
I will try and sum up quick: 2 temples in one big session. We fought all kinds of stuff, and cleared out the temple of Hextor and Vecna. Lots of treasure, lots of fighting, and lots of XP. I didn't have a suitable reward for posting, and after all that treasure, I still don't. I'll try and come up with something good this time, though, because so much went on. Please, though, don't do it for the reward. This is for us as a group.
I feel a little like I'm reliving that night over and over. The electricity in the air, making your hair stand on end. The loud cracking of thunder and whiplash. My oldest memories are repeating themselves.
The other night my dreams haunted me. Wind Warriors with swords that sparked electric rage slaughtered me while my brother watched uncaring. He held a lantern to his side that emitted a ghoulish green light. The blank expression on his gaunt face fails to acknowledge me.
Why can't I remember where I'm from?
I am starting to worry about my companion, Hazard. He does not appear to be sleeping well. It seems that nightmares are invading his mind. He tosses and turns in his bedding as if fighting some invisible foe.
At least we are finally getting some rest after battling the cultists in this horrid mine. They are most definitely plentiful as well as intent upon their actions. I feel that there are things that Smenk hasn't told us about his dealing with them.
Maybe Nexus will find something useful in the spell books that we recovered.
At last! I have finally come to understand the elusive temptress of divine magic. I knew that all magic stemmed from a root source and with enough exposure I've figured it out! I feel as if all of Oerth's power is in my hands, I just need to learn to hold on and train it to do my bidding.
I've noticed as my power grows, so to do my companions'. It must be no mere coincidence that such fonts of puissance have established a congruous coarse.
As for the current events, I fail to conceive how or why one would endeavor to synthesize three deities. Never the less, after witnessing the constitution of the first two shrines, I can only conclude that the third will be filled with viscious savages and monstosities. With a good night's rest and some time for study, I believe they shall present no challange.
well after a 18 hour session i don't remember a lot of what happened. my brain feels heavy.
Nexus and Vitali need to chill out. They bicker more than an old married couple.
Not liking this part of the mine so far. First I slip off a cliff side and fall 45'... hurt like all hell! (sorry, Hazard, for dragging you with me) Then I get attacked by some stupid strangler thing and end up passing out. They told me I could have died.
I am NOT a happy camper.....
As I thought, the area is full of barbaric grimlocks, but that isn't what is worrying me. As is known, Vitali and I have no good blood between us due to history. Up till this point I had seen him as a means to an ends, but now I'm questioning his motives and the truth of his story. I fear he may have voluntarily disobeyed Izenfen's orders to fulfill his own bellicosity, or worse, his sanity may be slipping from her imposed tyranny. If that is the case, I may need to warn the others to be on there gaurd. However, until we may part ways, I'll have to pretend everything is fine.
We've whiffed a lot on the choker encounter, but the grimlocks have proven to be easy enough. Headed now to the major portion of this temple, it may prove to be a bit tougher than the front guard.
Arathana and I have been companions in arms before, and when one falls, so does the whole team (in this case literally). I think this place is more dangerous than it seems. How quickly we can forget our wounds when they heal so soon. If one or two in our team loses focus, we all lose. I've put my life on the line, and my trust in my companions. It'd be regrettable to lose any of it.
Arathana and I have been companions in arms before, and when one falls, so does the whole team (in this case literally). I think this place is more dangerous than it seems. How quickly we can forget our wounds when they heal so soon. If one or two in our team loses focus, we all lose. I've put my life on the line, and my trust in my companions. It'd be regrettable to lose any of it.
Amen, Hazard
The "Big Bad" wasn't quite as bad as I had expected, but he did get a few good shots at Vitali and Hazard. Nexus' spells were most helpful, and I was able to help with healing. All in all, I think we finally all worked well as a team.
We got the last of the grimlocks out of the way, and the ebon aspect was slain. We're now plotting our way up and out of the mine, while escaping the notice of Smenk and Dourstone until we expose their deeds. This might be a bit tricky.
There is a tingling feeling in my hands. I've had these electric shocks when I grab onto metal things, especially my shield. My hair is starting to fall out. When I connected that channeled shock in to the hideous six-armed monster, it felt like I was striking my old slave-master. A selfish, righteous deed, blessed by the thunder of a natural god.
Looking outward, into Diamond Lake, I realize that we descended with our minds on helping Diamond Lake, and rise again with the tools to do so in a more dramatic way than we anticipated. We can accomplish much together.
Leopold Frost, “The Raging Alchemist”
Within the past year Leopold had heard rumors of a rare plant, native to the plane of shadow, that had a high alchemical properties. He was hard pressed to get his hands on this plant, but lacked the money to set forth on a trip to the plane of shadows. Leopold set out to find someone willing to pay for the trip, in exchange for a portion of the profit of this grand discovery. His search lead him to the town of Blackstone, where a man named Nicolas Bradley agreed to fund his research and trip. Leopold didn't know much of the man, just knew he had a lot of money.
Nicolas arranged the trip, and even provided some protection to insure his investment. The group included two of Nicolas' thugs, a wizard, from the looks of him at least, and the sneaky little halfling bastard Madic. Also included was Leopold's long time colleague and fellow alchemist, Roy Sulosia. It took at least three weeks to find the plant that Leopold thought that the rumors were referring to.
When they returned Nicolas had set up a lab for Leopold to begin working. Leopold and Roy distilled and brewed an extract from the plant. Upon completing the extract Leopold and Roy couldn't decide who was going to test the concoction. But by the flip of a coin, it was decided that Leopold would test it. “Well here goes nothing”, said Leopold, and that is exactly what happened, nothing. Enraged by by his failure, Leopold went on a rampage destroying much of the lab. Roy could do nothing to stop Leopold. Just as fast as the rampage started, it ended with Leopold cringing over in pain. Leopold felt a cold chill all over his body, and his skin began to become duller in color.
After hearing the commotion in the lab Nicolas sent his guards to investigate. The guards burst in the room shouting, “Hey whats going on in here!” The guards saw the mess, and sent for Nicolas. When Nicolas arrived saw the changes to Leopold, and asked if it was the results of what they were working on. When he learned that it was the result, he wanted to know exactly what change happened. Nicolas then ordered Leopold to recreate the extract, and weaponize it, to be use on his men. Leopold didn't want to let the extract be used for the wrong reasons, so he told Nicolas that he would not do it. Nicolas then ordered his men to kill Roy, and they did, Nicolas said “ Do it, or you are next. Then I will just get my wizard to copy what you did, being that Madic has be spying on you this whole time.” Just then Madic came out of being invisible. Leopold then realizing his situation, got off a quick well place bomb, and was able to escape.
Leopold knows that is not the last he as seen of Nicolas, and vows that one day he will avenge Roy. Until then he will attempt to continue work on Roy's old plan to try and clean up the pollution in Diamond lake. He may have to make a trip to Free City to find some very powerful chemicals....
Okay, the transition for the books and characters was smooth enough I guess. We had a kinda big battle with 8 orcs and 8 goblins and a worg. After that, we went straight on into Blackwall Keep and are facing 30 lizardfolk at nearly the same time. We got this.
Vitali left us pretty suddenly, but that's just the way he is; he showed up just as suddenly, too. I wish him luck.
Meanwhile, all sorts of explosions have gone around me lately. If I favor electric vengeance, my allies seem to favor fiery rage. I can relate.
Vitali left after getting some "urgent" message. Whatever. Got Dourstone busted before going though. That was fun.
Found some guy named Leopold while accompanying Allustan to Blackwall Keep. Maybe he'll stay with us in Vitali's absence. He seems like he can hold his own quite well, but I'm sure he was glad for our assistance when we found him taking on a bunch of goblins and orcs alone.
The battle at the Keep was somewhat explosive. This was Nexus' doing. He is becoming quite the adept wizard. I just hope it doesn't go to his head. I have known way too many conceited wizards in my time.
We tracked down a group of lizard folk who had taken some hostages from the Keep. They are resting with their God now. I hope we can get the hostages back to the Keep safely.
We caught up with the lizardfolk on their way back to their nest/home/whatever with our Blackwall Keep friends in tow. Why they were taken is anyone's guess (sacrifice, meal, certainly not a tea party). On our way back we took an alternate path than the one we went the first time through and found ourselves among a large variety of spiders (or as this adventure tends to describe, a bewildering array of spiders).
I forgot to mention the arrest of Dourstone and Smenk last time. That was a big detail to miss, but I'm glad we put them in their place. At least for a while.
I'm already sick of trudging through the swamp. The green torches they carry remind me of my nightmares, making them an uneasy foe. I know there's something that hasn't been mentioned by the soldiers of Blackwall Keep. They have a secret, and I intend to find out what that is.