So I started (Finlay) BM, and I started it with a Bumm of a stupidity attack. For some reason I was under the impression that my players need to be 8th level to start BM (7th is the stating level recommended). So I pumped some extra encounters in to raise them. I just discovered that mistake last week, yeah awesome making that more a CamPain then anything else…anyway. Here what happened.
If you read my my TotB log, you might remember that two of my players changed characters. While the monk went off on himself the other one stayed in Lepidstadt. After the PC’s cleared out the Schloss they returned to Lepidstadt for supplies and some crafting downtime. When they went to the Judge, she told them that the old Character had been murdered and a not was found on him saying “stay out of this. AA”. Yeah not very imaginative, but at this stage I was just overworked (like in WORK WORK). Anyway…to boost the PC’s I used the Ustalav Party (the invisible men and the Cleric) in the Rival Guide and scaled them down to the CR’s I needed. I planed to anoy the PC’s while the rest was crafting. What happened was that I had the Invisible men following the PC’s and used Perception checks to “make them feel followed”, upping the paranoia, which worked out quite well. The PC’s rented a house and the Wiz started crafting, while the rest went out and about to buy and sell stuff. When they came back they found the Wiz sleeping on the floor with a note. “LAST WARNING. GO South”. The rouge then went to alert the watch and feelt followed. However the Rougs stealth checks where in the 30ies and the Invisible men had problem seeing her, on the other hand she couldn’t see him either (stealth + Invisibility). So after quite a bit Hide and seek she ended up at the Guard house and persuaded the guards to come out, being firtfull etc. They all went back and she was flirting heavily with ne guard and at some stage I had her make a perception, noticing the other guard MISSING. Now that was funny, should have seen the players face. So she walks back a bit (stealth) and finding nothing she comes back find the other guard dead on the ground. Paranoia hit and she RAN back. From that moment on they decided to barricade the house and go out only in pairs. EXCEPT that the Bard (don’t get me started) was stupid enough to go out alone. The Invisible men EASILY captured him. (I don’t kill players easily, and I was really tempted to kill him off for his stupidity, BUT that was one of the players that already changed characters at the start of TotB and I just couldn’t….I like the palyers to associate with there character and have fun, and he was FINALY fitting in….so no). I took him aside for interrogation to understand what the PC’s knew about the WW and AV.
The PC’s noticed that he didn’t came back over night and went out to find him. They used magic to track him down. HUGE fight (all spell casters where empty after it was done, and most fightes wounded…) I used the Cleric with some fighters to defend their place while the Invisible men was coming in form behind to take on the spell casters. Pity that the Oracle had GlitterDust…but still. After most of the Fighters where killed the cleric reanimated them as Zombies. The cool think about that was that the Zombies now where in between the Fights and the Spell casters, creating a tactical nightmare for the PC’s.
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After all that the PC’s went back to crafting and then made a Huge show of moving south out of Lepidstadt only to take a wide arc and head for the Schloss (the start of the SilentPath). I made it clear to the PC’s that they cant take their wagon (The oracle was originally with the Kin and has a Gypsy wagon) across the path. The Module dosnt say much about it, except in on description mentioning wheel tracks on the path. However I wanted them to get rid of the wagon as I wanted them to experience more the Winter overland track (its November ATM). They stayed one night at the Schloss and then moved into the Forest.
For encounters in the woods I used (actually roles, but it fits PERFECTLY) Quickwood and Dire Wolfes. They sumbled across the first QuickWood but the Wiz talked the Three (he speaks sylvan) out if attacking. As it was approaching winter the Quickwood was just plain HUNGRY. The PC kind of felled. I decided that I really want that Quickwood fight and the first river they came across had only reminisce of a Bridge. As it was evening (darkness) they camped and over night a different Quickwood attacked. Nice one…really good creature to have fun with. After that they came across the Ethercaps and followed them in to the Silkworm. Funny as it is. The Quickwood was more dangerous to them then the Silkworm and the fight was over in less the 4 rounds (including the Etercaps flanking form the trees and some traps on the flanks. They took the letter and overnighter there.
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Next night the DireWolfes attacked and as I now realized that I FU’ed with the level I put a bit more in there and made one an Alpha male (Advanced template). Was a nice fight as I had the wolfs flanking and disengaging. Also the Alpha went after the horses but didn’t managed to kill anything.
Shortly before the lodge they came across the WhereWolf plus trap encounter. Didn’t surprise them much. Towards late midday they arrived at the lodge, and where turned away.
BTW I now have a Co-GM, he wants to run his own stuff at some stage (I try to make him run the upcoming pirates, I wana PLAY that) so he can learn some of the game dynamics. He takes all the fights off me and I can focus on atmosphere and story line.
So Duristan just walks out in is arrogant way and the PC follow him almost with out question…funny how Nobles hold that kind of influence. The PC’s realize that Duristan is a bit of a douche but still trail along as they figured its their best way into the lodge.
The DireBors (even one CR higher) where not as much fun as the DireWolfes and almost hack to pieces (with commends of “Fireball them so we don’t have to go and grill them that long, I’m getting hungry”). After that Duristan managed to convinces them to stay the night.
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The night went on with drink (no one really wanted any) Duristan telling stories and the PC telling some too. Then the Cry. The PC’s took 3 rounds to get there (cause they helped Duristan to get into his Amor…) and the Inquisitor Intimidated the 2 ported in the camp to follow tthem, so they are save. Arriving at the scene, they see 2 of the LARGE werewolf’s. The PC’s were a bit shocked as they didn’t know that werewolves can grow that big. Also it was two cause they are 8th and 6 players…so up from 2 to 4.
The Werewolf makes his speech and the PC’s attack. The wolfs howl and the Rouge actually gets the drift to get out of here, however the Paladin detecting evil is just plain CHARGE. So he smites that Wolf and starts hacking into him. The wolf starts hacking back and I have the other two wolfs charge strait into flanks right into the spell casters.
The Idea was to make my PC’s understand that not everything is solved with the sword. HOWEVER the Pally dished out massively. I had to fudge several roles to actually damage him (he starts being a SERIOUS pain).
BTW: if you didnt know (or if you remember 3.5) a Paladin isnt imune to Lycantorpy as it is a CURSE
The rest of the group is standing normally back and buffing him, but at least they were now under pressure a bit. One of the flanking Wolfs tore the 2 porters apart and then concentrated on Duristan, while the other Wolf started hacking into the bard. As the Pally was seriously killing my 2 wolfs he was facing I put some more reinforcements (sidenote: I forgot my figures and so I used Cream filled cupcakes, which just happened to be the right size as wolfs on the board) from the side. I actually was thinking to teach my group a lesson and just swam them. But again the pally crit’ed and as he has cleave AND was hasted AND is 8th …he gets like TOO much attacks per round…Anyway. I decided that THIS isn’t going to work out and called a halt to it and the Wolfs retreated. The Pally was almost about to go and run after them (hasted) BUT another player halted him. Pity the others wouldn’t had a change to catch up with him and I would have swamped him, except he is the player that is in love with Kendra…
Anyway back at the lodge they get in and get into the rooms. At midday meal they meet the Markesa and her Hound. The Bard want to find out if she is know and he rolled like 38 on Noble .. so I told him a bit about her and that he remembers her cause there is a raunchy song about her alleged escapades. However most Bards singing that song in her Country, have been known to loose body parts…which convinced him to shut up. The PC’s gave the letter and the equipment they found at the Silkworm encounter and the location of it to the Margrave and he is willing to help them a bit. They didn’t brought the bodies and didn’t buried them, however they didn’t lied about it either.
The Inquisitor gained access to the reference library and researched the Wolf clans and finding also the book with the note. He didn’t removed the note and also didn’t told the other PC about it either…
The pally was talking to Duristan and at some stage as they went back to the house, he mentioned Fun at the Tower. The Pally wasn’t sure if he just got proposed and was very confused. He hits massively ut also the player play’s him like Prince Charming form Shrek…so at least there is some justice. Anyway he tires to find out more about the Tower and talks to Corvin, who at this stage is a bit drunk and …it just was hilarious. Anyway the PC’s are thinking that they will send the Pally to the Madam and I already prepared a Sending (Magic…THANKS for the help) from Kindra to him AFTER he was in the Tower…[insert evil grim, Woman ALWAYS will know]
The evening (in-game and out-of-game) concluded with a meal with everyone and some music supplied by the Bard. Duristan hitting on the Rouge, not getting anywhere, but still.
---- End of evening ----
The evening started in the Morning with Breaki. (lol)
The Pally wanted to know more about the defensibility of the Lodge and went for a walk. The Other Party members tried to gain access to the Library and talked to Estevan asking him about the Hallow. He basically said he knew nothing about it. The PC requested access to the Reference Library (30) thought Belik (Porter) and had to wait for some 2h (in which Estevan went and took the Note out of the Book, talked to Belik and arranged Event 5). Belik came back to the PC’s and granting them access for the morning the next day.
In the meantime the Pally, on his exploring tour comes to the WatchTower. He asked the Guard in front of it, if he can come in and the guard said that he needs to get out of his Full Plate to come in here and “enjoy”. He (the Charakter) didn’t get it and stared asking questions about what kind of entertainment is provided here, the guard realising that he Pally has totally failed his Knowledge (Bees-and-Flowers) check told him to ask his friends about it. However the Pally arranged a meeting with Madam for later. Then he looked after his horses and asked the right questions and passed his check and got the info out of the Stablemaster about the riders and that Ostavach was already here that time. Last time Ostavach said he arrived 14days ago not 18. On his way back he stumbles across the Rouge (female, Varisian) and told her what he found out. As he heads in ahe makes her way to Madam and talks to her and arranging some “Entertainment” for the Pally.
The day progresses and the Pally goes to see Madam. The Rouge gave him a Gem stone, and said to give it to Madam. Not knowing (and not asking) he just does that. Madam then introduces him to Niana, who is in her room and closing the door on the Pally. He is now (without Armor and Weapons) in a room with the Courtesan. He basically takes in the scene and turn around and asks her to put on some cloths. I made it REALLY hard for the player (as we are all way past 18) I turned on the erotica :). I have him make a will save every 5min she is dancing for him and he actually faied them ending up with … Biological Male-watching-Female-Reaction (you know). He manages to ask the right questions and gets the info about the WW visit.
In the meantime I won’t waste the opportunity to catch the rest of the PC without their tank and roll out Event 5 onto them. (I added a Org-Spider to it just to level out the CR). Also I had my Co-GM handle the whole combat, first time and it worked quite well, he was very well prepared)
The PC’s (minus the Bard, who took offence from Corvinare and is now playing LOUDLY in form of his door while he is nursing a hangover) in the Music room and plotting as they hear a scream and a HUGE crash. As the PC haste to the Ball Room, Duristan passes them by running upstairs. The Fight starts and NPC drop like flies from nauseating Poison (no weapons, or only make-shift ones and no Armor….Actually the only NPC that holds out to the end of the fight is one Scullion with a roast spit). So the PCs engage the Spider (PLEASE NOTE THE SIZE – GIGANTULAR -> 4x4). The Bard upstairs makes his Reflex save and is not run over by Duristan running for his room. The Bard follows him, and then fails his Acrobatic and is runover by Duristan on his way out with weapon. The Rouge is running upstairs to get her weapons and (Acrobatic check) evades Duristan running downstairs. The Bard now up again is bypassed (acrobatic check) by the Rouge. Finaly he decides that something must be going on and heads down, only to be overtaken (near miss) by the rouge going flank speed.
The PC’s push out all registers and manage to overcome the Spiders but not with much Spells and HP left. Good fight. They are stared to care for the NPS’s as the Pally comes back with a very flushed face.
Later that evening he gets the Magical Message form Kindra (he is her lover) that she is invited to spend the Winter in Calisphas with an old friend of her father. He is a bit irritated by the conisident, but Woman ALWAYS know :)
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Na......sorry....WAY to much work happening atm. At some stage when I jave some breathing space.