Campaign Journal: Rapture of the Deep

A lot went on - gotta get it recorded before my notes become more confused... 

Who's aboard? 

• Jax - Barbarian
• Fulvus - Halfling
• Slick - Thief
• Rondel - Elf
• Frederick - tardy Thief

So, first things first - we needed to resolve some carousing outcomes from last session.

A few dice rolls, and Jax was determined to have pulled off a small heist (200gp item).

Frederick busted up one of the better joints in town, got blacklisted, and paid several hundred gp damages.

Slick didn't get off the hook, either. As the party headed to the dock for departure to the dwarven isles, a shadow passed overhead, and the party was confronted by knight (and squire) on a flying carpet. Benedikt Silberbauer was insistent on satisfaction regarding the duel challenged the evening before.

"Gerhard! My dueling swords!" No level-draining sword for Slick... Honor must be claimed in a duel to scars! 

Fine. Slick squared up, went invisible, and whispered into Benedikt's ear, "But I am not honorable," ducking below the knight's swing. Visible again, he squared up, and the two went at it, evenly matched. Back and forth, until Benedikt slashed Slick's face, and honor was satisfied. Until next time! Honor is preserved, and we will share a drink! And away he flew.

Slick has a scar to show off to Serafina the next time they meet.

Slick every morning in the mirror

Debts paid, the party sailed on. Spotting a hulk afloat, they investigated, rustling up a few wraiths. Henry C was in good communication with Garond, and the three spirits were driven from their haunt. A chest of goodies was found.

Onward to the isles. They were escorted in by a dwarven galley. Arriving in the dwarves' "Sub pen" docks, a delegation met them, announcing that the lenses were complete, with one to spare. Escorted to the depths of the isle, into the crushing heat of the island's core...

To the demon's lair. The demon oversaw the loading of the lenses into crates for transport.

"Ah! Back in time. My best work, if I say so myself! And, with this, my contract to you is done. You won't see me again. Unless you deserve to..." (Rondel asked the demon's name from a dwarf, writing it down for later reference...).

With that, the demon sank into the lava, the pool cooling and solidifying behind him.

Encounter Area - Lost and Found in the Woods

Well, as I do sometimes when we go out to one of our local watering holes, I take my notebook, and perhaps a couple of blank maps to scribble ideas on. After all, sometimes the muse is right beneath the surface...

Anyway, printed this out and thought it might make a good spot for a small encounter, maybe a rescue, maybe a fight...

Source

Let's see. Maybe gnolls? They could be keeping watch, take cover in the ruins and tower, fight smart. They'll have captives in the north room. And they haven't found the secret room, but there will be a scary undead there.

Hey. Waitaminute....

https://leicestersramble.blogspot.com/2023/05/returning-to-campaign.html

Damnit...

'Course, I never wrote it down, and couldn't find the particulars in my original notes, so ginned up a reasonable facsimile. 

FINE.

That's what a few years of one-shots and campaign gets you, I guess. 

A Manor, Lost and Found...

Campaign Journal: Wherein Goober Almost Dies

Who's riding with Serafina Rissanen to meet with Victor Matui and his faction of worshippers of "Old Khador" at his keep?

• Slick (And Dukan Dildran)
• Frederick
• Jax (And Goober)

Might want to stand back, in case the religious discussion gets heated.

Serafina was greeted with, understandably, distrust and some hostility, as her zealots were among the parties who persecuted the Keepers of Light, Green Star, and others of the old orders after the original fall of the western lands and resulting upheavals.

But her approach with humility and explanation of her escape from Acroria under duress won over a few of the old campaigners. Discussion soon led to questions and much animated pointing to lines of text in various holy books and requisite religious armwaving.

The party sat back and tried not to nod off.

Just in time before Slick started to either 1) snore and drool, or 2) go steal shit, an alarm from the tower went up. "Something's botherin' Momma!"

That was a curious phrase.

Well, one of the original occupants of the keep tower was a giant eagle. Victor had made the choice to wait for her to fledge her chicks prior to evicting her. Which turned out to be fortunate, as the eagle rehomed to a large tree not far from the keep and "Momma" now acts as an impromptu sentry to things moving about in the area. 

Slick offered to ride out to see what was amiss. 

Could it be Chaos troops with Damned Horses? Of course it was Chaos troops with Damned Horses. 

YeeHaw!

June RPG Blog Carnival: Magic Shops

This month's blog carnival is sponsored by Advantage on Arcana and appropriately themed, "Magic Shops and Their Alternatives."

Well, I'd better hop on board before I lose my muse for another several months...

...with the important question: "Why own, when you can rent?"

***

HEY! HEY! HEY! C'mon down to Lucky Eddy's Magic Rentals! 

(On the corner of Rivenbell Road and Langmug Lane - look for the wacky waving wyvern!)

Why buy, when you can RENT?!?

No need to buy an overpriced item from those sketchy elves down the street or that shop run by the bald dude on the river! Especially if you only need it for this quest or mission! Who needs a pack full of unused magical tinker? YOU DON'T!

Lucky Eddy is here to help you lighten that load and set you up for SUCCEESSSS!! No more hauling three swords, "just in case!" We'll get you kitted out and back from that dungeon before the tavern closes!!!

REASONABLE RATES! By the Day, Week, or Month! (Some Exclusions Apply)*

Source

They Met at a Tavern 9: It Fell From the Sky

Time for another Meetup session at the brewery. This time, I took the leap of actually using a pre-written adventure. In this case, Thom Wilson's "It Fell From the Sky" written for Shadowdark. I have a few of Thom's products, and a what appeared to be a low-level homage to Expedition to the Barrier Peaks sounded like fun. Spoilers ahead, of course.

We had four players:

• Brandon (Dwarf Fighter - Jordan Ironhelm)
• Tom (Half-Orc Wizard - Dakklud)
• Brian (Elf Priest - Anin)
• Seana (Human Fighter - Akiina)

Off to a good start. The premise of the adventure is that the PCs are venturing to the settlement of Fregundle to take part in the "Beggening," an annual humiliation by the local lord, Underduke Ivok. 

Thankfully, the event is cancelled by the crash of an alien spaceship into the middle of town. We determined by rolls that Anin was a native of the area, and knew some local lore and personalities. As the remainder of the party waded through the muck surrounding the ship, Anin retrieved a few aids and poultices from a local healer's cabin (she had perished from shock at the crash of the ship).

The remainder of the party was set upon by an apparent zombie, which they slayed. With this, Ironhelm cast a grapple to the ship, and all ascended, finding a breach in its hull. 

They were able to access the interior, finding it quiet. A dead alien was the only witness. Some poking around and mishaps with invisible force fields blocking accessways, and it was found that alien body parts were needed to open doors. Dead alien hand on a stick.

Odd technologies were investigated, and a sneaky alien was defeated. More dead aliens were found. Now everyone had their own alien hand. 

Down into the heart of the ship. They party circumnavigated around the ship's outer corridor, investigating cargo holds and scrounging as all good adventurers do. They were able to collect a few curiosities and valuables from their investigations and property damage. Including several silver ingots. This was certainly better than the Beggening.