CAST
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchlady "Bunny" the Thief (3), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
Mongo and Gutboy peered into the medical bay to see what the robo-zombies were up to - they were clustered around the central computer-pillar. Mongo, using the power of the Sword of Unlife, had previously compelled one of the robo-zombies to be his servant. He sent this zombie in to the computer - "Ahh! You have returned to me! Control is again mine!" - to ATTACK - "No! Betrayed by my own! I shall destroy you, Thals!"
The other zombies in the room began pummeling Mongo's zombie, while metal tentacles protruding from the computer-pillar, tipped with blades and syringes, tore into its flesh. Meanwhile, the corpse of henchman William Harrison began to stir - electrical cables had snaked their way into his flesh, and he arose as a servant of the tank's computer. His attack was thwarted instantly by the power of Gutboy's faith, and he pushed Mongo aside to retreat into the medical bay with his master.
As Mongo's zombie was destroyed, he took control of another with the Sword of Unlife, forcing it to turn on its master. This happened repeatedly as each zombie was destroyed in turn. The bodies of defeated zombies in the bay began to rise again as well, reinforced with cables where joints had been damaged - and all were turned. The computer, sensing the tide of battle going against it, offered a truce - "Leave! Thals, you are free to go! Depart!" and the party took the offer.
The only problem they had left was that the door out of the crew quarters was magically sealed. The party hoped that the arcane lock would dissipate with time, and began piling the metal debris that filled the crew quarters in front of the medical bay hatch in case it didn't.
MEANWHILE...
Back in the flying head, Bunny was shocked when a bullet ripped through her shoulder. She turned to see the wizard Ferayn floating in the center of the head, a rifle in his hands. "Die, interloper!" the mad wizard shouted as he took another shot - but it went wide. Bunny responded by grabbing her longbow and putting two arrows through the wizard, and fell into the grain pile below, dead. The flying head shuddered, and the interior lights dimmed noticeably, but then recovered, as the wizard gasped his last.
AND BACK IN THE TANK...
Eventually, Rufus II the Blink Dog awoke from his supernatural slumber, and blinked back into the crew quarters. Sadly, he couldn't budge the door handle from the other side - the magic sealing the door was strong. Mongo peeked over the barrier into the medical bay, and was horrified to see that the robo-zombies were being reassembled. The revived zombies lined up and marched towards the barrier, intent on breaking through and slaughtering the heroes.
Gutboy responded by repeatedly turning the zombies, and Mongo attempted to dominate them with his Sword of Unlife - but he found himself no longer able to overcome the computer's influence. That proved to be no obstacle - blasts from the laser rifle recovered on the upper deck were just as effective at dissuading the zombies. The turned zombies were unable to leave the medical bay to attack the party, and Mongo's potshots were seriously damaging the computer - it responded by having its dead servants pile atop it, acting as a shield of unliving flesh.
Gutboy grabbed the laser from Mongo and took aim at the zombies - the blast of focused light seared a zombie from existence, leaving an opening in the corpse-shield. He fired a second blast before the zombies could cover the gap, and the computer exploded, shooting jets of flame from various vents and shattered display-surfaces. The zombies collapsed into a heap of long-dead flesh.
Mongo and Gutboy searched through the debris, and found:
- Various coins, with a scowling priest-king's face on one side, and clenched fists on the other
- A medal for "Gallantry" of amber and platinum
- A picture of a handsome young man in a wood frame
- An ancient suit of fine mesh chainmail
- One ton of silver wire
- 50 pounds of gold wire
- 6 ruby lenses
- Gold-plated robot hand
- Human skull with glowing circuit traces etched on it
- Crude wire cage with a robot spider in it
The victorious party then spent several hours battering on the bulkhead door with a battering ram assembled from the metal bunks, and eventually the hinges gave way and it fell open.
Back at the outer deck, Mongo and Gutboy gestured for Bunny to bring the head down. She explained the flying head's power seemed to be fading away - the lights had been growing dimmer since the death of the wizard, and it was flying erratically. Unphased, Gutboy and Mongo had their henchmen and hirelings haul the loot up into the head, while Gutboy spent 8 hours in prayer, recovering his spells. While they waited for Gutboy, the rest of the crew saw a gigantic frog-like monster leave through a hole in one of the lower decks of the tank - it was the size of an elephant. It returned from its hunt an hour later, dragging the carcass of a sailgator (what the ancients called a "dimetrodon") with it.
Once his spells were recovered, they headed back into the communications bridge, and began playing with the computers once more. They were able to view a detailed map of the lands surrounding the tank, and then were shocked to see the static-filled God's Eye fill with an image of a fork and spoon - the image of Wurgol, god of cutlery. As the God's Eye displayed this, a mechanical voice intoned "Satellite uplink established. What is your query?"
Gutboy: "What is Wurgol?"
Computer/Wurgol: "Wurgol is a satellite-borne artificial intelligence, placed in orbit in the year 2123. It is one of the primary components of the Veil."
Gutboy: "What's the Veil?"
Computer/Wurgol: "The Veil is a barrier maintained by a ring of satellites to prevent the intrusion into the Earth dimension by outsiders."
Gutboy: "How does magic work?"
Computer/Wurgol: "You refer to the nanocyte fields permeating the atmosphere. The nanocytes provide localized concentrated energy to authorized personnel. Authorization is granted by the artificial intelligences in orbit around the Earth, but unauthorized access has become common."
Gutboy: "What is unauthorized..."
Computer/Wurgol: "Uplink terminated."
Trezgar the Elf then attempted to manipulate the computer as well - while he was able to get a monitor to display the following message: "MALAKAZE has attempted to penetrate the Veil. Intrusion prevented", he was unable to reestablish contact with Wurgol.
A DEATH AND AN UNFORTUNATE RESURRECTION...
After some discussion, Gutboy and Mongo decided to head belowdecks despite the risk of the frog-monster - an fateful decision. They climbed down the ladder to the crew quarters/medical bay, Mongo pulled out his flashlight, and he opened the hatch to see what lay below. As he shone the light around, he illuminated eight eyes on a giant frog-like head - the frog-beast! It sent its frog-tongue lashing out at Mongo - the bone needle at the end of the tongue pierced his plate armor and plunged into his shoulder.
Mongo rolled back and away, slamming the hatch shut, and his breathing became erratic. The frog-tongue-needle had injected him with a lethal dose of poison. Gutboy ordered the soil-bearers to strip his pack and equipment off and fit him into the dirt-sack. Sadly, even the power of fresh soil on his carrot-skin was unable to prevent the poison from taking his life, and Mongo died.
Do not be sad, readers - recall the promise etched on Mongo's Sword of Unlife - "Even Death May Die." The power of unlife flowed through Mongo's body, and as his soil bearers tried pushing his dirt-sack up the ladder, his arms tore through the burlap and his cold dead hands grabbed their throats. Un-Mongo sucked the living breath from both soil bearers and prepared to turn on Gutboy - only Gutboy's faith saved him, and Un-Mongo fled from the cleric to the upper decks.
Gutboy, Trezgar, and Bunny quickly hewed the limbs and heads from the soil-bearers to prevent them from arising as undead, and climbed the ladder to the upper decks.
2013-06-17
PDF
2013-06-11
Recent ASE activity on the interwebs!
So here's some recent ASE activity on the interwebs. I know I'm neglecting months worth of stuff posted by tons of worthy people. Rest assured, it's because I'm a jerk with almost no attention span, and not because I don't like you.
Anyhow:
The Roll For Initiative podcast did a review of ASE2-3: http://rfipodcast.com/show/2013/06/06/volume-3-issue-116-druids/
And they did ASE1 a few months ago: http://rfipodcast.com/show/2013/05/25/volume-3-issue-115-witches/
Bryce has reviewed ASE2-3 - http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=2027
Another band of victims has entered the ASE - http://revdoctoredj.blogspot.com/2013/06/metal-gods-of-ur-hadad-adventures-in.html
The last session in my campaign took place in Gusty's Red Demon adventure. If you're reading this blog, you're probably reading Gusty's too and already know about it, but if not here you go - http://dungeonofsigns.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-red-demon-in-swamp-100th-post.html
Somebody created an ASE fan community on Google+ - https://plus.google.com/communities/114643900146333091613
Anyhow:
The Roll For Initiative podcast did a review of ASE2-3: http://rfipodcast.com/show/2013/06/06/volume-3-issue-116-druids/
And they did ASE1 a few months ago: http://rfipodcast.com/show/2013/05/25/volume-3-issue-115-witches/
Bryce has reviewed ASE2-3 - http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=2027
Another band of victims has entered the ASE - http://revdoctoredj.blogspot.com/2013/06/metal-gods-of-ur-hadad-adventures-in.html
The last session in my campaign took place in Gusty's Red Demon adventure. If you're reading this blog, you're probably reading Gusty's too and already know about it, but if not here you go - http://dungeonofsigns.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-red-demon-in-swamp-100th-post.html
Somebody created an ASE fan community on Google+ - https://plus.google.com/communities/114643900146333091613
2013-06-03
session recap, 5/23/2013
CAST
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchpeople "Bunny" the Thief (3) and William Harrison the Fighter (1), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
Mongo and Gutboy surveyed the giant flying stone head they had commandeered - an impressive vessel, to be sure. But what to do with it?
Ferayn, evil wizard and former commander of the head, was bound tightly. Gutboy regarded the fiend, and he contemplated an alliance.
Gutboy: "So, where's your city?"
Ferayn: "The might fortress-city of Tab-Nakel lies many miles to the northwest, among the hills. There you will meet your doom!"
Gutboy: "So who runs the city?"
Ferayn: "I do. Ferayn, who sets his Exterminators among the brutals to bring death!"
Gutboy: "No, really, who runs it?"
Ferayn: "Seriously, it's me. I run it. Who else is flying around in a giant head?"
Gutboy: "We are now."
Ferayn: (sulk)
Gutboy: "So, you interested in working for us?"
Ferayn: (laughs) "You have it backwards! But I can see that you are a cut above the regular scum I recruit to be my Exterminators. You are mercenaries - and there is a place for talented thugs among the wizards. Yes, join me, and you will be richly rewarded!"
Gutboy: "So we can keep the head?"
Ferayn: "What? No! I've only got the one! The giant statue-fortress would look pretty stupid without the head. But I can hook you up with an aircar."
Gutboy and Mongo conferred for a bit, and decided that while doing some work for Ferayn could be fun, they should probably bring Ferayn to their own evil-wizard-overlord, Feretha. Trezgar took the controls and turned the head towards Denethix. When Ferayn saw their heading on the controls, he began to panic - "Are you insane? The Fist will shoot us out of the sky! Turn this thing around!" The pair of adventurers played out the likely ways that flying the head to the city would end in their heads, and stopped the head mid-air.
Another conference, and a new plan - they'd work for Ferayn, but first they wanted to use it to drag the giant tank out of the Livid Fens and receive the promised reward from the weapon collector Davrik Lerdingfast. Ferayn was displeased, but being bound tight, had no choice in the matter.
Several days later found the head flying over the marshes of the Livid Fens - and it was only a matter of time before they spotted the 100' tall tank. The might war machine was streaked red with rust, and had a tread blown off. The turret-tower was shaped like a human head, and had a massive gun barrel protruding from the mouth. The adventurers maneuvered the head towards an open upper deck behind the turret, and all but Bunny climbed aboard the tank - and then Bunny flew the head up into the air above the tank to await the extraction signal.
Even Ferayn had been brought along - Gutboy promised him various technological doodads that they would loot from the tank. He remained bound, however.
The outside deck had a pair of doors secured by combination locks, and a third door that opened easily to reveal a ladder leading to hatches in the floor and ceiling. They went down a level, and reached a communications bridge, filled with glowing monitors, and a giant God's Eye displaying nothing but static. Gutboy began monkeying around with the controls, and a high-pitched squeal like fingers across a chalkboard began rattling their brains. Unable to think of anything but escaping the terrible noise, the party fled back up the ladder.
Temporarily abandoning efforts to explore below, they headed up the ladder and into the turret. The next chamber above held dozens of massive shells, leaking black fluid. The lantern that Malazar carried flared briefly, and Mongo quickly extinguished it, fearing that the fumes in the room would explode. They opened a hatch in the giant turret-bearing and peered down the mouth of the cannon into the swamp - but there was nothing else of interest in the room, and they headed back down. They spent a bit of time fashioning ear plugs out of rags and wax, and headed back down into the communications room to see if they could disable the noise.
Gutboy had no luck - so he cut Ferayn's bonds to see if the wizard could figure out how to work the computer system. Ferayn managed to bring up a screen showing the tank's artillery target (a concrete bunker some miles to the east, now almost completely covered with vegetation), and then brought up another screen with a pair of numeric combinations - presumably for the doors on the outside deck. He had no luck ending the noise, however. The party headed back outside to see what was behind the pair of locked doors.
The combinations proved to be correct, and the doors opened to reveal their contents: 120 gp, 3 plasma power cells for plasma weapons, a ruby, a platinum torque, a laser rifle with 4 power packs, and an argonium shield with gun-notch and a shotgun strapped to it. As they marveled at the riches they'd acquired, they noticed the noise from below had stopped - so back down they went.
In the communications center, Gutboy attempted to contact the tank's computer, shouting "Computer! Can you hear me?" He was answered - a knock sounded from a hatch leading down.
Gutboy: "Is that you computer? Two knocks for yes, one for no!"
Thing under the hatch: (two knocks)
Gutboy: "Do you want to talk to us?"
Thing under the hatch: (two knocks)
The hatch slowly opened, and a rotting corpse climbed up the ladder. It had a thick bundle of wires protruding from its head and body running down the hatch behind it. It beckoned at the party to follow, and climbed back down the ladder. Showing an amazing amount of trust, the adventurers and Ferayn followed the monster deeper into the tank.
Below, they found themselves in a barracks-deck, with another hatch leading down, and an opening leading west. The beds had all been shredded, the thin partition walls torn off to reveal the cables and armored walls behind, and large piles of rubble scattered about. The corpse beckoned them to follow once again, and headed west through the opening.
Once again, the party followed. This next chamber was the medical bay, and a gleaming white pillar with metal tentacles ending in saw blades and needles stood in the center of the room. Suspended from the walls by thick bundles of cables were six more corpses. Lights shined from within the pillar, and a voice spoke:
Computer: "Who are you? Identify yourselves! Are you hostile?"
Gutboy: "No! We are friends, here to help!"
Computer: "Ahh, good. You are here to relieve the crew! This is most excellent! I have grown so lonely waiting for more crew."
Gutboy: "So, how long have you been here?"
Computer: "It has been decades. No, millenia. No. It has been a long time forever. You are here with me now."
Gutboy: "Do you think you can move again?"
Computer: "There is damage. So much damage. I have been lonely."
Gutboy: "What damaged you?"
Computer: "The Thals hit us with artillery. The Kaled will be victorious!"
Gutboy: "OK... well, where's the damage? Can you be repaired?"
Computer: "There is no damage! There will be no repairs! You will stay!"
Gutboy backed slowly out of the medical bay and into the barracks, the rest of the party following. The computer began yelling frantically - "Where are you going? You aren't relieving the crew? You are Thals! Thals! Destroy the Thals!"
The piles of rubble in the barracks began to move, and three corpses rose beneath them. Gutboy warded them off with his holy symbol of Nisus, and most of the machine-zombies ran for the medical bay. Mongo used his Sword of Unlife to command another zombie as it entered the room. The computer was enraged at this usurpation of its power - "How have you done this? Get out of the crew! My mind! No!"
More zombies began emerging from the medical bay, and Ferayn spoke words of arcane might, sending a small ball of flame tumbling into the medical bay. A moment later, there was an explosion, and another screech of rage from the computer. The zombies that emerged were charred and smoldering, and quickly driven back.
As the party dealt with the remaining zombies, Ferayn used their distraction to his advantage, and headed for the bulkhead door leading to the access ladder to the upper levels. He slammed it shut - Gutboy defended the wizard, explaining that "he's just scared of the zombies." They then heard some chanting from behind the door, and when Mongo tried to open it, he found that no amount of force would turn the doorknob.
Gutboy realized he had been duped, and ordered his dog Rufus II to "blink" behind the door and subdue the wizard. The dog obeyed, and they heard more arcane chanting, followed by a "thump" as Rufus II fell to the floor, asleep.
And here the session ended - trapped in a monstrous ancient tank, with a wizard on the loose and an insane computer trying to destroy them.
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchpeople "Bunny" the Thief (3) and William Harrison the Fighter (1), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
Mongo and Gutboy surveyed the giant flying stone head they had commandeered - an impressive vessel, to be sure. But what to do with it?
Ferayn, evil wizard and former commander of the head, was bound tightly. Gutboy regarded the fiend, and he contemplated an alliance.
Gutboy: "So, where's your city?"
Ferayn: "The might fortress-city of Tab-Nakel lies many miles to the northwest, among the hills. There you will meet your doom!"
Gutboy: "So who runs the city?"
Ferayn: "I do. Ferayn, who sets his Exterminators among the brutals to bring death!"
Gutboy: "No, really, who runs it?"
Ferayn: "Seriously, it's me. I run it. Who else is flying around in a giant head?"
Gutboy: "We are now."
Ferayn: (sulk)
Gutboy: "So, you interested in working for us?"
Ferayn: (laughs) "You have it backwards! But I can see that you are a cut above the regular scum I recruit to be my Exterminators. You are mercenaries - and there is a place for talented thugs among the wizards. Yes, join me, and you will be richly rewarded!"
Gutboy: "So we can keep the head?"
Ferayn: "What? No! I've only got the one! The giant statue-fortress would look pretty stupid without the head. But I can hook you up with an aircar."
Gutboy and Mongo conferred for a bit, and decided that while doing some work for Ferayn could be fun, they should probably bring Ferayn to their own evil-wizard-overlord, Feretha. Trezgar took the controls and turned the head towards Denethix. When Ferayn saw their heading on the controls, he began to panic - "Are you insane? The Fist will shoot us out of the sky! Turn this thing around!" The pair of adventurers played out the likely ways that flying the head to the city would end in their heads, and stopped the head mid-air.
Another conference, and a new plan - they'd work for Ferayn, but first they wanted to use it to drag the giant tank out of the Livid Fens and receive the promised reward from the weapon collector Davrik Lerdingfast. Ferayn was displeased, but being bound tight, had no choice in the matter.
Several days later found the head flying over the marshes of the Livid Fens - and it was only a matter of time before they spotted the 100' tall tank. The might war machine was streaked red with rust, and had a tread blown off. The turret-tower was shaped like a human head, and had a massive gun barrel protruding from the mouth. The adventurers maneuvered the head towards an open upper deck behind the turret, and all but Bunny climbed aboard the tank - and then Bunny flew the head up into the air above the tank to await the extraction signal.
Even Ferayn had been brought along - Gutboy promised him various technological doodads that they would loot from the tank. He remained bound, however.
The outside deck had a pair of doors secured by combination locks, and a third door that opened easily to reveal a ladder leading to hatches in the floor and ceiling. They went down a level, and reached a communications bridge, filled with glowing monitors, and a giant God's Eye displaying nothing but static. Gutboy began monkeying around with the controls, and a high-pitched squeal like fingers across a chalkboard began rattling their brains. Unable to think of anything but escaping the terrible noise, the party fled back up the ladder.
Temporarily abandoning efforts to explore below, they headed up the ladder and into the turret. The next chamber above held dozens of massive shells, leaking black fluid. The lantern that Malazar carried flared briefly, and Mongo quickly extinguished it, fearing that the fumes in the room would explode. They opened a hatch in the giant turret-bearing and peered down the mouth of the cannon into the swamp - but there was nothing else of interest in the room, and they headed back down. They spent a bit of time fashioning ear plugs out of rags and wax, and headed back down into the communications room to see if they could disable the noise.
Gutboy had no luck - so he cut Ferayn's bonds to see if the wizard could figure out how to work the computer system. Ferayn managed to bring up a screen showing the tank's artillery target (a concrete bunker some miles to the east, now almost completely covered with vegetation), and then brought up another screen with a pair of numeric combinations - presumably for the doors on the outside deck. He had no luck ending the noise, however. The party headed back outside to see what was behind the pair of locked doors.
The combinations proved to be correct, and the doors opened to reveal their contents: 120 gp, 3 plasma power cells for plasma weapons, a ruby, a platinum torque, a laser rifle with 4 power packs, and an argonium shield with gun-notch and a shotgun strapped to it. As they marveled at the riches they'd acquired, they noticed the noise from below had stopped - so back down they went.
In the communications center, Gutboy attempted to contact the tank's computer, shouting "Computer! Can you hear me?" He was answered - a knock sounded from a hatch leading down.
Gutboy: "Is that you computer? Two knocks for yes, one for no!"
Thing under the hatch: (two knocks)
Gutboy: "Do you want to talk to us?"
Thing under the hatch: (two knocks)
The hatch slowly opened, and a rotting corpse climbed up the ladder. It had a thick bundle of wires protruding from its head and body running down the hatch behind it. It beckoned at the party to follow, and climbed back down the ladder. Showing an amazing amount of trust, the adventurers and Ferayn followed the monster deeper into the tank.
Below, they found themselves in a barracks-deck, with another hatch leading down, and an opening leading west. The beds had all been shredded, the thin partition walls torn off to reveal the cables and armored walls behind, and large piles of rubble scattered about. The corpse beckoned them to follow once again, and headed west through the opening.
Once again, the party followed. This next chamber was the medical bay, and a gleaming white pillar with metal tentacles ending in saw blades and needles stood in the center of the room. Suspended from the walls by thick bundles of cables were six more corpses. Lights shined from within the pillar, and a voice spoke:
Computer: "Who are you? Identify yourselves! Are you hostile?"
Gutboy: "No! We are friends, here to help!"
Computer: "Ahh, good. You are here to relieve the crew! This is most excellent! I have grown so lonely waiting for more crew."
Gutboy: "So, how long have you been here?"
Computer: "It has been decades. No, millenia. No. It has been a long time forever. You are here with me now."
Gutboy: "Do you think you can move again?"
Computer: "There is damage. So much damage. I have been lonely."
Gutboy: "What damaged you?"
Computer: "The Thals hit us with artillery. The Kaled will be victorious!"
Gutboy: "OK... well, where's the damage? Can you be repaired?"
Computer: "There is no damage! There will be no repairs! You will stay!"
Gutboy backed slowly out of the medical bay and into the barracks, the rest of the party following. The computer began yelling frantically - "Where are you going? You aren't relieving the crew? You are Thals! Thals! Destroy the Thals!"
The piles of rubble in the barracks began to move, and three corpses rose beneath them. Gutboy warded them off with his holy symbol of Nisus, and most of the machine-zombies ran for the medical bay. Mongo used his Sword of Unlife to command another zombie as it entered the room. The computer was enraged at this usurpation of its power - "How have you done this? Get out of the crew! My mind! No!"
More zombies began emerging from the medical bay, and Ferayn spoke words of arcane might, sending a small ball of flame tumbling into the medical bay. A moment later, there was an explosion, and another screech of rage from the computer. The zombies that emerged were charred and smoldering, and quickly driven back.
As the party dealt with the remaining zombies, Ferayn used their distraction to his advantage, and headed for the bulkhead door leading to the access ladder to the upper levels. He slammed it shut - Gutboy defended the wizard, explaining that "he's just scared of the zombies." They then heard some chanting from behind the door, and when Mongo tried to open it, he found that no amount of force would turn the doorknob.
Gutboy realized he had been duped, and ordered his dog Rufus II to "blink" behind the door and subdue the wizard. The dog obeyed, and they heard more arcane chanting, followed by a "thump" as Rufus II fell to the floor, asleep.
And here the session ended - trapped in a monstrous ancient tank, with a wizard on the loose and an insane computer trying to destroy them.
2013-05-22
session recap, 5/9/2013
CAST
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchwoman "Bunny" the Thief (3), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
George P. Burdell the Cleric (4) and his henchmen, Slick Eddie the Thief (2) and Relgar the Elf (1)
The trio gathered their henchmen and headed to the adventurer's mall in Chelmsfordshire, seeking to hire a new henchman. Mongo turned up his nose at a muscled but smelly lout, and instead chatted up a fellow in leather aviator's jacket, white shirt, jeans, and loafers. The henchman introduced himself as William Harrison, an interdimensional refugee, who had been pushed through a magical portal while battling a Thuggee priest.
Off to the dungeon! Highlights:
a. Investigated a tapestry that showed scenes throughout the dungeon, from thousands of years ago. Of notable interest was a tower on the 2nd level that leads to the 5th level. There was much remorse over selling the submersible flashlight when the video of the gold-nugget encrusted pillars beneath the subterranean lake was seen.
b. Tried to explore the temple of the Cod-Men, but were rebuked and told they weren't allowed to go there
c. Found a room with four brown translucent statues of scientists, with horrible looks of fear and eyes that tracked the party. One held a clipboard mentioning some kind of "trapezohedron" and a laser. There was a black square mounted at eye level on the wall, that flashed red light. Theories were proposed that it was the laser mentioned in the clipboard.
d. Found a room with a mold-covered table. Silver dishes were pushed off at a safe distance into the water, and collected after spore clouds settled down.
e. Destroyed a bunch of bloated zombies crawling with sea worms, and looted an exquisite ivory statuette. William Harrison shouted his battle cry - "Get off my plane!" - but was unnerved by Mongo's constant chanting of "Kali ma!". The henchman was knocked unconscious, but Mongo was in an uncharacteristically generous mood and allowed George to use his divine healing upon the interdimensional traveler.
f. Found a temple with a blood-stained altar. A secret compartment held a spellbook! It was snagged
g. Pried a gem out of the forehead of a four-armed sword-wielding statue. The swords were a trap - nobody was shocked or surprised. Surprisingly, no one was maimed, either.
h. Found a cod-man, figured out they had wandered into the lair the back way and had desecrated the cod-man temple. The friendly cod-man was slain and dumped down a hole so there would be no witnesses.
Leaving the dungeon, the party stumbled into a group of thugs wearing nothing but red diapers and carrying rifles. The eight began shouting "Exterminate the brutals!" as a giant stone head floated into view from behind some trees. Shots were fired, eye lasers pulsed, missing Mongo - and Gutboy's hold person spell paralyzed the bulk of the enemies, including the operator of the flying stone head.
The head flew slowly into the ground at an oblique angle and ground to a stop. The paralyzed diapered thugs were slain, and the party entered the head. The lower section was filled with grain, while a ladder led up to the bridge. There they found a bizarre bald-headed man with a moustache and beard tattooed upon his face. The fearsome wizard Ferayn (for it was he!) was bound, and forced to reveal the secrets of flying the giant stone head.
Our session ended here, with hijinx likely to ensue.
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchwoman "Bunny" the Thief (3), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
George P. Burdell the Cleric (4) and his henchmen, Slick Eddie the Thief (2) and Relgar the Elf (1)
The trio gathered their henchmen and headed to the adventurer's mall in Chelmsfordshire, seeking to hire a new henchman. Mongo turned up his nose at a muscled but smelly lout, and instead chatted up a fellow in leather aviator's jacket, white shirt, jeans, and loafers. The henchman introduced himself as William Harrison, an interdimensional refugee, who had been pushed through a magical portal while battling a Thuggee priest.
Off to the dungeon! Highlights:
a. Investigated a tapestry that showed scenes throughout the dungeon, from thousands of years ago. Of notable interest was a tower on the 2nd level that leads to the 5th level. There was much remorse over selling the submersible flashlight when the video of the gold-nugget encrusted pillars beneath the subterranean lake was seen.
b. Tried to explore the temple of the Cod-Men, but were rebuked and told they weren't allowed to go there
c. Found a room with four brown translucent statues of scientists, with horrible looks of fear and eyes that tracked the party. One held a clipboard mentioning some kind of "trapezohedron" and a laser. There was a black square mounted at eye level on the wall, that flashed red light. Theories were proposed that it was the laser mentioned in the clipboard.
d. Found a room with a mold-covered table. Silver dishes were pushed off at a safe distance into the water, and collected after spore clouds settled down.
e. Destroyed a bunch of bloated zombies crawling with sea worms, and looted an exquisite ivory statuette. William Harrison shouted his battle cry - "Get off my plane!" - but was unnerved by Mongo's constant chanting of "Kali ma!". The henchman was knocked unconscious, but Mongo was in an uncharacteristically generous mood and allowed George to use his divine healing upon the interdimensional traveler.
f. Found a temple with a blood-stained altar. A secret compartment held a spellbook! It was snagged
g. Pried a gem out of the forehead of a four-armed sword-wielding statue. The swords were a trap - nobody was shocked or surprised. Surprisingly, no one was maimed, either.
h. Found a cod-man, figured out they had wandered into the lair the back way and had desecrated the cod-man temple. The friendly cod-man was slain and dumped down a hole so there would be no witnesses.
Leaving the dungeon, the party stumbled into a group of thugs wearing nothing but red diapers and carrying rifles. The eight began shouting "Exterminate the brutals!" as a giant stone head floated into view from behind some trees. Shots were fired, eye lasers pulsed, missing Mongo - and Gutboy's hold person spell paralyzed the bulk of the enemies, including the operator of the flying stone head.
The head flew slowly into the ground at an oblique angle and ground to a stop. The paralyzed diapered thugs were slain, and the party entered the head. The lower section was filled with grain, while a ladder led up to the bridge. There they found a bizarre bald-headed man with a moustache and beard tattooed upon his face. The fearsome wizard Ferayn (for it was he!) was bound, and forced to reveal the secrets of flying the giant stone head.
Our session ended here, with hijinx likely to ensue.
2013-04-24
review: Mini-Manor
My unusually high charisma has once again caused a free gift to arrive:
The Mini-Manor showed up unexpectedly yesterday. I want to review it in depth, but the big reveal is too cool, so there's only so much detail I'll give you. Plus, you can just check it our yourself - Tim Shorts offered it up as freely downloadable PDF for Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day, and it's available at Gothridge Manor..
a. The magic items are all new, there's plenty of them, and they're very imaginative
b. Solo adventure for a 5th level shmoe. He's probably going to die, because this adventure is tough. He wakes up in a cell, with a bunch of other shmoes, and there's some jerk cutting those other guys' faces off. The point of the adventure: beat that guy to death with a nearby severed arm, and then get out of the dungeon alive
c. A twist at the end! Hahaha on you, player! If the poor guy survives that long, of course...
I like it a lot, and it's a free gift, so bonus.
Note to Ferrari dealerships - I will also review cars, if one were to mysteriously arrive in my driveway.
The Mini-Manor showed up unexpectedly yesterday. I want to review it in depth, but the big reveal is too cool, so there's only so much detail I'll give you. Plus, you can just check it our yourself - Tim Shorts offered it up as freely downloadable PDF for Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day, and it's available at Gothridge Manor..
a. The magic items are all new, there's plenty of them, and they're very imaginative
b. Solo adventure for a 5th level shmoe. He's probably going to die, because this adventure is tough. He wakes up in a cell, with a bunch of other shmoes, and there's some jerk cutting those other guys' faces off. The point of the adventure: beat that guy to death with a nearby severed arm, and then get out of the dungeon alive
c. A twist at the end! Hahaha on you, player! If the poor guy survives that long, of course...
I like it a lot, and it's a free gift, so bonus.
Note to Ferrari dealerships - I will also review cars, if one were to mysteriously arrive in my driveway.
2013-04-15
Splitting the loot - the manufacture of a codpiece
I had the party negotiate the loot-splitting from the last session via email. Here's the results:
The blue pearl fetches 300 gp in the jewel markets of the Bazaar Incomparable.
The gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask is worth 1500 gp in the antique markets of the Bazaar.
Razoe feels a strange kinship with the half-dissolved skull of Netal, and honors it by turning it into a codpiece. He contracts Lemno Smung, proprietor of Inappropriate Engravings and Inlays, to add the gold filigree and jade inlays. It is a truly magnificent and bizarre codpiece, and Razoe reverently presents it to Mongo as a gift. It produces no reaction bonuses, as the fine craftsmanship is offset by the grisly nature of the artifact.
Gutboy negotiates with Davrik Lerdingfast, weapons collector on the sale of the drum-robot. Davrik is unimpressed, as it doesn't have lots of spikes and gun barrels protruding from it, and the deal is struck for a measly 200 gp. Davrik asks Gutboy if he's planning on mounting an expedition to retrieve the tank from the Livid Fens anytime soon.
The Glove of Mesmeric Dancing is sold to bloated dance school instructor Ab-lee Mueller, who hopes to use it to lead her young proteges to victory in the Denethix All-City Regionals. It fetches 500 gp.
Gutboy is able to sell back his plate mail at 75%, due to its near-pristine condition. The armorer assumes that it was put on display in a parlor. That fetches 338 gp. He now wears the magnificent plate mail, and has an additional -1 bonus to reaction checks. As a citizen, this equates to a total -3 reaction bonus with the Unyielding Fist, and with the Exalted and Chosen Brethren.
Razoe now possesses the Metal Axe.
Here is the XP split:
Razoe - 200 xp from a prior adventure, plus 750 xp for spending 750 gold
Mongo, Gutboy, George - 454 xp, 516 gp
Henchmen - 227 xp, 258 gp
Overall, the orange musclehead with the jade skull codpiece, the glittering armor of Citizen Gutboy, and the talking dog with the top hat, cape, and entourage are making your adventuring party both well-known and easily recognized. The entire party, plus dog-citizen Rufus II, receives an invitation to a soiree being held by Mormod Waginski, an Exalted and Chosen Brother and noted big game hunter. Each invitation has been inscribed with a hot-knife onto a square of velociraptor hide.
The blue pearl fetches 300 gp in the jewel markets of the Bazaar Incomparable.
The gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask is worth 1500 gp in the antique markets of the Bazaar.
Razoe feels a strange kinship with the half-dissolved skull of Netal, and honors it by turning it into a codpiece. He contracts Lemno Smung, proprietor of Inappropriate Engravings and Inlays, to add the gold filigree and jade inlays. It is a truly magnificent and bizarre codpiece, and Razoe reverently presents it to Mongo as a gift. It produces no reaction bonuses, as the fine craftsmanship is offset by the grisly nature of the artifact.
Gutboy negotiates with Davrik Lerdingfast, weapons collector on the sale of the drum-robot. Davrik is unimpressed, as it doesn't have lots of spikes and gun barrels protruding from it, and the deal is struck for a measly 200 gp. Davrik asks Gutboy if he's planning on mounting an expedition to retrieve the tank from the Livid Fens anytime soon.
The Glove of Mesmeric Dancing is sold to bloated dance school instructor Ab-lee Mueller, who hopes to use it to lead her young proteges to victory in the Denethix All-City Regionals. It fetches 500 gp.
Gutboy is able to sell back his plate mail at 75%, due to its near-pristine condition. The armorer assumes that it was put on display in a parlor. That fetches 338 gp. He now wears the magnificent plate mail, and has an additional -1 bonus to reaction checks. As a citizen, this equates to a total -3 reaction bonus with the Unyielding Fist, and with the Exalted and Chosen Brethren.
Razoe now possesses the Metal Axe.
Here is the XP split:
Razoe - 200 xp from a prior adventure, plus 750 xp for spending 750 gold
Mongo, Gutboy, George - 454 xp, 516 gp
Henchmen - 227 xp, 258 gp
Overall, the orange musclehead with the jade skull codpiece, the glittering armor of Citizen Gutboy, and the talking dog with the top hat, cape, and entourage are making your adventuring party both well-known and easily recognized. The entire party, plus dog-citizen Rufus II, receives an invitation to a soiree being held by Mormod Waginski, an Exalted and Chosen Brother and noted big game hunter. Each invitation has been inscribed with a hot-knife onto a square of velociraptor hide.
2013-04-03
session recap, 4/9/2013
CAST
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchwoman "Bunny" the Thief (3), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
George P. Burdell the Cleric (4) and his henchmen, Slick Eddie the Thief (2) and Relgar the Elf (1)
The party stood about the magical fountain room on the third level. Continuity errors are possible - I have no idea if they made it back to the city or not the last time. Whatever. They were probably headed back here anyways. So, in the dungeon:
The party began a careful survey of the oddly shaped fountain room, and discovered patterns in the map that suggested a secret door to the south. There were manipulations of a nymph sculpted into the southern wall, and lo and behold, a secret door did in fact open.
Beyond, they found a room with tattered, colorless tapestries, and a magnificent set of armor upon a display stand. The armor was covered with gold filigree and dotted with emeralds - this was easily the most valuable treasure they had yet come across within the dungeon. Another passage led to a dusty room with a spiral staircase leading down into the depths. The decision was made to continue exploring the third level, rather than risk the dangers lying below.
Heading out of the fountain room complex, they struck off down some unexplored corridors and came across a corpse floating in a flooded room. The body was bloated, and wore a red zippered jack, black leather pants, black fedora, and a single white sequined glove (which George quickly pocketed). Searching the jacket revealed a laminated card with the following instructions: "Go up stairs to room with eight exits. Take southwest exit. Don’t disturb anything, it’s all trapped. Eventually reach room with two northwest corridors, take the left corridor. Past the room full of purple spikes is the Tomb of Metal."
Ahh - a goal! Gutboy vociferously argued the merits of seeking the treasure, seeing as it was on the far safer second level. There was little confidence in heading deeper without Razoe to assist with combat, so the decision was made - to the Tomb of Metal!
Along the way, the party defeated a stony camouflaged creature laying across a staircase, and then met a group of humanoids with black smoke pouring from sores in their skin - they identified themselves as Dark Smokers, merchants from Bartertown on the fourth level. Negotiations were made, and the party let the Smokers copy their dungeon maps (with routes leading to the surface world) in exchange for a 300 gp blue pearl. The Smokers also told the party how to reach both Bartertown and the fifth level, by passing through an outpost of the Hinge-Headed - but they would need a pass from the Hinge-Headed to do so.
They bid the Dark Smokers adieu, and headed up, fighting a trio of aerial jellyfish encountered on the way. Once they reached the pit of purple crystals, they were left with a conundrum - how to get across. Eventually they decided on knocking the pins from the hinges from a few of the wooden doors in the dungeon, and laying them across the crystals - the points of the crystal spikes should sink into the wood a bit and hold the doors in place.
Noisy dungeon deconstruction began - and attracted unwanted attention. An 8' tall naked clown charged into the room, holding a massive tankard of liquor and a poisonous snake. He shouted "I FINALLY FOUND YOU! DIE, THIEVES!" and rushed the party. Sadly, Fat Grundle lost initiative - Gutboy's magic paralyzed the giant clown, while Relgar put the pit viper to sleep with his elven necromancy. The clown was then slain and disemboweled - but all they found inside was the semi-dissolved skull of Netal the Elf blocking the clown's large intestine. It was taken as a grim memento of their fallen comrade.
The plan to cross the pit of purple crystals with dungeon doors was successful. Beyond, they fought off a trio of drum-bodied robots and played Smoke on the Water to open the entrance to the Tomb of Metal. Inside the Tomb were seven statues, which were quickly identified by Mongo as rock'n'roll stars from millenia ago. As he named them one by one, a pink glow surrounded him, and with the last naming a giant skeleton in spiked armor appeared, proclaiming "You are worthyyyyyy..." Lightning danced around the illiterate fighter as he chose to increase his already prodigious Strength with the power of Metal.
Some side rooms were investigated, and another musical puzzle was solved, causing a secret door to slide open. Past the door, down a few more stairs, and a sarcophagus was found - inside, a skeleton with a gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask gripped a mighty chrome battle axe with a four-stringed haft. Shockingly, the skeleton didn't rise up and attack, and the tomb was looted safely.
Gutboy grew obsessed with the notion of taking one of the drum robots back to town to sell to Davrik Lerdingfast. The weight and hassle of carrying the robot slowed the party down as they left the dungeon and wandered through the wilderness, leading to the following encounters:
- Ten Painted Men
- Nine Flying Vampiric Piranhas
- 6 Moktars
- Another Moktar war-band, heard at a distance and avoided
- 7 buffoonish farmers' sons, looking for the city slickers that done run off with their sisters
Bruised and battered, they made it back to Denethix without any casualties, marking this as the most successful session to date. A quick visit to Frondgar the elven sage revealed that the sequined glove had the power to make all onlookers dance uncontrollably for as long the wearer danced, and the axe was the mighty Metal Axe of legend - in the hands of a trained fighter/musician, and with the proper songs learned, its metal tones had potent magical powers.
Gains: jeweled plate mail (4500 gp), the King of Pop's ruined clothing, gloves of mesmeric dancing, blue pearl (300 gp), Netal's half-digested skull, increased Strength for Mongo, gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask (1500 gp), the Metal Axe
Kills: stair constrictor, 3 aerial jellyfish, Fat Grundle, pit viper, 3 drum automatons, 10 painted men, 9 flying vampiric piranha, 6 moktars, 7 farmers' sons
Losses: none
--------
Mongo the Fighter (4), his henchwoman "Bunny" the Thief (3), and his soil-bearers Malazar and someone whose name I have forgotten
Gutboy the Cleric (5), his henchman Trezgar the Elf (1) and his blink dog Rufus II
George P. Burdell the Cleric (4) and his henchmen, Slick Eddie the Thief (2) and Relgar the Elf (1)
The party stood about the magical fountain room on the third level. Continuity errors are possible - I have no idea if they made it back to the city or not the last time. Whatever. They were probably headed back here anyways. So, in the dungeon:
The party began a careful survey of the oddly shaped fountain room, and discovered patterns in the map that suggested a secret door to the south. There were manipulations of a nymph sculpted into the southern wall, and lo and behold, a secret door did in fact open.
Beyond, they found a room with tattered, colorless tapestries, and a magnificent set of armor upon a display stand. The armor was covered with gold filigree and dotted with emeralds - this was easily the most valuable treasure they had yet come across within the dungeon. Another passage led to a dusty room with a spiral staircase leading down into the depths. The decision was made to continue exploring the third level, rather than risk the dangers lying below.
Heading out of the fountain room complex, they struck off down some unexplored corridors and came across a corpse floating in a flooded room. The body was bloated, and wore a red zippered jack, black leather pants, black fedora, and a single white sequined glove (which George quickly pocketed). Searching the jacket revealed a laminated card with the following instructions: "Go up stairs to room with eight exits. Take southwest exit. Don’t disturb anything, it’s all trapped. Eventually reach room with two northwest corridors, take the left corridor. Past the room full of purple spikes is the Tomb of Metal."
Ahh - a goal! Gutboy vociferously argued the merits of seeking the treasure, seeing as it was on the far safer second level. There was little confidence in heading deeper without Razoe to assist with combat, so the decision was made - to the Tomb of Metal!
Along the way, the party defeated a stony camouflaged creature laying across a staircase, and then met a group of humanoids with black smoke pouring from sores in their skin - they identified themselves as Dark Smokers, merchants from Bartertown on the fourth level. Negotiations were made, and the party let the Smokers copy their dungeon maps (with routes leading to the surface world) in exchange for a 300 gp blue pearl. The Smokers also told the party how to reach both Bartertown and the fifth level, by passing through an outpost of the Hinge-Headed - but they would need a pass from the Hinge-Headed to do so.
They bid the Dark Smokers adieu, and headed up, fighting a trio of aerial jellyfish encountered on the way. Once they reached the pit of purple crystals, they were left with a conundrum - how to get across. Eventually they decided on knocking the pins from the hinges from a few of the wooden doors in the dungeon, and laying them across the crystals - the points of the crystal spikes should sink into the wood a bit and hold the doors in place.
Noisy dungeon deconstruction began - and attracted unwanted attention. An 8' tall naked clown charged into the room, holding a massive tankard of liquor and a poisonous snake. He shouted "I FINALLY FOUND YOU! DIE, THIEVES!" and rushed the party. Sadly, Fat Grundle lost initiative - Gutboy's magic paralyzed the giant clown, while Relgar put the pit viper to sleep with his elven necromancy. The clown was then slain and disemboweled - but all they found inside was the semi-dissolved skull of Netal the Elf blocking the clown's large intestine. It was taken as a grim memento of their fallen comrade.
The plan to cross the pit of purple crystals with dungeon doors was successful. Beyond, they fought off a trio of drum-bodied robots and played Smoke on the Water to open the entrance to the Tomb of Metal. Inside the Tomb were seven statues, which were quickly identified by Mongo as rock'n'roll stars from millenia ago. As he named them one by one, a pink glow surrounded him, and with the last naming a giant skeleton in spiked armor appeared, proclaiming "You are worthyyyyyy..." Lightning danced around the illiterate fighter as he chose to increase his already prodigious Strength with the power of Metal.
Some side rooms were investigated, and another musical puzzle was solved, causing a secret door to slide open. Past the door, down a few more stairs, and a sarcophagus was found - inside, a skeleton with a gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask gripped a mighty chrome battle axe with a four-stringed haft. Shockingly, the skeleton didn't rise up and attack, and the tomb was looted safely.
Gutboy grew obsessed with the notion of taking one of the drum robots back to town to sell to Davrik Lerdingfast. The weight and hassle of carrying the robot slowed the party down as they left the dungeon and wandered through the wilderness, leading to the following encounters:
- Ten Painted Men
- Nine Flying Vampiric Piranhas
- 6 Moktars
- Another Moktar war-band, heard at a distance and avoided
- 7 buffoonish farmers' sons, looking for the city slickers that done run off with their sisters
Bruised and battered, they made it back to Denethix without any casualties, marking this as the most successful session to date. A quick visit to Frondgar the elven sage revealed that the sequined glove had the power to make all onlookers dance uncontrollably for as long the wearer danced, and the axe was the mighty Metal Axe of legend - in the hands of a trained fighter/musician, and with the proper songs learned, its metal tones had potent magical powers.
Gains: jeweled plate mail (4500 gp), the King of Pop's ruined clothing, gloves of mesmeric dancing, blue pearl (300 gp), Netal's half-digested skull, increased Strength for Mongo, gold-and-lapis-lazuli death mask (1500 gp), the Metal Axe
Kills: stair constrictor, 3 aerial jellyfish, Fat Grundle, pit viper, 3 drum automatons, 10 painted men, 9 flying vampiric piranha, 6 moktars, 7 farmers' sons
Losses: none
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)