Monday, 12 June 2017

Session 116 17-18/2/4447 (3pm) Selatine, Max, & the Mound of Thracia (2100 XP)



Group: PCs - Hakeem Ajax & Rosa (NPC) = 3 Total
PC- Shieldbiter to rendezvous at Selatine

8400 XP
Ajax L8 2100+42,400=44,500/48,000 (cast fly, magic missile) gains wand of bull's strength
Hakeem L18 2100+279,921=282,021/305,000

17/2: Meet Lady Jana Vex and her 'assistant' Opara. Rosa has nooky with Ajax in Vex Villa showers
18/2: Max the Sheep Dog found and returned to Selatine 11am - looked after by Cleo Alces the bar wench, Battle a Shambling Mound at Thracia quarry 2pm. Rest and patch up to 3pm.

next games
Friday 7pm lvl 8
Saturday 7.30pm lvl 2
Sunday 8.30am high lvl   


Smon: Get your AC real high is my advice
chris107: That was the plan all along.
chris107: Yup
Smon: The Bladesinger in my Sunday game is pretty awesome.
chris107: and half damage, like a Barbarian.
Smon: AC 23 > 28 w Shield
chris107: Noice!
chris107: Was thinking Hakeem would be doing well if Ajax has Haste. AC 24!
chris107: Protection/Evil will help a lot too.
chris107: Disadvantage
Smon: She still got in a slightly hentai contretemps w a tentacle plant monster Sunday, it grabbed the female PCs & dunked them in light acid that burnt off their clothes... as per the published adventure (honest!)
Sandor Sunneson: Ok boys, baked spud eaten, ready to rumble
chris107: Kainos is going to be one hell of a fight!
Sandor Sunneson: lol
chris107: hehe
Sandor Sunneson: Is that the big giant chap?
chris107: That's the fellow
chris107: I'd like Ursa to have taken little Hassan to a place of safety by then.
chris107: To raise him as a proper King in waiting-Barbarian
Smon: GM: 17/2/4447
Sandor Sunneson: Might be worth taken Kelendri there too as she is going to give birth to Sandor's bairn?
Sandor Sunneson:
Smon: >>Just at dawn you round a headland and see ahead of you the lights of Selatine Port, the fishing boats already casting off for a day's trawling. chris107: Can we hail one to find out the situation ? Smon: The bulk of mighty Vex Gratitude rides at anchor, dominating the lesser ships. Smon: /roll d6 Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 4, Smon: Lucky Smon: All seems quiet. Hakeem hails one of the fishing boats. chris107: "Who rules in Selatine friend?"<<
Smon: The fisherman waves back cheerily. "Why Lord Hakeem! Jana Vex is Lady here, now!"
chris107: I remember it well.
chris107: Hakeem is a bit shocked (a woman in charge?) but pleased he won't have to put Selantine to the sword
chris107: "Fine news, friend! What of Lord Vex?"
Smon: "Your man - dwarf - Ursa drove out the bad 'uns... Lady Jana banished her brother for a year, to learn Wisdom she said."
chris107: "Ajax, you shoukld have got here earlier, you may have been put on the throne." He whispers sidelong.
Sandor Sunneson: Hello cousin, long time no see.
chris107: "Let's hope he does. He's a fine warrior. I'd like him on our side in the war to come."
Sandor Sunneson: My Mother said that your brother left with his tale between his legs
chris107: "You are cousin to this fisherman?"
chris107: Hakeem looks confused
chris107: "I thouight you of noble blood?"
Smon: GM: Your ship the Garland comes in to dock, men take the ropes and secure them.
Sandor Sunneson: (the fisherman is Sandro)
Smon: As your gangplank goes down, you see two shapely young ladies in loincoth & sandals descending the cliff steps that lead up to the upper town.
chris107: (Oh, cool)
Smon: (what if Sandro dies on Friday?)
Sandor Sunneson: Ajax looks confused?? Fisherman? (he thinks to himself)
chris107: "You hailed the fisherman as cousin?"
Sandor Sunneson: Well I'll be working, so it's out of my hands
Smon: You recognise Jana Vex of course, the other, younger, seems vaguely familiar to Hakeem - a daughter of Opa who was maid to Bjornalf Brighteyes in the good old days.
Smon: (Ok it can be Sandro the)
Sandor Sunneson: (no he hailed Jana Vex)
chris107: He puts a big smile on his face.
chris107: (Jana was in the fishing boat?)
Sandor Sunneson: god knows
Sandor Sunneson: lol
chris107: "Lady Vex!"
Sandor Sunneson: ha ha
Smon: (no! Fergus not paying attention) Lady Lucretia is first ashore, Jana greets her briefly then turns to you both.
Smon: "Cousin Ajax, welcome." Then she turns to Hakeem and falls on my one knee, the other girl with her.
Smon: "My Lord! Selatine is yours to command."
Sandor Sunneson: Yes, my attention to detail is rubbish, I try to back script the page and it goes back to bottom when someone types spomething
Smon: Jana bows her head to the great warlord Hakeem.
Sandor Sunneson: Hello Jana, you look well, good to see you after all these years
Smon: (Press AS button Fergus then you can scroll up!)
chris107: "Get up Jana, we have been friends for too long to be this formal. You have done well. And I thank you for bringing Selatine back to our cause."
chris107: (You got the full screen version on Fergus? Makes it much easier to follow.)
Smon: Jana and her companion get to their feet, Jana smiling brightly. "You honour me Lord Hakeem! This is Opara Kakas, I am training her as a Novitiate..."
Smon: Opara https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQfEWmuHZpCPCQf1HCQdYhDvqGGilKP9F0Q0k9vXIciSeVGzTGAjo0EFxxFJS-AKsOpxfswrqL-8RQhr1yVp6g9jDKE4qVguK6-k-hy3QOxxaIwvvKDscCM5O1d98zdUcyuHIqDwcc9A/s400/292_38.jpg
Smon: Opara: "Welcome, my lords..."
chris107: Hakeem looks on appreciatively. "Mighty Apollo will be well served, I'm sure."
Smon: Jana: "We have much to discuss! Lady Lucretia, the new owner of the Inn will make you most comfortable, I'm sure."
Smon: Lucretia looks a bit sniffy at Jana. "I'm sure. Come, Briony..."
Smon: GM: Leaving the Ralluans to sort themselves out, Jana escorts you up to the famous Vex Hall.
chris107: "New owner at the Redeye?"
Smon: Jana: "Yes, old Aldo met with an... accident... at the hands of Drakonok, who he had drugged and handed over to the death cultists."
chris107: "Crossing Shieldbiter is never a good idea."
Smon: "But Ursa, Sandor and Lord Namelin defeated the dark priest Macreus and delivered Selatine from evil."
chris107: "Excellent!"
chris107: "I feel bad for freeing that worm Macreus from beneath Thracia."
Smon: Jana nods: "Indeed... Lord Shieldbiter passed through recently, with his new bride, Freya. He said he would meet you here soon."
Smon: Jana nods: "Mercy is a quality we had best serve with care... these are dangerous times. Some wine? Ale?"
chris107: "Did he show you his mighty new blade?"
Smon: Jana nods, smiling: "The fiery sword! An immense weapon!"
chris107: Hakeem's face brightens at the mention of ale
Smon: Opara and hairy-lipped old Calykka serve you and Jana refreshments at a table in her Hall.
chris107: "A gift from Bondorr. But a weapon filled with Apollo's fire." He says, creeping along with the best of 'em
Smon: Jana: "You must have travelled far - you are welcome to refresh yourselves in our showers. They are quite... pleasant." Opara grins rather slyly.
chris107: "Come Ajax! Your Cousins hall has the best beer for miles around!"
Smon: You get the impression Jana may have found a new paramour - she certainly gets around...
chris107: "Nay, I've had my bath for this year." says a straight faced Hakeem.
Smon: LOL
Smon: Jana inclines her head and smiles politely. "As you wish. Tell me of your adventures in the South?"
Sandor Sunneson: It's looking amazing, not been here for many years
Smon: Jana: "We have been renovating the Hall - dear brother left it in a dreadful state..."
Smon: "How is Rallu, cousin?"
chris107: Hakeem tells of their journy south, he sings them a snatch of the catchy tune heard in the Pavillion of Dance, the help from the elves, their jorney to see the Hobbits, the terror of Three Swords Isle, the battle and fall of Dagda. The defeat of the sea pirates.
Sandor Sunneson: Pretty quiet, family doing away,
Sandor Sunneson: Hence why I thought it would be time to see a bit of the world, Rallu is peaceful thankfully, but I here there is great evil afoot
Smon: Jana: "I am saddened to hear of the loss of your companion, Hakeem. Cousin you are welcome to join us and fight the evil afoot in these lands!"
chris107: "Thracia is again threatening the lands. As if we didn't have enough to deal with."
chris107: He fills her in on the First King prophesy.
Smon: "Lord Hakeem you mentioned two adventurers at Skygod Idol - Jane Poole and our cousin Lorius Vex - they were here recently, with Kogor the Dwarf of Kolda."
Smon: Jana nods. "They spoke of similar matters."
Smon: GM: At this moment Dr Piercemuller enters, having applied her makeup before leaving the ship.
chris107: "They were heading for Thracia?"
chris107:
Smon: Rosa: "Hello there - Lady Vex?" Jana nods: "You must be Rosa - welcome." She joins you.
Smon: "They had already passed through Thracia, and reported many serpents. Little sign of the human Deathwalkers, but lizardfolk in numbers."
chris107: "Ajax, I should show you Thracia, before we battle Kainos."
chris107: "See it while we can!"
Smon: Jana: "I believe Lorius and his companions have returned there, to explore the ruins and these rumours. He is a powerful Mage, and I hear Miss Poole is a skilled swordswoman. Kogor, of course, you know."
Sandor Sunneson: That would be nice
chris107: "Maybe we should go join them, see what's going on? While we are able."
Smon: GM: You have about 6 weeks to kill (literally)  before the Clan Moot & the Dry Season brings likely war.
chris107: OOC - that's not long to get to level 20
Smon: Jana: "Well, tonight of course you must stay in my Hall! Tell me, what do you think of Lady Lucretia?"
Sandor Sunneson: You have much to do Hakeem, I hope this time I have the opportunity to cast a spell in anger
chris107: "Dr. P. I'm sure you would be grateful for more information on Thracia?"
Smon: Piercemuller nods, cracking open her favourite book and adjusting her spectacles. "Indeed..."
Sandor Sunneson: What are you reading there?
Smon: Rosa: "By all accounts the human Deathwalkers, the Beastmen and others have battled in Thracia for generations. Does this mean the Lizardmen have triumphed?"
Sandor Sunneson: I was going to ask if Ajax could change his spell book, take dimenion door for confusion
Smon: She shows Ajax a picture of a mighty winged humanoid, a bit like Shieldbiter, a human slave at his feet. "This was a Dragon Lord of the First Empire..."
Smon: (sure)
Sandor Sunneson: cool, better to escape than concentrate and get fried by arrows
Smon: "...Quite unlike the degenerate demon-blood things of the Second Empire, you see..."
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson: How dark, he gives us hope
chris107: "And you think it's one of these (he gestures to the picture) that is awaking beneath Thracia?"
Smon: Rosa nods emphatically. "Yes! The legends say Bondorr battled the Orichalan King three times..."
Sandor Sunneson: the artwork has a strange kind of beauty, like it comes from another world. I can see similar in yourself, you do not come from these parts do you? Yet your beauty shines through
chris107: Hakeem gives thanks to Bondorr.
chris107: H stiffles a groan
Smon: Rosa smiles delightedly at Ajax's compliment, blushing slightly. "The first time, Bondorr was unprepared. His sword shattered on the King's steel-hard hide. He barely escaped alive."
Smon:
chris107: "This sword?" He taps the big blade hanging at his hip.
Smon: Rosa coffee https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJXcjMHAgacYEint-LAHb4Fuxf9lZ_kA-50oZitvwPfacca70C1HD-zL_LOtBrxCh1mHzj-fqBmidL5E9I4TFLcoaVif86_NiveHszX7MwYAdtq7LOEsxx8sY6Qa1wVynDViIMACJVr8/s400/morningcoffee_by_fransmensinkartist-daskh5s.jpg perky
Smon: Rosa shakes her head. "No!"
chris107: phew
7:25pm  2017-6-12 Sandor Sunneson Has exited the room
Smon: "You see, Bondorr was wounded, but escaped - the Dragonborn gave him succour. The great smith Shieldbiter forged him three swords..."
chris107: Hakeem listens with interes. "The three sword we saw on the island?"
Smon: "Together he and his companions came against the First King of the Dragon Lords - they battled for hours, but though wounding him, could not slay him."
Smon: "Some say Bondorr's companions fell in that battle - the record is unclear. Anyway..."
Smon: "Bondorr returned to Shieldbiter and demanded a sword of Adamantine, a blade to cut the hardest dragon-hide.... The blade you wield today."
chris107: Hakeem is pleased to hear this.
7:28pm  2017-6-12 Sandor Sunneson Has entered the room
Smon: "In the final battle, Bondorr triumphed at last. The First King was mortally wounded, and carried away from the battlefield by his minions."
chris107: "Then I will drive this blade through another Dragonlord." He makes it sound very simple.
Smon: 7:25pm 2017-6-12 Sandor Sunneson Has exited the room Smon: "You see, Bondorr was wounded, but escaped - the Dragonborn gave him succour. The great smith Shieldbiter forged him three swords..." chris107: Hakeem listens with interes. "The three sword we saw on the island?" Smon: "Together he and his companions came against the First King of the Dragon Lords - they battled for hours, but though wounding him, could not slay him." Smon: "Some say Bondorr's companions fell in that battle - the record is unclear. Anyway..." Smon: "Bondorr returned to Shieldbiter and demanded a sword of Adamantine, a blade to cut the hardest dragon-hide.... The blade you wield today." chris107: Hakeem is pleased to hear this. 7:28pm 2017-6-12 Sandor Sunneson Has entered the room Smon: "In the final battle, Bondorr triumphed at last. The First King was mortally wounded, and carried away from the battlefield by his minions."
chris107: "Or this old Dragonlord reawoken more like."
chris107: He is pleased by his own simple solution.
Smon: Rosa nods. "They took him to a place of Darkness... a tomb, but there are also references to a Refuge... a Womb, from which one day the Dragon Lords shall Rise again."
chris107: "Come then Ajax! Let us kill this Dragonlordquickly, before we lay The Warbringer low."
Smon: "They buried their First King, but they say that one day he will return, to lead his people back to the sunlit lands and regain their Ancient Glory."
Smon: Rosa relaxes, closing the book.
Sandor Sunneson: Let's go
chris107: "And you think this womb is beneath Thracia?"
Smon: Rosa nods. "I believe so. The location fits. And these lands have always been a place of empires."
chris107: "I talked to a Shinx below Thracia." He mentions off hand
chris107: "Maybe she knows more?"
Smon: "Ontussa, the fabled Sphinx of Thracia?!"
Smon: Rosa looks excited.
chris107: "Aye, that was the one."
Smon: "The old Ghinarian tales mention her!"
chris107: "She was in some secret room."
Smon: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgES3I_L-ZJGzDcBlNsSxiXQQqWCzEPt6ueQ2MnZDS_WsRnEqSlqEE_yTP5kzxSYqSUcGbBcgQ71UDyerR2jTZK39vTm90V9O05o29DXk7gVLUHzMXpQXaxLjUBUC0JOnOZgUDhuMmw5xU/s320/Ontussa+the+Gynosphinx.jpg
Smon: Just found that pic today after missing for years
chris107: (That's the one!)
Sandor Sunneson:
chris107: "Let's go see her."
Smon: Jana nods. "I can provide you a few healing drafts, if you wish?"
chris107: "That would be great, thanks Jana."
Sandor Sunneson: Thank you cousin
Smon: GM: It's still only mid-morning, do you wish to do as Jana suggests and spend the day here?
Smon: /roll d4+4
Smon rolls 1d4+4 and gets: 1, (+4) = 5
chris107: Up to you Fergus?
Sandor Sunneson: I'm happy to leave Hakeem, your call
Smon: Jana sends Opara to the medicine cabinet, she returns with a tray of 5 healing potions.
chris107: Let's enjoy Vex villa and a day of rest.
chris107: Then set off to Thracia.
chris107: OOC - two to Ajax, 2 to Dr. P. and one for H?
Smon: Jana: "Lady Rosa, you must experience our Showers! They are quite divine!" Rosa's eyes brighten. She turns to Ajax: "We both need a shower Master Vex... shall we?"
chris107: H rolls his eyes and has another ale!
Sandor Sunneson: I've not been here for years, if you lead the way
chris107: "See you in the morning!"
Smon: Opara escorts Dr Rosa Piercemuller and Ajax Vex down to the silver-panelled Vex villa shower room.
Smon: Where they are soon enjoying the wide variety of warm jets, unguent dispensers, hot air blowers etc etc in this enchanted place...
Sandor Sunneson: how cool, Ajax feeling dirty will strip off and have a shower
Smon: Rosa lathers her hair, eyes closed. "Mmm, simply heavenly! I wonder, could this really be a remnant of the Marcab Confederacy..."
Smon: Ajax feels a strange chill at the word 'Marcab', something very very old, and very evil.
Sandor Sunneson: How refreshing this is, never seen anything like it
Smon: "There are only a few references, in the very oldest texts. There was a great war, when the Dragon Lords warred against the ancestors of the Altanians. The Altani were losing, and in the legends they beseeched demons from the stars to aid them..."
Sandor Sunneson: try not to use the M word rosa
chris107:
Smon: "...Demons that bear a strange resemblance to... "
Smon: She opens her eyes, startled. "Ow, I'm sorry... ow! This soap stings!"
Sandor Sunneson: strange resemblence too? ???
Sandor Sunneson: Ajax will place her under the shower to remove evil soap from her eyes
Smon: Rosa is distracted by the shampoo in her eyes. Desperately she angles her head, Ajax helps her rinse it off.
Smon: Ajax can CHA check w advtg
Sandor Sunneson rolls 1d20 and gets: 5,
Smon: 2 rolls add CHA+Prof
Sandor Sunneson rolls 1d20 and gets: 15,
Sandor Sunneson: CHR11
Smon: 15+3=18. Ajax manages to get the soap off... a grateful Rosa slips out of her loincloth and presses her wet soapy form against him... fade to black....
Sandor Sunneson: Are you ok Rosa? hope the soap didn't sting your eyes
Sandor Sunneson: take that as a yes then
Smon:  Upstairs Jana is drinking wine while Hakeem quaffs ale, she beckons Opara to join them.
Smon: Jana: "Opara is a promising novitiate, she has already mastered two Rituals! She will make a good replacement for Polyachus, I think."
chris107: "Hope Polyachus is doing okay with the Starling gil."
chris107: "Aye, I'm sure Opara will do Apollo proud. Good luck to you."
Sandor Sunneson: Ajax will do the deed, and then thank Rosa for showing him the showers, and hopes post mission they may return to such a devine place
Smon: Jana: "Lord Namelin, Ursa and their companions are seeking the dragon Dyson Logos... I expect they will succeed any day now. " Jana sighs. "Yes, I visited them recently. Cassandra is expecting their first child, and they would not leave the island. They seem happy there."
chris107: Hakeem is very pleased (as am I  )
Smon: Downstairs Rosa is proving an enthusiastic and highly skilled lover (well she is Dutch...)
Smon: Jana: "I was saddened at first, but I am sure it is the will of Apollo - and Artemis..." she glances meaningfully at Opara, who smiles back.
chris107: "Hope this Dragon isn't hungry. Don't want it eating Sandor and Ursa."
Smon: "Lord Hakeem, we have tried to restore your Shrine of Bondorr, but our attempts are crude, I fear. You had best attend it." Sounds of Rosa drift up from below, Jana reddens slightly, perhaps remembering a certain Captain Lance all those years ago.
chris107: "Do you still have that gold statue?"
chris107: hehe
chris107: "I'll see to the shrine before we set off in the morning. Call for me before sunrise and I'll go on up. I'd best get some sleep."
Smon: "I hope they fare well with Dyson, if he is real... Yes, we recovered and reconsecrated our statue, would you like to see it?"
chris107: "I would, it has brought me luck. "
Smon: >>Ajax will do the deed, and then thank Rosa for showing him the showers, and hopes post mission they may return to such a devine place<< Opara showed you the showers Ajax, Dr Piercemuller just showed you the ropes...
Smon: GM: Jana & Opara show Hakeem to the Shrine of Apollo, the golden statue he rescued from Thracia enjoying pride of place. But he notices among the lesser wall shrines a very prominent statue of Artemis, the Huntress goddess.
Smon: Jana: "Artemis protects women who have suffered at the hands of men..." She caresses the statue's wooden shoulder.
chris107: Hakeem reaches out to touch the lucky staue.
Smon: Down in the showers, after making love up against the wall, on the floor, at the wall again, a fairly tired Ajax bids farewell to a contented Rosa and dresses.
chris107: Hakeem thinks wistfully of his lovely wife and child. So close but so far away. "I'll say a prayer to Artemis too."
Smon: Jana: "She is also the goddess of swift and vengeful arrows."
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson: Ajax will head to his room for a rest
Smon: Jana seems very happy that Hakeem respects this new addition. "May Artemis grant us vengeance against all who have wronged us. The Nerathi, who hunt your kinfolk like dogs through the mountains..."
Smon: GM: Coming back upstairs, Ajax finds Calyakka the fat & hairy cook, who shows him to a comfy guest room.
Smon: Calyakka: "Do try the new Inn while you're here Mister Ajax sir. Scalpy Jack has it spick & span!"
Sandor Sunneson: We will look forward to a celebration ale there
Smon: Calyakka: "Opa Kakas is cook there now - not as good as me, but not bad, not bad! And excellent ale!"
Smon: GM: The statue's wooden visage regards Hakeem coolly, but the glossy wood seems slightly warm to his touch.
Smon: (Hakeem gets inspiration fr Statue, Ajax gets inspiration fr Rosa)
chris107: Hakeem feels safe.
Smon: Move to next day?
chris107: (Nice!)
chris107: Good for me.
Sandor Sunneson: ja
Smon: That evening Jana invites the Ralluans over for dinner at the Hall, and they discuss recent events both here and down south. Lucretia & Jana clearly are not huge friends, though.
Smon: 18/2/4447
chris107: Hakeem rises before the sun and visuts the shrine to Bondorr he made so long ago.
Smon: After a very comfortable night (Rosa slipping into Ajax's bed for more lovemaking, threatening to wear the poor fellow out) you waken next day.
chris107: Leaving instructions that supplies be gathered for the expedition.
Smon: As dawn brightens the sky over the eastern ocean, Hakeem inspects Jana's attempt to reconsecrate the Sword Shrine.
Smon: The great swords have been cleaned and replaced, but will need repositioning just.... so.
chris107: He says the words that seem to come to him more naturally these day.
chris107: Placing the very sword of Bondorr at the centre of the three captured blades.
chris107: "The blood of your enemies I will spill for you Lord Bondorr."
Smon: GM: As the sun rises a sleepy Ajax & Rosa crawl out of bed. Breakfasting with Jana & Opara (who appear to have spent the night together also) you prepare for your expedition.
Smon: The sun breaks over the horizon. Light shines upon Bondorr's blade.
chris107: "Make holy once more this ground and I shall dedicate a dozen souls to your glory."
Smon: ooc short break, 5 mins
Sandor Sunneson: cool, can we stop about 10? Got an early start tomorrow
chris107: sure, I need to get supper on
chris107: That's good for me Fergus.
chris107: Where you setting off to?
Smon: Yup, am stopping 10am
Smon: pm
Sandor Sunneson: Skye again, lol
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson:
Sandor Sunneson: No laptop required as no midweek rpg?
chris107: We're looking at probably second week in September for our Scottish trip.
Sandor Sunneson: what's your itinery? You heading straight to Highlands?
Sandor Sunneson: Good time, no midgies
chris107: Nothing set in stone yet.
chris107: That's a relief
chris107: Have another week of face to face first week of September so going to drive up after that.
chris107: My pal Phil is starting his Orc City, 5e Campaign
Sandor Sunneson: you copying and pasting Hakeem into it?
chris107: I'm playing a Old One worshiping, Half Orc Warlock.
chris107: No, It's set in a vast underground Orc City. All of us are Half Orcs.
Sandor Sunneson: Go all G1 on him, argue with him, forget stuff, go for cheeky re
Sandor Sunneson: quests
Sandor Sunneson:
chris107: He wouldn't ware it and I wouldn't try
chris107: I've floated the idea of a Wilderland's 5e game to start next year. Give me time to do some writing for Phil's next visit.
Smon: Sounds cool
chris107: Sandor, Ursa, Hakeem and others may make the odd guest appearence.
Smon: I recommend using southern Wilderlands.
chris107: Orchea?
Smon: Or maybe Viridistan for super high power stuff
Smon: Yeah, I love Altanis & Oricha looks cool too.
chris107: Or further south still?
Smon: I would prob stick to Pazidan Peninsula/Antil Peninsula area to start
chris107: Tomorrow should see the Redstar guys enter the CSIO
chris107: I have a belting little adventure ready for them
Sandor Sunneson: Oh, forgot abput Tamar
Smon: There are cool areas all over - prehistoric Ament Tundra w fur bikini amazons, Land of Beasts w dinosaurs, Valon...
Sandor Sunneson: sorry Chris, lol
chris107: In Crowfinger's Tower!
Smon:
Smon: Evil Crowfinger! Boo hiss!
Sandor Sunneson: So if Borrit is killed, he dies in Simon's world too?
Smon: He only ever appeared once onscreen in all my games.
chris107: Where Saru is lurking!
Smon: To execute Varek Tigerclaw at the end of my 20 tabletop session 4e Southlands campaign/
Smon: Flawless victory.
Sandor Sunneson: Saru 3 points
chris107: Just taking you to the kitchen, Kyle just got home, needs his supper!
chris107: Nice!
Smon: Between 2009 and 2013 I don't think the serious bad guys lost once.
Smon: Kaystar Saru & Boritt Crowfinger laid the foundations for the Rise of the Black Sun.
Smon: 2015-present you are fighting back though.
chris107: Let's hope we change that!
chris107: Aye, when Moffett and Co. lost the Ilhiedrin Codex back in 2009
Smon: OOC Borritt is a throwaway necromancer villain in a level 10 3-room 4e adventure w vampires.
chris107: Saru took it for Crowfinger, I think?
Smon: yup
chris107: Ah! There you go Fergus.
Sandor Sunneson:
Smon: Well he took it to the Conclave of Gwalion first, then the Red Reavers, then the Gate Castle of the Black Sun & Morthor Coff
Smon: Took the Black Sun a year or so to actually raise undead legions.
chris107: As my guys are about to find out
chris107: You have written it all for me Simon!
Smon: Tal Lorvas raised Cormarrin's Three Hundred with the Ring of Nemeia.
Smon:
Smon: & Borritt raised his armies of Altanian ghouls from ancient burial cairns on the Carnelian Plains.
Smon: Varek: "Yeah I know they SAID it was gonna be the end of the world... How was I to know they meant it?!"
chris107: He has a lot to answer for.
chris107: hehehe
Smon: This was when 1000 horde ghouls were scaling the walls of Bisgen town.
chris107: Hakeem looks forward to filleting him with Bondorr's blade.
Smon: Best of luck!
chris107: As he retakes Bisgen and Bondorr's temple there.
chris107: But first, off to see the Sphinx of Thracia?
Smon: GM: ok restart..
Sandor Sunneson: go
Smon: You breakfast together with Jana, Rosa & young Opara.
Smon: Jana: "Lord Hakeem, if you see Aya the Shepherdess, could you send her back here? I have need of her skills, to train a cadre of Slingers."
chris107: "I will mention it."
chris107: "She is with my lovely Malenn at the moment."
Sandor Sunneson: Thank you cousin for your kind hospitality
Smon: Jana nods. "I have need of a Weaponmaster. Sandor the Skandik proved unwilling, perhaps she would assist..."
chris107: "Maybe a modest title and some lands may tempt her..."
Sandor Sunneson: it's a shame we meet with dark times round the corner
Smon: Jana nods. "Many will be her sheep!"
chris107: Hakeem is well pleased by this.
chris107: "If only we could find Max."
Smon: Jana smiles at Ajax, puts a hand on his. "Do not worry, dear cousin. With Hakeem to aid us, the Darkness flees before us. The gods have sent him to deliver us from Evil."
Smon: Funny you should say that...
chris107: "Nay Ajax?! Good times await us all!"
Smon: After breakfast you two and Rosa ready your backpacks and head out of the west gate.
Smon: Passing through fields and meadows, you head NW along the trail south of the fast flowing Thrace river gorge.
Smon: Three miles from Selatine the trail enters the dark, cool woods south of Thracia.
chris107: Hakeem remembers the first time he took this route
Smon: You have not gone far when: "*Woof!*"
chris107: "Max?!"
chris107: "MAX!"
chris107:
Smon: And, yes, out from the trees bounds the rather emaciated, matted-furred, but definitely alive form of a familiar Ghinarian shep-hound!
Smon: OOC I already planned that for weeks!
chris107: Hakeem is delighted!
Smon: The dog rushes up to Hakeem, nuzzling his hand in delight.
chris107: He gets out his rations to share with the faithful hound who stood by him so bravely.
chris107:
Smon: Rosa practically jumps into Ajax's arms. "Oh! I thought it was a wolf!"
chris107: Without Max and his mistress, none of this would have been possible
Smon: She hugs Ajax tight, blushing. "Had a bit of trouble with wolves earlier..."
Smon: Max guzzles the rations hungrily.
chris107: Hakeem pours a little of his healing potion into his hand for Max to lap up.
Smon: There's old dried blood beneath the matted fur of his left flank.
Smon: The dog is clearly in some pain, and guzzles the potion hungrily.,
chris107: Stroking his fur and inspecting the poor beast's wound.
Smon: Do you give the whole gourd?
chris107: He pours more of the potion for the hound.
chris107: Yes.
Smon: It looks like he was slashed by an orcish blade, months ago.
Smon: As Max drinks all the potion, he seems more comfortable.
chris107: "Ajax, would you mind if we took Max back to Selatine? He deserves much honour."
Smon: Hakeem recalls Aya talking of the night they were ambushed, how she yelled at Max to run.
Sandor Sunneson: not at all
Sandor Sunneson: as we have the time
chris107: "The First King can wait! Come Max, we will find you a good home until Aya can come and fetch you."
Sandor Sunneson: lol
chris107: (Hakeem likes dogs  )
Smon: Hakeem & Ajax (Rosa well behind) escort the now rather elderly Max back to Selatine, for shep-hounds only live around 8 years and it was 18 months ago you met.
chris107: (And Max and Aya stood by him when he was first level.)
Smon: Still he should have a good 2 years or so left, with care.
chris107: Good
chris107: I think we have a longevity potion somewhere?
chris107: But that is for another time
chris107: Hakeem just wants to make sure he is safe and well looked after. And news will be sent to Thusia!
Smon: Back at Selatine you're greeted by Scalpy Jack, and his buxom barmaid Cleo, daughter of the local smith. Cleo fusses over Max, scratching behind his ears. The dog wags his tail happily.
Smon: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwEI2D-OFR7zHa5Hz7mkuuCtURBtNUL0ODsaJmHTqD3Y5sSr3ZjViUNBGmuWFWVpS51RbTndMzd5PvLZdozWFnyxv4WORIp-d9Us8mDEzFpSslyf8iwDh6tddC_YLy0cSFRjQVNE962w/s400/123_14.jpg
Smon: "Got quite a way with hairy animals, does Cleo" says Scalpy, puffing on his pipe.
Smon: Cleo: "Who's a good dog? You are! You are!"
Smon: "Woof!"
Smon: Scalpy: "Warm fire, dry roof, a good roast and puddin', he'll soon be good as new!"
chris107: "Look after him well until Aya returns, Cleo. And you will have aplace in the thoughts of the Slayer for ever."
Smon: Cleo looks up from playing with Max, eyes shining with hero-worship. "Aye, my lord. I'll take very good care of him."
Sandor Sunneson: ok, shall we go Hak?
Smon: Scalpy: "Every pub needs a dog... or a dragon. Ever seen one of those tavern drakes?"
chris107: He also gives her three bottles of fine wine (30GP each)
chris107: "For your trouble. Aye Ajax, sorry for the delay."
chris107: He fusses Max one more time.
Smon: Cleo happily collects Hakeem's generous gift, which leaves his pack a fair bit lighter.
Smon: "Woof!"
chris107: Then readies himself for Thracia.
Smon: GM: Bidding Max farewell you head out again, having already done a 6 mile hike this morning.
chris107: Now we get the 6
Smon: 3 more miles brings you back to where you met Max around noon, the high sun beating down through the trees, creating an emerald shine.
Smon: Rosa: "I like this sunny weather... But chances are we'll have a few more weeks of rain before Dry Season."
Sandor Sunneson: would be good a 6, not had any combat tonight
Smon: /roll d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 3,
Sandor Sunneson: would it not be worth attacking in the wet season? Take them by surprise Hak?
Smon: Sadly only harmless animals skitter away from you through the undergrowth as you march, though there do seem to be an awful lot of serpents, iriidescent green and red scales sparkling in the sunlight.
chris107: "Trailing two thousand unhappy Altani through the mud?"
chris107: "Lot of lizards. Not seen them before."
Smon: 5 more miles through the trees and it's around 2pm when you come out of the woods to see magnificent cliffs ahead, a waterfall cascading down into the ancient ruined city that lies before you at the foot of the bluffs.
Sandor Sunneson: Make them more battle hardened if victorious
chris107: "Won't make em any more waterproof."
Smon: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSth_KPgipQq7V7r7Tm8fzGOxULd7RVIPhtkmjmnhEy4Lc1zeIEgWjzgSkNYbgtERtIjisYc6U-EwPLGNH9UhPYRkPPsFtXhw3pXRniyrEUc1LrWwm6FmlRQE_OJY1vfzRlHEB6nHLA_0/s1600/Thracia+city.jpg
chris107: "They have been fighting all their lives."
Smon: You're just SE of Q on the map, a 150' deep marble quarry pit
chris107: "Watch out for that long pool. Lizardmen."
Sandor Sunneson: doesn't look very big (Thracia)
Smon: Around stretch the marbled halls of Thracia, vine wrapped but mostly still discernible.
chris107: "It goes down a long way"
Smon: Note the scale, 100'/square
Smon: Map only shows the largest intact stone buildings, there is much rubble too, and of course wooden structures are long vanished.
chris107: Hakeen cautions that we sneak towards the steps.
Sandor Sunneson: ok, agreed
Smon: You approach the quarry?
chris107: "Got shot at by Gnolls, no doubt long gone and ambushed by Lizardmen."
Smon: It seems overgrown with vines that cover everywhere that is not bare marble.
chris107: Sneaking.
chris107: "Stay low Dr. P."
Smon: Nearly sheer cliffs descend to a pool far below.
Smon: Looking over the side, you see white bones gleaming on a ledge 75' down.
chris107: "Can you... spell... down there and take a look Ajax?"
Smon: Among the bones you can make out slightly rusty chainmail, a gleaming battleaxe, and what looks like a wand.
Smon: Make WIS+prof rolls
chris107 rolls 1d20+6 and gets: 18, (+6) = 24
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson: Could fly?
Smon: Hakeem spots a money pouch, split, a few gold coins sprawled across the ledge. The bones look oddly stocky, not human - dwarves?
Smon: /roll d20+2x2
Smon Rolls 1d20+2x2 and gets:
11 (+2) = 13
12 (+2) = 14
chris107: "That would be great. Thanks."
Sandor Sunneson: He'll cast fly on himself and invisibility, and go and have a look
chris107: Ursa will love that axe! And you may find the wand useful.
Smon: Ajax WIS bonus? Hakeem your barbaric senses alert you to danger just as Ajax casts Fly and remembers he can't do 2 Concentration spells at once...
chris107: "Ajax!"
chris107: "You will fall to your death if you don't read your spell descriptions!"
chris107:
Smon: Looking around, Hakeem sees an oddly bulbous, iridescent green vine creeping from the edge of the quarry pit towards Rosa's legs where she stands beside you.
Smon: Ajax if you have WIS +2 or higher tell me
chris107: With a steely hiss Bondorr's blade is in his hand, he hacks at it.
Smon: Hakeem you can roll init to act
Smon: /roll d20-1
Smon rolls 1d20-1 and gets: 9, (-1) = 8
chris107 Rolls 1d20+2x2 and gets:
7 (+2) = 9
20 (+2) = 22
Sandor Sunneson: i do
Sandor Sunneson: 13
chris107: That's a +1
Sandor Sunneson: oh, yes, apologies
Smon: Yup your passive perception is 14 so it sneaked past you w a 14
Smon: Hakeem reacts with lightning speed, Rosa gasps as he leaps to her defence, blade flashing...
Smon: Are you Raging? Rem it's weekly now
chris107: best not
chris107: Unless it looks to really be a danger to Dr. P.
Smon: ok roll to hit
Smon: There seem to be two tentacles, attaching to a thicker stalk.
chris107 Rolls 1d20+14x2 and gets:
14 (+14) = 28
9 (+14) = 23
Smon: AC 15
Smon: hit x2
chris107 rolls 2d8+16 and gets: 8, 3, (+16) = 27
Smon: rem you could bonus action to electrify blade if not raging
Smon: for another d8/hit
Smon: The blade hacks through one of the tentacles, vivid green ichor spurts.
chris107: Ah yes, he will summon forth the sheath of lightning (hoping it's not a shambling mound and healed by that!  )
Smon: But then up from the side of the cliff rises the rest of the massive plant monster, a vast green tentacular bulk easily ten feet high and almost as broad!
Smon: The Shambling Mound is happy as lightning crackles over it and more green tentacles sprout...
Smon: Sorry!
Smon: /roll 2d8
Smon rolls 2d8 and gets: 1, 3, = 4
Smon: only 4 hp back
chris107: He douses the lightnig :d
Sandor Sunneson: Fireball
Smon: (that'll be a bonus action next round H) Hakeem thrust Rosa back out of harm's way as the monster lunges.
Smon: /roll d20+7x2
Smon Rolls 1d20+7x2 and gets:
20 (+7) = 27
14 (+7) = 21
Smon: ouch!
Smon: maybe shoulda raged...
Smon: AC 22?
Smon: /roll 4d8+4
chris107: yup
Smon rolls 4d8+4 and gets: 8, 3, 5, 6, (+4) = 26
chris107: 221-26?
Smon: ok, your stout shield wards off one tentacle and it fails to grapple & engulf you, but the other hits you for 26.
chris107: I'm just rescuing the Yorkshire puddings!
Smon: Ajax roll init, beat 8
Sandor Sunneson rolls 1d20 and gets: 1,
Smon: LOL
Sandor Sunneson: uh
Smon: Hakeem your turn
Smon: The dice hate Ajax in combat
Sandor Sunneson: answer to your order, No!
chris107: first he replies
Smon: ok
chris107 rolls 1d20+12 and gets: 20, (+12) = 32
Smon:
chris107: drat 14
Smon: crit
chris107 rolls 2d8+10 and gets: 1, 2, (+10) = 13
Smon: still has 3-digit hp
Smon: your main go
chris107 Rolls 1d20+14x2 and gets:
7 (+14) = 21
2 (+14) = 16
Smon: AC 15, hit
chris107 rolls 2d8+20 and gets: 7, 1, (+20) = 28
Smon: oops riposte was w lightning blade
Smon: then you douse it I assume
Smon: /roll d8
Smon rolls 1d8 and gets: 2,
chris107: yup
Smon: ok it's taken 62 dmg, it is trying to grapple you & pull you into it.
9:12pm  2017-6-12 subaltari Has entered the room
Smon: /roll d20+7x2
Smon Rolls 1d20+7x2 and gets:
18 (+7) = 25
5 (+7) = 12
Smon: The shambing mound tentacles encircle and crush Hakeem, but can't pull him into the green bulk.
Smon: /roll 2d8+4
Smon rolls 2d8+4 and gets: 3, 7, (+4) = 14
Smon: 14 dmg
Smon: Ajax your go
Smon: spell?
Sandor Sunneson: magic missle it
chris107: Khyle lohgging HP, I 'm carving beef
chris107: riposte
Smon: Blue darts of light fly from Ajax's hands...
chris107 rolls 1d20+14 and gets: 14, (+14) = 28
Smon: at 1st level Fergus, or burn higher slot?
Sandor Sunneson: 1st
Smon: Hakeem slashes away at the Mound.
Smon: ok 3 hits roll dmg
Sandor Sunneson: One step at a time GM
chris107 rolls 1d8+10 and gets: 2, (+10) = 12
Sandor Sunneson: 8d4+8??
Smon: lol no
Smon: 3d4+3
Sandor Sunneson rolls 3d4 and gets: 1, 4, 1, = 6
Smon: Rosa: "Yaay! Go Ajax! Shoot it!"
Sandor Sunneson: 9 damage
Smon: She does a little cheerleader dance, sans pom-poms.
chris107:
Smon: Round 3
Smon: Hakeem
chris107 Rolls 1d20+14x2 and gets:
11 (+14) = 25
1 (+14) = 15
Smon: 1 miss
chris107 rolls 1d8+10 and gets: 4, (+10) = 14
Smon: Aren't you +8 dmg not raging BTW? +3 sword +5 STR?
chris107: I am, sory
chris107: Trying to do too many things at once here.
Smon: so 12hp back I reckon
Smon: then 12 dmg
chris107: cool
chris107: all settled again now
Smon: Mound:
Smon: /roll d20+7x2
Smon Rolls 1d20+7x2 and gets:
4 (+7) = 11
10 (+7) = 17
Smon: OOC 2 of these wreaked havoc on my level 12-14 group yesterday
Smon: misses, though - Hakeem breaks free of the entangling vines.
Smon: Ajax your go
chris107: Only faught them in 1e. They're a nightmare
subaltari: (psst - Ajax - try a lightning bolt)
Smon: Rosa backs away as the shambling bulk threatens to head in her direction.
Sandor Sunneson: it'll fry everyone
subaltari: (it'll do more than that)
chris107: It will heal it!
Smon: THey already used lightning on it subs
Sandor Sunneson: I'll acid splash it,
chris107: Hakeem gets between the Mound and Dr. P if he can
Smon: http://www.aidedd.org/dnd/images/shamblingMound.jpg
Smon: Yup you can H
Sandor Sunneson rolls 2d6 and gets: 3, 1, = 4
Sandor Sunneson: that's major damage
subaltari: ( did they make it bigger? )
Sandor Sunneson: take that you organic growth
Smon: /roll d20-1
Smon rolls 1d20-1 and gets: 14, (-1) = 13
Smon: yes it grew sprouts
subaltari: ( LOL )
Smon: DC 15, fail - it sizzles where the acid hits
Smon: Full dmg, about the only thing that does!
Smon: Round 4 I believe... Hakeem
chris107 Rolls 1d20+14x2 and gets:
20 (+14) = 34
13 (+14) = 27
Smon: nice!
Smon: crit & hit
Smon: d8+8
chris107 rolls 6d8+16 and gets: 2, 3, 2, 5, 3, 8, (+16) = 39
chris107: Brutal Criticals
chris107: Forgot to roll that on the last one
Smon: You tear a massive hole in it, taken 126 dmg, surely it can't last much longer...
Smon: you had a prior crit right? Can roll dice now since I deducted your erroneous rage dmg, fair's fair
chris107: on the riposte
chris107 rolls 4d8 and gets: 8, 4, 6, 5, = 23
Smon: With a despairing high pitched wail the shredded mound staggers back over the lip of the pit and falls.
Smon: As it smashes against the cliff it breaks apart into several clumps of viridian matter
chris107: Phew!
Smon: At last the shattered remnants of the Mound splash into the water 150' below.
chris107: He looks over the cliff.
Smon: CR 5, they say, CR 5 my arse.
chris107:
chris107: "You want to fly down and get that stuf now Ajax?"
Smon: Bits of the creature float on the dark water, viscous dark green smeared all over the rocks above.
Smon: (2 of these gave 1 11th, 2 13th & 1 14th PCs a run for their money yesterday)
Sandor Sunneson: ha
Sandor Sunneson: ja\
Smon: Ajax can see the bones & remains on the ledge.
Smon: Flying down the sheer cliff face he alights on the ledge.
chris107: Hakeem is at 40HP down, he will short rest if he can while Ajax does his stuff?
Smon: The fine dwarven axe shows no runes, but could doubtless be enchanted.
Smon: The wand appears to be formed of a bull's... you know...
Smon: The pouch holds 10gp in coin.
chris107: hehe
Sandor Sunneson: sausage?
Sandor Sunneson: magic wand?
Smon: The 2 suits of chain armour covering the bones are quite rusted & sized for dwarves.
Smon: Yes, it radiates magic, you taking it?
subaltari: magic wand
Sandor Sunneson: Yes, will pick it up
Smon: GM OK, you'll need to take an hour to attune to use it.
Smon: Are you taking the axe coins & wand back up?
Sandor Sunneson: ok, yes
chris107: H uses 3 healing dice
Smon: Axe is worth about 100gp for fine workmanship & could be enchanted in 20 days to +1 axe
Smon: by Ajax
chris107 rolls 3d12+15 and gets: 10, 8, 7, (+15) = 40
Smon: Ajax rejoins the others and you find a sheltered spot near the treeline to rest.
Smon: /roll d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 2,
chris107: Perfect! Back to full.
Smon: All is quiet.
Smon: Ajax gains command of the Wand of Bull's Strength.
chris107: Good point to leave it?
Smon: yup
chris107: No idea what that one does!
Smon: It has 16 charges, each use raises target's STR by +2 for 1 hour (does not stack)
Smon: Can go over 20, so eg Hakeem STR 20>22
Smon: For +15 to hit
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson: lol
Smon: Needs a caster like Ajax to wave it though.
Smon: Rosa regards Ajax's wand with admiration.
chris107:
Sandor Sunneson:
Smon: OK will stop there, fun getting back to Hakeem & Thracia!

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