tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81477098528394022312024-03-13T11:18:52.546-04:00A Sage Among His BooksEvan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-86310884037692456982020-04-26T21:07:00.002-04:002020-04-29T19:04:55.276-04:00This is my particular voyage and continuing missionBlogging has not been much on the agenda as you may surmise from the roughly three and a half years since my last post.<br />
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The good news is that this blog's loss has been my gain, in that much of my free time has been taken up with an ongoing D&D 5e campaign, developing some fan materials for 13th Age Glorantha, and starting to play Fading Suns on a livestream archived on YouTube (first episode here: https://youtu.be/0dYgGWKrvok).<br />
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Of course, the world is going through a pandemic at the moment, so a blog about games, books and geekery is either the most trivial or the most important thing to come back to at the moment.<br />
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One thing that I have gotten back to is catching up on the latest in Star Trek.<br />
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When last I left Star Trek, it was a sadly descending in quality movie franchise in the parallel JJ Abrams' Universe. I enjoyed the first reboot and thought it had promise, and the series progressively spent all the goodwill from that movie on lesser and lesser movies until there appears that there is no more Abramsverse series left (but who knows? Hollywood does strange things).<br />
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I still never finished Voyager and never really started Enterprise, so what kind of Trekkie can I claim to be?<br />
<br />
But like any good fan, I have opinions. I think I am probably strongly in the orbit of the folks at Ex Astris Scientia (<a href="http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/">http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/</a>) which is a beautiful labor of love and love letter to all things Trek. Like any good fan, I have my own quirks and personal biases, but if we divided into camps, I would likely be in the neighborhood of Ex Astris 95 times out of 100.<br />
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So, much like is much better and more thoroughly explored at Ex Astris, I have many criticisms and concerns about Star Trek Discovery and Star Trek Picard.<br />
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NOTE SPOILERS BEAMING IN BELOW<br />
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They don't destroy my childhood or ruin Star Trek for me. I checked and favorite episodes like "The Doomsday Machine" (TOS), "Yesteryear" (TAS), and "Blood Oath" & "Way of the Warrior" (DS9) are still there. But they raise many issues for me, and even to the point of spending time awake at night sorting out my feelings and their source.<br />
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I was introduced to Star Trek, the original series, by my father. He took me to a Star Trek convention when I was nine, and we saw Gene Roddenberry give a talk. I watched the Animated Series as a kid, I watched all the Star Trek movies up through First Contact in the theater. I played the old FASA Star Trek Role Playing game with my friends. I was out of the country the first year that TNG was out, but my mother had a friend who had taped (yes, VHS) all the episodes, and when I returned from my college Junior Year Abroad I binged all of them (before binge watching was really a "thing").<br />
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Life got complicated and I lost the thread for following Star Trek closely in about season 4 of Voyager (a show I generally enjoyed, but not as much as I had liked DS9) and I completely missed Enterprise.<br />
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So, when the new movies came, I thought they might likely be terrible, but I hoped they would be good.<br />
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I am a person who still found things to like about Star Trek V: The Final Frontier after all, though I'm not sure I could sit through it again (there are also a lot of terrible things about it and it is in the nature of "bad" Star Trek, like "Spock's Brain").<br />
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The new parallel universe movies were a mixed bag, but they did scratch some of my Star Trek itch.<br />
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I waited on the sidelines as Discovery came out, and I did not follow it too closely, though I heard the rumblings of some discontent, particularly with the first season.<br />
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The intersection of the first season of Star Trek Picard being out and 30 days of free CBS finally drew me in.<br />
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I watched Picard first, and then went back and made it through all of season 1 Discovery, and I will probably pay my 10 bucks so I can make it through season 2 over the next 30 days (I have to episodes under my belt).<br />
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So, what is my beef?<br />
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There are a hundred details and concerns, but I will try to distill them into a few substantial critiques. Up front I will say that, overall, the casting is quite good and the acting is good. My criticism is heavily focused on writing, production and vision.<br />
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Discovery: The production of this show is ambitious, but its reach FAR exceeds is (sometimes feeble) grasp. I can tell that it got better in Season 2 (and hey, it is Star Trek and I am going to watch it), but getting better is a low bar from Season 1.<br />
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Examples: Design and continuity. Knowing that they had decided to place a new series squarely in a defined period of Star Trek, between the setting of the original pilot, "The Cage" (2254) and The Original Series (2265), with Discovery beginning in 2256. This is deliberate placement to take advantage of know characters as an era that has a lot laid out, and yet more too that could be filled in. So far, I have seen them bring in Sarek, Amanda, Harry Mudd and Christopher Pike, and it seems clear too that they will have Spock and perhaps other greater or lesser characters who appeared in the original source material.<br />
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Making the conscious decision to be in an era that has a defined arc, look and beloved characters well known to people who know Star Trek intimately, as well as things that casual viewers have picked up, they decide to chuck continuity, themes and visuals all out the window.<br />
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I have seen defense of this as "updating" for a "modern" audience and other such shallow and intellectually bankrupt dodges, but basically, they did not want to be shackled to working within what was established.<br />
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So, why in the world lock themselves into a "room" with such constraints? It certainly wasn't for the challenge of it, because they just burn that room down and do whatever they heck they want. New uniforms, new ships, new ship sizes for old ships, new important character histories and character actions that MAKE NO SENSE.<br />
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I realize, it would be really cool to have a character who was Spock's foster sister. Totally cool concept. But it does not really work the way they have done it. So far, they just make Spock look like a jerk (admittedly, I am not far into Season 2). Also, while the central character, Michael, always seems to know the answers, she does not present a very Vulcan. This is again the writers and producers creating a constraint, and then finding it inconvenient and rather than letting ANY constraint force them to creativity, they just ignore it.<br />
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Sarek endorses a plan which is certainly a war crime, and described as genocide, though I don't actually think the writers understand the concept. I am sorry, but in no universe does that make any sense (and don't get me started about Mirror Sarek; how is he a rebel, yet his son serves the empire, which is supposed to be so racist (a relatively new concept introduced into the mirror Terran Empire, but, after all, nowadays, no one is a villain worth his or her salt unless racism is a component) but nonetheless, Spock serves on the IKS Enterprise and eventually has enough influence to overthrow the empire (though only then to be conquered by a coalition of Klingons and Cardassians, but the Klingon homeworld was destroyed by the empire and gee that was a lot of back story to be aware of and we did not really care, we just wanted to plot things the way we wanted to and nobody cares, blah blah, modern audience).<br />
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So, beloved characters strangely portrayed through the fun house mirror. I mean, Harry Mudd? I say that Rainn Wilson absolutely chews the scenery with what he is given to work with, but when was Harry Mudd such a murderous psychopath? Yes, a confidence man or little to no morals, but suddenly we needed him to be edgy and distinctly murder-y in order to be "believable" for modern audiences or whatever lie the writer's room was telling itself.<br />
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They also have a really interesting seeming bridge crew, where they have created a seemingly more diverse and possibly interesting set of important officers, except that they are essentially forgettable furniture, with few lines, no spotlight, and almost no personality. It seems they try to repair this in S2, but I fear the ones they can't figure out how to write they will simply kill off, because they were a momentary check box, and when they become inconvenient (like visual, character, or thematic continuity) they will simply throw them away.<br />
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They just create uniforms that make no sense.<br />
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They create ships that look and feel nonsensical within the era THEY CHOSE to work in.<br />
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They seem absurdly pleased with getting their characters to say curse words. Forget Star Trek IV, where Captain Kirk had to work hard to speak in Colorful Metaphores ("Double dumb ass on you!") because society and protocol was such that they just used language better in the future. No "modern audience" can accept that. Besides, this is cable. We get to have the characters say "fuck."<br />
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Also, since this is cable, lets make sure to show, over and over and over, naked Klingon. Hey, Star Trek has really graduated. Screw you, however, many decades it's been of suggestion and no pay off. We have some really great Klingon nude prosthetic that we will show off over and over in "previously on": Klingon tits!<br />
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And worst of all, Federation society and Star Fleet just suck. Sure, the lone abandoned crew of the Discovery stands tall for the ideals of the Federation, but the message is, when push comes to shove, screw your near-Utopia Gene Roddenberry and DC Fontana and the rest. We just don't really believe in it.<br />
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Yeah, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) is the slogan, but no organization of intergalactic peace, exploration and tolerance is really believable. It was all fine for the 1960s, but this is 2020 and we have a more realistic view of things, and we will put them in the mouth of a Starfleet Admiral (and back it up with Sarek having been on board) "We do not have the luxury of principles!" This is command in Starfleet? Maybe if it had been developed through more episodes to show the desperation and all that could be lost and truly that there were no alternatives, maybe. But the future that Star Trek showed us for decades was a society that, for all its problems, where it was not quite at Utopia, it was crawling closer, and the founding principles of the Federation were bedrock. A common and shared set of ideals across cultures that were the baseline. Surely, there were those who could depart, but just as universal healthcare, education, childcare, etc. is a given in Scandinavian countries, the Federation in its common principles does not depart from its ideals. That was the vision of hope given to us.<br />
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And Discovery (and, see below, Picard too) does its best to tarnish that. The BEST of the Federation (SAREK OF VULCAN) when pushed, trades away principle for survival. The Federation and Starfleet are just hollow, with just a few, like the Discovery Crew, really having internalized those principles. There rest, well we are given to understand, they are no better than us, in the 21st Century. They just had better propaganda.<br />
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All of this adds up to the worst arrogance and provocative self-dealing that really galls me. It is more convenient and more conceivable for the writers and producers to try to overwrite the original operating system of Star Trek with their cynical views, their flashy costumes, their vision of what Federation and Klingon ships and cultural items look like (OMG, don't get me started on the Klingons. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??!!!). To the people behind the scenes, making Discovery, working hard and doing something that they love, they just don't love Star Trek. They have appropriated elements and done something else. It is shallow and hollowed out and makes me alternately sad and mad.<br />
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It gets a bit better in Season 2 so far, but again, its a low bar, and their progress is inconsistent at best.<br />
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I will leave with this before a brief discourse on Picard.<br />
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In the first episode of S2 of Discovery, "Brother" they introduce a character, Evan Connelly. From the moment he appears as the Science Officer coming with Captain Christopher Pike, and he is not Spock, it is painfully evident that he will die. He is a white, cis, het, male, dude bro, and he is killed while mansplaining to our main character.<br />
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So, why care. Dozens of "Red Shirts" have given their lives to advance plot points in Star Trek. Who Mourns for Evan Connelly?<br />
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Well, despite his fantastic (otherwise) introduction, Captain Christopher Pike doesn't. Lt. Evan Connelly is the SCIENCE OFFICER on the USS ENTERPRISE. He has stepped up to fill the shoes of the legendary LT SPOCK, the first Vulcan in Star Fleet. Pike must have hand picked him for the role. Yet he first is portrayed as sarcastic and <i>unjustifiably</i> arrogant. It is all a setup to maneuver him to his untimely encounter with the asteroid while he is mansplaining (perhaps that is a point the writers want to make or maybe they thought it was hilarious; don't know, don't care). But the point is, rather than him having to scrub out of the mission, instead of learning a lesson of humility, or whatever. They just kill him AND NOBODY CARES. Christopher Pike, his commanding officer, a person who SHOULD feel his death as if he was that young man's father, is given not one moment to reflect on his death, to show his care for the crew under his command. Nobody is shown to care, which is the SAME as nobody caring, because if it does not happen on screen, it does not happen.<br />
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The writers thought it was more important to introduce Lt. Connelly, paint him as a jerk, and kill him, and then forget him, than to write something . . . good. Something that showed us important issues about the characters, Starfleet, the Enterprise, Discovery. Anything.<br />
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But no. Discovery is not yet that kind of show, if it ever will be.<br />
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Now Picard.<br />
<br />
Patrick Stewart is as close to a do no wrong actor as you get, particularly for Star Trek. When he is at his best, Star Trek is usually at its best.<br />
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But the show is uneven. Again, it goes to the lack of respect for a vision for the future, because the writers are not creative enough to put together a dramatic conflict without rewriting the DNA of the Federation.<br />
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What I think may be one issue is that the Federation and Star Fleet are also characters in Star Trek. You have to respect them as characters in order to write good Star Trek, and generally, neither for Discovery nor Picard, do the writers particularly respect those characters (or respect established characters in general, other than to serve their plot ends, rather than character ends).<br />
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The Federation again is not a near Utopia and Star Fleet isn't Star Fleet, and Picard frankly is not Picard. The show opens with Picard at the end of a 14 year funk after failing to marshal resources to rescue survivors from the destruction of the Romulan homeworld. Once he failed there, he just gave up.<br />
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WTF<br />
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Picard who came back from being Locutus of Borg. Picard who saw his own future and fought it. Picard who suffered torture under the Cardassians which lasted until he broke, but fate was kind enough to bring him out before that breaking make him give in. Picard who was the youngest cadet to win the Academy marathon. That Picard forgets all his friends, packs up his things and goes to die on his family Vinyard?<br />
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Well, that is the setup they need. The Federation and Star Fleet suck. Society in general sucks (see "Children of Mars" the most horrible, long music video of middle school still sucking in the 24th Century possible, and in 300 years, no better methods of running school exists).<br />
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And even elements from some of the best episodes suck. I mean, Riker and Troi allow their son to die. There is a simple treatment, but then the ban on androids means that the treatment is unavailable and The Federation sucks so much it lets children die of easily treated diseases because it can't have any little exceptions and Troi and Riker suck so much that they cannot, with their vast experience and connections, find any place in the known Galaxy to get a cure for their child and so he dies.<br />
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Because the plot really needs that dead kid.<br />
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There is more. The Romulans have thoroughly compromised Federation Security and Intelligence. The plot requires it.<br />
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The Romulan fanatics who live only to stop artificial life have worked lives, generations, to end the Soong androids, but when opposed by the Federation, they just leave. The plot requires it.<br />
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When Dr. Soong Jr. (not actually Junior) discovers that one of the androids lied in order to motivate the contacting of the artificial life coalition, and possibly unleash death on all biological life in the galaxy and there is a projectable recording of it, he just does nothing with it and fails to stop what is going on. The plot requires it.<br />
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There is more of this, and there are many writing sins, as well as writing and performance (and directing) accomplishments.<br />
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I am not trying to trash these series in toto.<br />
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But they are deeply flawed, in ways that make me sad and concerned for the immediate future of Star Trek (and don't get me started on the weird IP split, with CBS owning series rights and Paramount movie rights and that being a mess that has real creative impact, like not being able to portray Spock and the Vulcan response to the Romulan crisis). Will Star Trek continue? Yes, absolutely. Will it be any good? Sure, there will be good bits here and there.<br />
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But I feel like the current crop of creatives have lost faith, and having fallen from that, they have lost a vital spark for Star Trek.<br />
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They have things that they want to say with Star Trek, but they are just not very Star Trek things. I fear that they are not going to inspire the next generation of astronauts, space scientists or researchers the way the Trek of the past did. Star Trek used to be a unifier, and among other things, it feels divisive and broken now.<br />
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It makes me sad. But, it is Star Trek, so I shall ever watch it with hope.<br />
<br />
A hope kindled in the breast of a nine year old.<br />
<br />Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-58030045172558390922016-12-10T20:55:00.003-05:002016-12-10T20:55:38.344-05:00One-Night D&D-The Haunted Castle (and the lessons therefrom)Hello internet, my irregular publishing of entries marches on . . . irregularly.<br />
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On Saturday, I ran a short scenario of my own devising for a "pick up" game of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons. <br />
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The game worked out well enough that I likely may run this scenario for other groups as an intro. I and the group had fun, and I definitely learned some lessons that I could apply to (hopefully) make it run to be even more fun and exciting.<br />
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If you don't want spoilers, you should stop reading.<br />
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For anyone else, here is an overview of how things went.<br />
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The adventure is not in a determined setting. The main adventure location was inspired by a real world castle, Caerlaverock in Scotland.<br />
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The players, who were a group I was able to get together with a few days notice, picked pre-generated characters from a set I had put together. The characters were all third level, to allow for everyone to have some significantly cool things to do, and to avoid having to write a scenario about giant rats and other lower level threats, when I wanted to put a bit more risk and reward into the scenario.<br />
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We ended up with a pretty well balanced party, including two Wood Elves, a Cleric of Light and a Druid (Circle of the Moon) (Val & Telar, played by Tom and Robert), a Rock Gnome Eldritch Knight (Teflanto, played by Dan), a Forest Gnome Arcane Trickster ("Nick" played by Jamie), and a human Berserker (Arek, played by Darrell). We did a short little Q&A between me and the players to determine how they knew one another, and then we got them on the rails to the adventure.<br />
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They received a summons from a Herald of the Duke to come and meet with an official of the Duchy for an opportunity. Like any group, the characters were suspicious, wondering if this was legit, or a trap of some kind. The eventually went to the meeting, and the Duke himself met with them, and charged them with a mission.<br />
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Role playing the discussion was pretty fun, and people made some social skill rolls, and it all went well enough. <br />
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This was the deal. They needed to go to a remote castle, Kerag Ynys, near the northern border of the Duchy, where a castle had become haunted and disused. The Duke had not been much concerned with the castle in recent years because the border had been closed, and the function of the castle (as a customs station for trade and garrison for protecting the trade route) had been superfluous. Further, hostilities on other borders of the Duchy had kept the Duke from sending units to determine what had happened to the Baron of this castle. However, in the last six months, peace and general amity had been negotiated, and the trade route was opening back up. Now the Duke needs the castle.<br />
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Choosing a Baron is down on his long list of things to do, but in the meantime, he had decided that he can put the player characters to good use, get them out of his back yard, and test their mettle to see if they are worth further recruitment and investment as agents. He offers them positions as temporary Wardens of the castle if they will retake it from whatever monsters inhabit it, and if they will agree to help secure the Barony and assist a ducal steward to run the castle and return the village to habitation.<br />
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The characters reluctantly agree, especially after he explains that the typical adventuring group in his duchy, once they have achieved the kind of fame and notoriety that they have, either end up as his "friends" and in his service, or end up with their heads on spikes on his gate.<br />
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Further, the Duke had a story for them, accompanied by two clues. His patrols had recently captured a bandit who had first hand knowledge of the castle in question. He and companions had observed the castle and saw that its drawbridge came down each night, only to be closed up during the day. They decided to try to take the castle as their base of operation and entered. After beginning their search of the castle and finding some trinkets and remains from the former inhabitants they were attacked by "dead men." Only the one bandit escaped with his life, and part of his reason. He also had on him a fragment of a letter from the former steward of the castle to the last Baron (Marketh) of Kerag Ynys. The steward urged his lord to return a "mask" to a place called Tor Mortas, warning it would bring great evil. An annotation on the letter seemed to be from Baron Marketh, recording that he would never give up this treasure from Tor Mortas. <br />
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The Duke gave them the letter fragment, and also provided them with the possible location of a mechanism to open a postern gate and a passage across the moat of Kerag Ynys, so they would not have to enter across the drawbridge at night.<br />
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The adventurers journeyed to the north for days, until they reached the outskirts of the area containing the keep. Since they knew that something was definitely active at night in the keep, they decided to time their arrival to the morning to give them all day to work on entering and dealing with whatever might be in the keep.<br />
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After thoroughly scouting the area, they were able to locate the mechanism to trip the Dwarven made device that raised stepping stones across the back of the moat to the postern door. They made their way into the keep by this hidden path.<br />
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Once inside, they began to investigate. They found the keep largely in tact, though seemingly deserted. However, in the barn area, they found a pile of dead bodies, in various degrees of decay, and some seemed to have been "gnawed." They we close to several ladders which could lead them to upper level on the wall, and particularly to the hoardings atop the walls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq3qg6UiheNhmK-jKQCJyFdG7aXh13P4Ufq0EylCWqpbyRO0yHA7knWgmVc0GZJaA6ZXTmxDV9_qjU1Mcv-PdJJjhCXg7HErXE36zgBrajdDD9_Sqp0fuFxhROhIOiR-sR8JrDBSjMKQ1/s1600/Castle-Defences-Hoarding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq3qg6UiheNhmK-jKQCJyFdG7aXh13P4Ufq0EylCWqpbyRO0yHA7knWgmVc0GZJaA6ZXTmxDV9_qjU1Mcv-PdJJjhCXg7HErXE36zgBrajdDD9_Sqp0fuFxhROhIOiR-sR8JrDBSjMKQ1/s320/Castle-Defences-Hoarding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoardings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupIfbBLDYVLc4Zwc3oVtduoRbEu3NbjkmVRaNytqItrLdsMoNJNRGx_BHPvg-8SmrXpS1uG1eXPCMvxKk0h5yUoijUatGP8DNeuiNfVArFG3r3OeLMhCeK-aBGDPvEl9C2RXTWSRFrEJF/s1600/medieval_castle_hoarding_ecb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupIfbBLDYVLc4Zwc3oVtduoRbEu3NbjkmVRaNytqItrLdsMoNJNRGx_BHPvg-8SmrXpS1uG1eXPCMvxKk0h5yUoijUatGP8DNeuiNfVArFG3r3OeLMhCeK-aBGDPvEl9C2RXTWSRFrEJF/s320/medieval_castle_hoarding_ecb3.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model of curtain wall with hoardings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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They also inspected the ground level room formed by the base of one of the castle towers, in which they found a small armory, and a trap door that led to something below.<br />
<br />
However, before they could explore more, they began to take arrow fire from the top of the gatehouse. A quartet of skeletons had detected them and had gone to the attack. The characters scattered. Most headed up ladders almost immediately, seeking to get cover, higher ground, and eventually reach the skeletons via the hoardings.<br />
<br />
The Cleric, Barbarian and Arcane Trickster all headed up. They were soon surpassed by the Druid, who turned into a panther and made short work of climbing, even having to use a ladder. This left the Eldritch Knight still in the line of fire, and he caught an arrow, but was able to look for cover. However, then a swarm of zombies shambled out of a nearby cellar. Discretion being the better part of valor, the Eldritch Knight retreated up a ladder, and was assisted by the Arcane Trickster in jamming the trap door first on the ladder he came up, and then on another at a ladder around the corner.<br />
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Meanwhile, the Cleric, Barbarian and Druid all made it up to the level of the skeletons and charged in. Once in range, the Cleric raised her holy symbol and invoked the powers of light, forcing one skeleton to cease his attack and flee to the far side of the gatehouse roof. The other three, however, continued to draw arrow, until brought to close combat by the Barbarian who went into a rage, whereupon they drew their blades. After trading indeterminate blows, the Druid shaped back into his human form and cast Moonbeam. He was disappointed that the skeletons largely made their saving throws, but on the subsequent round, they all failed, and he melted them all like candle wax.<br />
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The Barbarian then charged back to get into some kind of view of the zombies, and with a furious throw, actually hit a zombie over sixty feet and two stories away with a thrown hand axe, neatly ending it. The Cleric followed cautiously behind, looking for some way to attack from above. The zombies were stymied by the ladders and blocked trap doors from making any attacks on the party. Then the Druid turned his moonbeam upon them, and within two rounds, all but three were puddles on the ground. The last three, barely holding together, retreated into the cellar.<br />
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The party, triumphant in this first battle then carefully searched the keep. They found the trap door in the small tower armory merely led to a prisoner hole. However, searcher the living quarters, they found the day books and ledgers of the Baron, and found his notes on how he journeyed to a place called Tor Mortas and retrieved a gold mask, with which he became obsessed. On the trip there and back, two men at arms died, his personal priest went mad and fled, and he apparently murdered his body servant as too clever. After he brought the mask to the keep, the town began to be beset by "things" who took the villagers. Eventually, the remaining peasants fled the town, and the keep became threatened. The Baron's wife urged him to return the mask, and then she had an "accident." The information in these entries pointed to the mask being in the family crypt, built, like all the foundations of Kerag Ynys, by a allied clan of Dwarves centuries ago. <br />
<br />
The characters found the way down by taking one of the main spiral staircases that served the keep.<br />
<br />
They went far down underground, and then came out in a crypt. It was evident that there was some "thing" in the crypt, but it, and its cohorts (more undead) did not immediately move to attack. The characters identified the creature that seemed to be in control as a "barrow wight." They attempted to treat with it, explaining that they sought the mask to return it to its place of origin, Tor Mortas.<br />
<br />
They had a hard time of it, but made several speeches, gave oaths, and called it to recognize their honor. Finally, the wight stepped aside from the door where it stood and told the party to work their "arts" on the door. If they took the mask with the intent to return it to Tor Mortas, the wight, and its slaves, a ghoul and a specter, could be free. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MP0ks3Z9a5_Hcp_pbPuAycPcsoxcKmJFZq9-GeIQNussG7LeVt4IwK1EZTqKCXn7YAO7LdfIQtPJnKZNTKbrOENW4JEjFsgjHVVyrKWMvTpwbESS1OTAZ36RcpmwxzSEur3CXWd4jF7l/s1600/traitorous_wight_by_anthonydevine-d8sz8ut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MP0ks3Z9a5_Hcp_pbPuAycPcsoxcKmJFZq9-GeIQNussG7LeVt4IwK1EZTqKCXn7YAO7LdfIQtPJnKZNTKbrOENW4JEjFsgjHVVyrKWMvTpwbESS1OTAZ36RcpmwxzSEur3CXWd4jF7l/s320/traitorous_wight_by_anthonydevine-d8sz8ut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Up stepped the Arcane Trickster. He handily unlocked the door, but then thought to look for traps. The door, like all the entrances to the tombs in the crypt, was trapped with a mechanism which would allow the moat to rapidly pour into the crypt, likely crushing and drowning those who would defile the dead's rest. He then tried to assess how likely it would be to set off the trap by disarming it. He determined it would be unlikely. However, that unlikely event occurred [his player having rolled a 1].<br />
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Two things happened at once. The door opened, revealing the entombed bodies of the Baron and Baroness, the golden mask perched atop the sepulcher, and water began to pour in all around the crypt.<br />
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The Arcane Trickster, using his Mage Hand, seized the mask, and then cast expeditious retreat and fled the crypt. The other party members tried to contribute to each other's survival [defined as a skill challenge]. Things did not go well.<br />
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The Barbarian sought to block some of the water coming in from the Baron's burial chamber, but instead ripped the door from its hinges [another roll of 1]. Others had some success in helping one another towards the exit stairs, but just as many tripped each other up or impeded one another. Finally, the Arcane Trickster, as the chamber filled with water, shot an arrow tied to a rope towards his companions, hoping to pull them to safety, but as they grasped the rope, it pulled them down under and each seemingly lost their last breath.<br />
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For a moment, Nick, the trickster, thought about just leaving.<br />
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However, he managed to get the rope free, and found that, like a reflex, some of his friends had, in losing consciousness, held onto or been entangled in the rope. He pulled first the Cleric, Val from the water and got a healing potion into her. Next, they pulled out Teflanto, the Eldritch Knight, and while one revived him, the other pulled out Telar, the Druid. Finally [after succeeding three death saves in a row], the Barbarian Arek simply refused to die and dragged himself up out of the now receding waters onto the stairs.<br />
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After some rest and healing, the party camped within the keep that evening and managed to prepare themselves for the trip to Tor Mortas. There they found the ancient and primitive mausoleum from which the Baron had taken the mask.<br />
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They returned the mask, and it was sucked back down into the earth, presumably back to its owner.<br />
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This did not give the adventurers a good feeling, but they did feel lighter as they exited and then set off to claim their reward as the new wardens of Kerag Ynys.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSi4a2Z6QIxc33VhLOkyAefjrzFmvnZcEoV8LQcCP4IiNT6YT-zKotjNuEBNqC2-npcdohGwd0lTs3bakVIqhYx1gso6zRk24BzwmcoPBKwjeYwgjzw818zRMOdSmVsSlYOZmj98xxy3bD/s1600/badekunda_stone_ship_jpeg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSi4a2Z6QIxc33VhLOkyAefjrzFmvnZcEoV8LQcCP4IiNT6YT-zKotjNuEBNqC2-npcdohGwd0lTs3bakVIqhYx1gso6zRk24BzwmcoPBKwjeYwgjzw818zRMOdSmVsSlYOZmj98xxy3bD/s320/badekunda_stone_ship_jpeg.jpeg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Standing Stones of Tor Mortas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now for a bit of self reflection and criticism [and thanks to Matt Colville (Reddit <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/mattcolville/" target="_blank">here </a>and YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVdb9Yr8fc05_VbAVfskCA" target="_blank">here</a>) for modeling this kind of process for me; definitely check out his stuff]:<br />
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In retrospect, I think what I did at the start of the adventure was a mistake, and I would do it differently the next time I run this. What I realized after running the long introduction that included getting the mission from the Duke was that it had not been that important. The players have to agree to go to the castle or their is no adventure. As a "one shot" I should have started them just already on their way. That way, all the time spent with the Herald and the Duke could instead be spent with some role playing between the characters and then giving more time to explore the castle and fight monsters.<br />
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Live and learn.<br />
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Having eaten up a lot of action time with not very consequential timing, I forced the players to have to resolve the adventure with talking, since we had about 40 minutes to finish up once they got into the crypt, and a combat would take an hour or two. I did not want to quite railroad so much at the end, but it was a one night one shot, so it had to do two things. It had to end with some satisfaction, and it had to be fun as a whole. This also played into how I resolved the long series of bad rolls that could have resulted in all but one of the characters dying. However, I thought it was more interesting to play through a series of death defying challenges. The skill challenge ended poorly and the trap took all but one character down. However, with one surviving character, it allowed for a heroic rescue and a salvaging of the mission. That just seemed like more fun for my audience. So, that's what I did.<br />
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When I run this again, I think we will start just a short way from the Keep, with the back story already assuming they are on the mission. That is the scenario after all. If I were to use this for an ongoing game, that would be different. I would let the players move at their own pace and decide to take the mission or not. There would be other things to do if they turned down Kerag Ynys. But, for one night D&D, the agreement is generally, the DM has a particular thing to do in mind, and the players agree to give it a try.<br />
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On the whole, I had a lot of fun. I was surprised by some of the things the players did (as always) and I was pleased that I was able to share an evening doing one of my favorite things for a goup of folks who (mostly) had not played for many years.<br />
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With luck, we will do it again, perhaps more than once.<br />
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<br />Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-4085850630127611652016-09-25T20:30:00.001-04:002016-09-25T20:30:35.178-04:00Old and New Combined: A Vision for New D&D Adventures (Part 1)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When I wrote the epilog to the Nine Vessels of Magic
campaign, it was to conclude the our adventures. I wrote an end of sorts to everyone’s story. It was a narrative set some two hundred and
seventy-five years after the conclusion of the campaign. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Caladin remained dead, entombed, perhaps to
be called again to service in another age.
Daniel van Rigir, Cheltenham and finally Degius Le Gudrius had succumbed
to old age. The epilog was written about
a year after Degius’ death. Daniel
founded the City of Freedom at the edge of a new forest begun by The Druid (a
guest star who had been in a few of the adventures). A hinted at dread foe, the Githyanki pirate
Kal Thard, never made another appearance and instead passed into obscurity, leaving
Daniel to his life’s work. Daniel, in
the epilog, had died with a happy family around him. Cheltenham had had a distinguished career as
a diplomat and warrior, and had left behind a martial arts school, specializing
in the great sword. Degius had been
raised to the nobility of the imperial court and given charge of the imperial
library. He and Krystella had children
and grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The epilog left hanging the narration of Lady Antani
Pendragon (née Luventar), as she remained lost, and her husband, Mordred
Pendragon, continued to search for her and the child that he hoped had been born
of their union. He searched even though
he seemed to live without hope of ever finding them. Sir Lars Amoril had retreated from the world,
and spent his life in contemplation of his god, Solonor Thelandria in
retirement. Lars, as a High Elf, could
expect to live another four or more centuries, contemplating peace and the
divine. Krystella Le Gudrius (née Entuluvan),
the narrator of the epilog, was about four hundred and forty years old, young
for a Grey Elf, who could expect to live eleven to fifteen more centuries. At the end of the narrative, it was implied
that Krystella contemplated taken her own life to join Degius in the
afterlife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That was the story that I wrote to conclude the campaign,
and that is canon. We are not going
back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, in the world of fantasy, that does not have to be
the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We have the wonderful question, “what if . . . ?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To set the stage for this, let me state a few of my thoughts
on what inspires me to go forward on the foundations laid by my old
campaign. As pedantic as my quest theme
was, there were a lot of good bits, and some connections to the materials of
the lore of Dungeons and Dragons, that a few years later opened up into whole
new areas of play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I had played with
planes and parallel worlds, with the gothic tragedy of the Arthurian Myth, and
I had taken the player characters into space.
In 1987, none of those things were full blown settings, though the
elements were coming together. New
settings, from which the Nine Vessels of Magic campaign did not benefit,
included Spelljammer (published 1989), Ravenloft (the original module was 1983,
but the full blown setting fully developed as the demiplane of dread came in
1990) and Planescape (published 1994). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno5ddf9-cglZZj7nQXc_QPGN7_dfrUcxSxpcY8gf7qRCzSTmriujl1OVKPXnJQDJ2ml6pZ6H_U5noFdMSt9Ugn-30dlNhYOU5xG7gu5nIio8xsjQ14K2TcklWpGq1CeHyUC54PZ45nCL-/s1600/DSC01013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno5ddf9-cglZZj7nQXc_QPGN7_dfrUcxSxpcY8gf7qRCzSTmriujl1OVKPXnJQDJ2ml6pZ6H_U5noFdMSt9Ugn-30dlNhYOU5xG7gu5nIio8xsjQ14K2TcklWpGq1CeHyUC54PZ45nCL-/s200/DSC01013.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, Greyhawk went through some major revisions, and my
world had been, if not Greyhawk, a reflection of it. The Greyhawk Wars (released in 1991)
postulated a huge regional conflagration that advanced the timeline in Eastern
Oerik (the <span lang="EN">Flanaess) and then
reshaped it into a new set of narrative realities in From the Ashes (published
in 1992). This was further changed,
refined, and updated in the new Greyhawk Player’s Guide (published 1998), which
again advanced the timeline. The
original timeline setting had begun in Common Year (CY) 576, the Greyhawk Wars
beginning in CY 582, From the Ashes (in the aftermath of the wars) was set in
CY 586, and the new Greyhawk Player’s Guide was set in CY 591. Also, there was a whole Living Greyhawk
Campaing, and many thousands of players experienced adventuring from CY 591 to
CY598. Materials about the setting
abound.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, AD&D, though still played, is an ancient
artifact. Second, Third (and 3.5), and
Fourth Editions of the game have come (and many still play each of those
editions) and somewhat gone. However, the
newest version of Dungeons & Dragons is Fifth Edition, and it is a very
good, solid platform for play which I like quite a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In re-imagining the foundations for a new set of adventures, I could incorporate the now accumulated lore of almost thirty years into my back story (at least the parts I remembered, or had notes on, or that seemed to fit). I would build it to play in the modern and evolved rules of the Fifth Edition of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What would that look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, to start with, here is my “what if.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First, as background, in this new gloss on old things, what
if I had just set things in Greyhawk, on the world of Oerth, in the Flaeness
region of the continent of Oerik? What
would be the back story, and how would things have played out. As I am doing this on my own, and first and
foremost for myself, this first draft will not take much into account of my
players, even those with whom I am somewhat in touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The core party is Caladin the Paladin, Degius Le Gudrius
(fighter/cleric), Cheltenham (ranger/cleric), Daniel van Rigir (ranger/cleric),
Antani Pendragon (née Luventar; cavalier), and Lars Amoril (cavalier; cousin to
Antani). Where were these people from in
the Flaeness, where did they begin their adventures, and where else did they
go? That is important, because it allows
me to weave the backstory into the greater meta-plot of The World of Greyhawk,
and to build story ideas and allow for character elaboration down the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To begin this "what if", this is what I imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Caladin</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Caladin was born in the Free State of Onnwal, once part of
the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, but long independent. His family was strong in the worship of
Heironeous, the Oeridian god of Jonor, Justice, Daring, War, Valor and
Chivalry. He dedicated himself to the
worship of that god and became a Paladin. His father, a priest of Heironeous, sent him
forth to find his own path and gifted him with a magic shield, upon which he
commanded Caladin to place his own symbols, once he determined what crest he
should gift to his descendants. For some time he served with a company of
Dwarves, a notable minority in Onnwal.
Eventually, after adventures and tragedy, he passed across the the Sea
of Gearnat and up the Woolly Bay to pass into the lands around the Nyr Dyv,
which abounded with adventure and was the home area for the rest of the party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Deg</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDlcpcWzXsrCO6qDAbtEBW9IgAEwIBqIj0W3Aer6P96Mc4GdDFFwWFIuYkxwL1yrpBnoiYGRx4S1lXZJ-kqKSkSffU1M-p5VOswgsFMplPcEf8Xo4kzylKO3_VwDvKlGgpLbSP-e8AY2g/s1600/90487E61-CD8F-4332-B52D-C6AA48D34202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDlcpcWzXsrCO6qDAbtEBW9IgAEwIBqIj0W3Aer6P96Mc4GdDFFwWFIuYkxwL1yrpBnoiYGRx4S1lXZJ-kqKSkSffU1M-p5VOswgsFMplPcEf8Xo4kzylKO3_VwDvKlGgpLbSP-e8AY2g/s320/90487E61-CD8F-4332-B52D-C6AA48D34202.JPG" width="241" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Degius Le Gudrius, half-elven scion of a minor noble house
in the Kingdom of Furyondy, grew up in his father’s castle, close to the Vesve
forest (the largest hardwood forest in all of the Flaeness), and guarding the
frontier with The Land of Iuz. Deg’s
mother was of the Sylvan elves, and lived with his father for some time, but
returned to her forest and her people once Deg chose his path in life. He was trained as a warrior, befitting the
son of a castellan, but also chose the life of a scholar and took orders with
the Elven god of longevity and patron of sages, historians, philosophers, and
librarians. Eventually he took to an
adventuring life, and travelled out of the Kingdom of Furyondy to meet his
future companions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cheltenham Half-Elf, was born in the lands of the Duchy of
Ulek, ruled over by Elven nobility, though his parents, also both half-elven as
was common in those lands, were of humbler origin. He grew up enamored of the wilds, and called
to the worship of the High Elven god, Corellon Larethian. His studies took him to the center of elven
culture in the Flaeness, the Kingdom of Celene.
There, he trained for the priesthood, but also became acquainted with
the vast elven woods, eventually joining the Rangers of the Gnarly Forest for a
time. Eventually, with his training and
knowledge in divine lore, woodcraft, and the art of war, he set off with a
friend to make his fortune.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Daniel van Rigir, grew up in the rough and tumble lands of
the Wild Coast, a land of petty nobles, robber barons, guildheld towns, fishing
and forest villages. As the land was
prey to freebooters, mercenaries and displaced persons of all sorts, he grew up
often in want, and always keenly aware of his need to be free. He was fostered at a temple of Trithereon,
The Summoner, the god of ndividuality, Liberty, Retribution, and Self-Defense. From the temple, he passed to the company of
the Rangers of The Gnarly Forest. There
he met and befriended Cheltenham, and after their time of training with the
Rangers completed, they set out together, each looking for fortune and
adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Lars & Antani</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The origins of Sir Lars Amoril and Lady Antani Luventar
(later Pendragon) are closely aligned.
Both were knights of the Elvish Court of Celene. Each came of noble High Elven family, close
to the line of Queen Yolande of Celene.
Sir Lars of the Amoril family came of a line of Elvish Knights on the
side of his father, Field Marshall Aldrieth Amoril, and of scholars, priests
and wizards on that of his mother, Lady Yden Amoril (née Luventar). He was the youngest of six siblings,
including his two older brothers and three older sisters. Lady Antani of the Luventar family, was the granddaughter
of a Prince of the Court of Celene, Lorlar Luventar, and daughter of the famous
archer, Gathiel Luventar, and Court Mage Anastasyn Luventar. She was the middle child, between an older
brother, an Eldritch Knight of the Court, and a younger sister, a devotee of
the Elven goddess Hanali Celanil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtw7ehpxYjw6u6J8Sh1pZQIGn5Ppn0V68u63f6gDe35YLQKBPBLO47do0XaLDiH02gkL-Z27gqj1trQvBQ7xqsiPVL3zerSa5CBPKmYOc_hmxg4xEZe3IHMRfp8o1EV5ccw0bnSY8gDcM/s1600/366_mithrendain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtw7ehpxYjw6u6J8Sh1pZQIGn5Ppn0V68u63f6gDe35YLQKBPBLO47do0XaLDiH02gkL-Z27gqj1trQvBQ7xqsiPVL3zerSa5CBPKmYOc_hmxg4xEZe3IHMRfp8o1EV5ccw0bnSY8gDcM/s1600/366_mithrendain.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mithredain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Both Antani and Lars were fostered to the Feywild and the
Summer Court of the Arch-Fey.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Their
training took place in the ancient fortress city of Mithredain, called the
Autumn City, a place where time passed strangely, when it seemed to pass at all.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As these high elves worked with the warriors
and nobles of the Fey, they gained powerful links to dimensions beyond the
Prime Material Plane which held Oerth and their home forests of Celene, which
they learned was a mere spot on the map of the Flaeness in the vastness of the
multiverse.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Further, they each were
knighted within the household of the Entuluvan clan.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">While this Eladrin clan was at times a minor
part of the Summer Court, it held a special privilege during the conjunction of
the Feywild with Oerth.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">At that time,
the leader of the clan, Thormond Entuluvan, became Emperor of all Elves, so
proclaimed by the High Queen Tiandra of the Court of Stars.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">While there were paths and ways to the
Feywild for Elvenkind to travel at any time, the decade long conjunction would
bring together “The Great Elf Empire” through a nexus in the Feywild.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The difficulty was that Thormond foresaw that
this conjunction would bring great danger.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, Lars and Antani, as wards of the Entuluvan,
were particularly cultivated to respond to the danger soon to be. Their destinies, however, were withheld by the
canny Fey. Knowledge was and is a
currency among the faery, and little was shared with the two High Elven Knights
from Celene. Lars and Antani completed
their training among the Fey, and returned to Celene. From there, each in their time, they
travelled to Dyvers to begin their errantry as knights. Soon enough they became friends and companions
with the others who would become the instruments of Thormond’s gambit against
the dread Lich Kantorek.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX0ZALmuf1ykNLbI13F4mdjS16q0deZbSKRvZj6KWTeoBNZgLIHqSkyGwCocRT9c1khKoFT8MKbaYxY01GA3yZTk6fSxKBTJI2md816qkh6iXJ7bn5Ge2cllRsv7hQk8O_-COFE7yMYJC/s1600/Phylactery_Lich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX0ZALmuf1ykNLbI13F4mdjS16q0deZbSKRvZj6KWTeoBNZgLIHqSkyGwCocRT9c1khKoFT8MKbaYxY01GA3yZTk6fSxKBTJI2md816qkh6iXJ7bn5Ge2cllRsv7hQk8O_-COFE7yMYJC/s320/Phylactery_Lich.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To be continued . . .</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-77400207725604968552016-09-10T19:18:00.001-04:002016-09-10T19:26:54.751-04:00Overview and Memories of a 1980s Advanced Dungeon and Dragons Campaign<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8147709852839402231" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Author's note: this is a post based on a combination of recollection and discovery of some scattered notes; I may modify it or correct and enlarge it depending on what else comes to me. Also, this is probably interesting to no more than seven people on the planet, maybe fewer)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A long time ago, back in the 1980’s, I ran Advanced Dungeons
& Dragons for my High School friends.
There was a shifting group of us, but as it finally fell out, after some
comings and goings and character changes, there was a group of seven of
us. Six player characters and me, the
DM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started people out with the basic dungeon crawl. I quite unoriginally started with B-1, In
Search of the Unknown, as the first level of my dungeon. Other levels, carefully hand drawn, with room
contents filled out in a key in a spiral notebook followed. There was not a lot of logic to it all, but
that was early AD&D. The rooms usually seemed to be set pieces, often unconnected from one another, waiting for the entry of the
player characters to trigger them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUnJXNK8IRVuWQjBOP_IXFJlnSHH7SeB8u7hdjZAgGrC5Zbgsn1UYAywT9gTJpDfNdtBHqaj5mIO_eJhAlrO2iJjQSSTGMGMeQVc00nbIBUbFHiyRTkaJOsC-necAhYfe638-a0g56BkY/s1600/D50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh2WMIqq7zy_c1ImgtR_oyVIagxZJx_NUWCsPU1SuhpDcbhFxfNm_mwS8LdWULPZIiYtQXp9Yis2eUrIUYfr2L49JIVbXUmgmv2YpEHZ8PBzBA2mrxBophpJv0MaTKSJcMcR3eWLIiu90/s1600/Kzinti+Illo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh2WMIqq7zy_c1ImgtR_oyVIagxZJx_NUWCsPU1SuhpDcbhFxfNm_mwS8LdWULPZIiYtQXp9Yis2eUrIUYfr2L49JIVbXUmgmv2YpEHZ8PBzBA2mrxBophpJv0MaTKSJcMcR3eWLIiu90/s1600/Kzinti+Illo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh2WMIqq7zy_c1ImgtR_oyVIagxZJx_NUWCsPU1SuhpDcbhFxfNm_mwS8LdWULPZIiYtQXp9Yis2eUrIUYfr2L49JIVbXUmgmv2YpEHZ8PBzBA2mrxBophpJv0MaTKSJcMcR3eWLIiu90/s320/Kzinti+Illo.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUnJXNK8IRVuWQjBOP_IXFJlnSHH7SeB8u7hdjZAgGrC5Zbgsn1UYAywT9gTJpDfNdtBHqaj5mIO_eJhAlrO2iJjQSSTGMGMeQVc00nbIBUbFHiyRTkaJOsC-necAhYfe638-a0g56BkY/s200/D50.jpg" width="154" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They
also had some adventures in town, some trouble with the thieves’ guild (the
Monkey Guild as I recall), faced an initial incursion of mysterious humanoid feline
invaders (Larry Niven’s Kzinti from Dragon 50) </span>and some dealings with a powerful mage named Xanthius.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was using my own “world” sort of. I was both too cheap to purchase The World of
Greyhawk materials and too proud to think that I needed them, but I was using Greyhawk Deities and was heavily influenced
by Gary Gygax’s published campaign. I
never had much coherent world building, and we might as well have been in
Greyhawk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main party consisted of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two High Elven Cavaliers (Antani and Lars) (each started after the write up in of the Cavalier Class in Dragon 72, and then formalized by Unearthed Arcana).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two Half-Elven Ranger/Clerics (Daniel van Rigir and
Cheltenham).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One Half-Elven Fighter/Cleric (Degius Le Gudrius).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And one Human Paladin (Caladin, yes, Caladin the Paladin).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One note on the Paladin. Caladin came into the game because of a rules
quirk. His player had originally been
playing Farl the Barbarian (who always wanted to go East). We developed Farl after the Barbarian class
was published in Dragon 63. It was a class that got tried out a lot after its initial publication.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, as written, the original barbarian character and
the revised final version published in Unearthed Arcana, was a hater of
magic. As you will see below, that
became a problem, and rather than house rule away that issue (especially since
it had been a role playing point), we had the player swap Farl for Caladin. Farl went East.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually, we came to the point of needing more of a focus
for the game, and thus was born my quest.
The Nine Vessels of Magic were the focus of the quest (thus the need to
jettison Farl the Barbarian given the way the class was written then). The quest was straight forward and unoriginal. Long ago, a great Elven Wizard had forged the
Nine Vessels of Magic, each one embodying one of the archetypical forms of
magic, in order to help protect the Elven Realms. Also long ago, the Vessels had been lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, a dreadful Lich, Kantorek, had discovered the lore of
the Vessels and was seeking for them. He
was already massing forces for a great war of conquest against the realms of
the living. With the Vessels, he would
be (wait for it) INVINCIBLE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Elven Emperor, impressed by the deeds of the two Elvish
Cavaliers and their companions, charged the group with the retrieval of the
Nine and frustration of Kantorek’s plans, if not his outright defeat. I decided, as I was railroading them into
this, that they might also need some magical support, so I contrived to place
an NPC with them, creating the youthful daughter of the Emperor as a talented
magic user and having her become infatuated with one of the party members,
Degius. The princess’ name was
Krystella.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I already admitted this was not the world’s most original
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was, however, fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Along the way, there were a few guest stars. A Druid who came in and out of the story as
my cousin visited, and a thief (another lack in the party), played by a friend
of one of the players, but who eventually decided not to come back (or we
decided not to invite him back, that is hazy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As they sought the Vessels, they battled pirates, they
fought armies of goblinoids, they played through my modified version of The
Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, and they ended up in a quasi-Spelljammer before
there was a Spelljammer setting, as they fought Mutant Orcs on a spaceship (also
heavily influenced by Gamma World).
After that ship crashed, they ended up in a quasi-Egyptian setting and
gained the help of Isis (I was going through several chapters in Deities &
Demigods).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we wound down the campaign they went through modified
versions of the G-Series (Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, Glacial Rift of the
Frost Giant Jarl, Hall of the Fire Giant King).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7NPPiRdgtBMIB_aY5Dmf-RGSwgE8QbPVcLajT3ntb1Yd_QpvU0u76J-NB50R92K-BZ4aCCDLnBWVMCHMJ01r6KgLAWhdIynJtqQLqT4OlIejeH9fOU3Px_xnzt-lS7eZGdZXIsslu5VI/s1600/G1-3_Against_the_Giants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7NPPiRdgtBMIB_aY5Dmf-RGSwgE8QbPVcLajT3ntb1Yd_QpvU0u76J-NB50R92K-BZ4aCCDLnBWVMCHMJ01r6KgLAWhdIynJtqQLqT4OlIejeH9fOU3Px_xnzt-lS7eZGdZXIsslu5VI/s200/G1-3_Against_the_Giants.jpg" width="157" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ended up throwing one character, Antani (one of the High Elven Cavaliers) ahead, into my twisted version of
the Arthurian stories. The character
ended up married to my version of Mordred.
As it turned out, there was Mordred and a “Dark Mordred” (ala Dark
Phoenix as far as inspiration).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the party arrived afterward, and, of course the
version of the Holy Grail in this reality was one of the Vessels. There was a Cathedral to the Grail, guarded
day and night by Sir Galahad. However,
he then was murdered, shortly after the formal announcement of the marriage of Antani
and Mordred. Mordred and Antani were
arrested in their quarters, a bloody dagger in Antani’s hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The party participated in the trial before
the King, and at that event, Mordred, seeming extremely evil, revealed the
affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, and then as Lancelot sought to flee with
the Queen, Mordred used magic to cause Lancelot to kill Sir Gaheris and Sir
Gareth. The extreme chaos essentially
cleared the room, the player characters seemingly forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, in an even bigger reveal, Mordred split, with his evil-self
free and the man the player character loved still in chains. He swore to destroy Camelot and Arthur and
laughed at the thought that his good twin was to die for his crimes. He then disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The characters managed to talk their way out of Camelot,
take the Grail, take the “good” Mordred.
With the help of the spirit of Merlin, they boarded a mystical ship and set
sail towards their final confrontation with Kantorek. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In that crossing, both Krystella and Mordred
were lost and taken prisoner by Kantorek when the ship foundered. The characters each received a boon on the
Isle of White Magic from an Angel of Light.
Somewhere along the way too, Antani found that she was in the early
stages of pregnancy. Then they went into
the final confrontation with Kantorek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were some individual tests, then a big combat. In the end, Degius was dead, and Antani ended
up cleaving Kantorek in twain.
Unfortunately, he was also able to break his Staff of Power which killed
Caladin and caused Antani to be cast into the multiverse, lost and sundered
from her friends and her true love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Caladin
was later entombed (prophesized to return some day), Mordred and Lars set off
to find Antani, Daniel and Cheltenham got Degius raised from the dead, and
Degius and Krystella finally married in our quick end game discussion. That final game was in 1987. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In about 1988, I wrote a long epilog, from the perspective
of the long lived Krystella, which narrated the end of most of the company. That is the official and unchanged end to the
campaign which became known as the Nine Vessels of Magic. There was triumph and sadness and some things
that just did not get resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have had regrets about that campaign. It was basically the thing I had to do to get
a lot of mistakes out of my system, be a bad DM to try to learn to be a good
DM, and a way to experience and understand a lot of lessons that others had
tried to teach me, but you don’t get until you have tried and experimented with
stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also remember it with extreme fondness, for all its flaws,
especially for the time I got to spend with my friends. It inspired character art and a lot of other creativity in my friends, which was both gratifying and a lot of fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After that campaign ended, we all headed out
our different ways, and frictions and fractures that had perhaps always been
there surfaced more. We never got back all together to game again. That stage of our lives was over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And if that was all, it would still be enough. But I am thinking of writing another chapter
or two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And with the wisdom of hindsight, I should think a have a twist here or there to add.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll have more to write soon.</span></div>
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Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-81942824215748951182015-05-09T16:48:00.000-04:002015-05-09T16:48:26.750-04:00Quick Review: New Podcast with a focus on GloranthaGlorantha luminary Jeff Richards and long time creative force in Glorantha and RuneQuest, Michael O'Brien (who goes by MOB) have joined with "Rob the Producer" to create: <br />
<!-- /.post --><br />
<article class="post-15834 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-podcast"><a href="http://www.glorantha.com/tales-of-mythic-adventure-podcast-episode-1-season-1/" title="Tales of Mythic Adventure Podcast – Episode 1 – Season 1"><img alt="Mythic Tales" class="woo-image thumbnail alignleft" height="100" src="http://3zw0tn2csmas1gxg5k1aagl5up3.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Mythic-Tales-200x200.png" title="Tales of Mythic Adventure Podcast – Episode 1 – Season 1" width="100" /></a> <header><h2 class="title entry-title">
<a href="http://www.glorantha.com/tales-of-mythic-adventure-podcast-episode-1-season-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Tales of Mythic Adventure Podcast – Episode 1 – Season 1">Tales of Mythic Adventure Podcast </a></h2>
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Now, there has been a terrible lack of podcasts focusing on the amazing fantasy world of Glorantha, and having Jeff and MOB involved means that two extremely knowledgeable and personable folks are going to be broadcasting on a (somewhat?) regular basis, and that is all good.</div>
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</div>
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If you know nothing about Glorantha, then you can go <a href="http://www.glorantha.com/glorantha/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://glorantha.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.staffordcodex.com/about-runequest" target="_blank">here,</a> <a href="http://www.princeofsartar.com/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/102577244714186267235#communities/102577244714186267235" target="_blank">here</a> and learn a lot. It began in the imagination of one man, Greg Stafford, as far back as 1966, but grew to be an imagined world of magic and myth contributed to by many creative people and that has played host to fiction, board games, and role playing games. </div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
So, it is very worh knowing about, especially since it is having a resurgence of products related to it released, including the recently issued <a href="http://www.glorantha.com/product/guide-to-glorantha/" target="_blank">Guide to Glorantha</a>, the novel: <a href="http://www.glorantha.com/product/king-of-sartar/" target="_blank">King of Sartar</a>, and the RPG supplement <a href="http://www.glorantha.com/product/heroquest-glorantha/" target="_blank">Heroquest Glorantha</a>. Also forthcoming are <a href="http://www.13thageinglorantha.com/" target="_blank">13th Age in Glorantha</a> and Adventures in Glorantha (for <a href="http://www.thedesignmechanism.com/products.php#!/RuneQuest/c/2826223/offset=0&sort=normal" target="_blank">RuneQuest 6</a>), as well as a slew of other fiction and game related products from <a href="http://www.glorantha.com/" target="_blank">Moon Design</a> (the owners of the Glorantha intellectual property rights) (as noted in this <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/podcast/b17/" target="_blank">episode</a> of the <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Iconic Podcast</a>).</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
So, how was Episode 1 of Tales of Mythic Adventure?</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
Uh, yeah, it was a bit of a mess. Jeff and MOB have a great time swapping stories and digressing on one thing and another. They lay the groundwork, but they don't show a lot of discipline or rigor as far as talking about their topic, or even having a defined topic of conversation. It was fun to listen to, but you mostly need to be on the inside of Glorantha and RuneQuest fandom of the last 20 years (or more) to get what they are talking about.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
It was entertaining, but the first episode is a little forgettable as far as reaching an audience outside of folks that already like to listen to stories of the old days, who perhaps frequent current Glorantha themed conventions.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
So, I still think this can and will be an important podcase, because Glorantha as a world and a place in which to play games is still extremely important to me (I probably began my readings of Glorantha material and playing Second Edition RuneQuest in about 1982 or 1983).</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
What has to happen?</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
These two smart guys need to get serious about having a show about the big ideas and interesting aspects (which are just about everything) about Glorantha. While this can be a show for the fans, it is even more vital to be a show to bring in new explorers of all things Glorantha.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
Also, while they are going to be able to bring on some of the amazing past creators who have been and are involved in Glorantha, it should not be a show that dwells on nostalgia. It needs to be about how alive and amazing Glorantha is.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
I really have high hopes for this podcast, and both Jeff and MOB can help be voices to pull in new people to enjoy all that Glorantha has to offer. However, to do this, I think they need to take after someone like <a href="http://tolkienprofessor.com/wp/" target="_blank">The Tolkien Professor.</a> Corey Olsen, is a professor with a passion for translating Tolkien Scholarship into exciting discussions and lectures that bring people closer to Tolkien's literary works, explain Tolkien's process, and deepen people's understanding of Tolkien's place in literature, in genre fiction, and as an imaginary world builder. He brings a kind of magic to what could be a dry discussion, and makes people excited about learning and about ideas.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
There are a ton of ideas, of issues and cultures, stories and mythology that make up the last almost 50 years of Glorantha. If this podcast can discipline itself to organize the episodes to appeal to a broad audience and bring those old fans in to a community where they are also creating new fans, well it will be a powerful tool.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
If it remains a place for old time reminiscing and insider discussions, then it will be an interesting novelty, but for most people, it won't be important.</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
</div>
<div class="title entry-title">
I have cautious hope that these three guys can pull it together. So, I'll be listening, and I think everyone else who likes role playing, imaginary worlds, or mythology, should be listening too.</div>
</header></article>Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-518688120238791402015-05-09T16:02:00.001-04:002015-05-09T16:02:22.153-04:00Game Masters’ Roundtable of Doom #5 – Your GM Big Picture Fu is Weak<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Game Masters’ Roundtable of
Doom is a meeting of the minds of tabletop RPG bloggers and GMs. We endeavor to
transcend a particular system or game and discuss topics that are relevant to
GMs and players of all roleplaying games.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">If you’d like to submit a topic for our future discussions, or
if you’re a blogger who’d like to participate in the Game Master’s Roundtable
of Doom, send an email to Lex Starwalker at </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="mailto:gamemastersjourney@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gamemastersjourney@gmail.com</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month's
topic comes to us courtesy of </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/110102880427020243089"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marc Plourde</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:<br />
<br />
There are many different skills that
come together to make up a GM. The ability to think on the fly, knowledge of
the rules, plotting, etc. What skill do you think is your weakest? What have
you done to try and improve that skill? What advice do you have to offer others
trying to improve that skill set?</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being able to reflect on one’s weaknesses as a Game
Master, as with any other part of your life, if no easy thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like to know, and do, what we are good
at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things where we kinda suck are not
easy to dwell on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenge with Marc’s question is, for me, that I
find a lot to criticize myself about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is just the way I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worry about
making each thing work in a game, I silently berate myself as I trip over
rules, I worry about making sure that each person around the table is involved
as much as possible, and, while I am not solely responsible for each person’s
fun, I am supposed to be, as it were, the captain of fun at the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, despite these foibles and anxieties, none of my
moment to moment mistakes with rules, player involvement, or improvisation are
a key downfall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really have trouble connecting a big picture with the
here and now action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that some
very rewarding forms of storytelling, the kinds of things to which I aspire,
have this kind of linkage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not
have to pervade every little bit, but it should be helping to run things in the
background.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a terrible time doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is really a campaign failing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to give my players a meaningful
campaign, with distinct story arcs, and larger meaning in events and action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That turns out to be hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really became aware of this kind of
storytelling explicitly, from television, and specifically Joss Whedon’s Buffy
the Vampire Slayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each season had a
defined arc, a villain, larger plot and metaplot elements, and supporting characters
that helped move them along to the exciting or tragic or apocalyptic
conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buffy as a show certainly
didn’t originate this, but it is the show where I became aware of this kind of
master planning, which is distinct from the purely episodic nature of an older
show like the original Star Trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
planet one week, some starbase the next, each episode almost always self-contained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a series of, at best, loosely connected
one-shot adventures that happened to include most of the same core characters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since before I became conscious of the modern </span><a href="http://www.showrunnersthemovie.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">showrunner</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> style of television,
I have wanted to have all the little stories add up to a big story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually could come up with the big story,
the ultimate goal at which to point the players.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, this big goal was generally too lofty and
remote, and I rarely could keep a campaign going to connect all the dots to get
there, let alone provide the recurring NPCs, atmosphere and foreshadowing that
might drive along one adventure after another to get to the mighty </span><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMacGuffin&ei=J15OVdTXK7eOsQSt34GADA&usg=AFQjCNGSC7ETdNlzjExoXvihGfr8Q2M7pQ&sig2=sj6uP4goURJlqcTAW4Ky8w&bvm=bv.92885102,d.cWc"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MacGuffin</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,
the Big Bad, the Final Conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
imagination just seems to exceed the grasp of my plotting ability, not to
mention my ability to budget time and manage players through a coherent set of
stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In some ways, you have to learn to manage your
expectations and also to </span><a href="http://www.tinhouse.com/blog/24831/murder-your-darlings.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">murder your
darlings</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better yet, <strong>I</strong> have to
learn that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here are some coping mechanisms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreaming big is fine, but two things are
important to keep in mind when launching your campaign ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, you need to keep your mind open to all
the ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can just catalog them in
your Mind Palace (if you happen to be Sherlock), or otherwise, keep notebooks,
journals, or, my favorite, random scraps of paper with your evolving ideas
noted down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most cases, don’t spend a
lot of time developing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just keep
them as a kind of fermenting yeast out of which something great may or may not
come out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because of the second
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, you have to factor in
the players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have the greatest
ideas every (I know I do), but, since role playing is a cooperative and
collaborative activity, it does no good to set your ultimate goals if what your
players want out of the game experience is something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, sometimes what players want is old
traditional episodic television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
week they are in a dungeon, next week they are in a town, the week after that,
they are on a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing much
connects all of this, except that the characters are all together, and they are
probably getting some loot and killing some bad guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is your group (and sometimes for me
it is), then you can’t squash them into your sandbox setting, where they will
explore through many adventures, meet dozens of NPCs with secret motivations,
finally to win their place in the community and vanquish an ancient evil that
has been pulling strings behind the scenes SINCE THE FIRST ADVENTURE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may turn out that nobody cares.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big dreams have to be shared dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes those big dreams come together
organically, by working together with players and adding some elements from
your imagination soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That may not be
as seemingly coherent or satisfying as plotting out a series of story arcs,
with specific beats and some clever triggered events, but what you and your
players build together will be stronger than anything you can just come up with
on your own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have definitely found that the story elements that
games like </span><a href="http://www.pelgranepress.com/?cat=248"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13th Age</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
bring to the table provide tools for that dialog between player and Game
Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A character creation process
that helps show what is special about a character (13th Age’s One
Unique Thing comes to mind), what motivates the character, and what that
character’s story has been up until now, provides the fertile ground in which
to plant my big ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to that
drawing links between the characters (one approach I like is the “guest
starring” index cards used during team creation in </span><a href="http://www.evilhat.com/home/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evil Hat’s</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.evilhat.com/home/spirit-of-the-century-2/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spirit of the
Century</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">; but </span><a href="http://www.dungeon-world.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dungeon World’s</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Bonds also work, as does the fascinating process </span><a href="http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/2015/02/28/the-thaw-session-0/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/2015/03/01/the-thaw-session-0-1-connections/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here
</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><a href="http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/2015/03/07/the-thaw-session-1/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here
</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">employed by RPG and GM innovator Rob Donoghue), and you get some wide open
possibilities for your big story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, everyone’s experience is going to be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some GMs may be able to showrun their
campaigns very satisfactorily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
is about my weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am still working on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a bunch of big stories towards which
my current game might move along, but for now, I am finding the connections
between our different adventures where I can, and always looking to incorporate
my ideas, the ideas of the players, and do a reveal here and there to make it
look like I planned things all along, even though I mostly made it up as I
went.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to Marc for this month’s topic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some other folks that participate in our Round
Table, and where I’ve been able to, the links to the responses to this specific
topic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/110102880427020243089" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Marc Plourde</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://inspstrikes.blogspot.com/2015/05/nuts-bolts-31-game-masters-roundtable.html" target="_blank" title="Nuts & Bolts #31 - Game Masters’ Roundtable of Doom #5 - Crossing the Divide">Nuts
& Bolts #31 - Game Masters’ Roundtable of Doom #5 - Crossing the Divide</a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/113097478360402892990" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+James August Walls</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://ilive4crits.blogspot.com/2015/05/successfully-offing-your-favorite.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://ilive4crits.blogspot.com/2015/05/successfully-offing-your-favorite.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/116568197503748344522"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Scott Robinson</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://strangeenc.blogspot.com/2015/05/encoding-improvisation.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://strangeenc.blogspot.com/2015/05/encoding-improvisation.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/102781198595329148796"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Lex Starwalker</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/blog/2015/5/8/game-masters-roundtable-of-doom-5-the-weakest-link-in-my-gm-toolbox"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/blog/2015/5/8/game-masters-roundtable-of-doom-5-the-weakest-link-in-my-gm-toolbox</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/110752568566390767327"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+John Marvin</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://dreadunicorngames.com/2015/05/09/wait-something-important/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://dreadunicorngames.com/2015/05/09/wait-something-important/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/113006753306771950325" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+John Clayton</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://blog.filesandrecords.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://blog.filesandrecords.com/</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://plus.google.com/114178320986010150160" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Peter Smits</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at </span><a href="http://planeataryexpress.blogspot.com/2015/05/roundtable-5-gming-weakness.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://planeataryexpress.blogspot.com/2015/05/roundtable-5-gming-weakness.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://plus.google.com/107059341533698976884" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Arnold K.</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/">http://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/</a> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span>Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-48983619499626516902015-05-09T13:19:00.000-04:002015-05-09T13:19:57.074-04:00Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 13: Darkness, despair and the light of heaven
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On April 12, 2015, we picked up our game
in the middle of a giant (pun intended) combat, continuing it from right where
we left off <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/heroes-of-13th-age-part-12-fear-in.html" target="_blank">last time</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The characters continued to be: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Cerise</strong>, the Spirit-Touched Cleric<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Zip </strong>(as always, the name changes),
the Half-Elf Rogue </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Froodo</strong>, the Halfling Monk</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Hey Watchit</strong>, the Half-Orc Fighter</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Lief</strong>, the Human Bard</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Delthen Eversoar</strong>, the Human Paladin, and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The following characters we present, but their players could not
make it, so they played a different role in the session . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Indigo </strong>the Gnome Cleric </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Rolen Stillwind</strong>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">We picked up the game mid-combat, at the
start of the fourth round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>’s players could not make it, at the start of the round both
of them collapsed, overcome by some demonic palsy that left them insensible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Round 4 Escalation Die 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The lately banished demonic spirit of
Tamaich, the barbarian warlord, left his Vizier, a Despoiler Demon behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Demon took it’s initiative to call upon
more of Tamaich’s tomb guardians to join the fight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey
Watchit</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, the Half-Orc fighter
launched another attack against the last of the wights, who had once been
Tamaich’s wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made a massive hit
with his tree and crushed the last one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Then it was the Giant Zombies’ turn to
attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one went after the
mysteriously unconscious form of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>
the High Elf Sorcerer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>giant undead kicked him hard, sending him
tumbling across the chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The second Giant Zombie struck at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>, hitting him for 22 points of
damage, which he halved by using his Heavy Warrior skill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the Bard attacked, but missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he used a Battle Cry to allow <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>to charge forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">then attacked with his smite, and he
issued his Paladin’s Challenge to the second Giant Zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the Halfling Monk launched his opening attack, but
missed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> entered her Shadow Walk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">launched her Javelin of Faith, but
missed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The party now knew the downside of their
last round’s tactic of holding initiative to overwhelm Tamaich, now they were
all having to go last in the round, except for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R5 E5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Four Earth Elementals from another part
of the tomb, summoned by the Vizier, dropped from the ceiling and two moved to
attack <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elementals were not very successful in
their attack and landed only one blow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Despoiler Demon Vizier then attacked
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>, the Paladin Inquisitor of
the Crusader, with his abyssal whispers, but failed in the attack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Hey hit one of the Giant Zombies with
his tree, then took a moment to quaff a healing potion [n.b. I think I ran potions
incorrectly during the fight, and they got off using them as a quick action,
when potion drinking usually takes a full action; well, at least I was
consistent . . . ]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The first Giant Zombie rolled a miss on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>, but because of a special, it
still did a large amount of “miss” damage to the Paladin, and an equal amount
to itself as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The second Giant Zombie missed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, finally hitting his stride, attacked with his flow
attack and damaged the first Giant Zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> cast Bless on members of the party as a quick action,
followed by singing a Soundburst, doing 34 points of damage to both of the
Giant Zombies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also Dazed the
Zombies until the end of his next turn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> flowed out of the shadows to strike at the first Giant
Zombie, but missed by 1, and did a small amount of miss damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">struck again with his Smite attack,
and then drank a healing potion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">drew her short sword and hit for
minor damage on one of the Elementals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R6 E6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">All four attacks from the two Earth
Elementals that could get to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>
as she held the passage missed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Despoiler Demon rolled a 20 for his
Whispers, doing 30 points of damage to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also caused the Paladin to be Confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> hit the first Giant Zombie again, and rolled a 1 for
one of his damage dice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He invoked his
power to reroll 1s, and rolled another 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>7 points total to the Zombie, which just seems to be built to absorb
massive amounts of damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The first Giant Zombie then rolled a 20,
critical hit on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> for 44
points of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, because of
the synergy between <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>’s Life
Domain and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>’s Relentless
Plate Armor, he was still up and fighting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The second Giant Zombie then smashed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>, and the hit would have taken
the Halfling Monk to -1 hit points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the monster was still Dazed, and that made the hit a miss, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> instead took no damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had just been his life flashing before his
eyes prematurely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, because of his ability to make saves at the start of
his turn, saved and was no longer Confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He then drank a healing potion [n.b. maybe the friendly unused Icon
rolls were allowing the characters to turn drinking potions into quick actions,
yeah, that’s the ticket . . .].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he
attacked with his magic mace for a respectable 16 points of damage against the
seemingly unstoppable Zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> makes another attack, once again betrayed by her
dice, but saved, because the Escalation die was at 6, and so she still
hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reasonable 10 point hit, that the
Zombie took and kept on going.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">then just managed to hit using his finishing
attack in Mantis style, taking the first Giant Zombie down finally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> began to sing his Song of Spilt Blood, and then wove
in his Battle Chant attack, damaging the second Giant Zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> disengaged from the Elementals (one got an
opportunity attack, but missed), and she cast her mighty Spirits of the
Righteous attack, which sadly missed and did nothing to the second Giant
Zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R7 E6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The elementals surged forward into the
gap left by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>’s retreat, and
they struck at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was hit twice, but also used his magic
hood to cause two of the misses by the elementals to turn to fumbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Elementals struck each other as much as
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another Elemental engaged <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>, striking her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Despoiler Demon then exercised its
will on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>, causing the Paladin
to suddenly see <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> as an
enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> tried to avoid the attack and forced <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>to reroll, but to no avail, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> was hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Despoiler then used its Whispers on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zip</b>,
but rolled a 1 and took 15 points of psychic feedback damage and itself became
Confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">once again struck the second Giant
Zombie, and the Giant Zombie returned the favor, for 22 points of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>drank
another healing potion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> took a moment to drink a healing potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then launched two attacks, hitting with
both.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">hit the second Giant Zombie for 22
points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> hit the Giant Zombie as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">concluded his Song of Spilt Blood and
spent a recovery, and then he blasted an elemental with his Battle Chant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, once again swinging her short sword, did minimal
miss damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R8 E6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was hit once by an Elemental, and
three more attacks against him fumbled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Elementals were looking more like Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Elemental also hit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Confused Despoiler Demon then
launched an attack on the last Giant Zombie, destroying it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Demon then snapped out of its confusion,
but was unable to retreat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">then rolled a 20, and did 26 damage
with his critical hit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> then jumped forward with a flying kick, and finished
off the Demon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> then destroyed one of the Elementals with his Battle
Chant<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b>He also granted a temporary +2 to armor class for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was left with miss damage again on
her Elemental.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> launched her Flying Blade to hit for some damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R9 E6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">was hit once by an Earth Elemental,
but induced another fumble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Earth Elemental attempting to smash <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise </b>missed due to her temporary
higher armor class from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>’s
Battle Cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another elemental managed to
land a blow on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> rolled 20 and critically hit one of the Elementals,
destroying it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> also smashed an Elemental, destroying it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> rolled a 20 for her Flying Blade attack, doing 32
points of damage to an Elemental, killing it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> stuck an elemental with her Javelin of Faith<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> fired his crossbow, but missed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">R10 E6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">One Elemental remained, mindlessly
continuing its attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It landed two
successful strikes on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> took a mighty swing with his tree, but he ended up
just barely grazing the Earth Elemental.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was, however, so damaged that the miss damage alone was enough to
take it out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: black;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">End of Combat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">made sure to take the skull of the
Warlord, Tamaich, as a trophy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">They then carefully explored the tomb
tunnels, looted and loaded up the treasure from the tomb, but then discovered two
very bad things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">First, the way to climb out of this
lowest level had been wrecked by the passage of the two Giant Zombies, so
getting back up through the hole, high in the ceiling, was going to be
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of additional concern,
looking up through the hole, there was an army of Zombies, all those cursed
dead of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> warriors who had
been nailed to the ceiling of the upper tomb had been summoned to take
vengeance on those who would try to escape the lower levels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The solution, the group decided, was to
empower a ritual to banish the undead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cast about for components.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delthen</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> offered up his trophy, Tamaich’s skull.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zip</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> found two purple gemstones that had appeared on her
necklace (which is her One Unique Thing), and they placed these gems to help
focus the ritual in the eye-sockets of the dead Warlord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> used his philosophical understanding of Guardians
through his practice of the Dutiful Guardian style to find parts of the three
guardian Wights and their regalia to add to the ritual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> sang a dirge of the dead, to help quiet the restless
spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> danced a mighty dance of transformation and freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cerise
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">took all the elements and bound them
together in her magic and the magic of Priestess, powering the spell with her
Turn Undead Spell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">She rolled for the rituals success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">20!</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>BLAM</strong>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">A holy beam of light pierced the tomb,
not only bathing all the tomb in purifying light, dismissing the spirits and
cleansing all, but also a crystal staircase of light formed, allowing the party
to ascend, not only out of the lowest level of the tomb, but to walk all the
way up and out the top of the mound where the unholy place had been transformed
to a place of the blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Once in the open air, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> revived, and each member of the group felt deeply and
positively his and her connections to their Icons, felt restored in body and
spirit and felt empowered to go forward to their destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">We concluded play to the receding sound
of angelic voices pouring forth from the heavens.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-57747877610466244532015-04-07T10:30:00.003-04:002015-04-07T10:30:52.044-04:00A couple more things . . . to listen to.Hi all.<br />
<br />
So, a couple more things that I have encountered that are great fun.<br />
<br />
First, following a link posted by @13thAge, I was led to <a href="http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/adventure-zone" target="_blank">The Adventure Zone</a>, and actual play podcast for D&D 5e with a twist. The GM and players are all family, three brothers and their dad. All are broadcast and comedic veterans, and they all plainly get along and really enjoy each other's company. The D&D world is at its gonzo finest, and any trope or trapping is likely to show up, as long as it is fun, and if it gets a laugh so much the better. I binge listened to everything that is out so far, and it is terrific. For those with sensitive ears, the banter gets reasonably profane, but never mean spirited.<br />
<br />
Not only is this a fun listen, but there have been a dozen laugh out loud moments, and at least one, in a recent episode, where I laughed so hard it was difficult to breath. <br />
<br />
No THAT'S entertainment! <br />
<br />
Also, I have mentioned <a href="http://bravenewdungeon.com/" target="_blank">Brave New Dungeon</a> <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2015/02/13th-age-d-brilliant-podcasts-and.html" target="_blank">before</a>. However, Big Al has embarked on a new project which is worth highlighting:<a href="http://bravenewdungeon.com/tag/storytime/" target="_blank">Storytime</a>.<br />
<br />
Big Al is experimenting with his post production work, adding sound effects, background noise, music, all to make a rich listening experience. He runs a one shot with a randomly generated dungeon crawl from <a href="http://donjon.bin.sh/" target="_blank">Donjon </a>and a meetup of new and old acquaintances of his online. The players are really going for it as far as creating memorable and wacky characters for this one shot, and Big Al's post production work really adds to the enjoyment of the listening.<br />
<br />
I have already mentioned how much I admire Al in his ability to sit down with a mixed online "table" of strangers and friends and give them all a great game. Now he is stretching his creative skills even farther to create an immersive experience for his listeners which really impresses.<br />
<br />
So far their are two episodes of Storytime out. They are really worth a listen!<br />
<br />
Game on!Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-73867261508359950872015-04-06T09:37:00.000-04:002015-04-07T10:14:24.370-04:00Game Masters’ Roundtable of Doom #4 – To be or not to be . . . a Killer GM<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I am venturing to The Game Masters' Roundtable of Doom. This is my first foray (though the fourth offering of the Roundtable), so, we shall see how it all goes. There may be some adjustments made to this post as I get a handle on getting things just right for the Roundtable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Game Masters’ Roundtable of Doom is a meeting of the minds of
tabletop RPG bloggers and GMs. We endeavor to transcend a particular system or
game and discuss topics that are relevant to GMs and players of all roleplaying
games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’d like to submit a topic for our future discussions, or if
you’re a blogger who’d like to participate in the Game Master’s Roundtable of
Doom, send an email to Lex Starwalker at </span><a href="mailto:gamemastersjourney@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">gamemastersjourney@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This month's topic comes to us courtesy of Lex Starwalker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a wide spectrum of lethality in RPGs, and there
are GMs who fall on every possible point within it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These range from GMs who run campaigns where
PCs can never die to the other extreme –GMs who delight in killing PCs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you fall on this spectrum?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How lethal are your games and why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you handle PC death if and when it
happens?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a great question, and one that I think has an answer that is
not just dependent on the Game Master, but also on the players and the game
being played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know your audience and
know your game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you run Call of
Cthulhu, Dungeons & Dragons, and Star Wars, Edge of the Empire all exactly
the “same,” I think you come out with some anomalies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, if that meets your players
expectations, that might be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is never just one way to be a GM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
believe that the rule of fun should prevail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is how I have done things in my present style of being a GM
(because, as the poser of this month’s question, </span><a href="http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/gamemastersjourney/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Lex Starwalker</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
knows, being a Game Master is a journey of learning and change).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the most important thing is to know
your players’ expectations (or if you don’t know them, you need to set
them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fundamentally, I see role playing
games as a way to have fun, and as the GM, you are in a leadership role to help
create the fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If what you do violates the
players’ expectations, or you go against the expectations that you set for the
players, that conflict is going to reduce the fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some of the first GM advice I ever got, was from a few pages towards
the back of the 1981 game, <u>Stormbringer</u> (from Chaosium).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the “Hints for the Game Master” section in
the first edition of <u>Stormbringer</u>, Ken St. Andre (with Steve Perrin) wrote
a subsection entitled “The Deadly Game Master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The literary genre
of swords & sorcery fiction is a particularly gory branch of heroic
fantasy, and that is what this game simulates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inevitably, this means that some players are going to get into
situations that they can’t get out of, and their characters will have to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that they realize this before
the game ever starts, and that they know that you bear them no personal
animosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, when the character’s
number comes up, kill him without regret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a GM it is poor form to become so fond of some character that you let
him cheat death when his luck finally runs out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I agree, up to a point with Ken’s advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can see, the advice already assumes
that you are in a particular genre of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not general advice for all RPGs, just ones in the “particularly
gory branch of heroic fantasy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, it
advises that you at least admonish the table and set expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think now, the Game Master and the players,
at least in any long term game, need to agree on expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the day, I did kill a fair number of <u>Stormbringer</u>
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, even with an
agreeable audience and a lethal game, I do today tend to lean towards mercy <u>at
a cost</u>, rather than outright kill a character, if that keeps the story and
the fun going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the way I run things now, I have internalized the lessons of <u>13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Age</u> (by Pelgrane Press and Fire Opal Media) and <u>Dungeon World</u> (by Sage
Kobold Productions).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <u>13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Age</u> Rob Heinsoo and Jonathan Tweet suggest that player characters should
not just die fighting some nameless monster, and instead offer their own
(optional) Meaningful Death Rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think I have generally internalized this approach for many games (with some
exceptions, see below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the
advice in <u>Dungeon World</u>, that you as GM need to be “fan” of the
characters is a complementary one this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
a GM, on the one hand, you have to put up obstacles and provide threats to the
safety and wellbeing of the PCs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
other hand, you don’t generally want death to be some random occurrence that
does nothing to propel your story or motivate the other characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a fan of the characters, such
random and meaningless events are discouraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If a character that you like dies, you want it to be a great and
glorious death, within the meaning of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fundamentally, though, my rule is know your audience, know your game
(and be a fan of the characters).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, if I am running Marvel Heroic Role Playing for a bunch of tweens,
their expectation is that there is not going to be any player character death,
AT ALL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, Spiderman or Black Widow
might get knocked around, there certainly are going to be some narrow escapes
and heroic rescues, but none of the player characters is going to get shot
through the heart and die, game over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is reinforced not only by the audience, but of course by the game
play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, if I am playing Call of Cthulhu with college
friends, death and madness are expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The players know going in that a Call of Cthulhu investigator likely has
a short shelf life, and those that manage not to die, slip increasingly into
madness and disability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I have
run some long Call of Cthulhu campaigns, and I have followed the advice from
the early editions of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have a choice of killing a PC or taking out an NPC to establish the danger and
the threat, take the NPC every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
helps if you have established ties to the NPC and that the character is not
just another faceless “redshirt.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, to get things started with something that causes likely instant
death, you kill the guy next to the PCs, and not one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the threat is established, you follow
the play of the PCs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they reckless
and foolhardy, then they do deserve death “without regret” should it come to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, if they play
their characters and show smart play, as a fan, I am going to hold back on any
instant death options, unless it really builds the story and is part of the fun
of the game (because sometimes messy, or pathetic or horrific death is the fun
of a horror game).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If danger is enough,
then, we work with danger; maiming, near death, madness, that’s all on the
table, but I don’t tend to allow random death that would inhibit the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what about something in the middle of the spectrum of Superheroes where
no one ever dies (at least permanently) and horror, where everyone dies or goes
crazy eventually?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where most
adventure based RPGs reside: Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest, HeroQuest, 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Age, Numenera, Dungeon World, Dresden Files, The One Ring, and et al and
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit to mostly not
killing characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over time, I have certainly seen many player characters in these games
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, for the most part, I
prefer to see the PCs flee, or get captured, or suffer some kind of loss other
than death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is, I think, largely
because I like to run campaigns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Campaigns need continuity, and killing characters, and particularly the
dreaded Total Party Kill, tends to disrupt what is happening with the story
that I have been enjoying building with the players over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where death does occur, the story of
overcoming death becomes the next logical plot point (e.g. becoming indebted to
the healing temple to return the dead companion to life, etc.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, usually, the holodeck safeties are,
broadly speaking, on when you step into my campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The optional Meaningful Death Rule is going
to be in effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Characters face other
losses, but death is reserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In part,
that meets the expectations of my players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They put time into crafting characters, their histories and motivations,
and they grow them at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If some
wandering damage is likely to kill them, for little to no reason, that is
neither fun nor motivating for the kind of gamer who usually sits at my table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, there is a completely separate and apart kind of
play, and that is the one-shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
does not mean that I turn into the lethal “save or die” GM just because I am
running a single evening game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, it should be fun, and getting to play is what is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have four hours of play set up and you
die in the first ten minutes, how much fun was that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If dying means no longer being involved, that
rather cuts down on the fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can set
expectations that characters are disposable and can be replaced, much like
clones in Paranoia, but then you are playing a genre of game that is not going
to necessarily have wide appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You do, however, play a one shot to have a different experience and
tell a different kind of story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lethality can be very much part of that story, and can really be part of
the fun with the right group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not,
in general, go in for Deathtrap Dungeons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think I run them particularly well, so why do something that
does not serve the players?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, if
you know you are going into a deathtrap, you know that death is part of the fun
of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is exciting to escape
the trap, but you know your number is likely to come up eventually, and
spectacular death is one of the possible rewards of play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will give it to you without regret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t mind playing a high character death game as a change of pace,
but for me, RPG play and the stories it generates is really about having a
significant chronical of events for the player characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That might, at times, be punctuated by a
death, but that is going to be rare and meaningful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
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</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><b>Individuals and their Blogs
Participating in this Discussion</b></u> (to be updated as necessary; posts will be made for the Roundtable between April 5 and April 11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/110102880427020243089" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+Marc
Plourde</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://inspstrikes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/nuts-bolts-22-game-masters-roundtable.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://inspstrikes.blogspot.co.uk/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/113097478360402892990" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+James
August Walls</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://ilive4crits.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://ilive4crits.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span><a href="https://plus.google.com/116568197503748344522"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+Scott Robinson</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://strangeenc.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://strangeenc.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span><a href="https://plus.google.com/102781198595329148796"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+Lex Starwalker</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/blog/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/blog/2015/4/6/game-masters-roundtable-of-doom-4-how-lethal-are-your-campaigns</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span><a href="https://plus.google.com/110752568566390767327"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+John Marvin</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://dreadunicorngames.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://dreadunicorngames.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span><a href="https://plus.google.com/113006753306771950325" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+John
Clayton</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at </span><a href="http://blog.filesandrecords.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://blog.filesandrecords.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span><a href="https://plus.google.com/114178320986010150160" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+Peter
Smits</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> at http://planeataryexpress.blogspot.com/2015/04/pcs-and-killing-there-of.html</span><a href="http://planeataryexpress.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://plus.google.com/107059341533698976884" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">+Arnold
K.</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-72058087971090098112015-03-14T11:15:00.000-04:002015-03-14T11:15:25.699-04:00Ideas worth stealingIf you don't know it already, I am a big admirer of <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=jX#+RobDonoghue/posts" target="_blank">Rob Donoghue</a>, a game designer, game master, and person of extraordinaty quality.<br />
<br />
He has a blog over at <a href="http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/" target="_blank">The Walking Mind.</a> He recently started to write about his new D&D 5e campaign, <a href="http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/tag/thaw/" target="_blank">The Thaw</a>. If you want to observe a process of capaign creation and blending that with character creation to make some very rich storytelling material, reading Rob's write ups so far are really worth a read.<br />
<br />
There has never been a game that Rob would not tinker with, just like every great game master, so he offers some especially interesting twists on D&D 5e character creation which could be easily ported to other games like 13th Age. He also creates some terrific visual and tactile artifacts for his game to help himself and his players as the story developes.<br />
<br />
It is much better to go see for yourself.<br />
<br />
I also wanted to shout out to <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=jX#+LexStarwalker/posts" target="_blank">Lex Starwalker</a>, of <a href="http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/" target="_blank">Starwalker Studios</a>. I have recently started to listen to his <a href="http://www.starwalkerstudios.com/gamemastersjourney" target="_blank">Game Master's Journey</a> podcast, and I find it to be very interesting a thought provoking.<br />
<br />
In an ideal world, Lex and Rob should get together and have a conversation, like on a podcast (right?).<br />
<br />
In any case, both these gentlemen have lots of information, ideas and advice worth taking or appropriating or stealing for your games.<br />
<br />
Check them out!Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-28188223040115931722015-03-14T10:59:00.000-04:002015-03-14T10:59:31.869-04:00Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 12: Fear in the Depths
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Sunday, March 1, we played the next installment
of our game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continued the adventure
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liriandel</i>, begun </span><a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2015/02/heroes-of-13th-age-part-11-shadows-and.htmlhttp:/asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2015/02/heroes-of-13th-age-part-11-shadows-and.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The characters continued to be: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cerise, the Spirit-Touched Cleric<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indigo the Gnome Cleric <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Zyna (as always, the name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Froodo, the Halfling Monk<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey Watchit, the Half-Orc Fighter<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lief, the Human Bard<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Delthen Eversoar, the Human Paladin, and <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rolen Stillwind, the Wood Elf Sorcerer<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having battled animated swords which came from the next room, the
party advanced carefully into the next large chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b>
took point, checking for traps and stepping carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The room had once been the crude mead hall of
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i> (ancient barbarian
demon worshippers), built during their campaign of conquest and extermination against
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> (the peaceful former
inhabitants of what are now known as the Brown Grounds).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wooden walled and roofed hall, was long ago reinforced with
stone and repurposed as a central chamber for the burial mound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with benches and tables, there was a
great stone throne, once used by the Chieftain <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around the room
were twelve terra cotta sentinels, each standing on a grave capstone, each
without their swords (as those had already attacked and been defeated) and
each, instead of a carved head, bearing a warrior’s skull on top of the
statue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, below the tables, rather
huge capstones seemed to have been laid, and the party decided it best not to
disturb those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the ceiling, was a
ghastly sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than a dozen of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> warriors had been nailed, faces to
the ceiling, and their bodies had become crudely mummified in their agonized
poses along the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The place ached of death and pain and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The party passed to the next room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There they found a “trophy” chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Decaying weapons and armor, once the panoply of the flower of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> lay in heaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, collected together, were the twelve
tattered blue banners of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>,
and nailed to each one was a severed, gauntleted hand (all that remained of the
banner-men of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai </i>war
bands).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Led by a sense of dark destiny, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> the Inquisitor brushed aside some of the pile of armor, and
found a fine suit of dark platemail, bound together in what seemed like barbed
wire, with small curse charms twisted in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sense from his connection to the Crusader that this armor had
belonged to someone the demon-worshippers feared deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He excitedly began to free the armor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is when he was surprised by twelve creepy crawlies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what at first seemed like a dozen
tarantulas, turned out to be the twelve severed and reanimated left hands (<u>mooks</u>)
of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> banner-men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each scratched and squeezed, and sought <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>’s throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the surprise round (a five is good for
you and good for me), three of the twelve managed to connect, one critically,
latching onto <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>’s throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another fumbled and fell to the floor twitching
and trying to right itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then everyone sprang into action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Round 1 Escalation 0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
the Bard unleashed a Soundburst doing 30 damage and killing five of the zombie
hands outright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> scrabbled to knock the hands off of him and crush them with
his mace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He invoked his smiting, but
missed his role and did half damage, killing another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>,
the Half-Orc fighter, threw one of his rocks and finished off one that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> had grazed and outright killed
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna </b>threw one of her throwing glaives, but it but grazed one of
the hands for miss damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b>, mighty Gnome Cleric had trouble
aiming his warhammer, but killed one with a graze of miss damage as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>
unleashed his sorcerous Scorching Ray with a critical hit, killing two
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b> summoned the power of her faith to channel into a Javelin,
but despite hitting, the damage did not finish off her targeted zombie
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the ongoing fire damage
initiated by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>’s critical hit
finished the last hand on its turn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">End of Combat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Undeterred by the nasty surprised in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>’s armor (which he immediately began to don after the
combat), others searched through the items of the fallen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> for items which the Icons might deem helpful to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Priestess
</i>led <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo </b>to a pair of Lucky
Bracers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">High Druid </i>directed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief </b>to a different kind of enchanted bracers, one that would allow
him easy passage through woodland areas and aid in his climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Priestess</i>
similarly led <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> to a pair of
curiously preserved gloves which made her fingers sure and her grip
strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the chamber of grim trophies (and, as it turned out “free
goodies”), the party proceeded further down another passage, into a large room
with a bulky terracotta statute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
seven or eight foot tall statute portrayed a brutal warrior, possibly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i> himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief </b>immediately
decided to try out the power of his new <u>Bracers of Brachiation</u> to climb
up the statute and stand on its shoulders (he did work in a circus once upon a
time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worried some vile magic might
harm <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b> cast <u>Bless</u> to help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In trying to shape the spell, she rolled a 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This caused the statute to immediately explode, and this time ten seemingly
freshly risen ghouls (<u>mooks</u>) bubbled out from the body and from
underneath the pedestal of the shattered statue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Round 1 Escalation 0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lief</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
found himself seemingly helpless on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nonetheless, he rolled the highest initiative, and from his prone
position, he unleashed <u>Viscious Mockery</u>, a spell he had chosen with an
incremental advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He blasted two out
of existence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Zyna</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
took a moment to <u>shadow walk</u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Delthen</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
once again summoned his power of smiting, and once again missed, but did
significant miss damage, taking another one down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the ghouls attacked, hitting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> once and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief </b>twice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Froodo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,
the Halfling Monk, then launched into a whirlwind of action!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, his attack completely missed
the intended target as he rolled a 1 [at this point I asked <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>’s player how his attack could go
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brother, who plays <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, said “don’t hit me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With barely a pause, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo </b>player said “as I lunge past the ghoul, I hit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I then said “roll.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo </b>the rolled a normal attack
against <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, scoring a 20 and doing
26 damage on a critical hit, flooring <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cerise</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
cast <u>Turn Undead</u>, dazing the mooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She then stepped forward and cast <u>heal</u> on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Indigo</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,
swinging his hammer, smashed through a ghoul, killing it, and then also cast <u>heal</u>
on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rolen</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
shot forth his <u>Scorching Ray</u> but missed and did some minimal miss
damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hey</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
then charged forward, swinging his tree and invoking <u>Power Attack</u> and
killed four ghouls [n.b. I envisioned this, and described it as the point in a
Nintendo Mario game where Mario gets the big mallet and the music starts to
play as he flattens every opponent around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was pretty much what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>
did].<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">R 2 E1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was one ghoul left.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> stood up and cast <u>Battle Chant</u>,
blasting the last ghoul and ending combat.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">End of
Combat<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a quick review of the room
and the hole out of which many of the ghouls had climbed, the party advanced further
into the burial mound and found a oval chamber of smooth stone, containing four
crudely sculpted reliefs, painted in a fresco style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the reliefs depicted a four foot
tall, vaguely humanoid shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> scanned the room first, and she had the sense that there was a
trap within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party moved on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They made their way back to the
main passage, through the side passage they had before left unexplored (having
come full circle).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then reversed
course, passed the trapped entrance, and proceeded up a ramp in the opposite
direction from which they had first explored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the came deeper into the
mound, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> had a strange feeling
that something was going wrong, but she was too late to stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly a huge boulder started to roll down
the corridor, careening from side to side, so that even though it did not take
up the whole corridor, it’s seemingly random movement made avoiding it
seemingly impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> attempted to dance around the rock, but fumbled and was smacked
for a large hit of damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> then decided to try to finish the trap and to employ his
enormous (19) strength to stop the boulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He came close, and avoided damage to himself, but he ended up merely
deflecting the menacing rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, counter-intuitively charged at the boulder, and leaped over
it, in a half circus, half parkour move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> planned to use his staff and his agility to also fly over
the boulder, but instead fell right in its path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before it could roll over him, he fell into
an immediate trance, which he somehow remember learning when he studied among
the elves and became a follower of the Elf Queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then found himself teleported, like a <u>High
Elf</u> out of the boulder’s path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna </b>who had been backing away, finally gaged the movement of the
stone, and leaped over it with style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> seemed paralyzed and surprised and the boulder just smacked
him aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise </b>too had her serene concentration as she summoned strength
from the gods of light shattered as the boulder slammed into her, and then
careened downward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b>, recalling his many hours studying and raising spiders, did “whatever
a spider can” and went up over the oncoming rock, and landed safely on the
other side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The path of the boulder continued
down the corridor, and the party discovered that it had smashed open the pit at
the entrance, making crossing out of the mound a difficult proposition now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone decided to take a quick rest
at this point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After they had done some healing
and gathered themselves, the party then marched resolutely back to the ladder
down to the next level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the chamber below the ladder,
they found mist up to (most people’s) waists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They waded forward through the mist to reach a circular chamber, in the
middle of which was a carved pillar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this chamber on the pillar was
another bas relief, again showing what appeared to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tomaich</i>, the barbarian warlord, nine feet tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A voice spoke in the language of the Abyss,
uttering threats such as “Those who break the seal of this tomb I shall burn with
my fire . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They of course, broke the seal,
and entered the next room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That room was heaped with decayed
burial goods, but here and there glinted shiny things, which hinted that a
diligent search could lead to treasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the party was all business now, and decided they could come
back after they finished business with whatever guardians remained and they
obtained the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriendel<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></i>spear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the next room, they found the
crypt chamber of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a stone bier lay the
armored, blackened bones of the dead warlord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At his feet was a sheathed, but decayed sword, and piercing him, was a
spear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stone platform was sculpted
with demonic symbols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind it were
four iron braziers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two stone pillars
held up the twenty foot high stone ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The party surged forward to grab
the spear, with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b>’s<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> hand </b>passed through the out of phase
spear shaft, a demonic like wraith arose from the bier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was now transfixed with the spear, but the
rage in its eyes and flashing claws looked ready to do harm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Round 1 Escalation 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The demonic creature surged away
from them on its initiative, and it took two hits from opportunity attacks from
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I rolled its
random demonic power, and got fear aura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That snapped on, and it pervaded all of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich’s </i>tomb, causing every party member to act as if <u>dazed</u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>(-4 to hit) and denying them the use
of the escalation die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich </i>in the next room awakened the undead barrow wights that
were all that were left of his three wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They surged to attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then
moved on to the central chamber of the tomb, to awaken other creatures to slay
those who would defile his resting place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The party was left to fight the
wights in the first instance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> sang his <u>Battle Chant</u> to no effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> charged forward to strike with his <u>Greeting Fist</u>, but
missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>smashed a vial of holy water from <u>First Triumph</u> over
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tomaich</i>’s bones, which had the effect
of making them wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then charged
forward to smite, doing half damage with his miss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> summoned a <u>Chaos Bolt</u>, pulsing with thunder damage,
but to little effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>attacked with his <u>Power Attack</u>, rolling a 20 and doing
44 points of damage to slay one of the wights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>looked over at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> being played by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>’s
player’s dad) and said “see, this is how you attack things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two wights attacked, damaging
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> walked into the shadows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> launched a <u>Javelin of Faith</u>, but missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise </b>invoked her <u>Halo</u> and then missed with her <u>Javelin
of Faith</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, she also invoked
her <u>Leadership</u> domain, and advanced the escalation die by one, with the
hopes that they would eventually be able to benefit from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">[as you can see, the fear aura
causing -4 to hit was having a devastating effect on the ability of the players
to hit, and it became even more aggravating as they saw the escalation die go
up, and were not able to add it; it was terrific!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now love fear aura!]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">R2 E2 (because of the Cleric’s
doing!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></i>was off screen,
pulling in allies to fight the characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> missed again with <u>Battle Chant.<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></o:p></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen </b>succeeded in his <u>Elven Grace</u> roll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He empowered a spell with gathered energy,
and promptly missed, though he benefited from some random energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> invoked another smite, and missed for half damage on the
wight in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>missed his next attack, but invoked <u>Tough as Iron</u> to
rally and regain hit points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two wights again attacked,
striking at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna</b> appeared from the shadows, to attack for double damage and use
surprise attack, and missed, doing minimal damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo </b>invoked his <u>Trickery</u> domain to generate a <u>Trick
die</u> (a 13) and then launched a <u>Javelin of Faith</u>, which was a
critical hit because of its holy damage (the wights being vulnerable to holy
damage).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The critical hit destroyed the
wight, leaving one left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b> cast <u>Bless</u> on herself and then attacked and hit the
last wight with her <u>Javelin of Faith</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">R3 E3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>, having set into motion his forces, could not resist the
fight, and he phased his way through walls, like a wraith, to return to his
burial chamber and attack <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hit with his first attack doing 9
damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> substituted his <u>Trick die</u> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>’s next roll, which was a 20 critical hit, and so he missed
with his second attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His attack and
damage increased due to that miss, but he would never get a chance to use that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>then stepped up and started to command others to organize
their attacks and to concentrate on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>,
who was, after all, the source of the fear aura. [this provides a neat in game
explanation for why <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is going to multiclass into a Paladin/Commander
when he levels up next; something already decided, but here was the moment when
he earned this).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>, who was engaged with the last wight, held their initiative
until <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>’ turn<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(on initiative 5).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey </b>attacked the last wight, missing, but using carve an opening to
expand his critical hit range.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wight returned his attack,
hitting him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On initiative 5, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> used his invocation of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Strength </b>to make everyone’s melee
attacks do triple, instead of double, damage on a critical hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then cast <u>Cure Wounds</u> on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He then missed with his <u>Javelin of Faith</u> against <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b> attacked and missed with her short sword, but using her <u>Leadership</u>
she gave a +1 to everyone else to hit T<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">amaich</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> then stepped forward, girded in his <u>Unyielding Plate
Mail</u> and wielding his <u>Greater Mace of Striking</u> and he smote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>, hitting when it most counted,
and doing 35 points of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This took
the demonic hit points below the fear threshold for everyone, thus giving those
who followed the ability to use the escalation die, and relieving them of the
-4 penalty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> then cast his <u>Viscious Mockery</u> spell, causing 22 points
of psychic damage to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>, causing
the ancient warlord to crumble and vaporize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The spear fell to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>, attempting to help <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>,
attacked with his <u>Dutiful Guardian</u> opening strike, doing 4 points of
damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> failed to invoked his <u>Elven Grace</u>, but he unleashed
his <u>Breath of the White</u> on the wight and he did half damage with a miss.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zyna </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stepped forward and secured the spear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">End of Session<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, now the “big bad” is dead,
all that is left is his vengeance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
summoned the creatures of his barrow, and besides the last wight, there are a
couple of giant figures advancing on the heroes in the wive’s chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In another part of the mound, another demonic
figure has stepped into this plane, and other menaces may still be awakening,
now not to defend <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>, but
instead to wreak terrible vengeance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stay tuned for what happens next!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until then, game on!</span></div>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-61342580069100096252015-02-12T08:27:00.000-05:002015-02-12T08:27:48.706-05:00Better actual play blogs than mine and other inspirationI labor away here, and I put up records of the 13th Age games we have been playing. If people enjoy them, that's great, but really they become my notes and records for my campaign. They are in no way polished.<br />
<br />
If I had more time (and perhaps more talent), I would do something sophisticated, because I admire the heck out of people who elevate write-ups through multiple character perspectives, add illustrations, and generally do way better than me.<br />
<br />
A couple that I have really enjoyed include: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://mibg-lasala.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Encounters: Murder in Baldur's Gate</a><br />
This blog captures the 13 sessions it took to play through this adventure. It is beautiful to look at and a pleasure to read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://winter-coalition.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eberron: The Winter Coalition</a><br />
This is the chronicle of an epic ongoing campaign. I think it has been going about three years. The write-ups are sometimes from a third person narrator (presumably the Dungeon Master), but most entries are character entries, narrating what happened from a particular character's perspective. I love reading the write-ups. I never knew much about Eberron (it came into being during a long interregnum when I was not playing or paying much attention to D&D), but man, I would love to play in Eberron in this campaign. There are hundreds of ideas to steal from the write-ups, and it is inspiring from a player/character develpment point of view, as well as from a Dungeon Master/campaign creation point of view. There is quite a back catalogue of entries, but it is well worth reading!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So, I think I have sung the praises of <a href="http://www.hunterblackcomics.com/" target="_blank">Hunter Black</a> before as a source of inspiration. I continue to be a big fan. If you are not reading this web comic, why not!? The team that writes, draws and letters the comic is outstanding, and the writer draws from his long experience with Dungeons & Dragons to inform his Fantasy Noir setting and characters (in the best way). </span><br />
<br />
This too has an extensive back catalogue of panels to read, but every one is worth it.<br />
<br />
Finally, yesterday I somehow managed to stumble onto <a href="http://comic.skullkickers.com/" target="_blank">Skullkickers.</a> I may be the last guy to know about this low fantasy web comic, but it is gorgeous, action packed and funny. So far (because, again, huge back catalogue) two no-name, amoral mercenaries, a big human with knives and six shooters, and a stocky red-bearded dward with twin hand-axes generally kick butt, take names, and win and lose fortunes as monster killers. Their (mis)adventures have been very entertaining. Apparently, later in the series there is a bit more gender balance in the storylines, but I can't eveluate that yet.<br />
<br />
What I can say is that Skullkickers is very entertaining, and again full of interesting ideas to plunder. If I am not the last person to hear of this comic, go and do yourself a favor and take a look!<br />
<br />
That's all for now. Go play games and have fun!Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-60774725040387678092015-02-11T10:53:00.000-05:002015-03-14T08:39:00.918-04:00Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 11: Shadows and Light from the Past<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
On Sunday, February 2, we were able to resume our game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had one last minute change, in that one of
the teenagers decided he no longer wanted to play his old character, <strong>Legolis</strong>
the High Elven Ranger, and so we retired him, in favor of a new character,
<strong>Froodo</strong>, the Halfling Monk (<strong>Legolis’</strong> old roommate). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’d say that you can’t make this stuff up, except that
clearly we did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The adventure is one I adapted from an old Dungeon Magazine
#83 (“Iriandel”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like my first
foray, where I adapted a module published in Dragon Magazine, I am taking the
broad parts of the adventure, and the support framework (maps, etc.) and
improvising with the great tools that 13<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> Age equips me with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The characters then were <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cerise</span></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, the Spirit-Touched Cleric<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> the Gnome Cleric <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b> (as always, the name changes),
the Half-Elf Rogue <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>, the Halfling Monk<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin, and <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The party found itself trudging through the
frontier lands of the Empire, West of <u>Hammer Falls</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had vague Imperial orders to find a magic spear
of light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As day turned into twilight, and rain fell
on them, they approached a high wooden palisade which surrounded a rustic town.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Two Halfling watchmen hailed them from atop
the wall and asked them to state their business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By and by, the Halflings welcomed them to
Pebbleton and admitted them to the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The watchers also directed the party down the street to the Mayor’s home
to register their visit (mainly because the Mayor likes meeting new
people).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town was heavily populated
by Halflings, but Humans and some Half-elves were also in evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The heroes led their mounts through town to
the humble abode of the mayor, Jimi Jimepro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Halfling invited the heroes in out of the rain and gave them some
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then asked them about their
business in the this out of the way outpost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They recounted their vague instructions about finding a magic spear of
light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jimi noted that they were a
simple town, dependent on woodcutting and the lumber and charcoal trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He noted that the Wood Elves of the <u>Cairnwood</u>,
though not friendly, did keep the lands buffered from the horrors of the <u>Hellmarsh</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also told them that they had friendly
relations with a Gnomish settlement nearby (to the degree that anything is near
Pebbleton).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As to the spear, well, he thought that the
wandering minstrel who had taken up residence in the Common Hall in Pebbleton,
might have some insight into the history and legends of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, before the adjourned to the
Hall, he suggested that they stable their animals in the town stables, and that
they come with him to meet someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the stables, he showed them a large,
grey-maned horse with a white spot on its forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jimi introduced the horse as “Treetrot” and
he told how the horse came to be a guest of the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jimi had been caught in a terrible storm near
the Cairnwood, and miraculously, the horse had found and led him home to
safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thereafter, Jimi had made sure
that the horse was provided for in the town, and “Treetrot” has aided in pulling
and carrying heavy loads and generally being useful around town.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Delthen</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> shared a meaningful glance after this story, which seemed to
say “well, the horse could be an enchanted being, or possibly a unicorn who
lost its horn . . . “<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From the stables, the group moved to the
Common Hall, a combination of a meeting hall, common kitchens, and modest Inn
and Tavern for the residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There they
met the Half-elf Bard, Ruallin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> eyed each other warily, as
possible performing rivals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>’s dark look seemed to say “I will
burn this place to the ground,” and it was not entirely clear if he meant with
his musical performance or just with actual fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party Bard seemed to be in a strange
mood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nonetheless, Ruallin, at Jimi’s prompting
told her story of the happenings in the area near Pebbleton many years before
its founding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some 300 years before, a
human tribe had settled the lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were building settlements and becoming firmly established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They called themselves the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had respectful relations with the Wood Elves, and they looked likely
to flourish here on the outer edges of the Dragon Empire (during the Eleventh
Age).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a demon worshipping human
barbarian tribe, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>came from the North, wiping out everything
and everyone as they travelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> realized that they must try to
turn this tide of evil back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
chief, under the codes of the north, seemingly subscribed to even by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>, challenged the invaders’
chief, Tamaich, to a single combat to determine whether the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> would submit or whether the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>, would withdraw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tamaich accepted the challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To aid the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>, the Wood Elves enlisted the aid of one of the protectors of
the forest, Iriandel, the Unicorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Iriandel agreed to temporarily give up his horn, so that its powerful
magic could be fashioned into a weapon for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>’s chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Elves and
Iriandel knew that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>
would seek to destroy the Cairnwood and replace it with the spread of the
Hellmarsh through their demon worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the Elves, when they called upon their sorcerers and spirit
talkers to cast the ritual to create the spear from Iriandel’s horn, failed to
account for the influence of the Trickster deity <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pillizoro</i> when they invoked their moon goddess <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sendowa</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not revered
by the Elves, the trickster is often paired with the moon, and as the ritual
ended, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pillizoro</i> pronounced that
should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i> not be rejoined with
his horn after three days, it would be three hundred years before there would
be a chance to reunite horn and beast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The spear nonetheless was magnificent and
proved to be a powerful weapon in the hands of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately,
although he dealt the death blow to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>,
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i> chief also mortally
wounded him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i> ordered his followers to wipe out the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>, although he had been defeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>
obliterated the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>
settlements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also were rumored to
have raised a huge burial mound and tomb where they laid <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>’s remains along with treasures from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i> and the spear made from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>’s horn as a trophy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ruallin finished by saying that she
believed absolutely that “Treetrot” was in fact the now hornless unicorn, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jimi shook his head ruefully, saying it was a
beautiful fairy tale, but hard to believe that right about 300 years since the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i> battle, that you could believe
that a stray horse was really a unicorn severed from its horn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruallin was firm in her belief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Delthen</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> exchanged a knowing “told you so” glance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After Ruallin finished her tale, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> went to the kitchens to help and to
pick up gossip and stories from the townspeople.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b>
and the others asked Jimi and Ruallin some questions about where the tomb might
be located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruallin and Jimi agreed that
the tomb of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i> was likely in the
local foothills known as “The Knuckles”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b> asked if anyone knew
more about the location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruallin told
them that likely the Wood Elves knew more, but that they were prickly to deal
with and suspicious of strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Meanwhile, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>’s help was appreciated in the kitchen, after initial
apprehension of the Half-Orc was overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had a great evening cooking and preparing his signature croissant’s
to rise and be baked in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
also learned from the gossipy Halfling cooks that not too long ago some people
from the village had found a strange mystical mark on a tree, some half a day
walk from the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did not know
exactly where it was, but it seemed infused with old and powerful nature
magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They thought it seemed relevant
to the search for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>’s horn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the morning the party discussed whether
to try to find and question the Wood Elves or whether to try to find the glyph
as a clue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The decided to search for the
glyph, and turned to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> the
Sorcerer to see if he could sense the glyph with his magically attuned
spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Icon roll of 6 with the
Archmage proved invaluable, as he got a clear sign of where to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was soon leading the party directly to the
tree marked with the mystic glyph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
half a day’s easy travel, the arrived at an ancient oak, on the outskirts of
the forest, and there in a magic script, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen
</b>could see what he knew to be the mark of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i> the unicorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he
touched the glyph, a voice from the tree said “You are perceptive, and I sense
no evil intent in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are you who
seeks the mark of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The party looked up astonished to find the
words came from an ancient, but proud of bearing, owl, perched high in the
tree.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tashek</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have lately returned to this area after
long travels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The party explained their mission and the
stories about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i> they had
heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tashek</i> was scandalized that no mention had been made of him in
Ruallin’s account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He muttered something
about “no wingless bard is to be trusted.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When asked what else Ruallin might have left out, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tashek</i> confirmed that most of the details were correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He complemented Ruallin for at least ignoring
the silly romantic subplot some had placed on the interaction of the ruler of
the Wood Elves and the chief of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though they had become allies when threatened
with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>, it had not been
based on infatuation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, after the
loss of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>’s horn, and the
power of the Unicorn to protect the Cairnwood, the leader did go into exile
tragically, and may have passed beyond this mortal realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, the most important fact that
Ruallin had not known, was known to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tashek</i>:
the location of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamaich</i>’s tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would take four days, but he could lead
them into the Knuckles directly to the mound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He did state, however, that he would not go underground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone might have coughed and said “chicken”
under their breath at that, but no culprit could be determined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the second day of travel, deep into
the wasted lands that once were inhabited by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lorai</i>, the party made an uneasy camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The land was exposed and forbidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the third watch, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>, the Spirit-Touched Cleric, essentially felt a distant
disturbance in the force (Critical Roll on her perception check) and roused
everyone to arm and prepare for battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Down out of the sky came a demonic flock of
six bat things that some call “Squishies” due to their particular tactics of
trying to crush opponents one by one under a “bat pile.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Round (R) 1 Escalation (E) 0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The bat things proved fastest in the
initiative and all descended upon <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>,
Dark Paladin Inquisitor of the Crusader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The “murder pile” of demonic bats resulted in two hits and four misses
with a total of 32 points of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> managed to use a recovery and
then retaliated with a smite evil, which unfortunately missed and merely
wounded one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Lief</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> the Bard then unleashed a
soundburst, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> struck with his tree
(after using Lethal to reroll), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo </b>summoned
the Spirits of the Righteous (but to little effect) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> belched forth the Breath of the White.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>
then fired her Javelin of Faith, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>
missed with his Greeting Fist, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b>
shifted her tactical position and lashed out with her Evasive Strike.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the end of all that, only two Bat Demons
remained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">R2 E1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The two Bat Demons surged to attack <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>killed one with his opportunity attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last Bat missed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen </b>wound up another Smite with his mace, but it was a swing
and a miss with minimal damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Lief</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> failed with his Battle Chant
attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> failed to invoke his Elven Grace, and then missed with his
Scorching Ray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> took a swing and a miss with his tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo
</b>hit for minimal damage with his Javelin of Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>
fired and missed with her Javelin of Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Froodo</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> finally leaped forward and
struck the demon down with his Basic Attack, after spending a point of Ki to
make his miss a hit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">End of Combat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After that night attack, the journey to the
tomb was relatively uneventful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one
point, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tashek</i> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b>’s familiar, affectionately known
as “GPS”, guided the party away from what looked like an organized and
uniformed patrol of goblinoids (Hobgoblins, Goblins and Bugbears) that all
seemed to where the uniforms of the <u>Drakkenhall</u> security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once at the Tomb of Tamaich<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i> the adventurers took a quick look
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a large rounded mound,
surrounded by standing stones marked in demonic script.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The party formed up and broke through the
doors at the entrance of the mound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>almost
immediately detected a trap just beyond the entrance that blocked their way
into the passages within the burial mound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The trap consisted of a pivoting floor, which would dump the
unsuspecting into some kind of pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
back of the plate would go so far as to hit the ceiling, as the front part
dropped people into the pit, and the ceiling would then drop heavy debris down
into the pit to strike the trapped victims.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everyone agreed it would be a bad thing to
set off the trap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Zeva</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> determined that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b> could walk across without
triggering the trap on his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
also determined that they could jam the pivoting plate to allow everyone to
cross if they used some poles against the ground and the ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a little jury rigging, they managed to
get even the heavily armored across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
it seemed like the pivoting plate might, in the near future, just crack at the
pivot point and drop whoever was on it into the pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reckless retreat over it seemed
inadvisable, which they tucked away into their minds for the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once across the trap, the passageway split
at right angles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party turned right,
and they soon found that the passage was marked by a line of capstones to
dozens of pit burials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each capstone
engraved with a strange glyph, each glyph different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo
</b>proposed casting a ritual to make sure that the dead within the pit graves
stay sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each party member made a
small contribution to the ritual, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b>
empowered it with his Turn Undead spell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He found that each of the forty occupied graves’ inhabitants would stay
resting, but he also detected that one pit tomb was unoccupied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The adventurers made their way over the
graves where the ancient <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sya-Negan</i>
warriors rested until they came to the empty grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>detected it as a trap immediately and
the party carefully made its way around another pit trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then continued along the passage into a
circular room, with a passage out the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the middle of the room was an open passage
down, with hand and footholds forming a ladder down carved into one wall of the
downward passage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As they entered, a chilling moaning began
to issue from below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, they
heard weapons being readied, and from the passage on the other side of the
room, flying, animated swords appeared and began to slash and stab at the
party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">R1 E0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Lief</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> sang forth his Soundburst at one
of the swords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The swords hacked and slashed at the party,
missing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>, but two wounded <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b>, and one slashed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b>, but the others failed to connect
with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Delthen </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">took a swing and
missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> blasted one with a Chaos Bolt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Froodo</b>
attacked, missed, used a power to take a reroll, and missed worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerise</b>
fired her Javelin of Faith, but missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b> fumbled and fell down the hole,
taking minor damage (“Just as I planned!”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indigo</b> swung his war hammer
and connected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> thought he missed at first, but ended up taking one out due to
his Lethal talent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">R2 E 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Lief</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> destroyed one with his Battle
Chant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The swords attacked, one wounding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Delthen </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">destroyed a sword with his
mace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Rolen</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> destroyed another with his
Chaos Bolt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Froodo</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> almost missed again, but
scored a hit with a reroll, smashing a sword with his staff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Hey </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">struck with his tree, to
destroy the last of the animated swords.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">End of Combat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, after the combat, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeva</b> climbed up out of the lower level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She counseled a full exploration of the upper
level first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moaning from below
continued. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What lies in the next chamber and any other
crypts, caches or rooms beyond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they
find the spear made from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iriandel</i>’s
horn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they live to see daylight and
fresh air again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will anyone else get to
cash in an Icon Roll.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tune in next time a manage to get around to
updating the blog after we play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Until then, play games and have fun!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-65121771012689954332015-02-09T14:32:00.000-05:002015-02-09T14:32:04.723-05:0013th Age & D&D: Brilliant Podcasts and YouTube Actual PlaysHeyo everyone, just a short post while I am putting together the actual play report from my last 13th Age game.<br />
<br />
I don't get to play as much as I would like. Scheduling as an adult parent of two teenagers when the other players in your game are also adult parents or the actual teenagers, is rough.<br />
<br />
So, in the meantime, I like to see what other people and doing and thinking about relavent to 13th Age and other classic tabletop RPGs.<br />
<br />
So, first, I want to highlight Whit Mattson of <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Game of Whit's.</a> He has a bunch of videos of his new adventure/sandbox for 13th Age with his play group. The sandbox is Balan's Gorge. Just watch the first episode, and if you don't think that the setup for his mining boomtown with a twist is brilliant, there is no talking to you. See it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_0U5omPT8" target="_blank">here</a>. I love the idea of mixing the classic dungeon crawl environment with the boomtown atmospher of Deadwood. Just check out the setup Whit does. I think it is brilliant.<br />
<br />
Second, I have to give a big shoutout to <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/hosts/" target="_blank">J-M, Mark and Nick</a> of the <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/" target="_blank">ICONIC Podcast</a>. Their latest episode is on <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/podcast/e16/" target="_blank">DRAGONS</a> and it is epic. Also, they come up with a campaign idea (and offer it to all of us for free) that makes an amazing framework for a challenging 13th Age campaign involving dragons and the struggle between two of the Icons (specifically the Great Gold Wrym and the Diabolist). As an exercise for your imagination, as well as for some very informative discussion, I highly recommend this episode and everything else they put out. You may recall from <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2014/11/this-blog-is-not-dead-also-i-am-winner.html" target="_blank">this post</a> I also was fortunate to be picked by those kind gentlmen as the winner of their contest about giving a backstory to the White Dragon for 13th Age. As a bonus, I recently participated in recording another episode with them. Hopefully I helped add to the already considerable information and entertainment that they deliver. In any case, Episode 16 on dragons is really worth your time and an introduction to the very best that ICONIC turns out!<br />
<br />
Finally, last year another tabletop RPG had a bit of a release, my old love Dungeons & Dragons. I have to say, I am falling in love all over again. I still will be running 13th Age, but I am really happy to see 5th Edition D&D do so well and be such a great game.<br />
<br />
To keep me in touch with that reality, I have started to listen to bigAl (@bravenewdungeon) with his actual play podcasts and D&D talks <a href="http://bravenewdungeon.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Listening to Al manage his actual plays really gives me great respect for all those Dungeon Masters willing not only to virtually DM through the internet, but also to go out and just open a game to a bunch of people (or even just some people) he has never met before, and make it all work.<br />
<br />
Brave New Dungeon has been a lot of fun to listen to, and there is a huge back catalogue of Big Al's main campaing, The Pearl, which I have yet to tackle.<br />
<br />
In any case, he definitely deserves a wide audience, so check it out!<br />
<br />
Until later, keep playing games and having fun!Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-26971248864799068602015-01-28T09:28:00.000-05:002015-01-28T09:39:15.801-05:00Heroes of the 13th Age 10.5 - Montage Wrap Up and Preparation for a New AdventureWe last played our game almost a year ago. Life got complicated, but we have a game set for this weekend.<br />
<br />
We had begun a large <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2014/03/heroes-of-13th-age-part-10-politcs-are.html" target="_blank">"sandbox" adventure</a>, but continuing there was not a real option after so much time passed, and given that we can't expect to get that many games in.<br />
<br />
So, I was asked to narratively wrap up the last adventure and set the stage for some more episodic one/two-shot games for the same characters.<br />
<br />
So, with that in mind, here is what has happened as a set up for this weekend's game:<br />
<br />
The characters will remain:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><strong>Cerise</strong></span><span style="color: #222222;">, the Spirit-Touched Cleric</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;">Indigo</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> the Gnome Cleric <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They [Never] Call me "Z" </b>(as always, the name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legolis</b>, the High Elf Ranger<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin, and <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Previously on “Heroes of the 13<sup>th</sup> Age”<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At the behests of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Priestess</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The High
Druid</b>, the characters set forth to a remote crossroads known as Tampu
Tinku.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The village had a history of dark
magic and banditry, but more immediately was having religious conflict between
the nature worshippers of the Old Faith Druidic tradition and the newly fervent
followers of the Temple of the Dawn Gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the way to the town the characters encountered
some of the town residents, a Halfling named Hull and a Half-Elf named Quill,
as well as a Paladin Knight, Kalari, and his Squires who were followers of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Gold Wyrm</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some kind of demonic force possessed the
Paladin and there was some fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
characters helped bring the Knight to the town and he was lodged in the Temple
of Dawn in hopes of the demonic force being exorcised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meantime, the characters met Quill’s grandmother,
“Gran gran,” and started to find out about some happenings in the town, the
religious divide, the mayor’s race, and the mysterious murders that shut down
the most important local inn, the Serene Empress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Out of all the many issues facing Tampu Tinku, the
characters felt compelled to go break into the crime scene that was the
abandoned Serene Empress and start to check it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very nice inn, with, as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey</i> noted, great baking facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there had been some kind of terrible
fight that had killed everyone at the inn, and now who owned it was unclear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the basement, the party began to find answers,
and the answers were ninja Kobolds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After some nasty traps and a big fight, the dead Kobolds’ gear revealed
them to be part of an ancient serpent cult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With more exploration, the characters discovered a hidden entrance to a
tunnel that ran under the inn and led into a network under the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This, of course, led to more fighting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Each of the characters, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cerise, Indigo, Z, Legolis, Hey, Lief, Delthen </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Rolen</i>, all look back on this time
fondly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not the grubbing around in the tunnels fighting
Kobolds and Lizardmen and big snakes and the secret serpent cultists of the
town, but what all that grubbing around led to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After exposing the owners of the Golden Pear Inn
as serpent cultists who had instituted the massacre of the staff and patrons of
the Serene Empress, the party was able to destroy a malevolent power source
that had opened up a nearby “living dungeon,” which had birthed the demonic
possession spirit which had taking over the Paladin Knight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dungeon, known from the lore of the town
as “The Hellcaves” sank deep beneath the earth, and the Paladin was free of the
possession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Delthen</i>
then had an argument, and they knocked each other down a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a whole squadron of Great Gold Wyrm
Knights showed up hoping to fight demonspawn from the Hellcaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They settled for wiping out the local
bandits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters helped out by
discovering that the local Imperial Constable had been on the bandits’
payroll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They helped the Constable
“retire” and a new Imperial representative was later dispatched from <u>Axis</u>,
the Imperial Capital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone had a celebration, which <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey</i> helped to cater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This gave the town an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not keep the characters around to be
protectors and guardians of the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They offered the party the Serene Empress Inn as a base and an income
generator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey</i> providing the food and supervising a local staff, and with the
day to day operations under the watchful eye of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Z</i>, it was a tremendous success!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rest of the party helped out (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lief’s</i>
performances drew clientele from far and wide), and often went on little
expeditions, given the diversity of threats that came across the passes along
the <u>Migration Route of the Koru Behemoths</u> from the <u>Red Wastes</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ah, those were the days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They had to give it all up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the Imperial decree seemed to say, it
can’t all be baking croissants and ambushing unsuspecting Goblins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Because . . . demons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, you all are far to the north, not far from
where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indigo</i> was raised by Frost
Giants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have been hunting demons,
and Orcs, and demonic Orcs, and other “things” which have further demonstrated
that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Diabolist</b> has entered into
some unholy pact with the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orc Lord</b>
to destroy the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As you trudge on, you are at least relieved that
the latest dreams from the Icons have indicated that your next mission will not
be just entering a smelly demonic labyrinth to chop up oozy Orcs and vanquish
brimstone reeking monstrosities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, you will probably be doing that to recover a glowing
spear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some kind of weapon against the
darkness, perhaps something related to <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/02/heroes-of-13th-age-part-2-adventure.html" target="_blank">that first spear</a> (the cursed spear of the Orc Warlord Mondru, Fourth of His Name) that started it all,
the one the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orc Lord</b> wanted, but
which <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Priestess</b> could not yet destroy because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Prince of Shadows</b> stole the instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, and now it’s raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that a light ahead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had better be hot food and warm beds up
there . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<strong>Stay tuned for what happens next. There will probably be monster killing and stuff.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>PS We still miss Yoshi.</strong>Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-81051476134611780382014-11-05T22:01:00.000-05:002014-11-05T22:01:31.938-05:00This blog is not dead. Also I am a winner, so thereOne could be forgiven for thinking that this blog and my 13th Age game had died.<br />
<br />
However, neither is true. The hiatus has lasted much longer that I would have liked, but it turns out teenagers are really busy, which makes me, as their father, also really busy.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, we will play again, and you will read about it here.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I wrote a little something and the kind people over at the <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Iconic Podcast</a> recognized my entry about how the Wizard King (before he became the Lich King in 13th Age's Dragon Empire) came to kill and enthrall the lich of the White Dragon Icon as the First Place winner.<br />
<br />
I have already spent the money, so they can't take it back.<br />
<br />
I read the other entries that placed (and I look forward to making time to read the other entries as well), and I have to say that there are so many creative minds out there, and I would have just been glad to compete. But I am glad to have been selected this time around as the winner, and you can read my entry <a href="http://iconicpodcast.com/2014/11/iconic-contest-winners/" target="_blank">here</a>.Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-33418254225840457182014-03-07T17:37:00.000-05:002014-03-07T17:43:28.780-05:00Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 10: Politics are hard; killing monsters less so . . .<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Well, back on February 22,
2014, we managed to squeeze in a few hours of play.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Our cast continues as follows:<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #222222;">Cerise</span></b><span style="color: #222222;">,
the Spirit-Touched Cleric</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;">Indigo</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> the Gnome Cleric <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Silent "Z" </b>(as always, the
name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legolis</b>, the High Elf Ranger<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin, and <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer</span></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Unfortunately,
neither Indigo nor Z's players were available for the last game, so those
characters stayed in the background and otherwise were checking out things
around town which kept them out of the main action.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When we left
the intrepid adventurers at the end of our <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/heroes-of-13th-age-part-9-venture-into.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">previous game</span></a>, there had been an unfortunate incident with
a High Elven paladin who had become possessed by some demonic spirit. The party
had been able to defeat him and free his squires from demonic influence, but he
remained mostly in its thrall, with moments of lucidity. He asked to be taken
to the Temple of Dawn in the town of Tampu Tinku to see if he could be freed of
the demonic possession.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The group
continued with the local teamster boss, a Hafling named Hull, and a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Half-Elf named Quill who
was returning to live with and take care of his "gran gran." They
intended to meet at the Temple with Canoness Shar Patali, whose report to the
Cathedral had helped spur their commission as auditors and whose request for
help had reached the Order of the Great Gold Wyrm which had sent Sir Kalarai,
the now possessed Elf, to the aid of the town.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They departed
Stone Bridge Creek and not long thereafter arrived in the town of Tampu Tinku.
They immediately headed to the rather grand Temple of the Dawn and met a
Priestess named Mara at the temple gates.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There, she
informed them that the Canoness had recently left on a mysterious pilgrimage to
seek for aid for the town, she took with her two of the temple acolytes, Mari
and Rob. Mara had been left in charge of the temple and the brother and sisters
of the order who kept the holy shrines. Priestess Mara had no idea when Shar
Patali would return.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The adventurers
asked what her thoughts were on what was happening in town. She launched into a
fairly detailed discussion of local politics, including the rivalries between
the Baba brothers, Wari and Lenari. Wari and Lenari were once close (Lenari
owns the dairy and Wari is a prominent farmer), but several years back, Wari
had a religious conversion and began to heavily patronize the Temple of Dawn.
His example helped many see the light of the way of the House of Dawn, and
gradually many households began to turn from the druidic Old Faith to the Dawn
Temple. Lenari is a staunch member of the Old Faith followers, and Wari is a
zealous convert of the Temple. Their feuding has had the town in an uproar for
some time.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Added to this,
Wari is running for mayor, the first member of the Dawn congregation to do so,
as the mayorship has, in the past, always been held by someone of the druidic
faith. Also, to complicate things, the Old Faith candidate, Pitch, the Miller,
recently dropped out of the electoral race. Rumors have circulated through town
that members of the Dawn congregation intimidated Pitch into quitting.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Priestess Mara
assured them that such rumors were nonsense. If anything, it was the Old Faith
followers who were involved in their dark and emotional nature spirit practice
who were scary and intimidating. If Pitch quit for any thought out reason, it
was probably because he knew he was going to loose.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Also, the town
is in turmoil because the old Druid who used to keep the Old Faith Grove
decided to move on to a new territory (who knows why those people do anything?)
and a new Druid of the Grove has yet to be appointed. Additionally, Lord Bari,
the Emperor's representative and local military administrator (resident at the
local fortress keep) recently also converted to the worship of the Dawn Gods,
which drove a wedge between him and the local Archmage representative, Lady
Kinara, who subsequently left on a mission of her own. Lord Bari's soldiers
have been concerned with incursions that seem to coming in from the Red Wastes
and have not been concerned with the local bandit problem, which is the concern
of the local civil authorities, represented by Constable Kwan.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The bandits
have been troubling, but in general, Priestess Mara opined that it was mostly
just overblown town politics and family matters that really were not worth the
Cathedral's time to investigate.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen decided
he would try to assess whether he thought she was lying, but he could not get a
clear read on her. She seemed earnest enough.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hull spoke up
that he still thought the bandits were the worst of the town's problems.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quill noted that
he really needed to get to his Gran Gran's.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Priestess Mara
promised that she and her brothers and sisters would confine Sir Kalari and
take care of him until the return of the Canoness, when they would be able to
perform an exorcism. The Squires Valerie, Rupert and Jock helped the Priestess
move Sir Kalari into the Temple, but stated that they would go to seek aid from
their Order for Sir Kalari.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Indigo decided
to go a pray at the temple, and Z mysteriously disappeared to snoop around
unencumbered by the other party members.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
adventurer's accompanied Hull as far as his depot, and then, they proceeded
through town with Quill to his grandmother, Vamil's, home. While on their way
through the town, they noticed that the largest and nicest building (after the
Temple) a large inn complex, announced as the Serene Empress Inn, was shuttered
and boarded up. Quill expressed surprise, as the Serene Empress had always been
the heart of the town, at least it was when he was here 10 or 15 years ago.. He
has no idea what happened to it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Once arriving at Vamil's ("Vamy's") cottage, the old woman hobbled
out to greet her grandson and embrace him. Hey Watchit decided to get in on
some group hug action and gave a gently crushing embrace to the two of them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quill explained
who these strangers were and what they were doing, and how they had saved his
life. Vamy dispensed tea, wine and ribbon candy to each of the visitors and
offered to allow some to sleep in her loft free of charge (she does not have
quite room enough for everyone, but Hull's wife would probably put up the rest
if they don't mind not staying at an inn). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
They asked Vamy what had happened to the Serene Empress Inn, and she allowed
that it was a big mystery. About a month back, there was a huge commotion at the
inn: fighting and screaming. When the Constable and his deputies finally came,
they found the inside of the inn laid to waste and every living person, the
owners, their family and employees, the townspeople and the travelers who were
guests, all dead in some kind of huge melee. The fight apparently raged
throughout the Inn, leaving no survivors. No one understands what kind of
madness must have happened, and no one was able to figure it out. The bodies
were taken out and the families buried their dead. The travelers were buried in the hallowed ground of the old Druid Grove, and people were afraid, but just did not know what to think.<br />
<br />
The adventurers wanted to talk to Pitch Miller about pulling out of the mayor's race, but they thought they would just have a look at the Serene Empress first.<br />
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They began their
investigation by forcing open the door into the kitchen. They carefully toured
first the main floor and then the upstairs. They found every chair in the inn
to have been broken, and much of the other furniture damaged or destroyed.
There were areas of blood staining and spilled drink and food that was not
cleaned.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey did notice that the
kitchen, if cleaned up, would be a great place in which to cook. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As they looked through the
main floor, Delthen in a careful search found a broken blade with strange
script on it. The blade itself looked ornate, as if it had been forged for
ritual use.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lief examined the script and
found that it seemed to be of the ancient Serpent Script, and that the
characters probably translated as "[of]fering."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Upstairs was less disturbed,
but still it looked like the fighting had happened up here as well, and
everything was broken into. Nothing of real value seemed to remain.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They finally proceeded down
into the cellar.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The cellar looked strangely
cleared out, with only a few decrepit ale or sour wine barrels still left as
far as provisions. Otherwise, there was just trash and debris left around.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Something else
surprising they found was that the basement had been left trapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolen managed to fall down into a relatively
freshly dug pit, though he avoided the spikes at the bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then, shadowy
and chameleon-like Kobolds struck, from surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The “ninja”
Kobolds hit each of the characters not in the pit, and they hit the cleric
Cerise for critical damage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then we
rolled initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Round 1 (no
escalation)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Kobolds
handily won initiative (n.b. I was using the playtest Kobold Shadow-Warriors,
who turned out to be much more pumped up than the final published versions in
the Bestiary).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Three disappeared
into the shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The other
three all attacked with eggshell bombs filled with stinging dust, damaging
Delthen and Lief (both in one shot) and Legolis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last shadow warrior successfully
disengaged on Hey and three a metal star at Hey, but missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey invoked his “reach tricks” and took a
surprise opportunity attack, but missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Legolis
missed with his axe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen
invoked Smite Evil and missed for half damage [which maybe should have just
missed because of the Kobolds’ “evasive” ability, but I let it count].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lief dealt
some damage with Battle Chant, dropping one shadow warrior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey swung his
trusty enchanted tree and struck with a critical hit, not only smashing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Kobold before him, but flinging it into
the Kobold attacking Legolis, killing both shadow warriors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed they had taken out the opposition.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rolen was
unable to get out of the pit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise
stepped up and did some healing for herself and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Round 2
Escalation 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The three
shadow warriors who had slipped to the shadows came back with a vengeance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delthen, Hey and Legolis were all hit for 30
points of damage each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delthen
staggered, but stayed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey invoked “Heavy
Warrior” to take only 15 points of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Legolis went down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Legolis
rolled a death save on his initiative and failed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen attacked
with Smite Evil and killed one of the warriors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lief attacked
with his Battle Chant, damaging another of the Kobolds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey invoked “Tough
as Iron” and rallied, and then struck with a “Power Attack.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey missed [n.b. I should have invoked “evasive”
but forgot again], doing 12 damage because of his Power Attack feat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rolen
continued to be stuck down in the pit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise then
cast Spirits of the Righteous which blasted the last two warriors into
oblivion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">End of
Combat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen was
disappointed that he was not able to retrieve any of the stinging powder bombs
unbroken. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise healed Rolen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everyone helped Rolen get out of the pit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Otherwise, in
searching they Kobolds, they found that each bore the ritual tattoo of an
ancient Snake Cult, which generally was something at odds with the Kobolds’
draconic nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They
carefully searched the rest of the cellar floor and found two more recent
pits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of Kobold make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They then
began to search for some secret way into the cellar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither Hey nor Delthen could discover
anything, but Cerise found a secret door into a hidden store room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the room, Cerise, Legolis and Lief all
discovered an exit from the room, a trap door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Beyond the
trap door was a passage, similar to a mine tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They proceeded down the tunnel until they
came to an underground stream, which they would have to ford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a handy guide rope across the
stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delthen waded in first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This drew
immediate attack from a group of Lizard Men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Round 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The leader
propelled himself out of the water with a stroke of his tail, and he charged
Hey, striking him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen took
out his mace and started Smiting at the two Lizardman Hunters attacking him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise hit
the leader with Spirits of the Righteous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lief then
lifted his voice and unleashed Soundburst, damaging two of the enemy and
killing one outright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Legolis then killed
another firing his bow, using one of his last Twin Arrows, and hit the leader
with his magical second arrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey launched
his Power Attack, which missed, but still dealt 11 points of damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Round 2
Escalation 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The leader launched his attack, but
missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delthen then stepped up and
brought his mace down in a crushing blow, killing the leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise flung
her Javelin of Faith at one of the last two Lizardman Savages, but did only
miss damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lief sang his
Battle Chant, which did little damage, but with his Stay Strong! Battle Cry he
aided Hey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Legolis
launched another arrow, striking one of the Savages for 10 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One of the
Savages hit Hey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rolen did not
manage his Elven Grace roll, but he summoned his Chaos Bolt of Thunder Energy
and blasted one of the Savages.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey then
struck out with his tree, killing one of the Lizardman Savages, after using Heavy
Blows to reroll damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Round 3 Escalation
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delthen
whirled his mace and struck another crushing blow (16 points!) but could not
take down the last Lizardman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cerise
invoked her Halo and then threw her Javelin of Faith, striking down the
Lizardman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The party
then decided to rest a moment by the underground stream and decide what to do
in exploring further.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One thing was sure, however, this was much easier than figuring out the Mayoral race in town.</span></div>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-72574176119707529752014-01-11T11:06:00.000-05:002014-01-11T11:06:17.277-05:00A whole lot of Tolkien!This past holiday break has allowed me to delve deep into my love of Tolkien, and in particular to benefit from some terrific available resources in Tolkien scholarship. <br />
<br />
Now, it may not sound like "studying" Tolkien would be as much fun as just reading (or going to the movies), but it is actually a lot of fun, as well as giving me a deeper appreciation of Tolkien's writings and imagination and teaching me a great deal about writing and scholarship.<br />
<br />
Before I touch on my actual activities over my holiday break, I need to go back to how I started delving into this.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, on a trip to South Carolina, my son picked as our audio entertainment <a href="http://www.oneclickaudio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=scholar.show_course&course_id=75" target="_blank"><strong>Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature</strong></a> by Professor <a href="http://wormtalk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Michael Drout</a><strong>. </strong>It was a brilliant set of lectures which first focused on Tolkien and his process and creations, and then explored the genre of modern fantasy literature which Tolkien somewhat unwittingly helped to create. This was really my first exposure to deep and thoughtful Tolkien scholarship, and it opened me to all sorts of new ideas and understanding about what Tolkien did, what he was interested in and how his academic life as a Medievalist and Philologist informed his imagination.<br />
<a href="http://www.oneclickaudio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=scholar.show_course&course_id=75" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a>
Hungry for more, I began to look into what else was available and found <a href="http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/" target="_blank">The Tolkien Professor</a>.<strong> </strong>Professor Corey Olsen, like Professor Drout, is by profession a Medievalist (though he has far less focus on Philology than Drout does), but by avocation he is a lover of Tolkien and fantasy literature. He is also, even more than Drout, highly focused on making Tolkien and Tolkien scholarship accessible to the public. He has dozens of chats, lectures and seminar episodes available on his website and also available through iTunes. He writes, lectures and appears for the public in many venues, and has generally done a ton for promoting the understanding and enjoyment of Tolkien's works.<br />
<br />
He also wrote the book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-J-R-R-Tolkiens-The-Hobbit/dp/0544106636" target="_blank">The Hobbit: Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit"</a>.<br />
<br />
So, over break, I finished reading Professor Olsen's book, and I listened to a ton of stuff.<br />
<br />
Particularly, I listened to about a dozen episodes of his <a href="http://tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/courses/silmarillion-seminar/" target="_blank">Silmarillion Seminar</a> through which I have learned a great deal.<br />
<br />
I also listened to his discussion of the latest Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug (<a href="http://tolkienprofessor.com/audio/HOB_DoS_Reactions.mp3">here</a> & <a href="http://tolkienprofessor.com/audio/HOB_DoS_Reactions_2.mp3">here</a>) which I found to be really interesting and helpful. <br />
<br />
There are tons of other materials accessible through the Tolkien Professor site, and it is definitely a gateway to lots of wonderful and imaginative worlds and thoughts.<br />
<br />
I really highly recommend it, and it helped me have a great vacation, even while I was busy and sick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<br /></h1>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-54873302282143505072014-01-11T10:37:00.000-05:002014-01-11T10:37:17.190-05:00 Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 9: A venture into the hinterlandsAfter a short break, we were able to play our 13th Age game for a second time in November (Nove<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">mber 30 to be precise).</span><br />
<br />
Now, very, very long delay, I can write what happened after our <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/heroes-of-13th-age-part-8-exeunt.html" target="_blank">previous game</a>. <br />
<br />
Our cast is now as follows:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Cerise</b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">, the Spirit-Touched Cleric</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> the Gnome Cleric <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zailey </b>(as always, the name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legolis</b>, the High Elf Ranger<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin, and <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We sadly note the absence of our Samurai Half-Elf Yoshi who has had to part ways with us for now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We resolved the final actions of the spear quest. The party made its way to Santa Cora, and the carefully (if temporarily) neutralized spear made its way through inspection by Imperial and Archemage officials, and by representatives of the Elf Queen. It was then handed over for safe keeping, for the moment, within the Cathedral of the Priestess.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In the aftermath of the quest for the cursed spear Alkaarg, the adventurers were able to level up, each becoming second level. Several of the players took an opportunity to look at things they never used during the first </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">mission </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">and </span>everyone was allowed to retool their characters to better fit how they ended up playing, given that this was everyone's first outing with the game.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The information on the retooled characters will be it's own post in the future.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">After leveling up, the characters each engaged in some activities within and around the city of Santa Cora. Lief the bard sang and performed around the city, just casually, building his fame and earning some 70 gold. Zailey the rogue also tired to pick up some extra cash and information, but ended up with only a dented silver cup, perhaps worth 5 gold pieces.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo, gnomish cleric took the cursed ring of fear found within the ancient Orc warrens and deposited for safekeeping in the Temple of <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2012/10/inspired-by-13th-age-part-one-house-of.html" target="_blank">Bastash</a>, a god of the House of Light and one of the tutelary gods of the Gnomes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Legolis the High Elf Ranger sold cheese from his (1UT) Cheese Trees, netting a whole 5 silver pieces.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Rolen, the Wood Elf Sorceror, sought to investigate current affairs among the magical circles of society, but came up snubbed at every turn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We then moved towards assignment of a new mission, this time overtly on behalf of the High Druid and the Priestess (secretly, Dark Paladin Delthen also received word that the Crusader's forces had its own concerns that he should investigate).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> The Priestess was represented by Sister Sanjana, while the High Druid sent the Druid Biturix as her representative. Jointly they expressed their concerns about the community of Tampu Tinku (also know as Tinku Tampu, because the residents' dialect does not distinguish). This town lies at an important crossroads of trade deep within the Wild Wood. Historically it was settled by members of the Druidic faith, led by a hero, Wamani Tinku. However, over time, and through centuries of hardship and disasters, the town has been resettled several times, and now the population is split between followers of the old Druidic faiths and the beliefs in the gods of Light, especially now the House of Light, led by the Canoness Shar Patali. Recently, the local Druid leader moved on, and in the interim time, things have been unbalanced within the town. While there has always been a peace (easy, uneasy or otherwise) between the religious communities, now there is growing conflict.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The auguries of both faith communities indicate dire danger if the conflicts do not get resolved, but the locals seem unable to resolve their differences. Thus, the Cathedral and the Wild Wood have agreed, after difficult negotiations, to send forth a set of auditors to investigate and seek to resolve (at best) or report back (at the very least) what is going on. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Given the strong ties to the High Druid and the Priestess held between the party members, and the general reputation for competence and bravery as well as a least some wisdom, the Cathedral and the Woods have agreed to send these eight adventurers forth as auditors. The Elf Queen (due to Icon Relationship Rolls) also gave her blessing for the journey, in the form of a cloak for Legolis, boots for Hey Watchit, and a protective dagger for Rolen. Also, the Priestess offered a magic orb to assist the cleric Cerise.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The first part of the journey proved to be long and boring river barge travel up The Grandfather until the river became to difficult to navigate and final approach had to be made over a trade road leading from the docks to the crossroads at Tampu Tinku. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">They fell into traveling with a halfling teamster named Hullorn ("call me Hull"), who was allowing a half-elf named Quillern Nureddin ("call him Quill") to ride along in his wagon to Tampu Tinku. Hull lives in Tampu Tinku and is the proprietor of the local shipping company. Quill is moving to Tampu Tinku to help his grandmother ("gran gran"), Vamil Eddin, manage her affairs within the town.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Hull began to tell the party of all the varied problems currently plaguing Tampu Tinku, but he got sidetracked on his particular complaint. Bitterly he told them of the return of the scourge of bandits who have returned to the area. Once a terrible bandit camp was know to be centered at the Blackfort, and it is as if the bad old days have returned. He hoped that someone could deal with the bandits who have been robbing him blind, injuring and killing his employees, and taking bread from the mouths of his hungry children.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This discussion segued then to a discussion of the history of Tampu Tinku. Wamani Tinku founded it in the 12th Age, but he disappeared and shortly thereafter, the population who was present in the town completely disappeared. Survivors who happened to be away and others who moved into the area eventually resettled. Some one hundred years later, the bandits built up the Blackfort and terrorized the area, and then there was a huge battle with bandits and evil monsters who had attacked the town. Fortunately, adventurers and Imperial forces beat back the attacks and scattered the bandits, burning the Blackfort.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Everyone observed that after the first disaster happened to Tampu Tinku, a second disaster followed about 100 years later, and the present day was again about 100 years after that. Hmmmmmm.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Half-Elf Quill mentioned that his "gran gran" knew a lot of the old stories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">At this point, the wagon was hailed by a set of riders. Though the party thought they might be getting to meet some bandits, it turned out to be a High Elf paladin of the Great Gold Wyrm, Sir Kalari Sunstorm, and his three human squires, Valerie, Rupert and Jock. They revealed that they too had been summoned to Tampu Tinku. They were traveling at the behest of Canoness Shar Patali, the leader of the worshipers of the House of Light in Tampu Tinku. She had asked for aid from the Paladin's of the Great Gold Wyrm to deal with "troubles," but she was not otherwise specific. Nonetheless, the Golden Order sent forth Sir Kalari to help. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Upon their meeting, Hey Watchit brought forth his croissants, and everyone had a snack as they traveled along. During the afternoon's travel, it became clear that Quill had become smitten with Squire Valerie, and he was embarrassingly love sick, much to people's amusement (except for Squire Valerie). Finally they came to a bridge over a tributary to the River Grandfather. Sir Kalari and his squires were in the van, and on the other side dismounted at a lazy pool that was fed by the river, to get water for themselves and their horses. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As Sir Kalari approached the pool, and suddenly a rush of shadow burst from the pool and engulfed him, and then possessed his body. From him then shot lances of darkness, taking his horse and transforming it into a hellish monster, as well as possessing his three squires. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The now demon-possessed companions turned to attack the wagon, which was just rolling across the bridge. Quill and Hull, two non-combatants, we up front and began to panic and scream as the demonic Squires approached them, blades drawn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">COMBAT!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Round (R) 1 Escalation (E) 0</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cleric Ceris reacted first and unleashed her Spirits of the Righteous on the demonic force that now animated Sir Kalari. She stuck with a critical, blasting it with holy fire.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Lief the Bard unleashed a soundburst upon the Squires as he stepped forward to defend Hull and Quill, and incidentally weaving magic from his song to protect the Dark Paladin Delthen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Delthen struck, using his Smite Evil, but did just half damage with a near miss. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Legolis, the High Elven Ranger stepped forward to engage the Squires and defend Hull and Qull with his axe. He missed, but presented himself at least as a target.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Possessed Kalari then struck back, hitting Delthen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">One of the Squires hit lief.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Rolan, Wood Elf Sorcerer, unleashed a Chaos Bolt, but to no effect.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Zailey stepped forward to make an attack, but ended up falling off the bridge and dazed from a fumble.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The now demonic steed leaped the river entirely and attacked Hey Watchit, but missed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo, the Gnomish Cleric, also unleashed his Spirits of the Righteous, but misdirected his holy fire and missed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Half-Orc Fighter Hey also missed his swing against the demon steed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">R2 E1</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cerise invoked her Halo as a Spirit Touched and then stepped forward and cast a quick Heal on Lief, then cast Cure Wounds on Delthen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Lief drew his sword and struck one of the Squires.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Legolis struck Squire Valerie with his axe and his snake pet poisoned her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Delthen then smashed his mace into Kalari, taking him down, but simultaneously, one of the Squires slashed Delthen, putting him on the ground.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The other Squires each hit Legolis and Lief, but then, as the demonic power receded into the unconscious Kalari, it's control fell away from the Squires.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Rolen fired his scorching ray at the hellish horse, but missed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Zailey, staggering up from the base of the bridge pulled out some rope and tied up Kalari.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The hell horse tried to take a bite out of Hey, but missed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo stepped forward and quickly healed Delthen, then pulled out his crossbow and critically hit the hell horse as he invoked his Strength Domain, leaving the hellish monster dazed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Hey unleashed a power attack on the monster, but did lesser damage with a miss.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">R3 E2</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cerise invoked her Leadership Domain and advanced the Escalation Die to 3 (which robbed the demonic steed of a chance to use a special "odd escalation die" power)</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">She then missed with her Javelin of Faith.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Delthen charged back over the bridge and struck the steed with his Smite.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Legolis then struck the monster mightily (15 points) with his arrow.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Lief moved into position, but took a moment to rally and recover damage.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Rolen, with a moment of Elven Grace, gather power and blasted off as sadly ineffective Chaos Bolt.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Zailey let loose with her Flying Blade skill and hit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Once again the demonic monster missed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo summoned the holy power of his Javelin of Faith, fumbled, and hit Delthen (the other target of darkness)</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Hey then hit the steed with a critical.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">R4 E4</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cerise summoned her Javelin of Faith, striking the monster.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Delthen missed, as did Lief with his Battle Chant.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Legolis then fired his bow, doing a mighty 14 points (which was more than enough as the monster had but one hit point left).</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />The hellish force left the steed, leaving the sadly broken body of Sir Kalari's once splendid steed in it's place.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The characters then turned to the bound Sir Kalari. His wounds were healing, and a darkness still lurked behind his eyes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The dark power possessing the Paladin had not much helpful to say. They learned that:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">1. "you know not with what you deal, ha ha ha ha"</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">2. "I am the substance of nightmares!"</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">3. "You will all bow down before me and do my bidding. You will pave my way to conquer this pathetic realm!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Finally, Sir Kalari was able to have a moment of lucidity. He asked them to keep him bound (no problem) and to get him to the Temple of Light. He said he could only maintain control for short periods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Then the darkness started babbling again, threatening them all, so the gagged the poor Paladin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">What dangers lie ahead in Tampu Tinku remain unknown, and what the roots are of the conflict or conflicts in the village are yet mysteries. However, the strange fate of Sir Kalari points to there being much mreo than meets the eye. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-17431412261215084242013-11-27T08:28:00.000-05:002013-12-10T19:59:34.928-05:00 Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 8: ExeuntAfter a long break, we were finally able to play our 13th Age game again on November 9.<br />
<br />
Now, after a rather long delay, I can write what happened. <br />
<br />
Our cast continues to be as follows:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Cerise</b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">, the Spirit-Touched Cleric </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> the Gnome Cleric <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeema </b>(as always, the name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legolis</b>, the High Elf Ranger<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer, and <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yoshi</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Antien</b>, the Samurai flavored Half-Elf Fighter </span></div>
<br />
<br />
The one sad note was that our friend who plays Yoshi was not able to make it to play and has had, for the time being, to drop out of the game. You will see that we found a path for Yoshi to take so that he may wander back into our adventures at a later time. Until then, we wish him, and more importatntly our friend, safe travels and good fortune until we meet again. <br />
<br />
At the end of the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8147709852839402231#editor/target=post;postID=4767456706859633546;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=3;src=postname">last session</a>, the heroes stood triumphant over the undead guardians of the Accursed Magic Spear Alkaarg, and also over their rival, Seth, who had sought the spear for his own dark purposes.<br />
<br />
In the aftermath, the debate of whether to proceed away with their prize immediately, or to see if there was more stuff to loot became the topic of discussion.<br />
<br />
Dark Paladin Delthen represented the "loot" faction, suggesting that they set a modest time limit and try to grab as much stuff as they could in the unexplored portions of the dungeon.<br />
<br />
Zeema and Rolen argued that it was improtant to get out with the spear while they could.<br />
<br />
Indigo added that they could do something to collapse the stairs behind them so as to seal other explorers out and keep whatever else was down there in.<br />
<br />
The NPC Brother Crommard was, in the meantime, going through the room as a fascinated scholar of Orcish culture and history, exclaiming at this and that. Nuri, the apprentice workman trailed along. They slowly made their way forward to the throne upon which Mondru, Fourth of His Name, had rested all these centuries.<br />
<br />
Taking a break from the argument of "stay and loot" or "go while the going is good," Delthen chopped off Seth's hand to keep as a grisly prize. The Owlbear, Who-grrl, meantime began to act very agitated and hungry. Zeema attempted to call on her experience travelling with a meanagerie to calm the beast, but to no avail. Who-grrl was tired, wounded and hungry, and she wanted to EAT RIGHT NOW! Half-Orc pastry chef and sometimes warrior, Hey Watchit, stepped in, distracting the Owlbear by wrapping one brawny arm around its neck, and then shoving his remaining supplies of pastries (chiefly croissants) down the beast's maw. This temporarily mollified the murderous beast. There was some discussion of whether Who-grrl should be encouraged to eat Seth's corpse, but the general feeling was that giving her encouragement to eat a humanoid would set a bad precedent for everyone else.<br />
<br />
During all of this, Brother Crommard and Nuri had made their way, at last, to examine Mondru's throne. Crommard noticed that a metal plate was set into the seat of the throne. Before he could touch it, there was a brief scuffle and Nuri pushed Crommard aside to take up the plate himself. Members of the party saw that the plate was etched with lines, like a map. A moment after Nuri took up the plate, there was a bright flash, and many of the party that witnessed it, saw in the afterglow the symbol of the Prince of Shadows. Nuri and the plate were gone.<br />
<br />
Everyone interpreted this event as a reason to pack up and head out quickly.<br />
<br />
The took the stairs from the Orcish level, up to the underground level that had been built in old Imperial times, but repurposed first by Elves and later by Mondru's Orcs. They decided to seal off the lowest level with a ritual that would place illusion and a deadly trap over the entrance to the deep dungeon. After some discussion at the table, the players decided that the "ingredients" of the ritual included spears (of which there were many in the dungeon), reflective surfaces (they polished some pots) to dazzle, and poison that disoriented. The illusion was to be woven like a spider's web, and a "sting" powered by Spirits of the Righteous provided the punch to anyone who would seek to pierce the veil. Spirit Touched Cerise cast the main ritual, and Gnome Cleric Indigo, a spider expert, helped with the weaving of the enchantment. After that was completed, they decided to exit up the main stairs from the first subterrainean level back to the fort.<br />
<br />
The fort was mostly smoldering ruins at this point, but it still presented some obstacle to easily exiting it's courtyard. After some work, they made their way out. Who-grrl had simply muscled her way through the rubble and over partially collapsed walls and headed out to find food (that was not the adveturing party).<br />
<br />
Then, they found their mounts gone, having seemingly broken off their tethers. Briefly they wondered if Who-grrl was to blame, but the signs indicated something else. In the distance, they could see a massive amount of smoke from where the town of Awad must be burning.<br />
<br />
Yoshi whistled for his mount, and it just showed up. None of the other mounts did. He saddled up and rode off to find the other animals. The others got moving.<br />
<br />
Rolen sent up his familiar, the Raven they affectiuonately call "GPS." The Raven returned with disturbing news. A pack of Kobolds and a continent of Orcs were heading towards them. They decided to hide and either let the monsters pass, or attack by ambush.<br />
<br />
Not everything went exactly to plan. The High Elf Ranger, Legolis, got them all situated on the far side of a hill, hunkered down. But a sharp-eyed Kobold Archer spotted Legolis and sounded the alarm. Everyone rolled initiative and started combat.<br />
<br />
Round 1<br />
<br />
Legolis, Lief, and the Kobold Archers all acted at once. Legolis let fly with one of his precious Twin Arrows, six of which had been gifted him by Yoshi. He rolled a hit and a miss, but rerolled the miss with his Archery and hit killing three Kobold mooks. Lief began his Battle Chant, but failed to hit a Kobold with his magic. The Kobold Archers put three arrows into Legolis, but all other attacks missed, and one fubled due to the power of Lief's magic hood.<br />
<br />
Zeema initiated her Shadow Walk.<br />
<br />
Delthen killed two Kobold Warriors with his Smite Evil.<br />
<br />
Hey killed one Kobold and seriously injured another Kobold Warrior with his tree.<br />
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Rolen summoned his power to fire a jet of flame at the Kobolds, but failed.<br />
<br />
Cerise, the Spirit Touched cleric summoned her Halo and then cast Javelin of Faith, however, with a fumble she became Daze because of the powerful presence of the divine which she had touched to cast her spell.<br />
<br />
Indigo fired his heavy crossbow, but missed.<br />
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A troop of six Orc Archers then entered the battle and rolled very poorly for initiative for the next round.<br />
<br />
Round 2 Escalation 1<br />
<br />
Legolis, for the first time, successfully cast his Acid Arrow, instantly melting four of the six Orc mooks, and leaving the last two with ongoing acid damage.<br />
<br />
Lief leveraged his Battle Chant to kill off a Kobold, and he also allowed Hey to pop free of engagement with a Battle Cry.<br />
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The Kobold Archers loosed their arrows, hitting Delthen, Legolis and Rolen.<br />
<br />
Delthen attacked and missed. Hey attacked and missed. The Kobold Warriors attacked and missed.<br />
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Rolen failed his Elven Grace roll, and then failed his attack roll with his fiery attack.<br />
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Cerise missed with her Javelin of Faith.<br />
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One of the remaining Orc Archers managed to hit Rolen.<br />
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Indigo moved up to cast heal on Rolen and then fired off his Javelin of Faith hitting an Orc Archer.<br />
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Round 3 Escalation 2<br />
<br />
Legolis loosed another of his Twin Arrows at the Kobold Archers, making one hit and one critical hit and causing devestation to the Orc Archers. Lief sang another Kobold to death with his Battle Chant. Kobold arrows missed Legolis, but a critical hit found its mark on Lief.<br />
<br />
Zeema then returned from the shadows and attacked with Flying Blade, killing the last Kobold and ending the engagement.<br />
<br />
<br />
The adventurers were then a a crossroad. Do they continue back on the side road to get to the main road, facing increasing danger of more Orc patrols? Do the head for the coast and try to proceed along the shore? Do they strike out through the rough overland terrain to take arrive at the main road while keeping the marauding Orcs at their back? After some deliberation, enough of them felt that they had wilderness experience to make it across the rough, wilderness terrain and catch the main road away from the main body of Orcs that burnt the town of Awad.<br />
<br />
As they head into the wilderness, a Thrush, sent by the High Druid, came to Lief and communicated to him the best way to go. In return, he had to once again find Who-grrl the Owlbear and bring her to the main body of the Wild Woods. Delthen suggested that they pack along some of the Kobold bodies for her to eat. It seemed that Who-grrl was tame (ish) to Hey Watchit's hand, given the many pastries he had fed her, so between his calming influence, Zeema's menagerie experience and the Kobold kibble, Who-Grrl came along redily enough.<br />
<br />
Finally, as they slept out under the stars, Lief had a dream granted by the Priestess. In it, he saw that Yoshi had gathered their mounts, and that the mounts would be waiting for them near the road. However, a ship had signalled Yoshi when he was gathering the mounts on the beach. A fast ship from the Imperial Capital Axis had found Yoshi through the Archemage's magic and Yoshi was summoned to imperial duties. He was reluctant to leave his friends, despite being honor-bound to heed the command of the Emperor. The Archemage's envoy used magic to guide the mounts to where Lief and the others would find them, and Yoshi left with the ship to find his way in the Capital.<br />
<br />
The next day, the party found their mounts and saddled up to go back to Santa Cora.<br />
<br />
Everyone leveled up to second level, the details of which will be worked out next game.<br />
<br />
We are all going to miss Yoshi and our friend who plays him. We hope that someday Yoshi will come back into our stories.Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-32992932437965449302013-10-03T13:13:00.000-04:002013-10-07T07:57:42.504-04:00More Musical Inspiration for My 13th Age Dragon EmpireI have previously written about some musical inspiration for my 13th Age Campaign (see <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/03/thoughts-on-13th-age-some-inspiration.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">here</span></a>).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Since I last wrote, a few more music tracks have made it into my essentials list, so I thought I would record them here. I hope others may find these pieces as interesting and enjoyable as I do.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Clannad<br />
<strong>Album</strong> PastPresent<br />
<strong>Title(s) </strong>Newgrange, Coinleach Ghlas an Fhomhair<o:p></o:p><br />
Clannad is a quintessential band in the Celtic Folk revival that went beyond the reinvigoration of the old tradition (so capably done by other bands like the Chieftains) and on into creation of new forms of popular Celtic style music. Some of their experiments showcased what could be best and worst about the so called "New Age" music, but mostly they just made really interesting and beautiful songs that laid the foundation for artists such as Enya (who is from the same family as the members of Clannad) and Loreena McKennit. Clannad created some groundbreaking fantasy music for the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood, which is still, for my money, the best TV series ever done around the Robin Hood myth. These two pieces, Newgrange and Coinleach Ghlas an Fhómhair are two beautiful songs that definitely speak to sounds one might find in my Dragon Empire, possibly in Concord, or the Wild Wood.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Jack Wall<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Mass Effect 2<br />
<strong>Title </strong>Suicide Mission<strong> </strong><br />
Usually, I keep my science fiction (Star Trek, Babylon 5, etc.) music and my epic fantasy music (Lord of the Rings, Willow, Conan, etc.) in different boxes. Star Wars does some crossover. Jack Wall's "Suicide Mission" from the Mass Effect 2 soundtrack also can end up in either list as far as I'm concerned. Its soring instrumentation and urgent vocals sets a heroic and resolved tone that could be the prelude to any hopeless battle or potentially fatal act of courage. Good stuff.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Inon Zur<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Lord of the Rings War in the North<br />
<strong>Title </strong>Nordinbad<o:p></o:p><br />
Inon Zur has established himself as a major player in electronic fantasy gaming music. This track evokes the feeling of a lonely frontier fortress, ever watchful, standing guard against the forces of darkness. The kind of place I need to send my gamers' player characters to check out.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Jamie Christopherson<br />
<strong>Album</strong> The Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II<br />
<strong>Title(s</strong>) Joining Forces, Elven Morning Light, Elven Nightfall <o:p></o:p><br />
I have already extolled the great virtues of Mr. Christopherson's Middle Earth music. Let me just add, it is so good that I had to add these three additional pieces into my regular mix because they so consistently evoke the wonder of a fantasy realm.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist(s) </strong>Bill Brown, Jamie Christopherson<br />
<strong>Album</strong> The Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle Earth <br />
<strong>Title </strong>Heroes Shall Rise<o:p></o:p><br />
In my original list, I had not included a track from the first "Battle for Middle Earth" album, composed not only by Jamie Christopherson, but also by Bill Brown. This track does exactly what it says on the package. Heroes rise to the challenge on the majesty of this music.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Two Steps From Hell<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Album</strong> Legends<br />
<strong>Title(s) </strong>Infinite Legends, Goddysey<o:p></o:p><br />
You will hear Two Steps From Hell (a music company that specializes in Movie Trailer music, heard in trailers for movies, computer games, and TV and in commercials) everywhere. This is not a bad thing, because their music is reliably excellent. Both of these pieces evoke the huge sweep of an amazing and fantastic world. Infinite Legends unfolds for me over the sprawl of a vast and fabulous city. Goddysey takes me across the vast oceans of an imagined world. Very good music.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Jack Wall<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Jade Empire<br />
<strong>Title </strong>Into the Fray<o:p></o:p><br />
Here's Jack Wall again. Before he helped define the amazingly successful Mass Effect universe, he scored an earlier BioWare game called Jade Empire. Jade Empire . . . Dragon Empire, you can see how things might fit together. This piece is pretty much just the kind of thing I want to play during a martial arts smack down. Great east Asian percussion worthy of Jet Li or Michelle Yeoh.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Two Steps From Hell<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Album</strong> Dynasty<br />
<strong>Title </strong>Elementum<o:p></o:p><br />
Here's Two Steps again, because they are awesome. Another track from the Dynasty album. I visualize some serious spell slinging to this track with its driving beat and soaring chorus.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Inon Zur<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Dragon Age: Origins<br />
<strong>Title </strong>I am the One<o:p></o:p><br />
The signature track from Zur's first foray into the Dragon Age franchise. I already highlighted the album for another track in my last music post, but this one also found a place in my heart. A song of destiny, and we always have those characters in our games it seems, especially in the 13th Age of the Dragon Empire.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Artist </strong>Oscar Araujo<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Castlevania Lords of Shadow<br />
<strong>Title </strong>The Warg<br />
Araujo's Castlevania is a triumph of an album with dark and powerful musical set pieces, but I had a hard time choosing the right track from it. I settled on The Warg. This is a dynamic musical piece with great choral parts (of course). It might narrate a battle, or a frenzied ceremony, or even a cat and mouse chase (with explosions maybe). Whatever images are inspired by this piece, it is a little piece of dark majesty.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Nox Arcana<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Blood of the Dragon<br />
<strong>Title </strong>The Mystic's Keep<br />
Nox Arcana can be hit and miss, but they produce a lot of very moody and interesting theme albums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is tailored for a fantasy campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mystic’s Keep is perhaps not the best track off the album, but it has such great atmosphere, with a recurring chant, I just can’t resist it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visions of a horrible death cult for my players to face? Check!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission accomplished.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Two Steps From Hell<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Album</strong> Archangel<br />
<strong>Title </strong>Norwegian Pirate<o:p></o:p><br />
Here's Two Steps one more time. What is the meaning of this song title?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it has to do with pirates or Norwegians is not entirely clear, but it is a rousing tune that could take one from the heaving deck of a dragon longship to a vast fantasy battlefields.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Taro Iwashiro<br />
<strong>Album</strong> Red Cliff<br />
<strong>Title</strong> Battle to Battle<o:p></o:p><br />
Red Cliff is a terrific movie (see the extended two part Asian release).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of heroic combat and beautiful cinematography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the music is a highlight, and this piece is just what I look for to visualize the clash of great armies.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>Artist </strong>Atli Örvarsson<br />
<strong>Album</strong> The Eagle<br />
<strong>Title</strong> Return of the Eagle<br />
The movie "The Eagle," based on one of my favorite books as a kid, "The Eagle of the Ninth," was a big bust at the box office, and one of several quite bad sword and sandals movies in the last half decade. However, both "The Eagle" and "Centurian" had good music. I featured a piece from Centurian in my last discussion, but I am glad to include this piece by Örvarsson here. It is a dynamic, Celtic fiddle inspired piece that conveys a sense of motion, an urgent chase or desperate escape. A very fun piece of music. Atli Örvarsson is someone I hope keeps making great music.<br />
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So, I hope this helps someone out there find great music and great inspiration to continue life in the Dragon Empire.<br />
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Stay Legendary.<br />
<br />Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-6057798267997511922013-10-02T10:44:00.000-04:002013-10-02T21:00:00.643-04:0013th Age, Organized Play, Actual Play and the universe of great ideasFor anyone who reads this blog (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?) , you know that I try to keep up an actual play description (pretty much bow by blow) of my current "Heroes of the 13th Age" game. Our progress has been slow, as we can only manage about a gathering once a month at best. Still, we are close to done with our first epic adventure and dungeon crawl, and the characters are all going to get to level up to second level.<br />
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While I have been developing my <a href="http://13thage.com/" target="_blank">13th Age</a> game, I have tried to absorb all that I can from other people's experience with the system and the world of 13th Age. There is a lot of fun stuff out there from which to learn.<br />
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One thing in which I have not been able to participate is the <a href="http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=11029" target="_blank">13th Age Organized Play</a>. Pelgrane Press, with the work of 13th Age luminarie Ash Law (head of organized play) & <a href="http://rockettscience.com/" target="_blank">Wade Rockett</a> (strategy and promotion), have put together a plan for a series of regular games in which friendly local gamings stores and individual groups can participate. Each will apparently revolve around places and issues important to one of the 13 Icons of the game. The first, Crown of the Lich King, is already done, and a second set of adventures, Wyrd of the Wild Wood, is in progress (dealing with the High Druid). Each regular game is 6 weeks of adventures (at least in its ideal form), much like the pioneering D&D Encounters model used by Wizards of the Coast. However, after the 13 individual icon inspired adventures, there will be an epic scale 13 week "end of age" adventure released (read more in this <a href="http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=13219" target="_blank">article</a>).</div>
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Why am I not getting into this?</div>
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Basically, timing. The organized play is interactive. Play reports need to be submitted, because events in the earlier adventures help shape later planned events. Given the timing of getting my ten person group together, we would not have even started Crown of the Lich King. So, Organized Play, will have to go on its own way.</div>
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But, I can still draw inspiration from it, because so many other people are sharing it. If you want to vicariously experience the organized play (or just compare your experience to others'), I highly recommend the following:</div>
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<a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Game of Whit's</a> Whit Mattson is currently running his play group through Crown of the Lich King using an online meet up, and he is recording and posting the play sessions. They are very entertaining, and I have learned a lot about pacing and technique from just watching. The videos are posted through YouTube, so you can find them directly there, but Whit's website has a deep library of video and audio actual play, as well as reviews and other interesting things. Whit and his friends were early playtesters of 13th Age, and their actual play recordings of the playtest definitely help to inspire me to run the game (part <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/2012/06/ep26-13th-age-actual-play-part-1.html" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/2012/06/ep27-13th-age-actual-play-part-2.html" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/2012/06/ep28-13th-age-actual-play-part-3.html" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/2012/06/ep29-13th-age-actual-play-part-4.html" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="http://agameofwhits.blogspot.com/2012/06/ep30-13th-age-thoughts-and-feedback.html" target="_blank">5</a>). Whit and his group are running a little behind on posting their actual play, and they are not on the strict schedule for Crown of the Lich King, but they are a fascinating group to watch. Highly recommended.</div>
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<a href="http://13thagetalespinners.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Tales of the 13th Age</a> is the website for the written (and illustrated!) actual play reports by a GM tag team, Ben and Sarah, who are running the organized play at <a href="http://fairgamestore.com/">Fair Game store</a> in Downers Grove, IL. They are keeping to the strict schedule of the Organized Play, and have already completed Crown of the Lich King. It has been fascinating to see that they played through the same structure that Whit's group (above) is following, yet the play packets are so flexible, that so many details are different, and so responsive to the individual characters, their Icon relationships and their One Unique Things (1UT) and Backgrounds. So now Ben and Sarah are running Wyrd of the Wild Wood, and I am hooked on their narration. Their write-ups definitely show how to run a good store game, where people may have to drop in and out. They clearly have a lot of discipline in keeping the pacing. Also, they are geniuses with bringing interesting visual terrain and monsters (hey, play doh giant monster tenticles--awesome!!) to the table. They document this with actual play photos. I love reading the reports and I learn a lot. </div>
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After I got hooked on the Organized Play write-ups/broadcasts, I started looking for more examples of play.</div>
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There is a very intribuing start of a blog at <a href="http://13thagedragonriders.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">13th Age: Squires of Skyharbor Abbey</a>. I am hopeful that more will appear at it soon, but what is there so far has been very interesting reading.</div>
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Also, a really interesting set of actual play recordings can be found under the term 13th Age MadCast. A GM that goes by the moniker Khaos and his group have been new to playing 13th Age, and they obviously started with the adventure in the rule book (having to do with the Bolt Strike Tower (of which an earlier version Whit's group above played through for the playtest). The actual play picks up in the aftermath of the written adventure, and it is the epic way the game springboards from there that is really fascinating. </div>
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It is also prolific. They began to record their third play session (at least that is the earliest I can find), and they are well into ten or so sessions recorded at this point. They play in a virtual play space and are calling in from different time zones. Unlike A Game of Whit's, we don't see the players, but instead we see the (often static) play space, so it is more like listening to a podcast than watching a video. Still, despite it being visually less engaging and despite it dragging at times as the group is very large (so the juggling Khaos has to do as GM is daunting), the way the characters and the story develop is really fun and interesting.</div>
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Here are all the links to what they have put up on YouTube so far:</div>
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<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq9bguBJ_JE" target="_blank">MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)</a></span></div>
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ4FmNuGf_c"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13th</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Age</span> Session 3 (2/2)by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast13thAge </span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)">
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<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kxV-qBzNiM">MadCast 13th Age Session 4, Part I</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="MadCast 13th Age Session 3 (1/2)">
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xivNc72-WM"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast 13th Age Session 4 Part II</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nr_db_BH9k"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13th</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Age</span> Session 5 (1/2)by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast13thAge </span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVZqGUs_s9U"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13th</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Age</span> Session 5 (2/2)by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast13thAge </span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewT70GG7R0Y"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13th</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Age</span> Session 6 (1/2)by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast13thAge </span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBseVXKBFFU"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13th</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Age</span> Session 6 (2/2)by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MadCast13thAge </span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faOiyu2Dj4Q">MadCast presents: 13th Age, August 11th (Part 1)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd6wylo5AMU">MadCast presents: 13th Age, August 11th (Part 2)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC4oaI53sXA">13th Age, led by Khaos August 24th</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynRjcazO0s8">MadCast presents 13th Age (Post-Session PvP) August 24</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1WQrJDp_j4">MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 7th (Part 1)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfSYDSS91MU" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 7th (Part 2)">MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 7th (Part 2) </a></span><br />
<span style="color: #0066cc; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><u>13th Age, led by Khaos (22/9/13) - Part 1 </u></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">13th Age, led by Khaos (22/9/13) - Part 2</span></u><br />
<span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxnFaSzAf3M" target="_blank">MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)</a></span><br />
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<span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-wVXNl7it0" target="_blank">MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 2)</a><br />
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<span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"><span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcu4TzCKo80" target="_blank">MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 3)</a></span></span><br />
<span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"><span class="title" dir="ltr" title="MadCast presents: 13th Age, Sept. 28th (Part 1)"></span> </span></div>
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I am on Session 5, and before I figured out the order, I listened to some of a later session, and Khaos is clearly building to some epic challenges for his players. This is harder going than the other write-ups or recordings, but it is definitely rewarding and entertaining and there are ideas I will be stealing.</div>
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Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-47674567068596335462013-09-22T12:29:00.001-04:002013-09-22T16:55:00.912-04:00Heroes of the 13th Age: Part 7 Mondru, an Owlbear, and Sethus Maximi, oh my!After a very long hiatus, we played 13th Age again on Saturday, September 14 (our last game was back in May and is the write-up is <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/heroes-of-13th-age-part-6-dungeon.html" target="_blank">here</a>). This was the first game where we had the actual hard back 13th Age rulebook at the table (and our friend Steve actually bought his own as well, so we had two!)<br />
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The best thing about our session was that everyone was at the table and really engaged in the game.<br />
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Our cast continues to be as follows:<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Cerise</strong></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">, the Spirit-Touched Cleric </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Indigo</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> the Gnome Cleric <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zuzu </b>(yet again the name changes), the Half-Elf Rogue <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legolis</b>, the High Elf Ranger<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hey</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watchit</b>, the Half-Orc Fighter<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lief</b>, the Human Bard<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delthen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eversoar</b>, the Human Paladin<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolen</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillwind</b>, the Wood Elf Sorcerer, and <br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yoshi</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Antien</b>, the Samurai flavored Half-Elf Fighter </span></div>
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The continue to explore the Orc created dungeons beneath the crumbling (and now burned down) Citadel by the Sea. They search for an ancient magic weapon, Alkaarg, a spear forged in alliance between the followers of the Orc Lord and the Diabolist in an earlier Age (some 500 years ago). The speak was especially designed to kill Elves. The Priestess and the Elf Queen dispatched the heroes to locate the spear, secure it, and return it to Santa Cora for safekeeping.<br />
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At the end of the last game, after a big fight against undead skeleton rats and a nasty Ghoul, our heroes earned a full rest.<br />
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The returned to a side chamber where in a <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/heroes-of-13th-age-part-6-dungeon.html" target="_blank">previous game</a> they had left a prisoner and found a carving and inscription that spoke about the spear. Some members of the party wondered aloud where their prisoner, the Orc Garshak, had disappeared to? Delthen, the Paladin/Inquisitor of the Crusader gave a "who can know" shrug, not looking at the pile of dead Orcs that Garshak had joined after he <a href="http://asageamonghisbooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/heroes-of-13th-age-part-5-fire-and-dark.html" target="_blank">proudly declared</a> how he and the other Orcs were accepting aid from the Diabolist.<br />
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During the rest, Rolen received a sending from the Court of Stars, and an Handmaiden of the Elf Queen informed him in his dreams that he and his companions were close to finding the spear. The Elf Queen had made provision for this and sent him aid. When he awoke, he found a shroud for the spear, woven of starlight and gossamer, but as strong as steel, with a silver mesh end to contain the wicked spear and transport it safely back to Santa Cora (this disposed of his last unused Icon Roll with the Elf Queen).<br />
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Zuzu also had a dream. In it she was wandering the Wild Wood, where once she was lost without her memory. Here she was aware of who she was and she followed the flight of a great owl down a path into a grove dedicated to the High Druid, surrounded by Standing Stones. Within the circle stood a great bear. The owl landed on the bear's shoulder and the creatures spoke as one. Zuzu understood that the spirits of the High Druid would allow her to rescue the Owlbear who resided in the fortress' cistern (brought there by the Orcs) and in return the Owlbear would not be dangerous to her and her friends, and it would help with their task.<br />
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After these dreams were experienced and explained, the party evaluated the treasure they had obtained so far (coins, jewelry, etc.). They felt rich.<br />
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Then the characters all made Icon rolls and I secretly rolled for an additional Icon influence. Many helpful Icon rolls ensued, some to be awarded immediately, others to be held for later. <br />
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Delthen rolled a 6 on his positive relationship with the Crusader and a 6 on his negative relationship with the Diabolist.<br />
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Legolis rolled a 6 on his positive relationship with the Elf Queen.<br />
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Yoshi rolled a 6 on his complicated relationship with the Elf Queen and a 6 on his positive relationship with the Emperor.<br />
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Lief rolled a 5 on his positive relationship with the High Druid, and he rolled a 6 on his positive relationship with the Priestess.<br />
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Indigo rolled one 5 and two 6sfrom his positive relationship with the Priestess.<br />
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Cerise rolled on 5 on her positive relationship from the Priestess.<br />
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Zuzu rolled a 6 on her positive relationship with the Priestess.<br />
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Hey rolled a 5 on his negative relationship with the Orc Lord.<br />
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The additional Icon turned out to be the Orc Lord, which was no surprise.<br />
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Half-Orc Hey Watchit made sure everyone knew he was going to use the "facilities." In the mean time, the Cleric Indigo prayed for the Priestess to intercede with the Gnomish Gods and give him a sign to guide them to the spear. His hammer began to glow faintly, and he knew that as the brightness grew, he would be able to tell how close they were getting.<br />
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Zuzu also prayed for the intercession of the Priestess, and she plucked a newly appearing gem from her magic necklace (her One Unique Thing) and asked for a sign of guidance. The gem glowed to show which path to take, with one of the points of the gem glowing to guide Zuzu on the path.<br />
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Yoshi awoke from a dream of his grandmother, the Elf Queen, and found himself drawn to a pile of old armor and weapons in a corner of the room. Beneath it, he found a quiver filled with 12 arrows. The quiver bore the coat of arms of the Court of Stars, and the arrows flickered such that sometimes each arrow appeared to be two, and sometimes just one. Yoshi immediately shared half the arrows with the other follower of the Elf Queen, Legolis the Ranger.<br />
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After rising from meditation, the Paladin Delthen realized that a power had awakened in his weapon of office, his mace, which now was show to have the power of the Crusader enchanting it.<br />
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Hey Watchit decided that the name of their band of adventurers should be called the "Hey Guys." No one is sure if that is going to stick.<br />
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Zuzu declared to the party that the Owlbear, "Who-grrl" wanted to be set free, and that she aimed to do it. <br />
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They gathered their equipment and headed back to the unexplored section of the dungeon. Briefly they thought about going through to what might be a "short cut" through the room with the giant spiders, but no one wanted to fight the spiders, and both Zuzu and Indigo decided that the signs were clearer to proceed down the main passage. They could hear the cries of the Owlbear.<br />
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They found a secret door behind an old tapestry in the hallway, and they discovered it opened into the fortress cistern, at the bottom of which was the Owlbear. The Owlbear immediately started climbing towards them. Zuzu met it once it clambered into the dungeon. Delthen tossed it his dried up Wyvern head, and Hey tossed it some croissants. The Owlbear ate indiscriminately. Zuzu used her background of having once worked with a menagerie to read its mood. Also, some of the magic of the High Druid's dream lingered. She understood that the Owlbear would be friendly and would help with one task, and then all bets might be off. Zuzu decided the Owlbear should come with them.<br />
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They proceeded into an Orc spirit temple filled with dark foreboding and menace. Nonetheless, Rolen the Sorcerer was not able to detect much in the way of mystic forces from outside the room. The temple was a huge room, over a hundred feet on each side. Massive pillars lined the center, each decorated with the depiction of an Orc hero bearing a spear. The construction was originally human (Imperial) and Elvish, but the Orcs had redressed and re-purposed the room. They could tell from the entryway that one side of the room was dominated by a throne, behind an altar. The throne was occupied by an Orc skeleton dressed in plate armor, holding a great spear. Before the throne/altar area were arrayed the skeletal forms of about 30 other armored Orcs. <br />
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Yoshi, Delthen. Rolen and Indigo entered the chamber. Yoshi, Rolen and Indigo began edging around the chamber on the side away from the throne. Legolis picked up the tracks of their rival "Seth" heading out of the chamber down a stone staircase.<br />
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Delthen, meanwhile, defaced one of the columns with his mace, smashing the features of the carved Orc. He then was joined by Zuzu and Cerise and approached the throne. They all felt a brief wave of fear, which then they each faced down.<br />
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Cerise, taking no chances, case her Spirits of the Righteous at the figure on the throne, blasting it to pieces.<br />
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There was no reaction from anything in the room.<br />
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Delthen tried to sense whether there was any demonic or other malevolent presence in the room, but the sanctifying light from Cerise' spell just made him feel itchy.<br />
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Indigo, moving opposite of the throne, continued to detect nothing, but the light of his hammer grew as they crossed the room to a staircase that lead out the back.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile the other members of the party, led by Hey, decided that Who-grrl the Owlbear, should be called Perry.<br />
<br />
Having renamed the Owlbear, and Hey then went to sit on the throne. It was nicely sanitized by the blast of holy light. Legolis quickly sketched the scene and posted it on Elf-Scroll.<br />
<br />
Hey noticed in the fragments of the skeletons left gauntlet a mysterious ring covered in skull motifs (like <a href="http://www.rxvrings.com/v/vspfiles/photos/DemonComet-2T.jpg" target="_blank">this</a>). He loudly announced his find.<br />
<br />
Delthen tried to recall if anything about the symbols of the ring from his training as an inquisitor, but he could think of nothing.<br />
<br />
Zuzu also examined the ring, but came away with no impression of it.<br />
<br />
Delthen decided to set aside his magic mace and try on the ring, but just before slipping it on, a pinprick of intuition, like a dark whisper stopped him, and he began to see the aura of cursed magic around the ring (cross off his successful Icon role for his negative relationship with the Diabolist).<br />
<br />
Indigo then took charge of the ring, and praying through the intercession of the Priestess to the gods and light and wisdom of the Gnomish pantheon he divined the nature of the ring (a curse ring of terror). He carefully wrapped it up and put it away among his things.<br />
<br />
The adventurers then decided to take the stairs down. Along the way Zuzu spotted a trap, which was on the landing at which the stairs down turned. She detected pressure plates that would unleash a barrage of darts.<br />
<br />
Legolis carefully examined the tracks that Seth had left passing over the pressure plates and he easily passed the traps. He pointed out how to get passed, but it still took some fancy footwork. Fortunately, Hey had long studied interpretive dance, and he easily waltzed through. Most of the other members of the party made it safely as well, using a variety of Dexterity based tricks, but both Zuzu and Rolen took one solid hit from a misstep. Delthen decided to try to the Strength-based trip through the trap, hunkering in his armor and jamming his shield against the wall to block the darts. He was surprisingly successful.<br />
<br />
The chamber at the bottom of the stairs was lined in black marble, and the walls held rows of skeletal Orcs in armor, and the trophies made of the skulls and other body parts of the Orcs enemies. Delthen decided to, out of an abundance of caution, smash all the standing Orc skeletons in the kneecaps, at least along the right side of the chamber.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Indigo and Zuzu figured out that while there were several passages off this main chamber, their true path led through a seemingly blank wall. The wall soon yielded a secret door, and they passed through a series of rooms with murals and more sepulchral guardians, until they reach a final chamber. At the end of the chamber sat another mummified Orc on a throne, but his spear looked far more <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E1VxaKq-W64NDpKKCXR8-rVivXaiECzsT9S73oG3X47DavVeQSJD1fsDPz9aFii7SSLPs6JljW-9ON5sr4mzuP7fKAL-oyC4zBNxyzgxABqinRz3ak0Io1WvNJZ_YElnJ8Sf4TBCLxa0/s1600/4694521086_572e27b43e_o.jpg" target="_blank">convincing</a>, especially when the tip began to burn hot in the presence of the elves and half-elves in the party.<br />
<br />
The chamber was also lined with heavily armored skeletal Orcs, each bearing a spear.<br />
<br />
Round 1 Escalation 0<br />
The party moved into the room, and I called for initiative rolls. The skeletons had top initiative, followed by the reanimated Mondru, Fourth of his Name, then Zuzu activated Who-grrl, the Owlbear. After that were the two clerics, Cerise and Indigo, then Lief the Bard, Legolis the Ranger, Yoshi the Samurai (fighter), Delthen the Paladin and Rolen the Sorceror, then Zuzu the Rogue and finally Hey the fighter.<br />
<br />
A phalanx of spear wielding Orc skeletons charged the party. Legolis was hit critically, but then the next skeleton fumbled, injuring the first skeleton. Yoshi was missed, Delthin got hit, Hey got hit, Rolen was hit twice, Lief was hit and then missed, and using his magic hood he converted the miss into a fumble, which hit the next skeleton. <br />
<br />
Mondru, wielding Alkaarg the Elf Destroyer, struck at Zuzu (a half-elf) hitting her for 23 points of damage (normal hit).<br />
<br />
She used her Ring of Defense to lower the damage to 13.<br />
<br />
The Owlbear then attacked, savaging a skeleton (but these skeletons were tough and heavily armored, thus it survived).<br />
<br />
Indigo cast Turn Undead, Dazing four of the skeletons.<br />
<br />
Cerise cast Spirits of the Righteous with a critical hit for 36 points on Mondru. He was staggered.<br />
<br />
Lief began his Song of Spilt Blood, then unleashed his Battle Chant to damage a skeleton.<br />
<br />
Legolis sought to disengage with the skeletons attacking him, but failed and instead, at the suggestion of Hey to "Axe them a question!", he swung his axe, regretfully only doing "miss" damage.<br />
<br />
Yoshi, engaged with two skeletons, drew his Katana and did 16 points with a Power Attack.<br />
<br />
Delthen stepped forward to Smite Enemy on Mondru.<br />
<br />
Rolen failed to disengage, but moved anyway, avoiding being hit by an opportunity attack, and unleashed his Scorching Ray.<br />
<br />
Zuzu hurled a throwing "glaive" with her flying blade attack and hit.<br />
<br />
Hey rolled a fumble, and started to fall over, however he gained a re-roll with his "lethal" talent and he cried out "Hey just kidding!" as he smashed his tree into one of the skeleton's kneecaps.<br />
<br />
Round 2 Escalation 1<br />
<br />
The skeletons, all still up, struck. Two misses on each Legolis and Yoshi. Two hits on Delthen. One hit and one miss on Hey. Two misses on the Owlbear. Two misses (which would have hit, had it not been for the ongoing Song of Spilt Blood) on Lief.<br />
<br />
Mondru attacked the Owlbear and missed.<br />
<br />
The Owlbear struck back at Mondru, crushing him, putting him to rest permanently.<br />
<br />
For a moment it looked as if the destruction of the reanimated Mondru would have some effect on his skeleton guards, but then the Necromantic Tribal Curse marked onto the Bard Lief's skin pulsed, channeling necrotic energy into them, and they fought on (Hooray One Unique Thing (1UT)!).<br />
<br />
Indigo moved up and cast a quick heal on Delthen, then cast his Javelin of Faith, which missed.<br />
<br />
Cerise also cast a quick heal and struck a skeleton with her Javelin of Faith.<br />
<br />
Lief continued his song, lashed out with Battle Chant, thunderously damaging a skeleton, and he allowed Legolis to disengage through his battle cry flexible "attack"!<br />
<br />
Legolis used his Ranger's pet snake to "mimic" Rolen's Elven Grace, but failed to activate it this round. He then pulled out one of the magic Double Arrows, and fired, destroying a skeleton with the first arrow, but missing (and missing his Archery reroll) with the second.<br />
<br />
Yoshi deals damage to a skeleton with his Katana.<br />
<br />
Rolen unleashes the fire of Scorching Ray on another.<br />
<br />
Delthen strikes with Smite Enemy against another.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, out of the shadows, the creature know as Seth (a Man Orc whose real name is Serga Ulmus) appears and picks up Alkaarg. However, now the party, in melee with almost a dozen skeletons, lies between him and the exit.<br />
<br />
Zuzu immediately springs into action; she spend her Momentum on Swashbuckle and runs up the back of the Owlbear, flips off the Owlbear's back, over the heads of the skeletons, and neatly kicks out at the speak in Seth's hands.<br />
<br />
Her kick, unfortunately, is not effective and Seth retains the spear. <br />
<br />
[n.b. Zuzu's player found this highly unsatisfactory, and she wondered whether Swashbuckle had any real value to contribute; I told her we could discuss it when she leveled up; while I let her narrate a lot, I think she probably should have received a bonus to her attack (it was pretty spectacular), which I did not give her (probably a +2); however, in the end, she missed by a lot still, so that probably would not have mattered; I think it might be worth her giving the talent a few more tries, but I happy to let her work in whatever she thinks will best go with her character).<br />
<br />
She then called on the Priestess to grant her a second strike. She found herself paused in the air, able to take another strike. Her role was woefully bad, and she landed on her feet having failed to disarm Seth.<br />
<br />
Hey then swung his tree using his Reach Tricks, to smash two skeletons back into Seth, and they all ended up in a pile on the floor.<br />
<br />
Round 3 Escalation 2<br />
The skeletons continued their relentless attack. Legolis was missed, Yoshi, now with three attacking him, received a hit, a critical hit and a miss, Delthen was hit. Who-grrl the Owlbear was hit once and missed once. Lief was hit. The two knocked back by Hey disentangled themselves, and stood and moved up to him, but had not attack.<br />
<br />
The Who-grrl smashed one of the skeletons attacking her and hit the other one (it was an even escalation die and she got two attacks!).<br />
<br />
Indigo healed Delthen and then did a quick heal on Rolen. He then cast his Javelin of Faith at Seth, but missed.<br />
<br />
Cerise then invoked the Priestess to intercede on her behalf to allow her to cast Spirits of the Righteous for a second time in battle. Her prayer was answered and she let loose on Seth for 20 points of holy damage. As a side effect she Blessed Legolis.<br />
<br />
Lief continued singing his Song, he then cast forth his Battle Chant at a skeleton, resulting in a critical hit. He also used a flexible "attack" to allow Delthen to disengage.<br />
<br />
Legolis fumbles a disengage, failed to make a borrowed Elven Grace roll, and he missed with his Axe.<br />
<br />
Yoshi struck down a skeleton with his Katana.<br />
<br />
Delthen stepped forward and seized Alkaarg from Seth, wrenching it from his grasp (19 Strength). Unfortunately, he then had to fight the cursed, Diabolist and Orc Lord linked Champion Tier weapon. He managed to save so that he could release the spear. He hoped to heroically hurl it away, but barely managed to open his fingers to allow it to fall to the ground. The heat of the spear badly scorched him.<br />
<br />
Rolen succeeded in his Elven Grace roll. He used his first action to gather power, and then let loose a Lightning Fork of double power against Seth with his second action for 34 points damage.<br />
<br />
Seth/Sergus in response blasted Delthen with chaos magic and Delthen crumpled to the ground atop the Spear. His shield began to smoke.<br />
<br />
Zuzu attacked, but missed against Seth with a Flying Blade.<br />
<br />
Hey missed a skeleton.<br />
<br />
Round 4 Escalation 3<br />
<br />
The relentless skeletons continued their assault. First Legolis was his. Three misses ensued against Yoshi. Hey was missed. The Owlbear was missed. Lief was missed. [Bad round for the skeletons]<br />
<br />
Who-grrl smashed another skeleton to pieces.<br />
<br />
Indigo once again sought the intercession of the Priestess with his gods to once again cast Turn Undead. His spell lashed out, dazing four skeletons once again.<br />
<br />
Cerise cast a quick heal on Delthen, but then missed Seth with her Javelin of Faith.<br />
<br />
Legolis, close to going down, called out to the Elf Queen, and then entered a brief trance (during which he had the equivalent of a Quick Rest, allowing him to use as many recoveries as he wanted). He used two recoveries to get out of immediate danger. He then failed to disengage and instead killed a skeleton with his axe.<br />
<br />
Yoshi hit one of the skeletons.<br />
<br />
Delthen, rising from the ground, struck out with his mace, which had a special additional damage due to the Escalation Die, and he killed Seth. Because he follows the Way of Evil Bastards, that use of Smite did not count against maximum (score!).<br />
<br />
Rolen cast Scorching Ray on a skeleton, setting it aflame.<br />
<br />
Zuzu stepped into the shadows with Shadow Walk.<br />
<br />
Hey bashed a skeleton with his tree.<br />
<br />
Round 5 Escalation 4<br />
<br />
Three attacks against Yoshi by the skeletons resulted in two misses and a fumble (the skeletons starting to malfunction and damage one another).<br />
<br />
A skeleton missed Hey.<br />
<br />
A skeleton hit Who-grrl the Owlbear.<br />
<br />
A skeleton hit Lief.<br />
<br />
Cerise summoned to her the powers of the gods of light for her Javelin of Faith. She fumbled. The gods interpreted her prayer to allow her to strike against the agents of darkness directed a strike against Delthen the dark paladin. He roll was a miss, but did miss damage. Delthen's player interpreted this as his shield blocking most of the strike, but some of it bleeding through to harm him. ["Rejected light gods! Ow!"]<br />
<br />
Indigo summoned his Hammer of Faith and bashed a skeleton.<br />
<br />
Lief continued to thunder his Battle Chant against another skeleton.<br />
<br />
Legolis fired a second set of Double Strike Arrows, hitting one skeleton over Yoshi's shoulder, but then fumbling the second attack and sinking an arrow into Yoshi's back. ["Good shot! Ow!! Bad shot!!!]<br />
<br />
Yoshi, ignoring the damage, slashed another skeleton.<br />
<br />
Rolen succeeded in his Elven Grace roll and gathered power, which had the side effect of damaging all the skeletons (because they were all staggered) and he then did a double damage scorching ray on a skeleton. It barely remained standing.<br />
<br />
Delthen then struck that skeleton down.<br />
<br />
Zuzu returned from the shadows to destroy another skeleton.<br />
<br />
Hey destroyed yet another.<br />
<br />
Round 5 Escalation 5<br />
<br />
The last skeleton missed Yoshi.<br />
<br />
The Owlbear smashed the last skeleton to pieces.<br />
<br />
After a long desperate struggle, the characters are now triumphant. Their prize is within there grasp and their enemies lie dead at their feet.<br />
<br />
What could possibly go wrong?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-77977757089353738642013-07-22T09:09:00.000-04:002013-07-22T09:09:23.483-04:00Short Notes: New-ish ComicsI ran through a period of time when I tried my hand at some regular comic book reviews.<br />
<br />
Then I ran out of time.<br />
<br />
Also, they cancelled Greg Rucka's Punisher and that was the book that pulled me into trying my hand. I kind of lost heart after that.<br />
<br />
Still, I continue to read a handful of comics regularly. So, because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want, I thought I would give some quick thoughts to recent issues (and thanks to my local shop, <a href="http://www.beyondcomics.com/" target="_blank">Beyond Comics</a> for pulling my books and especially for Lazarus #1, which due to a miscommunication did not get pulled for me so the owner gave me HIS BOOK; thanks guys! You rock!).<br />
<br />
First, Lazarus #1 by Greg Rucka (writer), Michael Lark (artist), & Santi Arcas (colors): GET THIS BOOK. This is the first issue in a planned long (but finite) story set in a dystopian future. Now, from Hunger Games (book and movie) to Elysium (upcoming movie with Matt Damon) and everything and more in between, dystopian future settings are hot, and some may feel saturated. If you were to give Lazarus a pass because of that feeling, it would be a BIG MISTAKE (yes, it's my blog, I can yell if I want to).<br />
<br />
Lazarus is the story of a world ruled by powerful families who control almost all wealth. Each family has vast holdings, private armies, scheming members, and at least one champion, who is a bioengineered miracle. The family at the center of the tale is Family Carlyle, and their champion is Forever Carlyle. In the first pages of the first issue she is mortally wounded. Then we get to see why her kind is termed a Lazarus and why she is a bioengineered miracle.<br />
<br />
If you want a taste before you buy, there is a free teaser story (complete unto itself and not part of the first issue) <a href="http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/LAZARUS-PRELUDE-CODE.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. You should read it, then you should go get issue #1 and you should put the series on your pull list. <br />
<br />
RIGHT NOW!<br />
<br />
Hawkeye #12 All I have to say is DAMN YOU MATT FRACTION (in the best possible way).<br />
<br />
I opened this book, which continues the storyline of the last few issues, and I was just going to look at the first page . . . . and . . . the next thing I knew, I was at the end, and I do not have issue #13 in my hands yet!!<br />
<br />
DAMN YOU!<br />
<br />
Read this book.<br />
<br />
Captain Marvel # 13 In general, I love what Kelly Sue DeConnick has done with Captain Marvel.<br />
<br />
I did not love this issue.<br />
<br />
Not really even a little bit.<br />
<br />
The art was a mess.<br />
<br />
The story that had been building within the title got hijack for an "event" across a bunch of other books I don't want to buy.<br />
<br />
I got to the last page, and I kinda did not care.<br />
<br />
That made me sad.<br />
<br />
I hope this mess is over soon and Kelly Sue can get back to her focus on the character driven book of fun and adventure that I so admire.<br />
<br />
Sad to say it, but unless you are a completists or collecting all the other books this story got splashed across, you can skip this.<br />
<br />
I may not do more reviews, but then again I might. We'll see what next month brings.Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147709852839402231.post-33565445907379180512013-07-22T08:21:00.000-04:002013-07-22T08:21:37.756-04:00Short Notes: BJ Shea's Geek NationThis summer has been insanely busy. The 13th Age game has been on unintended hiatus as no-one has been able to synchronize their schedules.<br />
<br />
So, in the meantime, let me recommend to you the fantastic podcast <a href="http://media.kisw.com/bj-shea-geek-nation.htm" target="_blank">BJ Shea's Geek Nation</a>. I ran across this program first for their 13th Age actual play broadcasts. I had not planned to become a regular listener, but I gave some of the regular shows a try, and I was hooked. The general show runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Tuesday they focus on Magic: The Gathering, and on Thursdays they have "Special Ops," which focuses on special topics that writers Brandon Jerwa and Mark Rahner choose and discuss. <br />
<br />
I find all the regulars on the show to be interesting, funny and to bring a diversity of perspectives which alert me to interesting topics, new trends and new media to check out (books, comics, film, games, etc.).<br />
<br />
The interplay of the cast is lively and fun, often tinged with the kind of joking, puns, "friendly" put-downs, and movie and book quoting that characterized the time I spent with friends in my formative years growing up geeky. Listening to one of the shows puts me back in a room among people who speak my language fluently.<br />
<br />
I recommend the podcast very much.Evan F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03333016834147890075noreply@blogger.com0