Colonial Caerdia: Blossom Fall is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't already familiar with this series, you can find the beginning over here.
You can find the previous episode here.
4th-5th of Waxing Spring, 0 AL
After resting for a while, out team of heroes is ready to continue on - though Conrad appears to have wandered off without anyone noticing. John takes some time to skin the bears - getting a good pelt from one, but completely mangling the other one beyond use. I'Un acquires the intestines of one of the bears for a project he has in mind, as well as some teeth, and Vala takes a look around - noticing what looks to be a vein of ore - possibly iron - in the cave wall, as well as some odd markings on the stone - occasional clusters of circles and ovals on the walls and floors. She points them out to the others, who can't make head nor tail of them, though they think that they may, perhaps, be some kind of language.
Ready to move on and explore the caves some more, John and Vala sneak off to scout the way. John continues up the growing tunnel where they found the bear, soon finding it to get steeper until it opens upwards with a tree's roots climbing down the side. He climbs up the claw-marked roots and finds himself in the woods with the sound of the river nearby. Vala lights a torch and continues down into the tapering tunnel, choosing to go straight at the intersection. It continues to taper as it twists, getting smaller and smaller until even short Vala has to crawl the last few feet to where the tunnel comes to a rounded end. She doesn't find anything other than more of those strange clustered markings.
Vala and John both return to the others, arriving at about the same time and reporting their findings. Moving as a group, they head off to investigate the final passage in the cave, with John sneaking ten feet ahead of the group to scout the way. This way also tapers, getting smaller as it twists and progresses. John reaches a point where it's too small for him to walk upright and signals back to the others to let them know before he bends down to see what's down there and hits his eye on a rock - letting out a yell that alarms the others until they figure out what happened.
Since they're paused, Jojen asks the others to wait for ten minutes while he casts a spell that allows him to understand any written language so he can take a closer look at the strange circle-and-oval clusters that are down here as well. While he's casting, I'Un announces that he thinks there's something organic in nature about the symbols, and the tunnels, but neither seem naturally forming or man-made. Jojen's spell also reveals that the markings don't translate as any kind of written language.
Concerned that they may be getting into something they aren't prepared for, they decide to return home - bringing what bear meat they can. After arriving, I'Un spends the rest of the evening tracking down a leather worker, finally finding a green dragonborn name Makkar who agrees to lend him his tools in exchange for help building his house.
John and Jojen visit Lord Krandig. Jojen suggests that he may be able to turn Krandig's money into jewelry to fund a house for them to live in - which Krandig agrees to as a possibility, as well as agreeing that he wouldn't mind having Jojen in his house as one of his vessels. John, on the other hand, offers membership in his tribe to Krandig and Jojen. Jojen doesn't outright accept, but shows some interest in the idea. Krandig, on the other hand, turns down the offer, as he has no interest in a tribal life - but he says he'll consider it in the future if the tribe grows larger than two people, and seems like it would be a worthwhile investment. After John leaves, Jojen convinces Krandig of the benefits of having two homes - one here at the settlement, and one perhaps further inland, in case of anything horrible happening to the settlement. Krandig likes the idea of having a country home, and Jojen goes off to share similar thoughts with John.
Vala decides to skulk around camp, keeping her eyes open for anything shady. She doesn't find anything amiss, but her attention is caught by a tiefling with gazelle horns who is making deals and arranging trades between people. After following her for a while, Vala approaches her and introduces herself, learning the tiefling's name is Atsnid and she's intending to set up some kind of shop. Vala lets her know she's good at acquiring things, and walks away confident they will have dealings in the future, and a possible future deal for a jewelers' kit for Jojen.
The next day, I'Un spends the day helping Makkar with his house and getting advice for the design of his project. Jojen looks around for carpenters to help work on Krandig's house, but only finds ones that are already occupied - working on a Temple of the Four with Glavel, the former high priest's assistant, working on a project for a gazelle-horned tiefling, and working on a tavern with Wyatt, a fellow bard. He also makes a deal with Makkar to help build his house in exchange for being permitted to build a small forge nearby Makkar's workshop that the dragonborn can keep an eye on for him.
In the evening, I'Un joins Vala in skulking around the camp, looking for any problems, but they're suddenly hit with the idea of going back to search the Spring Blossom. It's a bit of a hassle rowing out to the ship, as Vala's vain efforts set them spinning in circles, but they make it and they begin looking for any treasures left behind, or signs of people living on the ship. They find nothing until, down in the cargo hold, they notice a bad smell - something halfway between rot and wet dog. I'Un punches through a plank, revealing an open space below.
Lighting a torch, Vala drops down into the cramped, watery space below. She spots several hairy mounds. After poking and prodding at them, she determines that they are certainly not alive. I'Un joins her, and they discover that there are nine very hairy, very dead orcs in this hidden pocket that was entirely sealed - apart from the hole opening out into the ocean. The orcs are surprisingly well dressed for orcs, but the only item of value on them is a set of carpenters' tools.
Taking the tools, Vala and I'Un depart the cubby, replacing the broken plank with one from a deck above. They then set to rowing back to sure, determined to get some questions answered - but with no idea who they might be able to trust.
And that's where this game session comes to an end. Come back next week to (maybe) find out more about these mysterious hairy orcs in Episode 6.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Blossom Fall, Episode 4
Colonial Caerdia: Blossom Fall is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't already familiar with this series, you can find the beginning over here.
You can find the previous episode here.
3rd-4th of Waxing Spring, 0 AL
Our band of heroes return home after their venture up the river, and are greeted by the sound of axes cutting into trees, echoing in the newly-fallen night. They decide two things - that the noise needs to stop, and that they need some sort of watch set up for the night. They have no idea what might be out in the woods, and they don't want anything dangerous drawn in.
I'Un and John head off to find Captain Opal to see if they can get permission to arrange a militia, while Jojen goes to talk the woodcutters into holding off until morning. Vala, on the other hand, seeks out their roommate, Lord Krandig, who is off in the woods failing at starting a campfire for himself. Vala moves him closer to the beach, where she feels it is safer, and speaks with him a bit - learning that he's unhappy that people wouldn't accept money to build a house for him, and that he's disappointed they haven't found a city he can integrate himself into. He muses that perhaps he could fund expeditions to find such cities.
Jojen's attempts to get people to stop chopping trees is unsuccessful, but with the same message relayed to Captain Opal, at least some of the people are stopped from making so much noise. Opal agrees that it's a good idea to get a perimeter set up, but says it's up to them to make it happen. She was in command aboard the ship, but they aren't on a ship any longer. I'Un also notices that he's getting dirty looks from some of the sailors, and he sees one deliberately burning a scrap of paper the right size for one of the autographs he'd sold.
I'Un goes to the beach to set up a base of operations where recruits can be sent while John sets out searching for people with military experience and other recruits to send to I'Un. He finds a number of recruits, and a human woman named Kalrie who claims military experience, and sends them to I'Un.
I'Un welcomes in his recruits, promising them extra food rations in exchange for standing watch for the night. However, some of them - sailors - turn away when they see who is in charge. I'Un calls out to them, calling them cowards, which sparks them to say he's the coward - he, who claimed to be a great hero for the people, then his in a barrel during the storm while good people were washed overboard. I'Un tried to argue with them to no avail, and when they left, some of his other recruits departed as well.
John arrives with Kalrie and they set up their sparse perimeter-watch. Then everyone heads off to bed.
John and I'Un wake up early to go hunting, bringing back enough food for their group, as well as those who stood watch for the night. After distributing their food, they reconvene with Jojen, Conrad, and Vala. They've decided to head out to explore the cave they found, but they have a few errands to run first.
They arrange a meeting between Sillo and Lord Kranding, arranging for her to be his new cook for when he builds his new house. I'Un and Vala try to recruit some extra help for their journey, hoping to get High Priest Grumlock or his young attendant to come along for providing healing services. They find the attendant and learn that the High Priest died during the storm, and that the young man doesn't share his clerical powers. They almost convince him to come along, but he decides to stay back and perform last rites. Meanwhile, John and Jojen talk to the captain about getting one of the longboats for making their journey up the river - and perhaps an easier one on the way back down, should they find any treasure there. The captain has no problem with this, and says the boats are currently available to whoever needs them. They acquire one that has just returned from the ship and meet the others at the mouth of the river.
With Conrad and Jojen rowing, it takes them about two and a half hours to reach the cave, where they pull the boat up on the bank. John sneaks a little way ahead to scout the way while the others follow with a lantern. The cave tapers and twists as it delves down into the ground. Around one corner, John sees that there is another passage intersecting theirs, angling down from the right and getting smaller as it continues to the left. Just then, they hear a skittering, and out of the stones all around them come giant centipedes, rushing in to attack them. The group deals with them quickly, with only Vala getting hurt, though Jojen heals her with a quick spell.
They take some time for I'Un to claim the centipedes' mandibles and to debate which way to go next. They want to go deeper, but they're worried about being attacked from behind, so John first scouts up the larger tunnel. Around the corner, he finds a pair of sleeping black bears. He reports back to the others and, after considerable debate, they decide to sneak up on the bears and kill them. Unfortunately, they make too much noise as they approach and find themselves facing fully awake bears.
Vala rushes in to stab one while Jojen attempts to put the bears to sleep - but the spell doesn't have any impact, and one of the bears takes Vala to the ground, unconscious, with a swipe of its claws and a bite. The other bear charges in, landing a heavy hit on John. They're beginning to worry that they may have gotten in a little over their heads, but they aren't willing to leave Vala behind - though John retreats out of harm's way. They manage to take down one of the bears, but at the cost of I'Un landing unconscious on the floor beside Vala, bleeding out like the halfling he was trying to protect. At long last, the second bear falls, and Jojen, John, and Conrad rush in to stabilize the wounds of their two friends. With their friends out of danger, but not yet conscious, they take a rest to treat the wounds recieved in battle.
And that brings an end to this week's game session. Check back next week for Episode 5.
You can find the previous episode here.
3rd-4th of Waxing Spring, 0 AL
Our band of heroes return home after their venture up the river, and are greeted by the sound of axes cutting into trees, echoing in the newly-fallen night. They decide two things - that the noise needs to stop, and that they need some sort of watch set up for the night. They have no idea what might be out in the woods, and they don't want anything dangerous drawn in.
I'Un and John head off to find Captain Opal to see if they can get permission to arrange a militia, while Jojen goes to talk the woodcutters into holding off until morning. Vala, on the other hand, seeks out their roommate, Lord Krandig, who is off in the woods failing at starting a campfire for himself. Vala moves him closer to the beach, where she feels it is safer, and speaks with him a bit - learning that he's unhappy that people wouldn't accept money to build a house for him, and that he's disappointed they haven't found a city he can integrate himself into. He muses that perhaps he could fund expeditions to find such cities.
Jojen's attempts to get people to stop chopping trees is unsuccessful, but with the same message relayed to Captain Opal, at least some of the people are stopped from making so much noise. Opal agrees that it's a good idea to get a perimeter set up, but says it's up to them to make it happen. She was in command aboard the ship, but they aren't on a ship any longer. I'Un also notices that he's getting dirty looks from some of the sailors, and he sees one deliberately burning a scrap of paper the right size for one of the autographs he'd sold.
I'Un goes to the beach to set up a base of operations where recruits can be sent while John sets out searching for people with military experience and other recruits to send to I'Un. He finds a number of recruits, and a human woman named Kalrie who claims military experience, and sends them to I'Un.
I'Un welcomes in his recruits, promising them extra food rations in exchange for standing watch for the night. However, some of them - sailors - turn away when they see who is in charge. I'Un calls out to them, calling them cowards, which sparks them to say he's the coward - he, who claimed to be a great hero for the people, then his in a barrel during the storm while good people were washed overboard. I'Un tried to argue with them to no avail, and when they left, some of his other recruits departed as well.
John arrives with Kalrie and they set up their sparse perimeter-watch. Then everyone heads off to bed.
John and I'Un wake up early to go hunting, bringing back enough food for their group, as well as those who stood watch for the night. After distributing their food, they reconvene with Jojen, Conrad, and Vala. They've decided to head out to explore the cave they found, but they have a few errands to run first.
They arrange a meeting between Sillo and Lord Kranding, arranging for her to be his new cook for when he builds his new house. I'Un and Vala try to recruit some extra help for their journey, hoping to get High Priest Grumlock or his young attendant to come along for providing healing services. They find the attendant and learn that the High Priest died during the storm, and that the young man doesn't share his clerical powers. They almost convince him to come along, but he decides to stay back and perform last rites. Meanwhile, John and Jojen talk to the captain about getting one of the longboats for making their journey up the river - and perhaps an easier one on the way back down, should they find any treasure there. The captain has no problem with this, and says the boats are currently available to whoever needs them. They acquire one that has just returned from the ship and meet the others at the mouth of the river.
With Conrad and Jojen rowing, it takes them about two and a half hours to reach the cave, where they pull the boat up on the bank. John sneaks a little way ahead to scout the way while the others follow with a lantern. The cave tapers and twists as it delves down into the ground. Around one corner, John sees that there is another passage intersecting theirs, angling down from the right and getting smaller as it continues to the left. Just then, they hear a skittering, and out of the stones all around them come giant centipedes, rushing in to attack them. The group deals with them quickly, with only Vala getting hurt, though Jojen heals her with a quick spell.
They take some time for I'Un to claim the centipedes' mandibles and to debate which way to go next. They want to go deeper, but they're worried about being attacked from behind, so John first scouts up the larger tunnel. Around the corner, he finds a pair of sleeping black bears. He reports back to the others and, after considerable debate, they decide to sneak up on the bears and kill them. Unfortunately, they make too much noise as they approach and find themselves facing fully awake bears.
Vala rushes in to stab one while Jojen attempts to put the bears to sleep - but the spell doesn't have any impact, and one of the bears takes Vala to the ground, unconscious, with a swipe of its claws and a bite. The other bear charges in, landing a heavy hit on John. They're beginning to worry that they may have gotten in a little over their heads, but they aren't willing to leave Vala behind - though John retreats out of harm's way. They manage to take down one of the bears, but at the cost of I'Un landing unconscious on the floor beside Vala, bleeding out like the halfling he was trying to protect. At long last, the second bear falls, and Jojen, John, and Conrad rush in to stabilize the wounds of their two friends. With their friends out of danger, but not yet conscious, they take a rest to treat the wounds recieved in battle.
And that brings an end to this week's game session. Check back next week for Episode 5.
Saturday, February 09, 2019
Lark's Landing, Episode 55
Colonial Caerdia: Lark's Landing is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't familiar with this ongoing story, you can follow this link to Once Upon a Tabletop on YouTube to hear the start of it or read the brief summary I wrote when I switched from video to blog.
You can find the previous episode here.
26th of Waning Summer - 4th of Waxing Fall, 1AL
Though Patrick died, Extang was able to revive him thanks to a deal he made with the Negotiator. Everyone is very happy that Patrick is alive and relatively well, but it's the middle of the night, so they go back to sleep without asking Extang how he performed this miracle - much to Extang's relief.
In the morning, Quib gives Fiaeorri a magical ring he acquired from Zotzillaha's corpse which will allow her to speak with animals periodically - she immediately puts it to use with Ruby, her giant fire beetle. Logan and Extang decide they're going back into the depths of the temple to retrieve Zotzillaha's axe - Patrick and Fiaeorri think they're crazy, but Logan wants the axe for himself, and Extang wants to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Most of the group waits above with the freed prisoners while they delve in. They wait as the hours tick by. Almost four hours later, the delvers emerge, axe in hand. Everyone agrees to wait another day before heading home - Patrick, in particular, could use the rest.
During their resting, Logan learns what he can about the axe, and is impressed with what it is capable of. He tells the others, but Patrick warns him not to form the magical bond needed to use the axe until someone magically identifies it. He's worried that such a magical item may be cursed. Logan agrees to wait.
As they set out for home the next day, Saifon, the half-elven cartographer speaks up, pointing out that they're taking the long route by going straight through the jungle to the settlement. He explains that when the vampire captured him, he was brought along the beach for most of the way before pressing into the dense jungle. The 3rd Watch decide to follow his advice, cutting their journey almost in half. En route, T'Zaric talks to Dilmi, his halfling jewelry teacher, and gets her to agree to work with him on a necklace he's designing to store the liquid light he has a vial of.
On the night that they arrive home, Patrick returns home to Saul and throws his arms around his guardian, then tells him about how he died and was brought back to life. Saul is glad that Patrick is alive, but more concerned about how he was brought back than that he died - which Patrick questions him about, and he reveals the he'd also died on occasion while out adventuring with Patrick's parents.
Fiaeorri goes to report the death of the foul, undead vampire to Gregor, the head of the cult she was brought up in. Gregor congratulates her and accepts the treasure she gives him as a contribution to rebuilding their order. Then he notices the necklace she is wearing - the one like she was holding onto for him, and that she found a duplicate of. He asks to see it, and looks at it for a moment before commenting that it's slightly different, and attaching it to his necklace. He says it looks like it's designed to have one more, and lets it drop to his chest. Fiaeorri is a little disappointed that her necklace wasn't returned to her, but she rallies and says she'll seek out the third piece.
Logan takes his axe to Feryon for identification, and doesn't learn anything new about it - so he takes it home and attunes to it.
Extang gathers together everyone except Patrick (who is home with Saul) and brings up how some of them have been taking treasure for themselves, rather than splitting it with the group. He suggests all of them pooling their resources into the bag of holding, from which they can all draw funds as needed for their various enterprises and expenses. He gets reluctant agreement, and some new treasures and money are added to the bag of holding - though some secretly hold some back.
Much happens over the next few days. Quib begins working on a song relating the tale of their battle with Zotzillaha. Fiaeorri starts putting up posters for her necklace. Patrick and Logan visit Gorbosh the blacksmith to make some commissions - Patrick, a rapier with Epesta's symbol on it, and Logan to get work started on a suit of full plate. Patrick then goes searching for a diamond that is valuable enough to use in a spell to bring people back from the dead - in case of another fatality in the group. Meanwhile, a string of people go looking for him at Saul's house.
T'Zaric, having had encounters with Saul's paranoia before, decides to play a trick on the old man. Just after the door has closed from Extang asking after Patrick, he uses a spell to turn himself into a clone of Saul, and dimension-doors into the house behind him. This leads to a bickering argument with him imitating Saul, until Saul punches him - hard - and Extang, hearing the commotion, teleports into the house. He has trouble telling which Saul is real - one is beating up the other, while the other is calling his accouter a fraud, but then T'Zaric teleports out and up into the sky, where he resumes his own appearance and begins flying around.
Saul tells Extang that the impostor was a Somvidian spy, here to kill Patrick, and Extang rushes outside, polymorphing himself into a giant eagle and taking to the skies to look around. He sees no sign of the fake Saul, but he does see his friend T'Zaric flying around. He heads over to recruit him to help, forgetting that he can't speak while in this form. T'Zaric sees a giant eagle bearing down on him and begins casting spells at it. Extant attempts to mime his identity to T'Zaric, conveying, at least, that he isn't a normal bird, since no real bird would act like that.
The display is seen by others of the group on the ground. Quib, seeing a fellow bird in danger, borrows Fiaeorri's ring, teleports himself up onto the eagle's back, casts speak with animals, and is surprised to find the bird he is talking to is Extang - information he conveys to T'Zaric. Eventually they rally together and meet on the ground - with Extang spreading the word about the potential spy.
Fiaeorri heads home, as does T'Zaric - but T'Zaric gets approached en route by someone who's heard his rumor that he's the person who will get things done - anything - for a price. It is a familiar dragonborn lady, with a small child in tow, who tells him that she believes there's a secret cult who has her missing husband - a blue dragonborn - held hostage. She says they approached her in the night and threatened her unhatched child. T'Zaric promises to let her know if he discovers anything about her husband or this cult, then goes home. Finding Fiaeorri there, he tells her of the crazy dragonborn lady who is still searching for her dead husband, and has a laugh with her about how someone could think there was a cult in this tiny town. However, something about Fiaeorri's responses - and her request that he keep her informed if he does find out anything about a cult - strike him as a bit off. He decides that, unlikely as it is, he should still keep his eyes open for any unusual activity.
Patrick, Extang, Quib, and Logan all end up at Saul's house, having tea, with Extang communicating his treasure plan to Patrick. However, the conversation turns to Patrick's death, and how Extang managed to resurrect him. Extang refuses to say anything beyond that it was magic, and teleports away when they continue to pressure him for more information. He heads to Wyatt's Tavern and waits until closing time so he can talk to Stor as the goblin closes up the Explorers' Guild. He tells Stor about what happened, and his very uncertain deal with the Negotiator, revealing how concerned he is about it - and that he doesn't want to tell the rest of the 3rd Watch about it. Stor understands, and tells Extang that he's been making some very reckless decisions. He also points out that a deal Akta made with the Negotiator has resulted in her and Kordak having been gone for over a year - and that Kordak wasn't even part of the deal. It's possible that the deal he made may draw in the rest of the group as well, so it may be a good idea to warn them first. Nodding, but still undecided, Extang goes home.
T'Zaric also has a mission that evening. Knowing that Patrick is wanting a valuable diamond for a spell, he asks around and finds that Naldor has acquired one. He wakes up the grumpy shopkeeper and buys it with money he neglected to add to the party treasury. He manages to deflect at least some of the suspicion over why he has money - when all his profits are supposed to be going to Port Noble as part of his punishment for murdering Balasar - by saying he's on an errand for someone else. He then delivers the diamond to Patrick.
Time passes, with T'Zaric continuing his indentured learning of jewelry, Fiaeorri learning draconic, Quib learning to cook, Logan training Lykos, Patrick working as town healer, and Extang beginning work on making barrels - intending to start a trade caravan with the lizardfolk they met several months ago. On the 1st of Waxing Fall, they celebrate the Festival of Change.
On the night of the 3rd of Waxing Fall - so late that it's the early morning of the 4th, the 3rd Watch are awakened by the sound of screams and the ringing of the bell on the town hall. They all rush outside. Most of the group are staying in their Skull Hall home up on the hill, and they look out towards the beach where they can see a number of houses burning. Armed people are running in that direction, while others are fleeing it.
Patrick leaves Saul's house, and can only see the flow of running people, while T'Zaric steps out of his own home to find himself a handful of feet away from five spear and trident-wielding blue-green creatures with big black eyes and fins on their heads. He rises into the air, seeing the burning houses closer to the beach - some inside the second palisade wall surrounding Port Noble - and figures rushing between the buildings. He flies towards the hill, hoping to lure the blue-green creatures behind him until he can find and regroup with the rest of the 3rd Watch.
And that brings an end to this game session. Who is attacking Port Noble? Find out next week in Episode 56.
You can find the previous episode here.
26th of Waning Summer - 4th of Waxing Fall, 1AL
Though Patrick died, Extang was able to revive him thanks to a deal he made with the Negotiator. Everyone is very happy that Patrick is alive and relatively well, but it's the middle of the night, so they go back to sleep without asking Extang how he performed this miracle - much to Extang's relief.
In the morning, Quib gives Fiaeorri a magical ring he acquired from Zotzillaha's corpse which will allow her to speak with animals periodically - she immediately puts it to use with Ruby, her giant fire beetle. Logan and Extang decide they're going back into the depths of the temple to retrieve Zotzillaha's axe - Patrick and Fiaeorri think they're crazy, but Logan wants the axe for himself, and Extang wants to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Most of the group waits above with the freed prisoners while they delve in. They wait as the hours tick by. Almost four hours later, the delvers emerge, axe in hand. Everyone agrees to wait another day before heading home - Patrick, in particular, could use the rest.
During their resting, Logan learns what he can about the axe, and is impressed with what it is capable of. He tells the others, but Patrick warns him not to form the magical bond needed to use the axe until someone magically identifies it. He's worried that such a magical item may be cursed. Logan agrees to wait.
As they set out for home the next day, Saifon, the half-elven cartographer speaks up, pointing out that they're taking the long route by going straight through the jungle to the settlement. He explains that when the vampire captured him, he was brought along the beach for most of the way before pressing into the dense jungle. The 3rd Watch decide to follow his advice, cutting their journey almost in half. En route, T'Zaric talks to Dilmi, his halfling jewelry teacher, and gets her to agree to work with him on a necklace he's designing to store the liquid light he has a vial of.
On the night that they arrive home, Patrick returns home to Saul and throws his arms around his guardian, then tells him about how he died and was brought back to life. Saul is glad that Patrick is alive, but more concerned about how he was brought back than that he died - which Patrick questions him about, and he reveals the he'd also died on occasion while out adventuring with Patrick's parents.
Fiaeorri goes to report the death of the foul, undead vampire to Gregor, the head of the cult she was brought up in. Gregor congratulates her and accepts the treasure she gives him as a contribution to rebuilding their order. Then he notices the necklace she is wearing - the one like she was holding onto for him, and that she found a duplicate of. He asks to see it, and looks at it for a moment before commenting that it's slightly different, and attaching it to his necklace. He says it looks like it's designed to have one more, and lets it drop to his chest. Fiaeorri is a little disappointed that her necklace wasn't returned to her, but she rallies and says she'll seek out the third piece.
Logan takes his axe to Feryon for identification, and doesn't learn anything new about it - so he takes it home and attunes to it.
Extang gathers together everyone except Patrick (who is home with Saul) and brings up how some of them have been taking treasure for themselves, rather than splitting it with the group. He suggests all of them pooling their resources into the bag of holding, from which they can all draw funds as needed for their various enterprises and expenses. He gets reluctant agreement, and some new treasures and money are added to the bag of holding - though some secretly hold some back.
Much happens over the next few days. Quib begins working on a song relating the tale of their battle with Zotzillaha. Fiaeorri starts putting up posters for her necklace. Patrick and Logan visit Gorbosh the blacksmith to make some commissions - Patrick, a rapier with Epesta's symbol on it, and Logan to get work started on a suit of full plate. Patrick then goes searching for a diamond that is valuable enough to use in a spell to bring people back from the dead - in case of another fatality in the group. Meanwhile, a string of people go looking for him at Saul's house.
T'Zaric, having had encounters with Saul's paranoia before, decides to play a trick on the old man. Just after the door has closed from Extang asking after Patrick, he uses a spell to turn himself into a clone of Saul, and dimension-doors into the house behind him. This leads to a bickering argument with him imitating Saul, until Saul punches him - hard - and Extang, hearing the commotion, teleports into the house. He has trouble telling which Saul is real - one is beating up the other, while the other is calling his accouter a fraud, but then T'Zaric teleports out and up into the sky, where he resumes his own appearance and begins flying around.
Saul tells Extang that the impostor was a Somvidian spy, here to kill Patrick, and Extang rushes outside, polymorphing himself into a giant eagle and taking to the skies to look around. He sees no sign of the fake Saul, but he does see his friend T'Zaric flying around. He heads over to recruit him to help, forgetting that he can't speak while in this form. T'Zaric sees a giant eagle bearing down on him and begins casting spells at it. Extant attempts to mime his identity to T'Zaric, conveying, at least, that he isn't a normal bird, since no real bird would act like that.
The display is seen by others of the group on the ground. Quib, seeing a fellow bird in danger, borrows Fiaeorri's ring, teleports himself up onto the eagle's back, casts speak with animals, and is surprised to find the bird he is talking to is Extang - information he conveys to T'Zaric. Eventually they rally together and meet on the ground - with Extang spreading the word about the potential spy.
Fiaeorri heads home, as does T'Zaric - but T'Zaric gets approached en route by someone who's heard his rumor that he's the person who will get things done - anything - for a price. It is a familiar dragonborn lady, with a small child in tow, who tells him that she believes there's a secret cult who has her missing husband - a blue dragonborn - held hostage. She says they approached her in the night and threatened her unhatched child. T'Zaric promises to let her know if he discovers anything about her husband or this cult, then goes home. Finding Fiaeorri there, he tells her of the crazy dragonborn lady who is still searching for her dead husband, and has a laugh with her about how someone could think there was a cult in this tiny town. However, something about Fiaeorri's responses - and her request that he keep her informed if he does find out anything about a cult - strike him as a bit off. He decides that, unlikely as it is, he should still keep his eyes open for any unusual activity.
Patrick, Extang, Quib, and Logan all end up at Saul's house, having tea, with Extang communicating his treasure plan to Patrick. However, the conversation turns to Patrick's death, and how Extang managed to resurrect him. Extang refuses to say anything beyond that it was magic, and teleports away when they continue to pressure him for more information. He heads to Wyatt's Tavern and waits until closing time so he can talk to Stor as the goblin closes up the Explorers' Guild. He tells Stor about what happened, and his very uncertain deal with the Negotiator, revealing how concerned he is about it - and that he doesn't want to tell the rest of the 3rd Watch about it. Stor understands, and tells Extang that he's been making some very reckless decisions. He also points out that a deal Akta made with the Negotiator has resulted in her and Kordak having been gone for over a year - and that Kordak wasn't even part of the deal. It's possible that the deal he made may draw in the rest of the group as well, so it may be a good idea to warn them first. Nodding, but still undecided, Extang goes home.
T'Zaric also has a mission that evening. Knowing that Patrick is wanting a valuable diamond for a spell, he asks around and finds that Naldor has acquired one. He wakes up the grumpy shopkeeper and buys it with money he neglected to add to the party treasury. He manages to deflect at least some of the suspicion over why he has money - when all his profits are supposed to be going to Port Noble as part of his punishment for murdering Balasar - by saying he's on an errand for someone else. He then delivers the diamond to Patrick.
Time passes, with T'Zaric continuing his indentured learning of jewelry, Fiaeorri learning draconic, Quib learning to cook, Logan training Lykos, Patrick working as town healer, and Extang beginning work on making barrels - intending to start a trade caravan with the lizardfolk they met several months ago. On the 1st of Waxing Fall, they celebrate the Festival of Change.
On the night of the 3rd of Waxing Fall - so late that it's the early morning of the 4th, the 3rd Watch are awakened by the sound of screams and the ringing of the bell on the town hall. They all rush outside. Most of the group are staying in their Skull Hall home up on the hill, and they look out towards the beach where they can see a number of houses burning. Armed people are running in that direction, while others are fleeing it.
Patrick leaves Saul's house, and can only see the flow of running people, while T'Zaric steps out of his own home to find himself a handful of feet away from five spear and trident-wielding blue-green creatures with big black eyes and fins on their heads. He rises into the air, seeing the burning houses closer to the beach - some inside the second palisade wall surrounding Port Noble - and figures rushing between the buildings. He flies towards the hill, hoping to lure the blue-green creatures behind him until he can find and regroup with the rest of the 3rd Watch.
And that brings an end to this game session. Who is attacking Port Noble? Find out next week in Episode 56.
Monday, February 04, 2019
Humanity of Humanity
There are
times when I look at humanity and find myself amazed at how backwards some
people’s views are, and I find myself wondering how anyone can still think that
way in this day and age. Then I look back over the timeline of events, and
suddenly it seems remarkable that we’ve made as much progress as we have. I
would be much happier if the humanity of humanity developed faster, but I can’t
deny that things have changed faster than it feels like.
Keep in
mind that the average human lifespan is around 80 years. This means that within
80 years of a major change in societal views, there is someone alive who was
brought up with the ideals prior to that time as the norm. Within 160 years,
there is someone alive who was raised by or with contact with someone who grew
up with the prior ideals being the norm – someone who may or may not agree with
them.
So, let’s
look at what was going on 160 years ago. That was around the time slavery was
being abolished in most parts of the world. That means that right now there are
people alive who were alive at the same time as people who saw slavery as a
normal thing – which means some of that culture (if not all of it) was passed
on to them. Which is kind of mind-boggling to someone like me, to whom
mainstream slavery was events of the distant past. Yet, within the scope of
cultural evolution, that’s hardly any time at all – especially when there are
people pushing cultural change in both directions at once.
So, what
about 80 years ago? That was World War II, when not only was it acceptable to
discriminate against people based on their nationality, it was normal. Not
surprising, with slavery so recent in the past. And, today, there are still
people who were alive then – and the world is largely controlled by people who
were raised by people from that time.
In between
those two time periods, women transitioned from essentially being property to
actual human beings. Amazing, I know. Yet, in spite of that change, here we
are, still fighting to make the equality of men and woman normal. It seems like
an awful long time for things to not have fallen into place by now, but, at the
same time, it makes sense that the fight is still going, considering how slowly
culture changes and the fact that we’re still dealing with even older issues.
Now, I’m
not saying it’s right. Right is that a human is a human, no matter what they
look like, where they came from, or what they believe. I’m definitely not
saying we should stop fighting for what’s right. But I think that sometimes we
need to step back and congratulate ourselves on how much progress we’ve made in
so little time, with the odds stacked against us. Then we can get back to the
fight and shape the world into all that it can be.
Check out my YouTube channel where I tell the stories of my D&D campaigns.
Also, make sure you check out my wife's blog and her website.
If there's any subject you'd like to see me ramble on about, feel free to leave a comment asking me to do so.
Saturday, February 02, 2019
Blossom Fall, Episode 3
Colonial Caerdia: Blossom Fall is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't already familiar with this series, you can find the beginning over here.
You can find the previous episode here.
7th of Waning Winter, 2158 AE - 3rd of Waxing Spring, 0 AL
Having just driven off a sea monster from the Spring Blossom, our heroes - or, at least some of them - decide it is the perfect time to make some money. Vala and Jojen quickly hatch a plan to sell I'Un's autographs, pitching the monk as Punch Drunk, the champion of the fighting ring, the amazing man who survived a 100ft fall from the mast, and the warrior who had kicked the sea serpent from the side of the ship. I'Un hesitantly agrees - not really wanting the attention, but knowing he's running short on money. Besides, Vala makes a wonderful argument that these people could use a hero to look up to.
So John climbs up on a barrel and shouts out to the crowd, drawing them in. Conrad steps up to act as bodyguard, while Jojen prepares the paper, then begins playing a some music, and Vala collects the eight copper pieces per signature. By the time they run out of paper, they've made a little coin, and I'Un is starting to like the idea of being a hero. He offers an open challenge to a game of darts with his portion of the take as a bet, but instantly regrets it when a young noblewoman comes forward to accept his challenge - not looking like the type to win at darts, and making him instantly suspicious that she's some sort of hustler. However, he wins - barely - and she accepts the defeat graciously. What's more, the crowd loves it.
With their money made, the group settles back down to continue their journey. Days turn into tendays, and there's still no sign of land. Rations are growing thin, and everyone is growing tired of the unending sway of the ship. When the first of Waxing Spring arrives, there's hardly any celebration of the New Year.
On the night of the 2nd of Waxing spring - so late that it would be more appropriate to call it the morning of the 3rd, Jojen wakes up. He's spent some time on a ship before, and he can tell something is wrong - though he doesn't know what. He quickly wakes the others, wishing to ensure that whatever is happening, they are prepared.
Conrad immediately heads out into the hall, where a couple sailors are moving with a quiet urgency. He accosts one, trying to discover what is happening, but she assures him there's nothing for him to worry about and continues waking up all the off-duty sailors.
Jojen makes his way up to the deck and finds his eyes drawn to roiling clouds on the horizon, dead ahead of the ship. Captain Opal is at the helm with the half-orc sailor, Skaal, and he makes his way up to them. The captain confirms his fear that they're headed into a really bad storm, and there's no way to avoid it - he offers to be on hand to help, and she says she welcomes anyone who is willing to lend a hand to help the ship make it through the storm. He rejoins his companions, who are just arriving on deck - I'Un and Vala with their escape-barrels in tow.
After hearing Jojen describe the storm as a ship killer, Vala ties the two escape barrels together, then to the mast, and climbs in while the others brace for the storm. It hits them, with rain and waves washing over the deck, making it hard to keep their feet. Jojen, John, I'Un, and Conrad begin running around, solving what problems they can quickly. Conrad is nearly swept from the deck, but I'Un catches him. When a huge gust of wind blows the ship off course, John rushes to the helm to help the captain and Skall, earning a nod of respect from Opal.
A line snaps, and Conrad deftly snatches it before it whips away. Things have been going as well as they can, but they see a massive tidal wave rearing and bearing down on the ship. John braces himself at the helm, hoping to keep the captain safe. I'Un, worried about what this wave might do, knocks the line out of Conrad's hands and drags the big man over to the mast, telling him to hold onto the barrels while climbing into his escape barrel. Knowing that the line was important, Jojen grabs it as the wave crashes down on the ship. Unfortunately, he's unable to keep hold of it and he's swept away towards the side of the ship. With Conrad also knocked from his feet, John at the helm and too far away, and Vala and I'Un huddling in their barrels, there is no one to save Jojen from being swept overboard.
The situation begins turning worse. I'Un does get out of his barrel, but only long enough to get to the side of the ship and see that Jojen is nowhere in sight before returning to his barrel. Conrad continues trying to put out fires - sometimes literally, after lightning strikes the deck. John stays at the helm, helping keep the ship on course and hoping to make an impression on the captain by helping to keep her safe - even though it means no one is able to respond to the report of animals breaking free of their pens below decks, likely to stampede. In spite of his best efforts, however, he isn't able to save her when a wave washes her overboard. He considers abandoning the helm for long enough to tie himself to a mast, but another gust of wind sweeps in and he decides it's more important to stay at the helm and keep the ship on course.
The Spring Blossom is in rough shape when it breaks free of the storm, but it's still afloat - if barely. With the captain missing, Skaal takes command, though John stays to help him with the helm. Reports start floating in - the hold is taking on water at a rapid pace, and the ship is barely limping along. Even with repairs underway, it seems like only a matter of time before the ship sinks. Then, in the afternoon, a cry comes down from the crow's nest: Land ho! People flood to the deck to get their first look at land in over three months. I'Un, in particular, is looking for a city on the horizon, but they're still too far to see anything - and nothing shows up as they draw nearer.
Skall leaves the helm long enough to climb up to the nest, and returns with a decision on where they are going. He steers them towards a small bay, making straight for land - the ship is riding low in the water and it has been decided that the best course of action is to run aground. However, before they reach the beach, the Spring Bottom grinds to a halt on a sand bar.
Everyone is eager to make for the longboats, and our remaining heroes are at the forefront. As soon as they hit land, they split into groups - with John taking Will out to hunt in the woods beyond the narrow beach - and perhaps find some sign of civilization - while I'Un searches the beach to the south, and Conrad and Vala search the beach to the north. How close they were to shore when the storm hit has given them hope that maybe - just maybe - Jojen survived.
John finds some food, but nothing denoting anything but animals in the area. He does come across a river emptying out into the bay, and decides that this source of fresh water is as good a place as any to build a new home. He plants his staff, tying a make-shift banner to it, and claims the land in the name of his tribe, White Wolf - of which he and his cousin will are the only remaining survivors. It is debatable how much sway his claim will hold, as others also start gathering around the river.
To the north, Vala and Conrad come across Captain Opal, limping her way down the beach. They help her back to the growing gathering at the river. Vala says that if they end up building a settlement here, they should name it Spring Blossom. Opal thinks it is a vary fitting name.
To the south, I'Un comes across Jojen lying on the beach. He is in very poor condition, but at least he's alive. They also make their way back to the river, and reunite with the others - who are all delighted to find that their friend has survived. However, they also want to learn more about this new land, and contact any civilization there may be.
Though it is late in the day, they follow the river into the forest - rich with new growth. They travel for about an hour, keeping an eye on the sun so they can head home before dark. Having still seen no signs of anything other than animal life, John climbs a tree to see if the height can tell them anything. All he can see is trees in every direction.
Still, they continue on a little further. After another half hour of walking, they spot a cave opening not fat from the river - however, it's getting close to dusk. They mark its location, and turn back for the shore - but Conrad and I'Un stay behind, curious to explore just a little. They promise to leave at the first sign of trouble.
They light a torch and throw it into the cave - and catch a very brief glimpse of a large form moving away from the light with a skittering sound. Conrad throws a second torch, but his nerves cause him to fumble it and it doesn't even make it as far as the first. The two decide they've pushed their luck far enough and run to catch up with the others before it's dark enough for the whatever-it-is that's avoiding the light to come out after them.
And that's where this week's game session comes to an end. Come back later to find out what happens next week in Episode 4.
You can find the previous episode here.
7th of Waning Winter, 2158 AE - 3rd of Waxing Spring, 0 AL
Having just driven off a sea monster from the Spring Blossom, our heroes - or, at least some of them - decide it is the perfect time to make some money. Vala and Jojen quickly hatch a plan to sell I'Un's autographs, pitching the monk as Punch Drunk, the champion of the fighting ring, the amazing man who survived a 100ft fall from the mast, and the warrior who had kicked the sea serpent from the side of the ship. I'Un hesitantly agrees - not really wanting the attention, but knowing he's running short on money. Besides, Vala makes a wonderful argument that these people could use a hero to look up to.
So John climbs up on a barrel and shouts out to the crowd, drawing them in. Conrad steps up to act as bodyguard, while Jojen prepares the paper, then begins playing a some music, and Vala collects the eight copper pieces per signature. By the time they run out of paper, they've made a little coin, and I'Un is starting to like the idea of being a hero. He offers an open challenge to a game of darts with his portion of the take as a bet, but instantly regrets it when a young noblewoman comes forward to accept his challenge - not looking like the type to win at darts, and making him instantly suspicious that she's some sort of hustler. However, he wins - barely - and she accepts the defeat graciously. What's more, the crowd loves it.
With their money made, the group settles back down to continue their journey. Days turn into tendays, and there's still no sign of land. Rations are growing thin, and everyone is growing tired of the unending sway of the ship. When the first of Waxing Spring arrives, there's hardly any celebration of the New Year.
On the night of the 2nd of Waxing spring - so late that it would be more appropriate to call it the morning of the 3rd, Jojen wakes up. He's spent some time on a ship before, and he can tell something is wrong - though he doesn't know what. He quickly wakes the others, wishing to ensure that whatever is happening, they are prepared.
Conrad immediately heads out into the hall, where a couple sailors are moving with a quiet urgency. He accosts one, trying to discover what is happening, but she assures him there's nothing for him to worry about and continues waking up all the off-duty sailors.
Jojen makes his way up to the deck and finds his eyes drawn to roiling clouds on the horizon, dead ahead of the ship. Captain Opal is at the helm with the half-orc sailor, Skaal, and he makes his way up to them. The captain confirms his fear that they're headed into a really bad storm, and there's no way to avoid it - he offers to be on hand to help, and she says she welcomes anyone who is willing to lend a hand to help the ship make it through the storm. He rejoins his companions, who are just arriving on deck - I'Un and Vala with their escape-barrels in tow.
After hearing Jojen describe the storm as a ship killer, Vala ties the two escape barrels together, then to the mast, and climbs in while the others brace for the storm. It hits them, with rain and waves washing over the deck, making it hard to keep their feet. Jojen, John, I'Un, and Conrad begin running around, solving what problems they can quickly. Conrad is nearly swept from the deck, but I'Un catches him. When a huge gust of wind blows the ship off course, John rushes to the helm to help the captain and Skall, earning a nod of respect from Opal.
A line snaps, and Conrad deftly snatches it before it whips away. Things have been going as well as they can, but they see a massive tidal wave rearing and bearing down on the ship. John braces himself at the helm, hoping to keep the captain safe. I'Un, worried about what this wave might do, knocks the line out of Conrad's hands and drags the big man over to the mast, telling him to hold onto the barrels while climbing into his escape barrel. Knowing that the line was important, Jojen grabs it as the wave crashes down on the ship. Unfortunately, he's unable to keep hold of it and he's swept away towards the side of the ship. With Conrad also knocked from his feet, John at the helm and too far away, and Vala and I'Un huddling in their barrels, there is no one to save Jojen from being swept overboard.
The situation begins turning worse. I'Un does get out of his barrel, but only long enough to get to the side of the ship and see that Jojen is nowhere in sight before returning to his barrel. Conrad continues trying to put out fires - sometimes literally, after lightning strikes the deck. John stays at the helm, helping keep the ship on course and hoping to make an impression on the captain by helping to keep her safe - even though it means no one is able to respond to the report of animals breaking free of their pens below decks, likely to stampede. In spite of his best efforts, however, he isn't able to save her when a wave washes her overboard. He considers abandoning the helm for long enough to tie himself to a mast, but another gust of wind sweeps in and he decides it's more important to stay at the helm and keep the ship on course.
The Spring Blossom is in rough shape when it breaks free of the storm, but it's still afloat - if barely. With the captain missing, Skaal takes command, though John stays to help him with the helm. Reports start floating in - the hold is taking on water at a rapid pace, and the ship is barely limping along. Even with repairs underway, it seems like only a matter of time before the ship sinks. Then, in the afternoon, a cry comes down from the crow's nest: Land ho! People flood to the deck to get their first look at land in over three months. I'Un, in particular, is looking for a city on the horizon, but they're still too far to see anything - and nothing shows up as they draw nearer.
Skall leaves the helm long enough to climb up to the nest, and returns with a decision on where they are going. He steers them towards a small bay, making straight for land - the ship is riding low in the water and it has been decided that the best course of action is to run aground. However, before they reach the beach, the Spring Bottom grinds to a halt on a sand bar.
Everyone is eager to make for the longboats, and our remaining heroes are at the forefront. As soon as they hit land, they split into groups - with John taking Will out to hunt in the woods beyond the narrow beach - and perhaps find some sign of civilization - while I'Un searches the beach to the south, and Conrad and Vala search the beach to the north. How close they were to shore when the storm hit has given them hope that maybe - just maybe - Jojen survived.
John finds some food, but nothing denoting anything but animals in the area. He does come across a river emptying out into the bay, and decides that this source of fresh water is as good a place as any to build a new home. He plants his staff, tying a make-shift banner to it, and claims the land in the name of his tribe, White Wolf - of which he and his cousin will are the only remaining survivors. It is debatable how much sway his claim will hold, as others also start gathering around the river.
To the north, Vala and Conrad come across Captain Opal, limping her way down the beach. They help her back to the growing gathering at the river. Vala says that if they end up building a settlement here, they should name it Spring Blossom. Opal thinks it is a vary fitting name.
To the south, I'Un comes across Jojen lying on the beach. He is in very poor condition, but at least he's alive. They also make their way back to the river, and reunite with the others - who are all delighted to find that their friend has survived. However, they also want to learn more about this new land, and contact any civilization there may be.
Though it is late in the day, they follow the river into the forest - rich with new growth. They travel for about an hour, keeping an eye on the sun so they can head home before dark. Having still seen no signs of anything other than animal life, John climbs a tree to see if the height can tell them anything. All he can see is trees in every direction.
Still, they continue on a little further. After another half hour of walking, they spot a cave opening not fat from the river - however, it's getting close to dusk. They mark its location, and turn back for the shore - but Conrad and I'Un stay behind, curious to explore just a little. They promise to leave at the first sign of trouble.
They light a torch and throw it into the cave - and catch a very brief glimpse of a large form moving away from the light with a skittering sound. Conrad throws a second torch, but his nerves cause him to fumble it and it doesn't even make it as far as the first. The two decide they've pushed their luck far enough and run to catch up with the others before it's dark enough for the whatever-it-is that's avoiding the light to come out after them.
And that's where this week's game session comes to an end. Come back later to find out what happens next week in Episode 4.
Friday, February 01, 2019
Lark's Landing, Episode 54
Colonial Caerdia: Lark's Landing is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't familiar with this ongoing story, you can follow this link to Once Upon a Tabletop on YouTube to hear the start of it or read the brief summary I wrote when I switched from video to blog.
You can find the previous episode here.
26th of Waning Summer, 1AL
Though Zotzillaha appears to have been defeated, the 3rd Watch aren't certain, as the vampire has become a cloud of mist. Logan quickly casts a spell on the mist that will let him track its location, just as it disappears down into the cracks of the floor, then takes a moment to heal some of Extang's wounds. Patrick, in giant ape form, breaks down the doors with punches from his massive hands, while Quib casts a spell that will force shapechangers to revert to their true form, as well as dealing damage in that area, over the door - inadvertently hurting the ape forms of both Patrick and Fiaeorri.
T'Zaric casts a spell turning himself to mist and tries to follow Zotzillaha, but the vampire-mist is moving twice as fast as he is and manages to lose him in the twists and turns of the stones in the wall, so he eventually turns back.
Extang releases the spell that has turned Fiaeorri and Patrick into apes, then - with Patrick's help - begins seeing to the prisoners of Zotzillaha - Dilmi, Saifon, and Lykos. They are in passable health, considering having been kept as vampire juiceboxes, but they clearly aren't themselves, and have no desire to leave.
Logan reaches for the vampire's fallen axe, but draws his hand back before touching it as the area around it appears to be radiating cold - not to mention, it's casting a shadow that looks like a withered arm. Seeing this, but less concerned, Extang grabs the axe - and discovers that he can't pick it up.
Quib heads out into the hall, moving his spell along with him, hoping to catch the vampire in the wall. Fiaeorri soon joins him - after pocketing some treasure from one of the alcoves - with the intent to go check on Ruby. The charmed panther-man follows. Logan soon joins them as well so he can help point the way to Zotzillaha. Suddenly, Quib sees some mist pouring out of the wall and moves his spell over it - accidentally injuring the returning T'Zaric.
T'Zaric returns to his corporeal form and joins with Logan, Fiaeorri, the panther-man, and Quib as they follow the hall and Logan's spell back to the room where Ruby was left - finding the giant firebeetle alive and chewing on a rat. The stone monolith they had previously opened is closed again, and Quib enters the pattern that slides the top open. Inside, resting peacefully, is Zotzillaha. Logan immediately drives a wooden stake through his heart. Quib goes out to the antechamber and grabs one of the urns of oil, but T'Zaric stops him before he pours it into the coffin. First, they strip the treasure from the vampire - finding a number of magical items.
Now they fill the coffin with oil and set it alight. While Zotzillaha burns, Fiaeorri takes Ruby and - followed by the panther-man - makes her way back to Patrick, Extang, and the freed prisoners. Patrick immediately rushes off to join those at the coffin, arriving to find the fire burning out and Logan saying that he can still sense the vampire's presence in the ashes - which he wouldn't be able to do if it was dead. Patrick reminds them that they need direct sunlight to kill the vampire.
T'Zaric pulls out a vial and fills it with Zotzillaha's ashes, and announces that he's going to dimension-door straight up to the surface with them. Since T'Zaric can take someone with him, Patrick insists on going along, needing to see this done. T'Zaric casts the spell, and they step through - only to be spat out again as the portal opens into something solid. The force of the backfiring spell is enough to knock Patrick unconscious, and T'Zaric doesn't take it so well either. Logan revives Patrick, and they decide to head up to the room they know has a tiny hole up to the surface, from which T'Zaric can turn into mist and go the rest of the way.
As they head out, they meet up with Extang who was on his way to find them. Extang decides to go along, but Quib goes back to inform Fiaeorri of the plan. The two of them decide to stay behind to take care of the former prisoners. During their wait, Fiaeorri's charm wears off of the panther-man, who immediately attacks. Luckily it is still wounded from the earlier battle and they are able to kill it - and they watch, astounded, as it turns into stone. Fiaeorri is barely holding on to consciousness, and sets to tending her wounds.
The other four continue making their way up, but as the reach the lozenge-shaped room where T'Zaric briefly had the mysterious ability to read some of the carvings on the walls, they find their way blocked by two more of the red goblinoids and a human, who attack - turning out to be more vampires. Logan is blocking the doorway, but one of them grabs him and drags him into the room, making for the next person in line - Patrick. Extang and T'Zaric fire spells at it, but it still manages to grab on to Patrick - who panics and bursts into radiant light, dealing damage to everyone in the hallway. However, he falls limp as the vampire sinks its teeth into him, drinking his blood and throwing him to the floor.
Logan breaks away from his fight with the other two vampires in the room and cuts down the vampire between him and Patrick just as Patrick's final breath escapes his lips. Extang grabs Patrick and pours a healing potion into his mouth, to no effect. Still not accepting this, he leans his friend up against the wall and rejoins the battle, even as the others redouble their attacks. The final two vampires are slain, but it is too late - Patrick is dead.
In a sullen silence, with Extang carrying Patrick's limp body, they continue onwards and upwards until they arrive at the rubble-filled room. T'Zaric expends the last of his power reserves to turn into mist, carrying the vial of vampire up to the surface, emerging in a clearing with a fallen tree where he remembers fighting a t-rex a year earlier. He finds a patch of sunlight, and sprinkles the ashes into it, watching with a morose pleasure as most of them dissipate into nothing. He then takes to the air and finds his way back to the temple's entrance to await the rest of his friends.
Extang and Logan make their way back down into the temple, meeting up with Fiaeorri and Quib - on their way out with the prisoners, who have restored to their senses. They learn the hard news of Patrick's death, and make their way up and out of the temple, emerging after dark. With talk of returning Patrick's body to Port Noble and holding a funeral service, they make camp and set up watches for the night.
On his watch, Extang is surprised to find he has a visitor - a fox-like humanoid woman known as the Negotiator whom he knows had something to do with Akts's source of power. She presents him with a contract for such power from Styx, an arch-fey he'd had a chance meeting with. He reads over the contract, finding it reasonable - if vague - but he suddenly finds he no longer wants to make such a deal. But he hesitates, glancing at Patrick's body, and asks the Negotiator if making this deal will open him to more deals with his patron. The Negotiator tilts her head to the side, and asks what sort of deal - informing him that she specializes in deals.
Extang asks about bringing someone back from the dead. The Negotiator grins and digs around in her pouch, pulling out a scroll that can do just that. She asks what he would be willing to trade for it. Extang thinks for a time, and offers her his happiness. The Negotiator is delighted by this, but it doesn't suit her needs. She makes a counteroffer of him owing her an unconditional favor. Extang isn't sure about this, as he knows Kordak and Akta have been gone for over a year on a favor for the Negotiator. He tries to put stipulations on the favor, but the Negotiator will have nothing of it.
Unhappy with the deal, but desperate to bring his young friend back to life, Extang agrees, and takes the scroll. He also turns down Styx's deal, asking that the Negotiator inform him that he will try to find a good home for the magical rod that had introduced them. He also asks after Akta and Kordak. The Negotiatior tells them that they are well, or at least well enough. In fact, the last she checked, they were in Styx's dungeon. Apparently they were caught in Styx's mansion, murdering one of his aides. She doesn't seem worried about this situation, but Extang is quite alarmed. He tries to find out more, but the grinning Negotiator isn't forthcoming, and she departs through one of her magical doors.
Extang pauses to breathe, then slowly wakes up the 3rd Watch. Not giving them any explanations, he gathers them by Patrick's body and reads the scroll that came at such an uncertain cost. The scroll crumbles over Patrick's body as he casts the spell. Patrick's body suddenly spasms, and he gasps in fresh air, sitting bolt upright.
And, with that, this game session comes to an end. Join us next week to find out what happens in Episode 55.
You can find the previous episode here.
26th of Waning Summer, 1AL
Though Zotzillaha appears to have been defeated, the 3rd Watch aren't certain, as the vampire has become a cloud of mist. Logan quickly casts a spell on the mist that will let him track its location, just as it disappears down into the cracks of the floor, then takes a moment to heal some of Extang's wounds. Patrick, in giant ape form, breaks down the doors with punches from his massive hands, while Quib casts a spell that will force shapechangers to revert to their true form, as well as dealing damage in that area, over the door - inadvertently hurting the ape forms of both Patrick and Fiaeorri.
T'Zaric casts a spell turning himself to mist and tries to follow Zotzillaha, but the vampire-mist is moving twice as fast as he is and manages to lose him in the twists and turns of the stones in the wall, so he eventually turns back.
Extang releases the spell that has turned Fiaeorri and Patrick into apes, then - with Patrick's help - begins seeing to the prisoners of Zotzillaha - Dilmi, Saifon, and Lykos. They are in passable health, considering having been kept as vampire juiceboxes, but they clearly aren't themselves, and have no desire to leave.
Logan reaches for the vampire's fallen axe, but draws his hand back before touching it as the area around it appears to be radiating cold - not to mention, it's casting a shadow that looks like a withered arm. Seeing this, but less concerned, Extang grabs the axe - and discovers that he can't pick it up.
Quib heads out into the hall, moving his spell along with him, hoping to catch the vampire in the wall. Fiaeorri soon joins him - after pocketing some treasure from one of the alcoves - with the intent to go check on Ruby. The charmed panther-man follows. Logan soon joins them as well so he can help point the way to Zotzillaha. Suddenly, Quib sees some mist pouring out of the wall and moves his spell over it - accidentally injuring the returning T'Zaric.
T'Zaric returns to his corporeal form and joins with Logan, Fiaeorri, the panther-man, and Quib as they follow the hall and Logan's spell back to the room where Ruby was left - finding the giant firebeetle alive and chewing on a rat. The stone monolith they had previously opened is closed again, and Quib enters the pattern that slides the top open. Inside, resting peacefully, is Zotzillaha. Logan immediately drives a wooden stake through his heart. Quib goes out to the antechamber and grabs one of the urns of oil, but T'Zaric stops him before he pours it into the coffin. First, they strip the treasure from the vampire - finding a number of magical items.
Now they fill the coffin with oil and set it alight. While Zotzillaha burns, Fiaeorri takes Ruby and - followed by the panther-man - makes her way back to Patrick, Extang, and the freed prisoners. Patrick immediately rushes off to join those at the coffin, arriving to find the fire burning out and Logan saying that he can still sense the vampire's presence in the ashes - which he wouldn't be able to do if it was dead. Patrick reminds them that they need direct sunlight to kill the vampire.
T'Zaric pulls out a vial and fills it with Zotzillaha's ashes, and announces that he's going to dimension-door straight up to the surface with them. Since T'Zaric can take someone with him, Patrick insists on going along, needing to see this done. T'Zaric casts the spell, and they step through - only to be spat out again as the portal opens into something solid. The force of the backfiring spell is enough to knock Patrick unconscious, and T'Zaric doesn't take it so well either. Logan revives Patrick, and they decide to head up to the room they know has a tiny hole up to the surface, from which T'Zaric can turn into mist and go the rest of the way.
As they head out, they meet up with Extang who was on his way to find them. Extang decides to go along, but Quib goes back to inform Fiaeorri of the plan. The two of them decide to stay behind to take care of the former prisoners. During their wait, Fiaeorri's charm wears off of the panther-man, who immediately attacks. Luckily it is still wounded from the earlier battle and they are able to kill it - and they watch, astounded, as it turns into stone. Fiaeorri is barely holding on to consciousness, and sets to tending her wounds.
The other four continue making their way up, but as the reach the lozenge-shaped room where T'Zaric briefly had the mysterious ability to read some of the carvings on the walls, they find their way blocked by two more of the red goblinoids and a human, who attack - turning out to be more vampires. Logan is blocking the doorway, but one of them grabs him and drags him into the room, making for the next person in line - Patrick. Extang and T'Zaric fire spells at it, but it still manages to grab on to Patrick - who panics and bursts into radiant light, dealing damage to everyone in the hallway. However, he falls limp as the vampire sinks its teeth into him, drinking his blood and throwing him to the floor.
Logan breaks away from his fight with the other two vampires in the room and cuts down the vampire between him and Patrick just as Patrick's final breath escapes his lips. Extang grabs Patrick and pours a healing potion into his mouth, to no effect. Still not accepting this, he leans his friend up against the wall and rejoins the battle, even as the others redouble their attacks. The final two vampires are slain, but it is too late - Patrick is dead.
In a sullen silence, with Extang carrying Patrick's limp body, they continue onwards and upwards until they arrive at the rubble-filled room. T'Zaric expends the last of his power reserves to turn into mist, carrying the vial of vampire up to the surface, emerging in a clearing with a fallen tree where he remembers fighting a t-rex a year earlier. He finds a patch of sunlight, and sprinkles the ashes into it, watching with a morose pleasure as most of them dissipate into nothing. He then takes to the air and finds his way back to the temple's entrance to await the rest of his friends.
Extang and Logan make their way back down into the temple, meeting up with Fiaeorri and Quib - on their way out with the prisoners, who have restored to their senses. They learn the hard news of Patrick's death, and make their way up and out of the temple, emerging after dark. With talk of returning Patrick's body to Port Noble and holding a funeral service, they make camp and set up watches for the night.
On his watch, Extang is surprised to find he has a visitor - a fox-like humanoid woman known as the Negotiator whom he knows had something to do with Akts's source of power. She presents him with a contract for such power from Styx, an arch-fey he'd had a chance meeting with. He reads over the contract, finding it reasonable - if vague - but he suddenly finds he no longer wants to make such a deal. But he hesitates, glancing at Patrick's body, and asks the Negotiator if making this deal will open him to more deals with his patron. The Negotiator tilts her head to the side, and asks what sort of deal - informing him that she specializes in deals.
Extang asks about bringing someone back from the dead. The Negotiator grins and digs around in her pouch, pulling out a scroll that can do just that. She asks what he would be willing to trade for it. Extang thinks for a time, and offers her his happiness. The Negotiator is delighted by this, but it doesn't suit her needs. She makes a counteroffer of him owing her an unconditional favor. Extang isn't sure about this, as he knows Kordak and Akta have been gone for over a year on a favor for the Negotiator. He tries to put stipulations on the favor, but the Negotiator will have nothing of it.
Unhappy with the deal, but desperate to bring his young friend back to life, Extang agrees, and takes the scroll. He also turns down Styx's deal, asking that the Negotiator inform him that he will try to find a good home for the magical rod that had introduced them. He also asks after Akta and Kordak. The Negotiatior tells them that they are well, or at least well enough. In fact, the last she checked, they were in Styx's dungeon. Apparently they were caught in Styx's mansion, murdering one of his aides. She doesn't seem worried about this situation, but Extang is quite alarmed. He tries to find out more, but the grinning Negotiator isn't forthcoming, and she departs through one of her magical doors.
Extang pauses to breathe, then slowly wakes up the 3rd Watch. Not giving them any explanations, he gathers them by Patrick's body and reads the scroll that came at such an uncertain cost. The scroll crumbles over Patrick's body as he casts the spell. Patrick's body suddenly spasms, and he gasps in fresh air, sitting bolt upright.
And, with that, this game session comes to an end. Join us next week to find out what happens in Episode 55.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Blossom Fall, Episode 2
Colonial Caerdia: Blossom Fall is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't already familiar with this series, you can find the beginning over here.
You can find the previous episode here.
3rd of Waxing Winter - 7th of Waning Winter, 2158 AE
Our ragtag band, thrust together by being given the same cabin aboard the Spring Blossom, are working together to figure out the source of a sickness that has befallen many people aboard the ship. Initially splitting up, they have now met up outside the ship's kitchens with Sillo, Jojen's cook acquaintance, where they share what they have discovered - namely that the sickness is contracted through ingestion.
Suspecting something nefarious might be happening in the kitchens, Vala and John carefully open the doors to peek inside, where they see cooks at work, but nothing out of the ordinary as far as they can tell. The group discusses possible plans, including smuggling Vala into the kitchen in a barrel to spy, but they decide to be up-front first. They knock on the door and explain to the cook that they're looking for possible sources of the illness and would like to check around the kitchen. At first, the cook is offended that they think there might be something wrong with his food, but he agrees that a search is for the best and allows them in.
They search around the kitchen a bit, asking some questions, until Sillo informs them that she's found an empty barrel that may have contained some sort of tainted food. She can't be certain without finding one that still has food in it. So, they set off for the hold - after a side-trip to find a cleric to help heal people, and encountering the elderly High Priest Grumlock who is already working to do that, accompanied by a young priest, but he expresses there's a limit to what he can do with his divine magic.
The group makes their way to the hold, picking up the quartermaster on their way so so that they can't be accused of any wrongdoing. As they head down into the hold, they hear a strange sound, and follow their ears to find a huge human in a bearskin cloak helping himself to a barrel of apples. After they establish that he isn't a threat - he just came down here to get away from all the people - he introduces himself as Conrad, and he joins them in their search of the barrels. With Sillo telling them what to look for, they begin finding crates and barrels of tainted food - and I'Un notices that all of the containers with a problem have the same merchant's mark on them.
They are concerned that someone has been poisoning the food, so they decide to set a watch. Conrad, Vala, and John hide in the hold while I'Un and Jojen accompany the quartermaster up to the captain's cabin to explain what they found and get a message sent out saying that the tainted food has been found and there won't be anymore problems - the hope being that this will lure any poisoners down to the hold. When the captain is told which merchant's barrels were tainted, she becomes frustrated because she had purchased them at a price that she knew was too good. However, she thanks them for their help, and gives permission for the announcement to be sent out.
While waiting for word to spread, I'Un and Jojen pay another visit to the High Priest and ask him about cleansing the tainted food, getting a promise from him to take care of it tomorrow. They then join the others in the hold to put all the contaminated food in one place so it can be easily accessed the next day.
Jojen and I'Un once again leave the other three to lurk in the hold while they head to the top deck. Here they keep a vigil for anything suspicious - in particular, they've heard about a dark-cloaked figure climbing around the rigging at night.
In the hold, John, Vala, and Conrad take turns keeping watch the whole night through. Though they are ready for trouble, none arrives. Up on deck, however, a little after dark, while Jojen is dozing, I'Un spots his quarry - a cloaked figure running around up in the rigging about the masts, avoiding the sailors who are working up there. I'Un quickly climbs up and calls out to the figure, who pauses to listen, but turns and runs off when I'Un expresses a wish to speak with them. I'Un tries to follow, but trips and falls - from close to 100 feet above the deck. He does manage to hook his leg through a coil of rope as he begins his fall, but it slows his descent only a little as it unwinds.
Down on the deck, Jojen awakens and sees his falling friend. In the split-second he has, he leaps to his feet and times a tackle for just before I'Un would hit the deck. Manages to break the speed a little and absorb a good chunk of the impact as the two crash to the deck. Sailors come running from all directions. I'Un is unconscious, and Jojen is barely holding on, but he has enough presence of mind to treat I'Un's wounds enough to bring him back from the edge of death. The sailors then help them back to their cabin.
In the morning, they're still the worse for wear as Vala and John return to report an absence of poisoners. After catching up a little, they find the High Priest and spend some hours getting all the food cleansed. After that is done, Vala heads back to their cabin and chats a bit with Lord Krandig, while John accompanies Jojen to report to the captain. Jojen leaves after telling the captain that the problem is taken care of, but John remains behind to ask the captain to dinner - an attempt at flirting that falls flat on its face. She barely even comments on how young he is before telling him to just get out of her cabin.
Over the next few days, John tries to find someone else to flirt with, but his disastrous meeting with the captain has eaten away at his confidence, and he returns to the cabin sulkily, worried he's turning into his cousin Will who can't keep it together around women. He tries to talk to Vala - who he thinks is a man - about his problems, but she doesn't seem too inclined to help. When she lowers her cloak's hood for the first time, Will falls out of his bunk, hardly able to believe they've been sharing a room with a woman this whole time. John still isn't entirely convinced Vala is a woman though, in spite of Wills insistence.
They also encounter Conrad again, who was kicked out of the hold in spite of him being confident that he had a perfect hiding spot where he could avoid being around people. Taking pity on him, they invite him to join them in their cabin. It's cramped in there, but at least it's better that some other places on the ship.
The 7th of Waxing Winter is I'Un's 25th birthday, but he's still feeling ashamed of his fall from the mast and can't bring himself to tell anyone.
Another month passes, with varying weather, but still no sign of land in sight. As they're waking up on the 7th of Waning Winter, there's a resounding boom as the ship trembles. Shortly afterwards they begin hearing screams. Everyone rushes out of the cabin, heading for the deck to see what's happening. I'Un and Vala grab their escape-barrels and, seeing this, Conrad pulls a door from another cabin to use as a raft - terrifying the already frightened people inside.
They reach the deck to see a massive sea creature - something part-way between a fish and a snake - has wrapped itself around the ship, with its head on one side - accompanied by clawed, fin-like appendages holding onto the ship - and the tail on the other. The group watches in horror as the tail sweeps across the deck, knocking several people overboard. The deck is crowded with people trying to fight the creature off, or flee it.
After casting an eye around the horizon and seeing that there is still no sign of land, Conrad charges in at the tail, unleashing all his pent up rage at being stuck aboard this ship with so many people crowded around him. Seeing the sweeping tail sending people into the ocean, Vala and I'Un opt to go attack the head instead, while Jojen and John stay in the middle of the ship, casting spells and shooting arrows. With astounding luck, the group manages to avoid attacks from the sea monster while landing their own. With the aid of the others on deck, they are able to drive the creature off the side of the ship. It drops back into the water and swims off, trailing blood.
And that brings and end to this game session. Check back next week to find out what happens next in Episode 3.
You can find the previous episode here.
3rd of Waxing Winter - 7th of Waning Winter, 2158 AE
Our ragtag band, thrust together by being given the same cabin aboard the Spring Blossom, are working together to figure out the source of a sickness that has befallen many people aboard the ship. Initially splitting up, they have now met up outside the ship's kitchens with Sillo, Jojen's cook acquaintance, where they share what they have discovered - namely that the sickness is contracted through ingestion.
Suspecting something nefarious might be happening in the kitchens, Vala and John carefully open the doors to peek inside, where they see cooks at work, but nothing out of the ordinary as far as they can tell. The group discusses possible plans, including smuggling Vala into the kitchen in a barrel to spy, but they decide to be up-front first. They knock on the door and explain to the cook that they're looking for possible sources of the illness and would like to check around the kitchen. At first, the cook is offended that they think there might be something wrong with his food, but he agrees that a search is for the best and allows them in.
They search around the kitchen a bit, asking some questions, until Sillo informs them that she's found an empty barrel that may have contained some sort of tainted food. She can't be certain without finding one that still has food in it. So, they set off for the hold - after a side-trip to find a cleric to help heal people, and encountering the elderly High Priest Grumlock who is already working to do that, accompanied by a young priest, but he expresses there's a limit to what he can do with his divine magic.
The group makes their way to the hold, picking up the quartermaster on their way so so that they can't be accused of any wrongdoing. As they head down into the hold, they hear a strange sound, and follow their ears to find a huge human in a bearskin cloak helping himself to a barrel of apples. After they establish that he isn't a threat - he just came down here to get away from all the people - he introduces himself as Conrad, and he joins them in their search of the barrels. With Sillo telling them what to look for, they begin finding crates and barrels of tainted food - and I'Un notices that all of the containers with a problem have the same merchant's mark on them.
They are concerned that someone has been poisoning the food, so they decide to set a watch. Conrad, Vala, and John hide in the hold while I'Un and Jojen accompany the quartermaster up to the captain's cabin to explain what they found and get a message sent out saying that the tainted food has been found and there won't be anymore problems - the hope being that this will lure any poisoners down to the hold. When the captain is told which merchant's barrels were tainted, she becomes frustrated because she had purchased them at a price that she knew was too good. However, she thanks them for their help, and gives permission for the announcement to be sent out.
While waiting for word to spread, I'Un and Jojen pay another visit to the High Priest and ask him about cleansing the tainted food, getting a promise from him to take care of it tomorrow. They then join the others in the hold to put all the contaminated food in one place so it can be easily accessed the next day.
Jojen and I'Un once again leave the other three to lurk in the hold while they head to the top deck. Here they keep a vigil for anything suspicious - in particular, they've heard about a dark-cloaked figure climbing around the rigging at night.
In the hold, John, Vala, and Conrad take turns keeping watch the whole night through. Though they are ready for trouble, none arrives. Up on deck, however, a little after dark, while Jojen is dozing, I'Un spots his quarry - a cloaked figure running around up in the rigging about the masts, avoiding the sailors who are working up there. I'Un quickly climbs up and calls out to the figure, who pauses to listen, but turns and runs off when I'Un expresses a wish to speak with them. I'Un tries to follow, but trips and falls - from close to 100 feet above the deck. He does manage to hook his leg through a coil of rope as he begins his fall, but it slows his descent only a little as it unwinds.
Down on the deck, Jojen awakens and sees his falling friend. In the split-second he has, he leaps to his feet and times a tackle for just before I'Un would hit the deck. Manages to break the speed a little and absorb a good chunk of the impact as the two crash to the deck. Sailors come running from all directions. I'Un is unconscious, and Jojen is barely holding on, but he has enough presence of mind to treat I'Un's wounds enough to bring him back from the edge of death. The sailors then help them back to their cabin.
In the morning, they're still the worse for wear as Vala and John return to report an absence of poisoners. After catching up a little, they find the High Priest and spend some hours getting all the food cleansed. After that is done, Vala heads back to their cabin and chats a bit with Lord Krandig, while John accompanies Jojen to report to the captain. Jojen leaves after telling the captain that the problem is taken care of, but John remains behind to ask the captain to dinner - an attempt at flirting that falls flat on its face. She barely even comments on how young he is before telling him to just get out of her cabin.
Over the next few days, John tries to find someone else to flirt with, but his disastrous meeting with the captain has eaten away at his confidence, and he returns to the cabin sulkily, worried he's turning into his cousin Will who can't keep it together around women. He tries to talk to Vala - who he thinks is a man - about his problems, but she doesn't seem too inclined to help. When she lowers her cloak's hood for the first time, Will falls out of his bunk, hardly able to believe they've been sharing a room with a woman this whole time. John still isn't entirely convinced Vala is a woman though, in spite of Wills insistence.
They also encounter Conrad again, who was kicked out of the hold in spite of him being confident that he had a perfect hiding spot where he could avoid being around people. Taking pity on him, they invite him to join them in their cabin. It's cramped in there, but at least it's better that some other places on the ship.
The 7th of Waxing Winter is I'Un's 25th birthday, but he's still feeling ashamed of his fall from the mast and can't bring himself to tell anyone.
Another month passes, with varying weather, but still no sign of land in sight. As they're waking up on the 7th of Waning Winter, there's a resounding boom as the ship trembles. Shortly afterwards they begin hearing screams. Everyone rushes out of the cabin, heading for the deck to see what's happening. I'Un and Vala grab their escape-barrels and, seeing this, Conrad pulls a door from another cabin to use as a raft - terrifying the already frightened people inside.
They reach the deck to see a massive sea creature - something part-way between a fish and a snake - has wrapped itself around the ship, with its head on one side - accompanied by clawed, fin-like appendages holding onto the ship - and the tail on the other. The group watches in horror as the tail sweeps across the deck, knocking several people overboard. The deck is crowded with people trying to fight the creature off, or flee it.
After casting an eye around the horizon and seeing that there is still no sign of land, Conrad charges in at the tail, unleashing all his pent up rage at being stuck aboard this ship with so many people crowded around him. Seeing the sweeping tail sending people into the ocean, Vala and I'Un opt to go attack the head instead, while Jojen and John stay in the middle of the ship, casting spells and shooting arrows. With astounding luck, the group manages to avoid attacks from the sea monster while landing their own. With the aid of the others on deck, they are able to drive the creature off the side of the ship. It drops back into the water and swims off, trailing blood.
And that brings and end to this game session. Check back next week to find out what happens next in Episode 3.
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