Making 'It' Up as You Go

Next Gen Session Stats
GM: Me
Players: +Ken H  (as Phrandor) & +Chris C. (as Odo)
Henchmen: Elizabeth, Oliva, Ragnor, Ravenna
Converts to the Goddess: PShaw
System: Pits & Perils
# of Killed Henchmen: 0
# of Visions: 4
# of Bandits Killed: 2
# of Tax Collectors saved: 1
# of Shitheads slapped: 1
# of Gold pieces gained: 120gp total
# of Drunk Henchmen: 1
# of Suspicious Nobles: 1
# of Mysterious Mages: 1
# of Bird Men: 6

 Last night was my turn to GM in our Wednesday night rotation.  I've had a very busy week at work and over the weekend I just his a brain dead zone so my adventure prep was nearly non-existent.  While I was tired from the week I really wanted to play.  I had a very sparse outline, a few encounters and a picture to draw inspiration from.  I took that and ran it last night.

One of the things I like to do when running (or writing) an adventure is to add small details to add depth or some semblance of a living world.  Give the spaces a lived in feeling.  Whether I succeed or not you would have to ask my players.

The adventure started off with the party returning to the main campaign area after saving an outlying village from a demon.  While traveling, the cleric Odo, spotted a raven with a white breast.  Ravens are known to be the messengers of the gods.  How they communicate the messages vary.  Odo approached the raven and was immediately struck by the image of a raven hanging upside down with a man forming out of the feather on top.  Over his right shoulder there is light, but from the light there is scream and shouting.  Some of the shouts are ones he has heard in the past.  And over the man's left shoulder is darkness.  From the darkness sound of inhuman growls and horrific cacophony of misery.

Adventure Note:  Our adventures have all had a strong religious seasoning to them.  Dualism has played a strong part in our sessions, especially my adventures.  With his training and intensive studies, Odo interpreted the meaning as a clash or a gathering of the armies of light and the armies of darkness.

When Odo awoke from his vision he heard one of the screams he heard in the vision.  A man yelling for help.  They came upon a older man holding the head of his mule that had been viciously attacked and bleeding from a large wound in its neck.  Odo was able to heal the mule (with exceptional success I might add).  The man was very thankful, but told them two men had killed his mule and took his two sacks of grain. 

He pointed to the other side of the ravine.  Two men were climbing their way up the other side.  The party went after them.  As the party reached the bottom of the ravine the bandits stood atop the other side.  They were going to throw rocks at the party and mock them, but Phrandor 'bolted' one of them causing significant damage.  And the archers let loose with some arrows that also caused more damage.

Adventure Note: Spell slots in Pits & Perils are a precious commodity so the fact that Odo use one on a mule and Phrandor used one (three total by the end of the fight) on a bandit was a significant use of resources. 

The party killed both bandits.  They dropped the sacks of grain fleeing.  Phrandor discovered that within the sack of grain were twenty small pouches with 10gp inside of each.  Odo check the sack of grain he recovered and it also had gold within.  There was a seal on a few of the pouches and both recognized it as a seal from a tax collector.  

They returned the grain without immediately telling the man they knew what was inside.  He evaded most of their questions and insisted on leaving, but the party insisted they escort him to his destination.  While having this conversation, Odo saw the image of this man's face on the darkness side.

 Coming Soon:
Part 2: Arriving at the Manor of Lord Walsh

We Fought Until Our Arms Fell Off

From the Dungeon Journal of Adzeer Mattiu, Hunter of the 1st Circle

My arms.  We battled through the night without rest.  My own zealous passion for squishing nearly got the best of me.  Gaunts and gray robes and black robes, we killed them all.  Montporte was well fed last night.  The gods must have been pleased with the spectacle.  Even Luvin proved to be fierce.  Time has gone by quickly and with the help of the strange mushroom men, we have found shelter.  We can rest.  My arms feel like they are made of stone.

It is a relief that I now believe we know our location once again.  Losing one's way in this immense dungeon could be the deadliest mistake.  We've discovered the two main sources of food are humans and mushrooms.  I don't think we would starve.  Our healing options have been nearly depleted.  We have a few healing droughts saved for emergencies, but I am the only source of healing, Praise Adzeer for his generosity and his appreciation of our fight.  But even he will grow tired of the calls for mending wounds.  Like him, I desire the thrill of violence that rips through my hand and smites my enemies. 

I fear and relish the opportunity to exterminate the population of breeders, those we have named who feed on humans.  We have no idea of their numbers.  They seems to have an endless supply of bodies to throw at us.  While not a threat in battle as such, their numbers wear us down.  By the end of the night bodies covered the floor and still more came. 

These breeders have an understanding or command of machines I've not encountered.  I believe we have not seen all of what they can do yet.  They follow a man they call a god.  I wish to meet him so I can send him to Adzeer and show him true might, true power and to quiver before The Lord of the Hunt.  This is my quest.  My goal to earn my place within the second circle.  I will vanquish this god and offer his spirit to Adzeer, forever may he hunt and his spear strike true.

A Gnome's Hole Fetish and Elven Skeletons

Last night we had out AD&D over on Roll d20.  Ken was the GM.  Dan and I were players and about half way through Rob joined in.  We tracked the orcs through a gully, but then found a trail of blood and lots of little arrows.  Poisoned arrows.  Tracking the blood we found an orc shaman ready to die, but got lots of information.  His group were ambushed by a group of kobolds.  The orcs lair was hidden underground, its entrance hidden by shrubbery (being Holy Grail imitations now).  There were 25 orcs total, of which they had fallen into worshiping something they discovered in their underground lair.

After sending the shaman to his one-eyed mother, we proceeded and I quote, "I'm a gnome, I wanna go in the hole."  Dan's gnome illusionist/thief made it known.

The short of it was we killed eight orcs and three skeletons.  One of which show flames at us.  And then this gray blobby thing.  I think that may have been the entity the orcs were worshiping.  I found an odd, but cool mace, +1, +2 vs kobold and elves and it detected undead in a 30' radius 3/day.  An odd combination.  And when we fought the skeletons I still believe they were elven skeletons.  The GM said no, but we know how GMs are.  Pffft.  I collected about 40gp and 20sp in spending cash.

Our red shirts turned out to be quality guys.  While I was rolling single digits during battle they were scoring hits regularly.

Fun was had by all.

The Roll d20 worked fairly well.  Although it seems easier in some ways and clumsier in other ways.  I still think Fantasy Grounds is the way to go for VTT.  The flexibility, built in ruleset and tools are a huge asset.  Plus, if I have to roll virtual dice FG has an excellent  simulator.  Roll d20 I was typing in /roll d20 a lot and always messing that up.  I like just grabbing the computer d20 and let fly.  And it never rolls off the table. 

Sheep Stampede

Last night our game concluded with us returning from the elven forest. We were taking our time traveling a country road when we felt the ground begin to tremble. I thought maybe it was anhkheg or maybe a bulette, but the countryside looked too peaceful to have those monsters terrorizing it. There was a farm to our left and a ridge to our right. From over the crest of the road a farmed came running screaming "Stampede! Stampede!" A herd of sheep charged down the roadway.

Being the mighty adventurers that we are we pulled off the road and were letting the sheep pass. Then two children came down off the ridge and into the road. They stood there petrified and helpless. Rusty Battle Axe put the first group down with a sleep spell and shouted "Count yourselves!" I followed with another sleep spell putting down much of the herd. The few that remained grazed.

The farmer thanked us and asked how we were able to stop the sheep. Rusty Battle Axe put his hand on his hips and said, "We just pulled the wool over their eyes." He chuckled. The farmer laughed as he kicked the sheep to awaken them. A good time had by all.

It smelled of a Harn encounter and I confronted the DM. "Was that a Harn encounter?" He mumbled and coughed before admitting, yes, yes he did roll on another Harn chart. I knew it.

The Dragon Said What?

Standing at the edge of the rushing creek I thought I could make it. It didn't look too wide. I'd easily jumped over the other part of the creek. I'll just take a few more steps before I jump. *splash* Lots of water. Smashing into my face. Can't breathe. Ow, that was a hard rock. Ow, that was a really hard rock.

*gasp* Laying on the shore. Wait. No I am in a dungeon and its dark. Really dark. And since I am a S&W elf and not an AD&D elf I can't see crap. I think I popped a lung and broke my eye. The pain. Healing potion. *Ahhhh* Much better now.

My two fellow party members with names I have difficulty saying, came splashing my way. My head is still ringing as they talk. Wait. That's not them talking. Ah oh. It's talking like my father. Crap, its the dragon the goblin told us about. I'm only 2nd level. Why a dragon. I'm so close to 3rd level. I really want to cast 2nd level spells even though I don't know any.

Now the one whose name I can't pronounce is talking to the dragon. He's cocky. He's not going to make it to 3rd level. Maybe I'll take a step over here just in case. What? Dragon wants our help? What a minute, didn't he sit on his last master? The body is still there. This ain't good. He whose name I can't pronounce is walking up to the dragon. I have a crossbow. I'm not even sure if it's loaded.

He's going to unlock the collar the dragon is wearing. He's so dead. At least I won't have to learn how to pronounce his name. Sarvald, I think that's the human's name. Is asking the dragon questions too. Why am I not asking it questions? I don't have a question. *click*

The silver collar falls to the floor. The dragon roars and I accidently shoot the crossbow and the bolt dissappears in the darkness. I quickly reload it and stand there as if nothing had happened. I nod at Sarvald and strike my coolest elf pose. Dragon spews fire on the ceiling. I wonder if he can only do that once a day?

Those two ask another question each and then the dragon flies off. It said we could have its treasure. I'm still looking at the guy it was sitting on. That couldn't have been pleasant. But there is loot to have and to be the last eyes to look upon the treasure means your left with copper that's a pain in the ass to count.

Whoa. What was that. I feel tingly. I made 3rd level. Oh, I am so casting 2nd level spells next session.