A late-comer

"Forgive me for intruding, but I was delayed. I received a letter that an issue of dire importance required my assistance."

The green robed stranger stands by the group of travelers, gripping tightly to a letter that bears the seal easily recognized by those before him. From his neck hangs a wooden pendant of an intricately carved horizon.

"My name is Hestral. I am a follower of He who Wanders. I have traveled far to be here. May I take a seat?"

an adventure begins

Once a jewel in Ahlissa's crown, Prymp was fashionable for its 'Isle of Delights', a man-made city structure, held above the ocean by sturdy wooden timbers. The Isle was home to exotic courtesans, lavishly bedecked merchants, and thinly disguised nobility. The city was a hotspot for the rich and licentous of the Flanaess.

But the violence and poverty of the Greyhawk Wars wrecked much of the former Great Kingdom, Ahlissa and Prymp included. What now remains is a rotten husk of the debaucherous, indolent city. Prymp's outlandish income stream is all but dried up. The rich stopped coming. A new population found a home in the city's four districts. Refugees, poor and desperate. And another group, alchemists. Free from restrictions on their experimentation, alchemists set up shop in Prymp and proceeded to pollute the air and water with their craft. Toxic clouds and sludge poured from their factories. Tanners and butchers practice their trades without conscience, dumping their byproducts into the water outside their workplaces.

The port, a natural shelter from the rough weather of Relmor Bay, is now perpetually shrouded with a dirty miasma of smoke and vapor. The walls and roofs of buildings are covered with a greasy film, and the waters under the Isle are now befouled with sludge and sewage. In the eastern part of the city, the sludge has become so thick that the water doesn't flow, leaving that quarter's buildings hovering over rancid mud.


A band of adventurers has gathered at the Seven Knaves Tavern, a dank, mildew-laden alehouse in the High Quarter. The tavern is located in the once-prosperous seaside city of Prymp, in the Kingdom of Ahlissa.

The only thing tying the adventurers together is an urgent summons, delivered individually, only days ago. The summons author sits among the group. He is a swarthy, well groomed man, dressed in black and red leather armor. Except for the armor and his accent, the man looks singularly out of place in this now-squalid city.


Note. Please post something about your characters as soon as you can. (either in the comments, or as a new post). I want to know what you guys are planning!

Portions of this adventure are modified from Dungeon #121. I have modified these a bit, and I express no ownership over these materials.

the adventure

So, I've got a quandary. The adventure I'm using is probably going to be too long for one session. How would you feel about two sessions? It would be 1/19 (sat) and 2/9 (sat). Theses dates are pretty inflexible. Does that work for everyone?

And, are you planning on playing? So far, I've got commitments from Degolar and Aerin, and a tenuous commitment from Leelu/Lummox. Kilminsk is out, and I'm assuming Hadrian is, too. What about Torias? Also, I'm thinking of inviting a new (to us) player.

Tell me what you think.

a bit of a tease.

A few things about the game. Hopefully you can all make it.

First, we'll be playing d+d 3.5 (big surprise).
Second, if you're making a new character, the party seems to have need of a healer-type.
Third. If you're making a new character, classes and races are restricted to those in the PH. Unless you've got a really good argument.
Fourth. Run your new character by me *before* the day of the game.

I'm hoping to post a little background in the next couple of days. But I can tell you that your characters will be in another part of the world, near Relmor Bay. And at least some of the adventure will take part in an urban setting.

Is this a dagger +1 I see before me?

Hot on the heels of Hadrian's teasing, I'd like to announce a game. It'll be at my place. Saturday, Jan 19. Greyhawk. We'll use your sidequesty characters from Highfolk. If you can't find, or don't want to continue your Highfolk characters, you can make a new character that's one level less powerful. Ask for more info.

I haven't decided which adventure we're going to be playing yet, but it'll be a one-time shot. Hopefully you can come!

I'm a Giant Tease

Because it's become apparent to me that there will not be a game anytime soon. Sorry about that. I'm a bit busier than I thought I would be... I just don't have the time to prepare. Besides, if I do get the chance to get to KC before classes start I'd rather just hang out than worry about getting a game together. (Though the odds aren't looking in favor of my getting there-- car trouble and cash flow issues...).

It's a soft P.

So, I was just doing a little bedtime reading, and it's got me all fired up about Hadrian's upcoming campaign. Hopefully we can still make a session or two happen in the coming days/weeks.

Game On

Well, the trend is towards Greyhawk. And in that vein, I've selected an adventure for Winter Break play. It's the Pathfinder series, portions of which, I believe,have appeared in Dragon-- so avoid reading any of those if you stumble upon them. While it is not Greyhawk per se, I think the campaign setting is very Greyhawk-y, which should satisfy everyone (I hope). For now, let's accomplish two things: 1. let's find out who is playing--if you want in, say so, and 2. let's throw around some preliminary possible dates (alternatively, what dates are absolutely out?)-- I'll figure out my schedule and contribute my thoughts on that (I would say that New Year's Eve is out since that would definitely take Cap'n Redbeard out of the mix).

Okay, maybe three things-- the third being rules, especially vis-a-vis character creation. At the moment I'm leaning towards allowing only the PHB and PHB II races and classes, but I'm open to discussion on this point. And let me know what you guys think about methods of character creation. Also, discuss what races and or classes you'd like to play, so we can plan to get a good party composition. I'll read the adventure and see if there is any certain party composition we need and get back to you.

(Of course, it goes without saying that the most important thing we need to figure out is when-- and where).

Pimping 4.0

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The Poll

The poll I alluded to in the last post:

What kind of game should we play over Christmas?
	We shouldn't. I don't want to play.
	Forgotten Realms.
	Eberron.
	Good Ole Greyhawk.
	Something else entirely.
	This question doesn't apply to me. I don't game with you losers.
pollcode.com free polls

December Adventures

I need to do some practice DM'ing well before Ptolus gets underway. How would everyone feel about a one or two session game over the Christmas holidays? My schedule isn't set at this point (one week left of finals), but I'm planning on spending at least a few days in KC (possibly New Year's but that is still up in the air). I'm posting a poll at right to explore this further.

talisman!

Hey, nerds. Don't forget about Talisman tonight at the estimable Degolar's dwelling. 6:30 or so. Hopefully most of you can come!

Cheap Stuff!!!

It remains to be seen whether Fourth Edition will suck or not, but here's an early upside: Green Ronin's 3.5 fire sale.

Lummossey part deux

Lummox spun the tale for his children of how he and his band of brave and strange compatriots fought their way through the Temple of Water. Their eyes were full of wonder and delight.
"Is that where you met Mommy," one of them asked.
"No, son," Lummox grinned. "I met her a little bit later."
As he spun the tale of the defeat of Tharizdun, his mind wandered back to the times and travels that came after that great victory:
He and his band had become heroes, but not very many in this land knew of their struggle, and that was all to the better. The life of a ranger should not be complicated by fame. Unfortunately, he knew that the bard would make sure at least some knew the name of Lummox Fairheart, but what else can you expect from a bard. Lummox grinned at the thought of his musical friend and at the memory of his other friends. He wondered if he would ever see them again. He hoped he would.
It had been three days of travel since Verbobonc and so far it was a pretty uneventful trip. It seemed that even the wild creatures who lived in this area were calming after Tharizdun's defeat and he was not bothered by them while camping at night. The most excitement he had seen at all was the young rogue who had shared his fire last night. He was young and unfortunately, foolish. He was worse at picking pockets than Leelu. He had waited for Lummox to settle down for the night and took the first watch. The problem was, he didn't actually make sure the dwarf was sleeping before he tried to pilfer his packs. It wasn't much of a struggle and the knots held for the night. Unfortunately, the poor, thieving thing didn't get much sleep. Lummox released him in the morning and watched him as he disappeared down the road before packing up and taking flight again. But even that wasn't enough to get the dwarf's blood pumping again.
As he flew on, he wished for a real fight. Something he could let loose on. It was another day before he got his wish.
Flying low over a small wooded area, letting Fluffy hunt freely for something to eat, there was a loud scream of pain and rage. Lummox tugged at the reins and pulled the griffin towards the sound. As he neared a small break in the trees, he saw a form burst from the trees and run into the center of the clearing. It was a warrior decked in full armor, heaving a great sword, and wearing a face mask molded into a snarling face, filled with rage. The warrior was short, probably a dwarf as well. Lummox landed the griffin nearby and the warrior turned ready to fight. Lummox dismounted and drew his axe. It gleamed in the sunlight and seemed to take on a glow of it's own.
"Never turn your back on a fight, boy," Lummox shouted at the dwarven warrior as three large owlbears broke the tree line. The warrior turned and raised his sword, ready to spill some blood. Lummox loosed Fluffy's reigns and commanded her to attack the nearest owlbear as he headed for the largest of the group. The third cam directly for his fighting companion, cries of rage issuing from its throat. The warrior issues his own scream of rage, his voice high-pitched and cracking as he advance on the creature at a full run. With flash of sunlight from the shimmering blade held in his hands, he hacked into the shoulder of the owlbear and it shrieks in again and fell back. As it stumbled, the warrior spun and swung his leg at the beast and swept the feet from beneath it. With a thundering crash, the creature landed on it's back, which worked to my advantage, as it distracted the owlbear I was fighting long enough for me to catch him flat-footed. I struck with a lethal hit to the creatures skull and it fell, dead at my feet. Fluffy made short work of hers as well and was happily gnawing on the carcass. I turned to see if our new friend needed some assistance, but he had quickly dispatched the fallen creature and was wiping the blood from his blade.
I strode over to him and extended my hand.
"Good fight, friend. I am Lummox Fairheart."
"Laura," he said unstrapping his helmet.
"Laura? That's a woman's name. What kind of warrior is named Laura?"
As the helmet was removed, it revealed a face of gentle features supporting fierce and firey eyes. "It's not an unusual name for a woman warrior."
"But... but..." Lummox stammered. "You're a girl."
"And you have a short beard," she replied with a wry grin.

A Beautiful Place to Live

For many, the city of Verbobonc is an ideal place to live. A free town that answers to no higher lord. A center of commerce that is small enough to remain a close-knit community. A place of charm. Yet it also seems to be a magnet of evil. The Temple of Elemental Evil. The Cult of Tharizdun. Horrors yet unknown. After the most recent threat--Tharizdun--was eliminated, for instance, everyone was prepared to settle in for a period of peace and prosperity. Yet a new evil had already taken root in the bowels of the city. An alien evil. It tried to hide for a time, but eventually tendrils of its spreading foulness began to show. The city's leaders sent brave souls to investigate, but none were heard from again. Finally the master of the Silver Consortium himself was able to divine a name: Aerin. It turned out one of the champions who had defeated the Cult of Tharizdun had not escaped the enterprise untainted. Juelihm gathered the powerful personages of the city--Ingish Blackhand, the druid Reshaph, the bishop of the cathedral of Pelor, champions from the new church of St. Hadrian, Mia Dragonslayer--and headed into Aerin's foul lair to expell him from their fair city. He had dug himself in deep, and in the end it was the recalled hero Degolar who made the difference. Aerin was defeated, banished to the alien plane that had already seized his soul. And Verbobonc was once again free from evil. For now.

My friend Kenny is my newest buddy

I told him I was turning 30 this year and he said (without a pause or doubt):
"You're not getting old. You're leveling."

The Tale the Bard Tells

Torias was a mighty warrior who used powerful magics to make himself great in combat. He was a core member of the group that put down the latest resurgence of the cult of Tharizdun. Among his party members were two he came to love. One love was consumated, the other known only to him. He found he couldn't live without either. As long as they journeyed together with a purpose, all was well. Once they had defeated the cult, though, the party splintered. His secret love left to live the life of a wandering minstrel. Torias tried to console himself with the companionship of his lover, but was eventually overcome with longing for his secret love and his heart split in two. In a fit of grief and passion, he hung himself. And thus ended the tragedy that is the tale of Torias.

Toriasonomicon

I have stolen this title and will soon have content to go with it.

Moribund

I posted the lyrics to this song way back when we first started our Ravenloft campaign with the intention of bringing a recording to one of our sessions. Since that may not be happening, I'll instead share a couple of videos. The first is a poor machinima someone made to the original recording and the second a live performance. Enjoy.

The further adventures of Jeral, the were-bear

“Blessed and most radiant Pelor,” Jeral prayed, “please hear your servant.” He was kneeling, shivering and wet, at the bank of a stream. “You know that I have always done my best to bring your light to the darkness. You know that I have willingly become something inhuman to better fight evil in your name.” Moonlight glinted off the tears mingled with the cold water dripping from his tangled hair. “Please, please grant your servant this request: help me to see your holy servant, St. Hadrian, as nothing other than the deity he has become, and keep him out of my dreams!”

The mention of the dream brought the memory back to him. Hadrian’s wise eyes looking out from a strong face. His muscular frame evident as Jeral assisted him in removing his heavy armor. The cleft in his chin as he leaned forward, lips parted—

There was a brief cry of anguish and a splash as Jeral once again threw himself into the near-icy water.