Gang War Rising in the Gutters (Session 266)

SESSION 266: Siege on the Gangrenous Pt. 15 – Lost in the Dreamlands – Shop Smart Shop S-Mart! 

Aimless nipples keep on shopping hoping victory falls onto their laps.

 

Day 190 Continued (Jones Town –Dusk Market): Ambling through the night market another interesting shop was discovered – Telemor & Franix: Gilders Extraordinaire. The joint was stacked with arms and apparel slathered with exquisite gilding – go figure. Not only did they offer the mundane but also the eldritch empowered. This near game breaking occurrence made folks giddy as the hobos rummaged through the shop. They came apon two suits of armour one plate and the other chain the latter of which also had a matching shield. The plate was gilded with blue cobalt showing a mighty blue dragon and imparted protection from electricity. The chain was of a skeletal design of black iron nature. The shield depicting a central skull radiating light with various forms of undead recoiling. This combination was warded against the powers of the dead. Both pieces required to utilize. 

Boris and Raul knew they wanted both suits they got down to haggling with Telemor.

Sloth used this time, with the help of Ramrod, to describe a scene to Franix to gild on his helmet that of the ‘Hero of Barrowmaze’ where he sundered the Tablet of Chaos with the Spear Predestined. 

Getting down to the brass tax. This would take a mountain of coin and gems to close the deal. More than they had unless…”I stole it fair and square! The wizard will have to give me a pain and suffering bonus” was Ramrod’s own type of special negotiation (only for friends of course). They proffered the Udon Odinist’s necklace. “Very nice indeed worth a mint if it wasn’t for this strange temperature of it…”, Telemor was a sly fellow whom seems to have one ear on the street. “We will take it but have to charge a ‘cooling-off period’ fee. Boris grumbled. Ramrod chuckled. The deal was closed. They would return in three days to pick up Sloth’s helm. Leaving the shop they ran into a party of drunks that required a course correction to shake off. 

The detour resulted in a new mercantile cart landing in their path – Palzyriax the Pale’s Iced Treats. Sloth would not let this one pass. This turned out to be somewhat fortuitous. Palzyriax was an ice sorcerer whom just really liked making and selling iced refreshments, “Learn the joy of Northern chill my friends”. 

The treats were served in silver bowls not for taking or sale so they had to hang around and shoot the breeze while engaging in the deserts. The wizard had some interesting things beyond treats. After finishing their iced cream the hobos walked away with a pair of silver pony kegs (2 gallon) enchanted with ‘continuous chill’ to ensure that the contents were always cold and fresh. They also, with the promise not to use for commercial reasons in the local, a transcription of aforementioned enchantment. 

They returned to the inn and hit the sack.

 

Day 191 (Jones Town – Copper Ginny’s): With their sack empty and pockets light the gang resorted to eating and drinking at Ginny’s. At least the rent and meals was paid up for the next week or so.

 

Day 192 (Jones Town –Dusk Market): Basic shopping today for adventuring equipment and supplies. Some dolt had an epiphany, the show must go on and the timer (Versamage growing into her new body). 

 

Day 193 - 195 (Jones Town –Dusk Market): They had intended to limit excursions to small groups acquiring pastries and spike fruit but shopping is a bug hard to shake for these valley girls. Exotic chessboards nice but just extra baggage presently. They then earned some scorn from a mob of gutter children as they redirected a lost pilgrim from walking into a clear ambush. He was Moblophop of the Followers of Salad Fingers and had become separated from his fellows. The gang walked him into the central area of the market suggesting that here would be the best place to search for his companions just keep away from the alleyways they is packed with problems. 

Our hobos should have followed this advice themselves. The omnipresent market mist really did enable beings to get up to things. Walking and talking resulted in the group being a little less observant and provided a window for the B.A Baracus Boys gang to stage an ambush. Wearing an inordinate amount of thickly braided gold chains with numerous medallions. They glittered like golden idols to our hobo's eyes. “We is back in the money take no prisoners”, rasped the lispy Ramrod excited to once more getting down to the fine art of MurderHoboing. The gang actually almost outnumbered the hobos 2 to 1 and were of some talent. 

Blood for gold. 

No one disputes this. 

Willy almost died but that is nothing new. There was numerous other wounds but wow, the pay was good. A mountain of jewelry, a near half stone of silver and three items of greater interest. They tried to B-line it back to Copper Ginny’s but they found a spot being ogred by a huge drunken ogre – horned, with a third-eye and of eastern origin (whatever that is). This seems curious. “Stupid humans! I know things…for gold!”, hollered the clearly drunken beast. He sat on, well balanced precariously might be more apt, a large low stool beside a sandwich board stating ‘Going someplace? Ask the Sage for advice. Reasonable rates!’.  Ming Dai-Zhyang the Drunken Sage was in need of more drink so he would use his amazing powers of ‘Total Recall’ to use his power of total sensory memory to answer our lazy exploders questions. “Pay now get answer after tomorrow”, barked the three-eyed ogre “no negotiations”. 

They presented a question regarding spaceworm portals. 

Really just a poorly worded want for directions to the egress, lay hobos looking to buy their way to a goal. We shall see how that plays out. 

A stack of coin was greeted with a rancid belch – “Now go away”. 

 

Day 196 (Jones Town –Dusk Market): The following morning there were signs that the authorities were extra active in the market after the slaughter of the B.A. Barakus Boys gang, it was decided that avoiding any entanglements was preferrable.

 

Day 197 (Jones Town): Wasting the day, aside from one quick excursion, waiting to once more return to the Dusk Market. What was that excursion you ask. Well, it was to find the delightful spices that everyone uses. The scent of which just fills the marketplace. 

After a little bit of inquiry they came upon the line leading to a ghoul at a cart lined with spice shakers. The ghoul whom seemed to have unnaturally dry skin was Flakie and he sold ‘Flakie’s Wonder Spice for Everything!’. 

“Ahhhh… Do you guys think that….”, Raul trying to articulate what simply gobsmacked the rest of the gang.

“Hurry up you boobs we have lives to live!”, came a shout from a subhuman somewhere further back in line. The rest of the natives gave a supportive “YA!”. 

They had been eating the stuff for days already and it really did make the flavour of whatever come alive. “Gimme two”, stated Boris. 

They ambled away to applause.

 

 

The B-Team: Boris, Ramrod, Raul, Sloth, Willy, Sasha, Wendul, Gurn, Ike, Katre & Camillus  

 

ROLECALL 

Raul the Voyager (MD9) 263068 xp +10% <360000> CRT 1d12/III

            Fezzi-Gig (Neut: XXXX) Sword

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 364963 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -3, carved up face

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

            Multiple Injuries: lost 25 teeth (7 remaining), drools a lot CHA -1

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)                         

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T9) 172144 xp +5% <280001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp (-5’ mve)

            Missing eight teeth talks with a lisp

 

            The Henchmen

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 177435 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Missing ten teeth

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 123264 xp +10% <200000> CRT 1d10/III

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 27952 <36000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 49700 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Camillus the Myrmidon (F6)  52881 <64001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T6)  28088 <40000>10% CRT 1d14/II

            Agolloch the Eye of Purity (Lawful; XXXX) Sword

Ike the Duck (DF6) – AVATAR form.

Katre Elf-Girl and Swordsman Conjuror (E3) 8141 xp <16000> +0% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

Lady Versamage – Growing into her new body. Ongoing.

Elapsed Campaign Time

(636 b) days at beginning of session 

665a (from Session 264) (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Two-Hundred-and-Sixty-Seven when we ask the questions:

Do we just give it Steve, whenever we get out of here, and not say anything?

How long will the shopping go on for?

If eating people makes ya a cannibal, what does seasoning with ghoul flakes make ya?

Sure is nice that the gangs of Jones Town believe in being adorned ain’t it?

Tale of the Tape

All quiet on the extra dimensional front

KILLS

Brigands F3 (18) 

Brig-Boss F6 

Brig-Mage M4 

LOOT

6000 sp

The B.A. Barakus Boys jewelry collection (22): 21,400 gp total value

Ring of Animal Control

Potion of XX Healing

Longsword ‘Green Slasher’ +1, +3 vs. Reptiles

Pickles & Pork! (Session 265)

SESSION 265: Siege on the Gangrenous Pt. 14 – Jones Town – The Tomb

Spending time in Jones Town waiting for Lady Versamage to grow into her new body.

 

Day 188 Continued (Jones Town –The Tomb): They proceeded through a pair of very substantial stone doors covered in archaic inscriptions. Of note, the library components are the first pieces of stone work observed in this mad patchwork settlement. Perhaps suggesting that the library predated the town. Well below the boardwalk the building appeared to plunge deep into the hex crab. 

What horrors nest deep? 

A wide corridor flanked by towering racks of moldy tomes and ancient scrolls reaching well into the darkness led to a large reception worked by a trio of ghouls. Beyond was another large chamber with more books and tables enshrouded by a misty darkness. Beings and entities went about their research under the light of slowly drifting giant fireflies. The gang requested assistance from the lead ghoul and after some bribery were able to convince ‘Skitters’ to request a meeting with the head archivist Visirian Van Wrack. It worked. After another payment they were brought around to confer with the confidence impaired vampire. Information was gained. A map of the ‘known’ Dreamlands and some related general knowledge. All in one handy book – “So You Woke Up in the Dreamlands and Don’t Know What the Hades is Going on” by Shimrick Spazzlemock. The vampire gave a few other morsels of information before moving along. They ingested as much as they could before the afternoon began to wane and strange noises could be heard coming up from the necropolis below. A fine time to fall back to base for dinner. Their impish guide just happened to be sitting on a barrel not far from the stone doors, “I bets ya meats wanna gets back sharpish dontcha”. It was not phrased like a question because the little groover was correct. A little red hand was once more proffered for coin. The profiteer got the hobos back to the now disassembling Day Market and pointed them in the right direction. 

A couple of things stalled the amble. First, was a parade of Northerner’s chanting “Odin! Odin! Udon!” (even fanatics enjoy a good bowl of noodles, I guess). Led by a bunch of barbarian types with their (cult) leader bringing up the back. He was well dressed in an exquisite cloak shamed by the jewelled necklace overtop. Rammer drooled a bit more than normal just before falling in with the procession. Moments later he returned and strongly suggested the gang should check out that shop right there, right now! 

Benthic Organisms: Jarred and Canned. 

Yuck. They piled in. Inside, the shop was as advertised. After some looking and interaction they found themselves the proud owners of twenty cans of Worms Avec Juice. Slimrick Clifton the proprietor said that each can provided one complete day of sustenance, “It is quite popular with the explorers you know. All you need in one simple can”. During the discussion Ramrod kept an eye out the window, “Alright. Great. Ya got cans of worms. Let’s go. Now!”. The thief for some reason, of thievery that would be revealed later, rushed the group back to the tavern. 

They dined as evening came and with it the thick fog of the ‘Dusk Market’ rolled in. Their intrigue was growing but a lot of signs pointed to things being sketchy. Tonight would be for sleep and Ramrod gloating about his heist – the Udon Odinist’s very fine necklace.

 

Day 189 (Jones Town –Dawn Market): Back out on the streets buying pastries like good tourists. But the pastries were real good and not even walking into a funeral procession for a weaselly money lender could take that away. They spent the better part of the day once more simply wandering and eating, no one had forgotten the deficit of nourishment recently afflicted upon them. A couple of shops were explored – Unholy Candles & Snorri’s Clockworks. The former not only appeared to be sketchy but was. The latter, clockwork shop was intriguing but the gang just couldn’t figure how to get the utility required from smaller clockworks. 

 

Day 190 (Jones Town –Dawn Market): They didn’t get much done this day as the plan was to explore the Dusk Market. Sloth did discover his new favourite food being sold from the back of a cart – Pickles & Pork. Yum yum yum. They waited for the mists to rise once more with the coming of night.

 

The B-Team: Boris, Ramrod, Raul, Sloth, Willy, Sasha, Wendul, Gurn, Ike, Katre & Camillus  

 

ROLECALL 

Raul the Voyager (MD9) 263068 xp +10% <360000> CRT 1d12/III

            Fezzi-Gig (Neut: XXXX) Sword

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 364963 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -3, carved up face

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

            Multiple Injuries: lost 25 teeth (7 remaining), drools a lot CHA -1

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)                         

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T9) 172144 xp +5% <280001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp (-5’ mve)

            Missing eight teeth talks with a lisp

 

            The Henchmen

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 177435 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Missing ten teeth

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 123264 xp +10% <200000> CRT 1d10/III

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 27952 <36000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 49700 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Camillus the Myrmidon (F6)  52881 <64001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T6)  28088 <40000>10% CRT 1d14/II

            Agolloch the Eye of Purity (Lawful; XXXX) Sword

Ike the Duck (DF6) – AVATAR form.

Katre Elf-Girl and Swordsman Conjuror (E3) 8141 xp <16000> +0% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

BoB, Rhags & Alamender are lawn ornament for the Basilisk Knights.

Chung Li needs 12 weeks (74 days) and a stack of coin to rewrite his lost spell book.  

            Elapsed: 53 days (from A-Team calendar) -INTERRUPTED-

Potion Brewing 42 days (started Day 194): Elapsed 24

Elapsed Campaign Time

665a (from Session 264) (633b) days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Two-Hundred-and-Sixty-Six when we ask the questions:

Will we remember that we is MurderHobos?

How long will these birds keep on shopping?

Do you really think we will buy a solution to all our problems in a shanty market?

Tale of the Tape

Versamage continues to grow into her new body

KILLS

-none-

LOOT

Jewel-tastic necklace of Udons of Odin 10,000 gp

Murder Death Dance Party (Session 264)

SESSION 264: Dance Like You Have Eight Legs 

Back in the hex-clearing saddle and back to reviving old, and forgotten, vendettas. 

 

The following has been proven to be untrue: However, before that happens we must find out what Ding-We saw in his Palantir….

We continue to dance with the possibility of a temporal paradox.

 

Team C - Day 219 CONT (Liwil): Carla and Charles muster a squad of bodyguards for the inaugural trip to Dry Gulch.

 

Team D - Day 219 CONT (Blind Basilisk Barracksà15.21/0307/0407/0408): Let the hex clearing recommence! With the late start to the exploration day the ‘D-Team’ did not have a lot of time to look for lairs and creatures to clear. Not much noted beyond sings of deer presence. They returned to the BBB for the night.

 

Day 220 (Blind Basilisk Barracksà15.21/0306/0305/0304/0205/0206): Clear and cold. Today they got a full day of clearing in with only one potentially fatal encounter. Yes, when a tree falls in the forest it makes just enough noise for a murderhobo to dodge. Continuing north Saffron with her arial advantage spotted a mighty stone chimney. 

It was a the remnants of a crumbling lodge. The leftovers of many years in the past. Once palatial now largely collapsed but it had strong bones - A laid stone foundation wall, ten feet tall, thirty wide, and nearly eighty feet long. Facing south was the doorway set into the foundation. With the door long rotted away it opens up into the interior of the place, a crazed jumble of fallen timbers, slate shingles, and sapling trees growing through the debris. Rising above the north wall is a still impressive stone chimney, fifteen feet wide, ten feet deep, and rising thirty-five feet into the air. Bimbles had a vision himself lounging in such a place, “We should get the meeples out here and clean up the joint so we can see what we have to work with”. 

Moving along the day offered only the mundane, more deer sign and they surprised a trio of wild boar that would be brought back for a BoarBQ. Less mundane and more magical, was a three-pack of unicorns. Saffron tried to parlay with them but it seemed that they were on a mission of their own and were not interested in dilly dallying with a screwball fairy. This put our little nightmare in a foul mood which she took out on Bimbles. Back to the barracks they earned some cheers from the garrison for bringing fresh pork for dinner.

Day 221 (Blind Basilisk Barracksà15.21/0406/0505): Aggressive snow and winds slowed the start of the exploration day by a few hours. They found the boar lair/ wallow and bagged another six of the ornery buggers. While looking for more, following a very obvious trail, they discovered a still flowing stream - crystal clear and delicious.

 

Day 222 (Blind Basilisk Barracksà15.21/0505/0605/0606/0505): To expedite the exploration they decided to set a base camp along the stream. A squad of horsemen along with some packhorses with supplies joined the expedition. Limited clearing today but also no challenges. They did see sign of the unicorns moving through the main hex on a southeast trajectory. 

 

Day 223 (15.21/0505/0506/0507/0608/0707/0607/0505): Today much to everyone’s enjoyment, the day was unusually warm (+10 degrees). Made hiking wet and mushy but did not require the burdensome winter gear. A lot of clearing, nary the trouble but Saff did observe some old “spider-ropes”  going either NW or SE in a patch of trees. Not much thought was given to this. Really.

 

Day 224 (15.21/0505/0706/0806/0805/0705/0605/0505): The Spring like temperature persisted today. They moved to the eastern edge of the hex and discovered an grove of high grade white oak trees. That would be the high point of a day that goes quickly down hill an hour or so later. The spider sign from the previous day would pay off as they approached a dense copse of trees. 

Giant Tarantulas. Nine of them but this was not initially clear. They could see three on the ground nesting in the dark hollows within the roots of the gnarled trees. The other six moved expertly overhead dropping like bombs onto the group. The fight was on and the spiders bulky nature belied their lightning fast attack speed. Tarantula venom is funny stuff. It doesn’t kill you outright or make you vomit out your guts. Nope, it makes you dance in the most spastic of manner. Like a marionette being controlled by a puppet master having a seizure. To make matters even more fun it is contagious. 

Nara and Lester spazzed by venom and then Dolec caught sight of them, “Ahhh!! What is happening I cannot stop dancing. I got a rhythm I cannot shake…I need a cowbell!!!”. Fortunately mighty Dolec did not immediately get jiggy until he had already chopped up a trio of spiders. Even though their neurological controls had gone goofy they still could with great force of will they could act, it was just real difficult. Lester provided evidence of such when he tried to throw his axe. The release was a mess and the axe ended up buried in his thigh. Lester took his macabre dance to the ground spraying important fluids all over the place. 

The paladin was out. Bimbles, Bunny and Saff continued to successfully fight off the hairy buggers and with the added support of the two active members of the goof -troop they were able to defeat the arachnids. The reward was puny just a withered sack with silver coins. The spiders seem to mostly dine on game. Bimbles was able to neutralize the bizarre poison and get Lester back on his feet. It was time for a tactical retreat. “Back to camp”, declared the high priest of Spinning Stars and Moons. 

They were perhaps a half mile from camp when the Curse of Arachnida kicked in. Fortunately it was not at full power. Three more tarantulas and related shenanigans. Nara and Dolec were once more affected by the dance party poison. However, this time when the spiders had been defeated Bimbles could no longer neutralize the poison and remove curse had no effect. They had no choice but to let the poison run its course. They resumed the march to camp with the dance duo in the rear so as not to contaminate anyone else. The going was slow and the dancers ended up collapsing not far from base. They were dragged the rest of the way then tossed onto their bed mats and left for dead. They would not rise again this day.

That evening Bimbles, Bunny and Lester reviewed their map. Saffron had better things to do with her time, what it was only a maniac would know. 

Barring any serious derailment another two days would be required to clear the hex.

 

The D-Team: Bimbles, Bunny, Saffron, Nara, Lester & Dolec

The C-Team: Carla, Charles & a squad of horsemen

 

ROLECALL 

Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C10) 318111 xp +5% <400001> CRT 1d12/III

            +2 save to poison and internal body things; Double eat (gotta feed my baybay)

Bunny the Thief! (T10) 309721 xp <400001> +10% CRT 1d24/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

 

            The Henchmen

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY7) 196882 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts

Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (PS7) 111411 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d16/II

Wraith Drained: -1 CON

Dolec Da the Champion (F7) 69998 xp +10% <120000> CRT 1d20/IV

            Missing five teeth

Lester Flanders the Guardian of Oceana (P6)  47258 xp <95000> +5% CRT 1d16/IV

 

RESERVES

BoB, Rhags & Alamender are lawn ornament for the Basilisk Knights.

Chung Li needs 12 weeks (74 days) and a stack of coin to rewrite his lost spell book.  

            Elapsed: 53 days (from A-Team calendar) -INTERRUPTED-

Elapsed Campaign Time

660 (633) days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Two-Hundred-and-Sixty-Five when we ask the questions:

Why so many damn spiders?

Does anyone remember being the recipients of the Curse of Arachnida? 

With the bones of a forgotten lodge intact do we build?

Beating a dead hobo -Will we pull off a temporal paradox and if so how the hell would we fix it?

Tale of the Tape

Biff recovering post death (2 weeks): Elapsed 6

Potion Brewing 42 days (started Day 194): Elapsed 24

KILLS

Boars (9) 

Tarantulas (12) 

LOOT

770 sp

Housekeeping in Murderland (Session 263)

SESSION 263: Problems, Plotting, Politicking & Potioning 

When is a gate not a gate? When it’s a gate. Things improved after this.

 

Day 210 Continued III (13.21 Orcs): The gate was another problem to solve. It was binding something. Looking from the outside we did not see the village but a strangely organic passage. After a few attempts to make it go away and then figure out that it was indeed very likely a living thing that would not just move along. 

Carla and Nara conferred until they reached a conclusion, a ritual of unbinding would be required. This was something Nara was familiar with being a Carcosan native. They probably required a sagely type. Carla knew this was not going to be easy at least the thing seemed incapable of going anywhere. Lester broke the conference and reminded of the other gateway within the Blinded clan complex. Carla liked this problem a bit more as she could do something about it, “We will ward the passage to the surface with protective glyphs against evil”. The paladin thought this was suitable. They made their way back to the tunnel and put the protections into place. “All right let us get out of here”.

 

The weather was favourable for the trip back to the camp. As they approached the treeline and final quarter mile to the camp a red stain on the snow was observed a few hundred yards to the west. Checking it out it was the mutilated remains of a giant elk. All the good parts were had been eaten. The mess was partially frozen suggesting it was relatively fresh. Around the remains were strange tracks, a pair of feline like and a pair of hooved with no entry line. They were perplexed for a moment. Until they recollected the chimera within the floating rock dungeon. Somewhere near the beast likely laired but today would not be the day to find it. They double timed it back to camp. The guards mentioned that there was noise during the evening. This was noted and it was decided to put extra hobos on each watch overnight. 

 

Day 211 (13.20/0608 CampàCaravanserai): Clear and cold. The night had passed quietly. Camp was torn down quickly and the horde made their way back to the caravanserai. The travel was greatly slowed by the carts fighting through the snow and slipping on the hills. They would not be dragging carts around the wilderness until Spring returns. 

 

Day 212 (Caravanserai): Carla called down the holy light of TMB to shine on Biff once more. He gasped a breath and then screamed in pain as the cleric changed her chant to seal the grievous wounds that once more sprayed fluid. Moments later the wounds were closed, leaving a wicked scar across the horks body. He lost most of a tusk and a chasm-like scar across his face showed the apex of the orc warlord’s sword arc. 

 

Day 213 (Caravanserai): Carla needed some rest after the strain of raising Biff from the dead. They were going to plan things today. That plan of plans was blown off target when Biff learned that he would be left with Felix to recuperate. “No fucking way! That nerd drives me nuts. Kill me again!”. Biff was not going to let up. A stretcher was prepared to hang between two horses. Biff would convalesce in Gormandia. Felix went into a monologue nevertheless. It was not done as they rode off.

 

Day 214 (Caravanserai à Gormandia): The day started with moderate snow. It lasted until the team reached Gormandia. Steve came out to greet the group giving Biff the gears, “Ah come on bro. Fight. Die. Rise. Fight again. We are MurderHobos!”. 

“Sure are pal". 

"We will set you up with Bimbles in front of the fire with a frosty keg”. 

The gang used the rest of the day to get back to planning stuff. 

 

Day 215 (Gormandia): Heavy snow and freezing rain delayed the trip to Liwil.

 

Day 216 (Gormandia à Liwil): Clear the storm had passed but the rains had left an icy coating on the snow. The horses did not like walking through this. Slowing the journey noticeably. They arrived in Liwil early evening. The timing was not bad as they ran into Ding-We, Chung-Li and the owlish alchemist at the tavern. The wizzes were brought up to speed. They did not have much time as potion brewing cannot be paused. Ding-We felt it was time to roll out the crystal ball to find Boris. Placing the ball before him on the table the wizard looked deep in search of the leader of the B-Team. His sight spanned the gulf of space and time zeroing in on Boris, “There you are…hmmm what is this?...unexpected…I must go. We will speak on other subjects tomorrow”. Ding-We grabbed the Palantir quickly wrapping it back up in cloth before stuffing it into a small bag and storming out of the tavern. That left everyone else dumbfounded. “Biff would have called him a dick”, noted Bunny. The rest of the old hands agreed. Lester had to elevate himself above internal politics as paladins oft do.

 

Day 217 (Liwil): Bunny and Carla paid a visit to the knights today to have a long delayed conversation. They met once more with Baldicar and Anven. Being both alert and intelligent Anven sensed the topic of the meeting and set the board. 

“We are a monastic order, first and foremost. We were never meant to be governing people. A task we have never wanted. The population has been growing and our numbers, constantly stretched too thin, are needed to protect our home region and increasingly to the south as more miners arrive and forgotten or underserved trade routes regain life. Even though you have reduced the pressures from the north the incursions of Chaos are still unabated and even growing where the lands remain wild and ungoverned. The Darkwoods awaken and expel a black breath across the lands. Lawlessness, as you know, perhaps launching from Sin threatens our fragile order. We must regrow our order and need the tools to do such. 

This would require a stipend”. 

“Ah. Yup. That is what brought us here today. I guess we don’t really need to convince you of much…”, Bunny relieved that she did not have to use the negotiation directions given to her by Ding-We. 

Carla stepped up to finish things, “We are in agreement. For the greater good your order will join us in our quest to tame these lands once more. Further we will support both the maintenance and growth of the Order of the Basilisk to its former glory”. 

Baldicar closed the agreement before his daughter went in further, “Consider us your allies. Hewtim will provide you with the accounting. Wei Fan will be disappointed mostly because his lady will be irate but these lands are returning to man. It is best that we largely live in our own worlds. Hail Gormandia!”. Anven did understand this sentiment but could not quite get to open agreement yet. They then all shared a glass of distilled basilisk blood to bind the agreement. “Hewtim will present the wizard with the ledger in the coming days. Long live the New Empire”, Baldicar bowed to the ladies as they made their egress. Anven curtsied as she warmed to the proposition of being a knight captain and not a settler of squabbles. 

Carla wanted to now actually assess the shanty town outside the stronghold walls. Bunny was not totally keen on this as she had dressed her part as a Lady for the meeting. They made their way to the drinking shack within the camp. There was a lively discussion between the keeper and a couple of patrons. It quieted down when Bunny and Carla rolled in, “Hello friends please don’t let us interrupt”. “Who are you fancies?” “We are those whom tame these lands” “I didn’t vote for you”. After some back and forth the conversation resumed. The topic was that of murder. The day hence a body had been found with a boulder where once was a head. This put a fear into a the large dimwit Dod until the healer Chloe Lange was forced to console him. The barman was Cen Saard and his son Con was security and the short order cook. A couple of miners sat in the back quietly listening. Another, Nea Wald had a lot to say about stuff. Nea was one of the founders of the mining village after leaving Dry Gulch after two decades of working a claim to the north, “I should be a rich man.. ah but sometimes we make decisions that don’t pan out. But I have another chance more gold in the hills to south. I will get rich this time I tell ya!”. The girls stepped up to let these crusty miners know of the land of new opportunities to be found for folks just to the north, “We need families and we need miners. We have a growing army to protect you and resources that stand idle in need of pick and shovel”. “Ah ya can’t get rich working for someone else”, came from Nea. “But you could be comfortable and safe, especially if you were a boss”, replied Bunny. They ended up convincing Nea to find five good hands and join the team. They also hooked the healer into informing the families that a better life could be found in Gormandia proper. 

The sun was now setting time for dinner and chit chat with the wizards. Hewtim was awaiting their arrival and brought his bottle and ledger to the table once all had arrived. He calculated the stipend to be 1,000 gold coins or equivalent per month would be sufficient for the Order of the Basilisk until such a time as the order exceeded a twenty percent increase in size. Ding-We had the look of someone chomping to negotiate until Carla kicked him, “The deal is done”. Dinner was fine and so was the snow that came down just beyond the walls of the Knight & Stone tavern.

 

Day 218 (Liwil àGormandia): Clear and cold. The plan was to return to expanding the empire but first they would pay another visit to the dryad. It seems that during their brief interaction over the last couple of days Ding-We put some sort of plan in Bunny’s head.. Elsael was home and talkative. Bunny asked how one could get a dryad to move into Gormandia once more. Elsael explained that things did not really worked that way and then echoed Baldicar’s words that it is often best that man and the Fair folk live in separate worlds but there were most certainly exceptions. Saff farted her agreement. They then rode on arriving once more at Gormandia as night fell.

 

Day 219 (Gormandia à Blind Basilisk Barracksà15.21/0307): Clear the ride to the barracks took just over two hours due to the snow. After a quick break the exploration group departed to begin the monster eviction process of the neighbouring hex.

 

However, before that happens we must find out what Ding-We saw in his Palantir….

 

 

The C-Team: Carla, Bunny, Saffron, Charles, Dolec, Nara, Lester 

 

ROLECALL 

Carla the Green High Priestess of TMB (C10) 354214 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d12/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C10) 318111 xp +5% <400001> CRT 1d12/III

            +2 save to poison and internal body things; Double eat (gotta feed my baybay)

Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 326064 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 233287 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)

            Missing thirteen teeth  

Raul the Voyager (MD9) 263068 xp +10% <360000> CRT 1d12/III

            Fezzi-Gig (Neut: XXXX) Sword

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 364963 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -3, carved up face

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

            Multiple Injuries: lost 25 teeth (7 remaining), drools a lot CHA -1

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)                         

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Wizard (W10) 515312 xp +10% <620001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)

Bunny the Thief! (T10) 309721 xp <400001> +10% CRT 1d24/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T9) 172144 xp +5% <280001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp (-5’ mve)

            Missing eight teeth talks with a lisp

 

            The Henchmen

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY7) 196882 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 177435 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Missing ten teeth

Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (PS7) 111411 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d16/II

Wraith Drained: -1 CON

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 102620 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 123264 xp +10% <200000> CRT 1d10/III

‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 64817 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Felix Ignatius Hemlock the once skeletal Sleuth (I7) 47017 <80001> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 78549 <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 85178 <120000> +10% CRT 1d20/IV

            Franz the Grave Return (Lawful; XXXX) Sword

Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON) 

            Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 27952 <36000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 49700 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Dolec Da the Champion (F7) 69998 xp +10% <120000> CRT 1d20/IV

            Missing five teeth

Camillus the Myrmidon (F6)  52881 <64001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T6)  28088 <40000>10% CRT 1d14/II

            Agolloch the Eye of Purity (Lawful; XXXX) Sword

Chung-Li the Myrmidon Warlock (E6) 103411 xp <120000> +10% CRT 1d8/II

Captain Alamend Strender the Swashbuckler (F6) 37745 <64000> +5% CRT 1d16/IV

Lester Flanders the Guardian of Oceana (P6)  47258 xp <95000> +5% CRT 1d16/IV

Ike the Duck (DF6) – AVATAR form.

Katre Elf-Girl and Swordsman Conjuror (E3) 8141 xp <16000> +0% CRT 1d8/II

Brett & Jermaine Kobold Cooks & Eavesdroppers Extraordinaire

 

RESERVES

BoB, Rhags & Alamender are lawn ornament for the Basilisk Knights.

Chung Li needs 12 weeks (74 days) and a stack of coin to rewrite his lost spell book.  

            Elapsed: 53 days (from A-Team calendar) -INTERRUPTED-

Elapsed Campaign Time

648 (633) days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Two-Hundred-and-Sixty-Four when we ask the questions:

What are the B-Team doing?

What did Ding-We see?

Will we pull off a time paradox and if so how the hell would we fix it?

Tale of the Tape

Biff recovering post death (2 weeks): Elapsed 6

Potion Brewing 42 days (started Day 194): Elapsed 15

KILLS

none

LOOT

none