The Nameless City (Session 76)

 SESSION 76: The Nameless City (2JULY18)

            The mist wanted to eat our souls it seems. This created a challenge that required resolution. Afterwards we made our way into the looming structure that fought the living stone for dominance. Passing through the portal we found a chamber with an ancient altar and a stairwell that descended into the stygian depths. It really did. 2000’ down the infernal stairwell levelled out into a corridor adorned with coffins and murals. The long-lost kings of the serpent people and their stories. Woulda been fine if we didn’t dick with one of their coffins. It released a long dead king of the serpent folk, a brutal mummy that hated humans even more in death than it did in life. We pressed on through an intricately inscribed bronze door. There were more damnable stairs that descended into a cavern of improbable proportion. There, of course, was a poisonous cloud that obscured the contents. Passing through we finally found the Nameless City of the serpent people. Four pyramids, two coliseums and what appeared to be two villages occupied this hidden world.

            The landscape was rocky and fungal crawling with insects of unpleasant size. Just to make it more fun there was also giant primordial reptiles and arachnae. There was a ruined pyramid to the NE that we decided would be the first point of investigation. It was categorically ruined and its sole occupant was a ghost that hated our life. Luck was on our side as we successfully sent the restless spirit to its final rest. Pressing on, we moved to investigate the adjacent village. 

            It seemed to be a place that had been ransacked ages passed. The current residents of the village were the restless dead. We learned this the near fatal way. A spectre ambushed Bunny draining her of so much vitality that she fell into a coma. This brush with mortality forced us to fall back and seek safe harbour. The dried and boulder strewn moat of the pyramid would be our cloister until we could press on, in search of the knowledge that may save our world from the tendrils of madness spreading from dread Carcosa.

 

ROLECALL

Carla the Green Lama of TMB (C7) 78335 xp +10% <100001> CRT 1d14/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the Lama of GSS (C7) 76171 xp +5% <100001> CRT 1d14/III.

Hobo Steve the Champion (F7) 74509 xp +5% <120,001> CRT 1d30/V

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

Raul the Ranger (MD6) 35502 xp <50000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Champion (D7) 81451 xp +10% <140001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Injury: lost 6 teeth                               

Lenardo the Engineer (S7) 65222 xp +10% <100000> CRT 1d12/I

            Light wound: permanent loss of two fingers (pinky and next) left hand

            Light wound: permanent loss of eight teeth

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Magician(W6) 59135 xp +10% <80001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated

Bunny the Sharper (T7) 65933 xp <80001> +10% CRT 1d30/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

            The Henchmen

Arnd Cobblestone the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 30667 xp +5% <35001> CRT 1d20/ IV

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY6) 83255 <130001> CRT 1d14/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

Sloth the Roughneck (L5) 35725 <36960> CRT 1d24/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

Sasha Plasha the Guide (R6) 32865 xp +10% <50000> CRT 1d12/III

 

RESERVES

Ramrod the Cloned Burglar (T5) 19543 xp +5% <20001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp

            Missing six teeth talks with a lisp

            Being cloned 45 days COMPLETED!?!

Rahgnar the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 54462 xp <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Critical Wound:

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 11 DAYS

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

179 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Seventy-seven when we ask the questions:

How safe is an old moat?

How long will we be in this old moat?

Tale of the Tape

KILLS

Serpent King Mummy 

Colossal Spiders (2) 

Gelatinous Cube

Ghasts (3)

Ghouls (12) 

Ghost 

Spectre 

LOOT

2000 gp

Jewelry 800 gp

SS +1, +3 vs. Magical monsters

LS +2

A bunch of potions Magic: Potion of Longevity, Potion of Fire Resistance, Potion of Clairaudience, Potion of Fire Resistance

Wand of Magic Detection

Treasure Map

Carcosa Reveals the Nameless City (Session 75)

SESSION 75: The Calm Before the Storm (18JUNE18)

            Let’s go check out that hole in the earth. A short desert crawl through the wastes later. We discover what appears to be a dried-up oasis with a well-worn pathway down to the bottom. We quickly discover some dead treasure hunters, more than enough motivation for us to go investigate further. We found one of their comrades crushed and near death, in trade for some water we get some information. “Lost treasure somewhere below…”. We continued. Rescued a camel, fought off swarms of little lizards, drove off a gang of shadows, defeated a bunch of statues to gain a key and then finally after searching found a horde of riches. Easy pay for once. 

            Moving on we discovered a lost bunker that provided two pieces of lost technology. That evening we were surrounded be a group of giant scorpions. We did not screw around, there was no urge to test our luck with a ‘save or die’ situations. The next day we made what we hoped was the final push to our hidden destination. It was.

Before us, the Nameless City. Oh, and some moaning purple mist is also coming our way. Game on.

               

 Image: The Nameless City by LeoMeyer from Deviant Art,  2019

ROLECALL

Carla the Green Lama of TMB (C7) 77458 xp +10% <100001> CRT 1d14/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the Lama of GSS (C7) 75294 xp +5% <100001> CRT 1d14  /III

Hobo Steve the Champion (F7) 73632 xp +5% <120,001> CRT 1d30/V

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

Raul the Ranger (MD6) 34625 xp <50000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Champion (D7) 80574 xp +10% <140001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Injury: lost 6 teeth                              

Lenardo the Engineer (S7) 64345 xp +10% <100000> CRT 1d12/I

            Light wound: permanent loss of two fingers (pinky and next) left hand

            Light wound: permanent loss of eight teeth

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Magician(W6) 58258 xp +10% <80001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated

Bunny the Sharper (T7) 65056 xp <80001> +10% CRT 1d30/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

            The Henchmen

Arnd Cobblestone the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 30229 xp +5% <35001> CRT 1d20/ IV

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY6) 82817 <130001> CRT 1d14/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

Sloth the Roughneck (L5) 35287 <36960> CRT 1d24/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

Sasha Plasha the Guide (R6) 32427 xp +10% <50000> CRT 1d12/III

 

RESERVES

Ramrod the Cloned Burglar (T5) 19543 xp +5% <20001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp

            Missing six teeth talks with a lisp

            Being cloned 45 days COMPLETED!?!

Rahgnar the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 54462 xp <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Critical Wound:

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 13 DAYS

Elapsed Campaign Time

177 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Seventy-six when we ask the questions:

What’s up with this moaning purple mist?

Why were we looking for the Nameless City, I mean like really?

I wonder what Ramrod is doing now that he is not in a jar?

Tale of the Tape

KILLS

Little Lizard Swarms (3) 

Shadows (6) 

Living Statues (4) 

Giant Scorpions (6) 

LOOT

19830 sp

3000 gp

Small gems rubies, sapphires, diamonds (200) @ 5 gp each (1000gp)

Sapphires med (25) @ 100 gp each (2500gp)

Dagger +2

Bracers of Defense (AC3)

Ring of Protection +2

Cloak of Elevenkind

Wand of Magic Missiles (7 charges)

MK2 Laser Pistol (hvy; 5 shots)

Warp Field Mace (full charge) 

Death on the Xo’Thar Plan (Session 74)

 SESSION 74: Death on the Xo’Thar Plan (21MAY18)

            A forgotten tower in a wasteland. That is where everything can go wrong. That was exactly what we found. From the exterior it was unremarkable, grey and weathered. Bunny felt that a tactical entrance via the roof was super cool. Entrance was hindered but for a while by a stone slab. 

We dropped into a laboratory diminished by time yet preserved by a strange organic coating, much like the casing of a moth pupa. This didn’t scare us away. Instead we began searching for encased loot and it was found. That was great but there must be more, so we went deeper into the tower. Remember this has become a descent into the bowels of this place. Dante would probably warn of such journeys. There was a distinct and pervasive sense of ennui that permeated us the longer we remained, lethargy to the core.  Moving down a floor we found ourselves in a bedchamber of the long absent magus of the tower. Searching revealed a horde of gold, a ring and the lost master’s spellbook.  Even though there was an air of gloom and ennui the prospect of more loot drove our hobos down to the next floor. 

Again, the walls and ceiling were covered in the bio-organic coating and the floors had an unpleasant stickiness to them. This chamber appeared to have been a meeting room/ living area once upon a time. Ding-We had about enough of this creepy joint and was already satiated with the Vivimancer’s spell book. This thought came too late. The lone occupant had been waiting. A master of camouflage and source of debilitating pheromones – Xo’thar the Weeper. Created by a cross-breeding experiment gone horribly wrong, Xo'thar resembles an enormous gray moth, 7' tall, with small, non-functional wings and octopodal tentacles instead of legs. Its body is covered with thick plates of armor. Xo'thar levitates through magical means and uses its wings to push it in the direction it wishes to travel. Xo'thar exudes potent pheromones, from the almost constant mucous-like tears weeping from its faceted eyes. 

NOTE: The previous description is likely sourced from the original author of this encounter  (I will circle back and clarify in an edit). 

This caused despair through most of the largely already depressed party filling them with overwhelming sadness, unable to act, move, or even to defend themselves. Then came the tentacles, latching on and pulling hobos towards it for evisceration from Xo’thar’s proboscis. We were near defenseless against such a malignant entity. Tentacle after tentacle embraced our hobos, impossibly more and more coming from within the beast. Sloth and Arnd tried to battle Xo’thar back but they could not get passed its waving mass of tentacles. Then things got worse, Astronaut Stewart was dragged to the creature plunging its proboscis through her face and ending her life and casting her husk aside.  Next Bunny was brought in for the final kiss, she was able to deflect the attack from her face to chest, at the cost of a finger. Avoiding instant death but the attack did leave her just barely clinging to the final embers of life. But all was not lost the tide was turning. Ding-We broke free from his malaise while Arnd and Sloth redoubled their efforts throwing defense to the wind they attacked as if all their lives depended upon it (probably did). Finally, they broke through Xo’thar’s barriers and chopped it into teeny tiny slimy little pieces. 

Bunny was fortunate only taking a light injury during her near-death experience, requiring only four days of rest before being mobile once more. So, we holed up in the tower to recover and plan our next step. Perhaps it will be the chasm observed to the south, maybe not.

 

ROLECALL

Carla the Green Lama of TMB (C7) 76563 xp +10% <100001> CRT 1d14/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the Lama of GSS (C7) 74399 xp +5% <100001> CRT 1d14  /III

Hobo Steve the Myrmidon (F6) 69737 xp +5% (101) <70001> CRT 1d30/V

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

Raul the Ranger (MD6) 33730 xp <50000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 72679 xp +10% <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Injury: lost 6 teeth                              

Lenardo the Engineer (S7) 63450 xp +10% <100000> CRT 1d12/I

            Light wound: permanent loss of two fingers (pinky and next) left hand

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Magician(W6) 57363 xp +10% <80001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated

Bunny the Sharper (T7) 64161 xp <80001> +10% CRT 1d30/II

            The Henchmen

Arnd Cobblestone the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 29781 xp +5% <35001> CRT 1d20/ IV

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY6) 82369 <130001> CRT 1d14/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

Sloth the Roughneck (L5) 34839 <36960> CRT 1d24/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

Sasha Plasha the Guide (R6) 31979 xp +10% <50000> CRT 1d12/III

Astronaut Stewart the Ensign (TSM3) XXXX <9600> CRT as Thief

 

RESERVES

Ramrod the Cloned Burglar (T5) 19543 xp +5% <20001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp

            Missing six teeth talks with a lisp

            Being cloned 45 days COMPLETED!?!

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 1 DAY!!!

Rahgnar the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 54462 xp <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Critical Wound:

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 17 DAYS

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

173 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Seventy-five when we ask the questions:

Tale of the Tape

Astronaut Stewart’s space skull was pierced by the proboscis Xo’thar

Bunny on the other hand was able to deflect the strike to her chest it cost her a pinky but she will live after 4 days of bed rest.

KILLS

Xo’thar the Weeper 

LOOT

5000 gp

Golden Goblet 750 

Alchemical Equipment 2000

Volume 1 - 3  of Werb’s Dissertation on the Creation of Vivimantic Cross-Breeds (3) 750 gp each

Ring of protection +1

Vivimancer’s Spellbook

Carcosa Salvage Rights (Session 73)

 SESSION 73: The World is Out to Get Lenny! (14MAY18)

            As we prepared to dig out the doors we were delayed , as per usual, by unfriendly abnormal creatures. This time it was a wing of Ptero-dactylus’s, they were a problem for a while as we sussed out a way to manage them. Eventually Ding-We put up a web behind Saff’s illusion and that put the critters to bed. Following up we dug open the doors to reveal an ancient tomb. It was full of treasure-yay! We did have to fight our way through some decaying zombies and more bloody animated statues. Packing up the loot we trudged on. 

Midday we discovered a strange vehicle that had been abandoned in the wastes. It bore unknown markings, black crosses. It showed signs of being in a fire fight and then quickly scuttled of extraneous equipment. Lenny after a few hours of investigation felt strongly that it could be repaired – eventually. 

That evening a starcraft raced across the sky streaming gouts of black smoke until it crashed a few kilometers south of the campsite. It was the last flight of the Icarus. Goods were quickly packed and the chase was on. 

            A little less than an hour later we found the burning wreckage and whom ended up being its sole survivor. Her name was Ensign Astronaut Stewart. She claimed that her Terran (whatever that is) ship was shot down out of warp space by The Visitors, very likely more of the little grey-men that we had encountered previously and the hypothesized source of our demi-humans. 

            Len, after a day and half of being everything’s favourite target was hot for space goods and risked entry into the burning craft. It was ‘alien’, because it was alien and like most good ships had all the neat stuff stowed away. Lenny had the chance to check the other astronauts (Landon, Dodge & Taylor) for sign of life, all were deceased, prior to the vessel exploding into flaming slag.

            This whole bit of yee-ha attracted or was the target for a group of ten riders in full black plate and odd spears. Unknown to all, they were slayers and the spears backed a punch. They dismounted and began blasting from higher ground (shoulda given them a bonus to hit...). There was a difficult battle but our Hobos got through it. After which we grabbed a couple of the spears and made a hasty retreat with our new companion before anything else came to investigate the spectacle. Session ended in hex 2714  

ROLECALL

Carla the Green Lama of TMB (C7) 75188 xp +10% <100001> CRT 1d14/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the Lama of GSS (C7) 73024 xp +5% <100001> CRT 1d14  /III

Hobo Steve the Myrmidon (F6) 68362 xp +5% (101) <70001> CRT 1d30/V

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

Raul the Ranger (MD6) 32355 xp <50000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 71304 xp +10% <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Injury: lost 6 teeth                              

Lenardo the Engineer (S7) 62075 xp +10% <100000> CRT 1d12/I

            Light wound: permanent loss of two fingers (pinky and next) left hand

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Magician(W6) 55988 xp +10% <80001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated

Bunny the Sharper (T7) 62786 xp <80001> +10% CRT 1d30/II

            The Henchmen

Arnd Cobblestone the Dwarven Swashbuckler (D5) 29096 xp +5% <35001> CRT 1d20/ IV

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY6) 81684 <130001> CRT 1d14/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

Sloth the Roughneck (L5) 34154 <36960> CRT 1d24/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

Sasha Plasha the Guide (R6) 31294 xp +10% <50000> CRT 1d12/III

 

RESERVES

Ramrod the Cloned Burglar (T5) 19543 xp +5% <20001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp

            Missing six teeth talks with a lisp

            Being cloned 45 days

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 1 DAY!!!

Rahgnar the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 54462 xp <70001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Critical Wound:

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 19 DAYS

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

171 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Seventy-four when we ask the questions:

What does a Terran Starman actually know?

Was it luck the Slayers showed up, or are they after something?

When are we going to get to the Nameless City and will it hold the secret to returning home?

Tale of the Tape

Lenny didn’t lose his increasingly gelatinous head but he did lose 8 teeth. A face only an ooze could love...

KILLS

Decaying Zombies (20) 

Animated Marble Statues (2) 

Ptero-dactylus (8) 

Slayers (10) 

LOOT

8500 sp

2250 gp

10 k in mixed valuables

Rod of Influence