An Unexpected Encounter (Session 193)

 SESSION 193: How do we get to the Treasure?

Things started with a host of almost perfectly camouflaged giant spiders raining down from the thick canopy. 

Day 60– Continued (14.20- 0305/0306 (HEX CLEARED)/0206à13.20-0706 – SPIDERS! ): A dozen crab spiders the size of hefty sheep rained down upon our hobos. Except for somehow succeeding in poisoning Gurn of all folks the ambush was unsuccessful and the trail of dead monsters grew. The spiders were transients and once more the hobos were robbed of any pay aside from clearing the hex.

Day 61– Cloudy (13.20- 0706/0704/0604/0603): Today back in Gormandia, Bimbles led a force towards the future location of the Blood River ferry. Our group continued along the northern extent of the hex slowly clearing their way towards meeting with Bimbles’s group. They ran into another orc warband moving through a gulley. The pig-men didn’t really stand a chance with our mob doing death from above. The orcs were oddly heavily laden with loot. The gang took this as a boon rather than wondering about the origins of numerous sacks of coin. That evening they heard bells off in the distance to the west.

Day 62– Clear (13.20- 0603/0503 (Chasm)/0404/0303): Today there were more crab spiders to kill. Steve did not mind as he thought they tasted like chicken. An hour or so later, a large chasm was discovered. Dolec and Sasha were convinced that this was the location of the treasure on the map. The crevasse was both long and deep. Very deep. Beyond 100’ and way beyond what Saffron could be convinced to explore. It was decided that the chasm was currently beyond safe exploration. They pressed on. That evening they once more heard bells but much closer.

Day 63– Cloudy (13.20- 0303/0304): The source of the bells was discovered early in the day. A trader, Razmuth, had camped along with his horses and covered wagon that was adorned in finely crafted hanging bells that gently chimed with the breeze. “Hello travellers. Come share my fire and some repast. After which we can discuss the civilized practice of trade for solutions”. Even though they were not far beyond breakfast they felt more hungry than expected. Time moved oddly or things took much more time than expected. Before they knew it the sun was waning and Razmuth pointed out that it only made sense if the hobos spent the evening at his camp for it was very safe. They agreed once more. 

For some reason the denizens of the wilder lands seemed not take to notice of Razmuth, or perhaps gave extra berth. Odd, but not considered worrisome. 

 

ROLECALL 

Carla the Green High Priestess of TMB (C9) 263154 xp +10% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C9) 240055 xp +5% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

Hobo Steve the Superhero (F8) 231829 xp +5% <240,001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Touched from Beyond the Grave (Sloth): Eating disorder (x2 food) -5’ mve

            Blessing of Orcus (Consumption -1 CON)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 197250 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 (MD8) 211197 xp +10% <240000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 326721 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

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

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

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

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT                               

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Sorcerer (W9) 425762 xp +10% <470001> CRT 1d10/I

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

Bunny the Thief! (T9) 209332 xp <280001> +10% CRT 1d20/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T8) 142868 xp +5% <160001> 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) 151070 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 148533 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Mental Illness: Mummy-a-phobic

            Missing ten teeth

Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (PS7) 82402 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d16/II

Wraith Drained: -1 CON

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 97862 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

Lasting injury: Crushed spinal column -6”H, -5’mv, -10% thieving

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 98367 xp +10% <100000> 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 Canon of Yrrrg. (C6) 46203 <50001> CRT 1d10/III

Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 53085 <64000> +10% CRT 1d16/IV

Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON) 

            Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swordsman (D4) 12992 <17000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 42429 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Dolec Da the Hero (F5) 30841 xp +10% <32000> CRT 1d16/IV

            Missing five teeth

Camillus the Myrmidon (F7)  70711 <120001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T5)  14346<20000>10% CRT 1d14/II

Brett & Jermaine Kobold Cooks Extraordinaire 

 

RESERVES

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

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

Join us for session One-Hundred-and-Ninety-Four when we ask the questions:

What is up with this Razmuth guy?

Why so scared of the chasm?

Why so many spiders?

Does it have something to do with the aforementioned chasm? 

Tale of the Tape

Camillus, Bob, Rhags, Charles and Felix are still stoned.

Ding-We and the other nerds continue to furiously brew enough potions to resolve the above problem.

 

Exploration

Location hex: 14.20à13.19

KILLS

Crab Spiders (12) 

Orc war band 

Crab Spiders (9) 

LOOT

2000 cp

3000 gp

Pearl 100 gp

Murder in the Wilderlands (Session 192)

 SESSION 192: The Wilds Continue to Prove to be Unexpected

The gang continues to clear the hex of monsters, after spending a day skinning a bulette, and encounter an odd flying snake and then a monstrous snake that has retribution on its mind. Nothing but a sticky day all round.

Day 53– Clear (14.20- 0604): Rested for a day to heal and give Steve time to harvest the hide of the intact bulette. While this was going down Sasha both found a more defensible camp site close by and discovered the likely direction to the bulette lair.

Day 54– Becalmed (14.20- 0604/0703/0704/0805/0806/0705 ): A cool crisp day that is unusually quiet. Our group sounded like a circus moving through the dead quiet forest. This attracted the attention of a wing of perytons that gleefully dive bombed the hobos doing grievous injury to both Sloth and Gurn.

Day 55– Becalmed (14.20- 0705/0605/0504/0405/0505 ): A pleasant day of encounter-less exploration.

Day 56– Becalmed (14.20- 0505/0606/0706/0707 ): For a third day the unusual calm and quite persisted. Early afternoon we paralleled yet another war band of orcs moving through the densely vegetated region. Nara detonated the very earth underneath a platoon blowing them to smithereens. This was more than enough to convince the pig-men to double time and get the hell out of dodge. They were not very close to begin with and had almost completely disappeared before a second action could be taken. Sooner or later we would find their lair and eradicate that bastion of beastman influence in these lands.

Day 57– (14.20- 0707/0608/0607/0506 ): Today two strange sub-hexes of sub-tropical climate were discovered. This culminated with stepping into a glade where a pair of triceratops had a nest. There was foreshadowing as Sasha discovered a massive load of poop and foot prints. The fecal matter was all vegetable material so the threat potential was set to low. They forgot to consider disposition. The triceratops had zero tolerance for visitors and immediately went into a murderous rampage. These things were damn big and hella mean goring and trampling with abandon. There was consideration given to running and then it was remembered that a cleared hex has zero monsters in it. The fight had to be concluded in some way. It was going to be by the sword as the dinosaurs were figured to be way too dumb to negotiate with. After numerous tramplings they were finally brought low. The reward was five eggs that were most certainly viable. Back in the ‘home lands’ triceratops ranching was a viable career for a talented rancher. We even had one, his name long since forgotten due to the cavalcade of hobo deaths that we have seen. The eggs were stowed away in a warm spot for later consideration. The gang moved on out of the environmental anomaly and camped in the next hex, once more into the more accustomed temperate deciduous forest.

Day 58– Heavy Fog(14.20- 0506/0507/0408/0307 ): With morning came a thick fog that greatly slowed exploration. For a moment Sloth saw malevolent red eyes from within the mists and then he felt the impact of Oxymare. A blow to his head as the gigantic snake attempted to swallow him. His helm was an obstruction but some of his last few teeth exploded like popcorn as Oxymare’s mouth crushed down on Sloth’s dome. Oxymare was back and pissed off or intent on eating hobo, there was never any clarification so pick your favourite. The snake was not only abnormally large but had an evil gaze and a barbed tail. The fight probably would have been terminal in the absence of a true hero like Hobo Steve and his understudies Dolec and Sloth. They stood their ground and unrelentingly carved deeply into Oxymare. It was not a walk in the park but they did end the serpent’s reign of terror over these lands. Afterwards, and like surgeon, Steve extricated the undamaged bits – teeth and tail barb for future trade or alchemical endeavour. 

Day 59– Clear (14.20- 0307/0407/0406/0305 ): A pleasant and uneventful day of exploration. No lairs is good lairs.

Day 60– Clear (14.20- 0305/0306 – SPIDERS! ): Today they broke camp invigorated to complete the clearing of this hex. I was expected to be quick and efficient within only 1.5 sub-hexes left to certify. Moving into the next sub-hex the area was somewhat daker as the canopy appeared to be more crowded. This reduced lighting was ideal for the resident arachnids whom moved just a little too early.

“SPIDERS!”, screamed Sasha in the nick of time for our group not to be caught unawares. (anybody remember that portent from episode 187?)

 

ROLECALL 

Carla the Green High Priestess of TMB (C9) 263154 xp +10% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C9) 240055 xp +5% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

Hobo Steve the Superhero (F8) 228355 xp +5% <240,001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Touched from Beyond the Grave (Sloth): Eating disorder (x2 food) -5’ mve

            Blessing of Orcus (Consumption -1 CON)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 197250 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 (MD8) 211197 xp +10% <240000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 326721 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

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

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

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

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT                            

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Sorcerer (W9) 425762 xp +10% <470001> CRT 1d10/I

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

Bunny the Thief! (T9) 209332 xp <280001> +10% CRT 1d20/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T8) 142868 xp +5% <160001> 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) 149333 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 146796 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Mental Illness: Mummy-a-phobic

            Missing fifteen teeth

Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (PS7) 78928 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d16/II

Wraith Drained: -1 CON

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 97862 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

Lasting injury: Crushed spinal column -6”H, -5’mv, -10% thieving

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 96630 xp +10% <100000> 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 Canon of Yrrrg. (C6) 44466 <50001> CRT 1d10/III

Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 53085 <64000> +10% CRT 1d16/IV

Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON) 

            Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swordsman (D4) 11255 <17000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 42429 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Dolec Da the Hero (F5) 29104 xp +10% <32000> CRT 1d16/IV

            Missing five teeth

Camillus the Myrmidon (F7)  70711 <120001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T5)  12609<20000>10% CRT 1d14/II

Brett & Jermaine Kobold Cooks Extraordinaire 

 

RESERVES

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

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

Join us for session One-Hundred-and-Ninety-Three when we ask the questions:

What is that treasure map actually telling us?

Now that we have 5 triceratops eggs what do we do with them?

Is it time to go looking for Oxymare’s lair (12.20)?

Why does it always have to be spiders?

Tale of the Tape

Sloth lost five more teeth when Oxymare exploded from the fog, good thing he was wearing a helmet. 

Camillus, Bob, Rhags, Charles and Felix are stoned.

 

Exploration

Location hex: 14.20

KILLS

Perytons (8) 

Oxymare the snake of enormity 

Triceratops (2) 

Orks (6) 

LOOT

1000 gp

Bulette hide 800 gp

Oxymare’s barbed tail (600 gp) and teeth (600 gp)

Murder Stumps! (Session 191)

 SESSION 191: When Stumps Attack!?!

Ambushed by killer stumps our band is unexpectedly in trouble. The challenges refused to let up for days.

Day 50 continued– (13.19 -0706/0707à14.20- 0205 ): Sasha refused to accept responsibility for this, “stumps are dead trees not whatever these stupid things are!” The creatures then released volley of tiny paralytic needles into the air. There was no defence as our explorers each faced hundreds of missiles each. Six hobos down, three to go! Revealing hungry maws the stumps then pull up their roots and begin to torturously crawl towards immobilized hobos. The big guns were all down. Sasha was stuck trying to fight off a stump that began chewing on Charles. Mason was able to divinely rouse Bimbles before he fell under a second cloud of paralytic darts. The battle entered the comedy zone. Hobos were roused and then other fell as the stumps tightened the noose one inch at a time. It seemed that the stumps only had three volleys of darts in them. This would be the toehold needed for the gang to turn tings around. They eventually did chop down these nasty killer stumps but they were keenly aware of how close they came to being fertilizer.

Day 51 – (14.20 -0205/0304/0404/0303): This day Sasha discovered a large slimy trail that led to a giant slug – go figure. It puked up acid and was slowly annoying. Fortunately or magically they discovered a sacred grove that a bestowed restorative blessing upon those pure of heart. This seemed like the perfect place to camp even if it cut the day a bit short. The evening was warm and pleasant. 

Day 52 – (14.20 – 0303/0403/0503/0403/0603/0604): Today a watering hole and its predator was discovered. A giant mantid expertly camouflaged in the foliage stood silent vigil waiting for a meal that would come sooner or later. Our mob was surprised by its lightning strike that almost cut Saffron in two. The battle was a challenge as the monstrous insect moved with exceptional speed just outside of melee range. This did drag things out but the abnormally large bug finally succumbed to missile, magic and psionics. It ended up as another bummer the bug had been exclusively eating mundane things that did not have the good sense to carry sacks of loot. 

            Moving on the day continued to be unsettling. A snake of near unparalleled size, remember the snake god of Carcosa?, was moving through the forest adjacent to our gang and did not immediately notice them. This gave Saffron a chance to attempt to charm the methuselah. The chances were very slim but it worked. The 80’ serpent was under our mad fairy’s control. Mason then used his holy powers to communicate with the beast. It was Oxymare and it was only half interested in eating all of our hobos. Mason realized that sending it home to its lair might be the best course of action. Oxymare did not disagree, especially after Saff gave a thumbs up. The snake revealed the location of its lair, secretly to Saffron, in a sub-hex of 12.20 and slithered off. The gang was relieved as they had taken a bit of a beating from the mantid. They moved into the next sub-hex and set camp. The evening did not provide the needed respite. 

During the dead of night, as that is when these things happen, a pair of bulettes exploded from the earth and all hell broke loose. On more time Saff showed why normal folks are so uncomfortable around her type as she knocked one of the beasts to the ground with an arrow the size of a sowing needle. With only one active land-shark the horde were able to swarm it and chop it up real nice. The end result still required a lot of bandaging and healing. The explorers had really taken a beating today. Tomorrow was declared, out of necessity, a day of rest. 

 

ROLECALL 

Carla the Green High Priestess of TMB (C9) 263154 xp +10% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C9) 240055 xp +5% <300001> CRT 1d12/III

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

Hobo Steve the Superhero (F8) 228355 xp +5% <240,001> CRT 1d24/V

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

            Touched from Beyond the Grave (Sloth): Eating disorder (x2 food) -5’ mve

            Blessing of Orcus (Consumption -1 CON)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 197250 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 (MD8) 211197 xp +10% <240000> CRT 1d12/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 326721 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV

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

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm

            Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)

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

            Serious Injury: Brain Drain -2 INT                            

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Sorcerer (W9) 425762 xp +10% <470001> CRT 1d10/I

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

Bunny the Thief! (T9) 209332 xp <280001> +10% CRT 1d20/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T8) 142868 xp +5% <160001> 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) 149333 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

            Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts

Sloth the Bopper (L7) 146796 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

            Mental Illness: Mummy-a-phobic

            Missing ten teeth

Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (PS7) 78928 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d16/II

Wraith Drained: -1 CON

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 97862 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

Lasting injury: Crushed spinal column -6”H, -5’mv, -10% thieving

Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 96630 xp +10% <100000> 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 Canon of Yrrrg. (C6) 44466 <50001> CRT 1d10/III

Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 53085 <64000> +10% CRT 1d16/IV

Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON) 

            Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)

Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swordsman (D4) 11255 <17000> +5% CRT 1d12/III

Wendul the Magician (W6) 42429 <80000> 5% CRT 1d8/I

Dolec Da the Hero (F5) 29104 xp +10% <32000> CRT 1d16/IV

            Missing five teeth

Camillus the Myrmidon (F7)  70711 <120001> +5% CRT 1d20/IV

Willy the Reformed Burglar (T5)  12609<20000>10% CRT 1d14/II

Brett & Jermaine Kobold Cooks Extraordinaire 

 

RESERVES

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

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

Join us for session One-Hundred-and-Ninety-Two when we ask the questions:

Have we moved from the Basilisk Hills to the Killer Stump Forest?

Which is worse?

Have we gotten through the litany of colossal creatures?

Tale of the Tape

Camillus, Bob, Rhags, Charles and Felix are stoned.

 

Exploration

Location hexes: 13.19à14.20

KILLS

Archer bushes (15) 

Giant Slug 

Giant mantid 

Oxymare the Serpent (charmed to go home 12.20)

Bulettes (2) 

LOOT

Nope