2006
Happy New Year!
Josh needed a break, so the past two D&D nights were run by Meloch and myself. So no lengthy comments will be made as it will just be too confusing. We'll just leave you with these thoughts:
"The Never-Ending Five Hour Combat" while I slowly got buzzed as we tried to beat off a level 7 Drow mage and her party
and the
"Rescue the Princess with a Twist" Campaign, complete with crocs and a troll.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Long time no post...: RP update
Things have been on the hectic side, but here it is! Just for Nature Tom. Unfortunately he's back from school but was shipped out west like a sack of potatoes just so he can go skiing. Skiing vs. D&D. No comparison. D&D should win every time!
We've finally gotten a new player who has promised never to eat Doritos with his feet upon pain of death. Meloch the Minstrel, our new elven spell-filcher (shh! it's a secret), and his human ranger escort Melinda are our new shieldbrothers. Meloch has tons of experience in 3.5 edition, but wanted someone else to take the lead. Everyone who DMs always says that! Sometimes they don't really mean it. Hahaha!
Summary of play:
---------------
11/6/05
The trip to the original outpost was not much of a success. Once Shallan got back from her ride with Drake the hippogriff rider there were two new arrivals sent by the Guild. They were hired out to find not only us but the other scouts as well, presumably sent along before the Guild recieved our distress signal.
There has been no response yet from our message.
A second larger attack comes that night: ogres and hobgoblins. While Dwight holds the gate, Meloch and Shallan hold the west wall. As Meloch hides up a tree and fires off his little pee-shooter, Shallan dispatches them. All of the party and most all of the scouts escape without serious harm.
---------------
11/25/05
Reaching a unanimous decision, at dawn the group orders Andre and his scouts back to Woodlandtown. The two rangers, Ghost and Melinda, set false trails and Cynaric sets a particularly ingenious fire trap on the outpost gate. Meloch busies himself with setting traps along the way. All flying scouts were sent on ahead, while the mounted remained with our party.
On the third day as the party reaches the plains, a zebra-striped centaur meets the party. Omata tells us the centaurs are leaving their home in the east because of wemics.
Once back in Woodlandtown, we find that all the scouts made it back safe, but the Guild Hall is closed and our 'beloved' Armsmaster is holed up in his personal dojo. The two guildmembers who had harrassed Bats (goblin guildmember) are there, guarding Darik's door. Meloch charms on of them, getting us into the dojo without incident.
"The Blood Queen will vindicate me!" Darik cries as he and Dwight jump into a challenged combat. Although it was sworn there would be no weapons, 'La Pugilista' (aka. Dwight the Hammerfist) begins getting the upper hand and Darik breaks his word, calling his sword to his hand.
Things get hairy from there on in as a helmed horror is awakened. Ayman calls in a swarm of bats to handle Darik and the helmed horror is taken down with some excellently timed teamwork by Dwight, Melinda and Shallan.
As Darik is knocked unconscious, the party assumes control of the Guild. Ghost names Dwight temporary Armsmaster, attempting to put structure back in place. The Guildmaster is still missing and now the Guild has no real ladder of leadership. A search of Darik's room provides no clues, though Meloch attempts to abscond with a few of his items. Ghost takes offense and reminds him that it isn't Darik who owes him his fee but the Guild itself, and Darik's belongings should rightfully pass on to Dwight.
There is discussion of taking Darik back to his family to return him to his right mind takes place, but the company is as yet undecided.
If Darik is corrupted, run Ghost's thoughts, in what situation shall they find Dwight's other two brothers? Are the Paladins of Jovin compromised?
We've finally gotten a new player who has promised never to eat Doritos with his feet upon pain of death. Meloch the Minstrel, our new elven spell-filcher (shh! it's a secret), and his human ranger escort Melinda are our new shieldbrothers. Meloch has tons of experience in 3.5 edition, but wanted someone else to take the lead. Everyone who DMs always says that! Sometimes they don't really mean it. Hahaha!
Summary of play:
---------------
11/6/05
The trip to the original outpost was not much of a success. Once Shallan got back from her ride with Drake the hippogriff rider there were two new arrivals sent by the Guild. They were hired out to find not only us but the other scouts as well, presumably sent along before the Guild recieved our distress signal.
There has been no response yet from our message.
A second larger attack comes that night: ogres and hobgoblins. While Dwight holds the gate, Meloch and Shallan hold the west wall. As Meloch hides up a tree and fires off his little pee-shooter, Shallan dispatches them. All of the party and most all of the scouts escape without serious harm.
---------------
11/25/05
Reaching a unanimous decision, at dawn the group orders Andre and his scouts back to Woodlandtown. The two rangers, Ghost and Melinda, set false trails and Cynaric sets a particularly ingenious fire trap on the outpost gate. Meloch busies himself with setting traps along the way. All flying scouts were sent on ahead, while the mounted remained with our party.
On the third day as the party reaches the plains, a zebra-striped centaur meets the party. Omata tells us the centaurs are leaving their home in the east because of wemics.
Once back in Woodlandtown, we find that all the scouts made it back safe, but the Guild Hall is closed and our 'beloved' Armsmaster is holed up in his personal dojo. The two guildmembers who had harrassed Bats (goblin guildmember) are there, guarding Darik's door. Meloch charms on of them, getting us into the dojo without incident.
"The Blood Queen will vindicate me!" Darik cries as he and Dwight jump into a challenged combat. Although it was sworn there would be no weapons, 'La Pugilista' (aka. Dwight the Hammerfist) begins getting the upper hand and Darik breaks his word, calling his sword to his hand.
Things get hairy from there on in as a helmed horror is awakened. Ayman calls in a swarm of bats to handle Darik and the helmed horror is taken down with some excellently timed teamwork by Dwight, Melinda and Shallan.
As Darik is knocked unconscious, the party assumes control of the Guild. Ghost names Dwight temporary Armsmaster, attempting to put structure back in place. The Guildmaster is still missing and now the Guild has no real ladder of leadership. A search of Darik's room provides no clues, though Meloch attempts to abscond with a few of his items. Ghost takes offense and reminds him that it isn't Darik who owes him his fee but the Guild itself, and Darik's belongings should rightfully pass on to Dwight.
There is discussion of taking Darik back to his family to return him to his right mind takes place, but the company is as yet undecided.
If Darik is corrupted, run Ghost's thoughts, in what situation shall they find Dwight's other two brothers? Are the Paladins of Jovin compromised?
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Top Ten
The Top Ten D&D Characters You'll Never See
10) Centaur meter maid
9) Orc manicurist
8) Drow crossing guard
7) Gnomish driving instructor
6) Halfling file clerk
5) Dwarvish janitor
4) Half-elven rodeo clown
3) Bean burrito
2) Wyvern mailman
1) Minotaur ballerina
10) Centaur meter maid
9) Orc manicurist
8) Drow crossing guard
7) Gnomish driving instructor
6) Halfling file clerk
5) Dwarvish janitor
4) Half-elven rodeo clown
3) Bean burrito
2) Wyvern mailman
1) Minotaur ballerina
Monday, October 31, 2005
Pffft..."I don't think I'll be checking for track marks now.": RP Update
Again, no letter as we are in the middle of the wilderness and no way to get out a letter home.
What a night!
Despite most of the group being partied out from the birthday shindig and half the group reveling at the Ren Faire, we actually had a really fun night. I think it had something to do with the application of my special brew coffee to God. I don't make weak coffee. Ever.
Anyway, here's what's happened:
--
The scout outpost was in poor condition. All of the scouts had been enduring almost nightly raids on the post, trying to hold it. They had already lost one and had to relocate farther back from the mine, but the attacks are still coming on strong. This time, they had a little help from our group.
Ghost shared first watch with Andre. She was not at all surprised to find him nodding off and snoring probably an hour or two into the watch. Once Ayman came up the tower, Dwight called up from below that there were creatures at the gate. One of which he promptly spitted on the end of his sword. As the mage and ranger rang the warning bell and sprinted down the steps, the other party members were waking up and going after their weapons.
The gate came down as ogres and hobgoblins were chopping away at it, but by that time, Dwight and Shallan had taken care of the three ogres (Dwight's work) and five hobgoblins (Ghost's), so there wasn't much to come through. Ayman fired off a quick spell, repairing the gate and effectively locking Ghost outside. As she circled around, there came a call from the south, "They're over the fence!"
All of the scouts were engaged in a battle with more hobgoblins who had grappled over the fence and were trying to keep them at bay. Bats the goblin bounty hunter and Uhmvli (our big hairy guy) held off the Ogres outside the barricade while the rest took care of the hobgoblins inside. Ghost scaled the fence and joined in. It was a slaughter.
Next morning, Ghost had a chat with Andre. It was time to find out what was going on around us, so at her suggestion, Andre sent out three scouts to see if anything else was in the works for us. One came back with some bad news. While flying over the mine, he had seen a black dragon speaking to a larger hobgoblin-type and reading some sort of map, while more of the pseudo-hobgoblins stood around a huge pavillion tent.
The party suspects the dragon to be Menulok the Black, but his last reported sighting was in a swamp elsewhere in the kingdom.
Again, Ghost convinces Andre that someone needs to go out and send word back to Woodland. But Cyneric has a better idea. Being of the Order of the Fleet Fox, messages are his specialty. He enchants a peregrine falcon to deliver a message back to his superior, Armand, to ask Darik the Bronze for more help A.S.A.P.
In the meantime, Ghost convinces Andre there should be some reconaissance done on the older outpost to see if it were still in good shape. If the group could move to the first outpost, it might confuse their enemies enough to give them some sort of break. Drake, the hippogriff rider, volunteers to fly Ghost close enough to the first outpost at night to use her elven eyesight and see if this plan would work.
Tune in next week...
What a night!
Despite most of the group being partied out from the birthday shindig and half the group reveling at the Ren Faire, we actually had a really fun night. I think it had something to do with the application of my special brew coffee to God. I don't make weak coffee. Ever.
Anyway, here's what's happened:
--
The scout outpost was in poor condition. All of the scouts had been enduring almost nightly raids on the post, trying to hold it. They had already lost one and had to relocate farther back from the mine, but the attacks are still coming on strong. This time, they had a little help from our group.
Ghost shared first watch with Andre. She was not at all surprised to find him nodding off and snoring probably an hour or two into the watch. Once Ayman came up the tower, Dwight called up from below that there were creatures at the gate. One of which he promptly spitted on the end of his sword. As the mage and ranger rang the warning bell and sprinted down the steps, the other party members were waking up and going after their weapons.
The gate came down as ogres and hobgoblins were chopping away at it, but by that time, Dwight and Shallan had taken care of the three ogres (Dwight's work) and five hobgoblins (Ghost's), so there wasn't much to come through. Ayman fired off a quick spell, repairing the gate and effectively locking Ghost outside. As she circled around, there came a call from the south, "They're over the fence!"
All of the scouts were engaged in a battle with more hobgoblins who had grappled over the fence and were trying to keep them at bay. Bats the goblin bounty hunter and Uhmvli (our big hairy guy) held off the Ogres outside the barricade while the rest took care of the hobgoblins inside. Ghost scaled the fence and joined in. It was a slaughter.
Next morning, Ghost had a chat with Andre. It was time to find out what was going on around us, so at her suggestion, Andre sent out three scouts to see if anything else was in the works for us. One came back with some bad news. While flying over the mine, he had seen a black dragon speaking to a larger hobgoblin-type and reading some sort of map, while more of the pseudo-hobgoblins stood around a huge pavillion tent.
The party suspects the dragon to be Menulok the Black, but his last reported sighting was in a swamp elsewhere in the kingdom.
Again, Ghost convinces Andre that someone needs to go out and send word back to Woodland. But Cyneric has a better idea. Being of the Order of the Fleet Fox, messages are his specialty. He enchants a peregrine falcon to deliver a message back to his superior, Armand, to ask Darik the Bronze for more help A.S.A.P.
In the meantime, Ghost convinces Andre there should be some reconaissance done on the older outpost to see if it were still in good shape. If the group could move to the first outpost, it might confuse their enemies enough to give them some sort of break. Drake, the hippogriff rider, volunteers to fly Ghost close enough to the first outpost at night to use her elven eyesight and see if this plan would work.
Tune in next week...
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Pondering the *sip* consequences
Dwight was taking advantage of the down time by leaning against one of the tower's support beams and wiping his brow. "This situation could easily become dire," he said to nobody in particular.
Ghost had been occupying her time by tending to the various wounds of the scouts. She was clumsy, but had tried her best. She tied off the last bit of bandaging she had and smiled at the scout before joining Dwight. With a quick glance around the enclosure, she asked, "I wouldn't mind a bit of cleaning up. Could you take me to that pond?" She gathered up the now-empty bucket she had asked him to fill.
Dwight pushed off of the beam. "Let me find a pole and some more buckets. We may as well pull some weight while we remain here."
Shallan nodded and gathered up a few more buckets. "The mounts will need water for the night too," she agreed.
Dwight left his pack in the care of Cyneric, taking only his sword and anything already tied to his belt. "Shall we be off?"
Shallan grabbed a scrap of cloth and some soap and tucked both into her belt, then shouldered half the burden of buckets. She nodded and silently followed him, armed only with her sheathed sword.
The two started off through the trees in the afternoon sunlight. The forest was quiet. "I don't think any of us are looking forward to this ordeal."
"I think there's something else going on that someone isn't telling us..." Shallan replied suspiciously. "I don't like being deceived."
Dwight nodded. "That makes two of us. The only reason I'm here is that it's an opportunity to keep the goblins at bay, hopefully for years."
She kept a close eye on the woods as they traveled, more than ready to dump her cargo and go for her sword. It felt strange not traveling with her bow strapped to her back. "So do I get to hear about your adventure the other night? How did you get rid of our pest problem so quietly?"
Dwight smiled and chuckled silently. "It's quite funny, really. The first two that strayed into the campsite weren't paying attention. I knocked one out and beheaded his friend when he wasn't looking. Assuming there were more in the area, I came up with a plan."
Her eyebrows raised and she glanced at him in between her scanning their path. Apparently, she was in store for another of his interesting tales. A hint of a tilt to the corners of her mouth appeared. "Tell on..."
Dwight cleared his throat. "Well, I figured they would come..." Dwight took a drink from his waterskin. "... looking for their friends. So, when I heard some rustling in the bushes, I laid down near the fire and placed all of my gold on the ground in plain sight. When I heard one picking up the money, I reached out and snapped its neck. The next two also fell for it." Dwight stifled a laugh. "It reminds me of a joke that my brother Dorian used to tell."
She sighed and shook her head. Amazing how he fought so well only when they weren't in combat together. "Amazing," she commented. "I hope this joke is not about fireflies."
"No, it's about goblins. It seems there was a halfling who was in the woods, jumping up and down next to his fire-pit, saying 'seven, seven, seven.' A goblin saw him and asked what he was doing. The halfling replied, 'For a gold piece, you can try.' So the goblin gave him one and began jumping up and down saying 'Seven, seven, seven.' Suddenly, in mid-jump, the halfling kicked the goblin into the fire, where it perished." Dwight began to snicker. "Then the halfling pocketed the gold piece and started jumping again, but saying, 'Eight, eight, eight!'" Dwight let out a great guffaw at this point.
Shallan laughed quietly. "You'll have to tell that one to Ayman, I believe he'll enjoy it..." She looked up and saw the glint of reflected sunlight. "I believe we're here."
The pond ahead shined in the sun as it began its trip downward over the horizon. The water was clear enough that one could even see several small fish swimming near the surface.
"How tranquil!" said Dwight. He began to fill some of the buckets he had brought along. "Would that I could stay here all day. Alas, work to be done. But I don't see why we couldn't sit for a minute."
Shallan filled her buckets and drew out her soap. She was not as clean as she usually liked and used one of the buckets to wash up in. "If we weren't using it as drinking water, I'd jump right in for a bath. A week on the trail does not leave the scent of roses."
Dwight chuckled again. "Don't concern yourself. I don't think anybody has noticed, nor is it foremost in our minds."
Shallan peeled off the top layer of armor, revealing a cloth shirt underneath. She glanced up, "Keep an eye out. Bandaging is filthy work." She dumped a bucket of clean water over her head, gasping at how cold it was. She wrung the water out of her hair and sat back, running her fingers through her hair to separate it to dry. "That felt good," she sighed. She thought for a long moment, trying to decide how to broach this subject with her companion. "Dwight...how much military training did you receive before you left home?"
Dwight straightened up his back. "From the time I was eight years old I was trained both as a soldier and a noble."
"I mean no offense! Only..." She grimaced. "I am concerned with how your brother seems to be handling the Guild. I see no signs of the Guildmaster, and yet I see your brother sending messages and directing guild members as a commander. I'm hoping my concern is unfounded, but my concern still remains."
He splashed his face with some water. "I'm concerned as well. I have heard others asking about the guildmaster. I'm curious as to where he has been myself."
"I believe we're getting in over our heads, but I think we need to do something about this once we return to Woodland." She leaned back and propped herself up on her elbows. "I'm dreading the fact that it seems the man we need to start with is your brother." Her eyes glanced up at him, "I do not wish to cause you distress, so I would understand if you did not wish to confront him with me. Especially with his treatment of you lately."
Dwight looked puzzled. "Lately? How do you mean?"
She frowned. "I do not know how he has acted with you in the past, but I was not impressed with his manners each time I have witnessed you two together. His attitude belies his nobility."
"Well, it has been some time since I left home, so I cannot tell what evoked the change. However, he does not act fully like himself. He seems too..." Dwight grasped at words. "... Underhanded."
Shaking her head, she looked troubled. "Were that I held a higher position in the guild. Then perhaps, I would feel more informed." She glanced up at him again. "I feel as if I am placing this burden on you, for he is your brother. I do not mean to cause you pain, but you know him best, and his manners and habits. I am sorry if it is uncomfortable for you. If you wish it, I shall not trouble you with this again."
"... No." Dwight stood up. "Perhaps I should have a talk with my brother." He gathered the buckets and filled the empty ones. "And perhaps it's time I sent a letter home."
Shallan took that as a sign he wished to return. She plaited her hair and fastened her armor back on. After refilling the bucket she used, she stood straight, stopped cold and looked at him carefully. "I'm sorry, Dwight," she said sincerely.
Dwight looked hard back at Shallan. Slowly, a smile grew on his face. "Come on, let's get back. There's probably several thirsty people who would be happy to see us."
She nodded and shouldered her burden, taking a moment to steady herself. She wasn't used to lifting, and weightlifting was certainly not her specialty. "Just so long as I can make it back without getting soaked..." She grinned at him and started back the way they had come.
Ghost had been occupying her time by tending to the various wounds of the scouts. She was clumsy, but had tried her best. She tied off the last bit of bandaging she had and smiled at the scout before joining Dwight. With a quick glance around the enclosure, she asked, "I wouldn't mind a bit of cleaning up. Could you take me to that pond?" She gathered up the now-empty bucket she had asked him to fill.
Dwight pushed off of the beam. "Let me find a pole and some more buckets. We may as well pull some weight while we remain here."
Shallan nodded and gathered up a few more buckets. "The mounts will need water for the night too," she agreed.
Dwight left his pack in the care of Cyneric, taking only his sword and anything already tied to his belt. "Shall we be off?"
Shallan grabbed a scrap of cloth and some soap and tucked both into her belt, then shouldered half the burden of buckets. She nodded and silently followed him, armed only with her sheathed sword.
The two started off through the trees in the afternoon sunlight. The forest was quiet. "I don't think any of us are looking forward to this ordeal."
"I think there's something else going on that someone isn't telling us..." Shallan replied suspiciously. "I don't like being deceived."
Dwight nodded. "That makes two of us. The only reason I'm here is that it's an opportunity to keep the goblins at bay, hopefully for years."
She kept a close eye on the woods as they traveled, more than ready to dump her cargo and go for her sword. It felt strange not traveling with her bow strapped to her back. "So do I get to hear about your adventure the other night? How did you get rid of our pest problem so quietly?"
Dwight smiled and chuckled silently. "It's quite funny, really. The first two that strayed into the campsite weren't paying attention. I knocked one out and beheaded his friend when he wasn't looking. Assuming there were more in the area, I came up with a plan."
Her eyebrows raised and she glanced at him in between her scanning their path. Apparently, she was in store for another of his interesting tales. A hint of a tilt to the corners of her mouth appeared. "Tell on..."
Dwight cleared his throat. "Well, I figured they would come..." Dwight took a drink from his waterskin. "... looking for their friends. So, when I heard some rustling in the bushes, I laid down near the fire and placed all of my gold on the ground in plain sight. When I heard one picking up the money, I reached out and snapped its neck. The next two also fell for it." Dwight stifled a laugh. "It reminds me of a joke that my brother Dorian used to tell."
She sighed and shook her head. Amazing how he fought so well only when they weren't in combat together. "Amazing," she commented. "I hope this joke is not about fireflies."
"No, it's about goblins. It seems there was a halfling who was in the woods, jumping up and down next to his fire-pit, saying 'seven, seven, seven.' A goblin saw him and asked what he was doing. The halfling replied, 'For a gold piece, you can try.' So the goblin gave him one and began jumping up and down saying 'Seven, seven, seven.' Suddenly, in mid-jump, the halfling kicked the goblin into the fire, where it perished." Dwight began to snicker. "Then the halfling pocketed the gold piece and started jumping again, but saying, 'Eight, eight, eight!'" Dwight let out a great guffaw at this point.
Shallan laughed quietly. "You'll have to tell that one to Ayman, I believe he'll enjoy it..." She looked up and saw the glint of reflected sunlight. "I believe we're here."
The pond ahead shined in the sun as it began its trip downward over the horizon. The water was clear enough that one could even see several small fish swimming near the surface.
"How tranquil!" said Dwight. He began to fill some of the buckets he had brought along. "Would that I could stay here all day. Alas, work to be done. But I don't see why we couldn't sit for a minute."
Shallan filled her buckets and drew out her soap. She was not as clean as she usually liked and used one of the buckets to wash up in. "If we weren't using it as drinking water, I'd jump right in for a bath. A week on the trail does not leave the scent of roses."
Dwight chuckled again. "Don't concern yourself. I don't think anybody has noticed, nor is it foremost in our minds."
Shallan peeled off the top layer of armor, revealing a cloth shirt underneath. She glanced up, "Keep an eye out. Bandaging is filthy work." She dumped a bucket of clean water over her head, gasping at how cold it was. She wrung the water out of her hair and sat back, running her fingers through her hair to separate it to dry. "That felt good," she sighed. She thought for a long moment, trying to decide how to broach this subject with her companion. "Dwight...how much military training did you receive before you left home?"
Dwight straightened up his back. "From the time I was eight years old I was trained both as a soldier and a noble."
"I mean no offense! Only..." She grimaced. "I am concerned with how your brother seems to be handling the Guild. I see no signs of the Guildmaster, and yet I see your brother sending messages and directing guild members as a commander. I'm hoping my concern is unfounded, but my concern still remains."
He splashed his face with some water. "I'm concerned as well. I have heard others asking about the guildmaster. I'm curious as to where he has been myself."
"I believe we're getting in over our heads, but I think we need to do something about this once we return to Woodland." She leaned back and propped herself up on her elbows. "I'm dreading the fact that it seems the man we need to start with is your brother." Her eyes glanced up at him, "I do not wish to cause you distress, so I would understand if you did not wish to confront him with me. Especially with his treatment of you lately."
Dwight looked puzzled. "Lately? How do you mean?"
She frowned. "I do not know how he has acted with you in the past, but I was not impressed with his manners each time I have witnessed you two together. His attitude belies his nobility."
"Well, it has been some time since I left home, so I cannot tell what evoked the change. However, he does not act fully like himself. He seems too..." Dwight grasped at words. "... Underhanded."
Shaking her head, she looked troubled. "Were that I held a higher position in the guild. Then perhaps, I would feel more informed." She glanced up at him again. "I feel as if I am placing this burden on you, for he is your brother. I do not mean to cause you pain, but you know him best, and his manners and habits. I am sorry if it is uncomfortable for you. If you wish it, I shall not trouble you with this again."
"... No." Dwight stood up. "Perhaps I should have a talk with my brother." He gathered the buckets and filled the empty ones. "And perhaps it's time I sent a letter home."
Shallan took that as a sign he wished to return. She plaited her hair and fastened her armor back on. After refilling the bucket she used, she stood straight, stopped cold and looked at him carefully. "I'm sorry, Dwight," she said sincerely.
Dwight looked hard back at Shallan. Slowly, a smile grew on his face. "Come on, let's get back. There's probably several thirsty people who would be happy to see us."
She nodded and shouldered her burden, taking a moment to steady herself. She wasn't used to lifting, and weightlifting was certainly not her specialty. "Just so long as I can make it back without getting soaked..." She grinned at him and started back the way they had come.
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