Thursday, April 28, 2005

Rescue

We got off to a late start Wednesday, the first game session of "Miniatures Season" now that the basement is a bit drier and warmer.

The seas were fairly calm. Carson's Black Eyed Bill captained survivors from the Slippery Scythe, while Phil's De Vat of Can Bob led four crewmen from the Merry Maiden. Together, they sailed on a merchant ship to the edge of ogre-controlled waters, then took a native fishing longboat/outrigger from there. Under cover of darkness, they were able to approach the giant ogre vessel Shih and begin boarding her, a difficult task with her high sides and thick hull. Rivet, with the help of Foxbet, Tzor and Tonwads, used a corkscrew-like tool to make a hole big enough to reach in with a small pryhammer and peel planks open just above the waterline, then work his way in. Meanwhile, the rest of the party climbed a couple ropes 20' up and fought the two ogres who were on night watch, with Black Eyed Bill and Aiko leading the way. It was a difficult battle, with Felix falling from the boarding rope and drowning, Tzor being impaled by a greatspear and barely surviving, and De Vat of Can fighting valliantly to within an inch of his life. As the winds picked up, Black Eyed Bill cut mainstays and other rigging and with skill and luck, sent the boom across the deck, sweeping three of the tall ogres into the sea but sparing the shorter party members. When the deck was cleared of ogres, two of whom had come from below decks, the party joined up and fought a couple more ogres on the stairs leading to Rivet, who picked the brig lock and freed the party, then picked the lock to the "booty" room with Fergus' wand of lightning bolts, treasure and other belongings. Fergus and Black Eyed Bill killed the ogre captain in the process, and one of the party rogues (Nightsong or Fergus or Rivet, maybe a couple of them) slit the throats of the remaining sleeping ogres for the safety of the party. The total complement of the party and crew now numbers 20, including survivors from both ships, freed captives, and freed humanoid slaves of the ogres.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Survivors

Surviving from the Merry Maiden are: de Vat of Can Bob, Aiko, Captain Fergus (captured by ogre mage on red ship to east), Gus (lookout-rigger), Lenny (swabby), Felix (steward/quartermaster/rigger) and Klive (rigger). Surviving from the Slippery Scythe are Captain Black Eyed Bill, Rivet (timekeeper/engineer/depthfinder), Tonwads (gnome lookout), Tzor and Zolb (swabbies), and Foxbet (quartermaster). Most of the cargo (150 tons from each ship) was taken by the ogres, though much was destroyed in the battle or lost at sea.

Shipwrecked!

As sea voyages go, things were looking good for Black Eyed Bill (Carson's sea ranger) and his crew on the Slippery Scythe. He had his own ship, fully staffed with a few salty dogs from Captain Fergus's Merry Maiden, filled out with greenhorn natives from Horseshoe Island. After a few months helping the natives recover after their battle with the ogre and hobgoblin armies, the ships were fully provisioned and had been underway on a northern heading for a couple of weeks, back on the old trade route favored by Fergus and other merchant seamen. Nightsong Sharpfang (the npc female kobold bard) was aboard the Slippery Scythe, while Sir Vatofcan (Phil's paladin) and Aiko (P.'s female dwarven monk) were on the Merry Maiden.
At dusk as visibility worsened, first the Scythe, then the Maiden hit reefs and began to take on water. Two additional problems presented themselves: a storm from the south, and a small armada of ogre navy ships from the east. In desparate haste, crews chipped away the reefs, went over the side and pushed the ships off from below, wedging themselves underneath while holding their breath. A few crewmen did not survive this dangerous procedure, as the storm winds blew the full weight of the ships on top of four men, pinching them between the reefs and the ship for too long to escape. But it finally worked, and the ships were free of the reefs.
Seamen worked the bilge pumps and repaired the hull damage as best possible, while other sailers prepared for a stormy battle above decks. While the ships had been stuck on the reefs, six ogre ships had closed in, each with at least three extra-heavy catapaults capable of firing each round. It turned out that the ogres also had at least one spellcaster as well. But though overpowered out outflanked, the Scythe and the Maiden made a pretty good showing, with Fergus casting fly, protection from arrows, and using his 6d6 wand of lightning bolt to pretty good effect, though in the storm he was in competition with the real thing. The valiant archers and artillery of the party's ships, in combination with Fergus, damaged two of the great ogre ships, and sunk two. But the massive stones raining on their ships took their toll, sinking them both.
Floating on the wreckage, the survivors were Black Eyed Bill, de Vat of Can Bob, Aiko (who was lost at sea, floating on a barrel for a day before being found by the others) and eight crewmen. Rivet (Robby's kobold engineer, played by Carson as an npc) directed efforts to tie the boxes, barrels and wreckage together. It turned out to be important, as the storm doubled back and hit again. This time, no more hands were lost. Black Eyed Bill's parrot made contact with a nearby human merchant vessel, and word arrived via Captain Fergus' crow that the mage had been captured and was on the big red ship, to the east. The whereabouts of Nightsong and the other crew were unknown. After a time, the floating wreckage, with a shirt as a sail, found land on an island populated by curious natives; the children had never seen a man with metal skin before, such as the chain shirt Bob was wearing. 1,500 xp were awarded. Next time: The Rescue!

Saturday, April 09, 2005

More evil nasty elf mages invading from the moon

The party (Revan, Flegal, Joseph Prax, Socrates, Taito, Dante, Geena, Telpin, Mick the Gangly, Henderson, Buddy Nagel and Thumbs) began in Meatsville ("Pigtown"). After spending some time in town recovering hit points and spells and re-equipping arrows and supplies, the group learned of a town to the south, known as The Divide, where a recent drought was decimating the population. Armed with plenty of Create Water, Purify Water, and other spells, the party set off. Beany Knubbs (the gnomish ranger) was left behind with the refugees at a new church to Khadgar that is in the process of being established by a few former Temple of Transformation worshippers and their cleric.
On the road, the group encountered three carriages of Moonmist Harriers, elven archers seeking to fill their quota of "indentured servants." The adventurers refused to surrender to the imposing castle-topped carriages and a couple dozen trained archers with the advantages of cover, elevation, numbers and a wizard. After a long battle that included the defeat of a summoned efreet, the elves were defeated.
Upon reaching The Divide by the merchant caravan road, beggars immediately came to the wagon with parched, cracked lips and gaunt faces. Joseph was able to provide enough water for them. In the center of town, another clerical spell located a small amount of fresh water at the base of a cliff just at the edge of the range of the spell, which also magically created a 100' deep well. Soon, what little fresh water was found there ran out, and putrid water came up. Upon investigation, the party found that an underground wizard's lab had diverted an underground stream from the city's old well to a subterranian lake. Casks of fresh water were then sold to the city's inhabitants, in order to fund magical work and experiments that poisoned the lake. Random arcs of lightning were seen. Strange black and green snakes flew in circles. Glowing green clouds moved eerily. Footsteps were heard.
Invisible and protected by magic, Eldritch Moon Knights guarded the entrance to the lab of the high elven mage, Baron Livotogus. Four of them put up a pretty good fight, but were overpowered by the party. Within, a water trap slowed down the group, but not for long. In a short time, the evil Baron lay dead. Cleaning up the mess left by the villian took nearly a month, but in the end, The Divide's water supply was restored.
Treasure was pretty good (about 350 GP/character), but not nearly as good as the previous session. I awarded 3,000 XP once again. Next session will probably include another look at the Temple of Transformation. It's not too far from where the group is now, and the main force of the Moonmist army is unlikely to remain there after re-securing the location.
Upcoming Saturday sessions are May 14, June 11 and June 25. See you next time, be it Wednesday or on a Saturday.