The Campaign Builder's Guild

I do find it interesting that the amount of church-style healers now totally dominates the group here.

Now, one thing to note is that I think I still have the divine/arcane division in my head, where it is a lot smaller in Celtricia.  For example, Toden has a good amount of earth spell point sna d Capilina has a decent amount of chaos, and they are both priest types.

But gone are the days with Hamish and Rampan the Red fighting over scrolls....

Session 126 dealt with the party resting near the rtacks, then coming upon an area with sunken, circular ruined building on the swampy, overgrown, mainly underwater sides of the tracks.

The group spent some time and effort loking through them, finding a bunch of silvery gears and levers below the water's surface.

After working with them some, Abryxia and Max got some of the ancient Venolvian gears to move ans spin, and eventually heard a rumbling under the track, when a long, thin 'boat' with wheels popped up from underground onto the tracks.

The group spent a while learning how it worked, and then cooked hazardously down the ancient tracks to the end, just over the hills and near the ruins. 
They were at the Vexchian area at last.

And we are on tonight!   8:30 eastern...The group has reached the area with the ruins....Operation Dungeon Crawl commencing...

Ugh. Real Life has reared it's ugly head--at the last minute, of course--and I won't be able to make it tonight.

Sorry guys.

truly ugg

More coming later, but one thing was clear...this group is a much tougher group of fighters and more experienced than any you've brought in before.  Even without Moss, Jon, PLaes, Max and Billo totally carved up a gnoll patrol with a gartier boss.  The only real damage toaken by the party was when max slipped and stabbed Jon Galica by mistake...

Knights of Lasthome, laso known as Skalds of Lasthome, an order of bardic warriors, added to Steel Isle Town.

I probably won't be able to make it this week either. I'm helping my friend finish up remodel his house, painting the interior and the exterior. I'll certainly be back the week after next--if not, we're in trouble.

Oh, dude...they'll miss you.  You'll come back and they'll be somewhere that PLaes convinced them to go...

And tonight, it is on, 8:45 PM eastern, the exploration continues....

Well, I couldn't make it, but after an 8 hour marathon, that ceiling finally finished getting painted. Dude I'm helping has a beam ceiling (looks a bit like this), so you have to cut in every last edge and corner before you can even think about using a roller. I've been up a ladder for most of my waking hours the last 4 days. Glad he's paying me well.

Glad you are getting paid well.
We went on until almost 11:30, due to combat, and the group is still working through a gnollic ambuscade.  Plaes got an aropw through the eye that pinned his head to a wall.  Toden already had to use his one major restorative ace-in-the-hole scroll, but a critical success helped get Plaes back quickly.  Max and Jon have both taken some damage, (max rolled a 49 protect at the perfect time, right aftter a gnoll got a critical hit for 57 hits)...it was a hot-and-wild session.

Session 128

was a riot, though we ended in the middle.

Session started at the bottom of the wide stairs that led down 300 steps from the top of the flat Ziggurrat

Toden, " Jon, this IS the fifth time we've been back here...
The floor is a grey Fidikmarple, in tightly packed flags.  The area at the bottom of the stairs is pooled with liquid, branches, and old leaves.  The corners have small cisterns where water gathers, and the walls are a dark marple, but plastered white turned yelllow, with frescoes of snakes and lizards being smashed by warriors with skull-pommelled weapons.  the ceiling is 15' high and vaulted, and many , many tiny red eyes look back at the explorers.
a dissected gartier bleeds all over the floor in front of the group.

the room stinks of guano and the floor is covered in piles of itand the 5' corridor to the west seems to be partially filled with firewood
the smell of caverns, unerground, and moisture is under the smell of guano and the ancient construction still takes the breath away....
metal torchiers on the north and east, next to entrances, with strange, bundled wicker torches in them.

The group lights lanterns (yeomi, Billoc and Burnous have them) and then loot the bodies from the ambsuh they laid on the gnolls.  They find and put away all the shineys and coin (all old Venolvian stuff),  They spent some time trying to figure out some starnge items, and then looked North and east.  North led to some well known bat-filled areas, and PLaes was determined to get back to the strange sub basement they found under the temple in the level below.[note=loot with the gnolls]
296 ancient vonolvian silvers
> and 96 ancinent electrums
there is a skull shaped ivory die (label 101a)
Jon_Galica examines the ivory die
one of the falchions has some blacksteel on the pommel, and is very fine quality (label 101b)[/note]
Billo and Abryxia both note that they can feel a lot of old and new spirits unshriven here, and Burnous finds a huge quantity of tracks moving in and out of the east, arched door.
The walls and ceiling are of a reddish brick, crumbling and ruinous.  12 party members and 3 donkeys. [note] In guildschool, we expedition.  We do not really explore.[/note]
The corridor is 5' wide, and really not big enough for Max with his SHansheer and Jon with his pilum, so they sort of move into a snaking ond and a half people per rank.  they move east and then north.  the two in front wear ancient Venolvian Lammellar, which makes a litttle noise as the move.
All sorts of arows and bolts are stuck in the far walls of the corridor, most of them less than a year old.  The group has had a lot of fights in this area.

The group heads north down the red0bricked, arched corridor.

Jon_Galica notices damage on the wall
"What happened to this wall here?
Plaes_Holdir shrugs.."No idea, can't be that important. "
Toden, " behind that wall is a door, a secret area, sacred to the god of death and of Saint Arbor"

<Plaes_Holdir> "Ah, perhaps slightly important then, but already looted?"
Toden" we have hidden there before.  we have been through much of it,"
<Jon_Galica nods "Ah.  So we don't go in there."

Toden" there is a skull, with horns...most disconcerting.  It talks"
Abryxia, " Maybe that is where all the voices are coming from..."
Jon_Galica> "Fascinating...."
Plaes_Holdir  makes a disgusted face.  "Bah..Talking skulls are of no interest to me.  I can't kill it or sell it."
Jon_Galica> "But it's a curiosity nonetheless..."
Toden, " this one especially.  We did research on it...a construct of the Cult of St Arbor...It speaks to the void"

Toden  looks over at Jon, who's eyes are glassy, " Jon, it floats in a strange room...one would have trouble getting it..."
Jon_Galica wistfully "I imagine SOMEONE would be interested in buying a talking skull that speaks to the void.....As unsettling as that is...."

Burnous holds up a hand, " something moves to the north..."
Jon_Galica quiets to observe
<Plaes_Holdir> Alright, let me check it out"  he sneaks ahead to scout
01[21:45] <Vreeg_GM> max gets down

Jon_Galica raises his defenses and tightens his grip on his pilum, his knuckles whitening
the roup is very, very silent
Jon_Galica resists the impulse to tell Plaes to be careful
You hear a gutteral yell, and a huge twang!!!!!
Plaes_Holdir> Gnolls![note=Buckets of piss]
01[21:49] <Vreeg_GM> !rill d%
01[21:49] <Vreeg_GM> !roll d%
[21:49] <isobot> 3
01[21:50] <Vreeg_GM> !roll d%
[21:50] <isobot> 15
[21:50] <Jon_Galica> "Buckets of piss!"
[21:50] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: fuck I'm dead
[21:50] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: WELP, char number 4, here I come
01[21:51] <Vreeg_GM> !roll ((2d6+1d8+23)\(d5-1)
[21:52] <Plaes_Holdir>  try this  !roll (2d6+1d8+23)\(d5-1)
01[21:52] <Vreeg_GM> !roll (2d6+1d8+23)\(d5-1)
[21:52] <isobot> 37
[21:54] <Jon_Galica> ooc: holy crap!
[21:54] <Plaes_Holdir> !roll (56-d10)/((2d6)/2)
[21:54] <isobot> 11.7777777777778
[21:54] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: and my head explodes
01[21:54] <Vreeg_GM> 25 hits to the face
01[21:54] <Vreeg_GM> ow
01[21:54] <Vreeg_GM> ooc  how many HP?
[21:55] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: not 25
01[21:55] <Vreeg_GM> lol
[21:55] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: 12, so I'm dead at -13
03[21:55] * Plaes_Holdir is now known as Corpse
01[21:55] <Vreeg_GM> an arbelest is a huge mofo piece[/note]

the group behind hears the yell...and sees plaes' head get pinned to the wall to the right, with an ugly, meaty thunk, by a huge crossbow bolt.  He is still.
Jon_Galica> "PLAES!!!!"
Max roars and jumps up
Victor also i son the move as is Toden..healers are almost running over the warriors....
Jon_Galica moves up to where he can spear the first thing to come around that corner, running to get into place with Max.
Jon and Max rush around the corner, seeing 2 gnolls moving north, yelling in Orcash,  moving around the corner, and more voices from the north.
Toden has whipped out a scroll, an old one in a beaten silvered, coiled case.
Jon_Galica runs up to where they rounded the corner and thrusts  around the corner as I reach it
Toden roars, " Jon, Max, hold the corner...Billo, grab our friend the pincushion... we are leaving this place"
Jon_Galica> "We're letting them get away with this!?"
Toden, " I have a scroll, I need peace and quiet to use it, Bard!"

Max, " Jon, let us chase a bit, then....?"
"Yes, lets!"

Jon and Max race around the corner, seeing the corridor goes 10 north then turns east
they hear crashing an movement to the east

> Billo pulls the bolt out of PLaes Eye socket
*SPlork!!!*
then puts him on his shoulders and carries him effortlessly, following Toden
Jon and max rush north, then they hear a metalic screech abd twang from behind them, a sound of springs and wires....
(2 huge spears hit Max, 1 hits Jon)
thud! thud! thud!

Jon hears the nouse and rolls under them...
as does max
Jon_Galica> "WHOA!"
the hugre sperars impact into the north walll...
Max, " HAh, the cowardly fools though they had us in their ambush!"
max and Jon dive and roll perfectly, coming up looking east...

meanwhile, Toden and Abryxia light candles in the opening room, with the huge stairway up.
Abryxia, " Lords of Bone, Plaes is so mad!
Yeomic, " You can hear him"
Abryxia, "No, but I can feel him..he is a very fiery spirit."
Victor sets to helping Toden..he holds the scroll, as Toden only has one arm.

Jon and Max turn into the corridor, and sees their way goes 15', then ends with with a corridor turning north, and some 5+ gnolls rushing out of the heavy, open door do the south, opposite. 
A slight stop, and the creatures, whering rough leather and chain armors then rush at the explorers...
Max gets in front, with Jon slightly behind....
Jon_Galica> "A DEATH FOR A DEATH!"
Max "AYE!!!!"

Meanwhile, in a large room with sunlight streaming down a huge staircase, Toden and Victor sit on opposite sides of PLaes lifeless body, in a circle of red and black candles.  Abryxia and Yeomic sit at pllaes feet and head. 
Victor holds the scroll for Treefather Toden, and the other sitters whisper the words as Toden speaks them, trying to lend strength to Toden's reading of this Potent scroll.
The 5 red candles all flutter, and gutter...and the chanting grows.
Sweat pools on Toden's Brow, and Victor's arm's shake.[note]rolling spell success for scroll
01[22:16] <Vreeg_GM> !roll d%
[22:16] <isobot> 6
critical success in scroll use.....Normally there is
days of rest needed after 'raise the earthen Dead...
But we will allow for more immediate, based on this roll[/note]
plaes whole eye reknits...and the blood stops flowing...and the angry spirit comes flowing back in
Plaes_Holdir eyes open wide and he looks around, anger etching his face.  " Hewecars blood..."
toden, unconsious in front of PLeas, billo standing over him, Victor and Yeomic cradling the one-armed healer.
Plaes_Holdir glances between them... "Thank you..."


Meanwhile, Jon and Max give no ground as the two groups crash into each other, spear, sword, simitar, and war-rake all fly and flense...
the gnoll in front stabs at you two, with a big spear at max[note][22:24] <Vreeg_GM> !roll d%
[22:24] <isobot> 2
01[22:24] <Vreeg_GM> hitting him
[22:25] <Jon_Galica> ooc: Ouch!
01[22:25] <Vreeg_GM> !roll d%
[22:25] <isobot> 19
01[22:25] <Vreeg_GM> hard
01[22:25] <Vreeg_GM> !roll (1d8+1d6+17)\(d5-1)+3
[22:25] <isobot> 57
[22:26] <Jon_Galica> :-O
[22:26] <Jon_Galica> ooc: boy these emotes are really vague.  I almost look happy
01[22:26] <Vreeg_GM> roll !roll (61-d10)/(2d6/2)
01[22:27] <Vreeg_GM> (isobot) 49
01[22:27] <Vreeg_GM> holy  shit[/note]
the gnoll rips a huge shot at max, with full force...it looks like it will go righ into his head...
but max somehow deflects most of it at the last second, and the spear rips a chunk out of Max's right shoulder...blood pours out of it.
the gnoll is perpelexred, as Max calmly wipes the huge wound on his shoulder.
Max, " I have been through worse, gnoll..."

Jon swings his pilum around, and throws down a shot at a gnoll behind the one who stabbed Max, one weilding a scimitar
Jon_Galica> "DIE MONSTER!"
jon spins over Max, and takes the scimitar-wielding one in the head, ripping skin and flesh away from the scalp, skipping over it, and the gnoll yells as his har and blood splatter behind him on the others of his ilk.
Max roars, spins and brings the huge sword into the gnolls crotch with huge force.
and despite good protection, Max 's huge sword rips through the gnolls leg, crotch, and into its abdomen, spraying blood and bile everywhere, and it screams and howls as it perishes. Max tugs the sowrd out of the gnoll's cracked pelvis with a disdainfull wrist-snap.

A pilum whooshes out of the door, at Jon, but the pilum somehow misses Jon.
Jon_Galica deftly dodges the projectile at the last moment, stpes left and stabbing a gnoll
Jon_Galica> "MY FURY CANNOT BE STOPPED!  FLEE BEFORE ME!"
slicng into the arm badly, and the gnoll with a broadsword yells and yammers.
Max and Jon step around each other, protecting each other's backs in the small corridor, and depsite the odds, start forcing the gnolls back a bit.
Max tries not to slip on gnoll intestine.
a spear-gnoll stabs at Max, double handing it
  hitting him in the chest, but max laughs at the creature as he sidesteps as it hits, casuing it to bounce off of his shell-like Lammellar.
a gnoll with a broadsword stabs at Jon as Max bumps him a bit, but Jon's armor is up to the task as well.

Back in the front room, Yeomic cannot believe PLaes is consious and moving around. 
Victor speaks as his hands trace a complex sigil on the Mercurial Assassin, " PLaes, by all rights, you should be resting.  Even the blessings of the Scalelord should not allow you to rejoin combat."
Yeaomic also heals him. 

Plaes_Holdir flexes... "Alright! By Hewecars name it's time for me to exact some revenge!"

Plaes_Holdir grabs his trident and heads off to combat
> billo is holding the bolt he pulled out of plaes' head, looking at it oddly.
Plaes_Holdir yells back as he leaves the room..." Billo, hold on to that thing! I'll have a use for it"


Back in the melee,  an arbelest twangs
missing max narrowly
Jon whirls on in, seeing 2 injured gnolls in front,  he swings high over the ducking max
(jon and max hear footsteps running from the south}
Jon_Galica thrusts his pilum at the spear carrying gnoll
into the abdoment and lower rib cage of the gnoll, pushes into the bet, knocking him back and drawing a bit of blood.

A piulm wings out at Max from the back
the warriors can see a gnoll with a war-rake in the back
[note][23:04] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: what kind of weapon is a war-rake anyway?[/note]
the twice damaged spear gnoll swings at jon, stabbing his chest,
but jon defends it
"Come on! Put some force behind it!", Jon_Galica taunts
the broadsword gnoll also swings at Jon an overhand smash...he hits
Jon takes bloody shot in his right upper arm and blood spurts out, joining the other streaks on the walls and floors.
Jon_Galica "Aargh!"

max swings at the spear gnoll, going for a stab
max 's shamsheer cuts through armor, breastbone, and through all the way to the gnoll's back....
"Huk...Hulk!!"  it collapses and dies, spurting blood all over max
(behind, a gnoll with a pilum, and gladius, a pilum, and the hoko gnoll)


jon jumsp high, all the way over the stabbing max, and eyes the dark-haired gnoll that wields a broadword.
Jon_Galica wipes away some blood and grins at the broadsword wielding gnoll
Jon_Galica> "This one knows how to play!"
slipping and twisting, jon still scores a hit, slashing the gnoll's left leg, pinking him
max and jon have forced the gnolls back, into the doorway area
[note=crit, crit, crit again...]
01[23:20] <Vreeg_GM> yep, you crit on an 11
01[23:20] <Vreeg_GM> roll again
01[23:21] <Vreeg_GM> (jon, +1 crit per 10% to hit)
01[23:21] <Vreeg_GM> base is a 7&)
01[23:21] <Vreeg_GM> plaes, roll again
[23:21] <Plaes_Holdir> !roll d%
[23:21] <isobot> 34
01[23:21] <Vreeg_GM> -2
01[23:22] <Vreeg_GM> on divider
01[23:22] <Vreeg_GM> !roll (35-d10)/(2d6/2)
[23:22] <isobot> 7.75
[23:22] <Jon_Galica> ooc: Gotcha, so I crit on a 10
[23:22] <Plaes_Holdir> !roll ((1d12+18)\(d6-2))+4
[23:22] <isobot> 82
[23:22] <Plaes_Holdir> ooc: god damn that feels fantastic[/note]
plaes comes from no where, jumping, spinning over the whole fray, stabbing at the hoko-gnoll in the back, taking the gnoll through the neck, and stabbing his spear perfectly down the gnolls exposed throat, down to the thing's stomach
"That was revenge!" says plaes as he lands on his feet, spinning with a wicked smile...SPUURT!!!!!  blood and guts, as plaes lands on his feet, spinning with a wicked smile...
the floor is awash with blood....

and we ended there, with 3 gnolls in between Jon, Max and PLaes...

Wow. Sorry I missed that.

With luck, I'll be here next week, but it really depends. My friend is selling his house, but since he lives in Kalama Valley--the easternmost inhabited valley on O'ahu--any time we need to go into town for anything (e.g. to Home Depot), it's half an hour to forty five minutes one way.

Since we probably won't get the interior painting finished until Sunday, and he wants to paint the exterior too, I might just go really early Monday and call it quits around lunch time to get back into town in time for the game.

That would be awesome.  they need to have the players there to keep everyone alive.