Post Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk here (September 2015)

September thread for Journal entries about game sessions this month! Remember that Session XP and Treasure/Loot is cataloged in another thread to check weekly, <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1861516/treasure" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1861516/treasure</a>... Journal XP Bonus is awarded for this thread. Post your Journal entries here. (You may also copy your Journal to your Character's personal logbook thread, but the XP award is based on posting it in the monthly Journal thread in the chronological windows of time, week to week between sessions.) Please write your own Journal XP Bonus template/text to propose. I'll review it and approve the XP amount and description. We can do that in-chat in game time, or in-forum between sessions to save ourselves time on game days.&nbsp; We'll use this thread for all sessions taking place in the month of SEPTEMBER 2015. This is the 7th consecutive month of Player Journals for this homebrew world. Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (March 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (April 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (May 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (June 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (July 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (August 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (September 2015) . Opening the Window for Journals of September 1 session. After roleplaying the distribution of last week's treasure from 13 Rusty Mason Jars and the quicksand barrows (9 magic items, and a couple-thousand GP), the party formed a strategy to bushwhack across the swamp to find a concealed back entry to the Lizardman Colony, in hopes of meeting the Good-aligned Lizardman Minister ally on the inside before the parlay with the Lizard King. &nbsp; En route while traversing the difficult marshy terrain, the party sent Mora as a scout to ascend a hillock, where she saw a tall hut and large camp fire. She was attacked by a flying Ogre Mage, but the party got the initiative and Airen conjured a Bigby's Hand spell to silence the Lawful Evil magic-user before it could cause substantial harm. In looting the Ogre Magi lair, Torvald uncovered more than $20k, and the party discovered 5 magic items here too. All has been identified and distributed, for the most part, documented in the Treasure/Loot thread. Some of the PC's are back up on the money reserves, and a lot of new capabilities with magic items. Next week: Continue scouting and fighting your way across the central Cold Marsh area, to find the concealed entry to the Good Lizardman Minister's quarters.

Well, what do you think, folks?&nbsp; Horukh just levelled up to 5th, but while doing so, was also bedraggled and very low on hit points.&nbsp; Remember, not only had he lost an awful lot of life energy to the Wraith, he'd had physical damage as well.&nbsp; The 14 points of gaseous damage from being near poor Airen took Horukh to low single digits in HP.&nbsp;&nbsp; What do you reckon happened storywise?&nbsp; Something Strange And Mystical?&nbsp; Was Horukh carted back to Lafitte, where he healed and also helped the citizens there more, while the rest of the party went on?&nbsp; Or was he captured away without no one knowing?&nbsp; Is he in a giant KFC bucket?

I vote giant KFC bucket. By the way you were tasty...

Translation: Opened Lucius Clay's rusty mason jars - Contained several wondrous treasures&nbsp; Inspected - Dwarven made haversack - Object matched lore -&nbsp; Belonged to Jasper Thunderdwarf! - Rightfully claimed... Frog ate magical beans - Almost died - Rescued -&nbsp;Begrudgingly&nbsp;used healing potion... Returned to swamp village - Rested - Recovered - Party pooled money - To pay for fancy Bird's restoration... Followed she-elf to market - Peddlers - Selling overpriced items - Nothing worth good coin... Decided to seek "good" lizardman minister - Need allies - Hopefully it can help sway King - Continued expedition... Crossed deep channel of water - Large round hillock - Seemed inhabited - Sent she-elf to scout - Ambushed! Ogre mage! - Frog's spells silenced its magic - Quickly killed without injury... (Torvald was extremely excited to have found a piece of dwarven history. Jasper Thunderdwarf was a well known explorer & adventurer... However, the biggest thrill was finding the enormous stash of ancient gold coins buried near the ogre mage's hut.)

Mora's Chronicle Ogre Mage of Gold Coins I can't believe we off'ed that super rich Ogre Mage, without him landing a single spell or blow! We are truly a mighty band of adventurers! He had so much money, I just want to roll around in it. I'll finally be able to buy a magical weapon in town. Last time I traipsed through the shops of Laffite with Torvald I was broke and didn't have much fun. Man, throwing those spears really brought me back. I might give Jaxon this other Javelin of Piercing, too. He really does deserve it. I'm sure I'll be able to buy something nice in town. And I have to say, this Ring of Free Action we found in one of the several jars of Lucius Clay's horde is going to come in quite handy. I'll have more chances to slip unnoticed into vulnerable positions behind my opponents, no matter what web or spell may try to shop me. Ok, not every spell, but a girl can dream. We sure did find a lot of treasure, all thanks to me and our lionhearted Horukh. Ok, and the rest of the fellas too!&nbsp;I'm really liking this merry band more and more. My goodness, Airen is probably the most powerful magic-user I've ever known, and yet incredibly foolish for that magical can of bean mishap.&nbsp;Our brave cleric, who knew the once timid Horukh would become so heroic! He would martyr himself for us... maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh on him about the next claiming of magical items. He really is as loyal as they come. I must make it up to him... Then there's romantic lizard man, Sanvar. He's an interesting sort, and eager to serve it seems... I should think on this more. That swamp giant's belt suits him.&nbsp; Then Torvald, man can he sniff out gold! Leave it to the Dwarf... mmm, gold.

Journal Notes 9/1 It seems that Mora discovered quite a haul of treasure during the fight with Lucious Clay. While looking through it all there was &nbsp;a jar of beans. I was so tired and famished that I swallowed them whole without thinking - otherwise I may have realized that these were no ordinary beans. Next thing I remember is waking up in the swamp cradled in Torvald's arms with extreme stomach pains - and that stench! - Torvald must not have bathed in weeks! After sorting through the treasure, taking Horukh to a healer, and discussing our strategy to enter the lizard colony we decided it would be best to head towards the south to meet up with the ex-shaman - to hopefully befriend an ally. On the outskirts of the colony we traversed a hill where we were attacked by an ogre mage! Luckily Mora got the jump on him otherwise it could have been fatal for some of us. I have heard stories of how powerful these ogre mages can be. After killing off the ogre Torvald discovered his huge hoard of treasure! What was this ogre stockpiling all of this wealth for?&nbsp;

Closed window for last week. XP awarded in game chat. ( EDIT : Torvald is still owed Journal XP for last week, Ogre Mage fight journal topic). Great pictures, Mora's hand-drawn glee for GP, and Chris Coxen's digital mashup picture of the Ogre Magi scenario. Opening Window for Journals of the September 8 session. 5-hours of gameplay with roleplaying, battles, mystery, and treasure. Parlay, negotiations, jail break, infiltrating, politics, and more. &nbsp;Met members of 6 different Political Parties (alignments) of Lizardfolk. Met 3 invasive Shark Men too. Killed some of the ones. Found 2 adventurer corpses. Sent the dead bodies back to their families in Portlandio, via lizardman courier. On deck for next week: Versus Vessik, Evil Shaman, and parlaying the Lizard King himself.&nbsp;

Hello everyone, from Winston-Salem NC tonight.&nbsp; I wish I had been at the last session!&nbsp; It sounds wonderful!&nbsp; An Ogre Mage.&nbsp; That is an amazing encounter to have and to survive---those two don't always go together. We finish our gig in the Carolinas and then dash supergreen superfast to Oklahoma.&nbsp; Barring emergencies, I should be on for Tuesday's session, even if I am pulled at the side of the road, using someplace's wifi.&nbsp; I do not want to miss the meeting with the Lizard King, and this Minister Kriesss sounds like someone I should learn about.&nbsp; I miss my band of adventurers!

And from Kentucky tonight.&nbsp; So far, on schedule for Tuesday.

Journal Notes 9/8 After the unexpected encounter with the ogre mage we decided it would be best to continue pressing on towards our objective of meeting the "shaman not shaman." From our vantage point on the hill we were able to discern that the lands were patrolled by platoons of lizardmen - however the ones that we saw weren't well equipped. We managed to avoid most of the patrols, but did end up defending ourselves versus a handful of them. Eventually we made our way through the thick terrain and with the guidance of Sanvar were able to find where the "shaman not shaman" lived. The colony was pretty incredible - reaching high in to the trees and low beneath the ground - they clearly have lived here for a long time.&nbsp; The "shaman not shaman" informed us of several other races that were also seeking an audience with the king in order to gain his support against the sharkmen. He recommended that we try and gather their support before visiting the king. We all agreed that it seemed to be the best course of action. The "shaman not shaman" provided us with an escort who guided us deeper in to the lizardman colony. On our path we were spotted by several guards who immediately fled to alert others of our presence. We were able to stop all but 1 - hopefully he doesn't show back up with an army. We finally reached the Koifishmen who seemingly wanted nothing to do with our cause, the Catfishmen who we were able to convince, and the Tritons who were all for it. Although they would not be able to visit the king with us - since they need to remain in the water - they were able to provide us with a gift from their people signifying their support. Having what we thought we needed we moved on coming across the dungeon - where we decided to try and recruit more allies - figuring the evil shaman may have imprisoned those who had tried to speak against him. Amazingly we found and freed an old friend of Sanvar - another lizardman. Additionally there were also several sharkmen in here already! Surely they must know a bit about the impending threat.

Translation: Traveled for days - Swamp impeded progress - Crossed many inlets... Small islands of land - During trek ambushed! - Sharkmen scouts - Preyed on Lizard... Waded into battle - Short but satisfying - Slew several - Lizard feasted on remains... Unfortunate - Battle drew attention - Lizardmen patrol - Vessick's supporters... No chance for parlay - Lizards leaped into fight... Landed thunderous blows - Lizards totally routed - Meager loot found... Continued expedition - Arrived at last! - City of the Lizard King - Entered quietly... Contacted friendly Shaman ally - Provided information - Escorts - Guided through warrens... (The elderly lizard shaman proved to be atypical from the rest of his kin. Very intelligent, wise, and surprisingly educated. If only more lizardmen were like him...) (The vile sharkmen... We have heard rumors of their scouts encroaching on the areas surrounding Portlandio. At first I thought it was an exaggeration... Clumsy on land but deadly in water. I will make sure not to underestimate their strength.)

Mora's Chronicle A Bounty of Books and a Magical Dagger Well we certainly accomplished a lot. After taking care of those sharkmen, our meeting with the deposed Shaman went well. I'm now borrowing several books and am now learning Lizardman. I should be able to converse in the language soon... After making our way through a bit of the colony, we came across some guards. One was taken care of, and after I started to chase the other I thought better of it. I know an alert will be sent out, but I didn't want to shed blood of a neutral Lizardman. Our conversations with the different fishmen went well except for the Koafishmen who wanted nothing to do with the Sharkmen issue. The Catfishmen couldn't speak with us, and I knew the Tritons were here, so I decided it would be best if they helped us translate. Airen's finger painting at least let us know they were on our side. Since these fishermen were being kept from the Lizard King, I decided we could represent them when we made our way to him. They both provided tokens as gifts to the King as well as symbols of alliance again the Sharkmen. Hopefully this will suffice. Now that imprisoned Sharkman... I would have liked to kill him and present him to the King to show that the threat is truly close to his home. The others didn't agree, so I decided to give in. I decided that with all the locked chests I passed on picking, that at least I should see what was behind one of the doors we saw on our way. Using my looting skills, I quickly found some valuables on two dead Portlandio corpses. A magical dagger! I'm finally equipped with something decent. As the team negotiated the transport of the bodies back to Portlandio to their loved ones (Sandra's idea), I told the Lizardmen to let them know I found the body (okay and give the rest of the team credit too). That's when I realized we didn't have a name for our group! That we must do before we seek counsel with the Lizard King!

Closing window for Journals of Sept 8 XP Awarded in Chat. Thank you Torvald, Airen, and Mora! &nbsp;Delightful and wonderful stories and illustrations. Opening window for Journals of Sept 15 session. The party finally defeated a long time nemesis, Vessik, the right-hand man Captain under the Known-Evil Lizardman Shaman.

Journal Notes 9/15 After investigating the jail one of our escorts realized he had forgotten some of his paperwork back at Kriesss's residence and insisted we collect them before moving forward. Upon reaching Kriesss's I was surprised to see Horukh there - using his magic to heal some of the lizardmen's ailments. He claims to have returned to Portlandio to attend to some business - speaking some nonsense about being away for an extended period of time - truthfully I think he may have just fled after realizing the impending situation we would be in. At any rate he has decided to return and should prove to be useful. After reuniting with the party and repairing Kriesss's eyesight the shaman blessed us - although I don't feel much different. Now prepared and blessed we once again departed to request an audience with the king. We passed many rooms along the way - store rooms, barracks', and a kitchen which emanated the beautiful smell of charred meat. The party was drawn to the smell. After entering the kitchen there were several lizardwomen cooking for the colony and to my surprise the delightful smell was actually a sharkman that had been butchered and roasting above a fire. The cooks claim that they have been able to cook more and more sharkmen recently as they have been encroaching upon the colony. Horukh began passing out candy to some lizardman children that showed up and I became distracted investigating the herbs they had stored. After some conversation we continued on our way again passing several more rooms until stumbling upon a temple. Horukh curiously went to investigate and the party followed. Mora was immediately drawn to a lonesome chest - most of us stood by anxiously waiting to see what she discovered - as a huge explosion of gas knocked me unconscious. As I awoke I had flashbacks of the last time I awoke from being unconscious - held in Torvald's arms. I stood up, gathered myself, and realized that we were being attacked by several lizardmen. I started conjuring up a spell when I was overcome by Horukh's magical silence. I yelled out #&@&* &nbsp;@!&# fancy bird #*(#$ flying @#$#@ - but of course the sound did not travel. One of the lizardmen - easily the largest lizardman I have ever seen - dwarfing Sanvar in comparison - walked right up to me and wrapped his hand around my neck. I tried fending him off, but without my magic I was helpless - eventually being choked to the brink of death. Cold. Dark. Empty. Nothing. Warm. Fuzzy. Light. Jaxon, kneeling over me calling to Zeus for the power to heal my wounds. I thank him for his aid. It seems that the others have defeated the lizardmen - one of the escorts identified them as Vessik and his enforcer. At last he shall not be able to bestow his evil intentions upon anyone ever again, but I fear unless we deal with the shaman another shall just take his place. As I began to recollect the events prior to being choked out I remembered how Horukh's silence rendered me mostly defenseless. I leaned over to Sanvar and whispered in lizardman "Horukh's last meal was duck, aligator, and coconut shrimp! Have you ever heard of Turducken? MMMMM Tasty!" hoping that he would eat the fancy bird. I sat there "licking my wounds" as the party began searching the corpses and what seemed to be the shaman's quarters. &nbsp;

Mora's Chronicle Scales & Tales: A D&D Romance I finally get a chance to show my worth as a boxman, and sure enough I found the trap I was looking for on that chest in the Vestry. I remember attempting to remove the lock but then not much else.&nbsp;I fell into some kind of dream, and thought I was in an earthquake at one point. Apparently I tripped a gaseous trap on the damn chest and fell asleep on a snoring Sanvar. "Sanvar dreams of fishing in the swamps with his mate, Mora. She rides along his shoulders, firing her crossbow into the brackish water, laughing and smiling. Sanvar strikes down with his spear. Together, they bring up many fish, which they enjoy together in their warm, wet cavernous lair with their many lizard and half-elf children." - R.G. "Sanvar awakens to find Mora on top of him. The world is silent around him. Realizing that his courting has finally yielded results, Sanvar wraps his massive arms around her and closes his eyes once again, oblivious to the battle unfolding around him." - R.G. Once I came to, I was locked up in Sanvar's arms... in complete and utter silence! Oh dear. As I looked around I saw Vessik and our group fighting against another Lizardman, the Enforcer. I couldn't dwell on Sanvar. I worked my way free of his embrace and attempted to hide in shadows, unsuccessfully I might add. My roguish skills seem to be escaping me of late. Luckily our group dispatched of the two villains, but Airen died before being brought back, AGAIN. After all was said and done, Horukh's purpose for the silence spell (to not attract more opposition) made sense but in the end put the party at risk without its spellcasters in the small space. Horukh stopped casting spells and did not much else the entire time, no one could heal, and everything was left to our melee attacks striking home and without Our Beard! It was too big of a gamble. In any case, my mind moved back to the chest and the treasures that await us...

Haha great drawing!

So romantic!

Closing window for Journals of Sept 15. XP Awarded in Chat. Thank you Players! Mora's hand-drawn Romantic Fantasy book cover is really sweet, I hope Ryan Gaskin sees that Journal. Opening window for Journals of Sept 22 session. The Lizardman Shaman goes down, killed by the super-buffed Dwarf Torvald in an epic 1v1 battle scene! The nemesis SWAMP FEARS shambling mound spirit, that led a pack of incorporeal ancient giant lizards flying in a ghost pack, was worth thousands of XP.

Journal Notes 9/22 After our encounter with Vessik it was time to press on to meet the king. On our way we were intercepted by another enforcer for the church of Zeus. It seems that Jaxon's presence was desperately needed back at the church - I wonder why? - this giant of a man was to take Jaxon's place in aiding us for the time being. This man - Swargen - was rather perceptive noticing the condition I was in and immediately used his powers to mend my wounds. Now rejuvenated we again began to press on. We eventually entered an incredible atrium that stretched several stories high and several stories below in a series of underwater caverns. Up above it seemed that the shaman was performing his ritual - supposedly increasing the power of the other lizardmen. To the sides there were several arenas where people fought to prove their strength. And in front of us a group of guards checking for the proper paperwork - paperwork that most of us did not have. Horukh was able to sweet talk his way past the guards claiming that some of our party were part of his staff while Oceanus and I snuck off in to the water searching for a way to allow our sea fairing friends to join the party. I sent Rhubarb with the others so that I could still know what was going on up above. Oceanus and I were having no luck in the caverns when Rhubarb informed me that Torvald and Swargen somehow got in to a fight in the arenas - versus two giant scorpions at that! Torvald swiftly dealt with one of them, but either through exhaustion or perhaps the poison of the scorpions they were struggling desperately against the second - nearly dying in the process. I immediately began looking for a way to rejoin with the others. Eventually they were able to take down the second scorpion, but Swargen did not look well - surely the scorpion's poison was having a toll. At this time quite an audience had gathered and one of the lizardmen in the crowd began taunting Torvald claiming how the scorpions were mere pets and weaklings compared to the lizardmen - surely a mere dwarf could not survive a fight with one of their champions. Rhubarb - playing to his trickster nature - casted ventriloquism on this spectator - "I shall fight you. I shall show you how strong the lizardmen are!" Of course this spectator was none other than the shaman himself! Not able to back down from his "statement" as the crowd had begun demanding to see the shaman fight - he entered the arena. Although Rhubarb naturally tries to avoid combat he feels the need to help out the party more after seeing Airen on the brink of death. Rhubarb used his magic to enlarge Torvald - increasing his power. In preparation for the fight the others also began using their magic to aid Torvald. With the entire colony so excited about the prospect of the shaman fighting it wasn't too difficult to sneak past and join the crowd as a spectator. The shaman began summoning tons of spirits to attack Torvald, but since they were evil Torvald was protected through the party's magic. This made it easy for him to charge in and take the shaman out in a couple of blows! By this time the party's magic had begun to wear off and the incredibly powerful spirit of a shambling mound began to attack Torvald. At this point the rest of the party began to aid Torvald, but it seemed that any non magical attack was rendered ineffective. Fisher was eager to battle such an evil creature, but I thought it would be wiser to keep my distance. Rhubarb and I released a torrent of spells at this creature while our new ally - Swargen - was able to bind it in place using the surrounding water. It took a while, but the spirit was eventually put to rest.

Journal Notes 9/22 The journey to deliver the Church's message to Jaxon was successful. Fulfilling his request i have taken the place of Jaxon with this group of assorted beings. The Dwarf Torvald is surely a mighty warrior, with the heart of a champion of Zeus, tho he calls him Moradin. It was truely disturbing to find myself stung again and again by the scorpion I successfully Blinded, but between Torvald and I, and the power of Thor, we bested the beasts. Between them and saving the Lizard King from the Spirits summoned by his Frail Shaman, I am sure we have gained his Favor and ultimately his support. That woman Mora, also saved my life, so now i am in her debt as well as Torvalds. On my life, i will repay them, even if it costs me the same. - Thor Shield us and guide my Hammer as if your own.

Dear Paul , thanks for joining the group! For doing Swargen's Journal, you will earn some bonus Journal XP. 1.&nbsp;The base amount of Journal XP is awarded for writing a text journal (which you have done). 2.&nbsp;Slightly larger Journal XP comes if you search the internet for a relevant picture, and add the picture to your Journal post. You might want to add a picture to gain a little more! 3. The highest amount of Journal XP can be earned by drawing your own art, illustration, or other original (such as making a sound file).

Translation: Entered Lizard King's chamber - Large stone amphitheater - Filled with subjects... Great procession - Multitude of lizardmen - Recruits - Pledging fealty... Evil shaman - Oversees ritual - Marks those worthy - Burned into scales... Crossed rock causeway&nbsp;- Approached throne - Stopped by guards - Denied&nbsp;audience... Tribute&nbsp;demanded -&nbsp;Norseman offers challenge - Test of honor - Enters arena... Not alone - Axe and maul - Joined together - Battled giant scorpions - Bloody affair... Victorious&nbsp; - Evil shaman mocks&nbsp;prowess -&nbsp;&nbsp;Provoked duel - Single combat... Life or death...&nbsp; (Evil shaman Swrksss proved to be a cunning and powerful foe. After a difficult battle he was felled by Torvald's axe.) (The Lizard King's bloody arena. Many poor souls were sacrificed here. Swrksss drew upon this to summon several undead spirits.)

(found on a wallpaper site, artist unknown) (art by Jjpeabody from DeviantArt) Musings from Horukh. There are times when I wonder if I am simply a dream some god or other is having. (Thoth and the Emerald Tablets, artist unknown) A philosopher from Dordurum, Phesus, said that “only the sane question if they are insane, while the insane are confident they are sane.” If I look at my life from the objective view---from outside---I think I might be rather mad. Yet, the mad things that happen to me, the mad things that occur to me, and the deeds that I do, feel very reasonable at the time. So there’s the puzzle: am I sane enough to know I am mad, or am I mad but highly functional? Our group took on a formal name, that we might be addressed together in Court and before the Lizard King and other nobles, patrons and royalty. We are the Challengers of Destiny , now. Our numbers and our members change, but once someone is a part of this band I believe the reputation will aid them, should they ever leave. And leave they do; even our brave Jaxon just left. It could be because of the smell. Lizardfolk, reptiles by the thousands, swamp fungi, rot, garbage and parasites mixed with carcasses and crude cooking make for a brain-pulverizing assault of scents. Many of those bloody smells and stinks reach back to our most primal selves, and create unease, unless we embrace that carnality. It could have been too much for Jaxon. In his place, his church sent a hulk of a human, a massive man with a maul and the unquestioned favor of his gods. He is remarkable, and between him, Torvald, and Sanvar, I am triply reminded of just what a frail little bird I am. I admit that in the encounter in the vestry, I did my part, and then I tried to hide. It felt like there was nothing I could do that would not insult the gods represented there, but also, I was afraid. The fighting in there could have smashed me to splinters just by accident. That Airen was so gravely hurt, while I hid, fills me with guilt. I worry for our brave Bullywug. He is one of the most impressive magic-wielders I have ever seen, but culturally, he is perpetually out-of-place. At the moment, he is amongst races that would happily eat him… but wait… so am I. Time to hide any fear and instead be the bold peacemaker and designer of bridges between cultures. I have some ideas.

DM Journal of 9/22/15 That time when Mora attempted to Disguise Airen the Bullywug as a Lizardman, and ended up on the worst roll with Airen looking like "Zombie Kid Likes Turtles". Zombie Kid Likes Turtles: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y</a> And then, the Bullywug / Lizard-Disguise / Zombie Turtle Kid went underwater and started singing Put The Lime In The Coconut song!! Put The Lime In The Coconut: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LxC3M-Yngs" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LxC3M-Yngs</a> This really confused some of the lizardfolk. Favorite scene. When this happens in your D&D. "Good times down here at the waterfront village!" Reporting live from Portlandio . See you all in a matter of hours for Monday Game Session!

Closed window for Journals of Sept 22.&nbsp; XP Awarded in Chat. Thank you Players! Opening window for Journals of Sept 28 session. KILLED A DRAGON!!!! &nbsp; As the Pan Lung tried to fly away with Mora in her jaws. Epic!!!

Journal Notes 9/28 Now free from the shaman's magic the king has started to re-gather himself. He seems like a reasonable guy and is potentially interested with our cause, but he is not a man to forget about the other lizardmen that we had killed. He demanded that we repay the colony in gold what their lifetime contribution would be. This wasn't too unreasonable of a request considering the circumstances... but who the hell has over 10k gold? Oh wait... Torvald =) In place of the monetary payment we offered our services and were contracted to hunt down a giant crocodile that had been taking out packs of lizardmen patrols. The lizardmen would not hunt it themselves due to crocodiles being sacred creatures to them. After trudging through the swamp for a while we finally came across this beast although it was not as strong as I had anticipated. Surely, I would never want to face such a creature alone, but with our powers combined the crocodile stood no chance. What was surprising though is that the crocodile was never the real threat - the real threat was the powerful dragon that was able to manipulate this crocodile. Surprising us he turned the very water we were drudging through into lashing flames. He tried to get in to Rhubarb's mind, but he was able to fend off the dragon's mental attacks. It took all of us fighting at our full ability to finally take this beast down - almost losing Mora in the process as she fell from the sky clenched within it's jaws. I had heard stories of dragons before, but this was definitely the first time I have encountered one for myself. What was he doing in the swamp? What was he protecting? Or scheming?

Gold said: KILLED A DRAGON!!!! &nbsp; As the Pan Lung tried to fly away with Mora in her jaws. Epic!!! So what happened? Someone mind giving me the details...&nbsp; Sorry for for having to bail out of the fight but, the wife got home early.&nbsp;

SolidHybrid said: Gold said: KILLED A DRAGON!!!! &nbsp; As the Pan Lung tried to fly away with Mora in her jaws. Epic!!! So what happened? Someone mind giving me the details...&nbsp; I'll tell a bit of the story of the battle ending. I want to hear the other Players description as well. The Pan Lung Dragon had been Blinded and reduced to low HP. &nbsp;It fled the scene by taking off for flight (wingless, magical flight, coiling up and up). Unfortunately at that moment Mora was atop the dragon's neck, holding on tightly to her dagger that was stabbed into the dragon scales. &nbsp;The powerful muscles of the long coiling dragon sent a wave through the scales, like a combination of a powerful constrictor snake + a bucking bronco, or wild bull, or picture a Dog when you put a Treat on it's nose-snout and it needed to flip the morsel into the air and catch the food in its mouth, as a good doggy trick. &nbsp;The Pan Lung did that to Mora. &nbsp;It coiled and arched and waved it's body in such a way as to flip Mora off, up, and into the air, as the Dragon craned its neck around and opened its jaws wide, rolling high enough attack to bite her and catch her mid air. VIDEO EXAMPLE: (Note: Mora was not on the dragon's head per-se, but the dragon has long neck-body muscles that flipped her). <a href="https://youtu.be/1hTlrFunac8?t=20s" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/1hTlrFunac8?t=20s</a> Mora was actually being crushed and chewed in the dragon's jaws, as it tried to fly away with her still alive and bleeding in its teeth. Pan Lungs don't have wings but fly with a celestial gem that's embedded inside their mind (cannot be removed even after death), so picture it coiling and curling up and up, in a circular, centrifugal ascent, blindly crashing through the swamp tree branches, circling up and up, squeezing Mora to her last 5 HP, drinking her blood, on its last HP itself. That's when Horukh swooped by on an intercepting trajectory, although he is a slower flier than the dragon normally, the dragon was taking-off climbing vertically and Horukh was already in-flight and heading that direction to intercept. So Horukh was able to kill the Pan Lung mid-flight using his staff and spell, and it crashed to the ground, with Mora riding-out the fall inside the massive 15' jaws. The jaw muscle went limp upon the fall but she was still stuck in its teeth, so the skull added crushing pressure when they hit the swamp mud floor. The 60' fall and crushing weight of the jaws and teeth killed her to -2 HP. Sanvar timely revived her in a last-second save. More details in the Treasure / Loot / XP Thread: <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1861516/treasure" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/1861516/treasure</a>...

Journal Notes 9/28/2015 A Dragon........... who would have thought such a Beast would live..... here. Mighty magik used by the beast, tail thrashing wildly as Thor took away its voice. The dwarf and his mighty axe flashing in the brilliance of its evil flaming water. The Lizard also a mighty warrior, tho he would not fight the Giant Crocodile, armed with but a Javelin from my quiver rushed to the Dwarfs aid. Mora was a sight as well, sneaking upon the beast and plunging her dagger deep into its spine. Disaster!!!!!! The beast has managed to fly off, after flinging the beautiful Mora into its own jaws!!! The most heroic of us all, the Bird, swooped in, Felling the great worm with a touch from his staff, saving Mora and the rest of us. Or so we thought, until Moras limp, lifeless body was pulled from its dead jaws. Again, showing his Warrior spirit, the Lizard rushed to her aid, with a brew from the Gods themselves, and returned her to us. Victory, for the new Alliance and for Thor. - Thor Shield us and guide my Hammer as if your own &nbsp; &nbsp;

(not a journal entry) I am still thinking about how to interpret that INCREDIBLY strong thing that happpened to Horukh in that vision.&nbsp; A geas to not be burned to ash.&nbsp; Horukh has had a lot of wild thoughts, and of course, his long-ago vision of how he is "supposed" to die (whether that is the only time he dies, who knows?).&nbsp; How is a geas to not do something going to work, I wonder?&nbsp; Should Horukh become obsessive about pursuing absolute immunity to all kinds of fire, including lava flames and dragonbreath?

Larry D. said: (not a journal entry) I am still thinking about how to interpret that INCREDIBLY strong thing that happpened to Horukh in that vision.&nbsp; A geas to not be burned to ash.&nbsp; Horukh has had a lot of wild thoughts, and of course, his long-ago vision of how he is "supposed" to die (whether that is the only time he dies, who knows?).&nbsp; How is a geas to not do something going to work, I wonder?&nbsp; Should Horukh become obsessive about pursuing absolute immunity to all kinds of fire, including lava flames and dragonbreath? Squeeze whatever fun and meaning you want to imagine from it Larry, and you've got a good start. Don't let it torture you or your character too much though. It was randomized (on the Truth table), so this result was unplanned, and we just have to roll with it as Players. &nbsp;I agree a Geas to NOT do something is more tricky and unusual than a proactive Geas instruction. &nbsp;Take it as a Geas to avoid. &nbsp;With that in mind, I agree with minding your Geas by practicing Fire Resistance and Fire Avoidance. &nbsp;I'll list some availability of purchasable items for Fire Resistance as well as placing them as quest-findable treasure items. &nbsp;As DM, also realizing that it is a Geas to avoid your otherwise likely fate or future from the Phoenix faith. &nbsp;Yes that is contradictory and conflictual, perhaps like a church-raised bluesman (who plays the "profane" music 6 days a week, plays gospel and begs forgiveness on Sundays), or like the double-edged secret sins in The Scarlet Letter. &nbsp;But I would not want to see Horukh limited in gameplay by too much of psychological trauma for D&D, to where it dominated his decisions or gameplay week to week. &nbsp;As DM I would like to see it played as an overriding background quest, but not a Geas that dominates every waking-thought or action of your character. &nbsp;So it's "a thing" but not "the main thing". What ways do you think it changes your character and Horukh's outlook on life? &nbsp;There will eventually be times in-game when Horukh might be burned, killed, and possibly revived from fire. This can still happen in spite of the Geas Vision. &nbsp;You are not saved from the Phoenix with certainty. But it could be many months from now, in adventuring time. It's a distant fate. &nbsp;The Geas does not overwrite the possibility of a Phoenixy future, but rather plays into this fate, with your life-quest to avoid it. There are many Gods in the Egyptian pantheon. Some are tricksters. You don't know who sent you this vision, or implanted this Geas. &nbsp;Maybe it was the Phoenix god, maybe it was another with conflicting motives, or intentions of trickery. &nbsp;Perhaps you will follow the Geas forever, or it's possible a different vision, ancestor, or deity could send you relief and cancel the Geas eventually. You may "roll" another Vision that alters your path again. Such is the nature of these Visions sent from on-high. Other players feedback is welcome on this subject too!

See, this kind of response is why we like playing in your game, Gold.&nbsp; I have some neat ideas about roleplaying the interpretations.&nbsp; :) By the by, we have a dead 100-foot-long dragon as well as a giant crocodile.&nbsp; Anybody but me thinking, this could be a huge thing in cementing the alliance, if the alliance members are offerred dragonhide for armor for their elite troops?&nbsp; And I picture the 15-foot-dragon-head as a temple entry, jaws open.&nbsp; There is no doubt that the dragon's body is extremely valuable, considering it is basically made of spell components. And the Sacred Crocodile as part of the Lizard King's new throne and dais assembly.&nbsp; When the lizardfolk discover that the croc was under mind control of the dragon, that will release them from the taboo and they'll likely want to retrieve and redeem the giant croc by making a holy relic of its hide & body.&nbsp; The Challengers of Destiny will be revered as the ones who released the Sacred Crocodile from its cruel bondage and slayed its oppressor!

Screw the Lizard King and his backward tribes. We should use the dragon for our own good. The hide and magical components gained from the body are worth a lot. Besides we need funding to procure a "future" base of operations; or rebuild whatever we claim. We completed their token quest... They should be pleased with that; considering how "eager" they've been. Maybe that's just my dwarven pragmatism speaking...

Translation: The &nbsp; Lizard King - Demanded wergild - Payment for slain vassals... In lieu of gold - Arduous task - Beast hunt - Giant crocodile... Sacred creature - Corrupted - Now Preys on tribe - Killing many... Concluded audience - Rested for night - Began expedition... Traveled - Deep into swamplands... Found lair - Lured out - Gigantic animal - Quickly dispatched... True foe emerges - Serpentine dragon! - Scalding breath... Giant crocodile - Controlled by fiend - Clever ruse! (The Pan-Lung or "serpentine" dragon is a clever and cunning creature. It orchestrated a devious plan; using a native giant crocodile to cover it's attacks. Seriously injuring Mora, it was righteously smited by Horukh the Silver.)

SolidHybrid said: Screw the Lizard King and his backward tribes. We should use the dragon for our own good. The hide and magical components gained from the body are worth a lot. Besides we need funding to procure a "future" base of operations; or rebuild whatever we claim. We completed their token quest... They should be pleased with that; considering how "eager" they've been. Maybe that's just my dwarven pragmatism speaking... Swargen would love a Dragonhide Cloak :D

Or maybe some dragon scale armor... Light weight with great protection.

Revel in the glory. Harvest some materials from the dragon indeed. Player ideas are welcome. As well I have researched (and continue) any official 2E sources on the subject of Dragon-corpse harvesting. The dragon-armor default rule is ok (rules appearing in 2E Monster book) but short of perfect. I'm working on modifying my own custom process (What kinds of armor/cloaks can be made from 1 dragon's hide), based on the 2E official foundation but tailoring it for our high-magic Homebrew World. The roleplay and item crafting/manufacturing are encouraged for this (e.g. Character using ______ NWP, or hiring ______ NPC, who will take X weeks and X GP $$$ to craft _______ expected resulting item; and I'll call for a roll of randomized dice to determine quality so it might come out worse or better than expected). See You All MONDAY (it's in about 12-14 hours) for the game time. I would type out more details about the Dragon armor options, but I'm working on other game prep, dragon treasure, the Pan Lung dragon was the guardian of a hidden place, and I've got sleep & work between now and game session time, so gotta run.

I can volunteer Swargen to handle the butchering process as he is a Hunter (Secondary Skill):&nbsp; Hunting: The hunting proficiency allows a character to find game and get reasonably close to it. The actual kill is handled using rolls to hit and for damage. Hunting is a proficiency that always requires a successful proficiency check when it is used. If the check is successful, the hunter will reach a position within 1d100 + 100 yards of the quarry. Generally it will take about 2–12 daylight hours to reach this position, though an abundance or scarcity of game can decrease or increase this time at the DM’s option. Night hunting might be possible for characters with infravision. The hunter also possesses a basic skill at removing skin from an animal, and butchering the carcass into usable meat. These tasks require no checks. Long as someone else can backtrack its lair for all the shiny, we are golden :D

Paul, Torvlad has a contact in Portlandio who is a weapon/armor craftsman.&nbsp; However, I'm not sure if he is skilled enough to work with exotic materials. I'd rate working with dragon bone and scales as being grand master grade work.&nbsp;I could have Torvald attempt to contact one of his people; as dwarven smiths are known to work with such items.

Solid, Between us then we may get that armor :)

Good thinking so far Players, on how to utilize the dragon parts, Swargen (hunting, skinning, cutting skills)...&nbsp; Armorer named "Smith" in Portlandio (worth asking if he can work with this material)....&nbsp; Torvald tracking down some dwarven smiths from his past, who would be able to work dragon hide & scales into armor. Swargen said: "Long as someone else can backtrack its lair for all the shiny, we are golden" , and I agree with that also. &nbsp;For today's session agenda I am thinking we can divide the PC's into those who want to stay top-side on the muddy swamp surface to skin a dragon; and those who want to swim underwater looking for Pan Lung's hidden lair treasure. &nbsp;Or we can do both, collectively, sequentially. &nbsp;My thinking is that some PC's may not be underwater-capable yet, or may not want to get so wet. And this is a way to give the top-side PC's something to play-out while the underwater PC's go searching. I'll survey everyone in-game and find out if you would be willing/able to go underwater for the Pan Lung treasure hunt. The Pan Lung treasure hunt today is largely underwater action, FYI. Remember to pack your swimming trunks. Game session time in less than 3 hours!

(pan lung dragon found on an Italian website, artist unknown) Count Horukh of the Challengers of Destiny, Journal: A dragon was slain this day. The giant crocodile, Sobek claim it, was slain by these compatriots of mine, the Challengers of Destiny. I played my small part by casting protections, and using my belt to bind the creature’s mouth shut. Then its mistress showed herself, and she was terrifying. One hundred feet of Pan Lung, shining and powerful. It brought up the water around us into fire, a beautiful blue fire. I launched skyward immediately, of course. I’m not going to stand in burning water when I can fly. In midair, time pulled away slowly from me, then whipcracked back to the present. A Vision, but a strong one---a compulsion. I have never felt that before. Someone, something directly controlled me, ordering me, upon pain, to avoid being burned to ash. I wobbled in flight, and caught back up, though only a second had passed. Needless to say, a LOT of questions came to mind from this, but there was this Pan Lung, and charging for it, the Challengers. I needed to stay in the present. I have never killed anything before. I have helped my band of adventurers and I have wounded others, but this day was different. The Pan Lung was a fury, spectacularly fast and agile. It was Silenced, and I blinded it, and I Spoke to it in mindspeech after listening in on its thoughts while closing the distance to the battle. I pleaded with it to stop; it wanted to eat us instead. I blinded it and pleaded that it surrender; it closed its massive jaws on Mora as it leapt upwards. I begged it one last time to give up and I would guide it safely to the ground, and I meant it completely. The Pan Lung chewed upon Mora again. I told the Pan Lung that decision was Unacceptable, and I summoned a few moments of the Rage of Horus and flew downwards as it rose up, opening a gash down the center of its throat. In the end, it was I who struck the killing blow, hoping to free Mora. The Pan Lung fell, and Mora’s body was thrown aside. Sanvar leapt to her aid and gave up his most treasured Healing potion, cradling Mora gingerly as he fed it to her in sips until she awoke. We tended to each others’ injuries and all the while, I contemplated the implications of this Pan Lung. It was part of the Celestial Order. Someone or something placed it here with a task. The Pan Lung was almost certainly insane, and felt evil to me, which is also strange. It was influenced somehow, and it fixated on physical hunger even though lore states that Pan Lungs normally eat symbolic and esoteric things like morning dewdrops and pearls. Its body is slain now, and its spirit freed, and I hope it finds peace. Anquet and Nun protect us as we search for what this dragon guarded, and may Sobek understand about why we killed that crocodile. And judge in our favor. It seems wise that, when making pleas, one should be specific about the outcome.

Closed window for September Journals! &nbsp;XP Awarded in chat. Thank you Players! Opening fresh new thread for October Journals Link to fresh new October thread: <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2491984/post-jou" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2491984/post-jou</a>... Journal on and adventure well!

An OOC comment, "behind the senes" in deep roleplay: Because Horukh is a Count, he thinks in terms of regional stability.&nbsp; This is why he is absolutely behind taking all of the treasure from the slain dragon's site.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Any resource that the Challengers control is a resource that others do not.&nbsp; Giving that site to the Lizard King to make an outpost and then fort is fine, because it increases the military stability of the region, and creates a point for trade.&nbsp; Giving the remaining gold there as well would make for a monetary imbalance, and empower the Lizard Kingdom and its allies TOO much.&nbsp; Portlandio is a fine town, but it is no city-state (yet).&nbsp; The Lizard Kingdom is stable (even more so now), but if they think they have too much of an advantage over Portlandio they might attempt an annex of it.&nbsp; However, establishing the Portlandio border Trading Post AND the new outpost will split the Lizard Kingdom's resources enough to keep them busy spending time & attention on two projects, rather than eyeing conquest. The Challengers of Destiny need a base of operations, and Portlandio would be the best choice we have right now.&nbsp; However, to make Portlandio prosper (by bringing in more trade), Portlandio needs to be known more.&nbsp; So, buying items and materials we may need from down the Altan Main would be wise; slightly more expensive, but it creates a broader foundation that will not flood the local economy. Horukh wants his Kemetic Staff to be imbued with some powers.&nbsp; It is his holy symbol, but it is also, essentially, a stick.&nbsp; But imbuement will cost sacrifices and/or money.