Post Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk here (January 2016) Awa Avignon part 2

January thread for Journal entries about game sessions this month! Remember that Session XP and Treasure/Loot is cataloged in another thread, <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 proposal in chat. I'll review it and approve the XP amount and description. We'll use this thread for all sessions taking place in the month of JANUARY 2016. This is the 11th 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) . Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (October 2015) Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (November 2015) . Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (December 2015) . Link to Journals / Story / Notes / adventure talk (January 2016) . Opening the Window for Journals of January 5 session from DM's birthday. PC2 party delved deeper into Awa Avingon, following a secret path to the ancient human tomb area, that they discovered was expanded in one of the periods of orc occupations in the past. They followed the Minotaur Sigma who fell through a trapdoor in the floor, down a Goonies-style slide, landing on another trap (on the Eye of an evil infamous orcish deity as depicted on a massive earthbender-orc temple shrine underground). You found more secret tunnels, and discovered the Kool-Aid scene of 80 ancient orc skeletons who died neatly arranged at the feet of an orcish king. The dead king's spear glowed with an orange heat as the Elf Cylara entered the chamber. Sigma picked up the spear. Next game: &nbsp; Resolve what happens with the PC Minotaur Sigma who is possessed by an evil orcish artifact spear named Alkarg, causing him to hunt the PC Elf Cylara .&nbsp; Then safely protect this dangerous artifact from falling into the wrong hands, and identify what the spear can actually do (it's also a Key of some kind).&nbsp; Also continue to look for your missing friend Kaz the Minotaur Dawn-Priest,&nbsp; Track "Sethus The Greek Cleric" who you've deduced may be half-orcish afterall, since you slayed an orc earthbender who bore a familial resemblance to Sethus. And find out anything you can about Rock Orcs and Earthbending too. Write your Journal here! Don't say that. Never say that. Goonies never say die.

Well, we're in a big bind right now, my fellow Homebrewers. Pretty close to the worst thing that could happen to Sigma The Minotaur Ranger has happened: Possessed by an evil item, underground in a mazelike environment, at pretty close to full HP, with a compulsion to destroy the party's lowest-HP character, in a populated and active dungeon with traps and undead and Much More. It's 2nd-Ed, too, so remember, doing the evil he is doing right now, possessed or not, punts Sigma out of being a Ranger until he somehow atones for it--- should any of us survive. Also recall, minotaurs are creatures of internal conflict between the intelligent and the bestial... and he LIKES how this feels right now.

DM reply. It's exciting and also feels harrowing. I'm waiting to see what happens, as DM. The resolution depends largely on the Players and I will introduce some environmental-setting factors from some of the monsters/NPC's in the area as well, next session. So the resolution or next step in the story is shared between us all, who play. There are many ways it could play out. I'll be honest, and I think this message is clear in-game, as DM, I wouldn't want this to permanently kill any of the PC's or break apart the party and have you killing each other (much). We want to bring out the cliffhanger, the tension, conflict, risk and danger, possession and evil powers in the adventure. This is where the one-eyed orc deity starts to earn his corrupt reputation. If either of the characters dies or loses powers in this scenario (be it Cylara or Sigma , the ones most at-risk in the present dynamic) I would hope and expect some sort of epic-heroic or legendary way in which they are brought back, to adventure on. One could say "Someday Sigma , Cylara and the others will look back on this and laugh". For now, we start the upcoming session in a bind, in the height of conflict and action. So it seems we've got good family fun of Indiana Jones,&nbsp; crossed with Scoobie Doo,&nbsp; crossed with The Goonies...&nbsp; and a heavy dash of diabolical 1970's AD&D evil monster gods, devils and demons, pentagrams and artifacts of possession in the mix.&nbsp; SolidHybrid said: We need to come up with a Meme for Larry's characters... They're always getting cursed or afflicted. Haha. Comment from last month's thread. Solid you can still get in a Journal for Jan 5 session even though you won't be able to play Jan 12th.

Well you know me, as a player I always have 3 plans and escape strategies for each. In this case I think the players would dislike one of them a lot, and in the other I think Gold would dislike it for screwing with his dungeon plans. :)

The Elven Willow ~ Our rest was uneventful and we proceeded into the tomb with some trepidation. &nbsp;Skeletons! &nbsp;Dispatched with relative ease but... what are they doing here? &nbsp;Did Sethis not know about them or not tell us? We found the tomb and more foul stench...it burns the lungs. &nbsp;Orcish writings are scrawled on the walls and carved in the stone sometimes directly over older Elven runes. &nbsp;My heart mourns for once a fair place this had been. There is gleam in the darkened throne room and I know before it happens what will transpire... the Minotaur grabs the weapon... a spear?.. dread fills my stomach as I watch a frenzied look come upon Sigma. &nbsp;Keep calm! &nbsp;Think! Sigma looks deliberately towards me and says "run" with a deadly smile. I drew my blade across my palm not caring if the others saw the dark bargain I had struck to gain access to the arcane ways. The stab of pain focused my mind as I bid the very vapors to rise and fill the area. &nbsp;Quickly, as the fog was magically filling the room, I drew the hood on my cloak and ran.... I ran and hid...and ran some more. &nbsp; There are more orcs now. A plan is forming.... I beseech Corellan that it works.

There is something in the instinct of a minotaur about being underground, in a hewn space. Our senses spread outwards further than eyes or ears can reach, and we get a feeling for the size and placement of every doorway, arch, pit or tunnel. Even if we live our lives wih hooves in the surface world, the underneath embraces us. So, as we went further into the unknown beneath Awa Avignon, despite being wounded and fighting monsters and falling into a slide trap myself, I felt better and better about being there. My lungs labored, yes, but I was far from unhealthy. When I saw the Spear, I thought, yes, now this is a weapon I could use. I used the replica of it I’d gained before, to prod it away from its resting place, put the replica away and picked up ALKARG Alkarg knows what I want. Alkarg cut through the veneer of civility! The lies and deceits I have had to cultivate, to make them think I am not a monster? NOT A MONSTER? I AM a monster! With every breath I draw, I taste more blood. On me, from me… in the air. The Undead Guards? They obey ME. Alkarg knows that I deserve the respect. The RAGE I feel. The FEAR I cause. ELVES? They’re little bony bites of candy to me, strong enough only to poke tiny holes and twang tiny arrows into me. ME. A true MONSTER. It feels so good not to pretend any more. I want a hundred elves. I want a THOUSAND. I want to wade through them, decapitating and dismembering them and LAUGHING when my hoof crushes them by the dozen. Alkarg knows! And I have tolerated these weak little sweetmeats with their pink skin and clanging armor for so many days on the surface, shepherding them around, to at last bring them here, to where ALKARG and I rule. And there is one… little… elf. In my maze. IN MY MAZE. I breathe deeper and deeper, and laugh with every deliberate step, knowing that elf can’t escape a TRUE MONSTER.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ALKARG KNOWS.

Rajhad Journal 1/5/2016 &nbsp;&nbsp; where i have been..... the streets of a tiny hovel, pilfering breads to live, drinking water from gutters to slake thirst... a small city offered more, but then the local band of pub dwellers caught me working their town; quick escape...... i hear of a city named Portlandio, only to find when i arrive it has been flooded and the locals not open to a new scheme... local legend saves me, gives me a few trinkets to get started with...... now here i am, back in a stinking.... hole with my guard hunting our newest friend..... need to get that spear so he can regain his senses...... caltrops; no dont want to hurt him...... MARBLES!!!!!!!!

Closed window for Journals of Jan 5 DM's bday. Bonus Journal XP was awarded and approved in-chat: Baradin , Rajhad , Sigma , Cylara . Thank you Players! Opening window for Journals of Jan 12 session HERE The party finally overcame the evil possession power of Alkarg the orcish artifact spear! 2 new PC's came into the scenario: Friar Hugo a Human Priest of Ilmater ( Hans ), and A.Whistlebell a Gnome tinkerer rogue ( Aepod ). ANNOUNCEMENT: You completed an award-winning classic adventure module from Dragon Magazine (with homebrew modifications of course)!! Cover art: Notice that what I've been calling "Old Fort on the Coast" in-game was actually a disguised title for "Citadel By The Sea". *DM grin* Citadel By The Sea Module cover art from Dragon Magazine #76, October 1983 Congratulations and well done Players! &nbsp;This was a dungeon that I've wanted to run for a long time. This party went through in a way that I never could have envisioned, but I highly enjoyed seeing it play out, and taking part, together. You took the Goonies slide trap and went through $ecret doors directly to the heart of the dungeon where the real orc artifact possessed Sigma (last week), and you freed him (this week) keeping the artifact Alkarg now locked away in some holy water aluminum foil blanket wrapping. Post your Journal thoughts about the climax conclusion scene of Awa Avignon (Citadel By The Sea, "The Old Fort By The Coast"). Post your Journal alternately about what your PC is doing in-between sessions, now. If you are Finding-Familiar, or tinkering, or saving the Kaz Minotaur statue from its stone-shaped fate, you can write or illustrate about that. Next Week - going forward: Find your way out of Awa Avignon and decide where to go next.&nbsp; To Portlandio, reunite with the Challengers of Destiny (5th-6th level PC party)? Or go directly North to Ota Sura's Honsharim? She would know more specialized ways to defeat the larger orc armies. Sigma has met or some knowledge of this half-elf matron Ota Sura. Row out to an island in the bay? Celestial dreams of this island are coming to the Elf Cylara ... it is an island dream that distracts them, gnaws and pulls at you. Or track southeast along the coast to the Kenku-gang towns and pearl beds?&nbsp; Go into the wild elf forests? Cylara would be from near here originally. Or seek the dwarven door that isn't being answered? Simply explore the immediate area wilderness and coastal villages?

The DM keeps talking and gives out the map, now that you completed the dungeon level That time when evil orc Earthbenders pulled minerals out of the ground, using complicated Martial Arts moves, to form a giant underground effigy to the One Who Shall Not Be Named (whose initials starts with the letter "Gruumsh"). And the giant underground Gruumsh dungeon under Awa Avignon was such a large one-eyed orc dungeon floorplan that the party fell through a trap and landed on the eye, and then adventured inside the spear shaft which was the longest red hallway you've ever seen. Citadel By The Sea has never looked quite like this before!! Detailed view of what you went through, all 3 levels, where the $ecret Doors are magenta boxes, The color lines are the Dynamic Lighting walls that I made, for giving that sense of space and not knowing what's around the next corner. Even though we don't always use the DL feature, it's cool for some situations to give the dark-unknown impression. Citadel By The Sea, Homebrew Gold version. Left to Right: Levels 3, 2, and the ground-level keep and outdoor courtyard.

Can someone update me on how the situation got resolved yesterday, and if Hugo played any role in it?

Hans said: Can someone update me on how the situation got resolved yesterday, and if Hugo played any role in it? We had Friar Hugo attempt to splash a bit of holy water that was available, onto Sigma hoping to cause him to drop the evil artifact. Hugo missed ( Solid rolled a missile attack for you). Rajhad the halfing tried something too (also a miss). Cylara the Elf Witch stepped up and recalled a Sleep spell, which successfully put Furnace and Sigma to sleep. This was how it ultimately resolved. Last, the party wrapped up the evil spear "Alkarg" in some kind of holy-water soaked blanket ( Hugo helped with that) and aluminum foil (because everyone knows aluminum foil protects you from unseen mind-control waves). Baradin the Cavalier is currently protecting this package. In the Post-Script... Sigma went to examine and rescue Kaz from the statue form, turned to stone, a minotaur statue which Hugo had seen earlier. &nbsp;In time it stiffly came back to life and shook-off the stone form. Kaz now tells the party that a Half-Orc / Half Medusa earthbender had snuck up on him and turned him to stone, and it was "Sethus Maximus" ( Kaz former ally in a trio with Crom The Sage) who did it. &nbsp; Kaz had come down the cistern entry, looking for the source of the disease or plague smell that was arising and seemed to be sickening some of the archeology students.

Gold, Just read through the "Citadel by the Sea" module... Yet again you masterfully converted it to our homebrew world. I have to say I prefer you're 2nd level setup more. From the looks of things we got a lot more to do before going back to town.

Thank you for the compliment, Solid , and the prompt read-up. Larry actually proposed just fast-forwarding out of the module after saving Kaz . Since you resolved the mystery and basically solved the module, and perhaps a sense of urgency to take the evil artifact elsewhere for safekeeping or destruction, or to go back and check on the people of Portlandio who were flooded out when you were last there (and now socked-in by a regional snowstorm). The DM would collect & give out any treasures that you would have, should have, found in Citadel By The Sea. But I think no. We will probably play our way out of the dungeon, step by step and level by level, to let the Rogues find more of the Traps, and the treasure-hunters find more of their due, see what you find, try to identify it, and equip the PC's with who keeps what. &nbsp;I'll be sure to repopulate enough monsters to add some fresh spice, now that you decimated the main enemies in the dungeon. This will give us one more session to use the 3 levels of maps I put together for this, and, hopefully I'll get enough of a DM-impression from the players of where you're wanting to go next. So that I can prep for the next adventure and have some kind of maps and pictures ready. I've got some wilderness and road-travel maps ready for outside Awa Avignon when you leave. It will be a snowstorm, wintery scene to trudge through if you go inland, unless you go directly to the shore. Parts you missed, (Nothing big really, but could be worth combing through on the way out) Level 1 (ground level, citadel and courtyard) Room 6, The stables on the ground-level, the sole survivor of the archeology students is hiding there. Level 2 (the middle level) Room 25, The magic-user who is hiding in Room 25. I've changed his stats for our homebrew so you can still face him even after reading module but it's the basic idea. He is a side-show, denizen of the dungeon who is not part of the essential plot with Alkarg and the orcs. There is a door to this room on Level 2, or, the Drain pipe from ground level outside is another way to access this room. Rajhad found the drainpipe but elected not to climb inside it; some party members like Sigma's horns would barely fit. Room 27, the curtained alcoves. So far only Kaz has passed through this area, this is where he was ambushed by Serga Ulma who turned Kaz to stone. At the end of the hallway outside here is the place where Friar Hugo and Whistlebell came in through the cistern $ecret entrance, and they saw the Kaz stone statue in the hallway, but they did not explore the alcoves. Room 30, Temple To Gruumsh. Those who have passed through this room includes: Friar Hugo, Whistlebell, Serga Ulma and his living troops of current orcs. &nbsp;The main party bypassed this by using the Goonies slide trap. &nbsp;You can go back upstairs to this room for clues & treasure if you want. Level 3 (the bottom orc-shaped floorplan earthbended level) Room 36. Tomb Room. The good news is that Sigma +Alkarg already commanded the skeletal troops to vacate this room. So it stands mostly unguarded. You can look for traps and treasures and whatever else. So in conclusion, there's not a ton left in this dungeon, but a couple rooms, traps, treasures, and yes: some new incoming monster(s). I want to be sure to Roleplay talking as Kaz , and as Crom, and reveal more of the homebrew story of Serga Ulma, and about how Alkarg can be a magical key of some sort (?). &nbsp;These elements tie-in with the bigger picture, and connect to the 5th-6th level module I want to run later in the campaign. There are clues and contacts.

From Baura’s Compendium of Creature Knowledge, a part of the Adventurers Cyclopedia, Thorough Edition: “ ...minotaurs have regional variations, and subspecies marked by number of horns, and types of manes and tailtips. Most importantly is the distinction between worldly minotaurs as they are known among surface folk, and cursed minotaurs, which are mainly found underground. “Worldly” minotaurs have male and female genders, and can have children in all the expected ways. Cursed minotaurs, however, are those who have given themselves over, or been forced over into, their bestial side. Cursed minotaurs undergo a transformation both physically and mentally. A cursed minotaur sleeps twice a month, has an uncanny sense for any vibrations within its underground area, and can live for years without eating, but when it does eat, it feasts only upon fresh meat and entrails. Cursed minotaurs often self-mutilate, or keep captives for torture, to fight boredom. A cursed minotaur can not reproduce except by the love of a female of any species, who must declare her love for that minotaur three times a day for the course of an entire moon. If even one of those times is missed, then enchantment fails; if it succeeds, the cursed minotaur is named as redeemed, takes on the traits of a surface minotaur including eating and sleeping, and can father a child with her if she is willing. The child is always a male “worldly” minotaur. ” The Thorough Edition of the Adventurers Cyclopedia is a very heavy and large series of books, lavishly illustrated and protected from harm. Investigators from the Cyclopedia take reports from adventurers to create accurate entries in the Cyclopedia, which are then copied and added by delivery to all known existing volumes. Some adventurers, in fact, became adventurers while acting as couriers for Cyclopedia pages. Each major city will have one or two well-guarded copies, and minor cities or trade centers may have a single full set in a fortified reading room. Understandably, the Thorough Edition ---which contains all known lore on any creature, place, plane or event---is spectacularly expensive, runs to over eighty books, and weighs most of a ton. The Speed Editions are lightweight, small books with tiny text and drawings of the most basic and vital information from the larger version. Adventuring parties will often have a Speed Edition to refer to, somewhere in their party gear. The Speed Editions include fast recipes for healing concoctions, poison-delayers, stinger removal, and diagrams for hardship living. Because of the extent of its maps and celestial charts, as well as the known laws of magic and planar translation, the Thorough Edition is most often thought of as a strategic resource and is carefully guarded from theft.

Baradin's Journal - Early Winter As if the fetid crypt wasn't bad enough! We found something much darker... A cavern... Hewn out of solid rock... Shaped into the form of a gigantic orcish warrior! Both a temple and tomb; dedicated to the wrathful god Gruumsh.&nbsp;(A loathsome deity worshiped by all savage humanoids. Directly opposed by the Elf god, Corellon Larethian; who took one of his eyes in battle... Which accounts for Gruumsh's hatred of all things&nbsp;elven.) In it we found the sepulcher of ancient orc warlord, Mondru IV; who despoiled the region around Awa Avignon.&nbsp; Investigating further, we approached Mondru's throne... His armored skeleton sitting in judgement with an iron spear across his lap... Suddenly a terrible voice rang out, "Death to those who defile the tomb of Mondru IV!!" and several undead guardians reanimated. Battle quickly ensued... During the fray Sigma began&nbsp;wielding&nbsp;Mondru's spear... Little did he know the weapon was cursed! Alkarg the Elf-destroyer had taken possession of his mind! Slowly&nbsp;inciting Sigma into an unstoppable blood lust. Focused solely on Cylara...&nbsp;our only elf. Chaos soon followed as the party was violently split off by an avalanche of concurrent events... Sigma enraged by Alkarg began hunting Cylara... Causing Cylara &nbsp;to flee from Sigma... Resulting in Rajhad chasing after both through the temple's tunnels. Lagging behind,&nbsp;Furnace and I were cut off by a large patrol of undead warriors. Angry and Confused the fire drake attacked the pack of undead. Fearing for his welfare, I joined his assault. Together with flame and blade we pushed back the skeletons. During the melee we encountered a stranger... A half-orc looking male that looked crossed with a gorgon. To our surprise he unleashed a powerful blast of earthen shards! Not deterred by this new foe we quickly charged him... He must have been weakened &nbsp;from the spell because we cut him down with great ease. In the aftermath of battle, Krom the Sage remarked the body looked similar to Sethus! (This is awfully suspicious... Krom has been hiding something from us. I shall have to watch him closely.) Eventually the party reformed and tracked down poor Sigma. We attempted to physically subdue him but his enraged state proved to be difficult... As we did not want to seriously injury our faithful companion. Cylara was the key to our dilemma; casting a sleep spell upon Sigma. As he slumbered we carefully disarmed him of Alkarg. Freed from the curse, we discussed what to do with the foul implement. A weapon of such power could not be left for evil hands to claim. So it was decided that Alkarg would be safely secured for travel... And I will carry it... Until it can be destroyed or purified by a higher power.

Go Solid!&nbsp; Good stuff there!&nbsp; My journal's been pretty lightweight these past few weeks due to 2 full bouts of flu.&nbsp; Got over the first for a day then a nurse friend visited and he gave me a whole new flu. :P So I may be playing from bed.&nbsp; It probably won't cause any technical problems. Upcoming in game: Sigma, now cast down from being a Ranger because of hunting Cylara and his other actions while wielding Alkarg , and knowing that Kaz is a holy man of the Sun, will carry Kaz outside in hopes that sunlight upon him will break the petrification upon him.&nbsp; There, Sigma will explain to Kaz what has happened and why they have the spear, and the evil that Sigma did with that unholy artifact.&nbsp; Sigma is going to kneel and beg forgiveness of Cylara , mortally embarassed by his actions, and pledge to Cylara his service for a year and a day.&nbsp; Also in-character, Sigma's determination is still fixed on his assigned task when he was a Ranger: Find Kaz and bring him to Portlandio, along with Crom .&nbsp; This time, though, he'd prefer to do it via a fast return: Go back to Awa , and once there await, hire, or intercept a boat heading north, and go along the coastline.&nbsp; He expects that by now, those fleeing Portlandio would have gone far enough South (and certainly to Alta ) that the other city states know of Portlandio 's plight.&nbsp; Thus, those wishing to have influence there, and those who wish to become wealthy by rebuilding the city, would logically be heading North by sea and land. The Quest Now: As a player I have a big probem with Sigma: He would make an excellent leader of men and monsters, but his CHA is 6.&nbsp; He is terribly scarred up and burned, has body odor and all, so he isn't good looking... but he has a very high presence and commanding voice, as I picture him.&nbsp; What can be done about that, and soon?&nbsp; Is there a magic item or power that we can find, imbue him with, or find for Sigma so he can have the presence and command quality of a high CHA without being handsome?&nbsp; (this is 2e, but in Pathfinder there was actually a feat for that called Might Makes Right that allowed substitutiong STR for CHA in leadership checks, and it could be enchanted into rings, crowns, helmets etc. ...hey, Maybe even legendary minotaur horn tips, since the first minotaur was supposed to have been an ancient King!) What I want to do with Sigma is for him to recruit a force of monsters--- nonhuman individuals, of traditionally monster/enemy races, ranging from tribal centaurs, to dissident orcs, aberrant giants, to families of firedrakes--- and become their foreman, commanding them with their strengths and powers in creating shelters and defenses for the ruined city.&nbsp; Sigma, Master of Monsters , in the rebuilding of Portlandio .&nbsp; Then, have an enclave of such creatures outside the city, somewhat akin to the mazelike underground city of Midian from Nightbreed.&nbsp; And I think it is something Portlandio needs like Right Now.

Cavalier Baradin in Action! (click for animation) Meanwhile, the rest of the party: (click to animate)

Larry, I don't think Sigma's charisma of 6 should be a problem with him having a leadership role over beasts and creatures. Even some humanoids like goblins, kobolds, and orcs may be impressed by his awesome physical presence... Besides they like the stinky... The real problem is dealing with the civilized races. A human dignitary would find Sigma completely repulsive but extremely intimidating. That's an angle he can provide in towns... The "Hey don't make the Minotaur angry"... "He'll pull off your arms" routine. Kind of like Chewie from Star Wars. Although we all know Wookies are generally good guys. I also think for Intimidation purposes STR can be used in place of CHA.

and not for nothing Larry, for the number end your looking at: Maximum Number of Henchmen states the number of nonplayer characters who will serve as permanent retainers of the player character. It does not affect the number of mercenary soldiers, men-at-arms, servitors, or other persons in the pay of the character. in essence, if they dont really care for the way you look, the gold still looks mighty fine :D

IMO STR should give a bonus to intimidation but not replace it entirely, best example I can give you is Darth Vader. When he enters the room every body notice him even without the breathing and when he tells you something you listen, most of the time he didn't need to use the force or show his strength. Larry might be able to scare people but only because he's large, 3.5 or PF fixed that by giving a bonus for difference in size and also if armed vs unarmed IIRC. Your threats loose impact because of low CHA but it's offset by your size/STR. The problem with CHA is mechanically there is no difference between a 17 CHA Darth Vader and a 17 CHA girl scout selling cookies.

Has Sigma considered enlisting Hugo to their cause? Hugo seems a perfect opposite of Sigma: physically weak and unimpressive, but with a charisma score of 16, which is mostly because he is a character both likeable and believeable, due to his humility and high moral standards. Where Sigma is more effective with intimidating 'hard' characters (which Hugo would frown upon), due to his physical supremacy, Hugo might inspire a crowd of commoners to work together to achieve what is necessary for their survival. (and to please the gods, especially Ilmater.)

Amptons Journal &nbsp;After suffering a breakdown with the All Terrain Suit I was charged with testing, I found myself &nbsp;exposed to some of the worst winter weather I have ever experienced. I had to abandon the suit and seek shelter. After getting myself about as lost as I have been, I finally found this ancient temple. &nbsp;I begin to wonder what the rest of my &nbsp;career as a&nbsp;Tinker's&nbsp;Tester will work out. I lost the suit, and this was my first assignment. Out of the weather another lost soul of sorts, a&nbsp;kind hearted priest came stumbling in. This is almost like a bad joke, a gnome and a priest enter an ancient temple and&nbsp; jump down a hole, insteading facing a freezing death in the crumbling ruins. As luck would have it, we wandered inside the ruins, finding our way&nbsp;down to this nook where I am writing this journal. &nbsp;This place is crazy, there are orcs and some sort of fire and fighting down the hallway. I am going to fortify my position, luckily all time at the&nbsp; academy in front of the door of locks that I "wasted" finally will come in use. I plan on fortifying this position. I have the remains of a ballista that from&nbsp; the looks of it I can modify these secret doors.&nbsp; It looks like this place is full of all sorts of tricks. After the priest nearly knocked himself out trying to escape from my one way door trap I found myself&nbsp; climbing up to the top of this giant orc statue. &nbsp;I only have a moment, but I found a new lucky gem. It's lovely, but it has a flaw of some sort. I swear it&nbsp;was like that when I found it. Also there was another Elven Priest of some sort, but they cut themselves as they cast. I have never seen anything like that, and I am not sure what to think. Then we&nbsp;were joined by a whole other troop of oddballs, I will write more about them later. &nbsp;But there was a bit of a scuffle over a staff. They all seemed pretty upset. The Elf was running away, but appears to have sorted it all out with them. I have to say, these are some strange folks. Anyhow we are off to explore &nbsp;somewhere nearby. Perhaps this&nbsp;isn't&nbsp;so bad after all? It looks like my skills will come in use here, and there is certainly a lot more excitement and better opportunity here than as a&nbsp;tinker's&nbsp;tester... I had wanted to BE a tinker, not test for a tinker.

Terrific Journal Aepod, way to go!&nbsp; I think Ampton can be a great character for us to watch develop.&nbsp; I have not been in many games with a well-played tinker, but I think the combination of Gold's imagination plus flexibility and your ingenuity can make it work. I wonder if Ampton can make a shoulder/back mounted ball turret to sit in atop Sigma.&nbsp; :) I love the input about Sigma from everybody.&nbsp; The only thing that I'll nitpick is that Sigma is not the party leader, he is just the only one of the party that had an assigned mission .&nbsp; He doesn't even consider himself an adventurer, though events may change that.&nbsp; :)&nbsp; So heavens yes, Baradin, Hugo, somebody, if they want to take the brunt errrh lead, go ahead! In fireside times, though, I do see Hugo and Sigma working with each other and teaching each other healing techniques.&nbsp; Sigma has Cooking, Brewing, Healing, Herbalism, and Toxicology as NWPs.&nbsp; Besides, Sigma's obviously sufferring emotionally so that ought to attract a priest of Ilmater, you reckon?

Okay... Okay... I get it. Leave it to the cavalier to do the heavy lifting of leadership. Baradin's lead small detachments of soldiers before... It shouldn't be to hard to get this group rolling.

We we might want to be careful in the temple too... Vengeful Orc gods and all that.

SolidHybrid said: Okay... Okay... I get it. Leave it to the cavalier to do the heavy lifting of leadership. Baradin's lead small detachments of soldiers before... It shouldn't be to hard to get this group rolling. Hoooo yeah I can see that.&nbsp; Leading us like soldiers. Baradin: "Today we practice formation defenses!&nbsp; Cylara, you---" BLAM "What was THAT?!" Hugo falls over, shot. Ampton: "Oh.&nbsp; The halfling stole your baton and I improved it for you." Hugo: "Thank you Ilmater for this new suffering...."

Back to to work you maggots! Those orcs aren't going to kill time themselves... Oh wait... A lot of them did...

~The Elven Willow~ This plan is madness...yet what choice is there? &nbsp;Success! &nbsp;The orcs have fled the room and I can hide from the rampaging minotaur. &nbsp;Moving through the secret places... and, Lo! I found two others lost. &nbsp;I beseeched them to show me the exit from this place... &nbsp;Wait!!! &nbsp;That smell... &nbsp;it's getting closer... &nbsp;I'm desperate now... &nbsp;no exits... &nbsp;suddenly an inspiration flashes over me and the Eldrich voices in my head whisper the incantations of power. &nbsp;Quickly the silver daggers slashes and the crimson falls to the ground satisfying the bargain...Ah... the Power is Mine! &nbsp; Murmuring the incantation the power rips through once more... with but a word Sigma and Furnace are overcome! &nbsp; Alkarg still calls, still entices so we cover it in a blessed cloth and doused in holy water. &nbsp;Hidden away now we must destroy it. &nbsp;The Elf Slayer cannot be allowed to exist. &nbsp; I must rest and seek guidance from greater powers.

Closed window for Journals of Jan 12. Bonus Journal XP was awarded and approved in-chat: Baradin , Sigma , Ampton Whistlebell, Cylara . Thank you Players! Opening window for Journals of Jan 19 session HERE Cylara and Friar Hugo counseled Sigma in a roleplaying discussion about evil, morality, suffering, repentance, and redemption. &nbsp; Ampton found a pair of orcish rings which were determined to be magically cursed, but the gnome is able to pry-out the valuable ruby gems from each ring. Sigma retrieved a magical Singing / Laughing / Smiling Skull and toppled a ritually-arranged pile of 400 skulls into a pile around his ankles, while dust and sand fell from the ceiling beams like Indiana Jones, in servitude to Cylara who wanted the skull . Wei Ting a Flind Earthbender rejoined the party and brought rocks down from the ceiling, smashing rats. &nbsp;A ratman wizard illusionist who nearly killed Baradin with magic blasts yielded magic items in his treasure: an Orcish Earthbender Staff Of Earth & Stone , Brooch of Shielding , and a magical Hat Of Disguise . The party finally got back to fresh air, and rest, in the upper turret of Awa Avignon, on the way out. It was a moonlit snowy night. The assassin brother of the Orc Ulma clan attacked from the shadows on the 1st and 2nd watch, and was defeated. Sigma and Friar Hugo rescued and wobbled-out the statue of Kaz the minotaur priest of the Morning Lord, and the stone statue was revived to the real Kaz by the strike of sunlight at dawn. NEXT WEEK: A snowfall blankets the region of coastal hills. To Awa? To Portlandio? To Ota Sura's?

Larry D. said: SolidHybrid said: Okay... Okay... I get it. Leave it to the cavalier to do the heavy lifting of leadership. Baradin's lead small detachments of soldiers before... It shouldn't be to hard to get this group rolling. Hoooo yeah I can see that.&nbsp; Leading us like soldiers. Baradin: "Today we practice formation defenses!&nbsp; Cylara, you---" BLAM "What was THAT?!" Hugo falls over, shot. Ampton: "Oh.&nbsp; The halfling stole your baton and I improved it for you." Hugo: "Thank you Ilmater for this new suffering...." omg ha ha ha ha ha ha.... i missed you guys tuesday, cant wait for the 25th to get here

Hey, I'd like to do a strategy and tactics assessment for our current PCs.&nbsp; I'll offer this as a base, and everyone can chime in and add their opinion.&nbsp; Please add in what you feel you have!&nbsp; Sound good? I'll go with Prime Situation Role (when faced with melee or other resolution against adversaries),&nbsp; After Action Use (when the fight's over), Safe Zone Use (what they can do once a place is secure or they're at "home" as a party), and Mid Game Use (what good they are for the GM in setting up the scenarios). Wei Ting: Prime Situation Role: The Powerful Wild Card.&nbsp; Wei Ting is the terrain control specialist. Not only can he make solid area attacks to damage or obscure, he can affect the ground itself.&nbsp; The question always is: will he?&nbsp; Works best at short to medium range.&nbsp; After Action Use: Treasurefinding, securing shaky shelter or making strong shelter, discovering hidden assets.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Spotting unnatural/worked terrain, wandering discoveries. Baradin: Prime Situation Role: The Shining Knight. &nbsp; Possible negotiator.&nbsp; Inspires the gathered team to bravery and can cross distances to engage very quickly, with a strong alpha attack followed by quick-paced swordwork.&nbsp; Zero particular ranged use, but can engage multiple melee targets and survive.&nbsp; After Action Use: Battlefield command/triage, resource assessment, confusion reduction.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Noble Knight has to do Noble Knight things, so his code of ethics hooks him. Sigma: Prime Situation Role: The Freight Train.&nbsp; Top factor: Intimidation.&nbsp; Looks like he could knock out a dragon with one shot, affecting encounters.For outright Hulk-Smash in a straight line, Sigma is your choice, but he doesn't maneuver, and has no sneaky subtlety.&nbsp; This makes him a perfect shock-diversion or prime target/meatshield, so the sneakier actors can groove.&nbsp; Also, expert at breaking or throwing things.&nbsp; Ranged, he has a few very strong shots against a single foe, but moderate accuracy.&nbsp; After Action Use: Security Sweep using scent/track, Skill-check healing/poison abatement,&nbsp;longterm care for ailments. Mid Game Use: Tracker to get the party where the adventure will be, defacto mapper when underground, interface with nature. Cylara: Prime Situation Role: Mystery in Motion. &nbsp; Cylara will become versatile in information-gathering while being opaque to investigation.&nbsp; Cylara's battlefield strength is as a sideliner under cover, altering the odds.&nbsp; Enemies can never quite identify what Cylara is or does.&nbsp; After Action Use: Assessment and evaluation.&nbsp; Analysis.&nbsp; Skill-check Healing.&nbsp; longterm care for ailments. Treasure identification.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Deepest understanding of arcane magic in the group can lead to quests to understand new magic, gain items, or prevent magical disasters. Rajhad: Prime Situation Role: The Trouble Finder: Rajhad comes across as harmless to most encounters, and vanishes from notice easily.&nbsp; He can find and disable traps or trigger them with equal likelihood, but if he can keep his focus Rajhad is a good infiltrator.&nbsp; Good ranged sling attack. After Action Use: Perimeter runner, retrieval, treasurefinder.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Gets the party in trouble as much as the DM needs it.&nbsp; Defense/Rescue Bait. Ampton: Prime Situation Role: The Crafty Fixer. Ampton can see useful things others may miss, including things that could hurt the party.&nbsp; Being small and quiet, Ampton is a superb saboteur.&nbsp; In combat, Ampton is likely to have devices with unusual properties that can weaken foes or aid in territory denial.&nbsp; After Action Use: Salvage and scavenging, tripwire/alarm setting, campmaking.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Quests for amazing mechanical devices and chemicals, gathering of alloys and triggers, and diagramming existing architecture, engineering and traps will attract him. Friar Hugo: Prime Situation Role: The Healing Compass.&nbsp; Hugo's bravery will impress encounters, and his priestly nature can protect him and others.&nbsp; In a fight, Hugo should "tap out" with a buff or two to the damage-dealers, and alter odds from cover, occasionally sprinting out for a Heal.&nbsp; He is also observant enough to call out warnings.&nbsp; After Action Use: Skill-check Healing, Cure spells, longterm care for ailments. Moral and Ethical guidance.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Messages from Ilmater can push him, needs of the harmed can pull him, desire for wisdom and experience can engage him. Furnace: Prime Situation Role: The X Factor.&nbsp; Encounters will think, "there's a dragon with them."&nbsp; Well-behaved, that can intimidate or impress.&nbsp; In combat, a scrapper with a good tactical sense who lines up breath shots for best effect, then chews on individual targets that are not on fire.&nbsp; Much more intelligent than Sigma, knows more than he ever lets on.&nbsp; May go off on his own in a fight, because he spotted a threat others didn't.&nbsp; After Action Use: Aerial scout, campfire, guard dog.&nbsp; Mid Game Use: Furnace has unknown motives but hangs strong with Sigma. Seems to assume the party is Sigma's weird family.&nbsp; DM can use Sigma's high Perception to tug the party around by having him notice weird stuff.

Baradin's Journal - Early Winter With Alkrag safely secured, we decided to quickly leave the Temple of Gruumish. Our first goal was to seek haven in the fortress ruins above to rest. After a brief respite, we would then search the catacombs below for&nbsp; Kaz; the missing Minotaur Dawn-Cleric of Lathander. Sigma, our stalwart companion immediately disapproved of this plan. He implored numerous times that Kaz be found first. Injured and fatigued we paid him no heed... continuing our trudge upward... Ascending the main temple staircase the party emerged into a previously unexplored area of the crypt. The room at the top of the stairs lead to a branching hallway. One path went north... Leading to a large circular room carved from the native stone. It was walled with thousands of human & elf skulls.&nbsp;In the middle was a cenotaph containing an unlit brazier. A solemn but eerie place... The western path lead to a long hallway lined with curtained walls. In the middle was a large stone statue shaped like a huge Minotaur. Much to our dismay it was confirmed to be Kaz... Sigma insisted we take the massive thing with us... After much discussion and&nbsp;demonstration... A cart was quickly constructed to transport Kaz to the surface. During this period, several members explored a nearby adjacent room. In it was a large pile of treasure... guarded by a swarm of rats. Killing the beasts took little effort. However, as one swarm was dispatched another took its place! Something was summoning the creatures and inciting them! Whatever it was hid behind the only barred door in the room... I quickly broke it down only to encounter a Skaven (Were-Rat) sorcerer! (The Skaven sorcerer continually summoned swarms of lesser rats with its staff.) To be continued...

OOC notes: - Since I missed last week's journal, I'll incorporate two sessions into one post so the story is complete - My computer was nice enough to reboot spontaneously, and I was silly enough not to have saved my session notes yet, so if you come across factual errors, please correct me and I'll edit. - Gold, I think Citadel by the Sea was a great module. I wished I had experienced all of it! You did a wonderful job weaving it together with the Homebrew World! - I love the group and the characters! Thanks for having me back &lt;3 A journey begins... Winter is surely the season of Ilmater. Rations are at their lowest, while the unremitting frost bites into our empty stomachs. Every year, numerous innocent beings perish from being exposed to the cold, or from a lack of food. Through my travels I have seen endless suffering, and I've endured my share. But such is our faith. While many a god dictates a man that owns two cloaks shareth one with those in need of a cloak, it is only Ilmater that sees it necessary for us to give away even the clothes from our own body, should circumstances demand it. And by the gods, circumstances do demand it, many a time. Father Ranulf, the priest at the village, told me of the flooding of Portlandio. My first thought was an unworthy one, as I regretted never having seen Portlandio while it was still the bustling port town it was said to be. But as the picture of a flooded settlement started to take shape in my imagination, I realized the impact this would've had on the citizens. I cringed at the thought of all the deceased, the families they left behind (many of which no doubt now also homeless), and the effects this would have on next year's harvest. I stood transfixed for a moment before recovering my composure, and looked Ranulf in the eye. "It seems our ways part here." He nodded approval, and embraced me. "It was good to have you with us, Hugo. May the gods be with you." It is never easy to part with a place you're finally getting accustomed to. To leave behind those you've started caring for, those that have embraced you into their community. But such is my place in this world. As a friar, I've given up having a home of my own, as my calling requires me to always go there where I'm needed most. And so it is that I left the village (I've adopted the custom of the citizens, who tend to just call their own community "the village". Why name it when it is your whole world, after all?) on the morning that I heard of the tragedy that had befallen Portlandio. Whenever I can, I choose to travel with groups I meet on the road. Most of the beings that roam the wilderness do not shy away from robbing a man of the cloth, or even kill one. And so it is I joined forces with a bard, a mage and two Gnomes (I can only guess as to their profession, for I do not claim to understand the nature of their mechanical contraptions, or what it is they do with them). The journey south went reasonably smooth. Most bandits and small critters seem to intuitively stay out of the way of those that wield magic, and luckily we didn't encounter any more formidable foes.&nbsp;As we kept going south, I expected the cold to subsede, traveling towards areas with a more temperate climate. But the snowfall only seemed to get worse with the passing of the season, until ultimately my hair shirt, ever damp from sweat and rain, almost froze to my body. I ate as little of the food I'd brought along as I could survive on. Who knows how hard it might be needed when I got to my destination? Even though all the hardships made for a long, weary journey, the moment that my traveling companions and I had to part ways came all too soon. Having a different destination, they split up with me at a crossroad about half a day north of Portlandio. (Although 'crossroad' seems a generous word to describe the split in the elephant trail we were on.) I was told to stay on the path, and was expecting to reach Portlandio by noon. However, I soon encountered the tracks of what appeared to be a raiding party of some sort, and deemed it safer to continue my way through the forest. Noon came and went, with no sight of Portlandio. This was to be expected, since traveling through the forest slowed my pace considerably. Regardless, fear started to rise slowly inside me. I didn't know of any settlements in the Portlandio area, and I was dreading the prospect of having to spend the night out in the open, in an area plagued with many dangers, in the midst of winter. When dusk approached, I decided to stop looking for Portlandio and focus on finding a makeshift shelter for the night. Soon, I approached the ruins of an ancient fort. A bad aura hung about the place, and I contemplated passing by the fort in hopes of finding something more suitable. Just then, a horse whinnied. Into the heart of all suffering The horse stood just outside the fort, tied to an old wooden post. Seeing it reassured me, for this was clearly the horse of a knight of some sort (although I did wonder why it was alone, for even couriers usually travel in packs in these unsafe times). Feeling better already, I fed the horse some dried meat, even though my rations were almost depleted. After a small prayer I started looking for the entrance to these ruins, as darkness was setting in unexpectedly fast. Gaining entrance turned out to be far easier, but also far more painful than I imagined. Being virtually blind in the dark, I fell into a well on the premise. I screamed as I started falling. As I tried to grab onto something, ANYTHING to prevent my falling to death, I realized that instead of going straight down, the well gradually curved off to a side, and I was sliding instead of falling. When I came to an abrupt stop, I found myself somewhere inside the fortress. I applied some salve to my bruises, and tried to read the situation. By now I didn't have any sense of orientation, and the aura I had detected outside had an even stronger presence on the inside. The air smelled foul, the walls and ceiling were dripping with a substance that I did not intend to investigate further, for surely I would not be happy with what I would find. Clearly, I would not be able to sleep here. I suspect that prolonged exposure to these odors would have damaged my health. Instead, I decided to suppress my fear and try to find a way out of the mess I had gotten into. It wasn't before long until I encountered something intruiging. I found myself standing in front of the life-size statue of a Minotaur. But something was off with this statue. It gave off an aura! I suspected the fumes that hung around me were starting to get to me, because surely a statue couldn't have an aura. However, the statue was definitely special, unlike any craftsmanship I'd ever seen before. Whoever made it managed to capture the Minotaur it was modeled after in all its glory. Extremely detailed, and with emotion contained in every bit of stone, the sculpture seemed as if it could come to life any minute. When I moved on, I ran into a Gnome. Having had Gnomes as my companions for the past weeks, I felt soothed by their presence. Together, we continued down the halls. A little while later I had another encounter, this one far more unsettling. It started when we heard noises coming from deeper within these tombs. There were definitely evil forces at work, and although I was more scared than I had been in a long time, I decided to investigate it. What good is a priest of Ilmater that cowers in the face of danger? As I moved into a dark hallway, keeping one hand to the wall so I had a sense of direction,a silhouette appeared beside me, crouching in a hole in the wall that I hadn't seen ealier. Involuntarily I took a step backwards, and then they started to speak. "Help me human, you must help me!" They continued to explain how they were being hunted by a Minotaur. Even though I wasn't sure this being could be trusted, I found myself soothed by their voice and could not resist a plea for help. I thought about mentioning the statue I had seen, for it seemed an unlikely coincidence to come across a Minotaur twice in one day, but I thought better of it. Surely the statue could not be what scared them so? I was still a little on edge, but when we retrieved my new Gnome companion, it felt good to be in some company again. I couldn't possibly describe what happened afterwards. It turns out I had landed in what seemed to be the heart of all suffering. Apparently I had ended up underneath the fort, in a hidden area that was created as a temple for the evil lord Gruumsh! The place was infested with Orcs, and even the reanimated dead! The knight had found his way into this place as well, together with a band of adventurers. And surely they are the only reason I still live to tell this story. Never have I seen such courage and camaraderie as was displayed by these people.Apparently, one of them had found a spear in this place, cursed by Gruumsh himself! Upon picking it up, the Minotaur (it turns out there was another Minotaur after all!) got possessed by it, and attempted to murder the Elf that had given me such a scare with it earlier. Instead of killing the Minotaur, they risked life and limb to disarm him, freeing him from the curse of the spear! Coming back to his senses, the Minotaur turned out very civilized, and clearly repentant for his actions, even though they were not a product of his own free will. He offered to serve the Elf for a year and a day, and I hastened to tell him that if he were genuinely penitent, he would surely be forgiven. I suspect the Elf is a witch, but as they had the grace to forgive the Minotaur (although they did accept the oath I tried to prevent from being made) I was once again reassured to be in the presence of people I could trust. actual journal for the last session will follow...

The Elven Willow ~ What a curious thing, this minotaur. &nbsp;Still service is always useful. &nbsp;This skull had intrigued me so.. yet... overcome by fear it appeared I would not be able to examine it. &nbsp;Sigma, my brave (now, I suppose, bodyguard) retrieved it for me. &nbsp;It's so curious! &nbsp;Jewels... and I think I can hear it laughing still. &nbsp; More minions and orc shamans... this beautiful Elven temple has been totally transformed. &nbsp;When I return to the High King I shall have to recommend the total destruction of this area. More Orcs at night. &nbsp;An assassin! &nbsp;Magic is exhausted for the day, I must rest and cannot fight. &nbsp;We prevail! There's a cold bitterness on the air tonight. &nbsp;I've felt it before in the deepest trackless forests of the North. &nbsp;The fresh air is welcome, however, after several days underground.

Found some neat 2e spells here: <a href="http://www.sandarsdimension.com/spelllist.cfm/spel" rel="nofollow">http://www.sandarsdimension.com/spelllist.cfm/spel</a>... And <a href="http://www.sandarsdimension.com/spelllist.cfm/spel" rel="nofollow">http://www.sandarsdimension.com/spelllist.cfm/spel</a>... Flavorful!

Baradin's journal - Early Winter We left the old fortress behind and traveled to Awa Avignon seeking shelter from a raging snowstorm. Upon arrival, we promptly spent several days recuperating from our ordeal. (Both Friar Hugo and Sigma's healing skills were invaluable in getting everyone up to strength.) After resting we met with Awa's mayor to inform him of what transpired. He was pleased to hear that Cylara had stopped the "plague" and adequately rewarded us for the deed. The town folk, in typical peasant fashion, had already forgotten everything; their hysteria replaced with growing concerns of winter. Realizing there was nothing else for us we resolved to return to Portlandio. With sea travel very treacherous this time of year, the only option we had was by land. Even if we stayed on the roadways... It was going to be a difficult crossing; with several leagues of wilderness. Sigma procured two draft horses and a wagon to carry those on foot. While the other party members prepared whatever winter gear they had. I too readied Javen for the long winter march and fetched my heavy fur lined cloak from storage. With food, water, and basic supplies ready the party set forth along the northern road. To be continued...

Baradin's Journal - Early Winter Our journey into the surrounding hinterlands was uneventful. The light snowfall and hard cold wind made for somber travel. We plodded along for several days; following the northern roadway to the edge of a large forest. As we approached the woods all manner of chaos erupted... Party members were pelted with snow. The draft horses somehow became unhitched from the wagon and were sent running. Items and supplies got jumbled about... Nothing overtly aggressive... It was more like mischievous children having fun. Having my fill of these pranks, I spurred Javen after our wayward horses before they escaped into the wilderness.&nbsp; Upon my return I found Sigma, Rajhad, and Cylara had befriended several pixies; who blamed our woes on their rivals the quicklings. Wanting nothing to do with troublesome sprites, I quickly rehitched the horses and encouraged the party to keep moving. Despite our new "friends" assurances the quicklings continued to sporadically harass us until we cleared the forest. To be continued...

Closed window for Journals of Jan 19. Actually should've DM-posted the break-point a couple of days ago, before Solid's most recent Journals about the snow, pixies and quicklings (lol). Bonus Journal XP was awarded and approved in-chat: Baradin (wererat journal) , Sigma (strategic party analysis) , Cylara (grinning skull), Friar Hugo (backstory, intro and outlook) . Thank you Players! Cool ideas for journals and pictures. Everyone put work into those journals and it shows. DM absorbing notes, RP impressions of each individual character. Opening window: Journals of Jan 25 session HERE (retroactive to b4 solid's latest) Continuation of the "Winter Sessions". 10 review notes with some extra DM tidbits, hints and clarification. The party is making their way across a vast trek of snowy forest, secretly carrying Alkarg the dangerous orcish artifact. .. 5 Pixies fled the forest, riding amongst the party, after pleading with Friar Hugo . The wicked and abusive Quicklings were left behind, the Pixies evacuated, fomenting a population boom of the Frosts (the real seasonal rivals of the pixies). "Winter is coming." .. The party found evidence of a battle where grimlock humanoids fought to protect a cave entry against invading grell monsters (flying brains with tentacles and beaks). Sigma found a frozen bird which turned out to be a bird turned-to-stone, just outside that cave. Inside that cave Cylara and Rajhad opened a $ecret door which had a guard-room full of grimlocks waiting for any who would try to enter. Outside that cave Baradin met a curious powerful tattoo'd muscular shirtless magical man, who was herding gorgons (petrifying thought) and a bunch-of-bull through the snow. He advised Baradin to remove the party from the cave immediately, or in any case, to pay a barn-lodging fee and vacate before daybreak at the latest. .. Side note, Solid , I forgot to mention in-game but that muscular guy's token reveals that he is a subordinate of Yi Bang's (one of the 3 major Koryan generals stationed in Portlandio: Yi Bang is the one who led troops North to fight orcs). Yi Bang has a number of agents remaining, scattered around the region, some known and some undercover. Players who don't recognize Yi Bang yet, he is part of my homebrew spin, he is a powerful general from a regional military. 3 generals are allies and rivals, Yi Bang, Yi Ko, and Che Won. This is part of the subtext in the homebrew + modules we're playing. .. As the party glumly returned to the dark and pelting night, trudging through snow, they turned back and saw a warm inviting glow emitted from that cave that they had just left, and heard the chiming of bells. It was the same familiar sound as the bell that used to ring 3 to 5 times daily from the Greek Church in Portlandio before the steeple was reduced to rubble in the typhoon attack. (Seems to connect some kind of module + homebrew + earthbender-airbender-waterbender + medusa? gorgon? rock orc?). The party decided for the better, to NOTE the location of this cave, and come back to this place later with reinforcements and higher levels. .. The party made their way on to yet another cold cave, seeking shelter from the winter storm for the duration of the night. They first had to sort-out 4 of the local wolves. 2 were neutral wolves and became intimidated by Kaz and Sigma (dual minotaurs). 2 wolves were rabidly wicked, either possessed or instinctively dedicated to fighting the party. &nbsp;.. Free DM Note for Winter Sessions and other large-population monster types: There are at least 16 wolves on the current map, in 3 categories that you can consider like different alignments if wolves cared about alignment, each subject to different reactions. Study their tokens as they come up, and guess to recognize and guess which ones are evil, chaotic, neutral, or other. You've encountered 4 of 16 wolves so far on this map. You don't have to meet them all, but I will give party XP for each wolf that is identified as-to which category of demeanor applies. Several of the species are set-up with this kind of variation so that you might make some allies, negotiations, among them, even while the usual mobs of that species will generally fight you.&nbsp; .. Larry as Sigma has asked about recruiting more monsters such as Hill Giants for Portlandio alliances, construction and defense. DM has taken this on board. Now the "Winter Sessions" Hill Giants are of variable alignments (like several other species such as wolves, lizardmen, sharkmen, orcs, minotaurs, bullywugs, flinds). If you face a regular Chaotic Evil Hill Giant he would not make a good recruit for Portlandio, but now there is the possibility of meeting a more Neutral Hill Giant amongst their species ranks on the current map. Perhaps in next Monday's session. For this reason I advise PC's to speak to some of these variable-alignment races and try to ascertain whether they are neutral, good, or evil.

Deep Thoughts in Deep Snow: The Trek to Portlandio I think of Furnace as my only friend. Ota Sura was a friend who was kind to me but she is very far away. Furnace stays by me, though. Even while the world shuts me out, Furnace stays with me. We play fetch and burn things and we hunt together, while the world I used to know shuns me. The witch Cylara gives me little regard except as a crude footman, but then again, it is my chosen penance for doing a wrong, so I suffer it. The final fate of Alkarg is what must be dealt with. Then the world will speak to me again. I strain to hear, but the wind does not talk to me. The world’s scents are blunted, and vibrations in the snowy ground carry no messages to me. The paths of light that revealed faerie-trails and harrows, once gifted to my eyes, are gone now. And this group I travel with look to me as their guide---now, when I am at my blindest. They think of me as a pathmaker and tracker, but my powers are gone. I only have my experience to call upon, from a life when I had a dozen more senses than I do now. I have to try, but to try is to lie. I can’t do what they think I can, but if they know that, they’ll feel stranded, in a cold that kills. I have to be strong, and appear strong, and appear confident, or they will lose morale.&nbsp; Breaking pace is how winter kills. I have even heard them talk of us as if we are an adventuring party. Professional adventurers? Rangers could spend months just listing the damage professional adventurers have done, without even going into details. Adventurers are the rogue waves of the world, the tears in timespace that split mountains, the lightning strikes that cause wildfires. I have no guidance from above, below, or around me in what to do. I am an animal tromping through the snow with a simplistic purpose: to deliver Kaz and Crom to Portlandio, with these others. Then to see to Alkarg’s fate. I hate what Alkarg did to me. I hate that it reached in and knew me. I hate how it made me feel like an orc. Not just as a surface compulsion but deep into me, the twisted mind, the deviant perversity, the methods the orcs and their overlords use to corrupt and twist everything they can reach. If I could do it, I’d take Alkarg and twist its magic mind right back and snap its evil neck, so Alkarg would instead annihilate orcs. Just imagine how their ranks would break, just see their faces when this supposed symbol of Gruumsh turns against them. In Portlandio, if the priests and mages kill Alkarg, I want to be there to see it with my own eyes, and if Alkarg needs to be broken, lay it on the anvil. I want to be the one to cleave it.

Closed window for Journals of Jan 25 session. XP awarded, Baradin, Sigma, and special technical journal XP to Ampton. Opening window for FEBRUARY WINTER SESSIONS journals in a new thread! Go to February Journal thread here: <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2911148/post-jou" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2911148/post-jou</a>... Thanks Players! Great journaling! I hope this all makes a keepsake and heroic record of our epic campaign, story and world building together. Maybe someday we could format all these posts and pictures into a keepsake book, just for the group.