Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for May 30, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The party arrived at the courthouse and discovered people were standing in the streets and temporary vendors were set up selling food and beverages.  There was an overall excitement to the crowd.  From snatches of conversation, they overheard lots of people were gathering around the docks by the jettison to “get a good seat.” 

The low magistrate watch was out in force to keep the peace as best as possible.  Humans, dwarves, hadozee, giff, rastipedes, dragonborn, litorians, lizard men, tortles, and even stranger creatures roamed about in a throng of energy and eagerness.  Off to one side people marched about waving signs and yelling “Out with arson!  Out with arson!”  Entertainers moved through the crowd playing instruments, performing acrobatic stunts, and juggling various colorful items.  They noticed one motley man on stilts doing tricks and attracting a crowd.  A nondescript woman flitted among the onlookers, and they noticed deft fingers slipping coins from pockets before she disappeared into the chaos.  A number of muscular men and women wearing the belts of various animals and covered in tattoos and battle scars chugged tankards of beer.  They began drinking long before these pulls, and they chanted “Jettison!  Jettison!” 

Pushing their way into the courthouse, they could see there was little difference inside.  They had seen saner madhouses.  The courtroom itself was somewhat calmer.  At least the watch prevented people from coming in armed.  The gallery was packed, though, and people chanted “Jettison! Jettison!”  They realized the gallery was allowed to bring in their tankards and flasks.  The opposing barrister, an older human woman named Jenni Train, talked with the crowd while awaiting the magistrate.  “Oh yes, 32 arsonists flung over the walls on my watch.  Jenni Train delivers!  Remember, when you want someone dead, Jenni Train!”

The far doors opened, and a shackled and gagged Neko was marched in wearing a bright yellow tunic.  He was met with boos and jeers.  “How many gulps do think the scavvers will take, Pa?” they heard a young girl ask her father from the gallery.  The answer was drowned out by the general commotion and circus-like chaos. 

“All rise!” declared the bailiff, a muscular half-orc in studded leather armor.  The low magistrate, Lady Wallaby, appeared and hopped to the bench, her wig and open black robes bouncing with every jump.  Her thick tail gave her balance as her large feet and powerful legs propelled her to the seat behind the bench.  Her pointed fuzzy ears stuck out of her wig, and her long snout ended in a furry, and quite honestly adorable, nose.  Her black eyes took in the court and she scanned the room.  Her nose twitched.  She took one of her short arms and rummaged around in a pouch, a fleshy fur-covered pouch on her abdomen, and pulled out a gavel.  She banged it on the desk and declared, “This court is now in session!”  Somehow, someway, Neko had found himself in a kangaroo’s court!

Seeing the party’s obvious confusion, Jenni Train smiled and said, “Awakening magic, cast several years ago by a mischievous druid.”

Lady Wallaby read the charge of arson against Neko and allowed Jenni Train to make her arguments.  Jenni talked and wrung her hands for a while, much to the delight of the crowd, but her overall argument was summarized, “Neko, an impulsive and dangerous spellslinger, nearly burned down our city.  He says he didn’t mean to.  That it was self-defense.  But he is intelligent enough to learn magic and yet he wants us to believe he didn’t know wood would burn.  Neko cannot go free.  He is smart enough to know what his actions would cause and yet blatantly did not care.  We are only safe from Neko when he is flung from the Rock.  Jenni Train!”

Komorebi stood and made his arguments in the defense of Neko.  Things started out going well, but after a short recess things started to slip away from him.  Both sides presented strong arguments, and ultimately Lady Wallaby fined Neko 20,000 gp but released him upon receipt of payment.  The crowd was not happy with the outcome, but Helg gathered the vendors and bought a round of drinks for everyone!  This acquired a lot of good will! 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder and filled in everyone on the updates and bought drinks for everyone there as well.  The next day they went to their meeting with the elven Admiral, Marianon Silmara.  She read the letter and provided them with the sealed envelope to deliver to Cap’n Gyudd to authorize the “topping out” of the Perry. 

They then met with the old dwarven veteran, Cap’n Gyudd, and delivered the letter.  He told them he could start on the ship renovations in the morning, The team then went to the Perry and told the gnomes what was going on. 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder and found it lively that evening.  Komorebi joined Daiyu on stage.  He provided her his hurdy-gurdy and magically summoned a lute to play himself.  Their performance was amazing, and it inspired Edonna to join in with a dance.  This got the crowd into the performance, and beer and money flowed steadily, much to Large Luigi’s delight.  Meanwhile, the group surveyed the room.  A trio of dwarves were working steadily to find the bottom of every tankard in the place.  Meanwhile, Helg went to speak with a young human man drinking alone at the bar.  Helg learned the man’s betrothed and cheated on him and left him, and he had signed on as crew aboard the Blue Whimsy, and tradesman heading for Krynnspace.  Helg bought him a top shelf whiskey and wished him well. 

Three well-dressed Shou men with topknots and intricate arm tattoos entered the tavern.  They noticed the party and came over to talk.  One of them, Yuan Zhang, sat with them and invited them to meet with their employer, Councilman Ozamata, at the Red Lark tea room at noon in Shou-Town.  The Councilman wished to discuss with them a common enemy, Boris “the Butcher” Steelbeard.  Yuan also presented them a gift of Shou figs, the fruit of longevity.  The team agreed to meet with the Councilman, and the trio bowed and left.   

Komo came back to the group, and they made a big show of sampling Thayan wine to get the attention of a nearby woman they believed to be a Red Wizard.  The act worked, and she called Komo over, invited him to sit, and complimented his performance on stage.  Her bodyguard, a dour hulking scarred man named Nethriss, did not seem nearly as impressed.  Komo learned there is a Thayan Enclave on Bral.  This woman, Halava Trent, is a merchant seeking exotic magic items to import to Thay.  Jiraiya came over and displayed his flayer flail (made from the severed head and braided tentacles of a mind flayer).  Halava seemed quite interested but warned them not to let Ishathrandra, head of the illithid embassy, see it.  The party was a bit surprised to learn nearly 100 mind flayers call Bral home. 

Alcohol continued to flow, and the group settled into the end of a productive day with a new lead on adventure for the morrow. 

Game summary for May 23, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team decided to try and meet with archmage Gamalon Idogyr but were unsure how to go about it.  They returned to the Laughing Beholder, and Large Luigi was able to tell them he runs a magic shop, Gamalon’s Curios, near the Great Market.  They headed that direction and ran into a beggar the locals call Ren the Wretched.  The man seemed kind but had an aura of odor.  That did help part the crowd a bit.  Once they got to the store, Jiraiya shared his roasted crickets he had purchased earlier, and the slipped the man several copper coins. 

Inside, they met with Gamalon.  The man was polite and did not seem hostile to them after the events of the night before.  They talked for a while, and he agreed if questioned at the trial he did feel they were trying to help in the fire situation and were working to mitigate the damages.  They then discussed some potential purchases, and he showed them some sails of maneuverability for sale for 11,000 gp.  The team told him they were considering the purchase after The Perry gets topped out.  They asked where they might purchase magical items of a divine nature, and he recommended some of the pantheon churches.

The group sought out the Valhallan temple and discovered with the proximity to Toril, this branch had a heavy Tempus influence.  They talked briefly with the priest and then purchased a scroll of raise dead to replace the one they had to use to revive Helg earlier. 

The team discussed a bit and decided they did not need to end up in some kind of situation that would cause them to miss the trial and they have done all they can think to do to improve Neko’s odds.  So, they opted to return to the Laughing Beholder and try to stay out of trouble for a couple days until the trial. 

Game summary for May 16, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group had breakfast at the Laughing Beholder and asked Luigi if any of the magistrate clerks ever frequent the establishment.  He told them a woman named Theda comes in about once a week and that Daiyu knows her pretty well.  Daiyu’s shift wasn’t set to start for another hour or so, so Komorebi began performing some local songs to get the crowd ready for Daiyu to arrive.  She came in, recognized the songs and joined in.  Afterward, they talked about Neko’s plight and Theda.  Daiyu knows Theda and was able to tell them about her and how her husband, Branon, died recently, leaving her widowed with a 5-year-old son.  The group went and met her on her way to work at the courthouse, talked a while, and convinced her to make sure the trial occurred with Magistrate Wallaby in exchange for some financial support for her son. 

They left Theda and went to Ferguson’s Bank to setup a fund for the widow.  They met with banker Sigmund Ripanu who was happy to meet with their money.  The party setup a 2,000 gp 13-year annuity for the family as a payment for a “business arrangement” with Branon paid out posthumously.  They also ended up adopting not one, but two, kittens from Sigmund, in part for his discretion. 

Next they went to visit Neko in jail.  They had to bribe their way back and learned the rumors of Bral’s prison system is as terrible as advertised.  There they healed some of his wounds and let him know they are working on his defense. 

Then the party went to see the old couple whose home was damaged by the fire.  They used mending to restore some of their items and then met with a dwarven contractor and paid him 1,000 gp to immediately start repairs on the home.  They got the couple to agree to testify to their efforts to restore what was lost.  The team also setup housing at the Laughing Beholder for the couple until the repairs are completed.

Finally, they visited the low Magistrate’s office and met with a halfling investigator named Jocelyn Boyer.  She was incredibly bored and disinterested until they mentioned maybe being able to bring in the gnoll from the high-profile arson case.  She was instantly intrigued and eager to get the gnoll in custody.  The team left and got the gnoll and brought her in.  Detective Jocelyn arrested her and began telling everyone how she made such an impressive arrest!  In talking the team somehow then agreed to teach her to play cards at the Laughing Beholder. 

Game summary for May 9, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Komorebi used his mnemonic vestment to utilize this scroll of cure serious wounds and recover from many of his wounds.  His adversary decided he’d had enough and tried to flee but was run down by Hekera.  Khesen laid out the other ogre in an impressive flurry of face punches.  Stanley unleashed a barrage of shocking spark spells to zap the gnoll and take out the freelance thief.  Khesen was able to knock out the gnoll, and the team restrained her. 

The team dragged the outside bodies into the building and searched the corpses and area.  They found a series of drafts of ransom notes and learned a shocking couple of facts:  1) Joey is really Josephine, and 2) she is the illegitimate daughter of Prince Andru! They located the girl in a storeroom below the building and began questioning her.  In the discussion, they informed the young child of her father’s identity and quickly realized she had no idea.  They dumped all the bodies in the storeroom and fled with Joey back to The Laughing Beholder. 

Talking with Large Luigi, they learned Joey really is the Prince’s daughter but that Luigi is hiding her for her safety.  There is concern her life may be in danger due to the Prince’s reputation.  With others knowing about this, such as Boris, she is no longer safe on Bral.  The team offered to call in their favor with the Wa embassy and get the girl into exile with Needle on Toril.  In exchange, Luigi offered to owe them a favor.  He also went to the tent peg shop and disintegrated the bodies within to avoid legal entanglements. 

The group then went to their rooms to rest a bit before going to talk to the Wa embassy. 

Game summary for May 2, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Sturion returned after arranging a meeting with the party and one of Bral’s Underbarons, the Juggler.  They went to an old warehouse to talk with her.  They agreed to do her a favor “soon” (she indicated she would call in whatever it is soon before they depart from Bral) in exchange for information.  The Juggler gave them information about how the court system works on Bral and some advice on ways to improve Neko’s chances for a more positive outcome.  She also hinted about bringing in the gnoll that attacked them so the public has someone else to blame for some of the guilt of the fire.  Finally, she let them know the gnoll and her press gang were working for a pirate named Boris “the Butcher” Steelbeard, a relatively new criminal player on Bral.  He “recruits” pirate crews by kidnapping travelers.  Although he is currently away from Bral, his team is operating out of a place called Torvey’s Tent Pegs. 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder to inform Luigi and then went to investigate Torvey’s hoping to find either the gnoll or Joey, or both.  Edonna crept up close and cast detect thoughts and learned of several people inside playing cards, including an ogre!  The group devised a fairly solid plan and cloaked everyone except Helg with invisibility.  Helg then beat on the door.  A man inside called out asking what he wanted.  Helg then began spewing some nonsense, which at first the man believed.  Confused, he began discussing with the other occupants and caused some squabbling.  The man opened a port hole in the door and talked to Helg more, but as he provided more details, the man began realizing things were not adding up at all.  The man slammed the porthole (and slid the bolt to unlock the door so the party could come meet the resistance).  Inside, the foes started spelling up and preparing to slip out a secret back door and ambush the party. 

The group threw open the door to come in.  A ja noi oni priest cast spiritual weapon while an ogre mancatcher, and a freebooter slipped out the secret door.  Jiraiya saw them and began waiving frantically in warning while Khesen charged through powered by Komo’s inspire courage and Edonna’s haste.  Stanley (still invisible) slid up behind Jiraiya and caressed him with a spell, whispering “you’ll be rock hard, baby all night.” Yeah, he cast stoneskin.  Helg went in to put pressure on the gnoll spellcaster, and she was only able to fire off an obscuring mist. 

Jiraiya then charged into the fray through the fog!  One of the ogres hacked a gaping wound into Helg and then whipped him to the ground.  Out the back, Khesen took out the ja noi oni while a freebooter and another ogre came rushing around the building only to run into Hekera, Komo, and Edonna.  The other freebooter flanked Helg while Komo hit the outdoor foes with blistering invective which demoralized them and caught the ogre on fire!  The horrific sight of a towering burning ogre became even worse when the nearly panicked creature used its hook to snatch Komo, fling him to the ground, and stomp him nearly unconscious.  The freebooter took a hit from Komo in exchange for better positioning where he then used sneak attack and inflicted a nasty bleeding wound. 

Stanley, still invisible, sneaked into the building and tried to protect Helg by casting shield.  However, shield is a personal-only spell, so he just protected himself.  Helg then stood up and discovered the sad fact the ogre has Combat Reflexes.  Between the ogre and the freebooter, Helg didn’t have a chance and was murdered by their assault!

Outside, Hekera killed the burning ogre mancatcher.  Will Komo survive his severed arteries?  Will the team be able to resurrect Helg?  Can they take the gnoll spellcaster alive?  Is Joey somewhere in the building?