Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 005

by: Charles Plemons - June 9th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun Add Comment

Game summary for June 9, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Vessel (troll brawler).

The MACHETE team was deployed again following their unsuccessful kidnapping of Steel Hoof.  This time, they were given a mission of assassination codenamed THE JAVA JOB.  The team was tasked with ambushing Bogota congressman, Enrique Gonzales, sole surviving member following the Capitolio Nacional bombing and framing the Los Matan Gigantes for his murder.  The ambush spot selected was the Latte Mi Corazon coffee house.  The team had the following objectives:

Primary Objectives

  • Enrique Gonzales – Assassinate Enrique Gonzales at Latte Mi Corazon.  Part of the goal is sensationalism, so be creative.
  • Frame Los Matan Gigantes – Leave superficial evidence that would implicate the group to the casual observer.  For example, wear Los Matan Gigantes t-shirts, carry Los Matan Gigantes activist signs, and so on.

Secondary Objectives

  • Complete Extraction – Leave the location with all members of the team, alive or dead.  No allied bodies should be left behind as evidence.
  • Survivors – There need to be people who survive to tell others how Los Matan Gigantes killed Enrique Gonzales.

Limitations

  • Equipment – Los Matan Gigantes is a civilian organization.  You should not use any military-grade gear, armor, weapons, or ammunition.  Firearms should be limited to pistols, shotguns, and low-end SMGs.

The team made up several Los Matan Gigantes shirts and donned lightweight body armor.  They picked up several small arms and rented a getaway van under a false identity.  Vessel poorly donned a nanopaste disguise as well.  Network positioned the van down the street, and Vessel and Bernsen went in and ordered drinks.  They then took up a position viewing the entrance.

Right on time, Enrique and his bodyguards arrived.  One went to order while the rest, including a beautiful young woman, took up seats around the building.  As the ork returned with the drinks, Vessel and Bernsen jumped up with flash-bang grenades.  One of the bodyguards had been keeping an eye on them and shouted a warning.  He snatched Enrique and threw him over his shoulder and ran for the door.  Vessel tossed the flashbang up on a table.  Another ork threw a chair through a window and stepped outside while the third ork bodyguard caught the bouncing grenade and hurled it through the broken window into the street.

The woman jumped up and revealed a cyber-arm with concealed SMG, which she used to burst fire on Vessel as he pursued the ork who stepped outside.  Meanwhile, Bernsen dropped a Fireball on the fleeing target, catching a bystander and Vessel in the blast.  The Fireball ignited everyone in the radius, causing most to drop and roll, including the ork carrying Enrique who was unceremoniously dumped to the ground.

The flames took the fight out of most of the resistance except for the ork outside.  After a brief melee with Vessel, they both drew guns and fired upon each other, with Vessel taking a wound from bullets and the raging inferno his clothing had become.  Bernsen ran over to Enrique, lying unconscious (or dead) on the ground and stuff a flash-bang in his mouth.  At the same time, the outside ork allowed Vessel to retreat and moved back into the coffee house.  He fired his Colt Manhunter at point-blank, tearing a brutal hole in Bernsen’s hide.  Fortunately, Network pulled up outside and opened fire with a Deputy revolver, killing the ork.

Vessel crawled into Network’s getaway van after rolling around to put himself out.  Bernsen dove out the front door with a live grenade behind him.  Vessel helped slap the flames on him out and drag him into the van as Network floored it.  They cleared the corner right as the flash-bang went off behind them.

Fleeing the scene, and screaming sirens, the team dumped the van and guns and started them all on fire.  Then, bleeding heavily from several gunshot wounds and serious burns, they climbed into Network’s GMC Beachcraft hovercraft and escaped.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 004

by: Charles Plemons - April 28th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun 1 Comment

Game summary for April 28, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), La Eme (troll heavy weapons specialist), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

After securing the prisoner in the GMC Beachcraft, the MACHETE team rocketed along the river heading to the extraction point. Along the way, they picked a tail of three Saeder-Krupp Barrakuda hunter-killer drones. The fast-moving mini-boats opened fire and closed in on the hovercraft. Vessel opened fire with his Stoner-Ares MMG, damaging one of the drones. Tango sank one with his Ares Stalwart assault rifle system and damaged another. The drones maneuvered to the side and opened up with turret-mounted assault rifles into the rear bay of the hovercraft, flattening bullets against body armor at an amazing speed. Network skimmed the craft across the water keeping clear lines of sight for the soldiers in the back. Bernsen took advantage of the drones grouping together to cast a Fireball spell over them. The flames super-heated part of the river, causing an eruption of steam. One drone came through nearly unscathed, but the other melted to slag and plunged beneath the surface. Vessel attempted a full-auto burst at the nearest drone but instead riddled the river with stray bullets, the jarring high-speed hovercraft whipping around the river bends proving far too damaging to his aim. Tango took a better shot, sinking the third HK drone. First aid was quickly applied in the rear hovercraft bay, but a patrol boat picked up the pursuit.

The powerful Saeder-Krupp River Rat patrol boat, with its twin engines, caught up to the hovercraft in moments, its twin-mounted assault rifles hammering a staccato of deadly fire. An Amazonia dwarf lieutenant and troll infantry rode in the front of the patrol boat and exchanged gunfire with the MACHETE team. The team caught the troll with several bullets, but the tough monstrosity shrugged them off with a laugh. Vessel hurled a HE grenade at the patrol craft but overthrew, leaving the grenade to explode in its wake. Tango switched tactics and dropped the clip from his Stalwart. A mischievous glint flicked across his eyes as he rammed a magazine full of armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS) rounds into the rifle. He then shot several holes in the armored vessel itself. More bullets rent the air, and Bernsen was knocked unconscious from the impact of a full auto burst, his ribs cracking under the force. The dwarf collapsed in the back of the hovercraft. Network released a MCT-Nissan roto-drone into the air, which immediately put pressure on the enemy team. With a short run across the bay, Tango bodily hurled himself through the air and into the patrol boat firing full automatic on the way down. His bullets ripped into the troll infantryman and blasted him over the side.

Undaunted, the dwarf lieutenant stuck his AK-97 in Tango’s gut and unloaded at point-blank range. Although his armor absorbed the bulk of the damage, Tango was incapacitated by the blunt force trauma and shock. He collapsed unto the deck of the speeding boat. Vessel tried to duplicate Tango’s daring high-speed leap but instead gracelessly plunged into the river. As the patrol boat sped by, he was able to snag the railing and hold on as he bounced along. The elf patrol boat pilot quickly swerved, trying to sideswipe the hovercraft and catch Vessel between the speeding boats. Network saw it coming and deftly avoided the collision and sent the roto-drone into another burst attack against the enemy forces. From the hovercraft, La Eme lined up a perfect shot with his cyber-shotgun and blasted the dwarf lieutenant at close range. The deadly slug ripped through armor and punched the corpse over the rail and down into the water. He then began trying to nurse Bernsen back to consciousness.

Vessel hauled himself up and over the railing of the patrol boat and entered the cab. He whipped out his tonfa and entangled the elf pilot. With an expert flip, he hurled the man over the rail and out of the boat. For a few moments, the speeding boat swerved about dangerously. However, Vessel reacted quickly to correct course and take control. The team bounced along at high speed to the extraction point. The team was loaded up, and La Eme proved his love of explosions once again by sinking the patrol boat with a well-placed HE gecko grenade.

As the team flew away in their helicopter, they went over the mission objectives, realizing they met half of their primary goals and all secondary. Although not completely satisfied with their performance, the team did survive and struck a blow for Aztechnology. Soon, they will debrief and then learn their next mission.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 003

by: Charles Plemons - April 13th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun 1 Comment

Game summary for April 12, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), La Eme (troll heavy weapons specialist), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

The MACHETE team continued into the jungle and failed again to be stealthy, with Bernsen accidentally firing off rounds into the canopy. In short order, the team stumbled upon an Amazonia security depot including a watch tower. Vessel fired a grenade from his AK-98 and collapsed the tower, spilling the man within to the ground. A warform jaguar charged through the foliage and engaged while a massive troll lieutenant opened up with full automatic fire from his AK-97. A brutal exchange ensued, with spells, bullets, and grenades rocking the jungle. Bernsen used Flamethrower to ignite the jaguar and one of the human infantry. Network laid down a solid wall of lead, and Vessel traded fire with the troll. Tango arrived on the scene and put several rounds in the infantryman. After the firefight, the team patched up as quickly as possible.

Almost upon the enemy encampment, and rejoined by La Eme, the team encountered Steel Horse and his allies, two GM-Nissan Doberman sentry drones, an ork soldier, a human infantryman, and an elf infantryman. The Dobermen closed in, trying to flank the team. AK-97s opened fire, and bullets shattered against body armor. Vessel fired his AK-98 grenade launcher directly at the elf, blowing him to pieces. La Eme caught a full burst in the chest and went down temporarily. He crawled back to his feet and opened fire with his cyberarm shotgun on one of the drones. Tango put down the ork with his rifle. Steel Hoof let loose with his Ingram White Knight with devastating effect. The team opened up on Steel Hoof, bullets ripping through his flesh. Bernsen hurled his Flamethrower spell about, setting one man alight and fleeing and roasting Steel Hoof. In his dying moments, the centaur unloaded his machine gun into the team, but it was too little too late.

With the centaur slain, the team tracked the fleeing human and found him unconscious and smoldering in the undergrowth. They quickly bound the man and his wounds. They returned to examine Steel Horse, who they were supposed to take alive. Tango examined him and discovered he had cybereyes, so the team cut off his head in hopes that they could recover valuable data from the eye recording units. To carry the head, Vessel fashioned a stake and impaled it. The result was much like a morbid hobby horse. The group found the enemy encampment, ransacked it from information, and La Eme used some foam explosives and grenades to rig an IED to blow the whole place. The team fled back into the jungle as the camp exploded in a shower of flames.

Now the MACHETE team has returned to Network’s GMC Beachcraft hovercraft with their prisoner, and they must now exfiltrate and reach the pick-up zone.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 002

by: Charles Plemons - April 8th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun 3 Comments

Game summary for April 7, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), La Eme (troll heavy weapons specialist), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

Several weeks after their first mission, following some drone upgrades and bioware implants, the MACHETE team found itself deployed once again. Their operation this time was codenamed STEEL HORSE ROUNDUP. The team was tasked with seeking out mercenary tactical adviser, Steel Hoof, a cyber-enhanced centaur working for Amazonia. The team was given the following objectives:

Primary Objectives

  • Steel Hoof – Capture Steel Hoof alive and return him to the extraction point.
  • Data Recovery – Collect any potentially valuable intelligence from the encampment.

Secondary Objectives

  • Complete Extraction – Leave the location with all members of the team, alive or dead. No allied bodies should be left behind as evidence.
  • Enemy Demographics – Gather photographic and DNA evidence from each slain enemy for record keeping.
  • Misinformation – Plant a “dropped” commlink with incriminating evidence against Shiawase.
  • Sabotage – Destroy as much weaponry, ammunition, or other military assets as possible.

The team dropped in via cargo helicopter with Network’s GMC Beachcraft hovercraft. They proceeded a couple miles upriver and then headed into enemy territory. The sound of war could be heard all around, with automatic fire tapping an echoing staccato rhythm among the trees, and occasion grenades shaking the canopy. Tango relayed his experiences with Amazonia encampments and defenses to the rest of the team as they tried to slink through the foliage. Unfortunately, Vessel proved less than adept at stealth, snagging his weapon on a limb and discharging several rounds into the jungle. Within moments, a small unit of Amazonia forces were upon them. Large warform Brazilian mastiffs, genetically enhanced canines, burst through the leaves and closed the distance. Male elf and dwarf soldiers closed in, while a female human Amazon moved through the trees. Battle ensued, with the dogs proving no more than a nuisance against military-grade armor and assault rifles. The MACHETE team scythed through the opposition, but they took a few bumps and bruises themselves. As they sat around patching each other up, reinforcements arrived.

Led by an elf Amazon, the second team brought much more firepower to bear. Several switched to full-auto fire with their AK-97 assault rifles. The MACHETE team responded with magic from Bersen, a hail of bullets, and a number of launched and thrown grenades. A couple of the grenades bounced off course in the dense vegetation, including one thrown by La Eme, and soon everyone on the battlefield was scrambling about to avoid fragmentation or armor debonder. Network’s Doberman drone proved a deadly force, dropping yet another dwarf soldier. Tango shot up the elf Amazon while Vessel wrecked havoc on an ork soldier. Once again, the battle proved short but violent. The MACHETE team walked away bruised but largely unhurt.

Network quickly videoed each of the slain Amazonians, while Vessel took blood samples from each. Then, the team set off deeper into the jungle in search of Steel Hoof’s encampment.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Shadowrun – Black Ops: Bogota – Game Session 001

by: Charles Plemons - March 29th, 2011   Filed under: Shadowrun 2 Comments

Game summary for March 29, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

The MACHETE black ops team went on a quick shoot-and-loot mission into enemy Amazonia territory on behalf of Aztechnology. The team inserted into the jungle via a watercourse using Network’s chameleon coated GMC Beachcraft patrol hovercraft. Network stayed in the cloaked “safety” of her onboard rigger cocoon but jumped-in to a GM-Nissan Doberman crawler drone. The team moved into the jungle seeking a small group of Amazonia guerrillas. Network had programmed a MCT Fly-Spy drone to scout several meters ahead scanning for movement. Eventually, the discovered a trio of guerrillas approaching. Vessel moved beside a tree, dropped down, and began setting up the tripod for his Stoner-Ares M202 medium machine gun. Network advanced her Doberman drone while Bernsen used a sustaining focus to hang Increase Reflexes on himself. Tango stood in the relative open and tried to lob a mini-grenade from his launcher in the middle of the approaching troops. Unfortunately, the ordnance was caught in some branches and detonated short of the target, blowing down a tree and clearing some line of sight. The three guerrillas advanced quickly, firing short bursts from their AK-97s as they came. They focused fire on the troll setting up the machine gun! A quick firefight ensued, and Bernsen cast a force 5 Fireball amongst the rebels. One burned to death and another suffered grievous injury. Before he could retreat, gunfire cut him and his other ally down.

The MACHETE team advanced further into the jungle and found the remaining five guerrillas, one of whom was an ork lieutenant. Vessel pulled his tonfa and charged one of the orks. Network began a steady stream of short bursts, and Tango opened up with his grenade launcher. This time, he drew a bead on one of the approaching orks and shot him square with a HE grenade. The blast injured the ork and his ally, but most of the trauma was absorbed by armor and pure ork meanness. The ork yelled “Nice shot!” and fired a return grenade from his AK-98. Unfortunately, after arming, the grenade sprung back from a limb and landed behind the ork and his elf ally. More fragments embedded in the ork’s armor, and he staggered about from the back-to-back blasts.

Bernsen rushed forward into battle with his monofilament sword while Vessel began a beatdown on the ork. Several of the enemy focused burst fire on Tango. Fortunately, his armor held, but he was beginning to weaken beneath the barrage. He managed to maintain some composure and place extremely accurate (and deadly) single shots. Network continued to wear down foes with her drone-mounted AK-97 assault rifle, including killing one of the foes engaging Bernsen. The combat mage took advantage of the space and cast Flamethrower, immolating an enemy and putting him down. Vessel finished his clubbing, and the team mopped up the remaining foes.

Although a success the team learned some valuable information on how they work together. They also got their first measure of the forces aligned against them. Overall the mission proved a good test and helped cement the PCs as a team.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Pukana La’Aina – Polynesian D&D 3.5 – Game Session 11

by: Charles Plemons - August 13th, 2010   Filed under: Pukana La'Aina Add Comment

Game summary for August 12, 2010; present characters included Ayoli (human rage cleric), Kanaka Kohola (darfellan storm druid), Laka Pokukeliki (human fighter/rage cleric), Palu (human ranger), Puinsai (cecaelia warder), and Vollintine (human berserker).

After licking their wounds from the tyrannosaurus attack, the team continued seeking Chiron’s lair. Before long, they encountered a patrol consisting of four ophidians, an awakened dire viper, and a snakeman huntsman. Kanaka wisely slowed the bulk of the attackers with an entangle spell. Some of the ophidians made it through, and they made good use of their shark-toothed warpaddles, scoring deep wounds and breaking teeth off in the wounds. The huntsman used wall of thorns to split the party, but the Keiki Manuahis were not overly hampered. Vollintine arrived on scene and slashed away with his great maca, taking the head from one of the ophidians. He also assisted Laka in slaying the viper after the priest dropped a comet on it with his magic. Bolstered by the divine magic of Ayoli, Laka, and Kanaka, the patrol was quickly cut down with easily recovered injuries on the part of the heroes.

Soon, Palu and Carmine returned from their scouting mission and led the group deep into the jungle. After a short hike, the Spear of Auku began glowing in Kanaka’s hands once again, signifying the approach of more ophidians. The casters unleashed enhancing magic while vipers, ophidians, huntsmen, and a shaman closed in. The huntsmen augmented themselves with barkskin and began laying down layers of wall of thorns. The shaman activated a draconic aura, causing anyone who struck him or allies to suffer a blast of acid damage. One of the dire vipers poisoned Vollintine with a precise strike. Kanaka activated menacing tentacles and flailed at his foes violently. Puinsai’s deadly club powered through the shaman’s defenses, crushing skull and spine in a horrendous blow. Palu and Vollintine cut down several other foes while Laka went toe-to-toe with an ophidian chasing him. Fortunately, the rage cleric slipped a shot past the serpent creature’s defenses, ending its life. Kanaka took advantage of an opening and lined up a shot on the remaining snakemen. A maximized empowered steam jet scalded the scales from the last two foes.

Emboldened by their victories, the team set out to find Chiron and defeat the snakeman leader. The team knows they have made good progress toward his lair and believe he will share the fate of his minions.

Pukana La’Aina – Polynesian D&D 3.5 – Game Session 10

by: Charles Plemons - August 5th, 2010   Filed under: Pukana La'Aina Add Comment

Game summary for August 5, 2010; present characters included Ayoli (human rage cleric), Kanaka Kohola (darfellan storm druid), Laka Pokukeliki (human fighter/rage cleric), Palu (human ranger), Puinsai (cecaelia warder), and Vollintine (human berserker).

With another victory under their belts, and a wedding recently completed, the Keiki Manuahis sit back and relax. However, heroes never truly get to rest. Before long, word arrives that the serpent races are waging war against the Kanaka and the Darfellan. The battles are going poorly, and if they fall, the Koahine and Panahi will certainly be targeted next. The team learns the serpent races are led by a warlord named Chiron. They theorize that killing the warlord will cause the snake people to fall back into infighting. So, they board the great canoes of the Panahi and set out to the island of the Kanaka.

Once on the island, Ayoli begins making inquiries about the war effort. She discovers that the serpent people are using arcane magic to transport around and engage in brutal skirmishes. Palu begins investigating the serpent folk’s island and finds that he cannot locate anyone who has actually been there. He does learn that the serpent races are comprised of several distinct species: the arcane-wielding snakemen, the serpent-like naga, the slave-race ophidians, and the supreme rulers, the psionic yuan-ti. The team prepares for jungle survival and bribes a fisherman to take them to the serpent island under the cover of darkness.

The group sets off into the jungle blazing a trail with Laka’s ring of blades. After approximately an hour, the group is deep in the jungle at night with a fresh cut trail, 15-feet across, leading to them. The team decides to make camp, and Laka and Ayoli climb up a tree to sleep. Soon thereafter, they fall asleep, and then fall out of the tree. During the commotion, a pair of fiendish tyrannosauruses stampede into the camp. One swallows Kanaka nearly immediately. Vollintine charges directly into the battle, and Puinsai scampers onto the back of the one digesting Kanaka. Palu and Carmine the crocodile wade in, while the clerics unleash magic.

In moments, the group learns the monsters are resistant to both fire and cold, and magical spells seem to shatter against their spell resistance. Blood flows freely from all the combatants as the massive reptiles swallow people left and right. Palu carves himself out of one of the stomachs using a dagger. Undaunted, he gets right back into the battle. Laka finds himself depleted of spells and trapped in the gullet of a rex along with Kanaka. Meanwhile, Puinsai discovers a weak spot and drives her handaxe deep into behemoth flesh, cheered on by Vollintine. One tyrannosaurus swallows Vollintine and snatches up Carmine in its maw as well. In moments, Vollintine slices his way out as well.

Things look bleak for the party, with several grievously injured; however, Vollintine follows up the efforts of his allies with brutal efficiency. Using his razor-sharp obsidian dagger, Vollintine succeeds in disemboweling one of the dinosaurs. The other attempts to flee with the casters in its belly, but Puinsai, riding on top, continues to rain down blows. Vollintine sprints through the dark jungle, flips his obsidian blade in his hand and hurls it toward the beast. The knife sinks between the scales and buries in an artery. It takes several moments for the beasts’ dying gurgling screams to end, but the group wastes no time in cutting free their remaining allies.

Thus ends the second hour on the serpent island. What further horrors await?

Pukana La’Aina – Polynesian D&D 3.5 – Game Session 9

by: Charles Plemons - July 29th, 2010   Filed under: Pukana La'Aina Add Comment

Game summary for July 29, 2010; present characters included Kanaka Kohola (darfellan storm druid), Laka Pokukeliki (human fighter/rage cleric), Palu (human ranger).

The party enters a massive chamber with several natural springs and animal skins scattered about for bedding. Several cult members await within and release a dire inferno frog against the party as well. The team steps forward into the fray and slaughters cultists left and right. Palu’s new animal companion, Carmine the crocodile, is ordered into the melee and establishes himself as a formidable foe. In mere moments, the cultists are wiped out, and the party is advancing into a labyrinthine portion of the catacombs.

In the flickering flames of a single sconce, a slaymonger approaches. She moves with incredible grace and slips into the group’s midst, sliding her obsidian daggers into vulnerable flesh. So accurate and violent are her strikes, it rocks the team back. They begin to resist, and she disappears into the shadows. The next several minutes are spent playing cat and mouse as she pops out to brutally stab before tumbling away or hiding. Eventually, Laka hits her with a comet, which also crushes the only source of light. Kanaka remedies this by casting a light spell on Carmine. The slaymonger puts the pressure on Laka, sinking stab after stab and forcing him to flee for his life. Eventually, the woman is brought down, unable to withstand the team forever. After searching the area, Laka discovers a secret door.

The new area was dimly lit with high ceilings. Upon a blasphemous altar, priests of the frog god had bound Princess Ayoli. They were in the midst of a ritual designed to summon an aspect of the frog god and impregnate the princess with a godling. The party disrupted the ritual and brought the full wrath of the priests upon them. Curses and prayers traded back and forth, while one priest veiled himself in shadow and conjured a whirling cloud of steel blades. This priest charged into battle only to be blasted into charred bones by Kanaka and Laka. Palu wasted no time barging in toward the altar, dropping a tendriculos seed along the way. The seed sprouted into a massive plant monster under his control. The creature wrecked havoc while the remaining priest supported his Doomwarden guard by unleashing blistering flame strikes. Kanaka’s summoned fire elemental closed in on the caster, and Laka used air walk to get around behind him. Meanwhile, Palu cut Ayoli free and leaped upon the altar to attack the remaining priest. Laka was staggered by a thrust from the priest’s acidic spear. However, the team prevailed, chopping the man down under their rain of blows.

With the enemies defeated and cultists slain, the team returned to the surface of Ashenford where Laka wed Princess Ayoli. With his lovely new bride in tow, the group left Ashenford to seek adventure and wealth elsewhere.

Pukana La’Aina – Polynesian D&D 3.5 – Game Session 8

by: Charles Plemons - July 23rd, 2010   Filed under: Pukana La'Aina Add Comment

Game summary for July 22, 2010; present characters included Laka Pokukeliki (human fighter/rage cleric), Palu (human ranger), Puinsai (cecaelia warder), and Vollintine (human berserker).

The team regroups and recruits a rage priest of Ahi named Laka to the cause. They continue searching for the princess beneath the town and come across a particularly talented protector of the frog along with his cronies–a priest and a doomwarden. Bloody chaos ensues. The frog cultist priest begins laying curses and prayers, while Laka counters by doing the same. Puinsai and Palu begin working over the doomwarden, allowing the protector of the frog to land several blows before they realize what a threat he is. Things get even more dangerous when the priest shields his allies with a powerful deflective magic, making it very difficult for the team to land shots. The doomwarden is dispatched in short order once Vollintine rejoins from scouting. The frog cultist priest summons a roaring column of flame that scorches Vollintine, but the others escape most of the damage. Laka counters by summoning a blast of pure divine energy and blasts the priest. The protector of the frog takes advantage of Vollintine’s injuries and clubs him to death’s door. The priest is driven back and slain while Laka drags Vollintine away from the melee. While Puinsai and Palu flank the protector of the frog, Laka heals Vollintine’s most grievous injuries. After a moment to shake off the worst of his travel toward the light, Vollintine rejoins the fray. The protector lands many more telling blows with this rock-spewing magic club, but he proves too weak to handle all of the team at once. In moments, he joins the priest in the Great Swamp, or wherever frog cultists go in an afterlife. A search of the area reveals a magical belt that tremendously enhances strength. Puinsai dons the belt, surging with magical might.

Depleted of spells and nearly dead, Keiki Manuahis know they must seek rest. They flee to the surface and hole up to nurse their wounds. Once recovered, they delve back into the catacombs spoiling for a fight. The frog cultists oblige when the party finds a room being used as a dining hall. Towering over the humans is a bright orange feral inshon. A berserker, witch, and protector of the frog are within as well. The berserker enters a rage and charges into the party, swinging his obsidian-tipped maca to and fro. The inshon follows him in, mauling Palu and poisoning him. Vollintine advances and brings the fight to the enemy while Laka lays prayers and blessings upon the group. The witch’s eldritch magic settles over the party, causing a slow effect on Vollintine. Palu’s hatred for inshon bubbles over, and he slaughters the feral beast in its tracks, his twin macas slicing its monstrous flesh to shreds.

Although brutal fighters, the berserker and protector of the frog were no match for the team bolstered by Laka’s healing magic. Quickly they are dispatched, and only the witch remains. The party swarms her, cutting off escape. She launches a storm of thorns, tearing into their flesh. It is not enough, however, as Puinsai’s newly enhanced power allows her to crush the witch beneath a barrage of club swings.

The group suspects they are getting close and presses on further into the catacombs.

Pukana La’Aina – Polynesian D&D 3.5 – Game Session 7

by: Charles Plemons - July 7th, 2010   Filed under: Pukana La'Aina Add Comment

Game summary for July 6, 2010; present characters included Kanaka Kohola (darfellan storm druid), Palakelei (human martial warrior), Palu (human ranger), Puinsai (cecaelia warder), and Vollintine (human berserker).

Upon returning to Ashenford, the team discovers the town partially burned and bodies in the streets. They learn that the frog cult, and their inshon minions, burst up from the ancient catacombs and slaughtered many, dragging many more down into the depths for sacrifice. Among the missing, Princess Ayoli, daughter of Chief Mukanu. The chief offers his daughter’s hand in marriage if rescued. The Keiki Manuahis decide marrying into minor royalty would not be an all together bad thing, the accept the challenge. They quickly find an apothecary and stock up on healing balms and anti-venom. Then, the delve beneath the city streets.

Not far into the catacombs, the team finds a tomb with a burning brazier occupied by two inshon and a trio of cultists. One cultist approaches, a mocha-skinned lithe athletic woman moving with the grace of a dancer, corded muscle rippling with every movement. Slender black-bladed knives twirl in her fingers, the light reflecting off the obsidian surface and moist liquid coating. Behind her, a massive dark-skinned bald man resembles a large frog himself. Animal furs cover his body, and human and humanoid skulls ring his waste like a belt. He carries a massive stone-headed mace. Traces of lightning play across the rock and handle. The inshon close in as the party advances, swarming to attack Puinsai and Palu. In moments, Puinsai finds herself surrounded by inshon and women armed with slick obsidian daggers. Kanaka unleashes a sudden stalagmite, impaling the massive man in the back of the room. Chaos ensues, with blood flying as the two groups collide. Bolstered by Kanaka’s magic, the Keiki Manuahis make fairly short work of the frog cultists.

The team presses further into the catacombs, discovering a large columned chamber with two other exits in the rear. More inshon and cultists flood into the room. One, a priest, begins layering prayers and curses upon the two parties. In moments, the Keiki Manuahis find themselves hampered by the power of the frog god. A massively muscled man, a protector of the frog, wielding an earth-based elemental club pressures the druid, Kanaka. Rocks flying, he begins clubbing away while another slaymonger works over the team with her deadly black daggers. The nearly mindless inshon begin attacking the flaming Vollintine, despite being burned with each claw and bite. Kanaka tries to use magic to swing the tide and finds himself clubbed violently for his efforts, losing his prayers under the protector’s beating. Palu, wounded terribly by inshon, charges the priest in an effort to stop his curses. The priest succeeds in getting one more spell cast, transferring the wounds from one inshon to Vollintine! Moments later, the priest is killed. With Kanaka driven into a corner, bones shattered by his clubbing, the protector turns on Puinsai. They go club-to-club, and the protector suddenly turns on Palakelei. The martial warrior fights bravely, but a powerful swing slips his formidable defenses. The deadly club crushes his skull, dropping him dead instantly. Moments later, the protector is slain by the party. The inshon are taken down quickly, while the slaymonger attempts to flee. Vollintine catches up to her and prevents her escape. Moments later, she lay dead on the ground.

Quickly taking stock of the situation, Keiki Manuahis is in trouble. They are injured and need a moment to recover, and their friend and ally Palakelei lay dead.