Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for December 10, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Callum Spellhardt (Human Sorcerer played by Parker Harmon), Finch Bloodrain (Half-Hobgoblin Slayer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Helg channeled positive energy to heal the party while Finch ran up and checked the door for traps.  The team stacked up and pushed through into a hallway with two other exits.  They investigated a side door and triggered a scything blade trap that injured several.  Finch was able to disable the trap and open the door to reveal a treasure room!  Four chests were within, all radiating strong abjuration magic.  They closed the door and decided to investigate further later. 

They opened another door to reveal preternatural darkness; light didn’t even come in from the hallway.  A male voice cried out, “They are coming in, you five, down the secret passage and flank them.  Use the lightning bolts, fry them in the hallway!  Release the boiling oil!”  A female voice, as sultry as they’d ever heard purred, “It is as I said master, Ikor’s betrayal is revealed.  The hezrou demons I summoned will materialize in moments.”  Helg realized the woman, the succubus he met earlier, was lying about the demons. 

Only Helg and Finch could see in the darkness.  Within the room was the succubus, a half-goblin, and what they assumed to be Sylvar.  He fired a poisoned hand crossbow bolt into Finch, which poisoned him terribly.  Helg was able to counter the magical darkness in the room with his aasimar daylight ability, which allowed the rest of the team to see.  Hekera came rushing in and badly injured the succubus.  Sylvar moved in to flank Hekera and wounded him with sneak attack severely.  He also used a dirty trick to kick dirt and dust up into Hekera’s eyes, blinding him! 

The succubus disappeared into thin air as Notch fired arrows into the half-goblin.  Finch reeled under the effects of the poison but pressed on to help Hekera.  They put pressure on Sylvar as Callum blasted him with mighty spells.  The guildmaster was forced to flee to a back corner and slipped out a secret door.  Meanwhile, the succubus emerged from the treasure room and tried to dominate Notch!  He shook off the effect and unleashed a volley of arrows into her.  Callum then blasted her back into the Abyss with a cold-altered lightning bolt.  Sylvar emerged from a secret tunnel to attack Notch, but the elusive archer dropped back and whipped three human-bane arrows into him, dropping him in his tracks!

To prove his death, Finch decapitated Sylvar as the team looted the bodies and treasury. 

Game summary for December 3, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Callum Spellhardt (Human Sorcerer played by Parker Harmon), Finch Bloodrain (Half-Hobgoblin Slayer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

As the last defender was overcome, dark energy washed over the room.  The eye sockets of two of the giant skeletons blazed to fiery life as the creatures animated and stepped out of their niches.  At the same time, a secret door slid open, and more half-goblin rogues slipped into the chamber.

Notch released a volley of arrows and was shocked at how ineffective they were against the towering undead giants.  Unconcerned by Notch’s arrows, the giant skeleton whipped its greatsword in great cleaving arcs and devastated Helg, cutting through his armor like rags.  Callum cast a powerful spell which failed to affect the giant in any way.  The other giant skeleton closed in on Snagy.  Hekera quaffed his potion of enlarge person while Finch moved to engage the rogues.  Meanwhile, bleeding profusely, Helg retreated into the previous chamber.  Snagy called Stingy, his magical giant wasp, to himself and mounted it. 

Notch turned his attention upon the rogues but had a moment of terrible luck and plunked several arrows into the walls.  One of the fire giant skeletons moved to attack Snagy and injured him significantly.  Callum cast another spell with no effect at all upon the undead.  The other fire giant skeleton moved to attack Callum, but he used his magic to avoid attack and retreat.  The undead then spun and attacked Snagy, rendering him unconscious and dying in Stingy’s saddle.  Helg moved up to try and engage one of the giants but was slightly impeded by his size and furniture in the room.  Helg then channeled positive energy to heal himself and Snagy!  Finch cut down one of the half-goblin hooligans with his razor-edged scythe.  Once again awake, Snagy shouted battle tactics which nullified some of the remaining rogue’s tactical advantages. 

Notch used cluster shot to severely damage a giant skeleton while Callum learned his next spell was also unable to affect his enemies.  Hekera took a few hits but managed a counterstrike of epic proportions and soon rendered one of the fire giant skeletons to a pile of bones.  Helg cast searing light, a spell particularly suited for fighting undead, and destroyed the other skeleton.  Finch dropped the last half-goblin. 

The group quickly looted bodies while preparing to advance further into the complex seeking Sylvar. 

Game summary for November 19, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Finch Bloodrain (Half-Hobgoblin Slayer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Helg was led to a cell and locked in with a beat-up fence named Vinnie, Vinnie Getz.  Vinnie was suspected of skimming off the profits, and the rogues wanted their money back.  He talked to Helg for a bit and offered to pay him if he was able to help him get out of this mess. 

In walked Ikor Killfury, head of this thieves’ outpost.  With him was a stunningly beautiful woman who tried to magically charm Helg but failed.  She realized his celestial nature and recoiled, revealing herself to be a succubus demon.  Helg and Ikor talked, and they came to an agreement.  Helg and the party would go and kill Sylvar, head of the thieves’ guild, opening a power vacuum for Ikor to sweep in.  In exchange, he would just hand them Zarak’s dagger as well as work with them in profitable business arrangements.  Helg decided fighting one group of rogues was the same as another, they still get the dagger, and they gain a business partner.  Ikor provided them information about the outpost where they would find Sylvar and allowed them rest in advance. 

The next day the team assembled at a secret door outside Sylvar’s outpost.  Helg cast undead bane weapon on several allies’ weapons because Ikor had told them Sylvar’s bodyguards are massive skeletal fire giants.  Finch quaffed a potion, and Komorebi used his magical gloves to look through the walls.  Though found an empty hallway, so the slipped in and used the water basin to scrub the sewer from their clothing.  Komo looked through another wall and led them into a documents room filled will all kinds of interesting papers.  They looked around a bit and took a few of value.

They slipped into an alchemical lab of some sort and also discovered the outpost privies.  Hurrying along, they surprised a bunch of rogues in a sparring chamber.  All around the chamber stood the massive and oppressive sight of 7-8 giant skeletons.  The figures stood motionless, even as battle raged before them.  The team unleashed their full might on the shocked thieves.  Several died in the initial onslaught.  Notch’s arrows found their marks, and the team came in swinging.  Hwrulf and Finch proved an effective team fighting side-by-side while Komorebi dazed a guard dog with his magic.  Helg displayed some impressive sword skills, and Khesen showed off a flurry of strikes.  Snagy continued to direct his team tactically, with much effect.  The battle was over almost before it started.

Game summary for November 12, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Finch Bloodrain (Half-Hobgoblin Slayer played by Peyton Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group used a scroll to raise Khesen from the dead before continuing on several minutes deeper into the sewer.  Helg uses his final channel energy to heal the team.  Finch found a trapped secret door and disarmed it.  He then led them into an entrance of the thieves’ outpost.  The room was filled with all kinds of stolen merchandise.  From the other side of a closed door they could hear the sounds of men talking, food being eaten, and relaxation.  The group watched the door while searching the chamber.  While searching, they noticed a dog came up to the door and began barking.  Soon, another joined, and the alerted thieves began drawing weapons and shoving furniture out of the way. 

The team opened the door to find the two dogs right on the other side.  Hwrulf rolled through and found himself face-to-face with a masked man armed with a rapier and dagger.  The man seemed distracted by some kind of severe itching.  He had also, however, been augmented with a haste spell.  Near him was a gnome surrounded by mirror images.  An elf also cast mirror image and began dancing an inspiring dance.  Finch knocked out one dog, but the team struggled to slip past the other.  They couldn’t really hit it, and it couldn’t hit them.  The group tried to calm the dog with some effect before trying to scare it away.  The spellcasters tried various enchantments on Hwrulf with no effect.  Helg kept trying to reason with the thieves and convince them they had a profitable proposition for their boss.  After a few moments where neither side really succeeded in harming the other significantly, the thieves agreed they would parley if the team completely surrendered, stripping of weapons, armor, and other gear. 

Helg considered and agreed that he would strip down and go alone to meet with the thieves’ boss.  He was manacled, hands and feet, and led to a side chamber by several armed men.  A few minutes later, an armored and fierce man came in and went into the side room.  He was followed by a dark haired woman of nearly shocking, almost supernatural, beauty. 

Game summary for November 5, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Finch Bloodrain (Half-Hobgoblin Slayer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team came across the body of a dwarven man lying face down in the muck, blood spilling out across the stones of the floor and dripping down into the sewage.  Helg examined the body and found he had been brutally beaten before being stabbed to death.  He reeked of compost and was covered in green runny patches the team recognized as greenblight.  This highly contagious disease could turn a person into a plant over time!  They found the body had nothing of interest on it but bore the tattoo of a hammer and chisel, which Snagy recognized as belonging to the local construction guild. 

A while later, the team found themselves in the lair of the rodents of unusual size!  The massive brown monstrosities swarmed around them, their gnashing teeth and squeaking filling the air with horrible sounds.  The team was astonished at the power of the rodents’ bites.  An even larger king rat appeared and tore into Khesen, staggering him.  Komorebi began a bardic performance while Snagy initiated battle tactics.  The combined effects were extraordinarily beneficial when combined with Helg’s bolstering.  Their new companion, Finch, proved himself incredibly adept with the use of the scythe.  Hwrulf decided to remain calm and fight a bit more cautiously, which proved throughout the encounter a very prudent choice.  Hekera had some struggle getting into position, but when he could, he was a wrecking machine.  Khesen was slain by the king rat, and Komorebi cast mirror image and later dropped into total defense, which allowed him to avoid injury. 

Helg unleashed not one, but two mighty flame strike spells with devastating effect.  Snagy’s lance proved very effective, and the melee might of Hwrulf, Hekera, and Finch proved to much for the rodents.  After defeating them, the group searched the lair and found several magical items and coins. 

Game summary for October 29, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

A sudden thunderstorm on the surface flooded the caves with prodigious amounts of water crashing through!  The team had to scramble to find safety.  At times the water threatened to batter them to the ground and drown them.  However, Hekera was able to use his swimming prowess to help his teammates while Helg assisted some by casting wind walk.  The team did a great job navigating and overcome obstacles, including a passaged blocked by debris that Hekera was able to rip down.  Snagy was unable to get them past a solid metal grate, but they soon found an alternate route and reached a safe spot. 

After the flooding subsided, they found themselves in a section of sewer with broken walls revealing natural cavern.  From within emerged one of the famed Ginsel bulette!  Masonry all around crumbled, and four bulette emerged, including one mighty beast more powerful than the others.  Notch wasted no time planting arrows in the snout of one.  Khesen got his hard, as did Notch.  Hwrulf and Snagyndar’s armors protected them pretty well.  Snagy summoned his giant wasp, stingy, and leapt on its back while summoning his magical lance.  Claude cast a powerful spell but was too close to the mighty bulette, which wounded him grievously and disrupted his casting. 

The bulettes ripped into the party dealing terrible wounds.  However, the powerful Helg channeled positive energy to heal and bolster them, and then he cast righteous wrath of the faithful to augment them.  Raging Hwrulf slashed away while Hekera maneuvered into position and Notch fired arrow after arrow.  Khesen beat on bulette to death with his bare hands. 

The mighty bulette killed and swallowed Claude, but the team was able to strike back and take down all the bulettes!  They cut Claude’s body out of the beast and found a backpack filled with treasure as well.

Game summary for October 22, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

A fight broke out in the Crimson Lantern, and the team saw a man get killed in a knife fight.  The bartender, Scarred Jon, had his enforcers dump the body in the sewers while the staff spread more straw and sawdust to soak up the blood.  The team decided they really had no reason not to immediately begin their quest in search of the thieves’ guild outpost.  They went down into the Tarvin sewers and began following the map provided by Zarak.

Not far into the depths, rodents of unusual size and a monstrous carrion crawler attacked!  The crawler hit with its tentacles but failed to paralyze anyone.  The group ripped into the monster, but the rodents proved to be more dangerous than expected.  The crawler was slain by Hwrulf and his magical sword.  Meanwhile, Khesen wiped out the rodents.  They had seen a shoestring hanging from the crawler’s mouth.  They discovered it had eaten someone and recovered several magical items from its gullet. 

A few minutes later, the group came across an area of horrid sewer gas.  The stench was terrible, and worse, three grey oozes emerged from the sewage!  Khesen attacked one and found his magical gloves dissolving in the acid!  Meanwhile, the team fell ill to the awful fumes.  Helg pulled the team together and warded four of them against acid.  Claude got grabbed by one of the oozes but blasted it with shocking spark.  Unfortunately, the natural sewer gases exploded and burned the entire team.  Claude was then pinned and constricted.  With choking smoke stinging their eyes and blocking vision, the group stumbled about.  They were able to fight the nearby oozes but struggled a bit to move around and find targets.  Komorebi inspired the team and blasted magic missiles.  Helg cast bane weapon on Hekera, and the gator man and Hwrulf waded through the muck to engage!  It was short, violent, and somewhat repulsive, but the team defeated the oozes and found several gemstones in the mire.

Game summary for October 15, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team decided to try their hand at solving the Ginsel ritual.  They went to the shrine of the Celestian church housing the pedestals inscribed with the ritual riddles.  They read the riddles and examined all the musical instruments representing the various celestial bodies of Greyspace.  The team spent quite some time debating amongst themselves and drinking magical coffee brewed by Hwrulf that enhanced their skill capabilities.  After quite a bit of discussion, they settled upon which instruments they believed should be used and in what order.  Once decided, they had Komorebi play each instrument, and a blast of glorious light and energy washed out from the shrine and spread across the planet!

Instantly, the team became the most famous people in all of Tarvin.  Merchants were willing to offer discounts on their wares, and the temple of Celestian told them how to redeem their reward of contingent spells. 

Hwrulf decided to seek information on Thagmore, the allegedly missing arms dealer.  He went to the local weapons guild and met with a dwarven merchant.  He brokered a deal for some weapons cargo for their next voyage, and he also learned Thagmore had tried to cheat the guild and caused a problem with their weapons shipment to the prison.  However, the guild was able to find him and recover their money.  They knew nothing further about him.

The group then went to the Crescent’s Whisper tavern to meet with Snagyndar’s contact and old fling, Ylora Shadewhisper.  She is a local smuggler and information broker.  She was able to tell them a bit more about Thagmore’s dealings with the underworld but she also didn’t know where he may be currently.  She suspects he was fed to bulettes outside of town.  She agreed to seek some information on the prison and told them where to find Zarak, a crime boss recently released from Granite Mountain Prison.

The group decided to seek out Zarak at the Crimson Lantern. On the fringe of Tarvin, the Crimson Lantern, sat in squalor.  Its dilapidated exterior, covered in peeling paint and flickering red light from crimson-glassed lanterns, bellied the hive of activity within.  Inside, the atmosphere was thick with smoke and the heavy scent of cheap perfume. Dancers of questionable talent moved languidly on dimly lit stages, while disinterested patrons huddled around sticky tables, their attentions divided between the performances and clandestine conversations. The establishment’s owner, a grizzled human known as Scarred Jon, runs the place with an iron fist, ensuring that the Lantern’s clientele—ranging from petty thieves to weary travelers seeking forgetfulness in vice—find what they seek. Booths draped with threadbare curtains offered the illusion of privacy for meetings, though the wise know secrets are best whispered amidst the din of the crowd. 

The team went up to the bar and purchased some truly awful ale.  They surveyed the room and spotted what they assumed to be Zarak.  Hwrulf grabbed two ales, walked over and plopped the mugs down and asked to hear everything he knows about the prison.  They talked for a while, and Zarak revealed he has the drawings for the prison and will trade them in exchange for the team invading a local thieves’ guild outpost, wreaking havoc, and recovering his stolen dagger.  After considering and looking to his team for agreement, he shook hands with the murderous half-orc. 

Game summary for October 8, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Hwrulf (Human Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team spoke with the survivors, led by Captain Ferros Vaneer, and learned there was a convoy of ships and some captives taken from another vessel before the neogi left to “unload.”  The group knew the neogi would return to the asteroid at some point but would take a bit of time.  They discovered the asteroid held a number of valuable citrines, and they helped the surviving crew gather them up and gave them to them to help them get back on their feet.  They then loaded everyone aboard The Perry and left. 

Several days later, the adventuring party’s ship came out of spelljamming speed due to proximity to another vessel. At first, they thought they had stumbled upon the burning wreckage of a hammership. However, as the initial shock wore off, they realized they were staring at something far more unusual. It was indeed a hammership, but it gleamed with a metallic shine, and they believed it was made entirely of brass. Tall sails and fins stretched across the vessel, but instead of cloth, they were blazing sheets of flame.

Crimson-skinned giants walked the deck, each adorned with black horns, smoldering eyes, and flickering flames dancing across their bodies. The sight took the party aback. These figures reminded them of legendary creatures—genies of fire, known as the efreeti. Yet, this was not just one, but an entire ship crewed by them.

One of the genies stepped forward, sweeping his hand overhead. Above him, enormous flaming letters spelled out a message in multiple languages. He spoke, his voice booming, “Well met, travelers, and fear not. We are the Peacock’s Flame, explorers and merchants. I doubt you could withstand boarding our ship, but we can come to you. May we approach in peace and commerce?”

The group welcomed the efreet aboard and learned he is Amir Mahmout, a charismatic and enigmatic efreet who has taken to trade via spelljamming!  They talked for a while and bought some of his wares including fireheart spice, which was sought by their friend in Bral, Ozamata!  They discussed the efreet’s enterprise and realized they had just rescued a crew that could help them with shipping things between spheres (since the fiery genies could not enter the Phlogiston).  They agreed to use magic when they reached Ginsel to communicate with Ozamata and try to setup a new trade agreement.  They bid the genies goodbye and continued on.

After months of travel, the adventuring party had finally reached their destination. At times, they had wondered if they would ever make it this far. Spinning through space ahead of them was one of the most bizarre sights they had ever encountered—Ginsel, the crescent planet. It resembled a crescent moon, as if viewed from a world where a shadow partially eclipsed the satellite. However, this was no visual illusion. The planet spun like many spherical worlds, but a vast section of land was simply missing. The party was unsure whether the planet had formed this way or if some ancient catastrophe had sundered it.

The planet had visible clouds, oceans, mountains, deserts, and polar regions along the outer surface, but similar terrain could also be seen within the inner curve of the crescent. This inner area was known as the Bite. Rough, broken lands were visible along the edges of the Bite, transitioning around the planet’s curve to the outer surface—an area referred to as the Brink.

They were now flying into the kingdom of Yendoril, the largest of the human realms on Ginsel. It was home to the bustling trade port of Tarvin. Nestled along the edge of the Mountainfast Sea, the port occupied a natural harbor with landing zones for ships both on land and sea. The nations of Ginsel were fully spelljamming-aware and had long been involved in interplanetary commerce.

As the party drew closer, Sailmaster Tuk issued a warning. He explained that Ginsel had more oxygen in its atmosphere than many other planets, causing fires to burn larger and more fiercely here than they might elsewhere.

The adventuring party found themselves at the bustling docks of Tarvin, alive with the constant activity of trade and travel. Several common spelljamming vessels, including hammerships, squidships, tradesmen, and even an eel ship, filled the port. Like any spelljamming hub, Tarvin was host to a variety of races—some mundane, others more exotic. Yet, there was a clear difference from the ports of Refuge and Bral. Ginsel, predominantly populated by humans, had a much stronger human presence. The scale of the port was another contrast, with Tarvin boasting a permanent population of around 50,000 people.

Porters hurriedly moved goods from ships into nearby warehouses or directly into the crowded marketplace, where commerce thrived. Yet, the party was keenly aware that, like most ports, danger and crime were likely not far behind the frenetic pace of business. There was, however, a visible effort to maintain security. Guardsmen clad in chainmail, with bright blue and yellow tabards, patrolled the docks, armed with crossbows and finely crafted broadswords.

The dockmaster made his rounds, collecting port fees, air taxes, and trade tariffs. He was an older human, clearly experienced and well-attuned to his duties, accompanied by a scribe taking furious notes and a small detachment of the guards in their blue-and-yellow garb.

From the ground, the view was surreal. Looking up, the party could see a beautiful blue sky, but the horizon wasn’t the familiar stretch of atmosphere. Instead, it was more land! Tarvin, situated inside the Bite, had land rising “up” all around them, curving along the inner face of the planet. It felt as though they stood inside a giant oval bowl of land.

Most of the city’s buildings were made of wood and plaster, though a few stone structures were scattered throughout. The wooden buildings, many at least two stories high, dominated the landscape. The cobblestone roads around the docks were in a state of disrepair, likely due to the heavy traffic constantly passing through. The streets themselves were narrow and packed with people, making it difficult to move freely. Bright blue and yellow pennants waved from poles and spires attached to many structures, fluttering in the breeze.

The smell of the city was strong, a mix of humanity’s various odors, most of them unpleasant. The party guessed that a city of this size probably had an extensive sewer system beneath its streets. The noise, too, was overwhelming. Wagons creaked, hawkers shouted, and the constant press of people bumped and jostled each other and the party. Horses clopped on the uneven cobblestones, adding to the din of voices shouting, arguing, and bartering. Some spoke loudly to be heard over the chaos, while others whispered, trying to conceal secrets amid the noise. Snatches of intriguing information floated through the air, tempting the adventurers to listen carefully.

The group settled their taxes and port dues, sold their cargo, and realized they made a healthy profit.  They overheard many rumors, and also heard about the Crescent’s Whisper inn and made their way toward it. 

Game summary for October 1, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Einar Ormsson (Human Fighter / Unchained Barbarian played by Paul Potter), 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), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

About three days after leaving the Nebula Weavers halfling tribe behind, the team came across a smoldering battle-damaged eel ship named the Hither Slither.  They could detect nothing living or magical on the ship, so they cautiously boarded.  The ship had the side ripped open from catapult shot and extensive rear damage from ballista fire.  Much of the exterior of the ship was blackened from a recent blaze, but the fire had not spread to the interior.  Upon the top deck was a single stout wooden barrel covered in congealed blood.  The group discerned several people had been executed on the barrel and bodies thrown overboard.  From the bloody tracks, they could tell there were at least a dozen distinct aggressors.  The footprints were a wide range of sizes including small, perhaps halfling size, booted tracks beside wide heavy dwarven tracks.  Larger still, somewhere between the mass of an ogre and an orc, were numerous really big footprints.  They also found a whitish clump of hair or fur that they determined most closely matched that of a bear.  They searched the entire ship and even though they found a secret compartment, there was nothing of value or interest.  Even the helm had been removed.  Perplexed, the group left the wreck behind.

Approximately three days later, they emerged from spelljamming speed to witness a bizarre sight. An asteroid tumbled through space, but what made it strange was that it appeared to have an atmosphere. Humanoids and other, more bizarre creatures moved about its surface, and smoke from burning fires rose into the sky. A shipwreck blazed in the distance—a tradesman vessel had crashed into the rock and broken apart. Crates and other goods were scattered everywhere, some ablaze, others smashed to pieces. On the far side of the asteroid, a departing ship caught their attention. It was enormous, one of the largest spelljamming vessels they had ever seen. With eight long legs spread around its spider-shaped body and web-like sails stretched between them, it vanished in a flash, spelljamming to who-knows-where.

On the asteroid, the party could see perhaps two dozen humans and demi-humans huddled among several large rocky boulders. Some were injured, others bound, and many cowered in fear. Massive insectoid creatures stood among them—bulky and powerful, with enormous sharp claws, multiple eyes, and snapping mandibles that looked capable of biting a horse in two. Smaller creatures scuttled around—spiders, perhaps? They certainly had eight spidery limbs, but from the front of each emerged a long eel-like neck.

As they watched, one of the insectoid creatures burst from the soil of the asteroid in a shower of debris, leaving a large tunnel stretching behind it into the darkness. Glittering bits of crystal or gemstone flew into the air and landed all around the area.

The team very wisely decided to engage from aboard The Perry.  Khesen manned the magical ballista and fired at one of the massive creatures, an umber hulk!  The bolt flew through the air, but at the last moment swerved violently toward one of the boulders!  It blasted through one of the hostages, killing her instantly in a spray of gore as the siege weapon’s ammunition continued on its new path.  The bolt slammed into the boulder and shattered.  The metal head stuck to the rock, and the team realized the boulders were giant magnets!  Fearful of firing again, and with the screaming prisoners in a panic, they landed The Perry and leapt into the fray.

The party had to hang back just a bit due to the pull of the magnets.  The umber hulks and spider-creatures, called neogi, remained among the prisoners.  This made combatting them a bit more challenging.  The team also learned the umber hulks have a confusion gaze which sent Khesen into a melee against his own ally, Claude!  Snagy proved himself invaluable as he swooped across the battlefield astride Sting, his magically summoned wasp, and used his battle tactics to negate confusion!  He also put his trusty lance to deadly work.  Claude unleashed a magical electric onslaught, but the creatures kept coming.  Several umber hulks burrowed into the ground and emerged closer to the team as a third erupted from beneath them as well!  The umber hulks dealt horrific blows, but the team dealt many of their own.  The neogi proved especially dangerous though when one of them dominated Einar and sent him flailing into Hekera!  The two began trading blows with axes and greatswords ringing against each other.  Einar ripped Hekera’s feet out from under him, but the crocodilian man rose up and tried to beat Einar unconscious.  Truly, it was a clash of titans awesome and terrible to behold. 

Meanwhile, Claude was mauled into unconsciousness and nearly killed.  Khesen proved him powerful unarmed combat training was up to even this challenge, and was able to eventually slay two umber hulks!  Helg made excellent use of spiritual weapon and flame strike to deal lots of damage before switching to a more sustaining approach and channeling positive energy into his wounded allies.  Snagy continued flyby attacks with great effect.  The neogi both tried to enslave more of the party without success.  Finally, the dominating neogi was killed, which freed Einar from its grip.  He quickly consumed a healing potion and prepared to engage.  The group rallied behind this sudden shift in momentum, and the team won the day! 

They stood among quite a scene.  Terrified people cowered all around them looking in fright at what the team had wrought upon the monsters as well as the woman they killed with the ballista.  As the people crawled back and away, the team quickly ripped anything of value from the neogi corpses.