Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for April 16, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team spent a week traveling peacefully through Realmspace.  Edonna used the time to craft a magical wand, and Komorebi started working on some traps.  Bright blue lights flashed and portals opened throughout The Perry from which emerged an arachnoid manticore, several drow, a few Zhentarim mercenaries, and a terrifying banelar (a type of fearsome purple-scaled naga with venomous fangs and stinger). 

Immediately, Notch and the manticore began exchanging volleys.  One of the Zhentarim, a man in full plate armor wielding a bastard sword, engaged Helg in the cabin on the cargo barge.  The two tried to exchange blows, but both kept hitting the door frame and walls with their chops.  Helg stepped back and hurled a flame strike out the window and blasted the manticore into pieces.  Meanwhile, Claude cast a maximized shocking spark at another Zhentarim and melted him into oblivion. 

Down below, the drow priestess held one of the gnomes who was then murdered by a Zhentarim.  The banelar stung Edonna and envenomated her with horrifically toxic poison. She was wracked with agony and fled down the ladder where she collapsed unconscious from the toxin.  The banelar then slithered up the ladder to the top deck while the priestess killed Sailmaster Tuk.  The drow scouts unleashed volleys of poisoned arrows inflicting minor wounds, but they were no match for the focused might of the party, especially Khesen’s onslaught. 

Komorebi sang out and enhanced the abilities of the entire party.  Hekera then cut down the banelar and plunged down into lower decks where he cut the Zhentarim in half with his massive greatsword.  Claude followed him down and blasted the priestess into whatever afterlife awaited her.  Helg and the Zhentarim continued to brawl while Komorebi slipped around and hit him with a blistering invective.  The mercenary then surrendered. 

The team regrouped and the slain bodies began decaying into reeking sludge!  As the placed manacles upon the Zhentarim, he screamed in agony and melted into goo as well!  Komorebi recognized this as a common tactic of the Black Network and especially a particular foe from his past, the archmage Manshoon!

Game summary for April 9, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

With all foes vanquished from the ship, the team began searching thoroughly for clues and items.  Several mundane items were discovered.  Inside a magically sealed locker was a child’s doll, old but unused.  Within a barrel they discovered a broken mechanical parrot that seemed stuck making a humming squawking sound.  They opened the magically sealed crate they previously located in the cargo hold and were horrified to find three perfectly preserved frozen heads.  Opened, the crate’s magic was dissipated, so they no longer had a way to keep the heads frozen.  They decided they would later use speak with dead once thawed to learn what they could. 

In the sail locker, they found a hand drawn map of an unknown star system with only a single planet.  Beneath a bed, they turned up a wooden unholy symbol of Umberlee.  Another room revealed a book of old sea shanties.  Komorebi recognized some as old versions of songs of which he is very familiar.  He was also able to read the journal of the former captain, Aric Shadowbane.  It contained various tidbits of information and possible clues. 

They discovered several other old things that seemed to have no real value or significance such as an old mug, a small silver compass, a feather quill, a worn leather belt, and a single left leather glove. 

The group unbolted the furnace helm from the ship and moved it over to The Perry as a spare.  Once back on the ship, they handed the mechanical parrot to the gnomes to repair and tried to secure the Kyuss loreworm they discovered earlier as safely as possible. 

Game summary for March 26, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), and Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The party went in search of the undead that fled a few minutes earlier.  As they went down the hallway, they could see the wormcaller creeping back as the tragic spectre emerged from the wall behind the party.  Much to their horror, a massive wormswarm also emerged from the room they had not yet explored!  Edonna protected the team with blessing of fervor and Claude used his metamagic rod to blast the spectre with shocking spark.  The tragic spectre then hit Claude with a critical hit and inflicted four negative levels!  It healed much of its damage and sent Claude scurrying for safety. 

Hekera dealt a critical hit to the wormcaller and rocked it backwards.  It tried quickened hold person on him, but his reptilian mind shook it off.  It then suggested he climb to the top of the mast, but he resisted that as well.  The wormswarm emerged and started distracting and poisoning the team.  Although not devastating, it was dangerous enough to split the party and force them to try new tactics.  This allowed the spectre to inflict a few more negative levels before being defeated. 

Hekera continued to ravage the wormcaller, and it failed again at both hold person and suggestion.  The team started trying different tactics against the swarm, including throwing a tangleburn bag in its midst with minor effect.  Claude picked up a severed hand from a previous fight and cast Illemak’s smarting slivers upon it.  However, he and the team confused themselves on how it works and ended up throwing it down the hallway where it just lay inert on the ground. 

The group cut down the wormcaller and fell back hoping the wormswarm would move down toward the trapped limb.  Unfortunately, the burning bag was a deterrent, and it swarmed over the rest of the team.  They were able to fall back with Edonna casting firebelly to kill several worms.  Khesen picked up the severed hand and tumbled into range of the swarm, but it turned and flowed over him!  When the worms touched the trapped appendage, it exploded with a powerful blast that killed the worms and hurt Khesen.  However, the foes were all vanquished!

Game summary for March 19, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The door at the end of the hallway on the tradesman ship flew open revealing a pair of mummies, a tragic spectre, and a heavily armored half-mad priest of the Apostles of the Apocalypse pantheon.  He was wild-eyed and muttering to himself about worms and Kyuss as spittle flew from his lips.  The priest wore ringmail armor, carried a heavy mace, had a buckler strapped to one wrist, and there was an exotic bone blade tucked into his belt.  A shiny silver chaos star bounced on a chain about his neck.  This large room appeared to be some kind of shrine or temple.  There was a small dark altar with several bloodstained bowls and knives.  A hammock hung to the side. 

The team tried to engage the evil cleric and found they could not advance due to some kind of unseen barrier.  Komorebi cast dispel magic but failed to dismiss it.  The mummies shuffled out and tried to engage the party while the cleric cast command upon Hekera, forcing him to drop his greatsword.  He unleashed a mix of quickened spells and powerful deadly magicks like phantasmal killer and mangle limb. 

Helg and the priest both cast spiritual weapon and tore into one another.  The spectre came through the wall of the ship’s dark hold and savaged Khesen.  Komorebi used his bardic performances to augment the team and repeatedly allow them to make second attempts to overcome negative effects.  Claude made excellent use of shocking spark while Edonna helped with spells like prayer, voidmote, and distraction cascade. 

Unfortunately for the team, they had not fully cleared the ship, and a side door opened to reveal a zealot wraith and a wormcaller!  The creatures advanced upon the party’s flank and caused a lot of trouble. 

Things looked very bleak, and Claude was struck down under a wrack spell and taken out of the fight.  Khesen was nearly killed by the spectre but escaped with a ditch dram admixture.  Komorebi had a breakthrough moment when he cast blistering invective and activated improved dirge of doom.  The combination drove the spectre and wormcaller to flee back into other parts of the ship.  Hekera fired many arrows while Khesen, under the cover of invisibility, tried to close in on the priest.  Unfortunately, Khesen (and others) were caught in channeled negative energy causing him to collapse dying on the floor and invisible to allies and foes!  He was incredibly lucky to accidentally be caught in Helg’s channeled energy. 

Komorebi cast dispel magic again and succeeded in dropping whatever barrier was before them.  This allowed the team to close in, and Khesen was able to kill the wicked priest! 

The team cast numerous healing spells while Komorebi and Hekera stood guard.  They then looted the body and the room.  They found a powerful brooch that absorbs electricity, some coins, and a magical scroll of Drawmij’s tool box.  As they claimed several magic items from the slain priest, they were shocked when a blue-banded green Kyuss worm emerged from one of his nostrils!  They snatched it up and studied it and learned it can be implanted to gain a magical bonus to a knowledge skill!  Skeptical, the shoved it down in a jar and prepare to clear the rest of the ship.

Game summary for March 12, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons. 

This was a “flashback” session taking place two days before Game Session 76. 

The team came out of spelljamming speed to find an approaching tradesman rotated along a different axis than The Perry.  The ships re-oriented to where their gravity planes matched.  Someone on board used semaphore to communicate peaceful intentions.  The ships closed together and joined atmospheres.  The team was amazed at the quality of fresh air wafting aboard.  The ship was covered in beautiful plants and was towing a cargo barge likewise covered in beds of growing plants.

The ship was a pilgrim vessel for a group of Chauntean followers.  The leader was an older woman with silver hair bound in a crown of vines and flowers.  This woman, Elowen Greenblossom, possessed amazing emerald-colored eyes.  Her right-hand man was Brother Alden, a jovial halfling gardener.  Their guardian was an adopted elven archer, Sylaria Moonshadow, who was raised among humans and lived three generations with the same family. 

Elowen and Alden were very excited to take a tour of The Perry.  Alden made fast friends with the tinker gnomes.  Elowen wanted to meet the giant space hamsters!  The party allowed her to speak privately with the hamsters, and she seemed pleased with whatever they discussed. 

The party learned the Chauntean pilgrims brew their own coffee beans, and with the Earthmother’s blessing, had created several magical beans.  They sold these beans to the party so they can make their own arboreal brew, Chauntea’s blessed brew, and revitalizing brew.  Komorebi appraised the beans and found the Chaunteans were dealing quite fairly with them. 

They began swapping tales of things they had encountered and rumors they had heard.  The team shared a warning about Kyuss worms and told them about Bral.  In turn, Elowen told them about a rumor of a militant faction of Red Wizards buying up magical weapons all around Realmspace for some unknown reason.  They also heard about a pirate vessel found near Bral.  The few survivors onboard claimed they were attacked by muscular goblins of unbelievable strength.  Finally, they mentioned an elven man-o-war recently informed them to be careful because drow were being encountered in increasing numbers.

The team asked the Chaunteans for some plants, which delighted the pilgrims.  They came aboard, and with the help of the tinker gnomes, installed a flower bed on the bill of The Perry which they filled with creeping phlox.  Then the group had a wonderful musical celebration led by the inspired musical talents of Komorebi.  Finally, Edonna used her gift of prophecy to provide guidance to the pilgrims for safe travel over the next week.  They all then said their goodbyes.

A day out from the interaction with the pilgrims, The Perry swept up five grey scavvers into the ship’s atmosphere.  The shark-like creatures quickly shook off void stasis and attacked the party and crew!  Komorebi and Edonna spelled up the party, and Notch unleashed a volley of arrows and slew several incoming scavvers.  The creatures got in close, and Komorebi was able to scare them with blistering invective (catching one on fire) and then frighten them with his dirge of doom.  Notch killed them as they started to flee, and one of the burning scavvers landed on the wooden ship!  Edonna was able to use her canteen to mostly douse the flames, and they dragged the monster over the side and safely away.

Game summary for March 5, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Helg cast a cure spell upon himself, and the group went down the central hallway to the cargo area.  Komorebi used an audible illusion to make the sound of numerous gnomes going down the hallway which drew out a spectre!  It emerged from a cargo bay and drained levels from Claude!  The team kicked open all the cargo doors to expose the spectre, an avolakia, and a malevolent spawn of Kyuss spawn.  Edonna cast prayer to boost the team and impede foes.  Notch fell back and fired arrows while Claude found himself with a Kyuss worm inched down his shoulder!  Komorebi inspired the group and Helg channeled positive energy to blast the foes.  Meanwhile, the avolakia cast spectral hand and vampiric touch and horrifically drained Notch. 

Edonna cast voidmote and blasted the Kyuss worm to pieces and hit the spawn of Kyuss.  Claude used one of his magical rods to augment energy dart and destroy the spectre.  Helg stepped into the fray swinging his sword.  Komorebi terrified his foes with an improved dirge of doom and caused the spawn to burst into flame.  Claude moved down the hallway and blasted the spawn into bits with shocking spark.  Helg then slew the avolakia. 

The group looked around the cargo bay and found a crate marked with the unholy symbol of the Apostles of Apocalypse.  They detected some magic and determined whatever is sealed in the crate is kept cold.  Komorebi then used his new gloves of reconnaissance to investigate several cabins and found them mostly empty.  He did find one apparently occupied by some kind of mad, muttering priest along with several undead allies! 

Game summary for February 20, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Notch Bowman (Human Fighter played by Andrew Renfrow). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group went to Shou Town to retrieve Hekera’s armor as well as meet with Ozamata.  He was happy with their work in rescuing Mario and Peach.  He honored their agreement by increasing their investment in his enterprises as well as awarded them the deed to Torvey’s Tent Pegs. 

The team then went and met with Cap’n Gyudd and learned The Perry top-out was successful and completed.  They also learned some backstory of the fascinating old dwarf and his history with mind flayers. 

Next, the party headed to the Laughing Beholder to catch up with events.  As they entered, Daiyu ran up to Komorebi crying.  She sobbed and begged for the team to go and rescue her brother Kimura Daisuke from Granite Mountain Prison on planet Ginsel in Greyspace.  Daisuke had been arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison exile!  They learned he is a member of the Sly Foxes rebel group in the nation of Nippon on Oerth, and she had been sent to Bral to keep her safe.  She revealed she is a kitsune like Komorebi!   

The group asked around and found some merchants out of Ginsel and bought them some drinks.  They then bribed one for information.  The man had a wheel brand on his right arm, which they learned is the mark of the prison.  He revealed a tale of horror!  The prison is a great wheel beneath a mountain.  There is only one entrance into a cell.  Each day, the prisoners push the wheel which moves the cell door one space (out of 365).  Once you go into the prison, the exit only comes available once per year!  For the entire year there is no light, food is dropped down through some kind of opening in the ceiling, and you are in solitary confinement. 

The team started thinking about how they might execute a prison break.  They then went to Torvey’s and found 3 tons of tent pegs and loaded them onto their ship.  Running out of things to catch up on, they went back to the Laughing Beholder to meet with their favorite arms dealer, the Red Wizard of Thay, Halava Trent.  They found the beautiful red-robed bald woman sitting in her usual booth sipping Thayan Red wine.  Her massive Thayan gladiator bodyguard, Nethriss, brooded in the shadows behind her, obviously unhappy to see the team.  The group sat down with her and sold her a few trinkets.  They got her absolute interest in their tales of the Koopa Kingdom and the portal beneath Bral.  She paid them 2,000 gp for the map they had to its location.  She also purchased several magical mushrooms and other items taken from that other world. 

They asked her about Greyspace and Granite Mountain Prison.  She was intrigued but knew very little.  She did tell them Greyspace is home to many very powerful spellcasters.  Halava mentioned a group known as the Circle of Eight, but the team didn’t ask anything about them. 

The team then went to secure several tons of trade goods, a few potions, and other individual items they each had in mind they may need for the trip before heading to The Perry to depart. 

Game summary for February 13, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), 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), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team entered a blue-tiled stone chamber with a huge lava pit in the middle lined on either side by a narrow ledge with brick blocks scattered about making it difficult to traverse.  Four large green Warp Pipes stood near the back of the room along with a bright yellow mystery question block.  Two seemingly bottomless pits lay between the Warp Pipes, and suspended over them were the red-and-blue clad Mario and pink-clad Princess Peach in swaying steel cages!  Near the entrance waddled two bob-ombs.  An undead koopa, a dry bones, began approaching the party.  A green and red piranha plant popped up out of one of the pipes.  By the cages stood the bulky, spike-shelled king of the koopas, King Bowser! 

Bowser approached the edge of the lava pit, on the side far from the party.  From there he unleashed two barrages of magic hammers at Khesen!  Claude blasted a bob-omb with three electrical blasts from a shocking spark spell which he empowered with his magical rod.  The bob-omb could not withstand the sheer magnitude of Claude’s spell and exploded!  The blast washed over the party, dealing damage to them all.  Komorebi burst into song to inspire the team while Edonna cast blessing of fervor upon them all.  The other bob-omb sauntered up to the team and unleashed a blast upon them all.  The piranha plant launched a fiery energy ball that scorched Claude.  Hekera dropped his hammer, drew his bow, and fired upon the plant.  Meanwhile, Helg channeled positive energy which healed and bolstered the entire party.  Khesen then attacked the bob-omb.

Bowser then hit Claude with many magic hammers, killing him beneath the onslaught.  Komorebi began casting blur on numerous allies.  Edonna broke free of the pack and began edging around the side while the team finished off the other bob-omb.  She then leaped across the entire room using her magical boots.  Bowser came charging forward and stepped right out into the lava pit!  Instead of plunging in, a bridge appeared beneath his feet allowing him to walk into the middle of the flaming pit!  From there he breathed a horrific blast of fire across almost everyone.  Komorebi used his magical cloak to fake his death in the conflagration and turn invisible.  Hekera’s bow spelled death for the piranha plant.  Meanwhile, Edonna triggered the question block and revealed a POW block that she quickly slammed into the ground!  It damaged the dry bones and Bowser with its blast. 

Helg had cast spiritual weapon, and it continued to tear into Bowser, much to the koopa king’s annoyance.  The team tried to bull rush the dry bones into the lava but failed to push it far enough.  Khesen then grappled the creature, slammed it to the ground, and pinned it!  Bowser moved further across the bridge and begin ripping into Helg.  In the meantime, Edonna went to Mario’s cage and removed his gag.  He yelled “Pull the lever!”  Edonna looked around and spotted a lever near the question block.  She rushed back and threw it, which caused the bridge to retract!  As Bowser toppled, Helg hit him with his sword!  The injured koopa king hit the lava and died in the flames!  His death caused the dry bones to become inanimate.  The team rescued Mario and Peach and searched the room.  They found several valuable items and learned they needed to flee before Bowser’s daughter, Bowsette, returned home!  The group ran through the koopa kingdom, guided by Mario and Peach, and returned to the entrance Warp Pipe.  They went through and gated back to the asteroid pirate city, Bral! 

Game summary for February 6, 2024, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Claude Dill Budshire (Sokari Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon), Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group rested and nursed their wounds from the horrific previous battle and bound their prisoner, the magikoopa.  He told them all this hubbub is over a wedding!  Bowser’s daughter, Bowsette, was engaged to a man named Mario.  However, Mario secretly fell in love with a woman named Princess Peach and left Bowsette at the altar.  Bowser has kidnapped Mario and plans a crossbow wedding to his daughter.  The fact that he now also has Peach and can “annul” the wedding by killing her is just icing on the wedding cake.  The group was able to bind the magikoopa and left him stashed out of the way to buy them time to get to Bowser and try and rescue the couple. 

The group came across a blue-tiled low-ceiling chamber with a very large pool of water.  A pair of green Warp Pipes stood on either side of the entrance, and a snarling, growling chain chomp sat atop a pile of bricks nearby.  On the far side of the room a long fire bar spun about.  Khesen tried to climb sideways along the wall, lost his grip and plunged into the water.  A bright red cheep cheep swam up and bit him!  Its fishy razor teeth removed a sizeable hunk of flesh, inflicted a nasty bleeding wound!  Hekera, far better suited for aquatic battle, swam into the pool!  The crocodile man attempted to fight the cheep cheep!  A white squid-like blooper rose up out of the depths behind him and attacked.  Just as things looked bad, it got worse!  A bright red and green piranha plant rose up from a Warp Pipe and started blasting energy balls at the team. 

Komorebi and Edonna stacked several enhancing spells upon the team to improve their odds of success.  Claude cast shocking spark and devastated the piranha plant, but not before unleashed a final blast to burn Khesen to death! 

Claude destroyed the piranha plant and caught the cheep cheep in magical constricting coils.  Edonna and Komorebi hurled around healing spells, which is really all that kept the team on their feet.  Claude was able to blast the blooper into oblivion, and Hekera waded back into the pool and defeated the pinned cheep cheep.

The team looted the room, recovered Khesen’s body, and allowed Hekera to swim each of them over one at a time.