Savage! — Game Session — 009

by: Charles Plemons - December 22nd, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for December 22, 2015, Savage! campaign, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Blazing Sun (Kau Human Sage played by Kaliegh Belda), Night Watcher (Ogre Martial Artist played by Casey Scruggs), Singing Mammoth (Elf Soldier played by Taylor Averdick), Standing Bison (Giant Soldier played by Peyton Harmon), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache Human Priest played by Chris Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Beyond the doorway, the team faced off against Tocatlpilli and his Keeper warriors. Night Watcher got his macuahuitl stuck in the floor, and Singing Mammoth nearly shot him with an arrow. Tocatlpilli hurled numerous curses at the team, but they easily shrugged off the effects. It did not take long for the team to take out the warriors and square off against Tocatlpilli on a swinging bridge over a great abyss. Wolf Spirit’s wolf managed to trip the high priest, and Standing Bison hurled him off the bridge to his doom!

The group went into the next room where they were confronted with a riddle guarding two stone boxes. In one was the Dawn Seal fragment, in the other “death.” The team debated the riddle and eventually made their choice: they chose wisely! The group seized the fragment as the ceiling opened to reveal a massive gray widow spider! The group found their edged weapons of limited benefit against its chitinous exoskeleton, but Standing Bison and Night Watcher were able to do a lot of bashing damage to it. Eventually, they squashed the creature.

The group took the fragment and despite being led astray repeatedly by Standing Bison, they found their way out of Tocatlmayana. They learned their horses had been stolen, and they tracked down a group of gnolls with their mounts. After lots of posturing, and a bit of bribery, they secured their mounts and left. Along the route, they had to avoid the Nightmare Company raptor scouts, which they did masterfully.

Once home, they went through an initiation ritual in celebration to mark their full acceptance into the tribe. The grueling ritual left Wolf Spirit battered, but the team prevailed. After the celebration, they were tasked by Rides-the-Moon, elder and vidutana of the tribe, to travel to the Swamps of Woe and the Cueyatlahtli (cue-yacht-el-ah-tee) temple to retrieve the next fragment. They also learned Laughing Horse’s daughter had run off with several braves to try and get the fragment themselves and not returned. With nothing else to leverage, Laughing Horse offered his daughter in marriage if someone will return her safely. Rides-the-Moon agreed to perform a union ceremony but warned the fragment is far more important than the life of missing Runs-with-Deer.

Savage! — Game Session — 008

by: Charles Plemons - December 15th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for December 15, 2015, Savage! campaign, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Blazing Sun (Kau Human Sage played by Kaliegh Belda), Night Watcher (Ogre Martial Artist played by Casey Scruggs), Singing Mammoth (Elf Soldier played by Taylor Averdick), Standing Bison (Giant Soldier played by Peyton Harmon), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache Human Priest played by Chris Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team followed the tattered map and advanced toward the first switch. Most of the team filed into the hallway with Singing Mammoth hanging back in the main room. Throwing the switch raised a platform into the room occupied by a great lasher spider! It sprayed webbing at Singing Mammoth who dodged it and then backed right into it. The team came running down the hallway, and Night Watcher got stuck unable to maneuver through the crowd. Standing Bison hit the creature, as did Wolf Spirit and his wolf. A few arrows sank in from Singing Mammoth, but it was the amazing blow by Blazing Sun that laid it low.

Next the team went down the middle hallway and threw the next lever. Doing so shocked Blazing Sun with a jolt of electricity. The ceiling in the main room rolled away, and a massive margoyle flew into the room to attack! The creature proved challenging to fight due to its ability to blend when motionless, but several of the team landed solid blows. Finally, Wolf Spirit’s wolf tripped it into the blazing coal pits where it died in flames.

The group advanced down the third hallway where Wolf Spirit and Blazing Sun plunged into a pit trap. They climbed out, and Standing Bison rushed in and fell in. The group threw the next switch and then went to the final switch. Once thrown, the barred doorway at the end of the hallway slid open!

Savage! — Game Session — 007

by: Charles Plemons - December 8th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for December 8, 2015, Savage! campaign, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Blazing Sun (Kau Human Sage played by Kaliegh Belda), Singing Mammoth (Elf Soldier played by Taylor Averdick), Spirit Walker (Naci Human Assassin played by Andrew Renfrow), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache Human Priest played by Chris Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The party opened the next door and encountered an enormous fearsome ettin! Spirit Walker moved in and got bloodied by the creature’s spiked war club. The team closed in, but the brute unleashed a twin-headed scream that shook the team to its core. Several fled in terror. Singing Mammoth unleashed a barrage of arrows, and the same Kompache scout that assisted them earlier arrived and attacked! Some of the team shook off their fear and returned while Spirit Walker tried to keep from bleeding to death. At last, Singing Mammoth’s arrow pieced one of the skulls and killed the creature.

The team found it guarded a room with a paneled wall. After some investigation, they discovered the panels moved like a puzzle or riddle. Blazing Sun had no trouble figuring out the combination and unlocked a hidden panel! Within was a worn, tattered old map which the group assumes leads to the Dawn Seal fragment.

Arriving at the map location, the group engaged a mob of Keepers of the Gate along with their enslaved octorok guardians. A quick scuffle ensued, but the team mopped up the enemies very quickly. Now, they stand before a trio of doors and have a map to consult.

Savage! — Game Session — 006

by: Charles Plemons - December 1st, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for December 1, 2015, Savage! campaign, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Blazing Sun (Kau Human Sage played by Kaliegh Belda), Singing Mammoth (Elf Soldier played by Taylor Averdick), Standing Bison (Giant Soldier played by Peyton Harmon), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache Human Priest played by Chris Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team proceeded down a hallway where Standing Bison sprung a spiked floor trap! He suffered minor injuries but pressed on. They went into another room and found four Keepers of the Gate who attacked with macuahuitls. It didn’t take long to cut down the foes and head down a flight of stairs.

At the bottom, they discovered a narrow hallway leading into a room guarded by numerous blue tektites! The leaping creatures slammed into Wolf Spirit and hurt him badly. In their wild frenzy, they accidentally killed one of their own! Soon the team was able to make headway as Singing Mammoth picked off some from the back and the team was able to advance on the rest.

Next the group found themselves trapped in a room with a mathematical riddle inscribed on the walls. Overhead a spiked ceiling loomed ominously promising a horrendous death if they chose the wrong answer and depressed the wrong stone. After some debate the party made a choice… and found the right pressure plate to open the doors!

From the other side of the door, a pack of hell hounds burst through and breathed fire all around. Fortunately, many of the team have armor providing some protection against fire. So outfitted, the group had little trouble dispatching most of the hounds. At the last moment, a wandering Kompache scout wandered in and killed the last hound before disappearing from whence he came. Just who was that guy?

Ruins of Undermountain — Game Session — 009

by: Charles Plemons - November 28th, 2015   Filed under: Gaming, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Ruins of Undermountain Add Comment

Game summary for November 28, 2015, Ruins of Undermountain campaign, for Harm Incorporated. Session included: Boran Gibbs (Human Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Kalil Bakran (Human Sorcerer played by Parker Harmon), Paddy Brandywine (Halfling Bard played by Preston Harmon), and Rumbald Shieldcracker (Dwarf Ranger played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team, now hopelessly lost in Undermountain, came upon a trio of ogre adventurers. Naturally, a fight broke out. Kalil fired off several area of effect spells, including fireball and lightning bolt. Boran, Paddy, and Rumbald engaged in melee. Boran caught several clubs to the face, and Rumbald’s slug companion, Flash, licked an ogre to death. The fighting was violent and quick, and the ogres were defeated. The team investigated a chest the ogres were poking at and triggered a fireball trap! The did recover some treasure from the remnants, however.

The team moved into a winding hallway where they encountered a pair of gricks. The tentacles on the worms lashed and grasped, but they proved little challenge for the characters. On the far end of the hallway, they discovered a chamber full of Dekanter goblins! The massive creatures’ rhino-like horns proved an interesting challenge as the creatures charged back and forth into the team. Kalil stepped forward and used his medusa mask to petrify and destroy one.

Finally, the group went through a rough opening and found a sprawling cavern. They were horrified to find a beholderkin within! The monster phased in and out of the cavern and fired eye rays all around. It inflicted wounds and shocked the team with deadly rays. Paddy setup an ambush with invisibility sphere while Kalil used wall of fire to shape the battlefield. Boran and Rumbald began landing telling blows, and soon the team conquered the beast!

Savage! — Game Session — 005

by: Charles Plemons - November 24th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for November 24, 2015, Savage! campaign, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Night Watcher (Ogre Martial Artist played by Casey Scruggs), Spirit Walker (Naci Human Assassin played by Andrew Renfrow), Standing Bison (Giant Soldier played by Peyton Harmon), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache Human Priest played by Chris Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The crept through Tocatlmayana avoiding patrols as best they could. They captured a Keeper and interrogated him. They learned of a tlamacazqui (lama-cause-kwee; a high priest) named Tocatlpilli who has offered a bounty of 10 slaves for the heads of the party! The team made their way through trapped corridors and avoiding falling boulders. Eventually, they rescued a slave boy named Hopping Dog and earned his trust. He informed them he has seen Tocatlpilli with a map depicting a sequence of levers to pull to open a secret chamber. However, the map is always guarded by a two-headed ogre! The group came to a ravine where they had to convince a pack of giant spider steeds to allow them to ride in precariously attached saddles to the other side!

On the far side, they entered a room and were soon attacked by a massive gray widow spider! Spirit Walker charged in and was nearly killed in a single blow! Wolf Spirit’s wolf companion dragged him to safety as the team fell in around the spider. Standing Bison landed a crushing blow, and Night Watcher reached in and ripped off its head!

Looking around the room, they found a lever, which Wolf Spirit flipped. It opened an overhead hatch that dropped a cobalt jelly onto the team! Its acidic touch burned, but it was quickly taken down. As the group proceeded through a doorway, a mob of ettercaps attacked! The team came back through and brought the fight to them. In short order, the spider men lay dead and twitching.

Savage! – Game Session – 004

by: Charles Plemons - November 17th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for November 17, 2015, Savage! campaign; PCs included Blazing Sun (Kau human sage), Singing Mammoth (elf soldier), Standing Bison (giant soldier), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache human priest).

The party followed Paqpopoca’s directions and found Tocatlmayana. Within they became trapped in a large mural-lined chamber filling with poison gas! They had to discover the correct combination of powders to pour into an altar to stop the trap. Fortunately, Blazing Sun speaks (but does not read) Tlacatecollehi and was able to puzzle through a word or two on the walls to help figure out the puzzle. The team struggled a bit and activated a fireball trap and sprung a pit trap in their efforts, but soon they were able to get free of the chamber.

The group found themselves in a large room with two additional exits. Going through one, the team fought against a vicious ettercap! The spider creature tried to poison Blazing Sun but ended up being skewered by Wolf Spirit. They found a wooden lever on the far side of a coal pit behind iron bars. They tried to use a rope to pull the lever and ended up singeing the rope instead. They went back through the other doorway and were attacked by a swarm of spiders. A quick but bloody battle ensued and no one was poisoned by the spiders.

The room contained a second lever, and pulling it raised the iron bars back in the previous room. The team went back used water from a fountain to quench the burning coals! They then pulled that lever and opened a secret passage guarded by a macuahaitl-wielding ogre! The creature bloodied Standing Bison but could not withstand the team’s onslaught of attacks. Beyond the slain ogre stood a door deeper into the complex.

Savage! – Game Session – 003

by: Charles Plemons - November 10th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for November 10, 2015, Savage! campaign; PCs included Blazing Sun (Kau human sage), Night Watcher (ogre martial artist), Singing Mammoth (elf soldier), Standing Bison (giant soldier), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache human priest).

The team made plans to ambush Paqpopoca and set a snare trap. They hid among the coverage and awaiting the approach. A Keeper warrior sprung the trap, but the knot failed! The party did have a surprise round though, and they tore into the warriors. Standing Bison clubbed soldiers viciously while Wolf Spirit scared off the enemy mounts. Blazing Sun rushed in to engage alongside Night Watcher as Singing Mammoth peppered the battlefield with arrows. The masked Keeper the party assumed to be Paqpopoca tried to flee, and Singing Mammoth fired and arrow at him. It lodged in the throat causing a quick, bloody, thrashing death. Night Watcher and a Keeper wounded each other grievously with macuahuitls, but the man was no match for the party’s combined might.

In the aftermath, the group discovered the masked figure was not Paqpopoca but a young lass! They found a Keeper who was mortally injured but capable of speech. The group learned they had killed Tepecot, Paqpopoca’s daughter! Realizing they could not get the information they needed here, the team traveled to the dreaded City of Bones!

Under the cover of darkness, the group crept in and found the home of the merchant. They interrogated him and found the location of Tocatlmayana. To make sure no one followed, they put an end to the miserable Paqpopoca and slipped back over the city walls to head toward the fearsome dungeon!

Halloween Hootenanny X – White Wolf Storytelling System – I6: Ravenloft

by: Charles Plemons - November 1st, 2015   Filed under: Gaming, World of Darkness Add Comment

Game summary for October 31, 2015, I6: Ravenloft adventure module; present characters Dr. Aleksei Abramovich (physician), Arabella Hillebrandt (crossbowman), Dirk Osterhagen (grave robber), Eryk Sikorski (cleric of the Morninglord), Georgi Serebrov (circus performer), Haimrich Eckard (rogue), Kelemen Czako (woodcutter), and Kirsztina Mullner (paladin of the Morninglord).

This was a one-shot game for our six-hour Halloween Hootenanny gaming event. We converted the classic Advanced Dungeons & Dragons adventure module I6: Ravenloft to a White Wolf Storytelling System adventure and made fantasy characters using rules from the Mirrors supplement. For magic use, we used a very basic mana point system and limited range of spell effects pulling a few things from Mage: The Awakening with an eye on very, very fast play.

In the interest of time, the players were read a backstory of how they ended up trapped in Barovia and that destroying Count Strahd von Zarovich was their only recourse. The game began with a reading from Madam Eva to be followed by a search through Castle Ravenloft for the items to destroy the vampyr, and then, if they had not found him yet, they knew Strahd would find and attack them when only one hour of game time remained.

The fortune reading went as follows:

This card is a symbol of great power.  It tells of a powerful force for good and protection against the forces of darkness. This is in the mother’s resting place. There is a very good influence there.  If you are there, the powers of good will aid you.

This card tells of history.  Knowledge the ancient may help you understand a foe. This is in a place of dizzying heights that all loathe to travel.  The road winds ever upward and the rocks themselves live here! The diamond blesses your skill there, but bodes poorly for your protection.

This is the object of your search!  Ah!  I see darkness and evil behind this card!  It is a powerful man whose enemy is light, and whose powers are beyond mortality. This is a very bad sign.  This is in the very heart of darkness; his home, his source.  It is his center and his life.  It is the one place to which he must return. The diamond blesses your skill there, but bodes poorly for your protection.

This card is good for you.  It is a card of power and strength, the victor’s card.  It tells of a weapon of light, a weapon with a vengeance. A king’s throne is the place to find this. The spade is a dark shadow of evil cast over that place.  You fight under its influence here.

And here is the root card.  Out of darkness and chaos, this card finds the reason and foundation for darkness and chaos.  This card shows the purpose of all things.  It is the key to life and death and else beyond. Not yet, but soon, one who appears to be your friend will become your enemy.

The party entered Castle Ravenloft and followed the sound of organ music. They encountered Strahd in a great dining hall! Kelemen hurled a helmet at him and discovered it was an illusion. The torches went out, and they could hear all the doors, gates, and portcullis slamming shut as well as the drawbridge raising. The group discovered a secret door behind the organ and learned someone had used a mannequin and mirror trick to project the illusion. They proceeded to a stairwell leading up and down and descended further below the castle. Down in the depths, they were assaulted by a mob of skeletons swinging rusty maces. The team made short work of the undead and pressed on.

They discovered a stairway up, and found themselves in a large wide tower. The group started up when suddenly halberds darted out of the darkness and the entire tower seemed to come alive! It bucked and twisted, trying to hurl them into the darkness as a loud rhythmic thumping filled the air. The halberds hacked and slashed, and Haimrich found himself hurled from the stairs! He plunged to the bottom and was badly injured. Dr. Abramovich tried to go to him and was hurled off as well. Before long most of the party had fallen, but some made it to the top and discovered an enormous beating heart! They killed it, and the tower settled down. At the top of the tower they found and read the Tome of Strahd!

They then returned to the main entryway to find a different way up and were attacked by gargoyles! The fighting was intense for a few moments, but the team took them out. They then ascended the grand stairs and sprung a trap of flailing armor. Moving on, they ascended to the throne room and were stunned when an old metal sword hilt sprang up and merged with the blade carried by Haimrich! They had found the sunsword.

From there, the group proceeded down a wide hallway. At the end they saw double doors, and Arabella decided to charge into and through them. Her momentum carried her through the doors, passed two thrones, and over a railing down into the darkness below! Two Strahd zombies rose up from the thrones and attacked the party. The team was horrified to find as they chopped the zombies up the various pieces continued attacking! Before long the hallway was filled with ambulatory limbs all attacking the team! Meanwhile, Arabella used a grappling hook to climb up. They ended up tying up all the parts and leaving them behind. The group took the rope down into a large chapel.

As they started to explore, Strahd came into the room and attacked! The team took several hard hits but dealt a lot of damage of their own. Suddenly, a crossbow bolt from Arabella slammed into Strahd’s chest, and his features began to melt and shift! As he died, he took on the form of Haimrich! Horrified, the group turned to Haimrich who laughed and shifted into the form of Strahd! He hurled the sunsword through the stained glass window and attacked in earnest. He snatched up Georgi and drained him of his blood! The team was under an onslaught as Eryk jumped through the stained glass and found the sunsword out in the yard. He ran back in and gave it to the paladin Kirsztina. She dropped her blessed sword (picked up by Kelemen). The two engaged Strahd with their holy blades. Meanwhile, Dirk took his shovel and snapped the handle. Taking the makeshift stake, he plunged it through Strahd’s chest, paralyzing him! Kirsztina then decapitated the vampire lord!

The group looked out over the town of Barovia as sunlight filtered down on a new day, the people freed from the oppression of the wicked undead.

Savage! – Game Session – 002

by: Charles Plemons - October 20th, 2015   Filed under: Fantasy Craft, Gaming, Savage! Add Comment

Game summary for October 20, 2015, Savage! campaign; PCs included Blazing Sun (Kau human sage), Night Watcher (ogre martial artist), Singing Mammoth (elf soldier), Standing Bison (giant soldier), and Wolf Spirit (Kompache human priest).

The group spent 8 hours trying to forage for food and ended up being spotted by a scout for the Nightmare Company. They fled into the night and came across a pack of wolves, led by a fearsome vargr, that had recently killed a bison. They engaged the wolves with quickly, with Wolf Spirit getting several on him quickly as Singing Mammoth’s arrows whistled through the air. Standing Bison and Blazing Sun moved against the vargr while Night Watcher came up the middle. The smaller pack wolves were brought down quickly, but the tough vargr shook off some devastating blows to remain in the fight a bit longer.

The team continued their journey until they reached the Speaking Lion Ravine. A great rope bridge spread out over the shallow ravine, and as the team moved through, a pack of slavering gnolls emerged! The beasts whirled bolas and swing great stone-bladed axes. Their shaman chanted ghula-tainted words of power and summoned magic of fiery destruction. The team split up to fight the gnolls on two sides and make great progress. Disaster struck the gnoll shaman as he ignited himself on fire with a miscast spell. The team quickly took down the other gnolls while Night Watcher and Standing Bison squared off against the burning shaman. With a vicious stroke, Night Watcher cut down the shaman in a shower of blood. The team searched the bodies and began discussing how to prepare for Paqpopoca’s caravan.