Flight of the Phoenix – Game Session – 003

by: Charles Plemons - October 18th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 2nd Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for October 18, 2012, Flight of the Phoenix Spelljammer campaign; present PCs included Moto Patton (giff myrmidon), Zirin (dracon swashbuckler), Zorn Seregon (psionicist) along with Elaina of Ptah (cleric) and Safana bent Anwar (sorceress).

The Legion of the Schwartz snagged the remaining goblin blade vessel and went inside to discover a damaged ship with a lifejammer helm.  Realizing the potential danger, the team shoved the ship out of their gravity field and left.

Several days later the team came upon a dragonfly ship adrift in space.  Vibrant plants covered the upper deck, and an eerie green glow emanated from the forward ports.  Captain Robilard maneuvered the ship upside down over the air envelope of the dragonfly, and Zorn used a trail of ropes and the levitate psionic power to cross from one ship to another taking skeleton from Moto’s bone of animation with him.  Once on the other ship, he was snared in a plant similar to a Venus fly trap.  Seeing his distress, Zirin tried to use the rope to cross but found Safana’s knot skills lacking.  Moto convinced the Captain the air must be good due to Zorn’s condition, and he finally agreed to pull up alongside.

More fly traps snared the party as they crossed over, and Moto went on a mowing stint with his bastard sword.  Zirin and Zorn moved into the main concourse and bridge where they discovered nearly half a dozen aartuk warriors!  The plant men attacked by launching hardened resin pellets and sticky lashing tongues.  Zorn protected the group with an inertial barrier to slow the pellets.  Zirin engaged in melee, and Moto opened one of the cabin doors to discover an elder aartuk!  Before it could cast spells on him, he hacked it to pieces with his sword!  The massive giff then charged one of the walls to crash through and instead nearly laid himself out on the floor.  Meanwhile, Zirin climbed up on the helm to make room, slipped, and bonded with a lifejammer helm!  It nearly killed her, but she survived its deadly embrace.

The battle was violent but short, with the team victorious in the end.  With one more cabin to explore, the team has regrouped and prepared for whatever horrors may lie beyond.

Flight of the Phoenix – Game Session – 002

by: Charles Plemons - October 11th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 2nd Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for October 11, 2012, Flight of the Phoenix Spelljammer campaign; present PCs included Amothar Skyblade (elf fighter/mage), Moto Patton (giff myrmidon), Orophin Calafalas (half-elf bard), Zorn Seregon (psionicist) along with Elaina of Ptah (cleric) and Safana bent Anwar (sorceress).

A few days after encountering the gnomes, an alert sounded as the Pisces slowed out of spelljamming speed.  Closing rapidly were three goblin blade ships!  During this shift, Zorn and Moto were sleeping and scrambled to get ready while the rest of the party braced for the attack.  Elaina both blessed and prayed for the party, Safana turned invisible, and Orophin rallied the team with a rousing tale and drum beat.

The goblins aboard fired grapple chains affixed to ballista bolts to snare the Pisces and grapple.  Then goblins swarmed the gunwales and flooded onto the ship.  The team went to work immediately with Moto laying waste with his massive sword.  Amothar tried to use chill touch and missed his target.  Safana conjured a sand lion to maul some of the goblinoids.  Elaina used spiritual hammer to drive back the onslaught.  As the goblins died, more swarmed over from the tiny blade ships.  Zorn tried, and failed, to levitate psionically while Safana blasted two goblins off the ship with lightning bolt.

Things were going fairly well when Orophin cast Melf’s minute meteors.  He directed the first at a wooden portion of the goblin blade, which burst into flame.  Amothar followed it with affect normal fire to double the size of the flames, realizing too late the ship was tethered by chain to their own wooden vessel!  Orophin’s next shot went wide and caught their own ship ablaze!  Moto scrambled to get to the chain but was hampered by the press of creatures.  He picked up Captain Robilard and set him aside and swatted down some more goblins.

Watching the carnage, Zorn concentrated and blasted one goblin apart with project force.  He later spun about and used control flames to animate the fire on the Pisces and “walk” it over onto the goblin blade and right down the hatch!  Moments later, he animated the fire on the blade and sent it down after the first, closing the hatch behind it!  At that moment, mighty Moto severed the grapple chain.  Meanwhile, Amothar had an unfortunately mishap with chill touch and weakened himself.  More misfortune struck as the sand lion tripped over its own paws and face-planted on deck.

Finally, the last of the goblins aboard were slain.  The two remaining goblin blades sped off, and the team put the flames out on the third and recovered the vessel.

Flight of the Phoenix – Game Session – 001

by: Charles Plemons - October 4th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 2nd Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for October 4, 2012, Flight of the Phoenix Spelljammer campaign; present PCs included Amothar Skyblade (elf fighter/mage), Orophin Calafalas (half-elf bard), Zirin (dracon swashbuckler), Zorn Seregon (psionicist) along with Elaina of Ptah (cleric) and Safana bent Anwar (sorceress).

The Legion of the Schwartz formed as a mercenary company hiring on as guardians and protectors of the space trade vessel, The Pisces.  Before departing, they hired henchman assistants, Elaina of Ptah and Safana bent Anwar to join them.

The Pisces is traveling from the crescent-shaped planet Ginsel in Greyspace to the Rock of Bral orbiting planet Glyth in Realmspace.  The team faces approximately 3 months of space travel including two passes through wildspace and a jaunt in the Phlogiston.

Two days out of Ginsel, Captain Robilard pointed out a pack of grey scavvers that slipped into the atmosphere while passing an asteroid.  He tasked the team with eliminating the pack to preserve the ship’s air supply.  The team tried several tactics including hurling sling stones and drifting out toward the beasts on a rope.  Zorn hit one scavver with project force and injured it.  When it drew blood, they realized the scavvers could be attracted to meat.  Zorn then used animate object to use a rope and hook to snag a scavver for Amothar to harpoon.  They then used similar hooks to fish and catch the scavvers and kill them.

A few days later, the ship slowed from spelljamming speeds once again as another ship was spotted.  Crewman Faris shook his head and spit as he realized the incoming vessel was crewed by tinker gnomes!  The gnome ship tied off and trading ensued.  They offered to sell miniature giant space hamsters, but the party declined.  Captain Robilard did purchase a steam-powered rapid drink machine brewing some strange, strong, black, hot beverage.  Soon after, the gnomes departed.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 011

by: Charles Plemons - September 13th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 13, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user), Jorr Brainmangle (orc fighter) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The team mustered the ragtag orc troops and gave them encouraging words and demonstrations of their mighty magic.  After whipping the creatures into a frenzy, they lead them up through the hidden stairway and into the steading!

A full day of horribly violent war followed with light losses on both sides.  The orcs had the upper hand and secured part of the halls despite losing over two dozen troops.  Overnight, the PCs tended the wounded and planned for the next day.

The second day of fighting was far more intense with over 40 orcs slain over the course of the day.  However, a dozen giants and a couple ogres paid their lives in defense of the halls!  At the end of two days, the giants were fatigued and badly outnumbered.

The third day, the party decided to push to take control of the pantry and kitchen and help starve the giants if this turned into a long term endeavor.  The team drove the orcs to great feats, but exhaustion won out, leaving most giants dead but the orcs nearly collapsed on the floor.

The final contingent of giants, two hill giants, a cloud giant, and Chief Nosnra himself went toe-to-toe with the Swords of Greyhawk in an epic final battle for control of the steading!  The giants charged but could not seem to land solid blows.  Crularin turned into a lion and tore into the chief.  Mara unleashed a barrage of magic missiles rivaled in effectiveness only by the twin lightning bolts of Drake Spellking!  Emeran used the wand of wonder several times, once sending a stream of bruising damaging gems bursting forth.  Mara was brought low by a giant club and then killed in the path of Emeran’s lightning bolt.  Drake was clubbed unconscious too.  Finally, Jorr, using the devastating Blackrazor, waded in and dropped the last of the giants and killed Chief Nosnra!

The Swords of Greyhawk turned over the steading to the orcs and had them agree not to raid in Sterich for some time.  Once back in Istivin, they collected their reward and made a temporary truce between the lands of men and the orcs of the mountain.

With the great foes vanquished, new adventures await.  Where shall the Swords next venture?  Only time will tell.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 010

by: Charles Plemons - September 13th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for September 6, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user), Jorr Brainmangle (orc fighter) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The team, joined by Jorr Brainmangle of the orcs, moved through the underhalls looking for more weapons.  They had armed Jorr with Blackrazor, and bloodlust had him rushing ahead looking for giants.  They discovered a secret stairwell and sent Crularin up too look around.  He found a map room, and they decided this would be the perfect entranceway to the upper level for their orc troops.

The team continued searching around and discovered three hostile stone giants!  One giant smashed a brazier of coals into the party’s faces while the others hurled rocks!  Crularin unleashed a wall of fire, Drake fired off spiritual hammer, and Mara used magic missile.  Brutal melee ensued with lightning bolts and magic going all over!  Crularin discovered he has a wand of wonder and quickly used it to blast himself and the giants with a fireball!  Soon, the fight was over with the Swords of Greyhawk victorious.

Satisfied they had found all the items and weapons they could, they returned to the caves to rally the orcs.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 009

by: Charles Plemons - August 30th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for August 30, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Althion Whiteoak (fighter), Ardel Blueback (centaur fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The Swords of Greyhawk moved into another cell and discovered a bugbear and hill giant guarding half a hundred orcs!  The group took out both guards quickly and freed the orcs, arming them with lengths of chain as makeshift weaponry.  They sent the orcs scurrying to the caves to await the uprising.

Next the team found a torture chamber filled with horrendous devices.  The team carefully searched the room only to turn up a sack filled with human and elf scalps.

The group returned to the main chamber of this floor and tried to open a door, disturbing the jailer and his pet carnivorous apes!  Crularin hit them with a wall of fire followed by Althion’s javelin of lightning!  Ardel began whittling away while Drake attacked with spiritual hammer.  Mara attempted Melf’s acid arrow but missed her target.  Emeran unleashed the wand of wonder promptly turning himself invisible.  In seconds the enemies were slain.

Back in the main chamber, Crularin and Drake noticed a secret passage leading to a short hallway ending in a trio of levers.  The team played with the levers a bit listening to the sound of scraping off in the distance.  Then, Emeran found another secret door leading to a room filled with manticores released from their cell by the levers!

The monstrous creatures hurled volleys of spikes, and Crularin shifted into a lion form to attack.  Emeran dropped a torrent of rain in the area with the wand of wonder.  Mara then filled the area with steam by unleashing a fireball as Drake fired a lightning bolt.  The area of effect spells did their work, and Althion and Ardel laid waste with sword and axe.

After defeating the manticores, the Swords discovered a room filled with seven chests.  Drake used find traps to determine two had traps on them.  The group opened and ransacked the treasure from the other five.  Unwilling to let potential wealth go, Ardel tried to bash a chest open.  Unsuccessful, he just flung it open triggering a poison needle trap.  The tiny dart pricked his hand, and within seconds the centaur curled up and died!  Emeran blasted his corpse with the wand of wonder to no visible effect.  Undaunted, Emeran opened the last chest just barely avoiding losing his hand to a scything blade!

Drake said a few not incredibly unkind words over the corpse of Ardel.  Then he looted him.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 008

by: Charles Plemons - August 16th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for August 16, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Althion Whiteoak (fighter), Ardel Blueback (dwarf fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The group continued down the hallway and found several rooms of chained orc slaves.  The team recruited them to the cause and freed them to flee back to the caves and await the uprising.  During the escape, two hill giants attacked!  Crularin softened them up with a wall of fire, and the melee team took them down quickly.

The Swords of Greyhawk then advanced and found the forge.  Within, two fire giants moved to engage.  Althion found himself facing two of them alone momentarily and took a horrendous blow from one of their hammers!  Emeran used the wand of wonder to summon rain which caused dense smoke and steam from the forge, obscuring the battlefield for everyone.  He followed up by using the wand to summon a fearsome mouse who fled down a hole.  Crularin moved up to support Althion while Ardel cut down one of the giants.  Mara used Melf’s acid arrow to injure the other before Ardel, Althion, and Crularin were able to whittle it down.

The team then advanced north and found some bugbears guarding more orc prisoners.  The team fought the bugbears and prepared to free the orcs.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 007

by: Charles Plemons - August 9th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for August 9, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Althion Whiteoak (fighter), Ardel Blueback (dwarf fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

Crularin spoke with the orcs and agreed to find them weapons to use against the giants.  They learned of a nearby forge as well as armed bugbears.  The team opted to try and take the weapons of the bugbears first.  The group moved into the bugbear area and started a fight.

The team unleashed a barrage of spells from magic missile to lightning bolt to fireball as well as numerous charges from the wand of wonder, and the bugbears kept coming!  Wave after wave went down under spell and blade.  Eventually, the group had over a dozen bugbears in a narrow corridor when Crularin sent a wall of fire along one wall, sending waves of scorching heat over the goblinoids.  Emeran used his wand of wonder and dropped a stinking cloud on the enemies and the party.  Mara and Ardel went down in a helpless heap of spastic vomiting.  Fortunately, so did many of the bugbears, and the wall of fire finished them off.

With nearly 50 bugbears slain, the party can arm over half of the orc rebels!

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 006

by: Charles Plemons - August 2nd, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for August 2, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user).

Crularin rushed into the room and wrapped the silenced scroll case and rope to the hanging gong to prevent an alarm.  The team then moved forward as the bugbears charged into the silence.  Drake hit one with a magic missile, Crularin hit the other with his spear, and Emeran activated his wand of wonder!  From the ether, a massive rhinoceros appeared and charged the bugbears!  Emeran continued using the wand which resulted in a field of darkness and an area of driving rain.  In the chaos, the team took down the bugbears.

The group then examined the cells and found Mara Woodstride, an elf warrior maiden eager to fight the giants.  They also rescued an engineer but left a crazed man locked away.  The fourth cell contained three skeletons that animated to attack Emeran as he entered.  Drake used his clerical might to destroy the undead in a moment, however.  The final cell contained five energetic but stupid orcs eager to reunite with the orc rebels and fight the giants.  The group finally worked out an arrangement for the orcs to lead them to their caves and unite with them.

The team moved down the hallway, led by the orcs, and used silence to creep forward.  They by-passed a group of bugbears using stealth and met up with the orcs in their cavern where they found nearly a hundred rebels with a handful of weapons.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 005

by: Charles Plemons - July 26th, 2012   Filed under: AD&D 1st Edition, Gaming Add Comment

Game summary for July 26, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Althion Whiteoak (fighter), Ardel Blueback (dwarf fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user).

The group advanced silently through a door and surprised a group of ogres playing knucklebones.  The team dispatched them quickly and quietly and then found the kitchen.  The team noticed orc slaves serving the giants in the main hall and lured one away with a trail of coins.  Talking to the captured orc, they learned there is a secret rebellion growing below, but he was unsure how to get to the orcs in the lower levels.

Crularin shifted into rodent form and scouted around searching for stairs.  He eventually found a set in the pantry, so the group assumed this must be the right direction.  The team slipped down the stairs and into a large open stone-floored room.  The team followed a path to a large water cistern.  Unimpressed, they backtracked and found a wine cellar.  Within they discovered a skull-marked keg and took it within a bag of holding.

The team backtracked again and found another doorway.  On the other side was a row of cells and two bugbears staring at the entryway!