Ronin Session Times Change

Ronin Sessions have been moved to Tuesday nights at 8pm EST (9am Japan).

Firelord's Audience Chamber Map

Here's a visual for tonight. Sorry it's a little small, but the program won't go bigger. In any case, I still think it'll be helpful. I'm going to keep track and upload new versions as the battle progresses using Photoshop.

Archdruid Session 47

[I was just thinking, 47 sessions at around 4 hours average/session is 188 hours of gameplay, or over a week of straight play (7.8 days). Wow.]

• With things taken care of at camp, the group trekked through the Heartwood and headed back down into the caverns.

• After passing some familiar faces, the group took the passage their serpent ally marked as the Troll King Shuldash's domain. At a fork, the group opted right, moving in or just outside of a spore-filled cavern ringing with cricket chirps. It didn't take long before Sirocco spotted a mound of spore move, shot, and giant crickets attacked!

• They were rather easy for the group to kill, but at a cost of Rend and Sev taking some heavy crushing damage from the hippo-sized insects.

• The noise attracted 4 troll matrons which joined the fight, managing to knock Rend out and drag him down a tunnel. Their one sister followed after, luring Sev and Serren's imps into a trap. A massive boulder thundered down the way, crashing into the archdruid and mutilating the summons.

• One troll matron still standing, she dragged Rend up a slope and into an unknown area... The group had other problems, however, as a mob of a dozen young troll warriors out to prove themselves surged forward.

• Sirocco fled, screaming inane babble and excreting in his breeches. Serren was seemingly swallowed up by the earth, secretly entering a pitch black chamber of his making, though deaf and blind to the goings on beyond the immediate area above. Sev was left alone and faced waves of gnashing claws and teeth. (With a very close roll) He managed to heal his wounds with archdruidic magic. Of poor Rend, the fate is uncertain, except for the fact it will be terrible...

Experience: 2400, 1800 for Sirocco
Objectives:
1. Save Rend if possible
2. Defeat this Troll King, which may help completing Objectives 3-5
3. Collect the 2 gem fangs to open to Couatl portal
4. Save the 10 children in the Lesser caverns
5. Save the 1 fey in the Lesser caverns

Archdruid Session 46

• The giant serpent battle continued, though not very long before the creature was bloodied and fled via some ethereal jaunt.

• The group discovered a magic stone portal up ahead in the passage, blocking further advancement. It was in the shape of a winged serpent and was missing its fangs, presumably the keys to open it.

• Serren spent an hour investigating the cavern, gathering enough clues and magic residue to scry the target, success thanks mostly to the rainbow scales battle-shorn by Rend, Sirocco and Sev.

• Serren asked Sirocco into his bag of holding and linked the rest, casting a spell that teleported them into the serpent's private resting chamber.

• Whilst the spell was being prepared, Sirocco got a chance to get to know the inhabitants of the bag a little, namely the golden devil Tazjaree and the half-shadow woman Idaasila. The former was very eager to talk, having been cooped up so long, while the latter was entirely reticent.

• The serpent was surprised and the group either tore into it or dimensionally anchored it. They followed up with a terrible barrage that left the creature crying for mercy. The group allowed it to slither into a corner and lick its wound, where upon Serren entered the bag and the rest questioned the their captive.

• It wasn't too long before they realized this creature was not evil, certainly not a servant of the Ice Queen, considering he had no idea she was free. All current world events were lost to it, so long had it been cooped up in the cave. It healed itself with some warning so as not to be attacked, then began to discuss, at first, the necessity of checks and balances for a person to maintain their sense of right and wrong, then about the hostages, the lesser and greater caverns themselves, and finally dinosaurs. Everyone seemed interest in some part of the conversation, though none so much as Sev at the mention of dinosaurs.

• Serren pulled away from the bag and was immediately distrustful of the serpent, which he called a Couatl. None the less, the rest of the group seemed comfortable enough to introduce themselves. It offered its pocket in the earth as a safe haven should they need it, and told them directions to get to the troll king's domain. It also seemed impressed to have met the archdruid.

• Serren gathered everyone up and cast another teleport, though something went awry and he transported everyone into the very rock, bringing out confusion and pain. He tried again, this time the spell malfunctioning and leaving them miles away from anything.

• During the shenanigans, Sirocco got a chance to talk even more with Tazjaree and this time Idaasila, who he discovered was depressed because she was missing a past, and angry because it must have been Serren who stole it from her. They talked awhile on the nature of memory and control before they were emptied out of the bag with a few violent shakes.
  

• The group then teleported to the Lordani camp, where Lodai, Rattler and Mira awaited. There was also a new addition to camp, a weather-worn gypsy wagon reading "Dr. Phooka's Phenomenal Anomalies". It wasn't long before they were introduced to the good doctor, a stunningly handsome and devilish man, with an array of strange servants.

• Tazjaree and Idaasila were also let out of the bag. Things got pretty nutty, but certainly interesting, involving Idaasila's almost teenage angst and Tazjaree's wild, horny dances. Dr. Phooka seemed to revel in the chaos, adding his own with the dwarven fool Oopsie and an attempt to retard Sirocco, as well. The simple goblin managed to down his lesser restoration potions, however, to return to normal.

• Serren and the doctor did a little business, while Sev, Rattler and Mira went off to meditate. Lodai, disgusted, wandered off shaking his head. Idaasila received Serren's gifts as graciously as she's ever received anything from him, and put them on. Tazjaree also toned down a bit, only making obscene gestures at the doctor, who didn't seem chagrin in the least.

Experience: 2300
Objectives:
1. Recover the 2 gem fangs to open the Couatl portal
2. Rescue the 10 or so children in the lesser caverns
3. Rescue the fey in the lesser caverns

Ronin Session 3/21

Matthias unfortunately can't make it tonight, and considering a large portion of the session would have involved important roleplay between Matthias and Finduilas, as well as needing him for wherever Fire Plane negotiations might be going, I think it best we postpone the session.

MAKEUP SESSION TUESDAY 3/25 AT 8PM EST (9AM JAPAN).

Archdruid Session and Makeup Session

Unless anyone objects, the plan is to have the 8:30pm Monday session (3/24) as normal, then have a makeup session on Wednesday (3/26) at 8:00pm. We'll likely get through most, if not all, the caverns. Can't wait.

Archdruid Session 3/17 Canceled

Sorry guys, but I have an interview early Tuesday morning and I need to spend the next two days getting some new portfolio work ready. Depending on how the interview goes, perhaps if I get this job, and whatever days and times I might be working, we'll discuss make up dates late Tuesday or Wednesday.

Ronin Session 43

• Defeated the gorgons in a trial by combat, Izaki divided the first into quarters with three deft strikes and Matthias, bolstered by many sources of strength, wrestled the other and dropped it face-first into the other's horn.

• Amused, the Keeper ultimately offered to allow three nights with the Brand, granted each night he be allowed to "sample" one of the group. His aspirations originally included producing an avian heir of the Phoenix Forge (looking hungrily at Finduilas), but telling from the two male Salamanders in bondage at his feet, he wouldn't mind time with Izaki or Matthias either.

• Much to Finduilas's dismay, the boys agreed, making all haste with the Brand back to the Ice Plane whilst she was left alone with the four-armed efreeti, slave to his every perverse whim...

• Matthias and Izaki leaped through the portal and found themselves at the bottom of the ice steps up to Angel Mountain, that is up to the Black Saint's abode. Racing upward, they were assaulted by a storm of one hundred ice mephits. Matthias held the Brand aloft and suddenly an explosion of heat erupted, one so intense it melted the stairs, the entire cliff face they were hewed upon, and reduced the ice mephits to a plume of steam.

• Matthias struggled to open the door into Angel Mountain, glaring at Izaki for the lack of help, and together they entered the entrance hall. The Lady of Black Ice eagerly awaited them, though despite the skald's pleas for some sort of boon against the Keeper, they fell on deaf ears. She hadn't an ounce of pity or concern, and only wished death. As she made a casual attack, Matthias was forced to use the Brand, thrusting it into her chest.

• Angel Mountain evaporated into a melted hill . All around, Vrauktom began to similarly melt into the mercury sea or be swallowed as steam in the planar storms. Those denizens who could fled, including the Frostfolk in their canoes and whatever mephits, hags and icy fliers existed across the realm.

• With the Black Saint gone, Matthias and Izaki realized they had no way back to the Phoenix Forge. They grimly flew up beyond the seismic destruction, watching as the planet-sized storms swooped in, and the isle was swallowed by an oceanic vortex. Death was all but certain...

• Or perhaps not, as a small portal opened in existence and out popped Arin the Planeswalker, asking rather cheerfully, and rather obliviously, if they needed a hand. The men quickly took his offer, leaping through and back into the fire plane.

Ronin Group: The Spoils of Angel Mountain

The spoils of Angel Mountain, at least what you could snag as the fortress and indeed the entire ice plane melted around you, are as follows:

• Two black crystal tears of the late Black Saint, Lady of Black Ice, Handmaiden to Delilah-in-Shadow. Their greater functions are unknown, even to the wisest scholars or most discerning magics.

• Cape of the Mounteback (DMG): *colored blue with gold trimming; a cold mist whenever the dimensional door is used

• Lion's Shield (DMG): *silvery hued; a snow leopard's head instead of a lion's

• Adamantine Breastplate (DMG): Paledoom's (the white dragon you killed) likeness on the chest

• Scepter of the Netherworld: *the head of the scepter looks like a bulbous, content man standing on the ground, the neck of the scepter is a coffin, the shaft of the scepter depicts the large man's emaciated soul slipping through the dead realms, and the hilt of the scepter is the man's skeleton in a fetal position; If you can turn or rebuke undead, the scepter allows you to do so as if you were 3 level higher in your turn/rebuking class.
  

• Ixitilan Bracers: *made of white salamander hide, always seeming a little wet and gooey; 3/day you can channel 1d8+5 electrical damage through a weapon for added bonus to damage. This can be declared after a successful hit. However, if you expend it before you roll to hit, you gain a +3 bonus to attack if the target is wearing metal armor, made of metal, or carrying a lot of metal. Should you miss, however, one daily use is still expended.
  

• Canaith Mandolin: *masterwork quality, cherry wood with painted blue elven women dancing with green lizards; +2 circumstance bonus to Perform (string instruments); With a Perform (string instruments) check at DC 13, you can cast either cure serious wounds, dispel magic, or summon monster III each once a day with a caster level equal to your character level.

• And, of course, you still have the Brand, Impetus of the Phoenix Forge, Spoiler of the Ice Plane, Bane to Cold Ones.
  

Ronin Session 3/14

GAME ON!!!

Archdruid Session 45

In memoriam of Gary Gygax, Archdruid Group has begun an updated and personalized romp through The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth module. I'm mostly drawing from the original 1e material, which is surprisingly fun. This is my first Gygax module, and in fact my first module period. And I love it!

• Sev and the group retrieved the hidden black powder stores from the tundra and put them in magic bags.

• The group followed the massive amount of tracks (originating from the barbarian village) into the Heartwoods.

• Encountered three Lordani, a ranger, a knife-wielder, and a shaman known as Rattler. A fourth revealed herself, Mira. They informed the group that the barbarians, as well as the giants and the Veluvians, had gone to Ivristel for war. They sadly could not join them...

• In a nut shell, Shalraza kidnapped the tribe's children and was keeping them as hostages so the Lordani wouldn't join the war effort against her. Likewise, she kidnapped the twelve brightest fey, which in turn prevented them from joining the war due to their extreme grief (fey are entirely ruled by emotions).

• The group agreed to save the children and the fey, and after sharing water, a pipe, and some words, were led by Lodai into a rotten section of the woods. On the way, Serren learned information involving the past owner of the caves.

• From there the group entered the Lost Caverns. They were slimy, smelly, slippery, and monster-infested.

• After Rend shaved a tunnel large enough to fit through, he aroused a colony of angry stirges which may have killed even the mighty hulk if not for a summoned gust of wind thanks to the archdruid and a sticky web from Serren.

• The group moved further into the tunnel, Rend stabbing the stirge nest and provoking the stirge queen, a massive insect with a fatal sting. She was quickly overpowered and finished off by Sirocco's expanding arrow.

• The next tunnel opened into a circular cavern with six passages and six doleful stone faces. Much time was spent here disarming and solving their riddle on the right way. Meantime, Serren began to explore, but quickly gave up since each passage was incredibly winding and very easy to get lost in.

• Through a moment of genius from the troll, the sixth passage was revealed to be the right way, and the group squeezed through into a larger tunnel blanketed with spores and pollen. Sirocco and Serren fought off allergies with an endless spray.

• The group was then confronted with an invisible rainbow snake creature, The Lurker in the Fields, some forty feet long, which they engaged once Sev managed to reveal it with a gust of wind, followed by Serren dousing it in water and thereby making it a pollen magnet.
  

Experience: 1800

Resolving the Campaign (Everyone's help NEEDED!)

With 5 months left in the campaign, I'm beginning to go over the huge story we've created and collect up all the loose ends, unfinished stories, and unresolved characters. My ultimate aim: tie it all up as best I can.

That being said, I need your help. Despite what loose ends I might perceive, I'm much more interested in addressing those you guys think should be dealt with. If you could leave comments here with characters unresolved, plots unfinished, issues with the story or campaign that were only partially addressed and need finishing, I'd be most grateful.

Let's finish Winters with a BANG, and I need your help doing it.

A practical guide to your fine-feathered friends, Raptorans.

Again, thanks Finduilas for this great piece of information:

Raptorans

Rayan Clergy

Thanks to Finduilas for this bit of insight:

Raya’s clergy is comprised mostly of elves, as she is the creator of the rest, though others of different races have been known to follow the Thawbringer. Her clergy usually wear a holy symbol tied around the neck, and other than that merely dress simply. Her clergy are taught to value life, show kindness, and stamp out undeath before it can rise. Raya’s clerics are stereotypically kind, generous people. All clerics of Raya believe undeath to be an abomination, which should not be allowed to begin, or continue. Clerics of the Thawbringer pray as soon as they’re awake, facing east, hands pointed towards the sun. Many also stop at sunset to do the same when it’s practical. Major holidays celebrated are the longest day of the year in the summer; All Clerics of Raya go to the temple nearest to them to participate in prayer, feasting, and entertainment. Clerics of Raya also fast on the shortest day of the year, from the rise of the sun, to the set of it. Elves hold the highest positions of authority in the temple as they’re considered to be Raya’s ‘Children.’ Daily life in temples vary by the temple itself, though most temples are wide open buildings, with open air, or glass ceilings in their main chapel, and the smaller rooms always well lit and very open.

Ronin Session 42

• The party moved down the stairs and into steam banks.

• Izaki discovered the function of pipe ribbing down the tunnel. Much like on a farm, they were livestock refreshers, though spewing veils of fire and steam instead of cool water.

• Dodged a gorgon, one massive metal bovine. Thunder followed after...
  

• Narrowly avoided a gorgon stampede! (which would have killed any who failed the save)

• Went unnoticed by salamander ranchers.

• Entered a planar corral with a multitude of surrounding passages.

• Met the crazy halfling planeswalker Arin, lost on some mad adventure, but friendly enough. Decided to help the party.
  

• Took the smooth, dark pipe down for what seemed like miles, listening to the sounds of forges, machinery and beasts off in other chambers.

• Finduilas was telepathically contacted by what Arin called the Phoenix.

• Discovered the great Wheel, pulled by gorgons, which powered the forges and machinery.

• Matthias created a distraction with a gorgon phantasm, riling up the beasts of burden, and allowing the group to pass unnoticed.

• Ran through a red-hot pipe that filled with fire every thirty seconds, flames hot on their heels!

• Found the meteor's molten heart and walked across the fissure amidst a nexus of walkways.

• Entered the presence of the Keeper, a four-armed efreeti of terrible power, with strange servants and a menacing audience chamber, complete with hostage Phoenix.

• Matthias attempted negotiations, but some things just aren't up for debate.

• The group entered a trial by combat versus two hulking gorgon bulls.

Experience: 2000

Archdruid Session 44

The battle with the Chillblain raged on, Rend and the creature continuing their epic struggle, though even the troll had difficulty whacking the quick, well-armored aberration. Serren showed up not long after in an explosive entrance, sending the monster flying into the air, but otherwise unscathed, as it caught itself and revealed the ability to fly. Sev conjured another lightning bolt, but once it was deflected, began drawing on his powers as Archdruid of the North for a more powerful attack, and a realm-shaking storm gathered overhead. Meantime, Sirocco noticed strange tubular tracks and the entrance to a lair, which he thought to investigate for a little combat surprise.

The Chillblain conjured a line of coldfire which sent the troll into unconsciousness, though Serren was able to defend himself with a spell. Likewise the mage defended himself when the Chillblain swooped in for an attack through the use of his spell shield. Sev's thunderheads suitably percolated, he drew an immense amount of electrical energy into his body and released it at the monster. It jolted the creature and creating a ruinous hole through its midsection. Sev followed up with a slothy claw attack that tore the hole even further. Serren sent a sphere of water its way, which froze in its cold aura and bludgeoned it with comet chunks. Finally, Sirocco emerged from the hole, riding an angry frost worm!, which reared in wild abandon and ate the nearest thing, namely the Chillblain.

At Sirocco's behest, Sev was able to calm and befriend the worm, though hardly train it. It ended up eating one of the boy's mammoths. Foolwolf led the surviving mammoth off into the distance, while Bunk and Kleid said their goodbyes, thinking it safer if they parted ways. Sev sent them off with a healthy parting gift and the young men walked off into the tundra.

Meantime, the group finished out the night, Serren, then Sirocco, taking watch. During this time Rend was still unconscious, and Sev was dreaming-speaking with his northern spirit guide on things that must be done. Serren noticed something peculiar with Sirocco before the watch switched, when he moved into the ethereal plane to discuss some things with his strange trio of Tempest, Tazjaree and Idaasila. Sirocco summoned Enil and, through the course of the night, discovered she could scent track across planar boundaries, at least those that overlapped the prime.

When the night was spent, the group awoke and began making plans on what to do next, ultimately deciding on collecting Sev's black powder, visiting the Heartwood for Lordani and fey aid, then making their move on Veluvia's ruins, where one of Shalraza's top generals and the Hoping awaited.

Travel just about to get under way, Serren made an off-hand comment about fey when in distant sight of the Heartwoods. Sev and Sirocco tried to warn him of their nature, knowing well from the Saspien trickster. Indeed, fey magic nearly caused Serren to be a chicken, whilst sporting antlers on his head.

Experience: Level 14