Campaign journals, reviews of TTRPG stuff, and musings on D&D.
Troll Lord Games is discounting their whole catalogue for 50% off. I am not sure for how long will the discount last.
Here are some of my past recommendations:
Spend responsibly!
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Original Adventures Reincarnated 9: Caverns of Thracia with slipcase, and Stretch Goal Pack (Book of Handouts, Goodman Games Gazette, GM screen, oversized player map, three poster maps, art prints, and logo sticker):
Lost Lore of Thracia, Monster & Magic of Thracia, and The Sacrifical Pyre of Thracia:
Original Adventures Reincarnated 9.5: Hellpits of Nightfang:
Wonderful package, but I absolutely dislike Goodman Games's decision not to brand the DCC versions the same way as 5e ones. That's literally the only reason I'm getting the latter instead of the former. Silly. Also silly that 5e and DCC versions of Caverns of Thracia were written concurrently so they differ in text, and not just in stat blocks. OAR9.5 does not include the original, which breaks the whole concept behind OAR line—which is to include the darn originals. We had seen something similar with OAR8, which also doesn't include the originals. I am not hopeful for the future of this product line.
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| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tikatu | Human | Druid level 1 | A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism. |
| Kho Rimbo | Human | Magic-User level 1 | A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic. |
| Tobias Lindflags | Hobbit | Thief level 2 | A sixth-born son standing to gain nothing from inheritance, so he set out to make his own fortune in the world. |
| Somniel | Elf | Fighter level 1 / Magic-User level 1 | An elf of ambivalent age suffering from mild amnesia. |
Tobias milled about the wizard's chamber. He had just found a Ring of Invisibility. Emboldened, he reached for one of the scroll cases resting lazily on the shelf along the north wall. He carefully opened one, took out the scroll, and unfurled it. Tikatu and Kho Rimbo approached the hobbit.
Scroll looked like a scribbled map of some sort of complex. The lines were quite straight, and all chambers were rectangular. No angled corridors! Tobias felt his insides churn as he was sucked into the map. Tikatu and Kho Rimbo did not fare any better.
⁂
The trio found themselves in the presence of awesome tree of fire. Despite being confined in a chamber some twenty by twenty feet, they felt no great heat. Each had a vision in their head, showing them walk through the fire and being spat out back in the wizard's quarters.
An unfamiliar elf sat in the corner of the chamber. He was in deep slumber. Tobias woke him up. Elf introduced himself as Somniel, had no idea where he was or why, and immediately accepted the offer to join this adventuring trio in discovering more about this fascinating locale.
Following the only exit out of this chamber led to doors wreathed in fire. Like with the tree, these flames did not hurt the adventures. They pushed the doors open, finding a rectangular chamber some twenty by forty feet.
A giant, human-sized, gold scorpion, rested on a pile of golden coins. Observing it confirmed it was not a statue, but living arachnid. There were two doors leading out of the scorpion chamber—one to the north and one to the west. Both were behind the oversized gilded arachnid. Tikatu figured out that tossing a gold coin to the scorpion made it chitter a happy tune. So each one threw a coin and moved north. Tobias became intimate with his ring, refusing to take it off.
North doors led them down a corridor twisting east, until they reached another doors. Adventurers returned to the scorpion chamber, and went through the west doors, which led them to a four way junction. While discussing where to go next they were assaulted by three raging men.
Men were naked, with crazy, spittle-caked beards, and mad darting eyes. Their manhood swung wilder than their battle-axes. Tikatu was knocked unconscious by a might whack to the side of his head. Somniel was put to sleep through beheading. Kho Rimbo and Tobias sprinted back into the scorpion room, slamming the door shut behind them.
They fled through the flaming doors, and observed from there. There was loud banging on the doors, but that soon stopped. Once they summed up enough courage, the duo returned. They carefully opened the doors. Headless Somniel was prostrated in the corridor. Tikatu was dismembered, blood and gore all over. Invisible Tobias snuck up to the corpses, intended on picking up “the good stuff.” Sound of naked feet slapping the cold stone sent him packing.
The duo decided to go back north. Listening at the doors at the end of twisting corridor revealed deep croaking. Tobias prepared his web nuts, while Kho Rimbo opened the doors. Hobbit aimed at the two dog-sized fiery red toads, slipped, and threw the web nut right next to him. Vial hit the door frame, smashed open, releasing its sticky content. Thick, stringy webs engulfed both Tobias and Kho Rimbo.
Without anyone to get them out—and both being too weak to break the webs—they suffocated to death.
⁂
The trio found themselves in the presence of awesome tree of fire. Despite being confined in a chamber some twenty by twenty feet, they felt no great heat. Each had a vision in their head, showing them walk through the fire and being spat out back in the wizard's quarters.
An unfamiliar elf sat in the corner of the chamber. He was in deep slumber. Tobias woke him up. Elf introduced himself as Somniel, had no idea where he was or why, and immediately accepted the offer to join this adventuring trio in discovering more about this fascinating locale.
Following the only exit out of this chamber led to doors wreathed in fire. Like with the tree, these flames did not hurt the adventures. They pushed the doors open, finding a rectangular chamber some twenty by forty feet.
There a giant golden scorpion rested on a pile of gold coins. Tobias counted the coins—the pile included their “tribute” as well. Adventurers pondered what this might mean. Then they decided to take it out on giant toads.
They broke through the doors, took the toads by surprise, and assaulted them head on. Somniel struck one of the toads, injuring it. Tobias backstabbed the wounded toad, in a very dramatic manner. He snuck up on it, whilst invisible, and then jumped up, delivering a downwards blow, driving his shortsword deep into the creature's flesh. It dropped dead.
Second toad bit off a sizable chunk of Tikatu, which isn't to say much due to his diminutive size. Somniel, now fully awake, pommeled the toad on top of its head mercilessly, turning it into nothing but mush.
Meme by MLord.
The chamber was bathed in orange-red colour, seemingly emanating from the flagstones. Party listened at the north doors. After hearing nothing they followed the south corridor, which led them to another doors. They could hear several voices speaking behind it.
Once more they broke through, intent to dish out some violence. This was a sizable chamber, some forty by fifty feet. Three men squatted on the floor, sitting in a semi-circle around improvised camp-fire. Bows were next to them.
Kho Rimbo materialised a magical dagger. Then he sent it flying straight through the head of the man who reached for the bow. Surviving duo shot but missed. This was punished by Somniel who charged forth and busted the head of one. Last one was backstabbed to death by the invisible thief.
Men had a total of one thousand five hundred and thirty copper pieces, as well as six hundred thirty-six silver pieces. Adventurers left them here for now.
Archway to the north led down a long corridor. Doors to the south led to another long corridor. Quartet opted to go south. This led them to an empty chamber and another long corridor, heading west, ultimately taking them to a T-shaped junction. They could see doors to the west, doors on the east side of the north corridor, and a chamber even further north.
North they went. Doors lead them to a dead end. Chamber has open-top glass urns with giant centipedes inside them. They went back to the T-shaped junction and listened at the west doors. They heard a sound of flesh smacking flesh.
Forcing the doors open revealed a chamber some twenty by thirty feet. Two men dressed in soiled plate armour stood in the center. Both had red cheeks. One finished slapping the other just as the party had broken in. They both turned their had to the adventurers and grinned.
Adventurers decided to wait a moment to see what this two fine gentlemen will do. They did the following: grinned widely, took out their broadswords, and hacked Somniel to death. Tikatu was next. Once again, Kho Rimbo and Tobias sprinted for their life.
They ran down the long corridor eastwards, the north through the empty chamber, and then back into the chamber where they killed three men, then west and north into the orange-red stoned chamber, then west, then south past the scorpion, past the flaming doors, all the way to the tree of fire.
They waited and waited, but neither Somniel, nor Tikatu reappeared in the chamber.
“Perhaps we all need to die?”
“Maybe it is time to cut our losses, get the coins, and get out?”
Maybe, but that wasn't what the surviving duo did. They backtracked to the chamber where they left two thousand coins. And then they explored the long corridor to the north. Kho Rimbo held a torch, while Tobias sneaked behind him, invisible.
Tobias witnessed three arrows piercing Kho Rimbo—one through the eye, one through the shoulder, and one into the chest. The magic-user fell down to the ground with a loud thud. His torch extinguished.
Tobias held his breath, hugged the wall, and calmed his heart. Two figures became visible at the end of the corridor as they lit up a torch of their own. Tobias walked softly to the south end of the corridor. Then he nocked his bow, and aimed. This time he struck true—twice!
Two figures fell to the ground. Their torch did not go out. The hobbit investigated the room of two assailants, finding several jars full of gold coins. He took them all out—four hundred seventy-six to be precise—and filled a large sack. The he hauled it back south, added copper and silver pieces, and then got lost, made a few circles and wrong turns, but eventually found his way back to the scorpion chamber.
There the giant golden scorpion gazed at him, expectantly. Tobias took out a handful of golden pieces and added them to the arachnid's pile. The beast chittered and clacked a happy tune. Tobias went through the flaming doors, took a deep breath, and stepped into the tree of fire.
He found himself back in the wizard's chamber. A sack of coins weighted his hand. The scroll in his hands turned into ash. Tikatu and Kho Rimbo stood behind him. A familiar elf slept on the ground besides him.
What else will they find in the fugitive wizard's quarters?
Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.
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| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambros | Human | Cleric level 6 | Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time. |
| Ignaeus | Elf | fighter level 5 / Magic-User level 4 | A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge. |
| Tikatu | Human | Druid level 1 | A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism. |
| Kho Rimbo | Human | Magic-User level 1 | A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic. |
| Dalkanarion | Human | Fighter level 5 | A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself. |
| Tobias Lindflags | Hobbit | Thief level 1 | A sixth-born son standing to gain nothing from inheritance, so he set out to make his own fortune in the world. |
| Helmuth Mithaft | Human | Fighter level 1 | A bold mercenary with glorious red beard and pearly facial hair. |
Spreading out in the X shaped chamber, the adventurers split between investigating the marble statues and guarding the stairs leading further down. Following the blood trail led them to this chamber. It continued down the stair.
The statues of naked men armed with spear and shield. They had nothing of value on them, although the did find remnants of a long deceased adventurers with two rotten sacks of coins. Judging them to be too heavy to carry now, the party left them where they are.
Dalkanarion burst into the chamber, ready to dish out some pain. He rode hard from the Cedarwade Keep, having left it in capable hands of Jace. He was joined by another massive specimen, the notorious mercenary Helmuth Mithaft.
Emboldened by fresh meat slabs for the front line, the adventurers descended into the darkens. Blood trail split to the right and left. Left trail led them to several dead ends, most filled with grisly remains of ghastly ghouls.
Ambros recognised two of his fanatic followers. So he ordered his living followers to drag out the remains of his deceased followers.
Moving north, following the right hand path, led the party into an octagonal chamber filled with gnawed bones, an defiled scraps. The air was humid. To the north was a round chamber, in essence a pool with circular gangway running around. Iron rungs were spaced nearly a hand apart, making it a real risk that small, elegant foot—like the ones of a hobbit or elf—could easily slip through and sink into foetid water beneath.
To east was a most curious long corridor. Every ten feet was a ten by ten iron grate, flanked by an alcove to the sides. Beneath each grate was dark water within arms' reach. While most of the adventurers discussed how to traverse the weird corridor, Tobias listened attentively.
He heard sounds as if something was breaking the water surface, but it was at irregular intervals and he could not see anything in the darkness. He informed the party.
Having throughouly discussed their course of action, the adventurers decided to avoid stepping over the grates in case they break under the weight of heftier members. They would go two by two, each stepping into the alcove on the side, and then stepping on the solid ground beyond the grate.
Ambros commanded a squad of heavy footmen to guard the octagonal room while they move down the corridor. In other words, they were to protect the rear so adventurers are not caught in a difficult position in the corridor.
Party crossed a total of five grates before reaching the end of the corridor. And what a sight it was! Wood doors, covered with painted and carved symbols, runes, and pictograms! These were obviously of more recent make, and not how the doors were made.
As Ignaeus and Ambros approached the doors to investigate them closer, junior adventurers, who shall be left unnamed, hid in the alcoves by the grates, “just in case.” Dalkanarion and Helmuth stepped to the side, into the corridor leading south, down to the steep staircase.
The inscriptions were magical, no doubt about it. They were also entirely unreadable. Ignaeus was unwilling to doff his armour in order to cast Read Magic. Ambros did spot an overly-elaborate cursive script. It was very similar to the script on the scroll he had read before. The one that rendered himself and Dalkanarion hairless. The one that turned two of his colleagues into charcoal. Naturally, he read it.
The script read:
“Klekless Racoba”
Silent gasps could be heard.
Have they finally found the fugitive wizard?
Paranoia set in.
What's with the grates?
What's with the runes?
The doors must obviously be trapped!
What to do? How to open them?
Alarmed yelling disrupted adventurers' contemplation.
Tikatu the pygmy was first to see the horror that befell Ambros's squadron.
Desperate screams supplanted yelling as a pack of feral ghouls tore through the heavy footmen. The latter were completely surprised.
“Begone in the name of Aniu! Begone in the name of Forseti!” Ambros bellowed, holding the golden gavel up high.
Undead cannibals fled in presence of such awesome divinity. They left a gory scene behind them. Not a single footman was left standing. Tikatu and Tobias could hear sounds of splashing water as the monsters fled.
“Let's just pour all the oil we have on the doors. Then we burn them down.”
Everyone agreed. Once the doors were well oiled, the adventurers returned to the octagonal chamber. They avoided the grates on their way back. Looking at the pool to the north did not reveal any floating ghouls. Quiet splashing could be heard from time to time.
Illustration by Brulligrum.
Ambros found that four of the footmen were still alive, albeit paralysed. They were dragged into the corner and left there to recover.
Dalkanarion, Helmuth, and Ignaeus decide to lift the grate closest to them, to form a sort of barrier in case something comes at them down the long corridor. Elf was tasked with looping a rope through the rungs. As soon as he pushed the rope down one of the rungs, three pairs of rotted arms emerged from the water and clawed at him. Being an elf he was not susceptible to the perils of ghoulish caress, so he just shrugged them off. The plan was abandoned.
Tobias was trusted with the task of hitting a large, immovable plank at hundred feet. He wrapped an oil soaked rug around his arrow tip. Then he lit it. Finally, he shot it straight down the corridor, hitting his target true.
The doors caught fire. By the time they burnt down, the surviving heavy footmen have regained their facilities. Whole party moved onward, sidestepping grates as before. Ignaeus took the rearguard. Four heavy footmen were assigned to watch the south corridor leading down the steep staircase. Others investigated the chamber up ahead.
The room was finely furnished. Large, plush carpet dominated the center. A solid bed was to the south. Heavy oak writing desk was to the east. Tall closet was next to it. North wall was lined with wooden shelves. There were another doors to the north too, and they too were covered with symbols and arcane lettering.
Besides the furniture, room was almost empty. There was no mattress nor lining, nor pillows, on the bed. Shelves were bare, besides three leather bound tomes and a dozen of scroll cases. Writing desk was completely bereft of anything. Wardrobe was empty too.
Three ghouls dared to exit the foul water. They crawled and started chewing on their victims ankles. Ignaeus had spotted them—courtesy of coin enchanted with continual light that was left behind in the octagonal chamber—and forced them to retreat by peppering them with arrows.
Tikatu bobbed through the wizard's chamber, uttering the words of power. Several objects were wreathed in soft, purplish light, detecting as magical. A dozen scrolls lit up. The door frame and hinges on the northern doors. Something inside the second drawer of the writing desk.
Seeing how violently mundane the carpet is, Helmuth gingerly rolled it with his polearm. Confirming no traps beneath it, he rolled it completely and then secured it with rope. It was a heavy carpet, even for absolute unit like himself.
Tobias opened the drawer. Then he pried open the false bottom. And there he had seen the source of pale purple light. A gold ring with a polished emerald gem. The hobbit took the ring, slid it on his finger, and vanished.
“Oh no, not again.”
What else will the adventurers find—or lose—in the chamber of the fugitive wizard?
Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.
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A zine chronicling the Conquering the Barbarian Altanis D&D campaign.
This issue details sessions 82, 83, and 84.
Adventurers undertake two independent treasure-seeking forays, and one untimely, but also unsurprising, ending.
You can download the issue here.
Overlord's Annals zine is available as part of the Ever & Anon APA, issue 3:
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| Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily | Reward |
| Question | When |
| Mood | Enthusiastic |
| Subject | Rule |
Prompt interpretation:
When does a rule reward enthusiatic gameplay?
Any rule that include leeway and/or guidance on how to account for especially daring undertaking. In Dungeon Master's Guide Gary suggested ranking players on how well they played, and then modifying their earned experience based on that. One could be inspired by such system, and devise a table of their own modifiers that considers the boldness, ingenuity, and enthusiasm of players' plans and actions.
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| Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily | Experience |
| Question | Who |
| Mood | Grateful |
| Subject | Art |
Prompt interpretation:
Who would be most grateful for experiencing fine art?
In the Barbarian Altanis? Most likely appreciators of fine art would be elves of Actun, Anatal, and Onhir.
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| Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily | Connect |
| Question | Why |
| Mood | Lucky |
| Subject | Character |
Prompt interpretation:
Why are all lucky characters connected to the Leyjara River?
Perhaps fortunate beastmen of Horaja could say more about that.
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| Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily | Suspense |
| Question | Where |
| Mood | Enthusiastic |
| Subject | Art |
Prompt interpretation:
Where can an enthusiastic art collector suspend their art?
There are no art galleries in the Barbarian Altanis.
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| Prompt | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily | Tactic |
| Question | Why |
| Mood | Envious |
| Subject | Character |
Prompt interpretation:
Why are adventurers envious of beastmen' tactics?
Because beastmen fight “cowardly” by hiding in darkness and shooting at iron-clad, magical-sword-wielding, divinely blessed, potion juiced, balls-to-the-walls, fearless fightining men, paladins, rangers, and clerics. Of course, the last one come with hammers and maces. Some crazy guys bring flails and sledgehammer, just for the fun of it.
Funnily, the above mini-Gods-of-War bemoan their adversaries, wishing they too could be hidding like little cowards, shooting at their foes from “safe” distance. But there are no safe distances in the dungeons.
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