Attronarch's Athenaeum

Campaign journals, reviews of TTRPG stuff, and musings on D&D.

This was an impromptu session with my brother, father, and partner. Try to guess who played which character.

Adventurers

Character Race Class Description
Dita Afrodita Human Cleric level 1 Lover of everything intellectual.
Holy Biggus Dongus I Human Cleric level 1 Worshiper of the Dong.
Holy Biggus Dongus II Human Fighter level 1 Also worshiper of the Dong.
Bobby I Human Fighter level 1 A fighter.
Bobby II Human Magic-User level 1 Thrown out of the academy due to his immense wisdom. Relative of Bobby I.
Bobby III Human Magic-User level 1 Thrown out of the academy due to his massive bulk. Friend of Bobby II.

Summer of year 4435 according to the Balozkinar’s Corrected Commoners’ Calendar

“Screw this, let's go drinking in the village.”

Three adventurers—cleric Dita Afrodita, cleric Holy Biggus Dongus, and magic-user Bobby—immediately abandoned dungeon in front of them, judging the place to be too dangerous.

Therefore they headed back to Ahyf, a fishing village overlooking the Winedark sea. There they partied and wasted their coin for days.

Dita entertained the villagers, Bobby was telling everyone what is real and what is not, and Biggus Dongus was asking around for other places of interest.

Wise Bobby collected pine cones and filled them with resin. Then he asked Dita to bless them. These, he was sure, would be perfect firebombs.

Weighing their options, the trio decided to return to the dungeon overlooking the sea. It sounded way better than going up the Ghinarian Hills swarming with cannibal barbarians flaying passerbys.

The dungeon was in fact an old fort carved into the side of the cliff. A narrow ledge, barely sufficient for one person, led to the entrance, an opening in the cave. The tunnel then led to a bridge over the river spilling into the sea, which connected the tunnel with the stone dock.

Stone platform stretched for some hundred yards. Stone wall was to the right, while three lower platforms were to the left. Rubble and debris covered the pathway.

Adventurers could see three ancient rowboats attached to each of the three piers. Visually inspecting them confirmed that all were in a rather poor shape. There was an interesting chest in the middle boat.

While the adventurers dreamt of treasure, half a dozen stirges surprised them from above. The fight was brutal. Monsters dive bombed with ferocity.

Dongus swatted one off Dita, opting to ignore the one sucking him dry.

“Forget the pine cones! Get them off me!” he yelled to Bobby. Alas, the magic-user was preoccupied with his “magical” cones. Another stirge rammed Dongus, driving its proboscis through his soft neck. The cleric was dead.

Dita crushed stirge after stirge. She also crushed Dongus's head, missing the monster on him. By the time she was finished there was no one and nothing breathing but her.

Overtaken by grief she left the dungeon, travelled to Ahyf, and then travelled to Hara. She hoped to gain audience with the Great Wizard-King Klekless Racoba, so she could ask him to bring her two friends back to life.

Alas, that did not go as she had hoped. So she recruited two new adventurers instead: Holy Biggus Dongus II and Bobby II. Together they travelled to Ahyf and prepared for the dungeon expedition.

They spent weeks following Bobby's plan to create three resin filled strawmen. Bobby II argued that burning them would surely keep the stirges away.

Dungeon was where they left it. Corpses were gone. Adventurers left a strawman on each pier. Then they focused on the pier with rowboat that housed a single chest.

Dongus II was smart. Instead of going into rotten boat he threw the rope around the chest and pulled it out. Boat creaked as it snapped and capsized, and eventually sunk.

Opening the chest revealed a thousand or so silver pieces, a silver necklace, and a dagger with pale bluish glow.

The party discussed what to do next for so long that they were surprised by four lizardmen jumping out of the water. Two jumped at the far side of the pier, while other two jumped out quite close to Dongus II and Dita.

Bobby II was promptly driven down and stabbed to death. Dita and Dongus smashed their opposition, cutting them down and crushing their limbs. They collected the treasure and left for Ahyf.

Back in the village they recruited Bobby III, another magic-user. This one was a fan of Magic Missile. No pine cone nor resin fetish.

Dita led the refreshed party back to the dungeon. This time they ignored the piers and explored rest of the dock.

At the far end was a twenty feet wide gate with rusty portcullis. Iron grates were rusted, locking the portcullis hanging some three feet off the ground.

In the center of the dock was another portal, albeit with no obvious gates. It was more like a twenty feet wide and tall alcove with flame motifs. Bobby III carried one of the strawmen into the alcove and then set it on fire. Nothing happened. Except smoke.

The trio reconvened by the rusted portcullis.

A large domed hall sprawled beyond the gates. A spiral of mystic runes and scrawls dominated the floor. Three corpses laid on the floor, their garments rotted beyond recognition.

Bobby III cast his single Magic Missile at one of the corpses. It turned over from the force, but otherwise remained dormant.

Dongus II the cowboy lassoed the corpses closest to him and then dragged it towards the portcullis. Corpse twitched and rose. Veteran pulled on the rope, pinning the undead to the iron grates. Dita and Bobby III quickly dispatched of the corpse by smashing and stabbing it.

Dongus repeated the process on the second corpse. Adventurers' tactic worked brilliantly once again. Third corpse was a different story. This one was powerful enough to pull itself free from the mighty thews of Holy Biggus Dongus II. It ducked under the grates, and lunged in savage assault.

Dita blocked, but was clawed. She found it difficult to move, and was soon entirely immobile. Dongus did not fare much better. It was Bobby III and his glowing dagger that saved the day. He drove it into the neck of vile undead. Then he touched his paralysed allies with magic dagger, silver necklace, and other items from the backpack. Nothing got them to move. So he dragged both to the dungeon entrance.

An hour or so later both Dita and Dongus regained control of their bodies. Adventurers called it a day and returned to Ahyf.

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Adventurers

Character Race Class Description
Thorm Dwarf Fighter level 4 / thief level 5 Ashen hair, beard, and eyes. Left his own clan due to financial trouble.
Ambros Human Cleric level 6 Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus Elf Fighter level 4 / magic-user level 5 A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove Human Thief level 6 A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Tikatu Human Druid level 3 A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari Human Ranger level 1 Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo Human Magic-user level 3 A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.

Sunstrong 13th, Earthday

“What do you mean?”

Rall Kyle, a minor noble in charge of Ironburg, squirmed in his chair. Just minutes ago he was yelling at one of his servants for not letting in Kho Rimbo sooner. But now he was growing suspicious.

“I was waiting for you to hear about latest news. How could I inform you? Is this... is this another test?”

Rall squinted at Kho Rimbo quizzically. Foxglove and Thorm sat in silence. They were in Rall's house, a two-story building with six rooms, situated some twenty minutes east of the village.

Kho Rimbo acted before Rall had time to think.

“That's about right! You are always being tested! RAKOBA HAS HIS EYES EVERYWHERE! I AM HIS EYES! HE KNOWS ALL! NOW, SPILL YOUR GUTS!”

Rall Kyle began sweating profusely. Adventurers' intimidating ruse worked.

He stammered and stuttered, trying to explain how he did his part of the bargain, but mining is getting harder and harder. Miners are lazy and incompetent and always ask for rest and wages. He was hoping that orc miners Racoba had promised would arrive any day now.

“D-D-Darvin. He is the foreman. He is guilty for the delay!”

“Fix this! I will be watching! Wizard-King Racoba will be watching!”

Satisfied with what they have learned, the adventurers left Rall to marinate in fear and anxiety while they headed back to Ironburg. There they decided that it would be most opportune to work on Kho Rimbo's geas—which the conjurer accept in exchange for tutelage by Old Crus, and experienced wizard. All he had to was bring some monster parts from Woelands.

Ignaeus and Ambros knew the closest entrance into the Wilderlands' underbelly—the stone circle atop the Midnight Goddess Hills. A party of seven adventurers and one porter—young Hazard—set out for the hills.

Sunstrong 15th, Spiritday

Sun was brutal. Heat was immense. Adventurers did not care, for they marched on. They reached their destination around noon. Descending down long, spiral stairs, worn by time, chilled everyone down.

This dungeon was familiar to Ignaeus, Foxglove, and Ambros, whom had been here several seasons ago. This was the place where Tagoler of the Castle of the Wode lost a patrol of rangers. A place where abominable spider-men walk about. A place where abyssal monstrosities weave pale green webs that paralyse men, and melt flesh.

Entry chamber was filled with azure blue haze, preventing anyone from seeing further than their own palm. The elf remembered all the traps and thus warned others accordingly. It took adventurers two hours to navigate this humble chamber and figure out how to open doors with a pit trap in front of them. But they succeeded.

Once they were in the long, dark corridor, they opted to head east for some hundred feet. The corridor bent south and then west. They stopped to inspect broken doors through which pale green light emanated. Empty.

Moving on, the party followed the bending corridor, until they reached a sixty feet long stretch with three doors on the west side. Behind first doors was an empty room. Behind second doors was a room with tattered greenish webs. Third doors revealed a chamber filled with intact webs pulsating with sickly green hue.

Thorm took a peek, pushing in the arm he was holding the torch with. A disgusting spider-like monstrosity surprised him from above, but failed to bite him. The dwarf slammed the doors shut. Adventurers spent some time planning how to overcome this threat. Military oil was the solution everyone agreed upon.

One of the adventurers pulled the doors wide open. Thorm chucked in a flask of burning military oil. It splashed on strings of web. Amari, followed by few others, charged in from the adjoining room, the one that was behind second doors, only to be assaulted from above by the same monstrosity that tried to impregnate Thorm.

She got bit, and felt getting weaker by the round. Tikatu soon suffered the same fate. Adventurers were unable to strike the abomination for every time their weapon was about to connect the monster would simply become immaterial.

“Begone!” Ambros thundered, holding up his Golden Gavel of Justice. Abyssal spider-like creature hissed and fled through the webs. Carefully following, adventurers moved slowly through the webs, making sure they do not accidentally touch them.

There was an opening on the south side, an alcove, leading into three feet tall crawlspace. Ground was covered by damp soil. Foxglove and Ambros got down on all four and went it. The former spotted something glowing in the soil, some fifteen feet westwards.

Coming closer, the thief could see this was a hand harp of sorts. He tried to gently pull on it. As his reward two rotten arms burst from the loose soil and grabbed him around the neck, choking him. Luckily, Ambros was right next to him. The arms disintegrated into dust as soon as the cleric began chanting the holy words.

Foxglove played with the harp a bit, but produced nothing but disturbing and discordant tunes. He tucked it into his backpack and continue crawling forward, into an octagonal chamber.

This eight-sided chamber was tilled with alternating obsidian and redstone slabs. Slanted ceiling rose from north to south, from eight feet around the walls to reaching twenty feet high on the south side. Beneath the highest point an altar carved of black marble sat, with subtle runes carved upon its smooth surface.

Adventurers spread out to investigate the chamber and altar.

What will they learn? And will Kho Rimbo find something to bring back to Old Crus? Or will he disappoint him once more?

Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.

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OSRIC 3.0 Player Guide PDF has just been released for free on DriveThruRPG. Offset print and print-on-demand will be available next year, as well as GM Guide, adventures, and a host of other material.

OSRIC, Old School Reference and Index Compilation, was the first retroclone of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Released almost 20 years ago, it led the charge during early days of OSR, providing means to legally publish content compatible with AD&D.

OSRIC 3.0 brings a host of improvements, focusing on providing more explanations and examples of play, replacing dense blocks of text with more accessible layout, discards OGL, and brings the rules even closer to AD&D, just to name a few.

Learn more about OSRIC 3.0 on BackerKit.

#News #OSRIC #OSR

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Pilots' Almanac: Maritime & Piloting Rules is currently DriveThruRPG deal of the day for 50% off. Although for Hârn, I found it to be a great resource in my OD&D game, especially the sections on crews, ships, and maritime trade. An expensive book that rarely goes on sale.

Frog God Games is also running a 50% off sale. From what I can see some of the products are 75% off. Good sale to pick up some of the more expensive tomes and bundles like Razor Coast, Northlands, and Necromancer Games supplements.

#Sale #FGG #NG #Harn #OSR

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Adventurers

Character Race Class Description
Heinrik Human Magic-user level 1 Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
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.
Foxglove Human Thief level 6 A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Tikatu Human Druid level 3 A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari Human Ranger level 1 Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Kho Rimbo Human Magic-user level 3 A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic.

Sunstrong 5th, Spiritday

Sun beat down on Ghinarian Hills with no mercy. Not a trace of clouds to offer some shade or protection. Seven adventurers—Alaric, Ambros, Andvar, Heinrik, Ignaeus, Seren, and Tikatu—spent a week hiding away in a smelly ogre lair they had cleaned up.

During that time Alaric and Seren scouted Midway, confirming that it too was conquered by Racoba's forces. Tikatu was still recoiling from his wounds. A decision was made. The party would travel close to Ahyf. Then all but Heinrik would find a spot by the coast to hide.

Heinrik would go alone, with nothing but staff and few well hidden gold pieces, to the village, check in on Amari, Somniel, and Mepheus, and finally, hire a sailing ship to take them to Ironburg.

That was the plan.

Here is how it went.

Enroute to the village Heinrik was stopped by a dozen brigands. They were cheerful and offered him to “escort” him to Ahyf in exchange for some coin. Heinrik was delighted to pay them seven gold pieces. They indeed delivered on their promise, which was easy since the village was literally within sight, less than half an hour of walking away.

Magic-User had no problem with the guards at the entrance. “We already took care of him!” patrol leader winked to the guards. The latter just waved them away, cart half-full of weapons and trinkets behind them.

After confirming that Mepheus, Somniel, and Amari were fine, he negotiated with three fishermen with sizeable coaster to take him to Ironburg, forty leagues upriver. He agreed to pay them thirty gold pieces if they set out tomorrow morning.

Sunstrong 6th, Airday

Amari, now fully recovered, and Mepheus, joined Heinrik on the boat. They set out before dawn, rowing along the coast to pick up Ambros, Ignaeus, and Seren whom were hiding an hour or so away from Ahyf.

Then they sailed west, to the confluence of mighty rivers Cedarwade and Farhills. These are wide rivers, and clear day provided good visibility. Thus, they sailed north, towards Ironburg.

As they approached Hara they could see a man waving a flag at them, pointing to the harbour.

“What shall we do?” asked the fisherman “They want us to enter.”

“Just sail around them. As close to the east bank as possible.” instructed Ambros.

The coaster was soon peppered with arrows, kill two out of the three fishermen. The surviving one cursed the adventurers all the way to Ironburg. Navigating a coast with one third of the crew was an insane undertaking, but through sheer luck they made it in one piece.

“Where will I find seamen in this godforsaken place?!” the fisherman lamented as he wiped away the tears with a purse filled with gold pieces.

Ambros went straight to the Hog's Head Inn and rented out all the rooms. This will be the adventurers base of operations for the time being. Or,at least, so they planned.

Sunstrong 7th, Waterday

Adventurers caught up with Kho Rimbo, Foxglove, and Thorm, whom were each on their own mission in Ironburg for some time now.

“Heinrik, I am telling you, you need to meet Old Crus. He is old and slow, but great mentor. Amazing library too!”

Heinrik had lost his spellbook, and he wanted to write himself a new one. But that was nigh impossible without source material and appropriate supplies. Prospect of Old Crus sounded great.

And so, whilst others shopped and explored the hamlet, Kho Rimbo, Heinrik, and Ignaeus went to visit the Old Crus's tower.

As it goes, they had to wait nearly half an hour before the grumpy wizard opened the doors. He looked at Kho Rimbo. Then at Ignaeus. Then at Heinrik. Then at Kho Rimbo again. Then elf. Then muscle mage.

Kho Rimbo talked, but old Crus did not listen. Instead he asked:

“Am I Lysander?”

Kho Rimbo was dumbfound.

“Sorry, what?”

Old Crus leaned in and enunciated:

“Am-I-Lysander?”

“Sorry, I do not understand!”

Old Crus widened his eyes and spelled it out:

“A-m I L-y-s-a-n-d-e-r?”

Kho Rimbo cried out:

“I am sorry, is that a-”

Old Crus slammed the doors shut, almost hitting the scarred man in the face.

“Well, that went great.”

“I'll knock again!”

“What did you do to him to piss him off so much?” Heinrik inquired.

The doors swung open once more.

Kho Rimbo talked about Klekless Racoba, and how he is out to get all the wizards, and how he needs help so he can get monster parts from Woelands, and he begged and begged and begged until Old Crus relented.

Old wizard leaned on his gnarly staff and squinted at Heinrik, sizing him up. “Well, I never mentored an imbecile. I guess I could try it as a fun pastime.” He motioned the muscle mage to come in. Then he turned to Kho Rimbo, eyes of attack. “Enough groveling! Do you take me for a fool! You evaded and dodged your geas for long enough. This elf next to you knows how to enter Woelands! Do not come back empty handed!”

“No, really, Kho Rimbo, I must know what you did to the old man? Why does he hate you so much?” Heinrik whispered to Kho Rimbo as he entered Crus's tower.

Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.

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Last year I rolled 70 magical weapons as part of the RPG Blog Carnival: Wondrous Weapons and Damning Dweomers. Since then several people asked me for a print-friendly PDF versions.

Here they are:

Enjoy!

Illustration by Grey Gnome Games.

#Resource #OSR #ODnD #SW #Arduin #LL

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Adventurers

Character Race Class Description
Deigos Human Thief level 3 Oily dark hair, slightly mustached, youthful expression, feels the call of revolution.
Alaric Human Paladin level 3 Big, doe eyed country boy with wavy blond hair and willingness to do the right thing. Paladin of Tyr.
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 3 A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Andvar Dwarf Fighter level 2 / thief level 2 A standout amongst dwarves with clean shaven chin and two large braids hangings from the sides. A scruffy looking redhead.

Warmshade 16th, Airday

Adventurers spent the day asking around in Ketche. They hadn't learned much, for this is a secluded fishing village which is rarely visited by civilised folk from Hara. Queen was nowhere to be seen, and Ambros did not feel compelled to follow her command anymore. Deigos, a thief full of dreams joined the party. Tikatu convinced a team of fishermen to transport them to Ahyf.

Warmshade 17th, Waterday

Adventurers sailed out of the Vigil Sound bay and towards Ahyf. The fishermen dropped them off some two leagues west of the village, per adventurers' request.

Seren and Tikatu found a nice wooded gully where the party could sequester to and rest. It was evening and adventurers decided it'd be best to stay out of Ahyf before less known adventurers scout it out. Tikatu and Deigos volunteered to do so.

They reached Ahyf in two hours of brisk walk.

“No weapons in Ahyf. King's orders.” They were stopped by three armed brigands. Nearby cart had a small pile of weapons in it. Duo gave up theirs. As they walked towards the village they could see brigands take Deigos's knife.

They quickly learned that a throng of brigands led by a man named Bandles marched into Ahyf just three days ago. Bandles seized control as the new Sheriff appointed by the Wizard-King Klekless Racoba. At that time a manacled man dressed in a wizardy robe, with a bruised face and scab-covered palms, was forced to read the proclamation:

“Peoples of Hara, rejoice! The reign of tyrannical Red Bitch has come to an end! His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba, has liberated Hara and all of its lands! A new era of prosperity is about to begin!

People of Ahyf, rejoice! You too shall enjoy protection from Hara, effective immediately! You shall fear no more! You shall suffer no more! You too shall prosper!

His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba, has great plans for Our Kingdom. Therefore, all men of talent, foresight, and gumption are invited to Hara and seek employment at the Court.

Gifted and loyal men will be greatly rewarded, for few are as generous as His Regal Magnificence, Majestic Munificence, Wizard-King Racoba!

What greater evidence of his generosity than Royal Pardons for Chief Crook Ambros, Incompetent Castellan Marlon, Selfish Mavis, and number of others who have actively worked against the wellbeing of peoples?!

Peoples of Hara, rejoice! People of Ahyf, rejoice!”

All Altanians residing in Ahyf were captured, enslaved, and sent to Hara. Bounties for Earani Cor, alive Altanian men, dead Altanian men, and dead Altanian women, were hammered by the docks and on the gates of Elders' house. They are 18 000 gold pieces, 20 gold pieces, 10 gold pieces, and 50 gold pieces respectively.

Tikatu and Deigos also learned that everyone residing at the Belching Vicar tavern and Swordsman's Citadel were kicked out so Sheriff's men can stay there. This was where their injured friends Somniel, Amari, and Drokh were recovering.

Camus, cleric of Thoth, and a friend of Ambros, took the injured adventurers in. They are currently resting at his temple, while Mepheus is helping the cleric with daily tasks. Two brigands charged Tikatu and Deigos an “entry donation.”

“Are you happy with this turn of events?” Tikatu asked the cleric.

“Tyrants come and go. People are forever.” the man shrugged.

The duo snuck out and sought shelter in one of the stables at the edge of the village. They met Ivan the Slow, who happily welcomed new friends. They slept in hay with few of the horses. Ivan was happy.

Warmshade 18th, Earthday

Deigos and Tikatu left with first rays of sun. That made Ivan sad, and he waved them away with a tear in his eye. People are rarely kind to Ivan, so these two made an impression on him.

“Can we have our weapons back now?”

“What weapons?”

Tikatu looked at the cart behind the brigands. His spear was on top of the pile.

“That weapon, right over there.”

“I don't remember taking any weapons away from you. Do you?” one brigand asked the other.

“No, I don't. You must be confused little man!”

“I rolled that spear between my ass cheeks. It is rolled in my shit.”

“Bugger off, or we will drive something up yer ass!”

Tikatu and Deigos sulked off.

“Next time hide that dagger of yours better.”

They reached the wooded gully in some two hours of walking. There the party discussed what to do next. Ambros would surely be recognised wherever he appears. They wondered where the Queen went and what is she up to. There were fierce discussions about loyalty. Finally, the adventurers decided to appropriate an ogres' lair midway between Midway and Ahyf, on the northern side of Ghinarian Hills.

Adventurers travelled through the woods, avoiding the trail, fearing they might run into one of Racoba's patrols. Deigos daydreamed about revolution that is to befall this usurper Racoba. His dreams were shattered as he was shredded to death by fourteen forearm-sized iron spikes.

Other adventurers looked in horror as four huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with grinning man-like faces, horns, dragon wings, and tails full of iron spikes hovered above them. Two of them descended on Deigos, slurping his remains. Other two gave chase to fleeing adventurers. Tikatu ran into some brambles and buried himself like a little shit-stained bunny he is.

Everybody fled in their own direction, panting and sprinting as fast as they could. They eventually lost sight of the pursing beasts. After catching a breath, they proceeded with their plan.

“Brigands can't be worse than these beasts! Let's follow the trail!”

Indeed, they reached the ogres' lair by evening. There they met a serious looking dwarf called Andvar. He was delighted to join this band of adventurers. What a good day it was to delve into a lair!

Ignaeus cast Mirror Image, and the party descended. They confirmed that all the chambers were still empty. Then they explored west side of the cave, where they found owlbear faeces last time. They rushed on, waking up one owlbear. The beast, although not taken by surprise, was savaged by Ignaeus and Andvar. The latter killed the monster by driving his spear right through the owlbear's skull.

Owlbears' nest was a domed natural cave. Animal and humanoid remains were neatly tucked in the southern portion of the cave. Searching them revealed silver anklet adorned with jade fragments and a copper chain necklace with topaz gem.

An assortment of soiled furs, rugs, and carpets, covered with several thousand copper pieces, dominated center of the cave. Area indicated that at least three owlbears could fit on it.

The party spent hours arguing what to do next. Ignaeus decided to walk back to the entrance and watch guard. This paid off, for he had seen an absolutely massive owlbear slumber into the tunnel. Elf ran back to the nest and informed others of the sighting. They covered their light sources and prepared an ambush.

Owlbear cried out in pain as it sniffed the smaller, dead of its kind. Adventurers flashed it by uncovering the light source. The beast barreled at them, and vicious fight broke out. Andvar hit the beast, while the beast savaged Ignaeus. Elf retreated out of combat to take a sip of healing juice.

Beast turned its attention to the little bunny. It clawed him brutally, and then almost snapped him in half with its powerful beak. Ambros hit the beast as it threw Tikatu to the other side of the cave. Ignaeus rejoined the fight, and struck true, only to be struck in return.

Ambros made himself a bigger target, allowing Ignaeus to flee once again. He was rewarded by two mighty slaps. Andvar used the opportunity to hop on the beast, grabbing its fur with his right hand. Once on top he held on with his legs, whilst holding the spear with both hands. Then he drove the spear down with all his might, penetrating the owlbear's left eye.

The beast roared, and tumbled over. It twitched thrice, and then exhaled its last breath. Ambros rushed over to check on Tikatu. He flipped the shredded pygmy over. Druid was still alive!

Tikatu watched Ambros in the eyes and uttered painfully:

“A few weeks ago we had a keep, a townhouse, and a pile of cash. Now we have a cave that smells of ogres armpits and owlbear shit. But it is our cave.”

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Fight On! issue 17 now available on DTRPG and Lulu (POD and PDF)!

Massive issue counting 164 pages (!)—twelve pages more than the titanic third issue—featuring adventures, monsters, classes, artwork, and essays from over thirty contributors. Scroll down for full table of contents.

I contributed 7 Contrarian Practices for Running Online Games essay, outlining practices from our long-running sandbox game. This is a continuation of the 21 Lessons Learned After Running 100 Sessions essay published in the previous issue, which resonated with many readers. Several wrote to me and asked if I could write more about how we play online.

Bigger than a bull baluchitherium barreling through Bucklebury, Fight On! is BACK! Writers and artists old and new proudly present a whopping 166 PAGES of men, magic, monsters, treasures, underworlds, and wilderness adventures for your dreamworld delectation! It’s never been a better day to Fight On!

Discerning dungeoneers and daring dilettantes alike will be DAZZLED with articles, adventures, and art by Toren Atkinson, Attronarch, Zhu Baijee, Rick Base, J. Blasso-Gieseke, Calithena, Paul Carrick, Dr. John Cichowski, Jasmine Collins, Geoffrey O. Dale, Patrick Farley, Graphite Prime, Idle Doodler, Kelvin Green, Allan Grohe, Philipp H., Dave Hargrave, Cameron Hawkey, Kesher, Gabor Lux, Ripley Matthews, James Maliszewski, James Mishler, Michael Mornard, Peter Mullen, Prince of Nothing, Steve Queen, Glenn Robinson, DeWayne Rogers, Frank Scacalossi, Daniel Scherrey, Robert Scudder, Settembrini, Dan Sousa, Oakes Spalding, Anthony Stiller, Paul Swanlund, Del Teigeler, Andrew Walter, Bill Webb, Jennifer Weigel, Alex Zisch, and many more! Don’t delay – score your copy today!

Here is the table of contents:

Article Author(s) Page
Reptiles and Samurai Calithena 5
Martial Stances Jeff Hollifield 12
Grognard’s Grimoire: Codex of Droon Matt the Bastard DM 14
Knights & Knaves: Stumble Paul Swanlund 18
New Kindred for Tunnels & Trolls! Kesher 20
Return of the Ancients Prince of Nothing 22
Creepies & Crawlies: The Thoul Allan Grohe 42
Spiders, Spiders, Spiders! James Mishler 50
Lobogolem “Laster” Del L. Beaudry 61
Gems of Zylarthen, Part II Oakes Spalding 62
Black Powder Firearms Jack Griffis 68
Artifacts, Adjuncts, & Oddments Various 72
The Eshkom District James Maliszewski 75
Under Samora: Al’Murtok’s Refuge Philipp H. 85
Contrarian Practices Online Attronarch 101
Running for Large Groups Bill Web 103
Portal Fantasy Protagonists Will Mistretta 105
Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne H. Kazantzakis 108
The Charioteer’s Shrine Gabor Lux 111
Tables for Fables Reilly, Koed & Blasso-Gieseke 116
Lady Omen’s Island Glenn Robinson 122
Memories of Dave Sutherland Michael Mornard 143
Demonweb Savanna Alex Zisch 145
Rose Bush Hedge Maze Geoffrey O. Dale 151
Chainmail / Sarissa: Fomalhaut Settembrini / Gabor Lux 155
Doxy, Urgent Care Cleric Linneman / Green 162
Humor & Art J. B-G, Cal, Queen, and Scherrey 163

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Adventurers

Character Race Class Description
Heinrik Human Magic-User level 1 Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
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.
Drokh Human Monk level 2 A tall, lean human monk with piercing eyes, weathered skin, and a warrior’s poise—calm and charismatic, he speaks with purpose and strikes with precision, wielding spear, bow, and blade.
Tikatu Human Druid level 3 A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism.
Amari Human Ranger level 1 Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator.
Seren Human Ranger level 1 Beardless and blinkless ranger.
Alaric Human Paladin level 3 Big, doe eyed country boy with wavy blond hair and willingness to do the right thing. Paladin of Tyr.

Warmshade 8th, Earthday

After two days of panicked retreat from Ghinarian Hills, Ambros, Tikatu, Decarili, Heinrik, Seren, Drokh, and Amari reached Ahyf, a fishing village just north of the hills. There Somniel was recovering from his injuries, while Ignaeus and Mepheus were waiting for the adventurers. Decarili bid his farewell and left for Hara.

Messenger sent by Marlon informed Ambros of latest grim developments. Klekless Racobas and his army have conquered all the settlements surrounding Hara. Mounted scouts led by Jace discovered their advance and reported a force of approximately two hundred beastmen and three hundred brigands.

Racoba's split his vasthrong into five throngs and attacked from three directions. Marlon led a squadron of heavy horsemen in a preemptive attack alongside River Farhills. He successfully stopped two throngs approaching from the north-west, but lost a third of his squadron. He was also wounded in duel with Racoba's Chaos Champion.

“Marlon sent me to Ahyf to wait for your return and inform you about these developments. I left Hara as Racoba's vasthrong approached Hara.”

Ambros and adventurers spent a day planning and preparing for their return to Hara. They hired three fishermen to take them to Hara via river. This, they theorised, would allow them to move faster.

Warmshade 10th, Spiritday

Ambros, Ignaeus, Alaric, Seren, Heinrik, and Tikatu set out by boat with first rays of sun. They sailed from Ahyf until the reached an estuary where mighty rivers Farhills and Cedarwade converge and flow into the sea. Fishermen then dropped sail and began rowing upriver, towards Hara. It was a bright sunny day, hot and windless.

Around morning they could see a large dark cloud in the distance. It was obvious to Tikatu, a druid, that this was no natural phenomenon. Cloud was roughly above the area where Hara is. They reached Hara by evening.

Towers and walls were unmanned. A throng of beastmen—gnolls, orcs, hobgoblins, ogres—were pilling the dead outside the walls on little mounds. Bestmen and brigands argued and yelled, but no significant fighting transpired.

Nobody cared about a fishing boat rowing into Hara. Passing between two towers flanking the river bank and Queen's Isle, revealed a sad sight. Brigands in Hara were rounding up peasants and survivors in what once was the main square.

Most of Hara had burned down to the ground just weeks ago. There was little but walls and few foundations of stone buildings. A ten foot tall pile of armoured corpses was in front of Temple of Forseti. Arlon's severed head was on top of it.

Adventurers commanded the fishermen to take the boat around, and row to the east side of the river. There they disembarked and allowed fishermen to return to Ahyf.

Hara had fallen.

Warmshade 11th, Airday

Victor's drunken singing and debauchery kept the adventurers awake. In the morning Ambros communed with Forseti, asking him three questions.

“Is the Queen still alive and free?”

“Yes.”

“Is Klekless Racoba in the city?”

“No, he fears Earani Cor.”

“Is there a secret tunnel leading into Hara?”

“Yes, there is a long passage through Woelands, connecting Castle of the Wode with Hara.”

Adventurers discussed what to do next throughout the morning. They heard rusted trumpets blare around noon. Around that time men began appearing on the Hara's towers and walls. They put up flags depicting bull head with two thunders on its forehead. Very similar to the usual flags and banners that adorned Hara's walls.

There was unenthusiastic cheering and chanting around evening. That was followed by some sudden yelling and roaring. As a result, cheering and chanting sounded much more enthusiastic. As far as the adventurers could see, the beastmen were not allowed into the city, only brigands.

Chanting sounded like “RA! KOH! BAH! RA! KOH! BAH!” but it was difficult to make out from the drums and trumpets.

“This is it.” Tikatu said “The Queen was captured and executed. Racoba came into the city. There is nothing for us here left. Let's go.”

“Forseti said she is still alive and free.”

“But that was in the morning. Now is evening.”

“I see.”

Party decided to go to the Castle of the Wode and assess the situation there.

Warmshade 12th, Waterday

“Father Ambros!” a dozen of survivors from Hara were rejoiced to see Ambros alive. They were all wounded and exhausted. They briefly informed Ambros about what happened.

“We were holding the walls and resisting the siege. Racoba did not have any siege equipment so we were confident in our defenses. Then sky got dark, and powerful lightning struck the Temple of Poseidon.”

“We” and he motioned to survivors “were in the inner citadel, assigned to be the last line of defense. After the lightning struck we saw a mass of men spill into the north side of the city. The gates were not breached! Everything went downhill from there. Marlon led his last surviving knights to meet the enemy. His last order to us was to escort the Queen out of Hara.”

“We took two rowboats and sunk the rest. Queen and her retinue took two more. Then we rowed upstream, and followed her to here. She is in the tower right now, planning with Tagoler and Jace.”

Ambros went to the tower alone. Earani Cor, even without her kingdom, was a feared woman. There he was assaulted by revolted Jace. She spit the cleric into the face. Ambros wiped the spit and told her to go fuck herself.

Decarili and Ambros updated the Queen on the Ghinarian Hills expedition.

“Is it true” she asked Decarili “that this ray of Umannah had killed the Mother?”

“It is possible. But I did not see her corpse. There was great chaos and confusion in the wake of the destruction.”

“Then we go there.” and she looked into Ambros's eyes. He felt a bit woozy and shaky. “You will go there too.”

“I will go there too.” Ambros repeated.

Plans were made to march all the way north to Ketche, sail to Ahyf from there, and then march to the Lair of Bull God. Other adventurers were not too keen on the plan, but they decided to follow and support Ambros.

“We will move ahead since we are much faster. See you in Ketche. Or not. We will wait for three days before moving on.” Decarili informed adventurers.

Party reached Ketche on the evening of Warmshade 15th, Spiritday.

Queen and her men were nowhere to be seen.

Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.

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A zine chronicling the Conquering the Barbarian Altanis D&D campaign.

This issue does not feature any session reports. Instead, I catch up with questions from other Ever & Anon APA contributors.

You can download the issue here.

Overlord's Annals zine is available as part of the Ever & Anon APA, issue 6:

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