Endless Bag of Games

News mainly for our players; I recently created a blog for the actual campaign information. You know, PC’s NPC’s, The World and such and because of that, I added a site feed to the blog to show, if there has been updates to Aerithia.

The site is still under construction, so currently NPC information is quite limited. But I will fix that when I have more time on it.

The Blog’s adress is http://aerithia.blogspot.com

Another session, another seven hours well spent. Gaming session was all together very successful. I got my little feeling of satisfaction as a dungeon master and I’ll hope that the players enjoyed too. It’s always nice to see that people have enjoyed the session. When we were finishing and wrapping up our “gear” they talked about what is going to happen next in the game and in the same time were wondering what is happening elsewhere “in the world”. At least I can see, even a bit, little curiosity and FUN! in their ugly mugs.

The greatship Foambeard set it’s sail towards Telf Lamm. Heroes, now uncertain what happened to their companion and friend Victalas, resumed solving the threat of pirates what Rivercoast folk was suffering from. Redgar Telek introduced the ship, it’s navigator Dunnham and the priestess of Melora, Tinan, which had to be onboard by the regulations of Waterham laws. Introductions made it was time to sail.

Days went on quietly while Dagur and Galvaren spent their days sparring and honing their fighting skills on the deck. Alan focused on learning new languages and Hadarai just enjoyed the sea. After a week of sailing the sky started to grew darker and it was acting somewhat strangely. Clouds were standing still while the wind was still severe. Dagur and Redgar, the captain, just laughed to the possible dangers and the ship went on.

Just like the priestess predicted, a storm hit the ship hard during the night. Barrels where flying, crewmembers did their best and they tried to endure it. In the midst of a storm they saw another ship. One with black canvas. They lost the sight of it almost immediately since there was no time for wondering. The storm was getting stronger and everyone got their hands full. Dagur and Hadarai however managed to sleep with their nerves of steel. Meanwhile in downstairs, Alan who could not sleep in the ruckus sensed huge amount of magical energy with similarities of an earth node (Streams of invisible power run beneath the earth, occasionally crossing and collecting in a single spot like river flowing into a lake. Such rare collection points are called earth nodes). When he noticed it, the wizard headed for the deck.

Outside, in addition to the roaring storm, a strange mist rose quickly, engulfing everything with a blue flame. Blurring sight the that everything was tingling with blue flame. Navigation tools went haywire and the ship was almost out of control. Suddenly, the ship swept in a violent motion and a big sound of cracking followed it. The rear of the vessel was damaged. It seemed that ship with the black sails had collided with it with full speed breaking the rudder and parts of the ship.

The blue flame persisted and it began to show. Some of the crew started having serious cramps and they yelled in pain. “Make it stop, oh gods make it stop!” the poor bastards yelled. Very soon, in the midst of the storm the heroes saw a horrible sight. One poor sailor exploded in blue flame. They were seriously in danger… Alan focused his arcane arts to fixing the broken rudder, while the captain and crewmembers gave him all the support that they could. Meanwhile, Dagur gathered all who were in pain below the deck and did everything he could to help the ones in pain. After Alan miracuosly got the rudder back in shape, he went below the deck to perform another ritual which would take time to finish. Hand of the fate

While Alan was struggling creating a working ritual circle in violent motion, Redgar the captain commanded every man capable below the deck to the oars. Hadarai and strong Galvaren went also, since now they could also help in the best of their abilities. Soon the wizard got what he wanted, and asked the question. They now had a direction to follow and the captain, amazed by the magic and resolveness what Alan showed by fixing the rudder during the storm listened when the wizard showed new directions. The men paddled as best of their abilities, it seemed that they where going to survive when a loud grinding and cracking sound emerged. The ship stopped violently, like they had hit something. “Black beach..” somebody yelled. They had arrived ashore.

Almost immediately the storm started to diminish, taking the blue flame with it. The island and the surrounding were revealed in more detail. Colors were more vivid, smells more pungent. Light didn’t scatter as it should. Every sight, sound, smell, and taste had a sharper edge. As with most things in the Feywild. They had crossed the border somehow and now they had a broken ship to be repaired. When Hadarai and Alan explained the situation to the captain, it was clear what had to be done. “I’ll command the men gather some wood. We need to get out of here!” the angry dwarf told straight out.

Soon one of the ships set out scouts returned and told that he saw another ship that was shipwrecked badly. One with black sails. Alan, Gap, Dagur and Hadarai stated that they would go check out the situation while others stayed here until the situation was solved. Heroes trudged onwards, curious to know that were the ones sailing the black-sailed ship actually pirates they had heard so much rumors about.

However, before they were able to met them, amidst of the tree-line emerged a third group. Band of dragonborn, in shiny battle-armors and spears. Their appearance and costumes were straight from history. “That gear was used by the Arkhosian Imperials long time ago” Dagur said quietly. “Over 700-hundred years” the wizard replied. Now there was three separate groups, staring at each other. Dragonborn regiment in the tree-line, crewmembers of the black-canvas ship and our heroes.

The conversation quickly started. For some reason, the dragonborn commander, nor anyone from his group, did not understand common. Only “oldish” draconic language. Dagur was the one who worked as a translator and spokesman of the group. Soon it was discovered that these soldiers from Ancient Arkhosia, arrived the island not much sooner that the other ships. It was a regiment sailing north to join war against devil men of Bael-Turath and they got up in a strange storm during their journey. Commander offered a deal to the groups. They would offer protection on this strange island if they could get a lift in one of their ships. The leader of the black-canvas ship, however tried to fool them and the heroes and the situation quickly exploded. Soon the whole shore was filled with fighting men and dragonborn alike. Heroes sided with the dragonborn regiment and their group eventually merged victorious…

An agreement was made, and now there was only one big group of people, desperate to get out of the island alive. It was soon discovered that it was an island, where big and terrible Fomorian giants, the claimed kings of Feywild, dwelled… (image: A Fomorian giant, illustrated by Raven Mimura.)

Christmas is coming sooner than we think and it is time to give presents to each other. Well.. When it comes to books, the best books you can get are the ones that you’ll buy yourself!

Today I was “shopping” with my wife so I was literally dragged along with her. That wasn’t too bad considering what I found from the bookstore with “special price just for you”. I bought the first two parts of Tad Williams Shadowmarch trilogy, both hardcover, with a total of 13€. Not bad I think.

Then of course I had to continue filling my bookshelf with those WoT books so I ordered one again. This was the 8th book of Wheel of Time: The Path of Daggers. And finally there was one book what has been on my “to read list” for ages so I just had to order it. The Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.

I have to mention that few days ago my wife asked me kindly about what kind of books or such I would like to have as a present. So I told her few of those, like James Clavell’s Shogun, The Hobbit, Tales of the Earthsea and such. Now I just have to wait and see have I been nice enough for her… At least there is little hope that this year I am not going to receive those sweaters or such

A lot happened during the session. One was captured, one was killed and one got in to spice business. We started by finishing my character’s departure in our Thranil campaign. That was done quick and the “voice of concience” left the party since he could no longer tolerate the course of actions. That done we continued our Aerithia campaign. (Sorry for the english.. too tired to check the spelling)

In our previous session Dwarf captain Redgar Telek hired our heroes to protect his ship against vicious pirates that were now threatning all the coastal movement near River coast. It was agreed that on tomorrow at midday the ship would set sails towards Telf Lamm. Our heroes spent their extra time at the lively city of Waterham… When they eventually head back to their inn, the innkeeper informed them that there was two individuals who asked about heroes whereabouts. A tiefling with beady eyes and a huge minotaur warrior full of strange-looking tattoos. They told the innkeeper that they would have a job for our heroes. That however was not the case…

Everyone was sleeping, expect for our eladrin ranger Hadarai who was… doing his weird eladrin stuff. Suddenly, the doors bashed open and rough looking ruffians attacked with poisonous blades. The attackers had the benefit of surprise but eventually they were not prepared enough. When the fight was resolved they got beaten badly. Heroes had survived and three of the attackers were captured during the attack. The innkeeper was lucky that his inn was carved to stone like other buildings in Waterham, since Alan made hell of a ruckus in the room bashing fireballs and other visual spells which lit the room in fire. Anyway, heroes were victorious. Victor however was missing and could not be found anywhere. His personal belongings were still at their usual place in his room.

Soon the Flaming Fist town guards arrived. The innkeeper explained the whole thing with the heroes who proved their worth by showing that they were actually pathfinders. Impressed, the guard in charge let the pathfinders go off the hook, since the standard procedure was to take everyone back to the barracks and there they would interrogate everyone involded. The man was kind enough to let the heroes participe in questionning the attackers. (Skill challenge)

They learned that the attackers had simple orders to capture them, alive if possible and take them to Meret’s Butchery at upper narrow street. Heroes soon decided to take action with the town guards. The sergeant appointed five guards to accompany the heroes and capture everyone involved in criminal schemes. It was a going to be a long night… They decided to visit Meret’s Butchery.

Gap and Hadarai entered building trough window in cinematic manner (but the execution was not so well performed, but it turned out well anyway. Funny moments though when you try to bash trough window and fail the check and end up hanging just outside the window). Dagur and Alan kicked the door and entered the butchery from front door. Upstairs, in the room, they saw the biggest minotaur they had ever seen. Minotaur was engulfed in strange symbols and was carrying nasty looking executioner’s axe and was wearing a scale mail.

The opponent turned out be very tough. Alan regognized the meaning of those symbols and discovered that they were symbols of Tamoo, evil god of the minotaurs. Other symbols included summoning of elemental fire and afflictions towards fire. Soon the heroes learned what was the meaning of those. Every time they hit the furious minotaur, fire bursted trough the attackers weapon damaging also the attacker. Gederon, the minotaur was a typical example of fearsome warrior with exotic abilities. Gederon laughed at the heroes that it was in vain their search for their friend. He told that their friend would eventually meet them… soon enough. As the fight went on our fighter Galvaren got killed and it was near that the minotaur took others with him when he finally perished… Fight took a cost.

After searching the building, they found a secret door leading to room full of ritual markings. They found only the robes of Victor and remains of a powerfull ritual they had witnessed before… it seemed that Victor has been a victim of Zin-Carla. Exhausted.. our heroes headed to the temple of Kord where Dagur plead that they could use the services of the church to resurrect their fallen ally. That however took time several hours and the clock was ticking. Redgar was waiting that the ship would set sails at midday…

It was midday when our heroes, Gap resurrected, went to the harbor and told Redgar that it was not possible for them to accompany the dwarf. As they suspected, Redgar became outraged, but Dagur took great effort comforting him by buying the man’s whole cargo. 5000 kg’s of spices. Dwarf was satisfied but, still little annoyed that his associates could not receive the shipment. So now, our heroes had 5000 kg’s of spices and some rented warehouse-space in the harbor. In addition only one hazy lead (after gathering more information and using speak with the dead ritual) that the tiefling had headed outside the city with wagons.

Frustrated the heroes decided to follow the only lead that they had which eventually took them to a settlement of goblins who were terrified that the group were associates of this fearsome tiefling who demanded to use their sacred table. The table was a teleportation circle. Destination was Shade Enclave in Netheril. Notorious floating city of mighty wizards. Because of Alan’s sharp eyes they noticed that tiefling had performed a ritual in there aswell and thus been teleported to somewhere else. They had lost the trail of Victor…

Feeling somewhat defeated, the heroes head back to Waterham, determined to gain enough wealth to gain necessary means to find ways to find their lost fellow. Now, it was time to get rid of the spices and get a job to have lots of money and fast. Spices were sold with terrible loss, but that was necessary and heroes were once again hired by Redgar.. who would kill them if they would fail him again… The pirate hunt was resumed.

You all know what “lean manufacturing” is right? Lately I’ve been having trouble with finding enough time for every campaign that I’m currently playing. There are three campaigns: Thranil, Aerithia (D&D 3,5 and 4th) and Confrontations (Star Wars SAGA). I have lots of schoolwork that I must currently focus on and the spring is going to be much tougher because of the exchange period in Shanghai (extra work to be done before march). So I now have decided to reduce the amount of gaming a bit. The decision falls on ending Thranil campaign (at my parts). Easy to do, my character recently died and.. well that’s about it. Good situation to leave the campaign even though it would not take long for my character to be resurrected. Ending Thranil and at the same time giving more time on our e-mail based games with my friend Jasca. This solution currently is the most suitable choice for me since e-mail based gaming is not dependent on time-factor. Those campaigns won’t take so much time and are still very enjoyable and deeper. I wrote about e-mail based games earlier here.

Lean manufacturing is about getting more value with less work. So “lean gaming” is about getting more out of roleplaying-games with less work

Few words about Thranil campaign in overall: I’ve been having confusing thoughts about this Thranil campaign for some time now. It’s been a long campaign and I still don’t know what the major plot is. We have a lots of freedom to do whatever we want, but eventually that has become boring. Lately it has been about dealing with random monsters and running away from authorities since we don’t have a common goal in the game. I mean the fellows I’m playing with are great and it’s been fun to play with them, but the campaign… well it is not my cup of tea. Anymore. It was LOTS OF FUN! while it lasted.. until it somehow changed. Or maybe it was me who changed, who knows Hard to explain..

I was supposed to write about what happened during this session, but I am not able to. Well.. I was there and all, but my character was unconcious and thus I spent whole session at the wonderful world of internet. Fun session! I must add. Anyways, no more Thranil session logs can be found from this webpage. Well.. I don’t think that people are pouring tears because of this

[EDIT] Latest information that I have is that Rashnak actually did not die in the latest evets, but instead was just unconcious. That however does not change things, I still have to reduce time at the gaming table.