Wandered Roads 47

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 47
March 24, 2018

Campaign Timeline

Sorshen, Here We Come

Oathday 11th of Neth

A Quick Rest then Upward

After returning to the chamber with the spiral stairs, they quickly check behind the remaining two doors and find nothing but small, empty chambers. Realizing their only course forwarward is actually upward, the group decides rest and recuperate before advancing. 

Wizard eye

After several hours of sleep, study and meditation it is decided that it is time to go and face their final opponent, but first, Vexeron decides to send one of his Wizard Eye’s up the stairs to do some scouting. The Wizard Eye flies up the stairs, about 200 feet up into what ever expects is the actual monument of the Lady’s Light. Finally the stairs stop and it comes out in a large oval room with 8 alcoves, each alcove holding a large, full color statue of one of the seven Runelords. The 8th alcove is empty. 

Embrace the Lady and the Lie

Not seeing anything threatening, the group ascends the stairs and begins to try to figure out where to go next, as there are no visible exits from this chamber. Vexeron tries to translate a ring of Thassalonian runes on the floor and manages to come up with the phrase, “Embrace the Lady and the Lie” or something like that. Having had some familarity with some other teleport magic in the tower, the Heroes begin hugging statues. They find that hugging one statue seems to start the process, but have difficulty sorting it out enough to make the teleporter work. Kallin decides he is going to attempt a divination, but the spell takes some time and the rest of the group keeps trying different ideas. At one point, they accidentally trigger some sort of trap that releases a windstorm and several lightning spewing air elementals. Finally, through sheer luck, they manage to find the right combination of statues to hug, causing the teleporter to activate. They all jump in the flashing alcove and are instantly teleported somewhere else.

Sorshen, Runelord of Lust

Karzoug, Runelord of Greed

The group suddenly finds themselves separate in pairs in different 7-sided chambers with a red metal door in the wall and a serpent mosaic on the floor. After just a brief moment, they are quickly reunited as all three chambers open out into the same area, which appears to be two 7-sided chambers connected together. Each of these areas has a large serpent mosaic on the floor with a post and wheel sticking out of the center of it. Vexeron tests the wheel and post and finds that by turn it, he can rotate the snake tile on the floor. He notes that the two snakes currently face away from each other and begins turning one to make it point toward the middle. As he turns the wheel, a loud, grinding sound can be heard coming from the floors and walls of the chamber and and the entire area seems to vibrate. 

Sad Maiden and Broken Mage

Oriana, Grey Maiden

Others notice that there is an additional red metal door in the area, across from one of the teleporter rooms. Behind this door they find Oriana, the leader of the Grey Maidens and an unconscious person. Oriana immediately postures to attack, accusing the heroes of being Sorshen’s new pawns and playthings. After some is calmed and the situation is diffused. She seems in a very fragile and sad state, having recently been ejected from the Runelord’s presence and realizing that she had been under the effects of strong mind control magic for some time. She has many questions about the rest of her Grey Maidens and though not happy about it, she understands that there had even been some fighting and death between them and the heroes. 

Alistar Gavin Lourdis, Mageknight

She explains that the unconscious form is some sort of warrior mage that Sorshen had been toying with recently. He is wounded and broken but Kallin sets to healing him. Once awakened he introduces himself as Alistar Gavin Lourdis of Mendev far to the east. He says he had been hunting some demons in the Mushfens south of Magnimar when he encountered the Runelord and she placed some powerful mind control over him. He cannot recall all the details of his imprisonment, but knows it was harsh and depraved. Both Oriana and Alistar agree to join the group on an assault against the Runelord, who is said to reside in the chambers above. Oriana explains that by turning the wheels and pointing the snake tiles directly at each other, a magical gate will open, allowing access to Sorshen’s boudoir. Daellin passes out Wax of Defiance for everyone to place in their ears, as it is known to defend against mind control magics and the gate is activated. They also spend some time casting invisibility, defensive, and movement based magics on each other to gain the advantage in the tough battle to come.

The Runelord’s Bedchamber

Stepping through the portal, the group finds themselves in large oval chamber with a seven black pillars supporting a high domed ceiling. The room is opulent and richly adorned. A canopy bed sits against one wall with a half naked woman reclining. She sits up and smiles seductively, welcoming everyone to her chamber. Several Lemures, blob-like devils flank her and two Human women hang from shackles on separate pillars. A lustspawn is also shackled to a third column. Sorshen stands and demands that everyone immediately prostrate themselves in her presence and when they do not, she becomes irritated but in that moment, the heroes attack.

Runelord Sorshen

At first things look grim for the Heroes of Sandpoint as Vexeron identifies himself as a powerful mage, Sorshen calls upon demonic magics and opens a rift directly beneath his feet. The good natured mage is then dragged by clawing and reaching hands into the rift. It closes up before anyone else can attempt to help him. Calina starts peppering the now flying Runelord with arrows as Daellin and Samad step up to deal with the devil Lemures. Ehlyna, enchanted with great speed and the ability to fly, engages the Runelord directly. Kallin, hidden by invisibility, moves to help one of the shackled and wounded Grey Maidens. Oriana, seeing her companions shackled, moves to help them as well. The other newcomer, Alistar, engages his magic in an attempt to dispel some of the magical protections Sorshen seems to have surrounding her. 

The battle rages on for a few moments and it seems that Ehlyna’s axes are slowly but surely whittling the Runelord down. Finally, Sorshen breaks free and flies across the chamber, readying a wand and opening a magical portal in the air and passing through it. Not wasting a moment, Ehlyna speeds through the portal as well. Daellin starts casting flight to follow through the portal sitting up near the ceiling of the domed chamber while the others turn to face the approaching Sinspawn that has released itself from its shackles. 

Here in your bedroom...

Facing the enemy

Flyin' and fightin'

The battle rages on.. overseen by the architect himself!

The final moments

Session Notes

Another session in the books. The Heroes of Sandpoint (ever hear of 'em?) get ever so much closer to defeating their enemy and completing their mission, to recover the Shard of Lust. This session was the untimely death of a PC (to make way for a new PC). We tip our hats and drop our fireballs to the powerful and highly flammable Vexeron. Thank you Don for taking over Vexeron when Greg left the group. It was time to get Don his very own character so Vexeron was unwillingly dragged into the abyss by numerous demons! Ouch!

Looking forward to introducing a new character for Malcolm soon as well!

Our final battle took place in the well designed and made 3d battle arena created by my cousin, Ben. Thanks for work on all that awesome stuff Ben. The pillars, with black marble paint job and gold manacles were tops and that canopy bed was amazing!

The session ended with the big bad fleeing through a portal to who knows where.. and the flying Dwarf following right through as well!

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - driven into the abyss by Don K
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - taken over by Malcolm G
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder
Alistar Gavin Lourdis, Human mage-knight and demon hunter played by Don K

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 45

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 45
November 14, 2015

Campaign Timeline

The Dance of the Maidens Continues

Wealday 10th of Neth

The Dance Continues!

The beleaguered Heroes of Sandpoint continue their battle against a troop of Grey Maidens. These armored knights were well prepared and expertly led by one of their number, Quenelle Page and they put up a good fight. Page enters the fray and it looks like the mostly unarmed Heroes might be defeated but they do not give up. Vexeron puts his fire magic to good use and Calina gets off a few good shots with her bow. Kallin moves about the battlefield, engaging foes and using his divine power to heal his companions. Samad moves quickly and his adamantine blade cuts through the Grey Maidens’ armor like it was not there. Daellin uses his magic to reposition and grab his blades while Ehlyna continues to pummel her foes barehanded.

Quickly the tide turns back to favor the Heroes and the leader of the Maidens moves to flee up the spiral staircase. The Calina, Kallin and Samad give chase while Daellin uses his magic to teleport up the stairs just in front of the fleeing knight. Calina shoots several arrows at the knight and Kallin tries to trip her as she runs past his head on the stairs. She tries to slam Daellin off the stairs but he Blinks back and she looses her balance, though it is not clear if it is because of Daellin’s retreat, Kallin’s staff or Calina’s arrow that is sticking out of her back. She falls headfirst over the edge of the stairs and dies instantly when she hits the stone floor headfirst.

The Heroes quickly regroup at the base of the stairs to plan their next move.

Session Pictures

The Grey Maiden makes a run for it.

The Grey Maiden flees up the stairs

Samad leads the chase after the fleeing Grey Maiden

The Grey Maiden flees, Calina shoots and Kallin attempts to trip her.

Daellin confronts a Grey Maiden as she flees up the stairs

The final Grey Maiden has fallen to her death.

Session Notes

Only 3 of 6 players were able to make it out to this session, but we pressed on anyway. This session was scheduled to be the last of our fantasy campaign games for a while as we are switching gears starting in December with a GURPS Star Wars Campaign. Characters were created at the end of the previous session and some last minute adjustments and background fleshed out a bit at the end of this session. When we meet again, it will be...

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by Don K
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 44

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 44
October 17, 2015

Campaign Timeline

Dwarf Knuckle vs Moose Plate! Kapow!

Wealday 10th Neth

The Grand Ballroom

After the exhausting battle against the sorcerous Sinspawn and her demonic deputies, the Heroes head down the side passage out of the chamber instead of the stairs that the demons all approached from. The hallway hooks around to the right and makes its way back to a cavernous hallway made of marble and decorated with expensive finery. The room was full of people wearing masks and enjoying a spirited party. A full orchestra sits on a stage at the far end of the room and none other than Runelord Sorshen, scantily dressed, sits on a ruby throne directly in front of the musicians facing the ballroom. As soon the Heroes enter the room, Sorshen rises from her seat and signals for everyone to stop. She addresses the Heroes and then instructs her partygoers to attack and kill the “cold and bloodless” intruders.

The crowd surges forward but as soon as it reaches the Heroes’ position, they all disappear, including Runelord Sorshen. It was apparently all an elaborate illusion. The room is now empty, though still quite grand. The group spends a few moments searching the room and find that a doorway at the top of a balcony to the east leads to the stairs that connect with the previous chamber they had been in. Vexeron’s magical sight detects only one other exit from this room, past where the illusory Runelord’s throne had been.

The next room is an eight sided chamber with a colorful mosaic pattern of snakes and disembodied arms on the walls, floors and ceiling. Vexeron and Daellin sense some sort of magical energy in the room, but cannot figure out exactly what it is. The party moves to the stout oaken door at the far side of the room and prepares to enter.

More Maidens to Dance With

As they enter, they realize that some enemies were alerted and waiting for them on the other side as several Grey Maidens leap out and attack. The Heroes struggle with the Maidens, falling prey to their magical commanding powers granted by their helmets. Daellin, Ehlyna and Samad are all compelled to drop their weapons at various times during the encounter. Vexeron attempts to even the odds by using some of his movement hindering Glue magic.

The Heroes spread out into the room, engaging their foes with whatever weapons they have ready. Daellin loses control of each of his weapons: his sword Maellos, two knives and his bow. He has to rely on his magic to keep himself safe from Maiden attacks. Likewise, Ehlyna ends up with all three of her axes on the floor nearby. Undeterred, she presses her attack, using nothing but her fists, feet and forehead to assail her opponents. Her armored foe fights back, but Ehlyna gets the upper hand by punching her directly in the groin, knocking her unconscious despite the plate armor covering her delicate parts. “Dwarf Knuckle vs Moose Plate!” Ehlyna cries as she turns and looks for her next opponent.

Session Photos

The Grey Maidens spring an ambush!

The Heroes of Sandpoint are always ready for trouble!

The battle is joined.

The Heroes quickly enter the room, hoping to gain an advantageous position.

The battle spreads out around a large spiral stone staircase.

The Maidens start going down.

Session Notes

This was only a half session, but still a good one. We spent the other half of the session creating characters for our upcoming GURPS: Star Wars campaign. A blog post on that should be forthcoming!

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by Don K
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 43

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 43
September 19, 2015

Campaign Timeline

Tricking the Tricksters

Moonday 8th of Neth

A Much Needed Rest

After their dangerous encounter with the Sea Hag and her Gremlin minions, the Heroes of Sandpoint return to their temporary base, reuniting with Samad and the Grey Maidens, some of whom have now “switched sides” and are allied with the Heroes. The heroes spend the rest of the day resting, identifying magical items, talking with the Grey Maidens, planning their next step and making some basic defensive improvements on the camp.

Toilday 9th Neth

More Rest

After being refreshed the previous day, they decide that it is in the group's best interest to spend an additional day resting and doing much of the same as the day before. They plan to return to the Golden Gallery and trigger the teleport device after using some magic to give the party some advantages in the fight to come.

Wealday 10th of Neth

Teleporting is a Slow Process

After using some magic to buff key members of the party, the Heroes of Sandpoint prepare themselves to activate the teleportation magic in the Golden Gallery. Samad, under the protection of an Invisibility spell cast by Daellin goes first. It is quickly determined that only one person can activate the magic at once and it takes between 10-15 seconds to do so. Daellin then casts Great Haste on Ehlyna just as she is ready to teleport next. The crafty Elf then teleports himself to the room while the others follow along, activating the teleportation and joining them in the room “above.”

Samad arrives “above” first and sees a long, luxurious hallway stretched out before him. Four armed and armored Sinspawn guard two doors in pairs, one off to the left and the other far off at the other end of the chamber. He quietly moves into position, waiting for his companions to arrive. Ehlyna arrives next and quickly charges to engage the closest two opponents. The nearest Sinspawn move to attack while one at the far end calls some sort of alarm down the hallway behind it and the other starts advancing slowly. Daellin arrives a split second after Ehlyna and begins flying down the hallway toward the far Sinspawn, nearly running right into an invisible Samad in the process.

The battle rages on for some time before Calina appears in the room and lends her bow to the fight. Vexeron follows some time after that and by the time Kallin manages to trigger the teleportation magic, the fight is nearly over. As the Heroes are busy checking their downed foes and beginning a search of the room, a long troop of disgusting looking demons is spotted headed down the stairs and hallway at the far end of the room.

The party quickly takes up positions around the door, ready for another fight. Calina begins shooting her arrows down the hallway to great effect. Ehlyna tries to position herself to take advantage of her Whirlwind Attack, hoping to catch as many unwitting demons within her reach as she can. Daellin hides out on the wall above the door, his flying magic still intact.

The demons erupt into the room in a flurry of chaos. Several of the demonic foes manage to summon even more demons for the fray while some emit clouds of stench and filth, nauseating some of the Heroes. As the battle rages on, Daellin is in for a surprise when he is attacked by an invisible Sinspawn sorcerer wielding a large polearm. The assault nearly takes the Elf’s life and quickly the team responds and directs their attacks at the new and dangerous foe.

The Sinspawn sorcerer quickly turns invisible again and the party’s attention is turned back toward the attacking demons. After a few moments, the Sinspawn reappears and makes a devastating attack on the party before turning invisible again. Samad and Ehlyna battle it out with the demons, though Samad finds himself at one point grappled by several demons and pulled to the ground. Daellin, still reeling from his wounds, makes his way to Calina and manages to cast a spell on her that allows her to see invisible foes. As Kallin moves to heal Daellin, Calina takes fire on her newly acquired target. In just a few more seconds, the battle is done. The demons are dead and the Sinspawn sorcerer has several arrows protruding from each of her eye sockets.

Session Photos

Vexeron surveys the scene before him, pondering where an exploding fireball can do the most damage!

An invisible assailant gets the drop on a flying Daellin.

Many foes have beset the Heroes of Sandpoint!

Samad is surrounded by demons as Ehlyna comes to his rescue

Calina finishes the sorcerous Sinspawn off with 2 more arrows to the eyeballs!

Dan plans Kallin's next move.

Jodi has been waiting for a LONG time to do this!

So many dice couldn't even be held in one hand!

Dual, All-Out Attacks (Double)...

...while being Great Hasted!

Think this was over 100 raw points of damage!!!

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by Don K
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 41

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 41
June 27, 2015

Campaign Timeline

Meeting the Grey Maidens

Starday 6th of Neth

The Battle with the Grey Maidens

A Grey Maiden

Both sides advanced and engaged. At first it looked like it would be trouble for the Heroes of Sandpoint, but with careful strategy, precision arrows, summoning magic and excessive Dwarven axes the tide began to turn in their favor as several of the heavily armored knights went down. They were given the option to surrender and throw down their weapons but the haughty leader of the knights called for a retreat. A hasty Daellin, fleet footed Samad and several magically summoned firepelt cougars were able to cut the retreat short.

The Grey Maidens threw down their weapons and surrendered. Upon taking them captive, it was soon discovered that they were in fact all beautiful female knights, though each of them bore some horrifying facial scarring or disfigurement. The knights were fully disarmed, tied and put into the storeroom that Daellin had earlier hidden in.

Questioning the Maidens

An interrogation was made of the leader, a knight named Robleen, or Robbie, but she was not very helpful and shortly sequestered alone while another of the knights was questioned. Josobbi, or Jo, as she called herself, was much more talkative and helpful. She described what amounted to some

Robleen - not very cooperative

discension in the ranks of the Grey Maidens, who had been under the Lady’s Llight for some time and currently working with what some thought to be the Runelord of Lust herself, Lady Sorshen. She told how many of the Maidens were currently missing and said to be “on assignment” up above somewhere inside the towering statue itself. Their leader, Oriana, had not been seen for some time and whenever she was seen, she was in the company of Lady Sorshen. Jo explained how some of the Grey Maidens were beginning to believe that coming to the Lady’s Light was a bad idea and things kept getting worse. Some of them believed that the Runelord was not who she said she was and they fear for the safety for their missing companions. She described the layout of the next few chambers, where the Maidens spent most of their time and described a dangerous garbage chute that Robbie had tried to pass off as a hidden treasure trove. She was thanked and put back into the room with the other knights.

Exploring the rest of the Suite

The Golden Gallery

The doors to the holding rooms were secured as well as they could be, but that was not very good so Ehlyna and Samad volunteered to stay back and guard them while the others checked out the rest of the area. The next room was a warm and steamy bath room, past that was a strange golden gallery, where the Runelord and other visitors would come from when they visited. This long room was filled with golden columns, shiny black statues of Runelord Sorshen, rich tapestries and three large golden plates in the floor of this room. Another door led out past that.

Vexeron used a Wizard Eye to fly through the room and examine it before anyone entered, in case there were traps and he send it past to the next room, which was where the dark chute was. The Eye flew down the hole and eventually came to a disgusting trash heap. Before much other investigations could be done, a slimy dark shape came from the wall and enveloped the magical orb, causing it to wink out of existence. Thinking that some sort of dangerous slime or trash monster lived at the bottom, it was left alone and the crew went back to investigate the golden gallery.

No traps, magical or mundane, were discovered though the metal plates and statues did radiate magic. Upon closer inspection, the two outer plates seemed more worn and dull than the two outer plates. Identical inscriptions on each of the four statues read something like “touch me and enter the inner sanctum.”

Daellin Disappears… Again

Without thought to his, or his companions, safety, Daellin reached out and touched the outstretched hand of one of the statues. Immediately the three plates began to glow. He quickly hopped onto the center plate but nothing happened. He then touched another statues hand. The plates intensified in their glowing. Again he jumped on the center plate and nothing happened. He then went and touched the other two statue’s hands, each time the glow intensified. After touching the fourth statue, he hopped onto the center plate once again, and at that moment, the glow on all three plates disappeared, as did the impulsive Elf.

The other heroes stood there for a second, blinking, wondering what trouble Daellin had gotten himself in again. They decided to wait a few minutes for him before returning to tell Samad and Ehlyna what had happened. They hoped he was ok and wondered if they should continue exploring this area of the complex more thoroughly before replicating his activation of the magical teleporter.

Session Pics

The Grey Maidens rush Ehlyna

Calina and Kalin take out some foes

The aftermath of Ehlyna's whirlwind attack - downed knights!

Daellin makes sure his friends are not in danger

Vexeron fills the battlefield with summoned beasts

Samad and Ehlyna fight side-by-side with some magical firepelts

The evolving battlefield on the beach

Session Notes

A few players short again, but the game must go on! As always, a great fun time playing with these folks! We plan to put this campaign on hold for a bit after another session or two to play some Star Wars role playing. It will be GMed by Greg, one of our players, so I will get to sit in the player's seat for a while. I am looking forward to that!

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by +Greg Grady
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder

and +Jason Woollard as the DM