Wandered Roads 7

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 7
January 28, 2012
Campaign Timeline

Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin'

After a brief flashback to have our fortunes read by Madame Seoni and her Harrow Deck, the action shifted back to the Goblin stronghold at Thistletop. The 6 Goblins in the barracks were dispatched quickly but during the battle, sly Ellie managed to slip away. Concerned for her safety and confident that her other companions were dealing with the current Goblin menace, Calina, supported by Kallin, goes to look for her. The childlike Halfling is found down a nearby hallway leading into the fortification. As Calina and Kallin approach, they see she is picking the lock of a wooden door. She announces that she has successfully picked the lock but Calina cautions her to return to the group and hold off on opening the door until the others can join them. She opens it anyway and finds a rotten meat food storage.

Ehlyna and Zursat burst into the room

The rest of the group, now done finishing off the most recent Goblins, joins them as Ellie finishes picking the lock of another nearby door. Unimpressed by the Halflings lockpicking skills, Ehlyna charges past her and smashes her way through the door in hopes of surprising any potential foes on the other side.


The band of heroes then finds themselves in the throne room of the Goblin War-chief Ripnugget. He demands they stop and parlay with him. He insists that the Thistletop Goblins were not responsible for the raids on Sandpoint. He invites Zursat to approach and negotiate terms of a truce, offering treasure if they leave the Goblins in peace. Zursat approaches confidently but soon suspects a trap as he sees the War-chief sneaking glances at several Goblin commandos who have taken up hidden positions at the tops of the rooms central support columns.
As Zursat approaches the War-chiefs dog and horse skull seat of power, the treacherous Goblin leader calls for his ambushers to attack. They fire arrows at Zursat, how valiantly tries to defend himself, but fails. Zursat of the Ku'tar, Professional Adventurer falls to the ground, dead from two deadly Goblin arrows.

The rest of the heroes spring into action and a melee ensues. Ripnugget mounts his giant gecko lizard and the two of them run around the room, climbing on the walls and shooting arrows. A Goblin Warchanter who was stationed behind the throne launches into a horrifying Goblin song intended to bolster the bravery and prowess of his companions while the 3 Goblin commandos continue to rain arrows down on the group. 

The Goblin King's chamber

Daellin calls upon his magic to hasten Calina, allowing her to fire her arrows at double the normal rate while Ehlyna tries chasing after the Chief and his sticky footed mount. Kallin moves about into support positions and Ellie gets into position to use her throwing knives.

After much combat and bloodshed, the Goblins, who had been reinforced by 4 vicious Goblin Dogs, were finally defeated, though Kallin and Ehlyna were both on the verge of collapse and Daellin was eventually made unconscious due to multiple wounds and energy drain from his magic.

A fallen companion

More Goblins made their presence known by banging loudly on a securely barred door from the other side of the room. The group was able to barricade the kicked in door just as more Goblins tried to enter the throne room from that direction. After showing them the severed head of their Chief, the remaining Goblins fled, leaving the heroes a moment to rest and an opportunity to recuperate after a challenging encounter and lament their fallen comrade, Zursat.

Session Notes

This is one of my first PC deaths in many years. I did not see it coming at all, and Greg took it all in stride, had another character idea flowing before Zurzat even hit the floor! And as it turned out, there were a few other players missing but their PCs were definitely in the middle of the action as we started in the middle of things from the previous session. 

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
Zursat, Varisian Human Professional Adventerurer - Played by +Greg Grady 
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven warrior - played by +Jodi H
Ellie - Halfling finder of things not necessarily lost - played by +Megan McCarron

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Dark Paths 16

Dark Paths of Riddleport
Session 16
October 14, 2012

The Double-cross?

Map Tool Chat Log

Session Summary

Their new ally, the strange Elf, Kwava, is more than generous with his healing potions. He continues to explain what he knows about going's on's in Riddleport. The Crew ponders the in's and out's of the recent events, eventually coming to the conclusion that Saul has betrayed them and sent them to their deaths, like Kwava has suggested. The next order of business quickly turns to plotting their next step... revenge.

Eventually, it is decided that they will return to the Gold Goblin, pretending to be unaware of the double cross and with Aragon and Bodi posing as dead. They will get a cart and drag them through the streets from the north, making a big show that they had been defeated in the Boneyard and seem to be slinking back to the Goblin to regroup. Once at the Goblin, the plan is to confront Saul, and assuming he is guilty, take him out.

The next morning, the Crew heads back to town to carry out their charade. Upon reaching town, they receive many curious and surprised stares. Apparently word of their defeat had already reached Riddleport. As they traveled the streets of the City of Cyphers, more and more folk gathered around. Snargash used the opportunity to again sing their story to the masses and use his healing gifts to help those in need of minor healing magics. It takes most of the day to maneuver the cart back to the Gold Goblin through the crowds.

Finally, the cart and Crew reach the Gold Goblin. The establishment is closed, a note tacked to the door says 'Closed due to Illness.'  As they approach, several sentries are spotted out front. They rattle the shutters to alert those inside and then make a break for the back of the building via a narrow alleyway.

Clearly the management at the Goblin was waiting for their return. Aethel warms up a lightning bolt as Snargash calls out to the fleeing men.

The Gold Goblin

Continuing Story Doc

Continuing Story Summary

Realizing that they were in for a pitched battle, everyone, including those hiding in the cart, readied themselves for combat and they approached the Goblin. 

Session Notes

This was the session that Shayla turned into an NPC. Unfortunately Stephen +Stephen Kolmetz was no longer able to game with us after about 4 years of solid GURPS campaigns. He has been missed since his departure.

Players Present: 

Aethelarian "Aethel" Flitterseed, Noble Elf wizard - played by +Daniel White
Aragon Whisperwind, Elven Bladedancer - played by +Arne Jamtgaard
Bodi Jantzen, Human swashbuckler and ladies man - played by +Mike Biancone 
Guy Greystone, Gnome telekinetic - played by +Gren Drake
Snargash Windblown, Half-Orc monk - played by +Amergin O'Kai  
and The Dungeon Master - played by +Jason Woollard

Dark Paths 15

Dark Paths of Riddleport
Session 15
September 30, 2012

A Helping Hand

Map Tool Chat Log

Session Summary

The Gold Goblin Crew headed south, around the infamous Riddleport Light, said to be inhabited by a crazy old Chelish diabolist who was in the habit of summoning and consorting with devils and demons. He always kept the light tended to, so the city saw no reason to pry into private business. Past the light, the terrain would get a little rockier, but Saul assured everyone there were several paths that would lead down to the shore and the edge of the Boneyard. Once in the swamp that comprised the Boneyard, Saul’s crude directions should be enough to lead the way to the Spar and the not so clandestine meeting of their enemies.

After some time of slogging through the wet and muck of the swamp, Shayla returns from scouting ahead to alert the group that she had spied a light up ahead. A little more scouting reveals that they have arrived at the Spar and that several cloaked individuals are huddled on the deck of the wrecked ship, clearly making secret plans.

They plan to send Shayla around to cover them from behind and then send Bodi in in an attempt to converse with them, to see who is present and if he can convince them to change their plans. If that doesn't work, then plan B will be to attack. Shayla's rear approach is thwarted by deep water so she chooses a more narrow flanking approach.

As she gets closer, Shayla is ambushed by an unseen archer as an arrow pierces her back. Arrows begin to fly at Aragon and Bodi as well. One strikes Bodi in the neck and he drops the torch and goes for a healing potion. Aragon charges the figures on the Spar but quickly realizes that they are not moving at all, probably decoys, and that the arrows are coming in from the surrounding swamp. He turns and looks for the unseen assailants. Aethel, in Body of Air form, floats up to try to get a better idea of the forces assailed against them.

Aragon spies to humanoid rat creatures crouching nearby, holding bows and charges them. Shayla taps into her infernal heritage and summons a could of darkness that surrounds her and she drops into a defensive position. Snargash also takes an arrow to the neck from some unseen archer. He calls out a challenge to the ambushers and starts to move into a tactical position.

Flesh Eating Cockroaches

The battle rages on between the Gold Goblin Crew and what appears to be a troupe of Human sized rats armed with bows. One of the ratlings is apparently some type of sorcerer and flings a glob of acid at Aragon, which begins to eat away at his ornate armor. Aethel throws lightning and Guy flings psionically propelled rocks, slowly taking out ratlings. Several swarms of flesh eating cockroaches also descend upon the fighters in the water, mostly covering Bodi and trying to tear the flesh from his bones. Some of the beetles also go after Aragon, which is a problems, seeing as he is afraid of bugs. In his attempt to flee the bugs, Aragon inadvertently ran into a much deeper part of the swamp and ended up going under. Though Bodi was struggling to stay conscious, he dove into the deep water, knowing that the Elf did not know how to swim. The swashbuckler managed to pull the Elf to safety.

Things are beginning to look bad for the Crew, but then, help arrives from an unexpected direction- the sky. A large bird swoops down and drops what looks like a healing potion into Bodi's hands and then arrows start flying from the opposite side of the Spar, striking the remaining ratling attackers. Within a few moments, the remaining ratlings turn to flee. Some pursue for a moment, but it is obvious that the Crew had taken enough damage that full pursuit would be a bad idea.

Continuing Story Doc

Continuing Story Summary

After the remaining foes fled, it was quickly determined that these were Were-Rats, as those that had been killed were now in Human form. A shiver courses through everyone at the thought of these Lycanthropes attacking them. 

Kwava and Ganmeed

The source of the new arrows could now be seen. Crouching behind a broken piece of hull, a strange looking Elf stood, holding his bow at the ready, the moonlight glinting off the silver tipped arrow he had nocked. A piercing cry of a hawk echoed softly in the misty swamp as the potion delivering bird swooped down and landed next to him.

Speaking only in Elvish, he introduced himself as Kwava and the bird as his companion, Ganmeed. He says he was tracking a renegade Elf in the area and believed that the Crew had stumbled into the middle of his investigation. He invites them to come to his camp nearby.

At the camp, Kwava reveals that he thinks Saul is working with this renegade Elf and that he sent the Crew to into an ambush knowlingly. He says he had followed Saul to a meeting with Zirphas, a known Riddleport Wererat and minor Crimelord. He says he saw Saul give the Wererat a pouch of coins. Kwava then said he followed the Wererats, who came to the Spar earlier in the evening and baited the water with rancid meat to draw the flesh eating cockroaches. They then set up the false figures on the Spar and took up hiding spots and waited for the Crew to arrive. Guy then produces a note that he had found on the sorcererous Wererat. It was written in some sort of code.

My Trusty Trout Old Stumpy’s sending provender up Boneyard. They’ll be dunny lie at tomorrow’s darkman. Give them all the crash. Don’t try to grab any for your birds. Keep the dummees. The rest of the iron on earnest of the hush and ye’ll hie the ken. (signed) -Z

A brief examination of the note makes it seem that what Kwava says is true: Saul set them up!

Players Present: 

Aethelarian "Aethel" Flitterseed, Noble Elf wizard - played by +Daniel White
Aragon Whisperwind, Elven Bladedancer - played by +Arne Jamtgaard
Bodi Jantzen, Human swashbuckler and ladies man - played by +Mike Biancone 
Guy Greystone, Gnome telekinetic - played by +Gren Drake
Shayla, Tiefling archer - played by +Stephen Kolmetz
Snargash Windblown, Half-Orc monk - played by +Amergin O'Kai  
and The Dungeon Master - played by +Jason Woollard

Dark Paths 14

Dark Paths of Riddleport
Session 14
September 13, 2012

The Best Laid Plans

Map Tool Chat Log

Session Summary

After his date with the attractive Human, Tandi, Aragon learns that Zincher has recently had some dealings with Boss Croat, which definitely makes sense, considering the recent events. Snargash and Shayla manage to spread the word of the Gold Goblin far and wide in the streets. Everyone else accomplished the tasks they had set out to do as well. Everyone heard first hand some of the rumors that were going around the streets, many making the Gold Goblin look good and more regarding Cromarcky and the Genedarmes level of involvement in the incident.

Upon arriving back at the Goblin, Saul calls a meeting and confirms with the crew that through his sources, he has been able to fairly certainly deduce that it was Zincher and Croat that were responsible for the raid. He also was able to find out that apparently someone in Cromarcky's camp re-routed several Genedarme patrols the previous night to ensure that none of them would be responding to the break in.

Better yet, he proclaims that the rumors are surging the Gold Goblin's popularity and that when reopened the following night, they should be able to easily cash in. Better yet, though, he has gotten some information that indicates a secret meeting by both Croat and Zincher, set to go down later that evening out in the Boneyard, the murky swamp just outside of town. He describes the place, called the Spar, which is an old meeting place for the more illicit activities in a town run by criminals. He suggests ta
ctics and routes with the group and encourages them to get some sleep, then get out there and see if they can listen in and find out any useful information.

Aethel does a scouting mission around the swamp and some gear is bought to prepare for the trek. Everyone gets some sleep and then later in the day, the crew heads out to the swamp.

Continuing Story Doc

Continuing Story Summary

The group heads out to the swamp, still a bit uncertain on their actual plan once they get there. Some want to simply hide and gather information while others want a direct assault to send a message of strength. Eventually the group agrees on approaching from the south, around the Riddleport Light. As darkness falls, the group heads toward the Boneyard.

Players Present: 

Aethelarian "Aethel" Flitterseed, Noble Elf wizard - played by +Daniel White
Aragon Whisperwind, Elven Bladedancer - played by +Arne Jamtgaard
Bodi Jantzen, Human swashbuckler and ladies man - played by +Mike Biancone 
Guy Greystone, Gnome telekinetic - played by +Gren Drake
Shayla, Tiefling archer - played by +Stephen Kolmetz
Snargash Windblown, Half-Orc monk - played by +Amergin O'Kai  
and The Dungeon Master - played by +Jason Woollard

Wandered Roads 6

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 6
January 7, 2012
Campaign Timeline

Goblin Shaman

Takin Care of Business

The next morning, the brave heroes left town and headed out along the Lost Coast Road toward the Nettlewood and the Goblins of Thistletop. The Goblins supposed stronghold, a fort built on a rocky island just of the coast, was said to be reached by crawling through the nettles and brambles of the thick Nettlewood. Approach along the coastline was warned against, as the coastline is very rocky and prone to have many gulleys and ravines hidden by the thick undergrowth. A fall to the rocky sea below could be deadly, not to mention the many dangerous creatures known to inhabit the cold waters of the Varisian Gulf.

Before leaving town, the heroes are given a Harrow reading by the Varisian seer Madam Seoni.

Well on their way, the party was joined by Calina's animal companion, the firepelt Paka. Upon crossing the Thistle River, the party turned in to the thick woods and after a short time, managed to find some well hidden Goblin trails, but not before Ehlyna and Ellie both fell victim to the perils of the forest... stinging nettles! Following the trails eventually led them to a thick wall of brambles that was used to shield the approach to the Goblin stronghold.

A secret entrance was discovered in the wall of vegetation and the group, mostly crouched or crawling, entered the nettle tunnels. A group of rag-tag Goblins were encountered huddled around a small fire, and they were dispatched quickly. The group then encountered a kennel of sorts where several Goblin Dogs were kept. While deciding what to do with them, a Goblin Druid stepped out of the vegetation and attacked, using his magic to split the party. Another firepelt, possibly the Druids companion, leaped out and engaged Paka while Ellie was trapped to the ground. Another Goblin snuck out of hiding and attempted to attack Ellie, but was defeated.

After some rest and healing, the group found the rickety looking rope bridge leading out to the Goblin fort on the island. Being as stealthy as they could, the group made it out to the island and infiltrated the compound. Several Goblin sentries were dispatched before the alarm went up.

The group, now separated about several areas of the compound, rallied to face the Goblins in their own home.

Thistletop

Flashbacks

Several of the players worked on player flashbacks between this session and the next and off and on over the next several months.

Calina's Flashback

About 10 years ago, Calina had a run in with some slavers out of Riddleport. She managed to escape them and went on the run through the northern wilderness. She encountered several people while on her flight, some friendly, some not so friendly.

Kallin's Flashback

After Kallin's Human mother died, he was not so politely asked to leave his village. He wandered the nearby hills and encountered some ghostly youths fleeing from Ogres.

Zurzat's Flashback

Many years ago, when Zursat was a lad of no more than 14 years old, his clan traveled Varisia perfecting their 'magic without magic' act. During a stop in the quiet little hamlet of Sandpoint, he managed to get himself in a bit of nautical nonsense and manages to fall in love.

Daellin's Flashback

As a ranger new to the ranks of the Farstriders, Daellin comes across a dangerous force moving through Mierani Forest, killing all in its wake. The young Elf does all he can to stop, or at least slow, this band of evil down.

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
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven warrior - played by +Jodi H
Ellie - Halfling finder of things not necessarily lost - played by +Megan McCarron

and +Jason Woollard as the DM