The new out-of-character discussion thread. The previous thread was moving close to the thousand post mark.

I'm trying the new version of RPOL that we are being forced to use in a couple of weeks. I hate it!

For me, the biggest adjustment has been navigating within a game itself. I didn’t realize how accustomed I had become to utilizing the in-game links at the top of the page. Now, they’re all in a pull down, but half the time I see the icon for it (a die), and I keep thinking “I don’t need the die roller, I need _________.”

I’m working at getting more comfortable with it.

It has shunted the top menu bar off to the side, shrinking actual game space. I don't know how that's a good idea.

I got lost in the threads, sorry to be THAT player... are we in 17? There seems to be two doors leading south on that hallway. Could Darth V be coming from the south westerly direction, and if not, might we escape that way and circle back to the exit? Sorry, I hate to admit I'm doing e of my own pet peeves.

Dryvyk, we're in Rooms 46/63 right now. As Barnabus has indicated, the only way out is through 45 and west toward Room 15.  And no worries about getting lost, we've all done that more than once!

I've been using the new format for months now, so I've already gotten used to it.  It works well enough, for a player at least.  Not sure for GMs.

To be a touch more accurate, it sounds as though the footfalls are coming from the northwest.


Just for clarification, I didn’t say that Varghoulis arrived by way of the shrine of Nergal. Because, well, he didn’t.

Ah, thanks. I didn't remember the new updated map thread. I was looking at the game map menu instead, outdated info.

So looks to me like our hope is to race Darth V to 15 and try to keep ahead of him. Else, test the potency of Nineve's potion and use the death knight against his master...

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 7):

Thank you. That is good to know. It wouldn't change our next move, though -- perhaps the one after that, yes.

I was vehemently against the new site because I had an old phone and the old site worked great on it. Then 400 cows and calves ran over that phone on a cold January day, and even though it had previously survived worse, alas it expired. New site works great for me on the new phone and I'm getting used to the desktop version. I like that images automatically resize now.

My impression of the new site was that it would probably work better for mobile, but I never play on my phone, so that wasn't an incentive.  Aside from that, it looked like a C grade revision done in a freebie web editing app.

But the auto resize for the images sounds cool, and I'm sure there must be a few other perks.  And it's inevitable anyway, so..

This possibility crossed my mind as well, N. But I think the punishment for betraying a lawful evil master would be absolute in this case.


He might have that spell or spell-like ability. However, he does seem to primarily to be a fighter or an anti-paladin.


I don't know that we can order it to attack V. We could order it to move just ahead of us. If we had the opportunity, we could order it to move in a way to divert V. from our path. But then he has already obeyed suicidal orders by turning his coat for us, so...

One advantage we have in this asymmetrical contest is our knowledge of adversary psychology. Why won't V. run to intercept us or reach the crypt knight? It would be beneath his dignity.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Mon 04 Dec 2023.

One never knows for sure until the start of the new round.  Both in real life and D&D, lol.

I'm used to bad guys with aces up their sleeves, from way back.   My brother didn't play the stereotype keystone cop baddies, who'd forget to use magic items, or hobble themselves with gross overconfidence.

He had a thing for the githyanki, they were his main villains, and the way he played them verged on scary, sometimes.   Some of those scenarios still haunt my memory, and lead me to be very careful when I play rpg in the present.

The whole point of charming X or Y is to make them go against their nature. Long live internal contradictions :).

Or perhaps Varghoulis simply has no need to rush.

Malivoire: Can you take on torch duty? I think everyone else has two hands occupied with a weapon or weapon and shield.

A suggested update to the marching order to account for the loss of Andryr; might be important for this sprint to the exit! Please feel free to change as you see fit.

Single File        Double File
Dax             Dax      Dryvyk
Dryvyk          Safherd  Nineve
Nineve              Malivoire
Safherd         Ynes     Barnabus
Malivoire
Barnabus
Ynes

---

My major pet peeve with the new site is that he built in a way to change every possible colour on the site, but there is no way to change the font size!
This message was last edited by the player at 08:49, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

V. is an intelligent military commander with troops at his command. I'm going to hazard that he has the exit to the BM covered. He does not know that we have the means to teleport from #47 to his northern club house.

That is what I suggest we do to escape the BM. From the ruined temple, we might be ablet to take advantage of our surprise arrival to flee south.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

Just to put it out there, though I am absolutely not advocating for one approach over the other, there is another area in the southern region of the map where the adventurers would be safe from Varghoulis and his soldiers.

Yes, that would be the Briar Queen's sanctum.

B. would prefer his patron's means.

As a player, either is fine with me.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

I see challenges either way.  If we use the shrine and teleport to the temple in the north, we will land among enemies and presumably still have fights to win before escaping back to Helix.  A reminder that Malivoire has one spell left (Shower of Sparks) and a couple of magic missiles from the wand.  Otherwise he will be only good as a lantern bearer.  Not sure about Nineve's remaining spell resources.  If she is also low we're basically at the whim of the fighters' dice rolls.

If we go to the shrine of the Briar Queen we're safe but trapped, unless V gets bored of waiting for us to emerge.  We could rest and recharge, but still would be in for a fight when we leave, possibly against an entrenched enemy by that point.  Perhaps the Briar Queen could lend additional aid, but that's not a given.

Maybe we go with Barnabus' suggestion and bolt as fast as we can for the road back to Helix?

For reference:
So it's not like we're going to arrive on the outskirts of the ruined temple. But we will have the advantage of surprise and an absent V.

Like M., I also think that the BQ could offer more than refuge.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

There is a third option, which no one seems to have discussed:

March out there, lay waste to Varghoulis and his cronies, and send them back to the underworld abyss they came from.

Types the GM while gleefully eyeing V's list of special attacks, deadly artifacts, 93% magic resistance and AC -8.     ;)

But seriously, maybe it is the best way to go?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

This is the one Sir Dryvyk would prefer!

I've got next to no magic, so all I want to do is run away.  But I'm a team player - I'll leave the lantern with the rest of you before running off into the dark screaming  ;)

In reply to Nineve (msg # 23):

We've encountered him and the likes of him before. Remember the Balor? It's not a serious option. For the vainglorious, it might be :).

Bar      -- Club House North
Mal      -- Club House North
Sir      -- V. and his cohort
Nin      -- Undecided
Dax      -- Undecided
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

The Balor was before my time, sir.   I've read just enough to get the drift, but it honestly sounded as though the GM was prompting us to consider fighting as a viable option.

And I've acted on your (Barnabus) certainty twice now, only to find you were wrong.  -_^

But I didn't know Mal was out of spells.  That nerfs us a bit.

Normally, Nineve would (of course) be in favor of retreating to the BQ's protection, over the other option.  But the likelihood of us getting trapped would change her choice, and she too would vote for the Club House over that.

As long as we're reasonably sure fighting is a bad choice, I'll cast my vote that way.

I will get the marching order set up in its formal thread in the day or so, but I did want to tweak it slightly:

Single File        Double File
Barnabus           Dax      Barnabus
Dax                Dryvyk   Nineve
Dryvyk                 Malivoire
Nineve             Ynes     Safherd
Safherd
Malivoire
Ynes


Nineve, this analysis was pretty much on target. My suggestion about standing and fighting was entirely motivated by malevolent facetiousness.

That said, I have confidence that there will come a time when the adventurers have reached the level needed to take the warlord down once and for all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:38, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 28):

B. cannot be in both the first and seventh position in the single file order (yet).

Looks like we have a consensus for the ruined temple. I'm certain, N., that our preparation of 3xhold person will prove to be most providential there.
This message was last updated by the player at 22:27, Tue 05 Dec 2023.

Awesome!  As long as we can put funny hats on all of'em once they're paralyzed.

Fixed!

I will post an update regarding the (doomed) run to the shrine of Nergal this evening.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 26):

As a player I want to join Dryvyk and go down in a blaze of glory...running away from V is getting old.

As a character, I think Dax would agree with Nineve, BQ's place for tea and biscuits is the first choice, but since it is virtually inaccessible, let's use the evil portal!

A few questions, if you would:

Is it apparent by which means, if any, V. could achieve long-distance ingress into this chamber? That is, would we think he's a round or two behind us?

Is that a summoning circle? Is it apparent by which means we might ruin it?

Let's pretend Ishmael's still with us. How deep into Moria does he reckon we are?

B. is considering casting Silence 15' Radius.

We should try to gather as many of the goodies as we can -- books, papers, probably that chest.

No, the party wouldn’t anticipate being followed. The means of shifting between this location and the Barrowmaze clearly stems from some magical/clerical working. As noted elsewhere, Varghoulis is a warrior (with some spell like powers). He doesn’t possess the means to activate it. Mild spoiler: the portal(s) he utilizes are “keyed” to him and his soldiers.


Potentially. It is definitely a magical circle of some kind. Uprooting some of the stones which comprise it and disrupting the pattern would effectively destroy it.


Ishmael would note that all of the available descriptions of the ancient temple north of Helix described it as a stone edifice. This is a wood walled room with a dirt floor. The party’s former burglar would estimate that the company was one level below ground. As in, the stairs seen in the room likely lead to the surface.

Oh, so he doesn’t have the right level of permission to portal from the shrine to the ruined temple. That must be galling for him.

The access key is in another part of the dungeon he hasn't been to yet, I think it's the magic mushroom level or the mermaid level, not sure. If we can get it first...

Mermaids then?

The Barrowmaze isn’t in the vicinity of any large bodies of water, so it’s actually the dryad level. Although, Varghoulis is known to hang out in the Magic Mushroom level from time to time when he needs to chill out and take a break from plotting the conquest of the living world.


It is. The priesthood of Nergal view him as the executive branch. They make the decisions, he enforces them. Naturally, being thought of as an armored errand boy isn’t something he agrees with.

So we need some new kind of measuring unit for like evil potentiality so we don't ever load a chest which is only approved for storing 500 cosmic units of doom with, say, 512 with the addition of a particularly sinister iron candelabra.

How about bane as the unit of evil?  Matched with the right prefix.

Thus, megabanes, gigabanes, terabanes, what have you.

Killobanes... Yeah, that sounds about right.

I will note that all of the last conversations were unheard due to the Silence spell! :-D

Prior to the spell being cast, was it possible to tell where the speakers above were in relation to the trapdoor? Trying to figure about how far from the trapdoor to the bad guys and if the trapdoor would block their view of who was ascending (even for a moment) or if they would see the person in front of the trapdoor.

I will post as best I can and edit if needed!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Thu 07 Dec 2023.

Not being rude by witholding my healing. I've just found that playing paladins in the past, in various editions, that keeping the option open for a mobile paramedic can be pretty valuable.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 41):

Lucky! Is a silence-emanating chicken bone the best magic item ever, or what?   Just imagine bullseyeing (is that a verb? Browser doesn't think so) a lich in the head with that, and ruining the meteor swarm he was going to cast.

And Dryvyk, yes, these retro games lead us to be more judicious with heals.  I played a cleric in a pathfinder game for years, and play now in a 5E game where almost everyone can cure wounds.  In OD&D you have to conserve more.    Which I didn't do with the last spells, but both castings were also about supporting comrades.   (er, not in the socialist sense)

Let's see if the BQ bestows another miracle upon us we could have Labin Cinderbrand, the Thrice Born.

When the Casualties list is updated, that top-of-his-trade lockcracker should be added. He was a hireling after a fashion.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Thu 07 Dec 2023.

@LL- You sonuva- wow. I'd say that was cold, but it would only encourage you! (love it (but I hate it (but I love it)))

And it's not too late!  That cultist can still quit while he's a head.

In reply to Nineve (msg # 46):

OH. MY. GOD. That was horrendous! And I nearly spewed water onto my keyboard!! :-D

Our comedy stylings aside, I added a couple of caller OOC notes to my last IC post.

I'm assuming we know or know of our victim? Helix ain't that big after all.

Can't we use the amulet to go back to the portal? We could be there within minutes instead of hours...

Also, we really don't want that mace to fall into the wrong hands, would it be better to send Jesper and the chest to Brother Other?

The problem is that you destroyed the magic circle in the basement, Dryvyk.  I don't think the amulet will work without the functioning circle.

Uh... Heh... Ahem. *whistling*

I didn't connect the circle to the amulet for some reason. That was kinda dumb of me.

I don't think we anticipated having to return to the Barrowmaze in that fashion.  And we didn't want cultists going back and forth without restriction.  It made sense at the time.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 50):

Even if we had the means, it would be inadvisable to return to that shrine so soon after having left it. Our hirelings are not without their own resources/capabilities.

Mazzahs can be considered to have the "right hands." It's part of our charter to deliver "enchanted" items to him (for a hefty reward). Of course, he may well direct us to then take the mace to Brother Othar.

Based on this, I didn’t think the party would even be concerned with returning to the Barrowmaze immediately. I figured that they would see to their business in Helix, then head back when the time was right with a mop and a couple of sponges.

I'm going to be switching to the new site today, because among other reasons, I'm having a hard time reading posts from anyone who's presently using it, the GM of this game included.

I do have a few questions though, because some things make utterly no sense to me:

1) What was a well-respected, non-evil craftsman doing working for a servant of Nergal inside the Barrow Maze?   How would it be possible for him not to grasp who he'd leagued himself with?   (Maybe I don't understand where this 'Club House' is?  Have we left the maze?)

2) If Dryvyk had sensed that only one man was evil, why did he not get the chance to warn the party?  Instead of the GM doing an auto-kill, and then telling us after the fact?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

In reply to Nineve (msg # 56):

@LL -- If the party were solely composed of Barnabus, perhaps. I don't see him dallying in Helix either, though. We don't even know if crypt knights have clearance to exit the BM.

@N --  The craftsman was likely evil all along. It's a frontier town with all types. I have been playfully referring to the ruined temple area (north of Helix) as V's clubhouse north. Plainly stated, it's now another temple dedicated to Nergal.

@N --  It was publicly known that there were two people above us, one evil, one not. LL posted this (#3 in the game thread). As a side note, I was a little surprised that Dax and Sir posted their attack rolls before checking out the situation. I thought Dax would take advantage of being silenced to spy a bit before attacking. It was fun either way. I expect we have a diary in our position so we didn't need to question the man. As another note, this is Sir's second decapitation of a Helix cultist.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

>this is Sir's second decapitation of a Helix cultist.

As gruesome as that is, it is more merciful than stabbing someone in the guts, and leaving them to bleed out in agony.   D&D sugar coats and soft sells so much under the guise of 'hit points.'

The craftsman, the owner of the shop, was evil. He was the individual the party slew and he was a cultist. Not someone who was unwittingly serving Nergal. He was a willing follower of the death god who had dedicated the cellar of his home/shop to serve as a temple for the evil deity. He was assuredly not an innocent.

Dryvyk’s detection of evil revealed that the shopkeeper/craftsman was evil, but the individual he was speaking with at the time of the party’s arrival (a customer) was not. That customer Dax subsequently discovered was Valeron, the village bowyer, who had also previously served as a guide for the party. The leatherworker has clearly been doing business in Helix for some time, keeping his allegiance to Nergal hidden. To many in Helix, he is probably regarded as a respected craftsman in the community.

Safherd has voiced the suspicion that the leatherworker was not the only follower of Nergal in Helix, that there are likely other followers of the Lord of the Underworld in Helix, but that the leatherworker’s cellar was their primary gathering place within Helix.

As for the instant kill, yes, I went along with the adventurers’ posted intentions. But, those violent actions were definitely directed at a servant of Nergal.

I honestly thought we'd teleported to another location in the Barrowmaze or to the temple of Impurax... I need to start taking notes!

Sir Dryvyk has few talents... Walking PRAYDAR and decapitation of cultists. Word's gonna start getting around. Watch for citizens wearing metal neckwear!

Okay I get it now, thanks to you & Barn for clarifying.

This is precisely the reason I started using the responsive site. Players in some of the other games I run and play in had begun utilizing it and their posts were filled with all sorts of odd formatting issues and symbols. So, I relented and went to new iteration of RPoL, where everything became legible. :)

Yeah, exactly-- I've been slow to bite the bullet, but it's coming for us all, and it's time to front up and be assimilated.  ;)

I will add that Dax is at times guilt-ridden over the innocents that have died as a result (directly or indirectly) of the party's actions. Yet, he still will jump to conclusions and swing sword first; ask questions later. It's almost like his actions are directed by a mad man!! :-D
I am playing Dax as dealing with his guilt by trying to wipe out the evil-types as quick as possible. He's a ranger with a god-given sword so he relishes swinging said sword and leaving the heavy thinking to those with a high INT score! Nineve is 100% correct in saying that the "smart" thing would have been to capture the leather-worker. Once again smart vs sword: sword wins every time!

---

I HATE the new site. But I am also using it as the rollover date is fast approaching. So much padding and wasted space! Standard font is way too big and now way to adjust it. As a webmaster in the days of yore, I cringe when I look at the pages!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 64):

It's kind of awful. I don't like to think about how bad it is. I'd prefer to think that it had always been this bad. Maybe it's just my job but I see delusion everywhere I go.

@Nineve -- Battist was Barnabus's prize hireling, hired to blast a waterlogged door in another barrow, one dedicated to ancient servitors of Set (greater and lesser barrow mummies). As it turned out, his artistic expression in that matter was perhaps greater than had been anticipated and desired. We still need to return to that barrow to chisel out some precious metals that had become fused with the barrow walls (something to do with chemistry and physics?).

It's all good!   All part of the madness and fun.   And what should be clear to a character isn't always so to a player, depending on how much time one has to read carefully.

I had one GM tell me once I couldn't drop a box I was carrying, and draw my sword and attack in the same round.  (because dropping the box was one action too many, I think-?)

Now this was AD&D, where a round is one minute long. And I realize you might have to look for an opening in your enemy's defenses and so forth, but still.

That kind of stuff drives me batty, other sorts of things I don't sweat.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 65):

Freudian slip? Battist was Barnabus's prize hireling...
He's still alive, for now!!! :-D
How much did that wonderful staircase cost us? I'm going to guess it is so much twisted metal buried in a heap of rocks! :-(
Can I guess his initials are CH??
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Tue 12 Dec 2023.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 67):

A technicality, most like, but Barnabus had not planned to retain the second coming of Battist as his hireling for his own idiosyncratic reasons.

If we were talking about Pathfinder or a similar system, where rounds are short and actions are limited, I would get it. But AD&D (and its immediate cousins) possess significantly longer combat rounds, born from their old school miniature wargaming roots. It sounds like something you should’ve been able to pull off.

But, we’ve probably all gamed with a GM or two whose rationale for many decisions is ”Because I’m the GM. That’s why.”


There is a better than average chance that there will be another door within the catacombs or surrounding barrows that will be eligible for violent removal.

I have been thinking we should turn our attentions to those secondary and tertiary barrows at this point in the campaign.

Can't wait to see the rodeo happen when Windroot tries to get on Mal's horse! I'm guessing gnolls and horses don't play well...? Yee-haaaawwww!!!

I'm waiting for Windroot to reveal his true intentions. Assassinating Lord Kell as he passes through Helix in a procession, concealed in the terrain by bundles of cut grass he's tied to himself.

Whereafter he'll be remembered in infamy as the grassy gnoll.

Ahem. I'm going back to work now.   

I am momentarily without words.

All along, the conspiracy was soooo close. We've been confused over a typo all these years. I nominate Nin for an Inspiration point! Oh, wait, wrong game

In reply to Nineve (msg # 72):


Brutal. Absolutely brutal.

Puts on Q-Anon hat, wait, Windroot = twin odor => when someone is killed, there is the smell of blood followed by the stench of corpse bloat. It IS a plot.

Nin, I would also add the what we learned about the location of "the pit" and its guardians -- not to mention the fate of the crypt knight.

Re conspiracy:  Henceforth, he shall be called JFKell.

If he wants more info, Mazzahs has to check all pictures that contain a horse, in order to prove he's not a robot.  Otherwise, Net Nineve returns an error page.

J/k, I'll get the other stuff in...

Er, what did we learn about the pit and its guardians, again?   That bit's not in my notes, and ctrl-F isn't doing the trick, either.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Fri 15 Dec 2023.

A question regarding any specific guardians of the pit was never asked.


This was the information provided to Nineve regarding the pit’s location. Queries were made regarding the location of traps and secret doors in said direction.


Nineve will be able to describe the imaged pathway which was revealed to her to Mazzahs.

I was referring to the "shadowy horrors."

Yes, I should have asked about their HD and special abilities :P.

I’m afraid I was thinking within the scope of what the potion would have permitted the adventurers to ask. While, naturally, game statistics such as hit dice and unique abilities couldn’t be addressed, the number of guardians, along with their descriptions, could have been inquired about.

There was just a wee bit of time pressure. Were there world enough and time said the shepherd ...

Although not as historic as Nineve's wordplay, my second to last post IG post should take one back to the 80's.

https://youtu.be/P3YmUx1rM8M?feature=shared

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 78):

That's right...how I could forget the 'brain with a rusty blade,' bit?

Can we just presume I relay the rest of it to him, behind scenes, or should I edit it into one of my posts?

Back to the 80's, yes!   (Nineve acquires some shoulder pads, and her hair keeps getting bigger and bigger, enough to conceal magical daggers and potions within it)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Mon 18 Dec 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOkn90h_VWg

Lol --  brings back memories of slinging burritos in a mexican dinner house, and hearing that playing in the bar!

Barnabus and Dryvyk should bury their differences, become a Crocket and Tubbs team, and star in the spinoff game, 'Helix Vice.'

"How Bizarre" was more 90s, I think?  But blasts from the past nonetheless!  :)

That was 90s for sure, and Medina was right at the end of the 80s.   I remember that was 89, when that came out.    (pretty sure)

Around the same time Milli Vanili got busted for lip syncing, I think.   Just ahead of their time?   It's now almost common for artists to mime to recordings.

80's or 90's -- it wouldn't have survived long beyond then having what our betters would brand as transphobic lyrics.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:47, Mon 18 Dec 2023.

Milli Vanili got busted not only for lip syncing, but because they weren't even the singers of the songs!  When the track failed, they couldn't carry a tune.

Surprises are fun too.


We can presume that the description has been given. It is important to note that the information was passed on. That way, when the current party gets wiped out by the fun loving denizens that make their home in that end of the catacombs, those who follow in their footsteps will know where to find them.

It's nice how you look out for us like that  :P

GMs work hard--they've got to have some fun, squishing adventurers now and then!

Ok folks, we're well into that time of the year--after today and through the 27th, it's likely I won't post much, if at all.  I'll put Nineve in the bar with the others, and if that scene wraps up while I'm not here, GM has my blessing to have her go wherever the group does.

I'll wish every one happy holidays, or that these days go quick as possible, if you're one who just wants it all to be over with.   (I go back & forth on it, depending completely on the circumstance)

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays, to all.
I'll be around but I get that posting will be much slower! :-)

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 94):

I'm in the boat near Dax's boat. I get it but I don't like it.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Fri 22 Dec 2023.

Merry Christmas to all!

Santa's Workshop has been busy every night. My wife and I refurbished this old second hand rocking horse she found. Last night my boys and I made rope halters for our boss's family. (For their horses, not the family members themselves.) Lots of fun projects when you live in the boonies like I do. So blessed. But it makes posting much slower for me this time of year.

Hang in there fellas.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Sat 23 Dec 2023.

We'll be travelling a little and hosting a little, so pretty busy for us starting tomorrow through Boxing Day.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Peace and Glad Tidings to all!

DM: I take it, Windroot did not come to the tavern.

No, he did as he had originally indicated, though he was very appreciative of Dax’s sentiment.

That said, although Windroot has experienced a genuine opposition to his presence at Ironguard Motte, it is entirely possible that he is overestimating the response which he might receive among the residents of Helix.

Back!  Hope everyone had a merry, at least tolerable, X-mas time.  (assuming you celebrate)

And because I didn't do it when I said I would, I'm adjusting to the new Rpol site right now.

On the topic of Windroot, I've always liked the idea that the various humanoid races may have more peaceful members, that hobnob with the good guys. Even better when there's a side to their people's story that most haven't heard.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Fri 29 Dec 2023.

In reply to Nineve (msg # 100):

And now that you've said that, Windroot will betray the group to his evil hobgoblin band!! :-D

Probably happening as we speak...

Sorry gang, I'm sick as a dog and not very creative tonight, I'll try tomorrow.

I know there might be some unspoken trepidation on the part of some of the adventurers with respect to this idea, but no one should feel especially anxious regarding it. Absolutely nothing can go wrong here.

It may not be spoken but it is felt. There are some random tables you shouldn't be trusted with.

I've of a mind to report our (Dax's) discoveries to Derica and let her take it from there.

I'll be afk for a few days marinating in nearby hotsprings with wife and kids. A welcome break from the cold. Should be ready to re-engage on Saturday.

I'm not sure whether I'm more concerned about Barn having the polymorph self or improved invisibility potion.  But by all that's sacred, don't let him carry both!   ^_^

The temple sounds good to me, but whatever the majority decides works.

Temple ruins, seconded. I'd like to hit up Brother Othar for some barrels of holy water. Might come in handy?

I’ve noted that Barnabus hasn’t posted for a week. Perhaps the New Year has him especially busy. But…if I need to NPC him, I’ll be very judicious regarding whatever potion (or potions) he imbibes. :)

Mixing a 'Graveyard' cocktail might take on a whole different meaning!

I don't want any invisible land squid in this party, that's all I'm saying!  Not having it!

Seriously though, he started a new job, didn't he?   Maybe they piled it on him once the holidays were done.

Just didn't have anything to post during that time as Barnabus wasn't tailing the cultists.

Would like exp/payouts/potions for sale (if any) if you please.

New job has started to keep me occupied but not exactly busy.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Wed 10 Jan.

I agree we go to the temple.

My poorly-explained-IC plan (which fits Dax) was to have Derica's guards take on the workload of watching the merchant; the suggestion to have her talk to him was so the merchant might think that she was confiding in him, not accusing him or making him aware that he is a suspect.

In the meantime, Dryvyk's Irregulars can go to the temple, do the industrial strength undead/cultist cleaning; and then return to either lop off the merchant's head or drop the ring in Mount Doom orb in the pit.

And here we are, with no halflings!

So, has anyone else tried working with the freebie AI image generators, available now?    While they can produce some funny results, once you get the knack, they are pretty versatile and kind of fun.   I had a go at doing an image of Nineve: 

While I can't say it looks totally how I see the character, it's not bad for just typing in descriptives and letting the app do the work.

If anyone wants me to, I'll take a stab at doing their character, when I've got some down time.

That is a rather cool result.


Financial compensation and any resultant professional development stemming from recent underground ventures will be duly provided once the concerns associated with the ruined temple complex north of the municipality of Helix have been fully addressed. Mazzahs the Magnificent, the Church of St. Ygg, and the Helix Chamber of Commerce^TM appreciate your ongoing efforts and understanding.

With regard to the seeking out of even more potions, I would respectfully reference the widely accepted idea that the first step toward recovery lies in admitting that you have a problem.

I should have read the fine print.

Yes, that is a maxim, isn't it? It just strikes me as quaint for those who sit before me count their years of sobriety and/or substance usage in the decades.

In preparation for the completion of said stipulated contract with Helix's three-headed organ of commerce, I swapped Silence for another Bless. That's the only change.

Mal, you might want to prepare a Sleep.

Let's temple it up.

I am working on the presumption that the party will be departing for the ruins in the morning. Is that correct?

Morning departure is good for me.

Changed on Magic Missile to Sleep, per Barnabus' suggestion.  Expect (hope?) we might see more human opponents at the temple, rather than mostly undead.

Sir Dryvyk will be ready with spurs on and armor gleaming for an early morning departure time.

@Nineve - That's pretty cool. I'd like to fiddle around with that when I get some time. I'm pretty content with the image I have in my bio of Sir Dryvyk, but it'd be fun to play with. I'm flat amazed at how quickly AI is advancing. I'm beginning to understand how my grandma must feel as she watched computers be invented and shrink in size. Crazy times to be alive!

I take it we're all set to go when you're ready, LL?

Sorry gang, the frigid weather (-31F) last night caused all kinds of issues as well as knocking out the internet. I'll catch up tomorrow night.

OMG!   0 degrees is the lowest fahrenheit weather I've ever been in, and that was like being on the freaking moon!  Can't even imagine thirty below.    Hope it warms up!

Our three day weekend was marked by temperatures in the teens.  And now I feel wimpy for complaining!

Someone once pointed out this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X-fALNm8K4

A straightforward contrast of old school D&D vs. the modern paradigm!

Thomas Kincaid: Painter of Light

In reply to Nineve (msg # 122):

Ya know, it's all relative. I lived in South America for a couple of years, and when it got down to 45F I was searching for my sweatshirt and complaining. Now, 45F is t-shirt weather! The damp, moist air down there makes it feel so much colder. Yesterday I was outside in a sweatshirt at 11F because the sun was shining and there was zero wind. I find it amazing how quickly one's body can adapt. A couple months ago I was whining to my wife about being cold just before Thanksgiving, 34F and too warm to snow. I have a son in Tennessee and a daughter in Texas right now, and they both are going around without coats because they're accustomed to the cold... it'll be a different story in the summer when everyone else is just fine and they're dying from the heat!

Barnabus, I'm struggling with my reading comprehension I think.  In your last post you wrote:



Are you saying here that the symbol of the raven is Impurax's symbol, and that this temple was one of your order?  Or something else, something more sinister perhaps?

Perhaps you can help me understand your intent, without giving anything away that is supposed to be cryptic?  Thanks!

I can clarify one part of the question:

The raven skull, or rotting raven’s head, is assuredly the symbol of Impurax, lord of decay and corruption, bringer of darkness, silent destroyer of worlds.

Thank you!  Well, maybe for not pointing out that the info was there in front of me all along, but thanks!  ;)

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 125):

So true! Albeit I'm not new to Texas, and I'll never quite adjust to the long, gross summer!

The "himself" part was ... Barnabus's wry egotism.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Thu 18 Jan.

The temple served as the hub for the worship of Impurax several decades ago. Suspicions and fears regarding the activities of the priesthood led the soldiers of the region to attack the temple, wiping all of the clergy and what faithful were present out.

Lady Sidonie had spoken about the event with Barnabus at the Brazen Strumpet.

Yah, I remember that.

These corpses are too fresh to come from time, suggesting a rebirth (short in duration) of Impurax worship.

Or, as has been suggested elsewhere, they are followers of Nergal who are seeking to repurpose the temple for their own ends.

Haha, I do have a tendency to whip up fervid theories. I had already fashioned another alliance between the cultists of Impurax and Nergal with the latter betraying the former by ... and ... then ...

I meant the lady corpse there not the door next to the lady corpse.

Does our current objective encompass trying to kill Ms. Lady Talon or just reporting to Mazzahs that the Nergal cultists over-summoned as it were? It's pretty easy to get in over one's head in the BM.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Thu 18 Jan.

Oh, that’s easy. She’s not carrying anything, save for a steel symbol of a skull on a chain around her neck.

After having given the matter some thought, and in the spirit of providing the most exciting narrative possible, from this point forward I’m going to forgo providing any manner of warning with regard to items the party discovers during their explorations, which will allow Barnabus to scoop up anything his heart desires.

Well, I thought we executed that last scene with a satisfactory level of drama. It was Barnabus's intention to have his action negated by Sir. I hope that was clear.

@Party -- Every sign we've seen testifies to Ms. Lady Talon's ability to paste any who defy her/hide from her/and so on. I'm leaning towards investigating as much as we can and then reporting back to the big boss. A couple of paths have already been marked as highly dangerous.

Sounds prudent.  Albeit, we as a party would likely stand a better chance than the cultists, especially if this is just your garden variety vrock, or such.

But if it is the demi-goddess of pernicious pasting, then your plan is better.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 137):

The thing I might throw out there is that Barnabus has been playing very deliberately to touch and grab everything in the game to date. He's doing it for the purpose of tripping the interesting stuff. I appreciate that, even though there's obvious danger involved in doing so. He did narrate in a loophole for me, which I seized upon. I don't want to keep spamming Detect Evil all the time, but it is an active aura sorta thing for a Pally. I thought the tip from the DM was perfectly in line. I'd originally typed out a response of trying to wrangle it, but then thought it would be more prudent to just get it on our way out, and face the risks then.

Anyway, not a big deal, and I can understand how having a Pally in the party can break things in scenarios like we face in this adventure with undead and vying death gods. I just worry we'll become overly cautious... Or maybe we're already there and we're subtly being told to stop being pansies...?

Paladin can be a challenging class, both for the player to RP, and the GM to ajudicate, with the auto-evil sniffer, and all.
My thing is always 'story trumps rules.'   I'm okay with a GM making judgement calls on abilities--even saying they fail-- where it's gonna mess up the plot, in some way.   But it seems like you two make it work out well, between you.  I haven't seen a problem in my time here.

As usual, I'm good with what the majority chooses.  I always accept 'smished' as a possible fate, in any game where my sheet has a tally labeled Hit Points.

For example, Dryvyk knew the Barney mace was evil, but not THAT evil! ;-)

You still think it was the mace that made him like that?  ;)

Everyone is doing a great job with their characters, in my opinion.  Keep doing what you're doing!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Fri 19 Jan.

Please understand, I wasn’t expressing any kind of discontent with regard to the party dynamic, or how Sir Dryvyk has exercised his ability to Detect Evil. I think everyone has portrayed their characters exceptionally well. Dryvyk, in particular, has helped the party avoid disaster on more than one occasion.

But, as a DM, I also feel constrained to some extent to give characters what they want. And what Barnabus wants is to pick up everything that isn’t bolted down onto an immovable object.

So, in an effort to make everyone happy, the next time he tries to snag something of dubious safety, I’m going to allow it. Sure, in the moment after it happens, as the words ”Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” slip through Barnabus’ receding consciousness, Sir Dryvyk will briefly recognize that the cleric has activated something of horrendous malevolence, designed to usher in an age of unremitting darkness throughout the entire world.

But narratively, it will feel right. Because Barnabus, in the fleeting seconds before oblivion, will have momentarily satiated his avarice.

In "Barrowmaze: The Novel," I think at least a portion of it would have be a first-person narration by Barnabus, capturing his perspective.

"These fools! They are without an understanding of nuance or context, seeing my drive to acquire the gleaming thingamadealies of the world as no more than petty greed!   They don't grasp that with each appropriation, my essence grows more profound, my spirit ever nearer to being an exemplar of the doctrine of Bourge-Wa-Zee!"

Assuredly.

But also assuredly more than a Vrock given her magical abilities (7th level plus). Likely a bit of BM homebrew and, dollars to doughnuts, out of our depth.

Apologies. I skipped right past this question. No, the name Ursel does not have any immediate association for Dax.

Are the three cultists still visible?

LL, I've been trying to sort out the sequence of events in my head:

Some time ago, this temple to Impurax was sacked and ruined by the local do-gooders.


Was that the only structural damage caused by the assault?

Not even a minute ago as the kids say, the temple was repurposed for Nergal and his religious order. This event occurred after we discovered the Nergal shrine.

Was the structure of the temple restored during this event?

Less then a few minutes ago, we discovered the still extant journal of a high priest of Impurax, evidence of his death still visible (blood/cracked desk).

I don't think the paladins would have left his journal behind but whisked his body away.

Did the restoration of the temple return it to a previous point in time -- just prior to its destruction?

Could you answer any of these questions for me? -- Thanks!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:40, Mon 22 Jan.

Yes, all three are quite visible. All with their hands raised in surrender. As an additional point, the fumes do not appear to have had any negative impact on the cultists or anyone else in the room  (I.e. there is no indication that they are poisonous).


There was no structural damage caused by the assault. The collapse of the roof is the ultimate result of elemental erosion and neglect.

The assault carried out by soldiers of the Duchy essentially consisted of a group of men-at-arms entering, killing everything that moves, and closing the joint up, followed by stern warnings to the local populace that the temple was haunted/evil/a bad place to have a picnic.

As a further bit of understanding, despite the soldiers’ readiness to wipe out Impurax’ clergy, they still regarded them and the temple with genuine fear. Once the proverbial deed was done, no time was wasted in leaving.


To reiterate, the structure wasn’t damaged in any deliberate way. The soldiers which comprised the forces of the Duchy in that period didn’t have access to any kind of siege equipment. I don’t believe that razing the temple itself was ever seen as a realistic goal. So instead, those who occupied the temple were put to the sword. Think Salem.

So, the cultists of Nergal haven’t restored or rebuilt anything. They’ve just moved in. In fact, as you have likely already discerned, there are portions of the temple they’ve basically left unaltered.

This alludes to a point worth considering. The map which Mazzahs borrowed from The Foul Pheasant’s proprietor seemed primarily concerned with the temple’s underground level. Given what Dax observed at the only exterior entrance to the basement, something unpleasant has transpired down there.


Although the wrecking of the temple doubtlessly occurred with the Chuch of St. Ygg’s tacit approval, paladins were not directly involved in sending the fun loving clergy of Impurax to their graves. The soldiers who carried the attack out, in the main, were regular men-at-arms in the service of the Duchy’s leadership. Most of those soldiers (rightfully, one might argue) viewed the temple with fear and superstition, and didn’t want either to linger on the premises or take any of the accursed items within the place out where they could cause further harm. At the time, stern warnings from the soldiery and terror about the place being haunted were sufficient to leave it undisturbed.

Sure, one could argue that some intrepid evildoer who was interested in the secrets of Impurax could break in and find some cool stuff. On the flip side, the authorities had sent a rather strong message about how the worship of Impurax was viewed in the region. The latter seems to have held. I mean, after that, who’s going to be crazy enough to turn up in Helix and announce that they’re a follower of Impurax?

(For the record, most of the knights of St. Ygg at the time were focusing their efforts on the region’s greater evil, the Barrowmaze. See also: Sir Guy and his companions seeking to close the pit within the catacombs. The followers of Impurax were bad, but they were second stringers compared to what was wandering out of the tombs.)


The temple was never demolished. Just abandoned. The soldiers who performed the raid boarded it up and warned away the curious. In the years since there has been the occasional story about some questioning soul who wandered into the place and was never seen again. The ruins have been shunned. Even the merchants established a new route which avoided the haunted site.

Thank you. Once again I had spun some kind of alternate history, thinking that I had heard the temple had been ruined.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Mon 22 Jan.

In your defense, it is probably due to the temple sometimes being referred to as “ruins”. I think that word has a wide range of conceptualizations tied to it, from “vacant and long abandoned” to “razed to the foundations”.

It's all good. I love the D&D planar stuff.  Though, not so much when one of the denizens is lawnmowering the party!

The Erinyes are particularly cool.  In a pathfinder game, I had a character who was a refugee from Cheliax (a nation with much diabolic influence), and wrote a retrospective piece (it was the type of game where we did that kind of thing) where she witnessed an Erinyes meting 'justice' to a fugitive mage in the city square.  Evil outsiders, always fun to write!

The woman who dropped the glass sphere -- did it look like, 'you scared me, I dropped it!' or more like: 'I'm intentionally breaking this because it'll be useful against the party.'    If possible to tell-?

The action appeared quite deliberate.

Ruh-roh Raggy!

Only the temple has been pulled into Hades.

This, of course, comes with some positive dividends. Outside of the temple, the whole of this level of Hades is accessible to the adventurers. So they have their pick of where they can set up a long term homestead/base of operations, accounting for safety concerns, naturally.

I've done the Hells, the Abyss, pandemonium, but never Hades before!  Who'd have thought we'd snag a free vacay?   But, damn it, I didn't bring anything in black or drab grey..

I hate to ask this... But is Sir Dryvyk's aura of protection still working? Does St. Ygg manifest in Hades? Gulp.

Yes, Sir Dryvyk’s Protection from Evil will work. Likewise, Nineve will still be able to call upon the Briar Queen for aid in the form of spells. Both adventurers’ patrons will still reach out to them, even in the Lower Planes. Barnabus, being chummy with an evil death god, is virtually on his home turf, so his divine spellcraft will also function as expected.

However, specifically with regard to Sir Dryvyk’s aura, the previously alluded to shades, along with the troublesome entity which prompted this extreme course of action, would not be considered “summoned” creatures at this point, given that they are acting within their native environment. The aura’s other benefits would still function as normal.

Just think, Sir Dryvyk, soon you'll be like that paladin on the splash page in the old players handbook, 'a paladin in hell hades,' fighting off mobs of fiends.  How many get to live the dream?

@LL - Way to wiggle out if that one! If the prayers are reversed, then it should protect the summoned, which is me! Or is it repel the not summoned... Hmmm...

@Nineve - Yeah, Sir Dryvyk is secretly thrilled at the prospect of taking all evil on at once!

@Barney - uh... about all those mean tweets... uh... ahem... Home turf he says?

In reply to Nineve (msg # 160):

I would always worry about his precarious perch upon the edge until I realized he was wearing a Ring of Feather Falling.

Truthfully, this isn’t really information that the party members have at this juncture. Certainly, Coljar could be blaming the god for the misfortunes brought on by the summoning, or he might be referring to other events which haven’t been disclosed. As yet, the party’s knowledge of the inner workings of the cult is fairly limited.


I’m going to wait for some further input before moving the company’s explorations forward. Just for my information, are the cultists going to remain in the sanctuary, or is the party taking them along?

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 163):

Yah, I understand. I didn't necessarily expect an answer; I was thinking out loud.

As for...can we trust the two male cultists, I don't know that we have a better option at this point.

Do we know what would happen if we kill a cultist in Hades? I would say kill the woman and bring the other two along.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Thu 25 Jan.

Is Hades the domain of Nergal? Sir Dryvyk would probably know that, but his player doesn't. :-P

Also, is Sir Dryvyk getting any sort of vibe from the shadows in the chamber, or are shadows just darker in Hades?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Thu 25 Jan.

Although there are some indications that Nergal’s influence extends into multiple planes, Hades, also termed “the underworld” by many, is his primary domain.

The shadows are giving off a steadily strengthening aura of evil.

We need to confirm if the entire group is heading to the office or just a few.

If we can use the mirror in the office, I suggest the entire group goes, including the prisoners (or at least two of them!).

Also, the Pit in the Barrowmaze, would it be connecting to Hades?

The mirror is an artifact crafted with the divine energies of Nergal. In order for the presumed “escape” to work properly, it would need to be broken within a circle dedicated to him. However, that doesn’t prevent Barnabus from drawing up a ritual circle to Impurax and seeing if the same effect can be achieved.


Yes, it would.

Sounds to me we need the old guy and the young guy to draw the circle to Nergal...Ursel is totally expendable at this point.

Sorry for being out of pocket for a bit.  Back on it, now...

Everyone good with Dax, Nineve and Dryvyk going for the mirror? Barney wants us all to go. Mal?

https://youtu.be/l1dTcUyzQL8?si=rRM8zKhNA_FuFdI3

Nope no split up. No call for it. Almost never a call for it.

Do like the idea of leaving the lady cultist behind (for future drama) and bringing the gentlemen cultists along. They might have something to say about circles, new and old.

My thinking is, if we need the Nergal acolytes to draw the circle and smash the mirror, why not bring them with us and do that in the office?  That way we don't have to come back to the current room, plus we get to stick together for maximum protection.

I am okay leaving behind the ornery female priestess though, either incapacitated or dead.  She will try to sabotage things for sure.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in will ya!? He's pretty much better at everything than all of us!

Yes, I've restrained some lady cultists in my time.

I was tempted to have Dax slice her throat, but if she can be brought back to Helix it provides a couple of things:

1. Othar and Mazzahs can put the screws to her to get her to talk
   
2. If she is perp-walked into town, the potential bad merchant and any other cultists might give themselves away.
   
3. The party looks bad-ass, no matter what! :-D

We also have some names from the journal/note in the office where the mirror is.  Not sure if those were all townsfolk or not, but another way to identify some of the ne’er do wells.

Yep. But let's not get ahead of ourselves :).

This plane flipping can't help but bring to mind an episode of involuntary teleportation that Dax, Sir, and I suffered in the Halls of Arden Vul. It wasn't so much that we were teleported to a place where we were out of our depth. It was that there was just about no way for us to escape this expansive area. Even the bottom of the light well that we found there that we knew connected to the surface ruins of Arden Vul could not be traversed by us without, say, levitation or spider climbing. Alas, we were burdened with a most feckless magic user (he had chosen a useless spell with his one free 1st level choice).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Sun 28 Jan.

As a player, especially a (relatively) new one, I'm usually okay with the majority vote.   If, periodically, Barn makes a call as the caller (say it thrice times fast), I'm okay with deferring to that player who has that role.

I would draw the line only at not being given enough time to make decisions that hinge on my character directly or specifically.  That hasn't happened, yet.

The dynamics of this group are interesting, where you've got both a paladin and a cleric in service of a dark power.  And Nineve now represents another religious philosophy, one that's mostly benign, but also has some thorns and sharp edges.

In these cases, B. never opposes the will of the warriors. Really, he never really opposes anybody's will unless ... they want to split the party.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:47, Sun 28 Jan.

Well poop. I was hoping that the screams from the south meant that our Miss Chicago contestant was the one causing them. Ru-roh, that means there's something else out there!

@Dax - you'll get a +1 to your Save from Dryvyk's aura.

'fraid that still leaves him one short.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Mon 29 Jan.

Just for everyone’s information, I’m going to wait until all of the player characters have had the opportunity to act before having the NPCs (Safherd and Ynes) take their actions.


Incidentally, I reflexively threw this saving throw for the hag, but in retrospect I’m not sure it was necessary. I’ll have to give the matter some thought before the combat enters its next round.

I didn't have high hopes for it but thought it was worth a try. I expect she's got more than one special defense.

Actually, that’s not the issue. Under normal circumstances, the night hag would have been just as subject to the effect of hold person as any other humanoid monster, had she failed her save.

The problem is this (borrowing from the conversation which Dax and Safherd overheard):


The “they” she is referring to are the shades she sought to unleash.

With regard to the night hag, I’m not sure one can employ the divine spells of Impurax against a servant of Impurax. I don’t know if the deity would even lend his power to such an effort.

That’s what I’ve got to puzzle out.

Very interesting... I suppose that would depend a lot on the Deity in question. For instance I could see Gruumsh being all for his minions jockeying for power amongst themselves!

I'm eager to see what you come up with. I'll decide if Dryvyk thinks Barney is pulling his punches on purpose! :-P

I expect (once again) that this would apply to the Blessing of Impurax as well were this line of reasoning to be followed.

No shortage of internecine combat, at Sir has just noted, though.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Mon 29 Jan.

Hold Hag II, the sequel...will it have a better ending?

Haha

This is correct, of course. If the deployed spell would not be effective against the night hag, then the previously employed blessing would not bolster any attacks against her. Again, it’s a matter I have to think over. Likewise, it could also mean that the hag would not be willing to attack Barnabus directly, as she potentially views him as a spiritual ally. If she manages to set most of the party back on their heels, she might just throw the priest over one shoulder and cart him off to some distant corner of Hades, never to be seen again.

With a deity like Gruumsh, I can see the encouragement of hostilities amongst followers. On the more positive end of the spectrum, Kord “The Brawler” from the Greyhawk pantheon would be similarly inclined to spark intense, though ultimately benign, competition among his faithful. I see Impurax as being somewhat more imperial in demeanor, more prone to simply smite whoever he sees as getting out of line with his aims, which would admittedly be cool to play out.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 191):

A lonely priest of Impurax can dream.

I'll just leave this right here.

How Barnabus’ campaign ends. ;)

From Aliens (1986):

Private Hudson: [puts his rifle against Burke's head] I say we grease this rat-fuck son-of-a-bitch right now.

Corporal Hicks: It just doesn't make any goddamn sense.

Ripley: He figured that he could get an alien back through quarantine, if one of us was... impregnated... whatever you call it, and then frozen for the trip home. Nobody would know about the embryos we were carrying... me and Newt.

Corporal Hicks: Wait a minute, now... we'd all know.

Ripley: Yes. The only way he could do it is if he sabotaged certain freezers on the way home... namely, yours. Then he could jettison the bodies and make up any story he liked.

Private Hudson: Fuck. He's dead. Your dog-meat, pal!

Burke: This is so nuts. I mean, listen - listen to what you're saying. It's paranoid delusion. How - It's really sad. It's pathetic.

Ripley: You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage.

Corporal Hicks: All right, we waste him. No offense.

If the hag is held... Can Sir Dryvyk just decapitate her? To be perfectly honest, I don't trust the die roller in times like this!

Seriously? I thought you might change it up somewhat. Run her through or something. Break the cycle.

But yes, if Sir Dryvyk is certain that he wants to deliver a killing blow, he can. No die roll required.

What is bred in the bone will not come out of the flesh.

Do it - we need into the office quickly!

Does the hag's spell stay in place after she is dead?

From Star Wars: A New Hope (1977):

Obi-Wan Kenobi: If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Lol.. Hey Dax, remember Deadwater?

He and I could tell you some great anecdotes about facing Hags as the overarching menace, in a 5E game we were in.    The plot was constructed such that we didn't know they were the behind-the-scenes villains until mid-way through.  The GM did a good job of making them truly sinister.  Even sometimes funny, in a macabre way, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Wed 31 Jan.

I kind of think that there's something sinister "to the south" could be the shadows, or something else.

I'm wondering if Sir Dryvyk can keep the shadows at bay with his Protection from Evil if we don't attack them, and everyone just hunkers together and we wade our way to the circle...

@DM - I don't remember if I asked you this question before. The spell says "summoned or created" creatures are repelled. Do the shadows fit this category on their own plane?

If not, then we most likely must do a fighting retreat and locate that circle, like Barney said!
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Thu 01 Feb.

The priests also said the mirror was used to trap shadows, at least temporarily.  We might be able to make use of that feature to free us up to then run around and get to the magic circle, where we smash the mirror to escape (we hope).

Meant to post this here:

Any thoughts on the strategy here?

(1) Grab the mirror and run around to #5 (see updated game map) to enter the sanctuary from the west, cross the sanctuary to that southernmost door, and book on through...

(2) Escape be damned, we're going to fight all the gathering shadows of Hades.

As you can tell, I favor #1.


@Sir -- LL has stated that native beings don't qualify as summoned or created.

Fighting retreat for those who are engaged in melee sounds good.

Okay, right, the mirror can trap shadows (similar but better than Safherd's bottle). But who among us can wield the mirror? Sir? One of the turncoat cultists?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:38, Thu 01 Feb.

Dryvyk was repulsed by the mirror's evil in a "best not to touch it" kind of way. So we need to decide to put it in the hands of the devil we know (Barney) or have Sir Dryvyk try it and risk an Evil/Good repulsion...

Ok, so the ProtFroEvil aura will still grant us some help. The female cultist is next on the "free neck-shortening" service.

If any of you have read the Black Company books by Glen Cook, these shadows are freakin' me out! I hope they're not as deadly as the ones Cook dreamed up!

I have read all the Black Company novels.  Love 'em!

Agreed that using the mirror as a defensive weapon against the shadows might require the cultists, and maybe we don't want to trust them with that (cause they could release more shadows if some are already trapped.

I vote for expeditious fighting retreat, and get to the existing magic circle as fast as possible.

I read the Black Company books 35 years ago!! I don't even remember the story. But they're on my bookshelf still.

It looks like Dax and Barnabus entered the office with no other PCs. Dax wants to dash back to fight, but he won't leave Barnabus alone with the prisoners.

I think Barnabus' plan is the best we have...those fighting have to get from room 8 through room 7 to room 6 so Dryvyk or Nineve can pick up the mirror.

And then it's click your heels, 'there's no place like home' time!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Thu 01 Feb.

I'm away from my books until tonight... Is fighting retreat a thing in this version or am I confusing with some other OSR?

Anyway, that sounds like a plan to me, whatcha say Barney?

I think Barnabus should take the mirror.  If Dryvyk or Nineve (or Dax or I for that matter) grab it we'll be diametrically opposed alignments I'm expecting.  Not sure how that will fare, but I expect the mirror would behave better for Barnabus given his divine patronage.

But Mal is probably the least useful during a running retreat from shadows.  He could take the mirror in case there are debilitating effects.  At least the party would still have its main strength available that way.

Open to other thoughts.

I think this talk of retreat is a tad premature. The party should slug it out a few rounds, take note of how the temple’s structure is holding up, and then decide whether they need to hustle downstairs.

Sometimes our LL has been known to be a little playful but I think he's being straight with his recommendation here :). You may as well attack, Dax.

The mirror has been blessed/dedicated to Nergal. As such, Coljar might be our best bet to be its handler.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:20, Thu 01 Feb.

Ok, I kind of read it as we'd be fighting our way down there, using "fighting retreat" as a possible mechanic. I don't remember if we've fought shadows in this game yet, nor do I remember much about them, I just remember from days long past, very long past, that they were scary. And if we're in the basement when the building folds... well, at least burial will be cheap!

Sir, we fought shadows in Room #34 in the BM, one of those sealed crypts. They could only be hit by magic weapons and it was a bit of a claw and scratch fight until Ynes essentially ended it by smashing one of them with a +1 shield. Those shadows did a little bit of damage and had a strength drain special attack. Don't know about these bruisers.

My recommendation wasn’t serious. :) Although, I think a heroic stand would be awesomely cinematic..

To provide a glimpse into the future: On the next round, four additional shadows will come into being. On the round following that one, another four will manifest. On the round after that…you get the idea.

With regard to the shadows’ capabilities:


As well, at some point soon, the night hag, whose ethereal form is currently shaking the temple structure in rage, will manifest again in a more meaningful manner.

And, well, all the ruckus and the presence of a building from the Prime Material being dropped smack dab in the middle of Hades is likely to attract additional attention from the surrounding neighborhood.

Re Mirror:    For me, there's always an awareness of how my (player) perspective may differ from Nineve's.   I don't take the "self insert" approach to character play, so no one need think any of her opinions reflect mine, especially where it may come to getting along better with some characters than others.

As a good-aligned cleric, some of her views will be nearer to our paladin's, albeit we're bound to have differences too.  As regards Barnabus, she can see the big picture, and judge him on his actions, rather than prejudicially on his religion, in some or even most things.   But there's gonna be situations where she sees his allegiance as a real risk.

I agree Barn should take the mirror, as a player.   As for Nineve...we'll see.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Thu 01 Feb.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 215):

I revised my last post per your crystal clear clarification.

~~~

Thinking aloud here with respect to the mirror...

If...being the only known escape from Hades, somebody has to be able to use it.

If...that somebody can't be good-aligned, the mirror being dedicated to Nergal.

If...the entire party is good.

Then...it would have to be one of the cultists.

I think it rare that a Barrowmaze party would have anyone in the service of a (neutral) evil god.

If a Barrowmaze party had slaughtered all three of the cultists, then they're probably evil and one of them could use the mirror.

That's about as far as my logic goes.

To clarify my last post, Dax is still a bit leery of Barnabus...not as bad a Dryvyk was, be he is hesitant to leave him alone in case the mirror or one of the prisoners manages to convert him!

DM: Do magic swords glow in LL?

Sure. A low level illumination, along the lines of the depiction of Sting in the Lord of the Rings films.

As well, although we haven’t quite reached that revelation in the narrative, upon taking up the mirror, Barnabus will glow too.

Isn't he in the spotlight enough already?  ;P

As an aside, I'm starting to get nostalgic for those carefree days where we only had to worry about goblins burning down half of Helix while we tackled an eternal, vengeful, map-seeking spirit.  Ah, the simple days of yore!  Oh well, back to whatever circle of Hell we've landed in...

Look at the bright side. How much collateral damage can possibly unfold from a situation like this one?

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 219):

I like those old school rules, where swords had intelligence, an ego and what not, and would sometimes possess the character wielding them.  Albeit, I'm unclear why it was only swords that had that, and never, say, a bec de corbin.

I'll IC a little later today. Boss had to leave early this morning and I'm trying to pick up the slack.

I‘ve always kind of assumed that Gygax took a page from Michael Moorcock in creating those rules. In his list of inspirational reading in the Dungeon Masters Guide’s Appendix N, he lists a number of authors, some of whom featured characters with “named” weapons (Bilbo and Frodo’s “Sting”, the weapons wielded by Fafherd and the Grey Mouser), but only Elric’s soul consuming black blade Stormbringer had a mind of its own and sought to force its owner to follow its desires

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(To the point that the sword causes Elric to slay people he loves and, in the end result, Stormbringer claims the life of its wielder.)

---

I think that Stormbringer was the inspiration for the rules regarding intelligent swords, but I’m not sure why those same rules were never explicitly extended to other weapons. I could be remembering incorrectly, but I think that all three weapons that are the objects of the quest in the module White Plume Mountain are sentient. One is a sword, but the other two are a warhammer and a trident.

All said, who wouldn’t want a Lawful Neutral +3 Frost Brand bec de corbin which compels its owner to bring order to chaos with extreme prejudice everywhere he or she travels?

I'd agree, that probably came from the Moorcock novels, as did the law/chaos alignment thing.    Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other early examples of a protagonist wrestling for control of themselves vs. their sword, any rate.

Joking aside, I think swords just tend to be more epic, more romantic, than many other weapons.  Their aesthetic is more refined than that of a morningstar, or such.

Still, other weapons might offer more amusement.  Like a bill guisarme.

"Andryr, are you you alright?  You don't seem like yourself?"

"No, fool...not Andryr!  It's Bill!  Ahaha!"

Elrich had a catastrophically low wisdom score, I would hazard. He was ego sword bait.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Mon 05 Feb.

In reply to Nineve (msg # 225):

I always thought Bec de Corbin was a great name for a knight or cavalier!

Did anyone ever see the old Tunnels & Trolls rules?

For a simple, almost silly game, it has every weapon under the sun!

We adopted some into our AD&D campaign.  Like the swordbreaker, and the kris dagger, made of 'meteoric' iron, and able to dispel low level spells!

There may be some substance to this. Moorcock has admitted to having designed Elric to be the antithesis of other sword and sorcery protagonists, most particularly Robert E. Howard’s Conan. Throughout the original novels, Moorcock emphasizes the fact that Elric is physically frail and suffering from illness. He makes extensive use of potions and drugs to fortify and sustain his physical abilities.

But perhaps more importantly, Elric is a sorcerer. In Melnibone, Elric’s world, there is no free standing source of magical energy that anyone with talent and instruction can tap into. Any and all magic is dependent on the sorcerer making a deal with an external entity for the outcome requested. The prices can be steep and ultimately, all of the elementals and gods who rule Melnibone are acting out of self interest, even those that uphold Law. Individual lives are essentially pawns in a greater game to them.

In a review I read of Stormbringer, the Chaosium published RPG based on Moorcock’s novels, the reviewer made the statement that in the game, once your character starts casting spells, the darkness already has you.


Now you’ve done it. I’m going to have to have a long separated cousin of the Ironguard family turn up who goes by…


Ha! I can distinctly recall reading through the Tunnels & Trolls rulebook (the fifth edition, I think) and being completely baffled by some of the weapons listed in the equipment section. Exhaustive is definitely the word! I believe that Ken St. Andre, the game’s author, is a librarian by trade, so that helps explain how extensive those entries are.

Speaking of magical weapons... does anyone have an extra to share with Andryr? I thought I had a +1 dagger, but no matter how many times I check my character sheet, it's just not there. Must be another character stuck in my mind. Anyway, anything would help!

Also, the shadows can't be turned on this plane, is that because it's their home plane?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Mon 05 Feb.

Oh, noes! I've gone and left my Go Juice behind again leaving me powerless to prevent the next plot development.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 230):

I don't think we have a lot of magic weapons; Dax and Dryvyk have swords and Barnabus has his cudgel. I think that's it. And, I'm kind of wrong, there was a +1 Dagger of Returning that was given to Ishmael along with some magic leather armour.

BTW: Dax is moving to take over the fight from Ynes and Andryr, basically to let them get the hell out of Dodge while he (hopefully) kills the shade and then he will also hightail it out of there.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:16, Tue 06 Feb.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 232):

Ynes has the Headswoman's Axe (a two-handed axe should deal 2d4 or 1d10 dmg, I would say).
Safherd and Nineve have magic longbows.
Ishmael did make off with his +1 Dagger of Returning.

We won't be able to finish them off for an unharried retreat. They repopulate at a rate of 4 per round.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:04, Tue 06 Feb.

Safherd has a number of magic arrows. Nineve is using silver arrows, which are also effective.

As a possible suggestion, Karg Barrelgut could silver Andryr’s sword (essentially plating the blade with silver) to make it more useful for future encounters, until a magical weapon could be found for him.

I’ll update the in-game thread later today.

Ah, thank you for the clarification. We need to raid the House of Magic Longbows.

As LL says, I'm not packing any magical weapons.   I didn't enter play with magic anything.

I did get an item that confers luck (+1 most d20 rolls) from Yllasys, early on, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't extend to hitting any normal-weapon immune monsters.

To get silver arrows, I had to fudge a bit, I admit, using the same cost multiplier from the AD&D books.  (yes, I paid for'em fairly) They aren't actually on the LL weapons lists, which makes it the only version of D&D I've seen that doesn't offer them.  Seems like an oversight...and there was no way I was playing an elf archer-priestess  without some silver arrows in her quiver.

Moorcockian magic:  I'm familiar with that whole philosophy!  The only proper campaign I ever ran was under the Elric! (the 90s revision of the older Stormbringer rules) setting and system.  It's different from D&D, but I loved the magic rules, especially with a supplement book called 'the Bronze Grimoire,' that had rules for runes, and expanded on the Lawful side of things too.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Tue 06 Feb.

:) I have a copy of the final (6th) edition of Stormbringer, which I believe is the revision that followed after Elric. In some respects, it closely resembles some of the mechanics from Call of Cthulhu. The magic system is epic and often frightening. The combat can be extremely cool, if deadly. It does a great job of emulating duels between skilled combatants, especially those wielding swords.

I’ve occasionally been tempted to try to put together a game here, but I don’t know that there would be sufficient interest to make it fly.

Is it magic?

Was only planning on dealing with the one on Ynes and Andryr...give them a chance to run out at full speed...then Dax will run if not harried or will use Ye Olde Fighting Retreat otherwise.

It looks like LL mentions 'cold iron' or 'iron' weapons in some of the undead descriptions. Funny that the equipment list does have a sliver dagger, but nothing else...and of course no cold iron weapons either!!!

It's like the author purposely tried to copy the bad editing from old versions of D&D! :-D

I never played Stormbringer or Elric but I believe they were designed by Chaosium, thus the resemblance to CoC rules.

DM: I'm (as usual) a little confused. Why are we going in the Sanctuary (room 9)? I thought we were heading to the southern door in room 5.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Wed 07 Feb.

As far as what I’ve narrated, I was following the caller’s instructions.


I believe that Barnabus was basing that route based on feedback from Coljar, regarding the quickest path to the underground ritual circle.


The sanctuary isn’t the only path to reach the stairs to the underground level. The company has the option of pushing through the southernmost door in the entrance chamber (vestibule) they are in (room 5) and working to reach the stairs by that route, or they could exit the building and venture down the external stairs which Dax spotted during his circle of the temple’s exterior.

Ynes’ battle axe is a +1 weapon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:42, Wed 07 Feb.

I’m not sure I fully understand the rationale behind these decisions. Go big or go home.


That’s correct. The monstrosity that is circulating about the temple, looking for fresh victims, didn’t consider closing it behind them a priority.

You're probably being ironic ... but just in case ...


That's the deterrent for going outside of the building. We don't want to encounter that which approaches the temple.

The sphere was shattered in the sanctuary. It now looks to the epicenter of evil and darkness.

With the above two approaches having marks against them, the third was chosen.

But B. can light up a bone and toss it into the sanctuary before making a decision.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Wed 07 Feb.

So, what are we feeling so cautious about here, exactly? Yes, the sanctuary has low visibility. So, there is the chance that someone could crack their shin against a bench or trip and fall when they reach the steps of the dais.

Now, if the concern is that there’s something lurking in the darkness, then the whole thing becomes like a litmus test. If everyone reaches other side of the sanctuary without issue, then there was nothing to worry about. If someone happens to get their head ripped from their shoulders, well, there you are. There was indeed reason for caution. But you won’t know which it is until you try.

As far as going outside, the party is perfectly capable in combat, with members who are uniformly courageous in the face of peril. They can take on whatever Hades throws at them, even if what is approaching is leaving a crater the size of a full sized sedan with each step.

So, see? Plenty of options. There’s no path that needs to be regarded as absolutely closed off.

https://youtu.be/9f6cHVuPlIg?si=128TQHJtQWZanI25
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:23, Wed 07 Feb.

Yeah, all things considered, I do think I'll stick with the "still alive" option.

I played in one rpol game that made use of it, some years back.  For sure, a small niche at this point.

Yes, all that stuff is Chaosium.   I like their combat system, where making parry or dodge rolls is a significant part of a fight.  It flows nicely, once you get used to it, and takes the emphasis off having huge amounts of hit points.   The whole 'major wound' thing made it a bit deadly; but I didn't use that rule, and house-ruled a few other things to give player characters better prospects.   No one would accuse of me being a lethal GM, even in that setting.

Life is indeed cheap in Melnibone. :)

I thought that cultess Ursel had been gagged?

I had to read quite a way back, but finally found it. Sir Dryvyk had indeed gagged her with a length of rope.

Potentially life saving information withdrawn.

Life saving for her... Dryvyk's decapitation trigger finger is getting awfully itchy as she smirks and runs her mouth...

True. :) I’m certain that there’s more than one adventurer who wouldn’t oppose Ursel meeting a swift end.

However, the comment regarding lifesaving information where Barnabus is concerned was offered without irony or jest.

Yeah, maybe Barnabus will remain behind to have tea with Ursel and other soon to arrive guests.

Jeez, maybe we are already in Hades. Our own president can speak with the dead.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Thu 08 Feb.

I will have the map of the current temple level updated this evening.

As the group is presumably headed into the underground, I’ll post a separate map for that level once they descend.

Apologies for the double post, but I was curious.

Has anyone happened to snag a copy of this or look it over? I was hoping to get some impressions if one or more of you had.

Dragonslayer

No, I haven't. What itch is it trying to scratch? I don't know that I have it.

Should we escape Hades, won't we be leaving the temple behind? It seems a shame if true with so much left unopened or still bolted in place.

Me either. Especially not at the price point it’s offered at. Gillespie has always been pretty proud of his work. In fairness, with regard to some of his megadungeons, that’s justified. But with so many solid OSR games already in circulation, I’m not sure what Dragonslayer might offer that can’t already be found elsewhere.


Patience, Grasshopper. There’s quite a bit yet to be resolved.

Hey, I did say should. There was a world of apprehension in that one word :).

Happy 5000th post!!!

Here's to another 5K!

Cheers!

I was just watching the 3rd episode of The Detectorist and the short detectorist said, "Patience, grasshopper," to the tall detectorist. I loved watching Kung Fu as a kid.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Sat 10 Feb.

Apparently, Dan Proctor, the guy who writes Labyrinth Lord was going to shut down. Gillespie offered to buy the rights, but then Proctor decided to give it another go (I think he is working on LL 2.0). I believe there was some drama too.

At this point, Gillespie decided to do his own retro-clone, and thus came Dragonslayer.

Coincidentally, I was reading about Gillespie earlier today and have decided that he is not worthy of my money.

Yeah, OSR drama, who'd have guessed it?

Dragonslayer came to my attention a while back, but the price point is way too high for me to add it to my collection (ahem... horde). So I'll wait until it's on sale. From what I've been able to gather, it's just another B/X clone and I'm not sure what more is left to do with that particular flavor. Anyway, I'll keep an eye out for reviews and a sale.

Here's the Barrowmaze trailer. I hadn't seen this before, but it came up when I was poking around for Dragonslayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wKQq8gLDXE

And yes, I was a Kung Fu fan as well!

Not heard of that one, but as said, there are so many OD&D rule books available now.

At a glance, they do say this one has some elements of contemporary D&D, which might not be a bad thing.  Advantage/disadvantage, simple skills or proficienies, ability based saves, inspiration, etc., I'd welcome any of that incorporated into this sort of game.

Mostly, I'm not wrapped up in what rules are used, long as they get the job done without my having to comb the book.    However, as far as retros go, I've got to cast my vote for--

https://preview.drivethrurpg.c...antasy-player-s-tome

For the races & classes, because it's otherwise much the same. But they use everything from the Unearthed Arcana book, rendering it in old school.  Every demi human race (including drow, half elves, half orcs, etc.) can be a class or have a class.   And, it has good versions of the bard (you can begin as one) and knight (cavalier) classes.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Sat 10 Feb.

This must be one of those soccer/ultimate frisbee divides with me falling on the soccer side and you on the frisbee one.

I didn't play much Basic back in the day. I'm not even sure what system we were using the first time I played, I just know my thief died within 45 minutes!! I'm pretty sure that first group switched to AD&D (if we weren't using it initially) and that is what I played for years.

I played an OSRIC game on RPOL, and it was fine. Very similar to 1E with some attempts to clean it up. When I read through the PDF I found that it still had lots of typos and errors (mostly minor) and there was never going to be an update.

This is my second, or maybe third kick at the can with Labyrinth Lord and I have to say I really like it. I found some Word versions of the LL and LL-AEC rules (not sure how up-to-date) and I plan to combine the two into a single document that I might then use with my real-life group, if I can convince them.

DM: From the top of the stairs, with torch in hand, Dax should be able to see if the stairs go straight down, or if there is landing and a turn, or if it is spiral?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Sun 11 Feb.

Not really.  Rpg mechanics are nothing I feel strongly about, in the way some do with sports.  No interest
in pushing for anything here, just thinking aloud.  All things equal, I do like mechanics that support the narrative, or make things more streamlined, flesh out the character better, or just add fun.

Thank you for the insight into the development of Dragonslayer, Dax. I definitely wasn’t aware of the backstory, especially the portion involving Goblinoid Games and Labyrinth Lord.

It appears to be doing well at DriveThru RPG at the moment, the upswing probably sustained by fans of Gillespie’s other work. Time will tell if it has any staying power. I’m content with 1e AD&D/Labyrinth Lord/Swords & Wizardry for my old school fantasy needs.

Although, I do have a fair amount of curiosity about Old School Essentials, which I have to confess sits currently unread within my PDF library. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and some of the adventures which have been published for it are really outstanding. I’m especially impressed with Grave Robbers of the Crystal Frontier.

Somewhere back somewhere, I think you commented on how the current environment effects undead turning?  I can't remember, and don't have time to hunt.

If it's something less than impossible, please remind me.   Even at a penalty, it might be worth chancing a lucky roll to end this quick.

Sorry. I should have reposted that as a reminder, as I had with the shadows. Undead within Hades are not subject to turning. They’re essentially on their home turf.

Thanks, that's kinda what I thought, but wanted to confirm it's not an option.

Having broken our initiative losing streak, I think this might be a good opportunity for either of Mal's 2nd level spells.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Mon 12 Feb.

Already on it.  I was just checking whether they were wearing metal armour (which they are).  Post upcoming.

EDIT: Unfortunately the die roller was not cooperative - below average damage again  :(
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Mon 12 Feb.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 269):

Hey, that's 4d4+1 dmg. There's solace in that.

But, yes, 3 pts under the average.

Also, take solace in the fact that, with someone having taken possession of the mirror, everything is on a time clock. Matters may end up taking care of themselves.

https://youtu.be/F0w2vbegv1I?si=WGHhSLc9egNTuJxD

I've heard a LOT of buzz about OSE. It's the B/X clone of choice at the moment. I just downloaded the Basic Rules and took a quick scroll through them. As everyone raves, the layout is nice, but I don't see much different in the rules from LL - other than it provides foe ascending armour class as an optional rule.

I can't imagine there would be any difficulty using an OSE-specific module with LL. And it even says that B/X and 1E modules should work without a problem, which is similar to LL(AEC).

The basic rules aren't the cool ones.  You need the Advanced Fantasy Player's Tome, for the extra and very cool race and class options.   Otherwise, it's the same as any other.

I can make it freebie available in dropbox, if you're curious.   (same way I got my copy, lol)

Mal's spell reminds me of the ring of shooting stars--which has a spark shower, among other effects--and is my all-time favorite magic item.   Yes, there's better stuff, but I'm always hooked by aesthetics and theme, not to mention nostalgia.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Tue 13 Feb.

I noted that the Combat Status thread is in need of updating. I will get it corrected this evening.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 274):

Forgot about that thread! FYI: Dax's AC is 2, not 0.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 274):

Sir Dryvyk's AC is 0 not 2.

Malivoire has cast both Magic Missiles, plus the Spark Shower.  He has Sleep and Web left.  He also has not used the Pearl of Power today.

Nineve's AC is -7, not 1.   (no, no, really, I swear!)

Note:  In the name of fairness, Nineve plays archer when she can, and technically can't use her shield when doing so, which makes her AC 2.    I noted that on my sheet, it's in the character bio line too, but wanted to mention, since we're talking combat stats, and her listing on the combat thingy is the with-shield AC.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Thu 15 Feb.

This version doesn't permit any damage bonus (str or dex) to arrow fire, does it?

In reply to Nineve (msg # 279):

Nope.

Does that mean Safherd has in her possession +3 arrows or at least +3 vs. undead? She does d8+4 dmg with her shots.

In essence. They’re called arrows of gravebinding. They’re +1 “to hit” and damage against any target, but are +3 to damage rolls against undead opponents.

Well, damn, S., pass those bad boys around.

The damage bonus also applies to an individual specified within the adventure text as a necromancer, or any cultist, priest, or anti-paladin who serves or gives allegiance to a death god.

Don't prick your finger on one of those, Barnabus!

I am not comfortable with those bylaws as written. I would like to convene a meeting of the Rules and Governance Committee to advance substantive revisions to eliminate a perceived bias.

From Starship Titanic (1998):

The Bomb: The megascoupler is now armed and preparing to explode. This will be a fairly big explosion, so please stand back about twenty two miles.

Countdown commencing…now. One thousand. Nine hundred and ninety nine. Nine hundred and ninety eight…

If my small math's to be trusted:

S1 engaged with Barnabus
7 -Sparks
9 -Barney
9 -Nineve
6 -Saf
3 -Nineve
10-Barney
44

S2 engaged with Dax
7-Sparks
15-Dax
6 -Ynes
7 -Mal
8 -Ynes
43

S3 engaged with Sir
7-Sparks
8-Sir
9-Sir
8-sir
32

Your small math is to be trusted.

Those are some worthy skellies! They make 'em tougher in Hades. I've often found that players get pretty edgy when a common foe isn't quite so common. "Whaddya mean that chicken just took 6d6 damage from a fireball and isn't dead?!?" Good times.

@Barney - I think Sir Dryvyk's bias is pretty blatant. However, given the political environment of the current plane of existence, you might find Barnabus's complaint will fall on empathetic ears!

@Safherd - Make sure you pluck those arrows up when we move on. Don't want to leave those laying around for something else to get its bony hands on!

Gulp. Not a good round for the Good Guys! Sir Dryvyk finds himself looking up to see how much time is left in the game clock!

Modified monsters were a thing back when I first played, par for the course.  But there was always that one player who memorized all the stats in the monster manual books, and expected all beasties to conform.

It took me a short moment to grasp who 'Sparks' was in the above post.

I think that tradition still holds to this day.


LOL! Wait, did we pick up another NPC somewhere?

S1 Vanquished 45-50
S2 Vanquished 51-56
S3 Engaged with Sir >36 hps


Dunno about the game clock. I'll have to check the manual. Overall, we've been about as expeditious as the hellish circumstances have permitted. Barnabus has started to understand the telepathic words of his hidden friends...
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Mon 19 Feb.

Five hundred and two. Five hundred and one. Five hundred. Four hundred and ninety nine…

I do have a question about Coljar's morale check. I thought high rolls were to be desired -- as in you roll high, you fight to the death. Along those lines, bless adds a +1 bonus to morale checks. Am I missing something?

As there is something of a conflict between how Bless is described in the rules and the rules regarding Morale, I consider a Bless spell to subtract one from a morale roll. Even so, in this instance, a ten for Coljar wouldn’t have resulted in success.

Nod, thank you. Yeah, there is a little inconsistency with the morale rules (sometimes you want high/sometime you want low) as written.

Speaking of that bless, I was thinking brave sir link should have rolled d6+1 for his damage, not a d4? #255 has him armed with a short sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Mon 19 Feb.

Jesper is indeed armed with a short sword. But it wasn’t him who was inflicting damage. It was Ursel inflicting damage on Jesper with a head butt. And I wouldn’t give her the benefit of Barnabus’ blessing.

Wow, I totally misread that. I had thought Jesper had gone Rambo on us.

And if we all smoke what Barn smokes, we can too!

Had I not already used the quip, I would've admonished Coljar to quit while he's a head!

In reply to Nineve (msg # 302):

...which reminds me to update my last post.

@Barney - It's no wonder I miss about half of your antics. You often go back and alter your posts! How am I supposed to keep up? Slippery you are, very slippery. :-P

I’m genuinely confused. I thought Sir Dryvyk was the Headsman.

He's drinking his own Kool-aid now. Poor fellow. And yes, Sir Dryvyk just needs a decent dice roll...

I had a few versions of Nineve in mind, depending on what I got as a stat set.

One was a fighter/mage, a sort of hard-bitten mercenary who dabbled in the occult (presuming her Int might've been some modest score), a half-elf with little exposure to elfin culture and a rough upbringing.  More of a neutral alignment, whose motives were to solve being broke, and/or perhaps some mage related incentive offered by Mazzahs.

Though I ended up playing my first choice, I'm sometimes a little sorry I don't have the other version, just for the cynical, darker perspective, and the commentary that runs through my head in this most tumultuous game.  ;)

Don't mind me. I'm a wanna be writer. I enjoy tense dialogs, upheaval, and train wrecks.  That's when tales really get interesting, mettle gets tested, etc.

<sarcasm>I don’t understand what you’re referring to here. I think if you give the threads prior to Nineve’s arrival an earnest read through, you’ll find that there’s been a minimum of chaos, tumult, and calamity.</sarcasm>

Please understand, I regard Nineve as a great character, but I will admit that I’m a touch sad that you didn’t take the alternate character route you had considered, primarily because I would have enjoyed the in-game commentary immensely. :)

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 305):

Something's got a hold of his head, you see. He's stepped over the line that he usually toes.

Two hundred. One hundred and ninety nine. One hundred and ninety eight. One hundred and ninety seven…

Mood music

I prefer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdAWPx2-JFQ to boost my mood.

Or maybe this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekoHxB4idmg would be more applicable for Barnabus.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Wed 21 Feb.

Verifying: Barnabus is charging into the adjoining chamber, sight unseen. Correct?

No, he would wait until he the chamber is illuminated lest he bark his shins on an end table.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Wed 21 Feb.

Did a little editing to make his post clearer and less reliant on assumptions.

I think we all have to enter the circle after which Barnabus breaks the mirror. Nothing comes to mind as an alternative. Yes, we will be likely taking the entity back with us to our plane but I can see no alternative (unless it can be sucked within Saf's jar thing)?

Safherd’s flask currently holds one of the shadows which threatened the party on the temple’s upper level. The flask is only able to imprison one entity at a time. She could open it, free the shadow, then attempt to entrap the presence that is within the circle.