Malaanica

Syncretism

2008-08-03T19:54:00.003-04:00

I've run a few adventures in 4E now, and I am still working on the rules. I've been running in a kind of parallel worlds: the D&D Points of Light generic campaign world, and my long running and non-running Malaan Game. I love Malaan, so I wasn't going to abandon it, but every game rule shift causes a bit of turmoil. Since we were all beginning a new game system, I wanted to leave all the "flavor text" available to the players, and kept the core rules for that.

There is term in the philosphy of religion called "Syncretism." Basically, this means when one culture meets another, they tend to adopt bits of culture and religion here and there. The Greeks taking on the mystery cults of Isis and Dionysus from Egypt and Asia. The Romans taking on the Aryan cult of Mithra. The Mayans adopting a Christian faced to the their pantheon in the forms of the Santos religion. Frequently it involves adopting elements of the one religion but incorporating it into the existing pantheon (Mithras becomes a version of Jupiter, St. Peter is Quetzalcoatl etc.).

So far, I haven't done much. I made it clear that the Core D&D Gods are those recognized by the natives of the lands they live in . However, their worship is somewhat new (100 years or so, very vague), and the world had many other religions before that.

One player recently expressed an interest in playing a Cleric of the Raven Queen (generic death goddess of the Core PHB). Of course, you my good readers know of the extensive dominant death cults of Malaan (the Deh'wheri). Some of you are privy to the more history where the worship of Velrey dominated that cult, and gained control of the holy lands. So... here is the syncretism.

The Raven Queen is named for a mysterious death goddess who sent a Raven to a local woman to counsel her on the anniversary of her husband's death. In my mind, this an attempt by Auteil (former head of the Deh'wheri) to reach out to a new audience under cover as it were.
So everyone can use the core gods, but slowly they will be revelaed to have this much richer, deeper connection with my world.
Syncretism.

(I remember when Ben slowly converted from the D&D gods Donblass, Arioch, etc.. to his own with variant names and following). Same thing here.

Malaan: The Next Generation?

2008-04-16T19:30:00.002-04:00

It looks like we might be running some 4E D&D in the summer. I am hoping to run a series in Malaan. Probably in the abandoned, conquered, and semi-destroyed former capital of Ghetti.

Gang Damage

2006-02-08T14:03:00.000-05:00

Trackback from Ars Ludi arsludi
For damage purposes how might we approach a "gang"
One possible solution.. give the gang a single amount of resistance to attack. (Hitpoints, Toughness etc.)

This could be the sum of their hitpoints (D&D) or a combination of their Toughness modifiers (constrained in some way).

For D&D - giving the gang a set pool of hitpoints means that very effective characters can damage the 'gang' beyond damage to an individual. So if a gang of 10 kobolds has 30 hps (3x10) and my ranger does d8+6 damage an attack, he would slice up the gang in a few hits (3 on average) rather than needing to kill each kobold directly. You could rule that "gang kills" this way are actually just disrupting the gang (which could reform outside of the combat) unless the number of hits equals the number of creatures in the gang.

For M&M - The system has lots of ways to accomplish this with Hero Points (spend a point to get a rank of takedown)(make an alternate power with area of effect).

Is it wrong to enjoy tricking my players?

2005-11-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

So last night's game involved the party facing off against two opponents.. a 12th level Mage Priest (Simulacrum of Chakolece) and 11th level Undead Mageblade. But rather than a straight up fight, it began with the two of the invisible (heightened) and the Simulacrum making an Illusion of the two of them plus an undead minion.
The PCs had tactics down well. Targeted Dispel on the spell caster (they learned that one!) Move the fighters into melee with them both quickly.
I had the illusionary magepriest cast an Eldritch Wall splitting the party.
I was pretty good about giving the PCs will saves every time they physically interacted with an illusion. The Illusions never did any damage to the PCs. They missed, they themselves were missed most of the time. They seemed to miraculously evade attacks and damage from the PCs (at one point even getting hit but taking no damage). Then that stopped (the Magepriest was busy with other things) and no one seemed to notice. Granted, in the heat of battle those sorts of things can be attributed to DM overload, and every now and the one of the PCs kept saying "I disbelieve" but since he hadn't really done anything to interact with the Illusions that was sort of a moot point (not to mention he says that every session).
The net results were (a) the PC magister got left vulnerable to the real enemies and killed (although he was able to spend a hero point to recover), (b) the party blew alot of spells dealing with the illusions... I can't help but feel a little pride.
It was a challenging encounter... incidentally as soon as the illusion dropped and the invisibility was purged, the fight turned quickly against the badguys, which I think was good. It made the illusion the real challenge. And that worked out well.
We shall see if I can wrap up this adventure before I leave for X-mas. That is my goal, we shall see. I am notoriously bad at that.

The Business of Gaming

2005-08-27T20:19:00.000-04:00

There are old stories about the Tolkien family trying to prevent TSR from using Hobbits and Elves, and Magic Rings. Even though the game no doubt encouraged people like me to read and reread the books. Even the crappy extra books.
There are old stories about TSR tracking down publishers who wrote about hit points, and had magic-users and rangers in their adventures. Even though the existence of those materials no doubt help perpetuate the game.
There are stories of WOTC lawyers using web-searches to track down the words D&D and other 'trademarks' for possible violations.
I made the mistake once of trying to contact Paramount Pictures about an online Fan-based non-profit game based on Star Trek. They were very hostile to the idea, that didn't stop us, and by themselves Paramount succeeded in killing off what was once Paramount's cash cow.
At GenCon we saw people who ought to be like us, gamers. You could sense that they were gamers. That they got into this field becase they loved gaming. But, at some point the game became a business. And everything changed. It may have made them into hucksters trying to lure you into their booth to buy something. Or slick PR machines, introducing brand names and the latest products, into every talk they gave. Or they became rabid paranoids worried that any news, or ideas that THEY came up with, might fall into the wrong hands. A copy might get ditributed without them seeing any money. Imagine if a million people were playing YOUR game, and you didn't make a dime from it!

Hmmm. Would that be so bad?
Is gaming really about making a buck? Every possible buck?

I see those old guys. Zoochi, Wesley, Arneson. They don't look rich, not monetarily rich any way. They should be rich, given the pleasure they've given us all. But they do look like people with rich lives. Ironic, since no doubt their ideas were all stolen by others. I've had fantasies about making a living with gaming. I never imagine making a fortune doing it, but making a living with it. But when I see that sort of thing. Knowing the stresses that people have to make a living. Knowing that when I see someone using a PDF they downloaded off Kazaa or something, and feeling...if only they had paid, then this would be so much better so much easier. Maybe this one would have made enough money. Maybe.

When I was 14 years old, I wrote Mark Miller, a game designer, with a question I had regarding designing ships for Traveller. I wondered, did you need a special skill to do so, or what? I never heard from him. A year or so later, I saw a new book come out from him with "Naval Architect" as a skill. Part of me thought, that jerk stole my idea. But, another part of my thought, Wow he might have taken my idea!

My wife and parents often ask if I will ever venture into the gaming business. I would not object to making stuff for others to play, but I hope I am never in the Business of Gaming.

GenCon 2005

2005-08-22T09:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I didn't think I would find myself 37 and at this event. In my teenage/college mind it was something I would do while young and unattached. And yet, there I was.
Highlights:
1. Meeting and Listening to the real old timers" Dave Arneson, Dave Wesely, Louis Zocchi (the creators of D&D, modern Role Playing Games, and Polyhedral Dice respectively). That was really fun and interesting. The evolution of a new idea, especially one I am so familiar with, was truly fascinating.
2. Hanging with the Homies...It was a Weaselfest unto itself. Happy to meet some of the Century City gang as well. Very cool people.
3. The wonder of 20,000 Gamers. I will try to explain this in a future blog entry, not enough time today.
4. Gaming: Kudos to Mike for his quick one shot. Aquan kicked some serious butt. That Quebecois miniatures game was pretty fun as well.
5. Fuzzy Dice! The kids are happy.
Low Lights:
1. Airline Strike: Add eight hours onto my travel time. Most of which was spent sitting in a crowded tiny air terminal.
2. Fatigue: Maybe teenage or college years would have been better for the 3-4 hours of sleep a night. I am tired, and have some odd mystery bruises.
3. Watching people game. Same reason I don't watch professional sports. I'd rather have the fun myself.
4. Mastubatory Sessions: People, all people, should not be given forums (fora?) for their impromptu, unrehearsed, silly, and ill conceived jokes, anecdotes or ideas. In rare occasions this results in something inspirational or interesting or even amusing. Most of the time, it results in something boring, embarrassing, or offensive. I am now a new fan of order. I guess I am lawful after all.
5. Hotel Connectivity. Aren't modern hotels, especially those that host huge conventions, supposed to have high speed internet connections in every room: free or inexpensive?

More to come.

Evolution

2005-04-17T15:40:00.000-04:00

So we are about to wrap up the Arsenal Adventures, since we are losing almost all the players, maybe all of the players, I have heard from Braden yet. Luckily it is because they are moving on to bigger and better things, and not simply because they hate me (though that might help)

So I am thinking about the next campaign. In theory some time this summer the kids will be getting to the sleeping through the night schedule again. That means, I will be more free to spend an evening gaming now and then. Lately exhaustion and parental duties have curtailed that somewhat.

So the question is, what to do? I could try to join someone else's group and play for a while. That could be fun, and less taxing than trying to run my own game. Also it would be nice not having to go through the attrition of gather a new group from scratch, never an easy proposal. I hate playing with people I am not real friendly with, and prefer to play with people that get along both in the game and out.

However, part of me wants to run another campaign on Malaan. More to the point, part of me wants to run a game in the main parts of Malaan, using characters of decent level who can interact in the politics and culture of the game. Of course, no new players would be experienced in Malaan (which is not necessarily a bad thing), but I am nervous about expecting entirely new players to grasp the politics that, even I have yet to make decisions about. I've made a couple stabs at rewriting the Summa de Malaanica, but it is such a huge document, I never get very far. Still, I could probably write up some somewhat more elaborate version of the post apotheosis page, which might be enough.
I've considered running a game in the Holy Lands, serving the gods.
A game in the Empire serving the Witchqueen.
A game in one of the Low Kingdoms of Uruhr.
I still haven't decided.

Questions about a new game
Will I continue to use Arcana Evolved? Or integrate that with the 3.5 D&D classes?
If I do, how shall I incorporate the Giants, and other new races into Malaan?
If I do, how shall I incorporate the old races into the AE system?

What style game would I run? Epic Quest? Courtly Intrigue? PC initiated adventures?

any advice from the peanut gallery?

"It is in my nature"

2005-03-19T14:22:00.000-05:00

The party (minus Graal, plus the head of the lion guard Kestral, heads up river to investigate the source of the poisoning and illness of the people of Ar-Ensul. They are attacked by Stirges one night, but the bloodsuckers are quickly rended disabled by the magic dust thrown at them by Kestral (this also injured Linneaus and Ferrethryn). Later they stumbled upon the source of the bad water. Hidden by illusions there were two carcasses of huge bison rotting and bleeding poison were tied up in the river. After investigating briefly the party was attacked by a group of giant scorpions. The party succeeded in killing those fairly quickly, but not before they did some damage to the party.
The group eventually crossed the river (not without some trouble) and pursued the creatures. They found the skeleton of a giant, and were ambushed again an illusionary hiding place, and made a pitched battle. The party, Kestral in particular were seriously injured, but the gargantuan scorpion and its smaller riders were taken out. A cursary investigation of the cave revealed yet another illusion. This one hid one more scorpion, and a strange scorpion-folk who appeared to be a spell caster.
A short battle killed the scorpion, and the party parlayed with the leader. He admitted to being hired to poison the river by the giant and a sibbecai (by the name of Garman). The Party allowed him to leave, but cast magics on items and the bones to learn more about the scene.
The party obtained a magical talisman which grants a bonus to fortitude saves and ???

Does anyone have the names and other data from this adventure?
Afterwards they returned to

Malaan spotlighted on the Diamond Throne

2005-03-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

Check it out!
Diamond Throne.com

Shark Bait

2005-01-22T01:41:00.000-05:00

The remainder of the party, Ferrethryn, Linneaus and Malthus recover from the betrayal of Selazen, and take stock of the situation. Though Selazan is mere bones from the Terrana attack, his gear appears in good condition. They realize that he had the Instant Water (Sponge Spores) so Linneaus bravely races to the pack and drags it back to camp. After a short rest they decide to press on and see if they can find the lost tribe even without a guide. They survey the area seeing rough hard packed dirt, sandy dunes, and a forboding malpais of an ancient lava flow. They choose the malpais. After a half day's walk they spot a strange sight in the lava. A thrashing creature half shark half armadillo, Ferrethryn recognizes it as a dreaded bulette, or land shark, moving slowing through the tough lava rock. Linneaus tries to dance past the beast and score a blow, but is nearly snapped in half by its mighty jaws. The party eased away, but then as they did the thing leapt into the air coming down all claws on Ferrethryn rending her flesh from bone. The party was in dire straights. The magics of Malthus saved the day in this fight. First he blasted the beast with cold, which it shrugged off, then he slowed it, and delayed it with a conjured energy ape. This gave the others time to launch missile and spell attacks of their own. In the end, the creature fell just before being able to flee to the relative safety of the sands.
The rest of their journey was less dramatic. They faced three days of travel in the barren wastes. After two, the desert erupted into a sandstorm and forced them to make shelter in the night. Then with the malpais covered with sand, they had to use their natural (though magically enhanced) abilities to guide themselves to the creche where the Litorians were esconced. The last day of their journey was not without peril. They were attacked first by a huge horror heron, which used its massive jaws to try to swallow the party members whole. They made relatively short work of this bird though, but as they savored rending its meat as a prize, the scent attracted a pack of juvenille sand sharks (medium sized). These, though much less dangerous than the adult, proved a potent foe. Using tactics and teamwork they eventually succeeded in killing the six sharks and making it to the creche.
One Hero Point for Ferrethryn, Linneaus, and Malthus for teamwork, and creativity.
At the rocky outcropping they were welcomed by the litorians abandoned in the desert by Selazen. One, Sharaez, was an old friend of Ferrethryn and was pleased to see her. They spoke hopefully of some warriors they sent to bring help, and were saddened to hear that they had not summoned them. But still they celebrated the arrival of the party.
There was dancing and singing and general celebrations. They readily agree to be led from the desert to more hospitable climes and more welcoming people.
During the celebrations the tribe makes clear it owes the party a Life Debt, something considered sacred among them. They will swear allegiance to Ar-Ensul and its people if that is what is asked of them by their saviors.

Epilogue
The party stays a few days at the creche to gather supplies and water for the journey directly from there to Ar-Ensul overland. They plan to cross the rocky plain, pass the Lightning Dunes, skirt the Sea of Sparks and return to Ar-Ensul. It is a dangerous and wonderous journey, but eventually they make it safely with all hands accounted for to Ar-Ensul. The tribe under the leadership of Taeros, offers its services to Graal. They vow to train in arms and defend the city and keep against all enemies or serve it in whatever capacity the lord demands. Even the children begin to train in arms for the day they are asked to serve in the Lions Guard of Ar-Ensul. In the distant future, people may remember the origin of Ar-Ensul's mighty and feared honorguard made up of all Litorian Warriors, but its noble begnnings will remain with this tribe forever.

So ends this chapter of the Arsenal Adventures.

Snake in the Sands

2005-01-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

Malthus and Ferrethryn arrange for Orrik, the playboy, the keep an eye on events in the courts of De Shamod, then the party hops the next barge for Me Theron. From there, they take the road to Gahanis. They note the great swaths of savanna eaten to the ground by vast herds of cattle. They arrive at Gahanis and find themselves in a region with some hostility aimed at Litorians. At least two tribes seem to harrass the outskirts of the town, and Ferrethryn does her best to impress upon the town guard that she is no threat. The party takes the guard's advice and stay at the Desert Sails Inn, an immense tavern and inn topped by great sails, and visible for miles. They observe the trading and negotiations going on in the tavern, and let the people know that Ferrethryn is in town.
A short while later a Snake Totem Warrior, by the name of Selazen appears and they negotiate his services to guide them to the last known location of Ferrethryn's tribe. They also learn that Selazen was also contacted, apparantly by the same giant with the darkwood pearl topped staff. Since neither know the magister, there was some concern over what his interest is and why he brought them together.
The party heads off, and travels a week west up the Gravel Spill. They estimate traveling around 120 miles. After that they leave the trail and head into the open desert, they move through the arid land for a full day (traveling between 10 and 15 miles). That night, to no one's surprise, Selazen shows his true scales and attacks Malthus in snake form. Malthus raises the alarm and short battle ensues. The party acting in concert dispatches the snake totem warrior and retrieves his Devanian Long Sword, and Quiver of Poison arrows. On their way back to their rocky out cropping, Ferrethryn and Linneaus are attacked by a swarm of Terranas (sand pirannas). They eventually elude those creatures and rest for the remaining night.

Bright Lights Big City

2005-01-13T11:29:00.000-05:00

The party travels to De Shamod to look at some maps, and escort Ferrethryn part way to Gahanis. They arrive and are met by a Sibeccai Noblewoman who nervously greets them. She explains that the Lord Chancellor Osara-Monn has instituted an audit of several families holdings, including Graal's. He has a group of thugs he has culled from the prisons to help enforce his audit. These 'Green Cloaks' are the worst of the worst, and have put the city in a state of fear. The party decides to stay at an inn on the far side of town in the Spicer District which is nefarious for low life, but relatively easy to keep hidden from the city's officials.
Malthus travels to the college of the Sodalicium Arcanus to research a little about the alchemical uses of the cockatrice. He discovers that the college has fallen into even worse repair, and the Sodalicium has been left with one main hall. The rest of the great college is now either storage or being used as a sort of gymnasium. He also met a foreign Magister by the name of Linder who was apparantly a refugee from the far North.

Elidia met a Verrick Runethane who asked her about her origins and offered her entrance into a secret society. She decided to meet with him later.

Ferrethryn attracted the attention of a Courtier who offered to show her the nightlife of De Shamod. He seemed to be a bit of a playboy, but definitely seemed to have an in to the upper levels of society. She was sorely tempted to join him.

Linneaus took a message to Arsenal House in the Noble ring to appraise Aslowen of recent events. They learned of Dondo's carrousing and increased monetary needs, as well as Aslowen's progress with potential settlers, many lesser families seeking refuge from the Audits. On a second visit, he ran afoul of Dondo who chased him away from the House not knowing about his disguise.

Later that night Elidia went with the Verrik (tailed by Ferrethryn) to a cellar a short distance away. He and an allied warrior ambushed her and demanded her items. She screamed for help, and together she and Ferrthryn were able to defeat the pair. After exhausting her spell in the fight Ferrethryn decided to not go out with her playboy.

Epilogue
The next day. A page arrived with a letter for Ferrethryn. And Graal made plans to return to ArEnsul in advance of any possible group of Green Cloaks. He bid the rest of the party head to Gahanis with all haste to liberate Ferrethryn's people and return as soon as possible.

Events of 4/14 - 5/5

2005-01-05T19:52:00.000-05:00

The spring arrives in Ar-Ensul and the people of the keep and village are kept very busy. Graal orders an extensive mission to scout out and eradicate any hostile beasts in a large radius of the keep. The party spends a couple weeks doing so. THey appear successful in rousting a small group of hippogriffs, and a couple of chorim (barbaric giants). There is some concern that the Chorim may be advanced scouts looking for easy prey among the local villages. They will probably think twice before coming down to the valley.
The larders and kitchens of the keep are being stocked, and the repairs completed.
The doors are re-hung, and a rudimentary bridge is assembled over the Diamond Run.
The villagers have split into three groups: miners who spend most of their time in the minds returning to town to resupply to sell their diggings; household staff who live in the keep, these include the town guard, the valets, cooks, cleaners, sewers, and other people who manage the castle; and the largest group, the villagers who do everything else. There is yet to be extensive farming or ranching. The giant yaks seem to ranch themselves, but the villagers keep a few sheep and goats. More livestock would be of benefit to the Keep.

Training of the guard has continued and they seem reasonably well prepared to defend the castle. It is still uncertain whether they could hold it against a large force or one of powerful monsters. Still, the keep itself should provide some protection against that.

Taru continues to push for a full examination of the door and any other part of the keep. But for now he appears to be obeying the rules laid down from Graal.

Falgrod the furrier has contracted with many of the villagers to construct him a large house. He has been paying people lavishly and also recruiting many people to hunt for him. He has contracted several local hunters to procure large game. He has not been thrilled with your efforts to make safe the area, since he is looking for big game, but he has accepted it grudgingly, not that he had much choice. Malthus has made efforts to make friends with his assistant, the Faen tanner, known as Cippi. Cippi is pretty shy, but Malthus has managed to gain his confidence. He is quite knowledgeable about dangerous beasts, and creatures of all sorts.

After the valley was cleared and appears safe, Graal gave Ferrethryn leave to find her tribesmen. She headed to Gahanis to see what she could find. The party decided to accompany her as far as De Shamod, where Graal wanted to examine the Queen's maps to determine the actual extant of his lands. It would also be a good opportunity to buy some needed equipment, and get a change of surroundings.

Clean Up

2004-12-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

The party collects some choice items from the Aerie, the temple to Duraga, and leaves. Not before having to deal once again with the swarms of birds and a firebird that was unleashed when they disturbed the ruby set into one of the towers.
They returned to Ar-Ensul with a couple of unusual items, including the petrified remains of an arm holding a wand, and a stone chest. They hope that alchemical analysis will reveal how to unpetrify the materials.
However, they do not have long to spend in the keep. A wounded prospector from Diamond City has come begging for help. The town was attacked by strange trolls with crystal shards embedded in their hides.
The party sets off the next day and makes it to Diamond City the next day. It is in bad shape, the ladders and trellises that once connected the many cave-dwellings have been mostly destroyed, and the town looted, although what was taken is unclear. The party resolved to track the beasts to their lair. Praying to his totem LInneaus once again tracked the fell beasts to a ravine where they encountered a severed troll head warning them not to pass. It being late they retreated to some safety outside the ravine and camped. That night they were surprise attacked by strange trollike quadropeds also with the embedded crystal shards in their flesh. These 'trollverines' put up a good attack, but were eventually defeated. The party moved away to rest until morning. They once again returned to the trail and followed it to a strange cave that looked like the rib cage of some monstrous crystaline being. They entered cautiously and were set upon by the guards. Two shard-trolls attacked, and as the party was finishing them off, they sounded an alarm. This brought four more trollverines and three more trolls to the fight. In a pitched battle Graal was nearly slain, but even as he was dying, the bloodsoaked mantle of his family crest gave him the power to fight on. He continued his attack, and the party was able to heal him before he died, and destroy the trolls. This appeared to be the bullk of the menace, searching the small cave complex they saw no more, though perhaps some may have escaped fleeing the area.
The party returned to Ar-Ensul.

Gone to the Birds

2004-12-11T01:49:00.000-05:00

The party arrives at the temple bearing the gift of a statuette resembling the Sphinx. Still unsure of how to treat the creature, they send scouts ahead. The scouts spot the sphinx feasting on some large bird. They return to the party to tell them this. The party ponders the possibility that this sphinx is not the protector of the temple, but rather, some kind of intruder.
They approach the next day with caution, and encounter the sphinx in her normal perch. She transforms from stone and treats them with her usual disdain. She seems to anticipate their questions with uncanny ease, and denies any disrespectful behavior towards the birds, or the temple.
The party gives her the gift and leaves.
As they camp for the night nearby they find themselves attacked by the crazed Totem Warrior.
He assaults them from the trees and scores several hits before Malthus manages to entrap him in an Eldrtich Web. The party surround him, and tries to reason with him. But it is clear that he is beyond reason. Malthus drops the web and they prepare to attack. The Totem Warrior transforms into a falcon and tries to escape but is downed by Malthus again, proving his utility once again. Ferrethryn and Linneaus succeed in killing him, albeit with some regret.
Linneaus takes his Totem and vows to find a proper place for it.
The party rests the night and plans an assualt on the Temple.

They make it there but find that the Sphinx has flown to the top of the temple and sent a foul smelling Giant Stork to attack them. It was barely able to attack before the party brought it quickly down. Then fearing an attack by the swarms of birds, the party decided to leave the temple. They were attack by two Giant Vultures, who also were killed quickly.
Returning to the temple they found the Sphinx gone, but the hundreds of birds eyeing them suspiciously. They tried to make it to the temple entrance and had to deal with the swarms. The swarms did serious damage to the party and nearly cost Malthus his life. Both Linneaus and Ferrethryn activated Runes, Linneaus was able to elude the effects, Ferrethryn was magical put to sleep. But they all made it into the temple where the swarms refused to enter.
Inside the temple walls, they quickly healed up a little and proceeded inside. They were immediately attacked by two cockatrices, but neither managed to land more than one blow on the party before being killed. And Graal eaily resisted the petrifying effects.
They proceeded down the stairs, with Graal in the lead. He activated another rune and turned on his comrades. He was able to resist the command to attack his friends, and instead fled the area allowing them to fight it out with the Sphinx. One Hero Point for Graal sometimes descretion is the better part of valor. The party proceeded to fight the sphinx who did serious damage to Ferrethryn before being slain by a combination of attacks from the party.

Looking around they found the room to be tomb to three human bird hybrids. They explored cautiously not wanted to desecrate this place.

From Doushaun the Hawk Totem Warrior they recovered.
Boots of Acrobatics -> Linneaus
38 Arrows of Airy Surging (+1 + 1d6 Air Damage)
18 Arrows of the Ram (+1 + Bull Rush at Attack Value)
Pouch of unidentified transformation powder (14 doses)

In the tomb room are magic auras one two items.
Candle stick and 18inch purple and gold speckled candle. (transformation magic)
Prayer Beads deep red glass (transform)

The statuette in the main lobby is made of platinum and gold (appraise skill anyone?)
There are three items of magic on it.
It holds two magic feathers (transformation)
A tiny magic bow (enchantment)
A golden egg (evocation magic)

There are four towers that can also be explored, as well as the grounds surrounding them.
As to the issue of descration. The temple is probably already descrated by the Sphinx. The creatures encountered there, the cockatrice, stench stork etc.. are perversions of the nromal animals.
Now that doesn't license you to do whatever you want. But it may give you some more freedom.
The bird swarms appear to have dissapated for now.

You might want to consult with someone with Knowledge Religion about what do with a temple.

Everyone advances to 7th Level
Graal gets one Hero Point

Events of 4/4 to 4/14

2004-12-11T01:25:00.000-05:00

Negotiations with the Jaren conclude. It buys 500gold worth of ore, and leaves unescorted.
Most of the caravan moves back to Lowenvale, leaving only, Taru the Antiquarian, Falgrod the Tanner, and the various settlers.
Graal busies himself with the adminstration of the keep, aided by Ferrethryn and Vor Tarn
Ferrethryn and Elidia work to unconver any secret doors. They find none using their magics, but eventually discover something odd by the main firepit. Signs of the movement of heavy equipment.
Linneaus spends much of his time, when not scouting the countryside, hangin out with the locals in the village. They begin to trust and open up to him.
A few days into the week a strange quiet traveller arrives carrying a letter from the courts of De Shamod requiring the presence of Vor Tarn to testify in some legal matter. He then produces another letter, was one of introduction and a plea to accept the services of the Magister Malthus from the Sodalicium Arcanus (the council of magisters), a powerful if semi defunct guild of magic users. Graal decided to accept this in hopes to make up for the loss of his trusted friend and confidant. Vor Tarn bade farewell to the party, but hoped to return one day.

Malthus made himself ubiquitous at all major conferences, and demanded access to all rooms in the keep. His insight was matched only by his steady and professional, if detached, manner. Despite his aloofness, the party began to see a valuable ally in the magister.

A brief trip was taken to the Dragon's Gate, to consult with the Ghostwatch, a band of Rangers historically charged with protecting the rich valley of the Ghostwash river from the dangers upstream. A proud group with hundreds of soldiers from distant lands in its hayday in the declining years of the war against the Dramojh, now it housed few more than half a dozen. The party consulted with the aged and grizzled commander Amkaren, who seemed more interested in the trivial issues of the boats that passed than anything else. They learned a little of their area, and of the temple to Duraga.
1. There was no historical record of sentience in the Keep.
2. The Temple was built and managed by the pre-giantish humans who lived there.
3. No giants ever found the Vaults that were alleged to be under the keep. But some evidence was found to support the idea that there was access to the vaults there.

The party made plans to bring the offering to the Sphinx at the Temple

Dragon's Breath

2004-12-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

The group decides to track and hunt down the Dire Boar that was menacing the woodsmen. After Linneaus invoked his Totem, the group was able to track the beast to a dense wood. There, after several turnabouts, it was able to attack the group. It was a short battle though, as the combined might of the party was able to make reasonably short work with the creature. They brought the animal back to the village as the centepiece of the feast.
The day of the party a small caravan approached, bearing traders, settlers, and some more unusual guests:
- The Antiquarian Taru
- A mysterious Jaren with its Earth Elemental bearer.
- A Sibbecai Champion bringing some exiles (Graal agreed to offer two of the exiles a place in the keep)

The festivities were marred by an attack of an Ogre Mage which used its magics to disguise itself as a giant. It then snuck into the keep using its flight and invisibility. It was caught by Linneaus and Vor Tarn. It dealt a devastating blow to Vor Tarn with its Blast of Castigation which for a wheil and nearly killed the Giant.
The rest fo teh party showed up, and after a tight fight managed to subdue the creature. Knowing only fire or acid could destroy it, they put it into the great fire pit where it disintegrated into ash.

There was one more evnet of note that evening. The Jaren was spotted looking into the window of the mirror tower. The party went to investigate, and the Jaren was very forthcoming with an offer to buy whatever the Keep had to sell. The party pondered what to make of this strange turn of events.

Events of 3/15 - 4/3

2004-11-21T14:31:00.000-05:00

Work on the offering to the Sphinx proceeds. A jeweler is at work to create a small statuette depicting a sphinx with a bow and arrows. It is made of gold and silver, with small gems for eyes, and the tip of the arrows. It should be ready in a few days.

A letter is received from De Shamod. They have made it safely and are living in a suite of rooms at the Inn of the Arsenal (they thought the name appropriate) located just off the civil district. They've already made some contacts with interested merchants, interested in selling their wares. They've begun plastering the squares with posters recruiting settlers.
They wish some more detailed instructions whether there are particular trades sought.

The town guard has been assigned some regular duties. They number 12 people now. They maintain guards at the Konner Mine, and the main door to the keep. Crossbows were repaired and the guards now sport these as well. Hossein, a warrior of some ability was made captain of the guard.

Woodcutting has begun across the river, and lumber has been brought across for rebuilding the village. People are feeling more comfortable in the village now and have begun to move out of the keep in greater numbers. They report signs of very large boar in the area. After one persons was seriously gored (but healed up), wood cutting stopped.

As the weather begins to warm. The main door to the keep was removed, and work has begun hammering it back into shape.
It should be able to be remounted shortly. Vor has taken to standing guard at night with some of his new recruits just in case.

A package for Ferrethryn arrives. It is a sort of scrimshaw, carved into the fang of a sabre toothed cat. She seems a little alarmed by it, and disappears with some of the maps brought along on the journey.

Ferrethryn studying some of the miscellaneous items in the laboratory finds that they are Enemy Bane charms. They will grant the Enemy Bane Template to any spell in which they are used as a component. (Fey, Monstrous Humanoid (2), Magical Beast, Outsider (3), Sibbecai)

Two prospectors engaged in a fight over a claim. Vor Tarn hears their case. He requires one month of forced labor in the mines for their fighting, and then divides the claim based on the senority of the claim.

Elidia finds a text among those in the alchemical library titled "Rites of Inquiry" the books details rituals that can provide auguries and divinations of a variety of sorts. She has begun to decipher it, and learning more of its secrets.

Preparations for the Feast of the Dragon's Breath (4/4) have begun. Early flowers have been gathered, beer and mead is being prepared. Game birds have been caught. Graal and Linneaus investigating the goring of a woodsman, have found the tracks of a dire boar (centerpiece of the feast?).

Birdland

2004-11-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

The party makes for Lowenvale with the town's children, some bearers and their newly appointed trade envoys.

Kparis - as the contact in Lowenvale
Dondo - as lead envoy to De Shamod
Aslowen - as exchequer of accounts in De Shamod
Dondo and Aslowen were given a letter worth 1000gp to bring with them to De Shamod.

The grateful Lownevalians pledged to build a hold for Ar-Ensul in their town, to house Kparis and act as a storeroom for trade good in both directions.

While there Linneaus and Elidia sequestered themselves and performed the ceremony to grant Linneaus the feat of Intuitive Sense, allowing him to never be caught flat footed.

Ferrethryn used the time to decipher the uses of the Rune Plates, which she discovered can hold lesser runes without using up Rune Slots.

The party then headed upriver to the ancient runes.

They came upon the large temple and found it the home to thousands of birds of all kinds. They approached cautiously. As they climbed the stairs covered in the droppings of the birds, they were attacked from the wood. A Totem Warrior with magic arrows rained down a volley of arrows seriously hurting Ferrethryn. Graal and Linneaus launched their own attacks against him, and the feather garbed warrior fled shorlty thereafter. Linneaus got close enough to see his bizare contorted face, he seemed quite mad.
The party explored the main part of the ruined temple spying a large statue of a sphynx, and of a large winged humanoid. As they got close, Graal, in the lead activated a rune covered by droppings and was compelled to leave the temple. The party seemed unsure how to procede. Vor Tarn followeed his liege to ensure his safety, at Graal's behest the rest of the party advanced to peer into the temple proper. They activated another rune, which confused Linneaus temporarily, then Elidia used her knowledge to guide them safely inside, mystically erasing another rune. Their they spied a colossal stature of a four armed, winged humanoid made of stone, holding a duplicate made of platinum. Linneaus quickly invoked his totem and climbed the statue to get at the statuette. This seemed to attract the attention of the Sphynx which had transformed some how from statue to real sphynx. She demanded they stop, called them infidels and defilers, and moved to attack. She activated some kind of rune which caused her to radiate intense heat and light. As she neared Linneaus he was scorched by the effect. He landed a blow on her then moved to escape. Ferrethryn and Elidia who had already moved from the area, dashed past her.
There was a brief discussion as Ferrethryn tried to negotiate, and the party was granted leave, ostensibly to return with some sacrifice. By this time Graal had recovered and he met with her as well, and confirmed that plan. The Sphynx was not particularly friendly, but she was keen eared, and when Graal made a disparaging comment under her breath, she roared, summoning a swarm of birds which harried Graal as he tried to leave the temple. The party was able to heal up, and return to Ar-Ensul.
There was some discussion of the need for more party unity and cohesion. Plans were made to construct some kind of offering to the temple.

Events of week 3/8 - 3/14

2004-11-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

Note on Dates: The Diamond Throne uses a thirteen month calendar of 28 day months, 1/1 is the first day after the winter solstice. So these dates would be roughly equivalent to February 25-March 2nd. Future Events will probably for a whole month.

1. The party returns to Ar-Ensul to recuperate from the battle with the shadows.
Everyone is back to full strength.
2.Elidia reads the runes in the ice and cannot identify them. They are unfamiliar to her, though she can't tell whether they are just more advanced, or of some different kind.
3. Linneaus begins to scout the lands around the keep.
- Finds considerable game, boars, deer, and bear.
- Discovers three small communities a couple days from the keep.
- Hillindale, ten families in a small valley in the Rough
- Diamond City, twenty prospectors on the edge of the Sea of Sparks
- Woodsedge, mixed human/faen community on the edge of the Harrowdeep
- Hears tales of a tribe of strange trolls with crystal shards embedded in their hides in the lands around the sea of shards.
- Sees tracks of some large humanoids in the Splinters (giants? ogres?)
- Finds evidence of a clear road, wheel tracks and hoof prints, heading east through the Rough.
4. The Keep is cleaned up, furniture is evaluated, most deemed not worth keeping (but a few pieces still in decent shape). Needs list formed for the keep.
- Furniture, linens, curtains, tapestries
- Various house hold goods (pots and pans, dishes, silver, candle operas, etc..)
- Livery for staff,

5. Some people are beginning to move into the village, and trying to restore the homes and shops. They've taken to thatching roofs, cleaning out the huts, and breaking down the walls of some smaller buildings. One larger building, an old inn or tavern has been remade into a drinking establishment after several kegs were recovered from Konner's mine.

6. All the warriors have been equiped with Breast Plates and weapons they are familiar with. Some well trained commoners and experts are being given additional training in armor proficiency. This will take some time to develop though. [Should they be in armor anyway, or wait for them to go up levels?]

7. Three people have expressed interest in the Lowenvale position:
- Kparis a Cloth Merchant, Exp 3rd, Human Age 40. Ambitious, Bargainer, Salesman.
- Dondo, minor noblemen, Ari 2nd Hum, Age 25 Optimistic , Foppish, has contacts.
- Solatius, Trader, Exp 2nd, Human 31. Cautious, Thoughtful. Conservative.

8. Two people have expressed interest in traveling to Del Shamod as envoys, traders, and recruiters.
- Aslowen, a caravan leader, with contacts to the trade industry. Exp 3rd, Human Age 36, diplomatic, eager, outgoing
- Darune, advocate and mediator, Ari 3rd, age 50. Gentille, cosmopolitian, well read.

9. Spirits are rising among the new citizens of Ar-Ensul, and there seems to be a general sense of optimism.

Erase Rune Ruling

2004-11-13T14:10:00.000-05:00

I am going to rule that erasing runes is basically the same as disabling a trap.

If you exceed DC of the rune with a caster power check (level + int bonus), then you erase the rune.
If you fail by 4 or less, then you know that you failed and can try again.
If you fail by 5 or more, then you think that you succeeded and can't try again unless you discover the rune is still active, with a detect magic or new sense rune (at a penalty of -2 per failed attempt).

Also, I am going to rule that you need line of sight to erase another person's runes, though you can erase your own so long as you know where they are (so you can't erase an applied rune on a person, unless you know where they are or can see them).

Mirrors and Shadows

2004-11-13T01:18:00.000-05:00

The party recuperates from the events in the cave. Meanwhile we learn of Elidia's little adventure. She had decided to explore the tower and the mirror. She crept up there, and engaged the mirror in discussion. It offered her knowledge of powerful and dangerous runes. She giddily accepted and copied a rune drawn by the image in the mirror. When she completed the task and concentrated for some time, a shadowy figure rose from the rune. It followed her out of the tower, and left her breifly to 'feed' on a sleeping villager. Doing so apparantly unlocked some intellect. It sopke alramingly to her, and frightened her. She ordered it to stop feeding on people, and instead to gain nutrition from animals. It took her command and left her.
Shortly thereafter the party heard tell of a shadowy beast attacking villagers. On a moonless evening they ran out to stop this beast. Elidia playing ignorance for now. After a brutal battle in which only Ferrethryn was able to harm the beast they finally slew it. They interrogated Elidia and discovered her actions, and bade her erase the rune. She tried to no avail.
Thinking the main danger was over they went to bed to recover from the attacks that sapped their strength.
The original shadow returned and admitted to creating several spawn. She bade it leave and returnin one night, and went to to the rest of the party. They hatched a plan to trap the foul creature. Prepping mighty magics and runes they waited for the beast to return. Sadly it sensed something was a foot and demanded a command from Elidia. Thinking quickly she bade it seek out the mirror. It did and the party was able to chase it down in the tower. After a very short fight, it was slain. Again efforts were made to erase the rune to no avail.
They went back to recuperate some more. A few day slater they heard of some missing livestock out in the boneyards. They traveled to the Slaughterhouse and discovered that half a dozen Giant Yaks simply vanished, and the rest of the herd was prone to skittish behavior (unusual in Yaks the size of elephants). They caught up with the herd, took up a perch on a nearby hillock, and waiting for night. At night the herd stampeded and the party descended into the dusty remains of the herd. There they found six shodowy yaks feasting on dying Yak. They finished it in a moment and turned on the party. A pitched battle ensued. But the well prepared party faught hard, and mostly by the magicked Athame of Ferrethyrn slew the six, and seventh shadow spawn. Graal was seriously weakened by the encounter, and needed nearly a week's rest to recover from their assaults.
The party rested and prepared to head for Lowenvale in a week's time.

Breaking the day to day

2004-11-11T08:48:00.000-05:00

We can discuss this Friday, but I would like to throw out this idea. Normally we play the campaign sort of day by day. I was thinking that for this campaign, it might be better to allow a fairly long span of time go between adventures. We can use this website and email to handle some of the running of the keep, and people can have longer term projects that carry over weeks and months. So for example, we might finish an adventure Friday and then assume a month passes before the next adventure. People can email me if they want their characters to do something.
One advantage of this system is that we could have changes occur at the keep and village in reasonable time frames. Otherwise, it would be fairly unreasonable to expect much to happen over the course of only a few days or weeks.
Another advantage, is that the encounters would be spaced out over time. A couple assaults on the keep each week would be pretty scary, but one a month is not so ridiculous.
Also some personal stuff, research skill acquisition, etc.. Would be easier to explain as well.

I would still want to Role Play any ceremonies or rituals. But we could do that in the past tense if needed.

Let me know what you think.

Keep Plans online

2004-11-06T21:37:00.000-05:00

I've made a basic page for the keep, including plans. You should be able to print this out so you get four pages, with one floor on its own page. However, you may need to tweak the font size of your browser to get it to work. If you want a clean image of the maps only, you can click on the pdfs.

Keep Plans

Steve

Mirrors and Ice

2004-11-06T13:58:00.000-05:00

The party recovers from the last day's excitement. They head down to the miner's camp to bring the former slaves back for their own safety and for some discussion. Most of the people brought to Ar-Ensul were from the village of Havel located somewhere in the central plains. Others were from smaller farming communities along the way from here to there. The journey was pretty amazing, they crossed many dangerous and inhospitable areas to get here, led by the Rhodin.
Graal used his great diplomatic ability to entice these people to stay in the city of their servitude, now as citizens. Most were resigned to do so, since they could not return to where they were from. Some were no very interested, but with promises of good work, and positions in the court once it is established, they agreed to stay.
Elidia disappeared, though some of the villagers claim to have seen her here and there.
After talking to the people, the party decided to interrogate the Winter Witch. They discovered he spoke some Common, but he demanded his freedom in exchange for information. Reluctantly they agreed to release him once he revealed his informaiton. He claimed that Ruqun was counseled by the Mirror throughout their stay here, and before. The mirror apparantly was smaller and able to be transported and grew in place when it was brought here. The witch gave the impression that Ruqun was advised and aided by the mirror. Why they came here was unclear, but it was clear the mirror was the brains behind the move. The witch also gave the party the passwords for the secured door to the empty tower, and the dragon, though the party is still unsure of what the dragon does.
The party then went to talk to the mirror. Again, the impression was one that they could not trust the mirror. They did learn that the mirror/keep does not need human sacrifice, it needs some kind of sacrifice, of something valuable to the party. The mirror/keep called the sacrifice an investment. It also claimed that the sacrifice made by the Dramojh, they had to 'bow' to the golden dragon to gain access to the mirror, and insult to their chromatic heritage. The mirror offered one bit or wisdom without cost. It warned them of a danger about to be unearthed by a prospector up the road from the keep.
They decided to go check, just in case. They encountered the eccentric prospector, Konner, in his mine. He immediately bade them leave. the party refuse. He attacked, they returned fire, doing their best to avoid bloodshed. A brief fight ensued, Konner demonstrated that he was not a simple prospector, but a spellcaster as well. The party demanded he show them his latest digs, he grudingly agreed, fearing another attack. He led them back to a cold chamber with an ice falls in the center. It seemed to glow in the light from Konner's staff. He showed them the unusual ice, it would generate cold, but it wouldn't melt. The potential uses were obvious. The party saw a lucrative chance to sell the ice downriver, and Konner seemed eager to participate in the sales as well. They made plans to meet again in a few days.
Linneaus checked up on Konner the next day, and discovered that there were signs of a fight, blood and such. He ran to get the party and returned with them to assist.
They quickly encountered a strange beast. It was some hellish two headed owl bear. It was ferocious, but against the combined might of the party, it was no match. They killed and looked for Konner's body. They found a boot, his magic staff, but no sign of him. They can only assume he was eaten by the dread creature, or some how escaped.

They returned to the keep to plan their next action.

The Loot

2004-10-29T09:32:00.000-04:00

The party has few funds in cold cash, but they do have letters of credit from friends and relatives in the land.
Cash = 800gp
Letter from Kur Islun = 3500 gold
Letter from Daeragn (Sibeccai River Merchant) = 1000 gold
Letter from Sonn Enra (family friend) = 500 gold
Letter from the Temple of Denethan = 500 gold
Letter from the Millers Guild = 500 gold

After checking out the Laboratory and other rooms of the Keep you discover the following.
Gold and Silver Ore = @500 gold
Crystals and Semi-Precious Gems = @500
Crystal fibres = @300 gold
Rough Gemstones = @600 gold
(All of these would be worth considerably more if the ore were refined, the crystals cleaned and cut, the fibres woven into fabric or into items. But that would require skilled craftsmen. None of the townsfolk qualify)

Weapons & Armor
30 medium Breast Plates
30 Medium Shields
2 Large Breast Plates
1 Large Spiked MW Platemail
1 +1 Large Shield
30 battle axes
3 dire mw Great axes
7 light crossbows (needing repairs)
3 heavy crossbows (needing repairs)
80 bolts
5 long bows
40 arrows
6 long swords
4 battle axes
6 Short Spears
3 small shields
1 suit plate mail
2 suits half plate
10 daggers
7 short swords

assorted broken weapons and armor beyond repair

Laboratory - goods
Scroll paper and inks (300gp worth of scroll writing stuff)
Assorted fetishes and charms (faint magic)
3 cracked magical glass plates (moderate magic)
Basic Alchemy lab (-2 to checks)
Alchemy library (+1 to checks)
1 Large pale crystal (strong magic)

Freaky unexplained stuff...
Magic Mirrored Pyramid (value?)
Medium sized Dragon statue value thousands of gold.

Siege Warfare

2004-10-29T09:02:00.000-04:00

Welcome Linneaus - Human Unfettered Raccoon Totem Warrior
After observing from a distance, Linneaus meets with the party at the bridge and they plan their assault on the keep. Linneaus uses his mystical ability of transformation to change into a raccoon, and infiltrate the keep. Once there, he spies a sleeping Rhodin and using his magic gauntlets he duplicates its shape. He uses this camouflage to move unhindered through the keep. He makes for the front door and sees it protected by a single Rhodin, on the inside, though a Skurg was close by guarding the humans.
Meanwhile, Ferrethryn scouted ahead to check out the front of the keep. She reports back the information and the party advances. They wait for a signal from Linneaus, that he has secured the front door. Linneaus uses his illusory form to try to take the place of one of the guards. The party uses the distraction to leap upon the Rhodin. After a short fight, they kill the three guards. The Skurg sees them move forward and pulls back. They press the fight and take out the Skurg and several more Rhodin.
They press into the room with the hostages and send them out as quickly as they can. Then, they heal up and press into the keep pursuing the enemy. The team makes it up the stairs and finds themselves ambushed by another group. The party retreats backward a bit trying to force the Rhodin into a narrow corridor. But they fall victim to their own plan as the Rhodin Witch turns the stone floor to mud. These incapacitates the party, everyone but Ferrethryn is floundering on the floor. Things look grim for the party. A Skurg and several Rhodin continue to fight. Vor Tarn uses his Stone of Contemplation to turn to stone in hopes of escaping sure death. Ferrethryn does her best to fight the Rhodin, but falls seriously injured. The rest of the party seems to be helpless. But slowly, they begin to get back into to the fight. Linneaus invokes the spirit of his totem to scramble into the fray. Together, he and Ferrethryn manage to slay the rest of the Rhodin save for Ruqun and his Witch.
Hero Points for Ferrethryn and Linneaus
The spell ends, and the party retreats, save Vor Tarn, to the bridge. Eventually Vor Tarn awakes and manages to escape as well.
The next day they vow to press on and finish the force. They work their way to the roof of the small tower. Then scaling the third tower they discover a strange empty tower. They detect magic on the doors out of the room, but having little option Graal pushes his way into the next small room.
Hero Point for Graal
Surprisingly nothing happens. They move into the high tower. They move through a strange null magic field to a small room possessing a single ornate statue of dragon made of gold with ruby eyes. The statue stands six feet high, with a body length of at least ten feet. Graal presses past it and into the next room. They find a small laboratory with some unusual items. Not waiting to stop here they ascend the stairs and eventually encounter Ruqun and his witch. A bloody battle ensues. Ruqun is a massive and well armored foe. He unleashes furious blows on the party, but eventually with all four of the warriors atop him, he begins to falter. The witch escapes higher in the tower. With several biting blows the party slashes and pounds into the Skurg Warmain. With a series of blows, he falls thunderously.
After healing up, the party pursues the witch upstairs, and overpowers him. As they consider what to do with him, a strange voice calls out. Coming from the mirrored pyramid in the center of the room.
It demands the life of the witch. The party questions the mirror. It uses veiled threats to continue its demands. It claims to the keep itself, neither demon or dramojh, but something else. The party decides to retreat and consider what to do next.
One Hero Point for everyone.
Total Hero Points
Graal = 2
Ferrethryn = 2
Linneaus = 2
Vor Tarn = 1
Elidia = 1

Everyone advances to 6th Level.

Scouting Party

2004-10-22T23:49:00.000-04:00

The party makes camp at the site of their last fight. The send Ferrethryn ahead to scout and check the bodies of their fallen Rhodin. Ferrethryn returns claiming the people in the keep have gone into lock down mode, sealing themselves inside with a large number of the enslaved villagers.
The party decides to attack from the opposite shore and finds a ford to cross the river near an old slaughterhouse. They meet the butcher there who gives them some more information about the Rhodin. They approach and plan a stand on the village isle at the bridge to the keep's island. It is not long before they are confronted by a Rhodin who proclaims the area the property of the Freebooters, The party chalenges him about this, and he leaves, shortly thereafter, a party of eight more led by large Skurg arrives to contest the party. The cowardly Rhodin push a human shield of three villagers ahead of them to prevent missile attacks. When the get to the bridge the fight breaks out. After a reasonably long fight in which every member of the party participates well, and only minor injuries are taken (well Vor Tarn was pretty seriously injured) the party managed to kill almost all of the Rhodin. The Skurg (nearly killed early in the fight) skulked back to the keep, another was kept alive long enough to be tried and executed.
The two surviving human shields explained the situation, roughly fifty hostages in the keep, twenty five or so in the mines, and others elsewhere. They also learn of a witch among the Rhodin, and that there is some disillusionment among the Rhodin.
The party decided to rescue the villagers in the mine and made quick work of the single Rhodin guarding them. They escorted the former hostages and sent them to a miners' camp nearby. When they returned to their defensive position at the bridge they saw six bodies rasied aloft by the Rhodin at the keep. A battered and beaten human came down from the keep, and told them the Rhodin threatened to kill six more every hour, unless the party surrendered. They healed him, sent him on to join the others, and pondered their next move.
One Hero point for Vor Tarn for insisting upon the rites of justice, and for trying to rescue the human shields.

Welcome Home

2004-10-15T23:57:00.000-04:00

The party (minus Matt's nameless character) leaves the serenty and civilization of De Shamod for the great unknown that is Ar-Ensul. The board a river boat late in the evening and sale for several days up the river to the mouth of the Diamond Run, a tributary of the might Ghostwash and a decent sized river in its own right. There they visit the small burg of Lowenvale. But all is not well in Lowenvale. It is apparent almost immediately. The good people of the town are under the yoke of a band of Rhodin (humanoid ram headed monsters) that extorts obedience and repays insubordination with death and enslavement. The people beg the party not to fight the creatures lest they bring down their wrath yet again.
The next morning the party kills four Rhodin who approached to bring them to their leader.
The villagers shake their heads knowingly (adventures, what can you do?)
The party vows to prevent further attacks and to rescue the children of the village, and free the valley from the thrall of these beasts. They travel up the Shard Path until they spot a look out. Ferrethryn, their Litorian mageblade, and backup scout, moves ahead of the group and dispatches two of the foul creatures before they can sound an alarm. The rest of the journey is without incident until they make it close enough to view the once magnificent castle, now somewhat overgrown and in ruins. They have little time to enjoy the view, or plan an assualt, as the keep is alerted by the lack of a call from their lookouts.
A party of six Rhodin approach to investigate. The party makes pretty short work of them. The mighty hammer of Graal, the swift blade Legion doing most of the damage.
We left the party planning their next move. They fear to leave the path, lest another larger group moves past them and harrasses the villagers of Lowenvale. But, they feel they must investigate the keep, and its environs if they are to end this unrighteous reign.

The Arsenal Adventures

2004-10-09T01:11:00.000-04:00

I've made some preliminary work on the new campaign, tentatively dubbed "The Arsenal Adventures." You can check out the new homepage at www.malaan.com/arsenal/
I am still waiting for names for some of the new characters. And I need equipment costs so I can figure the sorts of start up items.
The next game is planned for Friday 15th October, 6:30pm Brenda and Colin's.

Dead Reckoning

2004-10-03T20:56:00.002-04:00

What can I say?

TPK.

Should I go into the details? Well.
1. Was expecting the new player to join the party. Didn't happen.
2. Was expecting the Champion of Death to fail to sway Bael. Didn't happen.
3. Wasn't expecting the fight to be much different from the first one. It was.

1+2+3 = Party dead.

So we rolled up new characters. Looking forward to the new game.

Who do? Voodoo.

2004-09-20T20:10:00.000-04:00

We find the party deep in the catacombs, still searching for Bael and Melkior, ready to encounter the next cat. They quickly dispatch is and proceed to discover two dark findings. First, a ceremony involving strange ritual magics, then an even stranger sight, a wooden sculpture of a human heart, only ten times the size of a normal one. They use some rudimentary magics to discern that the heart is magical, but their attempts to destroy threatened greater danger than leaving it. After confronting yet another, and this time larger cat, they decide to move off and lick their wounds. They are tracked by some strange zombie-like people. Among the group of zombies, is Bael, apparantly transformed into a zombie. After a sluggish slugfest, the party manages to rescue Bael and they decide to retreat to an unused section of the great castle. They try to reason with their comrade, but he is beyond normal conversation. They realize that without Melkior's magics they lack the ability to repair him. The party gets dispondant. They decide to invesitgate and see if they can learn anything from the group. Rhoddri explores and finds Melkior, or what they think is Melkior. He seems to have joined the bad guys, but when confronted he avers his innocence. He leads them on a chance to track down his staff which they hope to find with Damzella the runethane. They find her in her chambers, with a young man, and quickly overpower her. She surrenders and offers them safe passage out of the keep.
Meanwhile Bael escapes his bonds and torn by his blood lust, and fear of those same feelings he banishes himself from the castle and hides in the darkness like the monster he had become.
When Rhodri and "Melkior" go to check on Bael, "Melkior" betrays Rhodri and they have a short fight. Even alone Rhodri, vanquishes the doppleganger and later finds Bael gone.
The party decides to make haste away from Erdina towards Green Meadow. They contact Bael telepathically, and he bids them leave him. They assent to his wishes, and decide to leave him and melkior to their fates, rather than face the death cult in their limited capacity. They ride off making maximum haste with the assistance of spells to fight off their fatigue.
They are followed by a hunting party, and Bael, sensing still some tie to the party, tracks the trackers and follows them as well.

Deadman's Party

2004-09-06T20:28:00.000-04:00

After resting the night just outside the dead city of Erdina.
The party awakes to find Bael and Melkior gone (Bael was last to be on watch). They did a quick search and found no sign of them. They didn't have much time to mourn the lost, because shortly after this discovery, they spotted a party from Erdina with dogs and torches. After a brief attempt at hiding they were spotted by the group, and then agreed to follow them to the keep (Rhodri remained unseen following the group).
They had an uncomfortable evening with the group of gothic individuals and their toadying servants. They learned that the villagers of Green Meadow were in fact in the castle, being tended to in the makeshift hospital. Khord tried to help the people but found himself unable to help them much. A casual inspection of the home reveals some secret halls and other odd facts. The next day they left the area and discovered from the mind of the gatekeeper that the leaders of the keep were in fact undead. They decided after seeing the porters safely out of the city to gave it one last search by Astral Travel reveal both the presence of ghoulish incorporeal undead and Bael and Melkior unconscious in the catacombs.
They traveled once again to the keep and found some kind of party in the making. Dodging the party they went to their room and quickly headed for the catacombs. After Rhodri made quick work of the massive doors they encountered the angry giant Dru Alurin in full battle gear, a suit of plate mail with a death mask helm, and viscious looking scythe. Rhodri used a Hero point to stun the giant with a throat gouge. They succeeding in felling the dark champion in relatively short order. This gave they mission even greater urgency, it was unlikely they could plead innocence with their dark hosts now. A brief search afterward reveal more of the maze like structure including one room with a normal looking cat. The cat immediately attacked and scratched Rhodri before Rhodri killed the cat. They searched the maze further, and found the spot where Bael and Melkior were resting. Their friends were gone however. The party feared the worst, that their trusted companions were being used in some hideous ceremony. They raced to save their teammates but as they left they heard the sounds of yet another cat. Can they survive the might of yet another kitty?

Racial Levels - Skill Bonus

2004-08-26T11:13:00.000-04:00

I was thinking that the racial levels seems a little under balanced, compared to other class choices. I am considering granting people with class levels as having the following bonuses to skill rolls.
Diplomacy, Bluff, Intimidate, Sense Motive = Competence Bonus when used on/with other members of the race.
1st level = +1
2nd level = +3
3rd level = +5
This could pretty much be a circumstance bonus, but I like the idea of the making it an official bonus.

Is this too big?

New Player? / New Day?

2004-08-22T11:00:00.000-04:00

Now that we are losing Micah/Melkior (sniff sniff) we should talk about whether we want to get a new player to fill the empty seat

Also I want to float the idea of playing weekly during the week (Wednesday would be best for me) instead of Sundays. If we played regularly during the week we could miss the occasional game without a month passing. Also we could play for shorter periods (maybe 6-10pm) or so, if they were more regular (the pressure to have everything finished each session is less if you play more often). This sort of schedule has worked really well for me in the past.

I am generally loathe to change anything that is working, but it isn't like we had a really regular schedule to being with. Anyway, give it some thought.

Website Updates

2004-08-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

I've updated the game website.
Some rules updates worth noting.
1. Clarification on DR
2. Revision for Protection from Energy, Elemental
3. New Feat - "Reactive Counterspell"
4. Medium Armor - movement rate

Deadheads

2004-08-15T21:21:00.000-04:00

Our adventures continue after a short hiatus.
The party makes for Green Meadow for the first short leg of the journey to the Norwest. There is a moment of decision right as they leave. A weak blue moon bodes ill, they show some trepidition about the journey, if they travel during a moonless night, they could face greater dangers. But they press on, their journey is uneventful, they encounter only the oddity of a dying diseased elk as well as a dying bird. The reflect that they haven't seen much in the way of life, except for those dying creatures and many murders of crows apparantly waiting for more death. bael resuces the bird and they proceed as far as they can before making camp. They are disappointed to see that the night is moonless and inky black. That night a constant succession of injured creature moving purposively past them adds to the eeriness of the situation. During Melkior's watch a strange bear-like creature appears with a feline face, but rotting and diseased. He summons a mighty ice ape which is destroyed in an instant by the massive attack of the bearcat. He succeeds in slowing the beast with his magics in time for the party to be rousted from their slumbers.
They arise and prepare to fight the creature. Now hampered by the slow spell, the party is able to make fairly quick work of the creature. During the fight they sumise that the creature was infact the dreaded undead.
The next night held an equally eerie and unwelcome surprise. There was no fight that night, only the fleeting glance at a humanoid figure. That morning they awoke to the horror of a circle of dead animals surrounding them. This worried them, but they had little they could do about it. So, grimly, they moved on to Green Meadow.
Given the night's events they were not surprised to see Green Meadow abandoned. They searched the area and did find, barracaded in the root cellar of one house, a bound, sick, injured and incoherent young man. After extensive spell casting the party was able to cure the young man of his ills, but much to their chagrin were more informative to him, than he was to them. They also found signs that the townsfolk had attempted to gird themselves with a ruin against the undead.
They spent the night with no trouble, but they found that their mules had contracted some sort of odd disease. They used up much of their magic healing the mules and made for Erdina, the likely source of this ill wind. They also discovered for the first time that an enchantmest was responsible for some of this effect.
The journey to Erdina was without a problem, and an initial scouting of the ancient city showed no sign of life, or unlife. They did find a number of dead animals at the shore of the Alkali lake being feasted upon by gulls, unafraid of whatever diseases or illnesses led them there.
They left the porters and mules a safe distance behind and entered the city as a group. They walked down the main boulevard and approached the great castle. There, they stopped by the iron gates. They retired to a nearby building and Khord donned a strange feathered mask and sat down in meditation. To those gathered there it appeared he went into a trance, but from his perspective he took to the air as an astral falcon flying high above the keep, and deep inside it. He saw an empty but clearly active keep, including lit braziers. Fearig spending too long in that form he returned to his body to tell the others of his discover.
They began to debate the best approach.

DR/Magic Weapons

2004-08-11T15:05:00.000-04:00

I am working on a hybrid of 3.5 and AU DR rules for the Malaan game. I like the way Monte Cook explains it in the most recent
DMs Only.
I think I will be incorporating something like that as well.
The gist is as follows.
We will keep the AU designation of DR5/+1 DR5/+2 etc.. and add the 3.5 designators of Silver, Holy, etc...(Though not alignements) (I may introduce some of my own as well). At higher plusses, the magical bonus of a weapon will override the lower powered designators...
Probably a little higher than Monte's though.
Silver or +3, Holy or + 4, etc...
I will produce a chart with this in the near future and add it to the rules page. Any comments in the mean time?

Mousers Reunion

2004-08-10T20:27:00.000-04:00

They say you can't go home again...bah.. sure you can, if you home is on Malaan.
Years apart, nearly ten years since the last real game... and yet the gang was in good form. We all got along, we all had fun, it was a whole new and yet very familiar experience. I miss the Mousers much, but it is really great to know that we can get together and play without a problem after so much time and distance.

I really hope the gang gets together, at least some of them, and games again together. It worked well.

Suffice to say, the Mousers saved the day, helped out their old buddy Kent and got to see the future, in a sense.

Thanks for a great game guys... we'll do it again next time.

Malaan Pages Updated

2004-07-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Check out the updates to rules (Totem Warriors), and gaming information, including write ups of your two porters at:
Giants of Malaan

Ceremonies and Oaths

2004-07-18T21:31:00.000-04:00

Introducing Khord the human greenbond and totem warrior
The party thoroughly searches the weave warren and dismantles it completely. They collect the loot, etch the site in their memories, and leave. They return to Em Tarel with the good news and the people of Arrowhail rejoice in knowing their freedom from the scurge of the spidereyed goblins. They are promised a party in their honor.
They enjoy the party, endure the Giant songs, and are honored by the ceremony of gratitude. The children give them flowers, the people give them single coins etched with their family runes.
Later there is a feast in their honor at the Stewards great hall. They are granted, as expected, her patronage for the mission to the mouth of the Westwash.
Melkior consumed vast quantities of alcohol.
Bael tried to rebuff the attentions of the young and beautiful Sae Alurun.
Sajsan and Rhodri speak with Racine, the wealthy explorer who kindly refuses their offer of inclusion in the mission.
He does offer the assistance of a former colleague, Khord, as a guide and expert for the exploration.

The next day, they met together and drafted an oath of association for the party.
They came together and swore the oath. SPECIAL GROUP HERO POINT (usable by party consensus)
Now confident in their trust for each other, they met with seneschal Ozwilde and firmed up the plans for their mission. They then met with Del Shauna and swore an oath to carry out the mission.

During the next week they prepare for their journey. Melkior atunes his new staff and mounts the Dragon Head Figure to it. Sajsan finds a couple of porters to join the mission. Bael, Rhodri and Khord prepare themselves and the team for the mission.

Operation Arachi Freedom

2004-07-12T09:52:00.000-04:00

The party returns safely to Arrowhail and conveys their findings to Del Shauna. She urges an immediate return to deal with this threat, and she asks that the party keep quiet about the training manual so as not to tip their hand to whomever produced it. Sajsan, who suffered greatly from the poison, decided to stay back and heal up, and maybe snoop around to figure out who might have produced the document. The party gets healed up and looks for someone to help them return to the Goblin weave warren. They find a Sibbecai totem warrior, Kharbouk, who agrees to go with them.
The return without incident to the weave warren, but discover that the goblins and spiders have sealed up the entrance. They burn their way through the webs in into the main tunnel. They have a brief fight with a few medium spiders when suddenly the tunnel collapses when a huge tree is dropped on them from above. Everyone except Rhodri is entangled in the web and takes some damage. They fight the goblins that set off the trap and make quick work of them. Still they are wounded and winded, and take a few moments to heal up and press on. They make it the main hall and find a strange note attached to the stuatue. They try to decipher it and while doing so hear a strange noise like a snare drum. They look in horror to see dozens of spiders of various sizes stampeding towards them. Acting quickly Melkior casts a spell creating a great wall in the canyon causing many of the spiders to be squashed as they race into it. The rest are stopped and then scatter over the wall into the wastelands above. What caused the stampede, or where they went in unknown, but the spiders do not return. The party makes to the sleeping quarters and is attacked by surprise by goblins in the webbing, and two large spiders. A pitched battle ensues, but the party is victorious. They clear the dead and burn into the cylinder of webs to find a deep hole. They attach a sun rod to a goblin and throw the body down. It lands some 150 feet down. They start the long journey down and about have way are confronted by a large spider swarm. Deciding not to deal with them there, they jump off the wall and Melkior casts a Safe Fall to bring them safely to the floor. The floor is the top of a domed building, there is a crack large enough for them to slide down. They drop a rope and begin climbing down. The spider swarms catch up with them, and the party descends quickly and moves for cover.
Some moments later they find themselves in a dead end with the spider swarm approaching. The concoct a plan, of sorts, to target them using Rhodri as bait. He stands near the entrance, and lets the spiders attack him. At the same time Melkior casts a Fire burst at them both. The results are effective, the spiders are dead, but not without cost, Rhodri is seriously injured, and poisoned.
They examine the walls and architecture of the place and come torealize that this was probably an ancient Dramojh site. Such places are feared and respected by those in the know. There they also discover two unusual things that lead them to believe they are in some kind of Power Cyst; the first is that with some practice first Melkior and then Bael are able to power spells using the ambient magical force in the area. The second is that everyone begins to heal their ability damage at a rapid rate (1pt/hour).
During this discovery they are surprised to find themselves trapped in the room by rubble dropped down the hole, blocking the dome. But with the enhanced magical abilities of the cyst, Melkior is about to cast a Fly on Kharbouk who ascends to the block and digs it out with his pick. They re-afix the rope and ascend the tunnel. Using an object which grants him the power of illusions, Kharbouk hides their ascent. Still they are attacked as they rise from the hole. A pitched battle ensues, against several goblins, their witch-leader and the huge wolf spider. The party is victorious!
They prepare to clear out the area and burn it to the ground.
Hero Point - Melkior for numerous instances of quick thinking with his spells (stampede/wall, swarm/safe fall)
Hero Point - Bael for hanging back and sucking up damage from the spider swarms so the others could get down
Hero Point - Rhodri for his willingness to risk himself to target the spider swarms

Totem Warriors - Four

2004-07-12T09:42:00.000-04:00

Okay I think I am getting to the point where I am ready to make some rules.
Here is a first draft, you can make some comments before I finalize it.
In Lieu of an animal companion, the Totem Warrior gets.
1. Summon Animal [sp] (of the Totem Type) with HF equal to TW levels for 1rd/TW levels once per day. It has the Celestial Template. This is a standard action to summon, and the animal can understand the TW and obey his commands.
2. The Totem Warrior gets 1 Totem Point per 2 TW levels per day [Sp]. These operate like low powered Hero Points. To activate this requires a Standard Action, and the Focus of a Totem item (rod or amulet), and verbal componets..
The character makes a request for aid from his totem spirit. The actual assistance is up to the DM to determine the most appropriate form of the aid. The aid should be consistance with the 'theme' of the Totem Spirit.

Totem Warriors - Three

2004-07-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

Okay so, I am still working on the Totem Warrior Alternatives for Animal Companions.
I am considering the following... Totem Points.
Each level of Totem Warrior grants the player one Totem Point, these are similar to Hero Points, and can be used relatively interchangeably. The difference is mainly one of manifestation, when needed the character's Totem Animal can intervene on behalf of the character (distract an attack, provide a useful clue, rouse someone to consciousness).
What do you think of this idea?

Arachnomania

2004-07-05T21:22:00.000-04:00

The party follows the trail of the goblins deep into the crags. They spy a likely ambush site and using Melkior's magic they confirm that there are some goblins there. They make quick work of the goblins and manage to stop their runner from alerting the tribe. They follow the trail to a dark canyon with ominous webs and tunnels. They try to burn the webs but discover it is a futile effort, They decide to press in and investigate. They face several traps before encountering some resistance. They fight a series of goblins, and spiders each timme they are successful. They press the fight deep into the canyon. After succeeding in forcing a retreat they get to a strange chamber filled with webs and cacoon-like hammocks. They face a large crowd of goblins and as soon as the move in are confronted by the biggest spider they've ever seen.
The fight goes badly. Bael is soon surrounded, the goblins press in and soon overwhelm the party. Melkior, out of spells, finds himself soon in melee, not his ideal situation. He falls unconscious to their relentless onslaught.
Thinking quickly and selflessly, Sajsan grabs her fallen comrade and even with her poisoned weakened body, she begins to drag him to safety.
About the same time, the goblins begin to wear down the might Bael. He decides to break for it and runs past the surprised goblins. The party begins to stage a careful but hasty retreat. The Goblins having suffered considerable losses and fearful losing more allow the party to retreat.
The party moves quickly back to town.

HERO POINT to Sajsan for bravely risking her life to rescue Melkior.

Any recommendations for Hero Points?

Arachnopathia

2004-06-27T20:19:00.000-04:00

Enter Sajsan, the Verrik Akashic.
When we last left our party they had just fended off the first onslaught of the Golbins and their Spidery critters. They secure the doors and shortly thereafter are sieged yet again by another group of the goblins. The second onslaught was in the form of a monstrous wolf spider with a goblin rider, and a cadre of goblin pelltasts. Bael used his animated maul and Sajsan used her bow to harry the goblins, preventing them from gaining access to the goblin. These were dispatched with some alacrity owing mostly to the bravery of Rhodri who jumped from the keep's walls atop the wokfspider and battled the rider preventing the wolfspider from gaining access to the keep. The battle was ended quickly when Melkior summoned an Ice Gorilla which made quick work of the goblins and wolf spider.
Their success lasted for an hour or so. After some of the party went to rest, there was a third attack. This was begun by the launching of spider sacks from across the river. One landed in the center of the Keep, the other hit the wall. Both burst into spider swarms. The party began to fight these, with somewhat more success than before. But then the fight was joined by another five goblins, and yet another giant spider, this one a poisonous web spinner.
The battle ensued and the party low on spells managed to overcome them with brute force. After that they saw more goblins retreating and saw this a chance for real rest. The next day brought no attacks, but they discovered the Traps were almost entirely dismantled and looted, onl a little rubish left where it stood. They kept a careful vigil that night, but no more sign of the goblins surfaced.
On the third day, the troops returned victorious having killed a single large spider, probably just a ruse, as Rhodri expected. The party met with the Steward Del Shauna who discharged Rhodri of his previous oath ( a year had passed), and asked him to take another. He would lead the party to track the Goblins back to their true lair, and either deal with them there, or report back the location so it could be dealt with by another force. If the party would agree to this mission, she would forgo the usual competition to gain her patronage for the mission to the Norwest. The party agreed and they began to prepare for this mission.

Hero Points - One to Rhodri for brave and cinematic action.

Note: Upon completion of the next mission (clearing the nest of the Goblins) the party will advance to 6th level. However long that takes.

Hero Point Nominations

2004-06-23T20:04:00.000-04:00

I am planning on handing out Hero Points as the occasion warrants.
But, I would like open the forum to people nominating others (or themselves) for Hero Points.
Sometimes I forget cool things from the adventure and you can remind me.
You can email the gang, or post a comment here.

Arachnophobia

2004-06-20T18:56:00.000-04:00

Introducing Rhodri, the Faen Oathsworn defender of Lady Steward Del Shauna!
Rhodri finishes his evening rounds and spots something unusual. He is convinced that it is a Goblin sneaking around the town. He convinces the guard and the keep is put on alert. The next day, a prospector from the Crags reports finding a Goblin Weavewarren to the North. The Steward considers the options and decides to send her troops to burn the warren down. Rhodri suspects a posisble trap but is overruled.
Meanwhile Bael, Melkior and Ikumna arrive at Arrowhail and discharge their package. They contemplate what to do with the town going on lock down and decide to stay inside. That evening, surprise, surprise, things go awry. The bridge tower goes silent... not responding.
But with only a skeleton guard left, Del Shauna feels nervous about opening the gates to investigate. She askes for volunteers in the local inn, and Bael and Melkior agree to help.
They cross the bridge, with the gate shutting behind them and investigate the tower. They find no sign of anyone, the watch is gone with no sign of a struggle. Then just as they decide to leave, they are attacked from the rook of the tower by a swarm of spiders. They fled the tower and began to fight the spiders on the bridge.
Back in the keep, the guards keep a careful watch on the combat. Then rhodri notices a strange webbed sack attached to the top of the gate house. He alerts the guards and pulls the Steward out of harms way. When he returns the guards have already begun shooting at the egg sack. Sadly, the results are that the sack opens and drops its contents, thousands of spiders on to the guards below. With two spider swarms to deal the situation looks grim. Rhodri deals a serious blow to the swarm by dropping a barrel of water on them. Meanwhile Melkior turns his magics on the swarm on the bridge.
After a pitched battle they managed to destroy the two swarms, but not before taking many bites, and some poison damage. When the smoke clears they stand by the open gates and look across the bridge. There in the bridge tower they see several small humanoid figures, they guess these to be Goblins.

Totem Warriors - Too

2004-06-14T16:51:00.000-04:00

So I went on the boards (diamondthrone.com) and came up with a couple of ideas.

The Totem Warrior might have an actual totem of some sort (medium sized item in the form of her Totem Animal), this gives the TW access to their spirit guide. I am thinking of something like what Homer encountered on the Simpson's episode where he ate El Chile Loco (grown only in the graveyards of insane asylums). It might have some analog in native american religion as well.

The Spirit Guide will be a wise spirit able to give helpful (or puzzling) advice, intervene in some stylistical appropriate ways ( A bear spirit might cause salmon to jump of the river into the characters hands, a raven spirit might reveal what can be seen from far above, a snake spirit might heal some poison damage, etc..)

The spirit could on occasion summon similar creatures to help the character fight, or do other tasks (a wolf could track for the character, a shark pull a raft) using abilities appropriate to the class level of the TW. These would be mostly up to the DM but roughly as useful as having a companion animal around all of the time.

What do you think?

Totem Warriors

2004-06-13T09:24:00.000-04:00

This is something of a moot point since there are no totem warriors in the group, but here it is.
As with Druids and Rangers from D&D Totem Warriors get an animal companion as a class ability.

I am not a big fan of animal companions. It is difficult to figure out how they fit into the scheme of the game (are they NPCs, are they part of the character, who controls them, etc..) And I think they basically add all the time of another character to the game without adding the benefits of another mind at the table.

So I would like to come up with a solution. A simple one would be to remove the companion and give the totem warrior a bonus feat. But that doesn't really appeal to me. The companion gives the totem warrior a certain kind of style, where a bonus feat just makes them more useful.

What I would like would be a totem warrior specific ability that give style to the class.

Ideas:
1. Ability to speak with animals of the type, enhanced diplomacy with them (wild empathy) and some other sort of ability like that.
2. Have an actual totem (like a pole or something) that could give advice or other benefits (healing, etc..) depending on the type.

Anyway that is what I've got so far.

Possible Rule Modifications

2004-06-12T21:11:00.000-04:00

Okay... I am resisting the urge to modify the game rules for my AU game. But were I to do it here are some things I am thinking of.

1. Extending the 'disabled' period at negative hitpoints by the character level. Resurrection is really hard to come by in AU. So maybe death should be a little less common. Here is the idea. At 0 + Con bonus hps you are staggered, from that to your char level you are disabled, after that you are unconscious for 10 rds, then you are dead. This would make it possible to do something while under 0hp.

ex. 1st level Magister 12 con
0hps to -1hps staggered
-2 to -3hps disabled
-4 to -13hps unconscious
-14hps dead

ex. 10th level Warmain 16 Con.
0 hps to -3 hps staggered
-3 to -13 hps disabled
-14 to -23 unconscious
-24 hps = dead.

So that is a big difference, but it would help prolong people's lives.

2. Make the defensive energy and elemental spells more powerful. Currently, you cast Protection Vs Energy:Fire and get X amount of protection each round versus fire. My proposal. Protection vs. Elements protects you against all but one element. So Pro. Element/Fire gives you 12 hps elemental defense versus any element except fire. Likewise Pro. vs. Energy: Cold gives you 12hp energy defense against all energy forms except cold.
Rationale. The flexibility of the spells, make it very difficult to protect oneself against a spell caster.

Others might come up.

First Mini-Solos

2004-06-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Bael, a different kind of giant, finds himself with a job that will take him away from the civilization of Aelin. He picks up a package in the near frontier town of Jerad for transport to the distant frontier settlement of Arrowhail Keep. After picking it up he stumbles upon a strange scene. The dead bodies of several of the towns 'Home Guard' of Sibbecai Goons, and their killer a drunken Litorian by the name of Ikumna. The two are brought in for questioning, but using his magical abilities and Ikumna's brutal fighting abilities, they escape the station. They plan to leave immediately as soon as they find a guide to Arrowhail (off the beaten path). They head for the Wayward Wench, an illegal traveling bar, to obtain a guide.

Meanwhile, Melkior the Mojh Magister meets with his master Kamolan, who after seeing a Giant Knight take up residence and supervision of their monastery, urges him to leave and seek out his fortune elsewhere. He tells him of a trader/fence who had the promise of a strange icon. Melkior travels to Jerad to meet this man, Hermos, and contract for the piece. They meet, discuss prices, and are about to complete the transaction when a Giant Knight Champion of the Ward intervenes and demands the piece. In the confusion Hermos tries to run away with the piece but only gets a few paces away before being engulfed in a massive fireball.
The Giant pockets the piece and Melkior depressed decides to head for Arrowhail to seek the source of that item. He finds a guide who is planning to leave early for the distant Norwest. He contracts him, and the they head off. They meet up with Bael and Ikumna en route.

They are stopped a few miles outside of town however by the Giant Knight, and a group of Sibbecai goons from Jerad. Accusing them of murder, a fight ensues. The party is triumphant, they either knock out or scare off the group. After a brief discussion with the Giant Knight, they arrange for a truce and head off to the frontier wary of returning to civilization at all.
After weeks of travel, they make it to Arrowhail Keep, Em Tarel.

Game Information

2004-06-03T10:24:00.000-04:00

Scheduled Game: Sunday 1pm 6/6/04 Braden and Micah minis

Gameworld information. www.malaan.com/giants/

Still waiting for character sheets from most players.

Party so far.
Braden - Giant Iron Witch 5
Micah - Mojh Magister 5
Matt - Faen Oathsworn
Colin - Litorian (3) Unfettered (2)
Brenda - Verrick Akashic

Welcome to the Malaanica Blog!

2004-05-28T07:48:00.000-04:00

I am introducing a game related blog I hope for people to use it to discuss the game, and to throw out ideas for their characters, and other game related information.
I will make a link to this on the Malaan pages, and hopefully use this to make links to the adventure summaries.