Cattle Driving Necromancers-Bizarre Campaign Journal

[Kaveman26]

Session 10 continued: drastically unexpected.



Rocks fall....everyone dies.

The End

Belated April fools day....very busy and way behind on writing. Will get something up within a week or so.


Thanks.

[Lord_Burch]

Session 10 continued: drastically unexpected.



Rocks fall....everyone dies.

The End

Belated April fools day....very busy and way behind on writing. Will get something up within a week or so.


Thanks.

The bigger prank is the fact that you got our hopes up by posting. :smalltongue:

[Blackhawk748]

http://www.he-manreviewed.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/201-28-Fist-Shaking-Gif.gif

Well played sir, well played.

[ImperatorV]

The bigger prank is the fact that you got our hopes up by posting. :smalltongue:

This. I saw a Kaveman post with a spoiler and got excited.

[CrispyCriminal]

Thread Bump: Because leaving it off with an April Fool's Joke just doesn't cut it right after you introduce Pseudo-Ozzy Osbourne into the story.

[bobthehero]

Great campaign, friends are starting an evil campaign that I can't join untill September and I am hoping we can achieve half those shenanigans.

[Walk Hard]

Additional Thread bump: must read more...........

[Jonagel]

So I made an account after a year plus of reading and not posting.

One of the main reasons I did so is to say...

Thank you! You not only have spectacularly exciting/intricate campaigns, but your writing style is always enjoyable.

If you have the time, please do continue to update!

(Also -- bump!)

[anti-ninja]

So I made an account after a year plus of reading and not posting.

One of the main reasons I did so is to say...

Thank you! You not only have spectacularly exciting/intricate campaigns, but your writing style is always enjoyable.

If you have the time, please do continue to update!

(Also -- bump!) I would also like to give my thanks but...@jonegal you got my hopes up I thought kaveman26 had posted a new sesion.:smallannoyed:

[blacklight101]

Still hoping for a good story after the semi-late April Fool's joke.

It would be a great way to finish out the month.

[Kaveman26]

Session 10 Continued: This time no joke...

When last I shared the hijinks of our cooky kids and their wacky undead they had just met up with Azzie Azzborne, and decided to journey into the museum/battleground of the dragon corridor. Recently betrayed by their press ganged comrade Micko, deprived of their own personal minotaur colony, and cut off from the world above by a platoon of were-dwarves they were in less than good moods and their paranoia was at Def Con 5.

Azzie leads the way back from which he came…muttering to himself the whole time.

Azzie: Strange venue this…got to think your ways into most of the backstage areas. And every few weeks some random new buggers seem to pop up clueless as ****e and lost. Gets old quick I tell ya. Anyway…we almost there. Mind yerself for the big white bitch. She was the one that done in me bandmates. Like a damn white spider with wings…Fink she basically decided not to compete with those who left and just picks at the little insects that come her way.

Side Notes:

*Undead minions for the whole crew are depleted.
*One shot resources (potions, scrolls etc) are depleted
*Stockpiles of food and equipment are beyond reach (stuck on the higher level)

Dis Pater and Doc hang near the front, with the clerics taking the rear and Azzie/Seraphim in the middle.
They come to the stairwell leading into the dragon corridor and descend cautiously. This chamber is fair more expansive with a great vaulted ceiling. The stairwell twists down for what seems an eternity. The whole place looks like a bomb went off…multiple times. Twisted rubble and debris is everywhere. Many alcoves are at the edge of visibility…details lost to the distance and darkness. Charred and melted remanents of bone and scale are the only evidence of draconic presences.

Azzie loudly yells as he points off to a patch of darkness in the distance.
Azzie: I fink that is the way down mates!
A series of simultaneous hisses and shushes elicits from the table.
Azzie: What…did I stutter? I said THE WAY DOWN IS THAT WAY

As he yells a second time…they all go silent…listening for a reaction. They hear nothing…but they do feel a slight breeze buffet them…and as their eyes turn above a form glides overhead…silent as death.

Seraphim: Surprise is no longer a consideration.

As she says that a lance of frost slams into the ground to their left…a rope thick strand of frosty gossamer extends into the ceiling above…

Doc: What the hell?

As they maneuver around and start seeking cover…more strands of ice pin themselves to the ground all around them…and they quickly begin taking the form of a spider’s web.

Hades: I think we need to get out of the open and make for an alcove….something with a lower ceiling.

They all agree and begin attempting to slip between the frozen strands…almost immediately they discover the stinging burn of frost damage from contact…and find that contact also adheres one to the strand. It takes considerable force to break free from the frozen web’s grasp.

Caution and tactical advantage are shoved off a cliff by panic as they engage in a race for cover. As they run for shelter the ivory form of an eight legged winged serpent* swoops into sight…and the spider-dragon inhales sharply…then exhales a gust of wind that picks up half the party and sends them flying through the air…directly towards the webbing.

Azzie: Oh yeah…this is the minx…
Pluto: Just curious? How did you get away from her last time?
Azzie: Her wings are damaged…she can’t fly proper, has to use her web to get height then she glides down, using the web as an anchor to the ceiling. I pulled off a lucky shot and split the web wif an arrow.

Dis Pater: What the lunatic is actually saying translates to “attack the web not the spider”…if we knock her down then we can keep her down.

Azzie and Dis Pater take pot shots while on the move trying to sever the “guide wire” for the newly discovered arachnis draconis. The dragon for her part lays down obstacles ahead of the group and continues to make strafing runs…trying to knock them off their path and into the webs.

The whole group makes into one of the alcoves and hastily dive for cover amidst the rubble of what once was a display case. The dragon makes pass after pass ice-webbing the entrance over…leaving a tight enough space that attempts to squeeze through are possible…although ill advised.

Seraphim: Alright we have found cover and some reprieve…what next? Reprepare with a lot of cold resistance and ranged spells come tomorrow? Or make a break for it?
Hades: We can prep for this specific encounter and probably make it trivial.
Azzie: Don’t fink the hel-bitch is givfin us that option mates…she’s sending in the ankle biters…
Doc: The what?

Azzie: She spawned a batch of little whelps…nasty quick little buggers, she’ll probably send them in first.
Seraphim: She will risk her young? That doesn’t sound too mothery.

Dis Pater: Apparently preservation outstrips parentage…guess she figures she can always make more.

Pluto: Let’s be ready for a siege…keep an eye for incoming hatchlings and we will rotate one or two to the back to try and juggle spell slots for a more focused approach.

As they settle in, Seraphim feels a sharp cold sting on her shoulder and sees a tiny ice sliver impaled in her skin…as it melts she feels a numbness sinking in on the wound. A tiny (like the size of a quarter) dragon spider pulls a tarzan vine swing from a web and sends a second dart at her then glides through the webbing sealing the alcove.

Seraphim: I am really beginning to hate this place.



• I took a white dragon…gave it eight legs…and allowed for it’s tail to create a web…I also converted breath weapon to more of a crowd control mechanism instead of straight damage. Why? Because I hate spiders and the idea of a flying spider is just evil.

Time has been a resource heavily fought for lately. Finally peeled enough free time to resume typing. I can't commit to a consistent schedule ( I was doing pretty good at a post every few days for several months...this will continue to be more sporadic).

Just as a brief synopsis...we tried doing a "Tucker's Everything" style campaign and we crashed and burned at least 15 separate parties. Gave up on it and instead kept trucking away in the mega dungeon. So I got a mountain of gaming to share from this campaign.

I wanted to get at least something up and updated, so for those who still follow this...I hope you continue to enjoy and I will keep posting as best as I can.

[DireSickFish]

Glad to see you back posting. It's also nice to see the party back on there heels. A few sessions ago they had amassed a huge power stockpile and looked like they were gearing up to be a major force. I'm sure they'll trick and re-animate there way back into a position of strength but for now it's nice to see them struck low.

[Inevitability]

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaack. :smallbiggrin:

[The Bandicoot]

I was about to curse Dire Stirge for posting and getting my hopes up but then I saw IT'S ACTUALLY BACK :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:

[Traab]

Sounds like if they survive there will be some interesting new undead minions to work with. I am completely ignorant on the rules, but could they perhaps turn these tiny creatures into an undead swarm if there are enough of them? Or at least keep a large number of them around for distraction sake in combat while they ride the spider dragon around like a new undead pony?

[DireSickFish]

Sounds like if they survive there will be some interesting new undead minions to work with. I am completely ignorant on the rules, but could they perhaps turn these tiny creatures into an undead swarm if there are enough of them? Or at least keep a large number of them around for distraction sake in combat while they ride the spider dragon around like a new undead pony?

The problem with small creatures is that no matter the size each one will eat up 1 HD of precious undead slots -and- the 25gp of black onyx. Not only that but odds are they wouldn't retain any of the special abilities that make them so terrifying. When running a necromancer in these editions ideally what you want is the biggest baddest undead you can find for your slots. That's why Melty was perfect for a companion.

I mean they're in a bind so maybe the spiders will keep there ice resistance and be able to climb up and needle the big ice-dragon-spider thing to death.

[Traab]

The problem with small creatures is that no matter the size each one will eat up 1 HD of precious undead slots -and- the 25gp of black onyx. Not only that but odds are they wouldn't retain any of the special abilities that make them so terrifying. When running a necromancer in these editions ideally what you want is the biggest baddest undead you can find for your slots. That's why Melty was perfect for a companion.

I mean they're in a bind so maybe the spiders will keep there ice resistance and be able to climb up and needle the big ice-dragon-spider thing to death.

Thats why I asked about the swarm option. If I am reading this right,
For game purposes a swarm is defined as a single creature with a space of 10 feet—gigantic hordes are actually composed of dozens of swarms in close proximity. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. It makes saving throws as a single creature.

Many different creatures can mass as swarms; bat swarms, centipede swarms, hellwasp swarms, locust swarms, rat swarms, and spider swarms are described here. The swarm’s type varies with the nature of the component creature (most are animals or vermin), but all swarms have the swarm subtype.

Then raising them as a swarm would get around the cost of raising them. These things are spider/dragons, so you can argue they meet one of the listed types of swarms, they are the size of a quarter so they meet the needed size requirement, and if they count as a single creature due to being a swarm, then it shouldnt be a huge drain to have a bunch of potentially poisonous, going by the reaction seraph gave to being hit, tiny creatures that are harder to kill physically at least so might have an advantage there. At least till something better comes along. Just an idea though, as I said, I dont know the rules so im not sure what is and isnt possible. I just remembered reading about swarm creatures and thought that might be an option.

[Blackhawk748]

Ah a White Dragon Spider. White Dragons are bad enough, now its mixed with giant spider, you sir are an evil mastermind.

[Kaveman26]

Once I started tweaking out strange creatures it became a little bit of a running gag. Did a lot of custom creatures and the dragon spider was a home run in terms of tactical aggravation.

[Honest Tiefling]

Awww, how can you people hate spiders? I mean, they eat all sorts of nasty bugs. I'm on their side. I mean, how can you want to kill this:

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/temminkii/7737898380_6cd88c8ab3_b_zpsczuorhfj.jpg

...On second thought, I really hope she's not eating the little spider...

[Blackhawk748]

Awww, how can you people hate spiders? I mean, they eat all sorts of nasty bugs. I'm on their side. I mean, how can you want to kill this:

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag202/temminkii/7737898380_6cd88c8ab3_b_zpsczuorhfj.jpg

...On second thought, I really hope she's not eating the little spider...


Every time i see spiders that small i think of this...

http://i.imgur.com/fsX97.gif

[Laserlight]

Huzzah, a new update! And the spider dragon was just genius. Because "Evil Genius" is still "Genius".

[Norin]

Love it!
I keep coming back just to keep an eye on this thread.

[Kaveman26]

Frozen Webs and Dragon’s Breath:


For a handful of rounds there is some scrambling and profanity as diminutive dragon-spiders hit and run against the PC’s and try to attrition enough stat damage to create easies meals for mom. There is something immensely satisfying when it comes to the visual of a 7 foot tall half orc with muscles enough for three men swinging a greataxe at a target the size of a quarter. They are reduced to having the witches cackle and try to suppress saving throws while the twins channel negative energy as a form of bug zapping. The hatchling are robust for their size and while some hit the ground all eight legs and two wings up…most simply run away and are cycled in for fresh ones.

While the skirmishes rage on…they form up the framework of a plan. Seraphim will use flaming sphere to create a tunnel out of the alcove and they are going to follow the tunnel towards the corridors leading away from the white’s domain. Their intent is to get the hell out of Dodge.

Seraphim sends the orb ahead of the group with Doc and his flaming greataxe in the lead. Dis Pater takes rearguard and they begin a hussled exit from their temporary refuge. No sooner do they attempt to exit than Icy Eight (their nickname for the dragon) lands at the end of her iced web and sends her breath weapon straight down the barrel of their exit path…the whole group is sent reeling and all except Seraphim end up entangled in the various frost webs. The hatchlings begin to swarm them and send icy needles en masse at the group.

Seraphim: I think it is safe to say that you in essence have us at your mercy. Such a position of strength opens the door for you to create an even better outcome than our deaths. We are worth more alive than dead.

The dragon reveals a wide and completely mocking grin…

Icy: Food sometimes is more satisfying when it wriggles mid chew…but dead is how I prefer my meals.

Seraphim: Yes…but if you eat us you will be full for a day…let us bring you food and you will be sated for a lifetime. All we require is the bones afterwards.

Icy: I am doing just fine for myself. Nothing has exceeded my grasp yet.

Azzie: Cept fer the dragons that already sodded off and are divvying up your treasures as we speak.

That gets her attention…

Icy: You propose to kill the wyrms that I myself could not, when I myself have already claimed you as a prize…twice now for the first to die.

Azzie: Damn right twice you manky git. And together we can do for them that you couldn’t do for yourself.

Icy: What gurantee do I have that you won’t cross me the second you have an advantage, or that you will not simply scamper off in cowardice depriving me of a fresh meal?

Seraphim: I would put this delicately but we don’t excel at delicate. You caught us in a bad spot. If we had all of our resources lined up and ready this would have gone far differently. We recently got betrayed ourselves and to be blunt we need you alive more than we could benefit from you being dead.
We are manipulative and deceitful but up front about it. We will eventually end this relationship, but we have a mutual interest and if there comes a time where that is no longer the case we will tell you in no uncertain terms and part ways…or kill each other in the process.

I propose the following. We will furnish meat both alive and dead….your preference. All non wearable valuables we will donate to you directly. Wearable items of value we will make use of on a loaned basis. We will formulate and execute a plan to retrieve the full value of the hoard beyond. All contents of the hoard will go into your possession.

In return we get use of the corpses in a manner we see fit. We are provided use of an alcove as a base and secured place of safety. We expect you to protect this area and us while we are in it and we will do the same for you. If at anytime you seek the dissolution of this agreement we request one hour’s notice and we will vacate the premises and part ways.

Icy: I want insurance. One of your party must remain as my hostage, meanwhile I expect the remaining group to bring back to me a good intentions tithe of food and treasure.

The put their heads together and decide that Azzie should stay with the dragon while they delve for some sacrifices to bring back. The group nearly votes unanimously on this…Azzie disagrees.

Azzie: No no no…Ive had my fill of this beastie. No bloody way Im staying. One of you can swap stories with the murdering beast.

There is a long ranging back and forth that culminates in Hades staying behind with the dragon.

From my end I am very curious to see what direction they take from here. And they do not disappoint me with their next step.

They in essence convince the dragon to lay in wait at the entrance of the dragon corridor…they are bringing back some meals and those meals might still be mobile. They also ask for him to lace the passage leading to the dragon corridor with frost webs…but leave a tunnel in the center. They also ask for the hatchlings to hide in the tunnel.

Which leads to the following priceless swerve.

Seraphim: We are heading back up to Moo-Dor

An overnight strategy session and reconfigure of their spell slots precedes the group’s swagger back to the gate leading to Moo-Dor. They operate under the idea that their previous stronghold is currently occupied with the were-dwarves who will now eagerly reengage the Undead Cowboys.

Doc and Dis Pater are buffed to the gills, and as they will the doors to open they are not disappointed to find the platoon of dwarves milling about the Moo-Dor complex. A series of flaming sphere, and negative energy spill from the lower level…Doc immediately triggers a psychic lion’s charge to full attack the closest dwarf at a run, Dis Pater does a similar charge to a nearby target and within one round all hell breaks loose. The Cowboys throw their best combination of spells and attacks into the surprise round and then turn tail and run.

As expected the dwarves form up and follow en masse. Seraphim and Pluto throw out delaying spells and they play leap frog with the fighters in a measured retreat. Azzie lays down bowfire while taunting from the distance.

Azzie: I ain’t seen a clustf**k like this lot since my days in Lilliput. These lads are short enuff and airy enuff to make me fink I accidentally shagged a mutt and now they is after child support. *

They lead the dwarves on a merry chase and Pied Piper them straight into the frost webbed tunnel as a murder corridor. Going through the tunnels forces the dwarves into a single file line and as they get strung out working their way through the hatchling rain shards of frost needles dealing dex damage in a hailfire from nearly invisible archers. They are employing much the same tactics used against the pcs…strafing and moving. They don’t really kill anything but they sure slow down and hamper the assault of dwarves. Fast Healing recovers the physical damage, but the stat damage is tolling up all over the place. The reduction in reflex saving throws pays dividends when they emerge into the showroom proper…as this lets Icy-Eights breath weapon take a wider swathe of targets airborne and deposit them into the webs.

The ones thrown into the webs are sniped until paralyzed, and those who make the saves are swarmed by Dis and Doc. Anything remotely resembling a leader or higher level/geared target is enervated by the clerics and slaughtered by the dragon. They take a heavy toll against the dwarf forces but don’t bag any prime targets, Like Russ, Gup, or Reggie.

As the dwarves begin a retreat they frantically communicate to the hatchlings still in the murder tunnel to focus everything on those working their way out…they manage to paralyze the rearguard and they act as a stopper preventing more from escaping. Some are able to brute force their way in a dogpile to break through…but this tangles more into the webbing and leaves their backs vulnerable to additional poison.

A hasty skeletonization occurs upon already desecrated ground (Hades kept busy while they left and desecrated a prep ground) they stand up almost 20 dwarves as 1 HD mooks…and then hurl themselves into a second assault against the fleeing and injured were dwarves. Suddenly Azzie’s eyes perk up…and he straight up jumps on top of his chair and busts out some mean air guitar…

Azzie: About bloody time. A proper audience. (from an iphone comes the song Crazy Train)….time to inspire some f***ng courage mates…

Seraphim: I didn’t think that affected undead…it’s mind affecting.

Azzie: Yer wrong there love…got mi own brand of music and it’s right up their alley.

Turns out Dirge Bard does affect undead with it’s affects and as an Aasimer favored class bonus can boost inspire courage as if a higher level. It get’s Azzie to the next higher tier and it then provides a +3 to hit +3 to damage boost for the mooks. Which is a nice little bonus to already buffed undead mooks.

He leads his newfound groupies back into the fray and hurl themselves back at the dwarfs. The mooks are used as strictly that…bodies to clog space and chisel away at health totals. Doc and Dis pick a target and slash it to ribbons while the twins pour negative energy into the mass…Azzie continues his song while sending arrows over Dis’s shoulder. They are relentlessly winnowing away and staying aggressive trying to keep the dwarf platoon off balance. They rout the leaderless were dwarves and take back control of Moo-Dor…The named generals of the dwarf platoon are MIA.

They mass up their undead as a defensive wall and then pile up the new corpses to animate. These fresh undead are treated as pack mules and they are loaded to their limit with the previously abandoned goods.

A convoy of dwarfs laden with trade goods and supplies along with some treasure returns to the white dragon’s lair where a tithe is proudly offered.

Such is the way in which their new alliance is forged…

*Going out of my way to include Azzie’s randomness…cause…well…it was hilarious to me.

[Harmelyo]

brilliant! I love it. Please keep it coming.

[NRSASD]

Your players' ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. I've actually sucked several of my non-gaming friends into the wonderful world of D&D by showing them this journal. Keep up the amazing work!

When the PCs wiped out the dwarven expedition to Moo-dor, did they get the entire band of dwarves that entered the dungeon, or just a sizeable chunk of it? Wasn't sure.

P.S. I love the spider pics so much!

[ImperatorV]

Tiny spiders are sweet precious cinnamon rolls.

I will be very interested to see how the agreement with ice-spider ends up. The UC have a history of brilliant nasty backstabs in situations like this, but if anyone can keep up with them an evil dragon would be it.

[Kaveman26]

Your players' ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. I've actually sucked several of my non-gaming friends into the wonderful world of D&D by showing them this journal. Keep up the amazing work!

When the PCs wiped out the dwarven expedition to Moo-dor, did they get the entire band of dwarves that entered the dungeon, or just a sizeable chunk of it? Wasn't sure.

P.S. I love the spider pics so much!


They got a good portion of the contingent but none of the named npc.

[Traab]

Tiny spiders are sweet precious cinnamon rolls.

I will be very interested to see how the agreement with ice-spider ends up. The UC have a history of brilliant nasty backstabs in situations like this, but if anyone can keep up with them an evil dragon would be it.

Im thinking the backstab will happen once they clear Icy Eights enemies away and turns them into powerful undead servants. They were caught completely wrecked already. Once they have their army back up and can come prepared, well, things will go very differently. Especially going into the fight knowing what the dracospider can do and what its weakness is.

Btw, I just want to say the ozzie character is freaking awesome. I was grimacing when i first heard him enter the story, but he is just great.

[Kaveman26]

Dragon’s…

So I think it’s worth throwing out a bit of my machinations at this point. So far the central “story” of the dungeon is still largely unknown to the group. They are aware that the upper regions of the structure are meant more as a decoy or “front”. They have discovered and uncovered psionic abilities that enable further movement about the structure into the deeper and certainly museum themed areas. Having clashed against humanoids, strange mutations of known creatures and several well organized bands of opposition their paranoia is at a high level.

Their current alliance with Icy-Eights…a white dragon with eight legs and the ability to manufacture a frozen web is by all means temporary…I have seen enough of their M.O to know that as soon as they think the upper hand is within reach they will be arguing over who gets control of the undead dragon. They have exacted a measure of revenge against the were-dwarves…but gained no retribution against those who betrayed them.

I am anticipating a few different actions.

*They are looking for big sturdy creatures to reanimate…not 1HD humanoids or animals. Losing Vanilla and Melty and their minotaurs left them upset.

*An undead dragon is a huge enticement.

*Gup, Russ (leader of the dwarves) and Rusk (former leader of the gnolls) and Reggie are huge A priority targets given their current characterization and general disdain for all who show a measure of success against them.

Their plans are going to in some way involve trying to weaken Icy in a fight against the NPC’s then backstabbing her while everyone is weakened. I don’t picture them being controlled by the dragon for long. She is a clever enough entity that she would be well aware of this and fully ready for the forseeable course. To her end…she wants access to the hoards contained below…and access to assets that will enable her to overcome other dragons.

I figured that If I kept Russ and company maruding in the highest parts of the structure and away from easy location then I could have Icy goad the group into pressing deeper. As they progress deeper they will come towards a more secured area where the larger stronger dragons have carved out smaller domains where they vie for control or something to push them over the edge.

So…

The group now has a small expendable force of undead dwarves…and a semi placated dragon. They are prepping another’s nights planning followed by further raids to the higher levels.

Icy: My business…and therefore your business is below…not above.

Seraphim: Of course…we are loathe to leave a threat behind us though. We would hate for our enemies to ambush you without us to assist or provide aid.

Icy: My enemies are stronger. There is one though…a black wyrm called Onyx that was known to be me in the time before our capture. He is not entirely a friend…but he is willing to form an alliance. IF you are able to reach him then perhaps a consortium can be formed between the three of us. I will ensure that any intruders from above are properly greeted and dispatched.

Dis Pater: Why don’t you come with us then? Strength in numbers and such…

Icy: I am comfortable with this territory and know the layout and approaches. Below is unknown…and that is what I bargained to have you live for…to go to the places below so I don’t have to partake of the risk. If you feel like absolving our deal already I am willing to oblige…

Almost as if guided by an invisible hand the various hatchling seem to come ready.

Hades: *low grumble* we haven’t recovered spells yet…not a good time.

Seraphim: We are happy to maintain our bargain and are eager to set out in search of reinforcements.

Begrudgingly they reorganize their spell prep to accommodate energy resistances and spells designed to take out big single targets. They then march their skeletons to the forefront and proceed to go down the hallway descending like my three old tries to play hide and seek. By which I mean they pause every few feet and have the skeletons poke everything…shake everything and make all kinds of noise in the name of being “cautious”.

The corridor they travel down is far more spacious and roomy than the majority of areas they have encountered. Everything seems honeycombed as if the material compromising the walls and floor is a non metallic but still strong compound. Claw marks, scorch tracks and melted sections are all strong signs of draconic activity following the path they are on. As they come around the bend there is a large lizard creature chewing on something small…it has stubby wings and spines along it’s back and is easily ten feet long…bloated and green. Doc makes a heck of a knowledge check and freaks out both in character and out.

Doc: That is a stoneface! Don’t let it look at you. (out of character translation: basilisk)

The witch doctor pulls down his fetish mask to cover his eyes…blinding himself and he ducks behind a skeleton…

The party immediately bugs out…they send the whole skeletal envoy at the dracolisk with Azzie singing for inspiration. Everyone is hanging well back and steadily retreating as the lizard engages the skeletons…The Witches and Azzie all volley rays of enfeeblement at it to reduce attack bonuses and take the sting out of bite, and in fairly short order they replace half a dozen dusted skeletons with a now skeletal dracolisk (7HD…large creature).

They creep their way steadily further and encounter an additional dracolisk which is eating the charred remains of a wyvern…this Is cheered as a two for one as they are able to reanimate the wyvern too. The Dracolisks are shuffled as corpse companions for the Clerics, and Seraphim takes over the wyvern (unfortunately the wings were too badly damaged to be salvageable…an unfortunate coincidence that entirely coincides with the no flight rule).

Progress continues more confidently as they now have some heartier frontline bone shields. Their meandering passage finally breaks way into a colossal domed vault. Literally hundreds of sealed vault doors line the walls of a massive sphere like a metallic honeycomb. They immediately bear witness to a substantial aerial dogfight between a red and green dragon. Both dwarf the white in terms of scale and ferocity. The green is driven off and escapes to an antechamber where a cadre of half dragon creatures with longspears and shields await. From a distance they seem to be like trumped up four legged dragons sans wings. The Red lands atop the largest vault door…a protruding structure at the far end of the vault chamber. From several other antechambers dragons are spotted watching the action.

Orientation for the vault is as follows. To the immediate left of the vault entrance is a passage where a blue dragon is visible. Continuing to the left they spot a black dragon…then the protruding structure with the red…then a silver dragon…and finally a second red dragon. Each passage seems to be “guarded” by an assemblage of dragon-esque creatures. Mostly wyverns, half-dragons, and in some cases the stray manticore.

Points of Observation:
*Presumably they operate as if the black in the second corridor is Onyx, the potential ally from Icy.
*None of the Vaults is open. None appears even partially dismantled.
*There is an empty passageway leads below where the red is perched.
*The whole central portion of the vault seems to just be a trash heap of destroyed creatures and material.

Azzie: Well that looks like a standoff to me.

Seraphim: Certainly complicated. Not sure where to take it from here.

Hades: Apparently no one has managed to open anything. Seems like figuring that out would be a big deal.

Pluto:We could try to think one open…
Dis Pater: It worked on the door above…there should be one fairly close.

They inch their way closer to the nearest vault door…and all attempt to think one open. Nothing. They get a bit closer…nothing….litttle closer (less than ten feet)

*kachunk…clunk clunk clunk*

The vault door opens and everyone loses a PP. They stifle a small cheer as they realize that the sound was LOUD…and is echoing through the vault room. All eyes turn on them as the door spins it’s way open.

All: Oh crap…run away…!

[Lord of Shadows]

All: Oh crap…run away…!

Ahhhh... music to a DM's ears. :biggrin:
.

[ImperatorV]

Dragon standoff... You really come up with some fascinating concepts.

I wonder... Were there any psionic dragons in the display room? That could possibly have sneaked off into the depths of the dungeon?

[Kaveman26]

Dragon standoff... You really come up with some fascinating concepts.

I wonder... Were there any psionic dragons in the display room? That could possibly have sneaked off into the depths of the dungeon?

Probability is high.

[Bad Wolf]

They might be able to form a temporary alliance with the dragons to stay alive while they get the vaults open...and then all the dragons kill each other, and the party reanimates a few and kills Icy.

[Kaveman26]

Diet of Wyrms:

Full fledged retreat entails the discovery that they can in fact utilize their Psionics to open the vault doors. At a dead sprint they come back to Icy and practically beg for some web screening to prevent any sudden intrusions by larger dragons.

Seraphim: We found the treasure vaults…actually not that far away…that’s the good news. Bad news we managed to open a door and draw the attention of everything currently fighting for control of the vault room.

Icy: Did you find Onyx?

Hades: Maybe…we didn’t have time to sit down and chat. There is a rather large and aggressive red dragon that seems to be the current alpha of the room. He wasn’t very welcoming. You may get to meet him soon.

Icy: How did you open the vault doors where they couldn’t?

*blink blink* (group huddle)

Dis: They don’t know about psionics yet.
Doc: Or they don’t know what to do with them.
Azzie: Wut you talking about?

Seraphim: Almost forgot that Azzie doesn’t have psy abilities. We can “think” open certain doorways with our minds.

Azzie:And people say I got a touch of the madness…you keep “finking” open doors luv…I’m getting away from the door.

The eventual conclusion is to play things coy. They will admit an ability to open the doors but not disclose how. They are hoping to manipulate the dragons into some sort of truce or concession for potential treasure.

Seraphim: We really want to try and strongarm massive flying specimens of winged death?
Azzie: Cud jus offer to let them out
Hades: Say what now?

Azzie: Open the big door and let the bleedin fings out. Make them someone else problem.

Pluto: We could try to trigger the main vault then offer to open the way out. They don’t know how to get there.

Dis Pater: I am a fan of this plan. How long til main gate opens?
Seraphim: Just under a week.

They reconvene with Icy and try to crawl a little deeper into bed with the dragon.

Seraphim: What is more important to you? Regaining part of your hoard? Or getting out of this place?

Icy: Freedom is a grand notion…but to leave empty handed with a centuries worth of acquisitions left behind does not sit well with me.

Dis Pater: There is a whole new world in which to acquire new riches. Your kind are few and infrequent. You would be amongst the strongest ever seen or imagined.

Seraphim: In fact we may have a way for you to gain both wealth and freedom. It involves clearing out the rest of those below first.

Icy: You have my attention…

Hades: We need an emissary…someone to volunteer and bring a message to the vault room.

Pluto: Yes, but that is virtually a suicide mission.

Dis Pater: We have the salt mephit hourglass.
Seraphim: I keep forgetting about that.

As soon as their ducks are in a row they summon forth a mephit…this one seems very dour and serious…calls himself Methos.

Methos: I really hope you lot aren’t just looking to use me as cannon fodder. Ramirez is still whining like a little girl about being torn to shreds by a giant squid.

Seraphim: Not tentacles…just sharp teeth and torrents of deadly breath. We need you to take a message to a giant room full of pissed off dragons. They probably won’t be excited about the message but it definitely gain their attention.

Methos: Think I would prefer a squid.

A short while later Methos returns…unscathed.

Methos: Ever hear the expression careful what you wish for?
Seraphim: Of course.

Methos: Living proof right here. You have ten minutes to all come back including the white dragon or they come as one combined group to take you by force.

Dis Pater: Sounds like a party.

The U.C along with Icy all assemble and come back to the vault central where the full range of dragons is gathered around the main central vault. They all seem to be playing nicely…for now.

The Red is by all casual observations the strongest and largest dragon in the room. He identifies himself as Veritas. The Silver is called Moonsheen. The Black is confirmed to be Onyx…The Blue renames anonymous, and the Green names himself Hoath.

Seraphim is the most socially gifted member and group leader she leads the majority of conversations.

Seraphim: To be open and fair we decided that certain information needs to be made available to you. First and foremost…you were all captured and imprisoned by our estimates somewhere in the vicinity of five thousand years ago…perhaps even longer. Your captors kept you in a form of stasis and displayed you like attractions in a museum. The magic that imprisoned you has begun to fail and you were recently freed. We come from the world above which will likely be drastically different from the one that you were taken from. To answer your most likely questions…Yes, we have the ability to open the vault doors. We also know the way out and can gain you freedom from this prison. We simply need to know what is more important to you. Killing each other over treasure, or escaping your prison to start a whole new life.

Veritas: In our time free we have focused solely on regaining that which was stolen from us…none of had turned to thoughts of escape. This changes things…

Moonsheen: This changes little. We had reached an agreement…anything uncovered or rediscovered was to be split along predetermined lines. Escape eliminates the need for treachery. We all take our fair share and then we leave.

Hoath: I am with Veritas. Our previous agreement should be null and void. We can’t take these humanoids at their word, but if the possibility of escape exists we must reevaluate our terms.

Blue: I stand with Moonsheen. We split whatever is found as agreed upon. After that our alliance is dissolved.

All eyes turn to Onyx as the remaining vote.

(Off screen I determine that whatever Icy would actually prefer Onyx will acquiese towards. I figure that if two dragons have history then they could non verbally tip each other off)

Onyx: Our agreement should stand…if we wish to engage in a new alliance once the doors are open then I will support that.

Veritas *sighs*: Fine. I grow weary of the same struggle day in and day out. Let us be done with the thing so that we may move on.

The U.C. all step in unison to the central vault and focus on it’s opening. No power points are expended and the door remains unopened.

Ruh oh Raggy.

Seraphim reacts first at the table. She clears her throat and speaks to the assembled dragonkin

Seraphim: It appears that a force currently present is blocking our attempts to open the door. Could everyone step back a few paces please.

There is a sudden and HOSTILE shift ramping up the tension in the room…but the dragons back up.

Seraphim clutches her cog crystal and they make a second attempt. Once again nothing happens…there is an audible almost click of locks disengaging…but like an engine that won’t turn over nothing happens.
Hades whispers as low as possible “We need more power points”

Dis Pater: I don’t see how that is possible unless we find the minotaurs or Micko…and they seem to have vanished into thin air.*

Pluto:Well we don’t know anything else that has a power reserve at the moment now do we? Not like they are going to let us level up while they wait around.

Seraphim: We do actually have one other contact with psionics…

All: Who?

Seraphim: Skalagrim’s anklosaur. It was the first to develop psionics and it survived his death. It was less than thrilled with us and wandered off. We could track it down.

Azzie: HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAH. U want to hope these buggers let us sod off afta sum trumped up lizard with mind powers. We are screwed.

Dis Pater:I don’t think we can rely on the anklosaur to cooperate let alone comprehend what we are after.

Seraphim: Does anyone have any better ideas?
Doc: Open the little doors. Should buy us some time.

They once again delegate Seraphim to deliver the updated news. She primly and demurely apologizes and offers to open several of the small chambers pending the removal of whatever is blocking the vault prime. This is NOT met with much approval.

Veritas: There are six of them…six of us…we all get to eat one each…keep whatever valuables come from your meal.

Azzie:You fuggin lot…I tell ya. Fuggin fick you are. I can be down one of yer gullets faster than a groupie can drop her gown fer a ministrel but then you are going to be stuck down here fer an eternity. Have at it mates. Cause I wud rather be a meal than listen to this drivel fer anutha minute.

Hoath: Perhaps we can exhibit a bit more patience. If they can’t open anything else than we eat them…I want the loud one.

The U.C. are able to successfully open several of the smaller vaults and they discover that different ones seem to consume different amounts of psionic energy. The higher off the ground the more that are required. Most chambers seem to have little more than one set of valuables.

They open five in total (the first one opened would have been the sixth but they never did discover what was inside it) and uncover:

1st: Scroll Rack with 20 scrolls
2nd:Suit of Armor with Sword and shield
3rd:Tray of Wands
4th: Five shortbows of various unknown enchantment
5th: A pair of rings in lacquered boxes

The realization that actual loot is present in this vault chambers has them veritably drooling.

Hades: We need to locate another psionic power supply and fast. We can probably buy a few days opening more of these so long as we keep uncovering loot, but their patience at being denied a big score is not going to last.



*This was actually a previous point of contention…Azzie had mentioned seeing Micko and the remaining minotaurs…but Icy had no knowledge or information on them. So they disappeared somewhere between the squid room and Icy’s dragon chamber. There is an explanation but not one they have managed to uncover yet. I will leave this mysterious for now.

[ImperatorV]

That was utterly fricken hilarious. UC try to pull shenanigans and WHOOPS we can't actually do what we said we could, sorry guys.

If it turns out the highly probable psionic dragon(s) already made off with the main vault hoard the group may well straight-up die.

It's also very interesting the way the dragons have factions. Icy Eights and Onyx are clearly together, while Moonsheen and the unnamed blue seem to have some rapport. Meanwhile Hoath supports Veritas, but given that they fought each other earlier it's probable he just wants to curry favor with the local superpower. I expect more complex politics to arise as the UC slowly start opening doors and desperately searching for a way to get the main vault open before they become food.

[Traab]

Man this is nuts. I cant wait to see how they handle this. I honestly have no clue what the party is capable of doing. Hmm. Options, options. They have a loose alliance with icey and by extension onyx. They could try for some high bluff checks and go for a quick assassination dogpile on big red and try to take control that way. Or take down one of the weaker dragons most against dealing with them and animate it for a larger scale assault perhaps? Are these chambers big enough to trap the dragons inside of? That could possibly work. Open one of the larger rooms, they go in to see what treasure is there to divvy up, then slam the door shut. Extra points for subtly holding back icey and onyx to earn some more favor with them. "Here you guys go, the treasure is yours, those 4 are trapped." Preferably do this after a full nights rest and total restocking of spells just in case the dragons decide to attack the party after this. By reducing the total number of dragons way down to two, they have a better hope of eventual backstabbery.

I just dont see the party playing things straight with the dragons. There almost has to be some method for them to backstab the dragons and make a profit.

[Inevitability]

Just a question, but is Onyx in any way related to necromancy?

Onyx the black dragon, Onyx the black, black Onyx... Might be a coincidence, but if it isn't...

[Fable Wright]

Just a question, but is Onyx in any way related to necromancy?

It is the material component for animate dead. So, presumably, yes.

[Inevitability]

It is the material component for animate dead. So, presumably, yes.

I was referring to the dragon. I know it's the material component for creating undead. :smallwink:

[Fizban]

I doubt there's any conspiratorial connection. There aren't many black gems and onyx has y's and x's so it sounds cool, which means it gets used a looot.

[Kaveman26]

Yeah onyx was just a convenient name for a black dragon. No conspiracy or anything. I often resort to puns (as do my friends) for names. We rarely venture into super creative naming.

Going to be a few days til next story centric post. Need to put a big chunk at once. If average is three to four pages in word, this next one will be closer to 20

[Lord of Shadows]

Going to be a few days til next story centric post. Need to put a big chunk at once. If average is three to four pages in word, this next one will be closer to 20

FWIW, I have been compiling this in MS Word and am currently at 86 pages using Verdana-10 Font. There are also two Appendices, "The War Rooms" and "Previous TPK's."

There is some great stuff here.
.

[Inevitability]

Yeah onyx was just a convenient name for a black dragon. No conspiracy or anything. I often resort to puns (as do my friends) for names. We rarely venture into super creative naming.

Going to be a few days til next story centric post. Need to put a big chunk at once. If average is three to four pages in word, this next one will be closer to 20

So there isn't a secret meaning to every single part of the campaign setting? :smalleek:

Good to hear there's a giant update coming, though.

[Norin]

Cant wait! This journal.... its too awesome.

[Kaveman26]

FWIW, I have been compiling this in MS Word and am currently at 86 pages using Verdana-10 Font. There are also two Appendices, "The War Rooms" and "Previous TPK's."

There is some great stuff here.
.

Based on best guess this will probably top out over 500 pages when all is said and done.

[Red Rubber Band]

Awwwww yissssss

[Jonagel]

OooOooo. Very excited!

Also, sorry to everyone who is going to check this thread and only see my post... =D

[Kaveman26]

Power Up Required:

The Cowboys manage to hold off becoming snacks for their dragon compatriots, and are well aware of the urgency in which they need to up their PP game. So when they attempt to bid farewell to the serpentine powers that be…they are met with another rude surprise.

Veritas: Assuming your protestations that only a certain number of vaults are openable each day are true, why would you think for even a moment that we would allow you to leave this area?

Seraphim: Because we need to locate certain resources to bolster our minds and enable us to tackle the most intricate of locks.

Veritas: Two of you may leave as a token of our goodwill. The rest are to remain here. This is one area we will bear no barter.

Saddled with a no win situation the group consenus is to have a two person recon team head towards MooDor to gather more of the crystals…they hope to bolster their own psionic capacities or capture any other sentient creature that has managed to unlock their own potentials. But the restriction of only two to leave is tricky.

Seraphim: If Doc and I go, we have access to healing, some melee, animation and diplomacy…also a big axe.

Hades/Pluto: Together we can sends surge of negative energy and raise that which we kill.

Azzie: I can conjure up invisibility…give me the blonde and we can talk our way out of anyfing we can’t kill.

Dis Pater: Azzie going makes sense…he hasn’t been exposed to the crystals yet. He is the most likely to gain psionics from exposure.

Seraphim: No offense…but neither he nor I is exactly durable…and the majority of what we will encounter already wants us dead…I don’t think it makes sense for me to go. I’m thinking Doc and Azzie. They are both mobile, have some self healing, bit of stealth from invisibility. They have a better chance of getting in and out unnoticed. Especially if Doc is invisible. If Russ or the were-dwarves run into Azzie alone there is a chance he won’t have to fight his way out.

A lot of shoulder shrugging and sighing occurs and they bid the witch doctor and bard best wishes….
While the “Odd Couple” makes their way up…the clerics and Seraphim try to politely ask permission to scavenge corpses for potential raiseables. They get some furrowed eyebrows and wing shrugs and a thumbs up. Amongst the dead they raise a pair of wyverns and a 10HD former brass dragon. They do their desecration/animation hijinks complete with bone alter and then try to find a place to settle in, while being stared at by the angry winged agents of death.

Azzie and Doc make it the gateway and attempt to think it open. Small problem…Doc’s pool of Power Points is tapped out from opening vaults. Oops.

Doc: Uhm, I can’t get it open.

Azzie: Yer mind powers fritzing out mate? Maybe you could try finking some poetry. *chuckle*

The two are forced to basically camp outside the door for the night while Azzie talks to his guitar. The following day Azzie drops Invisibility on Doc and himself….then Doc wills the door open. As they wait for any backlash that may have follow from their previous excursion to Moo-Dor the chamber seems abandoned. No platoon’s of were dwarves come charging at them…no volley of arrows from siege ballista.

They make their way slowly into the crystalline sections where they attempt to salvage usable crystals in an attempt to jumpstart Azzie’s psionics. As they work through the chamber a thundering clamour rouses their attention. A dwarf in full wolf form whimpers as it comes sailing into the room crashing and impaling itself on the crystals. It’s spine is shattered…it’s head caved in…and it seems to be crackling with residual electric energy. Azzie immediately reapplies invisibility to himself and Doc and they do their absolute best to remain still. In short time…a trio of Frost Giants and a lone drow enter the room. The lead frost giant is exceedingly wide and short for it’s race…but thick with muscle not fat. In his hands is a warhammer that seems to be crackling with lightning. The other giants appearance tips Azzie and Doc into thinking one is a sorcerer and the other a monk. The drow is connected to the hammer giant by a thin gossamer rope that loops around his belt…best they can tell the drow is leashed.

Hammer Giant: Any signs of the rest of these puppies Dog?

Dog (the drow): No your excellency. I see no further signs of their passage…no tracks…no spore…not even scant hair. I “see” no trace of anything else coming through here.

The last “see” is emphasized ever so slightly as the drow looks directly at where Doc and Azzie are invisible.

Sorcerer Giant: Well we know some of them got away. Must have backtracked through a side passage the Dog overlooked.

Hammer Giant: Come on Dog…pick up their trail again and maybe I won’t whip you for losing it the first time.

The hammer giant yanks hard on the drow’s leash and practically whips him back around towards the passage they entered from. As he leads them out he very subtly seems to lose his footing and in a flourish of his cloak Azzie sees a scrap of parchment left behind on the ground. The pair of PC’s hold their breath in trepidation as the invisibility wears off and they rush to retrieve the scrap of paper and hightail it the heck out of there.

There is a palpable urgency to their stated actions as they work their way back to the rest of the group.

Azzie: I Hate bouncers that act like they deserve top billing.

Doc: Those were not bouncers…more like smashers. They don’t toss you out of the building…they send you through the building.

Azzie: The little lady seemed to have a fing for me. Guess even me own magic ain’t enuff to stamp out my charms.

Doc: That was a man…elf man.

Azzie: Meh…with elves it don’t make much of a difference.

They regroup with the rest of the party and compare notes while Seraphim preps some “psionic stew” from the harvested crystals. The presence of frost giants leads them to think that groups coming from the other entrance have found a way to join up with this section of the complex. The magical hammer possessed by the giant also intrigues them.

The note from the captive drow reads as such:

“Enslaved by scouting party…mass incursion force not far behind. Secret Passageways everywhere. Free me for access to enough treasure to glut dragon.”

The following few days fall into a pattern of Azzie and Doc scouting and trying to locate details on the potential frost giant invasion while coaxing Azzie’s untapped abilities. They continue to open vault doors as much as possible each day for the dragons who seem temporarily content to divvy up the spoils being uncovered.

As they reach Door Day there seems to be a plan in place. By happenstance the morning in which the primary doors are set to open Azzie finally awakens his power pool.

The party makes a big show of amassing at the vault door and they combine all their abilities along with the cog crystal to unlock the vault. It takes virtually all their combined points but finally the locks holding the central vault shut begin to throw themselves and the massive door swings open.
The dragons jostle for position and the U.C. make several concerted movements to retreat from the chamber together.

Veritas: What trickery is this? It is empty!
Moonsheen: Perhaps an illusion?
Hoath: No illusion…there is nothing within.

An unspoken and sudden non verbal transpires at the table and Seraphim nods to Hades who nods to Pluto:

Seraphim: So I guess that means Plan B.

Seraphim: I suppose now is an appropriate time to mention that in less than three hours time the doors that allow entry to this place will open. We have fought like hell to keep them closed and keep the invading army ready to attack at bay…but our defenses give out in three hours. At that time a whole cadre of invading adventurers, glory seekers and treasure hounds will descend into this place like a swarm. They have already sent in a force of frost giants from a different entrance. So you are faced with a choice right now. Either you eat us now and get swarmed by forces looking to take your stuff. Or you let us show you the way out and we catch them off guard. I challenge you to use whatever means at your disposal to find anything other than truth in my words.

Their a rising boil of fury dispered amongst the dragons…they are not happy. Their anger and rage over being imprisoned and deprived of their fortunes is making them seethe. Do they chance further attempts to locate their stolen hoards? Or take out their hostility in a joint effort to obtain freedom.

Veritas: Show us the way out. If you deceive us or attempt to trick us, your death will takes lifetimes.

Dis Pater: Of course…you may want to pack up any of your belongings, each of you has amassed a cache of items and relics. We would be happy to provide storage for you, as we see you are deprived of pockets.

The dragons all laugh at once, and each proceeds to swallow a king’s ransom in magic items.

Hoath: We trust our means of transportation.
Hades: Won’t your stomach acid simply destroy the items?
Onyx: Any item so easily damaged was not worth saving.
Seraphim: I think it’s time for you to pack up your belonging too Icy.
Veritas head swings around at the mention of the white leaving.
Veritas: She is not to leave alone.
Onyx: I will shadow her.
Veritas: Very well.

The two dragons along with Dis Pater and Seraphim retreat to her lair and fill her in on some further plans.

Onyx: Now that we are away I assume there is some deeper plan at work?

Seraphim: Not really. There truly is an army camped outside waiting to get in. There really is a frost giant incursion force. I do think it would behoove you two to know that one hour after the door opens it will then close. I highly recommend that you two make it back inside just before that hour strikes. If we can lock the others out that means what remains inside is all yours.

Icy: Why would you tell us this? Why not simply lock us out?

Seraphim: You are a potent allies. We WANT your help and are happy to give up treasure to gain you as resources. We struck an agreement out of survival and now we are ready to place a greater deal of trust to make it a partnership of mutual gain. Getting them out of the way helps that end. Two dragons is better than one…six is just too many.

Onyx: Veritas will return and his fury will be great. He is not one to be trifled with.

Dis Pater: We recognize that…and we will have a month to prepare for his return.

The dragons all reconvene and the U.C. take point as they lead their dragon entourage through the tunnels and passages leading out of the complex. Some of the corridors require considerable squeezing for the dragons to traverse…Veritas and Onxy use their acid and fire breath to melt larger passageways in the tightest spots.

The party is staged at the dungeon entrance with approximately fifteen minutes to spare…no other living creature is presently in sight. As the final moments tick away Onyx requests position at the front door.

Onyx: I have reservations about what awaits and wish to be first out.

None of the other dragon’s raises an objection.

As the door opens Onyx wastes exactly zero seconds and simply lays into whatever awaits with his breath weapon…as fate would have it a whole logjam of adventuring parties is waiting to get inside…and several of them have entire strings of horses.

All.
Hell.
Breaks.
Loose.

As the wave of acid washes over the stunned groups Onyx immediately gets into flight and takes off roaring in the joy of open air. Like a powder keg meets a match the remaining dragons take off in a rush of wings and death. Moonsheen the lone silver looks to be on the border of simply escaping but as she sees the carnage being wrought she intercepts Hoath and they engage in a mid aerial battle.
Veritas cuts huge swathes through any amassed clumps of combatants. The other dragons all watch the battle between Moonsheen and Hoath from their peripheral. But no aid is provided to either side. The U.C. act as a sweep team, pinning down the stragglers with their undead and then bayonetting the already wounded.

The initial burst sends the combined forces of humanity reeling and a good deal are panicking from the presence of dragons, but there is abundance of NPC adventuring teams that begin concerted efforts to fight back. Arrows and Spells arc into the sky targeting the dragons, and curative spells pop all over the place to try and triage those struck by breath weapons from on high. Cavaliers and Paladins regain their mounts and organize calvary charges against any targets sweeping low to the ground. Icy gets a lot of attention as she is unable to effectively fly and is within closer reach to most ground forces. The U.C. change their role from cleaning crew to dragon support as they rally around the white to provide aid and protection.

Seraphim utilizes a quirkier spell in Wandering Star Motes to jump from target to target disabling their actions. Those left dazed are swarmed by hatchlings and soon dispatched. Seraphim goes nuclear expending every offensive spell in her arsenal. She brings a mass of fire spells and a constant taunting cackle+misfortune.

A banner held aloft by a presumptive cavalier swings towards the dungeon entrance and a loud strong voice is heard screaming “ HEAD INSIDE FOR COVER”

Dis Pater: No chance hombre. That is our territory. ICY! We need you to block off the door.

The undead basilisks and manticores act as a plug to stop people from entering the dungeon, and the Cowboys are at this point getting pulled in multiple directions…they are trying to keep Icy alive and mobile, while also preventing entry into the dungeon. They are also constantly probing for any updates on the Moonsheen/Hoath scrum. For the most part the silver is getting the better of the green and his maneuvers and actions are becoming more and more about self preservation. No sooner do I announce that Hoath seems to be withdrawing from the action then a volley of intended actions all get thrown in quick succession.

Doc: Misfortune targeting saves against the Silver
Seraphim: Envervation against the Silver
Hades: Enervation against the Silver
Pluto: Enervation against the Silver
Azzie: Ray of Enfeeblement against the Silver

The Ray and one of the Enervations get fizzled by saves/resistance…but two make it through and the sudden loss sends her reeling. Onyx breaks off his sweeps against a platoon of dwarves and redirects to engage the silver…as does the unnamed blue….who basically tackle Moonsheen midair…severing her spine and tearing a deep rent in her throat…the shattered and broken dragon plummets to the ground dead, and a great deal of the resistance’s morale goes with her.

I am moderately surprised they don’t immediately reanimate her. Instead they direct their skeletal brass dragon and wyverns to drag her corpse into the dungeon.

This highly suspicious action draws the attention of the blue who seemed torn between following Hoath and simply bugging out. Instead Veritas breaks away into the clouds gathering height and speed. A few rounds later it seems like a second sun has come as they see the fleeing Hoath engulfed in dragon fire and then slammed into like a red missile by the diving red dragon. Veritas finishes off the wounded Hoath and then scans his way back towards the dungeon entrance where Onyx and Icy are now side by side in a skirmish against the larger and stronger Blue. Another wave of misfortune+enervation washes away the Blue’s defenses and a channel smite from Dis Pater crushes the grounded dragon’s skull. This dragon is also dragged into the dungeon entrance.

At this point with Moonsheen, Hoath, and the Blue dead…all that remains is Veritas, Onyx and Icy. The remaining adventuring parties along with anything still breathing from the camp all fall back to regroup themselves as a respite is created amidst the carnage.

Veritas lands a short distance from the U.C and remaining dragon duo. Everyone is catching their breath, topping off damage and rebuffing spells while they parley.

Veritas: There is a deeper game at work here and I suspect that you
envision me on the losing end.

Dis Pater: There is more than enough reward for all to win. We have nearly shattered the army assembled here…all that is left is crush the remaining pieces and then sift through the spoils.

Veritas: Why drag the fallen dragons inside then?
Seraphim: They are filler…prevent escape inside.
Veritas: You were already acting as a filler. What is your real reason?
Dis Pater: Does it actually matter?

Veritas: Yes…these were kin. They were my enemies because they represented a threat. Pragmatism meant they must be dealt with. But they are ultimately still dragons…and dragons are deserving of a respect you insects will never achieve. You have chosen to make a mockery of their grace in life as puppets in death. I tolerated your earlier violations out of convenience, but such restrictions or concerns are no more.

Seraphim: Well I suppose we can come to an agreement after we deal with the remaining army. Until that point we will vow to not animate your fallen brethren on this day.

Veritas: I am at the limit of my patience when it comes to these bargains.
Hades: Fair enough.

Veritas angrily takes flight and begins to circle the opposing force…using sweeping dives of his breath weapon to…

Pluto: He is intentionally missing…he is steering them towards us but not actually hitting them.
Azzie: Guess he wants us ta take a more involved hand.
Seraphim: Azzie…
Azzie: Yes luv?

Seraphim:I think it’s time to warm up the band. Everything but the brass in fighting formation at the dungeon entrance.

Azzie: Just call me Iron Man luv…cause I rock hard!

Azzie whips up the undead with inspire courage and sets them as a barricade at the dungeon mouth.
Hades: Do we split off and draw them into smaller groups?

Seraphim: Nope…we have the brass drag the two dead ones deeper in and make room. Need as many of them inside as possible. Icy…have your hatchling line up the halls and aim for anything not wearing armor. Let Veritas drive them straight at us. How much before the doors shut?

Dis Pater: I got about five minutes left before the doors shut.

Seraphim: Alright…let’s give them a warm welcome…Doc you and I need to target saves so we can get most of the poison through. If we can stabilize anything holding a holy symbol, spellbook, or not wearing armor to keep them from bleeding out let’s try. Hades and Pluto get in the mix with the skeletons and burn through your channels to shore them up. As we drop targets keep dragging them into the side rooms.

Thoughts:
*I get dragging the dragons in deeper…they want to desecrate and prep area before hitting the animate dead button.
*Stablizing the humanoid targets I sort of get. They can try to extort survivors or possibly even blood transcribe them.

The bulk of the remaining camp slams into the bone wall at full charge…some mounted archers and other ranged skirmishers are playing tag with the dragon and remain in the field.

Tactically speaking the Cowboys have crowd control down to a science. They consistently maneuver and isolate targets that get Misfortuned…Numbed…Axed by Doc and dragged away by the remaining dwarf skeletons. There is heavy resistance pressing them and the twins are getting their money’s worth from negative healing. The Inspire Courage is an all star as at least 1-3 attacks each round that would normally miss now connect and at least 1 enemy that would have stayed up getting dropped owing to the damage bump.

Control is the single best way to describe the brawl. Steady and paced they press their advantages and work together to come out ahead in a war of attrition. Veritas continues to harry and be harried by the mobile forces in open territory while they stem the tide and hold the line against the bulk of the remaining camp.

The sudden obliteration of a dwarf skeleton standing sentry at their rear makes that control evaporate. Heads turn and the noise ceases as a Warhammer large as a man still crackling with electricity is raised from the now dusted dwarf as the hammer giant grins from the hall’s end.

Azzie: Fug me I fink that is last call folks.
Dis Pater: We got about two minutes before the doors close. Do we go out with the dragon or stay in with the face smashing giants?
Seraphim: What you got left for spells Doc? I got 3 first, a pair of 2nd and one 3rd.

Doc: 3 1st and a 3rd.
Azzie: Got me 1 3rd level spell.

Dis Pater: We are reasonably well off health wise...but even on total defensive I doubt I can’t stand in longer than a round or two against those.

Positions:

*The door leading into the dungeon is clogged with humanoid combatants and some random mounts/animal companions.
*The central hallway is clogged with undead and the pair of dragons, Hades and Pluto are deep in the mix of things.
*Dis, Seraphim, Azzie and Doc are running control from the area just behind the scrum with some dwarf skeletons as grunt labor
*The brass dragon skeleton is towards the rear of the central hallway along with the corpses of the silver and blue.
*At least three frost giants are coming towards the brass dragon. The leashed drow is not immediately visible.
*Veritas is heard approaching the door…

Seraphim: If we can get Icy and Onyx to go toe to toe against the giants that is one thing…but there is no way to get them there. Hades and Pluto work your way free of the middle and everyone come meet me at this room. Shove as many of the undead down the hall with the brass as you can. Form up in the side room and get ready for a last stand.

Dis Pater: What about the thirty or so angry people trying to murder us?
Azzie: Tell em to get in line and buy a ticket…this is a sold out show and those big fuggers got VIP access.

Seraphim: Just try to disengage in one piece…I’ll try to buy you a bit of time.

Seraphim launches her last remaining 3rd level spell down the hallway and ignites the section with a fireball. That gets the frost giants main attention…as the sorcerer sends a magic missile volley in return that damn near takes the witch off her feet.

The brass gives ground to plant itself at the intersection of where the rooms all line up, and then holds. Dis Pater steps up to Seraphim’s side and takes a defensive posture, Hades and Pluto get pegged from AoP disengaging but get free and scurry to the side room. Doc drops his remaining 3rd level as a prayer to bolster everyone and then takes cover. Azzie drops his last 3rd level…a Haste on Dis Pater and he stays in the doorway.

The following round sees the giants moving up the hallway…the sorcerer lobs another missile volley at Seraphim and the hammer giant charges the brass.

Seraphim who held her action drops a flaming sphere in front of the frost giant and then falls back into the side room. Some of the less observant battle members don’t see the towering giants and are simply under the belief that they have broken the enemy resistance and they press themselves deeper in…a few of the less foolhardy beat feet and get the heck out of dodge.

Dis Pater shouts to Icy…

Dis Pater: If Veritas tries to get back in…use your breath weapon to push him back…Onyx if you can please get up here and help out our skeleton…we need to hold these giants off for just a bit longer.

Doc:Uh…the doors closing doesn’t make them vanish does it?
Dis Pater: No…but one less area to get ambushed or burnt to a cinder helps considerably.

The remaining adventurers not part of the necromantic entourage duck into a separate side room and try to hold their door shut. That frees up the remaining undead to lumber their way towards the brass and it also frees up Onyx to follow. As Onyx gets free Dis and Doc split to both sides of the hallway and invite him to acid breath their own skeletal dragon if it means getting the giants too…

Onyx gets himself into position and inhales…only to have the monk giant who was holding his own action spring out of seemingly thin air and deliver a devastating roundhouse stunning kick that practically leaves little birdies dancing over the dragon’s head.

Hammer Giant smashes the brass dragon with a full attack that shatters it completely. The flaming sphere continues to nip at their heels…but that is a drop in the bucket. The remaining undead keep shuffling forward , but with the brass down the biggest roadblock is now cleared. Once Onyx regains his senses self preservation takes over and he quickly gives ground. Icy is clearing the last stragglers and shouts out her own warning that Veritas has completely broken off his attack and is coming in hot.
The Sorcerer Giant drops some manner of buff spell on Hammer and the monk continues to back down the black dragon and plinks away with unarmed attacks. Seraphim gets a second flaming sphere started and increases the burn damage at the hammer giant. Once the wyverns, basilisks and manticores get past the door Hades and Pluto pop out and begin washing their horde with negative energy.

Hades: Uh brother…I appear to be out of channels.

Pluto: Yep…that was my last too.

Dis Pater and Doc see an opening and decide to attack the monk from the rear. Dis Drops his shield for a two handed swinging charge and Doc charges with flaming greataxe overhead. The monk sidesteps Dis but gets a back full of axe that staggers him.

With a great howling roar Veritas lands at the dungeon entrance and takes a full deep breath…The Frost Giants eyes go wide as plates and Hammer Giant bellows out an order for retreat. Icy who is about a third of the red’s size executes her readied action and knocks back Veritas who has his claws gripped about the door. The knockback sends him reeling but he manages to hang on with one arm.
The dungeon doors seem to go from open to closed in an instant and the sudden closing muffles any potential screams of pain as Veritas has his left arm severed right below the elbow.

The Hammer Giant and Sorcerer Giant were ready to turn tail but with the gate closing their retreat is halted and they resume their attack. Onyx and Icy are both able to focus their attention on the monk giant and he is quickly becoming overwhelmed by the combined onslaught of two dragons. The Hammer Giant and Sorcerer are game for getting to their comrade….but they now have a face full of undead bolstered by a new round of inspire courage, prayer,bless, and clerics now sadly reduced to converting spells to various inflict wounds. They also still have the last round or two of flaming spheres nipping at their heels. When the monk loses his feet and goes down the remaining pair of Giants curse and disengage retreating from the direction they came.

Seraphim: Onyx…Icy…don’t kill the giant we need to stabilize him in negatives.
Onyx: What?

Seraphim: I promise you that he is worth more alive than dead. Bind him tightly and stabilize him. As soon as he is stable sever both of his Achilles and the ligaments in his arms. I need him alive not mobile.

Azzie: There is a still a room full of blokes not more than twenty feet from us.
Seraphim: Oh…I nearly forgot about them.

She uses a cantrip to in essence clean her clothes and set her hair and suddenly the ruthless (and literally bloodthirsty) witch is once again the demure maiden with the honey sweet smile and doe eyes.
Seraphim: I am hoping you can hear us inside. It is now less dangerous as the giants have run away. They could return any minute…The red dragon that just sundered this whole territory is stuck outside and you are now stuck inside. So good news bad news there I am afraid. There are still two dragons here with us, and we have several of your comrades bound and currently safe. We are willing to work with you alive or simply convert you to undead. If we can just have a rational conversation under declaration of truce then I am sure we can come to an arrangement.

Unknown Voice: There is no circumstance where we can believe you or trust you.

Seraphim: Oh sweetie…I didn’t saything about trust. I said that while we could break down the door and have Onyx fill the small cramped room you currently sit in with acid we would be happier if you just obeyed us and did our bidding. Right now you are more useful alive than as shambling zombies. That might change in the near future. So what do you say…can we play nice?

Same Unknown Voice: You just told us that we are dead men walking…but it would be bothersome to actually kill us at this moment. So you basically want us to walk ourselves to the noose instead of being dragged.

Seraphim *slightly pouting*: Well it just sounds so much meaner when you say it that way. *Sigh* I guess we just have to turn your room into a slaughterhouse. Onyx…if you would please…melt the room and everyone in it. We will skin and cook alive anyone that makes it out with a pulse. I think we still have some garlic and onions amongst the supplies so I think a BBQ is in order. We can use the dwarves for jerky…they are tough to begin with…

Several Voices: Wait! Maybe we can come to some sort of truce.

Seraphim *with a giddy clap*: Oh fantastic…I am so looking forward to meeting you all. I think the first order of business is to reunite you with any fallen comrades or those we are currently holding for their own protection. Fair enough?

True to their word they basically take a full accounting of all the NPC’s inside the structure and reconfigure parties from those they took alive to those they just extorted into temporary alliance. Party members are reunited with their teams and for at least a few minutes there is relative civility. One of the NPC’s (we will call him Fritz) is identified as the “leader” of the NPC’s and is for all intents and purposes their face. Fritz is a stand up guy…solid warrior, couple levels of rogue, a fairly balanced guy and definitely was in the mix of just trying to score a quick item or two that he could sell then retire and live peacefully.

Fritz: So…uh…what you plan on doing with the giant? I can’t help but notice that he seems in pretty rough shape.

Dis Pater: Meh, I wouldn’t be concerned. He can’t walk or lift his arms.
Fritz: Oh I see that clear enough, more just curious why?
Doc pats the man on his shoulder and with a toothy grin chortles:
Doc: That is so he can’t run away or smash us in the face.
Fritz: Riiiight. But why didn’t you just kill him?

Seraphim: Because he can provide us intelligence about the rest of his associates and in a pinch we may able to barter a cease fire or hostage exchange.

As everyone musters up and has their wits about them a lot of sideways glances are made at the now anxious dragons.

Pluto: Onyx and Icy I think it’s time we get back to the vault room and make sure it is secure. We owe you a great deal of gratitude and loot for today’s assistance and we will deliver on both.
The entourage of undead…hobbled giant, dragons and NPC’s all march down through the dungeon and straight into Moo-Dor.

Seraphim: Welcome to your new home friends. We will provide provisions and water along with any basic equipment you may need. We are going to leave some dwarf skeletons as sentries for you too. There is still a sizeable phalanx of highly organized and lycanthropized dwarves in the area…hope you packed your silver. Also…we are pretty sure the frost giant trio was just an expeditionary force for a much larger invasion force…so eyes open.

Hades: Don’t forget the minotaurs…
Seraphim: I definitely didn’t forget about the minotaur clan…they used to live here and might not be too happy about you squatting in what used to be their home. Anyway…we will check back on you in a month.
Fritz: Uhm…where exactly are you going?

Seraphim: Far away from here that is for damn sure. We have some much more defensible locations already secured.
Fritz: Why can’t we come with you then?
Seraphim: Because we are the ruthless killers remember? Under no circumstance can be we trusted…pretty sure those were your words right?

Fritz: We have reconsidered events…especially in light of the other locals.
Seraphim *beaming with a coy smile*: Does this mean we can be friends?
Fritz: I think it means we would rather the enemy we know instead of the ones we don’t. What do you need from us?

Dis Pater: We need this place secured. There is a room filled with crystals we passed on the way in…it’s kind of the tollway into this area we need a permanent rotating force to cycle between here and there. For at least the next week or so we will rotate members of our group here…A cleric to bolster our undead and a support caster for help. If a strong force arrives Icy’s children will alert the rest of us. For your own protection we can’t let you near the vault or our esteemed friends lairs. We would have to kill you if you found those places.

Fritz: Got it. We can keep this area secure.
Azzie: I like you Fritz. When we hit the big time I will make sure you work the stage…I will share my sloppy seconds wif ya mate.
Fritz: He always like this?
Doc: Only when he is making sense.

The Cowboys leave their erstwhile new companions in Moo-Dor while they escort Icy and Onyx to the dragon lair with their captive giant. There they pretty much collapse from exhaustion and await for the new day.
They also hit level 8.

[Traab]

Wow. That was one heck of an event. I mean geez. I wish I had some idea of what they are REALLY going to do with that giant, but in the mean time, they have some massive undead minions to raise and control as well as possibly a large number of other random troops to use as fodder. So for now the cattle drive can continue. Also, i cant wait to find out if they will go after the drow and bite that plot hook, or go for the big empty vault and see if they can figure out where to go from there. Im sure the chance to snag a big fancy electric weapon, grab info on the frost giant incursion, and maybe even get a drow to actually help them (maybe, I dont think drow are really trustworthy) find some treasure of their own would be a tempting lure.

[ImperatorV]

The usual mix of fast talking, unholy alliances and well ordered armies of undead doing work again. I have to wonder if a party that wasn't so ruthless and well organized would be able to get through the dungeon this quickly.

[Tenmujiin]

The usual mix of fast talking, unholy alliances and well ordered armies of undead doing work again. I have to wonder if a party that wasn't so ruthless and well organized would be able to get through the dungeon this quickly.

I'm fairly sure kaveman has been upping the challenge steadily as the cowboys steamroll harder

[CrispyCriminal]

I honestly wonder how much treasure got crapped out of each of those dragons after death before the cowboys inevitably disemboweled them (likely as an offering to the other two dragons).

[Kaveman26]

One Door Shuts…Another Opens:

Seraphim
Half Elf Gravewalker (Patron-Elements)8:Str10 Dex14 Con12 Int21 Wis12 Cha 16
Feats: Skill Focus Diplomacy, Brew Potion,Extra Hex (Cackle),Ability Focus (Hex),Extra Hex (Cauldron), Wild Talent, Expanded Knowledge
Hexes: Evil Eye, Cackle, Cauldron,Misfortune,Spell Focus Necromancy
4th Level Spells Selected:Wandering Star Motes, Enervation
Psionic Powers Known: Share Pain
PP Reserve: 7
Bone Thrall (8HD):
Animate Dead (32HD):
Command Undead (8HD): Basilisk

1st: Beguiling Gift, ILW,CLW,Burning Hands,Ray of Enfeeblement,Enlarge Person,Mask Dweomer,Ear Piercing Scream,Mage Armor,Frostbite,Obscuring Mists
2nd: Command Undead, Flaming Sphere,Glitterdust,CMW,IMW,Blood Transcription
3rd:Bestow Curse,Animate Dead,Lightning Bolt,Dispel Magic,Stinking Cloud,Fireball
4th: Enervation, Wandering Star Motes, Wall of Ice , Ice Storm Crushing Despair


Pluto:
Dhampir Undead Lord 8: Str 14 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 11 Wis 18 Cha 18
Feats:BF:Command Undead, Spell Focus:Necromancy,Selective Channeling,Undead Master, Extra Channeling, Wild Talent, Expanded Knowledge
Psionic Power Known: Force Screen
PP Reserve 6
Corpse Companion (8HD): Wyvern
Animate Dead (32HD): Silver Dragon Skeleton 14HD
Command Undead (12HD): 2 Manticore

Hades:
Dhampir Undead Lord 7:Str 14 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 11 Wis 18 Cha 18
Feats:Spell Focus Necromancy,Selective Channeling,Undead Master, Extra Channeling, Wild Talent, Expanded Knowledge
Psionic Power Known: Force Screen
PP Reserve 6
Corpse Companion(8HD): Wyvern
Animate Dead (32HD): Blue Dragon Skeleton 14HD
Command Undead (12HD): Wyvern (Four Free)


Dis Pater:
Nagaji Knight of the Sepulcher 7:Str 19 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 13 Cha 18
Feats:Channel Smite,Extra Lay of Hands,Extra Lay of Hands, Power Attack, Wild Talent, Expanded Knowledge
Psionic Powers Known: Animal Affinity
PP Reserve 6


Doctor Lovebones (Orc) Barbarian1/Scarred Witch Dr5/Eldritch Knight1 Str 23 Dex 14 Con 18 Int 5 Wis 12 Cha 5
Feats: Ability Focus (Hex), Extra Hex, Extra Hex, Power Attack, Improved Initiative, Wild Talent, Expanded Knowledge
Hexes: Fortune, Misfortune, Ward, Cackle

Psionic Powers Known: Psionic Lion’s Charge
PP Reserve 6
1st:Bless,Burning Hands,Ray of Enfeeblement,Mage Armor,CLW,ILW,Obscuring Mist,Enlarge Person, Hypnotism
2nd:Aid, Hold Person, Alter Self, Levitate, IMW
3rd:Prayer,Remove Curse,Remove Blind/Deaf, Blessing of Fervor, Bestow Curse, Lightning Bolt

Azzie Azborne DirgeBard8 Str10 Dex14 Con12 Int17 Wis15 Cha 22 Feats: Skill Focus Disable Device, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Spell Focus Necromancy,Expanded Knowledge, Wild Talent
1st: Grease,Lesser Confusion,Silent Image,Ray of Enfeeblement
2nd:Invisibility,Pyrotechnics,Silence,Mirror Image, Command Undead
3rd:Displacement, Haste, Crushing Despair
PP Reserve:8
Known Powers:Concussion Blast


A degree of housekeeping occurs in which they take stock of their undead and shuffle slots. They make it a point to work overtime on opening up remaining vault doors for the duo of dragons and they don’t fight for possession of the various goodies unearthed. That is until they uncover a phylactery of negative channeling…basically a magic item that boosts negative channeling by 2d6. As I intended this to go for one of the clerics anyway I don’t put up a fight from the dragons who are just happy to be on a level footing where they are not currently the runt of the roost.

Some worthwhile level up perks that are a factor:

*At 8th level undead lord increases their healing from negative energy on undead by 50%, this is substantial news for the undead heavy channeling reliant strategy we have seen them employ. As was uncovered some time back we had incorrectly been playing with the assumption that their channeling both dealt damage to the living and healed the undead at the same time. This is still how we kept it functioning despite the realization that it was wrong. The boost to healing doesn’t translate to a boost on damage.

*Gravewalker has an aura of desecration that boosts certain undead attributes within X number of feet from her. At 8th level if one of her undead minions is within that aura she can magic jar herself into them. Stopping this transfer is a free action. Seraphim is by far the most intelligent and creative player in the group and the constant source of swerves against my planning. This is a dangerous ability for her to gain.

*Doc is now out of his dead zone for Eldritch Knight and is going to continue to gain full BaB and full casting.

*They extend the courtesy of gutting the dead dragons and removing their loot before zombifying their new toys. In part they inform me that the decision to zombify instead of skelefy is based on using the dragons as walking treasure chests…they can stuff their innards with trade goods or valuables and simply cut them open when required. So…they took a goofy means I used to transport stuff outside and subverted it into a new storage system that they can abuse for their own gain.

With their dragons allies happy and appeased they shift gears from opening to vaults to tinkering with the big vault and experimenting with the smaller vaults. A series of tests confirm that they can be opened from the inside or from the outside. Once sealed they are airtight and no force available seems to break them. They lock themselves in one of the vaults and within a few minutes the air becomes stuffy. This kills any notion of making the vaults a new base of operations. They extensively search the vaults already opened and go through the big vault with a fine tooth comb.

The extensive search combined with their stated and intentional “mental” command for anything inside to open triggers the release of a smaller secret compartment inside the larger vault. In the recesses of the vault is a narrow corridor that leads to a single pedestal with a strange talisman. It is too small for the dragons to reach and they elect to send in a dwarf skeleton just to be safe. It takes the talisman off the pedestal and retreats back to the central vault. It appears to be a necklace…but meant for either an enormous human or a small giant, it is forged from an unidentifiable metal and seems to emanate both gold and crimson colors. The design is that of a dragon eating it’s own tail. Half the necklace appears to be red the other half gold. Attempts to divine it’s purpose or power are futile.

Hades: It was important enough to separate into it’s own holding area.

Seraphim: But it was also left behind. I doubt this room started empty. If we operate as if something or someone already opened this room and took everything inside then they had a substantial enough understanding and power to manipulate the opening. That means they also had the ability to locate this second antechamber…something that took us less than a day. So either they intentionally left this behind or they wanted to keep it hidden.

As they try to logic their way into an answer Azzie damn near soils himself.

Azzie: Gah…flashback! Flashback…the damned black lotus is back to haunt me again!

They all jump and turn to see Azzie staring an apparition that seems to be solidifying behind them. It is humanoid…but tall…Doc is close to 7 feet in height and this person is at least a foot taller…it is very slender and seems to be wearing robes…but it’s face is killed with tentacles. As Azzie first mistook the entity for a drug induced flashback it is now seeming to phase into reality and grow more real. It seems to flicker for a moment and then become stable…mentally they hear the following…

Danger Level 10 prisoner no longer secure. Follow Security Protocol Zed Zed Alpha Delta. Please Mind Link to Central Control immediately. Lethal Counter-Measures Enabled.

Doc: Let’s put the necklace back…
Seraphim: Can’t…the chamber is gone.

Sure enough the secret chamber is now gone.
Seraphim: Let’s leave the necklace and lock the vault then.

DM: Who is currently holding it?

Doc: Me…
DM: You can hand it to someone else…but you can’t put it down.
Doc: So…who else wants it?

No one is eager to volunteer.

Hades: Well something dangerous is free…not sure if we freed it or just removing this from it’s place triggered an alert.

Pluto: Just what the heck was that thing? Some sort of squid man?

A voice barely above a whisper pipes up from the shadows of the vault…it is the Drow scout.

Dog: I know what it is…

The party jumps from panicked to Def-Con 5 in a heartbeat…but no giants leap into the fray and the drow seems to be alone. As they get a closer look at the drow they are further surprised…he is ancient…even for an elf with their long lifespans…his hair is thinned…his skin is practically translucent and they can see the tremor in his hands.

Dog: They once were a powerful force in the world below. According to the stories of my people, they were once amongst the very few races my people showed a level of respect too. Stories of them devouring the brains of foolhardy youths permeated our culture. They were known as Mind Flayers…a powerful psychic race.

Seraphim: How did you get free?

Dog: I am not free…simply on parole to seek you out and negogiate the return of my captors ally.

Azzie: We got your note.

Dog: good…my offer still stands, but the price has gone up. I need more than freedom…I need my captors dead.

Seraphim: What is your real name first?

Dog: For now Dog is good enough. Ackshale…the one with the hammer requests a meeting under flag of truce this time tomorrow at the entrance you last met at. Don’t even think of ambush. Time for that will come later.

With no further word the drow takes a single step back and seems to vanish entirely.

Azzie: Well he seems cheerful enuff.

Seraphim: Do we risk parley? Is there any chance of further alliance?
Dis Pater: We can ask the monk.

The group convenes with their prisoner, and they ungag him for some discussion.

Seraphim: Good Morning. Here’s the thing. We can torture you, flay you, and do some horrific things to your mind and body. Some of these things you will resist, some you will shrug off. We are quite good at this though. Bottom Line…none of those things need to happen. We are cruel and ruthless but above all Pragmatic. If we can get a benefit from keeping you alive and healthy then we will do so. If there is no upside to your life we can ALWAYS find an upside to your death. So…let’s start simple. What’s your name sweetie?

Monk: I am called Vas.

Seraphim: Ok Vas…what is the name of the your hammer wielding comrade?
Vas: Ackshale.

Seraphim: Thank you for being honest. That is a great first step. Ackshale wants us to meet under flag of truce and we are debating whether or not to do so.

Vas: If he is offering a chance to meet it is because much like yourselves he would rather benefit without a downside. Gaining me back is worthwhile. But he will not overvalue my life.

Seraphim: What exactly do you guys want? Why did you come into this place? What is your goal?

Vas: Same as everyone else. Items of power and knowledge of ages long gone are being uncovered. We came to take control of this place and control the flow of these relics.

Seraphim: So you guys want to gain territory and penetrate deeper to control reclamation of the artifacts within?

Vas: Yes. We put 100 of my clan within the structure from high in the mountains, we split up into 20 groups of 5. Two of our allies fell.

Dis Pater: Tell us about the drow.

Vas: The Dog. We ran into a party of drow…they are the ones that killed our friends. The Dog was the only survivor. He is a damn good tracker. Ackshale kept him as a pet.

Doc: How long have you been in here now?

Vas: Three months? Time runs together after a while.

Dis Pater: How about the dwarves? Were Dwarves that is

Vas:Nasty little things. We broke their platoon but several managed to slip away. We lost their trail and haven’t seen them in days.

Seraphim: Vas…we severed your Achilles tendons…and broke your arms. We are going to heal both those things, but only after the meeting. Even if the meeting goes bad we will heal you and let you go. We owe you that much for being candid.

The cowboys gather up Fritz and roll out to meet Ackshale back at the entrance. Dis Pater goes out to meet him alone while everyone else hangs back.

Ackshale: You still have my brother? I take it he alive or you wouldn’t have shown up.

Dis Pater: He lives. He is coherent.
Ackshale: I want him back.

Dis Pater: WE figured you didn’t want to meet us and simply tell us to keep him.

Ackshale: Well. Then why didn’t you bring him?

Dis Pater: Leverage. Bargaining Chip…etc etc. Let’s be blunt. A frost giant zombie is more valuable to us than three frost giants trying to kill us. You killed some of the were dwarves…that brings joy to me. You smashed our first dragon to dust…that brought me frustration. Let’s stop the teeter totter and make sure everyone comes out ahead, and I do mean everyone.

Ackshale: I wasn’t ready to barter for his life, merely give you an opportunity to give him back and avoid your destruction.

Dis Pater: See that’s the thing. We don’t care about his life. We are not bargaining for his LIFE. We are bargaining for what comes next. Three months you have walked these halls. Over 90 days of tension and danger. Two dead, one captured from your group of five. How many of the 100 that entered still draw breath? We have penetrated deeper and found horrors and wonders. What is around the next corner? Down the next staircase? I would much rather make that turn with you by my side then looking for my flank. This place makes strange bedfellows.

Ackshale: You suggest alliance?

Dis Pater: Well that is complicated. I think we need a full scale sit down. The number of interested parties keeps growing and we all want the same things. It’s time for everyone to sit down and figure out how they want to spend their next 29 days.

Ackshale: Just how many parties are you talking?

Dis: Well…two dragons who have their own sub alliance, six of us, three of you, and by our count 29 humans, elves, dwarves etc that got trapped inside with us.

Ackshale: When we last met you tried to burn me to cinder and you swarmed my brother with the undead. Your dragons are more dangerous than helpful. Such a tangle is surely filled with thorns.

Dis: Aint that the truth. Your “brother” Vas was candid and gave us the truth. We told him that we owed him for that. So we will give you some truth in return. Your “Dog” offered to bribe us and pay us off if we killed you all. Heck of a deal. We get undead giants, a sweet new Warhammer, and bribe money. We are turning down that offer. Our deal sound any better yet?

Ackshale: Yeah…I think we may be able to come to an arrangement.

Dis Pater: Good. Then we are going to have everyone meet at the crystalline chamber in about ten minutes. We can all mash out what we want and see if we can make some magic happen.

No hijinks or betrayals are sprung for this town hall type meeting. Here is the crux of what transpires.

*The Giants want a safe place to establish a foothold and bring other members of their expeditionary force respite.

*They also want magic items and treasure.

*The Dragons want vast quantities of treasure and support to eliminate other rivals.

*They also want assurances that the vault room remains their sole possession and jurisdiction.

*The stranded adventurers voiced through Fritz want to survive for thirty days and get the hell out of there. They want protection from they feel is clearly territory for which they are in over their heads and enough to cover expenses and help pay off the families for those groups who have already lost members.

*The Cowboys want quality corpses…
*They also want magic items…
*They also want support for whatever the “Level 10” danger may be.
*They also want intelligence on Micko and the wayward minotaurs…along with Russ and his remaining dwarves.

There is a tentative cease fire established to allow time for everything to sink in and for Fritz to bring back the details of what is transpiring to everyone else. Once a certain degree of civility sets in the Cowboys lay out their proposal.

Dis Pater: So far we have all been worrying about the moment and trying to get one up on each other. Not only do we thrive better with strength in numbers…we can increase our profit margins by sharing. For at least 29 days we basically have this whole area to ourselves. I propose we sweep the halls that we have access to and create a detailed map of this territory. We blockade rooms that have been cleared and searched. The giants will be given Moo-Dor as a base of operations. Fritz and his company will be given what was once the squid room. The Dragons retain their lair and the vault. We will for at least right now float between them, but use the vault as our base of operations. The dragons need us there daily. This crystalline room is where we will meet once every day towards night to discuss developments and divvy up any valuables discovered. This arrangement we honor and maintain for 29 days…when the doors open anyone that wants to leave is permitted to leave. As one combined unit we can be a substantial force.

[turbo164]

So where can I buy tickets to Azzie's next concert? :smallbiggrin:

[Lord of Shadows]

Anyone care to make a bet on who breaks the truce first? :biggrin:
.

[Kaveman26]

I would love to see an over under on a few different items.


Number of PC deaths before end of campaign. Over or under 3?

Number of betrayals before doors open next. Over under 2

First PC to kill a fellow PC?

[Kane0]

Before end of campaign? Over, your already up 2 rightt?

2, or over if i have to pick one

Odd, i actually thought you guys had a no pvp rule. Maybe theyve just been working together so well it hasnt come to that yet.

[Jonagel]

Number of PC deaths before end of campaign. Over or under 3?
How far are we into the campaign? I'm thinking 3 total, throughout the entire campaign (one already done).

Number of betrayals before doors open next. Over under 2
Over 2. Everyone is skeptical, and everyone is already working on how to get the upperhand. Unless the outside NPCs have a wild card, they're the only group that won't betray maybe?


First PC to kill a fellow PC?
The synergy is so strong it's hard to choose...if I have to, I'd think Seraphim would (directly or indirectly) have Dis Pater killed. He's the least synergetic with the team.

SUCH A GOOD CAMPAIGN. Can't wait for Seraphim to abuse the hell out of her ability to take over Undead...

[Kaveman26]

Before end of campaign? Over, your already up 2 rightt?

2, or over if i have to pick one

Odd, i actually thought you guys had a no pvp rule. Maybe theyve just been working together so well it hasnt come to that yet.

In terms of character deaths I mean going forward. We have had two so far.

For pvp. They have played nice so far with each other. That is not always the case.

[Axinian]

I think it'll be under 3 for remaining character deaths (not including the 2 already)

I actually don't think the group will betray anyone before the door opens unless one of the other groups moves first. I think they're gonna be pretty paranoid about what awaits them on the outside and will want to milk their "allies" for all their worth first.

I agree that I feel like Seraphim is the most likely to get another PC killed. Technically one of the brothers already killed another PC by accident.

[Kaveman26]

Interior Designs:

The newly formed alliance immediately goes to work at securing and blocking off the upper levels of the dungeon. They create a large community map and cross off room by room a search (much like the dwarves started to do) to exhaust every corridor, nook, and cranny. They do mental command searches in addition to old fashioned physical searches and they begin to uncover secret passages and secret doors to antechambers within rooms. They eventually uncover a utility corridor or sub section within the wall that transects Moo-Dor and the passageway towards the dragon showroom. They correctly deduce this is where Micko must have veered with the remaining minotaurs.

Dis Pater: We now have another string to follow. Do we abandon our current course for revenge?
Seraphim: He will turn up. Better to build what we currently have going.

Most of the secret sections have been picked clean. Empty cabinets…chests already unlocked with dust disturbed. All signs that something else has been through the area.

Hades: Maybe the drow? We could try and question him.

Pluto: Ackshale did something to him…he wouldn’t detail what…but no sign of him since yesterday’s reveal that he was trying to get the giants killed.

Azzie: I fink it’s time we got deeper in mates. This whole venue is a dead zone. Time to take our act on the road and see some fresh scenery.

They have been avoiding the passageway beneath the large vault like a plague. But after a few days of kicking a dead horse in the current area it is time for them to move on.

Fritz and company act as rear guard in Moo-Dor while the giants make a foray back from their original course. They are trying to leave markers and sign for the rest of their people to regroup. Icy stays behind to guard the vault proper while Onyx accompanies the U.C.

The passageway leads to a circular platform with six staircases descending. Each one is marked with glyphs that mental command allow for translation.

1. Reliquary
2. Production
3. Secure Holding
4. Habitation
5. Theory
6. Propulsion

Seraphim: Well this is fascinating. I would venture Secure Holding is some manner of Prison. Habitation…some sort of living quarters. I am stumped on the rest.

Dis Pater: We have seen a lot of unusual races. Cross species experiments could apply to Theory.

Azzie: Relicquary strikes me as valued items or religious. I have done my fair of second story breaks in to churches and that ilk.

Seraphim: I will agree that is possible. That leaves Production and Propulsion. Propulsion is an engine…or something to provide movement. Not sure how that ties in for this place.

Doc: We could each pick one and go down…scout and come back.

Seraphim: I have a better idea…

The witch takes one of the remaining dwarf skeleton’s and she goes to the edge of the stairwell marked Propulsion. She uses her possess undead to basically put herself into the skeleton and then marches her puppet host down the stairs. They twist back and go down about 70 feet and the stairway opens to a long hallway that seems to stretch on for a considerable distance. Nothing else of great interest pops up.
She repeats this process for Theory and finds a large open space filled with workbenches…and all manner of apparatus and specimen preserved in jars and diagrams. It basically confirms their suspicion that experimentation heavily occurred and this is where those experiments were tinkered with. They consider this a high interest destination.

Habitation leads to a bizarre crystalline living quarter. Even the smallest amount of light seems to set off a never ending cascade of reflection and visual chaos. This is marked intriguing but for now…avoidable.
The Reliquary is a veritable museum of all things faith related. As if entire pantheons and their beliefs were researched, dissected and then shoved into a museum. Nothing clearly valuable is visible from the puppet’s range but is definitely right up there in terms of priority with Theory.

Production is by far the largest room encountered yet. Immensely so. From their best estimate some manner of extra dimensional space must be in effect because the Production center is enormous and clearly a section where the structure itself was partially built.

Their last foray is into Secure Holding. The dwarf puppet comes down the stairs and is immediately faced with a prison gate. The Gate is secured with a series of intricate locks and the bars are made from a material completely foreign to the PC’s knowledge. A key is engraved into the wall along with “cell numbers”, virtually all the prison cells are identified with specific person/persons, with inscriptions like:

Vlad Jejai-Level 6
Designation-Human
Purpose:Self Preservation

Or

Hazrdugal-Level 7
Designation-Demon
Purpose: Foster Chaos-eliminate entity designated as “Devil”

There are more than a hundred entries, each organized by “level”
Seraphim: Ok…give me the breakdown for Level 10

Vulcanus-Level 10
Desigination: Theoretical
Purpose: Delivery Mechanism for Extinction Sanction

Seraphim: OK…no other level 10’s…how about level 9’s?

Zardus-Level 9
Designation: Teranthrope
Purpose: Assimiliation

Harang-Level 9
Designation-Devil
Purpose:Corrupt immaterial soul, eliminate entity designated as “Demon”

Lau-Rain-Level 9
Designation-Vampire
Purpose: World Domination

Seraphim is practically ecstatic at the prospect of a true vampire. She returns the dwarf and resumes occupation of her current form. Almost universally they agree that springing a vampire to potentially take control of is too amazing of a prospect for them to pass up. They also now have a name for whatever it is that has been freed-Volcanus.

Seraphim: I say we leave undead up here as a rearguard…so that if we successfully locate and encounter the vampire it can’t dominate our own undead. Hopefully with enough checks to command and control it we can hold sway over it, even if only for a day.

Hades: Shouldn’t we try to release something of a lower “danger” level first? For all we know a level 2 prisoner is capable of wiping us out.

Seraphim: Arggh…you are right…I would happily ignore logic for the prospect of a vampire thrall, but you are absolutely right.

The group descends to Secure Holding and tries to determine a means through which to access the cell block. The gate leading into the unit is secured through three locking mechanisms. The first of which they are able to mentally command unlocked. The second appears to be a physical lock that requires a key. The third is markedly spectral, as if incorporeal or slightly out of phase with reality. As they examine the remaining two locks a warm soft light appears above the gate…a mental message also issues in conjunction with the light.

“Access to Secure Holding started. Counter Measures engaged per protocol Zed Zed Delta Alpha. Ten seconds compliance required”

Azzie: Looks like they got a variation on a dead man switch.
Doc: huh?
Azzie: If we don’t turn the second lock wiftin ten seconds then they assume we are breaking in and take us out. Fail Safe I guess.

Seraphim: Alright…form up and get ready…we move nice and slow back up the stairs…

As the U.C. begin moving in retreat figures clad in immaculate robes and ornate armor seem to materialize out of thin air…they clutch massive katanas and are easily ten feet tall. Their armor melds into terrifying masks that are all brute ugly filled with tusks. As these spectral ogres take form they turn to see the U.C and the masks are revealed to be part of their faces. Four in total take form.

A fifth more robust and muscular takes form inside the block itself and immediately begins patrolling.

Hades: I just want to say that if these are the guards and they are in fact ghosts…we just hit the jackpot.

Pluto: There is certainly one way to find out brother…Command Undead the one closest to me.

DM: That will release your wyvern from control.
Pluto: That is fine.

As dhampir they sunk their favored class bonus into the ability to boost their channels and we agreed that it would make the checks to command undead stronger. So the twins can put out a pretty strong attempt to take control of the ghostly ogre mages. He actually connects with the first attempt and the Samurai Ogre comes to attention under his command. Almost instantly afterword the patrolling “captain” rematerializes at his post inside the cell block and reasserts control of his guard. That opposed roll he fails, and with a single howl the Captain commands all four of his guards to unleash hell upon the U.C. A Cone of Cold issues forth from the first guard that was just released. The remaining guards all swarm Pluto as they chase the cold spell and slash at him with spectral katana’s. The damage all registers as Will Damage and Pluto sees his Wisdom drop to 5 in a single round.

Hades tries to take control of the captain and the leader doesn’t even seem phased by the attempt.

Seraphim: Nova out and light them up…then get Pluto out of here.

Hades: Channeling Negative Energy will only help them.
Seraphim: Oh crap.

Dis Pater has a +1 longsword, Doc has a flaming greataxe…otherwise their weapons are non functional against the Ogre Mages. They are forced to backpedal like crazy….and go full scale retreat. The attempt to turn tail and flee opens Pluto AOP and those render him unconscious. They do their best to get out and are hit with another cone of cold in retreat.

They scoop up their undead with them…minus Pluto’s who are left behind, and flee back towards the vault room while looking over their shoulder for pursuit.

Seraphim: Well if we can get control of the captain then we are golden.
Hades: That does not seem like it will go easily.

Dis Pater: We need to prep force spells, and see if we can’t fill out magic weapons.

Seraphim: And as much as I hate to say it…we need positive energy spells. Actually…I have an idea.

The party reorganizes spell lists…gets Pluto back up to full wisdom and meets up with the rest of their alliance at night to compare notes. Nothing substantial transpired. They press Ackshale to let them utilize his sorcerer (Bero) since they know magic missile is definitely on his list. He is leery to let his caster away and not eager to tamper with the ghostly guards.

Hades: Needing help to deal with undead is just outright embarrassing.

Seraphim: We can handle this…just weren’t ready for it. Better question is where do we find the remaining two keys. I am going out on a limb thinking that one of them is a ghost key, but the third is going to be a mundane straight up key. Need to figure out where they are pronto.

[Traab]

Wow, some big stuff happening here. Im still a little confused as to why they even bothered to let the random adventurers live when they had them in a position to easily wipe them out. I mean, I can understand not risking it with the giants or dragons, they have the ability to cause real harm, but the adventurers were trapped and in a position for the dragons to basically obliterate in a single attack. Providing our "heroes" with a ready supply of emergency bodies to raise if they needed a hurried replacement of spear catchers. I also cant wait to see what takes place now with these prisoners.

[Aldurin]

Wow, some big stuff happening here. Im still a little confused as to why they even bothered to let the random adventurers live when they had them in a position to easily wipe them out. I mean, I can understand not risking it with the giants or dragons, they have the ability to cause real harm, but the adventurers were trapped and in a position for the dragons to basically obliterate in a single attack. Providing our "heroes" with a ready supply of emergency bodies to raise if they needed a hurried replacement of spear catchers. I also cant wait to see what takes place now with these prisoners.

I think it's because of that vulnerability that the UC are keeping them alive. When their death usefulness is that guaranteed, might as well see how much of their alive-usefulness they can squeeze out.

[Traab]

I think it's because of that vulnerability that the UC are keeping them alive. When their death usefulness is that guaranteed, might as well see how much of their alive-usefulness they can squeeze out.

Yeah but they are no longer trapped and caught flat footed in a tight space with no room to dodge and likely short on spells and abilities after that huge battle. And there are a lot of them. Betrayal is a real possibility. We dont know exactly what is in that makeup of random adventurers. Like what happened against icey. The adventure party was caught without the proper spells and preparation ready so they were going to lose. But now they can be ready and wipe icey out if they need to. Or at least potentially could. The same thing can happen here, and the adventurers dont really offer them much aside from that.

[Lord of Shadows]

I'm still a little confused as to why they even bothered to let the random adventurers live when they had them in a position to easily wipe them out. I mean, I can understand not risking it with the giants or dragons, they have the ability to cause real harm, but the adventurers were trapped and in a position for the dragons to basically obliterate in a single attack.
.
I think some of it may be simple vanity - subjugating live creatures is more rewarding than imposing your will on dead ones. Also, at the time of the big fight at the door, the U.C. burned through their resources pretty quick fighting on multiple fronts. It's also easier to give orders to live creatures than to try to control a gaggle of undead hit dice for which you have a limit. As Seraphim has demonstrated, Charisma has no limit. But, with live creatures there is also that pesky little thing called free will.
.

[ImperatorV]

The UC have been keeping people they deem useful alive since they first entered the dungeon. It's come back to bite them in the arse a few times, but it's also helped them some. Only time will tell if it was a good idea in this case.

[ISitOnGnomes]

Raising a the adventurers would simply give them a bunch of 1HD undead. These would be little more than speedbumps in future fights. Better to have a bunch of people with class levels, that might actually be useful at some point.

[Kaveman26]

Absolute Game Changer:

The Cowboys reconvene with a gameplan focused on eliminating the undead ghosts. They are desperately trying to talk themselves into a means through which they can dominate the guards and make them servants, but the failed checks and constant need to make new rolls everyday has them spooked. In essence they scrounge through the magic weapons already uncovered and controlled by the dragons and trade away their Salt Mephit Jar and a few other items as “collateral” to borrow a pair of light mace+1, and a shortbow+1 that goes to the Clerics and Azzie.

They prep a fair number of positive energy spells and wrangle in a forced volunteer from the Fritz’s camp (a level 4 Wizard with magic missile capability). Once they are armed and prepped they redescend to the prison block area and begin to form up. Seraphim lines up the remaining basilisk,wyvern, and manticore skeletons and proceeds to jump bodies to the first one in the row…she pilots her skeletal shell down to the cells and leaves it stationary. She repeats this process with three more and reports back that the ghosts are still standing sentry with their captain on a never ending patrol.

She then pilots the last manticore down below and walks up to a guard to deliver a cure serious wounds as a touch spell through the undead shell. It connects and does considerable damage…the four sentries all activate and make a series of swipes to drain stats at the skeleton…which is immune. She deliver a second touch spell and the stance of the guards changes…their katanas begin to vibrate and their second wave of attacks all connect as a physical barrage that shatters the skeletal form…Seraphim jumps to the next closest undead wyvern and watches as they decimate the manticore. The guards then resume their sentry position.

This is deemed noteworthy enough for her to jump back to her body to inform of the development.

Seraphim: They are on some kind of autopilot. They are reactivating to defend themselves but the undead shells are not triggering a response. Once I attacked they went hulk smash on the manticore but they burned a round with ghost attacks first. May be able to just chisel away at one or two by burning through the skeletons. Worth it?

Dis Pater: If it avoids us taking the lion’s share of ability damage etc then yes. Let’s try.

The witch continues to dance through hosts as she tries to whittle away at the undead guards. She is into the third skeleton when the ghost finally gives up the ghost and seems to vanish. That brings the captain back to the cellgate and he comes through the bars to engage the remaining wyvern directly. From within her bony ride Seraphim spots a keychain hanging from the Captain’s belt. With the final skeleton slashed to bits from the Captain she is forced back to her body where deliver a further update.
Seraphim: Found the ghost keys…they are on the captain. He has to be our new high priority target.
The group begins the descent en masse where Seraphim, Hades, Pluto all attempt to command the ghost captain. They all fail their rolls and are greeted with a cone of cold volley from the three guards and their leader. Having prepped cold resistance it is not the backbreaker it could be, but is still a nasty enough salvo to kill their poor redshirt wizard tagalong.

Dis Pater: Guess we should have used buff spells on him too…

They furiously engage the Captain with a barrage of positive energy spells and fire damage. They throw the kitchen sink right out the window for three rounds and go all out to drop the keyholder. Strangely the captain does leave behind something resembling a corpse, along with his greatsword (two handed katana…aka nodachi). Which makes Seraphim realize that the first guard also dropped his sword as well. They snatch the keys along with the two ghostly weapons and then beat a hasty retreat. Everyone took extensive ability score damage during the battle and they are not eager to overextend themselves.

Seraphim: Well we got the keys and at least two less guards are there for tomorrow.

They use the clerics to scrub a big chunk of the ability score damage and decide to explore further into the Theory wing. The whole segment is layered and at least three different levels meander themselves down further and further. The first section has many experiments suspended in glass jars, or simply schematics with ceramic or clay models. Most of it seems akin to a sales floor, more demonstration of what is possible as opposed to the physical assembly.

Azzie:Mates…did we come in here at all yesterday?
Hades: Just looked from the stairs…no actual entry though, why?

Azzie: Cuz there is plenty ov fresh marks over the thin layer of dust on the floor. Lots of changes in pattern on the desks like stuff has been shuffled around. Just makes me think we ain’t the first ones here recently.

As if on cue…a bolt of lightning arcs into the group and a pair of arrows slam into Dis Pater’s armor.

Doc: It came from below!

Several forms slip into the darkness from the Theory Lab’s lower level.

Seraphim: Do we chase or back off?

Hades: Back off. The big dragons are topside, and we are out of expendable mooks.
Pluto: Does confirm that we aren’t the first ones down here.

They retreat after another short day or activity and fall back to the vault room. They deliver the red shirt wizard’s body back to the NPC group who can’t help but notice that the corpse seems very pale…and very dry.

Seraphim: We thought it would be rude to zombify him, but I did drain his blood so that I could gain spell knowledge. Hope you don’t mind.

Fritz: Seems very suspect that he went alone and immediately came back dead.

They pack in for the night and prepare to repeat their process for the following day…this time armed with ghost touch weapons. As they awaken the next day…the ghost touch weapons are gone…as is the spectral keychain. They are absolutely furious and go through a laundry list of interrogation only to gain confirmation that no one stole them. No one they can trace it to anyway.

They grumbling head back to the prison cell and as they scout below they discover the four guards all back on duty along with the captain who has resumed his patrol.

Azzie: What in the actual f***

They all have pretty good knowledge checks and they compare thoughts and basically surmise that until a ghost fulfills it’s purpose true destruction is difficult.

Hades: I have a suspicion that they will simply recur everyday until we eliminate a reason for them to guard.

Seraphim: So we need to get the key without killing the captain…or we need the physical key first so that we can enter before they come back from their destruction. I am not keen on wrestling with ghosts…either figuratively or literally. We know there is a presence in the theory room. I suspect that is a good place to look first.

They fallback from the Prison and return to Theory where they progress on high alert to the second level of the workshop space. Here they find a litany of books and manuals from ages beyond telling. They also uncover a set of manuals to increase stats, +1 book per stat that they divide up equally. Seraphim gets int, Azzie Cha, Dis-Str, Doc-Con,Hades-Wis, Pluto-Dex

As they search once again they are set upon with a hail of arrows and lightning. Shooting from her hip Seraphim manages to clip a fleeing form with a web bolt and the sudden muffled “thwump” tells them that she hit. They track down her target to find the world’s most emaciated goblin struggling to get free from the webs binding it. When it makes eye contact with them is damn near gives itself a heart attack fighting to get free. There is virtually no muscle mass to the creature…just sinew and tendons stretched under skin clinging to a tiny frame. It’s like Gollum…but after a few extra years of heroin abuse and a starvation diet. It’s shortbow is less then ten feet from where it tripped, another arrow already knocked and ready.

The creature barks at them in a shrill and strained desperation:

Goblin: Eat me you devils…I hope you choke on my bones!

Seraphim: Easy there friend. Perhaps we can feed you…We are almost definitely going to kill you, but you deserve a last meal.

The creatures eyes go even wider and it’s attempts to escape cease…a wracking cough noise bellows from labored lungs and they can’t tell if it is crying or laughing…with eyes peeled they toss a portion of iron rations and a biscuit from their dry goods towards the creature and Seraphim cuts it loose…after depriving it of it’s bow and they await any return ambush.

The goblin eats the food…painfully slow…like from a mouth that has lost the memory of chewing.
Seraphim pats the creature on the head as it eats and in a voice that is like silk across a harp the sweetest of reassuring sounds issue forth from her lips, (lips that would still bear bloodstains from drinking dry the red shirt wizard if she wasn’t a stickler for maintaining appearances)

Seraphim: You reacted like you knew us…how did you recognize us?

Goblin: The glass eye shows all. We saw you enter…we saw you murder, pillage…we watched our cousin one you treated as friend abandoned to the wolves…we saw all.

The whole group shares a glance at this and their eyes go wide.

Seraphim: Darling you may have just saved your life and filled your stomach with one sentence…please do go on.

[commander panda]

holy **** crystal ball surveillance system. this does indeed change everything.

[Traab]

holy **** crystal ball surveillance system. this does indeed change everything.

Especially if it works like it sounds. At first I thought it was a targeted scrying device, but it seems like it can just look anywhere. They could see the entire damn dungeon perhaps. Look for weak spots they can force their way through, potential treasure troves they can cherry pick, enemy encampments they can wipe out. All from the comfort of home base.

On another note, I love how many dangling plot hooks there are right now. There are the prison cells with that puzzle/trap ghost setup, there are the frost giants and possibly drow, there is the worry over illithids, god knows what they may be up to (or if they even still exist) and now this scrying orb that could really help them out a lot, but first they have to find where it is and take it from its current owners.

[Kaveman26]

Almost All Seeing

They slowly and tenderly coax the goblin into revealing more, but the creature is resolute in further silence. Whether it is fear of them or fear of something else he refuses to expand more, only begging to be released.

Doc: What if we got you as much food as you wanted?

Goblin: No good no good. You have to set me free.

Azzie: What if we fed your whole tribe?

The goblin hesitates and seems to think on that morsel, and he bites.

Goblin: We are still many…

Azzie: Right…I mean eight or ten of you could probably eat a whole human.

Goblin: How many is ten?

A visual demonstration of “five” and “five” again gets the point across.

Goblin: We are more than that. Need lots of humans…or cows.

A group huddle sounds a bit like this:

Dis Pater: I think one of the NPC’s still has a horse…can cook that and deliver it.

Seraphim: We may need more than that. I was banking on maybe serving up the red shirt wizard…how deep we going on the prospect of a crystal ball type set up?

Hades: What do you mean how deep?

Seraphim: We had plans for the giants and dragons…do we risk sacrificing Icy or Onyx as the world’s most overpriced house warming BBQ?

Pluto: We could make an NPC buffet table before roasting the dragons…

Seraphim: Same question…is it worth it?

Doc: They are goblins…granted they are fierce…but they are still goblins. We wipe them out and take what we want

Hades: We still have the zombie dragon…it’s only a few days old. Should still be potable. We purify food/water and throw on some garlic…cook it til it’s jerky if need be. I’m pretty sure they want quantity not cuisine.

Pluto: Good compromise.

They bring a proposal to the goblin. He gets let loose in exchange for providing them an escort to the tribe’s home base. They will provide an enormous feast of roast dragon with a side of human. They will return with the food in a few hours.

The goblin is on board with this proposal and takes off.

The group heads back to butcher their zombie dragon and prepare it. After cooking up and portioning out the dragon meat they load it into carts and wheel it back to the Theory workshop. A goblin “escort” eleven strong awaits them. A slightly less food deprived goblin stands beside their original captive goblin and he gives a head nod of approval. The U.C. are escorted to the fourth tier of the theory lab where a tribe of goblins all clearly on their last legs awaits. Their base is a circular library room with a pedestal holding a crystalline globe. By their estimate nearly seventy goblins line the aisles of the library area all with bows, javelins, and in the occasional space a wand held at the ready.

The goblin chieftain is all legs and splindy arms…head and shoulders taller than his clan, his grin is absolutely circus fun house and grossly misshapen.

Chief: Welcome to our lair Killers.

The whole group pauses for a moment…

Seraphim: Did he just address us in dwarvish?

Hades: That’s what I heard too…not just you.

Chief: You have brought us an offering of food…marvelous. We have been without food for too long.

Dis Pater: We noticed that. We are happy to help out. In exchange for free passage through this area, we will continue to feed you.

Chief: Free passage? Nothing comes free. There is always a price.

Dis Pater: What price?

Chief: Too eager you are Killers. If you had said take the offering of food and be happy we aren’t wiping you out…then I could believe passage is all you want. But you are too eager to make us happy. That means you want more…

Seraphim: We want to know how the crystal ball functions, its abilities, and it’s limitations. Fair enough?

Chief: Excellent Witch Lady. I like direct. To answer your first question. I can see everything above us…nothing below. Sight and Sound I can acquire. Limitations? It can’t be moved and I alone hold the ability to use it.

Seraphim: You seem confident. Too confident. That means it is not an ability…it is a key or access function.

The chief narrows his eyes and suddenly the circus silliness is steely and calculated.

Chief: Smart you are. Maybe too smart.

Seraphim: Easy…you keep your secrets…keep your crystal ball. No need to risk anything. You can see above right?

Chief: Of course.

Seraphim: But not past the doors opened by mind?

Chief: No…

Seraphim: What do you see right now just inside that door?
The Chief looks through the crystal ball and smirks.

Chief: A giant…

Seraphim: Right…and what you don’t see is the other two…or the two dragons…or the 28 other adventurers, or the skeletal dragons. You are blind to their presence. If we don’t report back within an hour they descend on this place like a swarm and instead of growing fat and content you get to die starving and in anguish.

Chief: Ah Ah Ah. I have watched you, I have heard you. I know your carrots and your sticks. My life is not so easily bartered. If you want anything close to assistance or passage through my home then we demand tribute.

Without a single word I see a pair of d20’s come rolling into the middle of the table. Everything stops and all heads turn to Doc who is smirking…

Doc: Psionic Lion’s Charge…full attack to the chief’s face.

All: Uh…

Doc: I am willing to walk softly around giants and dragons…but my pride draws the line at catering to a damned goblin. So…I am going to tear the arrogant little pissant’s head off with an axe and see how easily the next in line’s life is bartered.

Seraphim: You are killing the only one who knows how to operate the crystal ball.

Doc:If he can figure it out so can we.

So…Doc to everyone’s surprise breaks into a full charge and making a massive overhand full force swing that cleaves through to the goblin’s breastbone…the second attack consists of Doc pulling his axe back and bringing the goblin with it…he then slams the axe back down and drives the blade deeper through the goblin’s torso. It is a brutal and virtually instant kill. It is shocking and sudden enough to leave not only the goblin’s speechless but the rest of the U.C. as well.

Doc: Anyone else want to keep talking, or do you want to eat? Fill your bellies, pick a new chief and we will back

Doc shakes the broken remains of the old chief off his greataxe and strides out of the room.

Hades looks around at the goblins and then puffs out his skinny chest.

Hades: Yeah! What he said!

Seraphim: Where did that come from?

Doc: We talk too much…tired of haggling. Besides that one was shrewd. Entirely too cunning for a goblin.

Seraphim: You know most of the haggling is just so we can kill them when it is most beneficial to us.

Doc: Well it was most beneficial for me to cut that smug look off his face. I like hitting things in the front more than hitting things in the back. My people OWN creatures like that. An Orc does not cater to a goblin. Especially one that speaks dwarvish.

Seraphim: Will someone help me talk some sense into him?

Azzie: Listen luv…no one is gonna argue with the biggest bloke in the room…specially when his axe is still dripping the entrails of someone he just smashed in the head. The sodding thing’s guts are stuck to the blade of the axe and he hit it in the fuggin head. That is the sort of gesture that speaks louder than words.

Left a little disoriented and since they are not currently being followed they wander through the fourth level aisles and shelves and find a plethora of texts and tomes amassing world history, folklore, cultural traditions and eventually a locked off room that is surrounded by a cage.

They expend some psionic energy and get the door to open and are met with the sudden appearance of two Ghost Ogre Mages. A voice again enters their heads…

“Access to restricted Cultural Knoledge detected. This is a violation of Protocol Gamma Beta Gamma. Please confirm authorization”

Pluto: See if you can pilot an undead past it Sera.

Seraphim: Fresh out of those and we don’t have a corpse nearby.

Doc laughs: I left you one just back there.

This gets a rousing chuckle from the table and in a huff Seraphim folds her arms over her chest and gets a predatory look in her eyes.

Seraphim: That you did…think I will just go back and fetch him.

The U.C are forced into a near run to keep up with the vexed witch who strides back into the goblin lair and marches up to the still where he was shaken off the axe dead chief. The goblins are all eating themselves sick and don’t appear ready for a fight. The original archer goblin bows and makes submissive gestures as he approaches Doc.

Goblin: We agreed…you are the new chief.

Doc seems taken aback by that. Granted sub humanoid traditions are rife with “kill the old boss take over as the new boss” motifs, but he seems legitimately surprised.

Doc: Right…uh…Keep eating and uh…take the day off.

Goblin: What’s a day off?

Doc: It’s a day where you do what you want and don’t get yourself killed.

Goblin: Oh…then we like days off.

As the goblins murmur Seraphim Animates their old chief who pops back up as a zombie and begins to swear at her.

Old Chief: What the hell was that? Where is your decorum? Who kills the other side during a debate?

Seraphim: We do…now shut up. Wait…you are talking. That means you have psionic abilities…is that how you control the crystal ball?

Forcing the old chief (O.C.) to say something he doesn’t want to requires an opposed Cha check..something she blows out of the water and he concedes that yes…it is mentally operated.

Seraphim: Doc…we are good. Everything worked out beautifully.

Doc: Heck yeah…I got a war tribe!

They walk back to the caged room and let O.C. walk into the cage unmolested by the ghost guards.

Seraphim: What is inside?

O.C.: Uhm…mostly it looks like how to manuals.

Seraphim: Such as?

O.C.: How To Craft Wonderous Items…How to Forge Rings…How to Crafts Magical Arms…How to Craft Wands…How to…

I get past “How to Craft Wands” right as the group sputters on their drinks and almost flip out of their chairs.

Hades: Whoa Whoa Whoa. Hold the truck up. There are books teaching FEATS in there? Feats that are supposed to no longer exist?

O.C.: I am just reading the titles….How am I supposed to know.

Azzie of all people seems to connect some dots…

Azzie:I fink this makes sense.

Pluto: How’s that?

Azzie: Well fink about it. This whole freaking place is basically a weird ass museum. They collected samples of damn near everyfing in the world…put em on display, and wrote books about it. They created a whole layer at the outside to act as an observation deck where they watch all the little buggers run around like rats in a maze. They even had the crystal ball to watch over everyfing. They located stuff that they deemed dangerous and locked it away…and even took the knowledge they thought was dangerous and restricted it too. You ever the story about those blokes that land in forgotten kingdoms and then proceed to shanghai the locals and act like it’s in the name of exploration? I fink that is what these blokes were up to…just on a much larger scale. Fings went to s**t and they had to put the whole place on lockdown. *

Dis Pater: And now the lockdown is failing…and with the doors opening and the exhibits running free the safeguards are getting breached. If that holds true and we are the first ones to breach this little corner that is huge. If we rediscover the ability to craft magic items and hold that knowledge to ourselves…then the world changes.

Seraphim: Try to bring one of the books out O.C.

The zombified goblin chief picks up How to Forge Rings and proceeds to walk out of the cage. As the first leg crosses the breech the two ghosts disappear and out of thin air appears the frankenstein-esque half dragon beholder…it vaporizes O.C. and then vanishes.

Seraphim: Damnit…why couldn’t it just have been that easy.

Azzie: We are going to need the password to take books out of the library luv…cause the librarian is one bad ass mother…



*This is actually very close to the crux of what I intended the mega-dungeon to exist for. He put together most of the clues or hints and formulated a darn good explanation for the bigger picture. There are still pieces missing from the puzzle but the wide view is pretty spot on.

[runeghost]

I've been reading this thread for quite a while now. It's always a pleasure to come back and find an update. Just wanted to say, Thank You to Kaveman26, for the funnest campaign journal I've ever read. :smallsmile:

[Kaveman26]

For circumstances not yet revealed this has become one of my favorite campaigns ever. After the long hiatus I had to start sharing again because there was too much good stuff not to.

[GorinichSerpant]

For circumstances not yet revealed this has become one of my favorite campaigns ever. After the long hiatus I had to start sharing again because there was too much good stuff not to.

I can already sense things are going to be interesting. My evil side is bursting with anticipation.

[ImperatorV]

All of your campaign journals are excellent, but this is a cut above both in setting and PCs.

[blacklight101]

Another great chapter in their story. I can't wait to read what they do next.

[Traab]

Oh man that was awesome. They are going to become frigging GODS in this setting if they can just figure out how to ACCESS this stuff. Especially since fighting clearly isnt going to work at this stage. I mean holy crow, a half dragon beholder? I dont even.... WHAT?!?! I know nothing about the game, and even I know picking a fight with that wouldnt end well. Also, I kinda agree with Doc. I mean, literally everything since Icey showed up has turned into a negotiation and a delay on betrayal. At this point things are getting dangerous. There are multiple factions, and all it will take is a couple of them joining forces to possibly end this adventure on a very bloody note. No need to add even MORE factions they have to pretend to not want to slaughter. Also, I love that "we like days off" thing. Had this been world of warcraft they would have gotten a message "Your faction with Tribe of Emaciated Goblins has increased"

[Kaveman26]

Suffocating With Options:

When next we meet up the gang has had a full week to plot and scheme for their next steps. Their entire focus has shifted towards unlocking craft-ability. In terms of “balls being juggled” so to speak the following items are still up in the air.

*Veritas may or may not have survived the loss of his severed limb and will likely be back in force
*The Frost Giants have not yet located their stragglers. But a large force of other giants remains
*Russ,Gup, and company are still MiA but a potential threat
*Micko+Minotaurs are still MiA
*Fritz and his NPC’s are not getting any more comfortable.
*Onyx and Icy are so far playing nice while they keep collecting treasure.
*They now have Doc as a chieftain for a goblin tribe.
*A prison wing with high danger targets is currently unreachable
*A library cage with tomes containing what might be world changing information is currently unreachable.

When we reconvene they are absolutely rubbing their temples trying to figure out what to do next.

Dis Pater: I say we scour Theory top to bottom and maybe we don’t find key/keys but maybe we can track down information of how the prison system security or library security runs.

Seraphim: Yeah that is as good as we can come up.

Hades: Alright…I guess we are going to flag down the dragons and do our daily vault opening duties before heading back to Theory.

Me:Ok…they are inside the main vault comparing their respective treasure acquisitions.

Azzie: Did you say inside the main vault? Both?

Me: Yeah…

All: We close the main vault door

Me: Come again?

Seraphim: Well that should cross one item off the list…

Me: Come again…still not following.

Azzie: We are locking the dragons inside the airtight unbreakable vault. We’ll pop it back open in a few days and animate the corpses. *

*Ever have these kinds of table flipping, smash your head against the wall moments? I feel like they have a quota for them.

I almost feel like they asked the following because they could tell that I was a bit shell shocked…

Seraphim: Any of Fritz or his gang showing signs of psionics yet? Need to know if the psionic crystals we have been adding to their meals is showing effects yet.

Me: You have been adding crushed up crystals like spices to their food?

Seraphim: Yeah…that stuff is like our Frank’s Red Hot…put that s**t on everything.

Me: I’ll let you know.

The gang returns to theory with some dried goods and the remaining roast zombified dragon meat. Doc greets his tribe and tells them it’s time to go to work. He wants them to follow the group and help search the levels of the wing. Of note they want sharp eyes for anything remotely resembling a key.
They take the entire day to scout, salvage and map out the first and second levels of the Theory space and manage to uncover several scrolls and a few helpful notations on how the crystals function. No keys or additional details on how the prison can be accessed are uncovered. As the day is winding down, they return to the library cage and begin experimenting with the ghost guards. They try to command the guards and bear slightly more success than they did against the prison guards. They work on pulling them away from the cage…they seem to range the entire theory wing but can’t leave the section. If pulled too far they simply snap the connection from command return to their post. They even try to force them into the cage to carry out the books which fails as well. It is unclear if they are unable to lift the books or unwilling. In either event they give up trying to extort the guards into becoming accomplices and resort to simply trying a further search the following day.

When they join up for their nightly meeting the dragons are noticeably absent. Ackshale and Fritz both seem to be on the same page with their unease.

Fritz: Where are the dragons?

Seraphim: They were inside a vault comparing there treasure hoards when the doors closed. Without a way to communicate into them we figured it was something done intentionally. We tried to open it up…but with no luck. Not sure what they are up to in there. They apparently want to be left alone though.

Ackshale: Well we need them. I don’t like the prospect of tangling against the red without some support from it’s own kind.

Dis Pater: If we locate the rest of your clan I am sure those doubts will be put to ease. Maybe it’s time we focused more on getting your boys home. We could form one big search party and set out to locate them. Better yet…we found a crystal ball that lets us survey the vast majority of the area. I will personally see to it that if any of your fellows are in the area we will find them.

True to their word…the following day Dis Pater sets up shop at the crystal ball and begins a detailed sweep of the upper levels filling in a comprehensive map of the top two dungeon levels. As he expends his psionic reserve sweeping the halls…they trade in other party members to fill in the blanks and switch out. They complete a sweep of the third level for the Theory wing in the meanwhile.

The following morning sees a repeat of their cartography and scavenger hunting as they sweep level four of Theory and flesh out what has been the goblins base of operation. There is a fifth level that is blocked off by psionic gate which they eagerly unlock, and open…only to find a second gate. The increasingly familiar telepathic voice once again enters their minds.

“Access to Quarantine Zone established. Please Elicit coded entry response sequence. You have ten seconds to comply”

Dis Pater: Everyone run!

The group scatters away from the second gate expecting Frank-Eye-Dragonstein to pop up (my name for it) and are grossly disappointed when ten seconds pass and nothing seems to happen. A band of illumination springs from the ceiling and for lack of a better description…it scans the PC group…the scan is followed by another telepathic communication.

“Third unauthorized access detected from familiar sentient species…per security protocol Delta Alpha Alpha deploying targeted terminal response”

Doc: Targeted?

The always paranoid and twitchy group forms a circle going back to back as they scan for threats. A high pitched keening rasp issues from the library stacks above them and a black quadrupedal form takes shape mid air. From most outward appearance it looks like a nightmare (demonic fiery horse) only this one seems alien and somehow…shiny? **

The nightmare snorts and stamps it’s hoofs in the air above them. The head turns and sends cascades of light reflecting in all directions from it’s body searing the majority of the group with positive energy. In addition to the sudden sting of healing light…all the casters make Will Saves…and those who fail (Sera and Pluto) find themselves suddenly “missing” HD allotments for their Animate Dead bucket. As the light fades the horse seems to gain in brightness. It stamps it hooves and charges Dis Pater…goring him with horns formed of whitest light and sending him through the air like a rag doll.

The twins having been stung with positive energy counter with their own negative energy channels and watch as the dark energy seems to get vacuumed up by the Lightmare….the glow becomes brighter and its movements seem bolder and quicker. That revelation sends the party into full blown retreat mode as they beat feet and try to flee towards the higher levels.

Mid Run they have the following exchange (all while being plinked with bursts of light and charging gore attacks they can’t outrun.

Seraphim: So it is immune to negative energy and seems to drain it and convert it to added strength…that rules out channeling

Hades: It also shoots focused positive energy along with bursts…so that probably rules out positive energy.

Pluto: It’s fast and hits like a truck, not to mention it just sucked out part of my animate dead pool.

Doc: I’m thinking we have to go straight at it. Toe to Toe.

Seraphim: Too bad we just asphyxiated two of our best “hand to hand” resources.

Hades: Let’s put the zombie/skeleton dragons in it’s face and let Doc and Dis Pater swing away.
That is exactly what they attempt to do and exactly where they fail. The two undead dragons claws and bites pass right through the Light-Mare completely ineffectually.

Seraphim: Well this isn’t going to end well.

**A ways back I alluded to having a “tax collector” show up as recompense for the fact that onyx was not being tracked or required as part of their animate dead churning. I originally intended for it to be a wraith, then I reread On a Pale Horse…and decided Nightmare of Light.

[ImperatorV]

The defenses and guards seemingly specifically targeting the UC's weaknesses and working around their favored tactics makes me wonder if the defense system has some sort of AI that has been examining the trespassers and adapting defenses to fight them better. Would make an interesting plot point.

The "locking dragons in the vault" was definitely head-desk worthy. That's the scariest thing about the UC for me, the relentless opportunism. You can't turn your back on these people for an instant...

[Kaveman26]

The defenses and guards seemingly specifically targeting the UC's weaknesses and working around their favored tactics makes me wonder if the defense system has some sort of AI that has been examining the trespassers and adapting defenses to fight them better. Would make an interesting plot point.

The "locking dragons in the vault" was definitely head-desk worthy. That's the scariest thing about the UC for me, the relentless opportunism. You can't turn your back on these people for an instant...

The "Light-Mare" is absolutely a targeted and specific response. The whole place has levels of security to protect various secrets or threats and as they kept poking the doorbells for secured areas and running away they triggered a tailored counter measure.

The ghost guards are simply coincidence. I had pencilled them in early on design process. I tried to keep a basis for why things are set up the way they are. I wanted a reason for everything and a purpose for everything discovered. As they delve deeper the controls for most events are getting tougher. They are past the observational areas and getting into the real heart of the structure.

[GorinichSerpant]

The defenses and guards seemingly specifically targeting the UC's weaknesses and working around their favored tactics makes me wonder if the defense system has some sort of AI that has been examining the trespassers and adapting defenses to fight them better. Would make an interesting plot point.

The "locking dragons in the vault" was definitely head-desk worthy. That's the scariest thing about the UC for me, the relentless opportunism. You can't turn your back on these people for an instant...

I think there are probably multiple defence systems designed for different threats. Lightmare in case of undead, chaos beings in case of lawful outsiders and visa versa, salt golems in case of slug people, and so forth.

[DireSickFish]

So did they seriously just kill 2 dragons by closing a door? And now they have the corpses for there undead army and all of the dragon treasure they've been freely giving up till now? Or have they just closed the door and haven't checked to see if they're dead yet?

[Kaveman26]

So did they seriously just kill 2 dragons by closing a door? And now they have the corpses for there undead army and all of the dragon treasure they've been freely giving up till now? Or have they just closed the door and haven't checked to see if they're dead yet?

They closed them in an airtight room, and have not yet checked them for expiration. Barring massive ex machina or metaphorical divine intervention they are toast.

[Honest Tiefling]

They closed them in an airtight room, and have not yet checked them for expiration. Barring massive ex machina or metaphorical divine intervention they are toast.

What about a ring of sustenance? Seems like something this dungeon might stock up on...Or be a part of an adventurer's loot.

[Kaveman26]

What about a ring of sustenance? Seems like something this dungeon might stock up on...Or be a part of an adventurer's loot.

Yeah, that is the sort of thing I could have "slid in" to save them from an ignoble demise, but that also feels like cheating. I am still catching up on summarizing a lot of what we did some time ago so I will leave a little spoiler below, because they actually don't come back to the vault or the dragons for a surprisingly long time.

Spoiler: Future Events Detailed Below. Nothing huge but still a spoiler if you want to find out as it happens.

They do eventually come back to the vault's and pop the seal half expecting the dragon's to have a cheesed some manner of surviving. They find both dragons dead...and the vast majority of the treasure left inside melted. They are a bit bummed to find their investment didn't pan out. I don't have my notes with me, but I think it was Azzie that basically said they were treating the dragon as safe deposit boxes. But as an act of defiance and kind of a middle finger Onyx acid washed the majority of goodies into slag before expiring.

[DireSickFish]

Okay that seems like a good way to handle it. They legit out maneuvered you and deserved that win. I was going to speculate that any shenanigans with the dragons would come in the form of others outside finding out about the dragons or being there when it was opened. I was just confused if they'd opened it back up or not because you talk about Seraphim having dragon zombies to throw at the "Light-mare".

Edit: Spoiler tagged.

[The Bandicoot]

I believe the dragon zombies were made from the previous dragons that died.

[Traab]

I so totally called the locking them in a vault theory. Im starting to think that if I understood the rules better I would make an excellent addition to this maddening party of yours. :smalltongue:

[Chimmon]

Shouldn't all of Icy's children done something? She had a horde of them, and I'm assuming that most of them wouldn't have been in the vault itself. They aren't very strong individually, but they were clearly super loyal to their mom, and they're still dragons. (Or half-dragon spider thingys.)

[Traab]

Shouldn't all of Icy's children done something? She had a horde of them, and I'm assuming that most of them wouldn't have been in the vault itself. They aren't very strong individually, but they were clearly super loyal to their mom, and they're still dragons. (Or half-dragon spider thingys.)

That has possibilities, but for one I doubt she is surrounded by them at all times. Secondly, having her swarm of babies nearby her fellow dragon could get dangerous. Thirdly, they may still do something, but without mama around to create the webs they can use as cover they are tiny little creatures easily obliterated by an aoe type spell. It could still get ugly though.

[Kaveman26]

Shouldn't all of Icy's children done something? She had a horde of them, and I'm assuming that most of them wouldn't have been in the vault itself. They aren't very strong individually, but they were clearly super loyal to their mom, and they're still dragons. (Or half-dragon spider thingys.)

They definately still have a part to play

[Kaveman26]

Turning the Tables:

The Lightmare emits another positive energy burst, this one far more potent and damaging, and the glow it has accumulated seems to fade. The positive energy does actually heal Azzie,Doc and Seraphim who don’t have a natural affinity for negative energy. As a result the twins and Dis Pater fall back to heal each other. Doc gets directly into the Lightmare’s face and starts swinging away. Azzie starts dropping buff spells on the Orc and Seraphim begins putting heal spells on him to compensate for the physical attacks coming from the Lightmare.

Doc: Now would be a great time for my goblin tribe to get off their asses and help.

Unfortunately the tribe has retreated based on the sudden appearance of this opponent.

Doc starts dishing out some strong damage and with caster support he is staying upright, but the Lightmare is hitting hard and not missing. As the twins and Dis Pater continue to fall back in an attempt to grab some frost giant or NPC support the Lightmare suddenly changes gears and bull rushes Doc over and then charges directly at Hades who is the furthest away.

Seraphim: Pluto try to turn it.

Pluto: I am not exactly built to grab the bull by it horns in an effort to turn it.

Seraphim: No Turn it…I.E. Turn Undead.

Pluto: I don’t turn I control and command.

Seraphim: Right…but this is not exactly undead, it’s like an anti undead. You may be able to rebuke it and force it back.

The twins make an attempt to turn the Lightmare and fail miserably. It continues to attack them without hesitation or delay. Doc manages to land a big critical that seems to shatter the metallic outer skin of the horse and it drops to a single knee, then all light from inside it vanishes and it seems to disappear just as fast as it appeared.

Everyone pauses to take a deep breath and they immediately begin triaging their wounds. They huddle up and The twins trigger their clerical domain ability to make everyone benefit from negative energy healing, and they both drop channels…the spells have no effect. It is as if the negative energy simply evaporates…or as they quite quickly find out…

Doc: The Horse is reforming. I see it hanging in the air.

Seraphim: Yep…I see it too. Let’s get out of here.

As the group bugs out back towards the vault room the apparition of the Lightmare follows with them. Enough time passes for the domain ability to expire and this time they attempt to use a positive cure spell on Doc…this spell also dissipates and the apparition grows stronger.

Now they are really getting flustered. A quick count amongst the group tallies the amount of “vault” opens they can trigger for the smaller doors. Group total is 4

Hades: Alright…we all huddle up in a vault and position ourselves so the horse is on the outside. Close the door and try to recover and buff up. If it somehow follows us in we open the door and then split into two groups. Whichever one it follows waits five minutes for the other group to buff and heal and then we reopen.

Azzie: How we goin ta split up? Doc has had the best luck so far. I got me spontaneous heals...

Dis Pater: We put me and the twins as one group and you with Doc and Seraphim as the second.

They all assemble inside a smaller vault and ensure the appiration of the Lightmare is on the outside then close the door. As soon as the door slams shut the Lightmare now seems to be inside with them.

Hades: Gack….open it and split up

They go to Plan B and split the party, with the negative energy aided group inside and Seraphim and company outside. I do make a point that neither side can communicate with the other while it is closed. I then proceed to notify each group that they continue to see the Lightmare.

Without being able to table talk they sense that neither party being freed from the constraints of feeding the thing is a possibility. They stick to the plan and neither side expends spells to buff or heal. They wait the full five minutes and as time passes the looming Lightmare continues to grow brighter. When the vault pops open they immediately query the success from each side.

Frustration at this point is reaching critical mass.

Hades: We need to make it back to the giants and Fritz…we need more physical attacks to come at this thing.

Pluto: I don’t think we are going to be able to make it that far.

Seraphim: We need to try.

As they try to formulate an escape plan a sudden burst of light sees the Lightmare take physical form again and resume its attack against the group. At this point they have Bless,Prayer, Bulls Strength, Haste and Inspire Courage all rolling and with the increases to attack they manage to make a decent physical showing of damage. They manage to shatter the physical form a second time without adding any boosts in the form of energy drain but all three of the animators have lost substantial animate dead slots, and they are in dire straits resource/health wise.

From their best bet they are also still five to ten rounds of full fledged retreat from reaching a shouting distance for any kind of back up or reinforcement.

Seraphim drops first…she takes a charging gore attack that knocks her out and as she falls down completely lights out, her body disappears and they see a reflection of her from within the Lightmare.
Azzie goes next and the same thing is repeated.

The rest in essence give up and see themselves knocked senseless and brought captive to within the confines of the Lightmare. From it’s interior it feels to them as if they are now disembodied voices stuck within a box. They can see out and hear things but they have no sense of their physical bodies or forms.

Seraphim: So our wits are still here, but our physical forms are MiA.

Me: Basically.

Seraphim: I am going to try and jump my mind to one of the undead dragons and try to get it to follow the horse.

The witch manages to slip her soul into the blue dragon zombie and in that shell she follows the now docile Lightmare as it proceeds back to the Prison Block. The Ogre Mage guards come to attention as the Lightmare approaches and from within the cell block the guard captain comes to the gate and turns his ghostly key. He then touches the bars in a particular sequence and a small earth elemental rises from the ground bearing a metallic key which it turns the third lock with. The Lightmare walks through and the three keys are once again locked.

Seraphim parks the dragon skeleton just outside the bars and attempts to jump back to her body. She makes the leap back and forth to confirm that she is able to reach the dragon and then settles back into the Lightmare’s torso.

The guard captain escorts them to a standing Iron Maiden Device and unlocks the door. The Lightmare enters the Iron Maiden and vanishes. The PC’s then find themselves shackled to a wall inside the extra dimensional space of the Iron Maiden. A humanoid figure with multiple tentacles dangling from it’s face takes form as a ghost inside the prison cell and walks to a desk where it begins making notations with a spectral quill and ink pot.

Jailor: Prisoners are alert and sentient. All appear to be humanoid and from several species. Each registers a degree of mental ability and training consistent with exposure to crystalline test material.
Captivity triggered in conjunction with three violations of security protocol.

The Jailor then approaches each PC and seems to insert it’s tentacles into each PC’s head. A blinding agonizing pain accompanies the invasion and each search lasts a mere seconds. It repeats this process with each prisoner.

Jailor: Prisoners are categorized as danger level 3, and will be contained for future observation based on Automation Protocol Whisky Whisky Delta.

Seraphim: Can u talk to us?

No response

Seraphim mentally thinks “Can you talk to us?”

The Jailor turns and seems to rub it’s forehead with a tentacle.

Jailor: Prisoner 6 has solicited telepathic response of her own accord. Automation Protocol Whisky Whisky Capa instructs manual mode allotted.

The Jailor seems to shake violently and a drastic change comes over it’s eyes. A sudden predatory and blatantly furious gaze replaces the sleepy apathy previously exhibited. With shocking speed and brutality it grabs Seraphim’s hair in both hands and all of it’s tentacles visciously grasp at the internal elements of her skull. Her screams echo for what feels like miles. And she falls limp in her shackles.

Jailor: Six Thousand years…or close enough.

Hades: Six thousand years for what?

Jailor: Since the stasis was triggered.

Hades: How can you possibly glean something from her mind which she herself does not know.

Jailor: The stars do not lie

Pluto: We determined something along those lines occurred, and know it is failing.

The Jailor looks himself over and issues a bubbly gurgling laugh from it’s tentacles.

Jailor: I suppose it is a good thing I am already dead then.

Dis Pater: So you weren’t dead before?

Jailor: No, I suppose that I was deemed more valuable undead than in stasis. From your memories and thoughts I detect that you have only a vague understanding of our home. Seeing as how Volcanus is neigh unto free I suppose I may as well share with you the truth. Manual control of my thoughts and mind is likely going to be limited. After that, I doubt there will be much of anything left.

I was once called Ri-An, I was born to the most powerful race known to history. We called ourselves the Illithid. Our knowledge and power spanned multiple worlds and a plentitude of dimensions. We culled out all those who may one day develop the capability to challenge us. In time we grew bored, and distant. Existence lost purpose and we searched ever further, ever deeper for something more. This place that you call dungeon we called home. It was our ship, our city, our cultural landmark. We sailed through the stars in place of oceans and came to this planet. Our kind had been here before…now devolved into a crude mockery our greatest heritage. We collected specimens of interest that we placed into Stasis for transport. We located specimens that bore enough potential to merit further research, those we isolated into a higher security prison block. We expanded the exterior of our ship to emulate a dungeon, a structure that the denizens of this backwater planetoid found too enticing to bypass or question. We discovered that there was no need to place rats in a maze…in this world the rats flocked to mazes in search of cheese.

We progressed rapidly and efficiently. Nothing on this planet had the capacity to challenge our might. The greatest amongst us, known as The Enclave delved deep into the Underdark seeking an answer for the strange radiation that seemed to provide life to the citizens below. They isolated an anomaly, a source of incredible power which they tragically attempted to harvest as a means of expanding our vessel’s propulsion. It worked magnificently. They heralded it as a monumental advancement, an achievement to match those of our ancestors. All they proclaimed it to be was false, it was our doom.

Visions subverted minds honed to a razor’s edge of power. Twisted perversions of pure thoughts corrupted the Enclave and their once iron will and indomitable mental strength crumbled.

What began as a research project, an archaeology experiment so to speak, morphed into an extermination exercise. The Enclave began warping the flora and fauna of this world. They adapted the lifeforms for added destructive capability. They enhanced already dangerous creatures to rapidly evolve into far more potent forms. No end was in sight.

And then came Volcanus. A being of such destructive force and unstoppable malice that even the Enclave put into place a series of safeguards unlike that which could be imagined. Life for us changed the day Volcanus came into being. Suddenly we lost contact with the Enclave, whole systems of the vessel went dead and communication between minds was lost. We received a final series of protocols…directions with the weight of the full enclave, unbreakable instructions. Then nothingness.

I awaken millennia later as a ghost with you six in a prison cell and only the knowledge that somehow Volcanus has accessed a level of freedom.

Azzie: Wat is this Volcanus?

Ri-An: I am not permitted to discuss the nature of it’s physical being. I can say that Volcanus must not be fully free or we would all be dead. I don’t know the details of it’s security safeguards, but I know they were extensive.

Dis Pater: Can you get us out of these shackles?

Ri-An: With ease. I could grant you freedom through the whole prison block if I deemed it worthwhile, it means little. You will not be able to leave the block. The mental key can be turned from the interior or exterior of the block. The physical key must be turned from the exterior and the spectral key must be turned from the interior. You are safer inside than out. The automated systems of this ship have identified you as a threat and that has resulted in a targeted construct whose only purpose is your capture or destruction. Capture is preferred to elimination, but should you actually succeed in leaving it will destroy you.

Seraphim: can you tell us anything about it?

Ri-An: I would love to. It amuses me to see what design the ship created for your capture. Designation: Lightmare. It is a golem forged from an onyx hybrid material, this enables it to interfere and subvert your necromantic energies from animation to self preservation for itself. It was also forged with elements of a rod of absorption. Negative energy released in it’s vicinity can be converted to a stored reserve to bolster either it’s physical prowess or dispersed as an energy weapon. It also benefits from golem status in that positive energy serves to charge its reserves and repair physical damage. Should you manage to destroy the physical form it will take on an ethereal quality and convert your stored animation slots to reanimate it’s physical form. It will exist so long as you live.

Hades: What about the guard captain? Will he stop us from leaving this cell?

Ri-An: Once I finish processing you yes. You will be registered as a categorized threat in need of containment. Until I finish that process then no, provided you don’t attempt to leave the block you will basically be ignored.

Seraphim: It sounds like you are willing to avoid finishing the paperwork so to speak?

Ri-An: I could care less about you or this planet. I am already dead. Let it burn and crumble. If I can manage to throw a cog into the wheels of those I used to call brother and friend then so be it. If my last days are to be spent as a ghost then let them be used to irritate those who screwed me over.

Pluto: Can you explain why the exterior doors into the ship only open for one hour each 30 days? Is there a way to override that?

Ri-An: Yes, we designed it intentionally to function like that. Acts as a means to prevent excess intrusion and to bait curiousity.

As the ghost illthid speaks a mental projection of the Frank Eye Dragonstein appears.

Ri-An: This is the cleaning crew. If the ship detects an excess of activity or meets certain criteria then this specimen is released as a cleaning mechanism. It sweeps the hallways and reduces all non essential matter to nothingness. It also functions as a fail safe to protect important knowledge. I helped design it myself.

Seraphim: Here is the golden goose question. With all these security protocols and settings how can we move about the ship without setting off alarms and triggering more targeted responses?

Ri-An: IF you manage to escape the block. IF you manage to somehow neutralize the Lightmare. IF you manage to disable the Beholder. IF you manage to do these things then there is a central hub beneath us that connects the various wings together. An instruction manual and control board is localized there with details on how to turn off or securely access most locations in this section.

The sudden influx of exposition and plot development leaves them fairly rocked. It is an awful lot to process in a sudden span and we take a break of sorts while they confer. When they come back it is with several specific questions.

Seraphim: The Lightmare comes for us until we are dead correct? After we are dead it stops?

Ri-An: With it’s purpose fulfilled it will be removed by the ship. It’s purpose is your capture and destruction.

Seraphim: So if we are categorized as official prisoners then it will be deleted?

Ri-An: Yes.

Seraphim: But if we are categorized as official prisoners then movement in the block is prevented.

Ri-An: Yes.

Hades: So if we avoid finishing the paperwork then we get movement in the block, but can’t leave.

Dis Pater: What can you tell us about Lau-Rain? The vampire designated level 9?

Ri-An: Forgive me if I seem out of sorts. Your language is confusing to translate into. Lau is a vampire and by all standards a complete brute. He exists for carnage and domination. When we located him a third of the known world was held in his sway. His bloodlust and desire for subjugation transcended the ambition of all warlords previously encountered. His original species was Nagaji, like your comrade here. We initially designed his prison cell to hold him in stasis, but his will was robust for a non illithid. Enough so that the Enclave created a demi plane of existence to house him. The drive for battle was strong enough to prevent a clean imprisonment so they stuck him into a specially created demi plane where he could marude in peace. I have no idea how he has perceived the passage of time.

Doc: You are really going to follow through on this aren’t you?

Seraphim: I think we need to take a vote first. Who is in?

Azzie: Im in.

Hades: Yes

Pluto: Yes

Dis Pater: Was going to say no, but if he is Nagaji I am willing to try.

Doc: I think it’s a mistake but I am going to make that mistake by your sides.

Seraphim: Ok. Then we are agreed. Ri-An we need you to lose our imprisonment paperwork for now.

Ri-An: What are you going to do?

Seraphim: Well we talked it over and decided that we need to go get ourselves killed. So could you unlock Lau-Rain’s cell please?

[Traab]

Oh man, did they even notice they were categorized as level 3 threat and are about to possibly pick a fight with a level 9? I mean, maybe they think they can make (yet another) deal with it, but that doesnt sound likely. It sounds even less likely they can take it over considering the description of how powerful it is, and its personality of pure brute with a penchant for domination. I cant wait to see where this goes from here. The campaign just gets crazier and crazier as time goes on. But at least now they know the history of this place, and have some ideas on where to go and what to do.

That beholder creature sounds an awful lot like one of those optional bosses in video games. Obscenely powerful and nearly impossible to beat, but if you pull it off, you get some badass rewards. Though I do like the "most" qualifier for the locations in the dungeon city ship. I also like the "Uh Oh" of its purpose as a cleaning crew if there is too much activity on board. They uh, they may want to take down the random adventurers when they get the chance. There is no telling how much activity is too much, and they already know a frost giant army is inside or at least approaching. Last thing they want to do is trigger that monstrosity before they are ready for it.

[DireSickFish]

I'd be a lot less confused about there plan if I didn't know Raise Dead and such are banned in your games. I'm also not aware of a way to bring them all back as undead. Looking forward to what sort of plan they have in the works.

[Jacob.Tyr]

I'd be a lot less confused about there plan if I didn't know Raise Dead and such are banned in your games. I'm also not aware of a way to bring them all back as undead. Looking forward to what sort of plan they have in the works.

Seems like they all want to become vampires.

[Traab]

I'd be a lot less confused about there plan if I didn't know Raise Dead and such are banned in your games. I'm also not aware of a way to bring them all back as undead. Looking forward to what sort of plan they have in the works.

But they arent dead. The Lightmare absorbed them somehow and now they are physical again inside some sort of dimensional prison cell. So basically, they have to escape from the cell, which they know how to do considering they got to watch the keys be used and are capable of one of them being outside to use that key.

[DireSickFish]

But they arent dead. The Lightmare absorbed them somehow and now they are physical again inside some sort of dimensional prison cell. So basically, they have to escape from the cell, which they know how to do considering they got to watch the keys be used and are capable of one of them being outside to use that key.

I was thinking the next step of there plan was to die as Seraphim stated. The becoming vampires thing makes a lot of sense. Seems hard to guarantee.

[ImperatorV]

Holy ****. This. This is amazing. Did you think about the possibility of this when you put the vampire in there? I like to think the prison is just packed full of plot hooks and that there are multiple potential ways out. The Illithid Ark would make a great adventure module.

[Kaveman26]

Holy ****. This. This is amazing. Did you think about the possibility of this when you put the vampire in there? I like to think the prison is just packed full of plot hooks and that there are multiple potential ways out. The Illithid Ark would make a great adventure module.

I considered this was a possible course. And yes the prison has many potential hooks or outcomes. The original intent was for several important items to be held by prisoners to prevent collusion.that was before first session when I thought the PCs would be heroes and not the sociopaths that cannibalized the heroes and drank their blood before re animating their corpses. So adjustments were required.

[Red Rubber Band]

That was before first session when I thought the PCs would be heroes and not the sociopaths that cannibalized the heroes and drank their blood before re animating their corpses.

Tsk tsk. You assume way too much :smalltongue:

[Jermz]

Excellent writing, Kaveman26. Do the scenarios play out the way you describe, or do you add a bit of artistic embellishment? If not, then your players are extremely good at staying in character, though they do have a penchant to metagame slightly.



Tsk tsk. You assume way too much :smalltongue:

You obviously know what happens when you assume, right?

[Kaveman26]

I try to organize things a bit more coherently and remove side chatter along with things like exact numbers. I used to include a lot more stats etc but I tend to think that I got too bogged down in it.

[Kaveman26]

Cult Following:

Now I realize that Seraphim has to this point basically been a vampire without the specials. She has made it a point to harvest blood and cannibalize just about everything located so far. I get their line of questioning that if they are all undead then the Lightmare’s purpose is completed and they can leave unfettered. I also recognize that leaving a vampire as bait is something that is going to draw bites. I wanted to put warnings in place such as the danger level and a chunk of exposition detailing the carnage caused by Lau-Rain with hopes that it would temper wilder notions of subjugating said vampire.

So it is by no means a surprise that they are working towards entering the vampire’s prison with what I figure are aspirations towards either becoming vampires themselves or controlling the vampire held within. As is typical I know where they are heading, but the direction they take is where I generally lose the path.

Ri-An affirms that he is able to make accessible Lau-Rain’s prison, but that he can’t do anything to actually free the vampire. He can get them in and out, but the vampire is held inside by added safeguards that he can’t circumvent. He also warns them that the prison was built uniquely for the vampire.

The whole group takes advantage of their prisoner status and isolation to recuperate and put themselves back together. Without any pre knowledge of what they are facing they prep a more generalized spell line up and decide to move with caution. They slip free from their cell and proceed to the back section of the prison where the higher security guests are restrained. They find Lau Rain’s Iron Maiden door and follow the instructions provided by Ri-An. A series of specific taps and mental command opens the door and allows them access. Inside the Maiden is a swirling vortex of stars and darkness that they step into…

…They are transported to a world of permanent twilight that for all intents and purposes is a graveyard without end. For as far as the eye can see charnel heaps of dead bodies form ever shifting mountains of corpses in various states of decay. The air is thick with bloated flies and the rancid smell of decomposition. From the distance sounds a pitched battle are loud and clear.

The group picks their way through the valleys of dead bodies and eventually come to a clear sight of an open valley leading to a stronghold. A massive army of orcs,goblins, and kobolds is laying siege to a fortified squat fortress. Visible from a great distance is a 12 foot tall Nagaji who is quite literally tearing apart attackers with his bare hands. From their vantage point the Nagaji is a spectacle of dismemberment, he wildly and gleefully rends and tears the flesh of enemies scaling his walls and frequently pauses to sink elongated fangs into arteries and throats taking in great gouts of blood before discarding the tattered husks of dead humanoids.

Seraphim: He seems to be enjoying himself at least.
Hades: That is one way of putting it.

They are content to observe for a time and watch as the invaders will is broken, in short order the hordes break and flee. As they retreat the Nagaji sallies forth from the fortress with a entourage of fellow Nagaji and a group of trolls. The much smaller force (maybe 20 in total) harries their attackers and takes a heavy toll on the drastically undermatched foes.

Once the orc horde has been routed and their cohesion fully shattered the Nagaji and his troll riders all return to their stronghold where they immediately begin affecting repairs to the damaged elements of the structure. Within minutes a new host of gnolls, hobogoblins and bugbears all mass from the edge of the valley where the orcs just fled and begin to charge the fortress.

Fascinated they watch as the second invasion is repelled and routed.

Doc: Did you see what I just saw?

Seraphim: What’s that?

Doc: I watched the gnolls fleeing and as soon as they broke line of sight they vanished, only the dead remained.

They continue to observe as a third wave fueled by ogres, and hill giants meets a similar fate. With the third wave extinguished the vampire congratulates his troll minions who then promptly vanish. He then plops down cross legged amidst the wreckage and seems to meditate.

Azzie: Well this is freaking weird. How long you fink he’s been at this?

Seraphim: Let’s go ask him…

The witch takes impromptu point position and marches directly towards the warlord. He becomes aware of them remarkably quickly and seems genuinely baffled by their arrival.

Lau-Rain: Mind must be slipping on me, I don’t remember thinking up anything else for today.

Seraphim: Hello there. We are actually from beyond the prison.

Lau-Rain: Beyond? Is such a place even still real?

Seraphim: Absolutely.

Lau-Rain: Well make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to indulge come morning when I think up a new fight.

Hades: So…you just think about an invading army and poof there they are?

Lau-Rain: handy don’t you think?

Hades: If you like being attacked I guess

Lau-Rain: Battle…almost makes me feel alive again. I have fought against that same three stage invasion more than 3,000 times now. I have beaten them in the midst of a hurricane, in the middle of a blizzard. From low ground, from high ground, from even ground. I have seized this fortress and defended against numbers a thousand times greater than what you witnessed. I have relived this battle in every conceivable variation I can muster. I have conquered with trolls, dragons, kobolds, and everything else you can imagine. I fought wars enough for a hundred lifetimes.

Dis Pater: Doesn’t that ever get old?

The vampire focuses on Dis Pater and then shakes his head as if to clear the cobwebs.

Lau-Rain: You look to be kindred. Have not seen a real member of my race in ages. You seem smaller than I remember.

Dis Pater: You are quite a bit larger than anyone else I have seen that shares our bloodline.

Lau-Rain: No matter. Why are you here?

Seraphim: Well we wanted to help free you.

Lau-Rain: I am content where I am. Maybe in another seven thousand years or so.

Seraphim: Well failing that we were hoping that you could share your gift with us.

Lau-Rain: You want me to drain you and raise you as vampires? Suppose you would want me to make you free willed and more than thralls too right?

Seraphim: That would be fantastic.

Lau-Rain: Not interested. Already got me three thralls. Can’t stretch myself any thinner.

Pluto: Three that are here?

Lau-Rain: No…enemies. A general that resisted invasion. A sorcerer that tried to stop me from taking his territory and a priest that tried to “redeem my soul”. I turned them each and then locked them into their own coffins to rot for all eternity. I keep my word and I don’t mean to free them.

Doc: Turns out that we have some enemies of our own that want to lock us up. I would prefer to die fighting than rotting in a cell.

Lau-Rain: Well said.

Doc: The same sods that imprisoned you imprisoned us.

Lau-Rain: Ha! Squid faces took you captive did they? Last real challenge I can remember came from them.

Doc: Any advice on how to come at them?

Lau-Rain: Yes. They fight from their minds. Mess with your thoughts and your will. Their tricks didn’t work too well against me and I was able to take two of their heads for that arrogance. You got to be direct…

Doc: Like an axe to the fight direct.

Lau-Rain: Hell yes.

Dis Pater: Too bad the one who managed to take some heads is too much of a chicken s**t p**sy to do anything about it other than sitting on his ass playing kids games.

Lau-Rain: You can’t goad me little brother. I don’t care what you think or what you want. You are meaningless to me.

Azzie: Didn’t fink we could piss you off that easy. It’s fine though, come on mates. Let’s leave the level 9 to his little imaginary soldiers, we probably need to go after the level 10, you know the one that made them piss in their pants instead of the mosquito.

Lau-Rain lets out a very soft hiss and his nonchalance seems to be cracked…there is now a sway to his movements.

Lau-Rain: They fear something more than me?

Azzie: Yeah, you they put into a little fantasy land like you would to keep your kid occupied. Him, they rebuilt the whole freaking place just to contain it. You are second rate mate.

Lau-Rain: They have the audacity to think me some second rate bandit? I will wash the floors with their blood and roast their entrails.

Seraphim: That’s the spirit.

Lau-Rain turns to the group and is clearly perturbed but still in control. He surveys them all and pauses.

Lau-Rain: You have persuaded me to abandon my revelry and return to the world true. However, I can’t have you by my side until you have proved yourselves.

Hades: We are always eager to prove our worth. Who do we have to kill?

Lau-Rain: Well for starters, everything that I vanquished today will return for you on the morrow. If you survive the onslaught of all three armies then I shall exit this place by your side and lead you in warfare against the squid-faced bastards.

Pluto: That is for starters, what is the finish?

Lau-Rain: If you stand triumphant, one of you must fall as a symbol of your commitment and surrender. I will let you decide amongst yourselves who is to die and be sacrificed. That is the price I command.

Seraphim: Do you mean raised as a vampire?

Lau-Rain: No. Left for dead for the maggots and carrion, just another nameless corpse amongst the fallen of this place. But look on the bright side, I will let you pick who must die.

[Aldurin]

Finally, someone demands a price that they (probably) can't cheat around.

[Lord of Shadows]

True, but somehow I doubt that anyone will actually be left behind, even if (or especially if) they are "dead." This bunch relies too much on recycling to let that happen.
.

[ImperatorV]

The people who have psionics come back as intelligent undead when re-animated right? Maybe one of the party members won't mind being a skeleton? The only other thing I could think of is screwing over the vampire, but that seems like it wouldn't end well.

[Traab]

Well this is an interesting setup. The vamp is WAY friendlier than I expected him to be. Makes me wonder how much of it is an act. Also makes me wonder if the person who sacrifices themself will be taking control of the vamp instead of it being a dmpc? That could be pretty awesome. Also, would vamp boy be able to roflstomp the lightmare?

[ImperatorV]

Well this is an interesting setup. The vamp is WAY friendlier than I expected him to be. Makes me wonder how much of it is an act. Also makes me wonder if the person who sacrifices themself will be taking control of the vamp instead of it being a dmpc? That could be pretty awesome. Also, would vamp boy be able to roflstomp the lightmare?

He could probably break it's physical form pretty quick, but it'd still respawn.

[CrispyCriminal]

Hmm, either he is sadistic and actually means the price for surrender and commitment...or an actual corpse needs to be present for him to be able to leave with them.

[Kaveman26]

Man Down:

I at least gave them pause. The prospect of someone being sacrificed had them at least reconsidering the prospect of using the vampire as a potential resource. True to form they didn’t exactly back off but they did make a counter offer.

Seraphim: If we agree to your challenge and agree to the sacrifice we expect in return a commitment that one of us is transformed into a free willed vampire. That is our stipulation for meeting your request.

Lau-Rain: I don’t think you understand. This is not an offer. I am stating simply what will be. You come into my domain, interrupt my enjoyable research and insult me. You belittle my status and demean my triumphs as being second rate to some trumped up threat that is supposed to make me something lesser than an ultimate terror. You also deem yourselves worthy enough to outright ask for the gift of undeath and the power that comes from it as you have somehow done something worth my attention of praise. You will answer the challenge I have laid out and either you will rise above the horde or fall to their blades. If you survive I will claim one of you as tribute. Either you all die or one dies. There is no middle ground. You have ten hours to make yourselves ready.

Without a further word on the matter Lau-Rain stalks to the prison entry point and plops himself down crossed legged in front of the door and again returns to meditating.

Seraphim: Think we can take him in a fight?

Doc: How many times did he attack per round?

Dis Pater: At least 4 per round. Maybe more.

Doc: So let’s assume he is at least level 16. Could be higher, may be lower with haste or speed effect but likely 16 or higher. He has more experience in warfare than any individual in history and he is enormous for his race. The race of psionic spacefarering interdimensional travelers rates him a 9 on a scale of 10. I am guessing in a straight up fight we are toast.

Seraphim: Could try to command him or control him.

Hades: He has bonuses to resist said control, and would get a new save every day. Assuming one of lucks into a natural 20 that MAY not be enough. And if we do luck out for a day that doesn’t mean we luck out tomorrow. As a last resort worth a roll of the dice to see if can bug out before someone dies.

Seraphim: We can try a final roll of the dice when everything else fails. What else can we do? We don’t need to destroy the vampire, we just need to give him enough incentive to not kill us.

Azzie: I thought we wanted to die? Get Turned.

Seraphim: That seems like it ain’t happening. Nor is simply walking out.

Doc: What if it’s a bluff? We beat the challenge and he just wants to check our commitment and dosen’t actually off one of us.

Hades: Also something we can hope for but can’t count on.

Pluto: We go after his coffin then. There has to be a coffin somewhere in here. We can hold that as leverage. If he gets reduced to gas and can’t get back to his coffin then it’s game over. Hostage exchange…coffin for exit.

Dis Pater: That is something we can locate before we are swarmed. Once again feel like it’s best to hold off on it though.

Seraphim: Well we can’t hold off on everything.

Hades: Right, but we also can’t do a whole lot else other than what he is commanding. We kind of painted ourselves into a corner here.

Azzie: Could stampede. We raise as many of these undead as possible and blend in with the herd…then run for the door and try to get through in the press.

Seraphim: That might work. He can only stop so many at once. Sheer mass could win out.
From their conference comes the following plan:

1. Fill every undead slot with as many ogre/troll/giant skeletons as possible from the heaps of dead creatures.
2. Locate the Vampire warrior’s coffin to be held as ransom
3. Try to stampede way through the exit. If 3 fails proceed to 4
4. Fight the Challenge and hope he is bluffing.
5. Try to hostage exchange coffin for freedom
6. Roll the Dice to take control of him through command undead and then bug out.
7. Choose a party member to sacrifice if he hasn’t slaughtered the entire party already.

The first step is satisfied with ease. There are mountains of corpses and they reanimate an army of skeletons. Without hesitation they throw up a few hasty buff spells and then send the entire force straight at the vampire.

Lau-Rain barely even opens an eye and the entire doorway leading out is blocked by a wall of stone.

Hades: Well, when he said he could think up armies and weather I guess it makes sense that he can extend that to just about anything else he needs too.

Seraphim: Great not only is he a world class warrior and giant vampire but also freaking Neo.

They proceed to step 2, where in they scour the fortress for access to his coffin. After several hours of searching a very pedestrian and basic stronghold they give up on leveraging a coffin for ransom.

Seraphim: Well I guess we are on to step four…fight to survive against the horde.

I am going to gloss over this step by simply saying that they trivialize the greater majority of what should be a nail biter of attrition. With well over 100HD of healable undead and swathes of AoE damage they hold their defensible position and simply repel the invasion forces. The third wave of ogres and giant presses hard, but with every giant felled simply creating a new ally for them to reanimate it is quickly washed away.

The vampire is waiting for them as the final stragglers vanish. Likewise so does their remaining horde and all the dead piles.

Lau-Rain: Clumsy but effective. I liked your attempt at escape, futile but clever. So tell me, who do I get to sate my thirst upon? The taste of real blood has me anxiously awaiting.

I request that they pick blind. Each party member places a name on a piece of index card and turns it in blind to what anyone else picks.

Seraphim chooses Doc…
Hades chooses Dis Pater
Pluto chooses Dis Pater
Dis Pater chooses Seraphim
Doc chooses Seraphim
Azzie chooses Hades

Lau-Rain seems intrigued by the selections and an anticipatory grin spreads across his face revealing the elongated canine teeth he is so eager to utilize.

Lau-Rain: Fascinating. I wonder if you would prefer to know who picked whom.

Sera,Hades, and Pluto all throw their best shot at taking ownership of the vampire and each rolls reasonably well but no one throw the 20 they were hoping for. The vampire for his part grows steadily angrier as the magical attempts to take his freedom crash against the cliffs of will and break like waves on an ocean.

He crumbles the parchment bearing the names and the predator they initially witnessed upon entering has returned. As he prepares himself to leap everyone just kind of grimaces at the table.

Dis Pater: Wait. I volunteer.

All: huh?

Dis Pater: I volunteer. Take me as your tribute. I would rather die at the hands of kin then see a comrade be drained. I only pray that I return from beyond to haunt you for the rest of my days.

Lau-Rain: Admirable…defending your allies and seeking to take their stead. I appreciate courage and would hate to see such courage stamped out.

A slight sigh of relief escapes the table…

Lau-Rain: But I follow through on my word and one must die.

The vampire leaps with supernatural speed and proceeds to tear out Dis Pater’s throat nearly taking his head off in a single furious assault.

In shock they watch him drain Dis Pater to the brink…then with an agonizing twist he snaps the anti-paladin’s neck and kills him before the last drop that would signal vampirehood is spilled. With a mental command he incinerates the body and sears away all but scraps of bone and the plate armor that holds it in place.

We end session there.

Going on vacation. Nothing to follow for at least a week or so.

[The Bandicoot]

I had a very strong feeling it'd be Dispater as soon as I heard one must die.

[Gilphon]

Well that's quite the cliffhanger.

Anyone else getting the sense that there's discord brewing between Sera and Doc? What with the thing with goblins, and how they voted for each other while everyone else was voting strategically?

[Traab]

Wow, so if I understand this properly, The vamp killed Dis in such a way that its not possible to even reanimate him as some form of intelligent undead? That sucks. Still though, I wonder if The player will get to take him over or if he will remain a dmpc? I honestly wonder where things will go from here, because for all intents and purposes, the vamp is in charge if he so chooses. They cant beat him, they cant stop him, and they have no way to control him reliably.

[Aldurin]

Wow, so if I understand this properly, The vamp killed Dis in such a way that its not possible to even reanimate him as some form of intelligent undead? That sucks. Still though, I wonder if The player will get to take him over or if he will remain a dmpc? I honestly wonder where things will go from here, because for all intents and purposes, the vamp is in charge if he so chooses. They cant beat him, they cant stop him, and they have no way to control him reliably.

I really doubt that the vampire will become the new PC given the power gap between it and the rest of the party. Since they are in the prison area, they probably get to break out a new PC that is somewhere lower on the threat assessment.

[Traab]

I really doubt that the vampire will become the new PC given the power gap between it and the rest of the party. Since they are in the prison area, they probably get to break out a new PC that is somewhere lower on the threat assessment.

Hmm, i think they did mention earlier trying their luck with a weaker target first. Once they take care of the prison area, they could easily break out someone like that. Nice. Im sure they can pick and choose between a few level 2-4 danger targets. Im just wondering how the thing with the vampire will work. Will he basically say, "Thanks chumps!" And go hunting for a way to kill that level 10 threat? Will he hang out with them and help them whup some monster buttocks for loot and glory? Will he basically take over with a "do what I say or join your buddy in permanent death"?

Back to the prisoner thing, hmm, that gives us lots of options. What class will he "just happen" to be that works out great for their party? I imagine motivation will be simple. "I want vengeance against those worm faced bastards that locked me up! And loot!"

[lprekon]

Kaveman, I have but one humble request: Can we get a map? I would love to be able to see all this territory they're skulking through. It would be the cherry on top of on of THE BEST journals I've ever read.

[Jonagel]

I second everything lprekon says --- though I'm not sure which of your journals is the best journal I've read...maybe The Big One?

[NRSASD]

Bit late on the over/under thing, but I'm betting over 3. And Seraphim offs Doc

[CrispyCriminal]

Curious, did you get the idea of a crystal ball surveillance system from the 'The Little Big-One' campaign and it's own scrying system? And on the subject of The Big One, I only now realize Kemen Sarn is essentially Edward Elric (complete with his own suit of sentient armor), except more clever, and more bearded.

But I digress, I do not see our soon to be vampires coming out of this without a big hitch from their new ally (and I don't just mean thralldom).

[Kaveman26]

Kaveman, I have but one humble request: Can we get a map? I would love to be able to see all this territory they're skulking through. It would be the cherry on top of on of THE BEST journals I've ever read.

Yes I will eventually post maps showing the majority of complex.


Curious, did you get the idea of a crystal ball surveillance system from the 'The Little Big-One' campaign and it's own scrying system? And on the subject of The Big One, I only now realize Kemen Sarn is essentially Edward Elric (complete with his own suit of sentient armor), except more clever, and more bearded.

Partially. I mostly wanted to have a mechanism in place to allow researchers to view the upper levels in order to keep up with the theme of an Illithid mothership.

[Kaveman26]

Through And Through.

There is a certain degree of shock over Dis Pater’s sudden and complete destruction. The vampire for his part seems to savor the taste of genuine blood wholly too much for their comfort but in a manner of moments the predator is replaced by the permanently amused façade of someone that seen warfare beyond measure.

Lau-Rain: I suppose it is time to go. You first.

Dazed and confused, they don’t offer any final resistance or swerve and march out of the door in silence. When they assemble in the hallway Hades starts to discuss the possibility of ambush as the vampire emerges but he falls short of finishing the first few sentences.

Everyone is thumbing through character sheets and Seraphim is jotting down idea after idea then scratching them off. Seconds becomes minutes and Lau-Rain still has not exited from his prison.

Seraphim: Is he not coming?

They continue to wait and wait and final the minutes start melting into hours…no Lau-Rain. Eventually they walk back to their cell where the ghost Ri-An has resumed his automated processes. Upon reentry to their cell he spots them and begins to launch into a dialogue about uncategorized prisoners within the block. They are reshackled and he begins the booking process all over again.

Seraphim: We bear critical information on the status of prisoner designation Lau-Rain.

Ri-An stutters in his movements and is snapped from his automated mode again.

Ri-An: You survived? Well at least most of you.

Hades: It did not go as we planned. He is quite lethal.

Ri-An: Well I expected none to survive so you have already surpassed my expectations.

Doc: We just can’t figure out why he isn’t following.

Ri-An: I did say that there were added safeguards in place for his prison.

Everyone kind of pauses for a minute as they realize that was in fact communicated.

Doc: Guess we overlooked that.

Ri-An: Indeed.
Seraphim: So he can’t get out?

Ri-An: I know only there are additional safeguards, not the nature of what those measures entail.

Seraphim: Who would?

Ri-An: I am not permitted to discuss that.

Pluto: Unwilling or unable?

Ri-An: Unable. Location and Specifications for high danger prisoner protocols is strictly prohibited. I am unable to discuss those matters beyond that description.

Hades: Well I think we are back to square one.

Doc: When you register us in the system can you put us into a specific cell?

Ri-An: Yes. I can designate your holding cell as a place other than this room. But why?

Doc: Once we are processed in the system the Lightmare is gone. Put us into the lowest possible security cell and we will bust out and then can walk out.

Pluto: That is actually pretty brilliant.

Seraphim: I think you are on to something here. Follow Up question though: Once we are inside can we escape?

Ri-An: You would have to kill whatever other inhabitants reside in that cell. Once an occupant is confirmed destroyed then the guards come to remove the corpse.

Azzie: We can work with that.

Hades: So what is the lowest danger level cell?

Ri-An: Jaze-Level 1, Designation-Human. Purpose-Cult Leader

Seraphim: OK. So new plan. We intentionally get locked up, kill whoever is inside. Wait for the guards to remove the body and then escape. The Lightmare will deactivate, and then we just have to contend with the guard captain. We dominate or destroy him. Have him trigger the ghost key side, we flip the mental key and then I pop to the undead dragon waiting outside to turn the physical key. What are we overlooking?

Doc: I think we got it covered.

The group forms up outside Jaze’s cell and preps for an immediate insertion/assassination. Upon entry to the Level 1 holding cell they are met with a well decorated and lavishly furnished mansion. The first thing they locate is a pedestal much like the ones found in the museum showroom, it bears Jaze’s name and indicates that he was previously held in stasis at some point.

An exquisitely well dressed older gentleman clad in the finest of linen suits greets them from the top of a staircase. His hair is silver and slightly thinning at the top, he is in remarkably good condition for a human male entering (presumably) his early 60’s. No obvious weapon is held nor is he threatening in any apparent fashion.

Jaze: Visitors. How splendid. Woke up about six months ago in my own house with no means of exiting the front door. I would pay an arm and a leg to find out just how you managed to get inside.

Seraphim: Well there is good news and bad news. The good news is that we can get you out of here. The bad news is that you have to be dead for it to happen.

Jaze: Oh heavens. That simply won’t do.

Hades: I am afraid you don’t get much choice in the matter. We will do our best to make it painless and if it makes you feel any better, I will personally animate you as a skeleton to seek retribution on those who imprisoned you.

Jaze: Hmmm. I suppose the Illithid are formidable. Am I correct to assume they are our captors?
Seraphim: You know of them?

Jaze: Certainly. I feel that perhaps I am the reason for why they had to establish the prison. If we can call it that.

Doc: Would you call it anything else?

Jaze: My dear boy…so naïve. Six thousand years have passed since I left my mark on the world. All notion of what we called civilization is gone. Every enemy I once had is dust. I think of this as more of a day spa with a strict schedule. However…if you do in fact need a dead body to facilitate your own escape I feel it only fair to warn you that the door swings both ways. I need only kill one of you five to open the door for myself.

Azzie: If you just woke up a few months ago, how do you know six fousand years haf passed?

Jaze: Call it a quirk of my heritage, or a flaw in their mental prowess, but I am an exceptionally gifted mind reader and telepath, talented enough to learn a great deal they never intended for anyone else to have access to. I was dangerous enough to require imprisonment, and also unique enough to prevent extermination. So if you want to know where the bodies are buried and how to find the shovels you need me alive.

[Shinji_Ikari]

Kaveman, somehow I stumbled onto this message board and started reading about the exploits of our, uh anti-heros, a couple weeks ago. After laughing my butt of while reading this thread I decided to join the forums here just to encourage you to keep the campaign going, bot in RL and then doing the writeups here.

Thank you for sharing the story.

[Kane0]

I like Jaze already

[Bad Wolf]

Let me guess, Jaze is the new Dis Pater?

[Fable Wright]

Jaze the Mind-Sculptor. Now where have I heard this before?

[Kaveman26]

The Walls Start Closing In:

Seraphim: Let’s assume for a second that I believe you, and that you are on the level. One of us still has to die in order to get out here.

Jaze: That’s the beauty of it chaps. One of us doesn’t have to die…we simply need to be in the process of dying. Rendered unconscious and dying fulfills the requirements of them opening the door to check on our status. A single ghost will be dispatched to check and provided you are able to take control of it, a task I feel you are extremely well suited for, then we shall simply be able to stabilize our decoy and revive them with no ill effect.

Doc: So someone has to volunteer for a near death experience and hope for the best is what you are saying.

Jaze: Spot on. Now that is the simple part. I already know what you are thinking. How do we pick the person to volunteer? Clearly I can’t trust you. I am POSITIVE that if I were on the brink of death I would be pushed directly into the reapers embrace. Clearly you can’t trust me because I could very well be lying. So how do we make this work in a way we are both satisfied with?

Azzie: Well…

Jaze: Hang on there mate. I actually have a proposition I think you will accept. If there is anyone that can be trusted, surely it would be kin? The two dhampir are twins yes? If one of the brothers volunteered knowing his twin was there to assist him then such a risk could be justified.

Hades: Yes, we trust each other implicitly. But what assurance do we have that you won’t try to finish him off before we have a chance to revive him?

Jaze: I will put myself far out of the way if that makes you feel better. I have a lovely parlor and billiards room adjacent to each other. I will await our exodus with three of your group, while you tend to your brother’s condition. Should anything go amiss your retribution can be swift and lethal. Believe me, I want this to work. I would love a chance to get the heck out of here.

The U.C put their heads together and debate whether or not they should simply kill the guy and move on. In the end the chance to gain additional intelligence especially if he has access to protocol and security wins out. Hades and Pluto are steadfast confident that they won’t betray each other and the trio of Doc, Azzie, and Seraphim feels confident they can take someone that is Danger Level 1 in a fight as they were catergorized as a 3.

Hades and Pluto make there way to a billiards room where a resplendent pool table is held up by ornate ironwood legs. The walls are well decorated with various hardwood carvings and there is a liquor cabinet with some marvelously rare blends of cognac and brandy. There are several comfortable couches as well.

Jaze leads the trio into a parlor with a massive granite fireplace, and several antique grandfather clocks that are probably worth more than a vast majority of small houses. Several large armchairs and loveseats line the walls, and a wine rack of epic proportions rests behind a well stocked bar.

Jaze: Can I offer any of you a drink? I have some vintages not seen in millennia.

They all decline the offer.

Jaze makes himself comfortable and persists in idle chat as they await Hades and Pluto.

Hades: Alright. How should I nearly kill you? Never thought to attempt this before.

Pluto: Uhm. Channeling is out, spontaneous inflicts are out. I am not eager to slash wrists and cause con damage or anything. I guess you need to stab me or use scythe.

Hades: I will use dagger, scythe could accidentally crit and drop you.

Hades proceeds to stab his brother who voluntarily takes the attacks without resistance. They wince there way through the first couple of stabs and then I impose Will saves against Pluto. The rational being that survival instincts would be too strong to simply allow yourself to be knifed. They deem that fair enough and Hades eventually has to tie Pluto down to the couch using decorative curtains from the wall in order to bring him below zero. He manages to get Pluto out and bleeding then stabilizes him.

Hades: Alright…he is mostly dead. I have an inflict spell prepped and ready. Let me know we are good to go.

Seraphim ducks her head out of the door and looks down the hallway where the apparition of an ogre ghost is taking form.

Seraphim: I see a guard taking form, he is still a ways off though.

Jaze: Jolly good.

Their host raises his glass and proposes a toast to future good fortunes. No one moves to drink it. Jaze sighs and seems genuinely saddened.

Jaze: You wound my pride.

Seraphim waits for the guard to come within range and attempts to control it, and her attempt has no effect. Not even a roll. Hades attempts the same thing and his attempt fizzles in the same manner. As Hades turns around he sees the couch his half dead brother is currently tied to STAND UP and wrap it’s arms around Pluto’s chest, it starts to constrict and stops just short of cutting off his supply of air. The wood carvings on the wall all animate and come to attention as does the pool table which turns to present the ball return as a now growling mouth.

Meanwhile….

Seraphim turns back to look inside her own room and see the grandfather clocks unhinging their hour and minutes hands and furnishing them like a fencer would rapier and dagger. The fireplace seems to sprout short legs and arms, and it takes off it’s chimney flume to brandish like a greatclub. The couches and loveseats all pop up into a boxer’s stance and form a protective cordon around Jaze.

Azzie actually manages to snap off an arrow as everything is happening and it passes harmlessly through the illusionary image of Jaze and strikes the bar which grunts from the impact. A disembodied voice from inside the walls taunts them in the same voice as their host.

Jaze: If you had drank the wine this would have been far less painful…

[DireSickFish]

Our Undead Cowboys seem to be getting Bamboozled a lot lately. Waiting for them to turn this all around like they did after the Moo Door disaster.

[Honest Tiefling]

Our Undead Cowboys seem to be getting Bamboozled a lot lately. Waiting for them to turn this all around like they did after the Moo Door disaster.

Yeah. My money is on this campaign ending with either dying horribly, but hilariously, or that they turn this dungeon into a smoking crater crawling with undead abominations in constant pain and agony.

[Brion]

Started reading this yesterday and finally caught up to the end. As everyone has said, great job to you, but even greater job to the players! I think I would fit in well as when I read the dragons were in the main vault, I immediately thought "lock them in!" Can't wait for more.

[Kaveman26]

Our Undead Cowboys seem to be getting Bamboozled a lot lately. Waiting for them to turn this all around like they did after the Moo Door disaster.

I had the drop on them for a while after they kept torching all my plans. This was definitely an amusing scenario to watch them squirm in.


Yeah. My money is on this campaign ending with either dying horribly, but hilariously, or that they turn this dungeon into a smoking crater crawling with undead abominations in constant pain and agony.

The thing about this is...they completely subverted my core premise for what the mega-dungeon was supposed to be. At this point it has been revealed to them that the dungeon is in fact (I think someone used this phrase which is what I originally conceived it as) an Illthid Ark. A remarkably advanced race and civilization that combed through the Material Plane of this world and (and several other planes) took souvenirs and collected specimens of the world. Things went south and they put the place on stasis lockdown. Had they not gone full bore, both barrels evil the intrepid heroes would have taken in stray NPC's to protect them and fend for them. Food and water would have been a pressing concern and their would have been tough choices along the way. The door opening should have felt like a major reprieve every 30 days. Having access to merchants would have been a cheer worthy moment. Over time they would have recognized the implicit danger of what was transpiring and potentially gone about saving the world so to speak.

Instead they brought cannibalistic, opportunistic, and downright sadistic marauders into the structure and proceeded to eat the NPC's. The door opening was not a salvation, it was like a fly trap opening up to allow more prey to come in. Every plot hook or NPC was not a plot advancing element or new ally, it became a new chance to backstab for personal profit or gain. A Hey We Saved the World ending is at this point HIGHLY unlikely. As you put it above they are more likely to throw in with the world threatening terror and aid it, or get killed horrifically in the process. I had to adapt a lot of material from it's original design to accommodate the change in party dynamic. To an extent it has always been my philosophy to find a way to say yes.

As they became trickier and more devious my encounters have had to compensate for it. At this point I had actually built up a sizeable Rogue's Gallery of Opposition. Lau-Rain is a juggernaut of raw strength, ferocity and will. The were-dwarves have several badly scarred NPC's who want blood and are still MiA. The beholder half dragon is still a danger, Jaze is now tormenting them and there is still Veritas to contend with when the gates open in about three weeks. Not to mention a battalion of Frost Giants still unaccounted for. They are a man down in Dis Pater and Jaze has just opening the following round of this slugfest with a pair of sudden haymakers.

[Kaveman26]

Burnt:

During the frozen moment where everyone’s jaw is still open and the combination of anger and panic is still visible on everyone’s face the voice from within the walls continues.

Jaze: I do hate to waste good material, but if there is a beast that even the Enclave fears loose then it is time to get out of this place. I was not bluffing, the guards will be summoned here once we have prisoners dying. It will require more than a nearly dead body though. I need a fully dead body. Now I can simply command the couch to squeeze and your friend will die. I have already locked the doors leading back to the front hall. You can certainly break them down and retreat for the exit. Some of you may even make it in time. However once the guard arrives he will immediately see the dead prisoner and be forced to relocate the entire cell to a higher security. I do not intend to be here when that transpires.

Seraphim: Then why even bother telling us all this? Why haven’t you killed him and been off? If you can read our minds then clearly you know hell is coming for you.

Jaze: Well that is the point. I don’t want to wake everyday waiting for the rattling of bones that indicates your skeletons have found me. I want a clean break. So I propose a simple exchange. Leave your friend behind. Come to the doorway and knock twice. I will unlock the door and allow you to follow me out.

Once I hear in your minds that you will not seek revenge we are free to go and you only have lost one more comrade and not perhaps two or even the whole group. When I see into your souls that betrayal is not on the table then we can all leave for greener pastures.

Hades: I don’t intend to leave a man behind, especially my brother.

Seraphim: Well then let’s go with door number 2. Let’s burn the whole place down and sift through the ashes for Jaze’s corpse.

Jaze: I won’t be here long enough for the flames to even singe my cuffs.

Hades: Alright let’s get nasty.

Azzie throws Haste onto Doc who is looking at all the wooden constructs like only a 7 foot tall orc with a flaming greataxe can. Seraphim stays true to her word and begins lobbing fireballs and flaming sphere everywhere. They make a fighting retreat to converge towards the twins while Hades flips a channel out to revive his brother. It makes things intriguing enough as the animated objects try to kill off Pluto who is benefitting from the +50% boost brought by level 8 of undead lord.

Within a few rounds Doc hacks the couch holding their cleric to kindling and the witch has virtually half the mansion on fire. They beat feet towards the entrance and the Hasted witch doctor barely breaks stride as bull rushes through the locked door. He sees Jaze slip through the exit back to the prison cell and watches as the doorway begins to shut. He makes a hurried charge to try and make it through as well and as he reaches the portal to leave he runs directly into a protective cordon that electrocutes him and knocks him out.

Wall hangings and even a freaking umbrella stand all animate and lurch forward to try and kill off the incapacitated orc. The rest of the group is fairly close behind and they are not holding back in the least. Pluto is still in rough shape but on his feet. Seraphim has been clobbered by furniture but is still throwing spells. They form up over the prone form of Doc and once again bemoan their lack of positive healing. The twins have to split actions to first enable negative energy healing, then they wash the group with a channeled wave.

Hades: What now? None of us can escape.

Seraphim: Now we wait for the rat to slip out from behind the walls. Let the whole place burn to the ground and flush him out.

Pluto: And when the fire reaches us?

Azzie: We can protect ourselves from the fire damage, but the smoke inhalation will still kill us.

Seraphim doesn’t really answer she just lines up another fireball and sends it to the upper level of the mansion. She follows that with another flaming sphere and then makes sure the upper level ignites.

Seraphim: Get everyone back to full health. Burn through everything we got if need be. Pass out fire resist and then we hold this spot.

Azzie: Still no answer on the smoke luv.

Almost flippantly the witch tosses her hair back and winds it into a braid, the motion of her lifting her hair accompanies the sudden immersion of a Wall of Ice that blocks off the group from the rest of the burning house.

Seraphim: The moisture from that thing melting is going to play havoc with my hair. Better to put it up now.

*blink blink*

Without a further word the witch pulls out a dagger which she rests in the crook of her elbow and with the serenity of a teenager who is splashing at the edge of a lake during summer break she casually says to the house in general.

Seraphim: You already know what I am about to say, but just in case your mind reading is as illusory as your presence I will say it out loud. When you come to barter for surrender I intend to cut your heart out myself.

Jaze: *cough* Or?

Seraphim: There is no “or”

Jaze: Oh come now *cough cough* there always has to be an alternative

Seraphim: There is…you surrender or choke in the fire. That is your alternative. We are not leaving this place without the whole group intact.

Jaze: I sense a *cough* certain desire of your whole group *wheeze* to get inside the restricted *gasp* section of the library. I can *cough cough cough* get you inside.

Seraphim: Not interested. You have done nothing but deceive us so far.

Jaze: Then I suppose *gagging* I have no other choice.

A mental or telepathic command echoes through the minds of the whole group.

Jaze: Security Protocol Gamma Gamma Gamma. Designation Transparency.

As the mental command fades the door leading into Jaze’s mansion opens and a whole legion of ghostly ogre mages enters. They stop counting after the 12th enters. A captain follows as the 13th.

Captain: Prisoner Jaze. You have interrupted security protocols. State the reason for your interruption or face summary execution.

Jaze: *cough* These inmates *gasp gasp* have attempted to free Lau-Rain. *wheeze* They intend to disrupt the whole prison block. Per section 12 of Protocol Tango Romeo Niner I request immediate *choking* relocation to an isolation ward.

Captain: Request granted. Relocate Prisoner Jaze. Transfer these inmates for interrogation to their own isolation ward.

[ImperatorV]

And thus the UC's penchant for making deals backfires in their faces. You've really got the hand of throwing things that counter their operational style at them. The question now becomes are the UC going to try to get back at Jaze later. Also will be funny to see how Ri-An reacts to them failing to kill a measly level one.

[CrispyCriminal]

Denying them the joys of vampirism I get.

Denying them freedom from a place they've already been in for too long, I don't. No offense, it's just getting really old fast for a setting that is about a mega dungeon of collected forbidden knowledge and not the kind of prison that makes Calimshaw look like a children's time-out corner.

[Kaveman26]

Denying them the joys of vampirism I get.

Denying them freedom from a place they've already been in for too long, I don't. No offense, it's just getting really old fast for a setting that is about a mega dungeon of collected forbidden knowledge and not the kind of prison that makes Calimshaw look like a children's time-out corner.

There was very much a purpose for dragging them through the coals so to speak. That purpose will be revealed soon.

[Ionsniper]

Kaveman, I have to say this has to be one of the best logs I've ever read! I always eagerly anticipate the newest update to the thread and read each new post with enthusiam! The players have played their charachters incredibly well and stayed true to the personalities they have established for each one. Despite being the greatest murderhobo's I have ever seen they play an evil party to a T.

I can't wait till you finish this campaign log! Are you all still playing the game currently or has it come to its conclusion?

[Traab]

There was very much a purpose for dragging them through the coals so to speak. That purpose will be revealed soon.

I certainly hope so because right now its getting kind of blatant that everything they try always fails and costs them big time in some way. Its only by the grace of the classic "Hey guys? Eff it." rule of players going all out that kept them from losing ANOTHER freaking member of the team. Even then they just burned lord knows how many spells and doc is down for the count atm apparently.

[Kane0]

Well at this point you can't give the players an inch, they'll take that mile and make it a skeleton afterwards.

The longer they're here, the more the inhabitants are exposed to them and are prepared to deal with them. I think kaveman has a reputation for tough but fair campaigns by now.

Edit: BTW, how far away are these guys from Raise dead/reincarnate/resurrection? I know you guys don't use flight, but I forget if you houserule out coming back from the dead.

[thedaads]

Kaveman has a list of houserules in his first post. Raise dead/Reincarnate is banned among other things in this campaign.

[Traab]

Well at this point you can't give the players an inch, they'll take that mile and make it a skeleton afterwards.

The longer they're here, the more the inhabitants are exposed to them and are prepared to deal with them. I think kaveman has a reputation for tough but fair campaigns by now.

Edit: BTW, how far away are these guys from Raise dead/reincarnate/resurrection? I know you guys don't use flight, but I forget if you houserule out coming back from the dead.

Well yeah I get that much, but right now the way things are going is, "Nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that." And most of the time its followed by some big loss. Its one thing to try and keep the party from going way off the rails, its something else entirely to force them to spin their wheels and never get anywhere at all. Literally everything they have done since they got the goblin tribe under their control has been a miserable failure. Now kave says it will all have a purpose soon, and I believe him, im just pointing out that the nope train has been going for a long time now and its got to be getting frustrating for the players. Hell, its frustrating just to READ it.

[Jonagel]

Well yeah I get that much, but right now the way things are going is, "Nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that." And most of the time its followed by some big loss. Its one thing to try and keep the party from going way off the rails, its something else entirely to force them to spin their wheels and never get anywhere at all. Literally everything they have done since they got the goblin tribe under their control has been a miserable failure. Now kave says it will all have a purpose soon, and I believe him, im just pointing out that the nope train has been going for a long time now and its got to be getting frustrating for the players. Hell, its frustrating just to READ it.

To be fair, they had a plethora of options on what to do next in front of them. The path they are on now starts with their attempt to constantly poke around places they are obviously not supposed to get in to (easily at least), and not thinking there would be ramification (lightmare) by testing systems...even though it announced complex protocol responses and at that point was noted as a giant illithid ark that would be advanced beyond their world. Though if I were in the shoes of the PCs, I'd be pretty pissed at this point...

Admittedly, I am a huge fan of these campaigns and think Kaveman can do no wrong -- so take my opinion with a grain of salt =P

[Brion]

Well yeah I get that much, but right now the way things are going is, "Nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that, nope, cant do that." And most of the time its followed by some big loss. Its one thing to try and keep the party from going way off the rails, its something else entirely to force them to spin their wheels and never get anywhere at all. Literally everything they have done since they got the goblin tribe under their control has been a miserable failure. Now kave says it will all have a purpose soon, and I believe him, im just pointing out that the nope train has been going for a long time now and its got to be getting frustrating for the players. Hell, its frustrating just to READ it.

They had a few different things they could have done, but Kaveman had a great trap laying for what they were probably going to do. I didn't have a problem reading any of it, as he has shown he's too good of a DM to box his players in forever. I like that it has clearly shaken the confidence of the group and will probably affect how they problem solve going forward.

[Gilphon]

Mhm. The only bit that seemed over the line to me was not letting them back out of the whole vampire thing once they realized it was a bad idea. Everything else was more or less fair- though the Lightmare could be read as a little railroady.

Jaze in particular seems a lot more 'DM's gotten wise to the party's favoured tactics and how to counter them' than 'unfair' to me. They probably could've taken him if they'd stuck to the plan and attacked immediately, but instead they tried the 'let's make a deal' thing they've tried with everyone else, and got burned because he wasn't trustworthy.

[Lord of Shadows]

Also keep in mind that this is a prison-type environment running on auto-pilot. The automated parts are going to seem "railroady" just due to the fact that they were designed for specific jobs.
.

[Traab]

Mhm. The only bit that seemed over the line to me was not letting them back out of the whole vampire thing once they realized it was a bad idea. Everything else was more or less fair- though the Lightmare could be read as a little railroady.

Jaze in particular seems a lot more 'DM's gotten wise to the party's favoured tactics and how to counter them' than 'unfair' to me. They probably could've taken him if they'd stuck to the plan and attacked immediately, but instead they tried the 'let's make a deal' thing they've tried with everyone else, and got burned because he wasn't trustworthy.

There was also the last part where jaze just happened to know how to use a security code to make it a Pyrrhic victory at best for the party because now they are still locked up and they didnt even get their vengeance on jaze. And once again, came within a whisker of losing two party members due to the doublecross. They still could have pulled off the plan had he not been able to basically activate some big security feature to no sell it. They had jaze trapped and unable to escape and he just went, "lol nope!" And now they are possibly in even more trouble as they are going to an interrogation in another isolation ward.

[kalasulmar]

If the Expedition to Barrier Peaks mated with Undermountain and produced a baby that was summarily hit in the face with the Book of Vile Darkness, it would produce this campaign.

[Lord of Shadows]

If the Expedition to Barrier Peaks mated with Undermountain and produced a baby that was summarily hit in the face with the Book of Vile Darkness, it would produce this campaign.

Maybe with Tomb of Horrors as an Evil Uncle... :cool:
.

[Elandris Kajar]

Maybe with Tomb of Horrors as an Evil Uncle... :cool:
.

What about that damn crab for its first grade teacher? We mustn't forget its education.

Edit: I have forgotten my manners. Thank you kaveman for an enjoyable read.

[Kaveman26]

Great Escape:

In a flash the whole group finds themselves once again shackled to a wall inside a plain interrogation room. And for a third time they see the apparition of Ri-An appear and begin his rote mechanical process of dispositioning them. Before they get a chance to try and break his automated script he does manage to inform them that they have been upgraded to Level 4 for danger.

Hades: Well that was unexpectedly fortunate.

Ri-An: I am sure there is a tale filled with terror and glory, I however do not care to hear it. You will be pleased to know that the counter measure designated Lightmare has been dispersed and is no longer assigned to bring about your destruction.

Pluto: What happened to Jaze?

Ri-An: He has been relocated to an isolation holding area of an undisclosed location. I do not know where. He did leave you a message.

Seraphim: A message?

Ri-An: Yes he apparently was familiar with several very deep level procedures that surpass even my knowledge of the prison wing.

Azzie: Well bollocks…the sod wasn’t bluffin.

A scroll appears on a small table and Ri-An unshackles their bindings allowing them freedom. Seraphim picks up the scroll and can’t make heads of tails of it.

Seraphim: I have no idea what language this is even written in.

Doc: Me neither. It’s all gibberish.

Hades and Pluto look it over together and both shake their heads. No clue.

Azzie picks it up and scratches his head a bit.

Azzie: It’s music I fink. But he took the notes and spelled them phonetically.

Azzie unstraps his guitar and begins to strum out the notes written on the paper. As he plays the notes translate themselves into actual words.

Jaze: The Illithid are rubbish when it comes to music. Too abstract for them to bother with. Good to know for the future. I was dead serious about not wanting to stare over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I took a shot at taking you out and I missed. That’s on me. Had to rat myself out and force isolation, better than being incinerated. Well Played. I feel like I owe you a slight boon and I am confident the measure of good will can pay dividends allowing past transgression to fade away. If you want into the restricted cage of the library use the following:

Whisky Whisky Whisky Hotel

That let’s you in and out. It’s on a five minute timer so move in and out quick don’t take too long. You can only use that call sign once per week. I would highly encourage you to vacate this place as quickly as possible when the doors open next. The Enclave is not to be trifled with, nor I do think six thousand years has altered their objectives. Time erodes all, but if there is a creature able to cheat time I am sure it looks like them.

Doc: He sure makes it tempting to test out that access code.


Armed with the ability to bypass the library’s security and with the framework of a plan in place for how they intend to escape the holding areas and they set out with a renewed purpose. Seraphim is able to jump to the still waiting skeletal dragon and unlock the physical key. Azzie unlocks the mental tumbler and then they wait for the guard captain to pass by. Seraphim and Doc both target the captain with Evil Eye and Misfortune and do their best to rig the game in their favor. Hades rolls a 19 which is enough for him to wrest temporary control of the guard captain who is compelled to unlock the door.

Not wanting to press their luck they immediately release him once the key is turned and they find themselves one again free. In total three days have passed since their initial seclusion within the prison wing. Split between wanting to return to the vault room and wanting to test the theory library access code they elect to test the theory library access. Seraphim utilizes her skeletal dragon body hopping to be the one who attempts to pop the lock on the restricted library. The call sign works and the door opens freely and allows her entry. She makes a quick scan of the book titles and nearly twists herself our her chair with excitement. Speechless at the table she scoops up a handful of books as she continues to scan and begins piling them in her arms. A moment later she begins tossing out piles of books into the open space just outside. She leaves with about a minute left on the timer and they gather up their tomes and make a hasty retreat away from the cage. Genuine surprise sets in when nothing horrific occurs.

They acquire the following books:

Craft Wonderous Items: A primer’s guide
Craft Wands: More than just a Stick
Forge Rings: If you Like it Then You Should Have Put a ….
Blood Ties: A Beginner’s Guide to Vampirism. *
99 Problems but a Lich Ain’t One. *
Running With the Devil *
The Demon’s Aren’t Just in My Head*
Magical Arms: A Call to Arms
Magical Armor: Better Wear Protection
Blood and Fire: The Idiot’s Manual for Specialized Undead.
Golem Golem Golem: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Golems but Were Afraid to Ask
Long Shadows*
The Complete Guide To Rings of Protection
The Complete Guide to Amulets of Natural Armor
The Complete Guide to Bracers of Armor
(This was a three book set)

The books marked with an asterisk bear a disclaimer. They are meant to “tie” to their reader. Once you have tied yourself to a marked book you may not read or access another marked book. Each of the marked books has a helpful forward to identify their purpose.

After a great deal of blustering and panicked jubilance they settle down and begin a thorough examination of each book. The marked tomes are step by step instructions on how to undergo a specific transformation or evolution. They are basically Template Acquisition made easy. How easy depends on if one is willing to actually bind themselves to that volume.

Most are quite straightforward. Golem Golem Golem allows for Craft Construct. The Complete Guide to’s are similar to golem manuals, they are all in one “easy bake” one shot magical item creation boosters.

Seraphim: So if I am gathering this correctly we have the ability to commit ourselves to a template. We have Vampire, Lich, Infernal, Abyssal, and Shadow Lord so far. I am guessing Half Dragon and Giant are also a possibility that I didn’t grab. We can also train someone or everyone in some crafting feats.

Me: Yes. The Crafting feats are acquired much like a stat book, but they function as an untyped bonus feat.

Hades: Just how involved will these template guides be?

Me: Read and Find Out.

The twins are both chomping at the bit at prospect of lichdom. Seraphim is virtually a lock to murder anyone that attempts to get between her and the vampirism trainer. The other’s are less enthused at their potential templates. The chance of something else being inside is worth a week’s wait for them. IN the end Hades and Pluto flip a coin with Pluto winning the chance to bind himself to the lich volume. No one objects to Seraphim and the codex she is cradling like a newborn babe.

Doc: So…just to be clear before you guys open these things I want one thing set in stone. IF these guides require a sacrifice or for you to kill another party member you are preemptively volunteering to be euthanized. Fair enough? If someone has to die amongst our party for you to transition, then you the reader are the one that has to go. Can we agree on that?

The party votes unanimously on this pact.

Pluto: I think we should hold off for a day or two before cracking them open too. Give us time to recover spells and figure out what happened in the time we have been gone.

Seraphim: OK…I can wait a day or two. We can use the crystal ball to survey everything above us. Should give us a warning if someone is waiting to ambush us.

The crystal ball scrying reveals a startling change to the previous status quo. The NPC’s under Fritz are gone as are the Frost Giants under Ackshale. No sign of the two factions is visibile or audible from the crystalline ball.

A little perturbed and leery then search from within the library for a full day and a half seeking out their wayward allies. No sign is overturned. They reluctantly give up their search and make their way back to the vault room to pop the seal on their entombed dragons.

As I alluded to earlier, they pop open the main vault to find Icy and Onyx dead. The black dragon piled up the full array of treasure and melted it into a pile of slag using his acid breath.

Pluto: That’s annoying, but still two more dragon skeletons to use. And a lot of the little vaults on the higher walls are still unopened. No need to share any of that anymore.

Seraphim: Right…let’s get down to some serious reading then.


And as for the education of the dungeon...

Drill Sgt Tucker got it through boot camp

[Traab]

Well damn, thats fascinating as hell. At this point I see two options. Both with a variety of opportunities. They could easily take the money and run. They just looted some stuff that would basically create a massive epilogue of fame and fortune iirc. Didnt this world lose the ability to craft all that crap? They are now holding the only known tomes that would teach the world these skills. (Yeah it could also trigger wars to try and claim the knowledge for other powers out there)

On the other hand, they now have the chance to ultra buff themselves. Not just with template stacking, but with crafting some really nice and varied gear. If they can create a truly secure place to hang out and study and craft, they can pass the week that way, then go back in and sprint strip mine the library again. God only knows what they could end up with.

On the other OTHER hand, there is still the mysterious danger of the beholder dragon and its random triggers, and hanging out too long could get bad. I think I recall you mentioning it gets let loose when the place gets too crowded. And with a frost giant army, an angry red dragon, and lord knows how many horked off adventurers outside waiting to sprint in, well, it could happen at any time. The longer they stay, the greater the danger grows.

[CrispyCriminal]

Ugh...the missing NPCs are going to be were-wolfed to balance the LA from the templates aren't they?

Edit: not complaining about the story this time. I just figure it's the next step towards flicking the next latch off the hell-basket.

[ImperatorV]

...A bunch of free templates and feats? And people were complaining about "bad DMing." I'd say the suffering was more then worth the payoff... Although... I have to wonder what Dis Pater's player is up too. We should be seeing his new character soon, right? I'm really liking Jaze as a character - he knows how to play the game and he plays it well.

I wonder what other templates are in there. The five that the UC grabbed are all heavily evil aligned - is that because they were looking for stuff like that among many, or did you choose templates they might want?

[Jermz]

This whole time, what is Dis Pater's player doing? I'm not sure how long your sessions are, but it does seem plausible that all of this (from Dis Pater's neck-snapping to looting the library) could conceivably take place over the course of two sessions, or even one long one. Just asking because it seems that a lot is happening quickly, and the player of Dis Pater must be itching also get get in on the tome action.

[Kaveman26]

Didnt this world lose the ability to craft all that crap? They are now holding the only known tomes that would teach the world these skills. (Yeah it could also trigger wars to try and claim the knowledge for other powers out there)

Yes the world has lost the ability to create or craft magic items. For lack of a better description the Illithid “culled” this knowledge as a potential threat. The library being breached has basically reopened that Pandora’s box.



Ugh...the missing NPCs are going to be were-wolfed to balance the LA from the templates aren't they?

Possibly. There is a lot else that can happen.



This whole time, what is Dis Pater's player doing? I'm not sure how long your sessions are, but it does seem plausible that all of this (from Dis Pater's neck-snapping to looting the library) could conceivably take place over the course of two sessions, or even one long one. Just asking because it seems that a lot is happening quickly, and the player of Dis Pater must be itching also get get in on the tome action.

I will give this as a spoiler: Not story impacting but definitely meta-game impacting.

Dis Pater had to put in some overtime over the next week beyond that session. We discreetly discussed his potential sacrifice as a cover for his being absent. I figured with him being out for a week I could kill two birds with one stone by killing one PC with one vampire. He spent the next weekend gone while building a new character. Some other twists may also transpire.

[Kaveman26]

Dissertations on Accumulating Power:

Blood Ties:

It is our assertion that the specimen which has locally been identified as Vampire is actually a subspecies of undead that draws mystical and divine nourishment from the consumption of living blood. These creatures demonstrate extraordinary recuperative powers, extending to and including the ability to take form of a gaseous cloud through which they can retreat to a predesignated recepetacle where regeneration can transpire. Shapechanging capability along with energy drain properties extend to the augmented form which does show weakness to running bodies of water, direct light from a yellow star, and an aversion to local flora designated “garlic”

The sub-species possesses a reproductive drive that allows for further creation of thralls or drone subordinates. It is our recommendation that specimens of this identification be cleansed from the world at large to prevent any potential parasitic epidemic. Specimens of remarkable ability or substantial threat level shall be quarantined for further observation and study.

Of Note:

We have isolated the means through which a vampiric transformation may take place through host of a living humanoid subject. The transformation process encompasses multiple steps and from our testing requires a full lunar cycle. Further research recommended to augment and perfect transformation process.

Warning:

Further consumption of this guide will bind the research material to subject inquiring. Stop if you do not wish to personally undertake the exciting and fascinating journey towards undeath and eternal slavery to the nocturnal realm.

99 Problems:

Research into these creatures has proven troublesome. The specimens we have located have provided highly resistant to observation and enclosure. Many subjects have been eradicated in an attempt to find placateable inhabitants. These once living humanoids now referred to as liches are remarkably stubborn and persist their mentality in a shell of their once mortal selves. Several specimens have grown so apathic towards their continued existence that their physical form has disintegrated away leaving only the skull. Mental and Cognitive limitations are lifted upon the transition to this particular form of undeath. Mystical and Divine augmentations allow for energy drain and paralytic touch ability. The great majority of subjects observed originated from both arcane and divine origins, with their mortal lives focused on the acquisition of spell power and knowledge. We are sympathetic towards their very similar goals to our own. Suggest quarantine and further observation. Imperative that we cull knowledge of ascended transformation that retains mental ability. Desigination demi-lich is considered a grave threat. Pardon our symantic pun.

Of Note:

The core mechanism in place to achieve transitory lich state revolves around the creation of a soulbound item or phylactery. The essence of consciousness is housed in this phylactery creating a safeguard akin to a vampire’s coffin. We have isolated the procedures intrinsically essential to this storage and are placing the guidelines to follow.

Warning:

Continued examination of this document and it’s contents will bind the rituals and costs of this augmentation to the person in possession of this Necronomicon. The evolutionary ritual will require 90 days of time along with the acquisition of three vital accessories.

Running With the Devils:

Our dealings with the adjacent Plane to this Material Plane have been a breath of fresh air. They are highly intelligent and organized with a sheer focus on increasing their domain’s power and influence. Fiercely obedient to their masters and master negotiators. It required us to reach our inner most cunning to match these “Devils”. Their race is permanently at war with their antithesis the Demon. The never ending strife between the two preserves the Material Plane uninetentionally as the settling of their differences would cause it’s rapid and nearly immediate annihilation. In accord with our Parley we acquired a specimen called Harang. A Pit Fiend of ancient bearing. He agreed to volunteer himself for study in exchange for the return of an artifact we located and the donation of 100 mortal souls. We have consulted him several times to gain insight on the developments uncovered through our research into the Underdark.

Of Note:
In exchange for the return of their lost artifact we were gifted an alter that facilitates transference of Fiendish property to the bearer.

Warning:

Side Effects may occur. There is also a one in ten chance of a flaw for the procedure.

Cliff Notes Version for the rest:

Demon’s: Similar to the Devil’s alter the demonic book will apply Half-Fiend template with more of a demonic flavor. 1-10 chance of slight mistakes or problems.

Long Shadows: Applies Shadow Lord template. Requires 30 days and several rare ingredients to activate.


The warnings and time frames give them slight pause and prevent everyone from going all NeverEnding Story on their books. Seraphim is still dead set on the Vampirism path and Pluto is not exactly being deterred by the lich warnings. Azzie is getting slightly more intrigued by Shadow Lord and Doc is pondering Half-Fiend.

Seraphim: You do realize that once I cross over I can also bring everyone else along as a vampire as well.

Doc: Well for one thing, I don’t trust you to provide free will back to us. For a second thing we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket. Thirdly, you are basically locking yourself into this place until your death or the death of the world.

Seraphim: How do you figure the third?

Doc: The door opens at noon. When the Sun is at it’s brightest. Makes it kind of hard to leave here without opening yourself to the biggest vulnerability you have.

Seraphim: I hadn’t really thought about that.

Doc: Also feeling a little nervous that you haven’t even bothered to contradict my concern over the free will.

Seraphim: We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

Azzie: Unless there is water running under that bridge then you aren’t crossing anyfing. HA-HA

Ultimately they decide to set up shop in the goblin controlled library with the crystal ball. They will give it a week for Seraphim to explore her book while they scry above and based on her progress Pluto will trigger his book once they re-enter the library. For that week they will also lay out a game plan for utilizing the crafting feats.

Wealth has mostly been a fleeting thing and I in essence tell that they have cart blanche to operate within crafting rules to bring themselves to their recommended WBL quota. *

We come to that's week completion at this point and I tell everyone they have reached level 9 for the following week's beginning. I also preempt them in saying that they can measure feats and item creation off level 9 instead of level 8. When I get pressed on Dis Pater I let them know he will be along in some form the following week.

*Much of their treasure has been melted, stolen, tithed, or downright extorted and this is where they get a big jump up in overall power by finally coming in line.

[Traab]

Hmm, interesting. It sounds to me like the template stacking events are going to be long term projects. 1-3 months depending, and more terrifying, the demon/devil templates warn there is a chance of "flaws" occurring. No idea what that could be, but the dm is a sick and twisted individual, im sure he has plenty of ideas. :smallbiggrin: The downsides and difficulties are also being made apparent which is interesting. The shadow lord template requires rare ingredients, no clue on if they will even be able to find them, which would really suck to be bound to the book and have no way of completing it this adventure. And of course the vamp build has those nasty downsides, and some potential cracks in team unity with seraphim not exactly jumping to deny the thought of bringing them back enslaved.

If I were to go about doing this I think that I would scry for a safe place to hole up and hide/reinforce the entrance in such a way that its likely we could survive the month or three working on the various transformations. Perhaps if they can remain hidden, the various factions out for their blood will think they died or escaped somehow and give them some breathing room. Combine that with whatever these now level 9 players can craft for themselves, and they will get the chance to slam out some nasty power levels by the time they are done.

Hmm, that reminds me. What is entailed by this process? I mean, will seraph be able to continue adventuring while working on becoming a vamp? Or will she be stuck for a month in game inside her coffin or whatever and thus be vulnerable, along with the others who do their own stack?

[CrispyCriminal]

Hmm, that reminds me. What is entailed by this process? I mean, will seraph be able to continue adventuring while working on becoming a vamp? Or will she be stuck for a month in game inside her coffin or whatever and thus be vulnerable, along with the others who do their own stack?

I know a lich can continue to do whatever while pursuing his goal. But for vampires, that's a good question. Not often that the vampire comes before the thrall in the circle.

[Traab]

I know a lich can continue to do whatever while pursuing his goal. But for vampires, that's a good question. Not often that the vampire comes before the thrall in the circle.

Here is another odd question. Lets say she becomes a vamp, takes one of the party members as a thrall, then orders them to undergo the lich process. Wtf happens then?! Does she get a thrall lich under her control? Or for that matter, she doesnt enslave them and they decide to go lich after all. What happens to their bonuses and such? Because I have to admit, I just read up on the vampire feats and such and thats scary scary, an extra 5 armor, heal 5 hp per round so long as you arent at 0, all that negative level causing during a fight, bonus attacks, etc etc etc. Would that stack with the lich bonuses? Because a vampiric lich would be freaking terrifying with a lot of synergies in its abilities. Or is this the stage where a dm hurls a book at his players and tells him to watch out for falling rocks?

[Kaveman26]

Here is another odd question. Lets say she becomes a vamp, takes one of the party members as a thrall, then orders them to undergo the lich process. Wtf happens then?! Does she get a thrall lich under her control? Or for that matter, she doesnt enslave them and they decide to go lich after all. What happens to their bonuses and such? Because I have to admit, I just read up on the vampire feats and such and thats scary scary, an extra 5 armor, heal 5 hp per round so long as you arent at 0, all that negative level causing during a fight, bonus attacks, etc etc etc. Would that stack with the lich bonuses? Because a vampiric lich would be freaking terrifying with a lot of synergies in its abilities. Or is this the stage where a dm hurls a book at his players and tells him to watch out for falling rocks?

Vampire by the rules does not stack with lich. So you can't be both without major DM fiat. Combining both would probably drive a sane person mad and result in falling rocks.

Thralldom and controlling intelligent undead like liches requires daily checks. So complications arise from maintaining slaves.

As to whether she could force someone to use a book...we will see

[Jonagel]

Question for Kaveman --

Do the books bind to your soul, or your body? Could Seraphim jump to a skeletal dragon, and give it a half fiend template, then jump back to get vampire template self?

[Kaveman26]

Question for Kaveman --

Do the books bind to your soul, or your body? Could Seraphim jump to a skeletal dragon, and give it a half fiend template, then jump back to get vampire template self?

I had built them to bind to the soul. So no body jumping to double templates is split templates to undead minions,

[Kaveman26]

The Fangs Come Out.

Seraphim, and both twins select Greater Spell Focus Necromancy for their 9th level feats. Doc takes Vital Strike, and Azzie takes leadership. Sera takes Cloudkill and Feeblemind as spells. Doc takes Enervation and Crushing Despair. Craft Wonderous items goes to Hades, Craft Wands to Seraphim, Craft Arms to Doc, Craft Armor to Pluto, and they stockpile Forge Ring.

With levels processed their next order of business is to have Seraphim crack open the book and see just what is entailed.

Directions:

Duration: A full lunar cycle (28 days)

Materials: A fully crafted coffin. Blood of a quantity sufficient to fully immerse the recipient.. A potion of Eternal Unrest.

Procedure:

The first step of the process involves the creation of a coffin. The coffin may be of any material so as long as it is airtight and watertight.

Upon creation of the coffin the prospective vampire must fill the coffin to it’s capacity with blood recovered from a creature/creatures who have died within the previous 24 hours. The occupant must then spend one entire night within the coffin submerged in the blood. This will bind the creature’s soul, body, and blood to their eventual eternal resting place.

The blood is then to used as “stock” for a potion that must be brewed and consumed. The potion must simmer for 2 full hours with the following ingredients.

A wolf’s tail
A bat’s wing
A rat’s whiskers
A vial of the caster’s own blood

Once brewed this potion is to be consumed. Consumption will lead to chronic insomnia, headache, fatigue, nausea, a burning sensation in the throat and light sensitivity. On the 28th day of the cycle the caster must once again immerse themselves within the coffin and be sealed within. The coffin must remain sealed for 24 hours. If interrupted the process fails and the subject will die. Immersion and sealing within the coffin will cause death. If the steps have been followed correctly then the user will arise a vampire.

Seraphim: Well blood shouldn’t be too hard to locate. Not entirely sure how we will craft the coffin itself but that seems feasible. Potion ingredients…any ideas?

Hades: We killed dire rats from what seems like ages ago on level 1. Should be able to scrounge whiskers from there.

Pluto: Reasonably sure there were wolves within the animal section and gallery. Figure there is a good chance of bats there too. Think we can find those.

Doc: This does mean that we need to keep you locked in your own coffin for at least one full day. And from the description of the potion’s side effects you are going to be severely limited for at least three and a half weeks.

Seraphim: So, group vote. Do we go all in on this?

Doc: It isn’t asking for any of us to take the plunge so sure.

Hades: Aye
Pluto: Aye
Azzie: Hell yeah.

They set about scavenging treasure chests and other leftovers from their vault excursions and put together a not exactly pretty but tight coffin.

Seraphim: Kind of bummed we have been so effective…not much left to kill around here. Got to find the blood from somewhere. I mean we do have the Goblins…

Doc: Nope. Not going to happen. You are not draining my tribe for your own blood bath.

Seraphim: It will be a great team building exercise…everyone pitches a pint or so and no one really gets hurt. Go a long way towards tribal unity.

Doc: Nope.

Seraphim: Fine. I guess we hopefully find something else to slit open when we go hunt down the wolf tail and bat wing.

The U.C. easily reach the animal wing a small sample of scrounging allows them to locate the required potion ingredients. They all happen upon a few stragglers in the way of animals that they happily “almost” kill. The unconscious and hapless lion and pair of hyenas they stumble upon are bound and returned to the library. They went cautious not knowing how much blood they would really get from each animal.

They return with the potion ingredients to the library wing and decide to start beefing up security. With the giants, npcs, and were-dwarves all MIA they are growing more concerned with ambush. They can survey the upper two levels quite effectively, but intelligence on the lower levels is non existent. They elect to set up “guards” at each of the research wings, and at the gate from Moo-Dor to the lower levels. A secondary large concern for them is Lau-Rain getting free from the prison wing. With an undead stationed at the entrance they feel a bit safer in at least having some early detection if he should escape. Lack of undead is just as frustrating as lack of living. They have a total of three dragons all animated, and soon to be a lion and pair of hyenas, which gives them six total minions. They really want closer to 9 for a security minimum. One for each six section of the research wing, a sentry at Moo-Dor, and one redundant guard for the entrance into the library and a sentry for the restricted wing deep in the bottom level.

Hades: Bottom line we need either a mass kill, or we need to really branch out further for more bodies, not just for the vampire ritual but for our own protection and synergy. I kind of wish something would try to ambush us cause we are awfully light on disposable mooks.

Pluto: Not much to be done about it. If we spot something from the crystal ball we can move on it and capitalize on it.

Seraphim: Or…we help reduce the goblin overpopulation, you know preserve resources and prevent mass starvation.

All: You aren’t killing the goblins.

Seraphim: At least consider it is all I am saying.

Doc: Uh guys…I got something on the Dungeon-Cam.

Azzie: Is it female?

Seraphim: Does it bleed?

Doc: I am not sure what it is. But I think it is very clearly sending us a message.

Everyone crowds around the crystal ball as they watch a small group of dead dwarves being hung from the ceiling near the Moo-Dor Entrance. They have all been skinned and their hands and feet are missing. Whatever is “hanging” them up is virtually invisible and either operating at great speed or under some kind of displacement. They struggle to identify the number of individuals. One of the corpses has a sign pinned on it, and a second corpse is branded with a hot iron.

Once the display is finished and those responsible leave , the group mobilizes to view everything in person. The sign is written in common and bears a single message.

“Return us our Dog”

The brand is seared into the dwarf’s flesh the smell of burning meat is still in the air. The brand is a skull swallowing a horse.

Seraphim: Pretty sure that is aimed right at us. Let’s cut them down and reanimate them.

As Doc goes to cut the first one down a sudden HOWL Of agony issues forth from all six dwarves…as they shriek at the top of their lungs…

Turns out they weren’t quite dead.

[Ionsniper]

Things are getting grim! Its like a D&D house of horrors that the PC's have created! As much as I like the unity these evil PC's are playing (which is downright fantastic btw), they seem to have turned a majority of the dungeon into a house of horrors and backstabbed everyone they have met and offed any kind of support they could have had at this junction. With so few options left to them it seems like time is running out for them. Cant wait for more!

[Traab]

Man seraph has issues! Its like she is obsessed with ruining the one and only decent set of "allies" they have. Like Iron said, they have backstabbed, been backstabbed by, and killed every other faction in the dungeon they have seen so far. Maybe take a break from your desire to piss off everyone. Honestly, im starting to lose my trust in her. I wonder how long after she wakes up a vamp the group will be able to rely on her. This is what she WANTS, so after she gets it, where is her drive to play happy team mates? If the other power up routes also have "Stay put or else death" steps to them, that could get nerve wracking.

[Gilphon]

Agreed. Sera's starting too look more and more backstabby. Which is kind of impressive given that she was always the most backstabby party member.

Hmm. Y'know, I'm getting the sense that she kind of has issues with authority- she plays nice with the rest of the party because they let her be in charge, but she's always quick to backstab any NPCs with a significant number of minions. So then when Doc turns against her wishes and gets a bunch of Goblin minions out of it, that sets her off in two different ways. Things could go very badly for the rest of them after she vamps.

Though I don't think she'd turn them all into thralls- that would trap them all in the dungeon. She might bite Hades to make sure Pluto stays in line, though.

[Traab]

Agreed. Sera's starting too look more and more backstabby. Which is kind of impressive given that she was always the most backstabby party member.

Hmm. Y'know, I'm getting the sense that she kind of has issues with authority- she plays nice with the rest of the party because they let her be in charge, but she's always quick to backstab any NPCs with a significant number of minions. So then when Doc turns against her wishes and gets a bunch of Goblin minions out of it, that sets her off in two different ways. Things could go very badly for the rest of them after she vamps.

Though I don't think she'd turn them all into thralls- that would trap them all in the dungeon. She might bite Hades to make sure Pluto stays in line, though.

Well there is always the durkula solution. Now that they can craft magic items, some sort of shadow shield device should be possible, right?

[Inevitability]

Am I the only one who can see the others playing along until Seraphim enters her coffin, then disrupt the ritual and kill her? At worst, they'd have to fight a few undead before getting to her.

[GorinichSerpant]

I am amused by Azzie's and Seraphim's immediate reactions to something going on on the crystal ball. Worrying about the important things.

[Axinian]

Well there is always the durkula solution. Now that they can craft magic items, some sort of shadow shield device should be possible, right?

Pathfinder does indead have a spell called Protective Penumbra (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/protective-penumbra) that does just this. Casting it repeadetly or making a permanent item of it shouldn't be a problem. I do hate that this spell exists, because I can't imagine why any vampire worth their salt wouldn't have access to it, but its there.

[QuintonBeck]

Am I the only one who can see the others playing along until Seraphim enters her coffin, then disrupt the ritual and kill her? At worst, they'd have to fight a few undead before getting to her.

Based on her comments and attitude, this would be my stance were I in this party with her. I wonder if the others know that though, after all Kaveman is presenting us with that information but it may be Seraphim read it herself and kept it to herself so they may just think it's mess up the ritual but not necessarily kill her.

[Kaveman26]

Based on her comments and attitude, this would be my stance were I in this party with her. I wonder if the others know that though, after all Kaveman is presenting us with that information but it may be Seraphim read it herself and kept it to herself so they may just think it's mess up the ritual but not necessarily kill her.

She shared full details of what was entailed, kind of like an in party freedom of information act. If she wanted cooperation it required full disclosure.

As for the overall party dissent and mistrust....the last time we went "evil" it was a bloodbath. I lost track of dead and double crossed pcs. From the onset they agreed that they would work to avoid similiar outcome. Try and commited to in writing are different things though.

[Kaveman26]

Underworld War-Intro

As the not completely dead dwarves begin wrenching themselves around in torment the flesh is visibily knitting itself back together and the skin starts reforming over their flayed bodies.

Seraphim: I think they kept them alive and then drugged them to halt the fast healing. Why go to that amount of trouble? Who does that? Aside from us anyway.

Hades: Let’s ask them…who did this to you?

Dwarf: The dark elves….gahhhhhh….on patrol and suddenly we were numb. Next thing I know I am strapped to a table and the flensing knives are working their way through my skin. Never saw the spiders coming. No sound….*groan* no sight….

Pluto: Spiders? I thought he started with dark elves?

Azzie: The two are often lumped together.

Unsettled they make a hasty retreat back to the library with their messages in tow.

Seraphim: Mind if I drain five of them? This one seems like a talker. Don’t think we need the rest.

Doc: Yeah, go for it.

While the witch cheerfully strings out five of the six over her budding coffin and rebirth chamber the sixth watches with eyes that have seen too much. He seems genuinely unfazed by seeing his comrades butchered and drained.

Hades: Hmmm, that is worrisome.

Pluto: Tell us again what happened. Slowly.

Dwarf: We were on patrol trying to locate you and trying to avoid the giants. We hit a corner and all sound vanished. We just felt the darts hit us with cold. Never saw anything or spotted what ambushed us….woke up strapped to a table where the damned drow where skinning us. The spiders were all around waiting like dogs expecting table scraps.

Pluto: What spiders?

Dwarf: The ones you bastards used as a gauntlet to cull my kin. Only they have grown…so much bigger now.

Pluto: Did you notice anything else while they were hurting you? Anyone else in the room? Anything else that seemed out of place.

Dwarf: Just a heap of bull skulls and bones. Twice my height and easily twenty feet around.

Azzie: I fink that Icy’s offspring have found some new friends.

Hades: Yeah, if Dog is the drow from Ackshale’s posse we could definitely be looked at as still being in league with the Frostie’s even if they have gone AWOL.

Dwarf: Slit my throat and be done with it. But I warn you…these elves be different than the one on the giant’s leash. They are cut from a different cloth. Something much more sinister and malicious.

They brood over the latest development and try to get themselves a solid picture of the status quo. Hours of scrying finally unveils something new when they begin looking for things that aren’t visible.

Hades: Look…see that rat scurrying through that corner…third one I have tracked. Watch it go into the turn…and then it’s gone. It doesn’t come out the other side. Doesn’t double back just gone. And If I turn on the sound, then nothing just silence. Wait, sound is kicking back on. Just dull background noise, but noise.

Pluto: Roll the view forward.

Hades: Silence again.

Pluto: Keep following the silence and see where it goes.

They track “the silence” all way through Moo-Dor and heading towards what they think is the dragon display room. But the surveillance system cuts out from that point.

The group consensus is to make a scouting trip to scope out the dragon room before beginning the vampiric switchover. They mount up and bring their three zombified dragon with them. They are moving cautiously and making it a priority to try and locate any “silent” spots or places where they lose visibility from each other. When they arrive at the dragon display room, nothing seems amiss. They perform a search from the center and don’t uncover anything that raises any red flags. Doc does pick up on one thing though.

Doc: We put together a pretty thorough map that included this room. Why is there now one less alcove?

Comparing the map they formed with the map presented does reveal an additional alcove at the room’s far end that is not reflecting. As if a whole section vanished.

Azzie: Think they are hiding it somehow?

Seraphim: They are messing with sight and sound, makes sense they would mask their lair. Let me take a dwarf skeleton on remote pilot and see if I can locate it.

They set up a defensive circle a distance away from where the missing alcove should be, and the witch jumps to one of her new dwarf’s and walks him to the wall and easily walks through the illusion. The room has been converted from showcase to war room. Dozens of now man sized spiders scurry amidst webs on the wall with various minotaur and dwarf corpses stuck in the frozen webs, piles of bones rise up like hills from the room’s center and an alter to Lloth is raised at the room’s rear. A series of drow work at various tables within the room and they all move with an unnatural and unsettling grace. What is presumably a drow matron sits at the base of the alter in a throne fashioned in the likeness of a spider. It is she that spots the lone skeleton drone…

Matron: Well well the little girl has sent a puppet. Don’t fret little girl, we will come for you soon enough.

Seraphim doesn’t even bother walking it out she just jumps back to her body and takes the action she recommends just as she is able.

Seraphim: Run. Run now.

[SpoonR]

Am I the only one who can see the others playing along until Seraphim enters her coffin, then disrupt the ritual and kill her? At worst, they'd have to fight a few undead before getting to her.

Regardless of whether betrayal or not, I wonder if they will remember the other consequence... temporarily dead zombie controller = uncontrolled zombies. Not a problem as long as they don't restock their army, but if they are all out of control undead slots...

[Honest Tiefling]

Regardless of whether betrayal or not, I wonder if they will remember the other consequence... temporarily dead zombie controller = uncontrolled zombies. Not a problem as long as they don't restock their army, but if they are all out of control undead slots...

...Why do I get the image of the Undead Cowboys trying to use illusions and meat to lure uncontrolled zombies to their enemies?

[Jonagel]

From a world building perspective, does it matter what shattered the Drow / can you tell us?

Also, does the Frank Eye Beholder not function in the vault rooms/lower levels to act as a janitor?

[Traab]

Oooh, now THIS is interesting. The babies are gonna be mad, the drow are going to be trouble, considering how likely ambush will be every time they dare to move. And now do they dare to go through the vamp ritual? They have an enemy that knows about them and is preparing to come for them "soon enough" So having an incapacitated party member would be a bad thing. I wonder what they can do to fort up? Also, I admit that im making assumptions from the "run" order seraph gave off, but how much trouble are they really in now? I mean, if the drow are still preparing, shouldnt the party have gone for a shock and awe attack to at least cripple them somewhat before fleeing? Pare down the numbers a bit, and damage whatever their setup is and it might buy them more time than just running away.

[Kaveman26]

From a world building perspective, does it matter what shattered the Drow / can you tell us?

Also, does the Frank Eye Beholder not function in the vault rooms/lower levels to act as a janitor?

What Shattered the Drow:

They were partially fractured by the Illithid. Researching the strange radiation emanating from the Underdark is a major subplot from the core storyline and you can't delve into the Underdark without tussling against the Drow. Secondarily there is an explanation as to why they ended up a shadow of their former selves but that part I will keep tucked away until revealed in the story proper reveals it.

But in essence I have pictured the Illithid's as having reached the Material Plane and functioning as academics, just academics with staggeringly advanced mental abilities and knowledge. Certain locals they encountered (Drow, Dragons, Vampires, Liches, Demons, Devils, etc) were viewed as being dangerous enough to warrant further observation or research. From my backstory and development process these were never truly a "threat" but more viewed as how a zookeeper views bees or spiders that can bite. Their superiority and arrogance were major sources of hubris.

Frank-Eye-Stein:

Yes he can sweep or interact at the lower levels. He has appeared primarily at upper levels and now once within the Library (Theory Wing).

[Kaveman26]

Oooh, now THIS is interesting. The babies are gonna be mad, the drow are going to be trouble, considering how likely ambush will be every time they dare to move. And now do they dare to go through the vamp ritual? They have an enemy that knows about them and is preparing to come for them "soon enough" So having an incapacitated party member would be a bad thing. I wonder what they can do to fort up? Also, I admit that im making assumptions from the "run" order seraph gave off, but how much trouble are they really in now? I mean, if the drow are still preparing, shouldnt the party have gone for a shock and awe attack to at least cripple them somewhat before fleeing? Pare down the numbers a bit, and damage whatever their setup is and it might buy them more time than just running away.

I chalk up their hasty retreat to some meta-gaming. Drow are tough. Drow matrons are downright scary, especially depending on their build and level of support. Fully stocked with fodder undead and spells built around taking out a well protected target such as a matron would be different story. But with their generic prep spells and no real gameplay, running away was quite predictable

[Traab]

I chalk up their hasty retreat to some meta-gaming. Drow are tough. Drow matrons are downright scary, especially depending on their build and level of support. Fully stocked with fodder undead and spells built around taking out a well protected target such as a matron would be different story. But with their generic prep spells and no real gameplay, running away was quite predictable

Ah ok, that makes some sense. I suppose taking the chance to escape without a fight is better than provoking a confrontation, even one you intend to run from, when you dont have, ohhh, I dunno, two big dragons and a small army of adventurers to back you up in an emergency anymore? lol.

[Kaveman26]

Wait, are u are telling me that eternal treachery and constantly burning bridges can work against one's best interests?

Inconceivable,

[Traab]

Wait, are u are telling me that eternal treachery and constantly burning bridges can work against one's best interests?

Inconceivable,

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

[Jonagel]

Drow Matron = High level Cleric normally....so I suspect they're terrified to lose control of their skele-dragons. Nice!

Very interesting world building bits by the way. I do wonder, why has the Beholder not cleared out certain areas like Moodor, the Drow hide away, other little bases/camps?

[Kaveman26]

Drow Matron = High level Cleric normally....so I suspect they're terrified to lose control of their skele-dragons. Nice!

Very interesting world building bits by the way. I do wonder, why has the Beholder not cleared out certain areas like Moodor, the Drow hide away, other little bases/camps?

I actually a very specific and measurable method for determining when thresholds requiring The Beholder are met. They are as follows:

*If there is too much stuff for me to keep track of that I say "screw this", then you can expect him to show up.

*If the "plot" requires his attention he will show up

*If they ever make it to a central control room and survive they will have the ability to manually trigger and control it.

[Kaveman26]

Underworld War Part 1:

The single most sudden pressing need they address is protecting the library. From their standpoint going after a legion of drow with half-dragon spiders as allies is just terrifying. A giant smashes you in the face. A dragon breathes on you. Drow with invisibility, silence, darkness, faerie fire, poison and a swarm of vengeful hybrid dragon spiders now far larger and menacing than before? They don’t want any part of that fight happening anywhere other than where they can control the outcome.

The goblins are reasonably well equipped and are already accomplished skirmishers. Using them as snipers and guerilla troops in a territory they are already familiar with is a bonus. They take the following line of thought.

Sera is to go through the vamp process ASAP. They hold the library until her transformation is complete, at which point she becomes the avenging angel that makes excursions with a host of undead. They try to dominate and bring back as many drow as possible to subjugate as thralls until she is at her limit for vampiric minions. From their estimation, they have one day of major vulnerability, which is the day she has to remain submerged for 24 hours. They are confident that this enemy will be dealt with by that time.

Now…truth be told. I 100 percent expected them to hold up, fortify and make this a siege. As soon as I gave them a glimpse of the drow and Icy’s rapidly growing offspring I knew they would turn tail and go defensive. If you have read the other campaign recaps, my friends are VERY good at defending. Much like the A Team, if you give them time they are capable of substantially exceeding the given challenge rating a group would normally handle.

This is why I have had drow and spiders scouring the halls and flushing everything from this territory. They have ravaged the dungeon and left nothing with a pulse or flesh behind. What they didn’t take time to see in the spider’s lair is the stockpiles of food and rations now in reserve. I hinted at the minotaurs being slaughtered, and off screen they most definitely were. The drow had no illusions of breeding programs or forced psionic evolution. These were cattle to fuel the spiders growth and create a stockpile for the long siege.

The U.C. turn the entrance of the library into a funnel, shifting bookcases and tables and forcing any attackers to move through a chokepoint where they will be sniped at from high ground and forced to run a gauntlet of undead dragons. They establish some bail out points for the clerics to duck into the fray and move back out for assistance or a breather. They dispatch the dead dwarfs as sentries and then Sera spends the night in her filled coffin.

The following morning she ingests her potion and they settle in to wait. At 12:01 Hades senses the dwarf sentry skeleton guarding the passage from drow central being destroyed. At exactly 12:02 that afternoon a Bebelith, a spider the size of an elephant from the Abyss, comes stampeding into the front door of the library and cheerfully eats AOO from the undead dragons and the goblin snipers. It ignores everything except for the first pc it locates who happens to be Hades. It charges the undead lord and begins attacking him with reckless abandon. Hails of small level spell and arrows that can’t bypass it’s damage reduction fall upon it’s back. The undead dragons are tearing chunks out of it and the clerics are burning/healing to keep Hades from becoming spider food. The Bebelith possesses a rotting bite that withers away flesh from it’s prey and Con damage is mounting up quickly. After four rounds of frantic effort they manage to slay the demonic creature…and then watch as it’s form dissipates into thin air. A soft *plink plink plink* sees a trio of goblin archers tumble from their perchs on high as drow warriors snipe them from the library entrance. A trio of barbed harpoons attached to spider silk emerges from nowhere as the spiders drop their invisibility and reel in the dead goblins. The strike force immediately retreats back down the hallway and seems to evaporate.

Seraphim: ok…why the heck did that not leave a body?

Hades: It was a summoned creature.

Seraphim: Summons aren’t supposed to work.

Pluto: They work…just takes an hour to cast.

Doc: Anyone want to place bets on us getting hit again in an hour?

Anticipating another summoned creature kamikaze they shift their defensive set up and put up a wall of dragons between themselves and the door. At precisely 1:02 a second Bebelith comes stampeding in just as expected and this time it is contained and dispatched in much more controlled fashion. As they are applying the finishing strokes to it Seraphim lobs a fireball blind into the entrance way and is rewarded with a squeal from the spiders singed, a trio of drow archers is also revealed and they give a slight salute to the group before retreating.

Seraphim: Right. So now we know they have a plan and now they know we know. So question becomes: Do they repeat the same tactic expecting us to change? Or do they change up tactics since they anticipate we won’t? I would send a third wave the exact same way and see if we shifted our strategy.

Doc: My gut tells me they come at us with something different the third time around. Keep us guessing.

Ultimately they talk themselves in circles for some time and eventually they reset their operation into the hallway itself with the dragons clogging up the approach and the clerics close in. Sera and Azzie set up on a bookcase to gain height and vision for the hall and Doc sets up as a bodyguard for the bard and witch. Right on schedule a third wave attacks…this time a huge fire elemental with visible drow warriors and spiders trailing behind. Seraphim puts a flaming sphere at the heels of the trailing party and the clerics and undead go to work against the elemental. Doc makes what has to be the Perception check of the year...a natural 20 to notice “something” moving past him into the library. Azzie and Doc break off into the library and see half a dozen spiders uncloak* and tear into the goblin tribe. They spot the two pc’s and seem to to perform a coordinated breath weapon attack that strikes Azzie as something resembling a mini wall of ice. It pins the bard in his tracks and freezes him up to waist. Doc manages to juke and weave out of the trap lobbed in his direction and takes a leaping charge to sink his axe into one of the spiders. The spiders all scatter and begin harpooning goblins and yanking them off the higher bookshelves, content to let them drop.

Azzie locks onto the spider struck by doc and puts a pair of arrows into it’s torso that kill it. The rest of the spiders play tag with some goblins for a pair of rounds in which Doc and Azzie kill a second one. It costs them four more goblins dead, two of which are successfully dragged away.

Azzie: Doc, I get wanting to defend the little blokes. You got authority over them and you translate that as responsibility. Got to take care of your fans, I totally get that. But we can’t put our nuts on the block to save them.

Doc: You are absolutely right. We are far more important and dangerous then they are and we are the asset worth protecting and preserving. So ask yourself this: Why are they trying to target the goblins more than us?

Azzie: Good point. No frigging clue.

Doc chips Azzie out of the ice and they fall back to see how the clerics are faring. They find the elemental slain and the drow once again in retreat with minimal damage sustained.

Seraphim: We singed them and sent them packing, but they didn’t seem to put up too much of a fight.

Doc: They snuck in some assassins over our heads. Went straight after the goblins. We were just an annoyance that was slowed, they barely even attacked us. They killed four more of the tribe and Azzie and I got a pair of them in return. They tried taking the bodies too.

Hades: Are they actively trying to prevent us from having animate-able bodies? Do 1HD mooks make that much of a difference?

Pluto: Maybe they are trying to break the goblins morale, make them turn against us?

Doc: They are watching us fight to save them. Doubt that will work. We aren’t shoving them in front to soak up the first assaults.

Azzie: I think we can count on this: We can’t count on anything. They are devious sods that are making us dance to their tune right now. Let’s fall back deeper into the library and not just try to turn the entrance into a meat grinder. We clog it up with as much crap as we shift in an hour, and then we make several different fall back spots. Force them to really commit something deeper inside.

Everyone is on board with a thumbs up and they set about turning not just the entrance but the whole first tier into a series of ambush points. They pull back the whole tribe to the second tier and organize them into different “strike teams” a group with a sixth level sorcerer leads one team, a fifth level ranger a second team, and a 5th level witch a third team.

At 3:02 a third bebelith tries to crash through the debris piled up to block the entrance and it is assailed with a barrage of missile and spell fire. As it breaks through Seraphim throws up a Wall of Ice behind it to seal it inside and they see the shapes of Drow shrugging behind the wall and simply leaving. The bebelith rampages through looking for any targets and in short order is dispatched.

The four battles have left spell lists and channel reserves in tatters and they are starting to get antsy about a fifth wave.

4:02 comes and no attack follows suit.

After 8:02 passes without an assault they start to ease up a bit.

At 9:02 Seraphim keels over and begins to wretch violently. Bits of blood are mixed in with the sudden nausea and she feels like she has spontaneously come down with the worst case of stomach flu in her life.

Seraphim: This was one of the listed side effects but wow…

Doc: Hey look on the Brightside. We survived the first day…

[Inevitability]

A summoned bebilith? Okay, either this matron is a 18th-level caster or she just has a lot of XP to burn.

Either way, the cowboys are screwed.

[ImperatorV]

This reminds me a lot of the SCII HoTS mission where you have to defend Kerrigan while she does her cocoon-transformation thing.

The drow seem to understand the UC pretty well - I wonder how much they know, and whether they know or will find out about the incoming vampire.

[Traab]

A summoned bebilith? Okay, either this matron is a 18th-level caster or she just has a lot of XP to burn.

Either way, the cowboys are screwed.

They have altars to lloth and such setup, are there in game ways to reduce level requirements like that? As for my outlook, they still havent figured out the drow are gathering food I guess. (easy mistake to make) I would assume that means the dragon spiders are going to be getting bigger and bigger as the siege goes on. So far I think the drow are winning. The drow themselves arent really losing any troops. Mostly just summoned crap they dont care about or need to conserve. The necro squad is losing its goblins little by little, and soon they will be down a party member when seraph needs to get into her coffin. On the positive side of the ledger, we have another party member hopefully due back soon. Im kinda hoping he takes over that rather annoying yet generous mind reader fellow. It would make sense considering the sheer size of the gift he gave them. And his skills could be super useful when it comes to detecting invisible drow and spiders.

[Inevitability]

They have altars to lloth and such setup, are there in game ways to reduce level requirements like that? As for my outlook, they still havent figured out the drow are gathering food I guess. (easy mistake to make) I would assume that means the dragon spiders are going to be getting bigger and bigger as the siege goes on. So far I think the drow are winning. The drow themselves arent really losing any troops. Mostly just summoned crap they dont care about or need to conserve. The necro squad is losing its goblins little by little, and soon they will be down a party member when seraph needs to get into her coffin. On the positive side of the ledger, we have another party member hopefully due back soon. Im kinda hoping he takes over that rather annoying yet generous mind reader fellow. It would make sense considering the sheer size of the gift he gave them. And his skills could be super useful when it comes to detecting invisible drow and spiders.

Problem: Said mind reader is inside an even less escapable cell than the previous one; and I have a feeling he isn't going to get new cellmates any time soon.

[Traab]

Problem: Said mind reader is inside an even less escapable cell than the previous one; and I have a feeling he isn't going to get new cellmates any time soon.

Solution, said mind reader has absurd knowledge of the security systems, its entirely likely this was all a part of the plan. The whole shakeup of the team invading his original cell could easily be all the opportunity he needed to make his own escape. It would also tie in quite nicely as I said with the whole big reward he basically gave them on a silver platter. It gets hard to beat giving them access to templates, item creation and other possible goodies as a way to say, "Hey, can I join you?" I may be wrong, I just think that it would be pretty cool. Another sneaky evil bugger joining the crew that has already been established.

[Kaveman26]

Solution, said mind reader has absurd knowledge of the security systems, its entirely likely this was all a part of the plan. The whole shakeup of the team invading his original cell could easily be all the opportunity he needed to make his own escape. It would also tie in quite nicely as I said with the whole big reward he basically gave them on a silver platter. It gets hard to beat giving them access to templates, item creation and other possible goodies as a way to say, "Hey, can I join you?" I may be wrong, I just think that it would be pretty cool. Another sneaky evil bugger joining the crew that has already been established.

He is not joining as the mind reading super sneaky con man . You will see his updated character fairly soon.

[Honest Tiefling]

I do have to wonder if you ever tell your group our zany comments at this point.

[Traab]

I do have to wonder if you ever tell your group our zany comments at this point.

I think that would be amusing as heck personally. After the campaign ends, point your party to the board and let them read what we think of their ideas, the plans and such we came up with, what we guessed, what we missed. Should be a hoot. Especially since so far none of it has been bad really. Other than noting seraph and her willingness to slaughter everyone else.

[Shinji_Ikari]

This is getting good, I wonder how they will fare when Sera starts getting sick in the middle of battle? They do realize she is likely to get more and more sick and debilitated right?

And I am eager to meet the new party member too, keep em coming, please.

[DrMartin]

A summoned bebilith? Okay, either this matron is a 18th-level caster or she just has a lot of XP to burn.

Either way, the cowboys are screwed.

this is pathfinder: Bebilith is on the summon monster VII list, that'd mean a 13th level caster. still dangerous but not able to toss around Wish just yet. Of course they could be planar bindings or allies (6th level spell, minimun 11th level caster) instead, in that case it would cost gold or other services, but not xp (as xp in pf can only acquired and never lost or spent, as far as i know).

in any case they should be glad that teleport effects are not working, a typical tactic for a bebilith is to bite and then plane shift to finish its meal somewhere in the abyss

awesome campaign by the way. I'm totally hooked

[Gilphon]

I'm thinking that the Drow probably don't know about the Vampire plan- so from their point of view, they've trapped the UC and can whittle away at them at their leisure- hence them targeting the weak but limited Goblins and trying to avoid risking anything that's not a summon. The smart strategy would be throwing everything they have at Sera, since she'll be strong enough to pose a threat to the matron once the time's up.

I think. Not 100% certain how that sort of thing is handled in Pathfinder.

[Traab]

Can someone explain to me just how much of a game changer seraph turning into a vamp will be? I get that she will be tougher and have some kickass new abilities, im just unclear on exactly how pivotal they will be.

[Fable Wright]

Can someone explain to me just how much of a game changer seraph turning into a vamp will be? I get that she will be tougher and have some kickass new abilities, im just unclear on exactly how pivotal they will be.

She gets a substantial hit point boost from using her Charisma instead of her Constitution for her HP now, becomes much more difficult to hit or damage, gains a summoning ability that might bypass the 1-hour casting restriction, and most terrifyingly, the ability to cast Dominate Person at will. Anyone she slays via blood drain? Becomes a vampire or vampire spawn that also as Dominate Person at will. She's also able to walk on walls to cast outside of melee range, much like a Flight ability (or the closest thing, given this campaign's house rules), she can scout as a nearly-invulnerable cloud of gas, and she gets huge bonuses to her stats, Sense Motive, Perception, Bluff, and Stealth checks. Oh, and a boatload of mundane feats too, like Improved Initiative, Pathfinder's Awareness (which is actually not bad), Combat Reflexes, etc.

Mostly, the game changes are that she becomes an even more terrifying social force, gains the ability to throw out Dominations like candy, gains better spawn than regular undead, and becomes very hard to hurt and a very, very good scout.

[Traab]

She gets a substantial hit point boost from using her Charisma instead of her Constitution for her HP now, becomes much more difficult to hit or damage, gains a summoning ability that might bypass the 1-hour casting restriction, and most terrifyingly, the ability to cast Dominate Person at will. Anyone she slays via blood drain? Becomes a vampire or vampire spawn that also as Dominate Person at will. She's also able to walk on walls to cast outside of melee range, much like a Flight ability (or the closest thing, given this campaign's house rules), she can scout as a nearly-invulnerable cloud of gas, and she gets huge bonuses to her stats, Sense Motive, Perception, Bluff, and Stealth checks. Oh, and a boatload of mundane feats too, like Improved Initiative, Pathfinder's Awareness (which is actually not bad), Combat Reflexes, etc.

Mostly, the game changes are that she becomes an even more terrifying social force, gains the ability to throw out Dominations like candy, gains better spawn than regular undead, and becomes very hard to hurt and a very, very good scout.

Heh, wow, thats nice. I assume the lich template will have a similar kickass power up effect? The only thing im worried about is the cleric. Wouldnt she be a bad opponent for a vamp with her various turn/rebuke/control undead type spells? Especially if she is higher level like I think we are assuming? But still, barring a direct fist fight with the drow matron, she sounds like she would be a really nasty customer and actually CAN turn the tide of the battle.

Now, here is a question about meta knowledge that makes things hazy for me. As a player, you know how many spells a character or npc can cast per day, right? Do the npcs also know this? I ask because, if they DO know, then the drow have to be aware that they are draining spells and abilities out of the party like water. The longer they can keep attacking, the more likely the party will run out of spells and become sitting ducks. If they stop long enough for the party to rest up, its back to square one. Does that count as meta knowledge to use that as a dm? Or is it a simple fact of nature in the D&D world and the drow falling back is a sign of a different plan other than crush the adventurers now? Or does some factor in the rules I am unaware of limit how many times (other than the hour per summoning rule) the matron could have kept this up in one day?

[Fable Wright]

Heh, wow, thats nice. I assume the lich template will have a similar kickass power up effect?
The lich's power up is actually less impressive than the Vampire's, because the lich has more or less zero weaknesses. Aside from rendering the lich unkillable until the phylactery is destroyed and a host of immunities and damage resistance buffs, the only new added functionalities are the power to paralyze people with a touch (at a fairly decent DC) with some minor added damage, and the ability to supernaturally terrify CR 5 or below creatures. If you read Start of Darkness, notice how little Xykon's power set changed before and after becoming undead. Really, all he got was angrier. And a +8 racial bonus to Perception checks.


The only thing im worried about is the cleric. Wouldnt she be a bad opponent for a vamp with her various turn/rebuke/control undead type spells? Especially if she is higher level like I think we are assuming?

It depends on two crucial factors: Whether the matriarch has the Command Undead feat, and how high Seraphim's will save is. She gets a +4 bonus on her save from the Vampire template, but assuming level 14 on the part of the matriarch, she has to save against DC 17+Matriarch's Charisma against Command Undead, which is probably the highest-save feature. If she doesn't have that feat, then the fight becomes significantly easier, but yeah. If the matriarch has the feat, then Seraphim might be a liability in the fight against her, though this is mitigated by will save.

[Alfa]

Have not finished reading this so far, but I'm loving it! I wish my group was more like this...

[Traab]

The lich's power up is actually less impressive than the Vampire's, because the lich has more or less zero weaknesses. Aside from rendering the lich unkillable until the phylactery is destroyed and a host of immunities and damage resistance buffs, the only new added functionalities are the power to paralyze people with a touch (at a fairly decent DC) with some minor added damage, and the ability to supernaturally terrify CR 5 or below creatures. If you read Start of Darkness, notice how little Xykon's power set changed before and after becoming undead. Really, all he got was angrier. And a +8 racial bonus to Perception checks.



It depends on two crucial factors: Whether the matriarch has the Command Undead feat, and how high Seraphim's will save is. She gets a +4 bonus on her save from the Vampire template, but assuming level 14 on the part of the matriarch, she has to save against DC 17+Matriarch's Charisma against Command Undead, which is probably the highest-save feature. If she doesn't have that feat, then the fight becomes significantly easier, but yeah. If the matriarch has the feat, then Seraphim might be a liability in the fight against her, though this is mitigated by will save.

Well the perception and spot checks should help them deal with the drow at least, right? But man, aside from harder to truly kill, it seems like the lich doesnt get a lot of benefit, which seems odd considering, iirc, the ritual to become a lich is going to take way longer than to become a vamp. I suppose not being weak to sunlight and other such vamp weaknesses is a good benefit, and some of those bonuses ARE nice, just none seem to really be game changers at this point like the vamp's skill set.

As for the matron, I think we have to assume she does have the command feat. I dont see the dm being THAT generous with their enemies considering how royally stomped they have been getting lately. But maybe they will be lucky, and seraph has enough of a bonus to withstand all but a really lucky roll from the matron. I remembered reading vamps got the +4 to resisting a turn attempt, but I also knew the level difference was going to hurt. All that matters is how MUCH of a gap there is. Ah well, at least now I know it all will likely hinge on seraph surviving her ritual. And the mystery team mate that will eventually show up. Lord knows how THAT will effect things.

[Elandris Kajar]

Have not finished reading this so far, but I'm loving it! I wish my group was more like this...

Don't we all?

[Kaveman26]

She gets a substantial hit point boost from using her Charisma instead of her Constitution for her HP now, becomes much more difficult to hit or damage, gains a summoning ability that might bypass the 1-hour casting restriction, and most terrifyingly, the ability to cast Dominate Person at will. Anyone she slays via blood drain? Becomes a vampire or vampire spawn that also as Dominate Person at will. She's also able to walk on walls to cast outside of melee range, much like a Flight ability (or the closest thing, given this campaign's house rules), she can scout as a nearly-invulnerable cloud of gas, and she gets huge bonuses to her stats, Sense Motive, Perception, Bluff, and Stealth checks. Oh, and a boatload of mundane feats too, like Improved Initiative, Pathfinder's Awareness (which is actually not bad), Combat Reflexes, etc.

Mostly, the game changes are that she becomes an even more terrifying social force, gains the ability to throw out Dominations like candy, gains better spawn than regular undead, and becomes very hard to hurt and a very, very good scout.

Yeah pretty much this. Vampire as a template is downright game changing. Especially without several of the natural weaknesses being an easy factor. There is no daylight inside. There is little to no running water to submerge her in. Garlic and holy symbols only hold at bay.

Dominate Person can drastically hijack nearly anything, because like a heavy hitting boxer there is always going to be a roll and therefore a chance. When I put the drow into motion one of my concerns was actually them trying to capture the matron alive and holding her until the vampiric ritual was complete. Not only would Seraphim gain all the abilities shown, but in theory she could end up with a high level cleric that gains all those same abilities and is now under her complete control. I won't say that I actively tried to prevent this, but I definitely had this in mind as something that could occur.

Of course they are clever enough to know that the dominate/command door swings both ways. One bad roll and the dominos all fall. Mid combat if someone wrests control of Seraphim as a vampire they also by proxy gain control of her vampiric spawn along with any undead under animate bucket, her bonethrall bucket, and her command undead bucket. Just an example at 9th level if she successfully complete the ritual and fills her slots you could be looking at:

Bonethrall: 9HD
Command Undead: 9 HD
Animate Dead: 36 HD
Vampiric Spawn: 18HD

so 72HD of undead plus a 5th level spell capable high charisma witch with strong debuffing abilities and some nasty DC's to save against all switch sides based on 1 roll of the dice.

[Traab]

Yeah pretty much this. Vampire as a template is downright game changing. Especially without several of the natural weaknesses being an easy factor. There is no daylight inside. There is little to no running water to submerge her in. Garlic and holy symbols only hold at bay.

Dominate Person can drastically hijack nearly anything, because like a heavy hitting boxer there is always going to be a roll and therefore a chance. When I put the drow into motion one of my concerns was actually them trying to capture the matron alive and holding her until the vampiric ritual was complete. Not only would Seraphim gain all the abilities shown, but in theory she could end up with a high level cleric that gains all those same abilities and is now under her complete control. I won't say that I actively tried to prevent this, but I definitely had this in mind as something that could occur.

Of course they are clever enough to know that the dominate/command door swings both ways. One bad roll and the dominos all fall. Mid combat if someone wrests control of Seraphim as a vampire they also by proxy gain control of her vampiric spawn along with any undead under animate bucket, her bonethrall bucket, and her command undead bucket. Just an example at 9th level if she successfully complete the ritual and fills her slots you could be looking at:

Bonethrall: 9HD
Command Undead: 9 HD
Animate Dead: 36 HD
Vampiric Spawn: 18HD

so 72HD of undead plus a 5th level spell capable high charisma witch with strong debuffing abilities and some nasty DC's to save against all switch sides based on 1 roll of the dice.

So when the time finally comes for the big battle, I would imagine that seraph will stay as far away from the matron as possible to try and avoid getting controlled. Sending in her minions from a long range so they each have to be turned or whatever manually instead of taking control of an entire army in one cast. Or at the very least finding as many ways to buff her chances at making her saves as possible. Im not sure if any of the party can buff her in that way or not. Can she send in her body swap skeletal pawn thing to control things at the local level, while in reality hanging back at the library? Sure it would be an interesting game of cat and mouse. She isnt in danger from the matron, but there is no telling if there are drow and spiders making an end run for the library while she is mostly by herself.

[GnomishPride]

Will you be doing level adjustment stuff for applying templates for balance (or something like that)?

[Fable Wright]

Will you be doing level adjustment stuff for applying templates for balance (or something like that)?

Pathfinder handles that for him; Seraph's CR will increase by 2, so she will be earning less XP per encounter until the rest of the party catches up in one form or another.

EDIT: Wait, question. Kaveman, you said that Seraphim had a Command Undead Pool. Does that mean she has the Hex Channeler archetype and the Command Undead feat? Or did that Command pool come from elsewhere?

[Kaveman26]

Pathfinder handles that for him; Seraph's CR will increase by 2, so she will be earning less XP per encounter until the rest of the party catches up in one form or another.

EDIT: Wait, question. Kaveman, you said that Seraphim had a Command Undead Pool. Does that mean she has the Hex Channeler archetype and the Command Undead feat? Or did that Command pool come from elsewhere?

I will have to check back, thought she picked it up from gravewalker. Or I accidentally put down bone thrall twice in my notes.

Ok, it was a replacement spell from gravewalker. So she has access to spell command undead not feat.
Also as for power gap, templates are going to be available for each pc to bring them back to a semblance of par

[Kaveman26]

Underworld War Part 2:

The U.C spend the whole night on high alert rotating watches and generally being paranoid. The following day they once again continue to make adjustments to their defensive formations and try to prevent from getting too predictable. At precisely 12:02 a Bebelith again tears at their defensive structure and forces it’s way in. Once again Seraphim throws up a Wall of Ice behind it to trap it inside and prevent others from entering. The demon spider then does a 90 degree turn and breaks off to the side…diving for cover behind a mass of bookcases and piled tables heaped out of the way. They watch as an all too familiar flaming sphere begins to melt the wall from the outside.

Doc: If we rush the summon we are going to have to contend with whatever else comes through.

Seraphim: I don’t like getting baited into coming out from where we are prepared. As long as the demon spider just sits there we are fine. Let it sit, the summon will expire after 10-20 minutes.

Doc: I got a bad feeling just sitting here. I know it makes sense, but I got a bad feeling.

The wall melts and as it comes open a Rhino comes crashing through accompanied with the sound of clinking glass. There are several dozen vials of a substance hanging from it’s flanks and the creature comes at a full speed run directly towards the largest fortification. They put a boatload of projectiles into it, some of which strike the vials and cause a gas to emerge. By the time it comes to a bellowing halt the front half looks like a porcupine and the impact of it dying mid run shatters most of the remaining vials. Amidst the fumes and choking the Bebelith charges in hot on the rhino’s heels and begins to tear at anything within it’s reach.

The group was smart enough to pre-emptively grease the area around the doorway leading inside and they are treated to the squels of invisible spiders crashing down off the walls where they were trying to sneak in. When the Bebleith sees this it seems to change tactics and begins to focus it’s attention on the goblins…even the ones killed by the poison. It makes it a point to bite and wither any goblin it can reach, and then moves on to the next one.

Doc: I really want to know why they are going so hard on the gobbos. I feel like we are missing something big here.

The spiders able to maintain their traction harpoon goblin corpses and try to skitter away with their spoils. Three more spiders are felled and the Bebelith also beats a retreat with a pair of goblin corpses clutched in it’s talons.

Tally from the noon raid:

3 more dead spiders
6 dead goblins
1 Wall of Ice burned for the most part ineffectually.

Seraphim: ok…I am thinking Doc is right. We are missing something big here. We are practically an afterthought. They are deliberately taking or corrupting the corpses. Preventing us from reanimation I get. Why they are preventing 1 HD minions I don’t.

Azzie: the spider made it a point to rot the ones they couldn’t snatch. Invading armies will burn crops to stop the enemy from harvesting.

Doc: But we aren’t eating the goblins.

Azzie: If we ran out of other food we probably would.

There is a moment of pause followed by a metaphorical lightbulb going on.

Hades: Ballpark how many days of rations do we have left?

Pluto: Feeding us and the goblins about 15. Little longer if we keep losing them.

Hades: What about the meat harvested from the dwarves?

Pluto: Maybe another 2 days.

Hades: So in a little over two weeks we start getting hungry and we have over three weeks until the coffin bath.

Azzie: We could put all the gobbos on half rations.

Hades: Yeah, don’t think that will fly. We won them over by feeding them. Starving them won’t keep them around.

Seraphim: Then we wipe them out. Keep the best half dozen or so and kill the rest. Problem solved. Also forces the drow to stop harrying us and commit to a full fight where we can end this.

Doc: You are proposing we wipe out the tribe that gave their fealty to me?

Seraphim: They are already getting wiped out, just slowly and nastily. We can make it quick, decisive and worthwhile. I am fine with a Plan B, just speaking pragmatically.

Doc: Anyone else got a Plan B?

Azzie: Uhm…yeah. Don’t think you will like it much though.

Doc: I am listening.

Azzie: We send the whole tribe straight at the elves base. We hit em with bless, prayer, I tune up the band and get them all lathered up and see send them straight at the H.B.I.C, let them go out in a blaze of glory and maybe even sum of them live.

Seraphim: H.B.I.C.?

Azzie: Head Bitch In Charge.

Doc: They will get shredded.
Azzie: Oh absolutely. But while they are raising hell we light the place up with a pyro show to end all concerts. Hit em hard and fast then we fall back to the vault room.

Seraphim: They will just camp it out until we suffocate.

Azzie: Alright well maybe that part won’t work but the rest will.

Hades: Dying with a weapon in hand covered in someone else’s blood is a good death compared to a spider’s web and poison sapping the strength from your bones.

Doc: Alright, but I think we should wait for a few more hours. If she is summoning the creatures attacking us that means she is burning high level spell slots to do so. That is probably what is limiting the number of attacks each day, she doesn’t want to overextend herself and be left with fumes. We hold out until late tonight and then come in blazing. If we do this we don’t hold back, nothing left behind we empty the clip and fire everything we got.

Doc actually lays it out pretty straight to the goblins. He explains their reasoning and says that their best shot is an all out blitz. He assures them he will be through the door right there with them. The tribe is somber but resigned to their course. They seem genuinely touched that he went to the trouble of consulting them.

Seraphim: The only concern I have is what type of advanced warning they will have. We have no clue as to their total effective force and no clue what or who will be scouting or tipping them off. We need to hit fast and hard before protective spells get up. I think we go full enervation volley and try to diminish the matron right off the bat. Doc should lead with evil eye going after her saves and the rest of enervate. He follows the second round with his own enervate.

Hades: yeah, that seems like the best opening move.





They endure a further three waves of attacks and do their absolute best to avoid burning any higher level spells. The twins use their channeling without reservation and make it a point to avoid losing any dragons. As the end of the second day’s siege approaches they prep up the remaining 46 goblins and mass together their assault force. When they come within a few hundred feet of the drow encampment Doc throws up Bless, Prayer, and Azzie begins inspire courage. With Doc at their front the goblins begin their suicide charge straight into drow central. The twins and dragons follow on their heels as do Azzie and Seraphim bringing up the rear.

The first two rounds pretty much go the way they expected. The goblins and Doc crash in and are immediately targeted by drow archers and fighters. The spiders begin making mincemeat out of the weaker ones and their charge gets halted before the first goblin can reach the matron who is at the seat of her alter. It does keep the majority of attention as the dragons come barreling in as they throw the kitchen sink at the drow matron

They trigger their sequence of saving throw suppression and energy drains via enervate. When all 3 castings hit there is not a sound at the table. Instead of “let’s get the tribe killed and bang them up in the process” suddenly the outlook becomes “maybe we can take this”

Doc is trying to force his way through the massed bodyguards who are mobilizing to protect their matriarch with alarming speed. The matron in turn drops a flame strike directly on Doc that vaporizes most of his goblin vanguard and rocks him for more than half his health.

Drow archers are culling the goblins showing spells and better prowess, while the spiders are dragging away the dead for their webs. Their excitement is draining rapidly as they are taking far greater casualties then they hoped and the matron while diminished is still a spell casting nightmare. When a third flame strike puts a raging Doc out cold they decide to cut losses and bail. Seraphim lobs fireballs in retreat as they get a dragon to scoop up the witch doctor and retreat. The twins lay down a final wave of negative energy that wakes up Doc and Seraphim puts up her last Wall of Ice as an impediment to pursuit.

In full flight mode they lose the entirety of the goblin tribe, save for the level 6 sorcerer they held furthest back. He triggers his last spell (lightning bolt) that makes it through against a drow swordsmen and after that he is in full blown run mode.

Seraphim: Please tell me they aren’t pursuing.

Hades: not everyone is coming. Just the drow warriors and most of the spiders.

Seraphim: Oh at least some good news.

The spiders send coordinated harpoon attacks against specific PC’s, as they try to wrangle and capture the clerics. Mid flight they are forced to expend movement for action as they sever away the tow lines being sunk into their flesh. Working in the PC’s favor, if the spiders mass up at all to try and make a stronger pull they are lit up like a fireworks show by Seraphim who is emptying every spell she has. Their fire vulnerability is doubling her effective force against them and carving up a heavy death toll amongst the orphaned hybrid arachnids.

As the spells and channels start heading towards empty the spiders fall back and the drow move in. Harpoons are replaced by poison darts that can cause sleep with a single failed roll. Arrows in mass come from the more skilled snipers in their ranks, and PC’s begin glowing with the signature marks of faerie fire. Several spiders are seen scurrying overhead and racing to get ahead of the central pack. Azzie does his best to peg the overhead runners and keep them from getting ahead, but he doesn’t pack enough raw damage to kill them while also trying to run.

Hades: We have to stand and fight, they are cutting us to shreds.

Pluto: We can’t, they will harry us from distance until we start failing saves. They have numbers and we are running out of spells. We will lose that battle.

As they try to get into a defensible or terrain advantageous position Hades groans in frustration.

Hades: Something just took control of our dwarf sentry at the prison barracks.
Pluto: What?

Hades: I just failed an opposed check to retain control of our prison sentry. Something else just took control of it and is heading up from the prison block.

Seraphim *with a small chuckle*: Hopefully it’s not Lau-Rain.

In a three way race: They need to stay ahead of the drow pursuers, but not get so far ahead that they intercept whatever is coming from the prison, but they need to beat both back to the library where they can find some favorable positioning.

Hades is the first to blow his save against the sleep poison and mid stride he collapses like a head shot zombie. Pluto breaks off his retreat to aid his brother and Doc who is still staggered but on his fight also breaks off his run. Azzie and Seraphim share a glance and sigh.

The witch makes a final volley of flame down the hallway and then draws out a quarterstaff. She is leaning heavily on it as her skin is flushed and pale from a nasty fever that seems to be intensifying. She crawls onto the back of her undead dragon more for support or rest than to use as mount. Pluto triggers his last channeled wave to wash the group and hopefully force the drow into retreat.

Several “somethings”, quite large and carrying metal equipment are coming from around the turn from the prison block and Pluto flips a cantrip for detect undead and merely confirms that there are undead amongst them. Azzie turns from the drow to focus on the rear of their position. A trio of Frost Giant skeletons all still dripping gore and viscera come around the corner…a low flame seems to burn from each of them. Each is well armored and carrying a greatsword. They flank and protect the rear of an armored humanoid clad in full plate and walking with the same fiery aura. His armor is black as night and emblazoned with tombstone motifs, as are his shield and scimitar. It is almost as if there is no form inside the armor just shadow and flame clinging to stolen glances of raw bone and flesh.

Seraphim: That is Dis Pater’s armor, but that doesn’t look like Dis.

Pluto: I don’t know who it is, but I know what it is. It is a graveknight.

The graveknight draws forth it’s scimitar and levels it at the drow beyond.

Graveknight: These belong to me now. Run to your mistress and tell them they are claimed.

A cone of fire bursts from the scimitar and scorches the hallway, and as it burns the giants roar and seem to ignite brighter stepping forward menacingly.

Pluto: Is that you Dis?

Graveknight: Dis Pater was my mortal name. That creature was weak and failed. You may call me Ares. That is my name eternal.

[Traab]

Well ok then! A graveknight huh? Time to go read up on that one. Oh. Oh MY! Wow thats one scary bugger. And really a good matchup for this group. A lot of his special abilities are hard for me to really understand since the damage dealt is effected by his hit dice and whatnot and since I dont know those offhand its hard to tell how powerful his skills like channel destruction and devastating blast really are. But I am assuming that even if its only say, 2d6 for channel, thats a decent bonus for every swing of his weapon. And that sacrilege aura thing of his sounds like it will be a really really nice boost towards building an army. Assuming they ever manage to get to the point where they CAN build a decent army of the undead.

One question,
Defensive Abilities: A graveknight gains channel resistance +4; DR 10/magic; and immunity to cold, electricity, and any additional energy type noted by its ruinous revivification special quality. A graveknight also gains spell resistance equal to its augmented CR + 11.

Let me see if I am getting this right. A graveknight is flat out immune to cold and electricity, all other magic he automatically takes 10 less damage from? And in addition his spell resistance is further boosted by his cr +11? Is it just me, or does that sound like he is virtually immune to magical damage? I mean, thats a LOT of spell resistance, and then damage reduction on top of it all, not even counting his flat out immunities. That is going to be a huge help when attacking the matron again.

[DireSickFish]

DR 10/magic means that you need magic to pierce the DR. So a normal swing of a longsword that does 12 damage will be reduced to 2 damage. But a magical longsword will deal the full 12 damage. Magic missiles for example still do full damage, unless countered by spell resistance.

[Kaveman26]

Well ok then! A graveknight huh? Time to go read up on that one. Oh. Oh MY! Wow thats one scary bugger. And really a good matchup for this group. A lot of his special abilities are hard for me to really understand since the damage dealt is effected by his hit dice and whatnot and since I dont know those offhand its hard to tell how powerful his skills like channel destruction and devastating blast really are. But I am assuming that even if its only say, 2d6 for channel, thats a decent bonus for every swing of his weapon. And that sacrilege aura thing of his sounds like it will be a really really nice boost towards building an army. Assuming they ever manage to get to the point where they CAN build a decent army of the undead.

One question,

Let me see if I am getting this right. A graveknight is flat out immune to cold and electricity, all other magic he automatically takes 10 less damage from? And in addition his spell resistance is further boosted by his cr +11? Is it just me, or does that sound like he is virtually immune to magical damage? I mean, thats a LOT of spell resistance, and then damage reduction on top of it all, not even counting his flat out immunities. That is going to be a huge help when attacking the matron again.


The dr10/ Magic means he cuts off 10 damage from any physical attack that comes from non magical weapon. Any magic weapon functions normally. He is immune to cold and electricity. Spell resistance is a chance to flat out ignore a spells effects. This template amplifies his character motif and fits the group really dang well.

More to come in next few days. Things are starting to kick into high gear

[Fable Wright]

Well ok then! A graveknight huh? Time to go read up on that one. Oh. Oh MY! Wow thats one scary bugger. And really a good matchup for this group. A lot of his special abilities are hard for me to really understand since the damage dealt is effected by his hit dice and whatnot and since I dont know those offhand its hard to tell how powerful his skills like channel destruction and devastating blast really are. But I am assuming that even if its only say, 2d6 for channel, thats a decent bonus for every swing of his weapon. And that sacrilege aura thing of his sounds like it will be a really really nice boost towards building an army. Assuming they ever manage to get to the point where they CAN build a decent army of the undead.
Yeah, that damage boost on each swing is probably the biggest boost on the template. It's huge. Though Devastating Blast, for reference, has damage roughly equivalent to the twins' channeling. That is, it's not that high, about half as strong as Seraphim's fireballs, but still good as an option to help cull herds. Sadly, does not heal the team, though.


Let me see if I am getting this right. A graveknight is flat out immune to cold and electricity, all other magic he automatically takes 10 less damage from? And in addition his spell resistance is further boosted by his cr +11? Is it just me, or does that sound like he is virtually immune to magical damage? I mean, thats a LOT of spell resistance, and then damage reduction on top of it all, not even counting his flat out immunities. That is going to be a huge help when attacking the matron again.

Graveknight is immune to three damage types: Cold (like the spiders), Electricity, and whatever damage type its blasts deal (which may be Fire, allowing him to stand in the middle of Sera's fireballs without caring). He doesn't take 10 less damage from magic, but instead takes 10 less damage from nonmagical weapons. That formatting's a bit unintuitive to someone not used to 3.Derivative stat blocks. Spell resistance, however, is huge. Any caster must roll 1d20+their casting stat to hit a 22 in order to affect him with any magic. That's a flat-out no-sell of 40% of the matron's attacks, and devastating against any casters weaker than himself.

[Traab]

Ok thanks for clearing that up. Wow that is a scary template. If they can hold off till seraph finishes her ritual, they will have two ass kicking army slaying game changing characters to work with. Also, it would probably make her less likely to go for a backstab since he has that undead mastery ability to work with. Though the description i read doesnt go into detail explaining what sort of roll he has on it. So I have no idea how effective or futile it would be against a vampire of equal level. Or her thralls for that matter. I like his ability to come back from the dead. Very fitting for how this group is building itself. A vamp, a lich, a graveknight. Not sure if the demon/devil/fiend/whatever templates have anything similar or not. Like, they get banished to whatever evil plane and cant come back for however long it is.

[Traab]

As a follow up note, I just wanted to add that this group is awesome. They decided on a theme, and have managed to not only keep it going, but to keep it going in a way THAT MAKES SENSE. The justification for Dis becoming a Graveknight was absolutely ideal for example. There is no obvious meta knowledge making it happen like, just HAPPENING to stumble across some random person in the dungeon with no connection to them or their enemies who also JUST HAPPENS to be of a class that synergizes amazingly well with their mechanic.

[Lord of Shadows]

A Vampire (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/vampire) and a Graveknight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/graveknight-cr-2).. this just keeps getting better and better.
.

[Kaveman26]

Im partially tempted to make a jump to our present situation so that I can go back to soliciting direct and current feedback. Would require skipping or glossing over a fairly sizable chunk of action and developments though.

[Traab]

Personally, I dont want to miss any of the action, but then, I couldnt offer much beyond an ignorant outsiders opinion on things anyways.

[Honest Tiefling]

Im partially tempted to make a jump to our present situation so that I can go back to soliciting direct and current feedback. Would require skipping or glossing over a fairly sizable chunk of action and developments though.

I'd either propose it in a different thread, so the comments on the campaign don't get mixed up with the advice. That...Might get confusing. Also, people who don't read campaign logs but do offer advice might drop on by. Else...I'd just put any situation you want input in a spoiler as you did a few pages ago.

I rather not gloss over things, I do find this interesting...Permission to poach a few ideas?

[Gilphon]

I'm curious about exactly how far behind we are, but would prefer it if you didn't skip ahead.

[Kaveman26]

Poach away.


Current level:

We are actually running at 13th level currently. Couldn't even hazard how many weeks of gaming between then and now, I think about 11-14.

[Norin]

Please do not skip things. I just enjoy this too much to skip the progress in detail.

[ImperatorV]

I also would prefer to not skip things - and second the notion of putting up another thread for advice on current events.

[CrispyCriminal]

Awesome as he is now, I'm disappointed he (or anyone I know who took that template) didn't take up the name Fortesque. Or even Sir Daniel.

[Ionsniper]

I believe the templates are perfectly reasonable at this point in time without any lvl adjustment. Mild time requirements mixed with high threat enemies and low magical to non existent equipment means they are far lower on the power curve than they should be.

Granted that they have found the feats and templates now, but items take time to craft and they are not exactly lenient on time with threats in every corridor. If they manage to gain control of the ship things will become substantially easier. Personally I wanna see them free Lau-Rain and wreck havoc.

[Brion]

Please do not skip things. I just enjoy this too much to skip the progress in detail.

Agreed completely.

[Kaveman26]

Alright. I may be posting a separate thread looking for feedback and suggestions for actions impacting current situations.

[Traab]

Can I ask for kind of a big favor from someone? I have been trying to look up the various template information bits. I found the lich, vamp and graveknight templates, but I wasnt able to find the shadowlord or the various demonic builds either for some reason. Would someone be willing to do a copy paste to this subject of those things so I can see what sort of plusses and minuses the party members will be dealing with, should they go through with the various options? I did notice that all the builds I COULD find had the same +2 cr addition to them. Im not sure if thats a standard addition or if its a sign that Kave carefully chose which templates to allow to try to keep things balanced, but like I said, its one of those things im curious about.

[Fable Wright]

Can I ask for kind of a big favor from someone? I have been trying to look up the various template information bits. I found the lich, vamp and graveknight templates, but I wasnt able to find the shadowlord or the various demonic builds either for some reason. Would someone be willing to do a copy paste to this subject of those things so I can see what sort of plusses and minuses the party members will be dealing with, should they go through with the various options? I did notice that all the builds I COULD find had the same +2 cr addition to them. Im not sure if thats a standard addition or if its a sign that Kave carefully chose which templates to allow to try to keep things balanced, but like I said, its one of those things im curious about.

Shadowlord (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/shadow-lord-cr-2)
Half-Fiend (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/half-fiend) (though Kaveman's modified it into two forms for demons and devils, most likely via spell list modification, immunities, or defining which stats get the +4 and +2 boosts.)

[Kaveman26]

Shadowlord (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/shadow-lord-cr-2)
Half-Fiend (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/half-fiend) (though Kaveman's modified it into two forms for demons and devils, most likely via spell list modification, immunities, or defining which stats get the +4 and +2 boosts.)

That pretty much nails it on the head.

[Traab]

Shadowlord (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/shadow-lord-cr-2)
Half-Fiend (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/half-fiend) (though Kaveman's modified it into two forms for demons and devils, most likely via spell list modification, immunities, or defining which stats get the +4 and +2 boosts.)

Oh wow, that half fiend one is nice for spell resistances. That poison immunity would be handy for soaking up dart attacks from drow right? The shadow lord looks less instantly amazing, but still has some really nice spell resistances and dr depending on hd. Speaking of, the hit dice thing. You may have covered this already, but I have forgotten, how many hit dice do they have currently? Because Im seeing a lot of skills that rely on that for determining their abilities and just how absurd they are. Like, the shadow lord can get extremely effective against the spiders depending on if he has 5 or 16 hd. :p Not too mention the damage reduction.

[Kaveman26]

Oh wow, that half fiend one is nice for spell resistances. That poison immunity would be handy for soaking up dart attacks from drow right? The shadow lord looks less instantly amazing, but still has some really nice spell resistances and dr depending on hd. Speaking of, the hit dice thing. You may have covered this already, but I have forgotten, how many hit dice do they have currently? Because Im seeing a lot of skills that rely on that for determining their abilities and just how absurd they are. Like, the shadow lord can get extremely effective against the spiders depending on if he has 5 or 16 hd. :p Not too mention the damage reduction.

One hd per level. So ninth level is 9HD

[Traab]

One hd per level. So ninth level is 9HD

danke schon I wasnt sure how all that worked, or how added templates might effect things. So now I can go back and drool over everything knowing EXACTLY how strong it is. :smallbiggrin:

[Jonagel]

Oh wow, that half fiend one is nice for spell resistances. That poison immunity would be handy for soaking up dart attacks from drow right? The shadow lord looks less instantly amazing, but still has some really nice spell resistances and dr depending on hd. Speaking of, the hit dice thing. You may have covered this already, but I have forgotten, how many hit dice do they have currently? Because Im seeing a lot of skills that rely on that for determining their abilities and just how absurd they are. Like, the shadow lord can get extremely effective against the spiders depending on if he has 5 or 16 hd. :p Not too mention the damage reduction.

I think Shadow Lord powers come from:
1) Seeing in darkness (including magical...that is something almost nothing in Pathfinder gets IIRC)
2) Incorporeal while moving (This. Is. Massive.) : immune to critical hits and sneak attack like damage, and all non magical damage. If that isn't enough, all magical damage only deals 50%. So long as you're mobile, you're a massive tank. An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior (Better scout than Vampire?). It can sense the presence of creatures or objects within a square adjacent to its current location. An incorporeal creature’s attacks ignore natural armor, armor, and shields. Incorporeal creatures pass through and operate in water as easily as they do in air. Incorporeal creatures cannot fall or take falling damage. They cannot take any physical action that would move or manipulate an opponent or its equipment, but they are not subject to such actions (grapple/trip/bull rush/spider harpoons...). Incorporeal creatures have no weight, and do not set off traps that are triggered by weight.
An incorporeal creature moves silently and cannot be heard with Perception checks if it doesn’t wish to be. Incorporeal creatures have an innate sense of direction and can move at full speed even when they cannot see.

[Roentgen]

Kaveman I must ask you something as you're a pathfinder DM and from your other thread you mentioned the presence of bloody and burning skeletons. My PC is a level 18 Dread Necromancer in a 3.5 game where some pathfinder things have been allowed in. My DM (who is new and roughly inexperienced) has given the all clear for burning skeletons but he rejected bloody skeletons quite viscerally as overpowered and tends to willfully ignore my repeated clarifications about the rules of Animate Dead, i.e. you can't make a skeleton of something with more than 20HD unless its a dragon which then equates to fast healing 10. He thinks that these 20HD skeletons with fast healing 10 will be unkillable, even at this level of play due to my ability to heal them with Harm and so on. His main problem overall is that they get up again in 1 hour, provided they haven't been killed by the myriad methods that mean they don't get up which he also ignores. From what I've read the twins have the ability to heal the undead as well so the proposed situation in my game would be similar. What has been your experience so far with them in the game? Are they as game breaking as my DM fears?

[Kaveman26]

At level 18 broken stuff is unavoidable.


From my perspective they are not "broken" they are very durable and problematic, mostly because they have stacked bonuses and tactics around them. At the end of the day the fast healing is mostly moot. Harm etc are a much bigger impact. They still have limited to no range ability, no evasion and are subject to being turned or dominated. They offer the pcs no added protection beyond damage soaks.

They are also quite expensive to restock. A 14hd frost giant bloody burner is 4200. With that coming out of the budget so to speak they are far more conservative that they used to be.

Most of my aggravation is logistical...a few hundred hd of undead to track and manage from slots and buckets is very time involved.

[Roentgen]

Thanks for your insight. I personally wouldn't attempt to use all 800 HD of my available animate dead pool in one encounter because, as you say, the logistics would be a nightmare. I'd only have one or two 15-20 HD bloody skeletons doing the heavy lifting for me. However if I had that amount attacking a city in a cinematic setting where I'm not attempting to roll for any of the ones that are 'off screen' the DM still rejects that idea because any that have fallen would get up again in one hour, giving me an advantage which is seen as bad by him for some reason. I don't think he's entirely aware that Druids and Wizards at level 18 can level a city with a few spells in less than a minute.

[Traab]

I think Shadow Lord powers come from:
1) Seeing in darkness (including magical...that is something almost nothing in Pathfinder gets IIRC)
2) Incorporeal while moving (This. Is. Massive.) : immune to critical hits and sneak attack like damage, and all non magical damage. If that isn't enough, all magical damage only deals 50%. So long as you're mobile, you're a massive tank. An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior (Better scout than Vampire?). It can sense the presence of creatures or objects within a square adjacent to its current location. An incorporeal creature’s attacks ignore natural armor, armor, and shields. Incorporeal creatures pass through and operate in water as easily as they do in air. Incorporeal creatures cannot fall or take falling damage. They cannot take any physical action that would move or manipulate an opponent or its equipment, but they are not subject to such actions (grapple/trip/bull rush/spider harpoons...). Incorporeal creatures have no weight, and do not set off traps that are triggered by weight.
An incorporeal creature moves silently and cannot be heard with Perception checks if it doesn’t wish to be. Incorporeal creatures have an innate sense of direction and can move at full speed even when they cannot see.

Question about incorporeal and the way its applied here. How do you set things up to stay incorporeal during a battle? I mean, their attempt to escape last installment is obvious, they are running the whole time so incorporeality would be active the whole time, but in an actual fight, are you not moving in between rounds when its the enemies turn? Do you have to declare "im doing the foxtrot in front of the bad guys so I stay incorporeal" every round? Because it seems like every time the shadow lord stops to take a swing at something, he loses his incorporeality, which costs him all the benefits of it. Also, the idea of scouting through walls and such would be more difficult since he has to be constantly moving to not resolidify. It just seems this would be kind of complicated to use properly to me.

[Jonagel]

Question about incorporeal and the way its applied here. How do you set things up to stay incorporeal during a battle? I mean, their attempt to escape last installment is obvious, they are running the whole time so incorporeality would be active the whole time, but in an actual fight, are you not moving in between rounds when its the enemies turn? Do you have to declare "im doing the foxtrot in front of the bad guys so I stay incorporeal" every round? Because it seems like every time the shadow lord stops to take a swing at something, he loses his incorporeality, which costs him all the benefits of it. Also, the idea of scouting through walls and such would be more difficult since he has to be constantly moving to not resolidify. It just seems this would be kind of complicated to use properly to me.

In battle, if you take a 5 foot step in a round you're considered to have moved for that round. There are a handful of abilities that require you to be in movement, and this 5 foot step satisfies that I think (I can't recall any off the top of my head, sorry!). So long as you made your 5 foot step every round, you'd be incorporeal I guess? I'd defer to Kaveman though!

[Traab]

In battle, if you take a 5 foot step in a round you're considered to have moved for that round. There are a handful of abilities that require you to be in movement, and this 5 foot step satisfies that I think (I can't recall any off the top of my head, sorry!). So long as you made your 5 foot step every round, you'd be incorporeal I guess? I'd defer to Kaveman though!

I say he insists on our resident shadowlord to be doing the hokey pokey if he wants to be incorporeal during battle. :smallbiggrin:

[Jonagel]

I say he insists on our resident shadowlord to be doing the hokey pokey if he wants to be incorporeal during battle. :smallbiggrin:

Hahah, since he said Azzie was interested, I envision an even more eccentric performance by him =P

[Kaveman26]

Underworld War Part 3:

Having been the first real death in a place subject to six millennia of constant warfare and strife, Dis Pater was infused with the energies and fragmented souls of a thousand never quite real beings. They fused his memories and persona directly to the husk of his bones and the armor of his mortal life, returning him as a graveknight imbued with the fire that erased his mortal existence. Now calling himself Ares he has returned to those he called friend and brother.

Their greeting is fairly short lived as the startled Drow are not exactly falling over themselves in retreat. The twins convert their low level spells to inflicts and top off the group and dragons as best they are able. They create a wall of undead flesh to hold the drow at bay while Azzie sends arrows streaking through the gaps.

Doc: If they don’t break off soon we are done for.

Seraphim: I don’t think they can have much left in the tank either. Not enough to justify leaving their weakened leader behind.

Frustrated at trying to penetrate the giant/dragon gauntlet the drow lay down darkness and retreat with their spiders.

Pluto: How did you get away from Lau-Rain?

Ares: He thought me an illusion of his own accidental design. It didn’t occur to him to stop me. Not that he is any less dissuaded to escape now. His every thought was bent to it from what I heard him rambling in the brief minutes I was there before hightailing it.

Seraphim: So we are fine? No bad feelings?

Ares: Well that all depends. I hear tell that you are undergoing the process to become a vampire.

Seraphim: Yes.

Ares: Well provided you don’t get out of hand I think we should be just fine.

I had initially let everyone know that they could upgrade their equipment to reach their average WBL, and that they could leverage crafting feats to that effect. Not wanting to drag out additional weeks of game time I decided to make the following executive decision. All “Crafted” items would be provided and equipped immediately now that Ares had joined the group. We would bypass the time restrictions of crafting and just get everything done at once.

I also put into play what I called the “Ares Rule”, with the bump in Wealth by Level I gave him the option to buy his undead minions. This was intended as a way to correct the onyx per HD cost that we had been ignoring up to that point. I also opened the door for template or special undead. At 100GP her HD he sunk in 4200 to make 3 Burning+Bloody Frost Giant Skeletons.
I extended this same courtesy to each of the other players as well. With the provision that only creatures they have encountered can be used to stock their ranks. Seraphim, Hades, and Pluto all elected to take 2 Frost Giants in the same fashion at 2,800 each.




Seraphim:

Alchemical Golem (Igor)
Headband Mental Prowess+4 (Int Cha)
Cloak of Resistance+4
Cog Crystal (5PP)

Hades:
Negative Channeling Phyla
Breastplate+3
Cloak Resistance+4
Large Steel Shield+3

Pluto:
Same

Doc:
+1 flaming greataxe
Belt Mighty Con+6
Boots Striding Springing
Pale Green Prism
Dusty Rose Prism

Azzie:
Headband Cha+6
Cloak of Resistance+4
Bracers of Archery Greater

Dis Pater:
Full Plate+1 special
Headband Cha+6
Phyla Negative Channeling
Large Steel shield+3
+3 keen scimitar

37K group fund

-4,200 For 3 Burning+Bloody Frost Giants (Ares)
-2,800 For 2 Burning+Bloody Frost Giants (Seraphim)
-2,800 For 2 Burning+Bloody Frost Giants (Hades)
-2,800 For 2 Burning+Bloody Frost Giants (Pluto)

37,000
-13,600

23,400 In group reserve

This represented a very substantial spike in terms of character power level and their overall effectiveness. It also was a prompt for them to get a little bolder when it came to the template acquisition procedures. Azzie decided to crack open the Shadow Lord book and Pluto dives into the lich manual.

For the lich process the core process is 90 days and requires Pluto to create a soulbinding phylactery that will house the essence of his being. To create the phylactery it will require the creation of a special liquid that takes ninety days to form. He must brew the potion or compound for 90 days. Although it’s more of a fermentation process than brewing process. To complete he must locate the following three items.

The skull of an adult dragon.

The tears of a murderer

The finger bone of a sentient skeleton. I.E. a psionic skeleton, a lich, or a wight that has been stripped of it’s flesh.

The finger bone must be place into the dragon’s skull and touched by the tears of a murderer everyday for ninety days…this process will dissolve the bone and create an “ink” that he may scribe his very soul to a parchment that will be consumed by his phylactery.

As for Azzie’s transformation:

He must go live in total darkness for one full day. The only way for this to be accomplished by description of the manual is for him to put out his own eyes with a hot flame. He must also willing allow a level drain effect to impact him from a creature capable of doing so. That creature must then be contained within a crystalline amulet for 21 days, it must be “fed” a level from any living creature once per day. If that the creature fed upon dies before the end of the 21 days then so too will Azzie. Finally he must forge a knife from obsidian and upon the 30th day he must open his own wrists to spill his blood upon the crystalline amulet. When his mortal form dies, his shadow form will rise.

Azzie: Well this is a load of bollocks. He has to shove a moldy finger bone into a half-assed dragon skull chamber pot and get all weepy for a couple months. I got to loose my freaking eyes, slash open me own wrists and let some rotty ghoul siphon off my bloody soul.

Seraphim: Not just your own…you have to split the drains. And we can’t just wither away random expendables. If one dies then so do you.

Pluto: Well I am confident that I am considered a murderer, so my own tears will do just fine. The Dragon skull shouldn’t be an issue. A sentient skeleton could be tricky.

They elect to return to the prison ward and sweep the prison manifests for anything that may fit for the skeleton. For Azzie…they figure that he can blind himself the last day and they are willing to shuffle energy drain damage for the 21 days and they can work their best to alleviate the drain. The Obsidian they are confident can be located from within the theory wing as all manner of random stuff is shoved in there somewhere.

Time Table Info:

Days left for Seraphim’s Transformation 28
Days left for Azzie 30
Pluto 90
Doors open in 20

They figure on having a little over a week to capture and contain an energy drainer and then they have to start taking hits. Seraphim continues to suffer from a nasty fever and constant irritation.

Doc: I swear we can’t catch a break…take a look at the crystal ball.

They all huddle around Doc at the crystal ball and see Ackshale coming into focus from a hallway that leads to one of the other entrances (a path they have only peripherally scouted via remote view) he is at the forefront of a full scale frost giant army. Dozens of frost giants come into focus, along with a scattering of arctic trolls and two score of the strangest creatures they have ever seen. They walk upon eight legs but have the upper body of a frost giant adorned with horns. They are just as large as the frost giants and each is carrying longbows and lances.

Azzie: What in the hell are those?

Seraphim: They are Svathurim’s. Distant kin to the frost giants. I have only ever heard stories of them though.

They survey the giant army as it basically takes over the entire first two layers of the dungeon. They drain their psionic points observing the army and come to a fairly accurate tally.

96 Frost Giants
22 Svathurim
82 Arctic Trolls
32 Wooly Mammoth.

Hades: There is no way we can go against that army and the drow at same time.

Seraphim: There is no way the drow can go against us and that army at the same time. And we have at least a working relationship with the giants, the drow don’t.
Doc starts laughing himself silly at this observation.

Seraphim: What?

Doc: We HAD a working relationship with this group not too long ago…now we got 9 of their brethren walking around with their guts hanging out still dripping blood while they all look like walking furances. How well do you think they are going to buddy up with us once they see your new pets?

Seraphim: Well I said earlier we would burn that bridge when we got to it, guess we are at that bridge now.

[Sqmach]

So the current plan is for them to each take level drain in turn to allow Azzie to gain his template. I'm really hoping they don't have Sera take part in this, because she's going to die in 28 days to become a vampire, which would kill Azzie too, right? Seems the kind of thing they might not consider until its too late.

[Kaveman26]

So the current plan is for them to each take level drain in turn to allow Azzie to gain his template. I'm really hoping they don't have Sera take part in this, because she's going to die in 28 days to become a vampire, which would kill Azzie too, right? Seems the kind of thing they might not consider until its too late.

The fact that they put up a chart with day's tracked is only thing that prevented this very thing from happening

[DireSickFish]

Doc: I swear we can’t catch a break…take a look at the crystal ball.


Yeah Doc you just got backup from Frost Giant undead ruled over by a fallen comrad back to life with new superpowers! And you're about to give everyone int he party a similarly powerful template. Not to mention all the loot they've made adjusting up to WBL.

I think they just caught a big break. Hopefully they can parley there way into the frost giants good graces. Or at least be to tough a nut for them to crack. The Drow seem more problematic as an enemy because they have all that invisibility/parinoa to there advantage.

Cool to see the UC with there feet under them again. Cant wait to see how they tackle the next bit.

[Hamste]

So to be clear when they read the book it binds to them but they won't die unless they actually start the ritual and fail to complete the requirements with in the time frame?

[Kaveman26]

So to be clear when they read the book it binds to them but they won't die unless they actually start the ritual and fail to complete the requirements with in the time frame?

Once they open the book they are the only ones who can complete. Most have a complete or die clause.

So for example...sera can't open vampire book and say nvm...let doc have it. It's bound to her. If she screws up the process it can kill her. If she opened it and said ahhh nvm she is safe.

[Traab]

I gotta agree with azzie, thats some serious bull excrement there, the sheer disparity in requirements. If the lich process fails for whatever reason, big effing deal, he can start over. It can be treated like a freaking hobby he can take his time with. There are literally zero downsides to the process in any way shape or form. Azzie has to basically cripple himself, risk a month long potential instant death at any time with a relatively complicated ritual, THEN commit suicide and hope it worked. But if shadow lord is as awesome as its been described, its probably worth it. Noone seemed to be that excited when chatting about pluto becoming a lich. I cant wait to find out about the fiend "quest"

As for the skeletons, thats neat. I had to do a quick search on it, but at least now I know what bloody and burning adds to these pets. So basically, a relatively weak bit of extra damage, plus aoe damage, plus they explode when killed, combined with regeneration? Im not sure how them being frost giant skeletons changes their damage however, thats getting beyond me in complexity, but im assuming that makes them both more durable and more damaging than say, a human skeleton would be.

With the story, thats awesome. Now we have a three way war. I wonder if they are buffed enough to quickly slip in and crush the drow now? They got their gear boosts, new stronger pets, and a new party member, so it might work. The real issue with their template stack attempt is the timing. As I said, the lich thing is not that huge of a deal if something goes wrong. But both seraph and azzie are going to be in a perilous position as the doors to the dungeon will open what, a week to ten days before they are complete? Even if they manage to get THIS scenario under control, thats a wide open window of opportunity for more excrement to hit the fan. If they can pull it off, the good news about the frost giant army is, thats a LOT of raw materials for food and new undead minions. Wooly mammoths especially. I bet they could eat for an entire cycle off just one of those bad boys. The rest would provide for some excellent meat shields. I also cant help but wonder what a frost giant vampire thrall would be like. /evil grin

[CrispyCriminal]

Just out of curiousity, was seraphim referring to Lau-Rain when she asked if there was no hard feelings or was it Dis-Pater?

[Fable Wright]

I gotta agree with azzie, thats some serious bull excrement there, the sheer disparity in requirements. If the lich process fails for whatever reason, big effing deal, he can start over. It can be treated like a freaking hobby he can take his time with. There are literally zero downsides to the process in any way shape or form. Azzie has to basically cripple himself, risk a month long potential instant death at any time with a relatively complicated ritual, THEN commit suicide and hope it worked. But if shadow lord is as awesome as its been described, its probably worth it. Noone seemed to be that excited when chatting about pluto becoming a lich. I cant wait to find out about the fiend "quest".

No one winds up going for the half-fiend options.

That said, yeah. The downside for Pluto is having to wait three months to get his template, but on the upside, it's not so bad if it's disrupted.

[Shinji_Ikari]

More, I need more of the Undead Cowboys, I want to see how they deal with gaining their templates.