Journal Cattle Driving Necromancers-Bizarre Campaign Journal [Archive] - Page 3

Kaveman26

2015-10-31, 11:33 AM

Underworld War Part 4-

I can honestly say the night following the equipment bump and undead purchase was amongst the single most paranoid night they encountered. To peel back the DM screen a bit here is one of the things I have done for ages. For our groups it goes as a given that there will be a rotating night watch as a matter of automatic fact. There is no question about this. As a DM I make three given checks in a given night. They Are:

Roll 1: Random Encounter-a non story related wandering encounter typically something I thought was creative but not group threatening.

Roll 2: Random Story Related “Plot Development”- I keep a list of minor but story centric details or developments that I want to get across but not in any specific manner. These can the form of random apparitions, sendings, messages in a bottle, spooky sounds etc.

Roll 3: False Alarm- I give a 10% chance on any given night of having something that amounts to a false alarm just to keep them on their toes.

I make some charts that accumulate chances for things to happen and they know there are three given rolls on a given night, but they don’t know what those rolls entail. To have six people literally gripping the side of the table as a d20 makes contact with the surface and watching them literally hold their breath to see if I just pick up the dice or grab something based on that roll is extremely enjoyable. It just so happened that I rolled a random story detail that was incredibly amusing based on the day’s events.

Jaze Drive By-Volcanus detail.

As they hit the third watch Azzie is designated look out and as he stays with arrow to bowstring and keen eyes on the pathways leading to their den near the crystal ball he spots illuminated symbols on the upper walls of the library. With enough knowledge of psionics I know allow them to translate the symbols which amount to:

“Hey Guys…your old friend Jaze here. Just thought you might like to know that the 9th circle of isolation has been well…disintegrated. Only the absolute most dangerous or valuable stuff gets into those deep circles. I did my best to figure out how and the only clue I got was Volcanus. That is bad. Could mean he is breaking free of his constraints”

The following morning he related the message and the overall consensus is that they cant do anything about it, and hopefully they get a warning for when he actually is free. They settle in to watch what the frost giants have accomplished and are surprised to see the drow skirmishing with the giants.

Ares: If they are at each other already might be a good time to hit them while distracted.

Azzie: The drow are pretty well fortified within the dragon lair, our last assault got thrown off without a care. The giants we can physically watch and see they are fortifying everything towards the direction where we would attack. I don’t think a frontal assault would work against either group and we cant exactly sneak up on their rear.

Doc: Actually I think we could. The Giants came from a different entrance, there must be a path that leads back up from a different direction too. We follow the spokes from this wheel and we should find a direction that leads up, we can trace a path from there to come up on the giant’s rear. Be a long walk but we can observe their positions and not constantly be under threat of invisible spider surprise.

Seraphim: We need to hold this spot though and at least get one more weeks worth of acquisition from the library secured section. We can’t abandon the coffin or our other research projects. That is four more days we need to keep this place at a minimum.

Doc: Yeah, I think we need to fight on two fronts with two teams. We send Ares, Hades, and Seraphim on scouting trip to isolate a best path. Azzie, Pluto and I hold down the fort and keep the elves and giants honest. Ares and Sera’s auras synergize just about perfectly, and Ares can be a front liner. I act as a frontliner here with buffs from Azzie and channels from Pluto.

Seraphim: What is our best case goal from this? What are we aiming at?

Doc: We wipe out everything. Hit the reset button so to speak. Too much bad blood towards us. Time to purge and eliminate everything that thinks badly of us. We start with the giants and stockpile their corpses if we can. Create a backlog of animinateable bulk stock. When we winnow away the giants we shift towards the drow. Drow zombies are fodder, drow vampires are worthy of our attention. Once Sera really gets her fangs we cull the drow and make them allies.

Pluto: Would force the giants to split their attention and if we have the intelligence edge that makes it so we only attack when it suits us. Trick is to get ourselves back here fast enough if something heavy does come for us.

It takes virtually one full game day but they backtrack from a hallway adjacent to Propulsion and start moving up towards the area of the second “Giant” entrance. At an even pace they estimate it takes about 30 minutes to reach their dungeon entrance from the library taking the back roads. That means half an hour’s distance between the two forces. Azzie actually makes the session’s MVP suggestion.

Azzie: We need some big ass stretchers, or wheelbarrows, maybe a sled.

Doc: What for?

Azzie: If we are dragging dead giants back we need some way to move them that doesn’t take a bleeding fortnight. Can have the skeletons carry the dead, but they weigh a lot. Sleds or barrows would work wonders and in a pinch, they are cover.

With an entire day devoted to topography and cartography they make only cursory probes against the drow and call it a night. Their intention is to draw up a plan based on the mornings intelligence and then begin their attack against the giants. When they wake up the next morning it is to find Seraphim wretching her guts out. It appears she aged at least ten years overnight and her features are becoming more sunken in and gaunt. Ability score penalties are beginning to be felt strength wise as she now has a -1, and her fever is all the higher.

Seraphim: Some side effects was an understatement.

Azzie: I think it’s safe to say this is only the tip of the iceberg dear. Got a feeling its going to get a lot worse.

The giant strike team stops off to reposition a mook sentry at the prison and they run through the full prison registry to look for anything that fills the sentient skeleton criteria, they come away with a short list of prospects but nothing they are ready to jump on. From their early morning scrying they know that a small assembly of giants is building a series of traps near the dungeon entrance. That is their first target.

With a map and plan in place they are able to circumvent the majority of opposition and get themselves successfully down the hallway with their giants at the lead. The work force sees several giants coming down the hall and a cursory examination reveals they are on fire and not easily disguised. As they drop work tools and reach to grab weapons a combination of Flame Strike, Fireball, and a Cone of Fire from Ares all strike home. The burning skeletons come charging in hot on the heels of the opening salvo and Seraphim follows up with a flaming sphere to begin some constant damage. Being able to lob in fire spells with their own forces fire immune is a huge boon. They pin down the living giants and are able to finish off each of the four with no losses.

Seraphim: We should animate them as zombies and make it look like they are still working, then wait for their second shift, take them too.

Hades: I only have 8 animate slots open. Dragon is in my command

Seraphim: Me too on animate. I don’t have a slot to hold from bonethrall or Command

Ares: My Graveknight is almost full too.

Seraphim: No go on operation Act Natural I guess.

Ares: We can put the gear and clothes from the dead ones on ours. Might mask them a bit.

Seraphim: I thought about that…the constant fire and bleeding are heavy tip offs.

They load up their dead giants on some homemade stretchers and begin carting out their dead…somehow against all odds they manage to avoid all patrols or additional resistance and about 40 minutes later they report back in with four bodies for storage. They make it back in time to watch as their relief arrives to find the four compatriots vanished. They listen in via crystal ball and realize the drow are being blamed for the MIA giants.

Giant: Ackshale and Ravin are going to want to hit back hard for this. Probably going to strike back heavy. Let’s make sure we keep Ackshale’s dog under close eye. The elves might make a play for him if they figure out we have him.

All: hmmmm.

Seraphim: Let’s see if we can scry out a location for the captive drow. He could prove a good bargaining chip.

With time they are able to pinpoint Dog’s location. He is being held in what they thought of as the animal preserve where they encountered dire animals months back. He is under heavy guard and in rough shape.

Azzie: We want to try and spring him?

Doc: It would take all of us. I am seeing two svats, six burly looking warriors, two archers and one predatory looking captain I think.

Ares: They are mobilizing towards the front. Everything I can scope is getting double guard duty. Only thing that seems a bit light is there larder. They are holding back their food stocks at the end of a hallway with their mammoths. If we could get there undetected we would be golden, but that is a heck of a walk through heavy territory.

Seraphim: Then let’s offer it to the drow.

Ares: Alright I got to hear this one…

blacklight101

2015-10-31, 11:55 AM

Their luck seems to hold still, thats quite the feat in itself. I can't wait to see how the bargaining session goes or if it just turns into another meatgrinder where they lose yet more HD of skellies and zombies.

Traab

2015-10-31, 11:59 AM

Oooh nice. Well it looks like a drow/giant team up isnt immediately in the cards. That may change though if our crew gets too clever with their plots and plans. I see they are going for a scorched earth plan again when it comes to dealing with others. Because that has never bitten them in the buttocks before. Though I honestly cant blame them in this case. Its remotely possible they could build up neutrality with the drow by rescuing the captured drow, but unlikely at this stage. And seraph, ugh, i can only imagine that the last week before she gets her upgrade she will be virtually useless in a fight if she is already losing points.

Honestly, im a bit surprised they even tried anything. I mean, right now they are in a holding pattern. They want one more library run, and need to run out the clock on seraphs vamp ritual. And the giants and drow seem to be focusing on each other atm. Seems risky to try to make a move against either of them. Last thing they want is to be chased off from the library before they can raid it one last time at least.

A part of me thinks the smart money would be to wait out the week, raid the library, then try to escape the dungeon in some way. They are wealthy and soon to be powerful beyond their dreams at this point what with template stacks item creation, and god knows what else they can get out of the library. And the dangers and threats inside this dungeon are getting more and more troubling. If they can escape before the vamp ritual is complete, seraph wont have to worry about the sun and can complete her ritual someplace else. Once that ritual is complete, she is stuck there till she can create some sort of umbral shield item.

On the other hand. If they can manage to hold position, and wipe out the drow and giants, they have a chance to be able to truly rule the dungeon area (till volcanus or that mega vamp break out perhaps) Because they are not just higher level. They also have templates, magical gear beyond what the outside world can really produce, have a fortified position, a vast library to raid that will grant them even more awesome stuff over time, and the ability to scry anything trying to reach them. The longer it takes the beholder dragon monster, that vamp, or whatever volcanis is to come out and play, the stronger and better prepared they will be. The downside is, if any of those three threats DO break free, our team is likely heavily screwed. Maybe in a few more levels, once they have their additional templates, and perhaps some even better gear, they will stand a solid chance.

Chimmon

2015-11-02, 01:00 PM

Kaveman26

2015-11-02, 01:14 PM

Traab

2015-11-02, 01:15 PM

If I were in the party, I'd be a lot more concerned about what the drow are up to. They attack - targeting the goblins. The PCs attack en-mass, losing all but 1 goblin. The drow, now with nearly every goblin corpse, stop their raids on the PCs. It's almost as if they got what they wanted.

Let's not forget, they have a matron. With high-level divine magic, getting detailed info on all the PCs via speaking with dead goblins is a given. Finding out about the library is a given. They may even know about how/when it can be opened, depending on how sneaky the goblins were with paying attention to their new "friends". Eh, it's not like goblins are sneaky or drow are ruthless and cunning. They probably can safely ignore them....

Thats true, but they at least THINK they solved the mystery there. The drow and spiders were dedicated to removing the party's food source. Corrupting and decaying all the bodies just to be extra sure they couldnt be consumed. As for the drow, of course they stopped, the giants are attacking them right now. As was pointed out, neither of the three factions can handle the other two at the same time. Plus it helps that after that big attack against the drow, they got a new, and powerful, party member to join them, forcing the drow to back off from their pursuit. If they are suddenly attacked the exact moment they try to do a library run, then im sure they will figure out what happened. (If that even does happen)

Chimmon

2015-11-02, 02:14 PM

Thats true, but they at least THINK they solved the mystery there. The drow and spiders were dedicated to removing the party's food source. Corrupting and decaying all the bodies just to be extra sure they couldnt be consumed. As for the drow, of course they stopped, the giants are attacking them right now. As was pointed out, neither of the three factions can handle the other two at the same time. Plus it helps that after that big attack against the drow, they got a new, and powerful, party member to join them, forcing the drow to back off from their pursuit. If they are suddenly attacked the exact moment they try to do a library run, then im sure they will figure out what happened. (If that even does happen)

I think that it's ironically their necromancy specialization that's blinding them to the value of a corpse. They see them as food/animation targets. Hence, they value giants over drow. They don't see them as information sources (or some other option that I'm missing as well). I have to wonder if there's a 3rd option relating to the bite that's like some kind of slaad-like conversion process. i.e. Turn goblins into a demon/slime/something else incubator.

It was done with werewolves already. An acquired, spreadable template could be another way to greatly increase the value of a goblin body. Hundreds of goblin werewolves... that's a pretty scary thought. Or worse yet, there may be some other undead-template (like bloody or burning) that could pump goblins up even more.

Kaveman26

2015-11-04, 08:55 AM

Underworld War Part 5-

Seraphim: We send a skeletal dwarf as a messenger with a treaty pinned to it. We include a map showing where Dog is being held and a request for a verbal face to face parlay. I will arrive to the meeting via skeletal proxy and they are invited to do the same in whatever format they are comfortable with. Make sure that we tip them off to the soon arriving Frost Giant push. Simple quid pro quo agreement. They hit the larder which they can reach via stealth and we make a food-for Dog exchange. We will get Dog free and make a switch.

Doc: And when they backstab us?

Seraphim: Neither of us can afford a backstab. They are going to be extended holding off the giants and we are going to be extended killing giants.

Hades: Why not just offer to combine our forces against the Frosties ?

Seraphim: Neither of us will honor an agreement for that length. I also don’t want a full scale attack against that force. If they have to split between us that is to our benefit. If they can push everything against one combined force I don’t think we take that even when combined with the drow. If we keep things chaotic and unpredictable no one will be able to organize a strong counter attack. We just need to keep things crazy for a few more days. Then we can relocate out of the library and make them look for us or fight each other until they are ground to dust.

Azzie: I fink they might go for that.

Seraphim: If they do then we need to find a way to let the Frostie’s know its coming.

*blink blink*

Doc: Come again?

Seraphim: We want both these sides in disarray. If the drow waltz in and just pillage their larder without any real opposition that still leaves them in good strength. We want them to meet resistance.

After some lengthy debate they arrange for a random dwarf skeleton to approach the drow stronghold with details of their proposal. In short order a drow archer comes under flag of truce to treat with Seraphim who spells out their proposition. The matron via her proxy agrees to the terms and they establish a rally point where the parley occurs.

Seraphim: Oh btw…expect a heavy push against your position later today from the giants. Word is they are planning to hit you hard tonight.

The U.C. arrange a similar messenger that greets the Frost Giant legion and alerts them to the imminent raid to occur against their storeroom.

Once they set the wheels in motion they resume their intelligence gathering and witness additional troops deployed to the storeroom and to the prisoner’s holding pen.

Doc: Damn, they are probably thinking the storeroom raid is a feint covering for a prison break.

Seraphim: It kind of was supposed to be. Is there anything of value that is now light on protection?

Ares: Not really. Storeroom is heavily guarded now. Prisoner Is heavily guarded. They are mobilizing a lot of their warriors and trolls for a frontal assault into the teeth of the drow.

Hades: What about any barracks? They must have established an area for soldiers to rest, cant have everyone going 24-7.

Ares: There is a barracks of sorts kind of in former gnoll territory. We actually have a secret door from one of the access tunnels that comes pretty close to it. It will skirt us close to the main action, so if either side has found that tunnel we are probably cooked. It is also nowhere near to being on point for the prison break.

Doc: Have we identified anything resembling a chief?

Ares: Best we can tell they are doing it by committee. Ackshale, Jaykon, Ravin are their three chiefs.

Doc: Any of them left behind?

Ares: Nope, all three mobilized to the front.

Doc: Guess that rules out trying to create a leadership vacuum

Seraphim: So either we make a blitzkrieg against a barracks, or we stick with the agreed upon plan and try to spring Dog.

Pluto: I think we stick to the plan and go for the prison break.

Seraphim: That means basically leaving the library unguarded. *

Hades: We are going to have to sooner or later.

With considerable trepidation, they vote to make a full scale all in attack against the prison room and try to rescue Dog from the giants. Their gameplan is to go in hot. Attack full scale and aggressively to eliminate as many opposing forces as possible and then grab the drow and run. Ideally they want to leave no survivors, but if they can snatch the elf and get out clean they intend to do so. The whole group, undead giants and all mobilizes and makes their way via the backdoor route to giant country.

Almost immediately upon getting into hostile territory a duo of guards not earlier there spots them coming around a bend in the hallway. The first guard immediately raises an alarm from a horn, and the second moves to block off the hallway with a massive tower shield.

Ares: Well that is a less than stellar beginning. Let’s try to take out the guards before reinforcements arrive, worst case we bag two and retreat.

They launch a series of fire spells into the tower shield’s vicinity and send in their skeletons at a full charge. Ares is hot on their heels and Doc is right on his flank. AS they create one heck of a rugby scrum reinforcements seem to arrive very quickly as a phalanx of trolls with longspears nearly a dozen strong comes to back up the slowly backpedaling giants.

Seraphim: I am thinking we just need to cut from here and bug out.

The witch turns to get Azzie’s opinion and sees the bard slumped against the wall, lights out with a dart sticking out of his neck. A pair of drow are smirking at her as they move into a flank position on either side of her.

Seraphim: Oh…well that is just cruel.

The twins turn to see the witch in a very bad position and they redirect a pair of giants towards her while shouting the development towards the rest of the group. For her part Seraphim whose action is now is, takes a five foot step to avoid full flank and proceeds to attempt an everation into the teeth of the attacker that can reach her. She eats a longsword attack in retaliation and from the initial cut instantly recognizes the blade as being poisoned.

Ares and Doc are holding back the troll and giant force, but without the twins washing their giants, their skeletal offensive line is starting to falter. Ares puts a channel smite into a scimitar swing that crits and kills a troll outright. Doc makes a similar crunching swing from his axe and puts the tower shield giant into critical condition.

The pair of drow maneuver to resume their flank and make a full attack against Seraphim who eats a handful of attacks that drops her to low single digits for health. They then immediately withdraw and begin to retreat as the twins and other giants are coming to bear. Not to be denied a measure of payback, she jumps to the closest giant and uses him to launch a Wall of Ice cutting off the drow retreat.

They swarm the pair of drow and quickly disable them, stopping short of killing them and instead grab their prone forms and pull a full blown runner to escape the giant patrol force now gearing up to pursue them. Five giants, a Svathurim, and 15 trolls are all forming up and a few hail mary style pot shots come from troll crossbows.

Seraphim throws her half elf body over the shoulder of her Skeletal proxy and leads the escape. They try to slow their pursuers with fireballs and cones from Ares, but they are not breaking off their chase, if anything the flames seem to be egging them on.

Doc: If we don’t kill them or force them to back off they are going to know our backdoor route.

Hades: That may be unavoidable at this point.

Seraphim: Let’s try to kill them. There is a chamber coming up with some wiggle room. Tuck a cleric into each corner, line up a half circle of skeletal giants and put me and Ares right in the center. Let’s smoke these guys with both barrels. If we can’t break them so be it, but let’s try.

At first the trolls try to chip away with bow fire from on far, but when Seraphim sets a flaming sphere to burn at their heels they are forced to wait the spell out and come in force. They start blowing through spell slots as quickly as possible and when a new scrum emerges at the center of the room they begin to exploit their fire immunity. Seraphim fireballs right at her own feet to burn everything within twenty feet of herself. The twins drop their remaining flame strike’s and eat the divine damage as a side effect on their own undead. Health totals are swinging wildly as both spear and axe land with gruesome ferocity from the giant’s attacks. Fire vulnerability takes its toll and the butcher’s bill starting seeing debits from falling trolls and badly charred Frosties. Before they sustain too heavy of losses the trolls and company fall back and retreat, abandoning 1 dead giant, and 7 dead trolls in the process. A freshly woken up Azzie manages to drop an 8th troll with a snap of his bowstring, and the ever pragmatic cowboys russle up the full array of corpses and start dragging their kills back to the library.

Doc: Are we killing the drow? Or hostage exchange?

Seraphim: Neither. We are crippling them and stashing them away.

Doc: They are going to notice the two drow missing. Not too hard to figure out that we ran into them.

Seraphim: Right. I have no intention of exchanging them and I don’t want them escaping. So hamstrings, Achilles, patella, pretty much anything that lets them move is getting crushed or severed. I want them around for when I finish my switch to vampire.

Ares: Explaining this to the drow is going to be a problem. No Dog, we didn’t even reach him.

Seraphim: We met much greater resistance than we expected, including a pair of drow assassins. Let them explain that away.

Later that evening, they meet as arranged with a drow party waiting for the recovery of their missing kinsman. When the skeletal proxy Seraphim arrives empty handed they are less than thrilled.

Drow: This was supposed to be an even exchange Dog for Provisions. I don’t see Dog.

Seraphim: I don’t see our provisions, apparently they are both invisible.

Drow: We weren’t prepared to bring everything until we had proof of life.

Seraphim: No matter. We didn’t recover your friend. We met much stiffer resistance than expected, on more than one front.

Drow: What do you mean?

Seraphim: A Pair of your warriors ambushed us from the rear as we were engaging the enemy force. We were quickly swarmed and your friends were captured by the giants. I presume they are now being held in the same place.

Drow: Yes…we were afraid something misfortunate like this could occur. Two of our scouts were on reconnaissance where the bargain was struck. They were not provided this change of circumstance and may have simply struck out in self defense.

Seraphim: Oh well glad that is cleared up then. Good to know. We will try again tonight to save your comrade.

The two bicker back and forth for a while and eventually leave. Sera reports back in and alerts them to the “miscommunication” that triggered the ambush. They figure it will be easy to verify if this actually happened. Ares goes to their captive drow and removes a gag from one.

Ares: The matron says you went rogue and acted on your own accord. Told us that since you violated our agreement we are free to cut out your hearts.

Drow: You lie! We were given orders to attack.

Ares: Right…thank you for that information. Yeah…they definitely are trying to sabotage us a bit.

Hades: That is fine. Was to be expected. Can we turn it to our advantage though?

Azzie: Well let’s tell the drow we are going to attack right up the gut and draw the giants away from the prison. I’ll bet dollars to donuts that they ambush us as we try to take on the giants. So instead of attacking them we let the giants know the drow are coming for a counter attack and we hit the barracks from the secret tunnel.

Ares: I like this plan…

Traab

2015-11-04, 09:53 AM

Arent they aware that the drow likely know about their "secret tunnel" already? They are dealing with an entire race of freaking near invisible scouts and spies. They almost HAVE to assume the drow have been following them all this time, learning everything they can. Hell, they are probably going to be ambushed no matter where they attack from, as its likely there will be stalkers following them the moment they leave the library. (Which also means the drow are fully aware the party has their people) They need to work a full scale Paranoia game here if they want any chance of outthinking the drow.

One thing I would personally do is use the orb to find out if the drow even actually attacked the giants at all. Is there any sign of combat? Or losses attributable to a larder attack? If not, the drow and giants may be working on setting THEM up too. If that seems to be the case, they may be better served by just attacking the damn drow and crippling them as much as possible in a full scale blitzkrieg. Weakening them at least to the point where the drow cant hold off the giants anymore. Those drow are just too damn dangerous to deal with. The giants at least are fairly straightforward. You have an army to deal with. Thats a problem, but its not one that requires three hours of contingencies for contingencies because you are dealing with sneaky invisible backstabbing assassins. At least seraph has her head on straight with keeping a couple drow handy for when she goes full vamp. Two drow vamps are going to be terrifyingly good at sneaking around.

DireSickFish

2015-11-04, 11:28 AM

I've got a bit of a layout question. I know that the library is a good place to hold the line, and this area has a lot of chambers yet to be fully discovered. What at this point are the UC's options for pressing further in? Much like how opening Moo Door was a game changer a place to retreat from known danger into unknown danger might be an option.

Killing everything behind them also might just not be worth the effort after a while. The Giants and the Drow are threat #1&2 right now, but they have a host of enemies that have been offscreen for a while. Not to mention the Vampire int he prison that could bust out and wage war.

GnomishPride

2015-11-07, 06:05 PM

Wouldn't it be funny if this thread got necroed?

blacklight101

2015-11-07, 06:23 PM

Wouldn't it be funny if this thread got necroed?

What, again? I hope it's not me again this time, i'm nearly out of onyx.

runeghost

2015-11-07, 10:09 PM

Wouldn't it be funny if this thread got necroed?

What spell would you use for that? Raise Thread?

Traab

2015-11-07, 10:51 PM

What spell would you use for that? Raise Thread?

Please dont, Pern is a long way away and we dont have the right kind of dragons here.

Zelphas

2015-11-07, 11:13 PM

Please dont, Pern is a long way away and we dont have the right kind of dragons here.

I'm sure Veritas will take care of it. Sure, he can't go between, but he's a firebreather, so I'm sure it'll be all right.

*goes back to lurking*

GorinichSerpant

2015-11-08, 07:35 PM

Wait, have they attempted to open the big gate with their psionic powers?

Kapow

2015-11-11, 05:05 PM

First things first: I apologize for getting everybodys hopes up for a new post of our favorite campaign-journalist.

I just wanted to say thank you Kaveman, for all your work. I finally finished reading every journal you wrote I could find. They are great!
So great, that I left the lurk-mode first time in ages.
And you made me understand what is so great in high-fantasy. The bulk of my role-playing experience comes from a far more low-magic System, and while I like DnD/PF, I was never attracted by the higher-fantasy stuff - now I want it.

I hope you find time to continue this.
Thanks again

Kaveman26

2015-11-11, 05:34 PM

Wait, have they attempted to open the big gate with their psionic powers?

Yes, it had no effect.

Somebody said it would be funny if this thread got necrod, I think it has been already necrod twice.

Traab

2015-11-11, 07:24 PM

Might be a silly question, but in a necro's pets get "killed", after the fight is over, can they reanimate the carcass again? If not, whats the in game justification?

SkipSandwich

2015-11-11, 07:27 PM

Might be a silly question, but in a necro's pets get "killed", after the fight is over, can they reanimate the carcass again? If not, whats the in game justification?

The standard in-game justification is that damage to objects/creatures w/o CON is all 'structual' damage, so that reducing a zombie/skelleton to 0HP represents smashing it into so many pieces it's no longer a viable platform for animation.

Fable Wright

2015-11-11, 07:28 PM

Might be a silly question, but in a necro's pets get "killed", after the fight is over, can they reanimate the carcass again? If not, whats the in game justification?

They cannot; the problem is that non-Bloody skeletons and zombies explode into grave dust when killed, so there's no corpse to reanimate.

Traab

2015-11-11, 07:33 PM

Ah thanks guys, I figured it was something like the "smashed to pieces" thing.

Dromuthra

2015-11-15, 06:22 PM

Just gotta say that I discovered this thread a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying it immensely.

Ajmes

2015-11-15, 08:13 PM

Yea, I check for updates a few times per day, every day. lol
Kaveman I need my fix! Going into withdrawal! Haha =P

Demidos

2015-11-19, 11:46 PM

Updates pretty please? :smallredface:

dramatic flare

2015-11-20, 12:42 AM

Uh oh, Kaveman. You have fans now.
Addicted fans.

Tenmujiin

2015-11-20, 05:51 AM

Uh oh, Kaveman. You have fans now.
Addicted fans.

Can confirm, I'm going crazy without my kaveman fix

Inevitability

2015-11-20, 04:56 PM

Can confirm, I'm going crazy without my kaveman fix

Have you considered trying to control your cravings with carefully measured doses of The Big One?

Fable Wright

2015-11-20, 06:20 PM

Have you considered trying to control your cravings with carefully measured doses of The Big One?

Too late. Snorted The Big One in one sitting. Was a great ride, but I'm kinda regretting not taking it more piecemeal.

Tenmujiin

2015-11-21, 12:04 PM

Have you considered trying to control your cravings with carefully measured doses of The Big One?

I ran out of Necromancers in the hiatus and devoured the rest of Kaveman's journals over the next week.

GnomishPride

2015-11-21, 07:20 PM

I'm going through withdrawal. Must... get... updates!

Kaveman26

2015-11-23, 09:16 AM

I am more than a bit behind on next update. I have been putting free time towards Tucker's experiment.

within a few days I will be back on track

Traab

2015-11-23, 10:10 AM

I am more than a bit behind on next update. I have been putting free time towards Tucker's experiment.

within a few days I will be back on track

Well who said you could do that?! Here we are now, entertain us! :smallbiggrin:

Tenmujiin

2015-11-24, 11:02 PM

I think most of us are just happy you're still there. You had us worried for a while.

GnomishPride

2015-11-29, 09:20 PM

*undead cricket chirps*

Mith

2015-11-29, 09:34 PM

Damn. That cricket got my hopes up. I just got on the Kave(man) Wave a few days ago. I really wish that my group could play like this.

GnomishPride

2015-12-02, 09:47 PM

*cheesy elevator music as we wait patiently*

Kane0

2015-12-02, 10:21 PM

Try the Tuckers Kobold thread, that's what his group is currently doing I believe.

Norin

2015-12-03, 03:20 PM

Got a direct link for the thread?

Kane0

2015-12-03, 03:26 PM

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?454691-Defending-the-Den-Tucker-s-Experiment

Heartspan

2015-12-06, 09:51 PM

Just read all of it. A+ performance from everyone.

Norin

2015-12-23, 12:22 PM

"All i want for x-mas is a new long post from kaveman!"

:smallbiggrin:

Elandris Kajar

2015-12-23, 02:42 PM

"All i want for x-mas is a new long post from kaveman!"

:smallbiggrin:
This'll be an instant top 43 hit. And the album is going to be a like Admantine record or something.

GnomishPride

2015-12-24, 11:37 AM

My thoughts exactly!

Kaveman26

2015-12-26, 01:40 PM

Schedule is settling down a bit with Christmas completion. Will make a strong effort for a 15-20 page update before New Years day. I can't promise but that seems attainable.

My apologies for this not being an actual update....they are a coming

Elandris Kajar

2015-12-26, 05:19 PM

.

My apologies for this not being an actual update....they are a coming

You can never apologize for this:smallfurious:

Just kidding, take your time

GnomishPride

2015-12-26, 06:11 PM

Yay! New update coming soonish hopefully!

blacklight101

2015-12-26, 07:14 PM

Sounds like a good gift for the new year to me. That would be one hell of a way to kick it off too.

Tenmujiin

2015-12-27, 06:09 AM

It may not be an update but it's almost as good as one

GrayDeath

2015-12-30, 06:05 PM

Well, still 2 days (almost) until the new year strikes, so I am at least keeping hopes up.

And yes, I found this thread yesterday and I am REALLY using a lot of the inspirational Ideas and ... less than savoury methods for my upcoming Iron Kingdoms Campaign.
Especially since the Players have already asked me if they wll be allowed to make a themed and preexisting group ^^

Thank you for sharing, kaveman!

GnomishPride

2016-01-02, 09:52 PM

Kaaaaaaaaavemaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan...
Whyyyyy no updaaaaaates...

-written by a man clawed into the wall as he died of Kaveman-Deprivation

Fable Wright

2016-01-02, 10:14 PM

Kaaaaaaaaavemaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan...
Whyyyyy no updaaaaaates...

-written by a man clawed into the wall as he died of Kaveman-Deprivation

Because planned 16-20 page update will never actually fit in the predicted space. And is a lot of work for spare time besides.

Kaveman26

2016-01-05, 05:48 PM

Underworld War Part Six

In an effort to continue their Pied Piper antics and force the drow and giants to keep attacking each other they follow through on their plan to contact the Frost Contingent with advanced warning of a drow incursion. They do this in the hopes of drawing away guards and reserves making the barracks and it’s larder more vulnerable to their own guerilla attack.

They approach the Giants guard station under flag of truce and with hands open, alerting them to the drow’s plans for an attack to free their comrade and urging them to prepare. The sentries openly laugh at them and gesture to the hallway behind them…where several drow are currently conversing with a giant captain.

Seraphim: Oh…well that does complicate manners some. I suppose we will just scurry off and leave you to…
AS she stutters a combined elvish and giant shout erupts “Kill them all!”

Ares and Seraphim don’t hesitate to fill the sentries faces with fire as they group bolts into retreat back down the hallway from which they approached…and directly into the waiting arms and legs of a giant/drow party with mutant spiders for support.

Hades: Uhm…this is very bad. We are drastically outnumbered in a hallway where we are boxed in on both sides.

Doc: On the plus side we are already surrounded, so they can’t flank us…

Ares: Think you need to consider that statement again Doc.

Seraphim: this backfired quickly. Ideas? Requests for an epitaph?

Ares: Looking at the map…if we can push back the group that blocked our retreat sixty or so feet we can get access to the secret tunnel. That will at least give us room to retreat if we can put up some stalling mechanisms.

Pluto: Im all for bolting from the current situation, just not sure how we make a mad dash through that gauntlet for sixty feet and come out in one piece.

Ares: Not a mad dash, more of a rugby scrum. We split you and Hades to each end of the conflict and split up the giants to each end. The side we want to push…we literally do just that…we attack enough to drive them back and keep the giants constantly advancing, just like a rugby pile. Anything we kill we can stand back up to join in shoving. The other end we do the opposite…we hold the line and only retreat as we gain ground. If we space it properly can even get double duty from both your channel effect. My aura grants desecrated ground+alter so every undead we pop is already bolstered. Their numbers are mostly going to work against them here.

The twins end up doing an intricate dance where they juggle movements along with channels to keep weaving effects on both sides of the hallway. The fifty percent boost to their undead healing along with the phylacteries, and the giants already built in fast healing makes them remarkably durable. When Azzie adds in the inspire courage effect they become very tricky to deal with.

The rugby pile lacks elegance and the drow+spiders work very hard to duck in and out of the pile to snipe at the group with poisons and spells. They liberally expend animate dead spells to bring up cannon fodder reinforcements and force back the rear attack party. As frost giants from the homebase section die they are animated and sent in a suicidal stampede to break up the rear position. They function as undead expendable battering rams that bull rush with abandon. They serve their purpose…the tactically minded drow are more concerned with self preservation than the destruction of the U.C. and are quite happy to fall back to more controlled positions. Without being able to animate back up their rugby tactics work effectively enough to inch them closer and closer to the secret tunnel.

The main toll comes not from the undead giants, but from the party itself. Azzie and Seraphim take ranged pounding from stray spells, darts, and frost attacks directed via the spiders. The whole party is in rough shape by the time they begin maneuvering to dart through their escape hatch. It is a testament to their patience and group tactics for how smooth they make their retreat appear. The whole formation they create sort of melts into the tunnel with the giants and twins falling back last and then door slams shut only for a wall of ice to appear right on the heels of the gate closing.

Seraphim: Kind of may have overlooked this aspect…but the secret tunnel door is psychically controlled right?

Hades: Yeah…we also have to assume the drow can operate them.
Seraphim: Right, but more importantly we can shut the door remotely right?

Pluto: Yeah…they could reopen it too.

Seraphim: I’m just thinking that we split up on either side of this door, wait for it to open, let a handful in. Close door. Swarm those we let in and wipe them out. Wait for the door to open, let a handful in amidst the corpses. Close door. Reanimate…swarm…repeat til we expend last of our slots or they give up.

Ares: You want to ambush our ambushers instead of retreating?

Seraphim: It feels more dignified and satisfactory to me. We can also surround them from each side of the tunnel’s hall which is ironically just.

They proceed to execute the reversal of their ambush with brutal precision and reap a heavy toll against the united elf/giant force. A force which wisely avoids re-entering the murder hole secret tunnel in rapid fashion.

Badly battered, but of surprisingly high morale they retreat back towards the library, encountering several isolated scouting parties of drow+spiders. None of which overtly engages, they simply lob a few harrying spells or ice barbs and retreat away.

Ares: We need to seriously consider a different lair or approach. Too many enemies are massing and uniting against us. If they bring their full force against us we can’t hold them off.

Seraphim: We thought about digging in for a siege and decided that was too risky.

Ares: In here it is. What if we relocated to the prison?

Azzie: Then we need to worry about ghostly ogre mages and the vampire warrior that wants to drain us.

Ares: Well, if Lau-Rain escapes it won’t matter if we are in the same room or same dungeon. He will be coming like a tidal wave. Might be better to be close and have immediate knowledge of his escape as opposed to just seeing him run down a hallway. We could booby trap the exit from his cell pretty thoroughly especially if we are right there to monitor it.

Hades: This might be worth looking into. Would feel a lot safer behind those bars then these bookshelves.

Seraphim: That means relocating the coffin filled with blood.

Pluto: Brute labor we aren’t short on, and the damn thing is water tight so no spills.

Doc: Alright, let’s start packing up to wagon train it back to the prison.

Not nearly as much as I hoped, but its something to start with. More to come

Ajmes

2016-01-05, 07:16 PM

Hype!!!??!111?!11!1! XD

GnomishPride

2016-01-05, 07:58 PM

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
yisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
This is a dream come true!!!

Kaveman26

2016-01-06, 01:24 PM

Checking Out:

The process of packing their belonging does not envelop a great deal of time and preparations are not interrupted by outside forces. A single objection rises up in the form of not gaining access to the library’s restricted section for a second time before leaving.

Seraphim: Really had hoped to sweep the library a second time before abandoning this area. Think we can hold this place for three more days?

Ares: I am sure we can, also pretty confident that we can get back in here in three days time. The elves and giants are pretty well dug in to their current positions and I doubt they will fully relocate here. Hell I kind of hope they do. If they try to enter the restricted section maybe they spring their own kind of Light-Mare.

Azzie: We cud certainly encourage them screwing up in such a manner. Leave some “lost” notes behind on how to get inside and see if any scouts or stragglers take the bait.

Hades: Already writing…

Doc: What is our next objective once we are holed up in the prison? Make sorties out to harry against the elves?

Ares: I am all for holding tight and seeing how things develop. Maybe scour the prison records for a level draining undead so we can get Azzie’s transformation rolling. I would be content holding tight until Sera is a vampire and Azzie is a Shadow Lord.

Hades: Losing access to the crystal ball is gonna hurt.

Seraphim: Not really. We already know the upper level is a cluster, seeing that when we already know that is redundant.

HadeS: Yeah, but manipulating it let us…
Seraphim:…run ourselves in circles trying to outwit two strong forces.

Hades: Touche.

They quickly migrate from the Library back to the Prison and perform a sequence of juggling to once again gain access to the prison secured area. Now armed with the correct codes and steps to enter and exit they are able to do so with little complication. Once inside and safe they begin a comphrehensive search of the entire wing. In doing so they manage to find their holy grail.

As they search the wing I keep feeding them more and more details about specific prisoners, lay out and finally they stumble upon an antechamber with a revolving door. Upon this door are several indexes:

Elemental
Outer Planar
Undead
Abyssal
Infernal

Hades: Uhm…this is something worth looking at folks. I think there are separate prisons themed to a specific plane or creature type. Undead is on the list.

Pluto: Oh really…

All side projects vanish on the importance scale as they drop everything and put their entire focus onto the revolving door. It takes some sweat and effort but they manage to pinpoint how the door operates. From their discovery they surmise that the door is actually a portal that leads to a pocket “ecosystem” representative of the inhabitants labelled. To an extent each “room” is like it’s own dungeon within a dungeon.

By maneuvering the indexes position and rotating the door, they can dial in to a specific ecosystem and enter it at will. Caution is thrown to the wind as they are tripping over themselves at the prospect of an undead playground. Well virtually all caution.

Seraphim: Are we forgetting Jaze already? Who knows what lies beyond that door? I say we pilot a mook via possession as a test pilot and send it through StarGate style, see what happens. At least take that precaution before diving in.

Pluto: Fine…

Seraphim jumps to the body of a recently reanimated spider and they dial up the Undead habitat and let her scurry through in her pilfered form. She emerges from a disorienting darkness to a swirling eternal twilight…a world locked in perpetual dusk and presented as a single sprawling graveyard without end. Multitudes of ghouls, ghasts, zombies, skeletons, shadows, wights, spectres, wraiths, and perhaps countless others not immediately visible dot the cemetary topography.

As the witch returns and abandons her spider vehicle, she reinhabits her actual body which is practically shedding tears of joy.

Hades: Well Sera?

Seraphim: It’s beautiful. Like a toy store brought to life through undeath. It’s one massive graveyard with minions aplenty just waiting to be plucked out for service.

Pluto: Does anyone else smell trap here?

Ares: Like a “too good to be true” type deal?

Pluto: Exactly.

Ares: Yeah, it definitely has that aroma to it.

Pluto: I say we send the witch back in and see if she can command one and then exit.

Hades: Why her?

Pluto: Worse case she can abandon the mook and jump back. One of us could get killed, or even worse Ares could get commanded himself.

Seraphim gladly accepts the challenge and re-enters taking focus on the nearest undead…a ghoul by outward apperances which she easily commands into her control. The 2 HD undead plods towards her and awaits her exit, as she steps through it halts unable to pass.

Seraphim: It wont follow me through.

They investigate all they can locate in the antechamber again and Azzie manages to find a small guide about certain security restrictions.

Azzie: I think this is saying that there is a zero sum security lock. If something comes out then something has to go in. Maybe we have to do even exchange?

Seraphim attempts the exchange, leaving behind a second spider to take the ghoul’s place…this time it exits with her.

Ares: That seems manageable enough. We won’t be able to just go nuts and unleash the whole place, but certainly works as a good exchange. Convert mooks to slightly upgraded versions, also means we exchange out whole sets or builds for slots. Have a rugby team, a ranged team, a drain team etc.

Doc: Still seems like we would want to tread carefully until we uncover any other fine print.

Azzie: Absolutely. First off luv, be so kind as to fetch me a wight. Fink I need to start working on my level drain.

Seraphim: Sure thing…

The return trip to locate a wight does clarify the exchange program…a 2HD spider will not trade for a 3HD wight. They determine it is tied to HD and not just body to body…

Azzie: Right…who is ready to sacrifice for the team first?

Kane0

2016-01-06, 04:00 PM

*Salivates*

GnomishPride

2016-01-06, 06:34 PM

Two posts in as many days! I must be dreaming!
*pinches self just be sure*

Kaveman26

2016-01-07, 02:15 PM

Checking In:

Further experimentation confirms their ability to freely enter and exit the twilight realm of undead provided everything is kept at a zero sum. This is partially arrived at by having Seraphim dust a 2 HD undead zombie and not being able to exit until something else is deposited, she is forced to leave her spider behind and jump back out.

Seraphim: Alright, so zero sum must be maintained. That is vital in knowing that we can’t drastically abuse it. Also means we have to be leery of upsetting the balance lest one of us gets stuck inside.

Ares: That raises the question: What happens if they kill each other? If the sum total is 1,000HD and 50HD of undead are removed, how do they make up the difference. Nothing seems too concerned with interacting with each other, so how does the equilibrium being upset affect things?

Hades: That is something we should probably know. We have at least 40HD of “expendable” undead to experiment with. Should we create a vacuum and see how it gets filled?

Pluto: Well concern number one…a vacuum is filled by whatever is closest. That means we should place our most expendable undead the closest to the door just in case. Concern two…it takes the biggest proximate undead…aka our giants. So I think we should place Giants in the middle. Concern 3…something else happens we aren’t prepared for. We need a contingency and a means to hopefully verify.

Seraphim: How about I enter, take out 20HD or so worth of mooks, and wait one hour. If nothing happens after one hour and I am unable to leave, march 20HD worth of undead inside. If I see the calvary come in and I still can’t exit, I’ll jump back and we wait a day to see what happens

(I was pleasantly surprised at the respect they were showing this)

Seraphim goes about creating their intended vacuum and begins to wait. After thirty minutes a portal opens in the never changing sky and lances of darkness strike the ground…those undead staged closest to the entrance are now located within the system.

She reports back that proximity seems to win the day.

Azzie: Well, we snagged a drainer…who wants to volunteer for the first shock?*

Ares: Not sure we are done experimenting with the undead door yet…

Azzie: Right, but I figured we could kill two birds and all, get me started while you all figure out how to abuse the undead menagerie.

Seraphim: Well it can’t be me. I will be undead by the time your clock keeps ticking. And we need to preserve anything that gets it’s level drained. Anyone else that volunteers is basically tying you to them. If they go you go. And if we use fodder that is even more anchors around your neck. Tricky spot you are getting yourself into.

Azzie: I know. Doesn’t make me want to not try, just need to be smart about it. Maybe use the prisoners as guinea pigs.

Seraphim: What if we hid inside the Undead System for a month? We pull all our supplies in with us and literally just hang out inside until the vampiric and shadow lord transformations are complete. Everyone shares in the drains and we placate the natives with our own unnatural charms.

Doc: We need to make sure we can exit safely. Don’t want to get trapped inside.

Hades: Agreed

They enact another series of trial and error maneuvers to ensure they can leave when they desire. They experiment with Seraphim manually leaving through the door leading inside, which is a swirling portal carved into the solid rock face of a tomb. Provided they don’t upset the balance of the system their movement in and out is unfettered to the best of their knowledge. Just when it seems like they are ready to jump full force into commiting themselves full bore Azzie raises one last question…

Azzie: What happens to the undead we bring in with us? If we go in and just let them run wild what happens?

Seraphim: Not following.

Azzie: So you pop in with a trio of giants. You choose to let those 3 giants completely out of your control. There is now a surplus of undead within the zone. What happens?

Seraphim: Do you think that will affect us at all? I don’t anticipate us letting them go.

Azzie grins the worlds widest grin…

Azzie: Listen hear buttercup. A few weeks from now you are going to BECOME undead while inside an UNDEAD accountants nightmare. What happens if it assigns you as part of it’s system? You know rearranges the ledger?**

Seraphim: I think I see what you mean. Let’s let a non buffed giant “free” inside and wait an hour, see if we can walk it out after.

Sure enough, the freed giant is calculated in as part of the system’s habitat. Knowing that they need to be leery of shuffling undead they decide to jump in head first and they all pile in their herd of controlled minions into the undead biosphere…

*They were supremely lucky to have created a big ol chart where they are tracking progress for transformations and such. Because Seraphim had in big bold letters her Undeath Birthday marked on their chart. I was very confident that her volunteering would throw some major twists into the process for them.

** I was a little disappointed that he thought of something along these lines. Was hoping this could be a good twist down the road.

Third update in four days. Trying to make up for lost time.

Jonagel

2016-01-07, 02:18 PM

Many thanks for the updates Kaveman!

Neat idea with the sub dungeons by the way ;)

Fable Wright

2016-01-07, 02:22 PM

Third update in four days. Trying to make up for lost time.

Is it Christmas? It's Christmas. Second Christmas, like Second Breakfast. I like this year.

Ajmes

2016-01-07, 03:26 PM

Many thanks for the updates Kaveman!

Neat idea with the sub dungeons by the way ;)

I'd just like to second this. (Or third rather)

Has anyone ever told you that you're the best Kaveman? You spoil us! =D

Mith

2016-01-07, 05:42 PM

So to clarify, once they have become Undead, they cannot enter the domain again? Since they would be added to the ledger as native inhabitants?

Shinji_Ikari

2016-01-08, 07:00 AM

There is more to the story, yeah!

Kaveman26

2016-01-08, 10:43 AM

So to clarify, once they have become Undead, they cannot enter the domain again? Since they would be added to the ledger as native inhabitants?

Indeed. They run the risk of skewing the status quo and making things trickier to exit.

Traab

2016-01-08, 12:06 PM

I would have personally tried a few more experiments like, we know it sucks in undead nearest the portal to replace those destroyed. Is there a maximum distance on that reaction? Like, if they back off a few rooms are they out of range? What happens then? Does it become a virtual trap for wandering undead at that point? Waiting for one to get in range so it can suck them in to reestablish balance? Also, there has to be a way to manipulate the balance. After all, I doubt the zone was created fully formed with exactly that many undead in it. There may be some more security codes somewhere that will let them adjust the parameters. Of course finding them will be much harder. I wonder if they can contact the helpful illithid jailor guy that helped them escape when they got caught?

Gilphon

2016-01-08, 01:34 PM

The problem with doing further experiments is that they only have so many minions to sacrifice.

halfeye

2016-01-11, 12:23 PM

This thread was in the bottom half of the front page again. :smallyuk: :smallbiggrin:

Kaveman26

2016-01-11, 12:31 PM

Little Masoleum on the Prairie:

Upon entry to the undead biosphere, they immediately test the ability for everyone to leave. Something they are able to do so without hindrance. The second immediate action they take is to transform themselves into undead wranglers. Intelligent undead are approached and basically provided an ultimatum: Do what we are asking (which at this time will cause no physical harm or negative effect) or we will subjugate and force you to do what we ask.

Their initial requests are nothing too far fetched, they start taking a census of the cemetary’s occupants and begin sorting them out into separate groups. Ghouls are shuffled in one direction, ghasts a second, zombies are herded up, as are skeletons. Slightly scarier undead like Wights and Spectres are approached with far more care and consideration, but they too are organized and sorted out.

As they sift through the graveyard’s inhabitants they strike up some surprisingly meaningful and insightful conversation. Asking questions like:

Are you happy?
Are you hungry?
Is there anything in particular you would like to have happen?
Why is there is no conflict?
How did you get here?

Random Ghoul: We used to have a lot of fighting, jockeying for position or control. Sometimes just lashing out from hunger or frustration. Eventually it became apparent that there was no point. Anyone destroyed was simply replaced. Sometimes one of us grows weary of the eternal boredom and those who seek an end walk to the center of the graveyard, there sits a tombstone named Lilly Matches. If we see someone sitting on the Matches Tombstone we know it means they wish to be eliminated.

Seraphim: Nothing interesting happens?

Random Ghoul: Not for a very long time. Today something interesting happened, Food walked in that we can eat. Haven’t had any of that in ages.

Hades: We are hardly food. Even if you think we are, no one has made a move against us.

Random Ghoul: We can’t.

Pluto: Why not?

Random Ghoul: Because with you here, it is possible some of us may leave. Even now we commune and debate what to do. Right now we are agreed that no action should yet be taken against you.

Ares: You can all communicate with each other?

Random Ghoul: Yes, after a few hundred (or thousand…there is nothing to really indicate passage of time) years together we have become very familiar with each other. We share our thoughts freely.

Seraphim: So food and freedom are good things?

Random Ghoul: When your whole existence amounts to nothing….ANYTHING is a good thing.

Ares: Ok, million dollar question. Is there a leader? Someone with a final vote?

In unison every single undead present speaks a name like the caress of a whisper touched by wind, amplified by a thousand voices all in harmony.

…The Sleeper.

Every undead turns and as one they point to the dead center of the graveyard converging their gaze upon the Matches Tombstone.

Random Ghoul: The Sleeper beckons. Go to it. Upon the headstone knock three times. A path will open.
With a certain trepidation the group cautiously advances to the marked grave and follows their instructions. The stillness of the undead all focused on the grave is making their skin crawl and as Ares knocks the third time a groaning shift of dirt sees a crypt appear, with ancient steps descending below the earth.

Ares takes the lead with the twins on his heels, Azzie and Seraphim in the middle and Doc at their rear. Their undead entourage remains behind as a bodyguard force. As they climb further and further down a strange liquidy sucking noise echoes from the earthen walls of the crypt. Deep beneath the earth they find a burial chamber and at the heart of the chamber is a creature of titanic proportions. Black metallic chains bind four slimy tentatcles in mid air, additional chains wrap around the body of a whale sized fish’s body with three eyes. Mucus falls from the bloated and suspended form, turning to dust as it drips off the body. The creature is easily ninety feet long and the chains holding it are as thick as a man’s body, each link just as long. Where the eyes should be are only swirling pools of shadow and lightning.

Hades: That is an aboleth…only I have never even heard stories of one bigger than an elephant…

Without moving or reacting the voice of The Sleeper washes over them.

Sleeper: You know of my race? The last of my kind vanished from your world millennia’s ago.

Hades: The stories of the world that once were are still found on occasion.

Sleeper: I am not typical of my race. Hence the reason for my captivity as opposed to extermination. Once I held sway and dominance over a young world ripe with fresh and willing slaves. I was strong and proud and unchallenged. Eventually The Enclave came and took away my empire. They toppled my palaces and broke the will of my slaves. Then they did something I would not have foreseen….they respected me. In my mind they saw a kindred will and intellect. They sought to compensate me for my losses. Such a tainted gift they presented me. Dominion over nightmares and immortality. I can invade the minds and dreams of virtually anything in existence, but I can’t escape my own confines. They have usurped my control and forced me into subservience.

Seraphim: I don’t understand, why confine you here and not within a separate prison?

Sleeper: Because this is not simply a prison, it is a place of security and control yes, but also a place to house weapons. They have bound me to the reality of this place. My presence gurantees a constant and replenished supply of undead. Until the day comes when these chains are shattered I will be the fuel for this fire. I do not think they anticipated our communal mind unlocking though. We are trapped in this place for now. Their plan was for us to be delivered unto a place of resistance like a bomb being dropped from the heavens.

Azzie: They buggered you hard mate.

Seraphim: I suppose we may able to break the chains.

Sleeper: You can’t. Only The Enclave bear that level of power. You can however help free those bound here with me. I once kept slaves for my own advantage, that I do no regret. But this eternal boredom I would wish upon no one. Help me free those imprisoned and I will hold you in favorable regard.

Pluto: If we refuse?

Sleeper: None here have eaten for time on end. I was thinking something that would stretch and sate the most possible, most likely a stew of some kind.

Seraphim: Now now…you of all should know that age old proverb…feed a man to a ghoul and you feed him for a day…bring a ghoul to the food and feed it for a lifetime. I think we need to converse about how we bring them to the buffet.

Side Note:

The Sleeper: A massive oversized aboleth with nightmare lord template. I envisioned this as a corruption of using it's mucus and other abilities as a way to corral and control undead within the ecosystem.

Demidos

2016-01-11, 01:52 PM

Kaveman26

2016-01-11, 02:11 PM

This just keeps getting better and better -- hats off to you.

A question though -- is the Sleeper undead? How does he "keep the undead here"? I was looking through the nightmare lord class and I didn't see any links to undead -- no ability to raise them, control them, etc etc. Are they his former slaves? How does he help generate them? Is it a deal like that of Lau-Rain where he is so powerful he's actually mentally creating this entire plane?

More detailed answer:

It is a corruption of it's control type abilities. It is literally tearing undead out of their existence and binding them to the undead ecosystem. As undead are removed it auto replenishes the inventory. The communal hive mind type communication is unintended side effect. The nightmare lord template is meant to add substance to it controlling metaphorical souls as part of undeads existence

Kahlendrrari

2016-01-13, 04:41 PM

It seems like Kaveman is playing the old "just the tip" game with us.

GnomishPride

2016-01-14, 10:16 PM

Kaveman has left us once more... The thread slowly shrivels up and is dying.

ImperatorV

2016-01-15, 01:14 AM

Kaveman has left us once more... The thread slowly shrivels up and is dying.

Well of course. We can't reanimate it if it isn't dead yet now can we?

Tenmujiin

2016-01-15, 03:25 AM

Well of course. We can't reanimate it if it isn't dead yet now can we?

It's already been reanimated at least 4 times.

Have faith in the almighty kaveman and we will once again be blessed with updates.

Jonagel

2016-01-15, 09:19 AM

Random question -- if they trigger the Lightmare again, might it change, assuming the party composition changes (more undead PCs)?

I'm picturing something that is more anti-undead, or even mind control/turns undead perhaps. An Alhoon could be interesting (Undead Mindflayer). An Alhoon could be interesting in general, given the Mindflayer theme.

On another note, cheap ways for Drow to challenge the PCs:
More Illusions - Minor Image alone can create "Several Orcs". This could be an extra few dozen spiders or drow in the eyes of the PCs. Given how cautious and strategic minded the PCs are, the first time this happens it may have a big impact. After that, the team will become paranoid about illusions, whether it's an escape route, a drow patrol they think they're about to ambush, or even some special item they want. Maybe the Drow see a certain item when they check out the library now. Though they can't take it b/c of security protocols, they can make the PCs believe the took it, luring them to a trap.

Of course, they may have already killed the Drows by now in real time!

Kaveman26

2016-01-15, 12:40 PM

Their First Genuine Heartfelt Sincere Alliance:

Seraphim: We are amenable to assisting you and from initial observation I think we can help in a few ways. First and foremost we can trade out any and all undead currently locked within the cemetary for mindless ones. We should we able to filter out thinking undead for mindless counterparts in even trades and cycle them off. As better options reveal themselves we will happily pursue those as well. We will also provide edible corpses in mass quantity as a boon for those who await release

Sleeper: What do you desire in return?

Ares: Very little. We are inside a secured wing of the ship. Little to nothing should be able to threaten us at this time. IF something were to manage entering the prison wing we would request support and aid in repelling invaders. Beyond that we need a volunteer to be encased within an amulet as part of a process for our bard to become a Shadow Lord. From the description it appears no specific harm will come to the one bound, but we aren’t positive so we would ask for a volunteer.

Hades: We have one other minor request. All those currently active and present in this place have our word that we will assist in garnering your freedom and feeding. Should circumstances lead to the creation or population of further “minded” undead we reserve the right to utilize them as minions.

Sleeper: How would you be able to tell?

Azzie: Well mate. Two ways. We can tie a ribbon or carve a brand into the ones already here, or we can count on you to let us know.

Sleeper: I can meet these requests and you have nearly unanimous support amongst the collective.

Doc: Hmmm. That raises a question. Can we borrow a ghoul for a minute? Want to remove an intelligent from the cemetary and see if he can still mind meet the collective.

Doc is able to verify that an undead pulled from the eco system can still communicate mind to mind with the collective inside.

Azzie: Do you care what happens to the mindless?

Sleeper: Not at all.

Azzie: Can we cut off a bunch of their heads?

Sleeper: Yes…?

Azzie: Bloody awesome thanks mate. Now I just needs me a skeleton head big enuff for a helmet.

All: What?

Azzie proceeds to build himself a little side project while the group juggles the logistics of becoming the Necromantic Moses leading his people to freedom. The Dirge Bard removes the heads from a few dozen undead and finds an ogre skeleton whom he fashions a crude helmet from the skull. He then proceeds to place them in various places all over the prison.

Azzie: Right…the bony helmet should now function as a communication’s system, with our pal the Aboleth as home base. He sees through the head’s eyes and can communicate via the collective. We just invented a survelliance system from mindless undead mates. Cheers!

Suddenly there is now an impetus to have a bag full of heads at any given time to seed “survelliance cameras” all over the place.

With a game plan in place the group settles in and preps to stay tight for a trio of days until the library re-opens. Their regrouped short term strategy looks something like this:

*Anything killed will be dragged back to the undead cemetary aka “Tombstone”. The remains will be slaughtered, distributed and fed to the inhabitants and then reanimated as mindless skeletons.

*Undead with minds will be cycled out from Tombstone and replaced with the new skeletons. Those released will take up sentry duty amidst the prison. Some are lining up to become Azzie’s Roadies or as he rebrands them Tombies. With leadership he begins filling up followers with ghouls and and ghasts.

*In three days they will make a sortie to the library to acquire more forbidden lore. Upon return they will hold up inside Tombstone and complete Azzie and Seraphim’s transformations.

*They continue to take a census of the undead within Tombstone. Mostly ghouls,ghasts,wights,spectres, and shadows. The lone wraith or mohrg is present, but rare. They are told that some of the older “stronger” ones have gone below ground and are in hibernation so to speak.

* I politely suggested that any attempts at creating an undead pyramid scheme or trying to trigger endless self replicating undead (wights creating wights etc) would be met with extreme and hostile responses. So No Wight-pocylpse on the horizon.

With their goals set they settle in for the three days and await the next library opening. Azzie begins to shuffling energy drains to everyone in the group minus Seraphim and to her detriment the witch continues to grow sicker by the day. At the end of the three day holding pattern her hair is turning grey and falling out in clumps and she swears she is developing arthritis and cataracts. In that condition they begin their journey to withdraw more books from the library…

Also: Alhoons will be presented and encountered. Eventually.

DireSickFish

2016-01-15, 04:27 PM

Their First Genuine Heartfelt Sincere Alliance:

I don't believe this. Someone has to back-stab someone else!

This prison system seams 10x more complicated than most dungeons I run. Hell just the portal system contains a ton of mini dungeons. This is crazy awesome.

Norin

2016-01-15, 04:36 PM

Alhoons.... :smalleek:

Aldurin

2016-01-15, 07:39 PM

It's not a real party until you find out that the Alhoons infiltrated it via the pizza delivery guy.

CrispyCriminal

2016-01-15, 10:28 PM

Somewhere out there in the vast mental universe of shipping is a fanfiction of Azzie and Tsukiko waiting to be written.

GnomishPride

2016-01-16, 01:11 AM

Behold, we have had faith, and lo, the God-Emperor Kaveman has delivered unto us a masterful tale once more.

Though seriously, very excited about new updates. Keep 'em coming!

GorinichSerpant

2016-01-16, 01:14 AM

Somewhere out there in the vast mental universe of shipping is a fanfiction of Azzie and Tsukiko waiting to be written.

Now that this has been written it's only a matter of time.

Inevitability

2016-01-16, 07:27 AM

Somewhere out there in the vast mental universe of shipping is a fanfiction of Azzie and Tsukiko waiting to be written.

Why limit yourself to Azzie? After all, Tsukiko does both. :smalltongue:

CrispyCriminal

2016-01-17, 06:01 PM

Why limit yourself to Azzie? After all, Tsukiko does both. :smalltongue:

True! Though there is no telling whether Seraphim will still look hot after becoming a vampire, do we even know if she gets her hair back after this transition?

Anyways, just realized something. Has Azzie used his talking guitar further in? Sure he's likely pre-occupied with all that's going on but that was a nice gimmick of his.

Quiver

2016-01-21, 10:50 AM

Finally got caught up on this. Man, this game is -fun- to read.

Horrifying, obviously, but still fun and amazing.

Given your groups chronic backstabbing... I'm not sure this alliance will last. But the only way to find out is for the next write-up, so...

Traab

2016-01-21, 12:12 PM

Hmm, this is actually interesting. I mean, it seems like they are not dominating the undead they yank out. That means several potentially awesome and terrible things. For one, they are no longer restricted to the total number of slots available for their classes as to how big of an army they can form. On the other hand, they have no way to be sure the undead will STAY on their side.

Mith

2016-01-21, 12:40 PM

True! Though there is no telling whether Seraphim will still look hot after becoming a vampire, do we even know if she gets her hair back after this transition?

She'll get a Charisma boost from the template IIRC, so I would assume so. And then there is the +2 circumstantial bonus due to Tsukiko particular tastes.

Talar

2016-01-22, 12:19 AM

Kaveman thank you for taking the time to share this, it has been one of the most entertaining campaign journals I have ever read. I cannot wait to see how all this ends especially with the alhoons.

I am betting Seraphim will just regain her looks once the process is complete. Cause magic and whatnot. But that is probably just too simple for this campaign. The end of the process will probably involve screwing up all of Kaveman's carefully laid plans. Somehow...

Kaveman26

2016-01-22, 04:01 PM

Back to the Bookshelves:

Now slightly the worse for wear (Hades,Pluto,Doc have all absorbed energy drains and Seraphim is looking worse by the day) the crew assembles their undead horde and pushes out as a vanguard and rearguard, sandwiching themselves in the middle. They advance at a snail’s pace back to the library wing only pausing to place severed undead heads as makeshift security cameras at various junctures. Signs of a heavy battle remain behind as they encountered charred hunks of bone and the occasional puddle from melted webs. Whatever happened though is long over by their estimation as nothing engages them as they proceed.

Without anything impeding their march they quickly resume their position in the library and do a brief perimeter sweep before opening up the door. With more confidence than their first foray they all enter save for Ares and begin sweeping for books. In short order they locate the following:

Giantism: A Tall Order
Half Dragon: All Awesome
Heavenly Bodies: A basis for Celestials
Fey You Guys!

They also locate a few additional resource/crafting kits for some additional magic items. With a new cache of goodies in hand and nothing popping out as crucial they begin their exit procedure and start shifting their undead horde. As they leave a sheen of ice seals in the library entrance and a skirmishing force of drow and spiders from the bookshelves begins a ranged ambush. They lay a single volley into the crew and then seem to evaporate.

Seraphim: Crap. They were waiting for us to come back. Need to punch out the front and get clear before we caught up in a sniping war.

As they make their break for the door a Svathurim squeezes past the ice blocking the door and takes up a sentry position just inside. From the doorway, Ackshale, and several other giants are visible with massive javelins.

Ares: That way is looking occupied too.

Hades: Well we need an exit strategy. Can’t just sit here and get crushed.

Azzie: How long until the restricted section locks down?

Seraphim: a few minutes tops.

Azzie: Let’s burn the mutha down and hide inside the cage. Wait out a week and then leave.

Seraphim: They would just retreat and wait us out.

Azzie: Well we could still burn the whole place down. Should at least make them leave.

Hades: This is a priceless trove of knowledge and lore, it holds tomes that can alter the entire way we perceive the world and function within it, and you want to burn it down?

Azzie: As of right now we are the ONLY ones who have access to world changing knowledge and if we die here whats the point? Besides if we destroy it all then what we already have is just that more valuable, cause it will be exclusive to us.

*slight pause*

Hades: Alright, let’s get things crispy in here. Don’t forget the bookshelves against the walls.

Ares: Form up the burning giants in a circle…everyone get in that circle and start lobbing anything with fire everywhere we can. I will play goalie and direct traffic. *

Fireballs, Flamestrikes, Flaming Sphere and Ares assorted Graveknight abilities all start roasting and igniting everything within the library. Various stealth laden opponents are revealed by the flames and smoke and the frosty enemies decide that discretion is the better part of valor. The drow forces are more willing to duke it out a bit as they raise up protections from fire and return fire.

They continue to lace the entire wing with fire spells and stay within the confines of their undead cordon. Azzie and Ares try to snipe out targets as they track movement and winnow away the spiders if not any overly brave drow. Once everything is burning and spreading on it’s own they start clearing a path towards the exit, turning their giants into a half assed volunteer fire brigade.

Under fire (both literal and figurative) they manage to get themselves extricated and back to the hallway, bottle necking any remaining enemy forces within the burning wings. They happily line the hallway and mob anything trying to make a break for it from the blaze inside. It is a happy moment for them as they reap a heavy toll against drow and spider. Seraphim is squealing in delight as they manage to capture several drow hostages.

With a big win under their belts and more books in hand they abandon the now smoldering ruins of their oh so recent lair and return to the prison cell….where they encounter a massed force of giants, svats and trolls all established in formation and blocking them off from the prison. Their former ally, the lightning hammer wielding Ackshale is waiting for them with a serious scowl.

Ackshale: These last few weeks have been an aggravating pain the in neck. We have had enough of your escapades and I’ll be damned if more than of us walks away from this hall. Cards on the table lads...let’s have it out right now and here. Winner take all and to hell with the rest.

Ares: A straight up death fight huh?

Ackshale: No more foolery or deception strength against strength.

Seraphim: What about a barter?

Ackshale: You could have the wealth of a thousand kings but it would be a fool’s gold I be getting paid in. No chance.

Seraphim: See I hate it when you someone says there is nothing they would bargain for. There is always something. There is always a price that would be accepted.

Ackshale: There is nothing you have I can’t pry off your corpse.

Azzie: Actually there is mate. That fancy hammer you like so much? How many others are there in your clan? One? If any? What if we could outfit your whole gang with beaters like that?

Ackshale: Impossible.

Azzie: Up until the last few weeks hell yes. See there is a reason we fought so hard to get in that library. Books has power and now we have read the books. We can make more like that in time, lots of other fancy trinkets and talismans too. Problem is…if you kill us…poof no more knowledge. Cause we are the tricky bastards that not more than five minutes ago burned to a crisp the only game in town that could have gotten you into that racket. That makes us unique.

Ackshale: You are offering alliance…again…after all you have already done? I would rather kill you for the satisfaction of knowing you dead. And you can be damned sure I will cremate the bodies and spread the ashes just to be sure.

Azzie: Alliance? Bollocks to that. You pay us for services rendered and we deliver goods. Special rates for old friends too.

Ackshale: You mean like a discount?

Azzie: Did I say discount? I said special rates…we charge extra for the ones that we double crossed, that is how you know we are being honest. **

The giant tribal leader (and myself) are left speechless and extremely angry. With a scowl that could crumble mountains he falls back to confer with the rest of the tribe’s leadership. After a conference that includes some extremely hostile whispering he returns.

Ackshale: We are going to escort you back to the place from which you came. You have three days to confirm to us that what you say is true. Failing confirmation that you have indeed acquired the means to create items of power we will wipe you off the face of the earth.

Azzie: Do you have a request in mind?

Ackshale: We want a greataxe, sized for one of our kin imbued with the ability to combat undead.

Azzie: I can get you a magic axe in three days, but if you want it to combat undead I need ten.

Ackshale: How would we know that we aren’t just getting something you already posess? We need confirmation it was created.

Azzie: Tell me what you want it to look like. We can customize it.

They agree on a custom motif where the axe will resemble a headstone and engraved with a frost giant motif.

Azzie: alright mate. One undead slaying headstone shaped greataxe, need ten days, and that will cost you 20,000 in coin or trade.

Ackshale: 20,000?!?

Azzie: I dare you to find cheaper anywhere in here. Half upright and half on delivery.

Very jaded the giants agree, and escort the group back to the prison cell.

Ares: Well it looks like we just went into business as arms merchants.

*Huh…well I didn’t see that coming.

**I had to drop my pencil and walk away from the table to collect myself after this one

Side Note:

Very tempted to mock up an Azzie/Tsukiko "fanfic"

Aldurin

2016-01-22, 04:28 PM

They keep doubling down on the same tactics and I can't believe it keeps working.

Jonagel

2016-01-22, 04:44 PM

Updates to this campaign make my day, every time.

Point of interest --- The number of dead giants it has cost to get an enchanted war axe seems not worth it...especially considering all the backstabbing. Would they sacrifice 20 giants to steal/attack another clan for a magical weapon (assuming no value as a cultural or tribal heirloom)? I expected the giants to agree, but on the grounds that it was within the confines of giant territory, under watch/guard. There must be some be softies (or SUPER greedy) elders that weighed in on the decision. At least they requested Undead Bane :D There is only one way to test that.

What I am really looking forward to, is whether they can craft an intelligent or cursed item. In Pathfinder I believe you can...I sincerely hope they do not figure it out, or they're going to cause you even more headaches somehow.

Giant War Axe of Delusion? Hah.
Character is stunned for 1d4 rounds once item function is finished (or randomly, 1/day). Giant tests it, then gets stunned and shanked?
Armor, Gravesoul? Apply that to an Axe...makes everyone think they're undead.

Jacob.Tyr

2016-01-22, 04:53 PM

Slavery, breeding sentient creatures like cattle, using sentient creatures as cattle... Arms dealing seems a bit tame.

Kaveman26

2016-01-22, 05:08 PM

Updates to this campaign make my day, every time.

What I am really looking forward to, is whether they can craft an intelligent or cursed item. In Pathfinder I believe you can...I sincerely hope they do not figure it out, or they're going to cause you even more headaches somehow.

Giant War Axe of Delusion? Hah.
Character is stunned for 1d4 rounds once item function is finished (or randomly, 1/day). Giant tests it, then gets stunned and shanked?
Armor, Gravesoul? Apply that to an Axe...makes everyone think they're undead.

This *sigh*

ImperatorV

2016-01-22, 09:30 PM

Slavery, breeding sentient creatures like cattle, using sentient creatures as cattle... Arms dealing seems a bit tame.

OK I forget - when did they breed sentient creatures like cattle?

Jacob.Tyr

2016-01-22, 11:28 PM

OK I forget - when did they breed sentient creatures like cattle?

Their Minotaur breeding program, trying to make more and more psychic minotaurs to kill and animate.

CrispyCriminal

2016-01-22, 11:33 PM

NINJA'ED by post above.

dramatic flare

2016-01-23, 04:46 PM

This *sigh*

You could, of course, give them one of opposite alignment and intention which also possesses a ridiculously powerful ego score.

"No, you can't put me down. You can't animate that corpse. I won't let you. I AM STOPPING YOUR TRAIL OF EVIL THIS INSTANT, and redeeming your soul!"

Ha. It would be like a cursed item of goodness.

Jonagel

2016-01-24, 08:56 PM

This *sigh*

:/

Good luck! Though I suspect things have already happened.

If not, you could have the pocket dimension rooms screw with magic item creation maybe? Imbue something of the surrounding "plane" into any item created. Certainly adds another layer of fun for everyone.

turbo164

2016-01-25, 09:57 AM

Yay update!

Back to the Bookshelves:

Now slightly the worse for wear (Hades,Pluto,Doc have all absorbed energy drains and Seraphim is looking worse by the day) the crew assembles their undead horde and pushes out as a vanguard and rearguard, sandwiching themselves in the middle. They advance at a snail’s pace back to the library wing only pausing to place severed undead heads as makeshift security cameras at various junctures. Signs of a heavy battle remain behind as they encountered charred hunks of bone and the occasional puddle from melted webs. Whatever happened though is long over by their estimation as nothing engages them as they proceed.

Without anything impeding their march they quickly resume their position in the library and do a brief perimeter sweep before opening up the door. With more confidence than their first foray they all enter save for Ares and begin sweeping for books. In short order they locate the following:

Giantism: A Tall Order
Half Dragon: All Awesome
Heavenly Bodies: A basis for Celestials
Fey You Guys!

They also locate a few additional resource/crafting kits for some additional magic items. With a new cache of goodies in hand and nothing popping out as crucial they begin their exit procedure and start shifting their undead horde. As they leave a sheen of ice seals in the library entrance and a skirmishing force of drow and spiders from the bookshelves begins a ranged ambush. They lay a single volley into the crew and then seem to evaporate.

Seraphim: Crap. They were waiting for us to come back. Need to punch out the front and get clear before we caught up in a sniping war.

As they make their break for the door a Svathurim squeezes past the ice blocking the door and takes up a sentry position just inside. From the doorway, Ackshale, and several other giants are visible with massive javelins.

Ares: That way is looking occupied too.

Hades: Well we need an exit strategy. Can’t just sit here and get crushed.

Azzie: How long until the restricted section locks down?

Seraphim: a few minutes tops.

Azzie: Let’s burn the mutha down and hide inside the cage. Wait out a week and then leave.

Seraphim: They would just retreat and wait us out.

Azzie: Well we could still burn the whole place down. Should at least make them leave.

Hades: This is a priceless trove of knowledge and lore, it holds tomes that can alter the entire way we perceive the world and function within it, and you want to burn it down?

Azzie: As of right now we are the ONLY ones who have access to world changing knowledge and if we die here whats the point? Besides if we destroy it all then what we already have is just that more valuable, cause it will be exclusive to us.

*slight pause*

Hades: Alright, let’s get things crispy in here. Don’t forget the bookshelves against the walls.

Ares: Form up the burning giants in a circle…everyone get in that circle and start lobbing anything with fire everywhere we can. I will play goalie and direct traffic. *

Fireballs, Flamestrikes, Flaming Sphere and Ares assorted Graveknight abilities all start roasting and igniting everything within the library. Various stealth laden opponents are revealed by the flames and smoke and the frosty enemies decide that discretion is the better part of valor. The drow forces are more willing to duke it out a bit as they raise up protections from fire and return fire.

They continue to lace the entire wing with fire spells and stay within the confines of their undead cordon. Azzie and Ares try to snipe out targets as they track movement and winnow away the spiders if not any overly brave drow. Once everything is burning and spreading on it’s own they start clearing a path towards the exit, turning their giants into a half assed volunteer fire brigade.

Under fire (both literal and figurative) they manage to get themselves extricated and back to the hallway, bottle necking any remaining enemy forces within the burning wings. They happily line the hallway and mob anything trying to make a break for it from the blaze inside. It is a happy moment for them as they reap a heavy toll against drow and spider. Seraphim is squealing in delight as they manage to capture several drow hostages.

With a big win under their belts and more books in hand they abandon the now smoldering ruins of their oh so recent lair and return to the prison cell….where they encounter a massed force of giants, svats and trolls all established in formation and blocking them off from the prison. Their former ally, the lightning hammer wielding Ackshale is waiting for them with a serious scowl.

Ackshale: These last few weeks have been an aggravating pain the in neck. We have had enough of your escapades and I’ll be damned if more than of us walks away from this hall. Cards on the table lads...let’s have it out right now and here. Winner take all and to hell with the rest.

Ares: A straight up death fight huh?

Ackshale: No more foolery or deception strength against strength.

Seraphim: What about a barter?

Ackshale: You could have the wealth of a thousand kings but it would be a fool’s gold I be getting paid in. No chance.

Seraphim: See I hate it when you someone says there is nothing they would bargain for. There is always something. There is always a price that would be accepted.

Ackshale: There is nothing you have I can’t pry off your corpse.

Azzie: Actually there is mate. That fancy hammer you like so much? How many others are there in your clan? One? If any? What if we could outfit your whole gang with beaters like that?

Ackshale: Impossible.

Azzie: Up until the last few weeks hell yes. See there is a reason we fought so hard to get in that library. Books has power and now we have read the books. We can make more like that in time, lots of other fancy trinkets and talismans too. Problem is…if you kill us…poof no more knowledge. Cause we are the tricky bastards that not more than five minutes ago burned to a crisp the only game in town that could have gotten you into that racket. That makes us unique.

Ackshale: You are offering alliance…again…after all you have already done? I would rather kill you for the satisfaction of knowing you dead. And you can be damned sure I will cremate the bodies and spread the ashes just to be sure.

Azzie: Alliance? Bollocks to that. You pay us for services rendered and we deliver goods. Special rates for old friends too.

Ackshale: You mean like a discount?

Azzie: Did I say discount? I said special rates…we charge extra for the ones that we double crossed, that is how you know we are being honest. **

The giant tribal leader (and myself) are left speechless and extremely angry. With a scowl that could crumble mountains he falls back to confer with the rest of the tribe’s leadership. After a conference that includes some extremely hostile whispering he returns.

Ackshale: We are going to escort you back to the place from which you came. You have three days to confirm to us that what you say is true. Failing confirmation that you have indeed acquired the means to create items of power we will wipe you off the face of the earth.

Azzie: Do you have a request in mind?

Ackshale: We want a greataxe, sized for one of our kin imbued with the ability to combat undead.

Azzie: I can get you a magic axe in three days, but if you want it to combat undead I need ten.

Ackshale: How would we know that we aren’t just getting something you already posess? We need confirmation it was created.

Azzie: Tell me what you want it to look like. We can customize it.

They agree on a custom motif where the axe will resemble a headstone and engraved with a frost giant motif.

Azzie: alright mate. One undead slaying headstone shaped greataxe, need ten days, and that will cost you 20,000 in coin or trade.

Ackshale: 20,000?!?

Azzie: I dare you to find cheaper anywhere in here. Half upright and half on delivery.

Very jaded the giants agree, and escort the group back to the prison cell.

Ares: Well it looks like we just went into business as arms merchants.

*Huh…well I didn’t see that coming.

**I had to drop my pencil and walk away from the table to collect myself after this one

Side Note:

Very tempted to mock up an Azzie/Tsukiko "fanfic"

Alternative title: "Cooking the books"

:smallwink:

DireSickFish

2016-01-25, 12:43 PM

daremetoidareyo

2016-01-25, 02:42 PM

Did he make a ludicrously high persuade DC or something? I know you are a fair DM but it seems like you had no choice but to accept the deal when you really -really- didn't want them to. There is no world where this works out in the Giants favor.

This is exactly the same neural pathway my brain took. The only way a DM as adroit as kaveman allows this is a diplomacy/bluff check that was ridiculously high. Or a botched sense motive, or both.

JBPuffin

2016-01-25, 06:39 PM

This is exactly the same neural pathway my brain took. The only way a DM as adroit as kaveman allows this is a diplomacy/bluff check that was ridiculously high. Or a botched sense motive, or both.

Or a self-agonizing curiosity that would rather see the players outwit him at every turn just to see HOW they do it this time? Or is that just me? >.>

Fantastic work as always - and apologies to those who think this is the Great Kave instead of, well, me.

Kaveman26

2016-01-26, 08:47 AM

Did he make a ludicrously high persuade DC or something? I know you are a fair DM but it seems like you had no choice but to accept the deal when you really -really- didn't want them to. There is no world where this works out in the Giants favor.

Not really a roll driven result, more of a inkling to try something a bit different. I had a notion of how to react after they torched the library wing. To be fair it was a gut reaction and if I had given it more thought I may have altered decision. I will have the update for what that reaction was within a day or two.

Reaver25

2016-01-28, 11:36 AM

Kaveman, I had to register to tell you that I have read all of your campaign logs to date. Wow! Some great campaigns, funny moments. I especially like this one!

Traab

2016-01-28, 01:58 PM

Plus, it has to be fun to let these guys pull off a crazy plan then see the looks on their faces when it backfires... AGAIN! So far they have had all of a tiny handful of truly good things happen to them without getting it in the neck shortly afterwards. The library code they got from that one prisoner for example, and now this undead prison realm thing they are abusing for profit. Almost everything else has gone wrong at some point or another, as they lurch from catastrophe to catastrophe, somehow finding ways to survive and keep moving forward. I mean, the library alone made this whole mess of an adventure worth it. You know, assuming they make it out alive. (or, "alive" in the case of a few of them lol)

Inevitability

2016-01-28, 02:03 PM

I just realized something: it's been over a year since this thread was created!

Happy (late) anniversary, necromancers!

ATHATH

2016-01-28, 02:05 PM

Question: is a Mending or a Make Whole spell enough to restore the books?

Reaver25

2016-01-28, 02:30 PM

Question: is a Mending or a Make Whole spell enough to restore the books?

I think Mending would be enough if it wasn't totally crisp. Otherwise... now they have to find a different source for toilet paper.

Kaveman26

2016-01-28, 02:52 PM

I think Mending would be enough if it wasn't totally crisp. Otherwise... now they have to find a different source for toilet paper.

World altering power? Check

Forbidden knowledge of a world long past. Check

Legions of minions? Roger that

Fear of the masses. Most definately.

2 ply parchment soft enough not to scratch? Knew we were missing something

ATHATH

2016-01-28, 02:59 PM

--Double Post--

Reaver25

2016-01-28, 03:36 PM

World altering power? Check

Forbidden knowledge of a world long past. Check

Legions of minions? Roger that

Fear of the masses. Most definately.

2 ply parchment soft enough not to scratch? Knew we were missing something

I would say "Don't forget the running water!" But that wouldn't be good for Sera soon...

Quiver

2016-01-29, 04:24 PM

If they make it out of this dungeon, the group should become used car(t)salesmen. They'll talk you into selling your horse and paying them for the privellege.

And hey, always good to have a backup plan in case the whole 'world domination' thing doesn't pan out.

Ajmes

2016-01-29, 09:33 PM

Traab

2016-01-30, 12:57 PM

That's beneath them, despite the fact they'd be great at it.

Really, they should go into politics. XD

They only need to go into politics so far as they will need to know about them to run the nation they are rich and powerful enough to outright buy. Those tradeskill books alone will make them insanely rich and powerful. Give themselves the best gear they can create, combine it with their template stacking adventures, and there will be precious little other groups can do to take it from them. Any nation they decide to equip will become the strongest in existence just from simple gear disparity. That library they just burned down is without a doubt the single most valuable thing in the entire dungeon. Now that its mostly gone (probably) the books they have are utterly priceless. They should really start thinking about ways to make certain noone can ever take them from them. Because everyone who knows they exist is going to want to.

Reaver25

2016-01-30, 01:27 PM

They only need to go into politics so far as they will need to know about them to run the nation they are rich and powerful enough to outright buy. Those tradeskill books alone will make them insanely rich and powerful. Give themselves the best gear they can create, combine it with their template stacking adventures, and there will be precious little other groups can do to take it from them. Any nation they decide to equip will become the strongest in existence just from simple gear disparity. That library they just burned down is without a doubt the single most valuable thing in the entire dungeon. Now that its mostly gone (probably) the books they have are utterly priceless. They should really start thinking about ways to make certain noone can ever take them from them. Because everyone who knows they exist is going to want to.

Could this be why the Drow are there in the first place? There was the Shadow Lord template, maybe they were searching for that book. Or maybe the Drow Matron(s) was searching for the Vampire one. Also, I think the U.C. are going to betray the Giants again, of course.

NRSASD

2016-01-30, 02:23 PM

I'm not sure we've met a group the U.C. haven't (or won't) betray yet

Traab

2016-01-30, 02:43 PM

Could this be why the Drow are there in the first place? There was the Shadow Lord template, maybe they were searching for that book. Or maybe the Drow Matron(s) was searching for the Vampire one. Also, I think the U.C. are going to betray the Giants again, of course.

Nah, I dont think they would have any idea what books were in there. Even the UC crew didnt know. They ran in, grabbed the first titles that looked useful then ran out. That isnt to say they dont know NOW what sort of titles they have, its possible. As for the giants, meh, im sure they would betray them, they may be planning to ambush them as much as possible. Heck, they might even be trying to stall till they finish template stacking to an extent so they can take a direct fight to the giants. Of course, the giants are on the edge of just cutting their losses and killing them anyways.

Fable Wright

2016-01-30, 03:12 PM

I'm not sure we've met a group the U.C. haven't (or won't) betray yet

I think the aboleth's undead group might be one. They honestly seem to respect the aboleth and the creatures in there, and the creatures there are happy to work with the UC. It's the closest to a symbiotic relationship that the UC have had so far.

Reaver25

2016-01-30, 03:15 PM

Nah, I dont think they would have any idea what books were in there. Even the UC crew didnt know. They ran in, grabbed the first titles that looked useful then ran out. That isnt to say they dont know NOW what sort of titles they have, its possible. As for the giants, meh, im sure they would betray them, they may be planning to ambush them as much as possible. Heck, they might even be trying to stall till they finish template stacking to an extent so they can take a direct fight to the giants. Of course, the giants are on the edge of just cutting their losses and killing them anyways.

Oh, for sure. I was just thinking along the lines of: (1) Drow started attacking in that area, (2) perhaps Drow scouts saw library and let their Matron know, (3) why the heck does anyone agree to anything with them?! Lol.
Also, do you think the Frost Giant/Drow Version of the Lightmare will come up somehow?

Wolfofmibu66

2016-01-31, 03:28 AM

Traab

2016-01-31, 11:42 AM

Not to denigrate the conversations and plotting, but I seem to recall a "relatively" imminent apocalypse in the personage of Vulcanus set to nuke to world, might they use that for extra leverage on the giants?

Yeah maybe, if they could actually convince the giants they are telling the truth about that. "No seriously, there is like, this ultra mega powerful creature that is about to escape and kill the world. Join with us and we can stop it!" Also, Reaver, I wouldnt be surprised if the drow "lightmare" comes into play at some random point if the party is stuck in a no win scenario and the dm might need to nudge things in a direction that lets them get a break. As an example, they are stuck in another siege and this time there is no breaking out possible but they arent going to die in the next play session or two. The dm could just spin up a story about seeing some badly beaten drow begging for help and go from there. We learn only the undead party has the skills needed to defeat the drow trumping monster they unleashed that is wiping out their entire faction.

Reaver25

2016-02-01, 02:22 AM

Yeah maybe, if they could actually convince the giants they are telling the truth about that. "No seriously, there is like, this ultra mega powerful creature that is about to escape and kill the world. Join with us and we can stop it!" Also, Reaver, I wouldnt be surprised if the drow "lightmare" comes into play at some random point if the party is stuck in a no win scenario and the dm might need to nudge things in a direction that lets them get a break. As an example, they are stuck in another siege and this time there is no breaking out possible but they arent going to die in the next play session or two. The dm could just spin up a story about seeing some badly beaten drow begging for help and go from there. We learn only the undead party has the skills needed to defeat the drow trumping monster they unleashed that is wiping out their entire faction.

Now that's an interesting idea. And what about the Big Ol' Red Dragon? Surely he is coming back, right?

Traab

2016-02-02, 01:17 AM

Now that's an interesting idea. And what about the Big Ol' Red Dragon? Surely he is coming back, right?

Maybe, im thinking not likely though, unless there is another way inside. The entryway is perma camped by like, dozens of adventure parties who probably would love the chance to kill a giant red dragon. Especially since, I think he is badly injured right? Didnt he lose a paw hen the doors shut or something? So he may not get back inside, but the party sure as hell had better not forget about him if they ever leave.

Aldurin

2016-02-02, 01:24 AM

Maybe, im thinking not likely though, unless there is another way inside. The entryway is perma camped by like, dozens of adventure parties who probably would love the chance to kill a giant red dragon. Especially since, I think he is badly injured right? Didnt he lose a paw hen the doors shut or something? So he may not get back inside, but the party sure as hell had better not forget about him if they ever leave.

The injury doesn't make it breath fire or use magic any less powerfully, and the worst thing he could do to the party is simply not be present when the doors open again. As soon as they left the red dragon outside with the constant threat of revenge, they committed to the "I guess we live here now" plan for the dungeon. Hell, the dragon might gather allies and encourage specialized party-hunting squads to be ready to force their way back into the dungeon. Nothing really screws with a plan like a barrier of buffed paladins acting as a mobile wall as clerics behind them demolish undead effortlessly.

Inevitability

2016-02-02, 03:14 AM

Kaveman26

2016-02-02, 09:04 AM

Maybe, im thinking not likely though, unless there is another way inside. The entryway is perma camped by like, dozens of adventure parties who probably would love the chance to kill a giant red dragon. Especially since, I think he is badly injured right? Didnt he lose a paw hen the doors shut or something? So he may not get back inside, but the party sure as hell had better not forget about him if they ever leave.

There are three entrances. Veritas was expelled through the camped entrance whilst scattering and destroying said camped parties. He had a limb severed by the doors closing and was none too thrilled by it. There are two other entrances possible or he could return to the original point. The frost Giants entered via a second gate, and the third remains mysterious in access or status

ATHATH

2016-02-03, 03:38 PM

By the way, Kaveman, why isn't this in your sig?

Kaveman26

2016-02-04, 12:26 PM

Lined Up Around the Block:

The group focus immediately shifts towards item creation and further template acquisition. Upon reaching the security of the prison block Doc almost instantly stakes claim to the Giantism Manual.

Giantism: A Tall Order

Intro: Remarkably inelegant and robust the giants of this Plane show promise for brute labor and little else. An indelicate and classless means has been acquired to augment an existing species physical size and capabilities.

Doc: Yep, nothing dissuading me from cracking it open.

Process: To achieve Giantism the subject must grind 12 sets of bones from any species of giant into a fine powder and combine a jelly formed from the boiled remains of 12 giant brains. The subsequent paste must be applied as a lotion to the body of the receiving entity. Transformation may take up to 24 hours.

I wish I could have captured the glares at the table as he finished reading this aloud.

Azzie: That’s it?

Doc: Yep.

Seraphim: No rare ingredient, no drastic physical sacrifices?

Doc: Nope. I think we can knock this one out overnight.

Ares: Anyone have an urge for Celestialism?

*crickets*

Ares: Fey?

*more crickets*

Ares: Half Dragon?

Seraphim: I would love it, but afraid it may interfere with vampirism process.

Twins: Same for us and lich.

Azzie: Im out too mate.

Ares: Uh…I guess Doc by default? Suppose we can wait a night to let him finish the first one before starting his second.

(Doc the character is aloof from their frustration and jealousy. Doc the player is laughing himself silly at the simplicity of his giant template in relation to theirs)

The celestial and Fey books are tucked away for safe keeping while they go about scrounging up the requisite bones and brains for Doc.

They also calmly set about creating the requested greataxe for their Giant Patrons. Being occupied with about thirty other considerations and thoughts I gloss over the elevated creation costs as it relates to a spell activation rider on the axe.

By the following day Doc has achieved his full template and has grown substantially in size and strength. As they set about book-keeping and strategizing their detection system alerts them to a sudden flurry of activity.

The entire Giant contingent has begun the process of relocating. Directly outside the prison cell area. From their skull surveillance they watch as fortifications and defensive structures go up. Rudimentary “detection” systems of their own also are put in place as they line the walls, floors, and ceiling with oil, flour and sand. Anything to alert the presence of invisible or wall clinging entities.

They are partially amused at watching the giants attempt to breach the prison cell and take satisfaction in watching the ogre mage guards appear and smack them down.

Ares: Well the good news is that they can’t enter. The bad news is…
we are completely sealed in. There is not a second path out of here and they brought everything.

Seraphim: They apparently scavenged some of the were-dwarf siege equipment too. They have their trolls manning the siege crossbows and other artillery, all aimed right at us.

As they ponder the latest development something new occurs. A pulsing flash of light sends everything into darkness and then a pleasant hue of blue pulses three times and the lights return to normal. A voice feminine in nature, but highly masculine in tone enters the minds of the entire party.

Voice: Would a representative of the Undead Cowboys and a representative from the Frigid Pass Legion please convene at prison gates for a mandatory discussion. Compliance is appreciated and expected. Failure to achieve our appreciation will ensure extinction. You have five minutes to comply. Come alone and unhostile.

Doc: Well that is a little disarming.

Hades: Seraphim is the leader right?

Seraphim: She is currently out of sorts what with the sudden aging, arthritis, uncontrolled vomiting and intense aching.

Azzie: Send Ares…if he gets offed the armor can regrow him. None of the rest of us get that luxury yet.

Ares: I am ok with that.

Ares makes his way to the prison gate, where Ackshale also awaits. As they come to opposite sides of the gates there is a leery politeness shared between the two. From out of the wall emerges a very tall slender humanoid form. It seems to be carved from liquid stone as the form seems fluid but hard at the same time. It is startling lifelike and clearly of the same form they witnessed when the main vault opened. From everthing they have gathered so far is definitely an Illithid. It/She is present in a physical form and they mentally calculate it as a her despite a high degree of asexuality.

Illithid: I am referred to as Elliana. Your recent actions regarding the destruction of our Library Wing have activated my involvement. I am to inform the parties responsible for it’s destruction to cease and desist all actions that would result in damage or loss to this vessel under pain of extermination.

Ares: It was a dispute that resulted in some accidental collateral damage. We have since resolved said dispute and resumed trade and commerce. Isn’t that right Ackshale?

Ackshale: Yeah…fast friends we are. Everything is kosher. No need to escalation.

Elliana: Your deceptions are translated and collated. Refrain from further attempts to manipulate. My orders are to ensure the reactivation of this vessel and to maintain those resources deemed essential to completing this mission. Your “collateral damage” interrupts that goal.

Ares: You are a bit late to prevent damage. This whole vessel has been wrecked for thousands of years.
Elliana: This information is known. I have within my parameters the authorization to…

…she seems to fluctuate as she “thinks”…changing colors, density and other physical augmentations.

Elliana:…Deputize you and your associates into assisting my endeavors. This assistance is non compulsory but advised to prevent further hostility.

Ares: You want to give us a job?

Elliana: No. The job is mine. I desire for my job to become Simpler. You are tools responsible for making my goals come with greater alacrity. Do you wish to comply?

I have not linked to my signature because I am rubbish with that kind of thing. I always screw it up.

Traab

2016-02-04, 12:40 PM

Ooooh dear. This could get interesting. I have to admit im not that surprised there was a price to pay for destroying the library. I do like how now they are going to be forced to work together in some way or else risk unspecified extermination. I wonder if their first mission will be to hunt down and wipe out the drow? They didnt get invited to the chat after all.

Chimmon

2016-02-04, 12:53 PM

One has to wonder about the scope of her "extinction" threat. Those types of things are usually world-wide.

Wolfofmibu66

2016-02-04, 01:17 PM

Extinction to me indicates that both groups, giants and UC, get wiped from the dungeon for noncompliance. That being said, if the drow keep poking about they'll probably trigger some response, not likely a "lightmare" type, but something definitely.

Traab

2016-02-04, 02:00 PM

It might mean releasing the beholder dragon thing. Now, I loved the ease of the giant template, I wonder what else he may go for, as honestly, that doesnt add a lot of juicy things other than a slight boost to a few stats and rolls. That half dragon boost might be nice though. I cant wait to learn what sort of requirements it might have. "Say "I wanna be a dragon hybrid" three times fast during the day time" /entire party erupts into a murderous rage

Fable Wright

2016-02-04, 03:00 PM

I have not linked to my signature because I am rubbish with that kind of thing. I always screw it up.

May I, then?

Campaign Logs:

Chaotic GoodFellas-Complete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245596

The Big One-Complete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247997

City State of The Enigmatic Overgnome-Complete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245994

An Adversarial Process-Complete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240332

CalimshawShank Redemption-Complete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244374

Cattle Driving Necromancers-Incomplete
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325177

Jonagel

2016-02-04, 03:09 PM

Kaveman26

2016-02-04, 03:20 PM

Str +8, Con +4, AC +2, that's pretty huge for a melee slugger. Even if it's just Str +4 and not +8

Adding Half Dragon will make him absurd...

Str +8, Con +6, Int +2, Cha +2, AC +4, breath weapon, immunity to an energy type, and ......... WINGS. In a campaign world where flight is limited to natural flight only, that could be huge.

Possible increase of Str by 16, and plus 10 HP per level. :O

Speaking of, Kaveman, sometime in the next several updates (maybe after they finish adding templates) an update on the PCs sheets would be awesome. In addition to all the other awesome of course.

I am going to post updated sheets after some templates come through and they hit level 10. Level 10 was a bit absurd in terms of how their power levels and capabilities jumped. As a quick for instance...Azzie and Ares both pick up Animate Dead buckets at Level 10.

Jonagel

2016-02-04, 03:58 PM

Good lord I can imagine -- can't wait!

Also, for a split second I thought Animate Dead Buckets were some kind of wondrous item they crafted... Hah.

GnomishPride

2016-02-04, 05:26 PM

Don nadie

2016-02-05, 06:04 AM

Kaveman, I just wanted to say I love this journal. It is ridiculous, and awesome, and makes me understand how a game with lots of rolling, battles and dungeoning can be awesome too. Keep at it, I can't wait to read updates!

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if "extinction" actually meant "extinction of your entire race". Designing an epidemic that kills all members of a race does not seem beyond the reach of the illithids' abilities in this setting...

Inevitability

2016-02-06, 05:46 AM

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if "extinction" actually meant "extinction of your entire race". Designing an epidemic that kills all members of a race does not seem beyond the reach of the illithids' abilities in this setting...

Reminds me of an incredibly cool 3.5 druid spell: 'Epidemic'. It's 9th-level, so only the greatest of archdruids can actually cast it, but when they do...

First, Epidemic infects one creature with a disease of your choice. Then, everyone within 30 feet of the creature that you infected must make a saving throw or become infected too. Everyone within 30 feet of them must also save, and so on.

But that's not all. All creatures diseased by the spell remain contagious. Until the disease is cured, everyone who gets near them, no matter what nonmagical protection they may have, risks contracting the disease themselves (and spreading it further).

Now realize that a high-level druid can easily cast this spell three or four times a day, every day. Unless someone manages to contain all infected, kill the druid, and then cure the infected without risking getting diseased yourself, civilization as we know it is doomed.

Druids are dangerous. Don't make druids angry.

Elandris Kajar

2016-02-06, 08:09 AM

From where is this spell????

Inevitability

2016-02-06, 08:50 AM

From where is this spell????

Masters of the Wild. It's 3.0, but hasn't received a 3.5 update and is therefore still rules-legal.

Elandris Kajar

2016-02-06, 12:55 PM

Masters of the Wild. It's 3.0, but hasn't received a 3.5 update and is therefore still rules-legal.

Cool. Thanks. My evil scheming mind is working overdrive already:smallbiggrin:

Traab

2016-02-06, 02:17 PM

Fable Wright

2016-02-06, 04:16 PM

That has to be the most absurd spell I have ever heard of. It serves no purpose other than to kill everything. Make it a slow acting lethal disease that takes awhile to show symptoms and infect a rat in a city. Unless there are equally high level and powerful people keeping an eye on everything you do, thats going to destroy everything. By the time symptoms show up, people will have already left the city and spread the infection further. Honestly, its great for an apocalypse, but who would use it in a campaign that doesnt involve killing the world? You cant even use it for something like say, giving an entire fortress a debilitating disease, because you would have to go to excessive lengths to prevent it from infecting your party or spreading beyond.

*raises hand*

It's great for attracting disease-immune creatures, turning a city into a ruined city if you communicate to the authorities that a quarantine is absolutely necessary at the first sign of outbreak, and turning a ruined city to an interesting dungeon to draw low-level adventurers into as part of turning them into powerful pawns to throw against your enemies. Also, great defense against invading armies.

It also really doesn't require much effort to keep it from infecting the party; a few simple, cheap magic items render them all immune.

daremetoidareyo

2016-02-06, 09:00 PM

GnomishPride

2016-02-06, 11:58 PM

Some people just want the world to burn (well not literally in this case, no burning involved except for mass cremation)

GnomishPride

2016-02-07, 05:59 PM

Looks like the thread's dying again now that Kaveman hasn't posted in a few days.

zabbarot

2016-02-07, 06:58 PM

That's what happens, GnomishPride. Think of this as a periodical. Like a webcomic, or a magazine article. Kaveman posts when he's got time. Be patient, padawan :smalltongue:

chm1084

2016-02-07, 11:32 PM

Caveman never posts late, nor is he early, he posts precisely when he means to. :smalltongue:

And this thread was the reason for me to register. Great story!

Chimmon

2016-02-08, 10:51 AM

Jonagel

2016-02-08, 12:43 PM

CrispyCriminal

2016-02-08, 11:45 PM

Druids can do similar things (at a much reduced scale and effectiveness) at level 5. Contagion mixed with animal empathy or charm animal. It can infect a large population if the druid devotes a lot of castings to it.

Bonus points if the druid uses Contagion + Animal Messenger. D&D style infected mail. (Or Animal Messenger + Fire Trap - but that's more expensive and less effective over all. Still, exploding squirrels.)

D&D's mailed anthrax program. Wonderful.

Web + Contagion mix also is a terrific combo if you have a wizard or sorc on hand. Effectively ensuring your opponents share the love of pestilence by trying to hack them out of the silk of stickiness. Add a fireball in if you want a pile of burning disease ridden corpses burning (provided they all die anyways).

Kaveman26

2016-02-10, 03:44 PM

Speaking of, I wonder if this campaign will see more nature and druids -- outside of the "intelligent animal room".

Any chance we'll see dinosaurs, or a prison/room dedicated to a prime example of 'druidic' powers? ... Whether that's blight, vermin/venom, etc. Would love to see some of the other prisoners join the fun too. Seems like a wonderful change to make up some fun/unique race/class combinations.

Late game yes. I'm blatantly stealing anything useful from a separate advice thread i had made concurrent to this and from feedback from within the thread. I'm still playing catch up to current events

GrayDeath

2016-02-11, 01:54 PM

I think I speak for nearly every reader of this ... "Thread of boundless wonder and Horror" (^^) if I say:

Catch up faster! :smallcool:

The Bandicoot

2016-02-11, 04:31 PM

I speak for those of us that have developed a modicum of patience when I say...

Take your time, wife and kid take a LOT out of a man.

Kaveman26

2016-02-13, 11:48 AM

Compliance is Expected:

Elliana lays out the following guideline for their perspective “Deputization”.

1st: Repairing Control to the Ship’s power
2nd: Restoring Viability to Containment and Suspended Animation Systems
3rd: Creating Habitable Enviroment for soon to be awakened occupants.

To this end she instructs the giants with the party to approach the Propulsion wing that to this point has been mostly untouched. They are told to expect several irregularities.

Ares: Could you elaborate on irregularities? That is too uncomfortably vague

Elliana: With propulsion and regulators operating under emergency capacity the controls pertaining to affects such as atmosphere, gravity, dimensional bindings, planar restrictions, temperature and inertia are all considered unregulated.

Ares: Oh…well that makes things a bit more terrifying. What exactly are we supposed to repair in there? It is not as if any of us are familiar with your systems or machines.

Elliana: Engineering proficiency is not required. Physical Strength and the ability to operate simple levers will suffice. Security Protocols as relating to repairs have failed, manual activation is therefore needed.
Once again she seems to fluctuate between physical forms and Ares gets the uncomfortable sensation of someone rummaging through his head like a person flipping pages in a book.

Elliana: We have “Golems” programmed to assimilate repairs. These “Golems” must be activated by pulling a switch on the wall. Moving the switch from a fixed upright position to a downwards position is all that must be done.

Telepathically the quotation marks make themselves visible in his head.

Ackshale: What is our role in this?

Elliana: Several of the Golems may not be entirely stable and might nessicitate deconstruction. Or to simplify “the crazy ones need to be smashed”

Ares: I think it is worth mentioning…a prisoner called Volcanus is according to us, in the process of escaping. Shouldn’t that be a higher priority.

Elliana: Entity Volcanus has bypassed measuring of incarceration. This information is factual. Repairing the ship is a first priority. I lack the ability to restrain him.

Ares: How much time do we have?

Elliana: Unknown. Uncontrollable.

Ares: There is a third faction centrally located in this vicinity that played a role in the libraries accident. We can’t control them.

Elliana: The subterrainen elves have been contacted and agreed to relocate pending the next mandatory door opening.

Without further immediate questions Ackshale and Ares return to their collective sides and fill in their factions on recent events. A glowing pathway is illuminated on the walls providing a road map into the Propulsion section.

Seraphim: So we are being extorted into providing labor. Not a fan of that.

Hades: From your description of this Elliana, I am not keen on testing her threats. There can certainly be benefits from our accessing the engine to this vessel as well. Control of the heart could open up all kinds of pathways.

Doc: If it helps out of the current situation with the giants that is bonus.

The group gears up and arranges their wagon train of undead minions before meeting back up with a force of giants, led by Ackshale. Elliana instructs them to report back to prison once they have triggered the Golem Repair Team.

The uneasy alliance is certainly not intended to foster small talk and aside from a quick reassurance that they will deliver on the magic axe ASAP. The glowing pathway leads them deep within a the engine room of the illithid vessel, where they come to the heart of the massive core. Ares is the first to enter and as he enters the room he is compelled to roll a d20. On a roll of 5 he is immediately flung sideways to the left wall of the chamber (which is several hundred feet in diameter) with a clang of armor he stands up…sideways on the wall which is now apparently his “down” for gravity. One by One they enter 1-5 sees them join Ares, 5-10 they remain on their normal acclimation, 10-15 sees them land to the right wall, and 15-20 sees them land on the ceiling. We end up with Ares and Doc on the left Wall, Seraphim alone on the ceiling, Azzie and Hades on the right wall, and Pluto on the normal floor. The Giants and undead are flung all over the place, notably Ackshale on the floor with Pluto. There are coves throughout the walls that seem to house Golems of an unknown substance very similar to that compromising the hull of the ship.

As they orient themselves Pluto and Ackshale locate the first lever on the left wall and pull it down to release the Golem housed within…as the construct rumbles to action, each step of it walking out sending up a strange black wave of energy that builds in the center of the room. For the briefest of moments a vision of a blasted and sundered terrain becomes visible, afterwhich a towering monster with four arms is shot from the external plane and slammed into a random wall.

Ares: I think we just had the room sneeze a Glabrezu at us. Sera…you got incoming.

Seraphim: *sigh*

No sooner does the glabrezu get it’s bearing and starts to focus on the witch, then a second portal opens and this time an Ice Devil is flung to the floor of the room. Being Mortal enemies for all of time and creation the two begin flinging chaos hammers and cones of cold like they are going out of style towards each other. Surprisingly the giants and cowboys just do their best to stay out of the way and not draw any major attention. The golem for it’s part seems to be doing it’s best air guitar/invisible repair impression as it seems to do nothing other than flail it’s arms helplessly. As the demon and devil rage around them, they trigger further golems, which occasionally do nothing, sometimes summon additional denizens, and after a little while….restore gravity*

A fire elemental, a Succubus, The Glabrezu and Ice Devil, along with every giant and PC all come tumbling down to the ground at once. That pretty much triggers a full on clusterF. The PC’s cut to shreds anything within their proximity indiscriminately and the giants all form ranks and just keep to themselves away from the chaos. Having realized that golem released=potential event they eliminate all opposition and delay triggering more golems until they have reasonable containment.

With about half a dozen golems now all acting like mimes they are getting perturbed.

Seraphim: Why the show, they are supposed to be correcting this nonsense not playing charades.

Ares: Got me, they seem to have a purpose, no idea what that purpose is though.

Doc: Keep activating them, maybe they just need a bigger staff.

From that point forward, and with great delicacy they open one golem at a time. With the tenth golem activated, a hazy image of other dimensional parts becomes visible and suddenly their random actions are tied to repairs being affected on parts that seem to exist in another entire reality.

Hades: Alright I admit it, this is impressive.

IT takes them a full day to reactivate the full contingent but they get the golems fully operational and with each added laborer, less hijinks seem to occur.

They report back their success to Elliana who bids them to await further instructions. Like kids having done a good job they are dismissed with a warning to prevent further attacks against each other.

Elliana: Once I obtain confirmation that propulsion systems are back in operation I will contact you again for phase two.

*The gravity scramble and demon-devil were prescripted events, the rest was all random.

Extreme Side Note:

Had an idea for a movie...kind of a comedy and definitely one that would push boundaries of R rating. Wanted to see if I could get some feedback on the basic premise.

30 Day Trial:

Mickel Noah was a well regarded and successful Sargent in the royal army of Finlandia. So with a certain degree of frustration he one day found himself detailed to the private protection force of Lord Wembley, the wealthiest and single most politically connected man in the kingdom. His second day on the job saw him and his three comrades ambushed while escorting the Lord from his country estate, a dozen brigands all well armed attacked from cover and killed his comrades in the first volley. Enraged Mickel charged and broke the brigands ranks, in the process he took multiple wounds and found his chest holding several of the bandits arrows.

When he awoke it was in hospital and his first sight was Lord Wembley’s face, filled with respect and appreciation.

“Young man you saved my life and showed remarkable valor. I have spoken with the king and we agrees that a reward befitting such an action is deserved. You are to become my son in law, upon taking my eldest daughter’s hand in marriage”

The Lady Ashleigh was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and ravishing seductive women in the entire kingdom, and her father was the wealthiest by far. So to an outsider his reaction may seem unusual.

“Why couldn’t those idiots have just finished me off on the side of the road!”

Such a reaction was warranted due to a particular tradition still employed by the Finlandish Families. The 30 Day Trial. Any suitor who take a woman’s hand in marriage was required by law to first go through a full moon’s courtship. During this time it was expected that he should prove himself worthy of the lady’s favor. Should he displease or offend in this 30 days it was the ladies prerogative and duty to have the suitor beheaded. As a deterrent to strictly political marriages it was well placed, and for those who already had a legitimate connection it was a formality.

The Lady Ashleigh found herself with no shortage of those who sought her hand for both it’s beauty and it’s connection to her family fortune. Seventeen men had stepped forth and found their necks in contact with the Executioner’s axe. Of those seventeen none found their necks immune to the axe’s edge.
In some cases the waiting can be the hardest part, and Mickel had long nights of recuperation that left him little other than to think. To refuse this reward was to offend the King, Lord Wembley, and The Lady herself. It was entirely likely he would not make it out of the room with his head attached. To accept was to step into the battlefield of high society and take as his salvation a woman who had already collected 17 fiancee’s.

So it was that on the eve of his trial, having been released from the hospital he found himself at a tavern with the men from his company, they were hosting his Bachelor Party and it many ways his living Wake for the atmosphere was far more akin to a funeral. With every sorrowful pat on the back and every plate of oysters delivered with a remorseful goodbye he attempted to drown his fortunes in alcohol and shellfish. On the morrow he would meet his bride to be and should he embarrass her in public, insult her in conversation or disappoint her in the bedroom it would be just as likely that his final sounds would be funeral bells instead of wedding bells.

GnomishPride

2016-02-13, 01:00 PM

Yay, Kaveman's back!

Traab

2016-02-13, 04:30 PM

Am I the only one that smells setup here? They are going to be disposed of as soon as this entity doesnt need them anymore. All they are doing right now is repairing what is in all likelyhood a doomsday city ship that will probably pull a braniac as soon as possible. Meaning once it has collected everything it wants, it will probably destroy everything else. Only problem (heh, only) is, there isnt much they can do right now. They COULD try to call its bluff. If its damaged it might be weaker than it claims, the more the ship is fixed, the stronger it could get in turn. Or they could get wiped out. Of course, they only have the giants with them, who its doubtful would be willing to risk obliteration with the party that has turned on them and they have turned on so many times already.

I guess in the end there is really little choice but to go along with this and wait for an opening of some sort. The fact the ship is so advanced makes this even nastier. Its like they are on a combination of a borg cube and the tomb of horrors. Everything is so far advanced beyond their understanding it might as well be magic, and at any point they could touch something that will kill them. Either out of ignorance of its function, "Hey, what does overload primary warp coil mean?" Or ignorance of security features. It makes it even harder to be able to identify something they could use. They could see a panel labeled "AI Interface and Central Programming" and keep on walking because they would have no way of knowing what that is.

Inevitability

2016-02-14, 06:14 AM

Blitheslayer

2016-02-15, 03:46 AM

Truly a great read so far. I have fallen into your posts like a great fantasy novel. Salvatore and Greenwood would be proud. Honestly, this would be a book I would buy. I know I'm not the first to say it but I also registered because of this thread. I had to give kudos to one who has selflessly given me so much joy.

I am happy to hear you have friends and family about you and obviously a great team of players included in that. Please take your time and enjoy yourself. Your fandom will be here. We are exceedingly grateful.

Cheers!

GnomishPride

2016-02-19, 10:56 PM

Well, Kaveman's known for quality, not quantity, amiright?

Demidos

2016-02-21, 12:34 PM

Well, Kaveman's known for quality, not quantity, amiright?

Are you joking? :smallconfused:
He's written like, 6 campaign journals, each over 100 pdf pages long. The long ones are probably three times that. I don't know about you, but I've never written anything even close to that long. :smalleek:

CrispyCriminal

2016-02-21, 06:45 PM

Are you joking? :smallconfused:
He's written like, 6 campaign journals, each over 100 pdf pages long. The long ones are probably three times that. I don't know about you, but I've never written anything even close to that long. :smalleek:

I'm pretty sure he was referring to the frequency of his posts, and not the length of those posts.

Joe the Rat

2016-02-22, 09:38 AM

I'm pretty sure he was referring to the frequency of his posts, and not the length of those posts.

Yeah, it's more about how regular Kaveman is. ...and set...

GnomishPride

2016-02-22, 04:34 PM

Yeah, CrispyCriminal and Joe the Rat are right, I was referring to frequency not volume. Sorry if that was confusing. :smalltongue:

BigNorm

2016-02-22, 04:57 PM

I have read the entire thread just to learn as others have. It's not done! AHHHHHHHHHH! Oh well. I am now patiently awaiting updates along with so many others. Keep up the good work. NORM

Kaveman26

2016-02-23, 08:52 AM

Yeah, CrispyCriminal and Joe the Rat are right, I was referring to frequency not volume. Sorry if that was confusing. :smalltongue:

Yeah, I was going at a pretty good clip 2-3 updates a week for a period. Time is too splintered to maintain that level of consistency anymore. A couple a month is more likely for the time being with an occasional burst of more. Will likely have more today or within next day or two.

Kaveman26

2016-02-24, 05:24 PM

Some Time Later:

Without further instructions the crew settles back into their prison stronghold and finishes construction of their weapon order. They deliver the greataxe to the Giants and then politely excuse themselves back to the prison. From that position they grind events to a standstill as they continue to drain levels to fuel Azzie’s transformation, and Seraphim continues to feel the effects of her vampiric potion. The physical attribute penalties continue to pile on and as they approach the next door opening she now resembles a 90 year old woman suffering from extreme physical impairments, her sight, hearing and motor skills are all drastically diminished. Gout and arthritis have ravaged her joints and the vast majority of her hair and teeth have fallen out.

Elliana, after having fixed the engine system, has not reappeared. Tensions with the giants are starting to increase as they don’t overtly stop egress from the prison, but they continue to keep it well and bottled up. Massive barricades and blockades are staged throughout the prison area entrance. They have also requested a laundry list of other magical items and the unspoken impetus seems to be “Craft what we want if you ever want to get out of the prison block”

Doc also takes the interim period to crack open the Half-Dragon book. It reads as follows:

“To take on aspects of the beast one must first delve into the belly of the beast. One so inclined must create a poultice from the stomach acids of a dragon tempered with their own stomach acids. This compound must be coated over the subject thoroughly upon which they must then spend five minutes within the stomach of a living dragon”

Ares: I take back every horrific thing I said about the ease of giant process. Have fun with this one mate.

Upon the eve of the dungeon doors reopening the situation looks like this:

*Seraphim is practically a walking corpse with just under a week remaining in her transformation
*Every other group member is suffering from fairly extensive level drain effects and Azzie is within a day of completing his ritual
*The Giants have barricaded the surrounding to high heavens.
*Drow are MiA but somewhere still in the mix at an unknown location
*The majority of their intelligence network is shattered. They still have access to skull system but that is it.

Their objective is to wait out the remaining week and hold fast until Azzie and Seraphim have completed their transformations. Secondarily they want a means of escape from the prison that doesn’t involve a bad deal with the giants.

Seraphim: Guess we just back and wait to see what develops. No sense in rocking the boat while we are dealing with leaks all over the place

The following morning they come to the edge of the prison enclosure and hail their giant siege companions.

Ares: We felt it fair to warn you that the gates are opening in about two hours. Not sure what may be coming through, but keep a sharp eye.

Ackshale: Not too much that could come through those doors which would concern us greatly.

Ares: As we said, heads up is all.

When noon strikes, there arises an enormous amount of noise and chaos that echoes deeply throughout the structure. A great roar distinctly that of a dragon crashes through the hallways and the stampede of heavy footsteps seems to shake the very ground. After the initial flurry of activity a lull sets in where no immediate updates become available, and the calm is making them antsy. A series of checks to notice movement from the skulls, a sequence of seemingly nothing occurring is driving them nuts. After what feels like an eternity to them from one of their most remote skulls they pick up movement and see a battalion of fire giants marching deeper into the dungeon. Bringing up their rear are several fire elementals and some smaller dragons or varying color.

Hades: We are tracking more fire giants, more dragons and more elementals from a separate corridor.

Pluto: Same composition from at least three more corridors. They are scouting and falling back.

Ares: So Ackshale…we are seeing a large consortium of fire giants, elementals and various dragons that seem to have joined the party. Having noticed a strong fire basis and seeing as you are more of the arctic variety….still not concerned?

Ackshale: How many?

Ares: Lots, at least 30, maybe more.

The giants are at least “concerned” enough to pull back and begin their own scouting.

Skull Vision shows a strong fire presence as they spot numerous patrols and by late in the afternoon they pick up a sighting of a familiar red dragon, one now sporting a metallic limb where his previous one was severed.

Seraphim: We have confirmation of Veritas, and I would bet the farm he is the boss of this outfit.

Holed up in the prison they witness the Frost Giants fully leave their secured position and by their best estimate a force of at least 50 fire giants, with accompanying fire elementals and over a dozen smaller dragons are companion to Veritas.

Azzie: Fings are getting a whole lot uglier now.

Mith

2016-02-24, 05:29 PM

Is Doc going to force Veritas to choke on him?

blacklight101

2016-02-24, 07:30 PM

Dang, part of me almost wants to bet that Seraphim turns into a Nosferatu-esque vampire with all these changes happening.

Crazy awesome story. Cant wait for the next chapter.

Aldurin

2016-02-24, 09:51 PM

Now that's convenient for the party to suddenly have access to a live dragon the moment they need it for a template.

Wolfofmibu66

2016-02-25, 12:36 AM

Now that's convenient for the party to suddenly have access to a live dragon the moment they need it for a template.

We always knew that Veritas was coming back in for revenge and what he views as his rightful loot, the fiery army is a nice touch though.

Kaveman26

2016-02-25, 09:06 AM

His return is very intentional and planned. From the minute they locked him out last month there was no way he wasn't coming back.

Traab

2016-02-25, 11:53 AM

His return is very intentional and planned. From the minute they locked him out last month there was no way he wasn't coming back.

Yeah I saw that coming too. I like it. They had a nice little stasis going on there, and I knew it couldnt last. There was no way you would just let them all get super powered in peace and quiet.

Aldurin

2016-02-25, 01:43 PM

Yeah, I figure Venom Veritas is not going to be cooperative for this. But I am interested in seeing just how badly they want to get that half-dragon template.

Traab

2016-02-25, 02:17 PM

Yeah, I figure Venom Veritas is not going to be cooperative for this. But I am interested in seeing just how badly they want to get that half-dragon template.

Hmmmm, maybe they can restrain veritas somehow? If they can cut him open and leave him alive, they could pull off the half dragon thing. The main upside of this is its a really fast process. None of this month long quest junk. Do something insane for 10 minutes then win. Thats tailor made for a D&D group to do!

Kaveman26

2016-02-25, 02:18 PM

Unholy Alliances:

Seraphim: I don’t think this hurts us too much. Let Fire and Ice sort out their own business. We continue to bide for a week then we mop up whoever is still standing.

Ares: Might be a chance to shore up a true alliance with the frost legion. We are forced into a truce at the time that neither of us is eager to be in, this would be added incentive to make the most out of a relationship we are bound by.

Seraphim: Which if we wait a week and they are getting rocked they will be all the more eager to accept. And if after a week they are getting wiped out, then it is a get out of jail free card. If they are wiping out the fire army then we are back to the status quo and in a stronger position than before.

Hades: I can’t find a fault with that thinking.

Ares: Yeah, I know.

Content to sit tight and gather intelligence from the Skull Vision they hold fast and try to wait out the timers on Azzie and Seraphim’s transformations. As midnight approaches the entire prison complex goes pitch black…then a burst of a light, followed by a series of flashing red lights, then nearly back to it’s ordinary state.

The gate leading from the prison complex to central hallway, swings open ever slightly with a creak that to the group is as thunderous as the loudest funeral bell.

Azzie: Why did the door just open?

Doc runs to close it and finds it unlockable. It is completely non responsive…

The Walls light up with the following message:

“Hey guys…your old pal Jaze. Talk about tight security, took me ages to finally get out of this isolation wing. Had to trick the main gate opening into rebooting the door locks to damn near the whole place. Should right itself by the next main gate opening, but it’s at least one step closer to freedom. See you all real soon!”

Pluto: So…that is about the worst possible timing ever.

Seraphim: Well look on the bright side…the giants went to great lengths to keep us stuck inside, that makes it just as hard for anything to get in right? If we can hold out til noon tomorrow then Azzie can finish. We track anything incoming until then and fall back to the Undead Sanctuary if needs be.

Ares: I think we fall back here, but we can’t just sit still and let them surround us. We need to get out here and be aggressive in deterring build ups. Don’t have to get crazy but proactively steering away or punishing anything that approaches us is worth it.

Seraphim: I am not in a position to be of help. Probably worthwhile for me to stay put here and try to relay any troop positions etc via skulls.

Ares: Yeah, that makes sense. Can probably leave Doc and Azzie too. In case the drow come sniffing. I can take the twins and a scrum of giants we can replicate what we did when pinned by the drow and frosties. Put a wedge in front and behind of us and play street sweeper. I don’t think we will range too far, just enough to patrol immediate area.

Doc: Please bring back a live dragon if you can, I need it’s gut juices.

Hades: Sure thing pal.

The sweep team ranges out far enough to overhear conversation coming from the vault room. They immediately recognize Veritas and Ackshale voices.

Veritas: My only two concerns are their corpses and my treasure.

Ackshale: My clan is more than willing to assist in delivering on both those counts. They are tricky and hard to pin down. I know where they are currently sheltering and we pinned down the area quite sufficiently.

(not sufficiently enough when you have a undead labor force to clear away barricades)

Veritas: Then you simply need guide me to their lair and our combined forces will wipe them from creation.

Ackshale: As I said, more than willing to deliver on both fronts, but do you need them dead immediately? They have uncovered a means to create items and objects imbued with powers as the ancients once did. This has been confirmed as truth to us. A shame to waste that gift.

Veritas: Any goods provided would be false coin. I can furnish treasures of a solid and non tarnished nature in return for honest work.

A third voice…once again familiar joins the parley…that of Micko the errand cleric and betrayer.

Micko: The giant speaks the truth. They have uncovered knowledge lost to antiquity. They stole those secrets from a library deeper within the structure. They also destroyed that library to prevent others from replicating their discoveries, but there is more than one library and more than one way to recover that knowledge. I can pull that knowledge from their bones and I can lead you to the other troves. Like you I also wish to see them dead.

Micko’s arrival sends the group into hysterics as they bemoan the sudden turn of events.

Ares: Everyone we have encountered is joining up to put our heads on the mantle.

Hades: To be fair we have made a lot of enemies and not all of them have joined our ranks as undead.

Pluto: If the drow throw in we are screwed.

Ares: Against the combined force of dragons, giants, and elementals we are screwed. Drow would be overkill beyond overkill.

Hades: We need to find a way to stifle the alliance being formed or figure out a means to split them up. Don’t think our crafting is a trump card anymore.

Pluto: Or we need to find the other libraries. Presumably those too have been locked, and if this lot figure out the failsafes have failed then we are out of bargaining chips. If we get there first may be able to put some discord to work. Not sure how we find the other libraries though.

Ares: Well the area we have been occupying is like a wheel with six spokes, the engine room is the center spoke and goes the deepest and is largest. Habitation is nearly untouched at this point. I think the Engine Room had a few other paths going up. If those paths up go to other hubs…three entrances=three hubs would make sense.

Hades: Lets get out of here before spotted, find a skull and give Sera and company a status update, then we go through Propulsion and see if we are right.

They make a brief stop to share intel via the skull network and then set off rapidly to check if their hunch is right.

When they emerge from a pathway in Propulsion to a mirrored hub with additional wings they confirm their suspicion and locate additional prisons and libraries. One of the libraries has already been ransacked and wiped clean. The second they are able to waltz into and pilfer the entire selection. With a sudden influx of additional and incredibly valuable items they retreat to the prison and regroup.

Seraphim: So Fire, Ice, and Micko all climbed into bed together to wipe us out? I am terrified and flattered at the same time.

Azzie: Sounds like the giants are willing to let us live if it means getting their hands on magic items.

Doc: Could just buy them off. If they have the tomes they might just leave.

Ares: Might be meaningless too, they are pretty solid on us dead.

Azzie: We can debate the merits or bribery, versus blackmail later.
The giants know where we are and are willing to come mob us. That means we got to move. I say we head to the library that was already ransacked and see if we can play Benny Hill long enough to keep them off us.

Seraphim: I don’t think I will make it on the run for a full week. I get winded standing up at this point. Think I will go into the Undead Graveyard and just try to make myself scarce. I can meet back up with you guys in a few days once I make the switch.

Ares: That means you are likely going to get stuck. If you transition to undead while inside it will probably lock you within.

Seraphim: I am willing to take that chance.

Azzie: Alright, let’s get rolling…

A short while later from the skull they left behind they overhear the following.

Veritas: I didn’t scour the world scraping together every last fire giant and dragon hiding away from civilization for the last month to be toyed with Ackshale. You said this is where they made their lair, yet I find it empty.

Ackshale: They must have moved. They couldn’t have gone too far. We have scouts all over the interior, so they must have gone through the engine room. We will find them.

NRSASD

2016-02-25, 02:26 PM

Woo! Kaveman's on a roll! Can't wait to see how this one plays out

Fable Wright

2016-02-25, 03:13 PM

Oh, the price of conniving and backstabbing in a multiplayer environment.

All they have to do is wait to the end of the week, and send in a skeleton for Sera. But against giants, dragons, and elementals... well. Good luck.

Mith

2016-02-25, 03:43 PM

Fable Wright

2016-02-25, 03:54 PM

They would have to send in an equivalent number of hit dice to her in order for her to leave, correct? So that would be burning all of their undead in order to get her out. Or a large portion of it at least.

One 10th level PC means leaving behind one 10HD undead. Frost Giants individually have 14HD. Somehow, I think they could scrounge up the resources.

Inevitability

2016-02-25, 04:22 PM

One 10th level PC means leaving behind one 10HD undead. Frost Giants individually have 14HD. Somehow, I think they could scrounge up the resources.

Don't forget that the undead needs to have 10 HD, not the base creature. A zombie has twice the number of HD the base creature has. In other words, even a zombified cow would already free Seraphim.

Of course, actually getting to the portal might be difficult.

Mith

2016-02-25, 04:31 PM

Fair enough. I wasn't thinking this through.

CrispyCriminal

2016-02-25, 10:09 PM

GorinichSerpant

2016-02-25, 11:34 PM

Now, here's something I've been wondering. WHY does Ackshackle want them dead so bad? So what they killed a few of his kin and pinned it on the drow, people don't willingly lay themselves to the floor to have their heads split in twain because they respect you enough ya know.

I think word got around about our merry undead crew. There are enought backs that have holes originating from them that Ackshackle could figure out that it was only a matter of time.

Traab

2016-02-26, 01:12 AM

Jermz

2016-02-26, 04:41 AM

Kane0

2016-02-26, 06:42 AM

Son, you in a whole mess o' trouble

Kaveman26

2016-02-26, 09:02 AM

Kaveman, good reads, love it.

I'm kind of confused about the layout of the place, about the entrances and where everything is located. How it looks from the outside, also. I thought that they were far enough away from the main gate, but it seems that Force Fire managed to root them out pretty quickly. Do you have any maps/sketches/images that you could post for reference?

Also, I'd recommend that you put links in the main post on the first page to the various chapters, since it's sometimes hard to find the one I wish to read again.

Still, this is fantastic stuff. Thanks for the hard work.

At some point I will get maps up. In terms of scale: a paranoid adventure group in my experience can cover 80-100 feet of territory in a full day and call it progress.

A pissed off dragon with a small army of powerful Giants and elementals can clear thousands of square feet in an hour.

They have covered a lot of ground inside but cumulatively less than a mile. A good chunk of that is twisty and there are hundreds of hallways,rooms and routes so it can still take time but overall distance it not that extensive

Best example is most recent post. They have spent a month within the same "block" they just discovered two additional "blocks" in less than twenty minutes

DireSickFish

2016-02-26, 12:11 PM

I think the most amusing part about this is, despite realizing just how much trouble they are in specifically because of their back stabbing trickery, they are continuing to try it with attempts to break up the frost/fire alliance. Also, wow, they have now gathered pretty much everything of true value in this dungeon. If they werent in mid transformation with half of them, they should be considering how to gtfo of this place. They NEED to get out of here. Let everyone else worry about the massive threats inside this place, let the various factions tear themselves apart being unable to find their target. Let the city ship take off and leave, they dont care, they probably have almost every trainable skill craftable recipe, and learnable template in their possession. Dont get greedy trying to find who looted the last one, JUST GET OUT!

Please you can't cut and run on all this. Sure you go and relax with your treasures and your immortality but any high level adventurer can. No this is about winning, wealing and dealing until Veritas come soul and is going to rip your head off. And then you offer to help him with world destruction because you can get him to 7 other world minimum after this one and isn't 8 world better than 1? And he accepts like a chump, and that's when he walks into your soul sucking traps that puts him in a soul jar and one of the party members in his body and now you have all that destructive power. And after that start working on getting everyone else up to godhood, then killing all the other gods. Ambition never ends my friend.

BigNorm

2016-02-28, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the updates Kaveman. I aspire to be as conniving as this crew in my own adventures. :D

CrispyCriminal

2016-02-29, 11:01 AM

At some point I will get maps up. In terms of scale: a paranoid adventure group in my experience can cover 80-100 feet of territory in a full day and call it progress.

A pissed off dragon with a small army of powerful Giants and elementals can clear thousands of square feet in an hour.

They have covered a lot of ground inside but cumulatively less than a mile. A good chunk of that is twisty and there are hundreds of hallways,rooms and routes so it can still take time but overall distance it not that extensive

Best example is most recent post. They have spent a month within the same "block" they just discovered two additional "blocks" in less than twenty minutes

So this begs the question, for the likes of Miko or Gup & his merry band of furry enthusiasts: Did they have to hold up their own fair share of monsters, traps, and horrors while traveling to who knows where or do the Undead Cowboys get all the love by virtue of being PCs?

Kaveman26

2016-02-29, 02:04 PM

So this begs the question, for the likes of Miko or Gup & his merry band of furry enthusiasts: Did they have to hold up their own fair share of monsters, traps, and horrors while traveling to who knows where or do the Undead Cowboys get all the love by virtue of being PCs?

That is an excellent question. I try to at least take into account and prevent major glaring holes caused by things like this. For the most part events focus around the pcs. I definately don't ghost action everything happening off screen and convenience overrides slavery to detail. The npcs get to gloss over things to a large extent.

Traab

2016-02-29, 08:09 PM

That is an excellent question. I try to at least take into account and prevent major glaring holes caused by things like this. For the most part events focus around the pcs. I definately don't ghost action everything happening off screen and convenience overrides slavery to detail. The npcs get to gloss over things to a large extent.

I would imagine the general way to handle things would be to maybe make mention of things like specific dangerous traps the party left behind them but for general enemy travel just assume there is a reason they are still enemies instead of new skeletal minions and its that they dont suck at random encounters. :p

Gilphon

2016-02-29, 09:10 PM

I believe I remember it being mentioned that the Minotaurs got killed by the Drow offscreen. So there's a case of the NPCs falling victim to the dangers.

BigNorm

2016-03-08, 04:54 PM

I just finished "The Big One" part 2. I loved the entire story but I think what got me the best chuckle is when the wizard sent them on side quests to make popcorn and a cocktail to witness Coe-nan's resurrection. That kind of thing doesn't happen every day you know? I too would be honored to read anything you are needing help with. I can't wait to read the rest of "Cattle Driving Necromancers". Rest in peace Coe-nan.

8BitNinja

2016-03-08, 05:36 PM

Let's make a book, 3d12 Stories of Role-Playing Games

BigNorm

2016-03-09, 07:25 PM

I just finished reading City State of the Enigmatic Overgnome-Recap. The imagination of you and your group is simply out of this world. I was totally entertained and loved it. I just started my own Campaign Journal. It was your writing that inspired me to start. I can only hope my own adventures become even a quarter of interesting as yours. Well done my friend. Well done.

NORM

PS. I keep posting here to bring it to the top Kaveman! I can't wait for your next episode!

Jonagel

2016-03-11, 02:16 PM

Over 111,000 views on this thread. Oh my.

Also, bumping this because more people should read it.

GnomishPride

2016-03-16, 06:19 PM

Just keeping it on the front page because everyone needs this.:smallbiggrin:

FocusWolf413

2016-03-16, 07:37 PM

Just keeping it on the front page because everyone needs this.:smallbiggrin:

I saw this on the front page and got so excited....

8BitNinja

2016-03-16, 08:17 PM

I saw this on the front page and got so excited....

I'm quoting you just because

Elandris Kajar

2016-03-16, 08:41 PM

Where has he gone???
We must find Kaveman.
We all have it, it's like we are addicted and suffering withdrawal symptoms. Anybody know if BoVD has a ritual to summon people through sacrifice?:smallbiggrin:

Kane0

2016-03-17, 01:22 AM

Works better with goats. Dont forget your special ceremonial dagger and congregation chanting to inprove your bonus!

Elandris Kajar

2016-03-17, 06:24 AM

Works better with goats. Dont forget your special ceremonial dagger and congregation chanting to inprove your bonus!

I stand corrected:smalltongue:
Thank you for increasing the sum of sacrificial knowledge on the material plane.

Talakeal

2016-03-17, 03:08 PM

This thread is neat.

When I read most good campaign logs I think "Man I would love to play in this campaign," but in this one it is "Man, I wish my players were this creative and passionate about my games!"

I am not sure I could keep up with these players though, they do a lot of out of the box thinking and I am not sure I could keep up with their shenanigans without pulling some kind of knee jerk overreaction.

I also always have trouble calculating the appropriate response to evil PCs. If they are murdering people, breaking alliances, and just going for wholesale looting and pillaging I always have trouble deciding what is an "appropriate" response from the world's NPCs and the powers that be. Too much and you are being a killer DM, too little and you are robbing them of the natural consequences of their actions and literally letting them get away with murder.

8BitNinja

2016-03-17, 08:03 PM

I also always have trouble calculating the appropriate response to evil PCs. If they are murdering people, breaking alliances, and just going for wholesale looting and pillaging I always have trouble deciding what is an "appropriate" response from the world's NPCs and the powers that be. Too much and you are being a killer DM, too little and you are robbing them of the natural consequences of their actions and literally letting them get away with murder.

Most DMs I know actually ban playing evil

so they play Chaotic Neutral and say "But I'm Chaotic Neutral"

Talakeal

2016-03-17, 08:48 PM

Most DMs I know actually ban playing evil

so they play Chaotic Neutral and say "But I'm Chaotic Neutral"

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Though the problem isn't exclusive to evil, its more about being brazen and duplicitous. Someone who repeatedly betrays their allies or simply marches into the evil empire and tries to fight the dark army head on will have the same problem even if they aren't evil.

Inevitability

2016-03-18, 04:27 AM

Most DMs I know actually ban playing evil

so they play Chaotic Neutral and say "But I'm Chaotic Neutral"

I don't ban evil and never have, but I still used to have one of these players. It actually became a running joke that all of his characters were always two steps closer to CE than it said on his character sheet.

Kahlendrrari

2016-03-27, 12:19 AM

Looks like it's about time to check back into rehab..... starting to get the shakes.

CrispyCriminal

2016-04-02, 06:12 PM

Post April fools day bump. Because it'd be the worst to do so DURING the worst time of the year to kill hopes and dreams.

This ain't like toonami returning on april fools day.

falcon1

2016-04-07, 04:24 PM

hopeful bump?

ApocalypseSquid

2016-04-10, 10:16 AM

Just finished reading this. Serious kudos to Kaveman -- even more to his wonderful group. Every DM should have the good/bad luck of having a coherent truly evil party to deal with. Extra points if they're competent.

GnomishPride

2016-04-16, 08:14 AM

Hopeful bump. (Sorry to get everyone's hopes up)

Brion

2016-04-16, 10:46 AM

Hopeful bump. (Sorry to get everyone's hopes up)

Curse you!

blacklight101

2016-04-16, 03:32 PM

Curse you!

Hopeful bump. (Sorry to get everyone's hopes up)

Curse you all!

And now myself as well. :smallwink:

We need our Kaveman fix. Come back soon man.

Flemkopf

2016-04-16, 11:38 PM

Here's to you, Kaveman. This campaign journal has been quite the story, it's given me a bunch of ideas of things to run with my group. I never really considered necromancy in detail before, but I think I could give my players a good time. I like what you've done with all of their opponents (spider dragons, it'll be fun), and the setting you've created is just epic. I'm looking forward to the next installment, hope everything is alright irl for you.

Kaveman26

2016-04-21, 12:31 PM

Running For The Shadows:

The gloves have come off. Their enemies have joined forces and share a common cause. From my end strategy has been replaced with pressure and attrition. From their end, control has been replaced with desperation. They firmly believe that if they can hold out until Seraphim gains her vampirism and Azzie becomes a true lord of darkness they can overwhelm and rout the opposing army. The prison gates are unlocked and there is nowhere to “hide”. When they pulled the rug out from Veritas and left him sealed out I figured that given a month to act they would have moved on much deeper or further, instead they mostly bogged themselves down trying to assert dominance over their territory and play the other forces off each other. For me Veritas was to be the unswayable force, a presence not coerced or fooled. He was back for vengeance and retribution.

Smaller dragons act as sub commanders leading fire giant troops with fire elemental vanguards. Frost Giants push their arctic troll soldiers to the front to soak up the first contact while their Svat’s form a rearguard barrier. Veritas, Ackshale, and Micko form a mobile command center that directs the search.

Skull Vision lets them see the entry into the prison structure, which is swept for any hidden areas, but none of the prison cells are breached. A small band of frost giants and trolls takes up sentry to hold the ground. This pattern is repeated as they sweep into a corridor/wing and leave behind a patrol.

Ares: If we plan this out right…we can hopscotch to an area with a patrol, take them out, reanimate them and make it look like they are still standing guard. *

Azzie: Every patrol we gank, is also a breadcrumb for them to follow. They got lots of pieces in motion, and one good shout could bring triple what we expected to encounter.

Hades: Not if the reinforcements think they are being played. If we color code the map based on current disposition we just need to label frosties blue and vertias red. We only attack where colors are the same. So if red is close to red we use tactics that make it look like the frost giants attacked the dragons. When the frost giants find their compatriots all dead and heavily burned with dragon bites and claw marks they will begin to second guess their new friends. When the dragons find their kin scorched with frost and reaved by giant weapons they will feel the same. When we find a red-blue pattern we reanimate so the reinforcements have to fight their opposites, and if further reinforcements arrive they will see the two sides clashing, helping our case even more.

Ares: They aren’t going to keep falling for something like that though, a cursory examination will reveal they were attacked by zombies and not thinking living creatures.

Hades: Let them play CSI with the battle scene, that takes time and requires debate. Think of this as a boxing match…we want to land some jabs and get some blood in their eyes, make them leery of throwing haymakers and instead blink out the sweat and blood. We aren’t trying for the knockout from the opening bell.

Doc: Then first we need to kill a dragon so we can use it to stage bite marks.

Pluto: There is a dragon force holding the original library and a giant force guarding the hallway leading back up to Moo-Dor. We could ambush the library dragons and if help comes in the form of the giants we reanimate the dragons force and use it to stage dragon attack against the giants, then we bug out with our dragon puppet and see how badly the nest is shaken.

Their attempt to create anarchy and sedition amongst the alliance stalls before first contact. A strong mixed force of giants both frost and fire along with dragon and svathurim troops is holding the initial engine room which acts a hub for the mirror wings. Their skull system didn’t extend that far and they were unaware of the platoon blocking their progress.

To complicate matters, they don’t realize this fact until they have been spotted. Runners are dispatched the moment they are seen and the rest of the assembled creatures immediately begin lobbing projectiles and spells into the hallway.

Ares: Well that idea is blown, fight or flee?

Hades: Run, they got help coming.

Doc: We need a way to shake them then, otherwise they are just going to be harrying us.

Pluto: Throw some giants in their face and lets kick it into high gear on the way out. Leave a handful of undead guarding each direction and lets just create some distance and maybe prep a counter attack around the first blind corner we locate.

In full flight they bug out back towards the secondary prison wing and leave a smokescreen of undead in their wake. As they maneuver updated intelligence from the skull system filters in, alerting them to troop build up culminating in the engine room which is becoming a new defacto command center.

Several smaller skirmishes are staged and the core group is kept in motion and off balance for the entire day. As midnight approaches and Azzie hits the barest minimum on his timer for transformation, they shore up their hidey hole in the prison with all their undead minions and stand guard while the dirge bard slashes open his wrists to fulfill his template transformation.

As the blade slides across his wrists and the veins sever to his spill his life’s blood the fluid defies gravity and begins spinning into a small crimson tornado, with the amulet he forged from the drained levels it’s epicenter. As the blood drains from his form, the tornado continues to pull from his body, only now the very matter and tissue of his being seams to suck out as the layers of skin, bone, muscle and organs unwrap themselves in a final torrent of hateful screaming. The amulet dismantles him piece by piece layer by layer absorbing the very essence of his being. A burst of energy and a sudden pulse of darkness echo through the dungeon structure and a chill wind erupts from the amulet which shatters and vanishes. There is no sign of Azzie. His guitar is the only thing that remains.

Ares: Did we just get duped?

*The Intelligence gathering via their skull system and the Sleeper gives them remarkably useful tracking and coordination…they really go out of their way to make things difficult

I broke my ring finger a few weeks back, been avoiding typing as it was too painful. Still swollen and achey but starting to pick up where I left off.

GrayDeath

2016-04-21, 01:02 PM

YES!!! :belkar:

Lord_Burch

2016-04-21, 03:35 PM

I broke my ring finger a few weeks back, been avoiding typing as it was too painful. Still swollen and achey but starting to pick up where I left off.

Hey man, don't feel the need to type for us if your finger still hurts (although I do appreciate the update!).

turbo164

2016-04-21, 04:22 PM

*rips off own finger and mails it to Kaveman* here use mine instead! :smallwink:

Great update :smallsmile: Loved the quick switch to plan B, and the awesome description at the end.

Kareeah_Indaga

2016-04-21, 04:58 PM

Hey man, don't feel the need to type for us if your finger still hurts (although I do appreciate the update!).

+1 This. We promise we'll survive until you're feeling better!

Traab

2016-04-21, 05:18 PM

Oh man, this is going to be good. Lets see how long it takes azzie to reform and hopefully turn the tide like ares did way back in the day. Hopefully that will let them stem the flood till our vamp chick awakes. Then things will get messy. Quick question. Will the vamp thralls be easily spotted as such? Or can they use them as a modified version of their original zombie plan to turn the groups against each other?

On a nonstory related note, I hope your finger gets better soon. Dont hurt yourself just because we are desperately jonesing for more story. :smallbiggrin:

blacklight101

2016-04-21, 07:34 PM

Well, now I kinda feel bad for needing a fix this bad. Thanks for putting out the effort for this again Kaveman!

ApocalypseSquid

2016-04-22, 06:11 AM

YES! It's back! The "hurt finger" bit sucks though :smallfrown:

Inevitability

2016-04-22, 06:23 AM

Shadow Lords can weaken the boundaries between the plane of shadow and the material plane, right? Does that mean everyone can escape into the plane of shadow the moment Azzie reforms?

SorenKnight

2016-04-22, 07:03 AM

Oh man, this is going to be good. Lets see how long it takes azzie to reform and hopefully turn the tide like ares did way back in the day. Hopefully that will let them stem the flood till our vamp chick awakes. Then things will get messy. Quick question. Will the vamp thralls be easily spotted as such? Or can they use them as a modified version of their original zombie plan to turn the groups against each other?

A vampire's ability to control other's minds can be detected with a DC 15 Sense Motive check, which is pretty easy. Of course that's when you interacting with them directly, it probably would be much harder to CSI them. After all you wouldn't have any zombie stench or bits of dead flesh to point out the real culprit.

Kaveman26

2016-04-23, 11:19 AM

NEW ERA:

Feeling the life sucked from his very bones was a highly unsettling experience, much like booking a venue only to find half a dozen angsty teens with light coin pouches. It made his stomach turn just thinking about it, and “it” was only a few seconds in the past.

Everything that had been around him no longer was. Whatever the ritual had accomplished dissolving reality seemed to have been its actual outcome. A pathless nothingness devoid of both light and dark filled an empty landscape. Sound was the first sense that returned to him. Voices drifted from his center chiding him and goading him into action.

Move.

“There aint nothing to move. I got no frigging legs!”

Glide.

Azzie tried to will his legs and body to into any kind of action. But there were not cooperating.

“Me own body done mutinied on me. Sodded off in the middle of the night without paying me”

You must Find Yourself

“Find myself? I didn’t lose myself”

As he spoke to nothing, something finally appeared. A sea of Mirrors…the infinity of all his reflections replaced the nothingness.

You have lost yourselves to the Shadows. To return as their Master you must find the reflection that is truly you. All that you ever were or could be is possible. Find Yourself.

“ I would think you are pulling my leg, but as I have discovered I lost my flipping legs. So first things first. Is this a trick question?”

That is entirely up to you. Find Yourself.

“You got it all wrong mate. Possibility is rubbish. I don’t care about who I was or what I may become. I am who I am. I don’t need to find my reflection. The real me is right here!”

As the words form Azzie once again finds that he has arms, they don’t work the same as his old ones, but they work. The darkness that once filled his soul, now has become his soul. Each movement and action requires an entirely different course of action and though process.

“Right, got walking or I guess floating down, now how do I get back?”

You are where you are meant to be. The Concerns of the Flesh are no longer the Concerns of Yourself.

“That’s where you are wrong mate, I never leave my band in the middle of a gig. Slipping out in the middle of the night with all the cash and some groupies is one thing, but that’s after the bloody show and not in between sets!”

Very well then…

The infinite landscape of mirrors and nothingness dissolves slowly back into the Material Plane, with everything that exists in between becoming visible.*

Hades: It definitely feels like we got duped.

As they grumble to themselves the apparition of their bard slips back into reality in a series of pulsing flashes. Azzie has returned to them from the darkness and is now forever a brother to the shadow. Everything he had on him has taken on the same properties except for his guitar.

Azzie: Why didn’t my instrument switch with me?

Ares: Heck if we know.

Everyone still living and corporeal is able to pick it up. Much to their shock the damn thing yells at them, confirming the voices were not just in his head.

Guitar: Sod off you toffs! I only work for the man in charge

Azzie attempts to lift up the guitar and as he does his form seems to thicken.

Guitar: Holy Hell Boss you look incredible

Azzie: Thanks partner. Feels strange.

Pluto: How are you holding that? Seems like it should just fall?

Azzie: Buggered if I know.

The dirge bard shrugs his shoulders and strums out a quick chord and as he does the guitar quivers and begins to adopt a shadowy flicker. Azzie launches into a full blown solo and as the guitar becomes incorporeal he becomes more substantial and solid.

Azzie: Well I guess that might come in handy. Going to expend a bardic performance and see what happens.

Azzie announces his intention and as if driven by unseen forces begins to pick at the guitar strings in a slowly ascending somber riff. The whole party feels the world lurch around them as a blackness envelops them. Gravity and atmosphere seem to crumble and weightlessly they are lifted up from the ground as the bard plays faster and faster.

Ares: Azzie…something very strange is happening.

No reaction…just acceleration.

Hades: Should we stop him?

Pluto: Might make things worse to interrupt.

At this point only the loudest shouts are audible amidst the tidal wave of music pouring from the guitar. With clenched teeth they squint through narrowed eyes as his hands begin to blur and the maelstrom around them erupts in a single *boom*. Azzie has fallen to his knees, lungs that no longer require oxygen heaving from the memory and habit of a time when they did.

Azzie: Used up every performance I had for the day. Never felt anything like that before.

Doc: Where are we?

The Illithid Ark is still there, but they are no longer bound to the ground or to the reality they deem normal.

Azzie: I fink we are hafin an out of body experience.

Ares: I think we are having more than that. Focus through the haze and look at the room where we were standing.

Like staring through a TV with poor reception they see a tall humanoid with tentacles covering it’s face walking amidst the cells of the prison. He is dictating directions to a second Illithid that could be Elliana’s sister.

Illithid: Now Jacupa, make sure all the seals are intact. They need to be checked bi-weekly to ensure complete efficiency. I have it on authority straight from the Enclave themselves that we could be on a full system shut down any day now.

Jacupa: Do you think it was truly come to that Ri-Ann?

Ri-Ann: I am afraid so. Trust in their wisdom. The shut down is simply a precaution to allow them a chance to fully solve the problem at hand.

Ares: That is the ghost that helped us in the prison block.

Hades: Is this a memory? The past?

Azzie: You got me.

The party struggles to move, but they grit their teeth and trek through the structure like wading through deep snow. All manner of Illithid are going about the business of preparing their ship for a shut down. The common thread always comes back to a simple observation:

The Enclave will handle things.

Azzie: We need to find the Enclave. Too many roadies not enough managers. Got to talk to the lead singer if we want answers, or at least the drummer.

The deeper they pull themselves into the structure and into unknown territory the harder it feels to move. As they push themselves, Stat damage begins to make itself felt as Charisma scores begin to leak from the fatigue of self.

Inside the Engine Room they see a device in the reflected Ark that is not present in the Real Ark. A diagram on the floor akin to an arcane circle. They watch an unnamed Crone (a term they have matched to Jacupa and Elliana as intelligent constructs used as a labor force by the Illithid) activate the circle and disappear. By standing (hovering) in the circle and expending psionic reserves they too are able to activate and send their shadow selves through. What they arrive in is unlike anything they have yet encountered. The unusual material that seems to make up the majority of the Ark’s structure to this point was alien and metallic. This “deeper” layer is made of a separate material that seems drastically more exotic and important.

Doc: It’s like everything we have been in so far is the Third Class “Pig Iron” design of the ship and this the First Class fancy place.

Forward progress is a true battle of wills at this point. Every step forward is leeching both Charisma and Wisdom from the party. At the absolute limit of their selves as they feel the pull of Reality trying to bring them back like a rubber band coming back from being stretched too far they see a central hub with a gallery of Illithids. Each Flayer is heavily tattooed and their tentacles are adorned with multiple piercings holding a king’s ransom of rare jewels and crystals. The means through which they communicate transcends language and only a mental impression of their conversation is translate-able.

The creature is secure. No force of this realm can free it from the constraints we have enacted. Our experiments in cross breeding and cellular splicing have borne intriguing results. The Plane has been stripped of all which may cause us future threat. Best to sever contact and be gone from this place. We have accomplished enough.

The energy emanating from the Underdark is not yet mastered. Unknowns remain. Abandoning this resource without fully grasping it’s purpose is a declaration of defeat that is beyond tolerability. The creature is secure for now. I dissent as to the constraints being sound. Further research is required.

We all agree that this is the core area preventing unity. Further discussion is meritless. As agreed alternative methods are required. We will undergo a temporary system shut down while we commune for further developments. The creature hybrid designed for Planetary Extinction should it break free is capable of destroying all worlds and not this world alone. We will reconvene in one full cycle and share all new intelligence.

So be it.

*This was all some out of session RP enhancement that also served as Azzie taking the bait for something I had conceived of as intriguing.

falcon1

2016-04-23, 11:54 AM

Yayyy! You're back! Hope your finger gets better

Lord of Shadows

2016-04-23, 12:02 PM

Holy Crap.... talk about a cliff-hanger. Pop some popcorn and grab a drink, this just keeps getting better and better.
.

Traab

2016-04-23, 04:12 PM

Sweet, so they get a good chunk of plot exposition, AND they may have just learned a way to move deeper into the "dungeon" I cant wait to see what happens next. I wonder if they will "wake up" in a safer place, like, will they appear in the present time where they were standing listening to the past illithid talk? If so then they will have a good break from the frost and fire routine as they will have no way of knowing where the crew went. They can heal, finish vamping, and work on whatever else they feel like. (I for one would suggest they work on building better gear for themselves while they wait on seraphs transformation)

Kaveman26

2016-04-24, 12:17 PM

Forewarning: This is a bit intense and heavy. Lot of this was provided by the player.

Frailty:

Meanwhile...

Seraphim had not felt this level of vulnerability in decades. As a half breed she was often treated with disdain, but rarely outright contempt. She attributed this not so much to her dual blood line, but to the circumstances of her conception. Her mother was “touched” or at least that is what the word her peer’s parents used. Cherafrim was a gentle soul and the village sought to see her comfortable, but from her mother’s earliest years there was something missing from within her mind. A vacancy or diminished capacity that meant she needed aid for all aspects of her life. Few spoke of Seraphim’s conception. The young man was a traveler and outwardly seemed friendly. It was never known if the encounter was consensual, Cherafrim had the occasional lucid moment and was prone to random acts that made little sense at the time. The dignity of her village and the “politeness” that permeated their community required little conversation about the seed being planted, most conversation instead focused on the sprouting of that seed. Rare was the day she went without hearing the whispers of her mother howling, unable to comprehend her bodies reaction to labor. Her screams haunted the village and her cries to make the pain go away still stung all those old enough to remember the moment.

Cherafrim had rejected the infant being placed in her arms, she sobbed at the mere sight of her daughter and could not stay in the same room without falling to hysterics. So the care of this child fell to her aunt, Yulda. Seraphim genuinely felt love for few people in life, Yulda was amongst that cherished few. She never coddled or hid the truth from her niece. She brought fariness and comfort every day and taught her not to turn her cheek to the barbs and insults of her peers but to stand proud and look them in the eye.

“They abhor you because in their twisted versions of what is right a child rejected by her mother should be rejected by all. They lash out at you because you are an embarrassment to them. Your mother had little choice in matters. She was not gifted with a mind that could understand. Those around you make a choice to treat you as they do. If you keep one lesson from our lives together keep this: You are in control of each decision you make. You can choose to whimper or rage against those who insult you. You can turn the other cheek, or you can slap them in the face. Own whatever path you choose, because you are the one who chooses it.”

Yulda died when Seraphim was a teen. It was the first experience with death and grief for the half elf. The loss shook her to the core. The trips to the cemetary to leave flowers became day long excursions. The other teenagers in her village mocked her for her isolation. There came a day when her outlook on life changed.
She met Widow Yasmina. Yasmina was perhaps the only person within fifty miles to be treated with more disdain than Seraphim. She lived in the deepest depths of the forest in a small cabin nestled within the swamp. The Widow had come to the graveyard picking mushrooms and she seemed intrigued by the half elf maiden kneeling in quiet contemplation amidst the tombstones.

Yasmina: If you grow tired of kneeling child, perhaps you would care to walk with me.

Seraphim: Do you need help?

Yasmina: Not nearly so much as you.

The Widow took her through the swamp to her cabin and brewed them a pot of tea. As she politely sipped at her drink, not entirely sure why she had decided to follow the old woman her hostess began to speak.

Yasmina: The world is a strange place young child. With mysteries and wonders that will astound and terrify. I once travelled and experiences these things for myself. My journey opened my eyes to a power far greater than I could dream. I see that same calling in your soul child. Right now it is a whisper from far across a canyon, in time it will become a shouting in your ear. That calling can be coaxed, encouraged, nourished, and fulfilled. I can show you that path, but you must choose to walk it.

Seraphim: What path would you have me walk?

Yasmina: The path of the grave.

Seasons passed and her days kneeling in the graveyard had been replaced with months of learning it’s mysteries. Yasmina warned her that soon a patron would be chosen. It was a day Seraphim was both eager and nervous to await.

Seraphim: How does one choose their Patron?

Yasmina: A Patron will not choose you, nor will you select your Patron. There will simply come a day where you choose each other. You work at the tavern yes? You wait tables?

Seraphim: Yes.

Yasmina: Your relationship with your Patron will be much like your relationship with your patrons. You bring them food and drinks, and they consume them. Afterwards for your service they leave you money.

Seraphim: So I will be someone else’s servant too.

Yasmina:NO!

The old woman slammed her bony hand upon the table and virtually snarled the word.

Yasmina: You provide service, and for that service you are repaid. Do not mistake service for servitude.

Seraphim: I understand Widow.

Yasmina: Now to other matters. I see that your dress if getting snugger, especially across your chest.

Seraphim: Really mistress, I am goaded enough by the others for my “size” I expect more from you.

Yasmina’s cackle chilled her to the bone, oh how Seraphim longed for that mystery to reveal itself to her.

Yasmina: You have human blood girl. Elves rarely fill our their form. Slenderness is in our blood. You bear something different. Right now they think you awkward and unseemly. As the seasons pass all things change and you are about to unravel your greatest weapon. Foresight is not my keenest ability, but I have a touch. Soon enough you will enrapture their attention and their mocking will evaporate with desire. Hone that weapon and you will be able to make the world dance to your own tune.

Three more years would pass before the Widow’s declaration would come to pass. Seraphim knew she had changed substantially. Long nights of extra work at the tavern were the only reason she was able to afford an entirely new wardrobe, something required as she evolved in appearance. No longer were whispers following her, but the gazes of men and women alike.

The keenest and most intense gaze was that of Shaltis. It seemed ironic that her greatest tormentor, her constant source of harassment would suddenly look upon her with fascination and longing. He was the strongest and most arrogant teen in the village. Most her classmates and peers swooned over him. Seraphim loathed his very existence.

During the spring festival Seraphim did something out of the ordinary. Her usual drab appearance and used clothing were cast aside for a tight fitting corset, supple leather boots and an intricate hair net. To her these garments were armor and the cosmetics she applied with a deft skill that would astonish those who thought her incapable were her weapons. The Widow’s guidance and teachings were as ample as the skin she choose to flourish on this night.

It was almost too easy. Two glasses of wine and the lightest of touch were enough to entice Shaltis away from the festival. The glade she led him towards was quite close to the party, yet the path she took tripled the length required. He was winded by the time they arrived and she wanted him slightly off balance. The barest of hesitance over their dalliance was enough for her to force concessions from him.

Seraphim: You are so strong, I am afraid you might hurt me by accident.

Shaltis: I will be gentle. I promise.

Seraphim: I don’t know…maybe this was a bad idea…

She loathed how quickly he came up with the idea of binding his own hands. There was no challenge to it. Compared to the effort she had placed in the days leading up to this moment, him urging her to tie his hands above the branch was a severe letdown. For the week leading into the festival she had attended the village youth as if they were a delicate crop, planting suggestions and watering down truths to push them all in the right direction. They all thought her an ignorant fool, devoid of any knowledge of what took place between the sexes. They had cajoled her, lied to her, deceived her for their own amusements in the hopes of shaming her on this night. They were clueless as to their role in this endeavor.

She had picked her spot carefully. Two trees had grown so close as to be twins, one had died, leaving only a stump behind. The second had grown strong and true. To the survivor she bound Shaltis in a seated position, upon which she had plopped into his lap. She tousled his hair to hide the spell of enfeeblement that she shocked him with. She doubted he would have any clue what had happened to him or why the strength had drained from him like water from a sieve. The herb she had spiced his wine with was sweet and earthy, it was also a fantastic remedy for blood clots. It had other unintended side effects that would go great lengths to sabotage his own intended plans.

When her classmates and “friends” burst into the clearing expecting to find the trembling and humiliated half breed they instead found there alpha, their pack leader whimpering. He had soiled himself after losing control of his muscles, everything about him seemed limp and lifeless. Everything.

Seraphim strode from the clearing, her head high and her hips swaying. Their confusion was the greatest sensation she had ever felt.

Seraphim: You can have him, he is useless to me. Sadly I will need find a real man somewhere else.

The shift in social structure was sudden and dramatic. Her new found friends were numerous and voracious. Shaltis was damaged goods and his status was forever tarnished. She loathed them all. She savored the power and control and knew that was why she had chosen her path. She craved power absolute, the power to over life and death and she would stop at nothing to achieve it.

For the first time since that moment in the clearing she no longer though of herself as the virile and seductive temptress that had so easily shattered her childhood tormentor. Her grace and charm had withered on the vine like fruit exposed too long to the sun. the skin which had teased dozens to their graves now hung sallow and wrinkled off atrophied flesh. All her femininity had rotted away in the quest for ever greater power. She looked far older than Widow Yasmina who was centuries her elder.

The hands which were a magic unto their own in persuasion and subtlety now were arched like claws from the twisting of her bones. She could barely stand let alone walk. The dizziness, and nausea were second nature to her, and only the rib cracking agony of coughing reminded her that she still drew breath.
The time had finally come. The hour was upon her and for the first time since lacing a stupid teenage boy’s wine she doubted herself. Had she gone too far? Was the price too great? What life was a life when she looked like this?

You own the path.

Her aunt had begged her to remain true to herself. To own her decisions. She had known the risk and consumed the infusion. It was time to pay the price and accept the consequences. With a mental command she bid her golem to lift her and place her in the coffin. The blood seeped all around her embracing her. With a second mental command she bid it seal her inside and as the lid closed, she closed her eyes as a mortal one last time.

GnomishPride

2016-04-24, 12:37 PM

As usual Kaveman, your works are absolutely stunning. Many thanks.

And you weren't kidding when you said that it was intense. Unholy necrocow, Batman!

GrayDeath

2016-04-24, 02:21 PM

A lot of that I expected, some thing sI did not.
Still, lets see how she likes being a Vampire. And if you were evil enough to let her keep looking old and gnarled. ;)

Traab

2016-04-24, 03:11 PM

Dang, nice backstory and intro to her final stage of transformation. Oh MAN are things going to get interesting soon. I cant wait to find out if you will let them do a little healthy roflstomping before you unleash yet another killer threat that can match their newest power level. So now we have a half giant, a grave knight, a shadow lord, and a vampire in the party. /ring announcer "LLLLLLLETS GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEE!!!!"

Kaveman26

2016-04-24, 04:49 PM

Frailty 2:

Seraphim had long ago convinced herself that cold was something which would never affect her again. Shortly after her apprenticeship to Yasmina had ended a winter storm had cascaded through the mountains and blistered her homeland with snow and ice. She later discovered the storm had been magical in nature. At that time the origin of the blizzard was meaningless compared to the trauma it caused. For weeks their village was pelted with wind and ice. Their food stores went barren, their firewood consumed, their water frozen beyond use.

The old and infirm were the first to die. Community bonds kept the extremely young cared for in the hopes of the weather letting up. Several parties were dispatched to seek aid or succor. None returned. In desperation the people of the village banded together for warm, burning furniture to melt snow for water. Those with weak stomachs suffered the most as they tried to find nourishment from inedible food stuffs. Death was a rarity in their village, often a somber occasion to mark the passage of one affected by the weight of their years. Even the most sturdy of her elven kin were loathe to be around the dead for extended periods. Lacking ground soft enough to bury or wood plentiful enough for a pyre the dead were taken to the barn behind the tavern. Days passed and still the storm battered their homes. A few of the most stubborn tried to eat flesh from the dead, but the bodies were too frozen. In time even the young were released from the struggle and soon enough only the strongest endured. Cherafrim seemed aloof from the tragedy around her. Seraphim long held the belief that her villagers resented her mother for this fact.

In hindsight it was unavoidable. Seraphim’s wiles could not stop the starving masses from severing her mother’s leg and gnawing the bone clean. They had done a poor job of tying off the stolen limb and blood loss was reaping it’s toll. Never once had her mother embraced or held her, yet with tears freezing upon her face as they fell Seraphim could still remember the lightness of her mother cradled in her arms. She felt the sobs against her chest and for that one moment her mother looked at her with a fire in her eyes. There was a light of lucidity and a rage that burned into Seraphim’s soul. Her mother clung to her with a strength impossible for her tiny frame and whispered…

Cherafrim: Seraphim…you are my angel. You are the only thing good I know of this world. Let the world know your rage. Let the world feel the storm you bind to your heart. Be free as I never was.

Seraphim had never felt the cold from the storm so much as she felt the ice in her heart. Her groans were drowned into the frayed hair of her mother’s corpse. She felt the warmth of life escaping and fleeing and it froze her heart. It came to her in that moment.

Like a friend who had always been just out of reach and just beyond sight. Yasmina had told her that she and her patron would choose each other. The Elements themselves called to her. She pictured herself setting the table for the storm and it repaid her. Fire sprang to life inside her, contained in the palms of her hand.

When she walked back to the common room of the tavern she felt the whispers of those few who remained. Shaltis had been the one who wielded the hatchet that took her mother’s leg. In her soul Seraphim didn’t hold that act against him. She would have done the same. She did hold against him the fact that her mother was chosen as punishment for the embarrassment she visited upon him in those years past.

Shaltis: Seraphim…is she dead? If the body is still warm enough…

She smiled into the face of the man who had murdered her mother. Few could react with hostility when you smiled, not when they weren’t prepared for it. With the grace of a queen she cupped Shaltis’s head in her hands and smiled with a serenity that belied her anger.

Seraphim: We all must be cared for. I understand. Sacrifices must be made.

The Burning Hands spell took him by complete surprise and the skin slogged off his skull as the fire melted it away. Seraphim smiled to herself as she roasted him as he still twitched.

Seraphim: Divide him up evenly. The longer we can stretch him out the fewer we will have to sacrifice.

She noticed the hefting of kitchen knives and wood axes.

Seraphim: And please bear in mind. You have no means of fire or warmth without me. We will come through this storm together or in pieces. If I die you all die. If I live only some of you may die.

Right now she felt the cold of the blood which she was immersed it. It seemed to be pulling the little warmth left in her body. The coldness spread into her lungs and they finally gasped in the thick cold blood filling her lungs. The spasms of drowning were far more agonizing than the last month could have prepared her for.

The life drained into the blood and every moment was another dagger into her ribs…

Yasmina: Just relax. It will all be over in a moment.

Seraphim felt the rancid breath of Yasmina from where the witch stood behind her. Few had earned Sera’s trust and only her aunt and Yasmina had earned her respect. Both were now lost to the noose of the garrote around her throat. For years she had called the Widow her teacher, her mentor and the closest thing to friend Sera had known. All of that had crashed with the pot of tea that fell from Sera’s unfeeling hands.

The Widow had finally come to collect her price. In exchange for the years of tutelage and training she had come to take Sera’s vitality. She intended to claim her apprentice’s life in an effort to restore her own beauty and vibrance. The moment the tea entered her stomach she realized something was amiss. She was all too familiar with moss-viper tea, a compound she had learned from her earliest days as an apprentice. By the time she had stood the wire was around her throat. The moss left those who imbibed it numb and weak.

Yasmina: You have been an attentive pupil, and unfortunately the most important lesson is the one you can’t be taught to expect. I shall miss our time together. The first lover I take will be in your honor. A pity that for all your seductions you will die without knowing that lesson.

The Widow grunted with surprise as the dagger entered just below her ribs. Sera had wanted to strike for the heart, but the angle was off and she was forced to aim lower for a lung. The garrote slipped loose enough for Sera to twist and deftly change her grip on the knife. She was a buxom girl and kept herself fit, she pushed the blade upwards with all the might she could muster opening the wound and feeling the rib crack where the blade had stuck.

Seraphim: I have acclimated myself to the tea Mistress, I did so at your recommendation. The dagger was my idea. A girl can’t count on her looks alone.

Yasmina grinned and trained her stare on Seraphim, a stare that Seraphim delivered right back. As The Widow drew in tortured breath to laugh and extend her hex Seraphim found a mirth and delight in the situation and for the first time she responded with a cackle all her own.

Yasmina: Well done Seraphim. I can call you apprentice no more.

She felt every moment of her death. She felt her lungs stop. She heard the beating of her heart cease. The pain had ended. A different feeling began to well up from her core….it was time.