schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 28, 2023 5:31:27 GMT -5
Hello everyone at the Trollbridge! In December 2019 my friends and I began an in-person T&T campaign set in the world of the 1990s Fabled Lands gamebooks by Dave Morris and Jamie Thompson (books 1–6) and Paul Gresty (book 7).
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 28, 2023 5:32:40 GMT -5
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 28, 2023 5:33:37 GMT -5
DELVE 1.
Friday 27th December 2019.
Campaign year: Spring 500 T. F. (T. F. = the Time of Fables).
Tea @ Hart 11.00 am – 5.00 pm (Tea @ Hart was a gaming cafe in the town of Hartlepool in the UK).
GM: Schmee (that's me).
Delvers: KARINA (Glyn) 1st level warrior; FRANKLIN (Paddy) 1st level healer; NED (Pippy) 1st level warrior.
Locations: Unbounded Ocean; Isle of Druids; Trading Post; Gates of the World; Wishport; Haggart’s Corner; Monastery of Molhern; Tekshin’s Tavern; Goldfall; Forest of the Forsaken; Abbey of Lacuna; Forest of the Forsaken (again); Conflass.
The three delvers were the only survivors of a ship that was lost on the great eastern oceans. FRANKLIN was a member of the crew; KARINA was a passenger; and NED was a prisoner. They drifted west and reached the shore of an island. NED was killed in the surf when his head struck the rocks. They had been washed ashore on the Isle of Druids, each was floating on a chest with 3 dice x 10 gold plus an oilskin of maps. They met an old man, who welcomed them and showed them the Gates of the World. They returned to the beach and visited the Trading Post where they met the mayor. They visited the market to buy weapons and equipment.
Commentary: The forested Ise of Druids is the easternmost part of the lands of Harkuna; the Gates of the World are three magic arches that transport delvers to distant parts of the Fabled Lands.
They met LILLIE (Pippy’s new character), a 2nd level warrior. The went to the temple of Lacuna, goddess of the hunt, and accepted a quest from the high priestess to find a wereboar tusk from the Forest of the Forsaken. They discussed the nature of the Gates of the World with the high priestess. They climbed the hill above the town and stepped through the WISHPORT arch.
Commentary: The Forest of Forsaken is in the northern parts of the kingdom of Golnir. The "Wishport" arch transported the delvers to the Golnirean city of the same name.
FRANKLIN attempted to raise funds by working as a healer in the city of Wishport. He was thrown out of the city for practising medicine without a licence; LILLIE persuaded the town guards to let him back in. The delvers left the city to head northwest on the Wishport–Haggart’s Corner road. They met a loathly lady, who gave them a clue about Castle Orlock.
Commentary: Castle Orlock is a haunted fortress on the Golnir coast, home to a vampire (so some say).
They continued on the road to the village of Haggart’s Corner, severely lacking in money and provisions. At Haggart’s Corner they talked to the locals about how to trade with the dwarfs. They visited the temple of Lacuna in Haggart’s Corner, then left to head north on the Haggart’s Corner–Monastery road. They met a would-be robber, but robbed him instead. They continued north on the road to the Monastery of Molhern. They weren’t allowed in, but the monks gave them some bread. They followed the Wheatfields–Monastery road north-east. They spoke to some peasants about pot-holes and the state of the roads. They met the High King’s messenger.
Commentary: On some nights the dwarfs come to trade their magical wares with mortals in the fairy town of Haggart's Corner. Molhern is the god of crafts, knowledge and magic. The High King is the last ruler of a unified Harkuna, thought to be sleeping underground somewhere, waiting the day he will return.
They travelled north-west to a road junction where they found Tekshin’s Tavern. They bartered with Tekshin to be allowed to stay at the tavern in return for a lantern and a rabbit’s foot. FRANKLIN attempted to catch a fish in a nearby pond. They headed north-east at the junction on the Goldfall road. They discussed Goldfall with some ruffians and wagered their possessions in a contest of holiness with a mysterious stranger. They travelled north-east to the town of Goldfall. They visited the temple of the Three Fortunes. They prospected for gold and managed to find a small nugget but then contracted gold fever and spent all their money on gold-hunting gadgets.
Commentary: Tekshin is a bird-man as well as an innkeeper. The town of Goldfall is a centre of the prospecting industry. The Three Fortunes are a trio of goddesses who rule the fate of mortals.
They left town, heading north cross country. They met some peasants, who offered them ale and met some guards executing a poacher. They headed north-east to the valley of the upper Rainbow river where they met a minstrel who sang them a song about Castle Orlock. They came to a waterfall, where they spoke to the spirits of the waterfall about buried treasure, but were unable to find it. They journeyed north-east and finally reached the Forest of the Forsaken. They met a community of lepers; FRANKLIN contracted leprosy while helping them out. They met a village of evil bald men, who drove them deeper into the forest. They met a silent knight and his dwarf servant and defeated him in combat, taking his (empty) sword and armour.
They left the forest and headed south to the Abbey of Lacuna. FRANKLIN found the hidden path to the Abbey and converted to the worship of Lacuna; he was cured of leprosy; KARINA & LILLIE received the blessing of Lacuna and they all rested until they were fully healed. They received information about wereboars from the nuns. They went south to the town of Conflass, where they spoke to the burghers of the town. They sold the magic armour and bought weapons, armour & equipment. After healing up they returned to the Forest of the Forsaken. On the way they passed Molhern’s smithy. They met the elf-spirit who they freed from the dwarf, who gifted them a magic blade. They visited the open-air dining room of some elves and were gifted some fairy mead. They visited the tomb of a vampire knight, but retreated in fear. They met and spoke with Knobbler the hermit, who helped them to find the tracks of a wereboar, which they tracked & defeated then took its tusks. They returned to Conflass and checked-in to an inn.
Commentary: The blessing of Lacuna offers delvers a reroll on a failed CON Saving Roll. Conflass is a border town and tax-haven, disputed between the kingdom of Golnir and the republic of Sokara.
Thus ended delve #1! Delve #2 to follow ...
|
|
scally
1st Level Troll
Posts: 42
|
Post by scally on Jan 28, 2023 6:49:17 GMT -5
Excellent write up of the first delve; lots of action! I am Scally, a current delver in this campaign. It’s really nice to be able to read about the founding of the campaign (I joined in the second episode, once the campaign moved to Zoom, at the start of covid lockdowns). As you progress with these posts, schmee, I hope to discuss and elaborate on fun and memorable moments that I remember from the last 3 years of delving.
|
|
|
Post by nialldubh on Jan 28, 2023 7:17:54 GMT -5
Being a poacher in the Fable-Land is a dangerous life?
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 28, 2023 7:54:30 GMT -5
Being a poacher in the Fable-Land is a dangerous life? Yes, we're not sure exactly what that poacher had done, but it must have been something rather serious! 😀
|
|
|
Post by nialldubh on Jan 28, 2023 8:09:27 GMT -5
lol
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 29, 2023 7:49:10 GMT -5
The campaign was interrupted after the first delve by circumstances beyond our control, but we reconvened online 4 months later (more than a year later in campaign time). Paddy wasn't able to take part, but (as mentioned above) we welcomed new delver Scally.
DELVE 2.
Saturday 25th April 2020.
Campaign year: Summer 501.
Online, ca. 8.00 pm – 12.00 am.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KARINA (Glyn) 1st level warrior; MILANA (Scally) 1st level healer; LILLIE (Pippy) 2nd level warrior.
Locations: Conflass; Marlock City; Trefoille; Yellowport.
After living in Conflass for about a year, KARINA & LILLIE one day visited the Two Heads tavern for some lunch. The tavern was very busy, and they had to share their table with: MILANA (Scally’s character), a 1st level healer and Clive, a retired adventurer; MILANA’s husband Donald had ran off with a nun, so she was planning to leave town to begin a new life. They discussed the world of adventuring. Clive recommended the land of Sokara (to the east) as a good place to find some quests. They visited the market and bought MILANA some weapons and armour. The delvers then paid for passage on a barge to Marlock City (formerly known as Old Sokar), the capital of Sokara, leaving Franklin behind in Conflass.
In Marlock City, the delvers visited the Three Rings tavern where they met Simon, an aged troubadour. Simon told them of his adventure in the land of beast-men, where he escaped by soothing their ferocity with his songs. He then told them of Davo the Hermit who lives on the foothills of the Spine of Harkun, and the quest of the Greatest Story Ever Told. They went to the Street of Entertainers and were invited to the Gambler’s Den, but declined to partake. The delvers then left Marlock City on foot, heading east.
They passed through the ruined town of Trefoille, where LILLIE found a pair of gauntlets in the rubble. Travelling on east, outside the walls of Yellowport, they encountered Yanryt the Son, a peerless swordsman, who offered to train them with his skills in the city of Caran Baru if they were to slay the Black Knight. In Yellowport the delvers visited the Merchants’ Guild, where MILANA attempted to exchange a forged credit note for cash, without success. They then spoke to Guildmaster Vernon, who offered them a reward if they slew the king of the rat men. The rats live under Yellowport at the bottom of an old well and come out at night to steal from the guild warehouses. End of delve #2.
|
|
scally
1st Level Troll
Posts: 42
|
Post by scally on Jan 29, 2023 18:32:53 GMT -5
This was my first delve!! I don’t remember a great deal of detail from this early season but I fondly remember Davo the Hermit and the fight with the Ratmen under Yellowport; most likely because we encounter them more further into the campaign.
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 30, 2023 16:16:23 GMT -5
DELVE 3.
Sunday 3rd May 2020.
Campaign year: Summer 501.
Online, ca. 8.00 pm – 12.00 am.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KARINA (Glyn) 1st level warrior; LILLIE (Pippy) 1st level warrior; MILANA (Scally) 1st level healer.
Locations: Yellowport.
Still in the guildmaster’s office, LILLIE attempted to offer Master Vernon unwanted advice about public health and the value of investment in the city infrastructure. The guildmaster was not impressed. The delvers left the guild premises and made preparations to enter the well and take on the rat men. They bought rope and torches at the market before locating the well in a poor part of town. Using the rope they climbed to the cistern at the bottom. From here they found a stream running through a craggy tunnel, which they followed. This opened into a cavern, where a hidden door opened to reveal two rat men (Monster Rating 30 each), which they defeated in melee. They found an invitation to a party in the kitchens that night (“No officers and no king allowed”).
Through the door they entered the sunken remains of the old Uttakin city, where they found a chamber with two doors. They entered the throne room, and from behind a curtain saw the king arguing with his four guards; MILANA fired on him with arrows and then they all joined a fight with the guards (Monster Rating 30 each). LILLIE tried to sneak around the sides to reach the king. The battle was not going well for the delvers. MILANA had the idea to flee next door with the rat officers in pursuit, hoping to gate-crash the rat man party and start a fight between the rats. This plan worked, leaving the king alone with the delvers, who slew him in short order.
Commentary: The Uttakin were the long-lost emperors of all of Harkuna, until the High King drove them out; but they still persist in an ancient city to the far west.
Taking his crown and amulet, KARINA attempted to open his chest, but this was trapped and exploded, wounding her badly. In the broken chest was a metal scroll case, which survived the explosion (the delvers took this). Returning to the bottom of the well, they saw the other 30 or so rat men blocking the tunnel, coming their way. They attempted to hide, but were spotted, beaten unconscious and robbed of all their possessions and dumped from a sea-cave into the surf outside of the city. They returned to the city having lost all of their money & possessions, dangerously low on CON.
The guildmaster of merchants was not convinced that they really had killed the rat king. The delvers persuaded him to give them a chance. The guild housed the delvers in one of their taverns for a week and after this, as there had been no raiding of the merchants’ warehouses, the delvers’ story was believed. They got their reward, minus the costs of a week’s lodging and spent their money to purchase new weapons, armour and items of equipment.
End of delve #3 !
|
|
scally
1st Level Troll
Posts: 42
|
Post by scally on Jan 31, 2023 14:12:32 GMT -5
Ha ha! From the write up it all comes flooding back! Those early sessions of the delve were very tense while we had no money and were constantly being stripped of our gear. I can’t wait to read of entire sessions where we walked all over Sokara looking for easy quests and quick cash; all the while counting our provisions to work out if we could make it to the next town.
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Jan 31, 2023 17:03:17 GMT -5
CHAPTER 4.
Saturday 9th May 2020.
Campaign year: Summer 501.
Online, ca. 8.00 pm – 12.00 am.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KARINA (Glyn) 1st level warrior; LILLIE (Pippy) 1st level warrior; MILANA (Scally) 1st level healer.
Locations: Yellowport; Venefax; Scorpion Bight; Venefax (again).
The delvers decided to visit the temple of Maka, goddess of famine, disease and the harvest. Her temple was located below the Plaza of the Gods, entered under a stone arch; MILANA became a member of the cult, buying a holy symbol and gaining the blessing of immunity. She also spoke to the priest and viewed their plague hospital.
Commentary: The blessing of Maka lets a delver shrug off the effects of a dose of poison or a bout of disease.
The delvers then went to the Gold Dust tavern, where they met Pyletes the sage. Pyletes asked them to find his missing tome, The Book of Seven Sages, taken by the scorpion men of Scorpion Bight. The delvers soon after left the city by road, heading north-east. The delvers arrived in the town of Venefax, a strange place with no doors at ground level, entered only by ladder. They spoke to the people of the town and MILANA swapped curing tips with the local healer (a specialist in curing poisons). They then travelled overland to Scorpion Bight. The delvers crossed the hot scrub-lands of the Bight and came upon a scorpion man on patrol, but he was easily beaten in combat. MILANA harvested the venom from his poisonous sting.
Commentary: Venefax, on the borders of Scorpion Bight, is entered only by ladder because the scorpion-men cannot climb up them.
Deeper in the dry countryside of the Bight, they reached the top of a ridge and saw in the valley below the nest of the scorpions, swarming with scorpion men. After a short trip back to Venefax to buy some provisions, the delvers returned. This time the guard was doubled and in the fight that followed, LILLIE was poisoned; but MILANA was able to heal her. At the nest, LILLIE volunteered to sneak inside alone under the cover of darkness, but in doing so she was very quickly spotted. Pursued by many dozens of scorpion men, the delvers fled; LILLIE and KARINA managed to outrun them, escaping back to Venefax, but MILANA was captured and dragged back to the nest.
MILANA awoke in the nest, trapped in a pod, destined to be food for the scorpion larvae. One scorpion man, wearing a green robe, ordered her released and took her to a chamber filled with alchemists’ equipment; MILANA recovered with a quick prayer to Maka (i.e., using the blessing of immunity) and saw through the illusion hiding the true identity of the scorpion man in the robe. He was a human sorcerer, Cameron the Portly, who immediately broke down and confessed that he was building a scorpion army to take over the land, and that he stole the Book of Seven Sages as part of his plan. Cameron led MILANA out of the nest by a secret tunnel, and they met LILLIE and KARINA coming the other way.
The four of them returned to Venefax, where the locals wanted to hang Cameron from the city walls, but after an oratorial intervention from the delvers he was instead sent to jail for 7 years. They then learned about a missing child, taken by the Blood-Thursday Gob-Gobbler, a terrible monster which only hunts on Thursdays. They agreed to find Hayley, the missing girl, for her mother, Lynn; the last place Hayley was seen was a ruined farmhouse past the northern edge of the road.
Heading out, they met Fonzie, the Master of the Market at Venefax, coming in the opposite direction. He claimed he was out collecting herbs for his hobby, then he disappeared off. Getting near the ruined farmhouse, they passed through a lightly wooded area and heard a roar up ahead; LILLIE ran forward to confront the beast, but its poisonous breath was too much for them, and they all sank into a deep sleep. They were never seen again by the people of Venefax, and what became of them remained a mystery.
This was the tragic end of delve #4, but the story goes on in delve #5 !
|
|
|
Post by therealcrenell on Jan 31, 2023 17:52:27 GMT -5
I'm also a participant in this game (Pippy, as above). Generally as a player, occasionally as DM.
Excellent write up Schmee, premium sharing.
T&T is ace. The negotiated saving throw mechanic is the best aspect of any RPG I've seen, by miles. So simple and quick, allows total freedom to attempt any role-playing gambit you wish without complicated reference charts and caveats. Hats off to the designer.
This experience which was given huge impetus by zoom RPGing during the pandemic has been very enjoyable. We have weekly zooms and get together for in vivo delves every few months.
Hope other Trolls out there enjoy reading about our exploits.
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Feb 1, 2023 5:44:31 GMT -5
Here are the final delving cards for our deceased party. I've also added the cards for FRANKLIN and NED from delve #1.
DELVER #1. FRANKLIN (Paddy). 1st level Golnirean ♂ healer. ST 10; DEX 11; LK 8; CON 13; IQ 15; CHR 14; ADDS + 0. Misericorde (2 + 1); self bow (2 + 0/medium); leather (8 hits). Origin: Ringhorn. Traits: Unusual. Station: Middle. Creed; Lacuna. Age 24. Last known location: Conflass.
DELVER #2. KARINA (Glyn). 1st level Sokaran ♀ warrior. ST 14; DEX 12; LK 12; CON 11; IQ 10; CHR 12; ADDS +5. Sword (3 + 9); short bow (3 + 6/medium); hauberk (22 hits). Origin: Cadmium. Traits: Weakened. Station: Lower. Age 25. Cause of death: Poison gas.
DELVER #3. NED (Pippy). 1st level Golnirean ♂ warrior. ST 5; DEX 16; LK 9; CON 12; IQ 10; CHR 12; ADDS +3. Unarmed (1 + 3). Origin: Haggart's Corner. Traits: Conscientious. Station: Lower. Age 48. Cause of death: Wild swimming.
DELVER #4. LILLIE (Pippy). 2nd level Sokaran ♀ warrior. ST 20; DEX 13; LK 13; CON 13; IQ 16; CHR 13; ADDS +16. Mace (3 + 19); cuirass, gauntlets & greaves (18 hits). Origin: Cadmium. Traits: Unserious. Station: Middle. Age 32. Cause of death: Poison gas.
DELVER #5. MILANA (Scally). 1st level Golnirean ♀ healer. ST 11; DEX 10; LK 10; CON 8; IQ 12; CHR 15; ADDS +1. Mace (3 + 4); leather (8 hits). Origin: Conflass. Traits: Studious. Station: Middle. Creed: Maka. Age 41. Cause of death: Poison gas.
Commentary: Healer is a Type we've added to T&T - they're midway between a Warrior and a Rogue in fighting ability and can use Herbs to heal lost CON after melee. We give Warriors 3 bonus adds per level (as well as double armour protection). Origin is place of birth; traits is a random adjective to describe the delver; station is a measure of social class. Creed is religious affiliation.
|
|
schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 209
|
Post by schmee on Feb 1, 2023 17:58:17 GMT -5
DELVE 5.
Sunday 17th May 2020.
Campaign year: Autumn 501.
Online, ca. 8.00 pm – 12.00 am.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: NIKOLAI (Glyn) 2nd level healer; DENA (Pippy) 2nd level wizard; KANDI (Scally) 1st level warrior.
Locations: Venefax.
Commentary: Everyone rolled up new delvers. This didn’t leave much time for the actual delve, so not much happened this time!
The three new delvers were all citizens of the town of Venefax. In the Scorpion’s Sting tavern they heard a story about three adventurers from the south, who raided the nest of the scorpion men on nearby Scorpion Bight and brought back the Book of Seven Sages
The same three adventurers had then went missing while investigating the mystery of the Blood-Thursday Gob-Gobbler. The new delvers resolved to investigate the disappearance of these three, stop the Gob-Gobbler and recover the Book. Before heading out, they visited the market and bought some equipment and supplies.
End of the very brief delve #5.
|
|