schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 7, 2023 4:35:27 GMT -5
DELVE 53.
Saturday 2nd January 2021.
Campaign year: Midwinter 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Pippy.
Delvers: HEIDI (Jo) 3rd level healer; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard; GIOVANNI (Schmee) 2nd level healer.
Locations: Yellowport.
With the requisite knowledge and trappings, the delvers returned to the Carrack household. There they engaged Oknblisi in a tumultuous affray, a terrific battle of mind and body. After a terrible crescendo the demon was sent back from whence it came. The healers HEIDI and GIOVANNI stabilised the criticality unwell Reuben who later made a full recovery.
On completing the quest the adventurers were rewarded with a cargo of spices and Ankonese artefacts. There was much rejoicing.
Delve #53 saw the final exorcism of the demon Oknblisi. Suggested prog accompaniment: Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 7, 2023 8:05:15 GMT -5
Or did Ferdinand get into the flasks and confuse his role (along with the words "healing" and "rum"?) I couldn't possibly comment! What does therealcrenell have to say!?
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Post by lordsirbarton on May 10, 2023 17:57:40 GMT -5
Hallo! Paul here, who plays as (Sir) BARTON in this campaign. Reading back through these brings back good memories - IIRC, Christmas 2020 found us suddenly back into lockdown, and I remember fondly the delves from this rather lonely period, particularly the exorcism of Reuben. The final battle with the demon was particularly challenging, and required some interesting and unorthodox maneouevres!
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Post by therealcrenell on May 11, 2023 2:31:28 GMT -5
That's copy-and-paste for you. I'll go back and fix it. Or did Ferdinand get into the flasks and confuse his role (along with the words "healing" and "rum"?) Many flasks have been sunk during this campaign. So that's more than likely;)
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 11, 2023 10:29:13 GMT -5
DELVE 54.
UNDER THE SEA
Thursday 7th January 2021.
Campaign year: Late winter 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Yellowport; Shadar Tor; Atlantis; Yellowport (again).
Leaving the city of Yellowport, KANDI, BEULAH & BARTON travelled to the seaside. Beneath the Shadar Tor, BEULAH’s magic granted them the power to breathe under water.
They then swam beneath the waves in search of the city of the fish-men. The delvers followed a fish-man scout back to their undersea city of Atlantis. They found the temple of Oannes, the fish-god, where the sacred net of the priests of Alvir & Valmir was kept.
BEULAH used her magic to summon a lightning bolt, which stunned the fish-priests. Snatching the net they swam quickly to the surface and made it ashore. Camping on the beach they aroused two giants who were asleep on the cliff walls. Defeating these in a mighty battle, they returned to Yellowport and presented the net to the temple of Alvir & Valmir.
Normal delving service was resumed for #54. This was the start of a rather long absence for SACHA, as his player (Pippy) was about to welcome a new baby to their household. Look out for his brief but dramatic return in delve #64.
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 15, 2023 3:31:04 GMT -5
DELVE 55.
KEY OF STARS UNEARTHED, SAVED FOR THE NATION
Friday 15th January 2021.
Campaign year: Early spring 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; HEIDI (Jo) 3rd level healer; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Yellowport; Trefoille; Metriciens; Whistling Heath; Monastery of Molhern; Rainbow Valley; Forest of the Forsaken.
Joining up with their old friend HEIDI, the delvers left Yellowport by road and headed for Trefoille. There, they used their green "wizard’s key" to access the cellar of Oliphaunt’s tower and, by the power of the magic gates located there, were transported to the distant city of Metriciens. They did not stay in the city long, mounting an expedition north into the Whistling Heath.
In the strange fairy realm of the Heath, they fought a three-headed giant & found a lost artifact, the key of stars. Escaping the twisting paths of the Heath they headed north.
Commentary: The Heath exists in the mortal realm only in part, and it can be difficult to escape.
Visiting the monastery of Molhern they spoke with the monks. After a short stay, the travelled upriver and rescued a plague-ridden woman from some angry villagers.
Commentary: Molhern is the god of artisans and magicians. His followers maintain a walled sanctuary and pilgrimage site in the wilds of north-eastern Golnir.
Further upstream they found a magic waterfall; there they attempted a trial offered by the spirits of the falls, but failed in this. Travelling instead into the Forest of the Forsaken, they avoided the villages of the lepers & of the bald ones. Locating the crypt of the vampire knight, they returned the key of stars to it's rightful home.
Some solid questing for delve #55. What will the delvers do next?
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 17, 2023 3:01:08 GMT -5
DELVE 56.
AIR TRAVEL
Sunday 31st January 2021.
Campaign year: Late Spring 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Forest of the Forsaken; Rainbow Valley; Spine of Harkun; Sky Mountain; Great Steppes; General Beledai’s camp; Gemstone Hills; Yarimura.
The delvers were camping in the Forest of the Forsaken. Heidi was taken ill, possibly with the dreaded moss-blight. Putting her on an improvised stretcher they exited the Forest and travelled east.
Near the Rainbow valley they were accosted by an unfriendly pegasus. They managed to change its mood and become friends when BARTON removed a Sokaran army issue caltrop from its foot. In return, the pegasus evacuated the incapacitated Heidi to Velis Corin.
The other delvers then travelled north into the Spine of Harkun. There they began an expedition to climb the dizzy slopes of Sky Mountain. Halfway up they were accosted by a party of bird-men. One of these was Pickwick, who recognised KANDI as the delver who freed him from slavery in Caran Baru.
Commentary: Pickwick was set free all the way back in delve #12.
The delvers were airlifted to the inaccessible eyrie of Argon the Alchemist, creator of the bird-men. They dined on breadcrumbs, bird-seed, worms and fat-balls. Argon made a clone of each delver that would house their mortal soul in the event of their demise (i.e. a chance at resurrection). The bird-men then flew the delvers back down to the north face of the mountain.
Now in the land of the Great Steppes, the delvers journeyed east to the camp of their old friend General Beledai; which was now almost deserted. Leaving the camp behind they journeyed north through the Gemstone Hills. There they came across a weird stone door to the subterranean land of the dwarfs. BEULAH cast her spells of divination; these warned them away from the dangerous door. Leaving the hills they travelled further north to the great port city of Yarimura; where they all checked into the Nomad’s Rest inn.
Delve #56 saw the beginning of an extensive series of adventures in the dangerous wild-lands north of the Spine of Harkun mountain range.
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scally
1st Level Troll
Posts: 42
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Post by scally on May 17, 2023 6:21:25 GMT -5
Kandi’s emancipation campaign didn’t end at pickwick, she freed a dwarf on another visit to Caran Baru… we haven’t seen any gratitude for that act yet but the dwarves are a secretive lot so who knows. The free ‘extra life’s’ from sky mountain were an amazing boon though because they’re very expensive and it’s a difficult climb up sky mountain to reach them.
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 20, 2023 4:56:07 GMT -5
DELVE 57.
NEW QUESTS IN YARIMURA
Monday 8th February 2021.
Campaign year: Early summer 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; HEIDI (Jo) 3rd level healer; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Yarimura/Velis Corin.
From Yarimura, KANDI, BEULAH & BARTON sent a carrier pigeon to Velis Corin. From that fortress, a patrol of knights escorted HEIDI to meet with her friends at the Nomad’s Rest inn in Yarimura; in their private chambers she was restored to health by a wandering apothecary.
Later they spent some time downstairs in the tavern and spoke to the patrons about City of Ruins. Visiting the Plaza of New Gods, the delvers received a quest to find a magic mirror for the temple of Nisoderu. Visiting the tower of the sorceress Bakhan, they received another quest to remove her curse of shape-shifting. They then visited the Thieves’ Kitchen and met the robber Luroc Bans; with whom they plotted to raid the villa of Avar Hordeth.
Commentary: The City of Ruins is all that is left of an ancient Shadar city somewhere far out in the steppe. Yarimura is ruled by exiles from the island chain of Akatsurai, and they have brought their gods with them. Avar is a rich merchant who keeps a treasure-house under his villa outside the town walls.
Delve #57 was mostly about low-key exploration and role-playing in the new city of Yarimura (and still a lot of fun!), but the delvers now have 4 exciting quests to explore in the future. Which will they go for first?
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 20, 2023 6:15:46 GMT -5
I'd like to pay tribute to the artist Russ Nicholson, who passed away this week. Amongst many other great works, Russ did the artwork and maps for the Fabled Lands books, which we use in every delve, and our campaign would not exist in the same way without his amazing contributions. Here's a link to a 2012 post from Dave Morris's blog where he discusses Russ's art briefs for Fabled Lands book 2: fabledlands.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-russ-got-his-briefs.html?m=1
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 24, 2023 10:29:43 GMT -5
DELVE 58.
NE'ER-DO-WELLS BURGLE MERCHANT VILLA
Sunday 13th February 2021.
Campaign year: Midsummer 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: HEIDI (Jo) 3rd level healer; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Yarimura; Villa of Avar Hordeth; Cliff Wood; Vodhya; Kaschuf Keep.
Leaving KANDI back at the tavern, HEIDI, BARTON & BEULAH visited the villa of Avar Hordeth; they observed the movements of the guards and spoke to his door-warden. That night, they met with Luroc Bans; climbing over the walls they located Avar's treasure room. A traitorous servant had left the door propped open; the delvers helped themselves to the riches. However, the hoard was protected by the curse of anger, which caused them to argue and fight over the spoils.
HEIDI, using a pinch of magic dust, managed to overcome the curse; they fled the scene before the guards were alerted, They then explored Cliff Wood on the north edge of the city and received some prophecies from a gypsy woman. Leaving these lands the delvers travelled further north to the miserable village of Vodhya.
They went to nearby Kaschuf Keep and met with Kaschuf the Deathless. Despite Kaschuf’s belligerence towards them, the delvers departed without a fight. Speaking to his off-duty butler in the town, they learned the secret of cruel Kaschuf's immortality (a locket hidden on a lonely island somewhere in the Violet Ocean). There were no taverns in the village, and the villagers were not friendly, so the delvers made camp on the outskirts.
Delve #58: a high-value treasure raid and the key to a future quest?
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 28, 2023 6:46:16 GMT -5
DELVE 59.
RUBY CITADEL SHATTERED, TRAGEDY STRIKES AT STEPPE PYRAMID
Saturday 20th February 2021.
Campaign year: Late summer 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Vodhya; Great Steppes; Ruby Citadel; Pyramid of Xinoc.
Departing the village of Vodhya, the delvers dropped off HEIDI in Yarimura and met up with KANDI again. They then began a long trek west across the steppes. They met a band of nomads who were in the process of executing a Sokaran traveller. Leaving the man to his fate, they made friends with the nomads and stayed at their camp.
Travelling further west, they came across the Ruby Citadel. Fighting the undead guardians and the necromancer who dwelt there, KANDI used a silver flute to destroy the crystalline Citadel with a sonic vibration.
Thus, they freed the wizard Woztoz from his long imprisonment; he immediately departed on an invisible palanquin (offering the delvers no reward or gratitude).
Later they came to the Pyramid of Xinoc and interfered in a ritual by which three shamans were attempting to slay a witch. BEULAH was killed after a mis-firing spell; the witch was freed, causing BARTON & KANDI terrible damage to their physical and mental well-being (i.e. significant loss of attribute points).
Delve #59 was quite a blow to the party, with the loss of their wizard BEULAH and severe attribute damage to the surviving delvers. Hopefully they will bounce back next time.
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Post by therealcrenell on May 28, 2023 10:21:15 GMT -5
Missed all this drama whilst on hiatus.
Bet there was much sorrow when Beulah croaked.
Regarding the locations of Vodhya, the Great Steppes, the Ruby Citadel and the Pyramid of Xinoc... it would be interesting to know a bit more about them. I don't believe any of my delvers (Pippy) have travelled that far north.
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Post by therealcrenell on May 28, 2023 10:29:22 GMT -5
(Suggested prog rock accompaniment Siberian Khatru by Yes)
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schmee
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 215
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Post by schmee on May 31, 2023 12:01:07 GMT -5
DELVE 60.
HISTORY REWRITTEN
Wednesday 24th February 2021.
Campaign year: Late summer 504.
Online, late evening till around midnight.
GM: Schmee.
Delvers: KANDI (Scally) 4th level warrior; HEIDI (Jo) 3rd level healer; BARTON (Savage) 3rd level warrior; BEULAH (Glyn) 3rd level wizard.
Locations: Pyramid of Xinoc; Tigre Bay; Port Kunrir; Tower of Holyamu; Icicle Woods.
KANDI and BARTON were alone on the steppes at the foot of the Pyramid. They buried what was left of BEULAH in a small cairn. After a time the bird-men came; they had brought HEIDI from distant Yarimura and the resurrected BEULAH-clone from Sky Mountain. Deciding against investigating the interior of the Pyramid, they headed west instead.
Commentary: See delve #56 further up the page for details of Argon the Alchemist and his resurrection deals.
Navigating the misty realms of three icy rivers they came to a lonely place called Tigre Bay and rallied the stranded crew of a wrecked ship, repairing the vessel and making HEIDI the captain. Sailing along the coast south to Port Kunrir, they spent some time to recover from the traumas of their journey across the Steppes.
Leaving the ship at anchor, they headed north overland until they came to the tower of Holyamu the Unbidden. Using his magic pool, they passed back through time and left a warning note for their future selves near the Pyramid of Xinoc. This had the effect of changing history and the two timelines merged. The original BEULAH remained slain but BARTON & KANDI reversed their attribute damage.
Commentary: Holyamu is a deranged but powerful sorcerer who lives in a hollow tower in the west of Harkuna. He has a magic pool that is a time-portal, and a flying chair.
Leaving the tower they headed north into the Icicle Woods, where they met with some sprites and found the legendary five-trunked holly. Eating of its berries they learned the language of the trees and from their whispers were directed to a Shadar codex providing crucial knowledge about the Cave of Bells in the City of Ruins.
Commentary: The Shadar were of course a ancient and magical people who ruled Harkuna in the distant past and have left dangerous ruins all over the place. Readers may remember the Shadar Tor from delves #13 & #49.
Time-travel shenanigans worthy of Doctor Who in delve #60. The delvers also managed to explore some of the remote regions of the far north-west for the first time. Will the next delve see them at last on an expedition to the lost City of Ruins? Lets hope so.
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