Wednesday 10 December 2014

Retrospective 3 - The First Christmas

Continuing the theme of running things I'd really been wanting to run for a while, the next few months contained Hammers of the God, my pet Rune Dungeon, and Dwimmermount.

I'd placed the map to Hammers of the God in a previous dungeon, I think in The God That Crawls, and that's something I really should do more of.
These days I tend to seed maps through people's businesses which works quite well.

This was also the first time they'd left my Gate area map since arriving there, so I suddenly had to work out what scale I wanted to have the Mountains area at! I'm pretty sure it was pretty loosey goosey there for a while, especially since I hadn't made a Mountains encounter table yet.


Things were pretty healthy group-wise at first, but a four week holiday ruined some of the momentum that had built up and sent me into a bit of an OH NO WHAT IF IT FALLS APART spiral.
Two players in a session means that it's quite intimate and tense and they get quite a lot done, but I can't trust that I'll be able to even run a session that evening.
Renzo, thankfully, could be relied on to come every week. He saved the game.

At Session 30 I left for a trip to Australia, honestly apprehensive about whether I'd be able to scrape the group back together afterwards. Such a cliffhanger.


I eventually got round to making a map on a much larger scale

Mini Reviews:

The dungeon itself is a bit shit in comparison to the rest of the LotFP oeuvre, honestly. Two linear dungeons spliced together for the reasons noted in the Author's Notes.
But the history, ah! Such history! The books alone! One of the players sequestered herself in the stone library and spent the rest of the session devouring the tomes. She had the index, so kept asking for different things. A great way to dispense lore.
Hammers of the God forms the basis of my world's alt-history, and coupled with Dwimmermount (which the party entered some weeks later) it created quite the interesting backstory.
I attached the Rune Dungeon (see below) to a caved-in dead-end down the bottom, which made the place feel truly immense.

A rejigged and remastered version of a dungeon I'd made back in 4th edition.
Luckily a couple of players really got into the runes, so the whole thing was this big juicy journey of discovery for them.
I have quietly retconned the dragons blasting out of the crystal at the end, nobody's still around from back then so that's ok right?
Like much of the campaign world around this time, it was very fuzzy around the edges. I "know" a lot more about the world now.
This was actually the third time I'd run the same dungeon - once in 4th when it was linear as fuck, once in Labyrinth Lord during the Australian portion of the campaign, and now this time.
A year or so later another party would come back here, and integrating all those changes was a lot of fun for me. The final boss was a Goblin character who got so mutated that her player left her down there, which the latest (and now current) party were amazed by.

Ah! Dwimmermount! Dungeon of Gods!
They never mapped beyond the first level, but they changed the balance of power a lot.
I love Dwimmermount's strange backstory. As mentioned before, it's another major building block in the alt-history of my world.
Giant spiders were enough to make them bug out (harr) because Renzo got Save-or-Die'd by a spider that one time.
Dwimmermount's great, I hope my current players go back.

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Session 30 - Gorrin's Day

Session 30 - an auspicious number for the start of the Christmas break!
You got lots done! Befriended some locals and killed the mad boss of the Inclusions on level 1, finished mapping the whole south-west quadrant of the first floor, and sent someone to check on your mercenaries and the state of play down near the Gate.

You also met some of the local people and put some advertising out for a guy with Lockpicking experience and a guy with First Aid experience. You will be able to hire them next session.
But dark things are brewing down in the South near Pie Mama's, and there is definitely something spooky going on with the spiders on level 1 of Dwimmermount.
ooOOooOoOooOooooo

See you guys next year, and Merry Christmas!

Session 30 - Gorrin's Day
Campaign date:
Saturday, July 4th 1549
Moon phase: Waning Gibbous
Zodiac: Gemini

New characters:
- Mushroom Lover recruited a Fighter retainer, Carl Sberg.
- Peggy recruited a Fighter retainer, Mr Burg

Enemies defeated:
- Guren, level 1 Dwarf, spider-worshipper and father of many (25 exp)
- 1 crab spider, stabbed to death after it jumped on Peggy (50 exp)
- 8 Inclusions, put to the sword or surrendered (40 exp)
- 4 mutants, put to sleep then throats slit (40 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- 500sp, 2000cp (700 exp)
- Guren's hammer, can be called to wielder's hand. Bind it to yourself by intoning the command word, "Gorrin".
- An old mahogany throne (100 exp)
- Several old tapestries showing Roman conquests and the liberation of the people of Britain from the Halflings. (1000 exp)
- 7 Inclusions who are now your friends. They are young and silly but love you and will assist in carrying stuff from the mountain.
- 5 vials of acidic Azoth, gifted by Crazy.

Exploration:
- 10 dungeon rooms explored (100 exp)
- Secret entrance to dungeon found (100 exp)
- 2 secret doors found (20 exp)
- 2 wandering monster encounters (20 exp)

Misc:
- Met Pieru Danthan, Corporal of the Muntburg Watch,who is very impressed by your continued survival and how you heroically saved those Dwarfs. Will be grateful for any information that can protect his town, and has allowed you to stay in a bunkhouse for free as long as you are in the area. (50 exp)
- Met Crazy, a Dwarf who is experimenting with the black acidic Azoth he has found in Dwimmermount. (50 exp)
- Prevented spider reinforcements from assisting Guren. (50 exp)
- Learnt of the spider god (with eight lovely legs) who gave Guren his statue-animating power (50 exp)
- Boss defeated! (100 exp)
- Bound Heinz, the Inclusion who surrendered, to not betray you via a "magic spell". (50 exp)
- Statue-corpse of Gorrin placed outside Dwarf back-entrance. July 4th is henceforth known as "Gorrin's Day". (50 exp)
- Decapitated stone head of Guren given to Garin the flame trap guy for use as a hat and badge of office. Told Garin he is the boss now and to treat his subjects better than Guren did. (50 exp)
- Went to the Dwarf bar in Muntberg - the Ale and Barrel. Dwarfs only, but the people there are quite friendly otherwise. (50 exp)
- Oiled the jaws of the brazen head,allowing it to speak (50 exp)
- Chatted to some friendly mutants, learnt of Varazes their creator, that there are two second levels, and more besides. (50 exp)
- Rescued the last Dwarf from Surly's scouting group where he was being tortured for information by a gang of mutants. (100 exp)
- Hired someone to travel south and bring back information on the state of play at the Wall (50 exp)
- Fame bonus (50 exp)
- Good memory bonus (Peggy - 50 exp)
- Cartographer bonus (Mushroom Lover - 100 exp)
- Party treasurer bonus (Peggy - 100 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- "In Gush their city's champion has been slain and his ancient sword stolen by monsters from the mountains."
- "A mysterious group on a secret mission require volunteers for exciting, dangerous work. Strenous entry requirements. Only people of the highest quality accepted. Meet at Pie Mama's in Pillartown."
- Competing religious groups in Dwarrow will pay well for evidence that proves or disproves the godhood of Terms Termax.
- Crazy the Dwarf would be very grateful for information on what can be done with the black Azoth that flows within Dwimmermount.
- Pieru Danthan, Corporal of the Watch, would appreciate any knowledge about the creatures within Dwimmermount which could assist him in defending the town.

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Gorrin, slain as he tried to liberate his people from their insane master.

Exp Totals:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 12595 (Level up at 17,600)
-- Mr Burg, Level 1 Fighter: 501 (Level up at 2000)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 4 Elf (Alpdrucke): 12547 (Level up at 24000)
*DING!* +1d6 HP! +2 to saves! +1 level 2 spell/day! +creepy looks and powers!
-- Carl Sberg, Level 1 Fighter: 501 (Level up at 2000)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 18 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Marco / Sauron, Level 1 Necromancer: 580 (Level up at 2250)
Dana / Bingo, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 1461(Level up at 2250)
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 12318 (Level up at 16000)
-- Belial, Level 1 Fighter: 1047 (Level up at 2000)
Michael / Mist Urmun, Level 4 Magic User: 9129 (Level up at 18000)
Renzo / Gastani, Level 2 Barbarian: 3000 (Level up at 4000)
Chris2 / Gadling, Level 3 Specialist (Assassin): 4738 (Level up at 6000)
Joanna / Artemis, Level 2 Specialist (Healer): 2250 (Level up at 3000)
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 1342 (Level up at 1750)
Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 1951 (Level up at 2250)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
Nadav / Frog, Level 1 Fighter: 732 (Level up at 2000)
Charlie / Losh, Level 1 Elf (Habberjock): 309 (Level up at 3000)
Jack / Uldric, Level 1 Magic User: 409 (Level up at 2250)
Tom / Eli, Level 1 Cleric: 409 (Level up at 1750)
Kate / Khaleesi, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 37 (Level up at 2250)
Emmi / Lyrel, Level 2 Necromancer: 2891 (Level up at 4500)
--- Schmidt, Level 0 Human

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Session 29 - Making Friends

There's a new guy Marco, who is playing the first necromancer we've had in a long while! Name of Sauron which isn't an evil name at all no sirree.
Liisa, would you be able to forward this onto him and/or send me his email address? Thanks!

More delving into Dwimmermount this session. Luckily after killing so many of their kind the little dwarf dudes were more than happy to reach a parley, leading you close to the location of the maddened leader with his spider guards.
Troubling news from back home near Pie Mama's, the mold creatures have forced them to close off the Gate. Peggy has hired a mercenary company to go hold the line.

And also - I will once more be heading out to another country for a month soon, it's Australia but I will return! That does make next week (session 30) the last one in a while... again. Hopefully we can rebuild momentum after the New Year!

Session 29 - Making Friends
Campaign date:
Saturday, July 2nd 1549
Moon phase: Waning Gibbous
Zodiac: Gemini

New characters:
- Sauron, Necromancer and former fireman. (Marco)

Enemies defeated:
- 10 rough-hewn dwarfs, known to themselves as Inclusions (50 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- Treasure cache in stalagmite, 700 sp, 5 gp (950 exp)
- Gold coins from the statue of the Lady, 5 gp (250 exp)

Exploration:
- 13 dungeon rooms explored (130 exp)
- Secret door found (10 exp)

Misc:
- Peggy has hired 30 mercenaries to assist with the liberation of Pillartown near the gate. (Peggy - 100 exp)
- Befriended a bunch of rebellious inclusions, including your new friend Gorin and Garin the flame trap guy (50exp)
- Learnt about Guran, the mad leader of the inclusions who made them in his image (50 exp)
- Beheld a demon with a burning sword (50 exp)
- Returned a fingerbone to an altar (50 exp)
- Befriended newborn inclusions, naming them London, Pride, Fuller, 'S, Merry, Premium and Jirin (50 exp)
- Noblebright bonus (50 exp)
- Cartographer bonus (Mushroom Lover - 100 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- "Dear Ms. Pigrider,
I trust this letter finds you well. Please find enclosed your dividend of 36 silver groats.
It brings me great displeasure to inform you that this will be the last payment I will be able to send by post. The forest has become ever more dangerous in recent weeks, and the mold creatures have reached such size and viciousness that we have been forced to close off and barricade the Gate.
Assistance would be appreciated if at all possible.
Sincerely,
Bernard Mew, Pie Mama's Accountant."

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Faust, slain by a stray arrow. Long may he give heroes First Aid in the sky.

Exp Totals:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 11395 (Level up at 17,600)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 11493 (Level up at 12000)
Marco / Sauron, Level 1 Necromancer: 580 (Level up at 2250)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 19 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Dana / Bingo, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 1461(Level up at 2250)
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 12318 (Level up at 16000)
-- Belial, Level 1 Fighter: 1047 (Level up at 2000)
Michael / Mist Urmun, Level 4 Magic User: 9129 (Level up at 18000)
Renzo / Gastani, Level 2 Barbarian: 3000 (Level up at 4000)
Chris2 / Gadling, Level 3 Specialist (Assassin): 4738 (Level up at 6000)
Joanna / Artemis, Level 2 Specialist (Healer): 2250 (Level up at 3000)
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 1342 (Level up at 1750)
Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 1951 (Level up at 2250)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
Nadav / Frog, Level 1 Fighter: 732 (Level up at 2000)
Charlie / Losh, Level 1 Elf (Habberjock): 309 (Level up at 3000)
Jack / Uldric, Level 1 Magic User: 409 (Level up at 2250)
Tom / Eli, Level 1 Cleric: 409 (Level up at 1750)
Kate / Khaleesi, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 37 (Level up at 2250)
Emmi / Lyrel, Level 2 Necromancer: 2891 (Level up at 4500)
--- Schmidt, Level 0 Human