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:

Hammers of the God

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.

The Rune Dungeon

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.

Dwimmermount

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.

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

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

Session 28 - Fear the Cube

Lots of running around this session! In truth I feel kind of bad about how little exp you guys got, but that's the price of staying on the (relatively) low risk low reward first level I guess.

At least you know some more about the dwarfs around here, including that due to the lack of Dwarven females they carve their sons from stone.

You have also made some potential allies in Surly's dwarf guys. They are currently mourning the loss of Shorty and Silly, but they might come back once they've done whatever dwarfs do with their stoney dead. Maybe carve them into tasteful furniture who knows.

See you next week!

Session 28 - Fear the Cube

Campaign date:
Saturday, June 28th 1549
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous
Zodiac: Gemini

Enemies defeated:

- 15 rough-hewn dwarfs, generally abused (30exp)

- 8 skeletons, slain with help from Surly's dwarf gang (80 exp)

- 3 mutants, two surprise-attacked and another fled (30 exp)

- 1 gelatinous cube, chopped up into jelly. (100 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:

- 1 gold, 13 silver, 132 copper (74 exp)

- Wineskin with a strange angular design etched into it.

- Bingo has put 45 gold pieces in the bank (interest rate - 2% p.a.)

- Bingo has put a map book of the Exarchate of Theana and a half-burnt scroll of Magic Warding into secure storage. (5cp/week)

- Mushroom Lover has put 2 spellbooks, a book on the Theory of Puppetry, and a book on Surviving the Interorbular Ether into secure storage. (5cp/week)

- Pie Mama's has had a good month, yielding a big 37.5sp to collect.

- Faust has returned as a retainer. His earnings this week - a mere 10 silver. Not sure if he believes this is a fair wage for what he's been through.

Exploration:

- Approx 18 miles of travel (30 exp)

- 6 dungeon rooms explored (60 exp)

- 4 groups of wandering monsters rolled (40 exp)

Misc:

- Activated and escaped the combat training room (50 exp)

- Helped Surly's dwarfs recover their dead and find out what happened to the previous exploration team. (50 exp)

- Successfully avoided blame for using a dead dwarf as a doorstop. (50 exp)

- Ruined that one guy's oil trap (50 exp)

- Popped a lot of explosive bubbles. (50 exp)

- Long deliberation bonus (50 exp)

- Cartographer bonus (Mushroom Lover - 100 exp)

- Failed saving throw bonus (Mushroom Lover, Peggy - 100 exp ea.)

- Near death experience bonus (Bingo, Mushroom Lover - 100 exp ea.)

Quests and Rumours:

- "Dwimmermount used to be the mightiest dwarven fortress in the world. It's gone through many owners in that time, and great wars have been fought over it."

- "Huge, strange beasts stalk the mountain passes. They can't be undead or monsters from Moondin, so what are they?"

Death Toll and Injuries:

- Due to Faust's ministrations, nothing permanent.

Exp Totals:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 10715 (Level up at 17,600)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 10813 (Level up at 12000)

Dana / Bingo, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 1461(Level up at 2250)

--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 933 (Level up at 1500)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 21 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 7 weeks

Absent or Retired:
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

Session 27 - Through the Red Door

Alright, so it turns out that fighters are actually super good at killing lots of little guys which uh... I guess is actually working exactly as intended.

There's a new guy, Dana, who briefly played as a wizard before he and his familiar turned into demons and got shanked by Crocell's retainer. Now he's a Muscle Wizard who nearly got shanked accidentally by Crocell's retainer.

The guys entered fabled Dwimmermount whose doors have long been sealed. Recently strange lights and figures have been seen upon the mountain which means, of course, that this megadungeon is open for business.
The Red Door near the mountain's peak was found slightly ajar and were mystified as to why things weren't making sense until I realised I had the wrong map open... then they went around and basically killed a bunch of guys and mapped a bunch of dungeon.

I'm sure they can fill you in on the thing with the statue heads and the mutants and stuff next time you're around.

For Mushroom Lover, in-game tomorrow is the first day of the week before the full moon, so you'll have one less spell per day for the duration.

For Mist Urmun, the sun is now in the house of Gemini so your zodiac summoning spell will net you a pair of identical twins. No idea whether they're sexy ladies or not but the wikipedia article has them as a pair of lumpy redheaded guys wearing nappies.

So! Mondays seems to be an ok day for D&D, if you have any issues with rescheduling let me know, and hopefully see you all next time!

Session 27 - Through the Red Door

Campaign date:
Saturday, June 24th 1549
Moon phase: First Quarter
Zodiac: Gemini

New characters:

Bingo Augustus-[something illegible], Muscle Wizard and Wainwright, comes with his own pushcart (Dana)

Enemies defeated:

- 1 poisonous crab spider, shot a lot. (50 exp)

- 2 demons, murdered by Belial. (100 exp)

- 26 (!) dwarfs of poor workmanship, webbed, shattered and otherwise maltreated (130 exp)

- That one dwarf who looked like a real dwarf instead of a crudely worked one, forced to flee (50 exp)

- 2 ugly mutants and their leader, generally slain (30 exp)

- 4 ugly mutants, fled instead of flanking (40 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:

- 40 silver, 900 copper (130 exp)

- Two mysterious white pills (200 exp)

- Quality 1 Chainmail (200 exp)

- Quality 1 Warhammer (40 exp)

- 6 bronze Roman-style war-masks (1200 exp)

- Old chain armour, usless but possibly valuable to a collector (100 exp)

- An old book - "Arto Bellumoi" - a Fighter or Barbarian studying the text for a week gains 500 exp. (100 exp)

- An old map - "The Exarchate of Theana" might be worth something to a sage or librarian. (500 exp)

- An old book - "Checkmate: A Fool's Guide to Chess", bookmarked is a section called "Asana's Challenge". (100 exp)

- A partially burnt scroll of warding against magic. (100 exp)

Exploration:
- 15 dungeon rooms explored (150 exp)
- First party to enter Dwimmermount (100 exp)

- First party to enter level 1 of Dwimmermount (100 exp)

- 1 group of wandering monsters rolled (10 exp)

Misc:

- Took rubbings of the old dwarf runes on the alleged back door. (50 exp)

- Discovered the statue heads are detachable (50 exp)

- Discovered things about the mutants (50 exp)

- Saw some soldier-ghosts endlessly hanging out in the long-ruined barracks (50 exp)

- Viewed memories of Dwimmermount's past (50 exp)

- Breach and clear bonus (50 exp)

- Cartographer bonus (Mushroom Lover - 100 exp)

- Death's Witness bonus (Mushroom Lover, Crocell - 100 exp ea.)

- Died in the first five minutes bonus (Bingo - 100 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- A female Nonanist priest wants you to find evidence of Terms Termax's heresy and false-godhood.

- A male Termaxian priest wants you to find evidence of Terms Termax's godhood, or if you find the opposite, bring it to him so he can destroy it.

- "There's a secretive Dwarf civil war on - the Stoneheads are at war with the Glimmersmiths."

- "Goblins and Dwarfs live side by side in the mountain holds."

- "Goblins are considered to live in both Edge and Dwarrow, they're hated by both city-states."

- "A secret back entrance leads to the first level of Dwimmermount"

- "Never read anything on the wall in Dwimmermount, it is likely an ancient Roman curse."

Death Toll and Injuries:

- Dana's wizard whose name I already forgot, turned into a demon along with his familiar due to a botched Summon.

Exp Totals:
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 10206 (Level up at 12000)
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 12318 (Level up at 16000)
-- Belial, Level 1 Fighter: 1047 (Level up at 2000)

Dana / Bingo, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 1152 (Level up at 2250)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 22 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 8 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Michael / Mist Urmun, Level 4 Magic User: 9129 (Level up at 18000)
Renzo / Gastani, Level 2 Barbarian: 3000 (Level up at 4000)
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 10504 (Level up at 17,600)
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)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
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

Session 26 - Shattered

So! The last session for a month. Time will keep pace with real time while I'm away since I'm sure your guys need a rest after all that non-stop adventuring by now. A month is a long time! So if you want, let me know what your character is doing in the downtime.

Rune dungeon boss has been defeated so now runes are available to be used and abused outside of the dungeon. How many people know about this? How much profit can you make before your secrets spread? Who knows! Well me, obviously, but only up to a point.

So the rune dungeon boss was this giant crystal which they battered with lasers shot from laser platforms until it exploded. In the meantime they were attacked by endlessly respawning hordes of clay men and the crystal itself kept creating glyphs to blast them with.

The crystal released a flurry of honest-to-god dragons when it was shattered, growing bigger and bigger as they blasted out of the roof and out of the mountain. There are five of them in various colours and they are doubtless up to nefarious activities out in the world.

I return at the end of October at which point we'll be switching to Tuesday so Liisa can come without having to abandon her saxophone lessons.

Looking ahead that meeeeeans... next session will be on Tuesday 28th October.

Not sure what you'll do in the meantime. If someone wants to start up their own campaign or some one-shots or something feel free, otherwise I'll only be gone 4 weeks it'll go past like a breeze!

Session 26 - Shattered

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 23nd 1549
Moon phase: First Quarter
Zodiac: Taurus

Enemies defeated:
- Clay mage dude, savaged by a magical bull (50 exp)
- 2 ranged clay dudes, charged to death (20 exp)
- 1 melee clay dude, also charged to death (25 exp)
- 13 ranged clay dudes, obliterated via laser (130 exp)
- 8 melee clay dudes, obliterated via laser (200 exp)
- 1 beam platform rider, obliterated via laser (10 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- 12sp (12 exp)
- An ornamental plate (50 exp)
- Gold ring set with a pearl (500 exp)
- Gold ring set with an amethyst (500 exp)
- A wooden box containing phoenix breast meat (meat now eaten), insides ripped apart (200 exp)
- Sackfuls and sackfuls of valuable crystal shards (4200 exp)

Exploration:
- 13 dungeon rooms explored (130 exp)
- Entered level 3 of the rune dungeon (300 exp)

Misc:
- Near Death Experience Bonus (Mist - 100 exp)
- Failed Saving Throw Bonus (Mist and Gastani - 100 exp ea.)
- Found the library, learnt some history (50 exp)
- Treasure eater bonus (50 exp)
- Breach and clear bonus (50 exp)
- Solved the gravity room puzzle (50 exp)
- Solved the bubble room puzzle (50 exp)
- Shattered the boss crystal (50 exp)
- Antagonist emancipator bonus (50 exp)
- Rune magic unlocked! (50 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- None down here.

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Mist Urmun - Second degree frostbite all over legs. Tremendous pain and blistering. 4 weeks recovery. (Conveniently the length of time I am away)

Exp Totals:
Michael / Mist Urmun, Level 4 Magic User: 9129 (Level up at 18000)
*DING!* +1d4 HP! +1 lvl 2 Spell!
Renzo / Gastani, Level 2 Barbarian: 3000 (Level up at 4000)
*DING!* +1d8 HP! +2 rolls on the Barbarian Level Up Table!

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 26 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 12 weeks
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 8954 (Level up at 12000) ETA: 6 weeks
Michael / Mist Urmun, Level 4 Magic User: 9129 (Level up at 18000) ETA: 4 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 10504 (Level up at 17,600)
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)
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 11166 (Level up at 16000)
-- Belial, Level 1 Fighter: 521 (Level up at 2000)
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)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
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

Session 25 - Earth, air and firewater.

Lots of exp flying around this session! Lots of being in debt also.

By the way they are all from loan sharks and mobsters and payday loans and stuff so enjoy your 1000% APR. Better get that repaid within the month or risk a kneecapping.

I've split Renzo's share between his characters, and Liisa's Peggy got a bit of a share for the parts she was there for at the end.

Good thing you have fighter/barbarian support now because you absolutely destroyed those clay guys.

The idea of a haemophiliac cleric makes me laugh so excellent work on that.

On bones: They can be Fractured, Broken and Shattered by various death crit effects. They can be healed by a cleric using cure spells of the Light, Serious and Critical flavours respectively. Unfortunately this can't regrow limbs or digits though.

Prior warning: I'm going off to South America for a few weeks leaving on the 28th, meaning next week will be the last one for a little while! I come back last week of October.

Finally, since this session was all about controlling the elements and getting drunk, behold my intense punsmithing abilities in this session recap title...

Session 25 - Earth, air and firewater.

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 22nd 1549
Moon phase: First Quarter
Zodiac: Taurus

New characters:
- Artemis, Healer and Hunter and Maker of Glue (Joanna)
- Magnus returns! - Chalk cutter turned Cleric of Greeze, God of Lightning. (George)
- Gastani the Barbarian. Not the best lawyer. (Renzo)

Enemies defeated:
- 2 wave elementals (100 exp)
- 2 ranged clay men (20 exp)
- 2 bulky melee clay men (50 exp)
- 1 clay mage guy (50 exp)
- A few skeletons, neutralised before they could become a threat (50 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- 200 silver (200 exp)
- 2 small gems (300 exp)
- 20 suits of good quality dwarven chainmail (3000 exp)

Exploration:
- Travelled 72 miles over several days (120 exp)
- First party to enter Dwarrow (1000 exp)
- 8 dungeon rooms explored (80 exp)
- Entered level 2 of the rune dungeon (200 exp)
- Secret door found (10 exp)

Misc:
- Cartographer bonus (Magnus - 100 exp)
- Near Death Experience bonus (Magnus - 100 exp)
- God invention bonus (Magnus - 50 exp)
- Excellent story of revelation (Magnus - 50 exp)
- Piton-and-rope bridge technique (50 exp)
- Excellence in runecrafting (50 exp)
- Deciphered a few more runes (50 exp)
- Solved the water room puzzle (50 exp)
- Solved the giant scales puzzle (50 exp)
- Solved the rock wheel bridge puzzle (50 exp)
- Everyone got some stat buffs from a magic fountain.
- Breach and Clear bonus (50 exp)
- Gadling caroused (500 exp)
- Crocell caroused (1500 exp, set fire to an inn)
- Artemis caroused (2250 exp, 1750sp in debt, set fire to another inn)
- Mushroom lover caroused (2750 exp, 2000 sp in debt, jailed for 6 weeks for arson)

Quests and Rumours:
- I forgot to get you to roll oops. Here are some at random:
- "To the south, in the marsh at the mouth of the Moonwash, lies an ancient series of barrow mounds. Few return, but those who do are bedecked with strange riches."
- "The town of Tower near the ruined bridge takes its name from the ruined keep on the other bank. It used to be the castle of the archmage who protected the border from goblins, but the bridge was blown and the tower fell years ago."
- "The wizard Gimblewang has been seen wandering the mountains in search of rare and strange spells."

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Magnus, leg fractured by ministrations of a watery jelly guy. Healed himself with the power of his God. In unrelated news is now a haemophiliac.
- Mushroom Lover, not really an injury but he's out of the game for 6 weeks (unless jailbroken or fines and bribes totalling 6000sp are paid) due to taking the fall for some drunken arsonists. ETA: 6 weeks.

Exp Totals:
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 11166 (Level up at 16000)
-- Belial, Level 1 Fighter: 521 (Level up at 2000)
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 4 Dwarf: 10504 (Level up at 17,600)
Chris2 / Gadling, Level 3 Specialist (Assassin): 4738 (Level up at 6000)
Joanna / Artemis, Level 2 Specialist (Healer): 2250 (Level up at 3000)
*DING!* +1d6HP! +2 skill points!
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 1342 (Level up at 1750)
Renzo / Gastani, Level 1 Barbarian: 521 (Level up at 2000)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 26 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 12 weeks
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 8954 (Level up at 12000) ETA: 6 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Michael / Miss Turmun, Level 3 Magic User: 5570 (Level up at 9000)
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)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
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

Session 24 - Once in a blue rune

You've found my pet dungeon!

To reiterate what the rune magic book told you for those not present:

- A glyph is made up of runes connected by lines.

- A glyph requires one Master rune and one or more Minor runes.

 

- You've worked out some of the Master runes (which you've called "top runes" in your experiments) and some of the minor runes (like earth and light) already!

 

- In combat it takes one round to draw a rune and one round to draw all the connecting lines, so long as you're using chalk or dirt or something.

- Turning on the completed glyph takes up your whole round like casting a spell, but stays powered until you break the connection in your mind.

- Powered glyphs stay on for as long as you want them to, but they take a toll on you depending on how complex the glyph is and how far away from it you are.

The "where the fuck were you" table has led to a bounty on Mist Urmun's head, he has changed his name to Miss Turman in an attempt to evade justice.

 

 

I can't remember if any other people took death crits, I was throwing around those pain dice like nobody's business but I thiiiink it was just Gadling and Bella? 

If you nearly died (ie. rolled death dice) and I forgot let me know so I can give you a Near Death Experience bonus.

 

Mushroom Lover the Elf has levelled up in time for the New Moon, so good times for him next session. You get an extra spell of every level you can cast at the New Moon, so you'll get an extra level 1 spell and an extra level 2 spell. That's five spells total! Current rundown of creepiness and abilities at this terrifying time:

1. Elf ears -- 2 in 6 Search skill, surprised on 1 in 6.
2. Fine, silky hair covers palms and fingertips -- 3 in 6 Climb skill.
3. Voice a sibilant whisper -- when you cast Spider Climb your hands and feet seem to sink slightly into the surface, you do not need hands and feet free to Spider Climb and thus can wield weapons and walk on the ceiling.
4. Skin darkens to an ashen grey -- when next to a wall (including while Spider Climbing) you gain +1 AC as your body shifts and shivers against shadow.
5. Egg-shaped head like an alien, large black eyes glow in darkness -- Spider Climb lets you climb through a shadow and reappear in any other shadow nearby one round later.

Finally, hopefully I'll see some of you on Saturday! I'll keep you posted on plans but it'll probably just involve mooching around the bars in Soho and drinking a lot.

My number is 07462 951 451 if you don't have it for some reason.

Session 24 - Once in a blue rune

 

Campaign date:

Saturday, May 15th 1549

Moon phase: New Moon

Zodiac: Taurus

Enemies defeated:

- Half a lich. A semilich, hee hee. Defeated but not before he breathed cold over everyone. (100 exp)

- 7 skeletons, destroyed in open combat or neutralised by obelisks. (70 exp)

  

Treasure and Equipment:

- 1200sp, 30gp (2700 exp)

- 4 nice shirts, sized for dwarfs (40 exp)

- A rune hoverboard

- A magical ivory ring that lets you sense glyphs within 10' and turn them on from that distance.

 

Exploration:

- First party to enter the Rune Dungeon (300 exp)

- 9 dungeon rooms explored (90 exp)

- Alternate exit found (50 exp)

 

Misc:

- Cartographer bonus (Mushroom Lover - 100 exp)

- Near Death Experience bonus (Gadling, Bella - 100 exp ea.)

- Failed Saving Throw bonus (Bella, Peggy - 100 exp ea.)

- Discovered how to use runes (50 exp)

- Deciphered maybe 6 runes (60 exp)

- Created a rune-powered torch (50 exp)

- Created a floating chest (50 exp)

 

Quests and Rumours:

- None down here

  

Death Toll and Injuries:

- Gadling, had two fingers bitten off (-2 Dexterity) and a lot of blood.

- Bella, got first degree burns to the face, will heal in 1d4+2 days. Until then slightly less attractive (-2 Charisma)

 

Exp Totals:

Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 3 Dwarf: 10399 (Level up at 17,600)

Chris2 / Gadling, Level 3 Specialist: 3196 (Level up at 6000)

*DING!* +1d6HP! +2 skill points!

Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 8624 (Level up at 16000)

Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 1951 (Level up at 2250)

Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 3 Elf (Alpdrucke): 6204 (Level up at 12000)

*DING!* +1d6HP! +1 lvl 2 spell!

Michael / Miss Turmun, Level 3 Magic User: 5570 (Level up at 9000)

  

[[]]

  

Recovering:

Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 27 weeks

Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 13 weeks

  

Absent or Retired:

George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 0 (Level up at 1750)

Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)

Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)

--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)

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

Session 23 - You didn't have to roooll so loooow

Well I'm glad I give you all this bonus exp for stuff other than murder and theft.

Still, the Banes are down here in this dungeon, and the rune dungeon has all sorts of fun stuff for you to use and abuse next session.

After totting it all up Crocell had 7980/8000 exp which made me laugh, I gave you an attempted suicide bonus to push you over the edge.

It hasn't been a good few days for poor Peggy, first her pig gets exploded by a fractal butterfly, then her long-loyal retainers got pulled apart by walking dwarf skins.
For posterity - the main cool thing about that fountain room was that the wandering dwarfs from the main hall couldn't follow you down there... but you sucked them all into a black hole already so you never found out!
And for Mr Mushroom Lover - It is the night of the new moon tomorrow, but you won't regain your spells unless you can get to the surface and cavort elfily in the moonlight. You'll have to make do underground for now.


Session 23 - You didn't have to roooll so loooow

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 14th 1549
Moon phase: Waning Crescent

Enemies defeated:
- 6 hollow dwarves, popped eventually after a storm of poor rolls, one of them up a big crane (150 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- Various chainmail and extra shields and weapons and stuff looted from that one room (500 exp)

Exploration:
- 6 dungeon rooms explored (60 exp)
- First party to enter level 2 of the dungeon (200 exp)
- Discovered the entrance to the Rune Dungeon (100 exp)

Misc:

- Made the submarine safe for use (50 exp)

- Successfully operated the submarine (50 exp)
- ...without everyone dying from mad jostling (50 exp)
- Long deliberation bonus (50 exp)
- Got a mouthful of madness mold (50 exp)

- Sat in the symbols (50 exp)

- Died in your imagination (50 exp - Peggy)

- Attempted suicide bonus (50 exp - Crocell)

Quests and Rumours:
- None down here

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Socks, ripped asunder by three hollow dwarfs at once
- Trevor, also eaten by a hollow dwarf
- Tub, sucked into a black hole somewhere between here and salvation.

Exp Totals:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 3 Dwarf: 9705 (Level up at 17,600)
Chris2 / Gadling, Level 2 Specialist: 2502 (Level up at 3000)
Chris / Crocell, Level 4 Halfling: 8030 (Level up at 16000)

*DING!* +1d6 HP! +2 to saves! +1 to Bushcraft! +1 to domination attempts!

Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 1157 (Level up at 2250)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 2 Elf (Alpdrucke): 5510 (Level up at 6000)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 27 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 13 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Michael / Mist Urman, Level 3 Magic User: 4976 (Level up at 4500)
--- Stan, Level 0 Mercenary. (takes 1/5 of a share)
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 0 (Level up at 1750)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
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

Session 22 - Read ALL THE BOOKS! Grab ALL THE GEMS!

You know, I didn't realise how valuable those golden tools were until I checked and hoo boy you should be glad you picked them up! You both levelled. Welcome to level 4, Peggy. You are now the highest level out of everyone.

And run, Tub, run like the wind! I hope you find what you're looking for while being pursued by a slow but inevitable black hole.

Session 22 - Read ALL THE BOOKS! Grab ALL THE GEMS!

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 13th 1549
Moon phase: Waning Crescent

New characters:
- Gadling, thief turned... thief?

Enemies defeated:
- 7 hollow dwarves, variously stabbed, sliced, popped like balloons, and sucked into a black hole (125 exp)
- A firey slug, kicked into a bottomless chasm (Gadling - 100 exp)
- Neutralised the source of the hollow dwarfs (500 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- Finely worked golden hammer (2500 exp)
- Finely worked golden pickaxe (2500 exp)
- Golden beard-trimmers (250 exp)
- Super sexy three-breasted alien lady (thrown into miniature black hole -  gone forever)
- A miniature sun (thrown into miniature black hole - gone forever)

Exploration:
- 9 dungeon rooms explored (90 exp)
- 2 wandering monsters (20 exp)
- Secret door found (10 exp)

Misc:
- Grabbed a bunch of wormhole gems (50 exp)
- Got rid of the purple smoke (50 exp)
- "Solved" the meteorite door (50 exp)
- Read aaaaall 100 books (Peggy - 200 exp)
- Read the rune walls (50 exp)
- Split the party bonus (50 exp)
- Near death experience bonus (Gadling - 100 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- Sooo many stone books on dwarven history. You should ask Peggy about them.

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Fred the Pig, detonated from within by a fractal butterfly (I am really really sorry)
- Tub, currently running as fast as possible away from a motile black hole (I'm putting him down under "Recovering")

Exp Totals:
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 3 Dwarf: 9403 (Level up at 17,600)

*DING!* +1d10 HP! +2 to saves! +1 to architecture skill!

--- Socks, Level 0 Human
--- Trevor, Level 0 Human
Chris2 / Gadling, Level 2 Specialist: 2250 (Level up at 1500)

*DING!* +1d6 HP +2 skill points!

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 27 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 13 weeks
Chris2 / Tub, Level 2 Goblin: 3671 (Level up at 4000) ETA: However long it takes to outrun a black hole.

Absent or Retired:
Chris / Crocell, Level 3 Halfling: 7738 (Level up at 8000)
Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 905 (Level up at 2250)
Michael / Mist Urman, Level 3 Magic User: 4976 (Level up at 4500)
--- Stan, Level 0 Mercenary. (takes 1/5 of a share)
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 0 (Level up at 1750)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 2 Elf (Alpdrucke): 5258 (Level up at 6000)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
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

Session 21 - To Boldly Go Where No DM Has Prepped Before

So close to levelling for most of you I'm so sorry.

Turns out those leaping brain guzzler things were even more brutal in my original notes so you lucked out. Two attacks per round holy moly.

We have a new girl - Lisa with a single i - so conveniently I don't have to do a Chris/Chris2 thing. She's a wizard who can speak to books.

You've found the entrance to whatever you want to call this dungeon. It's the Dwarf Satan Dungeon in my notes but I guess I should call it the Lost Tomb of the Old Miner or something to make it sound more mysterious.

Bella and Tub explored into it a little way without you guys before bugging out due to the bar closing down and also getting a bit scared. They saw some interesting pictorial lore which I'm sure they can tell you about and stole some nice quality daggers and cloaks and stuff though. Lots of purple smoke.

What did you do/are you doing with the horse and carts by the way?

A girl from my office looked over my shoulder and saw me write this so she wants to come to D&D now.
"I want to be a magic elf". Easy enough!

Liisa has finally named her one-legged dwarf - Peggy. Very fitting. She has also put a saddle on Fred the Pig who they have discovered has a peculiar mold-based condition that only effects him in human form.

Pictured is a high quality prosthetic leg from the 1500's which Peggy paid good money for!

Also attached for Peggy/Liisa is the dwarf Lorebonds list. You can pick any of the tier 1 abilities, and at level 6 you can bump it to tier 2 or choose a new tier 1 ability etc etc. See you all next time!

Session 21 - To Boldly Go Where No DM Has Prepped Before

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 9th 1549
Moon phase: Third Quarter

New characters:
- Bella, Huntress turned tattooed Wizard (Lisa)
- Not a new character, but Liisa's dwarf has been named Peggy the Pigrider

Enemies defeated:
- 3 horrible infested deer, shanked and stabbed to death. (225 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- From Robert Doyle for killing the Black Knight - 100 lbs of turnips, 2 rams, 4 ewes, 2 acres of land (freehold)
- From Father McKenzie for killing the Goat of the Woods - 17gp, 45sp, 112cp
- Peggy collected earnings from Pie Mama's
- Various stuff purchased on your travels, including a peg leg for Peggy and a saddle for her pig.
- Accountant hired by Peggy in Pillartown to handle transactions.
- A cart and horses.
- Some cloaks and daggers (Tub and Bella - 20 exp split)

Exploration:
- Travelled approx 96 miles (160 exp)
- 2 randoms encountered (20 exp)
- First party to enter Gush (500 exp)
- Beheld the entrance to the Dwarf Satan Dungeon (100 exp)
- Entered the Dwarf Satan Dungeon (Bella and Tub - 100 exp split)
- Explored 2 rooms (Bella and Tub - 20 exp split)
- Uncovered some of the backstory of the dungeon (Bella and Tub - 50 exp split)

Misc:
- Fame increase bonus (50 exp)
- Selfless charity bonus (Crocell - 100 exp)
- Adventuring group named "Dead Man's Guild - sponsored by Pie Mama's". (50 exp)
- Bella caroused (800 exp)
- Crocell caroused (1600 exp)
- Peggy caroused (3200 exp)
- Tub caroused (1200 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- "The demons that besieged Wurzberg are now turning north again! They must have been repelled by the prince-bishop, or  got what they came for..."
- "If you see tracks of soft and loamy earth, those are the routes the moles take to hide their treasures."
- "There are armoured soldiers of Moldus Vane wandering the Forest of Moondine. They can keep you safe for a price."
- "If you see yellow mold, don't touch it. Its choking spores are a deadly poison."
- "Those mold men all worship horrible black goats. I heard them talking last night outside my house."

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Orthos the Short-Lived, brain guzzled

Exp Totals:
Chris / Crocell, Level 3 Halfling: 7738 (Level up at 8000)
Liisa / Peggy Pigrider, Level 3 Dwarf: 6600 (Level up at 4400)
*DING!* +1d12 HP! +Choice of Dwarven Lorebond!
--- Fred, Level 0 Pig
--- Socks, Level 0 Human
--- Trevor, Level 0 Human
 Chris2 / Tub, Level 2 Goblin: 3671 (Level up at 4000)
Lisa / Bella, Level 1 Magic User: 905 (Level up at 2250)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 27 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 13 weeks

Absent or Retired:
Michael / Mist Urman, Level 3 Magic User: 4976 (Level up at 4500)
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 0 (Level up at 1750)
Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 2 Elf (Alpdrucke): 5258 (Level up at 6000)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
--- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
(Mist's retainer)
--- Stan, Level 0 Mercenary. (takes 1/5 of a share)
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
That one guy / Nadriel, Level 1 Barbarian: 293 (Level up at 2000)
That other guy / ???, Level 1 Fighter: 293 (Level up at 2000)

Retrospective 2 - The Engine Catches

They escaped Better Than Any Man's slice-of-Germany in session 11.

Session 12 was A Single, Small Cut where George and Jay's characters died in a genuinely heartwrenching fashion.
It was also the session where Renzo showed up, who would be incredibly good and fun and reliable until his eventual return to his home Italy.
Liisa whose Dwarf remained unnamed for many sessions until her leg got chopped off in session 20, was a good player. She was also new to the game and also Finnish so ended up being a sort of swap-out replacement for Emmi when she had to go back to her mother country.
Losing players to emmigration happens a fair amount in London.

Chris arrived and was very much a rules-focussed player who was in our game until he could find a more rulesy Pathfindery sort of game. He got really pissed off when his character got cursed in the God That Crawls to need to ask everyone at the table for permission before he could do anything, saying it ruined his character. Not the game for him, really. I think he did find a Pathfinder group in the end.

These guys were all pretty reliable. I was out of the crucible now. Tom kept trying to change the date so that he could fit D&D around his various mid-week obligations then never showing up anyway, but he wasn't crucial for the game to keep going so I eventually stopped shifting things around. He'd show up occasionally, but the group culture had sort of changed in the interim so he was an outsider rather than the core.



The rules were still in a state of flux, but it's hard to find evidence for what they actually were at the time! Definitely some early unrefined combat tweaks in there, anyway.
Also the first business investment using LotFP mostly Rules-as-Written. I'd change this eventually.

I generated towns and villages on the Gate area map by rolling stats for them, which worked well.
Zak's blog post here was the inspiration.
I still use this method for stocking villages when I do a zoomed-in map level. It's great!

My first smaller scale map ever, d'aww/

Mini Reviews:

A Single Small Cut. 
Review here. A good little side-mission that takes about session to finish. Resulted in one of the coolest moments in the game to date.

Caspian's Delve
A mountainous dungeon of my own design, most significant were the blood birds that lived in the walls and got spooked easily by loud noises. Unfortunately barely explored. One of the first deaths by Save or Die poison, they never returned.

Tower of the Stargazer
Good fun! Well documented as a good starter dungeon. Several sessions here. Calcidius was released and had a vendetta against the party which was never realised since all the characters present had died by the time he tried to enact his revenge.
Such is D&D.
One of the players apprenticed himself to Calcidius briefly so he got these star-spells.

The God That Crawls
Man, can you tell I'd been busting to use the LotFP modules in my collection?
This dungeon inspired my post on how to run negadungeons. I loved running this a second time round, I really fucked it up when I ran it in Australia.
It was also the first time I'd run something where everyone was in different parts of the map and it was massively confusing! Good experience for Scenic Dunnsmouth some time later.

A Thousand Dead Babies
Fucking great. Little self-contained weirdo mystery. This big black knight guy chopped off the as-yet-unnamed Dwarf's leg and she needed to get a pegleg. Subsequently became named Peggy.
As far as I remember, they basically rocked in and murdered any cultists they could find.

Session 20 - Goatmurdered

Godspeed, Alan the Barbarian. May you spend all your days getting trashed in Valhalla or cultural equivalent.

I was worried that you guys wouldn't get much exp despite the hardship, but it turns out plate armour's high cost makes it quite the prize. Plus it's black as night and super pimp.

As talk of your deed spreads, people will now be calling you the Slayers of the Black Knight, unless you can think of and spread something cooler.

George - if you want, rather than rolling up a random profession, your new Cleric can be the witchfinder that Father McKenzie sent for. Basically you'd have turned up with all your witchfinding gear only to find that the problem's already dealt with.

Session 20 - Goatmurdered

Campaign date:
Saturday, May 6th 1549
Moon phase: Third Quarter

New characters:
- Magnus, rolled up by session's end. Profession unknown.

Enemies defeated:
- The Goat of the Woods, drugged up and stabbed (250 exp)
- 9 cultists, including a "witch" and some scabby gambler guy, put to sleep then slaughtered (45 exp)
- The Black Knight, brought low at the last (100 exp)

Treasure and Equipment:
- A big ol' pig wearing a hat and leather jerkin found wandering in the woods.
- The black armour of the Black Knight (1000 exp)
- The black shield of the Black Knight (10 exp)
- The huge broadsword of the Black Knight (50 exp)
- The head of the Goat of the Woods. (100 exp)

Exploration:
- Travelled approx 12 miles (20 exp)
- Met many people in Sayzel's Meadow (50 exp)
- Found the home of the Goat of the Woods (50 exp)

Misc:
- Trapsetter bonus (50 exp)
- Increased the fame of the party (50 exp)
- Killed a legendary foe (100 exp)
- Near death experience bonus (Mist; Liisa's Dwarf - 100 exp ea.)
- Death's witness bonus (Mist; Liisa's Dwarf, Crocell - 100 exp ea.)
- Quest complete: Clear out the devil worshippers around Sayzel's Meadow (500 exp)

Quests and Rumours:
- Father McKenzie says he has some devil worshippers in Sayzel's Meadow and he wants them cleared out before they reduce the village's moral fibre.
--- Complete - 500exp, See Father McKenzie for monetary reward.

Death Toll and Injuries:
- Alan the Barbarian, cloven in twain by the Black Knight
- Mist Urmin, ear chopped off by the Black Knight.
- Liisa's Dwarf, leg severed at the knee by the Black Knight. Prosthesis required for further adventuring.
- Pig, knocked himself out against a tree whilst fleeing from the Black Knight

Exp Totals:
Chris / Crocell, Level 3 Halfling: 6038 (Level up at 8000)
Michael / Mist Urman, Level 3 Magic User: 4976 (Level up at 4500)
*DING!* +1d4HP, +1 level 2 spell/day, +1 free lvl 2 spell
Liisa's Dwarf, Level 2 Dwarf: 3498 (Level up at 4400)
--- Pig, Level 0 Swine.
George / Magnus, Level 1 Cleric: 0 (Level up at 1750)

[[]]

Recovering:
Tom / Olaf Tenderloin, Level 2 Dwarf: 2737 (Level up at 4400) ETA: 27 weeks
Tom / Baron Noel Pompadour, Level 1 Specialist: 1223 (Level up at 1500) ETA: 13 weeks

Absent or Retired:
 Renzo / Mushroom Lover, Level 2 Elf (Alpdrucke): 5258 (Level up at 6000)
Jacob / Wizard Khalifa, Level 1 Muscle Wizard: 430 (Level up at 2250)
Marius' Totally-Not-Necromancer, Level 3 Necromancer: 5111 (Level up at 9000)
 --- Faust, Level 1 Specialist: 823 (Level up at 1500)
Chris2 / Tub, Level 1 Goblin: 1366 (Level up at 2000)
(Liisa's retainers)
--- Socks, Level 0 Human
--- Trevor, Level 0 Human
(Mist's retainer)
 --- Stan, Level 0 Mercenary. (takes 1/5 of a share)
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
That one guy / Nadriel, Level 1 Barbarian: 293 (Level up at 2000)
 That other guy / ???, Level 1 Fighter: 293 (Level up at 2000)