LFG Session 22: Heel Turn

Run Date: December 13th, 2022

PCs

Xena: Lv1 Barbarian

Renaran: Lv1 Magic User

Peril: Lv1 Bard

Heel Turn

Before the session started proper, the players updated each other on their various characters and positions; as well as informed the player that missed last session what they did. As of now, there are three groups starting to form: The Graveyard Group, The Sanctum crew, and today's Brigands. I look forward to seeing how these elements evolve.

We opened the session proper with Peril gathering the other members of the group and a few henchmen together for an attack on a smuggler's den. She found out about it while recovering from her injuries after chatting up a guy who stumbled into the church with a stab wound. Since she was the one who found the information, and since the traitor was itching for revenge, I had Peril's player design the dungeon map.

LFG Session 21: Red Water Dreams

 Run Date: December 6th, 2022

PCs

TAG: Lv1 Rogue

Willow: Lv2 Cultist (Laurenia)

Red Water Dreams

We were down a player today so the others went over their free characters and some of the older hooks: Ants were right out, the graveyard is "reserved" for their other characters, and the Crossroad Cavalry didn't catch their attention. This left the Red Water Sanctum. The Gold Digger's Guild had recently posted a bounty for information regarding assets stolen from their claim. They were also hiring adventurers for a foray into the Sanctum so the guild could continue their investigation into its value.

With TAG and Willow chosen, the pair headed over to the GDG to offer their services. They asked about the theft and what to watch for before taking on the foray job. Before leaving Riversmeet, TAG hit up her favorite contact and discovered that not only were the stolen items large sales, it seemed like the sales were being funded by a singular entity.

LFG Session 20: Remnants of Randomness

 Run Date: November 29th, 2022

PCs

Renaran: Lv1 Magic User

Peril: Lv1 Bard

Xena: Lv1 Barbarian

Remnants of Randomness

During the adventure last week, I rolled up some rough weather that set the pacing for that session: a blizzard. Said blizzard roll(s) lead into this week, putting a damper on the PCs desire to venture too far from town. As a result, everyone brought new Lv1s and decided to try hitting up the Anthill hook in Weebury.

With the blizzard still raging, the party decided to do a bit of shopping in preparation for the excursion (except for firewood... one day they'll learn). Their movement was slowed to a crawl, however, and the party arrived just before nightfall. Weebury's buildings were disassembled save for several walls and rock foundations, and the party wasn't interested in diving into the giant anthill and potentially being forced to trek back in the night. To this end, the group set themselves up as best they could in the corner of an old house. They set up a miniature camp and used their tents and tarps to house and protect a fire, as well as avoid the precipitation. The person on watch had the duty of tending to the fire. Oh but wait... No firewood.

LFG Session 19: Not So Clear Skies

 Run Date: November 22nd, 2022

PCs

TAG: Rogue Lv1

Willow: Cultist (Laurenia) Lv2

Not So Clear Skies

Our third was missing today so the players decided to head east of Riversmeet to explore the hills. Also, I learned TAG stands for Totally A Goner.

LFG Session 18: Return to Area 51: Babysitter's Club

 Run Date: November 15th, 2022

PCs

Arken: Lv2 Artificer

Willow: Lv2 Cultist of Laurenia

TAG: Lv1 Rogue

Return to Area 51: Babysitter's Club

We opened the session as normal; with the players going over their downtime and figuring out what to do. Rebel was still training and would be out for another week so Arken suggested they go check out Area 51: the unlisted hamlet they happened across a few weeks back. Willow hopped in, figuring she had nothing better to do, and Rebel's player brought her rogue TAG (I forgot what it stood for).

The PCs meet up to discuss their plans and goals. Arken, due to a result of the Carousing table, has a two year old boy in tow. He does a quick introduction and explains that he wants to hit up Area 51 and see if he can't gain some "insight" into the experiments they were running. When the party happened upon it last time, a pillar of black smoke was filling the air and they discovered an experimental warship running on a black, flammable substance. They'd help the foreman rescue some of the workers, and were rewarded with some hush money.

I've mentioned before that I've been using 1:1 time. Well, I've also been using our weather patterns. Today was dark, cold, and miserable. It seemed that the players didn't quite remember that, however, as Willow and Arken gathered the old cart Arken had in his backyard and headed out. Meanwhile, TAG was on babysitting duty. Her role while they were gone was to do a bit of information gathering and try to find any rumours of Area 51; be it supply caravans or movements.

LFG Session 17: The Descent

 Run Date: November 18th, 2022

Note to self: learn how to run a dungeon crawl.

PCs

Rebel: Lv3 Monk

Baldur: Lv2 Barbarian

The Descent

Last week, the players successfully defended the gates of the Oldtown Graveyard with a slew of henchmen, militia, and guardsmen. The blow they dealt was heavy enough to allow a respite, and the session opened with the players going over the letters they received during their downtime. Richard was absent today, but received a promotion to Lieutenant. Some of Baldur's buddies from the gate guard pooled their savings and purchased a barrel of Redmead from the Sunwood. Rebel, meanwhile, brought in the next hook: the Laurenian Priest in Oldtown has a plan to sanctify the graveyard.

With the hook set, Rebel and Baldur hit up some of their henches and headed out to see what Henri (the priest) had in mind. When the party arrived at the graveyard, they found the gates wide open and a small crew building a burial site. Rebel stepped in and greeted Henri; then introduced Baldur and asked about the plan. Henri explained that her fallen friend, the Khairnite James, was going to be used as a cornerstone. Enter Agatha, clad in shining plate befitting a holy warrior. Rebel recognized the old lady and complimented her on her gear, to which the old lady joked about it being heavier than she remembers. Baldur, meanwhile, stumbled in his introductions and wandered around the area while the others talked.

LFG Session 16: Battle of Oldtown Graveyard

 Run Date: November 1st, 2022

The activities of today's session actually took place yesterday (Oct 31st), but the group wanted to play things out in session time.

PCs

Rebel: Lv3 Monk

Baldur: Lv2 Barbarian

Richard: Lv2 Fighter

Battle of Oldtown Graveyard

Admittedly, I'm at a bit of a loss as to how I want to write this out. The long and short is that the entirety of the session was consumed by the battle, and the various rounds/turns kind of melted together at some point. Perhaps I should start with the idea:

LFG Session 15: Dawn of the First Day

 Run Date: October 25th, 2022

PCs

Richard Lv2 Fighter

Rebel Lv3 Monk

Baldur Lv2 Barbarian

Dawn of the First Day

The session began with the dissemination of information. First, a few characters (both in and out of session) drew their lottery cards. One drew the Chariot and another the Hanged Man; the rewards being a Cathosian Gecko and 3 vials of a flying potion commissioned from the Khana. After that, the players went over the variety of news posted by the Riversmeet Review and a letter that Rebel had received the day prior.

The letter and its contents were the focus of the session. In it, the sender apologized for their previous conflict and offered condolences for Rebel's lost friend. It then re-extended the offer from the week prior. Rebel wanted nothing to do with it. At this time, Richard brought up something he'd heard from the Captain of the Guard: the call for assistance was newspeak to cover the situation at the Oldtown Graveyard. The Captain planned to organize whoever he could to mount a proper assault.

LFG Session 14: A Request From An Old Friend

Run Date: October 18th, 2022

I've been rather mechanical with my reports of late; coming home and just jotting down things before I forget. I find it difficult to get into a flow, and then writing everything out ends up taking longer than I expect. Nonetheless, it's been fun and I hope to one day view these records for insight of how far I've come.

With that out of the way: Today's session was one on one. One player was busy managing things at the library, and the other couldn't make it. The bright side is that managing things with 1:1 timekeeping and "return to base" means I don't have to mess with cancellations. This is new territory for me, and I hope to learn what I can.

PCs

Baldur: Lv2 Barbarian

A Request From An Old Friend

We began the session with updates on the situation with scheduling and the missing players. After that, P (Baldur's player) weighed what he wanted to do and which character he was going to play. He decided on his now-level-2 barbarian Baldur. His first action? Hit up the Tankard and ask around about work.

The Red Tankard has been busy of late with the festival season in full swing. Baldur found himself squeezing between patrons and trying to speak above the din of the inn. What he found was one of the first henchmen ever hired by the group (only one PC of which is still alive: Rebel). The man with a (former) death wish invited him over to munch on some fried peppers. Vance, as the man introduced himself as, noted they'd be out of season and his former drinking buddy used to love them. Baldur's mind was on money and would have preferred a quick and direct command, but he let the ex-pirate reminisce.

LFG Session 13: A Change of Plans

Run Date: October 8th, 2022

PCs

Rebel Lv3 Monk

Willow Lv1 Cultist

Baldur Lv1 Barbarian

A Change of Plans

We opened with the players reviewing a variety of hooks and rumors that have been running for a while. To my surprise, they decided to hit up the Oldtown Graveyard and try to make some progress. The usual henchmen the party hired were unavailable (still out on the Red Water Sanctum mission), and they didn't want to take time recruiting more so it was a three man crew today. It was also raining.

The party set out to the familiar gates and chatted with the on-duty guards about what they've been seeing of late. They covered the old information regarding the strange glow, and noted that the creatures have continued to become more numerous and organized. The guards even mentioned several lieutenants among the horde, one of which sounded familiar to Rebel. With the pleasantries aside, the gates opened and SHUNK, down the barricade went.