LFG Session 12: What To Do?

Run Date: October 1st, 2022

I burned a bit of session time with brownies and ice cream for a bit of pre-birthday fun, and topped it off with some bad news about my schedule changing.

PCs

Rebel: Lv3 Monk

Karthalion: Lv1 Ranger

Hallow: Lv1 Cultist

What to do?

With Richard and Arken out for quite a while, it was time to rotate in some secondary characters. Hallow made a return after her investigation wrapped up in Alfstead a few weeks back and Karthalion joined the crew anew.

We opened with a bit of discussion about what to do. Today was the first day of Corvis Rising, and the beginning of the festivals that would be running all month. The group decided to check out some of the festivities and see if anything interesting was going on. Onward to the riverside.

Crowds had gathered along the bridges and traffic was beginning to slow to a crawl. While none of the events had officially kicked off yet, there were no shortage of entertainers, travelers, and revelers. The party noticed a particularly large crowd around an eight foot creature with massive horns, a red face, and open mouth with curled white fangs. They could only see it from the shoulders up, but saw that the creature was making dramatic poses, scaring some of the crowd, and signing... autographs. Rebel and Hallow found this last bit particularly interesting and decided to pick up a flyer and purchase an "autograph" from the creature. The flyer read: "The Trade Council is proud to present: Pact of the Tengu! A Heian story performed by the Ishiku City Actors! Performances will be held weekly starting on the first day of Corvis Rising at the landing docks across from Miller Street!"

Alongside the demon creature were other costumed actors dressed in all sorts of Heian garment and mask (the aforementioned Tengu being the most prominent). Kathalion had little interest in the ladies' little side venture so headed outside of town to camp out and wait out their shopping spree. Meanwhile, Rebel and Hallow moved around to various stalls to purchase some new clothes.

LFG Session 11: Return to the Red Water Sanctum

Run Date: September 24th 2022

Today's session was a lesson in player freedom and time management.

PCs

Arken[Pa]: Lv1 Artificer

Richard[Sh]: Lv2 Fighter

Return to the Red Water Sanctum

Rebel was out today so the other two players had to decide what they were going to do. Arken proposed spending some of their gathered gold on a couple horses, a wagon, and some supplies so they could return to the Red Water Sanctum. The plan involved mining out the Gold Digger Guild's claim and selling what they could on the black market. "Claim" is probably a strong word since the GDG were still trying to hire people to clear the area out for them, and the dice decided that nobody else had completed the job. After hiring a few henchmen, the party headed out (Aisha, Hap, Kumin, and Hawk).

The last time the party tried to find their way to the Red Water Sanctum, they got lost for several days. This time ended up no different: It took 6 days, and they only found the place by accident (random rolls for veering swung them into the appropriate area).

Day 2: Kumin was navigating: The group came across a wide path between two rocky hills. It was both a shortcut of sorts and one of the only places to get further along their path. Kumin and Richard were driving while the others chilled in the wagon until a small tremor caught their attention. A massive, plated creature burst from the rocky hillside and landed a little over a hundred yards from them. As it raised its head to sniff the air, the party went into defensive actions: they pulled the wagon aside, tied pelts over the horses' eyes, and hid under their hundred pelts as best they could.

They peeked out of their hiding place and observed as the bulette casually walked toward them with its nose still in the air. The creature didn't appear aggressive, but inquisitive. The group managed to keep the horses calm as the hulking mess stopped beside the cart and threw half its body over the edge. It nearly threw them out, and started taking bites out of their property. By the time it wandered off, it had consumed 30 of the 100 shoddy animal pelts they'd purchased (their plan was to hide their haul under the pelts to dodge prying eyes). The rest of their day was uneventful.

LFG Session 10: Graveyard Gamble 2: Ghost Merek Boogaloo

 Run Date: September 17th, 2022

This entire session was pretty much one long combat. It drives me to question whether the time consumed is a result of how I’ve run things, luck, generally newbie play, or what.

PCs

Richard(Sh): Lv1 Fighter

Arken(Pa): Lv1 Artificer

Rebel(Sa): Lv2 Monk

Graveyard Gamble 2: Ghost Merek Boogaloo

Richard’s player arrived late today and we had some fun conversation regarding the basics of CPR and first aid in the meanwhile. Once everyone was settled, we reviewed the various timings of arrivals and sorted out the PC party. Rebel, having been a couple days north of Riversmeet, hired a chain of horses to rush her home by Saturday afternoon(today’s session). Richard and crew had arrived in town a couple days ago after their little fiasco in the Red Water Sanctum, and decided to rest before making any attempts to hawk their gold and onyx. Arken, meanwhile, was impatiently waiting to head back to the Oldtown Graveyard.

At the beginning of last week’s session, Rebel had promised to help Arken recover a variety of potions he had given to the party a month or so back. In LFG, crafting potions and scrolls removes 1 point of Constitution until 2d4 weeks after the potion is consumed. The party he gave them to died in the graveyard without consuming any of them, and his formerly 16 CON was sitting around 12. Luckily, Arken was kind enough to let Rebel get a bath and some rest before heading out the next morning.

LFG Session 9: Some Herrings Are Redder Than Others

Run Date: September 10th, 2022

PCs

Willow(Sh): Lv1 Cultist of Saint Laurenia

Baldur(Pa): Lv1 Barbarian

Rebel(Sa): Lv2 Monk

Some Herrings Are Redder Than Others

We spent a bit too much time chattering about non-session things such as work, game expectations, etc. Thankfully, we didn’t end up running short on time.

The group has been looking forward to this session for a couple weeks. With the full moon at the ready and only a smattering of information, the party set out to patrol the roads north of Riversmeet. Their overall goal was simple: See if they get lucky and the Bonewicces attack their bait (Baldur). The first night was spent on the road to Cathorp, and a couple hours before arriving they met another party of adventurers. Each group spotted the other from a solid distance due to their torches; and after some yelled greetings, they met up.

This NPC party consisted of 4; Jared, Jim, Jack, and Kim. They were pretty fresh faced and looking for a good payout, having come up with a similar idea to the players. Although there was some hesitance at first, especially from Kim (who didn’t want to split potential loot), Baldur managed to convince them to join forces. An even split was agreed upon (Jared was the negotiator).

LFG Session 8: Red Water Sanctum

 Run Date: September 3rd, 2022

One day I’ll learn spacing and distance. Until then, the party is just going to have to suck up losing 3 days to travel into the wilderness. Today was a dungeon crawl where the most dangerous thing was the moss.

PCs

Richard: Lv1 fighter

Carthalion: Lv1 rogue

Red Water Sanctum

Another week where one player was MIA. The session started with discussion about plans and managing time as the main crew wanted to go bonewicce hunting during next week’s full moon. They decided to inquire at the Gold Digger’s Guild to find out about a recent discovery and a mission to clear out a point of interest. After they ran the numbers and realized they wouldn’t be back in town in time, the players pulled out alternates for this session.

Richard, the guard that worked the graveyard shift, returns alongside several henchmen he’d been interviewing in his off time. A new face joins the crew with Carthalion, a rogue that prefers second story work and big breaks. With the information in hand, the party geared up and headed out of Riversmeet 9 people strong. The location they were searching for was discovered in the mountains east of Riversmeet proper; the foreman describing it as an ancient place with swirling black and white stone pillars and floors. He also noted that the crew that discovered it were attacked in the middle of the night and few survived. Yet, the first obstacle for the party would be finding the place.

LFG Session 7: In Search of a Cult

Run Date: August 27th, 2022

Today’s session was quite the change of pace with the party doing a bit of information gathering regarding a hook that’s been brewing since around when we started.

PCs

Baldur(Pa): Lv1 Barbarian

Willow(Sh): Lv1 Cultist of St. Laurenia

Rebel(Sa): Lv2 Monk

In Search of a Cult

The group convened at their usual hangout in Riversmeet, the Red Tankard. After a bit of discussion about the danger level of the paths they’ve tread, the decision landed on traveling into the unknown. Bodies of eviscerated townsfolk have been showing up around the northern road during the last couple full moons. Rumor goes that the victims’ skulls were also carved with strange markings. So it was, after a bit of shopping, that the party headed out of the northern gate.

It took a little over half a day to arrive at the town near the most recent murder, Cathorp. Due to the start time, this meant that the party arrived just after dark. They headed for the nearby inn to ask about what happened and see about getting some concrete information to start their investigation. Baldur, being the crude one that he is, strode right up to a cask and started filling a mug. The innkeep and some of the patrons were about to step in when Willow noted that it’d be on her tab. Having avoided a confrontation, she quickly pulled the brutish man aside and sat him down. Rebel, meanwhile, hit up some of the farmers hanging around on the floor.

LFG Session 6: Weebury Wanderers

Run Date: August 20th, 2022

Every step forward seems to come at the cost of several steps back. I’ve found myself falling into some bad habits and tunnel-visioning on learning mechanics over keeping the game flowing. LFG doesn’t have a CR system or “the party should be fighting this sort of stuff” lever, and my initial random hooks ended up being above the group’s pay grade by every standard (as seen in previous reports). I don’t wish to rain on their well-earned victories, but it does act as a reminder that my priorities need a bit of a rebalance. With that out of the way:

PCs

Rebel(Sa): Lv2 Monk

Richard(Sh): Lv1 Fighter

Baldur(Pa): Lv1 Barbarian

Weebury Wanderers

Rebel returns from her training as a level 2 Monk, choosing to continue randomizing the skills she obtains and earning an ability that would’ve helped with all the ghosts she’s been dealing with. Between training sessions, she also picked up a ghosteel dagger and some ghosteel tips for her staff. Richard, having been upgraded from henchmen to PC, settled his work for the week and met with the others at the Red Tankard. Finally, Baldur, a big idiot louder than a blowhorn, stepped in.

When I was first setting up the game, I rolled up some random events for a variety of hooks. One such event was a group of Giant Ants that attacked one of my patron player’s merchant caravans. Since then, this group of ants have hunkered down in the town of Weebury. Now, a month and a half later and after many forays into the Oldtown Graveyard, the party decided to regroup and follow another job. It helps, of course, that the Riversmeet Trade Council put out a 500gp bounty for the group that dealt with the Weebury problem.

LFG Session 5: A Lesson In Moderation

 Run Date: August 13th, 2022

There is a simple rule when gambling: The house always wins. In today’s case, the players ran out of luck (figuratively and literally).

PCs

Thorin(Pa): Lv2 Magic User

Hallow(Sh): Lv2 Fighter

A Lesson In Moderation

Rebel was out again today, leaving Thorin and Hallow to decide how to approach the session. Over the week, they’d worked on a few side gigs with downtime; Hallow spent time working with the guard and Thorin continued to buddy up with his apprentice. Richard, the guard that works the graveyard shift, came in to update them on the situation over in Oldtown. The party received 100gp apiece and official letters giving them permission to enter the graveyard as desired (up until now, they’ve had to go through someone). It seems that reward was tasty enough to convince them to head back and see what treasure they missed out on.

There was a bit of discussion about whether or not to bring the whole crew (old henches included), and they settled on a “simple recon mission.” Quote, “If it ends up too dangerous, we’ll come get the others.” As they say, famous last words. At the very least, the pair invited Richard for the excursion, and off they went.

LFG Session 4: Graveyard Gamble

Run Date: August 6th, 2022

This session was predominately learning how to manage combat alongside many henchmen. Everyone expected a TPK, but the players’ Luck (both literal and mechanical) held out. Alternatively, I made some weird calls and oh well.

PCs

Rebel(Sa): Lv1 Monk

Thorin(Pa): Lv2 Magic User

Hallow(Sh): Lv2 Fighter

Graveyard Gamble

We opened the session with a summary of downtime and a discussion of the battle plan. Rebel spent her week interviewing and hiring henchmen to aid in the party’s investigation of the graveyard; then threw a party, complete with steak dinner, in honor of their potential demise. Partying went so hard she woke up with a leather-bound chain of human vertebrae with strange carvings. Meanwhile, Hallow trained with the city guard and met Instructor Doberman. Thorin’s research bore fruit as he learned more about the Lancaster history and the bracelet he was suspicious of. Finally, Arkin, the Artificer working in the background, finished the potions he was working on using the unicorn horn.

LFG Session 3: Graveyard Gutterball

 Run Date July 30th, 2022

Not a lot of note happened in today’s session, but the party got a lesson in a world that doesn’t scale to their level. The Magic User has also shown interest in designing his own spells or converting some from other games.

PCs

Rebel(Sa): Lv1 Monk

Thorin(Pa): Lv2 Magic User

Hallow(Sh): Lv1 Fighter

Graveyard Gutterball 

We started the session with a bit of clumsy tech work and going over downtime results and details. I’ve been trying to get everyone into a Discord server so I can manage things with them throughout the week and distribute news/events. Downtime is an opportunity for me to throw out more narrative and do a bit of the storygaming stuff I’m so used to, as well as build more layers and texture into the world. After the initial stumbling, the group starting talking about last week’s trip to the graveyard and getting Rebel up to speed. While they were working out ideas and a plan, I was working out the progress of the Graveyard in Oldtown’s. The group helped me roll up a bunch of baseline pieces to work with (they rolled the Number Appearing, but didn’t know what for or why). After that, the mission was on.