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Category: D&D (Page 2 of 16)

Modulating Saving Throw Lethality

When you’re new to BX D&D / Old-School Essentials, the terror of saving throws (such as a save vs. poison) can be palpable.  But death isn’t the only outcome from such saving throws. Let’s take a look at some great examples of creative uses of saving throws (in this case, saves vs. poison) in the excellent The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford by Chance Dudinack.

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Redmark Session 51: A Feast Fit For A … Well Us

Redmark Date: Third Age—May 17, 1332

A feast fit for a … well us

Outside the pylon, Marcus creates a feast for all to enjoy which grants several magical resistances for the party.

Elran notices that the pommel of the dagger that Katarina used to kill the avatar of Thadus Dool has an Alpha & Omega symbols on it and that it is also loose.  Upon looking inside the pommel, he finds a letter from Sister Sophia to Ghost Dancer. This letter talks of orc raiding parties attacking the city of Stonehelm.

Fire Willow proceeds to give the party a primer of the “Prophecy of Decimus”.  Which seems to indicate that the orcish attacks are indeed following the prophecy.

Marcus gets bored os his own feast and the party’s discussions around going to Omnidia or looking into the attacks at Stronghelm and he begins to interact with the console inside the pylon.

The rest of the party decides that as long as we hold three of the stones Thadus Dool cannot control Threa as he needs all seven.

Marcus gets the group moving to Omnidia.

When all else fails; just holler

The party arrives in Omnidia.  It appears to be a jungle with mountains to the north and south.  As if the party was in a valley.

With no leads on the direction of Lundie’s uncle.  Mundie starts to yell out the name of his uncle “Dundulk!!!  Dundulk!!! It’s Lundie … where are you???” This draws the attention of an owlbear which the party quickly dispatches.

Owlbear attack!
Quintos and Marcus have the idea a better way to find Dundulk might be to Scry on him using the crystal ball that Quintos has with him.  Quinton does this and sees Dundulk in a prison cell. Quinton then uses the crystal ball to communicate with Dundulk.

Dundalk talks of “metal men” of both red and white that attacked his party and now imprison him and torture him.

Dundalk says to the best of his knowledge the other pylon is buried deep within the temple of Hygog.

Shortly after the party is attacked by a wizard in red and several war robots.

Mech Attack!

With well placed Hunger of Hadar spell by Quintos, Marcus’s spiritual guardians, Lundie smiting with his warhammer, and Elran sending fireballs at the foes.  The party finds their first encounter with these metal men, “manageable”. That said, they stay alert and weary, but continue on to the Temple of Hygog.

(See all photos from the game)

Loot Report

  • NO LOOT THIS SESSION

Redmark Session 48: These Blessings Are Really a Curse

Redmark Date: Third Age—April 21, 1331

Quintos, Marcus, and Lundie notice that they have a second shadow. Ghost Dancer and Ivamel quickly deduce that the three weapons from within the mountain are now causing a an extra shadow to be cast.

Lundie casts Protection from Evil on himself which causes pain for Whelm (the cursed warhammer).

Trying to deduce more about these three cursed weapons Lundie uses a gift of Moradin, Divine Sense, and finds out that the weapons are each inhabited by a Bahl Mimar (a fallen angel).

Trying his best to free the group from these items; Lundie takes out a vial of holy water, creates a circle with it and casts Magic Circle hoping to kep the fiends inside the circle. As Lundie, Quintos, and Marcus try to leave the circle, they cannot let loose of the weapons and keep them trapped within.

Once Magic Circle fails, Ghost Dancer has the idea to ask Fire Willow if she might know anything about the Bahl Mimar. Fire Willow proceeds to give a short dissertation on the Bahl Mimar to the group. They learn that the three weapons are imbued with the spirit of three fallen sisters. Black Razer is inhabited by Mallfesta, Whelm is inhabited by Zullfesta, and Wave is inhabited by Trifesta.

Fire Willow confirms that the weapons need to be taken to the temple outside of Mystkar which will change the weapons back into Bahl Minari. Fire Willow says this should cause the weapons to turn back into Bahl Minri and allow for them to be defeated … in theory.

You’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all

When the group enters the temple they find runes on the floor. Ivamel remembers that these runes match those from the portal in the center of the lava filled room on the island of Vrindensia.

The group enters the runes together and are transported to a room with a fire ceiling and obsidian walls. Three women, one in each corner, are in the room; the group in the fourth corner. In the middle of the room in a pile is all of the equipment of the party.

Once the battle ensues one of the sisters cast Power Word Kill on Ghost Dancer and his body falls to the floor below, laying among many other skeletons.

Having noticed that Quintos’s copy of the Vulgate was glowing, Lundie reads from it and this seems to have an ill-effect on the three sisters.

Quintos & Ivamel are able to kill Zullfesta.

Ivamel then becomes a blinding flurry of steel and slays the second sister Malfesta.

Once Malfesta is slain, the final sister Trifesta, teleports away; taking the shards of her sisters with her.

Loot Report

  • Dwarven Thrower
  • A SWORD – A sword that BLACK RAZER turned into
  • A TRIDENT – A trident Wave turned into

Redmark Session 47: The Collapse of the Clown Wizard Hell Dungeon

Standing in a dome shaped room covered in murals of battles long past, the party notices some strange runes on the wall.  With his patron’s gift to read all writing, Quintos notes that the runes mark the entrance to king Melinaus’ tomb. But there is no door to be found.  As they seek a way to find the door, Quintos remembers a word which was described to him as a key; Dagardanganda.  Once spoken, the door opens and the party proceeds into the tomb.

Inside, they are forced to fight a vampire, Corruptus(the ancient wizard that built the tomb), 2 gynophinxes, 2 genies, and some other creature.  Challenging as it was, the party proved to be the better team leaving only the vampire alive, who escaped because there was no sunlight or running water.  What came of him is still unknown.

And, finally, in the next room they find Melinaus’ body.  In his hands is the Tree Sword.  Upon his brow, a diadem holding another Earhjarl Stone.  As they respectfully collect them, Melinaus speaks, “Now, it is over and I can finally rest”.  Immediately, his body turns to ash. The moment is short lived because the earth begins to shake. The magic that once held this place together was gone and the entire mountain began to collapse.

The crypt fight

The crypt fight!

Having finally escaped that “crazy clown wizard hell dungeon”, they make their way back to Mystkar to reunite with friends, loved ones, and just any form of civilization they can get their hands on.  Also, to complete a quest forced upon them by three crazy sentient weapons from the first age. Specifically, Whelm, Wave, and Blackrazor. Interestingly, Ivamel noticed that Marcus(who wields Wave), Lundie(who wields Whelm), and Quintos(who wields Blackrazor) have two shadows now.  Uncomfortable with the weapons desires, Quintos attempts to unattune to Blackrazor. But it won’t let him. Not for 11 more days. Consulting his many gods, Marcus learns that the sword’s and Quintos’ destiny are linked. It would seem that even after all that work in the dungeon that shall not be named, he still can’t use the Tree Sword.  Oh, the life of an adventurer.

Oh, there were also some jungle knolls…for a few seconds.

Gnoll attack

Gnoll attack!

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