|
| Zobeck / halls of the mountain king pathfinder game |
« View previous topic :: View next topic » |
| Author |
Message
|
| nmilasich |
 Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:37 am Post subject: |
 |
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
Nice.
My group really does have a problem with killing first and saving later. Maybe I need to do a little in game training. . .
Nick |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
So, Last week's game was a brutal, unrelenting slugfest. Ben, the combats you set up were really interesting and tested the party in ways they had not been tested before.
In the ventshafts, The dwarf fighter/paladin Klobgeddon suffered 9 strength damage from Ray of Enfeeblement and then had his anscestral axe taken from him by the Journeyman. At this point, the ghul warrior began to wale on Klob like he was a rented mule. Klob was forced to retreat, much to his shame.
The sorceror was put down quite quickly by our swift running Barbarian/cleric, who then saw to the Erinyes who was harassing the party wizard and pincushioning the thief. The Journeyman then successful cast confusion on the party thief, who decided there were centipedes inside her arm and began to slice it open with a convenient arrow. The other three party members concentrated all firepower on the super star destroy- um, I mean the AC 30 ghul warrior, and killed him off with some damage and suffering.
The Journeyman immediately surrenders. He explains his relief to the group, bluffing very well, in that he was forced to convert to mammon at swordpoint several months ago and has lived in fear and shame about his role in the evil occuring. Under questioning, he goes on to tell the party that the orichalcum has NOTHING to do with the gold fever, and that the headquarters of the cult of mammon is in the derro city. The party ties him up and takes him along to the next fight.
There, Abelard and Gefangak have a heated discussion in Terran which is incomprehensible to the party. Waved on into battle, The hasted and protected from Evil warriors charge forward, and Tialanna blasts the elemental with a cone of cold. Gefangak clobbers Eronk for massive damage and disappears into the stony ground. Next round, as the party searches for him, the element rises up and plasters Tialanna for massive damage. The size and power of gefangak makes it very hard for the characters to appoach without massively damaging attacks of opportunity.
Tialanna has been knocked off her feet by the attack, and reduced to one hit point above death. Eronk force-feeds her a potion of healing as Gefangak plasters Klob, sending him flying.
Tialanna crawls feebly away from the great elemental. Meanwhile, Eronk and Klob try to close with the creature, but he repeatedly sends them flying with Awesome blow. They are then forced to charge into battle again, taking attacks of opportunity.
Finally, Tialanna is able to hit the creature with another cone of cold, and the great elemental falls, the fire within extinguished.
The derro battles after were much easier for the group. The overturned one of the great tables from the dining area to make a barricade and Tialanna cast wall of fire to damage the approaching troops. The murder bombards did turn Braddock the henchman and Pylas into raging fiends, however, it was when the derro were effected by their own weapons that the most attention was given to them. The three waves of evil dwarves, accompanied again by a gelatinous, eyeless hydra, were quickly defeated, although the drained and battered party had to reach deeply into the stores of potions and scrolls to do so.
All in all, a good night. Two characters were reduced to within a point of dying, new combat challenges and tactics were explored, and 3 very different combat encounters were enjoyed. Everyone expressed how much fun the adventure was, and I had a blast running it. I do so enjoy GMing derro.
Nick
Quick question for the eye of Grejava adventure. IF the silent master is SILENT, how is he having complex conversations with the adventures. I'm going to have him magically write in the air, I think. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| terraleon |
| Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
|
And the Journeyman manged to remain captured through all of that! I feel like I let him down. 
I'm glad you enjoyed it! 
-Ben.
_________________
progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Therabyd |
| Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 17 Jul 2008
Posts: 783
Location: Santa Fe, NM
|
Great stuff!
| nmilasich wrote: |
| Quick question for the eye of Grejava adventure. IF the silent master is SILENT, how is he having complex conversations with the adventures. I'm going to have him magically write in the air, I think. |
Originally there was a bit - and I can't remember if it was in Brandon's initial chapter or in mine, although the Silent Brothers were his inspired creation - about how the Silent Masters were so expressive with gesture and facial expression that they could "speak" without sound. I'm not sure that survived to the final version, and I don't have mine in front of me at the moment.
In any event, magical writing certainly would do the trick.
_________________
Mike Furlanetto
Lead designer of Dark Deeds in Freeport
Contributor to Halls, Red Eye, Tales of the Old Margreve, and Lost City
Patron of Midgard |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
No, no!
I forgot to add, the Journeyman totally escaped during the battle with Gefangak, much to the incredible frustration of my players! They were totally played by the guy. I assumed that he had a misdirection effect to fool the Paladin, btw.
Nick |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| terraleon |
| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
|
| nmilasich wrote: |
| ... the Journeyman totally escaped during the battle with Gefangak, much to the incredible frustration of my players! |
I deem this hot, as stars are hot.
Fantastic.  Managing to get a villain to escape is a small, guilty pleasure of a GM-- in my opinion.
Great play reports, looking forward to more!
-Ben.
_________________
progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| richgreen01 |
| Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 774
Location: London, UK
|
| Therabyd wrote: |
Great stuff!
| nmilasich wrote: |
| Quick question for the eye of Grejava adventure. IF the silent master is SILENT, how is he having complex conversations with the adventures. I'm going to have him magically write in the air, I think. |
Originally there was a bit - and I can't remember if it was in Brandon's initial chapter or in mine, although the Silent Brothers were his inspired creation - about how the Silent Masters were so expressive with gesture and facial expression that they could "speak" without sound. I'm not sure that survived to the final version, and I don't have mine in front of me at the moment.
In any event, magical writing certainly would do the trick. |
That's a good point. I now wish I'd had Caradlather stand there silently while his lieutenant spoke on his behalf!
Rich |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:06 am Post subject: long interval-almost done with the adventure! |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
Hi everyone,
It's been a long, busy two months. The party has made great progress, and is now ready to tackle the final battle in the heartsblood forge.
Here's what's happened:
First of all, a player switch occurred. This lead to Klob joining the brotherhood, and becoming the battle-leader of the dwarves. He was replaced in the party by a human monk, Ryssa.
The group returns from the hearthforges to find a shrine to St. Eronk has been set up (Eronk took the followers feat), and that several rather seedy looking half-orcs, humans and dwarves have branded anvils on thier chests and wish to follow him. This horrifies the elves, who realize that now Eronk has people who will do the dumb things he suggests without question.
Still, the followers let the group know about some sketches they have found, and the party takes apart rabscuttle, finding the way to the Sanctum of Assaying.
They meet the Silent master, who uses the illusion of writing to communicate with the group, and asks them to recover the eye of Grejava.
After passing the tests, the group takes the great sapphire. After a brutal, hard fought battle in the forge of fire blessing, they shatter the sapphire.
Then the earthquakes begin. I made some alterations here, to suit the tastes of my group: Several small earthquakes occur. The group divines that the mountain's spirit is still troubled. The learn they must find the golden bowl of Mim in order to discover what is really going on.
The group goes into the Noble Quarters, and instead of sneaking through, shine a lantern into the large room. Under attack almost immediately, the party wizard lobs fireballs and cones of cold, attracting every single derro in the complex. A huge, long brutal fight ensues. Highlights include the NPC dwarf guide being bitten in half by a giant mole and the party wizard being grappled and squeezed by another giant mole (I used dire bear stats). When the smoke clears, the party is weakened and depleted of spells, but ready to move on.
The group trips the spike trap in the temple, causing much discomfort, until Ryssa realizes what is to be done and reaches into the lava. After more combats with Xorn and Thoqqua, the party reaches the crypt. They don't bother to read the scrimshaw, simply slaughtering the undead and looting. Beyond the false wall lies the golden bowl.
Now armed with the bowl, the group again returns into the depths for our most recent session. They fight the derro in the gas passages, taking lots of grief from spectral hand using shocking grasp and touch of idiocy. They resist the magic jar effect as they finish off the derro.
At the airlock, Eronk and Pylas are sent through, as Tunny and Braddock pump. Tialanna casts a telepathic bond with Pylas, just in case. In the real world, I send my two players into another room.
I go back and forth between the two groups. When the Belker attacks, I let Pylas' player know that Eronk has disappeared. Pylas reports back "I'm under attack! Eronk is gone!"
I return to the other group. A suited figure is in the airlock. It's the same size as Eronk and the suit is identical. It gestures desperately as the airlock fills with healthy air, pointing at the door and into the gas-filled room.
Ryssa and Tialanna are suspicious, but what if it IS Eronk? Their could be an emergency. Tialanna readies an orb of light, and they cycle through. The morhg leaps at the two of them. My other players in the other room hear the roll of a large number of dice, and hope that it's a spell from Tialanna, and not some horrible fate from the DM. The Morgh is quickly killed.
Eronk realizes he's wandered off, and sees Pylas under attack by evil mist. He casts holy smite and wades into the battle. Pylas' suit is slightly damaged, but she manages to limp back to the airlock.
As they cycle, Tialanna psychially requests Pylas to raise 2 fingers. Thus assured it is the party, Ryssa opens the airlock.
More to come! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| richgreen01 |
| Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 774
Location: London, UK
|
Wow! That's good going to be nearly finished!
Your update has reminded me to post last Monday night's session.
Cheers
Richard |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
Hi all,
Just preparing for the very last adventure. Little do my players know that to find the many-bearded elder, they must raid the city of the derro itself! But before that, they must fight Bragollach. Now, her hoard, is it all cursed gold? Or is it meant to be recovered by the players? Just wondering. . .
Nick |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
So,
The wail of the banshee trap killed 3 characters, after a 4th had been killed by Bragollach. That's 2 pcs and a npc. I must say, that was a truly brutal trap. Perhaps the the point of non-funness. I do understand that it should be obvious that there is a trap there, but wow. Brutal. DC 23 save or die for up to 17 people in 40 feet. Wow. The party had resurrections from sacrificing the eye of Grejava, so it balanced out.
The group snuck in from the slag-tunnels using a flying carpet and immovable rod and many invisibility spells, and began to hack at the gold statue before it even had a change to speak. The statue went down pretty quickly (poor rolls)
The dragon, enraged and armoured, totally slaughtered the ogre cohort and did quite a bit of damage. It was taken down eventually. The trap was tripped during the cleaning up, after most cultists had fled. I think that's why it felt a little anti-climactic.
All in all, a good adventure, but I think the reverse process, though good for the party, hurt the climactic flow of the adventure.
Oh, and the hammer name "Masterstroke", my players cracked up. Couldn't take it. I suggest in anyone's campaign they they give it a name like "Masterstrike" that does suggest anything naughty.
Nick |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| terraleon |
| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
|
| nmilasich wrote: |
Oh, and the hammer name "Masterstroke", my players cracked up. Couldn't take it. I suggest in anyone's campaign they they give it a name like "Masterstrike" that does suggest anything naughty. |
Nothing naughty about it at all; masterstroke is a word.
-Ben.
_________________
progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Wolfgang |
| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Kobold Overlord
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4985
Location: The Mines
|
Gamers tend to revert to about age 12 at the table, though. It's worth avoiding names that are subject to easy ridicule, even if they are technically correct.
_________________
Wolfgang Baur
Publisher, Kobold Press |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| terraleon |
| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
|
| Wolfgang wrote: |
| Gamers tend to revert to about age 12 at the table, though. It's worth avoiding names that are subject to easy ridicule, even if they are technically correct. |
Which explains the lack of gravitas surrounding my home clockwork villain, "Clickerous."
-Ben.
_________________
progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| nmilasich |
| Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
Patron
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 84
|
Well,
The party travellled to Farragum, the derro city last night (thanks, KQ 11!)
They had a good time dealing with the craziness of the city, discovering a hidden cult within a drug den, and killing the disgraced former consort of the city.
All in all, we all really enjoyed halls of the mountain king, and had a great time playing it. It's back to dragons delve for the group (www.dungeonaday.com), but Zobeck will continue to be their major supply hub.
Next game, the party will celebrate Mimstag (It's like Volundy Christmas) in Zobeck and deal with a lot of social strife and drama.
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard on Halls, it's a great adventure that was a blast to run and for my players. Clovis and Rabscuttle will continue to be regulars in my campaign and are much beloved by the group.
Thanks,
Nick |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
|
