New “Vanished Lands” telecom team, Update 21 — Scarecrows!

Dragon Magazine art — Larry Elmore's scarecrow

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.21 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 20 March 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 1

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 2

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 2

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 2

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

“17 to 18 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After meeting in the Wisalef Forest and encountering hostile Centaurs and other creatures on the Plains of Sathendo, the adventuring party rode back to the abandoned Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human hamlet of Alarn.

After spending the night at a farm north of Alarn, the group has breakfast with the Sandia clan. Digger climbs onto a bench and shows a sketch of Octavius Karstus, the mysterious Wizard who hired him to look into property in Evesboro.

Jonas recognizes the drawing and says that he had met Karstus near the Aspar River a few months ago and directed him to the city of Nadwi. The peasant says he got a whole silver coin for his help, and the Halfling Rogue offers Jonas two coppers more.

Kovar, Gawain, and “Sir Bonner of Runnymeade” [Jon W.B./Non-Player Character] enjoy the morning’s entertainment before going to ready their steeds. Digger and Jovinda ask matron Violet Sandia for another private conversation. They apologize for Kazuo, who told Violet’s impressionable granddaughter Alyssa about Vappu Lahja, and note that the pregnant girl is otherwise healthy.

Meanwhile, Kazuo’s presence is requested upstairs, where bedridden Alyssa begs the Nezumi Monk not to leave because the he is the only person who understands her. Asish and Jovinda bring the paranoid heiress some tea and retrieve Kazuo. The Grugach Cleric whispers that the group should make a quick exit because it’s no longer welcome.

The wanderers ride past wary field hands and pass Alarn, which is still empty. Tsucharim Ranger Asish looks for recent Centaur tracks, and Digger and Jovinda debate whether to place more warnings for would-be raiders. Perhaps due to Vappu Lahja’s influence, Digger believes that some of the enigmatic woman’s followers must be misguided — and punished — if they attacked this Hifalendorin community rather than let him and Kazuo find converts.

He and Gawain also conclude that the storm giant sighted in the area must be a magically transformed peasant, based on the reticence they encountered at the Sandia farm. Kovar and Kazuo say there’s no need to interfere further with the farmers, but they keep watch for more Fey. Sir Bonner tells Digger that he encountered Karstus, whom he took for a lost courier, a few weeks ago.

Several hours later, the team passes through a wheat field near the Aspar River on its way southwest toward Nadwi. Four figures watch the road, unmoving and drawing the party’s curiosity. Gawain, Kovar, Jovinda, and Kazuo ride to about 60 feet away, while Asish stays a bit farther back and to one side. Digger and Sir Bonner keep near the road in case of ambush.

The four humanoids, about 50 feet each from one another, are in ragged clothing and glower at the investigators. Kovar and Gawain shrug off their fear, but Sir Bonner is affected, and Jovinda is fascinated.

Asish fires an arrow into the emaciated creature closest to Jovinda, knocking off its human face and revealing a glowing skull! Digger dismounts and readies his sling, and Kazuo slides off his mule. Gawain readies spells, and Asish’s dog Genghis tugs on Jovinda, shaking her out of her fascination.

One of the strange scarecrows rakes Jovinda with skeletal claws, and the others shamble forward. Paladin Kovar spurs his horse and charges, smiting one with his spear. Asish’s next two arrows miss, and the unnerved archer steps back to avoid the enemy. Digger also falls back.

Martial artist Kazuo rains Flurries of Blows on the straw-stuffed constructs, and arcanist Gawain helps by knocking down one with a Grease spell. Jovinda draws her short bow but fumbles her first shot. One monster hits Kovar, and another staggers Jovinda.

Armored Kovar jumps off his destrier and skewers a scarecrow, as Asish incinerates a straw man with a volley of flaming arrows. Swift Kazuo moves to another opponent.

Priestess Jovinda invokes Mekkil, goddess of nature, for a Positive Energy Burst. Fellow spellcaster Gawain observes that since it only healed her and her friends but didn’t hurt the scarecrows, they must not be Undead. He casts Enlarge on Half-Orc Kovar, who spears another before it can hit him.

Sniper Asish continues to lay covering fire for Kazuo, Jovinda, and Kovar, but unlucky Kazuo is knocked unconscious and dragged out of the melee by Genghis. Illusionist Gawain casts a Minor Image of embiggened Kovar and Blinding Rays. After missing the scarecrows with arrows, Jovinda casts Cure Light Wounds on herself.

The three remaining foes close in on the party. Kovar shield bashes one before missing and being knocked down, and Gawain is fascinated until shaken by Genghis. Jovinda races to Kovar, casts Sanctuary and heal, and then retreats.

Asish pulls Kazuo onto his saddle and continues to wield his bow against the scarecrows, eventually destroying them. Digger and Kazuo say it’s no coincidence that these unnatural creations were near the road from Alarn, and Digger and Gawain suspect that Octavius Karstus may be involved.

Kovar angrily asks Sir Bonner why he didn’t help. The hapless knight says he recognized one dead face as that of a tinker he once traveled with. Jovinda attends to Kovar, Kazuo, and Gawain’s injuries, as well as her own, while Akita Genghis licks the Wild Elf’s face.

Asish and Digger find 18 crowns (gold pieces), assorted silverware and tools worth 30 g.p., and the remains of a skin once holding Fey wine amid the charred corpses. Sir Bonner identifies the tools as belonging to one Taras of Rockney….

Please note that I’ve added the treasure amounts and Sir Bonner’s explanation of why he didn’t fight. Paul and Beruk, I look forward to seeing both of you (and prospective role-player Rich L.) at tonight’s FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera game! Byron, thanks for posting your prestige class ideas for Asish on the Google Group, and I hope the others give good suggestions.

Rob, I’ll try to touch base with you later this week on the parts you missed. Sammy, I hope you get your computer back in good working order, and can you and Taum let me know which D&D3.5/4e books I’m selling you’re interested in? Dexter, we saw you online briefly — were you having problems with Skype? Have a good week, everyone! -Gene

New “Vanished Lands” telecom team, Update 19 — Back to the farm

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session 19 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 6 March 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard) and contact of “Kimo” [Beruk A.]; NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 1

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras; raised as an orphan; contact of the Order of the Golden Lion; LGn, Lvl. 2

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; contact of “Tunnel” [Stuart C.G.]; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 2

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from service to Nannuattan (eastern Dark Elf) Wizard Arbalas; contact of “Sukhov” [Beruk A.] and owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 2

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

“16 August 1229 B.C.E.:” The adventuring party had previously encountered Centaurs raiding a farm near the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human hamlet of Alarn. After investigating the followers of the mysterious Vappu Lahja, the group returned to find Alarn abandoned.

The wanderers debate what to do with the haunted rooms at the “Mellow Mule” inn. Kovar wonders whether they have stumbled across some unholy Fey ritual that has yet to reach completion. Asish’s recommendation that the inn be burned to the ground is voted down, partly because spellcasters Gawain and Jovinda aren’t sure if that would contain or release the evil spirits.

Digger and Kovar lecture Jovinda about releasing the magically enlarged eel they had found in the Aspar River, and the Cleric agrees that the beast could still endanger more people. On the other hand, Kazuo notes that human lives aren’t necessarily more valuable than those of other creatures.

Scouts Digger and Asish show Gawain the giant footprints they had found on the hamlet’s outskirts. The Illusionist says they could have been made by a storm giant (corresponding with weather described by two Korred) or an enlarged human.

Ranger Asish and Paladin Kovar talk with fellow horseman “Sir Bonner of Runnymeade” [Jon W.B./Non-Player Character], who is still recovering from being captured by the Korred and having his steed slain. They recommend riding on to the city of Nadwi to report to local authorities.

Grugach Jovinda goes back to the “Mellow Mule” and invokes her patron Mekkil, goddess of nature, to channel positive energy, disrupting some of the unnatural conditions in the guest rooms. Kazuo points out that the mischief and murder could have been committed by evil Fey or a misguided Druid rather than followers of Vappu Lahja.

Nimble Digger carefully brings out the pieces of an enchanted mirror so that Kovar can further smash them and avoid the temptation to gaze into the eyes on the other side. Arcanist Gawain identifies the magics in the mirror as belonging to the Conjuration, Divination, and Transmutation schools.

Digger reminds his companions of the farm north of Alarn, and they agree to check it out. Kovar and Asish gather kindling and prepare a pyre for the innkeeper, found hung upside-down in an upstairs room, as well as the remains of Sir Bonner’s horse. Jovinda makes sure that the “Mellow Mule” is marked with warnings for future travelers.

The party fords the Aspar River and passes several Hifalendorin peasants working the fields outside Alarn. Digger reminds one of how he helped drive off the Centaur raiders a few weeks before, and grateful Tad brings him to the main farmhouse.

Rogue Digger and Nezumi Kazuo smell freshly baked pies, while wary Kovar and Asish keep an eye on the farmhands. Matron Violet Sandia greets the newcomers and invites them to join her clan for dinner. Gawain and Jovinda wait on benches in the dining room, while Digger helps in the kitchen.

Kovar, Asish, and Kazuo help Sir Bonner find a place for the horses, and they look for recent Centaur tracks but find none. Jovinda and Gawain talk with a young girl named Daisy and learn that several members of her extended family recently arrived, presumably from Alarn.

Jovinda plans to ask about the strange goings-on around the nearby hamlet, and Asish and Kovar are concerned about the recent movements of Fey folk such as Centaurs, Satyrs, and Korred, as well as humans and Halflings. Digger and Kazuo want to make sure that if “misguided” followers of Vappu Lahja committed the crimes, they’re caught and held responsible….

Please remember to use the “Holy Steel” Google Group message board between sessions. I’m glad to see that some debates have led to good role-playing and character development, but don’t forget to give the quieter folks a chance to express their opinions!

Note that this and other recent posts are mirrored on various sites as I consolidate my blogs. I’m working on updates for the FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera, and our next “Vanished Lands” telecom game is scheduled for Sunday, March 13. Take it easy, -Gene

“Vanished Lands” new telecom team, Update 18 — Waking nightmares

Note: As I continue consolidating and migrating among my various blogs, some posts will be mirrored.

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session 18 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 27 February 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras; raised as an orphan; contact of the Order of the Golden Lion; LGn, Lvl. 2

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; contact of “Tunnel” [Stuart C.G.]; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 2

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 2

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J./absent]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard) and contact of “Kimo” [Beruk A.]; NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 1

“15 to 16 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, the travelers had encountered hostile Centaurs, followers of the mysterious Vappu Lahja. Returning northwest across the Plains of Sathendo, the group found an abandoned hamlet and stayed in a haunted inn.

The brave adventurers revisit the upstairs rooms at the “Mellow Mule” in the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human community of Alarn. Noting that one room contained a man hanged upside-down, scholar Digger speculates that the strange items in each chamber may have a symbolic meaning similar to the Tarot deck or Skaevingol (Norse) beliefs.

In the first guest room on the right, Kovar had seen a raven, which left behind a black feather. Digger and Jovinda theorize that it could be an omen or a sign for judgment and justice. Across the hall, all the furniture is suspended from the ceiling, possibly reflecting a reversed Tarot card (emphasizing negative connotations) or the Wheel of destiny.

The shards of a magical mirror in the second room on the right showed the Half-Orc Paladin eyes that were not his own. Asish searches for tracks, and Kazuo questions whether his companions are reading too much into the manifestations of unquiet spirits. Still, Digger and Jovinda note that mirrors can be portals or symbolize the Magician or soul.

The opposite room is covered in frost, suggesting a trap or Hell (as well as the recent presence of Undead). Gawain stays downstairs with “Sir Bonner of Runnymeade” [Jon W.B./Non-Player Character], who is recovering from being captured by two Korred.

In the third room on the right, the furniture had been thrust out the window, leaving a maw of dangerous and animated splinters. Across from it is a room where decay had rapidly advanced, which Halfling Rogue Digger says could represent the Fool or the Wheel card.

After determining that a circle scratched on the floor of the last room on the right isn’t broken, Asish cuts down the hanged man. Kovar carries the unfortunate victim, whom Sir Bonner positively identifies as the innkeeper. Jovinda casts Detect Magic, which shows that the man was levitated into place and that the horse in the room in the last room on the left was affected by Teleport and Eviscerate spells.

Digger observes that the slain steed could represent the Death or Tower card, but Jovinda notes that just as the Fey Korred spoke in riddles and metaphors, perhaps the rooms reflect an unnatural progression. The raven and reverse-gravity rooms could be warnings of a disruption in the natural order, says the Grugach Cleric of Mekkil, while the cold and mirror chambers might be a trap for the soul.

Jovinda says the rooms with decay and splinters could demonstrate a separation of the physical from the spiritual, echoing the ritual purification that Kazuo and Digger endured on their way to meeting — and being influenced by — Vappu Lahja. The priestess says the last rooms in the inn (with the horse and hanged man) could depict a final destruction of the body and soul. The group agrees that her interpretation makes sense.

Asish takes Kazuo to patrol the area around Alarn. They find the print of a huge bare foot, suggesting that Connacht and Maldrod weren’t lying about a giant passing through. The Ranger and Monk retrieve a runaway horse for Sir Bonner. Gawain and Kovar watch the “Mellow Mule” and the knight.

Jovinda finds that the innkeeper was exsanguinated elsewhere before he was hung, and she and Digger walk along the Aspar River looking for animals to talk to. A monstrous eel leaps out at them!

Tsucharim rider Asish’s arrows hits the slimy serpent, which falls short of swallowing Digger. Kovar throws a spear, and Kazuo charges, but his blows have little effect. Jovinda casts Calm Animal and Talk With Animals, persuading the hungry eel to swim north, away from human habitation.

Kazuo objects to the use of any mind-affecting spells but says he’ll respect Jovinda’s judgment. The Monk also disagrees with Kovar and others, who feel that the dangerous monster should have been slain.

Asish describes the tracks he found, which may have been left by a storm giant. Jovinda and Digger are surprised that the two Korred may have been literal in their description of what scared off the peasants after all.

Digger and Kazuo say that the storm, serpent, and giant, combined with the haunted inn and Korred, are more likely to be responsible for Alarn’s abandonment than the followers of Vappu Lahja. Kovar and Asish still don’t trust the woman and hope to find human farmers to verify what happened before riding on to the city of Nadwi….

I’m glad that most of you were able to participate in our return to the regular Sunday night time slot! Dexter and Paul, let us know when and if “Favelhorn” and “Gawain” will be able to rejoin us. A few of you have mentioned alternatives to Skype, Scriblink, and the online dice roller we’ve been using — feel free to post links to the Google Group message board.

Prospective gamer Rich L., who sat in on “Vortex” Team 1 in this past Monday’s FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures space opera session, has also expressed interest in checking out the fantasy campaign. Since he lives near me, I may have him come over to check out the game at some point, if you’re amenable, but it’s not urgent.

In the meantime, while I continue to look at various retro-clones and rules-light systems such as Labyrinth Lord, please make sure that your character records are up to date. I don’t anticipate skipping any sessions in March, but let me know your own schedules. Take it easy, and happy gaming! -Gene

28 August 2009: Game updates

On Sunday, 23 August 2009, the “Holy Steel” teleconferencing team resumed, now using the Pathfinder core book, which revises the Dungeons & Dragons Edition 3.5/D20 System Reference Document. So far, despite this rule set’s complexity and the tome’s heft, I like Paizo’s iteration of the world’s most popular fantasy role-playing game more than Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition (D&D4e)/Game System License.

Although Dexter V.H. has been too busy with family commitments to rejoin our virtual sessions as Drow Ranger “Faelonia,” Byron V.O., Beruk A., and Paul J. have
continued their exploration of the pyramid of Unas as Paladin “Ibrahim,” Rogue “Milos,” and Wizard “Derek,” respectively. Their adventuring party has fought monsters and is searching for the Book of Thoth, which it believes cultists of Set are also after.

I’ve had to cancel two weeks’ worth of D&D4e “Vanished Lands: the Faith-Based Initiative” face-to-face (F2F) games because of work. We’ll probably meet again around Labor Day. After about 50 consecutive sessions, I don’t think missing a few Monday nights will hurt the momentum of that party, which is investigating smugglers in the
Hifalendorin human capital of Hesolin. Overall, “Holy Steel” has had more interesting investigations by Player Characters (P.C.s), and the “F.B.I.” has had more action scenes. A good group has a balance of the two.

I’m still looking forward to taking a break after the “F.B.I.” winds down, although that has taken longer than I expected. On the one hand, several people prefer Pathfinder or other systems to D&D4e, and the Player Characters (P.C.s) are approaching Tenth Level, which used to be “name level” — the midrange in power that usually marks the end of my campaigns.

On the other hand, the current Boston-area P.C.s have been gaining in experience and knowledge, and some gamers are understandably interested in maximizing their abilities. I still hope to give other Game Masters a shot and to run shorter-term steampunk, superhero, and/or space opera scenarios, most likely using a D20 variant, although I’ve seen mostly favorable reviews for the rules-light and pulp-flavored Savage Worlds.

I don’t expect my F2F game to return to the “Vanished Lands” setting, probably using Pathfinder, until spring of 2010. Since I’ve been building that fictional world since 1982, I’d like to take some time to tweak it to properly challenge and entertain
another party, which won’t be easy because most of the current group is now
familiar with it.

I ended my subscription for Lord of the Rings Online because college chums David I.S. and Dexter haven’t had the time to play regularly. The “Dimensional Corps Online” supergroup for the City of Heroes multiplayer online game is still going strong, and Dex invited me to try Champions Online (now separated from the Hero System 6th Ed. license). I have, however, enjoyed Wii Sports Resort. Batman: Arkham Asylum also looks cool, but it isn’t available for the Wii.

Coming soon: Superheroes and work!