Fellow role-players, here is my update for the second session (39.2) of the “Vanished Lands: Vistel’s Circus” fantasy campaign, which Brian W. hosted at his home in Newton, Massachusetts, on Monday, 24 September 2012:
In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The “Vanished Lands” were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders.
Various groups of mercenaries and diplomats have fought humanoids in the northwestern borderlands, encountered pirates on the Sea of Nagendwa, and wandered the hostile Halmed Desert and the broad Plains of Sathendo….
Player Character roster for Gene D.’s “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign, using the Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game, as of autumn 2012:
- “Giacomo ‘the Mysterious’ Du Vane” [Beruk A.]-male Hifalendorin human Mage (Gypsy Wizard) and stage magician, embittered by experiences in Hesolin’s Magisterium (magic school/library); NGc, Lvl. 1
- “Hamfast Hammerfist” [Brian W.]-male Zeda human Fighter, mountaineer, “barbarian” strongman, and laborer; TNg, Lvl. 1
- “Scully Strongbow” [Sara F.]-female albino Gnoll (Flind) Ranger, archer, knife thrower, and scout, with owl “Owlicious”; NGl, Lvl. 1
- “Corwin Windsong” [Bruce K.]-male Half-Elf Bard, runaway aristocrat, ladies’ man, and ringmaster with a mandolin; CNg, Lvl.
- “Elsa Fairbottom” [Rich C.G.]-female Hill Dwarf Druid outcast, cook/brewer, and animal handler with owlbear cub “Oswald”; NGc, Lvl. 1
- “Radius” [Jason E.R./absent]-male Modron Paladin of Primus, lord of Nirvana; exiled to the Prime Material plane; LGn, Lvl. 1
- “Tempestade” [Josh C.]-male Barbari human Monk (Battledancer/capoeirista from outside the “Vanished Lands”), roustabout; CGl, Lvl. 1
>>”4 February 1228 B.C.E.:” The performers rehearse in the Hifalendorin human village of Androth. Cautious Giacomo practices card tricks with a minimum of magic, and stolid Hamfast and shivering Tempestade help other roustabouts.
Burly Scully knocks on the door of the house in whose chimney a Goblin had hidden and scares the resident. The albino Gnoll also assists hapless escape artist Seamus, as animal lover Elsa works with mixed-breed dogs, fainting goats, and her owlbear cub.
Assertive Corwin supervises the different acts and sends flowers to gruff drover Cerdwyn and more receptive dancer Tamara. The Bard also meets Adric Thumon, squire to Saganim knight Sir Banor Finney, and gets 30 silver coins for preferential seating. Radius goes off to meditate, and nobody searches for the cryptic Modron.
The evening show goes well, despite some minor difficulties that are mainly the result of a lack of practice. Scully shoots an apple off Elsa’s head, and a boy named Scotty [Josh/N.P.C.] tests the rope that Scully uses to tie up Seamus.
Fire breather Amur of the Desert Flames and Tamara the Veiled Wonder are less successful at capturing the attention of the 150 attendees, and Corwin has to send beleaguered clown Graham Tervin to relieve Giacomo the Mysterious.
The Flying Perhutens don’t make any serious mistakes, and young Lucille Barrowright sings to accompany ringmaster Giacomo. Local lord Valerius and Orlando Vistel give the troupe a few nights off to rest before resuming practice.
Bruisefoot again contacts Hamfast, and a subset of the circus folk warily agreed to help the Goblin find his kin, who had supposedly been abducted by “bad men.” They hike across the frozen Aehonir River and through sparse winter woods.
Strongbow and Hammerfist take the lead, with Bruisefoot riding on the hyena woman’s shoulders. Scully munches on frozen rats, which she had shared with reptile woman geek Malinzel the Devourer.
Giacomo and Tempestade follow, and Fairbottom and Windsong bring up the rear. The would-be adventurers spend the better part of a day walking, and the skies stay clear.
Corwin and Tempestade scout ahead and find the Goblins’ warren occupied by a giant centipede. Hamfast and Oswald wait outside. The creature is quickly slain, and a further search yields evidence of a nearby silver mine.
Bruisefoot leads the wanderers to a gulch, where a Half-Orc sentry and others forced Goblins to work the mine….
It was good to see most of you at our latest “Vanished Lands” fantasy session. Now that Player Character creation using the Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game is mostly done, please remember to review them on Obsidian Portal and let me know if you have any changes, such as gear or spells. It shouldn’t be too hard to copy and paste or print out these records for our use.
Let me know if any of you have questions or suggestions, and I look forward to upcoming sessions of the “Vortex: the Gryphon” telecom space opera and Josh’s “A New Beginning: Mystic Adventures in the ‘Big D!'” -Gene
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