Despite my remorse-filled confession that I don't do #RPGaDay on a daily basis, I assure you that today's was written at least the evening before... and will be the last one I write for this year.
After thirty single words to start a conversation for #RPGaDay2019, I'll go for the underhand slow-pitch softball with Day 31 and "Last."
"What was the last game I played?"
BECMI D&D - Adventures in Gulluvia, Episode #17, "The Moon Taint"
I'd post "Spoilers" but I won't start posting this campaign until Lost Dispatches of Feraso is finished, These actual plays won't appear until February. Episode #17 won't show up until June. Everyone will forget spoilers by then.
Two episode prior, the party had ventured out into the wilderness to collect some herbs and got ambushed by "wolf men." The party cleric, Brother Barry, was the only one to suffer a grievous wound. With a short party last session, I admitted to the attendees that Barry was dying, and we collaborated on a death spiral / dream quest for Barry's dying moments. Let's say it was a good combination of Gygaxian fantasy and Mitch Albom in a two-hour online session. It gave Barry a good send-off, and still allowed for the slimmest chance of hope if the other heroes quested for a cure.
Fast forward to this week: Surprise, surprise, our heroes decide to travel to the capital of Gulluvia (Gulluvia City) to seek out a priest who can cure this "Moon Taint". And despite warnings that moving Barry would, in fact, kill him, what did they do?
Strap poor Barry to a hand cart and push him to the the capital, a multi-day trip.
The rest of the party:
Hugo Swam'Pas - Magic User - General jerk, but fakes he knows what he's doing. Thinks the walk to the capital is a big waste of time.
Beulah Cragbottom - Halfling- Fairly confident with a mace, but she watched her friend and adventuring companion Bodo Billabong go mad fighting the horrors of the wilderness and dungeon. She's not sure she's cut out for this lifestyle.
Slotheena Hopler - Imagine the sister of Sloth from The Goonies. Give her an executioner's mask, and a giant maul, and she's the sweetest and dumbest killing machine I've seen in years. Normally easy to sway, it was her idea to gather Grimy Dwarf Weed for the local herbalist, so she's driving the mission to save Barry out of heartfelt guilt
Even pushing a cart with a dying man, the party made it back to the estate of of Hugo's family before nightfall. They had been there only a week or two before, helping with a mysterious lizardmen raid on the complex, and recovering the body of Hugo's father, who had fallen in battle as he pursued the creatures back into the swamp.
The family and servants were still in the midst of reconstructing the estate and welcomed them with open arms.... until the trusted leader of the estate guard, Acsink discovered that Barry had been bitten by wolf-men. In a series of extreme rolls, he completely exaggerated the worst of the legends and folklore about the wolf bites, and managed to completely convince everyone on site not to allow Barry in for the night.
Barry's cart was deposited on the outside of the palisade. Slotheena kept him company and did what little she could do for him. Beulah barely slept, Barry's death moans haunting her sleep.
Hugo snored as he slept soundly.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and finally made it to Gulluvia City. After a few false starts, including a pompous but decent priest admitting that in Brother Barry's past he was a war criminal (!?!?), they managed to secure an audience with the High Priest of the Church, Cartharandamus.
Two days later.
Securing lodging, they went about selling off the gems and more unusual items collected in their dungeoneering to pay for the spell to help Barry. Somehow Barry was holding on, although his fever dreams made him thrash about.
Two days later, they returned to the high temple, and High Priest Cartharandamus met with them, he peppered them with questions, took their coin, and performed a ritual.
It didn't work. Barry died on the spot.
Enraged, Cartharandamus ordered the other priests to toss them out on the street. No refund was given.
It was time to go home to give Barry the burial he deserved, but not before exchanging information.
High above the audience chamber was a narrow viewing area, about 20 foot up. They had seen people up their in their first interview two days prior, but this time they spied.... two dwarves up there?
Short backstory: Dwarves used to run the gem mines in Gulluvia until they ran dry, but they left en mass generations ago. Were these the two dwarves that Hugo found sneaking around the village prior to Barry's injury? What was there purpose? Are there more of them?
Many questions to be answered... for another session.
After thirty single words to start a conversation for #RPGaDay2019, I'll go for the underhand slow-pitch softball with Day 31 and "Last."
"What was the last game I played?"
BECMI D&D - Adventures in Gulluvia, Episode #17, "The Moon Taint"
I'd post "Spoilers" but I won't start posting this campaign until Lost Dispatches of Feraso is finished, These actual plays won't appear until February. Episode #17 won't show up until June. Everyone will forget spoilers by then.
Two episode prior, the party had ventured out into the wilderness to collect some herbs and got ambushed by "wolf men." The party cleric, Brother Barry, was the only one to suffer a grievous wound. With a short party last session, I admitted to the attendees that Barry was dying, and we collaborated on a death spiral / dream quest for Barry's dying moments. Let's say it was a good combination of Gygaxian fantasy and Mitch Albom in a two-hour online session. It gave Barry a good send-off, and still allowed for the slimmest chance of hope if the other heroes quested for a cure.
Fast forward to this week: Surprise, surprise, our heroes decide to travel to the capital of Gulluvia (Gulluvia City) to seek out a priest who can cure this "Moon Taint". And despite warnings that moving Barry would, in fact, kill him, what did they do?
Strap poor Barry to a hand cart and push him to the the capital, a multi-day trip.
The rest of the party:
Hugo Swam'Pas - Magic User - General jerk, but fakes he knows what he's doing. Thinks the walk to the capital is a big waste of time.
Beulah Cragbottom - Halfling- Fairly confident with a mace, but she watched her friend and adventuring companion Bodo Billabong go mad fighting the horrors of the wilderness and dungeon. She's not sure she's cut out for this lifestyle.
Slotheena Hopler - Imagine the sister of Sloth from The Goonies. Give her an executioner's mask, and a giant maul, and she's the sweetest and dumbest killing machine I've seen in years. Normally easy to sway, it was her idea to gather Grimy Dwarf Weed for the local herbalist, so she's driving the mission to save Barry out of heartfelt guilt
Even pushing a cart with a dying man, the party made it back to the estate of of Hugo's family before nightfall. They had been there only a week or two before, helping with a mysterious lizardmen raid on the complex, and recovering the body of Hugo's father, who had fallen in battle as he pursued the creatures back into the swamp.
The family and servants were still in the midst of reconstructing the estate and welcomed them with open arms.... until the trusted leader of the estate guard, Acsink discovered that Barry had been bitten by wolf-men. In a series of extreme rolls, he completely exaggerated the worst of the legends and folklore about the wolf bites, and managed to completely convince everyone on site not to allow Barry in for the night.
Barry's cart was deposited on the outside of the palisade. Slotheena kept him company and did what little she could do for him. Beulah barely slept, Barry's death moans haunting her sleep.
Hugo snored as he slept soundly.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and finally made it to Gulluvia City. After a few false starts, including a pompous but decent priest admitting that in Brother Barry's past he was a war criminal (!?!?), they managed to secure an audience with the High Priest of the Church, Cartharandamus.
Two days later.
Securing lodging, they went about selling off the gems and more unusual items collected in their dungeoneering to pay for the spell to help Barry. Somehow Barry was holding on, although his fever dreams made him thrash about.
Two days later, they returned to the high temple, and High Priest Cartharandamus met with them, he peppered them with questions, took their coin, and performed a ritual.
 |
| Cartharandamus |
Enraged, Cartharandamus ordered the other priests to toss them out on the street. No refund was given.
It was time to go home to give Barry the burial he deserved, but not before exchanging information.
High above the audience chamber was a narrow viewing area, about 20 foot up. They had seen people up their in their first interview two days prior, but this time they spied.... two dwarves up there?
Short backstory: Dwarves used to run the gem mines in Gulluvia until they ran dry, but they left en mass generations ago. Were these the two dwarves that Hugo found sneaking around the village prior to Barry's injury? What was there purpose? Are there more of them?
Many questions to be answered... for another session.
 |
| Rest in Peace, Brother Barry Manaslow. You didn't even reach 2nd Level to cast spells. |
