Aegis’ plan seemed to work. The cultists were splitting up and many were pursuing her. After running a safe distance she ducked into one of the Halfling hovels that lay along the main street, much to the surprise of the dwellings’ inhabitants. She wasted no time, leaping through a window and crashing through another doorway into one of the many back alleys of the district. Sweat pouring out of her despite the cool night breeze, she tore through the back alleys zigging and zagging. Surely there was a way into the city, hopefully the others were able to use her distraction to their advantage. She hugged a wall while she caught her breath, glancing back to see if she was being followed. The coast was clear. She let out a sigh of relief before turning back, only to find members of a Halfling street gang before her.

She smiled. Friends wanting to play! The madness had not quite worked its way out of her system as she drew her rapier and danced with the boys. It was just like her uncle had always taught her, dancing smoothly and gracefully, not allowing their blades to touch her as she danced about drawing pretty pictures with the tip of her rapier. Some of her friends got tired of dancing and decided to take a nap. The last one left seemed to be done dancing, throwing his blade down and raising his hands in surrender.

“You don’t want to play with me?” She asked, innocently. No sooner had she spoken than an explosion shook the hovels around her and fire erupted into the night sky.

“What the hell was that?” Her new playmate asked.

“Probably my friends. Why won’t you play with me?” She took a step toward him.

“What do you want man? Seriously, you’re freaking me out.” The Halfling looked ready to run.

“I just want inside the wall tonight. My friends are expecting me.” The Halfling looked at her in confusion and bolted. She matched pace with him through the alleys and before long exhaustion began to set in. She overtook him and stood over him as he panted, hands on knees, trying to catch his breath. The point of her rapier raised his chin. “Do you know a way through the wall?”

“Whatever, man. I know a guy who knows a guy.” He backed away from the rapier’s point and gestured for her to follow him. A smirk crossed his face as she calmly skipped behind him. This elf had no idea what he was getting himself into. Looking back, the Halfling began second guessing himself. Damn elven androgyny and flippant behavior. If it’s a girl the boss will be pleased. “We’re here.” He knocked on the door to one of the upscale hovels and a grate slid open.

“Who’s the elf?” A coarse voice from behind the grate muttered.

“Someone to see the boss. Business.” The Halfling muttered back. After a second of looking Aegis over, the door was unlatched and opened revealing a much more stout Halfling with a cudgel at his side.

“Alright, I’ll take her from here.” The coarse voice boomed without the grate in the way. The original Halfling leaned in and whispered to the stout Halfling. “Alright” Was his only response.

Aegis looked up from dusting off her cloak to marvel at the hive of new friends she had found. Surely they would help her find her other friends. She followed the stout Halfling deep into a back room, where a Halfling lounged on a sofa, smoking a pipe. The pipe smoker stopped puffing on his pipe as the stout Halfling walked up and whispered in his ear. A smile on her face, Aegis looked about the hovel’s accommodations. It seemed a very nice, clean change from the streets outside. As her eyes met the pipe smoking Halfling, his smile matched hers.

“So I hear you have some business with me. What can I do for you, my tall friend?” Yay! Friends!

“I need to get through the wall. My friends are waiting for me.” Aegis beamed with joy at the thought of being reunited with the others.

“I know a guy who will let you through the tunnel. For a price. And of course there’s my finder’s fee.” He smiled a wicked smile. The elf must be loaded, walking around with that sort of armor on display. “But first there’s the issue of compensation for my boys that you slaughtered.” The stout Halfling drew his cudgel and began tapping it in the palm of his hand. More Halflings surrounded Aegis.

“You want to dance too! I hope you’re not as tired as the other little guys!” She drew her rapier and began dancing with the room full of Halflings. It was harder to avoid their weapons in the close quarters, but before long the room was filled with bleeding men. No blood fell from Aegis’ wounds as her armor slurped it up greedily. The pipe fell from the mouth of the boss. “Why won’t you play with me, mister?” Aegis smiled at him innocently. “It seems like all your friends got tired, but I’m just starting to have fun!”

“Okay, okay, put that thing away, I’ll get you through the wall.” Aegis never stopped smiling. It unnerved the boss. Something was seriously deranged about this elf. He whistled for more of his boys to come treat the wounded and motioned one over. “Take this elf to Rogarr’s tunnel. It’ll be his problem then.”

Bowing graciously, Aegis followed the new Halfling out of the hovel and through the alleys to a nondescript building not terribly far from the moat around the city. A cryptic knock opened the door into a regular room with a dining table and some chairs. Two humans moved the table aside after closing the door and lifted the carpet beneath it, revealing a hatch. Opening the hatch they motioned Aegis into the tunnel. She smiled and bowed to them, traveling down the tunnel. Realizing the Halfling wasn’t following she turned and waved him goodbye. He looked relieved for some reason. Oh well.

Act 3 Scene 1: Kuo-Toa Troubles
We got fished out of the flood by fish. We were literally dripping, with irony. Kuo-Toa used man-catchers to pull us out and lead us to their underground village. They all chanted something profane, and we could see ahead a ziggurat with the stains of blood that flowed from the top. A particularly grotesque one stood at the top with an obsidian knife. Having enough of this, Pierro decided to dig his heels in and the procession stopped. The Band of the Minute Hand (aka Band of the Second Hand) took this moment to cause a fracas so the humans could egress. Jebeddi No Hands and his half-man band showed up on pipes high overhead and lowered ropes to the party. Climing is better than wading through hundreds of Kuo-Toa, so they hoisted or were hoisted to the pipes above. Two of the gnomes tried to die, but Arianthana caught and saved one of them from a splattery fate. Together, they walked away from the fight, only to part ways when the gnomes came to a gnome-sized tunnel that none of us could follow them through.

Act 3 Scene 2: Hornswaggled.
We all roamed around the dark, dank sewers, climbing over pipes and slipping on the dampness. We chanced upon a wagon of odd items, recently abandoned. After a cursory inspection of its contents and the dust on the floor, we discovered that the people who were using it were still around. With a torch held high, Korra begins to barter for passage against the contents of the abandoned wagon. Pirates come flooding out, and will calmly negotiate after Pierro calls upon his uncle Kaldo’s reputation. We don’t trust them, they don’t trust us, but a deal is struck. We follow them to a secret passage that leads to an underground aqueduct. They have a boat waiting, and they take their supplies first and leave us their captain.

Act 3 Scene 3: Dances with Rats
A small bout of waiting where Pierro embraces his wild-side, communes with a rat, and finds a hole up. The rest of us are clued in on a battle against Sea Reavers. We prepare a passable ambush which we then almost botch. The plan is that we capsize their boat to dump them out, un-capsize the boat so we can get in, and then row away. We end up capsizing their boat so Aegis can get on, un-capsize it to throw Aegis in the river, and then have Lucius get grabbed by a Sea Reaver and almost drown. We scramble to get everyone into the boat. Pierro spots his exit, and has Felix drop a rope from the hole so everyone else can climb up. We leave the pirate captain to his fate, and then continue on our magical Journey.

Act 3 Scene 4: Adventures in Mushroom Kingdom
Glowing walking mushrooms should be avoided at all cost. Glowing talking mushrooms should be avoided at every cost. We didn’t bother them, and they didn’t bother us. After all, we don’t wanna get high and find ourselves in the sewers again. Also, we don’t know what they’d do to meatbags like us, especially after what the rat said about them. With caution as the better part of valor, we skirt the fungus field and find a way out that isn’t covered in footprints or fungus.

Band For All-Free: Jebeddi No Hands: Forest Gnome Thief

Pirate’s Pieces of Eight. Defeated some Sea Reavers.

Emerald Enclave (avoided)
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Act 4 Scene 1: My, this is familiar
After leaving the Mushroom Kingdom behind, we enter a tunnel. A tunnel in the sewers. After so much action and the weirdness of mushroom kingdom, the party is so moved by the normalcy of the tunnel that a discussion breaks out that we should stop trying to get to the surface, find a nice tunnel somewhere, and set up a small colony where we can live out the rest of our days. A few slaps to the face and we’re back in our right minds, and all the more determined to see that great big bright thing in the sky again. One day we’ll get there, one day.

Act 4 Scene 2: Where house?
In fact, the tunnel we took lead us to proper civilization. We entered an underground warehouse for the Sentinels of Sanct Holme. We found some supplies, guard uniforms, and a proper exit. Pierro found some shirts belonging to the Montefeltro clan, and confiscated them so he can rip them when he rages. We exit the warehouse to find our friends in the Band of the Minute hand encircled by the city guard. There was a plethora of discussion, insults, and proper papers passed around to explain that these creatures of monstrous origin were in fact under our honorable care and that we all arrived here by mistake. We were in the process of showing how we came upon the warehouse to the guards when we find the mushroom kingdom on fire. The Foes of Nature have come back and are burning the underground forest down.

Act 4 Scene 3: Gotta go fast.
We are tasked to tell the senate about the foes of nature and the fire in the sewers, so we set off quickly with everyone. Several cultists chase after us, but we have enough of a head-start that we see daylight before them.

Inspiration point to everyone.

Sanct Holme.

Claims of being a montefeltro. Admission of guilt. Getting the story to the Senate.

Escaping with the Band of the Second Hand.

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You want to know the story of Felix Goldenleaf?

I was born the bastard son of a prostitute named Petunia Goldenleaf in the very Halfling ghetto where we were ambushed. I killed some of the very people I grew up with. My formative years included learning how to lie and steal to keep us afloat after she became too ill to continue working.

The one good thing in my life before Dundenvale was Bruno Trickfoot. He’s the sole reason I was able to get into the Halfling Outriders, a legitimate means to support myself and my mother. For a while, it was good. I had about 2 years of being mentored under Bruno in the outriders before her condition deteriorated rapidly.

Shortly before she died, she gave me a brass signet ring, and told me about my father, who turned out to be Rupert Honeywheat, the wealthy Halfling Man who was standing next to the Halfling Senator. When I told him who I was back then, he had me beaten within an inch of my life and thrown out of town. He had plans for himself that didn’t include illegitimate kids coming out of the woodwork. He was rich 5 years ago, and now he’s probably the single most powerful Halfling in Peckal.

Life over, right? Not quite, because Bruno swooped in once again with this brilliant idea of riding out to this little town where his cousins lived and setting me up with a fresh start. Unfortunately, we were ambushed by Hobgoblin raiders on our way there, and he died ensuring that I managed to escape.

I couldn’t see any reason why anyone would take me in without Bruno, so I decided my only option was to subsume his identity. Fortunately, his cousins hadn’t actually met him yet. I’ve been trying to live up to his name as best as I could, because I know that the wrong one of us died that day.

So before you get on your highhorse about honesty, remember that you’ve all had the luxury of being born someone who was worth a damn. You know what I got? A dead prostitute mother and a father who is currently plotting my murder. I had to claw my way up from nothing and I’m still shit.

Nothing I do will ever be enough to repay my debt to Bruno Trickfoot, but I’ve spent enough time drinking away my guilt…It’s time for change.

Asher Tradefolk Male Tiefling Infernal Warlock of Chain Pact – Outlander??

Arianthana Dawnchaser Female Wood Elf Paladin – Oath of ?? – Hermit??

Bruno Trickfoot

Korra Lander Female Human Fighter Battlemaster – Noble

Piero Malatesta

Lucius – Human Cleric of Freedom

‘Aegis’ -

h3. Adventuring Party
In a wagon among the caravaneers headed from the port city of Baneta to the capital city of Bet Rogala.

Asher Tradefolk Male Tiefling Infernal Warlock of Chain Pact – Outlander??

Arianthana Dawnchaser Female Wood Elf Paladin – Oath of ?? – Hermit??

Bruno Trickfoot

Korra Lander Female Human Fighter Battlemaster – Noble

Piero Malatesta

Lucius – Human Cleric of Freedom

‘Aegis’ and ‘Stalwart’ too OVERLY non-descript ‘refugees’

NPC Party Members the in Wagon:

Fey Fiancee
Pixie Guard
Goblin Twins
Cleric of Fate

Party Members “in Reserve”

Abadon, the Mage

Summary of Session

The trip from Baneta was hand-waved away. They fell in with a caravan heading to Bet Rogala (the capital) for the safety and company of other travelers. Baneta adventures will happen on the way back. They still have not reported on the activity of the Slavers on the Renador River.

The party was joined by Lucius (a Cleric of Freedom), and two very stereotypically filthy commoner humans going by ‘Aegis’ and ‘Stalwart.’ ‘Stalwart’ and ‘Aegis’ sought Lukas Travail the Folk Hero and were directed by the Cleric of Fate towards the party. The Cleric of Freedom is going to the Capital to receive supplies to reopen the temple in Dundenvale after the disapperance of their resident cleric.

Korra’s deep seated respect for the clerics of that faith lead her to invite Lucius to join them for meals where as Pierro and Bruno were enthralled with the ballads of bar room brawls by Aegis and Stalwart. Arianthana, an overly kind and trusting individual, took pity on these individuals and also desired to share provisions with each of these fellow travelers.

The Goblin twins, as well as the Fey joining on the trip had to be kept out of trouble but that is a story for another time.

Initially Korra was very suspicious of these men demanding to speak with her adoptive father figure. ‘Stalwart’ seemed very distasteful of humans which increased the suspicious of the others. Pierro’s keen eyes saw that the individuals were disguised, but no one knew who they really were or why. The pair revealed themselves to be Aegis of Doulatharion and Flyn’nt ’ender of Karasta. An elf and a dwarf both fleeing oppression, conquest, and enslavement in Kalamar to Pekal in hopes of finding aid for the plights of their respective peoples.

Almost as soon as this reveal occurred, dozens of bolts pierced the wagon in which everyone was speaking in hushed tones. The Cleric of Fate was felled and Pierro was bit deep by a sliver-tipped bolt, the pain shocked him but barely did not drop him. A cry of “Here Comes Halfling Death!” arose and battle was joined. Bruno was the first to act and tried to see why a ‘Halfling Cleaner Crew’ was attacking the party. The Caravan had slowly left them behind as they talked and the halflings going about their business in the shantytown slum had revealed themselves to be a gang of well armed hitmen replete with a mini – onager and dog chariots to chase down the wagon as they fled. Before losing consciousness the Cleric of Fate cast a spell to keep the Oxen moving the wagon forward despite their many wounds.

The Dwarf used a taste test to not only determine that the bolts were made of myriad metals such as: silver, adamantium, steel, cold iron, and mithril; but that the bolts were poisoned as well! Only his dwarven constitution saved him from the poison which would feel other members of the party. The rest of the party took to arms and tried to defend the wagon as best they could from the charioteers. Arianthana bravely (and perhaps foolishly as well) leapt out to disable the onager from firing but was quickly felled by the dozens of halfling hitmen. The misfire of the onager set part of the shantytown ablaze. Bruno’s fey fiancee used her pixie dust to spread confusion amongst the halflings and the party managed to fend off the charioteers.

The Dwarf fell wounded from the careening cart as it lost a wheel and pierro leapt out to retrieve the dwarf while the cleric and Aegis tried to get arianthana back on her feat. Bruno’s boon proved useful in keeping the cart running on it’s three wheels and administered a potion to the downed cleric.

Aegis had to be thrown a rope. He used his shield so as not to be drug bloody behind the wagon as he tried to take parting shots at the halflings whom were dealing with the oil slick overturned by the other party members.

Implications of the Revelations

Distribution of Rewards including INSPIRATION Points

As mentioned Inspiration has moved from a binary condition to a ‘pool’ of dice like certain feats and class features. A mixture of XP and Inspiration Points will be awarded for good roleplay, facilitation of fun, and maintenance of the campaign world. Occasionally special equipment may be distributed for these factors as well. An MVP will be voted upon by the players after each session following a short discussion whom shall receive a reward of the kind noted above.

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Prelude Session # 3:

Adventuring Party:

Leon Lander: Male Human Cleric of the Free
Lukas Travial: Male Human ?Champion Fighter?
Kordis: Male Tinker gnome Paladin (?devotion?) of Mechanus now DECEASED
Caldo Malatesta: Male Human Rogue?
TelAmothan: ‘Female Human’ Druid?
Halfling Wild Sorcereress Shawna Sourleaf
Fey Warlock?

“Reserve” Party Members

Elsa: Female Half-Elf Bard of Lore – player not present

Dwarven Barbarian
Kuroper the Ranger
Diviner Wizardess

Summary of Session

Mephits in workshop largely defeated, Eye of Annhilation retconned with Froggoroth, mephit uncorked and workshop destroyed.

Second encounter the Clan of the Claw mercenary group. Human child gets away. Party bypasses combat at this juncture through strenuous negotiations.

Third encounter: the Foes of Nature: dual summoning ritual. Caldo slays the summoner (interesting family tradition again) and when asked for mercy whispers ‘no.’ Anti-Elemental Anti-Iconic Genasi Party. Hordes of mephits. Shwana takes control of them and escapes. Paladin of Mechanus dies protecting the party’s retreat?

Implications of the Revelations

Asher Tradefolk revealed

Distribution of Rewards including INSPIRATION Points

As mentioned Inspiration has moved from a binary condition to a ‘pool’ of dice like certain feats and class features. A mixture of XP and Inspiration Points will be awarded for good roleplay, facilitation of fun, and maintenance of the campaign world. Occasionally special equipment may be distributed for these factors as well. An MVP will be voted upon by the players after each session following a short discussion whom shall receive a reward of the kind noted above.

In the Second Generation all characters whom joined will start with ONE Inspiration point for having participated in this adventure.

Another inspiration point my be earned for posting in the RP Discussion thread wrapping up the 1st Gen adventure.

A third inspiration point will be granted by an MVP vote.

A fourth inspiration point may be received as a reward for good RP or facilitation of fun (helping out with the games aka ‘Brownie Points’).

Totals to be posted later after MVP and RP discussions. Players have until wednesday July 8th to post on these two threads.

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Prelude Session # 2:

Adventuring Party:

Leon Lander: Male Human Cleric of the Free
Lukas Travial: Male Human ?Champion Fighter?
Kordis: Male Tinker gnome Paladin (?devotion?) of Mechanus
Caldo Malatesta: Male Human Rogue?

“Reserve” Party Members

TelAmothan: ‘Female Human’ Druid? – player not present
Elsa: Female Half-Elf Bard of Lore – player not present

Dwarven Barbarian
Kuroper the Ranger
Halfling Wild Sorcerer
Diviner Wizardess
Fey Warlock?

Summary of Session

A spooky of skelingtons (new official name for a group of skeletons) wielding sword, shield, and bow was turned by the cleric Leon. They retreated further into the skultop hillock as vortices of magic manifested strange effects. Caldo’s INCREDIBLY active and varied social life assisted the party in the stories he heard from whores up and down the Renaarian coast including a particular tale from a courtesan in the City of Bats. The spooky of skelingtons rallied in the dwarven tomb of Tulwar Goblin-Bane whom defeated a might Hobgoblin army. Tulwar was hated by his dwarven army but so feared that he was buried with full honors lest his wrath came back from the grave and cross the continent to haunt the survivors of the battle. Despite Lukas and Kordis forming a “stairway of steel” with their shields, Tulwar’s sarcophagus was distrubed in the fight and his adamantine spiked mountain plate and magic sword as well as the rug animated to attack the party. Kordis had precious little time to complete a ritual to quite the restless spirit of the warlord made more complicated by the attacking animated armaments. Each person added a line to the prayers or a gift to the vain spirit as Lukas fought bravely against all three foes. His amazing sturdy jaw took many a blow from an adamantine fist but still he stood (though barely) at the end of the melee. Caldo managed to provoke the smothering carpet into attacking and binding the animated armor by bear-hugging one onto another with his last health point. Caldo added Silversand, and Leon a pig to roast to the offerings. Elsa handled the cooking (which is now a tool proficiency much like the disguise kit). Gold and incense were piled upon a wooden altar and Kordis was struck with visions of mechanus and beings that dared to dice with gods.

It must be remembered that Kalamar, like ancient Rome, is polytheistic and so while a city or a family may have a patron god only a fool would dare risk angering the god of travel or sea before a long voyage despite whichever their usual patron diety. In fact, enormous temples like the real world Pantheon exist in most large cities where a single god is praised above others (the patron) but all gods, even evil gods, are given offerings. When a plague comes either one gives tribute to the Cult of Hygenie, or to the Priests of the Rotlord. The first is to return health and the second is to convince the PlagueBringer to take his twisted gift of disease and afflict them on another! Moreover only the most foolhardy would dare to draw the attention and ire of such a powerful malevolence as an evil god. Thus Paladins are Champions of a SINGLE diety but Clerics must have a more general understanding of the Pantheon to which they belong.

The prayers and favors were heard, not just be Mechanus which is well pleased by the offering of a favored gnomish son but by the intervention of the Cleric Leon Lander whom beseeched 21 gods of good, freedom, chaos, and neutrality for their intervention. This show of piety will not go unrewarded. All characters receive a FULL HIT DIE of healing as well as the effect of the GUIDANCE cantrip. Moreover ONLY the players present each receive an extra inspiration point.

Now the party ventures ever deeper to face the monstrous Clan of the Claw and the fearsome Foes of Nature.

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Prelude / Prequel Session # 1:

Adventuring Party:

Elsa: Female Half-Elf Bard of Lore
Leon Lander: Male Human Cleric of the Free
TelAmothan: ‘Female Human’ Druid?
Lukas Travial: Male Human ?Champion Fighter?
Kordis: Male Tinker gnome Paladin (?devotion?) of Mechanus
Caldo Malatesta: Male Human Rogue?

“Reserve” Party Members

Dwarven Barbarian
Kuroper the Ranger
Halfling Wild Sorcerer
Diviner Wizardess
Fey Warlock?

Summary of Session

Just over two decades ago a band of adventurers went to stop a reported demonic ritual at skulltop hillock. As green smoke and orange flame filled the eyes of the dread fort the adventurers arrived to put an end to the demonic rituals they were told were taking place. There motivations and patrons are myriad for what they admit is their last adventure together after many years of working together. Some may not survive facing this excursion against elemental evil.

The party slew a group of orcs in the Jaw gate but noticed that their gear seemed strange and they had upon them unusual brands. Lukas the * noted that the murder holes in the SkullMaw gatehouse were not used in the fight but the sounds of boiling and roiling was detected.

The brave band pressed forward and next they battled a group of a half dozen myconids armed with spider silk & chitin armor and weapons. Telamothon noted that it is unusual for myconids to be so aggressive. Some of the bodies were burned badly but others were left to fester in the halls as time appears to be of the essence.

In their third battle they faced an ettercap and its giant spiders whom wrestled Caldo from the ground in its garotte despite their cunning plan to stealthily ambush their next foe. Alas, the legendary Malatesta boldness was in full display and the rest of the party had to rush forward to save him from the nigh invisible strands that choked the life from their swashbuckling friend. Despite the beast’s malice they let it go free in exchange for warnings and knowledge of the Elemental Evils they would face deeper in Skulltop Hillock.

The assortment of monsters was strange, their behaviours curious as you all venture deeper into the dungeon. Not everyone trusts the words of the freed ettercap but if it’s words ring true then ahead lay many and myriad mephits as well as piercers, a minotaur, undead, and those touched by the gifts of demons and dragons.

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The Party

Abadon, the Mage
Asher Tradefolk
Arianthana Dawnchaser
Bruno Trickfoot
Korra Lander
Piero Malatesta

Background

Deciding on heading towards Baneta, the party lashed three wagons together as a makeshift boat.

The Story

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