Campaign Chronicles

I came down with a touch of the flu a few days ago. I will leave the more disgusting details to your imaginations but my wife assures that at no point did I become a whiny %$@#. After downing enough DayQuil to render a water buffalo unconscious, I slept until about 2 in the afternoon and then worked my night job as normal (well, maybe a little slower than usual but you get the idea). That got me to thinking about how I had White Man Medicine - Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, DayQuil,* and Sprite - to thank for my speedy recovery. And that, in game, characters should have access to something similar (because in my campaigns, Clerics are always hard to come by). Any character who finds himself the victim of a non-cursed disease who takes White Man's Medicine gains a +2 saving throw bonus to recover from the disease while a healer treating an infected character gains a +2 bonus to all skill/non-weapon proficiency checks related to the care of that individual. * A ...

Day Five of the Odinsleep (Just after 1:20 am, 5 hours 40 minutes until sunrise) The woman pours Ra’ziir a drink before filling her own cup. “You are one of the mortal warriors who fought alongside Idunn this past day, are you not?” The woman phrases her words as a question but it is obvious from her tone that she already knows this to be true. The old man adds, “I would think that even a Ljósálfr as yourself would require rest after the day’s exertions. What troubles cause you to wander so late into the night?” Ra’ziir accepts the cup and thanks the woman before answering the old man’s question, “Indeed, sir. While the elves of my world need only take the briefest of respites, it is not a daily requirement for us and my thoughts linger on a puzzle of sorts.” Wary of sharing information with these strangers, the elf-emental turns his arcane gaze upon them. As near as the bladesinger can determine, these two are exactly what they appear to be a father and daughter sharing a late-nig...

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) Knives and Chronosaj make their way down the darkened path. They are forced several times to duck low hanging branches that seem to reach out to grab at their cloaks or step over vines reaching for their boots. This late at night, everything has a hushed quality, as if the night is holding its breath in anticipation for the arrival of the day. The foliage high above rustles in the light breeze but on the forest floor, nothing stirs. Only the light of the two adventurers glowing weapons provide any illumination in the darkness. More wolves howl in the distance. A deeper throatier howl echoes off the boughs in response but, as yet, there is no sight of the predators. Chronosaj’s mind flashes back to the dungeon in King Jack’s castle and the beast that was caged within. While most of the group saw the muzzle and fangs of a large black wolf, Raven and Korbin both saw a matronly grandmother with a shawl draped over her shoulders. He hopes that...

18th day of the Month of Conflict, 126th Year of Factol Haskar’s Administration The wraith leads Jamaros back up the stairs, out through the Butcher Block’s taproom, and into the street. Antipeak is fast approaching, the darkest time of what passes for night in the city. The streets are nearly deserted, the homeless and destitute having fled to whatever hidey-holes they can find while “respectable” citizens are long since home abed. Those few travelers the undead pair does pass are often denizens of some lower plane or Harmonium patrols on the prowl, looking for order to enforce. The wraith’s path unexpectedly turns toward the finer parts of the city. The slums and tenements of the Hive give way to rows of government buildings lining either side of the street and then to palatial homes surrounded by high walls along well-lit and cleanly swept avenues. Even these give way to something colder, something that “feels” more aloof and distant as the pair enters the Lady’s Ward. Cold wh...

One of the very first articles I wrote was about a Star Wars campaign I ran that heavily featured Podracing .   A lot of effort went into preparing the campaign, from mapping out the courses from Racer’s Revenge to coming up with a race schedule for the season. I even made a homebrewed track on Hoth for the group to race on and drew a map for it.   (I really like how it turned out so I am sharing it with all of you today.   The “published” ones from Racers' Revenge were cool and all but this one just “felt” more lived in to me and my players). For those of you who have no interest in podracing or running a Star Wars campaign that features it, this track could be used for a horse (or ostrich or giant lizard, etc) race with different obstacles that the player characters must win to gain the favor of some NPC or achieve another goal they have been pursuing in your campaigns at home.   Either way, I hope you all enjoy! Details of the Hoth Cross Country P...

I have yet another weird NPC for all of you today.   While digging through some of my old notebooks the other day, I came across this character.   I finished filling in some of the details and am presenting it to all of you now.   I hope you enjoy. "So the cat shredded the drapes?   I think we have probable claws . " — Lawyer Dog Lawyer Dog Male Upright Corgi Dog Expert 1 NG Small Animal Init: +3, Senses: Listen +5, Spot +1; Low-Light Vision, Scent Languages: Read/Write Common and 2 others AC: 16 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural); t: 15; ff: 13 Hp: 8 (1HD) Immune: - - Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +3 Spd: 40’ (8 squares) BAB/Grap: +0/-9 Melee +2 Bite: 1d3-1 (20/x2) Combat Gear: - - Str 9 (-1), Dex 17 (+3), Con 15 (+2), Int 14 (+2), Wis 12 (+1), Cha 9 (-1) SA: Cross-Examine/Objection SQ: Low-Light Vision; Scent; Skill Versatility, Upright Animal Template Feats: Skill Focus (Knowledge – Local), Track (b) Skills: Diplomacy +3, Gather Information +3, Ju...

A little backstory... The party has just defeated Yara of the Elephant Tower in the city of Arenjun. The princess Jehnna has arrived to restore order along with a small entourage. Satisfied that their work is done, the adventurers have left town, bound for their next destination. At this point, I included a Random Encounter - a shady spice merchant named Barastes and his parner Samarides bringing a caravan of wagons bringing trade goods (and certain valuables hidden beneath the floorboards of his wagon to avoid paying tariffs) into the city. I thought this would provide a little bit of flavor (no pun intended). The players were all convinced that there was Something More Going On. If you have been following my stories, you know that Play-by-post is an incredibly slow format. While I do not want to railroad the players, any deviation from the actual story can lead to weeks of delay and non-progression of the actual plot. But for some reason, they wouldn't let this go. ...

18th day of the Month of Conflict, 126th Year of Factol Haskar’s Administration It, whatever It is, reaches the center of the ring.   Felgar gulps and takes several steps back, a cold sweat beading on his brow and he licks his lips.   The gnome falls back even further when a hollow voice speaks from within the hood “Come with me.   My master has need of you.   Do well and you will be richly compensated.” Jamaros turns his head to face the robed figure, “You will have to wait.   I am in the middle of talking to this one,” he indicates Felgar with a jerk of his thumb, “so be patient or you will end up like the Walrus.” The wraith’s robes flutter in an unfelt breeze.   The fighting chamber grows colder and Felgar swallows, his breath fogging in the cool air.   “It’s alright.   I kin wait til another time.”   The filthy creature backs away several feet, his eyes never leaving the wraith as he circles around the far side of the r...