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Quiet Before the Storm (Part One)

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27 Gildember thru 27 Darkember 348 AC Arthur sheaths Lawbringer and picks up his winged shield. "By Malazzarr, I hope I can get this fixed," he breathes heavily and leans on his sword for a bit of support "Everyone okay?" Romulus looks at the shield. "Most of that should buff right out. We'll grab some walnut oil back in town and get you set up." Once the party returns to Silvanost, the halfling fits the newly enchanted onyx into Dickory's Clock. The other two gems, an amethyst and a tiger's eye, flash as their new companion piece is inserted. The entire bracer glows for about a minute, emitting an aura that extends perhaps a finger's width above the leather before slowly being absorbed back into the material. Once the mystical, time-manipulating bracer has been repaired, Romulus returns it to Raven. He then writes about the ritual the group performed and observations he made during the subsequent battle. While Romulus is working on his...

Dramatis Personae - Revised

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Arthur Fumeridge of Lankhmar - a native Lankhmarite and veteran of the War of the Rats. He received a scar across his face from a wererat's claws. The son of a wealthy merchant, he took his pay out at the end of his enlistment and opened a brewery without his family's financial support - the Penetrating Pony, a name chosen specifically to embarrass his mother. Wise investments led to him becoming one of the wealthiest citizens of Lankhmar . He is the First Paladin of Malazzarr . Cedron Maghnus III - born in Aquilonia on the world of Hyboria, Cedron took to adventuring after his fiance was murdered. He found solace in the faith of Malazzarr soon after the god reclaimed his divinity. He is often the spokesman for the group, dispensing advise and wisdom in times of trouble. He wears the Witching Cloak , a powerful artifact taken from Boy Blue in the Grimmlands and carries a pouch of magical seeds that are used to create portals joining the worlds the party has visited.  Grott...

Silvanost - Battling the Dimensional (Parts 7 thru 10)

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More arcane words flow from Romulus' lips as he continues spinning the enchantment to trap χρόνος. The Time Dimensional becomes increasingly frantic, straining against the prison that confines him. Its roars echo inside the minds of all of the gathered party members. χρόνος's two remaining duplicates, realizing that Ra’ziir is least affected by their aging touch turn upon Raven with a vengeance. Sweeping tendrils of orange smoke swipe at the swordsman. He gives ground, retreating backwards while circling slowly to the right, causing the creatures to pursue. Nightwatcher and Thorgrim move constantly, weaving an enchanted barrier adamantite and cold iron that holds the dimensionals at bay. Raven doesn't even attempt to counter, confident in his ability to defend himself from nearly all of their attacks for eighteen more seconds despite the pain growing in his knees. Noticing the effects from the Dimensional’s attack, Ra’ziir quickly chants, " Speculum imaginem." ...

Keep on the Barrie Grange

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I keep mentioning that Kysek is the Knight of the Barrie Grange but it occurs to me that I have never really mentioned where exactly that is. The fort was designed using the 3.5e Stronghold Builder's. Kysek's keep is located in the Goralian Hills, just short of the Cimmerian border. The previous master, Sir Gasparas, performed as little maintenance as possible. After his treachery against the crown was uncovered, King Conan the Usurper granted the fallen knight's title and lands to Kysek Creepingshadow. The “castle” is little more than a frontier fort surrounded by rocky land unsuitable for significant farming, although the commoners in the area raise livestock (pigs, goats, sheep and chickens) here. Despite the lack of care put into its upkeep, the fort is well designed and defensible. Parts of the wooden palisade had rotted away and weeds had overtaken the bailey. Roofs of several buildings were in need of attention but the stables were in excellent condition. The obvi...

Raven - Creation Influences

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Raven is based largely on Madmartigan from "Willow". This is probably not that unexpected. Madmartigan claims to be "the Greatest Swordsman that Ever Lived." But, you may be surprised to learn that he is also based on Ernie Keebler. Green Coat? ✔️           White Shirt? ✔️  Yellow Pants? ✔️         Red Shoes? ✔️  The only thing I can't get my image generator to make correctly is his hat which should look like the one worn by Zorro, but red instead of black. It keeps making him look like an escapee from the set of a "Three Muskateers" movie, or worse, like Will Turner at the end of the first "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Silvanost - Battling the Dimensional (Parts 5 & 6)

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Romulus continues his spellcasting, his total concentration focused on χρόνος and the binding magic. χρόνος rages against the enchantments being laid upon him then suddenly stops. A voice speaks directly into their minds. "You cannot hope to contain my corporeal form. Cease your attempt or I shall visit my vengeance upon you and your forebears, erasing you from existence." The two duplicates facing Raven redouble their efforts. Both attack with great, sweeping arcs of their tendrils. Raven's blades weave a mesmerizing dance of defense, reaching out to parry swings before they can generate any momentum, anticipating the intended angles of their blows. With each deflected or interrupted blow, he snips away shreds of cloud-infused limbs. The creature sickened by Ra’ziir's smoking sword peels away from the bladesinger and washes over one of Shadow's summoned angels. Both visibly speed up, vanishing in the ether as they slip out of the timeline. Ra’ziir maintains hi...

Monster Truckers - Gordon the Gill-Man

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I promise that I am working on the next part of the binding of Time Dimensional but I had an idea for another Monster Trucker character so I thought I would do it up real quick. NAME: Gordon CB HANDLE: Chum Bucket Height: 7'4"     Weight: 300 lbs.     Eyes: Black     Hair: None     Age: 93 MONSTER TYPE: Gill-Man ARCHETYPE: Brawny Background: Hailing from the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, Gordon is just trying to make an honest living. Description: Gordon has pronounced lips and moss green scales all over his body, as well as gills located on the sides of his head which is directly connected to his shoulders. Perks: Claws, Good Swimmer, Night Vision Quirks: Girl Crazy, Smells like fish I thought a fish man dressed like the Gorton's Fisherman would be an awesome character visual. Gordon: male Sahuagin CR: 2     Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Aquatic) HD: 2d8+2 (14 ...

Silvanost - Battling the Dimensional (Parts 3 & 4)

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  26 Gildember 348 AC Romulus continues chanting, weaving his spell of binding, bolstered by the efforts of Ra’ziir and Kysek. His voice, strident against the roar of χρόνος, pitches low and high, shifting seamlessly between the Draconic, Elven, and Natherese tongues - each word crafted, chosen for the singular goal of binding the Dimensional. χρόνος continues to throw itself against the confines of the magical circle, seeking an escape from the mystic trap that holds it. The duplicates surge forward, two moving against Raven, one against Grotto, and the final one against Arthur. The pair fighting the elf spread out, one seeking to engage him while the other slips past. Raven once again manages to dodge the first attack and parries the other, bringing up both of his swords in an "X" to turn the blow aside. Raven continues to fight defensively, swatting enemies to keep them away from the spellcasters. He jukes left and then reverses course back to the right. The flat of Ni...

Throwback Post - A Cure for Jack

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  "Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after. Up Jack got, and home did trot, As fast as he could caper, To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob With vinegar and brown paper." While the party was in the Grimmlands , they discovered that Jack, Ruler of the Checkerboard Kingdoms, had vanished. His queen, Jill, had been searching for him and enlisted the party's aid. My original plan was to have the party find Jack and then take him to Dame Dob to heal his injury and have his memory restored. The group came up with the idea to restore his memory with a True Love's Kiss. I hadn't even thought of that being an option but it was so much better and fit the setting better thematically so I ran with it. In the final battle with Humpty Dumpty the Rotten King, Cinderella, Maleficent, the Fallen Muse, and Grotto's brother, Delve , the group managed to reunite Jack and Jill in time for he...

Why We Haven't Changed Systems

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I came across an article the other day and it got me to thinking. Look at your character sheet. Think about the time and effort that went into making the character that piece of paper (or electronic screen) that represents. I converted from 2nd edition to 3rd and then to 3.5. It took hours, in some cases a day or two, to switch from one ruleset to the next while maintaining the original "feel" of the characters.  I have the 5e books. I read through them. There is NO WAY that I could take the characters we have and faithfully adapt them to the new rules. I may as well just start over. But we haven't reached the end of our story yet. I want to see how it all turns out.  So, at least for this campaign, I'm sticking to 3.5e.

Silvanost - Battling the Dimensional (Part 1 & 2)

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26 Gildember 348 AC As Romulus' circle closes, χρόνος begins to rapidly flicker in and out of visibility, hurling itself against the inside of the magical circle. Each impact causes orange smoke to roll up the sides of the unseen barrier. The cloud rears back, taking on a vague humanoid shape that extends an arm. Droplets of mist spray from the cloud, spattering the invisible wall before slowly oozing down like rain on a windowpane. An angry, thunderous roar, more felt than heard resonates through the ground, sending vibrations up through the soles of the party's feet and sets their teeth to chattering. The roar is answered by a chorus of similar calls. At the edge of the trees, an orange mist, rises like ground fog from the forest floor. It flows along the surface, separating into four individual columns that rise up to a height of ten feet and begin gliding toward the party. Raven eases forward, moving between χρόνος 's duplicates and the spellcasters. Arthur and Grotto...