Campaign Chronicles

Another Throwback Post to the time when the party was trapped in the Grimmlands . The group had arrived in Spinnenbruch on their way to the Fortress of the Three Pigs on the day of the Festivus Competition. I have edited out the parts that are not directly related to the contest itself but Cedron and Kysek were speaking with Niklas, (who had not even joined the party yet) to learn more about the deadly dungeon that lay ahead of them. Meanwhile, Grotto was catching up with his brother Mormund whom he had not seen in several years. I determined the results of the contest with a series of Constitution checks, adding up the results as I went. Any contestant who failed would either get sick, choke, or pass out and would then be eliminated. The top four contestants then moved on to the Airing of Grievances with Charisma checks measuring crowd responses and the top finalist earned the privilege of wrestling with Piotr (of "Peter and the Wolf" fame) for the title of Festivus Champi...

The party first met Mary Sawyer and her ram companion, Aries while traveling through the Checkerboard Kingdoms with Jill, wife of King Jack . The group was on its way to the pasture of the Cow That Jumped Over the Moon so they could ask the Man (although they would later learn that it was Men) in the Moon if he had seen what had happened to Jack after he fell from the Hill. Mary was investigating several missing people and suspected Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue of engaging in human trafficking to replace sheep they had irresponsibly lost/killed/allowed to die. A brief battle ensued that resulted in the two erstwhile slavers being brought to justice and Cedron acquiring the Witching Cloak. Mary Sawyer : female Grimmlands Human Ranger 4 CR: 4     Medium Humanoid (Human) HD: 4d8+4 (24 hp) Init: +3     Spd: 30'     AC: 17 (Masterwork Studded Leather Armor, Masterwork Light Wooden Shield, +3 Dex); t: 13, ff: 14 Attacks: (B...

In the Grimmlands , most dwarves are carved from stone in sets of seven. Entire villages devote themselves to the creation of their next generation. As such, they are "born" fully grown and with an adult's knowledge of their history and chosen craft, whether it be smithing, masonry, tinkering, or brewing. Male and female dwarves can reproduce in the same manner as other races but this is uncommon as it is considered highly inefficient. Grotto's "batch" of dwarves, and their current fates are as follows: Candor (1 of 7), Candor was considered to be the bravest and most noble of the seven. He was killed by Delve during a goblin raid on their village. Delve (2 of 7), Delve was jealous of all of his brothers, vengeful and petty. He murdered Candor when goblins attacked their village. He served as Chief Executioner for Humpty Dumpty the Rotten King and Queen Cinderella. He was killed by Grotto in the battle at Jack and Jill's castle that restored Jack to th...

Once upon a time, there was nothing - no light, no sound, no worlds or stars.  There was no way to know how many infinities the nothing lasted for because there was no way to gauge the passage of time.  Only the dark goddess Shar existed and She was content. Then, one day, the universe began – filled with an infinite array of life, light and sounds and the goddess was wroth.  She sought to unmake everything and return to the primordial nothingness that existed before. The other gods and goddesses rose to oppose Her, both directly and through mortal agents.  One band of these agents did battle with Shar's minions in a hidden temple beneath the city of Tsuragol and put everyone of them to the sword . Shar swore vengeance, not because She cared for Her followers but because the adventurers failed to cower in awed fear before Her.  The goddess, bound by strictures dictating that She could not directly interfere in the realm of mortals, watched and waited. The adve...

Dating back to March of 2016, in this scene, the party learns that the Mayor of Hamelin has squandered the entirety of the city budget on new clothes instead of paying the Pied Piper for taking care of the city's rat problem... Ra'ziir turns his gaze upon the tailor, his arcane sight sweeping across the tailor’s hands and sees that there is no cloth, no thread, invisible or otherwise. He snatches the man by the wrist, "I don't know what this scoundrel has told you, Mr. Mayor, but it seems pretty clear that he has pulled the proverbial wool over your eyes!"  The tailor snatches his hand away, rubbing at his bruised wrist, and smiles at the Mayor, sweat beading along his hairline, "See your honor? It is just as I said."  The mayor nods, "Worry not, fair travelers. You see these clothes are made from the most magnificent fabrics imaginable. Not only are colors and patterns uncommonly fine, but clothes made of this cloth have a wonderful way of becom...

 14 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) Knives, Chronosaj, and the two travelers they rescued from Rapunzel's Tower spend two days walking through the Great and Awful Forest. While the group walks, the adventurers speak with Anna and Kristoff about the events leading to their capture. The kingdom they come from, Arendelle, is threatened by the Southern Isles following the events surrounding the coronation of Anna's sister, Elsa . Anna and Kristoff were sent on a mission to recruit support from Rapunzel, only to discover that she had been killed and her body animated by a colony of spiders. Neither knows precisely how long they had been prisoners but it is likely that several weeks had passed. Finally, the castle of Jack Nimble came into view. It had been several months since either Knives or Chronsaj had laid eyes on the place. Still. they had good reason to expect a warm welcome, given their roles in helping overthrow the Rotten King Humpty Dumpty and his vicious queen...

The Giant Slayer, Sir Jack Horner Nimble of the Beanstalk, King of the Grimmlands Jack appears to be a quiet and unassuming fellow. His dark blond hair is shaggy and he has blue eyes. He is unshaven, with at least a three-day growth of beard covering his face and chin. • Note:  This Jack is most of those Jack's. He just hasn't reached the end of his stories yet. Human male Fighter 11/Ranger 3/Rogue 4 CR: 18 Medium Humanoid (Human) HD: 11d10+33 plus 3d8+9 plus 4d6+12 Hp: 145 Init: +4 Spd: 30’ AC: 24 (+4 Dex, Studded Leather +5; Ring of Protection +2); t: 16; ff: 24 Attacks: (BAB +18; Grap +21); +24/+19/+14/+9 Deus Misereatur: 1d8+10 (20/x2, plus 2d6+2 vs Giants) – or – +24/+19/+14/+9 Stalkchopper: 1d6+5 (20/x3) – or – +22/+17/+12/+7 Deus Misereater AND +22 Stalkchopper : 1d8+10 (19-20/x2, plus 2+2 vs giants) AND 1d6+4 (20/x3) SA: Favored Enemy (Giants +2); Sneak Attack +2d6; Combat Style (Two-Weapon Fighting) SQ: Fairy Tale Immortality; Evasion...

“ Rapunzel” N Diminutive Vermin (Swarm) Init: +3, Senses: Tremorsense 30’ Languages: Speak Common AC: 12 (+2 Dex); t: 12, ff: 10 Hp: 9 (2HD) Immune: as Swarm (see below) Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0 Spd: 20’ (4 squares), climb 20’ Melee +1 Unarmed: 1d3 nonlethal Grapple +5 Hair: entangle foes, 50’ reach Combat Gear: - - Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 2 SA: Improved Grab, Poison, SQ: Partial Swarm Traits, Prehensile Hair Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes (b) Skills: Climb +12, Hide +4, Listen +5, Spot +5 Possessions: Tattered gowns Height: 5’4”     Weight: 105 lbs. Hair: Blond      Eyes: Blue Appearance: In life, Rapunzel was a beautiful young woman with long golden hair. After the spiders killed her and began animating her body, they conceal her face with her hair and wear long-sleeved gowns to hide the rest of her dry, desiccated body. “She” walks in a clumsy, disjointed manner and her voice is harsh and raspy. • P...

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) While Chronosaj heads over to the top of the stairs to keep watch for more spider-infested corpses, Knives moves to the door to the cell that holds the bearded man. He draws the slender tools of his trade, a slim hook and a notched blade that vaguely resembles a city skyline in profile and slips both into the lock. Before he can even begin to apply pressure, the door flies open, slamming the rogue's shoulder and knocking him back. The barrier slams shut instantly, sealing the portal tightly before the prisoner within can even attempt to move forward. The noise draws Chronosaj's attention and he turns just in time to see the door shut. As he starts to move forward to check on his comrade, the walls of the stairwell begin to gnash together. The gunslinger barely leaps aside as everything on the steps is quickly ground into splinters or dust and the mournful wail continues to echo throughout the entire structure. More spid...

When last we left our heroes, Knives and Cronosaj were "on the run" after Knives had "allegedly" embezzled funds from the City of Hamelin while serving as interim Mayor following the scandal involving the Pied Piper . The two adventurers had managed to evade their pursuers and taken shelter in a seemingly-abandoned tower in the Great and Awful Forest . On the second floor, they discovered a pair of prisoners and were attacked by a decrepit and withered hag.... 12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) As the woman staggers forward, Chronosaj pulls both of his scimitars from the two sheathes at his hips.  Fog rolls off of one and settles toward the ground as the icy blade is exposed to the warm nighttime air while the other crackles and sparks with the power of chained electricity.  He raises both, ready to swat away any questing tendrils that reach for him or Knives. Knives turns to face the woman as she staggers into the room, he puffs out his cheeks, seeking t...

A hand pokes out of a barred window in the northernmost door, “Over here! Please, hurry! Before she realizes you’re here!” “Come on, we can’t just leave them to suffer in a place like this!” Chronosaj shouts as he heads to the door. The gunslinger aims his grenade pistol toward the center of the room, ready to adjust his aim to any point where a threat may appear from. Knives joins him a moment later. “If we let this guy out before we clear any danger, we are putting both him and ourselves at risk. If he is bait in a trap or he turns on us, then we are caught between him and whatever else is in this tower with us!”  Chronosaj nods and the hand poking through the bars in the door is replaced with the bearded face of a broad-shouldered man. “Hey, I am perfectly content with waiting as long as you get us out of here. Just don’t be fooled when she…Look out! Here she comes!” A rail thin figure staggers disjointedly down the stairs. The flickering lights reveal a woman...

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) Chronosaj pulls a short, fat pistol from his belt. He shoves a canister into the open end, pulls back on his striker and takes aim at the oncoming swarm. He squeezes the trigger and the pin snaps forward, piercing the firing pin to send the canister rocketing out of the open end of the gun. The canister hits the floor and explodes with a meaty “WHOOMP!” that sprays fire in all directions. Scores of spiders are incinerated and even more are taken out when Knives unleashes another burst of fiery breath. Over the screaming of burning spiders and roar of the flames, two voices call out from somewhere above. A man screams “Hello!? Is there anyone there?” And a woman that cries, “Thank God! Quickly, hurry and get us out of here!” Chronosaj: 86% health Knives: 84% health, 1 fire breaths remaining

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) After a quick conference, Knives and Chronosaj decide to see what is going on above. They begin making their way across the large open chamber toward the stairs. The ex-mayor of Hamelin sweeps his blade up and down I front of him, patting unseen strands of webbing in the dark while the gunslinger does the same with his fiery scimitar. The residents of the webs react instantly to the destruction of their homes and begin to drop en masse from the ceiling and start pouring out of cracks in the floor and walls where crumbling mortar has left gaps over the years. In moments, the floor is alive with a carpet of spiders that scuttle toward the adventurers, venom glistening on their fangs. The swarm expands, growing to cover the entire floor and walls of the circular room. Gossamer filaments of silk trail in the wake of each individual until streams of white overlay the shiny black and brown carapaces. The clicking of thousands of tiny feet and c...

12 Feb 1371 (1828 Grimmlands calendar) The two adventurers look up at the tower. Knives speaks first, “Well, we have two options. We can stay hungry, risk fighting off wolves and keep heading toward Jack’s castle or we can head for the tower in hopes of a hot meal and a bed. Since we destroyed the bridge, they probably won’t be looking for us at the tower but it is possible that those dog men ran to surrounding shelters and put everyone on the lookout for us. This time, I leave the choice to you, my friend.” “Considering we’ve put in some time on foot and we’re certainly no safer camping out in the open, I vote for the tower.” Chronosaj replies. “The tower it is.” The two thieves make their way forward through the darkness. The sounds of the forest become muted and die away as they approach the black-stone structure. Despite a steady breeze, there is no rustling of leaves and no swaying grasses. Everything in the clearing is unusually still. Knives raps with the k...