Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Photos from the Club games

Some shots from other games played at the club:

What a Tanker :










Bolt Action:








Wings of Glory: 


















Tuesday, 28 January 2020

Session 5: "I tell you it was a rug..............was it really now!"

Towerday, 24th day of Rainmoot – 1491 DR (Gnomengarde Cont)

Pre-amble:

Lionel was watching Adabra gathering herbs when he felt a chill pass overhead. Looking up he failed to see Adabra running towards the windmill, shouting "Get inside quick". Lionel stated matter of fact like, "That was it wasn't it?", "Yes, I'm afraid it was the dragon", Adabra quickly added.


Now:

Lionel knew he had to warn the group. So he asked Adabra for directions to Gnomengarde. An hour later he arrived at the gorge with the waterfall. A splash in front of him made Lionel look up and to his right. He could see Eglath standing on a bridge some 50ft above the gorge. Eglath with hand signals made Lionel understand he had to wait and he, Eglath, would come to him. 15 minute later they both returned to the group and Lionel passed on the information that he had sen the dragon, flying over the windmill heading East.

Lionel was quickly brought up to speed and the group then began a systematic search of the throne room, corridors and cave rooms on this side of the waterfall. Crossing the bridge, Heimund forged ahead, closely followed by Eglath.



Both Goliaths had found some steps and quickly went up until they were on an upper gallery looking down on the group below. They both jumped down.

The group continued with the systematic approach until Bandur opened the door to the wine cellar. Splitting up the group began searching various walls, and crannies. Whilst doing so Bandur was attacked by a mimic, a moment later so too was Fargrim. 





(1st Mimic attacks)

 (2nd Mimic attacks)

 (Beorwulf's heroic cartwheeling leap onto the barrels and swings his battle axe down and fells the mimic)


A hard, difficult fight took place until both mimics were killed. The first splattered across the back wall whilst the second collapsed at Fargrims feet and transformed into what looked like an Orc.

It was Heimund that recognised the dead creature to be an Anchorite of Talos, an evil, shape changing half-orc creature he remembered from tales he had heard on his journey's.


(2nd Mimic dies and transforms into the Anchorite of Talos)

The two Gnome Kings, glad that the menace had been disposed of ,gave a hat and a stick to the group in thanks. The Kings organised a big party afterwards and the group settled in to helpings of various mushroom type food, including green bread and wine made from purple mushrooms. They found out that the red mushrooms were pressed and the liquid produced was an oil like liquid that could burn.

It was Lionel the Bard who identified them as items of magic. A hat and wand. 

Lionel used his Spell of Identify and found out that the following were:

Clockwork Amulet: Worn by Fulgrim
This copper amulet contains tiny interlocking gears and is powered by magic from Mechanus, a plane of clockwork predictability. A creature that puts an ear to the amulet can hear faint ticking and whirring noises coming from within.


When you make an attack roll while wearing the amulet, you can forgo rolling the d20 to get a 10 on the die. Once used, this property can’t be used again until the next dawn.
Pole of Collapsing: Carried by Bron
While holding this 10-foot pole, you can use an action to speak a command word and cause it to collapse into a 1-foot-long rod, for ease of storage. The pole’s weight doesn’t change. You can use an action to speak a different command word and cause the rod to revert to a pole; however, the rod will elongate only as far as the surrounding space allows.
Wand of Pyrotechnics:  Carried by Lionel
This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges and create a harmless burst of multicolored light at a point you can see up to 60 feet away. The burst of light is accompanied by a crackling noise that can be heard up to 300 feet away. The light is as bright as a torch flame but lasts only a second.
The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the wand’s last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the wand erupts in a harmless pyrotechnic display and is destroyed.
Hat of Wizardry:  Carried by Bron
This antiquated, cone-shaped hat is adorned with gold crescent moons and stars. While you are wearing it, you gain the following benefits:
  • You can use the hat as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
  • You can try to cast a cantrip that you don’t know. The cantrip must be on the wizard spell list, and you must make a DC 10 Intelligence (Arcana) check. If the check succeeds, you cast the spell. If the check fails, so does the spell, and the action used to cast the spell is wasted. In either case, you can’t use this property again until you finish a long rest.
The hat was given to Bron whilst Lionel kept the wand to use himself.

TBC.

Wednesday, 8 January 2020

Session 4: ‘Onwards and downwards.......you can never tell with Gnomes!’

Towerday, 24th day of Rainmoot – 1491 DR (Cont)



Having saved Adabra Gwynn from the Manticore the group pondered what to do next. Heimund took some souvenirs from the Manticore to make into a trophy to be worn around his neck at a later stage. About 1 hour after the defeat of the Manticore, and as Adabra promised had given the group a letter for Harbin Wester, Bandur turned up.

Lionel decided that Adabra should not be left on her own and decided to stay awhile to make sure everything was ok and maybe learn some herb law to pass away the time.


The group set off for Gnomengarde, after Adabra put them on the right path and gave a brief description of what they were looking for. After 2 hours the group found the river and followed it to its source, a waterfall in a small canyon. On one cliff high up could be seen a wooden contraption which Eglath pronounced was a sophisticated lifting mechanism for goods or individuals. However it was far out of their reach and a sheer climb of over 50ft made them look for easier options. At the base of the waterfall a small lake was formed and on it were 2 islands, on the islands grew gree, red and purple mushrooms. Heimund taking a closer look and tried to spear one fell in up to his waste. 


Someone pointed out there was a slope leading up to an entrance on the other side of the river. "Let me boss", shouted Bandure as he took a running jump and splashed into the shallows, short of the bank on the other side. Fargrim shouted "This is how its done", jumped and was assisted out of the water by Bandur. Eglath waded in beside Heimund. Gimli followed Bandur and Farlgrim into the water and had to be assisted onto the bank. Hagnulf took a longer run up and jumped for all his might, only he too landed short. Wet and bedraggled he too was pulled onto the bank. Last to jump was Beowulf. He jumped far and landed on the far bank, dry.


Getting to the top was the easy part. Trying to find anywhere inside the entrance was to prove, for some, a little bit more tricky. 


After  the initial entrance the 2 Goliaths headed straight in, whilst the remainder headed off to the left. Finding the dining room ( long tables, chairs and a cupboard with plates etc in) and followed another exit by the smells emanating down it to a door. This turned out to be the kitchen, with 5 gnomes called, Dimble, Uppendown (male) and Joybell, Panana, Tervaround (female), making various oddities from the red, green and purple mushrooms. After learning they needed to see the king, neither of whom they had seen for more than 3 days, plus 2 missing gnomes, the group were given a loaf made from green mushrooms and left.




The 2 Goliaths had found an eccentric inventor, called Facktore (female), who tried to use them as target practice for her giant repeating crossbow made from woven mushroom fibres, which of course failed miserably. Heimund and Eglath, after a little confusion, decided to help the erstwhile inventor and find a source of good, hard wood to make a new crossbow out of.


(Facktore and the mushroom crossbow)

Missing each other in the tunnels the 2 Goliaths left the complex by how they entered as the rest of the group passed through the room with the eccentric crossbow inventor and found the way to the bridge that should lead them to the King(s). Bron realised that Beowulf was not behind him nor for how long he had been missing.


The entrance to the far side was shrouded in mist from the nearby waterfall and Bandur, leading, triggered a whirling blade trap. Fargrim followed and was struck too. So too was Gimli and Hagnulf. However Bandur made a further error by thinking he had passed under the blades only to set off a second set. He fell to the floor badly wounded. Hagnulf had spotted the mechanism working the 2 sets of blades and moved to immobilise the threat as Fargrim laid on hands and healed Bandur. Gimli gave further aid and Bandur managed to crawl out of the room into a corridor as Hagnulf pushed a lever up and switched off the whirling blades. Bron had managed to bypass the whirling blades but was glad to join the others.


Advancing further into the complex they found 2 gnomes called, Fibblestib (male and Dabbledob (female), arguing about something to mend their stricken king. Just as suddenly as Brom noticed Beowulf was missing, Beowulf was back with the group. (He was too embarrassed to tell them he had got lost).




After introducing themselves the group worked out there was a problem with the kings, 2 gnomes were missing and asked to be shown to the kings. They identified the treasury and that one of the 2 Gnomes had the key. An empty throne room led to the finding of not one but two secret doors and finally the 2 kings. One glued and restrained in a chair and the other babbling on about being attacked by a rug. (King Korboz, slightly insane and Gnerkli, the one glued and restrained to a chair).



Having cleared the room of potential threats they made their way to the treasury and found after about an hours searching 2 items they thought could be of use. One of which the 2 Gnomes pointed out was good for poking things with, a long pole. The other item had a mechanism of sorts and was worn round the neck. Neither Gnome knew what either item was nor its potential.




Shortly after the group was joined by Heimund and Eglath who had managed to find a tree and drag it to the bottom of the slope, for which the eccentric inventor was eternally glad. Eglath asked the question about a sword, a special sword called Dragon Slayer. They were told the Gnomes had made it but didn't know where it was. The King told them he had heard of a sword called Dragon Slayer. It was given to Lady Alagondar over a century ago. He though the sword was buried with her when she died. He also thought she was a member of the Order of the Gauntlet but he didn't know more about the Order. Eglath and Heimund used their immense strength to pull Gnerkli out of his restraints and free him.


At this point Bandur chipped in as he had found out that Daran Edermath, a silver haired half-elf well over a hundred years old and a retired adventurer who lives in a cottage in Phandalin, was once a member of the Order of the Gauntlet. A devout and vigilant group that seeks to protect others from the depredations of evildoers. Who's main foe is the Cult of the Red Dragon, an offshoot of the old Cult of the Dragon, who's main aim was the resurrection of Tiamat from the Nine Hells.



(A simplified Gnomegarde to ease play 7ftx4ft)

The 2 Gnomes found an old map of Gnomengarde and handed it over to the group.




(TBC)


Friday, 3 January 2020

Session 3: ‘Phandalin - Here's another fine.......or taking Umbrage!’

‘Phandalin - Here's another fine.......or taking Umbrage!’

Towerday, 24th day of Rainmoot – 1491 DR

Having settled into the Stonehill Inn the night before, run by  a very friendly and pleasant human called Toblen Stonehill, they met up with Sildar for breakfast the next day. He thanked them for their assistance but he said he must depart in search of his friends Gundren Rockseeker and Iarno Albrek. Albrek was to have arrived here 3 weeks previous to set up a town constabulary/militia as mining exports expanded.

 Sildar has presumed that the Cragmaw Goblins have waylaid him too. Before he departed he asked Bandur to assist him around the village before he left.

The group overheard a rumour at the bar of the Stonehill Inn about a White Dragon. A lone human fighter tells Toblen not to scoff at what he hasn't seen. He falls in with the group and introduces himself as Bron, fighter, looking for work. He tags along and informs the group they might get more information from the Town master, Harbin Wester.



The town scribe directs them to Westers house as he hasn't seen the Townmaster in 3 days. Scared of white dragons the townmaster refuses to open the door but tells them he'll trust them if they do a few jobs for him, which he will pay them for.

On returning to the Townmaster Hall the scribe gives them 3 of the tasks Harbin left at the Townmasters Hall for anyone willing to complete them, Asking for directions they decide to get Adabra Gwynn, the Midwife, on Umbrage Hill before heading to the Gnomes of Gnomengard, leaving the Dwarven excavations to last.

On approaching Umbrage Hill they observe a flying creature circling the windmill. A women appears shouting for help. Most of the group run towards the windmill as the flying monster (Manticore) attacks. Manticore tail spikes flew at the group causing minor damage. The Manticore circled left. Eglath charged the windmill door, miss timing his charge and head butted the lintel and knocked himself into the ruined fireplace of a ruined building.



Fargrim entered the door as Beowulf and Bron ran around trying to engage the Manticore. Lionel and Hagnulf fired arrow after arrow from a distance but found it difficult to hit the elusive flying terror.

Stepping out from cover Bron fired a crossbow bolt which slammed into the Manticore, followed by a javelin or 2 from Beowulf. Bron was hit twice and fell to the ground mortally wounded. Eglath gained his feet and rushed to his aid, arriving in time to stablise the dying fighter and dragging him into cover.

The Manticore circled back to the right and engaged Gimli. Lionel and Hagnulf moved closer and engaged the Manticore. Heimund charged round the building with Beowulf only to be confronted by the Manticore on the ground. Beowulf fell to the ground badly wounded. Arrows slammed into the Manticore.

Gimli aided Beowulf who recovered quickly enough to launch his last javalin at the Manticore now in full flight away from the battle. It crashed to the ground as Heimund threw an impossibly long throw with his dagger and hit the Manticore felling it for good.

Having fainted at the sight of Eglath picking her up Adabra Gwynn at last awakened to thank the group for saving her. She gave them four potions of healing. Bron took one immediately, so too Beowulf. Eglath stored the remaining two safely in his pack.

Refusing to return to Phandalin she penned a quick note for Harbin Wester which would be enough to secure payment she told them.