This post continues the series of brief play reports I have been posting on Discord. This does not cover every single session (sometimes, recon and setup is what happens), but it covers our ongoing games.
The Divided Palace
News from ULTRAREALITY! Strengthened by Zurv, a caveman fighting-man who entered a strange metal tower on Fomalhaut and fell into ULTRAREALITY’s seas after a long voyage, the company returned to the palace divided by the great force barrier. Investigating a crater in a marshy area from which came a steady hum, they found strange ceramic jars containing a crumbling yellow-green material, which reminded Lilith of the toxic waste found deep beneath the fortress of Velkos Vel; the site was vacated immediately. The next target, a spiral outcropping behind the muddy river, had an entrance at its base with magic sigils. A passage led to a grotto containing a stone bowl containing pulsing, weirdly coloured energy, surrounded by stone pillars graven with glyphs. Figuring this was a containment field, they retreated again. Another entrance was found underneath a terrace, between two enormous stone steles. Low passages led to cramped tunnels choked with sickly vegetation. From the side-chambers came browned, boneless corpses. In the melee, Kallimedon’s fire-whip lit the surrounding plants on fire, resulting in much flame and smoke. Fleeing the conflagration, Malakos IV was grievously burned, and would have died if not for quick surgery. The corpses were dispatched. Following the tunnels led to the palace interior, with a collapsed stairway to the rooftops, and a side-chamber bisected by the force-wall. On this side were jugs and jars; on the other, patchers of the Ochre Death, and many skeletons encrusted with its spores. The dead rose, scratching the force-wall, and telepathically asking the intruders to bring down the barrier and let them out. As this did not seem either feasible or desirable, they drew back. Another room confirmed the decision: a scrawled message read „BEWARE THEIR LIES”. Not wishing to cross the palace’s grand entrance chamber, they climbed to the rooftops to see if there was a way in from up.
There were multiple cupolas, including two cracked ones. From the parapets, they also saw the great worm to the E, crawling out from its muddy pit to drink from a pond of foetid water. The first cupola offered a way down, but was unstable. The second, located in the centre by the force-wall, was more stable. Murat the Etunian rappelled down into a dim grand hall in ruin, bisected by a 40’ chasm. On the other side, many skeletons slumbered among the spores of the Ochre Death. Investigating the chasm, he found what they were looking for: eight enormous, locked chests on the bottom. The rest of the team descended, but the skeletons also arose, demanding to be released. As the first chest was lifted out of the chasm, their telepathic powers took over Malakos IV, but he was too frail to do anything but lash at someone. Ion came up with a clever stratagem, telling the mind-controlling undead that the instruments to bring down the barrier were in the chests, which would have to be emptied to find them. This worked, and the chests were lifted out and cracked open, to reveal a wealth in coinage and mysterious items, quickly loaded into the portable hole. The demands of the skeletons grew harsher, and they were only pacified temporarily. They made another attempt to possess Bocephus, but the magic-user was protected by an amulet vs. mind-control. Bocephus pretended to obey the undead, slowly pulling the remaining chest with him, then dimension doored out of the palace with his gains. The rest ran; the shrieking chorus of the undead angry in betrayal. They took over Kleombrotos, making him attack in berserk fury as he pursued, and as more undead started to come from the side-passages. But they were eventually out of the palace, and out of the mind-control’s range. They left the site quickly, blasting a group of weird pod creatures with a fireball.
Captain Yonon’s
treasure was theirs. As agreed, this was their last adventure in ULTRAREALITY
(for now). The Viridian Star, and its companion ship, the Bringer of
Purple Splendour taken in the siege of the Doorless Arct, sailed through
the seas, too formidable to be targeted by random encounters. Days passed. They
approached the great gateway leading back to Fomalhaut. Here, a final challenge
awaited (a very appropriate random encounter roll): a strange, shimmering
serpentine being of colourful crystal scales or plumes whirled through the air,
demanding to ask the characters of their purpose. It proved friendly enough,
introducing itself as the Lord of the Eastern Isles, and demanding to be
honoured. A dark, gem-studded mirror was offered for it by Lilith to better
admire its resplendence, and the being was satisfied, asking Lilith what she
wished for in return. She asked for a blessing, and it did, granting a boon of
luck (a one-time +3 bonus on a saving throw). They parted, and the ships sailed
through the enormous gateway, to find more familiar blue skies and wine-dark
seas. After 68 days (and 27 game sessions starting way back in May 2024), they
were back on the world of Fomalhaut, their tasks accomplished. From here, the
rescued men of Thellas returned to their home city to see the loved ones, but
offering to join the company in future sea adventures – they were still poor,
and Thellas needed the funds. The Viridian Star sailed back to the city-state
of Glourm. Hela al-Tyraxus, the sorcerer-tyrant’s daughter was
well pleased too: this effort would help make her Tyraxus Targ’s favoured
successor. They returned to port, and (coincidentally) Day 300 dawned from the
start of the campaign. On that day, weird, fiery comets fell from the sky all
across the sea and land, and the stargazers were confounded, as none of their
methods and devices could read these portents.
 |
| The Ruined Town |
02/12/2025 THISIUM
News from the doomed city of Thisium! On Day 74, Falumfano and Ramondo Montefeltro, two of the Lyceum’s exiled instructors, arrived back in Thisium to report on their findings, and to drink in some schadenfreude. They spoke to the Imperator on his island, discovering him to be an embezzler of his legion’s fund, and a reckless, headstrong leader, but very brave, with a trained force of 60 men. It was judged he’d be a good addition to the war against the mountain orcs, but only after more concrete plans were created. For now, the company sailed across the sea, stopping to explore an already explored island, then moving on to the Isle of Black Dogs. Building a rope bridge across the rapid river cutting through the isle, they travelled east in its thick jungles. In a clearing, they fought and killed a spotted smilodon, and from its lair, retrieved strangely antique, yet well-kept jewellery and armaments, including a magical longsword capable of shooting a light beam. Thus, Opiter Torchbearer, who had an identical weapon, was joined by Quayin Torchbearer. Continuing the way, they found a ruined town they had previously seen from a higher vantage point. It had been long abandoned, and mostly retaken by the trees. In the twisting streets, they found many carved images of snarling black dogs; and in the few intact houses, contorted bodies turned into petrified ashes. The Doom had been here, many years before, Quayin said, and this fate would await Thisium too unless averted. Exploring the small agora, they entered an old senate building, and spotted lurking figures sneaking after them. Setting a trap in the doorway, they waited. A large pack of ghouls were ambushed and put down. Their den, a ruined granary, was also purged with sword and fire. Here was some meagre coinage, but that was all found on site: the town’s fortified treasury had been looted long ago. They left the ruins to continue their adventure.
A southern trail
led to stakes in the forest, with mouldering skeletons tied to them with vines,
abundant plants growing on them. They chose to return to ship to rest. Three
owlbears came at them in the jungle. Two were temporarily blinded with
light-beams, allowing the pack to be caught on readied spears and put down.
Resting on the ship, they returned to the isle the next day, and headed up to
the broken central volcano. The crater was filled by a dark lake, dead tree
trunks still seen in the water. The place was peaceful, but ominously silent.
Remembering that a band of pirates had sought treasure here, the waters were
surveyed with the light-beams. A glowing item lie on the murky bottom, and Heraclitus
Pyrros retrieved it with a phantasmal hand, snatching away a glowing
magical dagger, just as several corpse-hands reached out of the water to try
and catch it. Happy with the find, they turned back and left this gloomy place.
In the woods, they were attacked by a pack of snarling black dogs, attacking in
berserk fury, and as they were slain, they turned into humans, their
expressions still carrying feral madness. „Doom confirmed”, spoke Quayin. They
now explored the island’s NW side. A cedarwood building turned out to be a
hall. Stuffed heads of black dogs gazed down ominously from the walls with
glittering eyes; the marble statue of a naked bowman stood opposite, nocking a
golden arrow with more in his quiver. Opiter reached for the arrows, and with a
blur of incredible speed, the statue shot six arrows at him, but he survived.
Another trick was tried by Quayin, who tried to throw a sack filled with chalk
dust on it, being rewarded with six more arrows. Not wishing to try their luck,
but picking up the golden, well-balanced projectiles, they returned to the ship
and turned back to Thisium. Arriving in port came the news: the innkeeper,
Lumps, was killed by the strange masked assassins lurking in the city. At this
time, the city had 22 days left...
The Scouts of Locassum
News from the doomed city of Thisium! A small company left the cedar grove where they were encamped after the sack of Aqua Mala. On the coastal road, they encountered a harried rider bringing baleful news: the coastal garrison of Locassum has fallen to a coordinated orc sneak attack, and most of the defenders were dead, including the commander and quartermaster! Abandoning other plans, the adventurers rode to Villa Cardone, speaking to the few surviving legionaries, then riding on to the Wailwind, the fortified inn along the Bay of Pearls. A small group of legionaries sent to patrol the area was here, led by their officer, Cipriano Favazza. They discussed what to do, and decided to scout out the fortress to see if the orcs just plundered it, or were still present. Cipriano gifted his boots of speed to the thief Eriberto Barrella to aid in the task. They rode towards the fortress with Girafalles, a legionary who knew the area like the back of his hand. They reached the swampland, and at the foot of the ruined aqueduct, discovered an ominous old statue staring at them motionlessly. Girafalles swore he had never seen it before, nor did the other characters who had been there. Leaving the creepy thing, they continued, discovering a group of orcs constructing a roadblock and the beginnings of a palisade. The swine did not notice them, so they withdrew. Dismounting and leaving the horses to a follower, Girafalles led them through the swamp’s hidden byways to spy on Locassum. From a wooded isle, spies in land that had been human just a few days back, they observed several orcs on the parapets, and other signs of occupation. The Flatfish, the garrison’s ship, was not to be seen. Hatching a plan, Eriberto tried out his boots to lure out a group of orcs into an ambush, where they killed two and captured the third, escaping through the swamps and shaking off pursuit. They rode away, making camp at a known shelter at a crossroads.
The orc captive was interrogated. The attackers were transported by ships from Arak Brannia, and once their task was done, the vessel and the Flatfish sailed with the remaining captives to Castrum Rapax on the northern peninsula. The orc was confident many more of his kind would arrive soon, and the Coastlands would fall under the orcish yoke once Thisium has been finished. The next day, Don Spezzaferro travelled to the Wailwind to report. Two petty merchants from Arak Brannia were immediately arrested and their small coaster, The Marmot, seized. The merchants knew little, except that their city-state’s influential merchant families were all in on a massive deal that let them sell a lot of food, equipment, and weapons up north, and they were very secretive about it. In a dark mood, Cipriano Favazza mentioned something about burning the treacherous isle republic to the ground after Thisium was saved; for now, he volunteered to defend the people of the coast from orc incursions along with Ottilia Cardone, while giving up his magic boots on permanent loan. With that, the company bought several smaller gemstones to uncover a mystery of the Forest of Verrilli! In the forest, they ran into Sir Egmont Mouseburg and his riders, who was rattled by the bad tidings as Don Spezzaferro recounted their tale. After all, he expected relief for Mouseshire from Locassum, and now there would be none! They parted, and soon met another strange thing – a galloping, riderless warhorse carrying a sack. There was no trace of its rider, but the panicked beast was carrying treasure – and no other treasure than the crown of Prince Ambrosio Adimari, who ruled beyond the forests. (Very, very lucky roll for jewellery.) The crown was priceless, but the prince was known to employ an army of spies and assassins, so this was hot stuff needing to be unloaded quickly before the news got out.
Westwards
through the woods, they emerged at the sunlit clearing where permanent noon
reigned above a sundial. They rode on to their target: a grey lake ringed by
the statues of 12 sightless maidens, casting no reflection in the water. This
is what the gems were for. Taking 24, they were inserted into the maidens’
eyes, and their gaze cast beams of light intersecting in the centre of the
lake. A woman’s arm emerged from the water with a sword in hand, which it
tossed to the surprised Eriberto! The Sword of Roses was theirs, a fine
undead-killing blade with a rose-shaped gemstone in its pommel! Night was
approaching. They returned to the sunlit clearing, where it was noon as
previously. They rested, and rising, emerged... to the same hour of dusk. They
turned towards Thisium. Passing through the tangled night forest, they emerged
in the Cyclopean Hills, next to a giant anthill. Along the road, they heard the
sounds of bells from the hills. Eriberto prowled across a hill, spying an
enormous flock of sheep, some two dozen short figures around campfires, and...
four enormous sheepdogs! Eriberto ran, the dogs baying and giving chase now
that they had a rustler. The boots were of good service to the old thief; he
reached the horses, and they departed quickly. Still fresh, they rode through
the night on known roads, arriving in Thisium. Lumps the Innkeeper’s death was
what greeted them after their long wilderness sojourn, and the inn, where the
drinks were slowly but surely running out as no heir was forthcoming. The crown
of Prince Adimari changed hands, bought through intermediaries by one of the
doomed city’s collectors, who were now sparing no expense to get what they
wanted before the coming of the end. But for the company, new adventures
awaited. At this time, the city had 20 days left...
Sormadium
11/12/2025 KASSADIA
News from the fallen empire of Kassadia! On board the Grandiose Cloud, the Lion Pack sailed into the port of Sormadium, the only city on the mountainous isle of the same name. The crumbling walls rose on tall cliffs, beneath which was a shantytown and an ill maintained port. Picking their way among urchins, beggars, and other louts, they found a local guide in the person of Carmino, a cheerful young fellow, and a new companion in the person of the ominous Sidius, a Cleric of Roxana, Goddess of Death. Carmino led them up crumbling stairs to the city gates, talking of pirate kidnappings in the shantytown, and the clergy of Kurlakum of the Seven Misfortunes, who were the town’s masters, and known for their acts of charity. This was revealed soon enough as they passed into Sormadium: the steep gate fee was waived on behalf of the god, and they entered the labyrinth of dirty alleys, aggressive beggars, and shady figures. Carmino led them up the Street of Benevolences, where charity was the custom, and here they caught the first glimpse of the red-robed, trident-carrying clerics, distributing alms to the needy. Aristeo gave Carmino 20 sp at once, which he acknowledged as an act of great charity indeed. They visited the small forum, and saw the crumbling senate building, guarded by ill-equipped lictors. Harlots, mountebanks, pilgrims and common thieves plied their trade. But their destination was close: Renaldo’s Fancy, a higher-class inn and cathouse. They invited their guide to dinner, and listened to his stories of mutants prowling the night streets. The next day, Carmino did not turn up in the morning despite his promises, so they ended up striking out on their own. The Senate was in session: venerable patricians were seen entering, among them the ancient Porfirio Holden Balatro, respected bipartisan, wheeled in in his wooden wheelchair. Unfortunately, this day was not one when the senators would receive petitioners, so they turned away.
Having heard of an aristocratic magician and statue collector, they headed down the Street of Benevolences, where they were mobbed by ill-looking beggars. Receiving a single silver, the ragged lowlives grumbled and cast evil glances at the Lion Pack, who departed quickly. The eccentric palace of Arcibaldo Ponzi rose with immaculately polished bronze cupolas and marble balustrades. They were admitted for an audience with Arcibaldo, a man of fine tastes. The company’s mission on the island was to find and destroy a cursed tower and architectural blasphemy built by the elven architect, Quintus Equitius Elvorix. Their host knew of its location (a small island off Sormadium’s northern coast), and was interested in procuring its rare statues, but knew that the place was magically locked and not possible to open even with a knockspell. He offered to teach Martus the Opiate some of his arts in exchange for another statue, found in the villa of the declining Memmoli family – it’d have a better place in his domed hall! They descended from the city back to the port, seeking an oracle known to be found before a barred cave entrance. They found an ancient crone, a disciple of Caedicia, who cast lead to find signs to help them find entrance into the tower: she spoke of a sealed gate, a Rider crossing their way, and a heinous curse. They agreed to seek the tower to investigate what they would learn of getting in. Looking for a ship led them to the crumbling tower of the Vigilants, charged with watching over the harbour. They looked more like a band of scoundrels and loose women than a serious force, but their leader, Sculptor Silvestro, was agreeable after a good price was offered to rent out his small but swift vessel, the Spruce Goose, for a deposit and daily fee.
Queried about
who the „Rider” mentioned by the crone might be, he noted that there were few
who went by horseback on the Isle of Sormadium except the wealthy landholders:
the old Quirino Bonnacorsi, the wealthy Alfonso di Lucio, and the
aloof Verenzio Altieri. All of these men ruled one of the island’s
villages. Silvestro gave them a guide to accompany them: Antino, an
enthusiastic sailor lad. They sailed out in the afternoon, passing the island’s
coast with its high cliffs, beyond which rose even steeper mountains. They
sailed by a larger complex, the monastery of Kurlakum’s clerics, and the
retreat of the high priest. They planned to spend the night in the village of Ucria,
but their voyage was interrupted. Two enormous giant octopi rose from the sea,
attacking the Spruce Goose from the two sides. Aristeo Guarini fell into
the water, and was badly roughed up by one of the cephalopods, but he was
rescued by the fighting-woman Lucia, who struck the beast dead before
the archer would be devoured. In the melee, Antino was almost killed (surviving
at 1 Hp), but the other octopus was also finished off. Although wounded in the
fight, they were in possession of an unexpected bounty: a vast quantity of
octopus meat, which they butchered on deck, sailing back to Sormadium to sell
it on the open market before sundown. Richer in gold, they feasted on grilled
octopus and chilled white wine at the Pegasus, when they were approached by a
liveried manservant. The man bowed politely, and invited them for a morning
audience with Porfirio Holden Balatro, the senior member of the city
senate, and a known master of the magical mysteries...
The Uttermost Masters
14/12/2025 FOMALHAUT
News from Fomalhaut! Three weeks passed after the company’s arrival back from ULTRAREALITY. Untold treasures were divided, the haul of the Doorless Arct between the adventurers and Tyraxus Targ, the Wizard-Tyrant of Glourm, and the rest among themselves only. Bocephus returned in triumph to Pentastadion, establishing an academy of learning and a garden of special herbs and spices, and earning his rank among the Syndic Lords. Likewise, Kleombrotos commissioned a Colossus of Kang the Thousand-Eyed on the city’s acropolis, to tower over the seas with his mighty spiked flail. It is reputed that not only was he also elected among the Syndics, but he received a private audience with his god in a flying cloud-palace (?), where he learned a major secret. Lilith also returned in triumph and splendour, and Ishtar’s rites those weeks were the wildest Pentastadion had seen. The city was at her heels at that time, and she was rumoured to be a favourite to succeed Head Syndic Beslandar. Ogg the Caveman ended his adventuring career, retiring to a fortified villa with a gaggle of 10/10 beauties to found his own caveman tribe, and entrusting his best items to Polybios, who spent an enormous sum to advance the fate of his own colony project. Ion chose Glourm as the site of his efforts: collecting artefacts from ULTRAREALITY, he established a lavish museum commemorating their journey in that strange world. So passed the time, but the Uttermost Masters, that secretive order of savants they have been in conflict with, have also made their move. The image of an enormous stone head appeared in the Wizard-Tyrant’s throne room one day, and spoke:
“LISTEN, OH,
TYRAXUS TARG, OVERLORD OF GLOURM! WE, THE UTTERMOST MASTERS, GREET YOU! YOU
HAVE SEEN A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR MIGHT ACROSS THE LAND AND THE SEA, AND KNOW
THAT MORE SIGNS OF IT SHALL SOON BE REVEALED. TREMBLE! FOR YOU AND OTHERS OF
YOUR KIND MAY RULE THE CITIES OF THE LAND, BUT WE NOW RULE YOUR SKIES, AND CAN
SCOURGE YOUR DOMAINS AS IT PLEASES US. FURTHERMORE, OUR INFLUENCE STRETCHES
INTO OTHER WORLDS, AS IT SHALL BE REVEALED. YOU WHO HAVE TRAVELLED INTO STRANGE
VISTAS SHOULD KNOW THERE LIES MORE BEYOND THAN CAN BE TOLD! (…) DO NOT TRY TO
OBSTRUCT US, NOR SEEK US. ALL IS FUTILE. YOU SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF OUR DEMANDS
WHEN THE TIME COMES. YOU CAN SHARE IN OUR GREATNESS, OR BE FOREVERMORE
DESTROYED!”
Temple of the Fallen Idol
There have been news of disappearances in the coastal city-states, and in Glourm, five influential courtiers had vanished in recent months. The Overseers, the palace’s secret police, could trace three of them to the Temple of the Fallen Idol, and this is where the company focused its investigations. They set out at night, finding the building’s entrance walled up, but could enter through the upper windows into a deserted hall. Enormous statues had had their faces and other identifying marks removed. Stairs descended down, and they followed. An under-temple with a colossal form in a throne was found by a strange pool, but here, too, the damnatio memoriae was all too successful. As they were investigating the idol, they were attacked by a spectral form calling himself Rhodomax the Theurgist before being turned away. Finding little in the chamber, they investigated the area, which was partly connected to the sewer system. Southwards, they proceeded through multiple rooms, until hearing sounds of chanting from a distance. Announcing themselves, they were confronted by 8 fur-clad, muscular men of barbaric appearance. While they were negotiating, they spotted a colourfully-dressed fellow trying to sneak off behind the men. An arrow killed the sneak, and the barbarians exclaimed „They got the sacrifice victim!” In the melee, the fanatical cultists were killed off, but their unfortunate victim, who had tried to sneak away from their bloody altar, was too dead by their own arrow to answer questions. This area led to some kind of infected area and a hallway covered in innumerable human bones, so they returned where they came, and tried a downwards stairway in the NW corner. These stairs led to more elegant marble passages. They were surprised by two weird spider-things who could control minds, but triumphed over them with some effort. Through a secret door, they stepped into a columned hall.
Dark marble
covered the walls, and inky darkness pressed on them, suffocating light
sources. A torso of a myrmidon stood on a pedestal, identified by a plaque as Hieron
the Mighty. Spiral stairs led even deeper. At this time, from the shadows
came a 15’ tall figure of pure darkness, its eyes burning, and drawing a veil
of darkness on the whole group. It tried to possess one of them, but was
banished by Lilith into the depths, disappearing down the spiral stairs. Small
treasures were found in a mostly looted treasury. To the north, a room held a weird
spiral, which spun around and swallowed a pebble thrown into its middle as if
it was sucked into another space. Eastwards, they entered a long, weird
corridor lined with strange stone faces, wells, and statues of bloblike things
holding tridents. A side-chamber led to a small tomb, where a slab of resinous
material held the perfectly preserved body of a fire-haired woman wearing a
strangely cut tunic, holding some instrument. To the south, the passage entered
a vast, empty chamber of grey stone. The iron band of a monorail track ran
through the middle, which they had seen previously. A metal door was pulsing
with magic runes, and was avoided. But there was more here: around the door
were crates of fresh foodstuffs, expensive spirits, and other goods. The place
was recently used, and the number of torch stubs also hinted at regular visits.
They reconnoitred the surrounding chambers, finding weird things: a
starfish-shaped stone idol radiating harsh cold, what looked like a dimensional
portal, passageways with weird hovering blobs, the despoiled tomb of a mummy,
and further passages leading onwards. For now, this was enough. Returning
through the passages as they came, they emerged from the Underworld in the
sealed temple, and from there, to the shadowy streets of Glourm...
Return to the Isle of Horrors
15/12/2025 THISIUM
News from the doomed city of Thisium! A smaller party sailed from Thisium to continue investigating the Isle of the Black Dogs. On the island’s northern side, they found a clearing ringed by headless statues; five giant apes were playing in a muddy pool by tossing the stone heads in a twisted ball game. The apes were ambushed, but one ripped off the head of the thief Scaramouche. Restoring the heads to the statues’ necks, one spoke: „OUR TIME HAS PASSED, STRANGER, AND WHEN THE BREATH OF THE CHASM COVERS THE ISLES, BROTHER SHALL TURN ON BROTHER, AND YOUR TIME SHALL PASS, TOO.” Continuing and fighting off an owlbear, the trail led to a site of carnage: badly mangled, rotting animal carcasses were feasted on by buzzing giant flies. Not interested in this situation, they turned back, running into three more owlbears, from which they ran, and waited a while to see if they’d move off. They did not, so it came to a fight, in which the company was almost slaughtered, escaping from the beasts with minimal Hp. Narvi the dwarf was only saved by a strategic darkness 15’ r spell, and his magic shield averting a killing blow (almost-TPK #01), while Clotilde escaped with a single Hp. They returned to ship, slaying a group of maddened black dogs, and sailing back to Thisium to heal and gather more men. The next day, they first investigated a small isle in the Bay of Pearls. The idyllic place had traces of abandoned agriculture and large fields of flowers being harvested by swarms of giant bees coming from a massive ceramic hive. They found abandoned villages too, and in the simple stone huts, several skeletons, presumably dead by giant bee stings. Not wanting to mess with bee poison, they sailed east. The seas here were emitting plumes of steam, and the water bubbled hot due to underwater volcanic activity. But the main volcanic cone rose to their north, crowning The Isle of Horrors, where the company was once decimated during a previous expedition.
They landed on
the SW shore, next to a small, archaic town partially destroyed by lava flows.
Petrified bodies turned into ashes and glass lay screaming motionless in
rectangular houses. A domed shrine was the only notable structure, and as they
approached, they heard a choir of beautiful singing. Most of the company was
enchanted by the siren-song, and stumbled towards the entrance. Five harpies
laired inside on mounds of silver and gemstones; only a quick web spell
and great courage saved the day, in which Berserker #02 was killed, but
miraculously, nobody else was (almost-TPK #02). The silver was theirs, along
with a matching set of beautiful sapphires, as well as a shield +1
reflecting gaze attacks. They now checked the isle’s NW valley, which had been Poucas
Trancas’ first adventure, and almost his last. Some traditions do not die
easily. They climbed up a long, crumbling set of stairs leading to a desolate
volcanic plateau, the two thieves scouting ahead and the rest following. As
dusk fell on the landscape beneath the smoking cone, they approached a broken
altar man-sized cracked amphorae, ominous winged statues, and the scattered
bones of their previous expedition. Pellegrino the Thief checked the
amphorae, finding them to be heavy with melted-together gold – probably old
jewellery. Poucas did not watch out for the horned chameleons, and was ambushed
just like the last time. Here, they were almost killed at once, running back to
the party with the reptiles in pursuit. A shield-wall was set up, and they
defended against the heavily armoured creatures. By all rights, they should
have been killed (almost-TPK #03), but by incredible luck, they weren’t. Three
horned chameleons were killed, and one fled back among the rocks. Not wishing
to press their luck, they sailed back to Thisium, where they learned that one
of the city’s most influential nobles, Gordisio Pamfile, was murdered in
his palace. At this time, the city had 20 days left...
Isle of the Swamp Oaks
18/12/2025 KASSADIA
News from the fallen empire of Kassadia! The Lion Pack was summoned before the presence of Senator Porfirio Holden Balatro for an audience. The venerable statesman, wheeled inside the senate building in a wooden wheelchair, had learned of their exploration plans, and requested that they recover a healing plant found on a northern island – the resting place of an elven hero. He only lamented that age had robbed him of his strength, and that his seat was not a destructive chariot of war, from which he could enjoy the smell of flesh burned by Greek fire. Respectfully accepting, the company sailed out, travelling north along the island’s shores, and avoiding the walled village of Ucria. Their goal, the blasphemous tower of the elven architect Quintus Equitius Elvorix, was found on a small, barren island populated only by seagulls. The rectangular white marble structure lacked any ornamental stonework, being constructed in an eerie hypermodern style. False windows stared down with painted scenes but no way in, and a large gate was sealed with a fourfold magical seal, and bore an inscription: „EVIL, DEFYING THE WILL OF THE GODS, DWELLS BEYOND THE GATES, WHICH WE HAD NOT THE POWER TO OVERCOME, ONLY KEEP UNDER LOCK. DO NOT BREAK OUR SEAL. GUISCARDO BONNACORSI, GALATEA DI LUCIO, CRISTALDO STAFFA, PAOLO VIGLIONE.” They surveyed the false windows, painted to show merry nobles in sumptuous suites – but there was something unsettling about each scene’s background – a decomposing corpse, a curtain hiding the infinity of the starry sky, a giant snail devouring servants, a trial and execution scene, etc. It was dusk, so they returned to the coast to sleep, but were troubled by nightmares of being trapped in an endless maze, and found no rest.
The next day, they sailed north to the island where the healing plant would be found. Sailing around, they surveyed a wooded landscape and marble monuments, as well as a small port. Making landfall, they started at a small watchtower, which proved to be inhabited by unfriendly elves, who proved hostile to human visitors on their island. However, with Arden Oakbark’s mediation, they agreed that they could have the plant if they brought news of Lady Gwaelben, one of their own who disappeared while on a mission to the Isle of the Swamp Oaks, SW of Sormadium’s main island. Taking this into account, they left. On Sormadium’s northern coast, they visited a grove with a tall standing stone. As they approached the centre, the landscape shifted to fantastic colours, the plants animated, and a voice spoke to them, asking for obeisance. After a generous donation of gold, it revealed the identities of the four names they found on the tower gates – members of local noble families from a previous generation. Continuing on their voyage, they visited Castel di Lucio, a tidy and prosperous village much unlike Sormadium’s poverty, surrounded by well-tilled lands and ruled by a walled manor house. Armed young men were to be seen all around in their best clothes, as it turned out there was a wedding going on. The master, Signor di Lucio was away on a visit to a village called Fiolaga, so he could not make an appearance, but the newcomer Condottieri were invited for an evening of dancing and feasting, and the following day, were supplied with a generous amount of leftover food as they departed. They sailed by Sambuci, a partially abandoned, ramshackle little town, and over Vinasio, a sunken village.
At sunset, they
neared the Isle of the Marsh Oaks. The isle was a bayou of old trees and
waterways. Sailing inside, they found a flooded village of ruined stone huts,
and saw an ominous sight: deboned, leathery human bodies hung from the tall
tree branches. Beyond the village, a mound rose from the brackish waters,
overgrown with vegetation, and topped by worn standing stones. With careful
observation, they noticed that some of the vegetation was alive, and also that
an abandoned skiff was moored nearby. Climbing the mound and ready to fight,
they were beset by killer vines coming from the surrounding bushes, and
slightly later, by an enormous, evil-looking tree, which opened a tooth-filled
maw, and uprooted itself to join the fray. Antino the sailor lad and Petros
the light footman fled, while Forget-Me-Not the light footwoman, Tybalt
the bowman, and Davidus, a faithful companion in many adventures,
were strangled by the vines. Finally, with fire and sword, the evil vegetation
was purged. They found the remains and weapons of Lady Gwaelben, while Arden
Oakbark took care to destroy this blasphemous site of dark druidism. During
this work, they discovered that the mound was an ancient mass grave, filled
with innumerable human remains. They recovered a good amount of silver and
gold, and ugly wooden fetishes, which Arden threw in a fire. Carrying the
bodies to their boat, they set out on the way back to the city of Sormadium.
Beyond Clear Blue Skies
21/12/2025 FOMALHAUT
News from Fomalhaut! Continuing their investigations into Glourm’s undercity, the adventurers descended beneath the Temple of the Fallen Idol. On the lowest level, they investigated a chamber with a pedestal and two brass hemispheres embedded in the wall. Murat the Etunian found that the pedestal could be rotated, and Pausanias, a man of Mung recently joining the party, that the hemispheres resembled fulgurators operated with the powers of electricity. Rotating the pedestal a few times produced an arc through the chamber that almost fried Murat, who escaped with lesser burns. They tried charging up an electric polearm with this power source, which was a good idea, but unlucky, and the device was melted by the arc. Proceeding east, they investigated a mysterious secret chamber called the Tomb of the Architect, containing the intact body of a fire-haired woman encased in a slab of translucent resin. The block was impervious to most damage, but was eventually smashed up with a ring of the ram, destroying the corpse, but netting them some strange instrument and a valuable golden headband. From the long north-south passage, a collapsed section opened into natural caverns. The passages led to a pool fed by a waterfall, where they encountered and slew a giant slug. In side-passaged, among partially digested victims, they found a beautiful gem-studded golden helmet, and a magical mace. In a cavern to the north, glowing crystals grew underwater. Lilith dove down to retrieve them, while the rest of the party was attacked by a cloud of mist, from which biting mouths emerged. They bested the swirling creature, but Fahris the cataphract was chewed up and killed. Crossing the pool, the caverns led to a grotto filled with giant mushrooms and strange colour distortions (or it was just hallucinogenics). But a cavern passage let up to a higher level, to another cavern, and here, they discovered a building with spiral stairs going further up.
Murat overheard
noises from behind a door arguing about scraps. (Correctly) suspecting
cannibals, they broke down the door, and happened upon a group of filthy
beggars, the followers of Shakkur, devouring a hapless plebeian. Some of the
miscreants were killed, some fled through a street exit, and two were kept as
captives. Polybios the Fighting-Man caught an unpleasant disease
searching the bodies („Polybios did not wear his face mask, and now he will
soon die.”) They led the captives down to the lower level. This time, the giant
mushrooms moved, and they ran. One beggar went down due to poisonous spores,
and one of Lilith’s amazon followers was wounded while covering the escape. But
they made it, passing through the caverns to the monorail terminal. Their
target was a metal door with shifting symbols. The cannibal was ordered to open
the door, and died to a poison needle trap. The runes had no effect, and
finally, Murat opened the door. Steep stairs rose into infinity, and at the
end, they saw a rectangle of blue, cloudy sky. Approaching, they passed into
the sky... and stepped through it into a cellar, beyond an illusion! An
underground warehouse this was with various valuable objets d’art, and
they eavesdropped on a group of guards mentioning a recent theft, and their
master, Pellostratos. It seems he was conducting some sort of operation
here, whether it was smuggling or something else. Deciding they would
investigate this through their connections with the wizard-tyrant, they
returned back down. Further exploration of the level led them to a chamber with
a pool of water reflecting a myriad stars. This was a place for divinations,
and they tried to discover which way would lead them towards the Uttermost
Masters. The signs pointed towards the fact that they would find their trail
beyond the great metal gates of the monorail, in four days. This was a lead:
and after some more rooms, they decided to return where they came, to prepare
for their next move.
The Centipede Lord
06/01/2026 THISIUM
News from the doomed city of Thisium! A large company descended into the Thisian Underworld. Among them was Platonis Gratianus, corpulent brother of the late Adonis Gratianus, who returned to adventuring with a married couple of two knights, who also brought along a war dog and a halberdier. They entered the passages from the graveyard, and passing through the Grand Mausoleum, followed passages to the underground tower of Yldegonda Gremullo. Platonis bribed the wizardess’ talking door with a flask of good wine, and they were admitted. They handed her a letter from the musician Falumfano, and in exchange, she let them pick an item from her treasury – they picked a pair of jeweled slippers. Saying farewells, they descended deeper through a well, a cistern, and the great cavern of bats, and even further through an underground temple where they had fought doppelgangers. Seeking a deep well they figured would lead to a deeper level, they fought and slew a rust monster, which ate the shield of the knight Vanglorio Pomposini. The well turned out to be haunted by a restless spirit, which Platonis tried to, but could not turn, and it departed through a wall. Checking the well with several tied coils of rope, Amedeo the halfling found the water level, but also saw that there was a current able to suck someone underwater. This did not seem like a good way to the depths. They returned the way they came, but just as they were about to enter the cavern of the bats, they heard noises. This turned out to be an adventuring company of 9 elves, led by Sieglind and Yonwin, and seeking the statue of the sage Tiresias to find a cure for the illness of their prince. They could help them with instructions to approach the sage, suggesting the use of robes and bird masks to petition him. The elves thus returned to the surface through a secret door the company pinpointed to buy masks, and gratefully gifted them with a potion of clairaudience for the advice.
They had another known way to the deeper levels. From the Temple of the Bat, a passage lined with weird gargoyles had a secret door opening to a grand staircase descending to unknown depths. They sought this door, and followed the ornate gothic stairs, wide enough for three men abreast. The first exit was a door from behind which Amedeo heard roaring fire and a metallic slithering, which they thought might have been a salamander. The next two doors down were quiet, and skipped on the way down. But Amedeo heard something from behind them, a slight scraping of stone... and after investigating, discovered a secret door and tracks in the dust. Suspecting someone behind it, they barged into a grotto filled with a great pile of coins, and six ghouls, who were put to the sword (the two knights proving their mettle). The treasure was theirs: 20,000 copper pieces, and six crates filled with candles. They continued down the stairs, which ended deeper down. The doors here were frequently stuck from humidity, and had to be battered down. One was marked „ARCHIVVM”, which looked promising. Again, they could not force it (agitating something beyond it), and finally, their two berserker companions were called, who just hewed the door in two with some work. The destroyed door led into a tall chamber, with levels above levels of dusty shelves filled with documents, connected by a spiral staircase. The source of the noises was 40 giant centipedes swarming around the bronze idol of a rearing centipede, its two ruby eyes gleaming. It thundered not to be disturbed, and they retreated, but not before dousing the corridor floor with plentiful oil. Luring out the centipedes, many were burned, but more came, and proved quite ferocious. Here, Vanglorio Pomposini was bitten, and fell badly sick from poison.
With the
centipedes out of the way, they investigated the archives. The materials were
old, crumbling administrative documents, many eaten by the centipedes. One
batch of contracts was missing, with only a scrawled message as a clue: „ONLY
AMONG THE FOOLS CAN YOU FIND WISDOM.” Now they checked out the statue. Platonis
Gratianus suggested removing the gemstone eyes. The statue thundered that
this would bring down its divine wrath. Platonis countered, suggesting that it
had no minions left, and that he could not have been a god at all, as he was
not even found in the Omnipotent Index. „I am in there, foolish mortal!”
bellowed the idol, clearly irritated. „Perhaps as a footnote!”, retorted
Platonis, reaching for the gems, whereupon the idol blasted him with its
death-rays, and Platonis shrivelled into a dry husk. Involuntia the knight
suggested he would have to be avenged, but did not actually do anything. Kaeso
suggested they could steal the gemstones by pulling a sack over the idol and
trying from behind, but he did not do anything either. For now, they departed the
archives discreetly. The next room was a small marble arena with seats, ringed
by eight statues of perfectly proportioned men. A sign read „ARENA OF THE
OVERMEN”. Racha Ducka stepped forward to offer a challenge, and was
greeted by a disembodied voice offering him a fight with one overman for one
magic item, or two for the drink of the gods. Choosing the former, he wrestled
and (due to his previously acquired wrestling powers) handily defeated the
overman who appeared out of midair, claiming the belt of giant strength!
Listening at the next door, Amedeo heard women singing in the distance.
Suspecting harpies, they decided to call it a day, and following the Grand
Staircase, then well-known passages, they returned to the basement of the
Pickled Carp just as the elves were preparing to go back in. At this time, the
city had 23 days left...
The Well of Harpies and Beyond
12/01/2026 THISIUM
News from the doomed city of Thisium! A small group of adventurers descended into the Thisian Underworld to explore the area around the Grand Staircase. They followed known routes deep into the lower levels, and started checking the doors opening from the spiral stairs. The first opened into a wide, long, clammy corridor, where a grey ooze first devoured the weapon of Porziano the halberdier, then devoured poor Porziano himself. His companions slammed the heavy door on the evil aspic, and left it to its grotesque feast. A different door, slightly higher up, led to a hexagonal chamber. Fire roared in a basin in the middle, surrounded by three stone statues, two familiar as the Magic-Users Yldegonda Gremullo and Pantomorphus. The third was unknown to them. Seeing fiery serpents crawling in the basin, they just read a mysterious inscription around the pit, and retreated. On the bottom of the Grand Staircase, they now investigated beyond the Arena of the Overmen. They had heard singing from here on the previous foray, and they plugged their ears with wax as a precaution. Amedeo the halfling crept forward, finding an oval chamber with a great bottomless well leading into the fiery depths of the Underworld. But on a ledge only 20’ down, he could look into a side-chamber, where harpies fought for human bones. A plan was hatched: they smeared a dungeon door with plentiful glue, Amedeo lured out the harpies, and they slammed the door on the woman-birds as they gave pursuit. Three were trapped thus and burned with oil, while the third came through, but was killed. Descending into their lair yielded silver and gold, although not much. Further on, they found a large pillared crypt, leathery bodies standing in recesses and skulls on the floor among wooden crates. Amedeo snuck up on a living being: a crazed-looking man rifling through crates of crumbling writings, clad in the ragged and dusty clothes of a minor city official.
They rushed and
captured him, snatching away a wicked dagger which filled Amedeo with terror (dagger
+1, +2 vs. goblins and halflings). The madman, who was named Jacindo, was
an archivist gibbering about some documents, not being a fool, and watching his
step, but they could make no sense of his ramblings. They ended up releasing
him to see where he would go... and he fled through the crypt, up a flight of
stairs. They gave pursuit, rushing through bodies which were just coming back
to unlife. Jacindo darted through a secret door at the top of the stairs, and
was gone. Emerging through, they took a turn, and ended up in a large chamber with
the broken remains of an enormous, ugly statue. Five undead, dressed in
sackcloth hoods and smelling horribly, demanded a tithe of 200 gp for safe
passage in the name of their master, the great Prospero. Amedeo paid the
fee, but they decided not to visit Prospero’s domain. The other way from here
led to the halls of the Judge of the Underworld, whom they did not wish to
visit without proper attire and gifts. They traced back their steps and
followed a decaying passage eastwards. They discovered a great archway at the
head of wide, crumbling stairs leading downwards. The head of an insane,
grinning jester glared down at them. They kept to this level, finding a
half-collapsed section leading to a natural cavern where weird, batlike things
were preserved in slabs of dark-grey crystal. The forms were motionless, and
left well alone. After more exploration, they decided to return to the surface
through known territory, finding their way to the downstairs room of the
Pickled Carp, where they could just learn of the bad news: Lumps the
innkeeper had just been assassinated. Moreover, three hirelings who saw
Porziano dead and unavenged decided to retire from the company and seek their
fortune elsewhere. At this time, the city had 22 days left...
No comments:
Post a Comment