Author: Follow Me, And Die!

SESSION 200 – April 25, 2018

We continue our exploration.

Nash uses the Serithaz helm to put a copy of Axel into one of the two automatons we see, and it sets off alarms and lock down commences. Two more automatons are revealed.

“Axel” fights on our side, so we have 3 foes to face. Rallion uses his lightning axe on one and Kauri finishes it off with magic missle. The other two are unharmed. They then disappear and reappear, basically “blink” automatons. Kauri can see them the entire time, but can only affect them when they are visible to all of us. This wastes a blast from Rallion’s lightning axe and one of Kauri’s magic missile spells.

Once we end the threat of the phasing/blinking automatons, the 4 gun turrets in the other room with Lysander’s eye fire on us and injure a couple of us.

Kauri convinces the DVL to lower the threat level in our area and we wait about ten minutes for the turrets to go idle.

WE explore the research room and find a catalog of notes and recordings of items being cataloged. There is no easy way to tell what things are by their catalog code, so we don’t learn a lot there. the long term storage is in lock down.

We explore the residential area and it is cleaned out, like an orderly exit. We take an opportunity to rest. Rallion hears a noise of a whump! and firing of the weapon from the “Gatling gun” of the automaton we fought in the residential area. It must be holding off infected.

We use the code from the desk (carved into it) 96249 to operate the doors labelled lift. We see one Gatling automaton killing a mass of flesh each time it gets up. We send the drone to look and a second Gatling automaton is stomping an infected.

We plan to take out the one doing the shooting, and closing the door to keep out the one doing the stomping, while Lambertus cures disease on the mass it is keeping down, so we can use the lift.

However, before we do that, we will check out long term storage. Laris used Knock to open it and it did NOT set off the turrets, so we will check that out next time.

SESSION 199 – April 18, 2018

We quickly found the obvious skull of an enormous dragon at the bottom of the sea. It’s empty eye sockets just large enough for our submersible to transit them.

Nash used his ring of swimming to exit and look around, and was soon grabbed by an enormous tentacle and pulled out of sight into the skull.

Bavmorda attempted to steer the sub into the tentacle to help Nash, and it did some damage, but did not free him. Bavmorda exited and managed to get behind the enormous beast nestled in the nose/snout of the skull. Between Nash trying to bite his way free, and a fortuitous back stab by Bavmorda, the creature was slain.

We found more coin than we had room for, and several items to help us.

We piloted the sub through the eye socket and through the tunnel formed by the massive neck of Lysander. We reached a large cavern covered with many bones of those from the rebellion who were the distraction for the assault that brought down the Crystal Tower.

Only one of us could hear the devilfish ancestor, as we all have rings protecting our minds. We were warned not to disturb the honored heroes of the rebellion. The ancestor is also a member of the night court and wanted to speak to Serithaz. News of Serithaz’ capture was not widely known, so he allayed fears of his betrayal of the rebellion and we were allowed to pass.

We docked the sub at an access hatch. In addition to a wrecked sub below, there is a damaged one docked at another access point.

We found dwarf sized underwater gear, a well placed Knock spell opened several doors and we found the desk of the head researcher into the remains of Lysander.

The eye of Lysander appears to be able to attack foes, as we found a recording of it in the archive. We have directions to magic items Lysander had been wearing, and information on various parts.

We also found a lone undying that Rallion removed the cube, and two automatons unknown to us. We managed to avoid setting off the trap that would release them.

In addition, there is mention of evacuations to Xen Khel for the research efforts there.

We hope to find items to aid us, and find our way to the ship that we hope is here so we can make it to the orbital.

SESSION 198 – April 11, 2018

The party managed to finally leave Feldmark and reach the open water with course to Lonely Isle.

During the trip we all trained using the automaton plans and devil fish bilogy notes to gain advantages in fighting them. Rallion scanned Lonely Isle, Midmark, and Xen Khel for signs of activity. Clean up from the use of the weapon in Midmark, dwarven guards keeping watch over the entrance to the depths of Xen Khel, and swarms of infected at the docks.

We encountered an odd area of clear sky and differently colored water in the midst of the storm. Nash swam to is and saw swirling water funneling fish into the depths. Kauri sent the mini-ship to investigate also, and we did not discern the source or cause of this phenomenon.

A similar effect was encountered by the Starchy Boyz between Midmark and the island with Grell’s pirates.

The next day we encountered a pirate ship crewed by half-orcs from the same fleets as Nash and “Darla”. All ships of the fleets were to head home. Nash and “Darla” were cautioned to not take too long or risk missing out on land. We advised them to avoid Curabell as there were hordes of infected. We also explained to be careful when disposing of the infected to prevent it spreading.

Nash spoke once more with the virtual goddess, Lysander, and learned that Xeno Tel is tracking us. We decided to put out most powerful ancient dwarven artifacts in a chest to prevent being tracked. To further hide, we tacked a silver circlet to one of the masts and designated it a shrine so the sailors wouldn’t touch it.

Xeno Tel plans to shoot down the ship. Lysander says that she and the others can give us a chance by distracting Xeno Tel long enough for us to get in the air.

The plan is to board the sub and find the tunnel under the island, while the Bronze Wizard draws the infected to the far side of the island. We hope to find the ship and get into the air with enough time to beat Xeno Tel and prevent the armada from arriving and destroying those who live here.

SESSION 197 – April 2, 2018

Clean up for the procession the next day. Reception in the Ark Cathedral. Wheel and deal a bit with Cuddy for training, supplies, etc.

We get a small crane, small cannons, regular cannons, and ballistas for the Bronze Wizard.

Dorcas – Wizard to do training for Kauri & Laris.

Oskar trained by guardsmen.

We buy a bunch of healing, cure disease, and cure poison potions form druids and various temples.

We spoke to Inquisitor and someone took his memories, so instead of inviting him to help us, we knocked him out and had Serithaz remove all memory of us.

After training, we move to the ship to leave a few hours before dawn to arrive at Landing at first light so we can see to navigate through the re-opened but narrow channel.

While Rallion, Kauri, and others wait anxiously on the ship, Nash, Bavmorda, Laris, and Estrill rob the Ark Cathedral.

During night we passed the area where we fought the infected and everything went OK.

We get to Landing and the land falls behind us, as we make our way out to sea, as we finally head towards Lonely Isle.

SESSION 196 – 03/28/2018

About 9 am, see the ship on the water coming back up river and see the infected following along.

c. 300 of them are coming.

We had are preparations in place.

3 waves of them run into the pit.

Entagle and web hold all but 7 in place.

The exploding powder kegs kill them all.

The guardsmen gather up the bits that aren’t buried, and bury them and cover up the poorly buried bits so they can keep them under control.

We suggest they send a ship with clerics to look for survivors.

It will be a few days before any ships can get past the mouth of the river, so we return to Feldmark where we are greeted as heroes with shouts of “Keepers, Keepers!” (AKA Keepers of the Council of Midmark.)

Rallion was the last off the ship and is perceived as the leader, so Cuddy Hawk holds up Rallion’s hand, waits for the cheers to die down, and says that while we came as Keepers of the Council of Midmark, we are now the Defenders of Feldmark.

There will be a processional in our honor tomorrow from the temple square to the council square.

We will be given rooms at which we can stay at the castle whenever we are in town. Poorly furnished for now. We will also receive 12,000 gp in gems, and perhaps other emoluments.

Cuddy cautions us to be ready bright and early for the processional.

The countdown timer is at 00000.01.22. If we take 1 day for celebration, 7 days for training (Bavmorda, Laris, Oskar, Kauri?, and ??), and 3 days to get to Lonely Isle, we should reach Lonely Isle on 01.10. [I missed something – I came up with 13 days leeway to find the ship to work on it for two weeks and launch.]

SESSION 195 – March 21, 2018

While Rallion observes the infected milling about near the Flying Goblin and Bavmorda and Nash inspect the hold, Estrill’s “friend” who Nash knocked overboard tried to grab her.

We all worked to drop him, and bind him and get him into the hold of the ghost ship, the Shining Ray.

We found no good location to corral the infected at landing.

We made noise to attract them to the ship and they climbed over each other to get on deck.

Nash went to the Flying Goblin and loaded a boat with gunpowder. As we fled the ghost ship and met up with Nash and loaded up with 16 barrels of gunpowder. All out of sight of the infected.

We sneak off silently, leaving the infected and look for a hill to use the move earth.

We find a likely spot and use the move earth spell to shape a killing zone and fortified area in case they get around it. The kegs of gunpowder are placed to collapse the earth.

at 5PM the force from Feldmark arrives.

There are 32 clerics that can cast cure disease. 16 from Evenkeel, 12 from merendur, and 4 dwarves, plus 5 druids and 60 lesser clerics for lesser spells.

We get healing of our wounds and cure disease as a preventative, and as we are resting overnight, they rest and re-learn spells.

One ship goes partway to Landing to keep watch and will go to Landing at first light to draw the infected to us.

The clerics and druids go ashore to the fortified area. Rallion stays ashore and visits with the druids from the Verdant Fellowship. The rest of the party goes to the ships.

Nash goes off to pray to Lysander and she appears. Nash asks to have his level limit as cleric removed. Lysander reaches out, and Xeno Tel appears in a thunderclap saying, “Now now, you wouldn’t want me to think you were a bigger threat do you?” Nash tried to zap him with the last charge from his lightning axe.

The waiting for the coming battle commences.

SESSION 191 – February 21, 2018

Week of 13th to 20 Senrilden – Training week.

Captain Holgar of the city watch leaves us with Baswick at the safe house. Holgar returns to his post at Landing where he is dealing with the ships that arrive.

Holgar thinks there is something wrong with councillor Greta of the ropemaker guild. She became a political animal overnight.

Quinnel Franks, the Midmark Admiral mentions to Aldus Runnelbrook, that since we have the skullcap that we must be “friends”. The cap helped fix Em, can it help Admiral Bridgita Dykonson? Serithaz reminds Nash of the vials of dragon blood and the promise to raise Lysander, and Nash agrees. (I don’t think Nash told this to any of us.)

Alesta that high priestess of the “nice” sea temple, tells Nash and Bavmorda about how she came into control of it, and since Serithaz gave her the memory that she was to gove the sub to Nash and Bavmorda, she does so, and it is delivered to our ship.

Kauri & Druetta gather a list of parts from Kalgun to use from the sub to repair the flyer that Marchmain has. We need a full set of blacksmith tools.

Rallion seeks out a blacksmith shop to buy it out, we can carry the equipment in the bag of holding, and a smith to hire.

Nash “feeds” small DVLs to the DVL on the model airship. It is powerful enough to have a greater altitude and range. Kauri can talk with the DVL to get reports of what it sees.

Lady Em is still despondent and asks after the others, meaning Thorfus & Axel, and the rest. We break the news to her. But we also reveal that her man, Aubry Grodecop, is the “Righteous Halberd” and is fighting the machinations of the Dark King.

We learn of a pair of rings used by the head clerics of Baldric Evenkeel that allowed communication and shielding the mind. Laris is keen to get such a device to guard his mind from Serithaz.

Rallion goes to the Verdant Fellowship and buys 8 potions of cure disease, one for each party member.

We go to the Ark Temple and bluff out way past the lad on night duty, thanks to Sam, AKA Lambertus. We get guided to the vault. It is much less well guarded than the memoirs of the previous group mentioned in Midmark. This is where the ring of mind blocking is.

We find three chests guarded by powerful DVLs. We learn which contains the ring, and that only the key can open it without triggering the magical trap. We make impressions of the vault key. 10 scrolls with lots of powerful spells are in the vault. We leave them, so we are not discovered and the vault security is not changed.

A chokehold is put on the boy as we leave, and Serithaz erases all memories of us.

Kauri makes Nash invisible. The rest of us leave, using our dark elf cloaks or elven cloak, and sneak back to the safe house.Nash finds the high priet, who we learn is actually a priestess. We don’t know why she is hiding, Lambertus says there is no rule against it. Nash reads her mind and makes a drawing of the key to the chest with the ring in the vault, so that Bavmorda and Laris can make a copy.

(Patrick was unable to do this one and told me to take it. This was the highlight of my notes/memory. I do have the list of all the spells, but didn’t want to type all that.)

SESSION 194 – March 14, 2018

The undead whale charges. Oskar misses with his javelin, Bavmorda backstabs the whale, Kauri casts light and misses its eyes, Nash jumps in the water.

Rallion misses with the shard.

Druette, Oskar, Rallion and half the boat are then swallowed whole by the whale, and the thugs, city watch, and Estrill flee, while Lambertus is tossed into the river and turns the undead whale.

As the whale turns to flee, Rallion reaches down with the shard to touch the inside of the whale’s mouth and it explodes. The flying bits of whale meat hurt Rallion and Oskar, while Druetta is knocked unconscious. The thugs and guardsmen we brought with us are killed, and nearly all the guardsmen we rescued are killed by giants chunks of rotting whale flesh.

Simultaneously, coins, gems, an amulet, scrollcase and an axe are scattered in the river.

Nash with the ring of swimming and the Starchy badge is able to find the amulet, many gems, and the battle axe. Bavmorda snags the scrollcase as it goes by.

We have a nice collection of gems, some platinum coins, a magic axe, magic amulet, and a scoll of seven powerful spells.

The axes is of minor enchantment as we have come to understand it. The amulet is a periapt of proof against poison, and the scoll has Move Earth, Geas, Death Spell, Lower Water, Repulsion, Stone to Flesh, and Part Water – all 6th level.

We go to the wreck of the “ghost ship” drawn by the undead whale, avoiding the notice of the walking infected. A huge group gathered from the sounds of battle and the exploding whale.

We board the beached ghost ship and find an idol who will not talk to Serithaz, but will talk to us. Rallion tires of the “ancestor’s” talk, when we learn that the whale was it’s only servant, that it can’t controll the infected, and that it wants the infected to destroy the land dwellers. Rallion takes one of his lightning axes and smashes it to the annoyance of Serithaz.

We make plans to lure the undead into the ship to contain them. Perhaps 200 could be contained in a ship this size. There are about 200 in the area where we are, plus about 100 up river who were following us. We hope that the sound of the exploding whale will draw their attention so that the force from Feldmark has no opposition to reaching us.

We hope to corral the infected, possibly make one or more super organism out of them to maximize the effect of healing to end the plague. We continue our plans as the camera fades to black.

Tune in next week for the exciting adventures of this motley band of fools who think they can save the world from the approaching fleet of the evil space dwarves. The clock is ticking. All can see the countdown from this clock. Will their efforts to get training just run out the clock? Will they reach Lonely Isle and wrest control of the ship from Marchmain and his forces? More importantly, can they get the ship to orbit?