Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
EN Publishing
Bill T's Second War of the Burning Sky: Shelter from the Storm [more spoilers than you can shake a stick adorned with ribbons and kerchiefs at!]
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Bill T." data-source="post: 7953956" data-attributes="member: 6795693"><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Dramatis Personae</strong></span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Basel</strong>, an Innenotdaran (aka grey) elf evoker who has been attending Gabal's school and previously made his living as a baker.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Dämmek</strong>, a human swordswoman with keen senses and a great sword.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Gusle</strong>, a seela bard who recently escaped captivity from a circus. This player has been through the first few chapters already, so she's aware of the seela and can fill Torrent's role as guide.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Jesús Tillamook</strong>, a half-elf cloistered cleric of the Stormbringer Phoenix, a sect of the Stormchaser Eagle that is dedicated to finding the Aquiline Heart so that they can reincarnate the Eagle.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Crystin</strong> and her pet rock <strong>Crystal</strong>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Tiljann</strong>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Homer</strong>, a half-giant refugee they picked up in Vidor.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Bubbles</strong>, a young half-orc Ragesian deserter they picked up in Vidor.</li> </ul><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>In the name of "social distancing", we used Google Hangouts to get together. It worked pretty well -- I had a laptop set up so that I could switch between the built-in camera, pointed at the my wife and I, and the game table with the mat and miniatures we didn't need. The big down side was I kept shouting at the computer to make sure I was heard, so my throat's still a bit sore 48 hours later.</em></p><p></p><p>The heroes interrogate H'andrea, asking her why they attacked, where's their prisoner, etc. They give her plate armor to Homer, and her holy symbol, a pendant depicting the Tidereaver, to Jesús. H'andrea extracts a promise from Gusle and others to be let go after she leads them to the witches' prisoner.</p><p></p><p>They go to H'Andreas' island. Gusle browbeats H'andrea into shooing away the skeletons. She then proceeds directly to the shed Katrina is being held in, frees her, and takes an instant disliking to her.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Yes, again, alas. This is the player who's gone through these adventures once before, and her character didn't like Katrina the last time, either.</em></p><p></p><p>They then explore the rest of the sheds. Gusle becomes ill when she learns what the cauldron was used for. They manage to get full details from H'andrea regarding her contact in Seaquen and a description of the torchstaff and the <em>Tidereaver's Tears</em>. H'andrea is eager to get on the heroes' good side for some mysterious reason. :-D</p><p></p><p>After dumping the witches' cauldron in the swamp, the heroes argue about what to do with H'Andrea and H'Andrea. Gusle and Dämmek insist they should keep their word. Katrina and (to a lesser extent) Basel insist the evil witches are a threat that needs to be eliminated. Gusle eventually turns a blind eye as Basel annd Katrina dump the two witches into a burning shed.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Our group sometimes has problems with serious role-play between characters bleeding out into the interactions between the players, but they -- OK, we -- did a good job arguing about the morality of killing the witches without taking it personally.</em></p><p></p><p>Further travel to Seaquen is uneventful, in large part to the map Katrina thought to purchase before entering the swamp. They sell their boats for 12 cp and walk into town. Gusle suggests they find Lee. So, they make their way to the harbormaster's office. Gusle is being coy about who their friend of Lee's is, so Katrina demands to know why Torrent's name is a big secret. That gets the party directions to Lee's place.</p><p></p><p>The meeting with Lee goes pretty much as expected. Lee promises to arrange a meeting. After meeting with Lee, they stop for a bite to eat. The overhear townsfolk arguing about the influx of refugees and Simeon's competence. While this is going on, Jesús notices a giant eagle with a rider fly by outside. He pops out to look and is told that that's Laurabec and her wondrous steed.</p><p></p><p>They track down Paradim's shop and are appalled yet impressed by what he's doing.</p><p></p><p>They decide to put together a sting in hopes of catching Nebekulus. When the first scope out the fish market in the early afternoon, they hear someone shout "fire!" They rush to help with the bucket brigade, and the fire is put out with only minimal damage, but no one around seems to have much to say beyond the fact that fires have been fairly common along the south harbor, so they don't have idea of what might be behind the fires.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Then again, neither do I! The text says that several recently-built homes have been destroyed near the south harbor, but doesn't give a hint as to who or what is behind it. Is the halfling crime syndicate demonstrating what happens to people who don't keep up their "insurance" payments? Or is Pickens right about the Lyceum's dire motives? Or is it simply that the recent explosion in home-building has resulted in lax enforcement of building codes?</em></p><p></p><p>During the sting, a gnome on the street recognizes the candy-stripe staff Jesús is carrying as one of Erdan's products and asks him if he's seen his sister. His sister contacted him from Gate Pass a few days ago and he wonders if the heroes might have run into her on the way. Obviously that couldn't happen, but the gnome also got some information on the war's goings-on in Gate Pass which he shares with Jesús. However, Nebekulus doesn't make an appearance, and the heroes eventually give up.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>I figured that Brutus would scope out the market as himself before casting </em>disguise self<em> to meet H'andrea.</em></p><p></p><p>The heroes decide to buy tents and pick a spot near where Homer has managed to ingratiate himself with some of the refugees. After wandering around the camp a bit, Tiljann discovers that the Wayfarers are holding auditions for singers and wants to go now now now. The heroes have to remind her that she has to wait until daytime. The audition itself goes well, with Gusle providing background vocals ("ooh, a sister act!" says Giorgio, leering), although Gusle, opposed from the start and offended by Giorgio's heckling, is skeptical that the Wayfarers will treat her well, and promises to come to Tiljann's aid if she ever feels mistreated.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>She played Gusle's backstory up to the hilt here, and no one was quite brave enough to ask why she was so worried that they'd cage Tiljann and possibly herself. Eventually, we did come to an agreement that the Wayfarers take a very dim view of the travelling carnival that had held Gusle captive before she escaped in Gate Pass.</em></p><p></p><p>The meeting with Lee goes very well. Somehow, Katrina misses the meeting, yet the heroes thouroughly impress Simeon with their abilities as they describe their efforts to get the case of vital military intelligence, their having put out the fire forest, and the information they shared about what the H'andreas three were up to. Simeon invites them to come by should they come up with any additional information and welcomes them to the resistance. They have lunch at the Lyceum, where they learn that Crystin has been given a position on the Lyceum's staff and Katrina has parleyed her spelldueling talents into a private dorm room at the Lyceum. They ask the Lyceum for help in tracking down Nebekulus, which gains them the loan of a <em>hat of disguise</em>. Now Nebekulus is sure to turn up!</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Well, maybe not so sure, but the dice sided with the heroes and he came the next evening to see if H'andrea was there.</em></p><p></p><p>So, while Gusle makes like a batty witch in full plate, Dämmek and Basel grab a bite to eat and Jesús preaches that the Flamebringer Phoenix will be reborn and that no one will ever die.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>OK, this was an new twist on the Phoenix. Resurrection and life eternal? Seems familiar, somehow.... <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></em></p><p></p><p>Nebekulus does indeed come to get the <em>Tear</em>. Gusle does an excellent H'Andrea imitation, to Nebekulus's annoyance, but the transaction is ultimately accomplished. He then wanders off, with Dämmek carefully persuing him and the rest of the heroes carefully pursuing her.</p><p></p><p>Dämmek loses sight of Nebekulus in the crowd, but fortunately the raven familiar the Lyceum sent with the heroes doesn't. It points her down a narrow alleyway. When she enters, she bumps into a surprisingly polite half-orc. On a hunch, she turns and follows the "half-orc" rather than proceeding down the alley.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Amusingly, the heroes decided that the half-elf had disguised himself as a half-orc rather than the other way 'round. They were also convinced that he was in cahoots with Paradim.</em></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>I probably let them get away with a little bit much here -- my theory was that Brutus dismissed his <em>disguise</em> out of sight and proceeded on his way, but Dämmek couldn't have been sure of that. The smart thing would have been for Dämmek to continue down the alley while the raven followed the half-orc, but I'd sort of committed to the half-orc really being Brutus by that point.</em></p><p></p><p>They "chase" proceeds along the south edge of Seaquen proper as the half-orc proceeds east. Eventually, though, he breaks away from the southern border road and heads down a trail to the east. At that point, fearing they'd be spotted anyhow, the heroes attack. The half-orc reads a scroll and makes haste to the east, but a few pot shots with missile weapons and one hard hit with a <em>seeking ray</em> and the half-orc goes down in a heap.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Drat! Brutus rolled a 20 to notice being trailed, so I figured he would make his way to the Battle Royale, hire a whore, cast </em>disguise self<em> again, and sneak off unnoticed. I didn't realize they'd get twitchy when Brutus got out of the city, although they may have been worried that the raven would lose site of him as night fell.</em></p><p></p><p>They haul Brutus to the Lyceum, where he is quickly put under lock and guard. One <em>lesser vigor</em> and a firm intimidate later and Brutus is answering all their questions -- including, rather belatedly, telling them his name. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> He told them he was getting the <em>Tears</em> for Lee, that his brother and several others were also involved, and that he didn't know much else.</p><p></p><p>The step outside and, in a discussion with Gilver Fern, decide that the council meeting would be the best place to capture Lee just because of all the firepower available.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Well, now, that sure shakes things up! My one escape hatch is Brutus's familiar. I didn't notice the familiar, so the heroes must not have either. The familiar will know that Brutus is in trouble and give the alarm to Setales. Setales can then take the familiar to Lee, who can then speak with the familiar to determine that Brutus is captured. Lee, Setales, and Brutus's other contacts can now go into hiding.</em></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Anyone have any other ideas on how I might proceed from here? How might Lee be hindered by having to go into hiding? Also, Brutus was supposed to participated in the fight aboard the Wayfarer's Theatre -- now what?</em></p><p></p><p>We plan to play next on Easter Sunday.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bill T., post: 7953956, member: 6795693"] [SIZE=6][B]Dramatis Personae[/B][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][B]Basel[/B], an Innenotdaran (aka grey) elf evoker who has been attending Gabal's school and previously made his living as a baker. [*][B]Dämmek[/B], a human swordswoman with keen senses and a great sword. [*][B]Gusle[/B], a seela bard who recently escaped captivity from a circus. This player has been through the first few chapters already, so she's aware of the seela and can fill Torrent's role as guide. [*][B]Jesús Tillamook[/B], a half-elf cloistered cleric of the Stormbringer Phoenix, a sect of the Stormchaser Eagle that is dedicated to finding the Aquiline Heart so that they can reincarnate the Eagle. [*][B]Crystin[/B] and her pet rock [B]Crystal[/B]. [*][B]Tiljann[/B]. [*][B]Homer[/B], a half-giant refugee they picked up in Vidor. [*][B]Bubbles[/B], a young half-orc Ragesian deserter they picked up in Vidor. [/LIST] [INDENT][I]In the name of "social distancing", we used Google Hangouts to get together. It worked pretty well -- I had a laptop set up so that I could switch between the built-in camera, pointed at the my wife and I, and the game table with the mat and miniatures we didn't need. The big down side was I kept shouting at the computer to make sure I was heard, so my throat's still a bit sore 48 hours later.[/I][/INDENT] The heroes interrogate H'andrea, asking her why they attacked, where's their prisoner, etc. They give her plate armor to Homer, and her holy symbol, a pendant depicting the Tidereaver, to Jesús. H'andrea extracts a promise from Gusle and others to be let go after she leads them to the witches' prisoner. They go to H'Andreas' island. Gusle browbeats H'andrea into shooing away the skeletons. She then proceeds directly to the shed Katrina is being held in, frees her, and takes an instant disliking to her. [INDENT][I]Yes, again, alas. This is the player who's gone through these adventures once before, and her character didn't like Katrina the last time, either.[/I][/INDENT] They then explore the rest of the sheds. Gusle becomes ill when she learns what the cauldron was used for. They manage to get full details from H'andrea regarding her contact in Seaquen and a description of the torchstaff and the [I]Tidereaver's Tears[/I]. H'andrea is eager to get on the heroes' good side for some mysterious reason. :-D After dumping the witches' cauldron in the swamp, the heroes argue about what to do with H'Andrea and H'Andrea. Gusle and Dämmek insist they should keep their word. Katrina and (to a lesser extent) Basel insist the evil witches are a threat that needs to be eliminated. Gusle eventually turns a blind eye as Basel annd Katrina dump the two witches into a burning shed. [INDENT][I]Our group sometimes has problems with serious role-play between characters bleeding out into the interactions between the players, but they -- OK, we -- did a good job arguing about the morality of killing the witches without taking it personally.[/I][/INDENT] Further travel to Seaquen is uneventful, in large part to the map Katrina thought to purchase before entering the swamp. They sell their boats for 12 cp and walk into town. Gusle suggests they find Lee. So, they make their way to the harbormaster's office. Gusle is being coy about who their friend of Lee's is, so Katrina demands to know why Torrent's name is a big secret. That gets the party directions to Lee's place. The meeting with Lee goes pretty much as expected. Lee promises to arrange a meeting. After meeting with Lee, they stop for a bite to eat. The overhear townsfolk arguing about the influx of refugees and Simeon's competence. While this is going on, Jesús notices a giant eagle with a rider fly by outside. He pops out to look and is told that that's Laurabec and her wondrous steed. They track down Paradim's shop and are appalled yet impressed by what he's doing. They decide to put together a sting in hopes of catching Nebekulus. When the first scope out the fish market in the early afternoon, they hear someone shout "fire!" They rush to help with the bucket brigade, and the fire is put out with only minimal damage, but no one around seems to have much to say beyond the fact that fires have been fairly common along the south harbor, so they don't have idea of what might be behind the fires. [INDENT][I]Then again, neither do I! The text says that several recently-built homes have been destroyed near the south harbor, but doesn't give a hint as to who or what is behind it. Is the halfling crime syndicate demonstrating what happens to people who don't keep up their "insurance" payments? Or is Pickens right about the Lyceum's dire motives? Or is it simply that the recent explosion in home-building has resulted in lax enforcement of building codes?[/I][/INDENT] During the sting, a gnome on the street recognizes the candy-stripe staff Jesús is carrying as one of Erdan's products and asks him if he's seen his sister. His sister contacted him from Gate Pass a few days ago and he wonders if the heroes might have run into her on the way. Obviously that couldn't happen, but the gnome also got some information on the war's goings-on in Gate Pass which he shares with Jesús. However, Nebekulus doesn't make an appearance, and the heroes eventually give up. [INDENT][I]I figured that Brutus would scope out the market as himself before casting [/I]disguise self[I] to meet H'andrea.[/I][/INDENT] The heroes decide to buy tents and pick a spot near where Homer has managed to ingratiate himself with some of the refugees. After wandering around the camp a bit, Tiljann discovers that the Wayfarers are holding auditions for singers and wants to go now now now. The heroes have to remind her that she has to wait until daytime. The audition itself goes well, with Gusle providing background vocals ("ooh, a sister act!" says Giorgio, leering), although Gusle, opposed from the start and offended by Giorgio's heckling, is skeptical that the Wayfarers will treat her well, and promises to come to Tiljann's aid if she ever feels mistreated. [INDENT][I]She played Gusle's backstory up to the hilt here, and no one was quite brave enough to ask why she was so worried that they'd cage Tiljann and possibly herself. Eventually, we did come to an agreement that the Wayfarers take a very dim view of the travelling carnival that had held Gusle captive before she escaped in Gate Pass.[/I][/INDENT] The meeting with Lee goes very well. Somehow, Katrina misses the meeting, yet the heroes thouroughly impress Simeon with their abilities as they describe their efforts to get the case of vital military intelligence, their having put out the fire forest, and the information they shared about what the H'andreas three were up to. Simeon invites them to come by should they come up with any additional information and welcomes them to the resistance. They have lunch at the Lyceum, where they learn that Crystin has been given a position on the Lyceum's staff and Katrina has parleyed her spelldueling talents into a private dorm room at the Lyceum. They ask the Lyceum for help in tracking down Nebekulus, which gains them the loan of a [I]hat of disguise[/I]. Now Nebekulus is sure to turn up! [INDENT][I]Well, maybe not so sure, but the dice sided with the heroes and he came the next evening to see if H'andrea was there.[/I][/INDENT] So, while Gusle makes like a batty witch in full plate, Dämmek and Basel grab a bite to eat and Jesús preaches that the Flamebringer Phoenix will be reborn and that no one will ever die. [INDENT][I]OK, this was an new twist on the Phoenix. Resurrection and life eternal? Seems familiar, somehow.... :)[/I][/INDENT] Nebekulus does indeed come to get the [I]Tear[/I]. Gusle does an excellent H'Andrea imitation, to Nebekulus's annoyance, but the transaction is ultimately accomplished. He then wanders off, with Dämmek carefully persuing him and the rest of the heroes carefully pursuing her. Dämmek loses sight of Nebekulus in the crowd, but fortunately the raven familiar the Lyceum sent with the heroes doesn't. It points her down a narrow alleyway. When she enters, she bumps into a surprisingly polite half-orc. On a hunch, she turns and follows the "half-orc" rather than proceeding down the alley. [INDENT][I]Amusingly, the heroes decided that the half-elf had disguised himself as a half-orc rather than the other way 'round. They were also convinced that he was in cahoots with Paradim.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]I probably let them get away with a little bit much here -- my theory was that Brutus dismissed his [I]disguise[/I] out of sight and proceeded on his way, but Dämmek couldn't have been sure of that. The smart thing would have been for Dämmek to continue down the alley while the raven followed the half-orc, but I'd sort of committed to the half-orc really being Brutus by that point.[/I][/INDENT] They "chase" proceeds along the south edge of Seaquen proper as the half-orc proceeds east. Eventually, though, he breaks away from the southern border road and heads down a trail to the east. At that point, fearing they'd be spotted anyhow, the heroes attack. The half-orc reads a scroll and makes haste to the east, but a few pot shots with missile weapons and one hard hit with a [I]seeking ray[/I] and the half-orc goes down in a heap. [INDENT][I]Drat! Brutus rolled a 20 to notice being trailed, so I figured he would make his way to the Battle Royale, hire a whore, cast [/I]disguise self[I] again, and sneak off unnoticed. I didn't realize they'd get twitchy when Brutus got out of the city, although they may have been worried that the raven would lose site of him as night fell.[/I][/INDENT] They haul Brutus to the Lyceum, where he is quickly put under lock and guard. One [I]lesser vigor[/I] and a firm intimidate later and Brutus is answering all their questions -- including, rather belatedly, telling them his name. :) He told them he was getting the [I]Tears[/I] for Lee, that his brother and several others were also involved, and that he didn't know much else. The step outside and, in a discussion with Gilver Fern, decide that the council meeting would be the best place to capture Lee just because of all the firepower available. [INDENT][I]Well, now, that sure shakes things up! My one escape hatch is Brutus's familiar. I didn't notice the familiar, so the heroes must not have either. The familiar will know that Brutus is in trouble and give the alarm to Setales. Setales can then take the familiar to Lee, who can then speak with the familiar to determine that Brutus is captured. Lee, Setales, and Brutus's other contacts can now go into hiding.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]Anyone have any other ideas on how I might proceed from here? How might Lee be hindered by having to go into hiding? Also, Brutus was supposed to participated in the fight aboard the Wayfarer's Theatre -- now what?[/I][/INDENT] We plan to play next on Easter Sunday. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
EN Publishing
Bill T's Second War of the Burning Sky: Shelter from the Storm [more spoilers than you can shake a stick adorned with ribbons and kerchiefs at!]
Top