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
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is LIVE! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Broken Realms
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="jbear" data-source="post: 5166552" data-attributes="member: 75065"><p><strong>Session 2</strong></p><p></p><p>They worked as a team. The elf took the lead, scouting out the safest path, avoiding weakened areas and guiding the others. And the others, as they advanced slowly and carefully, helped the dwarf, who was feeling rather uncomfortable so high above her beloved solid ground. The most testing moment was when Tron, whose every step crunched the roof slates to dust, tried to pass above the control point without making a noise. Again luck was to favour them. The people bunched up below them were complaining at the slow pace of their pass to and from the markets, that the now alert guards had imposed. As guards searched for the fugitives that at that very moment climbed across the roof above their heads, the noise generated by the crowd's complaints, covered, not without certain irony, the noisy steps of the metal giant.</p><p> </p><p>The marketplace was bustling with people making the most of the last minute haggling during the dying light of the day's end. From the roof Tanis localised the guards dispersed about the place. She pointed them out to the others.</p><p>-'They are looking for us,' grumbled Hogart. 'They know we're around here somewhere.'</p><p>There were many exits from the marketplace, que was an ample plaza in the heart of the thriving township, like the centre of a wagon wheel. But due to the position of the guards, their options were severly reduced. Just at that moment, the whinny of a horse was heard above the market buzz; a young stallion refused to go with its new owner. It reared up on powerful hind legs, kicking and biting, overturning wagons and stalls. They made the most of the ruckus and leapt down from the roof without being seen, the crowd's attention enraptured by the spectacle of the young horse. They followed Rascabron who crossed the market with sure step, invisible amidst the ensuing chaos. But unwisely, he got too close. The horse's hind turned unexpectedly towards him, knocking him hard to the dusty ground. It was a close thing he did not receive a kick to the head as well. Strong hands pulled him to his feet. A friendly itinerant merchant pulled him clear of danger. Rascabron thanked him with a heartfelt smile, and made the most of his proximity to lift his purse. His satisfied smile lasted only until Tanisa whispered furiously in his ear.</p><p>-'Damned inept thief, they've seen us.'</p><p>And so they had. Four guards pushed their way through the crowd, whistling the alarm and pointing in their direction.</p><p>-'Out of my way!' roared Tron, pushing people left and right, knocking them out of the way violently. The others followed in his wake. They made it to a street that would take them towards the old part of town before the guards were able to cut them off. They ran like hares, like gazelles, like chickens. They spied an abandoned old cemetry. There they his and rested at last, exhausted and content.</p><p>-'Not exactly what I had in mind when he told us not to draw attntion to ourselves, but not to bad at all,' commented Angus, usually quiet and reserved. They all laughed. Eventually the whistles fell silent. They were safe for now.</p><p> </p><p>Night fell. They needed information. Tanisa and Rascabron adventured back into the streets, moving through the shadows. They followed the sound of merryment and tuneless singing they heard in the distance. It brought them to a tavern full of people celebrating. They passed amongst them asking questions. They discovered that there was a way out through the Old Quarter called the Camel's Eye. It was the entrance that merchants used who arrived after the main gates had been shut. After some subtle persuasion, a young man of questionable character told them that at midnight the guards at the Camel's Eye changed. The way would remain momentarily free.</p><p> </p><p>They didn't need to know any more. They bought a small barrel of beer and returned to the cemetry to celebrate their success with their companions. They celebrated 'til just before midnight. Light of foot and head they found the Camel's Eye straight away. A narrow passageway made of ancient stone, that passed beneath the death holes of the town wall. An easy place to defend, but now it was completely abandoned as promised. Well, not completely. The sillouette of a solitary guard was etched against the weak light of the passage. Even from that distance, it was easy to see he was a strong man, protected by a formidable suit of armour. He had his back to them, kneeling, head lowered, praying silently.</p><p>-'Damn our luck, and his! More food for the Crow,' whispered Rascabron taking out his dagger silently. Hogart placed her hand on his arm.</p><p>-'Maybe not. Let me speak to him first. Only kill him if it is necessary.'</p><p>Rascabron disappeared, circling towards his prey like a cat would a rat. Hogart stepped forward boldly. The group followed her, quickly with sure step. The solitary guard heard them, slowly stood and turned to face them. He plaed his hand on the hilt of his sword.</p><p>-'Who nears? Identify yourself!'</p><p>Hogart stepped out of the darkness. She lifted both hands, showing him they were empty. Although she could not see the face of the man beneath the helm, bathed in shadows, she could almost feel the intensity of his look. This was a paladin, a divine knight, trained, disciplined, inmutable. This was no novice they could hoodwink. She hesitated a moment, wiping the lies that balanced upon her tongue. She decided to talk straight.</p><p>-'Who we are is of little importance. What does matter, is that you stand in our way. Our only way. A dangerous situation for you as much as it is for us. We don't want to feed the King of Crows, but even less do we wish to be eaten.'</p><p>They didn't hear the sudden breath he took in, nor did they see the surprise in the man's eyes. his emotions remained hidden beneath shadow and metal. They didn't see his incredulity, much as he failed to see the dark elf who closed in perilously on his flank. And of course they certainly did not see the mysterious lights that the paladin saw. Blue lights that danced around the dwarf's head, forming roots, branches and magical leaves; a blue cherry tree, the sign he had been waiting for during these many years wasting in this corrupt place. They sam him touch his arm, although they did not see the cherry tree tatooed beneath the metal plates.</p><p>-'I've been waiting for you.'</p><p>He didn't say it like:' I've been waiting for you, criminal assassin's'. It sounded more like: 'I've been waiting for you, friends, you're late, but I forgive you. Let's go.' It was that intonation that saved him from a world of pain. Rascabron, about to end the conversation with a stab in the neck, stopped.</p><p>-'Do we know you?' asked Hogart, curious.</p><p>-'Not yet, but it is going to be a long journey,' answered the paladin as he gathered his few posessions. 'Let's go before my companions arrive.'</p><p>Rascabron emerged from the darkness scratching his head. He shrugged with a smile.</p><p>-'Let the Crow starve!'</p><p>The Crow, of whom they spoke so often, was Kelemvor, King of the Crows, God of Death. He was going to be their faithful companion throughout their journey, and he was going to dine well that very night.</p><p> </p><p>Tired, wet and frozen from the long march benath the cold drizzle, they left the city behind them and headed into the skirts of the mountain. The light that they saw through the trees drew them like a moth to a flame, drawn by the promise of warmth and rest. The approached carefully, but with the heavy steps of Tron and the paladin, Arthur, stealth was impossible. The light came from an improvised bonfire in the doorway of a ruined tower. It lit up the faces of battleworn and decidedly unfriendly faces of the inhabitants; hobgoblins, a dangerous and intelligent enemy. They decided unanimously to kill them.</p><p> </p><p>Our heroe attempted to surround the hobgoblins and surprise them. their efforts were disasterous, their attack discoordinated and confused. The only thing they managed to do was seperate themselves and put their lives in danger. While Tanisa and Rascabron tried to get near behind the cover of trees, Arthur the Paladin decided to show his courage and charged against the enemies alone. He discovered just how organized and tempered hobgoblins can be. Arthur smashed against the shields of the three soldiers that protected the archers behind them, and suddenly he flew through the air beneath the magic of their warlock who organised the tight defensive line and directed their attacks. He landed amid the flames of the blazing bonfire like a sack of potatoes. His newly made companions took a deep breath an went in to his rescue, Hogarts prayers barely enough to keep him alive. The battle was long, very long. It was neither glorious nor memorable. Eventually a hobgoblin fell beneath Angus' sword, and then fell another and another, more out of tiredness and boredom than due to any mortal wounds. The rest fled, but not before they tossed the paladin back into the fire. And so they took control of the hobgoblin's lair and became owners of their belongings, which included five horses tied to the trees behind the ruined tower. They ate their food, they drank their drink, they slept in their beds and they felt satisfied.</p><p> </p><p>___________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>End of the second session. Time was taken to explain the rules to the two new players. The battle against the hobgoblins was a total grind. I ran it as is and their high phalanx defenses and suck rolls made it loooong. That wouldn't happen again. The skill challenge was very fun. I mapped out different possible routes through town where different things would happen depending on where they went, which made things more dynamic than it seemed as read. And that was all there was time for!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jbear, post: 5166552, member: 75065"] [b]Session 2[/b] They worked as a team. The elf took the lead, scouting out the safest path, avoiding weakened areas and guiding the others. And the others, as they advanced slowly and carefully, helped the dwarf, who was feeling rather uncomfortable so high above her beloved solid ground. The most testing moment was when Tron, whose every step crunched the roof slates to dust, tried to pass above the control point without making a noise. Again luck was to favour them. The people bunched up below them were complaining at the slow pace of their pass to and from the markets, that the now alert guards had imposed. As guards searched for the fugitives that at that very moment climbed across the roof above their heads, the noise generated by the crowd's complaints, covered, not without certain irony, the noisy steps of the metal giant. The marketplace was bustling with people making the most of the last minute haggling during the dying light of the day's end. From the roof Tanis localised the guards dispersed about the place. She pointed them out to the others. -'They are looking for us,' grumbled Hogart. 'They know we're around here somewhere.' There were many exits from the marketplace, que was an ample plaza in the heart of the thriving township, like the centre of a wagon wheel. But due to the position of the guards, their options were severly reduced. Just at that moment, the whinny of a horse was heard above the market buzz; a young stallion refused to go with its new owner. It reared up on powerful hind legs, kicking and biting, overturning wagons and stalls. They made the most of the ruckus and leapt down from the roof without being seen, the crowd's attention enraptured by the spectacle of the young horse. They followed Rascabron who crossed the market with sure step, invisible amidst the ensuing chaos. But unwisely, he got too close. The horse's hind turned unexpectedly towards him, knocking him hard to the dusty ground. It was a close thing he did not receive a kick to the head as well. Strong hands pulled him to his feet. A friendly itinerant merchant pulled him clear of danger. Rascabron thanked him with a heartfelt smile, and made the most of his proximity to lift his purse. His satisfied smile lasted only until Tanisa whispered furiously in his ear. -'Damned inept thief, they've seen us.' And so they had. Four guards pushed their way through the crowd, whistling the alarm and pointing in their direction. -'Out of my way!' roared Tron, pushing people left and right, knocking them out of the way violently. The others followed in his wake. They made it to a street that would take them towards the old part of town before the guards were able to cut them off. They ran like hares, like gazelles, like chickens. They spied an abandoned old cemetry. There they his and rested at last, exhausted and content. -'Not exactly what I had in mind when he told us not to draw attntion to ourselves, but not to bad at all,' commented Angus, usually quiet and reserved. They all laughed. Eventually the whistles fell silent. They were safe for now. Night fell. They needed information. Tanisa and Rascabron adventured back into the streets, moving through the shadows. They followed the sound of merryment and tuneless singing they heard in the distance. It brought them to a tavern full of people celebrating. They passed amongst them asking questions. They discovered that there was a way out through the Old Quarter called the Camel's Eye. It was the entrance that merchants used who arrived after the main gates had been shut. After some subtle persuasion, a young man of questionable character told them that at midnight the guards at the Camel's Eye changed. The way would remain momentarily free. They didn't need to know any more. They bought a small barrel of beer and returned to the cemetry to celebrate their success with their companions. They celebrated 'til just before midnight. Light of foot and head they found the Camel's Eye straight away. A narrow passageway made of ancient stone, that passed beneath the death holes of the town wall. An easy place to defend, but now it was completely abandoned as promised. Well, not completely. The sillouette of a solitary guard was etched against the weak light of the passage. Even from that distance, it was easy to see he was a strong man, protected by a formidable suit of armour. He had his back to them, kneeling, head lowered, praying silently. -'Damn our luck, and his! More food for the Crow,' whispered Rascabron taking out his dagger silently. Hogart placed her hand on his arm. -'Maybe not. Let me speak to him first. Only kill him if it is necessary.' Rascabron disappeared, circling towards his prey like a cat would a rat. Hogart stepped forward boldly. The group followed her, quickly with sure step. The solitary guard heard them, slowly stood and turned to face them. He plaed his hand on the hilt of his sword. -'Who nears? Identify yourself!' Hogart stepped out of the darkness. She lifted both hands, showing him they were empty. Although she could not see the face of the man beneath the helm, bathed in shadows, she could almost feel the intensity of his look. This was a paladin, a divine knight, trained, disciplined, inmutable. This was no novice they could hoodwink. She hesitated a moment, wiping the lies that balanced upon her tongue. She decided to talk straight. -'Who we are is of little importance. What does matter, is that you stand in our way. Our only way. A dangerous situation for you as much as it is for us. We don't want to feed the King of Crows, but even less do we wish to be eaten.' They didn't hear the sudden breath he took in, nor did they see the surprise in the man's eyes. his emotions remained hidden beneath shadow and metal. They didn't see his incredulity, much as he failed to see the dark elf who closed in perilously on his flank. And of course they certainly did not see the mysterious lights that the paladin saw. Blue lights that danced around the dwarf's head, forming roots, branches and magical leaves; a blue cherry tree, the sign he had been waiting for during these many years wasting in this corrupt place. They sam him touch his arm, although they did not see the cherry tree tatooed beneath the metal plates. -'I've been waiting for you.' He didn't say it like:' I've been waiting for you, criminal assassin's'. It sounded more like: 'I've been waiting for you, friends, you're late, but I forgive you. Let's go.' It was that intonation that saved him from a world of pain. Rascabron, about to end the conversation with a stab in the neck, stopped. -'Do we know you?' asked Hogart, curious. -'Not yet, but it is going to be a long journey,' answered the paladin as he gathered his few posessions. 'Let's go before my companions arrive.' Rascabron emerged from the darkness scratching his head. He shrugged with a smile. -'Let the Crow starve!' The Crow, of whom they spoke so often, was Kelemvor, King of the Crows, God of Death. He was going to be their faithful companion throughout their journey, and he was going to dine well that very night. Tired, wet and frozen from the long march benath the cold drizzle, they left the city behind them and headed into the skirts of the mountain. The light that they saw through the trees drew them like a moth to a flame, drawn by the promise of warmth and rest. The approached carefully, but with the heavy steps of Tron and the paladin, Arthur, stealth was impossible. The light came from an improvised bonfire in the doorway of a ruined tower. It lit up the faces of battleworn and decidedly unfriendly faces of the inhabitants; hobgoblins, a dangerous and intelligent enemy. They decided unanimously to kill them. Our heroe attempted to surround the hobgoblins and surprise them. their efforts were disasterous, their attack discoordinated and confused. The only thing they managed to do was seperate themselves and put their lives in danger. While Tanisa and Rascabron tried to get near behind the cover of trees, Arthur the Paladin decided to show his courage and charged against the enemies alone. He discovered just how organized and tempered hobgoblins can be. Arthur smashed against the shields of the three soldiers that protected the archers behind them, and suddenly he flew through the air beneath the magic of their warlock who organised the tight defensive line and directed their attacks. He landed amid the flames of the blazing bonfire like a sack of potatoes. His newly made companions took a deep breath an went in to his rescue, Hogarts prayers barely enough to keep him alive. The battle was long, very long. It was neither glorious nor memorable. Eventually a hobgoblin fell beneath Angus' sword, and then fell another and another, more out of tiredness and boredom than due to any mortal wounds. The rest fled, but not before they tossed the paladin back into the fire. And so they took control of the hobgoblin's lair and became owners of their belongings, which included five horses tied to the trees behind the ruined tower. They ate their food, they drank their drink, they slept in their beds and they felt satisfied. ___________________________________________________________ End of the second session. Time was taken to explain the rules to the two new players. The battle against the hobgoblins was a total grind. I ran it as is and their high phalanx defenses and suck rolls made it loooong. That wouldn't happen again. The skill challenge was very fun. I mapped out different possible routes through town where different things would happen depending on where they went, which made things more dynamic than it seemed as read. And that was all there was time for! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Broken Realms
Top