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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Campaign of DM Cthulu Ftaghn
- Thread starter cthuluftaghn
- Start date
cthuluftaghn
First Post
Thanks. I'll pass along the remark to her. She says she did it as a treat for me.... but we all know she's pining for compliments 
cthuluftaghn
First Post
I think it makes me look rather handsome!
Birmingham, eh? That's where the Birmingham NEC is, I'd assume... Maiden England, filmed circa 1988. Mighty fine video!
Next game is one week from tomorrow: June 29th.. updates will come soon after.
Birmingham, eh? That's where the Birmingham NEC is, I'd assume... Maiden England, filmed circa 1988. Mighty fine video!
Next game is one week from tomorrow: June 29th.. updates will come soon after.
cthuluftaghn
First Post
Uh oh... I have a bad feeling about Gann Tolar's future. I sense something terrible is about to happen.
(For those of you that haven't caught on, Jodo Kast plays the character of Gann in this campaign)
(For those of you that haven't caught on, Jodo Kast plays the character of Gann in this campaign)
cthuluftaghn
First Post
Session 2 complete
We just finished our second session in this campaign. I'll be working on the Story Hour writeups over the next several days.
Initial impression: Good session, but too many players at the table. We had 7 PC's, which led to too much confusion in the game, and in real life.
Loot: A lot! It'll take quite some time to get it all appraised, identified and divvied. A list of the loot can be seen here.
XP: Experience for treasure has not been added up yet, but the level 5 characters got 1338 each, and the level 4 characters got 1465 each. The exception being Gann Tolar, who earned 1565... an extra 100 for outstanding role-play.
Kills: Eleven, including 9 NPC's and 2 gnolls.
We just finished our second session in this campaign. I'll be working on the Story Hour writeups over the next several days.
Initial impression: Good session, but too many players at the table. We had 7 PC's, which led to too much confusion in the game, and in real life.
Loot: A lot! It'll take quite some time to get it all appraised, identified and divvied. A list of the loot can be seen here.
XP: Experience for treasure has not been added up yet, but the level 5 characters got 1338 each, and the level 4 characters got 1465 each. The exception being Gann Tolar, who earned 1565... an extra 100 for outstanding role-play.
Kills: Eleven, including 9 NPC's and 2 gnolls.
cthuluftaghn
First Post
Session II: Prelude 1
Tonan was busy packing, and that made him unhappy. Packing meant that he was indoors, and he hated being indoors. Being indoors meant that he was in the city, and Tonan despised the city. Being in the city meant.... the ranger decided to end his train of thought, as he was getting himself upset.
"Val, are you ready to get out of here yet," he yelled across the house? Valeria and Tonan weren't married, but they may as well have been. They had been together since childhood, and they'd shared countless adventures, living quarters often, and every now and then a bed. "This place makes me feel closed in, you know that!" Tonan slumped down on a bench in the common area and buried his head in his hands, massaging his temples.
Finally, Valeria emerged from the back room with her travel sack tossed casually over her left shoulder. "All right, all right," she said. "Let's get moving already. If you'd quit just sitting around all morning, we might have a chance of making it to Karlun's by midnight."
Tonan and Valeria were leaving for Hommlet. Every year at Growfest, they joined their friends, Karlun and Mandy Fies, to enjoy the festival events, and to catch up on old times. The miller and his wife had been good friends of the adventuring pair for many years.
With his friend at his side, Tonan thankfully left the city gates and struck out on the open road. After a mile or two, the ranger stopped and whistled toward a clump of trees. A slender gray wolf came trotting out of the grove and fell into step beside Tonan, who jovially ruffled the fur behind his ears. "Heya, Thor," he said by way of greeting. "How've ya been, buddy?" Tonan had rescued Thor from a pelt hunter's trap when he was just a pup. The wolf's natural parents had been beyond help (as was the unfortunate pelt hunter after Tonan had found him!), so the animal-loving adventurer adopted the animal as his own. Four years later, the bond between the two was unbreakable.
Tonan, Valeria and Thor walked together in relative silence throughout the morning and most of the afternoon. They enjoyed the fresh air, the comfort of good company, and the scenery along the way. The trio stopped briefly for a late lunch (a rabbit snagged easily by Thor), and then they continued South in the direction of Hommlet. It was at about that time when the thunderheads started to roll in. "Uh oh," exclaimed Val. "I think we better find some shelter. It doesn't look like we're going to make it to Hommlet tonight."
Tonan grumbled in agreement, and after a few more miles he set off into the woods to secure some form of shelter from the approaching storm. Just a few meters from the road, the skilled ranger quickly lashed the tops of four saplings together, and covered the make-shift structure with pine branches. The front of the natural hut was protected from the elements by a clump of thick shrubbery, and was completely waterproof. The companions piled inside for the night just as the first drops of rain began to fall from the sky.
Tonan pulled some venison jerky from his pack and passed it around. He was sorely disappointed that he wouldn't get to see his friends tonight, but at least he got to spend another night in his true home... the wilderness!
The steady downpour lulled the group to sleep, and they enjoyed fitful rest until shortly after midnight. Valeria was the first to awaken. Her keen senses alerted her to the trouble even before Thor began to stir. Tonan started to complain loudly over being roughly shaken from his slumber, but Val clamped a hand firmly over his mouth. "Fighting," she whispered shrilly. "On the road."
The ranger crawled out from the shelter and ducked down behind the dripping bushes. The rain had stopped, but a heavy fog remained, and it partially obscured his view of the road. Even with his reduced range of site, Tonan could still make out a large group of bandits surrounding a damaged wagon. There were at least 15-20 of the strange robed figures. "Outnumbered," he cursed under his breath. "Robed bandits?" he thought to himself.
He turned and shook his head at Valeria, signaling for her to stay put. The odds were too great and, as much as he hated to admit it, there was nothing they could do. Assured that Val wouldn't give away their position, Tonan peered once more through the fog.
The bandits had waylaid what appeared to be a merchant wagon, presumably on its way to Hommlet for the festival. The front wheel on the driver's side was cracked, and the vehicle was slumped over at an angle. The two occupants of the wagon sat motionless, helpless and terrified. Tonan gripped his twin blades in sweating hands, just itching to inflict harsh justice upon these most unusual brigands.
As the ranger watched in stunned silence, the "bandits" began to form a ring around the wagon. They marched in a steady circle around their captives with their faces and hands hidden within the folds of their long, dark yellow robes. Tonan's blood went cold as the figures began a low chant that filled the night air with an unnatural chill. The evil emanating from these men was almost tangible. The pair on the wagon didn't even scream as one of the cultists moved in and swiftly slashed both of their throats with a wicked curved blade. As their blood spilled into the rocky earth, the brigand cultists writhed and moaned in horrifying ecstasy.
The moaning didn't end until the last drop of blood had dripped from the necks of the victims. Then, the cultists stood up as if nothing had happened and they got to work. Two of the larger men walked over to the front of the wagon and hefted the bodies from where they had collapsed. They dumped the corpses into a ditch on the other side of the road from where Tonan was hidden, and then they returned to the wagon to help the others.
Four more cultists had already propped the wagon up on a large stone and were working on repairing the broken wheel. Tonan watched with a grim expression on his face, while constantly shushing poor Valeria, who was growing desperate to know what was going on. Almost thirty minutes had elapsed before the strange robed bandits had the wagon repaired, and they had moved it off-road to head west into the Kron Hills.
Tonan relaxed a bit as the party began to move away into the night; a night which suddenly felt much darker. Sound carries a long way in the fog, and the sharp-eared ranger was able to discern a parting comment from one of the cultists...
"It is still another full day's journey to the stronghold. We must make haste. The masters will be growing impatient by now, but I believe they will be pleased with what we have done."
Tonan turned back to the shelter, where Valeria and Thor both sat glaring at him (as much as a wolf could glare). Val's face softened a bit when she saw the look in her friend's eyes. "I'm not tired anymore," the ranger stated plainly. "How about we try to make it to the Fies' by morning. Whaddya think?"
Valeria nodded her assent and helped Tonan to gather their things. Within minutes, the pine branches were scattered far from the camp, and the saplings were once again standing upright in their natural position. There was no sign whatsoever that anyone had been hiding in the bushes. The murderous cult would never know that their dark deeds on the road that night had been witnessed by anyone.
Tonan was busy packing, and that made him unhappy. Packing meant that he was indoors, and he hated being indoors. Being indoors meant that he was in the city, and Tonan despised the city. Being in the city meant.... the ranger decided to end his train of thought, as he was getting himself upset.
"Val, are you ready to get out of here yet," he yelled across the house? Valeria and Tonan weren't married, but they may as well have been. They had been together since childhood, and they'd shared countless adventures, living quarters often, and every now and then a bed. "This place makes me feel closed in, you know that!" Tonan slumped down on a bench in the common area and buried his head in his hands, massaging his temples.
Finally, Valeria emerged from the back room with her travel sack tossed casually over her left shoulder. "All right, all right," she said. "Let's get moving already. If you'd quit just sitting around all morning, we might have a chance of making it to Karlun's by midnight."
Tonan and Valeria were leaving for Hommlet. Every year at Growfest, they joined their friends, Karlun and Mandy Fies, to enjoy the festival events, and to catch up on old times. The miller and his wife had been good friends of the adventuring pair for many years.
With his friend at his side, Tonan thankfully left the city gates and struck out on the open road. After a mile or two, the ranger stopped and whistled toward a clump of trees. A slender gray wolf came trotting out of the grove and fell into step beside Tonan, who jovially ruffled the fur behind his ears. "Heya, Thor," he said by way of greeting. "How've ya been, buddy?" Tonan had rescued Thor from a pelt hunter's trap when he was just a pup. The wolf's natural parents had been beyond help (as was the unfortunate pelt hunter after Tonan had found him!), so the animal-loving adventurer adopted the animal as his own. Four years later, the bond between the two was unbreakable.
Tonan, Valeria and Thor walked together in relative silence throughout the morning and most of the afternoon. They enjoyed the fresh air, the comfort of good company, and the scenery along the way. The trio stopped briefly for a late lunch (a rabbit snagged easily by Thor), and then they continued South in the direction of Hommlet. It was at about that time when the thunderheads started to roll in. "Uh oh," exclaimed Val. "I think we better find some shelter. It doesn't look like we're going to make it to Hommlet tonight."
Tonan grumbled in agreement, and after a few more miles he set off into the woods to secure some form of shelter from the approaching storm. Just a few meters from the road, the skilled ranger quickly lashed the tops of four saplings together, and covered the make-shift structure with pine branches. The front of the natural hut was protected from the elements by a clump of thick shrubbery, and was completely waterproof. The companions piled inside for the night just as the first drops of rain began to fall from the sky.
Tonan pulled some venison jerky from his pack and passed it around. He was sorely disappointed that he wouldn't get to see his friends tonight, but at least he got to spend another night in his true home... the wilderness!
The steady downpour lulled the group to sleep, and they enjoyed fitful rest until shortly after midnight. Valeria was the first to awaken. Her keen senses alerted her to the trouble even before Thor began to stir. Tonan started to complain loudly over being roughly shaken from his slumber, but Val clamped a hand firmly over his mouth. "Fighting," she whispered shrilly. "On the road."
The ranger crawled out from the shelter and ducked down behind the dripping bushes. The rain had stopped, but a heavy fog remained, and it partially obscured his view of the road. Even with his reduced range of site, Tonan could still make out a large group of bandits surrounding a damaged wagon. There were at least 15-20 of the strange robed figures. "Outnumbered," he cursed under his breath. "Robed bandits?" he thought to himself.
He turned and shook his head at Valeria, signaling for her to stay put. The odds were too great and, as much as he hated to admit it, there was nothing they could do. Assured that Val wouldn't give away their position, Tonan peered once more through the fog.
The bandits had waylaid what appeared to be a merchant wagon, presumably on its way to Hommlet for the festival. The front wheel on the driver's side was cracked, and the vehicle was slumped over at an angle. The two occupants of the wagon sat motionless, helpless and terrified. Tonan gripped his twin blades in sweating hands, just itching to inflict harsh justice upon these most unusual brigands.
As the ranger watched in stunned silence, the "bandits" began to form a ring around the wagon. They marched in a steady circle around their captives with their faces and hands hidden within the folds of their long, dark yellow robes. Tonan's blood went cold as the figures began a low chant that filled the night air with an unnatural chill. The evil emanating from these men was almost tangible. The pair on the wagon didn't even scream as one of the cultists moved in and swiftly slashed both of their throats with a wicked curved blade. As their blood spilled into the rocky earth, the brigand cultists writhed and moaned in horrifying ecstasy.
The moaning didn't end until the last drop of blood had dripped from the necks of the victims. Then, the cultists stood up as if nothing had happened and they got to work. Two of the larger men walked over to the front of the wagon and hefted the bodies from where they had collapsed. They dumped the corpses into a ditch on the other side of the road from where Tonan was hidden, and then they returned to the wagon to help the others.
Four more cultists had already propped the wagon up on a large stone and were working on repairing the broken wheel. Tonan watched with a grim expression on his face, while constantly shushing poor Valeria, who was growing desperate to know what was going on. Almost thirty minutes had elapsed before the strange robed bandits had the wagon repaired, and they had moved it off-road to head west into the Kron Hills.
Tonan relaxed a bit as the party began to move away into the night; a night which suddenly felt much darker. Sound carries a long way in the fog, and the sharp-eared ranger was able to discern a parting comment from one of the cultists...
"It is still another full day's journey to the stronghold. We must make haste. The masters will be growing impatient by now, but I believe they will be pleased with what we have done."
Tonan turned back to the shelter, where Valeria and Thor both sat glaring at him (as much as a wolf could glare). Val's face softened a bit when she saw the look in her friend's eyes. "I'm not tired anymore," the ranger stated plainly. "How about we try to make it to the Fies' by morning. Whaddya think?"
Valeria nodded her assent and helped Tonan to gather their things. Within minutes, the pine branches were scattered far from the camp, and the saplings were once again standing upright in their natural position. There was no sign whatsoever that anyone had been hiding in the bushes. The murderous cult would never know that their dark deeds on the road that night had been witnessed by anyone.
Last edited:
cthuluftaghn
First Post
Gann would be pleased to know that there are folks out there quoting him. It's good for his fragile evil-smiting ego.
