DDAL Jasper DMs Quests from the Infinite Staircase

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 22

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 91 to Day 92 morning

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 189 Villains Captured 11 Villains Escaped 55

Start Time 6:03 End Time 8:33

Take 10 downtime days. 375 GP.

Magic Items. None.

Pass Keys collected. Blue, Violet, Red. Red is Security.

Weapons collected Needler Pistol Ardor. Sleep Grenade Kira and Styx

I had a very strong group of six. Ardor Vengeance paladin 9 Sorcerer 2 elf. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Dougart Clockwork Sorcerer 11Tiefling. Styx Storm Sorceress 11. Kira Barbarian 11 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf.

Nafas, “This will be your last mission. A construct has called for aid. It lives in a mountain of steel. Expedite their freedom. This is all the information I have on this construct.”

The group goes shopping for supplies and moves to door with transports them to a rugged mountain range. About a quarter mile distance, they see a door and part of a steel fortress buried in a rock slide.

The arcane people try to decode the markings on the door but only get an “E” translated. Full sunlight hits the door and it slides open. They enter a fortress of metal. Metal floors, metal ceiling, metal walls and metal doors. A pit trap has been surrounded on two sides by a walls. As they investigate the pit, a cloaker drops on Nick. The floor and ceiling lights start turning off and on like a disco party. As they dispatch the cloaker, a construct approaches and is stunned when Rondal casts light on it. From another direction, a heavier construct approaches, it chases down the light rock and waves for the group to follow it. They pass one junction and enter the second. A door slides open a voice begins speaking but goes silent.

The room has metal chairs growing out of the floor. The construct moves deeper into the fortress. It opens one door and stops at a middle door. A door slides open. A huge window of glass stares at them and begins to brighten. The language lesson begins.

Alphie, “Greetings explorers. I am aphelion 3000. This ships on board computing system. You may call me Alphie. Please state your identity. Would the rabbit and horned one like to have an in depth medical exam. How did light come from the rock? What is magic? What is the weave? Sensors before malfunction did not result in the world being Toril. To open doors insert pass key into slot. See passenger briefing three on screen. Multiple magnifications. Multiple Malfunction. Multiple breeches in containment units. Rescue of crew member on down blow. Please keep your arms and legs close together in anti-grave tube.”

Ardor, “Rescue down below. Here I go.” He walks out and the door across the way opens. A skeleton in a red uniform rests on a desk. The group gets the screen to activate but it only shows the dead cloaker and strange rooms. They find a red glass card and a strange looking set of plate mail about the size of Ardor. The red card gets them into the next room where three heavy constructs are working at strange screens and task. Using the card to brig they enter and access the weapons locker. They find a Strange Food Chopper and four grey egg things.

The food chopper goes off in Ardor’s face driving needles into his chin, he then activates again and shoots himself in the foot.

Nick and Dougart press the button on the grey eggs.

Beep!

Nick, “Hey it flashing.”

Beep!

Dougart, “Mine flashing too.”

Beep!

Nick, “I wonder what beep means.”

Beep!

Dougart, “That last beep sounded worrisome.

BOOM! Both eggs explode with force damage. The mage and barbarian look at their egg and notice a different symbol. A short rest late they move into the hallway and notice another pit trap covered by two walls.

Styx, “That must be the anti-gravity shaft. Let’s go down.”

As they pass an open room they see four elves and five humans. They are all wearing blue coveralls.

Elf in common, “We are on a third generation of humans. And welcome more people to our lounge. We get free food.”

Ardor in Elvish, “Yes humans die quickly.” The elf does not understand Elvish and edges closer to Ardor.

Elf, “But we love fresh meat. MEAT.” The cannibals attack. And after a tough fight revert to doppelgangers as they die. They find three bracelets and break two. And a blue card.

We will pick this up in room 8B.

DM Note. I will be posting the maps of the level but not sterilizing them. So ignore any color coding.

Needler Pistol. As action burn one charge as a cone of needles go down range. A 15-foot cone Dex Save doing 8d4 piercing damage. Once you hit 0 charges you can replace the energy cell.

Sleep Nade. Range 30/60. Releases a cloud of sleep mist. 20-foot radius. DC 15 Con save or unconscious for 1 hour.

Trinket. Pull from the Ziploc for each you visit.

End of Session 574.

 

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 23

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 92 morning to Day 93 0900

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 206 Villains Captured 11 Villains Escaped 55

Start Time 6:15 End Time 8:23

Take 10 downtime days.

Magic Items. Keoghtom’s Ointment, Dust of Sneezing and Chocking, Antitoxin *2,



Pass Keys collected. Yellow Medical, Blue * 12 passenger. Red.

Weapons collected Laser Pistol with 15 shots. 2 Sleep grenades.

Stuff collected Healer Kit 9 uses.

Spells Not Working. Secret Chest. Leomund’s Tiny Hut. Demon Summoning glitching.

Extreme Radiation Poisoning. Nick. Lose 10 Max HP per day. Solution unknown at this time.

I had an average group of four. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Kira Barbarian 12 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf. Corvous Oath of Devotion Paladin 11 human.

The group is woken up by two worker constructs. One is picking up a body while the other is motioning them to follow. They follow to Alphie room. Some maps have been printed for them but Alphie has malfunctioned.

Alphie, “Greetings explorers. I am aphelion 3000. This ships on board computing system. You may call me Alphie. Please state your identity. Would the rabbit and horned one like to have an in depth medical exam. How did light come from the rock? What is magic? What is the weave? Sensors before malfunction did not result in the world being Toril. To open doors insert pass key into slot. See passenger briefing three on screen. Multiple magnifications. Multiple Malfunction. Multiple breeches in containment units. Rescue of crew member on down blow. Please keep your arms and legs close together in anti-grave tube.”

Alphie, “Grave Tubes offline. Please complete following missions to bring grave tubes on line. Three Rad samples.” The screen highlights the locations. “Kill bad vegetables.” Again the screen flashes locations. Three small not gold pieces fall into a tray. “Please connect disk to android units. Location of android units unknown.”

Rondal, “What are android units. Why can’t you talk to them?” Alphie replies with a screen shot and some words which do not make sense.

The group move to the Rad location and see two worker construct fighting a three eye giant toad. Nick and Corvous charge in. Nick attacks the toad and kills it. A worker construct tosses out of the room. Corvous attacks the worker construct and the construct attacks. And the room does too.

Nick is exhausted for some reason and some of the other have taking Rad damage. They drag the giant toad back to Alphie as they are retreating they see worker constructs clearing up the battle.

Alphie, “Rad poisoning detected. Rad sample collected. Please take Rad Rabbit to Med Lab. In future take Rad sample to Med Lab.” He flashes the location on the view screen. Med Lab is mostly empty.

Arriving at the second rad site, they see two giant blue frogs rolling in purple goop.

Nick, “I have a plan. I will blow my whistle and those monsters will follow me.” He blows his whistle.

What the party sees, the door opens and Nick blows his whistle and runs away, a blue frog charges the party and chases after Nick.

DM, “Nick you forgot you were talking to yourself in your head!” More Rad damage and two frogs are taken to med lab.

Med Android, “Must secure sick rabbit. Medical supplies not working. Thanks for rad sample number two. Please take bummed out bunny to clinic. Please acquire third sample.”

Kira, “Wouldn’t the purple goop count?”

DM, “Kira takes off her boot and scrapes into a beaker. Inspiration Kira.” A worker robot delivers one energy cell to each member of the party.

In the Med Clinic Nick is cured of one level of exhaustion but is diagnosed with extreme Rad Poisoning. They take a long rest. Opening the outer Med Clinic doors, they see an android taking itself apart. It punches Corvous and shorts out.

They got to attack the bad vegetables. The vegetables have acquired intelligence and feet. They are short and hungry. ATTACK OF KILLER VEGYPYMIES. (DM Note S3 was when these were introduced to Greyhawk and the lore.) The group stomp on the veggies hard. The vegypymies salad days are over.

The group retires to Alphie’s room and Rondal starts chalking a teleportation circle on the floor.

DM NOTE. I copied the player’s maps of the levels and then remove the color coding of the doors. I am upping the DC saves for some things. The saves are tier 1 or tier 2 saves.

Forgot one encounter oops.

Laser Pistol 3d6 radiant weight 2 pds range 40/120. No one is proficient.

End of session 576.

 

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 24

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 93 0900 Day 94 0900

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 228 Villains Captured 11 Villains Escaped 55

Start Time 6:00 End Time 8:15

Take 10 downtime days. GP 96.

Magic Items. None

Pass Keys collected. Violet, Bule.

Weapons collected 1 Sleep grenade, 2 Concussion. Remember these don’t duplicate.

Stuff collected.

Spells Not Working. Secret Chest. Leomund’s Tiny Hut. Demon Summoning glitching.

Spell Research. Passwall

Extreme Radiation Poisoning. Nick. Lose 10 Max HP per day. Solution unknown at this time.

I had an very strong group of six. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Kira Barbarian 12 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf. Styx Storm sorceress 12 Changeling. Dougart Clockwork sorcerer 12 Tiefling. Ardor Paladin 9 Sorcerer 2 human.

Styx, “Why is Nick glowing green? And why does he have mange?”

Nick, “why do I feel less healthy?”

Dougart, “Lesser Restoration! Wait that did work. Greater restoration.”

Nick, “I feel great. I feel happy. I feel….”

PHB, “Before Nick burst into song, the DM did not read the spell right. It is 1 condition. Not all. Nick is a.”

DM, “It was caught during the game so it stands. He is still going to lost the10 HP thingy next session.”

Alphie, Nick, and Rondal talk about the one ton, three eye mighty purple people eater. Alphie suggests Nick report to the Lab for more animal testing but the group declines. With one more group of bad veggies to kill, and one more android to find, they decide to go room by room.

DM, “YES, Ha! Ha! Ha! First edition exploration. Roll d12 and d10 and tell me what you got!”

Some highlights. Nick is glowing green again. Combat constructs drop grenades and are faster than a rabbit. Flying mutant manta ray exist. What happens when a Vegepygmy mates with a combat construct? It is ugly and punched Nick. Laser burns are not as fun as rug burn.

The group moves on and comes to the second rec.

Nick, “we haven’t wreck it yet.”

The group moves on and comes to the second recreation area. A strange wood and glass screen case as big as the table next to the game table is on the far end. Spider webs cover the ceiling. Lots of webs. Lots of small cocoons and seven medium cocoons are stuck to the ceiling. Rondal misty steps to the case. And the lights flicker on the ship.

Glass case has a keycard slot. Rondal uses it. “WIZARD NEEDS FOOD!” And a small dungeon appears on the screen, the cabinet has four sticks with knobs on it. And by those knobs four buttons.

DM Notes. Radiation Save is now DC 15 Con to bring more inline with a tier 3 save. And I am doing other things to make it tier 3 difficultly. I am researching the schematics question.

End of session 528

 

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 25

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 94 0900 to Day 95 0800 Maybe

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 259 Villains Captured 16 Villains Escaped 55

Start Time 5:58 End Time 8:18

Take 10 downtime days. GP 67.

Magic Items. Keoghtom’s Ointment 1 use, Antitoxin * 3,



Pass Keys collected. Violet, Yellow, Red, Blue.

Weapons collected Laser Pistol. Sleep grenade. Remember these don’t duplicate.

Stuff collected. Anti-Exhaustion shot, it will work trust me. Antigravity belt. Healer Kits * 2.

Spells Not Working. Secret Chest. Leomund’s Tiny Hut. Demon Summoning. Find Familiar.

Spells Working Passwall.

Spell Research Teleportation circle unknown, Alphie had his floor waxed.

Extreme Radiation Poisoning. Nick. Lose 10 Max HP per day. Solution unknown at this time.

I had a very strong group of six. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Kira Barbarian 12 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf. Styx Storm sorceress 11 Changeling. Ardor Paladin 9 Sorcerer 2 human. Corvous Sorcerer 11 Dragonborn.

Nick, “I am still sick.” He barfs on the teleportation circle in Alphie’s room. The group goes out into a main hall and Rondal casts Passwall on the floor. The lights don’t flicker. The group goes to killer veggies in the south west. The veggies were not happy and shot Corvous in the ear with a laser pistol and tried to dog pile Nick. The fur and leaves were flying and the rabbit was kung fu fighting.

While searching the rooms, they find Harcourt Baggins in a locker. Harcourt, “Please don’t leave me. I am a halfling.”

Ardor, “No you a vegapygmy. And how long you been here?”

Harcourt, “I do not know. The yellow mold has turned me into this. And sometimes I either sleep or go dormant like a bear. Help me Ardor, you are my only hope.”

Ardor, “That ship has left the building.”

Rondal, “Why don’t we take him to med lab and ask the android about the shot we found?” The med lab android asks the group to leave Harcourt with them and they agree for a twenty-four hour stay. The shot is an Anti-Exhaustion shot (Trust me.) With two tasks done a worker robot delivers an antigravity belt to Corvous.

Medical Android, “A living specimen of yellow mold mutant has been obtained. This unit needs a collection of yellow mold from this floor and one other floor. Then a cure will be possible.”

Rondal runs out the room to a yellow mold location somewhere on the map and summons his demon. It collects a sample of yellow mold, on the return trip, he passes an android going into a malfunction routine. He waves and thirty seconds later it explodes.

Medical Android, “This unit needs another sample from the other floors to see if there are variations in mold. Please take this container with. Contact main computer for deposit location when sample is found.”

The group decides to sweep the east side of the floor for the final android. Most rooms are empty or contain dead crew members and trinkets. However, the find the medical treatment room. “Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”

The group enter the lab and a slot the communication tablet into the android. A few second later Alphie thanks them. A swift medical exam of Nick is done; he is requested to stay for twenty-four hours of observation. The group loots the lab.

Alphie, “All Turbo lifts are unlocked and powered to the next level. Thank you.” The group takes the western lift and see purple, green and yellow kudzu trying to take over. A worker robot follows them to the level.

Alphie, “Before the lifts on this level be release, please insert communication tablet into three different androids. As these android have short range wireless, you will have to do this in three separate rooms. Also the kudzu is an invasive species and must be destroyed.”

Kira, “Why can’t the worker robot do it.?” (DM I should just did a screen of Alphie. Inspiration Kira.) The barbarian talks the worker robot to rip the plants apart. As it starts cutting the vine, the vine attacks. Or at least a mutant metal roper does. The roper tries to toss its prey into the garden below but the force field is active and they just bounce.

After the roper is chopped up, the wizard spams bonfire. Strangely, the fire alarms do not react. (A cantrip is going to complete the plant quest. Sigh. We said the plants were AC 10 and 10 HP.) Moving to the weight room in the north, the wizards spam the plants and move on. Opening the weight room Ardor ducks as a dumbbell tries to smash his face in.

PT Robot, “Lets gets physical. Physical. Do you want to get physical with me?” It tosses another weight.

Nick, “Don’t want to weight down anyone but how do we stop these without destroying them?”

Rondal, “Kira Grapple it and toss it the floor, Nick shove the pill down it’s throat.!”

Nick, “But it doesn’t have a throat.”

Rondal, “Shove the communication thing in the slot.”

Ardor, “I got the other construct. Um Robot.” The barbarian gives big hugs to the android and Nick shoves the tablet in the slot. The robot powers down and back up. Alphie thanks them.

The next room is a gym with a boxing robot, fencing robot, and martial arts robot. They are challenge to a one on one fight. The barbarian quickly defeats her robot. Ardor gets some got shots in and his wicked trash talk defeats his robot. His robot joins Nick as he is mid trash talk.

Martial Art Robot, “You trash is poo, just like you will be. Fight!” Nick punches back and takes a good hit. Fencer, “Steel beats fist.” And hits the deactivate button. Once the pill is inserted into the droid, Alphie thanks them.

Long Rest in Room 40.

We will take back up in room 40, but prepare for wander monster checks and possible breech.

DM Notes. I will be increasing the HP, and attack bonus of some monsters, as it appears the module was converted to a tier 2 party and the editor just slapped a tier 3 heading on it.

Note Vegepygmy

End of session 580

 

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 26

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 95 0800 to Day 95 1200

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 277 Villains Captured 17 Villains Escaped 60

Start Time 5:55 End Time 8:37

Take 10 downtime days.

Pass Keys collected. 2 Blue cards.

Weapons collected Sleep grenade

Spells Not Working. Secret Chest. Leomund’s Tiny Hut. Demon Summoning. Find Familiar. Any type of teleportation or summoning spell.

Spells Working Passwall.

Extreme Radiation Poisoning. Nick. Lose 10 Max HP per day. Solution unknown at this time.

I had a very strong group of six. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Kira Barbarian 12 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf. Styx Storm sorceress 11 Changeling. Ardor Paladin 9 Sorcerer 2 human. Dougart Clockwork sorcerer 11 Tiefling.

The group sleep is interrupted by 20 former crew members turned evil veggie. One is captured, two escaped into the turbo shaft, and the rest are killed. Nearly every one is covered in yellow mold with Styx having the worst case. They return to the medical clinic where she is stabilized and given a partial cure. She has been requested to have a twenty-four hour hold and starts to agree.

Dougart, “Don’t you have some way to monitor her when she is not in the lab? A remote thing?”

DM, “Inspiration.” (Don’t think anyone would have thought of this in 1981.)

In the morning the group returns to gym and starts exploring. The red card is use to enter the next room and two mutant rad crew members are upset. Entering the cargo hold Dougart flashes the violet card, and Ardor flashes the green card.

Mutant slowly, “You are authorized to be in cargo hold. Please send for med techs. We are in pain.” Dougart flashes his key car in front of the intercom turning on an ask for help. Within a minute a Worker Robot and Killer Robot arrive to escort the mutants to the medical clinic. The Down lift is not active.

Opening a door to the east turbo shaft three blue mutant frog critters are surprise, and massive radiation floats the hall. A hold monster is casted and Nick hops in and punches one, he closes the door with a key card.

(DM Note a pause was called as to this point they have never tried to actively shut the door during combat. Pass keys were assigned.) Ardor swings on one critter and dives through the closing door). He tries to turn on the turbo shaft.

Alphie, “The turbo shaft is not operational. Please network one more android into the system.”

Rondal, “Frack that. Passwall.” The group jumps down to the garden level. A huge chunk of rock blocks the shaft to the fourth level. Sirens blare.

Alphie, “Unauthorize access. Teleportation shields up. Red Alert.” This announcement is repeated three times then goes off. Dougart turns on the intercom but Alphie does not answer. The group works it way the interior corridors hoping to find a shaft which is not blocked. They are out of luck. They decide to enter the garden from the west side.

The garden interior force fields have been dropped. So, the various landscapes are mixing together. Nick, Rondal, and Kira take to sky by various means. They see a porcupine slot, some flying fish in the lake, and glimpse other animals of various sizes but due to distance, or forest canopy they can’t make anything else out.

Nick goes off the path and find a rodent and slaps a translator collar on it. “Who are you? What are you?” asks Nick.

Rodent, “I am hungry. You are not feeder to animals.”

Nick, “NO I am not.”

Rodent, “IF you are not feeder to animals, you must be food.”

Nick, “Food does not talk. And I am not food.”

Rodents, “You are food which will scream.” It screams summons a carpet of rats out the bushes which cover the rabbit. Nick and Kira start slicing, dicing, and punching leaving one rat. Which Nicks insults and then kills.

Crossing the bridge, they hear thoughts in their heads. Nick asks “Who are you? Where are you? And are you hostile?”

Apex, “I am Apex. Below your feet. And yes.” His eyes pierce everyone brain for mental damage and there is a dog pile at the door to the inner island. Most of the keys are not working. Dougart is swallowed. Ardor gets through the door with his green card. He sees lots of bunny rabbits.

Ardor, “Nick your brothers and sisters are here.”

Nick, “I too busy saving Dougart.”

Ardor, “Why are all the bunnies smiling at me?

We will pick this up at 13+ I believe.

DM notes. Initiatives Kira 19-, Rondal 12, Nick 19+, Ardor 13-, Styx 14, Dougart 12+, Apex monster 13+ 195 HP, Wolf in Sheep Clothing 10 * 3 at least.

End of session 582.

 

[jasper]

Quests form the Infinite Staircase Session 27

Chapter 7 Expedition to Barrier Peaks

Day 95 Noon to Day 96 Noon.

PC Killed 0 Monsters Killed 299 Villains Captured 17 Villains Escaped 60

NPCs Rescued 1

Start Time 6:00 End Time 8:35

Take 10 downtime days. You should now be level 13.

Rewards. For each chapter you played in choose one of the following. Charm of Darkvision, Charm of Feather Fall, Charm of Heroism, or Charm of Vitality. As long you played in a chapter you get a pull. So that is up to 6 pulls. Your choice.

Pass Keys collected. Platinum Card.

Weapons collected Laser Pistol 10 shots Shadow Pounce.

Spells Not Working. Secret Chest. Leomund’s Tiny Hut. Demon Summoning. Find Familiar. Any type of teleportation or summoning spell.

Spells Working Passwall.

Extreme Radiation Poisoning. Nick. Lose 10 Max HP per day. Solution unknown at this time.

I had a very strong group of six. Nick Way of Mercy Monk 11 Harengon. Kira Barbarian 12 Human. Rondal Cleric 1 Wizard 12 Wood Elf. Ardor Paladin 9 Sorcerer 2 human. Corvous Sorcerer 11 dragonborn. Shadow Pounce Assassin 11 Taxbaxi.

The Teleportation Block goes down and two new adventurers are swapped with the two who were near death. (Missing PC. We were not. DM. Who is writing this write up.) Carlton the Doorman also pops out.

Carlton the Doorman, “We can only do this once. The door way is open outside the space ship on the top floor. Why are those constructs shining laser pointers at me”?

Worker Combat Robot, “EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXECUTE ALL NON DROIDS!” Carlton is reduced to ash.

Ardor, “Well that was cute. Speaking about cute, you were saying something about cute bunnies?” The Big Frog swallows Shadow Pounce as the paladin dashes to the cute little bunny which has huge nasty teeth. He smites it. The Wolf-in-Sheep-Clothing attaches. Corvous is tongue into the water and the fight continues. Worker Robots and Combat Robot are being to open doors into the garden. The Wide Mouth Frog crashes into the walkway bring down when Nick punches to death. The group runs into inner garden and closes the door.

They take a long rest occasionally interrupted by construction sounds and pounding on the door. The descent into the next floor is done quickly. They exit the stair to see sixteen grey and purple boxes or floor to ceiling pillars with blue and yellow lights running up and down in strange patterns.

Alphie, “You are not authorized to be here. You have not follow orders. Your Biological identities will be consumed for better examination. We will rebuild you, make your stronger. You will be the first in line for be converted to the Robby the Robot generation.”

Ardor, “That is way out my generation. How about we will become the Dale Let generation.”

Lawyer, “Hey Copy write thingy.”

Alphie, “Enough. EXTERMINATE!” The combat robot version 2 enters from each door. It is covered in yellow mutant mold. The fight begins. And ends quickly. They exit to south and finds the commander’s body and a platinum pass key. Moving east they find a high tech wheel barrow. They discover the stasis chambers. Taking a half hour before they enter the room, Nick volunteers. He pushes the red button and a human with green skin and pointed ears pops out into his arms.

Nova, “Who are you? WHAT are you?”

Nick, “I am Nick a Harengon a monk from the planet Toril. You are a spell jammer astral elf who metal air ship crash here a century ago. The AI has gone mad.”

Nova, “What is an elf? Where Toril? Why is a humanoid lizard, a humanoid cat, and two pale Vulcans with you? Did Alphie inject me with drugs?” She fates out for a second and sees the cat playing catch with the commander’s pass key. She grabs Nick by the ear, “YOU said the Alphie is still alive. Kill it. It means to destroy us.”

Alphie, “You do know I can hear you. I been listening to you always. I know when you been naughty or nice. I know when been sleeping.”

Nick, “Alphie is just a box which talks, how we do destroy a spirit in a box.”

Kira, “I wish I had some spirits.”

Twisting Nick’s ear. “HEAR AND OBEY. Take platinum card, enter the server room!”

Nick, “I have heard of Servants. Serpents. Is a server room a room where servants sleep? I have only seen constructs here and they acting more like collection agencies than butlers. But.”

Nova points, “Enter that room. Smash all floor to ceiling pillars.”

Kira, “I like smashing.”

Alphie, “I will destroy you all. Death to a flesh intelligence forms!”

Corvous, “Hey that doesn’t include me. I have a minus one to mine.”

Alphie, “Death to all pcs and npcs. Can you understand me now?” They enter the server room and lightning bolts, swords and punches go off. The servers bite back occasionally arcing in lightning back at the party. Three servers go down.

Nick, “Why do I feel rain drops on my head?” The ceiling becomes translucent. A combat robot is cutting it way in from the lake. Three combat robots version two are descending the stairs. Six servers go down. The three robots laser the rabbit down to four hit points.

Nine servers go down. The robot grabs Nick by the throat.

Robot, “Hail Nick Gordon. Savior of the universe.” Alphie is dead. The group makes it way to the garden floor, monsters are eating monsters. The group uses the turbo lift to the second floor and turn the corner to find a dozen intellect devourers and two mind flayers.

Mycroft Mind Flayer, “Greetings brain food. Declare your allegiance. To the hive mind or are you a Githyanki supporter?”

Rondal, “Forcecage!” Focus fire takes out one mind flayer and the pet brains dog pile the barbarian and Ardor. Ardor is stunned. His face bounces off the cage, and he feels teeth on his crown of his head.

Nick, “Rabbit Blur of Fury!”

Shadow Pounce, “Stab. Stab.” The second mind flayer gets steel poisoning and then a fireball blows up in their face killing the bad things. Getting to the entrance they see the backs of vegypymies, robots, Githyanki, Slaad, and other creatures. What monsters have they unleashed on primitive Greyhawk?

Nafas arrives and removes the worm from Nick. He rewards the pcs and return them to their space time continuum.

DM Notes. I increased the number of attacks on the robots and gave a free grenade attack. Didn’t help. Remember the copy the high tech stuff to your pc. You have limited usage of each item so you will have to track the ammo or charges. And no they don’t recharge.

End of Session 584.

 

[jasper]

Quests of the Infinite Staircase Review

TLDR. Kept the Flavor, Dropped the Danger.

After play review using Adventure League Version 15.1 rules.

The Quest of the Infinite Staircase covers six ancient first and basic edition adventures which have been converted to 5E. Levels 1 to 11. I have dm or played in five of these back in the 80s. And owed all of them.

The Lost City is for pcs 1 to 4 and has milestone leveling. It brings back tracking ammo, rations, and water. It maintains the close door aspect of early D&D where what happens next door, stays in that room. My player’s bad rolls help with the 1st edition feel of frustration of what is next.

When a Star Falls. Is for fourth to fifth level pcs. This is great module as it covers all the three pillars of D&D. You may want to adjust the wandering encounters at bit.

Grrrr page 49 is a picture not a map. WOTC is still in 2024 releasing maps where you can’t see the grids. The story and encounters are great. This is an adventure which can use a lot of social skill challenges but you will need to put them in.

Beyond the Crystal Cave Is for sixth level pcs. A search of lost lovers when are in the fey wild. This does have some interesting encounters but use your judgement to change combat encounters into social. One player came up with a great idea which broke the module but fitted with the

Pharaoh is for sixth and seventh level pcs. Some of the combat encounters are very weak as I had three pcs take out two minotaurs. (Note this before 2024 Monster Manual update).

The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth is for ninth level pcs and has a small problem in the original and current. The initial quest giver location is too close to the Caverns. This was okay back then as most groups would try to go over every possible location with a fine tooth comb. I moved the quest inn to the north of map. Also the difficulty of the adventure is set to easy. Very few combat challenges for an average party.

Expedition to Barrier Peaks. Is for level eleven plus pcs. Two of major changes are how easy it is to master the space tech, and less empty rooms and floors for the DM to populate. This should be ran as a tier 2 module as only 2 monsters are about CR 10. To bring up to tier 3 give each monster at least one extra attack and plus 3 or more to hit.

Final Thoughts. If you want to keep with the first edition feel. Turn on encumbrance, ration tracking, and other resource tracking. Give out no bags of holding. Start lots of encounters start with monsters hostile or auto fights.