While it can be upsetting when your character drops to zero and starts making death savings throws, it can also be the most rewarding thing that happens in the game.
We put a lot of time into inventing the characters in this collaborative narrative.
The really cool thing about it, when you’re playing with the kind of people you want around you in your life, is how the other players rush to help.
Everything becomes about “saving” an purely imagined person because we care about the person doing the imagining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nicely done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Celeana cast Mage Armor and dashed below decks, where she walked into a low beam and knocked herself out cold\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roc circled the ship as the crew prepared for a deadly fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maeglin discovered a ballista in the forward storage, and between Dani and Flex, the figured out how to get it working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruni didn\u2019t wait for the thing to be set up before she just starting chucking the bolts like javelins \u2014 and hitting the Roc, as hard as it to imagine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dani peppered it with bolts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kahseer fried it with lightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brialle blasted it with radiant energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maeglin got the ballista working, but found it hard work a weapon that wasn\u2019t a finesse type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roc attacked the ship, its intention \u2014 it seems \u2014 was to try to take the ship. A roc is fairly mighty, but a Carrick family enormous, but we\u2019ll never know, because it failed to get grip on the ship as it passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On its second pass, the party continued to wear the monstrosity down, leading it to decide to get away with what he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this case, it was Brialle and Bruni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both were snatched up off the deck with talon attacks, while Maeglin took a severe injury from its beak as the roc passed the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the monstrosity rocketing away clutching two of their companions, the party on the ship struggled with what to do? Killing the thing would send all of them plunging into the sea. Taking no action meant leaving Bruni and Brialle on their own to fight as the could, when they could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brialle had the answer. It was simple! It was straightforward! It would work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It did work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She cast command on the Roc and ordered it, \u201cDown!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the roc began its decent toward safety, Bruni killed it \u2014 about 200 feet in the air above the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruni, raging, survived the fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brialle didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation was dire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flex brought the ship hard about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maeglin and Dani went to work getting the skiff ready for a rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kahseer leapt from the deck, taking the wild shape of a giant octopus, and raced to the rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruni grabbed Brialle to keep her from drowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(As it turns out, breath water was still up from Kahseer\u2019s casting less than twenty-four before, which was critical in Brialle\u2019s rescue)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kahseer cast a healing spirit in the shape of an orca, and Bruni carried pulled Brialle into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The skiff ready, Flex ordered Maeglin to weight the anchor to arrest the ships movement, and Dani put the skiff in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after, Brialle was back on the deck, safe and sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back on the ship, the party decided to forego any further misadventure, deciding to make for the port of Fortinbras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The party then faced a foe more deadly and terrifying than the roc: they faced bureaucracy<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were sailing into port without legitimate papers. The captain \u2014 at least the captain identified in the ships registration papers \u2014 was not on the ship. He, with his crew, were presumably either driven mad or transformed into the ethereal on Craptopia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maeglin and Flex set about plans involving forgery, duplicity, and some spell work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t simple. It wasn\u2019t straightforward! It might \u2014 or might not \u2014 work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe it worked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents of ownership and registration were forged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Here\u2019s hoping, fingers crossed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then came the question of the manifest, and that brought them to a question that really they should have been asking far, far sooner and probably with a lot more urgency: \u201cwhy are there seven coffins in the hold with bodies that are not decaying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brialle realized that they had been preserved in state with Gentle Repose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A medical check revealed these were war dead who suffered mortal wounds in battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A close examination of their clothing revealed\u2026 well, that it was clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The manifest confirmed that they were being carried from Mememerdre in Newur to Fortinbras, where they were to be received by ground transport for the next leg of their journey for whatever purpose at whatever destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversation about chucking the coffins over the side abruptly halted and focused on a new object: reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the manifest and cargo orders also forged (here\u2019s hoping for the best), the Anti-Saturday Squad made for the harbor in Fortinbras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The were greeted, if that\u2019s the word for it, by the harbor master who request their papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At which point, Celeana emerged from the hold and asked if she missed anything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n The Anti-Saturday Squad has discovered the vexing qualities of the Dwarves: bureaucracy. At the center of the harbor, the Dwarves erected a statute of a Dwarf standing some thirty meters tall, holding a pick in one hand and a fish in the other. The statue bears the inscription, “Give me a fish, I’ll eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I’ll charge you double for the catch.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the gates to the city, there are city offices more formidable than the Black Dragon they faced down in Antimony’s Still. To the left, they have the harbor offices. To the right, city offices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gnomes, Halflings, Humans, and — of course — Dwarves have leave to enter the city’s main and upper levels. Other races need visas and sponsorship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The party discovered that common goods can be found on the main level; the upper level catering to The Taller Races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what they really are seeking are found on the lower level, which is restricted to citizens and friends of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the main features of the city is the Piscaduct, which carries the foul smelling fish caught in the nearby waters to the cannery. The whole place reeks of the fermented fish. Ffludafishk (the fermented, canned herring-like fish) is one of the two main stables for the Dwarves of the city. The other being “Rat-on-a-Stick,” which might be roasted or al fresco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kahseer, having taken wild shape as a cat, explored the Piscaduct, finding that in cat form, the city didn’t smell all that bad after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investigating the Cannery, Kahseer discovers the Piscaducts leading out of the city, tunneled by the dwarves deep into the heart of the mountains of Ithulvania. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These tunnels are heavily guarded by Dwarves stationed at the tunnel entrances with barricades and heavy weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The city is on a high defensive posture, distrustful of outsiders (and by that, we mean the Anti-Saturday Squad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everywhere they want to get is located on the lower level. To get access to the lower level, they must have diplomatic papers, status as Friends of the City, or special visas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The party goes for door number three: special visas. By agreeing to investigate the destruction of fishing ships that seems to be originating from a roc aerie in the peaks of the Ithulvanian mountains, they talk Dwarves into allowing them access to the shops on the lower level in order to mount their campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two other things of note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, Maeglin has stolen a map case from one of the Captains of the Guard. Note, there seem to be two distinctly different kinds of guards, one wearing polished armor in very good condition and another set with armor that is dented, tarnished, patched, re-patched, and usually protecting the body of a scarred and gnarled Dwarf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, Celeana has seen moving in the crowd a tall, graceful figure moving, without any concern for the Dwarves or the controls they have set up to prevent anyone unauthorized from making their way down to the lower level, doing just that… making her way down to the lower level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of the party is presented with a medallion and parchment bearing the wax seal of the Captain of the Dain’s Guard. The party is instructed to keep the items on them at all times. They are to restrict their activity to those goods necessary to complete their contracted objective. Last, they are to be out of the lower level by nightfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two guards escort the party to the ramps leading to the lower level of the city. These guards are the kind in the dented, tarnished, and re-paired armor. They are scarred and wind-weathered. One is named Magiktheighs, and the other is Broomfondl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the barricade between levels, papers are closely checked, rechecked, and triple checked. Reluctantly, you and your escorts are allowed entry to the lower level. And additional attachment of guards accompany you, now. They wear bright, shining armor and elaborately adorned weapons. You don’t get their names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ramp curves downward in a loose spiral opening into a vast chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wide stone column support vaulted ceilings hewn from the rock. The domed vaults feature bejeweled mosaics that tell the story of the greatness of the dwarves: battles with dragons where lost hoards were won back; more battles with the same dragons were lost hoards were won back, again; vast battles with the damned dragons to once and for all settle the matter of whose hoard it really is, thank you very much indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed Dwarves crowd the place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the features of the upper class district of the lower levels (the deeper you go in Dwarf society, the higher you get), there embassies, shops and merchants of finer quality, luxury lodging, and the Queen’s Quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celeana notices, also, a familiar hooded figure standing next to the entrance of an archway leading to The Queen’s Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are first escorted to a store named “Ill-Advised Goods.” Entering the shop, a large mouth made of stone on the wall just inside the archway announces in Dwarvish: The message repeats in Gnomish, Halfling, and Human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside the shop, there are three sections: ordinary dangers, more moderate dangers, and “Don’t Say I didn’t Warn You.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n One a high stool toward the rear of the emporium, an elderly Dwarf scowls into a crystal ball. Flitting about the shop is an Imp, who spends much the time find ways to insult you. From time to time goods seem to move themselves around the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dwarf won’t talk to you — you’ll be doing business with the Imp, who says “Are you being served? As in, on a platter or a skewer?” While it can be upsetting when your character drops to zero and starts making death savings throws, it can also be the most rewarding thing that happens in the game. We put a lot of time into inventing the characters … Continue reading
Having successfully bluffed the harbor master into allowing a stolen ship and pirated manifest docking along the Semi-Circular Quay, our adventures had to figure out how to get into the city itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShopping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
“Enter Ill-Advised Goods at your own peril. What you might find here will likely range from between someone dangerous to balls-out reckless to keep in your possession. Items may be cursed. There are no guarantees. You break it, you deal with the consequences. All sales final.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, as you go in, Broomfondl grumbles, “Don’t spend all what ye got here. It’s cold<\/em> and high<\/em> where ye be off to. I rede you true, an outfitter is what ye be needing if ye nae want to freeze or fall.”
(Let the shopping begin)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"