Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

So WFRP, or Warhammer Fantasy Rolepaying game by Black Industries and Green Ronin. Pretty sweet game, very different from typical D&D style stuff. The game uses all % dice for all rolls.

Anyway, I GM this game every few years for about 6 sessions or so then it goes to rest in its tomb only to resurface some time later. I found these photos of the minis we used in the game.

The party from Left to Right: Nalon-el: High elf Mercenary, Siegfried: Wizard, Nika : Battle Sister of Sigmar, Athlear: wood elf scout, Suppin Duckweed & Buttercup the dog, the Dwarves; Brok Valigson & Logaz Treksson.

There are couple dead Night gobbos in the Foreground.

 This just another shot of the group. Click on the photos to see them better. This game was a lot of fun and we tried to use minis and terrain as much as possible.

AQUABATS SUPER SHOW!!!!!

Granted, people who know me know I am into silly stuff. Well if you think the following pics cause you to say hmmm.... Or maybe you think that a group of 5 guys in costumes that are a superhero rock-band fighting crazy monsters, android cowboys, burrito eating ghosts, and giant ants sounds like fun, then I say:
WHY THE HECK AREN"T YOU WATCHING

The AQUABATS Super Show!??!?!?!?!?!?!?! It is on the HUB network or check it out on Netflix!

They have albums too! The songs are groovy and fun! My daughter and I have been fans since 2003. If you have kids (or even if you don't) they are a fun group to follow. We are both very happy and excited that they finally got a TV show!



Mightyeroc says CHECK them out!

Dragon Dice!

Dragon Dice! and I don't mean that terrible DICE game from TSR. I am talking about the dice that used to come in the old Red & Blue boxed sets, usually in a little plastic bag with a waxy crayon of either black, white or yellow to color in the numbers with yourself.

Like this:

I personally LOVE these dice, and I truly miss them. There is something rather ZEN like for me when choosing the number color and then the actual process of finishing the dice. I own thirteen RED, 25 light blue, 1 brown d4, 3 mustard green, 6 dark green, 12 yellow, 18 dark blue in all.

They were also sold in sets, I found the complete set of RED on ebay a few years ago that looked like this:

I did use the yellow crayon and they look great!

I still have the stumps of  a black, sky blue, white, dark green and the yellow crayon that I use when am fortunate enough to find more of these dice. I am not sure how many other colors they came in. I never saw this set of pecentile dice in the store and most of mine were light & dark blue from my Star Frontiers sets.

I need that killer orange!

Anyway, these dice as a whole were always REALLY good to me in play. Whether I was DMing or a player these dice rock! As any gamer I have had tons of Dice over the years but I have given away all the other dice in favor of using these exclusively!

Here are mine:

Turkey Day!

                                                         Hope your kitchen is trouble free!

R.I.P. the fallen of People of the Pit

We had only one loss for the People of the Pit.

Goodbye Tom.

may your harvests be bountiful.

Chapters 6 & 7: People of the pits parts 2 & 3

Session VI: People of the Pit part 2

This session had Moep return to the surface with Father Ted and the Basilisk skins. He sent Garrote Denslinger and Father Beavis back down in his stead. A chamber of tombs was found and a horde of Ghostly warriors were sent packing by the combined might of our three Clerics!! A strange black shortsword of Chaotic nature was found and ended up in Denslingers hands.

The second level of the Pits were cleared out and many grey robed cultists were sent screaming to the darkest hells! A yellow robed cultist was encountered but was quickly dispatched as well. Paralyzing spells were used and Lars told a paralyzed Yellow Robe, "I just want you to know, it was me." before the ultimate back stab! Tyrrian continued to show his increasing aptitude at Deeds of Battle slaying many grey robes.

A large group of slaves was found and released, they opted to brave the tentacles and climb out of the dungeon. The party progressed deeper until they encountered the "poop" room. This put a halt to everyone and Lars stepped up, swimming through the "poop" emerging on the other side and scouting ahead. He returned after a while and showed he had found a way to cleanse himself of the "poop". The others begrudgingly traversed the "poop" and were led to a chamber of strange metallic eggs. These turned out to be teleporters that Lars had "mastered" the use of. The group entered the eggs and found themselves even deeper in the lair Palimdybis.

Strangely though, Father Beavis and Garrote did not make the trip and were found to have been magically swapped with Moep!

Session VII: People of the Pit part 3, the Finale.

The group has found themselves deep in the Cult lair after using Magical teleportation chambers shaped like eggs! Also Meop has appeared in an egg and is very upset as he was just about to partake of elevensies with bacon, sausage, radish mash and ale.

The party found themselves in a strange maze of oval halls and round incubation chambers with large eggs of which they quickly destroy! The eggs are filled with gestating creatures that Moep had seen briefly up on level one. A handful of Yellow robes are killed as well as a living tentacle hulk creature that was very hard to kill. Alas the group is saddened at the loss of Tom the cleric of Limtram. He was gutted by a Yellow robe Cultie!
With a vengance unleashed Tyrrian leads the party to a showdown with the remnants of the cult led by a Man in a Blue robe. Battle is joined and our heroes dispatch the Cult members and their tentacle hulks and weird naked cave dwellers. Upon the Death of the Blue Robe, who turned out to be the Mayor of Tegal town, the giant tentacles from the depths of the earth shatter the caverns and dungeons into ruin. Many hours later after a long hard climb the group emerges from the old temple on graveyard hill. Greeted by Calis, Beavis and Denslinger they set Tom to rest and plant the remaining radishes around his grave.

I encourage the Party members to add their favorite highlights of the adventure in the comments!

Pre-Game GAME!

So Friday night before the actual Dungeon Crawl started and while waiting for Pizza to arrive, I got everyone to play a round of this. Our group chose their Wizards and we squared off prepping our spells!

The Wizards:

Played by John

Played by Shawn

Played by Maddie, my daughters friend.

Played by yours truly!

Played by my daughter, The Swizz!

Played by Brian

Zanzabart was the first Wizard to fall, followed quickly by Jung Jung and Fey Ticklebottom. The first round ended with a surprise win by Krazztar the Bloodomancer! If you haven't played this game you should. If you were thinking about getting it, you should. We enjoyed ourselves an laughed out loud as the spells were cast in our "Wizard Voices"!!! Here's to another full on EPIC SPELL WAR!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Things to come......

BOO!

Chapter 5: The curse of Mephrekhet

This story answers the question of what happened to Alexander the Wizard and Alan the thief after they survived Sailors on the Starless Sea.

This was played as 1 night adventure with Alexander (John) and Alan (Selina) joined by 6 Zero level characters.

The supporting cast:
Run by Greg

               Captain James Hook

                                                        1st Mate Gilligan Hasan Kuthrapali

                                                               Boarding Marine Vos

                                     Run by Brian

                                                              Elven Mariner Luna

                                                         Navigator Jill and her monkey Jack

                                                                           Cabin boy

For two days Alexander and Alan have been lost somewhere in the Winedark Sea. Alexander has gained mystical control of the Dragon boat and as night falls uses the stars to navigate for home. After a few hours a terrible storm rolls in and it is all our heroes can do to stay on course! Soon dark shapes are seen ahead and the sound of the waves breaking on rocks is heard. The reefs are near and so is something else! A lightning flash reveals a large double banked Galley, it looks black in the night and bears golden eyes of Horus upon its bow! Another large wave pushes the dragon boat towards the reef upon which the Galley stuck, but just before the rocks take them grapples snag the dragon boat and it is pulled alongside Cog that itself is roped to the black galley.

Orders are shouted in heavily accented Tharbrian above the din of rain and thunder. Quickly rough hands grab both Alexander and Alan forcing them to the deck of the Cog.
"Is your boat seaworthy?" asks a drenched sailor in a leather hat. Behind him stand a bald man with a boarding axe, a skinny fellow with a cutlass, a cabin boy, a blond girl with a monkey and charts tucked under her arm and a female elven Mariner brandishing a longsword.

"My boat is seaworthy, who asks such of the Dread Magister Alexander and his henchman?" Alexander stands tall on the deck of the cog and makes the runes on the dragon boat glow a ghostly green. Alan catches sight of the monkey trying to sneak up on him and quickly draws a dagger hissing at the monkey and it darts back to its blonde mistress.

"My name is James, I am captain of the Zopporo's Folly. We were attempting to reach shore ahead of the storm when we ran afoul of this Stygian Galley, the lure was too much but now I fear the storm will sink us all. My ship is beyond repair and only stays afloat as long as the Galley does. I think by your title you recognize the chance fate has given us here. Join me and my crew as we pilfer the riches that must lie aboard this Funeral barge of the Demon Empires. We then use your boat to escape and you have my word as Captain we split the gains fifty fifty!"

A quick glance at the markings of the Galley convinces Alexander that the captain speaks true. This is a Demon Empires Galley, and it is fitted as a funeral barge. Only someone of great rank would be sent to the netherworld in such a manner, and the probability of great wealth as well as perhaps stygian magic aboard the vessel is high indeed.

"Captain, I agree to your terms. I shall add my mystical prowess and the skills of my deadly chiropratic henchman to your quest. Let us be off!"

The eight adventurers scale the black ships hull using the boarding ropes placed by the crew of the Zopporo's Folly. In minutes they find themselves arrayed on the main deck of the Stygian galley.  A flash of lightning reveals a deck bare of rigging and sail, only a coil of rope and a block-n-tackle set lie on the deck. Upon inspection a torn shirt and pair of breeches are also found. Captain James unseen by anyone kicks a chunk of entrails overboard, and wonders where his original boarding party are. "Collect that gear men. What say you Wizard the forecastle, quarterdeck with cabin, or below decks? We have scant time to dally."

"The cabin is where I believe we will find something of most value." says Alexander.

The group turns and makes for the stairs to the quarterdeck, upon gaining the deck Luna sees something in the dark hiding just the other side of the cabin, its door banging with the sway of the deck as the galley is ground across the reef as the storm swells seem to increase in frequency. " Captain, something there!" she points with her sword. The crew advances ready to fight when they discover a bedraggled sailor gibbering in fright. "It's Farad" exclaims the cabin boy. "What has happened Farad? Where are the others?" asks captain James.

"Others?" inquires Alexander looking askance at James. "Yes, well I sent a previous boarding party over. Ten men, and now we have found one." James shrugs his shoulders and turns back to Farad. The gibbering crewman screams as another thunderous roar cracks the sky "We should not have opened it! aaaiiiee!" he pushes past the startled crew and races for the railing  Just as he makes to jump to his death on the reef below Alexander creates a large hand of firey blue magic that grasps the crazed man and brings him back to the group. "My magic will protect you, tell us what happened!"

Farad bows at Alexanders feet,"Slortar told us to open it, and as we cut the linens to get at the jewels.. it rose so fast.. kadeems head was smashed... we ran below it was everywhere in the dark! Magic, that will save us! Break the curse!" Turning to James, Alexander explains he will hold open the door to the deck cabin with his magic hand so noone will be trapped inside. Doing this allows the group to enter the cabin and light a torch and two candles to enhance the dim light from a pair of oil lamps hanging from the ceiling.

The room is dominated by a pair of sarcophigi, one of which lies open the lid broken on the floor beside it. Ebony wood couches and peacock feathers line the walls. And bood and gore is splayed about the chamber. A shortbow of stygian make with 4 arrows lies on the floor, with a pair of bloodied sailors knives and torn linen wrappings. Jill, Luna, and the cabin boy huddle over the opened casket and find a strange bottle within. Alexander reads the hieroglyphs on the caskets and says the opened one is for Atemun the consort and the closed one denotes Mephrekhet of royalbirth. James instructs the set up of the block and tackle while he uses a crowbar borrowed from Alan to work loose the lid of the second sacophagus. Vos stand ready with axe and torch, as Alan with bow and Alexander watch from the doorway. Jill, Luna and cabin boy heave on the rope and the casket lid rises to reveal a strangely horrifying and enchanting sight!

 The struggle is great for Captain James as he wants to caress the breast of the dead stygian, yet the severed hand wearing a large ruby ring that seeps blood seems to dare him to do so! It's dead fingers slowly stroke the belly of the woman. In the doorway of the cabin even Alexander and Alan are slightly enchanted by the sight before them,
Captain James reaches for the jeweled breast and the hand leaps to attack! Alan fires an arrow catching the hand in the wrist. Jill and the others startled drop the lid upon the casket. Finger tips protruding from under the dropped lid freak Alexander out that he leaves the doorway and severs them with his dagger. Vos uses his torch to burn the offending digits. "Raise it again, quickly we will be ready this time." says Captain James. As Alexander backs towards the door magical hand at the ready,  Vos readies his axe, Luna moves in to shift the lid as Jill and cabin boy heave on the rope. The lid is raised and shifted then dropped, James grabs for the golden headress, the hand leaps at the Captains face but is knocked aside by a flaming blue hand! "Aha! die foul thing!" cries Vos as he chops the hand as it lands on the floor!  Jill moves towards the casket of the stygian queen.

A crack of thunder rouses Alan's attention to a sight revealed by the lightning standing on the main deck below! It grunts and raises it arms towards him revealing  a missing right hand! "By the Gods! a Mummy!"

"Whatever your going to take, get it now!" cries Alexander. "Grab that bow Gilligan and aid the chiropracter!" commands James. Gilligan quickly scoops up the stygian bow and makes for the doorway. Suddenly the eyes of the woman open and lock gaze upon Luna and Jill! The women cry out in agony and Jill withers to a dried husk before everyone! Luna strains against the power of Mephrekhet raising her sword and driving the point down between her eyes! The hand scampers between the feet of Vos and James and leaps directly on to Luna's face instantly crushing her skull in its grasp! Cabin boy cries his fallen friends names and grabs Jill's gear and jack the monkey. Vos pulls down an oil lamp ant tosses it in to the casket with the Stygian bitch, at the same moment James relieves her of her jeweled breast covering!  From the quarterdeck Alan and Gilligan have been staggering the mummy with withering bow fire! However he mounts the steps towards them!

Her casket aflame, the group backs to the door. They watch in horror as she sits seemingly unaffected by the flames. Cabin boy stabs the hand to the deck near the body of Luna. He then severs the finger and takes the bleeding ruby ring for himself! Mephrekhet reaches for the boy but is blocked by Alexanders magic hand. Instead she rips an arm from the dead elf and the flames extinguish as she invigorates herself with blood!

Alexander decides to use his magic, but Mephrekhet dispells his attempt with but a look! The mummy has reached the quarterdeck and the party breaks from the cabin. Alexander casts his magical hand again and uses it to force the mummy overboard! He then turns and magically seals the cabin from outside! "If she breaks this seal I will know." he says to the group. Alan peering over the deck to the reef below says "The mummy is gone, the ocean has taken him!"

The entire galley lists and the sound of timbers shattering can be heard from below. "Do we dare the hold my friend?" asks James of Alexander. "Of course we do." he responds with a wink. "Gilligan go prep the magisters dragon boat for us, we'll be coming fast! They rest of you with me to the forecastle!" James leads the group across the main deck at a brisk pace.

Descending quickly, the group makes their way through the rowers decks. They find a few more terribly maimed former crew of the Zopporo's Folly. Cabin boy deftly scours the bodies for useful items. This act causes shudders in James and Alexander. "Something not right with that boy." James mutters. The hatch to hold is found and in the flickering light of the torch held by Vos they see more treasure than they could ever get away with! But also the hold is three quarters flooded and the water rises as they watch! The party leaps into the waist high water and grabs blindly for whatever they can grab. As Vos grabs a golden statuette a movement catches his attention, eight huge tentacles burst from the water! The rest of the group break in fear for the steps ascending to the deck above clinging to the few treasures they were able to grab! Vos however turns to the tentacles and says "You'll not have my share sea-beast!" The party looks on calling to Vos as he hurls his axe at the black eye of the devil from the deep. He then turns and leaps over a tentacle and seems as though he will reach the others when he wrapped in a steely cold grasp and the sound of his cry if muffled as he is pulled under water! Alexander casts a magical hand that pries Vos from the clutches of the giant octopus! Farad carries the limp body of Vos as they all quickly make for the main deck, the deck of the galley buckling beneath them! The storm has finally won and the Stygian barge begins to crumble upon the reef.

As the group reaches the main deck, their route to the Dragon boat is blocked by a drenched one handed mummy! "Rargh!" it cries and lunges towards them. Cabin boy runs past the mummy only to be attacked by the severed hand! Alexander uses his magical hand to force the mummy overboard again! "Stab the ring!" cry James and Alexander to the cabin boy as he evades the leaping hand! The rest of the party leap down to the deck of the Folly. Cabin boy draws the ring out, lays it on the deck as the hand races towards him. he looks longingly for a second at the large ruby then strikes it with a hammer!

Scarlet fire lights the night like a lightning strike as the others are clambering aboard the dragon boat. "cabin boy?" wonders James. Then the small form of the boy is seen leaping from the deck of the galley as it completely breaks apart and sinks. Hauled aboard the dragon boat they see cabin boy's face has been horribly burned. Alexander commands the boat to move and James is able to point out the safest route through the reef. In the distance the glow of the lighthouse from Tegal can be seen and the rain begins to lessen.

Chapter 4: part 1a "Father Ted's tale"

As the party settles down to rest in the cavern of the basilisks, Father Ted now rested relates the following.

Palimdybis is said to dwell in a cavern at the center of the world. It has been worshiped under several guises throughout the eons. Centuries ago the Orichalian people became frightened of this god and all references of it were struck out, and his attributes were reassigned to new gods like Set and Thoth. Palimdybis can manifest itself through the body of specially prepared cultist, from whom it springs when the host is slain. It looks like a bloody mass of writhing bluish red-veined tentacles. Not all the chosen can fully accept the dark power of Palimdybis and it twists their forms into hideous monstrosities, or shameful parodies of man. The grey robed ones are the latter I believe from what we have seen.

Enough of this talk for now, let us dine on this lizard meat and rest ourselves for what may lie ahead.

*Moep and Bull Zi, the floating face you saw in the skeleton cave is in the above picture. Have a nice day.

P.S. Father Ted can answer questions in the comments section for as long as he remains with the group.

Chapter 4: People of the Pit, part 1

As the storm rolled in, the party decided to leave Friar Beavis, Calis, Garrotte and Moep above ground in the ruined Temple. The rest returned to the chamber where Thora was killed by the Bug-monster. They set off down the only hall exiting the chamber and discovered stairs that descended deeper into the earth.

The stairs ended at a landing overlooking a large pit in the earth filled with a steamy haze that smelled of rot. From below the cavern was lit by volcanic fire! A winding thin stair carved of rock hugs the cavern wall and descends yet deeper!!  The party had to walk single file along the stair and with Tyrrian in the lead began the journey.

Soon shadowy shapes were seen below ascending the stair towards the party, men in grey robes. They bore curvy bladed daggers and chanted in an unsettling manner! UGAH, NIKTO, AIEE, PALIMDRYS! Tyrrian could see the robed men had smooth featureless faces and their robes rustled in unsettling ways! A volley of arrows and man-beast spears were hurled at these foes, one of which pitched over the edge screaming into the pit. The others collapsed from fatal wounds and Tyrrian brained the lead one whose chest burst open and a bloody mass of tentacles sprang forth! The same happened to the other robed bodies and Tyrrian found himself kicking and stomping to keep the nightmares at bay! Bull Zi nailed one with a dart, and Chi dispatched another with an arrow!

Just then Lars, who had been in the rearmost of the party heard stealthy movement behind him and swung about with "The Rock" at the ready! "The others are OK, and I thought I smelled food!" cried Moep!
 "You're a VERY lucky halfling." muttered Lars as he pushed Moep ahead of him in line.

After descending deeper a landing is found with a side hall leading deep into the cavern wall. The archway is covered in strange curved runes. Chi uses some elvish magic and her eyes glow as her hands trace the runes. Her voice becomes deep and as if in a trance she utters; "Dhol cantis,Ghorl Nigral, Yig Aiee, nikto nathrak, Ugah Cthulhu." Coming out of her trance, Chi is shaken deeply and begins to mutter about Cthulhu and how bad this is.

The hall is discovered to lead to a small chamber with a stone altar, a grey robed man emerges from the shadows and almost slices Tyrrians face with a curved dagger. A short melee ensues and Tarek dispatches the robed one with a stab in the ribs, Tyrrian braces for the expected thing and smooshes another tentacle beast under his boot! Everyone stays away from the robed ones dropped weapon, which promptly finds its way into Moep's hands. The altar is discovered to have 4 polished obsidian eggs and a small censer on it. Tyrrian and Tom decide this place should be cleansed and the eggs (all but one) are smashed, and the chamber consecrated by Limtram! Bull Zi discovers the Altar moves and reveals a secret 3x3ft doorway, and Lars finds many hidden peepholes in the walls. Lars fishes out a small pouch of "Moep snaks" and tosses one through the newly revealed portal. "You need to scout that area for us." Lars says to Moep, who at first was balking at the notion he go first, in the dark. "I'm sure that is where the treasure is hidden." says Lars pointing where he tossed the treat. "Oh in that case!" Moep ducks through the opening in the wall. Discovering a 2ft wide tunnel that leads deeper into the rock Moep heads off to scout with Sven and Lars with a torch following 10ft behind. Moep is good at finding (triggering) traps, and short enough to not be harmed by them. Sven marks the locations with chalk and Lars disables them as they go. Two stone chutes are discovered and bypassed. The trio ends up at the bottom of a steeply descending tunnel in a small chamber where water drips from the floor to a puddle on the ceiling!?!?! Returning the way they came fearing they have lingered too long and the rest of the group may fear them dead or worse the trio return to the chutes and ignore a tertiary tunnel that was opposite the way to the weird water. Moep volunteers to climb down the chute and take a "look". In less than 3 minutes Moep springs out of the chute clings to Sven and gibbers incoherently; "Big, thingy! slimy, moving, ugh, lets go now! eek!"  The trio decides to head back and emerge from the portal just as Tom and Tyrrian were about to give them up for dead. As Lars describes what they found Tarek shushes the party. Kneeling in the archway and watching the stairs of the main pit a figure has emerged from the stinking mist, Tarek takes aim and strikes the grey robed figure with well placed arrow. The shot was not enough to kill it however and the grey robe begins to turn and return the way it came rather hastily! Tarek draws and fires again, "CRITICAL" skewering the the grey robe.

The party reforms its order and descends the main stairs to see where the last robed figure came from. The grey robed body with an arrow buried up to the fletching in it s back is pitched into the pit. Another 50ft or so below the first landing is a second of identical nature. Within the same small alter chamber as before, and Tom and Tyrrian consecrate this area as well. All four eggs are smashed this time. The altar is as before and the secret portal leads to meet the unexplored turn off near the water room. Heading deeper the party descends the main stairs again another 50ft or so to discover the stairs have collapsed and 15ft further on is a third landing as encountered before, only this one  has a brass gong hung on a post. After tense minutes of discussion ropes are readied and the gong post is lassoed, a secondary rope with grapple hook is tossed and the group makes its way across the dangerous area. Tyrrian is almost lost when the secondary rope snaps! A harness is made for "bessie" and soon everyone is across and safe. Bull Zi dismantles the gong and puts it in his pack. This landing does not lead into an altar chamber a before, instead a cavern with four bricked in areas is discovered. And a strange moaning seems to echo from this area as well.

Tyrrian leads the party past the first pair of bricked up tunnel mouths, as he gets between the second pair though, the moaning is unmistakably coming from behind the bricks on the left. Tyrrian and Sven make short work of the shoddy bricks and a starving disheveled holy man is discovered in the natural alcove. " I'll die a clean death before I join you scum!" the old man yells at Sven! The old man is pulled free and after given food and water, he explains he is from Tegel town and was brought here against his will. The town has been infiltrated by this strange cult, and he is not sure who can be trusted anymore! He tells that the grey robes are the lowest cult members, unable to blend in to society. But, there are others of higher ranking that give no sign they belong to Palimdybis. Lars takes this as reason to keep extra-special eyes on the old man.

Moving forward the natural tunnel ends and opens into a chasm. About 20ft below is a sea of writhing tentacles of all sizes. Opposite the group on the chasm's far wall is a drawbridge that is raised. The strange echoing of alien chanting drifts through the area, no means can be seen or found to operate the bridge. Bull Zi tries ringing the gong 3 times to no avail. Tentacles keep randomly swinging up out of the chasm and towards Tyrrian making him VERY uncomfortable.

(It looks rather like this, but the bridge is up and it is about twenty feet away across a sea of writhing tentacles)
The party decides to back track to the second altar room and follow the secret tunnel to the chutes, where Moep encountered whatever scared him badly. Tyrrian glady leads the way back and upon emerging at the third landing he realizes there is another opening in the pit wall some 50ft away and about 15 feet lower than the third landing. Moep is volunteered to wall climb over with a safety rope attached to him. Bull Zi the follows Moep over and together they discover a small cave decorated with broken red glass and a skeleton covered in wispy green moss clutching a moss covered stick in its hand. Urged on over his shoulder by Moep to "get the wand!"  Bull Zi stealthily removes the wand from the skeletal hand. "POOF!" the moss releases a cloud of spores catching both in the face! The small cave grows dark as a shadowy red face appears in the gloom and looks angrily at the two adventurers as the skull lets out a piercing scream! Emerging from the cave with green faces the two quickly rejoin the others and loosely describe what happened.

The party eventually finds its way back to the chutes, and safely lowers everyone to the chamber below. The discover a giant tentacle here coming up out of a large hole in the floor. Attached to the tentacle itself with iron rings is a rope ladder descending into darkness. A side cave is also found, and the group goes there first.
This natural cavern is soon discovered to be the lair of two mountain basilisks! Emily is almost killed, Moep straddles one and stabs it repeatedly, and Tyrrian performs his first "Deed of Arms" rolling up under the mouth of the second and stabbing its mouth closed from below! The party decides to camp here, heal Emily and skin the basilisks. It is also discovered that each great lizard bears a golden horn on its snout!

Characters IV

Here are a few more for your enjoyment.

Tarek: archer, thief and proud owner of the title deed for Tegel Manor.

Alan: a young cutpurse who is believed to be with Alexander the apprentice, lost at sea.

Alexander the apprentice: also hoped to have survived the conclusion of the Starless Sea!


                                                 R.I.P.

Thora the Armorer: your skills will be missed.

Chapter 3: The secrets of Tegel

The party have left the old, wounded, and children that survived the razing of Eros with the sisters at the Abbey. Moep was able to procure a sack of traveling rations for himself.

Making their way into the town proper just after noon, the group was able to catch the end of the first day of Market. Lars was able to sell a bit of the crop brought along from Eros. Most of the parties gains were spent at the stall of Marcus the Decent, a merchant and seller of a great many things.

A few rumors were overheard, and the tale of the fate of Eros began to quickly spread. Friar Beavis headed to the White Horse Tavern to procure some holy vintage and gather news.

As evening fell, the entire group retired to the White Horse where ale and the tale of the "Starless Sea" was told by Lars!
Even Moep found himself reliving the terror of that adventure all over again, thakfully he could drown his fears in ale!

By  midnight the tales of Tegel town and the Manor on the hill flowed freely. Hasnovar the tavern keeper told Tyrrian when asked of Tegel Manor itself;

"I'd not send my worst enemy to that place, young sir! Cursed it is, all those who go there die within days of being there. Or just never come back, that's fer sure!"

By mid-morning of the 2nd day of Market, Lars led the group to Altharonthas boarding house and got rooms for all. Sally arrived with a satin pillow of Tarantian make under her arm. Just then a group of militiamen arrived with an invitation from the Mayor to come for late breakfast.

The Mayor Ternelmor related the woes that had begun to fall upon Tegel town in the past few weeks. This seemed to fall in line with what had befallen the town of Eros as well. The evil of Tegel Manor has taken root again and begun to spread into the land itself. But of more pressing need was for heroes to cleanse the local graveyard and the old Temple on the hill. The rumor that the Mayor could indeed turn "Steel into Gold" seemed to hold a bit of truth. Gold indeed if the party can sanctify the Temple on the Hill for the town.

Gathering the wayward members of the group the party set out for the hill by noon. At the outskirts of town Tyrrian reveals the secret of the parchment he found sewn into the hem of his cloak. A partial map of Tegel manor and clues to evil within. Also that last night Tarek had come into possession of a certain Title Deed for the Manor itself!

Atop the wooded hill the graveyard seemed quaint and undisturbed in the noon sun. The old Temple was truly old, and had to be searched before Lars discovered a secret latch that uncovered a steep and descending stair!

Lighting torches, Bull Zi followed by Sven and Thora (with torch) led the descent. A musty cobwebbed chamber was discovered with a dark exit off to the right (east), and the northwest corner of the chamber was filled with rubble from a prior collapse. A single skeletal hand peeking out from the rocks.

Wary of a possible trap Lars moved forward to aid Bull Zi in a quick search for deadfalls. Coming to the conclusion that this was nothing more than an old cave in, Lars began to supervise the removal of rubble to uncover the body. Within moments the body was revealed to be a dwarf with a crushed skull and the strap of a large bag over its shoulder. With Thora's torch for light Lars, Sven and Bull Zi began to dig in earnest. The rest of the party waited by the starwell, and Moep made sure he had a clear pathway of escape.

Suddenly the walls and floor shook as a tremor spooked everyone, the caved in area explode in a cloud of dust, dirt and rock as a hideous bug like creature burst out of the wall! Easily twice the size of Sven the monster lunged forward thrashing its clawed arms and gnashing its mandibles! Lars saw Thora was frozen in fright and attempted to push out of the path of the monster, but he slipped in loose rubble and was only able to watch with the others as the thing clawed Thora with such force she was thrown 10ft back to slam into the wall next to the stairwell. Moep quickly went to aid Thora, in the flickering light of the single torch held by Tom he could not tell the extent of her injuries. Sven retrieved his axe from the floor by his feet and laid into the creature with blow that cracked its chitinous armoured hide and black blood flowed freely!  A quick but tense melee ensued as the creature was harried by Bull Zi, Tyrrian, Sally and much admonishment from Friar Beavis! Garrotte attempted to aid Moep who now relit Thora's dropped torch and they discovered she was far beyond aid.

Lars recovered a leather shoulder bag from the dwarf corpse, and the party opted to take Thora back above ground for burial before continuing. Above ground Calis who had stayed to keep watch points towards the coast and the storm clouds that had begun to gather. "Something unnatural, I feel." he mutters.

As a grave is dug for Thora, the sun is blocked out and the day becomes like night. A cold biting rain begins to fall and the group turns back toward the dark stairwell that descends to an unknown fate for all.

Come, come my friends. I have something to show you!

Welcome my friends, I am Marcus the Decent. I bring you wares, baubles, trinkets and more! From the far eastern city of spice Tarantis at the edge of the world, to western City State of the World Emperor. From the Holy cities of the desert dwelling Mycretians in the south to the ice bound city of Valon in the north. I my friends, am the only merchant that can offer you these items at discounted prices!

My friends, one drop of this tincture added to a cup of wine sustained the Green Emperor himself as he led the rites in the pleasure pits for a month. Imagine what it could do for you! 

Specialty items for sale:

10' Pole of treasure divining: this sturdy yet slightly pliable oak pole was recently revealed to have belonged to a Halfling treasure hunter. This pole was used to plumb the depths of the mystical "Portal under the Stars" and can lead the wielder unerringly to gemstones and veins of precious metal. It can be yours for a mere silver piece!

2 Pitchforks of monster taming: This set of paired pitchforks are the only farming tools to have survived the razing of the small farming village of Eros. Identified by a surviving witness as the pitchforks used to defend that place against vile man-beasts! Protect your family and home with these tested and true items for a mere 5 silver pieces. Sold only as a set!

1 Man-beast Spear: forged by the dirty bloodstained paws of the hell spawned, this twisted vile tool fit only for dealing death should not even be sold for ANY price. Yet, the hand of fate stepped in and this spear alone was turned against its creator and slayed him. Now you can fight evil with evil's own creation for a measly 15 copper!

Newly acquired items:

Hand carved stout ash Staff: this home spun item was hand crafted by a dearly departed citizen of Eros. Yours for 2 silver, and some of the proceeds go to the orphans of Eros fund at the Temple of Law.

Deer pelt: sturdy enough for soft new boots, or bedding. The ladies will love it.  One Silver and a half.


Remember my Friends I am only in town for 3 days before I must travel on. Come see me soon, or you will have to wait until I return.

Where did Lars say we were going? Tegel Manor?

The Market village of Tegel, that's where.

Tegel lies about 15 miles north northwest of the now razed village of Eros. It is less than a mile from the coast of the Winedark sea, and they maintain a small lighthouse to support a small group of local fisherman.
 In town you will find the White Horse Tavern, run by the jovial Hasnovar. Travelers can find a place to sleep that isn't a bench or the floor of the White Horse at Althronthra's Boarding House. She and her two sons run a quiet decent place. 10cp a head per night, 15cp gets you dinner.
Market day brings farmers from the surrounding area to trade with the merchants who set up in the square. Ternelmor the Mayor of Tegel is a retired soldier and keeps a well drilled militia on duty and is ready to defend his town.


Just to the south lies the Abbey of Law.

Arnthora the Abbess welcomes all who would seek peace and comfort. All the Gods of Law can be prayed to here, though it is Ulesh God of Peace that ranks highest here. For a small donation and a days labor about the abbey the small group of Sisters will feed travelers a meal and allow them to stay the night in the Chapel.
The Sisters can also provide limited medicinal services to those in need.

Southeast of Tegel on a bluff overlooking the sea broods the ancient Tegel Manor.

This once great manor house sits upon the remains of prior castles, forts and dungeons of a thousand year legacy. Many Warlords, Nobles, Bandit Kings and Sorcerers have made their home here over the centuries.
The manor stands unoccupied currently as its owner, Sir Robert lives in a lodge upon the grounds.
Rumors abound of ghosts, murder, treasure, magic and curses that await any who would trespass in Tegel Manor. Traditionally, the people looked to Sir Roberts family for protection. Now they wonder who will protect them from what is happening.