Main / WR-SUM

War by Art - Session Summaries

These session summaries are compiled by Players and added with the most recent session summary at the bottom of the thread.

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11-18-16 Michael

So I was going to post this at the beginning of our session, but I may be a few min late. I know we all sometimes have a little trouble remembering some stuff, so as I can, I'm just going to post highlights and stuff before our sessions in the Klooge chat. As I said though, might be a little late today so here this weeks

“When Last We Left Our Intrepid Band of Adventureres!” (11, Nov 2017) Basic Summary: -Delta Rae is a good band -So many centipedes - God, still so many centipedes -Okay. They Finally all died -BOB WORDS OF WISDOM “[Master] I think that the key thing is to have encounters a far away from the sleeping people as possible [Master] so they do not walke right up and eat them

-Grumpy Winged Lion Thing (Still not sure if we ever decided on what it was) Roars at us to get out of its way. We wake-up, drag, kick, shuffle sleeping people out of its way. It merrily stomps down the path and into the night. -Um. Looks like some healing went on -Branadarus makes some funny comments. -DIE OF DEATH [Indigo (Lisa)] (care to roll the dice of destiny?) [Snezana (SpringDiesel)] Roll #1: (d20) [1d20=2] 2 Shurkural (TMO)] DOOOOOM

MAJOR ENCOUNTER: Three cyclops. While I try to talk our way out of it, Branadarus steals goodies that are to be announced at beginning of this session. They Inform us that they smashed Lion. Good to know. Bob grants mercy and I talk my way out of the encounter with help from everyone. -TMO spends 10 rounds with bow drawn. Kudos on that arm. -Michael promises to never do a whole game talking unless permission from group is granted. -More Healing -End of Game End of Summary

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12-02-2016 (Hugh/Michael) Last Time, on BOB's WORLD!

-Basic Summary:

-Mario rolls crazy good for new character. Look at this guy over here! - Still discussing stats... - Okay the game officially is started by master. -NEW PLAYER: Carissa - Discussing finer points of klooge and tips/tricks. Lisa’s response to bob overloading a new player with a ton of stuff:

[Master] the Wildlands. The Wildlands is an area bordered by Terraguard to the east across the Velikaya River and to the west by the Central Mountains. The southern border blends in with the northern shire of Gold Hills and the northern border merges into the Northern Wastes with no fixed delineation although some say the Gelion River marks the border between the two areas. The Lorien woods are said to be the home of several Elven towns while the Orcnest Deep provides a hiding place for several humanoid tribes that pillage on the Velikaya River.

[Master] is where you are from

[Lisa] that's confusing

- Spend lots of time at a found dilapidated mill - I am obsessed with opening the cellar door. We spend about 20 min discussing opening it. - Nothing in the cellar - Life isn’t fair. Moving on

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: [Mario Teq LT] i have to read up on Elves, never been one [Master] there is a bit of a backstory on your character sheet too now [Master] you need a name for you and a name for your sword [Master] and your sword is intelligent [Master] can speak [Master] so it needs a name [Indigo (Lisa)] Keebler

-Wow I type horribly with you guys. Good thing this isn’t graded. - Hmmm. OH! Abandoned creepy village where nothing happens. Yeah that. - Hugh decides life is too much and jumps off a cliff and somehow despite falling 60 ft, the gods have mercy and he doesn’t die. I guess someone was looking out for him. This time. RIGHT BOB!? - It appears to be the work of sirens. - In a dire situation Branwyn and Branadarus still manage to be a lovely couple. -The group saves Hugh and proves that despite all odds, they can save people. That was meant to be funny not mean. -Exchange parting fairwells and….. XP Awarded -End of game -End of summary

This summary is subject to the opinion of the writer who wrote it and stuff. You know the drill. If I offend you, i'll edit this send me a text or something.

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Last time, on BOB’s WORLD! “When Last We Left Our Intrepid Band of Adventureres!” (9, Dec 2016)

-Basic Summary:

-Gotta love Monty Python references. Ah, document searching. My mother laughs and feels sympathy. Also Swimming is a useful skill when you need it most. I wish I picked that. It’s one of those things you think is useless…until your drowning. Carissa finishing up stats for character.

-Quote of the Night: [Lisa] (he is a halfling so maybe a small shield? [Master] nods, is why I said Buckler [Lisa] like I know how big a buckler is [Master] smile [SpringDiesel] big skillet lid [Lisa] that's better

-JTOM wails on Branadarus. Funny.

-Michael Yells at screen as you head back toward sirens while reading summary.

-Also Spring, that diet sounds miserable. Cheat away.

-I had to include this because I thought it was hilarious: [Lord Branadarus (Master)] WHAT? Ilero (TMO)] HYE TEST SIREN NOW [Lord Branadarus (Master)] WHAT?

-Discussing eating giant parts. Jilly goes crazy.

-Combat begins: Bullman fight.

-Love the link bob. Thought the GOT reference was funny for the fire lady.

-Still fighting. Mario Joins the fray. -Still fighting……Okay done. -List of people to kill. The Hound. Love it bob. -What a lovely statue in the middle of the road. TMO is wary of Gorgans/Medusa like creatures. Nothing eventful happens. -YAY! The group reaches a keep. -Basic intelligence gathering -Decided to camp within the keep. Yeah, no pictures of the mines of moria appearing in my head or anything. -- You do remember what was lurking outside the entrance to the Mines of Moria, right? ;)

XP AWARDED END OF GAME END OF SUMMARY This summary is subject to the opinion of the writer who wrote it and stuff. You know the drill. If I offend you, i'll edit this send me a text or something.

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01/30/17 Carissa
Session: Jan2717

A quick (first attempt; add as you want) summary leading up to now: goblins in second keep, kill goblins, find Medusa, Ilero completely lucks out by turning mirror on Medusa to freeze her, lots of cool loot including Chalice of Charon, bodies of dead goblins left at door attract centipedes during the night, critical failure by Keldorldrin Tekenlyl results tripping and alerting centipedes to their presence, paralyzing and near death for Kel and Indigo, but all survive. Morning brings Priestess of Athena and entourage now in the control of New Players Autumn and Greg who missed recent session which brings us to:

• After healing (Kel still walking wounded), left the second keep to continue towards third keep.
• Tebhoundrin makes his grand entrance (re-entrance?)

  1. Lord Branadarus does not believe Teb to be real but a trick
  2. Shurkural hopes it is not a contagious disease of the sword
  3. Branwyn understands Teb is real and has a dislike for mages

• No encounters for morning or mid-morning…and then Mario rolls.
• Group of bugbears and two ogres ahead so attempts to negotiate with them which fail.

  1. Branwyn nukes a couple with a fireball then gets rushed by one.
  2. TMO applauds our brilliant strategy of having our spellcaster in melee combat.
  3. All ogres and most bugbears die except for two bugbears that ran off.
  4. No loot :(

• Found a shallow cave as a place to camp for the night

  1. Successful foraging of 18 berries with plans to turn into goodberries later.

Quotes of the Night:

Lord Branadarus (Master) whispers to Shur, do you think he has a name for his other sword?
Shurkural (TMO) whispers back, "Lots of guys do, but it better not be sharpened."

Because this was the first of many similar quotes to follow.

Ilero (TMO) (Sun Tzu ain't got nothin' on us!)

Because who would ever expect the mage to try to take down bugbears with an old dagger?

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02/11/17 Carissa
Session: Feb1017

Autumn rolls for her priestess, but is unable to make it tonight. Spring has survived the harsh January workload and returned to us with project finished. Mario misses out, but Teb says hi. All that brings us back to the shallow cave for night of camping:

• Snezana finishes patching up B&B (also known as Branwyn and Branadarus)

  1. Extra little healing goes to bugbear who cannot communicate with us.

• Before first watch, Joseph and Indigo tie bugbear to tree so cannot escape during the night

  1. Female or male bugbear? It’s anyone’s guess for now.
  2. TMO suggest perimeter of oil to torch future centipedes; rejected for lack of exit for group from the potential flames.

• No encounter on the first watch (but will that luck hold for the night?)

  1. 17 of the 18 berries turned goodberries for future healing. Foreshadowing?

• Indigo and Ilero take second watch only to hear wings in the night: attack of the wyvern!

  1. Ilero decides to jump on its back to distract it because what could go wrong?
  2. Ilero misses and grabs its stinging tail to keep it occupied; Indigo gives the wyvern a run for its money with a fierce fight and thoughts of lizard bacon for breakfast; Hugh is woken to help fight the wyvern.
  3. Ilero avoids stab by tail, gets snatched in the jaws of the wyvern, is stabbed, poisoned, and faces almost certain death.
  4. Wyvern fails to take off (distracted by Hugh’s insults of it being inferior to a dragon?) and drops Ilero to the rock below.
  5. Wyvern escapes barely alive with only the words of Hugh’s insults of its hamster mother and elderberry smelling father to follow it.

• Shurkural and Neith are woken up to tend to the unconscious (dead?) Ilero full of poison.

  1. Shurkural hears no heartbeat, Indigo fetches potion of healing from chest.
  2. Elixir of Health works, Neith stabilizes Ilero, and new walking wounded in the group.
  3. Bite from Wyvern to the neck so Ilero having difficulty talking (and staying awake).
  4. Ilero almost died, but came back from dead so the luck for the night is still quite good

• Luck holds out again as third watch has no encounters, everyone is still alive, and Branwyn reads the magic scroll from the Cyclops to see (2) 8th level spells, (1) 9th level spell, (2) 4th level spells, and (1) 1st level spell all for wizards to be determined later.
• Shurkural makes a death mask as they travel, arrive in a forest, encounter lone girl whistling.

  1. Girl refuses to answer questions making some of the group suspicious.
  2. Girl walks off later, pit trap discovered not far from where girl was standing.
  3. Spring trap, make it around pit full of bones without problems, no ambush, continue onwards.

• Last encounter roll of the night, luck keeps holding, too far from water so no encounter!

  1. Will our luck hold next session? Tune in to find out! Or something.

Interesting Information of the Night:

Death of a Character - Because of the obsessive use of Death Masks in the Suomi religion there is almost never a time that a person comes back from the dead. Only a small handful of extreme heroes have ever done so.

[Shurkural (TMO)] (however, note that apparently Ilero is now an extreme hero.)
[Shurkural (TMO)] (they do choose the oddest targets for their herodom up there)

Quotes of the Night:

[Snezana (Spring)] good morning. what the hell, ilero?
[Shurkural (TMO)] (That! That should be the standard daily greeting between Dragonslayers from now on!!!)

Because we are all in agreement, I think, that it should be.

[Snezana (Spring)] (how did i get xp? all i did was sleep)
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Osmosis)
[Snezana (Spring)] (xposis)
[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] Thats a quote of the night right there

Because it’s a self-explanatory already chosen as a quote of the night.

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Bugbear Keep Layout

The Keep has 5 levels. There are no underground levels. The description below will call the “ground floor” Level 1 and then move upward to Level 5. Levels 2 through 5 have areas outside.

Need a password to get through the front gate - password is the Bugbear word for the day of the week. Interrogation occurred on 4th day of the week.

Sometimes there are as many as 50 or so bugbears at the keep.

Level 1

• Main Gate and Courtyard
• Stairway up to the Battlements – separate from other Level 1 rooms
• Door from Courtyard leads to Throne Room with wooden floors and mirror
• Guard Room adjacent to Throne Room
  • 4 wolves loose in the room
  • About 5 guards
• Hostage Room is a small room inside Guard Room – has goblin hostages in it
• Kitchen adjacent to Guard Room to north
• Barracks –adjacent to Guard Room to east and is where guards sleep
• Stairs – located past the Barracks and goes to Level 2

Level 2

• Stairs – going up and down
• King’s Bedroom
• Treasure Room
• Family’s Room – many wives and more than 10 children
• Guard Room - between 5 and 10 guards

Level 3

• Stairs – going up and down
• Battlements
• Magic Room – used by Magic Bugbears

Level 4

• Stairs – going up and down
• Magic Bugbear Room
  • Magic Bugbears use magic items and cast spells – not wizards
  • 2-3 Magic Bugbear confusion – perhaps since we killed 1. Most likely there are 2 Magic Bugbears left in Keep –unknown if they would be at same level as the one we met. They could be lower level acolytes. In any event, would be magical surprise if they start casting. Need someone (priests/rangers) with knowledge of these kinds of things to explain "Magic" Bugbears to the group.

Level 5

• Stairs – going up and down
• Battlements

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Goblin Information

• Over 40 goblins at the Goblin Home, only half are fighters, women and children also
• Scruffy is the Goblin Leader, wears magical ring of strength
• Goblins are picked on by bugbears. Bugbears are holding some goblins hostage
• Goblins bring wine to bugbears as a tribute. Sometimes they drug the wine with Valerian root to make the bugbears sleep. The bugbears don’t know about the wine cellar.

Wine Cellar Tunnel to Goblin Home

• Tunnel entrance behind cask rack only opens from the inside of the tunnel
• Tunnel goes northwest in different direction than the bugbear keep
• 20 minute walk through the tunnel
• Tunnel is not lit but not dangerous
• Gel, worms, rats and mold in the tunnel

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04/30/17 Carissa
Session: Apr2817 AND Apr2917

Made sure to make time for the summaries if only because of the quotes, but first:

• Some testing of new internet speeds with hopes of not kicking anyone out during combat.

  1. Conclusion: maybe it helped? Maybe it’s now on our end? Still not positive. To be continued.

• After four sessions of planning, we’re on our last day of planning for attack on the bugbear keep

  1. Four sessions of endless questioning all summarized by Mario Main.WR-OOC

• Layout of keep also determined as seen within this summary page.

  1. Third shift of final night before the storm grants us the gift of a goblin army willing to help us.

• And during third shift we find out Branadarus still doesn’t believe Teb is a talking sword.
• Billy the Bugbear and Scruffy the Goblin (previous hostages now friends of Jilly) are told the plan, Billy informs us the king would chase a unicorn, Indigo tells us of the last unicorn chase.

  1. Spoiler Alert: it did not end well for Anton.

• Finally evening arrives, we’re outside the keep, goodberries are passed out, Branwyn has polymorphed into a bugbear, the rest look like prisoners, and the games begin!
• Which brings us to BONUS GAME on International Tabletop Game Day. Coincidence?
• Bugbears seems to fall for the rouse and take in the prisoners, but at the cost of Branwyn Bugbear being dragged with the king to chase a false unicorn (and almost losing her dagger in the process), and of the prisoners being crammed into a small cell.

  1. Once far enough away, Branwyn Bugbear cast confusion which takes out half the patrol (or they took each other out, technically) and causes the rest, including the king, to wander off into the forest, confused.
  2. While in prison cell waiting for group to make their escape, Shi'Nynze befriends all the wolves and gains her own adorable wolf pack.
  3. Half the bugbears go to the throne room to party, and hopefully thanks to sleeping-spiked wine, sleep.

• Branadarus gets impatient and pulls apart the bars to the cell to get weapons Billy was holding onto (part of the rouse as Billy attacked the bugbear guard once the group makes its escape).

  1. Branwyn runs back to the keep, the now-escaped group takes down the bugbears few not partying in the throne room while the few freed goblin hostages huddle in the corner with fear.
  2. The group clears the bugbears (minus throne room) and makes its way to the second floor of keep.

• Branwyn makes excellent timing and arrives as half the group heads upstairs, the others finish hiding the bugbear bodies.
• Branwyn runs into Scruffy, retrieves the armor he was holding, meets back with the group, hands out armor, and follows everyone upstairs.

  1. A handful of bugbears upstairs all taken out, but as it looks like only one is left…

• Billy FALLS down the stairs with a sword in his back, maybe DEAD. After all he did to help us…
• And that’s the cliffhanger we’re left with until next time! Also known as this coming Friday.

Quotes of the Night:

[Lord Branadarus (Master)] he bends the bars on the south door
[Lord Branadarus (Master)] making a space large enough to squeeze through
[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] Lord Brandaras? When this is over, we must have an arm wrestling match!
[Lord Branadarus (Master)] arm outstretched
[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] /Sighs. When we aren't in grave peril perhaps M'lord?

Because although his hand was technically outstretched to grab the weapons from Billy, it was still a hilarious misunderstanding in chat (we’ve all been there, but not with such humor or such a perfect response).

[TMO] (I say we make Jilly the new King)
[TMO] (within a year there'd be a new Empire)
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (But not a single starving individual!)

Because all hail King Jilly!

[TMO] (we're heroes, we don't steal. We either loot, or we borrow with attitude)

Because if it’s with attitude, it’s fine. I think.

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05/06/17 Carissa
Session: May0517

We have action and near-deaths again! Perhaps that’s the motivation I was lacking for writing summaries? Well, either way, last night was full of almost-dead (and undead) and so :

• Step One: Neith runs to Billy and saves him from becoming walking wounded. Billy will live! (But for how long? His fate is uncertain as long as we’re in the keep and the king lives).
• Indigo, Shi'Nynze, and Anor (leader of the wolf pack) attack the last remaining bugbear, the guard, but as he nears death, they realize he isn’t attacking back and so leave him wounded and watch him warily.
• Meanwhile, the others spot a phantom beast which threw the sword at Billy. Kel is too busy putting on his armor to notice the beast and is shoved aside (and saved from unpleasantness) by Lord Branadarus.

  1. In such situations, it is best to fight magic with magic and therefore beast dies via Branwyn.

• Indigo remains (with two wolves) to guard the guard bugbear while the others cautious head to the third floor in search of the magic bugbears. We don’t want them sneaking up on us, right?
• Oh look! A shrine! Bugbear Branwyn announces. Shi walks over with curiosity, opens the door again and…sets off an alarm. It looks like only bugbears (or polymorphed wizards) are allowed inside the shrine.

  1. Zombies attack Shi, she runs, thinks she escapes, zombies exit a different door and attack Shi and Neith. There is speculation that the zombies are classists and want to kill all priest(esses).
  2. And of course zombies are poisonous and of course we can’t escape it. Neith gets poisoned, Snee casts hold poison, Shur and Hugh miss hitting zombie, Lord Branadarus steps in and kills zombie.
  3. Ilero, Shi, and wolves kill the zombie attacking her; no poisoning from that zombie.
  4. Did I mention the bugbears also attacking? Branwyn runs to get Indigo to help fight them all.

• After battling zombies and bugbears, and blocking in the two zombies by throwing a bugbear body in front of the door to hold it shut, Bugbear Branwyn heads to the fourth floor with Indigo, Snee, and Kel.

  1. Branwyn notices the keep is made for humans. How is this important? We unfortunately find out when bugbears ambush Branwyn on the stairs…and her giantness prevents anymore from getting around her to help kill the bugbears, including two magic bugbears. We found them. Yay?
  2. First attempt to shove Branwyn off the stairs fails, Indigo succeeds next round, but magic fire engulfs the stairs. The others run up the stairs to help, some halting at the sight of flames while others attempt to run through. Ilero tries to tumble, but tumbled downstairs instead. Poisoned, but worried Neith runs straight through them to help with the fight (and crisps up some in the process). Small stairs means Hugh’s attempt to run through the flames cannot be done due to blockage of people.

• Night ends with bugbears dead and everyone more than a little worse for wear. Most healing spells used up, everyone down some (or a lot) of HP, and in need of a new plan of action. What plan? Well that’s to be decided for next time!

Quotes of the Night:

[Master] runs over to Kel and SHOVES him hard to try to knock him over
[Master] Lord Branadarus targets Kel. Distance: 0'10"
[Master] Lord Branadarus: Attack: Thorn: ((12-(d20+2))+2) [1d20=14] -2 [MODIFIED (+2)]. HITS Kel (AC FINAL: 6)!!!
[MarioCS] ac 4 but ok
[MarioCS] maybe cuz his pants are down?
[Master] chuckles he SLAMS into Kel and knocks both of you back away from the stairs towards the open area there

Because pants truly are an important part of the wardrobe.

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05/13/17 Carissa
Session: May1217

Last time we left off with being ambushed in the keep, everyone being near-death, and a strong desire to just grab our treasures and run. This week was the thrilling conclusion of the assault and weapon recovery in the bugbear keep, and the thrilling conclusion to the main quest of two characters! But first:

• There are quite a few dead bugbears at our feet. What’s one to do but to search them for loot (or for intelligence gathering)?

  1. Each bugbear has a mace, the two magic bugbears are priests as determined by their holy symbols with one wearing bracers, and two keys are found among the bodies.

• As we prepare to leave, we are kindly reminded that there are two doors on that floor we haven’t opened yet. Helpful? Railroading? Sadism? We remember when Shi opened that last door. Whatever could BOB be up to by reminding us of these two doors?

  1. Falling prey to our weakness of curiosity, Bugbear Branwyn offers to open the door at risk of another bugbear alarm trap. Putting on the bracers for armor just in case, she notices that she feels better prepared against magic attacks. This is good, right?
  2. Nope as she needed to be better protected against electrical attacks as the door zaps her when she tries the first key. There is more speculation that this is simply for the pure entertainment of BOB.
  3. Oh hey, but there is another key to try! Curiosity abound, and lesson not learned, we try that one.

• Aannnd…wait, it wasn’t a trap this whole time? The door opens, nothing comes out to kill us, and lo and behold, the weapons we were looking are in this room? I take back my sadism comment and we decided that maybe it wasn’t (completely) for BOB’s entertainment to watch us get shocked and attacked.

  1. Inside are two bows, three flight lances, a long sword, a mace, a pick, and Shur’s sword.
  2. One bow is human, the other is elven, and upon closer inspection, determined to be the bow of Ellidor! This makes Shi'Nynze Zaurahel and Keldorldrin Tekenlyl incredibly happy.
  3. The pick is discovered to be Anton’s pick (I think?) that Indigo decides to claim. (EDIT: It is actually Indigo's pick, lost by Anton -Mario | Thanks! - Carissa)
  4. Shur’s sword is discovered to be a copy of her grandfather’s sword she got at the shrine thanks to displacement theory and the repair coming from somewhere and definitely not because of BOB wreaking havoc on the space time continuum by mistake or anything. Definitely not.
  5. The three flight lances are discovered to be from the birdmen who attacked us earlier. Kel wonders if perhaps they could have been allies had we (okay, Shi) not attacked them first. Oh well.
  6. The rest of the (all magical, apparently) weapons will be sorted later to discover what they are.

• And uneventful opening of the second door reveals arrows, spears, and maces. Arrows are replenished for the archers within the group (regular, boring, not elven or sheaf arrows).
• Upon deciding the treasure room is likely just gems and gold, and we have everything we came for, we decide it is finally time to leave the keep, but as we head downstairs…

  1. Suddenly Bugbear Branwyn is just plain human Branwyn again (who is, yes, wearing clothing). On the upside, the spell also heals her some which will be useful here soon.
  2. No longer a bugbear and with no reason to keep them, Branwyn lets Billy have the bracers. He simply puts them on and shrugs as we all head towards the courtyard.

• Branwyn looks outside at the courtyard, gasps, and motions the group closer with warnings of spotting the king and the rest of the patrol she confused/lost earlier in the forest.

  1. Not long after her warning we hear the yelling of the king, we are discovered, and it’s time to fight the king! Or is it?
  2. After taking down the rest, weakening the king, we let Billy, kind lovable Billy, make the final blow to the king and take him down. All hail Billy! The new king of the bugbears! As a present, we give him the keys, congratulate him, and finally, thankfully, leave the keep and survive.
  3. We also give thanks to Scruffy who takes his cart of four hurt goblins back to his home after we also wave goodbye to him. Thanks for your help, Scruffy!

• After an uneventful night of sleep, a casting of detect magic (weapons to be determined later), some healing spells, and a distribution of who carries what since we are without mule or cart, the groups leaves the cellar and heads back, BUT…

  1. Kel notices the destination of the group is towards Corvash where the knarr is parked (I missed that comment and haven’t a clue what that means) and away from the Divaekah clan. Kel has promised to keep Shi safe, but if she decides she doesn’t want to go home yet, what will he do? Read to find out OR
  2. And on that note, we will all find out next week anyways!

Quotes of the Night:

[Indigo (Lisa)] (can't remember - brabadarus definitely didn't)
[Kel (MarioCS)] (oh, Blabadarus...gotta remember that one...!)

Because not to add fuel to that fire, but it personally made me think of Blaberus...a genus of cockroaches which made this funnier.

[Jilly (Master)] Where is Billy?
[Jilly (Master)] And where did you get the wolves
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] Billy stayed. I believe he is the new king.
[Jilly (Master)] We can't keep them
[Jilly (Master)] they can't be tursted
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] The wolves are my friends! This is Anor, pack leder, Ithil, and the pups, Galad and Tinu.
[Jilly (Master)] trusted
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] They have names. By your logic, they can now be trusted.
Jilly (Master) frowns
Shi'Nynze (Carissa) grins.

Because we knew Billy and Scruffy could be trusted after Jilly named them so her logic is sound, right?

[Master] who else had a magical sword missing?
[Master] thouht it was Shur?
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (so when she has two children they won't be fighting over mom's weaponry)
[Master] but then who?
[TMO] (I may have misinterpreted or misremembered)
[Master] hmmm
[TMO] (what about Marisu's +5 Defender?)
[Kel (MarioCS)] check
[Master] chuckles
[TMO] (too much?)
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (just a tad)
[Branwyn (Lisa)] (+3 you might have gotten away with)

Because I'm pretty sure Marisu's +5 Defender WAS taken...not that I was there, but it sounds reasonable!

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05/13/17 Carissa
Session: May1917

Onward to the cabin and eventually the palace!:

• As they walk, Shi and Kel argue about their next move. Hugh informs them of what it's like at the residence, and after formally asking Branwyn, they are told they can stay (she already assumed they would) to the joy of Shi and still uncertainty of Kel.
• In the early morning hours of their walk, they come across an impressively giant spider web with some impressively giant spiders. What to do, what to do?

  1. Half the party votes to go around and half the party votes to kill the spiders. During the discussion they find out Shi is quite fond of spiders and doesn't want to kill them. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) she has no way to befriend any of them.
  2. Ilero (who can now speak!) attempts to find out if the web can be cut through (after fireball idea is shot down) and ends up falling into the web (please see quotes below). Thankfully he is able to escape the web without any problems.
  3. Lord Branadarus suggests Hugh rip through the webs as a show of strength (says the man who is also into shows of strength). That idea is also shot down. No arm wrestling follows.

• After deciding to backtrack and go around, they continue their quiet, peaceful walk through the forest when suddenly TROLLS start to rain from the sky! Well, three of them.

  1. All spellcasters, who are in the safe, soft chewy center (according to TMO) are of course the ones attacked by the trolls. Shi, Branwyn, Indigo, and Jilly (who was trying to protect Indigo) get smacked with Shi a little too close to one-hit kill than would be preferred.
  2. Wu Sen Cho saves Shi from possible death by grabbing her by the wrist and tossing her out of reach of the troll and into the bushes full of thorns. But still, she lives! Kel kills that troll, Branadarus kills the one attacking Branwyn, and Anor helps remove the final troll.
  3. The group finds 9 gems within the burned remains of the trolls.
  4. Kel is very unhappy that Shi almost dies and still not happy with her deciding not to go home where he believes she will be safe (or at least safer).

• First watch is elven bickering and uncomfortable Branwyn (who didn't want to interrupt and also didn't understand the elvish), but otherwise uneventful. Third watch is also completely uneventful (or more so uneventful). As for the second watch that I skipped? Well...
• On second watch, Ilero and Indigo chat (again, Ilero can finally talk, kind of) when they noticed a circle of glowing balls of light have encircled all the sleepers. After trying to unsuccessfully break through, including Indigo trying to throw a rock at Branadarus, a very mysterious human priestess shows up, tells them to "see the Prince safely to his destiny" and because he "needs to survive to break the chain" and then disappeared. As do the lights.

  1. Indigo tries to figure out if priestess means Branadarus or Ilero, but Ilero is pretty sure its not him. Wanting to know all possibilities, Indigo asks that morning who else at camp is a prince.
  2. Only Branadarus and Ilero are outted to be princes. Indigo thinks Teb might be. Shurkural wonders if they mean prince in a not-royal sense. The words of the priestess are still unclear.

• And after a morning full of princely talk, we're off!...for the night. See you next week!

Quotes of the Night:

[Carissa] Speak of, any thought on the wolves yet?
[Master] I do have thoughts, grins
[Carissa] And if you kill them please (k)now I will be VERY SAD.
[Carissa] VERY sad.

Because I would like to emphasize how extremely sad I will be if the wolves meet a mysterious, deadly DM-demise.

[Master] and so Ilero cautiously moves up to the web, then suddenly a squirrel behind him drops an accorn, startling him and he instinctively tumbles but ends up INTO the webs
Ilero (TMO)] And now we know how Squirrel Girl defeated Doctor Doom

Because this might be important later for defeating an enemy! Also it was funny.

[Indigo (Lisa)] If it is Branadarus I guess it's a good thing I didn't hit him with that rock
Ilero (TMO)] Mebbe she know you try, so put shield to make miss.
[Indigo (Lisa)] I wouldn't have tried to hit him with a rock if she didn't put up her light thing
Ilero (TMO)] But she did, so you did, and you miss.
Ilero (TMO)] Ta-da.
Indigo (Lisa) scratches his head "Not sure why people can't just say what they mean"
Ilero (TMO)] But t'en not be "mysteeeeerious"
Ilero (TMO)] (with finger quotes)
Indigo (Lisa) laughs loudly

Because. Just because. It's a mysteeeeeey.

---

05/27/17 Carissa
Session: May2617

The cabin lies only a half-day's walk away. So close! We'll surely make it there by the end of tonight's session, right? Whatever could go wrong? Well...:

• Before getting to the fun of, um, walking, we took the time to exterminate the goblin-hired gremlins from the system who decided to play around with temporary modifiers. Earlier confusions are less confused. Unless they come back. Who let the gremlins in anyways?

  1. We also find out Branadarus hasn't been wearing armor. Apparently he prefers to go commando. Christmas presents are already being determined.

• Problem contained, the party continues to walk with Indigo telling of the gnome who disguised himself as a dragon to steal emeralds, but was found out, and about the real dragon that flew overhead the same time that was not actually a gnome illusion, but inspiration for the gnome magic illusion.

  1. Also the individual who owns the cabin is Duke Nasty Brandish (or Branwash), according to Indigo.

• Morning encounter arrives with a sickly forest and dark tree that seems to be causing the sickliness of the forest. There is a suspicious moving root, an attempt to burn things, and then the decision on what to do.

  1. Indigo recalls the last tree that looked similar to this one which tried to eat them. With that encounter in mind, the group generally agrees to just go around the forest but...
  2. There are now elves in the party and this is a sick forest and so of course the elves decide the best idea is to kill the giant, bad old oak tree that looks to be the cause because just walking away from such a sight would quite selfish, but not elf-ish (pun intended).
  3. Branwyn decides to do a controlled fire spell to try to set the tree on fire. This could be a good plan, yes? Forest fire aside? Good news: no forest fire. Bad news: whomping willow.
  4. After getting smacked by all the branches and it being too wet for the fire to catch, everyone runs out of reach. As some clouds start to blot out the sun, Shi and Neith decide lightning sounds like a really fun idea and simply zap the tree to death from a distance. Problem solved!
  5. Inside the tree are 10 gems, 4 art objects, and 1 burned up scroll. Likely remains from previous victims consumed by the tree.

• With tree splintered and smited (smoted? asks Mario), the group continues onward only to run into one of their most recent favorites of all the creatures! Flying lizards! TWO of them! Everyone dances with joy! Wait. No.

  1. The flying lizards haven't spot the group as they appear to be sunbathing. As it is noon, they likely have already eaten and are just relaxing. A perfect time to sneak by, right? Is it worth trying to sneak by? What if they fail? If they are spotted? As the group tries to decide, they are reminded that flying lizards have poisonous tail...things. And with that, the group, especially Ilero and Neith, decide that no, it's not worth sneaking by. Flying lizards: bad. Poison: very bad. Why don't we just take a different route?
  2. Mario muses if there is a consequence to avoiding encounters. Thanks for that Mario, because...

• Without warning, as the group continues their walk, Ankheg attack the group. Again, without warning, so ouch for the many who get acid spat into their faces.

  1. In a short amount of time, Joseph Shortkin is disabled. No one is close enough to heal him, but Branwyn is close enough to bind his wounds to prevent death, hopefully.
  2. The wolves are also attacked with Ithil unable to hold his own against the giant insect...thing. Shi is not close enough to heal, but is also close enough to bind his wounds to prevent death, hopefully. BUT...
  3. The damnable insect decides to try to eat Ithil, BOB is reminded of how sad I will be if he dies, Ithil discovers he has already made other friends within the group, and a coordinated attack by Branwyn and Howard (BOB listened, yay!) saves Ithil. Happiness!...is short-lived.
  4. After heroically saving a wolf from being eaten by a giant insect, Howard himself gets eaten by a giant insect (with some impressive crits by the damnable insect killing him on the spot) and dragged down into its hole to be consumed. Life is cruel and unfair.
  5. As the last Ankheg are killed off, Jilly jumps down after Howard. Indigo jumps down after Jilly. They free the body of Howard and Jilly is stuck in the denial stage of grief. Sorry Jilly, but no spell can restore Howard from his -28 HP. I imagine he's a little more than mangled...
  6. After we "search the hell out of them" (as Michael wonderfully put it), we find that within the remains of the Ankheg are 13 gems and 2 magic items.

• And as we, especially Branwyn, mourn the loss of another apprentice mage, the night comes to an end. Maybe those considering to be an adventuring mage apprentice should reconsider? Ah, good luck with convincing them otherwise. Until next time!

Quotes Puns of the Night:

[Kel (Mario Laptop)] i guess the root was trying to leaf
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] (get it? tree? leaf?)
[Master] elven humor
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] That pun was destined to Fall.
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] have the wolves BARK at them
[Master] adn root out the evil

Kel (Mario Laptop) touches tree
Ilero (TMO)] Life long dream of elf
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Be one with the tree)
Ilero (TMO)] He now a Man
Ilero (TMO)] he lose virginitree.
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Or he hit pubertree)

[Snezana (Spring)] gnite everybody
Spring has left the game on Fri May 26 21:21:10 EDT 2017
[Master] adn that should give you a better idea now of how the darkness feels there
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Like the absence of Spring?)
[Master] pow

[Master] anyone have an axe?
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Axe-identally left it at home)

[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] There are no Toungues in Entish, Elvish or the Tomgues of Men. For this TREACHARY!
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] Tree-chery?
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] it chose knot to respond?

[Kel (Mario Laptop)] lets branch out and look for another way around
[Indigo (Lisa)] I'll stick with Kel

[Indigo (Lisa)] If you want to fight it I will stand hear and root for your success
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] anyone pining on kiling it outright?

[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] Hopefully we saved the forrest
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] they are weeping willows now
[Master] quaking aspens
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] Maybe it was just a bit of a birch?
[Kel (Mario Laptop)] lets teak a last look and leaf

Because a pun-ctual pun is....punny (you knew that was coming!).

---

06/03/17 Carissa
Session: Jun0217

Ok. The cabin. It's right there. We've only been trying to reach it for three sessions now. We're finally going to reach it tonight, right? Nothing is going to go wrong this time. We're due for a session where no one dies or almost dies, right? Well, let's find out!:

• Before we get to the game, we get to the important talks about the Twenty-fifth Anniversary Game and trying to plan it. Old player reading these summaries? Go click that link, talk to BOB, and all that fun stuff. Current players should already be aware of that link by now, but, you know, just in case, there you go!
• Although the Ankheg are now dead, the party hasn't yet moved on. Kel argues with Shi for risking her life for the wolves, Hugh takes Shi's side in the argument, Branwyn contemplates bringing Howard back from the dead, Shur helps wrap up his body, and Snee does a little bit of healing of the living before they move past the dead Ankheg to continue towards the cabin.
• They walk, and talk, and mourn when suddenly Jilly and Shurkural are lifted high into the air! Indigo, who was keeping step beside them, looks up in confusion. Thank goodness he's short or he would have walked right into that spider web as well! Well, nothing for it, it seems these spiders are destined to die now.

  1. Shur and Jilly are dangling 4-8 ft above with two spiders moving ever closer to prepare their future dinner. The good news is they don't want to eat them yet. They only want to wrap them up and put them in storage to eat later. Think of it as the spider version of canning food. They want to survive winter, too. Can you blame them? Okay, fine, I guess we should save Jilly and Shur.
  2. Indigo uses his lack of height to his advantage by volunteering to be the safety net under the web in the event that Shurkural and/or Jilly frees themselves and falls out of the web.
  3. Hugh and Ilero watch the forest, spot a few other spiders nearby, but none of them make a move towards the group. The faraway spiders only want to see what food is for dinner and make sure it is properly prepared by the other two giant spiders, but will not interfere.
  4. Shi and Kel start shooting the spiders with arrows since they have the distance to shoot, Snee tries to run closer to help with thoughts of summoning tarantula hawks on her mind, Branwyn shoots them with magic missiles, Shur and Jilly attempt to attack the spiders while stuck in the web, and Branadarus decides to toss Indigo into the web. Good plan?
  5. Well, not a bad plan, I suppose. Annoyed that their food keeps moving, the spiders put them both to sleep before a flying halfling lands right next to them and starts chopping at the spiders with his swords. A few more arrows, including a bull's-eye insanely damaging arrow by Kel, and the spiders are dead.
  6. Indigo cuts down Shur and Jilly, Branadarus catches them, and Shi determines they're simply sleeping and will wake up in somewhere between 6 hours and a day. Completely worth the spider fight as they find 1 magic item under the web, hidden in the leaves and dead, dried husks of drained bodies below the web.
  7. It is also important to note that, after seeing some of Kel's insane strength, he is goaded into joining the future arm wrestling match. Unfortunately, he also believes such a match is best saved when we are not in grave peril (or perol).

• As we reach the halfway point of the night, we discover we drove BOB to drink the full bottle of wine (pretty sure he used a crazy straw). We also discover we drove kLoOge to drinking, but since software can't drink, it just kicks us all off instead. Ouch. Tell us how you really feel, kLoOge.

  1. The result of this mean that, as Jilly wakes up one hour later, she begins talking to herself, which, really, isn't all that usual. I think that's normal Jilly anyways on any given day.

• Back in the saddle, er, cabin, and both Shur and Jilly are awake and confused as, lucky for both of them, their unintentional napping only lasted an hour and thankfully they found the cabin without Shur, just with a two hour delay in arrival. After a little more healing, some discussion between Branwyn and Branadarus about finding a priest to bring back Howard, watches are set-up as they settle into the cabin for the night.

  1. Wait. Back track. They arrive at the cabin! Finally! Okay, moving on...

• First watch with Branwyn and Shi begins rather uneventfully. It still ends slightly uneventfully. Sure, a dozen Stirges on the roof could be eventful, but they're settling in for the night and not attacking. Unfortunately, this prevents easy re-entry into the cabin for Shi as, unlike Branwyn, she can't magically make a door into the cabin appear. After forcing 3 Stirges to sleep with magic, Branwyn appears in the cabin to wake the second watch as Shi waits outside, quietly and sleepily.

  1. Ilero sneaks outside, climbs up the wall, and starts to slit the throats of the Stirges.
  2. As we wait for Ilero to kill them all, Michael returns and also adds his vote to burning down the cabin. Once again, it is shot down because I guess it's bad to burn down the cabin that almost everyone is inside of and sleeping in? Fine, I guess you might have a point. Only a slightly significant point. Maybe important. Maybe. How important are those details really anyways?
  3. Shi gets tired of waiting, falls asleep, and is carried inside (too late for spells, though). Ilero is congratulated on his success. His prize? Stirge puppets. Only after deciding he liked that idea better than stirge-kabobs. No more encounters for the night.

• Morning brings...Ilero playing with his Stirge-puppet and chasing Branwyn around the cabin with it as everyone else watches with horror and disgust. Jilly is fully awake and back in denial for poor Howard and wanting someone to rescue cold, long dead, Howard.

  1. Branwyn offers to take Howard back home, Jilly assures Branwyn she can take care of the group (although doubtful, I hear tale that Jilly once saved the group from certain death before). After getting all in order (including everyone getting healed) and saying goodbye, Branwyn teleports back home with the body of Howard and the mission of bringing him back from the dead.

• Will she save him in time? Tune in next week for our next episode: "Branwyn in the City!"

  1. Oh and "Those Other Guys in the Cabin" is supposed to air, too, but whatever. We rather find out what happens to Howard, right? Right. Unless wolves are involved. We might care more about the wolves the rate things are going. We'll (hopefully not) find out!

Quotes of the Night:

[Snezana (Spring)] (the stirges have not sitrred, while the whirges have yet whirred)
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Not a creature was stirring, not even a stirge)
[MarioCS] lol, Spring. Better than mine" Not a creature was stirring, not even..."
[Snezana (Spring)] (this rhyme may be absurd, while thirges yield a third)

Because while Mario's was clearly good (no bias), I will admit Spring's is slightly better.

Kel (MarioCS) walks out " did you need me?"
[Ilero]] (TMO) indicates Shi. "Sleepy need go bed."
[Kel (MarioCS)] ok, ill take her inside. WHat happened?
Ilero (TMO)] Excitement watch me exterminate too much. Faint from joy.
[Kel (MarioCS)] um, ok then. um,...thank you?
[Ilero]] (TMO) shrugs. "Not hard."
[Indigo (Lisa)] Maybe we should get rid of these dead ones?
[Kel (MarioCS)] well, youre are something special, i'll say

Because special is the nicest way to describe Ilero. Personally, I lean towards crazy.

Ilero (TMO)] (I bet Joseph is happy to know the dog got healed first)
[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] LOL
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (Well the wolf IS cuter...)
[Hugh D'Ambray (mharm-15549)] (Shows my prioritis)
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] (I would say your priorities are well placed ;) )

Because they are well placed. Who doesn't love a cute, large, fluffy canine? Sorry, not sorry, Joseph!

---

06/11/17 Carissa
Session: Jun0917

Well it has now come to this, the last summary. The summary to end all summaries. Or maybe just the end of summaries, specifically for this story arc? Yeah, okay, we'll go with that one. I heard talk of dragons for the next one, but let's not worry about that right now. Right now let's worry about about wrapping up War By Art!:

• We'll dedicate the first bullet point to reminding BOB to find that cabin map. As lovely as his box-on-forest improvised map was, and while no one is going to judge him for deciding that naps were more important than finding that map (always go with naps versus maps), you might want to eventually locate the actual cabin nap. Er, map.
• Okay so starting with "Those Other Guys in the Cabin" they enter civilized lands and start making their way to Corvash and the knarr with Jilly leading and/or running and/or forcing everyone to run after her. All the same, right?

  1. Jilly is worried about Branwyn doing magic right, Indigo tries to reassure Jilly, and somehow the conversation turns to whether or not dwarves exists or if it's just humans believing they are dwarves and if they eat rocks, and for that matter, if elves eat sticks. Okay, to be fair, it's just Jilly thinking dwarves don't exist, eat rocks, and sticks make great table decorations and food items, but again, who is surprised?
  2. Upon realizing the group is less civilized, and no, not because of the stirge puppets but because I guess a pack of wolves aren't normal or civil or something (weird, I know, but that's what I was told so now their "be civil" training has started), they decide to skirt the villages. When they reach Corvash, Shi and Kel wait by the river while the others get the knarr and are picked up downstream adding one extra day to their journey.
  3. There is also talk of wolf puppets and fur coats by certain members of the party followed by reminders that we're down to a single priestess tonight, one who definitely would heal the four legged over the two legged, and who is keeping track of threats to her wolves via this summary. Hello there! *waves*
  4. With no incidents, "Those Other Guys in the Cabin" concludes with safely reaching the docks, telling the dockmaster they're with Branwyn, and finding out Ilero is able to yell again, and also finding out the dockmaster does not like Branadarus who claims it was because he didn't let her into his navy while Indigo and Kel think by navy he actually means pants.
  5. While Kel and Shi take in the massiveness of the city and the others give their opinions or explanations to the city-struck elves as they make their way to the palace, let us backtrack to see what happened in said palace while they were traveling...

• You did go read Branwyn in the City, correct? Good. So that means you know that while debating reincarnation and all that fun, Jenn saw an opening and took it, and so after a dramatic pause...

  1. Howard lives! Lisa gains a new henchman. TMO welcomes her to the three player shuffle.
  2. Not quite quotable, but notable, is Howard remarking how Indigo should be happy it was Howard who was being eaten this time, and not Indigo. Poor Indigo. And Howard, although Howard is now alive so that's good, yes?
  3. Annndd...that's about it. Since most of this story is actually at that link you just read.

• So I will note here that in my mind, them reaching the palace is the actual end of War By Art and what follows would fall under general Diplomatic Entanglements as a dinner party follows. That said, since it was same night sessions, we'll continue for a quick summary of that, too.

  1. The group is greeted at the door, Kel and Shi are given rooms, the wolves are given the stable after it is confirmed that Zephyr, Marisu's horse, is no longer with us, Indigo summarizes their trip, and Phillipe is confused how Jilly befriended and named the (new) King of the Bugbears.
  2. A dinner party follows. Lord Branadarus is absent but let us jump to the more interesting attendee: Aunt Jennevive. She does quick work of NOT befriending the elves by asking questions just a little bit too personal for at least one (or both) of them, gets briefly sidetracked by questions of Marisu's training and upcoming festivals, and learns about Ellidor (through Phillipe's questions), and then gets confronted by Branwyn.
  3. The staff is dismissed, Kel decides to take an early night and misses the fun, and Branwyn quickly gets to talks about what she owes Jennevive for raising Howard from the dead. Shi is given a better understand of Branwyn's position, Jennevive rejects gold to settle the debt, and Branwyn makes sure Jennevive knows she will not murder for her and that Howard's lineage is a secret, and Jennevive is asked her thoughts on the prince-prophecy thing. All of which is to say...nothing really gets cleared up.
  4. So how will Branwyn repay Jennevive? Which prince is the prophecy about? Only one way to find out, right? Tune in for the next story arc, and I'll see you next summary page!

Quote of the Night:
Summary of War By Art:

[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] I thought you said Billy?
[Indigo (Lisa)] That's Jilly's name for him
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] Jilly the cook
[Indigo (Lisa)] Branwyn called him Hrank when she was a bugbear
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] Jilly named Hrank Billy.
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] The girl who shops for the Ambassador named a Bugbear King?
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] He wasn't king at the time.
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] of course
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] The girl who cannot remember to not use secret doors in Branwyn's salon
[Shi'Nynze (Carissa)] I mean, she wanted him to be king, and we helped him become king, but he was just a henchmen when she named him.
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] created a bugbear king
[Indigo (Lisa)] She didn't create him
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] Jilly is a wonderful girl
[Indigo (Lisa)] He killed the old king so he got to be the new king
[Phillipe Gaston Enquire (Master)] she is a valuable part of the household
Shurkural (TMO)] It was a weird trip

Because that is probably one of the best summaries right there: it WAS a weird trip.

---

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