Catching Up on Life and The Terramancer Class for Barbarians of the Ruined Earth

CATCHING UP

Whew- it has been a crazy couple of months for me.  Summers are always busy with RL activities, but this summer was packed.  Between Gen Con and the awesome Demon City kickstarter, then I had to shift gears to start the process for setting up our huge charity event at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, The Sale, which I oversee (I’m the Director of Operations for the organization).  The Sale concluded last week!  It was quite an undertaking, building this from the ground up, but my volunteers were amazing and I couldn’t be happier or prouder with the outcome.

In other news, I had to disband my online gaming group due to low attendance, schedule changes for some of the players, and constant cancellations… so that was a bummer.  Hopefully we’ll be able to game again in the future, but right now that just isn’t a reality.  

Needless to say, aside from gaming at Gen Con, I hadn’t RPG’d from July until last week!  Nor have I really had any time to write in about six months… which is why I haven’t posted much in recent months.  

I’m hoping my schedule evens out now and I can get some gaming in!

THE FUTURE

Even though I was busy, I was able to do some serious pondering about DIY RPG Productions, where I want my company to go/how I want to do business, etc. and I think I’ve course-corrected things before it spiraled into something else.  By and large this does not impact much for people who enjoy the books I have released, it’s more I want to make sure I’m happy with the direction I am going before it became something else.  

I also stole time to jot down notes on my projects and how I want to move them forward.

Demon City is currently in layout and moving along nicely!  Shawn is killing the layout and Zak’s art and writing are always exceptional.  

Matt Hildebrand recently sent me a few layout samples for Barbarians of the Ruined Earth and we nailed down where we are going with the book.  The Kickstarter for BotRE will launch in January(ish).

Here is a sample page for BotRE!  By Matt Hildebrand- art by Matthew Adams!

Death is the New Pink: Going Medieval on Yo’ Ass is cooling off while I ponder mechanics of my own DIY RPG Productions system that I’ll be using for many of my publications in the future (gotta finish writing it and playtesting it).  

Kelvin Green is plugging away at drawing rooms for the Forever Dungeon!

Fiona Giest and Jarrett Crader have finished the first pass of proofs for Orcs: A High Octane Adventure (3rd level module for Hubris). 

High Noon is also on the rack until I figure out my DIY ruleset or if I just want to publish it as Whitebox.  We shall see.  

Anyways… I figured I’d put out a class I’m working on for a BotRE supplement: The Terramancer.

This class is inspired by the Ecomancer from Pirates of the Dark Water.  Enjoy!

TERRAMANCER

From Pirates of Dark Water

Terramancers are an ancient order with the ability to harness and manipulate the energies of the earth, be it nature, beasts or the very elements themselves.  The forces they wield are truly powerful, rivaling those of Sorcerers.  Terramancers prefer their own company or that of animals and many are reclusive, solitary beings.  Although not often encountered, those of the order will leave their solitary domains to defend Mother Earth or fight and protect those they deem worthy.

“I am one of Mother Earth’s chosen guardians.  I harness Her nurturing touch to heal, to guide and to protect.  I call forth Her wrath to hinder, attack, and destroy those that would harm Her, the innocent, or those of my order.”

Starting HP: 1d4+4

Hit Points Per Level/Resting: 1d4 HP/lvl

Weapon and Armor: Light Armor, All Shields, Daggers, Clubs, Short Swords, Short Bows, Staves, Slings, and Blowgun

Weapon Damage: 1d4/1 Unarmed or Improvised

SPECIAL FEATURES

The Ways of the Terramancer: Terramancers can harness the raw power of the elements and nature.  Starting at 1st level a Terramancer can utilize the power of the various “Ways” twice per day.  They gain the ability to use the power of the Ways an additional time every odd level (max of 6 at 9^th level).

Natural Recharge: Once per day a Terramancer can rest for an hour.  Roots grow from their legs and feet and arms and hand, burrowing into the earth (or water) to draw revitalizing nutrients into their body.  During that time they are immobile.  At the end of the hour the Terramancer makes a Luck roll.  If successful they can utilize an additional Way.

Way of the Form

The Terramancer causes their body to take on the attributes of an element.  The Terramancer must test their WIS to successfully transform.  A player is more than welcome to come up with their own creative powers using the elements.  Below are a few suggestions/examples.  The Terramancer can stay in this form for 1 round plus a number of rounds equal to half the Terramancer’s level (round down).

Stone/Metal: The Terramancer’s body becomes dense, heavy stone.  The Terramancer gains an armor of 4 and they can attack with their fists for 1d6 damage.  A Terramancer can opt to be thrown at a target (say be a Beastman) and transform while on the way, they must make a DEX test with Disadvantage to successfully hit the target.  If successful, the Terramancer deals 2d10 damage.  Terramancer’s are extremely slow in this form, gaining only a movement or attack action per round.

Lightning: The Terramancer’s body becomes a crackling force of electricity.  While in this form the Terramancer can shoot lightning bolts at targets, making two attacks per round (one with each hand).  If the Terramancer makes a successful DEX test, the target suffers 1d6 damage.  If the target is hit, the Terramancer is allowed a Luck roll.  If it favors them, the target is stunned for 1 round.  The Terramancer can travel up to Not-so-Nearby per round.

Air: The Terramancer’s form becomes nearly invisible.  While in this form the Terramancer can fly at a rate of Nearby per round.  They do not suffer any damage from attacks, save for from magical attacks (Sorcerer, Death Priest, another Terramancer, etc.).  The Terramancer can seep through cracks in walls, keyholes, under doors, etc.

Alternatively, the Terramancer can transform their arms into mini-tornadoes.  The Terramancer must make a DEX test to engulf a large or smaller target in the tornado. The tornado spins around, keeping the target trapped for 1d4 rounds before dissipating.  The target suffers 1d4+1 damage each around they are in the tornado.  Once both tornadoes are used, the Terramancer’s arms return to normal.

Water: The Terramancer’s form becomes water.  They can breathe in water and swim at a speed of Not-so-Nearby.  Fire does no damage to them (except large wild fires, magma, etc.) and they gain an armor of 2 against normal attacks.  Electricity does an additional 1d6 damage and stuns the Terramancer for 1 round.

A Terramancer can use their form to spread out and douse flames.  They can dose up to a 10’x10’ room (roughly 100 square feet).

Alternatively, the Terramancer can summon forth a large gout of water from both hands at a target (large or smaller).  If the Terramancer succeeds at a DEX test, the target is knocked prone.

Ice: The Terramancer’s form becomes ice, waves of cold mist drifting off their body.  Any target that physically attacks them suffers 1d4 cold damage.  The fists of the Terramancer deal 1d6 damage.  While in this form the Terramancer gains an armor of 2 against all attacks, except magical and fire.  Fire deals an extra 1d6 damage.  The Terramancer can shoot out a thin blanket of ice on the ground in a 5’ radius.  All targets large or smaller fall prone.  If the target is allowed a DEX save, they can attempt to succeed to avoid falling.

Fire: The Terramancer’s form becomes wrathful fire.  Any target that gets within ‘5 of the Terramancer suffers 1d6 damage.  Combustible objects have a 1-in-6 chance to catch fire.  If the Terramancer touches the object (i.e., a bookcase), it catches fire the next round.  The Terramancer can throw fireballs from their hands at a target, by making a successful DEX test.  A target that is hit suffers 1d6 damage and has a 1-in-6 chance to catch on fire.  Water deals an additional 1d6 damage to the Terramancer in this form.

Way of the Elements

The Terramancer summons the power of the elements to create powerful and devastating effects.  The element the Terramancer wishes to utilize must be present in some form.  The Terramancer can utilize two forms of this ability: Minor and Focused.

Minor

The Terramancer can summon a gust of wind to slam doors or propel a small sailboat (basically a rowboat with a small sail) for a few extra feet (1d100+100), bring forth a flame whip to attack a target, heat an attacker’s sword, summon rain in a small area to create a slippery muddy field, cause a tree to grow, roots to entangle an enemy (or group of enemies), call down lightning to strike a target, bring bitter cold to freeze a target in place, etc.  The Terramancer must test their WIS to successfully use a Minor Way of the Elements.

The player describes what they wish to accomplish and through discussion with the GM they determine if it is acceptable or not.   As a rule of thumb, any element that results in damage deals 1d6+Tecnnomancer’s level.  If it is an element that will stun or freeze a target (i.e., a small ice storm), it stuns for a number of rounds equal to half the Terramancer’s level +1.

Focused: The Terramancer brings for the full might of nature to their call.  This is not done lightly as it costs the Terramancer dearly.  Focused powers range from releasing a destructive tornado, summoning magma from volcanic fissures, bringing forth a hurricane, creating a pillar of water that tosses a ship about (possibly sinking it) or pushes a ship faster through the water, summoning a powerful earthquake which devastate the country side, etc.  The player describes what they wish to accomplish and through discussion with the GM they determine if it is acceptable or not.

When a Terramancer casts a Focused Elemental power, they must have access to the element they desire to enhance/manipulate.  Immediately after the power is summoned the Terramancer must succeed at a Con save or permanently lose 1 point of Constitution.  Regardless of whether successful or not, the Terramancer is drained of vitality, having their Constitution reduced by half (minimum of 5- A Terramancer that has a CON below 10 does not have the endurance to use summon the might of Focused Elemental Powers), which recovers at a rate of one point per day with rest.

A Terramancer can summon a Focused Elemental power as a ritual and store it in their staff for a later use (BotRE, pg XX).

Way of the Beast

The Terramancer can use their link with nature to show creatures they mean no harm.  This soothes beasts that are riled and spooked or lessens hostile intentions.  The creature must be natural (hybrid animals count as natural, BotRE pg XX.  No mutated creatures) and have no higher than animal level intelligence to work.  The Terramancer must succeed on a CHR test.  If successful the creature’s mood is affected for 10 minutes and will calm down and go off on their own, leaving well enough alone.  If one of the Terramancer’s companions attacks the creature, the effect ends immediately.  If a 1 or 2 is rolled on the CHR test, the beast will accompany/fight for the Terramancer (if the PC desires that option) for 1 hour before leaving.

A GM is free to rule that a creature of 1-2 HD will permanently become an animal companion of the Terramancer.  A Terramancer cannot have more than one animal companion at a time.

When a Terramancer is testing their CHR against a creature, remember the Powerful Opponent rule (BotRE, pg XX).

Way of the Healer

The Terramancer uses the power of the elements to fight against sickness, injury, and corruption.  The Terramancer must test their WIS to summon the energies needed for these abilities.

Heal: The Terramancer heals a target for 2 HD of HP.

Purify Food/Water: The Terramancer causes fetid water or spoiled food to become safe to eat and fresh tasting.

Nullify Poison: The Terramancer causes a single poison affecting a target to cease.

Remove Disease: The Terramancer removes a single disease affecting a target.

Reverse Mutation: The Terramancer touches a target that just gained a mutation, allowing the target a second roll to resist the effect.

Specializations

Terramancers all harness a deep link to one particular Way of their order.  At first level a player chooses one of the Ways as their specialization and gains the benefit listed below:

Way of the Form: The Terramancer can transform into a form an additional time per day.  When testing their WIS to successfully transform, they roll with Advantage.

Way of the Elements: The Terramancer can use a Minor Way of the Elements an additional time per day.  When testing their WIS to successfully utilize the ability, they do so with Advantage.  Once per day, if the Terramancer fails their CON test when using Focused Way of the Elements, they can reroll.

Way of the Beast: The Terramancer can speak to beasts if they make a successful CHR test.  This is an empathic link and the conversation is limited by the animal’s intelligence.  The Terramancer gains the ability to transform into a beast.

Animal Shape: Once per day the Terramancer can transform into a small or medium creature (no larger than a wolf, boar, or cougar, and no smaller than a dog, cat, eagle, etc.) While in this form the Terramancer can track by scent (rolling under WIS with Advantage), move as the creature would (Swim, fly, etc.), gains their ability to breathe (fish or frog can breathe underwater, etc.), a bite attack (and possibly claw attacks at a d6 as well- GM’s call), gains 1 armor (this does not stack with any other armor), and can see in a Far Away radius in the low light conditions.  The Terramancer cannot communicate with other people while in animal form.  This effect lasts until canceled.

Way of the Healer: The Terramancer can use one of the healing abilities an additional time per day.  When testing there is to successfully utilize the ability, they do so with Advantage.

Leveling Up:

Roll all Attributes to see if they increase, roll twice for WIS or CHR

STARTING EQUIPMENT

WEAPONS*: Staff and sling

ARMOR: None

ADDITIONAL ITEMS: Ammo for ranged weapon if taken, rations (d6), waterskin (d6), bedroll, torches x6 (d6), and healing salve (1 HD of HP restored).

*All starting weapons are made of wood, bone, or stone. For each weapon, there is a 15% chance it is made of metal (i.e., the arrowheads, the sword blade, etc.).

INTERESTING TRINKET (roll 1d6): 1) A fossilized acorn; 2) A dagger made of the strongest ivory; 3) A cloak of badgersnake hide; 4) A pristine safari hat; 5) A bottle of fine Ancient Earth whisky; 6) Ancient Earth 3-person tent. 

LIFE EVENT (roll 1d8): 1) You were a slave and escaped; 2) A fiery apparition appeared before you, describing your powers; 3) You watched your mentor battle a Sorcerer and lose.  You hid.  You escaped; 4) You defended an ancient grove from a band of Pig Raiders single-handedly; 5) You befriended a large bear who traveled with you for several years; 6) You were found by your mentor in the crook of an ancient tree; 7) You have sailed on the ocean and battled pirates; 8) You became a recluse after the love of your life was swallowed whole by a gigantic bloodworm. 

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Gathox Quake Alley Mayhem- Now Available as POD!

Gathox Vertical Slum‘s first official adventure, Quake Alley Mayhem is now available for print on demand!

Also- don’t forget the character sheet is available for free!

 

Note: If you have already  purchased the PDF on Drivethru, I will be sending you a link, via the email you’ve provided to Drivethru, so you can purchase the POD at the bundle price, if you’re interested!

Here’s a killer video David Lewis Johnson did for his book!

This is a fantastic module that has received several great reviews already!

QUOTES FROM REVIEWS

“The thing I really dig about this module, is there are no rooms in it that are empty.  Every room has a chance for roleplay, a fight, and or a deadly trap.  In other words this isn’t a vanilla dungeon with safe words!” – Shane Ward, 3 Toadstools Publishing

“If you enjoyed Gathox Vertical Slum then you need to get this product. Quake Alley Mayhem is a fun adventure to unleash at a con to show people how wild and crazy adventuring in Gathox can be.” – Brutorz Bill, Green Skeleton Gaming Guild

“The gonzo setting and weird gangs gives the whole enterprise a Heavy Metal magazine feel, or at least a Heavy Metal gloss on a grindhouse film. It’s a very fitting approach and a strong answer to the question “what do you do with Gathox?”” – Trey Causey, From the Sorcerer’s Skull

“Quake Alley Mayhem is compact and punchy. Every room in the dungeon contains something of interest, such as a trap, puzzle, enemy, or all of the above. As was the case with Gathox Vertical Slum, the writing quality is descriptive without being verbose, and appropriately weird for the setting. The artwork is sketchy, grimy, and punk as hell – perfect for the tone of the book. There’s just enough to get the imagination flowing without feeling like it’s just there to take up space between the text sections. Overall, the quality of the book, both writing and illustration, is top notch, and there’s enough to feel substantial for a small tournament module.” – Jesse Goldshear, Yenemvelt: Another World

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Demon City Kickstarter is Almost Done- Oh and An Actual Play Podcast!

We are in the final forty eight hours of the Kickstarter!!

First- Zak got together with Red Moon Roleplaying and ran some Demon City for them!  Wanna scope it?  Here you be!

Second- The Demon City Kickstarter is winding down!  There is still time to hope on this sexy freight train!

Still curious as to why supporting Demon City is a great idea…?

Do you like books that have great art?

Do you like books that have fantastic writing?

Do you like horror?

Do you puppies?  Well good for you- that really has nothing to do with the KS, but I just wanted to make sure.

Do you like sexy layout that is exciting, fresh, and clean?

Here is a few other reasons:

New Images

 

Previously Shared Images

 

Bar Nowhere for Death is the New Pink by Gennifer Bone

One of the many projects that I am currently working on is a Death is the New Pink zine (that will come out whenever I plan on releasing)- total punk rock-style!

Note: There’s a killer character sheet for DitNP here.

When I was writing stuff for a DitNP session I was listening to Lone Digger by Caravan Palace (see the video below) and dug the feel of it for a glitzy dive bar.  Also I was watching season 1 and 2 of Killjoys.  I love the character, Pree.  He’s funny and rambunctious and a badass.

I wanted to steal that zest for the bartender/owner for my DitNP location.

Pree was a big inspiration for the character.

 

Anyways, when I decided to start writing the first issue of the zine, I wanted to include the bar.  I also wanted to make the character transgender.

Instead of me writing a transgender character, being a straight white CIS male, I wanted to hire the awesome Gennifer Bone to do so!

So here is her art and words!  Enjoy!

Bar Nowhere

Siouxsie Khan by Gennifer Bone

 

On the outskirts of Scratchtown, hugging the wall that separate the dangerous wilderness of the Wasted World from the “civilization”, you can find Bar Nowhere. Built within the shell of a concrete dome, the Bar has no sign, though you can always identify the place by the garish neon light shining through the single window. Bar Nowhere is typical for a Wastlands pub- a bar, some chairs, a smattering of scrounged and home-brewed hootch. An old jukebox plays eccletic tunes. It’s the lady behind the counter, backlight by the huge “Bar” sign, that makes Bar Nowhere different.

She’s a tall, strong woman of Asian desent. She’s never seen without perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect clothes, and her signature pipe. She’s Siouxsie Khan. A smart and well-connected woman, she’s known for either having the info you need, or knowing who to talk to to get it. A pleasant, charismatic sort, Siouxsie is a consumate bartender. She turns down any propostions with a wink and a smile.

Some newcomers stare at her broad shoulders, or comment on her deep voice. These newcomers get one warning- “Siouxise Khan is who and what she says she is.” Continuing to comment (or worse, laugh) is trouble- she’s an excellent fighter, backed up by the Clairance, the bouncer. (A huge man wearing a metal mask, who rarely speaks)

Siouxsie only talks about her trans*(MtF) status with people she trusts.

Siouxsie runs a good bar, a peaceful bar. All the locals know that Bar Nowhere is neutral ground- no fighting. One time, a trio of bandits decided to throw down in Siouxsie’s place. With a press of a button, they were ripped apart by drone guns hidden in the walls. Then she had their friends clean up the mess.

 

As the local’s say, “Nowhere’s like Nowhere”.

 

Hooks and Rumors

1) Siouxsie Khan has decided that she’s ready to match her body to her identity. The Meat Bags are hired to travel to a far Medical Research Lab, to retrieve a robot device- the Bio-Remix-Transmographier (B.R.T., or Bert). It has the ability to remake any living thing, so changing Siouxsie’s physical sex should be easy. The journey will not be easy, and when the Meat Bags finally get their, they will find that Bert, who has the mind and personality of a child, has been using it’s abilities to make “friends”. Some truly gnarly mutants wander the lab.

If sucessful the Meat Bags will be well-compensated, Siouxsie closes the bar for a week for the gender alteration(she won’t look any differet, she likes her looks, after all), and Bert does a brisk business altering Meat Bags for profit(gender alteration is free to select customers).

2) Nobody knows how Siouxsie gets her infomation- she rarely leaves Bar Nowhere. There are a few who would pay well for her secret. (Her secret is a military-grade radio\descrambler and spy drone comp in a chamber deep below the bar)

3) A persistant rumor claims that Bar Nowhere sits above an underground military bunker, full of weapons and supplies! (Looks to be true, but the way in behind the Radio Room was blocked off by a cave in years ago)

4) Siouxsie loves gifts. Meat Bags may want to search the ruins for a suitable gift, or are hired to find one. (she loves beauty supplies and fine dresses, both a rarity in the Wastes). She is willing to trade valuable information for quality goods.

5) Siouxsie’s estranged family have come calling! A ruthless, well-organized band has appeared, demanding that she “return home, and cease this shameful life”. Naturally, her allies rally to her defence- This looks like all-out war! Meat Bags may be hired by Siouxsie, to protect the bar, or by the Khan family, to assult it. They may even be called upon to mediate between the two parties!

The First Gathox Vertical Slum Module is Out! Beware of QUAKE ALLEY MAYHEM!!

David Lewis Johnson put on his mad cap and turned the metal up to 11 for the first module for Gathox Vertical Slum through DIY RPG Productions!

Fuck he even did a video!

Oh and I did a blood ritual and was summoned the talented and snuggly Matt Hildebrand to shred out the layout on this beast!

And lo’ there was QUAKE ALLEY MAYHEM!

Note: Currently the book is only available in PDF form.  We are waiting to hear back on the recent submission to OBS.  Anyone who purchases the PDF will receive an email through Drivethru with the option to get the POD at the bundle price when its released!

 

Here’s a lil info on the adventure!

Enter a seedy underworld of alien hyper-capitalists and wondrous ancient artifacts with Quake Alley Mayhem! 

This murderous, misshapen module foists a host of traps, puzzles, and environmental hazards upon unsuspecting players in a race against time. Structured for both tournament and campaign play, Quake Alley Mayhem! includes pregenerated characters, supplements to track the party’s progress and impending doom, and hooks to fit the adventure into a larger campaign.Designed for 3 to 6 players of levels 1 – 3 for Gathox Vertical Slum.

 

QUOTES FROM REVIEWS

“The thing I really dig about this module, is there are no rooms in it that are empty.  Every room has a chance for roleplay, a fight, and or a deadly trap.  In other words this isn’t a vanilla dungeon with safe words!” – Shane Ward, 3 Toadstools Publishing

“If you enjoyed Gathox Vertical Slum then you need to get this product. Quake Alley Mayhem is a fun adventure to unleash at a con to show people how wild and crazy adventuring in Gathox can be.” – Brutorz Bill, Green Skeleton Gaming Guild

“The gonzo setting and weird gangs gives the whole enterprise a Heavy Metal magazine feel, or at least a Heavy Metal gloss on a grindhouse film. It’s a very fitting approach and a strong answer to the question “what do you do with Gathox?”” – Trey Causey, From the Sorcerer’s Skull

“Quake Alley Mayhem is compact and punchy. Every room in the dungeon contains something of interest, such as a trap, puzzle, enemy, or all of the above. As was the case with Gathox Vertical Slum, the writing quality is descriptive without being verbose, and appropriately weird for the setting. The artwork is sketchy, grimy, and punk as hell – perfect for the tone of the book. There’s just enough to get the imagination flowing without feeling like it’s just there to take up space between the text sections. Overall, the quality of the book, both writing and illustration, is top notch, and there’s enough to feel substantial for a small tournament module.” – Jesse Goldshear, Yenemvelt: Another World

Let’s see some tasty layout and art!

Oh and we have a character sheet on Drivethru as well!

Demon City Kickstarter- Yeah it’s a Thing!

Zak Smith has teamed up with Shawn Cheng (a great post by Zak about Shawn), DIY RPG Productions (that’s me) to bring you an excitingly awesome kickstarter for his killer ultimate horror RPG, Demon City!

Why What is this Demon City Book…?  

Let’s watch a quick and cool video (seriously, it’s good).

This book will be a full production, not POD.  It will be high quality awesome and we are really excited to bring this to life!

Zak has done an amazing job creating fresh and innovative rules for running horror games and I look forward to hearing gaming stories about surviving (and dying) in Demon City.

Here’s some flavor text (and way more info at the Kickstarter page):

Murder, corruption, death, whiskey, hate, night, darkness, noise, summoning, possession, car chases, claws, disorder, firearms, glass shattering, bathtubs filled with blood, devoured corpses, tentacles, neon, broken men, fear.

Demon City is Rome, Tokyo, Los Angeles, anywhere, but coming to pieces. No-one gets enough sleep, everyone has three jobs or hasn’t worked in months, the trucks never seem to get where they’re going, the sky always has something in it, elevators creak, cell service sucks, police cars are black, streetlights burn the way an eye burns against an eyelid after staring too long.

A Demon City game can take place anywhere the Host can imagine something terrible happening in the dark, and Demon City players can play anyone doesn’t want it to happen again.

 

And here are some sample pages of how this sexy book will look!

So yeah…  There’s still a chance for you to get in on this shit!

 

Barbarians of the Ruined Earth- Session Three- The Fight for the Dark Orb, Part 2

When we last left our band of heroes that had just fought a giant mud crab and became depressed by grey snow before making it to the failed human village of Laundr-O-Mat.

Players

Omar- “Tip Toe” Tyron Thompson- Scavenger

Shoe- Medallion- Armadite

Coley- Coleesi- Barbarian

Brian- Sok- Armadillo Beastman

John- Vinsmoke the Sorcerer (Alt Casting Rules)

Unable to Attend

Gene- Beastman

Liam- Ashak- Death Priest

Kane- Vyvyan- Barbarian

Fletch- Shaw Shir- Vek

The Mysterious Village

The group looked around the dilapidated crumbled ruins of an Ancient Earth Strip mall.  There were signs of habitation from the villagers that disappeared five years ago, shanty shacks set up in the parking lot, rusted cars serving as beds, etc.

Two of the 14 stores remained somewhat intact; the signs read, “adio Sha” and “arbucks”.  The group split up and decided to search around the rubble.

“Tip Toe” and Sok wandered into the “adio sha”, shifting through the rubble they made their way to the backroom.  The discovered an altar with a helmet fashioned from the skull of a bull.  “Tip Toe” and Sok ran back outside to find Vinsmoke so he could do his magic thing on it.

The Helm of the Charging Bull

Vinsmoke was out in the parking lot and decided to use his abilities to sense magic.  He felt a strong magic from a crumbled brick building.  A strange wooden “T” laid on the ground and a broken sigh read, “ouse of esus Chri”.  At the western end of the area, down an Ancient Earth street another crumbled building, possibly once a town hall or community center, another sense of magic filled the air.

The two sources of magic assaulted Vinsmoke’s mind and he lost consciousness.

Medallion wandered in the crumbled buildings and found a bunch of Ancient Earth cooking spices (Shoe’s character loves to cook), including cumin, pepper, salt, garlic, and paprika (all with a d4 Usage Die).  She then started making soup for the group, especially Sok to try and cheer him up.

Coleesi wandered into the “arbucks” and found the skeleton of a barista at the counter, a name badge read, “Hi my name is Bryan M.  How can I help you?”

While in the building Coleesi found a storeroom filled with goods.  She found:

• Dryer doors x6 (acts as a small shield)
• Exoskeleton armor (heavy, 3 RP)
• Lantern
• Oil x10
• Shovel
• Rope (50′)
• Arrows (1d10)
• Short spear (metal) x2
• Short sword (bone) x2
• Maul, two-handed (metal) x1
• 1d100+10 Ceramic coins (green for Tygham the Fearless, ruler of the Swamps)
• 1d20 gold clay coins (Int roll to know this comes from Skullator the Deathless, ruler of the East.

The group divided up the spoils.

Aside: When the group split up, I stated that all their searching and shit would take place over an hour.  

The group all met back outside, Vinsmoke regaining consciousness and wiping a small amount of blood from his nose.  Medallion bringing large pot of ramen noodles.

As the sunset (it’s 6PM after all), a blast of black and grey energy and white light is seen from the rubble of the church.  The group is scared by this display of magic and
“Tip Toe” grabbed Vinsmoke, “Come with me!  There’s a helmet in this place and I wanna know what it is!  That magic over there- fuck that shit!”

All the group decided to join the two.  As “Tip Toe” and Vinsmoke got close to the building, the hair on Coleesi’s neck stood on end and she heard the soft moans of something nearby.  Suddenly sounds, almost like Velcro slowly being pulled apart, met their ears.  Only Coleesi saw three shades appearing on the ground and move slowly towards their prey.

One went after “Tip Toe”, another after Vinsmoke, and the third after Coleesi.

This fight was really fun and jarred them a little bit.  They started getting smacked and when I said, “you lose 100 XP” they freaked and the fight became that much more tense.  Vinsmoke was dropped during the fight, but with the use of a healing salve, he was saved.

Shade Apparition

HD 2; RP 1; Claws (2d4 damage), SV 6

Description: Wispy humanoid creature that moans and hates you.

Special: Ethereal: Half damage except from magic.

Draining Attack: 1^st attack- save or stunned for 1 round.

2^nd attack- Save or stunned for 1d4 rounds.

3^rd attack- Lose 100 XP

4^th attack+- Lose 100 XP and stunned for 1 round.

* If the Shade critically succeeds skip to the next attack level.

Dark Fog: Release a rancid smelling fog in a 15’ radius.  All attacks against Shade are made with Disadvantage as is dodging their attacks.  Last 1 round.  Can do this once per hour.

The group went into the “adio Sha” and Vinsmoke used his remaining magic to identify the bull skull helmet.

Helmet of the Charging Bull: The wearer can charge at a target as a full action.  The wearer rolls a STR test with Disadvantage.  If successful, they roll 2d10 damage.

The group decided to go to the end of the street where Vinsmoke sensed the other indication of magic (they wanted to give the church and the grey and black lights a wide berth).

 

As the group got closer to the ruins of the building they saw a figure wearing darkened leather armor slumped against the wall.  A sword near the figure’s right hand, a shield near the left.

Aside: Coly had her character in the lead. I asked her what she did.  She asked if there was a rock nearby and if she was allowed to throw it to see if it did anything.  Coley is relatively new to RPGing, having done it a total of four times (I think).  I said “Fuck yeah you can do that!  OSR shit right there, peeps!  Dove right in like a champion!”

Coleesi threw a rock, but it went right and dinged off the wall to no effect.   Feeling nothing as going to happen, the group moved forward.  The moment they stepped into the ruined structure a ring purple light filled the area and flashed bright.  The figure lifted his head, his eyes glowing red.  His face desiccated and rotten.  The group watched frozen as the figure stood up and pointed at them, “SUFFER WITH ME!!!”

SUUUUUFFFFFEEEERRRR!!!!

This fight was fun and tough.  The undead Barbarian called lighting down onto his blade and started hacking away at group, eventually shooting lighting at his blade at several of them (I think one person went unconscious, but can’t remember).

 

Vinsmoke used a powerful spell to attempt to blow the arms of the undead Barbarian off, he blew the shield arm off at the elbow, but the sword arm remained intact.

After several seconds of fighting, the cursed Barbarian was slain.  As he fell a faint “thank  you” issued from his mouth.  When the dust settled, the group quickly looted his body.

They got a shield (absorbs two blows), the Lightning Blade, and a Teleporter Bracelet.

The Lighting Blade: One-handed broadsword- call lighting to the blade (as a movement action).  Increases the damage of the blade by 1 die.  Can release the lighting at a target within 30′.  Make a DEX roll to hit.  If successful, deal 2d6 damage to target.  The target must save or be stunned for 1 round.  Can do this twice per day.

Teleporter Bracelet: This piece Stupendous Science allows the wearer to teleport up to 100′ away once per day.

 

The session ended with the group shifting through the rubble of the old church, finding the Dark Orb, and then setting off back to Mardi Grass

Next Time: Will the group make it back safely to Mardi Grass?  Will they be able to place the Dark Orb into the hands of the Luminescent Mother?  Find out next time on another adventure of: