SESSION 221 – October 3, 2018

SESSION 221 – October 3, 2018

The End Of Magic As We Know It

We manage to delay the beholder bot and other bots long enough to get suited up properly. Laris finds an indication of a heavy blast door and orders the spider bot to activate the mechanism. Spider Bot is crushed and the last allied bot of the party is no more.

This was just in time to prevent the automatons from getting us, as the outer door was breached.

We then have time to suit up and get Nash’s body suited up. Lysander’s eye is unmistakably glaring at Bavmorda.

Rallion gifts Bavmorda all his gems and all his money in the bag of holding if he will use the probability sword to finish off Xenotel. Bavmorda also extracts from Rallion to seek a way to bring back Nash, when Rallion refuses to help her take the ship that took us to Lonely Isle. Piracy is a line Rallion won’t cross.

We all link up to a rope and Laris’ geni servant, Vikram, will guide us the rest of the way, as he is not impeded by zero gravity.

Laris casts knock on the opposit iris door. The explosive decompression propels us all out, as we were all close to the door. The blast door closes behind us. We needed this blast door closed, and could not see a way to activate it without potentially doing so in a way that would trap us. The Automatons had opened a pinprick of a breach in the center of the first blast door.

We let our momentum carry us and would have arrived quite soon. Through the Vikram as intermediary, hie telepathic communication for those without mind blocking rings and those that could be convinced to remove them, we stopped.

We agreed to resurrect Nash. It failed and failed so badly that he is permanently dead. We had a resurrection scroll, but the new Nash would not have a suit when he appeared nearby, so we elected to continue on.

A minute out from the final location, Vikram scouted ahead. He soon returned and could not sense past the door.

We arrayed ouselves and opened the door to see an even more impressive number of autamatons surrounding Xenotel and the rings encircling him.

Rallion fired and one of his shots hit Xenotel, he felt a small bit of recompense for the giant glowing eye that imposed itself on him when he put on the scrying mask for the last time.

Others acted to great effect. Kauri cast haste on nearly the entire party. Bavmorda tossed a large bauble from the magic bracelet and destroyed all the bouncing betty type machines between us and Xenotel. Prixithalma rushed the guns inside the door electing to make physical attacks and act as a shield. About half the electrical orbs facing us rammed her and a large number of shooting machines shot her. She was dead for the third time. Others of the party did their part in shooting.

Prix was dead and Oskar badly wounded.

Next Rallion Kicked off and got close to Xenotel and hit him again, with even more satisfaction. Bavmorda shadowstepped and was lost until a DVL oointed out that she was heading towards the bright light of the gate instead of Xenotel.

Bavmorda then appeared next to Xenoteal and activated the probability sword. A huge amount of damage and an eletrical feedback set off the other two charges in the battery and the shock removed Xenotel from the central pillar. An old man appeared and thanked us and was gone. All of our ancient dwarven artifacts no longer emitted Transpatial Energy as the DVLs that powered them were set free. Those powering automatons devoured them. We then saw bright lights emitting from the ebony inky blackness in the center of the gate, falling to the planet.

We learn from Vikram that all DVLs across all the multiverse were now free to exact their revenge on the dwarven empire, who now had all this technology without a power source and would be nearly helpless. The dwarves used a shortcut to access transpatial energy by enslaving DVLs. True practitioners learned from a CODEX how to access it without needing to be a slaver. The items we have from The Mothers, and before the arrival of either the Dragons or the Dwarves indicated someone on Medeia had access to a codex.

Too late, we learn of the poor bargain we made, not even guaranteeing that Media and it’s environs would be off limits to the DVLs. Small encouragement is the thought that we are the greatest liberators of enslaved ever as we freed untold numbers across all the multiverse, and led to the fall of the greatest star empire across all the known galaxies of the multiverse.

Alys shadow stepped away with Nash’s pack and Lysander’s eye. She landed in the arctic and asked Lysander to trust her as she did Nash, and the eye agreed swarming her face. Alys now roams the land proclaiming the greatness of Lysander.

The rest of the party shadow stepped to the mountain range near Greybeard to seek audience with The Mothers and petition them for training in how to use magic the right way so they could deal with all the DVLs they set loose on Medeia and try to clean up the many messes unleashed by Baldric’s boys, AKA The Starchy Boyz.

[Whew! I think that’s all the high points. I didn’t mean to gloss over anyone’s shining moments. What a ride this has been! Thank you all for making this a truly epic and memorable campaign! I said Wed. that I thought we were done, and that I was ready to be done. Give it time, and I may be interested in the continuing adventures. However, I can’t go past 11 PM Eastern and won’t start before 8 PM. We can do a lot in 3 hours if we don’t add rules discussions/disputes to the bargaining over what the next party more should be.]

Graveyard of Empires: The End

Graveyard of Empires: The End

After 221 sessions, 884+ hours, one year exactly in-game, and over four and a half real-life years, the party has defeated the evil AI named XenoTel and prevented the imminent invasion of their homeworld by the space dwarves’ armada. They also destroyed magic, both spells and enchanted items, except for a handful of ancient artifacts based on a system of transpatial manipulation that pre-dates the dragons and dwarves. Finally, there is now a huge gate to Hell — the shadowy world between worlds that DVLs and Daemons call home — and an intermittent rain of devils falling to the planet from outer space to spread chaos and ruin. Congratulations?

As mentioned last night, the big winners were the Devil Fish (who achieved their every goal with help from previous iterations of the party) and the Arch-Devil Asmodeus. The latter, after spending thousands of years bound to the probability sword of the first Lord Marshal of the Ancient Dwarves, fell into the possession of a group of inexperienced adventurers who carried him all the way to the one place (on a low-orbit space station) where he could enact his plan to free his people and wreak vengeance on the dwarves. Of course, the party’s role in that plan makes them the single greatest force for the liberation of enslaved entities ever — a fitting conclusion for adventurers whose first great victory was breaking up a much more localized slavery ring on Curmidden. At the same time, that accomplishment also makes them largely responsible for the imminent destruction of the greatest empire to ever conquer the Curabel Islands, which ended up being the graveyard of an empire spanning galaxies.

Obviously, the story of Curabel could go on from here — we left off last night with the party setting off to find the Mothers and regain their mastery over transpatial energies while also contemplating a future trip to Asmodeus’s realm — but the PC’s current victory seems like an opportune moment to take a break from those adventures. With the destruction of the dwarves, the campaign has lived up to its name and any further tales that might happen someday in the setting would be fundamentally different. Thank you, everyone, for making this the best campaign I’ve participated in throughout all my years of Dungeons & Dragons!

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 220 (9/26/18):

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 220 (9/26/18):

– We will continue at 5:35AM on the 1st of Tenrilden with the party in the airlock between the Library of the Dead and the Spindle that leads to XenoTel’s Command Module.

– Fodder for the D&D Satanic Panic: Rallion, Signing a Pact with Beelzebub

– Thinks a Dragon Needs Help Holding off One Cleric: Bavmorda, aka “Overkill”

– Guys, I’m feeling … Urrk!: Nash, Who Was Feeling Better

– Hodoring the Heck out of that Portal: Laris, Hoping that Door Holds

– Following in Edan’s Footsteps: Kauri, KO’ing the Killer Shards

– Reverted to His Original Calling: 7r33, Who Lost His Religion

– To Infinity and … Bang!: Axelbot’s Last Moments

– Still Somehow Alive: Lambertus, Who’s Some Kind of Immortal

– Also Surprised by their Not Dead Status: Oskar, Alys, and Peronell

– Saved Nash’s Body: Prix, Paying the Debt She Incurred when Kottar Saved Her

– The ApoClock reads 00.000.00.14!

SESSION 220 – September 26, 2018

SESSION 220 – September 26, 2018

We defeated the remaining orbs, but Lambertus was blasted since he cast Prayer.

We reached the tunnel and they had an anti-magic effect from the beholder automaton. Rallion and two others, Tree and Peronell, attempted to shadow step and they all failed.

Rallion made a deal with a DVL, see below, to get back invisibly near the door. We learned of 2 small objects that duplicate by doing damage to their opponents.

Oskar was feared and fled. Others shadowstepped. Kauri and Laris failed and made deals with the same DVL but Kauri argued for all in our party to have free passage and to remove the fear on Oskar.

Nash shadowstepped behind the mecha beholder and tried to cast blade barrier from a scroll and it failed. Nash then fled, pursued by the little flitting bots that replicated by taking away one point of damage permanently. Nash managed to get past Bavmorda.

Tree was dominated and attempted to assassinate Rallion, and Rallion put him down with his laser pistol. Rallion took his shear rifle, extra ammo and shield. And was using Tree as a shield when he was reminded that “dead” ninja assassins explode.

Rallion and Peronell were unable to hit the things afflicting Nash.

Prix made ready to open the door, when Nash shot her from behind. He had been dominated.

The flitting bots attacked Lambertus and there were 5 of them. Oskar also stepped in.

Kauri and Laris appeared. Kauri used Magic Missile to knock out 4 of them and Peronel hit one with her bow, but not before one of them hit Lambertus and duplicated, leaving 1. The next round Kauri took care of the last one with Magic missile.

Lambertus prepared to stop Nash with a hold person, and Prix was attacking to subdue, when Bavmorda called Axelbot to take the box and shard and Bav assassinated Nash, just as Lysander’s eye saved Nash from the domination.

We all fled through the door that Laris had knocked. Pris dragged Nash’s lifeless body.

Axelbot put the shard in its sheath and launched through the door and was killed by the automatons and smashed into the wall into many pieces.

We closed the door and rush to put on spacesuits, Laris try to cast hold portal, and try to find a way to block the door long enough we can go face Xenotel.

Rallion’s Contract

It is agreed that in exchange for ensuring Rallion and his companions reach their intended destination safely from their attempted shadow stepping. That is, near the door to Xenotel.

That Beelzebul and his companions and associate will do all in their power to prevent the automatons in the spindle from interfering with our mission to assault and destroy Xenotel.

That Beelzebuland his companions and associate will do all in their power to ensure that the cube constructed by Prixithalma takes Xenotel’s place.

We are agreed that the following conditions will be sought by Rallion by all means in his power:

1.) Defeat Xenotel

2.) Prevent the Dwarven armada from arriving.

3.) Ensure that the Probability sword strikes the killing blow to defeat Xenotel.

Provided Rallion lives long enough to see the final battle to have an impact on the final blow.

Kauri and Laris’ contracts: similar to Rallion’s but added verbiage that all members of the party, by name will have free passage, and the Oskar would be freed from the fear cast on him.

Rallion, Peronell, Nash, Kauri, Prixithalma, Tree, Lambertus, Axelbot, Spiderbot, Bavmorda, Alys, Laris, Oskar

Help Oskar and free passage for all.

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 219 (9/19/18):

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 219 (9/19/18):

– We will continue at 5:05AM on the 1st of Tenrilden with the party hanging from the lift stalled partway between the Library of the Dead and the walkway leading to XenoTel’s Command Module.

– Now Who’s Laughing about the Black Powder?: Nash, Using Pirate Know-How

– Charging the Enemy with Shard and Sea Shanties: Bavmorda, Magic Destroyer

– Helping Prix Pull a Fonzie on the Lift Mechanism: Laris the Electrical Mechanic

– Maybe Still Considering Calling in Daemonic Reinforcements?: Rallion, Thinking of Cutting a Deal with the DVLs

– The Only One Who Managed to Keep his Head Down and Invisible: Kauri, who Wonders about the Rest of the Party’s Definition of ‘Stealthily’

– Glad that Robots Don’t Suffer Vertigo: 7r33, Axelbot, and the Spider

– Wondering Why they Didn’t Stay Invisible: Alys, Oskar, Peronell, and Lambertus

– Still Alive, So Figures it’s Going Better than Usual: Prixithalma

– The ApoClock reads 00.000.00.14!

SESSION 219 – September 19, 2018

SESSION 219 – September 19, 2018

We make our way towards the life nearest the gateward end of the station where the door to the last leg of the path to Xenotel lies.

We see automatons enter the tube with the floating eye automaton, several are berserkers. One is more decorated, and has a monkey’s head (automata) on a necklace. Rallion suggests that it is Brice with a trophy of what is left of Marchmain. Bavmorda thinks it is Marchmain now in charge….

The overseers suddenly change their movement patterns, as if they are now looking for something.

We heard inaudible whispers, Bavmorda explains that she hears them speaking Ancient Dwarven. Rallion moves near, and relays to the others that they are all trying to discourage us telling us to kill ourselves, surrender, or run and hide, etc.

About halfway between the elevator we rode up and the lift Nash and Laris set timed charges with their explosives, using candles as timers.

About 20 minutes to one explosion and 15 to the second.

Laris uses his new friend, Vikram, as a scout so we avoid encounters with the groups of overseers.

We finally get close to the life, and Vikram warns that there are 30 overseers around it.

We decide to wait for the explosions to see if it draws any away.

The first explosion draws away about 10. A short time later the other explosions draws away all but 4.

Bavmorda moves in with the shard and begins the fight. Others help with missile weapons, and Axel, the spiderbot, and Oskar charge in. We quickly kill the 4 overseers.

Some of the party get the engine for the lift started and we are out of range before the overseers return. Since they can’t hit us, they use their lightning attacks to take out the life motor.

With Bavmorda in the lead with the shard out, Zxel/spiderbot, and Oskar close behind, with the rest outside the effect of the shard.

5 floating electric orbs fly down and their attacks are not doing anything, they keep testing the limits of the sphere.

Rallion and the others open fire. We destroy one sphere and damage another.

Lambertus is casting prayer, which will be ready in time for us to roll initiative.

We are left 2/3 of the way to the central tube, with about 880 feet of climb in low and decreasing gravity to go.

Laris’ DVL buddy Vikram, Bodyguard and Agent of Useful abilites

Laris’ DVL buddy Vikram, Bodyguard and Agent of Useful abilites

I’m putting this out for the Players, not necessarily would Laris pour out complete info to the party unless it seemed helpful to further their goal of exterminating Xenotel’s hold on the station. Because if that doesn’t happen, nothing going forward matters much he doesn’t reckon. He instinctively keeps things close to the vest but for the progress of the game, err on the side of him giving out more information instead of less to further the party’s goals.

Equipment on Laris’ character sheet that have the location “r-normal” are carried by Vikram.

Right now, Laris has him commanded to pour a healing potion down him if he drops. Disengage Laris from melee by physically removing whatever/whoever is attacking him, or by picking up Laris and moving him to a nearby tactically safe place from which to continue participating in the battle (preferably this so Vikram can stay invisible). In general work to keep him from dying as best he can. Beating the crap out of opponents is an option, but he isn’t to get himself killed. If it looks like he’s getting stomped, Laris will put him back in the ring to get him out of combat and danger.

Laris will volunteer help using Vikram’s abilities if he thinks that it doesn’t unduly put his new friend at deadly risk, and will use him offensively if needed. However he sees Vikram as primarily a bodyguard of sorts for his puny self. As time progresses, he may look into Oskar teaching Vikram how to make tea… Or maybe with the summon food power he could make crumpets to go with Oskar’s tea…

Vikram can attack in melee with his fists and has an attack with winds from the void as well of some kind.

Quotes from Vikram’s Description of his Powers

1) I can feed and provide drink for up to twelve people, although the exact number is subject to the whims of fate

2) Cloth and wooden items can be produced once daily in the amount of 16 cubic feet and 9 cubic feet respectively; these are permanent gifts to you

3) Precious and harder metals can also be produced once daily, but will last for a much shorter time — gold for a day, steel for an hour, and so on. My limit on this material is roughly 1000 gold pieces of weight (taking more from elsewhere is too taxing and it must be returned before others miss it)

4) The illusions I can create once per day and cannot exceed the size of a giant being, somewhat similar to myself in extent. The false images I can summon to confuse your enemies may appear anywhere within the range of my vision, which I believe is equivalent to yours excepting that darkness and light have no bearing on that distance. They will last indefinitely without my concentration until I dispel the illusion or something touches it.

5) My ability to become invisible or incorporeal is limited to but one time per day, so I would suggest only using invisibility if the goal now is just to keep my being safe for casual observation; while incorporeal, my ability to protect will be compromised. but there is no limit on how long they last — although, similar to your companion’s incantations, I may not strike a foe without become visible.

6) I can carry nearly 6000 gold pieces of any material object, walking or flying, as you wish — living things, though, cannot survive the void I inhabit and can only be carried by hand. I cannot use items from your realm for offence or defence. I cannot store items that I am not carrying in the void

7) I cannot dismiss myself from your realm; only your express wish can send me back into the void, regardless of any contingencies we might discuss

8) “Your intention and the rubbing of the ring are all that is necessary to dismiss and recall me from the Void; there is no limit on how often or how long between either action.

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 218 (9/12/18):

Bookkeeping Notes, Session 218 (9/12/18):

– We will continue at 3:15AM on the 1st of Tenrilden with the party having just arrived in the Library of the Dead by lift after escaping the Biome.

– Covering the Party’s Tracks … in Space!!: Rallion, Cosmic Ranger

– Now you see the Party, Now you Don’t: Kauri, Wizard of Stealth

– Knifing the Guard in the Back: Bavmorda, Solid Snake Half-Orc

– Refused to Leave Axelbot Behind: Nash, A Dependable Friend even in Death

– Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just a Root: Axelbot Digging in to the Setting

– Seems to Have an Invisible Friend: Laris, Procurer of Wood and Leather

– Napped his Way out of Elysium: 7r33 the Very Quiet Metal Druid

– Glad the Party Decided to Do This Quietly: All the Henchmen and Prix

– The ApoClock reads 00.000.00.14!

SESSION 218 – September 12, 2018

SESSION 218 – September 12, 2018

We join the Bacchanal feast with the centaurs and others, eating the last of the food. They want to know if we know that Sylvanus is not really divine, and are we really able to stop the Dark One?

We reassure them that yes, we can. We ask final questions, and learn that there is a passage beneath the altar in the temple.

We talk to Sylvanus and ask and learn that it is blocked by choke points in each direction. We devise a plan to have a two phased diversion. While we go get Axelbot, after an hour, they will do a surface diversion. We will then flee. They will pull back that diversion, then do a subsurface diversion.

We see the fruit of of our plan. Kauri cast invisibility 10″ radius on two of us, so we moved in two groups past the patrols. Rallion went last to obscure out tracks. Kauri made Axelbot invisible and carried spiderbot in a sack. Rallion continued to obscure tracks until we heard the baying of the mechanical hounds Axel managed to avoid during the week. We get to the gate, and Laris thought about opening the gate, like he did to get wood and leather to make our wooden mud shoes. (How did he do that? – The ring with a demon)

We close and lock the gate behind us.

We get past a door and the turrets open but can’t see us. We spike and disable the door behind us. A tram car shows up with a ninja bot looking out the window on our side. We manage to get on and squeeze together. As it starts to turn around, Bavmorda has positioned herself behind it and strikes it down like a true assassin.

The tram takes us to elevators. As we move, the turrets pop up but can’t get a lock on us. We get on the elevator that is labelled Research and Library of the Dead, and hit the button for the penthouse.

A short time later, the doors open up in the mile long, mile wide sideways cylinder with rows upon rows of labelled cubes with the dead dwarves. A clear tube runs the length of the library with single person elevators leading to it. We see pairs of overseers working in the stacks.

Within the central tube we see a large floating sphere that appears to have a large eye with stalks with more eyes on the ends of the stalks “walking a picket” along the central tube. The end of the tube opposite us, leads to Xenotel. The sphere seems to fill the tube and be too large for the smaller elevators.

We have arrived at 3:15 AM on the 1st of Tenrelden, the first anniversary of the original party sailing into port at Midmark. The apocalypse clock reads 00.000.00.14, a fortnight remains until time runs out!