Annals of the Homestarmy - Group Activities

Writeup

nospam@example.com (Ancient of Days) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:53:28 -0600

Previously, on "Anne's Campaign":

We toured the sewers some more. At some point, we ran into that brat Kip - or, rather, an illusion of him wielding a sword. Further progress into the sewers led us to Kip himself, and then to a small chamber under what is believed to be the site of a former temple. Inside, we found the daughter of that one annoying rich guy, as well as some other chick which turned out to be a dude in disguise - it's not clear if there was magical assistance for the disguise, or if he's just Ru Paul cubed. The room was full of swords, and some of us began examining them, hoping to find the sword that brought us here. Others of us brought a beaten and morally severed Kip into the room and shut the door then stood in front of it, trapping everyone inside. The girl was whiny and unaccountably fierce, but I think we were about to fix that when Radar and his friend had to go.

fin

From the pages of Sol's (seldom used) journal

nospam@example.com (Wren) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:22:56 -0600

Meeting the brothers at the temple of Ilmater was truly an interesting and humbling experience for me. I find Tana's well concealed contempt for them puzzling. Personally, I was impressed by their conviction and dedication, their selflessness and humility. Though they'd given up nearly every secular comfort I could think of and had willingly chosen to lead lives of discomfort and woe, they seemed to hold no grudge against the rest of the egocentric population, and their endeavors to aid those who suffer gave me a lot of think about. I found their sacrifices heartening, as strange as it may sound. At least there is some good in the world, even if it comes in strange whipped-and-tear-stained packaging.

However long-suffering the brethren of the Broken God are, however, I am not so strong as they. My patience, initially strained by the company of that insufferable child, Kip, was stretched to nearly breaking point after several hours of crawling about in the muck under the city. I can't think of any experience I have yet had as disgusting and horrifying as stumbling upon flesh-eating undead monsters in the bowels of a poorly irrigated sewer line. The encounters with such unnatural creatures were rattling, so much so that after we'd cut down the first creature we had found, the sight of two more lurching from the dark unnerved Tana enough that she sent Kip back up to the surface with a pile of gold. I can only assume the sum of money was to be used to cover the cost of resurrection for the priests of Ilmater when they found our half-eaten, sludge covered corpses. Fortunately it didn't come to that. I was able to repair most of the wounds that were inflicted by the abominations.

The farther we wandered into the tunnels under the temple, the more discouraged I felt. The dark was a relief from the unrelenting scald of the sun, but the filth was enough to make me want to give up on ever finding any trace of Brant's ungrateful whelp of a daughter or aiding the Ilmatians with their sewer dire rat and ghoul problem.

And that little snake, Kip, didn't help at all, either. I truly have no clue what motivated that brat to lead us into a trap, but when I get my hands on him, the word 'suffer' will take on a whole new world of meaning. It was interesting though--who in the world would put a pit trap of magical darkness in the sewers under a tiny town like Six Ways? If the conditions were more pleasant, I might be interested in exploring more. Perhaps after I had the chance to prepare different spells, but I really loathe the idea of spending any time down in these forsaken tunnels than absolutely necessary. I'm starting to think I've spent too much time on the surface. A few decades ago, and I would have felt much more comfortable in a dark, underground enclosed space.

Who are we sir?....

nospam@example.com (Sideshow) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:12:03 -0600

So Giggles decided to break in his oldest to an actual game, so we decided to go watch the return of Ron McBride, and apparently Ronnie Ball, to Rice Eccles Stadium.

Here's a preview of the pictures that were taken. I know AoD, and Mrs. AoD also took some.

More State Fair Fun

nospam@example.com (The Mad Giggler) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:21:00 -0600

I'm trying to steal Sideshow's thunder with pictures of cute kids. I uploaded a subfolder to Sideshow's State Fair photo collection in the gallery. I'll add a couple highlights in the extended section.

Continue reading "More State Fair Fun"

Tana Keln

nospam@example.com (The Mad Giggler) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:21:11 -0600

Author's Note:Previous Entry

After prying Harcrit away from his latest admirer, we found a shop to purchase some ink and parchment so I could make copies of the symbols on our map. We asked an obliging merchant if she recognized the symbol with the sickle and crown. I'm not sure if I have an accent from Amn or if the uneducated masses of the Sword Coast just lack general comprehension but she stared at me like an idiot before pronouncing, "The Sickle and Crown's on the other side of town. Nasty place, wouldn't recommend it."

Along with some inane chatter, she also told us of some run-down formerly-well-to-do hiring out for bodyguards. I wasn't particularly interested, and the rest of the group seemed pretty intent on finding the map's next clue, so we made our way in the general direction the merchant had indicated. After stumbling around for a while, we found ourselves in a part of Six Ways that was well past its prime. Not seeing any inns nearby, we decided to stop and ask for directions. A singularly hale old woman directed us more to the west and we eventually ran across a cheerful young lad who looked like he might guide us to The Sickle and Crown. I indicated to Harcrit that after his success winning over Garth, perhaps he should take the lead in this exchange and he had the gall to look insulted. I'm considering making off with his helmet some time to examine it for latent enchantments that might cause a reduction in reasoning capabilities.
Continue reading "Tana Keln"

September a Huge Month for 4e

nospam@example.com (Ancient of Days) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:00:51 -0600

I get that most of you aren't interested in what's going on in the 4e rules, but for the one or two who *are*: September's a pretty big month, given that we finally get the player's version of all the juicy details of what's going on in the new "Official Campaign Setting": Faerun. So many questions[1], so few rulebooks...but here's a taste of what's coming from Wizards nee WotC nee TSR.

[1] What's the Spellplauge? What happened to Luskan? Which of our favorite haunts got the axe besides Luskan? Are "good drow" really moving across the surface of Fearun en masse? If so, who is their so-called "hope", if not Drizzt? Is Thay really gone forever? Have the entire Gnome Pantheon (along with their tiny followers) REALLY been wiped out entirely, or was that just a dirty rumor? Tyr killed Helm - WHA?!!? If The Spirit Soaring is destroyed, does that mean Cadderly is dead? And more and more just brewing under the replies to those...
Continue reading "September a Huge Month for 4e"

Loot and stuff...

nospam@example.com (Radar) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:57:42 -0600

Ok, so I forgot to post this up last week, but at least I am puting our list of "looted" items up before tonight. It basically equaled 3000GP, split 6 ways. Higher math teaches me that we each get 500 GP. Listed below are the items that we got with their equivalence. Put in the comments if you want a particular item, otherwise we shall just sell them all and split the cash.

Ruby - 300
2 scalemail armor - 50 (25 each)
Rock Crystal - 50
Golden Pearl - 100
4 flasks of Alchemist Fire - 80 (20 each)
Mystery Oil - 50
2420 GP

Tana Keln

nospam@example.com (The Mad Giggler) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:35:00 -0600

Life could definitely be worse. I mean, it really feels like all the sneaking around in Athkatla is paying off. For the longest time it seemed like the price for studying without Cowled Wizard oversight was poverty. To be honest, I'm not even sure how I ended up in Longsaddle. I'm even less sure why I was kept in that kobold cave for over a week. Being rescued by Harcrit, Lissah, and Chlorine was just the beginning of my turn of good luck.

In return for keeping an eye on their little kobold pet, they agreed to split the treasure they uncovered in the goblin fortress with me and my two fellow captives, Venn and Solnac. We found the leader of the conspiracy to be a doppleganger, and though I'm not even sure that makes sense, there were no clues to prompt any better theory. Minus any trail to follow, we were content to relieve the goblins of their ill-gotten hoard. Whatever the doppleganger's purpose, he provided his minions with an abundance of valuables. Mixed in with all the gold and precious stones, we found the Mace of Tyr and the Helder family pendant. And most important of all, we found my spellbooks. Words cannot describe the feelings coursing through me as I thumbed through those pages again. During my most optimistic moments in the kobold cell, I imagined that somehow I would escape and earn the money to begin my studies anew. Never in my wildest hopes did I believe that I would be able to find my own books again. I had to cover my face with my hair to hide the tears welling up in my eyes. Fortunately, the others were greedily exclaiming over the rest of the treasure and didn't notice my momentary loss of control.
Continue reading "Tana Keln"

For all you parents (new and old)

nospam@example.com (Radar) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:34:21 -0600

I saw this and thought that all of you parents needed to see this; either as a reminder or something to look forward to.

Chlorine's log

nospam@example.com (Radar) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:45:40 -0600

Lately my profession of adventuring has seemed like I've just been going through the motions. It's been that way so much lately that I found myself in some kind of kobold cave and I don't even remember how I got there. Once I awoke from whatever trance I was in I realized that that little guy who was hanging out with us had taken off.
Continue reading "Chlorine's log <posted for an in behalf of Rexbasior by Radar>"

Clarence: Drumming Lessons

nospam@example.com (The Mad Giggler) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:04:55 -0600

I so excited to go home. Maybe even kobold god forgive me and let me stay. Maybe kobold wife cook up nice bat stew. I want show nice lady Lissah friends in kobold home. She take me all over world. I not know so many humans exist. Nice Lissah help me learn drums better. I even make better drum that sounds nice. Well, more nice than beating on tree trunk or barstool. Lissah have nice bells that make pretty sound when I beat drums. Drunken humans give us gold coins when we do this. It very exciting and open new world of possibilities for kobold tribe.

Beating drums with Lissah is definitely best part of travel. Some parts I not like so much. Sometimes we travel on road and mean humans with shiny swords try to poke us, but scary big man kill them. Other times we go in big houses and people yell at us. They not like scary black elf Sol and they not like me. It make me kind of sad. I not do anything to them. Sometimes I think scary big man will break their teeth, but little suspicious halfman not let him.

Continue reading "Clarence: Drumming Lessons"

Something's Not Right

nospam@example.com (Ancient of Days) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:58:56 -0600

Third-day, Second Ride of Flamerule, Year of Wild Magic
Commander:

The group that I set out with has become side-tracked. Rather than seeking the Mace of Tyr with the appropriate single-minded focus, they have allowed themselves to be swayed by promises of a reward for some trinket that seems important to the citizens of Mirabar. I return to you with all swiftness in order to focus on the needs of Longsaddle's people.

Yours in Tyr,
Han

What's wrong with 3.5?

nospam@example.com (Radar) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:02:00 -0600

From our brief conversation on Friday, I was left wondering why there was a need to jump to the new fourth edition. So I ask a question to the group to help me understand some of your reasoning: What is it that you don't like about the 3.5 edition rules that makes you want to move to the fourth edition?

Clarence

nospam@example.com (The Mad Giggler) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:45:31 -0600

I going home!!!!

[It's AoD's turn to write up, but I couldn't resist posting something.]

D&D Write Up--Lissah

nospam@example.com (Daboo) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:53:35 -0600

Fifteenth day of Flamerule
Year of Wild Magic

I keep telling myself the good news, which is that all this walking is really helping keep my legs in shape. We've been to three different towns in the past tennight, and I'm about ready to soak in a nice hot bubble bath for a few hours. Unfortunately, none of my new traveling companions seem to know the first thing about relaxation, much less the sort of skin-care regimen that my poor feet require. I think I might be developing callouses on my heels!

Today we arrived in Mirabar, which I've always heard has some good patrons and a decent night life, but so far all I've done is walk around the city with that lanky black-haired half-elf, Chlorine. You know, I just don't understand her. The guards look at us, and she might as well be walking past trees for all the reaction she gives them. You'd think she could run a comb through her hair once in a while. Sheesh.

Anyway, we went to see Lady Frath, but she wasn't in. Apparently she's hard to see, but I think we can sneak in and talk to her later tonight. She's the noble who was an important patron of Aust Liadon, the half-bearded man we saw at the wedding. It seems to me that we're putting an awful lot of effort in finding a guy who did, after all, help us kill kobolds, but my companions seem to think he's important. And after all, he did try to kill my poor little Clarence, so I guess I'd like to see that big brute Harcrit toss him over a rooftop. Harcrit likes that sort of thing.

I guess Chlorine got tired of watching me get all the attention from the guards, because she decided to go back to the inn while I went to visit Taliend. In fact, strangely, every one of my companions decided to stay behind. It's all for the best, because Taliend knows some things about me that I'd prefer remained secret. Luckily he's discreet, or I might have needed to deal with him before this. But he, like all good bards, knows when to keep silent as well as when to sing. It's a good thing my companions are easy to manipulate, because none of them have suspected anything either. Although that halfling is kind of sly...I'd better keep my eye on him.

Taliend told me some interesting information about the situation. It looks like it's a wider conspiracy than we had imagined. And, unfortunately, we have some competition. Here's hoping that Harcrit, Han, and Chlorine are the very best at what they do. If not, we might just lose our chance.