| Saturday
April 29th, 2006, San Diego, CA |
|
|
| WHO |
| PCs: (Master
Summary) |
|
Name |
XP |
DEX |
SPD |
SPD Chart |
| #
Kurtzen Kardenssen |
2+1 |
17 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
 Critique:
Roleplayed well in the flashback sequence.
In the current timeline he moved out away
from the wagon and horses to face down the
cavalry which wasnt the brightest move and
could have gotten him killed if the
opponents were a little tougher. As it was
Kurtzen accounted for himself but took a
nasty wound in the process. Kurtzen hacked a
couple of Landrothi with his mighty blade. |
| /
Kjar Kvaransen |
2+1 |
11 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
 Critique:
In the combat against the Landrothi Cavalry
he had good incantations on spells, and was
active, but I thought his use of spells
could have been a little tighter. Still and
all, he was very effective at disrupting the
enemy. His major contribution to the fight
was to use his new Wind Gust spell to
disrupt the cavalry's formation, causing
chaos in their ranks and disrupting their
initiative. |
| $
Fyrclian Bergansen |
1 |
20/22 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
 Critique:
Heavy combat session, not much RP. Fyrclian
used her bow skills for the 1st time and
very successfully at that. Also, a key
point, when the fight began she moved to
where the groups horses were picketed and
set out to defend them from all comers which
is very fitting to her character's
background. Fyrclian took a couple of riders
with arrows and detered greater damage on
the supplies and mounts. |
| /
Saemund Magnussun |
2 |
11 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
 Critique:
Was extremely effective in the fight against
the Landrothi. He loitered by the wagon and
held, then when some riders strafed by he
lunged out and Shoved one horse from the
side into another, knocking both horses
sprawling and their riders to the ground.
Then he jinked to the left and slashed the
legs out from under another rider's horse.
All three unhorsed raiders plus one unhorsed
by Kjar's Wind Gust spell rushed Saemund in
a pack w/ Sabres drawn, but with a mighty
swing of his Falchion he cut three fully in
twain. He sounded off with his lineage and
let the fourth run away to spread the tale
(PRE Attack). |
|
| Significant NPCs: |
| Torgath Torethssen |
| Exiled Raevoring Sea-Reeve. |
| Bakuda Rabusha |
| Adventuring Landrothi (and devotee of
Tzoruul) |
| Ssarsa |
| Lizardman desert guide. |
|
Name |
DEX |
SPD |
SPD Chart |
| * Torgath Torethssen |
14 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
Critique: Jay ran Torgath in the fight, I handled his
RPing. We managed to establish the beginning
of his ongoing relationship with Bakuda |
| # Kurtzen Kardenssen |
17 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
Critique: Kurtzen was very successful
in this combat; despite trailing the other
principle characters by about 70 points he was about
equally as effective as Torgath. Im eager to
see where the player rounds him out with the
extra 20 points he was given to catch the
character up to the other PC's. The
character already has a very solid base to
build upon so it should be interesting. |
| $ Bakuda Rabusha |
18 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
Critique: As expected his Spells vs undead were very
effective and basically carried the day. The
most significant effect was a Consecrate
cast basically in the middle of the ruin
that ate at the malginant forces animating
the Undead at a rapid pace until they
finally crumbled to dust. The RPing of the
character could have been stronger though. |
| / Ssarsa |
18 |
5 |
12 |
|
|
3 |
|
5 |
|
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
|
Critique: Was very consistent with last session's
performance. In the combat he started using
Telekinesis to good effect after not getting
too far with Dimensional Burst. |
|
| * = played by GM |
| / = played by Jason Roche |
| # = played by Steve
Svarre |
| $ = played by Kristin Molle |
| WHAT |
| Calvary Patrol |
|
In the current timeline I want the group to be waylaid by a
Landrothi Light Cavalry Patrol of 10
Cavalry and an
Officer, and their
Horses of course. |
|
This went off well. We were running short on time so I
abbreviated some things from the characters, most
significantly their Combat Luck. I ran the encounter just
like something out of a cowboy and indian movie, with the
Landrothi suddenly cresting a rise and ringing the campsite
and baggage train in two files, throwing spears. |
|
I think the players were a little suprised that they didnt
even stop to talk, they just swooped right in on the attack.
I dont think its really sunk in for them that their people
have been raiding and pillaging these peoples lands for two
millennia and there is no love lost at all. A small group of
Machtig crossing into their lands from this direction are
going to be assumed to be a warband intent on plunder. |
|
The Cavalry patrol's goal was to take or disable the groups
mounts before riding off to get reenforcments. As it turned
out they took about 60% casualties and road off in a rout,
but they did manage to injure a couple of the light war
horses. Unfortunately they left a couple of warhorse behind
after their riders were slain, so the net effect was dismal. |
| Flashback to Kurtzen' Past |
|
The session is going to revolve around an adventure from
Kurtzen's past. A little over 8 years ago Kurtzen and Torgath
were hired by a Landrothi aristocrat calling himself
Bakuda Rabusha (BAH-KOO-DAH RAH-BOO-SHA) while in
Worfinal. The job was to take ship from Worfinal to Alut
(the capital of Tinsha), and from there proceed into the
deep of the High Desert to search for a long lost and
forgotten about ruin. |
|
The purposes of the session are to: |
- Provide Kurtzen an opportunity for a prelude now that
he is an actual PC
- Introduce / put a face to some of the antagonists the
current timeline's protagonists are facing
- Accentuate / reenforce the story-driven /
saga-oriented nature of the campaign
|
| The Ruin |
|
To give Rabusha a chance to really shine and be a key
player, going to use Undead guardians for the ruins. The
Machtig hate all things related to Death magic, and Tzoruul
does not support the use of Undead either so its something
both Machtig and devotees of Tzoruul can agree upon for
starters. For seconders, he has a number of effects that are
particularly effective vs Undead. |
|
Also, Kurtzen is relating this tale to the modern era
surviving Nine Arrows, and him relating the tale of Rabusha
destroying Undead might force them to reconsider what they
think they know about what they are getting into with the
Cult of Tzoruul. They think the cult practices Death Magic
due to seeing two women sacrificed in their vision from the
Druids Circle. The distinction might be too subtle for them
however, and sentient sacrifice is also very much against
Machtig beliefs in any event, whether its technically used
for Death magic of some sort or not. |
|
Overall, as long as the morality of it all gets confused and
things become less polarized black / white, the purpose will
have been served. |
|
This went pretty well and I thought it was a fun combat. We
got off to a late start so I had to trim the encounter by
dropping a more powerful opponent I had planned but I think
the overall purpose of the flashback was accomplished and
the tougher villain, while it may have made the event even
more memorable, wouldn't have really contributed to the
narrative thread. |
|
Gotta know when gratuitous violence works and when it needs
to be trimmed after all. |
|
The important thing is Bakuda recovered the relic, and the
groundwork for why Torgath and Bakuda have remained allied
11 years later was laid. |
| WHEN |
- Current time:
- START: Age of Power Year 1 Month 3 Week 1 Day
3
- END: Age of Power Year 1 Month 3 Week 3 Day 5
- Flashbacks:
|
| WHERE |
| Main Locality |
- Current timeline:
- A days travel out of the Vold into Landroth.
- Flashbacks:
- Worfinal
- Alut
- High Desert
|
| WHY |
| KURTZEN FLASHBACKS: I want to cover the back story of
Kurtzen, which provides a perfect opportunity to detail
what's going on in Zerlaaga by showing the history behind it. |
| CAVALRY ATTACK: Several purposes
to this: |
- Show that the PC's can't just waltz around as they
please and go unmolested; I wan't them to get used to the
idea of mounting a watch, staying aware of their
environment, and practicing some trail craft. This first
encounter is a set up though, of course -- no way around
it.
- Demonstate that while the PC's are far more capable
than individual Landrothi and collectively are more than a
match for small packs of them, en masse cavalry assaults
are still very dangerous to them and they should be
careful.
- Give Jason and Kristin a chance to get used to their
characters again in a scenario where they are practically
guaranteed to win.
- Have some action in the modern timeline to keep the
focus on the main thread of the adventure.
|
| HOW |
| Flashbacks. |
| DISADVANTAGES |
| Make sure the players
keep up with their Disadvantages. |
| The players did a good job on
keeping up on their combat related disadvantages, and
Fyrclian played up her general horsey-gaurdian shtick as
well. |
| NAME | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|
| Fyrclian Beorgansdotter | DF: Druid-touched (Not Concealable; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable Only By Unusual Senses)
DF: Human (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures)
DF: White Streak in Hair (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
Enraged: Horses mistreated (Uncommon), go 14-, recover 8-
Enraged: When in Claustrophobic Environments (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 14-
Hunted: Osfrid 8- (Less Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, Harshly Punish)
Money: Poor
Normal Characteristic Maxima
Psych. Lim.: Claustrophobia (Uncommon, Strong)
Psych. Lim.: Daredevil (Uncommon, Moderate)
Psych. Lim.: Equestrian Mentality (Uncommon, Moderate)
Reputation: Killer of Thralls, 14- (Known Only To A Small Group) |
| Kjar Kvaransen | Normal Characteristic Maxima
DF: Aura of Random Elemental Sensory Affects (smell of ozone, smoking hair, rocky skin, moist air, sound of creek, crackle of fire, etc) (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
DF: Druid-touched (Not Concealable; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable Only By Unusual Senses)
DF: Human (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures)
Psych. Lim.: Easily Distracted By New Magic (Uncommon, Strong)
Psych. Lim.: Obsessed with Finding New Magic (Uncommon, Strong)
Soc. Lim.: Zauberer Stigma (Machtig) (Frequently, Minor, Not Limiting In Some Cultures)
Susceptibility: Entropic/Chaos Energy 1d6 damage Instant (Uncommon)
Susceptibility: Negative/Unholy Energy 1d6 damage Instant (Uncommon)
Susceptibility: Positive/Holy Energy 1d6 damage Instant (Uncommon)
Susceptibility: Static/Law Energy 1d6 damage Instant (Uncommon)
Unluck: 3d6 |
| Kurtzen Kardenssen | Distinctive Features: Human (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures)
Enraged: When reduced to Half Body or Half Stun (Uncommon), go 11-, recover 11-
Hunted: Raevoring Clan 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, Harshly Punish)
Money: Poor
Normal Characteristic Maxima
Psychological Limitation: Overconfidence (Very Common, Moderate)
Rivalry: Professional (with other Warriors), Rival is More Powerful, Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival, Rival Unaware of Rivalry, Rival is a Group
Soc. Lim.: Dark Secret: Raevoring Exile (Occasionally, Major, Not Limiting In Some Cultures)
Unluck: 2d6 |
| Saemund Magnussun | DF: Druid-touched (Not Concealable; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable Only By Unusual Senses)
DF: Human (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures)
Enraged: If Quality Of Work Or Honor Questioned (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 11-
Hunted: Kor-Daen Tribe 8- (Mo Pow, Limited Geographical Area, Harshly Punish)
Hunted: Pargori Huscarl 8- (Mo Pow, Limited Geographical Area, Watching)
Normal Characteristic Maxima
Psych. Lim.: Aggressive Combatant -- Takes on Toughest Possible Opponent In Battle (Common, Strong)
Psych. Lim.: Honest Quality Appraiser -- Announces Quality Of Weapons Fairly, For Better Or For Worse (Uncommon, Total)
Psych. Lim.: Honorable Craftsman (Common, Total)Notes: Always fulfill contract to spirit and letter, keeps word, will not sell shoddy goods, guarantees work.
Reputation: Miser, 8- (Extreme; Known Only To A Small Group) |
|
| POST GAME ANALYSIS |
| Good session. Heavier combat than
usual, but I think in this case it actually worked out for
the better. A couple of important messages relating to the
intended narrative thread were made and it allowed the
players (and me) to get back into the swing of their
characters and the game system after a hiatus. |
| The flashback was succesful and I
think Ill employ the tactic two more times before the end of
this arc. |
