Campaign update

After the characters managed to disrupt a ritual in the (Hidden) Shrine of the Elder Elemental God from D4 City of Spiders, the power balance in Erelhei-Cinlu was severely altered. As House Eilservs and its allies were exposed as followers of the EEG, the other houses along with the Fane of Lolth, swiftly moved to punish the heretics.  

The characters were in part also responsible of the failure of the Eilservs' plans with the giants in the surface. After dealing with the problems in the Vault, Eclavdra would certainly seek vengeance, directly or through proxies, for all these setbacks.

Taking advantage of this schism, the dissidents of the Vault decided to push forward their plans. Through their leader, Nilonim, they came in contact with the party, helping them leaving the Vault. They managed to do this disguised as slaves in a drow merchant caravan. 

In return, the rebel leader asked them for their support in one of two important missions to the cause: 1) rescue Teregim, Nilonim's second in command and recently captured, from the dungeons of the Fane of Lolth before the priestesses have the chance to torture and question him, or 2) help Captain Eclan and his crew (Area B2/24 Encyclopaedia Subterranica) hijack the two galleys from the Fane's wharf cavern (Area 20 D3 Vault of the Drow). 

"Captain Eclan has been in contact with Nilonim and together they plan an uprising in Erelhei-Cinlu. In the chaos of the uprising, they hope to lead a mass escape of slaves and other disaffected inhabitants of the Vault by way of boats and barges on the Pitchy Flow."

Encyclopaedi Subterranica p.99

Virtual Greyhawk Con 5

 

Another Virtual Greyhawk Con has passed where I had the chance to play in a couple of games on Saturday and on Sunday attend "Ask the Experts" seminar.

The first game was Shield Land Patrol run by Anna B. Meyer who was testing an early build of her Hawk Tales FRPG ruleset.

"Join a Shield Lands Patrol to guard the Needfest (CY 599) celebrations. Guard the frontier of the liberated lands against Iuzian machinations." 

We managed to avoid some undead scouts and a murder of strange crows and ravens that could change into other awful things, ambush a stray broken wagon guarded by goblins and trolls, to finally infiltrate the Iuzian camp. There we found not only goblins, orcs, and mercenary men from the North, but also Iuzian clerics and their bone-claw guards led by Vedvenek, a flock of dretches and their skull-masked shepherd, and Glushnag the Mighty (hobgoblin Bar15) with his hobgoblin army. 

There was a brutal and bloody end to it. You can watch the stream of the game here on Anna's Twitch channel.

The second game was Zavod written by Carlos A. Lising for OSRIC. 

"A terrible theft has occurred at the famous Menagerie in the Free City! Daring bandits have managed to steal into the zoo of the fantastic and spirit away a mated pair of prized Rust Monsters. Will your group of heroes be able to locate the valuable monsters and return them safely?"

Since we were only two players, each of us was managing 4 characters, two rangers and two druids. We managed to avoid most of the dangers, even an enraged owlbear that we stopped with an Entangle spell and talked it down with a Speak With Animals and some rations, and got to the final scenario where we faced the responsible for the missing creatures and its fearsome bodyguards.  

One of my rangers fell in the final combat but was saved by the druids and the final boss was in the end subdued with a Charm Person or Mammal spell that allowed us to get to the rust monsters, take them back to the City of Greyhawk and get the reward. Fun time.

On Sunday the closing "Ask the Experts" seminar hosted by Jay "Lord Gosumba" Scott and Anna B. Meyer with legend Roger E. Moore, Denis "Maldin" Tetreault, Allan T. Grohe "Grodog", Joseph "GreyhawGrognard" Bloch, and Carlos A. Lising as guests. Greyhawk Achievement Awards were given to three very deserving persons: Roger Moore, Anna Meyer and Carlos Lising. Congratulations! It was a very emotive moment.

You can watch the stream of the seminar here on Lord Gosumba's Twitch channel.

Norebo's Gamble

I came up with this house rule for a player's character, half-orc fighter/cleric, to add some flavor to the class.

Clerics of Norebo can call their deity's favor once a day. All results are valid for the round the call is made.

Roll 2d8.

2. Gambler automatically hits his next attack or makes the next saving throw.

3. One enemy gets a -3 to his next attack or saving throw.

4. Gambler gets a +2 to his next attack or save.

5. One enemy gets a -1 to his next attack or saving throw.

6. Gambler does maximum damage on his next attack.

7. Nothing happens. Lose 50 gp/level.

8-10. Nothing happens. Lose 100 gp/level.

11. Nothing happens. Lose 50 gp/level.

12. One enemy does minimum damage on his next attack.

13. Gambler gets a +1 to his next attack or saving throw.

14. One enemy gets a -2 to his next attack or saving throw.

15. Gambler gets a +3 to his next attack or saving throw.

16. One enemy automatically misses his next attack or saving throw.

Order of the Gauntlet

Back in June 2023 I led my group into the Giants' trilogy (G1-2-3 modules), but it started in a somehow different way inspired by a short fiction story called Return to the Steading by Bart Carroll that appeared online on Dragon+ magazine.

Even though the story was set in the Forgotten Realms, it could perfectly be applied to the World of Greyhawk.

"Commander Steeplejack had led the original raid against the steading, gathering other heroes from the Order of the Gauntlet. While some in his party had continued on, advancing their fight against frost giants and fire giants farther north, Steeplejack stayed to claim the steading for his own stronghold."

Based loosely on that part of the story I came up with an alternate start to the trilogy:

"A party of adventurers from the Order of the Gauntlet have recently attacked the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief and, while the hill giants were fighting them, the orc and ogre slaves have turned on their bugbear and hill giant guardians. The adventurers inflicted huge casualties, slaying most of the giants and routing the rest (females and younglings, a couple of stone giants and a fire giant) but had to retreat due to heavy wounds and shortage of spells. Despite that, the raid was considered a success and their efforts were needed elsewhere. The ogres and orcs now control the place and, in a show of despise to the giants that had them enslaved, they have beheaded most of the corpses, setting their heads in pikes on the entrances to the steading."

Later on the story we can read:

"[...] recognized Gleep the Eyebiter, Cloyer the Magsman, and Roaky Swerked—all heroes from Steeplejack’s original party."

So, I ditched this Commander Steeplejack completely and had the Order founded by the original tournament characters that appeared in the G1 module.

• Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter (human, MU12)
• Cloyer Bulse the Magsman (human, T13)
• Roaky Swerked (human, C12)
• Frush O'Suggill (human, F14)
• Fonkin Hoddypeak (high elf, F5/MU8)
• Flerd Trantle (human, C9)
• Redmod Dumple (dwarf, F9)
• Faffle Dwe'o-mercraeft (human, MU9)
• Beek Gwenders of Croodle (half-elf, R9)

Then, I made them agents of the Kingdom of Keoland that operate mainly in the Earldom of Sterich and Duchy of Geoff, and to a lesser extent in the Gran March and the Yeomanry. There are chapters of the Order on each of the aforementioned realms to gather intelligence about the giants' activities and coordinate actions against them in the he Crystalmist, Jotens and Hellfurnaces.

Finally I created the Order's heraldry using CoaMaker.

The party came in contact with the first three members of the Order (Gleep, Cloyer and Roaky). Also had a new player character being a low rank member of it, that was held prisoner in the dungeons of the Hall of the Fire Giant King (G3) and rescued by the party.

Virtual Greyhawk Con 5

 

Save the dates and get your badge now at https://tabletop.events/conventions/virtual-greyhawk-con-2024

Gary Con XVI

A long postponed Gary Con XVI post.

After about 19 hours that included three flights (Montevideo - San Pablo, San Pablo - Atlanta and Atlanta - Milwaukee), we finally arrived at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and took an Uber to Lake Geneva. I was travelling with Javier, a long time friend and player in my Greyhawk campaigns.

Almost there!

Finally!

Wednesday 20th - Met with online friends Jason Hobbs & James Richards at the Fairfield. Then took the shuttle to the Grand Geneva for the Con registration. At the entrance I met with Erik Mona and shared an anecdote from GenCon 2014, 10 years ago! While at the registration queue met with Aron Clark (who we were staying with), Stu Clark, Jarret Crader, Jay "Lord Gosumba" Scott and Anna B. Meyer. Later at the bar met Diogo Nogueira from Brazil, also after 10 years. Then after dinner we had a Holmes & Clark game run by Aron Clark.

Erik Mona

Stu, Jason, Bill, James and Javier

Diogo Nogueira

Stu, Javier, me and Aron Clark

Thursday 21st - We had our first scheduled game "The Sample Dungeon" from Holmes Basic rulebook run by Thom Hall. Awesome game! At the exhibitor's hall met with Doug Kovacs, also after 10 years. Met with Carlos Mondragón an online fellow gamer and Greyhawk fan from Mexico. Meeting Larry Elmore & Jeff Easley again was a great pleasure and honor, and Darlene for the first time too. Bought signed prints from all of them. Then headed for a Greyhawk Seminar where I met Mike Bridges, who signed the Complete Castle Greyhawk comic book. Just before dinner had the chance to meet Luke Gygax and after dinner we had an Old School Essentials game run by Jason Hobbs.

The Sample Dungeon (DM Thom)

Diogo, Doug Kovacs and Javier

Carlos Mondragón

Larry Elmore

Jeff Easley

Darlene

Mike Bridges

Luke Gygax

Jason, ?, Aron and Javier

Friday 22nd - Woke up to Lake Geneva covered in snow! Headed for the Grand Geneva where I met Michael "ChgoWiz" Shorten & his wife Angie. Been playing in Michael's PBP games since maybe 2016 and more recently in his online game. Then had our second scheduled game "The Doom Beneath Welkwood - Part One" run by Timothy Jumper. Although it began a bit late, it was a great game. Met with Carlos A. S. Lising and had an enlightening conversation about Greyhawk. The miniature sets for the "Battle of the Moathouse" and the "Battle of the Temple of Elemental Evil" were simply mind-blowing. For dinner I had the pleasure of meeting Adam & Katie Muskiewicz and their lovely kids Stan & Wyn.

Snow!

Michael Shorten

The Doom Beneath Welkwood (DM Tim)

Carlos A. S. Lising

Moathouse

Temple of Elemental Evil

Saturday 23rd - We stayed in Lake Geneva and did the D&D Pilgrimage Tour. I guess we were the only people walking around town. Visited the Horticultural Hall, the Gygax Memorial, the Library, RJK's childhood home, Gary's childhood home, and the Birthplace of D&D house. There we had a Chainmail Miniatures game at Gary's basement. It was my first minis game ever! Then visited the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum and spent some time talking with the owner. 

D&D Pilgrimage Tour map

Gen Con I was here

Gary Gygax Memorial

Appendix N corner & Throne of Reading

RJK's home

 

Gary's home

Birthplace of D&D

Chainmail game

TSR's first HQ

At Gary's former office

Justin Lanasa

Sunday 24th - Last day of the Con had an early game with Carlos A. S. Lising where we playtested a scenario. Loved his DMing style. Then had another miniatures game, Chaos Wars, with Michael Shorten. Headed to the exhibitor's hall for some last minute purchases. Met with Allan "grodog" Grohe who was manning his Black Blade publishing booth. I have the pleasure of playing in his online Castle Greyhawk game. Also after 10 years, met again with Wayne Snyder at the DCC booth (no picture duh). 

casl game

Chaos Wars game

Allan Grohe

Monday 25th - Breakfast with Allan Grohe, Victor Raymond, Javier and Aron Clark, where we talked about the hobby, Greyhawk, Empire of the Petal Throne and more. Can't believe we forgot to get a picture. Then visited the Lake Geneva Museum to get the D&D 50th Anniversary t-shirt before heading to Milwaukee to catch the plane back home.

Lake Geneva Museum

Cheers to a life well played!

It was a dream come true. A once in a lifetime experience. So glad of personally meeting for the first time so many people I've known online for so long (Aron, Hobbs, Stu, James, Michael, Allan, Jarret), meeting some new ones (both Carlos, Mike, Jay, Anna, Victor), and to see others again after many years (Adam, Katie, Doug, Diogo). Had a great time!

Finally, thanks Javi for joining me in this adventure, Aron for letting us crash at that wonderful cottage, my wife Rous for her support, and my son Ivan for forgiving that I missed his 13th birthday.

Greyhawk - Random coin origin generator

Number of coins found:

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GaryCon XVI Schedule

I finally got my tickets for some games at GaryCon XVI. Not all the games I wanted (diamond, platinum and gold badges got to pick first) but alas.  

On Thursday I'll play "The Sample Dungeon" - Introduced by Dr. J. Eric Holmes in the Basic Edition of Dungeons and Dragons (1977) was the springboard to realms of imagination many of us were first introduced to with that blue book. Come drink from the cup of nostalgia and again venture into the ruined tower of Zenopus.

Nothing better that some old school game to start the convention.

For Friday I got tickets for "The Doom Beneath Welkwood Part One (Greyhawk)" - lways spring and the leaves never change color, corruption has crept in. A mysterious druid who lived in an immense grove of roanwood trees and guarded the forest has vanished. An adventure for 4th level (10,000 XP) characters. 

Being a Greyhawk fan since I started playing D&D back in 1988, I'm really looking forward to it. 

Saturday will be the main course! "Legends of Wargaming: Battle of Brown Hills" - This Chainmail fantasy scenario by Gary Gygax was first played by the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association and the Castle & Crusades Society in 1971. Session will be run at 330 Center St. in the same basement where Gary played it 50 years ago! Test your tactical skills in this exciting miniatures game at the roots of Dungeons & Dragons. 

This would be my first miniature game ever. It's a paid event ($50) but totally worth it to celebrate D&D's 50th Anniversary.

The final game on Sunday will be another miniatures game "Ford Over Troubled Waters" - Orcs/goblins hold Castle Ost! The Civilized Races hold Giant's Keep. Between them is lie the ruins of the old Fordhold, with a dragon living there! Who will take Fordhold? Who will defeat the dragon and claim its hoard? Take one of two sides and fight to the finish using Chaos Wars: a fun set of old school miniatures rules with lots of 25mm Ral Partha figures on the table! Prizes awarded to players!

It is run by Michael "Chgowiz" Shorten a long time online friend who I will finally meet in person at the convention. 

The schedule leaves plenty of room to play pickup games and meet new people and old friends I met at GenCon back in 2014. 

Loot!

This weekend arrived a pretty cool haul. Just in time for Christmas.

I got the "Zogonia: Slice of Death" comic book (64 pages of strips collected from Dragon magazine) and the AD&D 2e Forgotten Realms "Menzoberranzan Boxed Set", used but in great shape and complete with booklets, maps and cards, both from eBay. Also the "BDKR1: The Unofficial Living Greyhawk Bandit Kingdoms Summary" from Amazon and, last but not least, the "Holmes & Clark" rules set by my friend Aron Clark from DriveThruRPG.

I am planning on using Menzoberranzan in my Greyhawk game, but still don't know how exactly. Maybe by making it a rival city of Erelhei-Cinlu, where the majority of the drow worship the Elder Elemental God instead of Lolth? Also I need to decide where to put it. Maybe beneath the Jotens Mts. near Sterich? That would be a good place if I want to run the city of Istvin trilogy in the future.

About the "Bandit Kingdoms Summary" I've read many good reviews as a "must have" source of documentation and inspiration for developing adventures in the area. Looking forward to pair it with Ravensrook: A Grimdark Urban Fantasy Setting running as the city of Rookroost.

Also thinking of using "Holmes & Clark" as the rule set for my next Greyhawk campaign set in the Lands of Cantona on the Wild Coast, initially though to be run under Labyrinth Lord. 

Kothar's tower

I turned the photo of an old pigeon's tower from my neighborhood (now a public library) into the mage's tower for one of my players. I used Photopea online and a Wacom Intuos tablet.

It was an abandoned tower and, when Kothar the mage was given the rights over the lands around the village of Twilight Falls, he took residence there. He set up a lab and hired an alchemist. Right now he's having the top tier being built of wood, since the village is in the Gnarley Forest. It was too expensive to have it built of stone like the rest of the tower.