I'm Not Dead Yet!

Still alive, still angry...just got very busy with work over the summer. Postings will be slow for a few more weeks but should resume around Labor Day. See ya soon!

Session 18: The Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad

Blastikus embarks on his journey to Mijo-han the Mad's sanctum with the Hench-orcs and the Brocenary Lancers Third Cohort (17 light horsemen with an L7 captain and two L1 sergeants) in support. Their journey is uneventful and no wandering monsters are encountered. They find the ruined village without much difficulty and after some searching uncover the remains of Mijo-han's dwelling. As they prepare to enter the strange building, the ground begins to shake with great violence before a purple worm (73hp) erupts from below and attacks!

Surprise comes up 3-3 so we proceed to melee.

Round 1: Tied 1-1; all actions simultaneous

Captain Severus orders the Third Lancers to charge and they score a total of 5 hits for 46hp, seriously wounding the beast. Medium lances vs a large opponent on a charge are clearly a devastating attack, as history has so well recorded.

Blastikus hits the worm with his Wand of Frost for 20hp, but the worm makes it save and only takes 10hp.

The hench-orcs make a decent account of themselves as Johnny Smash scores a critical hit for 16hp and Denzel Ramondo hits the worm for another 10hp, killing it.

Since initiative was tied, the worm still makes its attacks before going to Wormhalla. He chomps Johnny Smash for 16hp, neatly bisectig him in its death throes and hits Blastikus with his tail stinger for 6hp. Blastikus, fortunately, makes his save vs poison, rolling a 14 against his target of 13. It is better to be lucky than good, as the saying goes.

Blastikus, still woozy as he metabolizes the worm venom, leads the remaining hench-orcs into the ruined sanctum. After a thorough search, they uncover a hoard of 2,350gp and gems and jewelry worth another 31,296gp. They also discover a  Cloak of Displacement (which Blastikus claims for himself) and a Potion of Heroism that goes to Joey Slash. Further exploration yields a hidden room containing the most valuable part of the hoard: the library containing the life's work of the infamous mage. Blastikus quickly orders the hench-orcs and Brocenaries to load up every last scrap of paper. They make camp overnight and leave in the morning for an unenventful return journey to the Obsidian Citadel.

The Blastikus and the hench-orcs all make enough XP to level-up and will be out of play until 6 June 2025. 

Session 17 Downtime: Voon de Goon is de Gone!

Let's see what the Bros do during their downtime.

Blastikus

• Since Blastikus has started expanding the fortifications of the Obsidian Citadel, let's see how the settlement of Blastum is developing. Blastikus has paid double to expedite the fortifications, so we have a substantial workforce on site. A village/town would be between 600 and 6500 individuals so let's make it easy and do a 6d12x100 roll. We get 46 which means our settlement is now the town of Blastum with 4600 souls drawn from the surrounding areas in search of pay and maybe an escape from being dirt farming hydra chow. 
• Recognizing the immediate benefits of having a ready pool of experimentation subjects and/or meatshields, he grants all laborers the rights to settle in Blastum after the castle fortifications are finished. He promises his protection in exchange for their future militia service, and the offer seems to be popular (73% reaction roll). Blastikus wants this construction to be completed as quickly as possible and helps out with his summoned elementals whenever possible.
• Our mage dips into the the equipment of the various fallen mooks and outfits his newest minion, Joey Slash, with appropriate armor and stabby things (see Session 17). He now has a crew of 3 half-orc and one human fighters at his bidding and as his bodyguard. They've been behaving so far, but he always keeps his options open with having Charm Person ready to go if they start getting too fidgety.
• He keeps Methikles cooking up Potions of Extra-Healing, knowing that they're handy for keeping meatshields vertical as well as possible future trade goods.
• Blastikus is starting to nervous about the expenses of the fortifications and decides it's about time he takes the hench-bros to the ruined village in Hex 306.297 to salvage what he can from the Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad. Voon and Dejing will be otherwise occupied for a few more weeks, so now's as good a time as any. We'll run a session for them next time and see what they find.

Brogallo

• Bloody Brogallo is still distrustful of the mage and his motives in fortifying the citadel and needs to decide if it's time to strike off on his own. 
  Reaction roll to see if he decides to put some distance between him and Blastikus: 76% (Friendly; times are pretty good so he stays)

Dejing pan Ark

• Even though she's in training until 5 June 2025, Dejing continues to contemplate her immediate and long term future and needs to decide if it's time to make a move of her own. 
  Reaction roll to see if she forms a guild: 66% (Uncertain but 55% prone to positive; a follow-up roll of 95% means she decides to stick around for the action. There's always time to worry about this later...)

Kleptikos

• Kleptikos, suspicious of both Blastikus' building projects and Dejing pan Ark's unusually pensive moods of late, contemplates striking off on his own. 
  Reaction roll to see if he forms a guild: 33% (Uncertain but 55% prone to negative; a follow-up roll of 17% means he decides the time isn't quite right)

Krall 

• He's still researching poisons until 29 May 2025 and completely absorbed in the process.

Voon deGoon

• Although in training until 5 June 2025, Voon is contemplating his future in lights of Bloody Brogallo's penchant for ultraviolence and Blastikus' strange obsession with the ancient citadel. He needs to decide if it's time to leave. Reaction roll to see if he decides to put some distance between him and Brogallo: 16% (Hostile, immediate action)
• Voon finally decides that life with Bloody Brogallo is getting a little too dangerous and he's better off on as a solo artist. He's going to hire his own mercenary force and see if he can take over an existing fortress for his own and start making peasants pay him, like Blastikus is trying to do. All too conscious of Blastikus' growing power, he decides to head as far west as he can go. We'll see what happens to him in the future.

Next session: Blastikus and his Hench-bros plunder the Lost Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad!

Session 17: The Bros and the Lost City of dul Qazik

Rolling on the rumor table, we get a 4 so Brogallo decides he's going to visit the distant Lost City of dul Qazik to search for the treasure shown in the map that he recovered from the Oni. The Lost City is about 200 miles south, so using the movement rate shown on pg 102 of the PHB, the light horse can move at a rate of 24" which translates to 24 miles per day. I'm using 30 mile hexes on my world map, which means their movement rate works out to roughly 9 days of travel each way. Since this is a solo game, I don't really feel like breaking it down to 6 mile hexes etc, and I'll be checking once per hex for random encounters. Likewise, I'm going to assume the intervening area is sparsely populated and won't generate terrain/features like I do with the main maps.

Krall is researching poisons and out of play until 29 May 2025. The Bros will take the Brocenary Lancers Second and Third Cohorts while leaving the infantry troops to defend the Obsidian Citadel. They bring the draft horses along as beasts of burden and set out for the distant city.

Some quick rolls on the relevant DMG Appendix B tables, gives us a ruined city nestled in the mountains. I make 6 rolls to see who's guarding the treasure and build the following table:

1. Stone Giant
2. Ogre
3. Ogre Magi (again!)
4. Orc
5. Ice Troll
6. Xorn

A d6 comes up with a 2, indicating that the Ogres have a lair in the ruined city. I decide that they've taken over the ruins of a former gatehouse, completely unaware of the tomb beneath their feet which contains the treasure that Brogallo seeks. The remaining monsters have their own lairs within the sprawling city and are potential factions that can be bargained with or destroyed, as the dice gods decide.

Their swift journey south is fortuitously uneventful and the Bros do not encounter any wandering wonsters. I roll a d8 to see how many hours it takes them to discover the location marked on the map, getting a 6. This means 36 wandering monster checks which also all come up empty - the Bros' luck holds!
They identify their target and Brogallo tells the Brocenaries to secure a wide perimeter and to keep quiet. The Bros make their way to the gatehouse, quietly enter and surprise a group of 15 ogres with 7 mates, 2 young and 5 ragged prisoners kept in a pen in anticipation of being the featured dish in tonight's ogre feastday.

The Bros definitively win surprise 6-1 and wipe out the ogre males, thanks to the fighters' 3/2 attacks and Blastikus' Wand of Frost. They proceed to melee where it takes them another 5 rounds to eliminate the ogress mates and their vile younglings. The prisoners consist of 2 local peasants, a caveman from the surrounding mountains, an unfortunate brigand that was sold to the ogres by his compatriots, and a half-orc exiled from the orc tribe who also lives elsewhere in the city. 

Blastikus, having grown fond of his half-orc muscle, offers the half-orc employment as a henchman and a 78% reaction shows that he accepts. The peasants return to their village and the brigand joins them, having formed a friendship with the pair while captured. The caveman hoots, grunts, waves his arms around excitedly and flees into the mountains, hopefully finding his way back to his cavepeople.

The Bros continue their explorations of the gatehouse and find the entrance to the underground storeroom containing the treasure they've been seeking, as well as some loot that the ogres had in their lair. All in all, a decent haul...

The Bros begin their journey home. They have 2 wandering monster encounters: a herd of wooly mammoths with a 48% encounter reaction (neutral/uninterested, so I rule they just glance at the tiny humans before continuing on their way) and a dwarven warband of 250 individuals who roll a 55% (neutral/uninterested so I rule they're on a mission of their own and don't feel threatened by an inferior band of loser humans that have the poor taste to associate with half-orcs).

The total trip time is 18 days (9 days each way) so the boys are on the bench until 23 May 2025.

Rumor Table: I Heard It Through the (Murderhobo) Grapevine

I decided to make a post to consolidate a running list of campaign threads. If I don't feel like generating something new, I'll just roll on this table to see if the PCs decide to follow up on any previous items. This might be a way to keep a steady and self-referential rumor table going for a real (i.e. non-solo play) campaign:

Unconfirmed Rumors:

1. Hex 301.292 (The Town of Holder's Wall): The town of Holder's Wall has been overrun by savage barbarians from the Cold Wastes who have allied themselves with the hobgoblin legions for unknown reasons. There are 2500 serfs in the town and it is believed a relatively small force of tribesmen are controlling the peasants through the terror of unholy rites to the Old Ones.
   Status: Unknown
   
   
2. Hex 301.295 (The Metropolis of Tallow Watch): The starving veterans of Tallow Watch have been slowly regaining their strength at the newly opened Bistro de Sordidum. Rumor has it that Chef Manducare Sordidum, an infamous cook with a lengthly string of failed deathtraps disguised as "avante garde cuisine" restaurants on his dubious resume, is flush with cash from an unknown benefactor and is under mandate to provide the veterans with actually edible food. To date, nobody has become seriously ill or died from the Chef's now shockingly tasty meals and a thankful veteran populace wants to know who is responsible. It clearly is a True Warrior of some sort, for who else would care about them so much?
   Status: Unknown
   
   
3. Hex 301.295 (The Metropolis of Tallow Watch): Much like the Old Brightwood usurpers, the Tallow Watch junta has fled this city with the treasury funds. It appears that the former hobgoblin Janissaries have seized power and are imposing order on the city with the approval of the populace. It's tough to argue with war heroes and, honestly, they're been acting honorably...so far. They are fully occupied with purging all tendrils of the junta and cannot pursue the fugitives. As expected, they've offered a reward for the execution or capture of the junta
   Status: Unknown
   
   
4. Hex 302.294 (The City of Orchard Hollow): The city of Orchard Hollow, now free from the threat of the hobgoblin horde, has begun organizing patrols to hunt down the Old Brightwood and Tallow Watch criminal usurpers. They are searching for adventurers to bolster their forces. 
   Status: Unknown
   
   
5. Hex 302.296: When the moon is new, and the winds are silent, strange chanting can occasionally be heard emanating from the ruins south of Old Brightwood. Sporadic reports have been made of torchlit processions circling the ruins and disappearing into the forests in hex 303.295. Nobody in Old Brightwood knows for certain what any of this means, but it is adding to the terror caused by the ongoing siege and impending invasion.
   Status: Unknown
   
   
6. Hex 303.297 (The Shrine of Evil Tablets): The ancient and ruined shrine is haunted by the cursed souls of its former sorcerous priests.
   Status: The Blasti-bros met fierce resistance from its undead inhabitants and were forced to retreat (see Session 10). They were unable to ascertain the source of the abominations.
   
   
7. Hex 312.309 (The City of zul Korizik): This ruined city is composed of ancient, strangely 'organic' architecture with a lack of square corners and strange blob-like buildings. It is located in a wasteland created by the forces of chaos that destroyed the city. Some fantastic treasures have already been found with doubtless more yet to be discovered.
   Status: Partially confirmed. Blastikus' henchmen have done some preliminary scouting in the city, but most of the bizarre place is still unexplored.

Confirmed Rumors:

1. Hex 300.300 (The City of Valthrun): Oni have been sporadically spotted throughout Valthrun, but immediately disappear if seen. They're looking for someone or something, but nobody knows for sure what they're doing, if they even really exist.
   Status: The Oni were destroyed by the Blasti-bros when they attempted an ambush against the bros in the Broken Tower of Kzan.
   
   
2. Hex 300.300 (The City of Valthrun): The Wretched Little Tykes Home for the Unwashed has received a donation from an anonymous fool...er benefactor, that has allowed them to repair their crumbling buildings, buy clean rags for the children's clothes and purchase actual food from the market and not back-alley wastebins. Sister Dolorosa is clearly pleased and has reduced disciplinary beatings to merely twice a day (so as not to spoil the waifs with excessive softness, of course). Sister Cruciata has purchased actual books (of all things!) and is now teaching the least stupid of the orphans to read! Amazing! Valthrun is abuzz with speculation as to the benefactor's identity and many speculate on the best way to arrange personal "donations" for themselves.
   Status: Donations stopped after Mighty Redneck met his ignominious end.
   
   
3. Hex 301.294: The hobgoblin hordes that broke the human defenders were driving towards the ruined shrine north of Tallow Watch. Nobody knows why they have an interest in it, but it can't be for anything good. 
   Status: The bros recruited 40 pikemen from Tallow Watch and made their way to The Shrine of Hobgoblin Ancestors where they were able defeat a pyro-hydra and trade hobgoblin relics to the horde in return for a peaceful departure. Tallow Watch gossip indicates the Ogre Magi at Gunnolfsfell may be involved with this somehow.
   
   
4. Hex 301.294: The hobgoblins have turned the old ruins west of Old Brightwood into a fortified village with ramparts, guard towers and ballistae. They have been seen building siege equipment for a final push into Orchard Hollow. The people are terrified but are penned in by stealthy hobgoblin death squads that haunt the surrounding hills.
   Status: Confirmed; The Band of Brogallos destroyed the horde in the Battle of Fang Shrine with the help of refugees from Tallow Watch and the Janissaries of Old Brightwood, though they suffered heavy losses.
   
   
5. Hex 301.300: The White Dragon Zenabarithon and his mate were sighted in the mountains surrounding the Shrine of Lethria where they attacked a group of adventurers before being driven off. They were last seen flying towards the villages of Brightwood (hex 306.300) and Hope's End (hex 306.303). More recent rumors suggest the pair has made its lair in the mountains near the village of Bierton (hex 309.305).
   Status: The Band of Brogallos ambushed and killed Zenabarithon and his mate as they were flying through hex 303.294. Word has quickly spread about their ruthless ferocity and their reputation has grown considerably.
   
   
6. Hex 301.295 (The Metropolis of Tallow Watch): The metropolis of Tallow Watch has fallen to a junta of former officers who were driven from the city of Old Brightwood by the nomad/hobgoblin wars. Both cities have sizable populations (50,000+) and Tallow Watch is home to many of the bandit refugees. All of them still have family in the cities and desperately want to discover their fate, but are fearful of the likely tragic news.
   Status: The Band of Brogallos defeated the hobgoblins with the help of Tallow Watch refugees, who suffered heavy losses. The survivors have left the area totally. It remains unclear if they will join their families at Fort Rackham. The junta fled the city upon hearing the news of the hobgoblin defeat. They have pludered the treasury so the financial and political future is unclear.
   
   
7. Hex 301.300: Orcs have been sighted poking around the Shrine of Lethria for unknown reasons (and killed 3 former party members, but nobody outside our group knew that). There is a larger group somewhere south of Valthrun but they've been suspiciously quiet, if they exist at all.
   Status: The orcs were part of much larger warband that wiped out the town of Gunnolfsfell and were under the command of a group of Oni. The bloody conflict is detailed in two reports here and here.
   
   
8. Hex 301.499: The Oni of Gunnolfsfell had a map pointing to a fabulous magical treasure 200 miles south of Valthrun. Is this the location for which they were searching?  Is it real or some sort of trap? Rumor has it that the Band of Brogallos may know more about this. Now that the Oni have been destroyed, will they undertake this endeavor?
   Status: Confirmed; The Band of Brogallos made the journey to the Lost City of dul Qazik and retrieved the hoard (see Session 17).
   
   
9. Hex 302.294 (The City of Orchard Hollow): The city of Orchard Hollow is still somehow resisting the nomad/hobgoblin/ogre forces. Though smaller than the other nearby (14,000 inhabitants), it has been a famous bastion of Law since time immemorial and has a strong contingent of clerics with heroic paladins as their chamber-militant. This has doubtlessly contributed to their strength but nobody believes they will last long in face of the superior humanoid numbers.
   Status: Patriarch Sirenion received the news of the Brogallo's victory with his typical stoicism. It is clear that he doesn't trust the Band of Brogallos and has deep suspicions of such morally corrupt freebooters in his domain.
   
   
10. Hex 302.295 (The City of Old Brightwood): The new rulers of Old Brightwood have made a truce with the invading hordes by enslaving a sizable portion of the population and offering them as tribute. All orphans and children of criminals have been forced to become jannisaries in a wretched attempt to replenish the decimated military and maintain some sort of control over the city. The hordes are leaving the city unplundered...for now.
    Status: Upon hearing the news of Brogallo's victory over the hobgoblins, the usurperative junta realizes their time at the top has ended and they abscond with the contents of the treasury to parts unknown.
    
    
11. Hex 302.295 (The City of Old Brightwood): After the Battle of Fang Shrine, the usurpers of Old Brightwood have fled the city with the contents of the treasury. A reward has been posted for their capture or execution and the return of the treasury funds. The city itself is currently in too much confusion as it rebuilds and can't undertake this endeavor itself. Perhaps this will change when political stability is restored.
    Status: Brogallo hunted down and destroyed the usurpers and their berserker followers. Nobody knows if he recovered the treasure...or at least he hasn't admitted to doing so.
    
    
12. Hex 302.296: The ruined shrine north of the Croaking Castle glows with an sickly green light during the new moon. The shrine is apparently dedicated to a now-forgotten serpent god. Tazennarit's troops have all heard there's fabulous treasure to be found in the ruins, but were never in any condition to try to find it themselves.
    Status: The party explored the ruins of the Serpent Shrine and defeated a combined tribe of ogres and bugbears for some nice loot. Were these creatures the true source of rumors or just temporary occupants of the shrine?
    
    
13. Hex 302.300:  A group of Ogre Magi have overrun the village of Gunnolfsfell. The fate of the villagers is unknown.
    Status: The bros took the Tallow Watch pikemen and the Bro-cenaries to investigate and got drawn into a brutal conflict with an orc warband and a retinue of Oni. The bloody conflict is detailed in two reports here and here.
    
    
14. Hex 302.301: The Oni of Gunnolfsfell were busy delving into the ruined monastery outside the town. It's unclear if they found anything or if they're still in the area.
    Status: The Oni fought a pitched battle with a group of adventurers, and inflicted heavy casualties on their mercenary support troops. It is unknown what lies beneath the monastery, if anything. The Oni may have survived this brutal conflict - will he return to wreak vengeance?
    Status: The Oni were destroyed by the Blasti-bros when they attempted an ambush against the bros in the Broken Tower of Kzan (Hex 311.304) in Session 13.
    
    
15. Hex 304.298 (Obsidian Tower of the Deep Ones): Blastikus has laid claim to the haunted tower that has long been avoided by the nearby cities (see Session 9). His intentions and unknown, but suspect.
    Status: Confirmed, though the wizard's motivations are still unclear.
    
    
16. Hex 306.297 (The Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad): The nameless ruined village near the lake has a still intact wizards lab. It is guarded by a fearsome horror from the Outer Dark.
    Status: Confirmed. Blastikus and the Hench-orcs journeyed to the ruined village and found the laboratory after defeating a purple worm (See Session 18). Was this the source of the "fearsome horror" rumours? Time will tell.
    
    
17. Hex 307.293 (The Hamlet of Eastsea): There's something fishy going on in this village. The odd looking inhabitants seem overly fond of serpent imagery and are excessively secretive. Perhaps this warrants further investigation...
    Status: The Band of Brogallos were savagely attacked by a 14 headed hydra after visiting this dump and strongly suspected they were set up. They returned with the Brocenaries and purged the entire Dagon worshipping village scum. Eastsea was burnt to the ground as an object lesson as well.
    
    
18. Hex 309.304: The Oni of Gunnolfsfell were rumored to be searching for a fabulous treasure in the ruins southeast of Valthrun. Is this the location for which they were searching?
    Status: The Oni were destroyed by the Blasti-bros when they attempted an ambush against the bros in the Broken Tower of Kzan (Hex 311.304) in Session 13.
    
    
19. Hex 310.305: The Oni of Gunnolfsfell were rumored to be searching for a fabulous treasure in the ruins southeast of Valthrun. Is this the location for which they were searching?
    Status: The Oni were destroyed by the Blasti-bros when they attempted an ambush against the bros in the Broken Tower of Kzan (Hex 311.304) in Session 13.
    
    
20. Hex 311.304: The Oni of Gunnolfsfell were rumored to be searching for a fabulous treasure in the ruins southeast of Valthrun. Is this the location for which they were searching?
    Status: The Oni were destroyed by the Blasti-bros when they attempted an ambush against the bros in the Broken Tower of Kzan (Hex 311.304) in Session 13.
    

Cold Wastes Campaign Map

This is the latest campaign map showing all discovered areas and features. It will be updated as the Bros explore further.

The Book of the Dead

This is where all party fatalities will be recorded. I think this is going to be a pretty active post...

Solo Session 18: The Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad

• Johnny Smash (Fighter 1): Consumed by a purple worm outside the Laboratory of Mijo-han the Mad

(23 May 2025)

Solo Session 16: Hench-bros and the Living City of Chaos

• Dexiu (Cleric 1): Killed by wolves in the Living City of Chaos

(1 May 2025)

Solo Session 15 Part 2: Crushing the Cult of Dagon

• Culrink (Illusionist/Thief 3/3): Killed by a Thessalhydra while destroying the Circle of Pelagea Dagon cult in the village of Eastsea
• Yelu Falone (Cleric 3): Killed by a Thessalhydra while destroying the Circle of Pelagea Dagon cult in the village of Eastsea

(24 April 2025)

Solo Session 15 Part 1: The Purging of the Obsidian Tower

• Johnny Crush (Fighter 1): Killed by an Air Elemental in the dungeons beneath the Obsidian Tower of the Deep Ones
• Shen Pisakar (Assassin 2): Killed by an Air Elemental in the dungeons beneath the Obsidian Tower of the Deep Ones
• Tuqtamur Haoennor (Fighter 1): Killed by an Air Elemental in the dungeons beneath the Obsidian Tower of the Deep Ones
• Zahm Al-Bashir (Fighter 1): Killed by an Air Elemental in the dungeons beneath the Obsidian Tower of the Deep Ones

(24 April 2025)

Solo Session 14 Part 2: Hydra Head Games

• No Tiki (Fighter 7): Killed by a 14 headed hydra while pursuing the Tallow Watch junta
• Man Lee (Magic-User 6): Killed by a 14 headed hydra while pursuing the Tallow Watch junta
• Manderbro (Magic-User 7): Killed by a 14 headed hydra while pursuing the Tallow Watch junta

(10 April 2025)

Solo Session 14 Part 1: Berserker Beatdown

• Ah Soh (Monk 8): Killed by berserker chieftains while fighting the Old Brightwood usurpers in The Ancient Graveyard

(10 April 2025)

Solo Session 13: The Oni Revenge at the Broken Tower of Kzan

• Brother Sully (Cleric 6): Killed by werewolves while on the expedition to the Broken Tower of Kzan in the ruined city
• Luisa (Cleric 6): Infected by lycanthropy in the werewolf attack that claimes Brother Sully
• Marsh Bersk (Magic-User 8): Killed by the Oni ambush in the Broken Tower of Kzan
• Mog Khalid (Fighter 6): Killed by the Oni ambush in the Broken Tower of Kzan
  

(6 April 2025)

Solo Session 12: Redneck's Raiders Ride to Hell

TOTAL..PARTY...KILL!!

• Alethras (Druid 6): Killed by brigand warband while searching for Zenabarithon's lair
• Bear Amblecrown (Fighter 6): Killed by brigand warband while searching for Zenabarithon's lair
• Mighty Redneck (Ranger 6): Killed by brigand warband while searching for Zenabarithon's lair
• Palk Mei (Magic-User 8): Killed by brigand warband while searching for Zenabarithon's lair

(30 March 2025)

Solo Session 8: The Sundering of the Bros

• Brother Fitzy (Cleric 6): killed by the white dragon Zenabarithon and his mate in the mountains near the Shrine of Lethria

(17 July 2024)

Solo Session 7: The Purging of Gunnolfsfell - Part 2

• Bro-jira (Fighter 1): killed by bugbears outside the Ruined Monastery of Gunnolfsfell
• Brother O'malley (Cleric 2): killed by orcs outside the Ruined Monastery of Gunnolfsfell
• 30 mercenary pikemen: killed by orcs and bugbears in fighting throughout the town of Gunnolfsfell and the nearby ruined monastery

(17 May 2024)

Solo Session 5: The Serpent Shrine

• Bro-thazarr (MU 1): killed by ogres in the Serpent Shrine
• Lightfingers Louie (Thief 1): killed by ogres in the Serpent Shrine
• Slicer (Assassin 1): killed by ogres in the Serpent Shrine

(12 Apr 2024)

Solo Session 1: The Shrine of Lethria

• Shifty (Thief 1): killed by orcs in the Shrine of Lethria
• Sir Stabbington (Fighter 1): killed by orcs in the Shrine of Lethria
• Blasty (MU 1): killed by orcs in the Shrine of Lethria

(18 Feb 2024)

Session 16: Hench-bros and the Living City of Chaos

Blastikus' Hench-bros decide to follow the southeastern road and to survey the surrounding area in the process. Acting under Blastikus' authority, they recruit laborers from the nearly named town of Blastum as well as the Brocenary Lancers Third Cohort to act as guards. 

They stop along the way at the town of Urliva for refreshment before continuing to the metropolis of Xylard where they gain some information about the surrounding areas and update their maps accordingly. They press onwards to the cities Noinzance-sors and Tasigh, likewise expanding their knowledge. They stop at Tasigh for the night and prepare for the push to the south. 

They've been lucky on their journey thus far and do not encounter any wandering critters on the road. This bit of good luck raises their spirits substantially as they set off the next day. Their good fortune lasts until they reach the ruined city on the treasure map.

The city is vast. Much of it covered in a thick layer of ash as if a great multitude were cremated and their remains used to blot this city from existence. As the party moves further into the ruins, they notice the strangely organic nature of the remnants. There are no right angles to be seen anywhere, all edges being rounded as if they were extruded from the thorax of gigantic insects rather than constructed by the hand of man. There are numerous strange globular buildings unlike anything the bros have ever seen before. More strangely, all structures are covered with obscene runes reminiscent of those at the Obsidian Citadel. Every surface is inconceivably, as can be seen by the windblown surfaces and the now illegible runes sanded smooth by the winds of time. Jack Stabby silently curses his greed for bringing him here, but, in a rare bout of brilliance for a half-orc, wisely elects to remain silent about his feelings. 

As the hench-bros search the strange ruins for the hoard, they stumble upon an eight member wolfpack that has been stalking the crumbling remnants of this odd place in search of a meal. The immediate thrill of battle silences their inner misgivings!

Since we've got a 2 on 1 combat for each hench-bro, I'll roll a 50/50 chance for which wolf gets hit until we're back to 1 on 1

Hench-bros win surprise 4-1
Jack Stabby - hit wolf1 for 5
Johnny Smash - 1 hit; 1 crit on wolf3 for 17, killing it
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu - 1 hit for 4

Round1: Hench-bros win 6-5
Jack Stabby - hit wolf for 7
Johnny Smash - miss
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu - 1 hit for 6
wolf1 -> Jack Stabby: miss
wolf2 -> Jack Stabby: miss
wolf3: DEAD
wolf4 -> Johnny Smash: hit for 3
wolf5 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf6 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf7 -> Dexiu: miss
wolf8 -> Dexiu: miss

Round2: Tied 5-5; all actions simultaneous
Jack Stabby - crit wolf2 for 14, killing it
Johnny Smash - miss
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu - miss
wolf1 -> Jack Stabby: miss
wolf2 -> Jack Stabby: miss; DEAD
wolf3: DEAD
wolf4 -> Johnny Smash: miss
wolf5 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf6 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf7 -> Dexiu: hit
wolf8 -> Dexiu: hit for 8 killing her

Round3: Hench-bros win 2-1
Jack Stabby - hit wolf1 for 7; killing it
Johnny Smash - miss
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu: DEAD
wolf1 -> DEAD
wolf2 -> DEAD
wolf3: DEAD
wolf4 -> Johnny Smash: hit for 3
wolf5 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf6 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf7 -> Dexiu: miss
wolf8 -> Dexiu: miss

Round4: Tied 3-3; all actions simultaneous
Jack Stabby - hit wolf8 for 7hp
Johnny Smash - miss
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu - DEAD
wolf1 -> DEAD
wolf2 -> DEAD
wolf3 -> DEAD
wolf8 -> Jack Stabby: miss
wolf4 -> Johnny Smash: crit for 6
wolf7 -> Johnny Smash: miss
wolf5 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf6 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss

Round5: Tied 4-4; all actions simultaneous
Jack Stabby - miss
Johnny Smash - hit wolf7 for 7 killing it
Denzel Ramondo - miss
Dexiu - DEAD

wolf1 -> DEAD
wolf2 -> DEAD
wolf3 -> DEAD
wolf8 -> Jack Stabby: miss
wolf4 -> Johnny Smash: miss
wolf7 -> DEAD; Johnny Smash: miss
wolf5 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss
wolf6 -> Denzel Ramondo: miss

Wolves fail morale check (16%) and flee

Yet another Bro goes into the Dead Book, but such is the adventurer's life...

The group continues its explorations and finally finds the place they believe to be the one on the map. It appears to be the remains of some sort of chalet or manor house, matching the map's description. They put the laborers to work digging out the mansion (and burying Dexiu in the process). It doesn't take long for them to uncover a still intact trapdoor to an underground storage room where they find the promised treasure: a +1 longsword, a +1 military pick, and a suit of +1 leather armor. Random rolls give the sword to Jack Stabby, the pick to Johnny Smash and the armor to Denzel Ramondo (who elects to sell it to Dejing pan Ark upon return since he already has banded mail and shield.

The bros back up and head back the way they came. They again luck out and don't have any encounters on the road so they safely return to the Obsidian Citadel with updated maps, some spiffy new gear and yet more knowledge about the ancient ruins that surround Blastikus' current abode.

Session 15 Downtime: I Didn't Choose the Hench Life...It Chose ME!

 

I decide henchman and mercenary recruiting costs will be doubled for all Bros henceforth due to Bloody Brogallo's reputation ("He'll make you rich...but your blood will soak the gold!").

Since the Bros are starting to approach upper levels, I'm going to make use of reaction rolls to decide their respective courses of action, when required.

There's lots of activity in this downtime session - let's dive in!

Blastikus

• Blastiboy decides it's time to stake out a piece of turf for himself. He begins fortifying and expanding the Obsidian Citadel as shown below. He's going to make it look like Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça, but more Lovecraftian cuz, you know, "the stars are right" etc, etc. 
• (11) Stone buildings (barracks and storehouses)
• (4) 200ft Curtain walls with battlements
• (4) Bastion walls with battlements
• Siege engines will be added after wall construction is complete
  
  
• Blastikus is an impatient sort, so he pays the upcharge of 50% to double construction speed (DMG pg 106). He further sweetens the pot by offering the laborers settlement rights in the surrounding area. A reaction roll of 95% plus his 10% Charisma bonus means the laborers are more than willing to accept terms, especially after seeing how easily the mage and friends cleaned out the tower. This is definitely safer than being Hobgoblin playthings in the western cities. Everything will be ready by 1 October 2025 due to his generous terms. This gives Blastikus some time to get more loot and continue his research.
  
  
• He assigns Methikles the task of continual brewing of Potions of Extra Healing. One potion will be available every week at a cost of 400gp per dose. After Methikles builds up a reserve, Blastikus will re-evaluate what the next project will be.
  
  
• Ever the pragmatist, Blastikus is getting nervous with the potential hostiles and the fact that Johnny Crush was obliterated by the now deceased windwalker. He makes a trip to Tallow Watch, recruits some new henchmen and puts them under Jack Stabby's command.
  
  
• The mage's new minions are:
• Jack Stabby, L4 half-orc fighter (LE)
• Johnny Smash L1 half-orc Fighter (LE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Denzel Ramondo L1 Fighter (CE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Dexiu L1 Cleric (CE); Equipped from KIA gear
  
  
• Blastikus decides that the loot on the treasure map isn't worth his time, but it would go a long way towards appeasing the new recruits (and toughening them up a bit in the process). He gives the map to Jack Stabby and tells him to run the expedition as he wishes. He then sends the hench-bros to hex 312.309 and tells them to scout along the way and report back. We'll check in on them in the next session.

Brogallo

• Bloody Brogallo is making a name for himself and is contemplating making a larger move to impact the area. He has some decisions to make:

1. Does he put some distance between himself and Blastikus, out of his own self interest and before things go bad again? Reaction roll: 54% = Neutral. The peace offering seems to have worked and the environment is stable for now. Not yet time to depart, but he remains ready to leave on a moment's notice.
2. Does he take himself out of the local action for a few months and pursue the hoard described in his treasure map? Reaction roll: 71% = Neutral with a 55% of positive. A 91% followup means not yet. Perhaps he'll use it as an excuse to make an exit when the time comes...

• Brogallo decides it's time he had some lackeys personally loyal to him. The mercs are nice, but they are a fickle bunch at the best of time. He hires the following henchmen from Old Brightwood:
• Adisan L2 Fighter (CN); Equipped from KIA gear
• Cilanwan L2 Thief (NE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Salazar L1 Illusionist (NE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Gamalak L1 Thief (CN); Equipped from KIA gear
  
  
• He sends the hench-bros on a western scouting mission to see if there's somewhere appealing he can occupy as his stronghold. Blastikus' actions in fortifying this musty tower has him thinking some stone walls between him and future unpleasantness is probably a good idea worth emulating.

Dejing pan Ark

• Dejing has been contemplating her immediate future in light of her association with the Band of Brogallos:

1. Does she form her own thieves guild somewhere far away from the immediate area, which is still very dangerous for her? Reaction roll: 32% = Uncertain with a 55% negative. A 11% followup means that now is not the time. Perhaps after gathering some more intel...
2. Does she slip away from the Bros before something ugly happens? Reaction roll: 100% = Enthusiastic (first natural 100 of the campaign BTW) means that she is addicted to the rush and can't tear herself away from the bloodsoaked action and ample loot...yet.

• She definitely is feeling vulnerable after literally having her armor dissolved by the thessalhydra and losing her former meatshields in the process. She decides more bodyguards are needed and makes her way to Valthrun. She recruits the following henchmen:
• Harithu L1 Thief (CE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Nopka L1 Magic-User (CE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Rundok L1 Fighter (CN); Equipped from KIA gear

Kleptikos

• Kleptikos is feeling pretty content with the loot he's accumulated, but is ever mindful of the danger involved in doing so. Decision time!

1. Does he form a guild before one of the other cutthroats gets the idea first? Reaction roll: 48% reaction =Neutral. Stability and complacency win the day.

Krall Diacan

• Krall is getting nervous with all the recent escalations of threats and decides he needs to perfect his poison skills. He'll be out of action for the next 5 weeks as he researches insinuative poisons (see DMG pg 20). He'll be unavailable until 29 May 2025.
• Krall, much like the others, is feeling a little exposed without suitable pin cushions to absorb sharp things aimed at him, so he makes the trip with Dejing to Valthrun to recruit some minions:
• Pashar L1 Thief (N); Equipped from KIA gear
• Sirriax L1 Fighter (LE); Equipped from KIA gear
• Stang L1 Fighter (CE); Equipped from KIA gear

Voon deGoon

• Voon is enjoying the loot, but is not an immense fan of Bloody Brogallo's leadership style. Decision time!

1. Does he split off before something slimy and hungry decides it wants to taste-test Voon? Reaction roll: 53% reaction =Neutral. He's been influenced by Kleptikos so stability and complacency win the day again

Looks like we're running the hench-bros for a few sessions...let's see if they survive the meat grinder.

Session 15 Part 2: Crushing the Cult of Dagon

I wanted something weird for the Bros to fight as part of the Circle of Pelagea Dagon cult, so I broke tradition and picked a Thessalhydra from MM2 instead of pure random rolls. Plus it felt right as a boss monster vs the rando hydras I've been rolling - let's see what happens. I decide the cult's spies have seen the Bros coming and sent the avatar of Father Dagon to deal with the interlopers.

No surprise (4-3) so we proceed to initiative.
Round 1: Thessalhydra wins 3-1

Thessalhydra hits Brogallo for 12hp

Thessalhydra hits Voon deGoon for 8hp

Thessalhydra hits Kleptikos for 8hp

Thessalhydra hits Blastikus for 7hp

Thessalhydra hits Jack Stabby for 5hp

Thessalhydra hits Culrink twice for 10hp, killing her

Thessalhydra hits Yelu Falone twice for 12hp, killing her

Brogallo hits twice for 17hp; -1 head

Voon deGoon hits for 5hp

Kleptikos hits for 8hp

Krall Diacan hits for 8hp

Blastikus casts Charm Monster, but loses the spell due to Thessalhydra hit

Round 2: Thessalhydra wins 6-3

Thessalhydra hits Brogallo for 3hp

Thessalhydra hits Voon deGoon for 4hp

Thessalhydra hits Dejing pan Ark for a total of 30hp (including tail grab+bite and acid). Her leather armor and all potions fail the acid saving throw and are destroyed. She's naked and angry!

Thessalhydra hits Blastikus for 1hp

Thessalhydra hits Jack Stabby for 2hp

Brogallo hits twice for 13hp; -1 head

Kleptikos hits for 4hp

Krall Diacan hits for 11hp

Round 3: Tied 4-4; all actions simultaneous

Brogallo hits twice for 21hp; -1 head

Voon deGoon hits twice for 15hp; -1 head

Kleptikos hits for 8hp; -1 head

Krall Diacan hits for 12hp; -1 head

Blastikus casts Polymorph Other (let's go with "white fluffy bunny" cuz that's hysterical) on the Thessalhydra which fails its save. It fails the mental check and now believes it is a white fluffy bunny. Awesome!

Thessalhydra hits Brogallo for 8hp

Thessalhydra hits Voon deGoon for 6hp

Thessalhydra hits Jack Stabby for 9hp

The Bros give Dejing pan Ark a spare cloak and garments, but this will do little to soothe her ire at losing her hench-bros and armor. The cultists will pay for this humiliation!

Their blood is up as the Bros approach the village. The cultists are waiting for them as the ragged villager cultists form ranks to protect their leaders who are in the middle of a ritual. Blastikus knows that this must be related to the astronomical and metaphysical conjunction he warned the Bros about and tells them as such. Every cultist must die if the Bros are to live!

I roll a d8 and come up with a 6. The Bros have 6 rounds to stop the ritual before the Avatar of Dagon appears (let's go with a reskinned Shoggoth from Deities and Demigods First Printing because I want to flex with my Old Skool collection...)

I've rolled up the Dagon Cult as a group of Pilgrims from the MM. We'll be using the campaign mass rules as described in Campaign Procedures and Generators for the troop battles and the Bros will engage in standard AD&D combat

The Circle of Pelagea cult stats:

• 44 are equipped with Leather armor and club
• 44 are equipped with Leather armor and dagger

Leaders:

• Patriarch L8 Cleric
• Canon L6 Cleric, assistant to the Patriarch
• Curate L4 Cleric, assistant to the Patriarch
• Adept L2 Cleric, assistant to the Patriarch
• L5 Monk, bodyguard to the Patriarch
• L1 Fighter, bodyguard to the Patriarch

The Brocenary stats:

Brogallo's Mercs:

• Brocenary Lancers First Cohort, 10 medium horsemen with Lt and Sgt
• Brocenary Lancers Second Cohort, 24 light horsemen with Capt and 3 Sgts
• Brocenary Crossbowmen, 24 light crossbowmen with Capt and 3 Sgts

Blastikus' Mercs:

• Brocenary Lancers Third Cohort, 17 light horsemen with Capt and 2 Sgts
• Brocenary Cataphracts First Cohort, 15 heavy footmen with Capt and 2 Sgts

No Surprise 6-5

Round 1: Tied 4-4; all actions simultaneous

Brogallo charges and hits Patriarch for 18hp

Voon deGoon charges and hits Canon for 16hp

Kleptikos charges and hits Curate for 6hp

Dejing pan Ark charges and hits Monk for 6hp

Adept hits Krall Diacan for 6hp

Brocenary Lancers First Cohort score 7 kills on Cultist Unit 1

Brocenary Lancers Second Cohort score 14 kills on Cultist Unit 1

Brocenary Crossbowmen score 9 kills on Cultist Unit 1

Brocenary Lancers Third Cohort score 13 kills on Cultist Unit 2

Brocenary Cataphracts First Cohort score 10 kills on Cultist Unit 2

Cultist Unit 1 score 7 kills on Brocenary Lancers First Cohort

Cultist Unit 1 score 8 kills on Brocenary Lancers Second Cohort

Cultist Unit 1 score 8 kills on Brocenary Crossbowmen

Cultist Unit 2 score 6 kills on Brocenary Lancers Third Cohort

Cultist Unit 2 score 5 kills on Brocenary Cataphracts First Cohort

Cultist Unit 1 fail morale and flee; Brocenaries run them down and kill them all

Cultist Unit 2 fail morale and flee; Brocenaries run them down and kill them all

Round 2: Tied 5-5; all actions simultaneous

Brogallo hits Patriarch for 13hp

Voon deGoon hits Canon for 9hp, killing him

Kleptikos hits Curate for 6hp

Dejing pan Ark hits Monk for 5hp

Patriarch hits Brogallo for 8hp

Canon hits Voon deGoon for 4hp

Curate hits Kleptikos for 2hp

Monk hits Dejing pan Ark for 3hp

Cult Fighter hits Jack Stabby for 2hp

Round 3: Bros win 3-1

Brogallo hits Patriarch for 19hp, killing him

Kleptikos hits Curate for 7hp, killing him

Krall Diacan hits Adept for 8hp, killing him

Dejing pan Ark hits Monk for 9hp

Blastikus hits Cult Fighter hits for 6hp, killing him

Jack Stabby hits Monk for 7hp, killing him

The Bros have wiped out the Circle of Pelagea, ending the threat...for now.

Downtime will be interesting...

Session 15 Part 1: The Purging of the Obsidian Tower

 

"We have a problem," Blastikus announced as he entered the feast hall where the Bros were enjoying the numbing effects of a fine batch whiskey that followed their more than acceptable evening meal.

"Pfft...what else is new?" Voon chuckled after emitting an epic belch that would shame an ogre. "Who needs to die to let me get drunk in peace?" The rest of the group quietly chuckled, still lost within the warm embrace of the liquor.

"The Thing that's imprisoned beneath our feet," Blastikus quietly retorted, fixing his boon companions with a grim stare.

Instantly and now painfully sober, Brogallo rose to his feet and said, "That's a harsh joke to make on a fine night, my friend. You are joking, yes?"

"Sadly not. I've been studying the carvings on the upper levels of the catacombs and comparing them to the astrological progression. The carvings are all wards against the Outer Dark and used by insane fools to call down the abominations that live there. These particular wards are tied to the progression of our cosmos and other, stranger planes. We are approaching a time of a particularly rare alignment where the stars are right and that will significantly weaken the barriers between our realm and the frozen insanity where the Thing originates. This means that its power will increase dramatically and it will be able to summon whatever multitude of horrible thralls it has bound. All the indications show this abomination has been bound here a very, very, long time which means it is very, very angry and looking for revenge. It knows us and will most likely blame us for its imprisonment."

"We had nothing to do with trapping that monster here," objected Krall. 

"I'm sure it will love to debate the finer points of extradimensional summoning protocols and rituals. Perhaps you'd like to brew some tea and invite it over for a stern lecture?"

"Fine - point taken. Let's kill it and then take care of those freak villagers with the serpent fetish. I'm getting bored," Krall said as he shakily rose to his feet. "But maybe we wait until I can only see one suicidal mage in front of me."

In the morning, the annoyingly hung over group of Bros gather their apprentices and make their ways to the dungeon entrance. Leaving Blastikus' mercenary group to guard the fortified entrance to the depths, the Bros retrace their steps to the 2nd level summoning room. I check for random encounters every turn but the Bros luckily seem to have pacified the first level and most of the second level.

Blastikus, expecting trouble, casts Conjure Fire Elemental and the boys get ready to rock and roll.

I rule that no surprise is called for since both sides are aware of each other. We proceed to combat.

Round 1: Air Elemental wins 4 to 1
Air Elemental uses its whirlwind ability, insta-killing the hench-bros Johnny Crush, Shen Pisakar, Tuqtamur Haoennor, and Zahm Al-Bashir since they're all under 3HD. Everyone else takes 8hp.
Brogallo hits twice for 34hp, Kleptikos hits for 4hp and Voon hits with a crit for 22hp, killing the elemental.

What a difference a few months and decent kit makes! Krall is pissed, though, since he just lost his brand new hench-bros...c'est la guerre.

The Bros finish exploring the remainder of level 2, not finding anything of note and again not encountering any wandering monsters. They find a set of stairs leading down and make their way to level 3.

Right off the bat, the boys get a random encounter in room 1 and a roll on the DMG tables comes up with 2 Black Dragons that are in their lair. This doesn't make any sense, and I invoke my DM ability of Reskin Monster. Let's just say they're formless black entities radiating the frigid cold of the void between the stars and go for it!

No surprise (6-4) so we proceed to initiative.
Round 1: Bros win 3 to 2
Brogallo hits twice for 31hp
Voon hits for 8hp
Kleptikos hits for 12hp, killing Formless Void #1
Fire Elemental hits for 19hp
Blastikus casts Magic Missile for 16hp
Jack Stabby hits with a crit for 14hp, killing Formless Void #2

The Conjure Fire Elemental spell expires and the boys are now on their own. They collect the mountain of gems and platinum pieces that these abominations had been bound to as guardians. Deciding that the loot will be safe for now, they elect to press on and return for the treasure later.

The rest of the dungeon level is surprisingly empty until we get to the last room. Appendix A pg171 TABLE V. F.: CHAMBER OR ROOM CONTENTS (d20) comes up with Monster Only (13 on a d20) and I roll an Aerial Servant. NICE! This builds on the theme built with the Air Elemental on level 2. Time to bleed!

The Aerial Servant wins surprise 3-1. Ouch!
Surprise 1: Hits Brogallo for 17hp
Surprise 2: Hits Voon for 23hp

Round 1: Bros win 5-1
Brogallo hits twice for 17hp
Voon hits for 14hp
Kleptikos hits for 6hp
Fire Elemental hits for 14hp
Krall hits for 7hp
Blastikus casts Lightning Bolt for 36hp; Aerial Servant fails save and is killed

All in all, a mixed bag of emotions for the Bros tonight. Doubtless the ample loot will go a long way toward soothing their grief over the hench-bros that were ripped apart in the Air Elemental's blender attack but, hey, Murder Hobo-ing Ain't Easy!!!

Let's see what happens in part 2 of our session...

Session 14 Downtime: The Reunion Tour

 

"Sergeant, please confirm what I'm seeing. Look at the southern approach, just beyond the hills we use for catapult practice", Captain Titus said to Sergeant Domitian as they stood guard on the newly built palisades surrounding the Obsidian Tower.

The sergeant looked in the indicated direction and replied "Confirmed sir. I count about 30 horsemen and about as many infantry. Looks like crossbowmen. Those must be their officers in front. I think they might be in the mood to parley...they're not in formation and I don't see any siege weapons."

"I concur. Send a runner to alert Master Blastikus and tell the men to suit up, just in case we need to make the grass grow", the steely eyed captain said, loosening the sword at his hip. "Man the ballistae, but don't fire unless I give the command". 

"Yes sir!", Domitian responded, before turning away to execute his commander's orders.

Titus, a veteran of many campaigns, kept the intruders in his sharp stare as their troops wisely halted just outside of ballista range and two of the officers continued forward on horseback. One was clearly a hardened warrior in well maintained banded mail and the other a somewhat nondescript man in leather armor. Possibly a scout or an advisor, but clearly someone accustomed to blade work, judging by the well kept blade at his side. Both had seen recent combat based on their bound wounds and bedraggled appearance.

"That's far enough stranger," Titus called out, "State your intent or suffer the consequences."

"Tell your liege that Brogallo would speak with him," the warrior called out. "We have business to discuss."

"Well, well, well...look who finally made an appearance," Blastikus said to the captain as he took his place next to him on the parapet. "Ho, Brogallo! You've got a set of balls to show your face around here after leaving me to die at the claws of that dragon. Give me a reason not to splatter your brains all over the field."

"I killed Zenabarithon two days ago and brought you some presents. Now are we going to scream at each other like street whores or speak like the comrades we once were and can yet be again?"

Blastikus softly chuckled to himself as he quietly said to himself ,"Hmph...he always had a knack for being a charming little bastard, in a crude sort of way." Addressing himself to Brogallo, he called out "Fortune favors the brave, my friend. Tell your men to behave and then advance to the gates with Kleptikos. We can have a drink and talk about what brings you to my door."

Downtime Activity

• Brogallo feels out the mercs over the treasury funds recovered from the usurpers. A reaction roll of 77% = Friendly. Brogallo convinces the troops that since they all bled for the funds, they are the rightful owners. The Bros distribute generous bonuses to all troops with promises of more to come and, as is frequently the sad case in military history, greed defeats honor. The mercs continue their loyal service to the Bros, rapidly forgetting any lingering sense of obligation to the plundered citizens.
  
  
• Brogallo makes a peace offering to Blastikus (The spell books of the recently deceased Man Lee and Manderbro, a +2 Staff, a Brooch of Shielding, a Figurine of Wondrous Power (Serpentine Owl), and a Wand of Negation) in the interest of soothing any past grievances. Of course, these are all former possessions of the fallen Bros and of little use to Brogallo personally so he's not really impacted by his ostensible generosity.
  
  I decide the loot is worth a +20% bonus (mainly due to the spell books). A reaction roll of 61% + 20% = Friendly means Blastikus is more than willing to bury the hatchet.
  
  
• Brogallo proposes reuniting the original Bros, noting that as a combined force they have a much better chance of surviving the increasingly dangerous threats that are manifesting. They both exchange tales of their victories and setbacks, with Blastikus eventually deciding that Brogallo's proposal had merit. After all, it would be easy enough to convince Krall to kill Brogallo in his sleep if things started to fall apart again. Krall was a bloodthirtsty bastard after all, and the prospect of yet more loot would quickly melt any objections.
  
  
• Having discussed the odd inhabitants of the village of Eastsea, they agree that something suspicious is going on. It was just a little too coincidental that Brogallo was ambushed by a hydra, normally an extremely rare abomination, so soon after leaving the village. When coupled with the fact that they Bros have encountered not one, but two such monsters (see Session 6) in their travels indicates there are events in motion that are far from usual.
  
  
• Dejing pan Ark and her henchmen ask to join the Band of Brogallos. A reaction roll of 38% + 25% = Uncertain (36% = positive) means that Brogallo is willing to accept the former usurper, reasoning that the more duplicitous conspirators are now crow food and it's better to have more swords than less for some of the future endeavors he has planned.
  
  
• The Bros secure the treasure in the second level of the tower's dungeon, knowing that the threat of the hostile air elemental trapped therein will deter the mercenaries from running off with the loot. Blastikus makes note of some future purchases and spell research he will undertake to make a more permanent location for their loot.
  
  
• Brogallo, Voon deGoon, Kleptikos pay each the mercs 100gp combat bonus pay; officers get 100gp/level
  
  
• Brogallo, Voon deGoon, Kleptikos all have enough XP to advance and are in training until 24 April 2025
  
  
• A random roll on the rumor table decides the newly reunited Bros will investigate the Hamlet of Eastsea to see exactly what is going on with those fishy bastards