Age Of Worms Campaign (Phil)

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A few more pictures ... (from left to right) : Mouse, Huge Bear, the innocent Alma

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16-10-2016 Session

Characters : Oak-Palm (Clement), SeaGold (Ziq) - captured, Alma (NPC) - left, Mouse (NPC) - killed

Key events
- party defeated a group of druid and a giant rhinoceros
- party managed to rout a group of 12 hill giants and killed their leader
- party discovered that the mine is actually a cavern with some ancient giant double doors inside
- party managed to ally with the druids and captured Mouse
- Druids dispelled some enchantments on SeaGold and Alma
- Druids cured some powerful poison affecting SeaGold
- Mouse and 2 Druids guards were assassinated during the night at the Druid village
- Alma stayed at the village while Oak-Palm, SeaGold and a Senior Druid went to Serella sanctuary
- party reached the sanctuary clearing protected by heavy fog and a group of water feys
- party was tricked into accepting some of the conditions requested by the feys
- SeaGold was captured by the Feys and carried away under water
- Oak-Palm managed to open the sanctuary doors and enter its safety
- currently 23 days left before start of Arena Games

Wealth acquired (to be properly split per party member)
- 1 huge magic heavy flail from Hill Giant Leader
- 2 large magic potions
- 1 bag of holding (Type I) from Mouse
- 1 hat of disguise from Mouse
- 1 magic platinum ring from Mouse
- 1 pair of magic boots from Mouse
- 1 magic dagger from Mouse
- 6 masterwork daggers from Mouse
- 8 magic potions from Mouse
- 1 gold medallion with rearing unicorns and 2 horns engraved at the back (held by Senior Druid)

Wealth spent
- consumables and CLW charges
- 1 wooden magic ring with nice sylvan engravings given back to the reincarnated Bear
- 1 potion of Cure Serious Wounds
- 1 copper medallion with rearing unicorns

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant
- Next session on 23rd October 2016

[phil]

23-10-2016 Session

Characters : Oak-Palm (Clement), NPC Senior Druid BarkSkin Specialist (Ziq)

Key events
- party defeated Lord Hearst and his army
- Druids reincarnated Lord Hearst as an half-elf and dispelled the enchantment controlling him
- party took over Lord Hearst castle after defeating (and almost killing) the dominated Alma
- party found Lady Sheyla’s secret abode in the Dungeon and broke her large magic mirror
- this opened a Gate to the Abyss from which a Lord Demonness stepped out proudly
- party killed the Demonness and her minions in 1 round
- party helped Lord Hearst to regain control and rulership of the town
- currently 18 days left before start of Arena Games, it will take 3 days to reach the Island

Wealth acquired (to be properly split per party member)
- 4 magic scrolls from chest
- 8000GP in coins from chest
- 6 magic potions from chest
- 1000GP each from Lord Hearst

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables and CLW charges
- 1 huge magic heavy flail lost with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 2 large magic potions lost with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 1 bag of holding (Type I) lost on SeaGold corpse
- 1 hat of disguise lost with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 1 magic platinum ring lost on SeaGold corpse
- 1 pair of magic boots lost on SeaGold corpse
- 1 magic dagger lost on SeaGold corpse
- 6 masterwork daggers lost on SeaGold corpse
- 8 magic potions lost with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 1 damaged elven mithril chainshirt with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 1 masterwork silverish composite longbow Str16 with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 1 masterwork dark composite shortbow Str 14 with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse
- 9 magic black arrows with bag of holding on SeaGold corpse

Rules for magic items purchases on the Island

- minimum fee of 120GP + 1 day processing per item to identify and certify items to be sold

- Selling price (vs full price) : 50% immediate, +5%/1d4 day with a total maximum of 70%
- for Cursed items, selling price is half
- Buying availability % : (128 - full price/100 + 5/day up to 10 days)%

- Buying price (vs full price) : (100 – availability success margin)% with a total minimum of 75%

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant
- party members who level-up get 4,800GP; 62GP free per day for lifestyle expenses
- new level 10 party members get 18,600GP (5,580GP for magic items, 2,790GP max per item)
- Next session on 30th October 2016

Pictures from left to right : Water Feys (including censorship), Serella, Sacred Cove Guardian

Lord Demonness picture has been omitted as it did not pass censorship validation

[phil]

25-10-2016 Solo Session

Characters : Oak-Palm (Clement)

Key events
- Oak-Palm attempted to convince the Feys to release SeaGold remains and belongings but they initially refused
- Oak-Palm turned into an aquatic troll and went in the pool to discover a stone chest secured by a very solid net
- the feys attempted to strike a deal which Oak-Palm rejected and he took away the chest despite their cries
- Oak-Palm found a necklace with 30 finger bones and managed to guess which ones belonged to SeaGold
- Oak Palm reincarnated SeaGold as an Elf
- currently 17 days left before start of Arena Games, it will take 3 days to reach the Island

Wealth acquired (to be properly split per party member)
- all belongings previously lost with SeaGold corpse
- 6000GP worth of precious pearls (now owned by Oak-Palm)
- 3 quasi-transparent shawls radiating very strong magic (now owned by Oak-Palm)

Wealth spent/lost
- 1000GP for reincarnation casting costs spent by Oak-Palm

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to Oak-Palm
- Next session on 30th October 2016

[phil]

30-10-2016 Session

Characters : Oak-Palm (Clement), SeaPlatinum (Ziq), Maximilian (Raymond), Melinde (NPC)

Key events

- party bought and sold items at the magic fair

- Oak-Palm lent the Wind Lords Diadem for further analysis

- party joined Lord Raknian's Arena Games as "Aqueous Orb team" through Ekyam's contract

- party won the first three fights at the Arena

- Oak-Palm discovered the underground location of Ekyam's sister body who has been turned into a zombie

- Oak-Palm discovered the underground location of a gargantuan undead grub beamed by some magic scrolls

- SeaPlatinum used his languages knowledge to understand a mundane conversation in Abyssal ...

Wealth acquired (to be properly split per party member)
- 15,000 GP for selling 3 magic shawls (for Oak-Palm only)

- 14,500 GP for selling 2 giant potions, 1 dagger +1, 6 masterwork daggers, 1 huge flail +1, 2 masterwork bows, 9 black arrows, 1 hat of disguise, magic chainmail (for Oak-Palm only)

- 300 GP from Giant treasure (for Oak-Palm only)

- 5,800 GP from Berserker Vicious sword sale to Max & Melinde assuming 50% is already their share (for all except Max & Melinde)

- 12,000 GP for selling 1 cursed Wondrous Figurine of Fiendish Griffon, 1 cursed Vacuous Grimoire, 1 cursed Periapt of Foul Rotting, 1 Animated book with 100 demonic names, 1 necromantic doll (party loot)
- druid vestment offered by Gib Rus Druids (for Oak-Palm only)

- first game winnings : 1,000 GP each for betting + 400 GP each price + one bronze bull trophy for the team

- second game winnings : 1,000 GP each price + silver dwarf trophy for the team

- third game winnings : 2,000 GP each price + golden gladiator trophy for the team

Items identified from previous sessions

- ring of Mind Shielding (Oak-Palm)

- boots of spider climbing (Oak-Palm)

- 3 magic shawls to control water feys (Oak-Palm)

- 1 potion of gaseous form, 2 potions of invisibility, 1 potion of fly, 1 potion of water breathing, 2 potions of cure serious wounds, 1 potion of see invisibility

- 1 scroll of Reincarnate

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables and CLW charges
- 1 potion of gaseous form, 1 potion of invisibility used by Oak-Palm for his dragon

- 5,800 GP to buy back Berserker sword assuming 50% is already Max & Melinde's share (Max only)

- 14,000 GP spent by Melinde and Max to upgrade the Berserker sword

- money spent to purchase other items at the fair (mostly Oak-Palm)

- money spent to buy alchemist formulae from Gunther (Max)

- 2,500 GP spent by party as a bet to beat Auric's team

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant
- rules changes : not holding breath under water causes automatic suffocation only when unconscious or nauseated
- Next session date to be confirmed based on players availability

[phil]

20-11-2016 Session

Characters : Oak-Palm (Clement), Maximilian (Raymond) - killed, Melinde (NPC) - turned into a wight

Key events
- the Undead grub emerged from the ground during the final Champion fight against Auric's team

- Maximilian was killed during the fight

- Lord Raknian offered the Champion as a sacrifice to Kyuss and Auric was promptly digested by the grub

- a powerful negative energy pulse turned Melinde and 12,000 spectators into wights

- Lord Raknian turned into some kind of skeletal looking armored figure and flew away on an undead mount
- the Grub was finally destroyed by Oak-Palm and his minions army

- Maximilian was reincarnated by Oak-Palm as an ... Ettin !

- the party could not find Elligos in his house where only is dead butler was found and some notes addressed to Allustan

Wealth acquired
- none

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables and CLW charges

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant

- party members who level-up get 6,000GP; 82GP free per day for lifestyle expenses
- new level 11 party members get 24,600GP (7,380GP for magic items, 3,690GP max per item)
- rules changes : Profession can not replace an existing Skill unless specifically allowed by relevant trait / ability / feat
- Next session 27th November 2016

[phil]

27-11-2016 + 4-12-2016 + 11-12-2016 + 18-12-2016 Sessions

Key events
- party went back to Diamond Lake and fled from a powerful Black Dragon alchemist
- party entered a black portal in the Whispering Cairn and was transported to an ancient Wind Lord Tomb
- party easily repelled repeated assaults of a Shadow Spider and freed Allustan who was caught in a time stasis trap
- party teleported back to Greyhawk and decided to go help the GibRus druids and recover the Wind Dukes diadem
- party was attacked by 3 Shadows at the Druids village which resulted in one party member being turned into a shadow
- party defeated the water feys at Serella temple and killed one of the Nereid
- party met the Leonal protecting Serella's body and found the diadem and the 2 remaining water feys shawls
- party defeated Gunther and his Lynx; Gunther was later reincarnated as an half-orc and left alone in the mountains
- party defeated Solok and his minions but Serella's relics were destroyed and the Rusalka possessed by Marie was killed
- party went back to Serella's temple to find it empty and managed to take control of the last Nereid
- party went back to Greyhawk

Wealth acquired
- Wind Dukes diadem
- Nereid Shawl

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables and CLW / Infernal Healing charges
- gold to summon dragon companion
- gold to reincarnate

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.4 ability score to each participant
- party members who level-up to Level 12 get 7,800GP; 108GP free per day for lifestyle expenses
- new Level 12 party members get 32,400GP (9,720GP for magic items, 4,860GP max per item)
- rules changes : Dimension Door does not require Line of Sight but auto-fails with damage if target square not empty; Blazing Rainbow modifier is 50% of attribute modifier instead of 100%; Magic Jar works on Intelligent Undeads with a body and target's body SR and DR are maintained (but SR cannot be lowered)
- Next session next year !

Pictures of Izka, Gunther and Solok (from left to right)

[phil]

02-01-2017 Session

Characters : Oaken-Palm (Clement), Marie (Raymond) and Jeanne (NPC) - both turned into vampires

Key events
- Marie decided to sleep in an ancient inn with cellar rooms reserved for vampires
- there was 3% chance that a vampire will visit and it actually happened
- Marie was dominated by the vampire and managed to save against Louis' DC28 attempt to retake control
- Marie and Jeanne were finally turned into vampires but Jeanne stayed with the coven
- the party stealthily avoided the black dragon and passed the black portal to the ancient Wind Duke tomb
- Oaken-Palm destroyed most of the tomb structures with a devastating spell
- the party destroyed a Dread Wraith and allied with the Shadow Spider by agreeing to help it to return the "Seal"
- Oaken-Palm detected that another construction was located several hundred feet below the current location
- the party disabled a complex trapped vault thanks to Oaken-Palm masterful use of Turn Rock to Mud spell

Wealth acquired
- 1 teleport scroll by Oaken-Palm
- 1 pair of gloves of reconnaissance by Oaken-Palm
- 11 oak feather token by Oaken-Palm
- all land and remaining building in Diamond Lake city square by Marie
- ash urn with resetable Energy Drain trap

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables
- 1,250GP spent by Oaken-Palm for 1 teleport scroll
- 2,000GP spent by Oaken-Palm for 1 pair of gloves of reconnaissance
- 4,400GP spent by Oaken-Palm for 11 oak feather token
- 1 oak feather token used in Elligos mansion courtyard
- 15,000GP spent by Marie to purchase all land and remaining building in Diamond Lake city square
- cloak of resistance +2 given away by Marie to compensate the Vampire coven

Others
- 1 free HNY Feat to all characters
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant
- rules changes : PC vampires can not create spawn nor other vampires
- Next session 8th January 2017

[phil]

08-01-2017 Session

Characters : Oaken-Palm (Clement), Marie (Raymond) and SeaPlatinum (Ziq)

Key events
- party explored another part of the tomb with a sluggish crushed ice vortex radiating strong cold and Lawful aura
- party defeated 6 Wind Warriors
- party found a hidden area with huge doors made of an unknown metallic alloy and covered with ancient runes
- party went to the bottom of the underground pit and defeated a noble ghoul warlock with his 2 minions
- party recovered the Seal of Law which is supposed to allow opening the doors

Wealth acquired
- 5 Transport via Plants scrolls by Oaken-Palm
- 1 greenish ghoul Lantern (boosting undead, weakening living creatures and highlighting them with greenish light)
- 1 Seal of Law

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables
- 8,250GP spent by Oaken-Palm for 5 Transport via Plants scrolls
- ash urn with resetable Energy Drain trap

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant (=+2.3 points for those who attended all sessions)
- rules changes / clarifications : Commune with Nature does not allow to ask questions but allows to confirm (or not) 3 specific facts and does not allow to obtain a map / layout; Jatembe Ire area is based on initial spread and does not further propagate after subsequent rounds; only Noble or Elder vampires can create full fledged Vampires; Vampires can not dominate more than twice their HD worth of creatures HD; energy drain can be triggered once per round upon successful slam or natural attack
- Next session 15th January 2017

[phil]

15-01-2017 Session

Characters : Oaken-Palm (Clement), Marie (Raymond)

Key events
- party entered the last part of Icosiol tomb and defeated a demon with hundreds of eyes
- party recovered Icosiol equipment and his blessing activated the silver diadem and the talisman of the sphere
- party recovered one of the 7 fragments of the Staff of Law
- Black Dragon destroyed part of Diamond Lake (causing property market to drop another 66%) and went north

Wealth acquired
- 1 Seal of Law
- Lightning mithril short sword +2 axiomatic / keen / shocking 1d6 / if critical strike burst 2d6 10’ radius; grants Quick Draw feat to attuned owner
- Sword of Aaaqa mithril long sword +2 axiomatic / if critical strike sonic blast 2d6 10’ radius and free trip attempt vs hit foe / undead&demon bane
- When both swords are wielded by attuned owner : grant Two-Weapon Fighting feat and Haste
- Ring of the Wind Dukes (CL17) : wearer ignores effects of strong winds, 20 resistance electricity, negates 2 levels energy drain per day and auto succeeds save to remove temporary negative levels, charm monster (DC 25) air subtype creature 1x/day -4 saves vs air elementals, 60 foot lightning bolt 10d6 Reflex DC 25 1x/day with ability to rematerialize at the other end of the bolt
- Rod of Seven Parts (CL25, minor artifact) : 150hp Heal 1x/day (Will DC31) strong Lawful aura

Items from previous sessions identified
- Ghoul-Light Lantern (CL7, Light spell L4) Greenish Dim-Light 20’ radius, can levitate and follow attuned owner in same square, all undead within radius get +1 profane bonus to hit / all Saves / Charisma checks, all living creatures within radius get -1 profane penalty to hit / all Saves / Charisma checks and are affected by a greenish Faerie Fire while within radius
- Talisman of the Sphere (minor artifact) with additional Dispel Magic CL17 1/day
- Zosiel silver Diadem +2 enhancement to Wis with additional constant Detect Chaos within 30’; CL17 Discern Lies DC 22 3/day; Grants Snake Style feat to attuned owner

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables
- 1,900GP spent by Marie for 1 Legends & Lore scroll
- 1 Legends & Lore scroll used to obtain information about the Staff of Law
- 1 Seal of Law left on top of the pillar

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant (=+2.4 points for those who attended all sessions)
- party members who level-up to 13 get 9,600GP; 140GP free per day for lifestyle expenses
- rules changes / clarifications : Vampires need 24h to attune with a coffin; Vampires can maintain 1 coffin/Cha bonus (min 1); any item with permanent bonuses or constant spell effects require 24h attuning except artifacts
- Next session 22nd January 2017

[phil]

22-01-2017 Session

Characters : Oaken-Palm (Clement), Marie (Raymond), SeaPlatinum (Ziq)

Key events
- party was informed that Jeanne the Nereid vampire went rogue and escaped from Greyhawk
- party transported to MagePoint and met Tenser
- party exchanged the Staff Of Law fragment for very powerful magic items
- Tenser revealed important clues (see following posts)
- party transported to the ancient ruins of Kuluth-Mar to follow the tracks of Balakarde
- party defeated 12 war trolls,  a beholder, several powerful undeads, 3 corrupted celestials, 3 sturdy swarms
- ah yes, most importantly : party saved the tree !!!

Wealth acquired
- AoM +1 Guided and Ghost Touch
- Elder Vampire black Hooded Cloak granting +2 Cha enhancement and suppression of 1 weakness 3r/day (immediate action)
- Nanite Bracers grant Nanite Bloodline powers equivalent to character level
- 10 tree feather token
- 1 portable hole

Wealth spent/lost
- consumables
- 25,000GP spent by Oaken-Palm for True Resurrection insurance
- 25,000GP spent by Marie for permanent Arcane Sight and See invisibility
- 2,275GP spent by SeaPlatinum for 1 Greater Teleport scroll
- 4,000GP spent by Oaken-Palm for 10 tree feather token
- 1 Greater Teleport scroll used to copy spell
- Staff of Law fragment sold to Tenser

Others
- achievement bonus : +0.1 ability score to each participant (=+2.5 points for those who attended all sessions)
- rules changes / clarifications : Elder/Noble vampires have abilities beyond what is described in the Bestiary
- Next session 29th January 2017

[phil]

Clues provided by Tenser (SPOILERS)

The Age of Worms: “The Age of Worms
is foretold in a prophecy that speaks of a
coming apocalypse, an age of death and
writhing doom. Normally such rumors
should be dismissed—doomsday prophecies
are typically the product of nothing
more sinister than madness. This prophecy
is different. It can be traced back,
through various incarnations in books,
tablets, and carvings on walls, for over
two thousand years. It does not change
in content during this time—it has not
evolved through clumsy attempts of
fanatics desperate to reword its predictions
to support their agendas.
“This alone would be enough for it to
merit further study. But even more interesting
is the fact that in the last few years
several of its predictions have actually
come true. In one prophecy, it predicts
the ‘ruin by fire of a city built in a bowl
in the spire’s shadow.’ Just last year, far
to the south, the city of Cauldron—built
in the caldera of a dormant volcano only
a few miles from Kyuss’ one-time home,
the Spire of Long Shadows—was nearly
destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Other
prophecies speak of the recrudescence
of the worm-eaten dead, the recovery of
potent artifacts from ancient tombs, the
destructive manifestation of an immense
demonic tree in a distant city across the
sea, the arrival of a ‘Fane of Scales’ amid a
storm of wind and fire, and the cleansing
of an evil taint from a city besieged in the
past by giants.
“These events have all come to pass,
and quite recently. In fact, there are only
two prophecies remaining to be fulfilled.
The first of these mentions the reunification
of a tripartite spirit—I assume
this is a nod to the goals of the Ebon
Triad. The second remaining prophecy
reads: ‘And on the eve of the Age of
Worms, a hero of the pit shall use his
fame to gi􀈘 a city to the dead.’ I believe
this last line may have been speaking of
Loris Raknian (certainly a hero from the
gladiator’s pit) and his recent successful attempt
to sacrifice thousands at the end of the
Champion’s Games. It remains to be seen if your
actions actually can make a difference or not,
but it would be foolhardy to assume that
those who are trying to fulfill the prophecies
will abate their efforts.”

[phil]

Clues provided by Tenser (SPOILERS)

Kyuss: “Kyuss is an enigma—what we
know of him is sparse. We know that he
was once a mortal, a powerful priest who
ascended to godhood. He ruled a city
named Kuluth-Mar far to the south, and
was famed for the creation of undead.
A former companion of mine, a wizard
named Balakarde, made an extensive
study of Kyuss and his ways. You might
even say he was obsessed with Kyuss.”
Balakarde: “When Balakarde learned
Kuluth-Mar was the likely location of
Kyuss’ divine apotheosis, he could barely
restrain himself. I cautioned him against
going to investigate the ruins. One does
not simply teleport into an unknown
region without doing some research. Yet
Balakarde wouldn’t listen. He le􀈘 immediately,
returning two weeks later with a
wild look in his eye. He wouldn’t say much
of what he’d found there, and before he
moved on he asked me to hold on to some
of his notes. He promised to return later
and tell me more, but that time was short
and he had to head north to follow a new
lead. He vanished without a trace not long
therea􀈘er. I intended to try to track him
down, but unfortunately, other events conspired
to take my attention away. I suspect
he is dead now. Or worse.”

[phil]

Clues provided by Tenser (SPOILERS)

Kuluth-Mar: “The notes Balakarde le􀈘
with me are unfortunately rather sparse.
They confirm that Kuluth-Mar is located
in the Amedio Jungle, far to the south,
and estimate that Kyuss ruled the city
more than two thousand years ago from
a fortress called the Spire of Long Shadows
Balakarde believed that this spire
was the site of Kyuss’ ascension to godhood.
Kyuss built a ziggurat to serve as the
foundation of the Spire of Long Shadows.
Balakarde writes how the ziggurat was a
powerful magical focus for the ritual that
propelled him to divinity. Much of Kyuss’
might has since le􀈘 the city of Kuluth-
Mar, but powerful undead servants and
lingering touches of Kyuss’ own miasma
make the ziggurat a fell and dangerous
place. Balakarde visited the ruined city
several times, but never penetrated the
spire itself. I never found the journal
pages that described his earlier visits.”

[phil]

Vision in Kuluth-Mar

The ruins of Kuluth-Mar seem to be suffused
with a strange taint that hovers just
beyond the edges of reality. Like an oily
stain spreading over a pool, a vision wavers
in the air. Within the tainted energy is a man
seated on a great throne made of green
stone. He wears ornate plate armor, and
a black circlet rests on his brow. Both the
circlet and armor are adorned with silver
symbols—an overlapping skull and scythe.
The vision expands, widening its scope to
reveal that the throne is located at the apex
of the large ziggurat and in the shadow
of the spire. The spire itself gleams with
flashes of white light, and at its peak is balanced
a fi􀈎een-foot-tall black stone monolith
shaped like a trapezoid. Around the
ziggurat spreads a thriving city, its streets
paved in white stone, its buildings painted
and whole. Thousands of figures have gathered
in the large open plaza that surrounds
the ziggurat, all facing the figure seated at
its center. Their cries are a rhythmic chant,
surging like waves on the monolith’s shore.
As these cries rise in volume, threatening to
shake the jungle apart, the vision fades and
is replaced by the ruined city of today.