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Showing posts from December, 2024

COD 1: Session 30: Endings and Beginnings

  Pre-scene Notes - Scene setup/conflict:  Party was blinded by Aboleth’s psychic attack and the cave dive ends, transporting them back to Cavesmuth. Interrupted scene: Close a thread: Dispute Failure. This is very interesting! I think this is going to give me a good chance to insert a small scene in for exposition for the ending of Season 1!   Scene: The party opened their eyes and they were no longer at the arena. However, all three of them could only see blinding white even if their eyes were wide open.  “Hmph! Stupid creature, to think an Aboleth can even think it can override my powers over my follower!” A boom like an army of knights charging erupted in their minds. “Xanthia! Oh great Xanthia!” Yankovic was positive of it. He dropped to his knees and asked, “Please point the path for your loyal follower to do your bidding. My memory is absent, but I feel I have experienced many holy wars in your name. Please guide me and tell me of your challenge.” “Dear Y...

COD 1: Session 29: Battle Royale

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 Pre-scene Notes - Scene setup/conflict:  Zar was captured by the Empress’s men. Needing as many sacrifice as possible to complete the ritual asap, the Empress threw him back to being a gladiator in the final battle royale, wanting him to cut down as many as possible.  Altered scene: Interesting… If it was an interrupt scene, I may have Zar meet up w/ Weird Elf or Filli in some way before entering the arena, but alas it’s an altered scene. I sought help by rolling some inspiration words and got Stop Tension… I guess comedic relief is needed. Scene: Zar literally slipped on a banana peel as he was shoved through the coliseum tunnels. Spitting out a mouthful of sand, he just managed to dodge out of the way of a whip as the soldiers marched everyone onwards. After he was captured, he had been kept in a jail cell for the past two days or so - he could not count as there were no windows. They actually let him keep his items, but that was more of a bad sign as it had meant he w...

COD 1: Session 28: The Resistance

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  Pre-scene Notes - Scene setup/conflict:  Let’s follow Filli and Fido. I first rolled for a new scene to see if I would get ideas on how to start it, but no altered/interrupted scene. Considering last time they jumped off a cliff into a river, I would think the first question to ask at this scene is whether Filli had successfully escaped. Mythic rolled no… I guess as this cave dive started by wanting to test out more combat, I’m going to pit Filli against an eternal string of CR 1/8 Guards and see how far he gets before l activate the plot armour I have planned… No altered/interrupted scene Scene: Fido paddled as best as he could with Filli down the rapids and even fell down a small waterfall, finally to a relatively calm and shallow lagoon where other waterfalls gathered. Filli gulped for air, finding his feet, but was dismayed at shouts that echoed around him. He tried to wade through the water, but not before the Empresses’ guardsmen arrived on the scene. Nice waterfall ma...

COD 1: Session 27: Her motives

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 Pre-scene Notes - Scene setup/conflict:  After escaping Jasper’s estate while his hexblade patron wrecked havoc, the party finds a temporary shelter somewhere to regroup and devise what to do next. Altered scene; As an author, at this stage it’s a turning point where the PCs will have to have a new motive to act I guess. I rolled random terms to help, which led me to thinking we should make the Empress’s motives a bit clearer. Scene: The party ran as fast as they could away from Jasper’s estate, deciding to stay off the path and head away from the city. The party came across a small hamlet, and Filli being a common folk, worked his charms with his Rustic Hospitality ability to have some farmers take them in for the night. Weird Elf’s gold coin also helped, meaning Zar did not have to use any intimidation. There were no pursuers through the night, Jasper’s hands probably full from his former patron’s escape. The party had a long rest and at breakfast, discussed what they were ...

COD 1: Session 26: Jasper's Room

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  Pre-scene Notes That was a very long hiatus, but I’d thought I would come back considering the new DND 5.5e kind of supersedes my rules here… I’d at least want to finish off this cave dive as otherwise I would feel a sense of incompletion. I had played solo a bit through the hiatus, but just didn’t really organise it until now. If this is read in the far future, I guess let’s just continue! Scene setup/conflict:  The party attempts to sneak into Jasper’s room. No altered/interrupted scene Scene: The party stalked towards Jasper’s villa after collecting their equipment from their rooms, exchanging greetings with any stray passer-bys they met on the estate to avoid suspicions. Once they arrived outside the one-storey villa though, they knew they would be out of place if found inside the building. Jasper, building an outward appearance of being lenient, shared his multi-room villa with other gladiators. As they were mostly higher level gladiators, they acted as free guards for ...