Showing posts with label actual play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label actual play. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Living Spells Play-Along Pack

To hype the upcoming D&D 5.5 release, Arcana Unleashed, you can claim the Living Spell Play-Along Pack on D&D Beyond for free.

This previous the following content from the upcoming book:

  • Six living spell stat blocks
  • The evoker archmage stat block
  • The Agent of the Ninth Quill character background
  • The Arcane Infiltrator Origin feat
  • The Idol of Good Fortunes magic item
  • Ninth Quill faction info, including bastion and renown rewards

The first two episodes of the new season of Dungeon Masters are also available online. I haven’t watched them yet, but I loved the previous seasons Ravenloft actual plays.

Friday, July 3, 2026

Victory in Valachan

We only had four players again this week so I let my fellow DM, Terron, run this time. The party was:

  • Human Artificer (still not sure what his subclass was) 
  • Bugbear Ranger (Hollow Warden)
  • Dwarf Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
  • Lupin Druid (Circle of the Moon) 

Since Terron was running I spent my time looking through bulk Magic: The Gathering singles. I did catch what was happening though, so I'll give a short synopsis.

The party find themselves in a jungle realm (Valachan). They encounter a toothy tree that's quite hunger. The druid offers to bring it food if it doesn't try to eat them. The party then saves some townsfolk from hunting phase spiders. After defeating the spiders they hear massive footsteps. A strigori and his summoned t-rex (yes a goddamn t-rex in Ravenloft) fight the party. After defeating the stirge-like humanoid the party convince the t-rex they are friends (which is an option presented in the adventure).

The group had fun and it was entertaining to listen to. This will be the last session at Dungeon Dwellers until the Season of Arcana comes out.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Blood in Borca

  This week’s Season of Horror adventure was Blood in Borca. A few players were out so we combined player groups and I ran the session. The party included

  • Human Artificer (not sure what his subclass was) [normally plays in other group]
  • Bugbear Ranger (Hollow Warden)
  • Dwarf Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
  • Lupin Druid (Circle of the Moon) [same build as the druid in my previous game but different player)

After slaying the illithid vampire in Darkon, the players wake in the domain of Borca. They save a noble from wolves. He hires them to accompany him to a party. The host uses his newly acquired shadow raven powers to incapacitate the party. They wake up in a lab and their new noble patron is ordered to repair a mechanical spider. While this is going on the party are forced to fight a fiery dwarf (an azer). The battle is hard fought and the artificer and barbarian are severely wounded, but survive.

The next room (and final encounter) contains the evil noble (a Priest of Osybus), his two fanatical cultists, and four spies that serve him. This fight was BRUTAL. The cultists started the fight by casting Hold Person on the barbarian and artificer (who failed). Then the Priest used his Soul Blade to constantly paralyze the wildshaped druid. There were many rounds of characters doing nothing but taking critical hits because they were paralyzed. If it wasn’t for the druid, it would have been a TPK. After several rounds, eventually the druid (with help from the ranger and mechanical spider) were able to take out their foes. The fight was frustrating, but ultimately the heroes triumphed. While I was chuckling at first, honestly, I felt bad during this fight. The constant paralyzing effects just made the fight tedious.

Next week will be the final Season of Horror adventure, Victory in Valachan.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Death in Darkon

Earlier tonight I ran the third session of the Season of Horror, Death in Darkon. It was a blood bath (which is fitting because it's vampire-centric). This week Enza has sent the party to the domain of Darkon to stop the second shadow raven. My group this week was made up of the following:

  • Bugbear Ranger (Hollow Warden)
  • Dwarf Barbarian (Circle of the Moon)
  • Drow Fighter (Eldritch Knight) 
They awake in an underground river. The first encounter they face off with an elven vampire familiar, two bandit captains, and four toughs. I was rolling crits like crazy and they had a small party. The drow (played by my kid) was taken out in one round by the familiar. The party was killed and since we had plenty of time I pulled a Groundhog's Day and let them run through it again. I took the four toughs out and still cause a party wipe. I asked them if they wanted to fight the adventure's boss, an illithid vampire, for the Hell of it. While the dwarf went down, they killed the abomination.

Despite the deaths, everyone had a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to next week's adventure, Blood in Borca.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Terror in Tepest

Tonight I ran the second session of the Season of Horror at Dungeon Dwellers in Portsmouth, Ohio. After saving townsfolk from the graveyard, the party made a deal with Inza. The witch told them that if they seek out the shadow ravens that caused the graveyard incident, she would send them home.

One of my players wasn't there, but a new players was. My players were:

  • Bugbear Ranger (Hollow Warden)
  • Dwarf Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
  • Lupin Druid (Circle of the Moon)
The mists led the party to a harvest festival in Tepest. They feasted with townsfolk and were hired to make sure a ritual site was set up properly. When they arrived they found a hobgoblin captain, some bugbears, and signs of a struggle. The hobgoblin claimed a druid let them have this abandoned home. There was a stand off, until the ranger climbed over a wall and caused the ritual effigy to animate into a death's head tree. The druid (who'd misled the humanoids and created the tree using the shadow raven) joined the fight. While the hobgoblin and her crew fought the tree and druid, the party fought flying death's heads. Eventually the humanoids were killed, but their attacks had weakened the party enough to finish off the tree. A shadow raven escaped the tree and was banished. The party grabbed some loot before the mists took them.

The session was fun. Encounters two and three were combined because of the ranger's actions, but it worked. My only disappointment is that I was never able to do the quirky thing the death's heads have. If they reduce a character to 0 HP, the creature is KO'd and the head replaces theirs's permanently. You then get to roll on a random head chart. They change is just cosmetic, but it's wild.

These scenarios are fun. There are three more. Come back next week to hear about Death in Darkon.

Friday, June 5, 2026

Grave Awakenings


I’m running the Season of Horror at my FLGS. Characters are third level and players could either make them using rules from Ravenloft: The Horrors Within and the 2024 PHB or they could use premade characters. The premade characters are the party form this season of Dungeon Masters (which just wrapped up and was fantastic).

A majority of the three-hour session was used for character creation. Because of that we didn’t really get to play most of the adventure, Grave Awakenings.  While most sessions this season are 90 minute one shots, Grave Awakenings is designed to be a three hour “Encounters Celebration” event. The event is designed for up to four tables playing the adventure simultaneously. It’s a cool idea, but we only had six players total so this couldn’t happen. 

I won’t spoil the adventure, but the premise is cool. Multiple groups of heroes are drawn into the domain of Sithicus to cleanse a graveyard. There’s a ticking clock mechanic because townsfolk have been buried alive. There’s also the protentional for a character to become a wereraven. 

My group got through one combat and then we had to call it a night. The other group aggroed the graveyard and got pretty far. I spoke with the other DM and decided that instead of continuing with this adventure we are just going to move on to the second adventure Terror in Tepest next week.

Saturday, April 25, 2026

D&D Dungeon Masters Campaign 1

 D&D Dungeon Masters is a new live play series by WoTC. You can learn more by visiting the official site. All of the characters for campaign one are created using new options from the next D&D book, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. Like most official live plays, the players are all actors and voice actors. Two notable players this time are Neil Newbon (Astarion) and Devora Wilde (Lae'zel). The first two episodes were uploaded in one video which you can watch below.


I want to start by saying I really enjoy this format. I'm not going to sit down every week and listen to Critical Role for hours, but I can definitely commit an hour and 10 minutes or so each week for this one. The players are all fun and despite the brevity of it all, have presented some great characters with  a great amount of intrigue. Also I'm always down for new Ravenloft.

Each week will also see a "Play-Along Pack." Each pack will include an encounter based on that week's episode and preview a new monster from Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. The first Play-Along Pack is free, but to get the others you need to pre-order the book on D&D Beyond.

Sunday, August 8, 2021

#RPGaDay2021 - Day 08

No choice or random dice rolls with this one... Stream.

It was brought to my attention that a recent Beadle & Grimm stream for D&D Live shares the name with a fun section from  5e version of Jungle Tomb of the Mummy Bride (which was released in 2018 )




I've seen other folks riff on Faster, Pussy Cat! Kill!! Kill!!, but you have to admit, it's one hell of a coincidence they both chose purple worms. Also check out this trailer they released. 

It's not as good as the original Planet X Games version, but does definitely have a PX vibe. Here's the original adventure teaser of Jungle Tomb. 


I'm not saying they ripped off part of my dude's adventure, but the similarities are striking.

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Time To Body Slam Some Fey!

 

Wrestling and D&D collides again at The Chaos Carnival Table.

"This year with Dungeons & Dragons, we bring you The Chaos Carnival! Aabria Iyengar will lead WWE Superstars Xavier WoodsEmber Moon, MACE & Tyler Breeze through an oddly unfamiliar familiar land of the Fey!"

You can read more about it here.

Man... I really hope someone blinks and does an RKO truly out of nowhere.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

The Arwich Grinder - Actual Play Notes


Sunday I ran The Arwich Grinder for two of my three high school D&D brothers. Josh had played DCC and MCC before and it was Chad's first taste. They each made 6 characters using the Crawler Companion from Purple Sorcerer Games. It was a fun mix of characters. Chad's crew was made up of members of The Beatles and Oasis and Josh's were an eclectic mix. Not going to recap the whole session, but I will give some highlights.

  • Carl the Butcher died in the first encounter with three Curwen family hunters. He wasn't killed by them though. The wainwright fumbled and cut his throat. Oops. 
  • Wheezy the minstrel provided some great comic relief. Josh was cracking me up with the frightened wannabe bard's commentary on the adventure.
  • The fight in the butcher room with Wilbur, Eliza, and her husband was ridiculous. Wilbur (the 12 year old Curwen) fumbled and hit himself with a torch, which was followed by Eliza fumbling and knocking herself out with a staff. Wilbur did get the 2nd party kill. Unfortunately he made sure Squire Paul never got cold for the rest of his (short) life.
  • The blacksmith smashed the Onxy chalice. I kind of expected the vagrant to try to swipe it.
  • The party booked it before the Sending could cause any real damage. 
  • They murdered everyone, including Junior Curwen. Somehow, no one was killed.
  • The final party casualty was caused by another party fumble. Unfortunately the axe blade was facing the wrong direction when they drew it back.
I was really surprised there weren't more casualties. I rolled really bad, but even with a couple of unintentional bad decisions on the party's part during a few encounters, they still survived. Luck was with the bastards, I suppose. If you're looking to start a new DCC game, this is a great funnel.



Monday, January 28, 2019

DP&D Actual Play Video (VGC and QuestWise)

Curious about Dark Places & Demogorogons? Want to watch an actual play? Want to see one of the creatures from the Cryptid Manual in action?

If you said yes to any of these, then you're in luck. My gaming brother and one of the authors of the Cryptid Manual, Jodie Brandt, for the game ran a session on Google Hangouts for Victory Condition Gaming. Despite Jodie's technical difficulties, that game was a blast to watch.  Check the video out:



There's still time left to back the Cryptid Manual. In support of the Kickstarter, Tim from The Other Side Blog and I have created some new cryptids for your game. I present you with the BMX Sasquatch. You can read my review here. Tim's review can be found by checking out this link. He also created stats for the Bionic Sasquatch and Melonheads for use in your DP&D games.

Friday Night D&D - Session 2


You can read the recap of the first session here.

Party

Primhorn Graniteback - stout halfling fighter
Luna - tiefling sorcerer (dragon blooded)
Glynmaris - moon elf rogue

I will post short character backgrounds and art once I get them from the players. 

This recap was written by Glynmaris' player, Kevin.

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The group ties up the 2 sleeping kenku. The kenku wounded in battle is tossed into the filth laden closet, where Renaer Neverember was kept, while the group interrogates the remaining kenku. The kenku quickly succumbs to the dual intimidation of Primhorn and Glynmaris, divulging to the group that they work for the Xanathar's Guild. The kenku informs the group in a high pitched nasally voice that it was to follow the yellow arrows in the sewer to their hideout. When asked who their boss was, the kenku responded via its cursed mimicry in a vaguely orcish sounding voice "Xanathar sends his regards." Quickly tiring of the kenku's annoying manner of speaking, Glynmaris orders the creature to respond with nods and head shakes to his yes or no questions. They discover that their boss was a half-orc and that the high pitched voice belongs to neither a human or an elf. Before the questioning could continue the party hears what sounds like a dozen armored soldiers approaching the warehouse. Primhorn affects a stoic guardsman position, Luna attempts to hide behind some crates but leaves her forehead and horns exposed, while Glynmaris places a knife to the throat of the kenku in case reinforcements have arrived.

Luckily the dozen individuals happen to be members of the City Watch, Glynmaris remarks that this is the first time he has ever been glad to see the City Watch. The captain of the guard quickly recognizes Renaer Neverember and takes on a subservient bearing to the noble. The group informs the guards that they were hired by Volo to ascertain the whereabouts of his friend Floon Blagmar, and in the course of their investigation came upon these kenku who had survived a battle between the Xanathar's Guild and the Zhentarim. They discovered Renaer being held captive in the filth encrusted closet and began interrogating the kenku before the guard arrived. The group informs the guard of the additional kenku in the closet and what information the other had divulged. The captain thanks the group for the information. He gives them a friendly warning to leave the police work to the guard and to be wary that other guardsmen are not as lenient or forgiving as he is, but to be careful if they continue in their quest.

As they leave the warehouse the group is intercepted by a scruffy half-elf dressed in rags who wields a large two-handed morningstar/staff type of weapon. The half-elf introduces himself as one Angus Nibtooth, cleric of Waukeen, and noticing the spectacle the group is leaving and their bedraggled disposition offers his service as a mercenary healer to the group. They negotiate the terms of 1 gp for each battle the cleric is involved in and 5 gp per healing spell cast. Noticing the poor shape of the man's clothing and their suspected destination, the group takes Angus back to the warehouse where he strips several of the fallen men of boots and clothing to outfit himself. The group then retrieves the money contained by the fallen brigands, and then collects their weapons which consists of 6 rapiers and 6 daggers. Glymaris pockets 4 of the daggers, Primhorn commandeers a rapier, and Angus is given a dagger.

The group then retires to the home of Glynmaris' sister where they recuperate. After Glynmaris undergoes his reverie, he sells the remaining weaponry to a nearby merchant. Fully healed and with spells replenished, the group retraces their steps to the warehouse and locates an entrance to the sewer that has the manhole lid ajar. The group descends into the foul smelling depths, Glynmaris leading the way watching for traps and ambushes.

The group soon comes to an intersection where they encounter a small grapefruit sized creature that has a large toothy maw that rests below a giant eye, with 4 eyestalks on top of the spherical creature's body. As soon as the creature snarls, Glynmaris sprints towards the creature faster than should be possible. In his haste Glynmaris slips in the filth, wildly missing his strike against the creature. The slip may have saved his life as immediately afterwards the creature fired a ray of frost at him. The rest of the group quickly engages the enemy, Luna manages to wound the monster with a firebolt cantrip, Angus hits it with a sacred flame cantrip, and Primhorn plays defense. After this initial salvo the monster starts moving erratically causing the group to miss all their attempts to vanquish the beast, it then retaliates by blasting Glynmaris with a ray of force that pushes him back 30 feet. Glynmaris responds by landing a devastating strike with his rapier that skewers the beholderkin through its main eye and out the back, leaving the creature resembling a shish kabob.

The group severs the 4 eyestalks of the creature to sell as alchemical reagents/spell components after Luna recalls that beholder/beholderkin parts are magical in nature and valuable to alchemists and magic users.

Continuing down the sewer passageways the group soon comes to another junction where they notice a ramp that rises out of the muck of the sewer floor which leads to a stone door. While investigating the area, Glynmaris notices a suspicious spot in the wall behind him and discovers a cleverly hidden secret door. They enter the door to discover a chamber with multiple doors leading out of it. Glynmaris scouts all the doors for light and sound emanating from beyond. All but one of the doors are dark and silent, behind that lone door Glynmaris hears the sounds of a man screaming in pain.

The group decides to try and ambush the beings behind the door. Glynmaris attempts to quietly sneak in through the door to hide, while Primhorn and the others are to wait 30 seconds before rushing in to engage the enemy at which point Glynmaris will surprise the enemy. However the plan goes awry when Glynmaris botches his attempt at stealth and alerts the enemy to their presence.

Inside the group discover a half-orc in robes wielding a staff standing on top of a human male with red curly hair who is screaming in pain, a tall spindly purple hued creature with tentacles around its mouth, and a creature that resembles a large brain supported by 4 clawed legs. Luna quickly casts a sleep spell which puts the half-orc and the red-haired man, presumed to be Floon, to sleep. The tentacled creature's eyes flash and Luna is forced to cast sleep on the party. Angus and Glynmaris are immune to the spell and remain standing. The tentacled creature runs past the group, taking a vicious hit from Glynmaris and a dose of radiant energy from a sacred flame cast by Angus, before placing a symbol into a pillar and disappearing in a flash.

As Primhorn, Luna, the robed half-orc, and Floon slumber Angus and Glynmaris engage the brain like creature in battle. Glynmaris takes a slash to the chest from the beast before retaliating with a brutal stab of his rapier, unfortunately the beast overwhelms Glynmaris who is rendered unconscious by the monster's unrelenting strikes. Angus eventually destroys the monster with a blast of sacred flame before reviving the group. The group surrounds the half-orc with weapons raised before it awakens from its magically induced slumber and Glynmaris lands a brutal slice through the half-orc's neck resulting in an Amnian Necktie on the man. Luna discovers a spellbook on the half-orc which she confiscates along with some coins for the group. The group find some more coins and 2 potions in a chest next to a stone throne.

The group resuscitates Floon and soon discovers a hidden tunnel, which leads out of the hideout and into the basement of a family of halfing brewers. Primhorn tries to bluff his way out by shielding the family of the horrible nature of their arrival but the family patriarch sees through his lie of omission and forces him to tell him the whole truth. They inform the halflings of the nature of the tunnel and where it leads along with what inhabits the area and suggest they barricade it until they can come back and fully clear out the area.

The group decides to clean up at a bathhouse before going to the Yawning Portal to meet Volo. After bathing and arriving at the tavern Volo quickly descends upon the group and snatches up his friend Floon in a giant hug. Volo then sheepishly informs the group that he is sadly low on the funds he promised the group, but before they can protest, he quickly offers to transfer a deed to the group for a historic building called Trollskull Manor located in Waterdeep's North Ward. He purchased the home because he heard it was haunted and he was investigating for paranormal disturbances for his next book. The group quickly realizes that this prize is far more valuable and accepts. Glynmaris feeling greedy and petty, from being lied to, demands Volo's hat as well. They then locate a magistrate to facilitate the transfer of the deed, which Volo is forced to pay the fees.

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Once again everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. I introduced Angus because the party needed healing, but I didn't want them to just get a free cleric. He's a greedy (but practical) mercenary cleric from the Moonshae Isles. 

Friday, January 18, 2019

Friday Night D&D - Session 1

A week ago I ran the first session of my new 5E D&D campaign. We're starting the game with Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.

Party
Primhorn Graniteback - stout halfling fighter
Luna - tiefling sorcerer (dragon blooded)
Glynmaris - moon elf rogue

I will post short character backgrounds and art once I get them from the players. 

This recap was written by Glynmaris' player, Kevin.
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 (At the Yawning Portal) 


Yagra, a half-orc mercenary acquainted with Graniteback, is engaged into a fistfight with a drunk with eye tattoos all over his head. Graniteback seeing his friend in combat goes to ascertain what is happening, seeing his arrival the tattooed man's 4 friend jump into the fray. Luna casts a sleep spell knocking 2 of the men unconscious, Yagra drops another man, and the two remaining men concede defeat and remove their compatriots. 


After the battle a loud scream is heard and a troll with 3 stirges stuck to his back and 3 other stirges emerge from the yawning portal. Glynmaris eviscerates a stirge with a throwing dagger, Graniteback slices through a second, and Luna incinerates the third stirge. Yagra and the tavern owner Durnan engage the troll in melee. Glynmaris throws an oil flask at the troll which Luna ignites, Durnan and Yagra use chairs to push the emblazoned monster over the edge of the Yawning Portal where it lands with a loud splat. 


Volothamp Geddarm "Volo" impressed with the way the group handled themselves approaches the characters and offers them 10 gp each payable now and a 100 gp each payable on completion to discover the whereabouts and rescue his friend and fellow nobleman Floon Blagmar, who was last seen at the Skewered Dragon in the Docks district. On the way to the Docks district the group comes upon a scene where the city watch is investigating the aftermath of vicious battle between 2 rival gangs. Upon closer inspection Glynmaris notices that some of the men have tattoos of eyes on them, members of the Xanathar's Guild, and other have a tattoo of a winged serpent, members of the Zhentarim. 


The group arrive at the Docks District and visit Xoblob's shop, who Glynmaris knows is a seller of trinkets and a known source of local information. After Glynmaris fails to persuade Xoblob to divulge his information about Floon, Luna intimidates the man by threatening to burn down his establishment into telling the group that Floon and a well-dressed fellow of similar appearance and bearing were jumped outside the shop by rough-looking men in black leather armor. Xoblob thinks there were five attackers, but none of them looked familiar. One of them had a black tattoo of a winged snake on his neck. Glynmaris purchases a hilt to a broken rapier, and Luna purchases a large dragon scale that has been painted purple.


The group then traveled to the Skewered Dragon where Graniteback befriends the tavern regular's and persuades them to talk about the fight the other night. The regulars inform the group that Floon was here with Volo, and after Volo left Floon stuck around and met another man, one Renaer Neverember. Five men followed the pair out but haven't been seen since, although they are known to frequent a nearby warehouse that has the symbol of a winged snake on the door. 


Arriving at the warehouse, Glynmaris picks the lock on the door and silently opens it to see the aftermath of a battle and 4 kenku inside. The group engages the kenku in battle where Glynamris throws a dagger into one kenku before Luna and Graniteback both take damage. Luna then puts 2 of the kenku to sleep with a spell, Glynmaris stabs the heart out of one and Graniteback and Glenmaris finish the fourth kenku. 


After the battle they tie up the two remaining kenkus, one is wounded from Glynmaris. Searching the 1st floor they discover that the battle is made up of Zhents and Xanathar guild members. They discover Renaer Neverember in the warehouse covered in fish guts and vinegar, he tells the group that he believes he was the target of the attack he and Floon were engaged in, as the Zhentarim thinks that his father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord, and that he hid the coin somewhere in the city. They think they can find it by using an artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently. It was stolen. The Zhents thought he knew something about all of this, but he says he doesn't. He says he hasn't spoken to his father in years. The group discover a box containing 7 magical pieces of paper that when written and a name spoken fold into little origami birds and fly to that person, the group called them tweets.
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Everyone had a good time. The group meshed well together. We didn't play too long, because there were some last minute character creation things, but I feel like it was a great start to the game. We didn't even fall into the classic too much out of game chat, though that could be because all of the players didn't know each other. The only issue the party is seeing is the lack of healer. We originally had a fourth player, but haven't heard if they're still interested. I do have a few friends that are going to drop in and out, so we might be able to take care of things that way.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

DP&D - Episode 4: "Hello Darlin"

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3: Part I 
Session 3: Part II 


The Cast
  • Elliot Wess - Pot dealing hillbilly with a heart of gold
  • Cassandra Jones - Sarcastic goth turned white witch
  • Summer Fields - Good 'ol country girl that loves animals
  • Tilly Hopper - a strange newcomer to the town who lives and works with her mechanic uncle, Stew Hopper.
Summary

After a physically and emotionally exhausting weekend the group meets up Monday morning. They fill Summer in on what happened with the Kid. Cassandra and Summer go to class and Tilly decides to spend the day helping Elliot fix the upholstery she accidentally ruined. Cassandra gets called to the front office and realizing it probably has something to do with Jamal, Summer feigns "female problems" and asks go to the front office to call home.

Cassandra enters the office of Principal Tipton with an all-too-familiar "Hello Dave" and is greeted by Jamal's mother. Mrs. Farnsworth asks Cassandra if she's seen her "Poor sweet shmookums, Jamal." Cassandra lies that she's not seen him since the night they helped Farmer Brown. While this is happening, Summer calls Elliot and gives him a coded message telling him to come to the school. Mrs. Farnsworth hugs Cassandra. Cassandra and Summer head to the girls' room where they are met by Elliot and Tilly (who snuck in and hid in the stall). They discuss their situation.

Wanting to know what school is like, Tilly follows Cassandra and Summer to their second period class, science. They are introduced to a long-term substitute, Mr. East, who will be teaching the class while Mr. Smith recovers from a broken hip. In his mid 30's, Mr. East is particularly dry and more than a bit sarcastic, seeming to disdain teenagers. Thinking he might have an interest or knowledge of the occult (because he seemed odd), Cassandra decides to show him the vampire skull (though she doesn't tell him what it was). He says that it was definitely some sort of mutation. He then informs her that it probably isn't the smartest move to be carrying something like that around or showing it to strange adults she's just met. The conversation ends Mr. East making a comment about the folks of the Bluegrass state being products of incest, to which Cassandra responds with a comment about "not losing his head."

Thinking East is hiding something, Summer, Cassandra, and Tilly follow Mr. East back to his apartment. Unfortunately Cassandra accidentally knocks over a trash can and was discovered. This leads to an awkward conversation about how despite her growing body and change in hormones that it was "grossly inappropriate" for her to have feelings for him. Choking back nausea, she plays along.

That night the group meet up, discuss Elliot and Tilly breaking into East's apartment the next school day, and decide to head to a Ethel's Antique Shop. They meet the elderly Ethel who warns them to not steal anything. She leaves and the party is then greeted by her (much friendlier) daughter, Liliana. Know the rumors that Ethel and Liliana are witches, the group attempts to buy their brooms. Amused at their insistence, Liliana says she will sell one of them for 100 dollars. While Elliot and Summer haggle over the broom, Cassandra sends her new familiar, Jasper the hedgehog, up the stairs to the third floor where the mother and daughter live. The hedgehog returns quickly as Cassandra hears a cat's growl. During this time Tilly has been trying to impress her with knowledge of an oddity, a rusted blue 50's Cadillac door. Elliot sees the door and asks about it. After being told it is from the car Hank Williams was in the night he died, Elliot decided he had to have it. After an internal debate he buys the door. Cassandra and Liliana talk and Cassandra asks her about real magic and potions. Seeing something in the girl, Liliana tells her to return another time, without her friends and that they'll talk then.

The next day while Cassandra and Summer are at school, Elliot and Tilly break into Mr. East's apartment. They find that it's in immaculate order. The only bits of interesting knowledge they find are a doctor's lab coat and bag, medical texts (some in German), as well as a few newspaper articles about Miskatonic Medical University. Tilly takes some pictures and they leave the apartment as they found it.

Friday and Saturday night the group attends the Gaslight Festival and Parade. Friday Summer wins a horse show (which gives her a small cash prize and a ribbon that gets her all the free carnival food she wants). Saturday night the group dresses up. Cassandra dresses as a preppy valley girl and Summer as a goth. They walk around and follow a small group of kids with amazing alien costumes for a bit, before going to the northern beer tent to watch Elliot perform in the Conway Twitty impersonation contest. During a particularly rowdy rendition of Tight Fittin' Jeans some of the Conway Twitty's bump into the kids. Seeing this as a sign of aggression, the kids reveal themselves to be actual aliens. They pull out their rayguns and freezing the crowd. Several drunken Conway Twitty's produce firearms and all Hell begins to bring loose. Cassandra snaps a quick Polaroid of the aliens.

That's when Elliot hops on the stage and marvel's everyone with a beautiful rendition of Hello Darlin' he's been practicing all week. He beckons Cassandra onto the stage and they dance as he sings. Everyone in the tent, Conway Twitty, teen, and alien alike, are mesmerized by the amazing performance. Elliot finishes and one of the aliens begins a slow clap, which is quickly joined by all.

Tilly and Summer's joy are quickly cut short as they are hear a voice in their head telling them to exit the tent and feel something poking them in the back. They are lead out by one of the aliens who also speaks to Elliot psychically in Conway Twitty's voice and tells him to follow.

In a nearby alley, the group meets the alien's leader... who's an impressive 6" taller than the other little green men. He thanks them for their help, but insists that no evidence of the event can be leaked. Understanding what this means, Cassandra hands over her picture. He then explains that it's really easy to cover things up in America, especially when alcohol is involved. The party shrug and nod in agreement. Summer asks if they are going to be probed, which triggers a long rant by the alien leader about humans and their strange obsession with anal probing. Finally Cassandra asks for a momento, and the leader givers her a sword-shaped piece of metal from his suit and warns her she better keep it close to her. As the aliens leave, Elliot hears the voice of Conway tell him "Thank you, darlin'."

A triumphant Elliot returns to the beer tent to claim his 500 dollar prize and the party looks to the sky, realizing they're not alone.

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The session was short (for various) reasons but a total blast! The group is really coming together and getting into the game. Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Conway Twitty...


Wednesday, September 5, 2018

DP&D - Episode 3: Sorry Kid...(Part II)

Episode 1: Chupacabra in Love
Episode 2: (Hell)Cow Tipping
Episode 3: Sorry Kid... (Part I)

Recurring Cast
  • Elliot Wess (Played by Alex) - Pot dealing hillbilly with a heart of gold
  • Cassandra Jones (Played by Stephanie) - Sarcastic goth with a growing obsession for the occult
  • Kit Brody (played by Jared, absent from session)- Teen heartthrob with a secret protective streak
  • Jamal Randal Farnsworth (formerly played by Billy, quit group) - Kid genius that tries really hard to look cool, help out, and seem tough.
  • Summer Fields (played by Sam, absent from session) - Good 'ol country girl that loves animals
  • RJ (played by Gavan, absent from session) - loner child of religious Doomsday preppers
New Cast
  • Tilly Hopper (played by Mel) - a strange newcomer to the town who lives and works with her mechanic uncle, Stew Hopper.
Synopsis

Leaving the station, Elliot and Cassandra are approached by a man in a long trench coat and hat. The apparent flasher, is actually Kit, who presents Elliot with a crisp new red D&D Basic boxed set. The pair hop in Elliot's car. Kit asks who the new girl is, but the three ignore him or pretend she's not there. Given recent events, Kit believes there's a ghost in the car. The act goes a little too far when Tilly uses her mysterious  (and unknown to the party) abilities to make her lighters shoot a gout of flame that singes the car's ceiling (frustrating Elliot).

The group arrive at the junkyard and Tilly is introduced to the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons. A few hours after sundown, the game is interrupted by the sounds of a dirt bike. Jason, the leader of the gang of dirt bike punks they'd met a month earlier, stood their to deliver a message.

"If you want to see your young friend again, you'll come to this address in a few hours." He hands Elliot a piece of paper with the address to an abandoned factory outside of town and rides off.

The party grab all of their weapons and gear and toss them into the trunk of Elliot's car. At the sight of the shot gun, Kit reminds everyone that they want to help the kid, not kill someone. Tilly agrees to accompany her new friends and the four head to the old factory.


The group arrives and heads towards the only light source, a fire burning in the center of the (mostly empty) factory floor. Kit and Cassandra keep to the shadows and start heading towards Jamal, he's tied to the remnants of a pillar. The outsiders are passing around a bottle of wine and dancing around a fire. Their merriment ends as Elliot calls out to them.

After an exchange between Elliot and Jason, the group are stunned to find these aren't ordinary teens. Their features (including their fingers) elongate and sharp fangs appear with their smiles. Having never seen a vampire before Tilly bolts back towards the car, while the rest of the party get defensive but stand their ground (having recently dispatched a vampiric bovine).

Jason and two of the vampires fly towards Elliot, while another does the same towards Tilly. Elliot pulls the piece he found at Farmer Brown's and blows a chunk out of Jason's head. The vampire falls to the ground. From the shadows Kit has an epic action movie moment. He lets loose and arrow that stakes one of the vamps, finishing it off instantly. It turns to dust and falls to the ground.

"You glorious bastard," proclaims Elliot.

As she unties Jamal, Cassie gets the surprise of her life: the kids has been turned into a vampire. He slashes and bites her, nearly causing her to faint in pain.

One of the vampires turns from Elliot and heads to Kit. The pair fight back and forth. The other charges Elliot, but misses and catches himself on fire.

Tilly regains her composure, grabs some gear from the car, and heads back to the factory. Unfortunately one of the vampires intercepts her and catches her with a  claw. attempts to use her pyrokinesis to blind the vampire, but instead it fizzles and he just finds a bit of his (un) life-force drained.

Dropping Cassandra with another strike, Jamal tackles Kit. The pair exchange blows and the kid sinks a claw deep into Kit's gut, shredding a good part of his aviator jacket. Cassandra and Elliot both experience an "oh shit!" moment at this sight. Kit powers through it (claw still buried in gut), whispers "I'm sorry, kid" and drives an arrow into Jamal's chest. Jamal stumbles back but it seems his heart wasn't struck.

Jason heals and rises, classic Dracula style. He and Elliot exchange attacks, before Elliot manages to drive a piece of wood from the factory floor through the vampire's heart. Jason's skin starts to hiss and sizzle as it melts off, leaving only bones (including a fanged skull).

Their leader dead, the kid and one of the other vampires flee. However, one stays and tries to finish off the wounded teens. He is quickly dispatched and slowly turns to ash.

The conflict over, Kit, still bleeding, says nothing and begins walking out of the factory. Cassandra hops on one of the vampire's dirt bikes and rides it out to Kit. She hops off and Kit hugs her, then mounts the bike and rides off into the night.

Cassandra rejoins the group. They gather the vampires' remains and bottle of blood wine. Cassandra also finds Hellcow's cape and a journal written in some sort of cypher. Having nearly died, they do what any teens would do: patch their wounds and gets drunk and stoned.

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I planned on bringing the riders from the first session back as Lost Children and having the kid get involved with them. Since Billy dropped out of the group, I figured this would be a good way to eliminate his character or at least take him out for a bit. Also, while he might have been the leader of this group, Jason is not the head vampire. Jared's moving this week and I'm not sure if he'll be able to play with us via Skype or something, so I figured having Kit ride off at the end was fitting (even more so because he was super protective of Jamal and considered him his kid brother).

Also, my initial group was limited to the core classes, but I expanded the options as others made characters. I spoke with Cassandra's player and told her that since she's been studying the paranormal and occult that she could trade her goth levels for levels in white witch. She chose to do this and as of session four, Cassandra will be a level 2 white witch (that happens to be goth) instead of a level 2 goth (that happens to be interested in witchcraft).



Monday, September 3, 2018

DP&D - Episode 3: Sorry Kid...(Part I)

Episode 1: Chupacabra in Love
Episode 2: (Hell)Cow Tipping

Recurring Cast
  • Elliot Wess (Played by Alex) - Pot dealing hillbilly with a heart of gold
  • Cassandra Jones (Played by Stephanie) - Sarcastic goth with a growing obsession for the occult
  • Kit Brody (played by Jared, absent from session)- Teen heartthrob with a secret protective streak
  • Jamal Randal Farnsworth (formerly played by Billy, quit group) - Kid genius that tries really hard to look cool, help out, and seem tough.
  • Summer Fields (played by Sam, absent from session) - Good 'ol country girl that loves animals
  • RJ (played by Gavan, absent from session) - loner child of religious Doomsday preppers
New Cast
  • Tilly Hopper (played by Mel) - a strange newcomer to the town who lives and works with her mechanic uncle, Stew Hopper.
Synopsis

It has been a few weeks since the party encountered and dispatched the fearsome Hellcow. 

Finding out that the demons his parents spoke of are real, RJ has been spending time stockpiling supplies and reading religious texts. 

Elliot heads to Hopper's Automotive Garage and there he meets a new young mechanic, Tilly. While lighting his cigarette and trying to look cool for the cutie, his lighter's flame shot high and almost singed his hair. The two talk and Tilly claims to be from the area, but Elliot sees there her deception. Finishing he heads to pick up Cassandra.  They discuss recent events, Summer's riding competition that's going on that weekend, Kit's "big date," and Jamal's obsession over the Hellcow cape. Cassandra then lets Elliot know about a recent strange occurrence.

While searching for a deer skull to leave in front of Reverend Philips house (in retaliation for confiscating and burning their D&D books), she found a set of old dog tags. They appeared to be 20+ years old. While she couldn't make out one, the other had the name Norman. That night she had various dreams about a pugs and a little girl. Having nothing better to do, the pair head to the spot on Ghost Light road.

When they arrive Cassandra hear's barking and shouts, "Oh dear god, it's Norman!" A glowing ghostly pug rolls around on the ground in front of her. Much to her dismay, Elliot can't see the ghost dog. Norman barks at Cassandra and runs off in the woods. He stops to look back and bark more. The pair decide to follow them. Elliot is understandably skeptical, but given recent weirdness follows along.The pair come to the remnants of a burnt down house and barn. Norman enters the barn.

"Are you sure he's a good boy? I mean a few weeks ago I thought all cows were chill," questions Elliot. With just minor hesitation, Cassandra follows the dog into the barn. After looking for a bit, Cassandra finds a loose floorboard and book. Afraid of what will happen if she touches it, she stares for a moment, before Elliot grabs it and begins to read.

It is the diary of a girl that lived in the 60's named Ashley. She received two little pugs, Norman and Jean for her birthday. She loved the pugs and they were her life. The last entry was written during her teen years. Her beloved friends had gotten sick and died. Being distraught, she had decided to throw herself into a local quarry.

Having the story relayed to her, Cassandra remembers a local urban legend about a girl dying in the quarry, her body never being recovered. 

Norman starts barking and the pair follow him further down a path to a small pet cemetery. They find two graves, marked Norman and Jean. As Cassandra wipes the stones another pug appears and both become visible. The pair frolick for a moment before leading the friends to a quarry. Realizing they will need to climb down, they head back to Elliot's to get rope and whatever else they may need.

The new girl, Tilly, is waiting at Elliot's. She has back his donut which had been left at the shop. Cassandra ignores her and mentions needing salt and other supplies in case the ghost dog's owner was angry. Hearing this, Tilly's interest is piqued because she too has a love of the supernatural. She asks to come along and the trio head to the quarry. Not knowing what D&D is (and since Elliot had mentioned it earlier) Tilly is regaled with the glories of rolling dice by the fantasy loving trailer kid.

Climbing down into the bottom of the quarry the group followed the ghost dogs, visible to all to the mouth of a cave. Elliot and Cassandra get their flashlights out and Tilly grabs a stick and makes a torch (which Cassandra used to light her clove).  In the cave the trio find the tattered remains of Ashley. They are startled as the bones begin to float, glow, and turn into a spectral girl. She smiles and begins to play with her beloved dogs. She holds a hand out to Cassandra and awkwardly Cassandra attempts to shake it. Ashley smiles and giggles and then asks for her dogs' tags. After she receives them, she hugs Cassandra which is the most unusual sensation of the teen's life, thanks them, and runs away, laughing with her precious pugs.

The group feels refreshed and bolstered, like they've truly accomplished a good act. They decide to let the police know the body had been found. Tilly asks they not mention her.

Passing back by the house Tilly sits down. Having a strange spiritual connection to flames she feels as though whomever lived in the house had perished when it burnt down. She relays this news to her new companions.

Cassandra and Elliot head to the police department. Tilly stays in the car and they speak to a deputy. The office chastises them for exploring a dangerous area and Cassandra shot back with grade A snark. Diffusing the situation, Elliot changes the subject to a complaint he'd filed about his confiscated D&D books...

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The session was a long one so I'm breaking this down into two posts. I'll post part two later tonight or tomorrow. The quotes above are actual quotes from the characters. We lost it when Steph made the "Oh dear God, it's Norman!" line. Actually we all want shirts with a pug and that quote on them.... I might have an idea for Christmas presents. ;P

Monday, August 13, 2018

CelebriD&D with Terry Crews

This was an interesting promo episode of CelebriD&D was fun. The first part focused on Terry Crews group of Horde characters. The second part features Troy Baker and his Alliance Allies. The two groups come together and get into some PvP action.


My favourite moment was the zone of truth at the ogre camp, specifically the two headed ogre arguing with himself.

Rollout - Season 4 (Season Finale)

Apparently they just filmed one session and broke it down into four parts for season 1. I was entertained and hope they come back to it.


Friday, August 10, 2018

Rollout - Episode 3


This week the party tracks the goblins to their caves. I laughed at the final encounter and might need to work some "Oh yeahs!" into my next game.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Rollout - Episode 2

Episode 2 of Rollout is available to watch. Much like the first, this one made me laugh a lot. Some folks might not like celebs playing D&D, but if it exposes more folks to the hobby, I'm not going to complain.