That's all folks!

Aww Bastien. I shall miss you and not just because of your ridiculously high AC.
;P

The Greatest Campaign of my Life

I started this game as an excuse to entertain David and repay a debt of gratitude to Assif and Scott but it was much more successful than I expected.
I knew it'd be a laugh as I really liked everyone in the group but I didn't think I'd get quite so invested.
True, I put time and thought into the adventure ideas but that in itself isn't enough.
Unlike all our previous campaigns, we were able to begin, explore and (despite it only occurring over six weekend sessions) complete an entire story arc.
Me being the constant DM was a factor in that but ultimately it was down to you.
As players, you bought into the scenarios and ran with them. You never made it difficult for me or tried to derail the story and your three characters were brilliant and obvious reflections of certain aspects of your own personalities.
David's; Nitendae was proof positive that he's my cousin. Not quite the same as my 'always-play-a-cowardly-Ranger' but oh so close enough.
Assif's classic 'kick-in-the-door, never-ask-questions, murder hobo'; Volkon was joy to behold. He was always going to be about the size of his weapon and the massive damage he could inflict.
Scott played it smart. Very smart. After the fun but ineffectual monk Chen, he instead picked the games (arguably) strongest class, gave him game changing domain powers and wrapped him in as much magical armour as possible. Bastien also became the character the plot revolved around.
I really felt the bond between the three characters grow. Self-interest, naked aggression and power-gaming aside, Nitendae, Volkon and Bastien seemed like genuine friends.

If I could sum them up by single individual and reoccurring round actions...

Nitendae: 'Invisibly, I levitate up twenty feet and delay my action.'

Volkon: 'With my two-handed flaming sword of fire, I charge forward and attack!'

Bastien: 'Without warning or their consent, I grab Nitendae and Volkon's shoulders and teleport.'

D&D's a weird game but (my normally terrible recall aside) this campaign has given me a whole raft of brilliant memories. Both in-game and out.

Thanks guys!

Best Encounters

As we've touched on our collective bad memories, I'm wondering what you remember of the campaign?
Are there any stand out encounters or conversations?
For me personally (in order of adventures) I liked:

The Hiss

Regardless of the castles and lizard-men, the broken staircase to the small stack island portal and the underground flume at the beginning of the adventure was my favourite bit.
I loved how pragmatically you handled both these obstacles, going so far as riding back to the city to hire carpenters to jerry-rig a bridge!

Also, giant crocodiles!

Oh and the unintentionally important 'Hole-in-the-Wall' Inn.

The Dead of Knight

The 'bells-in-their-chests' skeleton alarm defenders and Bastien's shock critical hit death at the hands of the Zombie ogre knight,

The Gauth (Mini Beholder) combat over the pit on Coffin Butte. The clever use of the 'Ever-smoking bottle' made me laugh.

A Conspiracy of Ravens

Again, it was the minor 'Dove theft' at the beginning of the adventure that made me smile. That and the meeting with the beautiful but dangerous Valois (Undisputed leader of the Nom Pariel Thieves guild).

The sacking the fortified tower was very exciting and the failed Gnoll passageway ambush encounter was great fun too! (What kind off single-file marching order includes 5' gaps?)

Actually, my very favourite encounter was the two Goblin spies, their two racing Worgs and the two messenger ravens!

I also LOVED the brief, horrendous but ironically hilarious, firey death of Lord (It's a trap!) Akbarr!

Thereanthor's Skull

The Bad End Inn. Just all of it!

In this one, I enjoyed the Gnomish puzzle and trap secret route to the Orcish trophy hall. It was scary but joyous and it also let Nitendae shine in a prolonged non-combat situation.

Akbarr's Revenge

This was the oddest of adventures for me. I was impressed with the Party's ruthless solution of how to destroy the Dragon skull despite its thirty elite orc guardians. Orcs who had allied themselves with you. It was both dastardly AND the absolutely right thing to do.

I also liked the Otyugh dung mountain encounter and the underground Kingdom of the Duegaur with the cowardly dwarven guards.

Beneath the Underdark.

Lots to love in our last adventure.

The sprawling town encounter featuring the return of Awrongun (Evil speed Ranger, roof leaper and middle finger flicker), Ubriz (The 'good' Paladin of the Lords of Light, Right and Might) and a collection of burning skeletons and evil Death-cultists.

The Undead Wight house of horrors featuring the return of Indigo, Slater and Dunn.

The second flaming death of Lord Akbarr AND Volkon in the oil filled, multiple windowed cavern of certain death.

And the verticaly stacked end boss battle featuring the Drider Fluetin and (Finally and as promised) a proper Beholder!

Anything I missed that you enjoyed? Let me know in the comments section below...

A Cast of Thousands

Although we've all (Scott mostly just out of politeness) accepted that memory is none of our strong suites, I'm wondering if any of you had a favourite ally or villain?
Straight out monsters such as the Trolls, Otyugs and Guaths, not included.
Did anyone of the myriad NPCs garner a proper emotional response or were they all just flat, paper nonentities?
I'll list the ones (in order of appearance) that I enjoyed DMing and you can let me know what you thought.

Adventure 1: The Hiss

Hedzor: Tricksy Gnomish wizard shyster and owner of 'The Where-house'.

Duke Nultze: The Castillion of Nom Pariel who hired you to transport jewellery to Fewham and to assassinate King Zorris of Squamata.

Count Vunker: Master swordsman and the voice in the ear and chief enforcer of Duke Nultze.

Rosie: Browbeaten but hardworking barmaid of the 'Hole in the Wall' Tavern/Inn.

Slater: Friendly Soldier of the Fewham guards.

Indigo: Another friendly Soldier of the Fewham guards.

Captain Dunn: Silver haired, surprisingly old Leader of the Fewham guards.

Magistrate Sagen: Lady Sybille's trusted, if elderly and slow speaking advisor.

Therissa: Noble High priestess (and later Queen) of Squamata (Lizardfolk)

Battach: Dwarvern miner (Eaten by a giant crocodile).

King Zorris. Mad egomaniacal leader of the Squamata (Lizardfolk).

Prince Gov-El. Evil/Creepy would-be usurper of the Squamatan island nation (Lizardfolk).

Fluettin: Sinister 'Drow' voice in the dark. (Spotted through an ornate but small grate.)

Adventure 2: The Dead of Knight

Cannon Quondam: Head priest of the Nom Pariel Pelorian cathedral.

Dunken: Brutal but legal Owner of the' Hole in the Wall'.

Rob: Chatty highway man.

Mugsy: Rob's half-orc partner.

Lugdum: The orc hireling (Left behind on Coffin Butte).

Granet: High priest Death-cultist. Instigator of the Pelor monastery massacre.

Adventure 3: A Conspiracy of Ravens

Stab-hands Stevi: Knife-handed protection money collector for the Nom pariel Thieves guild.

Nelson: Enforcer for the Nom Pariel Thieves guild.

Montebank: Successful Silk merchant.

Valoise: Mysterious and beautiful leader of the Nom Pariel Thieves guild.

Oomoola: Sturdy Orcess ranch worker, beaten and captured by Gnolls.

Lord Akbarr: Evil knight and leader of the Death-cultists.

Abbot Elphick: Head of Bastien's hidden monetary (Keeper of the 'Shoes of Fharlaghn).

Adventure 4: Thereanthor's Skull

Saggassos: Messy but elder Gnome of Mount Snaffang.

Soffic: Ancient and powerful Grey Elf adviser.

Lee: Human owner of the 'Bad End Inn'.

Van: Half-Orcan owner of the 'Bad End Inn'.

Cleef: Orcan owner of the 'Bad End Inn'.

Ma: Ogress bouncer of the 'Bad End Inn'.

Awrongun: Mysterious Ranger and one-night-stand of Sereena.

Thumsk: Orc warrior (battling Gnolls and asked for your help).

Obdurate: 'All-chief' of the combined great orcan horde.

Teela: Dragon-disciple sub-head of the Black-cloaks.

Vludmila: Clever Drow priestess.

Staunch: De-facto leader of the pit surviving 'Elite orc guards'.

Adventure 5: Akbarr's Revenge

Edrab the (previously) bald: King of the Duergar dwarves and trader of a 'King's weapon'.

Adventure 6: Beneath the Underdark

Ubriz: Pompous paladin of St Cuthbert (and member of the lords of Light, Right and Might).

Kole: High priest of the Death-cultists

Lady Sybille: Damsel in distress with dark secret


Actually, I'd be pleased if you just remember meeting any of them!
:D

Ascension through Ambition

Demitasse's presentation to Cardinal Quondam had gone as well as he'd hoped.
Better even!
He'd honoured his promise and been a good and loyal servant to the armoured Bastien, despite their differing faiths.
He'd managed to keep everyone alive... Mostly. And, with their help, succeeded in averting a potentially Fissa changing event.
But now that was over and, although he'd grown to like and admire his teammates, he'd always known that his duty was here, back in the Nom Pariel Cathedral of Pelor.
The faith he'd shown in his god would not go unrewarded and he was now just waiting to be informed of his new position.
He'd always been ambitious and had made no secret of his desire to achieve a high position within the church. Being sent away hadn't been part of his plan but he'd accepted it gracefully and his powers had expanded accordingly.
The grand, ornate, golden doors swing open and three of the church elders totter out, followed by Cardinal Quondam himself.
"Young Demitasse, you have done well, saved the world and brought great honour to the house of Pelor. In honour of this, although unprecedented, we are promoting you straight to the position of Arch Bishop. "
The young cleric is grateful for his dark, curly beard, as it prevents his elders spotting the toothy smile hidden behind it.
This promotion elevates him to a good position. A great position. A rank from which he can easily ascend to be Cardinal himself.
There are currently two other Arch Bishops senior to him but with his lifespan extended as it is, he can afford to be patient and await his turn.

Money, that's what I want!

Unlike Marlon, the young and strikingly beautiful Sereena still feels the insidious pull of avarice. She was rich certainly but not nearly rich enough.
Perhaps she'll never be truly satisfied?
Still, despite her fellow adventurers relaxed states of self satisfaction, she'll need to find a way to keep her accumulation of wealth coming.
Perhaps she could find a new group of adventurers?
She'd learned a great deal over the last year or so and her sorceress powers had grown exponentially. The spells that flowed through her though, were useful rather than destructive.
Perhaps she could recruit a few muscly henchmen to do her bidding?
The teenage witch bites her bottom lip, as she suddenly imagines herself surrounded by a bevvy of handsome young men in (perhaps a little too tight) black leather.

Eye see no other option

Nitendae sat in the empty library, he could of entered at a normal time but liked the solitude when it was closed. Also there was no librarian to frown at him when he wanted to look at the rare arcania tomes.
There were a few general entries regarding Beholders but the older rarer tomes had more detailed information.
It seemed that the Beholder 'pet' that currently hovered over the inn was devastation and destruction in one handy eyeball. Nite' felt that the creature had suffered enough being controlled and abused. He had first thought to release it somewhere or gift it to some worthy institute but now realised that the only safe option was to terminate the creature.
He knew that even shackled and controlled it would be no easy task to kill, especially now his friends Bastien and Volkon were out of town.
But first he had one last job for the beast, a final message to send to the thieves guild leader. A firm reminder that he and his friends were off limits and that Nom-pariel was big enough for both of them.

Too Much too Young

Though wealthy beyond his ability to count, the meaty Marlon feels, at a mere twenty-two, that he's too young to just idle his time away.
Rosey had offered him work in the Inn but anything she'd needed, he'd happily done for free.
As always, he turned to Sereena for advice.
"Why not rejoin the Nom Pariel city guard?", she suggested.
Marlon had considered it but their agenda was more about drinking, kick-backs and bribes rather than actually helping protect the people.
"Well, you don't have any family here. Who else do you know?"
The truth was, that before trying his hand at adventuring, he'd not had many friends. The only father figure he'd ever known had been his small statured instructor at the Moorcock combat academy.
With a sudden smile, the giant warrior stands up and grins down at his sorcerous friend.
"Thanks Sereena. I know exactly what I want to do!."
About twenty minutes later, Marlon's standing outside the front door of his old teacher; Pechi. A stunned look on his face.
"YOU want to teach?!"

The Managerie in the Hole

Although very happy to have all her new friends back, Rosey isn't all that sure of the beasts and creatures that they've dragged back with them.
Issack, the magical, talking backpack has become a true friend and, although he's been feeling a bit low due to the loss of his stick-man servant; Cary, he's always ready for a chat and full of useful items and good advice.
Sereena's smokey cat; Cogitari is a blessing. She's proved to be a terrific little mouser and, when not curled up near the fireplace, is a clever and vigilant, much petted guard.
The wolf, whom she found scratching at her door, is another shaggy but welcome addition. She'd recognised him immediately as Greyclaw, the young barbarian; Volkon's pet and, despite her initial fear, shepherded him into the small open-aired storage area at the back of the Inn.
After winning him over with food scraps and attention, he now acts as the honorary 'doorman', deterring (alongside her recently hired half-orc bouncer; DeTrop) any unruly behaviour in her bar.
The most recent addition though, leaves her less than thrilled.
The handsome elf; Nitendae had returned with a hideous, bulbous, one-eyed creature in tow.
Literally in tow!
Floating over his head, on a length of fine chain, the creature's toothy maw hangs open and drooling. A slender, hooked harpoon piercing it's flesh, holds the chain in place and, apparently, makes the terrifying creature docile.
Nitendae's been using it (in combination with his magical levitating boots) to drag himself through the air all over town!
He says he loves the freedom the monster grants him but, despite his protestations, Rosey can feel an evil, frustrated malevolence emanating from the blobby bobbing thing.
It gives her the heebie-jeebies...

(This story occurs between the Party returning to the 'Hole in the wall' and Batien leaving for his monastery.)

Welcome back/Happy sack

Although unwilling, Bastien is given a heroes reception, with the entire order of the monastery in attendance.
Abbott Elphic is most joyous in his welcome.
"You were never the most studious, athletic or morally righteous but there was always something special about you. You were born for a divine purpose and I'm so glad that I got to see you succeed. You saved more than our church boy... You saved the entire world!"
After the near constant back-slapping is over and Bastien has recounted his tale for the umpteenth time, he finally gets a quiet moment with the old Abbot.
Propping Issack up on a chair, Bastien lets the magical, talking bag, speak for itself.
The Abbot listens patiently, without interruption until Issack finally runs out of ways to plead.
"Poor sad sack. You worry for nothing. When your beefy friend Marlon first petitioned for a golem made of flesh for you, I baulked. I struggled with the notion of giving a magical 'creature' such as yourself, the means to do others harm. Regardless of the evil inherent of reanimating dead flesh, I didn't know if you were to be trusted. Still, your plight didn't fall on deaf ears and, as priests of the road, we couldn't ignore your desire for your own right to roam. Instead, as you well know, we found another way. While animating flesh is against the will of our god, animating wood was not. The spell was a powerful one though, as was the one to make it permanent. Such a powerful spell to create just one, man-sized mannequin wasn't feasible... So instead we created six."
Issack stammers in response.
"There are six more Cary's still sitting in their crates!"
Abbot Elphic laughs.
"No. You took one, so that only leaves five. And those five have proved very useful around here. The gardens have never been so well tended, the monastery has never been cleaner. It's amazing what a group of tireless servants can accomplish over time."
Issack sits silently, not daring to ask.
The old Abbot smiles but can't stand to prolong the bag's agony any longer.
"You assisted my priest in saving the world. The least we can do is give you another stick-man body."
As Issack's leathery form seems to collapse in relief, Abbot Elphic adds,
"You might want to think of a new name though."

Somebody to love

Issack's journey, atop Bastien's shoulders, back to his monastery and Abbot Elphic, seems to take ages but is uneventful. It appears that his human steed has gathered the skills and gravitas that deters mundane interference.
Bumping along, the magical haversack silently prays that the kindly old man will grant him another boon. Last time it was thanks to the generosity of Marlon using up his own wish but maybe, after their success against the Axis of Evil, the Abbot might feel suitably generous? After all, hadn't his loss been for the benefit of the others?
Couldn't it be conceivably argued that without his sacrifice, Volkon would have died at the crystal hand of the stone guardian? And without Volkon, would Nitendae and Bastien have been able to defeat Fluetin the drider, let alone, the Death cultist high priest, the winged dragon disciple and all the other evil drow and humans?!
After weeks on the road, their journey reaches an abrupt end.
"We're here?" asks the bag.
"We're here." answers the man.

The Thief's Gambit

In order to avoid the sure to be emotional goodbye, Nitendae had shared a private embrace with Bastien the previous evening. Humans wore their emotions far too close to the surface for his comfort.
Slipping out into the crisp pre-dawn air, the half-elven rogue heads off to find Nom Pariel's Queen of Thieves.
Wealthy as he now is, he could live like a high-born noble for the rest of his long life...
Except, he still has a few debts to settle.
The sun is just breaking  over the rooves of the eastern buildings, when he slips past the beggar; Blind Ali. She tilts her head but assumes the far too stealthy Nitendae is merely an errant gust of wind blowing down the alleyway and past her wooden crate home.
At the secret entrance behind the 'Queen's gambit' tavern, the half-elf deftly picks the robust but intricate lock and lets himself in.
He knows this was pointless.
He knows that the door is always monitored.
He knows that, even at this time, the secret underground building will be full of the city's worst denizens.
...
Especially at this time!
As he pads silently down the steps, he comes face to face with a burly guard blocking his progress.
Nitendae smiles.
"Hi Nelson."
The lithe Half-elf and the thick-necked, human sadist have met several times before. The first time while he was partnered with Stab-hands Stevi, shaking down Rosey for her 'protection money'.
"Ello Nite. Valois 'az bin expectin' you."
Escorted through a crowded, smoke filled bar to the back room, a velvet curtain is drawn aside and Nitendae ushered inside.
A beautiful, dark haired woman in her early thirties is sprawled across a large leather chair. She's wearing an elegant, wide brimmed hat upon her head and her thigh-high boots are up on the expensive looking desk between them.
Behind her, an unblinking black raven squats threateningly, perched atop a bookcase.
 Casually looking him up and down, Valois exhales a long stream of cigar smoke...
"Got those boots I hired you to find?"

No longer shake, rattle and roll..

Nitendae sits at his favourite table in the Hole in the Wall.
Back to the wall and able to view both doors into the lounge.
It was late, the girls were finally able to clear away now the last patron had left.
In this peace Nitendae finally realised what he'd been missing, it had been going on for so long that he'd become used to it.
Finally he could no longer hear the strange rattling of dice in his head which had accompanied him on all the adventures.

New Plans over Old Clans

After waving farewell to his religious friend and the sentient backpack, Volkon heads back inside their jointly owned Inn.
He found it odd though unsurprising that Bastien had chosen to walk for weeks rather than simply instantly teleport back to his monastery.

The half-elf; Nitendae is elsewhere, Demitasse is back at the cathedral of Pelor and both Marlon and Sereena are still fast asleep but the young barbarian doesn't feel lonely. He sits back down beside the roaring hearth and tucks back into his 'Ogre' portioned cooked breakfast and sups from his ever-full flagon of ale.

Beneath his feet lies his great wolf, who waits patiently for the occasional but regular supply of crispy bacon.

Behind the counter, Rosey the Inn-keeper, beams over to him. Although she loves running the 'Hole-in-the-wall', she enjoys the peace before opening, surrounded by her much loved staff and new friends.

Bastien had headed back to his monastery to debrief his Abbot. Perhaps, now he'd regained his lost memories he should do the same?

His clan chief had tasked him to track and uncover what the orcish 'Bear claw' clan were doing and report back.

He'd done as ordered but had never reported back...

Young Volkon idly and internally debates whether he should stay here in the bustling city of Nom Pariel with his new friends... His new family, or trek the thousands of miles back to the savage lands of his birth?

...

Scratching Greyclaw's shaggy mane, the rusty haired barbarian sighs.

"Perhaps I should have thought about this BEFORE Bastien left?"

All roads lead to home

It's been several weeks, and Bastien is getting pretty tired of the enchanted Issack's incessant whining.
"In Fharlaghn's name, I swear I will take you back to my monastery!"
The floppy sack on the floor, manages (without the benefit of a face) to pout.
"But when? It's been ages since I heroically sacrificed poor Cary to save Volkon's life!"
To be honest, the travelling war-priest has felt the itch of wanderlust slowly growing and he's well past the point of returning to brief his Abbot...
"Today... But no teleporting. I want to feel the gravel of the road beneath my feet."