I have my family’s reputation to build, that is serious work. Also, so few of my fellows have stepped out of the Feywild recently that it seems I am regarded with more horror than wonder in this world. Rest assured that when it is time to relax and enjoy the fruits of my labor I will indulge in diversions and assuage my passions.
And thanks be to Ebirk and his family for their hospitality. It is good to be among one of the elder cultures that still understands the importance of tradition and good manners.
Seems ta me the little one’s takin’ a shinin’ ta the Dragonborn. Wonder if’n he know it’s a male ‘o the species? Don’t much matter. That life ain’t fer me, but Moradin loves all kinds.
Kid’s right, though. Seems Etri’s spent his centuries on this globe learnin’ ta not laugh. I guess if’n ya give it ‘nuff time, a huge bug can crawl up yer keaster.
We sure showed those nasty hobble-dee-gobble-dees what for, eh fellas?
Hey Ebirk, thanks for having your Maw & Paw put us up for the night! Its just a little more spacious than your place!
Therranin, how come you’ve been off brooding in a corner lately? Etri says its a…umm…what’d he call it? Something about your uncle & a repressed mammary or something? I thought a mighty hunter like you would enjoy all this killing!
Speaking of you, Etri, why are you always so serious? You’re just about the smartest guy I’ve ever met, but you need to laugh a little now & then! Here, watch me…
[Koll dances an exaggerated Halfling jig, arms & legs flailing every which way]
...no good, huh? Well, I’ll just have to find a different way to make you laugh. Mark my words, one day I’ll make you laugh!
Oh, and Balasar! I’ve never seen anyone who could breathe lightning from their mouth before! I’d give just about anything to be able to do that! But you’re a little too serious too…but not as much as Etri, though. Hmmm…hey Balasar, c’mere for a minute. I have an idea…
[Tiny little Koll takes the towering Balasar by the hand & leads him to a corner of the house, where Koll stands up on a table & begins whispering in Balasar’s ear]
I told Sinruth that I would be his death, and indeed I struck the final blow. And of COURSE I stood in the hallway and cast…distance is my ally. It allows me to strike without being struck, sometimes even without being seen. Let fools rush in, I am a Wizard. Brindol will have a new relic for their Hall of Honor…Sinruth’s head with a plaque commemorating the occasion of my slaying of him.
(Koll lies on the ground, wrapped in a chain, bleeding nearly to death, looking like Beetle Bailey after Sarge has pounded him. Only after arrows & magic missiles begin flying past him at the monstrous Hobgoblin who did this to him does he reach into his pocket & pull out a tiny card with the words “Second Chance” written on it. Lifting it shakily into the air, his voice quivers as he asks…)
hmmmph…if you people could contain yourselves for a few moments perhaps we could TALK to these things before we slaughter them all. I know you only live for a century or so, but do you HAVE to be so impatient? At least I was able to perform my ritual of language comprehension so that we could be ready when that demon summoned his captors to fight against us.
Glad to have someone in the group shorter ‘n me finally. Someone who kin look up to me.
I’da had a good night if I coulda hit somethin. You saw how those undead ‘sploded when I hit em with me divine gifts. Wait till I learns ta shoot straight.
Koll: “Y’know, I never got to explain exactly HOW I was captured, did I? Well y’see, I was trailing this band of Hobgoblins for awhile…because I speak Hobgoblin & all, and I thought it’d be fun to eavesdrop on them. So once I figured out they were a bunch of no-goodniks, I began planning my attack. First I’d slash ‘em, then I’d hack ‘em, then I’d stab ‘em…but nature called before I could do any of that. So there I am, with my knickers around my ankles, and those despicable Hobble-dee-gobble-dees jump me from behind! Imagine the dishonor, jumping someone from behind! I never! And they didn’t even bother pulling my up knickers first! There I am, being dragged away like a common criminal…with my tinkler hanging out! I tell ya, if I ever catch their leader I’ll…hey look, a butterfly!”
The site of the eladrin, that sword in his hand, rushing forward, point first, at the heart of a gobbo hexer was as strange and humorous a sight as this old dwarf has seen in his short years.
Mayhaps next time we can get the dragonborn to negotiate with a dragon, the elf to bathe, and me to sing.
After trying to persuade the paper dwarf that stepping into a ready made flanking position was a BAD idea, I wound up soloing one spectre with basically the bonus damage from Flaming Sphere while doing a bit of damage to the other before it died. I hate popping that daily power early, but when the cleric..er chips are down it’s time for game faces and massive damage.
I especially liked the part of the final fight of the night where my dice abandoned me and I abandoned my magic, drew the longsword, and charged the hexer. I dealt some admittedly puny damage, but it felt good.
In all I’m having more fun than I thought the 4th ed rules would allow for. But I’m chalking it up more to a good group, a well written adventure, and an excellent DM.
Our second night in the Gray Vale War, and I’m looking forward to it. Being the GM, I have a little bit of insight (total clairvoyance and control) as to what is going to happen, and I wish everyone good luck. Working together, doing your part, and fighting smartly will carry the night!
Last night was a good time, it takes a lttle effort to shake off the rust and re-train your imagination to the days of old. With a talented story teller ( albeit fat and hard to look at), makes the whole group come together seamlessly. This campaign has nothing but endless potential, and that my friends makes me giddy. Giddy like a 7th grade kid reading a monster manuel for the first time.
Equipped with a wierd, wild, wacky and wonderful map, there was no way we could go wrong…...
Well, the first session of the Gray Vale War went well. I know that I enjoyed the combat. The wizard and ranger showed what they could do last night, dishing out damage like it was going out of style. Way to go my fey friends. As for the dwarf, the only thing I can say is thank you for saving my scaley hide. Oh and good luck with those combat skills of yours. I would like to say to all the beasties I have not yet encountered. “The dragonborn wrecking machine is on his way, so you best be putting your affairs in order.”
I liked the night a great deal because, like you said, we all learned a bit. I think the advice Jeremy gave us regarding concentrating on one target at a time is good advice. Also, taking a moment to look at the battlefield would have helped us a great deal. An active Perception skill check is only a minor action, as opposed to a standard action for most skill checks, so we would have done well to look for the guy with one tusk.
Looking forward to our first game with the Gray Vale War.
Harumph….dancing balls of fire indeed. SOMEONE had to survive to save your skins and at least half complete the mission. And it wasn’t I who went charging into battle like some crazed half dragon. If you’ll remember I actually delayed my action until later in the round so I could decide who I would decimate and who I’d try to rescue, but the dragonborn went before the npcs and his INT is only 8 sooooo….
At least now we have some guage of how the difficulty scales between minion, monster, lieutenant, and boss mobs. I think there will be some improvement over the kill em all and let the gods sort em out style exhibited that first night.
I have my family’s reputation to build, that is serious work. Also, so few of my fellows have stepped out of the Feywild recently that it seems I am regarded with more horror than wonder in this world. Rest assured that when it is time to relax and enjoy the fruits of my labor I will indulge in diversions and assuage my passions.
And thanks be to Ebirk and his family for their hospitality. It is good to be among one of the elder cultures that still understands the importance of tradition and good manners.
Seems ta me the little one’s takin’ a shinin’ ta the Dragonborn. Wonder if’n he know it’s a male ‘o the species? Don’t much matter. That life ain’t fer me, but Moradin loves all kinds.
Kid’s right, though. Seems Etri’s spent his centuries on this globe learnin’ ta not laugh. I guess if’n ya give it ‘nuff time, a huge bug can crawl up yer keaster.
We sure showed those nasty hobble-dee-gobble-dees what for, eh fellas?
Hey Ebirk, thanks for having your Maw & Paw put us up for the night! Its just a little more spacious than your place!
Therranin, how come you’ve been off brooding in a corner lately? Etri says its a…umm…what’d he call it? Something about your uncle & a repressed mammary or something? I thought a mighty hunter like you would enjoy all this killing!
Speaking of you, Etri, why are you always so serious? You’re just about the smartest guy I’ve ever met, but you need to laugh a little now & then! Here, watch me…
[Koll dances an exaggerated Halfling jig, arms & legs flailing every which way]
...no good, huh? Well, I’ll just have to find a different way to make you laugh. Mark my words, one day I’ll make you laugh!
Oh, and Balasar! I’ve never seen anyone who could breathe lightning from their mouth before! I’d give just about anything to be able to do that! But you’re a little too serious too…but not as much as Etri, though. Hmmm…hey Balasar, c’mere for a minute. I have an idea…
[Tiny little Koll takes the towering Balasar by the hand & leads him to a corner of the house, where Koll stands up on a table & begins whispering in Balasar’s ear]
I told Sinruth that I would be his death, and indeed I struck the final blow. And of COURSE I stood in the hallway and cast…distance is my ally. It allows me to strike without being struck, sometimes even without being seen. Let fools rush in, I am a Wizard. Brindol will have a new relic for their Hall of Honor…Sinruth’s head with a plaque commemorating the occasion of my slaying of him.
I will sever the head. You do with them what you will….......... The only good hobgoblin is a dead hobgoblin!
(Koll lies on the ground, wrapped in a chain, bleeding nearly to death, looking like Beetle Bailey after Sarge has pounded him. Only after arrows & magic missiles begin flying past him at the monstrous Hobgoblin who did this to him does he reach into his pocket & pull out a tiny card with the words “Second Chance” written on it. Lifting it shakily into the air, his voice quivers as he asks…)
“Umm…is it too late to use this?”
hmmmph…if you people could contain yourselves for a few moments perhaps we could TALK to these things before we slaughter them all. I know you only live for a century or so, but do you HAVE to be so impatient? At least I was able to perform my ritual of language comprehension so that we could be ready when that demon summoned his captors to fight against us.
Glad to have someone in the group shorter ‘n me finally. Someone who kin look up to me.
I’da had a good night if I coulda hit somethin. You saw how those undead ‘sploded when I hit em with me divine gifts. Wait till I learns ta shoot straight.
Koll: “Y’know, I never got to explain exactly HOW I was captured, did I? Well y’see, I was trailing this band of Hobgoblins for awhile…because I speak Hobgoblin & all, and I thought it’d be fun to eavesdrop on them. So once I figured out they were a bunch of no-goodniks, I began planning my attack. First I’d slash ‘em, then I’d hack ‘em, then I’d stab ‘em…but nature called before I could do any of that. So there I am, with my knickers around my ankles, and those despicable Hobble-dee-gobble-dees jump me from behind! Imagine the dishonor, jumping someone from behind! I never! And they didn’t even bother pulling my up knickers first! There I am, being dragged away like a common criminal…with my tinkler hanging out! I tell ya, if I ever catch their leader I’ll…hey look, a butterfly!”
must…burn…hobgobs…can’t…control the…fIrE…much longer…
No, really, can’t wait to get back to playing
The site of the eladrin, that sword in his hand, rushing forward, point first, at the heart of a gobbo hexer was as strange and humorous a sight as this old dwarf has seen in his short years.
Mayhaps next time we can get the dragonborn to negotiate with a dragon, the elf to bathe, and me to sing.
Hrmph.
After trying to persuade the paper dwarf that stepping into a ready made flanking position was a BAD idea, I wound up soloing one spectre with basically the bonus damage from Flaming Sphere while doing a bit of damage to the other before it died. I hate popping that daily power early, but when the cleric..er chips are down it’s time for game faces and massive damage.
I especially liked the part of the final fight of the night where my dice abandoned me and I abandoned my magic, drew the longsword, and charged the hexer. I dealt some admittedly puny damage, but it felt good.
In all I’m having more fun than I thought the 4th ed rules would allow for. But I’m chalking it up more to a good group, a well written adventure, and an excellent DM.
Our second night in the Gray Vale War, and I’m looking forward to it. Being the GM, I have a little bit of insight (total clairvoyance and control) as to what is going to happen, and I wish everyone good luck. Working together, doing your part, and fighting smartly will carry the night!
It is time for battle!![]()
http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/bloodstone.jpg![]()
Last night was a good time, it takes a lttle effort to shake off the rust and re-train your imagination to the days of old. With a talented story teller ( albeit fat and hard to look at), makes the whole group come together seamlessly. This campaign has nothing but endless potential, and that my friends makes me giddy. Giddy like a 7th grade kid reading a monster manuel for the first time.
Equipped with a wierd, wild, wacky and wonderful map, there was no way we could go wrong…...
Well, the first session of the Gray Vale War went well. I know that I enjoyed the combat. The wizard and ranger showed what they could do last night, dishing out damage like it was going out of style. Way to go my fey friends. As for the dwarf, the only thing I can say is thank you for saving my scaley hide. Oh and good luck with those combat skills of yours. I would like to say to all the beasties I have not yet encountered. “The dragonborn wrecking machine is on his way, so you best be putting your affairs in order.”
I liked the night a great deal because, like you said, we all learned a bit. I think the advice Jeremy gave us regarding concentrating on one target at a time is good advice. Also, taking a moment to look at the battlefield would have helped us a great deal. An active Perception skill check is only a minor action, as opposed to a standard action for most skill checks, so we would have done well to look for the guy with one tusk.
Looking forward to our first game with the Gray Vale War.
Re: First Night
Harumph….dancing balls of fire indeed. SOMEONE had to survive to save your skins and at least half complete the mission. And it wasn’t I who went charging into battle like some crazed half dragon. If you’ll remember I actually delayed my action until later in the round so I could decide who I would decimate and who I’d try to rescue, but the dragonborn went before the npcs and his INT is only 8 sooooo….
At least now we have some guage of how the difficulty scales between minion, monster, lieutenant, and boss mobs. I think there will be some improvement over the kill em all and let the gods sort em out style exhibited that first night.