Midnight at the Oasis

It's been four days since the seven members of the newly expanded Party left the double-dead Druid's portal well, but despite the oppressive heat above and energy sapping sand below, the group is surviving fine. Thanks, in part, to Liga Burr's impressive sense of direction (despite the alien astrology), the weeks supply of magical water found in the tent and the Fey food gifted by the goddess of the pool; Estrid.

During the journey, Liga Burr and Rifkin have taken the time to study the magical scrolls and maps found on Zephyr's bookshelf and discovered them all to be useful and, better yet, usable.

Divining the passage of time here has proved difficult though, due to the constant light from the multiple moons and suns. Also, unfortunately because of the heavily armoured Fortu's slow pace, it's nearly midnight when Liga Burr spots the mid-journey oasis.

The small patch of green seems incongruous amid the seemingly endless expanse of golden, barren sand surrounding it.

Despite the still twilight sky, lit by three various sized moons, a campfire is clearly burning and as the Party approach, Arowe spots three still-living versions of those ugly horses tethered. Standing in front of them, a rotund, tanned but red bearded man is waving a greeting. His posture and broad smile appear welcoming but the two large, heavy-set and armed Orcs flanking him seem 'slightly' less so.

"Blessings upon you my friends!" He calls out.

What Motivates your Henchmen?

 

Every Capuchins' a Critic

The heavy thud of the fist sized nut onto his leg, knocks Rifkin backwards and he quickly squints up at the oddly angled tree-tops in annoyance. Despite, or perhaps because of the bright light burning all around them, it'd been impossible to spot the small, unmoving monkeys hidden high in the strange trees. Impossible until they started throwing coconuts.

Just moments before, the gigantic, desiccated and seemingly dead snake slid from the sloping trunk it was draped over and the seemingly dead man shuddered back to a twitchy, staccato semblance of life. Slow moving but indifferent to their own safety, they mindlessly pressed forward to attack.

His friends reacted exactly as he'd grown to expect... Arowe from a position of relative safety, balanced atop the stone well, fired arrow after arrow into the giant python. Fortu blocked the advance of the reanimated Druid, driving his thick sword through the wretched creatures chest. Liga Burr though had spotted the high positioned monkeys before the first thrown coconut had landed and was already firing back at them and the three Human guards worked together to take care of the giant constrictor.

Or tried at least.

Everyone's blows seem to be having little effect. The creatures' lack of beating hearts or vital organs mean that their slashing and piercing weapons are mostly ineffective, with arrows just poking into them like sandbags. Only dismemberment will stop them. A surprisingly difficult proposition when dealing with a giant snake!

Several more of the large, brown nuts impact into the sand near Rifkin's feet and another one bounces off his head. Thankfully there's no power behind the small monkeys' aim but it still annoying and the Bard also does what he (and his teammates) have come to expect.

Rifkin pushes further backwards into the lush greenery for cover and plays on. He knows that his inspiring music is much more helpful than anything else he could do to contribute.

The battle now seems more like a chore, with Fortu easily dismembering the unarmoured zombie and the guileless snake seemingly unable to grab any of its multiple opponents. Battles can change in an instant though, as Henshaw, too reliant on his shield, takes a powerful blow from the enormous snakes head and is sent flying, with his ribs broken and the air knocked out of him. A dozen more seconds though, and it's all over, with the zombified snake flayed to the point of immobility.

Then, despite all his teammates being open targets and the deep cover he'd given himself, two more of the oversized nuts bounce off Rifkin's shoulders.

"What's wrong with you little pricks?! Don't like music?!!"

Honour Amongst Thieves

Assif treated me to a home screening of the new D&D movie last night, courtesy of ZoeFlix.

It'd garnered good reviews and I was glad of the opportunity to see it much earlier than expected.

The very opening scene though, made me groan. Not because it was bad but it was horribly similar to an encounter I'd already written for our joint adventure.

The very next scene did the same thing and many others throughout the movie. I'll give Assif extra in-game bonuses every time he spots one during the next few sessions.

The alternative would be to rewrite them but I'm far too lazy to do that.

All-in-all it was a great movie with loads of funny blink-and-you'll-miss-them Easter eggs and insider gags.

Best throwaway line: "Well that's a little hurtful".

Thanks Assif.


Note: Yes, I corrected the spelling of the title. Bloody Americans. ;P

Fortnight Delay

Just an online confirmation of the two-week delay.

New game date:

Saturday the 3rd of June (9am/6pm start).

I've got no story-time expositions to fill the next five weeks but I might do a few just-for-fun little films. I will post up a where-you're-at-catch-up the weekend before the game though.

Now's the perfect time for any of your back-story entries or current-query posts. 

David wrote one to help us keep the momentum going (and draw attention to the fact that I've not only failed to give him a magic +4 Bastard sword of Awesomeness but I've actually managed to damage his normal one).

Know though, that any tid-bits you commit to Orange Inn help weave the story.

If you can find the time, I'd love to read them.

:)