D&D Blog Categories: Games (44) D&D (43) Lost Mines of Phandelver (10) Curse of Strahd (1) 3 Wizards 1 Cleric (4) HotDQ (2) Photos (4) Tech (2) Wildemount (8) EBAC (7) The Seven Oaks (4) Freehold (4) Space Engineers (1) Posts May 30, 2023 The Seven Oaks - Final Countdown Battle at the Wizard’s Tower Aug 7, 2022 The Seven Oaks - Mid-Point Summary The story begins in Greenest, as you get a view of the village, it is in utter chaos, homes burning, people fleeing, almost like the apocalypse has begun. Above the village, an Adult Blue Dragon is flying in circles, while cultists from the Cult of the Dragon raid the village with kobolds under their commands, stealing anything that looks remotely valuable. Feb 1, 2021 Offering 141 Lia:My Queen, My abject apologies for the delay in this offering to you, I hope the quality of experiences offered shall prove sufficient payment. Offered are recollections of a diaspora, indentured servitude, friends forgotten, companions gained, small victories against insurmountable odds and defeats from callous indifference. Into Your care I place these wanderers when their last step falls. Jan 25, 2021 Report 003 Ivan:Objective: Reclaim condemned Alchemists Guild property “Hall Red 3” Retrieve Vaselnor’s journal from Hall Red 3 Location: Fishpoint, Freehold Outcome: Pending Hall Red 3 secured for Guild of Alchemists Journal retrieved and secured in ARC HQ Journal being tracked by Blood Ooze incursion Jan 24, 2021 Letter 006 Postmark: Zadash Felderwin Ashguard Garrison Rosohna Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, I am very sorry for not writing to you earlier, our new employees moved a lot faster than I expected. We’ve recently returned from an excursion abroad to repatriate stranded citizens and I have a dread thought that our activities may have had some hand in the announcement of war. May whichever Gods watch over us let cooler heads prevail. Jan 20, 2021 The Seven Oaks 001 Phlebus:My old tutors were right, the outside world is very different to the Conclave and I’m not sure I like it. Things are a lot more violent than I was expecting. On the plus side I think I can do some real good in this world as there are certainly enough people that need it. I’ve been travelling with Cadvan for a while and I’m certain it’s a punishment - for who I’m not so sure yet. From what little she’s said about her past I think she normally works alone, although she has mentioned other groups she’s worked with previously. In fact, she’s currently employed an escort of adventurers to take her to Greenest although for the love of Bahamut I can’t work out why as she’s quite capable of looking after herself. Jan 11, 2021 Rian Files Ivan: Work In Progress Royal Library Untitled Book Dull Black, Leatherbound, Hand-Written Journal-style Bestiary Entry: The Grasping Mass Note in Rian’s handwriting: Jan 11, 2021 Report 002 Ivan:Objective: Locate ARC records Location: Whiteclaw Territory, The Dreggs, Freehold Outcome: Pending Nov 15, 2020 Report 001 Ivan:Objective: Investigate Thefts on Lightning Rail Location: Lightning Rail transit between Freehold and Ranadonia Outcome: Favourable; Artifact recovered, weaknesses in Lightning Rail security identified (ventilation, aerial attack) Nov 15, 2020 Sevenoaks – Invite Tales of the Seven Oaks Introduction Join us as we embark on a fledgling adventure as we set out to make our names (and fortunes) in the world of Faerûn! Laugh, joke, cheer and of course weep, for you do not know the dark forces that stand in your path as something monstrous manoeuvres it’s pawns for purposes as yet unseen. Can you stand fast and put a stop to it or will you cower with the rest of them in their homes? Never has the need for heroes been as desperate - are you ready? Nov 15, 2020 Letter 005 Postmark: Rosohna Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, I am very sorry for not writing to you earlier, our new employees moved a lot faster than I expected. We’ve recently returned from an excursion abroad to repatriate stranded citizens and I have a dread thought that our activities may have had some hand in the announcement of war. May whichever Gods watch over us let cooler heads prevail. Sep 9, 2020 Offering 140 Lia:My Queen, My unexpected relocations appear to be more long-term than I had orinally thought but does seem to grant more opportunities than usual to perform your work. The group has found itself in the coerced employ of the Efficient Beurocratic Adventuring Company, sealed by an arcane contract that indicates the owners retain some thing of ours that shall be returned on completion of the terms of the contract. The specific thing held is unclear but I find the chance that it could be my soul problematic to your cause. Aug 11, 2020 Offering 139 Postmark: BannockLia:My Queen, The Dretch were reluctant to resume their appropriate position but I believe were suitably persuaded as to the rightfulness of this action. The villager was restored to their prior condition without undue fuss and recounted the transformation of their childhood friend from man to Merrow as an offering to your grace - I trust that the impact of this experience suffices as payment. After some investigation the group came to the rather wonderfully outlandish theory that the missing lighthouse, psychoactive slime and odd bitemarks found on a pair of bodies were linked to a colony of Kuo-Toa who had brought forth a protective deity from the lighthouse’s structure and purpose. I believe I was quite pleasantly suprised when this turned out to be the truth; with your blessing I would like to have this experience for just a little bit longer. Jul 14, 2020 Offering 138 Postmark: BergvornLia:My Queen, The secrets of Bergvorn are being revealed; the cleric’s flock encompasses more than just the wretched villagers. In a moment of hubris the cleric has attempted to evict our group from the village with the aid of a sea-witch and numerous abominations rising from the sea - the fight does not seem to bode well for them but I am unsure whether they are worthy of your attentions. A complication has arisen in the form of Mip who has let loose a pair of Dretches on the unprepared villagers, one of whom has succumbed to the experience. I shall seek payment from the villager for my service in due course, once the Dretch have been suitably returned to their proper place. I imagine Mip to be the repository and cause of many of your interests and I forsee many opportunities to collect. If my ears do not deceive it sounds like my duties will be required elsewhere in the fight shortly. When this is done I believe I will take some personal satisfaction tending to the cleric. Your ever-faithful Collector, Lia Jul 7, 2020 Offering 137 Postmark: BergvornLia:My Queen, I must apologise, a lapse in judgement has lead my travelling companions to learn too much - they have seen your face, though I do not think they realise what they beheld. I offer finding love letters of a summer romance that were thought long-since lost. One of our number is a most interesting being - they were not born to parents, nor summoned from the Ether, but manufactured and given what appears to be consciousness. I cannot yet comprehend whether they have a soul and, if they do, would this soul be of interest to you? They certainly recall experiences and have learned skills during their existence. I would like to spend time examining the nature of this individual but your will in this will of course be honoured. Jul 3, 2020 Rosohna Contract Postmark: RosohnaContract for service of Dragonfall Guild provided to the City of Rosohna: Parties: “The City”, representing The City of Rosohna on behalf of the Kryn Dynasty “The Guild”, representing all current members of the Dragonfall Guild registered in The City Jun 30, 2020 Offering 136 Postmark: BannockLia:My Queen, We have come across a most troubled group of sea-dwellers whilst investigating a missing lighthouse in Bannock. The unfortunate creatures appear to be afflicted with some creeping malady that robs them of their faculties - it has made extraction of their experience challenging but I shall persevere. Most of them did not survive the encounter but I have performed the ritual preparations on their mortal remains. Jun 28, 2020 Letter 004 Postmark: Rosohna Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, I’m afraid I have some mixed news on the fortunes of our little group. We are all now members of the Dragonfall Guild inherited from my late Father which does give me a certain satisfaction. We’ve even completed some freelance contracts which has kept us in the black! Alas the last contract ended on a bad turn. I cannot divulge too much but we have lost a lot of autonomy so I feel we will be travelling often at the behest of our new paymasters. Jun 23, 2020 Offering 135 Postmark: BannockLia:My Queen, I was unable to complete the last rites on the minstrel in Farview, however I was able to transcribe her moment of hopelessness and offer a locket given to her by her Aunt. By Your Grace may her Journey be untroubled. I find myself unexpectedly taken to Bannock, a small yet propserous fishing village, and in the company of strangers. Jun 2, 2020 3 Wizards & a Cleric: The End of Sorcha and The World Postmark: UnknownAfter a considerable journey to rescue Traben and his village from Illithids the party went into the Underdark looking for diamonds to attempt to restore victims of the Illithids’ destruction. There they came face-to-face with a Tanarukk horde, created and driven by some unknown entity. The Tanarukks proved to be too much for the party who beat a fighting retreat back to the surface - in the process Sorcha was captured and sacrificed in a blood ritual with her soul bound to the Nine Hells. Subsequent attempts to summon her soul back failed and her final fate is unknown. A while later the party picked up Krodhal, a half-orc stranded out of time. While he played-up to the Orcish stereotypes he was unable to read or write so there are no written records from his perspective of his adventures with the party. Bardic tales are still told of the struggle against a creature older than the Gods who swallowed the world out of spite and jealousy, and a half-orc who broke the teeth of a monstrous plane-spanning leviathon to give his friends a single moment to save all of the realms. However, these are just Bardic fantasy because the world obviously didn’t end. May 20, 2020 Letter 003 Postmark: Rosohna Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, I’m glad to hear from you again, although the news of the puppies is most distressing. I can, however, shed some unfortunate light on the circumstances of the missing puppy - Squeaky snuck it away when we were staying at yours. I don’t think they meant any real mischief from it however I shall impress upon them the severity of the consequence of their actions and how much hurt it has caused you. Some small good has come of it; Squeaky has given the puppy to Malu to help lessen the pain of losing Gurgle, although as the puppy was not Squeaky’s to give I am unsure what to do. May 9, 2020 Letter 001 - Reply Postmark: Jigow Bazzoxan RosohnaJayna:My dear Vakgar, It was lovely to hear from you and of your travels. I’m sorry for the slow response, apparently fine writing paper is not easy to come by here due to the humidity but my cousin helped by having a writing desk made for me which keeps the letters and paper in perfect condition - lovey purple wood that matches the interior of the house perfectly. Apr 30, 2020 Letter 002 Postmark: Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, We have just arrived at Bazzoxan-proper although our group is worse-for-wear. Gurgle was sadly a casualty of particularly vicious bandits that plague The Barbed Fields - those directly responsible have been dealt with however I fear travellers will continue to be plagued by other desperados. Apr 20, 2020 Letter 001 Postmark: Bazzoxan JigowVakgar:Hello Jayna, We’re arriving at Bazzoxan’s supply port shortly. I didn’t expect to write to you so soon but the journey was more eventful than anticipated. Long story short, I accidentally got Squeeky intoxicated on Spice. Sep 4, 2019 Roll20 Useful Tricks #2 Advantage and Crit macros As characters grow older and more experienced they start to gather Feats, Items or other oddities that change how their attacks work. At some point these changes may be too much for the standard attacks in the Roll20 character sheets to accommodate, which is where Macros and Abilities come in. This post will detail separating attack and damage rolls whilst making the attack names clickable, just like the standard attacks from the character sheet, but with more flexibility. Jun 15, 2019 Roll20 Useful Tricks Most of these are for the D&D 5e by Roll20 (OGL) sheet and could probably be done in a better way. Jun 4, 2019 Calimshan Crisis – Invite This was for a game that never was so I’ve added additional notes on what I had planned. Please feel free to use any elements and let me know if they worked. Mar 18, 2018 Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Week 1 Postmark: Phandelin Goddamit woman, you set me on fire! ~Nir Weeks have passed since our adventurers killed Glass Staff and they’ve been getting restless. An old acquaintance of Gus’, Niruai Kuchiku has brought tidings of unrest in the East and seeks the help of the recent initiates to the Order of Wolves in investigating the source of the troubles. As he explains to his new compatriots, his choice in partners is due to their fearsome reputation and definitely not that they were the closest members to hand. He also brings with him Loki, a quiet Druid with an unnervingly distant gaze. With a last farewell to the townsfolk the gang head East. It’s not long before they come across the remains of a massacre; wagons are blocking the churned road, arrows wedged into the frame and canvas coverings torn, whilst cloaked figures pick through the scattered contents. Bodies lie crumpled in the mud, victims to the violence that had befallen their caravan. Mar 18, 2018 Hoard of the Dragon Queen: the Beginning Postmark: PhandelinWelcome, readers, to the adventures of the Order of Wolves. You join them after they have been rightfully celebrating their victory over the Redbrands, the Black Spider and Glass Staff, relieving the good folk of Phandelin from their machinations. Mar 4, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 9 Gus:It’s going to be a while before I can get all the damp out of my clothes after all the lake water I’ve been wading in. Feb 26, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 8 Gus:Evening all, sorry about the wait, it’s been a busy one here. Feb 19, 2018 3 Wizards & a Cleric: Week 2 - Hollow Man Postmark: RavenloftSorcha:I’m back and we’ve had a bit of action these last few days. It’s weird, even though things have gotten very strange and frankly disturbing it feels good to get out and do something. I was settled in at Ravenloft (and I am still worried about the folks there) but now I feel… alive. And properly creeped out. I’ll fill you in. In my last entry I told you Barbs was calling out for everyone, turns out she sensed Traben go unconscious (some of these gifts from the Ravens feel pretty invasive, to be honest, although I’ll let it slide). Ellidar had a little magical look-see to check whether he was just blind-drunk or something else was happening. He told us he saw a hooded figure dropping Traben into a bath of green stuff whilst waving a staff made of vertebrae around. I mean, it could be a stag-do or some initiation rites but I think you’re supposed to be conscious for those. Feb 13, 2018 3 Wizards & a Cleric: Week 1 Postmark: RavenloftSorcha:That citizens’ meeting was gruelling and quite divisive, which was a sad expectation. No-one really wanted to pay the restitutions demanded by the Zhentarim from Darkhold and give up their new-found freedom and I can’t say as I blame them. The initial payment was over 50,000GP and I’d bet my last copper piece that wouldn’t be the end of it. No, the real division was whether to fight or flee and that debate raged on for hours. In the end the majority of the town of Krezk chose to move on, whilst most others opted to stay and fight. We laid on a morning feast to try and ease the tensions - there’s a chance that these people may never see each other again. It’s certainly a grim time. Feb 12, 2018 3 Wizards & a Cleric: the Beginning Postmark: RavenloftSorcha:It seems news of Barovia’s return has started to spread; we’ve been receiving delegations from the neighbours. It all feels quite fancy, after the first (which we were a little unprepared for) we’ve been sprucing up the reception areas of the castle as well as paying a bit more attention to ourselves - I was quite taken aback by just how careworn my clothes were and Razda managed to wrangle his hair into something approaching respectable. Even Barbs mended the rents in her garb. Feb 11, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 7 Gus:I found Gundren! Caught him sleeping on the job but a bit of Dwarven brandy perked him right up. I’m getting ahead of myself… Feb 5, 2018 Curse of Strahd: Final Entry Postmark: RavenloftSorcha:Greetings, Dear Reader. Hopefully this finds you in good health with a nice mug of tea and a warm fire. What you’ve got in your mitts is my 3rd journal since I started my work for Helm - the first two seem to have gone walkabout which is chaffing me more than I thought. I’m sure they’ll turn up eventually. What follows will be my account of What We Did on Our Holidays. Hey Mon, I gots the chicken house! ~Razda Feb 4, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 6 Gus:Bree wasn’t quite herself today, just a little… off. Jan 21, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 5 Gus:I need to lose the beer gut! Jan 14, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 4 Gus:The Redbrands are finished; either dead or sent packing. Jan 7, 2018 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 3 Gus:Well we finally made it to Phandalin. Dec 29, 2017 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 2 Gus:We’ve found Sildar, but there’s still no sign of Gundren. Dec 28, 2017 Lost Mines of Phandelver Week 1 Gus:Two days. Two days in and we run into a goblin ambush. Who’s been keeping this trail clear of these vermin? Dec 26, 2017 Lost Mines of Phandelver Gus:Hail, friends! My name is Gustril Largeblade, Gus for you folks.