Random Encounters

Normally, I write about the progress the group has made and what they did in a narrative format. I'm going to depart from that today, mainly because I decided that a long journey from point A to point B would best be served in one of two fashions. Either a narrative, where the group travels through some hardships and gets to their destination relatively unscathed, or a series of random encounters.

I decided that random encounters would be appropriate in this case, as it would serve two purposes. Number one purpose was combat. I wanted a session with some combat in it, as the last session was completely narrative, and I didn't award any XP, though I plan to at some point as a story award. The second purpose was to show that the terrain in this area isn't very forgiving. One of the reasons it's called the lost tomb of Kruk-Ma-Kali is that it hasn't been found. If anybody could just walk north from the city and find it, it would have been found long ago.

As a synopsis, the group bought some equipment, traveled north for about 8 hours, and when they were getting ready to set up camp, the druid detected undead nearby, heading for their location. In about an hour, half a dozen large zombies reached the group, which they had no trouble dispatching. During the night, a group of manticores came across the group, and attacked them. Chamele cast obscuring mist to prevent their aerial assault and we stopped there for the evening.

At this rate, the group might find it difficult to rest long enough to replenish their spells which could have a seriously detrimental effect as they counted on Aldoran's spells to protect them from the harsh climate.

Gaming tomorrow

Well, we are continuing our Kalamar game tomorrow.

Even when I plan on doing a random dungeon delve, I like to have some things worked out in advance so that it goes smoothly, and I don't have to look up a bunch of stats in the middle of a game. However, I don't have time to do that. So, I've got a map, names of monsters that go in rooms, and a plot (*gasp*). So, the monster manual will be my friend.

I'll also be using the Fat Dragon Games paper models and the nifty ceramic walls I got from my secret santa last year. I thought about using dungeon tiles, but I couldn't find an easy way to incorporate them. I'll think I'll have a better chance to use them next time around.

Arrival in Dijishy

We played our ongoing Kalamar game on January 22nd, 2010. It's been a couple of months since our last session and more than a year before our previous one.

The rest of the trip from the coast to Dijishy was uneventful. Walking through the arid but not quite desert conditions towards to city were acceptable, but as they approached the city, they realized that it was hospitable only by it's unique location between the Elos Desert to the east and the Elenon mountains to the west. Skirting between these two easily identifiable landmarks, reaching the city-state was not difficult.

Found on the edge of a cliff, with a man made ramp leading up to it from the ground below, it is easily defensible. Boasting an almost homogeneously human population of 6,000, with dwarves being a small minority.

The group enters the gates, which are guarded by two humans, who regard them with disinterest. They quickly find an inn, and waste no time trying to gather information on where the tomb might be located, but in a circumspect way. As they entered the inn, the only group that seemed different than the local populace was a high elven female wearing plate mail, with a sword at her hip and shield on her back, surrounded by three human males, one also wearing plate mail, one wearing plain white robes, and the last wearing leather armor.

After finding their own table and ordering food and ale, Chamele and Kasandra approach the four at the table, and strike up a small conversation. Chamele says they have been hired to find a more southern overland route to Brandobia that avoids Pel Brolenon and their slaver trade, and asks what the other group is doing in the city, at the edge of nowhere.

They said they were currently unemployed and looking for work, but the location suited them, what with Kalamar to the east and Pel Brolenon to the west, Dijishy was looking pretty good for an elf like her. But she did say that the Great Sanctuary might have some maps or other information about the local area and might be a good place to start their search.

So a short while later, the group approaches the library, where Vorian says to a librarian seated behind a large desk at the entrance that he would like to peruse their collection, and is told it is 10 gold for the day. He hands over 10 gold and is given a large, red metal disk with a hole in the center. He goes to hand it to Kasandra, when the librarian says, "Sir, entrance is not transferable. If she would like to enter, she must pay her own fee."

"What?" asks Vorian incredulously. "I said I would like to peruse your collection, not that I was. I was paying for her."

"Your statement, plus the exchange of coinage implies that..."

"You can infer all you want! In that case, I want a refund."

"There are no refunds."

" Then I want to speak to your superior."

"Very well. He won't have anything different to say to you, but...," and with that he nods to one of the many assistants behind him, who goes walking off.

After waiting about a minute, Vorian looses patience and says, "So where is he?"

"Patience, sir. Some things take time."

"And some things take less time, for example, me losing my patience," attempting to intimidate the librarian.

"Let me see what I can do," and he nods to another attendant, who walks away briskly. "Perhaps you should realize that all things happen for a reason and in their own time." As he is talking, several men come back through the entrance to the library. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"No, I'm staying right here until you give me my money back."

"Then we'll have to remove you bodily," says the librarian, as two of the men approach Vorian.

"Coward! Sending your thugs after me instead of doing it yourself," says Vorian, scowling as he walks out of the entrance alcove.

After Vorian leaves, Chamele walks forward and says, "Me and my acquaintance here seek admittance," motioning toward Kasandra and handing over two platinum coins."

"Very well. No weapons are permitted inside. You can leave them here and they will be returned to you when you leave."

Chamele and Casandra then begin their search for information on the lost tomb of Kruk-Ma-Kali, spending 5 days in the library. They returned each morning, given a disc of a different color, and left each evening. Towards the end of their search, they found a promising book, The Journal of Niemallion Laebrinoia. Chamele spends some time, and copies out to be what appears the most interesting parts of the journal. As she is copying the book, she sees out of the corner of her eye a librarian, who appears to be smiling slightly as he walks away.

During this time, Aldoran had been flying around the environs in eagle form, trying to get a feel for the land. On the 4th day, he begins to travel north as far as possible before returning. He make good progress, and notices a fortress ruin amongst the mountain passes. Before he can inspect further, he notices a manticore. He decides to fly back to the city, out distancing it before it could present a threat.

With that, the group feels well prepared to travel north to explore the ruins and than farther northward toward the Great Valley.

Finished Final Fantasy IX

I finished Final Fantasy IX last night.

I'm glad to have finished it. I might come back to it later to try to beat two optional bosses: Hades and Ozma.

Here's the ending movie:

Still no roleplaying...but having fun!

Well, it's been a while but I think there will be roleplaying this Friday. Last Friday we played Ticket to Ride at work. I had originally gotten 10 people together, but several people were sick and two people had to change their lunch time to do some work, so it got whittled down to five.

We played with the new 1910 USA expansion I got and it was quite fun. We played with the 1910 rules, which meant most of our tracks were short and disconnected, and most people got extra tickets which was a change from our normal style of play.

I got 4th place, because I was blocked on one route and we ran out of time on another.

In other things I've been doing lately: Almost done with Final Fantasy IX! It's been about 2 and half years that I've been working on it, with 90 hours of game time, most of which was the card game while rocking Mr. Bebop to sleep. I'll probably finish the last two bosses to watch the ending, then go back and get the two optional bosses Ozma and Hades.

I got Ace Combat 5 and Final Fantasy X for Christmas so I won't be wanting for video games for a while. Also got a gift of $20 for turbine points in DDO, and I won 500 points on twitter for their Festivalt giveaway. So now I have plenty of points and not much time to play the game currently.

We've watched several movies recently, including Evan Almighty, The Maiden Heist, Julie and Julia, Wall-E, Coraline, Duplicity, The Proposal, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and I think I've missed one or two.

Ticket to Ride Europe

Well, one of my coworkers bought Ticket to Ride Europe this weekend, so it looks like we will be playing that on Friday instead of my USA edition.

And, another ordered the USA edition from Amazon, so it seems to be quite popular. Maybe Days of Wonder should give me a kickback or something?

Holidays

With the holidays approaching, there will be less time for a regular gaming schedule. I think that goes for everyone, not just me.

But, there is time to spend with family and friends, which is nice.

Having time home from work means more leisure time too! I think I'll get in some more time playing DDO (check out my my.ddo blog too), and hopefully a few board games and card games (cribbage is a family favorite).

I'll also be able to take care of my fish more. My three spot gouramis are a little bigger, but are still on the small side. The white clouds are about the same size, but my harlequin rasboras and gold barbs are quite large now.