Random musings on books, code, and tabletop games.
The Court of a Thousand Suns, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch
Fleet of the Damned, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch
Revenge of the Damned, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch
The Return of the Emperor, by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch
Black Wings, by Christina Henry, copyright 2010 by Tina Raffaele; Ace Books/The Berkley Publishing Group/Penguin Group (USA) Inc.; December 2010; ISBN 978-0-441-01963-2.
A new series, featuring Madeline Black, a soul collector.
The Native Star, by M. K. Hobson, copyright 2010; Spectra/Ballantine Books/Random House Inc., 978-0-553-59265-8.
A fantasy set in 1876, featuring Emily Edwards, a witch, and Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock.
Sten, by Allan Cole & Chris Bunch. Sten #1.
The Wolf Worlds, by Alan Code & Chris Bunch. Sten #2.
Elegy Beach , by Steven R. Boyett. The sequel to Ariel, which was published in 1983. (The revised 2009 version of Ariel is on my stack of books to read.)
Clockwise round the table, starting with the Labyrinth Lord:
T.K.B., the Labyrinth Lord.
M.A., playing - James the Cleric and - Jeffrey the Monk.
T.A., playing - Glen the Strategist (a wizard) and - Dooley the sly (a thief).
L.B., playing - Taffy the Halfling and - Alice the Cleric
E.A., playing - Curufin the Elf and - Drusilla the Ranger.
Remember the heroic fight of the doomed Green Dot Army, who helped make the world safe from Chaos!
I used green glass tokens to represent the party's hirelings, and the final climactic battle in the Caves of Chaos included a private army of hirelings, 50 or so strong. They were a heroic sight setting out from the Keep for the Caves.
Via K to 62. Dooley pried out gems. James and Alice each turned some skeletons. Acolytes from 56 ran to 58 and rang the bell, 20 zombies and 20 skeletons came out.
The party and their 50 hirelings fought the zombies and skeletons. It was a grim and uncertain battle, but Law triumphed over Chaos in the end.
All but four of the hirelings died in the battle, and only two of those four made it back to the Keep. The party paid for nice funerals, so people (probably) don't spit at them as they walk through the Keep.
Clockwise round the table, starting with the Labyrinth Lord:
T.K.B., the Labyrinth Lord.
M.A., playing - James the Cleric and - Jeffrey the Monk.
T.A., playing - Glen the Strategist (a wizard) and - Dooley the sly (a thief).
L.B., playing - Taffy the Halfling and - Alice the Cleric
E.A., playing - Curufin the Elf and - Drusilla the Ranger.
Door at top of stairs next to 54 was stuck, Jeffry slammed them open. Acolytes came out, 2 killed, 2 captured. Interrogated, noise brought zombies. South to 53. Half the party was unconscious. James turned 3 of the zombies. Carried Dooley back to Keep unconscious. Couple of weeks healing.
Clockwise round the table, starting with the Labyrinth Lord:
T.K.B., the Labyrinth Lord.
M.A., playing - James the Cleric and - Jeffrey the Monk.
T.A., playing - Glen the Strategist (a wizard) and - Dooley the sly (a thief).
L.B., playing - Taffy the Halfling and - Alice the Cleric
E.A., playing - Curufin the Elf and - Drusilla the Ranger.
Back to 62 via J. While searching a gray ooze cam in, separating Dooley and Glen from the rest. Ooze decayed Dooley's sword, Dooley accidentally shot James (rolled a 1), missiles killed ooze, which popped and filled room 1 foot deep. Lily finally thought of wood coffins. Back to town. Alice heals Dooley.
Back via J to fork to 62:area. To 60. Took silver hand mirror. 61:area Took great ax, chain, 135 gp, bracelet worth 700 gp. 64 Taffy, Alice, Dru, Curufin enter, Medusa stones Taffy and Alice, then Dru on the way out. Medusa has 18 CHR. Curufin tries to go back in, Dooley grabs him and throws him on the ground, Medusa comes to the door, Curufin fails save, Dooley and Glen make it. Glen uses the wand of paralyzation, Dooley borrows shield from James, stabs the medusa, finds the stone-to-flesh potion, unstones the unlucky (Curufin, Dru, Taffy, Alice). And back to town.