Failed Weather Mods and a First Look at the Midnight Fights Scenario

Last time I was considering adding bonuses or penalties to stat checks according to the severity of weather. The idea was to try out stat check mods on the party's barbarian. He had decided to climb the leg of a giant monster and attack it from underneath. Unfortunately, the encounter came to completion before the weather tables produced the freak storm I was counting on.

I did get some time to ruminate on using the mods. At a later date, I'll incorporate them and post the results.

Here's an update from tonight's PBEM session:

The sky clears and the moon illuminates the plains. The party; including Elvin, Jericho, and the Monk; decides to travel around the northern end of the fest grounds. Soon, they hear the voices of others traveling on the trail to the old barrows. With Kromang in the lead, the party folds into the long line of revelers heading for the subterranean arena. 

Along with the rest of the crowd, the PCs are drawn through a pair of expertly-crafted, faux tomb doors and down a wide set of stone, torch-lit stairs. The crowd passes through a four-way intersection before finally setting foot in the arena. 

From this perspective, looking down past the wooden stands and onto the oval-shaped arena floor, the party can make out some interesting items.

1. A bloody fight is already underway. A lightening quick rapier-wielder is carving unwanted tattoos on a shirtless gladiator. Blood flows freely down the gladiator's sinewy chest.  

2. A woman garbed in all white is seated high in the risers to the South (to the right of the PCs). Oscar, Elvin, and  Jericho recognize her as Laddal. She's seated with a half-dozen guards. Occasionally, runners make their way up the stands to trade small items with her. She's not aware of the party.

3. Down on the arena floor, just outside the dirt area where the gladiators engage, fight managers preen over their prize fighters. You notice two managers screaming at the current fight. The first, a tall half-elf, seems out of place in his exquisite finery. The second, an aging dwarf, regularly slams his peg-leg on the decking for great effect. 

4. The entire area is riddled with entrances/exits. Hallways at various depths circle outside the main arena room and spill out onto the risers. 

5. Tooth, seated on the north side of the stands, gives Kromang a huge wave and a warm smile.  

C. Aaron Aldridge 2013

Since then....

It's been about two weeks since I finished up the Creation Story. You may have noticed I haven't posted since then. Here's what's been happening:

-The PCs in our PBEM campaign are nearing the Orc Camp in Yreach forest. We've had excellent participation by the core group, so far. I'm very happy with the results.
-I'm continuing to seek out and acquire miniatures, hand-mapping tools, and other items that will assist in a future table-top game.
-The internets just gave me GIMP!!! So far, I've filled a BG with a repeating tile. It looks daunting, but I'll persevere.

Here's an excerpt from the current campaign. Bic Lighter, the party's intrepid ranger, is scouting ahead before the party camps for the evening.


Bic makes his way NE on the stream bed. Soon the stream becomes jammed with detritus. Everything from busted arrows to feces float around in stagnant pools where the stream has been diverted to the side by the sheer mass of junk. The area smells terrible. Bic suspects it may be a hot stop for predators looking for a midnight snack. Wisely, he moves on.

Unable to move further upstream at this point, Bic finds a small, fresh trail that leads up an embankment on the north side of the stream. The climb becomes difficult at points, especially since the moon is just beginning to rise. 

At the summit of the steep embankment, the trees give way to a remarkable vista. 

First, bic notices the proximity of the Quankim mountains. The moon back-lights the highest peaks and Bic realizes the party has come far to the North of Liam's hut. In the highest foothills, nestled in a perfect little corner, the lights of the Orc Camp glow. From this distance, in the low light, Bic can't make out much but that the place definitely exists and it's a quarter to a half mile away. The moonlight reflects in the stream where it pours out of the SW corner of the huge wooden walls surrounding the camp.

Far to the SE, in the southernmost finger of the Quankims, another glowing light twinkles.

The wind is stronger here. It blows quite cold down out of the mountains. Bic can smell pine and fir and the sharp smoke of pitch burning. The loud arhythmic boom from earlier echoes strongly through the mountains. 

Bic returns to the camp unharmed and the night unfolds without any events of note. 

The sun brings warmth and the songs of birds living in and around the streambed. 

C. Aaron Aldridge 2013

-Aaron