AFreebornManoftheUSA

The command seems to have no noticeable effect on Effalreich who continues to writhe and scream much as before.

23 hours ago, cailano said:

Best fantasy-themed metal album ever? I think it has to be in the conversation.

Love that album. Warp Riders might be in the mix there, as well.

On 4/27/2024 at 9:58 AM, Melkar said:

I did play the demo of Skald and I have to admit, its really intriguing. It definitely captures that old-school Ultima feel from the aesthetics and gameplay. Thanks for the recommendation, I'm definitely intrigued to play the full game.

You're welcome. I agree, it looks like it could be awesome.

                            a  b  c  d
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       01                  |Ef|  |  |  | 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       02                  |Be|  |Co|  | 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       03                  |  |  |  |Ka| 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       04                  |Dr|  |  |Al| 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
 First Round 
Name     AC   Init  Condition   Action
Co=      14   16                The monk, tuned in as he is to the spiritual, blesses Belithar with an saintly patronage
Be=      19   15    (Add 1d4 to any roll you choose)  ------- HERE     
Ef=      15   13
Al=      12   8
Ka=      14   6
Dr=      13   4

Kartak and Cormo

                            a  b  c  d
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       01                  |Ef|  |  |  | 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       02                  |Be|  |Co|  | 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       03                  |  |  |  |Ka| 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
       04                  |Dr|  |  |Al| 
                           +--+--+--+--+--+
 First Round 
Name     AC   Init  Condition   Action
Be=      19            
Al=      12
Co=      14   16
Ef=      15   13
Ka=      14   6
Dr=      13   4

I just finished Exiled from Camelot, a pretty good modern Arthurian novel. The focus was mainly on the relationship among the Knights and handling betrayal and loyalty, etc. It made me want to finally read The Once and Future King, which I'm doing now.

I usually read a fiction and a non-fiction at the same time. I'm also reading Whitney Webb's One Nation Under Blackmail: The Sordid Union Between Intelligence and Crime that Gave Rise to Jeffrey Epstein. It's starting out pretty interesting and goes well with watching The Octopus Murders on Netflix. I might be becoming a conspiracy guy?

I've been listening to a lot of Gojira lately.

On 4/20/2024 at 4:25 AM, Melkar said:

I've got to admit, I'm struggling with a lot of modern games (BG3 excepted) in that they just don't scratch the sort of itch I'm looking for anymore. I've gone back to old classics like the original Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter Nights and, even before those times, Ultima Underworld. I miss those old first person party-based dungeon crawlers in the Might and Magic style that used to be quite common back in the early PC DOS days, but there's very few of them being released now and little chance of the genre ever making a comeback.

You might to check out Skald: Against the Black Priory, an upcoming Steam game that draws a lot of inspiration from Ultima and the Gold Box games. I played the demo and it was pretty good. It gets released at the end of May.

Effalreich's visage changes and a look of fear and trepidation comes over him. He seems to struggle to speak for a second then blurts out, "You don't understand. I only wanted to restore Bronwend's greatness. I didn't know....I didn't know he would."

Suddenly, he falls to the ground and clutches his head, "No!! No, leave, get out of here!!!"

With the aid, Belithar gets advantage so go ahead and roll again.

While Alberich recalls the basics of Arda's reign, he can't remember any details. After all, this tiny corner of Arelas doesn't hold much significance to the rest of the civilized world.

Dragos, on the other hand, is too struck by something he notices in the traitor's eyes to bother recalling any history. There's something not quite right about Effalreich. Something not quite human. Something malevolent is behind his eyes.

Effalreich looks physically wasted and pale from his days in the dungeon. More wasted, in fact, than a few days in even this pit would do to as strong a knight as he was. Despite this wasted appearance, when he turns to Dragos and snarls there is a light in his eyes.

"This kingdom was great once because great rulers led it. They were strong and led by example. The people of this land were strong because they had a strong example to follow. This slice of wilderness on the edge of civilization was stamped by men with names like Bron and Arda. What if we could have those men back? Not men like them, but those men? Men whose courage and competence was matched only by their love for the nation and its people. What if we could have Arda back on the throne? Instead of their weakling descendant who inherited the comfort their strength created and has grown weak for it!!"

Arda III ruled Bronwend well over 100 years ago. Legends of his rule survive today that Belithar would have heard as a child. He ruled for an unnaturally long period of time. He was said to be obsessed with finding ways to extend his life. His rule was quite bloodthirsty. And, famously, he exiled the Sword Templars in the later years of his reign. It is said that their return to Bronwend is what finally deposed him, not death. Though his ultimate fate is unclear. Did he die? And, if so, where was he buried? Or was he exiled? And to where?

Effalreich curls his lip up at being called oathbreaker by his erstwhile friend.

"What do you know of it? You accuse me of breaking my oath but what oath binds you? An oath to a fool who would kill us all?"

He turns his back to Belithar, "I tried to save us. We need a true king, a strong king, if Bronwend is to be led out of this decay."

Castle Bronwend's dungeon is entered through a separate stairwell than the one that provides access to the cellars and archives. The stairwell ends at the warden's chamber where a stout, topless bald man with a thick beard and numerous tattoos covering his arms sits chewing on something and hocking into a wooden spitoon.

"Bers, these men want to speak to Effalreich. King's orders."

Bers spits sideways into the bucket while eyeing the five and says, "'right then, he's this way." Without much haste, he leads them through a door and around a corner to a row of cells. At the last cell, he takes out some keys and unlocks the door.

"You all go in. I ain't leaving this door unlocked so you'll be in there with him. Look like you can handle youseselves if he gets rowdy. Knock when you want out and I'll unlock you. Understood?"

OOC: Are you guys following the guard to the dungeon or stopping to chat? If you pause, the guard will wait.

If King Thorm notices, he does not react. For her part, the goblin accepts the gift but says no word of thanks.

A guard approaches. Belithar and Dragos recognize him though only as a face in the throne room.

"M'lords, will you be wanting to speak to the traitor now?"

Thorm doesn't explicitly watch Alberich's interaction with Nil so it's possible he misses the gnome's clumsy attempt to provide her succor.

The king snorts, "Spotswood was an older man, sure, but he was still a knight once. To think he would have his lands taken so easily." The foolish young king seems to find this funny rather than alarming. He turns and sighs than says, "I suppose you should call the heerens together and tell them how you plan to solve all of this."

Everything about the castle seems normal until they reach the throne room itself. The room is fairly empty save for King Thorm, a few guards and Nil. The poor, mute goblin woman is cowering next to the throne while the king is staring down at her as if at a jester. When the footsteps break what was an otherwise silent room, King Thorm looks up and smiles widely.

"The heroes return!!! You exposed Effalreich and brought me this fun toy!!" He points to Nil and says, "Do want to know something? You can't kill her!!" He lets out a loud laugh, "She just comes right back to life!! Hahaha!" He doubles over at this joke.

The boy's eyes bug out at the silver and replies back, in a voice too loud and cracking with early puberty, "S'pon you too, m'lords!!" and runs around the corner, perhaps to spend the money immediately.

Some soldiers, different from the ones at the gate last night, are patrolling. They glance at the party but don't confront them. The courtyard is beginning to bustle with early morning activity but the keep itself looks dark and quiet.

The stables smell, the straw is itchy, and the animals they're sharing the space with are not quiet. Still, exhaustion wins and everyone sleeps quite well.

Abainath 22, 941

When they awaken the next morning, they find a stableboy, likely no older than 12 or 13, staring down at them in wonder.

"Lords sleepin' in my stables? It's the End of Days already, issit?"