Lem did not sleep. Not really, anyway. Any time he closed his eyes, his mind summoned nightmarish images that sent adrenaline surging. The bitter wind whistled through the dilapidated cabin that they had chosen to spend the night in, which didn't help things. All he could do was count the seconds before the sun rose once again.
Lem
Male Halfling Bard Charlatan
Card Feats: Spell x2, Blessing, Armor, Item
Skill Feats: Charisma +4, Intelligence +1
Power Feats:
Light Armor proficiency
Once per check, recharge a card to card to add 1D4+3 to a check attempted by another character at your location
Add 2 to your check to acquire an ally or defeat a henchman or villain
Starting Deck
Venomous Heavy Crossbow +2
Wand of Enervation
Sihedron Medallion
Staff of Hungry Shadows
Wand of Scorching Ray
Incendiary Cloud
Haste
Holy Light
Frost Ray
Lightning Bolt
Mass Cure
Hide Armor of Fire Resistance
Toad
Merchant
Saber Toothed Tiger
BoPharasma
BoGozreh
BoErastil
BoAbadar
BoNethys
BoCalistria
Valeros slept like a rock. He had been in placed far worse than this, and seen things far worse than any hallucination his mind could conjure. This might be their last opportunity to rest before the final battle, and he was determined to make the best of it.
Valeros
Male Human Fighter Weapon Master
Card Feats: Weapon x2, Item, Blessing, Ally
Skill Feats: Strength +4, Constitution +1
Power Feats:
Hand Size 5
Add 1d4+5 to another character’s combat check at your location
You may use Melee in place of Ranged when using a weapon with the Ranged trait
Starting Deck
Fanged Falchion
Dancing Scimitar+2
Impaler of Thorns
Longsword +2
Scythe+1
Bastard Sword +1
Mokmurian’s Club
Magic Chain Mail
Magic Shield
Magic Half-Plate
Wand of Treasure Finding
Emerald Codex
Staff of Minor Healing
Thieves Tools
Grizzled Mercenary
Zuvuzeg
Charmed Red Dragon
BoGorum
BoTorag
BoAbadar x2
Once the first rays of sunlight began to peek over the mountaintop, Lem woke Valeros up and got them moving. As soon as they stepped outside, their tiger emitted a low growl as it sniffed the air. Something was wrong.
Before they could react, a fearsome creature was upon them. A long-haired bipedal beast, easily twice the size of Valeros. Still, Lem was tired, but not that tired. He and Valeros were like a well-oiled machine at this stage in their adventure. He aimed his crossbow for the head of the creature while Valeros swept the leg. The creature went down without trouble.
Turn 1
Lem - BoDesna
Mountain Peak
Wisdom Check from location - Wisdom + BoCalistria = 2D6 = 7 = Success
Ambush - Dex + Valeros Bobadar = 3D8 = 13 = Fail = search location for a monster card = Abominable Snowman - Reveal and discard Venomous Heavy Crossbow +2 + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D12+D4+5 = 31 (yes, subtracting 1 from each die) = Success
Discard BoNethys to examine top 2 cards - Heavy Pick +1 and Tickwood Boar - encounter heavy pick +1 - fail
They carried on along the mountain peak, working in the direction that they hoped Xin-Shalast lay. The dwarven expedition that had built that cabin was fabled to have discovered Xin-Shalast as well, so it couldn't be too far. Along the way, the pair encountered several varieties of unfriendly wildlife, but had no trouble dispatching it.
Turn 2
Valeros - BoGorum
Bury a card
Tickwood Boar - Mokmurian’s club - D10+7+D10+2 = auto-dead = recharge random card from discard
Emerald Codex - Detect Evil, Restoration, Invoke
Detect Evil - Headband of Epic intelligence
Restoration - Lem
Turn 3
Lem - BoPharasma
Bury a card
Headband of Epic Intelligence - Fail
Discard Toad explore - Entropy Shield - Fail
Discard Merchant explore - Ambush (again?!) - Dex + Valeros BoGorum = 2D8 = 4 = Fail - search for a monster - Bunyip - Wand of Scorching Ray = 4D6 = 13 = Success = Banished Forever
Recharge Wand = Success
Haste explore - Pit Trap - Dex = D8 = 7 = fail = D4 damage to both
Lem - 4
Valeros - 2
Recharge Haste = Success
At long last, the gates of Xin-Shalast came into view. The tarnished brass filigree glistened in the early morning sunlight. Even as they walked towards them, the gates began opening slowly. Soon, the cause for their opening came into view.
A massive giant stepped from the city and stood, one hand on it's hip, the other clutching a monstrous sword, staring at them as they approached. Valeros exhaled sharply and began stretching. He pulled out his falchion, a wicked curved sword, and began jogging towards the giant, with the tiger following just behind.
The closer he got the more his pace quickened, until finally he was at a full sprint when he reached the giant. No words were exchanged, for there was nothing to say. Valeros ducked underneath the blade of the giant, slashing at the back of it's knees. With a thunderous noise, the giant fell forward and then it was the tiger's turn. It ripped and tore at the neck of the giant in a brutal fashion until the form of the tiger itself was lost in a sea of red. The gates were open and they were free to enter Xin-Shalast.
Turn 4
Valeros - BoErastil
Location Wisdom check - wisdom + lem recharge = 2D4+3 = 7 = Success
Warden of Runes - 1 electricity damage to both - Reveal and recharge fanged falchion = D10+7+4D4+2 = 25 = Success
Location Close check - Ghlorofaex deals D4+1 electricity damage to both
Lem - 4
Valeros - 2
Valeros Wisdom +BoGorum = 2D4 = 6 = holy crap it’s closed
Examine City Gate - Crushing Door
They took a moment to clean off. Fortunately, there was plenty of snow around to use as a water source. No further movement or noise came from the city, which was disconcerting to say the least. Was it abandoned? Why would the giant be guarding it then?
Turn 5
Lem - BoIrori
Trade Haste for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 2
Valeros - 5
Recharge Mass Cure = fail
Examine Town Square - Wand of Shield
Valeros moved to inspect the corpse of the giant. It appeared that this one was more well-armed than their previous opponents. There were some magic items here that Valeros might make good use of.
Turn 6
Valeros - BoShelyn
City Gate
Bury Wand of Treasure Finding - Returning Frost Spear +2
Returning Frost Spear +2 = Dex + Lem BoPharasma + BoAbadar = 3D8 = 17 = Success
Discard BoTorag explore - Maester Grump - Diplomacy - D6+2 = 6 = Fail
Discard Zuvuzeg explore - Ring of Protection - Constitution - D8+1 = 7 = Success
Valeros gave to Lem a ring he had found with protective runes inscribed upon it, and then the pair continued into the city itself.
Turn 7
Lem - BoDesna
City Gate
Turn 8
Valeros - BoG
Give Lem Ring of Prot
Staff of Minor Healing - Lem
Goblin Pyro - Explode it - banish forever - 1 fire damage
As they passed through the gates, they began to close with incredible speed. Whether this was a trap or a deliberate attempt to crush them, Lem couldn't be sure. They managed to squeeze through before being crushed to a pulp, and breathed a sigh of relief on the other side.
Turn 9
Lem - BoNethys
Snake - Wisdom - D6 = 1 = Fail = Banish forever
Discard BoErastil explore - Crushing Door - Dex + BoAbadar + Valeros BoAbadar = 5D8 = 15 = Success
Turn 10
Valeros - BoG
Hellhound - explode it - banish forever - 1 damage to each - Lem reveals ring of prot
Awaiting them on the other side was yet another giant, appearing to be the same in all ways to their last opponent. Lem leveled his wand and blasted the creature with a gout of flame before it could even react. The stench was terrible, but the battle was over before it had begun.
Turn 11
Lem - BoG
Exchange Haste for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 5
Valeros - 3
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
Warden of Runes - 1 electricity damage to each - Lem reveals Ring of Prot - Wand of Scorching Ray + Valeros = 4D6+D4+5 = 23 = Success, and yes I realize my incredible luck right now
Recharge wand = Success
Location Close - Ghlorofaex - deals 1D4+1 to both
Lem - 4 - uses sihedron medallion
Valeros - 3
Recharge Medallion = Fail
Summon a Bandit Henchman - recharge a card - Strength + Valeros = D4+D4+5 = 10 = Success
Location Closed
The buildings littering the city were ornate in structure and massive in size. It was clear that this city was designed for, if not by, giants. And it didn't take long for the inhabitants of the city to rush from these structures to meet them. Lem blasted a stone giant with a holy light, sending it crumbling to the ground.
As seemingly easy as it was to dispatch these giants, they had no desire to stick around and meet them all. They moved through the streets with a quickened pace, looking for a structure that would be the obvious place for Karzoug to rule from.
Turn 12
Valeros - BoGozreh
Town Square
Wand of Shield - Fail
Turn 13
Lem - BoGozreh
Exchange Frost Ray for Mass Cure
Town Square
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 2
Valeros - 2
Recharge Mass Cure - Fail
Stone Giant - Holy Light + BoGozreh (recharged) + Valeros = D10+5+2D6+D10+D4+5 = 29 = Success
Recharge Holy Light = Success
They cut down more of the city's inhabitants as they worked their way through the wide but winding streets. There must be some kind of palace or notable structure here, but where?
Turn 14
Valeros - BoGozreh (sigh)
Bastard Sword - Auto-acquire
Discard Grizzled Merc explore - Enfeeble - Banished
Discard BoTorag explore - Skinsaw Ritual - Each encounter a skinsaw cultist
Lem - Wand of Scorching Ray + Valeros = 4D6+D4+5 = 19 = Success
Valeros - Reveal and recharge Bastard Sword + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+D4+3 = dead cultist
Ritual banished forever
Recharge Wand = Success
Turn 15
Lem - BoG
Before that question could be answered, they were nearly knocked from their feet by a gust of wind. turning to face the source, they both gasped involuntarily at the sight of a huge blue dragon. It's scaled head reared back on a serpentine neck before blasting them both with it's deadly breath attack. Valeros was able to dodge to the side just in time, but Lem was not so lucky. He was alive, but hurting.
Valeros rose and met the dragon head-on with his scimitar while Lem conjured a great cloud of fire with one hand while leveling his wand at the beast with another. The creature roared with enough force to cause snow on nearby peaks to cascade downwards in an avalanche.
Singed and bleeding, the dragon spread it's terrible bat-like wings and took to the skies.
Turn 16
Valeros - BoNorgorber
Warden of Runes - Banished and replaced by Ghlorofaex - D4+1 damage to everyone
Lem - 4 - ring of prot reduces it to 3
Valeros - 5 - Buries Magic Half-Plate to reduce to 0
Incendiary Cloud
Wand of Enervation - -8 to check
Reveal and recharge Dancing Scimitar +2 + Charmed Red Dragon + Incendiary Cloud = D10+7+2D6+4+5+2D4 = 30 = Success
Recharge Incendiary Cloud = Success
Recharge Wand = Fail
Dragon Roll = 8
Each Character Recharges and draws a card
Location Closed
Lem used his curative magic on himself and Valeros while they had the chance. They then followed the dragon's flight, which led them out of the city and towards the largest peak on the mountain.
Turn 17
Lem - BoG
Exchange Incendiary Cloud for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 4
Valeros - 4
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
Heptaric Locus
Turn 18
Valeros - BoIomedae
Heptaric Locus
Magic Chain Mail - Banish forever
Turn 19
Lem - BoDesna
Exchange Holy Light for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 4
Valeros - 5
Another giant, this one riding a mammoth, stood between them and the dragon. Valeros wasted no time, crushing one of the woolly beast's kneecaps with his club. The beast moaned in pain and sent it's rider flying as it collapsed. The giant was not able to recover before Valeros put his club to work on it. Lem knew that in situations like this, sometimes it was best to stay out of the mans way and let him work.
Turn 20
Valeros - BoShelyn
Mammoth - Mokmurian’s club + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+2+D4+3 = 23 = Success = recharge a card from discard
Discard BoAbadar explore - Sinspawn Axeman - Mokmurian’s club + Discard a card + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+2+D10+D4+3 = 31 = Success = recharge a card from discard
Discard BoGorum explore - BoTorag = auto-acquire
Discard BoTorag explore - Warden of Runes - 1 electricity damage to both - lem reveals ring of prot to avoid - Mokmurian’s club + Lem BoGozreh + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+2+D10+D4+3 = 31 = Success = recharge card from discard
Only Ghlorofaex left
They stopped for a moment to catch their breath. By chance, Lem glanced upwards and saw the glint of gold from the mountain peak. Slowly, the clouds surrounding the peak parted for a brief moment, and Lem grabbed his partner's arm and pointed upward.
"I think that's what we're looking for." He said in awe.
Above them, a titanic palace dominated the entirety of the peak. They had caught their breath. It was time to finish that dragon and start their journey to the top.
Turn 21
Lem - BoG
Turn 22
Valeros - BoNethys
Turn 23
Lem - BoIrori
Exchange Frost Ray for Mass Cure
Mass Cure - D4+1 to both
Lem - 5
Valeros - 4
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
The dragon itself was no match for the rested and prepared duo. Valeros took no pleasure in felling such a magnificent beast, much to his own surprise. He almost felt sorry for it. The runelord on the mountain, though, he did not feel sorry for. Only rage.
Turn 24
Valeros - BoShelyn
Ghlorofaex - D4+1 electricity damage to both
Lem - 3 - reduced to 2 from ring of prot
Valeros - 2
Mokmurian’s club + discard a card + Lem BoCalistria + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+2+D10+D10+D4+3 = 40 = Success
Scenario Victory!
Reward - Each character chooses a type of boon and draws a random non-basic non-elite one from the box
Lem - Spell - Incendiary Cloud : /
Valeros - Ally - Father Zantus...
Post-Game Analysis
Here we are, in the final stretch. My apologies for the delay, but we'll get there eventually :) As mentioned previously, I've finished the AP at this point, so my only barrier is finding the time to post.
This one was close at points, mostly because I play so recklessly. I did manage to snag a few really nice upgrades, like the frost spear and ring of prot (finally), and some really awful upgrades like Father Zantus (no offense, old man). Let's hope I made good use of what I found in these final scenarios!
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