Lem and Valeros had spent days in the decrepit library of the black tower, searching for answers or for any information on the Thassilonian Runelords. Even the most ancient texts in the library contained only legends and whispers of them, but it was clear that they were not to be trifled with. They were great and powerful wizards who had corrupted the ancient virtues into their opposite: the great sins. They had found a way to infuse their rune magic with the power of these sins. Using this magic, they were able to forge alliances with dragons, enslave giants and more. It was terrifying to think about.
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+2 to a check attempted by another character at your location
Add 2 to your check to acquire an ally or defeat a henchman
Starting Deck
Heavy Crossbow
Wand of Enervation
Sihedron Medallion
Robe of Runes
Toxic Cloud
Haste
Holy Light
Frost Ray
Lightning Bolt
Mass Cure
Hide Armor of Fire Resistance
Toad
Merchant
Acolyte
BoPharasma x2
BoGozreh
BoErastil
BoAbadar
BoIrori
Their journey back to Sandpoint was long and uneventful. The pair were silent during most of the trip. Both had a lot on their minds, and they knew that the final battles neared with every step. Besides, Valeros was still in the process of healing his wounds after his encounter with the Forgefiend. When they finally reached the small coastal village, it was with a grim smile and a heavy heart.
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+3 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
Icy Longspear+1
Heavy Pick +1
Impaler of Thorns
Shock Longbow+1
Scythe+1
War Razor +1
Mokmurian’s Club
Magic Chain Mail
Magic Shield
Magic Half-Plate
Holy Candle
Emerald Codex
Staff of Minor Healing
Grizzled Mercenary
Burglar
Charmed Red Dragon
BoErastil
BoGorum
BoTorag
BoAbadar
The villagers, however, rejoiced at the return of the pair. They set about creating a huge feast and celebration not seen since the Swallowtail Festival that seemed so long ago. The town square was lined with tables, and all of the local inns brought their finest foods for all to share. The villagers cheered and congratulated Valeros and Lem, offering gifts of all kinds. In earlier times, the pair would have been all too happy to enjoy the attention. They did their best to put on a smile for the villagers, but both were intently focused on what came next.
Turn 1
Lem - BoIomedae
Town Square
Cloak of Elvenkind - Dex - D8 = 4 = Fail
Haste Explore - Soldier - Banish forever
Recharge Haste = Success
Discard Toad explore - Ranger Stash - Dex + Valeros BoAbadar = 3D8 = 8 = Fail
Choose not to banish
Even though their attentions were focused on the next battle, it found them first. A great howl sounded from across the square, and Valeros was up from his seat in an instant. He was once again thankful that he never went anywhere unarmed. He readied his spear and turned towards the sound. A yeth hound flew, literally, towards him. It was quickly impaled, but Valeros knew that was only the beginning.
Turn 2
Valeros - BoSarenrae
Town Square
Guidance - Banish forever
Discard BoGorum explore - Yeth Hound - reveal Icy Longspear = D10+7+D8+1 = Auto-kill = Banish forever
Staff of minor healing on himself
Lem also readied himself, though not as quickly. What could he say, except that the ale made in Sandpoint was some of the finest he had tasted?
Turn 3
Lem - BoPharasma
Ranger Stash - choose to fail and banish this time
Discard BoGozreh explore - Aid - Banish forever
With the hound dispatched, Valeros looked for the next threat, and found it easily. At the top of the steps of Sandpoint Cathedral, a man dressed in rags, and covered in strange writing, was shouting at the top of his lungs. Valeros strained to hear what the man was saying, as he moved towards the cathedral. Much of it was unintelligible rambling, but he distinctly heard the name "Lamashtu". That was all he needed to hear.
He stepped his pace up to a jog, then a run, towards the steps of the cathedral. As he did so, more monsters were summoned around the madman. A giant crab and a human that looked to be a thief of some kind. Valeros didn't need to look to know that Lem was behind him in this fight. Using his new club he had taken from the giant lord Mokmurian, he shattered the crab's shell with ease. As he did so, he felt strength flow into him. Was this simply the rush of battle, or some enchantment of the weapon? He was pleased, regardless.
Meanwhile, Lem dispatched the rogue just as easily. As townsfolk fled around them, they turned their attentions to the madman, but he had already moved across the square towards the garrison. For what purpose, they could not guess. As they moved to follow, another human allied with the madman charged towards them. Valeros batted him aside with ease, and they continued their hunt.
Turn 4
Valeros - BoSarenrae
The Scribbler - Each character at the location summons a random monster
Valeros - Giant Hermit Crab - Mokmurian’s Club = D10+7+D10+2 = auto-kill = banish forever - recharge a card from discard
Lem - Sneak - Wisdom check - choose to fail and discards BoAbadar - Frost Ray + Valeros = D10+5+2D6+D4+3 = 25 = Success
Recharge Frost Ray = Fail
Scribbler - Valeros - Mokmurian’s club + Lem recharge + Lem Toxic Cloud = D10+7+D10+2+D4+2+D6 = 31 = Success
Scribbler card effect - first time he would be defeated, he isn’t - so scribbler is shuffled along with 3 timer blessings into the locations
Recharge Poison Cloud = Success
Valeros buries Emerald Codex - Augury, Fiery Weapon, Raise Dead
Valeros uses location effect to discard Charmed Red Dragon to explore - Mercenary - Mokmurian’s Club = D10+7+D10+2 = 17 = Success
Recharge a card from discard
Lem grabbed a crossbow from the man that Valeros had slain as they passed. He may not be the weapon-hoarder that Valeros was, but he still appreciated a nice crossbow every now and again.
Turn 5
Lem - BoCalistria
Venemous Heavy Crossbow +2 - Dex + BoIrori = 2D8 = 15 = Success
Recharge Robe of Runes to put Frost Ray back in hand
They reached the door of the garrison just as the last guardsman fled the building. Valeros had to assume at this point that every villager must have a designated hiding spot for events such as this. The town was attacked too often for them not to have a routine.
Turn 6
Valeros - BoShelyn
Holy Candle - 1
BoLamashtu - Int - D6 = 3 = Fail
Use location effect to discard scythe+1 to explore - Night Wach - Diplomacy + Lem recharge = D6+2+D4+2 = Auto-success
Deck empty - when closing - banish a card - banish night watch forever
Both characters recharge a card from hand and draw a card
Location closed
Scenario Effect - Wisdom check or resent hand and end turn - fail
Lem was the first inside the building. At the other end, the insane man squatted, back to them, cackling. What the hell was wrong with this guy?
Turn 7
Lem - BoDesna
Garrison
Elven chain shirt - banish forever
As the pair cautiously approached the huddled figure, two great beasts sprung up from the floor around it, as though breaching the surface of water. They were bunyips; carnivorous aquatic creatures that resembled a cross between a shark and a seal. Once they had fully surfaced, the floor beneath them solidified and returned to it's previous wooden state. Valeros turned to his partner with a raised eyebrow, and Lem just shrugged in response. He had no idea what was going on either. The bunyips barked and snapped as they approached them. Valeros almost felt bad as he clubbed them into a paste. Almost.
Turn 8
Valeros - BoErastil
Garrison
Throwing Axe - Banish forever
Discard BoTorag explore - Bunyip - Location effect - each character there must encounter it
Valeros - fail wisdom check - Mokmurian’s Club = D10+7+D10+2 = auto-kill = banished forever
Recharge a card from discard
Lem - fail wisdom check - Venemous Heavy Crossbow+2 + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = 13 = Success
Before they could even turn their attentions back to the madman, he had summoned yet another creature. It was a mummy this time that shambled towards them, arms outstretched. Valeros put a hand on Lem's shoulder to hold him steady and reached for his companion's crossbow. Muttering a few words he had learned from the emerald codex, the bolt that was loaded became wreathed in flame. Lem nodded, impressed, and fired into the mummy, setting it ablaze. Valeros buried his pick in the creature's head for good measure as he strode past.
Turn 9
Lem - BoG
Mummy - Location effect - each character must encounter
Lem - Venemous Heavy Crossbow +2 + BoErastil + Valeros + Valeros Fiery Weapon = D8+D10+2+2D8+D4+3+D4+D8 = 33 = Success
Valeros - Reveal and recharge heavy pick +1 + Lem = D10+7+D6+1+D6+D4+2 = 25 = Success
Lem Mass Cure
Lem - 4
Valeros - only has 1 card in discard
Recharge Mass Cure = Fail
The man had risen now, chanting and cackling simultaneously. Valeros could begin to make out the writings that covered the man's flesh and was slightly relieved to see that they weren't Thassilonian runes. Rather, they were incantations to Lamashtu. Not much better, but better nonetheless.
Turn 10
Valeros - BoCalistria
BoG - auto-acquire
Discard BoG explore - Greataxe - Melee = D10+7 = 10 = Success
A great hound was summoned in front of the man as he continued his chants and wails. It was similar to the yeth hound they had dispatched earlier, but far more vicious in appearance. It flew, literally, towards them. Even as it did so, Lem froze it solid with a ray from his fingertips. Finally, they had reached the madman. The man's eyes went wide, as though finally seeing the pair for the first time. His hands shot out like lightning, catching the pair by surprise as he grabbed the wrist of each. Suddenly, the world went black.
Turn 11
Lem - BoTorag
Half-Plate - Banish forever
Haste explore - Hound of Lamashtu - Both fail wisdom check = +2 to checks this turn
Frost Ray + Valeros - D10+5+2D6+D4+3 = 21 = Success
Recharge Haste = Success
Recharge Frost Ray = Success
Summon and defeat Bandit Henchman - Recharge a card - Heavy Venemous Crossbow+2 + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = Auto-success
Location closed - Longsword +1 sticks around, everything else gets banished
Scenario effect - Lem fails wisdom check, resets hand and ends turn
Valeros scrambled in the pitch black darkness, fumbling for anything to steady himself. He felt himself being assaulted on all sides from unseen foes. He swung his club wildly in the void, and felt a satisfying connection. He may not be able to see, but at least he wasn't helpless.
Turn 12
Valeros - BoGozreh
Shrine to Lamashtu
Cast Augury - Blessing - Magic Leather Armor, Hound of Lamashtu, Ghoul - all shuffled back in :(
BoG - Auto-acquire and take 2 damage :((
Discard BoG explore - BoCalistria - Dex - 8 = Success - 2 damage :(((
Discard BoCalistria explore - The Scribbler - Summon and encounter a random monster
Plague Zombie - Mokmurian’s Club = D10+7+D10+2 = auto-success = banish forever = recharge random card from discard
Scribblenauts - Mokmurian’s club + Lem Heavy Crossbow +Lem BoPharasma = D10+7+D10+2+D4+D10 = 30 = Success = Recharge random card from discard
Location closed - Scribbles gets shuffled into Thassilonian Dungeon and Val fails the wisdom check from scenario and ends his turn
Lem picked himself up from the ground and took in his surroundings. Whatever the hell that madman had done, it had clearly transported him to some distant place. As he sat up and focused, he realized that he had been here before. Yes, though it felt like ages ago, this was the Thassilonian dungeon beneath Thistletop! What connection did this place have with the madman?
Turn 13
Lem - BoG
Thassilonian Dungeon
Ring of Protection - Constitution - D6 = 3 = Fail
Discard Merchant explore - Lightning Touch - Banish forever
Valeros continued to fumble in the darkness. This would teach him not to bring a torch to a celebration in the town square. His keen hearing picked up the distant sound of movement. He stood still, concentrating. There was no mistaking it, it was the sound of padded feet, four legged creatures, several of them, coming his way. He slowly readied his club until the sound was nearly upon him, and struck. His senses didn't fail him as he heard the distinctive splatter and crunch of bone. He hoped that he could find some damn light before anything else found him.
Turn 14
Valeros - BoG
Thassilonian Dungeon
Donkey Rats - Mokmurian’s Club - D10+7+D10+2 = auto-success - D6 for Graul Ogrekin - 4 - safe - Banished forever - Recharge card from discard
Discard BoAbadar explore - Hound of Lamashtu - Both fail wisdom checks - +2 to checks for the turn - Mokmurian’s Club + Lem recharge = D10+7+D10+2+D4+2 = 21 = Success = All but Scribibles banished - Recharge random card from discard
Valeros had found a wall, a good first step. He used it as a guide as he moved along. After what felt like ages, saw a dim light ahead. He followed it as quickly as possible, and was relieved to see Lem looking around the room.
"Hey, glad you could make it." Lem said as Valeros entered the large chamber. "We're back under Thistletop, for some reason. I remember these Thassilonian runes.
"As you should, little man. These walls will be the last thing you see!" an unsteady voice said in the distance.
The pair looked in that direction and saw the madman once again surrounded by monsters. Another hound and shady-looking human. Lem buried a bolt from his newly-found crossbow into the hound, and Valeros sent the thug flying across the chamber.
Turn 15
Lem - BoG
Scribulous - Each character summons a random monster
Valeros - Traitor - Mokmurian’s Club - D10+7+D10+2 = auto-success = Banished forever
Lem - Yeth Hound - Venemous Heavy Crossbow +2 + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = 20 = Success = Banished forever
Sribbizzle - Toxic Cloud + Holy Light + Valeros = D6+D10+5+2D6+D4+3 = 19 = Fal = Bury Hide Armor of Fire resistance to prevent all damage
Recharge Toxic Cloud = Success
Recharge Holy Light = Success
As the pair neared the madman, he summoned more monsters to his side in the form of a boar and a goblin. Valeros felt that this guy wasn't really trying to stop them. He was just summoning creatures because he could. It would be amusing if the constant barrage of weak monsters were not so annoying. Valeros and Lem easily felled the newly summoned creatures, and closed in on the madman.
"It was you, you brought the runewells back, made them full again!" He cackled at the pair with a combination of glee and fear. "You made them powerful again, made them real. That's how they found me, brought me back. You. Please." He looked at them and his eyes shone with a brief moment of clarity. "Stop them."
Valeros almost felt pity as his club crushed the man's skull. Almost
Turn 16
Valeros - BoTorag
THE MIGHTY SCRIBBLER - everyone summons and encounters a random monster
Valeros - Tickwood Boar - Fail wisdom check - Mokmurian’s Club = D10+7+D10+2 = auto-success = recharge random card from discard
Lem - Goblin Pyro - Venemous Heavy Crossbow +2 + Valeros = D8+D10+2+D4+3 = Success = Banished Forever
Pyro deals 1 damage to Lem - Sihedron Medallion absorbs it
Recharge Sihedron Medallion = Success
Finally, the final fatal finale against the demon of destruction, SCRIBBLES - Mokmurian’s Club + Discard another card + Lem recharge + BoGorum = D10+7+D10+2+D10+D4+2+2D10 = 38 = Success
Scenario Victory!
Reward - Fanged Falchion, Revelation Quill
Post-Game Analysis
That ranger cache would have been nice, and I decided to give it another shot, but it just wasn't to be. Ranged weaponry really isn't a priority for these guys anyway.
That being said, hoo boy that Venomous Heavy Crossbow +2! Great upgrade for Lem, even though he doesn't have weapon proficiency.
I wasn't sure I played ol' Scribbly correctly on that first encounter, but I assumed since he was undefeated, I treated it like I would if I had failed the check, and took blessings off the timer. I suppose it didn't matter much anyway. In the end, I was making some really poor decisions from a combination of impatience and the insane heat in my house. Our cooler is broken and in the process of being repaired, and it was easily over 90 degrees (probably closer to 100) in my house. Ugh.
From a story perspective, this scenario really felt like filler to me. It did nothing to advance the plot, but was just an opportunity to bring the duo back to Sandpoint and apparently attack that poor village one last time. Ah well, we're in the final countdown of scenarios now, so I'm sure things are about to get crazy!
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