Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Spider Ambush

Since my last entry the cadre has had another opportunity to enter battle. This combat more closely resembled the kind of encounter the battle plan was developed for, with some minor exceptions. It was a medium range engagement, but the humanoids possessed some strange abilities and were augmented with bestial companions.

Tactical Analysis - Spider Ambush on the Road

Description
As we approached a deep ravine near the side of the road, three spider-people emerged with two scorpions and a large spider and attacked.

The cadre reacted swiftly, forming a front line while slinging dazing magic at one of the spider-people so Hobb could deal a devastating strike with his throwing dagger. I readied my spear to strike a charging scorpion, but missed and it grabbed the cleric. The spider sailed past the front line with a prodigious leap to attack the wizard.

With the cleric in imminent danger, we focused all attacks on the scorpion and killed it swiftly. Hobb managed to get the spider away from the wizard, but it leapt again and landed on the warlock, knocking him to the ground and biting him fiercely. Meanwhile, the second scorpion raced forward to grab the cleric. I'm not sure why these beasts found him to be such a tempting target. Two of the spider-people surrounded Hobb and dealt him vicious blows with their axes.

Hobb slid clear and shoved one of his foes away from us with a tricky maneuver. The wizard blasted the scorpion off the cleric and hurled it into the cluster of spider-people, then unleashed a larger blast that caught them all in its flashing colors. While they stood dazed, Marun and the cleric broke off to rush to the warlock's aid and killed the troublesome spider. The remaining dazed and wounded hostiles were then easily dealt with.

Analysis
The scorpions were worrisome, but the cadre performed admirably by destroying them before they could inflict serious harm on Calibraxis. The spider was far more troublesome. Its mobility allowed it to strike isolated members of the cadre almost at will until Marun shut it down with her martial skills. In fact, the spider's abilities seemed to play directly into the warlock's weaknesses, allowing it to cause him serious grief. Adincari likes to stay clear of the melee fighting, but that made it difficult to get him aid when the spider leaped upon him.

The spider-people, aside from the two lucky strikes on Hobb, are almost not worth dignifying with a comment, so I will not comment on them.

Addendum
My research into the walking dead continues. They are apparently very vulnerable to damage from bright radiance such as that often called down by divine casters such as the cleric. I hope Calibraxis is up to the challenge.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - The River Town

Since my last entry the cadre has had two more opportunities to enter battle. These were markedly different kinds of encounters than those for which the battle plan was developed, though some elements of the plan were still of use.

Tactical Analysis - Kobolds and Gnomes in the River Town

Differences
As we approached the riverside town which is unnamed on our map, we spotted a group of gnomes and kobolds standing in a large ruined building arguing. Another group was at the river's edge harassing a ferry with slung stones. The arguing group spotted us and they all attacked. Tactically, the balance of foes between melee and ranged combatants was inverted compared to the groups the battle plan was designed for. Instead of multiple melee fighters supported by a small number of spellcasters and/or archers, we faced a single shortsword-wielding kobold, two guard lizards, three kobold slingers, a kobold priest, three gnome crossbowmen, and a gnome spellcaster.

Outcome
The multiple ranged attackers were able to target different cadre members almost at will. At one point Hobb was dazed and unable to easily focus his attacks for maximum effect while Calibraxis was glued to the ground out of reach of any enemies, thus rendering a third of the cadre almost completely ineffective. The warlock and wizard, as our ranged attackers, took up some of the slack by focusing their most devastating attacks on the enemy spellcasters. Marun and I focused on taking down the dangerous guard lizards as quickly as possible. Once the lizards were killed we focused as a group on each of the other attackers, working from the most dangerous (the gnome spellcaster) to the least (the gnome crossbowmen).

Analysis
The cadre is definitely weaker at long range than in melee. More thought will be required to find a solution (or to even determine whether it is truly a problem, as the group acquitted itself admirably).

Tactical Analysis - Wolf Hunt

The villagers on the ferry were grateful that we dispatched the kobold raiders, and expressed the same surprise we had that the gnomes were working with them. They also provided another opportunity to test the cadre as it turned out that in addition to kobold raiders they were having problems with a small pack of marauding wolves.

Engagement
We tracked the wolves back to a cave den in a hillside. Adincari crept ahead to scout and climbed part way up the hill to peer into one of the cave entrances. The next thing we heard was a chorus of howling and snarling as four wolves emerged and tried to climb up to him.

Outcome
Adincari's position on the hillside was fortuitous, giving him the option of targeting any of the wolves through most of the battle. The rest of the cadre formed a solid line around the cave mouth, even leaving small holes where the wizard could reach through and blast multiple targets. Other than a worrisome moment where two wolves surrounded Marun and tripped her to the ground, the pack posed little threat to the cadre.

Addendum
The villagers also mentioned that Weaversburg, our destination, is reportedly overrun with zombies. The walking dead will require a whole new battle plan if we are to deal with them. I may need to consult the writings of the great gith avenger Bru'us Kam'bl.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Tactical Field Test

Since my last entry the cadre has had two opportunities to enter battle. While neither battle was exactly the kind of encounter for which the battle plan was developed, it proved invaluable for allowing a quick and orderly response to these similar attacks.

Tactical Analysis - Kobolds Attack the Town of Risus

Differences
Instead of a medium range engagement in the open, a squad of kobolds invaded the town we stopped in as we were preparing to depart. We were left alone in the streets as the townspeople fled indoors. The kobolds came at us from two directions around a large building.

Outcome
The two fronts made it impossible for Marun and V to use the blast and withdraw maneuver, as they spent most of the battle at opposite ends of the street. The careful usage of clever maneuvers and dazing spells, however, was hugely successful in providing a vulnerable target for the rogue every time he threw his dagger. The warlock got up on a roof and concentrated his fire on a slinger no one else could reach, quickly bringing it down.

Tactical Analysis - Kobold/Gnome Ambush

The kobolds, who seem somehow able to stay two steps ahead of us at all times, laid an ambush along our route using a disabled wagon and disguised gnome spellcaster as bait.

Differences
This engagement was closer to the sort for which the battle plan was drawn, though the nature of the ambush (with the kobold melee fighters hidden in the wagon) meant that we started at close range instead of medium.

Outcome
Again, the cadre was successful in providing Hobb with suitable targets and less so at forming a coherent front line. The battle shifted around somewhat chaotically due to the interference of the spellcaster and the late discovery of her crossbow-wielding ally hiding in the trees. The warlock was again effective at targeting a ranged attacker no one else could reach. That could easily become his standard role.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Tactics

It has become too cumbersome to direct the cadre's various capabilities in an ad hoc manner. I will instead endeavor to draft a coherent battle plan based on our recent encounters.

Tactical Analysis - Recent Observations

Close Blast
I have written of the wizard's problematic close range blast spell before. In recent battles an improvised tactic of leaving a small gap in the front line through which he can project the blasts was working well. I shall endeavor to formalize this.

Hobb
Different cadre members possess the means to leave enemies dazed or otherwise vulnerable to Hobb's precision attacks. It has become tricky to coordinate these so as to take maximum advantage of the rogue's devastating strikes. I shall lay out a plan for alternating these dazing attacks with Hobb's strikes.

Tactical Analysis - Battle Plan

The following is intended to serve as a general purpose battle plan for the types of battles we have engaged in recently (medium-range engagements with hostile humanoids).

Initial goal
Form a front line with a small gap for the wizard. Enable Hobb and Adincari to strike hard from range.
Specifics: Marun, Calibraxis and I form a front line with Marun in the center, striking as the opportunity presents itself (including dragon breath if the enemy is clustered). The wizard opens with his frigid energy blast on the most dangerous-looking target and the others attack it while it is vulnerable.

Second goal
Hold the line while the wizard blasts and withdraws. Continue to provide a vulnerable foe for Hobb and Adincari.
Specifics: Calibraxis brands a target I can reach and looks for an opportunity to use dragon breath if he hasn't already. I use a calculated blow to expose that enemy to Adincari. Adincari lights up the target with dark and white flame, then Hobb strikes. Finally, the wizard moves into a gap and blasts. Marun covers his retreat. Calibraxis follows up with a thunderclap and the strikers attack that target. The wizard and Marun repeat the blast and withdraw maneuver.

Third goal
Once all our tricks for making opponents vulnerable are exhausted, get Hobb into an advantageous position.
Specifics: Calibraxis continues to brand every round to set up Marun. Marun continues to strike with my support, making sure to keep the enemy distracted. I fly Hobb behind the enemy line. V drops back and switches to his cloud of daggers spell. Adincari continues to blast. Hobb takes advantage of his position to deal damage while Marun keeps the enemy from attacking him.

Field Notes of V - The Interrogation

The interrogation of the kobold we captured might have raised more questions than it answered. We still do not know the identity of this Marishra, though we now have suspicions that she is a dragon of some sort. The kobold evidently worships her blindly, even becoming offended at our interrogator's speaking of the name.

The band that attacked us was dispatched to acquire some item they believe we possess, but were not even granted a description. They were simply to retrieve all of our possessions, a grossly inefficient means of procurement.

He also appeared to know something about the scorched altar, but Hobb was unable to extract any specifics. He denied that Marishra herself destroyed the altar, but it was obvious to me that he knew more than he was revealing.

Hobb crafted a clever lie about our group proceeding to the southern city of Palda, the one place we were certain we had no intention of going. Then we let him go. Adincari followed him discreetly to gather further information. The drow returned hours later and reported that the prisoner met with another group and passed on Hobb's misinformation. We now continue our journey to Weaversburg, hopefully in peace.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - More Kobolds

Campaign Day 5

After a few days of rest and re-equipping, the cadre moved out of the village of Darak. Guided by the wizard's map, we struck out for Weaversburg. It was expected to be a simple two or three day journey. However, at midday on the first day we were ambushed by a gang of kobolds.

We defeated the group quite thoroughly, aided by some inspired sniping by Hobb and a well-placed burst of dragon breath from Calibraxis. Some members of the cadre were visibly tiring, but they had acquitted themselves well. Calibraxis was trading insults with the last of the slippery vermin in draconic when a second group rushed onto the field. This second group brought a large drake. Fearing its deadly bite, we focused our efforts on bringing the drake down first. Calibraxis, apparently overconfident after his performance in the first half of the battle, overextended himself and was laid low by a heavily-armored kobold.

Fortunately one of the purchases we made in Darak was a healing potion. As I moved to administer it to the dragonborn, the rest of the cadre drew the attackers away from us. In the time it took me to get Calibraxis back on his feet Marun and the others had defeated most of our remaining foes. Adincari and Hobb chased the last two down like dogs as they attempted to flee. The battle finally ended, Calibraxis informed us that the last kobold of the first group said that the tribe of Marishra would hunt us down.

It would not do for my cadre to be hunted, especially by such lowly creatures, so I determined to turn the tables on this tribe. We followed the tracks of the second group to see where they had come from. Curiously, it appeared that they had come from the direction of Darak. Hobb suggested that if we encountered any more kobolds we should attempt to take a prisoner for interrogation. Shortly thereafter we were met on the trail by more of the armored creatures, this time with wolves and a drake. Adincari became separated from the group and surrounded by the wolves, but he kept calm and soon defeated them with assistance from Hobb. The battle was long and frustrating, and the cadre was not operating as smoothly as before. I must find a way to keep them sharp during an extended campaign.

In the end we captured the last kobold alive. My offer of surrender was refused, but the warlock cut him down as he tried to flee and Marun's healing expertise kept him alive. Hobb and Calibraxis are attempting a full interrogation as I write this. I wish to know who sent these kobolds after us, but I suspect none of us will like the answer. I also wish to know who this Marishra is, and I suspect we won't like that answer either.

Field Notes of V - The Crystals

Further exploration has uncovered additional strange details. In addition to the base humanoids, another unexpected feature of the dungeon was its overall architecture as a large edifice located within a huge natural cavern. We emerged on two occasions into what can only be described as underground courtyards. Each one contained a well and seven dead oak trees. Hob scampered over the rooftops but accomplished nothing except collapsing part of one. We also ascertained that all urns we had located were empty.

In the first courtyard, in addition, we discovered a single living plant. I was unable to identify it in the field, but research since returning to town has revealed that it was a marshmallow plant. It may have been kept for its medicinal properties. Another possibility is suggested by one particular 800-year-old book which I uncovered during my studies.

Particularly rare specimens have been found growing in moderately low light to almost no light. Popular lore purports that this phenomenon occurs only upon the graves of great heroes or upon sites of great battles, but evidence suggests that the plant has some fungal properties that explain this anomaly.

We also located the altar alluded to by the old woman. Its surface was blackened, burned and cracked. Both the alleged crystal and the alleged angel were missing, and the floor in front of the altar was melted. In light of this disturbing find, we brought in the old woman, who was surprised and dismayed at the state of the altar. She said there should be a large crystal on the ceiling of the large cavern. We used a light spell to verify the presence of this large crystal.

The old woman then told us what little she knew. According to her, the crystals are repositories of the power of a now-dead elven or fey deity, whose name is unknown to her. She stated that her associate, the elven scholar Targos Grisha, told her that the crystals glowed. Note: the crystal on the ceiling was not glowing.

The old woman paid us 420 gp for our securing of the urns, and provided us with a letter of reference with which to go see the scholar in Weaversburg.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Tactical Analysis

So far the drawn-out narrative of the Battle Journal bores even me. I think I want to try boiling it down to what Kain really cares about: optimizing his weird little cadre. So this post will be in-character notes on effective combos, areas for improvement and synergies that warrant further evaluation and/or modification...

Tactical Analysis - First Foray

Close Blasts
Both the wizard and the dragonborn have short-range area-effect blasting attacks. It has been difficult to get them in position to use these effectively without either catching other cadre members (typically Marun) in the area or isolating them too completely, thus allowing the enemy to surround them. Further evaluation is required. Perhaps the fighter's expertise at covering her allies' retreats could be of use here.

Hobb
The rogue's knack for catching foes off balance and pushing them around the field shows great promise. In one battle in particular he shoved a kobold slinger across the entire room, leaving it in a position where it was too threatened to fire upon us and within reach of Marun's falchion. I need to find a way to combine this ability with one or two of the others in the cadre to maximize its potential.

Adincari
The warlock is tricky to manage. Some of his powers are most effective when he is close to the enemy, but out of all the members of the cadre he is the most effective at long range. This dichotomy is exacerbated by certain of his other abilities which are most effective if he keeps moving around. It seems that no matter what he does on the battlefield, he is performing suboptimally in some area.

Telekinetic Leap
My own racial power is slightly problematic. I am simply unable to use it as often as I would like. In many battles there are two or even three allies in a position to quickly turn the tide if I could get both or all of them behind the enemy's front line. So far I have been making quick appraisals of the situation and attempting to select the cadre member who will strike the most decisive blow against our opponents, but this approach feels too haphazard. I need a system or methodology to guide my choice.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Blasts

Campaign Day 2 continued

From the second courtyard cavern, there was a single door back into what we had come to think of as "inside". When Marun opened it, there was a small square room full of fire beetles. The spellcasters loosed their spells into the room, injuring some of the beetles, then Marun quickly closed the door. We listened for a moment to the sounds of scuttling and scratching as the brainless vermin tried to escape. When they quieted down Marun opened the door and we did it again. We continued in this manner until most of the insects were destroyed, then I ordered the cadre into the room to mop up the last one.

With that room cleared, we proceeded to the final available avenue of exploration: the door on the other side of the T that the kobold had been running toward. Reasoning that he had intended to warn some large force beyond the door, everyone readied their most potent attacks and we approached the door quietly. After Hobb checked for traps, Marun threw the door open and charged.

We were confronted by two more large scorpions and nearly a dozen kobolds. The kobolds arrayed themselves to employ their usual tactic of hiding behind the scorpions and throwing sling bullets at us. I decided to attempt to break this tactic quickly. I ordered the wizard to use his thundering blast to force the enemy back and make some room, then I myself leaped into the breach.

My fervor nearly cost me. One of the scorpions lashed out and got a tight grip on me. Fortunately I remained calm and threw Hobb over it. Together we quickly pulverized the thing. Behind me the rest of the cadre did the same to the other. Without their clawed guardians, the kobolds were no match for us.

The dungeon cleared, Hobb and the wizard departed, returning an hour later with the old woman who hired us. She and the elf became very interested in the blackened ruin of an altar in the last room, and talked about it in anxious tones for quite a while. They even went back out into one of the courtyard areas to examine something else. Finally the elf announced that we needed to seek out an elven scholar who might know something about something dangerous about this altar. I wasn't paying much attention, as I was busy sketching notes for the important part of this journal, my tactical analysis of the performance of my cadre.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Violence and Vines

Campaign Day 2 continued

With no other way to proceed, we returned to the room where we had camped and tried the other door. Hobb discovered and disabled a similar trap behind this door involving two urns. This time we successfully and silently managed to move them out of the hallway into the room. Adincari, the only one of us who can see in the dark, then crept ahead into the passage.

When he returned, the drow reported a T in the corridor with a closed door in one direction and an open room full of kobolds in the other. As we spoke we heard a kobold run past the T, headed for the door. The wizard raced into the passage and conjured a cloud of flying daggers in the kobold's path. The rest of the cadre charged toward the room full of foes. The kobolds fell before our assault like wheat before the scythe. Hobb in particular performed commendably, tripping and shoving a slinger into range of Marun's falchion.

The single door out of this room opened into another courtyard area. This one also contained dead trees, but two of them were wrapped with huge vines. There were also a half dozen enormous rats in the area, which charged us. Calibraxis slew a number of them with fire breath, and the halfling used the same maneuver on one that he had just used on the slinger, but shoved it toward one of the vine-wrapped trees.

The vine immediately reached out and attacked the rat, which barely managed to escape. Apparently the elf was amused by this, as he proceeded to use his blast spell to force the hapless creature back again. This time the vine strangled the rat to death. The battle appeared to be over, but the drow got too close to the vines while chasing a straggling rat. The vines uncoiled themselves from around the trees and moved to surround and grab him. It required a coordinated attack from the entire cadre, along with a carefully planned use of his own power to turn into mist, to free him.

to be continued...

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Bugs and Bats

Campaign Day 2 continued

Marun opened the single door out of the room, which led into a strange underground courtyard. Walls of worked stone surrounded it to a height of around 15 feet, but above the walls was nothing but open darkness. We had little time to study the area, as eight of the bloodsucking batlike creatures that had attacked us before we even entered the dungeon flew at us. Calibraxis killed a few with a blast of his fiery breath while I covered Marun's retreat back into the room before they could surround her. Once we were back inside, using the door as a choke point, we made short work of the beasts.

The courtyard was a peculiar area, containing seven dead oak trees, a well, and a single living plant. Hobb discovered a secret door in one wall, but wanted to investigate the well before proceeding. Marun champed at the delay, but I stalled her long enough for the others to determine that neither the well nor the plant posed any threat.

The secret door opened into some kind of storeroom. The ancient shelves had been mostly demolished and the only inhabitants were a pair of fire beetles. Not wanting to contend with their fiery breath I ordered a quick, highly coordinated attack. The cadre performed admirably, slaying both insects before they could attack.

In the rubble Hobb discovered an old bag full of gold, a belt, a dagger and some kind of potion. This find raised morale noticeably, as it appeared to be a larger sum than has been lost due to the kobolds breaking the urns we are charged with safeguarding for the old woman.

to be continued...

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Slingers and Stingers

Campaign Day 2

Our rest was, surprisingly, uninterrupted, though the elf reported hearing some scraping sounds during his watch. Hobb examined both doors leading out of the large room in which we camped and reported that they had been trapped. When we opened the door to the left, we discovered that an urn had been moved to block the passage behind it. A thin rope (which Hobb cut before opening the door more than a crack) had been tied around the top of the urn and affixed to the knob. The intent was obviously that we would topple the urn, and the sound of it breaking would serve as an alarm.

Unfortunately, we had to move the urn out of the way to proceed, and discovered that the cursed things truly are ridiculously fragile. When Marun tried to move it she slipped and the clumsy efforts of the entire cadre could not keep it from shattering on the stone floor. Assuming the element of surprise was lost, I ordered the cadre quickly down the hallway. My suspicions were confirmed when a glue-filled missile was hurled at us from the room ahead.

Hobb raced ahead to take the fight to the enemy, but was set upon and grabbed by three more of the bothersome scorpions. I spied the kobold that was slinging projectiles at us and threw Calibraxis at him. I tried to encourage Hobb while the elf tried to get the scorpions away from him with a thunderous blast. The blast also opened enough room for Marun to enter, and she and Hobb made short work of the stinging things.

Once the scorpions were defeated we turned our attention to the three kobolds, all of whom were by this time trying to surround and carve up the dragonborn. Hobb and Marun charged to his rescue, crushing the enemy in a flurry of slashing, stabbing and goring.

There was one door out of the room.

to be continued...

Field Notes of V - The Urns

I will start with the old woman, because she is where this started. She hired our motley crew to enter an underground reliquary and remove the dangerous vermin therein. She claimed that she required this service so that her team of experts could then remove several fragile urns from the premises.

She described some strange things, including a crystal on an altar deep in the dungeon. She also alleged that contact with the gemstone would result in the summoning of an angry archangel. I am uncertain as to the veracity of this claim, but am interested to see this crystal for myself. Perhaps I can convince Hobb to touch it. While I am at a safe distance, of course.

The dank excavation into which she directed us has so far been singularly unpleasant. It is infested with oversized arthropods and other distasteful vermin. Few of them are fit even for grinding into reagents or other experimentation. My sole encouraging find was two glowing glands from a fire breathing beetle, which I crafted into torches.

We have also encountered some members of one of the baser humanoid races here, which leads me to suspect the possibility of affairs more sinister than the old woman's simple vermin infestation. One of them shattered one of the old woman's urns, and we found another urn already shattered. Apparently the lowly creatures have no regard for the antiquities they are dwelling among. So why are they here? Could it have something to do with the crystal?

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Kobolds

Campaign Day 1 continued

The final door from the trash-filled room opened into one end of a long, narrow hallway. Spaced at regular intervals along it were large urns, presumably some of the very relics we were hired to find. Some of the cadre became quite excited at the sight of them.

We were quite surprised when a reptilian humanoid peeked out at us from behind one of the most distant urns. He appeared to be preparing to hurl some sort of projectile at us. Calibraxis, yelling something about "filthy kobolds", tried to charge down the hallway toward it, but was stopped short by another humanoid and two large scorpions jumping out from behind the nearest urns. The scorpions quickly had the cleric down on the ground.

A shouted command from me and a distracting attack from Marun got Calibraxis up and clear. Then I hurled him over the fray so he could pin down the far kobold that kept lobbing pots of glue at us. As the cadre advanced down the hallway over the broken bodies of the scorpions, another humanoid near the far one destroyed one of the urns and tried to flee. Calibraxis and Hobb, who seem overly concerned with saving these urns, ferociously attacked the two remaining kobolds and destroyed them.

Worried that the sound of the breaking urn would alert those nearby, we moved quickly to the door at the far end of the hall. It opened to reveal a large room full of the reptilian humanoids, with two more of the scorpions and four more urns. By this point we were well practiced at destroying the scorpions, and the dragonborn and elf slew many kobolds with fire and thunder. When there were only two left, one of them shouted at the other, and each tried to destroy an urn. We stopped them before either succeeded.

Now we have stopped to rest. Most of the cadre is in the large room, the elf and the drow staying awake in shifts. Hobb and I are in the urn-filled hallway, guarding them against any intruders. Calibraxis informed me that the shouting kobold told his comrade to "sound the alarm" before they tried to destroy the urns. We must be vigilant against whoever they were trying to summon.

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Trial by Fire

Campaign Day 1 continued

There were doors in the center of each wall of the trash-filled room. Listening at each in turn, we heard nothing. With one way apparently the same as another, we proceeded to the left.

Behind the door to our left was a long room with a strange glow coming from the far corner. The nearer part of the room was rife with huge scorpions, which rushed forward to attack. One grabbed Calibraxis, but Hobb distracted it with a deft attack and broke the grapple. Then we discovered that the glow from the corner was some sort of fiery beetle, which ran toward us and breathed a gout of fire over half the scorpions and most of the cadre. The rest of the battle was a blur of flying bug parts, from which we emerged victorious.

Finding no other exit from this place, we then proceeded to the door in the right wall of the trash-filled room. Behind this were yet more vermin - a number of huge beetles, more scorpions, and another batlike thing. I'm not sure what possessed the wizard at this point, but he raced to the front line and tried to destroy all the creatures by himself. He loosed two deafening blasts into the mass of beasts, but barely scratched any of them. Before we could react, the monsters closed in all around him. I thought he was surely doomed, but he dodged their attacks long enough for Marun to charge into the fray and cover his escape.

Marun and Calibraxis again held the front line solidly with melee support from Hobb and myself and ranged support from the magic-users. The cadre was functioning moderately competently by this point, except for the wizard's stunt, which may require a reprimand. I suppose punishment cannot include removal of any primary body parts, as that might hinder spellcasting. Appropriate enforcement of discipline among these non-gith will require some deliberation.

Once the motley assortment of brutish creatures was defeated, and this room also determined to have no other exit, we turned our attention to the third portal from the trash-filled room. Considering our task was to remove mindless vermin from this stinking cellar, what we found behind the third door came as something of a surprise.

to be continued...

Battle Journal of Kain Gaa'zaith - Initiation

Campaign Day 1

Today life began again. My new cadre has tasted battle for the first time, and they have acquitted themselves adequately.

Our mission is a sweep and clear of some remote old dungeon full of relics. Hobb got us the job from some old woman. The details are unimportant to me. All that matters is that this old hole is full of creatures against which my cadre can test its mettle.

Even before entering, we were beset by flying, batlike creatures that were hiding in some rubble near the entrance. The cadre responded to the threat with sufficient coordination for their first engagement. Marun held the front line ably, even when one of the creatures attached itself to her and tried to suck her blood. Calibraxis destroyed a number of foes with his fire breath, Hobb performed competently when I flung him into the fray, and the magic-users carried out their task of fire support to my satisfaction.

Finally entering the dungeon itself, we opened the front door and saw a large square room, its floor covered in trash that moved slightly. Marun charged into the center of the room and found it to be teeming with rats of all sizes.

The swarm of rats nearly overwhelmed the minotaur, but Calibraxis' healing kept her on her feet. The elf attempted to remove the rats from Marun with repeated eruptions of thunderous force that smashed them into the walls. After all the blasting we felt certain that the element of surprise was lost, and we were right.

to be continued...

Cast of Characters, Kain's Cadre

Kain Gaa'zaith, githyanki warlord

Revis Marun, minotaur fighter

Calibraxis, dragonborn cleric

Adincari Qiliir, drow warlock

Hobb Knobbytoes, halfling rogue

V, elf wizard

Oh, To Be Just a Player

Hmm, in a post I made a month ago, I said I'd be playing 4e instead of DMing in... two weeks. Thanks to a solid month of real life chaos, that didn't happen, but it looks like it might really happen this weekend! Finally!

Writing back stories and fleshing out the character relationships hasn't really continued after the first few, either. Today I gave some thought to why Kain would want the other PCs in his cadre. I managed to satisfy myself with reasons for most of them:
Dragonborn cleric - someone honorable and trustworthy, a good candidate for a lieutenant position
Halfling rogue - a face, someone to do the wheeling, dealing, and any spying
Elf wizard - the adviser, someone who just knows a lot of things

That leaves the drow warlock. As a combatant, he seems to sit squarely between the areas already claimed by the fighter and the rogue. Socially, he's hampered by race much like Kain and Marun are (I already picture the "normal" half of the group being sent into villages for supplies while the monstrous members hide in the woods). What role does this warlock fill in the cadre? Assassin? The one willing to kill whoever Kain says needs killing, no questions asked? Marun would probably do that for Kain, but the drow could probably be a lot more subtle about it. Maybe that will work.

I picture Kain sitting on a hill, Marun practicing weapon katas behind him. He furrows his brow, thinking about the characteristics of the creatures he wants to add to his fledgling cadre. He wonders how he will find them all...

Heraldry and the Party

The other day I came across a heraldic device generator (I think one of the other RPG bloggers mentioned it, but I don't remember which one). I thought it would be cool to create a device for Kain's Cadre.

I came up with an initial design based simply on what I thought looked cool. Jen and the DM thought I should go back and redo it, bearing in mind the meanings of the symbols. We found another site that defined a lot of the terms used. With that in mind, we came up with this (which isn't all that different from my "looks cool" original):


The azure field is for loyalty. The sable pale and quartering are for constancy of military strength and fortitude. The lion is for deathless courage, and the gules (red) color is another reference to military strength.

We also hunted around for a motto, and wound up including a family motto from a site listing a huge number of them, added to something I made up to go with it, along with a variant of the Jem'Hadar's "victory is life".

"Strike with power, endure with strength, flourish with victory."

Let Me Tell You About Jason's Character

Adincari Qiliir spent his early life growing up under the watchful eye of his Reverend Mother Jeseyu Qiliir in the House Inlindl. He had an aptitude for arcane magics and began training to become an arachnomancer in the service of Lolth and House Qiliir.

Reverend Mother Jeseyu decided to personally train him. She believed that his ability, her training, and his loyalty to her would make him a formidable bodyguard, and she required protection from both the other families and her daughters, all eager to take her place. This proved to be a successful ploy, for while a mere student he uncovered a plot against the matriarch by one of his cousins. This led to the cousin being sacrificed to Lolth. Adincari was allowed to participate in her execution and sacrifice, an act that spurred the scorn of his sisters. The eldest, Myrlice, grew to hate Adincari almost as much as she coveted her mother's position.

As he studied further, he became interested in the source of the power and strength of his race. While poring over texts forbidden to him by his Matriarch, he discovered histories dealing with the nature of Lolth and Corellon Larethian and the expulsion of the drow from other elves. Adincari began to question the reasoning behind Corellon's deception of Lolth and why the Seldarine would side with him in granting the elven race even more knowledge and power.

As time progressed, Adincari began to dwell further on the fact that Lolth had been deceived, thus showing that she was by no means infallible, despite the fact she was revered as such. During one of his study sessions with his matriarch, he broached the subject. Jeseyu attempted to quiet the boy from further blasphemy, but the damage was done. Myrlice Qiliir used this opportunity to discredit Jeseyu for favoring the boy and gain favor with Matron Mother Dultha Sael Inlindl, thus opening her way to becoming Matriarch of Family Qiliir.

Myrlice's triumph was short-lived, however. After considering the implications of Adincari's statements, the Matron Mother decided Family Qiliir should be removed from House Inlindl. She secretly met with the Reverend Mothers of the other families, informing them that her house would no longer protect the family. Eager to remove even a small threat to their seats in the House, and using the charge of blasphemy as justification, families Vicloth and Shiphrin led an attack which destroyed all the holdings and members of Family Qiliir.

Ironically, Jeseyu had already sent Adincari into the wilds of the Underdark to hide him from possible repercussions from his questions. Consequently, he became the last survivor of his family. He crossed into duergar territory, trying to lose any pursuit in the twisting passages. When he overheard a group of the gray dwarves discussing the tale of his family's fall, he fled the Underdark completely.

Whew, all that and he still hasn't met Kain. I guess there will be a part 2 forthcoming...