Monday, December 31, 2018

Dungeon Lords Hard Mode

It's been about three and a half years since Dungeon Lords was played.

Even more with this particular group of three.

So there were... some... misplays. Others more grave than others.

Like, taxes and monster pay being played during every season.

I think we were on the summer or autumn of first year before we realized this mistake, because it was quite unplayable. So let's call it a half game being played.

Next we played base game without fifth season to re-familiarize ourselves. And we got most things right that time.

Another day we played the game with Festival Season.

This was eventful game, as the special event "Hello ladies, I'm back!" gave the aspiring dungeon lords two paladins, with only one having crossed the paladin space on evil-o-meter.

I thought I had managed my dungeon well. And I had. Only one or two dungeon spaces had been conquered during both years, and other players had plenty.

Still I had failed to take into account the power of Titles. I was worried during point scoring phase, as I had lost most of my exclusive titles I had been so certain to have. Another player with the "extra points for titles" room made it a tough game. Point difference was about three in my favor, so it was a matter of only one title.

Bards were cursed on many an occasion.

Quick note on Magic Maze

Some quick Christmas updates here.

Quick as in shortly written, not as in 'immediately written after game.'

In total I brought Magic Maze, Dungeon Lords and Warmachine with me. These are the Magic Maze games.

First we had a little practice with the old time friend as a two player game. We tried to get an idea of all rules in the game, but since we tried to truncate too many rules into one scenario, we didn't win too many times.

On Christmas day we practiced with three players. One of the players had some trouble in keeping up with the rules, so we played without switching the action tiles.

Next day we played with four players, and again without switching action tiles. Here we went up to the mage crystal balls, I think.

Then day after we played again with four players and this time up to security cameras with an extra tile to boot.

It was chaotic, sure, but eventually group learned to act together.

Five players when?

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Burkstad, take two.

Legend continues.

As it's a bit difficult to arrange time for Kingdom Death, the brutal beginning of this doomed settlement was rectified a little.

We removed the Murder from timeline. Yeah, it's a cheat. But the point here is to have a little fun and not have a dead settlement on third lantern year.

Second year has our blue savior, murderer and a couple of inconsequential survivors hunting White Lion.

Savior almost burns himself out already, and only does two wounds to White Lion. Murderer hacks the remaining eight, or at least I don't remember Bob or Dhilhe would have done any wounds in with their bare hands.

Not even a single severe injury roll was being made. I'm not sure if any survivor received even heavy injury level - and after all they were even more poorly equipped than last year that ended in party wipe. That's Kingdom Death, I suppose.

Settlement Event was Elder Council. With our population of six, the two remaining survivors gained +1 permanent accuracy at the cost of two endeavors.

We added Gorm into campaign, and Approaching Storm had a stone replace one of Bob's eyes. Maybe it wasn't actually the Lion's Eye from which we made the Cat's Eye Circlet. It might have been Bob's.

Bob Cat Eye Circlet.

What am I talking?

Ahem. We also got Catgut Bob, I mean bow, and Claw Head Arrow.

Our inspiring murderer and savior double plus Clarita and Dhilhe proceed to hunt Gorm. Survivors find a prisoner from a gibbet during hunt phase.

Showdown went surprisingly well again. Clarita gained Ghostly Beauty disorder and savior quit from existence because he would have done so anyway at the aftermath. Better to fade out than to burn away.

Settlement event is Open Maw, and the recently freed prisoner is encouraged to go and take a look inside the great cavity. It snaps shut instantly. Well. Whatever the case, I believe it's better place to be confined in than a gibbet. But mileages may vary.

There were next to no bones in resources survivors got. One unidentifiable part was bony enough to innovate Symposium.

Dhilhe received Twilight Sword from a mysterious knight that had entered the settlement, and conveniently leaving just before Butcher arrives.

Somewhat failed gormchymistry at least gave us Dense Bone, which was sorely needed. Rib Blade should do wonders in the hands of a murderer. Considering how things went, we might have actually survived this far even with the Murder on timeline.

Next time we'll see how karma strikes back when it Butcher time.


Burkstad

Population: 6

Principles:
Protect the Young
Graves

Innovations:
Language
Hovel
Ammonia
Bed
Nigredo
Symposium

Locations:
Lantern Hoard
Bone Smith
Skinnery
Organ Grinder
Catarium
Gormchymist
Gormery

Gear:
4x Cloth
4x Stone Noses
Bone Blade
Full Rawhide Set
1x Rawhide Gloves
Skull Helm
Rib Blade
Cat Eye Circlet
Twilight Sword
2x Monster Grease
Bandages
Catgut Bow + Claw Head Arrow


Resources:
None

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Skorne Thing

What's this?

A new player in my home town. Last weekend we had a 50 point game of Warmachine. My list was:


Void Seer Mordikaar [+29]
- Agonizer [6]
- Archidon [10]
- Bronzeback Titan [18]
- Cyclops Savage [7]
Bog Trog Trawler [3]
Thrullg [5]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]
Praetorian Swordsmen (max) [13]
- Praetorian Swordsman Officer & Standard [4]
Venator Slingers (min) [8]


Opponent had:


Commander Coleman Stryker [+30]
- Cyclone [13]
- Defender [16]
- Lancer [10]
- Reliant [14]
Journeyman Warcaster [4]
- Charger [9]
Long Gunner Infantry (min) [10]

The list is four points short, so I suppose opponent forgot to deploy a solo or command attachment for Long Gunners.

We played a rulebook scenario to score a point from five flags. And how different it felt after having used to Steamroller scenarios.

Early on I'm a bit too greedy with the flag points - it was completely unnecessary for me to bring Bronzeback Titan to score a point from the middle flag and be pretty much there in the open, ready to be shot at.

So I lost my heavy beast. And I was against three heavy warjacks that were supported with two instances of Arcane Shield. Whoopsie.

Feats gave us both a "useless" turn. Slingers tried to give corrosion to Cygnaran models while they were under Stryker's feat. Praetorian Swordsmen used their minifeat in an attempt to do some damage to Lancer. They did some damage but did not break any systems. But at least the arc node was tied up.

Opponent, then, was mostly able to kill Praetorian Swordsmen that weren't under Mordikaar's feat.

Considering that I had no way of punching through all those warjacks, I schemed a plan to win with scenario. I had four control points thanks to Bog Trog Trawler. So all I needed was the flag Lancer was contesting.

These are the unlikely epic weird shenanigans that I so much enjoy. My plan was thus:

1) do as much damage to Lancer as was possible with Swordsmen.
2) cast Essence Blast spray, killing all the praetorian swordsmen that were not within 4" of the flag and kill the lancer
3) revive one praetorian swordsmen in base contact with the flag.

It all went fine until I failed to kill a couple of swordsmen with Essence Blast. I did not bother casting Revive, then. I saved three fury points for damage transfer instead, as Mordikaar was in a rather vulnerable position.

Stryker managed to land Earthquake on Mordikaar, so I thought game was pretty much over then. I don't remember if it was Defender or Reliant that rolled only four damage points in to Mordikaar, so I did not have to start spending transfers right away.

Mordikaar was shot to pieces, but not to death. Somehow he managed to survive Defender, Reliant, Charger, two hand cannons from both warcasters and a couple of Long Gunner shots.

I think there is a pattern here. It's not just Hexeris that pulls off these "shouldn't have" -survival situations. It's my Skorne as a whole.

There were no cygnar models contesting the last flag Skorne needed, so game was over. Sure there were swings in this game, though after losing Bronzeback so early on I continuously felt that I needed desperate measures to win.

And my desperate measure seems to be caster bait with odds stacked heavily against me.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Winded

A quick note about a game of Word Winder that was played some days ago. Here for statistical purposes.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Low End Boss and minions


I finished painting the Watcher (former last nemesis boss in Kingdom Death), two spiderlings and four starting survivors for Kingdom Death.

They were mostly dipped and it didn't turn out too well this time. But at least they are finished now. Well maybe I have to clear that mess from some survivor bases.

Since I now have some real starting survivors, my current ones will likely see some adjustment in gear.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Vanguard test game

Well let's get this one written up.

Some time ago I got to play my first game of Kings of War: Vanguard.

Mechanics were fairly easy to grasp, as they shared a lot in common with Deadzone.

However, I had no miniatures. With correct base sizes at least. To figure out at least something, I dug up my Carnival of Chaos/Cruor et Caedis warband with the circus theme.

I chose Forces of Nature as my warband, as it seemed easiest to build around my circus models.

So there was forest shambler the circus bear, gladewalker druid Jack Saturn and salamander with heavy weapon as the strongman. Like that.

It was a 150 point game.

I had
Gladewalker druid (wicked dagger + lucky charm)
2x Naiads (with harpoon and sheaf of arrows)
Salamander with heavy weapon
Salamander with wicked dagger
Salamander
Forest Shambler

Opponent had Basilean warband.

Scenario was to hunt down a deserter from Cruor et Caedis - a bard. Jack wanted her dead because she had somehow broken through his spells, and Basileans wanted her dead because she was from this horrible circus. At least this is how I construct the narrative now.

Bard kept sprinting 12" a turn, with only one 6" in-between. Jack used Barrier of Vines to shield bard from Basilean attacks - vengeance was reserved solely for Jack.

I got surprised with the movement rules, though. I thought I was secure, but it was merely an illusion when there isn't that much of an impassable terrain feature in Vanguard. Some sort of bow user climbed on top of ruin's rooftops, and kept shooting my models down - all the while being impervious to whatever I tried to do to him or her. Jack's lightning bolt was a good try, but Basilean special army power foiled that.

I had brought forest shambling bear to bard's route. Lying in wait. I built up that ambush attack with all power I had at my disposal. Charge + extra die meant 5d8 attack, hitting on 4+ or 5+ or something.

There was exactly one hit. Fine use of resources, I must say. I had saved a power for forced fatigue attack, but eh. Bard still had three wounds remaining, so I just left her be.

Then she took another run with 12". Looked like neither player would be able to kill the bard, and result would be draw.

I had one chance, though. Naiad with sheaf of arrows and extra power die did a 4d8 shot with piercing 2. Still, three wounds would be rather unlikely result.

But hey. Five wounding hits hit four dice.

Bard saved two, I think, and the end result was - Bard stopped singing. Forever. Somehow her lute did not stop playing. It was probably demonically possessed.

Unlikely attack results caused the game to end in draw, as the lone Naiad was able to fend off the basilean He-Man cat and survive attacks by some other knight person. Neither player was able to pick up the lute and there was no sixth round.

Later in the game my models started dying off. Though end result looks quite one-sided, I stood a chance here - even if we won't consider the main objective of killing bard. But even when odds were stacked in my favor, basileans somehow managed to survive without a scratch. Sure their army special power helped here, but still I failed to kill anyone even when that power was not used.

Well, whatever.

Bard is dead. That's good enough for me.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Gauntlet Has Begun

Year 19 hunt & showdown


Sanorad, Cratera, Spiress and Halyran start to hunt the mightiest White Lion settlement has seen skulking nearby since Beast of Sorrow. Soon the part realizes that the lion in question is in heat. This is a minor nuisance to everyone but Spiress, who has no protective barrier of insanity.

Second space is White Lion Cub, and by slaying the little ball of fur survivors anger the mother lion, which attacks immediately. Hunters were caught without Sonorous Rest or Herb Gathering.

I was scared.

And after the first turn I was doubly so. Though White Lion just stood there menacingly, but how menacingly! Smart Cat along with the hunt event result had the White Lion start with Enraged, Bloodthirsty and Alert in play.

Spiress hits with Hollowpoint Arrow, but is then picked as a target for Vicious Claw. But she can dash out of reach.

Halyran uses block and lures White Lion into tall grass, where it continues to scratch and claw him. Despite having impressive evasion +7, White Lion still scores three enraged hits. Halyran survives the attacks without being knocked down.

Sanorad gives the lion a scare by striking it's tail, which is a boon for survivors. Now triggering Bloodthirsty doesn't equal a dead survivor.

Power Swat targets Halyran, but only one hit assures safety in terms of being able to dash from the beast.

When the opportunity arises, Sanorad slays the White Lion.

Scared witless, the survivors make fun of each other in nervous laughter when they walk back to safety of settlement. They call each other names that stick to them.

Year 21

And when survivors were back, Sanurinn Pool greeted Halyran Sunearr, Wise Sneak of the Phoenix and Spiress Brightsilk, Foolish Savior of the Lantern and Cratera, Dingle Sneak of the Lantern and Sanorad, Dingle Fool of the Lion.

This foolishness has settlement innovate Storytelling

Frohlagodhen dies when playing Heart Flute. This gives Unar Bulvans an idea - a chance to have the spotlight turn to him instead of his brother. Unar plays the flute, summoning The Hand.

Falves, Klenovar, Lyrna and Parkara confront The Hand - none have ever been on a hunt, and are drawn by Falves' charisma. The Hand could have been coming with peaceful purposes, but this splinter sect immediately attack the immortal creature.

Showdowns

And a full idiot I was, taking survivor with Hellfire against a nemesis you can't finish off quickly. The Hand was just softly chuckling at my misery of having to watch Falves to slowly cook herself alive. Otherwise The Hand was not amused at having to come to Sanurinn Pool again. It had heard the Heart Flute melody first time, and Grissewan was still playing in it's court. There were no permanent injuries inflicted and the showdown went relatively fine - but compared to the joke of a fight level 1 hand had given, this was a scary one. No permanent injury rolls had to be made, but a couple of Dried Acanthus gears did get burned.

Even Falves did not die. She had the Undeathable charm, which saved her life but took away her once-per-lifetime reroll. Settlement has survival limit of 15, so it was just enough to struggle through the showdown with having to roll undeathable only once. But this would have been completely avoidable.

Applauding Hand also triggered another Undeathable roll for Falves, which she passed without incident.

As the Hand leaves settlement, rather than heard, the word "useless" is felt by everyone at the Pool. The Hand punts a lantern straight to Sanorad, who loses her jaw to this casual toss.

The Hand was not alone, though. This time it left someone behind. A cursed knight, King's Man, is about to execute everyone on sight.

Spenaccio, Halyran, Ghorum and Falves fend off this new threat. Falves dons God Mask, which agitates Chiloresc into a spree of something unintelligible.

Wisdom potion reveals how the creature is hissing and pulsating with acidic fluids in a most trap-like manner. All survivors have a shield, though.

Spenaccio gains King's Step on first try. Falves triggers trap. Silent Hymn affects everyone and makes positioning very difficult. Often survivors fall asleep right to King's Man's halberd blade. However, the drowsiness caused a fit of funniness in survivors. At least Falves and Halyran were laughing maniacally. Spenaccio starts to think himself as immortal, and Ghorum is lulled into sleep by this song. He forgets how to feel vengeful over fallen comrades.

Second time survivors start napping in the thick of combat it suddenly is not all that funny any more. Halyran and Falves wake up by slapping themselves in danger seizures, while Ghorum and Spenaccio are frightened to the point of flight.

Just as survivors are about to fall to the charm for third time, I deem it too risky. King's Man is on the verge of dying. Ghorum who would have been immune to curses is much too far, so Halyran has to make the ultimate sacrifice and tear the knight to pieces with his bare hands. Perhaps he should have done something else, as pieces of armor don't come off from his skin. They start to move on their own closer to Halyran's heart, and start forming a coat of plates. Halyran has fallen under King's Curse.


Year 22

Survivors are no longer the hunters. They have become the hunted. Something draws these human-like creatures to assault Sanurinn Pool. Was it the reckless playing of the Heart Flute, or perhaps there was a reason whe a particular dance pattern had been forbidden?

Whatever the cause, it doesn't only call nemesis attackers. There's a stranger in the dark - an ally, perhaps?

Sacrala considers it her duty to walk up to this man and greet him.

Stranger introduces himself as the Horizon Man, and warns Sacrala that the Sun is about to waken, and that there are people that should stop it. A threat is arriving, but even greater doom looms in the vicinity, and Sacrala would do well to bid her time. After telling this, the man crumbles to dust.

Settlement starts to prepare for the upcoming challenges. It's been a while since Sauna Shrine had been performed, so it goes a little awry and offers only insanity. But a little insane insight allows to craft a life elixir after final element - Rubedo - had been innovated.

Purified Spidunta and Klenovar drink a Love Juice and nearly die from the poisonous brew - it takes away the re-rolls of both. But they do get a Child of the Sun, Spinovar Who?

Chilons drills Spenaccio's delusions of immortality away.

Spenaccio, Parkara, Daress and Falves spend their time in rigorous training. Three latter learn Rhythm Chaser, while the first one mentioned has a Nightmare Training session.

Horizon Man's warning did not go unnoticed. And it pains Sacrala to not confront her somewhat of a personal nemesis, the Manhunter, she knows that even greater enemy is still to come.

Falves, Parkara, Spenaccio and Chiloresc attack the last body harvester to come to Sanurinn Pool.

Chiloresc is visibly distressed by Falves' acquisition of rights to wear God Mask.

Showdowns

And Manhunter knows. He offers a Murderous Gaze to Chiloresc, who just babbles nonsense. He know's he's going to die.

Falves attacks Manhunter with Prism Mace. Four attack rolls and hitting on 3+. Only one is a hit, but does strike two wounds to knotted back.

Spenaccio dextrously King's Steps aside a stake trap and wounds ossified knee guards.

Chiloresc critically injures Grimacing Jaw, which infuriates Manhunter who destroys Chiloresc's genitals once again with a kick. Chiloresc is traumatized by this, yet unable to talk about it. Then comes the killing blow. This was the moment Manhunter promised just a few seconds ago. Chiloresc can see his heart getting pierced by his own bone splinter - but just a Manhunter draws it's blade off from him, the wounds knit back. Life Elixir had made it's magic.

Falves dodges a stake trap and fails to wound gritty groin, but strikes four prayed wounds together in to rippling abs and exposed forearm.

Manhunter turns to Falves and prepares a point blank shot, but Falves dashes out of the field of view, so Manhunter shoots a round into the air.

Spenaccio tries to strike at Manhunter's boot, but this only triggers him to move where Spenaccio stands. Amber Poleaxe failed to wound. Spenaccio dashed adjacent to Manhunter, and then Parkara slammed himself to Manhunter. This time Manhunter impaled itself to Amber Poleaxe, but attack scored only one hit. Which was enough to draw Death Pit, but not enough to draw trap. Parkara fell to the spikes, miraculously unharmed but forever afraid of sharp objects. So he's out when it comes to fighting capability - he can't activate his axe.

Falves comes to take Manhunter's tombstone attack and whatever AI deck could throw at him.

Manhunter swears how survivors will never take him alive. Oh no.

We are looking at a speed 14 attack. Though he's hitting Falves only on 10's, it's still a terrifying attack.

Falves dashes and then Spenaccio dashes to Manhunter's path. Manhunter gets a wound from Amber Poleaxe. So now we're looking at a speed 15 attack. Turns out it sounded more threatening than it was - Manhunter could not get enough of those 10's required.

Chiloresc had been gazing Manhunter all through the fight with Necromancer's eye. It revealed only death and destruction coming up, so Parkara slammed himself to Manhunter, striking the trap off with knuckle shield. So he was able to contribute to fight, after all.

Falves is in trouble, as he is no longer insane for triggering God Mask. She had been losing survival to various reflexes and after attacking Manhunter, had only six survival left. But Manhunter was almost dead.

All it took was Spenaccio's one hit from Amber Poleaxe. And it succeeded.

Chiloresc is wounded and Parkara is emotionally scarred, so they have to take a step back, when the real threat arrives on the scene.

Butcher.

This must be the attacker Horizon Man warned Sacrala, right?

Falves, Sacrala, Spenaccio, Daress arm themselves. Team is almost the best one Sanurinn Pool could gather - perhaps Halyran in place of Spenaccio would'be been the absolute A-team. Chosen field of battle also is bustling with patches of Tall Grass. Should be easy now.

However... suddenly this superior breed of survivors start to fail at everything.

First round was successful when Spenaccio managed to impale Butcher's throat so that Screaming went away. But otherwise every attack missed, or in the case of Falves, drew only traps.

Butcher is only invigorated by the slash at it's throat, so he embraces the pain. Falves, hiding in Tall Grass, would be hit only on 10's so none of this was too bad.

Butcher double hacked at Falves, and scored three hits with Hack City. This was too much - Falves got knocked down, lost rhythm chaser evasion. Daress was Butcher's next pick. He was able to dash away.

Feeling vengeful, Falves tried to attack with Prism Mace but - once again - drew trap.

Sacrala makes far better effort - she scores three hits and succeeds to wound every one of them. But Butcher just doesn't care - he's invincible and passes the 8+ test for every single roll.

Daress desperately launches himself at Butcher's thick cape, and somehow pierces through the invulnerable armor. Round three and first wounds being scored.

Spenaccio receives death sentence in the form of Lantern Frenzy. Slowly Butcher walks next to Spenaccio, who receives +2 understanding from realizing that he WILL die.

During course of single round Spenaccio receives three bleed tokens.

Falves is afraid to attack Butcher with his Prism Mace, but that's what he has to do. It's a huge risk, as he had gained Legendary Lungs. He scored seven hits, but miraculously did not draw a trap. He wounded five times, but there was a reflex that knocked him down.

He had charged himself with a strength token, but had not prayed for Devastating. Plan was to get rid of Lantern Frenzy. Well that succeeded, but as you cannot make other survival actions than to dodge while knocked down, Falves was doomed.

His life hinged on Undeathable once more. But he had pushed his luck too far. Falves was dead.

Sacrala tried to whip Butcher heedless of the terrible danger. Defenders of Sanurinn Pool needed desperate wounds to Butcher now, no matter the cost.

This gambit dealt only two wounds, but at least it did deal wounds.

Finally Butcher had some serious damage inflicted upon him, and this triggered Embracing. Spenaccio dealt one additional collision damage with Ember Poleaxe, and then it began mauling Sacrala. After flailing at her without much of an impact, he gazes to her with the truthful promise of death, and only death. Sacrala remembers White Secret and has become Leyline Walker. But now she is also frenzied.

Butcher hitting only on 10's kept survivors going. Wild Carve that deals automatic damage and bleed tokens was the only real threat there. Only Daress has been able to keep his calm throughout the battle. The remaining two are frenzied.

Five cards left in AI deck by now.

Hacking, Hewing and finally Backhand kills Daress with bleeding tokens.

Sacrala and Spenaccio deal a total of four wounds, so now there is just one card in AI deck. And it's backhand. Butcher tears four bleeding tokens to Spenaccio.

Both survivors realize how injured this nemesis beast is. It seems unable to move, but menacing threat gives three Frenzies for Spenaccio right away.

Praying hard, Sacrala walks to Butcher's blind spot and cracks her whip.

The monster falls down, breathless.


Year 23

It's clear how situation has changed at Sanurinn Pool. They are fighting a losing battle. But to improve their chances, settlement arranges a competitive event for self-improvement. It's dubbed Triathlon of Death.

Chiloresc, Ghorum, Parkara and Sanorad are the contestants.

First they have a running contest. Sanorad is the winner by a large margin. Parkara is second. Ghorum is third, and becomes a target for practical joke. He is gifted with a new pair of boots - which he can't use, thanks to his crystal skin. Laughter is hollow.

Chiloresc sprains his ankle and tears his achilles tendon.

Then contestants participate in debate challenge.

Sanorad, without her lower jaw and Chiloresc who had lost his ability to speak were the two winners, with Chiloresc somehow gaining the upper hand in heated arguments. I sure would have liked to hear that debate. Or perhaps I already have - in politics.

Chiloresc is the undisputed winner. Which makes me wonder. Sanorad almost grasps what Chiloresc is trying to say and is now a point of Understanding away from remembering the White Secret.

Last half are the Orators of Death. Their speech is a little too depressed for the crowds, which infuriates Ghorum. Chiloresc's endless babble is somehow more meaningful than his revelations about death?

Parkara become apathetic since their gift of speaking is so lowly appreciated, and he was rated the worst speaker.

Last, there is the fight contest.

Chiloresc won the battle, with Ghorum close second. Sanorad, on the other hand, unlocked her darker side when she became Abyssal Sadist after severing Parkara's (who didn't even defend himself) hand.

Curiously, both Orators of Death have now lost one of their hand.

Nenena Bulvans, a newborn, tried to learn from Daress' moment of death. Well. Nenena instantly matured to the point of nearly retiring.


Showdown

The Hand is here once more, this time looking nauseated at the mere sight of human. Sacrala gathers the bravest warriors yet to prove themselves.

... which are Sacrala herself, Unar, Spiress and Resculachu.

Without wasting time The Hand orders everyone to line up. It disembowels Spiress and severs Resculachu's genitals. Then Hand offers King's Palm for Resculachu, killing him. Unar Bulvans is tossed aside as the trash he is - Full-Powered Flick kills him.

Then the god-like nemesis gets bored and offers a casual applause, nearly killing Spiress and elevating Sacrala to new heights.

Then, disgusted, The Hand leaves and punts a lantern right into Lyrna's eye, blinding her. Considering Lyrna had encountered The Hand earlier too, maybe this was a message for Lyrna.

So, survivors have started dying. Only two more years for the official ending of People of the Sun.


Year 24

Unar, still feeling vengeful towards his brother. He had his chance, but failed. This only angered him, and now he's back as a phantom!

Departing survivors must lose 1 armor point from random hit location, settlement gains no benefit from Home endeavors and Unar's incessant accusations have Sacrala lose all her insanity.

Chilons drills Parkara's apathy away.

Sauna Shrine ritual is a success.

Sanorad is purified and wastes all of her survival at Nightmare Training.

And as has been the custom, The Hand leaves his bodyguard to deal with remaining survivors. This means a new encounter with King's Man.

But that's for another update.


Survivors of Sanurinn Pool:

Sacrala Sunearr, Reflecting Warrior of the Sun
Speed +1, Accuracy +4, Strength +8, Evasion +4
Courage 6, Understanding 9, Whip Master
Overprotective, Quixotic
Sun Eater, Purpose, Rhythm Chaser

Destroyed genitals
Leyline Walker

- Grand proclamation to become a savior of Sanurinn Pool. Spiritual descendant of Ralala, the original hero of the settlement.
- Architect of level 3 Sacred Pool
- Fell in love with a rock
- Took part in killing a god
- Was warned by the Horizon Man of ill tidings.
- Survivor of The Hand level 3

Killing blows:
Gorm level 2
Phoenix level 2
Butcher level 3
Rablirucsen

----

Ghorum
Accuracy +1, Strength +5
Courage 7, Understanding 3, Katar proficiency 3
Hemophobia, Megalophobia, Absent Seizures
Double Dash, Orator of Death

Dismembered arm

Who is mostly interested in the storm. Whenever he is required to make contact with another human being, he speaks only in the language of death. And if there is a dispute, he can and will settle it by practicing what he speaks.

- Voice of "Reason"
- Lost his hand while inside Screaming Antelope's stomach
- Rival's Scar
- Killed his rival, Khantan, on the eve of Khantan's grand victory
- Crystal Skin
- Captured by Spidicules
- Returned from Spidicules with great insight from darkness, bringing news of a Beast of Sorrow.
- Awoke from his crystalized slumber when settlement was besieged by nemesis monsters.
- Survivor of level 2 King's Man - a fight where he realized how detached he is and no longer desires vengeance against monsters killing other human beings.

Killing blows: Khantan.

-----

Spiduka/Spidunta Who?
Accuracy -1, Strength +3, Luck +1
Courage 9 (6) from listening to storm, Dagger proficiency 5
Overprotective
Berserker, Mighty Strike, Infinite Lives

Bitter Frenzy

Deaf
Blinded in one eye

- Season of the Spiderling survivor
- Architect of level 2 Sacred Pool
- Feels rejected by society.
- Has seen the truth and tasted bitter death in a murky fountain.
- Survivor of Manhunter level 2
- Brain cannot form new memories. Infinite Lives.
- Purified

-----

Chilons Sunearr
Accuracy -1, Strength +2, Evasion +2
Understanding 1, Fist proficiency 3
Emotionless, Overprotective

Blind from one eye

- Purified
- Vivisector of infant beasts from sacred pool.
- Trusted trepanner
- Dipped in searing light, partner to Halyran
- Permanently damaged Spiduka's brain, essentially giving her Infinite Lives.

-----

Halyran Sunearr, Wise Sneak of the Phoenix
Speed +1, Accuracy +4, Strength +10, Evasion +4
Courage 9, Understanding 9, Shield Master
Quixotic, Aichmophobia, Binge Eating
King's Step, Ambidextrous, Rhythm Chaser

Bitter Frenzy, Leyline Walker

Blinded in one eye

- Purified
- Thundercaller
- Seen the Truth and tasted bitter death in sea of golden grass.
- Dipped in searing light, partner to Chilons.
- Phoenix traveled in time and killed all Halyran's future children.
- Danced forbidden dance.
- Nightmare training for accuracy
- Killed a god
- Resuscitated future children when hunting another Phoenix
- Tore level 2 King's Man to shreds with his bare hands. Armor pieces got stuck into his skin and grew underneath. Halyran is cursed.



Killing blows:
Killed Screaming Antelope lv1
Manhunter level 2
Beast of Sorrow
Lion God level 1
King's Man level 2

-----

Chiloresc
Accuracy +2, Strength +8, Evasion +3
Courage 9, Understanding 7, Grand weapon master
Quixotic
Otherworldly Luck, Purpose, Double Dash

Blinded in one eye
Endless Babble
Sour Death

- Bastard son of Resculachu and Chilons
- Has failed to dance forbidden dance.
- Wears God Mask whenever no-one is looking
- Been inside Screaming Antelope and Phoenix
- Marked by Cyclopean Knight who lopped off Chiloresc's ear
- Went mad and babbles incoherently
- Plucked out own eye and gave it to Sanorad.
- Purified
- Survivor of Manhunter level 4
- Has a tendency to lose his genitals.
- Lost the racing contest.
- Winner of debate contest. Go figure.
- Winner of fighting contest.

Killing blows:
Phoenix level 2

-----

Spenaccio Bulvans
Accuracy +1, Strength +8, Evasion +3
Courage 2, Understanding 5, Spear proficiency 5
Quixotic
King's Step, Otherworldly Luck, Trick Attack

- Twins found from a spider's nest
- Ran bellowing madly into acid storm
- Took part in killing a god. Afterwards, climbed the staircase to find Knowledge Worm and has had a spectral follower ever since...
- Dipped in searing light with his sister.
- Survivor of level 2 King's Man
- Survivor of level 3 Butcher

Killing blows: Manhunter level 4

-----

Spiounas Bulvans
Accuracy +2, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Courage 2 Understanding 2

- Twins found from a spider's nest
- Purified
- Dipped in searing light with her brother.

-----

Lavias Sunearr
Movement +1, Accuracy +1, Strength +6, Evasion +3
Courage 7, Understanding 8, Bow master
Quixotic
Necromancer, Rhythm Chaser, Crossarm Block, Legendary Lungs

- Was the first to dance Forbidden Dance successfully - as a baby.
- Has the worst games.
- Became the Necromancer when confronting The Hand
- Retrieved God's String

Killing blows:
Manhunter level 3

-----

Spiress Brightsilk, Foolish Savior of the Lantern
Accuracy +1, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Courage 2, Understanding 3
Overprotective, Stark Raving
Unrelenting

- Is purified.
- (was) Partner to Resculachu Brightsilk
- Survivor of level 3 the Hand
- Lost her partner in a fight against The Hand. Went Stark Raving as a consequence.

-----

Sanorad the Nameless, Dingle Fool of the Lion
Movement +1, Accuracy +2, Strength +6, Evasion +3
Courage 2, Understanding 8, axe proficiency 5
Timeless Eye, Abyssal Sadist

Shattered Jaw

- Former Daronas but lost her name against Phoenix
- Gained Timeless Eye fighting art when Chiloresc gifted her with his eye.
- The Hand tossed a broken lantern at her, crushing her jaw.
- Winner of racing contest
- Severed Parkara's arm.
- The last survivor to become purified.

Killing blows:
White Lion level 3

-----

Klenovar Who?
Accuracy +2, Strength +4, Evasion +2
Courage 2, Understanding 3

- Purified
- Survivor of The Hand level 2
- Father of Spinovar, a Child of the Sun. Mother, Spidunta, doesn't probably remember.

-----

Lyrna Bulvans
Accuracy +1, Strength +4, Evasion +2
Courage 2, Understanding 3
Overprotective
Combo Master

Blinded from one eye

- Purified
- Survivor of The Hand level 2
- The Hand remembered Lyrna after coming back on year 23, and threw a lantern into her eye socket.

-----

Parkara Bulvans
Accuracy +2, Strength +5, Evasion +4
Courage 3, Understanding 3, Axe Proficiency 1
Overprotective, Quixotic
Orator of Death, Otherworldly Luck, Rhythm Chaser

- Orator of Death from the birth, which awakes Ghorum from his slumber.
- Purified
- Survivor of The Hand level 2
- Survivor of Manhunter level 4, fell into the death pits.
- Lost debate contest to Ghorum, the original Orator of Death.
- Had his hand severed by Sanorad during fight contest. Also Ghorum has a severed hand.

-----

Cratera, Dingle Sneak of the Lantern
Accuracy +1, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Strategist

- Rescued by Daress from settlement ruins.

Killing blows:
White Lion cub

-----

Spinovar Who?
Speed +1, Accuracy +1, Strength +4, Evasion +2
Courage 3, Understanding 3
Tenacious

- Child of the Sun, not that of Klenovar and Spidunta.

-----


*Nenena Bulvans
Accuracy +1, Strength +5, Evasion +2
Courage 2, understanding 3, Spear proficiency 1
Mammoth Hunting, Defender

- Spent some time in Momento Mori as a newborn. Came back three hunt xp away from retirement.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Sunk Again


To continue ongoing campaign of A Touch of Evil, we decided to try out the Tabletop Simulator version.

Villain was randomized to Sunken Seven. Heroes we got were Sara, the Bright Witch and Doctor Edwards. And what a combination that was! Sara was able to prevent KO wounds for Doctor Edwards, who could then heal himself.

Heroes had astonishing luck when it came to attribute tokens - both heroes had at least five tokens at the end of the game. Well, Doctor Edwards' luck was also astonishing - three times he attempted to gain +1 spirit token from Church, and three times he failed. First with Honor of 5, and later with Honor 7.

Shadow track was merciful in this game, which gave Sara quite an advantage. Pace was almost peaceful. Almost.

Once again Sacred Chalice disappeared after first use.

Both heroes had four bone piles from defeated hauntings at the end of the game. We could have tried to fight a couple more hauntings, but then came this Remains in Play card that lowered Shadow Track by two each time hero got KO'd.

During showdown villain attack rolls were absurd. It must have been in the top 3 of games with worst luck for the villain during showdown. We had Reverend Harding in our hunting party, and twice in a row Sunken Seven failed to kill him - despite having four dice against him.

Edwards had no investigation points when showdown started, but turned out he didn't really need those. There was one round where out of the 9 attack dice villain had against Edwards, he received only one wound.

So it was a straightforward victory for heroes. Well, the campaign needed this but still. One of the most perplexing game of A Touch of Evil. And not because the table was a virtual one.



Campaign statistics:

Villains defeated: Spectral Horseman, Vampire, Siren, Bog Fiend, Volgovian Nutcracker, Delion Dryad, Scarecrow, Krampus, Sunken Seven
Villains still to be defeated: 10, +1 investigation vs Werewolf and Shadow Witch

Heroes dead: Lucy Hanbrook, Harlow Morgan, Scarlet Shadow, Maria de la Rosa, Thomas the Courier, Adrianna, Valeria, Jack Fellows, Argot Blackwell, Inspector Cooke, Isabella von Took & Liliana, Lost Soul
Heroes remaining: 12

Stashed investigation: 8

Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Tragic Birth of Burkstad

Started a new campaign of Kingdom Death with three players, with potentially fourth one joining later. (If there is anything to join...)

Prologue was one of the toughest until now.

With ease the lion disembowels two survivors and kills another.

Every survivor has been dragged, mauled and frightened to their core, having more heavy injury levels than uninjured locations in total. Yet I did not witness first full party wipe during prologue. Three founding stones were used for their special ability. With two survivors essentially out of action, I don't think we would have one had we not thrown them.

We roll minimum population for our settlement, Burkstad.

Since one survivor gained Love Juice, we were able to get both principles - Graves and Protect the Young.

Settlement innovates Hovel and crafts some armor and Bone Blade.

And off we are for real Lion fight!

Hunt phase was wonderful - The newborn survivor had triggered Insight before we encountered marked territory. That's an extra innovation for Burkstad.

Then one survivor consumes some monster droppings and gains +1 speed and strength token from this questionable act.

Exhalation of Darkness caused head injuries not for one or two stragglers - but three. Three rolled 1 for their result.

Then starts the showd...isaster.

White Lion missed it's attack around three times. During whole showdown. With most of the misses happening during last few rounds. Now if the amount of 1's being rolled had been evenly distributed between Lion and survivors, perhaps things could have gone differently.

Three criticals, one of which came from last founding stone, had given the Lion -1 movement, accuracy and toughness.

First goes our blade wielder. Instant death from severe body injury.

Second, mortal fear strikes another.

Third has his or her head explode.

And the Lion had no cards left in it's deck. It's doing nothing but basic action now, and only one more wound to kill. The last remaining survivor with four bleed tokens takes a swing at the lion. It's a hit. Hit location: Shimmering Mane.

Then Lion attacks the last survivor, who ends up with seven bleed tokens.

What a crude joke. And going to become even worse.

Settlement event is Murder. It gives +1 strength for the murderer as well as precious gear we cannot now craft, but at a heavy price. The only survivor with hunt xp is now dead, and Murder was rolled for next lantern year. Murderer is nominated to stand as the Voice of Reason, and he breaks his jaw.

With nine endeavors, survivors build Organ Grinder and four Stone Noses. Remaining endeavors are spent on Auguries, which results in one Intimacy.

... which turns out to be Birth of a Savior.

We choose the blue one. And after session I realize that we have Murder on the timeline next year and with Bone Blade as our only weapon...

Some terrible luck here. But I merely suggested the name, Burkstad. I implored no-one to accept it. Oh well. At least we effectively managed to innovate because we got Ammonia from hunt phase. That's something.

Four stone noses are also something.



Burkstad

Population: 6

Principles:
Protect the Young
Graves

Innovations:
Language
Hovel
Ammonia

Locations:
Lantern Hoard
Bone Smith
Skinnery
Organ Grinder

Gear:
4x Cloth
4x Stone Noses
Bone Blade
Rawhide Headband
Rawhide Vest
2x Rawhide Gloves
Skull Helm

Resources:
None

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

JMG Warmachine Tournament IV (Lord Nope Hexeris)

So there was this Warmachine Tournament.

I had two lists for this tournament, but played only one.

[Theme] Masters of War
Lord Tyrant Hexeris
- Agonizer [6]
- Archidon [10]
- Tiberion [22]
- Titan Gladiator [15]
Feralgeist [2]
Cataphract Cetrati (max) [18] + Tyrant Vorkesh [0(6)]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]
Praetorian Swordsmen (max) [13] + Praetorian Swordsman Officer & Standard [4]
Tyrant Commander & Standard Bearer [0(6)]


First game was against Circle of Orboros, Krueger1.

Primaled Ghetorix fails to take out Tiberion, which results in a dead Ghetorix. Bloodtrackers had Legends of Halaak as their prey target, and I tried to move them to other side of the board. This was when I learned about the new minifeat that allows to pick a new Prey target. Oh well. At least Bloodtrackers were rolling exceptionally low damage rolls against them.

Hexeris' feat gave me, what, two or three extra kills in this game. So yay for that. I can already give a spoiler: they were the only kills I got with Dark Dominion during whole tournament.

Then Primaled Warpwolf Stalker destroyed Tiberion and lowered Titan Gladiator down to one hit box remaining. Krueger shot that one off. I was down to Archidon in my heavy warbeast department, and it was somewhere completely off.

I had gained a good lead in scenario game, but losing both serious heavies might change that.

Time started to be short for both players, which resulted in a panicking Krueger flying to my rectangular zone. But he had Def 17 - what was I to do?

I tried to snatch the last remaining control point, but just couldn't clear the circular zone on right. And over-excited I had also brought Archidon to full Fury.

Loki took off Agonizer, so Hexeris had no transfer targets. Krueger charges in and attempts to assassinate Hexeris, but fails to do so. Hexeris had cast Parasite on Krueger, and it was this +1 ARM that saved Hexeris. Shortly after opponent ran out of clock.

A close victory for Hexeris. But little did I know, yet...


Second game was against Grymkin.

It was a good game against The Heretic.

I saw an opportunity to score two scenario points, but this relied on hitting a MAT 8 attack against DEF 13. Failed, of course. So that was only one point for me.

My single greatest mistake was bringing a shield-walled unit of Cetrati within charge range of Skin & Moans. They were obliterated, and I didn't even get the scenario point.

Tiberion survived like a champ against Cage Rattler with Fury, and against another Cage Rattler that had no Fury. Just for the sake of it, when last Cage Rattler died Feralgeist jumped in.

I lost my lead of 3 control points in one round, and that decided the game for me. I only could try to grind up some control points for tiebreakers. But Archidon failed to repeat it's performance, and did next to no damage to enemy objective.

Hexeris stood right next to Skin & Moans full on corpses, and had no Fury.

This was something even Hexeris could not endure. Lost.



Third game was against Circle of Orboros, and again against Krueger1.

I almost lost on top of 2A. Storm Raptor is a horrifying assassination tool. Saving grace here was Tiberion's Immovable Object. Krueger attempted to throw Tiberion to Hexeris with a Tornado. Otherwise those resources could have gone to killing Hexeris.

My warcaster almost died to electro leaps. And lastly Lord of the Feast threw it's bird at something, and Tiberion used shield guard. But thanks to new and improved reach of 2", Lord was easily within range of Hexeris. But miraculously Hexeris survived - with three hit boxes to boot!

This was devastating for Circle player, and he lined every warbeast at his disposal to protect Krueger.

However, thanks to Krueger's feat and such, I could only destroy two Warpwolves and Storm Raptor, and my warcaster was at two hit boxes remaining - he had cut himself to gain one fury point.

I was prepared to lose now. Tiberion was at full Fury, so was not an eligible transfer target. Archidon died, but at least gave two extra fury points for Hexeris by doing so.

Primaled Shadowhorn Satyr did it's shenanigans and came to finish off Hexeris.

This cost me Titan Gladiator, but - how can it be? Hexeris was alive.

Had Combo-Smite brought Gorax to Krueger, I would have attempted to kill him. But Gorax moved only half an inch, which was not enough to knock Circle warlock over. So I just killed the Shadowhorn Satyr and Warpwolf Stalker.

I thought I was safe, but then Krueger flies closer and casts a Tornado at Hexeris. It hits and slams Hexeris to wall, meaning POW 13 + 4d6 damage roll or something like that.

I only had Agonizer as transfer target. Opponent hoped high enough damage roll that overspill damage would kill Hexeris, but it left him standing with one hit box remaining.

I'd prefer winning where it would feel like I played well, but I have to say game was hilariously exciting. Surviving against such odds has a certain tingling sensation in it, but really. Hexeris got lucky big time here.


Fourth game was... against Circle of Orboros. I got to play against Kaya3. And what a terrifying game it was.

I had my moment on the right sided rectangular zone, where I killed a griffon or two. Praetorian Swordsmen cleared the flag scoring blackclad. But other than that, nothing else worked - and opponent had excessively high damage rolls against Tiberion. Who died.

Also, against Titan Gladiator. Who died.

Only Cataphract Cetrati were performing well - they were passing Tough roll in such a way that it probably made the average from all of these game about right. I had not been passing those rolls earlier, but here I passed more than I failed.

But hey, with only an Agonizer I was facing five heavy warbeasts. I had pretty much given up here, and left Hexeris quite there in the open. Not exactly suicidal, but not trying to protect himself either.

Kaya cleared any free strikes that a nearby Gnarlhorn Satyr would've had to take. Then Circle filled up the Synergy chain, and Gnarlhorn Satyr launched itself against Hexeris, who only had Agonizer for transfers.

Those rolls, though.

The goat missed pretty much every attack. One attack wrecked Agonizer's spirit. Another attack Hexeris took in. Hexeris had at least seven damage boxes left after MAT 9, P+S 19 or something like that Satyr had had it's moment with him. And Kaya was withing charge range of Hexeris.

Legends of Halaak combo-smited Gnarlhorn away so it wouldn't get a free strike against Hexeris. The Legend with Naginata dealt some 10 points of damage to Kaya, which were transfered away.

Then Hexeris charges in and kills Kaya.

Just.

What.

Is.

This.

And I even placed third in the tournament.

Personally, this has to be the most absurd tournament I have ever attended when it comes to probabilities.

Or maybe this was my Skorne collection's way of saying: "Please play more with us!"

Masters of Steel

So, I managed to get a grand total of one practice game for last Saturday's warmachine tournament.

I would be taking Skorne with Masters of War and Winds of Death.

My list was:

[Theme] Masters of War
Lord Tyrant Hexeris [+28]
- Agonizer [6]
- Archidon [10]
- Tiberion [22]
- Titan Gladiator [15]
- Aptimus Marketh [5]
Feralgeist [2]
Cataphract Cetrati (max) [18]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]
Praetorian Swordsmen (max) [13]
- Praetorian Swordsman Officer & Standard [4]
Tyrant Commander & Standard Bearer [0(6)]

And yup, it's illegal. I accidentally fielded Beast Handler unit that had been forgotten during list construction. Now, I can't feel too guilty over this because I also have unused choice of free Command Attachment or Tyrant Commander unit.

I noticed how Aptimus Marketh was rather useless in this list, as he was only able to cast Sunder Spirit. So he'd have to go at least.


Opponent had (probably):

[Theme] Legion of Steel
Koldun Kommander Aleksandra Zerkova [+28]
- Devastator [14]
- Juggernaut [13]
Iron Fang Kovnik [0(4)]
Kapitan Sofya Skirova [0(5)]
Ragman [4]
Uhlan Kovnik Markov [7]
Great Bears of the Gallowswood [9]
Iron Fang Pikemen (max) [15]
- Iron Fang Pikemen Officer & Standard [0(4)]
Iron Fang Pikemen (max) [15]
- Iron Fang Pikemen Officer & Standard [4]
Iron Fang Uhlans (max) [20]


I didn't know what to do. As I'd be pretty much forced to take the alpha strike, I decided to rush Tiberion to what looked like a nice bottleneck to me. But all manner of filthy Cryx tricks made by Zerkova managed to navigate most of Khador army to attack the character beast. Well, at least it did take some resources to remove - unit of Iron Fang Pikemen, Sofya Skirova or Iron Fang kovnik, Juggernaut and Great Bears of Gallowswood.

Legends of Halaak were pretty much wasted, as opponent had Ghost Walk to make them immune to free strikes.

I did get good mileage out of Hexeris' feat - it removed quite a few pikemen.

Feat cleared path for Titan Gladiator to attack Juggernaut, but it didn't amount to much.

I had started dragging behind on scenario points and eventually lost the scenario game. I don't remember how I actually lost - maybe Hexeris got killed somehow. But a loss it was.


Friday, October 26, 2018

Time Flies By at the Sanurinn Pool

Year 16 hunt & showdown

A god mourns.

And is causing quite a racket in doing so. Eager to prove herself worthy of Ralala's legacy, Sacrala assembles a hunting party without sacrificing a thought as to why and how misery drove god insane. Blinded by greed and a vague semblance of misguided honor, these people seek only to prove themselves in a fight.

Sacrala, Larona, Spenaccio and Halyran arm themselves and enter the darkness with a craving for blood.

In their limitless arrogance they just laugh off an enormous sphinx they pass by. It mocks the survivors just by it sheer mass - how puny the humans are. If here was a lesson to be learned, not even Sacrala with her Understanding of 6 decided to see it. Maybe they hid their fear this way.

Banquet trees don't waken any sense of respect in survivors. Just before they're about to have a meal along with eating competitions and whatnot, Larona attempts to write her name to the trunk. This draws blood and fruits sour instantly. A moment of silence followed by nervous laughter.

Spenaccio leads survivors to chase a silver bug that's supposed to lead them to their prey. It's residing in a cave with opening just like a mouth. When all survivors enter, the mouth closes and opens rapidly. Survivors start taking brain damage, their sense of humour slowly finding it difficult to disregard all these startling events. Survivors start to realize the celestial nature of their quarry.

Survivors take a break, gathering some acanthus plants that are growing in moist soil wherever they currently were trekking. This break seems to take ages. _Ages_. Surroundings look a little hazy, out of place. Time is moving, they are not. Sacrala has encountered this before - things like this happen when phoenix passes by. Survivors close their eyes as it helps a little during time lapse. When they open their eyes, Lion God stands right next to them in all it's majestic appearances. Gazing yet not looking, it raises it's Golden Claw against Sacrala. This alarms survivors, and they quickly dash out of the creature's sights.

Halyran wounds it's expressionless face, praying his quixotic strength token away. That horrific face gazes him, while the god's body starts to move forward, grabbing Larona who happened to stand in it's way (with Amber Poleaxe.)

Sacrala has her whip dance on the divine flank and divine thighs of Lion God, possibly tickling it since it moves again - triggering another Amber Poleaxe roll. Both of which have failed. Spenaccio binds Sacrala's bleeding wounds, caused by whiplash effect of Lion God. To suffer whiplash while you lash with a whip. Ironic, isn't it?

Sorrowful, Lion God raises one of the Lion God statues into air and studies it in detail and seems to forget the presence of survivors. Spenaccio lines up to shoot a hollowpoint arrow at Lion God, but his hands are shaking from fear and he misses. There is something ominous in how the godly presence gazes the statue, heedless of the danger.

Holding high the statue of itself, Lion God lets loose first noises until now. It stats to speak in an unknown language, but the meaning of the words can be somehow felt. These holy utterances have every survivor in panic, and Larona notices how the words change her forever. She gains Ghostly Beauty fighting art.

Next Lion God walks to a giant stone face, and mourns while it trashes the stone face with it's cudgel statue. Spenaccio tries to shoot it with claw head arrow, but misses again.

Anger rises in god. It tosses the Lion God statue it is holding at Larona in god tantrum. Any confidence survivors (or even player) had is gone by now. Creature is unreachable, and Woeful Majesty is next AI card. Desperate matters call for desperate actions, and Halyran lunges from behind another Lion God statue. Divine Tail slaps a bleeding token on him, but attack deals damage. Thankfully. But wisdom potion reveals how trap card is coming next. Time to make sacrifices after Lion God pulverizes some terrain first.

Larona strikes with her so far useless amber poleaxe. It continues to be useless as she misses every attack. Lion God tosses her around like a rag doll, which only prepares her for the ultimate sacrifice. Gritting teeth, she takes another swing at her target. Again she misses. Alright then. Halyran, the most courageous one, has to take the Vengeance. Toppled pillar, into which Halyran is slammed, finally reveals the sinkhole.

Sacrala sees this as an opportunity to kill a god. Sometimes I just wonder...

Three hit locations. First I choose Petrified Ankle so that Sacrala would take a knockback. Because other reactions were rather horrible. Critical wound circumvented this. Oh dear. Next is Petrified Shoulder Blade, which would move Lion God forward to grab Halyran on wound. It would save Sacrala, though. But again a critical wound. Bloody hell. Sacrala's whip drives Lion God into terrifying frenzy. It grabs Sacrala and smashes her face to a lion god statue nearby. This kills her instantly.

... if it wouldn't have been for the Green Charm she was wearing. Too many exciting moments in such a short time. Even more exciting is that fourth card in the location deck is another trap. No. Noooo...

After these displays of power, Lion God speaks again in the foreign tongue. Larona, having earlier changed, broke into maniacal laughter this time. Lion God did not consider this an appropriate thing to do, and Larona received the priority target token. Next it raises another Lion God statue, and I rejoice when finally amber poleaxe inflicts the wound. Joy fell short when I realized that next hit location is Vengeance, there is now Cudgel in play and last card in AI deck is Holy Utterances. Unless I wound the monster next turn it's most likely game over. It would just repeat Holy Utterances until everyone is dead from brain trauma.

Larona with her un-trusty poleaxe closes in to trigger vengeance. She actually succeeded - but the vengeance was her downfall. Six damage to body location gave a severe injury, which rolls knocked down result. Then collision damage scores another body severe injury and she rolls a one. It's not the six damage that kills. It's the one. Well, Larona _was_ the priority target, after all, and had to pay for her sacrilege.

Halyran emboldens and overcharges himself and strikes Lion God. Just one wound would be enough to kill it. A sigh of relief, and a mournful triumph. Necromancer's Eye entered Sanurinn Pool, along with settlement even Phantom. Spenaccio finds the knowledge worm and carries it to safety.

Year 17

Spenaccio forms a strange bond with the knowledge worm and gains Phantom Friend fighting art. Everyone in the settlement has restless sleep.

Spiress is purified and Sacrala goes to nightmare training. Result is a point of accuracy. Which is not what I wanted, but I won't complain.

Chilons takes interest in the deafness and blindness of Spiduka, and tries some experimental techniques on her. This results in intracranial hemorrhage.

Possessed Drosel plays the heart flute, which results in one more dead survivor. Boldened by this courageous example Grissewan takes the flute from Drosel's cold, dead hands. And plays a note. That summons a powerful creature that might end Sanurinn Pool. A nemesis monster. Ghost walking, invulnerable phantom creature emerges from darkness to see who's playing tunes like this.

The Hand has arrived.

(I'm a little ashamed of abusing heart flute like this. I hope I'll pay for my sins and the cruel randomness of Kingdom Death keeps me humble even in astonishing settlement like this.)

Just as Lavias, Chiloresc, Daress and Spenaccio are about to confont this new threat Grissewan had thoughtlessly unleashed, the newly acquired knowledge worm squirms. Lavias is the last person to prepare his bow and dagger in War Room, where knowledge worm had also been stored as a kind of a trophy. Lavias takes a closer look what is happening to this wondrous worm, and this is where it forces itself down Lavias' throat. Lavias has become the Necromancer now.

Secretly Chiloresc dons the God Mask, which has been held in reverence for as long as anyone remembers. Well, maybe Spiduka or Ghorum still remembers times it had been put to use.

Spenaccio feeds some acanthus plants to his Phantom Friend.

The Hand is very impressed by survivors. Showdown was actually boring, because it was such an overkill. Lavias scored a wound with his bow, gaining a proficiency from that. Greatest setback was when Daress missed all attacks he made during showdown, so he was not able to train axe proficiency.

Daress and Chiloresc received the 7+ result from Applause. So I guess I can deal with not gaining +1 axe proficiency. Lavias gained a point of strength and Spenaccio had to spend survival or die from shock.

Chiloresc, who had worn God Mask received purpose from the Hand's blessing. It was about time, though, since he's been a drifter without a fate or meaningful existence.

The Hand grabs Grissewan with him before leaving the settlement. Perhaps the Hand enjoyed his play so much that wanted to include Grissewan in it's court.

With the extra endeavor from death of Grissewan, Lavias makes a plan in War Room - to hunt an ancient Screaming Antelope.

Year 17 hunt & showdown

Daress, Chiloresc, Lavias and Spenaccio depart for the hunt. First hunt event was Living Stone - a giant that carried survivors right to the showdown. Now wasn't that hunt plan just useful.

Now, I noticed that Antelope has this legendary horn trait card already in play. And soon enough survivors found out the tick infestation that the antelope has. I had not planned for Toughness 15 antelope.

Chiloresc was devoured quite a few times during showdown. Praying to the Sun did ease getting Chiloresc out from antelope's tummy, but still it was a horrifying fight.

Severe injury rolls started piling up. Miraculously, though, only Spenaccio breaks his ribs before Halyran deals the killing blow. Not a moment too soon.

Year 18

Settlement event is Glossolalia, and Chiloresc starts to babble incessantly. Considering he'd just been eaten by and elder antelope (twice), it's no wonder he loses his mind. But he's being driven by the need to explain what he has realized, and so he innovates Pictographs for the settlement.

But no-one gets their point. Chiloresc eats Black Lichen and imagines himself as the screaming antelope.

Chilons has second trepanning session for Spiduka, which damages her brain in an advantageous was, curing her narcissism.

Spenaccio sleeps broken rib off and is purified.

A second Phoenix has been sighted and survivors consider it a threat that must be either scared off or killed outright.

Year 18 hunt and showdown:

First survivors come across a field full of mature acanthus plants, fertilized by multicoloured poop. Chiloresc picks some acanthus with his bone sickle, but nobody knew just how fertile these fields actually were. There were also some extraordinary weeds that grew genitals back to Chiloresc and, well, resuscitated all of Halyran's future children. Curiously enough they had been all been killed the last time Halyran was hunting Phoenix.

Bad weather interrupts the hunt, and survivors take cover in a cave. On the walls there are ominous pictures that make a whole lot more sense now that settlement has innovated Pictographs. Chiloresc tries to explain his findings enthusiastically, but just babbles nonsense and gains some insanity. Lavias and Halyran find new ways to fight monsters.

They may have been hiding for quite a long time, for ages seem to have unmade the gorn horn Daress had carried with him. Inside the cave survivors hear a distant clanging sound, and go to check the origins. Nearing the sound, there are human corpses littered through the passage way. Enormous, cyclopean knight lops off Chiloresc's ear and leaves steel shield and sword for survivors.

Survivors try to follow the knight, but only find an opening to Overwhelming Darkness. Chiloresc gains Leader fighting art. Yet no-one understands what he says.

After pushing through network of tunnels, survivors arrive on a lush meadow that's plagued by such strong winds that it is difficult to walk forward. Herb and mineral gatherings happened here, as well as sonorous rest before showdown began.

Mighty Phoenix starts by rubbing in the difference between humans and creature such as it is. While Halyran and Daress do fine work in attacking the bird of time, hit locations show an upcoming time stop.

Chiloresc is pulled inside the bird. Which makes me wonder. I mean, Chiloresc has now been inside the Screaming Antelope and the Phoenix. What can it be like, to see the monster really from the inside? Maybe this is what he wants to say with his endless babbling.

Last two cards in the AI deck are Pitying Sigh and Analtorium, which makes for a disturbing mental image. Every time Phoenix pulls a survivor inside it's anal cavity, it sighs how pathetic these little creatures are. But continues to pull them inside anyway.

But that did not come to be. Once Chiloresc came back to this world, he killed the Phoenix with his rib blade.

This opened up the third eye for Halyran. I believe the only survivor in any settlement that has had both See the Truth and White Secret trigger. As the Phoenix was about to die, Halyran's consciousness merged with that of the time bird. It was now that Halyran could sense secret paths that were hidden in plain sight. However, as it was the moment of Phoenix's death, Halyran also developed a phobia towards sharp objects such as rib blades. Halyran had become leyline walker from remembering a secret nobody had ever told him.

Year 19

Settlement event is Season of the Spiderling

Sacrala, Spenaccio, Halyran and Daronas fight incoming spiderlings. While Spenaccio and Halyran are busy eating spiders, Sacrala confuses Rablirucsen for a new encounter with Manhunter. Thus, Rablirucsen dies. But thanks to Rabli's death, there are now eight endeavors to spend.

Spenaccio and Spiounas enter a beam of light, dipping in sun for +1 courage and understanding each.

Spiress and Resculachu receive the Sun Eater fighting art and become partners.

Whatever happened in the beam of light had Spenaccio Bulvans and Spiounas Bulvans to have twins. End of Darksilk lineage, I suppose. Unar and Klenovar are twin brothers. Another one was almost strangled by the life string, so he was born with Lure Epilepsy fightning art

Because there are now enough Sun Eaters and life strings available, settlement starts to prepare to give birth for a new promise, completely one of their own with no relation to the legacy or Ralala.

Spiress and Resculachu rename themselves as Brightsilk family and receive one Child of the Sun, who is immediately purified. Umbilical symbiosis turns her into a refracting warrior of the sun, Falves Brightsilk. And as has been the case, babies are the best forbidden dancers. Falves danced and succeeded, though not without epiphany reroll.

Chilons is still drilling through Spiduka's skull, this time curing intracranial hemorrhage she had inflicted in the first place.

Frohlagodhen plays a tune with Heart Flute, which takes her re-roll away but succeeds. Another far too easy victory I believe, as this time survivors are face-to-face with a level 1 Butcher.

Daress, Chiloresc, Lavias and Daronas make short work out of the masked monster that arrived from darkness. Butcher did give a little fright when first card he drew was Infinite Kick, and soon enough Lantern Frenzy targeted Chiloresc, who had the worst defensive capabilities. Chiloresc had put on the God Mask again, and Butcher recognised something in that mask that he wanted to destroy. However, Butcher stood his ground for three round before falling to the axe of Daress. Lavias even received Legendary Lungs from this encounter.

Year 19 hunt & showdown

Time keeps repeating itself somehow and settlement realizes they've been stuck in a time loop. To free themselves Daress, Chiloresc, Lavias and Daronas set out to kill the Phoenix that is causing this. Incidentally it's the same Phoenix they've already hunted - what is happening?

Many a thing has been falling down from the sky during this campaign. Gifts to some, filth to another. Survivors find themselves under a constant rain of disgusting muck. Good thing that settlement is mostly underground, because events like these must be causing diseases or poisonings. It's literally poop that is raining.

Daress and Daronas take the worst of it. Daress takes a heavy hit to arms, and Daronas collects some muculent droppings.

Hunters pass some saliva pools, but are able to mask the smell. Chiloresc, as helpful as he is indecipherable, drops Cat Fang Knife to one of the pool, which dissolves it into Elder Cat Teeth.

Next survivors see themselves returning from the hunt, victorious. But confusion fills their mind as they realize they're trying to hunt the beast. Yet they are older.

Finally survivors find settlement ruins and for a moment darkest dread overwhelms everyone - is it their settlement? No, but Daress is puzzled. It bears a striking resemblance to the settlement he had fled all those years ago. But here it is, still smoldering from the destruction as if it had happened only hours before.

Time has been broken. Daress takes a stroll in the ruins, trying to find clues if time has really been broken. And answer comes when he finds a person trapped in the ruins, still alive - and a person Daress had known during his earlier life. They rescue Cratera, but the darkness is overwhelming. They are in grave danger of vanishing from existence.

A nice little meadow offers a herb gathering moment for survivors, as well as some sonorous rest. During rest an enormous gust of wind threatens to push hunters back from where they came, but it's merely a slight discomfort. They arrive at their prey, which causes lantern flame to ripple as if smothering.

And they have already seen themselves returning victorious and even if they don't remember it, they can predict every move Phoenix is about to do. This results in ten wounds during first round.

Phoenix unspeaks Daronas' name and releases a pitying sigh. Look at these silly humans here, killing me. Everyone but the nameless person laughs at this.

A wounding hit from Lavias sent the Phoenix to materialize at the furthest table edge from him, which had the Phoenix both sigh at the useless survivors again, then completely disdain them as they all were out of it's field of view.

Phoenix seemed to ignore survivors throughout the fight. It ignored them even as it died, death blow made by Daress.

Chiloresc was utterly disturbed by this and plucked out his own eye, took it in his hand and extended his arm, as if looking through the detached eye. Before passing out he offered the eye to the nameless person, who gratefully accepted, gaining Timeless Eye fighting art.

Daress, with one point away from Seeing the Truth and remembering the white secret couldn't help but wonder if Phoenix did all this on purpose.

Acid Storm accompanies hunters back home, which is a relief for me - I don't have to feel bad about abusing Heart Flute now, as Acid Storm prevents music endeavors.

Year 20

Acid Storm brings tidings from the Sun itself. Maybe it's the bad weather that causes the Sun to cough up in such a violent manner? Lavias retrieves God's String that fell from the sky along with massive amounth of liquid.

Chilons continues to drill through Spiduka's skull, damaging the brain permanently. Spiduka gain Infinite Lives fighting art, and can't remember her name any more. For now she thinks it might have been Spidunta.

Spidunta tries to learn something from this nightmare, but fails to do so.

Spenaccio and Spiounas have another pair of twins, Lyrna and Parkara. Birth of Parkara finally awoke Ghorum from his crystallized slumber - he had heard someone speak with a language he knew so well. Another Orator of Death.

Falves, refracting Warrior of the Sun sits inside a boiling pool for a year and gains Hellfire secret fighting art. Settlement innovates Shadow Dancing.

Chiloresc is a distressing figure, yet he seems to have some special power. And for sure he has a lot to tell. In an hopeful attempt to cure Chiloresc from his troublesome ailment, settlement performs Purification Ritual on him. Chiloresc is purified, but babbling remains.

Seeds of envy have been planted when Klenovar Bulvans was purified, but his twin brother Unar was not.

And the further the settlement survives, the more there is to write into these blog entries. So I'm discontinuing the 5-year span I've been using and give these four years here.

Next hunt shall be White Lion. I wasn't lucky enough to receive Phoenix Whiskers, but I did get Shimmering Halo. So one extra Elder Cat Teeth allows settlement to craft Prism Mace.





Sacrala Sunearr, Reflecting Warrior of the Sun
Accuracy +3, Strength +7, Evasion +3
Courage 5, Understanding 7, Whip proficiency 7
Overprotective, Quixotic
Sun Eater, Trailblazer, Clutch fighter

Destroyed genitals

- Grand proclamation to become a savior of Sanurinn Pool. Spiritual descendant of Ralala, the original hero of the settlement.
- Architect of level 3 Sacred Pool
- Fell in love with a rock
- Took part in killing a god

Killing blows:
Gorm level 2
Phoenix level 2
Rablirucsen

--

Ghorum
Accuracy +1, Strength +4
Courage 7, Understanding 3, Katar proficiency 2
Hemophobia, Megalophobia, Absent Seizures
Vengeance, Double Dash, Orator of Death

Dismembered arm

Who is mostly interested in the storm. Whenever he is required to make contact with another human being, he speaks only in the language of death. And if there is a dispute, he can and will settle it by practicing what he speaks.

- Voice of "Reason"
- Lost his hand while inside Screaming Antelope's stomach
- Rival's Scar
- Killed his rival, Khantan, on the eve of Khantan's grand victory
- Crystal Skin
- Captured by Spidicules
- Returned from Spidicules with great insight from darkness, bringing news of a Beast of Sorrow.

Killing blows: Khantan.

--

Spiduka/Spidunta
Accuracy -1, Strength +3
Courage 9 (6) from listening to storm, Dagger proficiency 5
Berserker, Mighty Strike, Infinite Lives

Bitter Frenzy

Deaf
Blinded in one eye

- Season of the Spiderling survivor
- Architect of level 2 Sacred Pool
- Feels rejected by society.
- Has seen the truth and tasted bitter death in a murky fountain.
- Survivor of Manhunter level 2
- Brain cannot form new memories. Infinite Lives.

--

Resculachu Brightsilk
Strength +3, Evasion +1
Courage 3, Understanding 1
Hoarder
Crazed

- Found from a spider's nest
- Purified as random people from inside nests seemed like a good omen
- Partner to Spiress Brightsilk

--

Frohlagodhen
- Played the Heart Flute, summoning Butcher

--

Chilons Sunearr
Accuracy -1, Strength +2, Evasion +2
Understanding 1, Fist proficiency 3
Emotionless, Overprotective

Blind from one eye

- Purified
- Vivisector of infant beasts from sacred pool.
- Trusted trepanner
- Dipped in searing light, partner to Halyran
- Permanently damaged Spiduka's brain, essentially giving her Infinite Lives.

--

Halyran Sunearr
Accuracy +4, Strength +9, Evasion +4
Courage 9, Understanding 9, Shield proficiency 6
Quixotic, Aichmophobia, Binge Eating
Seasoned Hunter, Ambidextrous, Rhythm Chaser

Bitter Frenzy, Leyline Walker

Blinded in one eye

- Purified
- Thundercaller
- Seen the Truth and tasted bitter death in sea of golden grass.
- Dipped in searing light, partner to Chilons.
- Phoenix traveled in time and killed all Halyran's future children.
- Danced forbidden dance.
- Nightmare training for accuracy
- Killed a god
- Resuscitated future children when hunting another Phoenix


Killing blows:
Killed Screaming Antelope lv1
Manhunter level 2
Beast of Sorrow
Lion God level 1

--

Chiloresc
Accuracy +2, Strength +6, Evasion +3
Courage 9, Understanding 7, Grand weapon proficiency 5
Leader (how?), Purpose, Double Dash

Blinded in one eye
Endless Babble
Sour Death

- Bastard son of Resculachu and Chilons
- Has failed to dance forbidden dance.
- Wears God Mask whenever no-one is looking
- Been inside Screaming Antelope and Phoenix
- Marked by Cyclopean Knight who lopped off Chiloresc's ear
- Went mad and babbles incoherently
- Plucked out own eye and gave it to Sanorad.
- Purified

Killing blows:
Phoenix level 2

--

Spenaccio Bulvans
Accuracy +1, Strength +5, Evasion +2
Courage 1, Understanding 3, Spear proficiency 1
Binge Eating
Phantom Friend, Trick Attack

- Twins found from a spider's nest
- Ran bellowing madly into acid storm
- Took part in killing a god. Afterwards, climbed the staircase to find Knowledge Worm and has had a spectral follower ever since...
- Dipped in searing light with his sister.

--

Spiounas Bulvans
Accuracy +2, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Courage 2 Understanding 2

- Twins found from a spider's nest
- Purified
- Dipped in searing light with her brother.

--

Daress Darksilk
Accuracy +2, Strength +7, Evasion +4
Courage 8, Understanding 8
Axe Proficiency 6
Quixotic,
Harvestman, Unrelenting, Trailblazer

- Found from overwhelming darkness while he was hiding from the Beast of Sorrow
- Purified
- Lead Spenaccio back home when he ran to acid storm.
- Knows manhunters and understands the meaning of war.
- Found Cratera from his old settlement thanks to warped time.

Killing blows:
Screaming Antelope level 3
Butcher level 1
Phoenix level 2

--

Lavias Sunearr
Movement +1, Accuracy +1, Strength +6, Evasion +3
Courage 7, Understanding 8, Bow Profieciency 8
Quixotic
Necromancer, Rhythm Chaser, Crossarm Block, Legendary Lungs

- Was the first to dance Forbidden Dance successfully - as a baby.
- Has the worst games.
- Became the Necromancer when confronting The Hand
- Retrieved God's String

Killing blows:
Manhunter level 3

--

Spiress Brightsilk
Accuracy +2, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Courage 2, Understanding 3
Overprotective
Unrelenting

- Is purified.
- Partner to Resculachu Brightsilk

--

Unar Bulvans
Accuracy +1, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Lure Epilepsy

- Nearly strangled to death at birth.
- Inferiority complex towards his brother Klenovar.

--

Klenovar Bulvans
Accuracy +2, Strength +4, Evasion +2
- Purified

--

Lyrna Bulvans
- Yet to do anything memorable

--

Parkara Bulvans
- Orator of Death from the birth, which awakes Ghorum from his slumber.

--

Sanorad the Nameless
Accuracy +2, Strength +5, Evasion +2
Courage 2, Understanding 7, axe proficiency 4

- Former Daronas but lost her name against Phoenix
- Gained Timeless Eye fighting art when Chiloresc gifted her with his eye.

--

Cratera
Accuracy +1, Strength +3, Evasion +2
Strategist

- Rescued by Daress from settlement ruins.

--

Falves Brightsilk, refracting warrior of the sun
Accuracy +3, Strength +5, Evasion +3
Courage 1, Understanding 3
Overprotective
Ruthless, Hellfire

- When Sacrala is the protective light of the sun, Falves is the shadow that's been cast. Evil counterpart, or at least a holy warrior that isn't disillusioned by the holiness. It's a cruel, dark world out there and one needs to embrace Hellfire to master the darkness.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Too Long Years

This bird manipulates time.

Almost two years it has been roosting on my painting desk (as if I had a dedicated desk for that...) waiting to be born before being able to reborn.

When I first received this model as a Christmas gift from a person very dear to me, I decided to paint this phoenix to the best of my ability. Because I haven't been doing that very much. Always taking shortcuts and "letting it be" when things didn't go as planned. But here I wanted to give all I had when it comes to painting, and this is what came up.

I'm quite satisfied with the skin. It looks nice from a distance, and even better up close. Feathers, on the other hand, did not turn out that well. I might actually return to them one day when I've had more practice. When painting the feathers I realized I didn't have the skills nor the steady hand that they would have required. So I kept them relatively basic so I wouldn't ruin this gorgeous model.

Phoenix did have horrible gaps in some joints that had to be filled with green stuff. Gaps in facial area went remarkably well, but putting wings to main body less so. It was difficult area to work, and I had already painted both the wings and the main body. Having red/green deficiency in my eyesight gave me some trouble figuring out how smoothly the Stuff was melding there.

I tried to patch the worst of mistakes with a thick layer of paint in choice areas, which was good for the tiniest seams and harsh edges. Fortunately, however, the ugliest blobs were in places you cannot see unless you really search for them.

Anyway.

A sense of accomplishment to be able to write this blog entry.