Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 11

Session 11

Thursday the 4th, from 11.00 to 16.00

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Deryn - Oobl, Level 4 Mossling
• Freddy - Trunchkin, Level 4 Friar
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 4 Human Knight
• Peter - Albert, Level 3 Woodgrue
• Ythan - Clement, Level 4 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 1 Enchanter
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 2 Friar

The Golem of Kabibona’kan

Thursday the 4th; 11.00 - 14.00

The session opened with the Magpies standing on the rough dam across the river Lock, the twelve-sided gear golem bearing down on them from the north. In the water just south of the dam, the By Frosen siblings fought with Karl Kapek, while Ruskin the magician quietly emerged from the flooded ruins of Pollnacrom, climbing out through one of the few structures still standing.

A scaled-down version of the combat map

Ooble immediately plunged into the river to help Karl, and together the two of them finished off the remaining Crows. While they were fighting, Ruskin told the party that the Crows kept a stash inside Pollnacrom’s church. He also offered to help bring down the golem in exchange for help in recovering his spellbook. 

To buy time, Clement rode the lifeboat directly into the creature’s path, drawing the golem away while the raft slipped toward the town. The distraction worked, but at a heavy cost: the golem seized Fiona and Fenrich - two of the group’s retainers - and crushed them within its vast mechanical fists. 

In desperation, Selminimum called out to the construct, begging it to stop and offering the party’s aid in continuing the dam’s construction. Something in that plea reached the golem; it halted its assault, and the Magpies feigned cooperation while planning their next move.

The lifeboat was once more used as bait, this time drifting downriver just fast enough to stay out of reach. Meanwhile, Melysee and Trunchkin ferried Pollnacrom’s surviving townsfolk to safety in a nearby field. Albert slipped into the church, uncovering both the Crows’ stash containing an ornate mace and an enchanted horn decorated with bird hatchings and two relics. 

Before long, the golem abandoned its pursuit and lumbered back toward Pollnacrom, tearing into another building. Clement and Ooble, still out on the lifeboat, drew its attention yet again and narrowly avoided a massive stone hurled in their direction. 

The party decided to destroy the construct. Ruskin unleashed a lightning bolt and then trapped the golem in thick strands of conjured webbing. Trunchkin peppered it with sling stones, while Albert experimented with the enchanted horn to uncertain effect. Melysee charged in and grappled the machine, creating an opening that allowed Finn to climb its metal frame and strike at one of its gears with a magic blade. The golem managed to seize Ruskin but failed to crush him before Karl delivered the finishing blow, felling the colossus with a perfectly placed shot from his slingshot. Albert pulled the dazed magician free from its dying grip. 

The session closed with the Magpies examining the etched prayers on the relic tablet, only to be interrupted by a storm of blood-drinking strigae sweeping over the ruins. Forced to seek shelter, the party and the villagers fled - some climbing into the bell tower, others hiding in the nearby field - while the sky grew loud with the beating of hungry wings. Albert killed many of them, forcing the finds to inbibe on each other before the rest few off in frustration. 

Obituaries

Fiona, proud daughter of Broken Huts, had been working for the group since the very beginning. She was smashed into pulp by a very angry golem. Her mortal remains became part of its dam.

Fenrich, mighty archer and dear brother, died next to his sister, attempting to distract a golem. His body became construction material for a dam on the river Lock.

XP for session 11 

For this XP calculation, I assume you are taking in Ruskin as a retainer with a 1/2 share payment. 

Feats of exploration 

• Using the lifeboat to distract the golem was incredibly dangerous but very effective.
• Offering the golem help in building the dam was a great idea.
• You manage to save the townsfolk.
• Grappling the golem and escalating it, Shadow of the Colossus style was incredibly stylish.
• Mad revelry is stupidly powerful, and you used it with good effect
• Fishing the Crows' bodies with the detached eyeball was a brilliant idea. 

Adversary defeated 

• Twelve-sided gear golem
• Siblings By Frosen - Karl claims XP and equipment of Hoolloch
• 16 Strigae

Loot recovered 

• 2 relics of the optical good - 3.000 gg
• Thruthbringer - 2.250gg
• Magical horn - 5.000 gg
• 1 kg of opium - 250 gg
• 1 vial of poison 250 gg
• Collection of wedding rings - 800 gg 

The remaining content of Echo inventory seems unremarkable - and you have already received XP for the poisonous ring, you will not double dip!

Totals 

• Melysee gains 3051 XP and reaches 15546 XP; they have 72% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Trunchkin gains 3051 XP and reaches 11925 XP; they have 70% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Oobl gains 3051 XP and reaches 15315 XP; they have 74% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Clement gains 3051 XP and reaches 14777 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 5 
• Albert gains 3051 XP and reaches 9386 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 4 
• Finn gains 1526 XP and reaches 3881 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Selminimum gains 1526 XP and reaches 5513 XP; they have 57% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Ruskin gains 1526 XP and reaches 21526 XP; they have 7% of the necessary XP to progress to level 6 
• Gunter & Elain gain 763 XP each and reach 2893 XP

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 10

Session 10

Wednesday, the 3rd, from 19.00 to 24.00

Thursday the 4th, from 00.00 to 11.00

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Deryn - Oobl, Level 4 Mossling
• Freddy - Trunchkin, Level 4 Friar
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 4 Human Knight
• Peter - Albert, Level 3 Woodgrue
• Ythan - Clement, Level 4 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 1 Enchanter
• Retainer - Tzani, Level 1 Mage
• Retainer - Curtis, Level 0 Torchbearer
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 2 Friar

Ghar Zaghouan from the Crows

This image has been changed to match this campaign lore

The Magpies made camp and settled in for rest. Karl Kapek opened up to Oobl about parts of his past and even gave them a sample of Sanguisporin that the mossling added to their symbiont collection. 

Nearby, Selminimum and Trunchkin spent the evening discussing the Scripture of the Optical God. Tzani helped Clmement attune to the voodoo doll and spoke about her magical circle, mentioning Harrap, who had left on an expedition a week before the flood. Meanwhile, Fiona and Melysee bonded over their training. 

The following day, the Magpies continued upriver and came upon an improvised dam west of Pollnacrom and another golem demolishing the hamlet. About 20 people were stuck on the town roofs. Choosing to avoid it, tracked through the flooded plain on the west bank, only to be attacked by a large school of loungfish. Finn was injured yet again, and Curtis was finished off before the creatures were dealt with. 

A small map I prepared for my players

Once the party pushed on and approached Pollnacrom from the north, they used their barge to pull the twelve-sided gear golem away from the ruined hamlet, luring it upriver before making a quieter approach in the lifeboat. 

As soon as they neared the town, the Crows sniped them, killing Tzani outright, and Ruskin struck them with a Sleep spell - the magician seems to have allied himself with the sniper. Albert managed to talk Ruskin into deserting his new companions. The Magpies located the sniper; Trunckin paralysed him with a spell, and Oobl slew him. 

The siblings By Frosen tried to kill the isolated Oobl. Karl Kapek grabbed Holloch and dragged him into the river, while Oobl shoved Echo in the water after him. 

The session ended with the Magpies standing on the dam as the 12-sided gear golem approached from the north. 

Obituaries 

Curtis, a citizen of Carrowmore, shortly after burying his wife, succumbed to the voracious bites of a school of lungfish in the shallows near Pollnacrom.

Tzani, explorer, sage and magician, after redeeming her treacherous betrayal, was assassinated with a crossbow bolt from a mysterious mosslin sharpshooter just north of Pollnacrom. 

XP for session 10 

Feats of exploration 

• Visited a location
• Bypassed the dam - that really threw off the Crows' plans
• Convinced Ruskin to Desert the Crows
• Used a barge to distract the golem
• Excellent teamwork in taking down the sniper 

Adversaries defeated 

• 19 lungfish
• Ghar Zaghouan 

Treasure recovered 

• The nameless bow
• 4 special poisoned bolts 

Totals 

• Melysee gains 1268 XP and reaches 12495 XP; they have 38% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Trunchkin gains 1268 XP and reaches 8874 XP; they have 26% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Oobl gains 1268 XP and reaches 12264 XP; they have 39% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Clement gains 1268 XP and reaches 11726 XP; they have 67% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Fiona gains 634 XP and reaches 6266 XP; they have 56% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Fenrich gains 634 XP and reaches 6266 XP; they have 56% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Finn gains 634 XP and reaches 2355 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2 
• Albert gains 1268 XP and reaches 6335 XP; they have 58% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Selminimum gains 634 XP and reaches 3987 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Gunter & Elain gain 317 XP each and reach 2130 XP; LEVEL UP! Dogs ascended to level 2

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 09

Session 09

Wednesday, the 3rd, from 13:20 to 19.00

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Ash - North, Level 3 Elf
• Deryn - Oobl, Level 4 Mossling
• Freddy - Trunchkin, Level 3 Friar
• James - Tomkin, Level 2 Hunter
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 4 Human Knight
• Ythan - Clement, Level 4 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 3 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 1 Enchanter
• Retainer - Tzani, Level 1 Mage
• Retainer - Curtis, Level 0 Torchbearer
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 2 Friar

The Golem of Saiph

The Magpies studied Zolushika’s Displacement Doll, uncovering its true function. They instructed Tzeni to recalibrate the device to target Clement, a project that will take considerable time. Meanwhile, Turchkin safely stashed away the Snakewood Staff.

The party then approached the golem with a decaedrical gear for head that was spinning in the water. When it drew near, they retreated to the riverbank. To test its behaviour, they threw a zombie toward it and watched as the golem hurled the corpse downstream. They engaged it in battle - they prevailed at the cost of much of their powerful magic.

The celebratory picture after the defeat of the pringle-golem

Continuing east along the river, the Magpies witnessed a gigantic horseshoe crab locked in combat with a kapek warrior - a humanoid newt of remarkable strength covered in red fungus. The group aided the kapek in slaying the crab and learned his name: Karl Kapek, war chief of his tribe. He revealed that he must return to the dam to resume the war against the reed people. The Group offered passage on their boat. 

Karl Kapek

As they pressed on upriver, the Magpies split their forces; the group on the lifeboat went north to investigate cries for help from a copse of trees on the north shore. Persuaded by Karl Kapek, they allowed him to slay a reed tribesman hiding there. 

The group on the barge went south to accompany Curtis through the marshlands of the cemetery to bury his wife, Sorla. After fending off an attack from several cuttlefish, they succeeded in the burial and discovered an inscription carved into her grave. 

Dear Strangers: though we have not met, I have seen your faces many times. 

In the deepest part of the pit lurks a pale, vile giant. It will try to trap you and eat you. 

The calcite statues bow to no-one who does not address them correctly. 

The Vault is sealed by a serpent-shaped door. It demands a sacrifice you may not want to make. 

With thanks, Sorla Ghyll. 

Session 09 XP 

Feat of exploration 

• Use the article to understand the use of Zolushika’s Displacement Doll.
• Quest completed: Sorla's funeral
• Meet the Kapeks
• Meet the Reeds Peeple
• Progress toward winning the trust of the Kapeks
• Good strategy against the golem: testing the reaction with a zombie, trapping it with freezing water and deactivating its magic.
• 2 locations visited. 

Opponents Defeated 

• The Golem of Saiph
• 10 Cuttlefish 

Treasure Recovered 

• A chunk of Ambergris - 3.000 gg 

Totals for Session 

• Melysee gains 1637 XP and reaches 11227 XP; they have 24% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Trunchkin gains 1637 XP and reaches 7606 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 4 
• Oobl gains 1637 XP and reaches 10996 XP; they have 24% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Clement gains 1637 XP and reaches 10458 XP; they have 49% of the necessary XP to progress to level 5 
• Fiona gains 819 XP and reaches 5632 XP; they have 40% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Fenrich gains 819 XP and reaches 5632 XP; they have 40% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Tomkin gains 1637 XP and reaches 5751 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• North gains 1637 XP and reaches 10189 XP; they have 45% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Tzani gains 819 XP and reaches 2221 XP; they have 88% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Finn gains 819 XP and reaches 1721 XP; they have 98% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Selminimum gains 819 XP and reaches 3353 XP; they have 91% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3 
• Each of the 3 Dogs gains 546 XP; Gunter and Eloin reach 1813 XP; Zoe reaches 546 XP

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 08

Session 08

Tuesday the 2nd, from 15.30 to 24.0

Wednesday, the 3rd, from 00:00 to 13:20

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Ash - North, Level 2 Elf
• Deryn - Oobl, Level 3 Mossling
• James - Tomkin, Level 2 Hunter
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 3 Human Knight
• Peter - Albert, Level 2 Woodgrue
• Ythan - Clement, Level 3 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 2 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 2 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 1 Enchanter
• Retainer - Tzani, Level 1 Mage
• Retainer - Curtis, Level 0 Torchbearer
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 1 Friar

Zolushika Von Der Linth from the Crows

Tuesday, the 2nd (15:30 – 24:00) 

The Magpies began by dealing with an unpleasant stowaway — a zombie clinging beneath their barge. They pried it loose, tied it to a pew, and set it drifting downstream before settling to rest in the old Church of the Optical God. 

Within the sanctuary, Selminimum Tem anointed Melysee, formally naming her a true knight of the Optical God. He also shared fragments of his theology with Oobl, and tried - without much success - to help Clement interpret the cryptic Laxiat Bible. 

Their rest was far from peaceful: through the night, four separate zombie attacks struck the church. Each was swiftly dispatched, but the sleep denial tactics of their enemy left the group groggy and irritable, but not exhausted by dawn.

The following morning, another zombie was discovered clinging beneath the barge and promptly destroyed. 

In the morning, Albert used his magic to force Tzani to confess - she admitted to being a spy for the Crows. The Magpies chose mercy: instead of punishment, they gifted her Rem’s magic book, which she accepted as repayment for her stolen scrolls. 

The party instructed their retainers to create a decoy, using the boats to make it seem the Magpies were continuing upriver. Meanwhile, the adventurers struck out on foot toward the hills. As they climbed, they spotted two rafts approaching their retainers’ position. 

Clement split from the group to warn them, while the rest pressed on. 

The Magpies first stumbled upon a false camp, then located the true camp of the Crows. There, they found two bedraggled survivors—one a retainer of the Eagle, the other a townsfolk from Carrowmore. Both described the four members of the Crows before the party tended to their wounds, fed them, and sent them safely back downstream. 

Meanwhile, Clement surprised a young magician standing on a hill near the river, surrounded by two dozen zombies. He tried to charm her, but when that failed, he used magic to suppress all her spells and enchanted items - leaving her helpless as the undead tore her apart. The Magpies later recovered her possessions and discovered her doll was magical. 

North and Albert hurried back toward the retainers, finding them conversing with Carrowmore folk aboard the two rafts. Oobl descended the hill more cautiously and spotted three figures launching canoes and rowing upriver. She called out to one of them - a mosling, by the look of it - and was nearly shot from nearly five hundred feet away.

Session 08 XP 

Feat of exploration 

• You learned new lore about the Optical God
• In Session 06, you already gained points for suspecting Tzani — now a top-up for following through and unmasking her.
• Using the church as a fortified camp and choosing carefully who would mount guard, you mitigated the sleep denial tactics of your enemies.
• You devised and executed the fake-boat stratagem, allowing you to reach the Crows’ camp undetected.
• You freed the Crows’ victims and learned valuable information about the group.
• Your dog learned to recognize the scent of the Crows. 

Opponents Defeated 

• 9 Zombies
• Zolushika von der Linth 

Treasure Recovered 

• Zolushika’s staff
• Her personal belongings 

Totals

• Melysee gains 1859 XP and reaches 9590 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 4 
• Oobl gains 1859 XP and reaches 9359 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 4 
• Clement gains 1859 XP and reaches 8821 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 4 
• Fiona gains 930 XP and reaches 4813 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Fenrich gains 930 XP and reaches 4813 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Tomkin gains 1859 XP and reaches 4114 XP; they have 82% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3 
• North gains 1859 XP and reaches 8552 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Tzani gains 465 XP and reaches 1402 XP; they have 56% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Finn gains 465 XP and reaches 902 XP; they have 51% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Albert gains 1859 XP and reaches 5067 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Selminimum gains 930 XP and reaches 2534 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2 
• Each of the 2 dogs gains 465 XP and reaches 1267 XP

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 07

Session 07
Tuesday the 2nd, from 10.20 to 15.30

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Ash - North, Level 1 Elf
• Deryn - Oobl, Level 2 Mossling
• Freddy - Trunchkin, Level 2 Friar
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 3 Human Knight
• Peter - Romeo, Level 1 Grimalkin
• Ythan - Clement, Level 3 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 0 Enchanter
• Retainer - Tzani, Level 1 Mage
• Retainer - Curtis, Level 0 Torchbearer
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 1 Friar

Three meters Pike

The Fool’s Duel

The session opened with Rem Koolhaüs and Ruskin Behaviour hurling insults and spells at one another while standing on an unseen submerged bridge. Nearby, the Megpies tried to warn them of a three-meter pike circling below, but their calls only distracted Rem.

Ruskin seized the moment and put him to sleep with a spell. Rem’s plump body floated helplessly on the water, soon to become fish food—if not for Romeo, who boldly leapt atop the monstrous pike, trying to ride it and lull it to sleep using Clement’s fey flower. The stunt was daring but disastrous: the pike dove beneath the surface, threw Romeo off, and devoured him in a single bite -before succumbing to magical slumber itself. Ruskin fled the scene by canoe, while Albert, a woodgrue in Rem’s employ, joined the party.

Romeo riding the Pike - this is art from Ythan and not from DCO

The Magpies recovered the enormous, slumbering fish, slaughtered it and preserved it with clerical magic. They discovered a magical sword within its belly. Meanwhile, North looted Rem’s belongings (his magic book, two scrolls, and some gold), tricking him into believing Ruskin was the culprit. 

Church and Toads 

Continuing their journey, the Magpies spotted a leaning church, surrounded by bloated, carnivorous frogs. At the same time, they noticed a floating log in the river with what looked like children stranded on top. The group split up: Melysee, Trunchkin, Clement, and Albert approached the church, while Fiona, North, and Oobl went to investigate the log. 

At the church, Albert sneaked into the middle of the toads and started playing his banjo, forcing them to start imbibing river water that caused them to burst apart. Inside the building, they discovered the treasures of the Optical God — ten vials of clear liquid, ten sacred wafers, and a Bible of the Optical God.

The Sarcophagus of Ambatoharana 

Meanwhile, Fiona, North, and Oobl found that the “log” was in fact a sarcophagus. Two starving children were stranded atop it. After rescuing them, they broke open the sarcophagus, releasing a mummy. In the ensuing chaos, webs were spun thick across the raft, trapping everyone. Melysee and Clement joined; the mummy began to break free, and the group capsized the raft, destroying the creature as the water reduced it to pulp. 

Fiona rescued the children, Oobl recovered a mask and a strange key from the remains of the mummy, and Clement dove in to save North but was saved by Melysee, who eventually pulled him out of the water after discovering that his newly acquired sword made him impervious to fear. North narrowly survived by casting Levitate from a stolen scroll, floating above the scene. From that vantage point, they spotted notable landmarks nearby: 

• A thicket of trees
• A gigantic pine
• A windmill
• A camp on the hills
• And a large shape upriver 

Conclusion 

The party regrouped, built a makeshift raft, and sent Rem and the rescued children back to Carrowmore - along with two-thirds of the preserved fish. After the Magpies hid the mummy’s mask, along with Rem’s stolen gold and spell book, near the Church of the Optical God, they intended to recover them on their return journey. 

Obituaries

Romeo, a centuries-old grimalkin, was devoured by a three-meter pike while attempting to ride it. He exacted his vengeance upon the fiendish fish by lulling it into a deep slumber, allowing the rest of the party to turn it into sushi.

Session 07 XP 

Between the loot, the enemy destroyed, and the great feats of exploration, this session, you really made a lot of XP! 

Selminimum Tem — Friar of the Optical Good is now a full retainer with a standard 1/2 share. 

You have 2 dogs. I heard some of you would like to assign dogs XP and make them progress. 

Feats of exploration

• 3 locations explored (Fools, Sarcophagus and Church)
• You completed the quest related to reaching the Church
• The whole "riding the pike and making it sleep" was a very risky manoeuvre. I like the boldness of it. RIP Romeo.
• The Woodgrue music was exactly the right tool for the toad's job. Well done. 
• Checking the fish gut for loot was a good call. 
• Capsizing the boat to dissolve the spiderweb was a good move. 
• Clement discovered a magical effect of the Sword (immunity from fear)
• Using levitate at that very moment saved North beckon - and gave them the chance of having a good look around. 
• The grappling hook is used as a sinker and a line. Loved it. 

Opponents defeated

• Three meters Pike 
• Mummy of Ambatoharana 
• 9 Giant toads 

Treasure recovered

• Mask of Ambatoharana (3.000 gg) 
• 33 gg 
• Spell Book (8.000 gg)

Totals

• Melysee gains 3208 XP and reaches 7731 XP; they have 71% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• Trunchkin gains 3208 XP and reaches 5969 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Oobl gains 3208 XP and reaches 7500 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3 
• Clement gains 3208 XP and reaches 6962 XP; they have 98% of the necessary XP to progress to level 4 
• North gains 3208 XP and reaches 6693 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2 
• Albert gains 3208 XP and reaches 3208 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2 
• Fiona gains 1604 XP and reaches 3883 XP; they have 94% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3 
• Fenrich gains 1604 XP and reaches 3883 XP; they have 94% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3 
• Finn gains 802 XP and reaches 937 XP; LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 1 
• Tzani gains 802 XP and reaches 937 XP; they have 37% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Selminimum gains 1604 XP and reaches 1604 XP; they have 91% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2 
• Each of the 2 dogs gains 802 XP and reaches 802 XP

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 06

Session 06
Monday the 1st, from 17.00 to 24.00
Tuesday the 2nd, from 00.00 to 10.20

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Ash - North, Level 1 Elf
• Deryn - Oobl, Level 2 Mossling
• Freddy - Trunchkin, Level 2 Friar
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 2 Human Knight
• Peter - Sahra, Level 2 Human Mage

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 0 Enchanter
• Retainer - Tzani, Level 1 Mage
• Retainer - Curtis, Level 0 Torchbearer
• Retainer - Selminimum, Level 1 Friar
• Retainer - Wit, Level 1 Thief

Echo & Hoolloch By Frosen from the Crows

Monday, the 1st

The party officially named itself the Magpies. In their honour, Mayor Stary Hrad hosted a feast, which the entirety of the group gladly attended. Meanwhile, Selminimum, the friar of the Optical Good, was sent to check on Tham Ruesie, bishop of this peculiar branch of the Pluritine faith.

Tzani, ever the scholar, completed a map of Lock Valley as it was before the flood. She later introduced the party to Echo, a scout of the Eagles. Echo, claiming a desire to defect from the Eagles, offered to help ambush them before they could leave Carrowmore. The Magpies accepted the proposal.

The Eagles

The Magpies attacked the tavern where the Eagles were feasting, managed to slay two of the retainers, leaving Alfredo unconscious and forcing The Durmitor, Veshtoroc and their last retainer to flee. Several civilians were killed in the crossfire. But, during the fight, Echo showed her true colours - revealing herself to be a member of the Crows - and betrayed the group; this was all a setup!

The building was set on fire, zombies stormed the front, while the back door was nailed shut. In the confusion, Sahra the Mage and Wit the retainer were backstabbed and killed. Despite the ambush, the Magpies escaped through the back door, opened by a knock spell, though they failed to capture the flying Crows. The party later rested aboard the Latipan, “Snail Shell”, Zarathusa’s ship, enjoying a rare, uneventful night. Romeo the grimalkin joined the group.

The following day, the Magpies re-joined with their remaining retainers and revisited the site of the battle — only to discover that all the corpses were gone. No loot was recovered.

They then rowed north, ascending the Lock River using a raft and a lifeboat. The session concluded at 10:20 a.m. (in-game time), when the party spotted two figures standing atop the water, shouting insults at one another. Tzani recognised them as Rem Koolhaüs and Ruskin Behaviour, two mages from her collective — known for their mutual dislike.

Tzani's Map - this is NOT art from DCO

Obituaries

Sahra the Mage was backstabbed by Holloch By Frosens in a dark alley, moments after the Crows’ betrayal. Her body despaired without a trace.

Wit Tamdoun, the 13-year-old thief and functional alcoholic who joined the Magpies at their arrival in Carrowmore, was backstabbed by Echo By Frosens. His body despaired without a trace.

Session 06 XP

In this calculation, I adopt the motion proposed by Ash and seconded by Peter of assigning Finn a 1/4 share - I consider him as a level 0 Enchanter, needing 500 XP to reach level 1. If the majority of the group does not want to give Finn a share, we can change this next session.

Feats of exploration

• You fell for the ambush, but you were quite fast in understanding what was going on.
• Connecting the Crows sharpshooter with the previously encountered sharpshooter shows attention and good memory.
• Deciding to run was a very good call.
• Remembering that you have the knock spell and using it at the right time was vital for your survival.
• Choosing a safe place to sleep was a good move after the ambush.
• Conjectures over Tzani's allegiances are not necessarily true but definitely interesting.

Opponents defeated

• The Eagles
• 10 Zombies

Treasure recovered

• None

Totals

• Melysee gains 538 XP and reaches 4523 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3
• Trunchkin gains 538 XP and reaches 2761 XP; they have 57% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3
• Oobl gains 538 XP and reaches 4292 XP; they have 95% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3 
• North gains 538 XP and reaches 3485 XP; they have 99% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2
• Romeo gains 538 XP and reaches 538 XP; they have 21% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2
• Fiona gains 269 XP and reaches 2279 XP; they have 13% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3
• Fenrich gains 269 XP and reaches 2279 XP; they have 13% of the necessary XP to progress to level 3
• Tzani gains 135 XP and reaches 135 XP; they have 5% of the necessary XP to progress to level 2
• Finn gains 135 XP and reaches 135 XP; they have 27% of the necessary XP to progress to level 1

Deep Carbon Observatory adventure log - Session 05

Session 05
Monday the 1st, from 8.00 to 17.00

Player characters and Retainers present at the beginning of the session:

• Ash - North, Level 1 Elf
• Deryn - Oobl, Level 2 Mossling
• Marcus - Melysee, Level 2 Human Knight
• Peter - Sahra, Level 2 Human Mage
• Ythan - Clement, Level 2 Human Enchanter

• Retainer - Fiona, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Fenrich, Level 1 Fighter
• Retainer - Finn, Level 0 Torchbearer
  
  

Tham Ruesie, bishop of the Optical good

The party arrived in Carrowmore in the aftermath of a devastating flood. Water to the waist. Refugees streaming away. Drowned people and livestock floating past. The central gridwork twisted into rambling warrens. In the north sky, a huge column of water vapour rising. The adventurers accepted several quests and recruited new companions.

They were honest with some - but others were robbed and tricked into serving for a meagre wage. The Seekers won the favour of the locals by saving schoolchildren and preventing a clash between the citizens and the sailors of the Latipan.

They also learned that not all bodies in the current were fresh - some were old, mummified corpses, appearing seemingly from nowhere, each with strange coins in their mouths.

The group discovered and confronted a conspiracy of cannibals from the hamlet of Pollnagollum, who worship someone - or something -called the Mother.

A small child from the same hamlet shared with them a few fragments of obscure knowledge. They established friendly relations with the Church of the Optical God, an ancient and peculiar branch of the Pluritine faith. The clergy seem to know something of the strange happenings in the north.

But not everyone could be saved. Desperate men drowned themselves; others were crushed beneath collapsing buildings; and a child, after failing to steal some scrolls from a scholar, was shot dead by a mysterious sniper armed with a crossbow.

Finally, the Seekers faced the Eagles and their retainers - a proud band of adventurers preparing their own expedition north - and intimidated them out of Carrowmore’s centre, winning the sympathy of the Mayor in the process.

Lore

From a kid from Pollnagollum that you saved from a raft:

“There was a bad old woman who lived in the corn.
Only children knew that she was real.
She had seven souls and couldn’t die the same way twice.
So all the children poisoned her.
Then they stabbed her and smashed her and sliced her
and burnt her and drowned her.
And then they threw her in the well.
Thats Six And Seven Makes All..”

From a scroll found inside Tzani Spilios' bag

Above the golems path,
where stone meets stone,
seek the door that is not.


Local geography

The town of Carrowmore rests at the base of a V-shaped valley, where the land narrows between steep cliffs rising to the east and west. To the south, the valley opens onto the sea, while to the north, it stretches inland toward the hamlets of Pollnacrom and Pollnagollum. The River Lock winds through the glen, flowing south from the dam that once held back Reed Lake, passing through Carrowmore before emptying into the sea.


Open quests:

• Bring the body of Sorla Ghyll to her tomb (Curtis Ghyll).
• Accompany Selminimum Tem to the old church (Selminimum Teml). 
• Discover what happened to the dam and neutralise any threat to the city of Carrowmore (300gg - Mayor Stary Hrad).
• Map the area - minimum between Carrowmore and the dam, an extra if you go after the dam (500gg - Captain “Snail Shell” Zarathusa).

Session 05 XP

Feats of exploration:

• Badly weakened the cannibal faction (collapsing the roof of the black cellar).
• Discovered lore about the Mother of Pollnagollum and the Church of the Optical God.
• Winn favour with Carrowmore townsfolk (finding a home for the stranded class), the Mayor Stary Hrad (repelling the Eagle) and Captain “Snail Shell” Zarathusa (Saving Max and preventing a clash between the sailors and the townsfolk).
• Recruited many folks.

Opponents defeated:

• Uli Guria and his crew were scattered.
• Terbil Tem was knifed and burned.
• The black cellar had collapsed over much of the Cannibal Conspiracy.

Treasure recovered:

• A golden coin of weird design (10gg),
• Scrolls, SO MANY SCROLLS! (5.000gg total)

Totals:

• Melysee gains 1262 XP and reaches 3985 XP; they have 77% of the necessary XP to ascend to level 3
• Sahra gains 1262 XP and reaches 4555 XP; they have 82% of the necessary XP to ascend to level 3
• Clement gains 1262 XP and reaches 3754 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 3
• Oobl gains 1262 XP and reaches 3754 XP; they have 70% of the necessary XP to ascend to level 3
• North gains 1262 XP and reaches 2947 XP; they have 84% of the necessary XP to ascend to level 2
• Fiona gains 631 XP and reaches 2010 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2
• Fenrich gains 631 XP and reaches 2010 XP. LEVEL UP! Character ascended to level 2

The new Retainers' expenses in terms of treasure and XP will be calculated from the next session.

Retainers

Let's try to summarise all the retainers, assistants, companions and random nobodies who have joined the crew:

Curtis Ghyll is dragging the body of his wife, the fortune teller Sorla Ghyll. You promised you would help him reach the cemetery up north. He does not need to be paid; he does not take a share of your XP. He can carry some stuff for you, but can not fight. He can give accurate information on how to reach the cemetery.

Selminimum Tem is a friar of the optical Good - a different denomination of the Pluritine church. You promised to bring him to the old church up north to look for survivors. He can fight (not very effectively) and cast spells, but he will not require payment or XP sharing as long as you are bringing him to the church, as promised. If he continues to travel with the group after that, you will need to renegotiate things.

Wit Tamdoun is a cheeky, amoral scamp, 13 years old. He is brave, competent, deeply anti-authoritarian and a high-functioning alcoholic. He is a companion. Treat him as a thief who has put all his skill in SLEIGHT OF HAND and SNEAK, and can back-stab very effectively. You are not exactly paying him, but coins vanish mysteriously when he is around. He takes a 1/4 of a share of loot and XP.

Tzani Spilios is a magician, scholar and explorer. This bookish lass can read and speak the language of the dam-builders (Laxian) and the Reed-People. Not an effective fighter. She knows the area and the town. You negotiated a 1/4 of a share of loot and XP, and she is salty about that.

Fiona, Fenrich & Finn followed you from your previous adventure. The two older siblings are effective fighters, while the small one is slowly learning to become an enchanter. The rate has not changed: you negotiate 1/2 share for both of the old siblings and 1gg/day for the young one. If Fill will become a proper Enchanter, this contract may have to change.

In total, you are paying 1 and 1/2 shares to your retainers +1 gg/day. I just noticed that you are above your retainer cap of 5 (4 + the higher charisma bonus between the party) - next session, you may choose to abandon some of them, or, if you keep them all, I will assign a loyalty penalty if you find yourself in a situation where retainers may desert you.