Running Stonehell aka Springtime for Orcus

On Saturday night I ran +Michael Curtis' Stonehell megadungeon. I posted to G+ saying I was interesting in running if anyone was interested in playing. I figured I'd get a couple of people with new characters, and I could run them in the upper levels, no problem.Who'd want to risk their higher level Flailsnails characters on a relatively unknown DM?

What I got was +Chris Peterson and +Kyrinn S. Eis with 4th and 5th level characters respectively.

So I guess the answer to that is Kyrinn and Chris.

I wanted to challenge them, so rather then run them through level 1 of Stonehell I pulled out the Lost Level that Michael used at a con. It's a sublevel that branches off of level 3, and it has some interesting stuff in it. However it's even more sketchy than Stonehell proper, which gives a lot of room for DM interpretation.

I took full advantage of this when I introduced an unholy book, the one that gives today's post it's title - Springtime for Orcus.

Silly?

Completely.

Did Kyrinn and Chris like it?

Seemed to.

Success?

I think so!

It's the first time I've been behind the DM's screen in many months, and it felt good!

New Monster: Arcanasite

Nimble slipped the ruby ring from the bandit king’s finger. “He was half right” he said with a crooked smile.

“About what?” Allianora asked, confused.

“He said we’d have to pry it out of his cold dead hands” Lifting the limp arm he continued “still warm.”

Rathgar chuckled as he wiped his blade clean on one of the bandit’s black and yellow checkered sash. “Where did Feris get to?”

“He was in the witch’s room” Allianora pointed “probably looking for her spell book.

Rathger sheathed his blade and walked over to the doorway. The witch’s body was still in the ruined protective circle, her blood mixed with the wax from the candles. Feris sat against the far wall, a large tome upon his lap.

“Feris, I-” Rathger froze. “What’s on your neck?”

“I’m not sure.” Feris’ voice rasped dryly. The greyish lump’s tendrils stretched from the crook of Feris’ neck up to his ear, and down under his shirt. “It feels weird though... and... I think it’s trying to talk to me.”

“Nimble! Allianora!” Rathgar barked. They rushed into the room and looked at Feris.

“Frelling-” Nimble said, as he drew his dagger and stepped toward Feris.

Feris tensed. “No-no-no-no-no! Leave it!!” he hissed, placing his hand protectively over the lump.

Allianora and Rathgar exchanged worried looks.

Arcanasites are not humanoid-centric

They're also known to appear in various sci-fi settings

Arcanasite
(unattached)
Armor Class: 9
Hit Dice: 2* (S)
Move: 30' (10')
Attacks: 1 tendril
Damage: paralysis
No. Appearing: 1 (1)
Save As: MU9
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: nil
Intelligence: 14
Alignment: Chaotic
XP Value: 25*

Monster Type: Monster, Enchanted (Rare)
These parasitic outsiders will attempt to attach to an arcane spellcaster above others, but will settle for a non-spellcaster until it can find a more suitable host. It's touch causes paralysis, allowing it to settle itself on or around the host's head. Once attached, it will begin to draw sustinance from the host. In return it will boost the spellcaster's abilities. Arcanasites are able to communicate telepathically with those within 15', and it will attempt to convince spellcasters to let it meld with them voluntarily.

An arcane spellcaster with an arcanasite attached will have an extra 2 spell slots/spell level available to them for 1st-3rd level spells, and an extra spell slot/spell level for spells of 4th-6th level. Additionally it has it's own knowledge of the arcane which it will use to assist in the creation of magical items or researching unique spells (usually a +5%-15% success rate or reduction in cost).

In return, the arcanasite will permanently drain 1 point of strength or constitution (50% chance) for every spell slot granted to the spellcaster. The host (and anyone with them) will also suffer a -2 to their reaction rolls. Additionally the arcanasite will have it's own agenda. The destruction of rival wizards is always top of their agenda. Hosts must either comply with the arcanasite's wishes or suffer a -2 to all rolls, an inability to cast spells, and even 1d2 points of damage/round for really stubborn hosts. Being both evil and intelligent, they will also allow the spellcaster to pursue their own agendas, as a happy host is a willing host. Wizards and other arcane spellcasters have a love hate relationship with Arcanasites due to the boon they offer and the price they eventually exact.

Non-spellcasters will suffer a permanent point of ability drain (con or str), the reaction roll penalty, and will be compelled to find it a more suitable host as quickly as possible.

Removal of an arcanasite requires a remove curse cast by a spellcaster at least 2 levels higher than the current host. Removing it physically is possible, but the host will suffer an equal amount of damage as the arcanasite, and must make a saving throw vs death rays or die in the process.

*Spellcaster hosts of arcanasites will have an additional * for every 2 spell slots provided by the creature.

Sunday Inspirational Image: Mercy by One Vox

Mercy by One Vox

Review: Balticon

As ever, on Memorial Day weekend, readers, writers, fans, podcasters, gamers, costumers, and fans of all stripes make the trek to Hunt Valley for Balticon, and as ever, is was a blast!

The Good:
Dr. Holtz gave the annual dinosaur update where the big topic of conversation was the evidence that T-Rex had feathers!
Rich Sternback's panel about designing for Star Trek
Compton Crook winners T.C. McCarthy (last year) and Myke Cole (this year). Both guys are fun to listen to, talk to, and watch (especially as they interact with each other on twitter).
Winning a copy of Interstellar Travel and Multi-Generational Space Ships by Yoji Kondo just by walking into the Con Suite!

Finally getting to meet John G Hemry/Jack Campbell, the author of one of my favorite military sci-fi series.
The Masquerade had some great costumes.
The Short Film Fest
Maria V. Snyder's writing workshops. I always find these so inspirational.
Getting to play San Juan, a city building card game, and the guy from the game room who showed us how to play.
The multicreatives panel:

Getting to see so many friends!
People in costume:

The Bad:
All of the stuff that conflicted with other stuff I wanted to go to
I'm always disappointed by the lack of RPGs that get played in the game room.
The XenoArchiology panel was disappointing. The basic idea was that the panelists were shown modern items, and asked to explain them as if they were archeologists from the future. The results were less than inspiring.
In spite of the pics above, it seemed like there were fewer people in costume in the halls this year.
Missing friends who couldn't make it this year.

If it seems like I'm nit-picking with The Bad, it's because there was really little to complain about!

The Ugly
There were a few instances of misogynistic behavior that were disappointing.

All in all I had a wonderful time, and I'm really looking forward to next year. The Guest of Honor is someone you might know - Brandon Sanderson, with Robert Jordan as the Ghost of Honor!

Digging up some Bones!

Look upon my recently arrived Bones! Feel the jealousy course through you...



Until you realize there are only 6, and not 240+.

It is inevitable that in a box of around 200 unique minis (there are multiples of some) there will be a few that just don't do it for you. In such cases, people are sometimes willing to part with them. In some amazing cases they don't even ask for anything in return.

Lucky for me, this was one such occasion.

Post Balticon: Short Films Review

As part of the Balticon experience, there is a short film festival on Sunday night. There were some really good films this year too. If I embedded it, it's absolutely worth watching! Below are links to the films and my ratings of each on a 1-5 scale:

The Reward - 5


Abiogenesis - 3 (link is to trailer only)
Pretty.

The Milk Run - 4
I really liked the end on this one.

The Saga of Biorn - 5
Watch this one now!


Netty Carlise and Iron Hands - 4
This one has an interesting D&D idea - a map in someone's hair!

Rollin Safari - 3.5
No real plot, but very cute.

C (299,792 km/second) - 3
Interesting premis, but desperately in need of some editing.

Luminaris - 4
Who'd have thought lightbulbs could be so interesting?

Ella - 3.5
I liked this, but it's completely missing a sci-fi/fantasy element, so I'm not sure why it was shown at Balticon.

Defining Fey - 4.5
This was fascinating, sadly this only links to the FB page for the movie.

The Titans of Newark - 5
The Greek gods meddle in the affairs of a Jersey accountant, featuring the minotaur and Calypso!

Culling - 3.5
The link only goes to a couple of pictures, not the video. In an irradiated, subterranean future world, a teenage boy finds himself having to re-evaluate his family values.

Behind - 4
Can't find a link, but this was a cute video of a little girl and her backpack

The Gate - 3
Great special effects, needed some editing

Catzilla - 3
Just what it sounds like.

Far- 4.5
I really liked this one, but this is only a link to the trailer. It's a live action short, about a very special date.

Dolls Factory - 3.5
I'd have rated this higher, but like several of the other shown, I think it needed a bit more editing.

Caldera - 2.5
Very pretty, but... I'm not really clear on what's going on.

Sleepworking - 2.5
Trailer only. Of all the movies shown this one was so very clearly student's work. It's got a very interesting premiss, but it needs some cleaning up.

Sunday Inspirational Image: Ruined Sci-Fi City

There are a lot of fantastic details that are worth clicking through for.



Image Source: Manchu