Volume 4 Number 2
Hello Cutter,
Looking for a new skiv?
Maybe to bite your enemies at a distance? What about tales of Planewalkers
in what is sometimes considered the most dangerous plane of all, the prime
material? All this, plus more, will ye find in this, the Planescape
Notes (I like the title, it's like trying to take in the entire landscape
that is the plans, yet it is just notes. Kinda fun, I think)!
I. Role Call
This is where we meet the
heros of Yogi's Cornell campaign, affectionately known as the Tagalong
Game. This is also correcting the errors from the last edition.
Hey. mistakes happen! We'll go by seniority...
Teb - Talkative halfling
with a gem stuck in his head and quip on his lips. Played by Rob
(R-Bradshaw@cornell-iowa.edu).
Melane - Beautiful woman
with an axe and a universe to test it against. Played by Marie (redkestral@juno.com)
Glaradrin - Everyone's favorite
Man in a Dark Cloak who Sits in Corners and Glowers. NPC.
Xandar - Quick spoken elven
bard who loves to play with his magic. Played by Nick
(N-Bittle@cornell-iowa.edu).
Morningstar - Human ex-bodyguard
with an introspective eye. Played by Dan
(d-blackwell@cornell-iowa.edu).
AJ - Ex-gladiator looking
to enjoy his life of freedom. Played by Phil
(P-Armellino@conell-iowa.edu).
Quell'Ath - Human raised
elf who is interested in his roots. Played by Tommy
(White_Mage_256@hotmail.com).
Ed - Priest of Athena fascinated
by her war aspect. Played by Kautzmicoo (proximar2@hotmail.com)
II. Where was I?
This is for comparison for
Yogi's other campaigns. This is the year Hashkar 126 (for those on
Sigilian calendars), approximately 6 months after the completion of the
Great Modron March, and about two and a half years since the original swallowing
of Plague-Mort. For those keeping track, that is about four and a
half since a certain elf and his party first accidentally used rotten pomegranates
to go to Baator... Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?
III. When we last saw our heros...
This journal follows up
out last, as our heros had just met each other. They crossed a chasm,
and fought back the unthinking undead. However, this was far from
the end of it...
According to the directions
the primes had with them, they were to go forward through the next three
intersections, turn as the tunnel made a sharp right, go through the following
room, and then find the stone. Then they were to go left, right,
left, right, and activate the portal to the correct city. Little
did they know how long this would actually be...
Progressing forward, they
found a six way intersection, with three paths going upwards and three
going downward (plus a ten foot wide hole in the ceiling). The forward
one went up and straight (initially), then it continued to wind around,
and in a twisting dizziness that had the characters not exactly sure what
direction (N, S, E, or W) they were going. Suddenly, A.J., having
taken point, suddenly was swallowed into the cave floor, they heard him
yell as he fell, and then hit the ground. After a little investigation,
they found the floor ahead was just an illusion. After using various
lengths of rope, it was discovered that A.J. actually fell down a greased
passageway, coming out a hole about 10' wide in the ceiling, and landed
on an intersection of six tunnels together, three going upward and three
going downward (sound familiar?).
The group worked their way
down, and the headed down the one tunnel that was going up and the dust
had been disturbed (bad sign already). As they climbed a very familiar
tunnel, Teb decided to leave a copper piece in the tunnel, just as a marker.
They got to the same point where the illusion was, disbelieved, and found
there to be an illusion again. Heavens, even the stalagmites and
stalactites were the same as before. However, the group still went
down the greasy tunnel.
Guess what? They got
to the bottom, and found that the tunnel ended by dumping them into a room
with a hole in the ceiling and six exit tunnels. The heroes were
more than a little worried about the validity of their directions.
However, they felt a little better when the passage they went down looked
identical, but did not have Teb's copper piece (they expected it this time,
though as they also found none of the passages with dust disturbed when
they looked). The passage started taking a different path.
They was much happiness.
Of course, the gods always
know when happiness is too much. They found the right turn, and turned
to face two floating undead moving toward them (misidentified as Wraiths,
much to delight of the "gods"). After a brief battle (highlighted
by a draining of Teb, the cowardice of many group members (including Morningstar
and Quell'Ath), and a failed backstab, the spirits were dispatched.
Next the group entered a
square chamber with solid suits of plate armor in each corner (each with
a number engraved into the breast plate), and a code question in the stone
at the far end of the room. They pushed in the correct stones to
solve the question, and a second riddle showed up in it's place.
However, let's just say they had a little trouble with this one (the suits
of armor kept coming alive, being destroyed in the ensuing battle, and
reforming in their previous positions), and the following fights we highlighted
by much damage coming from A.J., Glaradrin despatching one nicely, 1 well
used and about 4 failing dispel magics, and big fisted golems cause major
damage. They got lucky and finally got past the second puzzle, and
entered the crypt room.
In that room, they found
a mummy in a casket, protected by a stasis/force field, and a suit of armor
with great helm and a long sword over it's back, and in it's hands, the
large stone they could only guess they were looking for. Expecting
a trap, Teb coated the top of the force/stasis field with oil, so that
if it disappeared, the mummy would be covered. Then, AJ put the bag
over the stone and took it as Xandar took the sword and Glaradrin took
the helmet. The suit of armor fell into it's pieces (it wasn't solid
like the others), and the field disappeared around the mummy, so a very
oily mummy rose from the casket. He was summarily lit on fire by
Teb (with more Greek fire to add to the boom), and Xandar, being drawn
by the new sword, yet repelled at the same time, attacked it. After
getting a bit singed, Xandar stuck the killing blow with the new sword,
and there was an explosion of light as the now suddenly non-flaming mummy
was sucked into it's black blade. Following the explosion, the blade
was polished silver hilt and white blade, which had expanded and flattened.
The now bastard sword apparently had it's curse lifted.
From here it was an easy
jaunt to the portal to "the city" of the prime's employer. They activated
the portal and all jumped through.
They appeared in the middle
of a heavy rain storm. However, as they walked through the streets,
they saw being beyond explanation. Devils, demons, angels, and other
things unnamed walked the same streets with the humans and demi-humans
they knew. The primes (Quell'Ath, AJ, Morningstar, and Ed) were stunned.
The others seem unfazed (except they didn't necessarily like the foul smelling
rain!). They went down and found a small shop labeled "Sly Nye's
Office", and stepped inside. After being ushered by the flame-hair
secretary into an office with a being that was part man and part something
else, they were greeted by his smooth voice. This is how they finally
recognized their employer (the primes never saw him). Upon giving
him the stone in the bag, he none too softly pulled it out, went over to
a stove with a frying pan hot on it, and casually broke open the stone
like and egg. Heck, he even fried it in the pan. Then, the
opal stuff formed into the shape of a bird and started flying around the
room. Nye casually pulled out a hand crossbow and shot it while it
was over his desk. It landed and looks like a dead robin made of
opal. From here, Nye started spinning it with his finger, to his
hand away, and it kept spinning on its own, reforming into a spindle with
a disk around it. It started flying up, and Nye pointed to his head.
It started spinning around his head, with other ion stones. The group
was stunned, that is, until it came out of orbit, and made what sounded
like a "thank you" noise at them. They started to talk all at once,
as Nye abruptly moved them form the office as he paid them for a completed
mission.
At this point the planar
heroes made a decision as a group to keep the primes, as they could prove
useful (and I'm too nice to say what they wanted to keep them around for!)
They went to Jo-Ann's and got them drinks. Then they started the
slow, arduous task of teaching them the basics of the planes. Thus,
the scene closed.
IV. When we next meet...
Tagalong Game: Sunday, October
10, 1999, at 1 P.M. in the Pfeiffer Hall Main Lounge. I should be
there by noon, for those who need character work (I'll also have the experience
cards ready then!). If you want to advance before the game, get there
at least 15 minutes early.
V. Bazaar Bargins
This issue, we will focus
on a small stall that can help a planewalker as he moves around: Fletch's
Avian Aid Arrows
Fletch is a quiet but stubborn
Elven archer and Free leaguer. He makes his own arrows of high quality
He sells arrows with pretty pictures of Hawks, Eagles and Shrikes on them.
These birds are actually Totem symbols give some small enchantment to the
arrows, in tune with natural spirits. The Hawk totem adds to the
damage done by the arrow, Eagle totems help the archer's aim, and Shrike
totems add to the effective range of the enchanted arrow. The important
part is these arrows function regardless of planar ties, but do not function
upon unholy ground or places of desecrated nature. Fletch can also
inscribe the totem symbols on other missile weapons (quarrel, spear, dart
or others), but the symbols only work on the missile not the missile launcher
(bow, crossbow). The enchantment lasts until the arrow (or whatever
missile) is fired, then it's just a pretty looking missile. However,
there are a few problems with his services also. First, a prospective
buyer must submit to a test which will prove whether you have "wronged"
nature in any way recently (if you have, Fletch will not sell to you),
and you may have to visit his booth many times to catch him, as much of
his time is taken up making said totems.
VI. Jo-Ann's Bulletin Board
This is another great section.
This is the announcement board at Jo-Ann's, a planar inn located in Sigil
that is just a bit famous by now with most of the characters (especially
one who just had to swing on the chandeliers after one hit him in the head).
Here is what is up right now, starting with Jo-Ann's own original opening
and ending.
I place this board up with
yet no responsibility for what gets put on it. I make only two rules
in regards to this board. One, I want nothing promising or directly
causing violence. Two, no extreme factional screed. A little
word her or there is fine. But this ain't you soddin' podium.
Just use it to get in contact with other cutters, or spread general messages.
If not, Downbeat will make your brain-box into mush. Thanks, and
hope this is good.
Jo-Ann
That goes double from me,
plus Tokkon will want a piece of you too!
Mara
"Ribbit"
-unidentifiable scrawl
Hey cutters,
I'm looking for players interested in adding to the Yogiland website.
Any thoughts
for the expanision of the
site would be appreciated. Especially dool if you even want
to do some of the work!
Web-wise DM
Just Do It.
Transcendent Order
"EWM seeking familiar.
Must be under two feet, housebroken, and fluent in Common.
Wings a plus. Cranium
rats need not apply, as they will be laughed at, and then run
away from."
"Oh yeah, applicants please
see Athril."
-Athril
Do you want to say something clever, useful,
or just put something on the board. Then give it to the management,
and it will be posted. Or you can post it yourself. Just let
us know.
The Management
VII. Footnote
Keep safe all of you.
A planewalker doesn't always get many friends, and each of those is very
important. Never forget that, wherever you may roam (and regardless
of portal lag).
David "Yogi" Ugorek
DUgorek@hotmail.com
A way duck is troublesome to scramblespeak
great questions.
- "Sly" Nye
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