Frostgrave Campaign Game 9

Here is my latent report from our ninth Frostgrave campaign game - from two weeks ago.....

Kodak's report can be found here:  Kodak

We were short two players but we did have Chris' new tower.  For this session we decided to play a home-made scenario based around random zoo critters spawning and rampaging around the table along with The Complex Temple.


Chris' new tower

The Narrative

Before the warband moved out, Knabe promoted Daggit to Treasure Hunter.  While everyone was congratulaing him, Knabe and Vogel set about casting their pre-adventure spells.  Knabe successfully brewed a Potion of Teleportation.  Vogel failed to brew anything other than a cup of tea - and not good tea either.  Knabe successfully cast Familiar and a honey badger scurried up to him.  Reveal Secret and Summon Zombie were failed casts by both.  Things did not appear to be looking good for using magical energy today, only two successful casts out of eight.  "I have a bad feeling about this" thought Knabe.

A view of the table



A view from the other end

Vadoon's warband

Kodak's warband

Necromancer's warband

Knabe's warband

The trek through the snow covered lanes to the frozen city was uneventful.  As they approached their pre-determined search area, Knabe could detect the magical energy of his nemesis Kodak.  He also picked up a new magical force he had never noticed before.  What he didn't sense was the energy of The Doctor.  That would make things a bit easier today.  Slowly picking his way through the ruins, Knabe noticed a large rhino creature within charging distance of his warband.  He decided to try out his new spell Animal Control.  He hadn't had much time to practice the casting requirements but he couldn't let any doubt disturb his incantations.  Fortunately, he successfully cast the spell (with an 18) and the animal was now under his control (and would remain so for the rest of game, all Will rolls failed).  Knabe told the animal to head off to the right and attack anything it found on that side of the ruins.  The rhino, after trying to shake the thought from his head (failed its Will roll vs 18), trundled off looking for someone to attack.


Daggit in the tower

Daggit, full of pride at being promoted, looked around the ruins for a likely place to check for treasure.  He was determined to repay his his good fortune by recovering some gold or maybe a magic artifact.  His eyes were drawn to a strange tower that could have only belonged to some long forgotten wizard.  "That looks like a good place to search" he thought and immediately drank his Potion of Teleportation.  With a slight "poof", Daggit found himself inside the tower.  A careful search revealed what appeared to be a bolt of fine cloth and a bag of coins.  He quickly grabbed both, stuffing them into his backpack.  Peering down around the tower, he noticed several large animals roaming around; plus he could hear the twang of bows and crossbows, and the strange crackling of magic spells being cast.  Daggit decided he would hunker down in the tower until things below looked a bit safer.

Fritz cautiously moved into a hidden position near an old aqueduct bridge structure.  Peering through the chilly morning air, he spied a figure off in the distance slowly ascending up the side of the aqueduct. Taking careful aim with his enhanced crossbow, he put a bolt dead center of the person's back.  As the body fell to the ground, Fritz recognized the face of the young human girl - the same face he had saved from a frost giant a few weeks back.  Such is the fortunes of Frostgrave. Fritz hoped she survived.

Vogel, seeing a body fall from the side of the aquaduct, looked up and noticed a chest on top of the structure.  Speaking the words and weaving his hands properly, he use Telekinesis to move the chest towards a tower structure where hopefully one of his warband could retrieve it (Unfortunately the Sigilist's warband recovered it).

One of Kodak's thieves climbs up a tower to get Vogel's treasure

Knabe successfully casts Raise Zombie and sends the creature off to his right, following Speck (Snow Leopard) and the Fox (War Hound).  Knabe then gets Vogel attention, "Sent me over towards that strange column."  Vogel casts Leap on him allowing Knabe to land inside a ruin near the column.  Vogel hoped it was one of the legendary columns that contained treasure inside - like a piñata.  Meanwhile, Bobo (Bear) and Faenger (Treasure Hunter) entered the ruined building the hard way - climbing through the windows to join Knabe.

The two rangers, Legio and Pilum, both fired arrows at a nearby ostrich causing minor wounds.  Legio notched a second arrow.  Aiming well, he managed to take down the creature.  Kruger (Treasure Hunter) moves over to check out the dead bird but doesn't find anything worth keeping except a long feather which he stuck in his hat.

Knabe decides to test the rumors about the strange columns encountered in this area of Frostgrave.  He struck it once with his sword.  The statue immediately crumbled into dust, leaving behind a large bag of coins sitting atop a leather bound book.  Faenger dusted them off and placed the items in his pack.  Bobo, sniffing the air, decided to crawl out a window on the other side of the ruin.  Once outside, Bobo sees Fleck and The Fox racing towards what appeared to be a Necromancer and some of his minions.  He decides to join in the fun.

Knabe contemplates attacking a statue

In the ensuring fight with the Necromancer's band, Fleck is killed by bowman.  The Fox charges into contact with the Necromancer.  Additional fighters join in the melee and The Fox is soon stretched out on the snow covered ground.  Bobo collapses from an extremely lucky Bone Dart cast by the Necromancer's apprentice.

Bobo and Fleck lay in the snow

Meanwhile, on the left flank of the warband, Fritz fires a bolt at Vadoon.  Its a hit but it fails to drop him.  He is then set upon by Vadoon's Man-at-Arms who snuck up behind him.  Fritz is knocked unconscious by a low blow from behind.

The Zombie found itself fighting a vicious Snow Ape.  It held out for a couple rounds before being pounded back into the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Knabe spots movement on top of a distant ruined tower.  Knowing none of his warband are over there, he casts Push on the unsuspecting individual.  With the proper words and hand motions, he successfully sends a magical burst of air towards the tower.  The Push spell is remarkably successful.  The sneak thief, clutching a bag to his chest, is hurled up into the air to a great height.  He plunges down out of Knabe's sight, but not his hearing - SPLAT!!!!!  Knabe chuckles to himself as he envisions the poor fellow desperately flapping his arms all the way to the ground.  Vogel, witnessing the enire event, congratulates his Master, "Nice cast Master, the guy didn't even bounce; he just splattered all over the place."  Vogel, then being distracted by the magical feat his Master just achieved, completely misdirects his Bone Dart at one of the Necromancer's minions. 
The treasure chest was now laying up on a walkway.  Kodak's apprentice Teleported to the location only to attract with a flurry of Bone Darts, arrow and bolts. In the end, no one is able to recover that treasure item as it remains hidden under the unmoving body of Kodak's apprentice. 

An ape climbs up after Knabe - time to go!

Knabe and Vogel spend some time casting Bone Darts at the Necromancer's warband.  After having zero success, they decided to reconsider their options.  The shadows were lengthening fast.  It was time to regroup and head back to the safety of our home base.

(We managed to play through eight game turns.  The last three turns were extremely fast given that several wizards and apprentices had fled the ruins to safety).

End of game group picture with treasure and dead warband members

Knabe pondered the number of losses he sustained from his latest outing.  While the expedition had been profitable, it had also been costly.  Though granted, some of the losses could be replaced by successfully casting Summon Animal, that doesn't change the fact that members of the warband were still lost.  Pilum, Fritz, and Kruger were taken out; Kruger could not be revived.

With the warband down one member, maybe he would consider looking for the services of someone to assist with leading and training his warband in martial matters.  Then he could focus more fully on his magical studies - and the continued training of his young apprentice Vogel.

Knabe had recovered a couple of grimoires (Imp and Elemental Shield) along with a Banner of Courage and three potions (Heal, Invisibility, and Burrowing).  Total gold collected amounted to 420; added to the treasury holdings of 1185 made for a hefty sum.  Maybe it was the right time to hire an expert.


Generic action shot

Epilogue - The following evening while enjoying a drink at one of the local taverns, and recovering from being sucker-punched from behind, Fritz receives word that the young human girl had died from her injuries.  He didn't think he had hit anything critical, and she hadn't fallen that far.  She should have survived. He paused momentarily.... and raised his mug of ale in a silent tribute to the fallen girl. 

Why was this human girl's death bothering him?  He had taken down many other warbands' members over the years - plus frost giants, ice spiders, wild dogs, and many others.  He had survived combat with a wraith, been burned by a hot geyser, had beaten one of his own warband members senseless after Uhlmann had been mind controlled (saving a treasure chest in the process;  fortunately Ulhmann survived and Knabe rewarded him with a magically enhanced crossbow). what was it that was nagging him?  Was it his own mortality? "Nah, I'm a dwarf, still many years left in me."  Even so, maybe it was time to consider retiring from active adventuring.  But he had been with the wizard Knabe right from the start - and had profited well.  "Let me think on it with another pint of ale, or two - BARKEEP!"

Post game notes:
This was the most successful magic casting game I have played, if you discount the pre-game spells - 17 spells attempted, 17 successes.  However, out of nine Bone Darts successfully cast, seven failed to do any damage (I think Chris touched my dice).

At least I was able to recover four treasures as detailed above.

It was also the game where I lost the most number of warband members in this campaign: Pilum, Fritz, Kruger, Bobo (Bear), Fleck III (Snow Leopard), The Fox (War Hound), the Owl (Blood Crow), and my summoned Zombie.

Anxiously awaiting the next campaign date.....