Time Cellist Kickstarter

Please take a look at this wonderful game Kickstarter and consider throwing some money their way.  Todd is a player in my LMoP game and is a wonderfully creative and smart guy.  It's a great game and he deserves all the support we can muster.

Time Cellist

Character Profile: Virgil Zell

Virgil Zell was born the third of three brothers.  His small family lived in a small nondescript port city.  The family business revolved around supplying fishermen with bait and basic sailing supplies.  Illness struck the town, taking a deathly toll on the already small population.  A casualty of the illness was Virgil’s father.  This left Virgil’s mom and three sons to maintain the shop.  The boys would go out and collect bait while Mrs. Zell stayed behind.  The family came together in this time of need and grew very close.
Another family business competing with the Zell business made a move in an attempt to eliminate competitors.  The Acco family’s eldest son Titus visited Mrs. Zell one day while the boys were out gathering bait.  Titus Acco threatened Mrs. Zell with violence if she didn’t get out of town.  Virgil came by and saw Titus attempting to shake down his mom.  Rage engulfed his mind as Virgil came out swinging at Titus.  He struck a lucky blow square to Titus’ nose.  Blood erupted and sent Titus spiraling backwards over a crate and onto a gaffing hook.  A cough and wheeze from Titus were the last sounds to escape his lips.
Panic set in.  The Acco family wasn't necessarily rich but did have some influence with the town constable.  Shortly the constable did arrive at the shop where the Zell family feverishly pled their case.  The Acco head of family came over to see what was taking his son Titus so long and came across the scene.  He expressed outrage over such a horrific act and demanded immediate justice.  The constable sided with the Acco family and gave two options.  Jail or exile.  There really wasn’t much choice in the matter.
Virgil said some quick goodbyes to his family and left.  He ended up boarding a ship that was just heading out to sea.  The bo’s’n saw some potential in Virgil and put him to work caring for the rigging.  Sadness for his exile mixed with relief that the Acco family would think twice before messing with his family occupied Virgil’s mind.  Fortunately shipboard duties occupied most of Virgil’s time.  Anxious to keep his mind clear, he dove into this new career taking in all he could.
Word got around about the circumstances leading to Virgil coming on board.  The crew pressed for the true story.  One sailor declared Virgil a liar and said he was only trying to spread rumors about his fighting prowess.  Virgil confronted the sailor.  A fight erupted, leading to Virgil being knocked out.  A splash of water woke him up.  Virgil got his faculties about him and was met with a grim face staring at him.  That grim face belonged to the bo’s’n.  The next port of call saw Virgil being ejected from the ship for being a troublemaker.
Feeling empty and lost and needing someplace to go, a dark figure presented himself.  He introduced himself as Lawrence “Weevil” Goff.  Weevil talked up the ship he served on.  The ship was named the Dark Durge.  Virgil figured he best grab this offer before word got out from the crew of his last ship.  He and Weevil found their way through town and came to the docks.  There was moored the Dark Durge.  It was indeed a dark ship, nearly black in color from stem to stern.  Even the sails were black as a moonless sky.  Stepping aboard, Weevil made the introductions all around.  Virgil set to work to prepare for casting off the next morning.
As the last crate was brought on board and stowed, a mob flowed onto the docks.  Illuminated by torchlight, the mob made its way to the Durge’s gangway.  A large man, armed and armored yelled out for Errol Ledger to come forward.  Virgil and the rest of the crew looked dockside to see the mob.  The large man continued with his demand to have Ledger give himself up or else.  The captain sauntered to the top of the gangway and gave his answer.
A cannon volley belched forth a series of shots, obliterating the dock and most of the mob.  Having been set free of the docking cleats, the order was given to get underway posthaste.  So began Virgil’s career as a pirate.
Virgil learned the ropes as a privateer during the following years.  He learned navigation, sailing, seamanship, rope use, sword fighting, sea tactics and strategy as well as the pirate code.  Virgil fell in with the crew, filling the hole that was left when exiled from his town and family.
One fateful night, the Dark Durge came under fire.  Virgil was knocked off the deck during the battle.  He swam to the nearest shore and promptly collapsed.  The next morning he woke up and looked around.  There was a smattering of flotsam in the water but no sign of the battle.  Virgil gathered himself up and made his way to the nearest city.  Not knowing the fate of the Dark Durge, he gambled his way into enough money to outfit himself.  Ready to go see more of the world while also hoping he would see his crewmates again, he set out for the next adventure.

Stage Five...Acceptance.

I've been looking at all the memes coming out about the Seahawk loss and, for the most part, I find them cruel and heartless.  Of course I do, I'm a 'Hawk fan and we lost.  However, this meme struck me as particularly funny.  Maybe I'm feeling better or maybe it just tickled my geeky funny bone, but I wanted to share it.

Yeah, I must be feeling better.  Go 'Hawks!

My Heart is Breaking.

Richard Sherman's face represents the reaction of every Seahawk's fan in the world after that now notorious play call at the end of the game.  We had that game won if only we'd followed the cardinal rule of Seahawk football:  Feed the Beast!

I'm truly heartbroken by what happened, but I'm a Seahawk's fan for life, have been since the beginning of the franchise in 1976.

Thank you, Seahawks, for a great run.  See you...

Next year....

Zook's Adventure Log

Adventure Day 1.

[Personal]
On Gundren's request, I met the others he had hired in the shops district.  Quite early in the morning, I might add.  I normally am in bed at this time, having retired only hours beforehand.  However, I strummed as I walked along, to keep my spirits up, and perhaps to invade the dreams of those still asleep with a gentle melody.  I could not help but think of the old hero Janil, and the early morning start he got on his epic quest.  On arriving I could see that the company Gundren assembled was not full of mere guards and mercenaries.  No, these were true Adventurers. Some looked quite seasoned.

First there was Virgil.  A rather mute human who looked and smelled as if he had just crawled up from the sea.  However he did look formidable, the sword at his side appeared well used.  Also, having already arrived was an impressively armored half-orc. I had not known their kind to look as polished as him.  I did not catch his real name, because when I asked he offered "No One."  I do not know if he was being poetic, or really did not have any name.  It certainly will not do for songs and stories, so I must find him a name soon.  A lithe elf soon arrived, smelling of the deep forest, branches still adorning his hair.  Elalanil hailed from his forestlands, saying he was here on the behest of his order, the Emerald Enclave.  I suspect he is one of those Druids from the old tales.  Keepers of the forest, protectors of nature's balance.  I suspect he might provide a good tale or two.  The final arrival of our new party was Jatambe.  The Chultan are a very rare sight, even in a port town.  He had the air of a learned magic user and seemed to know Virgil quite well already.

As everyone gathered, Gundren rode up a pony fit for a dwarf of his stature, accompanied by his business associate, Sildar.  We were tasked to buy and transport an array of supplies to a town a few days south by the name of Phandalin.  Though he didn't say, it appeared that the supplies were for a mining operation.  As we gathered up the list (at a good discount, thanks to some very thrifty shopping by myself and No One), we also gathered rumors on the road, and it sounded quite dangerous.  I am glad Gundren hired such seasoned warriors.

The first day on the road was unimaginably boring, so I regaled my companions with songs and tales of Janil, seeing as he was on my mind.  Never have I played to such an ungrateful crowd.

Adventure Day 2.

[Story Narrative]
Two horses lay lifeless in the path ahead, while goblins lay in wait in the trees lining the path.  Elalandril took it upon himself to go ahead of the group, and glean any information he could from the carrion crows flocking to the corpses, fully unaware of the goblins ready to strike.  Strike they did.  Gundren's Heroes [note: need better name] struck back, with more force, slaying one of the beasts and capturing three others.  Interrogating the goblins informed our heroes that their employer and his human companion had been captured. Sildar taken to be eaten by the clan, Gundren to be given to a Bandit chief.  The adventurers pursued the goblins to their clanhold, a small cave to the north. Virgil lept a river, and into the middle of two guards, catching them unaware.  With an expertly aimed shot from No One's crossbow, and Virgil's sword, the guards were soon floating down the creek.  The party continued into the cave in search of Sildar.  Soon they found the kitchen, Sildar unconscious and bound. Goblins attacked with swords and shields, spoons and forks, but their untrained tactics were no match for Gundren's Heroes.

Sildar explained the business he and Gundren had undertaken. Gundren had found a way back into the fabled Wave Echo Cave, thought lost to time in the last age. Gundren was taken to the bandit chief, Grol, so the factions of chaos and disarray could gain what power may lay in, and overthrow the civilized folk of the region.

[Personal]
As we sit here and rest, I worry for Gundren, and whose hands he has fallen into.  I also worry he has started something beyond his ability to control.  My people also have tales of the Wave Echo Cave, and while the wealth inside could be a boon to a great many people, it is perhaps best left to history.  On the other hand, oh what treasures could be inside!  And finding it!  Oh, we would be heroes for the ages! 

DM's Note - An excellent recap of the night's events by Nick, who earns his character an Inspiration, which stacks with the  Inspiration earned in-game.  Well done, Nick!  Remember players, someone can still earn an Inspiration by offering a comprehensive recap before our next game.

A Quick Character Background Creator...with attitude!

I found this comical, if not exactly safe for work.  I'm posting this here for one of my players who can't make up his mind about anything.  You know who you are!

Background Generator

Character Profile: Jatambe Kwazeel

Jatambe Kwazeel was born in the Chultan city of Mezro. He would have ended up just another thief if he hand't been found to have arcane talent by a wizard-hunter at a young age. His parents were overjoyed and helped him to attend the college of wizardry for several years and during this time he also found he had a penchant for roguish activities, with daring thefts of valuables and women's hearts.

Soon after graduating as a full wizard Jatambe was forced to leave Mezro hastily. The local law enforcement was about to catch up to him for an illicit job he had just pulled on a corrupt official. So before he was found and branded an outcast, Jatambe found his way to a pirate ship bound for northern waters where he met, and became close friends with Virgil.

Arriving in the northern port of Waterdeep he was soon picked out by a local thieves guild, allied with the pirates he had escaped Chult with, and forced to join. The other option not being overly pleasant in his opinion. He found he enjoyed most of the work, but some of the work was morally objectionable, so he found an excuse to leave with the help of one of his friends.

He now owes his guild-mate Grigor a debt for setting up his new position as a freelance thief of the guild, able to go about and do as he pleases. As long as he sends back a small fee every month or so, of course. He also tries to repay his parents with what little he can send back home to Chult.

He has a sharp mind and a love of freedom in all forms. Including freeing those he feels have more than they need of their valuables. His clever tongue can sometimes get away from him, but he is able to use it to his benefit as well. His biggest flaws are a great thirst for riches and magical knowledge, as well as his overbearing ideal for freedom.