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Monthly Archives: July 2017

The Rescue of Nolan Brilliant

Crew (PCs)

Pilot: Trigger (Owen – Serran)
Science Officer and Second in Command of JC701: Emo (Steve – Deader)
Medical Officer: Ssanjan “Sam” (Ben – Saurian)
Engineer: Nolan Brilliant (Alex – Human) – Not appearing
New Security Officer: Boss Fayde (Mike B – Human)

Prologue: The Razor

Nolan fades in and out of consciousness. The last 24 hours are just a blur in his mind. He left with a group of pilgrims to find out what the Rigellians were up to on Amasses IV. They were attacked…or did they start the attack? Either way, he was knocked unconscious.

Just then, two Rigellians grab him and another pilgrim…Jonathon maybe? They take them nearby room and strap them to chairs. In their click clack language they ask a question, and almost before the translator finishes, a large claw swings out and strikes Nolan’s head. “Who is the One? What planet is he on?” Jonathon cries out, “I don’t know. I only know he’s from a highly advanced and electronic paradise!” Then it goes dark again.

Scene 1: The Opportunity

Incoming message from Colonel Jaeger:

“JCS Opportunity crew, it is with great regret that I must inform you of a catastrophic accident on Amassus IV, a Rigellian planet near your current location. The accident resulted in the deaths of all Rigellians, around thirty pilgrims, and four of JumpCorp’s best personnel, Captain Hugh Jass, Private Kaz, retiree “The Baron”, and our only Rigellian JumpCorp officer, Bugsy. According to sources, Bugsy sacrificed himself to save the planet, but unfortunately failed. As you can imagine, details are sketchy.

Although I’m sure you are all stunned and grieving at this news, I have another urgent assignment for you before you return to the station for disciplinary action. Our very own Nathan Brilliant was among the pilgrims detained prior to the explosion of Amassus IV. He was being held aboard the Razor, a Rigellian ship commanded by Captain Steveador van Bugsberg, a member of the Rigellian Alliance. While en route to JC-701 to turn over the detainees, the Razor was attacked and boarded by Rigellian Coalition forces.

It is urgent that Captain van Bugsberg, his crew, any pilgrims and our own Nathan Brilliant be rescued. Per our revised treaty with the Rigellians, any force necessary against Rigellian Coalition forces to rescue JumpCorp citizens is sanctioned. Any Alliance forces should be treated with respect and courtesy as they were acting in good faith to rescue our people. Emo, I’m giving you and your people wide latitude here. It is urgent that Nathan Brilliant be returned. Jaeger out.”

The crew scanned the system and found the location of The Razor and headed for it, making it in three hours.

Scene 2: The Razor

Captain Van Bugsberg is in the cell next to Nathan. A service bot comes in to drop off food and drink to the prisoners. “If only I had access to my service crew, I could reprogram that VI robot to slow this ship down and give us some time to take back my ship.”

Nolan figured even in his weakened state, he could probably disable the damaged robot, and successfully took it down. He then reprogrammed it to shut down the engines of The Razor.

Scene 3: The Opportunity

The Opportunity caught up to the disabled Razor and immediately targeted their weapon systems and took them offline. The Razor was already heavily damaged from the initial attack by the Coalition forces. The crew then bypassed the external air lock doors where Sam was immediately blasted by an automated gun turret. The Coalition Rigellians and the Opportunity crew fought it out with guns blazing while Nolan had the service bot release him and some of the Pilgrims, along with Capt. Van Bugsberg where they took over the security area.

Sam dropped a frag grenade (heroically?) and took out two Rigellians, the automated gun, half the internal decking and almost took himself out too! The Coalition captain tried to kill Bugsberg and failed, then Sam offered him surrender in another language, which the translator communicated to the Coalition captain. The captain accepted the surrender, and Sam then shot him. The captain didn’t die, however, and instead determined that his only choice was to fight to the death and so tragically, he did so. No valuable intelligence would be gathered from that key Coalition resource.

Once all the fighting was over, Van Bugsberg asked to be patched through to the Rigellian ambassador back on JC701, but the ambassador was actually on the Opportunity. He did not want Van Bugsberg to know he was there, though, so Nolan rigged communications to look like it was coming from the station. Unfortunately, it was patently obvious that it was coming from the Opportunity and Van Bugsberg demanded a face to face with the ambassador.

Van Bugsberg essentially accused the ambassador with being involved in his nephew’s death (which the ambassador denied) and said he’d be looking into the situation and if he found the ambassador was involved, would do everything in his power to make him pay for it.

The Razor and The Opportunity then flew off together to JC-701 for repairs on The Razor and the “Trial of the Century”.

Battle for Grong Karag – Session 1

The Dwarves

Herheth Frostshaper – Shawn
Fuvuli Cragjaw – Lee
Grufac Wraithgut – Thomas (Templeton)
Broulad Nightbringer – Ben (Templeton)
Grurhol Bluntshield – Not present

“Come young Undwar”, said the ancient dwarf. “Let me tell you the story of how Grong Karag was restored to the dwarves. It is a tale of caution and courage, of bravery and cowardice.”

“But first, how did we lose Grong Karag, you may ask. Well that is a story of avarice and vainglory. Thousands of years ago, the grand King Tanorm Moonheart, ruled over the most successful generation of dwarves in history. They were so industrious that it was said there was nothing the earth could hide from them.

King Moonheart, bragged far and wide of his dwarves’ skills. The Elves warned him of the dangers of tunneling too deep. That there are dark, evil, things deep in the earth. But King Moonheart was obsessed with digging deeper and deeper. Until he entered a demonic domain.

Once awakened, the demon Ashtaroth called upon his powers to pervert natural creatures and use them to attack the dwarves. Some say he even animated the bones of the dead to aid in the battle. King Moonheart and fully three quarters of the dwarven inhabitants perished.

Centuries later, a small group of dwarves decided to enter the halls of Grong Karag, to see what was left of their heritage and thus started the Battle for Grong Karag!”

The four young dwarves entered The Golden Anvil per their usual practice. Whilst looking for a table, they overhear that a patron in the corner is looking to engage a party for some secret mission. Fuvuli also hears stories of some strange disease that has infected some humans in one of their towns. The humans have been killing off the infected. A wise precaution Fuvoli thinks.

The strange man in the corner offers them each a chance to hold a jewel. Three of the dwarves do not notice anything special, but when Herheth touches the jewel, it speaks to him! The jewel says it’s name is Ataraxia and it tells the story of how it was once embedded in King Moonheart’s famed magical battle axe. It says that the King yet lives along with a thousand of his warriors, trapped deep beneath the deserted dwarven city. Ataraxia says it can feel that Herheth and his cohorts are exactly the right group to reach the King and release him.

The dwarves quickly agree and start out that day for the city. They find the entrance where the words “Only ye of dwarven blood may enter” on the door, which also has a face carved into it. After some unsuccessful attempts (including tripping a secret trap that informs all in the city that there are visitors at the door), Broulad suggests they put a hand in the door’s mouth, which he bravely does. And gets bit! The door, then speaks, “Ah yes, dwarven blood! You may enter!” At which point, the door releases Broulad’s hand and swings open.

The dwarves then see a statue of King Moonheart in the entry room and they notice right away that he is carrying an axe and the likeness of Ataraxia, is clearly visible in the carving.

In the next room, they are set upon by giant toads in the grand hall! Following that, they are attacked by spiders in the throne room! After choosing a door from the throne room with Ataraxia’s help, they are set upon by a large Cyclopean skeleton that raises some other skeletons from the bones around them. Meanwhile, Ataraxia warns them that water is filling the dungeon behind them. They kill off the skeletons just in time to get down the stairs to the next level as the water pours through the spiraling stairwell hole to land deep, deep in the inky darkness!