D&D 3.5 - Planescape Explorer Campaign - Game Logs

Drosst Tharn is dead and gone, but the spectre of Githyanki invasion hangs over the world of Merresentia like an evil mist.

The timely appearance of a pair of excellent knights can only be a good thing then, surely.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2010-11-18.html

The group head back to Merresentia, losing Elvanshalee in the portal and head for the underground ruins. As they explore the underground structure, something strange happens to Velenur who seems to know his way around, though everyone knows this place has been buried under a mountain for centuries. As they progress, it is clear that the group is going to have to work on their social structure, as not everyone is getting along quite as well as might be hoped. Finally, beyond a strange inscription, the group gets themselves locked into a mysterious room.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2010-11-20.html

The pool disgorged endless tiny froglings, which the party must deal with, whilst working out a puzzle to open the door. Once past this obstacle, the group encounter a second puzzle involving a collection of levers, which they solve - though not without the wholesale slaughter of a collection of innocent mephits.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2010-11-27.html

Swimming lessons appear to be in order, as most of the party play in the water with sharks. Velenur becomes increasingly agitated as the finale to these events is played out.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2010-12-29.html

After a short break, the group has a little meet up, even though most don't attend for various reasons. Emra asks the group to finish off a piece of work the guild has been working on for a while, because the scout Kryta isn't capable of doing so anymore.

They agree and set off for fun and jollies in Pandemonium.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-01.html

With the mysterious and evil prisoner gone, the group set to bickering amongst themselves over the fate of the gift that the prisoner left. With managing to come to an agreement due to some well placed mind control magic, the group continue through Pandemonium, only to find no nest of Umberhulks, yet there are umberhulks in the area!

Fleeing from a monsterous insectoid beast of immense size the group take a leap off faith lead by Ruby and it pays off, mostly. There is portal, but it doesn't quite lead where they thought it would!

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-04.html

Being captured by The Guided and handed over to the drow for a chest of gold and a mysterious glimmering gem -that seemed more important to the lovable Tyan- the group find themselves brought in front of the Matron Mother of House Daevion'lyr.

Seperated. Two tales unfold.

Tza'rok is locked away in a cell, before being visited by an Illithid that claims him as his property. Soon enough however, Tza'rok is dragged away and forced to fight in an arena before a baying crowd of drow, and of course the House Nobles, including Elvanshalee and Ruby.

Almost killed by a planted duergar assassin, he chooses to spare the life of his would-be assassin and it taken back to his cell, it's then not long before his Master, the Illithid returns to a weakened with wound Tza'rok and the proud Githzerai can do nothing as waves of psionic energy destroy his mind, his self of being and leave him with only one consideration.

The wishes of He...

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-06.html

-------

At the same time, Elvanshalee faced with her mother, tries to convince the Matron that it was all a mistake and that she still is in the favour of Lloth! Being taken on her bluff, she tries to invoke a spell in the name of Lloth, only for the truth to come out.

Dragged away by Baenith, Elvanshalee is tortured to the brink of death, then healed and again tortured. There is nothing the industrious dark elf can do about it except try to put her mind in a better place.

After being briefly dragged out to watch Tza'rok just survive a brutal arena battle, perhaps with the encouragement of Ruby,. She is then walked back to her cell by Traynaer and attempts to sow dissent with her, yet her words to Traynaer do the opposite of what she wishes and the fanatically insane younger sister flays her in ways that only Baenith wishes she could.

During a quick visit by Elvanshalee's mother -with her new exotic pet, Ruby- Ruby and Elvanshalee share a long, passionate kiss, before the amused mother leaves. Shortly afterwards, Jaan, her younger brother and a magi enters her chamber with an offer she REALLY cannot refuse.

It seems to be a busy day on death row in the prisons of House Daevion'lyr!

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-08.html

The escape is in full swing, as Tza'rok frees a disillusioned and paranoid Velenur. However with freedom in his grasp, Velenur cannot shake the demons of torture from his mind and the delay in the escape allows a drow guard to assemble outside the room. With the door opened there was hardly any chance as Velenur was hit multiple times by knockout poison.

Turning invisible with a flick, Tza'rok sneaks outside however and manages to slip through the first of the gate system. Meanwhile Sintri, the devil, had just removed Elvanshalee's attackers and after healing and equipping herself, drops the magical barrier and begins to work on the drow guards from the opposite end to Tza'rok!

Tza'rok and Dreamer make very short work of everything that lays in their path, however Elvanshalee is having a hard time until a well placed shot from Tza'rok drops one of the drow upon Elvanshalee and she takes the opportunity to dispatch the other with ease, before they know it they're both on the other side of the forcefield and the house badge is pressed, raising the barrier.

Velenur left behind.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-16.html

Taken to Ribcage by the devil-lady Sintri, the PCs quickly rush to Sigil, before retreating back to one of Ruby's old pads for some rest. After a shower, meal, change of clothes and a little nap, the group discuss their concerns for a time.

Elvanshalee naturally wants quick and bloody retribution, however Ruby and Tza'rok are a little more careful and decide to see if they can court the interest of Sir Orison.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-18.html

Ruby's digging around works and the group find themselves with an invitation, from Vin'car, on behalf of Tyan, the bastard that scragged them all on the other end of Pandemonium. Oddly, the meeting was arranged a month back, at least two weeks before the group even left for Pandemonium, thus even heard of any of these events.

The group finds it hard to agree, again and Tza'rok and Elvanshalee are polar opposites, however with Tza'rok wishing to travel to the meet, Elvanshalee has little choice.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-19.html

After the final events. Tza'rok and Ruby decide to return to the Blood and Brime the next day and sign the contract along with members of The Guided. Elvanshalee however decides that revenge is much more important.

After escaping from the bloodbath scene, Ruby and Zamael make their way through the streets of the Lower Ward. Ruby meets up with one of her trusted Informants. After being passed on information about a certain Dwarf, the two head on north and come across a street gang who block their passage and demand payment.
http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-23.html

Tza'rok and Sir Orison gather in the Society of Gentlemen Explorer's bar awaiting arrival of Ruby and she does turn up, yet with one Lieutenant Zamael in tow. They settle in and chat for a while before Ruby discloses the reason they're all meeting.

Sir Orison has a hard time coming to grips with Ruby's request and a lot of convincing has to be done, yet it doesn't really come to a satisfactory conclusion, but an agreement is made.

The group then take a short walk through the Lady's Ward, stopping across the road from a six-story persian styled mansion, most of them anyway, as Sir Orison has other ideas!

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-01-25.html

The party attend a meeting with some high-ups in the Ladies Ward. Once all are present a plan is proposed to secure the release of the famous Factor of the Revolutionary League, lest the Harmonium take advantage of their newfound time to crush the criminal element in the city.

A few new cutters are present, and it is agreed the hirelings of all the networks will work together on this task. They are taken to a secret Guvner facility where a 'Thinking Machine' will plot their route to the secret prison in Carceri where their target is enjoying the beginning of a life sentence.

The route acquired, they make the first jump of their journey, to Pluton - Third layer of The Grey Waste. On arrival, the group waste no time getting into the spirit of things by bickering incessantly about who carries what and threatening each other.

A pair of Mezzoloths are encountered, who seem content to ignore them until Endymion eyeballs em and two other PC's decide now is a good time to begin pushing and shoving each other. A quick flame strike and some 3rd degree burns later, the fiends teleport away, having better things to do than bother with this quarrelsome lot.

The party come upon the Bridge at Nepthes, a Blood War battlesite. Nesting in the cables of the bridge, a Chasme is spotted. After a short debate in earshot about how they are going to kill it, the Tanarri flies away, and soon the party are at war with four of the Greater Fiends.

Yerhan, in panic tries to leap a gap, and only succeeds in throwing himself into the Styx, dead forever. The ill judged battle goes from bad to worse until a lucky hit from Zamael and a well judged illusion from Ruby provides the party a brief respite.

The group make the north side of the Styx as the buzzing of giant flies grows louder once again...

http://mike_c.f-m.fm/Log%20-2011-02-19.html

The party stumble off the bridge, down a man and battered. Hounded by clouds insect swarms they take refuge in a strange tunnel system beneath the battlefield. The Chasme do not pursue and they give 'em the laugh for now.

Deeper in the tunnel system they come upon a trapped human woman, in some kind of gooey prison. Against the wishes of most present Tza'rok frees the female, who grateful and disoriented joins the gang.

Meanwhile the more self centered folks are unwilling to be delayed by any rescues and wander off ahead. As the party are about to meet back up a gang of summoned Rutterkin ambush the disjointed party and battle commences. The fight goes badly initially but when the group reorganise they swiftly gain the upper hand and exterminate the Tanarri, scoring the first victory of the trip.

They travel on out of the tunnel system, surfacing elsewhere to avoid the Chasme. They meet a Marraenoloth who offers to transport them to their exit point for the princely sum of 1GP. Endymion however mistakes the Greater Daemon for a bell boy and nearly gets booked for his arrogance. Eventually they are sailing on the Styx, and after a bit of Hades sightseeing they land near the exit portal and escape The Grey Waste.

On the other side they thankfully land in beautiful Elysium and all seems much much better...

http://mike_c.f-m.fm/Log%20-2011-02-25.html

The group settle into the quiet peacefulness of Elysium and take some time out to discuss murder and philosophy. They are visited by a strange star-like creature which speaks to them each individually, for some the news is better than others and Tza'rok's must be the worst, for he doesnt speak again for the rest of the night.

Later, as they begin to mix with the locals Endymion is presented with a (for most people) alluring romantic possibility, but perhaps unsurprisingly it doesnt end well for the poor girl concerned. The following morning they formalise their plans and journey to the Castle Exultant for their way to the right layer of Carceri.

A wedding party is in progress at the castle and the group meet a for-real angel for what they tumble to is the second time, and she introduces herself as Laia.

http://mikey.fastmail.us/Log%20-2011-02-28.html

The wedding at Castle Exultant continues and the characters, posing as guests go about trying to acquire the tricky gate key, it being a bride's blood.

Meanwhile a celestial 'Guardian', in fact an Astral Deva confronts Tza'rok about the evil artefact he bears. To the surprise of all, he hands the weapon over to the Angel immediately for safe keeping and eventual destruction. She thanks him for his wisdom and agrees to assist them in their efforts to get to Tarterus.

After a fairly ham-fisted attempt at getting the bride on side from Tsiena and Tza'rok, she eventually assents at the bequest of her celestial patron. Armed with the key the group bicker a while about who's going first to Carceri before Zamael gets on with it.

Once in the Red Prison they contend with hellish conditions, bombarded by bitter cold and acidic black snow. A scrawny petitioner is dispatched on the way, his offer of help unwanted, and in fairness most likely ill advised.

A few hours later the party arrive at their destination - What must be most remote and hopelessly distant Mercykiller Prison in the multiverse. After a fair amount of indecision and faffing they eventually invade it to free their target, making some heavy work of the rusty old fence on the perimeter.

http://mikey.fastmail.us/Log%20-2011-03-05.html

And following the session, an Epilogue thread where the odds and ends are tied up -

https://baatorian.rpg-board.net/t235-dd-35-planescape-red-prison-break-epilogue#2287

Tza'rok calls for a group meeting in, oddly enough, the Hall of Speakers.

Here he reveals he has the dark on a possible means to search out a fountain of youth and the party set off for Acheron, but not without witnessing something terrible before they leave.

http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-03-15.html

The party travel through Acheron on the first leg of their quest to find the fountain of Evergold. A number of discoveries are made, en route. Orcs in Acheron are not your daddy's orcs, duergar are xenphobic miserable bastards, and the sky is indeed, falling in.


http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-03-20.html

The party find their contact in Acheron and negotiate an agreement to escort him to Mechanus in return for the dark of the Evergold. As Ruby prepares to outwit the local bureaucracy, tempers begin to fray, escalating from unkind words, past a glass of water in the face and finally to drawn steel.


http://baatorian.ripz.org/Logs/Planescape%20Explorer/Log%20-2011-04-06.html