Thanksgaming Day

 So I spent Thanksgiving with my landlords' grandkids, 6 girls and 2 boys. Left me drained physically, but it was good for my soul. I had some cute little pop dolls that I gave to the girls. Took some pics of them before I gave them out.

Every girl got 2 dolls each. I think they liked them even if they are creepy cute. Then again, Im sure they are used to creepy cute because Ive been giving them fantasy miniatures for the past 2 years. Sometimes I think the figures in my collection are too scary. There are lots of monsters in my room. But the girls seem to like the monsters. Maybe even sympathize with them like I do. I heard one of the girls say the monsters werent really bad and shouldnt be judged by their fangs and claws. Exactly my thoughts!

I love hearing the girls idea of role playing. They use the exact term. But its not rpg-ing in the gaming sense. Its the kids form of pure role playing - like girls playing "tea party".

I remember listening to them play and learned some differences in our upbringing. The girls didnt think ghosts were scary. Well, Kyra the Banshee does look nice in her fancy dress. They considered them as "honored ancestors". They would ask for advice from the honored ancestor. My landlord has a shrine with candles and pictures of their ancestors. Vietnamese hold them sacred. I guess Hindu people do the same, since one of  my "at-home" nurses last year saw the shrine and remarked about ancestor respect.

Now Im not sure if they were talking about bullying at school since I was only half listening at the time. But it did make me worried that some or at least one of the girls was being bullied. I really hope not. In the current climate of anti-Asian violence and prejudice, I fear for these girls. If I ever hear of anything more on it, I am ready to roll out with them and find these bullies and teach them a lesson!

Bella took this figure as her first choice. I really like Bella. She is 9? The first time she entered my room, she looked at all the figures and took her time, then said, "I feel like Im making memories!" What a thing for a little girl to say. Oh and she also said my room was like a museum, with my Waterhouse poster and the other art posters and so many shelves filled with figures. Oh and she likes that I keep my room so clean and that it smells nice. Did I say I like Bella? I like Bella. Oh and she likes witches and Hello Kitty.

Bella's sister is Betty. The last time I saw them was earlier this year at Lunar New Year. Betty tried to give me $20 because I always have a gift for all the kids when they come. Betty is very smart and considerate. And she showed me her artwork on her phone. She was doing still-life in charcoal. And it was not bad for a 13 year old.

Lets see... there is also Chloe and her sister Kelly. Last year, I gave Chloe a dryad and a treeman and she thought of Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. The dryad had an owl on one its branches and she thought it was cute. I also gave her some gothic ruins.

There is also a 2 and 4 year old, but they hardly come into my room and are always supervised by the older kids. They make sure they dont break anything. But seriously, all the kids even these young ones are so well behaved. Im not worried about them breaking anything. Oh there are 2 older kids I think, but they just peek in my room and dont stay. But my room is filled with kids for... 5 hours whenever they come to visit. I have to spend the next day recuperating after. Its worth it though.

Bella and Kate played Stuffed Fables and here are their characters. Stuffed Fables is a game where the kids played the stuffed animals of a sleeping girl. Protecting their little girl from monsters under the bed. During the game, Bella's Stuffie was hurt and lost stuffing. Kate wanted to go help her cousin and lend her some stuffing. She had to choose help Bella or win the game and save everyone. The difficulty of the choice was written on her face.

I ended up giving Kate the game with all the painted figures. She is a sweet little girl and she wanted to pay me $100 for the game! Of course I didnt take the money. Her dad was willing to pay it. But I told him I wouldnt hear of it. Hearing Kate thank me was worth more than money to me.

Left to Right: Rex, Kate, Bella, Ben

Here are 4 of the little rugrats. Theres another 4 girls that I wasnt able to wrangle for a photo. 

The boys end up playing Memoir '44. Ben is smart and a very good opponent. Rex is young and he ends up being on my team as the official dice roller and he takes his job very seriously. He knows rollling a grenade symbol can kill anything. Rex did say he was going to chop up his sister Kate with a chainsaw. I told him he shouldnt say that even as a joke. His sister is so nice and sweet. He shrugged his shoulders and said of course he was kidding, "Where would I even get a chainsaw!"

Oh and we also played our first game of Dungeons & Dragons. Basic D&D of course. They loved it! They were on their way to town to start their first adventure and the road goes through a forest when suddenly Rex fell into a pit trap. As Orcs arrived to see what their traps caught, Ben used his Ventriloquism spell to distract a bunch of them. Magic Missile'd another and got his cousin out of the trap. Once out, Rex used his crossbow, throwing knife, then his sword to defeat the Orcs. Of course, without my prodding, the boys looted the Orc bodies. Once they got to town, they sold the Orc weapons and armor and bought adventuring gear. Rations, rope, all the essentials... Then they went to the Inn and checked the bulletin board and listened to an old man with a pointy hat for quests. They decided to take the quest to clear out a monster lair nearby. The Caves of the Chaos! Like so many adventurers before them, the kids are discovering the dangers of the Keep on the Borderlands. Of course, my version of D&D is not theater of mind, its all there on the table complete with terrain. The boys loved building the terrain as we played. I would describe where to build a forest or hill and theyd help make it. Its just like Lego, they said, but theres dice. And Rex loves rolling dice!

~~~

So there was my Thanksgaming day...

These kids arent related to me and I only see them 3 or 4 times a year, but I am invested in them. I enjoy seeing them and hearing little bits of their lives. They are born here in America but have Asian parents. Just like me. One foot in the West and another in the East and arguably not really belonging to either. So if I had to point at "my people" I would say it was them, even if ethnically Im not Vietnamese. I dont know how they feel about me, but I think of them as my tribe.

Cheers,

Mar

Return to Tharbad, Part 3

 The finale of the Return to Tharbad...

With Karnov killing the last of the Beastmen, Lenore and knights join him and are ready to attack the western side of the Research Facility!

Lenore: *looks to Karnov* Maybe you should give the men some encouraging words?

Karnov: Remember men... Whatever doesnt kill you... really hurts bad... and makes you sick. Makes you want to do nothing. And makes you remember for a long time that it sucked.

Lenore: Are you sure those are encouraging words?

The Night Hag Esmerelda thought she could hide behind the Shoggoth and cast spells safely. When suddenly Balthazar uses his big "once per game" spell Void Rift! A swirling vortex of darkness rips thru the fabric of space time and sucks a Beastmen into the Void... and the Night Hag as well! It also damages the Shoggoth. So now the Shoggoth is down to a measly 11 wounds left.  :(

Balthazar: That Shoggoth is one tough SOB!

Shoggoth strangles and suffocates some knights and Malekith!

Malekith: Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads..."

Balthazar: Thats effin John Denver! You gotta be kidding.

Malekith: Oh no, I never kid about John Denver. I think I will sit the rest of this one out... *faints*

Balthazar: Just rest easy there buddy. Let the rest of us handle this.

King Gourd approaches the Shoggoth! We knew this had to happen didnt we? Dwarf king versus the giant Mythos beastie. And we wouldnt have it any other way. Its eternal glory or tragic death!

King Gourd: Things happen bad sometimes.

Balthazar: Words to live by. Good luck, your highness...

On the eastern side, some dwarves are able to kill the Avatar of Dagon. One of the dwarves searches an item stash and finds... the Powder of Ibn-Ghazi!

Avatar of Dagon: Foiled again!

With all the items needed to craft a Mythos Bomb-Omb, Balthazar looks at his book of spells to talk Karnov through the process.

"Balthazar the Blue: *giving directions to the barbarian* Stick the Silver Key into the Servitor Flute then sprinkle the Powder of Ibn-Ghazi over it and voila!
 
Karnov the Barbarian: I dont like holding this thing its fleshy and it pulsates.

Balthazar the Blue: Ok now... it says you must blow into it...

Karnov the Barbarian: Youre lying! It doesnt say that, give me the parchment!

Balthazar the Blue: Get a grip, the Shoggoth is getting closer...

Lenore the Valkyrie: Just do it! Close your eyes and think happy thoughts! This is no time for pride.

Balthazar the Blue: Dude, the skin flute must be blown!

Everyone: Blow the flute! Blow the flute! Blow the flute! *Karnov blows* Yay we did it! We peer pressured a barbarian prince!"

The shoggoth takes 6 wounds! But it still lives. Still.

Lenore speeds towards the building and begins to smack at the foundations. Orcs are on the way to stop the vandals. Karnov and a knight meet the Orcs in combat.

The Snake Lady cleans up behind the Shoggoth and eliminates more vandals.

Balthazar mindmelds with the Shoggoth using his Control Mind spell. The Shoggoth loses a turn.

Balthazar: I couldn't help but notice your pain!

Shoggoth : My pain?

Balthazar: It runs deep, share it with me... and gain strength from the sharing.

Karnov and the remaining knight arrive to help Lenore destroy the building. And they bring it down! The building collapses and turns into a smaller pile of ruins. All thats left to do to complete the mission is to slay the Shoggoth!

The last Beastmen and the Snake Lady scramble to defend the Shoggoth who is down to 2 wounds. King Gourd is at death's door himself with one wound left!

The Beastmen leaps on Balthazar and nearly kills him with only 1 wound left. Everyone seems to be on the verge of death now. And the game is on the last turn!

A dwarf warrior joins his king in a last ditch attempt to slay the Shoggoth! A human gunner also joins the effort!

The dwarf warrior and the gunner find themselves unable to help, as the Shoggoth's Suffocate ability renders them unable to attack it. Its up to the dwarf king. King Gourd has 3 attacks and with his Rune sword negating enemy saves all he has to do is hit the Shoggoth twice by rolling 5+. He only rolls one...

As the sun sets and the moon casts its light on the Shoggoth, it heals all its wounds. The heroes and their remaining allies retreat.  But they did destroy the Tharbad Research Facility even if they failed to slay the Shoggoth. So its still a minor victory for the heroes!

When the survival roll was made for Malekith the Anti-Paladin, he did not survive! All hail the glorious dead!

~~~

Another one for the books, I say. Another battle that hung on the edge of a knife. Thanks again to buddies Steve and Joe for playing it out.

Im sad that Malekith died, but it was a glorious death. For a while I thought the dwarf king would be another glorious death, but he survived, barely. In some ways, Im also glad Shoggoth survived too. He isnt really evil, he just needs cuddles and someone to tell him he is a good boy.

So whats next? Battle-wise I think we have to go see the Far Easterlings for a change. Maybe throw in Goldberry and her Rogues to help out. A battle in the swamps...  Battle of the Cabin in the Wetwangs. A bit of a mouthful, but thats what I got for now.

Oh, and painting-wise, I have a kennel of Kobolds (dog faced tribe) that I want to paint up. For this blog campaign but also for an upcoming Knights and Magick campaign. Im thinking Gnolls and Wargs will round out the army. Maybe a 3 headed Cerberus too. So its an all canine army looking to wage war for kibbles and bits! I might have to make a small blog post about my gaming filled Thanksgiving too. Good times. Until next post, whatever it might be...

Cheers,

Mar

Return to Tharbad, Part 2

 Return to Tharbad continues...

As Malekith and his forces begin to pound on the Research Facility, the Shoggoth appears. And it looks hungry! Some of the henchmen search an item stash and find... cobwebs.

Malekith: I dont care what Mythos do in the privacy of their caves, but dont put it in my face. Get your tentacles out of my face!

Shoggoth: *using telepathy* Well then, how bout you move your face? How about that? How about you get your face out of my way?

Malekith: -.-

Balthazar: Didnt know Shoggoth had telepathy...

Dwarf King Gourd shows why he is a king and slices thru one Beastman then another.

Bat Beastmen: Magic rune weapon, no fair!

The Snake Lady eats an archer. Then turns around and casts her Turn to Stone spell at Malekith who is paralyzed for a turn.

Karnov fights some Beastmen. A spider and a frog beast.

Karnov: I got my eye on you.

Spider Beastman: No, I got my eyes on you!

The Displacer Beast leads the knights on a merry chase. But in the end, they surround the poor cat and slay it. Despite cats having nine lives, the Displacer purrs its last purr...

Knight #1: Suddenly, Im not feeling so good about myself.

Knight #2: Im not crying, you're crying.

Knight #3: So... what if... Im the monster?

Behind Dagon, a knight searches an item stash and finds... a Silver Key! Woot! One more item and we can craft a Shoggoth killing weapon! The other henchman fires his gun and hits Dagon who is trying to back away from the archway and use his Drown spell but fails twice!

Dagon: A Drown spell could come in handy right about now.

At the Research Facility, its mayhem! Beastmen emerge from the building and attack the humans trying to destroy it.

Beastmen: Stop vandalizing our community center... you vandals! Call the cops!

Shoggoth: I am the Law! Drop your weapons! Hands up!

Knights: ACAB! Defund the Mythos!

The Night Hag Esmerelda casts Curse spells. Priestess Phoebe uses her Protection against enemy spells. But the dwarf Goddess Valaya doesnt seem to be answering her prayers this game.

Night Hag: Where is your goddess now, Priestess?

The Snake Lady arrives on the scene and attacks a knight hitting him 3 times. But the knight makes his saving throw 3 times! Whoever crafted this unnamed henchman's armor did a fine job.

Orcs attack the dwarf Priestess Phoebe and her entourage.

As Karnov battles Beastmen, an archer and Handgunner climb up to a rocky vantage point and begin to rain down some fire on the Research Facility.

Shoggoth closes in on Malekith as Beastmen (and Snake Lady) tie up the vandals.

Malekith begins singing the Fire Festival song:

The life of a man
Burn it with the fire
The life of an insect
Throw it into the fire
Ponder and you'll see
The world is dark
And this floating world is a dream.
So burn with abandon!

Seeing Shoggoth moving up, the Snake Lady turns around again and kills another gunner who missed the building twice firing thru a window and then thru an open doorway.

Snake Lady: Crime doesnt pay!

Priestess Phoebe kills an Orc in hand to hand combat. Her example drives her warriors to renew their efforts and drive back the Orcs.

Priestess Phoebe: We aint coming back til its "over" over there.

~~~

Next post: The battle ends in Return to Tharbad, Part 3!

Return to Tharbad, Part 1

 When last we saw Balthazar and his team in the Battle of Carn Vorn, the team discovered that some evil magic was imbueing creatures with the rejuvenation abilities of a Troll. The team lost their scout Adeline but they won the battle. They have been tracing the source of these creatures. The team encounters a caravan of human peasant refugees fleeing the area who tell them of a research facility in Tharbad. The peasants say a Night Hag conducts experiments there and has attracted the eye of Nyarlathotep himself who has sent a Shoggoth to make sure the Hag's R&D continues. Balthazar sends Prince Arioch, McGirk, and Mordecai the Butler to escort the peasants to safety. A group of dwarves from Moria appear and present themselves as allies. King Gourd of the dwarves means to destroy the Shoggoth. So the current mission is set. Destroy the Tharbad Research Facility and then... destroy the Shoggoth! King Gourd also says, the ruins of Tharbad might have mystic items that could help destroy or at least weaken the Shoggoth. 

Left to Right: Karnov the Barbarian, Lenore the Valkyrie, Balthazar the Blue, Malekith the Anti-Paladin

Balthazar: Alrighty team. We are down a few members from our usual roster but we must destroy the Tharbad Research Facility or Trollish nature will be on the rise.

Lenore: I shudder to think of such a world! Those pesky Valar-damned trolls!

Balthazar: So here's how I feel about what we gonna do here. Either you're in 100% or your out. I dont like to effin dabble. If I go in, I like to go deep under cover. Thats where I go in. Know what Im saying buddies? Im going in like Gandalf did! Full force!

Lenore: Got it boss, full force.

Left to Right: Dwarf soldiers, King Gound, Priestess Phoebe

King Gourd: Dwarves! We have our 1st assignment since returning to Middle Earth, lets give it our best, eh? Lets show these humies that we dwarves dont mess around.

Dwarves: *cheering* Moria! Beer! Roast meats!

On the eastern half of the board, Balthazar and King Gourd and a few dwarves deploy.

Closer to the Tharbad Research Facility, Malekith leads a contingent of knights, archers and handgunners.

Malekith: Shoggoths are timid, easily frightened creatures. It's best to greet them with a twitching, thrashing peace dance while wearing a garland of goats entrails.

On the western half of the table, Lenore, Karnov, and their henchmen deploy.

Closer to the Tharbad Research Facility, Priestess Phoebe leads dwarf warriors and some ranged troops.

Priestess Phoebe: Well, the army seem to be in good spirits at least. Valaya preserve us in our hour of need!

~~~

THE BATTLE OF THARBAD PART DEUX

Summary
The Nighthag Esmerelda has been experimenting with imbueing monsters with Trollish Regeneration. She has been using the local monsters of Tharbad for her experiments. She must be stopped before she creates more abominations. Nyarlathotep is interested in supporting the Nighthag's research facility to help him in his Mythos invasion of Middle Earth. A Shoggoth has been sent to Tharbad to protect these bio-weapon factories from any meddlesome humans. Our heroes, Balthazar and friends, have received orders from the White Tower to sabotage the Tharbad facility and slay the Shoggoth. Dwarf allies have arrived on scene to assist!

Board Setup
The table size is 22" x 60" (two mats). Place a ruin in the center to represent the Research Facility. Also place 4 clumps of terrain - trees, rocks, walls, statues. Clumps must have at least 4" of open space around them and at least 2" from a board edge. Also place 4 small ruined buildings or crypts.

Deployment
- Esmerelda the Nighthag Witch and 3 Beastmen are placed in the center Ruin. 6 more Beastmen are placed in two groups within 6" of center ruin. Place 6 Item Counters face down around the board but no closer than 6" to each other or board edge. Monsters are not aware of Heroes. Monsters alerted if in LOS and in 12" of Heroes or already alerted monster.
- All Heroes and allies must deploy within 3" of southern edge.


Reinforcements
- DM Only Info

Special Rules
- The Heroes may search an Item Counter if adjacent to it. On a roll of 4+, they may pick it up. Dwarves get a +1 to the roll. 3 counters are cobwebs (useless), If 3 items are brought together and crafted as an action, a Mythos Bomb-Omb is created that can be activated at any time to cause 6 Wounds on a Shoggoth in LOS. One time use.
- The Research Facility has 10 Health and no Save.

Victory Conditions
- Game ends on Turn 10. Heroes win if the Research Facility is destroyed AND the Shoggoth is slain.

The game begins with King Gourd approaching a crypt. He avoids being spotted by some Beastmen, but something stirs in the crypt... something slimy. Its the Avatar of Dagon!

Avatar of Dagon: The Beercart Pony might have escaped my grasp last game and that loss still sticks in my craw... so, I will make these dwarves suffer greatly!

Balthazar and dwarf warriors approach a gate in a wall and see the Avatar of Dagon coming out of a crypt.

Balthazar: Shhhh... King Gourd agro'ed the beast... let him deal with it! If it doesnt see us, we should be ok. We will go around it and complete the mission.

Malekith and friends approach an item stash and discover... cobwebs. Malekith orders his range troops to fire on some distant Beastmen who havent yet spotted them. The arrow misses, no casualties.

Malekith: Use arrows only, no guns. Dont want to sound a general alarm, yet.

On the western half of the table, an archer misses its mark.

Some knights approach a crypt in the west and awaken a slumbering feline terror. It yawns and streches, as tentacles sprout from its back. It spots the knights and a shimmering field surrounds the beast, making it hard to see its true position. Its a Displacer Beast!

Knight: What is that thing?

An archer hits a Beastmen and kills it, but its nearby friends are alerted! One goes to a crypt in the north and 6 Orcs emerge. The other Beastmen is heading for the Research Facility. To raise a general alarm surely.

Time to go loud! The heroes give the word to start using gunpowder weapons. Some henchmen in the center, reach another item stash and discover a Servitor Flute! But they are too close to another crypt. A snake demon woman known as a Marilith emerges!

Snake Lady: Mortals, come willingly into my lair. Come here juicy creatures! What a fine meal you will make.

As Balthazar and dwarves approach the gate confident that the Avatar of Dagon hasnt seen them, it pokes its head out of the archway!

Avatar of Dagon: Boo!

~~~

Next post: The Return to Tharbad continues!