Game(s) Played:
No, really, the following post has MAJOR spoilers for the Gloomhaven campaign. This has been your spoiler warning.
Gloomhaven #8 – (13) Temple of the Seer
Game: Gloomhaven
Designer: Isaac Childres
Players: 1 – 4 Players
Playing Time: 30 – 120 minutes (This Play: 120 minutes)
Main Mechanisms: Role Playing, Legacy, Hand Management
Player(s):
Feeling somewhat used by Jekserah the alleged Necromancer, the party taps the local information brokers, underground informants and local barkeeps ("A solid fount of knowledge & wisdom they are" according to Lyramof who is back from visiting his ma) for information on Jerkserah's last known whereabouts. They do this not from any sense of obligation or loyalty towards the city of Gloomhaven, but more because 10 Gold for Necromantic Scrolls & 15 Gold for the sacking of an INOX encampment was nowhere near the going rate published by the Mercenaries Guild (Mercenary Rates Act Year of the Stinging Nettle).
When none of their sources can even hint at Jekserah having any kind of social life in Gloomhaven at day's end, Thalia tells the gang that she will head off-plane to search for answers from more mystical sources but not before extracting a solemn oath from Rincewind, Xanna, Lyramof & especially All Might (he had to repeat it three times) to expend every effort in tracking Jekserah down without the use of alcohol and to stay out of trouble. Before even the tendrils of Thalia's portal can even dissipate into thin air, All Might's ears twitch and he asks "Did you guys hear that?"
"We swore to stay out of trouble" mumbles Rincewind, "Eating your veges is not getting into trouble, silly" replied All Might. We have learnt through experience that the opportunity to eat in Gloomhaven is always a blessing.
With no other avenue for information, the party reluctantly skulks their way to the Sanctuary of the Great Oak the next morning. The skulking is because the weight of their Gold weighs heavily in their pockets, more so today as they feel that they shall soon be parted with their money, such is the price of faith, piousness and holiness that the Sanctuary professes (very loudly) ye shall receive for ye generous giving. Thankfully the initiate on duty at this early hour of the day had just received his robes the week before, haven't yet being taught the price of mystic prophecy by his elders, the initiate helpfully points the party towards the Temple of the Seer in the Watcher Mountains outside of Gloomhaven. "The Seer sees all and can provide you the answers you seek" intones the initiate gravely.
"I say, all that hard work has my throat quite parched" rumbles Lyramof "The Polite".
"Aye! This calls for a drinks!" booms All Might.
"But you swore not to use alcohol in tracking down... Oh..." responds Xanna weakly.
"S'xactly! The Seer will tell us where the conniving she-dog is and we'll track her down. But now, time for a drinks!" roared All Might.
Xanna turns to Rincewind, "Why does he keep saying 'a drinks'?"
Rincewind replies, "You need to move the punctuation. It is 'a drink's, implying multiples of 'a drink'."
Rolling her eyes, Xanna mutters "That's just great."
And so, 'a many's drinks later, we find our group of vengeance seeking mercenaries doing the drunken two-step as they set forth on their journey to the Watcher Mountains. As they near the city gates...
"This is all because you two sods are so drunk you kept missing!" grumbles Xanna. "Am not *hic* drunk, dish 'nly bug bytes! Aye Moffy?" retorts All Might who turns around to see Lyramof snoring on the ground. "Thassagudidea" says All Might before joining his friend on the ground. "Sigh, we camp here I guess" Xanna says looking at Rincewind then at the two sleeping giants.
So now we have a slight recap...
"We will leave if you give us Gold!" shouts All Might.
Turning to All Might, Lyramof interrupts "I say ol' chum, we should be asking for Experience instead."
"Gold!" intones All Might.
"Exp!" retorts Lyramof.
"Guys..." goes Xanna trying to segue into the imminent shouting match.
"GOLD!" roars All Might.
"EXP!" rumbles Lyramof.
"GU... AHHHHHHH!!!" screams Xanna as a chain of magically enhanced stones wraps around her and yanks her off into the pile of Stone Golems.
Both All Might and Lyramof turn towards the space previously occupied by Xanna with similar grunts of "Huh?" before All Might is similarly wrapped and pulled towards the Stone Golems with a jerk.
Hey! Stone Man suits! Does this make us the bad guys then? Vengeancers assemble!
Somehow the correct answer is always the Hulk when such an answer is available
As the last Stone Golem falls, Xanna rummages through its back pocket and counts out the coins therein...
RPGs, bringing out the child in you that wants to do adult things
Collapsing in a heap on the ground, All Might and Lyramof continue to bicker over who gets the loot from the last kill whilst Xanna oils her crossbow string in the corner. The ever curious Rincewind who was working the Stone Golems from a distance and thus quite sweat free, decides to take a peek at the next room in case of any Treasure...
Time to pull on the good ol' Invisibility Cloak
The sound of howling animals rouses the remaining party members from their distractions and it is Xanna who notices the open door first and curses under her breath at the missing Rincewind for his damnable curiosity. Even as a Cave Bear begins ambling towards the open doorway growling as it comes, the fire in All Might and Lyramof's eyes burn like bright amber at the prospect of having "bear nabe" (bear meat in hot pot) tonight. While All Might and Lyramof are jostling to be first in line, Xanna uses them as a meat shield whilst taking pot shots at the Cave Bear on the other side of the doorway.
Suddenly, it feels like the air in the atmosphere has dropped a few degrees and two Living Spirits float through the door way and stop just before the assembled party. Xanna overcomes her initial shock as Rincewind pulls off his Invisibility Cloak beside her and asks him "What the heck are those things?" Rincewind frowns as he tries to recall the chapter on Living Spirits...
Rolling low on your Lore check doesn't mean you don't remember, it just means you might not remember in time to make it useful
After enduring the curséd cries (with the extra éd having been cursed twice) of the Living Spirits, the team performs a quick check to ensure none of their digits have been curséd off. Looking none the worse for wear (little did they know that it was the curse of allergy to alcohol which they will find out later), the group divvies up their duties with Rincewind focusing on the ethereal Living Spirits whilst the others continued their barrage on the Cave Bears with All Might telling his compatriots to "Aim for the head" to preserve all the tender Cave Bear meat.
Even as the All Might, Xanna & Lyramof close in on the last Cave Bear who closes its eyes and prepares its soul for a nirvana with salmon filled creeks and tree stumps overflowing with honey, All Might's inner Treasure Chest compass begins tingling. Seeing the vibrations of All Might's Inox horns, Xanna straps on her eye goggles and takes a look around the hall, spotting the gleaming golden Treasure Chest in the corner at the same time as everyone else.
"Sigh, maybe my new nickname should be Rincewind the Clean-up Crew" sighs Rincewind "the Clean-up Crew"
Being overly enthusiastic, Lyramof makes a floor shaking dash towards the Treasure Chest, only to be surrounded on all sides by Spitting Drakes.
Despite their diminutive size, the Spitting Drake has a surprising amount of resilience due to the regenerative traits inherent in their genetic makeup
Lyramof is quickly followed by Xanna who fakes a flanking move to the first Spitting Drake's right but comes up short and heads on towards the Treasure Chest much to the Cragheart's dismay.
Again we must make mention of the price of friendship, which is very cheap in these parts
At this point, the Spitting Drakes are somewhat confused at the strange behaviour being exhibited by their prey, but remembering that they outnumber the stone man four-to-one, they return their attentions to their original prey. Big mistake. A looming giant with horns leaps out of the shadows and grabs the two Spitting Drakes by their necks, shouting "DEEEETROIT SMAAAASHHHH!!!!" and slams both of them into the temple tiles, raising twin clouds of dust into the air. In the dust of confusion, Rincewind shimmies down the side of the room, hugging the walls as he goes.
Here we see All Might going through the first three stages of grief in quick succession while Xanna and Rincewind bask in the windfall fortune has brought their way.
Sensing hesitation in Xanna's move to open the Treasure Chest, All Might yells "PSYCH!!!" and plants his feet in the face of the even more confused Spitting Drake to his left before taking a mighty leap onto the Treasure Chest claiming it for himself before Xanna could recover.
Frenemies, that's what we are. I have half a mind to bring back friendly fire because of the way we treat each other.
The last Spitting Drake looks at its three smashed in companions in fear before sharply turning to look at the source of what sounds like a mountain moving. This turns out to be Lyramof carving out a massive boulder from the floor and hefting it up between his shoulders. "Catch!" yells Lyramof as the Spitting Drake tries to beat a hasty retreat only to be squished flat a second later.
All Might climbs over the "MASSIVE BOULDER" with shrapnel embedded in his armour telling Lyramof that he owes him a drink.
"Well that's obvious, we want Gold, lots of it!" states All Might as if he were stating the obvious.
"You know, power would do nicely, don't you think?" rumbles Lyramof.
Xanna tries to remind the gang, "Let's stick to the plan fellas, remember what we're here for?"
"Yes, Gold!" "Yes, Experience!" shout both All Might and Lyramof simultaneously.
And cut…
So yes we will be deferring the decision and including Gideon in it so that it ends up less of a tie-breaking decision which is usually my role.
Now let's cut to the action in real time!
Results Of Game(s)
Loot!:
Justin aka Rincewind "Yes! Finally my first loot action!" – 19 Exp & 12 Gold
Moses aka All Might "Here comes the BOOM" – 34 Exp & 15 Gold & 1 Tick
Sean aka Xanna "Who needs a healing?" – 19 Exp & 9 Gold & 2 Ticks
Edward aka Lyramof "Oooops, 1 damage to you, oh and another damage to you, sorry" – 15 Exp & 6 Gold & 2 Ticks
Actually I'm just ecstatic that Rincewind didn't become exhausted although it was a pretty close thing. I'm getting the hang of spacing out my actions and to only take big actions when I can make them really count without placing myself in mortal danger. I'm also very surprised at the conclusion choice given to the party which is what makes the game so interesting when played with a group.
We will be back with more Gloomhaven adventures in a week's time.
Until next time, keep calm and play better.
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