Gloomhaven #22 - (18) Abandoned Sewers

04th November 2018 (Sunday)

Game(s) Played:

No, really, the following post has MAJOR spoilers for the Gloomhaven campaign. This has been your spoiler warning.

Gloomhaven #22 – (18) Abandoned Sewers

Game: Gloomhaven
Designer: Isaac Childres
Players: 1 – 4 Players
Playing Time: 30 – 120 minutes (This Play: 150 minutes)
Main Mechanisms: Role Playing, Legacy, Hand Management

Player(s):

As we are making our way back to Gloomhaven from a hunting excursion…

Forest fires are a danger regardless of the plane of reality you're in

Walking into Gloomhaven with a hacking cough, Thalia "Heir of Saint Traft" grabs the nearest water bucket and gulps down mouthfuls of water. A step too late, Splinter "Karaoke Kingu" pulls the bucket away from Thalia's lips after seeing the sign "DANGER! WATER SOURCES POISONED!". Already Thalia's face is turning green and she begins to retch at the side of the road. Xanna "Master Artificer to the Etherium Crafters" looks at All Might "The Symbol Of Peace", "Quick! Pick her up, we're going to the healer now!"

Entering the hospital, the sound of retching fills the air as nurses run around with what looks like the city's entire supply of buckets. A harried nurse takes a look at Thalia and hands Xanna an empty bucket, "Put your friend over there and someone will see to her in a minute" and then she's off on another urgent errand. After making sure Thalia is cared for, the balance of the SWAGamers take a look at one another. "Maybe we should look into the poisoned water situation?" says Xanna aloud. "That would be the civic minded thing to do" replies Splinter, "plus Thalia's our friend". All Might just gives a big harrumph and starts to stomp off towards the sewers.

3 Gold for a Bless! What a steal!

Why did it have to be snakes? Actually the Oozes are a lot worse

As the sound of slithering approaches, Splinter bristles and starts snarling, unsheathing his claws as a primal beast takes over. All Might bumps him with his shield and Splinter snaps out of his bestial mode. At a questioning glance from All Might, Splinter explains "Sorry, those are GIANT VIPERs incoming, natural predator of the ancestral rat in my blood" before unsheathing his dagger instead.

Xanna puts up her goggles and quickly mounts her AUTO TURRET, "That's not our only problem guys, we've got OOZEs incoming." "Splinter, keep the GIANT VIPERs off our backs" calls out All Might as he launches an overhand chop at the incoming OOZE.

"I think we might be too late" says Splinter as the OOZEs start to shake

Okaaayyy… What do we do now indeed?

Editor's Note:
This is already a really tough scenario according to reddit and we compounded it with a few things:
(1) We played the scenario on hard mode
(2) We played a rule wrong where monster summons can only appear on EMPTY hexes (i.e. water and money are not empty hexes)
BUT we also played summons drop money so… …

"WHAT THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO DO? THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST ROOM!" screams Xanna hysterically. "Maybe they will multiply themselves to death?" wonders Splinter out loud. "I'm not sure if they will multiply anymore though…" mutters All Might as he considers the problem. "Oh yes, I think they will" says Splinter as the OOZEs start to shake once more.

Looking at the 8 OOZEs blocking the doorway, All Might looks around at his companions, "I'm open to ideas. Anyone?" "Well… There is one thing I can try, give my some space please" replies Splinter. All Might steps up to the fore and uses his shield to fend off the strikes of the two GIANT VIPERs as Xanna launches her cubed DANGEROUS CONTRAPTION "Dreadeka" as another tank on the front line.

Rivulets of sweat run off Splinter's forehead as he focuses his mind on one of the OOZEs who begins to vibrate and shake violently. In a sudden explosion of corrosive ooze, Splinter causes the OOZE to experience CRANIUM OVERLOAD, killing it instantly and doing splash damage to its surrounding allies.

It feels so good when a card fulfils its true potential

Standing with his jaw slack, All Might turns around to Splinter and says "Do that again!" Panting from the effort, Splinter gives All Might a crooked smile, "Sorry, it really is a once a day only thing, otherwise it will be my head that explodes." Not one to waste time with chit chat, All Might turns around and leads the charge into the scattered and confused GIANT VIPERs and OOZEs as they try and run away from the little rat that explodes your brain from range.

"Well let's see what's behind door number 1" says All Might as he opens the door. Splinter's keen hearing picks up the tell-tale sounds of slithering GIANT VIPERs, sliming OOZEs and a new chittering sound. His eyes wide, Splinter says "That's the sound of Vermlings! Probably archers waiting to snipe us from around the bend"

And so here comes the turning point in the scenario

"Put on your cloak NOW" says All Might to his diminutive. Panting from the exertion, Splinter can't even muster the energy to respond but nods his understanding and begins to pull on his INVISBILITY CLOAK to retreat back to the first room, when a volley of corrosive acid starts to fall all around them.

So Splinter was all out of cards, no INVISIBILITY CLOAK and had to lose cards from discard to survive… And so Splinter has fallen

The fall of Splinter triggers a rage in All Might, much like when his first pet hamster died after being buried under the dung of a bull. Like a scythe harvesting wheat, All Might cuts through the OOZEs like death incarnate, using his shield to fend off the arrows of the flanking VERMLING SCOUTs. Xanna provides ranged support and healing but even as the last of the enemies fall, both All Might and Xanna are nearly spent.

One can always hope, but it's never usually "just a few more enemies"

Sadly the stereotype of associating vermin with poor sanitary conditions is mostly true

The morale of the group sags as more and more VERMLING SCOUTs appear on the map, but the appearance of OOZEs totally breaks it

"Look, you go and get help, I'm going to grab that chest" says All Might to Xanna. Knowing full well that the Treasure Chest is all that's on All Might's mind now, Xanna agrees and heads back towards the exit.

Charging towards the Treasure Chest, All Might just manages to open it before succumbing to his wounds caused by the VERMLING SCOUTs and OOZEs peppering him with arrows and acid. As his eyes close, his hand reaches into the chest to close on a sheaf of design plans, "Ah poop" are his final words.

Edward, this item is for you

Xanna is running for the exit, shouting for help, when a very lucky shot by a VERMLING SCOUT takes her in the shoulder, spinning her around as she crashes to the ground.

Cue sad death .wav music

Now let's cut to the action in real time!

Results Of Game(s)

Winners:
Justin aka Splinter "I need more INVISIBILITY CLOAKs" – 8 Exp & 17 Gold & –1 Tick
Moses aka All Might "Who leaves DESIGN PLANS in Treasure Chests?!?!" – 17 Exp & 12 Gold & –1 Tick
Sean aka Xanna "Finally!!! Show me available classes!" – 15 Exp & 37 Gold & –1 Tick (RETIREMENT!)

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We will be back with more Gloomhaven next week.

Until next time, keep calm and play better.