Apex Session 5 Preparation

We last left our adventurers safely landed just inside the badlands, heading to the tower as a hopefully safer place to sleep. Poking around, I did find an image of a tower in a ravine. There was another image I also liked, but the ravine version had some interesting ideas that jumped out at me. And additionally this is apparently an adventure or something published as I also found maps. And you know me and maps!

I really liked the style and almost picked this one

But this one was at the edge of a ravine, where the river flows far below. Not sure how that actually works our geographically, but they did barely make it over the mountains guarding the badlands.

There is also that long bridge they have to cross which, after hundreds of years, may not be in the best shape. And I've spent a fair amount of time just browsing images - its amazing what can spark your imagination. 

I'm going to introduce a few more pulpy things: they have not gone back over that coin in Tong's pocket, so there will be a book, written in ancient Hebrew, about those Pentacles from King Solomon. And at that point they will have the coins. I've also decided on some of the game mechanics. For Tong, all attacks against him are at a disadvantage as he has the Sixth Pentacle of Mars. Below is the list of the coins, with a spare so not sure what to do about that. These coins are from a Kickstarter that used this archive.org for the text. I will also use the usage die, though these will all start with a d12, so should last a while. Recharging could be as simple as getting it back to a crystal power shard, or actually drawing out the appropriate pentacle and performing the correct incantations. Which are in this book. In ancient Hebrew, which I am not sure any of the characters know. But hey, there can be NPCs for hire or something. Or I may look to see if one of those coins can give knowledge and allow that for a cheat such as the 4th Pentacle of the Moon.

Fifth pentacle of Mercury: commands the Spirits of Mercury, and serveth to open doors in whatever way they may be closed, and noting it may encounter can resist. This may be used once a day. Not only mundane doors (similar the the Fantasy Trip's Lock/knock spell) but also those doors between the worlds. That are scattered on Apex Island.

Second Pentacle of Mars: this pentacle serveth with great success against all kinds of diseases, if it be applied unto the afflicted part. May be used up to 5 times a day and will cure all diseases. Also works for toxins and poisons.

Sixth Pentacle of Mars: it hath so great a value that being armed thereith, if thou art attacked by any one, thou shalt neither be injured nor wounded when thou fightest with him, and his own weapons shall turn against him. This gives all attacks against the bearer a disadvantage.

Seventh Pentacle of Saturn This pentacle is fit for exciting earthquakes, seeing the power of each order of Angels herein invoked is sufficient to make the whole universe tremble. Usable once per day, allows for tremors - make saving rolls against falling down for everyone within 100 yards except for the caster. Not recommended underground.

Fifth pentacle of Saturn This pentacle defendeth those who invoke the Spirits of Saturn during the night and chaseth away the Spirits which guard treasures. Used against guardian spirits, such as the skeletons guarding the crystal weapons. Guardians will not attack the bearer of the coin, but neither will they just let them take what they are guarding.

Fourth pentacle of the Moon This defendeth thee from all evil sorceries, and from all injury unto soul or body. Its Angel, Sophiel, giveth the knowledge of the virtue of all herbs and stones and unto whomsoever shall name him, he will procure the knowledge of all. Allows for advantage on all lore rolls.

I've got a broad outline of the tower and the rooms based on the maps, and rolls per room. And the lowest level in the adventure was for buzzard riding knights it looked liked based on the images and the map. But instead of buzzards, the Apex knights rode pteranodons. Which:

Pteranodon is a genus of pterosaur that included some of the largest known flying reptiles, with wingspans over 7 meters (23 feet). They lived during the late Cretaceous geological period of North America in present-day Kansas, Alabama, Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota. More fossilspecimens of Pteranodon have been found than any other pterosaur, with about 1,200 specimens known to science, many of them well preserved with nearly complete skulls and articulated skeletons.

I still need to come up with the maps to the doors. That chasm they have to cross will have the doors to otherworlds. But I also need to track where the Nazis are behind them. They probably need to catch up and have the big fight at the temple. And I am leaning more into that UFO like ship from Iron Sky. Powered by the crystals: in the book they give a few options for the ancient cities, one being the remains of a technologically advanced alien race. I've yet to decide, and perhaps will let the story play out in a quantum approach: we won't know until it is observed! I'll let the character conversations come up with possibilities, and benignly nod (well, I would if we were at a table, or if we used video chat. But with just voice chat, a few well placed "hmm-hmmmms" will have to suffice).

And hey, today my Fantasy Trip group is coming over - we are all vaccinated so finally get back to a face to face game! So I should have a game recap for that later as well. Finally get to the Lamia's Labyrinth with real people!