DW War To End All Wars
This is a multi-session Dungeon World campaign set in the forested region known as The Green Maw in Andorith. Although using the Dungeon World rules, it utilizes class and character content created in the game Elf Genders.
Players:
- Jon C = Indra - Dragongrown Wizard
- Tom F = Gormflee - Heartgrown Barbarian
- Ben F = Sveinonee - Chaosgrown Druid
- Kam W = Bortris - Dreamgrown Paladin
- Mark W = GM
Chapter 1: The Threadherd Camp
The group is travelling from the settlement of Zunreverd, near the edge of civilized wood, to an Outrider Ranger Station two days away. They found sign of a possible Abyssal Render near Zunreverd and want to report it as soon as possible.
- Balefire trees destroyed
- Scaled Stalker corpse found crushed and squeezed
- Grim portent from Indra's teacher
The group is about half-way between Zunreverd and the Ranger Outpost where they hope to find a Threadherd camp known to operate in this area.
Session 1 (Feb 11, 2022)
Around twilight and group is approaching area they expect to find threadherd camp. As darkness grows the group must make a decision to continue for the camp or make camp of their own. Then they notice a flicker of firelight, such as from a campfire. Just as they decide to hurry towards it, they begin to hear a loud buzzing. Sveinonee readily identifies it as the thrum of a Firborer... but somethings a little off about it. The group sets out towards the camp while the thrum becomes louder. As the group comes in sight of the threadherd camp they witness great, writhing, tentacles crash up from the abyssal zone below. There's no doubt that it's an Abyssal Render attack! As the group watches in horror, the Render makes quick work of the camp. Sveinonee transforms into a bird and quickly flies to the camp reaching it just in time to see the tentacles retreat back into the abyss as quickly as they appeared. In it's place, it left only a large, gaping hole.
From fler vantage point, Gormflee was able to notice that the tentacles are highly elastic like an octopus rather than the commonly held belief that they're more solid like a snake. Flee also realized that, instead of suction cups, the Render destroys through hundreds of long, retractable, razor-sharp claws embedded along the length of the tentacles. These claws rip and shred anything that gets in it's way.
As the group stands there in stunned silence pondering their next move, an older halfling heartgrown herder rushes up asking if the group has seen any children. Two are missing and flee is desperate to find them but also has other pressing duties tending to the rest of the camp after the attack. Gormflee asks the group to find the children as quickly as possible... the Maw is a dangerous place for anyone after dark, let alone children. As they look around for a sign of where the children may have gone, the group eventually discovers a propeller tree seed pod, decorated and with the stringed launch stick still attached. The session ends with the group preparing to set off after the children.
Session 2 (March 25, 2022)
Before heading out to find the children, Bortris recruited a member of the camp to erect a fence around the hole into the Abyss. Sveinonee turned nerself into a hummingbird and flew off to scout out the children. Gormflee searched the area with the propeller tree seed pod to get an idea of the direction the children went. Flee discovered that the children appeared to be joined by an adult and the three went into the forest.
As the light failed, the group heard the sound of the wings of a large beetle. Indra attempted to cast Light on a stone but it turned out to be fragments of a Crimson Threadwing and would not take the magic. Meanwhile Sveinonee flew off in the direction of the sound and was met by a Firborer Beetle flying in the direction of the camp... and back towards the group. Nee followed as quickly as nee could and overtook the beetle shortly before it came upon the group and nee turned back into halfling form.
As the beetle came upon the group, Gormflee assumed a stance of challenge but failed to secure the undivided attention of the beetle (probably for the best, as it turns out). The beetle flew past Gormflee but circled back around towards the group. Bortris stepped forward to engage the beetle but the Firborer latched onto trim, shredder their armor. After more combat with the beetle, both Bortris and Sveinonee lost their armor and sustained significant damage. Finally the beetle was defeated. Gormflee secured the carapace and provided a food ration for all in the process. Two Crimson Threadwing wings were found in the beetles stomach.
The group decided to do some healing and set camp for the remainder of the night, planning on picking up the search of the children in the morning. Indra brought out dram firebowl as they made camp while Sveinonee used ner herbs and poultices to perform some healing. They set watch as: Sveinonee, Bortris, then Gormflee with Indra being given an uninterrupted nights rest.
