Mail Call and Boxing Day 2023

Today I normally like to post some sort of Boxed Set thing I have going on. But instead, I'll just talk about my D&D-related fun from the last couple of days. BTW I sliced my finger open on a mandolin making sliced potatoes, so this post is taking a lot longer.

Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen

Up first I got my copies of Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen from Mark Taomino. Both the 10th Anniversary OSR and the new 5th Edition versions.

I signed on early for these adventures. No shock given my love for the original Wee Warriors Vampire Queen. So now I have three different printings of this Vampire Queen.

Party Like It's 1979!

For Christmas, my oldest son decided to go all out for everyone. This is what he got me.

The Atari 2600 plugs into any HCMI TV/Monitor and even has an aspect ratio switch.  But the coolest part is it will run old 2600 cartridges. So time to start cruising the Half-Price Books and second-hand stores!

The Monster Manual minis are from set G-J. Though really, G-I.

D&D en Español

My son also ran some D&D for us. We played the "Witchlight Carnival" adventure.

I made a character, but to help with my Spanish, I opted to only use my new Spanish language Players Handbook.

El es Brujo y Elfo. For play, I limited myself to what I could read and understand in this book. 

Hope everyone is having a great holiday.

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 12, Room 26

 The last room on the right opens to an empty space, a room with many alcoves on either side.  There appears to be some sort of pile of treasure in the center.

Once inside the room, the illusion of the treasure disappears and a horde of undead stream out.

There are 3d12 zombies, 2d10 ghouls, 1d8 ghasts, and 1d6 wights.

If the PCs can get back to the door they can close off the attacks to just a few at a time. Otherwise, in one round they will be surrounded in the "Kill box."

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Happy Boxing Day, enjoy the kill box.

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 12, Room 25

 The second room on the left is the treasure room of Vampire Queen.

This room is filled with treasure.

There is Type Ax5, Type Bx10, Type Gx5, Type Hx10.

In addition, there are five spell books with 4d6 spells each of levels 1-6. 2d4 Swords of +1 enchantment, 1d6 of +2, 1d4 of +3, and 1 of +4. Armor +1, Staff of the Magi.

There are no magic items here vs. undead, demons, or devils here.  There are also no potions of healing or magical healing of any sort. Vampires of no need of such magic.

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Merry Christmas Everyone!

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 12, Room 24

 The first chamber on the right is the Cenotaphs of the Vampire Queen's Council of Advisors.  Each is a stone monument erected for her council of 20 advisors.

The Vampire Lords are as follows. Each stone has a brief description of the vampire lord or lady whose ashes are inside.

1. Corvus Nox - A brooding lord wielding shadows like weapons.
2. Amara Tenebris - A cunning duchess, weaving webs of intrigue in moonlit courts.
3. Zale Moondragon - A tempestuous warrior, leading their coven with fiery passion.
4. Silas Ember - A melancholic scholar, haunted by memories of their mortal life.
5. Seraphina Thorne - A seductive siren, luring prey into an alluring abyss.
6. Lyander Blackwood - A stoic sentinel, guarding ancient secrets amidst crumbling ruins.
7. Esme Wysteria - A whimsical trickster, dancing on the edge of chaos with laughter.
8. Cassius Vervain - A noble alchemist, seeking an elixir to gain true immortality.
9. Luna Sanguis - A fierce huntress, stalking the night with unerring instincts.
10. Erebus Umbra - A cryptic oracle, whispering prophecies in forgotten tongues.
11. Isolde Morraine - A vengeful spirit, driven by an undying thirst for retribution against the gods of light.
12. Lucian Fane - A charming storyteller, weaving illusions with silken words.
13. Nyn Obsidian - A master of shadows, vanishing like smoke on the wind.
14. Aurora Vesper - A radiant anomaly, defying the darkness with a defiant glow.
15. Darius Argent - A skilled strategist, playing pawns in a grand, blood-soaked game.
16. Lillian Crimson - A fiery rebel, sparking revolutions against oppressive elders.
17. Caspian Hawthorne - A gentle healer, offering solace in the heart of darkness.
18. Amara Whisperer - A silent assassin, leaving only whispers of their victims.
19. Zephyr Dusk - A fleet-footed scout, mapping forgotten paths across forgotten lands.
20. Thanatos Requiem - A harbinger of death, wielding a chilling scythe and a bone-chilling smile.

The Cenotaphs are hollow with an earn inside containing the ashes of these vampire lords and ladies. If any are mixed with living blood the vampire lord will return to unlife. They 8+1d6 HD.

Here the PCs will find Treasure Types Ax10, Hx4 & Mx2 stored here.

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 12, Room 23

 The first room on the left is a Ritual Room.

This room has altars and ritual spaces dedicated to the demon lords Akelarre and Orcus, the arch Devil Dispater, and to the dark gods Ereshkigal, Hecate, and Hel. The last and central altar is to the Vampire Queen herself.

There are treasures here upwards of 100,000 gp, but all are cursed.  Removing them from this room requires a save vs. Death or die. A Remove Curse can be used, but it must be done on each item. There are seven altars here.

There are no creatures here.

Kickstart Your Weekend: Periodic Table of Elementals, by Catilus

 How about something to lighten the mood around here.

This was shared by a friend. I had seen it on my feed, but he reminded me that it would be good for today.

Periodic Table of Elementals, by Catilus

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catilus/periodic-table-of-elementals-by-catilus?ref=theotherside

Catilus is giving us something that honestly we should have all figured out decades ago. But here we get her fantastic art and 5e monsters.

Catilus has been putting out some high-quality and fun 5e books for a while now, and I expect this one will be her best yet.

From her project page:

Periodic Table of Elementals is my third book on Kickstarter and (by far) my largest book to date. It features unique elemental creatures inspired by every actual chemical element, with lore and abilities based on each element’s chemical properties!

What’s in the Periodic Table of Elementals?

• 118 fully illustrated unique elementals representing ALL chemical elements
• Abilities and mechanics based on real chemistry
• Familiars, steeds, and gargantuan summonable elementals
• Science-inspired lore for each elemental
• An actual, fully usable periodic table with all the elementals from the book
• Adventure hooks, optional rules, tables, synergies, and more tools
• More than 120 detailed illustrations, including art for each elemental, by me!

Sounds fantastic really.  I am not really into D&D 5e these days, but my issues are with WotC/Hasbro not with independent creatives like Catilus. There will be plenty to convert over to other systems should you want.

#Dungeon23 Tomb of the Vampire Queen, Level 12, Room 22

 This large opening leads to the grand burial chambers of the Vampire Queen herself. There is a flight of stairs going down, opening to a large chamber.

The chamber has five exits: two to the left, two to the right, and one ahead.  

Between the party and these exits are a hundred or so skeletons. 

This chamber has 6d20+10 skeletons that will rise up and attack.