The Devil's Spine Campaign Log
Welcome to our group's campaign log for The Devil's Spine, a mega-adventure by +Monte Cook for the Numenera campaign setting.
Originally this was going to be a pure and simple campaign log. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a record for me and my friends to keep track of what was going on in the game. But I've decided that, as we progress through the adventure, I'd do some commentary and/or reviews on different parts of the adventure. So... SPOILERS!
Whenever I play the Cypher System (which includes Numenera and The Strange) I try to make sure that each player gets nailed with a GM Intrusion at least once per session. The timing of these events can vary, but I'm definitely going to dole one out if a player gives me any kind of cue. So last night, when Marc made a comment about a weird light that was just background filler in the "show 'em" picture I screen shared, I decided to nail his character with... THE BOX!
GM Intrusion Idea: The Box
Level 5. A small, metallic eyeball opens near the character and projects a 2 meter x 2 meter laser cube around the target. Anything toughing one of the cube walls instantly takes 5 points of damage as the laser vaporizes flesh and metal alike. The only way to disengage the device is to have two objects touch opposing sides of the cube at the exact same time.
So this most likely means that two of your PC's need to touch each side. If they don't do it within a split-second of one another, they each take 5 points of damage (if using a hand or finger.) Last night I let them use items too but hell, be a mean GM and make them use their own flesh. Force them to put some skin in the game! My crew spent ten minutes trying to work out a system to touch the two sides simultaneously. So beautiful to watch them squirm!
Originally this was going to be a pure and simple campaign log. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a record for me and my friends to keep track of what was going on in the game. But I've decided that, as we progress through the adventure, I'd do some commentary and/or reviews on different parts of the adventure. So... SPOILERS!
What's in the Box?
Whenever I play the Cypher System (which includes Numenera and The Strange) I try to make sure that each player gets nailed with a GM Intrusion at least once per session. The timing of these events can vary, but I'm definitely going to dole one out if a player gives me any kind of cue. So last night, when Marc made a comment about a weird light that was just background filler in the "show 'em" picture I screen shared, I decided to nail his character with... THE BOX!
GM Intrusion Idea: The Box
Level 5. A small, metallic eyeball opens near the character and projects a 2 meter x 2 meter laser cube around the target. Anything toughing one of the cube walls instantly takes 5 points of damage as the laser vaporizes flesh and metal alike. The only way to disengage the device is to have two objects touch opposing sides of the cube at the exact same time.
So this most likely means that two of your PC's need to touch each side. If they don't do it within a split-second of one another, they each take 5 points of damage (if using a hand or finger.) Last night I let them use items too but hell, be a mean GM and make them use their own flesh. Force them to put some skin in the game! My crew spent ten minutes trying to work out a system to touch the two sides simultaneously. So beautiful to watch them squirm!
Characters
- Belmodan, a Resourceful Seeker who Wields a Whip, played by +andrew lyon
- Keane, a Rebellious Glaive who Likes to Break Things, played by +Craig McCullough
- Nero, a Mad Nano who Travels Through Time, played by +David Howard
- PL4T0, an Artificially Intelligent Jack who Resides in Silicon, played by +Marc Plourde
- Ruun, an Exiled Glaive who Gazes into the Abyss, played by +William Keller
Previously on The Devil's Spine
Session 3: Trapped in a Box
Day 2
The would-be rebels, three of whom still suffered from nagaina defender parasites, did some last minute shopping in Uxphon before setting out for the subterranean conveyance that would take them far into the Black Riage. The "Catena", an eons old hover train, rested only a few miles from the city of Uxphon, hidden deep within unexplored tunnels and tubes. Five cars long, the Catena was held in place by three massive, sixty foot long clamps. To travel via the device, the team would need to disengage the clamps.
PL4T0 started to explore the area when he accidentally set off an ancient device, trapping itself within a large laser cube (THE BOX!) The silicon drone was eventually freed by Ruun and Keane using the method described above.
Continuing to explore, PL4T0 discovered a large lever connected to the rearmost clamp connected to the Catena. The group then slid down the clamp onto the train itself and searched for a means of entrance. Although it almost cost him his life in a terrible fall, Belmodan managed to find a door to the frontmost car. Once inside, PL4T0 interfaced with the long dormant onboard computer.
The AI's name was C01133N (Colleen), and "she" was completely enamored by PL4T0. Maybe it was PL4T0's suave interfacing, its sensual filament, or just the fact that the hovering automaton's player rolled a natural 20. Whatever the case, C01133N assisted the team in gaining access to the Catena, and disengaging all of the cars save for the one in the front. Unable to find a lever to disconnect the frontmost clamp, Belmodan sprayed the connection with a whole mess o' Friction Reducing Gel, and the team was off!
About an hour into their trip, the team heard several thumps on the roof of the Catena car. Belmodan peered outside and saw that three greenish, headless, gelatin looking, entities were climbing atop the moving conveyance. These Tactile Explorers were extensions of the Insidious Choir, and were a grave threat, and needed to be dealt with immediately. Although the battle almost cost Ruun his life twice (once by getting knocked almost off the train car, and again when he inhaled a bunch of airborne virus goo), the team prevailed and continued to the opposing Catena station unimpeded.
The would-be rebels, three of whom still suffered from nagaina defender parasites, did some last minute shopping in Uxphon before setting out for the subterranean conveyance that would take them far into the Black Riage. The "Catena", an eons old hover train, rested only a few miles from the city of Uxphon, hidden deep within unexplored tunnels and tubes. Five cars long, the Catena was held in place by three massive, sixty foot long clamps. To travel via the device, the team would need to disengage the clamps.
PL4T0 started to explore the area when he accidentally set off an ancient device, trapping itself within a large laser cube (THE BOX!) The silicon drone was eventually freed by Ruun and Keane using the method described above.
Continuing to explore, PL4T0 discovered a large lever connected to the rearmost clamp connected to the Catena. The group then slid down the clamp onto the train itself and searched for a means of entrance. Although it almost cost him his life in a terrible fall, Belmodan managed to find a door to the frontmost car. Once inside, PL4T0 interfaced with the long dormant onboard computer.
The AI's name was C01133N (Colleen), and "she" was completely enamored by PL4T0. Maybe it was PL4T0's suave interfacing, its sensual filament, or just the fact that the hovering automaton's player rolled a natural 20. Whatever the case, C01133N assisted the team in gaining access to the Catena, and disengaging all of the cars save for the one in the front. Unable to find a lever to disconnect the frontmost clamp, Belmodan sprayed the connection with a whole mess o' Friction Reducing Gel, and the team was off!
About an hour into their trip, the team heard several thumps on the roof of the Catena car. Belmodan peered outside and saw that three greenish, headless, gelatin looking, entities were climbing atop the moving conveyance. These Tactile Explorers were extensions of the Insidious Choir, and were a grave threat, and needed to be dealt with immediately. Although the battle almost cost Ruun his life twice (once by getting knocked almost off the train car, and again when he inhaled a bunch of airborne virus goo), the team prevailed and continued to the opposing Catena station unimpeded.
Quotes
Jim - "You're trapped in a box."
Marc - "Like Gwyneth Paltrow's head."
"He's got little Trump hands." - Will describing PL4T0's arms.
"It's only 'foraging' if you intend to eat Belmodan." - Jim to Will, a commentary on Ruun's diet and survival habits.
"I'll consider your filament filling enough." - C01133N to PL4T0
Marc - "You're making it weird."
Jim - "Isn't that what Numenera is all about."
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