Weekend Frenzy of Frostgrave

I spent the past weekend in Saskatoon gaming at Tim's house for his Annual Birthday Bash Weekend.  This year was a Frostgrave event, where we played 3 games to determine the final 4 players looking for the Crystal Skull Sword.

I went again with my Elementalist Warband, (saved me getting more figures painted in time), so those who are following should note that things which occurred this weekend have no bearing on the existing Campaign taking place at my home.

I am sure that once Tim has recovered from the weekend, he will post the campaign results. So as not to steal his thunder too much I will post mainly what occurred to my warband.

Friday Night: This scenario was similar to the Well from the original book. However as in incentive, there were bonuses to drinking first, with diminishing returns for those who drank later. In this game I played against Finnegan (Tim's son) & John.

John was quick to cast a Fog, which stayed the entire game. This was a bonus as it allowed my own band to remain hidden from him as well.

I did manage to get my Mage to the fountain first & drank, then was Pushed to the far side of the table by John's Mage. Finnegan then cast Glow on my mage & I spent pretty much the remainder of the battle hidden behind the building attempting to heal myself.

Meanwhile I had an archer who was wounded near the pool, whom after several shots at opponents was finally dispatched by John's Jiggling Women.

I attempted to get to a treasure atop a wall, but just as I was reaching for it, was pushed off (again by John's Wizard) & suffered some damage (7pts). Being stubborn he attempted it again, but was taken out of action.

I managed to get off the table with 2 treasures. My dice were miserable, though after drinking first, I netted 450xp. I did have a thief & thug die from the battle, so replaced them with a Man at Arms & a Templar. I also found a Scroll of Strike Dead, which was promptly added to my Magicians items.

Saturday Morning: During the next foray into Frostgrave, I was pitted once again with John's Jiggling Women, & the host Tim's Turbaned Ticklers. In this scenario there was a central building which contained most of the treasures. We each placed a single one additional before the start of the game. There were several skeletens about the ruin & more would spawn.

John once again used Fog, which hid my warband from him. I didn't mind in the least.

Tim's warband approaching the ruin & a skeleton guard.

Not many images of this one & I only managed a single chest of treasure & the Map (this would be needed to be entered into the final scenario). There were 2 tables playing, so 4 of the 6 players would advance. During this battle, after another horrible round of dice rolling, I had lost 3 archers & had a Thief missing the next game. I also managed another 240xp. John was making out like a bandit these past 2 games.

Saturday Afternoon: The third battle pitted me against Tim & Paul. Another horrid effort & it seems just the 1 photo of it. I did manage another 2 chests. The hi-light was the death of Paul's Magician to a 20 from a Giant Rat. Tim snagged the lions share of the chests, using Leap to good effect. This battle was more about not losing people, as it provided another opportunity for players to find a map.

As it was getting late, we decided to post-pone the last battle until Sunday Morning. We then went out for supper & had a couple beers.

Sunday Morning: 4 warband's remained, to face the final challenge for the Crystal Skull Sword. A Mausoleum lay at the centre of the table. Numerous undead guarded the approaches.

Inside the Mausoleum was a Sarcophagus & it was guarded by 2 Wights (these required a magic item to harm)

Thing's degenerated quickly as my archer (near the lion statue) was Mind Controlled by Corey's Apprentice. I then lost 3 other members attempting to break him from his state, before he finally was felled by my Magician.

After that, both Corey & my warband were in the mix. 

The other half of Corey's warband fighting Finnegan's construct.

A long drawn out melee ensued. I did successfully get Scatter shot off, but it proved ineffective against Corey's dice rolls. Eventually my Templar, evened the odds, taking out 3 of Corey's soldiers. I also used the Strike Dead scroll & took Corey's apprentice out of the game.

Meanwhile, Finnegan's & Paul's warbands were focussed on the Mausoleum, having formed some sort of truce. Paul slew one of the Wraiths with an Elemental Bolt, while Finnegans troops took the second down with magic weapons.

Finnegan then managed to open the Sarcophagus & released the Vampire within. The god's were smiling as the very first swing by Finnegan's soldier rolled a 20 & decimated the Vampire. WOW!

As Finnegan picked up the Crystal Skull Sword, all bets were off & a massive bloody melee ensued. Finnegan lost his Wizard, Knight & one other soldier. Corey & I had formed a sort of truce as our 2 warbands were quite mauled & decided to focus on those with the sword.

As Finnegan's last soldier fell, the sword landed on the ground, where my mage used Telekinesis to pull it outside of the Mausoleum, with cries of FOUL! by Paul.

As luck would have it, a Ghould spawned almost atop of the sword & slew my archer. My Man-at-arms was dropped after an extended melee with a Thug. Before my Mage (now my last warband member) could snatch the sword, she was taken out by an Elemental bolt. Sooooo close!

At this point it was pretty much a given, as Paul's Captain snatched the sword & made for the tables edge. This netted Paul (this was his first time playing Frostgrave) the Crystal Skull Sword....though we now wonder, if in fact that Mercenary Captain, didn't just run off with it as his share of the treasure.

Another fun weekend (thank's Tim & Amanda for the place to sleep) & I got to meet another enjoyable gamer in Paul. It was also good to see & go for beer's with Corey & John again! Now I am looking forward to Tim's Campaign write-up