Dragonstone - Skyscrapers & Sorcery session 1 - Into the Ring

We played our first game of Skyscrapers & Sorcery last sunday night. Due to time constraints, we were only able to play for 1 hour. Being able to play online though, none of us was required to drive or travel to another place so the limited time slot was acceptable to us.

We started at the dungeon! I kicked off the campaign with an intro describing the lead up to the dungeon. One of the characters, Vroom Vroom, is a package courier whose van was stolen by questionable types. Before the authorities could be alarmed, the party was approached by a large man who calls himself "Mr. Jones" and asked the characters to recover a package addressed to him in the back of the van, promising a reward upon delivery. And so our cast of characters found themselves at the gate of a delapitated and abandoned mansion north of New Aurora City.

Cast of Characters
Fredd - Warforged Warlock (Great Old One) 1, Lawyer
Skarsnik - Goblin Druid 1, Doctor
Vroom Vroom - Kenku Monk 1, Driver

The party made the rounds of the mansion grounds, having two options of entering: via a hole in the surrounding wall to the east, or through the front gate. Through the gate could be seen Vroom Vroom's stolen van and a black, unmarked van. Choosing discretion, the party entered the grounds through the hole in the wall, stumbling upon a well. Various small critters - hares, squirrels, mice - were active around the well and Skarsnik cast Speak with Animals to determine the nature and demeanor of the squatters in the mansion. Proving very cooperative, the small animals provided that about a dozen humanoids were active in the mansion, using the black van to come and go as they please.

With this information, Vroom Vroom stealthily rounded the corner of the house and sneaked towards the black van to investigate. Picking the lock of the back door with one of his darts, Vroom Vroom snuck inside to find the black van featureless and empty. He quickly collected the contents of the glove compartment - a selection of Orcish gangsta rap - and popped the hood from inside the van. Under the hood, he used his knowledge of vehicle mechanics to sabotage the van, taking out its brakes and disconnecting the dragonstone matrix containing the Air Elemental that moves the vehicle from the van. He then motioned his comrades to join him and investigate his own, white, Aurumdor Express van.

Finding the back of his van open and its contents jumbled and tossed around, Vroom Vroom and his friend Skarsnik entered and investigated. About half the boxes were ripped open or destroyed, their contents now worthless. The other half was thrown about the back of the van. Mr. Jones' package was nowhere to be found, however.

Determining that the package they sought must be inside, and seeing humanoid footsteps leading from the parked vans to the front door, the party again chose discretion and entered via the mansion's back door near the well. Exploring a small hallway, the entered a door into what in older days had to be the kitchen. Through another door they entered a small chamber containing only a broken copper casket, and a stairs leading down to the cellar. Again seeing footsteps leading to the stairs to the cellar, Vroom Vroom prepared to descend. As soon as his foot touched the first step down, all three heard a maddening scream, prompting a wisdom save (which all succeeded in).

That's where we ended the session. We pick up next friday as the party descends into the cellar of the old mansion, in search of a mysterious package...

All in all, we had fun, even though it was short. Two of the three players hadn't played D&D in maybe three years and both expressed contentment with returning to the game. All three have created absolutely delightful characters that will be my pleasure to challenge and roleplay with.

So there you have it! The start of Skyscrapers & Sorcery.