Barrowmaze

Local villagers whisper of a mysterious place deep in the marsh - a place shrouded in mist and dotted with barrow mounds, ruined columns, and standing stones. The tomb-robbers who explore beneath the mounds, or rather the few who return, tell tales of labyrinthine passages, magnificent grave goods, and terrifying creatures waiting in the dark. Are you brave (or foolish) enough to enter Barrowmaze?

Come the summer months the little town of Helix swells in population as treasure hunters, adventure seekers, and even the occasional academic archivist travel to the region with the intent of uncovering the riches said to lie beneath the Barrowmoors. Each day a new expedition sets out light of pocket but full of hope, but all are sent off with the warning to be back by nightfall for with dusk comes a soupy, impenetrable fog and the relentless tread of things which don't need eyes to see…

Barrowmaze is an open table hex and dungeon crawl. The aim is to provide a low-commitment game for whoever is available on Thursday evenings (GMT+1 / BST) to show up with a character and just play. Showing up weekly is not a requirement - life can be busy! Maybe you can only make one-off games - this is fine. We also have game dotted throughout the rest of the week at the same time.

Each game session constitutes a narrative day. Player characters are, for whatever reason, keen to explore the barrows south of Helix. They gather together and set off as an expedition - the only requirement is that the expedition returns to Helix or another safe settlement by the end of the session. If they don't, characters risk the night perils of the Barrowmoors and may be lost forever. This means that there is no pressure on players to return for specific sessions - each one is a new day!

Introduction

Here is an introductory page to give you an idea of tone, atmosphere and what a typical session looks like.

Expedition Reports

Entries with some form of expedition account are marked in bold.

Expedition 1 (27 Feb 2020)
Expedition 2 (02 Mar 2020)
Expedition 3 (05 Mar 2020)
Expedition 4 (10 Mar 2020)
Expedition 5 (12 Mar 2020)
Expedition 6 (16 Mar 2020)
Expedition 7 (19 Mar 2020)
Expedition 8 (24 Mar 2020)
Expedition 9 (26 Mar 2020)
Expedition 10 (29 Mar 2020)
Expedition 11 (30 Mar 2020)
Expedition 12 (31 Mar 2020)
Expedition 13 (02 Apr 2020)
Expedition 14 (05 Apr 2020)
Expedition 15 (07 Apr 2020)
Expedition 16 (09 Apr 2020)
Expedition 17 (13 Apr 2020)
Expedition 18 (14 Apr 2020)
Expedition 19 (16 Apr 2020)
Expedition 20 (18 Apr 2020)
Expedition 21 (19 Apr 2020)
Expedition 22 (21 Apr 2020)
Expedition 23 (27 Apr 2020)
Expedition 24 (28 Apr 2020)
Expedition 25 (30 Apr 2020)
Expedition 26 (06 May 2020)
Expedition 27 (07 May 2020)
Expedition 28 (11 May 2020)
Expedition 29 (14 May 2020)
Expedition 30 (15 May 2020)
Expedition 31 (20 May 2020)
Expedition 32 (21 May 2020)
Expedition 33 (22 May 2020)
Expedition 34 (27 May 2020)
Expedition 35 (03 Jun 2020)
Expedition 36 (04 Jun 2020)
Expedition 37 (08 Jun 2020)
Expedition 38 (10 Jun 2020)
Expedition 39 (11 Jun 2020)
Expedition 40 (17 Jun 2020)
Expedition 41 (18 Jun 2020)
Expedition 42 (24 Jun 2020)
Expedition 43 (01 Jul 2020)
Expedition 44 (02 Jul 2020)
Expedition 45 (15 Jul 2020)
Expedition 46 (17 Jul 2020)
Expedition 47 (21 Jul 2020)
Expedition 48 (29 Jul 2020)
Expedition 49 (05 Aug 2020)
Expedition 50 (18 Aug 2020)
Expedition 51 (26 Aug 2020)
Expedition 52 (01 Sep 2020)
Expedition 53 (09 Sep 2020)
Expedition 54 (24 Sep 2020)
Expedition 55 (01 Oct 2020)
Expedition 56 (08 Oct 2020)
Expedition 57 (15 Oct 2020)
Expedition 58 (22 Oct 2020)
Expedition 59 (29 Oct 2020)
Expedition 60 (13 Nov 2020)
Expedition 61 (19 Nov 2020)
Expedition 62 (26 Nov 2020)
Expedition 63 (02 Dec 2020)
Expedition 64 (15 Dec 2020)
Expedition 65 (28 Dec 2020)
Expedition 66 (30 Dec 2020)
Expedition 67 (14 Jan 2021)
Expedition 68 (21 Jan 2021)
Expedition 69 (30 Jan 2021)
Expedition 70 (04 Feb 2021)
Expedition 71 (11 Feb 2021)
Expedition 72 (18 Feb 2021)
Expedition 73 (27 Feb 2021)
Expedition 74 (04 Mar 2021)
Expedition 75 (11 Mar 2021)
Expedition 76 (18 Mar 2021)
Expedition 77 (08 Apr 2021)
Expedition 78 (03 May 2021)

Characters

Character Class (level) Player
Batrok Assassin (1) GeneralPacman
Dory Channeller (1) Captain Solaire
Quagg (sic) Specialist - Ranger (5) Mihau
Kerrick Fighter (1) Curio
Larry Ogg Fighter (3) Martin
Rocco Kyndman Jr III Cleric (3) twisted_7ogic
Blank the Sooty Barbarian (1) sgtsinger
Hanna the Battle Nun Cleric (1) Jacob-Business
Arlicht Vadlets Paladin (1) Blue
Ivanoski
Crookebone Wizard (1) Wizard Lizard
Tony Three-Hand Thief (5) Kabaldo
Sam Thief (4) DuskTemplar
Daniella Fighter (1) Tina
Bagel Thief (1) Si_S
Grand Novice Derick Wizard (2) Weresheep
Sciverbridge AKA Woakeston Adventurer (3) Idle Doodler
Father Kask Cleric (2) TheManWithAHammer
Adrik Goldtooth Barbarian (2) Discuit
Agurne Fighter (1) Roberto
Avelardo Duellist (3) Baht Bought Bot
Bobag Onebag Channeller (1) Neville
Jozefo Katell Bard (1) Griffiana
Bianca Wellbelove Duellist (1) Tim B.
Githor Druid (1) Rei E'lyana
Reg Druid (1) Ichigo
Skuttle Barbarian (3) BaaL
Karrac Specialist (1) Monkeywork
Carl-Philip Adventurer (1) Vikong
Jaromir Fighter (1) Roberto
Gabrin Fighter (1) BlueWolf
Fyppound Spellcaster (1) AesthethicsofArson
Rambulio Spellcaster (1) Dilarus
Robert Specialist (1) material15
Lumber Specialist (1) BaaL
Ryall Specialist (1) Sam123
Smash Fighter (1) lovelyzoo
Avra Fighter (1) henriettawallace
Krindin Fighter (1) Flaereon

Maps

Notable NPCs

Notable Retainers

Notable Hirelings

Equipment

Character Memorial

Character Role Cause of Death
Lynn (GeneralPacman) Thief (1) Ambushed by a giant scorpion (expedition 1)
Otto Combatant Run down by a giant scorpion (expedition 3)
Tal Combatant Slapped down by a watery zombie (expedition 4)
Hurdash Combatant Pummelled by a whirling bone abomination (expedition 6)
Kelith Combatant Pulverised by a whirling bone abomination (expedition 6)
Toast Rack Porter Crushed by a collapsing ceiling (expedition 6)
Dhra'gaar (DuskTemplar) Wizard (1) Swallowed whole by a whirling bone abomination (expedition 7)
Ghille Scamdalf's charmed combatant Poison needled opening a chest (expedition 7)
Toast Rack Jr Porter MIA. Last seen being pulled into the mud by living tree roots digging for his fortune (expedition 8)
Og Combatant Cut down by a deathly figure (expedition 10)
Morman Porter Dragged into the dark by an undead warrior (expedition 10)
Yaztromo (Mihau) Channeller (1) Hugged by a wight (expedition 10)
Colix Porter Savaged by wolves (expedition 11)
Colgar Porter Gutted by wolves (expedition 11)
Tordy Porter Torn apart by a giant eagle (expedition 12)
Bordy Porter Engulfed by an icy fire spirit (expedition 12)
Thad Scamdalf's charmed combatant Webbed by a giant spider (expedition 13)
Saxon Porter Slapped by a wight (expedition 13)
Ol' Roy War dog Disembowelled by a salamander (expedition 15)
Frena Combatant Unhorsed by a skeleton (expedition 16)
Henx Combatant Surprised by a wraith (expedition 16)
Sgt Rumpus (ChillBlinton) Barbarian (1) Chilled by a wraith (expedition 16)
Kilson Hired Fighter (1) Whomped by an unhappy willow (expedition 20)
Wee Davey (Si_S) Druid (3) Pinned to the wall by a sonic swordfish - 25 damage! (expedition 21)
Kalis (DuskTemplar) Duellist (2) Fire-trapped (expedition 23)
Yar Combatant Trapped crossbow bolt to the forehead (expedition 26)
Mimie Captured Mimic Analysed by a large herd of trolls (expedition 27)
Gump Combatant Ambushed while horse-monitoring (expedition 29)
Arwood Combatant Ambushed while horse-monitoring (expedition 29)
Dog War dog Scored by a clockwork scorpion (expedition 29)
Noxic Combatant Drained by an undead bloodsucker (expedition 31)
Longusfaber (BaaL) Fighter (2) Charmed by an undead bloodsucker (expedition 31)
Malag Combatant Incinerated by a fiery skeleton (expedition 32)
Merna Combatant Butted by a demonic goat (expedition 32)
McDump (Baht Bought Bot) Fighter (1) Caught by a wight (expedition 33)
Toasty (Wee Davey) Bard (1) Pitted against a clockwork scorpion (expedition 35)
Finkel the Spearman (Wizard Lizard) Fighter (2) Became 40 years younger, aged 28 (expedition 36)
Skroot (Baal) Adventurer (2) Accidentally relieved from ooze-based misery by an 'ally' (expedition 38)
Gorg (Roberto) Bard (2) Disappeared under a swarm of zombies (expedition 42)
Fede (Mihau) Ranger Retainer (1) Clobbered by an enchanted ally (expedition 44)
Goizargi Combatant Siphoned by a bald flapping thing (expedition 48)
Kemena Porter Sucked dry by a bald flapping thing (expedition 48)
Paolo (Mihau) Retainer (0) Clobbered by a little rock person (expedition 49)
Shillelagh Donkey Brought down by a little rock person (expedition 49)
Kitate (BaaL) Retainer (0) Whiplashed by a giant grit person (expedition 50)
Buck (Roberto) Druid (5) Lost to the shadows (expedition 51)
Arine Porter Pulled off an escape rope… by an 'ally' (expedition 51)
Frantziska Porter Fell from a great height… thanks to an 'ally' (expedition 51)
Igon (Roberto) Adventurer Retainer (1) Knocked down into the shadows (expedition 51)
Duck (Roberto) Spellcaster (1) Gored by a bug-leaking cadaver (expedition 52)
Ilveon (Griffiana) Specialist (1) Bloodsucked by flying pests (expedition 54)
Jaione Porter Pincushioned by a flying pest (expedition 54)
Gulwag (Ivanoski) Charmed Adventurer (2) Disappeared down a pit (expedition 55)
Eriolle Combatant Never awoke from a magical slumber at the bottom of a bit (expedition 56)
Luck the Gambler (Roberto) Specialist (2) Engulfed in a hound's flame (expedition 65)
7 hired swords Combatants Lost in the battle by The Pit (expedition 65)
Juliene Combatant Walloped by an angry flagstone figure (expedition 69)
Domeka Combatant Engulfed in runic flame (expedition 73)
Ponpoxa Combatant Neck broken by an armoured skeleton (expedition 73)
Master Ribboton (Ivanoski) Adventurer (1) Cut off by two eerie armoured figures (expedition 75)
Balzer (lovelyzoo) Adventurer (1) Snuffed out by a cowled figure (expedition 75)
Kridrithas (Flareon) Fighter (1) Brought down by an eerie armoured figure (expedition 75)
Prance (BaaL) Specialist (1) Swarmed in the dark (expedition 75)
Scamdalf Hornwelt (Ivanoski) Spellcaster (5) Engulfed by fiery skeletons (expedition 76)
Ler Combatant Bled dry by a flapping needle bird (expedition 77)
Ekain Porter Punctured by a flapping needle bird (expedition 77)
Gelegieta Combatant Skewered on two rusty spears (expedition 78)

Dormant Characters

Character Player
Blander (Backup) Curio
Professor Peacock (Backup) Ivanoski
Father Colvert (Backup) Wizard Lizard
Sir Nittens ZZ of the M Midnight
Thug the Mug xzcccö
Bortimer Mihau
Dimpleness Idle Doodler
Quagg (old sheet) Mihau
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