Happy ongoing holiday season, Vaulters! This update is a celebration of nature. It does not require any action on your part. That said, as a reminder: if you have not yet completed your Backerkit Survey for your pledge, please do so.
PAX Unplugged TinkerHouse Games will be showing up in force to PAX Unplugged! We'll have our biggest booth ever--20 feet by 20 feet--with all of our terrain on sale at convention-discounted prices. We'll also have a mockup of the Vault of Mini Things on display, as well as some art-proof mockups of walls, tiles, and standees. Badges for PAX Unplugged are still available as of this writing, so if you'd like to experience the best three days of tabletop gaming this December 1-3 in Philadelphia, PA: register for the show today!
Marshall Art
Marshall's proud to present some furry friends large and small.
Guess which one's the wildshaped Druid, which one's the polymorphed dragon, and which one's the Wizard's familiar!
Vault Ventures
This section is a narrative of the community-chosen adventuring band, as detailed in Update 18. Its purpose is to show the Vault used for actual play, and entertain backers over the course of product development and production.
Remme - Human Circle of the Shepherd Druid
Votun - Warforged Battlemaster Fighter
Grecken - Gnome Assassin Rogue
Elora Damn-ed - Archfey Pact of the Tome Warlock
When last we saw our heroes, they’d gone into the woods to hunt down an infamous haunted cemetery–but instead became the prey of the unhallowed burial ground. Faced with a ravenous horde of cursed undead, the Vaulter community decided our heroes would rally around Remme and protect him while he attempted a Druidic ritual…
Ritual de lo Druidical
Ring around the Remme.
Amidst the eerie glow of the moonlight filtering through the skeletal branches, the party rallied to defend Remme as he began the druidic ritual. Votun, the warforged, stepped into a leadership role, barking tactical orders that cut through the chaos of the undead onslaught. Grecken danced with her twin daggers, a whirlwind of steel that cut down the horde wherever it encroached while Elora channeled arcane energies to fend off the relentless advance.
Remme, in the center of this maelstrom, focused on his ritual, drawing upon the ancient magic of the land. The air crackled with energy as vines erupted from the ground, entwining the skeletal forms of the undead, slowing their relentless march. Yet, in the rush to defend against the horde, the ritual was completed with an unsettling haste.
The air thickened with an ominous tension as Remme's magic manifested. The avatar of nature he summoned was not the benevolent spirit of renewal he anticipated. Instead, emerging from the twisted energy, a malevolent and capricious figure materialized—the sinister Krampus himself!
It’s beginning to look a lot like KRAMPUS
LET THEM FIGHT!
As Krampus materialized, a twisted smirk on his horned visage, the party found themselves in a desperate struggle to protect the faltering Remme. Votun, ever the efficient tactician, directed the group with precision, exploiting the chaotic terrain of the cemetery to create chokepoints and provide cover. The clash of steel against bone reverberated through the night as Grecken and Elora fended off the relentless undead while shielding Remme from the chaotic swings of Krampus.
The battle escalated into a cataclysmic spectacle. Krampus, fueled by the corrupted magic of the cemetery, tore through the undead hordes surrounding him with terrible efficacy, sending splinters of bone and gobs of decaying flesh against the marble and iron walls of the Abattoir of Avarice. The party dodged through the tombstones, trying to stay ahead of the unstoppable force that was Krampus.
Amidst the devastation, a colossal grave golem lumbered forth to challenge the malevolent spirit. A titanic clash ensued, with Krampus and the golem smashing through crypts and tombstones, sending debris from shattered crypts and the splintered remains of sarcophagi flying through the air. Votun led the party into cover, then popped his head back up to analyze the respective capabilities, strengths and weaknesses of the giant combatants. Whoever wins is who they'll have to deal with. As he observed the combat he couldn't help but compare the golem's composition of wood, iron, and stone to his own body. Such a powerful form, devoted entirely to mindless destruction. The warforged's mechanical eyes flicked down to his hand, securely gripping the hilt of his well-tended and well-used blade. The eyes blinked, then flicked back to the fight.
The brawlers lurched into a tall mausoleum, bursting through the iron doors and bringing the roof down in a cacophony of splintering slate. As the dust swirled, a single hulking body slowly rose from the rubble. Then it threw its head back in a triumphant cackle, and the full moon silhouetted within the mist the horned form of Krampus. Remme, delirious and drained from the corrupted ritual, slumped to the ground, his magical connection with Krampus faltering.
Trick or Treat?
I don't think he's here to play Jingle Bells...
Silence descended upon the ravaged cemetery as Krampus turned to fully face the party. The twisted figure surveyed the destruction surrounding him, his eyes gleaming with malevolent delight. The party, battered but resilient, exchanged a quick conversation about their next move.
"Is he under our control?" Votun questioned, eyeing Krampus warily. "Or is he another pawn of the cemetery?"
Elora, her gaze fixed on the capricious figure, remarked, "Perhaps he has his own agenda, independent of our commands."
Grecken spared a moment to glare at Remme, "Well that was one hell of a magicking, Druid. You’ve brought us a powerful ally... or a formidable foe."
The party stood at a crossroads, unsure of the true nature of Krampus and the implications of his presence. With uncertainty hanging in the air, the adventurers faced a pivotal decision. What shall be their next move in this haunting tale?
Choice 1: Attempt to Control Krampus - Utilize Remme's druidic powers to assert control over Krampus, hoping to bend the malevolent spirit to their will.
Choice 2: Parley with the Devil - Engage in a dialogue with Krampus, seeking to understand his motives and intentions, hoping to discern whether he is an ally or a foe.
Choice 3: Seize the (and roll for) Initiative - Immediately attack before Krampus can regain his strength, choosing aggression over uncertain alliances.
The fate of our heroes rests once again in the hands of our esteemed backers. Make your choice via the poll associated with this Update, and let the story unfold in the next chapter of The Vault of Mini Things' iconic adventures!
Happy Thanksgiving, Mike, Lane, Chris, and Marshall
