Post/Author/DateTime	Post
themind 11-19-04, 04:22 PM	Okay, first off, I would like to say that this thread is meant to for constructive help for my campaign and not for flaming. My friend and I came up with this idea a few months, worked out most of the game details, and decided how to start. My friend however, wanted to play in the game, so I said I would DM it, although I am still sort of an amateur DM. He knows the overall outcome for the PC’s but I came up with the story and campaign progression, he didn’t want to have too much knowledge. I would also like to say that while I respect everyone’s opinions, I would rather you not post anything if it isn’t meant to help. I posted this so I could here suggestions that will help me make the game better, not to hear people saying I’m stupid for thinking of this or that the idea is stupid. Keep in mind that we already started the campaign and have already done 3 sessions. Now, like I said before, my friend and I came up with an idea to combine Eberron with some Forgotten Realms. The primary concept is that Eberron used to be the world of Toril. We didn’t change anything in the Eberron Campaign Setting, just added some to the beginning of the timeline for a little back-story. Below I will describe what we came up with. Last Days of Toril In the years that passed after 1373 DR many major events occurred that led to the end. Battles between the Shadovar and the Chosen of Mystra, the disappearance of Waterdeep at the hands of the Shadovar, the melting of the High Ice, and other confrontations led to it. It was in the year 1400 DR, named the Year of Revelations, that the great battle ensued. The forces of evil in Toril banded together and faced off against the forces of good. The battle was so great, that even the Gods couldn’t stay out of it. As the fighting progressed, something happened that made the Gods tremble in fear. It was too late that they realized their mistake. Ao appeared. Angered and disappointed that the Gods hadn’t learned from their past mistakes, he figured that the world didn’t deserve to exist anymore. The divine essences of the Gods were stripped from their being and they joined the mortals on the battlefield as they collapsed into death. At that moment, four great dragons landed in front of Ao. Eberron, Siberys, Khyber, and Klauth were their names. These dragons stayed out of the war for reasons unknown to the two sides who tried to recruit them. The dragons in their own way pleaded with Ao not to destroy world entirely. They would do whatever it took to ensure that existence for their kind and of the lesser races. Ao said that if they wanted to give up their lives to recreate the world, than they could. The four dragons agreed. As the world began to crumble, the dragons began to release their life essences. Essentially, they became the Dragon Above, the Dragon Below, and the Dragon Between. Klauth, however, was still standing next to Ao. Ao proclaimed that one day the Gods may make a return, but they must learn from their mistakes and acquire the status they once held. As Eberron, Siberys, and Khyber were given the task to recreate the world, Klauth was given the task of waiting for the day when the Gods begin to “awaken” and guide them on the path that will ultimately be their destiny. With that, Ao returned to wherever he resides and let the world build on its own. At that point the Timeline in the Eberron Campaign Setting takes over. Continued in following posts.
themind 11-19-04, 04:23 PM	Now we come to what this all means for the PC’s. The PC’s, there are seven of them in the game that I am running, are the remnants of the old Faerun gods. However, they don’t know it quite yet. Here is a list of the PC’s and who they are remnants of. Raven - Human Wizard3/Sorceror1- Mystra Lynx - Elf Rogue4- Corellon Lorethian Torrak- Dwarf Fighter4- Moradin Kerry- Human Sorceror4- Selune Siddhartha- Human Rogue4- Tymora Truban- Human Fighter4- Torm Jynx- Elf Fighter4- Solonar Thelandira (Elven Pantheon) In addition to having their class abilities, we gave them special abilities as well. For each character, we took one of the domains that that deity originally could grant, gave the character the special power that it granted, and gave them the ability to use the domain spells as Spell like abilities each one a day. However, at the beginning, they have no control over them, and they activate at key situations. Let me give an example. For Raven, who is the Remnant of Mystra, we chose the Spell Domain. Thus, she gets the special power that the domain grants (I don’t want to post it due to it not being Open game content and all that jazz.) At first level, the character would have the first level spell that the domain grants as a Spell-like ability, although she wouldn’t have control over it just yet. As they progress in levels, they will be able to gain access to the other level spells just as if they were gaining levels as a cleric. So when Raven reaches 3rd level, the second level spell that the domain would grant is available to be used. Ultimately, we have a planned point where the PC’s will be able to take control of these powers. At 5th level, more will be explained later about why here, they will be able to control over these powers. In addition, at 5th level and every five levels after that, they will gain access to another one of the domains that the deity would normally grant, and the previous ones will be able to be used more. So at 5th level, Raven would get another domain that Mystra could normally have granted, each spell at 1/day, and the spells from the Spell Domain can be each used 2/day. In addition, we allowed each character to have Proficiency and Weapon Focus as bonus feats for the favored weapons of the deities that they represent. Also, at 5th level, each character will be able to cast cleric spells as a cleric of ½ their level, rounded down of course. And at either 10th or 15th level (haven’t decided yet), it will go up to ¾ and finally at 20th, they will be able to cast cleric spells as if they were Cleric of their class level.
themind 11-19-04, 04:24 PM	Now the overall story of the game. This is how I would like to progress the game, adventure wise. 1) the Forgotten Forge (done) 2) Saving the Village(done) 3) The Forge of Fury(In Progress) 4) Meeting(Special, see below) 5) Shadows of the Last War 6) Whispers of the Vampire’s Blade 7) Grasp of the Emerald Claw 8) Scavenger Hunt(Series of different adventures, see below) 9) Righting a Wrong(Another series of adventures, see below) At the beginning, I ran a separate introduction for each character. For each one I came up with a conflict that in turn would make their powers manifest. The next day they felt an unexplainable pull to go somewhere. The pull brought them to Sharn. Here they came across a tavern as it started to rain. “Godsmeet” was the name. Inside, they each met each other, and talked for awhile. I let them talk to each other for a few minutes before I continued the game. An old man walked in, accompanied by a Warforged, from the rain. The man looked at each of the characters, smiled and sat at a table near the fireplace and invited the PC’s to sit with him. He introduced himself as Klautharian (guess who?) and the Warforged as Patch (A Warforged Cleric that will accompany the party for few levels). After the PC’s introduced themselves and drinks were brought to the table for everyone, Klautharian got down to business. He was searching for a map that was last heard to be somewhere in the depths of Sharn. Possibly in an old House Cannith forge, since the location the map led to was supposed to be a forge itself. After asking all the questions they had, they finally accepted the task and went to find a good inn. It was at this point I started the Forgotten Forge adventure. As the adventure progressed, the PC’s figured that helping Lady Elaydrin may help lead to finding that map. So they accepted and went down into the depths of the city. Inside the Foundry, they found the Schema for Lady Elaydrin and the map (I decided to make it useful) for Klautharian. They returned to each one in turn, got their rewards, and got a new mission. Klautharian asked if they could go to the location on the map, which was close to the border of Breland and Droam. Along the way, they came across a village that was being harassed by a group of bandits. They searched for the Bandit Base, found it and defeated the Bandits. They continued on to the location on the map, which led to the adventure, the Forge of Fury. They have fought their way through the first level of the dungeon and have the rest of it to go. My reasons for each adventure 1) I started with the special intros so we could give the PC’s a reason to go to Sharn. The tavern was meant to get the PC’s acquainted to each other and to get them going on the right direction. The Forgotten Forge was to introduce Eberron to the players that were new to the setting. 2) The Saving the Village encounter was meant as a filler to help level up the characters to 3rd level so they could be appropriate level for the Forge of Fury. 3) I was trying to think of what to do to get the PC’s to 5th level, so I decided to run an adventure that was already made. I saw the Forge of Fury, at the store where we play the game, and I decided to use it. I updated the encounters to 3.5, scaled it up for 8 characters, and changed Eberronized it a little. I made the Orcs, Hobgoblin mercs from Droamm, I made the Black Dragon at the end an advanced Stone Drake from the Races of Stone, I added some Warforged as the leaders of the Duergar, and made it where the dungeon used to be a secret Creation Forge for the House Cannith, now abandoned. When they finish this adventure, they should be Lv. 5. 4) When they return to Sharn, they are met by one of Klautharians acquaintances and he leads them to the top of a tower where Klautharian is waiting for them with 10 robed figures, each one a different color, Red, Blue, Green, White, Black, Gold, Bronze, Brass, Copper, and Silver. He tells them his true name, Klauth. (big surprise) He explains that they have passed the test and are ready for the next stage. The ten men change into Great Wyrms, the PC’s with Klauth get on one and start flying south. He is bringing them to a portal that will bring them to one who will explain everything. Before they reach the portal, they are noticed that they are being followed. Vol apparently has taken interest in this and is following on a Dracolich. Klauth leaves to stall Vol while the PC’s head for the portal. They reach the portal and go through and find themselves in temple of some sort. Here, they meet Ao, who begins to explain to them their significance. It’s after this they get to be able to control their SLA’s and cast cleric spells. 5) They return to Sharn and start going through the Shadows of the Last War, Whispers of the Vampire’s Blade, and Grasp of the Emerald Claw adventures. All of which I will scale up for an appropriate challenge. After all of these, I am expecting them to be either 10th or 11th level.
themind 11-19-04, 04:25 PM	Scavenger Hunt Here I have been thinking of doing some adventures of my creation to bring the PC’s up to 20th Level. Here’s what I have and what I would like to do. A member of The Twelve in Karrnath asks for the PC’s presence. He wants them to retrieve materials for an Eldritch Machine he would like to create. The adventures would encompass searching and gathering these materials. For materials, what I have thought of includes, the metal ore needed for it and 4 of each type of Dragonshard. The truth is this wizard isn’t who he seems to be. He is actually the Great grandfather of the current Vol. He became a Lich thousands of years ago, and was somehow defeated and was kept from returning. However, recently Vol’s followers accidentally let him loose when excavating an old tomb. He dispatched a member of the Twelve and took his place by looking like him with strong magic. The Eldritch Machine he wants to create will actually create a powerful army where he could then take over the world. The PC’s won’t realize this until it is too late. The following adventures will entail the Righting a Wrong group of adventures which I will talk about later. Now, this guy will be a powerful wizard. More powerful than Vol herself or any other known Wizard in the world. Basically, he will be suitable final encounter for the PC’s when they are Lv 40. For his Eldritch Machine, the Siberys Shards will be used to enhance the power of his Dragonmark (which he will regain the power for through an epic ritual), the Eberron Shards to keep the Machine stable, and the Khyber Shards will be used to bind either Greater Elementals or Elder Elementals to enhance the power of the army that will be created from it. What I’ll need help with here is: 1) A good lie for him to tell the PC’s when they ask what that machine will be used for. 2) More materials for the machine 3) And ideas for adventures to find the materials Righting a Wrong I haven’t thought that much ahead, but I was thinking more along the lines of finding pieces to a puzzle that will help them defeat the Wizard, all the while, fighting his agents and followers. Some things I am looking for help with in general 1) Some suggestions for the story to make it a little bit better and concrete 2) Some suggestions for scaling the encounters in the SotLW for 7 5th Level PC’s, scaling the encounters in WotVB for 7 7th level PC’s, and GotEC when it comes out for 7 9th Level PC’s. 3) The stuff I need for the Scavenger Hunt part of the adventure. 4) And eventually, the epic adventures. Let me know what you think so far. And ask any questions that you got. And any help you can give me to make it better will be greatly appreciated. I know some points may be a little vague, and I apologize for that. I’ve never been very good at this kind of explanation, especially when it is so long.
EarthsShadow 11-21-04, 05:50 AM	I just wanted to say that I think this idea is really damn cool, and I wish I could join in as a reincarnation of the main evil god (I cannot remember his name) who ends up betraying the characters at the end to establish himself as the evil god he truly is. I think that twist at the end would make it end on a really good level, and if the others didn't expect it, all the better. :)
themind 11-24-04, 06:50 PM	Well, at least one person likes this idea. I guess everyone else doesnt. Ok, then, I want to know what everyone else thinks and if anything can make it better. Also, I seriously need help with some stuff. I can't talk to my friends that I usually hang out with, because they are in the game, so this is the next place that I can come to for help with making Eberron adventures. Main stuff, ideas for Eldritch machine materials, adventure ideas to find the materials, and some suggestions for what the Wizard "says" the machine is for.
Sabre_Spell_Blader 11-24-04, 07:09 PM	Well, personally I wouldn't have had the whole story centered around FR, but if you want to do that, this is a good way to do it. One suggestion would be to not have all the PCs be standard D&D races. Maybe a shifter, changeling, kalashtar, or warforged would help. Interesting idea.
themind 11-24-04, 07:30 PM	Actually, I'm not trying to center the whole story around FR. My friend and I thought it would be a good twist. I want to try and have the story be centered on what the PC's do. "Will they maybe at some point attain their Deity Status again or perish and lose the divine spark that lies within?" That's basically one of the parts that the story will encircle. I basically want the story to entail the PC's rise in prestige as they go through the published adventures, help find the pieces to the Eldritch Machine, realize they helped a diabolical mastermind, and the process in which they try and stop the mastermind. About the races, my friend and I actually talked about this. We figured that if the characters were going to be remants of old gods, they should be the same race as the god was commonly portrayed as to us. And if the players wanted to be one of the new races, they wouldnt have any of the special powers that the others got. Now, i have to admit we didnt give too much thought about it. And after thinking about it, it would have been interesting.
ralixgaudreau 11-24-04, 11:32 PM	Well, let me add my voice to the one other who said he thought this was a cool idea. I think it sounds like a lot of fun, and you're certainly off to a well-planned start. Now you have to hope that the PCs accommodate you and stay more or less on track. :) As for help with the Eldritch Machine, well, it seems to me that if the wizard in question requested the PCs' help for this, then he obviously knows a thing or two about them and their motivations. As such, if he's going to craft a story about what it does, then it should be something that's in tune with their own goals. That way, they'd be more likely to go along with it (and would be a reasonable cover story for why he approached them in the first place). Now, I think that this cover story should probably not relate to their roles as reincarnated godlings, since that's supposed to be super-secret, but you could have it "coincidentally" be related, and the lich not really know anything about it. (Or maybe he really does, but pretends not to. Maybe he's Vecna (or FR's equivalent) and just happened to "manifest" in the world earlier than the PCs, so he's had a head start on regaining his divine powers -- except that he hasn't really, because he has yet to prove himself to Ao and hasn't been granted his station. Instead, he's content to wallow in power and glory in the mortal world...) The adventure to get materials for the machine could go to Xen'drik, 'cause that's where all the best stuff is. :) Dragonshards of various kinds should obviously be involved (maybe all three?), and maybe an ancient docent of magnificent power, as well as an ancient Xen'drik "warforged" in whom the docent should be placed, which awakens it so that it can be the essence of the machine (or perhaps this construct basically *is* the machine). This is kind of vague, I admit, but it's late. :) It sounds like you have yet to really take advantage of what seems a built-in source of opponents and foes in this story line -- the evil gods of Faerun! What are the reincarnated versions of Talos, Mask, Bane and Gruumsh up to in the modern day? The PCs should definitely run afoul of them, either finding out what they're up to and thwarting them, or perhaps having the evil godlings attempt to thwart what the PCs are up to. I don't know how helpful this is in dealing with your immediate questions, but I hope I've sparked an idea or two. I only have SotLW at this point, not WotVB. I'll take a look at it and think of ways to scale it up to 5th level. Best of luck with the game!
JabBond 11-24-04, 11:48 PM	Gond has gotta be in a docent! See, it's perfect, the Lord of All Smiths manifests in a minor artifact, usable only by the most finely crafted construct around, the Warforged! Especially if you had a player who wanted to be a Warforged Artificer, it'd be perfect. One thing you might want to be careful, how are the existing gods of Eberron going to react? After all, they're distant but not non-existant. Are they just waiting for their brothers/sisters-in-deityhood to complete their education before they all grow closer to their worshipers? Or will they try to train these godlings to appreciate Eberron for what it is, rather than what it used to be? I wouldn't try to recreate FR in Eberron, the new setting has so much to offer.
themind 11-24-04, 11:55 PM	Thanks for the advice. Thats the stuff I am looking for, especially to get my creative juices flowing. The materials for the Eldritch Machine is mostly what I had in mind, I want to have some of each of the Dragonshards, one or two of the Eberron Shards, 4 Khyber Shards, each to bind a different Elemental to, and a couple Siberys shards to enhance his Dragonmark. And i figured that would have to do with searching Xendrik. And I like the idea of having the lie be sdomething about them. I'll see what I can work out with it. My plan for the Lich though, is that he is part of the Vol family, in fact the grandfather or some other relative of the Halfdragon/elf lich that we all know and love. He was somehow defeated some thousand years ago, but not destroyed. His tomb was locked away, but was uncovered by Vol's henchman and he was set loose. Then through some means, (Epic Ritual probably), he was able to get his Dragonmark to work again. It sounds like you have yet to really take advantage of what seems a built-in source of opponents and foes in this story line -- the evil gods of Faerun! What are the reincarnated versions of Talos, Mask, Bane and Gruumsh up to in the modern day? The PCs should definitely run afoul of them, either finding out what they're up to and thwarting them, or perhaps having the evil godlings attempt to thwart what the PCs are up to. Actually, I have been thinking about it, I just forgot to mention it...Oops. That was an idea that we came up with near the beginning. Having their rivals of old complicate things. I was thinking of introducing them vaguely at first. Such as, when they leave the audience with Ao, a group of their rivals is entering, and they pass each other. And then later, have some confrontations with them, like during their search for the materials. Thanks for the help.
themind 11-25-04, 12:07 AM	Gond has gotta be in a docent! See, it's perfect, the Lord of All Smiths manifests in a minor artifact, usable only by the most finely crafted construct around, the Warforged! Especially if you had a player who wanted to be a Warforged Artificer, it'd be perfect. One thing you might want to be careful, how are the existing gods of Eberron going to react? After all, they're distant but not non-existant. Are they just waiting for their brothers/sisters-in-deityhood to complete their education before they all grow closer to their worshipers? Or will they try to train these godlings to appreciate Eberron for what it is, rather than what it used to be? I wouldn't try to recreate FR in Eberron, the new setting has so much to offer. That is a nice idea. I never thought of that. Although, no one is a warforged inb the group. But very interenting. My friend and I discussed this as well. While looking at the Gods descriptions in Eberron, I noticed most of them, Soveriegn Host and the Dark Six, were represented as Dragons. So I theorized, that the those gods were the first of the Dragons to be born after Eberrons creation, Klauth raised them and taught them everything, and they became the placeholders for the old gods. But of course, after roughly 10 million years of being a god, you kind of get used to it and dont want to give it up. I plan on having run ins with servants of the gods, especially in the future. And all of the other dieties, although not really ones but worshiped nontheless, probably dont want to be replaced. Although the Silver Flame may not care, but the corrupted ones in the church would. Of course, when they attain deity status, it isnt going to be all ready for them, they have to gather followers and such. Maybe the present gods will remain. If I had to decide right now though, i would have it where the present Gods stay, while the PC's work to get their religions going again. Of course, some may help, and others would probbly want to see them fail.
BOK2 11-25-04, 01:05 AM	I love your Idea, it's very original and seems a lot of fun to play in. I suggest the lich tell your players that the eldritch machine, once completed and activate at the heart of the the mournlands will, will restore Cyre to normal. They could even ask Prince Orgev for aid since he would also think that the machine will restore his homeland. :)
themind 11-25-04, 01:53 AM	I love your Idea, it's very original and seems a lot of fun to play in. I suggest the lich tell your players that the eldritch machine, once completed and activate at the heart of the the mournlands will, will restore Cyre to normal. They could even ask Prince Orgev for aid since he would also think that the machine will restore his homeland. :) Mmmm...thats a good one too. I plan on having the PC's meet the Lich at Karrankton(sp?)(the one with the huge fortress in Karrnath) since it is close to the border of the Mournland. A very interesting idea. Thanks
themind 12-04-04, 01:11 AM	I thought I would update on how the campaign is going so far, as we pla through the Forge of Fury. Characters Raven - Human Wizard3/Sorceror1- Mystra Lynx - Elf Rogue4- Corellon Lorethian - absent this day Torrak- Dwarf Fighter4- Moradin Kerry- Human Sorceror4- Selune Siddhartha- Human Rogue4- Tymora Truban- Human Fighter4- Torm Jynx- Elf Fighter4- Solonar Thelandira (Elven Pantheon) Patch- Warforged Cleric4-NPC The Characters woke up, after a much needed rest, in the Gaol(jail) of the ancient ruin. Realizing they have gone as far as they can in this part of teh dungeon, they return to huge cavern where the remains of the Creation Forge lay. WIth the key they had found the previous day in the Gaol, they finally get the door open on the east side of the cavern and they go up the stairs. In the room at the top of the stairs they see three statues depicting Dwaven Warriors flanking two doors. Siddhartha walks up cautiously to check for traps. Noticing that the statues had strange joints at the shoulders of their sword arms, she gets very suspicious. Finding no way to disarm the obvious trap, she decides to open one of the doors. Sure enough, the arms on each statue that flanked that particular door swung and hit the rogue. But to her dismay, the door opened to a brick wall. The others, convinced that the same thing will happen at the other door, start to smash the statues. During the process, Jynx noticed a door hiding behind one of the statues. Through the secret door, they found themselves in a Great Dwarven Hall. They were not alone, however. A couple of Deurgar led by a WF Scout occupied this area. The battle didnt take too terribly long. They then had a few choices, there were five doors to choose from. They decided to go through the door that stood behind the throne at far end of the Hall. Inside, they encountered who was apparently the leader of the group of Deurgar that were in the ruins, a Warforged. The WF proved to be a formidible foe as he nearly took out Truban with a few swipes of his two-bladed sword, but they were victorious in the end. Coming to a dead end, they chose another door in the Hall. Through the Northeast door, they came across a being they never had ever encountered. An Allip. Affecting Truban, Torrak, and Siddhartha with its Babble ability, it then proceeded to drain Truban of his Wisdom with its attacks. After finding that their weapons weren't doing anything to the creature, Raven, Kerry, and Patch unleashed whatever magic they could. Eventually they were able to strike it down as it attempted to flee. After finding a place to rest in one of the rooms down the hallway, they contined to search the place. In one room that was beautifully furnished, they were attacked by the rug that had been animated. When they beat the rug, they continued on and found a lone woman sitting in a library. She pleaded for the characters to help her. Claiming she was bound here by a wizard, she said she could be released if someone gave her permission. Truban, who still has wisdom drain gives her permission. No one else trusted her and they didnt like that Truban did that. And their mistrust would prove to be correct. As a show of thanks, she gave Truban a kiss, and moved away from the group. After a sinister smirk, her eyes began to glow red and she disappeared. The succubus had done enough damage. Truban was unable to notice that he had been level drained. This is where things got hilarious. Truban, convinced that when woman kisses him their eyes turn red, decides to do a little experiment. He grabbed Siddhartha and kissed her. A little surprised, Sidd decided to make most out of the situation and pickpocketed one of his daggers. She convinced him to do it again and she again succesfully stole another dagger. Seeing that it wasnt working, he decided to try it on Kerry, who was less enthusiastic about the idea. Unable to get ahold of Kerry, he decided to try Raven, and since for some reason she thinks that they are a "couple", he believes it will be easier. Of course she doesn't have the same thought. As he approached, she used a scroll of Reduce Person on him. After that he decided to stop. (This seriously made my day.) As they left the library, Jynx noticed another secret door. The corridor behind it led to a chain ladder that went down into a chasm. On the other side of the chasm, they could hear the sound of a hammer on anvil coming from the darkness. They climbed the ladder down and found themselves on a ledge overlooking a rushing stream. Fortunatly, there was a bridge going over to a larger peice of ground. One at a time they crossed, cause it looked pretty old. As a precaution, they tied a rope to Patch and held onto it as he crossed. As he crossed however, the bridge gave way and Patch began to fall. Luckily, everyone else held onto the rope and were able to pull him up. Truban was the only one left on the other side. He took off his full plate, packed it up and through it over, and with the rope tied around him he jumped across, just making it. That is where we left off. On Sunday, when we start, they are going to be attacked by an advanced Stone Drake. And with Truban without his armor on, it will be difficult. It will also be this week where they talk to Ao. I plan on having the Portal that they go through lead to the plane Cynosure, the Hall of Meeting. Here they will see writing on the pillars depicting the last years of the world of Toril. Then Ao will appear and explain what happened and how the world became what it is now. And explain what and who the characters are and what they can do. After that and whatever questions the PC's have that I want to answer, they will leave and on the way out, they pass another group of people, their rivals from before. i.e.- Gruumsh, Shar, etc. Is there anything that you guys think I should include?
themind 12-04-04, 04:26 PM	Quick question from Shadows of the Last War, how would you guys scale up the Glass Zombies for 7 lv 5 characters. I was thinking of just upping the amount to make the encounter equal to what its difficulty originally is, but that seemed to be too many. Is there any special rule for adding Hit Die to the zombies?