Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Silverpanther 11-29-05, 12:26 PM	hello realms-fellows :) i don`t know if this has been tried before, but since the "courting the shrinshee" thread i have this idea in the back of my head. why do we not use this thread to explain and share our campaigns with each other? there are so many inspiring stories :fight!: and so much humor :rofl: the progress in every campaign, the turnings in the storyline... and those awesome quotations that come up over the course of an evening. this is not only meant for DMs, also for players who are as interested in good game descriptions as i am :dancin: so, i hope at least some of you feel the same and think of this as an idea that could work. please, feel free to post your realms experiences :tiphat:
Inspired_Mage 11-30-05, 03:17 AM	Cool idea! OUr campaign at the minute only involves 2 PC's and 4 NPC's (Players in South Africa arent easy to find). The PC's are now 10th level and the NPC's are 8th. PC's - Ennisyen Silverbow Moon Elf 3 Clr of Shevarash/3 Wiz/5 Mystic Thuerge (me) Edan - Human barbarian/sorcerer/dragon disciple/Foe Hunter NPC's - Durgan - Gold dwarf fighter 6\devoted defender 3 Zhahara - Tiefling rogue 8 Jebeddo Earthfoot - Gnome Bard 8/Rogue 1 Seebo Earthfoot - Gnome cleric of Gond 9 We are currently searching for the pieces of a key which will give us access to Aencars (sp?) manor in the Dales, and hopefully the treasures within, we have 5 parts of the 15 part key and are on our way to Tassledale now to search for more clues. Recently, on our way to Tassledale we found a dead gnome and follwed a blood trail to a mine which a Rakshasa was using as a base, it had all the gnomes within under its control, in the mine we had to fight a Delver which destroyed Durgan's wonderful +2 Full Plate (boy was I ******!) and then we fought the Rakshasha and it tried to use the gnomes as gnomish shields but a sleep spell from Jebeddo sorted that issue out, we started attcking the Rakshasa and it managed to drop Jebeddo into negative Hp's, Zhahara managed to drag him away but the rakshasa said it would drop a fireball on him if we didnt let it flee, we had to let it go and so now we have a rakshasa on the loose with vengence on his mind. Just before that we had left Featherdale after going through the tower of Chondrathipe (our DM put a spin on that story by making him an evil mage who is also looking for the key to Aencar's manor) and we had to fight our way past a few devils and gorgans in his underground summoning chambers. So if this is the sort of info you want i will continue to update it after we play again.
Silverpanther 11-30-05, 04:08 AM	that`s EXACTLY what i am talking about :bounce: mmh, sounds cool! especially now that your DM has a rakshasa as a recurring villain at his disposal :plotting: i really like rakshasa, just recently used one as a monk. with his sorcerous powers (and because he already had claws and a monks belt, his unarmed damage was INCREDIBLE) and that AWESOME RESISTANCES, he was all about taking spellcasters out... in the surprise round, i had the goldelven wizard half way dead before the party realised that there was an enemy around :dancin: he had a cool getaway: after beating the :rolleye2: out of the wizards, my other chars (none of them had a piercing weapon, the moon elven fighter also took an elven thinblade after that fight) still had done nearly no damage, and the spells of the others... well, they rolled really bad... so he lifted the wizard up with the left claw (anyone knows the starting scene in shenmue?) and i managed to laugh really scary... then i mocked at the chars (you know, bruce irving from tekken: "i am your worst nightmare" and onikage from tenchu: "until then, become a more worthy opponent for me" and so on...) he just threw the mage towards the weak, chainsmoking necromancer (who failed the strength check and felt prone of course) because of his feats (spring attack, jumped kick) he leaped over stefans char to start his getaway (man, how could it happen that he scored a critical at this cineastic moment :rolleyes: ) and wounded him serious enough... the round after that he was so far away that not even the sniper tried to fire at him (i guess he was too afraid ;)) but of course not without throwing a final fire ball into them ;) (for jörgs luck, marcs char did not trust the peace and headed in the same round he was released by the rakshasas grip and healed him enough to survive the fireball) i do something like this about every 20th fight :) (the dmg says that it is a good idea to let your players loose 5% of the encounters ;) so at this moments they face a an enemy with a CR six points above the group level) keeps them to the ground, makes them clear that they won`t succeed everytime and, beside making fine reccuring villains, always gives some more fluff to the story i think :) so great first post, thank you :) and keep me (us?) informed about how that continues :)
Inspired_Mage 11-30-05, 05:05 AM	The worst part about the fireball threat was that the DM told me he bluffed us and we all duffed our sense motive checks :mad: We had the bloody thing surrounded with nowhere to go and would have killed it in no time (ironically I have the most powerful magic weapon in the party, a +3 longsword because nobody else fights with one :D ,and i am the mage!), the dragon disciple had enlarged himself and was hitting the thing 2 handed with a +2 falcion and the dwarf was pummeling it with his +2 dwarven waraxe (thank goodness i didnt hit the Delver with that!) A pity to say the least... but on the upside I did score a +2 ring of protection from the whole thing!
WagnerSika 11-30-05, 05:09 AM	Cool idea! OUr campaign at the minute only involves 2 PC's and 4 NPC's (Players in South Africa arent easy to find). The PC's are now 10th level and the NPC's are 8th. PC's - Ennisyen Silverbow Moon Elf 3 Clr of Shevarash/3 Wiz/4 Mystic Thuerge (me) Edan - Human barbarian/dragon disciple Sounds like fun campaign! I have a question about Edan the barb/dragon disciple. How can he take the PrC without any levels in sorc or bard?? I have been thinking of how cool this PrC would be to a secondary caster like ranger or like Edan barbarian. Is there a feat you can use to qualify for dragon disciple without takin a level in sorc or bard?
Inspired_Mage 11-30-05, 05:25 AM	I dont exactly know what his stats are but i know he does have a sorcerer level (he casts shield and enlarge quite regularly), he built the character as a survivor more than a powerhouse, his saving throws are unbelievable, i dont think he has failed one yet! He is still the strongest fighter in the party though and when he enlarges with a 2 handed weapon he can do major damage! As for a feat, i dont know of one but i highly doubt it. As an addition to my first post, I know we will shortly be embarking on the CotSQ module, which i believe is an awesome but difficult campaign, I cant wait though as my vengeful elf is determined to bring war to the drow and exterminate them (his brother was killed by the drow and he converted to the church of Shevarash after that incident thanks to some devine intervention)
Silverpanther 11-30-05, 05:50 AM	then DON´T forget to get on your DMs nerves until he will let you storm the hidden vault beneath maerimydras lolth tempel to conquer the WARBLADE :fight!: do you have an chaotic good (elf) who will have a BAB of at least 12 at the moment ;)
Inspired_Mage 11-30-05, 05:53 AM	then DON´T forget to get on your DMs nerves until he will let you storm the hidden vault beneath maerimydras lolth tempel to conquer the WARBLADE :fight!: do you have an chaotic good (elf) who will have a BAB of at least 12 at the moment ;) I am the only elf in the party and being a magic user my BAB is pretty kak, and please dont post any spoilers for the campaign, i dont want to ruin it for myself and the DM, I have been dying to do this module for ages now, we were going to do it in our last campaign but we made a decision at that point to restart with new characters so we could change to 3.5 from 3.0.
Silverpanther 11-30-05, 01:42 PM	hey, i wrote some of the background from some of the chars for my next campaign in the "elven moonblades" thread :) (combat, arms and armor section) just for the case you are interested ;) definition for spoiler please :confused: (second language, second language :D)
bobsan 11-30-05, 03:23 PM	A slight, cool breeze wafts through the room as the door to the taproom opens and a cloaked figure enters. The figure makes its way to a table near the fireplace and removes the cloak, revealing a small lute beneath its folds; a sign the man beneath the cloth is of the bardic trade. He takes a seat by the roaring fire, warms his hands for a moment, and then pulls the lute to his lap, tuning it between sips if firewine the barkeep just brought to him without order. After a moment of strumming twangs and short rhythms, he looks to those whose attention has been drawn to this newcomer and runs his fingers once along the strings, as if to gather their attention. “My friends, I’m here this eve to bring to you a tale of heroics and sadness. Joy and loss. A tale about a group whose very name strikes fear into its enemies, and confusion, yes confusion, in those who have not yet heard of them.” “Tonight, I bring to you the tale of the Company of the Combustable Commode.” Yes, this is the name of the group I currently run a game for every Saturday eve / Sunday morn and have been for almost 2 years. The company consists of 6 members, 2 of which are new to the group, characters, not players. The original members were: Ghan IronAxe – Dwarven Fighter/Cleric Hadoreal Celeblas – Elven Ranger/Fighter Nicodemus (a.k.a. Junior) – Human Sorcerer/Monk/Dragon Disciple Alten Goodbarrel – Halfling Theif (Deceased) Valithar – elven Archer (Missing) Since they initially formed, there have been several newcomers to the group: Xephael – Elven bard (The first newcomer to join since the groups conception) Amarthiir – Elven Wizard (distant cousin of Hadoreal [Run by Valithar’s player]) Haman – Human Druid (the latest newcomer and non-full fledged member…for now [played by Alten’s player]) Since this campaign has been running for over two years, I’ll try for the abridged version. Or post in several parts. Part 1 – In the Beginning The campaign started off with the players as caravan guards on a trip between Everlund and Silverymoon. Their caravan stopped in the small town of _____________ where a festival to Chauntea was to take place. The caravan decided to set up there for the festival in hopes to make some extra coin (and giving the players a little rest). However, during the night, the town’s priest was kidnapped by orcs and the players were asked to rescue him. Note: In essence, I took the old basic D&D intro module, King’s Festival (B11) and re-wrote parts to suit the Realms. I also continued with B12, Queen’s Harvest. The players ended up rescuing the priest (Arelic) and ended up discovering a threat to a nobleman’s estates nearby (The beginning of B12 module). Taking their leave of the caravan (With the caravan master’s ok) they rode north to warn the nobleman, Kerin Penhaligan, of a possible threat to his lands and life. They ended up helping him with some problems in his basement (The home belonged to his deceased uncle and he was incapable of handling the matter alone) and discovered the threat involved a woman, Illyana who claimed rights to his lands as the rightful heir. They headed to her stronghold where she was raising a small army and, posing as mercenaries (except Alten who snuck off), infiltrated her castle. However, their ruse was discovered when the butler from the Penhaligan Estate turned out to be a spy for Illyana and told her their true nature. Our first large break occurred when they were about to be executed for their deception as a morale boost for her men. What made this more entertaining of a cliffhanger was what transpired while they were there (before their capture). They figured they needed a distraction to keep the others busy while hunting down Illyana. Junior decided to teach the Goblins about Molitov cocktails. There were small groups of them manning the walls near vats of oil. He wandered up there and told them of a great prank they could pull on the orcs who were also part of Illyana’s forces (And whom the goblins hated). He told them to lob a small lit vial into the pit toilet when an orc went in to do his business, claiming the results would be hilarious. They bought it hook, line, and sinker, and taught the prank to all their friends. Goblin Grenadier prestige class anyone? ^_^ Anyway, back to the execution: So, the group, save Alten, was taken outside to be executed after sharing a meal with Illyana. She drugged the food in order to paralyze the group and had her guards haul them out and line them up against the back of the pit toilet (The same one they told the goblins to blow up) The session ended with her giving the countdown for her archers to fire and them hearing what sounded like a glass vial bouncing along the ground into the toilet. I was cruel enough to end here because they had to wait three months (real time) to continue the game. One of the players had left for home for the summer and we didn’t want to continue the game without him. Next Post, the Formation of the Company.
Inspired_Mage 12-01-05, 02:47 AM	definition for spoiler please :confused: (second language, second language :D) Best way to say it is that I dont want anyone to tell me what will happen in CotSQ, I like to be surprised. :D Bobsan- sounds like a cool campaign, the party name doesnt bode well I feel for a building somewhere in the Realms but I suppose you will get to that. As for party names, thats one thing my group struggles with, after much deliberation and frustration we finally went with The Dale Blades, seeing as we are based out of Essembra and venture throughout the Dales we thought this would be best. We also have a running joke that we should rename ourselves to the Dale Walkers as we do not ride horses, we walk everywhere or join merchant caravans on our travels, our DM just shakes his head at us. lol Durgan aint so happy, to quote a certain Gimli "Dwarves are deadly over short distances"
Silverpanther 12-01-05, 04:30 AM	oh, don`t be afraid :D the warblade is not mentioned in CotSQ ;) it is just said in lost empires of faerun that it rests there :rolleyes: really, i would NEVER take you the anticipation ;) sounds really nice... especially because i know now what CotCC means :rofl: my next campaign will turn about netheril (and what is left) and elves :) three human descendents from netheril and three elves... like the brady bunch, just more violence and bloodshed. but not only will they fight the undead that survived netherils fall (aumvor, larloch... ioulaum will be the BBEG :ayyyy!: ) they will also reconquer the elfblades and myth drannor and they will destroy the city of shade ;) (hey, they ARE something left from netheril :D) one of them will become king of elves (every char will have royal blood... think big ;)) they will become icons of the realms and maybe (okay, most probably) achieve ascension. i am still working out there first levels, post them when i have it ;)
Alurvelve 12-01-05, 05:38 AM	Silverpanther I like the idea for hearing everyones campaigns. I said in my last post of my Courting the Srinshee thread that we were about to start the next phase of that story, but it got put on hold for a while :( With work and other activities we have not been able to get together to play a single game session in over 2 months. Hopefully we can get started within 6 weeks when everyone is settled in. When we start the campaign I will keep you all posted on this thread or my old one if I can find it again. Until then have fun everyone, in the end thats what its all about.
Berzerker_prime 12-01-05, 11:36 AM	A slight, cool breeze wafts through the room as the door to the taproom opens and a cloaked figure enters. The figure makes its way to a table near the fireplace and removes the cloak, revealing a small lute beneath its folds; a sign the man beneath the cloth is of the bardic trade. He takes a seat by the roaring fire, warms his hands for a moment, and then pulls the lute to his lap, tuning it between sips if firewine the barkeep just brought to him without order. After a moment of strumming twangs and short rhythms, he looks to those whose attention has been drawn to this newcomer and runs his fingers once along the strings, as if to gather their attention. “My friends, I’m here this eve to bring to you a tale of heroics and sadness. Joy and loss. A tale about a group whose very name strikes fear into its enemies, and confusion, yes confusion, in those who have not yet heard of them.” “Tonight, I bring to you the tale of the Company of the Combustable Commode.” The bard's presence, of course, served as a distraction for the rest of the taproom and very few people noted the entrance of the small group of adventurers coming in from the cold. The Dwarf was in the lead and upon hearing the all-too-familliar ballad, he made straight for the bar. The wood elf female was directly behind him. The two humans, one a very tall young lad and the other a turban-wearing fellow with a large black cat following, both picked a table and sat. The younger of them would sometimes snicker at various places in the ballad The moon elven bard took up a seat on the other side of the wood elf female and absently listened to the ballad, taking note of how it was sung. The last one through the door, a sun elf, took up another seat at the bar, ordered a glass of Elverquisst, and was very unhappy when the barkeep said they didn't have any. "Hmm," said the moon elf, "he's exaggerating some parts, but it's not too bad a performance." The wood elf leaned an elbow on the bar and put her hand to her forehead. "Oh, I can't beleive it's made it as far south as Daggerford!" At the table, the younger human made a rather large guffaw at mention of a large bag down in Undermountain. At the bar, the elf woman stiffened. "My father's going to hear that, someday," she muttered, then took a pull from her mug. "Your mother already has," said the gold elf, mischeviously. "And that's when I killed him, sir magister," said the wood elf, overly-cheerfully. "Hmm, it's been added to," the dwarf said thoughtfully, "cheer up, lass. At this rate, news of our dear wizard's more amusing exploits will be sung in no time." "Master dwarf," said the turban-wearing human, leaning over the back of his chair to speak to those at the bar, "I'm curious. The ballad says that Alton the halfling struck the killing blow on the Manticore, but from the way you tell it-" "Just drop it, druid boy," replied the dwarf, sourly. "Of course." There were several moments of silence as they all listened, each with either growing consternation or amusement. Oddly enough, they were all much more interested than the rest of the taproom. :D Berz (player of Hadoriel).
Silverpanther 12-01-05, 04:49 PM	Silverpanther I like the idea for hearing everyones campaigns. I said in my last post of my Courting the Srinshee thread that we were about to start the next phase of that story, but it got put on hold for a while :( With work and other activities we have not been able to get together to play a single game session in over 2 months. Hopefully we can get started within 6 weeks when everyone is settled in. When we start the campaign I will keep you all posted on this thread or my old one if I can find it again. Until then have fun everyone, in the end thats what its all about. HEY, YOU ARE BACK :dancin: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME THE MAN THAT INSPIRED THIS THREAD :bow: :clap: :cheer: :w00t: :dancin: :love: :ayyyy!: :bounce: :pile: :mage:
Seraphim of Night 12-03-05, 02:48 AM	Sorry this is so long guys but it was important to me that he be remembered. Let me know what you think of him. This was the beginning of his story during the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. He was 6th level at the end, and the last battle would have taken him to 7th. You will see if you read it, I hope you all like it. Amon-Ra, thief, reaver & slayer: So it begins. I have been in this town for no more than a day after my long wandering, and have been hired out at a pretty good rate as a caravan guard for this Lord Nigel. My funds were running low, so this will be an excellent diversion, besides, there isn’t a decent ***** in this whole rotten village. No doubt this is the will of Aegir leading me to where he would have me. Of the other guards hired 2 stood out in my mind, and although I do not think that they can be trusted, they seem to have skill beyond the other hirelings. They shady looking one that I keep losing track of calls himself Hunter (I doubt that is his name). The other calls himself Brulla and I wonder if he is not entirely mad. We have all been placed under the command of a grizzled old campaigner calling himself Nidar, and we have been given half our payment up front, with half on successful delivery. Our journey is said to be about a week, and should take us to the village of Stret, under the command of one who calls himself Lord Swill. There are enough of us to handle any difficulties that may arise. Well, we have fought off an orc raiding party with great success, but not without the loss of Nidar. Some of the strongest of us were chosen to track the orcs back to their lair, while the caravan made camp. We laid waste to the pig-brothers encampment and returned with a great deal of wealth more than we were being paid to guard this caravan. Curiously however these orcs possessed coins in gold, minted by this Lord Nigel who hired us, and they were far better equipped than any I have encountered, with a peculiars smithy-mark on their blades. Our triumph was short-lived since trouble arrived sooner than I had planned. I have made close plans with Brulla & Hunter concerning this caravan, and it was all for naught. We were making camp when I noticed the cook slipping off into the woods with Hunter slipping of quietly. This was all according to plan since Hunter was to kill him and take his place. Then he was to poison the food going into the armored wagon with guards inside that we had been unable to examine. When a cry of alarm came from the woods, Brulla and a guard went to go investigate. Shortly after that the cook slipped back into camp the other way unnoticed (Hunter, indeed I shall have to keep a closer eye on him). Then their came another cry of alarm from the woods but I forbad anyone from investigating and sure enough Brulla came wandering back into camp bloodied with his great axe in hand offering a story of being ambushed by a wild beast, and the guard didn’t make it. The guard who questioned him had been about to question the cook when Brulla arrived, and thought it better to come to secure my support before he said anything else. Telling me of the barbarians story, he explained his suspicions to me and asked what I thought. Deciding this would work to our advantage, I responded “How can any doubt his guilt? I have never seen such a murderous looking brute.” At which point I told him I had his back, and he stepped up and accused the brute to his face. I could have died laughing. Brulla expectantly flew into a rage at these accusations and split the guard where he stood. Then all hell broke loose. Whilst Brulla and I engaged the guards, the cook (Hunter) ran to the armored wagon and pounded on the door screaming frantically for the guards inside to come out and deal with the traitors. An armored brute kicked open the carriage door and charged Brulla. A robed figure stepped into the now open wagon door, but as he was surveying the situation he was tackled by the disguised Hunter, and he somehow managed to get the door shut behind them. Brulla & myself finished off the guards while the shady one was no doubt looting our hard earned plunder from the armored wagon, the bastard will get his. A shady looking rogue calling himself Raff was the only one to escape our combined fury. Once the battle was over and the wagon opened, we found a great transportable armory, filled with brand new weapons with a mark similar to that the orcs who attacked us were wielding. We decided to hold palaver, set watch and camp for the night. It was decided after our palaver that the three of us might not be sufficient to ward off any potential attackers, and it behooved us to find someone to take their place as we had decided to deliver the caravan (minus whatever we wanted or needed) to investigate our suspicions further. As we traveled that day we came across a bloody-handed brute blocking our path. No sooner had he demanded his toll with unimaginable impudence than I jumped up from steering the front wagon in a blood fury and cried out “I pay my way with steel,” at which point I hurled my spear at him, a blow that he shrugged off in his rage reaching me in a single running leap. I don’t believe I have ever been hit that hard, at least my mail soaked up the brunt of his attacks while Hunter and Brulla closed in. Once my fury at his insults at subsided did I realize we still needed warriors, but the gauntlets I recovered from his corpse have an aura of magic that Aegir has revealed to me. Once I donned them I realized I felt strength pouring into me. This is well. I sent Hunter to see what he could find scouting, and maybe he could find a boar or a stag for a better dinner. He returned with a brute of a half-breed lugging a good-sized club but no diiner. This half-orc calls himself Kraken, and he should be most helpful in our current situation. When we finally arrived safely in Stret, we were met by armed guard and accusations of thievery. We rebuffed their accusations by showing them the caravan intact and demanding audience with their lord called Swill. He met us surrounded by his soldiers and with that Raff whispering in his ear. He announced his accusations to us, and I, Amon-Ra, demanded trial by combat against mine accuser. By Aegir, the whelp should have stayed in the stables as I left my spear ran through his throat and he died with a pathetic gurgle. Still unsure of us even though we handed over his caravan, we belayed his fears by informing him of treachery at the hands of Lord Nigel and our own accusations that he and this Raff had conspired with orcs to rob this caravan. To be certain this pig-lord gave us another job. We were to investigate a nearby gold-mine that he sought to bring back into use, but was infested by orcs. Anxious to avert his suspicions, and hoping to get rich we accepted, but this “lord,” seems strange. I have met several of these city bred dogs calling themselves lords of men, and this one does not act like them. Maybe I need to spend more time in civilized lands. Staying the night in the inn, we met another group of adventurers hoping to join us. They consisted of a soft-robed female calling herself Senya, as well as another soft city-bred male calling himself Ansin Wy-Jin. The last was more to my liking, a wildling calling herself Truda, and a swift tracker she proved to be as well as more than capable with a bow or when wielding a brand. I shall keep a close eye on her, as she seems to have a strong bloodline. None of these were worthy to replace Brulla on the field of battle, but he is gone and I do not doubt his cunning, hence I assume it is by his own wish he has left our company without a farewell. We began on our way but soon Truda spotted some tracks left by the pig-brothers. We tracked them into some ruins none of our company recognized. We had little time to think as a war party of the pig-brothers beset us. Their efforts were in vain as we laid waste to the best of their warriors while those lacking in the courage of their brethren to fall on our blades ran like dogs. A short examination of the mines led to our discovery of a tunnel entrance. Not knowing how deep or far these tunnels may go, against my judgement the group decided on tracking the fleeing fools. It was not long before these tracks led us deep into the mountains seemingly on route to the mine we were to clear. On our way to these mines, we encountered a peculiar band of purple robed cultists that seemed somewhat confused by my visible symbol, proclaiming me the faithful of great Aegir, Lord of the Storm’s Fury. They took me as one of their own in confidence, and I did not dissuade them, despite their peculiarities. Shortly enough I realized that these were worshippers of the Usurper they call the Elder Elemental Eye. We claimed to have urgent business for them and set aside a time and place to meet again, telling them we had no time to waste at the moment we continued on. I greatly desire to speak at length with these lost worshippers even if they are only redeemable by Aegirs’ cold embrace in the depths. At a crossroads we chanced upon a farmer Jebediah who was hemmed into his own farm house by some ghoulish looking creatures. I rebuked them in the name of Aegir, and they cowered before the blades of my brethren. Jebediah repaid us with dinner, breakfast a place to sleep, and as much information as he had. We set out with no delay. The orcs themselves proved of little confidence when we broke their champion. A dark-skinned giant the likes of which I have never beheld, and he bore a great club that seemed to glow from within filling the air about itself with a cold pulsing green reminding me of the Great Oasis of my people deep in the sands of the vast Anauroch. The battle seemed over in mere moments with their champion bleeding his life into the earth from the fatal neck-wound after I immobilized him with the power of Aegir. Once their warriors were put to the sword we hemmed up the females and children in the back of their caves and their fate will be decided by morn. In our scouting we have discovered a very large, very angry bear nearby. His time will come but for now, we hold our position at the entrance of the mine to block his entrance, and their egress. The next morning showed a strange grey corpse not unlike man in outline, but different by far. Wy-Jin claimed to have awoken for a late night ****, and when wandering the tunnels came across an old man. When he tried to help the old man, the fool attempted to strike down the small quiet one. I did not know that Wy-Jin possessed any skill as a warrior but he turned the table on his attacker as it were and struck him down. Of course this was according to him. All I have ever seen him do is prance around in battle doing only the gods know what. When the old man fell, his form changed into this peculiar creature. The idea occurred to me that since there is one of these creatures, there could be more. This could also explain some of Swill’s mannerisms, he behaved somewhat strangely, or so I thought. It was then we discovered the females and the children of the pig-brothers had fled us in the night without our watch noticing. We decided to return to the bear at a more fortuitous time and sought an exit from the caves, which Hunter found in good time. We followed the tunnels which led us all the way back to the ruins we had found before after many hours, but with no sign of the females. Our continued explorations found tunnels ending in a cave that ended on the banks of a underground river. Beached in the cave there was 3 small boats which filled the cave with their red glow. We found engraved into each of them strange symbols which the robed wench spake of as being commands in an ancient tongue. The commands translated to something like Go, Stop, and Back. She taught us to speak their words and then we set out onto the river heading in the direction of Stret. As we approached the homlet Truda noticed another cave against the water line. We sailed in and beached the boats to find another set of tunnels. We followed one end which opened up in the back room of the Stret inn, and we followed the other end which ended up back into the forest near the ruins. We were then going to proceed west to a village called Hommlet seeking someone skilled in the arcane arts to instruct us concerning the massive club that Kraken has been dragging around, as well as a better market for our trade, of course not before we returned to collect our reward from the orc scalps and freeing the mines. I found Lord Swill’s behavior to be suspicious at best, but he paid us in coin and we let him be for another day. He also requested we aid him in the return of some local items that were important to the townsfold that had apparently belonged to some adventurers in time past that had settled this town. They were known as Hedras, Thayere, and Renf. The one known as Renf was a wizard known for every item he ever crafted to have glowed red. We feigned ignorance of this and thankfully Wy-Jin kept his mouth shut, but we told him we would certainly learn more of this. Several days past Jebediah’s a black dragon (or so it seemed) swooped over us in the forest and we scattered beneath the trees. After much cowardice on behalf of Wy-Jin we proceeded in our westerly course after the beast had long been gone. The next day the winged beast appeared again, but this time it circled seeming to have spotted us, but it continued on towards the east. The others made camp whilst Senya and I proceeded to our rendezvous with the worshippers of the Usurper. I detest slime such as they, but I would still understand more of their ways for mine own understanding if naught else. I managed to keep my tongue swallowed and allowed those city-bred dogs to believe I was one of their own number, and the dog-brothers invited us to visit their shrine for a festival of sorts. We also discovered that it was they who had hired Lord Swill to find them some local items of some minor historical significance. We led them to believe that we had been hired by Swill to find those same items (which we had), but that he was not planning on upholding his end of the bargain. We also learned that the dragon answered to them and was en route to obliterate Jebediah seeking said items. I convinced them to use the dragon against Swill for his insolence and that we would aid their retribution. We bid them farewell saying that we would seek out our comrades in arms to rejoin them for their festival. We then returned to the cave to gather the others to head for Jebediah’s and as we were leaving the half-breed noticed many old peculiar carvings on a boulder so we gave a little heave-ho and there we found some of these red-glowing items. Of special interest to myself were these gloves I found. They glow red and no sooner did I snap my fingers whilst issuing an order to the dog-brothers than a warhammer appeared in my hand perhaps from within the glove. Aegir has revealed the aura of this weapon to me and no doubt it was his will I find this here. While experimenting I realized that I could store my shield in my left glove, and put back the warhammer. This will prove of great value against any who would oppose the will of Great Aegir, so I rewarded Kraken with the Gauntlets of Ogre Might I held in my possession since he cared nothing for the gloves. We had also discovered a ring that shone with a red glow, not unlike the gloves I was now wearing. Wy-Jin found the ring of special interest swore to keep it safe. We later found the farm house of Jebediah completely destroyed, but he slipped out of hiding as soon as he spotted us. We questioned him, and then I recommended we continue on to Stret as I believed we would miss the battle with all our dallying. We returned to town via the tunnel near the ruins and ended up back at Stret in good time, and after checking to see if our boats were secure we headed up into the inn proper. We arrived to find it under the occupation of soldiers belonging to Swill, and the town decimated. There were bodies of orcs, cultists and peasants scattered amidst the wreckage our scouts Wy-Jin, Truda, and Hunter, reported. We held palaver and Hunter managed to drug the guards and eliminated that threat after questioning them on the battle, and they admitted to having fought them off, but they feared the return of the dragon. While they were collapsing to the floor, I went door to door and managed to capture the Innkeeps wife. The hussy trembled in fear, but there was no time for fun, so I trussed her up and tossed her on the bed in the backroom. I returned to report the inn secure and we barricaded ourselves in whilst a disguised Hunter was sent to lure in more of them in whatever fashion he deemed best and the rest of us readied bows, javelins, and spells (except of course Wy-Jin whose incessant blatherings are beginning to annoy me. The day is going to come when I will deal with his hindrances to the Will of Great Aegir). The second patrol fell for his ploy as easily as the first. Later he would inform me of what was to befall him. However, those of us who remained within the inn were forced to deal with his actions (being the death of Swills impersonator). Senya and I proposed to lure another group of soldiers, but once we exited the inn under the moonlight I witnessed Hunter slinking up to slit the throat of one of the Tower Guard making his run around the Tower, and he let himself into the Tower. Senya continued on to lure the patrol into the inn, whilst I decided it would be best if I used Hunter to try and sneak in myself while the Tower was emptied of most of its soldiers. I waited for Hunter to sneak inside, and then headed right up to the door guard and attempted to play off my wounds as being more serious than they appeared. Once I was in I met Hunter on the second floor and we made our plans while I set his wounds. 4 at the gate, 6 in the throne room, and a cowardly cook, should have been short work. I waited for Hunter to sneak up to the throne room on the fourth floor, while I sought out an empty room on the third to pray for Aegir’s favor. As he headed up into the throne room, my jaw fell slack at the unattended room I found. Chests full of gold, and sacks of platinum and silver met my gaze. Weapons and armor were there as well but gaining control of my senses I began to prepare for the battle to come. When I heard the shouts from above me I threw myself on the stairwell just below the throne room seeking to stop any guards from below to rush to the aid of those above. I did not find out what happened until later, but as I battled those on the stairwell, I heard a great cry from the roof, and soldier from above came rushing down past me shouting “The Dragon is Coming! The Dragon is Coming!” As they rushed past us those I battled turned and fled with their cowardly brothers. Making a quick decision I rushed back to the treasure room and began grabbing sacks of platinum and gold, as many as could fill my pack and hold in both my arms abandoning my weapons into the gloves. It was then a serpent struck from within one of the sacks, but in my furious haste I batted Set’s child to the floor and grabbed a King’s Ransom in coin. Once I had all I could carry, I fled the tower and through the tower doors back to the inn to find Truda and the others exiting through the doors after their battle. As I fled the Tower doors I heard a crash from above and saw Hunter land next to me already rolling into a dead run. We shouted for the others to flee into the tunnels and seek to the boats. On the way I sought the Innkeep’s wife only to find she had been set free, treachery on the part of Wy-Jin no doubt, but I cannot overlook Truda. I kept my peace on the matter but I forgot it not. It was now our journey to Hommlet was to begin and seeking Aegir’s blessing I left not a few coins for his children. As we traveled by river, Hunter informed us that he had struck down Lord Swill, and he had turned out to be another of those gray skinned shape-shifters, and his guards had abandoned him when they saw him change as Hunter pierced that creatures’ black heart. Senya informed us that she believed those creatures to be known as doppelgangers, and were travelers from outside this existence and I do not doubt her words. Our time in Hommlet proved to be short and I was not a little frustrated. We found little of value save some tasty rumors, but we found none capable of ensorcelling the great club being dragged about by Kraken. From what I understand it was his wish to have the size of it reduced to a more manageable size. Finding myself a wench in the aptly named Inn of the Welcome Wench, I made use of some of our hard earned coin. However we sailed immediately for a nearby town of Verbobonc, where the locals informed us we may find what we seek. Our journey we uneventful save for some spear-fishing on my part. Those rations get old, I need meat but we have found little sleeping in these boats night and day. We did arrive in good time only to be accosted by a dwarf at the docks demanding we pay a toll leave our boats, to which I replied “Go Fetch Halfie,” and I tossed several gold pieces into the river for Great Aegir. Ignoring the yammering half-man I went to find a local inn and get sloshed while my erstwhile companions sought a skilled wizard willing to work. Good luck with that says I, but finding some entertainment in the inn I was well content. My comrades found a local wizard and he agreed to reduce the club, and said it would take at least a ten day. I spent some days scribing prayers of Aegir, that I might call upon his favor in battle. I scribed many prayers of strength, endurance, wisdom, as well as darker blessings of war and desecration. It was fortunately done before I had enough of this nest of vipers. While I was praying to the Lord of the Storm’s Fury on the banks of the river, I was set upon by some local pups. Leaping up to battle, furious at their arrogance I struck down three of their number whilst the last turned to flight. Furiously I chased him screaming “Back to the stables Gelding!!” The craven *****’s son would never have outpaced me were it not for my newly purchased plate. It proved to be worth every gold piece, the steel burnished black covered in spikes, and complete with a full helm. I returned the where I had left the bodies and my shrine. I proceeded to gut the infidels and filled them with rocks as well as some gems, then sewed them shut again. They were thrown into the river to face the True Lord of the Waves, and to await his judgement when the world returns to him. The next day while Kraken went to pick up his club, I discovered that there had been placed a hefty price on my head, tempting even me. Hunter later informed me that he had met with the one who had done this, and it was his rogues I had cut down on the riverbank. Their leader was desperate to repair his reputation, but I laugh at this pathetic attempt. Hunter tried to convince me to take the battle to him now, but I would not do so alone with Hunter, I trust that one not at all, especially with a price on my head. It matters not, I laugh at their master’s pathetic mewling, If he wanted me, he could come to me and die. Our other comrades decided it was better to simply leave town than risk being entangled with the local “authorities,” as Wy-Jin so often cried about. Gods, but I can hear his whimpering even now blathering about the this religion of law and many other things I did not understand. As if what some fat foreigner has written down somewhere can have any effect on mine own will. I will never understand these city-bred dogs. Like cowards we took sail once again, but this time we sailed towards Stret. We decided the dragon might be long gone, and there could be good looting amongst the fallen. Perhaps the dragon did the looting for us, and we could merely slay him and take it, but we will see who is the stronger. If only Wy-Jin knew that it was I who engineered the massacre of the village of Stret, how he would cry for those curs. Ha-Ha-Ha. Our return to Stret did not go at all as I had planned. We stowed the boats into the cave, and came up from within the Inn once again, all under the cover of darkness. All was quiet, and we made our way to the remains of the lords tower to see if any of his treasure yet remained. The roof of the tower was itself no more, looking like a hollowed out shell of its former power the shadows of our torches played off the stone walls eerily. Hunter decided to see what he could see by climbing up to where the roof had been and peering in. All was going well as he perched up on top, and whispered down to us that he could see nothing within but darkness. He pulled out a sun rod, and snapping it to light he dropped it into the tower, and we all nearly @#%$ ourselves at the resounding roar that came from within. My comrades on the ground fled in terror as the beasts black wings and head appeared rising up next to a terrified Hunter who was preparing to jump down the tower once again. Seeing my comrades were gone (I believe that Kraken used his new club to transport them away), and the battle was lost before it began due to their cowardice, I decided on prudence and fled as well leaving Hunter to his own devices. I ran into the Inn and finding the secret tunnels ran down to where the boats were tethered. Kraken and the others were already there and we then proceeded to waste even more time and argue about how we should best flee. Wy-Jin, Senya, and Truda chose what I considered to be the foolish route and took the boats onto the river, into what Kraken and I, Amon-Ra felt was the dragon’s river. He and I fled down the secret tunnels until we came to the secret exit deep within the woods. From there he used his club several times to put distance between the village of Stret and us. We decided the best place to lay low would be the mines we had cleared, and there would be great feasting once we slew the great bear that had made his home there. Between his club’s sorcery and our swift traveling we made good time, and prepared to battle the beast in his own lair. I used the scrolls I had prepared previously in town to call for Aegirs’ favor in the coming battle since I had prepared healing for the half-breed. The battle was short and ferocious, but fortunately the beast was of little intelligence. In a fury Kraken battled the huge beast with his great club against the bears claws and snapping jaws. I hung back out of the bears reach until it was necessary for me to run forward and pray for the power of Aegir’s healing on this stalwart warrior. When I saw this bear (he was massive like I have never seen!) was beginning to weaken, I ran forward calling upon the power of Aegir and when my touch smote the beast his flesh was rent and lacerated in horrible wounds. When the beast was slain Kraken skinned it while I prepared our encampment. Kraken used the flesh of the beast to craft a device he spoke of as being used by a race of orc kind that wandered through his people’s own lands long ago. It was like a tent, but he called it a T.P. I suppose in the common tongue, I refuse to speak that orc dribble. While he did this, I used the bones of the bear to craft javelins to replace those we lost in the field of battle. Once all was in readiness we made jerky out of what remained of the meat gathering up the T.P. we began moving out. We had covered the walls of the T.P. with runes painted form the blood, the water of life given to mortals by Great Aegir and all of the sacrifice must used to satisfy his Will. The moving has been a bit faster this time since Kraken also crafted some leather harness that I could wear while traveling in place of my armor. We have decided to make for the Inn of the Welcome Wench in Hommlet and everything should have quieted down by now. I am certain few will recognize us. I took the liberty of carving some ivory talismans from the bear that I might used to hold my braids in addition the necklace we crafted from the fangs of the beast. Some of the beasts innards were usable but Kraken left the remains on the mountainside for the vultures. Our arrival in Hommlet was greeted by our companions at the local inn. They appeared to have stayed busy doing nothing in our absence, but I suppose we brought enough ruckus with us to satisfy the needs of this small town. After speaking with Hunter, we discovered he had barely escaped with his life by turning over his wealth to the black dragon. I remembered from my conversation with the Usurper’s worshippers that they had brothers in this town, so we sought them out only to be attacked in the home of the local miller. We slew those that arose against us, and I slit the throats of the fallen to ensure their fate, and then lifted their coin purses. It was decided by Truda & Senya, that our best bet of finding information and help in this place was to be the home of the local druid named Jaroo. Upon meeting him we discovered that they were having problems with a dragon at the old moathouse, a memory of the glory of bygone days and he was insistent that we deal with this problem for the town, so much so that he offered us weapons to defeat the beast. To me was given a spear of dragonslaying, but I suspect this Jaroo is up to no good. The spear was covered in runes dedicated to the Old Serpent, of which nothing but misfortune can arrive upon the lands of men. Truda, was also most suspicious when she discovered that the druid’s bear had fled into the forest. We promised to take care of this moathouse upon leaving, but Truda, insisted we would be better off finding and questioning this bear. Silly woman, I would have laughed had I not thought she was so arousing stroking that beast and soothing it with her soft whispers. Once we had found the beast, she said it told her that he had fled because Jaroo was dead. This also helped confirm Senya’s findings on the gear Jaroo had provided us. All of the items were cursed or so she says. I could have told her that, who gives away something of value? She said my spear was especially cursed and would strike back at the wielder if given the opportunity. I laughed at this and named it Set’s Grace, it will serve my will well. We headed back into Hommlet to deal with this Jaroo, and when faced with our accusations he changed into one of the shapeshifting creatures and attacked us. Laughing wildly with Aegir’s wind in my hair we smote his body to the ground and claimed this tree for our own. Or we would have if that bastard Wy-Jin had not discovered the body of Jaroo hidden and insisted we help restore him to life and to his tree. Even Senya laughed at this already taking down the window curtains she didn’t care for his “style”. None of our arguments would stop Wy-Jin, and I should have killed him right then and there. No matter, I am through arguing with that fool, I have earned mead and a wench enough for this day. Upon our return to this “moathouse,” we discovered this blue dragon he immediately set upon us, but I managed to convince him to belay his attacks with my warnings that this cult had another dragon moving in on his territory and was going to take his hoard for his own. It was my intention to use this beast to slay the black dragon in Stret so we might recover our plunder from the town, but first he wanted us to deal with the cultists he said were trapped within the moathouse ruins. We agreed and he gave Kraken and myself each an ensorcelled electrum piece that he said would help him communicate with us. I believe he will use it to keep track of us but I care not since his plans coincide with my own for now. He also told us more of these “doppelgangers,” and provided us with a list of who he suspected and Jaroo was on this list confirming my suspicions and the dragons on why this Jaroo would want him dead. Our excursion beneath the moathouse encountered little resistance save in the form of some of the more revolting undead forms, which I rebuked by the will of Great Aegir and my companions struck them down while they cowered before his might. We found a local wizard from Hommlet cowering in a closet, and he offered us potions and other elixirs if we would return him to Hommlet. I agreed so long as he didn’t slow us down. We discovered an excavation seemingly in progress and we took a rope elevator to lower ourselves down into the depths beyond the light of our torches. We were set upon by a bizarre creature with a beak like a birds, but tentacles like a creature from the deeps. We struck him from the air with the fury of Aegir and continued into the depths. The second elevator brought us to the cavern floor next to a massive obelisk. We didn’t find anything that would have brought them down here, I decided we should light the torch of revealing we had relieved the corpses of to investigate hoping it would reveal something hidden as its name implies. A new investigation revealed symbols engraved into the floor, as well as a violet glowing gem located at the very base of the obelisk beneath the column. Of course Hunter scampered up towards the gem and as soon as he touched it, he vanished. This was as Truda, was investigating the symbols on the floor, when she asked me something about this cult of Thurizdun I had told her about. No sooner did she speak aloud than she collapsed to the ground, dying as near I could tell. I called upon Aegir’s power to heal her, while Hunter appeared on the other symbol with a piece of dark fruit in his hands that he began to eat. I asked Truda what happened and she said she kept hearing a voice asking her if she was going to free it or something then she woke up with me. Hunter said something similar had happened to him, so I decided to try his method of communication as it seemed safer. Upon touching the gem, I found myself floating in a gray dreamscape of darkness and nothing. A thundering voice spoke to me saying “Seek the hearts of the four moons, together they can sunder the walls of my prison, for now take of my fruit blah blah blah.” Appearing next to my bewildered companions, I ate the offered fruit and felt myself grow stronger. I considered eating more but I had no intention of giving myself to the Usurper as I suspected it was. Of all the companions Kraken the half-breed ate his fruit, and the fruit of Truda, who refused to eat it. He looked positively ill. Hunter, in the meanwhile had been investigating the symbol on the floor, and decided to speak the name of Thurizdun and he too collapsed. Before I could heal him however he reappeared holding a nice new dagger inscribed with something I could not read before he slipped it away. Senya also decided to try the symbol on the floor and we agreed to not interfere. Amazingly enough when it appeared she was dying she simply woke up. I am unsure of this god’s methods. Is he helping his enemies or his friends? I shall have to watch these companions more closely from now on. For now we returned Spugnoir to Hommlet, and continued and decided to catch some mead with our hard earned cash. After spending some time in Hommlet, it was decided that we should head towards Nulb, and from there to the ruined temple that had been destroyed some years before to see if this cult was resurfacing. Our arrival in Nulb was greeted by the remains of a town. As we began poking around the ruined buildings, Truda gave a great cry, and raised her bow. We all looked to see a disfigured figure turn tail and run like the craven *****s son that he was. We all loosed as did Truda, and my javelin struck home next to her arrows, and he went down before he had gone five paces. We ran up with Hunter the first to him and he kicked the staff out of his hands. We demanded he surrender rather than risk a fools death, but he laughed and grabbed Hunter around the leg, who screamed as his leg was engulfed in the black life of the damned. As soon as the fool struck he had no more time for laughter as I caved in his head with my war-hammer. We then split up and began to investigate this town more thoroughly. I watched as Hunter slipped into what appeared to be the former Inn. It was not long before I heard a yell, and a strange wailing as Hunter came flying out of the window on the top floor to land and roll at my feet. He was bleeding badly, but without hesitation began hurling oil all over the walls of the inn, and let the mother @#%$ burn. The fire brought back our comrades, with Kraken & Truda, lugging back a chest they claimed to have pulled out of the river after having fought of an oozing creature of slime, whilst Ansin Wy-Jin, & Senya returned from having looted the remains of a herbalist shop. Amidst the ashes of the building I was able to recover a longsword etched in the elven script, but there was also a breastplate which my hands passed right through. I bandaged up Hunter as well as I could, and we decided to leave this accursed ghost town and set out for this Temple of Elemental Evil that had once been used by mad worshippers of the Usurper. It was on our arrival that we discovered a band of hobgoblins swarming in the temple, after which we promptly annihilated the dog brothers. I let my comrades go on ahead of us, while I remained behind and began animated the corpses of the fallen as mindless zombies that I might use to further subdue the temple. Apparently my comrades rescued a carpenter from Hommlet as I was to find out, since after they had rescued him he was found dead and they all accused me of slaying him, which I promptly denied. I told them that I had been busy with my creations (which they didn’t care for), but if I had slain him he would not still be laying there so to speak. Then of course they turned upon Hunter, who denied everything. While the *** squad was holding a funeral for their fallen friend (whom none of them knew), I scouted around the area and discovered a burnt out tower with a number of hobgoblins holed inside. I approached peaceably and discovered that their leader, an ugly creature known as Alubya was in revolt against her brothers in the temple, and wanted us to strike them down. I informed her we had already done so and questioned her thoroughly about this cult. She helped me little enough, so I decided to check within the temple itself further. We then discovered a number of symbols etched into the floor around the old throne in a mosaic. It was Senya, the wizardess that discovered if you step onto these stones in a particular order, an ancient mechanism activates and the throne lowers itself down into the deeper levels, farther than we could see (my own attempt had involved smashing my war-hammer into the throne, but with a flare of energy my hammer was left a crumpled ruin). We all rode the throne downwards for some time, until it grinded to a halt before a large tunnel. We traveled down this tunnel to see where it would lead, and it was far longer than we had originally anticipated. We lost track of time in the darkness, but eventually we came out of the cave entrance in the forest overlooking a small mining town. Once inside the town we discovered it was called Rastor, a name that rang familiar to my ears. It was there I left my zombies to guard the entrance to the cave from anything that would pass while I went to investigate this town. It was here we learned a great deal more of the Temple of Elemental Evil when I spoke with a wizardess living in the town known as Tymerian. Her chambers were adorned with strange runes and many other things I did not understand. There was one rune that flared bright red as I passed beneath the arch of her doorway. She informed us that she and several other comrades had attempted an aerial assault on the new temple that they had discovered in the center of a dormant volcano known as the Stalagos. They were defeated by towers that cast them down with great lighting that showered across the heavens. Since that time she had become a prisoner in her own home fearing temple agents and spoke of at least one agent active in the town. We then left her alone with Hunter who was trying to get some loving, but I do not doubt he had other intentions. We spent some time around the town, buying supplies, and drinking our fair share of ale and swapping tales. There were a surprising number of orcs in this town, living peaceably with dwarves, quite a surprise to me, although I admit to knowing little enough of both peoples. We soon discovered the assassin the Tymerian spoke of as well. He approached Hunter & I, to see if we would be willing to do a job for him since he had seen us enter the home of Tymerian, and thus far none of his people had been able to get in. We told him we would see what we could do. As we gathered with the rest of our party in the common room on the tavern, it was decided that we would pay one last visit to Tymerian and see if she would be willing to draw us a map of this temple she spoke of. (OOC right here is where we ended the session, and I was quite irritated when we picked up again and no-one wanted to go since I knew the player of Hunter wouldn’t do anything stupid with the whole group watching). The next morning when the time came, none of my comrades remembered wanting to go, and in the end it was Hunter & I, going alone, while the ever useful teammates did nothing. On the way there I made Hunter promise not to try anything stupid as we were alone, and she was well protected in her home. I was watching him like a hawk since I knew he had lost his rod of mineral detection trying to get some to her, and desperately wanted to steal it back. As we knocked on her door, we heard some brief chanting that I did not recognize, and then the door opened. I explained that I would like a map of this temple she had spoken of, as well as questioned her further regarding its defenses, which she referred to as the Crater Ridge Mines. I also asked if she had any potions for sale, which she did and I bought several. It was during this transaction that Hunter coming up behind her pulled out his naked blade and attempted to plunge it into the back of her skull. His attempt shocked her (I was amazingly unsurprised by this, only managing to shake my head) but did nothing as it passed her by as if she was not even there. As she demanded to know the meaning of this he tried again to no avail. I was quite ****** at his ignorance, but was unwilling to abandon a teammate with whom I had battled for so long. Realizing this I pulled out Set’s Grace and struck at her savagely, still to no avail. This went on for a few seconds until she used some sorcery to force Hunter to read one of the runes on the wall, after which he crumpled to the ground. She attempted the same on me, but I laughed savagely at her attempts to manipulate my mind and struck back with Aegir’s Fury. She then murmured something else and I felt myself growing drowsy and against mine own will I felt my spear slip from my fingers as I saw the ground rushing up. When I awoke Hunter was sitting next to me on the ground pulling himself to his feet. I also began to stand while looking around the room. This Tymerian was still here, but she had brought back some dwarf who claimed to be the High Priest of the Temple in this town and claimed that we would have to do a service for him in exchange for our lives. This service he declared loudly was to destroy the Temple of All Consumption located in the Stalagos. As my fury mounted, both at his impudence and the theft of my weapons which I could see no sign of, he spoke further claiming he had called upon the power of his false god to place a mark upon me whereby I would have no choice but to obey his will, and would do no evil. I was then overcome by a blood rage at his impudence, his arrogance! To demand of me something I was going to do anyways was one thing, but to claim me a subject to his will after robbing me I would not stand for. In a frenzy I smashed the table and hurled a table leg to Hunter that he might use as a club. Pulling one from the wreckage for myself I laughed like a demon possessed and hurled myself at this pretender while he and the female stared like dumb mutes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter drop the table leg and hurl himself at the window to escape likely as not, but instead he crashed into the window and fell to the ground in a dazed heap. While the wizardess called upon her cursed sorcery, and the pretender to his false god, Hunter pulled himself from the ground and with a mad dash fled through the front door. Mocking the fool for a coward I evaded blows from the dwarf who had grown to twice my size, while landing my own. I made no use of the table leg, but instead I channeled every prayer I knew to Great Aegir into the fell energy of the damned which encompassed my hands in fell black energy that burned darkly. I sucked all the life from this pretender priest while the wizardess did little but mewl and call upon her sorcery which could not save her from my fury. As the battle raged the priest blew a hole in the ceiling with a column of fire that I rolled away from but caught up the roof in flames, while the front door was thrown open again, and there was Hunter with his blade naked in hand, and he hurled himself at the soft one in robes. Laughing wildly I threw back my braids and mocked the dog-brother and all of his weak gods. He went to the ground with my naked hands (they had taken my gloves that glowed red, the bastards), clenched about his throat and the power of Aegir stealing his very life. It was during the last moments of battle I noticed Kraken the fool of a half-orc simply standing in the doorway, where he stood for some time. I yelled madly for him to slay them all, but he did not respond at all. She used her sorcery to throw out a blast of ice that froze the very marrow of my bones within my harness, and as I sunk to the ground next to the dwarven pretender with consciousness rapidly fading, I saw her call upon some other sorcery and Hunter fell to the ground as well. (OOC it was here that I was taken to -9 by the cone of cold, and had one chance to stabilize. Amazingly enough I rolled a 1 on the d10, while Kraken finally ran in and smashed Tymerian to the ground with his club. To this day I don’t know if he was held or what, but it cost us precious rounds. Then while he was raging over her body and that of the dwarf priest, 2 dwarven guards, curious about the noise and fire poked their heads in the door. Then for no reason (I hate my DM), they ran past the half-orc who didn’t even get an attack of opportunity, and coup-de-graced me (Amon-Ra) and Hunter who was sleeping from the deep slumber all in one action (which they couldn’t have possibly done). Then of course he gave the half-orc barbarian got a turn and he cleaved them both in one go. A horrible death by a ***** of a DM that still pisses me off. Kraken of course was too incompetent to sell our gear and gather up enough money to raise us since I was dead and couldn’t lead him by the hand. Wy-Jin the monk was just a dick and wouldn’t help us at all denying that I had ever healed him once. Truda the ranger wanted to bring me back for all the times I had helped and healed her, but not bring back Hunter. The problem with that was it was Truda’s first time playing DnD and had no idea what to do. A Senya hated me out of character because her character was on the point buy system, and my character had great stats which I had rolled like everyone else. Truda actually had the best stats over 100pts. Horrible death for an awesome character and I am still haunted). :banghead: :tantrum: I should add that I found out later after the campaign was finished that Tymerian was a 4th level wizard and the dwarf priest was 5th level. :censored: :headexplo :waits:
Tseramed 12-03-05, 02:31 PM	I just started this new campaing in the Forgotten Realms where I DM. We've played 4 session up to now and it's going pretty great with a game once a week. PCs are: Abramel Nym - Wild Elf Sorcerer Roberc - Ghostwise Halfling rogue Kiira Lars de Amn - Human monk of the Broken one Mykhal Thihilikil gemcutter - Deep Gnome cleric ( doesn't speak common and can't communicate with the rest of the group normally) Malark Greycastle- Human Dhampir Urban ranger ( from ravenloft) It all started in Cormyr in Eveningstar and after some discussion the PCs decided to go to the Haunted halls of evening star. However in the mountains they got caught by a snow storm and were glad to meet a ranger who found them and invited them in his shack along a river. He cooked them good food and offered them a shelter for the night. However next morning, two of three, PCs were missing. After some research, Abramel the wild elf found some kind of portal in a closet and entered it to end up in the shadow plane where everything in the material plane exist in a more depressing way... There, the 3 PCs reunited and helped a strange little gnome and the shadow version of the ranger fight of some fiends. The shadow plane version of Shaengarn the ranger they met is in fact the real Shaengarn who got trapped in the plane years ago. So they found that the guy who offered them a shelter in the material plane must have been an imposter. The 3 PCs with the new one, the strange gnome, found a way back to the material plane but had to leave the poor Shaengarn in the shadowplane. There, they were back in the small house of the "ranger" but found nobody in sight. While searching the room, they found a small pendant with a symbol most of them reconized instantly, the Zhentarim. After this, they felt like the guy could come back anytime so they made a run for it. However it was not long before they found he was on their trail and he was closing in fast. After a small fight at night time in the woods against the dude, they found out he had supernatural powers and two of them got shot knockout poison darts. The two others decided to cooperate, and after a while of walking bound to each other, they fell asleep as they had run all day and didn't eat. When they woke up later they were bound to some table in an up position in the dark. Soon, the man that captured them came down, lit some torches and took out some torture tools. After a bit of torture on the monk of the group. The deep gnome was able to liberate himself and ran to the torture tools closet to pick up some giant needles and a saw. After the monk got liberated and the rogue and sorcerer freed their hands, the incredibly sadistic combat began. Roberc the rogue almost lost an arm as the crazy man got on him with a saw and started to chop his arm. Daze spell saved the day and lucky critical hits from the monk helped. Notable mentions to the deep gnome who sawed in the armor of the evil ranger but didn't got through. After the fight they ended up exiting the cellar and got face to face with a strange and tall figure hiding his face. As soon as the man learned the group had beaten a crazy dude with strange powers, he ran downstairs, checked the man's teeths and when he saw big canines, choped his head and put a stake in his heart. After this he joined the PCs. Well that's about it. After a trip to Suzail to see the old manor of Malark, ( his family were nobles but fell disgracious), sell some items and **** off a blacksmith, the caracters are back on the trails to the haunted halls of evening star. They battled Dopplegangers sent to see what happened to the missing zhent agent as the PCs were back to his empty shed in the mountains.
Berzerker_prime 12-08-05, 08:36 PM	:bump: :mage: :fight!: :dragon:
Inspired_Mage 12-09-05, 05:00 AM	Cool idea! OUr campaign at the minute only involves 2 PC's and 4 NPC's (Players in South Africa arent easy to find). The PC's are now 10th level and the NPC's are 8th. PC's - Ennisyen Silverbow Moon Elf 3 Clr of Shevarash/3 Wiz/4 Mystic Thuerge (me) Edan - Human barbarian/dragon disciple NPC's - Durgan - Gold dwarf fighter\devoted defender Zhahara - Tiefling rogue Jebeddo Earthfoot - Gnome Bard Seebo Earthfoot - Gnome cleric of Gond We are currently searching for the pieces of a key which will give us access to Aencars (sp?) manor in the Dales, and hopefully the treasures within, we have 5 parts of the 15 part key and are on our way to Tassledale now to search for more clues. Recently, on our way to Tassledale we found a dead gnome and follwed a blood trail to a mine which a Rakshasa was using as a base, it had all the gnomes within under its control, in the mine we had to fight a Delver which destroyed Durgan's wonderful +2 Full Plate (boy was I ******!) and then we fought the Rakshasha and it tried to use the gnomes as gnomish shields but a sleep spell from Jebeddo sorted that issue out, we started attcking the Rakshasa and it managed to drop Jebeddo into negative Hp's, Zhahara managed to drag him away but the rakshasa said it would drop a fireball on him if we didnt let it flee, we had to let it go and so now we have a rakshasa on the loose with vengence on his mind. Just before that we had left Featherdale after going through the tower of Chondrathipe (our DM put a spin on that story by making him an evil mage who is also looking for the key to Aencar's manor) and we had to fight our way past a few devils and gorgans in his underground summoning chambers. So to continue, we played last night again, we finally arrived in the town of Tegal's Mark in Tassledale looking for further information regarding Aencar and his Lt. who was incharge of this town, a man called Kamil. We booked lodgings at an inn which was adjacent to a huge festhall, and then the Ennisyen and Durgan went off to see a smithy about getting some new mw full plate for Durgan whilst the others went into the Festhall. The festhall was a huge building with a couple of bars surrounding a courtyard and there were many tables, some of which were reserved for Dragonfire tables. We looked at a notice board and there was an elven woman there trying to read the notes but was unable to read common and asked us to assist her as she needed work. We inquired as to what she did and she told us her name was Lynnya and she was a tracker and also a dabbler in 'practical' magic (she is a ranger/wizard), we said we might be in need of such services and invited her to join us for the evening, she was quite happy to do so. The night wore on with Edan, Durgan and Seebo getting merrily drunk, whilst Ennisyen held back (as always) as did Zharhara and Lynnya, Jebeddo meanwhile had found a few other gnomes and was getting merrily drunk with them. Twice during the night we had odd people visiting our table, the first was a half elf who tried to cut Ennisyens purse but was quickly spotted, but instead of fleeing he tried to sell a more secure belt pouch, much to the amusement of everyone in the festhall, Edan bought the pouch and let the man go. The second visitor who was a bit of a poncy pretty boy who kept hitting on Lynnya (the tiefling seemed more enamored though, much to the poncy boys' dismay) and before he left he tapped Durgan on the shoulder and laughed about the general surliness of dwarves (Durgan being quite drunk by now just pushed the man away), the man left quickly afterwards though and we thought nothing of it. In the meantime Ennisyen was chatting to a local bard (who recently moved to Tegal's Mark a few months before) and asked questions about Aencar and Kamil and what befell them and their treasure. The bard said what he knew (which wasnt much) but he did say this is the 2nd time he has been asked this in the last year, for when he was in Daggerford about a year before a man and his 2 collegues (who matched the description of Chondrathripe and the 2 red wizards who helped him stage his death) had asked him about this as well, and not long after the only living relative of Kamil was abducted from Tegal's Mark by a group of orcs. We now believe that these orcs work for Chondrathripe as we heard mention of them in his tower in Featherfalls (Edan also regonised the name of the tribe as a tribe that he encountered in his youth but he would not elaborate). As Ennisyen's chat with the bard neared its end, their was a bloodcurdling scream from the back of the festhall, we all sprung into action (Durgan, Seebo & Edan did it a little unsteadily though ;) ) and when we got outside we saw that the poncy character was lying quite dead in front of a huge spider with the head of a wolf, and next to him was a rod which as far we knew was in Durgans possesion (we found this rod a while ago in a dungeon and it increases your charisma, casts cure light wounds acouple of times a day and changes your alignment to Lawful), and the rod was being dragged to the spider by a web. There was also a bouncer from the festhall attacking one of the spiders, and we could count 4 in total, and even more disturbing was the site of a smokey portal by the back fence where we could see dozens of the spiders and a ugly bloated creature (female) staring intently through at us and the rod. Jebeddo acted first and sprang towards the wand but he was caught in the web of one of the spiders we couldnt see up on the roof and it started to retract him in. Ennisyen cast a sound burst spell near the roof and stunned the spider which stopped it reeling in the poor bard whilst Durgan cut him free, Edan, Zhahara & Seebo all enagaged the spiders whilst Lynnya ran to get more help inside from the other bouncers. Ennisyen got within range and cast mage hand on the rod and took it before the spider could (Edan had slashed the web around the rod to free it). The fight went by pretty swiftly and with no real difficulty, and the misty portal disappeared before we could investigate it further. After the fight we went back in the festhall to a fair bit of applause from the staff and patrons but one man was scowling at us and said we brought this on them with our rod and he should put it away from safe keeping as he was also a bouncer at the feshall, Durgan patted his axe on his hand and said it was fine where it was and stopped that idea before it had started. Seebo in the meantime had cast Detect Evil on the man and had detected that the man was indeed evil, but the festhall owner (an honorable man from what could see, said he will judge the man on his actions, not the spell. We left it at that and are now considering what we need to do next, there is nothing for us in Tegal's Mark as both Kamil and his ancestor's house are both gone and the orc's trail is too old to follow, perhaps we will head to Daggerford next and try and see what more we can find of Chondrathripe and the Red Wizards... As you may guess we are running the module The Rod of 7 Parts, and will soon also be starting CotSQ (my DM is trying to run about 3 stories in parallel, and I have to say it is getting very very fun.
Alurvelve 12-12-05, 10:06 AM	Awesome I love yalls stories/campaigns keep them coming. It makes me want to play that much more. sadly we can't get everyone's work schedule to coincide. If I get some time I'll post about my other character that I have played beside Alurvelve 'The Untouchable Bladesinger' Starym. The campaing was set during the rage of the dragons, and my player was Exodus Cormaerils(i forget the correct spelling its been a while). It involve a gorup of Paladins that hunt dragons and giants around Cor Myr. I'll see if i can find some of my old notes to help jog my memoy.
bobsan 12-12-05, 12:55 PM	The bard paused in his tale for a moment and took another sip of the firewine, giving pause as it warmed his insides still. After a monent, he cleared his throat and turned back to the crowd that had gathered. As he started his tale, other patrons took interest and congrgated around him. By the time he was ready to continue, the entire bar had shuffled chair and stool or claimed a space on the floor nearby to hear his heroic tale. “Now, you might still be asking yourselves, ‘What is it that leads them to name themselves after an exploding privy?’” “Would you believe it started with but a joke?” Part 2 – The Birth of The Company of the Combustable Commode When we last left our intrepid band, they found themselves about to be executed near a toilet they believed (for the past 3 months of real time) was about to go up in flames. Their salvation came in the form of their monk, a young lad known to hit the liquor bottles quite often. During the meal, he had consumed quite a bit of alcohol which, in turn, lessened the effects of the toxin (Done for the sake of story). With the aid of Alten, the halfling who had separated from the group in the castle and never got caught, the group was able to break free and chase Illyana back into her keep (After some creative distractions). The battle with the warrior woman as well as both Bernal (Her lackey cleric) and Blackmaer, the mercenary swordsman, was difficult, but in the end, they ended up driving them from the castle. The crafty woman created her own distraction and slipped out through a secret door along with Bernal and Blackmaer. The group gave case, but unfortunately lost them in the woods beyond the castle. Satisfied that her plans of conquest had at least been deterred, the group began to make their way back to the Penhaligon Estate to check in with Sherlane and Kerin. As they left the immediate area, a loud explosion was heard behind them, coming from the vicinity of the castle. Following that was a small shower of stone and wood. They were not quite certain why their previous idea for a distraction took so long to actually go off and why such an explosion occurred. And no one was interested in finding out why. Eventually, they arrived at the Penhaligon estate, apparently just in time for a wedding between Kerin and Lady Artiris (A noblewoman from Waterdeep). Apparently, their foray into Kerin’s basement to find a tiara and sword for him was all for the wedding between these two. During the festivities, they met again with Sherlane who ask for the group’s help once more. Given that Illyana had escaped from the players, Sherlane wanted them to hunt her down and bring her to justice by any means. Agreeing to aid him, Sherlane told them to head for Silverymoon while he uses his contacts and resources to find out where she was heading. They remained on the Penhaligon estate for a short while before making beginning their trip to Silverymoon. Along the way, the group agreed that they work well together and decided that, if they were to stay together as an adventuring band, they would need a name to call themselves. Several names were tossed about though none were permanently decided upon. During the conversation, Junior spouted off with the name The Company of the Combustible Commode. Of course, the name was shot down immediately though they still never agreed upon what to call themselves. After several days of travel, they arrived in Silverymoon and sought rest at a local inn (The name of which escapes me right now – Sarah? Help? ^_^). There they met with Xyphiel, a bard in the employ of Sherlane. He delivered a note to them from Sherlane stating he has discovered Illyana was traveling to Waterdeep. After discussing their upcoming travel plans, they decided to rest for a few days before setting out on the long trek. During that time, they made friends with Xyphiel and regaled him with their tales of adventure (short as they were so far). Enamored, Xyphiel decided he would chronicle their adventures and was invited to join the group. However, during the telling of tales, Junior made the unfortunate, though intentional, mistake of referring to themselves as the Company of the Combustible Commode not only to the bard, but to all those he told their tale to. With that, the name was stuck (no pun intended) and thus began the tales of The Company of the Combustible Commode. Next Post - The Company's Journey Begins
Crust 12-12-05, 08:57 PM	There's so much to say after four years. The Company of Grimstead The current core group: Rusk - male (Damara) human barbarian 13/fighter 6/champion of Gwyharwyf 8 Khaltarah - male (Elven Court) moon elf wizard 25/arch mage 3 Aldamar - male (Dalelands) human cleric of Mystra 21/spellfire channeler 4/paladin 2 Remmy - male (Dalelands) gnome sorcerer 9/rogue 3/arcane trickster 13 They have accomplished the following: Was the first adventuring company to explore the depths of the Grimstead ruins found northwest of Shadowdale. Crushed a drow encampment lairing beneath Grimstead, killing a cleric of Lolth and driving the drow to flee for their lives back into the Underdark. Discovered the lair of the Elder, an ancient vampire lord who plagues the group to this day. Defended Shadowdale from three separate orc assaults, battling on the fields of the Twisted Tower alongside Cormyrian soldiers, soldiers from the western Dales, and various Realms personalities (The Knights, Dove, etc.). Two black dragons and two phaerimm sorcerers were slain by the end of the assaults. The party lineup changed dramatically after the dust settled. Were pivotal in the breaking of the Githyanki Incursion. When the invading githyanki discovered the prison of Bazim-Gorag, the PCs investigated and eventually slew the Firebringer before the githyanki could reach him. Took to war once again as the githyanki claimed Daggerdale Castle and Daggerfalls. During several scenarios, the group liberated Daggerfalls, killing two adult red dragons, a Zhentarim wizard, and uncovering the whereabouts of Randal Morn in the process. Rescued Randal Morn from the lair of Scarlagora, an ancient female red. They slew her brood and brought her low. During the aftermath of the conflict, Rusk rescued "Harthor" from the volcano, a sentient sword holding the soul of an ascendant bronze dragon. Met the githyanki on the fields of Castle Daggerdale. The PCs fought alongside Cormyrian cavalry, archers and footsoldiers from the western Dales and the Moonsea, elven archers, wizards, and bladesingers from Cormanthor, a wide variety of NPCs, cohorts, and Realms personalities, even cloud giants from the Thunder Peaks. Kurgoth Hellspawn took the field, and was killed in a spell duel against Remmy and Khaltarah. Waves of undead, led by the death knight Dhuron Ilstryn, were followed by wave upon wave of orcs, and bolstered by ogres and trolls. The githyanki defended the walls, unleashing magic and arrows from that safe vantage. Rusk led the charges, and slew so, so many. He was undaunted. Khaltarah and Remmy did battle in the skies alongside hippogriff riders and githyanki dragon knights. Aldamar was the battle medic and undead bane. One the fourth day, the castle was retaken. In a race against the githyanki, the group sought out and located the ancient tomb of the demilich Acererak. After entering the tomb, the group was betrayed by the wizards keeping the tomb, and a team of githyanki assassins was dispatched. The PCs drove off the assassins several times, but they eventually found Moil, Acererak's Fortress of Conclusion, and were able to vanquish the demilich before Vlaakith could find him and claim his power for herself. Assaulted Tunarath (on the Astral Plane) alongside dwarven clerics from Citadel Adbar, elven wizards, archers, and bladesingers from Cormanthor, a traitorous githyanki knight and his forces, and even angelic planar allies. A balor was gated onto the field by Vlaakith herself. Rusk battled and slew the demon. The explosion was seen by thousands of githyanki. Infiltrated Vlaakith's Palace of Whispers and destroyed her. Her phylactery was also found and destroyed, leaving the githyanki in a state of disarray, and creating a whole new list of enemies to hate the PCs (including a powerful ultroloth sorcerer). After nine months of rest and soul searching, Aldamar had prayed and meditated in the ruins of Myth Drannor (a baelnorn gifted him with a +5 holy avenger after his time there), Rusk had sired a son (with Gwynharwyf herself), Khaltarah studied magic with other elven high mages, and Remmy adventured with the Scouts of the West Wood, seeking any githyanki or orcs lurking in the region. Adventure called again, and the PCs came back together when the Elder used an eclipse spell to blot out the sun over Shadowdale. The Elder unleashed an army of vampires, wights, and ghasts bolstered by a battalion of yugoloth troops (mezzoloths and nycaloths). The groups many allies rallied, and war had returned. After pushing through the army of undead and yugoloths, the group dove back into Grimstead, fighting through hordes of foul undead, reaching the Elder's Blood Pit. They were greeted by two necromancer liches (members of the wizard cabal who betrayed them before). They had resurrected Acererak into the form of an atropal abomination. In the ensuing conflict, the liches were driven off, the atropal sank beneath the blood pit and disappeared, and Khaltarah's younger sister Kira was downed and snatched away by the Elder. After discovering a portal beneath the Elder's blood pits, the chase began to find and destroy Acererak's atropal form, rescue Kira, and destroy the Elder once and for all. The group recently passed through that portal into the Barrens of Doom and Despair in pursuit of Kira and the Elder. With the help of Aldamar's quarut inevitable planar ally and Rusk's sanctified astral stalker cohort, the group located Skullrot, a fiendish asylum. They also located the source of the yugoloths fighting for the Elder: an entire army of them camped outside Skullrot. The group infiltrated Skullrot, destroyed its guards (including Dark Myrakul), and rescued Kira before the army could collect itself and storm into the asylum. That's where the party stands now. They can either continue their hunt for the Elder, or rest and say enough is enough (so we can start Age of Worms). They have to choose between risking their lives again to destroy the Elder once and for all, or retiring and possibly leave the Elder for another generation.
Inspired_Mage 12-13-05, 02:05 AM	The PC's are now 10th level and the NPC's are 8th. PC's - Ennisyen Silverbow Moon Elf 3 Clr of Shevarash/3 Wiz/4 Mystic Thuerge (me) Edan - Human barbarian/Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple/Foe Hunter NPC's - Durgan - Gold dwarf fighter\devoted defender Zhahara - Tiefling rogue Jebeddo Earthfoot - Gnome Bard Seebo Earthfoot - Gnome cleric of Gond Lynnya - Moon Elf Ranger/Wizard We finished off last time in Tegal's Mark after fighting the wolf spiders and seeing the strange female creature, we decided there was nothing more to discover in Tegal's Mark so we decided we would head to Dagger Falls where the bard told us he had seen Chondrathripe. We waited a few more days whilst Durgans armour was being crafted and we noticed the shifty guy who was scowling at us after the fight with the wollf spiders, had disappeared without informing anyone including his employers at the festhall. We embarked on the road to Dagger Falls and decided we would head through Essembra (our home town, or at least the town we formed our party) and then through Mistledale towards Daggerdale. We passed through Essembra to a wondrous wlecome, which quite impressed Lynnya as she did not know our fame in this city, and continued towards Mistledale, through the forest of Cormanthyr, not far out of Essembra though we were attacked by some very odd creatures, it was 3 goats and 2 cows, but their bodies were badly warped and deformed. Edan thought this an easy fight and charged the creatures whislt the rest of the melee fighters (Durgan and Seebo) followed a little bit behind, when the creatures struck, they struck with a fury we would never have expected and did alot of damage to those involved in the fight, especially the isolated Edan. Ennisyens shock was compounded by the fact that they even resisted his Ice Storm spell (i rolled so badly for my SR check) but in the end we emerged victorious, and the bodies of the creatures seemed to revert back to those of normal farm cows and goats. More strange though was the fact that as we defeated the creatures, the whole area blurred foe a second and all of a sudden all the grass and green foilage was now blue! And even more strange was that the only green areas were around Durgan, and wherever he walked the blue permanatly changed to green, leaving a lovely green trail in his wake. Lynnya climbed up a tree and confirmed that all the land as far as she could see was now blue (well all the green foilage anyway). We decided to go to one of the nearby farmsteads and inform them about the dead livestock so that the meat would not waste and also perhaps find some lodging for the night. At the farmhouse we were greeted warmly by the family of farmers as they knew well of our exploits, Jebeddo spoke for the party, as always, and inquired as to what colour the grass was, the farmer gave us an odd look and said that it was blue, as it should be. He then said that of course the grass is blue except for the odd green trail following Durgan, Jebeddo laughed this off saying that he is a dwarf and nature rebels against him, or more specifically, his smell. If looks could kill Durgan would have melted Jebeddo on the spot! The famer put us up for the night and we left the next day, and also gave the farmer 50GP for his hospitality and his livestock. About 3 days away from the farm and just before nightfall we noticed a silk pavilion appear on the road in front of us, even though we were sure it was not there before. We approched cautiously and a voice bade us to enter and accept his master's hospitality, we went inside and found nobody there but there was table large enough for all of us to sit and with one extra place at the head of the table, as we all sat down a huge horse like being appeared at the empty head of the table, this was no ordinary horse as he was well groomed and had a deep look of intelligence in his eyes. He introduced himself (with a name i do not remember) but he said we should call him I-Kai, he asked us to eat and he would answer our questions when we were done. The meal was delicious and after it we asked what had happened to thw world. He explained that to him the grass had always seemed blue but he has guessed that it should be green due to the path following Durgan, he then launched into a story explaining about a eternal war between Law and Chaos, which was fought by the Wind Dukes of Aqua and the forces of Chaos which was always a stalemate until the Queen of Chaos enlisted the help of a Tan'ari call Miskal (i think thats it) as her general and his wolf spider minions, these creatures turned the tide of the battle towards chaos, the Dukes in an act of desperation forged a rod of great power for law and met Miskal and his forces on the feild of Pesh, on a different world, and the Duke wielding the rod forced Miskal into one-on-one combat and defeated him, but as Miskal's blood hit the rod, the rod sundered into 7 pieces and created a huge rift which sucked in Miskal, the Duke snatched up the pieces of te rod and also leapt into the rift. Miskal was found and imprisoned on Pandemonium but there was nothing found of the Duke nor the rod. It was later discovered the rod had been spread to various worlds and so the forces of chaos tried to track it down. The blood of Miskal though had slightly tainted the rod with chaos and it was a major artifact of power which both the forces of chaos and law wanted to help battle the other. Usually the rod will choose a lawful person as its wielder, which confused I-Kai as we are mainly Chaotic but who knows the designs of powerful artifacts he said with a grin. If we wished to find the rest of the rod all we had to do was think of the rod as a complete item and the piece we have would guide us to the next piece. He also told us that everything was blue due to the fact that the Queen of Chaos had opened a gate to this world and it let of a burst of Chaos throughout Faerun and she was now pursuing us using the wolf spiders, and to our dismay he also told us that the farmhouse we stayed in had been attacked and the inhabitants slaughtered by the wolf spiders. We then vowed to avoid contact with innocents such as that and thanked I-Kai for everything. Durgan imagined the rod as instructed and it pointed west towards or maybe past the great desert. We decided to go first to Dagger falls and maybe traingulate the position of the next piece, but as we arrived we heard stories of drow attacks on the town, by both drow and also some drow whose skin seems to have been ripped from their bodies. Randal Morne had sent a previous adventuring group to investigate but they had never returned (we found this quite funny as he described our previous party who had been about to embark on the same module but we stopped at that point to create new characters and switch from 3.0 to 3.5), we discussed what to do and decided to investiagte the drow problem (Ennisyen was adamant being a cleric of Shevarash whilst Edan was more than keen as he had chosen drown as his favoured enemy in his Foe Hunter class. So now we stand ready to venture into the underdark in pusuit of the drow...
Tseramed 12-14-05, 12:28 AM	I just started this new campaing in the Forgotten Realms where I DM. We've played 4 session up to now and it's going pretty great with a game once a week. PCs are: Abramel Nym - Wild Elf Sorcerer Roberc - Ghostwise Halfling rogue Kiira Lars de Amn - Human monk of the Broken one Mykhal Thihilikil gemcutter - Deep Gnome cleric ( doesn't speak common and can't communicate with the rest of the group normally) Malark Greycastle- Human Dhampir Urban ranger ( from ravenloft) Well after the shopping trip to Suzail the PCs set off for the Haunted halls of eveningstar. After much battle for the entry they managed to make their way through an old dwarf complex now taken by troglodytes. They managed to slay about 10 on a narrow bridge while they were in there. Then they found the old battleground of the halls. Many small skeletal corpses were lying there along with a couple of taller one. In a last stand, the dwarfs had recluded themselves in a small room to defend against the invading drow army. The PCs found the place which had been untouched all that time even with all the occupants the Halls had. Right now three of them have leveled up and are now level 2. They are continuing the exploration of the ruins and as they go deeper into the complex they feel that what happened to them before (Tortured by a zhent agent, killed two Doppelganger sent to investigate the murder of the zhent agent etc...) was only a foresight of what is to come deeper in the dark...
Giilvas Vyshaan 12-14-05, 02:18 PM	Our campaign included 3 elves- 2 bros. and 1 sis.-who happed to have the last name of Vyshaan. They are currently adventuring to clean up some of the wrongs of their Crown War-causing ancestors. Our DM is going to steer our group toward the reclamation of ancient elven lands (?Myth Drannor?) to re-establish an elven nation. Oh- the return of 3 certain elven blades has been turned up as well.
Berzerker_prime 12-15-05, 08:05 PM	The bard paused in his tale for a moment and took another sip of the firewine, giving pause as it warmed his insides still. After a monent, he cleared his throat and turned back to the crowd that had gathered. As he started his tale, other patrons took interest and congrgated around him. By the time he was ready to continue, the entire bar had shuffled chair and stool or claimed a space on the floor nearby to hear his heroic tale. “Now, you might still be asking yourselves, ‘What is it that leads them to name themselves after an exploding privy?’” “Would you believe it started with but a joke?” "So, it's all your fault, then?" says the turban-wearing human to his younger companion across the table. "You bet your jackalope," says the young monk with a hint of mischievious pride. "Aww, he missed the best part about what happened when Illyana got away!" the wood elf woman sitting at the bar laments. She turns to the dwarf and pokes him in the ribs. "You remember, right? About how all you big, brave men were too afraid to walk into the big cloud of darkness covering the secret door and it took the little lady to dispell it?" The dwarf levels a gaze at her. "You are far too proud of that rock o' yours," he grumbled. "Of course!" exclaims the gold elf at the bar. "The princess' light stone would counteract a darkness spell!" "Don't call me that, 'coz," says the wood elf, brandishing a fist at the gold elf. The gold elf continues, undaunted, over the wood elf's objection. "But I am confused. Why would you all be afraid of the darkness?" "We'd never seen it afore," the Dwarf explains, "and only an idiot would walk inta something like that if'n they'd never seen it afore." "I wasn't afriad of it," says the wood elf. "I see," says the gold elf, "case in point." "Hey!" "So, you were simply standing around staring at it?" the gold elf asks of the Dwarf. "Course not! We tried a bunch a things. Junior even shot a Magic Missile at it." "He did?" "Yup." "A Magic Missile?" "Certainly." "At the darkness." "Just as we was all standing there." "I see..." The group lapsed back into silence as they continued to listen. After several days of travel, they arrived in Silverymoon and sought rest at a local inn (The name of which escapes me right now – Sarah? Help? ^_^). :D I have it in my notes. How much is it worth to you? Just kidding. It was the Wandering Sage Inn. Phear my |_337 note-taking skillz! Sweet water to you! Berz.
Berzerker_prime 12-27-05, 11:05 PM	:bump: Oh, gee! Look at that! In my effort to retrieve some posts, I must have accidentally bumped the thread. :dragon: Anyone else with some good stories to share? Sweet water to you all! Berz.
Silverpanther 12-29-05, 01:38 AM	no no, every single post has been very fine :D keep on with that good stuff :)
Seraphim of Night 12-29-05, 08:12 PM	Amon Ra was one of the funnest realms characters I have ever played. I think I am going to cry again... :(
Inspired_Mage 01-05-06, 01:54 AM	So to continue... We kinda hurried our last session so my DM filled in some gaps from the last time. We asked questions about Chondrathripe and his collegues and if they had visited this town, we got an affrimitive answer and were told they were last seen heading towards the Dordrien Crypts, now Dordrien was the Daggerdale lieutenant of Aencar and it was rumored that he had a sceptre (which we believe either is or part of the key to Aencar's treasure), so with this information we decided to go to the Dordrien crypts and since we were going there Randal Morn asked us to investigate the drow issue and also to discover the fate of the party who went before us, they left not so long before us so he did believe there to be any problems with them as of yet. When we got to the crypts we found the scene of a recent battle, and also a dead fish! (this was from the 3.0 polymorph spell the previous parties mage had cast on a vampire spawn, he changed it into a fish to kill it) it had snowed recently so we couldnt find any tracks from whoever had fought in this battle. We then went to the main doors of the crypt and found that it was locked with a chain on the inside, Durgan and Edan beat the door down (we are so subtle) and inside we found 5 dead, and looted, drow all wearing tabards bearing the insignia of Lloth, we found this curious as there were small crossbow darts in the bodies which meant they had been killed by other drow. Ennisyen cast a speak with dead spell and asked these 3 questions: Q:Where are you attacking Daggerdale from? A: Szith Morkan (sp?) Q:Who killed you? A:Followers of the White Banshee Q:Who is the White Banshee? A:Kiranshelee (sp?) Ennisyen's religion check told him who Kiranshelee is, the Drow Goddess of Undeath. We found this very odd but proceeded into the crypt and explored any doors we went past, in the one room we tripped a glyph of warding which summoned 2 celestial dire lions, which kinda mauled our rogue before the fighters easily despatched them. We also found a few crypts and a few magic items, one a ring and the other a wand. When we got to another door and the rogue touched the door she suddenly felt a chill ncompass her heart and she then had to make a fortitude save, a quick spellcraft check told ennisyen that is was a slay living spell cats on the door, Seebo the cleric cast dispel magic and successfully dispelled the spell and we then broke down the door (it was plastered shut), inside we found a white statue of a human woman who turned to us and said in Thorass (which only Ennisyen can understand): <this conversation got a good laugh at the table last night> Statue<Thorass>: Leave, intruders will be punished. Ennisyen<Common>: Bugger Ennisyen<Thorass>: We are not intruders (said in a hopeful tone of voice) Statue<Thorass>: Prepare to die! (or something along those lines) Ennisyen<Common>: Oops! The statue then shimmered and a ghostly image of the woman came out of the statue and attacked us. When she screamed at us we ahd to make fortitude saves, everybody passed except for the bard who took damage to his STR, DEX & CONS, the cleric quickly managed to turn the ghost and we looted the rooms around the statue and found a few pieces of treasure and also a ring, when Edan grabbed the ring though, the corpse it was with whispered that for taking the ring a demon will come to claim him in 7 days, after this we left the room with Edan still holding the ring with a very worried look on his face. The ghost returned but did not leave the statue room so we proceeded further into the crypts, we found a room with some more graves but could see no reason to loot them as nothing detected of magic. In the next chamber there was a strange insect like statue whcih another religion check verified the statue as Jergal, the statue radiated magic but nothing else in the room did so we decided to leave the statue and graves in this room alone (the rogue had taken a beat of a beating with traps today so we decided to give her a break on this one) as we continued throught the next room we were suddenly attacked by creature resembling a staglemite with long strands all aorund it (A Roper) it grabbed hold of everyone except Jebeddo the bard, as his hide check was too good for the creature to spot him, and Edan who it missed with its attack, the fight wasnt too difficult as Seebo managed to get off a Keen Edge spell on Edan's falcion and he proceeded to annialate the thing in a couple of rounds. That is where we finished off last night, Edan and Ennisyen have now went up a level but the rest a just a couple of hundred XP's short. Things are starting to get interesting now!
Inspired_Mage 01-11-06, 10:12 AM	So we had just finished off the roper when almost instantly 4 ghouls just appeared around us from nowhere! we proceeded to plow into them. The 2 fighters were just getting involved when another one appeared, and this one looked different to the others as it was a little bigger and seemed stronger, and it went for the isolated Zhahara and managed to paralyse her with its attack, Edan and Ennisyen tried to get to her and help (or at least prevent a coup de grace) and Edan got there first and gave enough of a threat to prevent the coup de grace whilst Ennisyen (confident that a ghoul's touch could not paralyse him due to his elvish heritage) tried to cast a freedom of movement spell on Zharaha but when the creature struck with it's AoO it somehow paralysed him! Meanwhile the other party members made short work of the remaining ghouls, with Jebeddo throwing out smart comments with every strike to try and impress Lynnya, the elven ranger/mage, while Durgan and Seebo just shook their heads at his efforts. When Edan killed the tough ghoul it didnt just 'die' like the other ghouls but instead vanaished in a puff of smoke, a quick 'Knowledge- Planes' check revealed it was not a ghoul but some extra-planar creature instead which seems to resemble a ghoul! We healed up Zhahara (she is taking some major punishment down here) and proceeded on, Jebeddo (who is on rear guard) though he heard some odd "click click" noises, as he was the only one to hear it we assumed it came from behind us and went back to investigate but could not find anything, so we proceeded onwards, deeper into the crypts. We encountered a fork in the passage and found that the first fork led to a room which must have been some kind of feeding chamber for the ghouls due to the gore splattered around, we also found some treasure with some magical weapon's and armour as well as a magical cloak. The passage led to an open chamber with a steep passageway leading downwards in the middle of the room, before we could pass through the entranceway though, a giant spider scuttled out of the hole and came towards us, it was a very odd spider as it seemed to be undead, but we made short work of it after Ennisyen cast a Scorhing Ray on it and the fighters closed in. Once the spider was dispatched 2 lithe forms leapt out from behind the entrance to the chamber and shot us with crossbows which both missed. The sight of the drow enraged both Ennisyen and Edan (Cleric of Sheverash and Foe Hunter respectively) and we proceeded to attack. A Evards Black Tentacles spell from Ennisyen did not stop the Drow when they released they were losing the fight so they dropped a globe of darkness which Ennisyen dispelled with his wand of Daylight, and also blinded the drow, after one died, Durgan suggested keeping the other one alive for questioning but a quick party vote doomed the drow to death, Ennisyen cast a fly spell and swooped above the tentacles to prepare the killing spell but Edan was quicker as he slid into the tunnel after the drow and decapatated it with a mighty strike. So that is where we finished last night, next we plan to question the dead drow with another speak with dead spell and also the other party members have leveled up now to 9th level. Jebeddo is taking a level as a rogue whilst Durgan is reverting to a fighter and swaying away from the devoted defender class. I will update my orginal post which details each character. I hope everyone is enjoying this narration of our campaign, any questions or anything please ask away!
Mean Eyed Cat 01-11-06, 06:21 PM	I've been running a Realms campaign for over a year now and we have had many good stories [to share]. Unfortunately I'm too lazy ;) to re-post them here. However, if people want to click on "The Recountal" link below in my sig, you can read all about them. I keep pretty detailed summaries of all our adventures on that website.
Yaeri 01-12-06, 09:57 AM	The first campaign I ran was in Chessenta. I didn't know much about the realms yet, so the story isn't really tied in. It could easily have occured elsewhere. The base story was very simple: a pit fiend who was trying to avoid his duty in the blood war, was spreading his power through faerun by means of a magic weapon which could subdue the will of the wielder. The missions will seem trivial or chaotic at first, but I always work up to climaxes and growing mistery :D Right before the first act, my own pc had died (I let it die because I had just turned DM to run this campaign. The pc's had put themselves in a bad position with the clergy of Cimbar, so the mayor sent them to a small village nearby which had a priestess who could resurect my character) In the first mission/act the players helped a small village against a band of orcs who had made their home underneath the village. These orcs had attacked the village. They had smashed and stolen things. Their leader was a human wizard, who seemed quite mad. He thought himself invincible because his master had told him so. The heroes killed him. They didn't find out his motives for attacking the village and they learned nothing about his master. One of the players had stopped playing halfway through the mission, so I used his character to pick up the mage's sword (which would put him under control of the pit fiend). The reason the pit fiend had let the mage attack the village, was specifically to attract heroes, so stronger people than the mage would kill him and end up with the weapon. So that the weapons would keep ending up in the hands of stronger and stronger subjects. The character with the wizard's weapon had left without saying anything to the other pc's. Two other player characters of players who had stopped playing set in pursuit. (Two new players had taken their places) Between mission one and two two other mind controlled NPC's -one whom the players called the spider mage and an orc mage- did bad things in Cimbar. The spider mage had killed mayor Philo (The subjects of the pit fiend had trouble getting a weapon in the mayor's hands, so he let him be killed, so he would be replaced by someone who was already under his power: Nicos Avaris). The orc mage had set the cimbar weapon warehouses on fire, to destroy Cimbar's stock of weapons, but he died in one of his own fires, when the guards got on his tail. He had also set rust monsters free in another weapon stock. Wounded Cimbarian soldiers were arriving at the city, from a battlefield somewhere. (Airspur so it would turn out) In mission/act two, queen Mellissanda of Arabar had asked for the help of the adventurers who had already done a few favours for the now deceased mayor Philo. One of her captains, captain Orriseid, had been sent to capture a criminal near adderswamp. This criminal had been sistematically raiding Cimbar's transports along the route. (also weapons) (This criminal, Diraque De Monte, was under the pit fiend's control) Orriseid had left, with about a fourth of Cimbar's troops for this task. But they didn't hear from him again, until wounded troops started returning from Airspur. The queen explained Cimbar actually had a truce with Airspur, but this was a well kept secret, to maintain the political balance. But because they were 'officially' at war, Orriseid's troops would not doubt his orders. Mellissanda sent the party to Airspur, with an order to send back the troops, and to capture Orriseid. Orriseid was the queen's most loyally trusted captain, so she suspected something had happened in Adderswamp. (Indeed, he had killed Diraque and was now carrying his cursed weapon). The royal cleric Asfer was sent with the party, to bring back Orriseid's belongings, hoping those might provide a clue to his strange actions. The party arrived at Airspur, they showed the queen's orders to an officer, who went in the city to call back the soldiers. Apparently, Khrulis' (half orc king of Airspur) soldiers had gathered around his castle, thinking they were coming for him, but Orriseid had sent his soldiers to destroy Airspur's weapon forge. The players found Orriseid in one of the Airspur barracks and captured him. On the way back to Cimbar, Asfer (who now had Orriseid's cursed mace in her bag of holding) was starting to behave strangely, as if always in deep thoughts. (She was beginning to hear the pit fiend's voice). Mission/Act 3: The queen immediately had a new mission for the pc's. With the raidings on their caravans, the destruction of their weapon stocks, the fight with Airspur and the growing rumours of upcoming war, Cimbar was in dire need of weapons. Mellissanda's spies in Airspur had said Khrulis had already found a new source of weapons. So the party was to go to Khrulis to ask if they could make weapons for Cimbar too. (when the pc's were in the throne room in mission 2, there was also an NPC party who was sent to adderswamp to see if they could find any clues about Orriseid's behaviour there) They went to Khrulis in Airspur. Who believed Mellissanda had nothing to do with the attack. There had been riots in both Airspur and Cimbar (these were of mind controlled rioteers who had to be killed by guards so their weapons ended up in the hands of stronger or powerfull officials) Khrulis spies had reported riots in many places, except Lutcheq. So he said Lutcheq was behind what was going on. (Actually magic -which the cursed weapons were- has a hard time getting into Lutcheq). He sent the party to his source: The mines of Astilith Nitlain in the south of the Akana Peaks. Astilith (a half elf who was under mind control, and was now manufacturing most of the cursed weapons) had problems of his own though. His mines had been infested with giant vermin, for the second time. (The spider mage had done this. The pit fiend had sent him against the mines, even though they were under his control, not to arouse suspicion. It would be too convenient if a need for weapons was created, and than this one place suffered none of the troubles). The pc's cleared the mines, found the spidermage (who expected them) and killed him. (He had fallen in a river, so his stuff and his cursed weapon were lost). Astilith was happy, but due to the setbacks, would be unable to finish Mellissanda's order in time. The pc's had contact with Mellissanda through a magic sphere (it had 3 charges) Nicos (the replacement of Philo) had given them. The queen sent them to Adderswamp then, to find out what happened with the npc party of whom they had heard nothing yet, and to find out what the thieves had done with the stolen weapons, because Orriseid's troops hadn't found any weapons when they were there. (By now, one of the players who had quit had found time to play again, it was one of the pc's I had sent after the one who had the mage's sword. He had joined up with the pc's again, saying he stopped following Tittus (it doesn't sound that kinky in Dutch) when he was still going south near Soorenar.) The party went to Adderswamp. Halfway they passed through Caznim, a small city on the shore of the Akanamere. A large tower stood in the middle of the city, of a sorceress named Kessandra. Everyone in the city was wearing goggles. (This was because Caznim is where it started. There were many mind controlled people here. And the mental struggle with the will of the pit fiend often caused blood vessels in the eyes to rupture. The mage from mission one, spider mage and Astilith all had eyes with blood in them. But the players didn't suspect anything) In the end it's important that the pc who had recently joined up with them again, had foolishly died in Adderswamp (he went up against two vampire spawn all by himself), and the pc's had found the weapons. A convoy from Cimbar, led by captain Alexander was already on its way. Mission/Act 4: The pc's were quite free to do what they wanted here. The party's elf had gotten a vision of a forest where dryads animals and plants where all killing eachother. A while later she had gotten a vision saying everything was alright. (The visions came from a sentient tree at the centre of a small, relatively young forest in the south of Chessenta (or maybe just beyond the borders) Tittus had passed there and had left a cursed weapon at its roots (he had gotten this from other mind controlled in Soorenar) The tree had total control over the forest and its creatures, so while the tree was struggling with this alien will, part of the forest creatures fell under the pit fiend's control whilst others were still under the tree's control, resulting in a hideous massacre in the forest. By the time the tree (and the forest) were completely subjugated, it sent a mental message that everything was alright. The pc's did some chaotic things. (they stood before the closed gates of Cimbar, where the army of Airspur stood camped outside. The army was led by a mind controlled who was waiting for Cimbar's weapon delivery to arrive and for the then mind controlled cimbarian officials to open the city gates. They also paid a visit to Soorenar) Then they headed south to the forest. Other elves had heard the call of the forest and had already sent some of them in to investigate, but they hadn't come out yet. (By this time the pc's new that the weapons were taking control of people due to dreams the gnome sorceress of the party had been experiencing. More about that in a moment). A hermit living close to the forest had seen a man pass by recently, and another one, fitting the description of Tittus and the pc on his tail. The party went in the same direction and ended up in a dragon's lair. That dragon had been fighting with a cursed weapon for a month (mental battle) but now that Tittus had passed there to throw another one at her 'feet' she was slowly losing the battle. She had since a time been using her magic to send out a distress call to her kin in the form of dreams. The gnome sorceress in the party had been experiencing these dreams since halfway mission two. The information in these dreams was quite abstract, and involved what the dragon dug out of the 'mind' of the weapon. The dragon was about to destroy the party, when her will had dug deeper in the plans of the weapon (the pit fiend) and she sent this information to the gnome. The pc's fled, and went where the enemy had just sent multiple of his subjects. The party ended up at Tittus final stop: the temple of a seeer. They had to do two tests to prove worthy (Tittus failed the first and had died, the one following Tittus had died in the dragon's lair). They succeeded and were allowed three questions which the seeer answered. They learned nothing that helped them however. They learned that Barbesu was the name of this pit fiend (probably a nickname because he was such a coward) and that he was in chessenta. (the seeer couldn't answer more accurately than that, because his essence was through the weapons indeed spread over the entire Chessenta. They had stumbled on a dead end and left the temple. They saw four characters approaching in the distance, and right next to them, a hellish portal opened where a giant sword came floating out. Final mission/Act: The sword coming out of the portal was held by someone in a dark demonic armour. The party of four coming at them attacked them. The armoured guy fought with the pc's against the enemy party. Turned out it was their companion who had died at the hands of the vampires. In the fugue planes a devil had come to him with an offer from his master. Go back to the material plane to slay the renegade pit fiend barbesu, and he could live again. To do so, they had told him they had to go to Caznim and kill the sorceress (technically a wizard) Kessandra. The pc's went to Caznim on a ship of someone they knew. (On their way there was a heavy earthquake). They snuck into the city using the gnome's invisibility and gaseous form spells. They got into the tower, which was the final dungeon. While they were in the tower, two more heavier earthquakes occured. Using locked up creatures as allies, they found and beat the sorceress Kessandra, whose body was already partially warped into that of the pit fiend. Then they had to take it up against her mace, which was the first of the weapons. (The one the pit fiend had given the sorceress. She didn't know yet that the pit fiend didn't return to his plane after the summoning, but that he was stuck in the weapon, and started to control her through its powers) When they destroyed the magical mace that started it all. Barbesu's essence was finally sucked out of it and back to his plane (his residence in the weapon had actually bypassed the normally limited time of his summoning). All the other 'mind'weapons tore open and his essence was being sucked through a growing hole, from all over Chessenta (and just beyond its borders). These streams of red energy pierced the tower from all sides, and the pc's had to jump through the formed vortex, to escape being crushed by the collapsing tower. In hell, they destroyed Barbesu, who had only partially materialised yet. Other devils gated/teleported into the area. They let the pc's live, in exchange for the allegiance of the pc they had contracted (the one who had come back after his death) The mission following that was of another DM, and was of course about the pc's getting out of the hell and back to faerun. Now I'm working on my next campaign, which deals about the grand plot behind the first. It'll explain those earthquakes, and it will turn out that the whole Barbesu-mind-control-weapon thing, was only collateral damage in someone else's plot. Something that has started thousands of years ago.
Chephren 01-14-06, 03:52 PM	I can't go into great detail since a few of my players are in this community. But I can give a brief overview. It's an epic level campaign, the characters are all 21st level. I might have their classes a bit off, but this is the gist of it.: Human half-fey Druid/Sorcerer Humanoid Blade Dancer/Monk/Thief-Acrobat (his race is a secret) Gold Elf half-celestial Fighter/Order of the Bow Initiate Goliath half-dragon Barbarian Human half-minotaur Monk The game began with the heroes answering a call from the newly arrived Mulhorandi deities for generals and powerful individuals to help them in their battle to free their people from Imaskari rule. Half way through the war, the group was "loaned out" to the Untheric deities to help take a city. The tides of battle were turning in the deities' favor, but after taking the city, the Imaskari sent reinforcements. The Mulhorani deities called the heroes back to Skuld, and they fled the city pursued by four adult blue dragons and one very old blue dragon. One second the dragons were there, the next, they were gone. Originally believing that their gods must have assisted them, they continued on. Come nightfall they realized that the stars were out of alignment. The druid began to contemplate this problem and the group eventually realized that they were thrust forward in time, but they were not sure by whom. Some 3,750 years had passed, by their reckoning and according to a celestial sphinx who assisted them with some answers. They decided to return to Skuld, to try and contact their old employers. They returned to a city thousands of times larger than the one they knew. They walked through the city and witnessed the corruption and changes that occurred over the milennia. They contacted the high priest of Horus, but before they could meet with him, they were forcefully shown to to the Pharoh, the reincarnated young king. The king tried to enforce his will upon them, calling upon their old pacts. The characters diplomatically (and with some muscle flexing) talked their way out of their duty, stating that the Mulhorandi were not what they once were and left the Pharoh. Returning to the high priest, they learned more about what was going on in the city, the cycle of decline for some of the "good deities" and that the more selfish deities were coming into power. They were told slightly skewed "legends" of their exploits, the blade dancer apparently was of small stature in most of the legends, which upset him as he is of average height. They decided to leave Mulhorand to find their old homelands and perhaps find a sense of stability and security so that they could figure out their new place in this world. The blade dancer had a tower far to the north, and the characters made a bee-line for it, utilizing the druid's power to travel. They arrived at the tower and found it in a decayed state, even tainted, corrupted. They fought demons and found that a demon the blade dancer had a chance run in with a few hundred years before they disappeared claimed his tower as her own. This demon was not present in the tower, but moved to Dambrath and apparently established a cult in that country. Giving up the tower as being unsafe, the group decided to travel to the druid's ancient stronghold in what is now the Great Dale. I'm going to use the shifting stones as part of her stronghold and the Blightman will also come into play. In the last session, the characters had a dream of being in the past, a memory that they did not remember having. They saved the blade dancer from a drow cult of Kirianshalee worshipers and realized something not quite right was going on, but when they woke up, that memory flowed seamlessly with their current memories, as if they'd always known of that adventure. The players know something is up, the characters don't quite know what's going on as they aren't completely aware of their memory blocks. As the game progresses, they'll retrieve more and more of their memories. We have another game tomorrow. I suspect this game will be an epic Realms-hopping adventure. I'd like to get them down to Halruaa at some point, because I think the Halruaans might be the best ones to help them with their histories. Oh, and they have a ship that the Mulhorandi god Ptah made for them. It's a long Egyptian-styled riverboat, but with a longer keel and larger, made for ocean-going. It's helmed by a construct called Pilot (yes, total Farscape rip, but it made sense) who had large crystal orbs for eyes. Engraved or enchanted in the orbs are the star (of their old time, not current) constellations with which he uses to navigate. Crawling all over the ship are smallish gold scarabs. They handle all minor repairs, ripped sails, barnacles, etc. Just thought I'd share.
Silverpanther 02-05-06, 03:52 AM	3750 years :D so great :rofl: impressive :) why exactly THAT amount of time?
Chephren 02-05-06, 04:53 AM	3750 years :D so great :rofl: impressive :) why exactly THAT amount of time? No reason, really. Or maybe there is. Again, my players may read this thread, so I can't give away too much. The exact time is like 3743 or something, but the "3750 years, give or take a day" has been a running in-joke so far. What is kind of funny is that the heroes are finding out that their past lives are lost in history. What little research they've done so far has shown that no current culture even has a record of their existence or deeds. The Mulhorandi have some ancient legends, but that's only because they are so tied to their freedom from the Imaskari. The group is now in the Great Dale, where the Druid/Sorcerer/Arcane Heirophant had their stronghold. There is a glade where great stones move on their own. In my Realms universe, those stones were a part of her natural keep. They were ensorceled to fit precisely with tree trunks (support beams, columns, etc) and now that the trees are gone, the stones are left to their own devices.
gorath23 02-06-06, 02:20 PM	I'm just about to start a new campaign with my group. Basic storyline revolves around the resurgence of the Shadow Thieves in Waterdeep. The main adventure plots will be: The group receive word from the Merchant Helve Moonstar in Waterdeep requesting that they investigate the disappearance of one of his caravan's en route to Waterdeep. Last known whereabouts was somewhere in the foothills of the Sword Mountains. Once the players reach the area they will be confronted with a deserted settlement, looted, pillaged and partially burnt. Staked to one of the doors is the infamous shadow thieves knife/mask insignia. Fast forward a bit and the party finds themselves venturing up into the mountain range following a bloodied and visible trail which leads them through a rock cleft and out onto the rim of a great snow crater. In the center of the crater resides the forgotten and long-abandoned Keep of Edoran which is now playing home to a sect of shadow thieves, who have 'procured' Moonstars mysterious cargo. Once the thieves have been destroyed they find communications which lead them to believe that the Shadow Thieves already have a large body of men installed in Waterdeep and are in the process of locating the Book of *Vile Darkness * (may be substituted for a more appropriate artefact) which is said to reside in the catacombs which riddle the cities underbelly. Cue adventure into the cities sewers and seedier side as well as a forbidding set of Catacombs. Then they rendezvous with Moonstar again before setting off on a voyage which will take them to Amn and Athkatla in a final showdown with the main host of Shadow Thieves. Obviously the later areas are a rougher sketch of events and will be tailored so the player's don't feel it's too linear. Should be starting this on Wednesday!! It's my first real campaign even though I've been DM'ing for a number of years, mainly due to my group being so geographically spread out (tended to run single adventures). Now we are all together!! We shall see.........
Silverpanther 02-28-06, 03:28 PM	just a safety-post :D so many look at it, but nobody is posting... not so SHY friends, we are interested in EVERY campaign :)
bobsan 03-02-06, 03:30 PM	A silence hung in the air as the bard took a final pull from his mug of Firewine. He breaths a sigh as the warmth removes the last of the cold that plagued him. "Well folks. It's been enjoyable. But the long road has made me weary and my bones do ache for a bit of rest. Perhaps I shall continue this tale in the morn." Amidst the groans of a disappointed crowd, the bard makes his way to the stairs and to a nice warm bed to rest his travel-weary soul. I plan to continue with the Tale of the Company of the Combustable Commode as soon as I have the time to. I've got to try and recall as much of the details as possible and work leaves little time for my imagination.
Alurvelve 03-02-06, 10:15 PM	Hi again. Since my group that I had with the elves(courting srninshee) has split up :( we will ni longer be advancing that campagin more than likely unless I finnaly get started into makeing it in novel form. But the good news is I have found a new group to play with recently and will have a new campaign to share with you all. I will be DMing it. It will be set in the Silver Marches and the main threat will be Oboulds Army. I'm shiffling threw some ideas right now but will let yall know when we get the ball rolling. Peace out and it was a blast reading everyones post so far keep them coming :)
Berzerker_prime 03-03-06, 09:55 PM	A silence hung in the air as the bard took a final pull from his mug of Firewine. He breaths a sigh as the warmth removes the last of the cold that plagued him. "Well folks. It's been enjoyable. But the long road has made me weary and my bones do ache for a bit of rest. Perhaps I shall continue this tale in the morn." Amidst the groans of a disappointed crowd, the bard makes his way to the stairs and to a nice warm bed to rest his travel-weary soul. "Oh, thank the Forest Queen!" exclaimed the elven woman at the bar. "He stopped." "Of course, that implies there is more to come," said the gold elf, "and he did say he would continue tomorrow." "Stop raining on my parade." "As you wish," replied the gold elf with a mocking flourish of a bow. The elven woman shot him a glare. "Not what I would have done with the tale," said the moon elf. "We know, Points," said the dwarf, "yer demmed lute twiddling keeps us up for hours on end every night." He took a pull from his mug. Just then, a young girl came bouncing into the taproom and swept directly over to the table where the two humans were sitting. "There you are, Nicodemis!" she exclaimed, immediately latching on to the younger, taller human's arm. "I finished getting the supplies I needed, so I'm ready to keep traveling tomorrow. Can we go upstairs to the room, now?" The young human blinked once... twice... then pushed his plate and mug aside in a hurry, grabbed her by the hand, and disappeared up the stairs of the inn. The other human was rather mystified, but silently continued eating. "Geeze, what a doormat," muttered the elven woman. "Well, not all women are like you, Hadoriel," said the gold elf, "some actually like the attentions of males." "First, I was talking about Junior." "Oh." "And second, Amarthir," she continued with eyes narrowed at him, "just what, exactly, are you implying?" And it was then the wizard suddenly noted the flush that had come to the elven woman's cheeks. A glance at her stein told him why; it had nothing to do with embarrasment. In short, it was a somewhat dangerous combination. "Perhaps it is time that I retire as well." "S'what I thought." Hey all, I'll ask Bobsan if he'll let me take over on the telling of the tale. Mayhap we can get you all caught up to where we are now, hmm? Of course, I do have a bit of a horn to toot in that department. :D Sweet water to you! Berz.
CrashKid 03-10-06, 11:03 PM	I have just started a campaign dealing with a shadow-weave meets weave idea maybe mixed with a Maztica group of Psions. Dealing with Shar trying to destroy Faerun via the shadow-weave or more likely cast it into perpetual darkness. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas. other I will update when it starts.
Alurvelve 03-13-06, 01:55 AM	Ok the players just reached Deadsnows during the gold rush. I'm using the adventures from the silver marches book to get some levels on them before i get to my plans :) Currently they are 2nd level, and have about 5 directions to go on. God i havent dm'd low level in so long i forgot how dangerous combat can get for them lmao. Character wise so far we have a sun elf female Sorcerer/Favored Soul who is looking ot take mystic thueruge and is mainly looking at summoning undead spells and othe necromantic spells. Used this reason for why she was banished from her elven settlement in the high forest. We also have another sun elf, but this one is a male fighter looking ot take corellons champion prc from races of elves. So far these 2 elves are butting heads lol. Third character is a Human Scout/Fighter who is going for weaponmaster(longsword). This guy is a loner and likes to take off to svout ahead a lot. Silent type to all looking to make some money. Later on a Orog charcater will be thrown into the mix. This orog is 8'2" and a max str. He is going Bbn/Ftr and wants to take up the legacy champion prc. So to say the least i dont think this group will like each other too much, but none the less it will be fun to see them RP this all out.
Silverpanther 04-05-06, 02:59 AM	we're getting started :) this thread is not meant to be only about the storyline, but also about characters, tactics and everything you think as worth of becoming immortal ;)