Hand of The Sorcerer King - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Agonar Jul 01, 2012 22:46:19	I am posting this, mainly in case I can inspire other Dark Sun DMs out there. I am a Dark Sun purist, and as such, I have made a few tweaks to Defiling to suit the way it should feel, in my opionion, but that has little to do with the story. Hand of the Sorcerer King First, a little world info. In my game, Kalak is not Dead (yet). So my game is taking place a little before the events of The Prism Pentad series (which probably won't happen as such in my game) Next, the cast. Changeling, Psion (Telepath), Noble Adept theme Dwarf, Battlemind/Warden Hybrid, Ironwrought theme Dray (Dragonborn), Warlord, Templar theme (Dregoth) Half Elf, SK Pact Warlock, Templar Theme (Kalid-Ma) I thought long and hard about allowing certain traditionally non-DS stuff into my DS game (as I said, I am a purist). I set some strict rules for race/class restrictions on the group page.. but, give me an awesome enough reason for an exception, and I will probably make that exception. So, as certain Characters were run by me, the gears started turning. Character info follows in spoiler mode to save space Show The Psion, used to be a Trader for house Mke. All over the Tablelands, usually making the run between Breakshore and Cromlin. During a Mishap, he somehow found himself close to the Pristine Tower. Having heard some of the rumors, but never seeing it, he wandered closer. As he neared, he entered the dangerous area around it, and was helped to get to the tower, to basically burn the image of it into his mind.. and also to subject him to the mutation of the tower (and hence turn him into a changeling). This person then helped him get back to safety and civilization, erasing just his presence out of the psion's memories. This person is most likely Kalak himself, setting events up for the actual start of the game. The battlemind/Warden is a bearded Dwarf, when practically no Dwarves have beards on Athas. He too was also the result of Pristine Tower Mutation, which granted him the strange traits of his Ironwrought theme (skin taking on metallic appearance and durability when bloodied). Again, after he was subjected to the mutations, he was delivered to a monastary of Dwarves in the Ringing Mountains to the north, where he would study and grow until it was time for Kalak to implement his plan The Dray Warlord, is a Second Generation Dray, Templar of Dregoth. He was sent to the surface to lead a recon team, to learn the lay of the land, and the current state of affairs. The Hand of the Sorcerer King was made aware of this, and took hand to manipulate yet another life to help lay the pieces for his eventual plot. The Dray was captured, much of his short term memory erased. He remembers that he is from New Giustenal, and that he came to the surface for a reason, but that is about it. The Templar of Kalid-Ma is probably the most unique. Kalidnay, and it's Sorderer King Kalid-Ma met it's doom some 1500-2000 years ago, when Kalid-Ma tried devising a ritual to skip the intervening stanges and go right to 30th level Dragon. There was a misshap. Kalak, having a rivalry with Kalid-Ma in general, came to investigate, and found a single Templar alive, though he died at the SKs feet. Kalak had this Templar Resurrected, and magically placed in stasis, until such a time that he could think of a purpose for this Templar. Somehow, maybe a weird twist of fate with the ritual, but this Templar has maintained a Link with Kalid-Ma, even though the SK is locked away in the Gray.
#2 jlpinli40 Jul 24, 2012 6:53:12	great stuff , i love reading about other campaigns. i was wondering if you could give mine a read and maybe offer some suggestions
#3 Tech-Priest Jul 24, 2012 21:14:27	I've got a Tiefling Templar (King'Lock/Praetor Legate) from Balic, who's acting as a 'legit' Templar within Balic, though he's actually sowing discord among Andropinis' followers (and rousing other rebel groups across Athas) to stage an uprising against the Dictator/the other SK's. After years of faithful service to the Sorceror-King, he came to find out that Andropinis had hidden knowledge of my character's bloodline (of which he had no knowledge) and that my character was in fact heir to an ancient Tiefling dynasty long-forgotten (though still highly active) on Athas.
#4 jlpinli40 Jul 25, 2012 6:02:25	sounds good , can i play in your game ,lol
#5 Tech-Priest Jul 25, 2012 8:09:45	sounds good , can i play in your game ,lol Mine? Possibly, we may need another player...check your PM, I'll send you some info.
#6 Agonar Jul 26, 2012 1:24:49	great stuff , i love reading about other campaigns. i was wondering if you could give mine a read and maybe offer some suggestions I always like reading DS campaigns, so sure.. if you have it posted already, you can give me a link.
#7 jlpinli40 Jul 26, 2012 6:46:40	what i would like is to give you copys of our mechanics for psionics and casting we have used them for a while in one form or another
#8 Agonar Jul 26, 2012 9:22:14	Sure, PM me the info.. and as for my game, it is currently full.. and on hold until we know when GTO will have VT up and running.
#9 turlough Jul 26, 2012 14:51:34	OP: I like the idea and I really like getting it from Kalid-ma but that's because I set a 4E campaign in Kalidnay. However, the champions only revolted from Rajaat 2000 years ago! (darksun.wikia.com/wiki/Category:History) So, not sure why he would have tried that so early? In fact, by that history, he does try that about 1200 years ago! Having said that, I'm not the timelines biggest fan. I am constantly re-writing Athas' history in my mind (i'm playing it again but with Alternity and set in Tyr) as I try and reconcile things the way I want them. so, the idea is for them to stop Kalak at paragon levels? Why is Dregoth bringing back Kalid-ma? I'm curious. Do you have Rajaat? What are you doing with him/it during this time? Thanks!
#10 Agonar Jul 27, 2012 0:04:13	OP: I like the idea and I really like getting it from Kalid-ma but that's because I set a 4E campaign in Kalidnay. However, the champions only revolted from Rajaat 2000 years ago! (darksun.wikia.com/wiki/Category:History) So, not sure why he would have tried that so early? In fact, by that history, he does try that about 1200 years ago! Right, 2000 years ago, the Champions revolted from Rajaat, Borys turned them into the SKs, and they, in turn, transformed Borys into The Dragon, who then Rampaged for a century-ish. . . Dregoth, soon after, was about to complete his own transformation, and several of the SKs (Including Kalak) teamed up and slew him (from City by the Silt Sea). According to various info on Kalid-ma and Kalidnay, Kalid-ma didn't try to naturally complete his transformation, but skip stages, about 1200 years ago.. though something went wrong, and he and his city were sucked into the Grey. Present Age (as per Prism Pentad, and original DS Campaign Setting) Kalak is trying to skip stages in his own transformation as well. I am jumping my timeline slightly before the events in the book, to Kalak preparing his ritual. Having experienced Dregoth, and assuming he knows what happened with Kalid-ma, this is why kalak is sending these people to Kalidnay Having said that, I'm not the timelines biggest fan. I am constantly re-writing Athas' history in my mind (i'm playing it again but with Alternity and set in Tyr) as I try and reconcile things the way I want them. so, the idea is for them to stop Kalak at paragon levels? Why is Dregoth bringing back Kalid-ma? I'm curious. Do you have Rajaat? What are you doing with him/it during this time? Thanks! Well, it can go either way. Kalak could either turn out to be a benefactor to the group, or the group can decide that another Dragon is too much of a liability.. so stopping Kalak is kind of up in the air now.. it all depends on what the party decides. Dregoth isn't bringing back Kalid-ma.. my comma probably didn't separate that thought properly. In Epic, they may tangle with Dregoth (and presumably tweaks of the adventure in CIty by the Silt Sea, and Dregoth Ascending).. As for bringing back Kalid-ma, that will most likely happen as the Templar finds/reunites more of the Orbs. Lore on the Orbs is that when they are all reunited, Kalid-ma will return (originally replacing the bearer of the orbs, but under new lore just kind of appearing). Rajaat. . . I am not certain what I am going to do with Rajaat just yet. I have planted many seeds for the various power players currently around, and with the party composition, those story arcs can go in different directions.. so I will be leaving Rajaat until later to decide how the game is going first.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Agonar

Jul 01, 2012 22:46:19

I am posting this, mainly in case I can inspire other Dark Sun DMs out there.

I am a Dark Sun purist, and as such, I have made a few tweaks to Defiling to suit the way it should feel, in my opionion, but that has little to do with the story.

Hand of the Sorcerer King

First, a little world info.

In my game, Kalak is not Dead (yet). So my game is taking place a little before the events of The Prism Pentad series (which probably won't happen as such in my game)

Next, the cast.

Changeling, Psion (Telepath), Noble Adept theme
Dwarf, Battlemind/Warden Hybrid, Ironwrought theme
Dray (Dragonborn), Warlord, Templar theme (Dregoth)
Half Elf, SK Pact Warlock, Templar Theme (Kalid-Ma)

I thought long and hard about allowing certain traditionally non-DS stuff into my DS game (as I said, I am a purist). I set some strict rules for race/class restrictions on the group page.. but, give me an awesome enough reason for an exception, and I will probably make that exception. So, as certain Characters were run by me, the gears started turning.

Character info follows in spoiler mode to save space

Show

The Psion, used to be a Trader for house Mke. All over the Tablelands, usually making the run between Breakshore and Cromlin. During a Mishap, he somehow found himself close to the Pristine Tower. Having heard some of the rumors, but never seeing it, he wandered closer. As he neared, he entered the dangerous area around it, and was helped to get to the tower, to basically burn the image of it into his mind.. and also to subject him to the mutation of the tower (and hence turn him into a changeling). This person then helped him get back to safety and civilization, erasing just his presence out of the psion's memories. This person is most likely Kalak himself, setting events up for the actual start of the game.

The battlemind/Warden is a bearded Dwarf, when practically no Dwarves have beards on Athas. He too was also the result of Pristine Tower Mutation, which granted him the strange traits of his Ironwrought theme (skin taking on metallic appearance and durability when bloodied). Again, after he was subjected to the mutations, he was delivered to a monastary of Dwarves in the Ringing Mountains to the north, where he would study and grow until it was time for Kalak to implement his plan

The Dray Warlord, is a Second Generation Dray, Templar of Dregoth. He was sent to the surface to lead a recon team, to learn the lay of the land, and the current state of affairs. The Hand of the Sorcerer King was made aware of this, and took hand to manipulate yet another life to help lay the pieces for his eventual plot. The Dray was captured, much of his short term memory erased. He remembers that he is from New Giustenal, and that he came to the surface for a reason, but that is about it.

The Templar of Kalid-Ma is probably the most unique. Kalidnay, and it's Sorderer King Kalid-Ma met it's doom some 1500-2000 years ago, when Kalid-Ma tried devising a ritual to skip the intervening stanges and go right to 30th level Dragon. There was a misshap. Kalak, having a rivalry with Kalid-Ma in general, came to investigate, and found a single Templar alive, though he died at the SKs feet. Kalak had this Templar Resurrected, and magically placed in stasis, until such a time that he could think of a purpose for this Templar. Somehow, maybe a weird twist of fate with the ritual, but this Templar has maintained a Link with Kalid-Ma, even though the SK is locked away in the Gray.

jlpinli40

Jul 24, 2012 6:53:12

great stuff , i love reading about other campaigns. i was wondering if you could give mine a read and maybe offer some suggestions

Tech-Priest

Jul 24, 2012 21:14:27

I've got a Tiefling Templar (King'Lock/Praetor Legate) from Balic, who's acting as a 'legit' Templar within Balic, though he's actually sowing discord among Andropinis' followers (and rousing other rebel groups across Athas) to stage an uprising against the Dictator/the other SK's. After years of faithful service to the Sorceror-King, he came to find out that Andropinis had hidden knowledge of my character's bloodline (of which he had no knowledge) and that my character was in fact heir to an ancient Tiefling dynasty long-forgotten (though still highly active) on Athas.

jlpinli40

Jul 25, 2012 6:02:25

sounds good , can i play in your game ,lol

Tech-Priest

Jul 25, 2012 8:09:45

sounds good , can i play in your game ,lol

Mine? Possibly, we may need another player...check your PM, I'll send you some info.

Agonar

Jul 26, 2012 1:24:49

great stuff , i love reading about other campaigns. i was wondering if you could give mine a read and maybe offer some suggestions

I always like reading DS campaigns, so sure.. if you have it posted already, you can give me a link.

jlpinli40

Jul 26, 2012 6:46:40

what i would like is to give you copys of our mechanics for psionics and casting we have used them for a while in one form or another

Agonar

Jul 26, 2012 9:22:14

Sure, PM me the info..

and as for my game, it is currently full.. and on hold until we know when GTO will have VT up and running.

turlough

Jul 26, 2012 14:51:34

OP: I like the idea and I really like getting it from Kalid-ma but that's because I set a 4E campaign in Kalidnay. However, the champions only revolted from Rajaat 2000 years ago! (darksun.wikia.com/wiki/Category:History) So, not sure why he would have tried that so early? In fact, by that history, he does try that about 1200 years ago!

Having said that, I'm not the timelines biggest fan. I am constantly re-writing Athas' history in my mind (i'm playing it again but with Alternity and set in Tyr) as I try and reconcile things the way I want them.

so, the idea is for them to stop Kalak at paragon levels?

Why is Dregoth bringing back Kalid-ma? I'm curious.

Do you have Rajaat? What are you doing with him/it during this time?

Thanks!

#10

Agonar

Jul 27, 2012 0:04:13

OP: I like the idea and I really like getting it from Kalid-ma but that's because I set a 4E campaign in Kalidnay. However, the champions only revolted from Rajaat 2000 years ago! (darksun.wikia.com/wiki/Category:History) So, not sure why he would have tried that so early? In fact, by that history, he does try that about 1200 years ago!

Right, 2000 years ago, the Champions revolted from Rajaat, Borys turned them into the SKs, and they, in turn, transformed Borys into The Dragon, who then Rampaged for a century-ish. . . Dregoth, soon after, was about to complete his own transformation, and several of the SKs (Including Kalak) teamed up and slew him (from City by the Silt Sea).

According to various info on Kalid-ma and Kalidnay, Kalid-ma didn't try to naturally complete his transformation, but skip stages, about 1200 years ago.. though something went wrong, and he and his city were sucked into the Grey.

Present Age (as per Prism Pentad, and original DS Campaign Setting) Kalak is trying to skip stages in his own transformation as well. I am jumping my timeline slightly before the events in the book, to Kalak preparing his ritual. Having experienced Dregoth, and assuming he knows what happened with Kalid-ma, this is why kalak is sending these people to Kalidnay

Having said that, I'm not the timelines biggest fan. I am constantly re-writing Athas' history in my mind (i'm playing it again but with Alternity and set in Tyr) as I try and reconcile things the way I want them.

so, the idea is for them to stop Kalak at paragon levels?

Why is Dregoth bringing back Kalid-ma? I'm curious.

Do you have Rajaat? What are you doing with him/it during this time?

Thanks!

Well, it can go either way. Kalak could either turn out to be a benefactor to the group, or the group can decide that another Dragon is too much of a liability.. so stopping Kalak is kind of up in the air now.. it all depends on what the party decides.

Dregoth isn't bringing back Kalid-ma.. my comma probably didn't separate that thought properly. In Epic, they may tangle with Dregoth (and presumably tweaks of the adventure in CIty by the Silt Sea, and Dregoth Ascending).. As for bringing back Kalid-ma, that will most likely happen as the Templar finds/reunites more of the Orbs. Lore on the Orbs is that when they are all reunited, Kalid-ma will return (originally replacing the bearer of the orbs, but under new lore just kind of appearing).

Rajaat. . . I am not certain what I am going to do with Rajaat just yet. I have planted many seeds for the various power players currently around, and with the party composition, those story arcs can go in different directions.. so I will be leaving Rajaat until later to decide how the game is going first.