Opening Adventure for Dark Sun Campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Opening Adventure for Dark Sun Campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
slam-evil
Sep 10, 2010 16:47:00 So I ran a few Dark Sun games back home, but I just left to start college in a few weeks. When I played at home I had the heroes start in Tyr, is just resplendent with adventure hooks, and we had a great time...... but I have a different idea for my game at school.

I'd like to start the players at a shallow oasis in the desert, low on supplies, and in desperate need of water. They meet some enemies, a short "This oasis aint big enough for all of us" kinda deal and then fight to the death for water rights. I thought it'd be a great way to impart the brutalityand scarcity of resources to the players imediataly.

So I'm curious, is there a certain place I should start it? What kind of enemies should the players be faceing? What can happen afterwards to spur them to further adventure? I was thinking maybe they find a map to some ruins on the leader's body.

I still have like 2 weeks before classes start, so I dont have a group together or anything, but I'm bored and want to get a head start. I know for sure one of my roommates will be playing and he usually goes for the defender/striker class, he might play a mul or a more savage race.

Oh, and Ill be starting them at level 5.

#2
cmdluke
Sep 10, 2010 17:19:29 anywhere in the desert would be fine. there are oasis' scattered all over athas.

make the enemies a group of low level templars on a mission to find an artifact for one of the sorceror kings. they find documents and clues to the mission, as well as resources so they are able to pick up where the templars left off. Unknown to the party, however, is that the sorceror king had cast a scrying ritual on one of the documents the party loots off of the leader. He is now aware that they are after the same thing and sends more templars after them.
#3
slam-evil
Sep 10, 2010 17:28:55 Oh dude thats so perfect. That explains the enemies attitudes (that of arrogant pricks incapable of sharing) and effectively forces the PCs to work together agaisnt a much greater enemy. I think I'll have the baddies be agents of Urik, since Hammanu is my favorite SK so far. He's looking for away to conquor Tyr fast, with minimal damage to the iron mines, and without getting pwned by all the other SKs when they catch wind of his plan. The artifact will probably end up being a mcguffin or something, but by the time they realize that they're neck deep in political intrigue and SK ire.
#4
cmdluke
Sep 10, 2010 17:35:41 see if you can get yourself a copy of "the lost cistern of Aravek" the adventure for the DS game day from august 21st. I ran it, it involved templars of urik and was great fun. perhaps that can be what the templars were after.

if you can't find it, PM me and i'll flip you a scanned copy.

let me know how it goes.
#5
slam-evil
Sep 10, 2010 17:52:15
The Lion’s Gambit

An Adventure Progression for 5th-10th Level Adventurers

The massive red-sphere that serves as Athas’s sun bears down on you with an almost willful intensity.
Sweat drips down you in dangerously wasteful amounts, creating streaks in the dust and grime that coat your body. Your feet drag through thick piles of sand, slowing your desperate approach towards the oasis. It shimmers in the heat and for a moment you fear that it may be but a mirage, but the faint smell of moist earth heartens you to continue forward; as if you had a choice. Looking around you, The Great Alluvial Sand Wastes are barren in almost every direction. Sand whips around your face, stinging your eyes and scraping painfully across your exposed flesh. After what seems like a mile more you reach the oasis. You rush onward heedlessly, and fall to your knees before the shallow depression in the earth. Mud! Oh glorious mud. The water is filthy and warm but wet. A harsh voice barks over the sounds of your shameless slurping “Hold it right there wasteland scum! There isn’t enough water in that pool for you, and our caravan By order of King Hammanu, I order you to stand back!” You look up to see a chubby faced human standing over you wearing a dirty yellow cloak. He draws his obsidian long-sword “Did you not hear me scum? I said MOVE!” He pulls back his arm to strike….roll for initiative!”

Hows that for a start? Obviously not finished, it'll be a bit different once I have actually have a party together. Where would I get a copy of that adventure? It definitly sounds promising
#6
slam-evil
Sep 10, 2010 18:39:23
Are there stats anywhere for templars of urik? I was thinking about just leveling down the Templar of Tyr in the DSCC, but those are controllers. I picture Urik having more militaristic Templars, like soldiers maybe. I was also thinking of taking the Human Gladiator Novice, and adding some Templar-esq powers...Templar's Fist from the DSCG maybe?

There are probably Urikite Templars in that Lost Cistern of Aravek adventure huh?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 slam-evil Sep 10, 2010 16:47:00	So I ran a few Dark Sun games back home, but I just left to start college in a few weeks. When I played at home I had the heroes start in Tyr, is just resplendent with adventure hooks, and we had a great time...... but I have a different idea for my game at school. I'd like to start the players at a shallow oasis in the desert, low on supplies, and in desperate need of water. They meet some enemies, a short "This oasis aint big enough for all of us" kinda deal and then fight to the death for water rights. I thought it'd be a great way to impart the brutalityand scarcity of resources to the players imediataly. So I'm curious, is there a certain place I should start it? What kind of enemies should the players be faceing? What can happen afterwards to spur them to further adventure? I was thinking maybe they find a map to some ruins on the leader's body. I still have like 2 weeks before classes start, so I dont have a group together or anything, but I'm bored and want to get a head start. I know for sure one of my roommates will be playing and he usually goes for the defender/striker class, he might play a mul or a more savage race. Oh, and Ill be starting them at level 5.
#2 cmdluke Sep 10, 2010 17:19:29	anywhere in the desert would be fine. there are oasis' scattered all over athas. make the enemies a group of low level templars on a mission to find an artifact for one of the sorceror kings. they find documents and clues to the mission, as well as resources so they are able to pick up where the templars left off. Unknown to the party, however, is that the sorceror king had cast a scrying ritual on one of the documents the party loots off of the leader. He is now aware that they are after the same thing and sends more templars after them.
#3 slam-evil Sep 10, 2010 17:28:55	Oh dude thats so perfect. That explains the enemies attitudes (that of arrogant pricks incapable of sharing) and effectively forces the PCs to work together agaisnt a much greater enemy. I think I'll have the baddies be agents of Urik, since Hammanu is my favorite SK so far. He's looking for away to conquor Tyr fast, with minimal damage to the iron mines, and without getting pwned by all the other SKs when they catch wind of his plan. The artifact will probably end up being a mcguffin or something, but by the time they realize that they're neck deep in political intrigue and SK ire.
#4 cmdluke Sep 10, 2010 17:35:41	see if you can get yourself a copy of "the lost cistern of Aravek" the adventure for the DS game day from august 21st. I ran it, it involved templars of urik and was great fun. perhaps that can be what the templars were after. if you can't find it, PM me and i'll flip you a scanned copy. let me know how it goes.
#5 slam-evil Sep 10, 2010 17:52:15	The Lion’s Gambit An Adventure Progression for 5th-10th Level Adventurers The massive red-sphere that serves as Athas’s sun bears down on you with an almost willful intensity. Sweat drips down you in dangerously wasteful amounts, creating streaks in the dust and grime that coat your body. Your feet drag through thick piles of sand, slowing your desperate approach towards the oasis. It shimmers in the heat and for a moment you fear that it may be but a mirage, but the faint smell of moist earth heartens you to continue forward; as if you had a choice. Looking around you, The Great Alluvial Sand Wastes are barren in almost every direction. Sand whips around your face, stinging your eyes and scraping painfully across your exposed flesh. After what seems like a mile more you reach the oasis. You rush onward heedlessly, and fall to your knees before the shallow depression in the earth. Mud! Oh glorious mud. The water is filthy and warm but wet. A harsh voice barks over the sounds of your shameless slurping “Hold it right there wasteland scum! There isn’t enough water in that pool for you, and our caravan By order of King Hammanu, I order you to stand back!” You look up to see a chubby faced human standing over you wearing a dirty yellow cloak. He draws his obsidian long-sword “Did you not hear me scum? I said MOVE!” He pulls back his arm to strike….roll for initiative!” Hows that for a start? Obviously not finished, it'll be a bit different once I have actually have a party together. Where would I get a copy of that adventure? It definitly sounds promising
#6 slam-evil Sep 10, 2010 18:39:23	Are there stats anywhere for templars of urik? I was thinking about just leveling down the Templar of Tyr in the DSCC, but those are controllers. I picture Urik having more militaristic Templars, like soldiers maybe. I was also thinking of taking the Human Gladiator Novice, and adding some Templar-esq powers...Templar's Fist from the DSCG maybe? There are probably Urikite Templars in that Lost Cistern of Aravek adventure huh?