I've started my first DnD 4E game with the 'Betrayal at Altaruk'. The characters Pheonix, Mythical, Ea and Kakashi are part of the dying Tribe of Ehu. The food supplies around the Ringing Mountains are almost exhausted and the leader of the Tribe has sent four warriors to Tyr, to save the community of outcasts from starvation.
While on route to the City of Tyr, the heroes encounter a strange mound of sand bubbling out of the sand dunes. Four black bettles that beath fire attack the characters, but the creatures are sliced and blasted into goo. Although the group kill the bettles, Pheonix is baddly injured so they find an overturned cart and repair it. The rest of the hot day is spent in cover resting and waiting for dark to fall. The boys collect up what is left of the bettles and make a soup for dinner.
When the stars have set, the party enter the city with odd looks from the city guards. Everything is mostly closed so they find an alley to sleep in till the morning. No one is very helpful when the city wakes but Pheonix is able to find out from a local bar tender that they can get work for coin from Caravans leaving the city. While waiting at the city gates they meet Kaldra a merchant taking cargo to Altaruk. Pheonix manages to convince Kaldra to take them on as escorts in the desert. Kaldra has 10 slaves, 6 elf desert folk and 2 Kanks carrying cargo, so 4 more in the group will hopefully scare off raiders.
The first day does not go well and progress is slow, exhausted and sun burnt the caravan comes across a tree with the bones of dead travellers being eatten by Kestrekel carrion birds. Kakashi ventures too close and the flock of predators attack. With no other options the heroes riddle the birds with arrows and butcher them for their meat. Kaldra suggests resting for the night by the tree and the party eats roast bird prepared by Kakashi. During the night Ea sneaks into Kaldras supplies but changes her mind and does not take the coin bag she finds on Kaldra. A few of the characters during their night watch dig for water and find a small underground pool.
The second day starts well as the elves run the desert dunes, but the shifting sand throws them off course and they find themselves on the salt flats of a long dead ocean. Pheonix spots some shuffling figures that turn out to be Salt Zombies hungry for moist flesh. The undead are destroyed before they can do any harm, but Kaldra refuses to cross the salt flats. As the group argue their next move, Mythical suggests killing Kaldra and the Elf folk and taking their cargo. Kakashi will have nothing to do with murder, but Mythical draws his bone longsword and attacks the caravan. The elf band surrounds Mythical and Kakashi trys to subdue the raving mad man suffering heat stroke. Kaldra and his elf runners cut Mythical down, then turn on the rest of the characters. "The plan has changed my friends, I'd hoped to sell you as slaves at Altaruk but it looks like you will die in the sands of the desert" states Kaldra. Ea hurles life destroying magic at Kaldras family, but she is knocked off her rocky perch. Pheonix lashes the wild elf runners with whirling Scimitar and Sickle, till none stand before him. Kakashi realizing who the real enemy is runs to Ea's aid and finishes Kaldra with a rapier through the heart.
GM Note: The group is new to the game and one player left the table very angery.
Regardless of how the events actually played out, since you have a new group and one upset player, before starting up the next session sit everyone down and go over the events again and how things could have played out had they chosen other avenues. Give out spoilers of DM only information if you feel it is necessary so the players can understand how the game works differently than say a free-for-all computer RPG. Show them just how you as the DM would have reacted to other choices the PCs made, and how you felt Kaldra would have logically reacted. That should help sooth the upset player and give the group some more insights into the game and how it can progress, and how at times they will invariably make the wrong decisions. Let them know too that it's perfectly fine to screw up and it is also perfectly fine to have a character take a dirt nap. If no one ever dies, then dying is never a real threat.
If that doesn't help, smack the player upside the head and tell them to be thankful there's no more character trees.
One player got mad and left the game, not sure if he will come back.
The elves healed everyone up and drug them to Nibinay and sold them to the arena, after a botched escape attempt and some brutal beatings. PC's fought once in the arena, with the wizard openly useing magic in front of Nibinay and the templars. Now I have to decide if I should execute the character, as this is the law and punishment for open diplays of magic in Nibinay, or just have him horribly tortured. Not a glorious death for a PC, but one befiting the setting and the actions.
The thing about Dark Sun, is that it is a brutal world. The strong survive, while the bleached bones of the weak and those with poor judgement litter the burning sands of Athas. Eveyone needs to wear their Big Boy panties when playing.
Getting killed is just part of the game, when I started playing D&D with 1st edition, getting to second level was a major accomplishment, and generally involved the death of numerous characters. 4e is so slanted towards the player survival that Dark Sun can be a bit of a shock for players who are just used to skating though encounters, and solving all of their problems by killing everything.
My advice is to talk to your players, let them know that having a character get killed sucks, but is likely to happen. Have everyone have a backup character ready to go. Again, reiterate, there are consequences to the actions that the character take.
I'm assuming by new to the game you are not just meaning new to Dark Sun itself.
Regardless of how the events actually played out, since you have a new group and one upset player, before starting up the next session sit everyone down and go over the events again and how things could have played out had they chosen other avenues. Give out spoilers of DM only information if you feel it is necessary so the players can understand how the game works differently than say a free-for-all computer RPG. Show them just how you as the DM would have reacted to other choices the PCs made, and how you felt Kaldra would have logically reacted. That should help sooth the upset player and give the group some more insights into the game and how it can progress, and how at times they will invariably make the wrong decisions. Let them know too that it's perfectly fine to screw up and it is also perfectly fine to have a character take a dirt nap. If no one ever dies, then dying is never a real threat.
If that doesn't help, smack the player upside the head and tell them to be thankful there's no more character trees.
Three people have never played DnD. I'll make sure to get the group together and talk about the events that led to people getting upset.
I was thinking of asking each player to come up with a character goal by e-mail. The other option might be to ask them to agree on a joint party goal they want, rather than one I've presented.
What do you think?
Make their choice to abandon the tribe have consequences. Maybe a few survive and venture out on their own. Once they find out the player characters abandoned the tribe they seek revenge.
Character goals are a great way to get the players more invested in the game. At this point I would start throwing hooks at them and see what sparks their interest. Have a few possibilities planned out and go with what they choose.
Make their choice to abandon the tribe have consequences. Maybe a few survive and venture out on their own. Once they find out the player characters abandoned the tribe they seek revenge.
Consequences for leaving the tribe is not a bad idea, but I need to get them back to the table with a common motive. The last time we all met everyone had a different agrenda or didn't know what they wanted to focus on. Hooks would be what I'd do usually, but it might just be easier with new players to metagame and say what do you all want out of the adventure, before we start again.
Bones in the Night
The party survive the fight with Kaldra and his elves. After looting the bodys and freeing the slaves, they rest for the night. Ea is not able to convince the slaves to join the Ehu tribe, but they agree to take them to Altaruk. The next morning they continue toward Altaruk, running across the wastes with the freed slaves following. Their journey goes well and before the sun sets on a blistering hot day they find a small oasis and rest for the night. During the nightwatch, Kakashi hears odd scratching sounds and discovers a skeleton like figure wandering into camp. The undead bag of bones is smashed and skewed with arrows, once Kakashi sounds the alarm.
Valerie Nirth
As the sunrises on a new day, the caravan continues its last leg to Altaruk. Only a small distance from the town, Kakashi spots a battle in progress. A bikini clad barbarian woman is leaping around a large lizard like creature trying to defend an injuried dark skinned nomad. The fight is just outside a large crack in the ground where maybe the Id Fiend was living. The group rush to the women's aid and with a concentrated effort the beast is badly wounded. The barbarian woman seems to have no trouble dodging the creature as she swings her steel greatsword. Mythical tries to grab the barbarian woman and carry her off, but is unsuccessful. Pheonix and Kakashi are frozen by terror as the lizard slams them with it's tail and claws their flesh. But it's Ea's energy blasts that kill the lizard and it falls to the sand lifeless.
Greetings
The barbarian woman backs away from Mythical, not impressed by his advances. Ea manages to smooth the situation over, so that the warrior woman can attend her injuried companions wounds. The barbarian woman introduces herself as Valerie Nirth and her friend as Nubia. Kakashi offers to buy Valerie a drink when they reach Altaruk, she ignores the offer. Valerie notices the ten ex-slaves and cargo kanks a hundred feet away and asks if the group are slavers, which Kakashi answers with "these people are free now, we are escorting them to Altaruk". Ea and Pheonix question Valerie about her great steel sword and her reason for travelling the wastes. Valerie explains that they have come from the north and are heading for Altaruk on private business. When the conversation becomes focused on Valeries sword, she becomes suspious and trys to head off away from the party. Ea talks with the group in private and wants to kill Valerie and steal her sword. Kakashi is shocked and disgusted and takes the ex-slaves and cargo kanks to Altaruk with Mythical following.
Blood in the Sand
Pheonix and Ea try to ambush Valerie and Nubia as they pass some tall rocks. Valerie tells Nubia to make a run for it while she engages Ea and Pheonix. The battle lasts seconds as the half-naked barbarian cuts Pheonix and Ea to pieces and leaves them to die in the wastes. Slowly but suely Ea regains conscious and manages to stop the bleeding from her wounds. Pheonix is not so luck and the elf ranger breaths his last breath and passes away. To late to help Pheonix, Ea stripes his body and heads for Altaruk, wary.
Note: Valerie was meant to be an ally for the party. She was also level ten, so the group were no match for her in combat. I'm not sure if I will have Valerie make another appearance in the future. It just shows that a GM can plan and players will through it out of wack. Valerie was going to provided the next adventure hook, lol.
Altaruk at Last
Kakashi and Mythical arrive safely in Altaruk a few hours after leaving Ea and Pheonix to there skull-duggery. The ceramic cargo, Kanks and spare equipment is sold to local merchants in the market place. Kakashi waves goodbye to the ex-slaves and they part as friends. Mythical and Kakashi go on a spending spree, buying better armour and Crodlu to ride. Just as the sun sets Ea staggers into town and explains what happened to Pheonix when she finds Kakashi. All Kakashi can say is, "Valerie's never going to meet me for that drink now. Thanks very much!"
Note: A new character will be joining the group next time. Pheonix's player was not upset and seemed keen to make a new character. I'll be trying to run 'Sand Raider's' next session. I thought I'd have the new player approach the party with the wagon recovery job, that should help tie them together again. As you might be able to see, the majority of the group seem to kill everyone and take their stuff. I'll have to come up with a way to exploit that habit.
- Via e-mail ask each PC to choose one other PC. No PC can be chosen more than once. For the chosen PC, the two players should create a link. This can be a shared interest, common backstory, goal, etc. The players are encouraged to role-play and strengthen this connection. For example, PC1 chooses PC2. PC1 might decide that his father knew PC2's father. The two players work together, deciding that the fathers were gladiators. They together decide the PCs will honor their father's friendship. PC3 might choose PC1 (each PC can be chosen by one PC), and decide that their link is that of becoming merchants. The two players decide their PCs converse one night and find this common interest. They pledge to work together to identify a patron for whom they could work and they begin scheming as to what kind of goods they could sell.
- Copying Chris Perkins' Iomandra article, create a set of connections (such as the ones above), but don't assign PCs. Write them all up, selecting ones that you would like to feature in the campaign (such as the opportunity to become merchants). Let the players choose the links out of the ones you provided.
Both of the above are good ways to prevent in-fighting. Because there is a chain of relationships, no players should be allying against others... it would break the link they have. If necessary, explain the reason for the link. It is because you believe in-fighting is destructive to the game. You are creating this to provide a reason why they all want to work together. Let them know you will reward them for keeping these links active and for role-playing them or furthering the goals.
- Consider something that makes them have a unified goal. They could be recruited by the Veiled Alliance. They could be employed by a merchant house. The idea is to place them all on the same team. The employer/leader NPC could state that they must work as a team. They will lose membership and future rewards if there is in-fighting.
- You may also want to consider talking to them about allies. Let them know that they will sometimes face formidable foes that cannot be defeated through conflict. Let them know it is okay for players to have their PCs make insight or other skill checks to recognize this and encourage it when appropriate. If PCs engage too strong an enemy consider asking them, at the top of each round, stop to consider their strategy. This is also a good time to encourage skill checks.
- Let them know that at times in the campaign, and fitting the setting, they will need allies to overcome obstacles. Killing or attacking allies may close off options, make the game harder, or result in missing out on rewards.
Ea, Mythical and Kakashi head off to Crooked House Inn on the edge of Altaruk. The party buy some drinks and break into loud song at the bar. Mythical catches the attention of a Dray who stands at the door entrance and welcomes him over as if he's known him all his life. The crowd around the rapping Kakashi and Ea is growing. The Dray introduces himself to Mythical as Abraxus and explains he's looking for experience people to help recover some cargo. Rhoton Vor a dwarven trader has lost a wagon of goods and needs it recovered. Mythical is drunk and agree's to help Abraxus, along with Ea and Mythical. Ea starts transforming into a mutant bird with multiple tails. The patrons start leaving when Ea loudly proclaims that they should take down the sorceror kings. The Inn owner asks the group to leave and they relucantly head to the Wavir Inn.
The Wavir Tavern and Inn is still pumping and a rough looking dwarf named Rhoton Vor recognises Abraxus when he steps through the door. After a little discussion the party agrees to look for the lost wagon of cargo that Rhoton wants returned in the morning. Everyone settles down for the night and in the morning they check in with the Wavir trade post office before heading back into the wastes except Mythical. Mythical stays behind to build a flying machine out of wood and animal hide. It only takes a few hours to find signs of the wagon, but they are ambushed by some Silt runner lizards. Abraxus is knocked unconscious and falls off his horse. Ea blasts the lizards with everything she has, but in the end it's Kakashi that saves the day with multiple blade slashers that scare the rest away. Badly injured they party rest for the night.
The Wagon
In the morning the group finds the broken wagon among some rocks, but also spot some odd creatures. They sneak up on some Kruthik beast and dispatch them with careful planning. Although they find tracks indicating the cargo has been moved and no sign of the drivers they rest over night before going on. In the morning they find the tracks lead to a ruined tower and a long neck bottle in the sand about 200 yards away from the tower. An arguement erupts over what to do with the stoppered bottle.....
Note: this session went pretty well, no player deaths or infighting. The players agreed on a common goal, which is to take down the sorceror kings. I did everything that has been suggested, so hopefully the next game will work out. The stoppered bottle that I added, did create a stir but it's harmless.
You can start small, perhaps with a contact that can give them some information and perhaps insight into how the Sks operate (including a reality check on how hard it is to take them down). If in Tyr, you might meet someone that wants to bring freedom to the other cities. It could lead to work as spies in another city-state, perhaps for the Veiled Alliance. It might be templars from Tyr competing with those of the other city-states. It could be merchant-based. Over time the PCs can slowly learn info and stop some of the SKs plans. Nothing should come easy, however. Victory in Dark Sun is often slow and with repercussions. Save that village from the templars? Great. Two weeks later you come back to find it razed to the ground. That NPC helped you? She's in jail now and will be in the arena tomorrow...
The fun for would-be SK-killers can be provided in meaningful stages. Gain lore. Bring down a templar. Learn of the True and how they want to bring back Kalak. Learn of some plan another SK has. Find out information on a mid-tier templar. Etc.
When they are in this hugely cavernous belly of the sandworm- design a typical dungeon crawl with the pockets of the Sand Worm's stomach as various rooms, perhaps with even a friendly pocket with a friendly NPC that tries to help them. Your murderous group can then butcher the friendly NPC and it won't matter because he has not plot hooks.
They can keep exploring this Sand Worm indefinately, leveling up video game style, until your ready for the Sand Worm to poop them out in front of some city where hopefully they will have gotten their hackand slash fill.
Or they can just die in there.
Your players sound like a pain. I suggest you have a gargantuan Sand Worm just swallow all of them up at oncce and then dive back down into the sand.
When they are in this hugely cavernous belly of the sandworm- design a typical dungeon crawl with the pockets of the Sand Worm's stomach as various rooms, perhaps with even a friendly pocket with a friendly NPC that tries to help them. Your murderous group can then butcher the friendly NPC and it won't matter because he has not plot hooks.
They can keep exploring this Sand Worm indefinately, leveling up video game style, until your ready for the Sand Worm to poop them out in front of some city where hopefully they will have gotten their hackand slash fill.
Or they can just die in there.
I have my two nethews playing the game for the first time, aged 7 and 12. The 7 year old is a bit silly and likes annoying my 30 year old brother; he also doesn't full understand the rules. My youngest sister is 25 and has some experience in the game, although she tends to focus on getting loot no matter what. My youngest brother (30 years old) is trying to take a more mature approach to the game, but he just losses his cool and swears at the youngest player when the nethew does something silly. The 12 year old nethew is the best of the bunch and I have few problems with him and he's lost a character already. The issues I'm facing are about inexperience from the players. I don't remember my first experience in roleplay games going smoothy, it might take a bit of practice.
I will keep your suggestion of the giant Sand Worm in the back of my mind, should I feel differently the next time around.
Oh, that's cool then. DMing for young players can be tough. The only time I did it was when I was a young player too many years ago!
I'm 40 years old. I had assumed that I could manage the situation maturely and successfully. I'm learning that young players are hard work, as you mention. I have had the 30 and 25 year old say they will leave the group if things don't improve. It's a shame they can't see their own faults, but that's going to come with time.
Still most of them seem to be up-dating character sheets and asking me questions about the next session.
Mythical who is back at Altaruk is spending his time trying to make a glider from wood, animal skin and rope. Although he has some success, in the end the whole thing falls apart before he can even test fly it. A little frustrated he heads after the party two days later and manages to find their tracks. It is just as the group find an odd bottle in the sand that Mythical can hear them as he approaches.
The Bottle
To open the Bottle or to not open the Bottle that is the question. In the end Kakashi and Ea don't open the bottle, but Ea has it float behind them. They move into the ruins of what looks like a tower only to find an ancient temple. Ea follows some stairs down into the ground and comes to a large stone door. She walks up and knocks on the door, their is no reponse. A few minutes later after the group wait outside, while Ea try's to establish if anyone is home. A dragonic voice tells them to go away, they don't and the door opens with a pack of Silt runners filling the doorway. Ea is stabbed with spears and has to fall back. Abraxus steps up and holds them back with a series of whirling blades. The rest of the group stand on the stairs while Abraxus opens and closes the door for half a minute, making the occational flurry of slashes. Kakashi grabs the bottle and uses it as a grenade and tries to throw it through the doorway at the lizards. He misses and the ranger watches in fear as a cloud of smoke erupts from the broken bottle to reveal a young woman. Mythical lunges for the woman and starts forcing her to dance with Abraxus holding the lizards off on his own. Kakashi grabs Mythical and this allows the woman to escape the gropping warrior. Mythical almost goes after the woman, but the group are forced to help Abraxus with the lizard pack.
Note: This battle was rather silly and it's a shame it didn't go badly for the group (they might have learned a lesson). Kakashi's player was swearing at Mythicals player and things got very heated. The boy playing Mythical's character tried coming up with things that annoyed Kakashi's player and it is amazing that people didn't walk off. I have been informed by the two oldest players that they will not play if something like that happens again. The problem is that they are part of the problem.
Ea and Abraxus do their best to loot the chamber that the lizards were hidding in. Kakashi frees the prisoners that drove the wagon, Milos, Alia and Flaron. Ea convinces the young woman that came out of the bottle that Mythical will not carry her off to some cave and have his way with her. The womans name turns out to be Jenna, she has been trapped in the bottle for thousands of years. Jenna is pleased to be free but as the bottle is broken and she is nolonger a Genie, has no way to repay the group. Abraxus and Ea find the wagons cargo scattered around the room and they get Milos and the rest to stay put while they head down a circular stair case. The group come to another stone door, this time they prepare and open the door quietly after listening for noise. The room is dark and their is a huge pile of bones in one corner a few statues and an Alter at the far end. A search reveals nothing till Ea puts her hand into the pile of bones and six skeletons rise up. The battle is swift and all the undead guardians are destroyed. The group find four magical items in the pile of bones. They rest over night and the next day get the cargo back to Rhoton Vor. Milos, Alia, Floran and Jenna are safely escorted to Altaruk. Rhoton Vor pays the reward he has offered and their business is done.
Note: I had told the players if they came up with a common goal I would give them a magic item. This was meant to come from the Genie Jenna, but that got changed when they smashed the bottle to early. I simply place the reward in a chamber below the temple, as it was becoming an issue for some of the players that had waited two weeks for it.
(1) Player to player combat in this game doesn't seem to be possible with this young group. People get annoyed and angery. I'm thinking I should ban all PC versus PC combat.
(2) Everyone in the group has at some point done something that was foolish with their character, yet none of them see that they are also at fault. Instead I have arguments from people I have to manage before the next session. I've had the old "I can do anything I want", or "I'm just playing my character". This group just can't do whatever they like, I've never been in a group were everyone does whatever they like, it doesn't work. I have tryed explaining this individually, but maybe it's time to do it as a group.
(3) Ea and Kakashi's players are hording all the loot and the youngest player is missing out. I'm thinking of changing the treasure parcels to favour the youngest, but that might no solve the problem.
(4) I'm thinking I need to make it clear that when combat starts everyone needs to be involved or the group could end up with a TPK very soon. Looting corpses, standing back and dancing in the middle of combat is not co-operative play.
(5) The oldest player is swearing at the youngest player when he does something that annoys him or the dice roll badly for him. He has even walked off in the middle of the game when the youngest player randomly attacks NPC's. This is actually the biggest problem.
(6) The youngest player is going out of his way to annoy the oldest player. this is the next big problem.
Some mature advice or feedback would be great.
Thanks
The Hive
Abraxus is again asked by Rhotan Vor to do a job for him. The Trade road has been plagued by aggressive scavenging giant Ants. Almost all trade from Altaruk to Grak’s Pool and Gulg has come to a halt. Rhotan Vor of the Wavir Trading post has offered a bounty of 200 gold worth, if the Ant nest is destroyed. Abraxus takes the job and discusses the details with Milos.
Mythical is approached by a wary Tavern Patron, called Jarek. Jarek while hunting in the silt shallows of the Forked Tongue, nearly had his life taken by a group of giant Ants. Jarek escaped on his silt skimmer while the ants killed his friend Tray a mul hunter. He asked that the group add him and they agree.
Kakashi and Jenna stay in Altaruk to learn more about the Sorceror Kings.
While traveling to the Forked Tongue docks to meet up with the silt sailor that Rhotan has made available to the group, they come across a broken wagon. A pack of Jhakar, have found a boy and wagon while hunting for food. The Jhakar are having trouble getting into the wagon to finish the child off, when the party arrives. It takes a little effort but the beasts are killed and the boy rescued. Ea manages to convince the boy to talk, his name is Jarad.
Jarad explains that a few hours ago a giant Ants ambushed his family traveling along the Trade road, this mum and dad are dead. He hid in the wagon and he has avoided the hungry insects. Jarad didn't know what to do and was stuck in the wild with no one to help him. In addition he is sun burnt and shaking from fear. Milos looks after the boy and they reach the docks before sun-down.
The Forked Tongue
The Forked Tongue docks are very busy. The Jetty has a number of skimmers docked and waiting, with a few slaves and traders storing cargo in tents and animals in fenced areas. No-one appears to be venturing out as the sun sets. The next day the Essex is boarded by the heroes, Jarek, Milos, Jarad, Alia, Flaron and some crew members. The first day is very hot, but they spot some signs of Ant activity. The night shift is interrupted by Shadow Bats that attack Alia and the First mate, but Mythical, Ea and Abraxus smash and blow them apart when the alarm is sounded.
The next day they find ant remains in the silt, but a sand storm forces them to drop their sails. As they prepare for the bitting winds, three dust devils fly onto the top deck. People are thrown about and Abraxus fights bravely to protect Mythical and Ea from the onslaught. Ea blasts the elementals with everything she has, but is knocked unconscious. Mythical tries to Save Ea and himself, but his arrow shots prove to have little effect. Mythical falls to a blow to the head from spinning sand and rocks. Abraxus stands in panic as he realizes there is no escape and the whole crew is killed by the evil dust clouds. The full force of the sand storm hits the sailor and the Essex crew are swallowed by the sands.
Note: I had a discussion with the group about team work, that seemed to help. I think I mis-judged the difficulty for my group and they had a TPK. Kakashi is still alive, so I'll see if I can start back with him. The youngest player is 8 and has pulled out. A new player is joining and he's about 38.
Back in Altaruk, Kakashi with Jenna's help has been searching for information on the Sorceror kings. About a week passes and the party does not return from the Giant Ant hive hunt, Kakashi is concerned. Rhotan Vor approaches Kakashi for another job, a search for the lost treasure of House Madar. The dwarf has clues suggesting that the treasure is in the Canyon of Gothay, somewhere in the sand wastes near Silver Spring. Eventually Rhotan convinces Kakashi to take the job and by the time he returns his friends should be back. Kakashi and Jenna hire a few likely individuals to escort Rhotan's caravan, as the dwarf insists on coming along.
Lilly a woman wrapped in cloth from head to foot, with a mysterous past but a cunning and deadly killer (Vampire).
Samhain a Razorclaw shaman, an expert guide for the Athas wastes.
Abraxus a Dragonborn Barbarian of the same name as one of Kakashi's friend's that are still searching for a Ant nest. This dragonborn is dusty, battered and has lost a good deal of his memory when he rides into Altaruk with a wagon and Crodlu.
Lilly is approached during the night by an eleven woman named Iseel, who learns that she is heading to Silver Spring. She askes Lilly to give Toramund a letter, concerning his son.
The next day the group head out of Altaruk with Rhotan's caravan following a day behind. Jenna stays in Altaruk and wishes Kakashi good luck. Samhain manages to navigate the tablelands easily and they make good time. As they move through a scrub area a pack of Baazrags swarm them from the brushs. The beasts are killed and the meat cut into steaks for dinner.
As the sun starts to set the group spots a crop of tree's in the distance and head toward it, only to discover that bandits are waiting to ambush them. Samhain calls his spirit forth and aids Abraxus as the Dragonborn takes the lead and chops his way through the thugs ranks. Lilly gorges on the blood of anyone who she can get close enough too. None of the party members seem surprised or even concerned. Kakashi fires a rain of arrows on the bandits but struggles to hit many. It is when the battle seems lost that Samhain calls the spirits to him and heals the parties wounds, so that they can win the day. Abraxus collects all their gear up and finds crimson sashes wrapped around sword hilts, but thinks nothing of it. Rhotan arrives later that night at the Oasis.
Swapping Places
A hundred miles away Kindrok a large goliath of intimidating size is picking a fight with an man, in one of Altaruk's taverns. The argeement finishes when the man creates a brillant light around Kindrok and transports him into the middle of the desert. Kakashi is talking with Lilly and Abraxus when he fades away and finds himself in a tavern, with an old man walking out the door. Kindrok finds himself in an Oasis with a group of people he doesn't know until he sees Samhain pop his head out of a tent. "Where the heck am I?" askes the Goliath. Kindrok explains what he thinks happened to Samhain who laughs, "Stop picking fights with the mages, otherwise one day they'll drop you down a crack in the ground", states Samhain. Samhain explains that they are looking for the Vault of the house of Madar and are now one man down, with Kakashi probably in one of Altaruk's taverns. Kindrok is offered a job in escorting Rhoton's Caravan to Silver Spring.
The next day the group head out ahead of Rhoton Vor and make good time across the tablelands. They do encounter a group of giant ants ripping a Kank corpse apart, but are able to kill the creatures without tomuch trouble. A group of elf's and a defiler mounted on a Crodlu ambush the party as they near a sand dune covered in boulders. Not completely caught by surprise Samhain is able to warn the rest of the group. A hard long battle erupts as they fight for thier lives. Abraxus and Kindrok make mince meat of the elf's, but the steady flow of arrows leaves them covered in injuries. Samhain has to use every spirit power he has to heal the group and fling the elf archers to the ground. Lilly is bitting every neck she can get close too and covering the defiler in bat swarms, but in the end must take cover. When the battle is won, they all know that they have been very luck.
Back in Altaruk, Kakashi gets drunk and passes out in the streets after being kicked out of a Tavern. A few hours later Jenna finds Kakashi and nurses him back to health. After a bit of sweet talk, Kakashi takes Jenna on a date to a fancy Inn for dinner the next day. They are enjoying a tasty meal when an Inn Keeper comes up to him and explains that an old man is waiting in the lobby and has urgent business with him. Kakashi is not interested and goes back to chatting-up Jenna. A few minutes later a willy old man comes over to Kakashi's table and apologizes, just before laying his hand on Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi starts fadding away and can see Jenna's concern as he completely vanishes and finds himself back in the desert. "Darn it!", exclaims Kakashi. It takes Kakashi no time to work out where he is from the stars and finds his way to Silver Spring. The cursing that comes from the ranger can be heard on the wind as he tramps across sand dunes, "If I ever find that old man..."
Note: Kakashi's player has decided to come back to the game table.
When Lilly, Kindrok, Abraxus and Samhain arrive at Silver Spring with Rhoton Vor's caravan, Kakashi is waiting outside the fortified walls. Everyone is please to see Kakashi even if they are a bit confused as to how he managed to arrive at the Spring before them. Rhoton Vor explains that Toramund controls the Silver Spring Oasis and an audience with him might gain them useful information on the Canyon of Gothay. Kakashi and Lilly sneak past the guards that protect Toramund but have no idea how to navigate the catacombs below the Oasis. Abraxus convinces the guards to let them see Toramund and with alot of help they finally get some useful information from the chieftain about the canyons dangers.
The next day they set out for the Canyon of Gothay, with Rhoton Vor's caravan close behind. Rhoton Vor waits at the top of the Canyon when they arrive and gives the group three days to clear the dangers below. A massive rift has sunken the canyon and as they travel the rocky trail down, the party discover that it's much deeper than it appeared. When they reach the bottom some Hejkin's ambush the group by springing from the ground. A chanting Hejkin cripples Abraxus and Lilly, but Kindrok steps up to save their lives. Kakashi teams up with Lilly to defeat a few Hejkin, while the spirited calls of Samhain pounds the abominations with elemental fists and mace. The Hejkin are no match for this seasoned group.
I just wanted to say thanks for keeping this thread updated. I find it immensely entertaining.
I'm glad you find it entertaining. It's been a rock-road keeping the group together, but it's working out. I can't write everything the guys do, but some days they are a crazy bunch.
Searching for the Vault
It takes the group a few days to find the vault entrance in the Gothay Canyon, but not before having to fight off hungery giant ants. They inform Rhoton Vor of the natural cavern entrance and then decend into it's depth. Samhain is not able to follow because his spirit companion stops him from following the others, warning of dark spirits that would feed off his life. So the Shaman battles the will of his spirit campanion while the rest of the group disappear into the darkness.
Cavern of Eternal Conflict
Abraxus, Lilly, Kakashi and Kindrok come upon a dozen corpses in the cavern and piles of rotten military hardware. Before they can do much zombies and skeleton explode into life and attack the party with guttural howls. It takes the group by surprise, but they soon draw the undead in close and smash them apart. Abraxus finds little of use but there are rings and talismans with marks from the house of Tsalaxa and Madar. They must be on the right track. Moving to the back of the cavern they find a passage that leads onward.
Crypt of Sorrows
Eventually they come to a double door made of copper, which they scrap off. Lilly is surprised to find the door is not locked and they enter a large stone chamber with three sarcophagi and a stone obelisk. The room is collapsing slowly over time. Suddenly they can hear a woman weeping and ghostly forms rise from the sarcophagi. These phantoms are twisted in rage and grief. "How dear you enter our last resting place, flee or feel my cold deadly hands treasure hunters!" threatens the ghostly woman.
The group pay no mind and try to strike the shadow like forms. The heros are doing pretty well till the woeful shriek of Dynera Madar strickens most of the party. "Feel my pain", cry's Dynera. Kakashi starts glowing and a tattoo forms on his hand. Suddenly there is nothing the ranger can't strike, and everyone is amazed at his skills. With the combined force of all the heroes going back to back they slay each ghost one after the other. Abraxus finds a gold statue of the ghostly woman that they guess to be Dynera Madar, wife to Darom.
Kakashi bursts into a pillar of light and transforms into a 8 foot tall goliath in scale armour. "What the heck just happen to you, Kakashi?" asks Lilly. "The names Artorius, not Kakashi now," states the giant man....
Note: I've started using Plot twister cards that allow the players to change elements of the story. Kakashi's player used his card to change his character in the middle of the game and explained how it would happen. I agreed too it, even if it was a little silly. Most of the other players throught it was rather funny. I'm hoping to use the cards to get the players use to roleplaying and help me learn to wing my game without freaking out. LOL.
Opening the Vault
Note: Samhains player has been away for a while and returned for the next session.
After two days of trying to get into the cavern, Samhain fights past his spirit companion. The party searchs the stone chamber and finds a rather complex door at the far side of the room in a recess. Lilly spends many hours disarming traps and activating switches while the group rest. Unfortunately Lilly accidently springs a trap and gets a face full of poison darts, but her vampire nature saves her from death. Everyone makes a note that the silver door needs to be scrapped clean before leaving. The door finally drops into the floor revealing a treasure room.
The Rage of Darom Madar
Piles of chests, racks with weapons and all manner of valuables are scattered over the floor. But standing in the middle of all this wealth is a withered rotting figure in rags. "Who the heck is that?" asks Artorius. "Hold on, I think he's going to say something," points out Samhain. "I have waited many years for that door to be broken, thieves. You will add to my collection for your greed," states the undead skeleton. " And who would you be?" asks Samhain. "Darom Madar, die and rest at my feet!" howls the wight. "Excellent, I had the same idea," grins the Shaman. The wight charges and all hell breaks loose as the party surround Darom Madar. Although the wight unleashes his full fury the heroes beat him down fairly quickly, only for him to rise again and daze a few of them. When Abraxus and Lilly finally drop him again it is a relief for the group. "Is it dead now?" asks Abraxus. Samhain kicks the skeleton pieces apart. "It is now," states the Shaman. Artorius makes himself a comfortable bed from the valuables. The group are exhausted but in good spirits so sleep on the treasure over night, before leaving the cavern.
House of Tsalaxa Ambush
The party decides not to honour their agreement with Rhoton Vor and keep the treasure. Enough days have passed the the Dwarf trader would consider them dead. The next day when they exit the cavern, carrying chests of treasure a group of elfs and Goliaths are waiting for them. A tall lanky man stands behind the elfs with a glowing orb in his hand. "Rhoton Vor was right to hire you. The House of Tsalaxa will finally have the Madar fortune. We tracked that Dwarf for days and now what is yours is ours. Hand it over and we'll give you a swift death," states the mage. The elf assassins pull hard on there bows, waiting for a response. "Fat chance, kill the mage first!" shouts Samhain. The Dragonborn charges into the Goliaths and goes straight for their throat. The large mountain men block the rest of the party and pound them with greatclubs. A volley of arrows is lunched at the heroes with pin point accuracy. Artorius and Kindrok hold the Goliath thugs at bay, while Lilly feeds on them and Samhain sends his spirit companion after the mage. The defiler is badly wounded but hoses the heroes with fire and life stealing blight. Then suddenly a stray arrow from on Elf hits a Goliath thug in the back and this gives Kindrok and Artorius the chance to finish them off. Abraxus pushes through the elf line and cuts the mages hand off, the elves are overwelmed and soon blood soaks the sand around the cave opening. When all the assassins are dead, Abraxus searches their bodies.
Note: I have the group recieving Ten level 3 treasure parcels, because they will not be sharing with Rhoton Vor. I've let each play sellect two level 3 items and they will also get alot of gold and silver. Samhains player got a plot twister card that allowed him to make the enemy do something surprising. He chose to have an elf shoot one of the Goliaths, although I was hoping he would select 'where did that tenticale come from'. I think it makes more sense that the Tsalaxa assassins have already killed Rhoton Vor and his carvan drives, so I'll play that out next time.
It takes Lilly and Samhain a while to climb out of the canyon, the rest are waiting at the top for them. A few minutes later the party finds, Rhoton Vor and his caravan wrecked. The crew of the sand skiffs are all dead, but the hardy Dwarf trader still breaths. "Did you find the treasure? Was it wonderful? askes the dying Dwarf. "No, sorry. We could not find it," answers Abraxus. "All that for nothing....." sighs the dwarf as his head rolls back. With Rhoron Vor dead they group bury the bodies and clean the skiffs out of water. A long discussion about where to go next erupts, but in the end they head for Urik.
While the group travel to Urik, they come across an underground town made of rock and hidden below the sand dunes. Artorius falls through the sand and is not able to catch himself, but Abraxus saves him from a long fall at the last moment. Kindrok is lowered down the hole by rope and discovers a long vacant ancient subterranean ghost town. Once the whole group except Samhain have checked out the place they chose to rebuild it. Lilly uses her telekinetic abilities to move the boulders blocking the towns staircase leading to the surface. Many complex plans are hatched by the heroes, but in the end they realize they need workers to repair the cavern complex. Samhain, Abraxus and Kindrok head for Silver Springs looking for workers. Artorius and Lilly stay behind to clean up the town, which is a disaster site. Abraxus managers to convince Torramund to send an engineer to investigate the cavern before committing workers to the town. While Artorius and Lilly are cleaning up, the cavern starts crumbling and collapsing. Lilly is forced to somersault onto Artorius back and ride him out of the cavern at a full sprint, before they can be flattened by rocks and sand. The sand dunes drop into a massive hole and bury the town forever as Abraxus and Lilly look dismayed. Torramunds engineer finally arrives and when the group suggest digging the town out, he just turns around and leaves in disbelief. "An underground town, more like a hole in the ground," grunts the engineer.
Note: Lilly's player had a plot twist card that allowed her to find something hidden. She wanted to find a hidden town, so I allowed this. The whole thing blow up in my face and the players generally got very silly. There was talk about building cities and making armies, etc. I lost control of this situation, so I just buried it to make my life easier.
As the rag tag party rides toward the city of Urik, the sun affects Lilly so much that she must rest often. Lilly's heavy robes protect the vampire lady from combusting, but make day travel difficult in the desert. Abraxus takes the first night shift, which is fortunate as the Dragonborn warrior spots the Silk Wyrm flying down to eat the sleeping adventurers. Abraxus holds the creature back long enough for the rest of the party to wake up. Once Abraxus , Kindrok and Artorius get close enough the beast is sliced and diced with cold efficiency. Abraxus even manages to spit lightning in the Wyrm's eye. Samhain joins the battle with his spirit guide and boxes the creature in a gauntlet of death. When Lilly is finally able to wake up from her deep sleep, her fangs drain the last of the monsters life
Note: After a rather complex and exhausting roleplay between the players and myself. I was thankful when they selected to continue on to Urik. Which left me with two encounters from the 'Vault of Darom Madar' adventure. I'll run them both, if the players keep heading for Urik. I'm think of running 'Marauders of the Dune Sea' once they get to Urik.
Sand Storms and Ruins
As the party venture closer to Urik a massive sand storm from the south forces them into some ruins. They take shelter but the wind is so strong that blocking doorways doesn't stop the dust getting inside the building that the heroes hold out in. Fortunately they find a trapdoor leading below ground into a crypt with a spiral staircase. Cut into the walls of the spiral staircase shaft are alcoves with bodies wrapped in old rags. Two chains daggle down the centre of the shaft and disappear into the darkness. Abraxus starts checking the bodies for valuables, but instead finds a body that comes to life. Abraxus is about to throw the undead creature down the shaft after beating it with his fist, but pauses when a better option presents it's self. "Please don't drop me. I was just taking a nap," crys the undead creature. "If you don't hurt me, I'll show you all the wealth that is stored in my family crypt. I'm Ereon by the way, how are you doing?" questions the Revenant with a smile. Abraxus doesn't seem convinced at first but gives the pale man a chance to prove it with some more sweet talk by Ereon. The journey down the staircase proves hazardous for Samhain who falls off the edge and has to grab a chain to save himself. Eventually everyone makes it safely to the bottom of the shaft.
At the bottom of the staircase shaft eight passages lead off into the darkness. Ereon leads the group down the north passage, past acloves with more bodies wrapped in rags. Samhain is the first to notice the danger that stalks them, when shadows try to sneak up on him. "That's strange my shadow doesn't match me," puzzles the Shaman. Four dark shadow stalkers rise out of the heroes shadows and try to strangle them. Abraxus, Ereon, Artouris and Samhain battle frantically with the strange beings. Lilly turns into a cloud of bats and fly cirlces around the stalkers till they are finally banished forever by sword and the spirit companion that Samhain calls upon.
Once Ereon has explained that he had nothing to do with the dark shadows that attacked the group, they head off again. The passage opens out into a cavern with a small pool of water. Odd looking creatures with curled noses fling out sticky strands that attach to the PC's and drag them toward the pool of water. Ereon is almost pulled into the pool of water, but Abraxus cuts the strands holding him. Everyone fans out and guts the creatures quickly. "Anything else you would like to tell us about?" askes Abraxus of Ereon. "It's not my fault, I swear!" pleads Ereon. The cavern finally comes to a dead end where they find a secret door that has been left open. "This is it, I told you I'd find the main treasure chamber." states Ereon.
Note: Ereons player had a plot twister card that allowed him to find a secret door that was been left open. I included this into the adventure, but had an amusing conclusion for the players.
When the party go through the secret door they find a massive chamber full of mummies and corpses. Everyone combs the place for valuables, but not a single cion, gem or item of worth remains. "No this can't be!" wails Ereon as he sees the Dragonborn fume. "Treasure hunters. The place has been cleaned out, bag of bones. #@$%," curses Abraxus. "It's not my fault, don't kill me!" begs Ereon. The party leave in silence robbed of there chance for great wealth. When the storm finally dies away Abraxus has a hard time nursing the Crodlu's back to life, that were stabled in the ruins above the crypt.
Note: Given that the players wanted to find a secret door that had been left open, I decided that treasure hunters must have already raided the crypt. It was a downer for one person, but generally the players understood the logic. I also pointed out that using the plot twister cards didn't mean I had to include anything more than the card suggested and they needed to think carefully about how they used them.
Kindrok, Abraxus and Ereon press hard toward the city of Urik, while the rest of the party follow at a more relaxed pace. Near the end of the day they come across three mounted figures in the distance that attack without warning. Swords are swung and arrows fly as the battle rages, with Kindrok sure they are meals for the birds. "We tracked you for days and now it's finally within my grasp. House Tsalaxa will be taking Madar's treasure from your dead hands, there's nothing you can do to stop it," shouts the leader. A giant tentacle bursts out of the sand dunes and grabs one of the Tsalaxain mounts, and pulls it underground. It is just the advantage that Abraxus was looking for and he drives his sword deep into the body of one of his attackers. Seeing that things are not going well the Tsalaxain assassins, tell the leader Tyron to retreat. Cursing and swearing Tyron rides off as Samhain arrives to turn the tide of the battle and save the lives of Kindrok and Ereon. "We have got to get this money to the Urik banks before anyone else can try and take it from us," states Abraxus. Exhausted and blood they rest for a while, before moving off.
Note: A player presented a Plot Twister card and asked for a tentacle to drag an enemy Crodlu out of the battle. The encounter was much too hard for just three players so I allowed the change.
The party presses on toward Urik, with the sun burning down for the next 6 hours as the sun begins to set for the day.
A cloud of dust forms behind a set of large sand dunes in the northern distance as they travel the hot desert. The sounds of yelling and shouting can be heard on the wind. Six riders mounted on Crodlu’s come over the peak of a sand dune at a galloping pace, straight toward the party. Blazing down the dunes slope about four hundred feet away they get closer. Then all along the dune ridges to the north about twenty more riders in desert clothes come howling and whooping as they thrash their Crodlu’s into a foaming frenzy. The cloud of dust arrives at the head of the sand dunes with over a hundred desert fork scattered around the horizon line, all screaming some battle cry as they run their mounts at break neck speeds in the parties direction.....
"I think Tyron has brought the house of Tslaxa down on our heads," says Artorius to the group.
The sand dunes explode into a cloud of dust and sand as a monstrous round mouth with huge fangs shoots out of the sand and swallows a large number of the desert folk. Artorius can hear their screams as they disappear into the throat of a colossal worm like creature. Everyone suddenly realizes the raiders aren't after them but are fleeing for their lives. Artorius, Abraxus and Samhain thrash their mounts into a gallop as raiders stampede past them and ride away. Ereon does the reverse and rides straight toward the worm, leaps from his mount somersaults onto the head of the monsterous worm and trys to stab it with his sword, with no success. The mighty creature flicks him up into the air and swallows him, but fortunately Ereon grabs hold of a tooth and hangs on for dear life. Kindrok seeing that Ereon is in trouble, jumps off his Crodlu and runs sword drawn straight into the maw of the worm, disappearing from sight. The worm continues to scoop up more riders.
Artorius and Abraxus dodge past desert folk and gain a reasonable lead; they crest a sand dune and find themselves in a cactus and boulder field. Artorius jumps his Crodlu over a few boulders and skims past thorny bushes. Abraxus breaks off to the left and trys to get clear of the cactus plants, but finds himself weaving through dense prickles. Samhain with Lilly ridding double has a little more trouble avoiding the worm and stampede, but gets to the cactus field with the worm only a few feet away.
To be continued....