"The Island in the Sea of Eternity" PEACH - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

"The Island in the Sea of Eternity" PEACH

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
thekraken
Jul 04, 2008 15:43:28 Hey all, I have a little campaign idea here. I was hoping you could critique it and provide adventure direction. I am a huge fan of the show Lost, and was trying to find a way to adapt some of those themes to my favorite game. A lot of this will be vague because I haven't come up with a lot of names yet.

My basic idea is that on an alien world, long ago, a cabal of powerful wizards had amassed amazing knowledge about the planes and the cosmology of the universe. However, as with most men,their greed was their undoing. The wizards sequestered themselves to a remote island to perform their greatest research. From the bowels of their massive observatory, the wizards gathered to perform the ritual of Singularity, creating a single portal which touches the veil of all planes. From there, they could step unto any plane and the knowledge of strange alien races would be open to them.

Even the ancient planeswalkers could not control the power they were summoning and the ritual tore the world asunder in a bright explosion of raw arcane might. All that survived was the island. But it had changed, existing in each world, but never truly a part of any world. Each plane of existence across the whole of the universe touching upon it. An island in each world and each world having an island. No man can sail its waters or land its beaches, always seeming to have passed it by or gone off course. In most worlds the island is not even known, its true nature never to be discovered.

Geography

For all intents and purposes, the island appears normal. Beautiful white beaches line the edges, lapped by sparkling blue water warmed from the high sun. Two volcanic peaks reveal the islands geological origins and the interior is composed of jungle choked hills and crags, with the occasional scrub grass valley.

The island is dotted with ruins of the ancient world which created it, constructs useful to the cabal of wizards who occupied it. At the center, on a flat spire of the highest peak, is a large observatory. The alien architecture was once a monument to the great achievement of the ancients.

Anything Can Happen

With the planar nature of the island, truly anything can happen. Water falls flow backwards in some spots, normal in others. Black fires absorb light and emit cold radiance. Weird abberant beasts crawl through the undergrowth. The ground turns to rubber when blasted with magic. Anything is truly possible!

Factions

Only two factions, other than the PCs and monsters, will currently be active on the island: the Shadar-Kai and the Eladrin. Both groups recently discovered the island and are able to access it due to their planar nature. The Feywild and the Shadowfell are the most closely converged on the island. The Shadar Kai have considered they island their possession, and have differing interests from the Eladrin. The PCs will be caught in this struggle.

My Adventure

The adventure will begin with a character awakening in the midst of a jungle, dazed, with clothes covered in blood. As sight begins to return the character gets bearings on his surroundings. His sword is plunged into the ground some yards away from him and his other belongings are scattered around the area. As he comes to his sense, he hears the sound of screaming and an unearthly growl. Upon gathering his things and rushing to the sound (if he chooses) he will see the other PCs battling a horrid creature on the beach.

Thus the adventure will begin. I having trouble determing the initial flow of events. None, or very few, of the PCs will have any connection or knowledge of each other. Initially, I assume there will be some character development and survival measures: searching for shelter, finding food, getting a feel for who's who, and so on.

The Shadar-Kai are the only group with a presence on the island and will eventually take notice and investigate the group. Other than that, I need help fleshing this out.

Any ideas are welcome and if I can explain anything further, please ask. As I develop more ideas I will share them here. Hopefully when I get things more develop I can do a more official thread.

Thanks in Advance!
Kraken
#2
charger28alpha
Jul 04, 2008 21:55:38 Interesting idea, with the Island touching all planes you can throw just about anything at the party.

I have a couple questions:
1) Do you intend to use the Island as a Campaign base our for a limited amount of adventures?

2)How big is the Island?

3) How set is stone is the party's arrival on the Island?

I asked the third question because if you are not I offer this idea. Run a few adventures with the party before they arrive on the Island, allowing them to get to know each other and gain a level or two. You can then have them pass though a portal during an adventure. Perhaps they can be chased through it or chase an enemy through it. The portal does not have to be a permanent gate, maybe a one way gate or a patch of fog in a dungeon corridor.

Alternatively to make it similar Lost have them be survivors of a shipwreck. If anybody else survived the shipwreck an introduction scenario to the Island can be having the party scout the Island for a place better than the beach to build a small settlement.
#3
Book5
Jul 06, 2008 19:31:15 As far as champaign design the first question I would try and work out is where the quests are leading to. The PCs would obviously want to get out - get back "home" so to speak. I would figure out what that is going to look like, then calculate adventures backwards.

Other ideas could be worked around the PCs either allying or opposing the factions. Perhaps working up a plot where they attract some of the members of the factions to help them as NPC non-combat assistants.

But yeah - my first goal would be to figure out how the story ends.
#4
thekraken
Jul 07, 2008 9:26:17
.

I have a couple questions:
1) Do you intend to use the Island as a Campaign base our for a limited amount of adventures?

2)How big is the Island?

3) How set is stone is the party's arrival on the Island?

1. I intend for the characters to be on the island through at least level 6, but it could extend through the whole Heroic tier.

2. Fairly big. I have a map drawn up I will post later this evening.

3. The arrival is set in stone. Your shipwreck idea is good, but there a larger reason for the characters arriving this way.

_______________________________________________

Book5-

Excellent suggestion. If I work backwards it should lead to more internal cohesion, which is incredibly important for a plot like this.

I'll be adding more of the stuff that I have concocted later this evening but thanks for the great tips!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thekraken Jul 04, 2008 15:43:28	Hey all, I have a little campaign idea here. I was hoping you could critique it and provide adventure direction. I am a huge fan of the show Lost, and was trying to find a way to adapt some of those themes to my favorite game. A lot of this will be vague because I haven't come up with a lot of names yet. My basic idea is that on an alien world, long ago, a cabal of powerful wizards had amassed amazing knowledge about the planes and the cosmology of the universe. However, as with most men,their greed was their undoing. The wizards sequestered themselves to a remote island to perform their greatest research. From the bowels of their massive observatory, the wizards gathered to perform the ritual of Singularity, creating a single portal which touches the veil of all planes. From there, they could step unto any plane and the knowledge of strange alien races would be open to them. Even the ancient planeswalkers could not control the power they were summoning and the ritual tore the world asunder in a bright explosion of raw arcane might. All that survived was the island. But it had changed, existing in each world, but never truly a part of any world. Each plane of existence across the whole of the universe touching upon it. An island in each world and each world having an island. No man can sail its waters or land its beaches, always seeming to have passed it by or gone off course. In most worlds the island is not even known, its true nature never to be discovered. Geography For all intents and purposes, the island appears normal. Beautiful white beaches line the edges, lapped by sparkling blue water warmed from the high sun. Two volcanic peaks reveal the islands geological origins and the interior is composed of jungle choked hills and crags, with the occasional scrub grass valley. The island is dotted with ruins of the ancient world which created it, constructs useful to the cabal of wizards who occupied it. At the center, on a flat spire of the highest peak, is a large observatory. The alien architecture was once a monument to the great achievement of the ancients. Anything Can Happen With the planar nature of the island, truly anything can happen. Water falls flow backwards in some spots, normal in others. Black fires absorb light and emit cold radiance. Weird abberant beasts crawl through the undergrowth. The ground turns to rubber when blasted with magic. Anything is truly possible! Factions Only two factions, other than the PCs and monsters, will currently be active on the island: the Shadar-Kai and the Eladrin. Both groups recently discovered the island and are able to access it due to their planar nature. The Feywild and the Shadowfell are the most closely converged on the island. The Shadar Kai have considered they island their possession, and have differing interests from the Eladrin. The PCs will be caught in this struggle. My Adventure The adventure will begin with a character awakening in the midst of a jungle, dazed, with clothes covered in blood. As sight begins to return the character gets bearings on his surroundings. His sword is plunged into the ground some yards away from him and his other belongings are scattered around the area. As he comes to his sense, he hears the sound of screaming and an unearthly growl. Upon gathering his things and rushing to the sound (if he chooses) he will see the other PCs battling a horrid creature on the beach. Thus the adventure will begin. I having trouble determing the initial flow of events. None, or very few, of the PCs will have any connection or knowledge of each other. Initially, I assume there will be some character development and survival measures: searching for shelter, finding food, getting a feel for who's who, and so on. The Shadar-Kai are the only group with a presence on the island and will eventually take notice and investigate the group. Other than that, I need help fleshing this out. Any ideas are welcome and if I can explain anything further, please ask. As I develop more ideas I will share them here. Hopefully when I get things more develop I can do a more official thread. Thanks in Advance! Kraken
#2 charger28alpha Jul 04, 2008 21:55:38	Interesting idea, with the Island touching all planes you can throw just about anything at the party. I have a couple questions: 1) Do you intend to use the Island as a Campaign base our for a limited amount of adventures? 2)How big is the Island? 3) How set is stone is the party's arrival on the Island? I asked the third question because if you are not I offer this idea. Run a few adventures with the party before they arrive on the Island, allowing them to get to know each other and gain a level or two. You can then have them pass though a portal during an adventure. Perhaps they can be chased through it or chase an enemy through it. The portal does not have to be a permanent gate, maybe a one way gate or a patch of fog in a dungeon corridor. Alternatively to make it similar Lost have them be survivors of a shipwreck. If anybody else survived the shipwreck an introduction scenario to the Island can be having the party scout the Island for a place better than the beach to build a small settlement.
#3 Book5 Jul 06, 2008 19:31:15	As far as champaign design the first question I would try and work out is where the quests are leading to. The PCs would obviously want to get out - get back "home" so to speak. I would figure out what that is going to look like, then calculate adventures backwards. Other ideas could be worked around the PCs either allying or opposing the factions. Perhaps working up a plot where they attract some of the members of the factions to help them as NPC non-combat assistants. But yeah - my first goal would be to figure out how the story ends.
#4 thekraken Jul 07, 2008 9:26:17	. I have a couple questions: 1) Do you intend to use the Island as a Campaign base our for a limited amount of adventures? 2)How big is the Island? 3) How set is stone is the party's arrival on the Island? 1. I intend for the characters to be on the island through at least level 6, but it could extend through the whole Heroic tier. 2. Fairly big. I have a map drawn up I will post later this evening. 3. The arrival is set in stone. Your shipwreck idea is good, but there a larger reason for the characters arriving this way. _______________________________________________ Book5- Excellent suggestion. If I work backwards it should lead to more internal cohesion, which is incredibly important for a plot like this. I'll be adding more of the stuff that I have concocted later this evening but thanks for the great tips!