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| yellowdingo |
 Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: Adventure Idea Archive |
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THE DOOMWHEEL
"By the gods what is that thing?" Blackdragon and his companions watched from murderer's hill as a mile high wheel of ironwood rolled across the distant Cinderland community of Urglin crushing it.
Lillith fell to her knees in shock.
"My family..." She reached out toward the destroyer with a hand.
Blackdragon gripped her hand.
"No time. We need to get to Hester's Well before Sun-up."
The Stationary engine belched steam in agreement.
DM Briefing: The Doom-wheel is a terrible steam engine and mobile fortress of ironwood powered by some four hundred and twelve Kobold Druids (each level 13+) bent on exterminating all those who have caused damage to the environment.
THE SWARM MASTERS
Cintra Bristol woke to the screams and found herself tied down.
"What?" Her body was bound up in some web cocoon...
A scream came from right next to her and she struggled to turn her head to look.
A large Brain-worm was working on the twitching corpse of her faithful companion animal "The Jade".
Beyond "The Jade" were a hundred Villagers from Sandpoint; most dead and some about to be - the screams mixed with an unfamiliar screeching. They were trapped in the terrible web-hive that had descended on their community during the night.
A shadow loomed over her. It was a faceless creature. It held a Brain-worm which it placed on her head.
Cintra Bristol Screamed with terror.
DM Briefing: During the night, a flying Web-hive belonging to the Swarm Masters (Doppelgangers) descends on the sleepy village the PCs are spending the night in. The Doppelgangers supported by their assorted Parasite and insect Aberrations capture and devour the locals.
THE HARVESTER
Kobold Cleaver waded through the March with the thought of Orc Pie on his mind.
A Cone of Light illuminated him from above.
“Oy? Hoozat?” He struggled to locate the source.
“I wonder if they’ll have Orc Pie?” Kobold Cleaver found himself lifted out of the mire and into the sky.
DM Briefing: Lone travellers are being abducted by a 20th level wizard collecting parts for his army of flesh golems. The wizard is in a flying wooden sphere fifty feet diameter.
THE CRATER'S HEART
Kruleaide watched as the red star fell from the sky and went down near Thistletop.
“Looks like someone got their wish…”
DM Briefing: A Red Heartstone falls from the sky near Thistletop. Any who visit the crater are attacked by their twin (a duplicate of opposite alignment) in a battle to the death. If they perish, the new becomes the old and the deceased vanishes. The Heartstone is buried some twenty feet below the surface and if dug up will have a radius of effect equal to 1 mile.
THE GAUNTLET
Elric struggled across the hot sands.
“Water! I need water!” He found a gauntlet. It had obviously been there for a while.
“Yeesh!” Elric shook the bones out and began to dig into the sand with the open end.
It was certainly worth the try.
DM Briefing: The PCs discover a silvery Plate gauntlet in the middle of nowhere. The Gauntlet is apparently non-magical yet when worn will graft itself to the wearer. In time the armour will spread across the wearer’s entire body becoming silvery full-plate armour. The armour is alive – a living parasite. Only a wish can separate the armour from its host.
THE WARPHUNTER
The village festival was well into the evening when the storm hit. An electrical strike widened and from it emerged a terrible fiend restraining a hound.
“Wow! They went all out this year!” The blue Eyed Paladin at the end of the table stared at yellowdingo and shook his head.
DM Briefing: Emerging from a Gate in an electrical storm, a Half-Fiend/Elf named Tharg-ul-takt and his tracking hound (a bound and tormented Blinkdog), are hunting for Artefacts and major wondrous items so he can extract the life force embedded in them by their crafters.
THE SHIP
“What’s that?” Franco reigned in his horse on the desert sands.
“What’s What?” Dalwin pulled up next to him.
“That. There. The thing about a mile long looks like an upturned ship hull.”
“Oh That! I’d say it’s the up turned hull of a mile long ship in the middle of the desert.” Delwin nodded.
“Just so we are clear.” Franco nodded.
DM Briefing: The PCs discover the upturned hull of a mile long hundred feet wide ship with ten levels in the middle of the desert.
THE MISTS
Franco watched from the Tavern roof as the wall of mist fell down Mount Suaro and spilled onto the distant edge of the lake - rolling across its surface like an avalanche a mile high he could only stare at in awe of its power. He had never seen anything like that before.
Franco looked down at the crowded feast-hall below him and tried to get some-ones attention.
“You really got to see this.”
The Fisherman Subedo looked up at the lad now standing on the roof above him. He could only wonder what the boy was pointing at as he turned his head to look down toward the fishing boats.
A wall of white smoke was rapidly devouring the lake.
“Madre!”
DM Briefing: A terrible mist descends across the lands. It provides an otherworldly connection allowing planar creatures to exist anywhere the mists have spread. The Mists have spilled from a broken Dimensional gate seal in a temple in the mountains. Apparently Adventurers have breached the wrong Seal to the wrong hell and this part of the world is going to pay for it.
THE HUNGRY REEF
“What the Turnip do you mean you didn’t notice the reef?” Captain Kruleaide gripped his first mate by the tunic and looked in his haunted eyes.
“They had my children…They were out there on the water with my children.”
“What is wrong with you man?” First Mate Durn was crying.
“Out there. They killed my children…” Durn pulled free and went over the side cutting his own throat.
“Durn!” The first mate was gone and the ship was grounded on a reef.
Captain Kruelaide knew that what ever it was that had lured Durn to his doom would not be kindly to the rest of the crew.
DM Briefing: An undead Brain coral influences the crew of a ship to run onto its reef. It has some mental ability and is able to manipulate minds by tormenting victims with ghosts.
THE ARCHIVE OF BONE
“Archivist Seph-ir-oth, we must now seek the fishing village of Sandpoint. The people there may know of what we seek.” Archivist Seph-ir-oth nodded in agreement at Scholar Sil-Ith-Nurr.
“Yes. We will bring up the hounds and seek out their graveyards tonight.”
DM Briefing: A ship of bone almost a thousand feet long and a hundred feet wide crewed by Lamia runs aground on a coastline. The ship is a storehouse of the dead which the Lamia Clerics have been using to learn information from. They have an extensive library of three thousand corpses and are looking for more. They lead a raid on the graveyard of the local community harvesting all the dead. Hounds are half fiendish elves.
THE IRON MAN
Nick Logue looked up from his turnips. There was a distant rumble of thunder.
Coming out of the clouds was a terrible fireball.
“Sue! Save the cooking pots!” Farmer Logue Screamed as he ran.
“What?” Sue leaned out of the straw hut farmhouse to find what Nick was yelling.
The fireball devoured the farmhouse on impact throwing Sue toward the Turnip Field.
Nick ran to her.
As the dust settled the huge object unfolded becoming a gargantuan Iron man.
“Well I’ll be a…” Turnip farmer Logue and his lady Sue were crushed beneath an iron foot.
“THE WEAK SHALL PERISH.” The voice boomed.
The iron man walked toward one of the other farmsteads.
DM Briefing: A gargantuan Iron Man falls from the sky. It begins crushing the local populace and destroying their farms.
WHALEHUNTER
“Faster! Ya! Ya!” Now standing in the Wagon, Jacob pushed the horses to all haste.
It soared overhead in all its majestic horror, banked, turned, and came down the road toward him with its great mouth open as though it were feeding on a great shoal of fish.
James Jacob could only watch as the ghostly whale sailed out of the sky and swallowed his horses whole.
DM Briefing: The adventurers encounter a Gargantuan Ghost Whale that flies through the sky devouring everything. It is an unusual encounter in that it happens overland.
HEROES ON THE DAY
"For Deeds above and beyond the call of Duty to the Monarchy!" Baron Thurgood held the Medallion aloft before the gathered crowd and turned toward its deserving recipient.
Patriarch Jernlo looked out over the gathered crowd of ten surviving Guardsmen as Baron Thurgood placed the Medallion of Bravery around his neck and applauded the way he sent a hundred of his Watchmen to rescue Princess Lavine from the Bandits who Seized her Palanquin on the Kings Road.
DM Briefing: A Hundred Guardsmen (the PCs amongst their numbers) are sent to rescue Princess Lavine from Bandits who have taken her Palanquin on the Kings Road.
THE WHEELQUARRY OF DUUM
Blackdragon stared at the great slot cut in the side of the mountain from which led the wheel-track of crushed and fused Glass.
“I think this is where they built the Doomwheel.”
“You think?” Lillith stared at Blackdragon in anger.
Blackdragon ignored the slight. He knew she was angry because he had stopped her at Urglin and dragged her to the safety of Hester’s Well.
They began their ascent toward the Wheel-quarry. With hope they would find its secrets.
DM Briefing: Penetrating the Wheelquarry of Duum (where the Granite wheel was quarried for the Doomwheel) is no mean feat. While some four hundred and twelve Kobold Druids (each 13+ levels) are now aboard the Doomwheel, numerous minions and creatures associated with the previous occupation by those four hundred and twelve name-level Druids dwell in the currently ‘abandoned’ Quarry within the mountain.
THE CODEX OF INFINITE PLANES
As they indulged themselves in the Summer festival, Dalwin and Gergim were soon confronted by the traditional burning of a Giant straw man...then as it was engulfed in fire, it was as though the pop and crackle of the burning ceased and the world around them went silent.
A deep singing in an unknown throat soon became a voice: "...and the two strong slaves lifted it from the back of the Beast. Thereupon I commanded the Brazen Portals to be brought low, and they were wrenched from their hinges and rang upon the stone. The Efreet howled in fear and fled when I caused the page to be read, and the Beast passed into the City of Brass. Now was I, Tzunk, Master of the Plane of Molten Skies. With sure hand I closed Yagrax's Tome, dreading to..."
Fire arced from its eyes in a blinding flash and the beam seemed to strike an assortment of villagers in the celebrating crowd.
The sound of the normal world returned and the celebration continued uninterupted except by a few and then more drifting away from the crowd.
DM Briefing: The Voice described the Codex of Infinite Planes. The 99 villagers struck by light will be dead before the celebration ends. Each is now scribed with one of the 99 damned pages from the Codex of Infinite Planes, head to toe. Someone has attempted to destroy the Artefact and Failed. It has hurled itself across Possibility the only way it could. Now anyone examining the skin of a victim has 1% chance (per "Page" examined) of meeting with a terrible fate - beginning with the Mortician/Cleric inspecting the Bodies.
PASHA'S WOLVES
Dewer was dragged from his cell out onto deck and dropped at the feet of the ship's Captain.
"Here is your choice. Die or Join the Crew." The sound of fingers snapping together were quickly followed by Dewer being dragged toward the edge of the ship.
"I'd rather Die!" Dewer found himself instantly hoisted over the edge and into the water.
Cocheta could only listen in horror as her friend began screaming at the furious attack of leeches.
"I'll join." Pasha smiled.
"Welcome aboard."
DM Briefing: The PCs are recruited into the crew of the Savage Pirate Pasha.
EVERY DOG HIS DAY
Bailiff Yano leaned on his Greatsword and smiled at the gathered elves.
"It has come to the attention of Baron Alvard De Johns that you have failed to pay taxes to the De Johns Family for the last five hundred years."
"Who?" Luca Sapwood stood up from examining his latest crop of Potatoes, his compatriots with him.
"Baron Alvard De Johns! His Family have held claim over these lands for many centuries. And you elf pig have failed to pay Tax!"
Sapwood shook his head in ignorance.
Emile Sapwood clicked with awareness.
"You remember...that bandit chap with the horses...we cemented his skull into the stonework above the fireplace about fifty years after the wretch burned down the Barn." Luca remembered pointing a finger and focused his attention on the fellow with the Sword.
"Cepio the Degenerate! I guess he changed the family name."
"Barons you say...well! well!. They have come a long way from baby raping bandits..."
DM Briefing: Someone shows up to collect tithe on the PC's Potato farm for their last five hundred years of untaxed bliss. The Thugs (er...Bailiffs) demand 50% of the produce estimated at 25 TONS per acre (Turnip Maximum Yield) for 500 years (or 112,500 TONS).
THE AGE OF CARNAGE
"UTAHRAPTORS? They don’t exist." The Goblin looked around at the rest of the Kobolds...they were all looking down at their feet like they had been sold a sack full of beans for a herd of cows.
"Are you going to believe silly stories about UTAHRAPTORS?"
The Goblin looked back at the Human storyteller.
"We all know Kobolds evolved from Snapdragons during the Age of Carnage."
DM Briefing: A Plane Travelling Wizard learns of the “Age of Carnage” from some well informed Goblins. Apparently it is an Age when “Dinosaurs” roamed the lands. In this case the Dinosaurs evolved into other beasts like Kobolds, Lizard men, Rocs, Elves. He constructs a “Time Machine” with the intent of taking his Tower into the Age of Carnage to Observe things.
THE PALADIN'S CRUSADE
"And thou shalt divide all the lands of this kingdom into one square mile holdings that every family may farm..." Throw down the Monarchy and establish a Commonwealth of Equals...Equals? Theobold the Paladin felt a life time of emotion welling up in him. He had spent a decade in the Company of the King as his church appointed protector and now he would have to throw down this king he loved and his Complacent Church because his God demanded it.
DM Briefing: The Party Paladin is sent to tear down a Lawful Good Monarchy and the Church which has ingraciated itself in the Hierarchy and establish a Government that requires the direct and regular Participation of every citizen (every citizen must regularly vote on every act of Government, Law, Constitution to ensure that it is a Commonwealth founded in Consensus). His god Instructs him to Inform the Monarch that this is the New Form of Government and all must conform to it or be expelled for all time. If the Monarch does not surrender to this new Government, The Paladin is authorised to use Poison to eliminate the Monarch and his Loyal Troops to ensure that no ordinary or good people are killed in a terrible conflict to achieve this by force.
THE THEFT
"As you can see, the vault is heavily protected by all manor of magics." Alderman Villien released the vault seals.
"Unfortunately that didnt stop the thief from lifting the contents of the vault." Investigator Rinn looked at the empty vault and envisioned the amount of wealth that would fit in there.
"Might I trouble you for the description of any piece of particluar uniqueness that might be easily recognised?" Huan Villien nodded.
"A Comb of white Jade."
DM Briefing: After a fire destroying several buildings burns the city, Pandora's Box devours the contents of a Single Vault to replenish the buildings overnight. The PCs will never find the thief or the stolen wares but may realize there is a connection between the Theft(s) and the sudden rebuilding of burned down houses.
Last edited by yellowdingo on Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| yellowdingo |
| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 16 Jul 2009
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A PEOPLES REVOLUTION
Theguin the Sage looked at the dirty foul street that parted the Village down the middle. A Sickly, starved child struggled across his path.
"You...Boy! Where is your Blacksmith?" The child quaked with fear at being addressed by an Aristocrat and threw himself to the ground at Teguin's feet.
"Other end of the Village Sir." Came the weak voice.
DM Briefing: The Bailiffs dispatched by the local lord to collect grain tax have failed to return from the Village of Humprey. The locals are in the middle of a technological boom. A travelling sage has taught the local blacksmith how to build a mechanical grain harvester. The Humprey Push-Scythe allows a single individual to harvest four acres an hour. He has also taught them to manufacture a repeating crossbow that fires bolts from a drum barrel of twenty and must be wound like a clock in a single turn before use. The Sage is an ordinary person dispatched from an Oard Re-education Facility to "assist" the locals in their technological rise.
The Lords Bailiffs simply stumbled into a peasant uprising and were disposed of on their arrival.
Humprey Push-Scythe: The push-Scythe allows the farmer to harvest a grain crop at four acres per hour (4x rate of peasant labourer) (Weight: 50lb, value: 500gp).
Humprey Repeating Crossbow: Must be wound like a clock with a special handle that fits on the end of the barrel. The weapon fires up to twenty bolts from the crossbow drum barrel (Weight: 30lb, Weapon Cost: 250gp//Ammunition: 10gp/bolt, Range: 100', Damage: Heavy Crossbow+1, Reload: 1 Turn to reload the drum).
The Party is called in to investigate an isolated village refusing to pay its taxes in farm produce. They find the locals have declared independence from the local lord and have declared them selves the People's Union of Humprey. They will be ambushed on the road by twenty peasants armed with Humprey Repeating Crossbows. If the party capture the Sage, they find a mind immune to torture and interrogation. The Lord dispatches fifty light footmen from his castle a week after the Adventurers with orders to exterminate the villagers. If the People's Union crush the soldiers (with PC help) they spread to control the Lords estate within a year.
CHARCOAL AND STEAM (GUNS AND GRAIN I)
Scarpa the Locksmith had been travelling for many days when he reached the Village of Asher Dane...
A member of the village Militia waved him down.
" My good man, I have travelled far with important business...Where might I find a place to spend the night? and then your Blacksmith."
DM Briefing: Scarpa has been brainwashed by an OARD operative in control of his Guild. He is here to teach the local Blacksmith how to construct a Steam Cannon (Range: 1 mile, Damage: 20d6). Scarpa is one of many victims of OARD Brainwashing. As such he is immune to Interrogation.
The PCs can get involved simply by being recruited by the Village Militia to resist the Local Baron's Bailiffs when an attempt to collect Taxes is made. The Militia will resist using the nifty Steam Cannon built by the Village Blacksmith.
Alternatively the PCs can be amongst the small army of Bailiffs sent to collect.
ERGOT AND RYE (GUNS AND GRAIN II)
"All you have to do is take this sack of ergot and dump it in the Baron's well..." Scarpa smiled at the angry young peasant farmers who had finally been given their first taste of freedom.
"Won't there be deaths?" Harold was having doubts about this direction the Village was going.
DM Briefing: Guildsman Scarpa orders the gathering of Ergot from the RYE harvest. The Poison will cause terrible hallucinations, pregnancy failures, and very nasty deaths. Good PCs will find this inappropriate and the Villagers will find others with less of a problem if they refuse. Scarpa has been hypnotised by the OARD who have infiltrated his Guild.
CATAMO’S PISTOLS
Catamo’s Pistols fired their shot across the twenty feet range into the target with deadly accuracy.
Of course they must be recharged every shot with gunpowder in the combustion chamber…” He poured the powder from a specialized flask down the muzzle.
“…then you insert the wadded shot…”
He inserted a small ceramic ball wrapped in parchment into the tight hole of the muzzle and rammed it down with a rod.
“…And voila, the weapon is reloaded.” Again he fired at the target with killer accuracy.
DM Briefing: A young Artisan (An OARD agent) named Catamo arrives in town and demonstrates a new weapon to the local lord and adventuring populace. The weapon fires a bullet at a range of up to twenty feet using gunpowder as a propellant.
AN ANGRY MOB
Durst stared at the band of peasants attempting to hang a robed man from the Timbers of the Tavern Ceiling.
"Unhand that man." The Peasants all turned to face Durst who looked around for the source of the Voice. The Wizard Edwin.
"Yeah! What he said!"
DM Briefing: A Wizard in Luln is being lynched by local peasants. The Wizard has been feebleminded by an Oard device called a Subjugator Ray which causes the Wizard to be unable to cast spells. An Oard traveller surprised the Wizard with the Ray while in the local tavern and hypnotised the Villagers also there into lynching him. The PC's can stop the Lynching. The Wizard and Peasants don't recover from the effects of the Subjugator Ray however (that takes a Wish). Until they are cured, the peasants will attack any identified wizard attempting to Lynch them. When word gets out, rival wizards show up to loot the Wizard's residence.
AN IRON DRAGON
The barely intelligible farmer took a moment to catch his breath.
"Please Sirs...a dragon is rampaging across our farms. Will you please save our farms?"
DM Briefing: Farmers in a region of wilderness report an Iron Dragon (Drolem) on the Rampage north of Radlebb wood. The Drolem has destroyed their farms and killed their livestock. The Baron of Verge puts out a call for reliable Adventurers to look into it. The Oard are clearing out a region of its population. They are Mining minerals in an abandoned mine in the Area and needed cover. IF adventurers follow its trail of destruction back to the source they are led to a mine that has been recently worked. Dwarf miners will be unfamiliar with the technique. The PC's can stop the Drolem (Oard Robot). It will have some value to a Wizard fetching 1000gp-4000gp. They can also discover that someone used it to cover their mining activity-Something that took Tin, Lead, Copper, Iron, Gold, Silver, Platinum, and some Silicon. Over a thousand tons have been mined in a single week.
Examination of the mine site by a Dwarf skilled in mining for a year will allow improvements in their mining skill (+1).
STARFALL
Astronomer Frankel stared at the distant sight of the burning Star falling toward the world.
That one will come down in the Gulf. His attention turned to the smaller one that would come down in the mountains and he made some notes on the direction and distance.
DM Briefing: A wizard seeks Adventurers to look for a Shooting Star that fell from the sky near Reedle. An Oard Entry Impact Capsule has come down in the Mountains. The Engineer of the Oard Survey Ship (detailed in SPLASHDOWN and FOOTHOLD) has ejected from the ship. They find an Iron Golem wandering about a large Smashed "Egg". It is constructing a Bunker (if allowed to finish). The Oard has perished. The "Smashed Egg" is the Entry Impact Capsule from an Oard Ship. Markings on the Capsule translate as "EIC-1". The Iron golem will not allow the PCs to leave with the Oard and will need to be overcome. The PC's might be hired to retrieve the falling star.
THE LIFEBOAT
“Lifeboat off the Starboard Captain!” Captain Dewan Haas looked out in the direction his watch was pointing. There was something…It looked like a giant egg.
“Gods I hope that is not a Dragon Egg.”
DM Briefing: A ship stumbles across a strange lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. Another of the Crew of the Oard Survey Ship ejected over the Ocean. The "Lifeboat" is an Entry Impact Capsule from an Oard Ship. Markings on the Capsule translate as "EIC-5". The Oard is in Hibernation and will revive if brought onboard. The Oard will attempt to hypnotise the Captain and Crew into slavery. The PC's might encounter the Oard controlled ship at sea or coming into the isolated fishing village they are in. If the Oard makes it to a village it will enslave the locals (A PEOPLES REVOLUTION should provide a good suggestion as to what happens next).
SPLASHDOWN
Durst the Fisherman watched the great burning star fall into the Sea.
"Pull in the nets! We are not going to find Fish on this cursed day..." Evoking the protection of the Immortals, He and his fellow fishermen prepared for an early return to port.
DM Briefing: Sailors report seeing a huge "thing" fall from the sky into the gulf of Marilenev. The "Engine" to the Survey ship has come down in the gulf. There is not much left and it is sitting on the Seabed. Adventurers will find the Ship remains mostly intact and under repair by a pair of iron Golems. Unfortunately the Engine is Days from going critical and any water in "engineering" will cause it to trigger early. The implosion of the engine will create a whirlpool located five hexes south of Specularum. The Whirlpool will last for a year before dissipating. The PC's might be hired to go on an undersea adventure.
FOOTHOLD
Toko-cho looked at the great stone that had fallen from the sky onto the Island. It sat still for the day until strange monsters emerged from caves in the rock to begin their deadly work.
DM Briefing: The Forward Section of an Oard Vessel has come down on an Island of Cannibals east of the Isle of Dread. The Forward part of the Ship has crashed in the Thanegioth Archipelago. The Islanders are being re-educated by the "Sky Gods" while the Robots (a dozen Iron Golems) begin mining operations. The PC's might encounter the Oard dismantling their ship section and constructing a base while exploring the region. This event Takes place AC1010, POST Nuwmont 1 for obvious reasons.
CANNIBALS CANNON
Captain Erstwin laughed at the sight of a Native Warcanoe struggling against the waves of the raging sea. His humor turned instantly to horror as the sound of a distant explosion was matched by something large punching through both hulls of the Ship at just above the waterline.
"What in the immortals was that?" The ship seemed to take water now with every wave.
"Abandon ship!"
DM Briefing: Cannibals invade the Isle of Dread. Their small war galley confronts a Thyatian vessel harboured at Port Mora. The artillery round explodes on impact destroying the ship it hits utterly. If you decide the Oard have gone un-noticed until Thyatis invades the region in AC1020, then there should be an Oard Dome with full cloning facilities just off the Coast. An Oard Dome can be found in CM6 Where Chaos Reigns. The Re-educated Natives will be working on developing Fire Arms (using a (unduplicatable even by a wish) mix of gunpowder made from minerals only found on their Island) and have the equivalent of a small war galley fitted with a single huge forward facing cannon. The Cannon and Six shots with Gunpowder would be worth fifty thousand gold pieces to the Emperor of Thyatis who is once again frustrated by the prospect of not having gunpowder weapons. The Thyatians may learn of the incident but will find the mineral reserves soon run out.
The Cannon: (Range: 1000' Damage: 20d6, Weight: 2 Tons//Artillery Explosive Shot: 500lb/ Reload Time: 1 turn to reload).
The party might be on the Thyatian Vessel only to wash ashore on the isle of Dread after the destruction of their ship.
INVASION OF THE TWAELAR EMPIRE
The Aquatically enhanced Bots moved across the sea floor toward the Coral Citadel with a purpose. The Doom of the Twaelar had come.
DM Briefing: The Twaelar Empire stops raiding the surface as they come under attack by Oards. The Oards at the Thanegioth Foothold Site have begun an invasion of the Twaelar Empire. The Sea people come under attack from an army of a hundred Iron Golems (Oard Robots) lead by ugly-looking surface dwellers who breathe water (Aquatic Environment Adapted Oards). The Oards are intent on totally assimilating the Twaelar Empire and mining its resources to build a new Spaceship. They will brainwash the Twaelar People into servitude. The PC's might be hired to go on an undersea adventure to investigate why the Twaelar conflict with the Surface has broken off. They might encounter a lone Twaelar citizen fleeing the Empire for help.
SHOW AND TELL (CANNON POWDER PLOT I)
The incredible crack of thunder ripped across the harbor. Emperor Eusebus watched the cannor tear the distant vessel in half with a single shot.
"Oh! Well done." The Emperor clapped.
DM Briefing: Advisers from the Savage Coast demonstrate the use of gunpowder in Thyatis City. In a Demonstration of the power of Cannon-powder, a single barge with huge cannon mounted centre barge is signalled into the Harbour to Fire on an anchored vessel. The Cannon hits its target from just under a thousand feet. The Target Ship (a large sailing ship purchased for the demonstration) explodes in a fireball and is destroyed utterly. Unfortunately the creators explain that there are two problems with it. One: The Cannon-powder is only useable in very big Artillery, not hand Weapons, and, Two: The Cannon-powder has a special Oard additive that causes it to detonate within three hundred feet of an actively casting magic-user. A couple of Thyatian Generals see that as more of an advantage than a problem though. The Emperor begins buying the ingredients from the relevant nations on the quiet. The Oards have just sold the Thyatians on Cannon-powder. This particular mix requires a special tar that bubbles up on the Isle of Dread. If the Thyatians are going to control the only Cannon-powder outside the Savage Coast they must take and hold the isle of Dread against all enemies. Considering the Freeport at Tanaroa is currently (1020AC) exporting the Tar by the shipload, the Security of Thyatian Empire is a stake. Other ingredients include a Salt extracted from seawater in the Gulf of Marilenev, A Charcoal found only in the burning of timber from Alfheim, and Sulphur from a Volcano in Ierendi. -The Tar must be mixed with the Charcoal made from Alfheim Wood (no-longer exported) and then with Ierendi Sulphur (not exported), and With Marilenev Salt (currently exported in small volumes by the Estate of Marilenev).
The Thyatian Cannon: Thirty Feet long, ten feet radius, a Steel-alloy made from Ylari Sand, Iron from the Thyatian Empire, and Carbon from Thyatian Hinterlands Timber. Cost of manufacture: 50,000gp, Reload Rate: 2 Turns, Range: 1 Mile, Weight: 50 Tons
Explosive Artillery Round: A 4' diameter Iron shell, Damage: 20d6 (100'radius)/detonates if exposed to magic within 300'. Cost: 1500gp Weight: 3 Tons
The Cannon-Powder Wad: 1,000gp/shot to manufacture is a 4' diameter cannon-powder wad weighing a ton.
The PC's might be on the expedition to take the Isle of Dread or caught on the island when the Thyatians Invade. Worse still, they might be involved in the future Invasion of Karameikos, Ierendi, or Alfheim to secure access to the other ingredients.
NO PERMIT, NO WIZARD (CANNON POWDER PLOT II)
"Wizard Permits!" The Guardsman took Onslo the Mage by surprise.
"What do you mean Wizard Permits?" I've been invited by the Emperor...
"If you do not have a Permit, you can get your Licence at the Bureau of Internal Security." The Guardman was adamant.
"Where is this Bureau of Internal Security?"
"Citadel."
"Right!" Onslo atempted to push past the Guardsman and make for the Citadel and the Guardsman bared his way.
"No unlicenced Wizards in the City."
DM Briefing: The Emperor requires all Wizards in the City of Thyatis (The Cannon-powder Millworks are located here) to carry and display Identification. For reasons of national Security, Wizards are no longer allowed to wander freely in Thyatis City.
WAR (CANNON POWDER PLOT III)
Emperor Eusebus signed the document.
"War it is."
DM Briefing: The Ingredients to the Thyatian Cannon-powder and the cannons leak out. The Western Defence League cuts off access to the ingredients for manufacturing the Thyatian Cannons and Cannon-powder out of self interest. The Thyatians declare war. The Oards have just leaked the requirements of the Cannon-powder to pit the Thyatians against the Western Defence League. Thyatis must have their ingredients for cannon-powder and cannon-steel. As the ingredients come from many nations in the Western Defence league, they must invade.
THE BUNKER (STEAM RISES I)
Captain Franz Thurgood activated the communication clack on Gunderson’s Inter-dimensional Heliograph™.
<SENDER>CAPTAIN-FRANZ-THURGOOD-VESSEL-SEA-PROW</SENDER>
<MESSAGE>HAVE-SPOTTED-NEW-FORTIFICATIONS-ON-CLIFFS-OVERLOOKING-BAY-OF-KERENDAS</MESSAGE>
“That will give the Freiburg Naval Signals Office something to do.”
DM Briefing: The Captain of the Hattian Merchantman Sea Prow spots an unusual construction on the cliffs overlooking the entrance to Port Kerendas. He makes a note of it in his report to Frieburg. The Oard advising the Thyatian Empire have finally developed a Steam Cannon to replace the unavailability of “cannon-powder” Artillery. The Bunker and its cannon are the first of many such placements securing Thyatian Interests. The Hattians are always on watch for some new military development by the Thyatian Empire. Considering the one mile range of the Cannon, anyone sailing into Port Kerendas is in range of the Artillery.
Steam Cannon: (Weight: 5 Tons, Range: 1 mile, Damage: 20d6, Reload: 1Turn)
Adventurers might simply notice the construction and do a little investigating or are spying on behalf of foreign interests.
THE BLOCKADE (STEAM RISES II)
Cannon shot from the battle-deck at the distant vessels attempting to escape the harbour of Mirros.
“Reload!” Commander Aruin Steelblow stepped out of the cloud of steam to look at the prey.
“What say you Gunners? Shall we give them a second volley?”
“Aye Sir!“
A Second volley came the reply.
DM Briefing: The “Thyatis Rose” blockades the harbour of a foreign port. It pounds the ships approaching the Port City with four steam Cannon for a day. Thyatis is testing the power of its steam cannons. It blockades a port and picks off every ship approaching and leaving the port. The PCs could be sailing on a ship that is attacked or simply be in the Port and sent out to challenge the Thyatis Rose.
THE SMITH'S APPRENTICE (OARDACIOUS PLAN I)
The corpse surfaced near the small boat, as Arko the fisher was preparing a line, taking him by surprise.
"By Petra's uncle...a floater!"
Arko turned the lesion covered corpse face up revealing something ugly and deformed. The shiny almost wizard like clothing suggested he should be pulled in.
He didn't look long dead so perhaps the patriarch could save him...
DM Briefing: A body surfaces in lake Windrush near Threshold. Taken for a deformed wizard, the drowned man is raised from the dead yet has no memories of who he is. "Silvio of Windrush" as he is soon come to be known as finds gainful employment with a Blacksmith. His skills in metalworking soon become apparent as he turns out weapons of Masterful quality.
Silvio of Windrush is in fact an OARD. There is a time travel mirror on the bottom of the lake (the mirror was there before the lake was). The OARD was sent through to investigate but drowned, loosing all memory of his past and mission.
THE ARTISAN'S LENS (OARDACIOUS PLAN II)
"Now sir if you will look through this simple lens you should see some improvement to your sight." Silvio held up a small frame of brass with two circles of diamond carved glass.
The bell rang on the shop door. It was Aleena Halaran.
"Lady Halaran! Wonderful to see you! I'll be right with you..."
Silvio returned his attention to his first customer.
"By Petra she is Beautiful...I never realized." The customer coughed and put down the glasses.
"Wonderful! I'll take them." Silvio smiled.
"Forty gold Royals as agreed." Coins were exchanged and the elderly wizard left with a nod to Aleena.
"Now where were we?" Silvio of Windrush pulled the large wooden case from beneath the counter and flipped the lid to reveal a great brass Spyglass.
Aleena smiled at the gift for her father's birthday...
"Thank you Sylvio. A wonderful lens."
DM Briefing: The Artisan known as Sylvio of Windrush (An OARD) finally opens his own shop in Threshold and begins crafting lenses for short-sighted wizards, and a fine range of telescopes.
THE MASTERS DIVING BELL (OARDACIOUS PLAN III)
Silvio took a breath full of air and sank beneath the surface of the lake. Franz took a breath and followed him.
It didn't take long to reach the Diving Bell anchored near the shore.
The two companions surfaced in the air pocket of the dive bell.
"As you can see, the bell holds several minutes of good air and can be replenished with a simple mechanical apparatus. From here a diver can plunder the riches scattered on the sea floor." Franz looked at the mirror sitting on the muddy bottom now a few feet below him.
"Is that a gold framed mirror?" Franz pointed out the treasure he had spotted.
"Indeed. There are many treasures for salvage even here at the bottom of a lake."
DM Briefing: Silvio of Windrush discovers the OARD mirror while testing out a diving bell of his invention. He gives it to his financial partner as a gift.
The mirror winds up in the offices of Franz Thwaket in Mirros. It is from here that a number of OARD eliminate Franz and take over his half of the Diving Bell business.
Thwaket and Windrush Diving Bells becomes a front for the OARD. |
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| yellowdingo |
| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:23 am Post subject: |
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PLAGUE AMONGST THE VILLAGES
"You have proven your loyalty to the church of Thanatos, now take this powder and introduce it to the wells of every village in Karameikos."-Urga, High Priest of Thanatos addressing the faithful in a meeting in Mirros.
DM Briefing: Travellers and Merchants begin dropping small sacks of poison into the wells of numerous villages across the Kingdom of Karameikos. Symptoms include boils and lesions and looks like the mummy rot plague.
A SINKHOLE OPENS IN KELVIN
"Are you sure we won't get in trouble?" Yan looked about nervously.
"We can sell that rock for a gold Royal now shut up and dig..." Boris speared his crowbar into the dirt by the boulder. The Crowbar vanished into the Earth along with the boulder and much of Mrs. Mealy's Garden.
"What did you do?" Yan looked at his friend.
DM Briefing: A Sinkhole opens in the city of Kelvin. The Hole Expands threatening several homes. The Sinkhole drops 500 feet into a cavern the size of the city above it.
A SWORD IN THE PEAT
"Found it under the Peat I did. Look at it." Stephan wiped the muck from its surface.
His companion stared at the blade and looked for the smiths-mark that should be...
"By Hala...It Cannot Be." Iago fell to his knees in fear.
"Iago?" Stephan stared at his friend.
The sight of Stephan holding a sword aloft while leaning over his kneeling companion drew instant attention.
"He's killed him!" The voice from the crowd was quite loud.
DM Briefing: A very old short sword is found beneath the peat diggings east of the city of Kelvin. The Sword has the blacksmith's marks of Halav. Indeed, this is one of Halav's swords crafted by the smith before he achieved immortality. The Sword is non-magical yet will fetch a price of a million gold Royals. As a consequence everyone will want it by any means.
COVETING EYES (PLOT TO TAKE MARILENEV I)
"One of the Last Traladaran-held Estates...?"
"It produces near a hundred million gold Royals a year."
"Well there is that."
"Lady Marilenev's tithe to the Church of Traladara exceeds the tithe we get from every Thyatian in the Kingdom including the King."
"The Church of Karameikos must have it all."
"And those are very important points but how?"
"There are Clerics of Chaos in the Mountains to the North-east. It is time they moved against the Kingdom."
"Vanya help you if the Patriarch finds out."
DM Briefing: Senior Clerics in the Church of Karameikos begin plotting to take the Estate of Marilenev as a Bishopric. They flood the region of the North east with poorly guarded merchants with wagonloads of weapons.
SOMETHING UNDER MIRROS
"I hear ol Vigo was moanin about somethin tryin ta eat him when he went the Jakes at the Broken Mug." Boris squatted above the hole in the ground and moaned at his constipation.
"Damn Drunk with his fairytales!" Replied Yan from the next squat.
"You Know there are supposed to be tunnels dug beneath the city." Boris was thinking they might look into that soon.
"Yeah. Been thinking about...what the...ERRAGGG!" Yan's scream was Cut short.
"Yan? What you Screaming about? Yan?" Boris felt very alone as he staggered forward around the stall to look in on his friend. he watched as a naked foot and leg slid down a very narrow hole. The stall was sprayed with blood.
Boris made best speed for the Tap Room leaving a trail of dung in his wake.
"For Halav's Sake someone find me a Pot to go in..."
DM Briefing: A Gelatinous predator begins eating people who use the toilet or venture into cellars. This is a Permanently Hasted Gargantuan Black Pudding (stats: 8xHD, 2x Size).
DEATH ON THE ROOFTOPS
Vigo turned to face the noise and watched wooden roofing tiles clatter into the dirt street. Vigo looked up at the cloaked shadow on the roof above him. The foe was an almost intangible piece of black cloth gripping a great Scythe.
"Scyth'r!" Vigo screamed and fled down the alley in a mad rush.
Vigo crashed through People standing in front of the Black Dog Tavern.
"The bugger has come for me..." He tried to make them understand as the cloaked figure dropped from the roof top into their midst and took Vigo with a single swipe of its pure entropic Blade.
DM Briefing: A Shadow with a Scythe of Pure Entropy descends on the city of Mirros and begins targeting several individuals who were all involved in a raid on a Temple when they were young adventurers. The Weapon itself has the abilities of a magic missile in that it automatically hits inflicting 1d6+1.
A SANDBAR BLOCKS MIRROR HARBOR
"Dredge it they Says. Do it Quicker they Says, Trade pays your wages, they says." Purvis the Wizard waved his Rod of Civil Works and the sand loaded on the Barge.
"Who says what?" The odd voice came from all around him.
"Who said that?" queried Purvis as he looked around him.
The wet sand began to tower to its full height pulling even more sand onto the barge.
"I said that." The very ancient and aquatically-evolved earth elemental was in the mood for conversation.
"Pefh! No sandbar here." Purvis dived into the harbour water and swam for shore.
"What about me?" The twelve foot tall sand-bar wanted answers.
"Not my department, I'm Civil Works." Purvis was having none of it.
"Want to hear about how the water gets the grit out of all my crevices?"
"Definitely not!" called Purvis as he headed to the nearest tavern.
DM Briefing: An ancient (and aquatically adapted) Earth Elemental decides to make its home in the Harbour of Mirros to the inconvenience of Ships in the Harbour.
THE GREAT ROBBERY
"I was just saying that it seem silly."
"What do you mean?" Arlo Von Gaunt queried Boris.
"That the King's Treasury would have fifty two Firkins of Silver simply walked down to a ship in the Harbour." Boris whispered as the army of Porters walked past in teams of two with a small barrel branded Treasury of Karameikos on a litter between them. They were escorted by a hundred Guardsmen.
"They're paying it to Darokin for the Annual Shipment of Grain."
"I Think it's silly." replied Boris to his new companion.
"You think that twenty-six thousand pounds of Silver is Silly."
The Silver was loaded into the hold.
"I simply think it silly that they didn't have better protection of the Ship."
DM Briefing: Robbers steal a ship moving 260,000sp of Karameikan Coin to the Republic of Darokin.
BUTTLEKNNOSE'S STEAM ENGINE
The great brass ball turned as the steam sprayed from its opposing arms.
"What exactly does it do?" Stephan stared at the Gnome-built engine with wonder.
"It is Technology!! It drives the future. It powers the...the ships of industry!" Buttleknnose was struggling for words on his Knees with his hands in the Air.
Shuuu...Shuuu...Shuuu...Shuuu....went the great steam engine echoing all the way down the valley. It didn't seem to be driving anything in particular.
"But what exactly does it do?" Stephan looked at his companion who was attempting not to break into laughter.
"Um, well, nothing right now. Gear's broke."
"Well the folks down the valley would appreciate it if you fixed the noise, particularly the loud bang that happens in the morning."
"Yeah! It's putting off the milking cows." Arn the dairy farmer was finally getting a word in.
"That wasn't the Buttleknnose Steamball(tm). That was the Buttleknnose SteamKannon(tm)." Buttleknnose was on a roll.
"Will you ask him what "(tm)" means or shall I?" Stephan stared sternly at the smiling farmer...
DM Briefing: A Gnome builds some steam based technology to the detriment of the future.
FLYING SHIELD ABDUCTS LIVESTOCK
"It was big and shiny and round and polished mirror-like, like a...a mirror and there were lights and it flew and ..." Stephan held up a hand to pause the young Halfling.
"So what you are saying is that a big shiny flying discus abducted your sheep?"
"Nono. That was the Thingummy that they flew off in. It was funny-looking elves with pointy ears and silver clothes and lightning bolt wands with funny grips and they all went about saying 'resistance is pointless' and 'prepare for the harvest' and 'cor! that's a pretty sweater'...scared the missus an all."
DM Briefing: Blacklore Elves with Magic-built flying Saucers and Lightning bolt ray guns abduct some farmers Livestock and take them back to their secret base on the dark side of the Moon.
THE BURROWING TOWER
"Our initial investigations of the Tower in the Great Crater have provided valuable Data." Prince Malachie looked around the Council Chambers at the few Princes and Princesses of Glantri who cared to show up.
"Witness reports that the Tower 'burrowed to the surface' have been verified. The Geological Data is on page three of the report. The Tower itself is of Entropic origins and has an aura consistent with an artefact of Entropy" Malachie paused and looked at princess Hillsbury.
"We are however still unable to penetrate the Interior." Princess Hillsbury smiled at his personal failure.
DM Briefing: The Tower has been penetrated by Synn the Night Dragon (a.k.a. Dolores Hillsbury). To activate the tower, she must sacrifice the princes and princesses of Glantri (She has already sacrificed prince Kol). Activating the Tower causes everyone in the Great Crater to evolve into Gargantuan versions of themselves (Gargantuan: HDx8, Sizex2).
SOMETHING TERRIBLE
A great and terrible monolith in the deep of the Phlogiston loomed before their hammership. The helm crashed and the hammership soon followed.
"By the Immortals! What is that thing?" Captain Halav stared at the incredible sight as the small wooden vessel fell into its gravity well...
DM Briefing: The PC's, having ventured into Spelljammer Space encounter the Starship Warden, a fifty mile long, twenty five mile wide, 8&1/2 mile thick derelict (and potential Dungeon) adrift in the Phlogiston.
ARSON IN THE NEST (PLOT TO TAKE MARILENEV II)
"Fire!" Alexis listened to the cry as her fireball gems struck dry timber in the Nest. No Moon made her invisible on the flying broom. The explosions shook the poorest district of Mirros and began their work. Rescuers were going to their deaths, the impoverished populace was in anarchy. Within moments the entire quarter was an inferno.
DM Briefing: Senior Clerics in the Church of Karameikos plotting to take the Estate of Marilenev as a Bishopric employ a Thyatian Mage to carpet bomb that region of Mirros known as THE NEST with fireball Gems.
RIVER OF BLOOD
"The Magos bleeds, my friend." Kuzama whispered to her companion the latest rumour.
"Aye. I hear the River Magos flows with an unholy redness. As though the Mountains were bleeding..." Stephan invoked the ritual of Halav for simply speaking of such evil.
DM Briefing: The Magos river runs bloody red from it's source. Fish in that river float dead on its edges. A Cinnabryl Vein has been discovered at the source of the river by some Modrigswerg dwarves who are using it to make weapons from an alloy of Cinnabryl Known as Corrupted Steel (not RED STEEL). These are Entropic Weapons which inflict <standard weapon damage> + <Entropic plague requiring a will check at -8 penalty or become half fiendish>.
The process requires the washing out of the redness of the steel to create a dark and rotting look to the steel.
THE POISONING OF AN EMPEROR
"Are you sure he took the poison?" Senator Fiorenza needed to know.
"Yes." The Assassin did not enjoy being interrogated by his employers.
"Are you sure it will work?"
"Fiates Rose is impossible to detect, and immune to all magical and clerical cures. The Emperor is a dead man within three days."
DM Briefing: The Young Emperor of Thyatis is poisoned by something that can neither be detected as poison, nor cured by wizard or clerical magic. This leaves the Thyatian Empire with a child for an emperor.
ON THE WHIM OF AN EMPEROR
The Emperor of Thyatis stared at the old map. Oddly Alphatia wasn't on it.
His aide leaned forward to examine the curiosity.
"Um? Sir? Shouldn't that bit be labelled Empire of Alphatia?"
Emperor Zendrolion snapped a look of disgust at the disloyalty of his staff.
"If I say there is no such place as Alphatia, then that is all." The aide straightened and cleared his throat.
"Yes my Emperor!"
The Emperor's Aide carried word to the Cartographers guild. Overnight, Every map was altered and new ones issued.
DM Briefing: Emperor Zendrolion Issues new Maps. Maps without any sign of Alphatia. Irrelevant until you colonise a piece of vacant coast based on that map and the Alphatians show up to tax your Wizard-Baron.
A HOME WITH A VIEW
Frandos the Maleficent looked out across the Great Crater. The staircase being carved into the steep embankment, by an army of underskilled humanoids learning the art of stone masonry, was a wide avenue on the roof of the homes on the lower level.
"As you can see my lord, it is a house with a view and you will not regret the location..." Prince Kol's Aide smiled as he sold the better aspects of the city being carved into the Caldera.
DM Briefing: The PC's are granted a nice house in the Great Crater in a Lottery by which Mages from the Great School of Magic might be lured to live in the great Crater.
BANDITS IN MARILENEV (A PLOT TO TAKE MARILENEV III)
"They are looking for answers."
"Then it is time we gave them some."
"You will personally spoil a tax shipment of wine coming to the King from within the Marilenev Estate."
"But that would Expose Me!"
"Yes Moray Vaco. And that is why you will go to ground with the Humanoids in the Cruth."
"You are mad!"
"No, Just setting you in place to lead the humanoids against Traladaran Settlements there."
DM Briefing: The clerics conspiring to take the Marilenev Estate begin exposing their own as plotters to destabilise the patriarch and turn the Traladarans against the Church of Karameikos.
THE ABDUCTION OF ALEENA
"I intend to father my children upon you." Bargle stroked her cheek and smiled at his own rising pleasure.
"Get off me you monster!" Aleena pushed him away.
"You’re my property now."
"My Husband will get you." She was pure hate.
"Who? Him? He came looking for me at Mistamere." Bargle pulled back the curtain to reveal a very dead and tortured Traladaran shackled to a torture frame. Aleena recognized the broken form before her instantly.
"Noooooo!!!!" Aleena's Scream echoed across the flying castle...
DM Briefing: Her Husband murdered by Bargle, Aleena is abducted from Threshold by Bargle the Infamous. The PCs must penetrate his flying fortress and rescue Aleena.
WHAT FIEND IS THAT? (HAND OF KELVIN I)
"What?" Desmond turned his head quickly to catch a view of the shadow moving beyond his field of vision. Nothing.
Desmond shook his head and walked off.
"Heerraaa!" One of his guards screamed.
Baron Kelvin ran to the sound. The Guard was dead.
"Sound the Alarm!" Kelvin's loud voice screamed the words.
Guardsmen poured into the hall.
"We have an intruder. Find him now. And someone deal with him." The Baron pointed at the body. Guards Scurried off and a few carried off their dead companion.
Baron Kelvin returned to his chambers to retrieve a weapon. His mace hung on a hook on the inside of the door.
"Why do you need a mace when you have a perfectly good sword in your hand?" The voice came from nowhere. In his hand he now held a sword. The blade coated in the blood of the Guard.
DM Briefing: Baron Kelvin develops an alternative Personality. It is Chaotic Evil and of the Fighter Class.
Last edited by yellowdingo on Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| yellowdingo |
| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 16 Jul 2009
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BANISHED ONE (CRISIS OF FAITH I)
"Eoward Radu! You are banished from Traladara for all time!"
The Terrible voice was instantly heard by every one in the kingdom of Karameikos. Eoward Radu looked up at the Sky. The sky distorted and became the face of Halav.
DM Briefing: For Eoward Radu, he becomes the most despised and mistrusted man in all of Karameikos. Once this gets out to other nations, He will be the most despised individual in the world.
This is a crisis of Faith for the Cult of Halav. Suddenly they are no longer sure that King Stephan is the reincarnation of Halav.
A LITTLE SCHISM (CRISIS OF FAITH II)
"King Halav! That we might clear away the horrors of the past, It is at the heart of our petition that you should grant us that ground upon which the ruins of Castle Doom do fester. Let us heal these wounds by constructing a Monastery to Petra that shall provide haven and education to both churches and pave the healing path to unification." King Stephan waved forward his servant. The young Cleric handed the petition to the servant and Bowed at King Stephan.
"I Shall give this honest consideration. Halav Knows we need it in these times." Stephan Smiled.
DM Briefing: A few establish a new faction in the Church. They are the Monastic Rose of Petra. They petition King Stephan for the Hill overlooking the Town of Fort Doom. They wish to demolish the ruined castle and build a Monastery on the site. The Monastery is open to followers of Petra from both churches.
D'BOER WAR
Gnomish Technicians huddled around a great iron tractor with mounted cannon when General D'Boer entered the Bunker.
"How long before it fully operational? T' Kaisar wants results!" General Hurak D'Boer grasped Albert by the throat and slapped a second Gnomish technician to the ground.
"A month at least my lord!" Albert Wundersteam resisted the urge to struggle.
"Fool! You told me that a month ago! I want t' Steam Tank operational." The other technicians looked at the interrogation with concern.
"We go to war in less than a Year! If this is a failure like that Kaisarballoon project..."
"A month my lord! With the new enchanted fuelrod, the engine power is much improved."
"It better Be! Or you and your little family here will join t' rest of that Glitterlode-worshiping filth on their way to t' STEAM CHAMBERS!"
DM Briefing: An Orcish civilization in Vulcania is preparing to sweep across Davinia using Steamtech.
PIRATE LANTERN
"Have I Made it?" Devor Mandrazy looked about. He had managed the dimension door to the hold of the merchant ship. He lowered the Pirate Lantern and pulled the hand drill. The noise of his work was easily muffled by the flurry of crew activity on deck.
His pirate raider was struggling to close the distance.
A Dozen holes along the length of the ship and water began pouring in through the hull.
Water was around his ankles when a voice came from above.
"Saboteur!"
Armed marines began pouring down the ladder into the hold.
Devor grabbed up his lantern and was gone.
DM Briefing: Pirates are discovered to be using Magic items specifically made for them. They have wizards in Alphatia turning out Magic items of all manor. Stats for the pirate lantern: Dimension Door Useable 2/day non rechargeable (30 charges). A platinum lantern frame encasing a petrified 2' gelatinous cube. Once the charges are used up, the gelatinous cube grows to full size attacking the user.
LOST
The Tenobar Wake sat in open water.
"Are you certain our course was correct?" Captain Thero looked about.
"Yes my captain. We made the turn the evening last at the island of those cannibals." Navigator Harn shook his head.
"That put us within sight of the mistwall. But the mistwall and the Island are gone."
The Island was gone. Immortals. It had to be Immortals.
"Get us back to the island of the Cannibals. We are going to need the fresh water."
DM Briefing: Ships traveling the Thanegioth Archipelago discover the entire isle of Dread is missing.
HAMMERFALL
The Flying Merchantman Mirros Rose moved above the surface of the Sea of Dread.
The Terrible flash in very heart of the Sea of Dread caught the sight of the watch.
"By the Immortals, What was that?" In the distance the deep red glow vanished behind a rising wall of water.
"Oh, Halav!" Devin Hyraksos stared at the wave. It traveled quickly out across the horizon.
"Captain...?"
"What is it?" Captain Gregor Stephanov looked up at the Sailor.
"Wave on the Horizon, Captain. Closing fast." The Captain scaled the rope ladder and turned to look where the sailor was pointing.
A Tidal wave was racing toward them at a terrible rate.
"Halav's Mother! Helm, get us up two thousand feet. Now!"
The Ship surged upward just catching the wave. The wave struck the hull and tipped the ship.
DM Briefing: An asteroid clips the Mystaran Moon of Luna sending large rocks at the planet Mystara. The Asteroid itself impacts in the Sea of Dread sending a wave of destruction through coastal and island communities facing the Sea of Dread.
PICKLED VIRGIN
Petrov spat out the wine.
"What in Halav's name? It’s befouled." Petrov walked away from the Barrel in search of an Axe.
"Are you sure? This is supposed to be from one of the rarest and most exclusive vineyards in Glantri." Franz sampled the mug.
"By the Immortals it tastes like pickled hog."
"Exactly." Petrov drove the axe into the wood of his stolen prize until the timbers shattered.
The Corpse of a pickled young elf could be made out amongst the shattered wood.
"Yeergh!" Franz released the contents of his stomach on to the ground.
"Right! When you get done turning out your meal, fetch that tame cleric. I want to know who this corpse is and who killed her before sunset."
"Then What?" Franz sprayed the ground again with his stomach contents.
"Then We break open the other six barrels and find out if this is a one-off."
DM Briefing: A shipment of wine stolen during a change of residence by the Prince of Boldavia turns up in Karameikos. The wine contains Pickled Elves for flavoring. The Elves (requiring a speak with the dead) were abducted from the Elf Principalities of Glantri and are infact being pickled for food purposes.
ON THE RUN (HAND OF KELVIN II)
"We didn't kill those villagers lady Aleena. Please believe us."
"I Do, but you need to surrender yourself to trial, running will just hurt your position."
"We tried. Killers attacked us when we did."
"What do you mean?"
"You need to be aware of some evil creeping into..."
A crossbow bolt grazed Aleena and drove into the wall.
"We've put you in Danger."
That attack came from inside the Residence.
"They have people inside the residence?" Aleena was in shock.
"They have agents everywhere. It may be better if we remain criminals on the run."
DM Briefing: The party find themselves blamed for the massacre of a village. Attempting to seek legal outcomes, the party are attacked by agents of the real villains at every turn putting friends and loved ones in danger.
THE TWILIGHT SKY
Wendel the Sworder looked down into the valley. There scattered across the side of a Mountain was the shattered iron hull of the Twilight Sky. The Alphatian Flying Carrier that had laid siege to the city of Glantri at the height of the War.
It had gone down in the Wendarian Ranges with all hands.
"By the Immortals!" The carnage was terrible and awe inspiring. The contents of a once glorious empire were scattered across the mountains of Northern Glantri.
Wendel didn't see the Predator lurking in shadow. It came at him with furious speed.
DM Briefing: The PC's stumble across the wreckage of the Alphatian Flying Carrier ship scattered across a mountain in the Wendarian Ranges. There amongst the wealth of lost wizard magic are numerous powerful predators that were summoned to attack Glantri.
BUY ME SOME STONE
The Wagons moved up the rocky trail toward New Xorg. Magebuilt walls encompassed a rapidly growing community of walled suburbs teaming with Orcs. Brawls could be seen in the streets...Indeed there was a crowd betting on a fight. Waste was being thrown from the steps into the gutter and the smell was foul and toxic.
Erina of Threshold held her nose. It was worse than the foul streets of Mirros. Get in, buy twenty wagons of Stone, and get out.
Still there was something wrong with the prospect of an orc City.
DM Briefing: New Xorg is located on the southern edge of the ORCLANDS of Darokin. It is a recently established Quarry town employing its orcish population in stonecutting.
INFO on NEW XORG can be found on the Vaults of Pandius (including maps).
AND NOW A LESSON IN ECONOMIC TERRORISM
"Now the concept of a glut is over production. Because there is much produce, the buyer or merchant can pick an choose from available producers to get produce at lower prices." Devon was starting to slur from too much wine.
"Now If a farmer wants to push prices up, he needs a shortage of the product or a Monopoly...what's in this?" Devon blinked at the mug of wine.
"Is Radishes...So what's this monopoly thingy if everyone's got one?" said farmer Durn.
"Um Its where like you is the only one with a crop." Devon passed out.
"You mean like where the other farms are burned down and their crops torched?" No reply.
DM Briefing: A drunken economist explains the concept of Market forces to farmers. A few Barns are burned and crops put to torch. There is a sudden wheat shortage in Northern Karameikos as the PCs are called in to investigate acts of Agricultural Terrorism.
NIGHT TERRORS
"I tell you I saw it! It weren't no child! It was a fiend!" Afern the ropemaker jerked his head side to side at a shadow still moving around him as they dragged him into the cell.
"Wa! Demons!" came the cry from the many cellmates of Afern.
Jailer Cadesa shook his head and walked back to his seat by the door.
"What in Petra's name is wrong with them?" His companion guardsman shook his head.
"Been pulling them in all night. Ordinary folk just seeing demons. This one killed his daughter. Said she turned into a monster and tried to eat him." Cadesa returned to his ale but he couldn't stomach it. Mirros was in an uproar as the demonic epidemic spread.
DM Briefing: A massive shipment of ergot contaminated ryebread is sold cheap by bakers in Mirros. By evening over a thousand of the populace are sick, hallucinating, or dead.
WAR
Franz leaned back on the hay pile and stared at the morning sky. They young farmhand could only wonder at the distant lands an magical sights he should be experiencing.
"Franz? Franz lad, you done with the hay?" Farmer Stephanov marched around the load of hay that was mostly on the wagon.
"Hoy! Back to work! This needs to be shipped to Verge tomorrow." Franz climbed to his feet only then noticing the two black spots in the distant sky and the terrible flicker of thunderous fire between them.
"What the?" Franz pointed at the sky and flying citadels that were closing the distance toward their little farm.
"By Zirchev!" Farmer Stephanov ran to the farmhouse.
Magical Fire snapped and flashed as they continued to draw closer.
Then one began a descent reminiscent of a thrown stone while it's opponent continued bombardment. It fell toward the small farm with increasing speed until it touched below the ground and dug in.
A wave of tilled sod rushed out from the impact and rolled through the farm house throwing it aside.
Franz climbed out from under the collapsed haystack and snatched up a hayfork.
"Woah!" Franz watched as the remaining Citadel drifted over it.
DM Briefing: Two flying citadels engage in open hostilities over Northern Karameikos. One of them is finally shot down by the other near Verge. Who, what and why are left entirely to the DM.
A DARK TRADE
"This sword belonged to a soldier in King Stephan's Guard. He was killed in a Riot...yours for a hundred gold Royals." The Black marketeer wiped the blade slowly across his sleeve.
"Interesting...I'll Take it." Del Marko exchanged a sack of coin for the weapon.
DM Briefing: Black marketeers begin selling trophy weapons of Warriors of the Kings Guard who die. The price for a trophy weapon is ten to a hundred times the market price of a new weapon. Some begin killing and ambushing members of the King's Guard just because their weapon's have value.
THE JOB (PRE AC1010)
WANTED
Fine and upstanding monster hunters to seek and capture a werewolf plaguing the village of Luln and deliver it to Fort Doom. Remuneration of one thousand Gold Royals value will be made. Deliveries made to Bargle the Wizard.
DM Briefing: What they wont hear is that the werewolf is one of Bargle's Apprentices and he doesn't really want to go back, The entire Affair is designed to cause pain and suffering in the village of Luln, and the PCs are going to be paid one TUN of poor quality wine (value 1000gp if they are lucky)
A DELIVERY OF WINE (PRE AC1010)
"Well this here shipment goes to a Wizard in the Black Eagle Barony named Bargle." The wine merchant got Stephan to sign for it.
"Should take a week..." Stephan nodded his head. A simple delivery job. Easy coin.
DM Briefing: The PC's are paid a hundred coin to deliver a wagonload of wine to Fort Doom. Unfortunately the Black Blades (Traladarans out for vengeance against Bargle) have other plans. They intend to kill the PCs and handle the shipment themselves having added a suitable poison to the wine.
A LETTER IN THE MAIL
"Good Sir, we have journeyed far to deliver this letter on behalf of Nevone the Wizard to your Lord Furlan." Franz handed over the Letter and waited for a reply from Lord Furlan's Aide.
"If you would wait in that room there. Food and drink shall be brought." Manservant Dalwith indicated the small room near the busy kitchen.
Cheap wine and sandwich loaves stuffed with meats, herbs and cheeses were soon served.
Franz and his companions took in the feast for an hour before drifting off.
Dalwith returned, the contents of the Letter on his mind: Dispose of those who deliver this letter and you shall be granted favours of great worth from Bargle the Wizard.
"Move them to the Dungeon. Lord Furlan intends to question them."
DM Briefing: The PCs are hired by Bargle (in disguise) to deliver a letter. The letter is to a nasty lord somewhere in the Kingdom. The Letter is the PC's Death warrant.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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THE WITCHFINDER COMMETH
Witchfinder Ruthven Ghoulburn looked about. Here was a city where ancient hatreds were sorted out on the street and the mob ruled. There could be no mistake: here was a den of witchery and evil.
The Artifact in his hand pulsed with awareness.
Ruthven walked across the crowded market place toward the church of Karameikos. Around him the crowd parted and melted away.
Ruthven nodded to himself. Such was the way of things.
The tall Paladin of Vanya looked at the great wooden doors and hefting the eye of Vanya, placed his hands against their wooden form.
"Invo Vanya Writus!" The wood smoked as Vanya's fire burned across the surface. People about him fled in panic.
As the smoke cleared, Vanya's Holy symbol could be seen scorched into the wood. With it was a writ from the Synod of Freiburg, their seal burned into the wooden document.
WRIT OF VANYA
Unto this kingdom have we dispatched Paladin of Vanya for it is become corrupt with witchery, heresy, and concealed horrors.
All faithful of Vanya are commanded to route out all witchery, sorcery, and heresy that the faithful of this land may know the embrace of Vanya's Bosom.- issued by the Synod of Freiburg, this year of our Lady Vanya one thousand and twenty.
DM Briefing: The Eye of Vanya has the ability to scribe a Symbol known as a writ of Vanya on any surface. All clerics and followers of Vanya looking upon the writ must make save vs spell or form angry mobs and attack wizards and those clerics who are not clerics of Vanya.
SIEGE GUN (WARMACHINE I)
“Your village will surrender to my rule.” Ichabad the Druid stared at the villagers who had been plundering his forest earlier that morning.
“On yer way ya crazy old fool before we tell the Wizard”, Replied the leader of the pack.
“So be it.” A wolf in the forest howled.
A sound of distant thunder came then something fell from the sky on the village. The old Wizard’s Tower disintegrated under the impact crushing several homes in its shadow. The villagers turned toward the chaos.
“It would appear your village is on fire.” Ichabad waited for their surrender.
DM Briefing: Druids, enraged by the plundering of their forest subjugate a village using a five ton Steam Mortar with a one mile range.
GREAT STEAM MORTAR (D: 20d6, R: 1 mile, MW: 20 Tons, SW: 1 Ton, RL: 3 Minutes).
SECOND VOLLEY (WARMACHINE II)
Thunder ripped the dawn sky and hammered into the Baron’s Keep. The alarm sounded with panic.
“Perhaps the other half of the Keep?” Ichabad stared at the Baron who had ridden out to meet him in the field.
Again the Thunder came. The Baron’s Knights watched the Keep collapse under the destructive force of a second hit.
“Oh dear. Defiantly not up to standard”.
DM Briefing: Druids, enraged by the plundering of their forest are forced to destroy the Baron’s Castle using their steam mortar to solidify their control over the villages plundering their forest for timber and firewood.
GREAT STEAM MORTAR (D: 20d6, R: 1 mile, MW: 20 Tons, SW: 1 Ton, RL: 3 Minutes).
THE BIRTHING
Franz looked at the eggs that lay before him in the vast cavern. They were a sea that went on forever.
A tremor shook the closest egg. Its leathery form pulsed with a heartbeat as its treasure awoke with life, Then another, and another. The great hatchery echoed the sound of a million beating hearts.
"By all that is holy! Flee!" Franz's Companions turned from their suffering at being dumped down gravel ridge and drove weapons into potential footholds looking for an escape.
DM Briefing: The PCs encounter a hatchery of a million dragon Eggs while exploring a network of Caves. The Eggs sense the body-heat of the PCs and begin to Hatch from their period of Hibernation. A Million baby dragons hunting the PCs and each other through the network of caves (and possibly discover a way to the surface). They are the beginning of the end for a world that has not known Dragons for a million years.
THE RED TIDE
Durn turned the ships wheel to port.
“Brace for collision. Boarding teams at the ready.” His call resounded across the men labouring on the main deck.
“Remind me never to put you in charge of a working ship…” Anders shook his head in disgust.
“What do you mean?” Durn was feeling put out when the old man walked on deck.
“What’s going on?” Durn passed the stranger off as one of the Labourers.
“Just taking criticism of my Captaincy…” The old man stared at the labourers pulling up the rotting deck.
“I mean, what are you doing with my ship?”
DM Briefing: The RED TIDE: An old pirate ship long since beached and within a half a day’s walk of the Port where the PCs are living. Unfortunately there is an old man living in the wreck he considers a home. Normally they would just evict the resident but this one is a Wizard of considerable power.
THE CAGE
“Help a fellow out.” The voice out of the darkness ran like a chill down the spines of Algaern the Magist and Fina the Sworder. They pulled their weapons and readied for the onslaught of pain that they knew would follow. It didn’t.
“Oh…It’s you two.” Hadden the Vile relaxed back in the hanging Cage.
“Well! Well! How the undesirable have fallen.” Algaern the Magist laughed at the sight
“Going to Haukford are you my dear Fina?” Hadden relaxed back into the shadow of his Cage.
“Yes actually…” Fina smiled at the Cage and put her sword away.
“See you soon then Algaern…” Hadden the vile kicked at the empty cage next to him and laughed.
DM Briefing: A Cage has been recently erected outside the Town the PCs are about to visit. The Cage hangs from a pole supporting several other such cages. Each is crafted from a metal that prevents magic-use. This should concern PC Wizards. The Town is under new Leadership…and they have outlawed non-cleric spell-casters.
HEXEN
“So great the suffering unleashed upon we who have been dwelt amongst by these Witches.” Lord Jon Deadeye rambled on as their families cried and despaired.
“Woe unto the victims of their dark machinations.” The fires grew slowly in the wood piled about them.
Sula walked into the town square with her companions.
“It must be a local custom...” Frills whispered it to her with a smile…he knew exactly what she thought of local customs.
Sula the Mad pulled her Great-axe and advanced on the crowd from behind.
DM Briefing: A number of women have been rounded up by the local lord and are being burned at the stake when the PCS visit Town. If they rescue the old women without killing too many locals and take them to safety, their families will be secretly grateful.
THE FRUIT TRADE
“Hoyuk! Hoyuk! Apricota!” The old Goblin cried out amongst the market sellers. His fruit cart teemed with beautiful, fresh fruit, certainly a far cry from the withered and spotted fruits that filled the small containers of regular sellers.
“Hoyuk! Hoyuk! Apricota!” The Cart pushed through the crowd. A few stopped him to purchase his cheap yet quality wares
Gregor looked it over.
“That is a rather nice fruit selection.” The old Goblin smiled at the compliment.
“YesYes! You buy!”
“Well they are very nice…”
“Ah…You wish buy Shatu.” The Goblin nodded and pulled a Bottle of the Goblin made Liquer…
“Only ten gold coin.” The exchange was made.
DM Briefing: The Goblins have come to town to sell a vast crop of fruits, nuts, both dried and fresh, as well as a rather fruity alcoholic beverage called Shatu. After considerable negotiation with the leaders of the town (and an agreement to pay the Mayor half their profits), the Goblins are allowed to sell their wares in the Market Place. The Fruit causes the Populace to transform permanently into Goblins at the next new Moon. The PCS are in a position to cure everyone and prevent the take-over. The Shatu is in-fact a cure to the effect, although it must be drunk regularly to prevent future transformation.
THY LAND SHALL SINK INTO THE SEA
"Urgar, you know this fruit should cost coppers. Why the prices hike?" Denwyn was astonished at the cost increase.
"Dont Know. There has been a shortage this last harvest. My farmers are telling me we are...THyLandShaLLsinKintOThEsea... slipping into famine and the aristocracy ain’t listening." Urgar didn’t even notice what he had said. Denwyn stared in astonishment at his grocer.
Unwyn waved an apple in Denwyn's face.
"Hullo? You want the fruit or not?" Urgar waited. He could wait.
DM Briefing: Ordinary folk begin spouting Prophecy.
SHOCK AND AWE
“These folks are respectable folk, Jarvik. What ever you do, don’t insult them with your Barbarian nakedness…” Carl Tall-trees brushed his hair as he walked down the road toward the Town of Purvew.
Jarvik struggled with the unfamiliar clothing his companion had forced upon him.
“I’ll wear the cloth but I’ll not take the abuse Tall-tree.”
They reached the Town Gates. The Regular Guards were absent.
Beyond the entry peasant and aristocrat moved about the streets in bold nakedness. Car’s jaw dropped in shock as he stared at the naked men and women wandering the streets.
Jarvik pushed Carl’s jaw shut and smiled.
“Finally, a people I like.”
DM Briefing: The people of the Town of Purvew decide to do without clothing. This has more to do with a recent visit by a Sorceress (L20) who decided to use mass domination on the populace after they insulted her lack of clothing. The problem for the PCs is that she wished it permanent.
MYSTARAN EXODUS
"...now where was I? Ah yes: My Dear King Stephan Karameikos, It is with deep sorrow at..." The Emperor fell from the chair in a twitching fit.
"Summon the Cleric!" The scribe leapt forward to help the Emperor of Thyatis as he twitched and foamed on the floor.
He stopped.
"THE END OF MYSTARA IS NIGH! YOU MUST TAKE THE EMPIRE FROM THIS CRYSTAL SPHERE. THE ALPHATIANS WILL AIDE YOU IN THIS TASK!" The Emperor passed out. The Scribe fell back from him as the other guards arrived with a Cleric.
DM Briefing: The Emperor of Thyatis spouts Prophecy during a fit. The Mystaran Exodus is coming.
THE SHIP
“What’s that?” Franco reigned in his horse on the desert sands.
“What’s What?” Dalwin pulled up next to him.
“That. There. The thing about a mile long looks like an upturned ship hull.”
“Oh That! I’d say it’s the up turned hull of a mile long ship in the middle of the desert.” Delwin nodded.
“Just so we are clear.” Franco nodded.
DM Briefing: The PCs discover the upturned hull of a mile long hundred feet wide ship with ten levels in the middle of the desert.
THE MANTICORE
"Captain!"
"What is it number one?"
"Small moon aproaching off the port bow sir!"
Captain Halav looked up from his Mystaran Almanac at the approaching sphere.
"That no moon!"
DM Briefing: This spherical spelljammer consists of a large sphere with over two thousand port holes on the outer shell. Out ever port hole across this vessel is heavy ballista. For the crew moving on the deck below this sphere, they are simply firing up and out a hole from their deck position.
Below the battle deck is the crew quarters. The rooms are hexagon shaped as are the hallway sections that weave between them.
Below the Crew deck In the heart of the ship is a massive hollow occupied by a great brass gyroscope on which is mounted a large helm that powers the ship.
THE CHALICE OF RAINBOWS
Tyran the Magist examined his prize. Across the shrine the Chalice sat illuminated by light streaming through the coloured glass windows.
He moved to touch it.
Adrift now in a sea of colour, Tyran looked back to see a black crystal sphere.
<create air>
"Heeeee." Tyran breathed new air and contemplated his prospects. he was doomed.
DM Briefing: PC Encounters something that on contact tips him into the Phlogiston. Unprepared, this could spell death.
THE ALTAR OF TIME
Even at this range they could feel it. The vast stone block sat there exuding an insidious aura of terror. Every crewman could see the years of their own existance layed out before them.
Buuuuuummmm! The sound resonated through nothingness and echoed in the bones of every member of the crew.
"How in the Nine Hells does it do that? There isnt any air between here and there."
"Dont know, dont want to know." Captain Denek looked from his second at the Helmsman.
"Evasive course. Take us clear of it..." The helmsman struggled to comply as the terrible mass pulled at the ship.
DM Briefing: The PCs encounter a large one cubic mile black stone deep in the Phlogiston. Within one mile All experience the unusual phenomena of being able to see their entire life flood to the surface of their memories. Comming into contact with the Cube, the vessel is propelled forward or backward through time by any thing between one year and a hundred. Effectivly a second ship would see the first ship touch the cube and vanish.
THE DERELICT (IRONCLADS I)
The Captain ordered the helm to take a closer look and the Hammer adjusted course. It was a strange looking derelict of iron.
"Bring us up along side and prepare a boarding party."
The hammership slowed to one quarter.
Metal shutters lifted and the alarm sounded.
"Its a Trap!" The Ironclad ran the cannons out.
"My god they are mad. Get us out of here." The Captain was screaming to the Helm when the Steam Cannons fired broadside and ripped the hammership in half.
"TweeeT!" The Sound of a boarding whistle sounded.
DM Briefing: The PCs encounter a derelict Ironclad. This is simply an ambush, and the PCs soon find themselves hostages of Steam Age Pirates.
THE CITADEL (IRONCLADS II)
Syler looked at it as the pirates pushed their hostages onto the deck. Even from this distance it looked gnomish with the great steam engine bellowing steam to drive the great wheels in an effort to resist the flow.
"Take a look children. You will spend the rest of your life stoaking its boilers."
"Thats insane, it should explode in the flow..."
The Pirate laughed.
"Not this one. We have mastered the flow."
DM Briefing: New Steamtech has fallen into the hands of Pirates. They have built a steam powered port in the deep Phlogiston somewhere between the crystal spheres. Here the great citadel and ship building port is turning out new steam powered ironclads and steampowered cannons that can be used in the flow itself simply with a heat metal spell.
FIRESTORM
The explosion was terrible even at this distance. Den Kurtis watched as the wave of fire radiated out from a single distant point and expanded furiously. It closed the distance with terrible speed.
"Fire!" one of the crew spotted it.
Den pulled up a prismatic sphere and was engulfed in the wave as his hammership disintergrated around him.
DM Briefing: A ship transporting some truly powerful explosives detonates in the flow. The shockwave catches any passerby inflicting terrible damage to ship and exposed crews.
THE SHIPWRECK
Deran the Sworder pulled himself up out of the narrow chimney that had led him another hundred feet up the side of Mount Wraith and into a ravine separated by the Two peaks that he would have to choose from during the next legg of his ascent.
He pulled Kail up on the Rope assisting his companion. Kail flopped on the hard rock edge.
"I hope the down is better than the up." Kail looked around.
"Well hell...It looks like we are on the wrong mountain." Kail Pointed over at Mount Blood. Deran looked to where his companion was pointing.
There, on the glacier of a high valley pass on Mount blood was what looked like a very large Sailing ship, its masts broken.
DM Briefing: Exploring Mountains, the PCs stumble across a sailing ship in a mountain glacier at six thousand feet.
THE MYSTARAN WELL
Halav investigated the edge of the huge well that descened down to a dark pool of still liquid.
"You say the Ancients built this to go where?" Halav looked at Zirchev who stood near the well's edge.
"Beyond!" Halav stepped back.
"What a silly idea." Halav looked back at Lady Petra.
"Are you sure we should take Zirchev's Great Flying Bowl into this well?"
"It doesn’t go to the Hollow World." She gave him the 'Its not like we have something better to do' shrug.
DM Briefing: The PCs discover a Well a mile across that takes them all the way down to the inner Boundary of the Crystal sphere of the Mystaran Universe. It sits in a Deep Cavern near that boundary between Outer Mystara and the Hollow World and can only be reached by descending deep into the subterranean reaches of Mystara. Beyond is Spelljammer Space.
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| yellowdingo |
| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 16 Jul 2009
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BLOOD FEUD
The Murderer of Shaleforth the Sorceress fell backward into the Village tavern throwing the Patrons into chaos.
Derwen hurled his Blackspear in after the villain killing him.
“You have made a mistake.” A Voice from the crowd caught Derwen Blackwater’s attention. Someone pushed forward.
“You have definitely made a mistake.” The warrior emerging from the gathered patrons of this tavern was armed with a long Bayonet, and wore studded leather armour. At his belt an engraved silver cup that kind of looked similar to the one the murderer had on his own belt.
“This is our tavern and our village. You and your friends are no longer welcome here.” Quisik the Mage shifted back and forth behind the protection of Blackwater’s bulk.
“We are here to catch a killer.”
Lexx Jakosen drove his bayonet through Blackwater and into the wizard behind him claming two with a single kill.
“All you have caught is a bad case of deceased.”
DM Briefing: Tracking a Killer leads them to a brotherhood of Mercenaries who regard the killing of their members as personal.
PENANCE FOR A SIN
"You have violated the Tomb of Urlic the Holy! Your pennance shall be to travel to the Quarries at Sturngat and once there volunteer as mule." Kail grimaced at the thought.
"You shall tow on sled a one ton block of granite along the wandering way road to the Abbey of Sarkroy." Kail knodded.
"Yes Holy Father!" Father Turnin Smiled at his acceptance. Certainly the tomb incident was necessary, still penance had to be paid...
DM Briefing: The Paladin, having made some transgression is forced to tow a block of Granite some eighty miles from a Quarry to an Abbey currently under construction. Certainly not on a wheeled cart but a sled.
FERRIS'S WHEEL
Derwood stared at the great iron wheel with suspended seats that towered over the festival.
"The Ferris built it." Jain Harow joined her companion.
"Yep!" Ferris Sanna Jeroni smiled at her hanywork.
"And I'll pay you a copper piece a ride, all you have to do is walk up the perpetual staircase on the Hamster deck and go and stop when I blow the whistle."
"What's a Hamster?"
"Nuthin. Its just a Gnomish term..."
DM Briefing: At a Holyday Festival at Sandpoint a Ferris offers rides on a Ferris's Wheel. During the festival the wheel opens a vortex and a hundred furry giant rodents descend on the festival.
The Ferris pleads innocent of the sorcery and it is up to the PCs to find out where they came from and who did it.
THE BLOODSWORDS
Koeogh the Fisherman watched as the terrible and unnatural storm lashed the little mountain lake with a fury. He wouldnt be going out in his little boat in this.
Then he saw the ships riding out of the Storm. He had heard descriptions of the huge sailing ships that plied the oceans of the world. The ships were heading toward the small mountain community that sat at the edge of the lake.
Koeogh ran toward the village....He didnt recognise the flags with the bloody scimitars but knew it would be bad.
DM Briefing: The Bloodswords sailing from the Driftport of Shadow raid a small landlocked community for slaves and booty using an artefact of Travel. The PCs may stow away to rescue the villagers or be taken as slaves.
THE DEAD SEA
Agrin clambered up the mast to watch it.
The ship swayed beneath him as it positioned on suddenly exposed reef.
He could see the distant shore gaining width as the ocean retreated from it.
The reef rapidly became an island running much of the length of the land.
"So much for getting in the fish." Agrin smiled down at his fellow fishermen.
DM Briefing: The Sea begins to pour into a Chasm that has opened deep in the bottom of the sea. It effectivly lowers permanently by 200 feet before leveling off. This is a cyclic event occuring once every fifty thousand years. Now over the next fifty thousand years the sea will be ejected from the chasm as steam until the sea is restored. At which time it will happen again.
THE FERRY
It sailed out of the mists of the edge of the world propelled by a dozen Skeletal Oarsmen.
Between them, on a raised bier, the clothbound body of some great lord lay in honor.
DM Briefing: The Boat carries the corpse of the Dewa Sorcerer Gornissal. It has carried him from the Dewan Empire far across the Shallow Sea and over the edge into lands unknown. The Skeletons will attack with clubs (short Oars) and the Body has with it The Sword of BloodyBone.
The Sword of BloodyBone is a +1 Bastard Sword of Abyssal Bone. It requires a Willcheck at DC30 from anyone looking upon it least they fall under its dark sway (they will attempt to acquire it for themselves and will plot and scheme to do so-they will also seek to kill with it at all times it is in their possession).
PIRATES OF CAROMAL
The village woke to the screams as the ship smashed against the great cliffs just below the Village of Caromal. Crew screamed as they jumped into the terrible waters and were pounded against the rock face.
Franco waited until all the cargo had freed itself and the crew had drowned.
"Booms!"
The Booms were pushed out over the wreckage being smashed against the rocks. Franco signalled the crews on the nets to begin hauling their bounty from the Raging sea.
"Hoist away!" cried Franco.
DM Briefing: Pirates opperating from Caromal use signal lamps to crash Merchantmen into the Cliffs below the Village.
PEACE IN OUR TIME
"...and in conclusion, I King Valmort do here in authorize a Treaty of Mutual Security and Peace between our Kingdom and the Theocracy of Waryan that these border disputes may be resolved peacably.
Consequently a Signing of Peace Treaties will be set for the first of Shadowfall this Calender year in the Town of Briarwall." The crowded nobles seemed uncertain. Few clapped.
DM Briefing: A Peace Treaty signing is to take place at a location and time known publicly beforehand. It will most certainly be attacked by those opposed to the terms of that treaty.
THE SEDUCTRESS
“Would you do anything for me?” Lady Alice shifted her naked form against the body of her lover.
“You know I would.” Sir Halbert plied a kiss to her neck.
“Kill Baron Godfrey so that we can be together…He will be on the field of Battle before this coming Winter..in a surprise attack on Lord Jhon Deadtooth.” Halbert considered it for a moment. He wanted to be with her openly.
DM Briefing: A Dragon, disguised as a lady of noble birth, seduces one of the PCs and then sets him to destroy the lord of the Lady being imitated.
THE WIDOW’S ATTIC
“Oh please help…There is some monster in the Attic of my home…won’t one of you help me?” The crowd in the Tavern seemed disinterested in aiding the Widow and some remarked it was the attic in her head.
Calbert the Sworder stood to his feet and waved her over.
“How may I be of help?”
DM Briefing: A widow has a problem with monsters in her Attic.
MAD DOG
The dog howl from the graveyard drew the attention of Father Jeron instantly as he made his way past the gated entrance to the Graveyard. A second howl came from the Dog that could now be seen digging on a grave.
“Must miss its Master…” Still It seemed odd…Jeron looked back at the dog…wasn’t that particular grave a century old?
DM Briefing: The Local Graveyard is being frequented by a Dog seemingly consumed with grief at the death of its Master even though the grave is a hundred years old.
THE PIT
“Get back to work!” The Foreman’s whip turned cruelly through the dust filled air of the pit and fell across the back of Avard Steembyndr. He struggled under the pain. The others toiling in the Pit ignored his suffering and worked stone with their own hammers.
DM Briefing: After a drunken night out the PCs find themselves in the PIT. A Mine where Convicts toil in Labor deep beneath the Earth (a Mile Down) digging for a Mystical Metal.
VILLAGE WATCHDOG
The instant Kaver the Mercenary entered the Village tavern he found himself confronted by weapons. In the Dark of the Taproom, he could just make out the pale form of a young woman suspended from the ceiling in a cage. Was she pointing at him?
“We don’t like your kind here!” The Barkeep was insistent.
DM Briefing: A half elf Paladin is kept in a Cage suspended from the ceiling of the Village Tavern as a Watchdog against evil.
THE BEAST
Adel the Monk hurried down the carved timber clad corridor toward the Chapel. Being late for morning prayers was a serious failing in a young monk. A noise: Sssss!
The barbed appendage swung down from the darkness and skewered Adel through the back lifting him off the ground. Adel drowned in the moment of his death as he came face to face with a horror the likes of which he had never know in any of his holy books.
DM Briefing: A terrible creature begins hunting Monks in a Monastery located within a crowded city. The Monastery has eight floors and is Heavy timber and stone.
THE OBSIDIAN SCROUNGERS
Aros the Sworder watched from concealment as the Goblin riding the Ash Crawler over the volcanic ash of halted. A Makeshift net on a wooden stick was jammed into the ash and only retrieved when the net held a large piece of Obsidian.
“Ookluk!” cried the Goblin and the beast lumbered on…
DM Briefing: Goblins are scrounging for Obsidian at the base of a dormant volcano to trade with Artisans in a Village famous for its Obsidian Bowls and Artifacts.
THE SCROLLS OF PAIN (TWILIGHT HORROR I)
“You recall old Veron?” Derwan sipped his ale.
“The fellow with the Tattoos all over his body?” Karver looked at his drinking companion.
“They found him skinned of it during the night.” Karver choked on his drink and looked up in horror.
DM Briefing: Cultists scour the world for remains of a Manuscript that will allow them to open a Gate in the Heavens. The Scrolls describe a process by which a Cult might destroy the world.
A CEREMONY COMPLETED (TWILIGHT HORROR II)
“Stop! She’s Alive!” The hellish congregation turned now away from their focus on the High Priest standing over the Princess tied down over the Altar and stared at Holm the Adventurer.
“Kill Him!” cried the High Priest now pointing at the source of the dissenting voice.
Holm turned and fled the sword wielding fanatics with all haste…
DM Briefing: The PCs stumble across a cult busily sacrificing seven abducted princesses, each of whom bears a mark of one of the seven Elder Gods.
THE EYE OPENS (TWILIGHT HORROR III)
Astronomer Royale Frankel Avestoke watched as the distant Spiral of heavenly bodies changed shape before his eyes. The eye of Chaos at its centre opened and the Universe seemed to shudder.
“The Eye is open!” He ran now like a whipped dog to a window, pausing to snatch up a blade and kill himself as he leapt from the Tower to his doom.
DM Briefing: A Constellation of Stars changes so that it looks like an open eye. The world is soon plagued by all manors of planar entities at large in the regular world. Cities seem to merge with a city of unknown nature where fiends are at large.
THE LEVIATHAN AND THE PIRATE KING (TWILIGHT HORROR IV)
"I am a Pirate King, It is, it is a glorious thing to be a...urk!" The fetid and leathery appendage reached up out of the Wooden Scenery of a rocking ocean to grasp Kevin by the throat and drag him into the Coursing Ocean that dominated the Stage of the Theatre.
Those gathered at the base of the stage were horrified to find themselves sprayed in blood as the Actor was crushed of all his juices by the Mawe of some terrible interdimensional fiend that had decided a pretend Ocean was good enough. The crowd fled the theatre.
DM Briefing: A terrible fiend begins reaching across the boundaries of reality to claim victims.
THE ASYLUM (TWILIGHT HORROR V)
"Now tell me again of this Land...this Kingdom from which you come." The wretch in the white coat ignored Franco's discomfort. Franco now shackled to a Bed making notes on some small bundle of parchment in his hands with what must have been a charcoal stick.
"Its true...The eye of Chaos opened in yon heavens and the world was plunged into some hellish presence...you must believe me." The man in the white coat scrawled something on the parchment repeating Franco's comments as he did.
"...plunged into some hellish presence."
DM Briefing: Having confronted some Horror, the PCs find themselves trapped in a Prison for Madmen in some other reality. |
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| yellowdingo |
| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 16 Jul 2009
Posts: 15
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BOAT FOR SALE
"...and if you look at this wood, you will notice that there is the presence of an oil designed to protect it from long term damage." Estebo the Merchant looked up from where he had touched the vessel.
"Well? what do you think?" The buyers seemed a little jittery but he could tell they were sold on it.
"We'll have to think about it..." The drew off in a group to discuss it. One of them nodded to the others before their chief negotiator turned back to face Estebo.
"Yes!" Estebo smiled ad streached out a hand to offer a done deal.
DM Briefing: The party are sold someone elses Ship while in Port. The entire crew are spending a few days in lockup while allegations of Smuggling are investigated. |
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