This game will go on hiatus, as someone else gets a chance to run, and I build up some material for the next stretch. We’ll start up at some point with 5th level characters. Switch characters if you wish.
In the mean time, I’d like some input as to what I should prepare for.
What follows are some questions to answer, and some options that you might follow.
Questions:
1) Do you tell anyone about what you have learned? Your characters know things that no one else knows. Perhaps others have discovered the existence of the Bahumati too, but it seems unlikely that anyone knows all that you were able to learn from Trakas Wingsong. Sihirbaz and Nadarr know – and they may be passing the information along to the rulers and nobility of the colony. But if they are, they haven’t told you about it. Do you want to go to some other authority?
2) What will you do with Merdosh and the Crown of Trakas? He may be in danger, and the Bahumati may seek him out. Do you want to separate him from the crown? Do you want to try to destroy the Crown? Do you want to take Merdosh/Trakas with you as you go forward? They have knowledge that might help you. Do you want to hide him away somewhere that might be safer?
Options:
1) Wait for the action to come to you. You have something they want. Sit tight and let the enemy show their hand, then decide how to proceed.
2) Return to the Auchak region, and try to “liberate” the town that you saw there.
3) Travel to Ulhar, Charir, Aussier, or Vutha portals (you have sigils for them). Perhaps just to scout out possible danger. Perhaps to try to learn enemy plans and thwart them.
4) Travel up the coast to the other colonies. Find out what they know about the Bahumati. Warn them.
5) Something else?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Session #23 - What the party has learned
The party gathered up the treasure, returned via portal ritual to Fort Aralan, met with Sihirbaz and Nadarr. They learned what follows (what I read aloud at the end of the game session):
When Merdosh was possessed by the spirit of Trakas, their minds became one. From that Merdosh learned much about the life of his long-dead look-alike. And while the party was on its journey to recover the Crown of Trakas, Nadarr scoured through The Capturing Orb, looking for details about Trakas. From those two sources, the following things are known.
Early Life:Trakas was a dragonborn, born to peasant Red-Scale, in the south-east, along the sea (in our terms, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico). His appearance was unusual, mostly black scales, but with areas of red on his head, shoulders, and hands. He might have been an outcast, but for his obvious strength, charm, and natural leadership abilities. He joined the Vutha Army, and excelled as a soldier.
Trakas was admitted to an elite order of knights, called the Daron.
Servant of the Dark Queen:Soon after his admission to The Daron, the Vutha kingdom entered an alliance with a tribe of kobolds from the other side of the gulf (Mexico). The kobolds were followers of Tiamat, rather than Buhamat. This was distasteful to many, but religion was unimportant to most Dragonborn. The wars were going badly, and the kobolds brought powerful magic with them.
Soon Trakas embraced the kobold religion. “The Dark Queen” rewarded those who took action. Coddling weaklings benefitted no one. The strong should be unshackled and allowed to rule! Those who fell behind had no one to blame but themselves. Dragonborn are meant to rule over the other reptilian races. Most of all, there can be no peace with “monkey men”.
Over a period of just a few years, the religion of Buhamat fell out of favor. Vutha society became strong and orderly. Trakas achieved high rank in the Vutha military. His valor became legendary. His leadership brought many great victories in battle. The kobold priesthood viewed his multi-tone scales as a sign that he had been granted special gifts by Tiamat herself.
King of the Achuak:The smallest and weakest of the Bahumati kingdoms was the Achuak (“Green”) – a small kingdom, bordered by Dwarves to the east, and surrounded by humans and elves on all sides. (This is the “Great Lakes” region.)
The kings of Vutha and Auchak were cousins. The northern king, Tinash, asked his cousin to send him military aid. In response, the prize warrior Trakas, and a small army were dispatched northward.
Under Trakas leadership, the Auchak gained the upper hand in their border wars. Tinash was pleased. He wanted to press his advantage to force his demi-human neighbors into a treaty favorable to his country. Trakas refused to negotiate. Dragonborn must dominate, not negotiate! Tinash died a mysterious death, some say murdered by Trakas. There was no heir to the crown, so the warlord Trakas assumed the throne. No one could challenge him, with his kobold and Daron allies ready to repress any dissent.
The Empire at its height:As the Auchak kingdom rose to dominate its region, and so did the other 4 realms within the Bahumati empire. All had become dominated by Tiamat worshippers, the kobold priesthood, and the Order of the Daron.
The Charir (Red) kingdom was centered in great tall mountains, far to the west. This was the oldest, largest, and most powerful. The Charir capital was the seat of the empire. The other kingdoms usually bent to the will of the Charir.
South of these mountains was desert region, the home of the Ulhar (Blue) kingdom.
In the south-east (the area nearest to Fort Aralan), the Dragonborn kingdom was the Vutha (black).
North of the Charir kingdom, in a region much colder, was the Aussir (White).
The Great Plague:One factor in Trakas’s military success in Auchak was a mysterious illness that sweot through the demi-humans. As thousands fell to the plaque, they could no longer mount an effective defense against the Dragonborn advances.
But this advantage soon turned into a problem. The affliction began to affect Dragonborn as well. It spread rapidly, and soon Trakas’s kingdom was on its knees.
Death, Undeath, and a plan to return:In response to the plague, the Daron and the kobold priesthood devised a plan. The priesthood would use necromancy to curse landmarks and strategic sites with undead. This would prevent their fall into demi-human hands.
Key leaders across the empire would be placed under spells that would preserve their spirits in a state of undeath. At some future date, a suitable host would appear. The spirit would possess this host, and thereby return to life.
When Merdosh was possessed by the spirit of Trakas, their minds became one. From that Merdosh learned much about the life of his long-dead look-alike. And while the party was on its journey to recover the Crown of Trakas, Nadarr scoured through The Capturing Orb, looking for details about Trakas. From those two sources, the following things are known.
Early Life:Trakas was a dragonborn, born to peasant Red-Scale, in the south-east, along the sea (in our terms, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico). His appearance was unusual, mostly black scales, but with areas of red on his head, shoulders, and hands. He might have been an outcast, but for his obvious strength, charm, and natural leadership abilities. He joined the Vutha Army, and excelled as a soldier.
Trakas was admitted to an elite order of knights, called the Daron.
Servant of the Dark Queen:Soon after his admission to The Daron, the Vutha kingdom entered an alliance with a tribe of kobolds from the other side of the gulf (Mexico). The kobolds were followers of Tiamat, rather than Buhamat. This was distasteful to many, but religion was unimportant to most Dragonborn. The wars were going badly, and the kobolds brought powerful magic with them.
Soon Trakas embraced the kobold religion. “The Dark Queen” rewarded those who took action. Coddling weaklings benefitted no one. The strong should be unshackled and allowed to rule! Those who fell behind had no one to blame but themselves. Dragonborn are meant to rule over the other reptilian races. Most of all, there can be no peace with “monkey men”.
Over a period of just a few years, the religion of Buhamat fell out of favor. Vutha society became strong and orderly. Trakas achieved high rank in the Vutha military. His valor became legendary. His leadership brought many great victories in battle. The kobold priesthood viewed his multi-tone scales as a sign that he had been granted special gifts by Tiamat herself.
King of the Achuak:The smallest and weakest of the Bahumati kingdoms was the Achuak (“Green”) – a small kingdom, bordered by Dwarves to the east, and surrounded by humans and elves on all sides. (This is the “Great Lakes” region.)
The kings of Vutha and Auchak were cousins. The northern king, Tinash, asked his cousin to send him military aid. In response, the prize warrior Trakas, and a small army were dispatched northward.
Under Trakas leadership, the Auchak gained the upper hand in their border wars. Tinash was pleased. He wanted to press his advantage to force his demi-human neighbors into a treaty favorable to his country. Trakas refused to negotiate. Dragonborn must dominate, not negotiate! Tinash died a mysterious death, some say murdered by Trakas. There was no heir to the crown, so the warlord Trakas assumed the throne. No one could challenge him, with his kobold and Daron allies ready to repress any dissent.
The Empire at its height:As the Auchak kingdom rose to dominate its region, and so did the other 4 realms within the Bahumati empire. All had become dominated by Tiamat worshippers, the kobold priesthood, and the Order of the Daron.
The Charir (Red) kingdom was centered in great tall mountains, far to the west. This was the oldest, largest, and most powerful. The Charir capital was the seat of the empire. The other kingdoms usually bent to the will of the Charir.
South of these mountains was desert region, the home of the Ulhar (Blue) kingdom.
In the south-east (the area nearest to Fort Aralan), the Dragonborn kingdom was the Vutha (black).
North of the Charir kingdom, in a region much colder, was the Aussir (White).
The Great Plague:One factor in Trakas’s military success in Auchak was a mysterious illness that sweot through the demi-humans. As thousands fell to the plaque, they could no longer mount an effective defense against the Dragonborn advances.
But this advantage soon turned into a problem. The affliction began to affect Dragonborn as well. It spread rapidly, and soon Trakas’s kingdom was on its knees.
Death, Undeath, and a plan to return:In response to the plague, the Daron and the kobold priesthood devised a plan. The priesthood would use necromancy to curse landmarks and strategic sites with undead. This would prevent their fall into demi-human hands.
Key leaders across the empire would be placed under spells that would preserve their spirits in a state of undeath. At some future date, a suitable host would appear. The spirit would possess this host, and thereby return to life.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Treasure Parcels for level 3 and 4
4e prescribes that for each level, the DM awards 4 magic items, and 6 "parcels" of monetary treasure.
At the end of this last session, I had 5 level 3 parcels that were not yet given.
When we return to this game, I want to start out at 5th level. So to keep the party on pace with where they "should" be by the parcel rules, I need to award the 6 level-4 parcels.
So (to be totally metagame here), the treasure found at the last room of the Tomb of Trakas is the 5 level-3 parcels, plus the 6 level-4 parcels.
I still "owe" the party the 4 level-4 magic items. I'll work those into the next installment.
1) 833 GP
2) 12 gems valued at an average of 100 GP each
3) 750 GP worth of "Art Objects" - details as follows:
Crystal Vile filled with fine perfume (50GP)
silvered longsword etched with flame patterns, bearing a deep red garnet gemstone in the pommel (200 gp)
a heavy, silver belt buckle, carved into the form of a coiled dragon, inlaid with turquoise eyes and ivory fangs (50 gp)
gold ring set with a white moonstone gem, with a secret compartment beneath the stone (75 gp).
five matching silver drinking tankards, set with emeralds (total 125GP)
a ceremonial helmet, fashioned from gold to represent a dragon’s head with two tiger eye gems set into the eyes and stylized fangs made from inlaid ivory (250 gp)
At the end of this last session, I had 5 level 3 parcels that were not yet given.
When we return to this game, I want to start out at 5th level. So to keep the party on pace with where they "should" be by the parcel rules, I need to award the 6 level-4 parcels.
So (to be totally metagame here), the treasure found at the last room of the Tomb of Trakas is the 5 level-3 parcels, plus the 6 level-4 parcels.
I still "owe" the party the 4 level-4 magic items. I'll work those into the next installment.
1) 833 GP
2) 12 gems valued at an average of 100 GP each
3) 750 GP worth of "Art Objects" - details as follows:
Crystal Vile filled with fine perfume (50GP)
silvered longsword etched with flame patterns, bearing a deep red garnet gemstone in the pommel (200 gp)
a heavy, silver belt buckle, carved into the form of a coiled dragon, inlaid with turquoise eyes and ivory fangs (50 gp)
gold ring set with a white moonstone gem, with a secret compartment beneath the stone (75 gp).
five matching silver drinking tankards, set with emeralds (total 125GP)
a ceremonial helmet, fashioned from gold to represent a dragon’s head with two tiger eye gems set into the eyes and stylized fangs made from inlaid ivory (250 gp)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Session #22 summary - the party kicks ass
The next challenge on the parties journey through the Tomb of Trakas was an ancient sacrafice chamber. The sign on the ,door read "Peasants must Perish, so Kings may rise again".
The chamber featured a suspended platform about a deep pit filled with bones. From the pit rose several wraiths and skeletons. The strongest of these foes was the Boneshard Skeleton. The party used excellent tactics to win this battle easily. Jhunter successfully shoved the Boneshard off the edge of the platform and into the pit. With the strongest enemy taken out of the fight, they made short work of the rest of the undead enemies.
Past the sacrifice chamber, the party at last reached the burial place of Trakas Wingsong. Fabulous treasures left for him at his return waited on two large tables. These treasures were trapped within a layer of petrification. When Merdosh touched the stone crown, it turned back to gold. And when he placed it on his head, the rest of the treasures were freed.
Dawning the crown also opened a magic portal. From this portal emerged a wraith-like figure, which entered Merdosh's body. This was the spirit of Trakas Wingsong.
From the portal also emerged 11 kobolds, and a young green dragon, who had been left in magical stasis to serve Trakas upon his return.
The party hid Medosh/Trakas from the kobolds and dragon, hoping to avoid a battle. Eventually the dragon grew impatient, and a fight began.
As usual Samm confronted the strength of the enemy head on, charging the dragon and knocking it prone. Soon after, Jhunter successfully put the dragon unconscious with his Sleep power (a critical hit, and two missed saving throws by the dragon). While the dragon was asleep, the party unleashed more than 90 points of damage on him in a single found.
This turned out to be a surprisingly easy victory for the party. When the game resumes, things will have to be much tougher.
The chamber featured a suspended platform about a deep pit filled with bones. From the pit rose several wraiths and skeletons. The strongest of these foes was the Boneshard Skeleton. The party used excellent tactics to win this battle easily. Jhunter successfully shoved the Boneshard off the edge of the platform and into the pit. With the strongest enemy taken out of the fight, they made short work of the rest of the undead enemies.
Past the sacrifice chamber, the party at last reached the burial place of Trakas Wingsong. Fabulous treasures left for him at his return waited on two large tables. These treasures were trapped within a layer of petrification. When Merdosh touched the stone crown, it turned back to gold. And when he placed it on his head, the rest of the treasures were freed.
Dawning the crown also opened a magic portal. From this portal emerged a wraith-like figure, which entered Merdosh's body. This was the spirit of Trakas Wingsong.
From the portal also emerged 11 kobolds, and a young green dragon, who had been left in magical stasis to serve Trakas upon his return.
The party hid Medosh/Trakas from the kobolds and dragon, hoping to avoid a battle. Eventually the dragon grew impatient, and a fight began.
As usual Samm confronted the strength of the enemy head on, charging the dragon and knocking it prone. Soon after, Jhunter successfully put the dragon unconscious with his Sleep power (a critical hit, and two missed saving throws by the dragon). While the dragon was asleep, the party unleashed more than 90 points of damage on him in a single found.
This turned out to be a surprisingly easy victory for the party. When the game resumes, things will have to be much tougher.
Session #22 experience
2 combat encounters, including
1 WyrmPriest - 150
1 Young Green Dragon - 1000
10 Kobold minions 250
1 Boneshard Skeleton 200
1 Mad Wraith 250
1 Skeleton 125
2 skeleton archers 250
5 wisp wraiths 125
5 decripit skeletons 125
Totally 2475. 495 per character.
1 WyrmPriest - 150
1 Young Green Dragon - 1000
10 Kobold minions 250
1 Boneshard Skeleton 200
1 Mad Wraith 250
1 Skeleton 125
2 skeleton archers 250
5 wisp wraiths 125
5 decripit skeletons 125
Totally 2475. 495 per character.
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