You were born and raised on a farm just outside of Diamond Lake. Your parents, like many in the area sought a way for you to escape a life in the mines and you didn’t seem to have an aptitude for farming. You at least had an interest in the animals on the farm, caring for them, and taking great pains to nurse the sick and injured back to health.
One day about five years ago a traveling pilgrim of Pelor, Jozan, stopped to spend the night at the farm before traveling on to Greyhawk. He commented on your son’s devotion to the art of healing and mentioned how this was an asset in the priesthood.
That night your parents decided that the priests visit was no coincidence and that this was a sign from Pelor. They asked the priest to take you to the temple in the Free City and show him the path of service to the sun god. Being young at the time you did not want to leave, but obedience to your parent’s wishes overrode your concerns.
You were astonished by size of Greyhawk and splendor to the temple within. Jozan secured you a place within the monastery and your training began in earnest. Because you had been placed in his care, he checked up on you often and provided your parents with reports on your progress.
You studied the sacred tombs of Pelor and worked with the church to ease the suffering of the poor and infirm. Everything you learned defined and solidified the path you had taken.
Finally your studies were complete and it was time for you to be assigned to a church. You met with the elders to receive your assignment and to your surprise, Jozan was there. He had used his influence to make your church assignment Diamond Lake. You would be entrusted with a small sum of gold which you would use to purchase a building and supplies somewhere accessible to the townsfolk (but away from the “Vein”). You were to make repairs as necessary, begin services as soon as possible, and await Jozan who would arrive in a year’s time. Then the two of you would begin the process of showing the people the true way of Pelor.
You have been in Diamond Lake for about that year now. You have bought and built your church and have even had some success with followers including your proud parents. You have only received messages from Jozan. He will arrive soon he says, but never gives a specific date.
You have a few followers from town and the local garrison and have decided that you at least need to be seen about town to begin your missionary work. And for some reason you have decided to visit the vein, Diamond Lake’s seedier side of town to begin this work.
You enter the Feral Dog because it has no cover charge, and because it seems to be a bit crowded. You figure at a minimum you can have a drink and socialize a bit before retiring for the night.
You make your way past the rowdy patrons into the basement where you witness one of your flock; Sorra, from the Garrison, trying to keep the peace between a group of half-orcs and some freaks from the emporium. You immediately step forward to assist her diplomatic efforts and to your surprise she decks the half-orc leader.
Mayhem ensues… Oh well, so much for a drink and socializing. At least you’re being seen.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
PC - Background Story - Elias
You’ve always been a rake and a rambler, enjoying the open road and never staying too long in one spot. A year or two isn’t that long when you take into account that you’re an elf.
Fifteen years ago you found a kindred spirit in a ranger/undead hunter by the name of Balakarde. He obviously felt a connection as well, since though he was usually a loner, he accepted you as a traveling partner, and promised to teach you the trade when “you were ready.” Together you rode across a wide stretch of Oerth, helping undead to move on to the next world, and damsels enjoy a little more of this one.
Though these few years were a very small span in your life, they had a great deal of influence on you. You chronicled much of your travels together and today many of your stories and songs are based on these adventures. This and your dark demeanor are the reasons you are considered one of the best “ghost story” bards around.
Ten years ago, you were enjoying the nightlife in Greyhawk, when he came to you and told you that he had to make a trip north. He explained that he would be traveling with an old colleague, who was a little paranoid, even if rightfully so. He would not tolerate strangers, and this meant you. Balakarde promised that he would return within a few months and that this would be the time to begin your training.
You waited six months with no word. You waited a year when your money ran out and you had to move on. You assume Balakarde is dead or worse based on his profession. (Today, he would be an old man.)
Lately (the last few years) you’ve fallen on hard times and can hardly believe the circumstances you find yourself in. You’ve hired yourself at a brothel / gambling den / freak show known as The Emporium in a little mud hole of a town called Diamond Lake. You keep reminding yourself that a man’s got to eat.
You would have left some time ago had you not befriended one of the freaks at the sideshow, the “demon boy” known as Sif. He is one of those kindred spirits that may have a good heart, but also endued with a since of mischief that keeps life interesting.
That doesn’t mean you and Sif haven’t discussed leaving town together. You’ve both recently agreed that a little adventure is in order. You’ve been saving your money as best you can when you hear of an opportunity. Three adventurers from Greyhawk have just arrived in town with plans to scout out a local cairn. Perhaps they could use a couple of resourceful types such as you.
You head for the Feral Dog hoping for find them there. With your charm the Sif’s uhhhh…his uhhhh… You’ll do all the talking…
Fifteen years ago you found a kindred spirit in a ranger/undead hunter by the name of Balakarde. He obviously felt a connection as well, since though he was usually a loner, he accepted you as a traveling partner, and promised to teach you the trade when “you were ready.” Together you rode across a wide stretch of Oerth, helping undead to move on to the next world, and damsels enjoy a little more of this one.
Though these few years were a very small span in your life, they had a great deal of influence on you. You chronicled much of your travels together and today many of your stories and songs are based on these adventures. This and your dark demeanor are the reasons you are considered one of the best “ghost story” bards around.
Ten years ago, you were enjoying the nightlife in Greyhawk, when he came to you and told you that he had to make a trip north. He explained that he would be traveling with an old colleague, who was a little paranoid, even if rightfully so. He would not tolerate strangers, and this meant you. Balakarde promised that he would return within a few months and that this would be the time to begin your training.
You waited six months with no word. You waited a year when your money ran out and you had to move on. You assume Balakarde is dead or worse based on his profession. (Today, he would be an old man.)
Lately (the last few years) you’ve fallen on hard times and can hardly believe the circumstances you find yourself in. You’ve hired yourself at a brothel / gambling den / freak show known as The Emporium in a little mud hole of a town called Diamond Lake. You keep reminding yourself that a man’s got to eat.
You would have left some time ago had you not befriended one of the freaks at the sideshow, the “demon boy” known as Sif. He is one of those kindred spirits that may have a good heart, but also endued with a since of mischief that keeps life interesting.
That doesn’t mean you and Sif haven’t discussed leaving town together. You’ve both recently agreed that a little adventure is in order. You’ve been saving your money as best you can when you hear of an opportunity. Three adventurers from Greyhawk have just arrived in town with plans to scout out a local cairn. Perhaps they could use a couple of resourceful types such as you.
You head for the Feral Dog hoping for find them there. With your charm the Sif’s uhhhh…his uhhhh… You’ll do all the talking…
Champion's Belt Rules
Entering the Tournament:
Tournament:
Day 2 - Teams Rest - Manager's Generally Visit
Day 3 - Round 2: Six winning teams are paired off. Times: (12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM)
Day 4 - Round 3: Two of the teams (chosen by manager vote) pair off against each other.
Other team (usually the most popular) fights a secret exotic monster foe. Monster foe usually consumes less resources.
Day 5 - Round 4: Two remaining teams go against each other. Time: (12:00 PM)
Combat Rules:
- Must have a licensed manager.
- Must be a licensed gladiator.
- A team may consist of no more than eight members. (Familiars do not count. Larger animal companions, mounts, and cohorts do.)
- Each team must identify itself with a name.
- Each team must designate a leader who will wear a purple sash during the tournaments.
- Matches are posted in the common area of the Coenoby. All team members must report to the match coordinator 1 hour before the match. Failure to do so results in disqualification of team member.
- Champions' Game is a 5-day gladiatorial tournament.
- Takes place annually in the Free City (Greyhawk).
- The event pits gladiators against gladiators and gladiators against monsters.
- It is a four-round elimination event. No losers bracket.
Day 0 - Free Dinner - Begins at 6:00. Managers and teams arrive for feast and to meet patrols and big-wigs.
After dinner (Around 8:00) gladiators are lead to Coenoby below the arena where they must stay for the entire event.
Day 1 - Round 1: Six battles of free-for-all combat between groups of up to four teams. Times: (8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM)Day 2 - Teams Rest - Manager's Generally Visit
Day 3 - Round 2: Six winning teams are paired off. Times: (12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM)
Day 4 - Round 3: Two of the teams (chosen by manager vote) pair off against each other.
Other team (usually the most popular) fights a secret exotic monster foe. Monster foe usually consumes less resources.
Day 5 - Round 4: Two remaining teams go against each other. Time: (12:00 PM)
- Disqualification: two types - Team and Team Member
- Disqualified team or team member can no longer participate in the tournament and are escorted from the stadium.
- All battles are potentially lethal, but a gladiator always has the option of surrender. To Surrender, a gladiator must drop his weapons, kneel, and hold both hands in the air. A gladiator who attacks a surrendering foe is immediately disqualified (and subject to local law for assault and possibly murder) A gladiator who surrenders and then attacks another gladiator is also immediately disqualified.
- Gladiators that can fly or levitate may do so up to a height of 40 feet. A gladiator that flies any higher is disqualified. Burrowing into the arena's floor is forbidden.
- A match persists until one team is victorious, either through the death or the surrender of all opposing teams.
- Winning gladiators hove no right to the spoils of the fallen. A defeated gladiator keeps his gear, or in the case of death, ownership of gear reverts to his team or manager.
- Any tactic that endangers spectators is grounds for immediate disqualification and possible legal action.
- A disqualified gladiator must cease fighting at once and must move to the edge of the field of battle immediately. Failure to comply results in the disqualification of the entire team. Once a gladiator is disqualified, he may no longer take part in the remaining battles.
- Teams are brought up one at a time and assigned a position in the arena.
- The referee (xxx) will introduce the teams and describe the battle after all are in the place. These iintroductions usually last approximately two minutes. It is during this time that teams may begin to cast defensive spells, drink potions, etc... Any member with defensive magic up before this time is disqualified. No attacks on opponents may occur until the host (Raknian) gives the signal after the introduction.
- The referee (xxx) will disqualify gladiators by placing announcing who & why and placing a red aerie on the gladiator if they do not immediately cease. His decision is final.
- After each match, the losing team are escorted from the arena and/or bodies are collected by managers. Winning teams are given an award ceremony, with the manager accepting prizes and then escorted back to the Coenoby.
- Awards are given after each battle.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Adventure 05: Player Questions 01 - August 4, 2010
Hello Lynn,
Here is a bullet list of everything I have in notes for Elias while in Greyhawk.
I've also attached the last set of session notes that I have; I believe I made the last session, but had missed the one immediately preceding.
Hope this helps out.
-- Elias plays up the ‘foolish fop’ act as much as possible, trying to never let it be known that he is actually rather intelligent.
He takes 10 and has everybody fooled, including the party and the DM.
-- Did the group successfully treat on behalf of the lizard folk?
That process was initiated, and will be completed after the Champions Belt games.
-- Did we get the last bit of information from Eligos regarding the involvement between the Apostolic Scrolls and Raknian? The Mind Flayer had sold them to Raknian and I think we found another link between the Kyuss stuff and Raknian before the tournament, but perhaps not.
You did have an initial meeting with Eligos, where he gave you information about Kyuss the king and how he tried to become a god. He is very concerned with the things you have found and the fact that Raknian purchased the Apostolic Scrolls from the mind flayer. That can't be good. You are supposed to have another meeting with him after the games are over.
-- He and Sif were performing in a few different taverns around town to build party (brand) recognition.
You guys did that and were becoming a fairly popular draw, before you were pulled into the Champions Belt games.
-- When we freed prisoners from the Mind Flayer/Doppleganger lair, we gave them minor healing and cigars. More importantly, we made sure they knew who we were and also Elias made sure they knew where he performs at. He also got contact information for the two attractive lady prisoners that were freed.
All true...
-- Elias has commissioned a masterwork mandolin from a well-known instrument crafter in Greyhawk.
Also true...
-- Elias ordered 300 posters of the group, with the member’s names and likenesses (and featuring Elias prominently). These posters were plastered all over town on the second day of the tournament (the ‘off’ day).
You have just reached that point in the campaign. You'll have to talk to your sponsor to see if it happened AND the results.
-- Elias commissioned a series of 10 articles in the local flyer/paper with interviews from group members and covering some of our (edited) exploits. These stories started being published two days before the tournament began; I think this was the day after the group successfully contained (ok, killed) the Chimera. The publisher has agreed that he can only list his source as anonymous. The suggestion at time of play was ‘anonymous scribe’.
The articles have indeed appeared. There was mild interest in the early stories... as for the later ones, you don't know.
-- Elias has been looking for any information regarding Tierra (the female elf in Auric’s group). He has made sure to be a little more blatant than one would normally for a clandestine search, to make it obvious that he is not the smartest suitor out there.
She met with you quite a bit at the banquet before the games. She took you aside and asked that if you make it to the final battle; to be careful and take it easy on her friends (Auric, and the wizard). She also helped you place the 7000gp in bets... meaning, you are the easiest mark she has ever met or you're more than just business acquaintances.
-- Elias has been looking for any information regarding his mentor.
Need to know exactly how you are doing this. Different looking might produce different results.
-- Elias placed a total of 7000gp in bets on the party with various (legal and not as legal) bookies. Notes indicate you allowed an overall 3:1 odds against the party. Please be nice, Elias is sure he will have children that need to go to college some day.
You are correct. The party downplayed it's competence to achieve the initial 3:1 odds. You then handed over your money to a beautiful rogue who promised to put it all on black... and by black, she meant the party to win the Champions Belt.
-- Elias purchased four sheets of music (scrolls) of ‘Amplification’. You loosely defined Amplification as a 2nd level spell that would allow everyone in the arena to hear Elias’ performance (given his current caster level — so I think the area follows the medium range as a radius). IMPORTATNT: this version does not expand the range of bardic music effects, but there may be a higher level version that does. Elias made peaceful contact with the local bard college and found the Bard that created this spell and purchased the sheet music at 150 gp each.
If I remember correctly, you did get the magic to extend the hearing range of the performance. But you were told that the man who really had the spell you needed happened to also be the announcer and judge at the Champions Belt games. He uses the spell to announce the games; thus you may find yourself in conflict with his spell. He would not see you, because your are a contestant. Don't forget that one of the rules of the battles is not to magically hurt the audience. Don't get into any grey areas...
-- The group found links to Kyuss and the tournament/arena master Raknian. We also returned our sponsor (Ekaym) lover’s (Lahka) body to him; we did not perform a speak with undead before returning the body.
You got part of it right... You know that Raknian purchased the Apostolic Scrolls (a minor artifact) from the mind flayer; whom he also hired to kill you (the party). You suspect that you have found the Apostolic Scrolls in the area beneath the arena. It is currently shooting a beam or green light/force and a circular globe of light/force. It was being tended by a tiefling cleric; whom you killed.
You found the body (zombie) of Ekaym's (your sponsor) SISTER, who was Raknian's lover and who disappeared a little over a year ago. Ekaym had asked you to investigate her disappearance. You found her in the company of the tiefling cleric and returned her to Ekaym. You did not speak with dead or inspect the body in any way.
-- Elias has continued to try to track down Celeste, in a more clandestine manner than he is tracking Tierra. Elias knows she is working with Ekaym, but he found that dead end information that lead he and Sif to a perfectly clean hotel room or apartment that no one is staying in. Its strange, but she is also very beautiful...
She is quite mysterious and is in the employ of Ekaym; but you get the idea she's a freelancer and won't be in his employ after the current job is finished. You are correct that she has not stayed in the room provided for her by Ekaym. Your quest will have to wait until after the games.
DM Further Notes:
While I've asked everyone to bump up to 10th, you are stuck with your existing equipment until you meet with Ekaym, who can bring you requested items. But keep in mind that some things may not be easy to find.
(Notes/Questions provided by Elias)
Here is a bullet list of everything I have in notes for Elias while in Greyhawk.
I've also attached the last set of session notes that I have; I believe I made the last session, but had missed the one immediately preceding.
Hope this helps out.
-- Elias plays up the ‘foolish fop’ act as much as possible, trying to never let it be known that he is actually rather intelligent.
He takes 10 and has everybody fooled, including the party and the DM.
-- Did the group successfully treat on behalf of the lizard folk?
That process was initiated, and will be completed after the Champions Belt games.
-- Did we get the last bit of information from Eligos regarding the involvement between the Apostolic Scrolls and Raknian? The Mind Flayer had sold them to Raknian and I think we found another link between the Kyuss stuff and Raknian before the tournament, but perhaps not.
You did have an initial meeting with Eligos, where he gave you information about Kyuss the king and how he tried to become a god. He is very concerned with the things you have found and the fact that Raknian purchased the Apostolic Scrolls from the mind flayer. That can't be good. You are supposed to have another meeting with him after the games are over.
-- He and Sif were performing in a few different taverns around town to build party (brand) recognition.
You guys did that and were becoming a fairly popular draw, before you were pulled into the Champions Belt games.
-- When we freed prisoners from the Mind Flayer/Doppleganger lair, we gave them minor healing and cigars. More importantly, we made sure they knew who we were and also Elias made sure they knew where he performs at. He also got contact information for the two attractive lady prisoners that were freed.
All true...
-- Elias has commissioned a masterwork mandolin from a well-known instrument crafter in Greyhawk.
Also true...
-- Elias ordered 300 posters of the group, with the member’s names and likenesses (and featuring Elias prominently). These posters were plastered all over town on the second day of the tournament (the ‘off’ day).
You have just reached that point in the campaign. You'll have to talk to your sponsor to see if it happened AND the results.
-- Elias commissioned a series of 10 articles in the local flyer/paper with interviews from group members and covering some of our (edited) exploits. These stories started being published two days before the tournament began; I think this was the day after the group successfully contained (ok, killed) the Chimera. The publisher has agreed that he can only list his source as anonymous. The suggestion at time of play was ‘anonymous scribe’.
The articles have indeed appeared. There was mild interest in the early stories... as for the later ones, you don't know.
-- Elias has been looking for any information regarding Tierra (the female elf in Auric’s group). He has made sure to be a little more blatant than one would normally for a clandestine search, to make it obvious that he is not the smartest suitor out there.
She met with you quite a bit at the banquet before the games. She took you aside and asked that if you make it to the final battle; to be careful and take it easy on her friends (Auric, and the wizard). She also helped you place the 7000gp in bets... meaning, you are the easiest mark she has ever met or you're more than just business acquaintances.
-- Elias has been looking for any information regarding his mentor.
Need to know exactly how you are doing this. Different looking might produce different results.
-- Elias placed a total of 7000gp in bets on the party with various (legal and not as legal) bookies. Notes indicate you allowed an overall 3:1 odds against the party. Please be nice, Elias is sure he will have children that need to go to college some day.
You are correct. The party downplayed it's competence to achieve the initial 3:1 odds. You then handed over your money to a beautiful rogue who promised to put it all on black... and by black, she meant the party to win the Champions Belt.
-- Elias purchased four sheets of music (scrolls) of ‘Amplification’. You loosely defined Amplification as a 2nd level spell that would allow everyone in the arena to hear Elias’ performance (given his current caster level — so I think the area follows the medium range as a radius). IMPORTATNT: this version does not expand the range of bardic music effects, but there may be a higher level version that does. Elias made peaceful contact with the local bard college and found the Bard that created this spell and purchased the sheet music at 150 gp each.
If I remember correctly, you did get the magic to extend the hearing range of the performance. But you were told that the man who really had the spell you needed happened to also be the announcer and judge at the Champions Belt games. He uses the spell to announce the games; thus you may find yourself in conflict with his spell. He would not see you, because your are a contestant. Don't forget that one of the rules of the battles is not to magically hurt the audience. Don't get into any grey areas...
-- The group found links to Kyuss and the tournament/arena master Raknian. We also returned our sponsor (Ekaym) lover’s (Lahka) body to him; we did not perform a speak with undead before returning the body.
You got part of it right... You know that Raknian purchased the Apostolic Scrolls (a minor artifact) from the mind flayer; whom he also hired to kill you (the party). You suspect that you have found the Apostolic Scrolls in the area beneath the arena. It is currently shooting a beam or green light/force and a circular globe of light/force. It was being tended by a tiefling cleric; whom you killed.
You found the body (zombie) of Ekaym's (your sponsor) SISTER, who was Raknian's lover and who disappeared a little over a year ago. Ekaym had asked you to investigate her disappearance. You found her in the company of the tiefling cleric and returned her to Ekaym. You did not speak with dead or inspect the body in any way.
-- Elias has continued to try to track down Celeste, in a more clandestine manner than he is tracking Tierra. Elias knows she is working with Ekaym, but he found that dead end information that lead he and Sif to a perfectly clean hotel room or apartment that no one is staying in. Its strange, but she is also very beautiful...
She is quite mysterious and is in the employ of Ekaym; but you get the idea she's a freelancer and won't be in his employ after the current job is finished. You are correct that she has not stayed in the room provided for her by Ekaym. Your quest will have to wait until after the games.
DM Further Notes:
While I've asked everyone to bump up to 10th, you are stuck with your existing equipment until you meet with Ekaym, who can bring you requested items. But keep in mind that some things may not be easy to find.
(Notes/Questions provided by Elias)
Adventure 04 - Player's Notes - June 4, 2009
I don't have a proper set of notes from last session, but it looks like we had got in touch with Eligos and he was doing some research for us; I believe he was the dude with all the suits of armor(notes not real clear?).
We found out that the arena tournament/games are getting ready to or have just started. We also killed a critter bound for the games (Chimera?), saving some townspeople.
The tournament requires the patronage of a noble or wealthy merchant to participate in the games. The three adventurers we meet in Diamond Lake (mage, Auric (fighter), and the elf that likes Elias, Tirra (Rogue)) are the current champions of the games. Finding a patron isn't that easy.
(The DM says we should concentrate on the adventure at hand and stop thinking about the stupid Champions Belt games. He'll let us know when the train rolls into that station...)
Elias is continuing to work on the groups reputation in town with random performances in crowded venues. He and Sif will also continue their performance at the 'Pot and Pans'. Elias also wants to contact a publisher and make arrangements for the groups tales to begin being sold in print...Elias will, of course, provide all the details. The publisher will not be able to disclose his source, or he will get no further information.
The group had sold treasure and bought supplies and items.
(Notes: Provided graciously by Elias)
We found out that the arena tournament/games are getting ready to or have just started. We also killed a critter bound for the games (Chimera?), saving some townspeople.
The tournament requires the patronage of a noble or wealthy merchant to participate in the games. The three adventurers we meet in Diamond Lake (mage, Auric (fighter), and the elf that likes Elias, Tirra (Rogue)) are the current champions of the games. Finding a patron isn't that easy.
(The DM says we should concentrate on the adventure at hand and stop thinking about the stupid Champions Belt games. He'll let us know when the train rolls into that station...)
Elias is continuing to work on the groups reputation in town with random performances in crowded venues. He and Sif will also continue their performance at the 'Pot and Pans'. Elias also wants to contact a publisher and make arrangements for the groups tales to begin being sold in print...Elias will, of course, provide all the details. The publisher will not be able to disclose his source, or he will get no further information.
The group had sold treasure and bought supplies and items.
(Notes: Provided graciously by Elias)
Age of Worms: NPCs
Leader of an adventuring party arriving in Diamond Lake, alongside Khellek and Tirria. Auric (a fighter) also claims to be the reigning champion of the Champion's Belt Games, in the City of Greyhawk. Auric is charismatic, loud, and boastful, but one still gets the feeling that he genuinely cares for his team and others. Auric's Band arrived at Diamond Lake in search of adventure. They explored the Stirgenest Cairn; but found little of value and have since moved on to other more lucrative projects.
Auric and Khelleck were fighting in the Champions Belt Games when all hell broke loose.
Auric fought side by side with the Lakers to vanquish the undead abomination release within the arena in the middle of the night. He himself was swallowed and almost transformed before escaping the creatures gullet.
After this encounter, Auric approached Elias and Sorra with a business proposition. It was obvious to all (Him, the Lakers, and even City Officials) that Raknian was behind the mess going on. He thought that a hero of the city could wrest control of the games from Raknian... but who.
The obvious candidates were someone from within the Lakers, or himself. Since the Lakers were obviously not going to stay in Greyhark in the immediate future; he was the obvious choice. And to solidify his hero status in the hearts and minds of the Greyhawk people... all he needed to do was win the Champions Belt a third time in a row.
In exchange for throwing a one-on-one challenge, Auric promised the Lakers a 15% interest in the Champion's Games.
The party took the offer, and is now a silent and unseen business partner.
On an unimportant side note it was discovered by Elias that Khellek had abandoned the team when all the hell started breaking loose. Auric would have battled the party alone, even if they had not accepted the deal.
Encountered in: The Whispering Cairn & The Champion's Belt
Celeste (Human, Female, Rogue? Fighter?)An acquaintance of scholar mage Eligos, she introduces the party to Ekaym Smallcask making it possible for the Lakers to participate in The Champion’s Games. She came and went throughout that event often helping Eligos, Ekaym, and the party.
When Eligos was assassinated, she helped the party retrieve their secret belongings from the mages home; then hurriedly disappeared again on business. The party suspects there is more to her and would not be surprised to see her again.
Encountered in: The Champion's Belt
Dourstone, Ragnolin (Dwarf, Mine Manager)
Dwarven owner of the Dourstone Mines in Diamond Lake. Ragnolin is rumored to have collapsed a family mine in his home town to teach unreuly employees a lesson; killing over 300. For this he was supposedly driven from his home to settle in Diamond Lake. This may just be a rumor because Ragnolin is the most demanding, and cruel of the mine managers; enforcing his will through his subordinate, Trax.Ragnolin was approached by the Ebon Trian who wanted to gain access to an ancient temple to Vecna beneith his mine. He entered into this profitable arrangement and brought in Balabar Smenk to help supply the group.
He suspects the party is responsible for raiding the temple, but can't prove it. Of course he's had other killed for fewer suspicions than that. Had the party not left town when they did, he definitely would have made a move to neutralize them. Maybe he's calmed down since he's had some time to think.
Encountered in: Diamond Lake & The Three Faces of Evil & The Champion's Belt
A horrific fiend demonstrating characteristics of the three vile gods Hextor, Vecna and Erythnul. He was birthed from a black pool beneath the Dourstone mine in Diamond Lake, created by the Faceless One (representing Vecna), with the help of Theldrick (representng Hextor), and Grallak Kur (representing Erythnul). All three were pioneer members of the Ebon Triad seeking to bring about the Age of Worms and the merging of their three gods into an overgod. The monster was forced to emerge before it was fully developed and destroyed by the PCs before they made their "escape" from Dourstone's mine.
Encountered in: The Three Faces of Evil
Faceless One, The (Human, Sorcerer, Deceased)
Leader of the Vecna cult of the Ebon Triad beneath Diamond Lake. Apparently he believed the coming of the Age of Worms would help bring about the coming of the Overgod. It was he that deciphered the rituals and created the Ebon Aspect in the dark pool just outside the lair. The PCs dispatched him and his abomination.
Encountered in: The Three Faces of Evil
Filge (Human, Necromancer, Deceased)Necromancer dwelling within the Old Observatory in Diamond Lake. He was apparently involved in the study of a Kyuss worm, on behalf of Balabar Smenk. He also conspired to rob the graves of the Land farmstead. He was killed by the party as they tried to retrieve the Land family skeletons. It is from Filge that the party acquired their first specimen of a Kyuss worm.
Encountered in: The Whispering Cairn
Grallak Kur (Grimlock, Cleric, Deceased)
One of three leaders of the Ebon Triad cult assembled in an ancient temple and cave system below Diamond Lake. This Grimlock was a follower of Erythnul who lead his people up from the underdark to take part in bringing about the Age of Worms. He was killed by the party as they raided the caves his people occupied
Encountered in: The Three Faces of Evil
Hiska (Lizardman Shaman, Druid)
The spiritual leader of the Mistmarsh lizardmen. She parleyed with the Lakers when they arrived to rescue Marzena and other soldiers kidnapped from the Blackwall Keep. The Lakers further solidified their alliance when they helped rescue the lizardmen eggs from deceptive kobolds and Kyuss worms in the service of Ilthane, the black dragon.
The Lakers agreed to arrange a treaty between the lizardmen and Greyhawk; which they did. Having met with representatives sent from Greyhawk, she is impressed with the terms the party negotiated. Perhaps this is the beginning or a peaceful era between the tribes and the humans.
Encountered in: Encounter at Blackwall Keep
A black dragon who apparently tricked the Lizardfolk of the Mistmarsh, attempting to infect them and their offspring with Kyuss worms, while also turning them against nearby human settlements.
She returned after the party has moved on to Greyhawk to discover her plans thwarted, her minions killed and the lizardflok no longer so accepting of her "help".
Enraged, she learned the identity of the party and their benefactor Allustan of Diamond Lake. She attacked the town, killing many in search of the party (or Allustan); but the party (The Lakers) was away fighting in the Arena Games in Greyhawk; and Allustan was busy exploring the Whispering Cairn.
She tracked down Allustan at the cairn and attacked him; but he managed to escape back into the cairn and through a portal. She set up watch and was rewarded when the Lakers approached a couple days later. A battle ensued resulting in the dragon's demise.
Encountered in: Encounter at Blackwall Keep, The Gathering of Winds
Member of Auric's Band, Khellek is the quite and moody wizard of the group. An able Dragon Chess player, xxx was the only amenity in Diamond Lake that made his stay tolerable.
Khellek abandoned Auric during the Champions Games when all the freaky stuff started happening. His whereabouts are now unknown.
Encountered in: The Whispering Cairn & The Champion's Belt
Land, Alastor (Human Boy, Deceased)Found in the inner chambers of the Whispering Cairn, Alastor is the ghost of a young boy who died exploring those deadly halls. He asked the party to return his body to be buried WITH his family in the family's gravesite. In exchange he would use his incorporial form to assist the party in continueing on through the Whispering Cairn. The promise was a little harder to fullfil, since the Land family skeletons had been stolen by the necromancer Filge.
Encountered in: The Whispering Cairn
Lazare (Human, Business Owner of Diamond Lake)
Serene dragonchess master and owner of Lazare's House that caters to the upper-crust and intellectuals of Diamond Lake.
He used to be a mine manager, but due to ill fortune was forced to sell out to Balabar Smenk.
He has a daughter, Dannath, who is his only child. He is wildly protective of her. She spends her time as the hostess of Lazare's House.
Encountered in: Diamond Lake
Marzena (Human, Female, Wizard)
Spell caster and friend of Allustan Neff stationed at the Blackwall keep. She had written Allustan about the increase in green wormed "un-killable" zombies coming out of the Mistmarsh. She was kidnapped by the lizardmen and later rescued by the party.
Encountered in: Encounter at Blackwall Keep
Neff, Allustan (Human, Wizard)
An outstanding citizen of Diamond Lake; which is surprising when you take into account his brother, Lanod. He seems like a man comfortable in his own skin. He'll socialize a bit, entertain exostic guests every now and then, takes a trip here and there, and still dabbles in wizardry.It's rumored that he has high wizardly connections, real high; but that he fell out of favor with his master and just retired.
Recently, Allustan discovered a portal at the Whispering Cairn that lead to another burial vault. When he existed the Cairn for supplies he was attacked by the dragon Ilthane for his (and the party's) interferance with her plans.
He escaped back into the Cairn and the portal, but his condition and whereabouts are currently unknown.
Encountered in: Diamond Lake & Throughout Early Adventure Path
Neff, Lanod (Human, Mayor of Diamond Lake)
Mayor of Diamond Lake, appointed by Greyhawk. His father had been the mayor who pulled some strings and got him a position at the garrison. By the time his father died, he had enough pull to get himself appointed to the big time. His manor overlooks most of the town.
He's actually a good fit for Diamond Lake being a lying, cheating, philanderer. He lines his pockets with the with city money; and spreads just enough around to his cronies (the Sheriff among them) to stay in power.
His brother is Allustan, the wizard. They don't socialize much, but blook can run thick. Allustan is one of those unknown factors that probably keeps Lanod's enemies from making a move on him.
Encountered in: Diamond Lake
Loris is a famous adventurer and former gladiator, who is now the Arena Director for Champion’s Belt tournament. The prestige and money Loris had brought to the city has made him a celebrity and outstanding citizen of Greyhawk.
This will mark the 10th anniversary of the Champions Belt and Loris has promised that this one will make the gods take notice.
For someone who is such an outstanding citizen; Loris Raknian has taken an immediate dislike to The Lakers from the moment they reached Greyhawk. He hired a mind flayer to have the party discredited and killed. When the mind flayer failed, Raknian discovered the party entered into his Champion’s Belt tournament.
Besides his obvious hatred for the party; the fact that Raknian bought a minor evil artifact, the Apostolic Scrolls, from the mind-flayer does not speak well of his character.
It is now obvious that Raknian tried to use the Apostolic Scrolls to bring about some mass destructions at the games. His stature and influence deminished, he recently disappeared from Greyhawk.
Encountered in: The Champion's Belt
Shukak (Lizardman, Deceased)
Lizard King of the Mistmarsh tribe, he was responsible for the cruel and violent attacks on the Blackwall Keep garrison, having been tricked by Ilthane into believing the humans there responsible for the plague that killed the lizardfolk hatchlings, a few years prior.
Encountered in: Encounter at Blackwall Keep
One of the most corrupt mine managers in Diamond Lake, and that's saying something. Balabar's star is on the rise, as he schemes to bankrupt other managers and buy them out for coppers on the gold. Balabar recently found himself involved in supplying a cult called the Ebon Triad under Ragnolin Dourstones mine. What he saw there brought fear even to his black heart.
He requested a meeting with the party where he told them he forgave them for them for the death of his "friend", Filg. He then hired the PCs to infiltrate the Ebon Triad complex and destroy any evidence he was involved. The PCs accepted the deal and did just that as they destroyed and disbanded the cult.
It was the unlikely alliance of Allustan and Smenk who arranged for an escape plan for the party from the Ebon Triad complex and the Doursone mine, using gaseous form and a covered coach.
Elias kept one document linking Smenk to the Ebon Triad; but produced and destroyed it when the business partners met in the outskirts of town to settle their accounts. There is currently mistrust but an easy truce between Smenk and the party.
Encountered in: Diamond Lake & The Three Faces of Evil
Theldrick (Human, Cleric of Hextor, Deceased)
Leader of the Hextor branch of the Ebon Triad beneath Diamond Lake. He and his followers put up a valiant fight against the party using barricades and other devices of war. Eventually the party proved too much for the Hextor branch; but Theldrick managed to escape. This was probably the cause of Dourstone preparing a small armada to greet the PCs when they surfaced. Theldrick and Dourstone to this day wonder how the PCs reappeared in town; bypassing their trap. Both have probably taken this as a sign from the gods to mend their evil ways...
Encountered in: The Three Faces of Evil
Member of Auric's Band, Tirria is a mischievous elven rogue indirectly responsible for the party getting together. She duped Elias and Sif into getting into a fist-fight at the Feral Dog so that she could pick pockets during the distraction. She later befriended Elias and Sif; finding in them kindred spirits.
Though she is in the process of separating from Auric's Band, she is still friends with her old comrades. Because of her friendship with both parties; she has asked each to be careful when battling each other in the arena.
Tirria has befriended Elias while she still has allegiance to her old comrades. She has asked both parties to be careful and not "hurt" the other; concerned that both may be too powerful for the Champions Belt Games.
Encountered in: The Whispering Cairn & The Champion's Belt
Zyrxog (Mind Flayer, Sorcerer, Deceased)
Zyrxog commanded a lair accessible by sewer beneath the City of Greyhawk. With drow thralls at his command, the munched on random citizens kidnapped from above and continued bizarre experiments, including the creation of new aberrations such as the Octopin.
Zyrxog occasionally did business with citizens in the world above, including one Loris Raknian. Raknian hired the mind flayer to first acquire for him a minor artifact know as the Apostolic Scrolls. Then he hired him to dispose of a group of travelers just arriving in Greyhawk. At first, Zyrxog tried to dispose of the PCs using a band of Doppelganger he controlled. When this didn't work, the Lakers paid him a visit (discovering the location of his lair) and put an end to his meddling.
Encountered in: The Hall of Harsh Reflections
History - Timeline
Age of Worm Timeline
Prehistory
-905 CY (Common Year)(Greyhawk Time System)
495 CY
Prehistory
- Great war between the Wind Dukes of Aaqa and the Queen of Chaos.
- Rod of Law created by the seven Wandering Dukes.
- Battle of Pesh. The Wind Duke Zosiel is slain by the demon Kizarvidexus, who is slain in turn by the Wind Duke Icosiol. The Wind Duke Icosiol slain by Miska the Wolf-Spider. Miska the Wolf-Spider defeated by the Wind Duke Qadeej, wielding the Rod of Law. Rod of Law is fragmented into the Rod of Seven Parts. Rift Canyon formed.
- Tomb of Icosiol constructed below fields of Pesh.
- Whispering Cairn constructed by the Wind Duke Nadroc in the Cairn Hills.
-905 CY (Common Year)(Greyhawk Time System)
- Kyuss comes to prominence, ruling the jungle city of Kuluth-Mar. With assistance from a spell weaver lich, Kyuss attempts to ascend to godhood. (DNG#130)
495 CY
- The Cairn Hills town of Diamond Lake hosts an order of monks, preoccupied with astronomy, at the Diamond Lake Observatory. (Dungeon #124.40, 63)
- The City of Greyhawk nationalizes the Cairn Hills smelting trade. (Dungeon #124.62)
525 CY
- A mine collapses near Diamond Lake. Over 300 miners die in the disaster. (DNG#124.62)
- The Seeker Ulavant leads an expedition into the Whispering Cairn, where the entire band meets its death. (DNG#124) Some of their undead bodies where slain by the party. Some of their equipment became treasure within the Cairn.
- Ulgo Fant's iron mine near the Whispering Cairn goes dry. (DNG#124.16; DR#333.62)
- Ragnolin Dourstone of Greysmere, after intentionally collapsing part of one of his family's mines on his agitating workers, is run out of Greysmere and moves to Diamond Lake, where he acquires the rights to some of the mines in that region of the Cairn Hills. (DNG#124.52; AoWO.22)
555 CY
564 CY
565 CY
575 CY
(Note: Much of this material has been gathered from various sources, including Wikipedia, Dungeon Magazine, etc... I have gathered what I needed here to aid in my campaign.)
- Felanore, a young giantess of the Cairn Hills, is captured by members of the Diamond Lake Garrison and "granted" to the owner of the Spinning Giant to serve as mascot. Thereafter, she becomes known as "Flailing" Felanore. (DNG#124.58)
564 CY
- Anders Land dies.
565 CY
- Alastor Land runs away from his home near Diamond Lake and dies in the Whispering Cairn. (DNG#124) Alastor Land is the ghost who helps the party continue through the Whispering Cairn in exchange for burying his bones WITH those of his family in the cemetery by the old farm. Since the family bones were stolen from the cemetery; this ends up being a tougher bargain than the party anticipated.
575 CY
- Izenfen the Occluded, Mistress of the Twilight Monastery in the Cairn Hills, refuses to use the Censer of Symmetry to predict unclaimed ore deposits for a cadre of miners from nearby Diamond Lake. The miners invade the monastery, seeking to steal the Censer, but fail, though Izenfen's daughter Imonoth dies in the conflict. In retaliation, Izenfen gathers her best warriors and sends them into Diamond lake, where all fifteen survivors of the ill-fated raid are assassinated. This event becomes commemorated yearly as Darkstar's Kiss. (AoWO.20)
- The rogue Balabar Smenk befriends the necromancer Filge. (DNG#124.46) Filge took up residence in the old observatory; and was researching the green worm for Smenk. He also stole the bones of the Land family to act as skeleton menions. The party raided his hideout for the skeletons and came into possesson of the vile with the worm.
- Lazare wins Greyhawk dragonchess championship and uses winnings to buy a mine in the Cairn Hills northeast of Diamond Lake. (DNG#124.53)
(Note: Much of this material has been gathered from various sources, including Wikipedia, Dungeon Magazine, etc... I have gathered what I needed here to aid in my campaign.)
Adventure 05 - Player Notes - 01 - Sep. 2009
In which the party continues to seek evidence to clear their own good name and win the Free City Champion’s Tournament…
Personae Dramatis:
• Coleman (Lee-Human Cleric/Radiant Servant of Pelor)
• Elavil (Nathan-Human Wizard, expert on the Zorn)
• Elias (Ed-Elf Ranger/Bard, party face man)
• Mendravis (-sp?) (Rick-Human Paladin)
• Rendar (Scott-Human Dragon Shaman)
• Sif (Rob-Teifling Rogue)
• Sorra (Jessica-Human Fighter, master of chains)
Our heroes have made a great showing in the first round of the Free City Champion’s Tournament and found there is more than just a gladiatorial competition underway at the Greyhawk Arena…
Elias is feeling better until he hears that net income from the first round winnings totals 262gp…
He feels bad for his friends when he finds out that they gave Tierra a large sum of gold to place bets with the local bookies. Elias forgoes any of these winnings, but accepts Ekaym’ offer of 1200gp of magic item. (He borrows 1300 gp from Rendar and requests a Scarab of Golembane, based upon the report of ‘rogue like statues accompanying Auric’s Warband’.)
The party awakes from their night of dungeon exploring and heads back the underground pool that we know enters into the underground river leading to the Ghast’s room. It takes some time to convince the ‘Inhumans’ to relocate to someplace other than the one pool that leads to the hidden chambers under the arena. Sorra, Rendar and Elias enter the hidden area via the pool using swimming and a rope of climbing. They dispatch the Ghasts in the ante-chamber before the remainder of the party arrives via Elavil’s dimension door.
The party slowly and carefully makes their way up the chimney to the next level, which is where they made it to the evening before. Moving beyond the well/chimney the group finds a small 15’ x 15’ room that looks like a bunk room (and it reeks of decaying flesh). There is a Morhg and three of the Kyuss Super Zombies here, although they go down pretty quickly. No one is infected by the worms, so the party burns the bodies and continues moving.
This area of the underground chambers is all worked stone of some age, but still stable and in good shape. Estimates are 60-100 years old on the stonework. Although the area seems to be well-hidden from accidental discovery, it appears that there is regular traffic in most of the rooms we pass through.
The party finds one 15’ square side chamber dominated by a large ancient (broken) device that Elavil surmises was used to pump huge amounts of water through a pipe. The party opens an access way in the 2’ round pipe, but it is too small for anyone to fit in. Elavil sends in the intrepid unseen servant after detecting an epic level magic source just a little way down the pipe. The party knows they are under the arena, and that the pipe takes a turn up toward the arena; perhaps this pump was used for special effects in the arena?
Proceeding down the corridor, the party finds a room that has a simple altar in the East wall facing a double set of doors in the West wall. A writhing green beam of unnatural light emanates from the scrolls and shoots across the room, bathing the doors in the same unnatural green glow. Elavil casts an unseen servant and directs him to walk through the beam. The party tries breaking the beam with a cloak, which has not effect (the beam continues to shine across the room, ignoring the cloak.) Elias offers to let anyone use his mirror and prism to play with the beam; amidst much foot shuffling and stammering, no one takes him up on his offer. As the party moves to and fro in the room, everyone is careful not to break the beam of light.
The double doors that the green beam strikes open into a 25’ long hallway that ends in an stone filled lattice work depicting an obscene orgy of worm laden bodies topped by a Kyuss skull breathing a scream of triumph. Elias breaks out a small section of the lattice with a magical mace. Using his mirror and dancing lights, the group determines that the ‘egg’ fills the entire circular chamber beyond the lattice, which seems to extend up out of site. We believe we are directly under the arena floor. This information, coupled with the broken water pump, leads us to believe that this used to be a system for flooding the arena (perhaps for mock sea battles). It should be noted that the DM neither confirmed nor denied this hypothesis. Since we can see movement inside the egg, along with a sickening mix of purple and green colors and fluids, the party feels it most likely that this worm will emerge in the arena area.
We find Lahka, our patron’s sister animated as a zombie. She opens the door for a Tiefling Cleric who proceeds to attack the party. The Tiefling Cleric has chainmail, shield, unholy club, periapt, prayer beads, and the Cleric’s unholy symbol.
The clerics room is dominated by a central pillar of segmented marble carved to resemble a green worm…which everyone in the party ignores (although it does not radiate any magic, since we are thoroughly searching the room using detect magic.) The room contains a bed, cupboard, an elongated ornate trunk, and several tapestries depicting green worms. The trunk is made of dark wood, and bound in steel. The side panels are painted in shades of green and black depicting a series of figures infected by green worms. Huge green worms invade the above ground portion of the painting from the cavernous (lower) section of the frieze. Inside the chest we find the items listed below.
• 100 gp
• 3 green gems (100gp)
• 3 aquamarine gems (500gp)
• a potion (cure moderate wounds)
• a scroll (divine: death ward)
• two scrolls (arcane: ethereal jaunt)
• three small bags of dust: transmutation
• 2 blocks of incense of meditation
• 9 blocks of incense
• a wand: radiates conjuration
• a spoon: radiates conjuration
• three vials of oil: oil of gentle repose
It is also determined that the chest has a horrible magical trap on it. The person opening the chest must make a high FORT save, or become part of the frieze decoration. That character will then need to make another FORT save later, or be eaten by the worms in the frieze. Nasty stuff, that. The single door in the corner of the room opens into a short hallway that goes around a corner.
A brazier in the NW corner of the (next) rectangular room fitfully illuminates the room. Behind the curtain is a mosaic composed of tiny green tiles depicting a horrible mass of green worms writhing across the wall. Out of the urn materializes what appears as a demon (Acolyth, a shapeless horror that is used as an agent of the Abyss in regions where most demons would hesitate to venture). The Acolyth erects a wall of ice in the corridor, trapping Sif, Mendravis and Coleman in the chamber with itself. The remainder of the party begins breaking through the wall of ice. Mendravis smites the demon, doing massive damage and causing it to move out of melee with him. Sif scores two critical hits with his bow (yes, two), but realizes the creature cannot be critically injured. In order to make matters worse, it becomes apparent that only Good aligned weapons can cause the creature harm. Sif puts his bow away and turns to the wall of ice, drawing his swords to help hack it down. Coleman casts a gas cloud spell, but the creature is immune to gases. Citing the gas cloud as ‘brilliant’, it cast the same spell. Sif is slowed, but Mendravis and Coleman are unaffected. Coleman and Mendravis manage to finish it off with spells just as the party hacks through the wall of ice. There are two emeralds worth 1000gp each, and the curtain is worth approximately 250gp (one way vision). The party forgets to package up the curtain, but does take the gems.
The secret door near the urn opens into a passage sloping up that is very long. Following the tunnel several hundred feet, Elias finds a secret door approximately 60’ from the end of the corridor. The secret door opens into a basement storage area in Raknian’s basement. Sif makes his way into the basement, as does Elias and Elavil. Elavil detects for magic, but finds none. While Sif listens at the door, Elias obtains several vintages of very nice wine. Elias also finds a pair of uniforms for Raknian’s personal guard…they are just about the right size for the fighters in the party. Elias is the last person out of the basement, and covers tracks. Sif re-closes the secret door as soon as the party is all back in the passageway.
On the way out, the party returns to the side passage near the Kyuss Zombie bunk room and makes its way up the side passage behind the secret door that leads to the magically trapped platform. Sif professionally disarms the magical trap and manages to take only 25 points of damage (after save) from the ‘Slay Living’ trap. The party proceeds through the door into a small storage room filled with wine and vinegar bottles. A door at the top of a set of stairs opens into a hallway which the construction matches the Cenobe area. Rendar disguises himself in one of the Raknian personal guard uniforms (and alters his appearance, as well). He explores a short distance up and down the hallway. He realizes he is in the Administrative area, and he comes back and tells the party. There are many people moving about in the Administrative area, since it is daytime, so the party thinks it best to return after hours.
The party finds their way to the underground pool, and manages to make it back to meet with Ekaym before he leaves. He has the items and supplies the various party members requested. We return Lahka’s body and gently explain that we found her body in a hidden area under the Cenobe. (The party never did attempt to speak with her spirit to garner any further information against Raknian). We also tell him SOME of the information that we found in the hidden catacomb area under the arena. We do not mention the Apstolic Scrolls or the Kyuss Worm incubator. We eat dinner in the common area, talking about tournament type things and then return to the party’s chambers to make plans.
The party rests for the evening in preparation for Day 2 of the tournament…
END OF SESSON
Personae Dramatis:
• Coleman (Lee-Human Cleric/Radiant Servant of Pelor)
• Elavil (Nathan-Human Wizard, expert on the Zorn)
• Elias (Ed-Elf Ranger/Bard, party face man)
• Mendravis (-sp?) (Rick-Human Paladin)
• Rendar (Scott-Human Dragon Shaman)
• Sif (Rob-Teifling Rogue)
• Sorra (Jessica-Human Fighter, master of chains)
Our heroes have made a great showing in the first round of the Free City Champion’s Tournament and found there is more than just a gladiatorial competition underway at the Greyhawk Arena…
Elias is feeling better until he hears that net income from the first round winnings totals 262gp…
He feels bad for his friends when he finds out that they gave Tierra a large sum of gold to place bets with the local bookies. Elias forgoes any of these winnings, but accepts Ekaym’ offer of 1200gp of magic item. (He borrows 1300 gp from Rendar and requests a Scarab of Golembane, based upon the report of ‘rogue like statues accompanying Auric’s Warband’.)
The party awakes from their night of dungeon exploring and heads back the underground pool that we know enters into the underground river leading to the Ghast’s room. It takes some time to convince the ‘Inhumans’ to relocate to someplace other than the one pool that leads to the hidden chambers under the arena. Sorra, Rendar and Elias enter the hidden area via the pool using swimming and a rope of climbing. They dispatch the Ghasts in the ante-chamber before the remainder of the party arrives via Elavil’s dimension door.
The party slowly and carefully makes their way up the chimney to the next level, which is where they made it to the evening before. Moving beyond the well/chimney the group finds a small 15’ x 15’ room that looks like a bunk room (and it reeks of decaying flesh). There is a Morhg and three of the Kyuss Super Zombies here, although they go down pretty quickly. No one is infected by the worms, so the party burns the bodies and continues moving.
This area of the underground chambers is all worked stone of some age, but still stable and in good shape. Estimates are 60-100 years old on the stonework. Although the area seems to be well-hidden from accidental discovery, it appears that there is regular traffic in most of the rooms we pass through.
The party finds one 15’ square side chamber dominated by a large ancient (broken) device that Elavil surmises was used to pump huge amounts of water through a pipe. The party opens an access way in the 2’ round pipe, but it is too small for anyone to fit in. Elavil sends in the intrepid unseen servant after detecting an epic level magic source just a little way down the pipe. The party knows they are under the arena, and that the pipe takes a turn up toward the arena; perhaps this pump was used for special effects in the arena?
Proceeding down the corridor, the party finds a room that has a simple altar in the East wall facing a double set of doors in the West wall. A writhing green beam of unnatural light emanates from the scrolls and shoots across the room, bathing the doors in the same unnatural green glow. Elavil casts an unseen servant and directs him to walk through the beam. The party tries breaking the beam with a cloak, which has not effect (the beam continues to shine across the room, ignoring the cloak.) Elias offers to let anyone use his mirror and prism to play with the beam; amidst much foot shuffling and stammering, no one takes him up on his offer. As the party moves to and fro in the room, everyone is careful not to break the beam of light.
The double doors that the green beam strikes open into a 25’ long hallway that ends in an stone filled lattice work depicting an obscene orgy of worm laden bodies topped by a Kyuss skull breathing a scream of triumph. Elias breaks out a small section of the lattice with a magical mace. Using his mirror and dancing lights, the group determines that the ‘egg’ fills the entire circular chamber beyond the lattice, which seems to extend up out of site. We believe we are directly under the arena floor. This information, coupled with the broken water pump, leads us to believe that this used to be a system for flooding the arena (perhaps for mock sea battles). It should be noted that the DM neither confirmed nor denied this hypothesis. Since we can see movement inside the egg, along with a sickening mix of purple and green colors and fluids, the party feels it most likely that this worm will emerge in the arena area.
We find Lahka, our patron’s sister animated as a zombie. She opens the door for a Tiefling Cleric who proceeds to attack the party. The Tiefling Cleric has chainmail, shield, unholy club, periapt, prayer beads, and the Cleric’s unholy symbol.
The clerics room is dominated by a central pillar of segmented marble carved to resemble a green worm…which everyone in the party ignores (although it does not radiate any magic, since we are thoroughly searching the room using detect magic.) The room contains a bed, cupboard, an elongated ornate trunk, and several tapestries depicting green worms. The trunk is made of dark wood, and bound in steel. The side panels are painted in shades of green and black depicting a series of figures infected by green worms. Huge green worms invade the above ground portion of the painting from the cavernous (lower) section of the frieze. Inside the chest we find the items listed below.
• 100 gp
• 3 green gems (100gp)
• 3 aquamarine gems (500gp)
• a potion (cure moderate wounds)
• a scroll (divine: death ward)
• two scrolls (arcane: ethereal jaunt)
• three small bags of dust: transmutation
• 2 blocks of incense of meditation
• 9 blocks of incense
• a wand: radiates conjuration
• a spoon: radiates conjuration
• three vials of oil: oil of gentle repose
It is also determined that the chest has a horrible magical trap on it. The person opening the chest must make a high FORT save, or become part of the frieze decoration. That character will then need to make another FORT save later, or be eaten by the worms in the frieze. Nasty stuff, that. The single door in the corner of the room opens into a short hallway that goes around a corner.
A brazier in the NW corner of the (next) rectangular room fitfully illuminates the room. Behind the curtain is a mosaic composed of tiny green tiles depicting a horrible mass of green worms writhing across the wall. Out of the urn materializes what appears as a demon (Acolyth, a shapeless horror that is used as an agent of the Abyss in regions where most demons would hesitate to venture). The Acolyth erects a wall of ice in the corridor, trapping Sif, Mendravis and Coleman in the chamber with itself. The remainder of the party begins breaking through the wall of ice. Mendravis smites the demon, doing massive damage and causing it to move out of melee with him. Sif scores two critical hits with his bow (yes, two), but realizes the creature cannot be critically injured. In order to make matters worse, it becomes apparent that only Good aligned weapons can cause the creature harm. Sif puts his bow away and turns to the wall of ice, drawing his swords to help hack it down. Coleman casts a gas cloud spell, but the creature is immune to gases. Citing the gas cloud as ‘brilliant’, it cast the same spell. Sif is slowed, but Mendravis and Coleman are unaffected. Coleman and Mendravis manage to finish it off with spells just as the party hacks through the wall of ice. There are two emeralds worth 1000gp each, and the curtain is worth approximately 250gp (one way vision). The party forgets to package up the curtain, but does take the gems.
The secret door near the urn opens into a passage sloping up that is very long. Following the tunnel several hundred feet, Elias finds a secret door approximately 60’ from the end of the corridor. The secret door opens into a basement storage area in Raknian’s basement. Sif makes his way into the basement, as does Elias and Elavil. Elavil detects for magic, but finds none. While Sif listens at the door, Elias obtains several vintages of very nice wine. Elias also finds a pair of uniforms for Raknian’s personal guard…they are just about the right size for the fighters in the party. Elias is the last person out of the basement, and covers tracks. Sif re-closes the secret door as soon as the party is all back in the passageway.
On the way out, the party returns to the side passage near the Kyuss Zombie bunk room and makes its way up the side passage behind the secret door that leads to the magically trapped platform. Sif professionally disarms the magical trap and manages to take only 25 points of damage (after save) from the ‘Slay Living’ trap. The party proceeds through the door into a small storage room filled with wine and vinegar bottles. A door at the top of a set of stairs opens into a hallway which the construction matches the Cenobe area. Rendar disguises himself in one of the Raknian personal guard uniforms (and alters his appearance, as well). He explores a short distance up and down the hallway. He realizes he is in the Administrative area, and he comes back and tells the party. There are many people moving about in the Administrative area, since it is daytime, so the party thinks it best to return after hours.
The party finds their way to the underground pool, and manages to make it back to meet with Ekaym before he leaves. He has the items and supplies the various party members requested. We return Lahka’s body and gently explain that we found her body in a hidden area under the Cenobe. (The party never did attempt to speak with her spirit to garner any further information against Raknian). We also tell him SOME of the information that we found in the hidden catacomb area under the arena. We do not mention the Apstolic Scrolls or the Kyuss Worm incubator. We eat dinner in the common area, talking about tournament type things and then return to the party’s chambers to make plans.
The party rests for the evening in preparation for Day 2 of the tournament…
END OF SESSON
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Adventure 03: Encounter at Blackwall Keep
The party accompanies mentor and benefactor Allustan to the Blackwall Keep. Here he hopes to confer with Marzena, an old friend concerning the strange worms, and undead discovered the party. She has mentioned such undead in recent correspondence.
Upon arriving at the Keep, the party discovers it is under siege by a band of lizardmen. While Allustan returns to Diamond Lake (via teleport) to bring reinforcements. The party stays to render aid to the garrison. They manage to signal and gain access to the keep; where they discover that Marzena, was captured and taken into the swamp by an earlier lizardman raiding party. The lizardmen attack again and are repelled by the party and the soldiers. Enough damage is done to the band of lizardmen, not to mention their leader being killed, so that they dissipate.
The party wastes no time in tracking the lizardmen deep into the swamp; eventually reaching their lair; a labyrinth through the roots and branches of a huge tree. They make their way through the lair, eventually coming across xxx, the druidic spiritual leader of the lizardmen tribe. She parlay's with the party, explaining the recent attack on the keep was ordered by their chief. He has convinced the tribe that the destruction of their eggs by parasitic green worms was the work of the humans. She believes this tragedy was instead caused by the chief's advisor, a black dragon named Ilthane.
As part of the parlay, the party agrees to negotiate on behalf of the lizardmen a treaty between with the City of Greyhawk.
The party kills the chief and his lieutenant, and proceeds to the lizardman egg chamber on the concerns of the druid. Ilthane has placed all the lizardmen eggs in one chamber, protected by her kobold minions. As a sign of good faith, she has placed one of her own eggs in the chamber as well. Upon reaching the chamber, the supped-up kobolds attach. One manages to get to the "dragon" egg where he slices it open. Out of the egg spills thousands of Kyuss worms that begin to infect the lizardmen eggs; not to mention the corps of the now dead kobold.
With a little well placed fire and strategy, the party manages to save the majority of the lizardmen eggs; further solidifying the trust they have with the remaining lizardmen. The druid tells the party the remainder of the tribe will take their eggs and leave this lair; for when the dragon returns, she will not be pleased and will have no mercy. She tells the party she will go to Blackwall Keep in one month’s time to check on their success with the treaty.
Upon returning to Blackwall Keep with Marzena and the captured soldiers, the party discovers a Spawn of Kyuss that had been trapped in the basement, is now free. It has also managed to create a few more of its kind. The party destroys the creatures and get things settled just as Allustan arrives with reinforcements.
Important Items of Interest:
Within the Kobolds treasure were some potions. Hidden within the murky contents of some potions where special Kyuss worms that would infect anyone swallowing them.
Upon arriving at the Keep, the party discovers it is under siege by a band of lizardmen. While Allustan returns to Diamond Lake (via teleport) to bring reinforcements. The party stays to render aid to the garrison. They manage to signal and gain access to the keep; where they discover that Marzena, was captured and taken into the swamp by an earlier lizardman raiding party. The lizardmen attack again and are repelled by the party and the soldiers. Enough damage is done to the band of lizardmen, not to mention their leader being killed, so that they dissipate.
The party wastes no time in tracking the lizardmen deep into the swamp; eventually reaching their lair; a labyrinth through the roots and branches of a huge tree. They make their way through the lair, eventually coming across xxx, the druidic spiritual leader of the lizardmen tribe. She parlay's with the party, explaining the recent attack on the keep was ordered by their chief. He has convinced the tribe that the destruction of their eggs by parasitic green worms was the work of the humans. She believes this tragedy was instead caused by the chief's advisor, a black dragon named Ilthane.
As part of the parlay, the party agrees to negotiate on behalf of the lizardmen a treaty between with the City of Greyhawk.
The party kills the chief and his lieutenant, and proceeds to the lizardman egg chamber on the concerns of the druid. Ilthane has placed all the lizardmen eggs in one chamber, protected by her kobold minions. As a sign of good faith, she has placed one of her own eggs in the chamber as well. Upon reaching the chamber, the supped-up kobolds attach. One manages to get to the "dragon" egg where he slices it open. Out of the egg spills thousands of Kyuss worms that begin to infect the lizardmen eggs; not to mention the corps of the now dead kobold.
With a little well placed fire and strategy, the party manages to save the majority of the lizardmen eggs; further solidifying the trust they have with the remaining lizardmen. The druid tells the party the remainder of the tribe will take their eggs and leave this lair; for when the dragon returns, she will not be pleased and will have no mercy. She tells the party she will go to Blackwall Keep in one month’s time to check on their success with the treaty.
Upon returning to Blackwall Keep with Marzena and the captured soldiers, the party discovers a Spawn of Kyuss that had been trapped in the basement, is now free. It has also managed to create a few more of its kind. The party destroys the creatures and get things settled just as Allustan arrives with reinforcements.
Important Items of Interest:
Within the Kobolds treasure were some potions. Hidden within the murky contents of some potions where special Kyuss worms that would infect anyone swallowing them.
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