[DnD] - epic Epic of epicness

[AvatarForm]

Hi all,

As you may know I have begun a DnD adventure on Skype, using text only but soon we will move to VOIP and webcams for delving.

We had our first session tonight.

It went relatively well. The PCs awoke from stasis an found their way out of a frozen chamber.

They encountered a Greenwarden who delved into their memories and helped them remember their pasts before they entered stasis.

##*With another wave of his hands, Pandanus inscribes an intricate pattern in the air... you can see strands of magic being plucked and woven together... you feel the world fall away and your limbs paralysed where you stand. "Let me explain everything from the beginning"##

[07-May-11 5:12:26 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##Pandanus reaches into each of your minds - igniting frozen synapses and brining forth your deepest emmories of before you entered stasis - weaving before each of you a scene from your worst nightmares##

[07-May-11 5:16:31 PM] Yazra Melnarach: *I think about the horrible images before me, and what they could possibly mean for the future...*

[07-May-11 5:17:09 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##You each stand, shoulder to shoulder, before a being of impenetrable darkness. Around you thousands of voices are raised in a tumult wall of sound as lives are decided in instants. You glimpse men of all nations, joined by creatures of the elements and all races standing side by side against a black tide of evil.##

[07-May-11 5:23:03 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##The visions of death surround you, sending waves of repulsion through your heaving frames. As one you each summon your powers - equal to those of deities - gifted to you as the chosen Avatars of your God. You enter the fray...##

[07-May-11 5:23:49 PM] Frigdor: * flys around as the avatar of death*

[07-May-11 5:23:51 PM] Kellen Melnarach: *as echos of his former glory flow through him,lines of lightning seem to crawl over Kellen's body*

[07-May-11 5:25:31 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##Images assault you of the battle, for what feels like days only passes in a moment. Eventually, though battered and near exhaustion, you advance upon the general of the Dark One's forces##

[07-May-11 5:28:25 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##Bregan, the call him. The Betrayed. The Apostate of Darkness. Once a warrior cleric, he followed the order of Bahamut. Though, when his duchy was besieged by the Dark One's forces and his family were raped and murdered before his eyes, with little assistance from those who were meant to protect them, his path took a turn towards Darkness##

[07-May-11 5:33:43 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##With your combined mights, you advanced upon Bregan and his retinue. The battle raged and slowly but surely, you cut down his champions. Til at last only he stood between you and the emerging Dark One. Should the Dark One fully enter this reality, the universe would cease to exist as it did and chaos would reign.

Lies would become absolutes, the paradox tearing apart a mortal's sanity in less than an instant. The simple thought that this might come to pass, filling you with revulsion which gave your weary limbs the strength to stand against this... ABOMINATION.##

[07-May-11 5:37:04 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##By your combined mights, Bregan fell. His hollow shell emptying his soul into the darkness behind him as it was consumed by the Dark One, as it had been promised in return for the power to avenge his loved ones... Finally you faced the Dark One..>##

[07-May-11 5:41:04 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##The battle raging around you fell to an immediate stand-still as the combined powers of the D-Team were hurled against the void torn in reality, through which the Dark One was attempting to pass. Suns rose and set while the struggle for dominance teetered on a knife edge. It was only the late arrival of Fianna, the half-orc Bard and Fulgor, the Avatar of Primal Fury that tipped the balance and the rift was sealed.##

[07-May-11 5:44:47 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##After you had recovered, it was prophecised that the Dark One would one day rise again, as his religion would never cease to exist in the darkest desires of the races in existence. Hence, it was agreed that you would enter stasis in order to return when you were needed most. Giving over your belongings and safety to the Greenwardens, you entered the deep sleep. Now, after more than a millenia, you have awakened..."##

[07-May-11 5:48:26 PM] Charlie Sheen: Dungeon Master: ##As one your trance-fugue ends and your magical bindings fade. With greater understanding you stand before Pandanus and his familiars. your eyes burn with fervour, gained from your understanding. What do you do?##

They got their gear back and are now ready to adventure.

I would say it was a very thorough Introduction.

Edited May 9, 2011 by AvatarForm

[Sliver Chocobo]

This is what I look like

http://www.reapermini.com/figurefinder#detail/14324

[AvatarForm]

This is what I look like

http://www.reapermini.com/figurefinder#detail/14324

That is quite epic, mate.

If we get enough interest, I was thinking that each week I would dilute the narrative to a summary to be posted on the forums.

Anyone interested?

[FoeRender]

sounds cool if I had the extra time I def. would give this a try .

[Angus Khan]

You didn't mention how much of a jerk the Greenwarden was... He will taste the cold of my blade at some point...

[Dark Alleycat]

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/elf/latest/60032#detail/IG_755_1

And this is what the twins look like.

[AvatarForm]

As soon as I receive all the Character stat sheets I will post short Bios of each member of the party.

We still have room for one more member also, I just discovered that our party is 1 member short for 4.0 optimisation (Players Handbook 1 recommends 5 in a party for the rules and example scenarios)

[Sliver Chocobo]

We do need a controler

[AvatarForm]

We do need a controler

Yeh... cmon, otherwise swarms of zombies are gonna wear you down quick

[Sliver Chocobo]

Also our paladin can't anything

[AvatarForm]

Our paladin seems to now understand his role as Defender. Which is awesome for only his second session of DnD ever.

The group is meshing well, with the twin Drow borthers working together to take down their fair share of the zombies.

Our Dwarven Cleric proves that he can deliver death in equal portions with life... effectively incinerating half the zombies that were attacking the small village with his Divine fires.

[AvatarForm]

Heroes of Old have been in stasis for 1000 years, only to be awoken when the world was in dire peril once again. That time is now.

A fortnight prior, something bad has begun, wheels are in motion and our heroes are awakened by the Warden, Pandanus.

It is up to them to eplore and discover what they face and best it.

Much has changed from the medieval fantasy world they knew. The Industrial era approaches, so there are semi-industrialised cities/places emerging. Black powder and experimental machines (steam/magic-powered). Magic and technology are interchangable. Wonderous devices such as the Zepplin are in prototype stages.

There second session was last night and they have discovered that the undead are rising in extreme numbers...

Is this some move by Orcus to wrestle power from the Raven Queen or something more sinister?

[AvatarForm]

Attention: We now require 2 new players, one has had to leave due to life getting in the way.

[AvatarForm]

This week our session was another "filler" with one member absent due to Cakebowl and another leaving the group for RL reasons (thief). However, we also gained a new member - a Human Psionic!

This week saw our adventurers - Dragonborn Paladin; drunken Dwarf Cleric; Drow Stormsoul Sorceror; Drow Thief; and an NPC Human Fighter - continue their exploration of Farnsborough. Previous sessions had seen them come to the aid of the previousl-mentioned NPC in the cellar of his own Inn, after ransacking what was upstairs in an effort to discover what has been occurring. Prior to this they had saved another lonely soul in the abandoned Temple of Pelor after fighting of a small horde of Zombies.

Thus, our adventurers entered the Town Hall in order to discover what has been happening from the public records. Upon entering the Town Hall our Paladin discovered someone had beaten them to it. This mysterious individual soon identified himself as Quinn Enether, a former student of History who has instead left his studies in order to discover more about the world on a first-hand basis. After a thorough grilling by the group, he joined the party. This required no persuasion as night has now fallen and the Dragonborn, now standing watch outside, detected evil on the wind and noticed (Perception check) that there were less corpses to be found in the Market Square than had earlier been.

Our group then gathered up the documents between them and proceeded to the Stables/Market/Smithy in order to locate some tack and harness to hich the Dragonborn the the cart that the Innkeeper/retired-fighter generously provided. Whilst searching the Smithy, they stumbled upon a locked chest amongst the Blacksmith's possessions. The Drow thief opened it but was not adeopt enough to avoid the gnomish-cock-punch-trap and was left a writhing ball of pain on the floor while the others in the group inspected its contents.

Inside they found a knuckleduster and a black dagger. The knuckleduster is mundane, ad the Paladin declared his need for this. However, the black dagger is magic and the Stormsoul Sorcerer's closer inspection revealed something was staring back at him from within...

They were startled from their reverie by the insane shrieks and cackling of someone outside... calling them out to confrontation. Upon emerging from the Smithy, they were confronted by a swollen Zombie horde being directed by a small cloaked figure. The Paladin, in his haste to destroy evil charged immediately for the cloaked figure, who nimbly retreated behind a wall of zombies. The Paladin destoryed what he could but was soon dragged down by the sheer numbers around him and proceeded to be bludgeoned by the wall of moaning, decaying flesh around him.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the group hung back and attempted to blast the masses apart. The Sorceror arttempted to channel his spell through the Black Dagger, missing his intended quarry but drawing attention to himself as the cloaked figure recognised it for what he was searching for and directed the masses at the group, leaving the Paladin restrained by the few remaining Zombies.

Eventually, being driven back into the Smithy so that they could handle the horde piecemeal as it was funnelled through the doorway. Seeing that this could take a while, the group set fire to the Smithy, using coals from the furnace and bellows, seeking to escape in the commotion. The Cloaked figure made his way through the masses, skirting carefully around the enraged Paladin, to claim his prize. Upon reaching the smithy, the cloaked figure came face-to-face with the Sorceror and was identified as being Abercrombie, the grave-digger/caretaker whom they had saved only recently from the zombies in the Temple.

A sneak attackby the Thief almost struck him down. Realising his apparent danger, Abercrombie used a scroll of teleportation, and unfortunately for our Rogue he was caught int its area of effect, being zipped from the danger of a collapsing, burning building along with Abercrombie the Necromancer.

With their master's influence suddenly absent, the horde of zombies disintegrated where they stood. This allowed our group to escape the burning building and consolidate near the wagon, upon which were the stores from the Inn. Once informed of their intents to hitch the Dragonborn to pull the cart, the Paladin flew into a rage, igniting the cart along with the ale and supplies. The group then gathered their singed belongings, in the nick of time. It was only then that they realised that the Innkeeper/ex-fighter had been a victim of the horde.

Next session our group must choose a direction in which to travel and begin answering the long list of questions concerning the Where; Why; Who; What; and How of the present, and also during their stasis.

[AvatarForm]

Introducing our newest member - Quinn Enether, Human Psionic

Quinn was born into a relatively wealthy family, and lived a comfortable life. His father had been

lucky enough to invest in one of the new technologies that had sprung up in the city of Ostlyn. Known as

the ‘Steam Engine’, it was a combination of magical energy and emerging technology. Such an engine

allowed for massive lines of production, allowing for textiles to be churned out at near-fantastic rates.

By the time Quinn had turned 18, Ostlyn had been transformed from a quaint semi-city to a bustling

mecha of industry. It was around this time that Quinn entered in Dartmorth University. Being the

bookish type, Quinn followed his love of history and attempted to obtain a major in the subject.

It was also around this time when the dreams began.

They were inconspicuous enough in the beginning. Quinn would fall asleep, only to awaken in

the darkness of some sort of void. Lights, most likely stars, glowed brightly from unfathomable

distances. Quinn would float for a while, contemplating what these dreams could be. He knew they

were dreams, strangely enough. Every morning, he would awake, and the void would become a nagging

memory drifting at the furthest corner in the back of his mind. Whenever he attempted to remember

what he had dreamt, a sudden flash of pain would deter him from his efforts.

This pattern repeated itself for months. Quinn would sleep, float in the void, awake, and forget

what he had dreamt. One night, however, something changed. While dreaming, Quinn noticed that one

of the lights had been growing stronger. A few nights later, and Quinn realized that it was an object

floating out in the void with him. Quinn decided to try something new – instead of floating, Quinn

pictured himself moving towards the object. Night after night, Quinn continued this practice. The object

in the distance grew, larger and larger with each night’s rest. Features began to become clear. Whatever

it was, it was crystalline in nature, and slowly emanated a dark red light that pulsed with an almost

organic regularity. A few months more, and Quinn realized what it was – some sort of massive Gate.

After almost a year, final exams had finally come to Dartmorth. Quinn spent many a sleepless

night studying, pouring over his books. One day, during a particularly dull lecture, Quinn nodded off.

Immediately, he found himself back in the void. But this time, his view had become dominated by the

Gate. Quinn studied the massive structure. It was truly titanic in size – many times the height of even

the tallest of men, and so wide that Quinn was not entirely incorrect in assuming Ostlyn itself could pass

through it.

Then, something changed. A flash of red light seemed to split the massive door in two, down its

center. Quinn found that he could not move – his eyes were fixed upon the slowly widening gap that

was forming. The crystals that formed the Gate pulsed faster and faster, until the light was almost

blinding in its intensity. And, with a final burst of red light, the Gate was thrown wide open.

A single, mind-defying large eye stared at Quinn.

A voice, or something that resembled a voice, boomed from the Gate. Wheels within wheels

within wheels have begun to turn, it intoned. The Heroes have been awoken, to set right was has been

made wrong. Now is the time that I desire a champion of my own.

Quinn’s mind reeled, his sanity almost fleeing in the face of such an impossible sight. But the

voice continued, its orders almost seared upon Quinn’s psyche. Go. Find these Heroes. Aid them. And

when the time is right, open the Gate again. And with a sudden pulse of energy, the Gate shut and

Quinn was flung back to reality.

Quinn awoke with a gasp, which he quickly stifled, lest the professor discover that he had been

sleeping. It took a moment for his addled mind to realize something was wrong – the lecture hall was as

quiet as a tomb. Quinn looked to his right, and gasped again, only this time from sheer horror. The

student next to him had her face it in a silent scream, rigor mortis setting her features in stone. Blood,

coagulated, flowed in gooey lines from her eyes, ears and nose. Quinn looked around, his horror and

gorge rising in unison. Each student held the same pained expression. Each had died a terrible death.

The professor laid upon the floor in the front of the lecture hall, his hands curled into terrible claws, and

the same expression plain on his face.

Quinn panicked and began to run, only to be staggered by a headache the likes of which he had

never felt before. Images and words flashed across his mind. A crystal gate… an all-seeing eyes… Wheels

within wheels within wheels. His thoughts a mess, Quinn fled to his room, packed as much as he could

into his backpack, and fled Ostlyn.

He laid low for a few months. When the local authorities did not come after him, Quinn

assumed he was safe. And so he began a search – he traveled to local libraries and repositories of

knowledge, looking for anything that mentioned a crystal gate. It was during this time that Quinn began

to realize he could actually hear the thoughts of others. He experimented with these new abilities. He

could remove memories from those around him, rendering himself invisible. In one instance, when a

gang attempted to corner Quinn in a dark alley, he used his powers to tear their minds apart, leaving

them writhing on the ground, mewling in terror.

His search, however, proved to be a failure, until something odd happened. One night, while

leaving the tavern in which he had stayed, one of the serving maids handed him a letter, saying it

had come in after Quinn had retired for the night. Quinn tore open the letter, dreading whatever

information it held. To his surprise, it was unsigned and short. You seek knowledge about the Gate, it

said. Meet me in Farnsborough. You will know who I am.

Convinced that this was the start to realizing what had happened, Quinn tore the letter apart

and began to make his way to Farnsborough. It looked as if this was the path he had been looking for

over the past 6 years.

[Sliver Chocobo]

I'll start the next write up as soon as skype decides to work, might have be tomorrow at this rate

[Raythus]

Hey guys, is this open? Should I PM someone with relevant interest?

[AvatarForm]

PMd. Cant wait for the next installment, graciously narrated by Sliver Chocobo... who oddly, wants a chocobo mount...

[Sliver Chocobo]

PMd. Cant wait for the next installment, graciously narrated by Sliver Chocobo... who oddly, wants a chocobo mount...

It's not odd, it matches there's a difference

Ok first try,

After examination our heroes discover that the necromancer has headed south. Our heroes soon suit heading south, they meet a traviling trader and his family, after agreeing to protect them in exchange for a ride Winterhaven.

After passing a guard post at a river, our heroes were able to pass untroubled. As they left Frigdor noticed a mysterious clocked stranger, that disappeared into the night.

With ourheroes finally at winterhaven, they head to nearest tavern to buy a room and find information about the mystrous necromancer.

I will put a bit more up in a few minutes

[AvatarForm]

It's not odd, it matches there's a difference

It was ironic humour.

As for your first attempt, I was hoping you would add more detail and spin the tale with your usual flair...

[AvatarForm]

It's not odd, it matches there's a difference

Ok first try,

After examination our heroes discover that the necromancer has headed south. Our heroes soon suit heading south, they meet a traviling trader and his family, after agreeing to protect them in exchange for a ride Winterhaven.

After passing a guard post at a river, our heroes were able to pass untroubled. As they left Frigdor noticed a mysterious clocked stranger, that disappeared into the night.

With ourheroes finally at winterhaven, they head to nearest tavern to buy a room and find information about the mystrous necromancer.

I will put a bit more up in a few minutes

^I will allow Choco to finish recounting that session^

However, Session 5: Kobold Ambush was today's adventure.

The session began the morning after the last session ended. The PCs rested and breaking their fasts, they discussed the 3 destinations requiring their investigation into what is occurring in the world at present and also satisfying the wishes of Lord (Kaldor:umbrella:) Pendraig. in order of importance these were:

The Shadowfell Keep:

The road to Shadowfell Keep is arduous. Since the keep’s

destruction, few travelers use the road and no one bothers

to maintain the path. The road is overgrown with grass,

ferns, and small trees. The keep isn’t in any better shape.

The legends of the Keep on the Shadowfell are known to only a handful of sages and scholars in this age of darkness. The truth is more tragic. Though the Shadow Rift remains sealed, the dark creatures on the other side still exert their evil influence.

The Gardens of the Raven Queen:

The rough ground on the southern outskirts of the village of Winterhaven serves as the local cemetary. However, the area once served as an evil temple destroyed long ago. A recent disturbance released some of the ancient evil buried here, and now the dead in this graveyard are beginning to walk. Several villagers have already vanished and more will die if the undead are not put to rest.

Kobold Lair:

A population of Kobolds have always inhabited the region bordering the forests and mountains to the South East of Winterhaven. However, Lord Pendraig has other plans for this area as he wishes to expand his domain and the present inhabitants must be re-located or exterminated. Kobolds are often characterized as filthy little reptiles barely better than goblins. They’re malicious but of little actual menace. Catch kobolds in their lairs, where they are almost certainly hard at work mining, and such a description might be fitting. No one ever suspected that

being underestimated was the kobolds’ goal.

Kobolds are meticulous creatures with sorcery in their

blood, a variety of reptile with a strong work ethic. Discounted as pests or worse by many others, kobolds are a long-suffering race with many talents and clever tricks. Only the foolish overlook the threat that kobolds actually pose.

With this information at their disposal, the group of heroes decided to work their way up the threats in reverse order. After obtaining the suppplies they required, they set forth to the South East. However, upon their approach to the Kobold Lair they were caught unawares (seriously, noone managed to roll above 15 Perception Check) and ambushed by a patrol of Kobolds.

With the Kobolds winning the Initiative, they struck out first but were unable to bring their numbers to bare at distance. However, the Dragonborn Paladin soon narrowed the distance, charging directly into the thick of combat with 2 Dragonshields. He was soon grappled by one as the reamining Kobolds mobbed up on him, almost bringing him to an early end a couple of times. However, this allowed the remainder of the party to manouvre into positions and pick off the Kobolds from a safe distance. This was enabled by the very adept casters in the party and their array of punishing spells. The drow called lightning which arced through the offenders, frying those it touched, while the human psionic burst heads with Mind Thrust...

All the while the Paladin flailed about in an innefectual rage and the cleric healed his wounds and threw the odd holy fireball...

After the last Kobold had been disposed of, the party set about binding their wounds and looted the corpses. The retrieved mundane weapons and 50gp. On the wyrmpriest, they located a pendant, on which dangles a dragon figurine carved of obsidian. On the bottom of the figure is etched the outline of a skull with ram’s horns...

The party, stupidly, remarked how easy the encounter was... after I admitted I scaled it down by removing two slingers in order to ensure they could handle it...

They then managed to fail yet another Perception Check and from the undergrowth burst a Cave Bear (Lv6 Elite) which targeted the player who rolled the lowest on the check... the Human Psionic - Quinn!

The bear proceeded to savagely maul the human trapped beneath its paws, leaving him a bloodied mess...

The session then ended with the group facing off against the toughest challenge they have encountered thus far...

Stay tuned for next week when the party decide whether to save their companion or flee. Will they engage the Kobold Lair in their wounded state or return to Winterhaven to recover?

Edited June 28, 2011 by AvatarForm

[infinite_array]

I never should have told you about the damned bear!

This is what happens when you give your DM information about previous games you've had, folks. They'll use it against you.

With extreme prejudice.

[AvatarForm]

I never should have told you about the damned bear!

This is what happens when you give your DM information about previous games you've had, folks. They'll use it against you.

With extreme prejudice.

Next time, dont give me a reason to use it against you...

Alright, so it was my partner's birthday on the weekend and we went away, which meant that the group would go without a DM.

However, I did not wish for them to have to miss another session, so an alternative was decided.

One of the members volunteered to DM and run his own character. We traded suggestions and I left the party in his care with my blessings. This person was none other than Sliver Chocobo, who (hopefully) will be along shortly to provide the narrative summary for you all...

I am still waiting to hear exactly what went down so that I can pick up where they left off last time... and will update you with what happened when I also give this week's narrative.

Excelsior!

[Sliver Chocobo]

Sorry been unusually busy

[Sliver Chocobo]

Our Heros bravely fled the bear, who was able to follow them by teleporting, however the palladin of Bahumut, Balistare (sorry don't know how to spell his name)noticed how each time the bear teleport, it became less substanstual and he took his axe and defeated the in one swing. After casting a spell to find the location of the summoner of the bear, Kallen found a shadow figure behind them, balthazar. Balthazar introduced himas as a friend who helped them defeat the dark, to warn them that Dark One has been back for a few mounths and that he is currently possessing Abercrombie and that Yazra is currently beening held in Shadowfang keep. When Balthazar and Quin sensed a Mind Flyer comming, Balthazar took them to his home where they could train and prepare for taking Shadowfang keep.

Sorry it's a bit of a glance over, if it was detailed as my normal Fan fic, it would be several pages long