My D&D campaign

[Alex]

Between the party and the wizard a shimmering force wall prevented them from from approaching too close. Zotaquaan observed the group intently but said nothing until the party explained their presence. He told them he had indeed created a fake relic for the previous Gran Marshal which had prevented the Brothers of Lagu becoming backrupt and in return he received a share of the income they received from pilgrims coming to see the holy relic.

He and Val both found it amusing that the holy brothers had been fooled by one of their own into guarding such a fake. The rest of the party kept their opinions to themselves on this. In order to make up for unintentionally wasting the groups time, Zotaquaan offered to help the party with information about The Dark. Dismissing his force wall, he prepared to cast some ritual while his servents served refreshments to the group. Nigel attempted to use his ability to sense evil once more on these creatures but failed.

Proberly for the best that really.

First Zotaquaan attempted to contact a higher plane, but found some incredible force had shut off access to those planes. Next Zotaquaan decided to try contacting a lower plane instead,

[ER]

So, obviously these are adventures, quests, campaigns you write yourself, and from your descriptions it would be hard for anyone to improve on them. I still think you would generate interest in publishing these as modules. (Is that still the term?) Even novelizations. I know I've said so before but whenever I read these synopses I keep thinking that. I know I always take a moment to read them and I don't even play D&D.

[Alex]

Here he was more successful, but this turned out not to be a good thing. The Dark started pouring out of his mouth, ears, nose and eyes. Tendrils of it touched the demon and devil freeing them from the wizards control. Immedietely they sought to attack him, but his faithful cat and Golum blocked them. Zotaquaan passed into unconsciousness, drifting in and out of it over the next few minutes.

[Alex]

So, obviously these are adventures, quests, campaigns you write yourself, and from your descriptions it would be hard for anyone to improve on them. I still think you would generate interest in publishing these as modules. (Is that still the term?) Even novelizations. I know I've said so before but whenever I read these synopses I keep thinking that. I know I always take a moment to read them and I don't even play D&D.

Yeah, modules is the term. I have to confess this particular part of the adventure is actually from someone else's published work (as was The Oldenhaller Contract), but 99% of the stuff in here is my own work. Since the games system belongs to Wizards of the Coast I'd have to publish it through them, although who knows, perhaps I'll change some details and work them into a novel as you suggest (or more likely it would have to be a series of novels).

I wonder if you were to listen into one of our sessions how you would think they compare? Perhaps I'll see if I can record one and send it to you.

[Alex]

Suddenly Zotaquaan sat both upright and in a trancelike state said something about following the water to life to find the secret to defeating the dark. Snapping out of the trance he said in his normal voice "Urgh, useless dogmatic drivel," before casting a protection against evil spell on himself and telling the party to flee! The last they saw of the wizard, the dark was surrounding his protective bubble, inside which the wizard and his guardians waited. The group fled back to the teleportation circle and returned to the top of the tower. A crowd was milling around in a panic at the open plaza. The party attempted to sneak unnoticed back down to the ground but as they got down they were recognised (all that walking around all heavily armed and armoured is a dead give away) and once again a mob was chasing them. Loaded down in heavy armour Nigel was falling behind and the crowd catching him. With a desperate prayer to Lathander he tried summoning Sir Boozy.  This time his god listened to him, and his faithful mount appeared, still bearing the wounds he had received when Nigel had left him to fight the bouncers in 'Heafod Aef Orc'.

Nigel (and Ross), was quickly coming to the realisation there would be consequences to his actions when he saw the injuries to his faithful steed and that they would affect more than just him.

He jumped on his horse, half getting in the saddle as it bore him away from the angry crowd. Val got to the wall of the Monastarion and tried to climb up, but the crowd tore her off the wall and bore her to the ground. She managed to squirm and wiggle her way out before they could tear her appart. Since the crowd was between them and the nearest well, they decided to try and get to the river so fled towards the nearest gate the top of Zotaquaan's tower blazing with black fire.

[Alex]

They reached the nearby southern gate but it they were shaking as something tried to batter its way through the gates. Something big...

Just to the north sat a largish building. Seeing the party out in the street the occupants opened the doors and beckoned the party in. They slammed the doors shut behind them, barring them against the pursuing crowd, but the door would not hold long. The group (temporarily) had found sanctuary. Looking around they saw a pair of gnomes (one male, one female), over twenty humans, one of which was a young woman in a pale blue robe, bald head and a headband with a pulsing white gem in the centre of it. The building appeared to be some kind of casino.

The gnomes asked the party what was going on, while the strange young woman stared at the group intently.  As the mob started trying to break down the door or break through a window, the party hurridly explained what Zotaquaan had told them about the waters of life. Val could feel her mind being gently probed as she told them what was going on. The woman told them that she had picked up some strange vibrations when she'd drank from a nearby well. Pointing the party towards a nearby well, the party was shown a back door they could escape through just as the mob finally broke into the building. The well was only a few feet away. Heading in the opposite direction the party ran into a group of Irilain's guards, including an adventurer caught up in all the excitement.

[Alex]

The group reached the well, The Dark closing around them and dozens of Dark possessed humanoids attacking the city. Nigel said he'd lower Val down into the well on a rope to investigate it, while the other survivors made a defensive circle around the well, preparing to sell their lifes dearly if needed.

About fifty feet down Val hadn't yet reached the level of the water, but by the light of her magical gem she could see a roughly ten foor square patch of moss was a different colour from the stuff that coated the rest of the interior. She ripped the stuff off the wall revealling a white stone block inscribed with a glowing golden sigil. She ws however unable to understand its meaning. She tried to pull the block and found that it came loose easily, falling into the well and nearly crushing her beneath it. Badly injured but still alive she managed to swing over from the rope to the ledge revealled by the fallen block and called for the others to come down and join her. The defenders above had lost many of their number and had fought off waves of kobolds, orcs and bugbears. The pounding on the gates finally caused them to crack and break. Something big was coming...

Meanwhile from her ledge Val could see a corridor of a pure white and gently glowing stone lead away under the city. Up above The Dark was closing in as Val shouted for the others to come down and join them. Nigel told the others to climb down the well and he'd hold off the invaders until the others were safe, but the leader of the survivors (the head of the city guard), with a touch of pride in his voice, said it was their city and they would defend it. Nigel and the others had their own mission, and one that might save everyone.

To be continued/

[Alex]

Colesta went to climb down first, but slipped and plummeted down into the water over a hundred feet below. She hit the water like she had slammed into the pavement from the tower, but again she survived.  The others lowered a rope down to her, but it was a long slow climb back up, water dripping from her constantly every inch of rope.

Once Colesta had been rescued the team set off down the glowing white corridor, even as tendrils of The Dark entered the well, drifting down after them. They walked for perhaps half a mile until the perfect corridor opened up into a large round room with a burning ball of white flame hovering in the air. Zolis wanted to leap into the flame, but was restrained by the others.



At this point I gave the party a minute or two to see what they would do, and then decided to move the session on.

Sillas stepped forward towards the flame. "I know why I am here," he said and stepped into the firey ball.

To be continued.

[Alex]

An intense light temporarily blinded everyone, but as everyone's vision returned they could see the firey ball had disappeared. Sillas stood in its place, naked, but burning with a silvery light. He told the party they had to take him to the temple, but as the party prepared to leave a pair of shadow demons attacked. Insubstantial but still deadly the party fought these shadows whose claws tore at flesh just as if they were claws and bone themselves. With magic weapons and spells the group fought them, sending them back to the darkness that has spawned them. By the end of the fight however, both Zolis and Colesta were almost entirely out of spells and they would still have to fight their way through to the temple in the city above.

And with this the adventure ended for the night.

[Alex]

Introducing the bad guys.

Someone the party is going to meet shortly.

Uliak, the fourth reflection of Mask. Doppleganger Sorcerer 10th level, Rogue 4th level, Doppleganger 4th level. Neutral Evil.

Uliak often partners with Lady Elthaian, as the two of them favour similar tactics. In Uliak’s case he is able to go one better and use his natural abilities to replace someone in a group then sew dissention, turning them against each other. Uliak enjoys toying with his opponents and will often pass up chances to kill them in order to extend his pleasure. This is his biggest weakness. He will try and taunt the party, appearing as people they know and let himself be seen briefly, or from a distance and then disappear before they can approach him. His spells are normally used to enhance these, or to make his targets feel paranoia with Ghost Sounds making them think someone is behind them, or touching them with Mage Hand.

Uliak will keep a dosage of his chosen poison in his glove and will seek to dope his chosen targets food (Sleight of Hand roll to do so unnoticed). The rest of his poisons will be in his bag of holding. Uliak does not deign to engage in melee unless left no other option. It’s dagger is there simply to finish off anyone weakened by his primary weapon. Should he be forced to fight, it will seek to coat his dagger in a dose of Deathblade. Uliak is not a strong fighter and if used to directly face the party will be wasted. He sticks to the shadows, using his poisons and then when he is sure his opponent is helpless he will finish them off. The Id moss is reserved for use against casters.

Unlike his regular partner, Uliak is very happy in his role as a Dark Reflection, and has its eye on eventually becoming the Seventh Reflection. It has even considered replacing both Ekul and Aiel and using his natural abilities to appear as both siblings.

When using Uliak, do not commit him to full frontal assaults on the party. He will very rapidly die. His abilities are much better suited to striking from the shadows and disappearing into them. The party is mostly safe from him in wilderness areas (unless he uses his abilities to infiltrate and join the group), and his preferred hunting places are all urban. In many ways considering how most PC groups operate, he is the most dangerous of the Dark Reflection, has killed thousands of people using his tried and trusted methods and should not be wasted with poor tactics. He is not perfect and in his arrogance may well leave clues that allow the party to track him down.


It will be interesting to see how the party handles a Doppleganger (pretty much the group are going up against The Thing). Nothing destroys inter party trust faster than one of these bad boys (or girls). I have never used one before as a DM and I am not sure this is the right party to be able to deal with one, but we shall see. I have thought that NPC's I've created previously were too much for the party (and equally I've given them what should have been easy fghts that have damn near been a TPK) that they have breazed through.

[Alex]

Introducing the bad guys. Lady Elthaian the second reflection of Lloth, Dark Elf Assassin Of Lloth. 13th level (2nd level Drow, 5th level Rogue 6th level Assassin). Neutral Evil.

Possibly the longest serving recruit of the Dark Reflection, Elthaian will look to use her disguise skills to get close to the group and turn them against each other. If she can he will take the place of one of the party to sew chaos and dissent before turning on the party at an opportune moment. Physically Elthaian is the weakest of the group and relies on her other skills to achieve her kills. When she has to engage in melee she prefers to take out other rogue types first using her Death Attack, then disappear into the shadows. Preferably while everyone else is in combat and can’t concentrate on fighting her. Hit and run strikes to wear everyone down along with poisoned weapons work well for her not to mention her love of traps.

When working with her regular partner Uliak, she will instead switch to using poisons and let it use its superior disguise skills instead, not to mention letting him take the greater risk.
Elathaian will also look to escape should any fight be going against her, but you can be sure she will return to strike again another day. She favours poisons even more than Sir Gelden, using them in food and drink normally rather than on weapons. The group may need to check any meals they have at inns for example very carefully. She tends to sound as polite as Sir Gelding but with a general b***hiness behind it.

The Lady is terribly bored with being an assassin. Not so much the killing part. That she is fine with, she just wants to be killing the people she chooses to kill rather than being someone else’s tool. She was chosen by Lolth however as an original member of the group and dares not spurn the desires of her patron. Her distaste for her role has prevented her moving up the order.
Whereas Uliak will not engage the party directly, Elthaian will be more prepared to, however she would still seek to weaken the party first via poisons and traps. Should the party pay for rooms in the same place for several nights, they will find poison needles left in their beds, or door handles smeared with poisons. She prefers to use a unique poison of her own concoction, one that leaves her opponents blind and dazed, at which point she will try and capture them, before inflicting a long, lingering death on them.

[Alex]

The Tale of the Band of the Icky Hand. Part Twenty Nine.

As tendrials of darkness probed their way along the corridor, Sillas stepped forward. The dark seemed to recoil from the light he blazed with but kept returning, probing as if reachig a barrier it was unable to penetrate and searching for a weakspot. The deeper the darkness, the more Sillas struggled to move forward against it, as if he was trying to wade through thick molasses. In a voice that seemed much deeper than his normal one, he intoned "You must get me to the temple."

Val.





Colesta.





Zolis.





Nigel.





Sir Boozey





Khalrad.





To be continued.

[ER]

The Tale of the Band of the Icky Hand. Part Twenty Nine.

As tendrials of darkness probed their way along the corridor, Sillas stepped forward. The dark seemed to recoil from the light he blazed with but kept returning, probing as if reachig a barrier it was unable to penetrate and searching for a weakspot. The deeper the darkness, the more Sillas struggled to move forward against it, as if he was trying to wade through thick molasses. In a voice that seemed much deeper than his normal one, he intoned "You must get me to the temple."

Val.





Colesta.





Zolis.





Nigel.





Sir Boozey





Khalrad.





To be continued.

I think Sir Boozy taught a class of mine in college....

[justme2013]

The Tale of the Band of the Icky Hand. Part Twenty Nine.

As tendrials of darkness probed their way along the corridor, Sillas stepped forward. The dark seemed to recoil from the light he blazed with but kept returning, probing as if reachig a barrier it was unable to penetrate and searching for a weakspot. The deeper the darkness, the more Sillas struggled to move forward against it, as if he was trying to wade through thick molasses. In a voice that seemed much deeper than his normal one, he intoned "You must get me to the temple."

Val.





Colesta.





Zolis.





Nigel.





Sir Boozey





Khalrad.





To be continued.

I think Sir Boozy taught a class of mine in college....

Did he also kill a naked prostitute?

[Alex]

The group followed their shining 'leader', back along the tunnel, him apparently fighting The Dark all the way and pushing against it. The Dark itself did not seem hurt by the shield around them, but was equally unable to penetrate it. It took much longer to reach the well then it had taken them to get to the chamber. Eventually they made it back to the well. Val jumped onto the rope and attached her own rope to that of the well bucket. Nigel followed next, but he failed to get a good grip and slipped maybe twenty feet down the rope, only his armoured gauntlets preventing him getting severe rope burns. He tried climbing back up, but his heavy armour dragged him down and he slipping plunging into the ice cold water beneath. He spluttered, trying to tread water but again his protective shell betrayed him, pulling his head under the lapping water. Val somersaulted back, falling downwards, and then pushing herself off the wall managed to grab the hanging rope in one hand (tearing some shoulder muscle in the process), and managing to grasp Nigel's outstretched hand. Hand over hand, he slowly climbed up Val's body. Dripping wet and short of breath he none the less managed to make it.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew made it up the well. There was no sign of the men who had been defending the well, although the bodies scattered around told of a viscous battle fought above ground. Having almost been defeated by a rope climb, the party decided to move away from it in case events should push them back down it. They snuck off down a side alley, looking to move to the wider main road leading north to the market square. Outside the small protective bubble generated by Sillas they could see northing until a small horde of Kobolds ran in to battle them. Although the Kobolds were little taller than knee high, it was difficult for the party to fight them off and several wounds were sustained. Eventually, all the tiny creatures lay dead around them, but their crude spears had injured several of the group and they were low on healing.

Reaching what appeared to be the main street (Diament Rad), they also came across a band of mounted soldiers. The men had no idea what was going on. They'd been riding through the dark, fighting half seen enemies all night, but glad to find someone who appeared to know something about what was going on they asked to accompany the party. Inching their way northwards to the Mark Geard, the group finally reached a place not yet overtaken by The Dark. The reminants of the city defenders were strung out over the marketplace, battling in small groups against various humanoid creatures and trying to hold the line. Over by the temple stood a man in black armour. He was flanked by a pair of starving looking dogs with burning eyes and flames licking from around their jaws. In front of him were many dead guards and militiamen, but equally he bore several wounds that told of some hard fighting. A few surviving guard stood around him, looking more to stop him get out than fight him any further. For his part, he was blocking the door to the temple, preventing anyone from entering.

The cavalry rode out to assist the groups fighting around the plaza, riding to the rescue leaving the group to deal with the man and his hellhounds.


To be continued.