Kid Charlemagne
I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator
Like Father, Like Son
This Story Hour is a continuation of the Story Hour that I started in August of 2001 at the old EN Boards, and continued through 2 board migrations (so far). The episodes preceding this can found here; the episodes preceding that are on the old Boards, which are looking increasingly like they will never see the light of day. I may repost them here at some point.
[EDIT] The full previous Story Hour is available zipped at The ENWorld Story Hour Page
These tales pick up after a two year hiatus to play other games (A horror campaign, a Traveller campaign, a 3e D&D campaign) run by other players in my group. Previous Story Hours to this involved the characters as 2nd Edition characters. This Story Hour marks their beginnings as 3rd Edition characters, converted and everything.
The game begins less than four months after the events of the previous Story Hours, in late May of 420. Without any further ado, let’s introduce the protagonists:
Sir Brennen D’Loxor (Human Fighter 5, Sword of Kelanen 4)
Sir Brennan is a worshipper of the demigod Kelanen, the Prince of Swords. Kelanen is one of those rare individuals who transcends mortal status through great deeds. In his case, he was the catalyst behind the overthrow of Vecna and Kas some 2,000 years ago. He was the only man to ever defeat Kas in single combat, although Kas used treachery to then capture Kelanen. Kelanen’s chief followers are known as “Swords” and practice a windmilling, twin-longsword style that is heavy on offense and light on defense. They also can cast spells in a manner somewhat similar to a Paladin. Brennan fought for King Yarzhen’s forces during the Civil War of 412-416, and for his heroic efforts in previous adventures, Brennen was knighted. Brennan is from Oakendell, and is the son of a local landowner-farmer.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Brennen was a paladin variant class in 2e. Moving to 3e gained him a level, but he lost access to 3rd level spells. No more Dispel Magics from the tank.
Reana Stormblade (Half Elven Ranger 9)
Reana is a local girl, born and raised in Oakendell, a small village in the Doriath Forest. She comes from a tradition of rangers, beginning with her half-elven grandfather, Erethel Mileki, who was a reknowned ranger in his time, but is now quite old and a little bit senile. There is enough elven blood from various sources running through Reana’s family that she still retains the half-elven attributes, even after a couple generations. Reana is related to many of the families in Oakendell and Sickle Creek, as Grandpa Erethel was quite a wanderer in his day, and is currently on his 4th wife. Reana has something along the lines of 80 cousins. Her father was a mercenary in the southern part of Ghithor, and Reana spent a large portion of her early days as an adventurer attempting to locate other members of her father’s family. Reana has recently been working on planning a forest stronghold in the Northern Doriath Forest.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Reana now has improved two weapon fighting, so she gets four attacks on a full attack. She also seems to like the Summon Monster spell quite a bit.
Jalea (High Elven Rogue 10)
Jalea is from the Marquisate of Ulfang, in the southwest of Ambardor. He was active in that city’s Thieves’ Guild, but left town most recently after a run in with Lord Arlen Kentfield, an influential nobleman. Early in his career, he served in the Army of Ulfang as a scout, and has since used that euphemism to describe his talents. For the past several years, he has been working his way up the ranks in the Thieves’ Guild of Fencig, a large northern city. Previous to their recent “vacation” the party had inadvertently aided the Guild by wiping out a group of wererats (known as the “Lumpers”) who were working to take over the Guild. The Lumpers were being aided by the Priesthood of Tyaa, who were enemies of the party, and who were financing the takeover through money earned through their gambling operations at “The Falcon’s Club,” an upscale casino in a very nice section of Fencig. The casino fell into disrepair, only to eventually be bought and reopened by the party’s former Priest, a gnomish priest of Bes (God of Luck) named Jovah. Jalea had been keeping the Guild off Jovah’s back in regards to protection money, with the aid of Morris, a Guild Lieutenant who was their primary contact during the Lumper incident, but Morris is now dead. Jalea has been looking into returning to Ulfang to take care of Lord Kentfield.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Still to be determined. Jalea’s player wasn’t present in Session 1(and I haven’t seen his character yet), so we haven’t got a handle on his differences yet.
Aris (High Elven Fighter 3, Wizard 5, Bladesinger 2)
Aris joined up with the party during an expedition to recover an Elven artifact from a group of pirates, and continued with them in order to gain more knowledge of the humans, as well as learn more about the increasing sightings of Drow in the wilderness of Ghithor and Ambardor. The Drow had been laying low for over a century, and Aris was the second Elf to lay eyes on a Drow in over 100 years (the first was Jalea, but he went unconscious shortly afterwards). Aris owes a debt to the Dwarves of the Lake of A Thousand Waterfalls due to his accidental killing of a number of dwarven slaves with a ill-placed fireball spell. He also had his throat slit by a Drow during that episode, and vowed to not have the scar removed until he had found a way to repaly the dwarves.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
In two words: Hit Points. Aris more than doubled his hit points in the conversion. He lost access to 4th level spells, though. No more Walls of Fire.
Shyne Jovah Rockbrite (Gnomish Cleric 6, Luckbringer 3)
Jovah is a priest of Bes; one of a very few priests, as a matter of fact. Bes belongs to the Murkraal Pantheon, one of the gods of a long-lost civilization that disappeared into the sands east of the Ar-Ainadorian Empire more than a thousand years ago. Jovah’s parents were jewelllers, and Jovah initially left home to investigate a jewel robbery, and later inherited a tower (and its attendant debt) from a roguish favorite uncle. In the course of paying off the debt, he met and joined up with Brennen, Reana, and Jalea. They have travelled together for nearly four years, and have made quite a name for themselves. Jovah now owns the Fox Club, a swank casino and restaurant in Fencig. He helps out those down on their luck, and uses the casino as his base of operations. He is constantly keeping tabs on the Church of Reksus, which is also powerful in Fencig; Reksus is the most powerful remaining God of the Murkraal Pantheon, and has spread the story that Reksus is the Chief Diety of that pantheon in order to boost his credibility. In fact, this is not true, and Jovah has a set of scrolls dating back to Murkraal’s peak that reveal the truth that Reksus was actually a trickster god, God of Magic and of Power. (And Public Relations, as Jovah likes to say). The Church of Reksus does not want these scrolls to reach wide distribution, but Jovah has been hiring scribes to copy them and send them to scholars across the land to spread the truth.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Jovah no longer can boast he has as many hit points as Brennen, but his damage dealing has seen an upgrade, as he swings a heavy mace two handed, getting a +3 damage bonus. Not bad for a gnome.
Gavin (Human Fighter 9)
Gavin hails from near the mountain town of Cardell. He served as a cavalryman in the Rebel Army during the Ghithor Civil War, and was involved in the campaign in the North, including the Occupation of Fencig. After the war ended, and the Rebels lost, he made a living as a mercenary working the Copper Pass connecting Carandor and Ghithor, picking up a working knowledge of Caradinian and Orcish. He joined up with the party after his friend Koth was kidnapped and turned into a strange sort of ghoul by Virenzo Staris, the necromancer. Since joining the party, Gavin has earned more money than he ever could have dreamed of as a mercenary, and come closer to death as well. His rallying of the cavalry in Mahanaim to fight off Elros Ekozius is frequently credited as the turning point in that battle, and along with his adventurous exploits with the party, earned him a knighthood. Gavin is an excellent horseman, and likes the trappings of money and nobility. His more mercenary nature has been tempered over time by exposure to the more altruistic and idealistic members of the party. Gavin has been given control of the town of Shadow Springs, and has cleared the town of nasties and started rebuilding.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Gavin’s fighter feats will give him all kinds of new ways to crunch enemies. Overall, he is probably the least changed.
Corwin Marchettus (Human Fighter 2, Wizard 7)
Corwin is a new addition to the party, played by a new player. Corwin is a former noble of Ghithor who lost his lands in the Civil War. He also had his (then fighter) butt handed to him by a Wizard in an engagement in which his entire unit was wiped out. He began studying magic, and found he had an aptitude for it. He is now trying to get back in the good graces of the lords of Ghithor, and is hopeful that the party can help him achieve that. He is not, however, overly impressed with their reputations, and is not afraid to voice his concerns about how things should be handled.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Corwin is the only true-blue, fully 3e character. Created for this game, his player decided to play with expectations by having a burly, armored, sword-wielding guy who is primarily a spellcaster.
This Story Hour is a continuation of the Story Hour that I started in August of 2001 at the old EN Boards, and continued through 2 board migrations (so far). The episodes preceding this can found here; the episodes preceding that are on the old Boards, which are looking increasingly like they will never see the light of day. I may repost them here at some point.
[EDIT] The full previous Story Hour is available zipped at The ENWorld Story Hour Page
These tales pick up after a two year hiatus to play other games (A horror campaign, a Traveller campaign, a 3e D&D campaign) run by other players in my group. Previous Story Hours to this involved the characters as 2nd Edition characters. This Story Hour marks their beginnings as 3rd Edition characters, converted and everything.
The game begins less than four months after the events of the previous Story Hours, in late May of 420. Without any further ado, let’s introduce the protagonists:
Sir Brennen D’Loxor (Human Fighter 5, Sword of Kelanen 4)
Sir Brennan is a worshipper of the demigod Kelanen, the Prince of Swords. Kelanen is one of those rare individuals who transcends mortal status through great deeds. In his case, he was the catalyst behind the overthrow of Vecna and Kas some 2,000 years ago. He was the only man to ever defeat Kas in single combat, although Kas used treachery to then capture Kelanen. Kelanen’s chief followers are known as “Swords” and practice a windmilling, twin-longsword style that is heavy on offense and light on defense. They also can cast spells in a manner somewhat similar to a Paladin. Brennan fought for King Yarzhen’s forces during the Civil War of 412-416, and for his heroic efforts in previous adventures, Brennen was knighted. Brennan is from Oakendell, and is the son of a local landowner-farmer.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Brennen was a paladin variant class in 2e. Moving to 3e gained him a level, but he lost access to 3rd level spells. No more Dispel Magics from the tank.
Reana Stormblade (Half Elven Ranger 9)
Reana is a local girl, born and raised in Oakendell, a small village in the Doriath Forest. She comes from a tradition of rangers, beginning with her half-elven grandfather, Erethel Mileki, who was a reknowned ranger in his time, but is now quite old and a little bit senile. There is enough elven blood from various sources running through Reana’s family that she still retains the half-elven attributes, even after a couple generations. Reana is related to many of the families in Oakendell and Sickle Creek, as Grandpa Erethel was quite a wanderer in his day, and is currently on his 4th wife. Reana has something along the lines of 80 cousins. Her father was a mercenary in the southern part of Ghithor, and Reana spent a large portion of her early days as an adventurer attempting to locate other members of her father’s family. Reana has recently been working on planning a forest stronghold in the Northern Doriath Forest.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Reana now has improved two weapon fighting, so she gets four attacks on a full attack. She also seems to like the Summon Monster spell quite a bit.
Jalea (High Elven Rogue 10)
Jalea is from the Marquisate of Ulfang, in the southwest of Ambardor. He was active in that city’s Thieves’ Guild, but left town most recently after a run in with Lord Arlen Kentfield, an influential nobleman. Early in his career, he served in the Army of Ulfang as a scout, and has since used that euphemism to describe his talents. For the past several years, he has been working his way up the ranks in the Thieves’ Guild of Fencig, a large northern city. Previous to their recent “vacation” the party had inadvertently aided the Guild by wiping out a group of wererats (known as the “Lumpers”) who were working to take over the Guild. The Lumpers were being aided by the Priesthood of Tyaa, who were enemies of the party, and who were financing the takeover through money earned through their gambling operations at “The Falcon’s Club,” an upscale casino in a very nice section of Fencig. The casino fell into disrepair, only to eventually be bought and reopened by the party’s former Priest, a gnomish priest of Bes (God of Luck) named Jovah. Jalea had been keeping the Guild off Jovah’s back in regards to protection money, with the aid of Morris, a Guild Lieutenant who was their primary contact during the Lumper incident, but Morris is now dead. Jalea has been looking into returning to Ulfang to take care of Lord Kentfield.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Still to be determined. Jalea’s player wasn’t present in Session 1(and I haven’t seen his character yet), so we haven’t got a handle on his differences yet.
Aris (High Elven Fighter 3, Wizard 5, Bladesinger 2)
Aris joined up with the party during an expedition to recover an Elven artifact from a group of pirates, and continued with them in order to gain more knowledge of the humans, as well as learn more about the increasing sightings of Drow in the wilderness of Ghithor and Ambardor. The Drow had been laying low for over a century, and Aris was the second Elf to lay eyes on a Drow in over 100 years (the first was Jalea, but he went unconscious shortly afterwards). Aris owes a debt to the Dwarves of the Lake of A Thousand Waterfalls due to his accidental killing of a number of dwarven slaves with a ill-placed fireball spell. He also had his throat slit by a Drow during that episode, and vowed to not have the scar removed until he had found a way to repaly the dwarves.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
In two words: Hit Points. Aris more than doubled his hit points in the conversion. He lost access to 4th level spells, though. No more Walls of Fire.
Shyne Jovah Rockbrite (Gnomish Cleric 6, Luckbringer 3)
Jovah is a priest of Bes; one of a very few priests, as a matter of fact. Bes belongs to the Murkraal Pantheon, one of the gods of a long-lost civilization that disappeared into the sands east of the Ar-Ainadorian Empire more than a thousand years ago. Jovah’s parents were jewelllers, and Jovah initially left home to investigate a jewel robbery, and later inherited a tower (and its attendant debt) from a roguish favorite uncle. In the course of paying off the debt, he met and joined up with Brennen, Reana, and Jalea. They have travelled together for nearly four years, and have made quite a name for themselves. Jovah now owns the Fox Club, a swank casino and restaurant in Fencig. He helps out those down on their luck, and uses the casino as his base of operations. He is constantly keeping tabs on the Church of Reksus, which is also powerful in Fencig; Reksus is the most powerful remaining God of the Murkraal Pantheon, and has spread the story that Reksus is the Chief Diety of that pantheon in order to boost his credibility. In fact, this is not true, and Jovah has a set of scrolls dating back to Murkraal’s peak that reveal the truth that Reksus was actually a trickster god, God of Magic and of Power. (And Public Relations, as Jovah likes to say). The Church of Reksus does not want these scrolls to reach wide distribution, but Jovah has been hiring scribes to copy them and send them to scholars across the land to spread the truth.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Jovah no longer can boast he has as many hit points as Brennen, but his damage dealing has seen an upgrade, as he swings a heavy mace two handed, getting a +3 damage bonus. Not bad for a gnome.
Gavin (Human Fighter 9)
Gavin hails from near the mountain town of Cardell. He served as a cavalryman in the Rebel Army during the Ghithor Civil War, and was involved in the campaign in the North, including the Occupation of Fencig. After the war ended, and the Rebels lost, he made a living as a mercenary working the Copper Pass connecting Carandor and Ghithor, picking up a working knowledge of Caradinian and Orcish. He joined up with the party after his friend Koth was kidnapped and turned into a strange sort of ghoul by Virenzo Staris, the necromancer. Since joining the party, Gavin has earned more money than he ever could have dreamed of as a mercenary, and come closer to death as well. His rallying of the cavalry in Mahanaim to fight off Elros Ekozius is frequently credited as the turning point in that battle, and along with his adventurous exploits with the party, earned him a knighthood. Gavin is an excellent horseman, and likes the trappings of money and nobility. His more mercenary nature has been tempered over time by exposure to the more altruistic and idealistic members of the party. Gavin has been given control of the town of Shadow Springs, and has cleared the town of nasties and started rebuilding.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Gavin’s fighter feats will give him all kinds of new ways to crunch enemies. Overall, he is probably the least changed.
Corwin Marchettus (Human Fighter 2, Wizard 7)
Corwin is a new addition to the party, played by a new player. Corwin is a former noble of Ghithor who lost his lands in the Civil War. He also had his (then fighter) butt handed to him by a Wizard in an engagement in which his entire unit was wiped out. He began studying magic, and found he had an aptitude for it. He is now trying to get back in the good graces of the lords of Ghithor, and is hopeful that the party can help him achieve that. He is not, however, overly impressed with their reputations, and is not afraid to voice his concerns about how things should be handled.
Biggest Change in 3rd Edition
Corwin is the only true-blue, fully 3e character. Created for this game, his player decided to play with expectations by having a burly, armored, sword-wielding guy who is primarily a spellcaster.
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