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Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3419588" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Into the Burning Sands</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>To Madu el Barake</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Esteemed friend;</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Please forgive me for seeking another boon of you after all the kindness</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>you have shown us. But I have stumbled upon an injustice that I seek to</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>correct, though I have not the means at this time. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>I have discovered that one of my kindred has been taken captive by</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>desert tribesmen and sold to an individual known as Synvar the Bloodied,</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>whom I understand is in the practice of sending slaves to the</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>gladiatorial arena to fight for the entertainment of the masses. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>I humbly request that if there is anything you can do to acquire this</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>elf's release or at least arrange for a less unpleasant placement, that</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>you do so. Should it be within my power to repay you for this favor, I</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>shall gladly do so. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>I have managed to acquire the armor that was taken from this lost elf,</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>but he also possessed a sword that had obviously been passed down</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>through his family, which I was unable to lay hands on. I should very</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>much like to return all of his possessions to him should he be granted</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>his freedom. The armor is currently held at the temple of Lathanul. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>I regret that I was unable to speak to this elf myself or learn his</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>name, but I am told that he refuses to speak any words other than the</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>tongue of our people. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>You have my sincerest gratitude. May Corellon Larethian and Lathanul</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>watch over you.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Telemnar Rohendil</em></strong></p><p>____________________________</p><p>We spent the better portion of a day with Jibade purchasing supplies and equipment for our journey to the Brass Palace. Though he is young even by the standard of Men, he is most knowledgeable with regards to the dangers of the desert. He has warned us of numerous hazards, from giant vermin and bandits to lethal storms, creatures of living stone, and places where magic ceases to function. </p><p></p><p>In preparation for such dangers I have acquired loose desert garb to protect my body from the heat. In addition I have a mask to prevent inhaling of blowing sand and goggles to shade my eyes from the intense glare of the sun. I have also obtained a peculiar bedroll that is intended to be buried in the sand like the lair of some burrowing creature, and several vials of antitoxin and curative potions in the event that Liadan or Nekaya should be unable to reach me. </p><p></p><p>Corellon has seen fit to bless me with a tiny measure of his healing grace, but as yet I am unschooled in its use and can do no more than remove the most insignificant of injuries. I must learn to rely less upon Liadan and Nekaya-Re for the ministrations of their dieties.</p><p></p><p>In the hours prior to our departure I spent a long while grooming Aratan, making certain that he was in the best of condition. I have told the priests of Lathanul's temple that should I fail to return within two months' time, they have my leave to sell him to someone of good heart who will treat him with all due respect and kindness. </p><p></p><p>When we met to take our evening repast, I determined the time appropriate to speak with my friends of a matter that has long weighed on my heart: the foretelling given me by Sir Tyrion's enchanted blade in Ankhapur. I had kept this information to myself, sharing a little only with my dear friend Baran, and I now see that this was wrong. I should have told all of my friends of the sword's words at once. Though I sought only after my wife, she is in company with others who are dear to my friends, and her fate is likely their fate. </p><p></p><p><strong><em>(This portion of the adventure was carried out via an email to the other players.) </em></strong></p><p><strong><em>As the party prepares to travel into the desert in search of Osaze</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Mumbai, Telemnar seeks an opportunity when everyone is present and stand</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>to address the group:</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>"My friends, there is something I would share with you that I should in</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>all honesty have spoken of many weeks ago. Please forgive me for keeping</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>from you information that may be of importance to us all.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>You will recall that when Aratan and I won the race in Ankhapur, we were</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>granted a boon by Sir Tyrion. The question I chose to ask of his</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>wondrous sword was this: How may I be reunited with my dear wife?</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>The response given to me by the sword was this." (Telemnar unrolls a</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>small piece of parchment and reads from it):</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>"Injustice! Constructed by immortal artefact, not divine.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>This question cannot be answered by cosmic being,</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>For this place is hidden from cosmic sight;</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Mortal eyes must find the way.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Spirit and form sundered one from another.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Great injustice to the Elf Lord, who has not collected his due.</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Greatness is measured in deed and intent, And only in the Shadows of</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Greatness will you find your answer."</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>I will not attempt to divine the true meaning of this augury. I only</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>hope that I have not kept this information to myself for too long."</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Telemnar then puts the parchment on the table for others to re-read if</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>they choose and sits down quietly. </em> </strong> </p><p></p><p>When I had read the prophetic verse aloud to my companions, I laid the bit of parchment upon the table and awaited their response. Their manner was subdued as they began tentatively to examine the words. It was suggested by Erim that there are powerful items of magic that can capture souls, though if this is the case the item must be powerful indeed if the magic of the gods cannot find these stolen souls. Nekaya-Re wondered if perhaps the Elf Lord spoken of might refer to myself, and I explained to her that I have no doubt these words speak of my Lord Corellon. </p><p></p><p>The result of this conversation was to strengthen our resolve to seek out Osaze Mumbai and gain his aid, or at the least his advice in contacting the dragon. It seems likely that once our business in the desert is concluded we will be returning to the familiar environs of the Cloven Mountains. </p><p></p><p>Following our meal I spent some while in prayer to Corellon. I pray that he will watch over my companions and I and aid us in achieving our goal. It is only the first step toward determining what has truly befallen my beloved and her company. Corellon bless my efforts to remedy this injustice.</p><p></p><p>We met with our guide Khai well past midnight, for we are to travel during the night to avoid the worst of the heat, though we shall not travel throughout the hours of darkness. Khai warns that this is when many of the desert's dangers are at their worst. I believe that we have chosen an admirable guide, taciturn though he is, and that he is satisfied with the care of our preparations. In addition to all our new purchases, Liadan bears the rune of water that can slake our thirst, and Lathander grants her the power to daily summon a feast that not only bolsters the body's hunger but will also protect us from the venom of poisonous beasts. Nekaya-Re has prepared with magic wands that can defend us against the heat and heal our wounds.</p><p></p><p>Before we departed Nekaya-Re sought to persuade Pakkin that he should not accompany us, but he would not be deterred. Her shining example has turned the goblin from the path of evil he followed and made him into a doughty and loyal companion. </p><p></p><p>The first hours of our journey were uneventful. We followed a trade road that permitted us to walk with relative ease. I found it strange that as soon as we had left the walls of Calimport behind all sign of Man's habitation ceased. We were surrounded by nothing but sand and the occasional ruin of some long-ago attempt to tame more of the desert. </p><p></p><p>Near sunrise as we approached another cluster of fallen walls, Khai stopped and signalled to us that he detected an ambush by bandits ahead. He at first intended to deal with them himself, though he indicated that there were perhaps a dozen men hiding among the rubble. Nekaya-Re remarked to him that we had acquired his services as our guide and advisor, not as our protector, and he agreed that we should take on those bandits hiding in the nearest ruin, while he dealt with the archers he detected behind a low hillock. When he slipped away into the darkness Pakkin followed him.</p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re then freed her hakra from its sheath, filling the roadway with the golden glow of Elishar's light. We heard a shout and coarse laughter from the ruins. A gruff voice called out demanding that we lay down our weapons. When we refused, a voice shouted out some imperative and arrows began to rain down on us from behind the hill. I took an arrow but it did me little harm. I kept <em>Brimstone</em> and <em>Sulian</em> in their sheaths. </p><p></p><p>I began to move toward the nearest ruin, as did Nekaya-Re. Sunshine appeared from within her bag, adding to the illumination as the strange creature's luminous tentacles trailed over the sand. Liadan chanted a prayer to Lathander and a burst of brilliant light appeared behind the crumbling stone wall, raising cries of alarm and pain. Two bandits stumbled out, their eyes streaming, obviously unable to see.</p><p></p><p>But not all of the ruffians had been so discomfitted and three of them rushed me. As I snatched out my blades and struck them Baran* charged toward one of my foes. Baran hurled his grandfather's hammer at one bandit's head, shouting to me in the Elven tongue to duck, and the hammer went whirring over my head. His hammer felled two of our enemies while the third was brought low by my swords.</p><p></p><p>Baran then vaulted over the wall to attack a group of bandits that had surrounded Nekaya-Re. I ran around the end of the ruined wall to pierce another man with both blades at once. I had not even troubled to bring <em>Brimstone's</em> flames to life. Within moments Baran and Nekaya-Re had dealt with the rest of the men near us but for a few who fled and three who were rendered blind by Lathander's fearsome radiance. </p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re and Liadan wished to offer mercy to the men who had been blinded, for Lathander's light would leave them permanently sightless without his healing grace. But the men all refused our aid and we were obliged to let them wander off into the desert in their helpless state.</p><p></p><p>The corpses of their companions yielded nothing of value other than a salutory lesson on the folly of banditry. Baran summoned a small bird to carry a message to the temple of Lathanul should the priests there wish to recover the bodies for burial. When Khai and Pakkin returned little the worse for wear, we left the bandits' bodies where they lay in the sand and resumed our journey. </p><p></p><p><em>*Player's note: Baran is Rock's real name, which he's recently taken to using again. From here on he'll be referred to as Baran in Telemnar's journal. </em> </p><p>____________________________________</p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Devo</strong>: "As he falls his eyes pop out and hit you. You take 2 points of subdual damage. Oh, wait, those aren't his eyes!"</p><p></p><p><strong>sniffles </strong> (singing to the tune of 'Strangers in the Night'): "Bandits in the night..."</p><p><strong>Zora</strong>: "...exchanging lances..."</p><p></p><p><strong>Hedrin</strong>: "You know, Rock's bumped into me for more damage."</p><p><strong>Devo</strong>: "He's not interested in you and Rock bumping."</p><p><strong>Zora</strong>: "It was ugly."</p><p></p><p><strong>Zora </strong> (squirming in his chair): "But I've been holding an action since we left!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3419588, member: 30035"] [b]Into the Burning Sands[/b] [B][I]To Madu el Barake Esteemed friend; Please forgive me for seeking another boon of you after all the kindness you have shown us. But I have stumbled upon an injustice that I seek to correct, though I have not the means at this time. I have discovered that one of my kindred has been taken captive by desert tribesmen and sold to an individual known as Synvar the Bloodied, whom I understand is in the practice of sending slaves to the gladiatorial arena to fight for the entertainment of the masses. I humbly request that if there is anything you can do to acquire this elf's release or at least arrange for a less unpleasant placement, that you do so. Should it be within my power to repay you for this favor, I shall gladly do so. I have managed to acquire the armor that was taken from this lost elf, but he also possessed a sword that had obviously been passed down through his family, which I was unable to lay hands on. I should very much like to return all of his possessions to him should he be granted his freedom. The armor is currently held at the temple of Lathanul. I regret that I was unable to speak to this elf myself or learn his name, but I am told that he refuses to speak any words other than the tongue of our people. You have my sincerest gratitude. May Corellon Larethian and Lathanul watch over you. Telemnar Rohendil[/I][/B] ____________________________ We spent the better portion of a day with Jibade purchasing supplies and equipment for our journey to the Brass Palace. Though he is young even by the standard of Men, he is most knowledgeable with regards to the dangers of the desert. He has warned us of numerous hazards, from giant vermin and bandits to lethal storms, creatures of living stone, and places where magic ceases to function. In preparation for such dangers I have acquired loose desert garb to protect my body from the heat. In addition I have a mask to prevent inhaling of blowing sand and goggles to shade my eyes from the intense glare of the sun. I have also obtained a peculiar bedroll that is intended to be buried in the sand like the lair of some burrowing creature, and several vials of antitoxin and curative potions in the event that Liadan or Nekaya should be unable to reach me. Corellon has seen fit to bless me with a tiny measure of his healing grace, but as yet I am unschooled in its use and can do no more than remove the most insignificant of injuries. I must learn to rely less upon Liadan and Nekaya-Re for the ministrations of their dieties. In the hours prior to our departure I spent a long while grooming Aratan, making certain that he was in the best of condition. I have told the priests of Lathanul's temple that should I fail to return within two months' time, they have my leave to sell him to someone of good heart who will treat him with all due respect and kindness. When we met to take our evening repast, I determined the time appropriate to speak with my friends of a matter that has long weighed on my heart: the foretelling given me by Sir Tyrion's enchanted blade in Ankhapur. I had kept this information to myself, sharing a little only with my dear friend Baran, and I now see that this was wrong. I should have told all of my friends of the sword's words at once. Though I sought only after my wife, she is in company with others who are dear to my friends, and her fate is likely their fate. [B][I](This portion of the adventure was carried out via an email to the other players.) As the party prepares to travel into the desert in search of Osaze Mumbai, Telemnar seeks an opportunity when everyone is present and stand to address the group: "My friends, there is something I would share with you that I should in all honesty have spoken of many weeks ago. Please forgive me for keeping from you information that may be of importance to us all. You will recall that when Aratan and I won the race in Ankhapur, we were granted a boon by Sir Tyrion. The question I chose to ask of his wondrous sword was this: How may I be reunited with my dear wife? The response given to me by the sword was this." (Telemnar unrolls a small piece of parchment and reads from it): "Injustice! Constructed by immortal artefact, not divine. This question cannot be answered by cosmic being, For this place is hidden from cosmic sight; Mortal eyes must find the way. Spirit and form sundered one from another. Great injustice to the Elf Lord, who has not collected his due. Greatness is measured in deed and intent, And only in the Shadows of Greatness will you find your answer." I will not attempt to divine the true meaning of this augury. I only hope that I have not kept this information to myself for too long." Telemnar then puts the parchment on the table for others to re-read if they choose and sits down quietly. [/I] [/B] When I had read the prophetic verse aloud to my companions, I laid the bit of parchment upon the table and awaited their response. Their manner was subdued as they began tentatively to examine the words. It was suggested by Erim that there are powerful items of magic that can capture souls, though if this is the case the item must be powerful indeed if the magic of the gods cannot find these stolen souls. Nekaya-Re wondered if perhaps the Elf Lord spoken of might refer to myself, and I explained to her that I have no doubt these words speak of my Lord Corellon. The result of this conversation was to strengthen our resolve to seek out Osaze Mumbai and gain his aid, or at the least his advice in contacting the dragon. It seems likely that once our business in the desert is concluded we will be returning to the familiar environs of the Cloven Mountains. Following our meal I spent some while in prayer to Corellon. I pray that he will watch over my companions and I and aid us in achieving our goal. It is only the first step toward determining what has truly befallen my beloved and her company. Corellon bless my efforts to remedy this injustice. We met with our guide Khai well past midnight, for we are to travel during the night to avoid the worst of the heat, though we shall not travel throughout the hours of darkness. Khai warns that this is when many of the desert's dangers are at their worst. I believe that we have chosen an admirable guide, taciturn though he is, and that he is satisfied with the care of our preparations. In addition to all our new purchases, Liadan bears the rune of water that can slake our thirst, and Lathander grants her the power to daily summon a feast that not only bolsters the body's hunger but will also protect us from the venom of poisonous beasts. Nekaya-Re has prepared with magic wands that can defend us against the heat and heal our wounds. Before we departed Nekaya-Re sought to persuade Pakkin that he should not accompany us, but he would not be deterred. Her shining example has turned the goblin from the path of evil he followed and made him into a doughty and loyal companion. The first hours of our journey were uneventful. We followed a trade road that permitted us to walk with relative ease. I found it strange that as soon as we had left the walls of Calimport behind all sign of Man's habitation ceased. We were surrounded by nothing but sand and the occasional ruin of some long-ago attempt to tame more of the desert. Near sunrise as we approached another cluster of fallen walls, Khai stopped and signalled to us that he detected an ambush by bandits ahead. He at first intended to deal with them himself, though he indicated that there were perhaps a dozen men hiding among the rubble. Nekaya-Re remarked to him that we had acquired his services as our guide and advisor, not as our protector, and he agreed that we should take on those bandits hiding in the nearest ruin, while he dealt with the archers he detected behind a low hillock. When he slipped away into the darkness Pakkin followed him. Nekaya-Re then freed her hakra from its sheath, filling the roadway with the golden glow of Elishar's light. We heard a shout and coarse laughter from the ruins. A gruff voice called out demanding that we lay down our weapons. When we refused, a voice shouted out some imperative and arrows began to rain down on us from behind the hill. I took an arrow but it did me little harm. I kept [I]Brimstone[/I] and [I]Sulian[/I] in their sheaths. I began to move toward the nearest ruin, as did Nekaya-Re. Sunshine appeared from within her bag, adding to the illumination as the strange creature's luminous tentacles trailed over the sand. Liadan chanted a prayer to Lathander and a burst of brilliant light appeared behind the crumbling stone wall, raising cries of alarm and pain. Two bandits stumbled out, their eyes streaming, obviously unable to see. But not all of the ruffians had been so discomfitted and three of them rushed me. As I snatched out my blades and struck them Baran* charged toward one of my foes. Baran hurled his grandfather's hammer at one bandit's head, shouting to me in the Elven tongue to duck, and the hammer went whirring over my head. His hammer felled two of our enemies while the third was brought low by my swords. Baran then vaulted over the wall to attack a group of bandits that had surrounded Nekaya-Re. I ran around the end of the ruined wall to pierce another man with both blades at once. I had not even troubled to bring [I]Brimstone's[/I] flames to life. Within moments Baran and Nekaya-Re had dealt with the rest of the men near us but for a few who fled and three who were rendered blind by Lathander's fearsome radiance. Nekaya-Re and Liadan wished to offer mercy to the men who had been blinded, for Lathander's light would leave them permanently sightless without his healing grace. But the men all refused our aid and we were obliged to let them wander off into the desert in their helpless state. The corpses of their companions yielded nothing of value other than a salutory lesson on the folly of banditry. Baran summoned a small bird to carry a message to the temple of Lathanul should the priests there wish to recover the bodies for burial. When Khai and Pakkin returned little the worse for wear, we left the bandits' bodies where they lay in the sand and resumed our journey. [I]*Player's note: Baran is Rock's real name, which he's recently taken to using again. From here on he'll be referred to as Baran in Telemnar's journal. [/I] ____________________________________ [B]Quips & Quotes:[/B] [B]Devo[/B]: "As he falls his eyes pop out and hit you. You take 2 points of subdual damage. Oh, wait, those aren't his eyes!" [B]sniffles [/B] (singing to the tune of 'Strangers in the Night'): "Bandits in the night..." [B]Zora[/B]: "...exchanging lances..." [B]Hedrin[/B]: "You know, Rock's bumped into me for more damage." [B]Devo[/B]: "He's not interested in you and Rock bumping." [B]Zora[/B]: "It was ugly." [B]Zora [/B] (squirming in his chair): "But I've been holding an action since we left!" [/QUOTE]
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