Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3445490" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Desert of Dangers</strong></p><p></p><p>I might have suspected that as we met our first obstacle within hours of our departure, our journey to the efreet's palace would be fraught with danger. But had it not been for the blessings of our gods our travels would have been far deadlier. Each night when the moons cast their cool glow upon the sands I give thanks to Corellon for the wisdom of my companions in preparing for this journey.</p><p></p><p>My prayers also contain my desire that such a fate should never befall the Hidden Hills as befell this land. Once my people were not strangers to this place, and their domain was not hidden beneath the ever-shifting sands, nor preyed upon by such variety of vicious threats. </p><p></p><p>Our first days of travel were spent learning how to stride upon the dunes in a manner that would make walking less tiresome and conceal our location from prying eyes. Khai introduced us to many dangers of the Calim beyond those his son had detailed for us. We learned of the strange purple plants known as 'cacti' that would explode at the slightest touch, thereby setting off all their neighbors in turn. He also warned us against a salt lich who rules one part of the desert near to our course. </p><p></p><p>On the third day of our journey Baran drew my gaze to a group of birds circling in the distance - or so I thought at first glance. When I looked closer I realized they were in fact very large birds and not nearly so far away as I had first assumed. Liadan wondered if perhaps we should investigate whatever drew them, to which Khai responded that "nothing in this desert is worth investigating." </p><p></p><p>We were not to pass without trouble, for our motion drew the attention of the great birds and they began to draw nearer. At that same moment we heard a strange sound, like the growling of some beast but oddly muffled. Over the crest of a dune to my left emerged two creatures the size of horses. </p><p></p><p>They resembled wolves, but from their tawny fur grew sharp spikes of crysalline material. Khai warned that such beasts hunt in packs. Liadan at once seared them with Lathander's divine light. Baran called to me to exchange places with Erim so that the mage might conserve his magic, but Erim did not agree and instead stepped closer to the slope of the dune, drawing his blade. More of the wolfen creatures climbed over the dunes.</p><p></p><p>Baran hurled his grandsire's hammer at the first two beasts and they rushed him. Liadan then called out to the Morninglord and in response a huge chunk of fiery rock came hurtling from the heavens to crush two more of our foes. I sprang forward to the attack once I had a target within reach. </p><p></p><p>Now the large birds that had circled overhead began to descend upon us, fouling the air with their abominable stench. They resembled huge vultures and smelled of offal and decay. My stomach roiled at their odor and Pakkin doubled over, retching onto the sand. My blade cut deeply into one bird as it swooped above my head.</p><p></p><p>I shifted to Erim's side to aid him and felt one wolf-beast's jaws clamp upon my arm. Where its fangs scored my flesh the wounds burned as though sprinkled with salt. Not wishing to suffer such injury again, I danced about the creature, stabbing it with both blades at once. Erim sent a burst of lightning through his sword to wound the beast.</p><p></p><p>In moments all of the wolf-beasts lay dead upon the bloodstained sands, the last one brought low by Lathander's might channeled through Liadan's hands. The vultures settled to feed upon the corpses. When Liadan had blessed us with Lathander's healing mercies we continued on our way.</p><p></p><p>Further dangers loomed around us that day, though we were able to avoid them thanks to Khai's wisdom. Once he pointed out to us an area of black sand which he told us would raise to an unholy semblance of life any creature that died in its embrace. Such places are thought to be the blood of Memnos the efreet, seeping up from where that mighty being lies buried beneath the desert. </p><p></p><p>On another occasion that day we observed what at first appeared to be a pool of clear, still water, surrounded by another patch of the seemingly innocuous purple cacti. But we soon learned that the 'water' was in fact a boneless creature lying in wait for unwary creatures to consume.</p><p></p><p>The following day we watched a thunderstorm proceed rapidly across the horizon, lightning dancing amid the sable clouds. We camped amid some ruined structure that had been eaten away by the wind and sand until its form could scarcely be discerned.</p><p></p><p>Our fifth day introduced us to another potential danger of the Calim: the Asherati, a fiery people who seem to live within the dunes themselves. Two scouts emerged suddenly in our path, but they appeared to know Khai and did not threaten us. They offered trade should we desire it. We had not brought any items expressly for that purpose, but Liadan drew out a fine tablecloth from her father's enchanted saddlebags and exchanged it with the Asherati for a handful of diamonds.</p><p></p><p>Later we managed to disturb a next of large scorpions that attempted to sting us in their ire. Had we not been protected by the nourishment of the Morninglord's holy repast we might have suffered sorely from their venom.</p><p></p><p>Dawn of the sixth day brought a threatening shift in the wind. Khai advised us that this presaged a sandstorm. All morning we were able to see the storm in the distance, darkening the sky. By mid-morning it was apparent that it was approaching us. We unfolded our sand tubes rapidly and began to burrow into the dunes as quickly as we could.</p><p></p><p>By the time we had buried ourselves the storm reached our location. Despite the weight of sand surrounding my sand tube I could feel the power of the storm above me, shifting vast quantities of sand with a force that could tear the flesh from my bones had I been so unfortunate as to be caught in that wind. The storm raged for hours, leaving us to contemplate the frailty of our flesh against the forces of nature. Though we wore our enchanted rings and could speak with one another at will, our wait was for the most part conducted in silence but for the howling of the storm. </p><p></p><p>By midday the storm abated and we dug ourselves free of our bolt-holes to find that the landscape around us had been utterly changed. The sands were littered with glittering bits of obsidian that were sharper than <em>Sulian's</em> blade. My admiration for Khai's skill as a guide grew as I realized that he could never rely upon landmarks or familiar sights to steer his course in this place. </p><p></p><p>We proceeded onward, having lost only half a day's travel to the storm. But the middle of the day was even more unbearably hot than morning or evening, despite our magical protection from the elements. It was a relief to find another ruin in which to set our camp at dusk. </p><p></p><p>Liadan had been examining each ruin to ascertain if any dangerous magic lingered there and found that this ruin did hold traces of enchantment. It appeared that it was the last remnant of a temple to the beholder tyrants that had once ruled here. But the lingering magic offered less danger than one precarious wall that Khai warned us against. </p><p></p><p>Danger came to meet us on the seventh day almost before we set out. We had not left the ruined temple far behind when a huge worm erupted from beneath the sand, its hot breath spewing flames and molten sand upon us! </p><p></p><p>Erim summoned up a blast of frigid air that covered the worm in a rime of ice. Liadan chanted a prayer that would give us the blessings of the righteous as we prepared to do battle with the fiery worm. The worm lunged at me, its many rows of teeth piercing my flesh, and began to wind its body snake-like about me as it tried to score me with its spines, which dripped a foul greenish ichor. Thanks to my second enchanted ring it could not hold me pinioned and I slipped free.</p><p></p><p>I drew <em>Brimstone</em> and set him aflame with a word. Then two smaller worms burst from the dunes, deepening my concern. A ray of intense sunlight burst from Liadan to scorch one creature. One of the worms tried to ensnare Baran as it had attempted to grapple me. Thankfully Lathander's feast had once again protected us from such venoms as its spines carried. </p><p></p><p>The second worm spat a gout of lava upon myself and several of my friends, while its third companion did the same to the remainder of our party. Khai slashed the first worm with his scimitar, causing it to let go its hold on Baran. My dwarven friend's hammer then laid it low. </p><p></p><p>Liadan seared the second worm with Lathander's holy radiance, while the third worm sank its teeth into Baran. I moved to strike the second worm with both my blades. As I did so, the corpse of the fallen first worm suddenly burst in a shower of hot flesh and poisoned spikes, splattering most of the area. Corellon's grace protected Liadan and myself from the stinging spray.</p><p></p><p>Nekaya-Re had now been gripped in the coils of one worm. Pakkin courageously rushed to her side and emptied a potion vial on her body. In a heartbeat she had grown several sizes larger and shrugged off the worm's embrace. </p><p></p><p>The second worm sank its teeth into me. Liadan cried out for us to withdraw to the temple ruins. I pulled away from the worm and began to run. As I sped back toward the ruined structure, Liadan summoned a comet from the sky as she had done against the wolf-creatures, slaying the second worm. I increased my pace, knowing now that this worm's body would explode as had its companion's. Then Khai shouted that yet more worms were pursuing us beneath the sand!</p><p>____________________________</p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes </strong> (<em>for some reason we were extra silly that night.</em> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> ):</p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "I'm followed by a 5-foot ball of light. I'm kind of obvious."</p><p>Zora: "Can you put a cloak over that?"</p><p>sniffles: "Put a white sheet over it."</p><p></p><p>patv: "So basically your god sent you a night-light."</p><p></p><p>Hedrin: "Didn't Nekaya-Re come from a desert country?"</p><p>Zora: "They weren't high on survival there."</p><p>Devo: "They were high on Sunshine."</p><p></p><p>Hedrin: "The sugar sands are over there."</p><p>sniffles: "It's the condiment desert."</p><p></p><p>sniffles: "The jackals ordered extra salt in their blood."</p><p></p><p>Zora: "I'm not trying to touch them."</p><p>sniffles: "Yes you are, with your hammer of love."</p><p>Jubilee: "I didn't know Baran had a hammer of love."</p><p>Zora: "It's a hammer of tough love."</p><p></p><p>patv: "Is this <em>Hero's Feast</em> vegan?"</p><p>Jubilee: "No animals were harmed in the making of this <em>Hero's Feast</em>."</p><p></p><p>Zora: "We've got the <em>rings of communication</em>, so speak up if you're in trouble."</p><p>Hedrin: "Anyone want to tell ghost stories?"</p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "Do we get double temporary hit points if we eat two portions of <em>Hero's Feast</em>?"</p><p>sniffles: "No, but you get a stomachache."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3445490, member: 30035"] [b]Desert of Dangers[/b] I might have suspected that as we met our first obstacle within hours of our departure, our journey to the efreet's palace would be fraught with danger. But had it not been for the blessings of our gods our travels would have been far deadlier. Each night when the moons cast their cool glow upon the sands I give thanks to Corellon for the wisdom of my companions in preparing for this journey. My prayers also contain my desire that such a fate should never befall the Hidden Hills as befell this land. Once my people were not strangers to this place, and their domain was not hidden beneath the ever-shifting sands, nor preyed upon by such variety of vicious threats. Our first days of travel were spent learning how to stride upon the dunes in a manner that would make walking less tiresome and conceal our location from prying eyes. Khai introduced us to many dangers of the Calim beyond those his son had detailed for us. We learned of the strange purple plants known as 'cacti' that would explode at the slightest touch, thereby setting off all their neighbors in turn. He also warned us against a salt lich who rules one part of the desert near to our course. On the third day of our journey Baran drew my gaze to a group of birds circling in the distance - or so I thought at first glance. When I looked closer I realized they were in fact very large birds and not nearly so far away as I had first assumed. Liadan wondered if perhaps we should investigate whatever drew them, to which Khai responded that "nothing in this desert is worth investigating." We were not to pass without trouble, for our motion drew the attention of the great birds and they began to draw nearer. At that same moment we heard a strange sound, like the growling of some beast but oddly muffled. Over the crest of a dune to my left emerged two creatures the size of horses. They resembled wolves, but from their tawny fur grew sharp spikes of crysalline material. Khai warned that such beasts hunt in packs. Liadan at once seared them with Lathander's divine light. Baran called to me to exchange places with Erim so that the mage might conserve his magic, but Erim did not agree and instead stepped closer to the slope of the dune, drawing his blade. More of the wolfen creatures climbed over the dunes. Baran hurled his grandsire's hammer at the first two beasts and they rushed him. Liadan then called out to the Morninglord and in response a huge chunk of fiery rock came hurtling from the heavens to crush two more of our foes. I sprang forward to the attack once I had a target within reach. Now the large birds that had circled overhead began to descend upon us, fouling the air with their abominable stench. They resembled huge vultures and smelled of offal and decay. My stomach roiled at their odor and Pakkin doubled over, retching onto the sand. My blade cut deeply into one bird as it swooped above my head. I shifted to Erim's side to aid him and felt one wolf-beast's jaws clamp upon my arm. Where its fangs scored my flesh the wounds burned as though sprinkled with salt. Not wishing to suffer such injury again, I danced about the creature, stabbing it with both blades at once. Erim sent a burst of lightning through his sword to wound the beast. In moments all of the wolf-beasts lay dead upon the bloodstained sands, the last one brought low by Lathander's might channeled through Liadan's hands. The vultures settled to feed upon the corpses. When Liadan had blessed us with Lathander's healing mercies we continued on our way. Further dangers loomed around us that day, though we were able to avoid them thanks to Khai's wisdom. Once he pointed out to us an area of black sand which he told us would raise to an unholy semblance of life any creature that died in its embrace. Such places are thought to be the blood of Memnos the efreet, seeping up from where that mighty being lies buried beneath the desert. On another occasion that day we observed what at first appeared to be a pool of clear, still water, surrounded by another patch of the seemingly innocuous purple cacti. But we soon learned that the 'water' was in fact a boneless creature lying in wait for unwary creatures to consume. The following day we watched a thunderstorm proceed rapidly across the horizon, lightning dancing amid the sable clouds. We camped amid some ruined structure that had been eaten away by the wind and sand until its form could scarcely be discerned. Our fifth day introduced us to another potential danger of the Calim: the Asherati, a fiery people who seem to live within the dunes themselves. Two scouts emerged suddenly in our path, but they appeared to know Khai and did not threaten us. They offered trade should we desire it. We had not brought any items expressly for that purpose, but Liadan drew out a fine tablecloth from her father's enchanted saddlebags and exchanged it with the Asherati for a handful of diamonds. Later we managed to disturb a next of large scorpions that attempted to sting us in their ire. Had we not been protected by the nourishment of the Morninglord's holy repast we might have suffered sorely from their venom. Dawn of the sixth day brought a threatening shift in the wind. Khai advised us that this presaged a sandstorm. All morning we were able to see the storm in the distance, darkening the sky. By mid-morning it was apparent that it was approaching us. We unfolded our sand tubes rapidly and began to burrow into the dunes as quickly as we could. By the time we had buried ourselves the storm reached our location. Despite the weight of sand surrounding my sand tube I could feel the power of the storm above me, shifting vast quantities of sand with a force that could tear the flesh from my bones had I been so unfortunate as to be caught in that wind. The storm raged for hours, leaving us to contemplate the frailty of our flesh against the forces of nature. Though we wore our enchanted rings and could speak with one another at will, our wait was for the most part conducted in silence but for the howling of the storm. By midday the storm abated and we dug ourselves free of our bolt-holes to find that the landscape around us had been utterly changed. The sands were littered with glittering bits of obsidian that were sharper than [I]Sulian's[/I] blade. My admiration for Khai's skill as a guide grew as I realized that he could never rely upon landmarks or familiar sights to steer his course in this place. We proceeded onward, having lost only half a day's travel to the storm. But the middle of the day was even more unbearably hot than morning or evening, despite our magical protection from the elements. It was a relief to find another ruin in which to set our camp at dusk. Liadan had been examining each ruin to ascertain if any dangerous magic lingered there and found that this ruin did hold traces of enchantment. It appeared that it was the last remnant of a temple to the beholder tyrants that had once ruled here. But the lingering magic offered less danger than one precarious wall that Khai warned us against. Danger came to meet us on the seventh day almost before we set out. We had not left the ruined temple far behind when a huge worm erupted from beneath the sand, its hot breath spewing flames and molten sand upon us! Erim summoned up a blast of frigid air that covered the worm in a rime of ice. Liadan chanted a prayer that would give us the blessings of the righteous as we prepared to do battle with the fiery worm. The worm lunged at me, its many rows of teeth piercing my flesh, and began to wind its body snake-like about me as it tried to score me with its spines, which dripped a foul greenish ichor. Thanks to my second enchanted ring it could not hold me pinioned and I slipped free. I drew [I]Brimstone[/I] and set him aflame with a word. Then two smaller worms burst from the dunes, deepening my concern. A ray of intense sunlight burst from Liadan to scorch one creature. One of the worms tried to ensnare Baran as it had attempted to grapple me. Thankfully Lathander's feast had once again protected us from such venoms as its spines carried. The second worm spat a gout of lava upon myself and several of my friends, while its third companion did the same to the remainder of our party. Khai slashed the first worm with his scimitar, causing it to let go its hold on Baran. My dwarven friend's hammer then laid it low. Liadan seared the second worm with Lathander's holy radiance, while the third worm sank its teeth into Baran. I moved to strike the second worm with both my blades. As I did so, the corpse of the fallen first worm suddenly burst in a shower of hot flesh and poisoned spikes, splattering most of the area. Corellon's grace protected Liadan and myself from the stinging spray. Nekaya-Re had now been gripped in the coils of one worm. Pakkin courageously rushed to her side and emptied a potion vial on her body. In a heartbeat she had grown several sizes larger and shrugged off the worm's embrace. The second worm sank its teeth into me. Liadan cried out for us to withdraw to the temple ruins. I pulled away from the worm and began to run. As I sped back toward the ruined structure, Liadan summoned a comet from the sky as she had done against the wolf-creatures, slaying the second worm. I increased my pace, knowing now that this worm's body would explode as had its companion's. Then Khai shouted that yet more worms were pursuing us beneath the sand! ____________________________ [B]Quips & Quotes [/B] ([I]for some reason we were extra silly that night.[/I] ;) ): Jubilee: "I'm followed by a 5-foot ball of light. I'm kind of obvious." Zora: "Can you put a cloak over that?" sniffles: "Put a white sheet over it." patv: "So basically your god sent you a night-light." Hedrin: "Didn't Nekaya-Re come from a desert country?" Zora: "They weren't high on survival there." Devo: "They were high on Sunshine." Hedrin: "The sugar sands are over there." sniffles: "It's the condiment desert." sniffles: "The jackals ordered extra salt in their blood." Zora: "I'm not trying to touch them." sniffles: "Yes you are, with your hammer of love." Jubilee: "I didn't know Baran had a hammer of love." Zora: "It's a hammer of tough love." patv: "Is this [I]Hero's Feast[/I] vegan?" Jubilee: "No animals were harmed in the making of this [I]Hero's Feast[/I]." Zora: "We've got the [I]rings of communication[/I], so speak up if you're in trouble." Hedrin: "Anyone want to tell ghost stories?" Jubilee: "Do we get double temporary hit points if we eat two portions of [I]Hero's Feast[/I]?" sniffles: "No, but you get a stomachache." [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Shadows of Greatness, a Forgotten Realms campaign UPDATED February 1, 2008
Top