primemover003
First Post
In this campaign I'm having my group resurrect their old 2nd ed Planescape band of fiendslayers and sending through Dungeon's Savage Tide Adventure Path as a classic Planescape style campaign. Starting at 10th level I'll obviously have to scale some parts of it as I want to begin with Here There Be Monsters, the 4th chapter of the path (normally for 7th level characters). Adapting it to the planes will be even more interesting then I thought!
The first three adventures (HTBM, ToD, and CoBI) will all take place on the Beastlands, in and around the Forbidden Plateau (substituting for the Isle of Dread), TLD will take place in Pandemonium's 3rd and 4th layers. I'm not sure exactly how to fit in SoS yet, but by the time we get there (probably march) I'll have it done.
The Players...
The set-up...
Lavinia is the daughter of Factol Darius of the Sign of One (a planar Faction that maintains a presence on the Beastlands). Factol Darius, a potent seer, dreams of an upcoming demonic assault on the colony of Farshore (a Faction holding on the Beastlands) and sees the PC's there stopping it. She asks the PC's to protect her daughter and the colony which studies the Forbidden Plateau hoping to learn more about the "dead" pantheon whose realm lies there.
Vanthus becomes the leader of a demonic led force of tielfing Vile Hunters (a planar sect), Tanar'ri, and Doomsguard (another of Sigil's Factions). Vanthus' backstory changes to that of the scion of the tanar'ri general Za'rafass who was killed in a raid on the Concordant Domains of the Outlands (in which Darius' divinations played an instrumental role). Vanthus leads a campaign to wound Factol Darius' political base by destroying the colony and her heart by kidnapping her daughter.
Session #1 - A Call to the Hall...
[sblock]
Summoned to Sigil's great Hall of Speakers by Factol Darius of the Sign of One, the adventuring band known as the Sword learn that the Factol has dreamt of a demon backed assault on a faction outpost in the Beastlands. The Factol fears for her people and especially her daughter as the colony's defenses are minimal. She asks them to go and prevent it's destruction and to defend her daughter (who she believes is targeted by the tanar'ri in revenge for events she participated in decades ago). She gives what aid she can and directs them to a portal that will begin their journey.
Arriving in Faunel, Gatetown to the Beastlands, the Swords approach Wrath, gatekeeper of Faunel. Wrath is notoriously untrusting of those seeking passage into the Wilderness of the Beastlands fearing they go to despoil the Natural Heaven. He is doubly untrusting of any who wish to travel to the Forbidden Plateau as it holds many dangerous mysteries. After some negotiation (and good Diplomacy rolls) the glib tongued Sensate Falyte asks for passage to the Beastland town of Signpost (another Signer holding). Wrath agrees to allow them passage and recommends the capable Captain Amelle Venkallie to ferry them up the River Oceanus. The gatekeeper planeshifts them to the rustic rivertown of Signpost and they quickly find the lovely captain playing cards in a rough little dive called the Scratching Post, known for the swarm of feral tressym that frequent it's spires. Falyte manages to win more than just silver at cards, quickly charming the pants of the captain (earning him the moniker of "Sexy Priest"). The others waste no time in engaging in a drinking contest which the Goliath Rager Deek predictably wins even against the sober Falyte who enters halfway through!
With passage secured aboard the Dancing Delphon they meet it's crew (Urol, Tavey, and Virith) and an additional passenger bound for the plane of Elysium (Avner). The voyage upriver is uneventful for a few days until they pass through a wild storm which the Delphon's crew navigates masterfully. However as a few hours go by the gnomish navigator & naturalist Urol realizes they are wildly off course and both the captain and the Scout Duklar agree after consulting the captains charts. Turning back downriver they find an enormous waterfall has appeared behind them and the way ahead is completely uncharted (Demogorgon's presence on the Plateau is morphing this region of the plane). The Captain reluctantly decides to beach her vessel and accompany the adventurers overland to the colony fearing for the safety of herself, her crew and passenger should they remain in this remote region of the Beastlands. Seeing seven capable adventurers as protection never hurts (as she's been listening to Falyte's bedside tales of their exploits).
Immediately upon beaching the ship they attract the notice of two immense tyrannasaurs! Though deadly, the simple animals are no match for the fighting prowess of the Sword and quickly fall. Cleaning up the kills so as not to draw more predators they camp beneath Krigala's eternal noon-time sun, known as Selera. Rested, the group forms up, with the crew of the Delphon in the middle and follows a trail blazed by Duklar and Sir Lucien. Hours of slogging across game trails made by large carnivorous birds listening to the gnome Urol ramble on about "this godly realm" or that "plant species" tests even the most patient among the Sword. They didn't want the collatoral with them as they pushed inland and tensions are strained as the rampantly independant captain, the tedious gnome, and condescending aristocrat Avner grow testy.
Near the end of their first day's trek they come upon an ancient ruin reclaimed by the jungle. Duklar recons the ville and sees a venerable woman emerge from the crumbled center. She seems to know someone is near as she calls out in a strange language, then follows shortly thereafter in Sylvan. Moving up to investigate the scene Arros is granted the gift of Tongues by the power of St. Cutbert and speaks with the strange old woman, who calls herself Lithira. She is excited that she has visitors after an age of being isolated, asking all manner of questions about the places and things they've seen. Arros translates for Duklar and Lucien, as the rest of the Sword spreads out and keep wary. They keep the "squishies" away from the old woman and the monstrous spiders they find infesting the ruin. For her part though Lithira seems genuine and warns them of her dream-visions of "four eyes" watching them from the darkness. She also tells them a servant of the eyes seeks them out. Lithira advises to follow a pass through the mountains ahead made by the Old gods that will take many days travel off their journey by following Noctos, the moon (which can be seen on Brux the Beastland's second layer). Lastly she warns of the hunting birds nesting area that stands before the Pass and shapeshifts into a big hairy spider, climbing up into the trees with her ilk as they leave.
As the Aranea's description warned a nesting ground of Terror Birds lay before the Pass and the territorial avians brooked no tresspassing. Again the dim animals stood no chance against the formidable band. Finding the body of another Aranea among the nests, the Harmonium investigator Arros decides to take the body back to Lithira for a proper funeral, much to the consternation of Deek and Horny who want to make all haste for Farshore to prevent the attack. Arros however follows his convictions and persuades Lucien and Duklar to go back with him, the mute half-orc Yark following along as well. They run into a small hunting pack of Terror Birds on the return trip but aren't badly injured. Lithira is saddened that a clutchmate of hers perished so closely to home but rewards the group with several fruit infused with healing elixers (5 Cure moderate potions). Meanwhile Deek, Horny, and Falyte guard the crew of the Delphon awaiting the return of the others when Horny scents something watching from a nearby tree. Moving to confront it they find nothing but a lingering scent of damp, rotting vegetation. Further tracking and searches of the area by Duklar upon his return yield little else. Whatever was there either flew away or left magically.
Pushing on despite a full day of travel under their belt the group moved into the Dark Mountain Pass. Following its 6 mile stretch in a few short but hard hours (taking damage from forced marching) they find a long chamber with a stagnant fountain and a throne on a raised dais at it's end. Pinned to the throne is the ribcage of a human hanging on a Longspear which appears magical to Falyte's spells. Ever the meticulous investigator, Arros finds a 3 foot stone rod of reddish granite in the dank pool beneath the fountain. Near the throne a wide stair leads up to a vast open chasm. Taking wing up the stair Lucien sees two bridges leading across the gulf. He does not notice the two colossal centipedes scurry down from the ceiling 50 feet above and they tear into him. In the ensuing battle Deek and Yark suffer poisoning from their wounds making them sluggish and clumsy. Many in the group are savaged by great mandibles before one then the other are felled. Yark slowed by the poison is trapped beneath the carcass of one centipede as it falls from the wall above. He is nearly crushed to death before Deek can lift the vermins enormous bulk off him (Str check DC 30). The Sword falls back to the throne room to rest for the night but are troubled with apprehension as the twin set of iron and stone double doors across the chasm mirror the aranea's vision of four eyes watching from darkness...[/sblock]
The first three adventures (HTBM, ToD, and CoBI) will all take place on the Beastlands, in and around the Forbidden Plateau (substituting for the Isle of Dread), TLD will take place in Pandemonium's 3rd and 4th layers. I'm not sure exactly how to fit in SoS yet, but by the time we get there (probably march) I'll have it done.
The Players...
- Arros Firebrand - m Human Clr 5/Demonwrecker 5 of St. Cutbert, (Harmonium) LN
- Deek - m Goliath - Bbn 7/Ftr 2 (Ragers sect) CG
- Duklar - m Tielfing Scout 10, (Free League) CN
- Falyte Gainsborough - m Human Clr 10 of Tymora, (Society of Sensation) CG
- Sir Lucien Bradley - m Aasimar Pal 10, (Believers of the Source) LG
- Mephistopheles "Horny" Blutkrieger - m Minotaur Ftr 2, CG
- Yark - m Half-orc Bbn 10, (Ragers sect) CN
The set-up...
Lavinia is the daughter of Factol Darius of the Sign of One (a planar Faction that maintains a presence on the Beastlands). Factol Darius, a potent seer, dreams of an upcoming demonic assault on the colony of Farshore (a Faction holding on the Beastlands) and sees the PC's there stopping it. She asks the PC's to protect her daughter and the colony which studies the Forbidden Plateau hoping to learn more about the "dead" pantheon whose realm lies there.
Vanthus becomes the leader of a demonic led force of tielfing Vile Hunters (a planar sect), Tanar'ri, and Doomsguard (another of Sigil's Factions). Vanthus' backstory changes to that of the scion of the tanar'ri general Za'rafass who was killed in a raid on the Concordant Domains of the Outlands (in which Darius' divinations played an instrumental role). Vanthus leads a campaign to wound Factol Darius' political base by destroying the colony and her heart by kidnapping her daughter.
Session #1 - A Call to the Hall...
[sblock]
Summoned to Sigil's great Hall of Speakers by Factol Darius of the Sign of One, the adventuring band known as the Sword learn that the Factol has dreamt of a demon backed assault on a faction outpost in the Beastlands. The Factol fears for her people and especially her daughter as the colony's defenses are minimal. She asks them to go and prevent it's destruction and to defend her daughter (who she believes is targeted by the tanar'ri in revenge for events she participated in decades ago). She gives what aid she can and directs them to a portal that will begin their journey.
Arriving in Faunel, Gatetown to the Beastlands, the Swords approach Wrath, gatekeeper of Faunel. Wrath is notoriously untrusting of those seeking passage into the Wilderness of the Beastlands fearing they go to despoil the Natural Heaven. He is doubly untrusting of any who wish to travel to the Forbidden Plateau as it holds many dangerous mysteries. After some negotiation (and good Diplomacy rolls) the glib tongued Sensate Falyte asks for passage to the Beastland town of Signpost (another Signer holding). Wrath agrees to allow them passage and recommends the capable Captain Amelle Venkallie to ferry them up the River Oceanus. The gatekeeper planeshifts them to the rustic rivertown of Signpost and they quickly find the lovely captain playing cards in a rough little dive called the Scratching Post, known for the swarm of feral tressym that frequent it's spires. Falyte manages to win more than just silver at cards, quickly charming the pants of the captain (earning him the moniker of "Sexy Priest"). The others waste no time in engaging in a drinking contest which the Goliath Rager Deek predictably wins even against the sober Falyte who enters halfway through!
With passage secured aboard the Dancing Delphon they meet it's crew (Urol, Tavey, and Virith) and an additional passenger bound for the plane of Elysium (Avner). The voyage upriver is uneventful for a few days until they pass through a wild storm which the Delphon's crew navigates masterfully. However as a few hours go by the gnomish navigator & naturalist Urol realizes they are wildly off course and both the captain and the Scout Duklar agree after consulting the captains charts. Turning back downriver they find an enormous waterfall has appeared behind them and the way ahead is completely uncharted (Demogorgon's presence on the Plateau is morphing this region of the plane). The Captain reluctantly decides to beach her vessel and accompany the adventurers overland to the colony fearing for the safety of herself, her crew and passenger should they remain in this remote region of the Beastlands. Seeing seven capable adventurers as protection never hurts (as she's been listening to Falyte's bedside tales of their exploits).
Immediately upon beaching the ship they attract the notice of two immense tyrannasaurs! Though deadly, the simple animals are no match for the fighting prowess of the Sword and quickly fall. Cleaning up the kills so as not to draw more predators they camp beneath Krigala's eternal noon-time sun, known as Selera. Rested, the group forms up, with the crew of the Delphon in the middle and follows a trail blazed by Duklar and Sir Lucien. Hours of slogging across game trails made by large carnivorous birds listening to the gnome Urol ramble on about "this godly realm" or that "plant species" tests even the most patient among the Sword. They didn't want the collatoral with them as they pushed inland and tensions are strained as the rampantly independant captain, the tedious gnome, and condescending aristocrat Avner grow testy.
Near the end of their first day's trek they come upon an ancient ruin reclaimed by the jungle. Duklar recons the ville and sees a venerable woman emerge from the crumbled center. She seems to know someone is near as she calls out in a strange language, then follows shortly thereafter in Sylvan. Moving up to investigate the scene Arros is granted the gift of Tongues by the power of St. Cutbert and speaks with the strange old woman, who calls herself Lithira. She is excited that she has visitors after an age of being isolated, asking all manner of questions about the places and things they've seen. Arros translates for Duklar and Lucien, as the rest of the Sword spreads out and keep wary. They keep the "squishies" away from the old woman and the monstrous spiders they find infesting the ruin. For her part though Lithira seems genuine and warns them of her dream-visions of "four eyes" watching them from the darkness. She also tells them a servant of the eyes seeks them out. Lithira advises to follow a pass through the mountains ahead made by the Old gods that will take many days travel off their journey by following Noctos, the moon (which can be seen on Brux the Beastland's second layer). Lastly she warns of the hunting birds nesting area that stands before the Pass and shapeshifts into a big hairy spider, climbing up into the trees with her ilk as they leave.
As the Aranea's description warned a nesting ground of Terror Birds lay before the Pass and the territorial avians brooked no tresspassing. Again the dim animals stood no chance against the formidable band. Finding the body of another Aranea among the nests, the Harmonium investigator Arros decides to take the body back to Lithira for a proper funeral, much to the consternation of Deek and Horny who want to make all haste for Farshore to prevent the attack. Arros however follows his convictions and persuades Lucien and Duklar to go back with him, the mute half-orc Yark following along as well. They run into a small hunting pack of Terror Birds on the return trip but aren't badly injured. Lithira is saddened that a clutchmate of hers perished so closely to home but rewards the group with several fruit infused with healing elixers (5 Cure moderate potions). Meanwhile Deek, Horny, and Falyte guard the crew of the Delphon awaiting the return of the others when Horny scents something watching from a nearby tree. Moving to confront it they find nothing but a lingering scent of damp, rotting vegetation. Further tracking and searches of the area by Duklar upon his return yield little else. Whatever was there either flew away or left magically.
Pushing on despite a full day of travel under their belt the group moved into the Dark Mountain Pass. Following its 6 mile stretch in a few short but hard hours (taking damage from forced marching) they find a long chamber with a stagnant fountain and a throne on a raised dais at it's end. Pinned to the throne is the ribcage of a human hanging on a Longspear which appears magical to Falyte's spells. Ever the meticulous investigator, Arros finds a 3 foot stone rod of reddish granite in the dank pool beneath the fountain. Near the throne a wide stair leads up to a vast open chasm. Taking wing up the stair Lucien sees two bridges leading across the gulf. He does not notice the two colossal centipedes scurry down from the ceiling 50 feet above and they tear into him. In the ensuing battle Deek and Yark suffer poisoning from their wounds making them sluggish and clumsy. Many in the group are savaged by great mandibles before one then the other are felled. Yark slowed by the poison is trapped beneath the carcass of one centipede as it falls from the wall above. He is nearly crushed to death before Deek can lift the vermins enormous bulk off him (Str check DC 30). The Sword falls back to the throne room to rest for the night but are troubled with apprehension as the twin set of iron and stone double doors across the chasm mirror the aranea's vision of four eyes watching from darkness...[/sblock]
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