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The Fiendish Oerth Game Story (Updated 4-25-03)

Quasqueton

First Post
They awakened from a deep sleep feeling invigorated and immediately alert. As they sat up from where they were lying on the ground, three things surprised and confused them: the sky was a deep and unnatural crimson; all around them were the remains of some recent great battle; and they were sure they were dead just a moment ago.

The four men looked at each other curiously: two humans, one in leather armor, the other in chainmail; a halfling in studded leather; and a robed dwarf. They were all dirty and bloody -- signs of having fallen in a violent struggle -- and all wore a similar device on their clothing. A four-pointed star surrounded by a horizontal crescent moon in each quadrant. As they stood up with their weapons cautiously held ready, nearby vultures took an interest in them.

Two carrion eaters stopped feeding on a corpse to stare at the group, and three dove down from the sky. The black-feathered birds were as big as the halfling, and very aggressive. After the initial attack from above, the two others took wing to join the fight. The leather-clad human fought with longsword and short sword, the chain-clad human fought with bastard sword and spiked shield, the halfling flicked a whip, and the dwarf cast a defensive spell then worked with his quarterstaff. The vultures nipped with their beaks and tried to scratch with their clawed feet, but only the dwarf was injured before the creatures were dropped.

Once the birds stopped flapping and twitching on the ground, and the four men took stock of themselves after the exertion of battle, each realized how he felt stronger, faster, and more mentally awake than he remembered himself as. It was an amazing feeling, both invigorating and startling at the same time.

The group then took a closer examination of their surroundings. The halfling estimated the dead to total in the many hundreds. Some dead were humans and elves, some were orcs and gnolls, and some were bestial and twisted humanoids, unidentifiable. All looked to be dead only less than a day. In the distance, in most directions, they could see some movement on the field, and in one direction was sign of habitation. Scattered and distant fires sent black smoke into the sky. There was no sun, but a few clouds of a lighter red floated above the smoke. The air felt oppressive, and the foursome felt the 'wrongness' of the world to their very bones.

They cautiously gave themselves a minimal introduction to each other: Simon, a ranger; Cedrin, a fighter; Salem, a cleric of Fharlanghn; and Lorgard, a wizard.

They then examined and searched the dead about them for extra equipment and valuables. They found no coins or valuables, but Cedrin, chain-clad fighter, collected a crossbow and bolts, and Salem, the halfling, collected a couple halfspears. They then noticed that their own bodies had apparently been looted of their personal coins. About this time they noticed a group of creatures coming towards them from across the corpse-strewn field.

At first the foursome could make out only that the three approaching creatures were tall humanoids, but as they came closer it became apparent they were hairy, dog-faced men -- gnolls armored in scalemail and shields, with evil cackles and ready battleaxes. When both sides were near enough to identify each other as enemies in the recent battle, the gnolls charged.

A fired crossbow bolt whizzed past one dog-man, but a thrown spear cut across the exposed leg of another. Then hand-to-hand battle was joined. The gnolls were taken down fairly quick, one by the dwarf's quarterstaff alone. Then the dwarf searched the defeated creatures for valuables. He found only a small amount of coins, which he offered to split with the others.

Upon closer examination of the gnolls, the foursome saw that these creatures were different than what they remembered of the race. These creatures had deep-black fur, streaked with a bit of red, and sharp facial features. One gnoll even had small horns sprouting from its forehead.

Then the group noticed their own differences from what they remember of themselves. They all had gold-tinged skin, silver hair (and beard on the dwarf), and pale blue eyes. They had no memories of the battle or of anything since heading, alone, towards a city for a 'special mission'. Their only memories at all revolved around personal feelings and circumstances. No one knew where they were or why they were there.

Upon mentioning their lack of memory, only the dwarf mage could remember the name of the city: Veluna. This named was familiar to the halfling cleric, and he said it is the holy city for the deity Rao, in the Archclericy of Veluna. But they still didn't know why they were going there, how long ago that was, or why they were now in the middle of a battlefield.

They decided to stick together, and head towards the buildings in the distance.

To be continued . . .
 
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Quasqueton

First Post
Here are the PCs names and stats:

Simon Greyhand
Human Ranger 1 - NG
leather armor, longsword, short sword
Str 18, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 14

Salem Godspeed
Halfling Cleric of Fharlanghn 1 - NG
studded leather armor, buckler, whip
Str 12, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 14

Cerdrin Deren
Human Fighter 1 - CG
chainmail, spiked shield, bastard sword
Str 20, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 12

Lorgard Grundar
Dwarf Wizard 1 - NG
robes, quarterstaff
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 22, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 12

They were built using the Point Buy Method, using 28 points. But after their first battle (with the vultures) they realized they were much more than this.

They got +4 to all stats from a template (but the Players had no warning, and were quite surprised). Yes, this puts them into the superhero range. That was my intention -- they will be up against some serious opposition/challenges (as you will read how and why in below posts).

The template is a modified version of one from the official books. The PCs will be learning more about themselves as they go.

Quasqueton
 
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Quasqueton

First Post
The Fiendish Oerth Game Story - part 1b

The four recently revived 'soldiers' made their way slowly across the day-old battlefield, stepping over and around the corpses of humans, elves, orcs, gnolls, and strange twisted creatures. They were headed for the village they could see to the . . . in that direction. The red sky held no sun, so compass directions were impossible to determine. The black smoke of burning buildings served as the only major landmark they could head towards. In all other directions was just more battlefield debris.

Simon the human ranger, and Salem the halfling cleric of Fharlanghn spotted movement among the corpses ahead. Something was crawling low to the ground, trying to avoid being seen while apparently moving to get in the group's path. Salem said nothing, but Simon spoke quietly to Cedrin the human fighter and Lorgard the dwarf mage, to warn of what he saw. The group had been walking with their weapons in hand and ready, so they continued their movement toward the distance village without outward sign of taking guard.

When the creature reached their intended path, it stopped and successfully concealed itself among a group of corpses. Someone said, "Be ready." As the group got within about thirty feet of the last spot they saw the hidden danger, it leapt up and snarled. The creature was a nasty, decayed beast with wicked teeth and claws. Its physical position and black eyes were aimed directly at the halfling on the far right of the group.

None of the group were surprised, thanks to the ranger's warning, and Cedrin the fighter was first to act. He immediately charged, and with one massive swing of his bastard sword, the beast fell.

There was a silent pause as four pairs of eyes searched the immediate area for other movement. There was none. So they moved forward again. Salem suggested they move double time to reach the potential safety of the village buildings before other wandering creatures discovered them. Everyone agreed, and the group hustled across the battlefield.

Jogging around and hopping over corpses and debris made for more difficult movement, but they closed on the village much quicker. When they were within a long-range spear throw of the village, they saw movement between two buildings ahead. The group stopped.

About half a dozen humanoid creatures emerged from an 'alley', and turned to move away perpendicular to the group's direction. The creatures were dressed in various pieces of armor, with army insignia, but they carried no weapons. Two were humans, one an elf (each with heraldic devices like what the group wore), and two others were orcs (in tunics showing the opposing army's symbol). They all looked dead, and moved with an obvious slowness. One of the apparent zombies noticed the group and turned his walking towards them. Simon, Salem, Cedrin, and Lorgard winced as the other four walking dead turned their heads and feet to follow the first.

Cedrin fired his crossbow at the approaching undead as the group waited for the slow moving creatures to close some of the distance between them. Then they charged forward to attack. As the two groups met, Salem held forward his holy symbol and channeled positive energy through himself. The sickly and oppressive air of the battlefield weakened his attempt to turn the zombies.

His three companions took on the animated corpses, trading minor blows with them, before Salem could try his holy channeling again. But the second effort proved powerful, and the zombies turned and fled.

"Follow them; see where they go," said the halfling cleric. Cedrin hustled back to pick up his dropped crossbow, but the others charged forward to give chase to the zombies.

To be continued . . .
 

Quasqueton

First Post
The Fiendish Oerth Game Story - part 1c

The five zombies shambled into the village grounds. Lorgard the dwarf wizard lead the chase after them, with his quarterstaff ready to attack. Simon the human ranger and Salem the halfling cleric were right behind the mage. Cedrin, the human fighter, was a bit far in the rear.

The zombies were several yards ahead, and ran past a burning village building. The passing forms caught the attention of creatures inside the flame-filled building. Two small flames licked out of the structure, and 'stood' on their own. Lorgard pulled up short, and Simon and Salem stopped right behind him.

The self-standing fires had a vaguely humanoid appearance of thin stick figures, about the size of the halfling, engulfed in thick flames. They charged forward at the dwarf mage, cackling with the sound of a campfire. Standing at the mouth of a partial alleyway, Lorgard was the most available target for the fire beings, so they attacked him immediately. Within moments the mage was writhing in burning robes. When he fell to the ground, Salem and Simon stepped up to take on the enemies. But two more flames jumped out of the blazing building.

Salem took a blanket from Simon, and ignoring the flaming 'arms' being whipped at him, he set to snuffing out the flames burning the unconscious dwarf. Simon attacked the flame creatures with longsword and short sword. A moment later Cedrin joined the fight.

Salem showed great bravery by ignoring the licking flames about him and staying concentrated on his fallen companion. The halfling managed to extinguish the badly burned dwarf, and touched him with a minor spell to stabilize his fading life. Moments later, the two humans had destroyed the flaming enemies.

They had only a moment to catch their breath and wipe off the heat-induced sweat on their brows before the zombies they had been pursuing reappeared coming back from where they had fled.

Simon knelt down beside the still unconscious dwarf, and spread out the blanket Salem had used to beat out the flames. Cedrin stepped forward to intercept the re-approaching zombies, and Salem pulled forth his holy symbol again. To the group's left other unknowns approached from between two village homes.

Simon wrapped the dwarf in the blanket and began sliding him back away from the scene. Cedrin engaged the first zombie to reach him. Salem held forth his god's symbol and channeled power again. And the three figures approaching from the left called out to them for identification.

The first zombie fell to Cedrin's bastard sword and spiked shield, and the others again turned and fled. Salem then gave a detailed look at the new arrivals to the scene.

A human in chainmail with shield and mace, wearing a tunic matching the group's army device, was flanked by two elven archers in scale mail. "I am Rayson, priest of Rao the Peaceful," the human introduced himself.

"I am Salem Godspeed," the halfling offered, "cleric of Fharlanghn."

The human and elves approached the group cautiously. And the group held their positions to accept the approach, cautiously. Salem recognized the white heart symbol on the Raoist, and mentioned, "we have an injured friend."

Simon brought the still-smoking dwarf on the blanket back around the corner to show everyone.

"I can't help him now," said Rayson, "I have expended all my magic for the day. But all of you can come with us for shelter. I can tend to your friend, and heal him in the morning." He and the elves motioned for the group to follow them, and they lead the way to a village home they had taken as a haven.

Inside the small building were two human warriors with scale mail and spears. The group was invited inside, and after all were in, the doors were closed behind them. Inside was a makeshift barracks for the five men. Bedrolls were spread on the floor, a few chairs were scattered about, and a table was pushed against the far wall. Packs of army ration were piled in a corner.

Simon laid the wrapped dwarf on the table, and Rayson examined him. Lorgard's clothes were badly burned, his hair a bit singed, but he was not in danger of passing from his wounds. Simon's spell was enough to keep the sturdy dwarf alive. If he awakened, he would be in great pain. All hoped he would simply sleep till they could use magic to heal him.

The human warriors and the elf archers watched the surrounding outside area through cracks in shuttered windows. Rayson introduced his companions, and the group introduced themselves to their hosts. Rayson asked what unit they were with, and why didn't they retreat with the army.

"We awoke just a couple hours ago, on the field," answered Salem. "We can't remember the battle."

Rayson was examining each of them from where he sat in a small chair. Salem, Simon, and Cedrin each felt the eyes of four soldiers regarding them also.

"You look like two humans, a halfling, . . . and a dwarf," said the Rao priest. "But different than any others I've seen." There was a touch of awe tempered with suspicion in his voice.

The three looked back and forth at each other, again noting their gold-tinged skin, silver hair, and pale eyes. "We also don't know why we look this way," said Salem. "This is not how any of us remember ourselves."

Simon and Cedrin gathered some rations to eat what they figured was breakfast. Salem took a chair across from Rayson. The halfling had to almost climb up into the human-made seat. "We don't even know where we are," he said.

"You really have no memory?" repeated Rayson. "You don't know where this is?" he continued, waving his hands slightly to show his statement referenced their overall location.

Salem leaned forward inquisitively. "Where are we?"

The priest of Rao looked back at the 'halfling' cleric for a moment, then moved his gaze across the two 'humans' also. "We are in the Abyss," he said.

To be continued . . .
 

Quasqueton

First Post
At this point, the PCs have risen a level.

Simon = Ranger 2
Salem = Cleric 2
Cedrin = Fighter 2
Lorgard = Wizard 1 / Fighter 1

Having been in a few scraps now, the Players have learned a little more about the template powers of their PCs:

Some attacks made by their opponents have been strangely deflected by some seemingly protective, but minor, force. They have a +2 defelection bonus to their AC.

When their opponents did get through their defenses and armor, the blows seemed slightly lessened. DR 1/?. This is actually based on their character level, so now it is DR 2/?. They don't know what the question mark is.

The discomfort and unease they feel hinders their personality interactions. The "Mildly Evil Aligned" aspect of the Abyss penalizes them with -2 on charisma-based checks (including turning checks by Salem).

In the next update, they will learn of one other power.

Quasqueton
 

Manatee

First Post
Re: The Fiendish Oerth Game Story - part 1c

Quasqueton said:

The priest of Rao looked back at the 'halfling' cleric for a moment, then moved his gaze across the two 'humans' also. "We are in the Abyss," he said.

Now that's something you very rarely want to hear. Especially when you're 2nd level.

Interesting story hour, Quasqueton. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
 

grodog

Hero
Very interesting indeed, Quasqueton. I was thinking that they were at the Battle of Emridy Meadows, but apparently I was a few planes off ;->

Also: the Abyss is only mildly-evilly aligned? :D
 

Quasqueton

First Post
The Fiendish Oerth Game Story - part 1d

There was a stunned silence in the room for many moments.

The Abyss. Part of the deep, dark, and utterly evil nether world. The place where the most depraved and malicious souls go after physical death.

"What do you mean we're in the Abyss?" Salem asked. Cedrin and Simon had stopped eating.

Rayson gazed deeply into the halfling's eyes, confirming to himself that these three, and the fourth lying unconscious on the table, were honestly lost.

"From what I understand," began Rayson, "it started in the Empire of Iuz about a century ago. Something or someone created a major gate to the Abyss. Teachings say that the opening to the netherworld was really more than just a gate -- it was a hole between the planes. This hole allowed the Abyss to pour into our world, slowly at first. But as more demons and evil pushed through the portal, the wider it grew. Now it flows over the lands quickly enough to watch. This village was enveloped less than two years ago."

"What is this village?" Salem asked.

"Eastfarm," answered Rayson. "This is the Veluna side of the Velverdyva River. What used to be the Kingdom of Furyondy, on the other side is completely in the Abyss. Veluna will be absorbed within a year or so.

"We've been lucky so far," he continued. "Most of the demons are in the eastern lands fighting the devils."

"Devils too?"

"Yes. In what used to be the old Great Kingdom, Hell has been brought into this world just as the Abyss grew from Iuz. The demons and devils now fight their eternal Blood War between the two 'gatelands'.

"Tales of refugees over the decades describe the old lands of Nyrond and Urnst as blasted battlegrounds now, full of fiendish armies."

"What happened at this battleground, here?"

"The Holy Army of Veluna came here to stop an invasion force of orcs and gnolls from crossing the Velverdyva. We destroyed the bridge to stop them, but they made it across anyway. Then our army met theirs -- we survived, and they broke up. But there was a lot of confusion on the field. There were several powerful demons leading the humanoids, and though the orc and gnoll formations collapsed when hard pressed, the demons wrought great destruction on our men. Their humanoid forces fled in several directions, and our army had to fall back towards Veluna City to regroup."

"Why didn't you go with the army?"

"My responsibility was to support Captain Moortine and his infantry company. The captain fell with most of his men when they pursued fleeing gnolls. A horde of minor demons attacked while we were too far from the main army. Only a few of us escaped the ambush, and I wasn't able to rejoin any large group. These men," he indicated the four warriors watching the windows and door, "joined me when we escaped the chaos of the battle. We fought our way here, using most of my spells and channeling power doing so."

Rayson continued to answer their questions as they all alternated through resting, eating, taking watch, and checking on the unconscious dwarf. He explained that the border of the Abyss was about 3 days walk to the southwest, and Veluna City was another 3 days beyond that.

Those watching outside noted the occasional zombie group walking through the village. There was no way of really telling time in this situation; the outside sky stayed a deep crimson, never dimming or brightening. But it seemed only a few hours when Cedrin and Simon started noticing that their cuts, scratches, and aches from the "morning" battles were healing. Then Lorgard gasped, opened his eyes, and then sat up from where he had been lying on the table.

Silence again overtook the small home as everyone stared at the dwarf mage in burned robes. He was awake but in some not inconsiderable pain. His most serious burns had started healing, and his minor blisters had disappeared. Salem and Rayson stepped up to the dwarf and examined his body.

"Uhg," was Lorgard's first word, quickly followed by his first sentence, "where are those damned flamers?"

A quick examination of the mage and his companions showed that they were healing quickly, but in an otherwise normal fashion. Their wounds left minor scars, and the dwarf's major burns left discolored patches of skin. Rayson noted that they weren't really regenerating, merely healing faster than normal; in hours rather than days.

Simon and Cedrin caught their newly revived companion up on the current situation, and Salem and Rayson discussed what the group should do next.

Rayson said he needed to go back out on the field to collect the body of his captain, and to return with it to Veluna. "Do you want our help?" offered Salem.

"I can find the captain's body with these soldiers' help," answered Rayson. "Perhaps you could investigate where the zombies are coming from. They are all headed southwest through the village to the Veluna road, so I suspect someone or something is controlling them. Do you think you could backtrack them to their origin?"

"We'll do what we can," said the halfling.

When everyone was well rested, and healed, and Rayson estimated that it was probably "morning" outside the Abyss, the clerics and wizard began their prayers and studies for spell preparation. Simon said he wanted to get out of the house for a scouting look at the nearby area. He wanted to find a bow and quiver of arrows. He asked if anyone needed him to look anywhere in particular.

"See if you can find some spears for me," said Salem.

"I want a warhammer," said Lorgard. "I need something better than that staff."

"Very well," Simon said, "I'll see what I can find." He strapped on his swords belt and went to the door.

One of the human warriors commented, "You sure you want to go out there alone?"

"I'll be alright," assured the ranger.

He was only gone a short while. He was back in the house with three halfspears for the halfling, a warhammer for the dwarf, and a short bow with arrows for himself before the priests and mage were finished with their spell preparations. "Saw a pack of black wolves wandering in the village, but they didn't see me. Otherwise looks still and quiet out there."

Soon everyone made ready to leave their temporary base. "Natural creatures born under the Abyssal sky are always evil, twisted with fiendish taint," warned Rayson. "And they are the least dangerous beasts you'll see here. Minor demons are all about: dretch and manes especially. Be very careful. May peace and reason protect you."

Rayson and his four guardsmen left together to find the body of their captain. Salem, Simon, Cedrin, and Lorgard left to investigate the source of the zombies.

To be continued . . .
 

Quasqueton

First Post
They have now learned that they have Fast Healing 2/hour.

The above parts are all from the first game session. We finished our second session this weekend, so hopefully I'll update a couple times this week.

the Abyss is only mildly-evilly aligned?
Yeah, according to the alignment convention in the Manual of the Planes. It means that anyone of Good alignment gets -2 on all charisma based checks. Lawful alignments also get -2 on charisma checks. Lawful Goods get -4.

Quasqueton
 

Quasqueton

First Post
The Fiendish Oerth Game Story - part 2a

Simon, the human ranger, and Salem, the halfling cleric took point for the group as they stalked their way through the ruined village. About half the buildings had been destroyed by fires, and were still smoking. Here and there they could see a dead body of one sort or another, but most of the carnage was to one side of the village -- the south, according to Rayson's earlier explanation of this territory. They made their way in the direction that the Raoist cleric had pointed them as east, towards the bridge across the Velverdyva River.

While stalking from building to building, Simon and Salem spotted a large, badly burned ogre zombie shambling down a street. It hadn't sensed them yet, so they got the jump on it. The halfling leapt out throwing a spear, and the ranger charged out with longsword and short sword drawn. The two of them went to work on the lumbering animated corpse for a few moments waiting for their comrades to round the corner and see the situation.

Lorgard, the dwarf mage/fighter, and Cedrin, the human fighter soon joined the fray. The dead ogre got a couple of heavy slams in with its massive fist, but it was taken down in quick time by the four surrounding attackers.

"This zombie was going the same direction as the others," observed Salem.

"Seems we're going the right direction ourselves then," said Lorgard.

The foursome resumed their advance towards the river. As they walked, they discussed what they expected to find. "Must be a group of necromancers," Lorgard said.

"But how many?" added Salem.

They decided to just wait and see. No use trying to guess, when they would learn for sure very soon.

They reached the edge of the village, and there was only a road leading to the river, a few hundred yards away. There was plenty of trees and plants here, as would be expected around a river, but they were all dark and twisted, like poisoned by the Abyss. The area here showed signs of battle: dropped weapons, trampled and torn ground, but there were no dead to be found. As if they had all arisen and walked away. Which, of course, is probably what happened.

The group continued on to the bridge. It was a large stone structure supported by heavy timbers, but it was collapsed in about the middle of the river. Rayson had said the Velunan army had destroyed it to prevent the orcs and gnolls and demons from getting across. But the enemy army had crossed never the less.

Simon and Salem checked the river's edge for clues while Cedrin and Lorgard stayed on the road watching for trouble. The water was a sickly gray color, and smelled of sulfur. They found nothing of interest around the bridge. The two then moved downstream along the shore continuing their investigation.

About a hundred yards down, they found where an army had seemed to walk out of the river. The bank was trampled and rutted by hundreds of marching feet. Simon and Salem walked up away from the riverside to examine the ground further into the battlefield. They had moved out of sight of their two companions still down at the bridge road, but they felt safe. The area was still clear of any corpses, though the signs of the battle was still evident.

"This area shows no sign of wet traffic," commented Simon. The ranger led the halfling around the field, double checking for signs of water or mud. The hundreds of tracks in the area were not made by a wet army.

Salem agreed with the ranger's thoughts. "They came out of the river, but not through the water."

"How can they do that?" wondered Simon. "There are no boats. No bridge here."

"A mage or priest may have parted the water," suggested the little cleric. Then he noticed movement in the distance. "Look," he said to his companion.

Simon stood up from where he had been crouched examining tracks on the ground. A few hundred yards away there were about half a dozen figures standing about in a group.

"What do you think that is?" said Simon. The distance and the red glare of the Abyssal sky made it difficult to make things out. All they could tell was that the figures were humanoid. One of the figures crouched or knelt down, stayed there a few moments then stood back up. Then two other figures stood up from where they had been lying on the ground.

The ranger and halfling looked at each other. Obviously they had found where at least some of the zombies were coming from.

"What should we do?" asked Simon.

"Let's go up there and talk to them," answered the halfling as he shifted his hat down over his eyes and pulled his cloak around his shoulders.

To be continued . . .
 

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