Adventure: Fire and Ice
- Thread starter Don Incognito
- Start date
renau1g
First Post
The party is welcomed into the monastery and lead to the main building by the aged elf. He brings you to a small, spartan room, with only a wooden rectangular table and the chairs surrounding it. Brother Micah seats and a heavy sigh escapes his lips. Once you are all seated he leans forward and speaks.
"I am saddened at Brother Hiram's death, but he, and the others, have managed to bring you to our aid and their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Before you can understand the weight of the current situation you need to understand the events of the past. A decade ago a mighty dragon appeared in the isles, calling itself Ershahz. Ershahz was a dragon of both red and white ancestry, and he claimed all of the Transitive Isles as his hunting ground. So great was his power that some worshipped him as a living god. He laid waste to Daunton and Bacarte alike, raining down fire and ice upon their
helpless citizenry."
"The Five fought Ershahz many times, each time ending with the retreat of the dragon. Finally, on a small uninhabited island near Daunton, they fought their final battle. Jeronel Threehammers used an ancient divine spell to call a searing light down from the heavens, and Ershahz was obliterated. As you've no doubt figured out, the island was here, and, with Threehammers help, founded this monestary dedicated to the holy place."
"Now what most people don't know is that a year later, Threehammers returned here with a special gift, a sparkling diamond and the message to "Guard it with your lives". We have studied it at length and determined it is magical in nature and that it seems to be some sort of time-sensitive device. It appears that it will activate soon. That part is the least troubling event transpiring, recently the temple has come under attack from remnants of the Cult of Ershahz, a group dedicated to reviving the evil dragon. The seem determined to acquire the diamond for their own purposes. Most of our order with any martial skill have fallen to their blades, we were barely able to repel the last assault. That is why we sent out Brother Hiram to find us a group of adventurer's to protect the artifact."
The elf finishes speaking and enters a violent coughing fit, he finishes and wipes his lips with his sleeves, the stain of blood is evident.
"I am saddened at Brother Hiram's death, but he, and the others, have managed to bring you to our aid and their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Before you can understand the weight of the current situation you need to understand the events of the past. A decade ago a mighty dragon appeared in the isles, calling itself Ershahz. Ershahz was a dragon of both red and white ancestry, and he claimed all of the Transitive Isles as his hunting ground. So great was his power that some worshipped him as a living god. He laid waste to Daunton and Bacarte alike, raining down fire and ice upon their
helpless citizenry."
"The Five fought Ershahz many times, each time ending with the retreat of the dragon. Finally, on a small uninhabited island near Daunton, they fought their final battle. Jeronel Threehammers used an ancient divine spell to call a searing light down from the heavens, and Ershahz was obliterated. As you've no doubt figured out, the island was here, and, with Threehammers help, founded this monestary dedicated to the holy place."
"Now what most people don't know is that a year later, Threehammers returned here with a special gift, a sparkling diamond and the message to "Guard it with your lives". We have studied it at length and determined it is magical in nature and that it seems to be some sort of time-sensitive device. It appears that it will activate soon. That part is the least troubling event transpiring, recently the temple has come under attack from remnants of the Cult of Ershahz, a group dedicated to reviving the evil dragon. The seem determined to acquire the diamond for their own purposes. Most of our order with any martial skill have fallen to their blades, we were barely able to repel the last assault. That is why we sent out Brother Hiram to find us a group of adventurer's to protect the artifact."
The elf finishes speaking and enters a violent coughing fit, he finishes and wipes his lips with his sleeves, the stain of blood is evident.
ryryguy
First Post
As Ingot listens to the elf's tale, it initially projects an attitude of concern and sympathy, but before long its eyes brighten and it opens and closes its fingers repeatedly, betraying excitement.
A dragon! And battles with the Five! A precious relic left by Threehammers himself? This is an adventure beyond all my expectations!
As the elf winds down, the warforged attempts to contain itself, then asks, "The leader of the group who attacked Brother Hiram - Rigas, he was called. What do you know of him? It sounded as if he was once a member of your order?"
[sblock=Milestone?]And as I asked in my LEB adventure... does the skill challenge count as a second encounter towards a milestone?[/sblock]
A dragon! And battles with the Five! A precious relic left by Threehammers himself? This is an adventure beyond all my expectations!
As the elf winds down, the warforged attempts to contain itself, then asks, "The leader of the group who attacked Brother Hiram - Rigas, he was called. What do you know of him? It sounded as if he was once a member of your order?"
[sblock=Milestone?]And as I asked in my LEB adventure... does the skill challenge count as a second encounter towards a milestone?[/sblock]
renau1g
First Post
[sblock=Milestone]
Per PHB - Milestones
You gain certain benefits when you reach a milestone— when you complete two encounters without stopping for an extended rest (see page 263).
"Also, Two kinds of encounters occur in most D&D adventures: combat and noncombat encounters. " (PHB 259)
I'd read it as the skill challenge does count for purposes of determining a milestone, although not 100% sure if that's correct
[/sblock]
Per PHB - Milestones
You gain certain benefits when you reach a milestone— when you complete two encounters without stopping for an extended rest (see page 263).
"Also, Two kinds of encounters occur in most D&D adventures: combat and noncombat encounters. " (PHB 259)
I'd read it as the skill challenge does count for purposes of determining a milestone, although not 100% sure if that's correct
[/sblock]
ryryguy
First Post
[sblock=OOC]Yeah, it seems like it certainly could constitute a milestone "by the book"... maybe I'll post in the rules forum and see if it's been discussed.
I guess it seems a bit weird to me since (barring custom rules) you can't use action points in a skill challenge. So if 2 skill challenges in a row = milestone, you'd automatically get an "extra" skill point when you didn't really have one "at stake", if that makes any sense.
I also feel that, in general, the DM should have lots of leeway in determining milestones; not granting one if he feels that the two encounters (combat, noncombat, whatever) weren't sufficiently challenging, or granting one after a single encounter if it was extremely challenging and dramatic. Not a rule or anything there, just my philosophy.
In any case, it seems our judge is absent, so it's up to the DM. What does the DM say - milestone or no?
[/sblock]
renau1g
First Post
Crag looks concerned for the elderly gentleman, seeing it the elf waves him away "Don't worry son, my times nearly up, but I'm ready"
"How many of these cultists have taken arms against your monastery? Is there something that we can do to repel or stop these attacks?"
"The last assault was nearly a dozen or so I'd guess" he replies.
As the elf winds down, the warforged attempts to contain itself, then asks, "The leader of the group who attacked Brother Hiram - Rigas, he was called. What do you know of him? It sounded as if he was once a member of your order?"
"Yes, Rigas was a member of the order, we expelled him over his continued attempts to trigger the item before it was set to activate. We study it, but do not tamper with it. Rigas was impatient and unwilling to wait like the rest of us, humans can be so impetuous. I know that he was more skilled in the physical defense of this location than most, he was a more than effective unarmed combatant."
[sblock=Milestone]
Looking it over I'm inclined to say YES in this instance. Every gets 1 AP (and can use 1 more daily magic item effect, if applicable)
[/sblock]
"How many of these cultists have taken arms against your monastery? Is there something that we can do to repel or stop these attacks?"
"The last assault was nearly a dozen or so I'd guess" he replies.
As the elf winds down, the warforged attempts to contain itself, then asks, "The leader of the group who attacked Brother Hiram - Rigas, he was called. What do you know of him? It sounded as if he was once a member of your order?"
"Yes, Rigas was a member of the order, we expelled him over his continued attempts to trigger the item before it was set to activate. We study it, but do not tamper with it. Rigas was impatient and unwilling to wait like the rest of us, humans can be so impetuous. I know that he was more skilled in the physical defense of this location than most, he was a more than effective unarmed combatant."
[sblock=Milestone]
Looking it over I'm inclined to say YES in this instance. Every gets 1 AP (and can use 1 more daily magic item effect, if applicable)
[/sblock]
"Perhaps this is an indication that Rigas has joined up with this dragon cult. We should seek out this Rigas and make him tell us what we want to know. With the leader (at least I assume he's the leader) out of the way, the rest of the cult should be easy pickings...What do you guys think?" Crag says, looking at each of his companions in turn.
