IRC chat based 3.5 E Greyhawk campaign

[Aoric]

A call for players currently have three players looking for at least three more. Below is a synopsis of the campaign. Looking to start September 2nd

3.5 Greyhawk campaign set in Bissel. Many factions vie for control of Bissel the Theocracy of Veluna, The Gran March, The nation of Ket , and Bissel herself are the major players. Bissel’s former capital Thornwood is held by all four nations and none seem willing to part with their piece of a gateway city. Pellak is the new capital of Bissel though Knights of the Watch have plenty of influence not only in Pellak but all of Bissel. Many of the Flan natives who once permeated this beautiful country have long ago settled in bordering lands though their influence is still present to this day.
Ket has the biggest military backing as a single nation and if not for intervention by Veluna and Gran March forces as well as the Knights of the Watch Bissel would still be under Ketish control. The natives of Bissel are not welcoming of strangers in their land as history shows nothing good has come of this. However one common factor remains The Religions of Ket and the Baklunish people have very little influence in these lands.
Velunas’ intervention during the Greyhawk wars was welcomed but many natives feel a bit concerned over Veluna’s presence in Thornwood. For the most part Veluna has played a peacekeeper role well but none see them exiting Thornwood without force. The Gran March is war hungry and is a bit perturbed by Veluna’s presence in Thornwood. Many believe if Veluna was to exit Bissel that the war between Ket and Bissel would spark again with the Gran March more than happy to support the major military force for Bissel. Natives are less put off by the Gran March as both Bissel and the Gran March share similar beliefs and many people from Bissel and the Gran March have members in the Knights of the Watch.
The Knights of the Watch have a lot of interest in the Sheldomar Valley and while they seem to be more of a neutral force the Gran March holds major influence over this group. If Bissel was forced to choose independence or Gran March rule the Knights of the Watch could waver on loyalties easily. Sterich has sent it's share of refugees into Bissel and some have joined forces with Bissel natives. Of all foreigners Sterich is the most welcome as they share many common factors of the natives of Bissel.
The Old Flan faith still has some life in Bissel and Gran March and Sterich natives often support this religious group as well. The church of Heironious has much influence in Bissel as Veluna, Gran March, Sterich, and the Knights of the Watch have ties to this church. Since Bissel is the gateway between three worlds (the Baklunish west, the Sheldomar Valley, and the rest of the Flanaess ) the church of Zilchus is also very common and as long as profit is not sacrificed would continue things the way they are or support which ever none western government stands to produce the best results for the church. Fharlanghn has many followers amongst natives and many neighboring eastern neighbors, even a few Ketish people have given lip service to the traveler. They are perhaps one of the most neutral factions but one can see if loyalties where to sway Bissel would probably win out. The Churches of Rao, Istus, and Geshtai major influence in Thornwood only. Although the later two may be openly attacked anywhere else in Bissel. One group which has gained influence is the Rhennee as river traffic is prominent in Bissel and the natives seem to ignore them while other unknown factions rely on them heavily.
That’s the campaign synopsis if you need help with playable races or cultures let me know. For those of you familiar with Greyhawk my campaign differ slightly from canon. One just an FYI I don’t use alignment for the gods perception is the rule how do people feel about the portfolios of a god. Nerull may be the god of the dead but he is also known as the winter lord so many may have more of a neutral approach to his church in Bissel while other lands may see him as the assassin of souls perception is my rule on religion. Secondly there is no subrace of Drow instead Drow are elves who where cast out for their evil deeds or non elven ideals. Lets say you’re a Grugach elf and you decide to take a human for a spouse you will be cast out and given the name of Drow, even taking one as a lover could cause such dismay. Valley Elf’s never cast out elves and many a Drow has been welcomed amongst them. Trolls are not green-skinned carrot nosed creatures. Many mistake them for Ogres with horns and they are better equipped than your typical ogre. Trolls are often called Ogre Mages especially those whom cast rune magic. Trolls do reside in the Crystalmists and raid neighboring nations they are the least predictable of the humanoid races renowned for their insane logic and their chaotic ways.
Campaign limits only one mage and or sorcerer allowed in the party, Priests are welcome no more than two in a party and western religions should be avoided to provide party cohesiveness a druid counts against the priest limit. Fighters, rangers, rouges, bards are welcome no limits. Monks should either be foreigners or you can use my Monastic Orders of the Flanaess they are also limited to one per party. Paladins are fine though depending on what role your party takes could be difficult to play one also limited to one per party. Racial limitations only one elf and one half-elf per party especially in this campaign human races cultures unlimited, Dwarves are the most prominent of the demi-human races in this area maximum of two in party. Gnomes and halflings share in the one maximum per party so one gnome and one halfling fine. This should be a human centric campaign I’ll send you a list of kits playable in the campaign later. I don’t use prestige classes however I have converted some of them into kits looking to start the campaign by September any questions pm me.
Dennis aka Aoric/Argon

 

[Aoric]

I was looking to start the the campaign by next week however it seems a number of players have dropped out. I have two confirmed and one still on the fence. Would like to have at least four players though more is fine.

If you are interested please post here or pm me.

Aoric

 

[Aoric]

Campaign kicked of on September 2nd, Five PC's and a possible sixth on its way. I posted a campaign journal on Canonfire and will post it here as well. Hope you enjoy.

Aoric

 

[Aoric]

Ok the first session kicked off on the Bissel campaign. Below is a summary of what occurred.

Planting 5th, 590 CY
The game began with in the center of Thornward, a middle ground patrolled by recruits of the Knights of the Watch. Merchants are peddling their wares, in the upper left portion of the cities center are a few entertainers all of Baklunish decent. Baklunish merchants peddle their wares exclusively in this section.

One entertainer steps out from the rest he is a puppeteer, and many people mostly Baklunish have gathered to see his performance.

A commotion not to far in the distance disrupts the flow of the town center, people run ,children flee when all is said and done two guardsmen arrive at the scene.

Three lie dead two Baklunish males and one non-Baklunish male with a curled mustache.

Two young Oeridian's were watching the puppet show with a bit of a curiosity and disgust at the same time. Though they showed concern for the deaths of the three men even though two were Baklunish.

Two priests were handing out symbols of the Traveler one young and of Baklunish decent the other older and more traveled a native of the Sheldomar Valley it seems.

Well a young Baklunish man speaking a form of low Baklunish screamed that his friends were killed they were students not soldiers.

The guardsmen thought he was trying to start a riot the puppeteer, and a tall Oeridian male interjected the guardsmen informing them that thee man meant no harm he was concerned and mourning his dead friends.

The young priest quickly went to the bodies to see if he could save any of them, much to his disappointment all three were dead.

As the guards men tried to disperse the crowd which grew angry and frightened, Two Orange furred creatures adorned in metal lamellar with curve hilted blades at their waists entered the scene.

The two brutes wearing armband with the symbols of the Ketish nation demanded the bodies of the Baklunish be given to them.

Well the guardsmen infuriated by the incursion, told the creatures their nation was told to keep them out of the center of town.

As the scene seemed to intensify A short Oeridian woman who accompanied the Oeridian male readied her bladed pole arm.

The puppeteer shouted at the creatures to leave, as the guards needed to clear the crime scene, to which one of the creatures stared at him and threatened to jail the puppeteer.

More creatures advanced on the scene A larger one stared down the guards, the guardsmen drew their weapons. As the large humanoid shouted, "Give them to us or you will regret it" in a harsh tone. He disarmed both guardsmen with one swath from his brutish hand.

"You are weak give them NOW!" exclaimed the Beast. At this moment the puppeteer drew a long thin blade.

Then a lone figure adorned in black , wearing black leather armor with a symbol of tentacles on his chest and the insignia of Bisssel displayed on each shoulder interjected.

"Herhtru leave this place now, or face the Black Brigade".

Meanwhile another figure adorned in black approached the puppeteer and whispered to him "you will not need that". As the puppeteer looked around more than twenty men and women all in black lined the place.

The Large creature fiddled with the handle of his blade and replied "Tarquin this ain't over we will finished this at another time". He then barked orders for his creatures to retreat.

The Black Brigade ushered the crowd away as their leader retrieved the guardsmen weapons for them.

The young priest consoled the baklunish male who lost his friends. The young man confided in the priest that he wanted those responsible to see justice.

The young priest replied that they would, to which the puppeteer echoed the statement. The young priest sort to inquire the aid of the Blacks by approaching their leader.

The Blacks leader declined stating he would leave such things in the capable hands of the priest. The Blacks leader then yelled out, "Until the March is free" he and his brigade quickly existed the area after clearing out much of the crowd that had assembled.

The two oeridians overhearing the young baklunish mans pleas for justice, agree to aid in bringing the men to justice.

Two more guards men arrive each with a cart, one carries away the two baklunish males, the other carries away the mustached man.

Shortly after a strange fellow apparently present during the whole encounter approaches the group of four assembled by the young baklunish man.

He states he overheard some of the conversation and might be able to steer them in the right direction. The puppeteer is first to question the validity of the statement.

"You see one of the victims was a friend of mine" the strange fellow explains. He shows them a scroll case that was given to him shortly before his friend was slain. "Laris left me a message to meet up with him some where and since it is his last wish I will do so." To wish the young priest asks the stranger if he can view the message. The stranger quickly replies, "it is incoded and would be of little use to you, however if you would like my assistance then we can all move on to the Bissel sector."

The party of five apparently exchange some pleasantries, then the young baklunish man thanks them for their help and tells them where they can contact him. In a low baklunish dialect he tells them he is a student at the Velunese school of studies in the Veluna sector, he tells them to ask for Safet Abu-Fakher.

The strange man with the scroll case tells them they are off to the Bitter Breach. The party questions why the Bitter Breach? To which the stranger replies, "because that is where Laris instricted me to go and I owe him that much to follow up on it.

Ok the game pretty much broke there.

The young priest is called Ahmad, and he is a priest of Fharlanghn,

The puppeteer is called Ishaaq, and he was the most out spoken to defend Safet the baklunish student.

The short oeridian woman is Sienna, and she is a pole-arm wielding fighter.

The tall oeridian is her brother Brevel, and he is a wizard trained in the arts arcane and volunteered his and Sienna's aid in the investigation.

The strange man is a tall Flannish male named Andre, the one holding the scroll case and the only lead in this case.

The players are free to describe themselves in this thread. Here's hoping they do our next session will be on September 16th as the priest has to honor his duties to our country.

Until the March is free,

Aoric

P.S. On the canonfire boards I am know as Argon, that nick was not available on ENworld so I choose Aoric as he is my bard character in a 3.5E play by post game DM'ed by LGG author Gary Holian.