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IRON DM 2013--Entries, Judgements, Commentary, & Trash-Talk
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<blockquote data-quote="Dragonwriter" data-source="post: 6157353" data-attributes="member: 54988"><p><strong>IRON DM 2013 Round 2, Match 1. Dragonwriter's Entry.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>The Unending Cycle</strong></p><p>By Dragonwriter</p><p></p><p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p><p><strong>End of the World</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Unearth</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Diplomatic Immunity</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Wise Fool</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Impossible Dream</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>A very-high to Epic level adventure suited to closing a campaign and/or creating a new one. Preferably there has been some questioning of the reasons and methods of the gods by this point in time.</p><p></p><p><strong>Background</strong></p><p>The Sentient Construct Arkaz was created ages ago and abandoned. None took responsibility for creating it, none wanted it, but all feared it. As it wandered world and plane, it watched from afar the actions of gods and mortals. Arkaz watched as mortals killed and tyrannized in the names of their gods. And it came to believe the world would be far better without any gods, dreaming of freedom for all from such ruthless masters.</p><p></p><p>It took time, but Arkaz has established itself as a diplomatic envoy from a god of Logic and Reason, Verix, on Mechanus and kept its agenda secret within its artificial mind. It has begun to weaken the mightiest of the gods as it travels through their courts, all before it unleashes its ultimate plan…</p><p></p><p><strong>Adventure Synopsis:</strong></p><p>The PCs, as some of the mightiest heroes in the multiverse, are called upon by a minor deity of Balance to investigate what has destabilized the realms of several gods. The PCs will interact with various extraplanar entities and learn of Arkaz. They will have to unearth its secrets and plot and chase it to the End of the World where it enacts the final part of its grand scheme. The PCs will be faced with either killing Arkaz or joining it, leading to very different states for the world.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Hook:</strong></p><p>When the PCs are together, they all feel a sudden, sharp pain behind their eyes before collapsing to the ground. During this period of unconsciousness, all of them feel themselves standing upon and within nothing while looking at the world. The world begins to break apart before their eyes, followed by the sensation of their own bodies being shredded by the apocalypse. Then everything reforms before they awaken one by one. Each hears a whispered name -- “Amz” -- which the knowledgeable among them know as a minor god of Balance.</p><p></p><p><strong>Meeting Amz:</strong></p><p>Amz is a deity of Balance and embodies that concept entirely. While Amz is not mighty, due to a lack of worshippers, Amz is respected due to his commitment to Balance. She never takes sides but always seeks to preserve the Balance. It is for this reason Amz is concerned about the imbalance caused by the weakening and pain afflicting some of the mighty deities. Amz requests the PCs be his envoys to the other gods to unearth what is the cause and how to stop it. She suggests the party seek out a major deity who largely aligns with the party and has, naturally, been targeted. Amz does, however, provide a complete list of the affected deities -- this should be a number of the strongest, extreme-aligned gods, with a scattering of weaker ones all across the spectrum.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Courts of the Gods:</strong></p><p>While the PCs have a form of diplomatic immunity for how they handle their interactions, they will receive different welcomes based on the god they visit. They have also been cautioned not to abuse their immunity and safe passage by Amz. </p><p></p><p>Each god and their realms are demonstrably weakened -- the palaces are tarnished and crumbling, the god is lethargic, and the normally-vibrant power is noticeably diminished. Friendlier deities will be unable to converse for long, but will convey what information they can. Deities with whom the party members have poor relations will be less helpful, but they will accept the claim of agency for Amz and speak a little. The most important piece of information and the two things all have in common are that the envoy Arkaz recently passed through their court, as did the Divine Jester of All Courts, Harleckee. Arkaz is currently making visits at other courts, as is Harleckee. The former will reject any attempt to see it while Harleckee is quite willing to chat (see below).</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, evidence about Arkaz’s actions is also needed to be found. Nothing has come about primarily because Arkaz also has a form of diplomatic immunity and is considered above suspicion.</p><p></p><p><strong>Harleckee:</strong></p><p>The Jester-Demigod is another being who takes no sides, like Amz, and as such is welcomed at nearly all Courts. The nature of a jester also has allowed Harleckee to gather quite a lot of information and wisdom, though he doesn’t share knowledge about the various gods for whom he plays -- a wise choice. While the Divine Fool won’t talk about his “clients,” Arkaz was never a client and as such is fair game. However, Harleckee doesn’t like to speak plain. He’ll often babble nonsensically before tossing some helpful tidbit into the mix. Some usable examples to pepper into the nonsense are:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“The Metal Man waits beyond what he seeks.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Gods are nothing without men while men are nothing without gods.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Dig in the Earth to find the source of the Metal. But where did the Man come from? For that, look within the Sigil.”</li> </ul><p></p><p><strong>Evidence:</strong></p><p>Examining the Courts Arkaz attended as envoy clearly points to something invasive causing the trouble, and the affliction only began shortly after Arkaz left each time. If the PCs ask about detaining Arkaz, they face strong opposition without ironclad proof, as the envoy of the God of Logic is largely considered beyond suspicion. Searching further reveals more information regarding the link between gods and the worship and belief of mortals and something is disrupting this flow of energy, weakening the gods. The PCs may find one such Disruption Engine (treat as a Minor Artifact) in the realm of a deity… then the first god dies of “starvation.” (The DM is suggested to choose a minor deity who was afflicted early.)</p><p>It is during this investigation that Arkaz should send a hit squad of god-hating allies to stop the PCs or at least keep the Engine from their hands. There should be a very weak piece of evidence here, such as a piece of metal similar to Arkaz’s construction or a note with an initial on it. If accusations are made, Arkaz points to the doubtlessly long history of violent and impulsive actions compared to its own long, honorable service to Verix. Logic indicates it should be believed, especially as it holds diplomatic immunity and the so-called evidence is pathetic. </p><p>Attempts to use divinations or compulsions to make Arkaz speak the truth should fail due to its nature as a Construct. Its artificial mind protects it from any sort of attempted incursion or manipulation.</p><p></p><p><strong>Discovering the Origin of Arkaz:</strong></p><p>If the PCs talk with Harleckee, they may get the good idea to seek Arkaz’s history. The Jester’s hints should point them to Sigil, where a meeting with a high-ranking official or information broker (or, if they play their cards right, one of the Lady of Pain’s assistants) can point them to the site where Arkaz is believed to have been created long ago. It is, however, long since built over and buried under eons of construction. If the party is willing to spend the time to manage it, they can find and excavate the ancient laboratory over several days (even with the aid of magic). But the longer they take, the worse the gods fare. </p><p>If they do excavate the ancient lab, they can find old etched metal plates in Draconic explaining some of the process of creating Arkaz. There are also notes regarding the creator’s contempt for the gods and how this experiment proves even they do not have total mastery over life. There are also rudimentary designs for something akin to the Disruption Engine, though these are clearly in a different hand and much less aged (though still very old) than the experiment records. In this second handwriting, they can also find ruminations on the limits of the world, the writer’s lack of place in any world, and how to bring the uncaring gods to their end by ending all mortals.</p><p></p><p><strong>Ongoing Events:</strong></p><p>While the PCs are engaged in various things, deities should be clearly worsening in condition. They begin pointing fingers at each other for being the source, especially to gods still unaffected. Wars erupt on the Material Plane as the gods send their followers to war with each other. The PCs should be contacted by various monarchs and officials pleading for their assistance. The pleas should grow more and more heartbreaking and desperate (or angry and vengeful) as time goes on.</p><p></p><p>As time goes on, things become more troublesome. Arkaz may send another team of killers after the party if it feels they are becoming a threat. If the party attempts to accuse Arkaz while in the domain of another god, it again refutes them. If they present the evidence they have collected, it will become consternated, protest, then attempt to return to the domain of its “master” before anything can be done. Even if the PCs do not cause such a stir, Arkaz returns there regardless, after one last attempt to kill the party through intermediaries.</p><p></p><p>The party should eventually make their way to the realm of Arkaz’s god, either from their own conclusion or perhaps further hints dropped from Harleckee. Once there, they discover the God of Logic has been murdered. The corpse has been prevented from joining the Astral Plane and instead used to open a gate to the End of the World, in this case a literal place beyond the planes from which to observe the event of the same name (just as Harleckee said). It should be clear Arkaz has gone through the portal.</p><p></p><p><strong>At World’s End:</strong></p><p>Going through the dead god’s gate to a place that should not exist is not a pleasant experience for mortals. They plummet through the void, feeling their entire bodies shredded away as in the dream so long ago. Then the party appears face-down in a cold metal floor. Arkaz stands a short distance away with its back turned to them.</p><p></p><p>“Now you have experienced something akin to what I experienced at my creation and when I realized the loving gods cared nothing for a creation such as me. Could I not worship them like a mortal? Yes. But as I am animated by magic, not blood, I had no place in their creation. </p><p>“Not that their creation fares any better than I did. Mortals wage war on orders of their caring, loving gods, throwing their lives away for beings so far beyond them they shouldn’t even recognize one another in the same existence. So as you can see, I found a way to end it. And we will watch it here from this Un-Earth.”</p><p></p><p>Further speech could well explain Arkaz’s rationale and methods, though these should always come back to Logic. It is nearly impossible to provoke an emotional reaction from Arkaz, as its created brain simply does not process such information in much of any capacity. If they ask about the kill-squads, Arkaz responds, “Logic asserted you were a potential threat. As in all things, Logic was accurate. It further dictated the logical way to handle a threat was to remove it. However, you are no longer a threat, so further attempts are unnecessary.”</p><p></p><p>Arkaz is perfectly happy to speak, viewing the party as the nearest equals to itself for having reached this place. As long as they remain peaceful, so is it. It is happy to explain how and why it has done what it has done. The highlights are along these lines:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“A mind of metal is not as one of flesh. Logic demonstrated the gods were the problem, but they were untouchable. The way to strike the gods was then, logically, to strike at them through their source of power. Without faith, they have nothing and become nothing.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“The Disruption Engine was a theory I devised some time ago. It was a way to cut off the power source of the gods, according to the theory, and it seems to have worked.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“Now the gods have no power. They cannot protect the source of their power and their tyranny will end. As the world ends, so do all the gods. A new world shall be made, free of them. This is the only logical way to free the people. This is… my dream.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">“From here, we can manipulate the building blocks of a new world. I spent centuries designing it to perfection. And as you are the only beings to have reached this, I offer you a choice. You can join me and help create this new world. But if you do not help me, I can only expect you intend to oppose me still. That cannot be tolerated.”</li> </ul><p></p><p>If the Pcs question how to stop it, Arkaz says simply, “There is no way. Logic dictated I allow no possibility of stopping the process. The ending of the world has already begun. You mortals may take pleasure in knowing you have a… how do you say? A marvelous view for the event. But do not worry. We are beyond the end of the world. We will be untouched. And it will be for us to make the world anew, free of the gods.</p><p>“From here, we can manipulate the building blocks of the world. I spent centuries designing it to perfection. And as you are the only beings to have reached this, I offer you a choice. You can join me and help create this new world. But if you do not help me, I can only expect you intend to oppose me still. That cannot be tolerated.”</p><p></p><p>If the PCs ask about putting the world back together, Arkaz states it is possible, though why anyone would do so is illogical.</p><p></p><p>Clearly, the two chief choices are to assist Arkaz in making the new world and coming to be worshipped as the new gods (rendering Arkaz’s dream impossible to ever accomplish) or to try to kill Arkaz and put the world back together as they see fit. While the party may figure out something else, these are considered the most likely courses of action and will be addressed.</p><p></p><p><strong>Joining Arkaz:</strong></p><p>Arkaz would clearly prefer the party to join it. If they ask why their divine casters are not a problem, it will respond, “One follower is not enough to sustain any god. And the trauma resulting from the world’s end will destroy most of them outright. The remainder will quickly wither away.”</p><p>If the party does accept this offer, they will have a hand in creating a new world. The area Arkaz has constructed for them allows manipulation of the aether, the destroyed world, and the purest elements to make a new world and imbue it with whatever life they see fit. Unfortunately, it does not take long after the construction of the new world before the party and Arkaz are viewed as gods by whatever sentient races they may decide to create/recreate. Arkaz will again attempt to destroy the world and make it anew, free of gods, never realizing that such an outcome is impossible.</p><p></p><p><strong>Fighting Arkaz:</strong></p><p>Arkaz is extremely powerful and should prove at least a Very Difficult challenge for the party. As a Construct, it is immune to many effects and has also benefitted from long-term exposure to deific energy. It should be very difficult to affect with magic or harm with weaponry due to high resistances of all sorts. Further, it has considerable command over the location everyone currently inhabits. It will cause the metallic surface to churn under the party’s feet, attack them with slashes and blasts of various sorts (all high-damage) and reshape it to protect itself from area effects or cut off spellcasters.</p><p></p><p>While the battle is going on, the DM should describe the world breaking apart in the distance. Tug on the player’s heartstrings as much as possible, pointing out any connections the party may have to the world, events and locations in their lives with strong connections to other people, family and friends and the like, all the work they have done over time brought to nothing.</p><p></p><p>And as the debris from the breaking world grows closer, Arkaz’s creation can reach out and manipulate this debris, turning it into massive, deadly weapons against the party.</p><p></p><p><strong>Wrapping Up:</strong></p><p>If the PCs kill Arkaz, they will still be facing a destroyed world and dead gods. It will be up to them how to remake the world, either by putting it back the way it was (with some possible changes) or making a whole new one. If they join Arkaz, the choice is clearly to make a new world, which presents its own set of challenges. Either way, the party has the chance to drastically change the entire world with their subsequent choices and this provides a way to close out a campaign while opening the door for another.</p><p></p><p><strong>Adventure Summary and Detailed Breakdown of Ingredients:</strong></p><p>The party must <strong>Unearth</strong> the plans of an <strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong>, partly accomplished by speaking with a <strong>Wise Fool</strong>, as it is manipulating <strong>Diplomatic Immunity</strong> while attempting to bring about the <strong>End of the World</strong> from the <strong>End of the World</strong> to realize its <strong>Impossible Dream</strong>.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Detailed Breakdown]</p><p><strong>End of the World</strong>: Goal of the <strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong>, and location where it awaits said event.</p><p></p><p><strong>Unearth</strong>: The PCs finding evidence about the <strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong>, both by investigation and by literally unearthing its ancient laboratory of creation. Also the name of Arkaz’s creation to manipulate the remaking of the world.</p><p></p><p><strong>Diplomatic Immunity</strong>: Granted to the PCs for pursuing the <strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong>. Also used by Arkaz to avoid allegations.</p><p></p><p><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong>: Arkaz, the Sentient Construct seeking the <strong>End of the World</strong>.</p><p></p><p><strong>Wise Fool</strong>: Harleckee, the Jester of the Gods, spouts wisdom amid nonsense.</p><p></p><p><strong>Impossible Dream</strong>: The <strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong> seeks the end of the gods by making a new world. But the new races, free of the gods, will simply seek new ones.</p><p>[/sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dragonwriter, post: 6157353, member: 54988"] [b]IRON DM 2013 Round 2, Match 1. Dragonwriter's Entry.[/b] [B]The Unending Cycle[/B] By Dragonwriter [B]Ingredients: End of the World Unearth Diplomatic Immunity Artificial Intelligence Wise Fool Impossible Dream[/B] A very-high to Epic level adventure suited to closing a campaign and/or creating a new one. Preferably there has been some questioning of the reasons and methods of the gods by this point in time. [B]Background[/B] The Sentient Construct Arkaz was created ages ago and abandoned. None took responsibility for creating it, none wanted it, but all feared it. As it wandered world and plane, it watched from afar the actions of gods and mortals. Arkaz watched as mortals killed and tyrannized in the names of their gods. And it came to believe the world would be far better without any gods, dreaming of freedom for all from such ruthless masters. It took time, but Arkaz has established itself as a diplomatic envoy from a god of Logic and Reason, Verix, on Mechanus and kept its agenda secret within its artificial mind. It has begun to weaken the mightiest of the gods as it travels through their courts, all before it unleashes its ultimate plan… [B]Adventure Synopsis:[/B] The PCs, as some of the mightiest heroes in the multiverse, are called upon by a minor deity of Balance to investigate what has destabilized the realms of several gods. The PCs will interact with various extraplanar entities and learn of Arkaz. They will have to unearth its secrets and plot and chase it to the End of the World where it enacts the final part of its grand scheme. The PCs will be faced with either killing Arkaz or joining it, leading to very different states for the world. [B]The Hook:[/B] When the PCs are together, they all feel a sudden, sharp pain behind their eyes before collapsing to the ground. During this period of unconsciousness, all of them feel themselves standing upon and within nothing while looking at the world. The world begins to break apart before their eyes, followed by the sensation of their own bodies being shredded by the apocalypse. Then everything reforms before they awaken one by one. Each hears a whispered name -- “Amz” -- which the knowledgeable among them know as a minor god of Balance. [B]Meeting Amz:[/B] Amz is a deity of Balance and embodies that concept entirely. While Amz is not mighty, due to a lack of worshippers, Amz is respected due to his commitment to Balance. She never takes sides but always seeks to preserve the Balance. It is for this reason Amz is concerned about the imbalance caused by the weakening and pain afflicting some of the mighty deities. Amz requests the PCs be his envoys to the other gods to unearth what is the cause and how to stop it. She suggests the party seek out a major deity who largely aligns with the party and has, naturally, been targeted. Amz does, however, provide a complete list of the affected deities -- this should be a number of the strongest, extreme-aligned gods, with a scattering of weaker ones all across the spectrum. [B]The Courts of the Gods:[/B] While the PCs have a form of diplomatic immunity for how they handle their interactions, they will receive different welcomes based on the god they visit. They have also been cautioned not to abuse their immunity and safe passage by Amz. Each god and their realms are demonstrably weakened -- the palaces are tarnished and crumbling, the god is lethargic, and the normally-vibrant power is noticeably diminished. Friendlier deities will be unable to converse for long, but will convey what information they can. Deities with whom the party members have poor relations will be less helpful, but they will accept the claim of agency for Amz and speak a little. The most important piece of information and the two things all have in common are that the envoy Arkaz recently passed through their court, as did the Divine Jester of All Courts, Harleckee. Arkaz is currently making visits at other courts, as is Harleckee. The former will reject any attempt to see it while Harleckee is quite willing to chat (see below). Meanwhile, evidence about Arkaz’s actions is also needed to be found. Nothing has come about primarily because Arkaz also has a form of diplomatic immunity and is considered above suspicion. [B]Harleckee:[/B] The Jester-Demigod is another being who takes no sides, like Amz, and as such is welcomed at nearly all Courts. The nature of a jester also has allowed Harleckee to gather quite a lot of information and wisdom, though he doesn’t share knowledge about the various gods for whom he plays -- a wise choice. While the Divine Fool won’t talk about his “clients,” Arkaz was never a client and as such is fair game. However, Harleckee doesn’t like to speak plain. He’ll often babble nonsensically before tossing some helpful tidbit into the mix. Some usable examples to pepper into the nonsense are: [LIST] [*]“The Metal Man waits beyond what he seeks.” [*]“Gods are nothing without men while men are nothing without gods.” [*]“Dig in the Earth to find the source of the Metal. But where did the Man come from? For that, look within the Sigil.” [/LIST] [B]Evidence:[/B] Examining the Courts Arkaz attended as envoy clearly points to something invasive causing the trouble, and the affliction only began shortly after Arkaz left each time. If the PCs ask about detaining Arkaz, they face strong opposition without ironclad proof, as the envoy of the God of Logic is largely considered beyond suspicion. Searching further reveals more information regarding the link between gods and the worship and belief of mortals and something is disrupting this flow of energy, weakening the gods. The PCs may find one such Disruption Engine (treat as a Minor Artifact) in the realm of a deity… then the first god dies of “starvation.” (The DM is suggested to choose a minor deity who was afflicted early.) It is during this investigation that Arkaz should send a hit squad of god-hating allies to stop the PCs or at least keep the Engine from their hands. There should be a very weak piece of evidence here, such as a piece of metal similar to Arkaz’s construction or a note with an initial on it. If accusations are made, Arkaz points to the doubtlessly long history of violent and impulsive actions compared to its own long, honorable service to Verix. Logic indicates it should be believed, especially as it holds diplomatic immunity and the so-called evidence is pathetic. Attempts to use divinations or compulsions to make Arkaz speak the truth should fail due to its nature as a Construct. Its artificial mind protects it from any sort of attempted incursion or manipulation. [B]Discovering the Origin of Arkaz:[/B] If the PCs talk with Harleckee, they may get the good idea to seek Arkaz’s history. The Jester’s hints should point them to Sigil, where a meeting with a high-ranking official or information broker (or, if they play their cards right, one of the Lady of Pain’s assistants) can point them to the site where Arkaz is believed to have been created long ago. It is, however, long since built over and buried under eons of construction. If the party is willing to spend the time to manage it, they can find and excavate the ancient laboratory over several days (even with the aid of magic). But the longer they take, the worse the gods fare. If they do excavate the ancient lab, they can find old etched metal plates in Draconic explaining some of the process of creating Arkaz. There are also notes regarding the creator’s contempt for the gods and how this experiment proves even they do not have total mastery over life. There are also rudimentary designs for something akin to the Disruption Engine, though these are clearly in a different hand and much less aged (though still very old) than the experiment records. In this second handwriting, they can also find ruminations on the limits of the world, the writer’s lack of place in any world, and how to bring the uncaring gods to their end by ending all mortals. [B]Ongoing Events:[/B] While the PCs are engaged in various things, deities should be clearly worsening in condition. They begin pointing fingers at each other for being the source, especially to gods still unaffected. Wars erupt on the Material Plane as the gods send their followers to war with each other. The PCs should be contacted by various monarchs and officials pleading for their assistance. The pleas should grow more and more heartbreaking and desperate (or angry and vengeful) as time goes on. As time goes on, things become more troublesome. Arkaz may send another team of killers after the party if it feels they are becoming a threat. If the party attempts to accuse Arkaz while in the domain of another god, it again refutes them. If they present the evidence they have collected, it will become consternated, protest, then attempt to return to the domain of its “master” before anything can be done. Even if the PCs do not cause such a stir, Arkaz returns there regardless, after one last attempt to kill the party through intermediaries. The party should eventually make their way to the realm of Arkaz’s god, either from their own conclusion or perhaps further hints dropped from Harleckee. Once there, they discover the God of Logic has been murdered. The corpse has been prevented from joining the Astral Plane and instead used to open a gate to the End of the World, in this case a literal place beyond the planes from which to observe the event of the same name (just as Harleckee said). It should be clear Arkaz has gone through the portal. [B]At World’s End:[/B] Going through the dead god’s gate to a place that should not exist is not a pleasant experience for mortals. They plummet through the void, feeling their entire bodies shredded away as in the dream so long ago. Then the party appears face-down in a cold metal floor. Arkaz stands a short distance away with its back turned to them. “Now you have experienced something akin to what I experienced at my creation and when I realized the loving gods cared nothing for a creation such as me. Could I not worship them like a mortal? Yes. But as I am animated by magic, not blood, I had no place in their creation. “Not that their creation fares any better than I did. Mortals wage war on orders of their caring, loving gods, throwing their lives away for beings so far beyond them they shouldn’t even recognize one another in the same existence. So as you can see, I found a way to end it. And we will watch it here from this Un-Earth.” Further speech could well explain Arkaz’s rationale and methods, though these should always come back to Logic. It is nearly impossible to provoke an emotional reaction from Arkaz, as its created brain simply does not process such information in much of any capacity. If they ask about the kill-squads, Arkaz responds, “Logic asserted you were a potential threat. As in all things, Logic was accurate. It further dictated the logical way to handle a threat was to remove it. However, you are no longer a threat, so further attempts are unnecessary.” Arkaz is perfectly happy to speak, viewing the party as the nearest equals to itself for having reached this place. As long as they remain peaceful, so is it. It is happy to explain how and why it has done what it has done. The highlights are along these lines: [LIST] [*]“A mind of metal is not as one of flesh. Logic demonstrated the gods were the problem, but they were untouchable. The way to strike the gods was then, logically, to strike at them through their source of power. Without faith, they have nothing and become nothing.” [*]“The Disruption Engine was a theory I devised some time ago. It was a way to cut off the power source of the gods, according to the theory, and it seems to have worked.” [*]“Now the gods have no power. They cannot protect the source of their power and their tyranny will end. As the world ends, so do all the gods. A new world shall be made, free of them. This is the only logical way to free the people. This is… my dream.” [*]“From here, we can manipulate the building blocks of a new world. I spent centuries designing it to perfection. And as you are the only beings to have reached this, I offer you a choice. You can join me and help create this new world. But if you do not help me, I can only expect you intend to oppose me still. That cannot be tolerated.” [/LIST] If the Pcs question how to stop it, Arkaz says simply, “There is no way. Logic dictated I allow no possibility of stopping the process. The ending of the world has already begun. You mortals may take pleasure in knowing you have a… how do you say? A marvelous view for the event. But do not worry. We are beyond the end of the world. We will be untouched. And it will be for us to make the world anew, free of the gods. “From here, we can manipulate the building blocks of the world. I spent centuries designing it to perfection. And as you are the only beings to have reached this, I offer you a choice. You can join me and help create this new world. But if you do not help me, I can only expect you intend to oppose me still. That cannot be tolerated.” If the PCs ask about putting the world back together, Arkaz states it is possible, though why anyone would do so is illogical. Clearly, the two chief choices are to assist Arkaz in making the new world and coming to be worshipped as the new gods (rendering Arkaz’s dream impossible to ever accomplish) or to try to kill Arkaz and put the world back together as they see fit. While the party may figure out something else, these are considered the most likely courses of action and will be addressed. [B]Joining Arkaz:[/B] Arkaz would clearly prefer the party to join it. If they ask why their divine casters are not a problem, it will respond, “One follower is not enough to sustain any god. And the trauma resulting from the world’s end will destroy most of them outright. The remainder will quickly wither away.” If the party does accept this offer, they will have a hand in creating a new world. The area Arkaz has constructed for them allows manipulation of the aether, the destroyed world, and the purest elements to make a new world and imbue it with whatever life they see fit. Unfortunately, it does not take long after the construction of the new world before the party and Arkaz are viewed as gods by whatever sentient races they may decide to create/recreate. Arkaz will again attempt to destroy the world and make it anew, free of gods, never realizing that such an outcome is impossible. [B]Fighting Arkaz:[/B] Arkaz is extremely powerful and should prove at least a Very Difficult challenge for the party. As a Construct, it is immune to many effects and has also benefitted from long-term exposure to deific energy. It should be very difficult to affect with magic or harm with weaponry due to high resistances of all sorts. Further, it has considerable command over the location everyone currently inhabits. It will cause the metallic surface to churn under the party’s feet, attack them with slashes and blasts of various sorts (all high-damage) and reshape it to protect itself from area effects or cut off spellcasters. While the battle is going on, the DM should describe the world breaking apart in the distance. Tug on the player’s heartstrings as much as possible, pointing out any connections the party may have to the world, events and locations in their lives with strong connections to other people, family and friends and the like, all the work they have done over time brought to nothing. And as the debris from the breaking world grows closer, Arkaz’s creation can reach out and manipulate this debris, turning it into massive, deadly weapons against the party. [B]Wrapping Up:[/B] If the PCs kill Arkaz, they will still be facing a destroyed world and dead gods. It will be up to them how to remake the world, either by putting it back the way it was (with some possible changes) or making a whole new one. If they join Arkaz, the choice is clearly to make a new world, which presents its own set of challenges. Either way, the party has the chance to drastically change the entire world with their subsequent choices and this provides a way to close out a campaign while opening the door for another. [B]Adventure Summary and Detailed Breakdown of Ingredients:[/B] The party must [B]Unearth[/B] the plans of an [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B], partly accomplished by speaking with a [B]Wise Fool[/B], as it is manipulating [B]Diplomatic Immunity[/B] while attempting to bring about the [B]End of the World[/B] from the [B]End of the World[/B] to realize its [B]Impossible Dream[/B]. [sblock=Detailed Breakdown] [B]End of the World[/B]: Goal of the [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B], and location where it awaits said event. [B]Unearth[/B]: The PCs finding evidence about the [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B], both by investigation and by literally unearthing its ancient laboratory of creation. Also the name of Arkaz’s creation to manipulate the remaking of the world. [B]Diplomatic Immunity[/B]: Granted to the PCs for pursuing the [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B]. Also used by Arkaz to avoid allegations. [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B]: Arkaz, the Sentient Construct seeking the [B]End of the World[/B]. [B]Wise Fool[/B]: Harleckee, the Jester of the Gods, spouts wisdom amid nonsense. [B]Impossible Dream[/B]: The [B]Artificial Intelligence[/B] seeks the end of the gods by making a new world. But the new races, free of the gods, will simply seek new ones. [/sblock] [/QUOTE]
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