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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Waylander the Slayer" data-source="post: 451708" data-attributes="member: 1830">Ingredients:Ring of Irony -Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occursTasty PuddingWraith/ Levels of BardTree of KnowledgeBarbarian RageA Large CityBackground: (in the distant past)Grellak Tharn, high shaman of the Northgar tribes, watched the adolescents leave the settlements for the city of Khallor, the capital city of the elven kingdom of Aldavir – known as the enlightenment of the world. He was filled with anger and resentment. All around him, he saw the ways of his people slowly erode.  They no longer valued the proud, independent and fierce ways of the tribe; they no longer venerated Morlak, the father of all, who had taught them that strength was everything and civilization was weakness. Now they flocked to the elven cities leaving the wilds behind – to learn and to become “civilized”.  It could not go on; he would not watch his people destroy themselves. He did not sleep for weeks as he worked diligently at the forge and prayed reverently to the father of all.  A grim smile of satisfaction spread across his lips as he held the fruits of his labor, the ring of irony – also known as the “Unmaker”, to the morning light. The ring was infused with an element of chaos bestowed by the god himself.  It would make a fine gift for Lord Lorac Elaven, the leader of the elves, at the festival of song.A smile of pure joy spread across Lady Shiala Elaven as she watched Janos Tith, High Bard and her husband – Lord Lorac’s close confidant, sing the song of sorrows.  The entire court seemed to be enraptured as if under a spell as they listened to Janos sing.  Many looked upon Janos with admiration and awe for he was the Al’quiar – literally translated to mean the “tree of knowledge”.  It was said that Liara, goddess of song, chose the Al’quiar to be the vehicle of all bardic lore.  As the ceremonies for the festival of songs came to a close, the attending dignitaries gave gifts to Lorac. The one that appealed to him most was the most beautiful ring he had ever seen. What surprised him even more was the fact that it came from one of the insignificant barbaric tribes. Lorac, as the leader of his peoples, was chosen for his knowledge and wisdom. In many ways, he represented the epitome of nobility and refinement. He considered himself blessed in many ways. He loved and adored his wife and he knew those feelings were reciprocated. There could be no truer friend than Janos whose loyalty was beyond reproach and there was no finer chef than Lothaine – whose Flaubere de Lefuber pudding the king enjoyed even more than Janos’s singing. But the “Unmaker” has a way of unraveling that we hold dearest to our heart…    As time progressed, Lorac, the wise started becoming increasingly suspicious of his wife and of his friend.  He was also overcome by fits of anger and uncontrolled rage. Janos, who valued friendship and loyalty above all, started to increasingly have lustful feelings for Lady Shiala. Shiala, known for her virtue and loyalty started to become infatuated with Janos.  Soon, both Shiala and Janos gave into their passions. The adultery went against everything they believed in yet their carnal desires were uncontrollable. Lorac, upon discovering the adultery attacked his wife in a fit of rage. Janos went into hiding. His bloodlust was so great that he tore her apart – limb from limb.  The barbaric behavior started to affect the general populace as well. Many tried to flee the city – only to find that all roads seemed to end back on the outskirts of Khallor itself. Janos, being the Al’quiar, became increasingly aware of the “wrongness” of everyone’s behavior. He was also able to learn that the ring was the cause of the chaos. To free the city from the imprisonment Janos crafted the “song of freedom”, he was only partially able to complete the “song of creation” when he was caught.  As he was about to be executed, Janos sang the “song of freedom”. He was unable to complete the song, before he was executed.  But a few were able to escape the prison that had become Khallor, and with them went the scant knowledge of the lost city of Khallor and the song of freedom. The city fell upon complete chaos and was forgotten in the sands of time…The Song of Sorrows (LVL 10-15)PLOT HOOKS: 1.    The PCs need information regarding something vital in the campaign. Through research they learn of the Al’quiar - the tree of knowledge. Let the fact that Al’quiar was actually a person, be unknown. The players will need the song of freedom to actually “reveal the city.”2.    The PCs are hired by Chef Pierre De conceet, the most renowned chef in the lands to retrieve the recipe for Flaubere de Lefuber pudding or the Chef feels that his recipe is missing a key ingredient. Based on his research he thinks that the ingredient is the bark/fruit of the Al’quiar.3.    The PCs come upon the song of freedom and some notes on it as part of some treasure they find, it also alludes to the greatness/treasures within the lost city of Khallor.4.    The Pcs are hired to find the lost city of Khallor  SETTING:There are several effects that make this setting both deadly and challenging.1. The area where Khallor once stood is now barren. The area could be heavily wooded or badland type surroundings depending on the DM and group preference. Upon singing the song of freedom the “fabric” around the city will unbend. The city, upon approach, will look pristine and beautiful yet abandoned. The song of freedom, since incomplete, will “open” the city for a number of rounds equal to the performance check of the PC who sings the song.2. The populace, whatever that was left in the city have degenerated over time. The remenants eek out a meager living.3. Since Elves abhor undeath, most of the dead were turned into undead. They still have sentinance and many abhor their existence, yet cannot control their baser instincts4. The ring has several effects on those that enter the city:•    Every 4 hours the PCs spent in the city they have to make a Will save DC15+one for every additional 4 hours spent (15 after first 4hrs, 16 after 8hrs etc)•    Each failed save has the following effects: o    Aligment shift – each characters alignment shifts one degree down (lawful to neutral, neutral to chaotic,good to neutral, neutral to evil)o    Whenver a character is faced with a stressful situation after the first failed save for alignment shift, the character has to make a will save DC 20, on a failed save the PC goes into uncontrollable barbaric rage (same as  Rage except the Pc has no control over when and against whom it happens)SCENARIO:The scenario can easily be developed further by developing the additional buildings within the large city.The following are critical encounters that have to occur within the city:1.The Ghost of Lady Shiala:  This encounter can occur anywhere within the city. The Ghost of  shiala is filled with remorse, yet at the same time cannot control her inherent nature. The PCs can approach the situation either through diplomacy or through combat.  The diplomacy check should have a combined DC of  80 (since this interaction is an ongoing process, the PCs get 3 diplomacy checks – the total of the diplomacy check needs to equal 80). Any Pc who sings or performs for Shiala and has a good or better performance on their skill check automatically succeeds in helping her overcome her bases instincts. She can inform the party of most of the pertinent information, including facts on the other NPCs.2.Janos Tith  - (wraith /bard lvl 20): This encounter should take place anytime within the castle itself. Janos has been corrupted and is filled with a hatred for the living. Yet his truer nature still exists within him. Any PC who performs for Janos and has a good or better performance automatically succeeds in suppressing his baser nature temporarily. Janos will also show the PCs the location of the magical harp and teach them how to play the “song of Creation.” The song has to be played within close proximity of the “Unmaker” to destroy it (performance automatically suceeeds – it takes 6 rounds to complete the song). If the PCs choose to fight him, they can recover his unfinished notes on the song. The performance DC in this case, to destroy the ring, is DC 35.3. Lothaine Marar ( Ghoul / Expert  Chef 20) :   Lothaine is a frustrated person as he has no one to cook for. Unlike the others, he has been able to resist his baser nature for the most part. All he wants is for the PCs to eat his cooking (quite wonderful by the way). If the PCs refuse, he flies into rage and attacks them. On the other hand if they eat his food, he tells them about Lord Lorac’s current state and also about Lorac’s weakness for his tasty pudding. He will also provide the PCs with an adequate supply of pudding to tempt Lorac.4.Lord Lorac Elaven (Vampire/ Mage 15):  Lorac is bound to the throne room and cannot leave the room.  It is suggested that Lorac not be alone. He has cohorts with him- possibly former adventurers who had come seeking Khallor (maybe even ones the PCs knew and were good at one point).  Lorac, though corrupted, can still be reasoned to as well – the combined DC check here is 90 ( three checks). Anyone who confronts Lorac with his favorite pudding is able to  distract him for  1D4+2 rounds.CONCLUSION:This is a very difficult scenario. But at the same time it is easily scalable by changing NPC levels. Upon the Destruciton of the “Unmaker”, the restless spirits of the dead leave Khallor. The boundary of Khallor also unravels and comes back to normal time. The city also starts to rapidly deteriorate. The spirit of Janos thanks the PCs by singing a song of them that will echo through time itself.</blockquote>

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