JollyDoc's Shackled City: FINAL POST [Updated 11/2!!]
- Thread starter gfunk
- Start date
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
Gasp...I go to Hamburg for four days and no update(s)? 
Oh well, guess you guys went somewhere, too...
Oh well, guess you guys went somewhere, too...
Jack of Shadows
First Post
Finally got through it all
Hi Folks,
I've actually been reading this story hour for a couple months now but only just recently reached the end. I have to say it has been a very enjoyable read. I'm actually planning on starting to run the Shackled City campaign with my own group in a few months once they finish with the Banewarrens which I'm running currently. I'm really looking forward to it as it'll be the first time I'll have run a full 1st to 20th campaign. I'm hoping my players can develop characters as interesting as those in the Brightaxes and with luck less fatalities (though if the Banewarrens is any indication maybe not). From what they've told me this is the group I'll be starting with:
A Human Cleric of Bahamut switching to Sorceror after 1st and then eventually going Dragon Disciple
A Silver Dragon (Thanks to the anniversary Dragon issue)
A Psion-Shaper race as yet undetermined
A Human Cleric of Wee Jas (really looking forward to the plot potential with this character for reasons the Brightaxes will now be aware of)
A Human Fighter-Rogue Spiked Chain wielder
and finally
A Rogue planning to go Assassin (I allow any non-Good character rather than only Evil) race as yet undetermined.
If Gfunk and Joachim have some... "enhancements"... they'd like to suggest I'd be pleased to pass them on to my players.
In any case keep up the great writing. It's certainly been keeping me entertained.
Jack
P.S. Do you pronouce Joachim as "YO-kim" or "waa-KEEM"?
Hi Folks,
I've actually been reading this story hour for a couple months now but only just recently reached the end. I have to say it has been a very enjoyable read. I'm actually planning on starting to run the Shackled City campaign with my own group in a few months once they finish with the Banewarrens which I'm running currently. I'm really looking forward to it as it'll be the first time I'll have run a full 1st to 20th campaign. I'm hoping my players can develop characters as interesting as those in the Brightaxes and with luck less fatalities (though if the Banewarrens is any indication maybe not). From what they've told me this is the group I'll be starting with:
A Human Cleric of Bahamut switching to Sorceror after 1st and then eventually going Dragon Disciple
A Silver Dragon (Thanks to the anniversary Dragon issue)
A Psion-Shaper race as yet undetermined
A Human Cleric of Wee Jas (really looking forward to the plot potential with this character for reasons the Brightaxes will now be aware of)
A Human Fighter-Rogue Spiked Chain wielder
and finally
A Rogue planning to go Assassin (I allow any non-Good character rather than only Evil) race as yet undetermined.
If Gfunk and Joachim have some... "enhancements"... they'd like to suggest I'd be pleased to pass them on to my players.
In any case keep up the great writing. It's certainly been keeping me entertained.
Jack
P.S. Do you pronouce Joachim as "YO-kim" or "waa-KEEM"?
Last edited:
JollyDoc
Explorer
Jack of Shadows said:
Welcome Jack! Just got back in town myself, from the casinos of the gulf coast. Alas, I come home no wealthier than when I left (perhaps less so), but it was a blast. Looking forward to Rich getting home from the beach as well, so that he can update, and then I can. For the record Jack, it's "Yo-come."
Saeviomagy
Adventurer
I'd watch for the silver dragon - I don't think those progressions are anywhere near balanced with normal PCs...
Graywolf-ELM
Explorer
Hot Dog, I'll be here waiting.
Joachim
First Post
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
The Bright Axes were quickly collected by the constabulary. They found Rusty in the Tipped Tankard still administering to Tilly and Kiko, who had both just been revived from death. Conspicuously missing were the corpses of the half-orc and arcanist assassins, having been stuffed into Rusty’s bag of holding, and teleported back to Jzadirune by Jules. Rusty had thought quickly during the aftermath of the bloodshed, and he would be damned if the ‘cops’ were going to take the dead away from him before he could question them with divine magic.
The cleric of Kelemvor leading the patrol jabbed Caine in the chest, demanding, “Listen here, peasant. We know that you were attacked by three individuals. Based upon the testimony of the bar patrons at the time of the attack, we know that you managed to slay the other two. Where are the corpses? Where have you hidden them?”
Caine sighed. He had hoped that they would have had an opportunity to interrogate the spirits of the dead assassins. Shrugging, the ascetic announced, “You should try the alley outside the Temple of Tyr. You might find them there.” The priest of Kelemvor stared at Caine quizzically, and was so confused by the answer that he didn’t notice the flash of light from inside of the Apostle’s robes. Using his empathic link Caine ordered the lantern archon to deliver the bodies, including all of their equipment. The latter would upset Grimm, a mercenary through and through, but it was necessary to keep the peace with the town guard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The questioning went late into the night. Based upon a total lack of incriminating evidence, and the testimony of several bar patrons and employees, the Bright Axes were eventually released from custody. Allies that the group had made within the town guard, not the least of which was one of the captains, also somewhat hastened their freedom.
Bad news accompanied the vindication of the Bright Axes. In the middle of the night, the cleric of Kiriansalee managed to commit suicide by hanging after stabbing herself in the back forty-seven times. Likewise, the bodies of all three assailants had mysteriously been incinerated at the morgue before the sun had risen. There was no chance for any sort of interrogation, magical or otherwise.
The news hit the Bright Axes hard, and only increased the suspicion that something was very, very wrong. They decided that they had at least one more road to follow: They would consult the Mistress of Magic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rusty began casting his spell that would allow him to commune with the deity he had sworn to serve. He would be allowed to ask Mystra herself a dozen questions, each allowing a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. It might not give them all of the information that they needed, but it might offer enough clues to get them started on the right path. The spell did not come without its cost, and Rusty felt the slight weakening of his spirit upon completing his arcane gestures and words.
The dwarf concentrated as he asked his mistress his questions. After the final question was asked, and the answer received, the dwarf rubbed his eyes solemnly. “I didn’t get many definite answers, but I can tell ye this: The Church of Kelemvor hired the bloody assassins, but the high priests there do not actually follow the Lord of the Dead. The real mayor of Cauldron is dead. There is somethin’ really disturbin’ with these events. Whoever is really runnin’ this town wants us buried.”
Each of the Bright Axes considered the information. The silence was broken when Grimm stood and snapped his locked gauntlet around one of the handles of his spiked chain. “Get suited up everyone, its time to bring justice to Kelemvor’s house.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
During the trip to the Temple of Kelemvor, Caine struggled in vain to keep the Bright Axe’s more combative members from working themselves into a blood frenzy. Grimm and Rusty, in particular, were desperate for a fight. Caine feared that their brand of vigilante ‘justice’ might give the town guard an excuse to imprison or outright kill his comrades.
As the group approached the House of the Dead, they noticed that the rumors they had been hearing were true. Kelemvor’s faithful had been busy, and their temple had grown to massive proportions. Even the mad ramblings of the few Lathanderites appeared to be founded: The House of the Dead was so tall that it blocked Lathander’s shrine from the rising sun. Rusty shook his head as they passed the small structure dedicated to the Morninglord. Raphael, the sole clergy member, sat outside the shrine, mumbling to himself. The aasimar paladin had obviously not shaved or bathed in weeks.
To the party’s dismay, the front door to Kelemvor’s temple was shut tight and locked. Tilly jumped forward with long metal wire and a set of skeleton keys. “Hold on a second here, boys, and I’ll get us in there.” Two minutes later, and Tilly smiled with satisfaction. Pointing at Grimm, the halfling confidently gestured, “After you…”
The half-ogre pulled the doors open, and took a step inside the main sanctuary. The main sanctuary was a gargantuan structure over one hundred feet in diameter, with a ceiling that towered fifty feet overhead. All of the pews had been removed from the main worship area and were piled in one of the corners. The sanctuary was inhabited by a strange group. Three orc warriors stood in the middle of the chamber, supported by trio of stone giants bearing great axes. In the far corner of the sanctuary stood a lone human, one of the senior members of the temple clergy.
“Welcome to the Hall of the Dead. You are trespassing on holy ground, and the true Lord of the Dead has deemed that your lives are forfeit for this transgression. Guards! Deal with these interlopers as you have been instructed.” On the command, the half-orcs and giants charged the entryway.
Stone Giants and orcish warriors are known to be formidable foes. The Bright Axes, however, were more formidable on this day, and had come prepared for a scrap. Within thirty seconds, the House of the Dead was littered with six new corpses, and one human priest beaten senseless by Kiko’s fists and feet. The ‘interlopers’ were barely scratched by this encounter, but they knew that the higher ranking clergy awaited them in the deeper vaults of the church.
Realizing the need for strategic information, Caine began casting a spell, the unconscious priest his target. Upon completion of the spell, the Apostle smiled. The priest was charmed to Caine.
The Bright Axes were quickly collected by the constabulary. They found Rusty in the Tipped Tankard still administering to Tilly and Kiko, who had both just been revived from death. Conspicuously missing were the corpses of the half-orc and arcanist assassins, having been stuffed into Rusty’s bag of holding, and teleported back to Jzadirune by Jules. Rusty had thought quickly during the aftermath of the bloodshed, and he would be damned if the ‘cops’ were going to take the dead away from him before he could question them with divine magic.
The cleric of Kelemvor leading the patrol jabbed Caine in the chest, demanding, “Listen here, peasant. We know that you were attacked by three individuals. Based upon the testimony of the bar patrons at the time of the attack, we know that you managed to slay the other two. Where are the corpses? Where have you hidden them?”
Caine sighed. He had hoped that they would have had an opportunity to interrogate the spirits of the dead assassins. Shrugging, the ascetic announced, “You should try the alley outside the Temple of Tyr. You might find them there.” The priest of Kelemvor stared at Caine quizzically, and was so confused by the answer that he didn’t notice the flash of light from inside of the Apostle’s robes. Using his empathic link Caine ordered the lantern archon to deliver the bodies, including all of their equipment. The latter would upset Grimm, a mercenary through and through, but it was necessary to keep the peace with the town guard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The questioning went late into the night. Based upon a total lack of incriminating evidence, and the testimony of several bar patrons and employees, the Bright Axes were eventually released from custody. Allies that the group had made within the town guard, not the least of which was one of the captains, also somewhat hastened their freedom.
Bad news accompanied the vindication of the Bright Axes. In the middle of the night, the cleric of Kiriansalee managed to commit suicide by hanging after stabbing herself in the back forty-seven times. Likewise, the bodies of all three assailants had mysteriously been incinerated at the morgue before the sun had risen. There was no chance for any sort of interrogation, magical or otherwise.
The news hit the Bright Axes hard, and only increased the suspicion that something was very, very wrong. They decided that they had at least one more road to follow: They would consult the Mistress of Magic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rusty began casting his spell that would allow him to commune with the deity he had sworn to serve. He would be allowed to ask Mystra herself a dozen questions, each allowing a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. It might not give them all of the information that they needed, but it might offer enough clues to get them started on the right path. The spell did not come without its cost, and Rusty felt the slight weakening of his spirit upon completing his arcane gestures and words.
The dwarf concentrated as he asked his mistress his questions. After the final question was asked, and the answer received, the dwarf rubbed his eyes solemnly. “I didn’t get many definite answers, but I can tell ye this: The Church of Kelemvor hired the bloody assassins, but the high priests there do not actually follow the Lord of the Dead. The real mayor of Cauldron is dead. There is somethin’ really disturbin’ with these events. Whoever is really runnin’ this town wants us buried.”
Each of the Bright Axes considered the information. The silence was broken when Grimm stood and snapped his locked gauntlet around one of the handles of his spiked chain. “Get suited up everyone, its time to bring justice to Kelemvor’s house.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
During the trip to the Temple of Kelemvor, Caine struggled in vain to keep the Bright Axe’s more combative members from working themselves into a blood frenzy. Grimm and Rusty, in particular, were desperate for a fight. Caine feared that their brand of vigilante ‘justice’ might give the town guard an excuse to imprison or outright kill his comrades.
As the group approached the House of the Dead, they noticed that the rumors they had been hearing were true. Kelemvor’s faithful had been busy, and their temple had grown to massive proportions. Even the mad ramblings of the few Lathanderites appeared to be founded: The House of the Dead was so tall that it blocked Lathander’s shrine from the rising sun. Rusty shook his head as they passed the small structure dedicated to the Morninglord. Raphael, the sole clergy member, sat outside the shrine, mumbling to himself. The aasimar paladin had obviously not shaved or bathed in weeks.
To the party’s dismay, the front door to Kelemvor’s temple was shut tight and locked. Tilly jumped forward with long metal wire and a set of skeleton keys. “Hold on a second here, boys, and I’ll get us in there.” Two minutes later, and Tilly smiled with satisfaction. Pointing at Grimm, the halfling confidently gestured, “After you…”
The half-ogre pulled the doors open, and took a step inside the main sanctuary. The main sanctuary was a gargantuan structure over one hundred feet in diameter, with a ceiling that towered fifty feet overhead. All of the pews had been removed from the main worship area and were piled in one of the corners. The sanctuary was inhabited by a strange group. Three orc warriors stood in the middle of the chamber, supported by trio of stone giants bearing great axes. In the far corner of the sanctuary stood a lone human, one of the senior members of the temple clergy.
“Welcome to the Hall of the Dead. You are trespassing on holy ground, and the true Lord of the Dead has deemed that your lives are forfeit for this transgression. Guards! Deal with these interlopers as you have been instructed.” On the command, the half-orcs and giants charged the entryway.
Stone Giants and orcish warriors are known to be formidable foes. The Bright Axes, however, were more formidable on this day, and had come prepared for a scrap. Within thirty seconds, the House of the Dead was littered with six new corpses, and one human priest beaten senseless by Kiko’s fists and feet. The ‘interlopers’ were barely scratched by this encounter, but they knew that the higher ranking clergy awaited them in the deeper vaults of the church.
Realizing the need for strategic information, Caine began casting a spell, the unconscious priest his target. Upon completion of the spell, the Apostle smiled. The priest was charmed to Caine.
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