reveal
Adventurer
*SPOILER ALERT*
If you wish to play module I8 - Ravager of Time, read no further. Otherwise, please read on.
Lead up: The PCs were called to the area of Q'barra called the Ferfnargh. One of the PCs was from Q'barra and his best friend from childhood was the constable for the area. Clavados, the constable, asked his friend to come visit as something troubling had come up. It seemed that he, Clavados, needed his friend to investigate a murder in the area.
The PCs agreed and, in the course of doing so, had their life essence drained from them and made into duplicates of themselves. For the rest of the adventure, they were forced to fight as older versions of their normal selves.
After they were drained, they headed back to the main city of Elyea to tell them what had happened. It turned out that the woman who had done this had brought the duplicates back with her and they claimed the person charged with the crime innocent. By Elyean law this meant that Clavados, the accuser, would be put to death. When the PCs arrived, they rescued Clavados, who helped them find proof of what was going on.
Last session: The PCs and Clavados headed back to Elyea after finding out of the plot to overthrow the keep. On the way there, they met up with Kilanas who had escaped from the city while it was being ravaged by Nuala, the evil woman, and her army, which included two black dragons.
The PCs made their way inside, sneaking through a secret tunnel they had used to rescued Clavados, and eventually ended up fighting one of the black dragons. During the battle, the younger versions of the PCs showed up as well as 4 ogres and a green hag. Clavados, a paladin, and Kilanas, a cleric, helped the PCs. Kilanas fell but stabilized and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A few rounds later, however, the green hag walked over to Kilanas' lifeless body which, for some reason, the PCs had left out in the open with no guard. The hag crushed Kilanas' head with her foot and shocked my players. Clavados, of course, screamed in frustration. After it was all over, Clavados wept for his fallen comrade. Since Kilanas was the head cleric, there was no one who could raise him. A funeral was held and plans were made for Nuala's arrival on her other black dragon.
The ambush was set. Once the dragon was spotted, the PCs and Clavados readied themselves. When the dragon landed in the courtyard with Nuala on its back, the PCs let loose their fireballs and flame strikes. Clavados made his way to the dragon, yelling for the evil creature to die. Unfortunately, the evil creature decided Clavados would be the one to die. With a flash of claw, teeth and tail, Clavados' body was torn apart and his head flew across the courtyard. Here's where it got interesting:
The player playing Markon, the childhood friend of Clavados, became emotionally involved. He actually yelled and got upset. He prepped his spell and declared that he didn't care who was in the way, he was going to cast his Cone of Cold, the only offensive spell he had left. At that point, EVERYONE at the table got to their feet and helped him figure out where to fire it so to hit the least amount of people. Markon finally let loose his spell and took out the dragon, who was very hurt and very low on HP.
Then it was Nuala's turn. She had Dim Doored up to the ramparts earlier on and was casting spells while mostly hidden. The cleric, Olivia, made her way up to the ramparts (it took her 7 rounds but Olivia didn't care!) and charged after Nuala. She rolled a natural 20 and Nuala, who was also low on HP at that point, lost her head from a well placed mace attack.
My point of this post is not to brag that it was a great session or to try to say that I am a great DM. No, my point is that my players became emotionally involved in a highly dramatic, intensive combat scene. They heard me describe what was happening and rather than just say "Sucks to be him, I'm going to....." they got upset, got angry and tried their damndest to get even.
As I watched my players all jump to their feet, each of them pointing to the battle mat and trying to help the Wizard kill that bastard dragon, I couldn't help but smile. It was awesome.
If you wish to play module I8 - Ravager of Time, read no further. Otherwise, please read on.
Lead up: The PCs were called to the area of Q'barra called the Ferfnargh. One of the PCs was from Q'barra and his best friend from childhood was the constable for the area. Clavados, the constable, asked his friend to come visit as something troubling had come up. It seemed that he, Clavados, needed his friend to investigate a murder in the area.
The PCs agreed and, in the course of doing so, had their life essence drained from them and made into duplicates of themselves. For the rest of the adventure, they were forced to fight as older versions of their normal selves.
After they were drained, they headed back to the main city of Elyea to tell them what had happened. It turned out that the woman who had done this had brought the duplicates back with her and they claimed the person charged with the crime innocent. By Elyean law this meant that Clavados, the accuser, would be put to death. When the PCs arrived, they rescued Clavados, who helped them find proof of what was going on.
Last session: The PCs and Clavados headed back to Elyea after finding out of the plot to overthrow the keep. On the way there, they met up with Kilanas who had escaped from the city while it was being ravaged by Nuala, the evil woman, and her army, which included two black dragons.
The PCs made their way inside, sneaking through a secret tunnel they had used to rescued Clavados, and eventually ended up fighting one of the black dragons. During the battle, the younger versions of the PCs showed up as well as 4 ogres and a green hag. Clavados, a paladin, and Kilanas, a cleric, helped the PCs. Kilanas fell but stabilized and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A few rounds later, however, the green hag walked over to Kilanas' lifeless body which, for some reason, the PCs had left out in the open with no guard. The hag crushed Kilanas' head with her foot and shocked my players. Clavados, of course, screamed in frustration. After it was all over, Clavados wept for his fallen comrade. Since Kilanas was the head cleric, there was no one who could raise him. A funeral was held and plans were made for Nuala's arrival on her other black dragon.
The ambush was set. Once the dragon was spotted, the PCs and Clavados readied themselves. When the dragon landed in the courtyard with Nuala on its back, the PCs let loose their fireballs and flame strikes. Clavados made his way to the dragon, yelling for the evil creature to die. Unfortunately, the evil creature decided Clavados would be the one to die. With a flash of claw, teeth and tail, Clavados' body was torn apart and his head flew across the courtyard. Here's where it got interesting:
The player playing Markon, the childhood friend of Clavados, became emotionally involved. He actually yelled and got upset. He prepped his spell and declared that he didn't care who was in the way, he was going to cast his Cone of Cold, the only offensive spell he had left. At that point, EVERYONE at the table got to their feet and helped him figure out where to fire it so to hit the least amount of people. Markon finally let loose his spell and took out the dragon, who was very hurt and very low on HP.
Then it was Nuala's turn. She had Dim Doored up to the ramparts earlier on and was casting spells while mostly hidden. The cleric, Olivia, made her way up to the ramparts (it took her 7 rounds but Olivia didn't care!) and charged after Nuala. She rolled a natural 20 and Nuala, who was also low on HP at that point, lost her head from a well placed mace attack.
My point of this post is not to brag that it was a great session or to try to say that I am a great DM. No, my point is that my players became emotionally involved in a highly dramatic, intensive combat scene. They heard me describe what was happening and rather than just say "Sucks to be him, I'm going to....." they got upset, got angry and tried their damndest to get even.
As I watched my players all jump to their feet, each of them pointing to the battle mat and trying to help the Wizard kill that bastard dragon, I couldn't help but smile. It was awesome.
