Michael Morris
First Post
Last night I concluded session 2 of the new campaign for my players. I've gotten everyone's background pretty much worked in and things are already on their way to getting convoluted as Hell. Questions and comments sought - I'm still sorting this all out in my head.
Player Characters
Altan
Halfling Wizard
Alignment: Balcra (Blue) (approx Neutral)
Born: Childeni Beras Culamrin -- 1372 (age 33)
Of the party Altan has the least background largely because his player is the least experienced. I've been thinking of how to work him in more securely into the network of craziness to follow, but for now the player is content to play a wizardly Sherlock Holmes.
Corian
Half-Elf Bard
Alignment: Shunra (Red) (approx Chaotic Good)
Born: Miber Qiron Melamrin -- 1384 (age 21)
Corian is a bard devoted to Poen, God of Bards, Music, Love, that sort of thing. He has so far had a less than coridal relationship with Hollie who's patron deity is on decidely less than stellar terms with Poen. This has created some internal friction in the party (though not as much as with the paladin). So far Corian has had a crucial role to play in ferreting out information from the denizens in the city and he's gotten off to a good start at the local inn with some virtuoso performances each evening.
Barius
Human Paladin
Alignment: Valra (Gold) (approx Lawful Good [of course])
Born: Areani Ganfun Diltamrin -- 1387 (age 18)
Barius is known among the party members and many of the NPC's by his rank - Vice Captain. His father is the Captain of the dock quarter and his position is partially due to inheritance as much as being earned. Where most of the members of the party are from other lands, Barius is a local so his Knowledge - Local skill has come in quite handy on a couple of occassions. When the party arrived in Dubroh the city was already in the middle of a string of mysterious murders of prostitutes mostly in the dock quarter but as the investigation continues it has become clear that the problem is widespread throughout the city.
Like all paladins in Telzoa Barius serves Tean, God of Justice. This brings him into immediate conflict with another player's choice of patron deity.
Hollie
Half Elf Cleric
Alignment: Sodra (Silver) (Approx Chaotic Neutral)
Born: Sorani Qion Aramrin -- 1385 (age 19)
Hollie is a cleric of Narisane - the Goddess of Lust, Seduction and Corruption. A chaotic evil deity in the old alignment system, the choice of deities has already created a sharp rift in the party that already has and promises to continue to create a lot of fun roleplaying opportunities. The idea of using a Jack the Ripper style mystery was largely launched from this announced choice of patron deities. As a cleric of the Patron Goddess of Whores, Hollie is not only a prostitute herself but also charged to their protection despite her otherwise selfish nature. But as the story has unfolded the NPC's doing the attacks have put her in their sights - first trying to frame her for at least one of the murders and then attacking her directly.
Tricia Gables
Halfling Rogue
Alignment: Balcra
Born: Rizaldi Tunis Festival -- Year 1378 (age 27)
Tricia has been rolled up for a utterly new player that joined the group yesterday so rather than boggle her with the intracies of coming up with a background I chose out a character that the player can have fun with. Tricia also is of interest to the rest of the players because she is the younger sister of a player character from the previous game played 3 years ago. Should the character survive she provides a continuity link between the two campaigns which will become pertinent at around the 9th to 12th level area once the PC's of this game are of level to be of notice to the PC's from the previous game (which are now around 15th-18th level)
The Story So Far...
We set our stage in Dubroh, the capital city of the nation of Dabrinia, nation of merchants. Dabrinia is thematically similar to renaissance Italy. Twelve families rule the island since the nobility was overthrown some 62 years ago. The section of the Dusk setting timeline that is relavent to this campaign is as follows.
1320
Maidoc II becomes King of Milicsundria. (At this time Dabrinia was part of Milicsundria)
1324
Sven Ilsad dies in Telmandy. Maidoc II tries to claim his kingdom since Sven's only heir was his daughter, and Maidoc's Queen. Thus began Maidoc's War.
1328
Telmish forces invade Dabrinia as part of Maidoc's War.
1333
A major fire all but destroys the city of Dubroh in Milicsundria. The cause of the fire is never determined for certain, but the Telmandans are blamed.
1335
Kevin Hastings of Dabrinia, one of the richest traders of that island, dies at the ripe old age of 70. His son Lester takes control his father's estate, becoming possibly the richest non-noble on the island.
1343
Merchant's Rebellion in Dabrinia begins
1344
Maidoc's War ends.
1345
Merchant's Rebellion ends with the defeat of King Maidoc of Milicsundria and the establishment of the High Council. Dalsundria recognizes and supports the new kingdom, though no other kingdom does.
1346
Major Famine strikes Milicsundria.
1347
Maidoc II dies. There is a brief power struggle between his sons, and Prince Salsis comes out the winner.
1372
Altan (player character) born in Christobol (far, far to the south)
1378
Tricia Gables (player Character) born in Lochshire, Dalsundria
1384
Corian (player character) born in Merryville in the country of Hone Rae.
1385
Hollie (player character) born in Hone Rae
1386
Barius (player character) born in Dubroh.
1390
A political plot in Dabrinia leads to a major upheaval in the Merchant Council when three of its members are found dead of snakebite, in their bed. When the perpetrators are caught later in the year they are drawn and quartered on the streets of Clarson.
1400
Previous campaign starts in the town of Lochshire. Princess Nelaria Ellery Tuval returns to Dalsundria from exile in Hone Rae. Elgrel III dies.
1401
Alblasker of Granis dies. Nelaria assassinated by Count Travis Triel and Prince Valsil. Nathaniel Edward Tuval resurfaces in the following weeks and is crowned. Valsil dies of apparent suicide (in fact murdered by Nelaria's ghost in the presence of the party). Triel revealed to be a half-orc spy and disappears.
1402
Salsis I invades Dalsundria once more and is captured and defeated at the second Battle of Maldanca. By the end of the year Milicsundria is annexed by Dalsundria, the first such annexation since the start of the Succession Wars. End of the first Dusk campaign with this group.
1403
King Nathaniel of Dalsundria marries Alicia Mintrube of Ultan.
1404
Nelaria Anasa Tuval born. A special act of parliment is convened to declare her unquestioned heir should the king die and no male heir that is a direct descendant of the king lives. In Dabrinia the Le Grange disappears in a winter storm at year's end carrying multiple artifacts from Rig Maldur in Dalze.
1405
Orcish forces invade Dalisa in the month of Untamrin under the command of a Half Orc wizard named Harizan. This action is ongoing. Campaign starts Esini Ganfun, Month of Trilamrin.
The NPC's
This campaign is driven almost entirely by dialog and interactions. Most of the NPC's are at cross purposes with each other already so the how the players navigate this minefield and gain their own power will be the game's focus.
Dulron Richards
A former priest of Poen he has retired to become a bartender. His wife was killed some 12 years ago while they were tracking down agents of Narisane in Chalk shortly after Narisane had left Court Rizaldi. Afterward he left the priesthood, took his daughter from his grandparents and has raised her alone. He has a very deep seated hatred for prositutes.
The party believes he is responsible for the murders but this isn't true. He is aiding and abetting a squad that he believed are devout Rizaldans looking to root out the well entrenched prostitutes guild that Dulron sees as a blight on the city. The truth is they are thugs willing to kill anyone as he has found out.
Dulron will eventually become drawn into the net of evil and intrique moving to bring the city to it's knees.
Alisan Richards
Dulron's daughter the party has already had unpleasant dealings with her since she makes no effort to conceal her disdain for Hollie and anyone that has any dealings with her. A bit of a clueless tart she provides her father with whatever information or resources he wants from the Temple of the Rose that she can aquire without question. When she finally sees how far her father has slipped away it will be an interesting moment. How the party handles her determines whether she goes the way of her father and becomes an enemy or joins the party as a henchman.
Caramon
The party has only heard this guy's name. He was the head of the thieves guild 15 years ago and was murdered after a botched power play to gain a seat on the merchant's council. Priests of Sekoon have animated him as a vampire and are now using him to gain control of the thieves' guild. He is nominally in charge of the murders on the street and has been using the over the top mutilations of corpses in ritual fashion to conceal the blood drinking he is doing.
Saldran
The lead priest of Sekoon in the area he is the puppet master behind most of the goings on. It will be awhile before the party gets wind of him and still longer before they confront him for the first time (around level 7). He seeks the corruption and seizure of Dubroh's underworld. To this end he is helping Caramon, his creation, to retake the thieves guild and having his priests harvest hearts from prostitutes in order to pressure their guild into acquiecing to the protection of the theives guild or merging with it.
Saldran is also alive to the turmoil possible if Dalsundria moves to annex Dabrinia under it's vibrant new King. He wants to make sure his control of the underworld is secure before this occurs so that whatever side ends up in control he has it firmly under his thumb.
Izdrul
A priest of Char, he is Saldran's pet monster since like his deity all he really cares about is causing as much havoc to whoever he pleases. Izdrul is the sort that is only nominally under control at all times. It was a storm under his control that sunk the Le Grange allowing Saldran to move several Damosan artifacts into the city unwatched and unlooked for.
Malison
High Priest of Tean, Barius' direct superior, despite being a cleric of a "lawful good" deity Malison is decidedly not a nice person. His idea of redemption is a swift execution, jumps rapidly to conclusions and then tries to force the evidence to fit his preconceived notions. He's already confronted the party legally trying to have Hollie executed for one of the prostitute murders on paper thin evidence but he failed miserably and now seeks revenge not only on the dark priestess that got away but also the vice captain that defended her case and has her custody. Still, his misgivings aside he is loyal to his duty and command so is unlikely to ever directly come to blows with the party, though as long as Hollie is a member he is certain to expect the worst of them and blame the city's problems on their actions.
Adrian
Priestess of Matacha and second ranking priest of the Court of Aurnon in the city, it was Adrian who judged the case against Hollie. Her verdict was to remand Hollie to Barius' custody until the true murderers are found (possibly after as determined by her behavior). Calm and level headed, Adrian is largely disinterested in the affairs of the living as suits her patron the Goddess of the Dead. When she pronounced her verdict in the last session Malson screamed out, "Are you out of your mind!? She'll corrupt and destroy him!"
Her reply was, "Perhaps, but to attempt it she must expose herself to her own redemption. So let it begin, for not all wars are fought with blades."
And so it is that Hollie seeks to corrupt the paladin Barius and Barius seeks to redeem the porne priestess. The players are looking forward to the fight to come (and as long as it stays in character so do I)
Robby
Priest of Terix the God of Fools and Insanity, Robby is a jester and quite nuts. But in his babbling he gives me a chance to couch a few profound insights - or through his babbling confuse the party further. He's shown up once.
And from here..
So that's my foundation this time. Again, thoughts and comments welcome. I'm considering setting up a good crawl for next session since the last one was largely a huge dialog broken by only a couple fights.
Thoughts and comments welcome.
Player Characters
Altan
Halfling Wizard
Alignment: Balcra (Blue) (approx Neutral)
Born: Childeni Beras Culamrin -- 1372 (age 33)
Of the party Altan has the least background largely because his player is the least experienced. I've been thinking of how to work him in more securely into the network of craziness to follow, but for now the player is content to play a wizardly Sherlock Holmes.
Corian
Half-Elf Bard
Alignment: Shunra (Red) (approx Chaotic Good)
Born: Miber Qiron Melamrin -- 1384 (age 21)
Corian is a bard devoted to Poen, God of Bards, Music, Love, that sort of thing. He has so far had a less than coridal relationship with Hollie who's patron deity is on decidely less than stellar terms with Poen. This has created some internal friction in the party (though not as much as with the paladin). So far Corian has had a crucial role to play in ferreting out information from the denizens in the city and he's gotten off to a good start at the local inn with some virtuoso performances each evening.
Barius
Human Paladin
Alignment: Valra (Gold) (approx Lawful Good [of course])
Born: Areani Ganfun Diltamrin -- 1387 (age 18)
Barius is known among the party members and many of the NPC's by his rank - Vice Captain. His father is the Captain of the dock quarter and his position is partially due to inheritance as much as being earned. Where most of the members of the party are from other lands, Barius is a local so his Knowledge - Local skill has come in quite handy on a couple of occassions. When the party arrived in Dubroh the city was already in the middle of a string of mysterious murders of prostitutes mostly in the dock quarter but as the investigation continues it has become clear that the problem is widespread throughout the city.
Like all paladins in Telzoa Barius serves Tean, God of Justice. This brings him into immediate conflict with another player's choice of patron deity.
Hollie
Half Elf Cleric
Alignment: Sodra (Silver) (Approx Chaotic Neutral)
Born: Sorani Qion Aramrin -- 1385 (age 19)
Hollie is a cleric of Narisane - the Goddess of Lust, Seduction and Corruption. A chaotic evil deity in the old alignment system, the choice of deities has already created a sharp rift in the party that already has and promises to continue to create a lot of fun roleplaying opportunities. The idea of using a Jack the Ripper style mystery was largely launched from this announced choice of patron deities. As a cleric of the Patron Goddess of Whores, Hollie is not only a prostitute herself but also charged to their protection despite her otherwise selfish nature. But as the story has unfolded the NPC's doing the attacks have put her in their sights - first trying to frame her for at least one of the murders and then attacking her directly.
Tricia Gables
Halfling Rogue
Alignment: Balcra
Born: Rizaldi Tunis Festival -- Year 1378 (age 27)
Tricia has been rolled up for a utterly new player that joined the group yesterday so rather than boggle her with the intracies of coming up with a background I chose out a character that the player can have fun with. Tricia also is of interest to the rest of the players because she is the younger sister of a player character from the previous game played 3 years ago. Should the character survive she provides a continuity link between the two campaigns which will become pertinent at around the 9th to 12th level area once the PC's of this game are of level to be of notice to the PC's from the previous game (which are now around 15th-18th level)
The Story So Far...
We set our stage in Dubroh, the capital city of the nation of Dabrinia, nation of merchants. Dabrinia is thematically similar to renaissance Italy. Twelve families rule the island since the nobility was overthrown some 62 years ago. The section of the Dusk setting timeline that is relavent to this campaign is as follows.
1320
Maidoc II becomes King of Milicsundria. (At this time Dabrinia was part of Milicsundria)
1324
Sven Ilsad dies in Telmandy. Maidoc II tries to claim his kingdom since Sven's only heir was his daughter, and Maidoc's Queen. Thus began Maidoc's War.
1328
Telmish forces invade Dabrinia as part of Maidoc's War.
1333
A major fire all but destroys the city of Dubroh in Milicsundria. The cause of the fire is never determined for certain, but the Telmandans are blamed.
1335
Kevin Hastings of Dabrinia, one of the richest traders of that island, dies at the ripe old age of 70. His son Lester takes control his father's estate, becoming possibly the richest non-noble on the island.
1343
Merchant's Rebellion in Dabrinia begins
1344
Maidoc's War ends.
1345
Merchant's Rebellion ends with the defeat of King Maidoc of Milicsundria and the establishment of the High Council. Dalsundria recognizes and supports the new kingdom, though no other kingdom does.
1346
Major Famine strikes Milicsundria.
1347
Maidoc II dies. There is a brief power struggle between his sons, and Prince Salsis comes out the winner.
1372
Altan (player character) born in Christobol (far, far to the south)
1378
Tricia Gables (player Character) born in Lochshire, Dalsundria
1384
Corian (player character) born in Merryville in the country of Hone Rae.
1385
Hollie (player character) born in Hone Rae
1386
Barius (player character) born in Dubroh.
1390
A political plot in Dabrinia leads to a major upheaval in the Merchant Council when three of its members are found dead of snakebite, in their bed. When the perpetrators are caught later in the year they are drawn and quartered on the streets of Clarson.
1400
Previous campaign starts in the town of Lochshire. Princess Nelaria Ellery Tuval returns to Dalsundria from exile in Hone Rae. Elgrel III dies.
1401
Alblasker of Granis dies. Nelaria assassinated by Count Travis Triel and Prince Valsil. Nathaniel Edward Tuval resurfaces in the following weeks and is crowned. Valsil dies of apparent suicide (in fact murdered by Nelaria's ghost in the presence of the party). Triel revealed to be a half-orc spy and disappears.
1402
Salsis I invades Dalsundria once more and is captured and defeated at the second Battle of Maldanca. By the end of the year Milicsundria is annexed by Dalsundria, the first such annexation since the start of the Succession Wars. End of the first Dusk campaign with this group.
1403
King Nathaniel of Dalsundria marries Alicia Mintrube of Ultan.
1404
Nelaria Anasa Tuval born. A special act of parliment is convened to declare her unquestioned heir should the king die and no male heir that is a direct descendant of the king lives. In Dabrinia the Le Grange disappears in a winter storm at year's end carrying multiple artifacts from Rig Maldur in Dalze.
1405
Orcish forces invade Dalisa in the month of Untamrin under the command of a Half Orc wizard named Harizan. This action is ongoing. Campaign starts Esini Ganfun, Month of Trilamrin.
The NPC's
This campaign is driven almost entirely by dialog and interactions. Most of the NPC's are at cross purposes with each other already so the how the players navigate this minefield and gain their own power will be the game's focus.
Dulron Richards
A former priest of Poen he has retired to become a bartender. His wife was killed some 12 years ago while they were tracking down agents of Narisane in Chalk shortly after Narisane had left Court Rizaldi. Afterward he left the priesthood, took his daughter from his grandparents and has raised her alone. He has a very deep seated hatred for prositutes.
The party believes he is responsible for the murders but this isn't true. He is aiding and abetting a squad that he believed are devout Rizaldans looking to root out the well entrenched prostitutes guild that Dulron sees as a blight on the city. The truth is they are thugs willing to kill anyone as he has found out.
Dulron will eventually become drawn into the net of evil and intrique moving to bring the city to it's knees.
Alisan Richards
Dulron's daughter the party has already had unpleasant dealings with her since she makes no effort to conceal her disdain for Hollie and anyone that has any dealings with her. A bit of a clueless tart she provides her father with whatever information or resources he wants from the Temple of the Rose that she can aquire without question. When she finally sees how far her father has slipped away it will be an interesting moment. How the party handles her determines whether she goes the way of her father and becomes an enemy or joins the party as a henchman.
Caramon
The party has only heard this guy's name. He was the head of the thieves guild 15 years ago and was murdered after a botched power play to gain a seat on the merchant's council. Priests of Sekoon have animated him as a vampire and are now using him to gain control of the thieves' guild. He is nominally in charge of the murders on the street and has been using the over the top mutilations of corpses in ritual fashion to conceal the blood drinking he is doing.
Saldran
The lead priest of Sekoon in the area he is the puppet master behind most of the goings on. It will be awhile before the party gets wind of him and still longer before they confront him for the first time (around level 7). He seeks the corruption and seizure of Dubroh's underworld. To this end he is helping Caramon, his creation, to retake the thieves guild and having his priests harvest hearts from prostitutes in order to pressure their guild into acquiecing to the protection of the theives guild or merging with it.
Saldran is also alive to the turmoil possible if Dalsundria moves to annex Dabrinia under it's vibrant new King. He wants to make sure his control of the underworld is secure before this occurs so that whatever side ends up in control he has it firmly under his thumb.
Izdrul
A priest of Char, he is Saldran's pet monster since like his deity all he really cares about is causing as much havoc to whoever he pleases. Izdrul is the sort that is only nominally under control at all times. It was a storm under his control that sunk the Le Grange allowing Saldran to move several Damosan artifacts into the city unwatched and unlooked for.
Malison
High Priest of Tean, Barius' direct superior, despite being a cleric of a "lawful good" deity Malison is decidedly not a nice person. His idea of redemption is a swift execution, jumps rapidly to conclusions and then tries to force the evidence to fit his preconceived notions. He's already confronted the party legally trying to have Hollie executed for one of the prostitute murders on paper thin evidence but he failed miserably and now seeks revenge not only on the dark priestess that got away but also the vice captain that defended her case and has her custody. Still, his misgivings aside he is loyal to his duty and command so is unlikely to ever directly come to blows with the party, though as long as Hollie is a member he is certain to expect the worst of them and blame the city's problems on their actions.
Adrian
Priestess of Matacha and second ranking priest of the Court of Aurnon in the city, it was Adrian who judged the case against Hollie. Her verdict was to remand Hollie to Barius' custody until the true murderers are found (possibly after as determined by her behavior). Calm and level headed, Adrian is largely disinterested in the affairs of the living as suits her patron the Goddess of the Dead. When she pronounced her verdict in the last session Malson screamed out, "Are you out of your mind!? She'll corrupt and destroy him!"
Her reply was, "Perhaps, but to attempt it she must expose herself to her own redemption. So let it begin, for not all wars are fought with blades."
And so it is that Hollie seeks to corrupt the paladin Barius and Barius seeks to redeem the porne priestess. The players are looking forward to the fight to come (and as long as it stays in character so do I)
Robby
Priest of Terix the God of Fools and Insanity, Robby is a jester and quite nuts. But in his babbling he gives me a chance to couch a few profound insights - or through his babbling confuse the party further. He's shown up once.
And from here..
So that's my foundation this time. Again, thoughts and comments welcome. I'm considering setting up a good crawl for next session since the last one was largely a huge dialog broken by only a couple fights.
Thoughts and comments welcome.
