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"Return of the Rod of the Seven Parts" - D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4245610" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Module 105: “Return of the Rod of the Seven Parts” (20 Year Anniversary Module). Night Seven of Eleven, May 5, 2002, Game # 814. DM: Serita’s Player</strong></p><p></p><p><u>Cast of Characters</u></p><p>Ailsheir, male drow elf ranger </p><p>Benedict, male human cleric</p><p>Hiroshi, male human magic-user </p><p>Patrick, male human monk </p><p></p><p>March 27, 1019:</p><p></p><p>The party find themselves on another plane, which many presume to be the elemental plane of air, as most of what surrounds them is sky and clouds. They are standing on some type of light-blue colored surface, solid enough to stand on but with a spongy feel to it. </p><p></p><p>The next team is preparing to depart. As it is comprised of two of the newest members of the Silver Moon and two from Da’Bears. As some of them have not adventured together before Ilma's suggest that the team spend a few minutes to reacquaint themselves with each other before she whisks them away. She explains that where they are going there are no elves, so Ailsheir might want to cover their ears. “What’s wrong with my ears. I have my mother’s ears,” he replies. He digs a cap out of his pack. </p><p></p><p>She drops them off on another world, telling them “If anybody challenges you to a ballgame don’t lose,” then vanishes. They find themselves in a tropical jungle Travelling a short distance, they come upon a set of tracks, which Ailsheir and Hiroshi recognize as similar to those made by Alton’s vehicles. They make their way along the roadway, with tropical jungles and swamps to either side. </p><p></p><p>They arrive at an encampment of canvas tents, with a few vehicles parked nearby. Dozens of humans, most of them in their late teens or early twenties are hurrying about. Also in the area are several stone walls that look to have been recently unearthed, with mounds of dirt and shovels nearby. Most of the people at the camp have turbans or hats covering their heads. </p><p></p><p>Hiroshi quickly assesses the ‘command tent’ and leads the party in that direction. Prior to entering he casts a ‘Friends’ spell on himself, to further boost his charisma and increase the liklihood of a positive first impression. They enter the tent, to a room, filled with archiologists and scientists, who are mostly wearing shorts and t-shirts. Throughout the room are various tables with computers, charts, maps and assorted artifacts. The group is led by a older human female, who the students in the room address as professor.</p><p></p><p>Hiroshi quickly takes in all of the details, and the leaders title, and introduces himself as Professor Hiroshi Mitsubishi, from the University of Mayako. He explains that he is an expert on ancient oriental cultures, who was sent here with a trio of students to assist in their work. He introduces his associates as Benedict, Patrick and Ailsheir. “I never heard of you. What do we need an expert on oriental cultures here for?” the Professor asks? Hiroshi answers “I was sent here after hearing news of the discovery of an ancient rod, which I am told bears similarity to one that I had found during an excavation in my homeland.” </p><p></p><p>The Professor replies “Ah yes, the Staff of Leadership. We haven’t actually found it yet, but have found references to it.” The Professor comments to Bendict about how his plate armor might be a bit warm in this climate. Hiroshi explains how Benedict “Is our team’s quartermaster, and brings along lots of equipment we might need.” Benedict says “Yeah, the armor keeps bugs and snakes away.” </p><p></p><p>Hiroshi asks for more informaiton about this Staff of Leadership. The Professor explains how the King of the Miyan people carried the staff, said to be a great magical item. He explains how the city that is now being excivated was the home city of this King. The excavation covers a full five miles of territory. They have been working on it for ten years, and have barely begun, having so far unearthed only a fraction of this ancient place. </p><p></p><p>Ailsheir points to a large stone slab with markings on it, which a team of students are examining, and asks what it is. The Professor expalins that it is a sacrificial stone. “Does it still work?” Ailsheir asks, “maybe we should try it,” and glances in Patrick’s direction. The Professor expalins how the Miyan Empire lasted from 5,000 to 7,000 years earlier. It’s first recorded leader was name Blue-Green Parrot. Ailsheir says “This place was run by a pattot? This city is the largest friggin nest that I’ve ever seen.” </p><p></p><p>“What’s with him?” the Professor asks Hiroshi. Hiroshi whispers “Don’t pay too much attention to him. He’s not all that bright or helpful, but his father has made a substantial endowment to my University.” The Professor says “Oh yeah, I got saddled with one of those too. I think his father just wanted to get rid of him for the semester,” and gestures to college student along the end of the tent, a human boy of around twenty wearing white shorts and a white shirt with a polo player logo on the pocket. The boy notices the Professor looking in his direction and says “What do you want?” “Nothing Skippy, just go back to whatever it was you were doing,” the Professor replies. </p><p></p><p>Hiroshi asks for more information about the history of this place. The professor explains that “We have only just begun deciphering the 364-stair text. Basically, a group of outsiders first gave Green-Blue Parrot the Staff of Leadership, and it passed on to each leader after that. The final leader, Eighteen Rabbit, was the last to weild it. He was challenged by outsiders to some type of sporting competition and lost. He sacrificed himself on the alter, and the outsiders left, taking with them the staff.” </p><p></p><p>A small boy, apparently a member of the local indiginous people, is helping out around the tent and offers to assist the new arrivals. The boy whispers to the four party members “You are not from this time.” Hiroshi tells the Professor that this boy might be of some help, and asks to go see the hiroglyphics. The Professor instructs the boy to take Hiroshi there. </p><p></p><p>Hiroshi quietly instructs the other three members of his party “Find out what you can about this contest the outsiders won. Based upon that comment that Ilma made I suspect we were the outsiders, and this Staff of Leadershp is the Rod piece we are looking for.” </p><p></p><p>Ailsheir’s not-so-nice drow background and heritage begins to show itself, as he starts asking for more detail about the blood sacrifices that took place here. He finds out enough information to discover that there is some type of ‘blood gate’ said to be inside the main temple. Benedict specualtes that perhaps this is a gate through time to the earlier period. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Hiroshi begins examining the ancient texts, being provided with a code book to help with the translations. The party spends the next several hours deriving information for their quest. Key pieces of informaiton are the “The Sun must be at zenith in the temple center” and “The key is the name.”</p><p></p><p>The others find out that this ancient game is comparable to a more modern game known as ‘soccer’, the primarily difference being that the ancient Miyans used a severed head to kick around rather than a ball. </p><p></p><p>The quartet get back together, joined by the young boy, who says “You have found what you needed. You now must visit the Elders now. They follow him out of the camp, and to a series of huts a short distance away. They enter a building where a series of older South American natives are gathered together. The senior of these addresses the party, telling them that he knows who they are and what they seek.</p><p></p><p>Hiroshi says “Good, that will save us time. What can you tell us of this sporting event that we must compete in?” The man expalins that there will be a total of six competitors. Patrick comments about them being two short. The Elder says that they can choose any two from those present to accompany them. Hiroshi asks who is the best at playing soccer. A young, very atheletic native man is identified. Hiroshi chooses him, and then asks the Elder to be the second. </p><p></p><p>“What? He’s too old,” Patrick whispers to Hiroshi. Hiroshi replies “We may need his help with the temple and will probably also need him for his knowledge, and to be able to communicate to the ancient people. He may not be in the best shape for a soccer game, but we may be able to counter some of that with magic.”</p><p></p><p>To their surprise, the Elder heads off into a nearby tent, and returns looking fifty years younger. Hiroshi asks about how the man did that, and is told that he drank a mystical potion. Hiroshi considers drinking that himself, until he hears that a side effect of the potion is sterility, saying “Nope, I don’t think my wife would approve.” “She want’s more kids? You have three already!” Ailsheir states. Hiroshi answers “I actually don’t know, but I wouldn’t make that kind of decision without first consulting her.” </p><p></p><p>Even though one of the clues says that the sun must be at zeneth, they decide the best time to sneak into the temple will be during the night, when the archiologists are all sleeping. </p><p></p><p>Shortly before midnight they approach and climb the structure. There is a more easily climbable rampway in the front of the structure, but it is lit up and within sight of the archeologist’s camp, so the party decides to climb up the back instead. </p><p></p><p>The climb is a bit tricky, with Patrick helping support Ailsheir, who then pulls up the others. As they reach the top of the structure they inerrupt a pair of college students, who are having intimate relations inside of a sleeping bag. The male member of his pair is the boy Skippy, who is angry at the party for interrupting his fun. A short fight ensues, during which Skippy is knocked unconscious by a karate chop from Patrick. </p><p></p><p>The naked girl sreams and runs away, down the rampway. The group decide “Let’s get into the temple before she can alert everyone else. “What about him?” Patrick asks of Skippy.” “Take him with us,” Hiroshi comments, “He’s probably good at playing soccer. We might need him later.” Ailshier hoists the boy up over his shoulder, and the group find the temple entrance.</p><p></p><p>The group soon finds the main room of the temple, where the walls are covered with markings. A container is found, which Ailshier concludes has dried blood on the bottom. They find an ancient device, on which are various markings, as well as levers and dials, each of which have been dyed with various symbols. (For this segment the DM simulated with a baby’s nursery crib activity toy). </p><p></p><p>The group finds the Sun symbol, moving it to zeneth. They then move the level with a rabbit symbol eighteen times. A strange wave washes over them, and they appear to be in the same room. Ailsheir notices the blood in the container is now fresh rather than dried. He tastes a drop of it, and states as though commenting on a wine vintage “Hmm, Virgin, last Thursday.” Hiroshi says “Well, his alignment has changed, but he still has that ‘drow’ heritage in him. The group concludes that they have traveled through time, back to the designated time period. </p><p></p><p>The temple door is approached. The door is opened, to reveal that it is now daylight. A large native man wearing a considerable amount of gold stands before the doorway. In front of him, lying on the altar, is a semi-naked man who the standing man then kills with a knife in some type of ritual sacrifice. A crowd of several hundred natives is assembled before the temple, and let out a loud cheer. </p><p></p><p>Hiroshi instructs his team to “Shut the door.” It is, however, too late, as the man wearing the gold has heard the door open, and turns to face them. He enters the temple, grabbing Ailsheir. </p><p>Hiroshi concudes that this man is the leader, Eighteen-Rabbit, which the Elder confirms. The doors are then shut, and a fight follows. After several rounds of the party unsuccessfully trying to stop the man, who is apparently magically protected from both spells and weapons. The doors are reopened, and the party push Eighteen-Rabbit outside, where the public challenge is made. Eighteen-rabbit accepts the challenge, telling the party “You lose, you die.”</p><p></p><p>The soccer game itself lasts for three whole days (of which the DM fast-forwarded over most of the details, as the game night was almost over). Hiroshi sits it out, having Skippy take the sixth place. He motivates the college student to win, explaining that “Unless you win you don’t get to have sex with any of the women.” During the greuling match Hiroshi also assists the group with various spells and cantrips. At the end the party win. As stated in the history, Eighteen-Rabbit then kills himself on the altar after giving the party the Staff of Leadership. Ilma arrives, and teleports them all away.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 4245610, member: 8530"] [B]Module 105: “Return of the Rod of the Seven Parts” (20 Year Anniversary Module). Night Seven of Eleven, May 5, 2002, Game # 814. DM: Serita’s Player[/B] [U]Cast of Characters[/U] Ailsheir, male drow elf ranger Benedict, male human cleric Hiroshi, male human magic-user Patrick, male human monk March 27, 1019: The party find themselves on another plane, which many presume to be the elemental plane of air, as most of what surrounds them is sky and clouds. They are standing on some type of light-blue colored surface, solid enough to stand on but with a spongy feel to it. The next team is preparing to depart. As it is comprised of two of the newest members of the Silver Moon and two from Da’Bears. As some of them have not adventured together before Ilma's suggest that the team spend a few minutes to reacquaint themselves with each other before she whisks them away. She explains that where they are going there are no elves, so Ailsheir might want to cover their ears. “What’s wrong with my ears. I have my mother’s ears,” he replies. He digs a cap out of his pack. She drops them off on another world, telling them “If anybody challenges you to a ballgame don’t lose,” then vanishes. They find themselves in a tropical jungle Travelling a short distance, they come upon a set of tracks, which Ailsheir and Hiroshi recognize as similar to those made by Alton’s vehicles. They make their way along the roadway, with tropical jungles and swamps to either side. They arrive at an encampment of canvas tents, with a few vehicles parked nearby. Dozens of humans, most of them in their late teens or early twenties are hurrying about. Also in the area are several stone walls that look to have been recently unearthed, with mounds of dirt and shovels nearby. Most of the people at the camp have turbans or hats covering their heads. Hiroshi quickly assesses the ‘command tent’ and leads the party in that direction. Prior to entering he casts a ‘Friends’ spell on himself, to further boost his charisma and increase the liklihood of a positive first impression. They enter the tent, to a room, filled with archiologists and scientists, who are mostly wearing shorts and t-shirts. Throughout the room are various tables with computers, charts, maps and assorted artifacts. The group is led by a older human female, who the students in the room address as professor. Hiroshi quickly takes in all of the details, and the leaders title, and introduces himself as Professor Hiroshi Mitsubishi, from the University of Mayako. He explains that he is an expert on ancient oriental cultures, who was sent here with a trio of students to assist in their work. He introduces his associates as Benedict, Patrick and Ailsheir. “I never heard of you. What do we need an expert on oriental cultures here for?” the Professor asks? Hiroshi answers “I was sent here after hearing news of the discovery of an ancient rod, which I am told bears similarity to one that I had found during an excavation in my homeland.” The Professor replies “Ah yes, the Staff of Leadership. We haven’t actually found it yet, but have found references to it.” The Professor comments to Bendict about how his plate armor might be a bit warm in this climate. Hiroshi explains how Benedict “Is our team’s quartermaster, and brings along lots of equipment we might need.” Benedict says “Yeah, the armor keeps bugs and snakes away.” Hiroshi asks for more informaiton about this Staff of Leadership. The Professor explains how the King of the Miyan people carried the staff, said to be a great magical item. He explains how the city that is now being excivated was the home city of this King. The excavation covers a full five miles of territory. They have been working on it for ten years, and have barely begun, having so far unearthed only a fraction of this ancient place. Ailsheir points to a large stone slab with markings on it, which a team of students are examining, and asks what it is. The Professor expalins that it is a sacrificial stone. “Does it still work?” Ailsheir asks, “maybe we should try it,” and glances in Patrick’s direction. The Professor expalins how the Miyan Empire lasted from 5,000 to 7,000 years earlier. It’s first recorded leader was name Blue-Green Parrot. Ailsheir says “This place was run by a pattot? This city is the largest friggin nest that I’ve ever seen.” “What’s with him?” the Professor asks Hiroshi. Hiroshi whispers “Don’t pay too much attention to him. He’s not all that bright or helpful, but his father has made a substantial endowment to my University.” The Professor says “Oh yeah, I got saddled with one of those too. I think his father just wanted to get rid of him for the semester,” and gestures to college student along the end of the tent, a human boy of around twenty wearing white shorts and a white shirt with a polo player logo on the pocket. The boy notices the Professor looking in his direction and says “What do you want?” “Nothing Skippy, just go back to whatever it was you were doing,” the Professor replies. Hiroshi asks for more information about the history of this place. The professor explains that “We have only just begun deciphering the 364-stair text. Basically, a group of outsiders first gave Green-Blue Parrot the Staff of Leadership, and it passed on to each leader after that. The final leader, Eighteen Rabbit, was the last to weild it. He was challenged by outsiders to some type of sporting competition and lost. He sacrificed himself on the alter, and the outsiders left, taking with them the staff.” A small boy, apparently a member of the local indiginous people, is helping out around the tent and offers to assist the new arrivals. The boy whispers to the four party members “You are not from this time.” Hiroshi tells the Professor that this boy might be of some help, and asks to go see the hiroglyphics. The Professor instructs the boy to take Hiroshi there. Hiroshi quietly instructs the other three members of his party “Find out what you can about this contest the outsiders won. Based upon that comment that Ilma made I suspect we were the outsiders, and this Staff of Leadershp is the Rod piece we are looking for.” Ailsheir’s not-so-nice drow background and heritage begins to show itself, as he starts asking for more detail about the blood sacrifices that took place here. He finds out enough information to discover that there is some type of ‘blood gate’ said to be inside the main temple. Benedict specualtes that perhaps this is a gate through time to the earlier period. Meanwhile, Hiroshi begins examining the ancient texts, being provided with a code book to help with the translations. The party spends the next several hours deriving information for their quest. Key pieces of informaiton are the “The Sun must be at zenith in the temple center” and “The key is the name.” The others find out that this ancient game is comparable to a more modern game known as ‘soccer’, the primarily difference being that the ancient Miyans used a severed head to kick around rather than a ball. The quartet get back together, joined by the young boy, who says “You have found what you needed. You now must visit the Elders now. They follow him out of the camp, and to a series of huts a short distance away. They enter a building where a series of older South American natives are gathered together. The senior of these addresses the party, telling them that he knows who they are and what they seek. Hiroshi says “Good, that will save us time. What can you tell us of this sporting event that we must compete in?” The man expalins that there will be a total of six competitors. Patrick comments about them being two short. The Elder says that they can choose any two from those present to accompany them. Hiroshi asks who is the best at playing soccer. A young, very atheletic native man is identified. Hiroshi chooses him, and then asks the Elder to be the second. “What? He’s too old,” Patrick whispers to Hiroshi. Hiroshi replies “We may need his help with the temple and will probably also need him for his knowledge, and to be able to communicate to the ancient people. He may not be in the best shape for a soccer game, but we may be able to counter some of that with magic.” To their surprise, the Elder heads off into a nearby tent, and returns looking fifty years younger. Hiroshi asks about how the man did that, and is told that he drank a mystical potion. Hiroshi considers drinking that himself, until he hears that a side effect of the potion is sterility, saying “Nope, I don’t think my wife would approve.” “She want’s more kids? You have three already!” Ailsheir states. Hiroshi answers “I actually don’t know, but I wouldn’t make that kind of decision without first consulting her.” Even though one of the clues says that the sun must be at zeneth, they decide the best time to sneak into the temple will be during the night, when the archiologists are all sleeping. Shortly before midnight they approach and climb the structure. There is a more easily climbable rampway in the front of the structure, but it is lit up and within sight of the archeologist’s camp, so the party decides to climb up the back instead. The climb is a bit tricky, with Patrick helping support Ailsheir, who then pulls up the others. As they reach the top of the structure they inerrupt a pair of college students, who are having intimate relations inside of a sleeping bag. The male member of his pair is the boy Skippy, who is angry at the party for interrupting his fun. A short fight ensues, during which Skippy is knocked unconscious by a karate chop from Patrick. The naked girl sreams and runs away, down the rampway. The group decide “Let’s get into the temple before she can alert everyone else. “What about him?” Patrick asks of Skippy.” “Take him with us,” Hiroshi comments, “He’s probably good at playing soccer. We might need him later.” Ailshier hoists the boy up over his shoulder, and the group find the temple entrance. The group soon finds the main room of the temple, where the walls are covered with markings. A container is found, which Ailshier concludes has dried blood on the bottom. They find an ancient device, on which are various markings, as well as levers and dials, each of which have been dyed with various symbols. (For this segment the DM simulated with a baby’s nursery crib activity toy). The group finds the Sun symbol, moving it to zeneth. They then move the level with a rabbit symbol eighteen times. A strange wave washes over them, and they appear to be in the same room. Ailsheir notices the blood in the container is now fresh rather than dried. He tastes a drop of it, and states as though commenting on a wine vintage “Hmm, Virgin, last Thursday.” Hiroshi says “Well, his alignment has changed, but he still has that ‘drow’ heritage in him. The group concludes that they have traveled through time, back to the designated time period. The temple door is approached. The door is opened, to reveal that it is now daylight. A large native man wearing a considerable amount of gold stands before the doorway. In front of him, lying on the altar, is a semi-naked man who the standing man then kills with a knife in some type of ritual sacrifice. A crowd of several hundred natives is assembled before the temple, and let out a loud cheer. Hiroshi instructs his team to “Shut the door.” It is, however, too late, as the man wearing the gold has heard the door open, and turns to face them. He enters the temple, grabbing Ailsheir. Hiroshi concudes that this man is the leader, Eighteen-Rabbit, which the Elder confirms. The doors are then shut, and a fight follows. After several rounds of the party unsuccessfully trying to stop the man, who is apparently magically protected from both spells and weapons. The doors are reopened, and the party push Eighteen-Rabbit outside, where the public challenge is made. Eighteen-rabbit accepts the challenge, telling the party “You lose, you die.” The soccer game itself lasts for three whole days (of which the DM fast-forwarded over most of the details, as the game night was almost over). Hiroshi sits it out, having Skippy take the sixth place. He motivates the college student to win, explaining that “Unless you win you don’t get to have sex with any of the women.” During the greuling match Hiroshi also assists the group with various spells and cantrips. At the end the party win. As stated in the history, Eighteen-Rabbit then kills himself on the altar after giving the party the Staff of Leadership. Ilma arrives, and teleports them all away. [/QUOTE]
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