The Creation Schema:THE FINAL BATTLE FOR POSSESSION OF THE SCHEMA

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 263
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik”

The following few segments were not done by my regular group but with a new group I met for an Albany Gameday. The players were
1.Welverin
2.MavrickWeirdo
3.Zweihänder
4.Bip the Fool
5.Ember
6.Kevin

Some of these folks I’m sure you will recognize by user name. Mavrick W played Talina but then I have no idea who played what.

The following was given to / read to them at the beginning of the game. Something else to keep in mind, when I run a “convention” game I try to keep the role-playing within it. I hand out basic appearances of characters. Players chose from these. Then I give them their final characters. Each character is given a secret and basic thoughts on other player’s characters. It worked very well this time.


The following is a handout I gave them and read to them to begin....


You and seven other adventurers have been traveling for weeks under the patronage of Kim Elderich.

The adventure began in Khorvaire where you and members of the party have been attacked by pirates, Emerald Claw agents, Turbulant Assassins and possible rogue agents from House Cannith. Even the undead looked to stop you when you stopped in Sharn. But none of these distractions prepared you for the next stop- Xen’drik.

After nearly crashing your airship twice during sudden storms off the Dark Continent’s coast, you arrived in the port of Stormreach. This is when you knew you were in for the adventure of your lives. From the distance you saw stone ruins rising out of the jungle forest. Nothing new. Very typical in fact. Then as you came closer to the shore you discovered these ruins were of giants. Smaller and more conventional buildings made from wood, bamboo and straw collected in the protection of these giant buildings.

After docking, you learned the trip would take days to weeks on the river on a boat. Why the uncertainty of time? Like everything here, magic on a godlike level has twisted the natural laws of time and distance. Only what you see before you is real. By hiring a native guide you hope to lessen the impact but prepare for the worse.

The Rachi River snakes in and out of the jungle of Northern Xen’drik. Here you have seen creatures mundane but wonderful to see. Monkeys with blue faces and thousands of colorful and singing birds. The plants are incredible and their scents intoxicating. “Beware of the beauty- it can turn on you quickly.” Warns the guide.

In the next four days of travel you see some of these dangers. Creatures large and small. A mere insect kills one man by only biting him. You witness a monkey being torn in two by separate vines fighting for his body. A Dire Crocodile over 30ft in length settles the mess with one gulp that consumes all three. And the dinosaurs- The creatures of the Talenta Plains are dangerous but they so much smaller than these cousins. And for all of these there are still the giants whom roam the lands and something the guide warns everyone of. Drow.

These creatures are the single most dangerous hunters on the land. They have many methods including magic to stalk and then attack you by. Few have ever witnessed a drow clan and survived. None that the guide knows of.

On the 6th day of travel a terrible storm builds up. Little was dry before but once the rains began everything was dampened as if just emerging from the river. It rained like this for the entire day and into the night. As you looked to sleep or at least remain dry in your rooms there came a cry from above. Suddenly the ship crashed into something. Reaching the deck you found the guide and the pilot dead. A sharp dagger or sword slit both of their throats. Before you could investigate the bloody scene any further you discovered the ship had struck not the land or a submerged tree.

Angered by the attack- the Dire Hippos attack! Their terrible husks tear up the wooden craft. You have only time enough to escape the craft. Most food and supplies are lost and several members of your party parish.

Daylight comes and you know you are close to the area of the temple. A meeting is called and a decision is reached- you continue on to find the ruins and explore them. One way or another, you will return home and demand hazard pay for this! DIRE HIPPOS INDEED!!!!!!

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 264
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART II”

Rokka Fraggit and Kimm Davidson never reach shore, There is no signs of them surviving the wreck. The group give their final respects before continuing down the river on foot.

Filzer the Human Ranger leads the way. Jenner is close by. He samples various grasses and weeds on the way which disturbs several party members. Talina Sil Lonadar walks behind this group. She watches everything with both interest and caution. Behind her walks 241 and Tarmac. 241 rarely speaks. Instead he follows the led of the others. Tarmac notes everything and wonders about Talina. She seems familiar to him but can not place her. Her armor is definitely magic. It appears like ½ plate but her moves are too graceful for that. Lennington moves from the front to the middle and back looking over the trail and the people he is with. The halfling that always is tasting random items annoys him to no end.

Uncertain of location and what lies ahead, several members agree they need to climb a tree to view further ahead. Jenner is volunteered and he goes up (after all- who knows what spices or eggs may be in the tree canopies!) He climbs up and looks ahead. A soft blue glow can be seen near the river and a shadowy shape that appears like a temple lies in thick mist. He climbs down and reports while licking at tree sap he got coming down.

They go to the glow first.

When they locate the source of the glow they find a ruined and half-sunken ship that is run onto the shore. It is very old and Talina feels it is a riverboat due to the flat and wide bottom it has. Tarmac is the most curious of the group. “Allow me to see what makes it glow.” Lennington, Talina and Filzer surround the craft. None hear the clicks or soft sizzle until after Tarmac sticks his head into an open hole of the hull of the craft.

FA-ZAP!

Electrical bolts shot out and hit the four closest to the craft. Filzer is directly hit by a bolt and is nearly killed. Taking no chances, The Silver Flame cleric Flame Strikes the hull and everything within the ruin. The 8 blue colored and stiff tailed lizards are killed instantly (Shocker Lizard Swarm). As Filzer’s wounds are tended to Talina checks out the ship. Most of it has been destroyed from the blast. The creatures used it as a shelter.

241 looks to Jenner, “That must have hurt.”

“The electric or the spell?”

“Both I would think.”

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 265
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART III”

The group continues down the grassy area that runs along side the river. Lennington, Tarmac and Filzer review what the mission is. Talina takes time out from educating the others of the bird sounds they hear to answer their questions.

“We were sent here by Kim Elderich to search one of three possible areas the Creation Schema temple is located. It may have a forge built within it also.”

“A forge?” asks Lennington. “What does this forge look like?”

“I’m not sure…”, he lies as he has seen one in Cyre before the Day of Mourning occurred, “…I believe it is a tall tube with energy and magical mists that create or at least give life to War forged.”

Tarmac listens carefully. He also has seen one. It was dysfunctional but still the halfling is correct.

“Then what?” demands Lennington.

“We report.” Answers Filzer hoping they will not want to explore it.

“And the best way to report is to first explore it.” Follows up Jenner watching a butterfly with purple and blue markings. He falls behind to watch it for a moment.

241 stops to watch the strange halfling. The halfling is checking out a flower when suddenly a shimmering image of a creature appears. It attacks him, as do two others that attack 241 and Filzer whom have stopped to speak to the others about staying together.

The creature looks like a wrinkled bald bulldog with long protruding canine teeth and sharp-ridged claws. Everyone tries to surround the creatures that attack again. “How can we walk right by them and not notice them?” demands both Lennington and Talina in surprise and anger. Talina watches the creatures for a moment then answers “psionics.”

241 carves up one creature. “They are not native of Xen’drik.” He seems to just know.

Talina nearly kills one in sequence. Her twin rapiers spin and twirl and slice the monstrous beast.

Filzer and Tarmac attack the last one. Jenner tries his best to remove the creature’s drool from his hand. It literally drooled on him as he reached out.

The creatures are defeated and they remind each other of the dangers of Xen’drik.

“Let’s move on. We can’t be far from that temple Jenner saw and let’s hope it’s the one we are seeking.”

“Indeed.” Answers Lennington coldly.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 266
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART IV”

Further along the river’s edge the group begin to encounter a thick mist. It is only about two-foot deep but for Jenner and Talina this is a lot. Lennington becomes concerned about the quality of daylight also- more specifically- the lack of.

“What time do you think it is?” the Cleric of the Silver Flame asks Filzer Foe Tracker.

“It should be Dawn but the darkness is not lifting. Like this mist, it is unnatural.” Answers the Ranger.

“There are many ‘unnatural’ events that occur quite regularly within Xen’drik.” Quips the know-it-all gnome. “Including that.” The sharp-eyed gnome stops and points ahead. A large figure can be seen on the path overwhelmed in shadow. Its huge thick arms appear to be reached out to its side. Everyone stops in the mist and becomes quiet except for 241 and Jenner whom continue to talk about things they have seen thus far and why Warforged are at a disadvantage since they can not taste food. After a few motions to stop and be quiet there comes a sharp “ShHHHHHH!” from Talina.

They creep closer using the thick morning mist as cover and are very overwhelmed by the strong smell of death. Undead is all they think at first then Talina stands upright and almost laughs. Tarmac also.

“What is it? What is so funny?” demands the cleric.

“Now that we are close enough to better see what lies ahead look again.” Says the Gnome while she points ahead.

Looking closer, the group sees a giant that is rotting. Bones appear along the ribs and face. What were believed to be thick limbs are in fact two roped logs. This giant tripped a trap DESIGNED for giants. “Look alive, we have thinking foes ahead.”

“How much longer until we reach that temple?” asks Tarmac of Jenner.

“Soon.”

The ranger looks closer at the body then follows where the trees were cut to set the trap. “I figure this creature died within the last 3 days. Let’s be careful.” He looks through the tall grass leading to several large standing trees nearby. Two well-hidden tracks are seen. Medium sized humanoid wearing leather soled boots. Drow? “We need to be extra careful. This looks like ….”CRASH THUD THUD THUD THUMP!

The stealth minded ranger turns and sees the warforged warrior known as 2-4-1 retrieves his large rock. He then “bowls” it down the path again. “What by the Traveler are you doing!?!” admonishes the Gnome.

“Checking for traps. We can not be more careful.” And he rolls the rock again. THUMP THUD THUD

Everyone shrugs their shoulders and slowly follows the warforged as he retrieves his rolled rock.

The ranger looks at the spectacle and thinks to himself- If the mysterious drow were in the area still they would know anyway.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 267
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART V”

THUMP THUMP THUD! Bounces the large rock down the mist-covered trail. The little voice in 2-4-1’s mind is eager to look at the temple. Could it be the temple it searches for? “The mist is getting thicker!” Calls out Jenner. The mist now covers much of his head also.

“This temple we seek- did Elderich give any more details?” asks Lennington Storm.

“He spoke of a schema that can be assembled here and it becomes enhanced. I believe it also has something to do with a Creation Forge for the warforged.” Answers Tarmac. And this is what worries Tarmac and his Dark Lantern friends in Breland. Is Elderich looking to create Warforged? If so- why? Is he building an army for the Mror Hold dwarves?

“I thought House Cannith built the forges.” Questions Filzer whom has given up trying to be stealthy.

“Many think this and the House wants it to stay that way. In truth, the House has rediscovered many of their best known creations from this land. There are many implications.” Points out the gnome Trust agent whom now goes off a tangent of information involving past discoveries and revelations here. Most of the people block him out as they walk on. The thick fog is clearly getting thicker and the sun is NOT rising.

Another thirty minutes of tossing the rock down the path 241 begins to see a break in the trees ahead. “I think we are there!” he says loudly. His docent commands him to hurry now.

The fog, even in the open is pea soup thick. However it is not as high here in the open. There is a field 100 x150 feet wide. In the center sits a large giant sized temple. Rocks pop out of the mist in several locations surrounding the temple. “We are there!” says the warforged as he picks up his trap detecting rock.

“Wait up 2-4-1 We need to be careful here.” Calls out Tarmac. His quiet nature cover begins to lift and he begins to take command and act more confident. Talina is certain she knows him now. And to know someone in her line of business makes him either a remarkable person or a spy.

They continue on the path that leads to the temple. Then Filzer notes something about the fog. “241! Jenner! Wait!” He studies the fog once more. Talina looks at him.

“The mist is in motion. It flows out from the temple.”

“If I was taller I could have told you that.” Thinks out loud the Gnome

Tarmac looks at it. “You are right. And it seems to rise then spread out. Could there be a pit there?”

241 and Jenner continue to hurry ahead.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 268
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART VI”

“Look- Stone arches!” exclaims Jenner.

Rising through the blinding mist is two pillars that arch over the path. Strange runes or inscriptions are on these.

“When we say stop we mean stop!” says Filzer once he catches up with them.

“The path becomes stone now.” Replies 241 as he looks past the pillars.

“Not a path- a bridge. Look closer warrior.” Says Tarmac as he reaches them.

Talina doesn’t bother speaking to the warforged warrior. She is checking out the inscriptions.

241 looks and sees a shadowy edge of the pit. “oh”

“Is the bridge safe?” asks Jenner looking at the first ten feet of it.

THUMP THUD! The rock bounces across. A piece is heard breaking free.

“We really need to stop that 241.”

While Talina looks at the broken pieces of the one arch, Jenner and Filzer lower themselves into the mist. Jenner finds the pit is roughly 25ft deep. The bottom is thick with foggy mist as above. The ground here is dry with an occasional stone. “Strange” he says. He then begins to explore the edges even as the ranger reaches the bottom. He checks out the bottom for tracks or other important findings. He finds hints of well-hidden footprints. No trail but there was something or someone here at one point.

“Bow before…..” Talina tries to decipher the runes of the ancient giant language.

“Bow before the hidden moon and pay your respects” says 241 very quickly. Talina is annoyed. The warforged figured it out before she did.

Two members are below exploring and three others discuss what to do. Lennington becomes impatient and storms across the bridge.

Looking for new evidence or direction, Filzer looks for more prints even as Jenner looks at the mosses that grow here.

The others climb around the remaining pillars and arches in fear of a trap and hurry up to reach the Cleric of the Silver Flame. “Strange design.” Says the cleric as he looks at the stairs leading into the temple. Talina once more looks over the rumble. There are pieces with runes here also and she is determined to learn what it says. With 241’s help they can translate some of the message. It speaks of a hidden moon and darkness.

Deciding they will find nothing and the may become separated shortly from the main party, Jenner and Filzer climb up the rope and join the group at the base of the stairs.

Talina explains that the center stairs are sized for giants. The twin stairs on the sides are designed for elves.
241 goes to climb the elven stairs but the docent speaks out and freezes his body. “We are NOT slaves. We will climb the center stairs. The ones of my people and status.” It says coldly into the confused warforge’s mind.

With great difficulty he climbs the stairs. The others follow after exploring the edges of the temple. There is grassy land surrounding the temple that leads to another pit on the backside of the structure.

The climb the large scale stairs and enter the columned temple. Each breaks off to explore the room here.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 269
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART VII”

There are four sets of stairs that go up the outside of the temple. These are sized for elves. Inside the temple are several columns that hold up the upper layer and roof. Large stone doors are set about 5 feet off the ground on either wall to the sides. The two ends are both open. One has the bridge and stairs and the other has a large stone block with bamboo and wood next to it. Each member goes to search.

Lennington asks an important question. “This Creation Schema, where would it be and what would it be used for?”

Talina answers followed by Tarmac. “The Creation Schema is said to hold the secrets for creating the warforged race. House Cannith once held it but lost the parts during the war.”

“Specifically, this schema is used to operate or maintain a Creation Forge.” He now looks at the gnome. This gnome knows far too much about the schemas. Is he a member of the Trust?

“241- you seem to know much about the area, what can you tell us?” asks the cleric.

The warforged warrior is busy searching the doors and while gripping one to open it replies. “She doesn’t know much about the schemas.“ Everyone misses the wording.

The door opens and he finds old straw and dirt. There is a hole carved into the floor about 10 inches around. The space is 5ft by 10ft by 10ft. Not sure what to make of it he goes to the next door. Meanwhile Filzer and the Cleric have made it to the block. There is a bamboo ladder leading on the block. Looking around they see strange grooves in the stone work. The cleric is certain what this is and Filzer confirms it when he finds dried blood on it.

“Sacrificial block? I didn’t think the old giant race did that?” comments the ranger.

“What concerns me the most is the new additions. This block is still in use.”

Jenner comes over and climbs the ladder. She confirms the marks and areas to tie down a person of medium size. Looking out, she sees many of the stone pillars that rise just above the mists and looking down she sees a dark area. “I think I found a pit.”

“A feeding pit.” Adds Lennington. Suddenly there is commotion behind them. 241 has opened a door and several Dire Rats leap out. Short work is made of the creatures since they are more intent on escaping. This space is like the other but with a nest built in.

“Looks like the rats used the hole to come and go.” Says Jenner once she arrives.

Talina looks again at it and studies it for a moment. “Those are not doors. They are holding cells.”

“So far up?” questions Jenner.

“Who built this temple? Giants. Considering their size vs. ours, these are shelves with covers that could be locked.”

“…and the holes?”

“Air and waste disposal I would guess.”

“Ugh!” says Jenner whom was trying to climb up to look better.

“If you are done with the animals I think we need to reconsider the situation.”

“What is it Lennington?” asks Filzer

“I doubt this is the temple we are looking for. There is no Forge here. Just a waste pit for sacrificing living creatures.”

Elderich never gave any guarantees. He said this was one of three possible locations.” Adds Tarmac. “I still want to look around.”

“Be my guest. I will wait outside.” Answers the cleric.

“Shall we check out outside and climb the stairs? Maybe there is something there of interest.” Adds Talina as Jenner begins for the stairs.

 

[megamania]

THE CREATION SCHEMA
SEGMENT 270
09/09/06
“ALBANY GAMEDAY- Xen’drik PART VIII”

One of the four sets of stairs is damaged. Jenner carefully climbs over the cracked and crumbling section. The stairs meet on the upper most level at two points opposite of each other. The one end is open and over looks the pit Jenner found near the block. The other side has thirteen round holes of varying sizes. The sizes are 6 inches to 13 inches.

Finding various clues Talina guesses these holes somehow relate to the moons and wonder how they relate to this temple. They find 13 divots on the floor and guess that at certain times in history these divots somehow line up with the holes.

Looking further, they find a leather water pouch left behind by someone. On the outside is a carefully painted image of a white scorpion. Talina tells the group of the scorpion motif the Drow have. It is being suggested that drow have been here and used the pit and slaying block.

Finding nothing but Guano in other areas, Lennington decides it is time to go. He encourages the others to leave also. It will be a long way home. Most follow him except for Jenner and Tarmac whom are curious about the pit. “What if the pit holds the Forge?”

While the others cross the bridge, these two backtrack to the pit.

 

[Solarious]

13? Nah, it couldn't be!

And hasn't anyone learned that splitting up is a bad idea?

 

[megamania]

13? Nah, it couldn't be!

And hasn't anyone learned that splitting up is a bad idea?

If not, they are reminded of it shortly. To be fair, it was about 6:45 when this decision was made. The game block was to end at 7pm so some players got ansy and decided there was nothing to lose.... except for their characters.

Ask Bill aka Flurry about this rule also once I get to update the main groups activities. They had a rough encounter four weeks ago.