Traveon Wyvernspur
First Post
[MENTION=6698911]Advilaar[/MENTION] - Yeah, it's great! I'm sure others will agree. I've been enthralled by the write-up so far so it is appreciated.
The story of a campaign that went on 6 years and 3 editions!
- Thread starter Advilaar
- Start date
Violence, explosions, and screams were heard all night even to the top floors and thick walls of the Flame Tower as the party rested. The revolt was at hand and men and elf and dragons were dieing. The Druid and Wizard had to turn in to rest. But, the Rouge and Archer stayed up a bit to kill a lesser dragon who owned a elven steak imporium which, with the help of mobs, killed easily.
Unfortunately, many innocents died, too. Only certain people were privy to who the dragons were really knew. Some unethical folks used the mere accusation of a rival being a dragon as a means to be rid of that rival. Not until the person died, was it realized they were wrong. For something had happened in Metropolis when the hatchery went down. When a dragon died now, they resumed dragon form now!
The Cohort spent the night at the temple, his last vision being the tail of of large dragon and the acid splattered floor of the hatchery battle. His next vison being the light shining from the hands of acolytes of the Temple of Magic. It would be a sight he would become more and more familiar with.
The next day, there was a meeting with the Patron, the PCs, and the captians of the Flame Gaurd. Everybody was rested but still tired. The Captains reported that there was still widespread looting and rioting that would take time to quell. But, they added, the loyalist forces of the Taskmaster were on the run thanks to the Patron's Apprentice efforts in the Country Club district, the Flame Elite 4th division in the Stadium District, and of course the successful PC assault on the hatchery.
The Patron then began to speak, "I am no military expert, just a public servant. But I dare say this Taskmaster must not be allowed to live. However, time is short. I have, through a bit of research at the cost of my rest determined the approximate location of his lair far away from the city. It is believed he has gone there like the coward he is hiding from justice. As much as we are shorthanded, I do believe the Rouge, the Wizard, the Archer, the Druid, and the Cohort must go there."
For all this somewhat good news, a spectre loomed. What is going to happe when the Empire ruled by the Greens far away finds out?
Unfortunately, many innocents died, too. Only certain people were privy to who the dragons were really knew. Some unethical folks used the mere accusation of a rival being a dragon as a means to be rid of that rival. Not until the person died, was it realized they were wrong. For something had happened in Metropolis when the hatchery went down. When a dragon died now, they resumed dragon form now!
The Cohort spent the night at the temple, his last vision being the tail of of large dragon and the acid splattered floor of the hatchery battle. His next vison being the light shining from the hands of acolytes of the Temple of Magic. It would be a sight he would become more and more familiar with.
The next day, there was a meeting with the Patron, the PCs, and the captians of the Flame Gaurd. Everybody was rested but still tired. The Captains reported that there was still widespread looting and rioting that would take time to quell. But, they added, the loyalist forces of the Taskmaster were on the run thanks to the Patron's Apprentice efforts in the Country Club district, the Flame Elite 4th division in the Stadium District, and of course the successful PC assault on the hatchery.
The Patron then began to speak, "I am no military expert, just a public servant. But I dare say this Taskmaster must not be allowed to live. However, time is short. I have, through a bit of research at the cost of my rest determined the approximate location of his lair far away from the city. It is believed he has gone there like the coward he is hiding from justice. As much as we are shorthanded, I do believe the Rouge, the Wizard, the Archer, the Druid, and the Cohort must go there."
For all this somewhat good news, a spectre loomed. What is going to happe when the Empire ruled by the Greens far away finds out?
The Party was briefed on the area. The area was a heavily forested and hilly area in a valley with a huge lake. There was a small Empire village there called Starfall. Not much was known about the population of dragons there, so the PCs were warned to be on the lookout.
The Druid was happy. Finally, some time out of a city. He had not seen a tree since getting on the boat from a port in the Icy Reaches. The groved rows of the occasional park in Metroplis did not count. His wolf companion would be happy as well.
There was no time to go buy more equiptment, so the Patron unlocked the Tower armory to let the PCs pick through the now threadbare pickings.
Afterwards, the Patron bid them well then teleported them outside of Starfall.
The Wizard had been reading up on the place. Supposedly, during the Empire's war with the elves centuries ago, there was a mighty elven stronghold right where the lake was. However, an unexplained meteor from the sky hit the elven fortress distroying everything and leaving a massive crater wher the lake now is. Evidence of this catastrophic event could still be noted hundreds of years and erosion later due to rocks in odd places. But not knowing, you would just consider the geography a bit odd. The traces of the elves died with the centuries and regrowth of nature.
The Freed Elf Archer felt old, ancient senses coming back to him. Even though he had never been in the woods, either being in a slave pen or the Flame Tower barracks all his life, he felt at peace and at home. But the trees would call out. It was not noticeable, and almost indecernable. But, he thought he would hear the word "eathborn" in the rustle of the leaves. Then, again, it was just wind. He talked to the Druid about it, but the Druid said this was far away from where he was from and he had little expertise in that department, but would keep an eye out.
The Rogue just wanted a small taste of civilization before having to kill a dragon. The village up ahead would do. Plus, they needed to find an entrance. The locals may help, if there are no dragons.
The Druid was happy. Finally, some time out of a city. He had not seen a tree since getting on the boat from a port in the Icy Reaches. The groved rows of the occasional park in Metroplis did not count. His wolf companion would be happy as well.
There was no time to go buy more equiptment, so the Patron unlocked the Tower armory to let the PCs pick through the now threadbare pickings.
Afterwards, the Patron bid them well then teleported them outside of Starfall.
The Wizard had been reading up on the place. Supposedly, during the Empire's war with the elves centuries ago, there was a mighty elven stronghold right where the lake was. However, an unexplained meteor from the sky hit the elven fortress distroying everything and leaving a massive crater wher the lake now is. Evidence of this catastrophic event could still be noted hundreds of years and erosion later due to rocks in odd places. But not knowing, you would just consider the geography a bit odd. The traces of the elves died with the centuries and regrowth of nature.
The Freed Elf Archer felt old, ancient senses coming back to him. Even though he had never been in the woods, either being in a slave pen or the Flame Tower barracks all his life, he felt at peace and at home. But the trees would call out. It was not noticeable, and almost indecernable. But, he thought he would hear the word "eathborn" in the rustle of the leaves. Then, again, it was just wind. He talked to the Druid about it, but the Druid said this was far away from where he was from and he had little expertise in that department, but would keep an eye out.
The Rogue just wanted a small taste of civilization before having to kill a dragon. The village up ahead would do. Plus, they needed to find an entrance. The locals may help, if there are no dragons.
The Rogue was at home with people. It was not so much that he did not enjoy trees and rocks. This was a breathtaking area with beautiful views like the savannahs of his home city, but this time with mountains. It was the first time in his life seeing mountains. But unlike people and buildings, the trees and rocks did not give up thier secrets to him.
He began by identifying wher the center of this small village's culture may be. Now, in a major city, inns are for travelers only. If you do not have a room booked there, you are viewed with suspicion. But in small villages in the wilderness, the custom is different. The inn may be one of two places there where folks hang out. And, the other place you may get odd looks if, particularly, you are a foriegner like the Wizard, the Rogue, or the Druid. Worse if you are an elf!
When approached with these problems, the Druid smiled. "I may be out of the Icy Reaches, but I am still a druid. No need to go stirring up stuff in a village we know nothing about." With that, the Druid put his hands to the groud and felt the earth. At the end, he opened his eyes. The power of earth is stong here. But there is a cave system pretty large on the north face of that mountain one third way up.
"If I can see it, I can get us close there. I am not up to climbing. Let me see the spy glass.", the Wizard added.
The entrance could not be seen, but according to the druid's senses a certain place way up was close. A quick spell later, and they were there.
The wolf sniffed around the area and "spoke" in an animal languge only the Druid understood. The Archer also looked around. A human scent but no tracks!
The Druid could sense the lay of the land in the caverns. He said it opened up to a huge cavern then continued on until something blocked him.
This discussion quickly ended as Bears turned visible in the surrounding woods and approached the PCs!
He began by identifying wher the center of this small village's culture may be. Now, in a major city, inns are for travelers only. If you do not have a room booked there, you are viewed with suspicion. But in small villages in the wilderness, the custom is different. The inn may be one of two places there where folks hang out. And, the other place you may get odd looks if, particularly, you are a foriegner like the Wizard, the Rogue, or the Druid. Worse if you are an elf!
When approached with these problems, the Druid smiled. "I may be out of the Icy Reaches, but I am still a druid. No need to go stirring up stuff in a village we know nothing about." With that, the Druid put his hands to the groud and felt the earth. At the end, he opened his eyes. The power of earth is stong here. But there is a cave system pretty large on the north face of that mountain one third way up.
"If I can see it, I can get us close there. I am not up to climbing. Let me see the spy glass.", the Wizard added.
The entrance could not be seen, but according to the druid's senses a certain place way up was close. A quick spell later, and they were there.
The wolf sniffed around the area and "spoke" in an animal languge only the Druid understood. The Archer also looked around. A human scent but no tracks!
The Druid could sense the lay of the land in the caverns. He said it opened up to a huge cavern then continued on until something blocked him.
This discussion quickly ended as Bears turned visible in the surrounding woods and approached the PCs!
The Rogue saw through, "Those are not ordinary bears!"
"Of course not, Human." One of the bears shifted into human form of a pale man with an unkept beard and gray fur linings. 'For I am human as well. I ask, what brings you to this place?"
The Druid answered, "We seek the lair of a dragon called the Taskmaster"
The Pale Bearded Man shifted back into a bear. "Shhh... The one you speak of is a fly on a tree or raccoon dipping it's paws in the lake. We must speak of this in more private locations. Come."
They took the PCs to an underground forest. Strange the Druid did not detect it. They then listened to the Pale Bearded man's story. Of course, with secret "goggle checks" for dragons, which there were none.
The Taskmaster's lair was indeed deeper down but gaurded by strong gaudians in the form of statues. The group of bears was all that remained of a cabal of Druids. Every so often, usually about every 4 months or so, the Taskmaster would come to torment them. One day, the taskmaster killed a good number of them plus the leader. The undergroud grove was a legacy of the elves. Some would say that the trees here had the memory of the elven leaders. Even though the druid band was human, they could appreciate it's wisdom. The roots underground entangled and talked with the roots of the valley. The voices were stronger here for those who would listen. So, not even a murderous dragon would chase them from this sanctuary.
The Druid was touched by the story. He had never seen or talked to other druids before. him and his band would kill the dragon. And he would learn from this band as they would learn from him. However, the druid band was weaker than the party. They also were of a pacifist bent more willing to meditate for 'voices" while smoking a specially prepared and grown plant. They were no warriors like the PCs. Although, the Pale Bearded Man agreed to lead them to the entrance to the lair as far as any had travelled.
But before then, the Pale Bearded Man wished for the party to have the blessings of the grove, as weakened as thier numbers had become. Particularly the Freed elf Archer and the Druid.
Light in this cavern came from the flora and fauna here. Trees and grass out of place for a cavern floor. They walked until they came to a glowing pool with stones around it. there they directed everyone in a circle.
The Wizard wanted to head on. He did not care for mind altering substances. He had seen the Merchant Princes of his country use substances to control the underclasses and keep them subserviant and broke. to the Wizard, his mind and knowlege was the superior "vision" and opted out.
The rogue was making eyes at one of the female druids. Till she noticed and nonchalantly caressed the hand of a younger druid and her stomach. Taken, and with child.
The Cohort just looked at the Rogue. After knocking up a Gold Dragon Priestess then possibly being eaten, he would think his buddy would just stick to the brothels of Metropolis' harbor district. No complications, just pay and leave. Damn good time at that as he knew one very skilled he wanted to see after dieing twice this week. That is, if all the rioting and stuff had not chased the lady off.
But, the Druid and Freed Elf Archer were true believers and drinkers of the Kool Aide! A chance to for the first time in his life to commune and be in fellowship with other druids was something either would not pass up.
The meditation lead to no "overt" visions to the Druid, although the burning plant in the pipes did make the cares and concerns lighter. It was as he was being bathed of the stress and of a clear mind. The real "vision" was networking and knowledge and questions being answered and came from the other druids. It turned out he found out the system for the Archdruids. The current archdruid was a man named the Airborn from another part of the world.
"But.. that part of the world does not exist!", the Druid remarked.
"The Airborn came to his being through a device. He claims to be from beyond the end of the world. At the end of this year, there will be a competition to unseat him. Hell, if you are strong enough with nature to kill this dragon, you could stand a chance."
"Beyond the end of the world? What is that supposed to mean? From what i have heard, the world crashes into a great waterfall at the end of the world."
"I do not know. The leader knew a bit, but he died. Let's meditate more on trees and the mountain... After all, you are more powerful than we. This meditation is a respect to you.", the Pale Bearded Man replied as he closed his eyes.
The Freed Elf Archer, however, was an elf. The meditation rocked his world for a second to where the watching Wizard thought he would have to intervene because the Archer passed out! Fortunately, one of the druids reassured the Wizard that the Archer was on a vision quest and it was perfectly safe.
"EARTHBORN!" The whisper of the trees was a yell as the Archer found himself in a multi colored world. He looked down and found himself dressed in finery of an age and time never known. He was an archer up in a tree with pixies and fey bringing down smaller dragons and men. Men with robes on the backs of the dragons with gems that made elf and fey disappear. Then a rock fell from the sky! He was in chains then eaten then born then eaten again.
The wizard started getting really concerned. The archer was on the ground convulsing and crying. But at this point, two druids jumped up and said to let the vision quest take it's course and that for elves it tended to be more intense.
Then, as he was born the second time it was not from a woman but the ground as he saw an ancient overgrown tomb. And as he was to be eaten again, he saw himself as stone. Then shattered as the vision slowly became less multi colored. Then, he was back at the pool with everybody staring at him.
"Are you okay, bud?", the Rogue and wizard were worried.
"Let's go kill a dragon. For injustices to my people, he will know the Dragonblinder!", the Archer said as he picked up his gear and nodded at the Plale Bearded Man.
"Of course not, Human." One of the bears shifted into human form of a pale man with an unkept beard and gray fur linings. 'For I am human as well. I ask, what brings you to this place?"
The Druid answered, "We seek the lair of a dragon called the Taskmaster"
The Pale Bearded Man shifted back into a bear. "Shhh... The one you speak of is a fly on a tree or raccoon dipping it's paws in the lake. We must speak of this in more private locations. Come."
They took the PCs to an underground forest. Strange the Druid did not detect it. They then listened to the Pale Bearded man's story. Of course, with secret "goggle checks" for dragons, which there were none.
The Taskmaster's lair was indeed deeper down but gaurded by strong gaudians in the form of statues. The group of bears was all that remained of a cabal of Druids. Every so often, usually about every 4 months or so, the Taskmaster would come to torment them. One day, the taskmaster killed a good number of them plus the leader. The undergroud grove was a legacy of the elves. Some would say that the trees here had the memory of the elven leaders. Even though the druid band was human, they could appreciate it's wisdom. The roots underground entangled and talked with the roots of the valley. The voices were stronger here for those who would listen. So, not even a murderous dragon would chase them from this sanctuary.
The Druid was touched by the story. He had never seen or talked to other druids before. him and his band would kill the dragon. And he would learn from this band as they would learn from him. However, the druid band was weaker than the party. They also were of a pacifist bent more willing to meditate for 'voices" while smoking a specially prepared and grown plant. They were no warriors like the PCs. Although, the Pale Bearded Man agreed to lead them to the entrance to the lair as far as any had travelled.
But before then, the Pale Bearded Man wished for the party to have the blessings of the grove, as weakened as thier numbers had become. Particularly the Freed elf Archer and the Druid.
Light in this cavern came from the flora and fauna here. Trees and grass out of place for a cavern floor. They walked until they came to a glowing pool with stones around it. there they directed everyone in a circle.
The Wizard wanted to head on. He did not care for mind altering substances. He had seen the Merchant Princes of his country use substances to control the underclasses and keep them subserviant and broke. to the Wizard, his mind and knowlege was the superior "vision" and opted out.
The rogue was making eyes at one of the female druids. Till she noticed and nonchalantly caressed the hand of a younger druid and her stomach. Taken, and with child.
The Cohort just looked at the Rogue. After knocking up a Gold Dragon Priestess then possibly being eaten, he would think his buddy would just stick to the brothels of Metropolis' harbor district. No complications, just pay and leave. Damn good time at that as he knew one very skilled he wanted to see after dieing twice this week. That is, if all the rioting and stuff had not chased the lady off.
But, the Druid and Freed Elf Archer were true believers and drinkers of the Kool Aide! A chance to for the first time in his life to commune and be in fellowship with other druids was something either would not pass up.
The meditation lead to no "overt" visions to the Druid, although the burning plant in the pipes did make the cares and concerns lighter. It was as he was being bathed of the stress and of a clear mind. The real "vision" was networking and knowledge and questions being answered and came from the other druids. It turned out he found out the system for the Archdruids. The current archdruid was a man named the Airborn from another part of the world.
"But.. that part of the world does not exist!", the Druid remarked.
"The Airborn came to his being through a device. He claims to be from beyond the end of the world. At the end of this year, there will be a competition to unseat him. Hell, if you are strong enough with nature to kill this dragon, you could stand a chance."
"Beyond the end of the world? What is that supposed to mean? From what i have heard, the world crashes into a great waterfall at the end of the world."
"I do not know. The leader knew a bit, but he died. Let's meditate more on trees and the mountain... After all, you are more powerful than we. This meditation is a respect to you.", the Pale Bearded Man replied as he closed his eyes.
The Freed Elf Archer, however, was an elf. The meditation rocked his world for a second to where the watching Wizard thought he would have to intervene because the Archer passed out! Fortunately, one of the druids reassured the Wizard that the Archer was on a vision quest and it was perfectly safe.
"EARTHBORN!" The whisper of the trees was a yell as the Archer found himself in a multi colored world. He looked down and found himself dressed in finery of an age and time never known. He was an archer up in a tree with pixies and fey bringing down smaller dragons and men. Men with robes on the backs of the dragons with gems that made elf and fey disappear. Then a rock fell from the sky! He was in chains then eaten then born then eaten again.
The wizard started getting really concerned. The archer was on the ground convulsing and crying. But at this point, two druids jumped up and said to let the vision quest take it's course and that for elves it tended to be more intense.
Then, as he was born the second time it was not from a woman but the ground as he saw an ancient overgrown tomb. And as he was to be eaten again, he saw himself as stone. Then shattered as the vision slowly became less multi colored. Then, he was back at the pool with everybody staring at him.
"Are you okay, bud?", the Rogue and wizard were worried.
"Let's go kill a dragon. For injustices to my people, he will know the Dragonblinder!", the Archer said as he picked up his gear and nodded at the Plale Bearded Man.
The Wizard was really happy to get along moving. Hell, as long as this has taken, the Taskmaster might be healed up and back in Metroplis causing trouble. It was not that the Wizard doubted the power of spiritual things. Indeed, his family followed the Fire God. It is even how he met the Rogue in his youth. The Rogue's family were blacksmiths and he was just a minor wizardling learning fire magic. It was the uncontrolled nature of this. Often, he would watch the Rogue's father temper metal with fire. the fire was dangerous, but controlled. But as noted, visions do not have to be overt. Sometimes it is just observations.
The Rogue, however, was thinking the same thing though he did not share it. He was envisioning a day when there was no war. He would have a small house with a blacksmith. Maybe go abroad to the Dwarven Kingdoms and get really good. Oh, and of course killing all the dragons. All the dragons in the world. Even the metallics. He had a great weapon in mind. Oh, and a brothel full of hot chicks. Sometimes visions are ideas.
On the way to the entrance to the lair, they had a minor encounter or two with the local creatures that crawl these tunnels. These were dispatched easily enough. With the rogue's excellent vision enhanced by splells that allowed sight in the dark, few things would get a jump on them.
They came to what looked like a flat place in the cavern wall with but one single hole in it. The flat part stood out in that it was carved in the relief of a dragon sleeping under a falling comet.
The wizard nodded at the Rogue and said, " let me take a look at this." He then cast a spell. Hmm, no magic.
"You may have spells, Wizard, but let me look at it." the rogue quipped.
The panel had no hinges, just one tiny hole. They asked the Pale Bearded Man if they saw how the Taskmaster entered. He said no, but this is the only way he could go.
In the end, they figured it out. The Taskmaster used a spell to shrink himself to get through the small hole. Was not a big deal since he hardly ever used this entrance and was effective to keep all but a fairly strong wizard or powerful shapeshifter out. At least for the first part.
The wizard was not prepared for this. They would have to rememorize spells to shapeshift everyone.
Then the rogue volunteered. Since there was only a scoll of shape shift, the rogue would go through the hole and report the other side. After all, time is of the essense and there was a possibility of being scryed or watched.
So, made tiny, the rogue went through the hole and looked at the other side. He gathered all his tiny might and threw a pebble beyond, hitting a wall of force. With a squeak, he mentioned a wall of force but would use his tiny climbing gear to take a look at the other side of the door.
He rappelled down on his now threadlike rope and notice two huge levers. As he went to check those he noticed two more walls of force. He quickly went back up and squeaked, "Levers on the floor on the other side also covered with force walls."
Wizard grinned, "Knock scroll incomming.."
"Negative, Do not knock. I see the levers attached to some gem it will crush engaged in a way that if the wall of force is still up, it will crush. Do not know what it does, nor do i want to.", the Rogue pleaded.
"Oh screw it!" As the rogue came back out and grew back to full sized", the Wizard said. "I was hoping to save this for big, green, and nasty." as beams came from his hand and turned the flat part of the wall into dust. Then, another beam that destroyed the wall of force beyond.
"Could not make too much of a hole, we will have to crawl over. By the way, why do big bad asses even bother with doors nowadays?" Wizard said.
The archer shrugged.
The Rogue, however, was thinking the same thing though he did not share it. He was envisioning a day when there was no war. He would have a small house with a blacksmith. Maybe go abroad to the Dwarven Kingdoms and get really good. Oh, and of course killing all the dragons. All the dragons in the world. Even the metallics. He had a great weapon in mind. Oh, and a brothel full of hot chicks. Sometimes visions are ideas.
On the way to the entrance to the lair, they had a minor encounter or two with the local creatures that crawl these tunnels. These were dispatched easily enough. With the rogue's excellent vision enhanced by splells that allowed sight in the dark, few things would get a jump on them.
They came to what looked like a flat place in the cavern wall with but one single hole in it. The flat part stood out in that it was carved in the relief of a dragon sleeping under a falling comet.
The wizard nodded at the Rogue and said, " let me take a look at this." He then cast a spell. Hmm, no magic.
"You may have spells, Wizard, but let me look at it." the rogue quipped.
The panel had no hinges, just one tiny hole. They asked the Pale Bearded Man if they saw how the Taskmaster entered. He said no, but this is the only way he could go.
In the end, they figured it out. The Taskmaster used a spell to shrink himself to get through the small hole. Was not a big deal since he hardly ever used this entrance and was effective to keep all but a fairly strong wizard or powerful shapeshifter out. At least for the first part.
The wizard was not prepared for this. They would have to rememorize spells to shapeshift everyone.
Then the rogue volunteered. Since there was only a scoll of shape shift, the rogue would go through the hole and report the other side. After all, time is of the essense and there was a possibility of being scryed or watched.
So, made tiny, the rogue went through the hole and looked at the other side. He gathered all his tiny might and threw a pebble beyond, hitting a wall of force. With a squeak, he mentioned a wall of force but would use his tiny climbing gear to take a look at the other side of the door.
He rappelled down on his now threadlike rope and notice two huge levers. As he went to check those he noticed two more walls of force. He quickly went back up and squeaked, "Levers on the floor on the other side also covered with force walls."
Wizard grinned, "Knock scroll incomming.."
"Negative, Do not knock. I see the levers attached to some gem it will crush engaged in a way that if the wall of force is still up, it will crush. Do not know what it does, nor do i want to.", the Rogue pleaded.
"Oh screw it!" As the rogue came back out and grew back to full sized", the Wizard said. "I was hoping to save this for big, green, and nasty." as beams came from his hand and turned the flat part of the wall into dust. Then, another beam that destroyed the wall of force beyond.
"Could not make too much of a hole, we will have to crawl over. By the way, why do big bad asses even bother with doors nowadays?" Wizard said.
The archer shrugged.
The room beyond was a great hallway with 90 foot tall statues. Very, vey tall cielings that must have extended up 100 feet. Of course, the Pale Bearded Man warned them that there were rumors of statues that moved and attacked.
"Wait", the Wizard said. He uttered a few words and the entire floor was covered in grease. Then, with another combination of ancient words, the party was flying.
"Over the grease! To the set of double doors!
It is amazing how such a simple spell can get a party out of something that could have been nasty. The huge statues started to move then fell down. Over and over. Sometimes one would get up only to fall again. If no one knew they were there before, they would now. The thuds of the statues falling repeatedly echoed through the halls.
The double doors were locked. But, a knock scroll solved that as the party moved forward. The doors were massive and it took everyone to push it open. After all, they were designed for dragon and not for men. They made sure to lock the doors behind them and the Wizard made double sure with a Hold Portal. "The grease will only last for so long." As the constant falling and slipping could still be heard behond the massive double doors.
What they found next was a series of huge rooms designed for a large creature like an older dragon. They were expecting old green and ugly to come out and grab them behind every door. One door was particularly frightful as a cold burst of air revealed a frozen mass of elven corpses, faces frozen in horror. There was a library whose books were covered in dust. Touching some of the books would cause them to crumble.
"Guess this Dragon is not much of a reader...", the Wizard noted.
After going through the circle of rooms, it was quite obvious no one was home. The Archer did note that there was evidence a dragon was in here, though. Looking around he saw dragon blood in a trail going from one wall in one room to another wall in another room.
"Yeah, you put the hurt on his stomach, Druid. This is not only blood but Green Dragon stomach acid. But, it is a day old.", the Archer kind of chuckled. the thought of the pain caused to the Taskmaster brought him pleasure.
"Wait a second, the trail leads to not two walls in different rooms but three!", the Archer noted.
Three walls. The first one after dealing with various inconvenient traps revealed a portal. The second one revealed something that made thier jaws drop. It was a large room filled deep with more gold than the treasury of a large prosperous city with magic items glinting there in. But, this room also had a gaurdian. A golem covered in green armor and strange markings. The PCs would find out this was no ordinary golem!
"Otto demands you leave or be terminated. Otto serves the Emporer and the Taskmaster! If you step closer Otto will have no choice but to crush you!", the golem demanded.
A fight ensued, but the standard tricks that the PCs had used in previous fights with golem type creatures were no good. Otto levitated. His gauntlets would launch out and track the PCs. Occasionally, his helmet would light up columns of fire would surround him. Otto was a cuning opponent and a worthy hoard gaurdian. However, as Otto was mopping the hoard room floor with the PCs, the rouge between getting slammed to the floor repeatedly noticed a tiny dor on it's back neck. With some manuevering and of course, the Cohort dieing yet again, the Rogue managed to jump on it's back and pick the lock. With that exposed and a quick push of a switch, Otto fell limp.
The next few hours, the party was acertaining the sitution and looking over all the strewn items. The Cohort was laid out to be taken back to the Temple of Magic, once again. The Wizard had scrolls of Identify, but not nearly enough to identify everything. And, of course nothing powerful enough in case something was cursed.
The amount of cash might have taken weeks to determine if it was not for the Wizard. As a mathmetician, he calculated square feet and multiplied by depth of the pile. Over 3 million gold. Of course getting this out would mean many trips and no telling if the Taskmaster would return. They did find several bags of holding, some the sie of small rooms.
However, the rogue after looking at and deciphering the panel on the back of Otto realized that Otto could be given commands. So, they put the gren golen to work pushing massive amounts of gold coins into each bag.
The Indentify scrolls were used only on what was detected to be the most powerful items. The archer ended up with a nice quiver with 50 types of each bane arrow 5th circle. The Wizard ended up with a nice ring that let him recall spells. The Druid got some really nice bracers. The best catch was for the rogue. It was a longsword that was vorpal of 5th circle.
There were many other items, too. But really no time to sort. that would take more time than the party had.
While all that was going on, they got through to the third wall and found not one but 5 portals. One with the trail going right through it.
"Wonder where all these portals go to?", the Wizard said with a puzzled look
.
"Only one way to find out. Lets see where our dragon crawled to.", the rogue smiled.
"Wait", the Wizard said. He uttered a few words and the entire floor was covered in grease. Then, with another combination of ancient words, the party was flying.
"Over the grease! To the set of double doors!
It is amazing how such a simple spell can get a party out of something that could have been nasty. The huge statues started to move then fell down. Over and over. Sometimes one would get up only to fall again. If no one knew they were there before, they would now. The thuds of the statues falling repeatedly echoed through the halls.
The double doors were locked. But, a knock scroll solved that as the party moved forward. The doors were massive and it took everyone to push it open. After all, they were designed for dragon and not for men. They made sure to lock the doors behind them and the Wizard made double sure with a Hold Portal. "The grease will only last for so long." As the constant falling and slipping could still be heard behond the massive double doors.
What they found next was a series of huge rooms designed for a large creature like an older dragon. They were expecting old green and ugly to come out and grab them behind every door. One door was particularly frightful as a cold burst of air revealed a frozen mass of elven corpses, faces frozen in horror. There was a library whose books were covered in dust. Touching some of the books would cause them to crumble.
"Guess this Dragon is not much of a reader...", the Wizard noted.
After going through the circle of rooms, it was quite obvious no one was home. The Archer did note that there was evidence a dragon was in here, though. Looking around he saw dragon blood in a trail going from one wall in one room to another wall in another room.
"Yeah, you put the hurt on his stomach, Druid. This is not only blood but Green Dragon stomach acid. But, it is a day old.", the Archer kind of chuckled. the thought of the pain caused to the Taskmaster brought him pleasure.
"Wait a second, the trail leads to not two walls in different rooms but three!", the Archer noted.
Three walls. The first one after dealing with various inconvenient traps revealed a portal. The second one revealed something that made thier jaws drop. It was a large room filled deep with more gold than the treasury of a large prosperous city with magic items glinting there in. But, this room also had a gaurdian. A golem covered in green armor and strange markings. The PCs would find out this was no ordinary golem!
"Otto demands you leave or be terminated. Otto serves the Emporer and the Taskmaster! If you step closer Otto will have no choice but to crush you!", the golem demanded.
A fight ensued, but the standard tricks that the PCs had used in previous fights with golem type creatures were no good. Otto levitated. His gauntlets would launch out and track the PCs. Occasionally, his helmet would light up columns of fire would surround him. Otto was a cuning opponent and a worthy hoard gaurdian. However, as Otto was mopping the hoard room floor with the PCs, the rouge between getting slammed to the floor repeatedly noticed a tiny dor on it's back neck. With some manuevering and of course, the Cohort dieing yet again, the Rogue managed to jump on it's back and pick the lock. With that exposed and a quick push of a switch, Otto fell limp.
The next few hours, the party was acertaining the sitution and looking over all the strewn items. The Cohort was laid out to be taken back to the Temple of Magic, once again. The Wizard had scrolls of Identify, but not nearly enough to identify everything. And, of course nothing powerful enough in case something was cursed.
The amount of cash might have taken weeks to determine if it was not for the Wizard. As a mathmetician, he calculated square feet and multiplied by depth of the pile. Over 3 million gold. Of course getting this out would mean many trips and no telling if the Taskmaster would return. They did find several bags of holding, some the sie of small rooms.
However, the rogue after looking at and deciphering the panel on the back of Otto realized that Otto could be given commands. So, they put the gren golen to work pushing massive amounts of gold coins into each bag.
The Indentify scrolls were used only on what was detected to be the most powerful items. The archer ended up with a nice quiver with 50 types of each bane arrow 5th circle. The Wizard ended up with a nice ring that let him recall spells. The Druid got some really nice bracers. The best catch was for the rogue. It was a longsword that was vorpal of 5th circle.
There were many other items, too. But really no time to sort. that would take more time than the party had.
While all that was going on, they got through to the third wall and found not one but 5 portals. One with the trail going right through it.
"Wonder where all these portals go to?", the Wizard said with a puzzled look
.
"Only one way to find out. Lets see where our dragon crawled to.", the rogue smiled.
A little note before I get too much hate. I can hear some on this board grumbling. In fact I hear three words in particular:
MONTY HAUL CAMPAIGN
Those three words are sometimes used in disdain and spite along with the other cuss words
POWER GAMER
MUNCHKIN
In fact, let me talk about the word POWER GAMER in particular and a little story from running into other DMs. I once, believe it or not, got refused to be allowed to play in some girl's game because I admitted to running a very high level campaign. She said PCs should not be that powerful in any tabletop. In fact, she refused to DM for anyone who "POWER GAMED". However, it was OKAY when she was running a larp, she said. So, let me get this straight. No letting the PCs do cool epic stuff, but if you are the coolest chick in 1990s/2000s era LARPs and are part of the cool crowd in Camerilla you CAN because no one else can?
I find with "weak PC" advocates a form of selfishness many times, but not always. Maybe the campaign affected me. But after years of running this, it made me very critical of overly controlling DMs.
Now, I will say the other extreme is not cool. You do need some form of controls such as rules. But I like RPGs for the fact that anything can happen with imagination. And stories can be good if you are Conan the boy or Conan the King. Even the old myths of gods and demigods were highly read when they were out. Folks worshipped those stories.
Which brings me to the next Harsh lesson of a DM: Power is okay, but be prepared to deal with it and not freak out when things get easier for the PCs.
3M gold and a ton of great items? No problem
The PCs loved it!
MONTY HAUL CAMPAIGN
Those three words are sometimes used in disdain and spite along with the other cuss words
POWER GAMER
MUNCHKIN
In fact, let me talk about the word POWER GAMER in particular and a little story from running into other DMs. I once, believe it or not, got refused to be allowed to play in some girl's game because I admitted to running a very high level campaign. She said PCs should not be that powerful in any tabletop. In fact, she refused to DM for anyone who "POWER GAMED". However, it was OKAY when she was running a larp, she said. So, let me get this straight. No letting the PCs do cool epic stuff, but if you are the coolest chick in 1990s/2000s era LARPs and are part of the cool crowd in Camerilla you CAN because no one else can?
I find with "weak PC" advocates a form of selfishness many times, but not always. Maybe the campaign affected me. But after years of running this, it made me very critical of overly controlling DMs.
Now, I will say the other extreme is not cool. You do need some form of controls such as rules. But I like RPGs for the fact that anything can happen with imagination. And stories can be good if you are Conan the boy or Conan the King. Even the old myths of gods and demigods were highly read when they were out. Folks worshipped those stories.
Which brings me to the next Harsh lesson of a DM: Power is okay, but be prepared to deal with it and not freak out when things get easier for the PCs.
3M gold and a ton of great items? No problem
The PCs loved it!...but would I? Later I would find it harder to challenge them without personally tweaking NPCs and Monsters more than I had before. The power arms race had begun. Slow now, but as the final years would roll on it would get insane. Harsh lesson indeed.
But anyways, a DM tends to rant.
The Rogue sprinkled one of the 10 vails of dust he found (no, I would never automatically put a curse on that even though it was meta gaming. I had the list of what was in the hoard) on himself.
"Wait here and let me see where this leads." the Rouge said.
"Wait!" said the Wizard. This portal needs a key to get back. Looking at the magic with read magic, it is a shared portal.
"What do you mean by that?" the Druid asked.
"It means this portal on this end only goes there. But the destination portal is shared. You need to remember the images to come back to this place. There are other portals other places that lead to where this one goes.", the Wizard noted.
Since the Wizard was the only one who could see the images, therefore get them back from the other side, he would go with the rogue. When safe, they would call for the rest.
So, both using dust of disappearence, they went through the gate.
They appeared in a long large hallway hundreds of feet across and three times as tall. Painted murals were all over the walls depicting dragons of every color eating, breathing, and destroying various horrified beings. At the far end was closed huge double doors simular to the ones that required all the party members to move in the lair. Depicted in the most glorius yet vile manner was that of a 5 headed dragon.
"Talk in your mind, Rogue. That is Tiamat. I am no theologean, but I was told it was a dead god.", the Wizard said looking very worried.
"So, they grow them 5 headed now? Great.", the Rouge quipped in his mind.
"No. Probably not. I think Tiamat is more of a symbol.", the Wizard noted.
"Behind us! Against the wall!", the Rogue yelled in his mind.
The portal activated and 5 mature adult green dragons stepped through. These dragons wore bracers specially made that glowed a purple-white. they spoke in Draconic as they strode through. Thier mass slightly shaking the ground.
The talk in draconic, the Wizard and rogue could kind of understand. They had picked up books in the Flame gaurd library. But hearing it versus mere lists of pronounciations and meanings are two different stories. Something about another dragon's hoard and being envious followed by slaying this dragon followed by "true envy having patience". then laughing.
One of the dragons stopped. Something about smelling human. Then started sniffing. Then another mentioning it is probably something he ate.
The dragons continued to sander toward the double doors as both the Wizard and the Rogue's heats where about to beat through thier chests!
The double doors were opened revealing around 20 dragons no younger than adult with the oldest and tallest holding a huge sceptor that must have been 20 feet long. The 5 did not close the double doors and took thier place in a circle.
"Oh this is great!" the Rouge thought in his mind
The largest of the 25 with the sceptor stopped.
"WHO BROUGHT HUMANS INTO THIS UNHOLY OF UNHOLY SANCTUMS!!! HIDING IN THE HALL!! THE INTERLOPERS IN THE HALL SHALL SEE THIER LAST DAYS!"
"Crap!", the Wizard was scared. "Through the portal now. I have the images in my head to go back!"
They ran through the portal as 6 or 7 came down the extremely wide hallway towards them. Two started casting spells, but the PCs did not hang around to find out what.
They were back in the five portal room of the lair with the Druid and the Archer waiting.
"Quick, we must destroy this portal! NOW!!", the Wizard yelled.
"How?" the Archer asked.
"The stones... the stones around this portal must be smashed..." the wizard said frantically!
"None of us have hammers...', the Archer noticed.
"Then use anything.. only one stone smashed will close it! Quickly before they read the image that will bring them here!!!"
"Who are THEM?", the Druid was puzled.
The wizard launched an acid bolt at one of the stones and was preparing to cast more. "DO IT!!"
With whatever they could find they started banging and battering on one of the stones until one cracked.
"REMOVE IT!"
The head of a large old green dragon, a bit bigger than the Taskmaster came through with claws then an arm with a purplish glowing bracer.
"NOW! There are MORE like that coming!" the wizard was frantic!
The pieces of stone where thrown out of the way.
The portal closed and the Dragon screamed the most horrible bloodculing gurgling warble ever heard. Acid blood splashed from where the portal was and one full arm leg and a head as big as a man fell with a sickening thud.
But anyways, a DM tends to rant.
The Rogue sprinkled one of the 10 vails of dust he found (no, I would never automatically put a curse on that even though it was meta gaming. I had the list of what was in the hoard) on himself.
"Wait here and let me see where this leads." the Rouge said.
"Wait!" said the Wizard. This portal needs a key to get back. Looking at the magic with read magic, it is a shared portal.
"What do you mean by that?" the Druid asked.
"It means this portal on this end only goes there. But the destination portal is shared. You need to remember the images to come back to this place. There are other portals other places that lead to where this one goes.", the Wizard noted.
Since the Wizard was the only one who could see the images, therefore get them back from the other side, he would go with the rogue. When safe, they would call for the rest.
So, both using dust of disappearence, they went through the gate.
They appeared in a long large hallway hundreds of feet across and three times as tall. Painted murals were all over the walls depicting dragons of every color eating, breathing, and destroying various horrified beings. At the far end was closed huge double doors simular to the ones that required all the party members to move in the lair. Depicted in the most glorius yet vile manner was that of a 5 headed dragon.
"Talk in your mind, Rogue. That is Tiamat. I am no theologean, but I was told it was a dead god.", the Wizard said looking very worried.
"So, they grow them 5 headed now? Great.", the Rouge quipped in his mind.
"No. Probably not. I think Tiamat is more of a symbol.", the Wizard noted.
"Behind us! Against the wall!", the Rogue yelled in his mind.
The portal activated and 5 mature adult green dragons stepped through. These dragons wore bracers specially made that glowed a purple-white. they spoke in Draconic as they strode through. Thier mass slightly shaking the ground.
The talk in draconic, the Wizard and rogue could kind of understand. They had picked up books in the Flame gaurd library. But hearing it versus mere lists of pronounciations and meanings are two different stories. Something about another dragon's hoard and being envious followed by slaying this dragon followed by "true envy having patience". then laughing.
One of the dragons stopped. Something about smelling human. Then started sniffing. Then another mentioning it is probably something he ate.
The dragons continued to sander toward the double doors as both the Wizard and the Rogue's heats where about to beat through thier chests!
The double doors were opened revealing around 20 dragons no younger than adult with the oldest and tallest holding a huge sceptor that must have been 20 feet long. The 5 did not close the double doors and took thier place in a circle.
"Oh this is great!" the Rouge thought in his mind
The largest of the 25 with the sceptor stopped.
"WHO BROUGHT HUMANS INTO THIS UNHOLY OF UNHOLY SANCTUMS!!! HIDING IN THE HALL!! THE INTERLOPERS IN THE HALL SHALL SEE THIER LAST DAYS!"
"Crap!", the Wizard was scared. "Through the portal now. I have the images in my head to go back!"
They ran through the portal as 6 or 7 came down the extremely wide hallway towards them. Two started casting spells, but the PCs did not hang around to find out what.
They were back in the five portal room of the lair with the Druid and the Archer waiting.
"Quick, we must destroy this portal! NOW!!", the Wizard yelled.
"How?" the Archer asked.
"The stones... the stones around this portal must be smashed..." the wizard said frantically!
"None of us have hammers...', the Archer noticed.
"Then use anything.. only one stone smashed will close it! Quickly before they read the image that will bring them here!!!"
"Who are THEM?", the Druid was puzled.
The wizard launched an acid bolt at one of the stones and was preparing to cast more. "DO IT!!"
With whatever they could find they started banging and battering on one of the stones until one cracked.
"REMOVE IT!"
The head of a large old green dragon, a bit bigger than the Taskmaster came through with claws then an arm with a purplish glowing bracer.
"NOW! There are MORE like that coming!" the wizard was frantic!
The pieces of stone where thrown out of the way.
The portal closed and the Dragon screamed the most horrible bloodculing gurgling warble ever heard. Acid blood splashed from where the portal was and one full arm leg and a head as big as a man fell with a sickening thud.
The Wizard collapsed leaning against one of the marble walls and sat breathing heavily.
The Taskmaster had escaped. He went into a Temple of Tiamat located who knows where on the planet. At first the PCs were dismayed over the unfairness of the situation until the rogue looked at the Cohort's corpse and observed that they have a priest to run to, the Taskmaster apparently does as well.
It also meant that this would be far from over.
There were 4 other portals in this room. But, the PCs appetite for stepping through random portals had been more than sated. The only other portal they cared about was the lone portal in another room from wence the Taskmaster came from to arrive at the lair.
That portal ended up back at the now abandoned stadium in an office. With riots still going on, the stadium smelled like bodies as it had been a few days since the revolt started and no one had picked up the decaying dead.
So, it appeared after the hatchery battle, the taskmaster teleported mortally wounded to this hidden office in the stadium. From there, took a gate back to the lair and then another gate to a Temple of Tiamat who knows where. It made sense to the PCs since the lair also restricted teleportation by dragons, the only way into the lair was that way or through the druid's grove. If really hurt, the portal would have been faster.
What to tell the Patron? The truth. Of course, nothing about the hoard. The PCs felt they earned it and would be back to collect the rest.
A scroll was unfurled and the familiar halls of the Flame Tower came into vision. The Cohort was placed on the ground and another scroll used to teleport the corse to the Temple of Magic. The rogue let out a sigh, feeling sorry for his friend.
They would rest well, with the exception of the Archer who had visions of the Earthborn.
The Taskmaster had escaped. He went into a Temple of Tiamat located who knows where on the planet. At first the PCs were dismayed over the unfairness of the situation until the rogue looked at the Cohort's corpse and observed that they have a priest to run to, the Taskmaster apparently does as well.
It also meant that this would be far from over.
There were 4 other portals in this room. But, the PCs appetite for stepping through random portals had been more than sated. The only other portal they cared about was the lone portal in another room from wence the Taskmaster came from to arrive at the lair.
That portal ended up back at the now abandoned stadium in an office. With riots still going on, the stadium smelled like bodies as it had been a few days since the revolt started and no one had picked up the decaying dead.
So, it appeared after the hatchery battle, the taskmaster teleported mortally wounded to this hidden office in the stadium. From there, took a gate back to the lair and then another gate to a Temple of Tiamat who knows where. It made sense to the PCs since the lair also restricted teleportation by dragons, the only way into the lair was that way or through the druid's grove. If really hurt, the portal would have been faster.
What to tell the Patron? The truth. Of course, nothing about the hoard. The PCs felt they earned it and would be back to collect the rest.
A scroll was unfurled and the familiar halls of the Flame Tower came into vision. The Cohort was placed on the ground and another scroll used to teleport the corse to the Temple of Magic. The rogue let out a sigh, feeling sorry for his friend.
They would rest well, with the exception of the Archer who had visions of the Earthborn.
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