A free-thinker’s take on Pornollution by Tal Prince – A Campus Crusade for Christ’s (CRU) event
This is from memory and a few hastily jotted notes about an event a few weeks ago. Always read critically!
A few people on the Facebook linked to this event that the CRU was putting on. It was billed as “an experience that will trace the effects of hard-core pornography from its legalization in 1968 until today. Sex addiction will be discussed openly and honestly. Feel free to invite your friends to this event packed full of must know information and practical application.”
Being ever so slightly acquainted with pornography and having more than a passing interest in how the ‘other side’ thinks, I figured this was an event I wanted to attend. This was my first CRU event, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
I arrived a bit early as I’m prone to do. I entered the lobby area outside the lecture hall where the “open honest discussion” was to be. I was taken slightly aback by the assembled folks milling about listening to what I can only assume was ‘Christian Rock’. There were at least 60 folks awaiting entrance to the lecture hall. This attendance was well beyond my expectations. My experiences with student groups is minimal, but that many ‘Christians’ there to attend an event on ‘pornography and sex addiction’ was unanticipated. It was also a snowy Thursday evening, so I guess I assumed attendance would be light.
I saw a fellow BFS member and we began chatting about the strangeness of the environment we found ourselves in. We didn’t wait long as the lecture hall was opened soon after. There was music playing as we entered the hall. Blaring music. So loud it was difficult to think and nearly impossible to have a conversation. I can’t say this was intentional, but it did impede my ability to think prior to the ‘discussion’. I use quotes as this turned out to be a lecture with no audience participation.
The event began in earnest when the MC for the evening (a student). He welcomed all and sundry and gave a short spiel. He requested the ‘first timers’ raise their hands (I did), he then called for a greeting hug. Nearly the entire room some 60+ people began hugging… it was like the Peace handshake in a Catholic service. I remained seated. I noted how this was probably the first college event where hugging was called for. The MC spoke of some CRU business and introduced Tal Prince.
Mr. Prince is a recovered/recovering porn addict. He’s all better now thanks to Jesus. I don’t recall the full 90-ish minute talk, but I will recount some memorable highlights.
He used music (specifically the Billboard charts) as a measure of the ‘sexualization’ of pop culture. One of the first songs “All Shook Up” performed by Elvis Presley. It was number one on the Billboard charts in 1957. He used this as an example of a pure wholesome song from a pure wholesome time. Either Mr. Prince didn’t know or chose to neglect the fact that in that era, Elvis was “unfit for family viewing” said Ed Sullivan. And that a church sent a letter to J. Edgar Hoover warning “Presley is a definite danger to the security of the United States. ... [His] actions and motions were such as to rouse the sexual passions of teenaged youth.”
So his opening salvo in the ‘The world used to be a better place before porn was legal’ fell short in my opinion. Now the 19 year olds in the audience probably have no idea about the history of Elvis. To me it showed either ignorance or deceitfulness. Mr. Price said he was in his 40s, so ignorance is possible but even a quick scan of Wikipedia would turn up the above. I’m 33 and I knew of Elvis’ checkered past without checking the wiki. Other songs used were specifically selected to promote his view. Songs were selected for their sexual lyrics. A few that didn’t make the cut: “Another Brick in the Wall” and “Walk like an Egyptian”. Not sexual on any level, so they didn’t make it in.
The downfall of western civilization can be pinpointed. It happened in 1969. That is the year that Switzerland and the Netherlands made hardcore pornography legal. At least that’s what Mr. Prince really tried to insinuate. What he completely neglected to mention was everything else that was happening in the 60s. The birth control pill, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the social/feminist/sexual revolution that began in the late 60s and continued on into the 70s. Not a peep on them. Just the Netherlands and their legal pornography. This couldn’t possibly be ignorance. This was manipulating the truth, in my opinion. Now the 19-22 year olds that made up the majority of the audience may not have known this, but Mr. Prince must have.
Let see… other memorable moments…
Addiction is a WORSHIP problem. Really? I think the current psychological thinking is it’s a COPING problem. Using god as a coping mechanism is ok with me, provided it doesn’t become a new addiction. Then again using friends, family and therapy as a coping mechanism seem to be much better in my humble opinion.
“Sex is not a need.” “Jesus never ejaculated.” – Tal Prince
Yes, those are direct quotes. As for sex not being a need, again modern psychology would disagree. It may not be on the food/oxygen level but to be a healthy well adjusted adult, sex is a need. As much derision I sometimes cast on the soft sciences, they at least use the scientific method. On to holy semen… Jesus never ejaculated… really? A bold and silly position. Not one nocturnal emission in the awkward teenaged years? 30+ undocumented years of Jesus doing god knows what behind the proverbial tool shed? No mention in any version of bible either way… not much to stand on. Why even mention it?
Oh, he really went after the evolving use of euphemisms. He said something to the effect of: “If I was in public, and I asked you when the last time you had been intimate with someone, wouldn’t you be upset?” He went on to explain that intimate used to mean close or friendly, but now it means just one thing. It didn’t really make sense to me. Language evolves… intercourse used to mean a conversation, now it generally means sex. We are an inventive bunch, we love to use euphemisms. See Chaucer’s use of quaint in the Canterbury Tales which dates back to about 1483. Yep, legal porn is so bad it bends space/time.
The most memorable thing overall was Mr. Prince’s style. His honesty about addiction, behavior as an addict, the behavior of his wife as a codependent, and his humor really worked. He seemed genuine; he really knew what it was to be an addict. He described in detail the lying, hiding, denial, blame games, and narcissism that I’ve seen in addicts. He engaged his audience, he got them on his side. I can honestly say that if he left out all the religious cruft and blaming porn for the fall of civilization I would like this guy. I think his message, minus religion, could really help people struggling with addiction of any sort and especially those who share his addiction to porn/sex.
As a wrap up, he answered some selected questions sent by email (this event was moved due to weather). Again there was no really interaction with the crowd. When he was done they started a musical number. Too loud (yes I know I’m too old) and with lyrics about bathing in blood or some such. I left to the lobby to chat with the BFS folks and bide my time to talk to Tal after the music. The music lasted a good long time, but I persevered.
I didn't speak to the man himself, I was quickly passed off to his minions (the other two guys there from his church).
I began by saying I thought his use of humor, honesty and modern cultural references really did help him connect to the audience. I went on to say that his points on addiction itself, the behaviors of an addict, and the issues of codependency were spot on. They were smiles and nods at this point.
I then began to correct a few things about the lecture… The biggest one being addiction is a COPING problem NOT a worship problem. (Smiles begin to fade.) Legal or not porn has little if anything to do with people who are addicts, they find something that helps them cope and they go with that. Alcohol, illicit drugs, porn, sex, religion, etc… (Serious faces now) I agreed that addiction to anything is bad and that their message could be helpful to so many more people if they left out the Christ/Religion bits. (Frowns, and shaking heads).
One of the guys said something along the lines of "When I disagree and get upset with something, it usually because deep down I KNOW it's right and I just don't want to admit it." I stared him directly in the eyes and said "Really? You're going to try reverse psychology on me? Seriously?" (Big time frowns) That shut him down and the other guy jumped in and tried to clarify/address my reasons for being there… was I an addict? I answered in the affirmative; I'm addicted to eating, breathing and applying logic to every situation. He didn’t think that was funny. I went on to enumerate the other issues with the presentation…
• Jesus never ejaculated… really? A bold and silly position. No nocturnal emissions? 30 or so undocumented years? No mention in the magic book either way… not much to stand on
• Sex isn't a 'need'. Really? I believe the psychologist would differ.
• 'Walk Like an Egyptian' was number 1 song in 1987
• Porn becoming legal in 1969 was small potatoes compared to everything else going on. Namely Vietnam, The Pill, Social/Feminist revolution in the US, etc…
• In every media since the beginning of time, there has been porn. From cave paintings to sexting.
• A few more I can't recall but basically silly, useless, pointless, or religious stuff
It ended with them asking me for my contact info, me politely declining and stating "I seriously doubt anything I said will change anything you guys do. I just couldn't in good conscience leave without telling you that you could really, genuinely help more people by eliminating the religiousness of the presentation."
In the car on the way home, I thought of something I wish I would have said/asked… "Would Jesus rather help 100 people and let them come to him on their own, or help 10 that were already believers?" A classic l'esprit de l'escalier moment. (French for that witty comeback you think of while walking down the stairs later.)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Adventure 2 - Session 1 - Into the Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar
Porto Redfingers:
As the party is preparing to cross the final bridge into the fire forest, they spy a halfling approaching. The little man introduces himself as Porto Redfingers. He's looking for a way to cross the Fire Forest, having heard about the Ragesian invasion. Seeing that you've slain Ragesian soldiers, he offers what help he can if the party can get him through the forest.
Upon entering the Innenotdar forest, Porto begins to cover the footprints left in the think ash upon the road. The fire along the roadsides appears to lessen around the party... and odd occurrence.
Kah'less has a vision of reptilian eyes in the flames, they disappear as suddenly as they appeared.
Fellow Travelers:
As the party progresses deeper into the inferno, they glimpse three smoldering lumps in the road. They appear to be bodies wrapped in cloaks. Carefully approaching Porto discovers one still alive. The man is quickly put out, given a potion to protect him from the furnace like heat, and healed. He reveals himself to be a wizard fleeing the Inquisitors. The other two with him his relatives. He is dispondant when he learns of their fate. As the party discusses what to do next, the man leaps into the flames and walks a few feet before finally collapsing the fire's warm and final embrace. Lord Robert seems unmoved by the man's death.
Unnatural Beasts:
Shortly after praying over the bodes and giving them to the fire forest, the party encounters the first of many strange beings. A creature slightly taller then Porto bursts from the tree line and nearly bowls Porto over. The small winged man wreathed in fire tries to hide behind the halfling. A moment later, a gigantic bat also covered in flames explodes into view. The beast looks crazed and immediately attacks. The beast is soon beaten to the ground, only to rise up again and attack. It's finally extinguished through Kah'less via Goram's power. The mephit is thanks the party but darts away quickly before any real interrogation can be done.
The bridge of Despair:
The road narrows to a damaged stone bridge. 50' long and 20' wide, one side crumbling. A once beautiful bridge with superb architecture, it stands baking in the heat, bathed in soot. The bridge crosses a chasm with fires below, something else lies at the bottom of the ravine.
The party cautiously approaches the bridge, sending the Porto and Makeighla to test the resilience of the arched bridge. The damage to the bridge and the object below are linked. It appears that a wagon crashed though he sidewall and plunged headlong into the ground below. Careful plans are laid, to lower Porto to the wagon to investigate.
Ropes tied together, Porto swings gingerly over the edge. Having descended no further than 5' Porto is greeted with a bright swirling mass of flames attached to seemingly rabid bats. Dangling on the line, he has no choice but to climb for his life.
As quick as he reaches the top of the bridge, the bats are already there in force. They swarm, igniting a few part members in the process. Porto sprints for cover only to be shot 'accidentally' by Kah'less. The bats swarm whom ever is nearest until Kah'less unleashes a mighty blast of sound and force which disperses the bats.
All are checked for injuries and healed. Kah'less never really apologizes to Porto. Porto now nervous having been burned yet again, agrees to let Makeighla investigate the wagon far below.
Makeighla easily descends the 60' to the wagon below. She finds the remains of the wagoneers, gnomes or halflings by their build. As well as a small chest containg gems and coinage.
Strange Noises:
FWOOOMPH! What the hell was that?
An offer we must refuse:
As the party proceeds deeper into the fire forest, another stange beast is encountered. The creature resembles a large powerfully built dog with short rust-red fur, soot back markings and glowing red eyes. It stands 4 1/2' tall and carries in it's black maw a large bone of somesort.
The beast slowly walks from the treeline to the road, drops his macabre chewtoy and backs away.
The party slowly approaches and examines the bone. A human sized femur with writing scratched into it. The case for your life it alludes, leave the case and bring the bone if parley is in order. A quick whispered discussion, Lord Robert's predictable refusal, the Hell Hound slinks back into the firey wood.
The Hound's Master:
Around the next bend, the hound's master appears with a FWOOOMPH! The being is not human... it's other worldy... malevolent...
A tattered brown cloak whips about this man-sized creature’s scaled body. It has the face of a commanding, honest man, but its flesh is green, its eyes glow with infernal fire, and its thick beard writhes and bites like a nest of vipers. Barely visible under its beard is a thick metal collar attached to a length of limply dangling chain. The powerful being stands tall, and wields a blood-stained saw-bladed glaive. It only has four fingers on its left hand, and a scaled, dessicated pinky finger hangs on a cord around its neck.
He asks again for the party to surrender the case or face the consequences. Lord Robert scoffs at this, no deal will be done with a devil. The devil summons minions, points at Fen, and order's his death. The vaguely humanoid shaped blob minions surround Fen and attack with an otherworldly zeal. The entire party rally's to his defense, the beasts fall quickly... maybe too quickly... The devil is alone, he fights briefly but suddenly dissipates in a FWOOOMPH and puff of smoke.
The Paladin and Cleric pray briefly over the femur as it's laid to rest. Fen is healed of his seeping wounds and the party regroups and continues...
The forest attacks?
Kah'less' head swims for a second with visions of flaming stags... is he shakes off the vision, the vision becomes reality. A great wall of fire flairs behind the group as 3 flaming elk sized stags attack. The battle is nearly fatal and fraught with danger as the woods seem to intensify the already unfathomable heat.
A quest, an agreement, a boon:
Flaming stags & Dragon's eyes, a booming voice offers a quest: Up river there is something to be freed; the party agrees and is granted the Fire forest's boon. Permanent stand the heat. Woot!
The former inhabitants:
Stretching across the river in front of you is an arc of a bridge seeming composed of branches and vines of what was once pale, white stone. Several of these vines and branches plunge into the shallow water beneath the bridge, forming supports. Off the right side of the bridge, in the middle of the river sits a tall, narrow tower, only about twenty feet in diameter, reaching up to a roof thirty feet above the bridge. A narrow walkway leads from the main bridge to a thick oaken entrance door. The tower, as well as the bridge, is currently flame-free, though blackened from decades of soot. On the far side of the bridge lies a small village built in a wide clearing, its buildings faintly visible through the forest’s ashy haze.
The bridge-fort is sturdy and is a relatively safe refuge from the forest outside. Originally intended as a guard point along the Elfroad it has numerous arrow slits, and once upon a time a sturdy wooden gate could block off the entire bridge. There are several arrow slits on higher floors, but the only easy entrance is a strong wooden door.
Once the door is open, an odd sight greets the heroes. On the floor right in front of the door is a one-foot stone cube atop which burns a continual flame spell. Painted on one side of the stone in black is a message in Elvish, “The password is ‘friend.’”
Investigating the tower, dead bodies are found on the 1st floor. A holy symbol, journal, and a model village are on the 2nd. The village has defensive positions labeled. The miniature village also points out the Shrine of Anyariel. The journal recounts a clerics struggle with his beliefs and the occurrences of the beginning of the fire forest.
The third floor appears to be the chambers of the cleric who's journal and holy symbol were found. A shelf holding a pouch labeled “For later study.” The small paper pouch contains seven small, blackened seeds shaped like claws. A sleeping face is drawn on the pouch, and written in Goblin are instructions: “Take one for visions of the firemaker. Do not take more. These are poison.”
The hero's assured the tower is safe, close the door and settle in for an uneventful evening.
To sleep, to dream:
In the morning the dream seeds are examined again. Kah'less volunteers to consume one as he is the vision king. He dreams of fire and smoke, pain and exodus... Kah'less' dream of serpents...
A silvery blue serpent appears and flies toward the Kah'less' sleeping avatar, and lashes him with a whip-like tail. As Kah'less' sleeping psyche is attacked, a physical manifestation appears and attacks the party in the real world. A silvery dragon, antlered like a stag, appears in the center of the room, whirling and spinning like a demented wind.
A blow struck upon the beast only hurts the striker... Kah'less is roused but only for a moment, the creature howls at this... again Kah'less is roused and this time he says awake... which causes the dream creature to evaporate into the ether.
Investigating the Elven village:
Investigate town next day - Shrine of Anyariel!
The Shrine of Anyariel is a beautiful fountain in the shape of a grand willow tree with drooping branches, which once rained soothing water upon a wide, shimmering pool surrounded by a ring of seventeen old oak trees. A walkway of stepping stones led to a small ‘island’ in front of the tree, where townsfolk would offer prayers and thanks to Innenotdar’s last hero. Now the water has boiled away, and only the trees remain, occasionally raining fiery debris. The stone willow tree is covered with ash.
Ghouls...
After the secret door is discovered:
The twenty-foot stairway down into the basement is bathed in blue luminescence. When the heroes reach the base of the stairs, they find the hidden reliquary of Anyariel, once maintained by the town’s priests.
This twenty-foot diameter chamber radiates peace and patience; the soft blue air whispers with a hallowed, distant song. The chamber’s center is dominated by a tall white statue depicting an elven woman plunging a greastsword deep into a rampant stag. The sword, though carved of stone, looks like it is made of wood and covered in vines that entwine the elf woman’s hands. At the statue’s feet lie two immobile figures. The first is dressed in the uniform of a Shahalesti soldier from decades past, his body wreathed in pale flames that struggle to burn. The man’s eyes are closed, as if he is in a deep slumber. Likewise along the ceiling, tree roots growing down from the surface flicker with fire, but the flames are subdued, as if the light holds them at bay. The second figure, a young male elf with red hair, wears the robes of a priest, though he carries no holy symbol. Numerous claw wounds mark his face and body, and he does not breathe, though his body shows no signs of decay. His arms are spread as if he fell in battle, and a warhammer lies inches from one of his hands. It points to an elaborate glass display case near the wall, which has been shattered, its contents missing.
The warhammer is magical and imbued with healing magics.
As the party is preparing to cross the final bridge into the fire forest, they spy a halfling approaching. The little man introduces himself as Porto Redfingers. He's looking for a way to cross the Fire Forest, having heard about the Ragesian invasion. Seeing that you've slain Ragesian soldiers, he offers what help he can if the party can get him through the forest.
Upon entering the Innenotdar forest, Porto begins to cover the footprints left in the think ash upon the road. The fire along the roadsides appears to lessen around the party... and odd occurrence.
Kah'less has a vision of reptilian eyes in the flames, they disappear as suddenly as they appeared.
Fellow Travelers:
As the party progresses deeper into the inferno, they glimpse three smoldering lumps in the road. They appear to be bodies wrapped in cloaks. Carefully approaching Porto discovers one still alive. The man is quickly put out, given a potion to protect him from the furnace like heat, and healed. He reveals himself to be a wizard fleeing the Inquisitors. The other two with him his relatives. He is dispondant when he learns of their fate. As the party discusses what to do next, the man leaps into the flames and walks a few feet before finally collapsing the fire's warm and final embrace. Lord Robert seems unmoved by the man's death.
Unnatural Beasts:
Shortly after praying over the bodes and giving them to the fire forest, the party encounters the first of many strange beings. A creature slightly taller then Porto bursts from the tree line and nearly bowls Porto over. The small winged man wreathed in fire tries to hide behind the halfling. A moment later, a gigantic bat also covered in flames explodes into view. The beast looks crazed and immediately attacks. The beast is soon beaten to the ground, only to rise up again and attack. It's finally extinguished through Kah'less via Goram's power. The mephit is thanks the party but darts away quickly before any real interrogation can be done.
The bridge of Despair:
The road narrows to a damaged stone bridge. 50' long and 20' wide, one side crumbling. A once beautiful bridge with superb architecture, it stands baking in the heat, bathed in soot. The bridge crosses a chasm with fires below, something else lies at the bottom of the ravine.
The party cautiously approaches the bridge, sending the Porto and Makeighla to test the resilience of the arched bridge. The damage to the bridge and the object below are linked. It appears that a wagon crashed though he sidewall and plunged headlong into the ground below. Careful plans are laid, to lower Porto to the wagon to investigate.
Ropes tied together, Porto swings gingerly over the edge. Having descended no further than 5' Porto is greeted with a bright swirling mass of flames attached to seemingly rabid bats. Dangling on the line, he has no choice but to climb for his life.
As quick as he reaches the top of the bridge, the bats are already there in force. They swarm, igniting a few part members in the process. Porto sprints for cover only to be shot 'accidentally' by Kah'less. The bats swarm whom ever is nearest until Kah'less unleashes a mighty blast of sound and force which disperses the bats.
All are checked for injuries and healed. Kah'less never really apologizes to Porto. Porto now nervous having been burned yet again, agrees to let Makeighla investigate the wagon far below.
Makeighla easily descends the 60' to the wagon below. She finds the remains of the wagoneers, gnomes or halflings by their build. As well as a small chest containg gems and coinage.
Strange Noises:
FWOOOMPH! What the hell was that?
An offer we must refuse:
As the party proceeds deeper into the fire forest, another stange beast is encountered. The creature resembles a large powerfully built dog with short rust-red fur, soot back markings and glowing red eyes. It stands 4 1/2' tall and carries in it's black maw a large bone of somesort.
The beast slowly walks from the treeline to the road, drops his macabre chewtoy and backs away.
The party slowly approaches and examines the bone. A human sized femur with writing scratched into it. The case for your life it alludes, leave the case and bring the bone if parley is in order. A quick whispered discussion, Lord Robert's predictable refusal, the Hell Hound slinks back into the firey wood.
The Hound's Master:
Around the next bend, the hound's master appears with a FWOOOMPH! The being is not human... it's other worldy... malevolent...
A tattered brown cloak whips about this man-sized creature’s scaled body. It has the face of a commanding, honest man, but its flesh is green, its eyes glow with infernal fire, and its thick beard writhes and bites like a nest of vipers. Barely visible under its beard is a thick metal collar attached to a length of limply dangling chain. The powerful being stands tall, and wields a blood-stained saw-bladed glaive. It only has four fingers on its left hand, and a scaled, dessicated pinky finger hangs on a cord around its neck.
He asks again for the party to surrender the case or face the consequences. Lord Robert scoffs at this, no deal will be done with a devil. The devil summons minions, points at Fen, and order's his death. The vaguely humanoid shaped blob minions surround Fen and attack with an otherworldly zeal. The entire party rally's to his defense, the beasts fall quickly... maybe too quickly... The devil is alone, he fights briefly but suddenly dissipates in a FWOOOMPH and puff of smoke.
The Paladin and Cleric pray briefly over the femur as it's laid to rest. Fen is healed of his seeping wounds and the party regroups and continues...
The forest attacks?
Kah'less' head swims for a second with visions of flaming stags... is he shakes off the vision, the vision becomes reality. A great wall of fire flairs behind the group as 3 flaming elk sized stags attack. The battle is nearly fatal and fraught with danger as the woods seem to intensify the already unfathomable heat.
A quest, an agreement, a boon:
Flaming stags & Dragon's eyes, a booming voice offers a quest: Up river there is something to be freed; the party agrees and is granted the Fire forest's boon. Permanent stand the heat. Woot!
The former inhabitants:
Stretching across the river in front of you is an arc of a bridge seeming composed of branches and vines of what was once pale, white stone. Several of these vines and branches plunge into the shallow water beneath the bridge, forming supports. Off the right side of the bridge, in the middle of the river sits a tall, narrow tower, only about twenty feet in diameter, reaching up to a roof thirty feet above the bridge. A narrow walkway leads from the main bridge to a thick oaken entrance door. The tower, as well as the bridge, is currently flame-free, though blackened from decades of soot. On the far side of the bridge lies a small village built in a wide clearing, its buildings faintly visible through the forest’s ashy haze.
The bridge-fort is sturdy and is a relatively safe refuge from the forest outside. Originally intended as a guard point along the Elfroad it has numerous arrow slits, and once upon a time a sturdy wooden gate could block off the entire bridge. There are several arrow slits on higher floors, but the only easy entrance is a strong wooden door.
Once the door is open, an odd sight greets the heroes. On the floor right in front of the door is a one-foot stone cube atop which burns a continual flame spell. Painted on one side of the stone in black is a message in Elvish, “The password is ‘friend.’”
Investigating the tower, dead bodies are found on the 1st floor. A holy symbol, journal, and a model village are on the 2nd. The village has defensive positions labeled. The miniature village also points out the Shrine of Anyariel. The journal recounts a clerics struggle with his beliefs and the occurrences of the beginning of the fire forest.
The third floor appears to be the chambers of the cleric who's journal and holy symbol were found. A shelf holding a pouch labeled “For later study.” The small paper pouch contains seven small, blackened seeds shaped like claws. A sleeping face is drawn on the pouch, and written in Goblin are instructions: “Take one for visions of the firemaker. Do not take more. These are poison.”
The hero's assured the tower is safe, close the door and settle in for an uneventful evening.
To sleep, to dream:
In the morning the dream seeds are examined again. Kah'less volunteers to consume one as he is the vision king. He dreams of fire and smoke, pain and exodus... Kah'less' dream of serpents...
A silvery blue serpent appears and flies toward the Kah'less' sleeping avatar, and lashes him with a whip-like tail. As Kah'less' sleeping psyche is attacked, a physical manifestation appears and attacks the party in the real world. A silvery dragon, antlered like a stag, appears in the center of the room, whirling and spinning like a demented wind.
A blow struck upon the beast only hurts the striker... Kah'less is roused but only for a moment, the creature howls at this... again Kah'less is roused and this time he says awake... which causes the dream creature to evaporate into the ether.
Investigating the Elven village:
Investigate town next day - Shrine of Anyariel!
The Shrine of Anyariel is a beautiful fountain in the shape of a grand willow tree with drooping branches, which once rained soothing water upon a wide, shimmering pool surrounded by a ring of seventeen old oak trees. A walkway of stepping stones led to a small ‘island’ in front of the tree, where townsfolk would offer prayers and thanks to Innenotdar’s last hero. Now the water has boiled away, and only the trees remain, occasionally raining fiery debris. The stone willow tree is covered with ash.
Ghouls...
After the secret door is discovered:
The twenty-foot stairway down into the basement is bathed in blue luminescence. When the heroes reach the base of the stairs, they find the hidden reliquary of Anyariel, once maintained by the town’s priests.
This twenty-foot diameter chamber radiates peace and patience; the soft blue air whispers with a hallowed, distant song. The chamber’s center is dominated by a tall white statue depicting an elven woman plunging a greastsword deep into a rampant stag. The sword, though carved of stone, looks like it is made of wood and covered in vines that entwine the elf woman’s hands. At the statue’s feet lie two immobile figures. The first is dressed in the uniform of a Shahalesti soldier from decades past, his body wreathed in pale flames that struggle to burn. The man’s eyes are closed, as if he is in a deep slumber. Likewise along the ceiling, tree roots growing down from the surface flicker with fire, but the flames are subdued, as if the light holds them at bay. The second figure, a young male elf with red hair, wears the robes of a priest, though he carries no holy symbol. Numerous claw wounds mark his face and body, and he does not breathe, though his body shows no signs of decay. His arms are spread as if he fell in battle, and a warhammer lies inches from one of his hands. It points to an elaborate glass display case near the wall, which has been shattered, its contents missing.
The warhammer is magical and imbued with healing magics.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Makeighla Farstrider
Family: Born a second daughter to Aradin and Corrine, Makeighla’s elder sister Tarra seemed to overshadow her. Makeighla’s parents are full time adventurers and part time parents. Aradin is a ranger and serves the elven realm along with his wife Corrine, a cleric of (healing and nature-don’t have the deities book to reference). They are well known adventurers in the elven lands.
Makeighla and Tarra were raised primarily by a great aunt who helped them with their studies and teaching them how to develop their talents. When Makeighla finished her studies, she left without word to anyone and headed off on her own to adventure. Tarra went on to follow in their father’s footsteps as a ranger and started making a name for herself with a few tales of her adventures making small note with a few bards in the towns she helped.
Background Information: Makeighla doesn’t stay in towns too long and tends to travel under assumed names from time to time. She sometimes picks up jobs in town, like helping in the kitchens, dancing/singing, laundry, errands and other menial jobs as she learns the layout of the town and the who’s who. She is patient and can take her time when gathering information. Makeighla likes to make sure that she has whatever information is needed before going headlong into a situation, especially if she is working alone. Once she pulls off a job, she tends to lay low and wait for things to settle down again before leaving a town and setting off for new adventures. If she is found out, bribery and trickery have helped save her from the law a few times before. She has traveled with other groups of adventurers from time to time, but stays distant and reserved. She only stays in touch with her family only by the occasional letter and keeps her class hidden from them since they wouldn’t approve of a thief in the family.
Makeighla Farstrider is a private and reserved elf who is opportunistic. She isn’t greedy, but she will try to gain an edge when she can. She likes to take advantage of situations whenever possible, like distracted team mates doing a search in a room while she is opening a locked box of treasure. Makeighla can’t stand people who don’t carry their own weight in the group since they are taking a share of the profits as well. She is a team player, but mostly for the sake of adventuring. She doesn’t care for leadership and would rather follow since she doesn’t care about how things are done, just that they get done and that she gets her share of the treasure. Her adventurous nature, patience, curiosity and independence are things that make her good at her job. She has self esteem issues when it comes to her family which is why she avoids contact with them since she left to adventure.
Physical Appearance: 133 years of age (middle age), 5’4, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is great at disguising herself and uses ready made aliases when needed.
Porto Redfingers
His family are all cloth dyers. So the whole family had stained hands/fingers. Porto's great great great grandfather discovered how to make a brilliant red dye by using a specific type of insect eggs. The family had a monopoly on the technique until Porto's great uncle sold the technique to a rival to pay off his gambling debit.
Porto is the youngest of 4 brothers, all of which are currently working for the declining family business. His mother passed when he was quite young. The elder brothers all have wives and families to support, so Porto was forced into the adventure's life when his father was crippled in an accident 2 years ago. With little profit in the dye business there is no money to heal his father. He needs about 5000 gp to heal his father.
He worked for a while as a forest guide for big game hunters from the bigger towns, but the pay wasn't great and the danger high. He decided to strike out on his own to sell rare and or magical animals for pets/pelts/trophies/spell components/etc. With war brewing business is turning bad. In the fire forest to hunt something or other…
Physical Appearance:
26 years old, 3' 5" tall, 40 lbs – portrait attached
Stocky for a Halfling, with a neatly trimmed mustache/goatee combo. Short black hair, brown eyes, and a ruddy skin tone. Wears a concealing cloak and carries a well made Halfling sized longbow, a Halfling sized ranseur, and a bulging back pack.
Personality:
While not overly polite, Porto does respect his elders. As for table manners, he never had to use any. Prideful, but tries to hide his mistakes. Crude and crass cause that's all he was taught. No womanly influence. Not intentional, and sometimes he feels bad/angry about hurting others feelings.
Likes strong coffee, spicy food (hard to get as a child). Smokes, really addicted to it. Only compromises grudgingly and is quite stubborn. Likes to sleep in and stay up late, not a morning person. Really dislikes potatoes, that's mostly all he ate growing up. Would go without, to avoid eating potatoes (for a meal or two anyway).
Hopes to one day make his father and brothers proud. Immediately hopes to get enough money to heal his father's broken back. Fears he'll fail to amount to anything.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Adventure 1, Session 3&4 - Spies, Escape Plan, Black Horses, Inquisitor
Elvish ghetto:
The ghetto itself is quiet, filled with many trellises along the sides of buildings and plenty of open squares lit by modified continual flame spells that flicker and move like dancing lights. A few buildings have been damaged by fire, but children still play in the streets despite the recent danger. No one accosts them, but the elves seem very unfriendly.
Makeighla discovers the carpentry shop (a two-story brick building) has a fake front door, and the windows are just wooden frames painted to look like curtains have been pulled. The chimney is exhaling smoke, a sign that someone is there, but there seems to be no entrance to the building. The only creature present is a simple rat rooting around for food.
As the party gathers for a plan, a raven approaches and speaks. It's on a quest to retrieve the case, it doesn't care about the contents, it just needs the case it can open the door and scout for the party. Lord Robert attempts to detect evil, which the creature stays out of range of. The party threatens the bird, it flees.
A dark pact:
Makeighla is sent back to investigate the door, the raven approaches her with the same offer, with a rich bonus when she delivers the case. She agrees. The tells Makeighla the trick to opening the door. The raven disappears and says it will re-visit her for the case.
An ode to a badger:
The 50-ft. square room is dimly lit by a roaring fire in a fireplace against the left wall, filling the building with modest warmth. Casting shadows throughout the room are nearly a dozen doors, propped up by metal frames, all of them unfinished. Tools hang around the walls, stacks of wood are piled beside the fire place, and sawdust covers the floor. It looks like the workshop of a carpenter obsessed with doors. A staircase leads upward in the back right corner, and one of the doors stands at the foot of the stairs. Three celestial badgers snooze around the room.
Makeighla reports this to the group, a plan is made for the elves to sneak in and assassinate the badgers. Makeighla does her's, while Fen just anger's his target. A quick battle ensues, while the party rushes into the room.
Truce & vows:
A voice calls down... A negotiation... The elves are convinced to part with the case on the condition that an elf accompanies the party to Lyceum and is allowed to copy whatever information is in the case, and take it back to Shahalesti.
Leaving Gate Pass:
As the party prepares to leave with the case, the elves get word that the council
has agreed to the Ragesians’ demands. The council has made it clear that, until they come to a decision, no one is to leave the city, on threat of death. They do not want the Ragesians to have any pretense to renew their attack.
The city is eerily silent, the air crisply cold and tainted with smoke. People cautiously step out into the streets, looking for news, and so as the party sets out to travel, it’s impossible for them not to hear the rumors.
The Gate Pass defenders drove back the initial assault, but the attack cost many lives, and even now the men on the walls report that the Ragesian attack was only a small portion of their entire force. The invading army has demanded that a group of inquisitors be allowed into the city, and threaten to renew their attack if they do not receive a prompt agreement from the city leaders. Amid these mutterings, one consistent (albeit petty) complaint is that the city has cancelled the parade for the Festival of Dreams, intended to celebrate the new year. The streets are scattered with burnt or trampled decorations that had been set up for the city-wide party, now indefinitely postponed.
Torrent suggests they seek out Councilman Erdan Menash to confirm the rumors and solicit his help in finding a way out of the city.
A few members go to warn Diogenes at Gabal's school. He thanks them for the warning. He and some remaining students intend to remain and guard the arcane treasures locked in the vault. He wishes you luck.
Erdan Menash:
Councilman Erdan Menash is one of the more colorful characters in the city council, a former merchant and tailor who used to sell well-crafted but horribly unfashionable gear to adventurers, with the goal of making sure everyone knew he was the one sponsoring their heroism. Torrent does not know him personally, but she does know he is a member of the Resistance.
Erdan’s manor is a three-story building inside a low iron fence, located a few miles east of the tower depository, in the same district as a 90-ft. statue of Emperor Coaltongue. The outer walls are painted vivid green, yellow, and purple, and the two guards he keeps for protection are forced to wear tabards of the same colors. The guards meet visitors at the entry gate and offer to let guests stay inside to wait for the councilman. When the party arrives, Erdan happens to be out but his guards say that he’ll be home soon.
When Erdan arrives he is frustrated, complaining in a high-pitched, wheezing voice about the nincompoops in charge of the city. He does a double take when he sees the party, surprised to have guests. He asks the party for their names and their business, and is especially interested in details of what happened to them during the attack the previous evening. He is easily distracted and starts giving a tour of his house’s many oddities.
Erdan lives alone with a home full of his bizarre creations. Exotic weapons of all sorts adorn the walls — whips, urgroshes, double axes, double swords, monk weapons, a heavy repeating crossbow designed to look like a porcupine; everything but the now-trite spiked chain — made more exotic by unorthodox decorations like red and yellow frogs on pommels, or axeheads in the shape of bunnies. The first floor consists of a greeting hall, a dining room, a kitchen and store room, a waiting room, and three galleries. The entire second floor is a workshop devoted to elaborate and garish decorations that Erdan had hoped to use in the Festival of
Dreams, such as a bear mask for the giant statue of Coaltongue in the center of the city, swords made of woven flowers, and dresses made of candy. He lives on the third floor, in a bedroom with a wonderful view of the grand square. Looking out of it, he sighs and shakes his head, sad that he won’t get a chance to use his decorations.
Erdan is willing to talk about what has happened to the city, providing some interesting and exciting stories to help put the party’s actions in perspective:
• The griffon riders, aided by a druid who took the form of a giant eagle, were able to drive off a massive red dragon that was setting fire to the city, and they captured two of its riders.
• An incursion through one of the northern walls was held up by armed townsfolk, who lasted long enough for actual soldiers to arrive and slay the Ragesians.
• The western-most district caught fire and has been nearly gutted, but the troops have kept fighting – even some who suffered terrible burns.
• A huge earth elemental rose up from the sewers near the houses of several city council members and managed to kill them while the bulk of the city’s defenders were at the walls.
• A wyvern-rider crashed into a house and killed a family, but a group of unknown heroes tracked him down and slew him.
The party presses for help with escape. He offers to call in a favor from a Captain of the city guards. Captain Herreman runs a small cavalry detachment that regularly patrols the southern border. The message will include a note asking Herreman to take the party along.
He offers to trade for the Ragesian armor, and further offers "The heroes of Gate Pass" a selection of one item each from his collection.
When the party is ready to leave, Erdan gives them the note for Captain Herreman and directions to his post (located one district to the east, less than a mile away, near a large stable and barracks), begs them to send aid as soon as they can, and bids them good luck.
Guards?:
The party notices some city guards... the appear to be tailing them. After a few minutes, two guards use alleys and side streets to get ahead of the party and approaches the party from the front, while the other four come from behind to block escape. They say they are taking two characters in the party for questioning on suspicion of being mages.
Lord Robert says they are welcome to accompany them to Capt. Herreman's barracks a they are headed that way. This makes the guards nervous. A prisoner caravan approaches from
the west, heading for the central district. As you talk to the guards, A dozen soldiers escort a pair of wounded and bound orc soldiers wearing the uniform of Ragesian infantry — scale mail, a red tabard with a half-crescent fireball on the chest, and a heavy winter coat of bear furs. One of the orcs glances at the party through his one good eye, the other half of his face scarred from an old burn wound. As the convoy marches by, the guards become suddenly subdued, afraid of drawing attention to themselves. One half-heartedly congratulates the soldiers.
The party decides to push on to the barracks. The guards attempt to block the way. A fight ensues, one guard is killed, the rest flee. The guard is found to possess a Black Horses armband. As the party rides off, someone brings one of the sham guards out from the alley, claiming "Don't worry citizens, I've captured the brigand."
Capt. Herreman's Barracks:
Consisting of several three-story buildings with attached stables, the barracks are lodgings for a hundred soldiers. Each district has a similar set of barracks and number of soldiers.
Guards greet the party at the barracks, the Captain receives the group in his ready room. Captain Herreman is a grim half-orc edging toward middle age, with a thick beard that he thinks hides his orcish tusks. He’s very loyal to Councilman Menash, and fondly carries a dagger designed to look like a peeled banana, a memento of when he was an adventurer sponsored by the crazy merchant. Upon receiving the letter from Menash, he efficiently gets the party gear that will let them pass as members of his unit (studded leather, longswords, and light
crossbows), acquires light warhorses for each of them (with military saddles and winter
blankets, but no barding), and then gathers eight men that he can trust for this fake mission.
As things are made ready, a local hero delivers a prisoner. Tall, dark-haired, and roguishly handsome, by his goatee and massive greatsword you recognize this man as the local folk hero Rantle, a scoundrel and defender of the common man. Despite his light chain armor, his smirk says clearly that he thinks he’s invincible. He greets the Captain and the party. He mentions he's heard about the dustup at the Poison Apple pub, and that he needs their help.
Rantle says his sister, Katrina has a tendency to get into such trouble that I have no choice but to save her yet again!” She disappeared a little over a week ago, just before news of the approaching Ragesian army arrived. His sister is a pretty competent sorceress, he says, though she did manage to burn a few of their homes down over the years. Rantle worries, justifiably, that she might be in trouble. The last he heard of her, she was planning to head to Lyceum to get to safety, and Rantle knows enough about Torrent’s activities to guess that’s where she and the party are heading.
Rantle asks the party to deliver a scroll tube to his sister if they see her. Rantle describes his sister, “She’s about five and a half feet tall, with long red hair, and she looks too good for her own good. In short, she’s pretty much the stereotype of a fire mage. It’s kinda embarrassing.” The scroll case Rantle asks them to deliver is sealed with red wax.
With a few hours to kill before the patrol begins, the party does a bit of preparations. Near sunset (when Herreman’s regular patrol is scheduled), they ride to the gate. Along the way, a single bell at the west of the city rings out ominously and mournfully, and Herreman guesses that this means that the inquisitors have finally been let into the city.
Herreman hurries to the gate and hands over his orders to the gatekeepers, and the gatekeepers usher them through, wishing them good hunting. Ostensibly they’re supposed to be looking for a Ragesian necromancer who is desecrating graveyards by raising the dead, a dramatic tale that Councilman Menash thought would give the mission enough urgency that the guards would not be suspicious.
Once they’re outside the gates, Herreman suggests that going any further at night might be dangerous, and directs the party to a safe camping spot two miles from the city, in an abandoned tower that once was a watch post for the city, but is now in disuse.
Ambush:
Following the road through the cliffs towards the fire forest, the party sets a deliberate pace. The horses are sure footed on the icy terrain.
The morning passes quietly and uneventful. Lunch in the saddle brings better spirits, it appears that none follow from Gate Pass.
The party is surprised by the explosion of thunderstones very near their horses. ' horse bolts forward terrified of the noise. himself is deafened by the great boom. Archers on the cliffs above begin to fire crossbows at the horses.
Mike leaps off his horse and begins to climb towards the men, Kah'less attempts to regain control of his mount, the rest dive for cover. As ' horse charges around a corner 3 mounted men charge forward. A battle ensues that ends with Fen chasing the leader with his flying sword. One of the ambushers is captured... he's a member of the Black Horses.
Interrogation:
The captured Black Horse reveals that the Ragesian army offered the group 10,000 gp to return the case to Ragesia. They also decided to try to capture the party alive for some additional coinage. The Black Horses have a base not too far, it used to be a cave where they placed the 'wish pots' during the festival of dreams. Additional Black Horses are en route. The Ragesian army could be close behind them as well.
Planning an assault:
The Black Horse base is well defended and not easily reached. The cliffs and valleys provide only one direct path from which the party would be easily spotted. The alternative would be to climb up and down a dozen cliffs to attempt a stealth attack. Torrent pressures the party, they MUST get the case to Lyceum Black Horses (however annoying) be damned. The party decides discretion is the better valor in this case and proceeds...
To the Fire Forrest!
Farm and a strange girl:
About a mile from the edge of the fire forest, the sky ahead begins to glow faint red and orange, and the air smells of ash. The frigid winter temperatures warm noticeably, and red flowers dot the roadside amid yellowed grass. Cinders drift in the sky. Soon the cliffs alongside the road turn into craggy hills, and the forest fire itself comes into view, tall pine trees stretching down into a valley that burns to the horizon. A steaming river
marks the border of the fire forest, and a vast field of ash coats the ground for the last quarter mile leading to the forest.
Fen and both feel a strengthening of fire magic.
Just before the ash field, about a half mile from the forest fire, the party spots a small farm, consisting of a two-story stone house and adjacent barn, and what looks like a pair of simple stone cairns. The farm is on a slight rise to the left of the road, and a young woman stands in clear view, dark-haired, eyes wide and blue, holding a slender black staff.
When the party is close enough to speak with her, it is clear that she is looking off vacantly, but she speaks to them, saying, “The Scourge comes, and the skulls of the dragon pursue you. I saw it in a dream.” Then she shakes her head as if coming to her senses, then meekly apologizes.
She introduces herself as Crystin, and says that she needs their help. She and her father, Haddin,
are magic-users, and they know the Ragesians are coming. Crystin says that she has visions, and she believes that wherever the party is going, they can protect her and her father. She wants to go with them. At the very least, she says, she can offer them a place to rest before they head into the forest fire.
Lord Robert ever suspicious and disrespectful of the commoners detects no evil in this girl. Makeighla recalls and recounts following tale about the girl's father Haddin as they follow the girl to the house.
"Twenty years ago, Haddin was a skilled artist and respected citizen of Gate Pass, but his half-orc half-brother Mandragore was a notorious criminal. One day, suddenly, Mandragore turned over a new leaf and began working to redeem his name. Rumors eventually arose that Haddin was mentally dominating his brother, and an investigation revealed it was true. Within weeks, amid protests of countless people who believed — right or wrong — that Haddin had likewise dominated them, Haddin’s reputation was ruined. His brother tried to defend him, but was killed by rioters, and Haddin fled the city in disgust, taking his wife and newborn daughter.
Occasionally people would see a young woman who closely resembled Haddin’s wife come into town to get supplies, her expression distant. The stories — true for once — say that this is Haddin’s daughter, dominated by the bitter old mage."
The party arrives at the house and is let in by Crystin. Aside from a few old cloth decorations, all
the furniture here is made of stone, looking to be magically shaped. A small hearth crackles with too-bright fire, and beside it an old man sits on a stone bench, perusing a spellbook and coughing incessantly. A finely-crafted warhammer hangs on the wall, surrounded by countless beautiful paintings.
The man regards Lord Robert with contempt... "As crass as you are arrogant are you boy? In my day people had manners and respect... No more it seems." After a brief discussion, the party decides to leave Haddin and Crystin to their fate. Just as the party prepares to leave the odd couple, a voice booms from outside...
Inquisitor Boreus:
Clad only in leather cords, bearskins, and a carved bear skull, this orc looks savage. A three-pronged metal claw is strapped to his right hand, and fire seems to burn in his eyes.
His voice feral and commanding, demanding Haddin
come out and turn himself over, and threatening to
kill the old mage if he doesn’t surrender.
The party peeks out the windows... in addtion to the cleric another orc, 3 Ragesian soldiers, 6 skeletons and a goblin occupy the area infront of the house.
A great battle erupts, Mike nearly dying twice, Fen being attacked by an invisable goblin, an enlarged orc whielding a great axe, an elf who twiddled this thumbs, and the home owners disappear.
Assaulting an elf:
After the battle the Shahalesti elf is attacked for beign a coward. He defends himself, but stops attacking when the paladin interrupts. He explains that his horse was spooked as was ' and that he wasn't given any orders in the recent battle. He's a soldier trained to be in a mage driven army, being in the wrong place is deadly when fireballs rain down.
The party is uninterested in his explanations. He is stripped of his armor and weapons (save his bow) and is told that if he should be seen again he would be mercilessly attacked and killed. The party also takes his potions that would protect him from the fire forest. Rivereye defends the elf and is disgusted with their behavior. Torrent is torn, she disagrees with the party's decision but needs their help to get to Lyceum.
The group parts ways:
The elf and gnome venture off alone to recover before braving the fire forest. The barbarian quietly follows them. Confident that the immediate threat is gone, Torrent recommends they rest again before heading on. When the party is finally ready, they send the horses back to Gate Pass, and then cross a charred bridge over the river into the fire forest.
The Fire Forest at last!
The ghetto itself is quiet, filled with many trellises along the sides of buildings and plenty of open squares lit by modified continual flame spells that flicker and move like dancing lights. A few buildings have been damaged by fire, but children still play in the streets despite the recent danger. No one accosts them, but the elves seem very unfriendly.
Makeighla discovers the carpentry shop (a two-story brick building) has a fake front door, and the windows are just wooden frames painted to look like curtains have been pulled. The chimney is exhaling smoke, a sign that someone is there, but there seems to be no entrance to the building. The only creature present is a simple rat rooting around for food.
As the party gathers for a plan, a raven approaches and speaks. It's on a quest to retrieve the case, it doesn't care about the contents, it just needs the case it can open the door and scout for the party. Lord Robert attempts to detect evil, which the creature stays out of range of. The party threatens the bird, it flees.
A dark pact:
Makeighla is sent back to investigate the door, the raven approaches her with the same offer, with a rich bonus when she delivers the case. She agrees. The tells Makeighla the trick to opening the door. The raven disappears and says it will re-visit her for the case.
An ode to a badger:
The 50-ft. square room is dimly lit by a roaring fire in a fireplace against the left wall, filling the building with modest warmth. Casting shadows throughout the room are nearly a dozen doors, propped up by metal frames, all of them unfinished. Tools hang around the walls, stacks of wood are piled beside the fire place, and sawdust covers the floor. It looks like the workshop of a carpenter obsessed with doors. A staircase leads upward in the back right corner, and one of the doors stands at the foot of the stairs. Three celestial badgers snooze around the room.
Makeighla reports this to the group, a plan is made for the elves to sneak in and assassinate the badgers. Makeighla does her's, while Fen just anger's his target. A quick battle ensues, while the party rushes into the room.
Truce & vows:
A voice calls down... A negotiation... The elves are convinced to part with the case on the condition that an elf accompanies the party to Lyceum and is allowed to copy whatever information is in the case, and take it back to Shahalesti.
Leaving Gate Pass:
As the party prepares to leave with the case, the elves get word that the council
has agreed to the Ragesians’ demands. The council has made it clear that, until they come to a decision, no one is to leave the city, on threat of death. They do not want the Ragesians to have any pretense to renew their attack.
The city is eerily silent, the air crisply cold and tainted with smoke. People cautiously step out into the streets, looking for news, and so as the party sets out to travel, it’s impossible for them not to hear the rumors.
The Gate Pass defenders drove back the initial assault, but the attack cost many lives, and even now the men on the walls report that the Ragesian attack was only a small portion of their entire force. The invading army has demanded that a group of inquisitors be allowed into the city, and threaten to renew their attack if they do not receive a prompt agreement from the city leaders. Amid these mutterings, one consistent (albeit petty) complaint is that the city has cancelled the parade for the Festival of Dreams, intended to celebrate the new year. The streets are scattered with burnt or trampled decorations that had been set up for the city-wide party, now indefinitely postponed.
Torrent suggests they seek out Councilman Erdan Menash to confirm the rumors and solicit his help in finding a way out of the city.
A few members go to warn Diogenes at Gabal's school. He thanks them for the warning. He and some remaining students intend to remain and guard the arcane treasures locked in the vault. He wishes you luck.
Erdan Menash:
Councilman Erdan Menash is one of the more colorful characters in the city council, a former merchant and tailor who used to sell well-crafted but horribly unfashionable gear to adventurers, with the goal of making sure everyone knew he was the one sponsoring their heroism. Torrent does not know him personally, but she does know he is a member of the Resistance.
Erdan’s manor is a three-story building inside a low iron fence, located a few miles east of the tower depository, in the same district as a 90-ft. statue of Emperor Coaltongue. The outer walls are painted vivid green, yellow, and purple, and the two guards he keeps for protection are forced to wear tabards of the same colors. The guards meet visitors at the entry gate and offer to let guests stay inside to wait for the councilman. When the party arrives, Erdan happens to be out but his guards say that he’ll be home soon.
When Erdan arrives he is frustrated, complaining in a high-pitched, wheezing voice about the nincompoops in charge of the city. He does a double take when he sees the party, surprised to have guests. He asks the party for their names and their business, and is especially interested in details of what happened to them during the attack the previous evening. He is easily distracted and starts giving a tour of his house’s many oddities.
Erdan lives alone with a home full of his bizarre creations. Exotic weapons of all sorts adorn the walls — whips, urgroshes, double axes, double swords, monk weapons, a heavy repeating crossbow designed to look like a porcupine; everything but the now-trite spiked chain — made more exotic by unorthodox decorations like red and yellow frogs on pommels, or axeheads in the shape of bunnies. The first floor consists of a greeting hall, a dining room, a kitchen and store room, a waiting room, and three galleries. The entire second floor is a workshop devoted to elaborate and garish decorations that Erdan had hoped to use in the Festival of
Dreams, such as a bear mask for the giant statue of Coaltongue in the center of the city, swords made of woven flowers, and dresses made of candy. He lives on the third floor, in a bedroom with a wonderful view of the grand square. Looking out of it, he sighs and shakes his head, sad that he won’t get a chance to use his decorations.
Erdan is willing to talk about what has happened to the city, providing some interesting and exciting stories to help put the party’s actions in perspective:
• The griffon riders, aided by a druid who took the form of a giant eagle, were able to drive off a massive red dragon that was setting fire to the city, and they captured two of its riders.
• An incursion through one of the northern walls was held up by armed townsfolk, who lasted long enough for actual soldiers to arrive and slay the Ragesians.
• The western-most district caught fire and has been nearly gutted, but the troops have kept fighting – even some who suffered terrible burns.
• A huge earth elemental rose up from the sewers near the houses of several city council members and managed to kill them while the bulk of the city’s defenders were at the walls.
• A wyvern-rider crashed into a house and killed a family, but a group of unknown heroes tracked him down and slew him.
The party presses for help with escape. He offers to call in a favor from a Captain of the city guards. Captain Herreman runs a small cavalry detachment that regularly patrols the southern border. The message will include a note asking Herreman to take the party along.
He offers to trade for the Ragesian armor, and further offers "The heroes of Gate Pass" a selection of one item each from his collection.
When the party is ready to leave, Erdan gives them the note for Captain Herreman and directions to his post (located one district to the east, less than a mile away, near a large stable and barracks), begs them to send aid as soon as they can, and bids them good luck.
Guards?:
The party notices some city guards... the appear to be tailing them. After a few minutes, two guards use alleys and side streets to get ahead of the party and approaches the party from the front, while the other four come from behind to block escape. They say they are taking two characters in the party for questioning on suspicion of being mages.
Lord Robert says they are welcome to accompany them to Capt. Herreman's barracks a they are headed that way. This makes the guards nervous. A prisoner caravan approaches from
the west, heading for the central district. As you talk to the guards, A dozen soldiers escort a pair of wounded and bound orc soldiers wearing the uniform of Ragesian infantry — scale mail, a red tabard with a half-crescent fireball on the chest, and a heavy winter coat of bear furs. One of the orcs glances at the party through his one good eye, the other half of his face scarred from an old burn wound. As the convoy marches by, the guards become suddenly subdued, afraid of drawing attention to themselves. One half-heartedly congratulates the soldiers.
The party decides to push on to the barracks. The guards attempt to block the way. A fight ensues, one guard is killed, the rest flee. The guard is found to possess a Black Horses armband. As the party rides off, someone brings one of the sham guards out from the alley, claiming "Don't worry citizens, I've captured the brigand."
Capt. Herreman's Barracks:
Consisting of several three-story buildings with attached stables, the barracks are lodgings for a hundred soldiers. Each district has a similar set of barracks and number of soldiers.
Guards greet the party at the barracks, the Captain receives the group in his ready room. Captain Herreman is a grim half-orc edging toward middle age, with a thick beard that he thinks hides his orcish tusks. He’s very loyal to Councilman Menash, and fondly carries a dagger designed to look like a peeled banana, a memento of when he was an adventurer sponsored by the crazy merchant. Upon receiving the letter from Menash, he efficiently gets the party gear that will let them pass as members of his unit (studded leather, longswords, and light
crossbows), acquires light warhorses for each of them (with military saddles and winter
blankets, but no barding), and then gathers eight men that he can trust for this fake mission.
As things are made ready, a local hero delivers a prisoner. Tall, dark-haired, and roguishly handsome, by his goatee and massive greatsword you recognize this man as the local folk hero Rantle, a scoundrel and defender of the common man. Despite his light chain armor, his smirk says clearly that he thinks he’s invincible. He greets the Captain and the party. He mentions he's heard about the dustup at the Poison Apple pub, and that he needs their help.
Rantle says his sister, Katrina has a tendency to get into such trouble that I have no choice but to save her yet again!” She disappeared a little over a week ago, just before news of the approaching Ragesian army arrived. His sister is a pretty competent sorceress, he says, though she did manage to burn a few of their homes down over the years. Rantle worries, justifiably, that she might be in trouble. The last he heard of her, she was planning to head to Lyceum to get to safety, and Rantle knows enough about Torrent’s activities to guess that’s where she and the party are heading.
Rantle asks the party to deliver a scroll tube to his sister if they see her. Rantle describes his sister, “She’s about five and a half feet tall, with long red hair, and she looks too good for her own good. In short, she’s pretty much the stereotype of a fire mage. It’s kinda embarrassing.” The scroll case Rantle asks them to deliver is sealed with red wax.
With a few hours to kill before the patrol begins, the party does a bit of preparations. Near sunset (when Herreman’s regular patrol is scheduled), they ride to the gate. Along the way, a single bell at the west of the city rings out ominously and mournfully, and Herreman guesses that this means that the inquisitors have finally been let into the city.
Herreman hurries to the gate and hands over his orders to the gatekeepers, and the gatekeepers usher them through, wishing them good hunting. Ostensibly they’re supposed to be looking for a Ragesian necromancer who is desecrating graveyards by raising the dead, a dramatic tale that Councilman Menash thought would give the mission enough urgency that the guards would not be suspicious.
Once they’re outside the gates, Herreman suggests that going any further at night might be dangerous, and directs the party to a safe camping spot two miles from the city, in an abandoned tower that once was a watch post for the city, but is now in disuse.
Ambush:Following the road through the cliffs towards the fire forest, the party sets a deliberate pace. The horses are sure footed on the icy terrain.
The morning passes quietly and uneventful. Lunch in the saddle brings better spirits, it appears that none follow from Gate Pass.
The party is surprised by the explosion of thunderstones very near their horses. ' horse bolts forward terrified of the noise. himself is deafened by the great boom. Archers on the cliffs above begin to fire crossbows at the horses.
Mike leaps off his horse and begins to climb towards the men, Kah'less attempts to regain control of his mount, the rest dive for cover. As ' horse charges around a corner 3 mounted men charge forward. A battle ensues that ends with Fen chasing the leader with his flying sword. One of the ambushers is captured... he's a member of the Black Horses.
Interrogation:
The captured Black Horse reveals that the Ragesian army offered the group 10,000 gp to return the case to Ragesia. They also decided to try to capture the party alive for some additional coinage. The Black Horses have a base not too far, it used to be a cave where they placed the 'wish pots' during the festival of dreams. Additional Black Horses are en route. The Ragesian army could be close behind them as well.
Planning an assault:
The Black Horse base is well defended and not easily reached. The cliffs and valleys provide only one direct path from which the party would be easily spotted. The alternative would be to climb up and down a dozen cliffs to attempt a stealth attack. Torrent pressures the party, they MUST get the case to Lyceum Black Horses (however annoying) be damned. The party decides discretion is the better valor in this case and proceeds...
To the Fire Forrest!
Farm and a strange girl:
About a mile from the edge of the fire forest, the sky ahead begins to glow faint red and orange, and the air smells of ash. The frigid winter temperatures warm noticeably, and red flowers dot the roadside amid yellowed grass. Cinders drift in the sky. Soon the cliffs alongside the road turn into craggy hills, and the forest fire itself comes into view, tall pine trees stretching down into a valley that burns to the horizon. A steaming river
marks the border of the fire forest, and a vast field of ash coats the ground for the last quarter mile leading to the forest.
Fen and both feel a strengthening of fire magic.
Just before the ash field, about a half mile from the forest fire, the party spots a small farm, consisting of a two-story stone house and adjacent barn, and what looks like a pair of simple stone cairns. The farm is on a slight rise to the left of the road, and a young woman stands in clear view, dark-haired, eyes wide and blue, holding a slender black staff.
When the party is close enough to speak with her, it is clear that she is looking off vacantly, but she speaks to them, saying, “The Scourge comes, and the skulls of the dragon pursue you. I saw it in a dream.” Then she shakes her head as if coming to her senses, then meekly apologizes.
She introduces herself as Crystin, and says that she needs their help. She and her father, Haddin,
are magic-users, and they know the Ragesians are coming. Crystin says that she has visions, and she believes that wherever the party is going, they can protect her and her father. She wants to go with them. At the very least, she says, she can offer them a place to rest before they head into the forest fire.
Lord Robert ever suspicious and disrespectful of the commoners detects no evil in this girl. Makeighla recalls and recounts following tale about the girl's father Haddin as they follow the girl to the house.
"Twenty years ago, Haddin was a skilled artist and respected citizen of Gate Pass, but his half-orc half-brother Mandragore was a notorious criminal. One day, suddenly, Mandragore turned over a new leaf and began working to redeem his name. Rumors eventually arose that Haddin was mentally dominating his brother, and an investigation revealed it was true. Within weeks, amid protests of countless people who believed — right or wrong — that Haddin had likewise dominated them, Haddin’s reputation was ruined. His brother tried to defend him, but was killed by rioters, and Haddin fled the city in disgust, taking his wife and newborn daughter.
Occasionally people would see a young woman who closely resembled Haddin’s wife come into town to get supplies, her expression distant. The stories — true for once — say that this is Haddin’s daughter, dominated by the bitter old mage."
The party arrives at the house and is let in by Crystin. Aside from a few old cloth decorations, all
the furniture here is made of stone, looking to be magically shaped. A small hearth crackles with too-bright fire, and beside it an old man sits on a stone bench, perusing a spellbook and coughing incessantly. A finely-crafted warhammer hangs on the wall, surrounded by countless beautiful paintings.
The man regards Lord Robert with contempt... "As crass as you are arrogant are you boy? In my day people had manners and respect... No more it seems." After a brief discussion, the party decides to leave Haddin and Crystin to their fate. Just as the party prepares to leave the odd couple, a voice booms from outside...
Inquisitor Boreus:
Clad only in leather cords, bearskins, and a carved bear skull, this orc looks savage. A three-pronged metal claw is strapped to his right hand, and fire seems to burn in his eyes.
His voice feral and commanding, demanding Haddin
come out and turn himself over, and threatening to
kill the old mage if he doesn’t surrender.
The party peeks out the windows... in addtion to the cleric another orc, 3 Ragesian soldiers, 6 skeletons and a goblin occupy the area infront of the house.
A great battle erupts, Mike nearly dying twice, Fen being attacked by an invisable goblin, an enlarged orc whielding a great axe, an elf who twiddled this thumbs, and the home owners disappear.
Assaulting an elf:
After the battle the Shahalesti elf is attacked for beign a coward. He defends himself, but stops attacking when the paladin interrupts. He explains that his horse was spooked as was ' and that he wasn't given any orders in the recent battle. He's a soldier trained to be in a mage driven army, being in the wrong place is deadly when fireballs rain down.
The party is uninterested in his explanations. He is stripped of his armor and weapons (save his bow) and is told that if he should be seen again he would be mercilessly attacked and killed. The party also takes his potions that would protect him from the fire forest. Rivereye defends the elf and is disgusted with their behavior. Torrent is torn, she disagrees with the party's decision but needs their help to get to Lyceum.
The group parts ways:
The elf and gnome venture off alone to recover before braving the fire forest. The barbarian quietly follows them. Confident that the immediate threat is gone, Torrent recommends they rest again before heading on. When the party is finally ready, they send the horses back to Gate Pass, and then cross a charred bridge over the river into the fire forest.
The Fire Forest at last!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Adventure 1, Session 2 - Retrieving the case...
Book depository:
Talk with Rivereye Badgerface
The party spots Rivereye at the top of the stairs. He heads downstairs and feebly nods to the group, coughing and complaining that he caught a cold on his trip here from the Ragesian capital. He’s a pug-faced, ugly little gnome with blue robes and a runny nose. Rivereye inquires as to who they are. They mention Peppin isn't with them. Rivereye looks concerned, he asks if anyone of them know the password. When the party explains there is not password to be had, Rivereye bolts. Shedding his magical disguise as Rivereye, the short male elf sprints up the stairs. Some give chase, but the blond elf makes a spectacular leap off of the balcony and floats harmlessly to a nearby roof. Lord Robert glimpses an Archon drifting towards the 3rd floor.
Guards investigate, find other guards and real Rivereye tied up. Rivereye recounts story of his ambush, password ruse, and overhearing talk about 'her' and 'Gabal's School'. He describes the case as black metal, about a foot long and wide, and half a foot deep, made of (he thinks) adamantine, with a lock.
Wyvern Rider:
Talk of safehouse, party determines best to get to school quickly. In route they see the battle in the skies between Ragesian wyvern riders and Gate Pass griffon riders has been long and bloody. The party sees two flying shapes — one with feathered wings, the other with bat wings — cross paths overhead, and a loud crack sounds out. The bat-winged shape spirals out of control and crashes onto the roof of a building further down the street with a death groan. A moment later, the shattered lance of a Gate Pass griffon rider falls out of the sky, its tip having snapped off in the neck of the Ragesian wyvern. They see a rope tossed down from the roof of
the building into the street. The rider of the wyvern dismounted, descended with this rope, and then fled down the nearest alley. They find the wyvern dead, a broken lance tip driven into its throat. The rider’s tracks are easy to follow in the snow. He headed down an alley, and less than a hundred feet into his trail the party finds a trio of townsfolk, chopped to death by an axe. The trail leads to a row house, Makeighla hears sound through the door. Mike kicks in door and charges in. Party follows. They see the warrior, Flaganus Mortus, is a veteran, but injured, wearing full plate and a heavy steel shield, and carrying a masterwork battleaxe and a silver shortsword. 3 bodies are strewn about the house. Mike attacks, battle ensues... three 6'+ guys all swinging two handed swords at the guy in the corner. Lots of back and fourth, Torrent keeps Mike standing, Makeighla shoots into melee, Fen eventually burns a spell... finally victory... one body (young boy still alive). Prisoner and boy carried to safehouse.
Safe House:
Lots of people, not much space. No one is with anyone else (very important). Torrent and Rivereye find a spot and sit down. Torrent begins prayer, Rivereye attempts shut-eye. The temple is packed with at least a hundred nervous people, all squeezed into a 40-ft. circular prayer chamber and adjacent rooms. Many are nervously relating rumors of how the battle at the main gates is going. Children cry, and priests tend to numerous injuries from fire, stampeding crowds, or violent looters. People are scared and demoralized. Priests go between the wounded, tending them as best they can, their healing spells all expended.
Just inside the front door, a dark-skinned and dark-haired young woman dressed all in black plays a depressing tune on a mandolin— a typical new year’s festival song, redone in a minor key. Some of her 'audience' grumbles, she seems to be bringing down the mood. She sarcastically says she left the sheet music for her “happy songs” in her house, which burned down. Lord Robert to the rescue! Looking down his nose at the obviously low born 1/2 orc, he asks her to cease and desist that infernal racket, and furthermore get off his lawn. The lady with the mandolin refuses. A quick
Lord Robert and Makeighla are asked to leave by paladins of the Aquiline Heart. Explanation of the order's beliefs, Lord Robert and Makeighla seem unsatisfied. They are escorted out. Kah'less and Mike speak to high priest. He tells them to bring their friends around back.
Safe House Again:
Enter back door, child and prisoner taken care of. Priest knows not much about school nor contact there in. Party rests for a spell and off to Gabal's school.
Gabal's School:
Gabal’s school consists of a small campus with four 50-ft. towers and several smaller buildings, surrounded by a moat and an iron fence. It is mockingly called The Castle by those in Gate Pass who don’t like the school’s pompous headmaster. One of the towers is cracked from a Ragesian bomb. Additionally, the corpses of a
griffon and its rider float in the moat, having been slain by a wyvern’s sting.
When the Ragesians assaulted, Gabal himself went into hiding, while some of his students went to the battle to lend their aid. Only a handful of students remain at the school. Diogenes is at the front gate, watching for signs of trouble, smoking cigarettes in an attempt to stay warm. With a paunch, a prematurely receding hairline, and a sarcastic tone that is lost on most people, this blue-robed wizard possesses an everyman’s charm. He greats Fen as a fellow student.
He takes them to a kitchen and offers them whatever they’d like while they discuss plans. Shealis has had visitors this evening (an elf and the archon), tho they left a while ago. When the party talks of about Elf woman, he mentions Shealis, a powerful evoker who is leaving soon and he has a grudge against her. Party makes plans... Diogenes has an idea. He'll challenge a her to a dual, if someone lifts her spell component pouch, she'll lose the match. Also it will keep her distracted while the party ransacks her room.
Plan is afoot, but must wait until morning. Dual is accepted and publicized. Makeighla passes Shealis as planned. This blond elf woman’s blue eyes flicker like shining sapphires, and her pale skin glows like snow. She wears concealing red robes, but the metallic gleam of chainmail peeks out from her collar. Her gloves shine like silver. Makeighla manages to lift the component pouch undetected. Shealis begins the match unaware of her missing items.
Makeighla and Kah'less attempt entry into Shealis' room. Door is trap free, guaranteed! Or not. They are joined by Fen. Opening the door reveals the Lawful Good Archon, who is dispatched with John-style diplomacy. Tho Fen's magic missile was the fatal blow. Shealis is shaken by her familiar's death, she bolts for her room. Mike and Lord Robert catch her before she gets to far, binds her, and drags her back to her room. In the room, Fen discovers explosive runes! A map to the apparent hideout inside the elvish spymaster’s spellbook, which includes notes of the location of a hidden door that leads into an elvish ghetto, about a mile away. A map of the ghetto highlights a carpentry shop that lies next to one of the walls, and a note in Elvish reads, “Arborea before Elysium before Celestia.” Shealis is interrogated, Makeighla 'confesses' to killing the familiar, she's rewarded with a few magic missiles.
Diogenes arrives shortly there after, inquiring about Shaelis. The party clues him in, and he assists by charming Shaelis. She reveals the location of hideout, that her friends are there and they have the case. She doesn't share her spellbook secrets, as not even a close friend gets those. Her contact in Shahalesti is a wizard named Clathan. Her mission was to take the case back to her homeland. They don't want the Ragesian's to win either.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Fëanáro ("Fen") Ar-Feiniel
Fëanáro Ar-Feiniel (most call me Fen for short)
Description: 5’3” 120lb, a bit muscular for an elf, especially a wizard. Good looking with a hint of mischief in his eyes. You can tell he never takes anything to serious but he will also open the flood gates of pain if you piss him off. Fen has made a bit of a name for himself as being a womanizer. His superiors never really said anything but did warn him to not let anything interfere with his magical studies. He had one relationship that was longer than the other women he usually consorted with. She was a wayfarer. Just thinking of her is enough to bring a small smile to his lips and a look of longing in his eyes. She was a bit of a magic user herself which came in handy as they were hiding the relationship from her betrothed. The wayfarers step was very useful to them both for coming and going without people’s noses getting in the way.
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