This was the first game of the Paragon Tier, and occured after a one month break.

The characters at this point are as follows…

>> “Henif” – Human, Monk*
>> “Rolan” – Elf, Fighter
>> “Lystia” – Half Elf, Ardent*
>> “Aelar” – Elf, Ranger

*These are new characters, though the Players are not new to the campaign

After the conclusion of the previous game, the players were brought to the “Watchers” at the Calling Stone in Havenshore. The King of the Gadarian Empire was upset that his son (Merrik) was killed, but did not have the power to do to the PC’s as he wished – at least not in Havenshore under the protection of the Watchers.

While there, the Watchers told them that the bell they had recovered was thought to be the “Voice” of Califane – aka the “Bell of Califane” and that his followers beleived it needed to be brought far to the West, to the Broken Lands. Somewhere out there, there was said to be a temple where the bell should be rung. This would call upon Califane to ‘set things right’.

Due to recent events, the story of the “One God” was slowly beginning to crack which could lead to great instability. On top of that, there were rumors that the mountain Dwarves to the North were being stirred into action by a dark force (presumably the work of “Kas”) – their possible intent consisting of the taking or destruction of Havenshore thus weakening the power of men – bringing them to their knees. If there was ever a time to call upon the help of Califane, it seemed as though now was the time.

To that end, the followers of Califane, his Disciples, and even the Watchers agreed that the bell must leave soon. IT would be put aboard “The Morning Sun”, the largest of the nine airships. They also sent the players (as well as a Captain, an engineer and some crew members) to recover an airship (discovered in game #12) located deep within a mountain-top lab to the West.

Which brings us up to last night’s brief “Prologue” game.

The players were read the following…

4 days ago, you arrived at the Strahld family barony and began your ascent up the mountain.

Moments ago, the ship lost most of its power when the engineer attempted to make an adjustment on the control box and something exploded. He now lies motionless on the deck. The ship’s descent, initially slow, is now picking up speed. The clicking wings of giant skeletal bats echo above you as they move in for the kill.

What followed was an encounter that had the players attempting to put crystal balls back in their holders (at each of the 3 masts of the ship) after they fell out from the sharp descent of the ship (and it’s light collision with a wall of the shaft nearby). All of this while fighting off Giant Skeletal Bats, a few ghosts, a Banshee and a Lingering Spirit.

They were successful in keeping the crystal balls in place enough that the engineer (after coming to) was able to keep the descent somewhat controlled – when they eventually splashed down into an underground lake, the damage was lessened significantly. Currents eventually brought the ship out through a cavernous opening to the sea and they sailed back to Havenshore.

First of all, let me say that what follows will be confusing. It’s a confusing thing to explain, and on top of that I’m probably not the best equipped linguistically to do it… but I’m all you got. I did draw a diagram that may help though, so hit that up for a full version.

Picking up moments after the end of the last session, the group was on the move, weaving through “The Mounds”, an area peppered with large piles of earth excavated from a newly dug tunnel which they quickly stumbled across.

Descending into the tunnel, the eventually arrived ‘under’ the mass of land that now occupied this dimension. As they neared the exit, gravity seemed to gradually shift (reverse) – so though they were underneath the land mass, they were now standing upright with a new “sky” above them. On this side of the landmass, as it was ‘scooped’ from Havenshore, it rose in elevation to a peak in the middle, atop which stood what looked like a tower.

Quick diagram

Inside, they ‘ascended’ a spiral staircase to the top (aka basement… confusing yet?) where they found the man they had been looking for… Merrik.

The basement here had no ceiling – it had been destroyed it seemed. Above them the murky atmosphere (which was close to them here) swirled and within it, they could see Merrik’s ship… as if above them was a portal through which they could see it. Part of the ship extended into this realm, though it looked as though it had been destroyed on this protruding end.

Merrik was kneeling near a black stone that sat upon a table in front of him. Near him was a bell, and next to the bell an older man lay on his side – maybe dead.

The group confronted Merrik, who was near death. He tells them they should run. Kelvyn touches the black stone and immediately drops to the ground… zero hit points. We run a mini skill challenge as his essence returns to it’s home within Califane’s realm where he remembers that this is his real existence… that Kelvyn is simply a form given to him to push the will of Califane. He decides to fight his way back to the form of Kelvyn and faces trials to accomplish this (the skill challenge). He does well, which helps give him a bonus to the death saves he is about to attempt. He will get three rolls and he needs to succeed on 2 of them!

He does, and recovers with one HP in time to see the group suddenly assaulted by a large demon. For a brief moment, he associates the demon with a name… Kasyn… but the thought is fleeting, and all memories of the other existence he has is gone, but the name sticks with him.

The group kills the demon, the atmospheric ceiling descends down upon them, forcing them through the portal and on to the deck of Merrik’s ship which seems to have crashed onto the streets of the 5×5 block of Havenshore they had made their way around earlier… only now it was back in it’s place in Havenshore (still very much destroyed for the most part though).

The group stood from the deck taking in their surroundings where we concluded the game.

The next morning, the man (Krynt) gave them his map of the area and they set out trying to cross the area to get to likely positions Merrik might be in. Along the way, they came to a place on the map labeled “The Wall” and “Alazondro’s Wall”. Here, at the edge of the land mass, the land seemed to float off into a cloudy fog-like mist. However, in this area there were also what could only be guessed as “thousands” of bodies floating through these mists… a ‘wall’ of bodies. The man had told them that Merrik’s men went building to building killing everyone still alive after the area was struck from Havenshore.

At the wall, they found some undead and eventually continued on.

They came to an area on the map they hoped to find some sign of Merrik at. As they emerged from the ruins and entered a nearby alleyway, they were suddenly attacked by a tall, tree-like creature and a lieutenant of Merrik’s. Kelvyn (Gnome Bard) was dropped and eventually brought back up, but not before failing 2 death saves. They eventually won, but then had to run and hide from an alerted patrol. They left off in an area called “The Mounds” nearby, hiding, barely getting in a short rest… and that’s where we left it.

This was my 130th game of 4e, as either a player or DM

The players enter the “Wavecrusher” tavern seeking a path to Merrik.

They ask around and are pointed to a large, imposing man. He ignores them for the most part and eventually leaves.

They follow him to a nice tavern in another part of town – one they can not follow him into, and are not allowed into. They set up a small bomb on the corner of the building as a distractions. It goes off early and they end up fighting and killing the door guards. Eventually they make their way inside and lock everything behind them. The people inside, mostly wealthy nobles, seem oblivious to the ruckus that occurred outside.

They approach the man they spoke with earlier and offer him money. He takes it and them back to the Wavecrusher, pointing them to a portal in the back of the tavern.

This portal ends up being a kill box, dropping them into deep mud in the middle of some ruins, from which they are immediately attacked.

After defeating their attackers, a man emerges from the ruins and begins to pillage some crates their attackers had neaby – apparently, it had wine he wanted. They soon discovered they were no longer in Izz Al’Dinn. They began asking him about their new location as he lead them through more ruins, back to his hidden-away home.

As it turns out, they had come to be within the 5×5 block area that was once located in Havenshore, but now existed in some kind of pocket dimension. According to this man, Merrik was in charge of this area and it was crawling with Red Mask.

He leads them to his “home” (a hideout amidst the ruins) and they sleep

The group arrives at the camp of the “38″ who are looking for a temple, said to have been created by Califane’s people as a ‘safe house’ of some kind.

A child who can sense the temple has lead them near it, and the players help discover the entrance. Upon entering, they are separated from the group. Walking in along a long marble hallway, they see reflections of themselves in the walls, only their reflections are different in various ways.

Eventually they get to a room with a raised pool, surrounded along the rim by a dial of sorts. Positioned around the dial are words they can not read, perhaps hundreds of them, many of which have been scratched out.

Aelar (the Elven Ranger) touched the water and falls immediately unconscious. Just then a very tall hag-ish woman emerged from the darkness. She was tasked with watching the pool, and protecting those on the list. She can see them all in the reflections of the water. She claims that Merrik is about to discover a secret that will allow him to kill those on the list – make them fall dead wherever they stand. She wants them to get to Merrik and offers to help them get to him. She also warns them that when they hear the tolling of the bell, their time will be running out.

They agree to go to Merrik and she sends them instantly back to Izz Al’Dinn, near a tavern where she says the path to Merrik can be found.

[FIRST GAME WITH MARK AND HIS ACTUAL CHARACTER]

Flying south, Rayleena suggests stopping in Sandstone Pass to look for her friend Salazar. He is not there, but two others (Rolan, Mark’s character and Kelvyn, Brad’s NEW character). They join the crew at the request of Rayleena. Dervin and Jez disappear, taking the casket with them (that Goris had been carrying around).

Continue flying, arrive in Izz Al’Dinn.

Here, the group looks for information about a ship of human cargo that might have arrived from Havenshore while Rayleena and Taiz head out to look for more help.

Clues lead them to a warehouse now empty, but when a young man shows up unexpectedly and runs, they give chase. He is pretending to be a member of Red Mask. It turns out he is with followers of Califane who have brought people here from Havenshore to protect them. This young man (Leyton) says he will take them to the rest of the followers and the 38 “list” people from Havenshore. The game ends as they cross the desert on the back of a Torteran guided by Wild Elves.

[RHIANNA MISSED GAME - Mark played as Jez]

Goris is killed immediately by Spade when trying to exit the fort. Big fight which ends in the deaths of Spade and Merrik’s Advisor (devil creature) as well as two of their crew “Smitty” and “Fen”. Head south, Dervin (Brads character) is visited by a ghost whose body is in a casket the group now possess (once Goris’s).

[RHIANNA SKIPS GAME AS CHARACTER IS GONE]

Head south, pass over snowy mountains, meet icewalkers, continue south, arrive at fort where goris is, hand him knife, he says its a message for him to kill the pc’s but will not do it, heads up out of tower to leave with PC’s.

[RHIANNA MISSES GAME]

Group rested, when they awoke, crew was gone (kidnapped by merrik) – game was split between players playing PC’s and captured crew on merricks ship. Jez (Rhiannas character) was on ship, but not rescued.

Returning to the ship with 6 new crew members in tow, the group found Eddie was there and doing just fine. Rayleena and Eddie let them know that they needed to go back to Havenshore for a new crystal. One of the 4 used to help power the ship had exploded and Strahld was the only one they knew of who had one.

The ship was slowed drastically as it was one crystal short, but it still moved faster than they could by walking to Havenshore, so they departed the next morning.

Eddie had calculated when they should leave based on their available speed in order to come into Havenshore at night, allowing them to remain somewhat hidden while they sought out Strahld and his workshop. It didn’t take them long to find him in his workshop, but it appeared as though it had been ransacked, robbed and even burned in some areas. He confirmed as much as he relayed the story of Red Mask paying him a visit recently.

The conversation was interrupted by a scream outside, and when the players investigated they discovered 3 bodies near the front of a building. The women who discovered them had screamed and was lead away. After some investigating, it was discovered that in the last few days, bodies had been appearing at random locations throughout the city. The Watchers had recently claimed that some bodies were identified as people who were missing when a portion of the city disappeared a week before.

Strahld seemed to not be surprised by these events, and interrupted to tell them that his brother Stroben provided crystals to him (which Red Mask had taken), so they needed to speak with… and he was coming with them. After all, he claimed, there was nothing left for him here.

They departed immediately for the Baronies of Ruin one day travel to the East. His brother owned a territory called the “Barony of Midstone”, a 3×3 mile area (smallest of the territories there) that had been in the family since before the time humans came. It was once much larger, but maintaining its borders over the years was never a priority of the family.

When they arrived, they found Stroben’s cabin to be abandoned and after investigating his paperwork discovered he had moved his workshop into the hills farther up – into a small series of caves where he would have more room. When they arrived here, they found the caves had been expanded at some point and had run into an ancient “vault” built around 1,000 years before. They immediately found Stroben here, but he was no longer living… nor dead. He had a harpoon pierced through his chest that was chained to a spike in the floor nearby. Barely coherent, he did not say much, but mostly stared off into the distance. They were immediately attacked by now undead former workers of Strobens, but put them down without too much strain.

After exploring the 5-6 rooms of this new workshop they discovered a number of things…

1. A large 5×5 foot sphere made of Dark Iron, from the Zayn Desert. It’s weight was estimated at 4-6 tons
2. A lot of paperwork about “arcane displacement” and sea vessels.
3. A scrying device (telescope of some kind) sticking halfway into a very small portal. In the view piece only darkness could be seen  and after pulling it out, it exploded in light.
4. An ancient Airship

The airship in particular was an enormous discovery. The group investigated it thoroughly and found that it dated from a time around when humans arrived in the Last Lands. It was also equipped with Radian sails, draws and everything else needed to operate it as an airship. This was odd as there are only 9 airships now, and the technology is considered brand new… yet here it was, at least 1,000 years old.

Finally, markings on the ship indicated it originated in a kingdom from the Old World. The only kingdom from the old world ever named in mankind’s historical records…

…The Kingdom of Karameikos.

(Did I mention my previous 4e campaign took place on Mystara?)

Just as the players prepared for combat, a familiar voice cried out from behind them, “Stop!”.

It was Goris!

IT had been about 10 days since he last saw the group, sending them off with a tale of his death. Judging from the looks on the faces there at the ruins however, no one was surprised to see him – but Goris assured them their message had indeed helped, especially in the last few days.

After catching up for a little while, Goris noted the absence of Eddie. When the group told him he was left with the ship a few days ago, his demeanor fell grim. He told them that he had just come from the ‘elven tower’ to the North, where he had met with Merrik. Merrik had with him a child his men had kidnapped… a child that matched Eddie’s description.

They also learned (when Goris slipped) that Goris was the brother of Merrik, and also that Merrik was a prince of the Gadarian Empire (which made Goris one as well). Merrik was here to give Goris more work (though what that work is was not clear).

The group decided to head up to the tower… they did not want to head back to the ship to check on Eddie, only to miss Merrik leaving in his from the tower (they would later discover Merrik’s ship was the one that chased them out of Havenshore).

To get to the tower they would have to climb a steep and narrow path that wound it’s way up. During this trip, Merrik’s advisor (a Devil) began to kick undead subdwellers from the tower down onto them. To make matters worse, the subdwellers had an explosive stick shoved into their bodies. If the collision with the body didn’t kill you, the hope was the explosion that followed shortly thereafter would. This made for an interesting climb.

When they made it to the base of the tower, one of Merrik’s 6 lieutenants stepped out to face them. After a hard fought battle, the players came out on top and entered the tower. Working their way up, they made it to the top only to discover the ship had left during their ascent of the tower, but Merrik’s advisor awaited them. After a challenging fight with him, he stopped and pleaded with them to release him… in return he offered information, and perhaps aid when they next met… after all, he said, their paths were certainly meant to cross again with Merriks.

They learned Eddie was not there at the tower and that the child (here, but dead) was gathered by Merrik with some other people said to have some kind of powers. He intended on experimenting with them in some way. If the mutilated boy was any indication of the outcome of the experiments, then the others had no chance.

The players gathered up all the treasure Merrik had to leave behind in his hasty retreat and headed back to their ship where two days later they found Eddie, still working away on repairs.

As the players boarded the airship, Brellin was attacked and dragged away from it.

The players fought a Duergar caster and his robotic construct before eventually jumping onto the ship. It had been damaged and immediately began to fall down along the cliff it was up against. The players immediately took to the parse tubes powering the ship in order to steer it between the large buildings of Havenshore. They were being followed by another airship from which flew Kenku warriors and a wizards who were doing everything they could to bring their airship down.

Eventually, they escaped flying south out of Havenshore where the crew put the ship down North West of the ruins of North Keep.

The Tiger Gnoll first mate was now in charge as the captain was seriously injured/diseased. He told the group that he had to go to the ruins to get more crew members (many were lost in the fight). The group said they did not want to at which point they were told – if you want to get to Izz Al’Dinn via his ship, they would go with him to back him up at the fort.

After two days (and a night) of travel, they arrived to find a number of desperate men there who decided they were going to take from the players whatever they wanted.

Next week, roll initiative again

The previous game ended with the players regrouping at Jez’s home and preparing to head to the General’s Ceremony in three days at the Royal Hall of Swords.

By day 2, the city was in a state of barely ordered chaos. Soldiers from both the Gadarian Empire and the Kingdom of Halavast had arrived to help keep order, and the Havenshore soldiers were out in full force as well. There was particularly a lot of activity around “The Hole” where the event (now being called “The Undoing”) had occured.A 5 by 5 block area of the city had disappeared. Estimates are in the 4-5,000 as far as the number of people in that area at the time that are now missing. Many who were very close to the area of the event when it occured were killed – some sucked some few hundred feet into the middle of the crater. Others died in the colapse of buildings near the rim that were no longer structurally sound.It was on this 2nd night since the event that a visitor came to Jez’s door.The group let him in. His name was Cameris – he was the one they were to meet tomorrow. He told them that the event was canceled and when he went looking for Brellin he could not find him – he said that Brellin’s men told him to go see Jez and to pass on the information he was to give to Brellin.He had also run into Shen who told Cameris to “tell Jez and her company to meet at the workshop tomorrow night”.He relayed this information as well as the information he was going to pass on to Brellin. That information being…1. The “Source” list did not (in all likelyhood) originate from Izz Al’Dinn. One ’short’ list came from there, but as far as he could gather, that list was sent there from somewhere else – perhaps the first short list to be used to gather individuals. Because it was one of the first to reach Havenshore, the assumption was that the source was there, but as more have come in, that seems less likely now.2. Red Mask was going to send 37 captured individuals out of Havenshore by boat. While these 37 were indeed placed on a boat, there was some complication. He could not get people to share much information, but what it sounded like was that those 37 on the boat may have been taken by someone else – whether that was a 3rd party working with Red Mask, or someone else he is not sure.3. Most names on the lists are not important. Red Mask seems to have a way of determining if someone on a given list is of value to them. Those who are not are either released, or killed and dumped – depending on who is in charge of keeping them at the time.After sharing this information, Eddie pressed for more, particularly about the recent “undoing”. Cameris shared with them that from the rumors he is hearing on the inside, some higher-up Red Mask members as well as some others, took a child into the area of the event just before it happened – the child was important to the organization in some way… that was all he knew.With that, he left.The group decided that Jez’s place was not safe. They stayed the night at an Inn near where the workshop was located and went there the next night.Stralhd, the owner, let them in and left them to wait for Shen. Shen showed up and asked them what Cameris had shared. When they have him the news, he sprung a trap – many Red Mask members ambushed them there in the workshop in an encounter that ended with a few of them getting a way, and an attempt at escape by Shen (who was captured by Dervin).Cameris showed up later with Brellin who insisted they let Shen go – that his people were leaving and Shen could do them no more harm. They agreed (reluctantly) and followed him to the Upper Ward. On the way, Brellin explained that he was with a group called “The Order of Califane” – a group that did not beleive in the One God. This group was heading to the Zayn Desert, to the city of Izz Al’Dinn where they could “share the truth with those who would listen” without worrying about the oppression of the empire. He hoped the players would come with his people.They agreed and at a manor in the Upper Ward they prepared to leave, in what turned out to be an airship!As they boarded, Brellin was shot in the back by some construct with a harpoon-like hand. It pulled Brellin back towards him.Next time… roll for initiative…
By day 2, the city was in a state of barely ordered chaos. Soldiers from both the Gadarian Empire and the Kingdom of Halavast had arrived to help keep order, and the Havenshore soldiers were out in full force as well. There was particularly a lot of activity around “The Hole” where the event (now being called “The Undoing”) had occured.

A 5 by 5 block area of the city had disappeared. Estimates are in the 4-5,000 as far as the number of people in that area at the time that are now missing. Many who were very close to the area of the event when it occured were killed – some sucked some few hundred feet into the middle of the crater. Others died in the colapse of buildings near the rim that were no longer structurally sound.

It was on this 2nd night since the event that a visitor came to Jez’s door.

The group let him in. His name was Cameris – he was the one they were to meet tomorrow. He told them that the event was canceled and when he went looking for Brellin he could not find him – he said that Brellin’s men told him to go see Jez and to pass on the information he was to give to Brellin.

He had also run into Shen who told Cameris to “tell Jez and her company to meet at the workshop tomorrow night”.

He relayed this information as well as the information he was going to pass on to Brellin. That information being…

1. The “Source” list did not (in all likelyhood) originate from Izz Al’Dinn. One ’short’ list came from there, but as far as he could gather, that list was sent there from somewhere else – perhaps the first short list to be used to gather individuals. Because it was one of the first to reach Havenshore, the assumption was that the source was there, but as more have come in, that seems less likely now.
2. Red Mask was going to send 37 captured individuals out of Havenshore by boat. While these 37 were indeed placed on a boat, there was some complication. He could not get people to share much information, but what it sounded like was that those 37 on the boat may have been taken by someone else – whether that was a 3rd party working with Red Mask, or someone else he is not sure.
3. Most names on the lists are not important. Red Mask seems to have a way of determining if someone on a given list is of value to them. Those who are not are either released, or killed and dumped – depending on who is in charge of keeping them at the time.
After sharing this information, Eddie pressed for more, particularly about the recent “undoing”. Cameris shared with them that from the rumors he is hearing on the inside, some higher-up Red Mask members as well as some others, took a child into the area of the event just before it happened – the child was important to the organization in some way… that was all he knew.

With that, he left.

The group decided that Jez’s place was not safe. They stayed the night at an Inn near where the workshop was located and went there the next night.

Stralhd, the owner, let them in and left them to wait for Shen. Shen showed up and asked them what Cameris had shared. When they have him the news, he sprung a trap – many Red Mask members ambushed them there in the workshop in an encounter that ended with a few of them getting a way, and an attempt at escape by Shen (who was captured by Dervin).

Cameris showed up later with Brellin who insisted they let Shen go – that his people were leaving and Shen could do them no more harm. They agreed (reluctantly) and followed him to the Upper Ward. On the way, Brellin explained that he was with a group called “The Order of Califane” – a group that did not beleive in the One God. This group was heading to the Zayn Desert, to the city of Izz Al’Dinn where they could “share the truth with those who would listen” without worrying about the oppression of the empire. He hoped the players would come with his people.

They agreed and at a manor in the Upper Ward they prepared to leave, in what turned out to be an airship!

As they boarded, Brellin was shot in the back by some construct with a harpoon-like hand. It pulled Brellin back towards him.

Next time… roll for initiative…

This game began with a skill challenge… we backed up time to the moment of the explosion. The players were challenged with anticipating the danger, and their quick reactions to the event lessened the extend of damage done.

After the explosion, the players were pulled to safety by a group of men and led below the city. Aelar remained conscious, but Dervin and Eddie were knocked out.

Here, in the catacombs below Havenshore, the group rested. Those who saved them questioned them about the lists and seem to be involved in activities meant to thwart the goals of the Red Mask. They claimed there were more lists (many in fact) and that after questioning various Red Mask captives learned that there was a master list somewhere. They also know that many people who were on the lists were taken by boat from Havenshore – heading for Izz Al’Dinn, a desert city to the far South West.

They also learned that the guide who came to them in the Blood River (Tavern/Inn) was sent by this groups leader (Shen) who then sent Gerrit to retrieve them (who was killed in the suicide blast while trying to stop the bomber). Shen told them he could share no more and that their leader, Brellin had to be the one to give them more information should he choose to do so.

Shen sent them to Brellin with Jezarith as their guide. She lead them through the catacombs of Havenshore for two hours, during which Aelar was plagued with a sense of despair and finally a voice telling him he did not belong here. When Eddie tried to take his hand at one point, Eddie was wracked with pain and flung into the darkness. Imprinted in his mind, a vision of standing in a street with no one in sight, but the feeling of thousands of eyes upon him was apparent.

Jezarith eventually lead them to Brellin who didn’t have much more information. When they mentioned the guide who came to them belonging to Shen, he said that was indeed a guide they knew – but that the guide asked for the list and about Tolan was puzzling to him… it may not have been their guide after all.

Suddenly, Brellin sensed the group had been f0llowed and instructed them that in a few days time, a man would be returning to Havenshore. A Red Mask member in appearance, but in fact someone working for them on the inside. He would be appearing at a ceremony for a General of the Gaderian Empire and they he (Brellin) was to meet with him to get some information… only now, he was no longer sure he would make it – so they needed to meet for him.

He then forced them to flee. During the escape, Aelar could sense they were being hunted, and whatever it was was gaining on them. Suddenly, the found themselves being pulled from the corridors by a force of wind. Theywere eventually expelled from the catacombs and into what appeared to be a large crater in the middle of Havenshore. It measured approx 5 blocks in diameter and was some 5 floors deep at the center. They found themselves 2 floors down near the rim of the crater, their pursuers getting to their feet as well… Red Mask members… the fight was on. Moments later, the creature known as Xizitik emerged… a large wererat. It attacked the players as well and seemed to be working along side the Red Mask men.

Winning the fight, they were questioned by a guard who eventually moved on. They then made their way to Jezarith’s home where they cleaned up and prepared to go to the ceremony only days away.

Continuing through the fort, the group arrived on 3rd and top floor.

After securing two thugs who were not looking for a fight, and passing two half-giant brothers that were too distracted brawling with each other to notice them, they made their way into Goris’s chamber. This large room contained a number of crates, chests and bags. As they began to search for Sy’s amulet, a shadow near the ceiling slid down to the floor followed by a voice telling them they did not belong there. After following the shadow as it moved through the room, it finally materialized into a ‘person’. Aelar kept his bow trained on the figure as it warned them again and approached them.

At that moment, the group realized they were not alone as more people made their way into the room from various doors and passages. Finally, Goris emerged from a hidden doorway, out of breath from scrambling up the hidden away stairwell. “No no” he shouted, and found that he was in luck – no fight had broken out… yet.

Goris proposed a deal to the group… they leave the fort, with what treasure he had in the room including the amulet – in return for this, they would tell Sy (and anyone else) that they had killed him (Goris) taking the treasure for their own. This provided them treasure and no fight, while providing him some freedom to do things that would “allow me to take the next step”.

They agreed, and were soon on their way with Sy and the entertainers, heading North to Landfall.

In Landfall, Sy set them up in the best Inn in Landfall, and after a tour of the city with the Inn’s owner, they realized just how nice the Inn really was… Landfall might as well have been called LandFILL. For it’s size, and age there should be much to see and admire, but there simply wasn’t.

The next morning, they boarded a ship (ferry) headed for Havenshore. After a short wait outside the South Docks of the Lower Ward, they were allowed to dock and disembark.

Sy lead them immediately to an immense building – a tavern known as “Blood River”. It’s massive sign could be seen from the docks, a large red smear of paint. They soon found themselves inside the largest tavern they had ever seen – indeed, the largest one in the known lands from what they heard. Sy again set them up with room, and on their way up to it passed by a gladiatorial type fight between sub-dwellers, a common and profitable enterprise which exploited the little creatures to the disdain of… well, almost none.

A short while later, the group was heading north to the Cliff District on their way to a library for more information. There, Eddie learned a little more about “Guides” and the Spire Tower.There was no information on Airships other than what one of the library workers could tell him (which was not much) so they were on their way.

The returned to their rooms to sleep but were awoken by a voice in the room…

“Hello Tolan, how nice of you to return. I see you brought…”

The voice stopped as the group awoke and showed themselves as anyone but Tolan.

Their visitor was a Guide, who seemed to know they carried the list. It asked them what happened to Tolan to which Eddie responded that Tolan had given them the list. The Guide asked of the task… was it complete? Eddie responded that Tolan did not tell them what the task was. They also claimed to have someone with them from the list… pointing to Aelar. The Guide reponded that he knew Aelar was on the list. He returned his gaze to Eddie and told them that someone would come for them in the morning that they should follow.

The next morning someone did come. He asked if they had been visited by a Guide, and when the response was positive, he moved out – group in tow.

After a few twists and turns, they found themselves walking along the Southern tip of the Island of Ways in Havenshore’s Lower Ward. A man suddenly emerged from the crowd, blocking the man who led them. This stranger asked them, “So you are the ones who killed Goris”?.

Aelar responded, “Yes we are”.

At that, the stranger replied, “Good”, reached into his shirt pulling out a basketball sized device. Eddie recognized this as a larger version of a bomb he himself had but it was too late. The man leading them lunged forward to grab it yelling, “NO!” but promptly exploded as the stranger detonated it killing them both and sending the group flying back from the force of it. The moment of the explosion was the last thing they would see…

…until we pick up the game again next time.

After talking with Ghost, Jarit and Hira back at the Inn, a man entered and warned Jarit that the Murkers were out looking for the PC’s.

Jarit knew they needed to leave town, and be hidden as they did so – so he brought them to a group of entertainers he knew could help. The PC’s ended up leaving with the entertainers led by a man named Sybelu, hiding in the back of a carriage (one of four) as the Murkers were looking for them. But they were stopped at the gate leaving town and the carriages were checked.

As the door to their carriage was pulled open, they saw the one opening the door was someone they let live (and let go) in the game before – a young Murker who had begged for his life. He looked at them and closed the doors, yelling out “all clear”.

They left town and for the next two days traveled with the entertainers through hail and rain – miserable weather.

They set up camp on the third night allowing them to get to know the entertainers a bit better.

The next morning they were approached by men on horses – they spoke to Sybelu.

“He wants to see you, Sy”

“Good, he owes me money”

“He knows”

‘He’ turned out to be Goris, as Sy explained, a former Murker member who had ambitions of his own and now led a smal group of bandits (10 at most). They would take a slight detour and meet with Goris at the ruins of North Keep – a common hang out for various bandits, thugs and the homeless. At any given time there could be 5 people there, or 100.

Goris was there, along with many others, though it was hard to say who worked for him and who was there to gamble/drink/plan some other mischief. It turns out Goris had brought a lot of people and promised them entertainment so he could show the influence he had by bringing the troupe up to the keep.

Goris did not force, but persuaded Sy to run a show or two. The troupe was short on people as some stayed in the last town meaning to meet up with them later… so they would need the PC’s help.

What I did was come up with 6 roles that needed to be filled. The (3) PC’s would fill 3 roles and the rest would be ‘glossed over somehow’. These roles were geared towards specific skills. The roles were…
Narrator (I Forget, hehe)
Hero (Athletics)
Villain (Intimidate)
Sage (Insight)
Singer (Endurance)
Dancer (Acrobatics)
- Dwarf Warden chose “Singer”
- Human Artificer chose “Sage”
- Elf Ranger chose “Hero”
Next, I had broken the show up into 3 Acts, each act comprised of 2 ‘parts’ (so 6 parts total)
I then took difficulties for Easy, Medium, and Difficult (10/14/18 respectably) as an array… 18, 14, 14, 10, 10, 10 and spread them through the parts so each role had it’s “Hard” part of the show at a different time, etc. Each role had 3 parts that were “Easy” and 2 that were moderate (”Medium”) etc.
I did not have a story for the show so, for each part I looked at what was happening as far as difficulty and described it like “This is a big (Hard) scene for the singer – you have to sing the lines handed to you and it’s complex and long. The Hero plays a small role (Easy) as does the Sage so you two are meeting for the first time and beginning a journey while the song tells the tale”.
So for each part like this, they rolled their skill vs the DC for their role. I used a point system to track success as well. A success was worth 1, but if you succeeded by four or more, it was worth 2. Failure by 4 or more was worth -1.
Forgot to mention that for one of any of the 6 parts, they could ‘call for a line’ from the side and get a +2 to their role. They were told before each scene either “This is your big (Hard) scene”, this one “Isn’t too bad (Medium)”, or “This scene is easy and doesn’t require much from you” – so they might have a good idea of when they needed to do well (aka, call for the bonus).
It went very well, was a lot of fun and the outcome was that they put on an “average” show.
Following that, Goris insisted on a second show, but Sy also found out that apparently Goris was not going to repay the debt he owed. So Sy setup a plan to have the second show be a distraction, allowing the PC’s to sneak away from the show and make their way up into the keep to his (Goris’s) room and take from him what was owed.

Sy asked this of them but told them he understood if they would rather not – but they jumped on it wanting to help him out.

They encountered some bandits and other hooligans on the way up.

They ended up triggering a fight at one point halfway up, killing some and capturing the rest (tying them up). The game ended in a staircase where it will pick up next time.

At the end of session 2, some of the players watched the Port Winters Manor House getting a feel for activity going on before heading to the Inn to sleep.

At the start of this session, Aelar and Eddie woke up and went downstairs for breakfast only to discover Clive was missing. Garion had never made it out from the harbor after their escape the night before and so now it was the two of them.

Jerit came to them that morning and told them that one of their friends had been taken to the manor, but he wasn’t sure which. It seemed as though the place was being used by local thieves known as the “Murkers” and they seemed to have at least one “Red Mask” member in town. He also knew of someone else interested in the going-ons of the manor. He introduced the two of them to a Dwarf (played by Clive’s player who had now switched race/class to cover for the loss of Garion’s player). The dwarf was in town having followed various omens and visions and they were now leading to the manor. The Dwarf felt their meeting was part of a grand design and knew he was sent to help them.

They decided they would go together and get inside in an attempt to find their friends. Most of the session involved moving through the large manor. There were multiple encounters, some involving the giving up of Murkers as opposed to being killed. Some information was gathered from these men and the group continued into the depths of the manor.

In the end, they discovered Tolan was here (his name was mentioned in the list of 6 as someone who had ’seen’ Hira’s location) as well as a Red Mask member they learned earlier was named ‘Lago’. He was a half giant – a large brute of a man.Aside from what appeared to be a large amount of smuggled goods, Hira was down below the manor shackled to a wall as well as Clive and Garion.

When the group was spotted, Tolan instructed Lago to ‘Kill them’ pointing to those shackled to the wall. He moved to the nearest and did so, a human unknown to them – the party jumped to action. They were able to stop him from killing anyone else there, as well as kill him and Tolan and a few others – some who were there fled however.

On Tolan, they discovered another list of names, only this one was much larger containing some 90+ individual names. Among the names listed there were their own, including names from the previous short list. The group gathered what they could from the various stashes, as well as their friends and made their way out and back to the Inn.

Hira told them that a man had come one day and told Tolan that “there were survivors in Malinev”. They figured this message referred to them. Later, other men came to visit Tolan and he passed on this news, to which they responded something along the lines of “We have to get to Havenshore and talk to the Guide” and that “Henrik needs to know this as well”.

Questions

- Why are all of the PC’s on the long list?
- Who is “The Guide” and “Henrik”?
- Hira is alive, what else might she know?
- Who was “Tolan”, and what part did he play with regard to the list? Wades claims that Tolan was a member of “Red Mask” seem wrong at this point.
- The “Red Mask” is involved in events surrounding the list, but to what degree and why?

The Plan For Next Game?

Unknown.

Session 2 began with the players boarding a ship to Port Winters.

Their goal was to look for the ship “Saint Dmitri” and to locate a female named Hira who was on the list and said to have gone to the pier where they later witnessed a female (possibly her) struggling with men on said ship.

Upon arriving they were approached by a beggar named Jerit who offered to show them around the town (for a price). As it turned out, he was very informative and helpful and in the end let them know where they could find the ship Dmitri, even if he could not take them there himself.

The players investigated the ship as many members of the crew offloaded cargo and prepared to take it to a nearby manor. Desperate for more information, Garion attempted to board the ship leading to a fight. The rest of the party feigned innocence and either swam to safety or moved out of the way as quickly as possible. Garion, after taking a number of hits, was able to escape into the water.

The PC’s regrouped at the Inn, though Edward and Aelar held back following the cargo to its destination.

Questions

- Why is one of the PC’s on this list, and is it a hit list?
- Where is Hira? Since she is one of the names on the list unaccounted for, she might have answers. [NEW]Is she at the manor in Port Winters, imprisoned on the boat, or neither?
- Who is this “Tolan”, and what part does he play with regard to the list? Wade claims Tolan is a member of “Red Mask”, an alliance of sorts consisting of thieves guilds and other organizations, allegedly.
- The “Red Mask” might be involved, but to what degree and why?

The Plan For Next Game?

Investigate the manor as crew from the boat (including a member of the Red Mask) unloaded their cargo there… perhaps Hira is inside.

Last night was game 1 of my new Dark Water campaign, which is taking place in my new setting the Last Lands! It was a lot of fun (for me at least), though the players claim to have had a good time as well, so I guess we are all good!

Ok, this is the first summary for Dark Water and as opposed to my previous campaign where I wrote out detailed summaries, I’m going to keep these as short as possible. Their purpose is more to jog the memory than to paint a detailed picture of the events exactly as they occurred, though I’m sure this will be longer as it was our first game.

The Setup

I avoid the “you start in a tavern” opening in my games at all cost, preferring instead to start things in the middle of combat (as I did in my last campaign) or in a way that feels more “realistic” to me (yes yes, I know… spells and dragons and all, this is far from reality, etc) – you get the point.

The opening of the game involved telling a story about the circumstances surrounding an event that brings the PC’s together (as well as some other people). Much of this was ‘boxed text’, or stuff I wrote out ahead of time to read aloud. I’ll skip that part and jump to the point where they first met each other. You can click here as well to check out the makeup of the group.

The Summary

The characters, as well as a few NPC’s, where all given letters calling them to a location in the woods at midnight to discuss something important. There a man waited named Linden. He told them of an event two nights prior during which he was attacked at the docks – he was able to kill the two attackers and searched them finding a letter before fleeing the scene. The letter had the names of 6 individuals, the content of which looked this…

Chask and Pilllen – brothers in Malinev
Thoradin – Dwarf, can be found in the presence of Surren the smith
Linden – Former soldier of Halavask, might be staying with family near docks
Clive – Wealthy mother in Malinev best place to check
Hira – Female human. Tolan claimed to see a sign of a bear over her head, but that’s all we have
Linden’s hope was the people on this list (which also had the last known whereabouts of the named) could shed light on why he was attacked, and why his name was on what was now assumed to be a hitlist.

While discussing the letter, they all came under attack, but they easily defeated their would be ambushers. On one of them another letter was found saying that Linden was gathering them, and that the recipient of the letter should find them now!

The note by Hira’s name on the “hit” list mentioned that Tolan saw a “sign of a bear over her head”. Two of the PC’s immediately thought “Black Bear Inn” with it’s prominent sign over the door. There the Inn keeper said she left after he delivered a message to her left by some men. She had left for the docks an hour before.

There, they watched a lone ship leave the harbor – a struggle was occurring on the deck that involved a female (possibly Hira?). The PC’s were then attacked on the docks and once again prevailed. While there were no clues to find here, the harbormaster Wade, after a conversation (and some bribing), gave them a few.

The ship was the St. Dmitri out of Port Winters to the North. It was a “Red Mask” ship. He had also heard of the name Tolan (from the list, his name in context to the other information there seemed to infer he was at least helping someone in the search for those on the list).

The group decided to leave for Port Winters by ship, with Wade’s help of course.

Questions

- Why is one of the PC’s on this list, and is it a hit list?
- Where is Hira? Since she is one of the names on the list unaccounted for, she might have answers.
- Who is this “Tolan”, and what part does he play with regard to the list? Wade claims Tolan is a member of “Red Mask”, an alliance of sorts consisting of thieves guilds and other organizations, allegedly.
- The “Red Mask” might be involved, but to what degree and why?

The Plan For Next Game?

The PC’s intend on getting up to Port Winters and looking for the ship St. Dmitri