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[D&D 4e - MapTool] Game Over - Inactivus wins!

SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
edited December 2010 in Critical Failures
What is Heaven's Gate?

Heaven's Gate is a high fantasy campaign setting set upon the world of Gaia, a gas-giant with an earth like atmosphere in the Celeste star system. The people of Gaia live on massive shards of earth, rock, and stone called skylands that drift on the airy winds amongst the clouds. The skylands are home to numerous civilizations, ancient empires, and creatures both mundane and magical.

Present Day
March 12th, 2522 EC

Twenty years after the end of the Eldritch Wars, the people of Amador are still recovering from the cataclysmic events that fractured kingdom and sky. The nations are skeletons of their former power and the Alliance is little more than a name, an ideal some aspire to and others fear, as each city, town, and village looks to their own. The wilderness has grown dangerous and dark. In the southern reaches of Amador, the Beastmen look northward towards the Borderlands for slaves and sacrifices for their bestial gods atop Dragon Mountain. In the Northlands, Goblins and Gnolls raid the countryside. The Giants of the Giantshold Mountains wage a desperate war against the Dragons of [url=Wyrmspire Peak. A war that threatens to spill into Arkel and Noldor. Even the Heartlands has its share of trouble. The Cult of Shadows has risen from the ashes of of the Eldritch Wars and threatens the fragile peace between the nations of Amador. Gather up your allies brave adventurers and gird yourselves for battle.

The storm is coming...


Map of Heaven's Gate
gaia.jpg

The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010

    Introduction to Heaven's Gate
    The last light of the dying sun fades into shadow behind the jagged peaks of the Giantshold Mountains. A crash of lightning and thunder heralds the coming storm, though your mind is on a more pressing matter. The hot breath of a dozen wolves mists into the chilled late spring air. Golden eyes glimmer in the shadows beneath the boughs of the Black Forest.

    "What a fool I am..." you think to yourself. The Lord of Harrowkeep had been so persuasive and asked you to go north to Kalle to collect taxes owed to the crown. You agreed despite your reservations about traveling this late, this near to the Black Forest and now you fear you're going to pay for that mistake. A rustle in the undergrowth to the east catches your attention and the unmistakble golden-green gleam ten feet up causes your heart to leap into your throat.

    A DIRE WOLF!

    DM: Roll for initiative please...
    Session 001: The Black Forest - The Road to Kalle

    Encounter XP Gained: +150 xp to Onyx, Rei, Mian Kas, and Jonathan

    The first encounter took place on the road to Kalle from the town of Harrowkeep. A mated pair of hungry wolves and two litters of pups led by a ferocious dire wolf assaulted the party around an abandoned farmer's wagon of rotten vegetables and old provisions. The battle was fierce and bloodied more than one member of the party. The starving pups fought the hardest and the young dire wolf was unable to do much against the radiant onslought from the battle tested invoker, Jonathan, and the anger-fueled cleric, Rei. In the end, almost a dozen wolves lay dead as the mated pair of wolves fled into the forest, their hunger not sated and two litters left dead or dying.
    Session 002: The Black Forest - The Webbed Caverns

    Encounter XP Gained: +600 xp to Onyx, Rei, Mian Kas, and Jonathan
    Bonus XP Gained: +100 xp to Onyx for point out a mistake, +100 xp to Mian Kas for making me laugh

    The second days travel along the road to Kalle proved to be uneventful until almost sunset, when the primal warden, Onyx, noticed dusky strands of spider-web. The earthen identified these strands as belonging to a particularly troublesome and pervasive species of giant spider. Fearing for the safety of the people of the Thore River Vale, the earthen convinced the rest of the party to abandon their tax collection efforts for the moment, in order to scout out the source of the infestation and root it out with hammer and flame. The natural instincts of the warden led the wary travellers straight to a freshly opened system of caves in some forested rolling hills at the edge of the Black Forest. Spiders and their eggs were the least of concerns to the party as some smooth bored holes in the walls drew the attention of Onyx and Mian Kas. Five segmented worms, four of which were roughly six feet long, burst out of the holes and attacked the party. Virulent green acid dripped from between the mandibles of the creatures. The last of the worms was as big around as the earthen warden and was close to ten feet long. It's mandibles were bent backwards slightly and serrated, to better keep their prey close.

    The worms took a heavy toll on the young adventurers, but in the end, Onyx and the rest of his party fought off the worms and discovered strange, pulsating gems inside the hearts of the slain creatures. Pressing onward into the caves after brief respite, the scene ended when they discovered a nest of what looked like stalagmites with four tentacles each. Uncounted numbers of various sizes swarmed through the cavern, shephered by four larger versions and one massive grey-hide beast with glimmering red eyes.
    Session 003: The Black Forest - The Webbed Caverns

    Encounter XP Gained: +400 xp to Onyx, Rei, Mian Kas, Janus, and Jonathan
    Bonus XP Gained: +250 xp to Onyx, +250 xp Mian Kas, +100 xp to Janus

    The littlest of the grey, leathery creatures with tentacles fled into dank recesses, nooks, and crannies as their larger siblings and Brood Mother screeched warning cries at the adventuring group led by Onyx, a young, but well traveled Earthen warden. One of the smaller beasts launched itself through the air at the Earthen and left a stinging welt, even on the warden's stony skin. The Brood Mother screeched in defiance, inciting her younglings into a fierce rage. The combat was bloody and left nearly everyone but Mian Kas bloodied after the Brood Mother fled the encounter, burrowing through earth and stone to escape the wrath of Onyx and the others.

    Exploration of the cavern revealed bulk trade goods marked with factor's crests and seals out of Harrowkeep and Arkos. Grains, beans, thatching, cotton, and even some rice from the eastern Heartlands were stacked in scattered piles. Weevils, fleas, and other tiny insects infested the goods. Behind a tattered blue banner, the party discovered a fiery surprise while searching the new area. Two explosive traps of fire blasted out of hidden recesses in the dusty cavern walls, leaving Mian and Onyx scorched and smoking. The rotting remains of a wolf and three empty cages offered few clues to the recent inhabitants of the cavern. A map on a desk drew the Bard's attention, though the most important aspect eluded the Eladrin songsmith for the moment.

    Young Jonathan of Haldor, comfortably resting against the wall near the banner hear the heavy tread of hobnailed boots and murmured, gravelly voices from the previous cavern. The rest of the party moved to investigate and discovered five Earthen, a Brute and four others, examining the corpses of the tentacle beasts. They looked up at the approaching party and the biggest of the five, the brute... standing close to ten feet tall and nearly as wide, searched Onyx's features with particular interest.

    "Hey boys... look who decided ta pay us a visit. Ol' Shalestone will pay a pretty penny for your Heartstone, Onyx." Mian glanced down at the thin papyrus map and noticed dark writing on the back. He flipped the map over and saw a well rendered drawing of his earthen traveling comrade.
    Onyx-Steeltoe.jpg

    Reward for the Capture or Slaying of Onyx Steeltoe
    Traitor to the Ironsky Citadel and the Earthen Race.
    Return the traitor or his Heartstone to any Earthen
    who bears the seal of Clan Shalestone for your reward:
    1 pound of gems

    "Well damn..." -- Mian Kas
    Session 004: The Black Forest - The Webbed Caverns

    Encounter XP Gained: +350 xp to Onyx, Rei, Mian Kas, Janus, and Jonathan
    Bonus XP Gained: No bonus xp this week...

    The party continued their exploration of the Webbed Caverns after a frightening encounter with the Earthen Brute, Garamon Rockslide, and a few of his henchmen. The battle started off badly, with several members of the adventuring group splashed with concentrated acid from the tunnelers they faced earlier. On top of the flask of acid, the Earthen Brigands wielded poison coated blades they hurled at Jonathan, Onyx, and Janus. Several of the brigands fell and Garamon was left staggering and bloodied after divine light from Jonathan stunned the brute. Garamon yielded to the group and was allowed to leave unhindered. After taking stock of their supplies and feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on them, Onyx and the others decided to barricade themselves into the former hideout of the Earthen brigands and rest for the night.

    The next day, they continued their exploration of the Webbed Caverns and finally discovered the nest of spiders they had sought out in the first place. The battle was vicious and spider ichor covered the walls. The flow of eight-legged menaces from the thickly webbed caves seemed endless. At last though, the heroes prevailed and began to cautiously advance into the main cavern. Spider legs crunched and black ichor spread soaked into the rough, dirt floor. Onyx was the first to see the source of the infestation... a Queen Giant Spider. Her forelegs waved menacingly in the air and she hissed loudly at the advancing heroes. Within the dark recesses of the webbed cavern, hundreds of red eyes grouped in eights waited hungrily for their mother to announce it was dinner time.
    Session 005: The Black Forest - The Webbed Caverns & Onwards to Kalle... finally!

    Encounter XP Gained: +1200 xp to Onyx, Rei, Mian Kas, Janus, and Jonathan
    Bonus XP Gained: No bonus xp this week...

    The heroes vanquished the last of the eight-legged infestation, leaving only the queen and the source of the foul spiders left to slay. The battle was fierce and horrible as the Queen reanimatd the husks of her recently slain children. Even more disgusting, the risen spiders dissolved into puddles of viscous, necrotic ooze upon their death... leaving behind pools of black ichor that reeked of rotten death. Halfway through the battle, the Blightweaver Queen nearly killed the mysterious rogue, Janus. Another bite from the Queen might have ended his life for good, but the steadfast determination of Onyx gave Janus the respite he needed to shake off the effects of the poison and ignore the pain from his wounds to strike the last, telling blow against the revolting spider queen.

    Their journey to Kalle had been delayed a day, but in the end it was worth it. Both in pride and for a good deed done and a substantial amount of wealth was discovered on recent victims of the Blightweaver Queen. A blade that radiated the light of the fiery sun and a shield to match were the prize of the treasure trove. A welcome reward indeed after many hard fought battles. The rest of the journey to Kalle was not marred by any further complications, though the reception at Kalle was far different than expected. The small town had grown in the last year and a wall surrounded the town. A small keep was nestled against the walls, overlooking and providing protection to the people of Kalle.

    Naum Thomas, mayor and self-appointed Lord of Kale, was giving a speech in the center of the town commons atop a flowing fountain, celebrating the recent completion of the stone keep and the fortified walls and decrying the predations of the alleged fraud, the Lord of Harrowkeep. The citizens of Kalle cheered, even knowing this was open rebellion against their lawful lord and the Warden of the Northern Star. Two of the gate guards introduced the representatives of the Lord of Harrowkeep to Naum after Jonathans mentor, Glenda, furtively warned the party to give up their task and placate the mis-guided mayor with mollifying words. Night was falling quickly and the mayor had other functions to attend to, leaving the Order of the Fiery shield to their own devices after a brief threat of a night in the dungeons if they wanted to persist in collecting the taxes they were sent to recover.
    Session 006: Peril Beneath Kalle!

    Encounter XP Gained: No xp gained this week...
    Bonus XP Gained: 1,750 xp to Onyx for XP Opportunities

    After splitting up the loot and discussing a plan of action, the rest of the Order decided to trust Rei and Jonathan's mentor, Glenda, and met with her outside the ruins of the old, Howling Hunter Inn. Glenda was late to the rendezvous however and several of the group were starting to get antsy. One of them lit a sunrod to better see into the ruins, but this quickly drew the attention of guards atop the parapets of the nearby keep. Shortly after that, Glenda staggered out of the ruins, strange ribbon-like scars upon her face. A word of healing from Rei kept the Warden from drifting too far into unconsciousness. Onyx, worried about the guards atop the keep, suggested that the group should take refuge in the ruins and douse the lights. Glenda recovered enough to warn the Order of the Fiery shield about an impending doom beneath the ruins, orchestrated by none other than the rebellious mayor of Kalle, Naum Thomas!

    The Order descended into a well-hidden crypt several stories beneath the town itself. An ancient crypt well over a hundred year old. The rope made the descent easy enough. A set of steps led into dusty stone tunnels. Onyx tasted the stone with a touch of his fingers and noted that the stone as quarried from the Giantshold Mountains. A lengthy distance to travel for such stone, but it was solid bedrock and stronger than the sandstone typically found in the area. Mian and Janus discovered two sets of stout oaken doors, freshly cut and banded with iron, on the north and south walls of the ten foot wide tunnel. They did a cursory sweep for traps, but were unable to discover anything, if there was anything to find. Oddly, the doors were barred on this side of the tunnel, as if to keep something in...

    This didn't deter the adventurers however, if it had even crossed their mind. Onyx entered the room to the north, noting the height of the ceiling that vanished into an unnatural night sky well beyond the range of their sunrods. Clattering bones and shifting shadows descended on barbed chains from the shadows above and six skeletons climbed down to attack the group. Halfway through the encounter with the rattlebone skeletons, the doors to the south burst asunder, startling the young Hume cleric, Rei Alennago. Another six rattlebone skeletons charged out of the wall of darkness, heedless of the Earthen warden who stood in their way and the constant battering attacks he dealt upon them.

    The scene faded to black as Onyx stood in the doorway, surrounded by four of the rattling, chain enshrouded undead. Stone crumbling and water, the lifeblood of earthen, spilling onto the floor in great splashes.
    Session 007: Peril Beneath Kalle!

    Encounter XP Gained: 300 xp to Onyx, Rei, Jonathan, Janus, and Mian Kas
    Bonus XP Gained: 250 xp to Mian Kas (aiding another player)

    Onyx surveyed the battlefield, deep beneath Kalle in an ancient crypt. Rattlebone skeletons had surrounded nearly surrounded him and had dealt many strong blows against the sturdy Earthen, but the repeated pounding was taking its toll on the Warden. One of the Rattlebones cocked his head very nearly sideways, looking oddly at the bard, Mian Kas, who was chanting in sing-song as he drew back and arrow that started to glow with a fiery heat. The Rattlebone's head clicked back upright with a bony rattle, much like a rattlesnake tail flicked once. The bard's arrow pierced the glowing eye socket of the skeleton and tore the skull off the Rattlebone with a fiery blast, leaving the headless bones standing for a moment longer before collapsing into an untidy pile. The rest of the Rattlebone skeletons were quickly taken care by the combined might of the Order of the Fiery Shield. The adventurers took a much needed breather to recover from their wounds and the exertion and exhaustion of battle.

    Exploration of the tomb to the south showed much the same as the north. Dust, bones, and no treasure to be had. Young Jonathan decided to venture further east and very nearly dropped fifty feet into an old cave system beneath the crypt when the floor crumbled away beneath him. Undaunted, the Order was making plans to cross the pit when a gravelly voiced called up from below. Mian quickly lowered a rope and started hauling whomever was down in the pit upwards to the crypt... heedless of any danger, which Onyx pointed out.

    The voice belonged to Igneous, another Earthen. Onyx remarked that he had seen more Earthen in the past few days than he had in weeks or even months. Igneous quickly proved himself a valuable ally as he caught Rei and Jonathan when they tried to leap over the pit to the other side. Two stout oaken doors hung on the wall next to the pit, their use as a possible bridge or cover for the pit completely ignored by the adventurers. (Sorry! Couldn't help myself!) Chaotic chanting from down the hall spurred the adventurers onward, as they remembered the words of Jonathan and Rei's mentor. Onyx smashed the handle of a narrow door further down the hall and kicked it opehn.

    The doorway opened up into another vaulted crypt, lit brightly by a blazing inferno beneath a demonic alter in the center of the northern wall. Two other altars could be seen in the room as well, one a blue as the densest glacier ice in the Frostfell and the other a molten pillar of black rock and magma, covered with draconic relief etchings. Six cultists in archaic cut robes channeled necrotic energy into six statues of fat little men with sagging bellies holding up round, concave platters. Upon each platter was a different organ; heart, liver, intestines, genitals, brain, and lungs. Two of the cultists quickly turned on the adventuring party, using dark magic to steal away the soul of Onyx and Igneous for a short time, making them suscetible to the powerful shadow bolts of the other cultists.

    The arcane shield pulsed and flashed as ribbons of energy from the Altar of Winter and the Altar of the Dragon flared against it. The shield absorbed the elemental energy and channeled it into the outstretched hands of Naum Thomas, the mayor of Kalle. His voice was rough and as black as night as he chanted in Infernal and Abyssal. The primal energy of winter and dragons was twisted by the demonic altar and poured into a chalice in front of Naum. The two elemental altars flared with a storm of ice and snow and a blast of choking ash and magma. An ice wurm and a lesser fire elemental ripped their way through a brief portal to the Elemental Chaos and immediately began attacking both the Order of the Fiery Shield and the Cult of Shadow. Moments later, another pair of elementals forced their way into the Mortal Realm.

    Four of the cultists were quickly slain by the combined attacks of the elementals and the Order, while the Cultists took down several elementals. An ice wurm burrowed into the middle of the room and breathed a gale of ice and frost at Janus, Rei, and Mian, paralyzing the muscles in their limbs due to extreme cold and slowing their movements. Naum Thomas laughed and mocked the adventurers for being too late. The ritual would soon be complete. And as if to throw salt on the wound, Naum summoned a dark patch of black tentacles of pure shadow beneath Onyx, Janus and Igneous, who had bunched up side by side despite a warning from Jonathan after seeing the gale of frost from the first ice wurm.

    Igneous wavered on his feet, but a quick, majestic word from Mian who rushed to the side of the stuporous earthen. A second ice wurm burrowed through the grave dirt beneath the flagstones of the crypt and erupted behind the Bard and his allies. Another gale of frost hammered the four adventurers, driving Onyx and Mian across the rough stones with the force of the blast. Janus dropped to the ground, cracking his skull on nearby statue and laid still, blood pooling beneath him and his breathing shallow. Mian vanished into a wall of flames that erupted as the gale of frost pushed the unlucky eladrin through a circle of explosive runes drawn into the floor.

    The remaining two cultists fled to the south and as the scene faded to black, the unrelenting wall of fire showed no signs of burning out. The fate of the Bard of the Order of the Fiery Shield would have to wait another week to play out...
    Session 008: Peril Beneath Kalle!

    Encounter XP Gained: 1200 xp to Onyx, Rei, Jonathan, Janus, Igneous, and Mian Kas
    Bonus XP Gained: None

    The wall of fire blazed bright and strong, driving back the Earthen, burning away roots and steam. The bard screamed as flames licked all around him. Rei lanced the fire elemental with a radiant beam and Mian leapt through the wall of roaring flames, pushing off of the demonic altar to speed his passage through the heat. Battered and bloody, the Order of the Fiery Shield hacked at the Ice Wurm and the Fire Elemental as Naum Thomas drew strength from the Altar of Winter and the Altar of the Dragon, feeding the demonic ritual. The Arcane Shield phased in and out of existance as the bard attacked the shield, seeking to get to the mayor of Kalle.

    Mian threw the a burlap bag with the pulsing green gems in it at the shield. The tunneler worm eggs cracked and blasted the shield with acid. The Arcane Shield exploded, leaving behind the stench of brimstone and no trace of Naum Thomas. A wave of force blasted into the tomb, obliterating the elementals, destroying several of the ceremonial statues and knocking down each of the party members. As the group recovered from the explosion, two massive elementals emerged from the portals above the Altar of Winter and the Altar of the Dragon. The Guardian of Fire, Incendius, and the Guardian of Winter, Aumanthorax, approached the wary and weary Order.

    "Mortals... you have thwarted the Master Demonologist Naum Thomas."
    "However, the threat he poses forces us to act."
    "With your consent, we will send you to the stronghold of the Demonologist, but you must collect the tools necessary to end his power forever."
    "Beneath this Crypt, seek out the ancient city of the myconids and take from them the [Crown of the Mushroom King]."
    "In the Summerlands, earn the [Amulet of the Wind Dancer] from the island folk."
    "Atop the Wyrmspire Peak, steal the [Rod of Law] from the Council of Drahken."
    "At the depths of the Eternal Sea, gather the [Heart of Pure Rain]."
    "Bring these treasures back to us on the night of the Summer's Solstice in three months."

    The two elementals exploded into a vortex of fire and ice that washed over the Order of the Fiery Shield, leaving each of them marked in some way and their wounds healed. Upon the brow of the stony warden, the [Mark of Winter] blazed in somber blue. The bard bore the [Mark of Summer] in gold. The radiant cleric, Rei, bore the [Mark of Spring] in pale green. The [Mark of Autumn] blazed in scarlet and gold upon the palms of Jonathan. Igneous had the [Mark of Celeste], a fiery sun carved upon his back and Janus was emblazoned with the [Mark of Karees], a pale, luminescent crescent moon.

    Unsure of what to make of these marks and the dire words of the elemental guardians, the group decided to seek out the myconids in the caverns below first. They discovered the bloody remains of the two cultists that fled and a flooded set of stairs leading deeper into the earth. The water stirred, driven upwards by a massive bulk. Igneous stepped forward for a better look and a blinded basilisk surged out of the water, snapping ferociously at the earthen barbarian.

    The water churned red with the blood of the cultists. As the Order pondered their next action---

    [Server]We apologize for this interruption. The server is shutting down immediately for emergency maintenance.
    Session 009 & Session 10: Peril Beneath Kalle!

    Encounter XP Gained: 1500 xp to Onyx, Rei, Jonathan, Janus, Igneous, and Mian Kas
    Bonus XP Gained: None

    Rather than face the angry basilisk, even blinded, the party decided to find the caverns of the Mushroom King through the pit trap from which they fished out the earthen barbarian, Igneous. Their journey was short, for the caverns were close by after a quick scout of several dead ends. As the fungus on the walls thickened, the air grew moist and wisps of fog clung to the ever rising ceiling in the caverns. In the distance, dimly illuminated by bioluminescent fungus, tall mushroom stalks rose up into the mist and then spread out into thick caps that rained a constant stream of spores over the cavern floor, much like pine needles in the Black Forest.

    Between the stalks, shapes drifted through the fog and vanished as quickly as they appeared. One shape, three times the height of a man on a horse suddenly surged forward, shoving aside two of the massive mushroom stalks to get at the party. Smaller, knobby servants skittered around the fungal giant. The fight was bloody and brutal as the fungal giant spat globs of spores onto the ground that quickly grew into puffball spore cannons that attacked any creature that ended up near them.

    Several of the group were knocked out by the vicious attacks of the funal giant, the spores, and the fungal servants, but a burst of fire from the stony warden left the fungal giant reeling from the attack. The party quickly regathered their wits and drove off the remaining mushroom creatures before they too fled from the caverns to recuperate from the near-deadly beating they received.

    Back in Kalle, the Order discovered that the mayor's absence and disappearance had thrown the town Watch into disarray. A curfew was enacted and it was rumored that soldiers from Harrowkeep would be marching on the town in three days for failure to pay taxes and rebellion. The silver-tongued bard tried to purchase vials of alchemists fire, as the fungal giant had proven to be weak to the flames from the warden's shield, but mistimed beligerance left the bard without any of the vials.

    The ever resourceful bard managed to use his inborn glamour to fool the alchemist into selling the alchemist's fire to a merchant passing through and needing something to ward off beasts from the Black Forest. The Order then rested for half the day in a small, easily guarded alcove before heading back into the fungal caverns. Another fungal giant, possibly the same one that they dismembered the day before greeted the Order of the Fiery Shield as they entered the caverns. It did not display any threat to the party however and lumbered about, tending to the mushrooms as if the stony warden and his allies were not there.

    Deeper into the cavern however, smaller shapes flittered through the fog above the group and then suddenly attacked. The spore bats looked like mushrooms with bulbous, technicolor tentacles and eyestalks drifting around and blasting out bursts of spores. Despite their size, they proved to be dangerous, quick foes that had deadly attacks that dazed and blinded them. Several of the spore bats leaked a virulent yellow fluid after being attacked several times and fled from the encounter. As the party began to gain the upperhand, a sonorous laughter echoed beneath the underground mushroom forest.

    A smartly dressed myconid strolled out from the shadows and shooed away the remaining spore bats with a gentle motion of his pipe. A curl of pungent smoke swirled around the bowl of the pipe and joined the miasma of smoke drifting around the mushroom man.

    "Well done. Well done indeedl," he laughed in the rich, sonorous rumbling voice. "The Guardians chose well. Come, come along... I'm sure you have questions and I have answers you desire, but now is the time for reverence and revelry." The strange creature ambled away, leaving the party to follow behind him, asking about the Crown of the Mushroom King.

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    AegisAegis Fear My Dance Overshot Toronto, Landed in OttawaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Question: are you allowing backgrounds and if so are there custom ones and/or restricted to just general ones?

    Aegis on
    We'll see how long this blog lasts
    Currently DMing: None :(
    Characters
    [5e] Dural Melairkyn - AC 18 | HP 40 | Melee +5/1d8+3 | Spell +4/DC 12
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    -- reserved for additional session summary notes

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    simonwolfsimonwolf i can feel a difference today, a differenceRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Hey SkyCaptain, just wanted to say I'm kind of interested! I am thinking of making a Hume Monk named Applewhite, here is a character portrait:
    1463_heavens_gate_468.jpg

    Let me know if that's alright!

    simonwolf on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    simonwolfsimonwolf i can feel a difference today, a differenceRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I found this portrait, is it better?
    521053764_0471a05190.jpg?v=0

    I just really feel he's suited for the chronicles of Heaven's Gate!

    simonwolf on
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    EgosEgos Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    simonwolf wrote: »
    I found this portrait, is it better?
    521053764_0471a05190.jpg?v=0



    Definitely leader material...


    I don't know why, he just has that air about him..

    Egos on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    No.

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So, a newb question. Orokos wants a ddibuilder file. How do I work the custom races with that?

    A Dabble Of Thelonius on
    vm8gvf5p7gqi.jpg
    Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So, a newb question. Orokos wants a ddibuilder file. How do I work the custom races with that?

    Well shit. I didn't realize Orokos only works with DDI files. I thought you could fill in your own information. use Mythweavers until I see if I can make a set of houserules for the Character Builder. Thanks for pointing this out.

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cool deal.

    Yeah I thought Orokos did other formats as well.

    A Dabble Of Thelonius on
    vm8gvf5p7gqi.jpg
    Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Ok, I can create house ruled races for the Character Builder, but that's going to take some time. I'll work on it as I can.

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Second question.

    Racial Feats. I assume Eladrin = Eladrin and Hume = Hume. So Earthen = ?

    A Dabble Of Thelonius on
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    Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
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    VicVic Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I am really interested, this looks like an interesting unique setting. My initial thought is making an Earthen Earthstrength Warden (Rockman Rockstrong Defend!). Could you give us some idea of the character of Earthen? How human-like are they in their personality, and what are the distinguishing features of their society?

    Vic on
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    PepiPopaPepiPopa Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Question. The whole map tool thing how does it work? Do we join a VOIP( like skype or vent ro whatever) or is it a chat client and we say there what we do? Sorry for the silly questions.

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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    1. Earthen can use Dwarven feats.

    2. Hume can use Human feats.

    3. Earthen have a long outlook on life. They don't sweat the small stuff and well, everything is small stuff. When an Earthen reaches old age (350 to 400 years old), they start forgetting who they are until they forget how to be an Earthen. At that point, they crumble to dust and stone and earth until they are reborn (though they very rarely retain any memories of their past life). Due to their long association with Humes, they have adopted many of the cultural quirks of Humes, including the belief in Ascension, Redemption, Sin, and Corruption.

    Also, they do eat, even through they are made of earth and stone. Microbes in their organ systems break down the food and drink and basically compost it real quick into earth and water. Water flows through their circulatory system, which is more like a root system than veins and arteries.

    4. MapTool is a chat client. Due to my own limitations, I will not be using voice chat. I am waiting to see if MapTool gets a stabler version with some of the most recent features added before I determine which version we'll be using. The first session will be token creation and familiarization.

    5. Just a quick note on religion. There are no organized churches. Just Shepherds and Wardens. Shepherds will be a theme (when we learn about them) like Templars are in Dark Sun. They are typically the village priest archetype while Wardens are wandering priests, more warrior like, that help others along the roads and guards the weak in these dark times. Ascension is the goal of all good intentioned folks. They believe that living a good life and being moral will atone for their great Sin that weighs them down, trapping them in this mortal form. Living an immoral life will cause them to fall further and be reincarnated as a lesser demon or devil in the Abyss below Heaven's Gate.

    Because of the untold destruction that arcane power has wrought across the landscape, it has become anathema to Humes. Earthen cannot use arcane power, but their association with Humes has given them a similar outlook. Eladrin still use arcane power in their kingdom and it may become a problem at some point in the future. The demonic influence during the last Eldritch War has also tainted arcane power, making it a Corrupting influence.

    Basically, this setting is a mish-mash of a lot of other fantasy settings from Wheel of Time to the Game of Thrones and even World of Warcraft. I just took all the cool little bits I liked from them and from other sources like Stargate, to create what I hope will be an interesting setting to play in.

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    PepiPopaPepiPopa Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Ok awesome i will read the source material and will think some guys up.

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    MyDcmbrMyDcmbr PEWPEWPEW!!! America's WangRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Okay, I am in for this too.

    I will get started on making a couple of characters when I get home from work.

    MyDcmbr on
    Steam
    So we get stiff once in a while. So we have a little fun. What’s wrong with that? This is a free country, isn’t it? I can take my panda any place I want to. And if I wanna buy it a drink, that’s my business.
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Updated the timeline with some more information during the Edlritch Wars and the Age of Fortune.

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    AegisAegis Fear My Dance Overshot Toronto, Landed in OttawaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Vic wrote: »
    I am really interested, this looks like an interesting unique setting. My initial thought is making an Earthen Earthstrength Warden (Rockman Rockstrong Defend!). Could you give us some idea of the character of Earthen? How human-like are they in their personality, and what are the distinguishing features of their society?

    Damn, this is literally (aside from the Rockman reference) the exact same idea I had going. Back to the drawing board!

    Aegis on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    You have two submissions Aegis. Make the earthen warden and then something else.

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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cookin up a Hume Archer Ranger, and an Eladrin something.

    A Dabble Of Thelonius on
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    MyDcmbrMyDcmbr PEWPEWPEW!!! America's WangRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cookin up a Hume Archer Ranger, and an Eladrin something.

    FAH!!

    Back to the drawing board for me as well.

    MyDcmbr on
    Steam
    So we get stiff once in a while. So we have a little fun. What’s wrong with that? This is a free country, isn’t it? I can take my panda any place I want to. And if I wanna buy it a drink, that’s my business.
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Update: Added the introductory scene to the second post. That is where the game will begin. Your characters must have some reason for being in Harrowkeep and accepting the Lord's request to collect and return with the crown taxes from the Mayor of Kalle.

    Also, don't worry so much about what other people are making. You have two submissions. Use 'em both.

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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    MyDcmbr wrote: »
    Cookin up a Hume Archer Ranger, and an Eladrin something.

    FAH!!

    Back to the drawing board for me as well.

    Nah, man. Go for it. It's 4E, all characters are created (kind of) equal. I imagine it'll be the backstory that matters.

    A Dabble Of Thelonius on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Yes, backstory is important and if there are two hume archers that would do very well in the game, I will make the story fit. Just look at the recent Robin Hood movie. It was about three archers at the beginning. :D

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    MyDcmbrMyDcmbr PEWPEWPEW!!! America's WangRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Decisions decisions.

    I so do want to play an Infernal Warlock (your description of magic being corrupted prompted that) but I really don't want to have my character burned at the stake lol.

    Well, looks like I will make two polar opposites. An artifact seeking Warlock (I really like that Archaeologist background) and a self named Mage killer of a Rogue.

    MyDcmbr on
    Steam
    So we get stiff once in a while. So we have a little fun. What’s wrong with that? This is a free country, isn’t it? I can take my panda any place I want to. And if I wanna buy it a drink, that’s my business.
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    HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    if i can wrangle a way to make your game schedule, SC, I'm curious to see how you DM.

    Janus Portent
    118017_CN_GL.jpg
    "A man has to have principles. Scam before stealing, steal before lying, lie before begging, beg before running, run before fighting, fight before submitting, submit before (may the stars forbid) actually working for a living."
    The lives of sneak-thieves and con-artists are composed of deceptively simple principles, usually uncomplicated by politics or religion. Most are just trying to survive by feigning expertise in all manner of unlikely talents. Janus Portent has the distinction of being a charlatan in more of these than most in his "profession". His fascination with the stars, shared by most humans, has led to something unexpected... power.

    One clearly does not make such power obvious to others for a variety of reasons. It is actually better to be frowned upon by shepherds and wardens who have a distaste the practices of common folk "divination"... one must be very careful to not actually become useful to such people.


    "The connection of the stars to the Earth and its denizens is very real... and very powerful. We fell from them long ago, and if you know how to listen... they speak."
    Furtive hands, tarot cards, lock-picks, a sharp blade -- and most importantly -- a silver tongue are the tools of the trade. Though none of these things may make him particularly extraordinary, Janus' common "scoundrelry" does not betray his true talent: the knowledge of the stars. His one genuine trade is in seeing the connections between the mysterious firmament and the material world.

    All that said, there is some advice for travelers: When you see a dark-haired man with the air of a wandering mystic, a gold tooth and wide grin on his face perched behind a barrel that has "Portent's Portents" painted on the side... it might be better to take another street.


    "Taxes? Well... I suppose it's a bit like stealing, isn't it? I could do that."
    Janus has found himself in the area of Harrowkeep, after already having fleeced the denizens of the outlying areas. His fondness for spending money, however, has left him without even a copper to his name.

    A bit tired of gambling with soldiers (they have weapons, you know) he has accepted an offer to aid the Lord of Harrowkeep in collecting taxes.

    It was dangerously close to working for a living, but on the other hand... taxes are the best scam of them all.


    Character Sheet

    Horseshoe on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Very nice. Only one quibble. The planet is called Gaia, not Earth. Otherwise, a very interesting take on the Stars mythology/philosphy.

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    HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    "Earth" as in what you put your feet upon... not the planet itself.

    Horseshoe on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Ah, you have it capitalized is all. To me that means Planet Earth, not earth, loam, soil. :D

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    HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Did you have in mind using your own Star names and such, or are you just going to go with the default/existing ones (Zhudun, Caiphon, etc)

    Horseshoe on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    The existing Star names work since they're really not "Stars" and are just corrupting Humes for their own unfathomable desires. It's also easier to use them as is and just strip out any fluff that doesn't work.

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    VicVic Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I am not quite happy with the picture, but it will have to serve as a placeholder. It actually fits my description of Valain rather well and that was not even on purpose.

    Valain, Earthen Warden

    Garn.jpg

    Myth Weavers

    'Curiosity killed the cat' Valain mumbled to himself, feeling quite satisfied of finally getting to use the odd Hume phrase, despite the bleakness of the situation. Curiosity had led him to accept the job of tax collection, and for once it seemed that that it might have led him into more trouble than he could handle.

    A visitor to human lands, ever thirsty for knowledge, Valain had started a career as a mercenary and bodyguard to learn more of Hume culture. Now it seems like his first truly exciting mission might be his last, and at the teeth and claws of creatures from the great forests that had sheltered him for so many years.

    'Is that what irony is?' Valain pondered. It seemed a bad time to ask.

    Vic on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    The nearest Earthen citadel would be in the Vaskyr Mountains just east of Lydia. About where the V is in the name of the mountains. I can use the WoW model viewer to get some snapshots of the Earthen that inspired the race in my campaign for ya. The earthen are dwarf height, standing between 4' and 5'4".

    SkyCaptain on
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    MyDcmbrMyDcmbr PEWPEWPEW!!! America's WangRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Which area would a Warlock have the best chance of going unnoticed so I can pick that as my origin area. I was thinking somewhere in Arkova, child of an escaped Warlock from the war.

    My other character is going to be a Hume Fighter, Tempest I do believe. I will have them made up and submitted to you by tomorrow night.

    MyDcmbr on
    Steam
    So we get stiff once in a while. So we have a little fun. What’s wrong with that? This is a free country, isn’t it? I can take my panda any place I want to. And if I wanna buy it a drink, that’s my business.
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    HeartfinderHeartfinder Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Hmn - this looks interesting. A question about divine classes - what about domains? The character I'm working out is a Hume lazer cleric and knowing about the allowed domains would help me out on game play and character development.

    Heartfinder on
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    SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    @MyDcmbr - Arkova would be fine. it's one of the few kingdoms that still allows common spellcasters. Their society was built on magic, but... it's focusing more on primal magic now and less on arcane.

    @Heartfinder - Any domains are fine, as long as they fit your characters philosophy / outlook on life. Their "version" of the Great Cycle of life, death, rebirth, and ascension.

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    MyDcmbrMyDcmbr PEWPEWPEW!!! America's WangRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    SkyCaptain wrote: »
    @MyDcmbr - Arkova would be fine. it's one of the few kingdoms that still allows common spellcasters. Their society was built on magic, but... it's focusing more on primal magic now and less on arcane.

    Very cool.

    So would an Infernally aligned Warlock or a Wild Magic Sorcerer work better in your setting?

    Personally, I could see either.

    The Warlock aligns with the dark powers that corrupted the arcane.
    The Sorcerer would be a child prodigy, perhaps infused with magic in the womb during the war.

    MyDcmbr on
    Steam
    So we get stiff once in a while. So we have a little fun. What’s wrong with that? This is a free country, isn’t it? I can take my panda any place I want to. And if I wanna buy it a drink, that’s my business.
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    AegisAegis Fear My Dance Overshot Toronto, Landed in OttawaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    About how long has it been since the Earthen were created? And were they all originally from the Sivan cities (and thus all emigrated out after the wasting) or did this act of creation cause them to arise throughout the 'world' spontaneously?

    Aegis on
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    [5e] Dural Melairkyn - AC 18 | HP 40 | Melee +5/1d8+3 | Spell +4/DC 12
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