Introduction - Fallcrest; the rise of new heroes

[thedungeonmaster]

4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons has taken quite a massive step from what it was back in the 2nd Edition. Player characters are definitely powered up; even fighters have amazing powers. But, of course, the monsters are as equally powerful and menacing. Taking on a group of goblins isn’t going to be as simple as it seems anymore.

The concept of the 4th Edition world is something that attracts me - ‘Points of light’. By this theory, it means that towns and cities in the world are probably the only safe areas for PCs to reside in, and the rest of the wilderness play host to unknown dangers and monsters. And I think I shall be sticking to this concept as I find it rather appealing; which probably explains why PCs are toughened up.

There is something about 4th Edition that has made me decide to move on from the 2nd Edition (I never dug into 3rd Ed). I think it’s the concept on the world design and etc. So, let’s hope there will be a campaign book on Dragonlance soon. At the moment, due to more than a decade of rustiness, I need more aid than ever to run a campaign. As such, the campaign setting is based on Forgotten Realms; it being the generic world although the game designers never claimed it to be.

Up to this point of time, I understand that we have an Elven Ranger; Human Wizard; a Lawful Good Dragonborn Warlord; and probably a rogue of unknown racial background. Both Ashin and Morbius seen to share the same side; one is designed to take revenge on the elves; and the other seeks nothing more than power (Raistlin-like). I bet the rogue is going to be another nonchalant character who does not give a two-hoots about evil and good. So, Marmertus will be having quite a feat trying to manage the party.

FALLCREST

PCs will start their adventuring life in the Town of Fallcrest. Fallcrest is a small town in the Nentir Vale.



The map is rather small; but not to worry, actual copies will be given out in due time. Fallcrest is actually right smack in the middle of the map.

Marmertus; being a dragonborn warlord, has decided to forego the limitations of serving the army. The dragonborn wanderlust in him has brought him to the northern regions of continent where the Nentir Vale is; and has since stayed for a few days at the Nentir Inn to seek adventures to add to his glorious achievements.

Mobius is an apprentice of Nimozaran - the Green; also known as the 'High Septarch of Fallcrest'. Mobius has been residing at the Septarch Tower since young; and has been used as a mere tool for Nimozaran's own ends. What used to be a powerful wizard guild is nothing more than a keep housing Nimozaran; Mobius and Tobolar Quickfoot - a halfling interested in the arcane ways of wizardry. As Mobius grew in age, he realises he has been a mere tool for Nimozaran. However, instead of feeling bitter, Mobius seeks greater power and awaits the opportunity when he will be the new Septarch. Of late, Nimozaran has not been sending Mobius on errants; as such, the wizard has been hanging out at the Nentir Inn to catch the latest news around the region.

[thedungeonmaster]

This is an update to the other PCs who have yet to be mentioned.

Ainarielle
Ainarielle; the tiefling rogue hails from Loudwater. This is a town in the Gray Vale (an official location in the continent of Faerun). Ainarielle has grown sick of living a life within the confined walls of Loudwater; and has since gone on a wanderlust in search of a new meaning in her life. Her recent travels had brought her to Fallcrest in the Nentir Vale; where she chances upon House Azaer. House Azaer is a small, well-off trading company owned by the Azaer tiefling family.

She spends her time hanging out at the Nentir Inn taproom; waiting for a chance to hear upon something exciting that might be going on around the vale. It was then that Ainarielle met up with Ashin, Marmertus and Mobius.

Gond Oremighty
Gond Oremighty, the goliath fighter, comes from the Oremighty tribe. The Oremighty tribe is actually a small group of civilized barbarians residing in the small town of Nenlast; just at the edge of Lake Nen. Gond was to marry the forest dryad from the Winterbole Forest; known as Drad Mi. This is in accordance to part of the tribe's centennial customary tradition.

However, the goliath fighter has no wish to lead a settled life at a young age; and intends to see more of the world, bringing glory to his tribe and himself before settling down. Therefore, the goliath fighter had escaped the night before the wedding; and has since been on a journey south towards the Fiveleague House. Along the Trade Road, Gond has met couple of brigands and has vanquished them all with his might. The goliath fighter had then came upon Fallcrest; where he had bumped into Tobolar Quickfoot. The halfling had revealed that a party of 4 heroes had gone towards Kobold Hall to discover the potential threats that might be exposed to Fallcrest. In his thirst for glory, the goliath fighter had constantly asked the halfling for directions to Kobold Hall. And without any delay, the goliath fighter had proceeded towards Kobold Hall in great haste.

[thedungeonmaster]

It is an open secret that in session #2 of our campaign on 10th of April, Marmertus will be slain. Even if the die rolls dictate otherwise, this is to pave the way for Tas'sadar - the Genasi Warlord.

Tas'sadar hails from Akanul; located in the central of Faerun near the Sea of the Fallen Stars. However, Tas'sadar has been plying the seas along the Dragon Coast since young onboard a pirate ship. However, some years back, the genasi warlord had a nightmarish encounter with pirates from the Shadowfell... shadar-kai. Fear-driven, the genasi warlord runs away from the waters and has been travelling inwards. Although he has travelled through the lands of Cormyr and Evereska; nothing has been able to hold Tas'sadar down. Eventually, he travels through the Nentir Vale.

Tas'sadar comes across a small run-down village with an old broken signboard that reads - 'Col Fen'. An air of uncertainty cloaks the village. The mists are thicker than usual, and Tas'sadar blames it on the weather in the northern lands. Rubbing his hands together, Tas'sadar walks towards the inner grounds of the village...

Shudders suddenly run through the warlord as he remembers that the last time he ever felt so close this way was when the shadar-kai attacked his ship.

[thedungeonmaster]

Ashin
This will be jarring to players who emphasize more on story plots and RP-ing. But, Ashin the elf ranger never existed. [Due to gaming spoilt choices]; Ashin has always been a drow sorcerer. The drow sorcerer comes from Menzoberranzan; however, the past of the drow sorcerer is still clouded in mystery [awaiting for the player to upload details on it]

[thedungeonmaster]

Romean - Elven Cleric

Raised in the Winterbole Forests within the Nentir Vale, Romean comes from the respectable clan of Milaan. Romean's parents are part of the civil service of the elves residing in the Winterbole Forest. Romean was raised to the worship of the Goddess - Mielikki and Chauntea; Mielikki being a Goddess of the Forests and Chauntea - a Greater Goddess of Life.

As an escape from his over-bearing parents; to appease his parents and yet to leave them at the same time, Romean furthered his religious studies in a secluded Temple of Chauntea deep within the Winterbole Forests. Here, he was trained as a cleric and excelled in the healing arts. It was also here where his strong beliefs were formed.

While he did enjoy peace in the deep natural sanctuaries of the Winterbole Forests, reports of goblin and kobold raids were constantly being updated by the scout rangers. Through rituals of scrying, the High Druid of Chauntea had brought visions of the sadness; and pain, hunger, famine, disease and oppression were the common themes in the civilized towns and villages. Although the High Druid meant for Romean to appreciate his current livelihood within the temple of Chauntea; Romean came to realise that there was a vast world beyond the Winterbole Forests.

Romean decided to run away from the temple shortly after being ordained as an "Assistant Cleric Grade B4 (Hospitality)".

Romean respects all things wild, natural and living. While his main cause is to defend the poor and downtrodden races, he will not hesistate to confront anyone who attacks or insults the wild or the woods. Perhaps it is his homesickness that led him to do this. Not a day goes by without the thought of his homeland crossing his mind. Did he bring shame and dishonour on his parents or his clan? Would they disown him? Would they try to hunt him down? Despite all his guilt and homesickness, his desire for excellence drives him on.

Only the strong faith in Chauntea leads him to believe that he exists for a greater purpose than just being a mere druid of Chauntea.

His travels along the Winter River has led him to the Town of Fallcrest. He had spent just spent a day at the Nentir Inn; and he managed to learn more about Fallcrest communicating with the local commoners. Romean gets to know Tobolar Quickfoot and learns of an adventuring party [whom Tobolars laughs at the name - Dungeon Marauders Clan] who had defeated a bunch of kobolds and undead in the vicinity of Fallcrest.

Tobolar also reveals to Romean that the party managed to discover a love-note in the possessions of an undead woman; and it seemed that the sender of the love-note is Faren Markelhay - the Lord Warden of Fallcrest. Although Tobolar does not understand the implications of the love-note, Tobolar tells Romean that Faren is an upright man and suggests to Romean to stay around Fallcrest and meet up with the Dungeon Marauders Clan.