Post by thedungeonmaster on Jul 14, 2009 23:59:02 GMT 8
This following excerpt is based on a D&D session that took place on 11th July from 2300hrs to the next day at about 0800hrs.
The party of 6 comprises of Tas'sadar - Genasi Warlord (played by Marcus); Mobius – Human Wizard (played by Edmund); Gond Oremighty - Goliath Fighter (played by Eugene); Ashin - Drow Sorcerer (played by Weide); Asher - Elven Avenger (played by Seng Choon; and Lucien - Human Ranger (played by Dominic).
The session starts when Gond, Tas'sadar, Mobius and Romean head back to Loudwater. Upon arrival at Loudwater, Romean left the party as he had some religious clerical duties to attend to. The other three head on into a very quiet and desolate Loudwater. They decide to head over to Garwan's Curiosities only to find that the 'Close' signboard is on. As such, they head over to the Green Tankard Tavern. In the tavern, the 3 meet up with Ashin, who introduces Asher and Lucien to the party. In the tavern, through the words of Sunsteen, Curuvar and Marsh Laval; they find out that Zark had escaped and there are news of more representatives of Najara at some outpost at the southern edge of the Southwood. And Loudwater had also been raided by goblins who seemed to have returned to look for the totems. And, there was an eladrin beauty in search of the party claiming that she was looking for her husband.
Do note that although the Nentir Vale is a generic location, it has been embedded into the continent of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
Encounter 1 [skill encounter]– The Research on the Totems
The party enter Garwan's Curiosities in search of items, and also to find out more about the totems, by seeking Garwan's permission to see through his collection of books.
Encounter 2 – Shar's Messengers
As you are outside Garwan’s Curiosities, you suddenly hear a scream of pain. You turn around and notice a woman in a blue tunic fainting and falling to the floor. She seems to be gazing at the skies… You look skywards and notice, to your horror, that there are two flapping large creatures in the sky… however, it is anything common you have seen. They are about 10-foot long and they resemble a cross between an eyeless lamprey and a bat. And saddled on each of these large flying creatures, you see a rider. However, there is something dark about these riders, as their long black robes swirl in the air.
The party is attacked just outside Garwan's Curiosities. And out of good faith, Tas'sadar had went in aid of the woman only to find out that it was a wereserpent in disguise.
And during the battle, one of the Dark Moon Monks shouts out at the party to stop meddling in Shar's affairs, as this is just the start of things to come.
Encounter 3 – [skill encounter]– The Research on the Totems
You head towards the temple. The vine-covered walls of the temple rise high above the walls of Loudwater, and the spire’s tip appears to reach a full 100 feet above the ground. The symbol of an oak leaf gleams with its own emerald light above the grand archway leading into the temple. You know that this temple is sacred to Silvanus the Treefather.
A black-haired, blue-eyed and well-muscled human in a rustic dress appears at the doorway of the temple. He introduces himself as Brother Griffon and asks what business brings you to the sanctuary of Silvanus.
Mobius and Lucien head over to the temple to find out more of the totems whilst Ashin heads back to the Green Tankard Tavern. Whilst, Gond, Tas'sadar and Asher head over to meet Lady Moonfire to ask more of what had happened to Loudwater and to receive payment for the escort to the Draigdurroch Tower.
Encounter 4 – Snakefolk of Najara; Lizardfolk
The party eventually find the cave opening to the hideout and enter only to find that cavern consists of lizard folk. One of them pleads the party for mercy. However, the Greenscale Darter was killed mercilessly despite having assurances from Gond.
Encounter 5 – Snakefolk of Najara; Servants of Najara
As you enter through the ruins of the caves to what looks like some old hall, you notice that the place is in ruins and whatever glory that once shone in this place, is cluttered with a darkness that sunlight cannot reach. You can hear the whimpering of children coming from the corner of the hall, but you also hear the flickering of tongues and you also smell something foul…
The battle with the lizard folk and humans who are almost snake-like; was dealt with easily and the party rescue the children and head back to Loudwater.
However, as the party was preparing to head back to Loudwater, Lucien decided to split from the party as he felt worthless and intends to prove himself worthy before heading back to the party. And Gond... had to taunt Lucien further.
Encounter 6 – Drad Mi
As the party were travelling on their horses back through the Southwood, the party is suddenly ambushed by eladrins and dryads. The party's refusal to fight does not stop the fey people from attacking...
As the fight goes on and sweat blurs the vision, a loud scream could be heard. So shrill that even the fey beings stop in their tracks. But, no one is as stone cold as the goliath fighter – Gond. You notice the brows on Gond’s face twitching. It is as though he has been to the Abyss and back again.
You notice a new female eladrin, of such exquisite fey beauty, walking towards you… As you back off, Gond stays rooted to his feet. The eladrin suddenly transforms into a dryad and Gond still remains rooted to the ground, his jaws wide open. The dryad, without a word, uses her tough branch-like arms and starts to slap Gond a couple of times. Left, right, left, right, left, right. Still Gond stands rooted.
The dryad suddenly reverts back to her eladrin form and she starts to pull Gond close to her and she cries loudly as she rests her head in Gond’s chest. She sobs uncontrollably, and the most cinematic scene takes place… even Tas’sadar and Mobius cringe when Gond suddenly speaks words of such corniness…The dryad suddenly stops crying and says, “I cry not for the loss of you, Gond… I cry for the loss of our hometown… everything…. Everything has been destroyed."
Drad Mi reveals that some time back, a few floating citadels had clouded the skies of the Nentir Vale and suddenly, the citadels started to emit rays of such strong necrotic energy that everything in the Nentir Vale had been obliterated… There is no more Nentir Vale. The only person of interest – Nimozaran, may have escaped the attack. Drad Mi goes on to say that the citadels are actually magically enhanced machines from the Netherese and it seems that the Shade Princes are taking regions by force…
The female dryad continues to tell Gond to avenge the loss of Nentir Vale, and she will wait for his return even if it means eternity. She places her hands round Gond and kisses his forehead softly and she speaks softly, “Darkness embraces Faerun now… For the future we fight for, please seek out the Crown of Whispers… With it, I would have a chance of rebuilding a new fey community that is native to Nentir Vale…”
With renewed vengeance, the party head back to Loudwater, and hand over the children to Captain Harrowleaf. They then proceed to the ruins of the Halls of the Hammer located somewhere in the High Moor.
Encounter 7 – Halls of the Hammer; Goblinfolk
The party cross a narrow bridge over a chasm and enter a cavern believed to lead to the Halls of the Hammer. The party battle with a group of bugbears lead by a hobgoblin...
And the session ends with the party preparing to venture deep into the Halls of the Hammer.
DM's afterword
This time round, the adventures have been split into various avenues, to prevent it from being too linear as the Draigdurroch Tower.
I believe the adventure encounters have also been more levelled down to fit the party's level. However, it seems that there is that lack of challenge... However, as the journey progresses into the Halls of the Hammer. Things might take a different twist...
The party of 6 comprises of Tas'sadar - Genasi Warlord (played by Marcus); Mobius – Human Wizard (played by Edmund); Gond Oremighty - Goliath Fighter (played by Eugene); Ashin - Drow Sorcerer (played by Weide); Asher - Elven Avenger (played by Seng Choon; and Lucien - Human Ranger (played by Dominic).
The session starts when Gond, Tas'sadar, Mobius and Romean head back to Loudwater. Upon arrival at Loudwater, Romean left the party as he had some religious clerical duties to attend to. The other three head on into a very quiet and desolate Loudwater. They decide to head over to Garwan's Curiosities only to find that the 'Close' signboard is on. As such, they head over to the Green Tankard Tavern. In the tavern, the 3 meet up with Ashin, who introduces Asher and Lucien to the party. In the tavern, through the words of Sunsteen, Curuvar and Marsh Laval; they find out that Zark had escaped and there are news of more representatives of Najara at some outpost at the southern edge of the Southwood. And Loudwater had also been raided by goblins who seemed to have returned to look for the totems. And, there was an eladrin beauty in search of the party claiming that she was looking for her husband.
Do note that although the Nentir Vale is a generic location, it has been embedded into the continent of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
Encounter 1 [skill encounter]– The Research on the Totems
The party enter Garwan's Curiosities in search of items, and also to find out more about the totems, by seeking Garwan's permission to see through his collection of books.
Encounter 2 – Shar's Messengers
As you are outside Garwan’s Curiosities, you suddenly hear a scream of pain. You turn around and notice a woman in a blue tunic fainting and falling to the floor. She seems to be gazing at the skies… You look skywards and notice, to your horror, that there are two flapping large creatures in the sky… however, it is anything common you have seen. They are about 10-foot long and they resemble a cross between an eyeless lamprey and a bat. And saddled on each of these large flying creatures, you see a rider. However, there is something dark about these riders, as their long black robes swirl in the air.
The party is attacked just outside Garwan's Curiosities. And out of good faith, Tas'sadar had went in aid of the woman only to find out that it was a wereserpent in disguise.
And during the battle, one of the Dark Moon Monks shouts out at the party to stop meddling in Shar's affairs, as this is just the start of things to come.
Encounter 3 – [skill encounter]– The Research on the Totems
You head towards the temple. The vine-covered walls of the temple rise high above the walls of Loudwater, and the spire’s tip appears to reach a full 100 feet above the ground. The symbol of an oak leaf gleams with its own emerald light above the grand archway leading into the temple. You know that this temple is sacred to Silvanus the Treefather.
A black-haired, blue-eyed and well-muscled human in a rustic dress appears at the doorway of the temple. He introduces himself as Brother Griffon and asks what business brings you to the sanctuary of Silvanus.
Mobius and Lucien head over to the temple to find out more of the totems whilst Ashin heads back to the Green Tankard Tavern. Whilst, Gond, Tas'sadar and Asher head over to meet Lady Moonfire to ask more of what had happened to Loudwater and to receive payment for the escort to the Draigdurroch Tower.
Encounter 4 – Snakefolk of Najara; Lizardfolk
The party eventually find the cave opening to the hideout and enter only to find that cavern consists of lizard folk. One of them pleads the party for mercy. However, the Greenscale Darter was killed mercilessly despite having assurances from Gond.
Encounter 5 – Snakefolk of Najara; Servants of Najara
As you enter through the ruins of the caves to what looks like some old hall, you notice that the place is in ruins and whatever glory that once shone in this place, is cluttered with a darkness that sunlight cannot reach. You can hear the whimpering of children coming from the corner of the hall, but you also hear the flickering of tongues and you also smell something foul…
The battle with the lizard folk and humans who are almost snake-like; was dealt with easily and the party rescue the children and head back to Loudwater.
However, as the party was preparing to head back to Loudwater, Lucien decided to split from the party as he felt worthless and intends to prove himself worthy before heading back to the party. And Gond... had to taunt Lucien further.
Encounter 6 – Drad Mi
As the party were travelling on their horses back through the Southwood, the party is suddenly ambushed by eladrins and dryads. The party's refusal to fight does not stop the fey people from attacking...
As the fight goes on and sweat blurs the vision, a loud scream could be heard. So shrill that even the fey beings stop in their tracks. But, no one is as stone cold as the goliath fighter – Gond. You notice the brows on Gond’s face twitching. It is as though he has been to the Abyss and back again.
You notice a new female eladrin, of such exquisite fey beauty, walking towards you… As you back off, Gond stays rooted to his feet. The eladrin suddenly transforms into a dryad and Gond still remains rooted to the ground, his jaws wide open. The dryad, without a word, uses her tough branch-like arms and starts to slap Gond a couple of times. Left, right, left, right, left, right. Still Gond stands rooted.
The dryad suddenly reverts back to her eladrin form and she starts to pull Gond close to her and she cries loudly as she rests her head in Gond’s chest. She sobs uncontrollably, and the most cinematic scene takes place… even Tas’sadar and Mobius cringe when Gond suddenly speaks words of such corniness…The dryad suddenly stops crying and says, “I cry not for the loss of you, Gond… I cry for the loss of our hometown… everything…. Everything has been destroyed."
Drad Mi reveals that some time back, a few floating citadels had clouded the skies of the Nentir Vale and suddenly, the citadels started to emit rays of such strong necrotic energy that everything in the Nentir Vale had been obliterated… There is no more Nentir Vale. The only person of interest – Nimozaran, may have escaped the attack. Drad Mi goes on to say that the citadels are actually magically enhanced machines from the Netherese and it seems that the Shade Princes are taking regions by force…
The female dryad continues to tell Gond to avenge the loss of Nentir Vale, and she will wait for his return even if it means eternity. She places her hands round Gond and kisses his forehead softly and she speaks softly, “Darkness embraces Faerun now… For the future we fight for, please seek out the Crown of Whispers… With it, I would have a chance of rebuilding a new fey community that is native to Nentir Vale…”
With renewed vengeance, the party head back to Loudwater, and hand over the children to Captain Harrowleaf. They then proceed to the ruins of the Halls of the Hammer located somewhere in the High Moor.
Encounter 7 – Halls of the Hammer; Goblinfolk
The party cross a narrow bridge over a chasm and enter a cavern believed to lead to the Halls of the Hammer. The party battle with a group of bugbears lead by a hobgoblin...
And the session ends with the party preparing to venture deep into the Halls of the Hammer.
DM's afterword
This time round, the adventures have been split into various avenues, to prevent it from being too linear as the Draigdurroch Tower.
I believe the adventure encounters have also been more levelled down to fit the party's level. However, it seems that there is that lack of challenge... However, as the journey progresses into the Halls of the Hammer. Things might take a different twist...
. Cheers.
