Campaign Notes #2

Like everybody starts out somewheres, and they do something, something gets done to them and it changes their life. That's called an arc. Where's my arc?

                                                                           - Christopher Moltisanti, The Sopranos, Season 1, Episode 8

So for the first time in many years, I planned a session that was supposed to be exclusively role playing. Yes, there would be lots of dice rolling, but the dice would only shade things one way or another. Success or failure would be ultimately be determined by the quality of the interactions the players themselves had with various NPCs.

And yes, it was true that I was, as Tuan put it, “clearly grading on a curve” in awarding situational bonuses to dice rolls based as much on a player’s effort as on their glibness. I know that some of the players are not as tuned in to the role playing parts of my campaigns as others are, but there is still a lot of entertainment for everyone to be had.

And everyone did a great job with it, and I think everyone had a good time. This past session was the most fun and satisfaction that I’ve had as a DM in a LONG time.

Although there was in fact also some combat despite my initial plan, it was necessary to add in for the reintroduction of the paladin. Of particular note is that the re-emergence of the paladin was inspired by the online character posts that Tuan had previously put up about his character-- his history as an orphan let me add in some twists and possibilities to my original story, like the connections with Mukli the outcast goblin and now the newly ‘orphaned’ Dame Abbie, which added depth to the campaign framework that I’d prepared. And the post concerning his lineal heritage played a part in his resurrection. Other seeds planted in those posts are already growing, and will soon spring forth! The point though is that with a rich enough character background, I am able to find story based devices to bring your character back if he or she dies, provided you are invested enough in the character to want to bring him/her back in the first place. Much more satisfying than trying to scrounge up the gold to buy a raise dead scroll!

And Erick and Scotty have also provided me with good background info over the length of the campaign for their characters. Some of Erick’s story arc has now come to light, and so his elven blood was what led me to change the March Abduction adventure so that it was the reclusive elves of the Valinesti clan and their sacred grounds that the party interacted with, rather than what I had originally designed. There will be more to come for the half-orc archer! And Scotty’s arc will start gaining momentum as well now that the party is in Logash, but I will say no more about that just yet!

So the more you can tell me about who your character is and what they want, then the more there will be that I can build into the story that will reward you the players. But as I’ve said before, if you just want to interact with the broader story without personalizing it in any way, I am firmly convinced you will still find this campaign entertaining!

Alas the poor sorcerer! Oh, man. I don’t mean to sound trite, but the interaction with Naissa and Emune wasa originally intended for Foose. Obviously. But as he is currently deployed to the arid and exotic lands of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I could not simply let that NPC encounter go to waste! I figured that for Foose, if I hit a certain quotient of demons or undead or erotic encounters in the campaign there would be something in there for him to connect to whatever story arc he wanted for his character. But that is not to be, at least for now! And so, the young lovers have alighted upon Tim’s naive and curious gnome. You’re welcome!!

Lastly, in the next week or two, I will put up another post that will sort of let everyone know what else has been going in other parts of the campaign world since the paladin’s return from the undiscovered country, little stories foreshadowing events yet to unfold, such as:

What has become of Brother Markus and Constable Dreng since they set out to further explore the Black Edifice?

What conclusions have the elves of the Valinesti drawn from their recent reconnection to the outside world?

What secret does the young regent of Hillsreach keep closest to her heart?

The campaign will then resume in mid-July with the wake and funeral of Dame Astrid march.

Stay tuned, True Believers!

SESSION 5 - THE KNIGHT'S WAKE, Part 1

The March Manor

Madame Eva approached the party and indicated she could bring Donagahast back from the beyond. Although he had seemed to perish in the fight to rescue Abbie March, something had captured his soul, and if she could draw it out, the paladin could be restored. The party then gathered at the Lovari camp where the aging mystic would perform the ceremony to bring him back.

Donagahast was trapped in darkness, but a distant light drew him away. As he made for the light, he was pursued by an evil presence hidden in the surrounding darkness. With the presence right on his heels, he leapt into the light and found himself lying in a cart, surrounded by his fellow adventurers and a handful of lovari. The dark presence had pursued him into the material world and manifested in the camp- a shadow demon! 

 Battle was joined, with Madame Eva committing herself to the fight by magically bolstering the adventurers and hindering the demon wherever she could. After a hard fought contest, the group emerged victorious.

The gypsy woman took stock of the resurrected paladin, and noted that his raven tattoo appeared somewhat faded.

“Mark ye this, young one,” she muttered darkly. “Whatever it be that gathered thy soul hath not parted with it willingly. Unless ye cleanse its taint, ye are doomed to return to its grasp a year and a day hence. When thy spirit tattoo hath completely faded, so to does thy time in this world end.”

After hearing the lovari mystic tell the paladin’s fortune, the party took some time to prepare themselves to accompany Abbie and Dame Astrid’s coffin on the road to Logash. Within four days time, they arrived at the March family estate located outside of the walled town. By the time they had got there, several guests had already arrived at the manor house and made themselves comfortable. Abbie retired to her chambers to confer with her aunt Jhessa, who had been receiving the guests and making preparations for the wake and funeral taking place the following day.

The party members also settled into their quarters, each finding something to do to kill time before the wake. Donaghast made his way up the grand staircase to the great hall, where Abbie and Jhessa were overseeing the final preparations. Donaghast approached Abbie and swore her his fealty. The young regent of Hillsreach gratefully accepted his service and knighted him on the spot.

Later in the evening but before the welcome party, Abbie met with the group to ask them for a favor. She explained that custom provided that the night before a funeral, the lord or lady of the manor would welcome their overnight guests with a feast. She requested that the adventurers help her win over the important locals who had come to pay their respects at the party that would follow this feast. The adventurers agreed to do so, and prepared themselves for the gathering.

They each initially staked out one of the guests- Donaghast first approached Annah Vallant, the gnome began with Naissa and Emune, the cleric with Torren Skiff, while the half-orcs double teamed Jonas Fletcher. Throughout the evening, the adventurers took turns mingling with each of the strategically important the guests, doing their best to advance the interest of the young regent of Hillsreach. Even as Donaghast charmed Annah, the gnome managed to take things to a new level, happily finding himself to be an object of affection shared between the beautiful young female lovers, who whispered in his ear all the wonders he would experience when it was time to retire for the evening! Oh, what delights the night would have in store for the stalwart rogue! Alas for the absent sorcerer!!

The evening wore on, and the party made favorable impressions on all the right personages, pleasing Abbie immensely. When it closely approached midnight, she thanked all her guests for coming to pay their respects, and with that, everyone retired for the evening. Come the dawn, the wake would begin, followed by the funereal procession and interment.

As they slowly made their way to their rooms, many of the guests wondered whether the gnome and his lusty and lascivious companions would make it to the sunrise ceremony, or not… Alas for the absent sorcerer!!