| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 18:52:44
Inspired by a thread here about incorporating old modules into the Realms I have been working on a timeline and adventure synopsis to accomodate B3 Palace of the Silver Princess and B7 Rahasia into Cormyr.
The modules are set in the past but with some tweaking can be incorporated into the modern Realms as well if you want to run them as part of your current camapiagn.
To run them in Cormyr's past have the PC's wander through an unknown gate which takes them back through time where they are caught up in the feud between the Witch Lords, the fledgling Cult of the Dragon and the people of Landuth Vale. Alternatively have the PC's (whilst exploring the Vast Swamp), encounter ghosts of Landuth Vale who possess their bodies and 'transport' them back into history. Whether they use their own bodies and current character classes or bodies and classes of the 'now living ghosts' is something for you to decide.
In the current Cormyr (C1370DR+), the Vale of Landuth and the Great Wood of the Fay has been swallowed up by the Vast Swamp. To link it with current lore, Landuth Keep could be the foundations of what becomes Cormyr's Lost Keep (from Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave), and is the ancestral home of the Tammarast noble family.
Hope folks find this useful, I will post the adventure synopsis first, followed by a short description and timeline of the Vale.
Cheers
Damian |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 19:42:53
Indeed, I stand corrected  -- Wooly and Sage are right, as Weredragons are not lycanthropes at all (and hence the name was changed to Song Dragons in 3E to differentiate them from lycanthropes). I don't know why I brainfarted like that, but then again, maybe I *am* becoming more senile with each passing year...  |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 08:18:27
OK I will see what I can do and come back to you if I have any more questions.
I think I need a break from Candlekeep anyway, so this should give me some time to work on this.
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| crazedventurers |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 00:26:00
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Excellent.
Now, lets see. We have a setting for the adventure, the background for the plot. The major changes to the major characters? what more do wee need? Are there any important elements of a suggested conversion that are missing here?
And when that is done; do you want me to more or less edit the elements together Crazedventurer or do you want to do it yourself? I think you would be better able to handle it yourself, but I don't mind the job.
Hi Jorkens
Am busy with the community project on the OGBS at the mo, so please feel free to get stuck in. I think you have done an excellent job so far of tying the various suggestions together and clarifying points.
Ideas and rambling statements I can do, editing and layout I struggle with
Cheers
Damian
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| Jorkens |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 10:54:31
Excellent.
Now, lets see. We have a setting for the adventure, the background for the plot. The major changes to the major characters? what more do wee need? Are there any important elements of a suggested conversion that are missing here?
And when that is done; do you want me to more or less edit the elements together Crazedventurer or do you want to do it yourself? I think you would be better able to handle it yourself, but I don't mind the job. |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 14:05:21
Re Argenta's spirit.
Maybe this is the good side of her calling for help as the artifact has taken over her body and most of her sentience. Maybe she has dabbled too much into the powers of the gem and it has finally controlled her.
Just a thought
Damian |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 12:40:16
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Her being of dragonblood is a good idea, is this commonly known in the valley or is it a secret?
then the spirit can if suitable be substituted by a message sent by her as a spectral form. A cry for help from the protector of the valley.
We are starting to get all that is needed for a complete version I think, but there are still a couple of questions. The Spirit, shouldn't its role be a bit more detailed and what is the nature of the Heart in this version? Have you any thoughts on the methods of destruction of the artifact. Are the sword and the bard a part of this?
I would say her heritage would be a secret - would (sane) folks want to live close to a dragon, even an apparently benevolent one? And if the Vale people know, then tales soon spread and all manner of 'others' turn up to see the dragon-elf.
Of course maybe her secret has leaked out which is why the Witch Lords want to destroy her (c900DR) or the CoTD want to control her (c1370DR) if folks want to use those story arcs?
re spirit - I like the idea of a spectral spirit (rather than a magic mouth/sending etc) - this is a great hook to scare the PC's with. They start having the odd dream which them turn into constant dreams and then have the spirit appear 'one dark and stormy night' to plead with them to save 'her' with the addition that if they don't save her she will haunt them forever! and of course other folks don't see the spectral form, and the PC's get blamed for all the tricks the spectral form plays on others...... 
Destroying the artifact? no thoughts at all! I would play it that however it is destroyed doesn't actually finish the job - it shatters into a million pieces in a blinding light, wild magic surges abound, monsters summoned, walls disappear and reappear, PC's items get desroyed/get new powers etc etc etc and whilst this chaos is happening the sentience in the Artifact actually escapes and rebuilds (slowly) so that when the PC's are of higher level, they get to do the job properly themselves as they come to realise that the dragonking is not actually dead.
Just a few random thoughts
Damian |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 10:52:06
This is developing nicely. I think I will run this version at a later date.
I don't think there is much need of a reason for Argenta to love Ellis, weirder couples than that have formed. Her being of dragonblood is a good idea, is this commonly known in the valley or is it a secret?
I just thought of another thing. If Argenta is a more powerful creature, like a dragon, then the spirit can if suitable be substituted by a message sent by her as a spectral form or a magic mouth spell. A cry for help from the protector of the valley. The characters doesn't even need to know that Argenta and the "Spirit" is the same being. I don't know if it fits into this version, but it is an alternative I would include.
We are starting to get all that is needed for a complete version I think, but there are still a couple of questions. The Spirit, shouldn't its role be a bit more detailed and what is the nature of the Heart in this version? Have you any thoughts on the methods of destruction of the artifact. Are the sword and the bard a part of this? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 06:13:28
Wooly is correct. The 2e weredragon was never actually a lycanthrope, folks just thought they were, so in 3e that possible point of confusion was cleared up and they were renamed song dragons. Note also, that both names are used in Faerûn.
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| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 06:04:39
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Song dragons are practically Weredragons in 3E (they are not lycanthropes anymores, so that's why they changed the name). Their abilities and stats are described in 'Monsters of Faerun', and I can post them tomorrow, if you need them.
Weredragons never were lycanthropes -- the name is misleading. They date back to Dragon 134 (June 1988), which I believe was their first appearance. |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 01:17:19
quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Hmmm... just a quick idea here, but maybe Argenta could be a Song Dragon, or half-Song Dragon? Anyway, terrific job with the backstory, Damian!  
I think it 'proper' that we use an 'Ed special' dragon if we go down the route of Argenta being of 'dragonkind', so Song Dragon, Electrum dragon, were-dragon are all possibilities.
I know what Electrum and were-dragons do, but no clue as to song - can someone provide a quick synopsis of abilites etc? So we might be able to better judge the appropriate choice (assuming folks like the idea that Argenta is 'of a dragon'?)
Cheers
Damian
ps glad you liked the back story - nice to know that I can make stuff up on the spot that makes some semblance of sense to others rather than just me!
Oh, most certainly -- great stuff, and I'll definitely use the Vale of Landuth in my PF Campaign (the PCs are adventuring near Thunderstone at the moment).
Song dragons are practically Weredragons in 3E (they are not lycanthropes anymores, so that's why they changed the name). Their abilities and stats are described in 'Monsters of Faerun', and I can post them tomorrow, if you need them. |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 01:09:13
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Hmmm... just a quick idea here, but maybe Argenta could be a Song Dragon, or half-Song Dragon? Anyway, terrific job with the backstory, Damian!
I think it 'proper' that we use an 'Ed special' dragon if we go down the route of Argenta being of 'dragonkind', so Song Dragon, Electrum dragon, were-dragon are all possibilities.
I know what Electrum and were-dragons do, but no clue as to song - can someone provide a quick synopsis of abilites etc? So we might be able to better judge the appropriate choice (assuming folks like the idea that Argenta is 'of a dragon'?)
Cheers
Damian
ps glad you liked the back story - nice to know that I can make stuff up on the spot that makes some semblance of sense to others rather than just me! |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 24 Aug 2008 : 01:01:23
Hmmm... just a quick idea here, but maybe Argenta could be a Song Dragon, or half-Song Dragon? Anyway, terrific job with the backstory, Damian! |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 10:38:46
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Ellis in the synopsis above. How does he stand in relationship with the dragons?
Some backstory before the rise of Netheril.
The Dragons of the North live past Thar in the Tortured Lands of the Frozen North. Over many centuries they 'domesticated' humans to act as slaves for them. Then rose the Netherese and the dragons realised they couldn't defeat them alone and needed an army to fight with them. So they 'undomesticated' some of the humans and let them 'grow' into normal humans beings and become soldiers to fight the Netherese. From them certain humans displayed talents fitting with the dragon's ethos and over decades/centuries dragon riders were developed.
Fast forward several, several hundred years and the might of the Dragons have been diminished, but the traditions of the past remain.
Ellis is a true dragon rider. He and the white dragon are 'bonded' by draconic rituals to act togther and not harm each other. The Dragons and the Dragonfolk (as the humans call themselves) look forward to a day when "Dragons shall rule the world entire" They are aware of Maglas' prophecy in The Chronicle of Years to Come and the human folk hope to survive the shattered thrones and live through to see Dragons rule as masters again. I suppose you might call them a Dragoncult.....
Ellis is motivated, like his dragon mount, to destroy the gem because they know of Sammaster and his desire to recover the artifact. The Dragons of the North are very concerned about the rise of the Cult of the Dragon and their intention to turn all living dragons into undead, so they will do what is necessary to stop Sammaster and the CotD.
The tricky part is reconciling his love for Argenta - the easy solution is to ignore this in the module and have him as a protagonist to the elves (as he is probably CE to fit with the Dragon's alignment.) However if we keep the love interest then Ellis is CN and more aware of the world in general and not as restricted by the bonding as others are. So although he is dedicated to the cause of stopping Sammaster, he is not so narrow focussed that he can't fall in love with Argenta.
Why argenta loves him is something I have not properly worked out yet. The only thing I can come up with, is that Argenta does have silver dragon blood running through her veins and is therefore attracted to Ellis and his love of dragons (its not perfect but is a start!). If we use the Drgonking Eye as the gem, maybe that is why she has not recognised the artifact as evil? as her blood is 'fired up' by the dragonking?
Not sure about Argenta/Ellis and the Dragonking Eye - some more work needed.
Hope this helps
Damian
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| crazedventurers |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 10:10:38
A short update on the people involved - some of the 'Years of' fell quite nicely into the plot - all the years are in Dalereckoning
Arnar Landuth B.769 D.834
Tammarast line:
Tammar and Ali-erras had 3 children, of those only their daughter had children of her own
Tammar B.802 D.860 = Ali-erras B.804 D.857
Braernoth B.822 D.964
Maeshareen B.824 D.867(?)
Eligan B.831 D.899
Maeshareen married Hadran of Torm in 839DR. Out of repsect for her grandfather and having no family name of his own he took Tammarast as his surname (with Tammar's approval). They had 4 children (M, F, F, M) and many grandchildren. (Of the grandchildren Aranor is the son of Harnoth).
Crannor B.840 D.881
Laeryn B.842 D.897
Dendra B.845 D.897
Harnoth B.850 D.906
Aranor Tammarast, Lord of Lundeth
B.870 D. 925
Cheers
Damian |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 09:50:47
I think it could be a good idea to post whatever you think could be of use or a good example of what you can do with the module. I will edit the posts into a section of its own at the end to show more concretely how our suggestions can be formed into a whole. Do you have some more details from the adventure such as the role of Ellis in the synopsis above. How does he stand in relationship with the dragons? |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 23 Aug 2008 : 01:40:54
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
This is great, I must say I am impressed.
Wouldn't it be an idea to include most of this as an example of how you can develop the adventure?
Thanks Jorkens for your kind words.
Please feel free to add this to the outline posts on the other thread if you want - I have posted up the 'current' realms timeline scenario as well on the other thread.
It just adds something different to the module and shows how they can be used in different ways.
Cheers
Damian
ps are you interested in knowing the family tree of Tammar and his immediate family linked to the timeline? will post tomorrow  |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 22 Aug 2008 : 20:03:50
This is great, I must say I am impressed.
Wouldn't it be an idea to include most of this as an example of how you can develop the adventure? |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 19:06:59
Landuth Vale Timeline:
810DR
Arnar Landuth builds a fortified house at the southern expanse of the Green Valley, now renamed the Vale of Landuth.
834DR
Arnar dies and without an heir his lands pass to his battle captain, Tammar of Torm.
847DR
Eligan Tammarast third son of Tammar finds the Faerie path leading to the Palace of the Silver Princess.
849DR
Eligan with the support of his family builds a tower called The Green Keep overlooking the Faerie Path to protect both the Land of the Fay and the Vale of Landuth.
860DR
Tammar of Torm dies whilst riding out against ogre attacks from the Thunder Peaks and the Vale of Landuth passes to his first son Braernoth Tammarast.
864DR
Braernoth and his wife Elishae die from poisoning during a feat celebrating the Feast of the Moon (reason unknown). With no heir, Maeshareen (daughter of Tammar) becomes Lady of the Vale.
867DR
Landuth Hold is attacked and burnt by bugbears commanded by a wyvern rider. Maeshareen disappears during the attack (many believe she was taken as a slave by the bugbears). Eligan returns from Sembia where he was looking after the family businesses, after news of the attack reaches him. He assumes Lordship of Landuth Vale and resettles Maeshareen's husband and children outside of the Vale.
869DR
With the aid of financial support from unknown benefactors, Landuth Hold is rebuilt in stone and becomes Landuth Keep.
887DR
An increasingly aged and bitter Eligan forbids any form of divine worship in the Vale of Landuth. The small chapel to Torm is closed and the priests driven out. Other faiths (mainly druidical) suffer similar persecution in the years that follow.
890DR
Settlements in the northern vale are attacked and burnt out by marauding orcs. Most of the communities affected were populated by those friendly to the Fay. During the rest of the year all folk with any elven blood are hunted down and killed.
892DR
Dragon Riders of the North aided by adventurers find the Faerie path to the Silver Palace. They drive off the evil Fay that were attacking the Palace and manage to ‘destroy’ the Eye of Arik.
894DR
The Green Tower is burst asunder as a gate to the elemental plane of water is opened. Water creatures flood north into the Elven lands, sacking the Silver Palace and devastating the great wood.
899DR
Eligan the ancient is deposed by his great nephew Aranor Tammarast who leads the remaining Tormtar of Landuth Vale to victory, aided by elves of the Silver Princess. Eligan dies under the blade of Aranor and is immediately raised as a wight of unusual power by a potent necromantic curse. The wight flees north into the devastated wood under magical assault from Tamashan, Bard of the Elves.
900DR
Aranor leads the Tormtar and elves in support of King Galaghard of Cormyr against the Witch Lords. The Vale of Landuth is absorbed into Cormyr and Aranor is ennobled by Galaghard as Lord Tammarast of Landuth.
Cheers
Damian
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| crazedventurers |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 19:03:39
The Vale of Landuth.
Arnar Landuth left Chondathan (Sembia) in 810DR the Year of the Dark Mystery, to be free of the shackles of what he saw as the corrupt masters from the south who ruled Chondathan (Sembia) as they wished. A devout Tormtar he wanted a secure way station between Cormyr and Sembia to support and protect the overland trade between these two countries and chose a spot at the southern end of what was known locally as ‘The Green Valley’ which he renamed the Vale of Landuth, where he built a fortified house (Landuth Hold).
The Vale of Landuth was a narrow ribbon of land stretching sw-ne along a natural river valley suitable for farming and raising cattle. It’s ever green pastures of grass gained it the name of ‘The Green Valley’ from travellers and locals alike (it had been denuded of its tree cover many generations ago). The valley was anchored by Landuth Hold in the south and became progressively more ‘wild’ the further north up the valley you travelled until reaching the great wood of the faerie and the Land of the Silver Princess. The valley was populated by a few farmers and hunters and visited on occasion by elves of the northern woods to trade and to gently remind ‘Lord’ Landuth that the woods are the lands of the elves, not humans.
Lord Landuth dies with no issue and as per his will, his battle captain Tammar takes over as leader of the Vale. He fortifies Landuth Hold further and the valley prospers as trade between Cormyr and Sembia increases. Tammar’s kin become successive rulers of the Vale after his death and as per local custom take the name Tammarast as their family name (ast meaning ‘blood of’ in local speech).
Cheers
Damian |
| crazedventurers |
Posted - 21 Aug 2008 : 19:00:59
Adventure synopsis.
Campaign based in 892DR.
I would run the adventures as are but with the following background for B3.
I would keep the dragon rider and the white dragon as is. Disturbed by the works of Sammaster, the Dragons of the North learn of his quest to find artifacts of power, one of which is the Eye of Arik. So with the aid of the adventurers (PC's) they succeed in destoying the artifact and thwarting the evolving Cult of the Dragon (CotD).
Due to the ongoing struggles against the CotD and the Witch Lords the elves seek sanctuary across the Thunder Peaks near Lake Sember. They ask the PC's to help guard them through the mountains and this leads nicely into B7 Rahasia.
I would keep the dragon as white purely for the moral issues of working with evil against a greater evil. The Dragons of the North have no wish to become undead (as per Sammaster), so they are forced into working with others to stop Sammaster and the CotD.
What happens after the eye is destroyed is left to DM's to decide. I can't imagine either the PC's or the White Dragon wanting to become long term allies, though they both might have similar goals in thwarting the ongoing growth of the CotD and therefore end up working together again in the future.
If the campzign is set in the past (rather than with time travelling PC's) it might also be interesting to play the timeline through and allow the PC's to take part in Cormyr's battles with the Witch Lords and if played properly can lead to them being ennobled as Lords of Cormyr, which gives us all a few new noble families to play with in the current Realms.
Cheers
Damian |
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