| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 24 Jan 2006 : 17:30:08
Greetings
The three golden chalices of Siamorphe:
During the time of troubles some sixteen years ago as our lady of the golden chalice defended Waterdeep; triplets were born into the house of a true believer in her cause. Among the few faithful of Siamorphe this was considered a blessing and a sign. The triplets were swept away to her temple and sequestered in her service; the girls were raised within her one true temple. They were named Loral Linda and Lona, but made it vary clear at an early age that they all wished to be called Loral. As time pasted the girls begin to have visions and to refer to each other and to themselves in a vary odd ways and with vary strange titles. Each time a Loral would speak she would proclaim herself thusly I am the Loral of your past, present, or future honor and we bring law to the lawless at every noble’s hand. They made a point of always dressing exactly alike so the declaration of which Loral they were was absolutely necessary.
And in the fullness of time the girls grew into stunning young women and righteous clerics of Siamorphe. And yet know one new of there existence save her few faithful and the house from which they were born. And so it came to pass that the nobles of waterdavian society were quite surprised when in the year of Risen Elfkin the three young women were presented by the temple to the noble houses of Waterdeep at the divine pageantry. The nobles were even more surprised to hear the Loral’s message.
When the first Loral stood before the crowed of revelers and spoke this is what she had to say. I am the Loral of your past honor that which has been lost and I do declare that our neglected shrines and chapels at Cromyer and Balders Gate at Tethyr and beyond must be redemamed as shining temples to our cause for we bring law to the lawless at every noble’s hand.
And then the second Loral addressed the crowd and said I am the Loral of your Present honor of which you are in short supply I do declare that each noble house of Waterdeep shall demand that there sons and daughters study the proper forms of ruler ship and give tithe at my temple for you are honor bound to bring law to the lawless by every noble’s hand.
And finally the third Loral stood to speak and said I am the Loral of your future honor and I do declare the first crusade of the church of Siamorphe. The three golden chalices of Siamorphe must be returned to her newly redeemed temples within three years, failure is not an option if the chalices are not returned the blood lines of the noble houses of Waterdeep shell be purged and divine right given unto more competent lords for we bring law to the lawless at every nobles hand.
The charisma of the Larals was so great and there declaration so sincere in its intent to care for the people that many young nobles joined the crusade on the spot. And so it was that the Knights Templar of Siamorphe the seekers of the golden chalice were formed, and the first crusade of Siamorphe begun.
Some Questions then
1} Am I completely running over or ignoring any canon material with this plot hook?
2} Does this plot hook draw to close a parallel between the holy roman empire and the knights templar in the real world and the church of Siamorphe in the realms?
3} What should the three golden chalices of Siamorphe do, they are obviously a relic of some kind but what is there nature?
4} Who or what would be the realms equivalent of Salazar for the crusaders.
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 23:28:25
Greetings
Thauramarth: My good man I did indeed mean Saladin died 1193 as opposed to Salazar I must keep a better eye on my spell checker. I tend to think of Saladin as the primary opponent of the knights templar but I suppose that Richard the Lionhearted chap is of some historical significance also. The Knights Templar of Siamorphe the seekers of the golden chalice in the hook are indeed meant to parallel the development of the real world templar’s in the realms. I like your suggestions regarding opponents and noblesse oblige, my thought was to place the three chalices in three different locations on Farune and have the crusaders proceed to retrieve the relics from three of the four corners of Farune. My original thought was to use Tethyr, Anaurach and Thay as locations for thee lost chalices. But the lake of steam might work very well indeed. I had planned on having Mirt the money lender through in with some of the knights and start doing the whole Templar banking thing. There is also the possibility of the church of Siamorphe selling knight hoods and or giving them away to encourage the crusade like the holy roman empires sale of priesthoods excreta in the real world. Thanks so much for the ideas. |
| Thauramarth |
Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 22:18:16
quote:
Originally posted by Firhyanda
4} Who or what would be the realms equivalent of Salazar for the crusaders.
Do you mean Saladin, Richard the Lionheart's opponent? If so, and taking into account that my most recent sourcebooks date back to 2nd edition, a possible candidate would be Teldorn Darkhope, the leader of the Knights of the Black Gauntlet, who conquered Mintar on the Lake of Steam and then continued on to Kzelter (Mintar detailed on p. 154 of Empires of the Shining Sea, a 2nd edition supplement, available as a download from Paizo's website for 4 US$).
Other options: one of the leaders of the Tuigan after the demise of Yamun Khahan? Perhaps Hubadai, who conquered Semphar, and is probably still there even after the main horde of the Tuigan got their clocks cleaned by Azoun's crusaders? Or perhaps the High Blade of Mulmaster? I would say that all of these are of sufficientloy high birth and yet not noble by Siamorphe's standards (no "noblesse oblige") to warrant a crusade against them.
But a verrrry nice adventure hook you have there. |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 22:12:05
Thanks
The draw back negative level is an excellent idea mystery-man ill include that in my finale write up for the campaign. |
| Mystery_Man |
Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 20:28:39
I would add that an imbiber of any chalice who is not a cleric or noble be granted one negative level for the same duration as any benefit. |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 25 Jan 2006 : 17:16:13
Greetings
Thanks for the feedback mystery man, well here’s what I came up with for the three golden chalices of Siamorphe. Now all I need to do is come up with my bankers and my Salazar.
The chalice of our past honor is a relic and minor artifact of the church of Siamorphe. If the chalice is filled with blessed water and the water is consumed by a cleric of Siamorphe or a noble in service of the church and thanks is given for stewardship of the land the chalice glows with cold green fire. The imbiber of the holy water is granted two feats for twenty four hours. Aftersight Races of Faerun pg 160 and obscure lore Complete Adventurer pg 111 if that character does not have the bardic knowledge ability he or she is granted it for twenty four hours. This blessing of the chalice may only be received once per year. This chalice is used by the church to research the linage of kings and nobles and to seek out lost ceremonies of the church. CL15 Sanctify Relic, Craft Wondrous Item Price 50,000gp
The chalice of our present honor is a relic and minor artifact of the church of Siamorphe. If the chalice is filled with blessed water and the water is consumed by a cleric of Siamorphe or a noble in service of the church and thanks is given for stewardship of the people the chalice glows with cold white fire. The imbiber of the holy water is granted the stigmata feat Book of Exalted Deeds pg 40 and the nimbus of light feat Book of Exalted Deeds pg 40 for twenty four hours. The blessing of the chalice may be received once per day. This chalice is used by the church to heal the people in there time of need. CL15 Sanctify Relic, Craft Wondrous Item Price 50,000gp
The chalice of our future honor is a relic and minor artifact of the church of Siamorphe. If the chalice is filled with blessed water and the water is consumed by a cleric of Siamorphe or a noble in service of the church and thanks is given for stewardship of the law the chalice glows with cold blue fire. The imbiber of the holy water is treated as if he or she is carrying a phylactery of faithfulness at all times and is granted the true believer feat Complete Devine pg78 this effect is permanent. The blessing of the chalice may be received once in a life time. This chalice is used by the church to bind clerics and nobles to the law. CL15 Sanctify Relic, Craft Wondrous Item Price 50,000gp
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| Mystery_Man |
Posted - 24 Jan 2006 : 18:35:26
quote:
Originally posted by Firhyanda
Greetings
Some Questions then
1} Am I completely running over or ignoring any canon material with this plot hook?
2} Does this plot hook draw to close a parallel between the holy roman empire and the knights templar in the real world and the church of Siamorphe in the realms?
3} What should the three golden chalices of Siamorphe do, they are obviously a relic of some kind but what is there nature?
4} Who or what would be the realms equivalent of Salazar for the crusaders.
My suggestions for:
1. It's kind of a neat plot hook so really, let it be.
&
3. One could hold knowledge of forgotten ceremonies of the church lost over time maybe? Another could hold the forgotten knowledge of the lineage of many noble families the church has served. The last could be used to determine if an individual is fit to rule by glowing a certain color or wine turning to vinegar etc. I would make them relics of the church with powers to be used by the church with little to no actual power given to individual PC's, leave that up to magic items.
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