| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Auzoros
Seeker
Australia
97 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 15:00:49
|
***EDIT*** To all who love the Realms and do not wish the Spellplague to take effect in their campaigns...go and check out KnightErrantJR's wonderful piece titled "Anatomy of an Apocalypse: Toril's Divided Future". You can find it below. Oh and don't forget to pass on your thanks.
After reading through a post on here I thought I’d share my plan for the Realms to save them from the Spellplague. When looking at the adventure modules Mysteries of the Moonsea, Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave, Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land and Anauroch: The Empire of Shade, I wondered where to next? After these adventures how can the Spellplague be prevented?
What are your ideas?
Ok...not a 4e fan and I'm not going there. But when I finally get the chance to run these modules they will set the stage for an epic adventure that will end with the adventurers saving the world from disaster (ie the Spellplague). My goal is to have Shar weakened, Cyric's plan to kill Mystra fail and Mask regaining his formal glory.
Im totally ignoring the senseless death of Helm. Instead, through the subtle manipulations of Mask, the heroes (PC's) will discover Cyric and Shar's plot to murder Mystra. And so begins a recruiting effort to defeat Shar and Cyric.
Desiring to make amends for the destruction of the second Goddess of Magic during ToT, Helm pledges to protect Mystra. Selune wants in too, even if only for the chance to strike against Shar. Azuth and Savras, understanding that the Weave and all magic is at stake also offer to help.
With the aid of Mask (after much grumbling from Helm), a trap is set for Shar and Cyric. When sprung and the battle is over and done with. Shar and Cyric are both weakened but not destroyed. Mask's scheming succeeds (finally!), winning back the portfolio of intrigue from Cyric and he also manages to steal away with Shar's portfolio of unrevealed secrets, only to have it removed by Ao and given to Oghma under the assertion that unrevealed secrets are best kept supervised by a neutral power.
I haven't figured out the details of the trap or the battle yet. Perhap's there is no fight, only Cyric and Shar are literally trapped. In either case a trial is called where Ao decrees that Cyric is to be placed under house arrest for 1000 yrs, seriously hindering any future murderous schemes against his peers.
Shar, with her tail between her legs, returns to the Plane of Shadow to brood. Overcome with a deep depression, she does not answer the prays of her faithful for a number of weeks causing some of her followers to believe she is dead. While many Sharrans go in hiding and patiently wait to hear from their goddess, in some cells hysteria breaks out and many of these follows commit suicide.
Selunites have mass celebrations, but these are short lived as the church, recognising their opportunity, organise attacks against the church of Shar and thus Selune’s power waxes.
Helm's church gains a boost in popularity.
Mystra, her magic allies, and the Weave remain unharmed. The churches of Mystra and Azuth unify with the church of Selune in their efforts against the church of Shar.
And Mask...well Mask is happy
In the end…
Shar (becomes an Intermediate power) and loses Unrevealed Secrets.
Mask (becomes an Intermediate power) and regains Intrigue;
Oghma (remains a Greater power) and gains Unrevealed Secrets.
Selune (remains an Intermediate power) yet her church sees a time of growth and prosperity. It is likely that Selune will become a greater power in the near future as her church grows in strengh and numbers.
Helm (remains an Intermediate power) however his church finally finds forgiveness and acceptance once again in the North.
Savras (remains a Demigod) however his following is invigorated as the importance of divination magic grows as a means to combat evil in the Realms. It is predicted that he will soon become a Lesser power...but of course Savras isn't telling.
|
Edited by - Auzoros on 28 Jun 2009 17:45:07
|
|
|
wintermute27
Learned Scribe
USA
179 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 19:59:26
|
One thing I'm doing in my game is I'm getting my players involved in an attempt to resurrect Bhaal, who will reclaim the murder portfolio from Cyric. I've always likes Bhaal more than Cyric. You could do something similar to deal another blow to Cyric making it easier for the other gods to imprison him.
The main question I have is how much will to players have to do in all of this? Are they powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with the gods? There is a lot of potential in this plot line for a great set of games. What sort of things do you have planned for them? I've suffered through too many games where the DM is just playing against himself ("look at these awesome enemies and cool NPCs I made!") and I'm just along as a spectator. Suffice it to say, they were not very enjoyable games for me. |
My Current Campaign: The Adventures of the Stonelanders |
 |
|
|
Auzoros
Seeker
Australia
97 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 04:16:27
|
quote:
Originally posted by wintermute27
One thing I'm doing in my game is I'm getting my players involved in an attempt to resurrect Bhaal, who will reclaim the murder portfolio from Cyric. I've always likes Bhaal more than Cyric. You could do something similar to deal another blow to Cyric making it easier for the other gods to imprison him.
Here is one idea to bring back Bhaal which involves the PC’s. Not sure if I would use it myself cos Cyric is one of those gods I just love to hate.
Knowing that Bhaal’s essence is still living could be used. Perhaps one of the PC’s is unknowingly a Bhaalspawn or is somehow possessed by the spirit of Bhaal. That would make a great character development arc! Having patiently waited to enact revenge, Bhaal uses the PC to be his murder weopon.
In the ensuing battle Cyric is mortally wounded. In order to survive, Cyric forfeits some of his divinity. This divine energy is absorbed by the PC who manifests into the new Bhaal…or the essence of Bhaal is released from the PC to meld with the divine energy to materialise into Bhaal (keeping the PC alive).
A little weak perhaps but with some tweaking this could work.
|
|
|
|
Auzoros
Seeker
Australia
97 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 04:57:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by wintermute27
The main question I have is how much will to players have to do in all of this? Are they powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with the gods? There is a lot of potential in this plot line for a great set of games. What sort of things do you have planned for them? I've suffered through too many games where the DM is just playing against himself ("look at these awesome enemies and cool NPCs I made!") and I'm just along as a spectator. Suffice it to say, they were not very enjoyable games for me.
I don’t think the PC’s would be up to going toe to toe with a greater power (or two for that matter). So I would probably go with the idea that the PC’s are required to gather knowledge and treasure hunt for certain artifacts that the gods could use against Cyric and Shar. Maybe these artifacts are held within the strongholds of their respective churches. For Shar, I would send the players into the Shade Enclave itself to retrieve such an item. Naturally, some items can only be found amongst the planes.
It is possible to have the PC’s take on an avatar of Cyric or Shar as a means to weaken or distract one of the two. However, I don’t know at this point if that would work.
|
|
|
|
Darkmeer
Senior Scribe
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 06:55:41
|
KnightErrantJR may not be as fond of things as he once was, but this scroll shows how he would be running games in the Realms. Mind you it's based around his Mistledale campaign, but that's another story (and is hidden somewhere in the library here at the 'keep).
I really like what he did, allowing two points to either become one or fall off... and most of Toril has no idea what's happened.
/d |
"These people are my family, not just friends, and if you want to get to them you gotta go through ME." |
|
|
|
Auzoros
Seeker
Australia
97 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 08:10:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by Darkmeer
KnightErrantJR may not be as fond of things as he once was, but this scroll shows how he would be running games in the Realms. Mind you it's based around his Mistledale campaign, but that's another story (and is hidden somewhere in the library here at the 'keep).
I really like what he did, allowing two points to either become one or fall off... and most of Toril has no idea what's happened.
/d
Darkmeer thank you soooo much. I just read this scroll and was blown away. It's excellent! Perfect in fact!
KnightErrantJR, if you ever read this, you have my graditude. This is surperb work. My hat goes off to you. I'd love to see this novelised into a trilogy. |
|
|
|
Darkmeer
Senior Scribe
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 08:53:33
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mark o Bello
quote:
Originally posted by Darkmeer
KnightErrantJR may not be as fond of things as he once was, but this scroll shows how he would be running games in the Realms. Mind you it's based around his Mistledale campaign, but that's another story (and is hidden somewhere in the library here at the 'keep).
I really like what he did, allowing two points to either become one or fall off... and most of Toril has no idea what's happened.
/d
Darkmeer thank you soooo much. I just read this scroll and was blown away. It's excellent! Perfect in fact!
KnightErrantJR, if you ever read this, you have my graditude. This is surperb work. My hat goes off to you. I'd love to see this novelised into a trilogy.
You're quite welcome, although I didn't write any part of it, it's all KEJR.
I'll be sure he gets the message... He's my favorite Realms DM 
/d |
"These people are my family, not just friends, and if you want to get to them you gotta go through ME." |
Edited by - Darkmeer on 28 Jun 2009 08:57:32 |
|
|
|
Auzoros
Seeker
Australia
97 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 09:04:01
|
[/quote]
I'll be sure he gets the message... He's my favorite Realms DM
Feel free to do so but I sent him a PM myself bestowing my thanks. With that calibre of writing ability and imagination, not to mention his obvious indepth knowledge of Realms lore, I'm sure he is an excellent DM. |
Edited by - Auzoros on 28 Jun 2009 09:05:10 |
|
|
|
Nightseer
Acolyte
45 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 11:56:45
|
The best way of preventing the Plague, is to not have it happen!  |
Shar! |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2009 : 16:37:36
|
quote:
Originally posted by Darkmeer
You're quite welcome, although I didn't write any part of it, it's all KEJR.
I'll be sure he gets the message... He's my favorite Realms DM
/d
Well, you may not have written any part of it, but Grim and Meriden definitely inspired sections of it. |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
|
|
Eye of Horus-Re
Acolyte
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2009 : 19:52:58
|
KEJR,
Thank you so much for this! I am trully impressed. I plan to incorporate this into my game very soon. As Darkmeer said earlier, I would love to see this in print! |
Long live 1384 and that which came before....!!! |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2009 : 04:06:26
|
Very nice... I like it... a lot. Enough said.  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
Darkheyr
Learned Scribe
264 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2009 : 13:55:07
|
Since the details of Mystras murder are still unclear...
All the nifty little pockets of antimagic created by the Sharrans could be used to lure Mystra to the material plane for major weave repairs, or an avatar of hers.. and Cyric and Shar spring a trap for her, possibly with the aid of the princes of Umbra, who (shockingly) are being granted 10th+ level spells through the shadow weave to accomplish the feat.
The player's part could be to sabotage that trap before its too late, allowing Mystra to escape/defend herself/call for assistance. |
silm.pw - A Neverwinter Nights Persistent World |
|
|
|
Iolaum 13
Acolyte
Greece
3 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2009 : 13:39:57
|
| Great job i really like it cause i didn't like at all the killings of Mystra and Helm by WOtC |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2009 : 18:56:30
|
quote:
Originally posted by Darkheyr
Since the details of Mystras murder are still unclear...
All the nifty little pockets of antimagic created by the Sharrans could be used to lure Mystra to the material plane for major weave repairs, or an avatar of hers.. and Cyric and Shar spring a trap for her, possibly with the aid of the princes of Umbra, who (shockingly) are being granted 10th+ level spells through the shadow weave to accomplish the feat.
The player's part could be to sabotage that trap before its too late, allowing Mystra to escape/defend herself/call for assistance.
Interesting ideas... but we know that Cyric murdered Mystra in Dweomerheart (this is from GHotR), otherwise her death would not have been complete and final. Deities (esp. greater deities) must be killed on their home plane in order to die; otherwise, it is only their avatar that dies. (IIRC; I'm going from memory here.)
Edit: Of course, things may be different in your Realms; particularly since the current (as of 1385 DR) Mystra was an ascended mortal; perhaps she retained Toril as her home plane...  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 05 Sep 2009 18:59:23 |
|
|
|
Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2009 : 04:30:03
|
| I wrote some fan fiction about a portion of the Weave that still exists within the deep recesses of of secret library alcove of Candlekeep. For mortal comprehension, it is the dying body of the physical form of Mystra. Anyways, it's an easy way to steer the course of events in any direction you wish. |
Edited by - Matt James on 06 Sep 2009 04:31:12 |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 05:27:26
|
Hmm... intriguing... I'll have a look for that writing... I love hunting through deep recesses of secret library alcoves.
EDIT: I haven't been able to track this down. Can someone provide this poor hapless scribe with a link? Thanks muchly!  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 10 Sep 2009 21:00:11 |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2009 : 00:55:39
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
Hmm... intriguing... I'll have a look for that writing... I love hunting through deep recesses of secret library alcoves.
EDIT: I haven't been able to track this down. Can someone provide this poor hapless scribe with a link? Thanks muchly!
I think Matt means that the portion of the Weave exists in the secret alcove of Candlekeep, in the Realms. Because I don't recall him submitting such a work for inclusion here at the "virtual" Candlekeep.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2009 : 00:57:03
|
| I haven't submitted it to anyone :) It was going to be apart of my GenCon CK adventure. |
|
|
|
Snowblood
Senior Scribe
Australia
388 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2009 : 10:58:42
|
We once found a painting of Mystral, from an ancient Netherese ruin, deep under frozen dunes from near Seventon, it held a lost spark of the original goddess, you could chat with her and all, but it was her deep seated fear that the weave was sundered and not what it was. She revealed that when Karsus killed her, the weave was split in to two halves again. Just as it once was before Mystral was born...with her death Shar took back the shadow weave that Selune had ripped from her to create Mystral. So the new Mystra was only ever half of what she had been and jealously guarded what she did possess for fear of it turning up in Shar's hands. She further divided up the weave by sending her power into mortal vessels, thus further weakening the weave as it was always intended to be, an ungoverened portion of the fabric of creation. Ao's daughters in their petty jealousies had corrupted his gift...setting all mortals on a collision course.
Thus when we chatted with this Mystral Shade she let us know that the only course open was to bring about the death of Mystra whilst at the same time removing the dark half of the weave from Shar. Only in letting the weave free as it always was meant to be could Ao's creation reach its fullest potential. Selune never warned her daughter, and Ao allowed it to happen. Infact Cyric was Ao and Selune's unwitting catspaw in the death and necessary betrayal of Mystra to bring about a greater good. Remember said Mystral, the concerns of Gods are not always those of mortal beings..they have bigger issues to deal with. So with the death of Mystra the world was set to rights, the weave was restored to its rightful place, as no one beings tool, but a gift and a curse from Ao to all....just as he had intended.
Remember also that in the Elder days Selune/Shar was worshipped as one Goddess, The Mother of Light/Darkness and Magic..... |
Aryvandaar, Ilythiir, Arnothoi, Orva, Sarphil, Anauria/Asram/Hlondath, Uvaeren, Braceldaur, Ilodhar, Lisenaar, Imaskar, Miyeritar, Orishaar, Shantel Othrieir, Keltormir, Eaerlann, Ammarindar, Siluvanede, Sharrven, Illefarn, Ardeep, Rystal Wood, Evereska are all available here for download:http://phasai.deviantart.com/gallery/
|
Edited by - Snowblood on 12 Sep 2009 11:00:31 |
|
|
|
froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2009 : 04:21:55
|
quote:
Originally posted by Nightseer
The best way of preventing the Plague, is to not have it happen!
+1
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
|
|
|
Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2009 : 07:16:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Also, here is the more or less complete version of it with some edits that Alaundo was gracious enough to post in the Traveler's Notebook section of the site:
http://www.candlekeep.com/downloads/apocalypse.zip
I just wanted to say thank you for writing such a wonderful adventure basis. My players and I are really looking forward to using this soon. All my best to you, Knight Errant Jr., and Happy Holidays! |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
|
|
|
SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2009 : 02:18:51
|
quote:
Originally posted by froglegg
quote:
Originally posted by Nightseer
The best way of preventing the Plague, is to not have it happen!
+1
This has been our solution as well. No recognition of the Spell Plague. On that note, we've also shifted to homebrew or the Pathfinder campaign setting. I'll admit to being quite guilty to being in the process of creating my own homebrew setting. Even done up a map. :) |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 18 Dec 2009 02:19:39 |
|
|
|
Brix
Learned Scribe
147 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2010 : 21:07:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Matt James
I wrote some fan fiction about a portion of the Weave that still exists within the deep recesses of of secret library alcove of Candlekeep. For mortal comprehension, it is the dying body of the physical form of Mystra. Anyways, it's an easy way to steer the course of events in any direction you wish.
please submit!
 |
|
|
|
|
thenightgaunt
Acolyte
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - 29 Feb 2012 : 03:39:17
|
I've hated the 4th ed changes to the Realms from the moment I read them. The 3rd ed changes were ok, but the 4th pretty much killed off the setting.
So in my campaign the year is 1370 and the PCs have been recruited by a chronomancer who's intent on preventing the spellplague (the players don't yet know this). In order to disrupt the plans of Cyric and Shar, the chronomage (who severed his own timeline so he could exist outside of causality) sent them back in time 400 years and to an alternate timeline to build a city on the site of "modern day" secomber. They were directed to rescue different groups of people and send the refugees to their new city. They had to trick the Illefarn dwarves into fleeing their city and resettling in their lands (thanks to a portal to the paraelemental plane of magma, they thought Illefarn had become an active volcano.). At the moment they're 100 years from the Time of Troubles (which the chronomancer intends to use as a distraction to pull the entire nation through time and space to the present day in his preferred timeline.), but they've built up a city of about 20k halflings (don't ask), 5k dwarves, and 1k humans.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Spellplague Prevention Plan
