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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2004 : 12:57:19
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Ask Sage and you shall recieve
Overview
After Banes return Fzoul decides to reacess the goals and strategy of the Eastern Zhentarim.
The goals of church of Bane and the Zhentarim have in the last 100 years or so have been to control trade from the Moonsea across Annouch Desert to Waterdeep and the sea of Sword, this made it necessary for the Zhentarim to occupy Dagger Dale in order to control the link between Zhentil keep and The Black Road which spans the Desert and connects the Eastern and Western halves of the organization. However these goals and objectives no longer seem important
1) The Return of Shade has restricted the amounted of Traffic that can travel down the Black Road.
2) The Western Cyric dominated Half of the Zhentarim has or likely will leave the organization (likely to be merged into the Church of Cyric)
3) Daggerdale has driven the Zhentarim out of the dale, effectively cutting off Zhentarim traffic heading out of the Moonsea area and Along the Black road.
4) Fzoul and Khelbhan Blackstaff made a pact where Fzoul would not expand the Zhentarim West of the Desert for next 30 years.
For these reasons Fzoul decides to cut his losses and abandon the Western Zhentarim to the Cyricist.
So what’s a chosen of Bane to do with all this free time? He looks else where
for years it has been the gaol to conqueror Shadowdale but every attempt has resulted in failure. Fzoul recognises this and decides to leave Shadowdale alone, the costs of launching a campaign against it is simply to high and the potential gains limited.
So where else can they go?
North?
The northern Moonsea is undeveloped and scantily defended, but it would require a huge amount of resources to Garrison and the rewards would not be that great and why bother when another strategy will drop the northern cities into the palm of Banes Hand.
Fzoul decides that the Southern Moonsea and the Western Dragon coast are his goals.
To this end the following happens
Scyllua Darkhope travels to Scardale and presses her claim as the rightful Lord of Scardale as the Daughter of its former ruler Lashan. Her claim is accepted and her rulership confirmed. A church of Bane is established in Scardale town however it focus on Law and obedience and it quickly brings order to Scardale town with help of the 500 Zhentarim soldiers Fzoul sends to garrison the town.
Scyllua rules Scardale with a Velvet glove she keeps the more destructive Banites out of Scardale. She wins the people of Scardale over by demonstrating the advantages of a strong lawful ruler which the people of Scardale find a pleasant change from the Chaotic and disorderly rule they’ve experienced since Lashans fall.
Fzouls other goal is to Dominate the southern Moonsea, and the major opponent to that goal is Zhentil keeps old foe Hillsfar, because of this Fzoul has decided that Hilsfar must be conquerored, to achieve this end Fzoul intends sending 2 Armys, one from Voonlar made up of troops from Zhentil Keep and one from Mulmaster they will link up outside Hillsfar and together lay siege to the city. Fzoul plans to bribe the less loyal leaders of Purple Plumes and assassinate those leaders who remain loyal to Hillsfar. At sea the navies of both Mulmaster and Zhentil Keep will blockade Hillsfar port, cutting it off from its sea trade routes and starving the city into submission.
The assault on Hillsfar will begin in 1374
With the taking of Hillsfar the Zhentarim will control the entire southern coast from Zhentil keep in the west to Mulmaster in the east. He also intends to seize the strategic River Lis that connects the Moonsea with the Sea of Fallen stars. He intends to build a series of Fortresses along the length of the river making it impossible for non Zhentarim traffic to transit the river and enter the Moonsea . This will starve the Northern Moonsea cities of income and force them to enter the Zhentrium fold or face economic ruin.
After the fall o Hillsfar Fzoul intends on invading Harrowdale thus linking Scardale with the Zhentriums Moonsea possessions.
Hillsfar has few allies who are willing to help it against the Zhentarim, the most likely to help them would be Sembia however Sembian troops would have to travel a long way to reach Hillsfar and would face a major obstacle in the form of Drow who occupy the territory a Sembian army would have to march through.
When the Zhentarim take over of Scardale will also distract them and make them less willing to send troops north to Hillsfar when Zhentarim troops are on there door step.
To make life for the Sembians even harder Scyllua will bribe the Monks of the Long death, who have a monastery in Scardale to wage a campaign of murder and terror across Sembia killing off the leaders of Sembias merchant familys.
The campaign starts with a modified version of Raiders of Galaths roost
When Fzoul decided to abandon the Western Zhentrium and focus on Hillsfar instead he ordered Suddilis to gather all those members of Darkholds garrision who where followers of Bane or loyal to the Eastern Zhentrium and lead them East back to Zhentil Keep. This he did and on one moonless night 350 members of Darkholds garrision slipped out and headed for the Zhentrium outpost that contained the portal to Galaths roost.
Since there arrival at the Outpost Suddilis has been sending 60 Zhentrium soildiers through the portal everytime is active, 50 of whom return to Zhentil keep, the other 10 have been raiding Mistdale for food and supplies that they take back through the portal to the garrision they have also killed or kidnapped anyone who has come across the Zhentrium using the portal. (this accounts for the Moon elf, Drow elf and gold dragon in the dungeon at the outpost.
The people of Mistledale catch on that something up and send Pcs to investigate however by this time most of Zhentrium garrison has left and already gone through the portal and gone on to Zhentil Keep to join Fzouls army mustering in Voonlar.
Assuming the characters finish the module. If they stick around at the Outpost after defeating Suddilis then they will encounter a Cyricist scout party from Darkhold who are looking for the missing garrision. The Pcs will have to hold the Cyricists off for 10 rounds before the portal is active agian. If they’re successful they return to Mistledale through the portal.
Having healed their wounds and leveled up after ROGR (This likely takes a month to 6 weeks) they will now be ready for Woe to Mistledale.
Suddilis left a small rear guard north of Mistledale which was going to escort to Zhentil keep, when Suddilis and the last few members of the garrision pasted through the portal. If Suddilis lives then he has just reached them having had to walk all the way from the Outpost to Mistldale. If Suddilis didnt make it then a new cleric has been sent by Fzoul to issue new orders to rear guard. Either way the rear guard has been instructed to cause problems in and around Mistledale. fzoul has instructed them to do this as Mistldale occupys a strategic position, any force sent from Sembia or Cormyr to relive the Siege of Hillsfar will have to pass up the Moonsea road.
Having completed Woe to Mistledale the party is approached by a cleric of Tempus he asks them to come to Abby of the Sword in neighbouring Battledale where the high priest of the Temple hires the Pcs to track down the Glabrezu who killed and ate the previous high priest. (See the Abbey of the Sword in Faithes and Pantheons)
Around this time word reaches Battledale that a Zhentrium army is laying siege to Hillsfar and that Scylla Darkhope has been recognised a the rightful ruler of Scardale.
As for the Glabrezu the High priests suggests the PCs go into the Cormanthor wood in search of the drow who controlled the demon. The High Priest doesn’t know which faction the drow belonged, all drow look the same to a follower of tempus.
If they follow the suggestion they eventual come across the House Jaelre encampment described in Lords of Darkness. If the PCs released the drow prisioner in ROGR then she is there to and offers to cash in the favour she owes them by helping them.
The Pcs learn the following: No it wasn’t House Jalere who appeared out of the portal beneath the Abbey of the sword it was probably the Auzkovyn clan.
The prisoner they released in ROGR offers to lead the PCs to the Auzkovyn clan. During the journey the PCs stumble across the Tower of Life (as found in the Races of Faerun web enhancement) While there looking for the traitor in the elven stronghold the Towers attacked by a party of Auzkovyn drow and a Glabrezu, during the attack one of the elven mages banishes or Dismisses the Demon so the party are unable to kill it. The party are however able to get the Glabrezus truename from the Drow wizard who summoned it in exchange for not killing him (Failing that speak with dead is used, after all one of the PCs is a Cleric of Kelevour)
Depending on how events unfold the PCs guide may have a change of heart there’s a follower of Ellistree in the Tower of Life and she may convert the PCs guide ie her alignment changes from CE to CN during the module. The Drow guide offers to travel with the PCs as part of the party.
As for the quest the party will need to summon the Glabrezus and kill it. The party travels back to Ashabenford to talk to Noristuor the tiefling wizard who lives in town. He offers to summon the Glabrezus for some magic items and some gp. However when he summons the demon it doesnt respond. Noristuor tries a different tack and summons an Imp which tells him the Glabrezu has been summoned by someone and is no longer in the Abyss.
Noristuor suggest the PCs contact a more powerful spell caster and ask them to find out where the demon is. He suggests the PCs travel to ScarDale and speak to one of the red Wizard in the enclave. When the party gets there they find the town under control of the Zhentrium. The PCs eventually persuade one of the Red Wizards to cast the spell for them (ill use the red Wizard enclave in loD and drop it in Scardale) and finds that the Glabrezu is inside the walls of Hillsfar, one of the Wizards in Hillsfar summoned the Demon to protect him during the siege.
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Hillsfar is now of course completely surrounded by Banite troops, which means the Pcs are going to have to find away to get inside. However Scyulla has been keeping track of the Pcs activities in the enclave and she arranges to meet them and offers them a deal she'll give them a pass that will let them travel through the Zhentrium lines if they do her a favour.
The favour involves killing a cleric of Cyric in Harrowdale
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/pg/20030521a
If the PCs kill Evah then Dorgath gives them the pass.
The PCs reach Hillsfar to find the city complety encircled. The Zhentrium army has dug trenchs up to the walls and are currently trying to mine the city walls else where Catapults and Trechbuts are lobbying boulders and dead animals and cauldrons full of oil of Fiery burning into the city.
The Pcs will now have to decided how to get into the city, there are several ways in.
1) They can try and enter the city when the Zhentrium open a breach through the wall, and fight there way through those Purple Plumes who try and seal the breach.
2) they can use one of the tunnels that the Zhentrium are using to mine the walls and sneak into the city that way.
3) they can travel to the docks and infiltrate the city through its sewers which flow out at the bay.
The Glabrezu is serving Wak Rathar a wizard (Im going to give him levels as a Demonologist or maybe a Nar Demon Binder) The Pcs will likely have to kill both the wizard and the demon before making their escape. While the PCs having been dealing with the demon, Fzoul has opened up a gate to Banes realm in the Barrens of Doom and Dispair the gate feeds on the fears of the city of Hillsfar and through the gate come a horde of Fiendish Fithyr and Greater Fithyr which terrorise the citys population and feed on their fear. Once the gate opens the Zhentrium storm the city (The defenders are 2 scared to resist). If the PCs still havent managed to kill Suddilis the Banite cleric from Raiders of Galath roost and Woe to Mistledale then they run into him on the way out of the city, and he decides to get even with the PCs, after all Scylla pass only granted the PCs safe passage to ENTER Hillsfar it doesnt give them safe passage OUT of Hillsfar)
Having escaped Hillsfar the party return to The Abbey of the Sword (hopefully with the news that the Demons dead). If their successful the party receives their reward likely in Magical weapons one of the weapons the Pcs receive will be "One thousand broken dreams" A magical sword detailed in magic of Faerun (it will come in handy) plus other magic items. If the Pcs think to help Tempus clergy in Hillsfar escape then they will also recieve the Sword "Prayer of Anger" also detailed in Magic of Faerun.
Having rested they'll be ready for City of spider queen which Ill alter somewhat. Instead of starting in Daggerdale it will start in Mistledale or Battledale, the drow will emerge from Haptooth hill instead of the Crypts. Ill also swap out the vampire in Crypts with an old friend of the PCs (A previous party did the Curse of the Azure bonds module) and they'll find that Dracandros isn’t "dead" he’s undead, im thinking of making him a spectre with levels of the Red Wizard prc and the catacombs populated with various red wizard monsters and items. The Pcs will then complete COSQ and the Dungeon module Spiral of Manzessine. Im going to sprose up COSQ with some stuff from Underdark and the Players guide to Faerun (Im definitely going to remodel Irae T’sarren with the Yathrinshee PrC)
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“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2004 : 05:18:39
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This is very impressive Dargoth, I'm glad you've posted it here.
I've only skimmed over what you've written so far, so I'll reserve commenting (or asking questions) until I've read through it completely...
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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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 |
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DrizztDoUrden
Acolyte
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2004 : 00:39:01
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| Im kinda new to this website but I'm a long time dnder and i love the forgotten realms. I think that this is a well thought out piece of work |
I've sparred with demons from the Nine Hells themselves, I shall barely break a sweat here today
- Drizzt Do'Urden |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 08:43:05
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Thanks Drizzt
Sage: for a supposed Sage your taking an awefully long time to read this  |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 13:27:42
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Yes, sorry Dargoth  . I'd actually been going over some of the Zhentarim material to research some of your ideas for inclusion in my own campaign.
I'll get to your post again tomorrow...
Oh, and as for a sage 'taking an awefully long time to read this', do I have to email you a listing of my daily reading schedule...? You'd be surprised by how much I actually have to get through in one 24 hour period...
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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 |
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Phantom_Lord
Seeker
Pakistan
92 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2004 : 10:22:35
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| Is this all official? Even the bit where Scyulla is supposedly Lashan's daughter?? |
Ponka! Kaddu! |
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zhentar reborn
Acolyte
34 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2004 : 23:46:53
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That is the best Moonsea stuff I've seen on this board!!! But, as an old Zhentilar veteran, who is familiar with the delicate balances of the Moonsea, let me share my concerns with you.
1) Don't sell the Red Plumes short, they number 10,000 and are led by a wizard that for decades has been powerful enough to keep the Zhentarim leadership and its agents from taking his city. In 2nd edition they had an attack on site rule vs. the Zhentilar, ouch!!
2) Thentia, Melvaunt, and Phlan also use the Lis to transport their commerce to southern markets. So you should expect a huge naval battle on the blockade of Hillsfar and maybe a strike at Scardale. Also, what concession is Mulmaster going to get for all of this help?
3) The Harpers would probably "hit" Scylla as soon as she is isolated in Scardale. I would, and I'm from Z.K. LOL!!!
4) The drow will have a hard time stopping Sembian Mercenaries when they are aboard their ships traveling by sea. :( "D-Day at Scardale." :D
5) How many men will it take to invest Hillsfar by both sea and land? Will Teshwave and Voonlar, or even Z.K. be weakened to the point that a strike from the Dales or Thar could ruin this strategy?
6) And my ultimate Moonsea wildcard: "King Dragonsbane of Damara and the Great Moonsea Crusade."
"The scale tips very easily from victory to defeat around the purple waters of the Moonsea."
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Think what you've always thought, and you'll be what you've always been. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2004 : 03:23:38
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quote:
Originally posted by zhentar reborn
That is the best Moonsea stuff I've seen on this board!!! But, as an old Zhentilar veteran, who is familiar with the delicate balances of the Moonsea, let me share my concerns with you.
1) Don't sell the Red Plumes short, they number 10,000 and are led by a wizard that for decades has been powerful enough to keep the Zhentarim leadership and its agents from taking his city. In 2nd edition they had an attack on site rule vs. the Zhentilar, ouch!!
2) Thentia, Melvaunt, and Phlan also use the Lis to transport their commerce to southern markets. So you should expect a huge naval battle on the blockade of Hillsfar and maybe a strike at Scardale. Also, what concession is Mulmaster going to get for all of this help?
3) The Harpers would probably "hit" Scylla as soon as she is isolated in Scardale. I would, and I'm from Z.K. LOL!!!
4) The drow will have a hard time stopping Sembian Mercenaries when they are aboard their ships traveling by sea. :( "D-Day at Scardale." :D
5) How many men will it take to invest Hillsfar by both sea and land? Will Teshwave and Voonlar, or even Z.K. be weakened to the point that a strike from the Dales or Thar could ruin this strategy?
6) And my ultimate Moonsea wildcard: "King Dragonsbane of Damara and the Great Moonsea Crusade."
"The scale tips very easily from victory to defeat around the purple waters of the Moonsea."
1) According to the FRC theres only 5000 Red Plumes (Hillsfar entry), Maalthiir maybe an 18th level Wizard but could he reallly stand up to Manshoon or Fzoul, or both. The Red Plumes are mercenary company so its likely the Zhents could buy off section of the army or the at the very least parts of there leadership
2)Thentia and Phalan arent big naval powers, {Phalans onl got a population of 3000 and Thentia is militarily weak. Melvaunt hes probably the biggest threat but its Navy is not as big as Zhentil Keeps and Mulmasters combined.
3)Hmmm considering all the stuff thats going on with the Harpers can they really muster a force capable of killing Scyllua she is after all a 15th level character while someone like Elminster or one of the other chosen could probably take Scyllua out there unlikely t, infact there not allowed to due to a house rul Ive introduced to the FR. AO imposes the same restriction on the Chosen as he does on deitys ie Chosen can not interfer in things that dont effect their gods portfolios in this case if the Chosen got involved it would be Bane v Mystra and there isnt a conflict with portfolio Mystra is th Goddess of Magic and there is nothing in Banes portfolio that conflicts with that ie Tyranny, Hatred and Fear infact there are alot of Wizards in Banes church and the Zhentarim.
This rule explains the old "Why doesnt Elminster solve all the worlds problems" the answer is he cant because hes not allowed to
4) "To make life for the Sembians even harder Scyllua will bribe the Monks of the Long death, who have a monastery in Scardale to wage a campaign of murder and terror across Sembia killing off the leaders of Sembias merchant familys" Sembia is going to be up to its neck in Dead merchant familys at least for a while, if the MOLD kill enough nobles it ill likely provoke a civil war in Sembia as Sibbling vive for control of there familys and Noble Families battle each other for control of Sembias towns and cities. In short Sembia will be to concerned with Domestic problems to worry about events in Scardale
5)Around 2/3 of the army will come from Mulmaster the army will be around 10,000 and there Zhents will have a higher proportion of SPell casters both Divine and Arcane than Hillsfar. There will not be a prolonged siege, city walls are no obstacle to a besieging army that has creatures capabl of Disintergrating sections of the city wall ie Beholders and the 6 Death Tyrants Fzoul can summon. Shadowdale faces its on problems it was recently attacked by the Shades and the Myth Drannor Phaerium (see The Summoning)also the bulk of Shadowdales army is a levy ie Peasants and alike and while these might be effective when it comes to defending there homes and fighting on territory they know. They would be unlikely to want to fight in Voonlar which isnt part of Shadowdale it isnt even a Dale. Teshwaves a empty shell few people live there and as the Zhentarim have dumped the Western half of there operation Teshwave becomes less important. As for the monster of Thar theyve recently been driven off ie the army that attacked ZHentil Keep, so its unlikely they'd be able to muster the Manpower to stage another attack so soon.
6) Due to Geography I doubt Damara considers itself to be part of the Moonsea. The Galenas and Glacia of the White Worm pretty much protect Damara from events in the Moonsea region. Besides Hillsfar is along way from Damara. Also Damara faces its own problems.
a)The Remants of the WitchKings army still infest the Galenas.
b) There is a Huge Flight of Chromatic Dragons gathering on the remains of the Witch Kings castle in Vaasa which threaten Damara.
c) Theres a City of Kiranshee worshiping Drow under Damara and I wouldnt be suprised if there causing trouble.
and finally Damara will now be getting over the destruction caused by the Witchking |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2004 : 15:00:29
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Good stuff, but I'm not sure an invasion of Hillsfar is necessary. See the Zhentarim write-up in Cloak & Dagger ... Fzoul has basically co-opted Malthiir and the ruler of Mulmaster.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2004 : 16:11:58
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quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Good stuff, but I'm not sure an invasion of Hillsfar is necessary. See the Zhentarim write-up in Cloak & Dagger ... Fzoul has basically co-opted Malthiir and the ruler of Mulmaster.
--Eric
You sure about Hillsfar? I dont own CLoak and Dagger so Im unable to check for myself...
I know Mulmasters leader joined the Zhentarim but Ive never seen any mention of Maalthiir (the ruler of Hillsfar) joining, theres no mention of Maalthiir in th Zhentarim hiearchy in Lords of Darkness..
and the write up fo Hillsfar in the FRC says there rivials with Zhentil Keep for control of the Moonsea |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
Edited by - Dargoth on 21 May 2004 16:14:18 |
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Rabilard
Acolyte
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2004 : 04:06:38
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| Loved the read Dargoth. Sounds like a great adventure. |
By heart and hand |
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Hymn
Senior Scribe
Sweden
514 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2004 : 01:13:08
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| Impressive indeed Dargoth. I think I might incorperate something of this in my upcoming campaign involving the Zhentarim. |
Sauro moki kara ochiro - Even monkeys falls from trees.
The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant - Miyamoto Musashi |
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Nightchill
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2004 : 10:31:20
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Very interesting thread; I might well "borrow" a few ideas  |
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Banites on the March
