DM Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

[Charraj]

Hello neighbors.

For my events, Maecius' policies are completely in line with my own.
So here is, with minor edits, a shameless copy/paste from his page.

MISSION: My mission, as a DM, is very simple: I seek to bring the world of Baldur's Gate: The Sword Coast Chronicles to life for as many players as I am able. To this end, I will be running small "flavor" encounters -- interspersing Forgotten Realms lore and history into the encounter as I am able -- just as often as I will be running large events.

Do not be surprised if you run into a small group of bandits seeking shelter from the rain in a cave on one of your adventures; or a traveling ranger out in the woods; or a drunken brawl in one of the inns or taverns. I feel that these small encounters will do as much to bring the world alive for the players as will my larger, more player-centric "events."

And that, ultimately, is my goal as a DM: To create a more reactive and more real environment for you, the player.

RULES: I try not to be too strict when it comes to my own, personal rules of play. I want you to be flexible, to come up with your own ways of solving the problems I place before you, and to interact with the environment as you feel your character would. But there are three central points that I feel are very important, and which I must insist you take note of when you are interacting with me in one of my events:

The Golden Rule: I expect players to treat each other civilly, even when they don't particularly like one another. Ideally we'll all get along, but even if some of us do not, player-to-player cruelty or harassment will absolutely not be tolerated by either myself or by the others on staff. Remember that this is a game, and we are all playing it to relax and enjoy ourselves: The moment things become too heated between players (as opposed to their characters), I will intervene. If you are at fault, you will not be happy with my intervention.

Creative Solutions Create Great Roleplay: Roleplaying is collaborative storytelling, and I refuse to have my own storytelling hobbled by the limitations of a video game. I highly encourage you to interact to the situations I place before you with your own, creative, in-character solutions: If you wish to dive into the river to get away from someone -- do it. If you wish to cast a spell that isn't available to you in-game, but that exists in the D&D source material, and that your character has adequate cause to have access to -- do it. If you wish to climb a tree to get a better view of your surroundings -- do it (but be prepared to roll some strength, and, or, dexterity checks). In short, don't let the game stop your brain; approach everything as would your character.

The "No Sleeping While Slaying" Law: I ask that players do not rest during my events, except when I explicitly give you permission to do so. I feel that resting regularly during an event not only ruins the immersion, but also limits (if not entirely eliminates) the possibility of roleplaying certain situations (exhaustion and injury; healing by bandage or spell; etc.) and sidelines the importance of certain classes (particularly noncaster classes). Resting without permission will be punished with an experience penalty.

PERSONAL REQUESTS: I agree with DM Jinx: Having a DM take a personal interest in your character's developing story can really enhance the game for that player, and that player character's circle of allies and, or, friends. Like DM Jinx, I therefore encourage you to PM me a short biography of your character, so that I can design events and encounters around you. With the background, I encourage you to send me a paragraph or two about how you would like to develop your character's story, so that I know where you want the character to end up. I will not guarantee that you will, in fact, end up achieving your character's goals: But knowing your goals is of potentially great importance to me when I am designing a plot around you.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, I hope to bring the world to life in three ways: By providing small, unexpected encounters to individual players and groups; By providing events and quests that people can involve themselves in; And by providing story arcs that are tailor-made to individual player characters.

In exchange, I expect you to respect your fellow players; to remember that this is a game and we're all playing it to have fun; and to respect the rules of the server and the community. If you can do these three things, we will get along great!

[Charraj]

Tragedy in the Cloakwoods

Adventurers are hard at work, slaying lizardfolk in the Cloakwoods.
A lizardfolk matriarch comes and begs for them to stop. Before her very eyes, they kill another one of her people. She attacks, and is slain.
A lizardfolk patriarch comes and demands that the adventurers leave. The discussion ends with his death.
A lizardfolk youngling comes and weeps for his father. Then, seeing his mother also dead, he attacks in frenzied despair. He is killed.
An elder lizardfolk shaman sends the adventurers fleeing for their lives.



Return of the Gnolls

The gnolls organize a massive army to retake their old homeland from the gibberlings. Adventurers fight them off.
A gnoll super assassin, trained from birth for this mission, is called in to execute a devastating blitz attack on the adventurers. In this he succeeds. But when he comes back for a second attack, he is slain.



The Stray Erinyes

A monk of Ilmater encounters an erinyes on the Tradeway. She claims that she has been randomly teleported from her home plane, and needs a sacrifice to get back. The monk refuses to help her and prays to his god. The erinyes beats him within an inch of his life. Passing strangers get involved, and the erinyes is slain.
The monk's faith in his god is shaken. But he sees a cleric of Bane successfully resurrect a dead Hin . . .

[Charraj]

A Blight in the Woods.

Saturday, March 12, 2001

Two druids, Shiloh and Leena, are approached by the dryad Sylara. Their help is needed to remove a great sickness from the deep Cloakwoods.
Shiloh, a follower of Silvanus, is clearly attracted to Sylara. He is saddened when she gives her life to open a portal into the deep Cloakwoods.

The two druids enter the portal and come out into a section of the Cloakwoods they have never been to before.
Very soon, Shiloh and Leena are beset by maverick dryads, and the pair are forced to defend themselves. Leena weeps as the dryads are slain.
Two small insidious blightlings appear, and it is clear that they are influencing the dryads somehow. They gibber something about their "Master." Shiloh and Leena manage to slay a blightling, and the other runs into a large building in the distance. The two druids give chase.

They enter the building, which turns out to be a very large temple. It has been defiled and the air hangs heavy and dead. The two druids fight through an army of kobolds and slay the second blightling.

Continuing onwards through the temple, they discover the blightlings' Master and the source of the woods' sickness: the black dragon, Betheshzeba the Blight. Stricken with fear, the two druids hide and discuss what to do. Shiloh prays to his god, and feels rejuvenated. It is clear to them that the dragon cannot be defeated without the help of an army. But before they can go for help, they realize the dragon knows they are there.

Somewhat amused, but far more annoyed than anything else, the dragon lets them prepare for combat. Shiloh and Leena ward themselves and throw themselves desperately into the fray. Despite their heroic efforts, they are quickly defeated.

They wake up, bound to a bloody ritual altar. The dragon is pleased at the irony of using the blood of one of Silvanus' followers in a ritual to defile and kill the forest. But before she completes the ritual, the dragon offers the two of them the chance to serve her. Shiloh flatly refuses, and is gutted. Leena, terrified, agrees to serve Betheshzeba. She is cut free and healed with necromantic energies.

The dragon completes the ritual. But the blood of Shiloh, a devout follower of Silvanus, fundamentally alters the magic. It causes the ritual to backfire on the dragon, and she is set on fire and gravely weakened. Shiloh is restored to health by the wave of energy, and the two druids fight the dragon again. It does not go well. Shiloh is felled, and Leena is beaten into submission.

Before the dragon can try to finish them off, she is consumed by the flames of the miscasted ritual and is destroyed. The dragon's power enters Leena. Leena uses it up to revive Shiloh and create a portal back to Baldur's Gate. The two druids take some of the dragon's hide and step through the portal.

Rewards:
XP for Shiloh
XP for Leena
Alignment shift towards Good for Shiloh
Alignment shift towards Evil for Leena
Black Dragon Scale Mail for both

Epilogue:
Leena confesses to Shiloh and tells him what happened with the black dragon. She does not survive the discussion.

[Charraj]

The Outcast

Monday, March 14, 2011
Zero Reign, Zolan, and [PM me, I forgot your character name, sorry! ^_^;] encounter a proud individual in the Baldur's Gate graveyard. He is clad in dented armor which has clearly been slapped together out of bits and pieces.
When push comes to shove, this individual helps the three adventurers fend off hordes of undead, at great injury to himself.
But it turns out that he is a drow.
The group drives him off with their words, telling him to go back to whatever hole he came from. He disappears from sight.

[Charraj]

Kelorin

//*shamelessly copies and pastes, and dusts his hands off*

[TWO HUNDRED AND NINTH ENTRY]
A VIPER IN THE GRASS PART FIVE: BETWEEN BROTHERS

It had been mostly quiet, at least for me. Kelorin had perhaps stopped wasting his time. He had made his hate for me clear. With every attempt to shatter us, to break Jonas… we strengthened each other… Because we were together. We shared a unique bond… our small group. One forged by friendship, love, loyalty, and even faith… further strengthened in our trials of fire and faith, battle tested and proven. Our actions and interactions, almost a subconscious dance as our lives twined, seemed to play off of one another subtlety, and some not so much.

So it was rather obvious as the morning passed into afternoon that something was amiss when Ali did not return from her walk. I try not to be constricting. I know it is my nature to be protective, more so because she is with child. My duty has long been about the children. All of them, be they mine to care for or not… this one… Because Jonas is my oath-sworn brother… Because Ali is his wife… because she is my sister in faith and in spirit… because of all the souls I consider dear, hers is closest… Second to Ali could only be Joan or Rith these days. There are fewer now that I trust so implicitly. For the best perhaps… But it makes me all the more protective of these who are so close.

Ali was missing. That much was clear by evening. I did not sleep that night… I know Jonas did not. I had never seen him so… out of sorts. It was almost worse than when Torm withdrew from him while madness raged through his mind. This was a different sort of madness. A madness that is kindred to me of a sort. To be missing those you love… I know it well. I have sympathized with Beatrix, yes… but with Jonas… aside from understanding I could sense it. Gone was his usual calm and comforting undertone. He was sheer chaos, completely at a loss. I watched and prayed as this pillar of strength buckled now… I felt as though all I could do was too little…

He wandered, and I spent hours in meditation. Focusing myself past his worry and fear… past my own, so that I might offer strength and comfort. What hours were not spent in prayer… were spent walking, asking, seeking, praying some soul had seen something or could shed some light on where she might be. It was the utter, blinding anguish… crippling, and left even -me- struggling to breathe for a moment… that broke through my meditations. Later Brother Marcus would say I had not flown from my prayers as such since Billy was discovered missing. I feared the worst… and I prayed against all hope as I sought Jonas out, that whatever it was… we could still mend it.

I found him, standing in the temple of Tyr with Rith, Tomar, Charraj, and he looked a mess. Through some coaxing… details were brought to light. Kelorin had used a child, tricked a child, or taken the form of a child… to trick Ali… Lure her away from the safety of others. Then he had “Soultrapped” her. Foul spell… My prayer began to be for the unborn child. I do not think Ali or Jonas could bear losing another. Not that I would allow it… I did not care if I would drain myself to near nothingness… They would not loose this child, my mind had long since been made up on such.

More details came to light… The gem was tossed through a portal. We would need to go after it. The others suggested “Wishing” it back to us… however that is a very tricky bit of arcane magic… and none present had the skill. Charraj scried for the gem, despite my own wariness of scrying… and Rith’s cautioning not to. It was brief, but the scenery was vaguely familiar. Lower planes… the Abyss perhaps? And by the image we saw, in the hand of a demon… a large one. I knew if we traveled there, my channeling would be less effective, as would Jonas’ gifts from Torm, Tomar’s from Tyr. So I made my way through the city… gathering supplies.

By the time I had returned, we had been joined by River, the free-spirited Bardess, Siomir, Ramas, Leonia… I counted our number and was glad that I had gotten extra scrolls. It was a grand group, and one I knew well how to fight with. We each knew the place we would hold in battle, knew the moves of the others, knew the tactics, the strategies, the plans… And with little more than passing glances, those places were reaffirmed.

They were still discussing ways to gain the gem without traipsing the Abyss, and I spoke up finally. I did know a prayer after all… less likely to go awry than a “Wish” spell. Less sinister hands in such a thing. A prayer I was willing to make the sacrifice for, and one Ilmater would oblige so long as I did not abuse the gifts granted me… “Miracle” We could will her back, through force of faith alone. None. Hold. That. Which. Is Mercy’s. None.

So it was agreed. I began to pray. Perhaps not the familiar prayers of the clergy, but ones that Ilmater has come to expect from me. I stood before him as a willing servant, as a child, and asked most humbly for his aid. I asked that we be able to free Alistaria, that we be able to end this once and for always. I asked Mercy for the Rokranons, all of them. I asked for the means and the faith to see this done… and slowly, as the prayer took shape, the Divine energies that I may so easily attune to began to work through me. That familiar buzzing in my ears, the light before my eyes… on a greater scale than typical healing prayers and such… Faith and Duty aligned. The request was made, though I was unsure which of these Ilmater would grant, I was unprepared for what came next.

I stood there, in the temple of Tyr… for all intents and purposes at the very feet of Ilmater. Calm in his presence, comforted, assured in my tasks and my faith. Patiently, I awaited his answer, The distant sound of children’s laughter touched my ears through the noise. Energy built and focused as I offered forth the price expected of such a boon. For not even Mercy offers such things without a price, so that we may understand and appreciate the thing we ask, the gift we are granted…

There was a blinding flash as the Hand of the Divine began to move… When our vision cleared… we stood in the place we had seen in the mirror… Very confusing to say the least… cautiously we looked about to gain our bearings, unsure what had happened… It is a powerful bit of interference to cause such a prayer to go awry… This worried me. However, this worry was calmed by the gentle whisperings of Ilmater… Though the intent of the prayer had been thwarted… perhaps it was the nature of the prayer that kept our connections to the Triad strong in the Abyss? I could not say I understood… Nor was there time to question it.

We were beset by demons… we threw ourselves into battle, knowing that Ali was here… somewhere… and hoping that was close. Praying. We pressed onward, through demon after demon. They tried to best us by surrounding us. River’s voice blended with Leonia’s a beautiful song that became the melody to this deadly chorus we raised. The clashing of blades and whispers of arrows added rhythm to this wonder, punctuated by prayers and battle cries… the agonized growls and guttural grumbles of dying demonic foes. Over the music we made, the fluid words of the arcane as Rith sent spells forth in a flurry I had not seen in all the days I had known her. It was… as I look back on it… Truly inspiring to see faith and heart, sheer will at work in that desolate place of the Abyss…

Despite wave after wave, we were keeping our spirits high… and eventually, still mostly well, though rather worn… We stood before the largest Balor I had ever seen. He spat Abyssal tripe at us, and we struggled to understand his words… I prayed clarity from Ilmater… Though Rith had stated she was almost positive what the thing said was “Please hit my face with a great sword…” Let it not be said that the Abyss lacked manners…

'WHY ARE YOU HERE?!'

It screamed at us. Jonas’ fury was evident.

‘Be careful of your words now, brother.’

I cautioned Jonas… I still half expected some trick of some sort.

‘You have something that we seek. Something that does not belong to you.’

'What is this? So that I may put it in your eye socket when I have slain you twice over…'

‘The Gem. Don’t feign ignorance.’

The demon retorted with laughter and something about dead fools… Jonas let loose a battle cry as we prepared to fell the thing before us.

‘To the Abyss with yo-- … oh!’

And with that he shrugged and raised his sword. More fighting ensued… until at last another demon, larger than the one before… stood in front of us and sneered angrily.

‘Have we met? I never can tell.’

Good. Jonas was abandoning worry and fear… his confidence was gaining foothold again. Ramas spoke next, his voice a level calm.

‘I think a little diplomacy is called for, Sir Rokranon.’

He stepped forward, this giant of a man before this giant of a demon… and I listened, my hand on my healing supplies and a prayer on my thoughts. I watched… almost amused as Ramas flashed his best smile at the beast. The demon continued to whine plaintively about his dead lieutenant.

‘Could you please kneel so that I may take your head without the usual mess?’

‘Please?’

Jonas quickly added in the interests of diplomacy.

‘We are trying to be reasonable here.’

'Here for this then?'

He held up an onyx that gleamed in the odd light of the abyssal waste around us… it reflected the cruel fire of his eyes. Jonas’ demeanor shifted instantly, and I moved to sturdy this pillar I held so dear. So long had he kept me standing through so much… and now it was my time to return the favor. The demon scratched a long claw across the gem’s surface.

‘Don’t do that.’

Jonas’ fury rose, rightly so… but still.

‘Peace brother. Calm.’

His jaw clenched but he nodded.

'Do what? This?'

The demon taunted as he ran his claw across the surface with grating slowness.

‘-No-!’

Jonas called out, wincing as the demon continued to try to rile him.

‘Peace brother… Do not let it goad you so.’

The demon grinned as Ramas stated calmly that damaging the gem wasn’t actual harm to Ali, that if it broke it would free her… Jonas’ words came, and the note of pain in them was unmistakable.

‘He’s hurting her.’

‘Strength of faith…’

I murmured a prayer to help his resolve and whispered softly in his ear.

‘Ali is strong… her faith is strong… She will endure and we will take them home, safely. Calm.’

As the brief conversation continued it was very evident to the demon… and to us what was -intended- to happen. Kelorin had hoped that we, in our quest to seek Ali and free her, would destroy the demon that held his pact, thus freeing him. A clever gambit… but it was unraveling before his golden eyes. I reached then, to the very depths of my faith to call forth some measure of mercy for Kelorin.

I worked hard to quell the emotions I felt as I looked on Kelorin’s pitiful countenance. Part of me was still angry… dare I say that to some measure I hated him… I would be lying to say I did not at the very least… despise him with every measure of my being, more than perhaps the demon who stood between us. But for all my anger and indignation… the one most wronged by him stood, and spoke calmly.

‘I told you, Kelorin. I told you that you sealed your fate.’

Yes. He would ask for Mercy… and he would receive it in the measure he was due. As much as I like to believe all creatures will take a second chance when offered… I knew… this one… would not. Oh. He would take the chance… but there would be no redemption. He would slink away, the hate and want for pain so deeply ingrained in his soul that he would find other victims… The cycle would continue. If we did not end this… the cycle would continue until his death. He had proven that once already.

I would not see Jonas endure another twenty years at the whims of a Viper. None of us would… The only Mercy Kelorin would find… was a swift death… and by no other hand… than the twin of flesh and blood that he had so wronged. That… was the Triad. Whatever ill machinations had drawn us to the abyss… I would see more than one part of the prayer I had offered answered this day. Perhaps this was the Gods’ way of turning things right even though a wrong had been committed? Tyr’s Justice would come at the hand of the Loyal Fury’s most faithful of the region… and the Hand of Mercy need only see that it was swift.

‘He is yours to deal with, Jonas. We will handle the demon while you set your house in order.’

Ramas had said it, but I think no other there would have denied Jonas that right. Whether the others heard the whisper or not… instinctively and with no other words between us, we took our places. The other swordsmen subtlety worked to surround the demon and separate Kelorin from the beast… Jonas moved ever so slightly to face Kelorin. Silently we regarded each other, our resolves unwavering. I took a position between the two groups and prayed my swift feet never failed me, especially not now…

“Kill the cleric first… and the others die quickly enough…”

Kelorin’s old threat echoed through me as I called “Sanctuary”. I would not be among the number of those who fell.

‘Brother… You have to Help me!’

The demon offered to spare Kelorin… to forgive the attempted treachery. ALL Kelorin had to do… was slay all of us… Kelorin screamed about the demon lying… And Jonas’ answer came without hesitation.

‘Of course he lies. That is what demons do. You knew this. You knew this when you chose this path!’

Kelorin offered more pleading. It was then that I realized, as Jonas spoke… that I never had to worry over him falling. For as he spoke, he carried no malice. No want for vengeance… only want to end it. To stop this cycle of pain, see justice met, and his wife and child protected. The ones he loved protected. To see this evil that was Kelorin -ended-.

‘I told you I would only help you if you submitted to justice.’

As Kelorin’s feeble composure gave way to an unbridled. indignant rage, his face twisted in anger and he screamed… The last words I heard from Kelorin Rokranon were:

‘IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT YOU!!!! I'LL TAKE YOU DOWN WITH ME!!! It's over, you selfish bastard. One way or the other, it's over.’

And how right he was. The was the end… the final verse of the lament that was Kelorin Rokranon, Ramas called out as the demon sought to make use of our distraction. From the corner of my eye I saw the demon‘s blade rise even before Ramas‘ words reached my ears:

‘Jonas, attend your brother!’

For all the glory of our previous battle… this one… against Kelorin, this demon and his servants… This was a chorus that shook the whole of the Abyss. More glorious and melodic than the one that came before. Rith… Her power was truly astounding. She held nothing back as we fought. I called prayers to move the very heavens, and the sound of bow and bard song and clash of steel and claw… The final measure of music rising to wondrous crescendo as the demon and Kelorin cursed each other.

Then for a moment… there was an odd silence. Deafening in the wake of battle. Kelorin and the demon lay dead… Jonas looked about for the gem that held Ali’s soul… after we were able to calm Siomir down… May it be mercy that few end up on the wrong side of that primal fury in the elf. For I fear that is the only mercy they will find… We stood and looked at each other. Mostly unharmed, but very well exhausted. We had seen it through mostly. The head of the viper had been removed. The Viper in the grass lay dead at our feet.

Once the gem was in hand, we became aware of the mass of denizens we had aroused. Like vultures to the smell of decay, or sharks to the scent of blood… they were coming to snuff out this holy intrusion. And argue over who took the ranks abandoned by the ones we had destroyed.

‘… Find us a way out or a place to make a stand…’

Ramas’ words reached my exhausted ears over the din of gnashing teeth and wailing souls. We had no time… and we had no exit… at least… not yet. One more prayer… Well two… First I prayed I had the strength to do what needs must. Second… I asked all the Triad to open a way for us. Jonas was right. We were not accepting death here. Not now… not after all of this.

‘We must protect Meri as she prays!’

And as the sounds of battle rang out around me… slowly… it was replaced by the buzzing in my ears. Faith is strength. It has never failed me. Lo! Though I may have failed in the past, mortal as I am… my faith has never failed me. Our faith in the Triad has never failed us. As the tide of demons neared, and threatened to overtake us, a portal opened… beyond it.. The Tyrran temple. It would not fail us now.

We tumbled through the portal, that swiftly closed once we were all through. I felt the toll of the energy moved… but was more than relieved that we had recovered the gem. I watched silently as Jonas placed the gem on the Tyrran alter… and drew his sword down on it. A force I was surprised he possessed… but not surprised he could muster to save his wife and child.

Ali seemed to stumble from the gem, whole and unharmed… and after a moment of careful checking… I was assured that both she and the child were fine, despite the magic used. A mercy among the many we had been granted this day. For all our loss and our suffering… I was content in these Mercies this day. Great as they were. I stood, a humble, grateful… willing servant of Ilmater. Though I don’t think I stood long… I sat down on the bench, watching Ali and Jonas for a time…

I suppose I had fallen asleep, because I woke some time later, in bed. The sounds of quiet voices downstairs. Sister Juna had gotten the children to bed… everything was in order. Amid so much shadow, it was nice to have a reason to celebrate. I know Ali’s stomach was unsettled from the pregnancy, but I wanted to make something grand! A meal befitting the victory we had. So I did.

We were mostly through the meal when Ali remembered that the girl… was actually a girl, and had been trapped by Kelorin. She felt bad for forgetting this… but given all that had happened… in her state, she was fortunate to remember her name, much less anything else. Mercy of Mercies… Kelorin’s coin pouch had been looted, and there within, another gem. Ramas… May Mercy forever smile on him… Shattered the gem holding the young girl with a club sized for the nearly seven foot tall man… and my table and three chairs… half the dishes… But… Blessedly, the girl was safe and sound.

Despite being upset over her ordeal, and not understanding that Jonas was not Kelorin… She was returned safe and sound to her family. The table can be replaced. For now I have the spare chairs out… And a pair of barrels that were full of salted meats over some shelves. No doubt it will be right as rain in a day or two.

The rest of the evening was a grand affair full of laughter and celebration. Slowly, everyone trickled off to some much deserved rest. I will sleep soon. I felt it best to commit thought to word, and word to quill and parchment first. My final thoughts now, before I seek rest… I do hope Mercy guards Tessian as closely. For of all the mercies that are mine to hold… He is my most precious. I miss the man dearly. I hope things go well in Trademeet. I will write Iliara and Dracius in the morning. For now… I offer prayers. For now… I am content that in the end… There is only Mercy.
~~

Thanks, Leslie.

[Charraj]

Unebril Calafalas

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[Charraj]

The Blade Brothers

Origin told here:
http://bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t= ... e+brothers

Prologue:
The Thieves Guild member known as "Diamond" receives a letter from the Calimshan Thieves Guild. The letter asks for permission to hunt down a couple of turncoat traitors who have fled to the Baldur's Gate area. Diamond grants permission . . .

Chapter One: Hello Again
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Blade Brothers meet with Bigglebock at the Hilltop Ruins. Bigglebock reveals that he is "in a spot of trouble." Before he can elaborate much, they are ambushed by men dressed as bandits. The bandits are slain, and nothing is found on them that identifies them. But Bigglebock is sure that they are members of the Calimshan Thieves Guild, sent to hunt him down. Bigglebock tells the Blade Brothers to follow him, and they travel for a day to meet someone.
The three of them arrive at an inn on the waterfront. They are ambushed again, but manage to fight off the attack.
The Blade Brothers enter the inn, Bigglebock telling them that it's run by people they can trust. They are taken to a room where they meet a man in full plate armor. It is Fiytorin, long thought dead.
Bigglebock and Fiytorin explain that years ago, the Calimshan Thieves Guild started focusing more on capturing slaves. Bigglebock and Fiytorin decided to work against this. However, Fiytorin was found out by the Guild and hunted. The two old friends staged Fiytorin's death, to throw the Guild off of their trail. This worked, but at great cost.
At this point, Fiytorin lifts his helm, revealing a face ruined beyond all human recognition. The Blade brothers are shocked and appalled.
Bigglebock continues to explain. Recently, he has also been found out. He and Fiytorin have gone into hiding on the Sword Coast. Their numbers have been getting slowly picked off, and they now need the Blade Brothers to bolster their strength. The Blade Brothers promise to help.
Attackers suddenly burst through the room's windows, surprising the group of four. The assault is defeated easily with Fiytorin by their side. Still, it is clear that their location is compromised. The four of them leave the room quickly. Many of the inn's inhabitants move to stop them, including the owners of the inn. The four heroes cut them all down, and intimidate the rest into leaving.
The Blade Brothers, Bigglebock, and Fiytorin emerge from the inn. A towering half-orc approaches them. Bigglebock and Fiytorin recognize the half-orc. It is Jory, a member of the Calimshan Thieves Guild. Jory and his men were the ones sent after Bigglebock and Fiytorin. The half-orc is not pleased that his men have all been killed. Jory attacks.
Fiytorin warns the Blade Brothers to flee. But after a fierce struggle, the Blade Brothers manage to defeat Jory and save Fiytorin's life. Their old master is stunned by their prowess.
The four of them disband after looting Jory's body. Fiytorin and Bigglebock go to plan their next move, and the Blade Brothers return to Baldur's Gate. They know that they must keep their heads low.

Rewards:
XP for the Blade Brothers
Adamantite Helms for the Blade Brothers

[Charraj]

A Planar Mishap

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Elementals swarm the merchant campfire just outside Baldur's Gate. They are fended off by several adventurers. A balor appears, wondering where his summoned elementals have gone. Angry that they have been destroyed, he attacks. He is defeated.
An Avernus Fried Chicken appears from the campfire, clucking with the fury of the Abyss. It, too, is destroyed.
The adventurers discuss the cursed nature of the campfire area.
A paladin throws holy water on the campfire to try to deal with the weakened planar divides in the area. An angel appears.
The angel seems somewhat chatty. He introduces himself as Gabriel and and says that he's been hearing complaints about this planar "leak" for a while. He is glad that he finally found it.
Gabriel tries a few magical tricks, none of which deal with the weakened planar divides. A Hin suggests using a large bucket of water to put out the campfire. They try that. It works.
The angel asks if they have ever tried simply putting out the fire. The adventurers confess that the fire has always been burning. The angel departs.
The fire begins burning again on its own. The adventurers are disconcerted.

[Charraj]

Hungry Hungry Mindflayers

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In Central Sshamath, Kord and Ozoch meet in front of Ithic, the mindflayer merchant. Ithic complains that he tends his merchant stall too much and hasn't had brains in a long time. He hires Kord and Ozoch to get brains for him.
Kord and Ozoch leave Sshamath and go kill many duergar, but then remember that mindflayers like their victims alive. At that moment, a mindflayer ambushes them. Ozoch kills the mindflayer. The two return to town, with a plan to simply summon a monster and give it to Ithic to feast on.
In town, Ozoch offers Ithic a summoned wolf. Ithic is unimpressed.
Another mindflayer approaches the stall and claims that he saw Ozoch and Kord kill his brother in the tunnels of the Underdark. Kord throws a cold dwarf brain at Ithic and runs away. The second mindflayer gives chase, but cannot find Kord.
Ozoch confronts the second mindflayer, and the encounter turns violent. A beholder merchant destroys the mindflayer for Ozoch, and demands gold for services rendered. Ozoch pays the beholder.
A Sshamath guard comes and demands to know what has happened. Kord insults the guard and is promptly speared in the stomach. Kord falls to the ground, dying slowly and painfully. Ozoch bribes the guard and the guard leaves.
Ozoch then turns to Ithic and offers Kord's brains as a meal. Ithic is delighted and prepares to eat Kord's brains right then and there. The Sshamath guard returns though, and tells Ithic to take his meal inside, away from public sight. Ozoch helps Ithic move Kord into the tent.
Ozoch leaves. Ithic bends over Kord's head, probing with his tentacles. At that moment, Kord struggles back to consciousness. Kord stabs one of Ithic's tentacles with an arrow and stumbles out of the tent, fleeing for his life.

Rewards:
XP for Ozoch and Kord

[Charraj]

The Blade Brothers

Chapter Two: The Long Arm of the Guild
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Brothers receive a message from Fiytorin and Bigglebock, telling them to meet them at a spot deep in the Cloakwoods. The Brothers are preparing to leave when a gorgeous female elf approaches them in the Friendly Arm Inn. She asks to speak to them privately. The Brothers agree.
The three of them go to a private room, where she tells them that she is from the Calimshan Guild. The Brothers are instantly on guard. The elf offers them each 30,000 gold to kill Fiytorin and Bigglebock. Briar and Kelsho both refuse. The elf accepts this calmly and disappears.
The Brothers leave to meet Fiytorin and Bigglebock in the Cloakwoods. Once they get there, they see that Fiytorin and Bigglebock have not been idle. The two of them have been gathering a small group of freedom fighters to aid in their cause. The men all greet each other.
The elf then shows up at their camp with a large force. She thanks the Brothers for leading her right to Fiytorin. Bigglebock is angry at the Brothers, but Fiytorin lays no blame.
The elf and her men attack. Briar and Kelsho jump into the fray, while Fiytorin and his men rain arrows down on the enemy. One of the enemy dwarves turns on his companions. The elf's men are soon all slain. The elf herself escapes.
The dwarf turns out to be a double agent named Shale, who is working for Fiytorin. He has been spying on the Guild for Fiytorin, and reveals that the elf is an assassin named Shama. Shama has been planning Fiytorin's death for weeks.
The Brothers spot some tracks, and are eager to chase the escaping elf Shama. Fiytorin tells them to take one of his men and go after her.
The Brothers finally catch up to Shama, but she has reinforcements. Her men attack. In the middle of the fight, Fiytorin and some of his men arrive to back up Briar and Kelsho.
They kill many of Shama's men, but the fight proves to be a desperate struggle. One ally after another falls, until it is just Fiytorin and the Brothers. Then Kelsho falls as well, taking a few foes with him. Briar picks up Kelsho's body and begins a strategic escape.
Fiytorin stays behind to hold off the enemy. He kills all of his foes, but is slain himself.
Two more foes pursue Briar as he escapes. Briar stops long enough to engage them in a truly desperate fight. He defeats them, barely. Looking up, he sees that all of Shama's men have been killed, but Shama is still standing... over Fiytorin's dead body. She smirks at Briar. Briar uses a magical item at his disposal to fire a bolt of lightning at Shama, then turns around and plunges deeper into the woods, bleeding profusely.
Briar stumbles ahead for an hour before finally succumbing to his wounds. Bigglebock, Shale, and the other men who stayed back at the camp finally find the Brothers. They bandage the Brothers' wounds.
The Brothers tell them that they killed the last of Shama's men, but Fiytorin is dead. Shama has escaped once again. Shale and Bigglebock are shocked at the death of Fiytorin. The group vows to hunt Shama down, even though she is most likely returning to Calimshan now that her job is finished.
They all disband to make preparations for the trip . . .

Fiytorin's death will not go unavenged.

//

[Charraj]

Flaming Fist Gary

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Eliza, a Lathandarite tiefling, has been frequenting the campfire outside of the Friendly Arm Inn for a while now.
Flaming Fist Gary, a racist patrolman, is passing by on his rounds one day. He notices the holy symbols dangling from Eliza's horns. He approaches her and makes it clear that he dislikes her and her ilk. He spits carefully on her boot and departs.
Flaming Fist Gary notices her again within the next couple of days. He stands off to the side, watching her intently. Eliza is conversing with other folk at the campfire, and Flaming Fist Gary does not like it. Eliza mentions that she has been chased by a mob with torches and pitchforks before. Flaming Fist Gary mentions that that can be arranged, and walks away. The people around the campfire get a bad feeling.
Within the next couple of days, Flaming Fist Gary finds Eliza again. He brings a mob of Racist Commoners with him. The women are horrified that Flaming Fist Gary was telling the truth about a charlatan tiefling, and run home to hide their children. Vallie Riven tricks half of the remaining mob into believing that killing a tiefling turns you into one, and they run away as well.
A Flaming Fist Champion comes by and demands to know what Flaming Fist Gary is doing. Flaming Fist Gary explains that Eliza is a tiefling. The Champion grudgingly admits that being a tiefling is not illegal. Flaming Fist Gary then alleges that Eliza is impersonating the clergy. The Champion is all too glad to accept this logic, and demands that Eliza prove herself.
The Champion orders Flaming Fist Gary to gash his hand, then tells Eliza to heal him. Eliza does so. Flaming Fist Gary insists that he feels evil energies coursing through his blood. Zoe and the Champion exchange hostile words and almost come to blows.
Sir Jonas and Saint Merielle arrive on the scene, brought by a frantic Elisuna. The Champion is quick to change his attitude mid-sentence in the presence of Sir Jonas. He throws Flaming Fist Gary under the bus. Jonas demands that Flaming Fist Gary explain himself. Unable to do so, Flaming Fist Gary quits the Fist and storms off. The Champion goes after him at Jonas' behest.
But Flaming Fist Gary sneaks back to the campfire, gambling everything in a desperate charge at Eliza. He screams that this is all her fault, and manages to land one blow before he is magically neutralized.
Jonas places the point of his sword at Flaming Fist Gary's throat, trying to reason with him. Flaming Fist Gary shouts that Eliza is a tiefling, that everyone at the campfire is a fool, and tells them all to burn in the hells. Flaming Fist Gary then rams his throat into the point of Jonas' sword, killing himself.
Eliza is comforted by the people around the campfire.

Rewards:
Some sweet RP for me (and hopefully for everyone involved!)

[Charraj]

Spelunking

Monday, May 9, 2011

A group of adventurers are relaxing by the Friendly Arm Inn campfire. A swarm of lizardfolk rush out of the Cloakwoods, apparently fleeing from something. The lizardfolk learn that they fled to the wrong place when they are all slaughtered by the adventurers.
The group goes to investigate.
They find the Cloakwoods infested with batiri and umber hulks, who have fled from the Cloakwood mines. After finishing the batiri and umber hulks, the adventurers enter the mines.
Inside the mines, they fight through a number of beholders and mindflayers, and then drow. The adventurers, deeply alarmed at the appearance of drow, descend to the lowest area of the mines.
Once there, they fight through more Underdark denizens. A black dragon cleverly tries to pick off a straggler, and attack them one by one. But she is slain anyways. Her children appear to avenge their mother, but are also killed.
The adventurers find the source of the Underdark invasion: a discrete cave opening tucked away in a secluded area of the mines. After defeating another wave of drow and monsters, the adventurers blow up the opening. It collapses into rubble.

Rewards:
XP for the party

[Charraj]

Alyssa

Monday, May 9, 2011

Some people notice a man dragging a little girl with him down the Trade Way. She is struggling to get away, insisting that the man is not her father. She breaks free and runs behind some strangers. Vilindra asks the girl for her name. The girl insists that she has been kidnapped, and says her name is Alyssa Miller. The people around her ask her who her father is. She answers that her father is Stephen Miller, a clothier in Beregost. The man who was dragging her says that his name is Jerome Wayfarer, and that he is Alyssa's father. The crowd stops Jerome from coming near the girl, and Bre'teas calls a nearby Fist officer.
The officer says he must take Jerome and Alyssa in. Jerome snatches Alyssa and runs north. The group gives chase, and pursues him to a cemetery in the north.
Once there, they run head first into a large bandit camp. The group is quickly overwhelmed and bound.
Jerome comes out of a nearby building, dragging Alyssa along. The leader of the bandits kills Jerome for leading so many people to their camp. Alyssa screams and runs back inside the building. Several bandits give chase.
Drunmar breaks free of his bindings and Esarosa shapeshifts out of hers. A summoned lightning storm fries the bindings on the rest of the group, and the struggle begins anew. Many of the adventurers are taken down again, but two survive and manage to defeat the remaining bandits in a desperate fight. These two are Ian Okona and Eldric Be'lyaner. (If I am wrong, someone let me know!)
Alyssa emerges from behind the building, but she is on fire. She is hysterical, and Bre'teas wards her against fire. One of the bandits emerges from the building and says Alyssa killed the others who went after her. Bre'teas and Drunmar hold him captive. Esarosa claims that Alyssa is manifesting warlock powers, and says that the girl must be killed. Most of the others are shocked and appalled. One or two, however, agree. Alyssa begins screaming, clearly frightened.
The Flaming Fist officer arrives, with a well-dressed man behind him. The well-dressed man is Stephen Miller, Alyssa's father. He approaches her to comfort her, but Vilindra sees that he has a knife in his hands. She knocks the weapon away from him. The Fist officer demands to know what Stephen is doing. Stephen says that it must be done.
While everyone is distracted, Esarosa leaps for Alyssa, blade in hand. Vilindra makes a desperate attempt to block Esarosa, but she just misses. Esarosa sinks her blade into Alyssa's chest, and the little girl dies in front of everyone. They attempts to revive her fail.
The Fist officer rounds on Esarosa, intent on taking her in. Esarosa's animal companion leaps at the officer, and is slain. Esarosa takes the form of an air elemental and tornadoes away. She successfully escapes.
The officer curses loudly and takes Stephen into custody. He demands the names of everyone else there. They all respond.
Vilindra Seness, a vagrant.
Arto Dragonstalker, from Beregost.
Drunmar Ironfaar, of clan Ironfaar.
Bre'teas Go'Qu, Doron Amar.
Ian Okona, from Gates.
And Eldric Be'lyaner, born in Beregost but brought up playing in the woods.
Taking down their names, the officer departs, dragging Stephen along.
Other Fist officers arrive to secure the scene.
The other party members depart, arguing and debating about the incident. Drunmar departs, vowing to answer Alyssa's death with his axe. Bre'teas follows the dwarf to talk him out of it. The others reach a tentative consensus that Esarosa must be found and questioned.

Rewards:
XP for the party

[Charraj]

Garylink Spellbotcher!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

A young gnome appears in the hilltop ruins south of Baldur's Gate. He has a flapping flying spellbook, and it is following him around. A group of adventurers run into him, and bear witness to his foolishness.
Akira, Tarne, Aoth, Chessy, and Targoth (correct me if any names are mispelled) see the gnome try to cast spells out of the book, mostly by giving it commands. The gnome blows things up and turns himself into a boar and a badger. He says his name is Garylink Spellbotcher, and he "borrowed" the spellbook from his grandfather.
Akira and Aoth read a couple pages out of the book, and see that it's just a mediocre spellbook. It should not be granting Spellbotcher this kind of power.
The adventurers help Garylink Spellbotcher get some moss and kill a baby dragon. After collecting what he needs, Garylink is happy. He calls out to someone that he's got the items. The book flashes, and a balor demon is summoned.
Aoth and Tarne run for their lives.
Akira, Targoth, and Chessy stick around. Akira tries to ward the demon off with Protection From Evil, but Aoth shouts from down the hall that she's doing it wrong. The demon laughs and guts Akira.
Chessy stands in its way for a second too long, and is also put down.
Garylink tries to do something, but the book can only make the demon disappear for a few seconds at a time. Annoyed, the demon burns the book with a snap of his fingers. The book screams and dies.
The balor demon then kills Garylink and vanishes with the body.
Chessy's wounds are treated, and Akira drinks down a curative potion. The adventurers stumble out of the ruins, having learned a valuable lesson about gnomes and balor demons.

Rewards:
XP for the party
Extra XP for Tarne and Aoth for being smart in the face of a balor demon
Good alignment shift for Targoth for standing his ground against a balor demon, paladin style.

[Charraj]

Rai Kuu Kyntilla's Kitty

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Rai Kuu Kyntilla runs into a stray cat.

Rewards:
A stray cat's affections