I have read lots of blogs and forum posts about how to run things quickly, or “10 steps to the fastest combat ever”.  In the end I have discovered my own methods and strategies for making things run the way I and my group want.  These pointers wont necessarily work for every group but they certainly work for this group as it is private and friendly.

1.  Every player should be there to play.

This is a tough one because we all have our off nights where we feel like we’d rather be doing something else, be somewhere else, or be fighting something else.  Engage your characters AND your players.  Let them take breaks if you are losing them but set clear limits for time and bring them all back to the table promptly.  This gives them time to chat and talk (the girls) and then get right back into the game.  I usually try to do this while i’m setting up combat or right after combat before loot and xp are awarded. A good way to get players back at the table is with bribes of XP and swag.

2.  Every player should know what their role isn’t.  (no player can fill every role)

I don’t mind when people try to role play or bring more depth to their character.  What does bug me is when the paladin tries to steal, when the fighter tries to be diplomatic (with his +3 bonus at level 6), or when the sorcerer tries to tank.  I understand that these things might happen or even be necessary in the course of a campaign but when players try to play every role except the one their character was designed for it bugs me as a DM.  My solution to this is to remind character of their strengths by giving them repeated opportunities to use their strengths and shine so they aren’t looking for creative ways to get involved.  If a player continues to try to fill every role and isn’t a bard, I would talk to them after and remind them they are not a 1 man party.  If they continue as a 1 man party I would setup 1 man encounters for them to fight and lose.  If they beat an encounter single handedly there are other issues and I would ask to see their character sheet.  This isn’t 3.5 anymore and no character should be a castle unto himself.

3.  Keep everything moving and delegate.

I can’t say how much I love my girlfriend for being the initiative tracker, combat instigator, and no-nonsense woman that she is.  She keeps me and all my players on our toes, on track, and in initiative.  Sometimes thing will get bogged down in role play, sometimes they will get sidetracked by movie X, or topic Y.  As a DM you should either be able to control things your self or if you are as guilty as the rest of your party find someone who can keep you all in line.  For me and my group it means getting smacked every now and then by my girlfriend as we get off topic and things slow down.

Hope these suggestions help groups find their own way of dealing with things that I personally find annoying while we game but have always had  (still have) a hard time avoiding.  Sometimes you can’t change things but you can at least be ready for them and have a plan in place.

While I have been planned most of the adventure arc there are many details that I have yet to finalize.  Some of these details revolve around the past of Athrodeka, and Thaelun itself.  There is also the information relating to the dragons and histories of the past that the players will be confronted with upon traveling back though time.  The mechanics and means by which they will travel through time are mostly sorted out as well.  Depending on how they react to the news and the need to travel through time they may peruse several different means of time travel.  I am hoping that they decide to use the teleportation runes within ‘the Mage Tower’ of Athrodeka as this would be the easiest and most straightforward path for them to follow.

Once in the past the players will embark on their quest to identify and destroy the three dragons that are part of a ritual to raise the Tarrasque from slumber.  The players have been confronted with a riddle which denotes what is required for the ritual whether that is an item in the possession of one of the dragons or something less obvious.  The three dragons are all very old even in the past and failure to kill them off or to stop the collection of the items needed for the ritual may lead to altering the future.

Let me introduce you to the dragons.

Ashkore ‘the evil one’ is a blue dragon who has lived so long that his scales have become pale and grey instead of the bright vibrant blue of younger dragons of his kind.  He lives to the east in the dunes and rocky ridges of the dessert badlands.  The riddle says that “when the sand broods of the blue” referring to something of note in relation to the blue dragon is gathered, a portion of the ritual will be completed.  This ‘something’ is in fact an order of devout dragonborn who believe they are descendants of Ashkore and are blessed by her.  They worship her as a goddess and serve her faithfully with great reverence.  Their order consists of monks, avengers, paladins, and invokers all devoted to Ashkore.

If any of the followers of Ashkore survive it will change the shape of present day Thaelun by creating a new city and increased population of dragonborn.  It will also affect the major religions of Thaelun leading towards a more monotheistic worship of Bahamut and Tiamat respectively.

Jarkore ‘the bringer of flames’ is a colossal red dragon who although very young has used his larger size to dominate and destroy all other dragons he sees as a threat.  By allying himself with Atma and Ashkore the two major threats he has carved himself a home in the belly of Krotida and pursues the destruction of the Dwarven strongholds and people that live within the mountain.  Jarkore has even gone so far as to ally himself with the Duergar that covet the land and wealth of their Dwarven cousins using them as fodder to weaken the Dwarven defenses and keep them occupied while he builds his power and wealth.

The ritual refers to the ‘heart of the read’ which could be taken literally as Jarkore’s heart.  It could also however refer to the large 2 ton ruby that sits in the center of the Dwarven underground stronghold as a symbol of their ties to Morradin.  The Dwarves call this stone the hearthstone as it resembles a blazing ember left in a fire.  Legends also say that it emits heat and is always warm to the touch.  Jarkore has always prized this treasure above every other and is his sole reason for laying siege on the Dwarves within Krotida since the first day he laid eyes upon the enormous stone.

Atma ‘the vagabond’ is a wily black dragon who resembles a serpent more than an ancient dragon.  Spending most of her time in the swamps south of Athrodeka she has always plotted the destruction of her enemies even before they knew they would be her enemies.  Using ancient magics she peers into the future and tempts her enemies close in order to use them to her advantage before she destroys them utterly with treachery and malice.

My goal is to eventually have my player’s face a gargantuan red that I have had sitting on a shelf since I picked it up a few years ago.  I have really wanted to use this ridiculously large miniature (if it can be called that) so many times but haven’t had the option to do so.  I hope my players stand and fight it as it will be an epic combat that will be remembered for years at our table.  Even if they choose to run it will be interesting to see how they react to the impact their cowardice will have on the world around them they have all come to know as home.

Rumandmonkey.com – Dragon Name Generator was used to generate the names of the dragons found on this page using the names of my player’s as the base names.

The tricky part of all of this is that they must confront the dragons and either slay them or allow them to live as they have already done so as not to alter the time continuum.  It get’s confusing when you think about people altering their own destinies or past affecting the present which is the future…  I am more interested in the large scale changes that might occur based on their actions and might even allow them to change certain aspects of my world as they are in the past if they show an interest.

The problem is that this just might ruin the flavor of the world I have created and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that.  It’s nice to involve players and give them a piece of the world to call their own.  I want them to feel involved and engaged in the world they are a part of.  I’m just not sure at what cost.

I guess if you love your worlds and maps enough at some point you have to set them free.  Let them evolve and grow and stand on their own merit.  If you have done your job well as a creator of worlds it will endure the revisions and edits of others.

I personally have no problem with ideas and ways to bring new players into the game every week.  That is not the issue at all.  Instead I would say that the issue is that even though this product was meant to be used to bring in new players on a weekly basis there was no effort put into bringing the new players together or easily providing hooks into the story.  Instead time that could be spent explaining mechanics and explaining the surroundings and creating a more in-depth story goes towards bringing new characters into the plot.

The new mechanics that are in place for returning characters are a welcome addition.  Even the idea of keeping track of certain player achievements adds a certain tangible sense of accomplishment for players as they gain abilities they can use during play in the form of an additional power card.

The story is decent, if lacking any real substance and some reasons behind events are very loosely strung together.  All in all the encounters are varied and at least somewhat plausible given that this is a world of magic.  Some of the skill challenges from Encounters are substandard while others such as the ‘White Dragon Encounter’ from the PB3 release are very memorable and full of flavor but intended for a single day of gaming.  Why is it so hard for WOTC to balance their content for single day and multiple day events?  This inconsistency in quality only degrades those few places where the story and development are outstanding.  If I were going to run this adventure again I just might skip over various parts taking those that worked the best for flavor and mechanics and leaving the dregs behind.

I am hoping that the quality will improve and for now I am enjoying the free content as a DM who recycles encounters and maps as much as I do the price was definitely worth it.

Our weekly D&D night is also moving to Monday nights which should make posting more frequently possible.  I plan to update more consistently and have 1-2 posts per week with all the content and background that was either found or avoided by my players.

Chapter 2 should be an interesting arc of the story as soon as it starts up this summer.  The players will be traveling into the past to join forces with the heroes who founded the city of Athrodeka (the current main city of the campaign).  They will meet some of the people they are familiar with and some of their ancestors as well.  The main focus will be fighting the cult of Demogorgon before it can gain power and protecting the shifter members of the party as they are hunted.  This entire chapter will be taking place during the years of war between the lycans/shifters and the rest of the population of the land.

More about this time will be revealed once the story continues.

The Docks

The docks contain some of the roughest brutes and thugs in Athrodeka.  It is also one of the main locations to get anything unsavory or illicit.  Due to the uncouth presence that can be found around the docks it is also one of the main locations frequented by the many religious orders of Athrodeka as they attempt to convert the masses.

The docks also have a large contingent of guards stationed to oversee the cargo and shipments that arrive daily from the north.  The stockades are a common punishment for any offense commited near the harbor no matter the crime.  If the punishment is too lenient then other sentences may also be required after the criminal has been detained in the stockades.

The Slums

The slums are the area of Athrodeka where the masses live and cower in their poverty.  The number of people in the slums area is alarming considering the lack of permanent or sturdy dwellings.  Most lesser humanoid races can be found scavenging and fighting for scraps in the slums, where few save those born there dare venture.  Some brave adventurers may also travel the slums feeling they have enough steel to protect them from any depraved thugs and ruffians that call the slums their home.

The Market

The entire city is a thriving marketplace but the only place that truly holds this title is the market square near the center of the main city. This market is usually awash with cut-purses and thieves looking to filch whatever coin they can off unsuspecting passersby and outlanders.  Almost any magical or mundane goods can be found and purchased here for the right price.  Just be wary of announcing the price openly or admitting the amount of coin you actually carry.

The Foreign Quarter

Adjacent to the slums and with few distinctions according to most of the inhabitants of Athrodeka.  The foreign quarter holds some of the strangest and most exotic items, weapons, and armors.  Adventurers or heroes seeking a priceless artifact or relic should seek them here first with the people of the lands those artifacts might have originated.  Masterwork armors of varying quality and design can also be found in the foreign quarter.  From Trolls, to Drow, to anything inhuman most races have a representative number of their kind in the foreign quarter of Athrodeka.

Sewers

The home of the infamous Prinnies that plague the streets and people of Athrodeka.  Ever watchful and ever interfering in their own way the prinnies guard the intricate sewers that twine through the underground of Athrodeka.

Merchant’s District

Also commonly referred to as the warehouse district this area holds all of the wares and goods that are not immediately sold in Athrodeka.  Most wealthy nobles in Athrodeka have amassed their wealth from the trade that has flowed through Athrodeka for years.  This area holds almost as many guards as the docks, and palace combined although most are private guards and are little better than mercenaries loyal to the highest bidder.  This can result in warehouses being raided and pilfered by the vary guards paid to protect it even though they will lose whatever name they have made for themselves in the city after their ill-deed is known.

Noble’s Estates

Across the river from the masses and the harbor this shining beacon of opulence and indulgence epitomizes most of the features the nobles hold dear.  The clean and well maintained streets are always well lit and rarely in disrepair for more than a day.  The nobles pay well for the care of their households and estates even going so far as to agree to truces within the nobles estates while they wage wars of politics upon each other within the rest of the city limits.

The Palace

coming soon…

The Religious District.

coming soon…

Those who research within the histories of the founding of Athrodeka will find mention of an heir to two of the founders.  Gregory is the name of the mage-heir who lives in the tower his parents constructed and left to him as a haven for his studies and contemplation.  The magic of the tower itself is quite impressive with the ability to change it’s shape to accommodate the master’s whims and needs.  It is a functioning form of folded space which allows the space within the tower to exceed the normal limitations of it’s space within the city.  The tower also has the ability to transport items and people using the teleportation circles inscribed into it’s main lobby and the center of every tower floor.

Gregory

The mage who lives within the tower can only be described as eccentric.  His passion for knowledge and information knows no bounds and is only surpassed by his ability to become sidetracked.  Often waylaid by stray thoughts and distractions Gregory will work tirelessly on a task until it is completed even at great personal risk to his own well-being.  He is a faithful ally to any who would help expand his knowledge and inform him of what is happening outside his tower walls but has no desire to leave his tower himself. Living vicariously through others is enough of an experience for him and he will always attest that he has “more pressing matter to attend to”.

Should the characters visit the mage tower for help with their runes they are told to return when Gregory is less busy via a magic mouth spell at the towers walls.  If they return at a later date Gregory will always insist that he is busy.  The players must convince him that it is the day of their meeting and that he has simply forgotten or bribe him with knowledge and lore to gain entry into the tower.

The Tower

Each floor of the tower serves a separate purpose and function.  While one floor may be a bedroom and another a study chamber or kitchen each floor is independent.  There are no stairs or any visible means of accessing another floor within the tower.  Gregory is also not visible when the players enter the tower for the first time.  He does appear after several minutes in the center of the tower lobby in the middle on the concentric circles inscribed with runes there.  An Arcana check will reveal that the circles are a form of portal or teleportation circles and each ring must signify a variable in the calculation of the destination.  (Think Stargate SG1 if it helps)  The players have no idea how to use it but Gregory can show them how to travel about his tower and how to use it if he trusts them.

click either of these links for more information about ‘Gregory the Mage’ or ‘The Mage Tower’.

Kovach Power Cards

Kovach Character Sheet

Kovach is a level 1 Shadar-Kai Avenger who specializes in dealing damage to his foes as they attack him draining his temporary hit points.

The Cult of Demogorgon

With the traditional vies of Demogorgon kept intact the cult also keeps to it’s former beliefs.  They seek the destruction of the world in order to gain power for their Lord Prince of Demons.  They have ambition to destroy and pilage and are kept at bay by their leaders until they are loosed upon the world to revel in wanton destruction.

Plots and Goals

The goals of the cult are simple.  They seek the money and power through any means to destroy the world.  They are currently working to bring forth the world ender.  They have been using portals as a means of traveling quickly from place to place and as a result they have been weakening the fabric between the planes.  They have also been summoning hordes of demons through rifts to do their biding and to use in their experiments.  The experiments revolve around twining souls and merging beings to create powerful hybrids.  There have been unexpected consequences and side effects but they continue to create unique hybrid warriors loyal to their cause in this manner.  Three such experiments are Jaint, Sasin, and Latuk.

Leadership of the Cult

The leadership of the cult is comprised of Gorag, Telath, and Xion.  Gorag leads through brutality and cruelty and is one of the most destructive leaders of the cult.  Xion leads through his influence and charisma using his ability to win over others with words to woo merchants and nobles persuading or coercing them to join the cult.  Talath the twin brother of Xion schemes and plots using subtlety and trickery to bribe, steal, and extort what cannot be gained in any other way.  Each of the leaders of the cult uses their own abilities to pursue the same goals and bring the destruction of Demogorgon down on Thaelun.

The mercenaries and fighters of the cult are led by Gorag.  Telath watches from the shadows and gathers information, coin, and favors to strengthen the position of the cult.  Lastly Xion charms and sways the nobles to ignore the acts his cultists commit and any offenses that would sour any innocent.  The base of the cult can be found in Trigono at the temple of Demogorgon where meetings are frequently held.

There is more information on the cult of Demogogon that is not know to everyone but as more is uncovered it will be made available here.

Although it was his duty to serve and fight on behalf of his church, his God, and his people.  Corvis was always more than willing to extend himself further, sacrifice more, and push harder than any others in his order even the most senior of his brethren.  This is what most would claim led to his downfall and cursed fate, as any would say to burn a lamp at it’s highest wick will surely burn the brightest but will not be sustained as long as those who use it sparingly.

Caution was never in Corvis’ nature and as such he never thought such betrayal would befall him as it did the fateful night he witnessed the murder of his wife, and subsequently fell at the hands of Morthregul.  Only to be raised again as one of his vampire spawn subjected to obeying his commands and living on as an undead a mere fraction of what he once was.

Over the next decade Corvis was forced to perform unspeakable acts and was forbidden from having contact with his daughter by Morthregul.  He was forced to slay brethren of his church and begin a war against the lycanthropes and shifters of ‘The Eastern Wilds’.   Through a campaign of slander and false accusations the lycans and their descendants were branded as misanthropes and bounties were placed on all their heads.  Some royal houses offered bounties for the pelts of werewolves, or even their ears, and canine teeth were valued as prizes by hunters and purchased by wealthy denizens of Arthrodeka.

‘The Blood Wars’ as they are referred to by the lycans and surviving shifters are viewed as a time of great anguish and resentment.  Although the past atrocities of Arthrodeka lay buried now in the minds of those who took part in the slaughter and near extinction of a race, the lycans still remember it well.  There are some shifters who live in ignorance of their past having been raised by others not of their race as a penance.  (This should be the case for most players who choose to be a shifter.)

Those lycans and shifters who lived through the time talk of it freely and openly still furious that they were hunted as animals and killed for no other reason than bigotry and racism.  The lycans and shifters that still live in ‘The Eastern Wilds’ do so in a nomadic fashion and have few permanent settlements other than those where their elders live.  Most settlements that are permanent are enshrouded by powerful magics and have remained hidden for many years during ‘The Blood Wars’ and still remain hidden today.

Corvis’ part in the wars is known by most lycans as it is passed down in their legends that he was the first of his kind (vampires) to strike at them.  As the lycans fought back the true nature of those they killed was hidden from the rest of Arthrodeka and they were branded as blood thirsty beasts who hatted all humankind.  As more people foolishly sought out lycans to kill them the more people died by their hand further fueling the hatred of their race.  As fewer actual lycans could be found as they went into hiding people started making accusations of shifters and soon their race was also dragged into the wars and hunted mercilessly.

In all of this Corvis was forced to follow the commands of his sire Morthregul even as he watched his former church brethren hunted by the lycans as retribution for his part in starting the war.  Eventually they diminished the numbers of his church to the extent that he knew they would be obliterated and his daughter would be lost as well.  He felt that there was no other option except to find a way to free himself from the control of Morthregul and save his religious order and his daughter.  Once he had formulated a plan and found a way to free himself from his sire he was able to gain new powers and killed he other vampire spawn that were once under the control of Morthregul.  He was then able to warn his church brethren anonymously and went into hiding watching over his daughter from the shadows and remaining removed from society.