Hello everyone. Tonight was the last night of the campaign I ran while I've been home for the holidays. I thought I'd share it with you.
The campaign was based on the dread possibility "The Becoming Plague". I attempted to keep it as canon as possible, and most of the NPCs are canon. The story, however, was designed to be as loose as possible. I created an overall story arc, and a few plot hooks, and pretty much let the players do whatever they wished. All players started the campaign at fifth level, and finished at seventh level.
Setting: Richemulot
Year: 759
The Cast
Jacqueline Renier - Ruler of Richemulot.
Louise Renier - Jacqueline's twin sister and chief rival. (Legacy of Blood)
Javier Renier - Jacqueline's distant cousin. (Legacy of Blood)
Narcis deVeyrines - Wererat hunter in Pont-a-Museau. (Gaz. III)
The Players
The Gentleman Bandit - a highwayman fleeing the law gets taken by the Mists and arrives in Mordent, where he meets and joins forces with...
William Sharpe - an ex-military fighter, who has recently found himself in Mordent, courtesy of the Mists. Together, they travel to Pont-a-Museau where they meet...
Renee' - a local bard and informant of...
Leon - a local knowledge trader and espionage specialist who sometimes trades information with...
Sylvian Renier - a local merchant, nobleman and rumormonger, who is good friends with the famous recruiter, Javier Renier.
The Setup
In time, all the party members come know each other, and all are now currently trusted friends of Javier Renier.
Continued....
Campaign Journal - "The Becoming Plague"
Campaign Journal - "The Becoming Plague"
Last edited by Rhys on Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:06 am, edited 3 times in total.
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
For the plot, all text in italics is knowledge not currently known by the players.
The Hook
Javier Renier discovers that a new strain of lycanthropy is being developed, and believes Louise Renier to be the mastermind. He needs to warn Jacqueline about her sister's plot, but is unable to (Legacy of Blood). Fearing for the safety of his family, now that he has uncovered this plot, he sends them, along with some of his most trusted soliders, to Darkon. Next, he writes and seals letters to his next most-trusted group of allies in the city, asking them to meet with him on a certain date, at a certain time, at a certain tavern.
Each member of the party, except for Leon and Renee', receive the letters from Javier and meet at the tavern (which is owned by Sylvian). The letters specifically stated that other letters had been sent to the other members of the party, and that no one else was to be present at this meeting. The party wonders why Leon and Renee' haven't shown up. Not to mention, Javier hasn't shown up either, and he's never late. After a lengthy wait, a barmaid brings over a round of ale and note that she was asked to give them. The party, believing the note to be from Javier and the ale to be a gesture of apology for being late or unable to make the meeting, opens it.
The note says,
"Javier Renier is dead, and all those that conspire with him will meet the same fate."
The Hook
Javier Renier discovers that a new strain of lycanthropy is being developed, and believes Louise Renier to be the mastermind. He needs to warn Jacqueline about her sister's plot, but is unable to (Legacy of Blood). Fearing for the safety of his family, now that he has uncovered this plot, he sends them, along with some of his most trusted soliders, to Darkon. Next, he writes and seals letters to his next most-trusted group of allies in the city, asking them to meet with him on a certain date, at a certain time, at a certain tavern.
Each member of the party, except for Leon and Renee', receive the letters from Javier and meet at the tavern (which is owned by Sylvian). The letters specifically stated that other letters had been sent to the other members of the party, and that no one else was to be present at this meeting. The party wonders why Leon and Renee' haven't shown up. Not to mention, Javier hasn't shown up either, and he's never late. After a lengthy wait, a barmaid brings over a round of ale and note that she was asked to give them. The party, believing the note to be from Javier and the ale to be a gesture of apology for being late or unable to make the meeting, opens it.
The note says,
"Javier Renier is dead, and all those that conspire with him will meet the same fate."
Last edited by Rhys on Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:02 am, edited 3 times in total.
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
The Story
Now believing Javier Renier to be dead, the party is now concerned for Leon and Renee'. They leave the tavern and head out into the night, planning to get their things and locate their two missing friends. Once their equipment has been gathered from their respective homes, they find their friends Leon and Renee' and fill them in on the situation. As a group, they head to Renee's house to retrieve his equipment, while Leon travels to his own home. It is agreed that they will all flee the city and Leon will catch up with them later. Leon returns home to find his house broken into, yet left undisturbed. The only evidence of a break-in is a stain outside of his water closet. Leon grabs his gear and sets off to track the party.
The party makes it very clear and public that they are leaving the city for a wine festival in Mordent. They then travel across the Silent Fields to Sylvian's secluded manor, where they can decide their next course of action. They arrive at the manor early the next morning where they are shortly joined by Leon.
Everyone in the group is obviously shaken by the news that their friend and employer, Javier Renier, is dead. However, it is decided that since they haven't seen his body, they can't confirm or deny his alleged fate. They also realise that it might be a better idea to hide in public, rather than wait to be killed in seclusion. Everyone rests at the manor for the day and returns to Pont-a-Museau later that evening.
Meanwhile, those responsible for Javier's alleged death have watched their note succeed wonderfully. At first, they did not know all the identities of those Javier was working with, even after intercepting the letters addressed to Leon and Renee'. They had decided to deliver their threat and watch who ran.
Continued... (after I get some sleep)
Now believing Javier Renier to be dead, the party is now concerned for Leon and Renee'. They leave the tavern and head out into the night, planning to get their things and locate their two missing friends. Once their equipment has been gathered from their respective homes, they find their friends Leon and Renee' and fill them in on the situation. As a group, they head to Renee's house to retrieve his equipment, while Leon travels to his own home. It is agreed that they will all flee the city and Leon will catch up with them later. Leon returns home to find his house broken into, yet left undisturbed. The only evidence of a break-in is a stain outside of his water closet. Leon grabs his gear and sets off to track the party.
The party makes it very clear and public that they are leaving the city for a wine festival in Mordent. They then travel across the Silent Fields to Sylvian's secluded manor, where they can decide their next course of action. They arrive at the manor early the next morning where they are shortly joined by Leon.
Everyone in the group is obviously shaken by the news that their friend and employer, Javier Renier, is dead. However, it is decided that since they haven't seen his body, they can't confirm or deny his alleged fate. They also realise that it might be a better idea to hide in public, rather than wait to be killed in seclusion. Everyone rests at the manor for the day and returns to Pont-a-Museau later that evening.
Meanwhile, those responsible for Javier's alleged death have watched their note succeed wonderfully. At first, they did not know all the identities of those Javier was working with, even after intercepting the letters addressed to Leon and Renee'. They had decided to deliver their threat and watch who ran.
Continued... (after I get some sleep)
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
After returning to Pont-a-Museau, the party decides to do some detective work. However, they are unable to confirm or deny Javier's death. Sylvian decides to go to a popular local tavern called The Black Rat, and receives a message:
I regret that I was unable to meet with you last night. There was an attempt on my life and I need your help. Please meet me at the following location and I will explain more. - J. Renier
Sylvian relays this information to the rest of the party and, after long deliberation, they decide to meet Javier. However, the only one who will make contact with him will be Sylvian. The rest will hide themselves near the isolated corner in Pont-a-Museau where Javier has requested they meet.
Later that evening, after the rest of the party has hidden themselves, Sylvian feigns drunkeness and stumbles to the corner. Ahead of him, he sees Javier and what appears to be a hardened mercenary waiting for him. Sylvian approaches them and Javier greets him warmly, but with sobering news. He tells Sylvian of the coming plague, reveals that he has allied himself with one of the local wererat clans who oppose it, and asks for his assistance. Sylvian agrees and signals the rest of the party who come out of hiding, to Javier's delight.
Javier insists that the surface of the city is not safe, and asks Sylvian and his friends to follow him and his guardian into the sewers where they will be safe in his ally's warren. The party agrees, and they decend into the depths.
I regret that I was unable to meet with you last night. There was an attempt on my life and I need your help. Please meet me at the following location and I will explain more. - J. Renier
Sylvian relays this information to the rest of the party and, after long deliberation, they decide to meet Javier. However, the only one who will make contact with him will be Sylvian. The rest will hide themselves near the isolated corner in Pont-a-Museau where Javier has requested they meet.
Later that evening, after the rest of the party has hidden themselves, Sylvian feigns drunkeness and stumbles to the corner. Ahead of him, he sees Javier and what appears to be a hardened mercenary waiting for him. Sylvian approaches them and Javier greets him warmly, but with sobering news. He tells Sylvian of the coming plague, reveals that he has allied himself with one of the local wererat clans who oppose it, and asks for his assistance. Sylvian agrees and signals the rest of the party who come out of hiding, to Javier's delight.
Javier insists that the surface of the city is not safe, and asks Sylvian and his friends to follow him and his guardian into the sewers where they will be safe in his ally's warren. The party agrees, and they decend into the depths.
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
Upon entering the sewers, Javier instructs the party to follow him while the mercenary keeps watch from the rear of the group. The party agrees. They travel a few feet before the party realises that it is too dark to continue further and a few members light torches. Javier continues walking.
Later, still in the sewers, Javier signals everyone to stop and extinguish their lights. Ahead in the darkness, a lone figure can been heard approaching.
Javier and the mercenary both sniff the air, and draw their weapons
After a brief battle in the darkness, the party re-lights their torches to see Javier and the mercenary standing over the corpse of a dead wererat. Javier explains that it is just a sentry from a rival clan and continues moving.
Later, the party arrives at the wererats' warren. It is a rather large sewer chamber covered with straw and filth, and several large tables and a multitude of wererats are present. Several wererats are guarding something in the corner. Javier asks them politely to sit down so that he may explain what's going on.
The party does as he asks, and Javier asks them a few questions - What do they know about the plague? Have they told anyone else? His memory is a little foggy, and he asks them what he has already told them so that he might continue his explaination where he left off.
Previous to this encounter, Javier has mentioned nothing of a plague.
The party realises this. Shortly afterward, they hear Javier's voice ask from the corner, "Sylvian, is that you?!"
The wererats move away from the corner to reveal a bloody and beaten Javier Renier and draw their weapons. His ruse destroyed, the pretender allows his illusion to drop, revealing a staff-wielding, filth-covered rat. The mercenary draws his swords and the party begins to fight for their lives.
Later, still in the sewers, Javier signals everyone to stop and extinguish their lights. Ahead in the darkness, a lone figure can been heard approaching.
Javier and the mercenary both sniff the air, and draw their weapons
After a brief battle in the darkness, the party re-lights their torches to see Javier and the mercenary standing over the corpse of a dead wererat. Javier explains that it is just a sentry from a rival clan and continues moving.
Later, the party arrives at the wererats' warren. It is a rather large sewer chamber covered with straw and filth, and several large tables and a multitude of wererats are present. Several wererats are guarding something in the corner. Javier asks them politely to sit down so that he may explain what's going on.
The party does as he asks, and Javier asks them a few questions - What do they know about the plague? Have they told anyone else? His memory is a little foggy, and he asks them what he has already told them so that he might continue his explaination where he left off.
Previous to this encounter, Javier has mentioned nothing of a plague.
The party realises this. Shortly afterward, they hear Javier's voice ask from the corner, "Sylvian, is that you?!"
The wererats move away from the corner to reveal a bloody and beaten Javier Renier and draw their weapons. His ruse destroyed, the pretender allows his illusion to drop, revealing a staff-wielding, filth-covered rat. The mercenary draws his swords and the party begins to fight for their lives.
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
Vastly outnumbered, the party is not fairing well. The Gentleman Bandit and his comrade William have been separated in the middle of the battle, and the two bards Leon and Renee' are also in separate corners of the warren. It is all Renee' can to do keep himself and The Gentleman Bandit alive with what little healing magic he has. Leon, however, remembers that Javier is an excellent fighter, and tumbles away from his attackers so that he might heal the wounded Javier. That done, Javier stumbles to his feet and says, "Leon, give me your sword." Leon tosses his rapier to Javier, and the tide of the battle turns.
With Javier's help, the party manages to defeat the mercenary and his wererat companions. However, the pretender manages to escape near the end of the battle. Everyone is severely wounded, and both bards are exhausted from their spell-casting. Everyone kills the fallen wererats that are still living and decides to find a way out of the sewers.
After hours of trekking through filth and grime, the party decides it is time to take a rest. During their break, Javier explains that he was poisoned and ambushed on his way to meet them two nights ago. He also tells them what he knows of the plague that Louise is masterminding and asks for their help to get a message to Jacqueline, should they reach the surface alive.
Luckily for the group, they come across and subdue another wandering wererat sentry and force it to lead them to an exit. They emerge, exhausted and wounded, several yards away from the city near the Musarde river. They knock the wererat unconscious and return to Pont-a-Museau.
Continued....
With Javier's help, the party manages to defeat the mercenary and his wererat companions. However, the pretender manages to escape near the end of the battle. Everyone is severely wounded, and both bards are exhausted from their spell-casting. Everyone kills the fallen wererats that are still living and decides to find a way out of the sewers.
After hours of trekking through filth and grime, the party decides it is time to take a rest. During their break, Javier explains that he was poisoned and ambushed on his way to meet them two nights ago. He also tells them what he knows of the plague that Louise is masterminding and asks for their help to get a message to Jacqueline, should they reach the surface alive.
Luckily for the group, they come across and subdue another wandering wererat sentry and force it to lead them to an exit. They emerge, exhausted and wounded, several yards away from the city near the Musarde river. They knock the wererat unconscious and return to Pont-a-Museau.
Continued....
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
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Thanks for the compliments! I've always liked Richemulot, and I finally had a chance to run a campaign there, albeit only for three games.
The PCs are very trusting. While almost all of them are experienced players, they can be tricked pretty easily. To their credit, though, after this experience they were all extremely careful.
I should also mention that not all dialogue and story elements have been recorded here, simply due to time and available space. When I explained the situation through the fake Javier, it was very logical and convincing. The players also knew that they could trust Javier, since they had known him to be an upstanding citizen and a friend of theirs.
Also, the party did not have a true magic user at the time, so their means of combating magical effects were fairly limited. A detect magic spell would have revealed the illusion present on the fake Javier, and even a simple handshake could have given the player a good chance at breaking the illusion.
Generally, when I run campaigns, I tend to throw more situational encounters at the party rather than combat. I create the situation that I want, give it an encounter level, and see if the party is able to solve the problem without having to enter much combat, if any. This way, players are rewarded for thinking, rather than stats and munchkin tactics, and it leaves more time for story and roleplaying since combat can take hours.
The story presented thus far occurred during the first of three games. I'll write more soon.
The PCs are very trusting. While almost all of them are experienced players, they can be tricked pretty easily. To their credit, though, after this experience they were all extremely careful.
I should also mention that not all dialogue and story elements have been recorded here, simply due to time and available space. When I explained the situation through the fake Javier, it was very logical and convincing. The players also knew that they could trust Javier, since they had known him to be an upstanding citizen and a friend of theirs.
Also, the party did not have a true magic user at the time, so their means of combating magical effects were fairly limited. A detect magic spell would have revealed the illusion present on the fake Javier, and even a simple handshake could have given the player a good chance at breaking the illusion.
Generally, when I run campaigns, I tend to throw more situational encounters at the party rather than combat. I create the situation that I want, give it an encounter level, and see if the party is able to solve the problem without having to enter much combat, if any. This way, players are rewarded for thinking, rather than stats and munchkin tactics, and it leaves more time for story and roleplaying since combat can take hours.
The story presented thus far occurred during the first of three games. I'll write more soon.
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi
Part Two
Upon returning to the city, Sylvian remembers that tonight is Jacqueline's bi-monthly ball. The party decides that it could be a good opportunity to gather some information. Only Sylvian, Renee' and Leon have invitations to the ball. The other party members will have to go as their guests.
Unfortunately, everyone is still injured from their battle in the sewers, and no one smells very pleasant, either. It is almost sundown, so the party will have to rush to get ready for the ball. They also will not have slept for more than a day. Luckily for them, Javier has some restorative potions available at his manor and invites his rescuers to join him for dinner after they have gotten cleaned up and changed. Sylvian decides to accompany Javier to his manor because he has a plan.
After much discussion, Javier and Sylvian arrive at the following conclusion:
Since Sylvian and the rest of the party had spread rumors about Javier's death before entering the sewers, it is now more likely that any word of his death will be believed. Javier is also the only one to have information about the plague, other than those directly involved in its creation. If Javier is believed to be dead, then it might take some of the heat off of the party and allow them a better chance at stopping it. Additionally, it might also make it easier for him or another member of the group to deliver a message to Jacqueline about her sister's plotting.
That decided, they come up with the following plan:
They are going to fake Javier's death. To do this, they are going to go to one of the more uninhabited parts of the city and try to find one of the countless numbers of murdered people or bandits that have strayed away from the general populace. Once done, they will dress the body in Javier's clothing that he wore in the sewers, place a few notable possessions on the body that could be identified as Javier's (signet ring, etc.) and with the help of Leon's disguising skills, mangle it beyond recognition. That done, Sylvian will give his hat of disguise (allows the wearer to use the disguise spell at will...one minor magical item was rolled randomly, per person, before the campaign) to Javier so he may attend the ball without being recognised.
While the rest of the group attends the ball, Sylvian (who was left slightly wounded from the sewers) will call for the guards and inform them that he and Javier had been attacked and that Javier was killed. He will generally make a big scene and try to use this to stir up some commotion in the city.
Once that is done, Sylvian will clean up, attend the ball, and deliver a message to Jacqueline from Javier - informing her that he is, in fact, alive.
And now, this is how it happened...
Upon returning to the city, Sylvian remembers that tonight is Jacqueline's bi-monthly ball. The party decides that it could be a good opportunity to gather some information. Only Sylvian, Renee' and Leon have invitations to the ball. The other party members will have to go as their guests.
Unfortunately, everyone is still injured from their battle in the sewers, and no one smells very pleasant, either. It is almost sundown, so the party will have to rush to get ready for the ball. They also will not have slept for more than a day. Luckily for them, Javier has some restorative potions available at his manor and invites his rescuers to join him for dinner after they have gotten cleaned up and changed. Sylvian decides to accompany Javier to his manor because he has a plan.
After much discussion, Javier and Sylvian arrive at the following conclusion:
Since Sylvian and the rest of the party had spread rumors about Javier's death before entering the sewers, it is now more likely that any word of his death will be believed. Javier is also the only one to have information about the plague, other than those directly involved in its creation. If Javier is believed to be dead, then it might take some of the heat off of the party and allow them a better chance at stopping it. Additionally, it might also make it easier for him or another member of the group to deliver a message to Jacqueline about her sister's plotting.
That decided, they come up with the following plan:
They are going to fake Javier's death. To do this, they are going to go to one of the more uninhabited parts of the city and try to find one of the countless numbers of murdered people or bandits that have strayed away from the general populace. Once done, they will dress the body in Javier's clothing that he wore in the sewers, place a few notable possessions on the body that could be identified as Javier's (signet ring, etc.) and with the help of Leon's disguising skills, mangle it beyond recognition. That done, Sylvian will give his hat of disguise (allows the wearer to use the disguise spell at will...one minor magical item was rolled randomly, per person, before the campaign) to Javier so he may attend the ball without being recognised.
While the rest of the group attends the ball, Sylvian (who was left slightly wounded from the sewers) will call for the guards and inform them that he and Javier had been attacked and that Javier was killed. He will generally make a big scene and try to use this to stir up some commotion in the city.
Once that is done, Sylvian will clean up, attend the ball, and deliver a message to Jacqueline from Javier - informing her that he is, in fact, alive.
And now, this is how it happened...
"Everyone is trapped - in one way or another. Some have prettier cages, that's all."
- Anton Misroi
- Anton Misroi