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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jan 7, 2020 0:29:19 GMT -5
The sixth topic for International Original Dungeons & Dragons Month is "What Was Something Wild in Your Game."
I have posted about this before, and I am going to expand on it some.
I am going to post the whole thing in several posts so they are not too long and then pick up where I left off. But I am going to try to post it all later today for the 7th.
OK the two posts are up so I am updating this thread.
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jan 7, 2020 11:10:09 GMT -5
This is from my Ruins of Murkhill Campaign as it was running a few years ago IRL time.
In the campaign, the party was investigating a ruined tower at one end of a extensive set of ruins. The ground level was empty and the stairway to the upper levels was completely missing. When the party looked up all they could see was a 5' by 25' opening in the floor of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors and above that the tower had collapsed. They worked out a way up to the 2nd floor which was vacant and as was the 3rd floor.
But on the **4th floor there was a pool in the middle of the floor with crystal clear cold water that appeared to be about 20 feet deep even though each floor level was only about 4' thick. The pool was about 30' across and in the middle of it was an island about 10 feet in diameter with extremely dense shrubbery and a single three in the center. A rope was tied off on a hook on the wall of the tower and extended onto the island and was tied around the tree a few feet above the shrubbery. One of the players decided to climb up and grab the rope and going hand over hand reached the tree in the middle of the island, climbing down the tree and disappearing from view.
In a little while he climbed back up the tree and told them that at the bottom of the tree he could see no shrubs, but he could see over 100 yards in every direction in a forest, so after some discussion they rigged a second rope and got all of them and their equipment over to the island and started off through the forest. They went through a few encounters with large herd animals and some predators. A week later, they came out of the forest onto plains which gradually changed into a desert as they travelled, But it was very strange desert.
This world they found themselves in has about a 36 hour day which took a lot of adjusting too. The daytime temperature gradually rises until it reaches about 110°F at late morning and 150°F at mid afternoon. The players found to their surprise when they dug into the very coarse sand material that they would hit water at anywhere from 6 inches deep to four to five feet deep; however, only in little patches here and there. Other places they could dig down 6 feet a few feet away and not encounter water at all. So they holed up during the day and traveled mostly at night.
They traveled across this for several weeks having seen what looked like ruins in the assumed southeast direction***. During this time they had a number of encounter with wild animals a few of which were very close calls. They eventually came to a trail about 20 feet wide that was packed down about two feet deeper that the typical desert floor running from the assumed southeast to the northwest that was about 20° off of the angle they had been traveling. They ****hid several hundred yards back from it for several days and eventually saw traveling along what was obviously a merchant/slave caravan. These people had huge beasts of burden that were about 100 feet in length with backs rising about 25 feet in the air with enormous amounts of goods loaded on their back and long chains of people chained together following along.
They followed them for a few days and determined that there were about 25 guards with the caravan with about a hundred chained slaves together and about 30 slaves that were collared and chained in such a way that they could do the grunt work of camping and they were chained together at night. These people seemed quite adapted to the temperature extremes and did not seem to be greatly discomforted by it. The enormous creatures used as pack animals were not unloaded at night, but were allowed to wander around the camp eating large rubbery looking thorny plant and pulling up and eating a long tap root having the girth of a man's body and a length of 30-40 feet.
**On the fourth floor the hole in the floor they saw from below was a pool instead of a hole.
***Yes, they could see a very long way, possibly at times over the horizon. Also in some of the encounters they killed animals they could eat and they did from time to time find edible roots each time they dug in.
****I was surprised that they chose to stop traveling and wait for traffic on the trail.
This will continue with Part 2...
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jan 7, 2020 11:11:25 GMT -5
Continued from Part 1:
They hatched a plan and ambushed the caravan in the middle of the night. Successfully slipping in close, surprising and overcoming the two guards and then casting two spells so 17 more of the 25 were rendered senseless and they then engaged the other 6 in combat. Seizing the initiative, they pressed them fiercely and overcame them after a hard fought battle. Several party members were grievously wounded and almost died. Using healing magic they fully recovered over the next few days and gradually started to learn to talk by words and signs with the servant slaves. They also were able to unchain everyone, although they had no way to remove the collars.
They had thought to hijack the whole caravan, but the leader of the servants, prevailed on them to send the creatures off toward the north along the trail and only taking food, some clothing and weapons, along with gold, silver and gems and other valuable items. Then they spent quite a bit of time covering up all signs of the fight, hoping that this would delay any pursuit. So they continued on with the rescued towards the ruins they were originally moving towards. They went to great lengths to conceal evidence of their passing.
They encountered a few strange creatures on the way, but their new friends showed them the best way to fight them. When they reached the ruins a large fountain was present in the center of the ruined city and it soon became apparent that the ruins were still inhabited. The leader of the party called out while making signs of peace and in a little while a single person came out of the shadows. Once the former slaves told of their rescue more people came out and they all made their selves known to each other. It developed that a group of about 180 people were living in these ruins and they were a remnant of a long vanished civilization.
The players learned that once the caravan was missed that the whole area would be scoured by a sizable armed force on agile mounts and that they were all in danger here in the ruins, even though they had left no trail. The players inquired if there was anything below the city and they were told it was likely, but they knew of no one who had done found anything. The players proposed looking for an entry and perhaps they would find somewhere to hide until it was safe to come out again. They looked to have about 2-3 weeks to either hide or prepare to fight and no one considered that to be an option.
They searched for nearly a week (and in the process found the most defensible location, but it would have trapped them away from water) and finally located an entrance, and the party went in alone to investigate. The first two levels below the city contained nothing of value and had clearly been trashed and looted. There were no obvious ways, no stairs or ramps leading down to anything lower. They searched what they considered the most likely areas and were finally rewarded with a hidden door that lead to a stairway.
They reported back and both the rescued and the locals started immediately to carry every container they had or could salvage down into the lower of the two levels with water. They spent much time trying to erase as much as possible the evidence of their above ground activity and they laid a false trail from the central fountain south out of the ruins and one at a time they walked backwards except for the mage using fly spells she would head off into the desert and then fly back to the end of the trail and head of in another direction. she did this several times and then at the end of the last side trail fly back to the group near the secret door.
After the final check had been done, she also used a fly spell on the final day to move around and make the ground look untouched as she flew to the secret door. They were also able to rig a large flat rock across the secret door. Then they proceeded to block the entrance so that a large amount of debris would have to be removed to gain entry. They were also able to rig a large flat rock across the secret door. Then they set about preparing to defend the area.
Continue on to Part 3
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jan 7, 2020 16:00:12 GMT -5
Continued from Part 2..
As preparations continued they set about rigging defenses for anything that might come up from below as well. The PCs were well armed but all the rest mainly had spears, knives, a few axes and a few short bows. The PCs decided to investigate the next level down to see what they might be up against or to find a better place to secure the children, the weak and the sick.
The players went down to the fourth level and immediately ran into something odd, at first they thought it was just a conjured mouth speaking a canned phrase but soon figured out that just inside the first door, the wall was talking to them in a language they did not understand. As they talked among themselves about what it could mean, they noticed that the words coming from the wall started to make sense and as they responded the wall was soon speaking their language. The wall introduced itself and offered them its name and asked for theirs. It was known as Thentry and bade them enter in peace.
They gradually found out later (over the next few hours) that the wall(s) were very literal minded and to carry on a conversation and get useful information, they had to speak very precisely. The hallway quickly dead-ended at a door that lead into a room and when the entered it the wall said, "I am Ging" and immediately asked them what was their wish, confused they started to talk among themselves and the wall said too late you only get one chance and ordered them to leave his room and proceed through the door that revealed itself. But they wanted to investigate the room they were already in and part of the room they were in was shrouded in a heavy fog and when one of them stepped toward it, the wall stated that no one ever returns from the mist and for them to leave and go to the next room with great insistence that they must go now, it was urgent. They were disoriented by this whole thing and a feeling of dizziness washed over them. But as Ging, kept insisting they decided to leave and so...
and so they went to the next room and the same thing was repeated, wall said, "I am Geng" and immediately asked them what was their wish, still confused they started to talk among themselves and the wall said too late you only get one chance and ordered them to leave his room and proceed through the door that revealed itself. Seeing most of the room fog shrouded as before they went to the next room, feeling very unsure of themselves having found both times that they could not return the way that they came. They had also learned by this time that each wall had its own name, seemed to be sentient and had a lot of personality.
In the third room, there was a table and two long benches in the middle of the room and the table was heaped with food and drink all fresh and smelling good. The wall greeted them warmly as did the table and the two benches. Saying (the wall) I am Gregen, this is Bregen (the table) and these Sitinon and Sitanon referring to the two benches. Then continuing said, "You must be tired and hungry and a bit confused, we are sorry about Ging and Geng, they are both quite insane, it has been a very, very, very, long time since anyone has passed this way. Please sit and eat the food is freshly prepared as we sensed you were near. Really truly it is quite safe, please sit and partake."
They allowed themselves to be persuaded and as they ate they found the food very delicious as they talked with the wall, the table and the benches, who they learned were deliriously happy as it had been so long since they had a chance to serve. They also told them where the doors were that would allow them to bypass Ging and Geng. Beyond that they learned little as the bountiful meal and bypass was nearly the limit of their knowledge. They were urged to travel on as others might be able to tell them more.
Continued with Part 4
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jan 7, 2020 23:59:15 GMT -5
Continued from Part 3...
Later they went out the door into a long hallway and turned left, as they went along they came to many rooms that were similar with table and benches all waiting for people to serve. Although they questioned many of them, they were unable to learn anymore. Then they came to a T in the hallway and there the wall spoke to them, his name was Tenensis. He seemed more knowledgeable and told them "Oh, you want to talk to Banqus. He knows everything, I believe." He directed them to continue to the left and go all the way to the end of the hallway.
As they approached the door, it swung silently open. After a bit of hesitation, they entered and saw a long table with a divider running lengthwise down the middle of the table. In front of it were a number of chairs and as the door swung quietly shut they took a seat. The table spoke saying, "I am Longone, how may I help you? Do you have an account?"
They all spoke at once and it took a bit to get things sorted out, then the table called out, "Banqus we have customers". The wall behind the table spoke and introduced himself and asked how he could be of service. After one of them explained the situation he said, "Yes, yes, I can help you, the rest of this place was built by the Masters and there are a number of areas you have yet to see, but they left many thousands of years ago. Those you have met don't know why, they don't get much news down here and I did not want them to lose hope and despair so I have not passed anything on. I have sources of news they do not, but it would only make them sad. They will be so glad that new masters have arrived. However,"
"However, I on the other hand represent The Bank, we have branches in all places, some are open to the public and some are hidden depending on where/when they are. We exist to meet the needs of our customers no matter where they travel."
"Would any of you like to open an account?"
There followed a long involved conversation between one particular **PC who was very interested in how it worked and ended up opening an account. The wall produced a special ring that fitted itself to any hand it was placed on and is guaranteed to not fall off. Banqus, promised that it would indeed lead you to our nearest branch no matter where you have traveled or how you traveled there. Banqus also explained that, if in your travels you misplaced the time and place you came from, what with the way time, space and reality can become confused, that the ring would also serve as guide to the desired return destination.
The PC said, "You mean if we went through a portal and then returned through the portal we would not end up where we started." Banqus replied that, "Many types of such travel are inexact and return to alternate realities is very common and arriving at the correct one is only by chance. Many beings worked on a solution and The Bank was created when the solution was given. Those beings are long gone, but The Bank is outside of time, each branch is in a pocket of reality and in time of need can relocate its focal point in any given reality."
The PC blanched and said (looking at the other PCs), "You mean these might not be the exact same friends I started out with because I traveled through a portal and back to invite them to join me?" "Entirely possible," said Banqus, "but probably not if you spent only a few minutes away from them."
"But is there anyway to know?
"Only if you each had one of our rings before you started," replied Banqus. "Since you now have a ring you can return to the reality you started from as the ring is now attuned to your existence, but it may or may not be the reality they belong to."
Then to the others, "Does anyone else want to open an account?"***
**(played by my friend Tom)
***My players, even from the beginning (back in '75)were almost always willing to go through portals or other openings into other realities without a thought. So I had been doing a lot of thinking about how all of the odd travel should work. This what I came up with.
This is where we will end for now, hope that you enjoyed it. Some games have lots of action and some do not, later this one does, there are more odd things to tell.
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