The Heroes of Old and New

[reiphil]

(IN CHARACTER STUFF/STORY ADVANCEMENT THREAD)
Rules Set - 4th Edition, House Rules
Allowed Character Classes - PHB, PHB2, FRPHB
Allowed Character Races - PHB, PHB2, FRPHB, Playable Races from MM1


Known Living Characters -
Khita <Rogue, Stephen>
Torok <Ranger, David>
Bastion <Fighter, Gilbert>
Nathan <Warden, Joseph>

Fallen -
Skor <Shaman, Stephen>
Lucan <Warlock, Gilbert>
Ashby <Wizard, David>
Sumosay <Barbarian, Kristine>
Nara <Warlord, JP>
Paper <Paladin, Tony>
Moonscale <Fighter, JP>
Skip <Rogue, Joseph>
Lena <Sorceror, Kristine>
Belgosi <Avenger, David>
Ash <Druid, David>
Rangran <Paladin, David>
Zelos <Swordmage, Stephen>
Grr <Rogue, Tony>
Lulu <Wizard, Tony>
Ling <Wizard, Gilbert>
Elian <Artificer, Gilbert>
Korgan <Fighter, Joseph>
Finian <Warlock, David>

Missing -
Adam <Ranger, Gary>
Dimitrius <Warlord, Jason>

Campaign - The Heroes of Old and New

Many many years ago, across the plane of Shanathane, a darkness spread across the world like a plague. A wizard named Drakthu unlocked the secrets of the world and decided to become the ruler of it. Spreading his pestilence across the plane he raised armies of demons and monsters from the Underdark, battles of good and evil enveloped the world. These battles scarred the world with a terrible blackness. The sky, once a majestic blue during the day all throughout the plane became a shattered and putrid black and gray. The grass, which was once a bountiful green, withered and died. The air itself, which gave breath a renewed meaning with each intake, filled with the stench of death and rot. At the center of it all was Drakthu.

The gods feared Drakthu and devised a plan. They would use the resilience of the races of the world and use their will to survive as a focus of power. Slowly across the plane, mortals were born with a small band on their wrists. These mortals were born as champions. Though many of the champions fell their spirit and blood passed on to others, and slowly the seed of light was planted into the world. The champions became heroes as they rallied their comrades of all races to fight Drakthu.

It is legend that six heroes of all different creeds, religions, and races, grouped together and stormed the Black Spire, Drakthu's Lair. Through their sheer skill, power, and reliance on each other, Drakthu was defeated and the dark plague that held the world was unleashed at once. The sky became blue, the grass grew green, and the air wept with the fresh scent of spring.

But that was many years ago...

Something is stirring again, and by the enchantments in the blood of the old heroes, new heroes are starting to appear, yet they know nothing of their ancestry. Each of them marked as were the heroes of old... Each of them drawn towards each other... Each of them fated to battle the ancient evil that seems to be unwrapping in this time of peace.

[reiphil]

Synopsis of Chapter 1, The Keep on the Shadowfell

Four heroes appeared out of the darkness, as if heeding a call from some unknown power. These people of all different creeds and races decide to undertake a quest to find a missing person and unknowingly get taken together to battle an insane wizard working to unleash an ancient evil... The heroes survive many battles and form a strong band between themselves. They destroy the corruption and not only is the town they fought for saved, but the world saved as well. Their journey has only begun though as they are called forward to defeat more evil that seems to be spreading further across the lands...

[reiphil]

Chapter 2, The Thunderspire Labyrinth

The heroes travel towards their new destination, the Thunderspire Labyrinth, and find themselves joined with others. The heroes understand the use and companionship of others and find themselves in the middle of a crisis. A rogue wizard is trying to take over the labyrinth and if he does the world woudl be in grave danger. Knowing their goal, the heroes rush forward to find clues and defeat this evil. However the evil becomes too great for the heroes, and their valiant efforts die with them...

But fate has a way of fixing things. Only a year later, the war within the labyrinth is strong and another group of heroes appear to battle it. Evil is rising, and heroes of old are starting to be drawn to them... and these heroes find that out the hard way. Battling to defeat the evil wizard and bring peace to the labyrinth...

Paldemar stood there, surrounded by a Dragonborn, a Bugbear, a Dwarf, an Elf, and a Human. His sharp breaths and bloodied clothes signaled the group that Paldemar would fall soon. The ground beneath Paldemar glowed with a violent light and Paldemar grimaced in pain. The human stood to the side, breathing in deep concentration as divine energies poured from him into the ground underneath Paldemar. Paldemar spoke slow sharp words to them.

"You heroes may defeat me here but the evil is growing, can't you feel it? Heroes of old... if only you knew your fate. Hahaha. Nothing will stop the evil... You can barely stop me... And even if i die here, my plans are still in motion... The evil knows you're coming for it... but it's too strong. TOO STRONG."

With his last words, Paldemar raised his hands and a sphere of lightning formed in them. The heroes stood entranced as a statue of Vecna behind them sprang to life, trapping their senses. All the heroes slowly watched as the sphere in Paldemar's hands quickly grew into power. The human's eyes snapped open.

"NO!" he shouted. The human raised his arm and divine energies gathered into it. His arm snapped forward, just as Paldemar started to throw the sphere of energy. The divine energy formed into a lance in mid air and struck Paldemar in the chest. Paldemar's body suddenly went rigid, his eyes blank. The sphere hurled into the air striking the ceiling in a violent display of color and sound. Paldemar was dead.

The heroes had no idea of what Paldemar was talking about. After searching Paldemar's belongings they find a map pointing to a Pyramid hidden within the northern region of the Nentir Vale, an area to the east of the Thunderspire Labyrinth. The words "Filled with power" and "Lots of magic to take" were scrawled along with some notes about how to get to the pyramid. Along the bottom of the pyramid's location the words "Seek Karavakos" were scrawled. The heroes felt a slow realization of dread. If Paldemar was seeking someone else, then that person must be powerful as well. They knew that the pyramid would be their next location.

"Well what in the hell did he mean by Heroes of Old? I ain't no hero." said the Bugbear.

"It has to do with these, I think." replied the Elf, quietly pointing to the arcane band on his wrist.

"Well, whatever these Heroes of Old are, I ain't one. But if you guys still need a mace man, I'm still willing to join ya for a cut of the loot. You guys are headed to the pyramid place, right? Them places are always filled with treasures and a buncha grunts guarding them."

With a small grave nod to the bugbear, the dragonborn starts picking up the maps and papers. "We must head back to Orontor, he would want news of this as quickly as possible." With that the group heads back into town, bringing news of Paldemar's defeat with them.

"You are truly Heroes of Old" says Orontor as the group brings the news to him. "If Heroes of Old are here, then it is a sign that the evil was truly great. We are grateful and indebted to you."

<The group informs Orontor of Karavakos and the Pyramid>

"Karavakos.. Hmm this is a name i know but cannot recall. However, if Paldemar is seeking something, then we know that this is an evil that must be stopped. Heroes of Old have gathered here for a reason. Perhaps it is fate that you must travel forward towards Karavakos. Though we are sure that this Karavakos person could do nothing with the Amulet that Paldemar has sent, the amulet must still be returned."

"Wait, what are Heroes of Old? We never gathered here. This is just coincidence that has brought us together." says a gruff looking Dragonborn. "I for one was captured and brought here, these men saved me."

Orontor looks at each member of the party.

"The texts of the Heroes of Old are quite ancient and many of the legends are lost. All I can tell you is that it is not coincidence that has brought you together. It is providence. We here know that you are all heroes of old by the blood that runs in your veins. The marks on your arm is only further proof. We can not tell you what is in store for you but only that each of you are fated for something greater."

<As the heroes discuss further their next move, Orontor presents them with an assortment of gifts, an 8th level item for each player>

[reiphil]

Chapter 3 - The Pyramid of Shadows

The heroes traveled far east and north to find the Pyramid. Deep in the forest of the Nentir Vale, they found a pyramid. A spirit appeared before the group, telling them that in order to defeat Karavakos, they must free the spirit whose soul was torn and trapped in the pyramid.

Entering into the pyramid, the heroes find themselves besieged and attacked by a two headed giant! Fending off the giant with powerful attacks, the heroes find the head of Vyrellis, a mysterious head who tells them that she can help them defeat the spirit of Karavakos. She shrouds herself in mysterious as she is unsure she can trust the heroes yet with the vital mission.

The heroes explore the southern corner of the first level, finding themselves in forest like rooms. Trees and hedges cover the ground, and instead of stone they stand on hard packed greens. They wander further in to find that they have trespassed on Arborean territory. The Arboreans attack them fiercly and force the heroes to hole up in an empty room. Further in they meet an Arborean who offers them peace. Rangran, deciding that all Arboreans are enemies since Arboreans attacked them earlier, attacked quickly. Skip refuses to join into the fight, and the rest of the party flees deeper in, leaving Rangran to fend for himself.

Rangran dies.

[The Keeper]

Chapter 3 -- The Pyramid of Shadows (continued)

The heroes continue on, unphased by the death of Rangran, and find themselves in a hallway lined with mirrors. A fiery skull appears in the mirrors and begins to assault the party with molten-hot fireballs. Moonscale and Lucan try in vain to shatter the enchanted mirrors only to see the broken pieces fit themselves back into place. The party decides to bust its way into an adjacent room to escape the hated skull only to find demons and more mirrors.

Suddenly, dark creepers surprise the party from behind and force them to fight the battle on two fronts. Skip, furious with rage over being shot at by a cowardly skull, chargers into the room and quickly bloodies a demon with his heavy mace. In an attempt to prevent the flaming skull, Ash picks up a blanket from a nearby bed and tries to place it in front of the mirror. With an evil cackle, the skull incinerates the blanket causing Ash to choke on the embers.

With a truly herculean effort, Paper slays the other demons with glorious radiant light. Moonscale and Skip quickly dispatch of the dark creepers and charge in after Paper, Ash, Lucan as they enter an adjacent room only to find the cowardly skull that had been berating them with fireballs. With a mighty leap, Ash attempts to tackle the skull only to crash and fall in a heap beneath the floating head. Skip, completely annoyed by the puny skull, walks up to it, clutches it in his claws, and quickly crushes it into tiny pieces while saying something about a soup his mother used to make.

The battle over, the party decides to sleep off their weariness and wounds. Noticing something is wrong with Ash, Paper attempts to diagnose and heal the problem. Ignoring Paper’s healing wards, bloodlust ignites in Ash’s eyes and he lashes out at Paper with a vicious howl. The party wakes up to see the crazed Ash in wolf form attacking Paper. Sadly, they are forced to subdue the beast and put the old boy out of his misery.

Ash dies.

[The Keeper]

Chapter 3 -- The Pyramid of Shadows (continued)

The party awoke to Lucan peering into a crystal ball that allowed him to view into the mirrored hallway. His brow was furrowed deep in thought as he placed a single finger to his lips.

“We have company. There’s a cloaked elf walking around outside,” whispered Lucan. He quickly motioned the other party members to take a look for themselves at the hooded figure through the crystal ball.

“Let’s go an’ get ‘em,” grunted Skip as he picked up his mace. The towering bug bear moved toward the door only to be blocked by Moonscale.

“Wait, let me handle this. I’ll sneak up behind the tiny elf and grab him that way we can question him,” suggested Moonscale. The mighty dragonborn, while tall in his own regard, stood up only to Skip’s broad shoulders. His face conveyed a sense of unintimidated, grim resolve.

“Fine, have it your way but I still think you should just let me bash his head in,” rebuked Skip as he scratched the back of his head with his mace.

“Duly noted,” replied Moonscale as he headed out the door armed to the teeth.

“I’ll talk to the elf in order to distract him as Moonscale attempts to subdue him,” decided Lucan. He began to talk to the elf through the crystal ball mirror medium.

The party watched on through the crystal ball as Moonscale crept behind the hooded figure. Just as he reached out to restrain the distracted elf, the creature spun around with otherworldly speed and lashed out with his blade. Barely able to dodge the strike, Moonscale received a deep scratch in his armor as he leapt back.

“What are you doing ,” shouted the elf. His eyes burned with rage at the suspicious dragonborn that had snuck up behind him.

Moonscale explained the party’s quest in the pyramid and how they must reunite the head of Vyrellis with her body in order to gain her aid in the battle with Karavakos.

Belgosi the elf avenger joins the party.

[reiphil]

Chapter 3 - Continued...

After clearing the first level of the pyramid, the heroes have gathered 2 or the 3 shards required to free vyrellis and defeated 1 of the 3 soul shards entrapping the spirit. However somethings seem amiss, why is it that signs of karavakos are missing? Is this spirit up to no good? Also... why has the pyramid of shadows arisen now? Each new town brings another crazed wizard into their lives... What trend is this?

[reiphil]

posted some maps.