Central Plot Recaps

[earthwizard]

I know not everyone plays Geb every session. Furthermore we don't play every week. As a result, it is likely some plot elements get forgotten or overlooked. To remedy this, I'll try and write a general recap of plot lines with which everyone should be familiar. Bear with me, as this may take a few posts.

[earthwizard]

Many weeks ago a gang of orcs descended on the town of Hode, a small farming town in the east of the Nation of Allanae. Hode is located at the base of Tor Dorran, the mountain boarder with the Dwarven Empire. It is known that Tor Dorran harbors many uncivilized creatures and dangerous behemoths, and the city of Hode is always a bit apprehensive as a result.

According to the orcish honor code a battle may be decided by single combat between representatives from each side. This spares both sides massive loss of lives, but punishes the losing side in that they must pay an honor tribute to the winning side. The tribute scales with the battle.

So it was that Selaine, the elf captain of the guard fought Kunta, the leader of the orcs. Selaine fell to the barbarian and Hode was honor bound to provide the oricsh tribe with half their yearly harvest, a large sum of gold, and most importantly: one child aged 11-16 from each family to be enlisted as indentured servants until they reach the age of 17 (elves and dwarves aged accordingly).

The rumor is that two brave souls searched the depths of the Hode burial crypts in search of the legendary weapon of Falden, slayer of orcs and founder of Hode. But their attempt was in vain, for they did not emerge until Selaine was already engaged in battle with Kunta.

[earthwizard]

Despite failing to aid Selaine, Drago and Rurik made a name for themselves and were set on a journey that would lead them into much greater dangers than what they had seen beneath the city of Hode.

They had discovered a book that once belonged to Merazbeth, a mysterious man who died nearly a century ago, and who's tower still remained in the city.

They had also gained the attention of Carlon Haysworth, the magistrate of Hode. He confiscated the weapon they retrieved from their adventure beneath the city (the weapon was actually discovered on a statue in the center of town). And he hired them to report on the battle with the orcs to Lord Keras, the aging and frail governor of Allanae's eastern province. Joined by a wandering do-gooder monk, and a gnomish wizard, the party set out on a journey North, through the Ceryn Wald, to the city of Odeen.

During a side trek to recover their stolen goods, the party released a man held prisoner by gnolls. Later the party would discover that Roy Priven, the prisoner, was indeed a werewolf. Zedifex, an elf druid who joined with them, suspected him to be of natural lycanthropic affliction.

Further side treks in the Ceryn Wald revealed the Book of Beasts, a tome that dated many hundreds of years old, and seemingly the source of agitation and dire affliction for animals in close proximity.

. . . more recap to come . . .

[earthwizard]

Finally venturing to the city of Odeen, the party met with the secretary of Lord Keras. The lord himself was ill and unable to tend to them. The secretary gave the party a journal kept by his former adventuring associate Selaine. He also gave them permission to return to Hode with a small contingent of guardsmen from Odeen, as was requested by Magistrate Haysworth.

The journal contained many innocuous entries. Despite the number of pages, Gerbo the gnome managed to find one entry hidden and revealed by magic means that detailed suspicions the late Captain had regarding Magistrate Haysworth and his rise to power. She also morbidly implicated Haysworth in her own death.

The party discovered the Priven family were famous bread bakers in Odeen and decided to stop in on the patriarch of the family and business. He wasn't very nice in general and didn't take kindly to them. However, he did tell them of his boy's condition, lycanthropy. The party left him with suspicions and speculations about the circumstances of his wife's death, and his motives in regards to the fate of his son.

The party returned to Hode with the soldiers from Odeen. This time no one but a snake bothered them on the road. Meanwhile, Zedifex the druid attempted to keep his distance from the others. He had discovered that the Book of Beasts turned nearby animals dire and resolved to destroy the book by means of a ritual dedicated to Gaia, goddess of nature and balance. To do so he required blood of 9 worshipers of Gaia, among other things.

Upon reaching the town, the party decided to finally investigate the tower of Merazbeth. The first thing they saw upon entering the tower was a pair of well decayed dead bodies crumpled on the floor. Gingerly stepping over the child sized bodies, the party explored the higher levels of the tower. They battled animated desks on the way up the tower. At the very top they discovered what appeared to be a cypher for the book of Merazbeth. The gnome promptly left the party to spend time studying the book. The others left the tower as they found it (save for a burned staircase - damage from a "well placed" burning hands spell).

[earthwizard]

Drago and the do-gooder monk Jake decided to finally help Lord Haysworth. He had called the party to action. Seeking revenge for Captain Selaine's death, and of course in order to avoid the hefty honor-debt, Haysworth planned a sortie against the orcs who came down from the hills of Tor Dorran. Haysworth hired the party members to scout out the orcs in order to determine the best place to lead their raid. Only Drago and Jake showed up for duty.

After scouting the orcs for a day they returned to Haysworth with little information, but the magistrate decided now was the time to lead the raid. They battled their way to the main encampment of the orcs, and Haysworth himself called out Kunta, leader of the orcs in a single combat challenge. Kunta was a massive orc and wielded two large blades. Haysworth drew his one, which Drago quickly recognized as the sword he and Rurik had recovered from Falden's tomb.

Jake was the first to catch on that the fight was a sham. Kunta was clearly holding back and Haysworth would soon win the fight. Drago soon picked up on it, but chose not to get involved. Despite an inner conflict, Jake decided not to halt the farce of a battle. However, soon Kunta realized he was not going to make it out of the fight alive, and swore at Haysworth as the magistrate cut him down with Falden's legendary weapon.

The orc tribesmen, for their part were fooled (or at least appeared to be). Kunta was dead and a new leader was chosen. The honor-debt between Hode and the orcs had been settled, and it was understood that the orcs would retreat into their hills and not bother Hode for a generation.

Later Haysworth thanked Jake and Drago for their part in the sortie. He was hailed as a hero upon returning to Hode. News later came that the governor Lord Keras had passed away. A new governor need be chosen.

[earthwizard]

Meanwhile, Zedifex was searching for worshipers of Gaia willing to give up a small vial of their own blood. He had managed to gather 8 from various people in Odeen and the farms surrounding Hode, but the ninth eluded him. He did hear a rumor that a strange old woman lived in the hills and might provide Zedifex with what he sought.

Zedifex (who at the moment was being controlled by a mysterious force never before realized on Geb known only as 'DM') requested the aide of Drago and Rurik to help him obtain the last vial of blood and perform the ritual to destroy the Book or Beasts.

Together, the three ventured into the hills. They found a hut in which the rumored strange old lady lived. Magda, as she called herself, had two winged pets who were seemingly made out of ice and fire. As far as her own appearance, she wore old dirty rags and was very skinny and ugly. Her hair was long and unkempt, falling over her warted face and parted only by her large hooked nose. In the center of her hut boiled a cauldron of liquid from which emerged the foulest stench. She agreed to give up a vial of her blood should the adventurers destroy a recent menace to the area . . . the Demon Howler.

Upon venturing out into the wilderness, and after stumbling upon a wild hippogriff nest, Rurik, Drago and Zedifex did encounter the Demon Howler. They soon realized the true identity of the beast, Roy Priven, who had taken his hybrid werewolf form. Battle was upon them.

When it seemed all was lost and the werewolf unbeatable, Rurik swung the swords passed down through the generations of his family in a desperate arc. His katana missed the creature wildly, but the sharp edge of the wakizashi blade met the skin of the werewolf's neck and began to cut through. It cut deep beyond the creature's tough hide and sliced straight through the flesh. It severed the neck between vertebrae and cut clear through the other side. The head of Roy Priven flew from its body and both fell to the ground.

Successful in their endeavor to rid the world of the Demon Howler, the party returned to Magda. However, upon receiving the gift of the head of Roy Priven, which she promptly threw in the cauldron to boil with who knows what else, she refused to give up her own blood, and laughed hysterically at the foolish adventurers . . .

[earthwizard]

Taken by surprise, Rurik and Drago were unprepared to match Magda in battle. They quickly ran away. Upon regrouping, they prepared themselves and returned to the old hag's hut. After defeating her pets, Rurik and Drago took on Magda herself. She was slain, and Zedifex quickly scooped up a vial of her blood.

They searched her hut and retrieved the boiled head of Roy Priven with the intention of returning it to Master Priven back in Odeen.

With all the required vials, the three set out to find a suitable location for the ceremony to destroy the Book of Beasts. A large flat rock was found, and they used it as an alter. Zedifex combined the bloods with some sprigs of wolfsbane and poured it over the book as it lay on the stone, all the while voicing prayers to Gaia. He then withdrew a tooth taken from a dire wolf and plunged it into the book. Then something they did not expect occurred . . .

From the book emerged ghastly wisps, which gathered and formed themselves into the shape of a Satyr. With a furious roar and a menacing look, the evil ghost of a Satyr blew a deeply resounding note on his pipes and attacked the party. The sound echoed far away, as if it were trying to reach their ears from a distant plane but failed. Un-frightened, Rurik and Drago engaged the ghost in battle. It turns out ghosts aren't very tough. The satyr, after incurring a few blows, dissolved and fell through the earth, through Geb itself, to go and pass beyond the Veil into the realm of Yama.

Satisfied the Book of Beasts had lost its power over innocent animals, the party returned to Hode, where they learned that Magistrate Haysworth, now considered a war hero, had been raised to lordship and given the governorship of the Eastern Province of the Nation of Allanae.

[earthwizard]

For their part in serving Magistrate Haysworth in the past, the party members were invited to the ceremony in Odeen, seat of the governorship, and to the celebration afterward held at the keep.

Rurik and Gerbo hitched a ride with two traveling salesmen to Odeen. Once there, they split up to take care of some separate business.

Gerbo had been studying Merazbeth's book for some time and had uncovered some interesting information.

Meanwhile Rurik traveled to see Master Priven at his residence. He felt it only right to return Roy's remains to the family. Upon seeing his son's severed, boiled head, Master Priven threw Rurik down the stairs and out of his house, yelling curses after him. Rurik, never having liked Master Priven in the first place, was glad to be done with such business.

The entire city gathered at the steps to the keep for the the ceremony to don Carlon Haysworth with the mantle of regional governor. Lord Arenton of Arenton presided over the ceremony.

After the ceremony, Rurik and Gerbo were turned away from the door to the party on the grounds of dress code. They quickly went into town and purchased some fine robes to wear. Upon admittance they were greeted by a grand party. Food, wine, music and dancing were the rule. They payed their respects to Lord Haysworth and were seated. Some time into enjoying themselves, a servant approached them and bid them meet Lord Haysworth in a private chamber.

Once there, they met with another dwarf, Brotur - a traveling holy man. Lord Haysworth entered the room and quickly shared with them some dire news from the hamlet of Road's End. Recently bugbears had been raiding the town. Unable to take immediate action from Odeen, due to various administrative duties, Haysworth hired the three to investigate the problem, and fix it. Now with plenty of resources at his disposal, Haysworth supplied the three with all they needed, equipment, food, horses, plus an additional 1000gp each should they return successful.

But the events that would take place at Road's End would ensure that at least one of those three would not be collecting on that reward . . . more to come.

[earthwizard]

After a days ride, the trio reached the hamlet town Road's End. They quickly asked around regarding the recent bugbear raids and discovered that just two days prior had one occurred. This time, the bugbears actually made off with two children, killing their mother and leaving them orphaned.

The next day, the trio ventured into the nearby hillside where they discovered the cave of the bugbears. Eager for battle, and to rescue the children, they charged in. Soon they were trapped, fighting in both directions of a narrow hallway. But the bugbears were no match for the might of the two dwarves and the wizardry of the gnome.

They came to a narrow corridor and following it found many branches, most leading to dead ends or turning back on themselves. Somewhat disoriented, they finally came to a door set in the hallway. Peeking in they only saw a large room and another door on the other wall. Taking a chance they entered via both doors, but foolishly made too much noise while outside and for their efforts were greeted by a large bullish creature. It stood near 9 feet tall (at least by dwarf and gnome reckoning) and had the head and hooves of a bull, a long furred tail and the torso and arms of a powerfully built man. The minotaur pounded them, but the divine magics of the dwarven priest aided the allies against him. They soon dispatched the minotaur.

Gazing about they only found one other item in the room. A ring, made of a reddish iron, sat on stone pillar in the center of the room. They took the ring, and placed it with the other valuables they had taken from the bugbears. Feeling a bit depleted at this time, they decided to rest in the defeated minotaur's lair.

[earthwizard]

Upon wakening, Rurik and Brottur discovered the gnome was missing. This didn't seem to bother them in the slightest. Poor gnome, coulda been carried off in the dead of night by wraiths and the dwarves didn't even bother to look for him. Instead they proceeded through the bugbears' lair in search of the missing children.

Instead, they found Drago, shackled to the floor of a nondescript stone room. Attempting to break the shackles, Rurik set off a trap. The floor gave way and sent them all tumbling down into a dank natural cavern. Here, one of the dwarves found a stick. He kept it.

Squeezing through a narrow passage, they came to another wider natural cavern inhabited by what seemed to be a massively overgrown caterpiller with nasty tentacles around its toothy maw. They were nearly paralyzed, but overcame the carrion crawler and discovered a ladder leading to a trap door (No Vince, not that kind . . . oh wait, actually yes, that kind).

They climbed up through the door and mounted an attack on 3 bugbears who were guarding two small, beaten and hungry children. They told the children to stay put and moved on . . . geez, these guys weren't very compassionate today.

They rounded a corner and came to a door with goblin markings on it. One word spelled in common stood out, though its meaning was beyond them, "Corinarix".

Entering the door they came to a vast cavern. Bravely stepping onto a platform, they found the floor began to fold out beneath them to extend further into the chamber. Across the cavern they could plainly see another door. After nearly getting struck by a flying spear after stepping too liberally, they used some stolen bugbear armor to set off traps before them as the floor unfolded and they wound their way through the room. This solution was not perfect, however, and more than once a spear flew from a direction they did not predict.

Finally they reached the other door and opened it to see what bugbear captain was so paranoid to lay out such an elaborate trap.

They were greeted by flame.

Corinarix proved to be a creature of myth and legend. Though they had heard tales of dragons, none had believed the creatures to exist in reality. They were wrong. Perhaps ignorance of the true draconic power was the reason they did not immediately flee. Instead, they took an action that would lead to their own demise . . . they charged into battle.

Even with some powerful divine magic supplied by Cariocecus and channeled through Brottur, the battle was too much. Drago attempted to grapple with the monster, but found it was too deft and he could not grab a hold. Corinarix dropped Drago, then Rurik. He then sent a blast of flame toward Brottur, and Drago's body lay in the path.

Brottur came to some hours later. He watched in horror as the ferocious red dragon devoured the flesh from the bones of his comrades. Somehow he worked up the courage to move, and move silently he did. Barely escaping with his life, Brottur gathered up the children and returned to Road's End screaming of monsters.

He frantically sent off a message to Lord Carlon Haysworth in Odeen. Then he waited. He waited for days and days. Feeling calmer, he spent his time brewing potions and thinking of how he would seek revenge on this dragon.

Finally a message came for him, "Meet me in Riverfan. -Lady Belexuranishara"

. . .

And Drago and Rurik fell. Slowly they traveled deep beneath the earth, to a place they did not expect - a place they had never heard of . . . the City of Manifest

[earthwizard]

Rurik and Drago continued to fall through the earth until they reached a large cavern deep within it. At the edge of their vision they saw a point of light. As they continued to fall the light spread out and they saw beneath them a small city.

When Rurik and Drago landed in the city of Manifest, they were greeted by ghostly figures. One, a woman, spoke to them and welcomed them to the city. She told them they may rest here until they are ready to pass beyond the Veil.

Not quite ready to do so, they decided to walk around the city. Ghosts were everywhere, some re-enacting their deaths and some solemnly meditating on their lives. They had over heard two ghosts speaking of a stranger, rumored to have the ability to send people back to the land of the living.

They decided to seek out this stranger and left the city. It felt like they walked for days, but eventually found the wall of the cavern. With no obvious route to go further they followed the wall. Eventually they found a slight crack in the wall, but large enough for them to fit through. The crack led to a staircase, which they began to climb. Again they traveled seemingly for days upward on the stairs. Abruptly they came to a door with a single letter scribed onto it . . . M.

Entering the room they found a luxurious apartment. They noted the set of glass French doors that led to a balcony. Beyond they could see the stars of night.

They were greeted by a man in green robes and hood pulled over his face. He carried a nondescript staff.

The bargain ensued and Rurik and Drago both presented terms for returning to the land of the living. Rurik would live for 80 more years on Geb, while Drago only asked for enough time to defeat the red dragon Corinarix. The price of the bargain? Serving M for a time equal to twice that spent on Geb. Without knowing what that involved, the two made their bargains.

M reached into their chests and began pumping their hearts, and they returned to the living. They awoke lying naked in a wooded area, their location unknown.

[earthwizard]

Brottur traveled for 5 days out from Road's End and finally came to the small trading town of Compass, where he noticed the waters had a slight foul contaminant. He traveled for 5 more days northeast along the road and finally reached the township of Riverfan. There he sought out this mysterious person, Lady Belexuranishara.

Rurik and Drago awoke naked in a wooded area. The heard running water nearby and followed a river down to a town . . . the township of Riverfan.

The Lady was all business. She clothed the two naked warriors and provided vouchers for them to purchase equipment. Her beauty and wealth were endless. She gave the companions a single goal . . . destroy the red dragon Corinarix. Having just been defeated by this beast, this creature of legend and myth, the three were eager to return and slay the monster. But the Lady knew they were not yet ready to handle a second confrontation. She told them the location of two, smaller dragons, also evil and dangerous. So the three headed out to gather supplies and hunt the two small black dragons south of Compass and to gather allies with whom they could return to the cave of Corinarix.

On to Compass.

[earthwizard]

"People of Compass! A plague is upon us! Our river, the River Nordsud has run black. This is a foul contaminant and must be eliminated. You all know that our town depends on the trade the river brings to us. You all know the food and supplies. What will we do if trade ceases? You will loose your homes. You will loose your lives here in this town. Who will step up to the call, for I do call upon you, good people of noble Compass? Who will take it upon your shoulders to put a stop to this corruption in the river?"

"I will, Magistrate Doewaters. My good neighbors of Compass have provided for me since my parents' deaths. I will serve them in this cause."

"Very well, Bendehr of Dundat. Your town has need of you. Let it be known that when the call was put forward your voice was the first to respond."

"And I, Brottur No-Last-Name, will join you, though I know you not Bendehr. I do believe I know the cause of this plague and you will need my talents when the time comes."

"Uh, yeah, I'm coming too," a tiny voice spoke up.

So it was that Bendehr, Brottur and Gerbo set out to find the cause of the black river. They traveled south, upriver.

Some distance up the river they came upon two ogres who had attempted the worst ambush in ogre history.

Bendehr was quick to call out, "Do you wish to have the gift!?"

The ogres were easily defeated, but Brottur cautioned, "What we face is not ogre. It is a dragon, likely two of them. You will not defeat them so easily Bendehr. They are ferocious beasts. I have seen one. I watched as it devoured my two companions. Though I was re-united with them by some unknown, perhaps unnatural means, the memory of their deaths still haunts me."

"Bah! Dragons, you say. Such beasts are the thing of legend! They do not exist. Believe me, my short dwarf friend, what ails this river is no dragon. Though, if it be a creature we face, then my sword will defeat it."

They pressed on.

Soon they came upon a well-known waterfall. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall had turned black, though the water flowing into it was crystal clear, flowing from the snow melt of Tor Dorran, the mountains just to the south.

Through magical means, Brottur was able to see through the black and to the bottom of the pool, where he spied a crack, a chasm in the the pool bottom, from which spewed the black contaminant.

Thinking with his arms, Bendehr proceeded to chuck rocks at the rift in the ground. Brottur reported the problem only worsening. The answer? Bigger rocks. Eventually they hurled a rock so large it managed to block the hole they had formed at the bottom of the pool. To be sure the chasm had been sealed they decided to rest the night and check on it in the morning . . .