Realms Of Adventure

Realms of Adventure is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition PBP campaign DM'ed by Hammel and currently running on RPGnet.
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About the Campaign

This is an AD&D 2nd Edition game that was originally a world for a solo game, then a game to be played on RPGNet.

The goal is for the same characters to sample levels 1, 3, 6, 8, and 11 with each level focusing on one adventure, module, or boxed set.

Premise

The populace of the land fear the Neogi and the Yuan-Ti aboveground and the Ixitxachitl in the waters off the shore. Some speak of the wars between those dread kin and the :Dwarves and their Sylvan Elf allies. Not many have encountered Neogi, Yuan-Ti, and Ixitxachitl in your part of the land. You are sheltered in the temperate highland of the :region near the town of Lerds, which is blessed with a healing spring and protected by a standing army and the Arikos city-state's protective deity, Grondival. Still, even here, :whispers of the terrors that lurk beyond the borders and being outnumbered persist.

The clergy of Rosa da Aventura, in combination with a solid tax base, have ensured the populace is mostly literate. Over time, this has built up an economy involving the tales :of various adventurers that the populace consumes. Whether it’s exploring the ruins of the old Pirate Kingdoms, discovering lost treasures in the deepest dungeons, valorous :combat against the dread kin, or a number of other topics, the stories have proven popular and give the people of the city-states in the highland hope that even if they are :outnumbered on the tropical/subtropical island continent that they can one day grow to be a positive, heroic force in the world.

In a good relationship with Arikos are a number of kin that inhabit the nearby foothills and forests who live, work, and mingle with others in the towns and cities. It’s not too :unusual have accommodations for or see various Naga, Ogres, and Giants who don’t have a home of their own.

Optional Rules

• Method V for ability scores
• Literacy as a seventh stat
• Proficiencies and Weapon Specializations for Fighters
• Encumbrance (Tables 47 and 48)
• Individual Initiative
• Weapon Speed Factors
• The number of squares a character can move in combat based off the Movement Rates on Table 64 using the encumbrance rules presented in Tables 47 and 48.
• Max HP at first level, hit die rolls thereafter
• For wizard spell books, Read Magic and Detect magic free, plus four other level 1 spells
• Individual Experience Rewards and Individual Class Rewards
• Complete books generally allowed
• Hovering on Death's Door

Campaign Map

Arikos City State

Players

• Vexxia Bonebreaker - Flind (Gnoll) Fighter (NE) played by Sam I Am
• Feyhawk - Grey Elf Thief/Wizard (CG) played by RoadScholar
• Insera - Human Priest (NG) played by Jeremy Kopczynski
• Lilybet Piesmith - Halfling Thief (NG) played by t@nya
• Og - Half Ogre Fighter (N) played by BlackSeaDM
• Kjaelos Marak - Human Wizard (N) played by howareyou

Supplies

Healing Potions and Holy Water vials are held by Insera.

Wizard spell scrolls are divided between Feyhawk and Kjaelos.

numbers in brackets note the number of spell scrolls that have been deciphered and are usable by Feyhawk and Kjaelos.

• Healing Potion x2
• Holy Water vial x4
• Sleep wizard scrolls x4 (4)
• Color Spray wizard scrolls x2 (2)
• Affect Normal Fires wizard scrolls x8 (3)
• Protection from Evil wizard scrolls x5 (2)
• Detect Magic wizard scrolls x6
• Armor wizard scrolls x2

Adventure Log

^ experience awarded

• party meetup in a tavern in Arikos
• encountered Ralsh a kobold with injured wings, decided to help him
• spoke to priest Mui at Rosa shrine in Arikos, received news nearby village has wild dogs problem at well construction site
• visited Grond temple in Arikos, received direction to Thur village
• defeated wild dogs at well construction site at Thur
• dropped off Ralsh at Rosa temple in Lerds to be healed (Help Ralsh arc ends)^
• met Lord Meron at Grond temple in Arikos, received request to aid the dwarves at Boatwrought
• audience with High Priestess Piadosa at the Arikos Rosa temple, discussed Pecadores and early signs of his struggles with his faith
• spoke with Sheelok Carter at the Brookthorne Street library about Pecadores' appearance on the fateful day, examined the Rosethorne book

Experience Log

Help Ralsh arc

• 23 xp each for the dogs
• 100 xp each for role-playing
• 50 xp each for not killing the dogs
• 50 xp each for accompanying Ralsh
• 200 each for accomplishing the minor objective of dealing with the dogs/helping Ralsh heal
• To RoadScholar: 50 xp for Color Spraying Ralsh the kobold
• To howareyou: 50 xp for using Sleep to overcome the dogs
• To the fighters: 40 xp each for the dogs being defeated

Notes

• Description of the scenes engraved at the Temple of Grond in Arikos.
• Description of the numbers and types of creatures that have attacked the Dwarves, and their weaknesses.

About the World

Major Deities

Falkar

Patron god of the old Pirate Kingdom of Caliko who is still worshiped by seafarers and non seafarers alike. He takes the form of a gray and black-striped humanoid cat that is depicted in iconography in a variety of hats and wielding a scimitar.

Alignment: Falkar is neutral but does not accept evil followers.

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 9, Intelligence 9

Required Proficiencies

• Nonweapon: Weather Sense
• Weapon: Scimitar

Weapon and Armor Restrictions:

• Weapons Permitted: Scimitar, Short bow, Dagger, Knife, Sword - Cutlass, Bludgeon Weapons, Ballista
• Armor Permitted: Buckler, Leather, Padded, Studded Leather, Hide

Major Access: All, Animal, Combat, Healing, Weather

Minor Access: Charm, Creation, Divination, Guardian

Granted Power: Draw Upon Holy Might 1/day

Grondival

Before the Pirate Kings, in another land, a brave knight ventured a labyrinth under a volcanic island to battle monsters protecting an evil wizard that was trying to open a gate to Pandemonium. They emerged victorious against the wizard, saving their land and possibly the whole world. After this, other deities accepted them into their ranks.

Alignment: Lawful Good

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 9, Strength 12

Required Proficiencies

• Nonweapon: None
• Weapon: Two-Handed Sword

Weapon and Armor Restrictions: none

Major Access: All, Combat, Protection

Minor Access: Elemental, Healing

Granted Power: Protection From Evil, 10’ Radius 1/day

Rosa da Aventura

More of a natural force in the world than an individual deity, Rosa da Aventura was first discovered as a patch of offseason roses in the town of Lerds. From there its fragrant, mystical power spread to this part of the region, inspiring minds to write and teach reading/writing. Where mysterious patches of roses sprung elsewhere so too followed a desire to read and write in the locals.

Alignment: Neutral Good

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 9, Literacy 12. +5% to experience when Wisdom or Literacy is at least 16. When BOTH Wisdom and Literacy are at least 16, there is a +10% bonus to experience.

Required Proficiencies

• Nonweapon: Languages, Modern
• Weapon: none

Weapon and Armor Restrictions:

• Weapons Permitted: Bows (all), Dart
• Armor Permitted: None - no shields

Major Access: All, Charm, Creation, Divination, Protection, Summoning, Sun

Minor Access: Animal, Elemental, Guardian, Healing, Plant

Granted Power: Group Mind 1/week

Brianna

Brianna is the goddess of the elves and fairies. The elves knew her for as long as they have been around and she was exclusively worshiped by the elves and fairies. A hundred years ago, she appeared to a group of adventurers at a waterfall in the Myrthwood Forest (outside of the starting adventure area) and offered healing.

The adventurers came from a very small kingdom that was experiencing civil war and a succession crisis after a king died and had no direct heir. They were in search of a crown that had been lost in the forest and since the main aggressor of that civil war was of evil heart, Brianna agreed to help the adventurers with healing and information so that they could recover the crown. The crown was recovered, the evil in that kingdom defeated, and other kindred have also shared in her worship ever since.

Alignment: Chaotic Good. Brianna does not accept evil followers.

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 10, Intelligence 10, Dexterity 6. +5% experience when Wisdom or Intelligence is at least 16. When Wisdom AND Intelligence are 16, +10% experience.

Required Proficiencies

• Nonweapon: Healing, Herbalism
• Weapon: none

Weapon and Armor Restrictions:

• Weapons Permitted: All cleric weapons, All Bows except Crossbows
• Armor Permitted: All except Leather or Hide (no armor from animals)

Major Access: All, Animal, Charm, Elemental, Healing, Plant, Sun

Minor Access: Astral, Creation, Divination, Guardian, Weather, Protection

Granted Power: Goodberry (1/day) or Entangle (1/day)

Locales

City of Arikos

Population: About 24,000

Ariikos is located just outside the foothills of the Gigantis Mountains and is the city-state encompassing the starting area. Most of the other settlements in the roughly 42 mile radius accommodate the various kin (often Naga, Ogres, and Giants) that are welcomed in Arikos’s territory, but Arikos is known to be particularly accommodating.

Grondival and their valiant followers help protect the city-state from threats. Their dogma makes it a point to accept even those of evil alignment with the hope that they can be reformed and serve as bodies in the defense of the city-state. It can be particularly challenging for followers of evil alignment, but not impossible.

Grondival employs priests of Falkar to monitor these followers’ hearts. When the taint of evil in these followers has waned to a certain point, the High Priest sends the follower on a quest of atonement. Successfully completing this quest is known to turn those who were evil into good, but the hope of these followers is that even if they fail they can be welcomed to a peaceful afterlife.

Town of Lerds

Population: About 2500

Lerds is not too far from Arikos, and is situated on a hill. This is where the Rosa da Aventura cult got its start from the discovery of offseason roses that came to spread throughout the city-state’s territory and inspire its people into reading/writing and teaching reading/writing.

The town is also home to a spring famous in the Arikos city-state. A few decades ago, a group of Grondival followers broke off, organized themselves, and laid siege to Lerds in hopes of destroying the mystical roses and reducing the influence of the Rosa da Aventura cult. Eventually, they breached the town but were fended off by a combination of adventuring parties and Grondival defenders.

After the successful defense, a new miracle sprung up in Lerds. During the town’s repair, a worker was clearing out rubble then striking the ground beneath to set a new foundation. The worker hit the ground and water welled up from it, filling the ruined area with beautiful, sparkling water. Investigation of the new spring found that it could heal wounds, cure disease, and neutralize poison.

The Rosa da Aventura cult took ownership and responsibility of the spring, and have been using the proceeds from access to the spring into the town’s repair and building. A priestess of the cult presides over the spring, and charges different amounts to different people depending on the situation and what the roses tell her.

Economy

Pilgrimages and Subsistence

There is some industry and raw material gathering, but most of Arikos’s income comes from trade. Merchants frequently travel from outside the city-state’s borders and within the city-state’s borders, selling, buying, and trading goods.

The economy is also supported by pilgrims who visit pilgrimage sites, particularly the many gardens maintained by Brianna’s clergy and the roses across the territory. Good eating and comfort can be found for those pilgrims and it has become a lucrative business.

Tourists also visit the Giants' ruins throughout Arikos's territory.