The Chronicles of Far Keep
Back to the Campaign: Time of the Green Star
OMG is working on this, will have it up in a bit.
The Chronicles
Part One (First 14 Pages)
The original group consisted of:
Friar Ventas - Fighter/Cleric of Jaser
Melisende - Witch of the Flying Assembly (Sorceress)
Walker Mikhal Oglu - Druid
The story commenced with the party making their way to Far Keep, but they were ambushed by a group of 3 bandits on the road. Rather than fight them, the group convinces them to lay down their arms and come with them to Far Keep to repent for their activities. The party reaches Far Keep and is met by:
Duke Sean Anasazi - Human Fighter, Duke and Ruler of Far Keep and the surrounding area
Glixi the Lorekeeper - Pixie, Court Wizard of Far Keep
After brief introductions and offers to serve, the Duke briefly explains the role of his family at Far Keep:
"The Anasazi's have stood against the Green Star and the Darkness it brings from the beginning, which is why I am here. This Keep will be both the tip of the sword and the shield of the Land for as long as I rule here. We shall hold the lines against the Darkness and anything that it may bring."
The Duke presents the party with a map and outlines several of the challenges that Far Keep is currently enduring (see Area Surrounding Farkeep)
After discussing the problems, the group agrees to deal with the vampire and then the water sprite that is harassing the goblins. Glixi does some research and discovers that Guildtown, a small city to the south, has in it's possession an enchanted crossbow which has the power to slay the vampire, so the group makes their way to Guildtown to procure this holy artifact.
As they journeyed south, the party was attacked by an Owlbear near the bridge. A skirmish follows in which the party emerges victorious over the foul monster. They continue their journey to Guildtown and arrive without further incident.
That night as the party settles in for the night, a loud scream wakes everybody. They quickly identify that somebody is being attacked or seriously hurt just up the road from the town. The group quickly jumps into action and get on their horses and ride out to the disturbing screams:
The two horses thunder round a bend and almost trample those they find at the scene. Two men lie prone, pooled in blood. A third seems to be kneeling or stumbling amidst them. Drawing up their mounts the four Farkeepers look again and see with horror that the third figure is not a victim but the perpetrator of the bloodshed, a vampire feeding on his and knees at the neck of one of the fallen men. As he glances up the party note with horror that he has the whiskered face and dark mail of a knight of old.
The old vampire makes to run as he sees the group advancing upon him. Groggy from lack of sleep, Glixi prematurely tries to stop the vampire by entangling him with a spell, which only serves to anger him. Instead of running, he forces his way through the enchanted roots and vines and makes to attack the party. The group quickly realizes they are no match for him and retreat to the town with the men attacked by the vampire.
One of the survivors of the attack is a man named Shooter, who is a member of the Protection Society (a racketeering gang operating out of Guildtown). He tells the party he was tasked with recruiting the highway bandits to help him raid a hidden treasure trove in an old mineshaft near the town. He agrees to show the party where this mineshaft is and help them recover any treasure. The party realizes they can use this treasure to pay the various guilds for the holy crossbow they need.
Possible Sub-Plot to Explore in the Future - the Red Cudgel gang: "...he (Shooter) considers his Protection Society to be an illegal but not unworthy organization- formed as a check against a much crueller Red Cudgel criminal gang. Despite this they regularly raid warehouses and the houses of wealthy merchants." (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?708480-IC-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star&p=17389263#post17389263)
Part Two
Glixi takes her leave of the party and returns to Far Keep.
The remaining party spends some time planning their next move. During this time Friar Ventas attends the cathedral and meets the Matron of Bethan and she told him of some dreams/visions she has had:
"A celestial handmaiden of the Lady visited me in vision and spoke that the Duke of Farkeep has become befuddled by the encounter with the Vampire, a distant family relative, and fears the monster's vainglory as a family taint. The whole party must share rule and leadership-even representation of Farkeep- to help him cure his fears."
"A holy weapon, The Keeper's Blade, lies amidst the weird ancient cargo of the warehouse caves. Jaser will not consider it a sin to enter ther, since its owners have long since departed."
While at the cathedral Friar Ventas uncovers one of the two statues of Jaser, which is generally only used on a rare few holy days, such as the day of choosing. The maiden told the other servants in the cathedral not to cover it back, "What this good friar has uncovered must stay uncovered until the baleful star's rays have fled from the Realm."
As the party finishes getting ready to go to the mines, Sir Thomas enters the town and makes quite an entrance. A young knight of Jaser, but he already has some reputation in the world and is welcomed by the townspeople immediately. He was sent here by the Church of Jaser to recover an ancient holy sword. He joins the party as they venture to the mines.
Shooter meets the group at the enterance to the mine with some kind of magic charm which disables a deadly trap protecting it.
Just as the group is about to enter the cave, Walker rejoins the group after spending some time out in the wilderness. He reports to the group that there are bombardier bettles and some undead roaming the wilderness not far from their location.
The group enters the cave and reaches a shaft, which they descend into and are immediately attacked by some winged vargouille (rather annoying bat-like creatures with a paralysing screech ability). The Duke makes quick work of the foul creatures and they continue through the passageway.
They reach a large chamber which is guarded by two brass golems which spring to life as soon as they enter the room. A large battle occurs, afterwhich the party discovers a rather large pile of treasure which they take from the mine and return to the town.
While they are sorting out the loot they recall some unusual behavior from Shooter, who disappeared on the way back from the mines. The party then meets John Barrow (rumored leader of the Protection Society gang), who leads them a hidden room in the House of Devils and they discuss the whereabouts of Shooter.
Possible Sub-Plot for the Future - Red Cudgels: "I have to tell you, Sir Friar, that you need to shift that loot that you brought in from the caves today. The Red Cudgels have been casing your inn something rotten. If you don't get it under lock and key soon they'll be coming in over the roof. We even thought about turning you over ourselves!" (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?708480-IC-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star&p=17413879#post17413879)
Glixi returns with some interesting information about an old Charter and how Guildtown's relationship is with Far Keep:
The Charter was granted by His Majesty Petra IV during the Long War. It was just a big village then , and the Lord of Farkeep held dominion over it as the southmost point of his estate. But when the King asked for Farkeep to send a company of soldiers the Baron was out of soldiers and money. The tradesfolk of this place - only a tiny weavers' guild here then!- gathered together whatever money they could to equip a company of foreign mercenaries. To save Farkeep's honour. Lizard folk axemen as it happens! The king was delighted because they were critical in the final battle against Delos. Afterwards he granted the charter to Guildtown as a reward. To run for 101 years.
Possible Sub-Plot for the Future - Ledgers: While digging up this Charter information, Glixi also discovered some rather suspicious accounting records between Far Keep and Guildtown. It seems the old Baron was involved in some shady business with several members of the town. (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?708480-IC-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star&p=17415894#post17415894)
Through some discussion the Master of Bones reveals to the party where Shooter has gone, they find him hiding out in a small residence. They discover he has been enthralled by the vampire, so they drag him to the cathedral to purify his soul.
That's the first 26 pages, more coming
Important Links
IC thread: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?708480-IC-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star
Original recruitment thread: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?708287-Interest-Recruitment-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star
Re-recruitment thread: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?719197-Re-recruitment-DnD-3-5-E6-Time-of-the-Green-Star