DnD Desert Raiders Campaign Rafa

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Background

RAFA: Variant spelling of Hebrew Rapha, meaning "feeble, flaccid, weak," i.e. "a shade" living in Hades, void of blood and animal life; therefore weak and languid like a sick person, but still able to think.

For weak goblins to survive they have to make sure the stay in the shadows. One goblin did this so well that he started to bond with it. Rafa has found a way to harvest this shadowy power to make his enemies regret attacking him.

He knows very well that he will never be as strong as some of the wizards that use incredible power. But he is happy with he thought that he is less likely to blow himself up with that incredible power.

For a long time Rafa lived in a goblin village under the mountain with his faithful familiar Senka (Serbian name meaning "shadow."). that was until one day there was need of a volunteer to get some special herbs.
Rafa volunteered himself immediately by being thrown over the heads of his fellow goblins. No one stopped to consider that Rafa had no knowledge of herbs, no knowledge of where to go and no interest to remember what was asked from him in the first place.
It wasn't long before Rafa forgot what herb he was looking for or how to get back to his village. Now he tags along with random groups of creatures that might tolerate him so he can find what he personally wants.
preferable creatures that look better prey them himself.

Dislikes: Rafa really dislikes anything that shines like metals and fire. He knows the value of coins, gems and gold to other people and will collect them to trade, not to keep.
When safety allows it he will try to keep out of the radius of lights, or block them by other means.
Rafa also dislikes noise, anything that disrupts the serenity of the shadowy illuminations.

Personal Quest

Fascinated by his shadow Rafa set out to find the origin of it all. No one appreciates the shadows as he does. So he should find a way to collect them all so they will be his forever.

weakness

• Playing a shadowcaster (not a shadowmage, big difference). Of the millions of people playing D&D no one has ever posted a build that was considered workable. The general belief is "a sorcerer with less spells then a wizard, less spells known then a bard, no bonus spells for high cha and no free familiar"

• RP weakness: Great dislike to light and glittering.

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Sheet

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Elemental

• shadow elemental's actions never go against a direct order of Rafa

• the shadow elemental always delays to after Rafa's turn in combat. (unless something living or light giving comes within 40ft of Rafa)
• The shadow elemental is highly aggressive and hates all sources of light and life, unless orderd not to it will try to end its duration. it cannot leave Rafa's side for more then 40ft but will attack the light or living creature when it comes close enough.
• It will never comunicate with anyone, not even its master.
• the shadow elemental will generally linger in the floor (unless his legs stick out the bottom).
• If unable to end the duration of the lightsouce it will try to keep in somethings shadow, its masters preferd.
• anything else not made of light and more then 40ft from Rafa will be ignored totally.

• it follows its master's command, if it understands this or if its is just part of the magic is unknown.

command:

• heal master when dying.
• don't attack Priest, Eric or Scragg unless they come within 1ft or orderd to.

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Notes

Items wanted:

• Panic button [escaping]
• Dark lantern (ToM)
• Ring of darkhidden (DotU)
• Bag of holding I
• Orb of shadow lvl 1 (ToM)

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log

06-01-2010

This afternoon while I went to take cover from the ever burning desert sun I found myself trapped by a cave-in. with the exit totally blocked I could only go deeper into the cave. It wasn’t a natural cave that I could tell, but I don’t think many people come here these days. Thick layers of dust and rubble litter the floors.
Using my spells to scout for me I silently made my way deeper into the tunnels when I suddenly came to a hold by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Turning into a side turn I find my hard beating faster. Just in from of me I can hear the sounds of a sleeping monstrous beast.
As quickly and silently as I possibly could I made my way back to where I came from. If I had any luck the approaching people might wake the creature and they can kill each other. Or at least they feed this beast so that I wouldn’t have the will to come after me.
I held my breath as the armored person came closer. With a loud snarl and heavy footsteps I could hear the beast moving. It had heard them to and was going to have breakfast. As I looked around the corner I could see a glimpse of a armored desert goblin trying to fight the creature off. I was halfhearted to help him, I prefer goblins over big hungry creatures anytime. But as I made ready to attack they disappeared around the corner. No need for me to get involved then.

Seeing this opportunity I went to loot the creatures lair while it ate. Searching its nest I found some gems, I don’t know what happened to the previous owners but I can make a good guess. As I counted my findings I was alerted by a sound I didn’t except. A last cry from the creature followed by the happy sounds of goblins. They actually managed to kill it. They did better than my own group, who I just saw disappear in the belly of a hyena as I came back from scouting the area.

As I hear them approach I try to make myself look weak enough not to be a threat and powerful enough not to anger. One by one they came into the room. Looking totally unsurprised to see me standing in the corner.

The first to enter was a armored desert goblin by the name of Eric the Cleric. As I fought my laughter I saw him walking past me and he stuck his hands straight into the largest pile of feces that could be found. As I looked over his shoulder I could see him pulling out a dirty golden ring.

Behind him came a rather shaky looking goblin. I later came to understand that his name is Tick and that he was still trying to get over the loss of his close companion Torch the Emberling. I never saw the use of getting distressed over death. Eider you live or die, it makes no difference in the end.

Bringing up the rear was a very old and small desert goblin. He introduced himself as Loak. Behind him lingered a air elemental. I never found out if it had a name or not.

As the three strange goblins entered I tried to convince them that the ring was actually mine and that I should get it back. they didn’t seem impressed by my quick tong. Also they didn’t seem to care at all.

We set up camp in the small lair and talked a bit about where they came from. As it turned out they were all members of different groups but as there traveling companions died they made new alliance. Two of them knew each other for a couple of days the cleric they met only a couple of minutes before. It wasn’t an unexpected story. I myself have been with 5 different groups in the last month. The biggest time I spent alone.

The following morning we set out to the exit. I decided to join them for now, the armored one will be slower than me so if we run into anything he will make a good distraction.

Eric and I spend a while looking at Tick. The crazy goblin started to build a large fire outside the entrance. I don’t think there is need for more heat, but then again there is also no need for me to stop him.
I only saw that Loak didn’t followed us when his elemental came to get us. As we followed the creature we saw Loak hiding in a doorway. Looking into the room I could see a large bookcase filled with old books. In the center of the room was a desk upon a rug and behind it some kind of undead creature. If I have to make a guess I would say it’s some kind of mummy.

13-01-2010

With a bit of encouragement from Loak I shot the mummy with an black bolt. To my surprise (and as it turned out not to Loak’s) it felt like it hit me instead of the mummy. The mummy spotted us and started to come. Focusing on my amulet I gathered the items power to summon a huge scorpion right in the mummy’s room. The scorpion grabbed the mummy and started to squeeze it. I could see the scorpion dying as it did so and took that opportunity to make a run for it. Turning around I saw that Eric and Loak where nowhere to be seen. Running to the exit I could see a group of goblins waiting there. Eric was talking to a two rather large goblins.

The first one was a guy named Raven. He was a whip wielding goblin that was traveling with Eric for a very short period.

The second one was a jungle goblin covered in weird hides. His name was Scragg, an claw fighting goblin.

• Mummy lured
• Bookcase
• Pit
• Large door
• Death of Raven

20-01-2010

• Rejoining of the others
• Finding Priest
• Getting attacked by zombies
• Getting attack by mummys
• Finding a golden tomb
• Trapped chimney
• Getting burned
• Climbing outside

03-02-2010

Alone and cold I stared at my familiar. I once learned a spell that would make him more powerful. Up until then I never was able to cast it correctly. Senka 1, Senka 2 and Senka 3 didn’t make it. But as I was sitting in the snow I was sure I could do it this time. So I took Senka 4 (I failed to mention to him that he was my 4th familiar) and started the ceremony. I watched as the little rat shriveled up while his shadow grew at an alarming rate. Towering twice my height I stared at me for a short period and then dropped into the ground till only his head was still visible.
I still smile when I think back at that moment. I finally did it, I had summoned a Shadow elemental. I knew the basic knowledge about shadow elementals but it took me a while to find out how to command it. To be honest I’m still unsure how I command it, but I do know that it follows my orders. Unafraid with my new guard I set out to find a way out of this enoing blizzard. While I walked I shouted commands and rules to the shadow.

After wandering around in the snow for about a day I found myself at the entrance of an old looking building. Looking at the walls I could tell that people really put some effort into them, they where all made of polished rock. Not like the goblin tunnels back home that where only carved at the spot where eider some nothing goblin worker thought a tunnel might be handy or some creature had burrowed many years before.

Looking back to the open field I saw nothing but snow and ice. Everything outside a 40ft distance from me was totally white. In the distance I could hear voices calling to each other. I recognized one of them as Priest. That guy sure is loud for a scout.
As I went to him to see who he was yelling to I spotted Eric popping out of nowhere, behind him Scragg and Priest where walking to him. Before I could call out to them, the shadow shot out from underneath me and attacked Eric. As I called the elemental back I saw Eric recovering from the blow and walking up to me. Furry in his face told me one thing, revenge. It was all too clear that he wasn’t gonna let this rest till he hit me back so I didn’t bother to doge his mace. With my gem sucking up most of the blow I hardly even felt it.

Like myself they thought that the temple was most likely the exit of this place, it was at least the warmest place.

Silently we entered the pitch black hallway of the temple. Up frond was Priest scouting ahead. 15 feet behind him my elemental and I followed to give support if needed. Priest and Scragg waited at the entrance, there light dependency would make them a real hindrance in this darkness.

It was pretty hard backing Priest up. I wasn’t able to see him with darkvision so I had to rely on my elemental to stop me when he stopped.
At the end of the hallway I could see dead donkey. Judging from the decomposed state it was in it was a good thing I don’t have to smell anything. I watched as something began to search the donkey’s pack’s. I always hope it is Priest when things like that happen, it would have been a bad thing if something ells invisible was in the room.
Minutes went by as Priest emptied the backpack on an old wooden table. The last thing he took out of the backpack was an old dirty oil lamp. He seem to think it was very important because I took the lamp and went to show it to the others. It sure was a strange sight, seeing a oil lamp floating by on its own accord making sound of footsteps as it went. After a short reinsuring that there was indeed no danger the other came with priest to the old table. Scragg was given the lamp, it always makes me smile thinking how he can’t see a thing in the darkness.

Thick black smoke came porting out the lamp as Priest lit it. The smoke bellowed around until it had the vague resemblance of a human. The figure told us it would grant our combined desire if we could find our way out. He hinted about the doors to come and how some of the sign’s where lies. I never understood the use of making signs that lie next to sign’s that tell the truth. why would you give strangers the chance to dodge the traps? Why make dodgeble traps in the first place?
I took a long look at the other goblins, what would they want that I want? To stay alive and to find a way out? If we find the exit while still alive he will show us the exit and not kill us?
The figure went back into the lamp before we could get a logical answer. I can’t remember anyone helping me without a reason before so I can’t say I really minded.
Past the doorway we can see a small hallway leading to 3 doors. 2 of them claimed to be dangerous and one of them clams that one of the 2 doors lie. Thinking back to my days in the goblin lair I think they all lie and all are dangerous. But thinking about my time sneaking around elven cities, those signs always told the truth.

We were all thinking hard for while, Scragg probably wasn’t used to this because he kept hitting his head with the oil lamp. I wonder why his hair never caught fire.

There is only one way to solve a door riddle like this, have someone ells open the door to take a look. As usually there were no volunteers for this job, or a way to make the others go. so I told my elemental to open the door and travel through the hallway. He is pretty strong and immune to mast traps, of course there is also the fact that if he is not… well let’s say I was able to summon one, how hard can a new one be. Without even the slightest sign of detest to me the elemental floated forth and started his given tasks. A few seconds later he returned and dropped back into my shadow. At least there is nothing there that can hurt him, this was enough of a convincement for Priest to take a look.

The hallway behind the door lead to a new room with 4 doors. The smoky figure had told us that two of these doors would tell the truth.

• This door is not trapped
• Do not enter here, it’s really bad
• This door is trapped
• Door one is lying

I spend a few moments watching Scragg play with his lamp. He kept rubbing it, shaking it and then hitting himself on the head with it. After doing routine for a while he seemed to blame the lamp and tore it in two. He sure hates lamps for someone so dependent of light. It probably is a jungle goblin ritual, we should remember not to hand him anymore magical lamps in the future.

Priest and Scragg searched all the doors. As it turned out, they where all trapped. That sounded more like home, I also would just trap all the doors.
Seeing as door one lied and door three and four told the truth it had to be the second door that lied as well. Unless of course the smoky figure lied as well, something not totally unthinkable. True to our nature we all hid behind the wall as the elemental went forth to open the door. On the other side was the sound of a summoning going off and before him stood a large mouse. It couldn’t see the elemental he dark, if it had it probably would have cursed his summoner. The elemental took one look at the small creature and tore the life right out of him and returned to my shadow without a comment.
As the mouse died a bright light shown from the doorway. We had found the way out into the desert. I could see the elemental moving unhappy below me, it wasn’t hard to read that he had no desire to go out at any time soon. And neider had the rest of us, the bright light of the sun was a little to unfriendly for my taste.

We waited till night and set off to a large town called Alice Springs, I never been there myself but Priest seems to know the way. Even with his guidens it took us almost a week to get close traveling across familiar roads as much as possible. We were well aware of the possibility of being ambushed, but the annoyance of the sun was worse then that possibility so we took the fastest route.

We walked slowly across the open road looking how the city grew on the horizon when suddenly an ogre jumped out at us. Priest being closest to the ogre was hit hard and bolted to the rear of the party. Scragg took this opportunity to charge the ogre and slit his throat. Sudden movement in the distance alerted us of two more ogres sitting there. They had seen what had happened and started to run to us.

As the first ogre reached us he was taken down by Scragg. I could see the elemental wavering unhappy, he wanted to kill that one. The last ogre got second thoughts and bolted away. As none of us had the means of interest to go after him, we let him go.
I was told to stay back as Scragg and Priest searched the ogre. I wondered what was so special to him about this ogre, it seemed like a normal ogre to me. Oh well, might be a jungle ritual to.

We came to the city without any trouble. I wonder what the ogre told his buddy about what happened. Will he really tell them that he saw a group of goblins across the hills and ran away from them? Will he tell them that his two friends were killed by only one of them while the other three stood back looking rather bored? Well two looked bored, Priest might not be so happy about the hit he had gotten.

The first stop in the city was the magic shop, we identified and sold some items. As it turned out the others were indeed lying when they said we split everything we find in equal shares. I can’t say I am surprised at that, I am surprised I couldn’t tell they were lying back then.

10-02-2010

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