16. november 2008

Book: Baphomet

Where civilization’s light fails to shine, strange religions, weird cults, and vile sects take hold. They prey on the weak and the desperate, and they flourish on fear, anger, and ignorance. Some are born of religious misinterpretations or extremism, but a few are far more sinister—evil masquerading as legitimate faith. When civilization comes to these backwater areas, priests discover the beliefs upheld by a few sects are nothing more than demon worship—practices so profane that the only cure is swift and utter annihilation.

A prominent force in the corruption and subversion of mortal communities is the Horned King, Baphomet, known as the Prince of Beasts. A demon lord of the Abyss, he finds the greatest following among minotaurs. His cult is widespread and influential throughout their secluded communities. Numerous minotaurs resist the Trampler’s allure, but the cult spreads and grows as its vile cabalists spread the faith. Baphomet’s cult threatens to consume the minotaur population with widespread and pernicious demon-worship.

Baphomet sees himself as the darkest aspect of nature—as unbridled savagery. This makes him a rival to Yeenoghu. So Baphomet wages war eternal against the Beast of Butchery. Baphomet has other enemies, many of whom are born from old grudges. In particular, Baphomet despises Graz’zt. The Dark Prince imprisoned Baphomet ages ago, which is a defeat Baphomet is incapable of forgetting or forgiving. Baphomet’s hatred isn’t confined to his rivals in the Abyss, though. His greatest enemy in the mortal world is Luna and her exarch Melora. They are rivals for power over nature, and Baphomet has despised her for eons.

Baphomet sends his forces against his enemies’ followers in the mortal world, with only the rarest lulls in violence. He commands his followers to murder Luna and Melora’s priests and defile their shrines.

As a demon lord, Baphomet commands a realm in the Abyss called the Endless Maze. He uses the uncertain landscape as he pleases. His realm is filled with tricks, traps, and shifting corridors. Some of the worst creatures found in the Abyss infest the place. At the maze’s center stands his labyrinthine palace, the Lyktion, a mighty fortress mirroring the madness defining Baphomet’s realm. Within are countless passages, moving staircases, and other pitfalls designed to frustrate, maim, and kill those daring to penetrate his personal demesne.

Many myths exist about Baphomet’s origins. One story suggests, as a primordial being, he created the minotaurs to war on the gods but was defeated and hurled into the Abyss. Another version tells that he threw himself into the Abyss rather than suffer defeat or imprisonment at the hands of the gods. Some claim he is a fallen god, and others say that the Abyss’s infinite evil spontaneously spawned him.

The origins of Baphomet’s irrational hatred of Yeenoghu might be largely forgotten, but legend speaks of a possibility. When the shard of evil transformed some primordial powers into demon princes, Yeenoghu was one of the first. Lusting for blood, he sided with the primordials against the gods. Baphomet was a primordial with strong ties to the natural world. He fielded his own savage armies. In a battle against gods and exarches like Beldar, Dol, Akir, Kord, Erathis, Melora, and Pelor, Baphomet found himself fighting alongside gnolls and demon under the command of Yeenoghu. But as the tide of battle turned, Yeenoghu quit the field, leaving Baphomet alone and outmatched. The Horned King turned from the battle not in cowardice, but to chase his betrayer into the depths of the Abyss. Perhaps this is why Baphomet’s paranoia is also legendary.

The Abyss is no stranger to conflict, but the battle lines shift with the ambitions of the princes who rule. One constant, however, is the war between Baphomet and Yeenoghu. This unrelenting and costly conflict consumes at least half of each demon lord’s attention and resources. The Prince of Beasts’ obsession with defeating his rival exceeds reason. He has taken disastrous risks in defeating his ancient foe. The Beast of Butchery reciprocates in full.

Baphomet commands the Endless Maze as his realm in the Abyss. A massive labyrinth spreading out in all directions, the passages confound those with the misfortune to have to explore the place. Those who come to upper reaches of the Endless Maze find the corridors have no ceilings, but the walls extend hundreds of feet into the air. Climbing or flying to the top afflicts the visitor with weakness and despair, causing many to give up and retreat or fall down to the unforgiving stones below. Those who make it to the top feel the full weight of their journey’s futility, because the maze extends all around as far as the eye can see. Those who linger at the top soon attract the attention of demons who like nothing more than to destroy “cheaters.”

Book: Akir the Strong

God of strength, victory, freedom and storms. Favorite god amongst many fighters, gladiators and others that often do battle.
His symbol is the lion.

Akir entered this world along with his five brothers (Dol, Beldar, Kolar, The Keeper and the Devourer) and 3 sisters (Luna, Zira and The Shadow), in order to help the dragons battle the Mindflayers who had taken over the world. Where they came from, no one knows. Neither does anyone have any record telling us if we called them or if they came on their own.

We do know they were mighty already, and after vanquishing the Mindflayers, they immediately gained the worship and adulation of the lesser races of the world.

Akir has always been a strong, but chaotic god. Defender of the weak, but also capable of bursts of rage when things didn't go his way. Throughout history, Kord has often been on the side of the weak, who wished to fight, helping them to achieve glory on the field of battle, or elsewhere.

He left, along with the other gods, for their Astral Dominions, in the year 4285.

Known Exarches: Kord and Niilob

Written by Azarcalzirustarys Silverclaw in the year 11234

Book: The Devourer

The Devourer
God of Vengeance, evil dragons, slaughter and evil. Favorite god amongst many evil races, including orcs and demons.

His symbol is a Many-headed Dragon.

The Devourer, much like the other gods of Draegor, arrived mysteriously with the dragons some 11.500 years ago, to battle and defeat the mindflayers. After that, it soon became clear that the unity shown during the Mindwars, was merely a temporary thing. With the mindflayers gone,
The Devourer was quick to split the unity of the gods, striking out on his own and even going as far as waging war (through his followers) against his own brothers and sisters.

He did return to the fold, at least for a bit, when the Primordial Wars kicked in, and battled the ancient creators of this world along with his family. But as soon as they were gone, he broke peace again. Some say that he even killed one of his sisters during the wars against the Primordials, a goddess whose name no one remember.

The Devourer lives for random destruction, slaughter and evil. Nothing brings him as much joy as an overwhelming force rampaging through a village of innocents and unarmed women and children.

Known Exarches: Gruumsh, Tiamat, Torog, Zehir

Writen by Tarok of Ty, in the year 1422

19th session (Weekend)

Sonday 23rd Yuny
After spending some days in SPH, the players decided that it was finally time to check out Castle Whiterock and the by now much mentioned Monks of the Iron Fist.

After a few hours, they found themselves outside of Castle Whiterock. They quickly decided to wait and see what kind of traffic came in and out.

Mansday 24th Yuny
Already the day after, something happened. A pair of hunters came out of the tunnel leading up to the platform where Castle Whiterock was. They headed west, into the jungle. Our heroes ambushed them, capturing one for further interrogation. He revealed that there was about 20 slavers in Castle Whiterock.

They decided to wait a few days and maybe see if a search party would be sent out.

Onsday 26th Yuny
A search party exited Castle Whiterock. And it was promptly ambushed by the heroes.

Then they headed up to the plateau. They quickly plowed through most of the slavers, but at the end, they ran into Melchin and his pet cave troll, who amongst other bitch-slapped Gnoguh with Carric. It got awfully close, with Carric and Targron both going down, but in the end, the slavers were dead.

Torsday 27th Yuny
Back in the Seven Pillared Hall, the heroes had the Bloodreavers next on their hit list. They started asking around, and eventually got some info, but not a break until Targron ran into the Bloodreaver Hobgoblin that had tried to purchase them earlier and followed him back towards their lair.

Meanwhile, Gnoguh showed his humanity and spent a significant portion of his money to buy two children, Janus and Victoria, from their slavers. Janus and Victorian were both former residents of Gildur, a little village in Nerath, which got sacked by pirates.

Freeday 28th Yuny
After getting ready and setting up the children at the Halfmoon Inn, our heroes headed out into the Labyrinth, looking for the Bloodreavers. They soon found them in an ancient temple of Torog, or someone resembling him at least. They snuck in, and ran into some bugbear guards. They proved to be some nasty sob's, and Truxas ended up dead (or rather, dieing) when one of the bugbears used him as shield against Targron's dagger. Poor Truxas. Once they got him back on his feet, they continued, via the back door. Soon enough, they ran into Warchief Kruul. He had backup from some duergar dwarves and a giant wolf, but little did it matter. He still ended up dead on the floor, and the heroes bravely pressed on to fight some Bane-loving hobgoblin and a horde of goblins. They all died.

They did capture one duergar, and found some notes detailing that the Bloodreavers had been selling slaves to the duergar living in a place called the Horned Hold. Payment was also due within a day. The duergar sweet talked his way out of their clutches, claiming he was only there to sell gems. He was lying obviously.

Lordday 29th Yuny
All the day was spent waiting in the Chamber of Eyes, hoping that a duergar would be coming along with a payment. But nothing happened.

Sonday 30th Yuny
The heroes (yeah, still no name for the party) returned to the Seven Pillared Hall, where they spent a couple of days acquiring a good deal of books and information on Draegor, the world they were born in, but are largely clueless off.

Tirsday 2nd Yully-Torsday 4th Yully
Once again, our heroes without name do the trip from Seven Pillared Hall to Drahar.

Freeday 5th Yully-Sonday 7th Yully
After presenting all the new information for Trevor and an old man who turns out to be the Zoran, High Priest of Kord, they are told to wait a couple of days, while the Church figures out a few things. They agree to give the Church of Kord exclusivity on the information. After 3 days, they are introduced to two members of the Council of Drahar, who naturally are extremely happy about this information.Daemir Green-Leaf, an elf with a big scar on temple, as well as Lucius Del Toro, a human bookish-looking man. They told all 4 that they were to be made nobles of Drahar, and get a manor near the Swamp of Despair. The title and following land would only be in the family until their death. Their descendants would have to purchase the title in order to keep it.

Mansday 8th Yully
Our heroes took a quick trip to their new home, just to see what it was like. Truxas also took a trip back to Oakhurst, in order to tell his parents of the wonderful news.

Tirsday 9th Yully-Torsday 11th Yully
Trip from Drahar to Seven Pillared Hall. No significant events. They brought along Damir (paladin) and Zir (neither paladin nor cleric), who are sent by the Church of Kord to set up some things.

Freeday 12th Yully
After talking to Gendar, they had a clear idea of where the Horned Hold was. It only cost them the price of a few books.. Anyway, into the Labyrinth they went, and a couple of hours later, they found themselves outsides the gates of the Horned Hold. Inside, they could make out several duergar, behind a portcullis.

They decided to wait a bit, and perhaps ambush someone coming out or in. They hid a bit away, and were quickly rewarded. A mule with a rider was approaching. Gnoguh jumped out, and cleaved the poor mule with one strong strike.

Oh no, not you guys again! - Yep, it was the duergar they had held captive in the Chamber of Eyes. He quickly struck another deal. His life for the layout of the Hold. The party agreed, and after getting the needed information, they let him go, on the condition that he would travel home to the duergar city underground, that he had told them about.

Once they had the information at hand, they did not tarry. Truxas, Carric and Targron were disguised as prisoners, while Gnoguh (who is fluent in deep speech) drank a magic potion that Carric had brewed (bought?), which turned him into the spitting image of the duergar they had captured. They used that set-up to get the guards inside to open the port-cullis, and once inside, they cut a quick swath through the Hold. First the guards, then Ultar, the master smith and his workers, then on to Rundarr, Champion of the Horned Hold.

All went pretty well, but unfortunately, during the fight with Rundarr and his minions, one of them got away, running towards the ramparts leading to the northern part of the Hold. They got him right before he reached the door, but they were spotted. They retreated into a defensible position, and even though some (especially Carric) were pretty much à bout de souffle, they decide to stick around and see what get's thrown at them.

After a couple of minutes, they are swarmed from all sides. A mean looking ogre and a host of duergars press at them, but somehow, even though they end up totally pushed into a corner, they manage to defeat the evil slavers. Now they are really worn down, and they have still to face the leader and his entourage. They quickly retreat through the Hold, liberating some prisoners, and barricade themselves in the guard-room, with the portcullis.

This time, maybe 10 minutes went by before the enemy came knocking - literally- Down the doors went, and in swarmed a couple of spined devils and some duergar, including Murkelmor, boss of Horned Hold and paladin of Asmodeus. The battle looked like a losing one, for a couple of seconds, but then, as if inspired by Kord himself, Gnoguh found the perfect position, right in the middle of the room, and attracted the attention of every single enemy, hitting them all hard. Quickly this was followed up by both Carric and Targron, who also both managed to wound all enemies, while they were bunched up. Truxas was less successful, but still efficient none the less. After that, they managed to keep Murkelmor blinded, dazed and immobilized while they took care of some of the other duergar and devils. Even though a spellcasting duergar came a bit later, it still ended as it should. With our heroes standing over the smoking and slashed corpses of their enemies.

After searching the place, they found some letters indicating that the duergar indeed had an alliance with the gnolls, and someone called Paldemar.

They promptly returned to the Seven Pillared Hall

11. november 2008

18th session

Tirsday 18th Yuny
The final battle proved to be quite hard, but the heroes managed to persevere none the less. Gnoguh especially shone, when he got dominated by the Oni and killed (almost) Truxas. But all was forgiven afterwards, when they collected their reward: 3 very powerful items each, as well as their freedom, some money, and a medal to show off.

After their victory, the heroes left the arena, heading to The Seven Pillared Hall. As it turns out, the SPH is an underground city serving as neutral territory for just about every race. The neutrality is enforced by the egnimatic Mages of Saarun, their pet Ogre Brugg and a host of golden minotaur golems.

The heroes decided to crash in the Halfmoon Inn, one of two inns in the SPH. They got themselves the very best room, a warm bath and some great food.

Onsday 19th Yuny-Lordday 22nd Yuny
They spent the next few days checking out the SPH and different sights there, and Carric made them some basic magic items. They learned of a few places:

Road of Lanterns, the road leading out to the caves that emerge near Castle Whiterock (1 on map)
The Customhouse, where they were sold as slaves (2 on map)
The Deepgem Company, (3 on map)
Temple of Hidden Lights (5 on map)
Tyrak, an old dwarven sage, who provided them with some info of the world, as well as a map. (6 on map, just NW of the Halfmoon Inn)
The Halfmoon Inn (10 on map)
Huge Minotaur statue (14 on map)
Gendar's Curiosities (15 on map)

4. november 2008

17th session

The Fourth Fight is against an Orc and an Ogre, in an arena that at first got smaller and smaller. Then, when it was 45'x45', 15' squares started to disappear, leaving 20' holes at random.

Sonday 16th Yuny, Year XYZ
The Quarter Final is against a trio of humans from Lisham. It takes place in an arena with a large burning pit in the middle and 4-5 walls that shift positions all the time, blocking attacks and access at times.

Mansday 17th Yuny
The Semi Final is against a Tiefling necromancer from Bael Deus in Qu'orath and his legion of undeads. The fight takes place in a square arena with 4 fire pits which houses a bound fire elemental that attacks anyone within range.

After the fight, they are informed that the final will be in two parts. First there will be a race, through a maze with obstacles, and then the fight against the other team, which will include a troll, an oni, a quickling and their dire wolf.