KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

18th of Harvester (September), Year 595 — Day 170 of the campaign.

An entire war stolen from history by the Order of the Storm, their desperation to delay the Age of Worms now making your effort to avert it quite difficult. You venture now to the Library of Last Resort, the Order of the Storm's last remaining record of where the phylactery of Kyuss's mighty dracolich general lies. As you near an age where heroism and kindness are fated to decay into madness and cruelty, two prophecies yet unfulfilled echo in your heads:

The tripartite spirit again becomes one, and at its advice are the mighty undone. But on the dawn of the Age of Worms, a Hero of the Pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead.

Recap:

When this story began, you were naught but tomb plunderers. You explored the tomb of the Wind Duke, Zosiel, but in doing so you met a ghost who alerted you to a greater threat. And in deciding to strike out to save the disgusting little mining town of Diamond Lake, you allowed yourselves to be caught up in a whirlwind of adventure that only gets swifter—and more deadly.

Since then, you've defeated a branch of the foul cult called the Ebon Triad, saved a tribe of lizardfolk from a terrifying plague of green worms, and stopped the machinations of a mind flayer and his doppelganger servants from destroying you.

But it seems the more you learn, the more corruption you see. The mind flayer Zyrxog was only working for hire for the well-loved director of the Champion's Games, Loris Raknian. He offered you a choice: Bow down and serve him, and receive his aid in stopping the 'Age of Worms' that druids and giants have warned you is coming.

You refused, and went on to defeat and capture Raknian and save the entire city of Greyhawk from an unliving nightmare. Then, called back to Diamond Lake, you saved the town from the demented alchemist dragon, Ilthane the Black. You went to seek the counsel of the archmage Manzorian—truly the mighty Tenser in disguise. Tenser sent you to the Spire of Long Shadows, where you defeated countless servants of Kyuss and learned the true whereabouts of the demigod: Not on another plane, but trapped within the very spire that brought him apostasy. Dragotha, a mighty dracolich, now owns that very spire.

Now, you must go to find the truth behind the disappearance of Bucknard, a friend of Tenser's who knew more about Kyuss and Dragotha than any other living soul. In the dangerous lands where servants of Iuz run rampant over laws of decency lives a woman named Lashonna who knew Bucknard. Perhaps she holds the key to this all.

Writhing doom draws ever closer.

GENERAL LINKAGE:
Map of the Flanaess (basically a map of Greyhawk).
Action Point Rules
Greyhawk Calendar

NPCs of Note:

Former PCs/Cohorts
Erip and Lonsoc: Dwarven wizard and their rat familiar, organized Spiny's Six to begin with alongside Farrukh, killed by acid beetles. Former PC.

Zalamandra: Rakshasa-blooded tiefling sorceress, runs the Emporium, "Boss" to Eben and sort-of friend to Carina. Like Cruella DeVille, but good-aligned. Traveled with the party for a ways, returned to Diamond Lake on the 14th of Harvester (promised to [/i]sending the party if she didn't hear from them in a couple days). First Appearance. Former PC Alias 1. Alias 2.

Robin O'Haranson and Bermintrude: Hunter and his horse, an old friend of Carina's who joined the party on both outings into the Whispering Cairn. Carina's "sister" killed his first horse. Sort of quirky guy. Kullen and the Countess of Coalchester liked him. Now the mayor of Diamond Lake. Former PC.

Clunk: Kolyarut friend of the Wandering Duke Icosiol, ally to the Wind Dukes during the ancient wars, swore to guard Icosiol's tomb. The party initially smashed him up, but he regenerated and spared them after they got Icosiol's blessing. Was very close to Icosiol's advisor, the snow weird Sionsiar. Has been in operation for millennia, has developed a lot of quirks (identifies as male, coughs a lot, seems fond of the party). Farrukh gave him his current name. First appearance.

Gattel Watam: Private eye who was captured by the doppelgangers, slain but revived, now living with his husband in the Free City. Former PC.

Rodrigo Dantares and Sombra: Hedonistic summoner (and his serpent eidolon) who helped the party for a stint, departed to become a benevolent slumlord in Midnight's Muddle. Former PC.

Spiny: Eponymous dinosaur of Spiny's Six, reared by Cuetzpalli, also from the Isle of Dread. After the stresses of battle began to be too much for the beast, Anlathi took him under her care. Was growing really fast for a dinosaur. Ran off toward the north on the 15th of Wealsun. Anlathi's letter. Last scried upon.

Major NPC Allies
Allustan Neff: Wise old wizard guy. Mentor of Erip, disliked by Astraden, former apprentice of Tenser—had a falling-out over Allustan's attachment to his now-dead brother, the corrupt Governor-Mayor of Diamond Lake. Writing a treatise on the Whispering Cairn. The party rescued him during A Gathering of Winds. First appearance.

Eligos: Ex-human, now-dwarf loremaster of the Free City, killed by Zyrxog but revived by Anlathi. Agent and former student of Tenser, now living in Magepoint. Butler named Pollard. First appearance.

Cymria: Elven eldritch knight of Magepoint, adventurer, informant and friend to Tenser—kind of critical of him but knows him better than anyone. Is currently staying in Magepoint after a bad experience fighting some ghouls who'd taken over a watchtower near the Pomarj, claims she'll get back to her adventures any day now (you've never seen her outside Magepoint). First Appearance.

Celeste: Disguised ghaele eladrin, agent of Tenser, puts Tenser on a much higher pedestal than Cymria. Close friends with Eligos and Ekaym. Goes on a lot of missions for Tenser to find things out. First appearance.

Family Members
Astraden's Godfather: The man who introduced Astraden to Olidammara, killed while hunting doppelgangers in Greyhawk. Was briefly impersonated by them before being found out.

Alessia: Carina's mom, a powerful cleric of Fharlanghn. Has a strong commitment to the Neutral spectrum. Not Carina's birth mom. Has issues trusting Carina to take care of herself (mostly resolved). Travels a lot, last seen en route to Empire of Iuz. First speaking appearance. Last known whereabouts.

Tanith's Father: An unknown scoundrel who left when Tanith was young.

Kord, The Brawler: Tanith's ancestor. Fond of Tanith and Cuetzpalli, sent Cuetzpalli back with a shard of his own holy weapon, Kelmar. Only Cuetzpalli has met him. First appearance.

Minor Greyhawk NPCs
Ekaym Smallcask: Offensive bard stereotype. Sponsored the party to get them into the Champion's Games. First Appearance.

Anlathi: Shy elf druidess of Midnight's Muddle, revived Astraden, Eligos and others. Looked after Spiny for a time. Adopted sister to Nogwier. Not super well-read. First appearance.

Tigri:

Minor Diamond Lake/Mistmarsh NPCs
Nogwier
Kullen's Gang: Kullen, half-orc barbarian, old rival of Tanith and former employee of Smenk. Merovinn Bask, moody wizard with a weasel familiar, possible crush on Carina. Rastophan, Mistmarsh native, speaks little. All now living in Lamber, aiding in reconstruction.

Marzena: Battle mage of Blackwall Keep, captured by agents of Ilthane but was placed under Hiska's protection, where it allowed the PCs to rescue her. Studies the worms of the Mistmarsh. Former peer of Allustan and Eligos, friend of Alessia's. [urlhttps://paizo.com/campaigns/KCsAgeOfWorms/gameplay&page=128#6365]First appearance.[/url]

Raddle: Halfling priest of Olidammara, colleague of Astraden's, likes to pose as a kid and recruit other kids to work mischief. Helped launch the Diamond Lake Insurrection that killed the elf mine manager and allowed Smenk to escape. Now occupies Diamond Lake, growing the faith. Last known whereabouts.

Alastor Land: The ghost of a boy who grew up near the Whispering Cairn, mysteriously made it very far into the Cairn before dying to a grick. Was put to rest by the party.

Flycatcher: A shadow spider gone mad who was being targeted by a true ghoul named Moreto. After kidnapping Robin and pressuring the party to slay the ghoul, the party decided to kill Flycatcher instead.

Jieran Wierus: Vehement cleric of St. Cuthbert. Died trying to fend off Ilthane.

Hishka: Intersex lizardfolk druid guiding the Twisted Branch tribe. Met Ilthane personally. Allied with the party to eliminate agents of Ilthane from the tribe, and to save the eggs from a worm infestation. Helped write up the treaty to guarantee the Mistmarsh to the lizardfolk tribes.

The Festering One
The Faceless One
The Kuluth-Mar Crew
Sruggut
Kolvant granitebontes
Countess
Marquis ghoul
Rillikandren, Greyhawk mason, currently back in Midnight's Muddle, worships Kord. Last seen.
Marinn, Blackwall Keep soldier, typical Lawful Good type, thinks Astraden does nothing but get into trouble. Rillikandren thinks Astraden should get in touch with her.
Bandit Crew: Departed for parts unknown, consists of Bandit Captain (brutal killer, been acting strangely, pursued Astraden into the caves), Svenser (worships Pelor, worried about Astraden), Brummis (Astraden's brother, less than trustworthy for her), https://paizo.com/campaigns/KCsAgeOfWorms/gameplay&page=440#21981
Ma Rastophan
The Apostles
Niniane
Moreto
Caspero (research)
Captain Okoral
Loris Raknian
The Hierophant
Aina/Krekie
Pitch Blade
Circle of Eight (Drawmij, Tenser, that elf guy, Jallarzi)
The Ominous Fabler
Kolvant Granitebones, Ysgard
Ph'rexis
Yalexex
The Festering One
Carina's Birth Mother
The Other Carina
Ragnolin Dourstone
The Nightwave
The Countess of Coalchester
That Pit Fiend guy
Agath
Intelligent Magic Items - Nihil, Eben's string, dragon head, the other one, that magic book you all broke your promise with
The Tempest
Redhand NPCs -
Blessed Angels (captain)
Auric's Warband
One Of Us
Lowri
Sruggut
Kord+Olidammara+Norebo+Fharlanghn+Kyuss+Nerull+Vecna+Hextor
Lashonna
Mahuudril
Prince Zeech
The Harbinger of Worms
The Apostle of Worms
The Acid Beetle Swarm
Korush
Badlands Revenge
Ilthane
Ilthane's three terrible children
The Overgod
The Acidwraith
The Hullathoin

Friends of Tenser
Allustan Neff: Wise old wizard guy. Mentor of Erip, disliked by Astraden, former apprentice of Tenser—had a falling-out over Allustan's attachment to his now-dead brother, the corrupt Governor-Mayor of Diamond Lake. Writing a treatise on the Whispering Cairn. The party rescued him during A Gathering of Winds.

Tenser: Allustan's former master, now dead. Big archmage. Liked fistfights.

Manzorian: Allustan's, Eligos's and Marzena's former master, not dead. Big archmage. Likes gambling. Lives in Tenser's castle. Sort of unclear how this worked for Allustan.

Villains (oneshot):
Acid Beetles: Yum yum dwarf yum. <3
Theldrick: Cleric of Hextor from Redhand. Leader of the Hextorian sect of Diamond Lake's Ebon Triad branch. Theldrick slew Carina before being killed by Farrukh. When near death himself, Tanith dreamed of a remorseful Theldrick, who warned him to beware the "silver one" who had deceived him.

Grallak Kur: Insane grimlock priest of Erythnul who stitched beholder eyes into his sockets. Member of the Ebon Triad. Attempted to bring about the rise of an "Overgod", but mostly failed. Came back as an elemental of taint and was promptly slain.

The Faceless One: Leader of Vecnan sect of Ebon Triad in Diamond Lake. Wore a mask, had an inhuman face beneath.

Shukak: Leader of Twisted Branch lizardfolk in Mistmarsh. Interloper who was enslaved in Free City arenas but managed to escape. Sided with Ilthane and took over the tribe.

Velmane: Ilthane's half-kobold son. Guarded Ilthane's worm egg in the Twisted Branch nursery, alongside several dragonblooded kobolds.

Ixiaxian: Doppelganger who disguised self as Eben. Killed by Spiny.

Elaxan: Female doppelganger who disguised herself as Astraden's godfather. Directly responsible for Cuetzpalli's death. Resisted Zyrxog's commands and tried to surrender, but was killed by Tanith.

Telakin: Leader of the doppelgangsters, a greater doppelganger that killed Astraden's godfather. Knocked against wall a lot.

Elsaroth the Unkillable: Alchemist drow servant of Zyrxog. Faked his death once, then faked it much more convincingly with a sort of method-acting technique. Left a journal.

Myrianaas: Drow servant of Zyrxog, demon priestess. Had a quasit familiar named Niniane. Pretty crazy. Quasit took her soul back to the Abyss when she died.

Bozal Zahol: Yugoloth-spawn tiefling and servant of Kyuss. Bozal bonded with his fiendish self, unlike Carina. He and Carina shared a common ancestor.

Villains (recurring):

Spiny: Cuetzpalli's dinosaur. Seems to grow very quickly.

Unique Spells:

EBON EYES
Transmutation
Level: Assassin 1, cleric 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, alchemist 1, witch 1, inquisitor 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Targets: Creature touched
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

You feel, more than see, a black haze form at the corner of your eyes. Upon touching your intended subject the haze disappears and the creature's eyes become shrouded in blackness.

The subject of this spell gains the ability to see normally in natural and magical darkness, though it does not otherwise improve the subject's ability to see in natural dark or shadowy conditions. The subject ignores the miss chance due to lack of illumination other than total darkness. While the spell is in effect, a jet-black film covers the subject's eyes.

Material Component: A pinch of powered black gemstone of any type.

AMORPHOUS FORM
Transmutation
Level: Assassin 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, witch 3, inquisitor 3, alchemist 3
Components: S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing corporeal creature touched
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

You dust your ally with gelatin and silently evoke the spell. Immediately her bones begin to soften and she and her belongings slump, becoming malleable ooze.

The subject and all its gear become amorphous and oozelike. This new form is boneless and fluid, enabling the subject to pass through hles or narrow openings as small as 2 inches in diameter. While amorphous, the subject is immune to poison, polymorphing, and stunning, it cannot be flanked, and it is immune to critical hits. It gains a swim speed equal to its land speed. The subject can remain submerged as long as desired without breathing.

The subject's armor (including natural armor) becomes worthless, though its modifiers for size, dexterity, and deflection still apply to Armor Class, as do armor bonuses from force effects (for example, from the mage armor spell).

While amorphous, the subject can't attack or cast spells that require verbal, somatic, material, or focus components. The subject loses all supernatural abilities while in amorphous form, and its magic items, aside from those bonuses noted above, cease functioning as long as it remains amorphous.

TENSER'S BRAWL
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2, Alch 2, Magus 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You are granted greater prowess in weaponless combat, and gain a +2 bonus to hit with all unarmed attacks. You also gain a +2 Initiative bonus for such attacks, as well as the Unarmed Strike and Stunning Fist feats. If you already possess the Stunning Fist feat, track uses of it while under this spell separately from your normal daily maximum. Finally, all checks made to Grapple, Bull Rush or employ a Dirty Trick are made at +2. The material component is a bit of chest fur from a bear or gorilla.

LIFE WARD
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4, Witch 4, Oracle 4
Components: V, S, DF,
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

With a brush of your hand you surround the creature in crawling shadows, a cloak of negative energy that whirls and swims across the creature's body.

A creature warded by this spell gains protection from the effects of positive energy, including magical healing. The spell can be cast upon undead to offer additional protection against the turning abilities of clerics. The subject is immune to all positive energy effects, including conjuration (healing) spells, channeled positive energy such as from the turn undead ability, or other effects that derive their power from positive energy.

This spell offers protection from the blinding effect of the Positive Energy Plane, and warded creatures gain no temporary hit points while there.

Icosiol's Mad Loot:

Lightning Sword: +2 shocking burst mithral shortsword. Allows you to be affected by fly (CL 9) three times per day when drawing it.

Sword of Aaqa: +2 axiomatic mithral scimitar. Whenever you score a crit on a creature (even something immune to critical hits), Small or smaller creatures (or flying Medium creatures) must make a DC 18 Fort save or be knocked down and blown 1d4x10 feet and take 1d4 damage per ten feet (if flying, they're thrown 2d6x10 feet and take 2d6 points of nonlethal). Medium creatures, or flying Large creatures, are instead knocked prone on a failed save.

Sword of Aaqa/Lightning Sword clanged together as an attack action creates a 30-foot line of sonic energy. DC 18 Reflex save halves 6d6 Sonic damage and negates deafening for 1d4 rounds. 3 times/day.

Ring of the Wind Dukes: Ignore effects of strong winds and gain Electricity Resistance 10. Once per day, you may use mass charm monster on any creature/s with the Air subtype. Elementals suffer a -4 penalty on saving throws against this effect. Once per day, turn into a 60-foot lone line of lightning. All creatures in the line must make DC 14 Reflex saves to halve 10d6 damage. You turn back to physical form on the other side.

Obituaries:

Erip
Dwarf Necromancer 1 (TWC)
Though Erip struggled bravely, she was slain by a swarm of acid beetles before managing a single spell.

Lonsoc
Erip's Rat Familiar
Lonsoc managed to save Erip's spellbook from the acid, but not himself.

Carina Viera
Yugolothspawn Tiefling Alchemist 3 (3FoE)
The fight with Theldrick was vicious. Carina, who earned the Hextorian priest's attention early on by disrupting his spell, bore the brunt of it. The arrow of a dying man brought her down, and a merciless spell or spiritual weapon kept her there. UPDATE: Carina was reincarnated as an undine right after 3FoE!

Astraden Limhaare
Human Cleric of Olidammara 6
Already battered by a misplaced firebomb, Astraden took a nasty hit from an invisible stalker, killing her instantly. UPDATE: Astraden was reincarnated as a half-orc shortly before the attack on Zyrxog! Update: Then she died again in Kuluth-Mar. Update: Then she was revived again!

Gattel Watam
Human Investigator 5
Gattel acted bravely to try to save Cuetzpalli, but a lucky hit from a doppelganger monk broke his neck. UPDATE: Gattel was later raised and had his mind restored!

Cuetzpalli
Human Mad Dog Barbarian 3/Unbreakable Fighter 2/Trapper Ranger 2
Cuetzpalli fought brutally, dropping foe after foe, but another lucky hit brought him down for good mere moments after Gattel's death. The Olman warrior spoke with Astraden in the afterlife, telling her that he did not want to return to a world of pain. Astraden promised to make the world better so that one day he could return. UPDATE: Cuetzpalli returned three installments later as a bloodrager, sent by Kord to help save the world!

Notes:

This game uses Emerging Guns rules.
Carina came back to life on the 6th of Planting. Her birthday is the 4th of Patchwall.
Tanith ordered his new shrine on the 19th of Flocktime, and it was completed last Goodmonth.