"Peacemaker Campaign Saga" for the Shadowlands Campaign Setting

Game Master BlackStarStudios

The game begins in Mtol Daerine, the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Saemyyr and the home of the Brotherhood of Magus. A murder is committed with ties back to the Brotherhood and a mysterious death which occurred five years ago.


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Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

I cautiously hold my torch overhead and look around the room, to include checking for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 (add +2 to notice a trap)

To All: There is some writing down here, but I can't read it.


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

Once it's safe, Bijannar walks up to Thomi and looks at the ancient writing.

Is this ancient Sylvænar or fairly standard? Ie, has the language evolved over the centuries? If so, what would the DC be for a Linguistics skill check? I'm tempted to assume it's a 30, which puts it out of my range, even if I do take a 20 to decipher it (best I can do is a 25).

Bijannar leans over and whispers to Thomi, "So, I guess we missed that bard's performance last night, eh?"

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

To Bijannar: Indeed, we did - but the "performance" by the oracle was pretty amazing. Let me know if there is anything written here that would warrant caution.


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Thankfully Thomi does not sense any traps here, although the whole room has an eerie and quiet feeling. An unsettling, though not discomforting, feeling as if you have entered a sacred daetholayn chamber or crypt. The two overhead faces, holding their heads and crying streams into a trough just ahead of you, only adds to this sense. You observe that the water runs off from the trough bisecting the room and down to either side, passing through the bars to your left and right, and into some great and enormous cavern below. You are careful not to touch the tall silvery columns, but you do sense that whatever is behind each set of bars on either side, is a black space of incredible size.

Bijannar spends several minutes examining the ancient flowing daetholayn script which decorates the entablature beneath the ceiling. The age of the script makes it incredibly difficult to decipher, although, with a little guess work, you feel as if you can make out the gist. While the particular details are lost to you, and you worry that you may have misunderstood some parts, what you do think you understand only adds weight and gravity to the ancient solemnity of the room. You understand that the writing has something to do with the khthonoi and Makish and an arcane seal or barrier. You look about and feel that you must in fact be either in some form of prison or guard way.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Aegwyn walks up behind and asks the winds to guide Bijannar's understanding.

Guidance - +1 to your linguistics check when you use it


The winds swirl and blow through the cave opening from above and a heavy wind blows down along through the ancient corridor. At the stone recess carved into the floor which serves as a channel for the cascading water from above, the winds split and branch, two rushing up in a low howl up around the falling streams and to the eyes of the ancient women, while a third continues straight down the hallway in a low moan. Bijannar does not feel any closer to understanding the specific meanings of the inscriptions high above at the edge of the light, but the divine inspiration does give a sense of confidence that the fine silvery inlay floridly carved along the frieze acts as some form of memorial ward or warning


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

"The script is too old for me to safely decipher. I sense either a warning or a ward."


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

Clambering down after the others, then raising my torch and taking stock of the situation, I close my eyes, then focus and reopen them.

I cast detect magic and see if I can locate any wards or traps of a magical nature (or nonmagical, for that matter).

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28


The aura of magic is nearly overpowering here. All of the silvery columns and even the stone which encase them at the base and the apex glow with a powerful aura of magic on either side of you and although you cannot see it in the dim light, the far end of the corridor glows with a magical aura, although one not as significant as the auras which glow to your left and right.

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

To All: This is an amazing and perplexing sight to behold. Is it safe to venture forward? I don't see any obvious traps, but I don't feel safe, either.

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

Feeling uneasy, I raise my torch again, and carefully examine the room, looking for mechanical or magical traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16


Male Human (Dardish ethnicity) Antipaladin 5

Varan studies the script on the walls, glances over at the group, and then waits to hear if it’s safe to proceed. Clearly, he’s torn between the general dread that everyone feels about the Khthonoi and a desire to push on.


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

GM:
Can I tell what sort of magical auras there are? What school of magic?

"Hold. There does seem to be the possibility of danger."

After fully examining the magical auras I can see, I cast comprehend languages and see what the flowing script says.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Aegwyn knows nothing of the history behind this place, but shakes out her wet clothing and updates her map.

Am I right in thinking the bars go across the cavern? And did the stream carry on ahead like I've shown it?


Toranindracar:
Can you do a Knowledge (arcana) for the auras after you cast Detect Magic?


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Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1
Aegwyn wrote:

Aegwyn knows nothing of the history behind this place, but shakes out her wet clothing and updates her map.

Am I right in thinking the bars go across the cavern? And did the stream carry on ahead like I've shown it?

Just call me Elmers....


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

After clearing the water from her eyes, Aegwyn corrects her map.

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

The ones we are following came through here, and I don't see evidence they met with resistance. If there is a danger, there are means to bypass it.

I switch my torch to the off-hand, and pull a dagger from my bandolier.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Knowledge (dungeoneering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

I very slowly, very cautiously begin creeping down the right-hand side of the room.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Aegwyn calls upon the spirits to show her any magical dangers.

Detect Magic, looking for localised auras. Knowledge Arcana 1d20 ⇒ 16 to identify school once she's identified the strength and location of any auras.

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

I think I turned transparent with that Stealth roll...or maybe incorporeal!


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

Hmm... unfortunately I'm guessing Stealth (regarding visibility) will be impossible for you as long as you carry a torch in a dark cave. :P But maybe I'm underestimating your abilities!!

Knowledge(arcana) for auras: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

GM: so, that strip running across the chamber in front of us -- is that the pool of water into which the streams are pouring? Is it draining out somewhere?


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Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

Look! Some foul magic turned Thomi into a will-o-wisp!


On Aegwyn's new map the strip is the trough in which the water is running. Toranindracar does have a point about the torch. ;-)

The Detect magic reveals several quite powerful auras which go from the base of the columns up to the very top of the room, like a magical barrier hovering over the silvery metal bars on both sides. Unfortunately the intricacies of the magic are simply too complex for Aegwyn to divine. Toranindracar, however, is able to determine that there are actually three auras enchanted on each bar, all strong, and all from the abjuration school.

The ancient daetholayn script tells the story of the "Betrayal of Makish" and the assault on the city of Mtol Daerine, and the whole world, 300 years ago by the khthonoi and the servants of that evil god. The script is both a eulogy to those lost in the war and a warning against the tyranny of the khthonoi and their Dark God. It states that beyond the bars is the entrance, below in the depths of this abyss, to an ancient khthonoi city and that the room stands as a symbol of their imprisonment by the collected people's of the world, that none would ever had to know the tyranny of Makish and the wickedness of the khthonoi.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

If we want to get warning of what lies ahead, and allow Thomi some cover, I can ask the winds to carry the torch for us? Then we can stay in the shadows and any enemies will be drawn to the light rather than to us?

Aegwyn casts mage hand on the torch and offers to carry it 35 feet in front of the party, so that we're in shadowy illumination. That should give Thomi a chance both to scout, and hide in the shadows

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

I release the torch and watch it float onwards. I put away my dagger, and pull out my club. I'm going to slowly step up to the first pair of bars, and extend my club into the space between them.

Elpis protect me...Elpis protect me...Elpis protect me...


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

To Thomi:
"Fool, wait!!"

To All:
"Each bar has three different enchantments, each one powerful warding magic -- probably beyond my ability to dispel. Even if I could, at best I could only dispel two enchantments per day, not even enough to lay bare even one of these bars. And even one of these spells might be enough to kill any one of us for coming too close.

"All that is to say nothing of what is now increasingly pressed upon my mind, and I must stress this: These spells were placed here for good reason. I have no wish to dispel them, for to do so is to open the gates of Mtol Dærine to its greatest enemy. If the Khthonoi do indeed still live below, this barrier may prevent them from returning in great numbers. It may be all that has stood between them and us since the Betrayal of Makish. It seems clear that these three conspirators knew something about the Khthonoi, and also it seems likely that at least one of these creatures has been sighted on the surface, but so far we have not seen great numbers.

"Now, there are enchanted bars both to our left and to our right, and some separate, very powerful magic beyond the bars to both sides. There are no bars ahead of us, but merely a trough of water. Beyond the water there is some magic, but not as powerful. It could be that that is a safer route. I also just need a moment to confirm that our quarry went forward, and not somehow into these bars.

"If the magic ahead of us proves to be more warding magic, then I propose we return to the surface. Our quarry may have known the secrets of passing these wards safely -- certainly they knew a great deal about what lies beneath Dubdind and precisely how and where to reach it -- but we do not. If that is the case, we might do better to discuss alternatives, like replenishing the barrier and seeking other information on this murder case elsewhere, on the surface. [To Brogdar] We cannot save your friend by dying.

"On the other hand, if the magic is something else, something safer, we may yet be able to pursue our quarry further. But even so, I must ask this question of all of us: Our quarry has a lead of three days on us, and they knew exactly where they were headed, while we are bumbling about searching for their trail. I had hoped we might find something of use in this trail, or even (if luck were with us) their dead bodies. But the truth is: we cannot hope to overcome them before they reach their destination. More importantly, if that destination is a city of Khthonoi, do we truly want to find it ourselves?"


Male Human (Dardish ethnicity) Antipaladin 5

Varan looks to Toranindracar. “I am bound by the will of my god to seek whatever lay beyond this barrier. On the other side, I will find either great reward and glory, or death.” He chuckles grimly. “That said, if a man cannot have riches and exaltation, then it were better that he be dead, anyway.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Let's follow our quarry as far as we can, and then make the decision on whether to press further. But as we can still pursue them, we should press forward


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

I stare wide-eyed at the apparent psychopaths surrounding me and open my mouth to speak, then stop myself. I close my eyes and nod my head.

"Right, well then, I think we ought to at least think about a backup plan, since in all likelihood we may run across the outskirts of an underground city of slavers. Perhaps we can set some traps of our own, here in this room, and then -- if we need to make a hasty retreat -- we can dash back here, dodge the trap, and make our escape while our pursuers struggle with whatever we've left them, eh? I'm no expert in traps, so perhaps someone else has ideas?"

My gaze falls on Thomi, meaningfully.

"Meanwhile, give me a moment to search for traces of our quarry's passing...."
I search the floor, holding my torch aloft. If the trail leads me over the trough, I'm willing to cross over it, if I can.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Damn, these dice are loving me!

Grand Lodge

Male Human Level 5 Rogue

I stowed the components of the disarmed trap in my pack, so with a little luck we might be able to pay them back in kind, if the situation arises. It was a fairly simple mechanical system, so I don't think it would take too much effort or time to set it in place again.

The party we are following did not encounter difficulty passing this area, so there must be a way to avoid or suppress whatever wards are in place. Perhaps there is a pass phrase that must be spoken.


Toranindracar observes the feint patterns of the dust upon the ground in correlation to the spray emitted from the falling streams of the Tears of the Daetholayn and determines that in fact four different sets of footprints traveled through this corridor and over the trough. Where does Aegwyn extend the reach of the enlightened sword? How long is she able to hold it aloft? Thomi - it might be a bit challenging, although certainly not impossible to set a trap here. The crossbow and powder keg were logged on opposite sides of two walls, which in this space would mean mounting them in between the magical silver bars. How far does the party advance?


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

GM: just to clarify, if necessary -- there are TWO everburning torches in play -- Thomi has one and I have one. Aegwyn cast mage hand on one and sent it 35 feet in front of us, so we should be able to see what is well beyond the trough... but the area where we are is not any darker, because I am still holding my own torch in my hand. Aegwyn's spell lasts as long as she continues to concentrate, and as long as she keeps it within range (35 feet).

Torches cast bright light within 20' radius, and dim light (when in darkness) within another 40' beyond that. So, I'd say we have bright light from the entrance of the room straight out to 55 ft ahead of us (so, maybe 60 ft from the entrance?), and dim light for 40 ft beyond that. To the sides, we have bright light for 20 ft on either side, and dim light for 40 ft beyond that.

"Thomi, let us leave the bars alone for now, and check further forward in the chamber. There is plenty of room in front of us I think, and there may be a more convenient trap site further down.


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

GM & Aegwyn:
FYI: Max range on mage hand at 5th level is 50 ft., not 35 ft. (25 ft + 5 ft. per level).


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

Bijannar muses, "Would it not be wiser to inform the Order that we've discovered this new piece of the puzzle? While I'm all for adventure, I think our extended departure without word might only bring more concerns."


Male Human (Dardish ethnicity) Antipaladin 5

Varan chuckles quietly at the suggestion of going back. “Come, now. Have we no sense of adventure, here? We’re about to circumvent a centuries-old mystic ward in the pursuit of hunting dangerous murderers into the depths of the earth – this seems to be a time for courage, not caution.


At the dim edge of the furthest torch's glow you can make out a back wall, a narrow wall not unlike the one you entered from, covered in both script and etchings, as well as what appears to be a section of the wall within it, now open and facing away from you, revealing a thinner, narrower passage ahead. The facade of the section of the wall, now displayed to be a "door", shows both inscription and the face of a human in calm yet stern countenance, surrounded by various images, the bars continue (as in the back) to all but a few feet from the back section.


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

Bijannar looks at Varan and smiles. He replies, "I'm certainly not in charge of this excursion, so it's far from my call. I was suggesting we send word, not retreat."


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Bijannar & GM:
It's 25ft + 5ft/2 levels - ref - unfortunately

Aegwyn strolls forward, moving the torch 35' ahead to illuminate the passage, until she's close to the water filled trough. She looks into the caverns to the left and right and tries to get a sense for the size of the room.

The torch ahead of us will cover the area we're in with shadowy illumination. Do we need 2 torches? With one, we get some chance to use stealth


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

Aegwyn - Personally, I need light where I am in order to inspect things closely, which is by and large my one and only thing I'm really good at. ;) Also, Toranindracar has the heebie jeebies a little bit. But if you want (and if you promise to be careful to avoid disturbing the ground more than necessary), we could spread out more? Maybe I could hang back further, and you (and any others who wish) could sneak in the dark space between the torches?


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

To Bijannar:
"Without a doubt, it has been a long day, but if you recall we set out only at noon yesterday. It hasn't even been a full day since then. I'd not sully my reputation amongst the Brothers by reporting every minuscule detail. I'd prefer to go to them when we've got something more concrete."


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Something like this? That should give us a reasonable marching order.


So exceptionally glad we have this amazing Fantastic Maps website for our maps! Nice work!

At the dim edge of the furthest torch's glow you can make out a back wall, a narrow wall not unlike the one you entered from, covered in both script and etchings, as well as what appears to be a section of the wall within it, now open and facing away from you, revealing a thinner, narrower passage ahead. The facade of the section of the wall, now displayed to be a "door", shows both inscription and the face of a human in calm yet stern countenance, surrounded by various images, the bars continue (as in the back) to all but a few feet from the back section.

Aegwyn determines that the whole hallway is approximately 70 feet in length, from far wall to back wall, and the bars extend to all but the last 10 feet at either end. The large cavernous rooms on either side, beyond the bars, are so large that even the dim light of the torches is unable to reveal a far wall. Moreover, beyond ten or fifteen feet, it drops a distance such that there too it is impossible to see anything except open blackness. You do discern that on the left side of the room a short ledge extends just a few feet beyond the bars before dropping off suddenly in a sharp cliff. On the right side of the room, the smooth stone ledge is a bit wider, roughly 10 feet and at the north end becomes a ramp leading steeply down to a narrow platform in the shadows below, at the near edge of the torch's light.


Male Human (Karsab ethnicity) Brotherhood Adept 4/Aristocrat 1

Aegwyn:
Good catch. I could have sworn it was +5 ft/level. Oh well.


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

Aegwyn, FYI it says I don't have access to see that page.


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Toranindracar - did you login? (link on top right)


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

Got it, thanks. I was spoiled by not having to log in for the last few. ;)


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

:) Well that's still in alpha, so the logins are required...


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Toranindracar - can you come and check out this trough and see if it's safe to cross?


Male Belaran Tegan (Halfling) nomad Brotherhood Adept 5 (Order of Mahrka)

"There's no enchantment on the trough ... though, let's see, I can't say for sure whether there are any other traps...."

Perception to look for traps on the trough: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

"I did sense an enchantment further down -- it must be that doorway at the far end, come to think of it. Let's take a closer look, shall we?"

I'll leap over the trough (unless that seems ludicrous... to be honest I don't have a clear idea of what is meant by a "trough" here; is it a raised container, or a pool set into the chamber floor? is there drainage leading away from it or does the water seem like drainage must go down somewhere below, where we can't see?).

Acrobatics to pass the trough: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21


Female Human (Valgaard) Oracle 5

Aegwyn steps over the trough and moves towards the far end of the room, staying to the shadowy light and pushing the torch out ahead.

Stealth 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

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