Hundreds of years ago, the Chelish imperial forces of Haliad the First moved to destroy the main Temple of Orcus which was taking root in the Eleder in Sargava. With their temple in ruins, the surviving high priests of this accursed demon lord fled the city with an army of enemies on their trail—an army of heroic fighters, clerics and paladins—led by Zelkor, a powerful wizard. The exact fate of these evil priests was then unknown, for not only did the remnants of the followers of Orcus disappear from all human reckoning, but so did the army of light that followed after them disappear as well. Some said that in the eternal scales the loss of so many good men was a fair price to pay to rid the world of so much evil.
The evil cult, however, had not been destroyed. The surviving priests and their followers instead settled on a hill south of the Kaava Lands, a sylvan woodland on the northwest coast of Desperation Bay. There they found a vast underground complex of caverns and mazes, carving out a volcanic intrusion beneath the hill. There, the priests of Orcus found the perfect lair to continue their vile rituals. For years, they carried on in secret, hidden from the light and from the knowledge of men.
Many years later, their underground delving completed, the evil priests erected a hideous mausoleum and a sunken graveyard atop the hill. It is believed that these graves are in fact the final resting place of the pursuing army of heroes that had been destroyed to a man. Soon after the mausoleum was erected the peaceful creatures of the wood began to disappear. Though many rangers and druids investigated these happenings, the cause of the creatures’ disappearance was not immediately determined. Some years later a powerful group of adventurers, led by Bofred, a high priest of Aroden, investigated the evil happenings and found the sunken graveyard leading to a labyrinthine complex. Bofred and his companions found great hordes of evil creatures in the complex. Though some of his companions returned from their expedition, telling tales of fantastic treasure and ferocious monsters, Bofred was never seen again—lost in the catacombs beneath the cursed mausoleum.
For the last one hundred years, ranks of adventurers have ventured to the newfound dungeon. Many fell prey to bandits, slavers and monsters in the surrounding wilderness. Rumors suggest that of those who survived to reach the mausoleum and sunken graveyard, most were slain by guardians of green stone or perished on the very first level. Those rare few who return from deeper treks speak of horrible undead and creatures that cannot be slain. All who have explored Rappan Athuk offer this one universal piece of advice: “Don’t go down the Well.”
Campaign start date: 17th day of Kuthona 4713 AR
Current date: 21st day of Kuthona 4713 AR
Original Six Characters - Rappan Athuk
- Human Fighter - Dobin Cur - Daniel Stewart
- Half-Orc Barbarian - Parfin Groud - RyckyRych
- Human Fighter - Jericho Greywind - Lucendar
- Human Investigator - Felix Nin - Ryveg
- Elven Wizard (conjurer) - Kwin Avassar - markofbane
- Halfling Cleric (Calistra) - Rose Silversting - Tazo
Current Characters - Rappan Athuk
- Human Fighter - Dobin Cur - Daniel Stewart
- Half-Orc Barbarian - Parfin Groud - RyckyRych
- Human Fighter - Jericho Greywind - Lucendar
- Elven Wizard (conjurer) - Kwin Avassar - markofbane
- Halfling Cleric (Calistra) - Rose Silversting - Tazo
Cast of Characters - Rappan Athuk On-deck Characters
- Dwarf Cleric - Hama - Daniel Stewart
- Dwarf Inquisitor - Relkan Grait - RyckyRych
- Unknown Class - Lucendar's 2nd - Lucendar
- Ratfolk Bard (archaeologist) - Jawn Swiftrun - markofbane
- Unknown Class - Tazo's 2nd - Tazo
- Unknown Class - Jellyroll's 2nd - Jellyroll
Cast of Characters - Rappan Athuk Bullpen Queue Characters
- Aasimar Oracle (metal) - Sienna Norim - blondebandit Approved
- Aasimar Monk (Zen Archer) - Azamel - Edeldhur Approved
- Fetchling Swashbucker - Patrocles Stills - Seamus Greenbottle Approved
- Gnome Rogue - Miette Thermogauge - Susan Reierg Approved
- Half-elven Alchemist (Crypt breaker) - Otho Batharna - psychicmachinery Approved
- Oread Inquisitor - Mesoch - Wrong John Silver Approved
- Dwarf Shaman - Brognir Glassgrey - Slachagok Approved
- Human Fighter - Adanel - Captain Fremont Approved
