Since the first days of the Worldwound, Kenabres has answered the call to action demanded by the coming of the fiends. We opened our gates to refugees despite the danger. We tracked down demons hiding in the guise of men and set them alight with righteous flame.
Still, the tide of fiends never ceases. They surge pitilessly toward our shining border, that churning throng of creatures clamoring for virtuous blood. Kenabres is the bulwark behind which we throw our weight. The wardstone is our shield and also our greatest weapon. As long as Kenabres stands, we will keep the demons trapped, and our crusaders shall ride forth and put an end to their foul existence.
Kenabres sprawls across a series of graduated tiers that rise from the plains in the east to a cliff ’s edge in the west. At the base of the cliff, the West Sellen River roars past. The central and westernmost districts of Kenabres are the oldest, and those radiating out and to the east are the newest, built only in the last hundred years. These entries are in order form the oldest, highest district out to the newer and lower ones.
Old Kenabres: The original town of Kenabres perched on the edge of the cliff, looking down over the West Sellen. Many of those buildings now form the historic central district. The houses here are well constructed from heavy stone, with angled tile roofs and arched windows characteristic of architectural fashions popular hundreds of years ago. Houses and official administrative buildings—including the courthouse, city hall, and the garrison—make up Old Kenabres. The houses aren’t the largest in the city and not always home to the wealthiest citizens, but the oldest families, who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years, live in Old Kenabres.
Ring District: The second tier of the city, circling Old Kenabres, was also a part of the original town of Kenabres. More homes and administrative buildings, including the hall of records and the maintenance building for monitoring the water pumps, make up the Ring District. At the district’s eastern edge, a steep switchback road makes the transition between the higher-elevation Ring District and the lower-elevation districts of New Kenabres and the Gate District. The switchback is called Davon’s Ramp after the architect and philanthropist who designed and paid for the structure as the town grew to a city.
Heavy iron gates safeguard the top and bottom of the switchback. For security, these gates are locked an hour after sunset, and a guard is posted at each. Persons wishing to use the switchback must make their case to the guards and hope their business is deemed important enough. Some citizens have special, expensive passes that allow them to move back and forth without question, and some say that the Wallers have their own methods of moving beyond the Ring District after curfew.
New Kenabres: New Kenabres was built during the initial flood of refugees after the opening of the Worldwound. Buildings in this mostly residential district are stone, but the walls are thinner than in the older districts, and the houses are built in a more modern style, with flat roofs and square windows. New Kenabres also houses most of the city’s warehouses.
The eastern and southeastern sides of New Kenabres hold many of the largest manors in the city. During the construction of New Kenabres, many moneyed families chose to build new homes in the new district, as it offered just as much safety as the old city but without the claustrophobic density.
Gate District: A decade after New Kenabres rose, the Gate District followed. City officials realized that the new housing units wouldn’t be enough to support the city’s growth, and in response constructed the Gate District the largest district in Kenabres. The Gate District includes a mix of residential and commercial buildings, as well
as wealthy family homes. Temples to Abadar, Sarenrae, Shelyn, and Torag sit alongside smithies, stoneworks, and woodshops. The city’s two gates, Northgate and Southgate, lead into this district.
Truestone Quarry: Truestone Quarry lies approximately 10 miles to the east. Caravans arrive weekly to supply Southgate with stone for constructing additional buildings and reinforcing the city defenses. Guards are always in high demand to protect these caravans from coordinated demon attacks, and to ensure the deliveries keep stone flowing into the city.
While I'm drafting up the first gameplay post - I thought I'd describe the start position informally.
Harrol, Nessa, Theodric and Aarol - you are all recently arrived to Kenabres, within the last week or two. You've seen some of the city, but haven't really sunk into it and seen beyond it's surface. The crusades accepted you, but you had not yet been assigned to a specific duty yet (you'll get that in the first gameplay post).
You've not seen combat with any demonic forces yet - though have heard some war stories around the tavernas and barracks from Low Templars and Paladins both.
Also, you've not personally met each other yet - that will happen in thread.
Gregori - arrived to Kenabres a little earlier, maybe a month or two. Has a greater knowledge of the city (I'll PM or spoiler in thread said details) and has ventured to the fringe of the Worldwound with a patrol on a couple of occasions. While no battle was met - you impressed enough to be trusted with a bit more responsibility... which will be laid out in the first gameplay post.
Eudocia - will be introduced to you in thread :)
And gameplay thread is now live!
I would have put a bit more up... but I'm typing one handed as I've a 15 moth old asleep on me... and its two AM :P
Heh. I just noticed Harrol and Aarol. Do they rhyme?
Rough statblock up for Docia in her profile. I still need to buy mundane gear.
Given that Twigs is looking for an Oirish brogue... it's more likely 'Arrol and Aarol :P
Take the weekend to get things squared away as far as gear and such - we'll have a bit of RP introduction before things get interesting.
Given that Twigs is looking for an Oirish brogue... it's more likely 'Arrol and Aarol :P
Ha! Yeah, I hadn't noticed that either. :P
I had a proper post typed up this afternoon and there was a bloody fire drill at the uni library and I had to abandon it. Going to work on another now.
I'm a little at a loss with what to fill Harrol's pack with. I'm thinking just gratuitous amounts of food and travelling gear, at this point. Short of prayer beads I can't think of anything else he's missing. I tend to try to inject as much personality as I can into the junk among a character's first level gear, but I think with a pilgrim less is more.
I had been thinking of the french city Arles when I made Aarol, but we could play Aarol as the phonetic spelling of the Oirish brogue 'Harrol' :) Anyone remember the Newhart show, 'this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl'.
Just wanted to say in case some of you didn't read my profile that my tropes are Jerkass Woobie and Insufferable Genius. Theodric can be a bit of an argumentative jerk at times. I have nothing against any of y'all--Theodric's opinions/snark don't reflect mine. ;-)
I was going to chime in the same, that I hoped you didn't think I, as a player, was taking offense. I had read your background, and I guess you are seeing that Nessa has a low opinion of those not as eager as her to lay into the enemy.
I'm a watching and will advance after you've had a bit of time for a meet and greet. Feel free to ask OOC questions or make rolls for information about Kenabres or other things that you might be interested in.
Jerkass Woobie was a trope for Aarol as well, and as well please don't ever take the banter as anything personal, it's just having fun :)
It's been a busy week for me. I've STARTED a whole lot of posts, but few of them have been
I'll try to pen a post on the train tommorow, but if I dont get a chance dont hold things up on my account :)
Oh hell yeah!
The AP does open with somewhat of a boom ;)
Made me thing of a Darkseid boom tube opening up
DAAAAAYUM. SurplusRaine is going to regret not applying to this one. Sweet-holy-paladin-jesus.
*munches popcorn* Nessa- "I didn't know there was going to be a show."
:P - at the moment you're unconscious, I'll narrate the waking up section later tonight - but feel free to offer your thoughts IC as the events unfolded.
Unconcious? D'oh! You ninja'd me. I was all ready to fight dretches in the streets, but I should have guessed that the Silver Dragon and Demon-Lord were a bit beyond our CR range. :P
My post is going to need some work.
Will get up a reaction post to the actual action a bit later in the day. Am about to have to take the kids to the dentist.
Good luck at the dentist :)
I am pleased to announce that the train has reached PC station, and you can now step off the railroad. Your path, fate and fortune are now solely in your hands :)
now that is an intro to an adventure!
VoV, would the prestige class of Chevalier be Ok for Aarol? It was introduced in AP #14, the second book of the Second Darkness AP, however that was in the 3.5 days and it's just a three level prestige class that wasn't added to the core book or the advanced player's guide.
Here is the Pathfinder Wiki link for it.
Here is the D20PFSRD link for it.
I'd have no problems with the Chevalier class - doesn't even look like it needs much (if any) updating.
That was a very cool scene. Now we just need to dig our way back to the surface, dodge some demons, and get one of those dragon scales so we can resurrect her. What could possibly go wrong with that plan? ;-)
I read the opening scene while listening to the "Arcade" battle theme from Man Of Steel. Perfect.
I typed my above post before I refreshed and saw the gameplay post. So there are dragon scales with us? Called it!
Of course, now that there's 6, my new theory is that we each take one and her residual power transfers to us making us mythic or something.
Gregori, you can't make untrained Knowledge checks above DC 10. That's stepping all over bard class features. ;P
Still, it makes sense that you, more than the rest of us, would recognize Riftwarden regalia, having been on active duty longer.
Yep, Joana's right. But in this case, Gregori probably would have recognized if not as a Riftwarden specficially, then at least as an 'important wizardy type'.
Sorry about that, good points.
Boy, a busy day at work and this is what I find waiting for me.....pretty intense.
I had to play three bits of catch up, but back in the present I believe unless some posts appeared as I type this ;-p
I was at Carlsbad Caverns a few weeks ago and am full to the brim with info about how poorly fantasy RPGs represent bats. For one, I was in the front row when they came out of the cavern at sunset to hunt; they were flying within a few feet of my head, and if I'd had my eyes closed, I wouldn't have even known they were there they were so completely silent. I blame Scooby Doo with its sqeaking, wing-flapping opening credit sequence. ;)
Apologies for no update... but was wiped out by a combination of a 4 AM wakeup followed by an all day event marshaling our kids while my wife manned a stall. Success achieved though as they broke a Malaysian Record :)
Tomorrow night fo shore.
what was the record?
Highest number of simultaneously breast feeding mothers... they ended up with over 500...
That's pretty cool. Looks like it got some decent press.
On a separate note, just looked over the party's stats and I find it both completely in sane and totally awesome that Nessa is actually slightly stronger than Gregori. LOL
Thanks for the link. Sounds like that was a very successful event, nearly doubled the old record of 300.
Indeed, they did quite well for themselves - got some interviews and event coverage on the local TV news channel as well. But was a long day... especially when you pack that many mums, dads, bubs and kids into a single ballroom.
So Gregori and Aarol up front, halflings in the middle for easy access, Theodric and Eudocia with their poor ACs in the back? And we trust the NPCs to have plot immunity?
In the past, I've had issues with the Knowledge-focused characters bringing up the rear in a dungeon and never even getting line of sight on the monsters to ID them until combat is over. Those were five-foot corridors, though.
With reach and combat reflexes, Aarol could keep a knowledge focus character protected somewhat. Or, his long spear is a simple weapon, so anyone could use it and lead the way, perhaps while Aarol protected the people at the back of the party?
I like the idea of every character getting to shine, so I'm glad to have Aarol take whatever role to help that happen.
No, go ahead. We'll be a lot better with Aarol's sneak attack and Nessa's greatsword closer to the front than Eudocia and Theodric's low ACs, not to mention Harrol's healing ... until we get ambushed by something stalking us from behind, anyway. ;)
At least it's not five-foot corridors. Five-foot corridors are murder on a party larger than 4 PCs; James Jacobs has even suggested that the DM widen all dungeon corridors to 10 feet if there's more than 4 PCs in the party or the people in the back never get to participate in the encounters. Takes casters and ranged fighters right out of the game.
Why don't you have Aarol look over the campsite in-thread? I believe he has the best Perception score.
Eudocia didn't have the encumbrance to carry gear and didn't yet know anyone in the party well enough to have them carry stuff for her. She has water and a blanket but couldn't carry rations or a bedroll. We'd better hope there's something edible down here. :P
Oh, she has Fleet of Foot? HeroLab doesn't display alternate racial traits, and I wish it would.
Aaarol had a medium tent in addition to bedroll and blanket, but I just could not justify bringing that to a festival :( It was meant to provide shelter for the halflings and a spell caster, now it's just a part of the mess left at the guardhouse.
Well, I couldn't justify lugging my spellbook around with me. I really hope a demon isn't using it as toilet paper right now
Oh. Oh god. That would be bad.
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Dude, you don't have your spellbook? You've got three spells plus one from arcane bond to cast until we're out of here and back on the surface? That's like Ginger not taking her makeup and full wardrobe on the Minnow's three-hour tour.
Eudocia didn't have the encumbrance to carry gear and didn't yet know anyone in the party well enough to have them carry stuff for her. She has water and a blanket but couldn't carry rations or a bedroll. We'd better hope there's something edible down here. :P
Oh, she has Fleet of Foot? HeroLab doesn't display alternate racial traits, and I wish it would.
I had to buy the Race Guide add-on for Hero Lab. I held off buying it until I found out I got in, but I assume now that I have it, it will get used. I am using three alternate traits and yet somehow I didn't use the alternate gnome traits when making a twisted Redcap-sired gnome, a companion to Twigs' Bleached very twisted gnome in Mark's RoW campaign.....hence the short duo references that were bandied about....it is an odd coincidence.
Nessa has a bedroll and pack in her "Fighter's Kit" that Herolab bundles for you when equipment shopping.
Dude, you don't have your spellbook? You've got three spells plus one from arcane bond to cast until we're out of here and back on the surface? That's like Ginger not taking her makeup and full wardrobe on the Minnow's three-hour tour.
Guess I should have forked up the dough for a traveling spellbook, huh? Oh well, live and learn. I have a crossbow, right? ;-)