Welcome to Golarion! What follows is a list of rules for everyone to follow while playing in this PbP. Please be courteous to your fellow players and make sure to follow these rules. This will help me run the game more smoothly especially since this module is going to be very in-depth and extensive. These rules can be modified in any way. These modifications will be done in the discussion thread, hopefully with the approval of everyone unless I find the need to implement them for other reasons. My goal is to make this a fun and enjoyable experience.
Rules:
#1. No profanity or foul language.
#2. Everyone is expected to post at least once in a 24 hour period. If you have to be gone for longer than a day or two please let me know. I will control your character until you return or find a way to have you leave the party and rejoin. If a player is gone longer than 24 hours in a combat situation the GM will act for that player.
#3. When posting please let everyone get thoughts and character reactions in. I do not mind if you have multiple posts but do not overload the thread.
#4. Please keep all out of character talk in the ooc format.
#5. Please keep OOC talk in this thread to explanations about what your character is doing stat wise such as:
#6. If you have any questions please feel free to Private Message (PM) me or post in the discussion thread.
#7. When I introduce combat I will ask everyone to roll initiative. After I establish who goes in what order a stricter set of rules will be in place.
#8. When in combat/rounds only post when it is your turn, this will help me read through the thread easier and analyze what is going on.
#9. Please be patient in combat I have found that my character misses out on commenting during battle about things that have just happened when there are multiple posts.
#10. Please talk in character in bold type format.
#11. Please use italics to show what your character is thinking.
#12. Have fun!
The next post in this thread will start the campaign. So please do not post yet. Please post as your characters only from this point on. Please post in the discussion thread also as your characters. It makes it easier to know who is asking questions. Thanks everyone and lets have fun!
A change to item #2:
This will change to:
"Everyone is expected to post at least once in a 48 hour period. If you have to be gone for longer than two days please let me know. I will control your character until you return or find a way to have you leave the party and rejoin. If a player is gone longer than 48 hours in a combat situation the GM will act for that player."
Now the next post in this thread will start the campaign. So please do not post yet. Please post as your characters only from this point on. Please post in the discussion thread also as your characters alias name for this campaign. It makes it easier to know who is asking questions. Thanks everyone and lets have fun!
Please do not post yet this is just some information on the campaign.
Ustalav Overview
The Immortal Principality of Ustalav lies on the northern shore of Lake Encarthan, a grim bastion of civilization amid the barbarian north, where a harsh landscape and a history rich in tragedies inspire a wary population with skepticism, religious devotion, and superstition. A
conglomeration of loosely affiliated counties, each run by feuding nobles vying for power and inf luence, Ustalav is a pitiful shell of its former glory, before it was subjugated to centuries of slavery at the hands of the Whispering Tyrant’s undead armies. While the nation’s upper classes struggle to compete with the very nations that abandoned
them to fend for themselves after the Whispering Tyrant’s defeat, the average Ustalavic citizen has it much worse. Hundreds of years of subjugation and the residual horrors that plague the countryside have left the people of Ustalav suspicious of magic, religion, foreigners, and their fellow citizens. Beyond their eccentric and insular qualities, Ustalavs often have a dour worldview. They resign themselves to lives of suffering, seeing nothing in their people’s history to suggest there is any hope for a better life. Despite the physical and psychological strains upon its populace, Ustalav nevertheless fosters extremely hardy and tenacious stock: men and women who firmly believe that no matter how bad it gets, history shows it could always be worse.
Although Ustalav has little to offer its rural peasants, inhabitants of its many metropolitan cities fare somewhat better, and the centers of learning and culture they provide draw trade and travelers from throughout the Inner Sea region. The capital, Caliphas, stands on the
banks of Lake Encarthan, and its fog-shrouded streets host some of the nation’s most esteemed centers of trade and academia. In the north, the city of Karcau boasts a thriving culture of music, theater, and other fine arts, and its opulent architecture rivals the excess of even
the most exotic Taldan palace. Meanwhile, Ustalav’s northwestern counties have broken from aristocratic rule and formed their own local, democratic government without nobles, calling themselves the Palatinates and providing a glimmer of hope for the downtrodden people
of provincial Ustalav. It is here, in the Immortal Principality, that the Carrion Crown Adventure Path takes place, and as you travel through the various counties, your character will rise from a simple pallbearer to the potential savior of the nation. As internally varied as a nation can be, Ustalav is your new home, and the possibilities for fame, fortune, and inf luence are as thick as the fog that creeps across the windy moors at night.
Ghost Story #1:
Ghost Story #2:
Ghost Story #3:
Ghost Story #4:
After a grueling seven day test that tested your individual abilities for the possibility to become part of The Valynce Group you are ushered into a room with a rectangular table at its center. There are six chairs, one at each end and two on each side. A small round table stands in the corner with a pitcher of water and some wooden mugs. There is one window behind the head chair, sunlight pours through. You now stand in the room. What do you do?
|
Raziel paces the room, absently running a finger along the table surface and the back of the chairs, wondering whether the trials to gain admission to the group were worth the effort.
He chose a simple riding outfit for today. Stiff-necked, well oiled leather coat over a fine white linen shirt and wool trousers. He has the plain, working blade strapped around his waist and a matching utilitarian dagger.
Water? What they couldn't afford some decent wine? Perhaps it's some form of hazing for new entrants. I certainly hope that this "Valynce Group" isn't that destitute...
He eyes the other occupants of the room idly, putting his vaguely congenial smile on.
|
Jim slouches in a chair at the head of the table, one leg draped over the arm of the chair scratching his scalp between the dreadlocks. He wears muddy boots and a stained linen shirt that has seen better days. On the back of the chair hangs what was once a Taldan naval officers coat. Now it's an extensively patched conglomeration of leather, wool and wire with patches of chain mail of varying density sewn to the outside of it. A cutlass hangs from a belt loose on his waist and an aged but meticulously clean pistol strapped to his chest handle down.
It 'been tree dam days since me get in a proper row. Tree dam days. No grog, nothin' ta drink. Been near enough ta drive a man mad. Dey betta be a right pot 'a gold at dey end a 'dis rainbow. Me gettin' dat kill a man itch.
He sips from a flask irritably...
|
Good day milady, bows and offers to pull out Helga's chair before she sits. Greetings gentlemen, my name is Halvor Marius Odinsen. After a minute of studying everyone, Halvor Marius walks over to the table with the pitcher of water and mug, he pours himself one, puts it down opposite Helga and then offers to refill everyone's mug that has one.
As Halvor takes a look at Raziel and Jim he realizes that his granted power to know all things evil has failed him. At the same moment Helga no longer feels her goddess within her, a deep void is all she can feel. The hairs on the back of Raziel's neck tingle and he knows instintually that he can no longer cast spells. His words no longer hold sway over his lisenters. Jim does not notice anything...
The door clicks closed and a shimmering outline appears around the door and window. Light still streams in though.
All of a sudden a woman (who looks like the this avatar) appears without a sound in an empty seat. She looks to each of the four in the room, lingering for just a moment on each and then speaks.
Lady and gentlemen welcome to The Valynce Group. You have all passed your tests... some better than others.
She smiles from Raziel to Jim respectively.
Never the less you are here and just in time I might add. It would seem you have all gotten letters from a man by the name of Professor Petros Lorrimor. I have taken the liberty of reading your letters. After all who knows what someone might be sending my new members.
She slides the envelopes onto the table, each clearly opened. The envelopes have each characters name listed on one.
It would seem Professor Lorrimor has passed away. His daughter Kendra Lorrimor has requested your presence at his funeral. After doing a little information gathering I have found Professor Lorrimor to be a well traveled man. His collections of books and artifacts must be astounding.
For your first mission, you are to go to this funeral in Ravengro, pay your respects and try and acquire any rare artifacts from his estate that you can. What you do in the town is your own business and for your first mission there will be no time limit. I want to see what you can do.
The letters do mention a will of some sort and that your presence is requested for the reading as well. Per The Valynce Group's policies your transportation to Ravengro will be taken care of and anything bequeathed to you in the will is yours, along with any treasures you may find on your adventure. Your task is to bring us back information on Ravengro, any artifacts worth acquiring and any information you acquire about monsters along your way.
Part of our mission is to keep a complete account of all threats in this world. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power.
Questions?
The group, after testing for many days on an uncharted island, has arrived back in Almas the capitol of Andoran. You were brought into a room in the back of what looked to be a tavern but you were ushered in so hastily you could not be certain.
Contained in the letter is a summons from Kendra Lorrimor begging the players to come to her father's funeral. He talked much about players when he met them and she thought it would be appropriate. Also inside is information about a will and where to meet in Ravengro.
The woman leans forward and pushes herself up to a standing position.
I am sorry. I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am Valynce Sharae, founder and leader of the Valynce Group.
She bows low and then looks straight to Jim.
Neither Mr. Burner, you will be teleported to a contact I have in Chastel and then you may choose your own way to Ravengro. River or Land it does not matter.
Valynce snaps her fingers and a "holographic" projection appears on the table in front of everyone. The map details Ustalav. She points to Chastel and then draws her finger across two different paths.
Either by Vistear River to Lake Lias or across the country of Canterwall you may go. It is a hundred miles to Ravengro. The river would be faster but it is your choice after I get you to Ustalav.
Once your group makes their choice talk to Rohan Evermead at the LandLost Tavern in Chastel. He will set you up with a boat or horses.
Any more questions?
|
|
Jim smiles a crooked–toothed smile and spreads his arms wide Well Besmara's teats woman! If ya can zip us all ta tha udda side o' da world wit a' snap o' dem pretty fingas den why da hell leave us wit thirty miles ta go?! Jus set me down in Ravengro in a easy chair in me smokin' jacket wit a bottle a scotch, thank ya.
Valynce gives Raziel a wry smile
Thank you for encouraging him... As I said already my contact is in Chastel and that is where I can teleport you to.
She then looks to Jim.
Also Mr. Burner it is approximately a hundred miles from Chastel to Ravengro and Ustalv is hardly the other side of the world.
Any other questions that have more relevance?
|
|
Bosun Jim assumes a grave countenance, takes off his hat, places it over his heart and says in a serious tone Well me would furtha air me toughts on da matta. But all sailors know it be a grave sin ta argue 'wit a pretty woman an sure ta bring misfortune 'pon a man. So me 'an Tom Riley be happy ta walk or sail da rest 'o da way from castle ta Ravengro. He pats the pistol on his chest fondly. As an afterthought, he looks around at the rest of the room. Oh, an' you assorted pretty boys an' ladies can come too.
Valynce looks around before speaking
Well if there are no other questions please follow me.
She gets up and walks to the door, as she approaches there is an audible click and the shimmering light around the window and door fades. All contact to deities and spells are restored. Everyone except Jim is aware of this.
The door is opened by a guard on the outside and Valynce steps through the door and starts walking down the hall. She walks past several rooms and down a flight of stairs that does not look like it should fit here. After descending the stairs she walks into a chamber through a pair of metal double doors. She awaits the adventurers inside.
Once inside the room the door closes and torches ignite that were originally out. There is a metal circle inlaid onto the floor in this chamber. Valynce stands in front of two stone steps that lead up to the circular floor where the ring is inlaid.
As the four adventurers enter the 30 X 30 room Halvor notices with his sharp eyes something very odd about the metal that is inlaid in the floor.
After studying the circle for a few seconds Halvor realizes that the circle is not made out of iron. It is made from Platinum, Gold, Silver, Copper and what could only be an inscribed circle of crushed gems and diamonds.
This is a transport circle among other things. I will ask that you step to the platform and speak the words Klattu Verata Nicto.
When you do so you shall be transported to the other side where you will meet up with a member of The Valynce Group and choose your route from there.