My players do not read!
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I've had the AP1 adventures in Dungeon format since the start, but only ran "Life's Bazaar". Years later, and I purchased the Hard Cover, and I'm running the whole thing from start to finish. I've read everything at least twice through, so I feel comfortable. We play this Sunday.
The HC is utterly fantastic! Best purchase I've made all year, and this despite owning all of the Dungeon adventures.
My players are running (there are secrets about each character):
Laelithar Vanderboren, female half-drow Scout 0/Urban Ranger 0.
Adopted daughter of the Vanderborens (they own the Lantern Street Orphanage), tormented by her adoptive brother Todd. Spends lots of time imagining revenge, has explored many lava tubes below the city, and has tried her hand at being a city guard (working with Krewis, Endercott, and Triel at some point), and being apprenticed to Maavu in a desperate effort by her parents to get her to settle down. She is an economic wiz, but wants more out of life. When Todd announces 'he' has formed the Stormblades, she sets out to one-up him, and get behind the rash of dissapperances. Knows Ralrao from the orphanage, and Fash through Ralrao. Has the Noble trait and the FR regional feat Mercantile Background. Wants to head to Dervish/Bloodhound.
Fash Falon, male whisper gnome Rogue 0/Wizard 0.
His parents escaped from Jzadirune, but scared him silly about the fate of the gnome enclave. He hates the big, noisy city, and likes to keep to himself much, in nice safe corners and alleys. Met Ralrao down by the Lakeside Pavillion at night, where they decided to keep watch for the legendary Lake Monster. No luck, but they ended up being friends. Apprenticed to the wizard Tyro Amberhelm, who thinks that Fash needs to think about what he will do with the imminent end of his tutorage approaching. Fash keeps thinking that he needs to find Jzadirune and confront his fears. Has already had run-ins with the Alley Bashers, and hopes the Last Laugh runs them out of town. Despite being a fearful person, he has tremendous reserves of bravery that come to the fore when the need arises. Tyro has hinted that perhaps great things are in store for him, but Fash is not so sure he is eager for 'great things'. Has the Child of Jzadirune trait and the FR regional feat Strong Soul. Wants to go Daggerspell Mage.
Ralrao, male human Rogue 0/Archivist 0.
His adventurer parents never returned when he was seven years old, but the nightmares replaced them. Horrid dreams where he became the monster. He spent nights outside of the orphanage, trying not to sleep, and on one such trip met a gnome named Fash and became friends. He also befriended a snotty kid whose parents own the orphanage. Ral looks for ways to combat the terrors of his mind, which includes learning about all the dark and nasty stuff that lurks in the corners of the world, and he then learns how to kill it. His rough upbringing means that he has learned to handle himself in a dozen dirty situations. He has twice refused to join the Alley Bashers, and has so far managed to live, but is worried about his future. When his friend Laelith suggests forming an adventuring company, Ral sees his opportunity and gets Fash to agree. Ral knows Rufus and Jenya from their work at the orphanage, although he now lives near the temple. He has taken an interest in the purifying aspect of Kossuth, from a pamphlet left to him by a wandering cleric of the Fire Lord. Wants to go Black Flame Zealot (modified, see below) Has the Dream Haunted trait and the FR regional feat Knifefighter.
I placed Cauldron on the Western Coast of the Lake of Steam (Forgotten Realms), in the mountains north and east of Almrhaven, which substitutes for Sesseren.
Character Creation:
Ability Scores: 4d6 six times, roll three sets, use the set you like best. They did this in front of me. We got(with racial adjustments):
Laelith - STR8,DEX17,CON15,INT15,WIS11,CHA13
Fash - STR10,DEX17,CON17,INT17,WIS15,CHA8
Ral - STR15,DEX17,CON17,INT18,WIS15,CHA14
I was worried about only three characters but with good scores like these, they should do a bit better.
Classes: I allowed apprentice levels from the 3.0 DMG, and they all went the stealthy/skilled route. Ral's player liked both the Shadowbane Stalker and the Black Flame Zealot, but had issues with each. I basically gave the BFZ the Shadowbane Stalker the Stalker's spell level progression, otherwise the BFZ is the same. He must choose Kossuth when he takes the prestige class.
Traits: I allowed everyone a trait from the SCHC appendix.
Feats: I allowed two flaws for each character, if they wanted them, and gave a regional feat for each of them for free from the players guide to faerun.
Skills: I used the Maximum Ranks Limited Choices variant from Unearthed Arcana. I hate checking skill points. They get maximum skill ranks in any class or cross-class skills they take. They can add a skill (or rarely two) when they add a new class, upgrade cc skills, or increase Int.
Player Secrets
(my players, DO NOT LOOK please)
spoiler...
Laelith is the twin sister of Shensen Tesseril. Shensen has never had a presence in the city, except once, when she was mistaken for Laelith. Shensen does not know about Laelith, and the rest of the Striders figure it will work itself out soon enough without interfering. Where Laelith is supposed to be b@*+~y and condescending (as her player has told me), Shensen has always struck me as serene and gentle. Wait until they meet at the Lucky Monkey. The bard who was approached the monestary where Shensen grew up was actually a Strider. The Monks were of the Pure Flame (Kossuth). The bard had actually left her with the monks years earlier, after finding both her and her sister in the underdark with their then-pregnant mother. Unable to travel with two babies, he had taken Laelith to Cauldron, leaving Shensen with the nearby monks. Repeated attempts to place Shensen with her sister were to no avail, as the head of the monestary was possessive of the child. Rumors spread by that monk led to the bard's death, and Shensen's departure. If Ralrao decides to strengthen his connection to these monks (closer to Mintar), he may have problems with Shensen.
Fash's mentor is actually an elf, of course. The Striders would love to recruit Fash if he turns out to have the right character. His parents are supporters of the Striders, though not Striders themselves, and members of The Chisel. They sent Fash to learn magic for a good reason, and expect him to make good. They won't say a word, though, until he has made accomplishemts as well. Fash is supposed to come off a bit timid, but bite your head off when it counts (like a berserk bunny).
Ralrao's (pronounced rahl-reyo) parents are statues in Vhalhantru's mansion. When the group gets that far, he might be able to save his parents and reunite his family. Ralrao explained to me to be like some Lovecraftian-possessed paranoid monster hunter. The player suggests he might not be willing to accomodate anything truly non-human if anyone tries to Diplomacy undead, aberrations, etc.
