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This will serve as the Campaign Journal for the group I am DMing through the Savage Tide. Our adventure begins in the bustling port city of Sasserine.
Sun shown through the window as the half elf Plethora woke in her parents house in the Merchants district. The sound of her mother's voice calling from downstairs wafted through the floorboards "Plethora dear, you better get up and eat something so you will have your strength today!" roling her eyes, "I am so glad this is the last time I will have to endure this" she thought to herself as she dressed. At 35 winters, Plethora had lived at home for a good 20 winters longer than she would have preferred. Still, living at mom's and dad's allowed her the luxury of pursuing her studies without worrying about getting a "real" job or having to get involved in the day to day opperations of the family business. Today though, she intended to do something about her situation. Her studies into obscure lore had finally produced a tangible result. She had cast her first spell from her prayerbook a scant two days earlier, but she felt that her skills had finally shown a tangible result and it was time to put them to the test. The Challenge of Champions had been interesting entertainment in it's first year, but with it's increasing popularity the monetary rewards had grown each year to the point that people from all walks of life entered. This was her chance to show the world and especially her parents that all that time spent with musty books had paid off. This was her chance to shine. This was her chance to make a life for herself.
Across town, in the Shadowshore, Leah darted down an alley smiling to herself. This fool had no chance of tailing her. That was one of the fringe benefits of being someone so small in a city so big. On the whole, Leah never considered her halfling heritage to be of any especially great benefit. But after a few years living off the wealth of others in Sasserine, even she had to admit that being one of the short folk had it's advantages. After a few minutes with no sign of her latest mark, she confirmed what she knew from the moment the idiot had caught her taking his coin purse from his pocket, that she had indeed lost the buffoon and gotten the gold she needed to enter the Champions Games. From the moment she came to Sasserine two years ago, she had longed to enter the fabled Challenge of Champions to gain a chance to use her skills to get a sum of coins larger than anything she could get by pickpocketing the poor fools that wandered the Shadowshore. This year she would finally be able to enter. The fact that she was no ordinary thief would serve her all the better when competing with the simpletons that tended to enter the Challenge. She smiled to herself for the second time that day as she gathered her belongings and trotted towards the Champions District.
At roughly the same time, a lone man entered the cities gates intent on going to the Champions district for reasons of his own. Zasker Grankus the Nameless One had said. He should seek out Zasker Grankus. That would be the first step in continuing his training. Now several hundred miles later, Joss was finally here. The skills the Master Swordsman had imparted to him were only the faintest hint of all that he could learn. He patted the hilt of the Katana strapped to his back and nodded reassuringly to himself. Yes his families legacy would live on and grow through him. Zasker Grankus was the man who could make it happen. After so many years of training with the wandering swordsmaster known only as the Nameless One, Joss was confident in his skills, but even his training hadn't prepared him for the occular and olfactic tapestry that was Sasserine. Eyes darting back in forth in a reflexive appraisal of his surroundings, he lowered his head and walked on to the Champions District and the man who held the doorway to his fate.
More to follow...
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The Sasserine Arena, literally buzzing with activity loomed large in Leah eyes. With a half smirk, she paid the fee for enterance and was treated to a site even her pragmatic life hadn't prepared her for. A stadium packed with well over 7,000 people cheering and talking created a cacophony of sound that thundered over her like the Ocean's Waves. She couldn't help but feel the excitement in the air. Over the sound of the throngs boomed a mans voice, clearly enhanced by magic..."people of Sasserine, guests, and noble competitiors Welcome to the 6th Annual Challenge of Champions!!!!" her ears tingling from the sheer power of the boom of applause that followed, Leah looked around at the other contestants. There really were people here from every walk of life. She saw a group of young lads that appeared as nothing more than farm hands. She witnessed a clutch of Dwarves flexing their muscle and playing to the crowd. Most unusual of all though, was a single human man who were no armor, yet had strapped to his back what appeared to be the most exquisite sword Leah had ever seen. Reflexively wiping her mouth at the drool that had formed in response to the value of such a weapon, she maneuvered her way closer to the man who was intent upon the stage. The man on the makeshift stage spoke again above the clamor "I am Zaskur Grankus, manager of the Sasserine Arena and host of this years games. The rest of the today will serve as an opportunity for all contestants to form their teams. Everyone must enter in a team of at least 4 members, and anyone that has not registered with a group by midnight tonight will automatically be disqualified from the competition. An open banquet hosted by the arena will be held in the arena grounds tonight for all contestants who have paid the entrance fee. Use the opportunity to mingle and form your teams."
To this point, Leah was far more intent on the man with the gorgeous sword than she was on what was being said by Grankus, but the next part caught her attention. "The competition will be held in 3 stages that will test your resourcefullness, your strength, and your courage. The first challenge, will be the challenge of puzzles. Each team will participate in life size challenges designed to test how well they work as a team and think under pressure, only the 6 teams with the highest scores in the challenge of puzzles will advance to day 2. So make your team choices wisely and let the Games Begin!!!!" The fireworks that followed were dazzling, but Leah was momentarily stunned in her tracks. She was resourceful enough, but a good mind cramping puzzle was not her strong suit. She would have to pick her team wisely. So taken aback was she, that she nearly forgot the swordsman, and more importantly his very valuable sword. She approached quietly hiding behind the legs of taller folk until she was in earshot. The man was talking to Grankus.
"My master the Nameless One told me to seek you out Lord Grankus" explained Joss. "He told me you could guide me down the next step of my training". "Ah yes, the Nameless one. That man was the finest swordsmen I have ever met, and I was sad when he chose to leave Zelkarune's Horns". "I'll tell you what young Joss. Enter the Champions games and show me the skills your master imparted to you. If you truely are a student of the Nameless, then there is definately a place for you in my band." Bowing at the waist, Joss turned and surveyed the crowd. I'll need to find a good team so that I make a strong impression, he reflected.
A short distance away, Plethora smiled to herself. Puzzles were her forte, but she knew that there was more to the champions games than this. Those who won on the first day would face gladiatoral combat on day 2. As confident as she was in what she knew, she had never so much as lifted a sword and the spells she posessed were better used to enhance an ally then to kill one. Surveying the crowd she noticed a man dressed in simple clothes with a Katana strapped to his back. Her eyes widening she wondered at the odds of encountering someone trained in the use of such an exotic weapon. Even at this distance she could tell that the weapon was of the finest quality, perhaps even a family heirloom. If the mans skill with the sword were anywhere near as good as the quality of his weapon, he was likely a cut above anyone else here in combat. Best of all he was alone and didn't appear to already have a team.
Approaching quickly, she introduced herself "greetings stranger, I'm Plethora". His eyebrows rising a bit, he bowed stiffly at the waist and replied "I am Joss", "it is a pleasure to meet you Plethora". A short distance away, Leah grinned from ear to ear. Not only did the man with the very valuable sword not have a team, he seemd to have attracted just the sort of person Leah was sure she would have trouble finding. This person practically smelled like a Library at 10 paces distance. If she can't solve a puzzle, I don't know who could she smiled to herself.
"If you haven't got a team, I wonder if you would like to join with me for the games", Plethora flirted tossing her hair a bit and arching an eyebrow at the swordsman. "I really came here to speak with master Grankus, but it would seem the best way I have to impress him would be to enter these games and make a good showing for myself." "So I would like to work with you." "We will need companions." "Yes, preferably someone who can pick a lock and knows a few things about devices. The puzzles can be difficult if you don't have someone handy that way about."
Leah saw her chance. "I would be happy to offer my services" she said spryly. "It so happens I am a bit of an expert in mechanical devices." Plethora and Joss both taken somewhat aback, looked at each other and nodded. "We would be thrilled to have your aid little one." Now we need a good 4th member.
With a bit of work, the group procured the services of dwarf named Balabar Schmenk (no relation) who claimed to dabble in arcane magic. Just short of the stroke of 12, the group entered their registration naming themselves Balabar's Merry Band. Plethora offered to let everyone sleep at her parent's house for the night so that they could stay together for the following days activities, and the group left the arena, each swimming with visions of the dreams that would become real for them as they claimed the Champions Trophy.
More to follow...
Hey great story so far.
I was just hoping you could leave out some details on the games themselves. Just because I plan on running challenge of Champions soon. I just wouldn't want my friends to read this and then know how to solve any of the puzzles.
but I love the story so far. Good idea running the challenge to start off.
Good luck
Jay