GM Yodler's Age of Worms

Game Master CrazyYodler

Diamond Lake:

Diamond Lake nestles in the rocky crags of the Cairn Hills, three days east of the Egoria to which it is subject. Iron and silver from Diamond Lake’s mines fuel the capital’s markets and support its soldiers and nobles with the raw materials necessary for weapons and finery. This trade draws hundreds of skilled and unskilled laborers and artisans, all hoping to strike it rich. In ages past, Diamond Lake boasted an export more valuable than metal in the form of treasure liberated from the numerous tombs and burial cairns crowding the hills around the town. These remnants of a half-dozen long-dead cultures commanded scandalous prices from the Egorian elite, whose insatiable covetousness triggered a boom in the local economy. Those days are long gone, though. The last cairn in the region coughed up its treasures decades ago, and few locals pay much mind to stories of yet-undiscovered tombs and unplundered burial cairns. These days, only a handful of treasure seekers visit the town, and few return to the Egoria with anything more valuable than a wall rubbing or an ancient tool fragment.

In the hills surrounding the town, hundreds of laborers spend weeks at a time underground, breathing recycled air pumped in via systems worth ten times their combined annual salary. The miners are the chattel of Diamond Lake, its seething, tainted blood. But they are also Diamond Lake’s foundation, their weekly pay cycling back into the community via a gaggle of gambling dens, bordellos, ale halls, and temples. Because work in the mines is so demanding and dangerous, most folk come to Diamond Lake because they have nowhere else to turn, seeking an honest trade of hard labor for subsistence-level pay simply because the system has allowed them no other option. Many are foreigners displaced from native lands by war or famine. Work in a Diamond Lake mine is the last honest step before utter destitution or crimes of desperation. For some, it is the first step in the opposite direction: a careful work assignment to ease the burden on debtor-filled prisons, one last chance to make it in civil society.

Despite its squalor, Diamond Lake is crucial to the Egoria's economy. The city’s directors thus take a keen interest in local affairs, noting the rise and fall of the managers who run Diamond Lake’s mines in trust for the government. The city’s chief man in the region is Governor-Mayor Lanod Neff, a lecherous philanderer eager to solidify his power and keep the mine managers in line. Neff exerts his capricious will via the agency of the grandiloquent Sheriff Cubbin, a man so renowned for corruption that many citizens assumed the announcement of his commission was a joke until he started arresting people.

Map of Diamond Lake

1. The Emporium – Casino, whorehouse, freak show – very popular, garish & gaudy.
• Run by Zalamandra.
• Shag Solomon (Wildman aristocrat)
• Tom Shingle (misshapen contortionist)
• Ariello Klint (Halfling)
• A two-headed calf named Esmerelda, Jr.
• Chezabet, a beautiful harrow reader.

2. Lazare’s House – Cozy gaming parlor focusing on Dragonchess. Upper class.
• Run by Lazare
• Daughter Dannath
• Khellek the Mage is a frequent attendee
• Chaum Gansworth & Luzanne Parin are regulars

3. The Feral Dog – Very busy, sleazy tavern
• Overseen by a half-orc named Kullen
• Tirra the Half-Elf is a regular

4. Church of Angradd (and Torag)
• Led by Jierian Wierus, a fiery dwarven orator
• Acolyte – Hameneezer

5. Tidwoad’s
• Run by a gnome named Tidwoad, keeps bank vaults, buys/sells gems
• Keeps a Shield Guardian named Festus
• Gnomish visitors frequently lodge upstairs

6. Sheriff’s Office
• Sheriff Cubbin (a boisterous alcoholic)
• Deputy Jamis
• 6 constables
• Local jail

7. General Store
• Run by Tagin (Human)
• Just about anything that isn’t armor or weapons or magical

8. The Hungry Gar
• Restaurant run by Gul Tortikan

9. Jalek’s Flophouse
• Run by a massive, helmeted mute named Golot
• Owned by a fellow named Jalek, who lives near the top of the structure, but is rarely ever seen
• An ancient warehouse turned into housing

10. Smenk Residence
• A sodden old mansion a century past its time
• Owned by Balabar Smenk , owner of four mines in Diamond Mine
• Guarded by three hired guards
• Front door is always open during daylight hours

11. Deepspike Mine

12. Garrison
• Run by Captain Tolliver Trask , an aging, distinguished man
• Chief Cartographer Dietrik Cicaeda can be found here.
• Chief Scout Merris Sandover can be found here
• Lieutenants Dobrun Trent, Mikkela Venderin & Trovost Skunt
• 60 Soldiers
• Chapel of Pharasma can be found here
i. Valkus Dun – High Priest (tall, handsome)
ii. Velias Childramun – aging priest
iii. Melinde’ – young warrior priestess

13. Lakeside Stables
• Run by Lanch Faraday – portly half-elf
• Does not have the best reputation

14. The Midnight Salute
• House of Ill-Repute
• Run by an elf woman known as “Purple Prose.”
• Less expensive than the Emporium

15. The Spinning Giant
• Tavern with a painting of “Flailing Felanore” – a giantess who was captured 40 years ago
• Contains a decent quality stage
• Home to the local Garrison when off-duty

16. The Captain’s Blade
• Run by Tyrol Ebberly, a severe-looking man who claims to have once been a Watch Captain in Egoria.
• Focus on Masterwork melee weapons

17. Venelle’s
• Run by Venelle, a female human ranger
• Built of pine logs
• Focus on Masterwork bows and arrows.
• Can import from Egoria

18. Allustan’s Residence
• Home of Allustan , “The smartest man in town.”
• Sage & Wizard

19. Tilgast Residence
• Home to Gelch Tilgast, one of the mine owners
• A beautiful mansion with separate stables inside a stockade wall.
• Wealthy visitors can pay 1gp/day to stable horses

20. Old Piers
• An old sailor named Durskin can ferry folks around in his sloop, called the “Autumn Runner.”
• Also home to the “Harkness” run by Pharasma priests – kept cleaner.

21. Able Carter Coaching Inn
• Hostel (1gp/day)
• Stable (5sp/day)
• Runs a fleet of horse-drawn coaches that can travel the hills.
• Guarded by 4 guards at all times

22. Parrin Residence
• Home of Luzanne Parrin, one of the mine owners

23. Greysmere Covenant
• Home to three dwarven representatives of the stronghold of Greysmere, several days to the East.
• Run by Dulok Blitzhame.
• Councilor Galuth Grobadore
• Councilor Bitris Ruthek

24. Gansworth Residence
• Home to Chaum Gansworth, one of the mine owners
• Memorial Obelisk located outside is dedicated to miners killed in a collapse 70 years ago, that claimed 300 lives.
• Guarded by 5 guards at all times.

25. The Rusty Bucket
• Popular restaurant that used to focus on fish. Green stained-glass windows make for an unusual atmosphere inside.
• Home to three pipers who play regularly

26. Moonmeadow Residence
• Home of Ellival Moonmeadow, the Elven overseer of Diamond Point’s silver mine.
• Spends most of his time in the company of 6 Elf companions

27. Frost Smithy
• Run by Travigan Frost (Human Blacksmith)
• Home of Masterwork armor & household goods

28. Smelting House
• Run by a rarely-seen chief smelter, is the one place in Diamond Mine where all mines have their ore smelted.
• Northwest corner serves as the residence and workshop of Benazel the Alchemist (Potion-maker)

29. Diamond Lake Boneyard
• Overseen by Pharasma priests, guarded at all times. Rumored to hide a burial plot filled with gold bars that no one has ever found.

30. Neff Manor
• Owned by Governor-Mayor Lanod Neff , sprawling and protected by a wooden stockade wall – home to the political apparatus of Diamond Point.

31. Dourstone Mine
• Run by Ragnolin Dourstone, one of the mine owners

32. Abandoned Mine

33. Menhirs
• Old stone ring occasionally visited by druids

34. Old Observatory
• Crumbling building that once housed an order of monks obsessed with the heavenly bodies of the nighttime sky.

35. Dourstone Residence
• Home of Ragnolin Dourstone, one of the mine owners.

Game Master and Player Commitment:

As the GM I will post at least twice a day (likely a lot more). I also expect players to post at least daily. If you are going to use abilities that interrupt the action (i.e. the feat Step Up), be prepared to post even more often. Those players who do post more often (within reason now, let's not get carried away) will likely be more prominent in the campaign.

There will of course be exceptions caused by real life, but I will not hesitate to let your character get “left behind” or “lost” and “found” later if necessary - what occurs in the meantime will vary depending on the player’s attitude and consideration for others. If you know you are going to be gone, just let me know and we'll work around it.

If your character is absent during combat and you're holding us up, I will Delay your action, or chose an appropriate action for you - whatever seems to make the most sense. I will always try to leave plenty of time for folks to catch up - I know we all have other responsibilities.

Combat and Dice Rolling:

Initiative
When combat begins I will roll initiative for all combatants including PC's. Actions will be resolved in order. Players are encouraged to post ahead of time (including options if you'd like). If a player has posted before their initiative and things change before their actual initiative comes up, they are free to change their action with a new post.

Attack modifiers
PC's should modify their die rolls as appropriate for cover, shooting into melee, flanking, attacking from prone, etc. While being prone is technically an AC modifier, feel free to calculate it in as long as you advise me. Make sure you note the modifications please.

Format for Posts

You should post the round, your initiative, and your location as well as any movement during the round. Please also post your current status near the top of your post. Your status should include your current/max HP, any equipped weapons, current conditions, and any other pertinent topical information (like the spells you have memorized for instance). Please use spoilers for things that would scroll long (like your current status). Example

Dice rolling
Dice rolling is done via the message board dice roller (see BBCode tags below the text box when you post). Feel free to roll dice for a skill, attack, etc, anytime you think is appropriate. I appreciate it if you explain any situational modifiers that alter what the roll would be from your profile. Including at least situational modifiers keeps things like cover from being counted twice or not at all. If there are any questions, my rulings are binding so please be clear.

End of turn
Once you post and your initiative passes, your turn is done. A friend of mine says, "I play the villians perfectly and I expect you to play your characters perfectly." You have one chance to be perfect, please be careful. There is no going back - things are slow enough with Play by Post, I will not slow it further by covering the same ground twice.

Etiquette:

Please be Active
Please plan on posting at least once a day if not more. If you have abilities that interrupt combat (like Step-up) plan on posting even more often.

Play your character
Have fun! Enjoy your creation. Listen to the advice of others, but do what you want. However, be sure to play your character as built. The 8 Intelligence fighter should probably not be figuring out the puzzles. The 7 Charisma dwarf should not be the lead diplomat. Feel free to assist (especially out of character), but remember who your PC is.

Play your own character
It's fine to make general requests, ask for a flank, suggest a tactic, beg for healing, but refrain from "Next turn you should cast bless, pull out your mace, and take a 5' step to the north to give me a flank." Just because the PC is an ignorant clueless snob doesn't mean the player is. Their motivations might not be the same as yours. They might not care at all about the law and/or the greater good.

Don't play NPC's or other characters
You control only your own actions. You might think your diplomacy roll of 20 will make the lady swoon, but maybe it won't. There are things going on behind the scenes and I will not reveal all of it. NPC's lie. I know this might be a shocker, but it's true. I will be honest with you as the GM, but NPC's might actually deceive you.

Try to advance the action
PbP is slower than desktop gaming and as such you should be active with nearly every post. Before pressing submit, consider whether or not your character is actually doing anything in your post. If not, you may want to reconsider. Naturally role play is doing something as surely as any action.

Cheating
There are no real world rewards or prizes for winning. I'd much prefer to stab you in the heart with my sharp wit then kill you with a dragon. If your character dies, then they have more character. They'll make it back to the world somehow if you want them to, or we can try something new. If you're not having fun, don't cheat to fix it. Talk to me.

Thank you Euan for the inspiration and borrowed formatting for the campaign page.