Kelly Royal
Wed, Nov 17, 11:51 PM (13 hours ago)
The party has completed Keep on the Borderlands (converted from 2nd edition D&D to Pathfinder). The party was originally assembled by Bjorn (Tom) a 1st level paladin of Torag (LG dwarven creator god). The party consisted of:
All these Adventured with Bjorn (Tom Royal’s very last character)
Marcia – “Hetti“, Human Ranger
Angie Johnson – “Loriang”, Ranger, Beastmaster. Has spider animal companion.
Gary Johnson – “Dorthey”, Cleric of Gozrah (nature/weather deity). Simple healer. Player thinks like he’s in a computer game. Simple actions…. And he’s playing a female character….
Curt Rigby – “Mallium”, Started as Rogue but is not playing a War Cleric of Iomedia. Seems to have no concept of money/value other than adventuring and combat. Rolls dice terribly (remind you of anyone?)
Jay McAvenue – “Rabidi NPH” Witch & worshiper of Rabidi.
“Gish” – NPC Gnome Rogue2/Wizard3 – security consultant at end of Keep on the Borderlands. Wanted a change of career so became Wizard specializing in transportation/conjuration. Very black skin, like drow black.
NPC still at Keep on the Borderlands:
Boris – Wizard6, specializing in magic that allows him to mimic a Fighter as he is a worshiper of Kurgess (and passes himself off as a warrior. Speaks in heavy Russian accent.
Castilian Martine – leader of the Keep. Kinda/Sorta banished from polite Ducal society. While he is a competent leader his aims are more combat oriented than the Duke perfers. This guy probably should have a been an adventurer as he’s obsessed with their stories even now but was guided to a career as a Chevalier and horse combat. Speaks with Spanish accent.
Matron Guilda – Martine’s “Keeper” is a sever-looking Aristocrat, keeping him in check and acting as his guardian. Taming his wilder impulses.
Benedict – Grizzled, lame Battle Herald (Cavalier/Bard). Tells Martine tales of his wilder days and further goads him toward his more rash impulses.
After completing the Keep on the Borderlands storyline and receiving their reward from the Castilian (promotion to low rank keep guardians and some coin), Bjorn is called back to the Five Kings Mountains and the main temple of Torag.
Lord Unther – Dwarf cleric of Torag (12th), leader of tribunal, epitome of LG and only wants to hear Bjorn’s story and reward/judge him accordingly. He ridged but kindly. The father of his temple. Rules are critical, but he is kindly and generous to his flock. His beard is white with Lapiz beads, his head is covered in gray/white curls.
Master Scori – Dwarf paladin of Torag (10th), belongs to a small, unpopular sect of Torag called the “Iron Fist of Torag” that lean heavily toward aggressively smiting evil in all its forms. Many would say more aggressive than required and that they are too light on mercy and kindness. He has a righteous demeaner and looks forward to the next crusade. His beard is black and curly, in the style of the old Babylonians while his black coif is cut close to his skull.
Skori’s connection to the Iron Fist of Torag can be deciphered by noticing the symbol on his robe’s lapel (Perception DC 15, not obvious, -2 if at distance) and a Kn: Religion (DC 20, obscure sect). Even if the symbol is not noticed, a Sense Motive DC 15 will let you know that there is a mental/philosophical distance between Skori and the other two of the triumvirate.
Master Sweyn – Dwarf Cleric of Torag (10th), fully supports Lord Unther and will be the one noticed if/when you notice Scori’s insignia and overall demeanor.
Sweyn is the youngest of the tribunal and takes his lead from Lord Unther. He is a strong leader in his own way but feels intimidated by master Scori. His full beard is golden with streaks of red and his red, wavy hair is cut long.
Upon receiving his report, Bjorn and those that follow him are assigned a short mission while the tribunal deliberate and seek Torag’s guidance as to Bjorn’s next mission.
The party is directed to an old Dwarvish tomb to retrieve the scepter of a king long entombed. The crypt was recently breached after an earthquake broke it’s seal. A repair team is being assembled but leadership wants you to recover the scepter as they feel it is most at risk of being lost or stolen.
Upon arrival to entrance to tomb, the party encounters a pack of Gnolls lead by a Fiendish Ogre and it’s pet Worg who’ve just exploited the tomb’s broken seal. Upon the Gnolls defeat, the party continues through the tomb that looks like it was designed for large groups of mourners to review the body in state and praise the long dead king’s life from birth to adulthood as well as the highlights of his life.
The group finds and defeats a cluster of Vargouilles that are more interested in eating them than spawning more of their kind. In the aftermath, they find a concealed magic shield that is able to shoot spines from it’s face as far as a shortbow.
In the main crypt was a cursed font that Bjorn noticed and warned the group away. But he wasn’t able to anticipate the pair of Wraith’s that attacked from the walls, floors and ceiling! This surprise attack drove the party back out of the tomb as the group didn’t have the ability to damage these amorphous, incorporeal creatures.
Several days later via cart, the party tapped the Bibliothek von Torag and their scholarly staff. Learning about a treatment called Ghost Touched they were able to find an Enchanter that was capable of applying it to a Masterwork weapon.
Even with the delay searching and finding a couple weapons capable of dealing with the shadowy Wraiths, the Party is able to return to the crypt a couple days ahead of the repair crew.
With weapons able to defeat the Wraiths, they continue through the crypt til they met up with a strange burnt looking humanoid with a black, skull-capped mace in hand, sitting atop a large, gilded & bejeweled sarcophagus. Did they find a guardian or a brigand?
Turns out it’s a Bodak wielding a Mace of Terror. Only after defeating the Bodak do they realize that the Black Mace is actually the Scepter they were sent to retrieve, somewhat corrupted after being in the hands of such an evil creature for hundreds of years. They hands of the assassin who killed the Dwarven king.
Even with such hard to hit opponents with such damaging powers (ability drain) the party knew when to cut and run to regroup. I wasn’t able kill of Bjorn in glorious battle so definitely up for some ideas on how to write him out of the story in a manner that befit Tom.
Without the party!