[PBEM News] D & D 3.5 edition: You Chose the Story:)

From: wbar41@metrocast-dot-net.no-spam.invalid (wbar41)

Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:57:09 +0000

What I propose is that I will write three potential storylines for an
adventure, the group being at least four player-characters. The
storyline that garners the most interest will be the one I DM. Just
for your information, my background:

I have been gaming since 1982. I have played in all TSR and WOTC
setting at one time or another. I have been DMing since 1985. If any
are interested, and want to know what kind of DM they are getting I
would gladly send them samples of my own writing from the game I am
currently running [It is the Council of Wyrms setting updated to 3.5
rules].

Here are the three storylines:

Idea #1. Spelljammer Setting [3.5 edition rules]: Madness of the
Beating Heart

The main catalyst for the story is a woman named Cilindria Kir. She
will find the PCs on the Rock of Bral. She is tired, injured, and
desperate for aid. It seems she is a wandering minstrel, traveling
the highways and byways of space making a living performing for
audiences at space ports or aboard ship for short engagements. On one
of these ships 'Cil', as her friends called her, met a handsome first
mate named Thom Walker. She agreed to remain aboard this particular
hammership, the Void Reaper, longer than her usual contract because
of him. Simply put, they fell in love.

During this time though the captain of the vessel, a man named Kane,
have developed an obsession with the beautiful moon elf bard. Kane
was a high level member of the criminal organization known as the
Tenth Pit. He is cunning, ruthless, and utterly evil. Seeing the
budding romance drove him nearly insane. Being the type of man he was
one night after Cil performed for the ship's crew Kane asked her to
join him in his quarters. He told her he had something urgent to
relay to her.

Not realizing her peril the moon elf bard did as she was asked. When
she arrived, Kane tried to 'take her', to spoil the romance between
Thom and Cilindria. The first mate of the Void Reaper was more wise
to the captain's ways than his love was though. He had seen Kane's
eyes wander toward his companion a little too often in recent weeks,
but he was afraid to take action. Those of the Tenth Pit did not take
kindly to its members leaving the group. This night though he knew he
had no choice.

Thom burst in before Kane could harm Cilindria, cutlass drawn. They
were in port, the planet Garden, when the incident occurred so the
first mate told his love to leave the ship quickly, do not look back.
Thom knew that his fight was nearly hopeless. Kane was a master
swordsman. The first mate was no match for him, and yet all he could
think about was making sure his love was set free of the captain's
'madness'.

At first Cilindria would not go. She tried to help her love. Kane
easily beat her attacks aside, wounded her deeply. Thom pleaded with
her even as he fought for his own life. Cil, paralyzed with fear,
bleeding badly, numbly left as he instructed. Once she did true fear
took over and she did not stop until she had found passage out of
Garden. The ship's cleric healed her wounds as best he could, but his
faith was limited.

The ship's first port stop was the Rock of Bral. This is where our
story picks up. Cilindria is feeling heart sick, guilty for leaving
her love. She wants to enlist the aid of the PCs who find out what
happened to him.

Note: Knowledge of the setting is not necessary to play. The
characters will be mid level [10 character levels total], standard
3.5 rules apply for character creation.

Idea #2.  Forgotten Realms setting [3.5 edition] rules: Corruption
Rules

This story takes place in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting near
the small town of Dragon Falls, east of Tantras and the Dragon's
Reach. It takes place ten years after the Time of Troubles, when the
avatars of the gods walked the Realms. The city state of Tantras has
finally rebuilt itself from the ashes of the battle between the god
Torm and dark Bane. Now a new peril rises to the east that threatens
to engulf the Dragon's Reach and far beyond.

In a small town some thirty miles east of Tantras known as Dragon
Falls a twisted poison is spreading. An evil heart bent on conquest
has found a way to twist the budding life of one of the Realms most
powerful creatures: a dragon! Scouring the Realms for precious dragon
eggs from all of the evil races [red, green, blue, black, and white] a
human male wizard/cleric of vast ability, Kizar Brisbane, has found a
way to mass produce the eggs of these evils races. From their he
twists their growth until he produces the desired effect: an
half-dragon! These powerful creatures, wholly loyal to their deranged
creator, are forming a massive army to sweep across the region.

The player-characters will not know any of this. All they will know is
that sightings of strange and fell beasts have been tormenting the
residents of this tiny hamlet. They have been asked to investigate,
to help the townfolk make the 'nightmares' go away if possible.
Sinister intrigue awaits the PCs though as there is more going on
behind this new evil than merely conquest.

Note: Once again knowledge of the FR setting is not necessary as long
as you know 3.5 rules. This will be a higher level campaign [15
character levels total], standard 3.5 rules apply. In all of my
campaigns how you break down levels between classes is up to you as
long as they do not exceed the total given.

Idea #3. Forgotten Realms setting [3.5 edition rules: Destiny's
Children

This story is a variation of a theme I have seen a few times in novels
and D & D campaigns.

The party will start out as ordinary humans invited by an old friend
for the weekend to play a marathon session of---you guessed it D
& D. Unknown to the player-characters though their old friend has
discovered something very interesting. He has found a way to make
their campaigns a reality. The knowledge, and his own visits to this
'alternate' universe have warped his mind. He has no second thoughs
of sending his very good friends into the 'jaws' of danger to live
out his fantasy as a real DM.

Can you wrest your fate from the hands of this madman you once called
friend?

The plotline here is simple. When your friend, the DM, transports you
to this alternate universe you take on the characteristics and
abilities of the character you are playing at the time. From their
your fate is in your own hands--sort of:) Do you use your new found
abilities to find your way home? Do you stay, finding this new
reality way too satisfying to leave? Do you struggle between the two
options? And how will your friend, the DM, factor into  your fate?

I am leaving this story intentionally vague in spots to create more
surprise for players as they decide who to proceed once they find
themselves in this alternate reality. The options are really endless,
but I do have one central theme that I intend to keep to myself--for
now..lol.

Note: Same rules apply as in my other ideas. However, this is a low
level campaign [character levels total 5]. Any further questions
please drop me a line

Wayne
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