Journey to Ravenloft
~ A Solo Affair ~
D&D 3 & 3.5 Editions:
{Played Using 10mm Scale Miniatures}
~ A Solo Affair ~
D&D 3 & 3.5 Editions:
{Played Using 10mm Scale Miniatures}
The legend says that long... long ago, in ancient times, they came from far and wide; drawn by the whispered rumour of gold: the sweet allure of fame and the promise of danger... the stuff of heroes; the folly of the blind and greedy! A myriad of reasons drew them together: they crossed the wide divide of distant lands and sailed across vast oceans - from ancient empires, noble kingdoms, petty principalities, holy theocracies, and from poor unheard of farmlands... they came.
Many would fall along the way, never finding a conclusion to their uneasy dreams. Others would... through trial and ordeal... wend their way to the journey`s end; yet those who found themselves at this terrible place would soon discover, their troubles had only just begun... the real adventure would be far more dangerous; their nightmares barely touching upon the true plight that lay ahead of them.
... for they were about to enter Black Fang`s Lair!
Many would fall along the way, never finding a conclusion to their uneasy dreams. Others would... through trial and ordeal... wend their way to the journey`s end; yet those who found themselves at this terrible place would soon discover, their troubles had only just begun... the real adventure would be far more dangerous; their nightmares barely touching upon the true plight that lay ahead of them.
... for they were about to enter Black Fang`s Lair!
enduring many trials... many ordeals
Heroes and Heroines from the four corners of the world face many dangers... ever seeking answers to their troubled dreams.
Many would fall by the wayside from a myriad of woes.... others would endure to embrace the main challenge that still lay ahead - yet so far hidden from their sight.
{above photos are all 10mm Pendraken & Copperstone Casting}
Let the Game Begin!
Let the Game Begin!
Longtail
Worlds Largest Dungeon
Situated Close to Worlds Largest City
Many hero parties would follow their strange dreams and visions. But this tale (for now) follows just one such heroic band, who called themselves... The Wyrmscales.
Mathias Stormrider is the son of General Hautus Stormrider (the leader of the Wyrmscales). Mathias is a Captain of the Guard within the Lamplighter`s district of Sharnkabec. He has been charged, by his father, with putting together a party to hunt down a dangerous wererat outlaw called Longtail. Mathias`s father told him privately (before he had set out in pursuit of this criminal) that Sir Milton (their employer) wished this terrible villain apprehended at all costs, and his demonic spell book bought (unopened) back to the city for safe keeping.
Kevern & Carl Evaldi (brothers) are Wyrmscale Guardsmen under the command of Captain Mathias Stormrider.
Pollen is an Elf Masterbowman, caught in a vendetta of justice. Several weeks ago, his village was mercilessly attacked... many houses burned, and half his people slaughtered. The unprovoked attack was simply that this peaceful community was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A dreadful, foul army of humanoids (led by a dire were creature called Longtail) had happened upon the elf village while they journeyed through the lands on their way east. The sacking of the village meant nothing to the humanoids, except plunder, rape , pillage, and a bit of fun! This travesty was more than Pollen could bear, his entire family slain, many of his friends maimed and killed... he took it upon himself to track the vile humanoids with the intention of removing Longtail`s head from his shoulders... in payment for his vile sins. Pollen was wounded after the attack on his home, and it was a month before he was well enough to begin his quest. The trail was not fresh, but the humanoids left a wake of carnage in their stead; and so it was that he was finally able to track them down. However, upon the road, Pollen met with Mathias Stormrider (leader of a party bound on the same quest as his own... the hunting down and bringing to justice of Longtail). Mathias asked Pollen to join them in their bitter business... and Polen slept on it. Joining the Wyrmscales was a wise choice, he decided. There was indeed strength in numbers. In the morning, Pollen agreed to join them.... soon, Pollen would have his revenge.
Sparks is a human Druid (healer). Plagued with nightmares of an impending doom about to sweep the lands... she feels intuitively compelled to undertake this journey; though she has no idea what any of this has to do with her bad dreams, she feels sure that time, and her Goddess, will guide her true. She met up with the Wyrmscales as she journeyed through the wilderness, and fate seems (for a while) to have united them.
Pattern is a thief from the fair Silver Sailed City of Luansig. Her skills are not to be underestimated. Mathias spotted her and employed her without hesitation. The promise of a 20% cut or all treasure found was enough for Pattern to consent to joining Mathias’s party of adventurers.
Astof is a Mystic of some renown (in Sandpoint at least). The dreams that have, of late, troubled him at night, have led him to believe Longtail is a Demonic abomination, and should be destroyed at all costs.
The Story of Longtail:
Longtail is a wererat with a quick mind, charisma, and great ambitions. Using long research, and with the aid of his imp familiar (Achsyyx) Longtail found out about the dungeon {Pallengarthade}, its history and original purpose.
Through Achsyyx`s ability to commune with the infernal powers, he learned that there was a long forgotten chapel close to the entryway to the dungeon that held a gateway to an extra dimensional space where multitudes of infernal beasts had been trapped. Releasing those beasts, Achsyyx told Longtail, would make the wererat their master and would make the ferocious army available to him. Longtails destiny was clear.
Fuelled by the promise of treasure and led by lizardfolk guides, Longtail`s force made its way to the dungeon in short order. Entering the lost entrance, the humanoids began exploring the area, searching for the tomb`s fabled wealth. Longtail himself, guided by Achsyyx, led a small expedition into the farthest reaches.
At first the humanoids were eager to exploit their new home, greeting the absence of Longtail as a chance to gather as much treasure as possible while the fiend was gone. But as search party after search party came back empty handed and with tales of barren rooms filled with nothing but traps, trouble quickly ensued.
It had been Longtail`s natural leadership that had held the unusual force together and now the remaining humanoids were left to their own devices. Soon the natural rivalries of the various humanoid groups began to assert themselves. Insults and slights led to shouting and shoving. Suspicions and rumours that one group had found a treasure and was not sharing it with the others led to bitter accusations. Inevitably, armed confrontations and isolated clashes took place and Longtail`s force was splintered in two, with the reptilians (composed of the kobolds and their krenshar mounts, troglodytes and lizardfolk, banded together out of necessity against the more numerous orcs and their ogre enforcer.
The dungeon was divided between the two sides and each side searched, looking for treasure that they would never find. And as their own searches became fruitless, each side became convinced that the other side had found something. Spying gave way to full-blown battles as the two factions, spurred on by their frustrations, searched and fought across the length and breadth of the area. In a short time, they had forgotten about searching for treasure and were concerned with wiping out their enemies.
During this time the quest of Longtail was ignored by the humanoids, neither side caring any longer what had brought them to the dungeon in the first place. Some even forgot about the half-fiend. They would soon be reminded.
For even as the humanoids fought amongst themselves, Longtail led his expedition to the forgotten chapel. There, with the aid of his familiar Achsyyx, he opened the gateway, fully intent on becoming what he knew he was destined to be.
But things did not turn out as he planned. While Longtail could control some of the beasts, he could not control all of them, and soon a wave of extra-planar beasts, driven on by hatred, rushed through the dungeon. Falling on the frightened humanoids, the beasts struck a hammer blow that filled the dungeon with the blood and the screams of Longtail`s erstwhile allies. And even as Longtail tried desperately to gain control, Achsyyx and the infernal powers smiled.
Dungeons & Dragons 3nd Edition - again!
Many years ago, I was friends with a woman who was (at the time) amazingly kind to me. She visited me (from Canada) and, well... to be honest, treated me like a King. At the time of her visit, Dungeons and Dragons 3nd edition were in their infancy; it`s hay-day in fact. On a trip to Cork City, I can remember, quite by chance, finding a games shop called "Other Realms".
Now, this shop wasn't situated where it is now in Cork. Back then it was down a very busy `olde-worlde` looking side alley. The shop was on three levels, had a rickety, creaking staircase (with game books piled on all the steps, for anyone to browse through), rows of shelves, hanging paraphernalia, swords and fantasy helmets, toy witches brooms and... well the place simply oozed atmosphere, and I loved it with all my heart. It felt and smelt just exactly what a wargame and role playing shop is meant to be like. Why they later moved the shop`s location to where it is currently situated is beyond me. Back then the place was always crowded, had the atmosphere of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, and everyone who frequented the place absolutely loved it (it doubled up as a damn good DVD and book shop as well). Nowadays it just looks (and feels) like any other generic game store, world wide.
It was on my first trip there that I spotted the new Dungeons and Dragons rules and supplements, all jumbled up in disarray on the higgeldy-piggeldy shelves within a nice gloomily lit corner of the shop`s second floor. I must have sat on the floor cross legged, and poured over the Player`s Hand Book, The Dungeons Master`s Guide, and The Monster Manual for simply ages. These were real state of the art at the time, and I still love the look and style of them, even today.
I said this woman was kind to me, and so she was. I ended up walking out with the gift of all three weighty tomes tucked firmly under my arm... and over the next month, she must have bought me just about every hardback, softback, and sundry supplement for the game there was... at least 15 books by my count, if memory serves.
These books still sit on my shelf, pride of place and one of the chief treasures of my vast gaming collection.
My friendship with this woman may have ended long long ago now, but my appreciation of the kindness she showed me back then has never diminished.
Finally, now... many years on, it is a joy for me, once more, to take these books down from the shelf and prepare to read them again - all of them kept in their immaculate glory. I plan to use quite a lot of the material contained within these books for my new 10mm Pendraken Miniatures Campaign.
Actually, I`m quite excited by the notion. It brings back so many memories of good times spent playing Dungeons and Dragons. It feels half a life time ago to me now.
A Campaign is Born:
Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition
{plus 10mm miniatures... yeah, its actually possible}