Campaign Chronicles

I was searching through old posts today, looking up what now seem like ancient and long-forgotten details about an event that took place twelve years ago in my play-by-post campaign and stumbled across an article about level limits in AD&D. This concept has largely been abandoned over the intervening decades since the creation of Dungeons & Dragons with 5e essentially capping out at 20th level for everyone but it got me to thinking about the story my players are currently engaged in. In earlier editions of the game, it was commonly accepted that the time of elves and dwarves, et al has passed with them reaching their "maximum potential" somewhere between 8th and 11th level. Humanity is the mover and shaker of the world now but it seems to me, and always has, that an elf with a lifespan of hundreds of years is going to amass more experience and have more time to hone his skills than any human.  The same can be said for dwarves and gnomes who also can expect to live to...

21 thru 30 Frostkolt 348 AC The end of year celebration takes place over the course of several days, starting on the evening of the Winter Solstice and running through the end of the calendar year. Gifts are exchanged between family and friends, music - some lively and modern, other tunes obviously traditional with roots in religious hymns, abounds. The scent of sage hangs heavily in the air as the herb to drive off negativity and open pathways for positive energy to enter. There are races in the street for children (and adults). Snow and ice carving take center stage on the third and fourth days of the celebration. Cedron observes the elves' festivities, and a spark of curiosity flickers in the human. He decides to go explore the mid winter celebration first hand. Using Akivasha's blindfold to alter his features and commanding his chain shirt to take on the appearance of the local garb, the minstrel-priest makes his way casually into the streets to immerse himself in the cit...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC Grotto tells Raven what just happened. After, gathering all of the weapons he threw, he recasts "Inflict Serious Wounds" into his spell-storing axe. Grotto and Raven both check on Dakara. Grotto asks, "Would me and my friend here be able to do an exorcism? I think I can handle the lead but you said two priest were required." She shakes her head, "No. Both priests must be ordained. If you can capture these possessed elves, I will help them." The dwarf nods and turns to check on Mortimer who is asleep and resting quietly. "It's settled then. Let's put an end to this," Raven crouches to scratch the white dog behind its ears. "Lead the way, Nala." Dog, elf, and dwarf take off, leaving the harvest temple and racing into the woods. "I informed Lord Harrick about the cursed pies, so th...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC "Will Nala take me to her master," Raven asks. Nala wags her tail. "Yes." And with that, the two are off. The white-furred hound leads the elf into the woods, miles passing beneath their feet. Finally, the dog slows. The stench of rotting flesh hangs heavy in the air. Raven's hand drifts slowly to Nightwatcher's hilt. "Nala, stay," is all he says before approaching the body. The half-eaten corpse of a man lies on the side of the trail. Judging from his advanced state of decomposition, he’s been there for nearly a tenday. Dozens of maggots are drilling through his body. When Raven approaches, two of them grow to the size of a small bear. Raven's sword is out in a flash. The maggots rear up, tiny forelimbs raking the air and serrated mouth parts click-clacking as they spread out in an attempt to catc...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC "Carla, our local hedge-witch. I ran into her in town a couple weeks ago and she gave me some biscuits. That night, I watched a worm crawl out of an apple and it started talking to me!" Mortimer forces himself to his feet and staggers across the room. "It told me that if I didn't do what it told me to, the maggots it put in my stomach would kill me!" He opens a cabinet, using one arm to prop himself up on the countertop as he roots around inside. He produces a black, stone mortar and pestle. "I grind the maggots in this and mix them into the pie and bake them in the oven over a black powder while chanting words I don't understand. Today, I went to make another batch and the powder was gone. Then I heard the Jacksal's house caught fire and I knew what happened. I need this to stop! I need these things out of...

21 Frostkolt 348 AC Shadow mentions to Cassidy, “I hear we are going to be going on a ship for the next leg of our adventure. Have you been around ships much? Grotto is seeking instruction in seamanship from Raven. Perhaps we should go as well?” Cassidy smiles, "I have never been on a ship before! Unless you count the one I rode from Lookit to Ergoth. Those gnomes were so nice! And it only caught fire three times! I'm told it was a Highly Successful Voyage!" The kender beams up at his dark elf companion. "I can even practice with my crossbow! Ooo! Look! A squirrel!" “Please don’t shoot the squirrels. The elves will get very unhappy.”  Shadow takes Cassidy and steers him towards the riverfront. Along the way he thinks to himself 'Raven will kill me if this kender sets the boat on fire'. He tries to keep up with the small talk of boats and Underdark lakes and rivers. “The horrors of the dark waters under your feet are nothing to be trifled with.” He answ...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC "Very well," Harrick says. "I shall remain here to keep an eye on Jacksal should has assailant return to make another attempt and to keep him from doing anything stupid. Good luck to you both." The Lord of Ironford salutes Grotto and Raven as the pair head off along the road to the old, abandoned windmill. The windmill is only a half-mile or so out of town so within a matter of minutes, the end of the uppermost sail comes into view. Raven turns to Grotto. "I am going to slip into the woods and make my way around to the far side of the windmill. Give me until a count of about 200 to get into position. Then come up the path. If there is anyone hiding up there, they may make a break for it and I'll be there to either cut them off or herd them back towards you." The ranger slips into the tree line and vanishes. ...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC "Show me the scene of the crime. Tell me every detail of what you remember from before and up to the explosion. Tell me more of this Mortimer. Leave no detail out." Grotto says to the portly baker. "That Mortimer and me been fuedin' since we were. Who could spit farther, we could pull the biggest fish outta the river, who could get the prettiest girls, who was more successful, and who would win the pie contest. An' he ain't ever won none of it." The armored man, having regained his bearings after the dwarf's surprising appearance and declaration. "Mortimer's always been a quiet law-abiding fellow. Most of the townsfolk like him. He's got a son named Timeo. Wife passed a few years back. He has a farmstead a couple of miles from here." Mortimer cuts in, "You'll find that sore loser...

Note: This adventure is based on the "Banquet of Death" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level. 21 Frostkolt 348 AC Grotto looks around dumbfounded, mouth agape in shock. Questions race through his mind faster than the flurries of snow in front of him. "Raven!? What is this place? How do they know you? Why do they call you master of the lodge? Is this where the mushroom circle took you? Why are you beholden to these creatures? Do you serve them or they serve you? If they torment you so, we know how to deal with that." Grotto can barely focus. His eye wide with excited confusion! Raven sighs, "Let's go inside. I'll explain." The two ascend the steps and enter the lodge. As Raven removes his coat and hangs it on a peg inside the door, "Marzipan works for me and this place is...related to where the mushroom circle took me. I became the unwilling, perhaps unwitting owner of the lodge and the title that comes with it after I faile...

21 Frostkolt 348 AC Grotto leaves from Lorraine's, en route to sailor training at Councilor Summerwalker's warehouse. A thin layer of snow crunches beneath his booted feet. As he turns a corner onto the tree-lined waterfront, he hears voices, one of them is Raven's. Grotto walks until he finds Raven. "Arg, Cap'n, seaman Grimmbeard reporting for training!" Grotto says in his tired worn out pirate bit. "Swash me buckles and shiver me timbers!" Grotto laughs, amusing no one but himself. "So",  Grotto says in his speaking voice, "who do we have here and what is our sea training for this session?" Grotto rounds the corner and sees Raven talking to what he thinks is a familiar face. Many enchanted gingerbread people inhabit the fairy tale world of the Grimmlands. "Gingie? Gingie Bread? Is that you? Run run as fast as you can, can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" Grotto jokes to who he thinks is a familiar face,...

27 Darkember thru 19 Frostkolt 348 AC Ra’ziir spends some time reviewing maps of this world to better understand the lay of the land and sea as well as some of the more prominent points/locations of interest. What he finds are maps from before and after the Cataclysm. The entire shape of the continent is vastly different. Most of the cities are in roughly the same place, although the retreat or advance of the seas in relation to the altered coastline has submerged some and left others completely landlocked. Many towns do not appear on the newer maps, with no indication as to whether they were destroyed or were left off for the convenience of the cartographer. Still, he is assured that the maps are as accurate as was possible at the time of their production but it is fairly likely that some errors are present. Shadow will spend some time with the other two wizards looking at the maps and discussing the vulnerability and defenses of the dragonmen the party encountere in hopes of coming ...