Simple Questions, Difficult Choices, Profound Consequences

This post was too large to place on the main page. It describes why some important character decisions are needed. Click here to read this article. (Sorry, if I had more time I would have written something shorter.)

The Storming of KurthKeep

A DM Notes link has been added to the campaign story column above. It is meant for your enjoyment. Alternately, you may click here.

The Mind of Evan

As the battlefield shifts and one by one the Sentinels are struck down, Evan lowers his crossbow to the ground. He places a strangely steady hand on the haft of his mace, forged to honor the Rod of Selûne.

"I have foolishly spent Your Gifts this night, My Goddess. Forgive my lack of foresight. Let me be your weapon here, give me the strength to vanquish these hellish foes! Let me make amends for my too generous actions tonight."

Evan stands, grasps the mace with both hands, and fully trusting his Goddess he strides purposefully toward the fiend.

"Creature of darkness! I am Evan Caulder, Priest of Selûne, and tonight I am your Doom. Flee back to whatever foul pit spawned you or you shall know the agony that the pure light of Selûne inflicts on fiends of the Underworld."

With a confidence only the truly faithful or the mad know, Evan raises his weapon and charges toward the monster.

"Selûne! Guide my my hand!"

"I HATE ADVENTURERS!"

- Holy High Imperceptor, Szchulan Darkoon -

Animosus Questions Haelimbrar

[The PCs all hear this conversation.]
...the following dialogue between Animosus and Haelimbrar occurs between 9:30 - 10:00 on 4 Mirtul, 1373.

Who do you worship? Torm, Ilmater, or Tyr?
Yes. I worship all three. All three hear me and I, them.

If you worship one how do you treat the others?
I am a servant of Torm. I am also a servant of Tyr. I am also a servant of Ilmater. This trichotomy poses no issue – once it is understood. Your question is best answered through faith, not by words. In short, I treat each one equally. However, Animosus, one’s faithful understanding of equal is ‘each according to their needs’. Equal in this sense is not as simple as slicing a pomegranate to share among three friends. For example: perhaps all the fruit must be given to the one most starving! Perhaps the food must be denied to all until it can be shared equally. Perhaps the delight must not be sliced at all, rather dried and its seeds sown in the garden of the three friends.

Why do you worship and pay homage to three gods?
Triadic knights trace their history back to the Fiend Wars of Impiltur (729-732 DR), when the three churches joined forces to proclaim the Triad Crusade, but we no longer comprise a single order of paladins. Many of us are now independent agents of good who have embraced the worship of three like-minded gods. Specifically, we came to prominence in the wake of the Weeping War (711-714 DR) when our order defended Old Impitur against an invasion of newly released fiends. The adage, “great minds think alike,” applies to both the temporal world and the divine gods. Further, the most fierce harbingers of evil in this realm, think and act in concert for more assured outcomes. When this happens, the Triadic Knights show greater resiliency than typical paladins since we draw on the three tenets of perseverance, courage, and justice to provide us amazing strength in the face of impossible odds.

How does each church treat you?
We receive little resistance from members of the individual faiths. Because each church has important aims and missions that would be achieved with the strength of our aid, we are often requested to rotate among the three faiths, serving the needs of each church individually. Animosus, in honest, the more I work with the churches, including your precious Church of Tyr, the more I identify specific weaknesses of each individual faith. I am quested to bring my understanding of the rest of the Triad’s teaching to bear, thus strengthening all three faiths.

Why are Triad worshipers so rare?
The largest concentrations of Triadic knights are found in Impiltur—my homeland. Several are leading members of the Knights of Imphras II, currently serving Imphras IV’s widow, the Queen of Impiltur. Some can be found in Tethyr, as leading members of the Knights Kuldar of Barakmordin. Some serve in Calimshan, where they venerate Anachtyr in lieu of Tyr, as leading members of the Janessar. We are few, but our resolve can break the spine of any fiend.

Why haven’t Oolathana and my other teachers devoted time explaining the Triad worship? I have always been told the thee churches work together and have even united under causes, but this is different than that.
Oolathana, like many other church leaders maintain skill and focus in the hegemony of their congregation. The Triadic Knights operate on a code handed down in the Triadic Vulgate that is separate from the intimate knowledge individual church leaders possess.

Does it offend any of the three churches sensibilities to worship and pay homage to all three?
Those who disapprove of our precepts are scarce. Those who hate our precepts are evil and fear the consequences of our strength in goodness through our unity.

How and why did you decide to follow this path?
When I was 5, I watched my father slowly die from an accursed disease. His suffering was greater, longer, and more painful than I can explain. When I became a man, I devoted my life to Torm, hoping to learn the skill to one day champion the destruction of the beast that placed the curse upon him. In due course my skills were recognized by the law of Impiltur. I served the crown as an enforcer of the law and was instructed in military combat by a Paladin of Tyr. His name is Havrondias, and still serves as one of the Lords of Imphras II under Queen Sambryl, the widow of Imphras IV.

What did you do to follow the path?
The honor of this station is by invitation only. Upon my 2nd year of service, to Havrondias he invited me to become a Triadic Knight, stating to me that his ‘close observations’ were concluded. I was of course honored to become a member. Shortly thereafter, the Triad bestowed powers upon me—the likes of which I had never before dreamed to possess. I have used these powers sparingly and wisely since.

What was the reaction among friends, family and the churches when you decided to worship the Triad?
It mattered not what anyone thought. By that point in my life—I knew who I was and what I must do. Incidental to my decision, I had received only admiration and respect for my choice.

What benefits you and the gods with this worship?
The Gods work through me—that is benefit enough. As a Triadic Knight, you become three times more powerful, three times more fulfilled, three times more useful to our divine masters. Accordingly, you are three times more free to choose your path of service, three times more recognized, three times more a target for the minions of evil, three times more aided by three times as many allies. And, your family is three times more secure and three times more cared for—for all the days of their lives. And, there is so much more…

[After much debate and consideration:]
How do I become a Triadic Knight?
You are not ready. Begin by reading this chapbook—it contains the Triadic Vulgate and daily prayers [Haelimbrar hands the small book to Animosus.] Membership is only given to the most noble and true—to one who has proven his bravery. A candidate must have risked his life to protect others and have been observed by a mentor. Training would then continue and your actions would be judged. Once admitted, special armor is bestowed and a solemn Ceremony of Acknowledgement will test and purify you over a period of several days until the time of Atonement. Your life will involve requirements including edicts, oaths and confirmations. Good deeds, service and counsel to the three churches would be regular. Finally, the Triadic Crusade would be your eternal obligation.

SESSION 16 ON MONDAY!

"Our actions will all add up. They must add up."
— Kelestri Umberton—

Anticipation is rising in Kurth. The heroes time to a critical junction draws near—the next few hours shall be decisive. You won't want to miss this session!"

"From death, life.
There is always another morning.
In the dawn,
beauty reigns, and the way is clearer."
— The words of the deity,
Lathander, The Morninglord —

Corim's Thoughts

Shades! What a day! It never seems to stop.

I ran into Erling this morning. He's less than half his age now. I hope the price we'll pay is worth his betrayal. Selfish old cur. At least he told me where Mount Grimmerfang is.

Slyl and I went to see this Tristan Silurien. No one seemed to be home. I thought it was a little too quiet so I found an open window and climbed in. Slyl got the door open and met me in the entryhall. Then nosy Kelestri showed up. We were standing in the open and this guy comes in and says, " What are you doing in my home?" We told him who we were and Kelestri had to take over the conversation. As if she knew what was going on! I had to mention Erling before he warmed up to us.

We went up to his workshop and he started talking( He wouldn't stop!). Someone knocked on the front door and he asked Slyl to go get his letter. I went with him in case it was a trap. We took it back upstairs and he opened it.

The next thing I remember is hanging upsidedown by a leg while Pavel carried Kelestri, Slyl, and me down the side of the house. If I knew he could do that I would have brought him in the first place.

The place was on fire and some cloaked figures were coming out of the front door. The rest of our group was fighting them. Animosus was swinging his sword around, hacking into to those cursed Baneites. They must have stolen our magic things because my swords were missing. I cracked some heads with that nice heavy mace they left me. (Thanks for the suggestion, Slyl.) We took care of them pretty fast, but they had already killed Tristan.

Animosus had gathered up all of our stolen stuff, so I got my swords and potion back.

I'm not sure why we are giving weapons to all the commoners, I don't think it will help much. But I guess that's why I'm not in charge.

Evan had that Knight give Sharisa a note, but she didn't do anything. Hmm.

I went with him, Leif, and Pavel to Beluar's Hunt Inn to see if she would show up for "dinner". She was there early. Evan went to sit with her and they talked a little.

Then all of sudden she got up and started to move toward him. He got all tensed up, like she had a knife or something. She was saying some evil sounding words and reached out her hand.

Then she touched him. His face got all pale and he leaped up swinging his fancy mace. I moved in to hit her from behind, Pavel burst in from outside, I couldn'tsee what Leif was doing, and Evan tried hit her again. He was saying something about their gods.

And then she said, "Home," and disappeared.

Evan said she had tried to kill him with a spell and that she had thrown away any chance for mercy. He seemed more sad than angry though.

We have to stop these losers of Bane.

Oh, I forgot, Slyl finally started talking. It sure does make it easier. It's about time.

Beltane (5 Mirtul)

On 4 Mirtul, in the midst of buying weaponry, distributing arms to the peasantry and working with church leaders, you noticed additional color added to the city of Kurth in the form of ribbons, bows and flowers. This is in preparation for the Holy Day, Beltane, tomorrow. Amidst the peasants you saw this day were Karrick, Blaise, and Janusz, the three brave men you had rescued who survived the bloodbath at Manyoak. They had recognized you first, for their appearance has changed—looking well-fed, well-clothed, and demurely content. They were saddened to see the empty Chauntean display at the Ippensheir faire. Together, you concluded the Chauntean Priests were murdered by the Banites in the Church of the Holy Seed before they could leave to leave for Kurth to present their material, Living Metal, at Ippensheir.

Beltane
5 Mirtul, is a holy day, the last of the 3 spring festivals, in which people begin to prepare for the warmer monthes ahead. This is a time of love and union. Gods commonly watching over this holy day: Sune, Lathander, Chauntea, and various nature and fey gods. On this day trees are decorated with bows and ribbons, bowls filled with floating flowers and/or candles, and fresh flowers picked before dawn are not uncommon sights. Common colors bright blue, lavender, warm pink, lemon yellow, as well as the traditional white and red. On this day powers affecting love and fertility are at thier most potent.

Heart Of Mystra

"Do you know what you have there?" the wizard asked Kelestri, his eyes looking upon her proudly as does a father upon a kindred's proud accomplishment. His eyes shifted right to left as though reading an invisible text in the air. "The Heart of Mystra channels magic safely. It is used in the creation and destruction of powerful magic, keeping magical power in stasis, until use of that power is safely desired. It is not unlike a smithing tool, used to destroy materials or to forge and craft materials to create new items. The Knights of the Mystic Fire once sought this item for use regarding an urgent matter of great import back around 1339 D.R. Then, almost as quickly as it was found, it must have been hidden away for safe keeping."

AT THE TABLE
(Dungeon Theory:Part I)

I'd like to build on Chip's recent comments about playing heroic characters, because I appreciate that style of play and I agree that it is fun to occasionally drop a 'bomb' on the DM. Additionally, as a DM I'd love to have even more bombs dropped spontaneously every-moment-of-the-game. An effective means to this, I suggest, is making those heroic decisions primarily at the table.

Concept: When players voice opinions, plans, attitudes, actions, and thoughts at the D&D table, the game moves to another level. This level is perhaps a higher level of participation - one of trust and collaboration.

Example 1: [Collaborative DM-player relationship]

*Scenario: Mialee is angry at the local baron for being too wrapped up in politics and legislation to notice the Dragon Cult activity in town. In an encounter with him, the following occurs at the table:

Player: Mialee has basically come here with the intention of getting the baron to really listen this time. She's not giving up until he does!

DM: What are you going to do?

Player: I'm walking right past the guards and into the barons chamber this time whether he is busy or not.

DM: Mialee arrives as though on a mission, the guards notice the frustration on your face and step aside as you briskly open the office door. The baron appears busy writing at his desk.

Player: Mialee is feeling angry and feels like smashing something to symbolically awaken baron Halfig to the reality of the cult in town.

DM: What do you do?

Player: With the sweeping motion of her arm I look for a bookcase containing volumes of legislation and knock them to the ground saying,"You insular fool! Can you not hear their footsteps in town? They're corrupting this town beneath you! You must do something before its too late!"

DM: [announcing to all players] Mialee sweeps a series of heavy bound books from the shelf, her voice echoing down the hall. The baron's hand scribbles a wild line as he looks up, seemingly ready to listen to what Mialee has to say.

Example #2 (The Adversarial DM-Player Relationship)
*Same scenario: Mialee is angry at the local baron for being too wrapped up in politics and legislation to notice the Dragon Cult activity in town. In an encounter with him, the following occurs at the table:

Player: I go to see the baron. [Looks at other players knowingly, having discussed this in private without the DM]

DM: Where do you go?

Player: To the baron's office house.

DM: Two guards stand ready, watching the doors as always.

Player: I try to push past them.

DM: Roll initiative

Player: Mialee yells as loud as she can, "You insular fool! Can you not hear their footsteps in town? They're corrupting this town beneath you! You must do something before its too late!" I get an 11 for intiative.

DM: The guards act before you, attempting to grapple you to the ground. You hear shutters closing on a window nearby, perhaps the baron does not wish to be disturbed.

Consider Example 1: Why was the scene dramatic? Who's idea was it first to place a bookshelf in the room? Was it necessary for the player to plan on knocking books down prior to the actual moment of game play at the table? Do you think the player views the DM as adversarial or do you think the player and DM trust each other to both create the drama as well as some story elements? When the player shares thoughts/opinions/plans/attitudes/actions at the table, how might this help both the player, the DM, and the other players? (in the moment, as well as later?) Would you think the rest of the players might enjoy watching a scene like this take place (whether their characters were there or not?)

To Sum It Up: In my opinion the best games are played when the players are not adversarial, rather collaborative with the DM. The NPCs are your adversaries, not the DM. In theory, if the DM were the adversary, all the characters would be dead. Keeping secrets from the DM neither serves to help the characters, the other players, nor the game. Conversely, the DM (and other players) knowing things (even intentions and thoughts) helps facilitate the story to make it richer. The DM (and even other players) can then use that information to help the players-characters-and the story. Help is defined as a richness in both wealful and woeful story events. Simply put, the more the DM knows the better the 'play' (drama).

Our Game: Everyone is doing great. This post has nothing to do with the past. Recent planning events made sense due to the limited time we play & the amount of planning that was desired to be done. Its important for everyone to know, I appreciated it! In the future, if we can play more of that heroic stuff at the table I think we'll experience an even greater high. (i.e. think about how electric Kelestri's challenge to Animosus and Evan was! think about Corim's justification speech when he had stabbed the UR Priest! think about Leif's breakdown at the altar of blood!) These are just some of the outstanding, on-the-fly RP with unplanned outcomes that helped define our characters). Yes, please—more of that!

"At the table" implies reacting on-the-fly and demonstrating the passionate, dramatic, genius of heroism. Generally, reacting to stuff previously dreamt-up in basements, side-bars, and personal phone calls doesn't lend itself well to in-the-moment, dynamic, electric, heroic, and epic story telling (although, as we've seen, there is a place for that too).

*Only An Example: This scenario is imperfect and meant only to convey the concept. I wish to focus more on the concept than on the specific Mialee scenarios.