Orangey's Campaign

For an explanation of this thread, read post #193 in the thread "First D&D Campaign".

The archipelago of Provenca: a chain of islands just south of The Continent. Each one is self-governed, and each an entirely sovereign nation. Some even are large enough to warrant multiple nations. Today's story is centered on Rienserieux, an island of about 800 square miles.

Rienserieux is governed by a magocracy, with a powerful wizard, sorcerer, cleric, druid, and witch forming the Council of Five. The council has the final word on matters of law an governmemt, but is constantly advised by lesser mages, influenced by various aristocrats, and appealed to by peasants in times of need.

Rienserieux is interesting in its approach to the undead: for as long as any-one can remember, undead have been welcomed and accepted on Rienserieux; liches hold powerful positions in the government, wights and ghouls patrol the streets in vrious police forces, and zombies can be seen tilling fields and milking cows. For 732 years, the cleric position in the Council of Five has been held by a lich cleric of Wee Jas, leading to a proliferation of temples in her honour, an uncommon circumstance elsewhere in Provenca.

Because of its pro-magic approach, Rienseriux has a much higher proportion of spellcasters than is the case else-where. Even most peasants can cast some rudimentary magic. The capital city of Mondstadt holds both libraries of arcane lore and temples containing sages knowlegable in all things divine. Scholars of all kinds and backgrounds can be found browsing the libraries or engaged in spirited debate with some ancient expert.

Our story starts in the village of Ordburg. Ordburg is near the center of Rienserieux, and is fairly un-remarkable as villages go. Farmers make up most of the population, with service workers and shop owners filling things out. A few wizards, witches, priests, barristers, and restaurateurs inhabit Ordburg, but no-one too notable. The city is built centered around a square dominated by a fountain known as, for reasons long forgotten, the Fountain of Life. In the square can be found a few pubs, smithies, the main temple, general stores, and a small start-up magical item emporium recently opened by Zavistic Rarve, a local wizard. Until recently, nothing of real interest has happened in Ordburg, which has languished in the Summer heat like it does every year. However, two nights ago, slightly outside the outskirts of town, a loud grinding noise started and carried on through-out the night, stopping shortly before dawn. The next morning, residents discovered a cave system there that was not present the day before. From the mouth of the cave came strange moaning and bubbling noises that were quite disconcerting to all those that heard them. Worried, the mayor sent down a small squad of zombies to explore the cave with orders to come back after four hours, but after the time was up, no zombies re-surfaced. The mayor decided that the best thing to do would be to gather a few living explorers to see what was going on in the caves, and offer a reward if they could put a stop to whatever as going on.

After searching for candidates, the assembled party consisted of the following members: a fighter, bored with town life, eager to test his mettle and claim the reward; a druid worried that the caves and whatever un-natural horrors they contained would soon encroach on his sacred grove; a local wizard, intrigued by the sudden appearance of some-thing so clearly magical; and a wandering gnome currently boarding in a local pub, curious about what might lay within the caves.

Shortly after dawn, two days after the appearance of the cave, the ad hoc adventurers gather in the square before the mayor, the priest from the temple of Wee Jas, and Zavistic Rarve.

The mayor, a rather short and portly man dressed in clothes rather finer than are strictly necessary, says, "Well, you boys know the danger of what you're about to do, but you know that it's for the good of the town. I've seen to it that the town will provide you with whatever you need, and my good friends Zavistic and Mort here are prepared to help you and provide you with the reward we- er, I've promised you. Mort?"

Mort Flaco, a pale and bony priest of Wee Jas, dressed in the traditional black-and-grey vestments of his sect, steps forward, clears his throat and says, "Yes, the mayor has asked me to provide you with any healing you find necessary. I can't, of course, go with you; I have my flock to tend to. However, I will, on request, provide you with any spells you need at a considerable and, frankly, generous discount. In addition, while cleaning the archives last week, I discovered these old scrolls. They're taking up un-necessary space, and I thought you could make more use of them than I could. They're a bit battered, but the magic is still intact. Probably." He hands three old, battered scrolls tied with ancient twine to the druid. "If you need any-thing, don't hesitate to come to me. May the Stern Lady watch your travels."

"Er, yes, thank you Mort. Now, as to the matter of the reward, the city has decided to open its, er, coffers to pay Mr. Rarve here to give you some trinkets. I'm sure he can, er, elaborate.

Zavistic Rarve, a slightly barmy old wizard with a thick accent and thicker moustache, who had been drifting off, snaps to. "Wut? Oh, aye. Aye lads, mister mayor here has promised me that when you coome bak from yonder hole, he'll foot the bill if ye'll be wanting any o' me stock. Personally, I dinnae think there'll be anything worth worryin' aboot, but ye cannae be too careful. Be sure ye come back safe."

"Well, that's that then. I'm sure I don't want to keep you here any longer. I, er, guess we'll be off then. Er, good luck boys." With that, the three men head back to their respective homes or places of work. Mort, however, turns around as if he'd forgotten some-thing.

"Oh, and by the way, gentlemen. I believe that things may have been coming from that hole in the dark of night and making off with people's possessions. It could merely be coincidence, but my good silver holy symbol has vanished, and I've been hearing people complaining of other things gone missing too. If you happen across my symbol, I would be ever so grateful if you'd return it." And with that, he too makes to leave.

All right. That lengthy introduction over, we can begin. If you didn't read the whole thing, please do.

	Author	Topic: Orangey's Campaign (Read 27069 times)
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