Darksun
Link to IC Thread
Reserved Game - Players: whomever ends up making an account from the Veiled Alliance game
Salmon for speech
Aquamarine for thought
Gold for Actions
Aqua for any metaphysical communication
"purple"for text/anything written down
We will reserve blue for any really secret squirrel messages, since it's so damn hard to read, you need to high light it.
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Rolls may may done with dice or a dice roller program.
Full Version: Darksun: Veiled Alliance
We'll be starting an IC thread later for world building. For starters, we are looking at building in this thread what Wyvern and Tembo are doing after the end of the main campaign. This is a continuation of the Veiled Alliance campaign (finished at lv. 18). Would still like to continue with those characters but also don't want to stop doing the semi-regular Shadowrun campaign, so this way we can get some of both.
What I'm looks like for at starters is an idea of what each character is doing in the next year after the end of the main campaign. We can go over it in cliff notes first (bullet points, whatever) and then expand from there once there's a little direction.
What I'm looks like for at starters is an idea of what each character is doing in the next year after the end of the main campaign. We can go over it in cliff notes first (bullet points, whatever) and then expand from there once there's a little direction.
When last we left our erstwhile adventurers:
Tembo - A lesser noble from a minor house that has really made something of himself. Has also started a small trade enterprise. Arguably it's somewhat of a class betrayal, as traders and nobles are different. But his family isn't so land rich that anyone is really going to make a stink of it. Only Nibenese citizens can own property, and only nobles can own any property beyond their own home. His family , House Urrden is an older house that has been around for many generations but has been on a slow decline. They like others own some small rice fields along the hot springs to the south of the city. They own a few house slaves and dozens of field workers, as well as raising some animals.
With the recent upheaval with House Shom, many new opportunities have become available. Tarrick has also been able to make a name for himself as a very talented bard, although by the close of the last adventure he hadn't really gotten much "exposure" yet. His burgeoning trade house also relations with a number of tribes giving them a new and surprising edge in the markets:
- House Fyra: "secretly" ran by the ex-slaves of the hidden village of Salt View, their main contact is a mul named Rellis, a war leader of the tribe. Fyra trades primarily in salt, a necessity to daily life. While it's always available on the Great Ivory Plain, getting it to market is another story. The people of Salt View rarely conduct raids, but they maintain active theatrical troupes. Their bards are excellent sources of intel. They also actively, although discreetly, work against House Shom.
-Cromlin: A little know trade village which was under the control of House Shom, it is now independent, but not strong. Shom has been more preoccupied with the heavy debt and obligations they've incurred from Andarin Shom's involvement in the "Slave war" that briefly sprung up and cost the city-state so much. Cromlin has good trade relations with the giants, and can function as a skimmer hub for trade with Draj, and potentially Balic, although it is a but out of the way.
- Lone Tree aka "The Horde": This tribe is led by a magocracy, and has fewer moral compunctions about things such as slavery. Allied with a gith tribe, they actively and effectively raid trade caravans for goods and supplies. They also coordinate occasional kidnappings of identified mages in the city and villages around them, including from the Veiled Alliance. Wyvern and Tembo negotiated a truce between the Alliance and Lone Tree, increasing trade of knowledge and spell components between the two. For Tarrick's trade house, they are also an excellent source of materials that "fell off the back of a mekillot", as well as buyers for goods that are harder to acquire in raids.
- Fire Singers clan - An elf tribe they've made allies of , the Fire Singers, among other things, also work in spell components. While they aren't primarily a raiding tribe they do also conduct raids. These days they also have it in for Shom. They actively share information about their rivals with Tembo, while Ember, their Arcanist, actively trades magic with him (and wyvern),
Tembo - A lesser noble from a minor house that has really made something of himself. Has also started a small trade enterprise. Arguably it's somewhat of a class betrayal, as traders and nobles are different. But his family isn't so land rich that anyone is really going to make a stink of it. Only Nibenese citizens can own property, and only nobles can own any property beyond their own home. His family , House Urrden is an older house that has been around for many generations but has been on a slow decline. They like others own some small rice fields along the hot springs to the south of the city. They own a few house slaves and dozens of field workers, as well as raising some animals.
With the recent upheaval with House Shom, many new opportunities have become available. Tarrick has also been able to make a name for himself as a very talented bard, although by the close of the last adventure he hadn't really gotten much "exposure" yet. His burgeoning trade house also relations with a number of tribes giving them a new and surprising edge in the markets:
- House Fyra: "secretly" ran by the ex-slaves of the hidden village of Salt View, their main contact is a mul named Rellis, a war leader of the tribe. Fyra trades primarily in salt, a necessity to daily life. While it's always available on the Great Ivory Plain, getting it to market is another story. The people of Salt View rarely conduct raids, but they maintain active theatrical troupes. Their bards are excellent sources of intel. They also actively, although discreetly, work against House Shom.
-Cromlin: A little know trade village which was under the control of House Shom, it is now independent, but not strong. Shom has been more preoccupied with the heavy debt and obligations they've incurred from Andarin Shom's involvement in the "Slave war" that briefly sprung up and cost the city-state so much. Cromlin has good trade relations with the giants, and can function as a skimmer hub for trade with Draj, and potentially Balic, although it is a but out of the way.
- Lone Tree aka "The Horde": This tribe is led by a magocracy, and has fewer moral compunctions about things such as slavery. Allied with a gith tribe, they actively and effectively raid trade caravans for goods and supplies. They also coordinate occasional kidnappings of identified mages in the city and villages around them, including from the Veiled Alliance. Wyvern and Tembo negotiated a truce between the Alliance and Lone Tree, increasing trade of knowledge and spell components between the two. For Tarrick's trade house, they are also an excellent source of materials that "fell off the back of a mekillot", as well as buyers for goods that are harder to acquire in raids.
- Fire Singers clan - An elf tribe they've made allies of , the Fire Singers, among other things, also work in spell components. While they aren't primarily a raiding tribe they do also conduct raids. These days they also have it in for Shom. They actively share information about their rivals with Tembo, while Ember, their Arcanist, actively trades magic with him (and wyvern),
Enemies:
House Shom - Connected to a series of actions directly against Nibenay, this massive trading house remains the strongest in Nibenay, and likely the region. However, the blood is on the sand and the sand howlers have the scent. The city-state has effectively sanctioned the great trading house for the actions of Andarin, which culminated in a large battle with heavy losses to Nibenay's forces (especially their half-giant brigade). Whatever "good" relations the trade house had with it's parent city are smothered for the time being. The templars won't touch them, and aren't even allowed to take bribes from their associates. The trade house is hemorrhaging money. Raids on their caravans have required them to triple their guards and hire additional psions. it's understood that the house will likely survive, but this is the time to settle grudges by those they have stepped on over the years.
The loss of Fort Inix is a heavy morale loss as well, one the house is working to remedy. They are making more trades and building alliances with smaller houses they would have sneered at before. The "names" of Tembo and Wyvern are known and described in general to Shom agents. Beyond their names and general description, and their association with the Veiled Alliance however, not much is known about them.
Irikos - The Left Hand of Rajaat: An ancient Warlord, and Dead Lord of Bodach, Irikos manifested when Andarin Shom died while holding his sword. the Silencer. Irikos has sworn vengeance on Wyvern and Tembo.
House Shom - Connected to a series of actions directly against Nibenay, this massive trading house remains the strongest in Nibenay, and likely the region. However, the blood is on the sand and the sand howlers have the scent. The city-state has effectively sanctioned the great trading house for the actions of Andarin, which culminated in a large battle with heavy losses to Nibenay's forces (especially their half-giant brigade). Whatever "good" relations the trade house had with it's parent city are smothered for the time being. The templars won't touch them, and aren't even allowed to take bribes from their associates. The trade house is hemorrhaging money. Raids on their caravans have required them to triple their guards and hire additional psions. it's understood that the house will likely survive, but this is the time to settle grudges by those they have stepped on over the years.
The loss of Fort Inix is a heavy morale loss as well, one the house is working to remedy. They are making more trades and building alliances with smaller houses they would have sneered at before. The "names" of Tembo and Wyvern are known and described in general to Shom agents. Beyond their names and general description, and their association with the Veiled Alliance however, not much is known about them.
Irikos - The Left Hand of Rajaat: An ancient Warlord, and Dead Lord of Bodach, Irikos manifested when Andarin Shom died while holding his sword. the Silencer. Irikos has sworn vengeance on Wyvern and Tembo.
Allies:
The Plot Hook - Ran by a Balican named Balic, this bar/brothel/gambling hall is also a front for a guild of thieves known as the Night Songs, operating in Nibenay. They've taken great advantage of the inside information provided to them by Tembo and Wyvern, and worked with them in the past.
Templar Lolandria - A psion and Templar, she's alternated between and enemy and ally throughout their time in Nibenay. Settling on alliance, she was instrumental in gaining the assistance of the templars to allow Wyvern and Tembo to confront Andarin Shom. She is actively working to bring Wyvern in as a "King's Preserver" and bring more wizards out of the shadows. Lolandria has also helped them against other rival templars in the past. Her recent apparent success, in no small part thanks to Wyvern and Tembo, has also seen her elevated to High Templar.
- Lolandria is also, unknown to her, a spy from Balic in Nibenay's court.
High Templar Cassius Maederius - A Balican templar liberated from the Horde and Lost Tree, Cassius claims to be not only Lolandria's contact, but also her adopted father. He has communicated with the pair from Balic since their initial meeting and "owes them a favor".
The Red Band - A raider tribe from the Mekillot Mountains, they mainly venture south to raid against Balic and it's allies. Met in Cromlin, Tembo and Wyvern made some allies among them, enough to have the band generally well disposed towards them. Like the Fire Singers, they are strong associated with Fire Clerics.
Fip - A agent of unknown parties encountered in Cromlin, he's certainly a spy for someone. He's also open to working together, and shown to have some sort of magical talent.
The Plot Hook - Ran by a Balican named Balic, this bar/brothel/gambling hall is also a front for a guild of thieves known as the Night Songs, operating in Nibenay. They've taken great advantage of the inside information provided to them by Tembo and Wyvern, and worked with them in the past.
Templar Lolandria - A psion and Templar, she's alternated between and enemy and ally throughout their time in Nibenay. Settling on alliance, she was instrumental in gaining the assistance of the templars to allow Wyvern and Tembo to confront Andarin Shom. She is actively working to bring Wyvern in as a "King's Preserver" and bring more wizards out of the shadows. Lolandria has also helped them against other rival templars in the past. Her recent apparent success, in no small part thanks to Wyvern and Tembo, has also seen her elevated to High Templar.
- Lolandria is also, unknown to her, a spy from Balic in Nibenay's court.
High Templar Cassius Maederius - A Balican templar liberated from the Horde and Lost Tree, Cassius claims to be not only Lolandria's contact, but also her adopted father. He has communicated with the pair from Balic since their initial meeting and "owes them a favor".
The Red Band - A raider tribe from the Mekillot Mountains, they mainly venture south to raid against Balic and it's allies. Met in Cromlin, Tembo and Wyvern made some allies among them, enough to have the band generally well disposed towards them. Like the Fire Singers, they are strong associated with Fire Clerics.
Fip - A agent of unknown parties encountered in Cromlin, he's certainly a spy for someone. He's also open to working together, and shown to have some sort of magical talent.
Wyvern - The once solo half-elf has made a string of alliances and friends. Starting off with only a jozhal named Jerk, he's now allies with another half-elf, the High Templar Lolandria, who is working to secure him as the King's Preserver. Having agreed, wyvern is heading to a face to face meeting with none other than the Shadow King himself. Being tossed into the King's Court will likely be like a mekillot in the silt for him.
The Veiled Alliance is also necessarily distancing it's self from Wyvern, as there is no way their secrets will be safe to someone in close proximity to the sorcerer-king. Members of their cell will report to Tembo, and likely be shifted to other posts not directly within the city to protect their cell and identities.
The Veiled Alliance is also necessarily distancing it's self from Wyvern, as there is no way their secrets will be safe to someone in close proximity to the sorcerer-king. Members of their cell will report to Tembo, and likely be shifted to other posts not directly within the city to protect their cell and identities.
Tembo would be working feverishly for the first few months shoring up the Alliance and putting the proper people in the proper places. After that he would fall into more of a support and advisory role, rarely taking place in decision making or direct actions. Tarrick would become much more involved in the running of his trade operations, as well as making a name for himself amongst the nobility. Often flaunting the so called class betrayal, while using the money and influence from his enterprise to raise his family's status. During his free time he would be using every divination and resource he can leverage to find out more about Irikos, the Silencer and Rajaat.
Tembo : You've got the list of Alliance personnel your cell has. Wyvern is stepping back out of the leadership of your cell, as he's moving into Nibenay's court. Not sure how Tembo feels about that but looks like it's happening. Which leaves the leadership of their cell to Tembo. Is he breaking the cell up or is there any particular place he'd like to place people? Or is he looking to give leadership of the cell to someone like Mirage?
Tarrick: I'm thinking of getting the rules from Pathfinder: Ultimate Campaign which has a decent rules set for building a business/group/guild. Similar to King Maker where you build a town, then a kingdom. Let me know if you'd be interested or would rather keep it abstract. His previously small trade house has a chance to grow quickly and has some great market advantages. We can simply say it's doing very well and growing quickly if you'd like. He'd have a lot of his time devoted to channeling that (basically exactly what you'd said) but it would elevate his, and his family's wealth and influence.
Irikos: Make a History and Acrana check. There isn't much known about any of them, obviously. You know as well as I do there's little even published for Irikos. Tembo does have something of a leg up, having been to Bodach and having some context. Will be High DC checks since almost nothing is known about either of them at this point in the Tablelands. But hey, he's a bard
Tarrick: I'm thinking of getting the rules from Pathfinder: Ultimate Campaign which has a decent rules set for building a business/group/guild. Similar to King Maker where you build a town, then a kingdom. Let me know if you'd be interested or would rather keep it abstract. His previously small trade house has a chance to grow quickly and has some great market advantages. We can simply say it's doing very well and growing quickly if you'd like. He'd have a lot of his time devoted to channeling that (basically exactly what you'd said) but it would elevate his, and his family's wealth and influence.
Irikos: Make a History and Acrana check. There isn't much known about any of them, obviously. You know as well as I do there's little even published for Irikos. Tembo does have something of a leg up, having been to Bodach and having some context. Will be High DC checks since almost nothing is known about either of them at this point in the Tablelands. But hey, he's a bard
Wyvern's activities for the year following the end of the Slave War:
He does not immediately take Lolandria up on her offer to be the King's Preserver, but he does let the Alliance know of his intent to do so after he takes his leave from the Alliance to give them plenty of time to shuffle things up enough so that Wyvern won't have actionable information on the Alliance. While he is waiting to take up Lolandria's offer, he builds a lair in the Crescent Forest. The lair being warded from detection with Private Sanctum spells, illusions to disguise it's location (enchanting an illusion spell as the door which can be made solid for an unlimited amount of time - like the illusionist 14th level ability, but just on that "door"), and spells to influence animals to stay away. He creates a teleportation circle created nearby. He collects supplies (rations, extra clothes, survival gear, salt, spell components, etc.) from the city to keep at the lair, and cultivates herbs, and of course, fungi. When he's not tending to his lair preparations, he's bonding with his Wyvern, and training it. He will spend some time with beast masters learning their techniques in the city before attempting to teach it on his own.
He still maintains a small apartment in Nibenay that he almost never stays at. But he does venture into the city fairly often still, if nothing else, to get a taste of city life again (and purloin a ceramic, or twenty from some unlucky noble. He also takes more advantage of the luxuries he can afford. Might even have gotten some proper fine clothes, and play some games of chance at the Plot Hook, and other fine establishments.
Finally, once he's established his lair (known only to himself...he hopes), and bonded/trained his Wyvern for the full year, he will approach Lolandria with his interest in taking her up on her offer. He stores all of his knowledge about Lone Tree, and any Alliance identities (except for Tembo) in the Mind Crystal, and stores it in his lair. He asks Lolandria "if this is really just a trap and I'm about to die, be imprisoned/tortured for eternity, etc. will you take care of the Wyvern ("Lola" if it's a girl)?"
Also, Wyvern makes his own fungus booze...poison? Depends if you're a dwarf or not, I suppose.
He does not immediately take Lolandria up on her offer to be the King's Preserver, but he does let the Alliance know of his intent to do so after he takes his leave from the Alliance to give them plenty of time to shuffle things up enough so that Wyvern won't have actionable information on the Alliance. While he is waiting to take up Lolandria's offer, he builds a lair in the Crescent Forest. The lair being warded from detection with Private Sanctum spells, illusions to disguise it's location (enchanting an illusion spell as the door which can be made solid for an unlimited amount of time - like the illusionist 14th level ability, but just on that "door"), and spells to influence animals to stay away. He creates a teleportation circle created nearby. He collects supplies (rations, extra clothes, survival gear, salt, spell components, etc.) from the city to keep at the lair, and cultivates herbs, and of course, fungi. When he's not tending to his lair preparations, he's bonding with his Wyvern, and training it. He will spend some time with beast masters learning their techniques in the city before attempting to teach it on his own.
He still maintains a small apartment in Nibenay that he almost never stays at. But he does venture into the city fairly often still, if nothing else, to get a taste of city life again (and purloin a ceramic, or twenty from some unlucky noble. He also takes more advantage of the luxuries he can afford. Might even have gotten some proper fine clothes, and play some games of chance at the Plot Hook, and other fine establishments.
Finally, once he's established his lair (known only to himself...he hopes), and bonded/trained his Wyvern for the full year, he will approach Lolandria with his interest in taking her up on her offer. He stores all of his knowledge about Lone Tree, and any Alliance identities (except for Tembo) in the Mind Crystal, and stores it in his lair. He asks Lolandria "if this is really just a trap and I'm about to die, be imprisoned/tortured for eternity, etc. will you take care of the Wyvern ("Lola" if it's a girl)?"
Also, Wyvern makes his own fungus booze...poison? Depends if you're a dwarf or not, I suppose.
You guys do have a full year so things like making spells permanent is certainly something you can do.
When ya goin' Circle of Spores druid?
When ya goin' Circle of Spores druid?
When does Wyvern get lvl 19?
That'll be terrifying.
Lolandria's response for Wyvern about a trap:
This is not a trap. For years the Templars and Alliance have fought each other, and for what? The King allows magic for those that are loyal to him, and what he asks is that they serve the city. The Alliance is sworn to protect the wizards in it's fold, and oppose the King? Why? Why not ally? If the Alliance is so determined to oppose defilers, why not do it in the open, why not do it where everyone can see? The average citizen does care about magic. Whether you're a defiler or preserver, you take what isn't yours and use it. Templars don't even do that for magic.
I know that we've already discussed all of this, but I want to be clear on my intentions. This is not a trap. I've shown you how good I can be at hunting the Veiled Alliance. But I would rather make an "alliance". We are so busy fighting amongst ourselves that we did not see the external dangers facing Nibenay.
There will still be dangers. Perhaps more than you've faced so far. To become the King's Preserver you must first meet Nibenay himself. Most of my sisters have only met him once, on their wedding night. Many do not even remember it. But not all that meet him survive. If you do, you will still need to contend with the others in the Templarate, as well as the King's Royal Defilers. You will have enemies. And I will have more for bringing you in. But if you want to make a real difference, I believe this is how you can. Rebellions happen. Wars happen. I've seen the histories. All the things that have happened these past two years have happened before in one form or another. But there has never been a King's Preserver.
I will help you in this. It may not work. We may fail. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I believe that it is better than doing what has always been done.
This is not a trap. For years the Templars and Alliance have fought each other, and for what? The King allows magic for those that are loyal to him, and what he asks is that they serve the city. The Alliance is sworn to protect the wizards in it's fold, and oppose the King? Why? Why not ally? If the Alliance is so determined to oppose defilers, why not do it in the open, why not do it where everyone can see? The average citizen does care about magic. Whether you're a defiler or preserver, you take what isn't yours and use it. Templars don't even do that for magic.
I know that we've already discussed all of this, but I want to be clear on my intentions. This is not a trap. I've shown you how good I can be at hunting the Veiled Alliance. But I would rather make an "alliance". We are so busy fighting amongst ourselves that we did not see the external dangers facing Nibenay.
There will still be dangers. Perhaps more than you've faced so far. To become the King's Preserver you must first meet Nibenay himself. Most of my sisters have only met him once, on their wedding night. Many do not even remember it. But not all that meet him survive. If you do, you will still need to contend with the others in the Templarate, as well as the King's Royal Defilers. You will have enemies. And I will have more for bringing you in. But if you want to make a real difference, I believe this is how you can. Rebellions happen. Wars happen. I've seen the histories. All the things that have happened these past two years have happened before in one form or another. But there has never been a King's Preserver.
I will help you in this. It may not work. We may fail. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I believe that it is better than doing what has always been done.
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