Creatures of darkness have no place in the world of mortals. From fiends that claw their way up out of the Lower Planes to the murderous tailor that gives in to the evil in his heart. The Shining Force is a group devoted to finding and destroying evil in all its forms. Few ever realize when this group strikes, for it hides among the evil as evil hides among us. They use the inability to detect moral alignment magically in Ravenloft to great effect, infiltrating evil and destroying it from within. Often even their targets never realize who was responsible for their fall. They seek no accolades or rewards; instead they go on to their next target. For the Shining Force, evil is a disease that must be cut out like a chirurgeon removing infection. Much like a doctor, they also use precision and examination to strike at the root of evil and make sure that it never returns.
Unlike many secret societies, the Shing Force is not specialized beyond it's stated mission to root out evil. Warriors, experts, healers, magicians, even psionic characters of all stripes have come together for the common cause of good. Members hail from all over the Core and even farther. Priests of Osiris and Ra from Har'Akir, monks from Sri Raji, samurai from Rokushima Taiyoo, even voodan from Souragne. All are united by the goal of taking back their world from the darkness that surrounds them.
History
Alexander Dreamfire (gestalt paladin-ninja 20/hunter of the dead 10/knight of the chalice 5) had been hunting evil for centuries, particularly the undead. He'd learned the hard way that to flaunt his might only invited the attention of evil. For all his power, he was no more able to fight back the evils of Ravenloft than a farmer could a marauding werewolf. To go it alone and to show his true power were suicidal prospects. He joined with famed hunter of the damned Rudolph van Richten. Yet for every creature they put down, two more took their place. On an individual level they were making a difference, but their efforts were like trying to drain a lake with a bucket. Alexander at first resigned himself to fighting individual creatures and their minions. Then he encountered the Fraternity of Shadows and realized there was much more to this world than he'd ever realized.
In 724 Alexander put out a call for anyone willing to fight with him against the Fraternity of Shadows. Three answered his call. Dratha, priestess of Belenus from Tepest; Orwin Lakewave, a thief from Nevuchar Springs in Darkon; and Niela, a wizard fleeing from Hazlik's vendetta against magic. Drawn for one cause by disparate reasons, they invaded a secret outpost of the Fraternity in October of 724. The mission was at once a great success and a horrid failure.
They succeeded in stealing vital secrets from the Fraternity of Shadows, yet none of them were fully prepared for the secrets they'd found. What they learned changed them all, as the truth of the Realms of Dread was laid bare. For four years they went their separate ways, trying to come to terms with the things they'd learned. Alexander in particular was shaken to the core by what he learned. He never could have guessed at the depths the darkness in Ravenloft ran. Even after two decades of study and experience, he had only scratched the surface. For all his physical and magical might, even he could be destroyed with ease by those that really ruled this dark world. Worse, if his true nature was made known to his foes he would be hunted for all time. Even his friends Rudolph van Richten and a young George Weathermay could not be allowed to learn the true nature of their world. This was something no one should have known.
Then, in 728, the other three that had joined him came back to his estate in Mordentshire and swore their lives to stopping the evil around them. No longer would they sit idly by and let the darkness control them like puppets on a string. They would take the fight back to the creatures that used them as pawns and food. Thus the Shining Force was born.
Combining elements of various crusading groups from other worlds, Alexander formed the Shining Force to fight evil in all its forms. Folks of all races and skillsets were gathered together under their banner. Rogues and other spies created a network that first spanned the Western Core, then the entire Core, and now has tendrils in various inhabited Islands of Terror and the Clusters. Warriors fought against the physical threats of lycanthropes, golems, and others that could be cut down with the sword. Arcanists and divine spellcasters fought against the supernatural threats and even helped create the tools the Shining Force uses in their missions.
Over three decades the group grew in leaps and bounds. The rise of van Richten's fame as a monster hunter helped draw more to the cause of fighting against evil. More practically, Alexander and the other original members began making contact with insurgent groups, religious orders, and even freedom fighters. The Freemen of Falkovnia, the Circle, the Stygians, the Blessed Army of Ezra, the Woodcutter's Axe, and many more groups have ties to the Shining Force. Members of the Force and members of the other group's often fight for one another and cross-membership is very common.
Current Sketch
The Shining Force has grown beyond Alexander's wildest dreams. Its influence spans the Core and the known Clusters, as well as several inhabited Islands of Terror. Yet for all its power, the Shining Force is a secretive group that hides its activities from the world. Were the darklords and other powerful being to learn of their existence, open war would likely be declared on them. So they fight shadow wars against their targets, using stealth and subterfuge as much as sword and spell. Because their members are often also members of other groups, the Shining Force aids many others.
Only the highest-ranking members know of the true origins of the Shining Force. After three decades of fighting they accumulated a vast library of lore and learned far more than they ever wanted to. This knowledge is not shared lightly and is doled out in the tiniest pieces possible. Much is still unknown to those outside the ranks of the Shining Heroes, and some is still kept secret even to them. Only the most powerful, self-disciplined, and righteous are allowed to study what they've collected. Pertinent lore on monsters they face is disseminated among the group constantly, and only the Van Richten Society has studied the various threats more.
Finally, the original purpose of the Shining Force has not been forgotten. The Fraternity of Shadows is in direct competition with them for knowledge of Ravenloft. Where the Fraternity seeks to use it to elevate themselves to the status of rulers over the world, the Force seeks to stop them and others from harming the multitudes of innocent people that live and work in this world.
Forbidden Lore
Despite the best attempts by Alexander Dreamfire and the other founders, the Shining Force cannot keep itself secret from everyone. Both Strahd von Zarovich and Azalin, among others, are well aware of them and their activities within and without their domains. Instead of risking their wrath, the Shining Force has agreed not to interfere with them in their own lands. Other darklords know of them but haven't made such agreements. The Shining Force is constantly on guard for infiltration and subversion by the agents of these beings. All too often they discover them too late and must repair the damage done. Further, those darklords they swore not to bother have taken shots at them. It's only a matter of time before one pushes them too far.
Alexander himself has come to know more about Ravenloft than most ever will. His disruption to reality is so awesome that darklords automatically sense him in their domains. Most have actively approached him and drawn oaths that he will not oppose them directly, playing on his code as a paladin. Only two have not succeeded--Sir Wilfred Godefroy and Vlad Drakov. Godefroy earned Alexander's wrath when he attempted to ensnare the Deathless geist of Priscilla Brandy, a scrappy young paladin from Nidala that joined and became Alexander's cohort before being killed by agents of Elena Faith-hold for "heresy and blasphemy." She now stays by his side, as per the Haunted feat. Drakov has come to physical blows with Alexander one-on-one more than once, being soundly defeated every time and left alive to stew over his humiliating defeat. The Talons have standing orders to execute any known members of the Shining Force on sight, and Malocchio Aderre has joined his mentor in hunting them down. However, the latter remains more focused on his genocide of the Vistani and is a passive threat at best.
Edit: The following is a rough draft of the affiliation and its benefits. It will be updated and revised based on suggestions.
Symbol: Members recognize each other by the symbol of a sword point down set against a burst of light represented by eight lines spreading out. The symbol is usually done in gold.
Background, goals, and dreams: For three decades the Shining Force has existed to fight against the darkness and spread knowledge. They began as a group existing solely to counter the Fraternity of Shadows, and now work against evil in all of its forms. Because of their reputation for taking down evil against all odds they are known, feared, and hated by many darklords. In truth this fear is misplaced; as the Shining Force learns of the true nature of Ravenloft, they realize it's more of a punishment to let these accursed beings suffer the curse they made for themselves. More than a few members would love to take on a specific darklord or two, but among those aware of the existence of these beings there are standing orders to steer clear of them.
Against lesser evils, the Shining Force pulls no punches. They search out their targets, study them closely, and then strike in the manner that hinders them the most. For a corrupt noble this might take the form of public humiliation and vilification. For a powerful lich or vampire, it's a shadow war against them that doesn't end until they have been reduced to dust, their minions destroyed, and their plans completely unraveled. Often no one even notices that the Shining Force has struck. They operate under strict secrecy and only strike those involved, going to great lengths to avoid harming innocents. Thus they remain largely unknown to their enemies and to the world at large.
To achieve their goals they work with various other groups like the Dawnbringers of the Morninglord, the Woodcutter's Axe in Verbrek, the Freemen of Falkovnia, the Blessed Army of Ezra, even the Circle. Members are shared between the two groups in addition to resources and information. The trading of favors is the majority of their interaction, though. While many goals of these groups overlap with those of the Shining Force, they maintain their independence. A cadre of Shining Force members may help the Freemen take out a sadistic Talon and his men in Falkovnia, and in exchange the Freemen will help the Shining Force establish a safehouse in the domain, for example.
The leaders of the Shining Force maintain the original goals of uncovering the secrets of the Realms of Dread and using them to take back the night. Because of the nature of such revelations, they rarely share these with lower members out of a sense of danger and mercy. Most are incapable of grasping the profound truth--that Ravenloft is a construct, an artificial world used as a prison for those who forged their own damnation. Instead they dole out vital secrets pertinent to a mission and fight back the dark forces of the world. For the leaders, the truths they know is a curse they must bear alone.
Type: Cabal
Scale: 16 (multicontinental)
Affiliation Score Criteria: Only those of non-evil alignment are allowed in the Shining Force. Because of the nature of Ravenloft, this means constant vigilance for infiltrators. In addition, those found to be suffering for their sins (failed powers checks) are immediately expelled until they have atoned and cleansed their souls of evil.
Criterion (One time) and Afilliation Score Modifier
Character Level +1/2 PC level*
Cleric or Paladin +2
Access to Glory and/or Sun domain +2
Nemesis-based Prestige Class (witch-hunter, hunter of the dead, knight of the chalice, Herald of Dawn, Tepestani Inquisitor, etc.) +1 per Class Level
Knowledge (any) +1 per 2 ranks
*Not counting levels in nemesis-based prestige classes
Multiple Use
Defeats a CR 9+ Foe +1
Defeats a CR 15+ Foe +2
Deafeats a CR 20+ Foe +4
Brings back a magic item useful against evil creatures (holy, silver, cold iron, bane, disrupting, protective items, etc.) +1 per item
Exposes political corruption +2
Topples corrupt government (if chaotic) +2
Spearheads improvements in law (if lawful) +2
Helps a community form lasting defenses against threats +5
Exposes Charlatan Hunters or Creatures +4
Exposes an evil creature or heinous criminal hiding among the innocent and brings them to justice or destroys them +10
Commits an Evil Act -5
Fails a Powers Check -10 per check (and expelled until they cleanse their souls of the taint)
Titles, Benefits, and Duties: Members of the Shining Force are often left to their own devices until they are needed. Once called, though, they are expected to report to the nearest chapterhouse. The rewards often include magical items, gold, even tracts of land. For many, though, the real allure is the chance to learn more about the world around them. This is a double-edged sword and only those deemed fit are allowed to join the uppermost ranks of the Shining Force. Those that do are often morose and grim thanks to the secrets they learn.
Higher-ranking members often lead small companies of lower-ranking members or others in campaigns against specific targets. These leaders are given items useful against their foe and they get to keep them if they succeed in their mission. Others seek to help the masses by educating them about what they face and instructing them in techniques that will allow them to defend themselves effectively. Almost any mission that helps others or stops the machinations of evil can be performed in service to Shining Force.
Despite the standing orders not to attack darklords, this is more a suggestion than a firm rule. More than once the darklord of an Island of Terror or other such domain has found themselves under attack. Some are destroyed and their domains returned to the Mists. The majority of the Shining Forces's are not so grandiose in their nature, though. Countless mundane criminals and powerful supernatural entities have been exposed and dealt with. Yet for all their work, the Shining Force often sees two more threats replace the one they remove. The world is set against them. The true rulers of the land are their hated foes. Yet they refuse to give up and let evil win.
Affiliation Score and Title
3 or lower Not a member or junior member with no benefits
4-10 Shining Soldier: +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks with other Shining Force members; +1 on attack rolls against declared enemy (undead, aberrations, lycanthropes, etc.)
11-15 Shining Guardian: +4 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks with other Shining Force Members; +1 damage to declared enemy (same chosen at Soldier rank)
16-22 Shining Knight: +2 on Knowledge (the planes) checks; +1 to attack and damage rolls against new declared enemy; access to library of Ravenloft lore (learn Knowledge [the planes] skill).
23-29: Shining Champion: +6 to Knowledge (the planes) checks and Knowledge (the planes) is now a class skill.
30+ Shining Hero: The +10 DC modifier to Knowledge (the planes) checks for topics outside Ravenloft or inside Ravenloft for outlanders who learned before coming to Ravenloft no longer applies; cast daylight as a cleric equal to your character level at will.
Executive Powers: Pariah, Research, Shadow War
I hope so. In fact, I'd like to use the SF to destroy Gwydion and place Loht as the darklord of the Shadow Rift. He's so much more dynamic and three-dimensional, and he's already on the path to corruption. What atrocities would he commit to protect the Arak from an imagined enemy? The SF has no interest in the shadow fey, but if he's aligned so closely with the darkness he could easily view such a group as an "enemy of the Arak" because they're so closely aligned with the light. His own paranoia will damn him.
Edit: The following is a rough draft of the affiliation and its benefits. It will be updated and revised based on suggestions.
Very nice. Funny you mention Gwydion, I just recently used the dread lord for my players as a pre-epic lvl introduction to my Forgotten Realms game. Though how I staged everything was the entire event was a alternate time line apocalypse in which they were sucked into RL and sitting at ground zero. They really screwed up something awhile back in a card game with the Deck of Many Things, just for a long story short.
With the organization stats for the Shinning hand, where can info about how these numbers work be found?
I hope so. In fact, I'd like to use the SF to destroy Gwydion and place Loht as the darklord of the Shadow Rift. He's so much more dynamic and three-dimensional, and he's already on the path to corruption. What atrocities would he commit to protect the Arak from an imagined enemy? The SF has no interest in the shadow fey, but if he's aligned so closely with the darkness he could easily view such a group as an "enemy of the Arak" because they're so closely aligned with the light. His own paranoia will damn him.
Edit: The following is a rough draft of the affiliation and its benefits. It will be updated and revised based on suggestions.
Very nice. Funny you mention Gwydion, I just recently used the dread lord for my players as a pre-epic lvl introduction to my Forgotten Realms game. Though how I staged everything was the entire event was a alternate time line apocalypse in which they were sucked into RL and sitting at ground zero. They really screwed up something(s) (This rabbit hole goes deep) awhile back in a card game with the Deck of Many Things, just for a long story short.
With the organization stats for the Shinning hand, where can info about how these numbers work be found? And since you mentioned that their true goal was the Fraternity of Shadows, do they have any ties with the Noble Brotherhood of Assassins? Since the University of Dementlieu, where the FoS is based is largely supported by the nobility that the Brotherhood for time to time takes aim at.
Exact numbers are kept intentionally vague so individual DMs can make use of the Shining Force as they see fit. But it's safe to say that they operate primarily in the Western Core. Specifically, Mordent, Dementlieu, Borca, Lamordia, and Richemulot--the domains that the FoS is often found. Details on safehouses and operations in given domains will be written in future posts.
As for the double posts, blame Gleemax. Their messing with the servers again.
Very nice. Funny you mention Gwydion, I just recently used the dread lord for my players as a pre-epic lvl introduction to my Forgotten Realms game. Though how I staged everything was the entire event was a alternate time line apocalypse in which they were sucked into RL and sitting at ground zero. They really screwed up something(s) (This rabbit hole goes deep) awhile back in a card game with the Deck of Many Things, just for a long story short.
With the organization stats for the Shinning hand, where can info about how these numbers work be found? And since you mentioned that their true goal was the Fraternity of Shadows, do they have any ties with the Noble Brotherhood of Assassins? Since the University of Dementlieu, where the FoS is based is largely supported by the nobility that the Brotherhood for time to time takes aim at.
You know sPtJanly, all your adventures sound very, very interesting...
Alexander Dreamfire (paladin 30/hunter of the dead 20/knight of the chalice 5/ninja 1) had been hunting evil for centuries, particularly the undead.
No kidding huh? CL55, that´s deity level. And he probably has monster levels too. He´s more powerful than Vecna when he entered Ravenloft. While I have nothing against epic level play in Ravenloft (I have been involved in The Reckonings campaign), i think this is pushing it too far. I mean even if you were to upgrade all NPCs, which in some cases is allright imo, this NPC would still by far outclasses anyone by soo much (except perhaps Vecna and Gwydion), that imo it breaks the believability. How come this character is afraid of Balfour or the Fraternity or Strahd or Azalin? He could pawn them all singlehandedly.Wouldn´t paladin 10/hunter of the dead 10/knight of the chalice 5/ninja 1 have sufficed?
Pal25/HtU10/KnC10(this one would really help with inferanal beings)/Nnj1.
How come this character is afraid of Balfour or the Fraternity or Strahd or Azalin? He could pawn them all singlehandedly.
No man is an army. Logistically speaking, sheer numbers alone would overwhelm him in short order. Plus there's the fact he has no spell resistance and even one failed save against imprisonment or some other spell would take him out once and for all. The FoS is made up of wizards and sorcers and they could easily use magic to wipe him out. Plus both Strahd and Azalin are darklords, and powerful ones. If he's too strong for them to hit directly, they'll attack his friends and other innocents to draw him out. Never forget that power is not always measured by CL or CR. Even if he did attack and defeat them, who knows what would take their place if anything? It could be something even worse, and that's a risk he doesn't want to take.
And as for that flesh golem, apparently you've never had the bad fortune of three critical hits against your character in a row. I don't care how high a level you are, that's gotta hurt! And in the text he says he was caught off guard (flat-footed) and the creature got in a first strike. I assumed the raw power of the slam was enough to daze him for a few seconds. Finally, the injuries are flavor text, representing lost HP. Plus I use the Variant: Damage to Specific Areas. A successful blow to the head is an automatic -8 penalty to all checks, rolls, and throws until healed. Imagine being so hurt you can't even focus enough to use lay on hands. I'm going for realism over simplicity in the story.
A bunch of low level wizards with wands of magic missile...
100 low-level mages with 9th level magic missiles is still 500d4+500. I'm sure Azalin could easily make that happen.
Oh and one more thing... what the heck is the single ninja level for?
Edit: GLEEMAX! :headexplo
Alexander Dreamfire (paladin 15/hunter of the dead 10/knight of the chalice 5/ninja 3)
Much better. Sometimes less is more. So you say he had 30 levels when he entered RL? I think a 3 level gain is okay. And while i agree with your comments in general, I'm still not sure if his power level is believable. Take the encounter with the Flesh Golem: Does it really have a chance to even hit Alexander's AC even if flatfooted? Could he really damage Alexander so much that he would be out of the fight if not for his amulet? (~130 + 33xCon hp !)
Also about the ninja levels, I find them kind of hard to stomach too. Did he get them in an oriental domain/land/setting? How did he reconcile gaining them with being a paladin? Are those the levels he got since coming to RL?!? (Why not go with shadowbane stalker or shadowbane inquisitor from Complete Adventurer or some Ravenloft prestige class?)
Also is he an ex-paladin? (Having a drinking problem, the death of some companions on his conscience and last not least ninja levels :-))
The ninja levels are actually explained in the fiction, but I'll get into it here as well. Yes, those are the ones he took in Ravenloft; he taught himself using a scroll obtained during a trip into Rokugan centuries ago. He's always had a fascination with the art of stealth as practiced by the ninjas, yet never tried to combine the two prior since there wasn't much point. However, since he'll be facing some close shaves where a little stealth would have made all the difference, he will begin teaching himself what he can from the scroll after the next few entries. Besides, he has to hide his true power or else he'd have the forces of evil on his back like white on rice.
And no, he is not an ex-paladin. Yes, he's had to atone many, many times and has lost his powers until he did. Like a true paladin he atones physically, spiritually, and magically when he stumbles. As for the ninja and paladin levels being combined, I think of him as having the Devoted Stalker feat (based on the Ascetic Stalker feat in ComSc). I'll post the general idea.
Devoted Stalker
You have learned to combine your divine gifts with those of stealth. While other paladins may look down on this, you know that sometimes one has to fight fire with fire.
Prerequisite: Smite Evil, Ki pool, lawful good alignment
Benefit: You add your paladin levels to your ninja levels to determine your unarmored bonus to AC. You still suffer normal penalties to ninja abilities for wearing armor.
Your ninja levels also stack with your paladin levels for determining the attack and damage bonuses for your smite evil ability.
You can freely multiclass between ninja and paladin as long as you remain lawful good and follow the tenets of the paladin code.
Optional: Your code is not as stringent regarding poisons that do not inflict actual damage, as well as supernatural substances that act like poisons. You can use poisons that deal nonlethal damage, paralysis, or unconsciousness as well as supernatural ravages (BoED) and positoxins (LM).
Remember that I'm not being a stickler for the rules in the fiction, so if there is something that doesn't fit with the RaW, I likely meant to do that for some reason outside the mechanics.
I'm eagerly awating further entries in his journal. (Have you considered publishing all this as an article in one of the FoS netbooks? It might even make a small netbook in itself.)
I haven't forgotten about this. I've just been busy with the Lost Journals and other things (like the debacle over at the Mature boards. I think it's just an overreaction to one errant post by a moderator). 
I've run into a real wall regarding the Shining Crusader prestige class. I'm running with the idea of bonuses to various rolls against evil-aligned foes and Smite Evil as a class feature, but I realized I can't quite reconcile the martial side with the more scholarly side in one class, so I've had to break things into two PrCs. Suggestions and ideas for either one are more than welcome.
Organization and Structure
Much like it's founder, the Shining Force is only as ordered as it needs to be. Arranged in a segmented manner, the SF will often put out a call for members to help in a given endeavor and then pick from those that respond. The result is often an eclectic mix of classes and levels and rarely will any given group have all of the same members it had before. One person out of the group is given the leadership role and the others are expected to obey them when they give the order to retreat. Some leaders take a more direct hand while others let individual members work as they wish. Many fall in between, doling out tasks and letting the members go about it as they see fit.
Outside of combat the Shining Force doesn't put many restrictions on its members. They need only be ready to answer any calls they happen to be able to answer. Rank in the SF is also largely informal, marking devotion to the group rather than any actual authority. Still those who achieve the upper echelons are given due respect. One can tell the rank of an individual by the symbol they wear--besides the sword set against a burst of light there are a series of stars underneath that serve as a symbol of rank. One for Soldier up to five for Hero. Forging such marks technically isn't against the rules, but the mistrust created is often enough to damage the forger's reputation among his fellows.
Because secrecy is a key to their survival, the Shining Force rarely displays its symbol openly. Phrases, hand gestures, and other signs are used more often. Because of the above average number of outlanders in the SF, Common is used as a "secret" language. No known domain speaks Common and its widespread use among various outlander worlds makes it clear that the Force is not like anything else in Ravenloft.
When necessary, a general call for all members is made to gather in a domain chosen by the leading council. Often this is an uninhabited domain, such as Forlorn or the Phantasmal Forest. Because of the extreme danger involved the security for such meetings is stringent--both to protect members and to keep enemies and monsters out. Such areas are often forts built using magic and always consecrated and hallowed with a bless spell effecting any official member. Rarely is any given fort used more than once; after use these structures tend to fall to the creatures or forces of the domain they're erected in and the blessings can wear off before another such grand meeting is called.
The four leading members themselves restrict themselves to their home domains: Mordent (Alexander Dreamfire), Tepest (Dratha), Darkon (Orwin Lakeweave), and Hazlan (Niela). Alexander and Orwin both maintain stockpiles of equipment to be given out as needed--including magical items to be used as rewards to truly heroic acts or exceptional devotion to the cause. Niela and Dratha specialize in creating said magical items and often raise funds for the Shining Force by selling the odd item to interested customers.
Those members told of the ultimate mission to learn all about Ravenloft often go on quests deep into the Mists themselves. Because of the dangers of such ventures, only the most powerful are allowed to go. Half of the time even they never return. Those of lesser power will often infiltrate groups like the Fraternity of Shadows or even the inner circles of various darklords to gather more information on them directly. Again these are dangerous in the extreme and more than once this has backfired disastrously. In both cases, members are given magical items that will aid their quest--anything from wands and scrolls to weapons and armor or even wondrous items like crystal balls. Because of the nature of such missions, these are gifts and not loans. If the members survive, they get to keep the items for themselves.
(More to come folks!)