Greyhawk: Acts of Fate
Sidebar 2; Strike of the Crimson Blades
The Crimson Blades are a sect of ruthless killers in the service of the Artificers, a secret cabal that worships Hextor. The Artificers goal is to keep the Flanness in a state of war and chaos. Currently the High priestess of the Artificers, a "Bearer of Istus" has had visions of the Ebonbane and it’s return from the mists (of Ravenloft) to Oerth. One thing standing in the way of it’s return is a group of young Adventures, that includes a Paladin of Heironeous.
Originally the Ebonbane was created 400 years ago, for the forces of Hextor. The blade was created to strike down the Lady Shadowborn, a Paladin of Heironeous. With the possibility of it’s return, the Artificers have sent a "Crimson Blade", to the town of Stradsett in the Pale, in an attempt to kill the adventures. (they are on thier way to the Raker Mts.)
"The Blade" will strike in the dead of night, while the party is resting at the local inn. "The Blade" will use a small cross bow with a poisoned tipped bolt, giving the Paladin the Red Death (again had it at age 6). "The Blade" will flee the scene before she allows herself to be killed in battle.
The Clerics of Pholtus will offer to make him comfortable, and aid him in riding out the poison. During the night he will suffer from fevered dreams, in which he will have visions of the past encounter with the Red Deth, vision of an angel of Heironeous (or possible visions of Istus), and glimpese of other events I have planned for the game.
The Crimson Blades
Prestige Class
Use the Assassin PrC and add the Requirement of 4 Ranks of Religion, and the Spell casting ability should be Divine Spells (instead of Arcane).
Well there are my notes - like I said feed back welcome
thanks gang
Originally posted by Bayushi Tai
The Artificers goal is to keep the Flanness in a state of war and chaos.
Hextor is a Lawful Evil god of War, Discord and Conflict, so his worshipers will not be looking to promote chaos, as cwslyclgh says. But discord and conflict can look pretty chaotic to those who aren't hip to the plan.
Just give The Artificers some specific long-term goals. War between two Good nations might be one.
Then think of a step-by-step lawful plan that they could follow to achieve the goal.
Make sure that the strike of the Crimson Blades is a vital part of the plan.
Let us know how the campaign goes.
:D
Originally posted by cwslyclgh
it actually looks pretty good... my only thought is that a bunch of worshipers of Hextor (a Lawful god) would probably not be to interetsed in spreading and maintianing chaos... I have always seen Hextor as a more organized war god... if you want them to spread strife and chaos I would suggest switching the god they worship to Erythnul (although I do realize that will take away some of the paladin of heironious vs. followers of hextor tension).
To Be honest I spaced on the fact that Hextor was a Lawful God (havn't really done anything with him before). Erythnul would work. Got a question, do you feel that Iuz would work? I am planning on using the Falconer's storyline, so maybe that would work.
Immune to Diseases,- can't believe I over looked that, so other ideas to get similar results? I standered Poison perhaps?
Paladins have no inherient immunity to poisons... but not however that they get a bonus to all thier saving throws equal to the charisma bonus.
Originally posted by Bayushi Tai
Got a question, do you feel that Iuz would work?
Stick with Hextor.
It just means you will have to do a little bit of planning.
Just remember that discord is not the same thing as chaos.
The Artificers (version 1.2
)"Though our Strength and knowledge we shall forge a Stronger Flanaess"
The beginnings of this secret sect of worshippers of Hextor, are lost to history. Many that do know of it, believe that the Artificers have been around one in one form or another since the days of the Twin Cataclysms. Rumors of the abilities and goals of this sect are almost as varied as the types of people that belong to it, thou there are several that do persist more then others. The most common believed goal of this cabal is to crush the church of Heironeous once and for all. Through tests of strength of might, as well as will, they challenge the followers of Heironeous, looking for weakness to exploit to their advantage. They start by using their "Black Arrows" to spy and learn as much as they can about possible about their enemy, before sending in the "Scourge", the strong arm of the Sect.
Also among those rumors, are the ones surrounding the inner Cabal and the Lady Alexiconus. Stories of her connection to what some sages are referring to as the ‘Bearers of Istus’, is believed to give the Lady some prophetic abilities. If true, that along with the supposed secrets of wonder creation that the inner cabal is suppose to posses could be a be a devastating combination for the freedom loving people of the Flanaess.
Other Common Rumors about the Artificers
* Their short term goals include seizing Tenh and turning it into a Church state (similair to that of the Theocracy of the Pale).
* They are trying to Recover the ‘Ebonbane’ (a powerful sword they created) from the Demi Plane of Dread.
* The Inner Cabal has a spy of Iuz among it’s members
* The Artificers are after the Hand and Eye of Vecna
* Lady Alexiconus is really a Fate Spinner
Originally posted by Bayushi Tai
The most common believed goal of this cabal is to crush the church of Heironeous once and for all.
One thing you might want to consider is that the church of Heironeous is likely to have a major interest in the doings of The Artificers.
There may even be a secret organisation within the church dedicated to opposing The Artificers. Perhaps an agent of this organisation could contact the paladin in your party to feed any juicy clues you think they might need.
The paladin could in turn report any discoveries he makes, particularly something about the Ebonbane...
Has the makings of a great campaign.
You have some fun/interesting ideas about the Artificers. I have some questions.
Did the group develop out of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy? Were the founders princes of the Celestial House of Naelex?
Regarding the ongoing strife between this group and the churches of Heironeous, what distinguishes the Artificer's from the "mainstream" churches of Hextor? Why are the Artificers a secret order?
I like the name of Lady Alexiconus. Is she a prince of House Torquann? Why does she (as a leader of the Cabal) care to seize war-torn Tenh? Was her family fief therein? Is her current husband an officer of the Prelatal Army of the Theocracy of the Pale?
How does Istus (the greater Bakluni goddess) relate to this strange cult of Hextor (an Oeridian godling)? Does the Lady of All Colors entangle the Artificers in a plan which they fail to comprehend?
Keep up the faith!
Thanks and fire away
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Yes they did, The original group was mostly of Suloise
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The Church is mostly and out there, up front group, that has temples in most magor cities, While the Artificers are more liek the NSA in our goverment. The church has it's rumors of this group, but in general is unsure what they do.
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Thanks
<< Is she a prince of House Torquann?
No
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Here are my views (and give me feed back if you like) But the Church (in general) views Tenh as it's holy grail, there is some much chaos goign on there, and for so long, that the anachy needs to stop. Order must be put in place, and who better to do it. Besides if they don't the forces of the Pale (them goody toe shoes) will do it and we can't have that.
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No and No
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Not the group, more like the leader, and that gets into bigger picture plot. Lets try for the short version
She is one of the "Bearers of Istus". They are a select few, most were children durning the "fate of Istus" (WG8) that caught and lived thought the Red Death Plague. These children are ment to tip the balance one way of the Other for the World. Each of the Bearers has a small red shaped scare left over from the plague (general know as the Tear of Istus). There end quest, to save the Souls of generation yet to be born. Currently I' m planning on using (retooled) 'Bastion of Broken Souls' as the grand ending to this storyline. Istus being the Greater Goddess of Fate, forsaw this cominglong before and planned things far in advance. This also ties into my reworking of the Vale Elves and the Valley of the Mage. As always feedback and Ideas are welcome.
Regarding the group who originated in the Great Kingdom, although entirely possible that they could be suloise in origin, you do know that the Aerdi were a dominant oeridian tribe who forged the Great Kingdom and thus subjugated all other races under Aerdi rule, right?
There is obviously mixed blood, but for the most part, Aerdi in the Great Kingdom strongholds (Ahlissa, North Kingdom, and surrounding areas) are dominant.
This isn't such a bad thing for your story as the Aerdi are vicious, bloodthirsty, manipulative bastards
Lots of backstabbing and secret cabals going on. In fact, the Ebonbane sounds IDEAL to have been created in secret, under Ivid's nose (a deed worthy of such an items history), from a piece of the Cauldron of Night (read Ivid the Undying, it's a great manuscript that you can get for free from the Canonfire downloads section... I think...).Of course, that'd make it an artifact but... it doesn't have to be a MAJOR artifact, right? In fact, what would be really cool is if it were just a dagger shaped shard of pure black stone, rather like an obsidian dagger and instead of having been crafted or even magically imbued, it was simply given a drop of the womans blood and thus has by mere merit of its origin (the Cauldron) become a Bane weapon (attuned to paladins specifically).
Just a few random thoughts I thought I'd throw your way
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