The "Free City" is a metropolis of thieves and wizards... um, I think we can all figure that out. Also it makes mention of the adventure path leading towards the Rift Canyon in future installments.
The Whispering Cairn adventure is a great start for the new adventure path with great encounters, a few new traps that I find devilishly fun and a good variety of monsters not always found in your basic adventure.
The Diamond Lake Background Info is also very good in assisting with possible player character backgrounds and it has a complete write up on several NPC's. I am very impressed with the first installment of the current Adventure Path and can't wait for the next installment in the Age of Worms Adventure Path.
I personally was trying to put together a series of Dungeon adventures to use in a weekly game I am trying to start but now i just have to get my players together and find time to run because I am definitely going to use this adventure path for my weekly campaign.
Excellent Job by Mr. Erik Mona on the first Adventure and Backdrop information. Also Great Job to all who helped him because great stuff like this is never a one person job!
These will definitely be a must have for Greyhawk fans.
All hail Erik Mona :D All hail Rob Kuntz :D
Although the name "Greyhawk" is obviously a taboo word in the adventure, the writing by Erik is excellent and the background info on the Wind Dukes and the Rod of Seven Parts is awesome.
These will definitely be a must have for Greyhawk fans.
I could not agree more. The Wind Dukes and Rod connection MAKE the adventure IMO. Question is - will the later adventures be able to keep it up?
...can't wait to have my issue arrive here....
And what about the Wind Dukes and the Rod of Seven Parts?
The Wind Dukes are only included as background information. They are the original Cairn Builders and constructed 'The Whispering Cairn.' A side bar indicates that the Rod of Seven Parts has no bearing on the rest of the Age of Worms.
Hope that tides you over 'till the issue arrives.
Cheers.
The Wind Dukes are only included as background information. They are the original Cairn Builders and constructed 'The Whispering Cairn.' A side bar indicates that the Rod of Seven Parts has no bearing on the rest of the Age of Worms.
Yes. But. Its background in the way Iggwilv is background to Tsojcanth. Its background in the way Thrommel is background to TOEE. Moreso. The agents of the Wind Dukes are stat'ed out for 3E etc.
Whether the Ro7Parts and the Wind Dukes will make any further appearance is, to me, the question. This is great background, very useful for expanding and developing this material. Mona delivered, IMO. Now, can he follow through, or more accurately, I guess, can the other authors' follow through?
And by "follow through," in the first instance, I'd look toward the Wind Dukes. However, in a secondary sense, I'd settle for development of this sort of "reaching" background in some other wise.
I will say, however, the "Ebon Triad" is a bit lame, IMO, trying to merge three deities - at least as presently described. But then again, Vecna has both an an eye and hand "slot" "open," as it were.
"Now, Hextor . . . just hold still. This may 'sting' a little . . ." :PThe Ebon Triad are central to the next AP adventure in #125 so you know as much as I do about that, my guess (and there are several hints in the Diamond Lake setting and various side bars) is that they think that they can combine the three gods by some sort of ritual but in fact Kyuss has tricked them into enacting this ritual to start the Age of Worms.
The Wind Dukes are only included as background information. They are the original Cairn Builders and constructed 'The Whispering Cairn.' A side bar indicates that the Rod of Seven Parts has no bearing on the rest of the Age of Worms.
Actually rereading the side bars it pretty much spells out that Kyuss has duped the Ebon Triad into invoking the Age of Worms and it also suggests that the relevant deities (Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna) have something to gain by letting their followers do this. Since the respective priests of these deities still gain all their spiritual abilities and spells obviously said gods don't think their plan is heretical. It also says that the organizations (particularly Hextor) find this cult extremely alarming and try to root it out when possible.
I will reserve judgment on the whole thing untill I can see how it plays out in the next installment. My reservation right now stems from two things. The cult of Vecna seems awefully small to have a fringe sect that wants to combine him with other deities. And Hextor seems far too lawful to allow something like this to go on with respect to his followers...
I guess we shall see.
what do you mean they want combine Hextor, Vecna, and Erythnul ?
The Father, the Son, and the Unholy Spirit :D
(But which is which?)
Hope that tides you over 'till the issue arrives.
Cheers.
Many thanks...
...the magazine should arrive any day now.
I will say, however, the "Ebon Triad" is a bit lame, IMO, trying to merge three deities - at least as presently described. But then again, Vecna has both an an eye and hand "slot" "open," as it were.
Yeah, I like the idea of the Ebon Triad in general, but the specifics (and the weird mixture of deities they want to combine) doesn't really "work" for me. They were a loose end from the Shackled City Adventure Path, so when I updated them for the Age of Worms I simply decided that their plot to combine gods (calling Elminster, Mr. L. Minster, there's a call for you on the Red Line) was a fraud.
--Erik Mona
My reservation right now stems from two things. The cult of Vecna seems awefully small to have a fringe sect that wants to combine him with other deities. And Hextor seems far too lawful to allow something like this to go on with respect to his followers...
Both of these things will come into play as the campaign progresses. Strange bedfellows, and all that.
Followers of Hextor, Vecna, and Erythnul that are not affiliated with the Ebon Triad will make major appearances over the course of the campaign.
And the Wind Dukes will appear in episode 6, "A Gathering of Winds," by Wolfgang Baur. Look for a full exploration of the Wind Duke General Icosiol's tomb. I've seen Wolf's outline, and it is devious as hell.
--Erik Mona
Do you plan to incorporate any further details on the Wind Dukes/et al from the RPGA tourney "Finger Of the Wind" (GenCon 2000 AD&D Open)?
And the Wind Dukes will appear in episode 6, "A Gathering of Winds," by Wolfgang Baur. Look for a full exploration of the Wind Duke General Icosiol's tomb. I've seen Wolf's outline, and it is devious as hell.
--Erik Mona
Now, here we go.
Great hook and a great designer to run with it. :D Now, I'm juiced. 
They were a loose end from the Shackled City Adventure Path, so when I updated them for the Age of Worms I simply decided that their plot to combine gods (calling Elminster, Mr. L. Minster, there's a call for you on the Red Line) was a fraud.
Nice cheap shot at the FR there, Mr. Faiths & Pantheons.
And if you can't make fun of Elminster, you're not trying...or breathing, possibly both.