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[Cianier Dy'Nien]

Take a moment and imagine, My Lord, a land pressed between two vast mountain ranges, with great, sweeping hills, rich in mountain ores, woods and grasslands - to the west, a vast lake, to the south, the forests of Cormyr and east? Her back is to the Dale-lands and the ancient realm of the elves. Picture this land as its wealth draws goblins to her grasslands.

Are you familiar with goblins? Likely not beyond smashing, bashing and zapping them as they get in your way. Diminutive creatures, you would know little more – I know this because you are sitting here with your pretty face, all fingers and toes and no haunted glaze over your eyes. They are vile, destructive beasts with enough sentience to prove a true menace and enough cruelty to assure their place in our world where their intellect might otherwise fail them. Take these ghastly cretins and make from those scattered tribes squatting in dungeons a vast empire, gathered together to worship – truly reverie – a god. Give them organisation, give them purpose and give them the numbers such that these days, those ancient lands are a blasted wasteland.

The goblin empire is gone, long since passed to dust and ruin yet many goblins remain and those creatures know nothing of farming, of domesticating animals – they barely know enough of preserving the ecology to ensure their place in the world. Goblins are the fate that fell upon this land, long before the Anauroch’s slow march south, long before the fall of ancient cloud citadels which scattered an entire nation across those hills. Rubble from the skies, crushed hills, smashed apart streams, created impassable barriers and all the while, the goblins ate and slaughtered their way into obscurity.

Of wildlife and trees? Of grasslands and lakes swarming with fish? Nothing is left, My Lord. Teerac is the last lake and that has shrunk with the Desert’s approach. Tun, the vast lake to the west has been reduced to a muddy marsh and now…now the goblins slaughter each other for food and sport, now the goblins have become that lowest link in the food chain of other, far greater predators.

Sweeping hills blasted by winds and heavy rain. In the summer, you bake with the land, in the winter, you freeze with her snow and all the while your cloaks billow and face stings in the razor-winds that lash the land. Those gentle foothills have become craggy and treacherous, the soil is baked to clay across much of the land and those that live there, amidst the ruins of fallen empires that dot the landscape are forced to look elsewhere for sustenance.

They plague the Moonsea ride, pillaging caravans for food and supplies. They form bands of raiders and attack anything and everything they can, witlessly following the greedy manipulations of their draconic mistress. If you thought that goblins were threat enough, you have yet to lay eyes on the masters of the border between civilisation and anarchy, between forested realm and desolate badland.

I mentioned ruins, you are right. Great city’s built atop gem mines bursting with precious gems and craven beholders, lonely towers and walls guarded by Chimera, a moorland teaming with ghouls that must be braved should wood be required. Yet, this does nothing to dissuade you, does it My Lord? I see it in your eyes, that ignorant delight granted by a ruinous dream…I caution you, now, these lands will tame you long before you break them.

You seek to enter a land fringed by the greatest desert in Faerun, watched by Suzail and Shade alike, owned by lawless creatures whose only true delight and love in their pitiful lives comes from torturing and slaughtering anything that draws breath. A realm of warrens and pitfalls, of bluffs and rugged slopes…Yes, you are correct, it is a land that I love, that I honour and respect. Full of secrets, full of life just beneath her bleak surface yet…it is a land that will break you long before she is tamed.

It has seen the fall of Low Netheril, the collapse of a city of cloud giants and the rise and fall of the great goblin empire, so tell me, humour me, how do you propose to build amongst those broken dreams of elder peoples a kingdom that will last through the generations? A realm that will stand defiant to barbarism, desert’s will and a history of failure, tell me, Lord, how you intend to claim the honour of Azoun’s legacy – the right for your herald to introduce you as ‘Baron Bastien of the Stonelands.’

- Mariss Khorba Terrabin to Lord Rene-Audric Bastien, and Captain Cianier Dy'Nien, in Waterdeep's grand library.

[Amilynn Steles]

you know Amilynn is along for the ride. she will probably be the HEALAHOFEPICGOODNESS ;D

[Cianier Dy'Nien]

Introduction to plot:

So, okay, Thomas and I, after much flogging of our characters (and attempts to not flog each other) have reached a point where we can begin setting into motion an idea that has been brewing since we joined this site (and opened up the Faerun-campaign setting .pdf ). A long term plot involving lots of conquering, screaming, dying, treasure-finding, phat lewting, sex and omgdidIjustdothat-epicness, René-Audric Bastien is going to take up an ancient Cormyrian charter which, if fulfilled, will declare him ‘Baron of the Stonelands’.

To do that though, he needs able-bodied adventurers to help him plot, scheme, scout, scour, carry his lewtz, fight, have sex with, and otherwise be a part of this. And so, Thomas and I implore you all, kind citizens of Faerun to take a gander over the notes of all that is involved, and all that would be expected and consider joining us on this very long-term project (talking around six months, at least).

Considering that this is a long term plot, we will be championing it because it is our baby, but we want to share the love. In saying that, Thomas and I have a very stringent process and what some might consider high expectations. So we are going to put out a few disclaimers and give a few notes, outlining what we expect on those foolish enough to embark with us on this campaign. We don’t want to come across as arrogant, or elitist, but we do want people who are going to be enthusiastic and not just come along for the ride expecting us to do all the work and spoon-feed everything to players.

So, if we’ve not turned you away by now, please…read on.

Player Requirements:
Player must be willing to stick this out. Barring emergencies and the likes, we would ask players to be active and on board, stalled threads are not much fun for other players – again, emergencies aside and RL issues are all understandable and could be worked around and worked with. But, if you don’t think that you have time, please do not commit…or at least, please be sure to commit only on a level that you are capable of maintaining.

Players should take initiative, there is plenty of room for subplots and while we will be orchestrating this, we would be sad pandas indeed if you guys didn’t take an opportunity/hint and twist something to add your flare and input into the plot. We do not intend for this one to be thread after thread of combat. There will be intrigue, there will be diplomatic meetings and there will be a lot of talking and…stuff…that doesn’t involve killing everything in sight. (rest assured though, there will be plenty of killing. Plenty.)

Players are encouraged to do at least a little research on the Stonelands, while Thomas has a truckload of resources and can send some of those out for interested persons, he acquired them by looking around online – it isn’t hard, he’s a nub and did it easily . Some resources will be thrown up as a general guide and to clarify a few points that are vague…explanation will be given in those generalised resources.

Players should understand that we will control time, and be framing everything within timeframes and employ a timeline. We will even match it up to Faerunian time. And have seasons.

Characters we’re looking for:
No epics, at all. Certainly, people could and are likely to become epic during the course of this, but we want it to be somewhat of a challenge. We will accept no more than five high-levels, 15-20. We are, specifically looking for sub 14s really, to give those characters chance to grow and have fun and a big, challenging adventure/campaign. Anything really ranging from 5-14 can be catered for and included on a level that ensures fun and involvement all round . We will attempt to plop characters into groups of pcs and npcs that are of similar level and tailor things to them .

Stressing again. No epics at time of plot commencing. We don’t have anything against ‘em, but the skills and powers of characters that high, before posting begins in earnest, guarantees a lack of challenge in the plot that would really damage its integrity.

A side note: Fighters and wizards/sorcerors would be on a low-priority for this one, if it came down to denying players because the roster was becoming top-heavy. There are a lot of npcs involved already who cover those roles well enough that focus can be given to other classes. Not to discourage those sorts of characters, but simply to alert you to that as a possibility.

How does my character get into this?! (This is where you say: it sounds OMGSOFRIKKENCOOL)

If your character is not from Cormyr, there may be a slight problem however, that is rectified by our favourite red-headed Waterdhavian Bardmaid, who has been talking a lot about Cormyrian news and troubles. She speaks of a Lord who is looking for adventurers to help claim, and stake their claim to, that region of Cormyr known as ‘The Stonelands.’ He promises nothing less than a chance at doing something good, and, if successful, rewards ranging from rights to claim treasure through to that greatest of rewards – land and ownership.

So, if you are in Waterdeep, there is the in. Opposite the Laughing Titan inn, there is, conveniently, a small house that has been leased for the foreseeable future and is being used as a recruitment office.

If you are not in Waterdeep, or in Cormyr…erm…get to either of those places (this is where initiative starts to come in ).

If you think that your characters will get wind of it, sign up in this thread. And get them travelling to Cormyr either on their own two or wait around for a ship-voyage involving Argus, sailing through pirate infested waters, the Underdark, and into Cormyr. There will be two starter threads where characters can begin to gather for either of these events.

All of this takes place after the Midsummer Festival. Which has three weeks left to go. (see…we’re using a timeline XD). Speaking of which a separate topic will be made to include the timeline and a plot summary/thread-link hub of everything remotely linked to this campaign.

Sign up here, leave your questions and lets get started.

…oh yeah

FOR CORMYR!

[Ares Enyalios]

Father Lostcharm can come along. He, of course, will pledge that he won't do anything stupid and kill everyone, as long as he gets a lot of gold, women, and items...and Pillaging. LOTS AND LOTS OF PILLAGING. So if you want a powerful dragon aboard...then pick Lostcharm, but beware...He might not stay to the pledge. But that just makes a interesting finale huh?

[Wong Fei Hung]

That includes ECL or whatever epics that are like lvl 11 but counted as epics?

Either way, I think I could throw my monk into this, ja.

[Agatha Mallowburne]

It should likely be pointed out that the measures being taken to ensure that whomever comes along on this expedition is not a Zhentarim agent, or something of similar, nefarious ilk (agents working on the behest of Shade), are extreme. The screening process done via wards and permament spell effects within the recruitment cottage, and that screening which will be carried out by War Wizards upon entrance to Suzail would pick up the true nature/alignment and likely intent of those seeking to join.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/arcaneSight.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/discernLies.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectThoughts.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectEvil.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/zoneOfTruth.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/hallow.htm

Are some of the spells likely to be employed during the screening process. Attempts to negate or combat said spells would be picked up and investigated – bear in mind that one of the leaders of this ‘ere crusade is a high-level wizard who is a plunder-mad evil pirate and knows full well the danger that such a person presents to the planned actions. Cianier alone has taken steps to ensure the integrity of the mission remains intact, and that is well before the War Wizards and Cormyrian ‘customs office’ begin checking incoming adventurers out ^.^

[Cael'sylthen Ironside]

<------------ Is joining in.

[Sendai Haleen]

Ceryini is interested he's pretty much got the entry requirements for this: level 10, currently in Waterdeep talking to a certain red haired barmaid , always up for an adventure.

[Agatha Mallowburne]

http://faerun.ajburt.com/index.php?act=ST&f=51&t=743

I've thrown a thread up in the library, into which all the lore dumps will go. I may delete this thread and re-post it from time to time, to keep information orderly and neat . Doing that to keep the lore separate from the discussion as there is nothing more confusing than scrolling through pages of ooc chatter in search for a piece of information.

Ah yea, knew I was forgetting something. Welcome aboard all ye landlubbers wot 'av shown interest. Thanks for taking time to look into this

[Father Lostcharm]

Doesn't a dragon have some resistance to those spells?
Also Father travels everywhere,so he might hear about the adventure and come along.

[Edlyn Amastacia]

When dragons polymorph into humans they lose their dragon traits, ECL and anything else linked to that. They are polymorphed, as per the spell, anything humans are subject to, Lostcharm would be and they have to follow the same rules, etc. etc. etc. So he'd have the spell resistance of a human, while in human form, not a dragon.

[Marek Almarean]

Marek will come along. *Nods* Yep-yep. Just needs to be accepted first, and we'll be good to go. You can kinda' put him in wherever you think is necessary.

[Aceline Rhilace]

My my, I'm of course in. Question is just which character. Kyrie would like something like this in her life right now. Sort of "eff you all sneaky murderers, I'm going on holiday." Oh and Kyrie might be of evil allignment, but she's evil by necessity, not constantly evil, she's just not kind enough to be neutral.

-cough-

Not sure quite which character, I could imagine that if I'm successful with the General for the Three Sisters plot and get him accepted, he could pop in. I think I will create him as character anyway, so yeah, but he won't be in from the start in the case it's started before I get the application done and (hopefully) accepted. Hope that's okay?

I think it applies for some of my characters that they might pop in and out if needed for the plot -nodnod-.

I'm in! Not sure about "minor" details such as which character but I'm in!

[Ares Enyalios]

I'm making a purple dragon knight/ knight as we speak, so I hope I can finish him in time to join yall on the quest.

[Calanon Favion]

Ooh! I'd love to get Cal involved! *begins reading up* XD