GrimlinJoe's Homebrew Campaign

[GrimlinJoe]

Hello Everyone,

Recently I have begun DMing my first campaign for Basic Fantasy. It is a homebrew campaign with a story that I have been workshopping for a few years now (cough cough...15+ years). Originally I was having some issues with story boarding so I decided to just do a solo playthrough and random gen as much as possible and create what was really needed on the spot. I have been running this as a play by post campaign on a discord server I have created and since there as been a little bit of interest here on the forums, I decided to make a running post as to the happenings in the campaign and to see what you guys think. If you have any input or advice please feel free to interject as this campaign is still active.

[GrimlinJoe]

In the World of Tarneth D'in there lies the region known as Skavros. A war ravaged land with a mysterious origin. Once discovered and founded by a brotherhood of clerics known only as The Order of the First Sons that quickly helped transform the landscape and establish the colony that would inhabit the region under the guide of their elder Varyus Rhyn. The capital city of Gray Spire would become the hub and heart of Skavros. As the world began to fall to raging wars of factions and tyrannical rulers, Skavros was taken from the people as war claimed the land. The Order of the First Sons were driven to near extinction and were driven into hiding forcing them to dwell in caves near the once prestigious capital. As the wars raged on a revolution came forward known as the great emancipation, forcing evil from the thrones and kingdoms that lay in their grasp for so long. Peace had now fallen on Tarneth D'in. Kingdoms joining forces to create the Guardians Council. Tarneth D'in would once again see a new age of democracy and peace spread throughout its lands. The Order of the First Sons would once again take their place as advisors to the kingdoms in their home of Skavros.

Though Skavros has been returned to the people it now sits under the rule of Lord Tyruis Black, a former war general who had sought to free Skavros from the choke holds of war. In recent months Lord Black had left Skavros to seek a summit with the Guardians Council. Once Lord Black Returned, the people of Gray Spire have noticed a change. The city of Gray Spire has now been closed off from the world seizing there import and export. The population is growing concerned as Gray Spire will surely be unable to thrive being isolated from the rest of the world. Skavros has now been named a neutral region. This will surely cause conflict as they are no longer under the blanket of the Guardians council and this could mean war may reach Skavros again.

[GrimlinJoe]

Lord Black has grown hostile and paranoid in the coming weeks. He has issued a ban on all temple gatherings and cast out the remaining members of The Order of the First Sons. He has tripled his patrol forces. Skavros is reaching a boiling point and actions may soon need to be taken to ease this growing tension. Nights earlier the city of Gray Spire was awoken in the dead of night. Panic and fear spread through the city. Guards began ransacking the city declaring a thief has stolen from the kingdom.

Guards began ripping people from their homes. Lord Black threatened to begin executing citizens until what was his is returned. In his failed intimidation efforts he has desperately reached out to The Guardians Council in hopes that they may send someone to help reclaim the stolen object Lord Black holds so dear.

In Tarneth D'in, adventurers are seen as wardens of the lands tasked with enforcing law and order. They are held to the highest regard.

[teaman]

Great map, GrimlinJoe! Best of luck with the campaign.

[GrimlinJoe]

The campaign has been underway for about a week now it and has been going quite well. Everyone is enjoying the story so far and have been very actively engaged.

[GrimlinJoe]

[Session Opening]

A summons from the Guardians Council has been issued to the group requesting their immediate assistance in Skavros. As their ship approaches the captain kicks them out of the boat forcing them to make the rest of the small trip in an escape boat stating that they would be wise to avoid this place if possible. Just to let the party know that this is the end of the line and there is no turning back.

Once they reach the docks they are stopped by a guard and asked to state their business. Once they present their papers with the summons they had to try and talk there way into gaining access to the city. They are approached by 2 more guards and Lieutenant by the name of Graves and confronted. Graves walks them the rest of the way to the city gates where they are met by 3 more guards. When one of the guards notices a cleric among the group it quickly escalates into an encounter where our dwarven fighter quickly dispatches the guard and Graves calls off the others.

They proceed into the city proper. They begin to question as to the hostility from the guards where they learn that most of the guards are actually mercenaries from and order known as the Blades of the Death Angels who have been hired to lock down the city and enforce Lord Blacks bidding. The group learned that these mercenaries have a marking on the backs of their right hands with a skull with wings and a sword through the middle of it. This way they can differentiate between which guards they can trust.

As they approached the keep to meet lord black they passed by the fabled Gray Spire where they were overcome by some mysterious force luring them towards it as they began to hear whispers and our cleric was almost overwhelmed. Graves dragged them away from it and quickly silenced any talk about what had just happened.

Once inside the keep they approached the throne room and could over hear whispering between two people and could overhear "Yes it will be done". Once they entered the room they found only Lord Black to be inside the room. While talking to the lord they began to notice him acting strangely and becoming impatient. His mood would swing wildly between anger, hatred and calm jovialness.

They were told by lord black to find the cleric that stole his relic and to bring it back. They will need to go to the old ruins north of the city and there would be a bonus if they bring back the clerics head. As they left and were out of earshot Graves told them to go to the local pub and find the tavern owners wife and to mention a code phrase and she would assist them.

Once made it to the tavern they were confronted by Mercenary guards inside and after another quick fight and great teamwork they dispatched the guards and found the Tavern owners wife and mentioned the phrase and were led to and underground saferoom under the tavern. The tavern owners wife showed them a secret exit that would lead them out of the city through the sewer way. Once she opened the door to the secret exit graves was on the other side of the door. He entered the room and told them that he had been using this room to gather intel about the happenings in skavros. He supplied the group with books and maps to help aid them in trying to find out what Lord Black is after.

[Seven]

A bit weird that Lord Black is the one running an underground op, but interesting so far.

A suggestion would be to add possible factions, such as the direct underlings of Lord Black.
It could give you options later and add color in the immediate.

[GrimlinJoe]

A bit weird that Lord Black is the one running an underground op, but interesting so far.

Not sure what I wrote that made you think lord black is running and underground op.

Graves is working against lord black and is the one running the underground op. Though graves is blacks right hand man, since the change that has occurred graves is no longer interested in aiding lord black and wishes to see him overthrown.