The Best Laid Plans

My inspiration for this blog and campaign came from a trip to Gen Con last year. As Dennis and I were driving home from Indianapolis, we both agreed that we needed to step up our "nerd game". Thus was born the "For the Love of Cormyr" blog as I was engrossed in the Knights of Myth Draanor trilogy by Ed Greenwood. Needless to say, what I'm reading and/or doing at the time plays a big part in how I write and DM.

The "For the Love of Cormyr" campaign was and is everything I wanted it to be. It introduced everyone in the group to the new rules system, allowed some first time players to feel out the game, and allowed me as a DM to test out all the little rules and details I wanted to. There are a few things missing, but that's from my own doing. All in all, I'm proud of what I've written for this campaign, but like your first character in a new video game, I feel like I could do better.

Tradition and nostalgia are important to me as far as D&D is concerned. I was a part of 2e, 3.5, and now 4e, and there are aspects of each experience I want to both relive and recreate. With that said, I will be dissolving both the "For the Love of Cormyr" campaign and this blog. But fret not, because I've been working on another campaign for almost a year now that forges together components from each of the aforementioned editions. It will be both something familiar and something new to explore. A new and improved blog is also in the works to support this campaign in the same fashion as before. You can see it in its infancy here: http://vrm4e2.blogspot.com/

As for the "For the Love of Cormyr" adventure, I can only say its been fun. Having recently started playing the Elder Scrolls Oblivion and continuing my work on a new dungeon mastering venture, I want to get back to "role playing" and let the combat/dungeon crawls/formulaic D&D stereotypes take a back seat. For those of you who remember it, the new campaign will be along the lines of the Star Wars RPG that we all briefly enjoyed. Character centered and character driven.

There are, however, a few loose ends from the past and I've yet to decide where they might fit in. Part of me wants them to remain something that could have been instead of something that never was. We'll see. Check this blog, check the new blog. More to come... real soon.

As the sands of the hour glass...

The bells of Skull Crag rang only twice as it was two hours past midnight. All was quiet by the main gate as two unfortunate Purple Dragon Knights pulled the late shift on watch, the town and the surrounding countryside seemingly asleep as it should be. Just then a firm knock resonated off the main gate's outer structure. The Knights looked at each other quizzically as they drew their swords and opened the thin window built into the gate for questioning those on the outside. What awaited on the other side set them at ease.

A simply dressed human of average height and build stood before them, illuminated by torchlight from within the city, and held his hands up to show that he was unarmed. His face was set in a calm and preserved manner. He spoke before the Purple Dragons could begin their chastisement of him.

"I seek audience with the Senior Wizard of War. You know him as Silas." Before the Dragons could deny him his request the man withdrew a thin platinum chain attached to an elaborate pocket watch. Engraved upon the casing was "S.I." that glowed a faint red, denoting the man's status as an Inquisitor from the capital of Suzail. The two guardsmen turned white as the color ran from their faces. They both dropped their swords to the dirt and went about opening the gates.

~

The door to the War Wizard's Den opened slowly as if the man entering didn't want to disturb anyone already inside. Silas rose from his chair at a writing desk to greet whoever it was that called upon him at such an hour. Seeing that it was the Inquisitor, grief played across his face.

"Since you're here I can only assume the worst. I thought we had more time." Silas said.

"I am afraid not Wizard of War. You are to assist the High Inquisitor in Eagle Peak at once. I will conclude your matters with the Amethyst Hydra and rooting out the Cult of the Dragon. I will send them north to assist you as soon as this matter is closed to satisfaction. I bid you safe travels." The inquisitor and Silas clasped hands and shared a concerned look. Silas began gathering his things and paused to ask a question.

"Tell me, Inquisitor. Have all four of them been sighted?"

The Inquisitor hesitated. Discretion was crucial to the standing of his office. Compassion got the best of him this time. "No. We have yet to locate Tor Malkew, but we have confirmation of the other three passing through Eagle Peak."

The Suzailian Inquisition

In case you were wondering from the previous post.
These dudes don't mess around.

For King and Country

Word travels fast. When the Adventuring Company of the Amethyst Hydra returned to Skull Crag from the ruins of Greatgaunt the town was ablaze with rumors. Some say that the group is in league with the Wizards of War, others hear tell that they're nothing more than treasure hunters, and some even whisper that they are scouting agents for the Suzailian Inquisition. Regardless, these adventurers are becoming known to the common folk, the nobles, and most notably all the treacherous villains who wait patiently in the shadows for their plans to unfold.


Many have tried, but few have joined. The Hydra has taken on four new names to their royal charter. Their mettle will soon be tested as enemies to the fair realm seldom rest. Next session to be decided. A skill challenge will mark the resume of play.

The Tunlands

Nestled between the Farsea Swamp and the Sunset Mountains lies a vast stretch of prairie known as the Tunlands. Bordered to the east by the Tun River, tall grasses and scrubland make up this fifty mile stretch of western Cormyr with the only settlement being Maloren's Rest in the northeast corner. Though inhabited by nomadic halflings, predatory gnolls, and the occasional adventuring group, the real danger lies a few hundred feet below. You see, beneath the prairie winds and soothing wildflowers rests a vast collection of tunnels leading into the upper reaches of the Underdark, the entrances to which are scattered all throughout with little to no visible markers. Drow, Duergar, Kuo-toa, and even the sinister Yuan-Ti vie for power in these lightless tunnels beneath Cormyr, some of them even venturing to the surface to trade or collect slaves. Recently, however, a young Grey Dragon has made the Tunlands its territory and preys mercilessly on whoever or whatever crosses its path.

Teaser Trailer

Heroes of virtue find no friendship in this world.

They are beset on all sides by cowards and thieves,

scrambling atop one another like rats.

And those cowards and thieves pledge fealty to even greater cowards and thieves,

and those to even greater,

until finally they all call the same man king.

A Shadow Lord who presides over a court of misery.

Coming soon to a paragon tier near you: the return of Cris Di'Zor, Margaret Raulf, Galvin Eldemere, and Tor Malkew. Death is but a door, time is but a window.

Neither last forever.

~The Search for the Chronomancer's Star~
a continuation of the For the Love of Cormyr campaign

Session Recap

Having put the ruins of Greatgaunt behind them, the adventuring company of Amethyst Hydra returns to Skull Crag with a number of questions and a mysterious map. As their encounters with the Dreambreath Royal, Cult of the Dragon, and even a collection of tieflings from the Noble House of Saudaire grow more frequent, our heroes find that they must increase their numbers within the limitations of their adventuring charter. With a growing reputation, the call goes out and bold adventurers from near and far make their way to western Cormyr in hopes of signing on.

Down time in Skull Crag has also brought rumors of dire foes to your ears. Whispers in taverns, concerned debate among arcane scholars, and even prayers of deliverance from a number of different faiths make mention of the dreaded Witchaloks and their return to the shadows of Cormyr. With the Cult of the Dragon, Dreambreath Royal, and House Saudaire already in a dreadful alliance, what could these mysterious villains possibly add to the equation? (aside from being totally bad ass) Only time will tell... and the links below. BEWARE!

Darkest of the dark-super-evil Witchalok lore.
(There's 6 parts, so keep hitting the next button)

Once more into the breach, dear friends...

Braylon, Esme, Caraga, and Joarth had waited until dawn to make their way into the ruins of Greatgaunt and subsequently stumbled into a collection of its umbral guardians. The ogres seemed to consist of shadow and gloom, but they shed blood and died just the same. The battle, however, and sapped the groups power, perhaps from anxiety, perhaps from fury and vigor. Regardless, the party was forced to retreat to their campsite and rest.

Roughly six or eight hours past and everyone regained their strength. Seeing that the afternoon sun would begin to make its way to the horizon soon, the group consensus was to wait until dawn once again to avoid being trapped in the ruins of the city at night. As the campfire was lit and night descended, strange things began to stir from within the confines of what was once Greatgaunt. Along with wisps of spellfire, faint torch light could be seen here and there along the streets, as well as the occasional rattle and clang of debris being disturbed. Though the Amethyst Hydra maintained a safe distance with their camp, a chill of terror gripped them as they began to imagine what they may face with the coming day. Silence fell over them as they contemplated their next move. Finally, Joarth broke the silence as he stated the obvious.

"If the Cult of the Dragon indeed resides in these accursed ruins, I fear we have lost the element of surprise in our pursuit of them."

Session Thursday. Come prepared.

Now Hiring! Travel the realm, stack coin, fight dragons, die heroic deaths, etc...

Following the next session in our ongoing campaign, everyone will have the opportunity to make one additional character to add to the adventuring charter of the Amethyst Hydra. This will give each player the option of two characters to choose from at any given time and expand the roles of the party to make up for any tactical short falls you may experience otherwise. PHB2 drops March 17th and has a vast assortment of new feats, races, classes, and character concepts that may be of interest. You'll want to step up your game because I promise you that when Monster Manuel II comes out, your enemies will be stepping up theirs. (cue foreshadowing music)

The Lure of the Majestic Moonsea

Connected by the River Lis to the Sea of Fallen Stars, the Moonsea is one of the more eccentric regions of northern Faerun. With no capital and only a handful of settled city-states, this region is truly one of the last rugged frontiers that mortal races seek to strive against. It is here that Cormyr has established what they call the Three-fold Embassy, or more simply put, three single embassies acting as a cohesive foreign diplomatic seat in the Moonsea area. With small sections of city carved out as Cormyrian soil within the boarders of Hulburg, Hillsfar, and Mulmaster, the Royal Council holds not only eyes and ears among the politics of the north, but teleportation gates to better move goods between the vast regions. Other organizations are mirroring the same tactics employed by the Cormyrian government as it proves to be a more efficient and safer way to import and export goods. The Sembian shipping company of the Dreambreath Royal is credited for being the innovator of this method, though their shipping lanes and methods are far more developed as they tend to operate under looser restrictions of law. The adverse effect of this strategy, however, is best embodied by the growing number of pirates and corsairs that plague the Moonsea's waters. With less goods making their travels by sea, the brigands are forced to act swiftly and ruthlessly upon those unfortunate few who still use the more "dated" methods of sea-based shipping.