This is the IC thread for a new homebrew campaign called The Conspiracy of the Three Collectors. It is a continuation of my previous long-term campaign, The Disappearance of Anna Kelver. The characters in this are (to the best of my knowledge as of this writing) the same four who remained in that campaign to the end. You can find that campaign here.
This is similar to that campaign in that I am interesting in bringing in elements of pulp crime/true crime types of stories into a fantasy setting and explore how they might work best together. I think the main difference between this and the Kelver campaign is that I want to bring in more elements of magic and the larger metaphysical elements the game has to offer, while also ramping up the intensity and scope of the crime part of the story.
Ground rules for the game, as a refresher:
All dice rolls by the players will be done using the dice roller mechanic provided by the forums. I reserve the right to choose whether any roll I might make in combat or for an NPC is in public or not.
All spells, magic items, classes, etc, that are set in the Forgotten Realms are fair game for the campaign. That also includes monsters, locations, etc.
There will be a separate OOC private message thread for myself and the players. Any OOC posts in this thread should be noted somehow.
Everything in the game is theater of the mind. I don't have the time or the artistic ability to make maps, etc. Because of that, I'm probably never going to worry much about speed or movement in combat.
In general, this is meant to be a low-key game in terms of the rules--I'm going to make mistakes, you're going to make mistakes, and the sun will come up tomorrow. Please keep the rules lawyering to a minimum and if there is a big mistake that I make, please contact me privately. I'm more concerned about the development of the characters and the execution of the story, and view the system as something to drive us towards that end.
I'm going to try to post at least once per day, but can make no guarantees. I'm very busy IRL and so there will be some nights where I might not be able to do much of anything. I don't expect any of the players to post at a manic frequency, either. We're here to collaborate on this story, and sometimes it's better to wait an extra day to get a bit of description right instead of rushing something out immediately.
Like the Kelver game, this is story where I have a couple of clear set pieces in mind, but I don't have a timeline to get this done. If the party figures this out in a one month or twelve, we'll go with the flow.
It has been six months since the rescue of Anna Kelver. Let's start the campaign by talking about what the characters have been up to since the night they faced off with Victor Graywolf. I have some ideas about what has happened to them as well, but I'll introduce those twists after the party weighs in...
Usul heads into the Save Point, which he does from time to time just to see Anna and check in, though often still feels comfortable under the tables with Ma and Pa. He's spent a lot of tame training Muad ((Mastiff mount/pet)), and Dib ((pet mouse)), as well as learning how to connect with Duncan ((Owl Familiar)). Having come into more coin than he'd really dreamed possible ((I have over 800 in his inv)), he would have anonymously left 500 of it for Ma and Pa to find at the Hostel to help support them and all the other urchins that they've brought in and cared for. While he wouldn't have gone and bought anything too fancy, he did buy a Pipe of Smoke Monsters, and will occasionally come home a tad tipsy from drinking wine. He also has a swirl tattoo on his right hand now; meaning that if Ma and Pa were particularly insightful, they may have noticed these changes about him. He's also bought a bit of clothing, though nothing too fancy. He's getting closer to looking like (a younger version of) this:
Stepping into the Save Point today will be the first time he's seen Crush, Sen, or Aria in a while. After coming out from the underdark they went their own ways. Though Usul would occasionally try to keep tabs on them, he hasn't approached in a while. He's happy to see them, and interested in what they've been up to, as well as changes over the past few months.
((time to head to class, I may add more as I think of it))
Aria still stays as the Save Point whenever she makes her way back to Waterdeep. She's spent the better part of the last 6 months traveling through the Underdark, finding bounties and helping anyway she can. Her hair at this point has gotten very long and is now pulled back into a long, single dutch braid that hangs all the way down her back. She's kept the majority of her money from the Anna Kelver job, and has only really bought some new Unbreakable Arrow
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
(I forgot to add that there was a cliffhanger of sorts at the end of the last game WRT Acquisitions Incorporated. It's an angle I'm happy to work in and make an active piece of this campaign, or ignore it for now and put in the background, depending on all of your interest.)
Sen has been living at the Save Point all this time. He spends his days earning a little coin here and there, putting his magical abilities to use. He is a little less skittish than before, but still mostly keeps to himself; there are fellow long-time residents of the Save Point that he has barely exchanged two words with. He too has kept most of the money, though he has an eye on the magic shops in case anything interesting becomes available.
Most of his time has been spent researching, visiting the various libraries of Waterdeep, and scribbling notes in his journal.
Crush would have spend most of his nights at the save point, spending his time there when not accepting dangerous mercenary work that other people were to smart or cowardly to consider.The hulking orc seemed even larger now that he had purchased a new set of splint armor. His footsteps always shook the wooden floors of the save point, and while Ma and Pa would get annoyed by the dust and dirt that would fall from the ceiling when he arrived, the young children were always excited by his return. Although there were times where the orc was badly wounded and bleeding... he always brought the children some sort of present when he would return from a job... normally purchased with the coin he earned... but sometimes pulled from the corpse of an enemy. The orc still slept in the pile of furs in the corner of the saving point with his coin purse still quite full and always attached to his belt. The orc didn't care for fine furnishings and apart from buying a nicer set of armor, meals, and gifts for the children... The orc didn't spend much. Crush could have spent the last few months just eating and drink his days away.. but for him.. fighting is the only reason for living.. and so the large orc took every opportunity he could to take on dangerous jobs for whatever pay was offered.
Walking into the save point, Usul looks around, and immediately sees Crush, Aria, and Sen. Happy to see the group he goes up to Crush yelling, and speaking far too quickly "Crush! Hey hey hey! Check it out!" and pulls out his pipe to blow a thick smoke cloud in the shape of a kobold with a bomb "Pretty cool eh?!" then turning to Sen "Sen!! I've been practicing some things we talked about before!" and this time casts silent image around the disappearing smoke cloud to show a large explosion from the bomb. He then looks to Aria saying "Aria! Looking pretty! Nice hair! And nice shiny bow!" as he pats the crossbow on his back, finally adding "How the hell have y'all been?!"
In the time since the Kelver job, Crush has picked up a rather persistent would-be paramour. She is a half-orc named Sarah Smashbrain, a barbarian princess from Clan Smashbrain who has been sent to Waterdeep to explore the Underdark and attract a mate. She's seen Crush several times and they may have done some jobs together, and she's been very insistent on marriage (I don't think Crush is ready to settle down yet, but that's up to you.)
At the sight of the Silent Image of a bomb, Sen clutches the sides of his chair in alarm, and then... forces himself to relax. A small smile crosses his face, as he thinks that a few months ago that sight would have been enough to send him running for his life. You've come a long way with your magic, he says to Usul.It took me years to get a grip on that one. He looks at the other three. Is this the first time we've been together, the four of us, since... you know.
Crush would make his way up from lounging on his pile of fur, towards his companions and collapse into a small wooden chair next to Sen. As the hulking figure does this, The small wooden chair creaks loudly as though it may not support his weight but the orc has done this many times and doesn't seem concerned by the chairs screams. "Good trick" Crush would say with a grunt. "Crush good... have many fights... new scars.." He would say with a wide grin as he proudly gestures to a few recently healed scars across his arms and neck.... one of them looking as though it was caused by a huge set of jaws. "Why all here?" He would ask with a look of confusion on his face as he gestures to each of you. "work for Crush and Sarah?" He would as with a grunt before pulling one battle axe from his belt and placing it on the table before pulling our a second one and gesturing to The lounging female Half-orc laying on the pile of furs where Crush had just been.
"Aye," Aria chimes in as she makes her way towards her old friends and nods in the direction of Sarah. "New friend, Crush?"She smiles. She would always come in and out of Waterdeep but she never really had made friends. This group was the only people she could possibly refer to in that way and relationship. Most of her young adulthood she's spent it alone, by choice. These last six months haven't been any different as she's tried to hone her hunting skills. Becoming more confident in herself and in her trusty BULLSEYE.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
Crush would grunt and shrug at Aria's question. Although he tries to hide it you can almost see him tense up a bit as his face turns a slight shade of red. "She ... Strong... Kill well.." He would say glancing back to the half orc before looking back to Aria.
Aria notices the change in shade in Crush's face and she lets out a huge smile. "New girlfriend! Oh Crush, you ladies man you." Aria goes to hug everyone but thinks better of hugging Crush and not drawing the ire of Sarah. She extends a handshake to him instead. Looking to Sen she replies... "I believe so. After that day, we all seemed to go out separate ways. Took a lot out of me personally."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
Sarah snores loudly, her hand moving toward a dagger on her belt in her sleep.
In the time since the Kelver job, Sen has removed the circlet that help win the day for them and placed it in storage. That the magic in that gem--magic, or something else occupying the stone--was able to capitalize on his anxiety in such a violent way, Sen's elected not to keep it on his person. Oddly, knowing that his fears had been so destructive have helped boost his confidence slightly, in an odd sort of way.
Usul has become...known to the City Guard. There've been some tough spots with him and Muad, but Usul's never been arrested (for any major period of time) or provided any extremely useful information (only because the times the Guard have come asking, he's never had anything that would have been genuinely helpful). He stands out in this part of the city, though, and the Guard have had their eyes on him. One guard in particular, a human named Wiggs, has taken a liking to Muad and thus Usul.
Aria has developed a reputation as an up-and-coming hunter in the Underdark. She's developed contacts with people who might be above her station just based on her willingness to take chances in face of impossible odds. There's clearly a desire for something more, here. She's taken to teaching archery to some of the kids who live in the Save Point as well, setting up a makeshift target in the alleyway behind the building, making a targeting dummy out of some hay and old clothes.
Your attention is called to this alleyway when you hear some ungodly racket, and a familiar voice yell "Hey! Hey! Whatsa matta witchu! You want summa this? You want summa this? Your mother!"
"It has been a while.." Usul says, continuing "I've mostly been at the hostel still, and trying to my hand with some new skills around town when I had time." Looking to Crush he says "I saw you pop in from time to time... sorry I didn't say hi..." now looking a bit bashful "There were just so many questions after everything that happened down there... I kinda needed to see what I could learn."
((can we say that Usul might have spent some time sneaking around trying to learn more about Shadrach (spelling?)? He never really did trust the big armored dude.))
((edit. seems I was typing at the same time as Wil... Let's say Usul said all that just as the commotion started))
(Please feel free to keep roleplaying and getting back into your characters for however long you all would like to, we can pick up with the disturbance in the alley when you're ready.
Kev, I'll send you something for Usul's investigation.)
Crush would grin as he take hold of both battleaxes and stands up from the table as his chair lets out another loud creak is though letting out a sigh of relief. "Join FIght!" He would exclaim excitedly as he quickly storms out the door, his heavy footfalls sending tremors through the Save Point.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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This is the IC thread for a new homebrew campaign called The Conspiracy of the Three Collectors. It is a continuation of my previous long-term campaign, The Disappearance of Anna Kelver. The characters in this are (to the best of my knowledge as of this writing) the same four who remained in that campaign to the end. You can find that campaign here.
This is similar to that campaign in that I am interesting in bringing in elements of pulp crime/true crime types of stories into a fantasy setting and explore how they might work best together. I think the main difference between this and the Kelver campaign is that I want to bring in more elements of magic and the larger metaphysical elements the game has to offer, while also ramping up the intensity and scope of the crime part of the story.
Ground rules for the game, as a refresher:
All dice rolls by the players will be done using the dice roller mechanic provided by the forums. I reserve the right to choose whether any roll I might make in combat or for an NPC is in public or not.
All spells, magic items, classes, etc, that are set in the Forgotten Realms are fair game for the campaign. That also includes monsters, locations, etc.
There will be a separate OOC private message thread for myself and the players. Any OOC posts in this thread should be noted somehow.
Everything in the game is theater of the mind. I don't have the time or the artistic ability to make maps, etc. Because of that, I'm probably never going to worry much about speed or movement in combat.
In general, this is meant to be a low-key game in terms of the rules--I'm going to make mistakes, you're going to make mistakes, and the sun will come up tomorrow. Please keep the rules lawyering to a minimum and if there is a big mistake that I make, please contact me privately. I'm more concerned about the development of the characters and the execution of the story, and view the system as something to drive us towards that end.
I'm going to try to post at least once per day, but can make no guarantees. I'm very busy IRL and so there will be some nights where I might not be able to do much of anything. I don't expect any of the players to post at a manic frequency, either. We're here to collaborate on this story, and sometimes it's better to wait an extra day to get a bit of description right instead of rushing something out immediately.
Like the Kelver game, this is story where I have a couple of clear set pieces in mind, but I don't have a timeline to get this done. If the party figures this out in a one month or twelve, we'll go with the flow.
Welcome back to Waterdeep, everyone.
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
It has been six months since the rescue of Anna Kelver. Let's start the campaign by talking about what the characters have been up to since the night they faced off with Victor Graywolf. I have some ideas about what has happened to them as well, but I'll introduce those twists after the party weighs in...
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
do you still have the custom made items you gave our characters? I think mine was a ring of intimidation or something....
Usul heads into the Save Point, which he does from time to time just to see Anna and check in, though often still feels comfortable under the tables with Ma and Pa. He's spent a lot of tame training Muad ((Mastiff mount/pet)), and Dib ((pet mouse)), as well as learning how to connect with Duncan ((Owl Familiar)). Having come into more coin than he'd really dreamed possible ((I have over 800 in his inv)), he would have anonymously left 500 of it for Ma and Pa to find at the Hostel to help support them and all the other urchins that they've brought in and cared for. While he wouldn't have gone and bought anything too fancy, he did buy a Pipe of Smoke Monsters, and will occasionally come home a tad tipsy from drinking wine. He also has a swirl tattoo on his right hand now; meaning that if Ma and Pa were particularly insightful, they may have noticed these changes about him. He's also bought a bit of clothing, though nothing too fancy. He's getting closer to looking like (a younger version of) this:
Stepping into the Save Point today will be the first time he's seen Crush, Sen, or Aria in a while. After coming out from the underdark they went their own ways. Though Usul would occasionally try to keep tabs on them, he hasn't approached in a while. He's happy to see them, and interested in what they've been up to, as well as changes over the past few months.
((time to head to class, I may add more as I think of it))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Aria still stays as the Save Point whenever she makes her way back to Waterdeep. She's spent the better part of the last 6 months traveling through the Underdark, finding bounties and helping anyway she can. Her hair at this point has gotten very long and is now pulled back into a long, single dutch braid that hangs all the way down her back. She's kept the majority of her money from the Anna Kelver job, and has only really bought some new Unbreakable Arrow
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
(I forgot to add that there was a cliffhanger of sorts at the end of the last game WRT Acquisitions Incorporated. It's an angle I'm happy to work in and make an active piece of this campaign, or ignore it for now and put in the background, depending on all of your interest.)
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
Sen has been living at the Save Point all this time. He spends his days earning a little coin here and there, putting his magical abilities to use. He is a little less skittish than before, but still mostly keeps to himself; there are fellow long-time residents of the Save Point that he has barely exchanged two words with. He too has kept most of the money, though he has an eye on the magic shops in case anything interesting becomes available.
Most of his time has been spent researching, visiting the various libraries of Waterdeep, and scribbling notes in his journal.
Crush would have spend most of his nights at the save point, spending his time there when not accepting dangerous mercenary work that other people were to smart or cowardly to consider.The hulking orc seemed even larger now that he had purchased a new set of splint armor. His footsteps always shook the wooden floors of the save point, and while Ma and Pa would get annoyed by the dust and dirt that would fall from the ceiling when he arrived, the young children were always excited by his return. Although there were times where the orc was badly wounded and bleeding... he always brought the children some sort of present when he would return from a job... normally purchased with the coin he earned... but sometimes pulled from the corpse of an enemy. The orc still slept in the pile of furs in the corner of the saving point with his coin purse still quite full and always attached to his belt. The orc didn't care for fine furnishings and apart from buying a nicer set of armor, meals, and gifts for the children... The orc didn't spend much. Crush could have spent the last few months just eating and drink his days away.. but for him.. fighting is the only reason for living.. and so the large orc took every opportunity he could to take on dangerous jobs for whatever pay was offered.
Walking into the save point, Usul looks around, and immediately sees Crush, Aria, and Sen. Happy to see the group he goes up to Crush yelling, and speaking far too quickly "Crush! Hey hey hey! Check it out!" and pulls out his pipe to blow a thick smoke cloud in the shape of a kobold with a bomb "Pretty cool eh?!" then turning to Sen "Sen!! I've been practicing some things we talked about before!" and this time casts silent image around the disappearing smoke cloud to show a large explosion from the bomb. He then looks to Aria saying "Aria! Looking pretty! Nice hair! And nice shiny bow!" as he pats the crossbow on his back, finally adding "How the hell have y'all been?!"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
In the time since the Kelver job, Crush has picked up a rather persistent would-be paramour. She is a half-orc named Sarah Smashbrain, a barbarian princess from Clan Smashbrain who has been sent to Waterdeep to explore the Underdark and attract a mate. She's seen Crush several times and they may have done some jobs together, and she's been very insistent on marriage (I don't think Crush is ready to settle down yet, but that's up to you.)
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
A muscular charismatic orc like Crush... I mean.. of course he has attracted a nice female Half-orc!
At the sight of the Silent Image of a bomb, Sen clutches the sides of his chair in alarm, and then... forces himself to relax. A small smile crosses his face, as he thinks that a few months ago that sight would have been enough to send him running for his life. You've come a long way with your magic, he says to Usul. It took me years to get a grip on that one. He looks at the other three. Is this the first time we've been together, the four of us, since... you know.
Crush would make his way up from lounging on his pile of fur, towards his companions and collapse into a small wooden chair next to Sen. As the hulking figure does this, The small wooden chair creaks loudly as though it may not support his weight but the orc has done this many times and doesn't seem concerned by the chairs screams. "Good trick" Crush would say with a grunt. "Crush good... have many fights... new scars.." He would say with a wide grin as he proudly gestures to a few recently healed scars across his arms and neck.... one of them looking as though it was caused by a huge set of jaws. "Why all here?" He would ask with a look of confusion on his face as he gestures to each of you. "work for Crush and Sarah?" He would as with a grunt before pulling one battle axe from his belt and placing it on the table before pulling our a second one and gesturing to The lounging female Half-orc laying on the pile of furs where Crush had just been.
"Aye," Aria chimes in as she makes her way towards her old friends and nods in the direction of Sarah. "New friend, Crush?" She smiles. She would always come in and out of Waterdeep but she never really had made friends. This group was the only people she could possibly refer to in that way and relationship. Most of her young adulthood she's spent it alone, by choice. These last six months haven't been any different as she's tried to hone her hunting skills. Becoming more confident in herself and in her trusty BULLSEYE.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Crush would grunt and shrug at Aria's question. Although he tries to hide it you can almost see him tense up a bit as his face turns a slight shade of red. "She ... Strong... Kill well.." He would say glancing back to the half orc before looking back to Aria.
Aria notices the change in shade in Crush's face and she lets out a huge smile. "New girlfriend! Oh Crush, you ladies man you." Aria goes to hug everyone but thinks better of hugging Crush and not drawing the ire of Sarah. She extends a handshake to him instead. Looking to Sen she replies... "I believe so. After that day, we all seemed to go out separate ways. Took a lot out of me personally."
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Sarah snores loudly, her hand moving toward a dagger on her belt in her sleep.
In the time since the Kelver job, Sen has removed the circlet that help win the day for them and placed it in storage. That the magic in that gem--magic, or something else occupying the stone--was able to capitalize on his anxiety in such a violent way, Sen's elected not to keep it on his person. Oddly, knowing that his fears had been so destructive have helped boost his confidence slightly, in an odd sort of way.
Usul has become...known to the City Guard. There've been some tough spots with him and Muad, but Usul's never been arrested (for any major period of time) or provided any extremely useful information (only because the times the Guard have come asking, he's never had anything that would have been genuinely helpful). He stands out in this part of the city, though, and the Guard have had their eyes on him. One guard in particular, a human named Wiggs, has taken a liking to Muad and thus Usul.
Aria has developed a reputation as an up-and-coming hunter in the Underdark. She's developed contacts with people who might be above her station just based on her willingness to take chances in face of impossible odds. There's clearly a desire for something more, here. She's taken to teaching archery to some of the kids who live in the Save Point as well, setting up a makeshift target in the alleyway behind the building, making a targeting dummy out of some hay and old clothes.
Your attention is called to this alleyway when you hear some ungodly racket, and a familiar voice yell "Hey! Hey! Whatsa matta witchu! You want summa this? You want summa this? Your mother!"
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
"It has been a while.." Usul says, continuing "I've mostly been at the hostel still, and trying to my hand with some new skills around town when I had time." Looking to Crush he says "I saw you pop in from time to time... sorry I didn't say hi..." now looking a bit bashful "There were just so many questions after everything that happened down there... I kinda needed to see what I could learn."
((can we say that Usul might have spent some time sneaking around trying to learn more about Shadrach (spelling?)? He never really did trust the big armored dude.))
((edit. seems I was typing at the same time as Wil... Let's say Usul said all that just as the commotion started))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
(Please feel free to keep roleplaying and getting back into your characters for however long you all would like to, we can pick up with the disturbance in the alley when you're ready.
Kev, I'll send you something for Usul's investigation.)
twitch.tv/heydrwil
strengthcheck.podbean.com
Crush would grin as he take hold of both battleaxes and stands up from the table as his chair lets out another loud creak is though letting out a sigh of relief. "Join FIght!" He would exclaim excitedly as he quickly storms out the door, his heavy footfalls sending tremors through the Save Point.