[dungeoncrawl] Re: Thursday morning summary
- From: jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:12:23 US/Eastern
John,
You're right on target! And your
summary captures where things stand
really well. OK, so here's the deal:
The group needs to track down Celane
and Dr. Klaw. Apparently, Celane hates
the Riders because one of them crippled
her a long time ago, and her resentment
is so strong that she's trying to keep
godhood out of their hands. Dr. Klaw
supposedly wants to "liberate" his
world from "merchant kings", and seems
to have been in control of the artifact
from the start (since he's such a bad
guy).
The gods are important because the (now
diabolical) Amrikol wanted to use them
to weaken Dendar enough for him to have
a chance of gaining power (kind of like
when Dr. Doom confronted the Beyonder
for you comics readers). He seems to
have lost interest in this pursuit as a
result of talking to Gargauth, a
banished realms power who traded
membership in the nine with freedom
from hell (since the nine have that
authority).
I'm really happy with how things are
going, and eager to see this conclude.
As a DM, I'm facing two challenges:
1. Nadan - nothing against the
character or how he's played, but he's
a combination of bad attitude and
tremendous power. Individuals who
might not go berzerk to kill him
normally (like Ariakas) find that goal
to be a necessity when he taunts them.
Ironically, he's becoming the Ceranno
of the group.:).
This is a problem for me on only one
level - I'm worried that if he dies as
a result of a situation like this, it
might seem like I'm gunning for the
character. I hope it's understood by
everyone that if Nadan picks a fight
with a big guy and dies, it's really
not my preference!
2. Convolution - I'm worried that the
plot is becoming so complex that people
need a score card. I really, really
hope to contain that next week.
Also, I see this wrapping up in the
next 2-3 weeks - rapidfire, eh?
> Ok, first with a summary, then
with thoughts.
>
> The Riders had just come from
Amrikol's castle in the Thunderpeaks,
> and had harangued Elminster into
transporting them back to Sigil. He
> agreed, but when they passed through
the Worldwalk spell he cast, they
> found themselves in Hell, facing the
Black Legion, who had been
> conversing with some devils.
> The two groups briefly spoke,
with Amrikol giving little indication
> of his plans, when suddenly the Black
Legion attacked. Already wounded
> from their battle in the castle back
on Faerun, Quasit and Carpathia
> were quickly killed. Magnus wanted
to retreat, but the Riders became
> separated, and he was unwilling to
leave anyone behind. Mileena used
> her necromantic skills to bring
Carpathia back as an undead, and the
> Riders fought valiantly against the
Black Legion.
> The battle was going poorly when
suddenly another Amrikol appeared,
> this one looking more like the
Amrikol the Riders had faced in their
> early days. He declared the other
Amrikol an impostor, and spat on the
> Black Legion (except for Talon) who
he felt had betrayed him by working
> for the doppleganger. The Amrikol
that had been leading the Black
> Legion recently tore off his helmet,
revealing elvish features that bore
> a striking resemblance to Magnus. He
began to fight the original
> Amrikol, and the Riders tried to stay
out of the way. Eventually they
> joined the fight against the elven
Amrikol, and Magnus finally slew him
> with a Meteor Swarm. However, as
soon as he died, he was reborn as one
> of the Nine, the arch-fiends that
rule Hell. Apparently he had made a
> deal with a banished Realms power,
although the specifics of the deal
> are unknown.
> Faced with the power of this new
form, the Riders, the original
> Amrikol and Talon fled through a
portal to Sigil. Once there they went
> to Ambrosia's Inn, and parted ways
with Amrikol and Talon. They rested,
> then resurrected their fallen
comrades. Unsure of what to do, they
> began to research. Magnus sent some
of the group to research how they
> might gain the power they have been
chasing, while he went to free a
> devil in exchange for information on
the new form of the elvish
> Amrikol. He also recruited Gadget to
their team, as it seems that they
> will be dealing with Klaw, his old
enemy.
>
> So where does that leave them?
Let me recap.
> Dennis says that Klaw will have
joined up with Celane and the
> deities, and is heading to his home
planet. Supposedly, Celane called
> the remnants of the deities to her
thanks to an artifact, the claw of
> Dendar the Night Serpent. However,
only someone with no moral
> compunctions can use the claw of
Dendar to it's full potential, and so
> Celane will easily lose control of
the deities to Klaw. Klaw will then
> use the power he possesses to "set
right" things in his world. The
> Riders are going to journey there to
make sure Klaw does nothing drastic
> and to rescue Celane.
> Meanwhile, there is still the
problem of gaining the power of the
> gods. According to what the Riders
have learned, the elvish Amrikol is
> now out of the race. Their devil
ally told them that one of the Nine
> would have no time or interest in
focusing their attention on one measly
> little prime world when they can
affect all realities everywhere by
> taking part in the Blood War. He
should no longer be involved.
> However, the original Amrikol is
now interested in the power. And
> the Riders aren't sure how to get
it. It seems that they need to
> destroy Dendar the Night Serpent to
gain the power, but Dendar killed
> all the deities of that Realm, so
destroying him is no easy task. The
> Riders are looking into ways to do
that now.
>
> That's it for me. I'd be
thrilled if someone would comment on my
> conclusions and tell me if they are
correct.
>
>
>
>
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