Ruins Of Archaea

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==Setting==
==Setting==


Vodni Brana was once a flourishing town on the Pohranici River, on the border of Karelia. The Blight, a terrible plague that killed four-fifths of Karelia, changed that. Trade on the road and the river dwindled to nothing, and many of the outlying buildings of Vodni Brana fell into disrepair.
Vodni Brana was once a flourishing town on the Prahova River. The Blight, a terrible plague that killed four-fifths of Karelia, changed that. Trade on the road and the river dwindled to nothing, and many of the outlying buildings of Vodni Brana fell into disrepair.


A generation has gone by, and trade is slowly on the increase -- not to the level it was before the Blight (nowhere near), but enough to restore communication and friendly relations between Vodni Brana and the towns nearby.
A generation has gone by, and trade is slowly on the increase -- not to the level it was before the Blight (nowhere near), but enough to restore communication and friendly relations between Vodni Brana and the towns nearby.


Yet no word has come from the direction of Khuraghol, on the other side of the river, for over 20 years...
<!-- [https://ogc.rpglibrary.org/index.php?title=Warlords_Of_Kruhl_3e_EN:Contents Warlords Of Kruhl RPG] -->


[https://ogc.rpglibrary.org/index.php?title=Warlords_Of_Kruhl_3e_EN:Contents Warlords Of Kruhl RPG]
''Read more about the [[Ruins_Of_Archaea:Setting|setting of Archaea]]''


==Chapters==


==Characters==
===[[Ruins_Of_Archaea:Chapter_One|Chapter One: Vodni Brana]]===
===[[Ruins_Of_Archaea:Chapter_Two|Chapter Two: Karel Keep]]===


<div><ul class="thumbs">
==Rules==
<li>[[File:Avantimanisha.jpg|200px|thumb|none|"Avanti" Avantimanisha, Female Havlin Paladin]]&nbsp;[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EjIwGV9j6-FpKSPRbOdakNRg4UbTYOFNrPrhUMs7nM8/edit?usp=sharing Character Sheet] [[:File:Avantimanisha_WOK_CSH_3.27.pdf|PDF]]<br />&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Eldon.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Eldon, Male Forest Elf Mage]]&nbsp;[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ChWtS39O57QiK6rTAYCffi0CGp66LENrTAELhanfag/edit?usp=sharing Character Sheet] [[:File:Eldon_WOK_CSH_3.27.pdf|PDF]]<br />&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Jakob_(Michael_C_Hall).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Jakob, Male Human (Vaerinjar) Warrior]]&nbsp;[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Up30epkOQzcM4_HgdvwE9YTzUg35SZAmA9LrmpkTkNY/edit?usp=sharing Character Sheet] [[:File:Jakob_WOK_CSH_3.27.pdf|PDF]]<br />&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Ogilvy.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Ogilvy Prettyheart, Female Havlin Warlock]]&nbsp;[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_BIoQOUbOs_5hpH1ekIsJlHRi2TNTIdQ1YsFWVxLXDc/edit?usp=sharing Character Sheet] [[:File:Ogilvy_WOK_CSH_3.27.pdf|PDF]]<br />&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Zhuur-Al_(Elistraie).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Zhuur-Al, Female Zinjan Rogue]]&nbsp;[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VXCDfbmZjwpCYVFKlEwSdRD0PdRpF33cI6MWH8xChQg/edit?usp=sharing Character Sheet] [[:File:Zhuur-Al_WOK_CSH_3.27.pdf|PDF]]<br />&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>


==Chapter One: Vodni Brana==
The game will be run using D&D 5e.


===2021-04-19===
You may use anything from the Player's Handbook without prior approval.


[[File:Vodni_Brana.jpg|800px|thumb|none|]]
You may use any of the Ranger options from Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything without prior approval.


[https://youtu.be/p1eW2fva8xA Recording of game session (YouTube)]
You may also request to use material from Mordenkainen's Tome Of Foes, Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything, Volo's Guide To Monsters, and Xanathar's Guide To Everything. I will review what you would like to use, and let you know if I will allow it.


Vodni Brana, late afternoon...
''Read more about the [[Ruins_Of_Archaea:Rules|rules for Ruins Of Archaea]]''


Ogilvy and Avanti are having a drink at the Legend, a tavern on Havlin Street, when Jakob drops by to grab an ale before heading back upriver to Leirplass. They (Avanti, actually) are approached by a havlin rogue named Grigori. Grigori has run afoul of the Spyglass Society, a semi-legal group of enforcers which answers to the Lord Mayor and the Town Council. Grigori needs to lay low for a while, but he asks that Avanti find Grigori's girlfriend, a human named Ilyana. He's worried that she will be picked up by the Spyglass Society.
==Technology==


Grigori suggests asking for Ilyana at the Sow's Ear (a bar, a casino, brothel, and death trap, all in one convenient location). Ilyana has friends who work there. He says to tell them that "Grigori brought them their earrings", so they will know that Avanti was sent by Grigori. He'll meet them here at the Legend tomorrow, at sundown, to see if they have managed to find her.
The virtual tabletop will be [https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/details/10964336/ruins-of-archaea Roll20], and the voice and chat will be through [https://meet.google.com/jhr-uzcr-oyo Google Meet]. We won't use Roll20 for voice chat or video.


After Grigori leaves, a group of thugs enters the tavern (ducking their heads due to the low ceiling). They aren't wearing any uniforms or insignia, but they carry shockstaves -- short black staves that glow blue at one end. These are known to be weapons of the Spyglass Society.
The character sheet will be the standard D&D 5e Roll20 character sheet. During the game, the Roll20 sheet is the source of "truth" for your character.


The leader of the group, Holic, does most of the talking. They demand that if the PCs find the girl, they turn her over to the Spyglass Society. If they do it promptly, they'll even get a reward. But if they don't, they may end up guests at the Glass House themselves (the Glass House is the headquarters for the Spyglass Society).
Here are some settings I will use for Roll20. You may want to use these settings, too. Access the "Settings" by clicking "Launch Game", and then once the game opens with a map, clicking the gear icon at the top right of the screen.


Avanti is a bit confused that the thugs are not interested in Grigori, but Holic is emphatic: they want the girl.
* Set "Display Name" to "character name (real name)". For example, Craig, who plays Jakob, would be "Jakob (Craig). Be sure to click the "Save Name" button. [Reason: my memory is terrible.]
 
* De-select "Enable 3D dice" and "Automatically roll 3D dice". [Reason: needless frippery.]
Meanwhile, Zhuur-Al and Eldon enter the tavern, and hear most of this exchange. Zhuur-Al goes to the bar and gets an ale, while Eldon starts casting paralyzation spells on the thugs. Astonishingly, they are so focused on trying to explain what they want to Avanti that they don't immediately notice that four of their number have been magically immobilized.
* Set "Player Avatar Size" to "Names Only". [Reason: there is no need to take up screen space with an icon.]
 
* Under "Video + Audio Chat Options", and "Chat Tech", select "None (no video/audio)". [Reason: we are using Google Meet for video and audio.]
[GM Note: this was my mistake -- they really should have noticed this immediately. This made the Spyglass thugs come across as buffoons rather than the dangerous thugs they are. Ah, well.]
 
Holic wraps up the conversation with Avanti, and notices that most of his cronies are paralyzed. He starts shaking them out of it, but the crew departs the tavern before the Spyglass thugs can put two and two together. (They will, though, and they won't be quite so friendly next time.)
 
 
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Grigori.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Grigori, Male Havlin Rogue]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Holic_(Matthew_McNulty).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Holic, Male Human Warrior, Enforcer for the Spyglass Society]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
 
===2021-04-26===
 
[https://youtu.be/uimaBGpish8 Recording of game session (YouTube)]
 
The characters head to the Sow's Ear, which is a tavern, brothel, and gambling den. Grigori said that Ilyana has friends working there, Frantiska and Izabela, and that they might know where she is. Zhuur-Al has been here before.
 
A few hours pass, while the characters scope out the place, dropping Grigori's name a few times. Zhuur-Al sees a well-dressed man she knows named Ondrej. After gambling for a bit to make it look like she's just an ordinary patron, she takes him to a private room and asks him about Ilyana, Frantiska, Izabela. He doesn't know Ilyana well, but he leaves and returns with Frantiska. Frantiska says that she doesn't know where Ilyana is, because Ilyana didn't ''want'' her to know. Ilyana is in hiding, and it's safer for her friends if they don't know where she is.
 
Meanwhile, a few Copper Blades show up, and tell them in no uncertain terms that they should stop looking for Ilyana. Because if they got Ilyana killed, Lord Konstantin za Brabec (a wealthy and politically connected man) would be unhappy with them.
 
Having concluded that this was a dead end, and contemplating leaving Ilyana to stay hidden until the Spyglass Society finds her on their own, the group leaves the Sow's Ear.
 
A few blocks away, they are confronted by a small group of the town watch, who order them to step into an alley. While a watch member keeps lookout, the leader of the group, Sergeant Pavel, says that he knows they are in a pickle, but he can help them, if they do what he says. He gives them a crudely drawn map to the Flooded Market, a black marketplace in the sewers beneath Vodni Brana. He says to meet with someone named Radu, and that everything will be fine.
 
The group heads into the sewers, and manages to find the Flooded Market and Radu. Radu is a large lizardfolk, with red and yellow markings. He appears to be some kind of information broker. He will give them a lead to finding Ilyana, if they set up a meeting to arrange the return of the black book she stole from Lady Miroslava. All that Radu wants in return is a chance to speak with Lady Miroslava, the head of the Spyglass Society: if she knows that Radu will be there, she won't be, which is why he can't arrange it himself.
 
The group agrees to these terms, and Radu tells them that Ilyana is hiding in plain sight: at the Lázně Na Zámku bath house.
 
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Ondrej_(Orlando_Bloom).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Ondrej, Gigolo]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Pavel_(Bruce_Campbell).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Sergeant Pavel, Corrupt Town Watch]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Radu.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Radu, Lizardfolk information broker]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
 
===2021-05-03===
 
[https://youtu.be/hajDv2v2I4w Recording of game session (YouTube)]
 
The crew finds Ilyana at the Lázně Na Zámku bath house (affectionately known as "the Castle"), and convinces her that they want to help her. She tells them where she has hidden the black book: in one of the cushions at the Sow's Ear. Zhuur-Al retrieves it, and the crew sends invitations to the Copper Blades and the Spyglass Society, telling them the book will be at the rooftop garden of the Botanical Tea Room at midnight. In accordance with the deal they made with Radu, the note to the Spyglass Society specifies that Lady Miroslava must be there in person to get the book.
 
Midnight approaches, as do forces of the Spyglass Society. Suddenly, cloaked figures attack them and drag away Lady Miroslava. The crew does not intervene, and just watches this happen from the rooftop.
 
Someone lights a lantern: it is a dwarf with intricately braided hair and beard. He offers the crew tea and scones, and asks if they have the book. They do, and they hand it over to him. He casts a few spells on it to verify its authenticity: it is authentic. Eldon takes advantage of the opportunity to cast a spell of his own, to try and divine a magical summary of the book's contents. It is an ancient prophecy of the coming of the Writhing Dark, an apocalypse of corruption, evil, and decay. Creepy stuff.
 
The dwarf thanks them for their time, and assures them that the Copper Blades have no further interest in them or Ilyana. He can't speak for the Spyglass Society, but he suspects that they have more important matters to attend to.
 
When they return to Zhuur-Al's safe house, Ilyana is gone. She left a note, thanking them for their help.
 
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Ilyana_(Alexz_Johnson).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Ilyana]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Miroslava_(Shohreh_Aghdashloo).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lady Miroslava]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
 
===2021-05-10===
 
[https://youtu.be/PH0XGzLEY8E Recording of game session (YouTube)]
 
[Note: It took me numerous tries to distort the 40-second clip of [https://youtu.be/etviGf1uWlg Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart"] enough so that WMG would not block this 2 1/2 hour video.]
 
The party is contacted by Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana, and asked to guard some baking supplies that need to be delivered to Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake is a mining town which doubles as something of a low-security penal colony, where criminals are sent to give them one last chance at being beneficial members of society.
 
The party accepts the job, and then has the bright idea of also contacting the Merchant Guild. The party heard that a troll had taken up residence under a bridge on the North Road, which leads to Crystal Lake. Olaf, the president of the Vodni Brana Merchant Guild agrees, which could lead to quite the payday if the party can pull it off.
 
The party reaches the bridge a day or so after leaving Vodni Brana. They discover that the troll is a much larger problem that they realized: about four storeys tall (a very old troll). However, it seem to have no desire to fight them. All it wants is to have a nice peaceful life, living under the bridge (which it has repaired), and collecting a fee from the people who cross it. It has found that most people would prefer to fight, or flee, than pay to use the bridge, which has been disappointing.
 
The party hunts some game, and trades that for passage across the bridge. Avanti paints a couple of signs indicating that the fee for using the bridge is ten kilos of meat, and says that they will talk to the merchants in Crystal Lake and Vodni Brana, and explain the troll's proposal.
 
Arriving at Crystal Lake well after dark, they deliver the baking supplies to the bakery, as instructed (it is the shop with the sign of a bucket topped with a cloud). They meet the gnome who owns the bakery (note: he is about half the height of a havlin, which are about half the height of a human), who is thrilled to have the long-overdue delivery. He summons his helpers (all humans), and they get started.
 
The party learns the reason for such urgency: the town made a deal with some fairies, who have crafted a breathing engine which pumps air into the mines. According to the contract, the town must pay in freshly baked pastries. If the payment is not made by the appointed time, the fairies will shut off the breathing engine, and the miners will suffocate.
 
Having made their delivery, the party checks into the nicest inn in town, has dinner, and rests for the night.
 
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Lord_Mayor_Fulko_(John_Michael_Higgins).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Troll.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Troll]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Gnome_baker.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Gnome baker of Crystal Lake]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
 
===2021-05-31===
 
[https://youtu.be/ Recording of game session (YouTube)]
 
 
====Who's Who In Crystal Lake====
 
 
 
 
 
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Lord_Mayor_Fulko_(John_Michael_Higgins).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Troll.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Troll]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Gnome_baker.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Gnome baker of Crystal Lake]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>


==Useful Links==
==Useful Links==


* [https://adoption.com/baby-names/origin/Czechoslovakian Popular Baby Names , origin Czechoslovakian]
* [https://adoption.com/baby-names/origin/Czechoslovakian Popular Baby Names , origin Czechoslovakian]
* [http://www.20000-names.com/male_czechoslovakian_names.htm Male Czech Names,
* [http://www.20000-names.com/male_czechoslovakian_names.htm Male Czech Names, Slovak Names, Bohemian Names, Czechoslovakian Names]
Slovak Names, Bohemian Names,
Czechoslovakian Names]
* [https://www.behindthename.com/names/gender/masculine/usage/czech Behind The Name - Czech]
* [https://www.behindthename.com/names/gender/masculine/usage/czech Behind The Name - Czech]


*[[Template:Character|Character page template]] -- "View source", copy the code, and paste it in your own character page
*[https://www.rpglibrary.org/software/securedice/ Secure Dice]
*[https://www.rpglibrary.org/software/securedice/ Secure Dice]
*[http://www.sjbaker.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_simplest_possible_guide_to_writing_MediaWiki The simplest possible guide to writing Mediawiki]
*[http://www.sjbaker.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_simplest_possible_guide_to_writing_MediaWiki The simplest possible guide to writing Mediawiki]


<!-- DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->
{{#vardefine:campaignname|Ruins Of Archaea}}
{{#vardefine:campaigncategory|Fantasy}}
{{#vardefine:campaignmoderator|bblackmoor}}
{{Template:Important_Notes}}


*[https://donjon.bin.sh/fantasy/inn/ Random Inn and Tavern Generator]
*[https://www.wizards.com/dnd/tavern/Welcome.asp Tavern/Menu Random Generator]
*[https://thecoppersanctum.github.io/thecoppersanctum/taverns.html Not Another Tavern Generator]
*[https://inkwellideas.com/free-tools/random-menu/ Random Menu]
*[https://www.dndspeak.com/2017/12/12/100-tavern-food/ 100 Tavern Food]


[[Category:{{#var:campaignname}}]]
<!-- Template:Important_Notes||CAMPAIGN NAME|GENRE|MODERATOR -->
[[Category:{{#var:campaigncategory}}]]
{{Template:Important_Notes|Ruins Of Archaea|Fantasy|BBlackmoor}}

Latest revision as of 20:50, 15 March 2024

Adventurers finding fame and fortune in the ruins and wilderness of Archaea, a continent on the world of Kruhl.

Setting

Vodni Brana was once a flourishing town on the Prahova River. The Blight, a terrible plague that killed four-fifths of Karelia, changed that. Trade on the road and the river dwindled to nothing, and many of the outlying buildings of Vodni Brana fell into disrepair.

A generation has gone by, and trade is slowly on the increase -- not to the level it was before the Blight (nowhere near), but enough to restore communication and friendly relations between Vodni Brana and the towns nearby.


Read more about the setting of Archaea

Chapters

Chapter One: Vodni Brana

Chapter Two: Karel Keep

Rules

The game will be run using D&D 5e.

You may use anything from the Player's Handbook without prior approval.

You may use any of the Ranger options from Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything without prior approval.

You may also request to use material from Mordenkainen's Tome Of Foes, Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything, Volo's Guide To Monsters, and Xanathar's Guide To Everything. I will review what you would like to use, and let you know if I will allow it.

Read more about the rules for Ruins Of Archaea

Technology

The virtual tabletop will be Roll20, and the voice and chat will be through Google Meet. We won't use Roll20 for voice chat or video.

The character sheet will be the standard D&D 5e Roll20 character sheet. During the game, the Roll20 sheet is the source of "truth" for your character.

Here are some settings I will use for Roll20. You may want to use these settings, too. Access the "Settings" by clicking "Launch Game", and then once the game opens with a map, clicking the gear icon at the top right of the screen.

  • Set "Display Name" to "character name (real name)". For example, Craig, who plays Jakob, would be "Jakob (Craig). Be sure to click the "Save Name" button. [Reason: my memory is terrible.]
  • De-select "Enable 3D dice" and "Automatically roll 3D dice". [Reason: needless frippery.]
  • Set "Player Avatar Size" to "Names Only". [Reason: there is no need to take up screen space with an icon.]
  • Under "Video + Audio Chat Options", and "Chat Tech", select "None (no video/audio)". [Reason: we are using Google Meet for video and audio.]

Useful Links


Important Notes

This is a template for you to use to build your Ruins Of Archaea campaign site. You do not need to keep any of it: it's just here to help you. However, keep the following in mind when editing your pages.

Be Responsible

RPG Nexus works on the honor system: you have the power to edit any campaign here. We have no interest in keeping track of which campaigns you play in and which you don't. Do not edit pages that do not concern you (not even to correct someone's spelling or grammar).

Adding Your Players

If your players do not already have accounts at RPG Nexus, you can add them so that they can edit their own character pages. To create an account for your players, use this link: Create account

Contacting The GM

The Ruins Of Archaea campaign belongs to BBlackmoor.

Link Format

When creating new pages for Ruins Of Archaea, links to the new page must have the following format: 

[[Ruins Of Archaea:Page Name|Page Name]]

For example: 

[[Ruins Of Archaea:Bibliography|Bibliography]]

Category Tags

Each new Ruins Of Archaea page must include Category tags for the campaign and the genre: 

[[Category:Ruins Of Archaea]]
[[Category:Fantasy]]
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