Sunday, October 18, 2020

Return to the Throne Of Bloodstone [H5]... Story and Folklore...

Many centuries ago brave heroes banded together to thwart minions of evil.  These minions were reviving an evil god of ancient times, not normally worshipped or commonly known to the realms of Golarion...  the goat god, the prince of the undead...  Orcus.

Orcus was battled and killed... but not slain.  Many argue the difference but the six centuries of peace have been disturbed by unseen shifting forces which have caused the waning of magic and the beliefs that the gods of Golarion may even exist.

These are tales of folklore, bar stories, and banter to keep the legends of old alive... at least on paper, if not in the hearts of their descendants.

Since the time of Starfall there have been many trying to make their lives better.  Many have succeeded in use of technology (Numeria) and firearms (Alkenstar).


One Day ... a story of my three main characters.

Prologue...

In the beginning there were three mortals whom were tired of their everyday lives.

One was a soldier for the church... of the day/week/month.  As long as the church was for the protection of the weak he did not care.  Dhaarkstone "The Stoner" was a paladin of the only order... one which dwarves were aplenty...  the drunk god Palor.  Palor was just, wise, and always has a stein of some ale in hand.

Myron of the House of the Shining Light was a monk with an itch in his britches which could only be soothed by leaving the monastery (something monks from his sect never done).  Myron "The Mistake" (named by his brethren) was thusly named because no matter what Myron did it was always a mistake in the eyes of the monastery.  What monk would wilfully venture outside the walls and boast about it?

Then last and not least was a crazy ole coot with books.  Magius Rhet.  Born to a rich family but not royalty so books were everywhere.  Reading was a way of life and words of all forms, shapes, sizes, and other dialects just came naturally to you Magius.  But in other matters he was a few brain cells short.  Those whom he grew up with thought he just hid behind books to look smart...  this was true because what his future lain in front of him he would not reveal until much later.


The Day Begun With Sex, Wine, Beer, and their last moments on Earth

Dhaarkstone had just gotten thrown out of the last service he was hired into...  Sons of Palor, the at-then deity for Good, Light, and Protection.  What he found was a bunch of bard/priests who sweet-talked those into their service and when their services weren't needed they were discarded into a local bar or in Dhaarkstone's case a brothel, not a place you'd encounter a paladin unless he was helping the local law enforcement.

Monday, September 26, 2016

PFN5E : H5 - Return to the Throne Of Bloodstone... An intro.

Return to the Throne of Bloodstone (RToB)

First wanted to mention that this will be brought to my players in Sandbox Play {defined}.


The Campaign
This campaign shall happen on the planet of Golarion, the Pathfinder rules system.  There are settings outside of Pathfinder (PF) yet will fit nicely for my game and can coexist with D&D5e & PF.

This is my campaign idea which includes the base story setting from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons First Edition {ADnD1e} (circa 1978-1983).

The following are from ADnD 1E 
H1 : Bloodstone Pass  [ link ]
H2 : The Mines of Bloodstone [ link ]
H3 : The Bloodstone Wars [ link ]
H4 : The Throne of Bloodstone [ link  ]
S3 : Expedition to the Barrier Peaks [ link ]

>>   Part of The Dungeons of Dread is a hardcover collection of four classic, stand-alone Advanced Dungeons & Dragons™ (1E) adventure modules -- 
S1 Tomb of Horrors
S2 White Plume Mountain
S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
and S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.

In my campaign I shall use S3 as it's "Return Expedition to the Barrier Peaks... [S5]" where inside the barrier pass you find WTC 11843 (below).

This is from ADnD 3E
WTC 11843 : Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil [ link ]

--*--

The party
Meant to be of some adventuring skill but still working the kinks out of their dynamics to staying alive...  and to have some money in their pocket(s).  Some are just learning the ins-and-outs of magic, spellcasting, mythical creatures, and...  technology.

Some have travelled from afar to congregate at the Grande Lodge in Absalom.  Some in hopes to find adventure, some in hopes of working for The Pathfinder Society, and some just hope to survive long enough to save themselves from their pasts.

In the history of the Heroes of Bloodstone Pass there were five courageous individuals who became legends, heroes of folk lore, and for those whom lived...  bloodsworn pacts of death by the evil forces which they thwarted.  Some of the hero's bloodlines have continued their ancestor's vigil over the Bloodstone Lands.

Party should be 5+ players having APL of 5.

None shall have mastercrafted nor magical items of any nature.  These would confer a +0 or greater to an item.  However items which a player describe as being made of/by technological means are more than welcome to exist.  Harnessing the power of a "force of spirit" to make autonomous machinations exists well in Numeria.  Firearms have made technological leaps forward from the Alkenstar Gunsmithy.

Orcs, half-orcs, and those of their bloodline have been contaminated by The Green Plague (a mad scientist's experiment to make them human) and all are considered Monster category.  So they are not available as a PC.  To offset this new races from D&D 5e have been introduced...

Dragonborn, Tiefling, and Eladrin.

There are no "half" type races.  Halflings are now Hobbit.  Half-elves are now High Elf.

--*--

Character Record Sheet {CRS}
A "keep it simple, silly" PDF has been created with a twist on gaining experience and combat... minimizing them but keeping them in a clean format for review and update here: [ PFN5e CRS ] 
For use with my game only because it does not follow the standard rules...  it simplifies them from my own interpretations of 5e's and PF's rules systems.

There are dropdowns and some auto-calculations done when you enter in certain fields.  Please "Save As -> Your PC's Name.pdf" and send that back to me so your hero will be kept up to date.  I may send it back to you with revisions and explanations...
 ::  Example ::  <Harrybutt Titan - 02.pdf> would be sent back to you.  the -02 is the revision number.  If you revise it please keep the same revision number, send it to me, I approve, then will be <Harrybutt Titan - 02AP.pdf> or something similar which I have "APproved".

I'm expecting to have simple tablets available for each player with a PDF reader and WiFi.  Once exchanged it should reside on the tablet.  These tablets will also have a library of "Player Available Materials" including rule books, guide books, and miscellaneous GM Approved materials contained therein.  Access to any SRD's online will be provided during break times to access the wifi.  At any other time(s) the wifi of the tablet(s) should be turned off.

--*--

Races & Classes...  and Roles?  (defined by my CRS <above>)
Pathfinder did a good job at providing some classes which were lacking in D&D, yet D&D had some races which Pathfinder were lacking...  so I slammed some both together and included some which haven't been seen in either for some time.

Race : human, elf, dwarf, gnome, halfling, half-elf, dragonborn, tiefling, eladrin
Class : barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, wizard, summoner, witch, warlock, samurai, ninja, magus, alchemist, gunslinger, inquisitor, monk

Role : melee, ranged, arcane, divine, skilled

Roles give a better balance and game mechanic.  MMO's use them well so they have been adopted into my KISS strategy.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

PFN Golarion ... the Call ...

You are a resident of the city capitol Almas of Andoran.  Many of the residents are travellers from afar but are all of some humankind decent.

A grand guild, The Pathfinder's Society of Avistan (PFSA), makes its presence known by having a few buildings and a miniature castle amongst the grounds of Almas.  Their presence is as welcome to a travelling salesman... both for selling and buying.

One of the well known retiree's of the PFSA is the current reigning King of Andoran.  Many outsiders (those outside of Andoran's borders) consider him soft by allowing so many tradesmen into and through Almas but he knows that if he were to stop a major trade route everyone would just go to war.

A call to those of age to travel outside of the borders of Andoran has been made by the King.

"The forces of evil have been growing rampant recently so much that their attention has raised caution to our trade route.  Bandits, orcs, and direlings have made travel increasingly dangerous.

I need to brave people to set out and explore our trade route and report back how bad it is.  If you are a lawman then arrest, detain, and return these enemies of our realm.  Bring them back alive.

You shall be awarded a Routesman Pass and Journeyman of the Pathfinder Society of Golarion Pass, both of which will allow you to travel and stay at most capital cities of Avistan.  If by any means you journey into Gorund I cannot assure your safety but know that we diplomatic in all things.


Some of your more seasoned adventurers may have also heard rumors of two beings of substantial power.  There are becoming more truths to these rumors and more than I like to consider.

Myron the mysic monk of Rhet Monastery had a rod of many pieces and was fashioned to simulate that same rod, the Rod of Seven Parts.  Myron's rod is fewer pieces, not as powerful nor that well known amonst wizards but nonetheless its four parts hold the key to the portal of the lair if the fiend of which I discuss next...

Orcus, Prince of the Undead, his rumors of his demise by those of Abeir-Toril (more commonly known as Faerun) have not only been grossly overexaggurated but have reached many ears on Golarion.  This Outsider has spread his existence to our world and as a practitioner of law I besiege you to close the portal with the Rod of Myron the Mysic.  Doing so will stave the stench of his undead minions and the stench of chaos.

The Lawful Deities of both Golarion and Toril have taken notice of my Call unto you...
of Golarion: Erastil, Iomedae, Torag, Abadar, Irori, Asmodeus, Zon-Kuthon
of Toril : Lord Ao, Asmodeus (King of Hell), Bane, Torm, Tyr, Kelemvor, Amaunator

They all have a historical part which Orcus has rendered asunder, dismal, and almost useless.  You are the line of defense to which Myron's Rod will aid in the rebalancing of the scales between law and chaos.  

Orcus has created greater undead orcs to do his bidding.  These "orocai" (or black orcs) have flooded out of the Worldwound with little to no hesitation from the surrounding inhabitants.  They shall pose a great obstacle in your path.

Myron's agents of mysticism will try to dissuade your path, interests, and goal of obtaining any of the pieces.  If you are so lucky to behold a piece of the rod you may decide it's final resting place upon completion of The Call.  Without it you will fail.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Moving to Pathfinder NEXT blog!!!

That's right... wait, wtf you ask?

I've made a new multi-system where you combine both Pathfinder AND Dungeons and Dragons Next (5th edition) into one...  best of both systems and cut down for battle...

Pathfinder Next ...  and my HitBox stats system and Event XP levelling system.

Join "Throne of Bloodstone in Golarion (PFN5E)" it's new locale...

ToBiG/PFN5e  [ click here ]

Soon there'll be more adventures than you can shake a stick at... or Orcus' Wand at!
mwuahahaha!

Marcaise / GM
6.19.2015

Friday, May 31, 2013

An Un-Official Pathfinder Society History to ToBiG ...

Ever since -632 AR Orcus has used that tarrasque from that time on his own plane in the Abyss as a pet to play with unwanted guests (which are many).  This brings Orcus favors (and threats) by his demon lord brethren.

In 666 AR Orcus holds court with a special guest from Golarion, Nex, whom travels back and forth in an effort to set up a temple for Nex's benefactor, Orcus, a powerful demon of the undead.

From 667 through 1890 AR, Orcus battles many battles with other demon lords from their intrusion through his plane to travel to one of a handful of gates leading to Golarion.

Norgorber prays to Orcus after being brought a tableau of ancient writings and symbols of which Norgorber successfully translates "The Last Call to Orcus".  This prompts Orcus to secretly bequeath Blasphemousness (the opposite of Sainthood) unto Norgorber to become his new disciple and empowering Orcus as a Demon Lord among his peers and rivals.

In 1891, With Nex and Norgorber, Demon Lord Orcus unleashes "The Feast of Flesh".  A thousand souls were driven into Quantium in an attempt to slay Geb (whom Orcus tried to befriend earlier only to have been betrayed because his being in league with Demogorgon, Orcus' chief demon lord rival),  whom Geb then slain by his twisted form of death magic.  Orcus was on the other end of the death vortex (a "Skeletal Cyclone") which sent the newly dead souls to Orcus wherein he enslaved them and bonded them into demonic skeletons.

In 1892 an Orcussian Cultist Oracle fortells Norgorber becoming a powerful ally to Orcus but at a cost...  Norgorber would not be directly recognized as one of The Ascended and his true followers would disband.  This was a fallacy and is widely still believed today amongst the other religions.  One of Norgorber's names is "The False God" because all that is known about him is falsified.  For if the truth were revealed it would mean he would cease to exist and would cease being in power.

1893 Norgorber quietly (among his rivals and most of mankind) becomes the only evil entity to join The Ascended passing the Test of the Starstone.

2490 Orcus births his first of the Incubed, the demon Treerazer, in hopes all that is green and life-supporting is razed from Golarion.  Many times Treerazer tries to raze Orcusgate, so finally (at a healthy size and too much for Orcusgate) in 2497 Treerazer was unleashed in Golarion onto one of Orcus' favorite enemies:  the elves and their Sovyrian Stone, where Treerazer begins his true destiny of destruction.  This causes most of the elves of Golarion to flee to their homeworld.

Later in 2632 elves return en masse back through Sovyrian Stone and attempt to slay Treerazer.  It takes a full 666 years to slay Treerazer, where then he returns to Orcus to recuperate and plot the demise of the elves whom tried to slay him.

In 3298 Rovagug awakens from his wounds and free of his bindings...  in Orcusgate.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Orcus' Party of the Flesh...

A few encounter types Orcus is enslaving to throw at the party...

Abyssal Harvester
Abyssal Wolf
Cerebus
Daemon, Charon
Daemon, Charonodaemon
Cherum
Corpse Orgy
Demi-Lich
Demon Lord, Baphomet
Demon Lord, Beluiri
Demon Lord, Caizel
Demon Lord, Fraz-Urb'luu
Demon Lord, Jubilex
Demon Lord, Kostchtchie
Demon Lord, Maphistal
Demon Lord, Orcus
Demon Lord, Pazuzu
Demon Lord, Sonechard
Demon Lord, Tsathogga
Demon, Choronzon
Giant, Jack-In-Irons
Colossus, Jade
Herald of Tsathogga
Obsidian Minotaur
Daemon, The Oinodaemon
Phasma
Skeleton, Black
Orc, Black
Skeleton, Lead
Slaad Lord of Entropy
Slaad Lord of the Insane
Soul Nibbler
Soul Reper

They have some mechanics as in to provide a anxiousness to get to the next phase or area of the campaign.  I shall not steer the party but I shall coerce them into going where they outta and stay outta where they aught not be.