Four years later...
Sep. 20th, 2004 02:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyBack in the spring of 2000 I started a Swordsmaster campaign called "Lathany" set in a country of the same name. This ended in the Spring of 2002 (the final session was 10/03/2002 - if anyone cares ;-)) and then most of the characters (and all of the players) moved north to Athory for a follow-on campaign.
Last night, it all ended.
After a lengthy discussion, the Lathanians decided to separate and inform the Dukes and Duchesses of the death of Leonides. Heleth (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
venta) and Taronus (chrisvenus) used the teleporter (which they were concerned to note was being shown to Duke Fulton and Duchess Dimity) to travel to Leonides Island. Gerard (Taronus' brother) accompanied them and set to work repairing the main building whilst Heleth and Taronus took a ship to Haven. Their mission in the capital of the Snake took them to Herris' court. The former Keeper, upon hearing their sad news, proposed a formal period of mourning for the Duchy.
Taronus then outlined the plan to agree a new treaty, to the surprise of Herris who knew nothing of the original one, and the new Duke agreed to send a representative to Chir Shrine. Heleth and Taronus then returned to Leonides Island to pass news of the death on to the resident mages. They also proposed to mark the occasions with bonfires and tales (mostly fantastical) about Leonides' life.
Whilst on the island, the pair also approached the Ordiriss and asked them if they would be able to set up a meeting for the Dukes and Duchesses with the Lirrisorn. Ral agreed it would be possible, whilst strongly advising that the treaty would be only the first step towards a permanent peace with the sea-dwellers.
At the same time, Tengath (chrestomancy) had settled for a more old-fashioned method of travel by hiring a boat from the dock and sailing down to Carnival. There he presented Duke Yarrow with a letter asking him to come to the peace talks and requesting a favour - for the great mage Tengath to take another look at the Path of the Thriving City ring (from the Royal Jewels).
Meanwhile the remaining Lathanians; Lady Bryanna (quisalan), Lord Roland (ao_lai) and Gref (bateleur) visited the nobility at the palace (Duke Fulton and Duchesses Louise and Dimity) and gave them the same, sad news of Leonides' passing. This was quietly received and Herris' consequent elevation noted.
Heleth and Taronus returned that afternoon via the teleporter whereupon Taronus agreed to join Bryanna and Roland in travelling to Ghalkeep and speaking with Duchess Sarabella. Hearing that Tengath was not due back until tomorrow and that the peace talks would not start until everyone had arrived, Heleth elected to return to Leonides Island and hear the legends and fables of Leonides whilst passing on a proposed day to Ral and Chath.
The following morning, Tegath challenged and beat the ring Drana. His success came from his ability to crowd control and his reward was the power of Drana to aid future spells. He returned to Chir Shrine with Yarrow; both parts of his mission a success.
Bryanna, Roland and Taronus were granted an audience with Duchess Sarabella. Like Herris, she was unaware of the former treaty. However, after asking a number of pertinent questions, she agreed to send a representative to the meeting - the matronly matchmaker Lady Derity.
The scene was now set for the debate to take place. Eleven areas were represented by two people per area :
Dry Duchy - Duchess Louise and Mage Roland
Duchy of the Arc - Duke Fulton and Lady Opal
Duchy of High Island - Duchess Dimity and Lady Constance
Duchy of the South - Lady Derity and Mage Cecillia
Duchy of the Moon - Lady Rowanne and Mage Peter
Duchy of Oak - Duke Nickolan and Mage Merris
Duchy of Stones - Lord Terris and Mage Illia
Duchy of Eye and Shore - Lady Vanessa and Mage Grevan
Masked Duchy - Duke Yarrow and Mage Linos
Duchy of the Snake - Lady Felicity and Lord Northir
Leonides Island - Heleth and Ral
Ral's arrival was greeted with astonishment by many and even Fulton was visibly shaken by her use of telepathy. The general terms of the treaty were agreed - peace, no magical restrictions and land to be returned to the humans. The question of whether the Lirrisorn should be given any replacement land was hotly debated but, after Ral's intervention, was grudgingly agreed. The matter of the king required little debate - no Duke or Duchess was prepared to recognise his claim.
It was during a pause in the debate that Fulton received the news - the pretender Imharn was leaving Varitor Stones for Orbassa Spires and, with the surprise from using the teleporter, Fulton judged this the moment to strike and remove the complication of the king before facing the Lirrisorn.
A small army, with a large number of Blades, went down to the main teleport cave. Tengath used his power to take them all through in one attempt... landing only a few feet away from the King's astonished men.
At this point Bryanna, as the Lathany party were now used to teleportation, saw a quick way of ending the fight. The King hesitated as Fulton ordered him to surrender. Bryanna cast a speed spell and raced to him and attack him. As Heleth, Taronus and the Blades battled forward to catch up with and protect the ambassador, Bryanna fought several rounds against her royal opponent. She was finally successful; but his death produced a a sudden shock to all those watching. A pair of dark spirits - one from each opponent - leapt from the bodies of the King and Bryanna, clashed and then dissolved into the air.
The death of King Imharn meant that the last obstacle to the peace treaty was removed. The eleven representatives signed for the humans and a clause was added that a yearly meeting between the races would be established with the hope of finding lasting peace this time around. As the Lirrisorn signed their part of the document news reached everyone that Malthen had left the continent, probably for the Kry Lands. It was hoped he would not return.
One final matter - many, many months later, a house within the third section of Chir Shrine was chosen to be renovated for a new family. They found an inscription on a stone slab on the floor :
Here lies Leonides
Duke-Mage of the Snake Isles
And thus endeth the campaign!
I plan to keep records of the characters and to write a little about what happens to them over the next five or ten years. However there isn't going to be another Swordsmaster campaign (not next, anyway) and so this is probably the last of Swordsmaster II to be seen outside of one-offs.
Finally, a big thank you to my players (venta, quisalan, chrisvenus, chrestomancy, bateleur and ao_lai) for putting up with being kidnapped, poisoned, threatened (and that was just by the twins!). I've really enjoyed running the game.
Last night, it all ended.
After a lengthy discussion, the Lathanians decided to separate and inform the Dukes and Duchesses of the death of Leonides. Heleth (
venta) and Taronus (chrisvenus) used the teleporter (which they were concerned to note was being shown to Duke Fulton and Duchess Dimity) to travel to Leonides Island. Gerard (Taronus' brother) accompanied them and set to work repairing the main building whilst Heleth and Taronus took a ship to Haven. Their mission in the capital of the Snake took them to Herris' court. The former Keeper, upon hearing their sad news, proposed a formal period of mourning for the Duchy. Taronus then outlined the plan to agree a new treaty, to the surprise of Herris who knew nothing of the original one, and the new Duke agreed to send a representative to Chir Shrine. Heleth and Taronus then returned to Leonides Island to pass news of the death on to the resident mages. They also proposed to mark the occasions with bonfires and tales (mostly fantastical) about Leonides' life.
Whilst on the island, the pair also approached the Ordiriss and asked them if they would be able to set up a meeting for the Dukes and Duchesses with the Lirrisorn. Ral agreed it would be possible, whilst strongly advising that the treaty would be only the first step towards a permanent peace with the sea-dwellers.
At the same time, Tengath (
chrestomancy) had settled for a more old-fashioned method of travel by hiring a boat from the dock and sailing down to Carnival. There he presented Duke Yarrow with a letter asking him to come to the peace talks and requesting a favour - for the great mage Tengath to take another look at the Path of the Thriving City ring (from the Royal Jewels).Meanwhile the remaining Lathanians; Lady Bryanna (
quisalan), Lord Roland (ao_lai) and Gref (bateleur) visited the nobility at the palace (Duke Fulton and Duchesses Louise and Dimity) and gave them the same, sad news of Leonides' passing. This was quietly received and Herris' consequent elevation noted.Heleth and Taronus returned that afternoon via the teleporter whereupon Taronus agreed to join Bryanna and Roland in travelling to Ghalkeep and speaking with Duchess Sarabella. Hearing that Tengath was not due back until tomorrow and that the peace talks would not start until everyone had arrived, Heleth elected to return to Leonides Island and hear the legends and fables of Leonides whilst passing on a proposed day to Ral and Chath.
The following morning, Tegath challenged and beat the ring Drana. His success came from his ability to crowd control and his reward was the power of Drana to aid future spells. He returned to Chir Shrine with Yarrow; both parts of his mission a success.
Bryanna, Roland and Taronus were granted an audience with Duchess Sarabella. Like Herris, she was unaware of the former treaty. However, after asking a number of pertinent questions, she agreed to send a representative to the meeting - the matronly matchmaker Lady Derity.
The scene was now set for the debate to take place. Eleven areas were represented by two people per area :
Dry Duchy - Duchess Louise and Mage Roland
Duchy of the Arc - Duke Fulton and Lady Opal
Duchy of High Island - Duchess Dimity and Lady Constance
Duchy of the South - Lady Derity and Mage Cecillia
Duchy of the Moon - Lady Rowanne and Mage Peter
Duchy of Oak - Duke Nickolan and Mage Merris
Duchy of Stones - Lord Terris and Mage Illia
Duchy of Eye and Shore - Lady Vanessa and Mage Grevan
Masked Duchy - Duke Yarrow and Mage Linos
Duchy of the Snake - Lady Felicity and Lord Northir
Leonides Island - Heleth and Ral
Ral's arrival was greeted with astonishment by many and even Fulton was visibly shaken by her use of telepathy. The general terms of the treaty were agreed - peace, no magical restrictions and land to be returned to the humans. The question of whether the Lirrisorn should be given any replacement land was hotly debated but, after Ral's intervention, was grudgingly agreed. The matter of the king required little debate - no Duke or Duchess was prepared to recognise his claim.
It was during a pause in the debate that Fulton received the news - the pretender Imharn was leaving Varitor Stones for Orbassa Spires and, with the surprise from using the teleporter, Fulton judged this the moment to strike and remove the complication of the king before facing the Lirrisorn.
A small army, with a large number of Blades, went down to the main teleport cave. Tengath used his power to take them all through in one attempt... landing only a few feet away from the King's astonished men.
At this point Bryanna, as the Lathany party were now used to teleportation, saw a quick way of ending the fight. The King hesitated as Fulton ordered him to surrender. Bryanna cast a speed spell and raced to him and attack him. As Heleth, Taronus and the Blades battled forward to catch up with and protect the ambassador, Bryanna fought several rounds against her royal opponent. She was finally successful; but his death produced a a sudden shock to all those watching. A pair of dark spirits - one from each opponent - leapt from the bodies of the King and Bryanna, clashed and then dissolved into the air.
The death of King Imharn meant that the last obstacle to the peace treaty was removed. The eleven representatives signed for the humans and a clause was added that a yearly meeting between the races would be established with the hope of finding lasting peace this time around. As the Lirrisorn signed their part of the document news reached everyone that Malthen had left the continent, probably for the Kry Lands. It was hoped he would not return.
One final matter - many, many months later, a house within the third section of Chir Shrine was chosen to be renovated for a new family. They found an inscription on a stone slab on the floor :
Duke-Mage of the Snake Isles
And thus endeth the campaign!
I plan to keep records of the characters and to write a little about what happens to them over the next five or ten years. However there isn't going to be another Swordsmaster campaign (not next, anyway) and so this is probably the last of Swordsmaster II to be seen outside of one-offs.
Finally, a big thank you to my players (
venta, quisalan, chrisvenus, chrestomancy, bateleur and ao_lai) for putting up with being kidnapped, poisoned, threatened (and that was just by the twins!). I've really enjoyed running the game.
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 02:27 pm (UTC)I am reminded somewhat of Ming the Merciless retrieving his ring from the floor at the end of Flash Gordon...
no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 04:51 pm (UTC)It does occur to me how harsh I might be in the future considering I can already do people 1d6+2 EPs of damage with 8 power and two focus. When I get better I should be able to lay mages out without too much difficulty, I'm sure. :)
I have faint urges for a 15 year reunion game where we all have stupid amounts of power and I can vent my cheesey-monger nothing-can-stop-me urges! :)