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Valenstar 
Keeper of the games
God of Maidens and Misfits
Posts: 144
(4/22/04 11:43 am)
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The Saga Of Barsaive
Some time ago, I ran an adventure for a roleplaying game called Earthdawn. Heroic fantasy game.
Ive reproduced the adventures they had here as TheGr8Goddess said they were part of a great story when related to her over instant messenger,and said I should share them here at Cotes.
Let me know what you's think of episodes one to two (sorry for their size) and Ill post more 
Episode 1: The Saga of Barsaive
Our heroes; the sorceress Elhandra, the obsidian knight and the human swordsman traveled to the world of Icenden on a most important quest in order for the armour that the sorceress wore to gain in power, it had to be covered in snow from the world it was made upon. This then was the purpose of their quest.
They learned earlier in their adventures that the world of Icenden had a great Glacier which was their best bet for the place to committhearmour to the snows they also heard rumours that the glacier was the home of a great and powerful Dragon by the name of Glazite.
Thusly they stepped from the Worldgate onto Icenden filled with some fear of their possible fate.
barely stopping at the village that lay at the bottom of the Glacier they strode forth. it took 3 days of hard travel to reach the top of the glacier many thousands of feet in the mountains when they reached the top, tired and cold, they set up camp for the evening, each taking watch.
On the second watch, they heard a strange piercing scream from away in the darkness. This sound along with a peculiar sound like that of wings was getting closer!
In a mad scramble they grabbed weapons and armour and prepared to defend themselves against what they thought was the Dragon!
suddenly.......
swooping from the darkness came this creature that looked like a winged ape! it swept toward the sorceress catching her in the arm with its razor sharp talons
The swordsman swung with his sword at the beast, cleaving off the lower half of its leg. it sailed off screamig into the night THEN they heard a strange rustling around them. as they looked they saw another three of these things on foot moving toward them with malice in their eyes the fight was short and brutal, leaving the three animals dead, their blood staining the snow.
Our heroes fared little better, the sorceress was bleeding badly from her arm and the obsidiman lost a finger in the battle. The swordsman called upon the rite of Dhanni, a magical ritual taught to his clan and asked for the gods to allow him to heal his harmed comrades the power was granted to him and as the group slept the rite worked its magic. When morning broke, it found the heroes bbreaking camp to find the heart snow for the armour. Around midday they found evidence of an ancient forge, the sorceress removed her armour and they buried it in the snow in front of the forge. The armour had to remain their for a night, so they surveyed the areaand made camp near the armour they prayed their night was not distrubed for fear of losing the sorceress in battle.
the night went quietly.......
The next morning they broke camp after digging up the armour and finding its power much improved, now able to turn the blows of a two handed sword and most arrows.
As they struck out over the ice heading back to the lowlands, they travelled half the day and as afternoon fell they heard a loud cracking behind them. They felt the shift in the ice and ran for ward to avoid falling to certain doom as they ran, a shadow rose over them, a massive sinuous shape which reached a height to block the sun then wings unfurledand they saw it was indeed Glazite whom they were warned about they were frozen in fear of the mighty beast. They heard a voice in their minds, strong enough to drown out their very thoughts "Turn and face me mortals"
as they turned they saw the full glory of the Dragon Glazite. Fully one hundred and fifty feet long with a wingspan that seemed to go on forever. it moved its head toward them, which was bigger even than the side of the last inn they stayed in and sniffed the air " A Human, a sorceress and an Obsidiman" "what brings you to MY glacier"
As one they fearfully explained they neded to strengthen the armour that the sorceress wore in order to survive the upcoming war in their home country
"War?"
The sorceress explained that there was a Dragon which had been possessed by a demon. It had been creating evil hybrids of man and dragon and raiding the local towns of their homeland. They had vowed to stoip it, but needed powerful magic to do so. Glazite turned to the heroes and looked closely at each in turn stopping finally at he obsidiman he breathed a quick burst of fire upon him!
As the others shrank away and the obsidiman screamed, the dragon just watched they saw the armour of the obsidiman melt away from his body and then the fire went out, leaving him unharmed still clothed but unarmored, the dragon told the obsidiman to stand very still. he did, and as the dragon looked, wisps of smoke crept toward the group from over the surface of the glacier the formed around the obsidiman, coalescing into a kind of armour. Is helm was sculpted to look like the head of a dragon and the rest of the suit was carved in strange symbols and runes
"With this armor I render unto you the power of the Dragon, infusing your soul is part of my strength. As long as you remain true to your quest your skin will turn blows as does my own hide"
"Do you accept the charge to become a srveant of the Dragons and defeat this evil in your homeland?" The obsidman, said he did and that upon his honor he would carry out the quest unto death.
The Dragon told them to be away from this place and to leave him in peace, but to be mindful that he would ask for a favor from them at a later time which they will have no choice but to carry out.
feeling extremely relieved they weren’t to be dragon food, our heroes traveled back down the glacier, looking to return home and share the news of the Dragons power.
They were not bothered any more by the ape-like creatures on their trip back to the World gate. Just before they stepped through the gate they looked back toward the glacier and as if to remind them of the power they carried, they could see hanging over the glacier like a silver star the Dragon Glazite shimmering in the morning sunlight then the world of Icenden swirled into nothingness as the gate took them back to their homeland........
Episode 2: The Saga of Barsaive
Back from the wintry lands of Icenden, our heroes came out of the Worldgate into Everway, their home city. Returning to their respective homes, and catching up on the ususal minor chores, they met at the tavern: Thera's Arms for a night on the drink. The obsidiman drinking hi usual fare of B'Kren (a liquid from finely crushed stone magically enchanted to flow like water). The sorceress drank the local wine she loved so and the swordsman drank mead.
midway through the evening, the air around their table grew cold and the rest of the inn seemed to darken. The swordsman moved back from the table and drew his sword The inn around them was nearly black now as a figure formed next to the table. The figure wore a voluminous hooded robe and his hands and face were hidden within.
"Rest easy warrior" he said to the swordsman. "I mean non harm. I am Serellian, and I am here to ask for your help I am one of the council of eight, we were the servants of the creator at the beginning of time. When the worlds were made, he moved on to make others in new dimensions. We, his servants were left to guard and protect the places he had made."
"I stayed here. I liked this world and the people who live upon it. At the time of the Scourge, we fought off most of the terrible Horrors that threatened the great Caerns of mankind. Now Vestrivan has arisen (the dragon with the soul of a demon) andhe MUST be stopped, orall the creators work will be undone" "You" he said turning to the Obsidiman "wear the armor of dragonkind. This is the sign we awaited. You are to lead the armies of Barsaive against the Dragon and his creations. It will be a hard way and will lead to the deaths of thousands of your countrymen You know you are able to do this, or Glazite would not have given you the armor". The Obsidiman said" I knew what it meant when I was given my armor. Although my race has been persecuted and abused by humanity and the other races over the centuries, I at least will never shirk my destiny. If I may die during this task, then maybe it will show the other races that the Obsidimen can breed true heroes not like the raiders of old"
"The sorceress said that her powers over the energies of the universe were at the disposal of the armies. Vestrivan destroyed my home village while I was here, I shall not sit by and allow the deaths of my family and children to go unavenged." So too did the Swordsman say" I too pledge my swordarm, to this fight. Although I have no personal claim against the dragon, Ill not let my friends fight alone"
As one the three of them said "We pledge at this time swearing upon the Blood Oaths of old, we will bring down Vestrivan and his army, his evil we will help wipe from this world"
"We say this in the presence of Sorrellian, servant of the creator. May his blessings be upon us"
Sorellian looked at the three of them and said "I can see you are all pure of heart, and I give each of you my blessings for the fight to come.... To the sorceress I give you the gift of a stronger link with the astral plane, with a better filter to stop your beacon being so strong. To the swordsman I give you the strength to be able to pierce the hide of the Dragon, and to the obsidiman i can give you only my thanks and my promise that all of the races will remember the deeds of yourself in their hearts."
He said that he would speak to them again soon, and asked that they journey towards the Swamp of Gralik. "The swamp is home to the creature Qarus. He is the leader of the assassins of Barsaive, he is also the vampire lord of the swamp and a powerful Nethermancer We need his undead allies in order to help defeat the minions of Vestrivan. Use sense when dealing with him and promise him nothing you are not prepared to allow him to have in return for his help."
The three said they would do their duties. Sorellian faded away and the inn around them grew less dim. They looked at each other..... The Sorceress lifted her finger and concentrated....
She felt her consciousness rising into Astral space (the source of all magic) breaking through the barriers and fountaining into the plane like a plume of light. The power she felt able to control now was seemingly endless compared to her ability before. Yet the Horrors of Astral space weren’t flocking to her, they were reacting in their usual way.. she marveled in her new power, 'I have the ability now to raze whole cities should it be needed' she thought. Then delicately concentrating she took a small parcel of energy back to her body - and when she opened her eyes she had a flame burning from the end of her finger. previously this 'parlor magic' would have only been a small candle flame. Now it was like that of an oil torch. Lighting up most of the tavern with its intensity.
The barman shouted to stop using magic in his tavern, so she stopped concentrating and the flame vanished into nothing. The swordsman took a dagger from his boot and flung it at the wall four feet away. It sank into the stone wall up to its hilt. He raised an eyebrow and walked to retrieve it, smiling as he did so. The barman said nothing to him but scowled as he walked by they sat a little longer pondering how they would ask the vampire lord to aid them. It was decided that the obsidiman speak for them, as he wore the armor of the Dragon, and was thus the de-facto leader of the group due to it. Shortly before midnight they left the tavern and returned to their homes intending to be up and to leave for the swamp the next morning at sunrise.
Dawn finds our heroes saddling up horses and packing provisions for the long trip south to the swamp. They told no-one where they were going lest they be stopped, as few wanted anything t do with the Assassins of the swamps. From the maps they had, the trip was supposed to take about 14 days, through the foothills of the Stone Crab mountains and onward through the forests to the swamps. There were few settlements along the way, beyond some brigand-holds and some Orkish and Troll homesteads. With luck they could pass unnoticed through the lands and into the swamps.
The first three days of the trip went by with no import, just dull, average days. The morning of the fourth day found them at the foothills of the mountains, facing a Troll skyhold. Unlike some they had seen, this one was habited, there were two skyships anchored at the loading bays and lots of activity, with trolls and their slaves/crew moving cargo. As they approached, two trolls came out of the gates and walked toward them. Fully half as tall again as a man, the Trolls are a fearsome sight, dressed akin to vikings, their horns and tusks added a more animalistic mien pointing ornate crystal tipped spears at the three heroes one of them spoke in a voice like cracking stone "What'yar want 'ere little people?" The Obsidiman said they needed passage through the gate and into the pass allowing them thru the foothills. The troll laughed and said to the other one "G'arn an' tell the cap'n we've some squishies who want thru the pass'
The other troll moved back to the building shouting for the Captain. Within a couple of minutes this Human walks out of the skyhold. He was a nasty looking oily man with an eyepatch. The eye patch had an opaque blue gem embedded into it the size of an eye. He waked toward them, and said "Theres no way you can get through the pass, its all snowed in - we had some bad weather the last couple weeks so its impassible." He looked at the three of them, taking his time as his eyes looked over the sorceress.
He said they looked rich enough to afford passage, so he would offer them use of his skyship and fly them to other side of the mountains. The fee , he said was 50 gold pieces per person and 25 for each horse.
The sorceress said "You will give us passage, for nothing if you still would like skyships of your own. I have heard of you 'Blue-eye' you take passengers then rob them mid way thru the mountains throwing them who resist to their doom and keeping the others as slaves to sell to the Therans at Vivane
He laughed and said there wasn’t a sorcerer or sorceress capable of harming his ships. The sorceress concentrated, bringing forth more energy than she'd ever used before and she pointed at one of the ships. As the horrified captain watched it caught fire, massively intense fire that ravaged through the enchanted wood of the hull, charring it to ash within seconds. Crewmen leapt to their deaths rather than be caught within its power.
he pleaded for his last ship "please its my livelihood, ill take you, safe passage - no tricks, just don’t burn my ship" The sorceress made him swear a Blood Oath to take them safely to to the other side of the mountains. Then she released the Illusion spell she had cast to make the ship looked burnt. Blue-eye swore at her but couldn’t break a sacred Blood Oath, "we'll settle this later when I’m not bound to help you sorceress" and walked away. he shouted back to say they left within the hour so the better be aboard.
SHEEPLE
plural:sheepling
A person regarded as timid, weak, or submissive and easily swayed or led. Usually have the overall intelligence and wit of the ruminant but are disguised in a human or humanlike form
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WalksWith
She Walks in Beauty and light
Posts: 58
(5/27/04 9:52 pm)
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Re: The Saga Of Barsaive
Sorry it has taken so long to reply, but I've had to read a little each time!
I think it is fantastic! Fantasy writing is not something I've read alot of. After reading this, I may have to find some books!
Thank You for sharing this with us!
Light & Love
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Gr8Goddess 
Monkian Ambassador
Posts: 353
(7/22/04 7:29 pm)
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Re: The Saga Of Barsaive
So, Ian, you ever gonna finish your story? 
We do not require you to believe. Just don't interfere |
Valenstar 
Keeper of the games
God of Maidens and Misfits
Posts: 202
(7/22/04 7:32 pm)
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Re: The Saga Of Barsaive
yes I will i erm kinda forgot...
Oops
Doll by TheGr8Goddess
SHEEPLE
plural:sheepling
A person regarded as timid, weak, or submissive and easily swayed or led. Usually have the overall intelligence and wit of the ruminant but are disguised in a human or humanlike form
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Valenstar
Keeper of the games
God of Maidens and Misfits
Posts: 208
(7/23/04 8:39 pm)
Reply
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Re: The Saga Of Barsaive
EPISODE 3: THE SWAMPS OF GRALIK
Blue eye was true to his word, he took them safely to the other side of the mountains. He spoke to the Obsidiman a few times during the trip intrigued as to who he was, and where they were going. However, the group spoke only among themselves of their mission.
When they touched down on the other side of the mountain, Blue Eye simply left them - deciding not to carry out his threat to them until a later date. Alone again they continued on horseback, the trip across the mountians in the ship shortening their travel time by 3 days.
The trip passed in quiet solitude for the group, in this almost desolate part of the country they saw little evidence of habitation, and few still animals.
In the last two days the swamp loomed before them, oppresive, dank and dark.
Silently they entered the swamp, hoping they would find what they sought swiftly so they could leave the terrible place. The swamp felt 'wrong' somehow, as if there was something otherworldy about it.
Nearly a week nto the swamp they saw the fortress of Qarus, a vine-ridden building of ancient demeanour and fantastic proportions. As they approached they became aware of movement all around them, as camouflaged warriors made themselves visible.
One of them walked forward and told them "Identify yourselves quickly or your death will be swift and without meaning" The group told him who they were. "Ah you took your time - Qarus has been awaiting you" and he stepped aside allowing them entry into the building.
Doll by TheGr8Goddess
SHEEPLE
plural:sheepling
A person regarded as timid, weak, or submissive and easily swayed or led. Usually have the overall intelligence and wit of the ruminant but are disguised in a human or humanlike form
Edited by: Valenstar at: 7/23/04 9:03 pm
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