RADIANT DAWN: TWO ADVENTURE PATHS FOR AC1020
In mid-Nuwmont, Synn the Night Dragon gutted the Known world and left it to die with its innards exposed and bleeding out in a mad quest to become immortal.
The Region is thrown into turmoil as refugees seeking to flee the destruction trickle into surrounding lands with a tale of total annihilation.
ADVENTURE PATH: A TWIST OF EARTHEN HANDS
DM BACKGROUND: The ruins of Korizegy Keep sits perhaps halfway between the Bugbear Caverns ten miles south of Radlebb and its deep and long sealed mines, and the Goblin Caves in the distant North. This ancient river course was once known to Zirchev, Halav, and Petra as a nest of the Beastmen that ravaged these lands, extends a total distance of seventy two miles linking what has been a thorn in the side of the civilized inhabitants of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos.
Unfortunately the Lich Draco Korizegy has acquired an artefact from a dark Benefactor (Synn the Night Dragon) that allows him to animate dead on a large scale: The Altar of Earthen Hands.
CAMPAIGN EVENTS
Until such time as the Lich (36th level Cleric of Thanatos) known as Draco Korizegy is slain, a series of events will occur:
VATERMONT 1: THE TURTLE IS SACRIFICED
DESCRIPTION: While overseeing the completion of the New Walls of Luln, Justin Karameikos is abducted by the Lich Draco from his personal quarters in the Royale Inn on Nuwmonts Eve. The Lich Cleric transports the Prince to Korizegy Keep where he is sacrificed on the Altar of Earthen Hands.
WHAT IS GOING ON? A Prince has been sacrificed on the Altar of Earthen Hands thereby activating its powers.
VATERMONT 3: BACK FROM THE GRAVE.
DESCRIPTION: It begins this evening with the rising of a hundred and thirty Skeletons and a few freshly buried Zombies from the Graveyard at Luln (as well as numerous dead walled up in cellars or buried in gardens). This Un-dead horde assaults the town. Worse still – each new death only fills their ranks.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Lich, Draco Korizegy, has unleashed the artefact known as the altar of earthen hands in his deep crypt animating the remains of a Dragon – consequently turning many deceased humanoids and other creatures into Un-dead within the extensive Bugbear Caverns. Consequently the Awakening of those dead in the Luln Graveyard was little more than a side effect.
VATERMONT 4: THE ABANDONING OF LULN
As the dust settles on the terrible undead destruction that has been unleashed in Luln and the Town is abandoned to the horrors of the Un-dead, messages are sent to the Capital (Mirros) to request all manor of Clerical assistance. Many of the survivors flee to the safety of the Barony of Halav and a strong guard is posted on the border to watch for Un-dead.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Luln is abandoned to the Un-dead army and Clerics are requested to deal with the problem of this unrestful horde.
VATERMONT 14: THE DEAD TO UNREST
At sunrise an army of clerics of the Church of Karameikos and Traladara invade Luln and strive to put the un-dead to rest. They soon discover the Skeletons and Zombies are immune to Clerical Powers and the Clerics are soon ambushed and over run by Undead – many joining their ranks – others fleeing.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Clerics, finally arrived from Miros, attempt to put down the un-dead problem in Luln. A side effect of the Artefact is to protect Undead from Clerics while within the boundaries of the Estate of Korrezigy.
THAUMONT 1: HUMANOIDS GET PAST RADLEBB KEEP
Riders from various holdings and estates north of Luln reach Riverfork Keep and Rifflain with reports of thousands of Humanoids and assorted monsters flooding into the Cruth Hills. Likewise Radlebb Keep who are tasked with keeping such vast hordes out of the lands south of Radlebb Wood are inundated with refugees talking of hordes of Humanoids to the South. The numbers of humanoids are on such a scale as to be ludicrous because someone would have noticed them in such numbers had they come through the Barony of Halav, Luln, or even Radlebb wood.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Humanoids have been flushed from the extensive cave network that runs for seventy two miles beneath the forgotten estate of the Lich Drako Korrezigy by an army of un-dead monsters that swells with every death.
THAUMONT 8: THE KING DISPATCHES TROOPS
DESCRIPTION: In response to this terrible and sudden threat of Humanoids in the Kingdom Karameikos dispatches Troops and Militias from Radlebb Keep and Mirros to crush the Humanoid Hordes that are closing on the Estates of Sulescu, Marilenev, and Vandishivey.
Meanwhile Troops from Kelvin, Rifflain, and Threshold march west to meet the Humanoid threat that has appeared in the Hills north of Radlebb Wood.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Rulers of Karameikos have learned that there are about five thousand Humanoids north of the Radlebb Wood and six thousand to the South – and that they are for the most part heading east into their Estates. They have likewise raised troops to put down this threat before it carves a hole in the Agricultural Heartland that Feeds the Majority of the Kingdom.
THAUMONT 13: THE DRAGON INVADES RADLEBB WOOD
DESCRIPTION: Draco orders his Undead Dragon to travel east from the ruins of Korizegy Keep into the Woods of Radlebb to its far eastern edge and then with the cover of Night assail the city of Mirros. All Un-dead within his estate (and the caverns) boundaries begin pouring into the Radlebb Wood.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Draco is mostly ignorant of the un-dead horde he has created. Having dispatched his un-dead Dragon to assault Mirros he has unwittingly done the same for all 4-5 thousand Un-dead humans, humanoids and monsters within his ‘estate boundary’. By midnight the entire town of Luln is emptied of any lingering Un-dead.
THAUMONT 18: THE BATTLE ROYALE
DESCRIPTION: The Armies of King Stephan Karameikos III clash with thousands of Humanoids, both north and south of Radlebb Wood, and they become bogged down in isolated conflicts centred on an assortment of communities drawing them further and further from the central lands.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Open war with thousands of Humanoids and other assorted monsters. The war with these humanoids is not over by a long shot as the Kings troops are forced to fortify any gained Position.
THAUMONT 27: MIRROS IS OVERRUN BY UNDEAD
DESCRIPTION: An army of Undead led by an Undead Dragon begins invading the city of Mirros a few hours before dawn. This army of Thousands simply march down the Duke’s Road to the gate under cover of mist and darkness. The gate is soon overrun as the city has very few guards who were not drawn off to fight the Humanoid invasion. The ConqueredCity becomes part of the Estate of Draco and the Undead swell to twenty thousand as the survivors flee the city for Marilenev Estate. Patriarch Jowlett perishes here leaving Oderbry in charge – he flees the city with other important refugees by Boat – making for Kelvin.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The city of Mirros has been caught by surprise. It has few clerics thanks to the massacre at Luln and even fewer troops. The defence of the city falls to ordinary people and the few senior clerics – like Jowlett – who were too old or important to travel to Luln.
THAUMONT 28: SUPPLY LINES ARE CUT IN THE SOUTH
DESCRIPTION: King Stephan Karameikos gets word that the City of Mirros has been overrun by Un-dead. The King no longer able to hold his ground against the humanoid threat is forced to order a retreat to Marilenev.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Southern part of the Kingdom is lost to Humanoids simply because Un-dead have over run the city of Mirros. Supply lines have failed, troops crushed without support forcing a major retreat.
FLAURMONT 1: THE DEATH OF A KING
DESCRIPTION: King Stephan is forced to occupy the Castle Marilenev which is now surrounded by a sea of Refugees from Mirros. While making himself a guest of Magda Marilenev, he confronts her suddenly all too apparent anger toward him in private. A scream from the apartment by Magda summons the Kings Guards and the Royal Family who has just arrived aboard the Concordia. They find Magda Marilenev collapsed over his body. She is weeping for the man she has long blamed for the death of her children and family.
WHAT IS GOING ON? King Stephan has had a heart attack and died while in a conversation with Magda Marilenev. His death has taken the long dark anger from her. Apparently she had developed a fascination for the Young Duke who arrived in Specularum fifty years ago only to become the focus of her hatred.
FLAURMONT 2: ODERBRY ISSUES A HOLY WRIT
DESCRIPTION: Now the highest ranking cleric of the Church of Karameikos, Oderbry begins offering estates to any name level cleric of the Church of Thyatis who can come to Karameikos with a hundred clerical Troops and destroy any un-dead. He requests the Clerical Troops to land near the Town of Krakatos that he may ‘lead them into the city of Specularum and purge it of Un-dead by force of arms as they are immune to clerical turning.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Oderbry has no authority to make offers of Estates but then with the Royal family huddling with the other Refugees in Marilenev, they have little poser to stop him. His intent is to offer Bishoprics along the
Dukes Road
from Mirros to Threshold thus carving a Church held corridor through the heart of the Kingdom. These Bishoprics are detailed on DM Map 2.
FLAURMONT 3: ODERBRY RECRUITS A THOUSAND HOLY WARRIORS
DESCRIPTION: Oderbry recruits a thousand Civilians as Clerical Troops to fight and die in his war on the Un-dead that occupy Mirros. By the end of the Month they will all be trained as Clerics and Cavalry.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Oderbry is gifted at public speaking. He practically pulls a thousand civilians from their lives and recruits and trains them as Clreics and Troops.
FLAURMONT 5: A DRACOLICH IN RIVERFORK WOOD?
DESCRIPTION: An Un-dead Dragon begins assaulting the Elves in the Estate of Riverfork Woods – it is joined by many dead who rise from their graves. This un-dead Horror seems unstoppable. Many elves flee across the river to Achelos Estate.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Draco Korizegy has created a Second Un-dead Dragon to clear out the Disputed Territory of Riverfork Wood - As a consequence the dead buried in the region rise from the grave to assault the living. This is one of several DisputedTerritories that fall within the boundaries of his Estate. Others include the Northern Half of the Barony of Halag, and Western Radlebb Wood (another elf estate) and Radlebb Keep.
FLAURMONT 6: DEATH KNIGHT ASSAILS FORTDOOM
DESCRIPTION: A Death Knight begins an all out assault on anyone caught outside the Walls of Fort Doom. He is aided by the vast numbers of undead who have risen from the Mass Graves of Fort Doom. He slaughters anyone standing against him. Once his army has awakened, they begin assaulting FortDoom directly. A few refugees escape by boat to sea.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Death Knight Justin Karameikos is eliminating all living persons within the Estate of Halag. He is aided by an army of un-dead from the rather full mass graves of the Von Hendriks Era.
FLAURMONT 18: KORIZEGY BORDERS SOLIDIFIED
DESCRIPTION: The Commander at Radlebb Keep orders a break out through the Un-dead lines to allow the civilians to flee to safety. While many make it to the Border, many more are slaughtered only to join the un-dead ranks. As those escorting the Civilian populace to the estate border are cut off and unable to make it back the KeepFalls.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Borders of the Estat di Korizegy are finalized as the last few living survivors within the EstateDisputedTerritories are slaughtered or forced to flee.
FLAURMONT 25: SULESCU IS SUMMONED TO RADLEBB
DESCRIPTION: Lord Sulescu vanishes from his residence at Sulescu this evening. Lord Sulescu is unable to resist a summons to Radlebb Keep by the Lich Draco Korizegy. The Nosferatu is declared a Knight of Korizegy and Granted the Holding of Radlebb Keep. Magic he has left in place teleports a bundle of scrolls to the School of Magic. Amongst the documents are sealed letters to the Queen explaining his un-dead state and that this letter means he has fallen under the control of the Lich Korizegy. There are tactical maps indicating the location of cave entrances to the Bugbear Caverns and reports and notes on where the humanoids may have come from as well as the Un-dead problem in the Capital.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Lich Draco Korizegy is drawing in powerful un-dead minions. In time this will allow him to increase his borders. Unfortunately for Draco, Lord Sulescu was prepared and has delivered documents that will avail any heroic types the opportunity to strike at the heart of this problem and turn the tide.
FLAURMONT 28: THE HOLY HAMMER OF ODERBRY
DESCRIPTION: Oderbry leading a core of Name level Clerics and their Army of three thousand Warrior Clerics enters the city of Mirros. The war that follows is a horror. From the south come an army in the employ of the Queen. Despite the fact that they are terribly outnumbered, they manage to purge the city of most of its un-dead.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Oderbry has proven his political power as Patriarch of not just of Mirros but of the Kingdom of Karameikos. While the Undead in Mirros are smashed between Troops loyal to the Queen coming in from Marilenev and Oderbry’s Clerics from the North there will always be an un-dead presence in the city as many of the Un-dead vanish into cellars and tunnels beneath the city. Pretty much every kind of Undead is present in the city and all seem to be under the command of the Lich Draco.
YARTHMONT 1: THE NEW CHURCH OF KARAMEIKOS
DESCRIPTION: At the height of the battle for the city it is discovered that the Church of Karameikos has collapsed into its foundations. Oderbry dispatches a number of recruits to investigate the ruins. In the mean time he makes plans to construct a new church in the centre of the city.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The Church hasn’t collapsed. It has sunken. A Druj wearing the Corpse of Patriarch Jowett has compelled an army of thirty Topi (2’ tall zombies) and the thirty Skeletons (who have returned to the crypts) to dig out the foundations and sink the Church into a deep hole.
The ‘Patriarch’ himself is a Powerful Druj (Skull, 2 eyes, 2 hands all sewn together with the rest of Jowett’s corpse as one entity). On the Altar in the Temple of Chaos a Skull that gives off coloured mists (a Sacrol).
Oderbry will use any news that the old Patriarch has become some sort of evil un-dead high priest as proof that Jowett and his followers are unworthy of the church.
YARTHMONT 8: SEWERWORKINGS REVEALED
DESCRIPTION: A section of the Street of Dreams collapses as a Brickmac explodes revealing brick-lined sewers that were not beneath the city before it fell to the un-dead. The tunnels are infested with un-dead.
WHAT IS GOING ON? A nest of overly intelligent Ghouls have used a Brickmac to excavate a vast network of Sewers beneath the city. Roaming the Sewers are 3-16 ghouls [1d6 Ghouls, 1d4 Elder Ghouls, 1d6 Agarat]. The nest itself is home to Ghouls (16), Elder Ghouls (12), Agarat (8), and a Death-leech located in a large Crypt beneath the NEST which connects into the sewers. The Sewers reach around through south end as far the Hill connecting many crypts and cellars although they do not connect to the Sunken Church of Karameikos – instead they connect to the crypts of the Church of Traladara.
YARTHMONT 21: A DEATHLY MIST IN THE STREETS
DESCRIPTION: Tonight is a bad time for the Hill. Outside the Walls of the Castle a terrible mist settles in and seems to spill down the streets leading from the Hill. Some terrible evil seems to haunt the mists.
WHAT IS GOING ON? The mist consists of twelve Vapour Ghouls. They haunt the Hill Market and radiating streets at night.
YARTHMONT 23: MAGDEL THE WICKED
DESCRIPTION: Jowett’s personal assistant Magdel is encountered leading Zombies through the streets of Mirros – Screaming mad and naked. She wields the Mace of Jowett as her only weapon and immediately attacks any living being she stumbles across.
WHAT IS GOING ON? Magdel is under the sway of Jowett’s Mace (now home to a Possession), and has been compelled to attack and kill anyone on the streets at night and animate them as un-dead.
KLARMONT 8: RED ROBES ON THE STREETS
DESCRIPTION: In response to the remaining un-dead presence in the City of Mirros, Oderbry employs a thousand Red Robed Clerics to Police the Streets of the Re-occupied sections of the City. They out-number the City Guard and are entirely drawn from the ranks of Church of Karameikos.
WHAT IS GOING ON? With Jowett’s un-dead nature revealed and the elimination of Magdel the Wicked (Jowett’s assistant), Oderbry has solidified his Authority considerably in the City of Mirros. His red robed clerics patrol the streets; his new church is under construction in the Great marketplace just down from the Stronghold on the Hill (he would have pulled down the Castle if he could have gotten away with it and erected his church there – but time will tell). This northern half of the city is occupied by Thyatians. The Southern half of the city is unpatrolled by Clerics. Oderbry has seen this as an opportunity to keep Traladarans out of the City. Those who reside there are often subjected to attacks by un-dead.
The Citadel Megadungeon: http://yellowdingosappendix.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/the-citadel-mega-dungeon-now-with-room.html
