Hot damn! I loved the poem at the beginning, and was really getting creeped out at the descriptions of the landscape. The middle section, describing the town and the interactions therein, was less energetic, but that's just an issue with resting-points in general. I especially like the second half, and the fact that the entire plot is seeded with extra ways to benefit from fighting smarter, not harder. The alternate ending was nice, and a good way to round it all out for those parties that wish to always have happy endings.

All in all, I was quite happy with this. My one possible complaint is that there wasn't much example given of altered wildlife, which doesn't jive with how thoughtful you were with the rest of the ecology. Go to Comment

Don't you think adding more details would make this less accessible to GMs? Go to Comment

Shadoweagle, I don't think I had a good point. You are right a GM can chose to take or ignore what they wish. I think you are also right giving GM other tools that they will have at their disposal will actually make things more accessible. I think your comment implies an excellent point, what makes RPGs special is that you can lift up a random rock in an RPG and the world goes on. RPGs perhaps have a depth that can't be reach in other medias such as video games or movies. I look forward to more details. And I will never accept or make the "more details will make this less accessible argument again!" Go to Comment

Damn, this will well thought out.

I took some notes as I read.

-Will the PCs be able to get maps or histories of the land prior to the blight from sources outside the Blight?

-What do the neighbors of the Blight think, have they been raided, by what

-The guy with his back turned to you eating noisely and he turns to reveal black dead eyes and fangs. This has been done to much, I'd have to change it if I used it this.

-What would a metaphysical investigation of the land determine, detect evil, or detect magic spell and if not a s spell system then what does astral shifting reveal, are their ghosts roaming around?

-So can you talk to these "plants" using magic or forestry abilities?

-How will these people respond to mind control or jedi mind trick type things?

-Can they burn coal or peat?

-The opened ended nature to the PCs is awesome, the sad innkeeper is my favorite.

After this point I got so caught up in the story, I stopped talking notes. This adventure is not exactly my style, and I say that not complain or annoy, but I hope that it will add weight to my personal observation that I have not read anything better than this at the citadel. This is so complete and well organized that I am really jealous. Thank you for writing this, thank you for the appendixes and so on. Thanks for pushing me to read it with your vote exchange. Go to Comment

After reading this, I would only add more details. Go to Comment

Freaking awesome! This is the type of sub of like and its what my own corpsefall sub tried and failed to achieve.

Well done, any added details I would use linked subs.

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The alternate ending for smart players was a nice touch, and I enjoyed the angelic backstory. I wonder at the ending, though. Azalea may have been freed in the end, but what of the other angels? I find it hard to believe that the party could break his chains without attracting the attention of some other powerful beings . . . Go to Comment

My first thought while reading this: Damn, I wish I had the video game. My second: If I keep reading I will already know what happens and I can never be the player who gets to explore this place. My third: Screw it, I need to know what's happening.

I was not disappointed.

I wish I had more to add to the discussion but the other comments have all said what I wanted to and more. I too would love to see a bestiary; when is this happening? ;)

Your descriptions are great and the concepts excellent. Your mind must be a twisted place!

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I love this. People eating trees, a cliche enchanted forest, a chained god, and even rewards for smart players! This gets the caesar193 seal of approval. Go to Comment

Depends on the details added. If shadoweagle added a couple of physical traits, or perhaps said that all the animals became sharp-toothed monstrosities, it wouldn't make it less useable.

Ooh! Idea: herbivores are made into omnivores, and omnivores into carnivores Go to Comment

Shadoweagle, this is the first submission I've read here on Strolen's and it's a wonderful piece of work. I fully intend to make use of it in my own campaign, with suitable modification to fit within my current plot. The Angel will be able to provide them a way home from this world, instead of gifting them with magical items (of which they have plenty).

My only suggestions would be to pull this into Word or some other editor, and correct some of the little spelling and/or grammatical errors. Some of the other suggestions here are good as well, and unfortunately, I don't have any others that don't involve making the whole thing thing too specific.

Again, great plot. Go to Comment

Good Stuff. Between the well laid out scenarios and the alternate endings, this has a lot of stuff to offer. If I use it I might modify the plotline to happen over a smaller timeframe (the fields are a new occurrence) but that's a personal preference, not a criticism. Go to Comment

Why would the lich do that to Linn? The threat was out of the way, and these was no more use for the fellow - let the poor guy die in peace! :p
Khalran is a very understanding undead monstrosity. Some of his motivation for destroying life is simply that he is bored of the stupidity of everyone. He is a problem solver and simply is trying to make the world more efficient.

As for the sword; yeah, it's a pretty straight forward, mundane (and mostly useless from a pc's point of view) kind of object, and that's how I wanted it to be. This item is more about the story; the perverted, wasted result of what could have been a legendary weapon and story, if not for the hubris of man. It's a lesson in humility, and also a vivid reminder that life is not a story book, and things do not always work out for the good guys. Go to Comment

A weapon for the Undead. Go to Comment

Interesting. I think the story really illustrates your inspiration: the Grand Hero who comes charging in against the Undead Lord, waving a sword and shouting the names of his gods. I like that aspect, the corruption of (blindly naive) good.

As for its actual magic effects, it seems almost mundane from a necromancy standpoint. But that doesn't bother me much, as I like the story a lot. Khalran seems a very practical sort of lich, which I can appreciate. Go to Comment

"Evil will always win cause good is dumb."

A straight up 2nd generation fantasy tool written with self-concious humor and flair. I enjoyed it well more than idea or content alone merited. Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

Could the PCs/villain fix the sword, so that it could be used to kill and resurrect the undead wielder?

I could see how this would be useful (and annoying, from the PCs perspective). The backstory is nice, though getting continuously crushed by a load of bricks would be horrible. I could see sadistic kings using it to torture someone to death, and then repeat...

Why didnt the lich do that to linn? Go to Comment

Well, there you go! And here I thought I had a relatively untouched idea! Go to Comment