Lost Saga
When a local farmer discovers something at the bottom of his new well, the fate of the land will hang in the balance.
Backgorund: Many generations ago, a madman named Vrin rose to power in the Western Lands. A student of the arcane and a brilliant warmaster, Vrin and his horde swept across the land destroying or capturing anything they came across. So fast and efficeint were Vrin's armies that it wasn't until the Central and South Lands fell that any notable resistance could be organized. A coalition was formed and the great armies of the North and East, and even those from the distant island nation of Engel with their mighty warships, set out to drive Vrin back and free those lands he had taken. The War of Ash, as it would be called by many historians, last almost six years. In the end, Vrin was pushed back into the Westlands. For the next several years, small skirmishes would break out along the border as Vrin's forces tried to force their way back out. Despite their great victory, the lands that had fallen under Vrin's rule were poor shaodws of their former selves and the remaining coalition armies were close to collapse. Something had to be done. It was then that Weyr, the Hero appeared. He carried with him a sword he claimed fell from the sky, a powerful and noble blade. With a small strike force he set out into the Western Lands, making his way to Vrin's fortress. Of the ten or so that went with him, only one returned. Before he succumbed to a poisoned wound he said that Weyr had killed Vrin with a single stab to the heart with his strange blade but in the process was wounded himself. No one knows what happened to Weyr and his sword, but the army of the Westlands soon fell into disarray without their leader and were easily overcome.
Now: The sword of Weyr has been found. A local farmer, while digging a new well, broke through into a small cavern. Inside he found a skeleton in old style battle armor and a sword, untarnished by the moisture and fungus in the cave. As he grabbed the sword, he heard a voice in his head which told him it was Weyr, his soul trapped in the sword. His work is not finished. Vrin was not slain, only wounded. His body lies in a state of suspended animation. The sword must be taken to the body and thrust back into the first wound it made and left or Vrin will one day heal and rise again.
DM stuff: The players can be hired to escort the poor farmer to find the body of Vrin. The sword will not allow anyone other than the farmer to touch it, causing intense pain to anyone who tries, and will only talk to the farmer. Once the body has been found and the sword thrust into it's heart, the truth will be revealed. The soul within the sword is not Weyr but Vrin. Vrin will immediately come back to life, his wound healed. He is weak but still a dangerous foe (treat him like a wizard/fighter class) and will flee if things don't go good and do everything to take the sword with him. I'll have more details on the sword later.
This is a pretty big quest that could keep players busy for a long time. Vrin is a powerful and dangerous foe that could cause a lot of trouble if he isn't stopped.
Enjoy.
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? Responses (12)
I like this: I like the idea that the farmer is fated to carry out the quest. It would provide an interesting group dynamic to introduce an NPC with no adventuring experience but who was crucial to the success of the mission ('Oi'm not walking o'er that rope bridge!' 'Yes you are' 'Oi carn't!'
I think the twist is a nice one too.
ephe!
That is a good twist at the end and the fact that our heroes are going on a farmer's word is fun as well.
What would happen if the farmer dies? (which tends to happen) For lack of another baffoon, Vrin may settle on trying to con the players. Might do this near the end, allow Vrin to choose the weakest PC, mentally, to be able to pick up the knife. Have a battle of wills, let the players lose for a change, and release Vrin as advertised knowing that they released him. Let them explain what happened to the world and now they have to save their pride as well as the world. Vrin may spread some rumors about how he outsmarted them as well at the same time trying to rebuild his army.
The PCs turn into 'The Bubbling Adventureres' that get no respect. Might be fun not being outlaws but still haveing to hide who they are because of embarassment. Stories told in taverns laughing at and dreading the incident at the same time.
Heh-heh-heh-heh!
Finally! A quest in which the heroes are NOT destined to save the world!
"Look, oi relly don't see woi oi 'arve teh' go in th' cave!"
"Just get in there, dammit!"
*BOOT*
"Ow!"
"Stop whining!"
Ah yes, but not only that, the blade only talks to the farmer.
Can't you imagine it? The one person fated to the world is thought to be a loony for talking to this old sword.
hehehehehe
Oh this is an awesome plot. There are a lot of possibilities for the end as well. If Vrin escapes then he may marshall an army and attempt to take over the world again. The small band of adventurers along with the farmer then has to find him among his new followers as well as warn the other realms that Vrin has returned. Perhaos they do not want to listen to such a grim truth and choose not to believe the party. The adventurers then have to find and destroy Vrin themselves, going right into the lion's den, past all his forces. Perhaps they recieve some strange aid from the North and East. This is a fabulous plot, there are so many options. A very interesting campaign could be developed from this.
I like it has a kinda of Lord of The Rings flavor to it with an aftertaste of DM 'ANNILATION'!
It is sick and I am going to love picking on my PCs with this one. Question about Vrin what kinda powers does he have like could you possibly make a character profile on him I am interested in his character.
~Royal_Assassin~
OK - pretty standard "Back-woods yokel must save the world" plot (we're well into Lord of the Rings territory here) but the twist at the end is quite fun (oops - that wasn't what we had in mind - sorry guys)
Really only a 3 because it's no too original but I'll give it a 4 because it made me laugh
4/5
A thought occured to me while I was reading this (and it is quite a good idea). I was reading the part where you said that 'the sword only speaks to the farmer'. As a possible alternative twist, why not have the sword driving the farmer insane. There is no intellegence in it.
Perhaps the sword inspires heroic acts, and after comming into contact with the magic, and evil of Vrin, was corrupted.
Slowly the sword is enhancing the combat ability of the farmer, but at the same time taking his mind and making him increasingly paranoid.
In the end he suspects all of attempting to revive Vrin, and will begin to try and use his newfound power to 'prevent' this from happening.
Oldie but goodie
Yep, you're right Murometz - definately worthy of a bump
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BTW - something confusing
I voted on this a few years back - I know I did
The comments are still there (scroll up to 3rd Mar 2005)
I listed the vote at the bottom of the comment (something I only do when I vote) but the little swords icon (indicating that a vote has been cast) is conspicuous by its absence
Also the replies section has supplied me with a vote drop-down, which it does only if there is no vote
Although I cannot of course clearly remember what I did (or did not) do nearly four years ago, the fact that there is a score at the bottom of the comment is evidential that a vote was cast
So, for the benefit of our glorious leader leader and creater of this wonderful site, I beleive I need to report a possible bug - it looks as if the code may be losing data somewhere along the line
Note - I have not voted again this time in case this masks the problem in some fashion
(being a programmer myself I can appriciate the difficulty you will have tracking this down, so I'll not complicate further than necessary)
Actually, this is true for all of the old comments, if you notice. The votes were not being recorded as they are now... thus, it is not a bug.
A decent plot idea, one must, time by time, lie to one's PCs.