Tag: Agora Core

DM Note #6

Story Paths

This refers to Series 2, Episode 1 of Agora Core: Gifts of Pelor.

After the party was formed, their initial actions caused the original side-stories to be cut because they were never going to be able to walk around the town of Mid-Nis as free men.

And so the possible stories and adventures had to start anew.  I really like the moment in the episode when the well does seem to have run dry.  They are sitting in a tavern having a quiet drink and wondering where to go from here.

From here, their world is both limitless and directionless.  They have no burdens apart from staying clear of Mid-Nis.
Storylines were in place but needed them to make the first move.  It was interesting to see what happened next.  Orix even mentioned becoming pirates!

By talking to Dais in the tavern they heard the local gossip that they could profit from; a new ‘grave’ site discovered in the desert landscape known as the Da and the Mid-Nis mines requiring a Kobold elimination squad.

Their visionary dreams, brought about by the mysterious ‘Summit’, gave the players personal missions.  The visions also gave them insight into other sordid activities going on.

They decided to pursue the treasures in the desert, but they may yet return to the other options.  The Kobolds may yet grow stronger and Orix showed an interest in looking in on his friend Vian who left home to go to the mysterious Mara Society.  But first, let’s see what the Da has in store…

Non-Player Character Profile

Name: Belstogley
Race: Human
Location: Guardhouse prison in Mid-Nis
Episodes: 2 (Series 1, episodes 4 & 5)
Appearance:  Wild, hairy, wrinkly and muscular.

Personality: Enthusiastic and of-the-moment.

Background: An experienced fighter, Belstogley veered from his clan on the Dudron basin after he fell out with the clan elders.  After his expulsion from the clan, he continued his nomadic existence alone wondering between towns and taverns.

Strengths:  In the spur of the moment, he is exceptionally loyal, determined and friendly.

Weaknesses: Short-term memory resulting in total lack of planning.  Also a dependence on alcohol.

What Happened during the Roleplay:  In the cells of the Mid-Nis guardhouse, Belstogley is persuaded to help the party when they convince him they are friends with ‘Lou’.  He tells them about the armoury and helps them attempt to free their friend, Long Vernal.  In the ensuing attempt to escape from the guardhouse he raged, set fire to the guardhouse and attacked a line of charging guards.

Chance of recurring in future episodes:  Low. He was outnumbered by the guards 5/1 and was caught setting fire to the guardhouse.

Character Portraits used:  60 Terrible Character Portraits for Creative Commons Release by ‘A Terrible Idea’

Non-Player Character Profile

Name: Chief Vance Kooltar
Race: Human
Location: Mid-Nis
Episodes: 2 (Series 1, episodes 4)
Appearance:  With
rugged good looks and a strong build, there is no doubt that he can lead by
example in tough times.  He also appears
stern and earnest; a person you wouldn’t think of crossing.

Background: Vance is a famous son of Mid-Nis having grown
up there.  He is trusted and respected by
the citizens and only left to earn his credentials as a guard.  The times he spend in the Da with the tribes
changed him.  He became a tougher,
stronger leader but also lost some of his innocence and light-heartedness.

Strengths:  Righteous
and charismatic.
Weaknesses:  Small-town
pride could result in short-sighted decision-making.

What Happened:  Vance
received the information from Elstan about murderers in his midst.  He prepared his guards to intercept them at
the gates and chased down Long Vernal when he tried to escape.

Chance of recurring in future episodes:  Medium.
He is aware of the parties crimes and is keen to bring justice down on
them.  Whilst friends of Leigheas the
Cleric have turned a blind eye to the party’s movements, he would not be so
lenient.

Character Portraits used:
City Guard Captain by Windmaker (DeviantArt.com)

Non-Player Character Profile

Name: Gretz
Race: Human
Location: The Tanin’s Camel Inn
Episodes: 1 (Series 1, episode 2)
Appearance:  Middle-aged, rough features although his modest clothes are clean and kept in good condition.  He has an oily voice and long dark tangled hair that is balding on top.

Personality: Private, helpful but without any innate charm.

Background: Gretz and his wife took over the Tanin’s Camel after the previous owner disappeared. Being the only other staff on the premises they continued to run the place and their ownership has never been challenged.   They did however board up the previous owner’s bedroom, which was discovered to contain a passage to a Well of Souls
underneath.  Unfortunately, this was not discovered in time to prevent two guests from developing strange behavioral changes and his wife from developing large cat whiskers on her face.

Strengths:  Shrewd and can keep things close to his chest.

Weaknesses:  Not a charismatic individual.

What Happened: Gretz tended to the party who were in the employ of Elstan.  He caught them in the barricaded master bedroom, having also damaged three paintings.  He couldn’t persuade them to leave and stop them exploring the entrance to the well but he was reimbursed for the three paintings.

Chance of recurring in future episodes:  Medium. He still runs the inn, so it depends on the party’s  movements.

Non-Player Character Profile

Name: Lanier the Merchant
Race: Human
Location: The docks of Nis-Ton
Episodes: 2 (Series 1, episodes 1-2)
Appearance:  Tall, strong and a little overweight.   He wore travel clothes of fine quality silk and a turban and gave the appearance of being both rich and efficient.
Background: Lanier Whilst Elstan provided the money, Lanier provided the business and administrative acumen that Elstan lacked.  He was loyal and completely trusted by Elstan; so much so that he balanced the accounts and had access to all the funds.

Strengths:  Focussed and strong.

Weaknesses:  Lacking in diplomacy and patience.

What Happened: Lanier hired the party to protect their cargo.  He was impressed by their fighting prowess when they defended the cargo against orcs, but was betrayed in his trust when they attacked him in his bedroom at the Tanin’s Camel.  Lanier was then thrown, unconscious into the Well of Souls.

Chance of recurring in future episodes:  Low. He is not technically dead, but if they encountered the person once known as Lanier he would seem quite different.

Character Portraits used:
60 Terrible Character Portraits for Creative Commons Release by ‘A Terrible Idea’

Non-Player Character Profile

Name: Elstan the Merchant
Race: Human
Location: The docks of Nis-Ton
Episodes: 4 (Series 1, episode 1-4)
Appearance:  Serious-looking with thin facial features and smartly dressed.

Personality:  He looks down on those he feels are beneath him, and is calculating.

Strengths:  Business savvy and rich.

Weaknesses:  A mixture of blunt honesty and small-mindedness could upset some.

Background:  Elstan made his name in trading through hard work adding ports to his trading route.  DaNis is a recent addition and although small is worth a visit during gatherings such as the Mid-Nis festival, where although the inhabitants are relatively poor, he had managed to make a good profit on less fashionable items.

What Happened:  He asked his fellow merchant, Lanier, to recruit some labourers to move and protect their cargo on the journey to Mid-Nis.  He heard them murder Lanier and so he sent a message to the guards of Mid-Nis to ask for their arrest.  At their impending trial, they escaped their cells and murdered him.

Chance of recurring in future episodes:  Nil.  He’s not coming back after that fight.

Player Character Profile

Name: Long Vernal

Played by: Rob

Race: Human
Sex: Male

Class: Barbarian

Strengths: Strength

Weaknesses: Charisma

Background: Outlander. I ran 25 miles to warn the clan of an orc horde. I’d do it again.

Ideals: It is a person’s responsibility to make the most happiness for the whole tribe.

Bonds: I suffer awful visions of a coming disaster and will do anything to stop it.
Flaws: No room for caution, live life to the full.

Additional Notes from Player: Long Vernal, from the Clan of Badenoch, a settlement in a natural basin about 540 square miles of it. It consists of almost entirely beautiful mountainous country, many hills exceeding 3,000 feet, and contains in the forests of Alder, Drumocher, Gaick and Feshie some of the best deer country in the region. The clan comprises of 300 males and females whom frequently battle the elements and the occasional hordes of Orc. Their symbol is of a stag crushing an orcs head which is tattooed on a clan member’s chest at an early age. The clan leader is called Angar Lupin whom is rumoured to be a werewolf! Long Vernal was thrust into exile after a particular nasty attack from an Orc horde. The Clan was butchered and scattered in all directions. Long Vernal believes his leader is still alive, as he appears in Long’s dreams. The search continues…

Development during series 1: This contains a spoiler alert… Long followed his clan instincts loving the wide plains and outdoor adventure and detesting enclosed, unnatural spaces. His high energy and lack of room for caution meant that he got into more scrapes than any other member of the party. He encountered more visions of his clan leader, Angar Lupin, in the build up to the ‘Summit’ and saw the ground swallow him up. This turned out to be an apt vision for Long himself and yet even at the end, his heart leaped to freedom from his damaged body.

Character Portraits used: 60 Terrible Character Portraits for Creative Commons Release by ‘A Terrible Idea’