Kevka Palazzo
2007-03-25, 02:25 AM
As much as the movie 300 was cool, I've been interested in Ancient Greek stuff for the longest time. Recently, since my friends are fired up about it, I decided to run a Greek-themed adventure. Here's what I've got so far, but I would like some criticism (constructive if possible), and some supplemental ideas.
Note that I'm not bothering to recreate the landscape. I'm using Europe and Northern Africa, and all the cities and places have the same names. I'm just putting Orcs, Elves, Hobgoblins, Bhuka (Sandstorm supplement) and humans in it.
******
In Africa, a botched summoning ritual spawned the son of the king of the Infernal Realm on the earth’s surface. He slaughters the summoners save one, a hobgoblin sorcerer named Oba, who he pumps for information. He discovers that a huge number of hobgoblin tribes exist in Africa, ripe for unification and subjugation by a strong leader. With Oba as his guide he conquers nearly all of Egypt and Northern Africa and uses his new army to utterly subjugate the natives. He leaves the Bhuka their independence but hires them to act as his agents in Europe, to send him information about their military and social structure.
Meanwhile, in Persia, a powerful cleric named Xerxes declares himself a god-king and mobilizes a huge army, with the intent of conquering the world. However, he has hit a standstill after meeting with the hobgoblin army to the west, rendering his massive army immobile and useless. Neither tyrant will ally with the other, because each believes himself to be the greater.
In Europe, monsters begin appearing at an alarming rate, the elves close off their borders and the orcs set out from their island kingdom of England. The hobgoblin empire has pushed up into southern Spain but cannot progress any farther because of the orcs. Humanity sits in the middle of all of this, unsure of its destiny and hopelessly alone.
However, legends speak of an artifact sealed away in Mount Olympus. This artifact, an ancient pedestal known as The Ark, can grant one wish every 10,000 years to its owner. The Prince of Hell, Xerxes and the leaders of the Greek Senate have learned that soon it will activate, and they begin marshalling warriors from every corner of the known world to seek it out and retrieve it.
The Prince of Hell will wish for a powerful weapon that will restore his power to him, allowing him to take the entire Material Plane for himself, and eventually his father’s kingdom and the home of the Gods. Xerxes will wish to become a god, allowing him dominion over the entire world. And the Greeks will desire power and land: what they always have.
The adventurers have a choice: obey the Gods’ will and destroy the Ark before anyone has a chance to use it, or use it for themselves and conquer their enemies.
Other Elements
The elves have closed their borders, but they may have a shortcut to the River Styx. The adventurers may have to patch up relations between the elves and mankind to enlist their aid. However, this will be difficult. The marshalling of huge, hostile armies from all sides and the appearance of their cursed brethren from Hades will make them hard to get along with, and harder still to convince.
The orcs are becoming aggressive, and striking indiscriminately from their island home of the Great British Isles. Perhaps something is causing them to flee from their homeland. What could it be?
Monsters have seemed to come from nowhere in the lands of Greece. Where? Why? How? Who? These are the questions that will need answering, and the problems that will need solving.
Note that I'm not bothering to recreate the landscape. I'm using Europe and Northern Africa, and all the cities and places have the same names. I'm just putting Orcs, Elves, Hobgoblins, Bhuka (Sandstorm supplement) and humans in it.
******
In Africa, a botched summoning ritual spawned the son of the king of the Infernal Realm on the earth’s surface. He slaughters the summoners save one, a hobgoblin sorcerer named Oba, who he pumps for information. He discovers that a huge number of hobgoblin tribes exist in Africa, ripe for unification and subjugation by a strong leader. With Oba as his guide he conquers nearly all of Egypt and Northern Africa and uses his new army to utterly subjugate the natives. He leaves the Bhuka their independence but hires them to act as his agents in Europe, to send him information about their military and social structure.
Meanwhile, in Persia, a powerful cleric named Xerxes declares himself a god-king and mobilizes a huge army, with the intent of conquering the world. However, he has hit a standstill after meeting with the hobgoblin army to the west, rendering his massive army immobile and useless. Neither tyrant will ally with the other, because each believes himself to be the greater.
In Europe, monsters begin appearing at an alarming rate, the elves close off their borders and the orcs set out from their island kingdom of England. The hobgoblin empire has pushed up into southern Spain but cannot progress any farther because of the orcs. Humanity sits in the middle of all of this, unsure of its destiny and hopelessly alone.
However, legends speak of an artifact sealed away in Mount Olympus. This artifact, an ancient pedestal known as The Ark, can grant one wish every 10,000 years to its owner. The Prince of Hell, Xerxes and the leaders of the Greek Senate have learned that soon it will activate, and they begin marshalling warriors from every corner of the known world to seek it out and retrieve it.
The Prince of Hell will wish for a powerful weapon that will restore his power to him, allowing him to take the entire Material Plane for himself, and eventually his father’s kingdom and the home of the Gods. Xerxes will wish to become a god, allowing him dominion over the entire world. And the Greeks will desire power and land: what they always have.
The adventurers have a choice: obey the Gods’ will and destroy the Ark before anyone has a chance to use it, or use it for themselves and conquer their enemies.
Other Elements
The elves have closed their borders, but they may have a shortcut to the River Styx. The adventurers may have to patch up relations between the elves and mankind to enlist their aid. However, this will be difficult. The marshalling of huge, hostile armies from all sides and the appearance of their cursed brethren from Hades will make them hard to get along with, and harder still to convince.
The orcs are becoming aggressive, and striking indiscriminately from their island home of the Great British Isles. Perhaps something is causing them to flee from their homeland. What could it be?
Monsters have seemed to come from nowhere in the lands of Greece. Where? Why? How? Who? These are the questions that will need answering, and the problems that will need solving.