Bordane Agundar

Oh, hello there... just noticed you. Admiring my clothes? Yes, they do look great on me. Saw my swordplay in the yard, huh? My father bought me the best teachers, but they were only improving on what's there. My brother Damian and I will one day rule Waterdeep, although he has some things to work through, like the whole fear of snakes. Ah well. Stick with me, my chums, together we will rule the world.

Eva Maerklos Origins part 1

Aldara Maerklos spent every night for the past two years praying for a daughter. Since the birth of her 2 sons nearly 3 years ago she had been unable to conceive. A fortune spent on various potions and oils had produced no results and with the better part of her child bearing years behind her she had all but given up hope.

The night in question started as any other. The events of the Moonfest Festival where all but over Aldara had just put her children to bed when her “gift” manifested without warning. Aldara had been granted the gift of foresight the ability to focus on a particular object or question and gain a possible glimpse of the future. But this was different never had a vision come unsolicited. So vivid, she screamed out as the skeletal hand ripped away at the flesh of its helpless victim. She tried to turn away but could not avoid the gruesome images that followed. A young woman being torn apart by skeletal creatures, the screams echoing in Aldara’s mind as if coming from Aldara herself. All at once a high pitched wailing filled the air, the woman dropped to the ground lifeless. After the slaughter the creatures left the mutilated body of there victim and wondered off into the darkness. Then it was over…silence, Aldara tried to move but was unable to, frozen with fear she laid in darkness for what seemed like hours.

Soon she awoke in bed surrounded by family and a small contingent of city guards (having heard her screams) she began to describe the details of her horrific nightmare. The tension in the room quickly grew as Aldara described first hand the death of an innocent girl at the claws of her merciless killers.

Aldara felt the doom come over hear even before the knock on the door. It was Boren Agundar member of the ward patrol. An attack near the city of the dead, an expected mother and her unborn child murdered by some creature. Captain Nuthos had tracked the beasts to this area but lost the trail. Just then screams from the street 6 large skeletal forms ambushed Captain Nuthos and his patrol. In a matter of seconds the captain and most his men lay dead along with several civilians caught up in the fray.
Boren rallied the remaining guards and with the help of some Maerklos family members
Destroyed the remaining undead.

From her bed Aldara listened to the commotion outside the house. To exhausted from her earlier episode she could only listen to the screams from her window. Then she heard it, a familiar sound she could not place faint at first but growing steadily louder. The wailing from her vision coming up the stairs. Panic set in she could not stand let alone run, she was trapped. As she saw the skeletal arm emerge from the darkness Aldara last thought was of her children she prayed they had escaped. Fear took over as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Outside, Boren seasoned beyond his years new a diversion when he saw one. The distraction in the street was only meant to keep there focus away from something else.
Rushing into the house the smell of death was overpowering. As he followed the bloody footprints that lead towards Aldara’s bedchamber his pulse began to quicken. The screams of the Maerklos infant echoed throughout the house. He had sworn an oath to protect the incent he muttered a quick prayer to talos hoping he wasn’t too late. As he turned the corner he could only watch in terror as a ghastly creature laid a blood soaked bundle next to Aldara’s unconscious form. The chunks of flesh still clinging to the cloth having been torn from its victim only an hour before. As the wrappings fell away he stared in shock at the newborn baby freshly torn from his mother.
Boren tried to advance on the creature, but found himself paralyzed. Was it fear or some magical force keeping him from moving he couldn’t say. He was forced to watch as the creature finished some archaic ritual, the baby stirring slightly as the final incantation was spoken. The creature stared fondly for an instant at the child before turning to face Boren.

As sturdy as an ancient oak Boren remained rooted in place. The creature raised a skeletal hand and unleashed a wave of energy that engulfed Boren. Protect this child hissed the creature, less you suffer a fate worse than death. Without warning the creature launched itself onto Boren’s blade slumping to the floor a lifeless husk. The power holding Boren quickly subsided.

As dawn approached the watch regained control of the situation. The story of Boren rallying the men and single handedly saving the life of Aldara and her newborn daughter quickly spread. He was promoted to ward captain in charge of the city of the dead.
He could not bring himself to mention the child in any reports he filed that night. Nor has he mentioned the infant in any stories told of the event since.

Alagairtha & Moonfest

High in the north sky is an awesome circle of large, bright stars with utter darkness between them. Due north is marked by the brightest Brow Star, also known as Alagairtha by the Bedine of Anauroch.
Other folk in the Realms call this constellation the Crown of the North, or just the Cold Crown. Some believe it to be the Eye of Evil, the Hole That Leads to Darkness, or the Circle of Coins (thrown on high by the gods, to taunt poor men). Some Bedine tribes believe that this place is N'asr's Tent, the dwelling-place of the Lord of the Dead. When Alagairtha is at its brightest The Feast of the Moon festival begins.


The Feast of the Moon:
This festival, also called Moonfest, is the last great festival of the year. It marks the arrival of winter and is also the day when the dead are honored. Graves are blessed, the Ritual of Remembrance is performed, and tales of the doings of those now gone are told far into the night. Much is said of heroes and treasure and lost cities underground. On this night the barrier between the prime material plane and the various other planes is at its weakest.
Gods commonly watching over this holy day: Myrkul, Velsharoon and Talos
Black candles are burned to ward off negativity.
On this day magic involving necromancy and destruction are at their most potent.

Riders set, ready... GO! (Ahghairon’s Tower)

This slim stone tower has been totally enclosed above, around, and beneath in a series of potent, invisible magical barriers since the death of the famous wizard, many years ago. Don’t approach too closely- on the north side, a skeletal figure still stands facing the tower with arms raised, about 10 feet away from its side. It is all that remains of a wizard who tried to get into the tower in order, no doubt, to seize Ahghairon’s magic for himself. Rumor states that he dispelled the outermost barrier, a forcecage, but was trapped between it and the prismatic sphere within when the forcecage reformed behind him.

The man’s name has been forgotten with the passage of years, and his robes and flesh have both rotted away, but the magic of the tower holds the bones in position. Until Sai Piergeiron forbade it some years ago, it was a favorite game of local children to rearrange the wizard’s bones. They can be dislodged with a stick, but they always drift slowly back into the same position, floating upright, with arms outspread.

Damian Agundar

A brash,confident young man, Damian wants to grow his family’s mithral wealth into a regional power. He promotes violent enforcements of contracts and views the family wealth as a tool or weapon, to be wielded as needed. Surprisingly he is not quick to escalate to violence. If his sword is drawn however, there are no further negotiations to be had.


Recently Damian learned of an ancestor whose philosophies closely mirrored Damian's, so much so that one of the original mithral mines was converted into a burial ground of family enemies, once that particular vein of mithral had been mined dry. Damian believes there could be a lot of information there regarding his ancient families as well as the chance to learn more about other rival families of the past. Those secrets could prove valuable. Damian hopes to, alongside his younger brother Bordane, build his power within the family and prepare for the day they can lead the family to greater glory. Damian considers it insult that his family has never been invited into the leadership of Waterdeep.

Damian is very impressed with his brother and if Bordane can be considered to get along well with anyone, its Damian. The only issue that has risen between them is Bordane's love of tormenting Damian with snakes ever since he learned of his older brother's fear and phobia regarding them. This has lead to more than one incident when Bordane would place a garden snake in a bedroll or boot.

The Wedding Rehearsal

After a six month long arranged, long-distance courtship through the winter months; Syllia Abarbrent of Than and Marcus Wands are to be joined under the gods. The date has always been important in this agreement between parties: when Chandos (associated with Grumbar elemental earth) enters the constellation of Cassiopia and her rocking chair of stars. Under the Tarkakh spring full moon, popularly known as the Kissing Moon. Such nuptials under these conditions will promote a fertile union and longevity.

Among your peers, there are several groups of guests: (In no particular order)

• Priests in Protets: A trio of of Azuth followers bearing gifts seemingly preoccupied with unsettling current developments. 
• The Blinkstone Companions: Another trio of individuals, these three: a Paladin, a Cassalanter and a Master Weaponsmith- sit brainstorming on a joint venture. 
• Don't talk to the help!: Durnan has arranged the necessary food and drink. Two servers of this arrangement are intently interested in what the topic the Blinkstone Companions are occupied with. 
• Trouble comes in threes: Yet another trio- these are wizards (memebers of the wizards Order) who are troubled with the fallout of a slave nation being granted an Embassy in a free city-state.
• Wand Support: Council the Adviser for Wands, pledges the family support to the Horseman’s Association and soon to be announced project. 
• Missing Bard: Jayson "the Bard" three days overdue to port.
  
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  Bridesmaids and the Best Man: The Blackstaff (best man) and Veshsam (mercenary for Wands) needs to honor a favor to appoint pages for the Palaver. The Bridesmades acolytes of Gargauth (LE/ betrayal, political corruption & powerbrokers).
  
  
  

Wedding bells under the Kissing Moon

Waterdeep Campaign

 Some general informaion:

• Bringing back the 2nd edition Forgotten Realms; since we didn't see any play in the Realms during the 3rd or *gasp* 4th edition setting, I don't see why we can't return to what is 'familiar'. 
• Characters will start as 0-level, with a standard ability score array, a short skill selection, and a feat.
• I'm going to consolidate the Swim and Climb skill into one Athletics skill. 
• Furthermore Sense Motive is now incorporated into the Preception skill. 
• I am going to implement Conviction (from True20) & Challenges (from M&M)- These are the pdfs I will email out so everyone can become familiar with them. 
• I created some Combat Applications for some select skills and new Full-round actions that we can try as 0-level characters, but more about that Wednesday. 
• No arcane spellcasters please (this is not the game for them), and you may only multiclass into one additional class and one prestige class. 
• Also I want to limit our resource to Pathfinder Core only. As Pathfinder comes out with more; I will pass judgment as the need arises. Although as the DM I reserve the right to resource outside PF. *muha ha ha ha!
  
• There are several Realms changes to what we presuppose in d20; like that an enhancement is a magical bonus, and Arcane and Divine are of the same magic; but I'll have more Wednesday. 
• I would like everyone to commit to one blog post each week. Even if it is a picture of your character or a tirade *in character*. In addition, I will soon be sharing a Google Document with you all for NPCs and so forth. I'll edit in the NPC name and it be up to you guys to add their description and what you know of them. The more we all put into this game the more we will all get out of it.
• If there is a 2 size difference or greater between melee opponents that other can range attack the larger of the two without incurring a -4 for firing in melee or risk hitting the smaller creature. And a creature's 5' step is their natural reach. King Kong doesn't take just a five foot step and you can shoot his ass regardless of whatever idiot is trying to stab him!
  
• There is a chance to shape the course of the campaign through what your character would know as rumor, legend or truth. For example your character has Knowledge: Geography. Therefore you could suggest to the campaign that: "a rumor has surfaced that a Barbarian tribe has begun raiding farms to the north" or "Tundra Barbarians are locked in a turf war with orc shaman". Nothing game-breaking but something that could add to the 'world in motion' effect we like in our games. Just one player a week- based on what his character has knowledge of- contributes one tidbit of campaign flava on the Blog. Plus I get to somehow bring it into the game or interpret it in a way to screw everybody.lol
• Last but not least: level achievements. Five achievements are needed for level advancement. As an example an easy one could be: Choose a class feature, skill or feat you'll gain next level and incorporate its acquisition into your story. This way its about furthering the story line and not so much about who has most kills.

Remember to leave a comment. STACK EM!

All in the family

There are 76 families of varying degrees of power, size and influence; most of whom can trace their lines back to the founding of Waterdeep itself. The power base in the North lies in the control of the flow of trade in and through Waterdeep. Waterdeep is the portal through which the riches of the north can be reached. Once trade from the south reaches Waterdeep it is routed to nearly anyplace in the north by mandate of the Lords of Waterdeep and by extension, the noble houses.

As with most large cities; information is also a currency that has its own exchange rate and houses that broker information or the art of misinformation are top tier families. Mercenary companies are common place and function as private armies and personal garrisons for a variety of different causes and organizations. Houses with mercenary services or training are second tier in the Waterhavian aristocracy. Caravan mastering and ranching comes in as the next tier; the north is rife with creatures domesticated and wild; docile and hostile.

From the lone hedge-wizard who hires a couple of mercenaries to guard his wares and his skin to the town across the way; or the merchant bringing ore down from the mountains- he most likely does so with the permission of the Noble Houses and the Lords of Waterdeep. There are 42 recognized guilds in Waterdeep as a result from Norther economics gave the rise of seven guilds: The Horsemen’s Association, The Order, The Fellowship of Carters, Coachmen and Caravan Masters, The Surveyor’s, Map & Cryptographers Union, The Society of Lenders, Changers and Bankers, and the Fraternity of the Sword and Shield.

Cool Pic- Thought I'd Share :)