Session 1 -- Five Heroes for Five Planets
"I am Guan Yu," replied he. "I am a native of the east side of the river, but I have been a fugitive on the waters for some five
years, because I slew a ruffian who, since he was wealthy and powerful, was a bully. I have come to join the army here." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The mindsnake barbarian Darius arrives on the world of
Luxa, utilizing a gate that appears only once a year. The mindweaver
Wayist New Lightning and the flutterling hypermage Destriana meet him,
and the three agree to travel together. Shortly afterwards, they meet
the half-elf/half-celestial specialist telepath Chysis Dragondust, an
outsider from beyond the luminescent barrier, whose craft had been
forced into a crash landing on Luxa. They then proceeded to the village
of Ren-shao, where they met a group of bandits who had been asked by
the local lord, Kellvin Nelvir, Secretariat of the Eastern Fields of
Pels-lo, to deal with other bandits groups and had permission to take
their pay directly from the people. The four newly-found companions
were deeply offended by this behavior, and so demonstrated their
displeasure upon the persons of the bandits. Accompaning the bandits at
the order her lord was the disposessed half-human/half-fey shrine
maiden Ellasandra, who refused to assist the brigands in the
furtherance of the injustice that they sought to inflict. After the
defeat of the Secretariat's mercenaries, the four companions and their
newly acquired reluctant ally recognized that they were now criminals,
and decided to remove themselves from the scene of the battle. However,
shortly afterward, soldiers under the command of Prince Youshin Sagaran
arrived at the village and requested that the five companions join with
them in opposing the forces of the Great Restorer.
DM: Neobolts
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Darius (Rysor), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Lise'athe fay Dellin (Human Female Sor 6), Grethssnal of
S'selthka (S'lashka Male Versed Warrior 3), Ruh'pel'ken'a Fel'san (Rin
(Tr'Sha'kaa) Female Specialist Psion 3), Roginare (Flutterling Rogue 1)
Location: Village of Ren-shao, Lu-shiel Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire
Game date: May 19, 2002
Quotes: "Reader!" -- Grethssnal of S'selthka (a decidedly not-bright though literate S'lashka, cursing Darius)
Session 2 -- Valor Against the Kollek Rebels
Their leader fallen, the rebels threw away their weapons and fled. The
official soldiers dashed in among them. Many thousands surrendered and
the victory was complete. Thus this part of the rebellion was broken
up. - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party assists Corporal Bain in evacuating the
residents of Ren-shao to the town of Melves. Along the way, the party
has a narrow victory over a Kollek Rebellion raiding party led by
Twilight Falling. After reaching Melves, Bain's unit and the party
begin backtracking towards the front lines. In a forest clearing, they
encounter a Kollek regiment under the command of Pond Surface. After
the regiment's officers were defeated by the party, the enemy troops
broke ranks and fled into the forest. Prince Youshin Sagaran arrived on
the field and the party was commended by him. The injustices committed
by Kellvin Nelvir were revealed, and Lord Gyo Sho executed him on the
spot. Corporal Bain was named to replace Kellvin Nelvir.
DMs: Epametheus, Neobolts
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Corporal Bain (Male Human Warrior 3), Twilight Falling
(Rebel Squad Leader, Male Kollek Druid 5), Pond Surface (Rebel Regiment
Leader, Male Kollek Druid 3/Fighter 1), Dark Jungle (Rebel, Male Kollek
Fighter 4), Tree Sap (Rebel, Female Kollek Sorcerer 4), Kellvin Nelvir
(Secretariat of the Eastern Fields of Pels-lo), Prince Youshin Sagaran
(Heir to the Kingdom of Pels-lo, Cousin of the Emperor), Lord Gyo Sho
(Oath Brother of Prince Youshin Sagaran), Charg of the Fang (Oath
Brother of Prince Youshin Sagaran)
Location: Swamps northeast of the village of Melves, Lu-shiel
Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire; Forest east of the village of
Ren-shao, Lu-shiel Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire
Game date: May 26-27, 2002
Quotes: "Do you want to resolve this peacefully, or violently?"
"Violence is fine with me." -- Chysis Dragondust and Twilight Falls, ending negotiations.
Session 3 -- End of the Great Restorer
At the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves, Cao Cao held the rank of General
and was given command of five thousand horse and foot to help fight at
Yingchuan. He just happened to fall in with the newly defeated rebels
whom he cut to pieces. Thousands were slain and endless banners and
drums and horses were captured, together with huge sums of money. - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party intercepts a messanger, and discovers a plot
by Lady Cheyji to defect to the rebels and turn over Lord Kain
Korscar's military plans. Under orders from Lord Korscar, the party
captures Lady Cheyji during her escape, and then impersonates her
entourage. Using their disguise, the party gains admittance to the
rebels' underground headquarters. Staying in the compound while the
Great Restorer's men set ambushes based on the now-changed stolen
plans, the party forces open the stronghold gates, allowing Korscar and
Youshin's armies to swarm the rebel headquarters. During the battle the
Great Restorer is slain by Mikal Korscar and the Kollek Rebellion
crumbles. Kain Korscar orders Lady Cheyji stripped, bound to a tree
limb by her wrists, and stoned to death. The party is rewarded with
rank and lodging.
DM: Neobolts
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Darius (Rysor), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Lady Cheyji (Expert 5), Kain Korscar (General of the
Imperial Army), Great Restorer (Druid 20, Leader of the Kollek
Rebellion), Ya'Sar and Mikal Korscar (Vanguard Leaders), Prince Youshin
Sagaran (Heir to the Kingdom of Pels-lo, Cousin of the Emperor)
Location: Command Tent of Kain Korscar; Kollek Rebellion HQ
Game date: June 2, 2002
Quotes: n/a
Session 4 -- Bandit Boss Frang
The rebel leader, Guan Hai, rode out to the front, saying, "I know this
county is fruitful and can well spare ten thousand carts of grain. Give
me that and we retire; refuse, and we will batter down the city walls
and destroy every soul." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 11 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party assists Secretariat Bain in quelling bandits
plaguing the tiny town of Yzho. The party successfully attacks the
bandits' hideout, and discovers that the reason for the attacks is a
gold mine kept secret by the townspeople. Bain grants the party members
the title "Pacifier of Eastern Brigands."
DM: Tundra
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Secretariat Bain (Male Human Warrior 3), Frang (Bandit Boss)
Location: Town of Yzho, Lu-shiel Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire
Game date: June 4, 2002
Quotes: n/a
Session 5 -- Stirring Shadows
"The empire is in my hands! When I choose to do this thing, who will
dare to say nay? Think you my sword lacks an edge?" - Dong Zhuo, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 3 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party is asked by Bain to investigate a pair of
spectacularly gruesome murders; the party does so by hunting down a rin
who they had spotted in the vincinity of their home, and by magical
means getting him to talk. They learn that the two previous murders had
been little more than practice, and that the real target was Chysis,
due to her being an "exotic specimen." The party then sets up a trap
and after a moderately messy battle slays the rin's colleagues, a cell
of the cultists known as the Wretched. The journals of this particular
cell revealed the object of their devotion to someone that they only
refered to as the "True Emperor." Two days later, a man with a decree
from the Imperial Prime Minister, Zalvan Delvir, arrives with the
purpose to taking the office of Secretariat. This man, Sergo, is one of
very strange tastes, and keeps as pets an insane S'lashka with
sorcereal abilities and a trained attack-tyrannosaur. While Bain, with
the party's assistance, makes a bid to stall for time while waiting for
Prince Youshin to make a decision about the situation, Sergo sets up an
office in the town jail and begins misadministering justice. Sergo's
first act as secretariat to order a tax evader to be fed to his
tyrannosaur; the party intervenes, and the resultant chaos is
ultimately resolved by Prince Youshin arriving in person and placing
Sergo under temporary arrest. To give them the authority needed to
legally assist him, Bain then grants the party the special status of
"Protectors of the Peace." A week after the incident, the party
receives a message for Kain Korscar, bidding them to come to an
important meeting...
DMs: Epametheus, Neobolts
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Darius (Rysor), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Secretariat Bain (Male Human Warrior 3), Secretariat Sergo
(Male Human Aristocrat), Ko'le'va'ta (Male Rin (Vel'kaa) Fighter
3/Rogue 3), Seveba (Female Mindweaver Psion 7), Sankan (Male Mindsnake
Psychic Warrior 6), Jiene Sumiva (Female Human Bard 3/Wretched 5),
Sianna Sumiva (Female Human Hypermage 3/Wretched 4), Prince Youshin
Sagaran, Lord Gyo Sho, Charg of the Fang
Location: Town of , Lu-shiel Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire
Game date: June 9-10, 2002
Quote: Neobolts: "Well, instead of it being a man-eating tyrannosaur, it's currently a man-abhoring tyrannosaur."
Anonymous: "What, it went to Hollins?"
Session 6 -- Unfinished Business
"Cao Cao and his associates, moved by a sense of duty, now make this
proclamation. Dong Zhuo defies Heaven and Earth. He is destroying the
state and injuring his prince. He pollutes the Palace and oppresses the
people. He is vicious and cruel. His crimes are heaped up. Now we have
received a secret command to call up soldiers, and we are pledged to
cleanse the empire and destroy the evil-doers. We will raise a
volunteer army and exert all our efforts to maintain the dynasty and
succor the people. Respond to this, O Nobles, by mustering your
soldiers." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 5 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: Responding to Kain Korscar's message, the party
arrives at a meeting between Kain Korscar, Youshin Sagaran, and Martel
Luminasa. The subject of the meeting is the recent ascendancy of Prime
Minister Zalvan Delvir, the misfortunes of the Luminasa family upon
attempting to oppose him, and reports of recent sightings of the Worm
of Shadow. The party to asked to travel to the Imperial World of Hakis
so that they may accomplish two tasks -- the first of which is to get
the Korscar family to safety so that Kain Korscar may freely return
with his armies to Hakis, and the second of which is to locate Senkin
Luminasa and his remaining forces and assist them in reaching a
rendezvous with Captain Ao'wa'sa'va. The party accepts the missions,
and begin on their way to the gate between Luxa and Hakis. Before they
get there, however, they are visited by Red Leaf, New Lightning's old
Wayist master, who has a built a dungeon for the express purpose of
killing New Lightning in it and now challenges the party to "come get
some." The party accepts the challenge and after facing many sentries
of unusual mein manages to confront and slay Red Leaf, whose
participation in the Kollek Rebellion had turned him to the worse.
DMs: Epametheus
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Darius (Rysor), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Kain, Mikal, and Ya'sar Korscar, Prince Youshin Sagaran,
Lord Gyo Sho, Charg of the Fang, Martel Luminasa (de facto head of the
ruling family of Koler), Zan Yamar (advisor and friend of the Luminasa
family), Tia Kian Yamar (Zan Yamar's wife and hypermage of
extraordinary talent), and Red Leaf (Male Kollek Wayist 12)
Location: Town of , and later Red Leaf's Cave, Lu-shiel Province, Planet of Luxa, Sagaran Empire
Game date: June 16, 2002
Quote: "Bring it, fleshy!" - a Xorn, trash-talking Darius
Session 7 -- Extricating the Korscars
"About this time Pang Shu, who had been hiding and protecting Lu Bu's
family in Changan since his disappearance, restored them to him. This
deed angered Li Jue and Guo Si so that they put Pang Shu to death and
wrote to Lu Bu's protector to serve him the same." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 11 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party, disguised as merchants, makes their way
through the Hakis-Luxa Gate and travels to Melesekin. There, they learn
that a trio of psionicists have been placed in charge of the city in
order to keep an eye on the Korscar family. Making use of their
illusory and transportation abilities, the party then proceeds to sneak
the Korscar clan out of the city and to a loyal psion who then
teleported them all to the Hakis-Luxa Gate. Having solved the initial
problem without any difficulty, the party is then directed to where
they may find information that would lead them to Senkin Luminasa.
DMs: Epametheus
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Han Korscar, Lady Korscar
Location: City of Melesekin, Ne-quin Province, Planet of Hakis, Sagaran Empire
Game date: July 10, 2002
Quote: -
Session 8 -- Hunting leads and raising Hell
"However, Gan Ning and his small force dashed hither and thither,
cutting and slashing, till Cao Cao's men were quite bewildered and
frightened. They had no notion of the number of their assailants. All
their efforts only increased the confusion. Wherefore the hundred men
had it all their own way and rushed from point to point slaying
whomever they met. But soon the drums beat in every camp and torches
were lit and shouts arose, and it was time for the raiders to get
away." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 68 (full text at www.threekingdoms.com)
Synopsis: The party reaches the camp of General Nellethin Aesir,
one of the commanders charged by Zalvan Delvir with the task of finding
Senkin Luminasa and exterminating him. After initial spell-scouting by
Chysis and Destriana revealed that the general possessed documents that
indicated Senkin's position, the party then decided to cause some
trouble in the camp and steal the documents. However, the party then
got quite carried away in their efforts to cause chaos, and summararily
destroyed the camp in the process, resulting the death of the general,
the forced flight of the general's champion, the death of two hill
giants, and other bits of messiness. The party learned that there were
five more camps like the one they had destroyed within the Sai-vel
Province, arranged in a ring around Senkin's small force and scheduled
to move against him within the week. The party is now headed to
Senkin's approximate position, hoping to escort him and his group to
Ao'wa'sa'va before the army that surrounds him can close in.
DMs: Epametheus
PCs: Chysis Dragondust (Tundra), Destriana (Shandroa), Ellasandra (Epametheus), New Lightning (Neobolts)
NPCs: Nellethin Aesir (human male Field General), Alsin Vanir
(human male Versed Horseman), and Merciana Devor (human female cleric
of the Wrathful General)
Location: Nellethin's camp, Sai-vel Province, Planet of Hakis, Sagaran Empire
Game date: July 15, 2002
Quote: "I am Senkin Luminasa! Who wishes to have their ass injured in creative ways?!" - an illusion created by New Lightning