DNAphil

This is my Iron Heroes campaign. It has been in existence since October 24, 2005. This page is a summary of the campaign, including details about the world, and the major and minor Characters.

Opening Story

The whole campaign started with an email to the players, which described the setting for the game, in the form of a story being told by an old man, to a group of children. It is only fitting that this page starts with the same story…

Allow me to warm my bones by the fire, and I will tell you children of the Fall of the Old Empire, a time when I was a boy. Ahh.. the Empire was amazing. Roads that covered the lands, and man could walk the width and breath of Empire, never fearing Orcs or Hobgoblins. There were festivals to the All Father every few weeks, and grand Temples to the All Father were in every town. It was a time when Man thought that the world was theirs. But that was before we woke the Demon King.

He was not a king when they found him. A group of explorers found his tomb deep in a mountain, which to this day is never spoken of. The Demon King was just a man, with Ebony skin and glowing blue eyes. He was unlike anything anyone had seen before, and news of his arrival traveled fast. He became a friend of the Emperor and promised the Emperor great powers, powers that would rival the Titans, powers that could be used to conquer the Orc Empire, and the Hobgoblin Lands. The Emperor could not resist.

But with all great promises there was a price, and soon the Emperor fell into the thrall of the Ebony Man. The Emperor allowed the Ebony man to perform a dark ritual on his sons. The Sons of the Emperor became the Demon Princes. The Ebony man made the Emperor do things, such as outlaw the worship of the All Father. The Generals of the Empire tried to stop the Ebony man, but it was too late. The Ebony Man, had his own army, one that had been exiled with him in his tomb, an army of Demons. A mighty war was fought, but in the end the Empire could not stop the Demon Armies, and the capital and the central lands fell to the Ebony Man, who then called himself the Demon King.

The Demon King talked of conquest, of raising a mighty army that would sweep the world. He talked of a new Empire that would span the whole world, known and unknown. He talked of freeing the Titans from their eternal prison that the All Father placed them in. He said that sacrifices would need to be made; that soldiers would be needed to fight this war.

The areas surrounding the center of the Empire were under the control of the Demon armies, but the outlying lands, were still somewhat free. These areas, once part of the mighty Empire were now left to fend for themselves. The Kings of these lands took back control. Several of the Kings were opposed to the Demon King, but there were some, especially in the South that sided with the Demon King.

The Demon King ordered the creation of the mighty Demon Forges, the infernal factories which take innocent children like you, and transform them into the mighty Demon Soldiers. The Forges ran night and day, and the armies of the Demon King grew in size and strength. The Kings of the North raised an army in an attempt to stop the Demon King. The Northern Campaigns were fought for 10 years, but in the end, the Demon Armies swept through the North. The King’s children were forced marry and mate with the Demon Princes, producing the Fiends, half demon-half man. In a generation the Northern Kingdoms were in the possession of the Fiends, who pledged their allegiance to the Demon King.

Since then, two generations have passed, and the Demon King’s army grows in size. The Demon Empire is now a twisted wasteland. Those things and people, who live there, have been warped by the Demon Kings dark arts. Men with tentacles for arms, and trees that eat the flesh of men, now dwell in the Demon Kingdom. Do not doubt me; I have seen it with my own eyes.

Those areas outside the center of the Demon Empire have been left in disrepair. The great roads have become muddy trails, overgrown, and the hunting grounds to Owlbears and other monsters. The only time the Demon King’s armies come through here is once every year to take the children of age. In the lands of the West, they endlessly mine the dark metals that the Demon Forges consume.

And in the past few years, Orcs and Hobgoblins, no longer fearful of the Empire, have made their way back to our lands. Just last week, a man woke up to find an Orc scouting party in his farmhouse. He barely escaped with his life.

It is the darkest time Man has seen since the Rule of the Titans. What is needed are heroes. Mighty heroes who will rise up and fight the Demon Armies. Tales of such warriors are heard from passing travelers. Groups like the Brotherhood of Steel, who move silently from town to town, protecting people from the evils that dwell in the shadows.

Oh, the sun is falling below the horizon, and I have talked too much and too long. Return home before it gets too dark. And when you sleep tonight, prey quietly to the All Father that he may send heroes upon this land.

Now go.

Player Characters (PC’s)

Arion: Arion is the Grandson of the last King of Kotkala (one of the Northern Kingdoms). He is the rightful heir to the throne of Kotkala, that is now held by the Fiend, Ebnus. Arion grew up in the Kotkalan forests, being groomed to reclaim his Throne. In his travels, he has uncovered a complex plan, left by his Grandfather, to help Arion reclaim the throne. Arion, along with Kelven and Tabirs, liberated the lost city of Olmkala from the Lich Garzah, and now rules Olmkala, as its new king. Arion is brilliant, and uses his natural talent in tactics to use on the battlefield. He is armed with the Champion of Kotkala, and adamantium sword left to him by his Grandfather.

Iron Heroes stats: Arion is a 12th level Hunter, with weapon bond to his Intelligence. He favors the Tactics of the Mind feats as well as his own Hunter special abilites. He often fights two handed with the Champion and a short sword.

Kelven: Born under mysterious circumstances, Kelven was raised by his Mother, a Priestess of the All Father, to be a holy warrior. When he was of age, she gave him a hand carved bow, made from the very rare, and nearly indestructible Sun Tree. In the course of his travels, Kelven has come to learn that he is the Vessel of the All Father, sent to the world to help deliver the All Father’s justice, against the Demons. His most miraculous feat, to date, was the lifting of the Holy Seal of Ceradome, a protective glyph that prevented the city from attack for over 1500 years. He carried the Seal to the lost city of Olmkala, founding a new home for the All Father and his followers. Kelven is fast, and uses his speed and his ability to move through combat to bewilder his enemies. He is armed with a bow, that he is equally comfortable using from a distance and up close.

Iron Hero stats: Kelven is a 1st Level Harrier and 11th level Archer. He favors combat challenges using his Tumble and Jump skills, to flatfoot his opponents, as well as his own Archer abilites. He fights, nearly exclusively with his bow.

Tabris: Tabris is a third generation Curved Dagger, an ancient order of assassins that once served the Empire. Tabris’ grandfather was the chief assassin to Arion’s Grandfather. Tabris was sent, as part of Arion’s Grandfather’s plan, to seve as a bodyguard and companion to Arion as he searched out the artifacts to establish his claim to the Throne of Kotkala. Later, Tabris became a trusted adviser to Arion, and now serves as his chief assassin in Olmkala. Tabris is also known as the Ebon Halberd, for his preferred weapon, a halberd made of the demon metal ebon. In combat, there is none deadlier. Tabris prefers to surprise his opponents, flatfooting them, either from attacking in the shadows, teaming up with his companions, or outmaneuvering his enemies. Those that fall prey to Tabris’ tactics become the target of the Ebon Halberd and its surgical precision. In addition, Tabris is a fledgling sorcerer, who has been known to produce magic at critical times.

Iron Hero stats: Tabris is a 7th level Executioner and 3rd level Arcanist. He relies on the Executioner precision damage, and his Hafted Mastery feat tree. He fights with the Ebon Halberd in nearly all encounters, but has been known to use a set of Curved Daggers; the standard weapon of his order.

Severis: Sevris is a Mage, and due to his Arcane background, he is much older than the rest of the heroes. He was a student of magic in the capital city in Kotkala, when the nation fell to the demons, forcing him to abandon his Master, the Archmage Shankar, and his true love Nyssa, daughter to the King. In the 30 years that have passed since that day, Severis has wandered the Fallen Empire. Ten years ago, he was summoned by his former Master, who was now a prisoner of the Demons. Shankar performed a ritual on Severis that unlocked Severis’ true arcane power. Since then, Severis has been waiting for an heir to the Kotkalan throne to emerge. A few months ago, Severis finally met Arion, and has now joined the new King, as his Archmage.

Iron Heros stats: Severis is a 12th level Arcanist, using the True Sorcery rule book from Green Ronin. The flexible spell system, gives Severis an amazing range of abilites. Some of his favorite spells have included an array of Fire Magic, Air Magic, and the ability to Increase the size of the other heroes.

Kelnn: Kelnn was born 800 years ago, during the Golden Age of the Empire. He was trained as an Imperial Soldier, favoring the Trident and Shield, but is a master of all forms of weapons. While on patrol, his unit of men were ambushed by a group of undead, and were killed. Kelnn was formed into a Zombie by the Lich Garzah, and wandered in the city of Olmkala until Arion, Tabris, and Kelven defeated Garzah. When Kelven laid the Holy Seal of Ceradome on the grounds of Olmkala, Kelnn, along with a thousand others, were transformed back into humans. Kelnn is now dealing with his new life, and the fall of the Empire he once served. He now serves as Arion’s bodyguard when Arion travels outside of Olmkala. Kelnn is a powerful warrior who combines the protection of a large shield with the deadly Trident.

Iron Heroes stats: Kelnn is a 12th level Man at Arms. He has a range of feats, but has the most invested in Trident Mastery, Improve Shield Bash, and Shield Mastery. While Kelnn prefers his Trident, he is capable of using any weapon, and with his two Wild Card feats, he is never at a loss for a needed feat.