Brave New World
-Step One of the Sublime Way
What the Hell Am I Doing?
I’ve had the last few weeks off from gaming. I looked back over various campaigns and the worlds I’ve built. I created and rejected both new campaign ideas and even considered trying a new game system. I questioned whether I should be DMing at all, as so many of my attempts have ended in disaster (heck, just read back over this column to see how many efforts I’ve made!).
The good news is, after all that consideration, I discovered that not only do I still want to DM but also that I still believe I’ll eventually find that elusive, amazing campaign. My players rallied behind my efforts as well, which in the end is really the only thing to me that makes DMing worthwhile. If I just sit around writing this stuff but no one plays it, than I would feel like my efforts have been wasted.
I say all that to help explain the new introduction I’m making this month of my newest (and greatest!) campaign world. Rather than spout off myself, I want to showcase two new heroes from the Land of Nine Swords. I think the fact that my players have decided to make their characters so much a part of this new world strongly shows that this campaign will be worth all the work.
Valgard’s Tale was written by Scott and the background for Thadius was written by Kevin. All I did was run the spellchecker.
Valgard's Tale
Valgard was the child of a mercenary father. His mother died of jungle plague when he was young; his father brought him along on caravan escorts after that. The mercenary company of which his father was a member took Valgard under their wing, and trained him well in the Sublime Way.
When he was old enough, Valgard served by his father's side as a mercenary guard. Valgard's father was an honorable man who believed in the need for law and justice, and raised his son to revere Heironeous and St. Cuthbert as the deification of these ideals.
A year ago, Valgard's father was murdered under unusual circumstances. Guards in Ironhame denied Valgard access to his father's body, but did return his father's possessions. Valgard believes that Lord Mayor Wort's men (or possibly even the mayor himself) are responsible for his father's death, but is not sure why, nor has he found any real proof. His father's mercenary compatriots made it clear (without saying why) that they would be unable to associate with him in the future.
His attempts at investigation earned him a stern warning (accompanied by a sound beating) by the town guard to "leave it alone". Valgard wisely took their "advice", but was never quite the same afterward.
He petitioned for acceptance into the Vix Tholm, but was rejected because of his quick temper and youthful rashness in combat. Valgard took this to heart (as he greatly admires the Vix Tholm) and works to reign in his impulsiveness as best he can.
Presently, Valgard supports himself with odd guarding jobs and occasional luck at the gambling houses, both of which make for a meager living at best. His one friend in the town is another youth named Thadius who, after becoming a crusader of the temple of Kord, now has only sporadic contact with Valgard.
Recently though, Thadius contacted Valgard with an invitation to join him on a venture that would "certainly prove more fruitful and profitable than whatever you've got going right now". Valgard accepted, realizing it was probably a good idea for him to get out of town for awhile.
Valgard is loyal, religious, and driven by a deep restlessness that defies his full understanding. his sense of justice fuels a deep-seated desire to learn the truth of his father's demise, and clear his name of any possible wrongdoing. He is simultaneously torn by the knowledge that this may be impossible, yet is unwilling to give up hope of it someday becoming a reality. Although he has something of a renegade nature, he has the potential for being a natural military leader. His preferred weapons are the halberd, bastard sword, and crossbow.
Thadius
Thadius served in the military arm of the government since his family died of the plague. He learned to respect the strength of warriors as they not only could shake off disease, but also could perform feats of strength. This respect was cultivated by his comrades into worship of Kord, whom he had not known much about before.
Thadius took the teachings to heart and in a short time he was leading others to the faith in Kord. When he was given a choice of weapons to wield in battle, he chose Kord's favored weapon without hesitation. Power crept into his body when he invoked Kord’s wrath on the enemies of his army.
Yet most of the time the army was at peace and thus Thadius resigned his commission to seek out adventure on his own. He then met up with a ragtag group and aided them in retrieving some spice and since has decided that this group shall be the ones to travel with him on his quest for the perfect sword which he heard rumors about.
The sword was named Unfettered. In this quest he shall stand true to Kord, putting his life on the line as needed to achieve his goal.
Valgard and Thadius have spent long hours discussing the merits of strength versus law and justice. Their friendship has been forged stronger by their ability to agree that both approaches have merit in their own way. While Unfettered occupies Thadius's dreams he is aware that a different ancient sword of the nine is a bastard sword, though he does not know the name of it. He has shared this information with the valiant Valgard and stirred his interest in it.
Welcome to the Land of the Nine Swords!
The Tome of Battle, by Wizards of the Coast, not only introduces martial mayhem to D&D, it also includes roleplaying snippets of a larger world. The book is like a half-started campaign world, with history but no solid dates, and intriguing locations but no map tying them all together. I’m taking those ideas, tying them together, tossing in my own concepts and ideas, and building the Land of Nine Swords.
In the Land of Nine Swords, wars are won not by large armies but by small groups of martial adepts and their allies. When the Sublime Way is followed, only warriors fall in battle and the lands of kingdoms are not laid waste in war. When the Sublime Way is set aside, then the innocent suffer.
I have so much to tell you about the Land of Nine Swords. Let me start where my players started, with an introduction to the world. Next week, I’ll include descriptions of the town of Ironhame and the nearby Deluge Jungle.
Player Introduction to the Land of Nine Swords
At its core, the Nine Swords Campaign is the story of a band of larger-than-life, mighty heroes. You aren’t gardeners or swineherds. You’re heroes! You have the potential to fight better than anyone else, to be the most charismatic and diplomatic, and to possess the strongest grasp and control of magic of anyone in the world.
You may choose simply to loot and level. Or you may pursue the greatest legend of the world: seeking out the lost Nine Swords and returning them to the Temple of the Nine Swords in the Sunspire Mountains. It is said that when the Nine Swords are restored to the Temple, then the Swordmaster will return from his wandering and harmony will be returned to the world.
It is a time of great conflict and turmoil. You could usher in a new Golden Age for the world. You may be the Swordmaster himself. Only by taking the first step on the road of the Sublime Way will you finally be on the journey to discovering your final destiny.
Your first step on the road of the Sublime Way was taken when you and your band defeated a band of Shrunken Head hobgoblins and recovered some stolen trade goods. When next we gather, your heroes will take their second step on the road of the Sublime Way.
The campaign of scores of adventures begins with the first post.
Next Week
A delve into a barrow hoped to contain Unfettered, one of the nine swords. And descriptions of Ironhame, the starting town, and the Deluge Jungle.
Drive On (The Remaining Steps of the Sublime Way),
Charli
