Race To Empire
The Campaign So Far...

Intro

Here is the info I gave players for the creation of their characters... Your characters are from a Greek culture, specifically ancient Greece around the city of Sparta. There are three major social classes: Spartiates (upper class, sort of), perioikoi (roughly middle class), and helots (menial class). Spartiates are the only true citizens of Sparta, but their culture is very restrictive and focused on war.

As with most of my campaigns, this one is a mix of role-playing, fighting, and puzzle solving, so design characters appropriately. The party should have a ranger (or other wilderness wise character). I'm offering a special deal on a Spartiate warrior: famous family connections, but some family tensions. There is also a special deal on 1000gp bonus starting money, with some strings attached (I would like to give this to a thief). I have a suggestion for the background of a wizard character, if anyone is interested. I may have more special deals and ideas available when we roll up characters.

The Cast

The Story

The following list contains excerpts from email sent (mostly by me) in the Race campaign. They chronicle the progress of the adventure so far.

• All your characters were in Artemus' Ale House, but not together. Each of you was there for your own reasons, with your own objectives, but you were all caught up in the events that followed.
  
  A rebel sorcerer (you later learned his name was Neotos Magi) attacked the nearby temple of Hermes. Warden Greko, head priest of Hermes, was in the ale house when the attack began, and he stepped out to confront Neotos. You were trapped inside as a battle of mighty magics was waged in the streets.
  
  The result was that you have all now met, although you soon went your separate ways. This Saturday, we start a couple days after the sorcerous battle in Synedria. It will be your destiny to meet again.
  
  
• For various reasons all your characters joined Koros the Dwarf's racing team. The race is from Sparta to some city--called Anker--a thousand miles away. With Koros' money you bought horses and supplies, and prepared a strategy for the first day of racing.
  
  On the first day around twenty teams, averaging three persons per team, started the race atop the Spartan acropolis. Most of your party went on ahead, leaving Krom (the barbarian) to begin the race. He won the first challenge, being the first to reach the ferry and be carried over the river away from Sparta. From there, Krom and Agareos (the sorcerer) rode to meet the rest of your party further along the road.
  
  The bulk of the party moved on ahead, laying caltrops across the road at one point to slow other racers. After being rejoined by Krom and Agareos the party continued on, but was passed by Elysand (last years race champion) and a team of malicious spartiate youths. Shortly after, in a mountain pass, the party was attacked from ambush by the same spartiate youths. Arrows were exchanged, but the battle dragged on until Koros managed to close with the youths and kill three in one great cleave of his axe.
  
  You're party was the second team to arrive at the race waypoint. Now, sleep the night and prepare for day two. Tomorrow you race to the great wall that separates the land of Sparta from the barbarous nations to the west.
  
  
• You slept safely at the first way-point, except for Koros' bad dream. The next day you rode West and North, out of the mountains, to the city of Dasos along the Great Wall. There you were delayed, as a goblin hoard was camped just beyond the wall.
  
  Akari (your spartiate monk) used his family connections to allow passage atop the Great Wall, and you traveled it to the north. Half a day's travel brought you to the ocean shore by dusk. Several goblins from the hoard followed your trek and awaited you just out of bow-shot beyond the Wall to the west.
  
  You camped the night in Spartan territory, just East of the Wall. In the night, fish headed warriors crept up on you from the shore and attacked. You were victorious and killed them all.
  
  The next day you led the horses, and Koros' chariot, through the local guard tower and out to the West. There you were attacked by nine goblins, waiting in ambush. Again you were victorious, and are finally free to continue the race.
  
  
• You traveled North from the Great Wall. Along the way you got the drop on some bandits and killed them all. Two days of travel brought you to the city of Habbannar, where you spent a day stocking up for a desert crossing.
  
  When you left Habbannar, Koros to Dwarf had you turn West, away from the normal race route. Just past the edge of civilized lands surrounding Habbannar (~30 miles inland) you were shot at by elves. After determining that they just wanted you to leave their grove, you quickly continued on your way.
  
  By evening you reached the desert, and set up camp among some ancient ruins. Some of your equipment was mysteriously stolen. Near morning a band of barbarians began drumming and dancing around a camp fire on the other side of the ruins. When you investigated, you were attacked by a pair of small air elementals, and the ensuing battle drew the attention of the barbarians.
  
  The barbarians were outraged by your intrusion. They attacked. At first they tried to capture your party, but as this failed they started to attack in earnest. Miraculously, you defeated them. You killed them all, even the ones that tried to flee at the end.
  
  Next time, you must care for your wounded and continue your trek across the desert.
  
  
• You gathered your equipment and left the ruins, hoping to put some distance between you and the dead barbarians in case they had friends in the area. Many of your party were wounded and needed rest. It was not to be....
  
  You fought off a pack of wild dogs near a dry stream bed. You tried to avoid a lone ogre, but decided to turn and fight when it charged. And a giant lizard crept up on you while you slept through the cold desert night. All these threats were defeated, but they were a persistent draw on the party's resources.
  
  Finally, you got a break. The next day passed uneventfully, as you continued through the desert. Koros the Dwarf consulted his journal and led the way toward the distant mountains. He said you would soon reach a place known to his people, and he would tell you more about his plans there. You spent another cold night in the desert.
  
  The next day, Koros recognized some landmarks, and proclaimed that you were nearly there. But you encountered a band of 30 orcs. Their horsemen charged, with their foot soldiers running behind. You fled, and with your faster horses got to the dwarven burial mound ahead of them. There you entered the earthen fortification and overran a band of six goblins, who were camped there. With the advantage of terrain, you easily defeated the orc horsemen, and forced their leader to flee back to his foot soldiers, who were still trying to catch up.
  
  
• The orcs did not attack that day. As evening fell, Koros the Dwarf told you the story of his people. A mysterious evil, using goblins and orcs as its instruments, drove his people from their kingdom under the mountains. His father led one refugee band to the place you now camp, where a final battle was fought, so the dwarven women, children, and the elderly could escape. The earthen ring, within which you now camp, was build to bury and commemorate their valiant sacrifice.
  
  As Koros told the story of this battle, two ghouls rose from the ground and attacked. Initially unnoticed, the ghost of Koros' father also approached the party. The ghouls were quickly dispatched, but one moan from the ghost sent most of your party fleeing in panic.
  
  When the panic subsided, Koros spoke to his father. The ghost approved of Koros leading you back into the dwarven kingdom, perhaps to recover the kingdom for the dwarves. The ghost then revealed the entrance to the mound's burial chambers, and offered you the treasures hidden there, to aid your quest.
  
  Below ground you encountered centipedes, skeletons, and a gray ooze. Sealed stone doors blocked your way, and traps took their tool on your health: Agareos and Koros were both permanently weakened by one poison gas trap. But you penetrated far into the mound. Perhaps next time we play, you will find the dwarves' treasure.