Session #42
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| Title: | The Path of Life |
| System: | Dungeons & Dragons: Third Edition |
| Style: | FCS Gaming League - Championship Module |
| Date: | April 26, 2003 - Saturday |
| Time: | Noon - 6:00pm (Sign-In Begins at 11:45am) |
| Game Date/Time: | 25 Umsvak 153 P.A. |
| Planet/Region/Locale: | Terra 18 / Western Peaks / Hell's Canyon |
| Game Master: | Christopher J. Ford |
| Location: | Flights of Fantasy Books, Games, & Accessories |
| Ratings: | Exposition 4 Combat 2 Experience 3 Danger 4 |
| Maximum Registration: | Ring Key Holders Only. Spectators welcome. |
| Level: | Master Level - Novice level teams may enter, but safeties do not apply! Epic level teams may enter, but safeties apply! |
The Situation |
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Some see life as a journey to discover the universe. Others see it as a singular event by which we are forever judged. A common view is to see it as a curse from which there is no escape. They may all be right. They may all be wrong. The answer is not in what you do, it is in how you do it. Buried deep within the secrets of the Western Region is a trial once used to prove a warrior's heart. Long forgotten in the fullness of time the Western Tribes have once again called forth warriors to stand the trial. Those willing to walk the path of life and discover all that it has to offer, and take, have been summoned. The tribes may not have considered that outsiders would be interested in showing their metal. But the shaman have consulted the old laws, many times, and found no precedent to disqualify you from entering. They do however point out that this is a dangerous activity. They cannot guarantee your safety. To walk the path of life, you must travel up the river of lava that flows through the canyon. Along the way there will be certain goals that must be met. Each team may only enter one warrior, but that warrior may receive limited support from friends (you may field multiple characters, but only one may enter the challenge). As you travel the path, you will be subject to many dangers from the environment to other warriors. Reach the end of the canyon having completed enough goals and you have proven yourself. As a reward the character will be given a pendant and a monetary award to be named at the event. The monetary reward is derived from the betting that takes place and cannot be known ahead of time. A platinum ring key will be awarded to any team that meets at least one success condition AND survives without the need of resurrection (or similar means of revival). Conditions for success will be provided during the game. Coordinator's Note: In the past, there has been a prize for the winner of the Championship. This will no longer be the case. It has been decided that determining the winner is far too subjective an activity. Players that participate in the Championship will now be given the opportunity to enter a random drawing for multiple prizes. Prizes may include the new Arms book, Version 3.5 books, and miscellaneous items. This list is subject to change without notice. |
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Registered Teams & Their Fates |
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Three champions showed their metal in this test of courage, skill, and determination. This tale could start out with "An elf walks into a bar...". Because, well, one did. The teams started out in Tagar's Bar where they gathered information from travelers on the history of the trial and the region. Fully equipped and ready for anything, they departed Dragons Den for the three day journey to the land of the Western Tribes. The teams were greeted and asked to register for the trial. They decided to gather some more information on their competition and recon the area. They learned several things. There would be three other competitors from the tribe. A novice shaman appeared quite eager to prove herself to her tribe and earn a place. She was not disappointed. She completed and survived the trial. She is now the expected successor to her mentor. Two cousins, who apparently are always being competitive, entered the trial to show which one was the best. Betting on these two was harsh, but in the end luck sided with neither of them. Through loss of balance, both found early death in the molten lava. The trial consisted of an obstacle course. The chosen contestants traveled from a designated spot at a nearby lake. From there they entered the ravine and traveled up the magma flow to the temple of the Fire King. Each was given a list of objectives and asked to complete at least three of them. These objective included everything from defeating enemies to collecting gems to offerings to the King. Even the loss of a limb as a sacrifice was given as an option. All of this under the constraints of time and endurance. The teams faced many hazards on the way. They were pelted with arrows as they jumped from rock to floating rock. Traps and enemies stood in their way. The Fire King himself offered his congratulations and a hazardous return trip. Given three new tunnels for the return trip, the entrants thought it might be a faster way home. But it was not the case as they met the indigenous crystal spiders of the volcano. Betting was not as feverish as some had hoped. The early successes of the champions drove the payoffs down and the early elimination of the cousins broke many a tribesman. The entire purse came to 15gp per team. The gems and rings acquired during the trial did provide some with a bounty. In the end, all three champions completed the trial, but only two succeeded. Ruin, losing patients with the volcano, teleported past a checkpoint disqualifying herself. The tribe lost two of its own, but plans on holding the trial again next year. Now they have a few kinks worked out, they look forward to an epic trial.
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