Today is a great day. I have the exciting job of posting the Adventure Hook that won its composer a brand new copy of Martial Power 2! There were 15 entries and all of them had the potential to be exciting and interesting starts to some great short- and long-term campaigns. I will be posting some of these in the coming week! But now, without further ado, here is the winning hook, with some slight format editing, written by our winner: B.Lynn – Congratulations!!
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Adventure Hook 017 – The Sorcerer
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Setup:
You find yourself in a dark inn as a result of rain falling outside. The room is dark and filled with smoke from the chimney not having been cleaned recently. The doors remain open to keep the individuals within from being overcome by the smoke. The constant sound of the rain falling creates a dull roar that washes out all but the closest of conversations. Only rarely does the thunder catch everyone off guard, because the lightning lights up almost the entire room just long enough to prepare. The moisture seems to have infused everything, and it makes the cold settle into everyone’s bones. Even the halfling serving wench seems especially surly tonight. The only good thing is that the minstrel has some tunes that are new to you, and he seems to be good with his pipes.
Another crash of thunder, and this time it seemed to catch almost everyone off guard. The wench makes her rounds and refills your heated spiced rum, she seems nervous but it’s probably just the weather putting her on edge. Then someone’s voice is heard outside, the other patrons stay in their seats and one yells, “Hey you’re closer to the door, see what that racket is.”
As one of the PCs gets the to the doorway, they hear someone screaming, “Fire! It’s at the church!!!”-“”
(Note: If no one volunteers to go to the door the voices are heard, but the words cannot be made out until someone from outside runs to the door and shouts into the inn, “The church is afire, come quick!“)
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Situation:
A storm sorcerer has very recently come to the land testing their newly acquired powers and has become drunk with power, resulting in a storm that has caused a rift in the primary plane leaking in chaos that fuels the storm.
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Problem:
Even if the sorcerer is found, he no longer has control of the rift or the storm. Most likely he is dead as a result of trying to regain control.
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Tasks:
1) Discover the identity of the sorcerer
2) Figure out how calm the storm
3) Do their best to protect the local citizens
4) If added (see below), reveal the problems the church is having
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Things to explore:
1) The sorcerer can continue to be power mad and uncaring regarding how it effects the world, because he believes the storm is within his control and he is as powerful as the gods.
2) The sorcerer could have been young and lost control and is dead and as a result the adventurers must hunt down another storm sorcerer of great power to stop the madness that the storm has become.
3) This storm could now be in the control of the aberrations that lend spell power to a powerful group of warlocks. The adventurers are now working against the warlocks who are gaining more power from these aberrations. Also they could have a warlock in their mist that works for these aberrations.
4) The gods could be punishing these mortals for trying to control storms, a power which should be left to the gods.
5) The burning of the church can reveal that the church was not what it seemed and hid a dark secret, such as:
a) The sorcerer was a priest that was outcast for trying to wield unapproved power over the people
b) The sorcerer was abused by the church
c) The sorcerer is the current priest, who has been hiding his dark pact with creatures unknown
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Well, there you have it – the winning adventure hook. Awesome possibilities and a great beginning to a campaign of any level.
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Now I have to think of what to do for my next contest – if you have any ideas, comment and let me know.
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Until next time, I wish you good gaming!
~DM Samuel
Thank you very much DM Samuel. I have to say that I haven’t DMed since 4e came out, but writing this adventure hook makes me want to DM again.
Will you be discussing the other adventure hooks, I would love to see some of the other ideas.
Thanks again, B. Lynn.
Hi DM Samuel, I have been trying to come up with ideas of the next contest, but without knowing the prize, I am uncertain of the best strategy to reinforce the idea that you are trying to foster with the competition. I think a tie in would be good. You have my e-mail address if you don’t want to disclose the prize in the open, and I will bow out from the next contest if you use my idea or a variation there of.
-B. Lynn
Not sure of the prize yet either. Was thinking maybe Dark Sun Bestiary, or special edition red-box 4e Essentials?
I’ll let you know, and by all means, yes, please email me if you have any ideas!
Thanks!
DM Samuel, just wanted to drop a line and let you know I received the Martial Power 2 book today, and thank you for the e-mail letting me know what was going on.
Thanks again,
-B. Lynn
Awesome – I hope you like it as much as I did. Thanks for your contributions!
Cheers!