Saeculum Decidentis - Graphii et Chartae (Campaign Thread)

[Stormcrowfleet]

Greetings fellow codexian.

I posted a while ago that I would be doing a tabletop campaign of Age of Decadence with friends. The time has come !

This thread will serve for me to post how the campaign is going through pictures, stories and LP-style feedback.

Basic information:
- For now the campaign has 5 players, but I'm trying to recruit a sixth one. The reason is that I know sometimes friends can't make it, so if we are 6, we'll be 5 most of the game. The way we do it in our group is that the absent player's character is doing something else, waiting at the entrance of the ruin, being ill at the inn, etc.
- It's run in a homemade system (hence the long delay, I had to actually do my own system from scratch). Lots of stuff comes from the videogame itself, but it's different in scope and more suited towards group tactics than single-player tactics. General rules are: you roll 3d6 + associated skill. Result is compared to a table of success (3- is fumble, 3-6 is failure, 7-10 is failure but you gain something, 11 to 14 is success but something can happen against you, 14 to 18 is a success and 19+ is a crit success). Combat is fast-paced and brutal with everyone announcing their action at the same time. There is no ability per weapon (as per the video game), but general move you can make with all weapon and each weapon style has passive bonus/modification of effect on those. Also I added some stuff like Will (representing willpower-style roll and moral roll for if they meet the past gods and such, a-la-Call of Chtulhu). Also, no HP. It works more like the FATE Core RPG, where you get injuries and stuff that impact you. Etc. I won't go in detail in everything. I won't post it either, because a big part of it is in french.
- I will post here every time I finish a game. It's going to be a good way for me to make sure I don't miss details and decisions of my player. Also, I'll probably take some advice from you guys on some stuff. None of my friends are on the Codex, so it doesn't matter.
- You can see here the worldmap I gave them and the map of Teron were they will start. As you can see I modified some very basic stuff to adapt it to my GM style and to paper RPG. https://imgur.com/a/MAZxF
- For now they haven't finished doing their group, but we are looking at:
Mark: Ex-servant of a merchant, himself now a merchant
Dan: Smuggler, dealing especially in artifacts and exotic stuff
Oli: Archaeologist/loremaster
Nic: ?
Phil: ?

When the group will be done, I will come back and post their whole group with information, background, stats, pictures, etc.

Stay tuned guys, it's going to be a load of fun !

 

[Lithium Flower]

Well holy shit. I wish you best of luck. I assume this is an IRL campaign?

I'm glad you are doing journaling, I found it very helpful. Plus it is nice to save things for posterity.

Your homebrew system is intriguing and is quite similar to the indie RPGs I like to run. I would actually appreciate it if you allowed to me to take a look at it since I am a sucker for stealing other people's ideas checking out indies, hacks, and homebrew systems.

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

Well holy shit. I wish you best of luck. I assume this is an IRL campaign?

I'm glad you are doing journaling, I found it very helpful. Plus it is nice to save things for posterity.

Your homebrew system is intriguing and is quite similar to the indie RPGs I like to run. I would actually appreciate it if you allowed to me to take a look at it since I am a sucker for stealing other people's ideas checking out indies, hacks, and homebrew systems.

Thanks ! It's going to be work to put it back here with images and such, but as you say, it's good for posterity and it can help me GM in general.

As for the system I really don't mind. When I get the chance I'll put the core rules here in PDF in english. There is only the core rules, so nothing regarding the AoD universe, equipment, characters that can be made, etc. All those are only in french. If you can read french I'll post both of them.

 

[ColCol]

update?

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

We're setting up the first gaming night for character creation and world discussion (new system and new setting for them demands it). After that I'm going to post their character here and the initial set-up of the game. Afterwards it's going to be one per month or so game (all very busy).

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

PART 0 - CHARACTER CREATION

1. Introduction

Holy shit it took long before beginning this. People went off to work elsewhere and stuff like that so I had to find new members and then reschedule everything. I will present here the first session, which is character creation.

We have five players: Oli, Phil, Dan, Frank and Ron. I will detail their character and, since the system is a little bit different then the video game, I will provide their 'converted' stats to provide an idea of what they are specialized in.

2. Group synergy

I asked them to be all one group of characters that knew each other before the beinning of the game. Age of Decadence is not a world of ''adventurer's guild'' or ''starting the game in the inn'' (oops). So they settled on aligning with the concept of one of the character. Frank will play Lupenius, a Praetor of House Daratan. Therefore the other member are (in order) his bodyguard, his personal servant/helper, his personal advisor and his prospector (knowning the appeal for ancient history that House Daratan has).

I therefore follow the starting path of the Preator questline to set them in. After that it's going to be as in the game: up to them and their decision.

3. FRANK - THE PREATOR

https://ibb.co/fWH2pR

He is a talk-heavy guy (etiquette, persuasion, perception, charisma, intelligence) that serves as a diplomate for House Daratan. He wants to bring it back to its glorious past (I guess he will like Antidas, but dislike reality). Very loyal, very dedicated. But he fucking hates pleb. He has contempt for normal people and he thinks the world is a matter of great man and nobles (unless they are his advisor/servants, then it's fine).

4. PHIL - THE BODYGUARD

https://ibb.co/ic3Lb6

He is a bodyguard (sword and shield, strenght, dex, constitution), former Daratan soldier still operating within that sphere. He participated as a teenager in the Daratan-Aurelian war (he's around 40). Just like Titus Pulo, he's more of a street guy and very superstitious.

5. DAN - THE SERVITOR

https://ibb.co/ce2rim

A "civilized" ordu that was captured as a slave when he was young and was the servirtor of a great merchant before the man died. He acted mostly as a killer for his master, without taking pleasure in it or anything. He's more of a botched assassin then anything else (some dodge, some critical strike and high strenght). He doesn't understand well the 'gens imperialis' culture even if he lived there. No contempt, just indifference: his childhoold upbringing never went away.

6. OLI - THE LOREMASTER

https://ibb.co/jX1TUR

An old loremaster that traveled here and there (very high lore, some craft, alchemy, perception, charisma, intelligence). He's now personal adviser to the Preator and hold many secrets from his old life.

7. RON - THE PROSPECTOR

https://ibb.co/duta9R

Kind-of Indiana Jones that deal with finding artefacts and tombs (craft, some lore, some figthing, perception, trap).

8. Conclusion

So this is their group, bound for glory (or annihilation). The first game will be toned down in difficulty because I don't know yet if my system will hold for a campaign (I only did playtesting as one-of).

Next game session will be in February, where they will begin just like the Preator questline, in the halls of Lord Antidas, awaiting their new mission on behalf of House Daratan...

Will they bring back the glory of House Daratan and realize the prophecy of Lord Antidas and make him an Emperor over manking ? Or will they just perpetuate the fall of that old House through their failings ?

Only time will tell...

NB: Feel free to provide suggestions, to ask questions, and to ask for informations regarding this or that for the whole campaign while I post here.

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

(N.B. Be aware that I will shortcut some information, especially the discussion, because everything was done in French so I have both to recopy and translate. Also I was tired so quality is meh. )


ACT I – PART I


CAST


Frank (absent, GM took over his character) – Lupinius, the Daratan Praetor




Oli – Fabius Valdo, personal loremaster to the Praetor




Ron – Julius Octavius, prospector




Dan – Tchagatai, ex-slave Ordu murderer bound to Lupinius




Phil – Cato Tulius, ex-soldier bound to Lupinius as a life-debt




GENERAL SETTING


Teron


STORY


THE PALACE


Lord Antidas stood on his throne feeling old and decrepit just as his house and, fittingly, his town. He spoke with a determined voice to Lupinius, just back from his latest diplomatic mission, as the group of “servants” he had with him were waiting in the hall entrance.


“Ave Lupinius ! Have you heard of the murder yet ?”


He proceeds to discuss the matter of the merchant, Graccius, being killed within the wall of his city. Normally he wouldn’t care, but this time it was different: he had offered his protection to the merchant in exchange for a so-called artefact, a map of the old world. He sends Lupinius away with the task of bringing back the map and the head of the culprit within the Commercium that meant for this particular murder.


“We have to teach the Commercium that there is still a Lord in this city! This merchant was under my protection to travel here and deliver this artefact. Now go forth and come back triumphant.”


Lupinius explained the situation to his entourage and told them:


“I have no intention of running around town to chase down a head ! I am no executioner and this is below me. Still I want the best for my Lord and therefore you will do this for us.”


And so the group went forward, away from the palace to discuss their plan. They settled first on going to the crime scene to learn more of the murder and see who exactly could have done it or taken the map.


THE INN


The inn atmosphere was damp but quiet, as it normally was with such establishment in the morning. Cato went to the bar, chit-chatting with the innkeeper that he knew.


Innkeeper: “Hey Cato ! How are things ?”


Cato: “Not too bad, yourself old friend ? Look, I’m going to take you a strong drink”


Julius: “Make that two !”


The discussion lagged on until Cato convinced the innkeeper to let him see the crime scene, asking some details but only receiving what he already knew: most probably the Commercium hired the Assassin Guild to carry out the crime in order to send out a message.


In the room itself, which, out of laziness, had not been cleaned yet (except for the corpse of course), there was but blood and broken furniture, a sign of a recent fight. The guard of the merchant had not taken part of the fight and went away: did he leave his position only to come back to see his master dead, or did he just cowardly let him die? Nobody will ever know.



By looking at the room, they saw that the killer probably went in by the window in the back of the room. By looking closer, Fabius saw under the bed, through some broken pottery, a small and perfectly formed grooved sphere. He picked it up, inspecting it only to confirm that it was most likely an important artefact of the old world, without being able to determine its actual use.


Going back to the first floor without much answer, they decided to speak around, see what people knew. They couldn’t find important information, but managed to spot an alchemist and had a chat with them. Tchagatai kept talking solo with him afterwards, faking a problem with sleep in order to convince him to sell a cheap potion of sleep.



Also, a prospector approached them to speak to Fabius, knowing he was a loremaster. He showed him different kind of object, most of them useless. He said he had a “tibia of a Magi”, which mostly was a part of a larger artefact that was now glowing with energy that could probably kill him in the long run. He tried to convince the prospector that it wasn’t really useful, or at least, couldn’t be proven useful. Fabius told him that the alchemist would probably be interested in paying for the “tibia”. But he also said he didn’t fear this as he was protected by a “skull of a Magi”. This, on the other hand, was found very interesting. The group, not having the financial power of the Praetor with them, had to pool together to convince the prospector to sell this artefact. Fabius had already seen this described in old text, as a breathing apparatus of some sort.



Going back to the alchemist, Fabius told him to beware as the prospector would probably come and try to sell him a dangerous piece of ancient equipment which, as a loremaster, he knew was dangerous. Fabius rejoiced in his stratagem, as he gained the trust of the alchemist while also gaining the artefact.



Finally they briefly listened to a storyteller speaking about demons and high lords, things of which most of them knew (if but faintly) before moving on. Having no clue on where to go, they wanted to find the cowardly guard to interrogate him, thinking that maybe he had the map. To do so, they went next to where they thought a dishonest mercenary could have gone: the tavern.


THE TAVERN


Cato: “Hey my friend how are you ?”


The loudmouthed Cato again took the conversation upon himself, knowing well the bouncer of the establishment, much to the dismay of Tschagatai that was beginning to be fed up by his attitude, a much more reserved outcast.



They spoke with the bouncer, learning of some bits of information here and there: the body was buried by the grave keeper in the east part of the town, that the Boatmen of the Styx were definitely the contractor and that the Commercium were the one that ordered it. That being said, they couldn’t learn anything of the actual mercenary: he probably had left town and was long gone now.



They realized the next step was to go ask the Commercium itself: visibly they could not do without either dragging them into this or forcing them to cooperate. They would have preferred to get the name of the merchant and the map from elsewhere, but those kind of information doesn’t float around.


THE COMMERCIUM


Moving through the street, they were hailed by a man that spoke of an easy way of making money. He had the face of a man you can trust:

But rapidly the conversation didn’t go well: Fabius and Cato could see through the lies that something was amiss. Tchagatai trusted the judgement of Fabius and decided to show a little heat on Miltiades by grabbing him by the collar and rammed him into the wall. The man looked shocked and said that nothing bad was going to come out of this, that he only asked for a little help in exchange for goods! They wanted none of it so he left, distraught.


Then they reached the Commercium main building and spoke with merchants they knew in order to get some trust to discuss to Linos himself. They spoke to him and compelled him, by the authority of their own Praetor, to surrender the map to Lord Antidas (which he agreed in the next hour) and give them the merchant that they wanted. At first he was a little bit took eager, and they asked to get the head themselves (which is why they were sent for, anyway). Linos, seeing he couldn’t really get away with this one, accepted.



They brought in Zenon and, clearly not understanding what was about to befell, he asked what everything was about. Cato put a hand on his shoulder and greeted him and then looked at Linos, asking :


Cato: “Here ?”


Linos nodded slowly. Tchagatai moved behind and then …



*Shlack!*



One less merchant in the world (not a real loss eh?). They went outside to cut the head, a thing which Julius wasn't really keen on, so he stayed behind to help clean up the mess.


THE PALACE


Lord Antidas was happy to receive the head of Zenon, recognizing him. He gave them an old scroll he had has a gift, the “Flos Bellorum”, which spoke of ancient fighting techniques.



But most importantly, he gave them a speech regarding his own prophecy, destiny and the map itself. They didn’t really understood the consequence of their action or of the map (I guess they’ll know soon enough). Before he could actually answer them with clear intent, Antidas dismissed them to Dellar to rule out some minor matters before turning back to its own court for some important matters.



The group went to Dellar, which informed them of a group of Aurelians traveling through their lands that they had to intercept. A Daratan scout would lead them there so they could gather information on their whereabouts, their direction, etc.


And so they went out to meet with the Aurelian delegation…


INTERLUDE – THE INTERCEPTION OF THE AURELIANS


And so the group went under the orders of the praetor Lupinius to arrest or interrogate the Aurelian delegation inside Teron territory. The scout was able easily to retrace the steps and they found the Aurelians walking a bushy and off-road path. There was two legionaries, wounded by what they could think was an earlier battle (not very exception, knowing that the territories were overrun by raiders since a couple of months), a Praetor in armor and a civilian.



Cato decided to show himself and try to bargain to speak. The other character finally went out and learned that they were a small delegation accompanying the loremaster. Both party agreed that because of raiders, it would be best to be escorted back to Teron and from there decide on a course of action: they convinced the Aurelians that they would guarantee their safety.



On the way back, Tchagatai gave water with a mix of the sleeping potion to one of the guard and had him drink it, seeing as they were hurt and tired. The guard, some minutes afterwards, fell unconscious of the floor. While occupied, Tchagatai killed by a swift stroke the legionaries in the back. Upon hearing his guard fall off, the praetor drew his sword and prepared to fight.



After a quick exchange of blows, the three man were able to take down the praetor while Fabius was watching from the back. Afterwards, Cato picked up the iron sword of the praetor and put it to good use by killing the sleeping legionary.


THE PALACE


Upon hearing of this story and having got a hold of Sorhab, the loremaster, Dellar was most pleased. They got to interrogate him and Sorhab who taught the Mantra of the Foundry to Fabius and told them about the mine in exchange for his life and protection.


- - -


What will happen with the mine ? What about that strange map and the temple of Thor-Agoth ?



Will the group prevail to uphold the glory of House Daratan ?



To be seen next time in ACT I – PART II…

 

[Lithium Flower]

Great writeup!

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

Btw as an aside, I might try to take notes during the game (or tape it) to rewrite more accurately. A lot of funny or nice moment were lost in time, like tears in rain.

They didn't help Miltiades, but I plan on reputting him when they get to Maadoran, just for the sake of it. If you guys have any request, please post them !

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

Since someone mentioned it in another post, this is (obviously) dead. I had to stop it because of group/schedule/stuff/my own failing.

I re-used the lore and location of AoD for a West Marches OSR-style campaign using D&D, so it's not "all" dead.

 

[HeroMarine]

Great job, man. Looking forward to playing with you some day in any capacity. Cheers.

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

Great job, man. Looking forward to playing with you some day in any capacity. Cheers.

Me too. I'm getting wed this weekend and I just finished an article. I'll be joining soon !

 

[HeroMarine]

Great job, man. Looking forward to playing with you some day in any capacity. Cheers.

Me too. I'm getting wed this weekend and I just finished an article. I'll be joining soon !

Congratulations in advance!! Cheers