Starting the Age of Worms in Taladas

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Jared Rascher

The Beginning Premise (Starting the Age of Worms in Taladas)

The History of Kyuss in DragonLance

During the Age of Dreams, Morgion had a son by a particularly charming, yet deranged high ogre. The son's name was Kyuss, and Kyuss learned well everything that his father stood for. Kyuss was a master of creating and manipulating diseases and parasites, and caused great harm and destruction. In the name of his father, Kyuss sacrificed a whole city of devout followers, twisting them into parasite infested undead creatures as a testament to his father's glory.

Both Mishakal and Chemosh were enraged by the action of Kyuss. Mishakal was horrified by the death and suffering caused by Kyuss' new varieties of diseases, maladies, and parasites, and Chemosh was offended at the massive army of undead creatures that Kyuss raised in the name of his father Morgion. Together Mishakal and Chemosh went to Gilean, Paladine, and Takhisis and demanded that something be done.

The three gods told Morgion that his son must be curtailed for the sake of balance and harmony, and Morgion agreed with them, not wishing to come into conflict with Chemosh and the rest of the gods over his son's actions. Kyuss was locked away in the Black Spire, and none of the gods save Paladine, Gilean, and Takhisis were allowed to remember the location of Kyuss' prison.

During the First Dragon War, a rogue dragon named Nightsclaw deserted the armies of the Queen, and tried to find some place far away from the war to make his new lair. Unfortunately, Nightsclaw found the remnants of the city Kyuss sacrificed to his father, and was overwhelmed with the parasites created by the imprisoned godly scion. After having been corrupted by the parasites, Nightsclaw rose again as an undead dragon. He searched after the remnants of Kyuss, now obsessed with freeing the powerful being, but the Chemosh and the Queen of Darkness found Nightsclaw, and compelled him to return to the war as a powerful new weapon of destruction. Before Nightsclaw could leave, however, a servant of the fallen Kyuss extracted the undead dragon's stilled heart, thus dividing the loyalties of the creature.

Nightsclaw was imprisoned by the forces of good before he could do the amount of damage that Takhisis had hoped he would. The undead dragon faded from memory just as the legend of Kyuss had.

Ages later, the Queen has died, Paladine has been made mortal, and the gods of evil vie for position within the pantheon. Even as Sargonnas, Chemosh, and Zeboim launch plans to win over the mortals of Krynn and cement their positions of power, so too has Morgion hatched a plan. Morgion has found the undead dragon Nightsclaw, and set in motion plans to free his son Kyuss. Kyuss will launch the Age of Worms, a time of great suffering that will cause many to worship the Lord of Pestilence, and will shift control of the undead to his banner as well, thus allowing him to depose Chemosh, and challenge Sargonnas for leadership of gods of evil.

Background Material for the Age of Worms (Taladas)

The Lord of the Winds

Also during the Age of Dreams lived a powerful high ogre sorcerer who had garnered many followers. The high ogre was fascinated with the wind and the air, and captured a creature still not well known to the world of Krynn, one of the Huldre, a strange race of fey creatures. From this Huldre the high ogre demanded to learn the secrets of the elements, and the Huldre gave up its secrets to the high ogre sorcerer.

After his initial successes, the high ogre was obsessed with gaining more power. He created a staff to collect the powers of Solinari, Nuitari, and Lunitari, thus giving him mastery over all forms of sorcery. The staff had three sections, a black, silver, and crimson component. The high ogre and his minions were one of the first bands of renegades that the fledgling Wizards of High Sorcery rooted out, and high ogre broke his staff into three pieces, giving one to each of his apprentices.

The ogres demanded that their slaves make for them elaborate tombs, and even though their forms had become more and more debased, the tombs were decorated with their former forms, to remind them of their once great beauty. Several of the tombs were linked with the tomb of the high ogre known as the Lord of the Winds, who was slain by the wizards of the White, Red, and Black robes.

The Mindset in Diamond Lake and Kristophan

While the minotaurs of the League are thrilled with the return of Sargonnas, their patron, many of the common folk throughout the League of Minotaurs are not quite so happy. Many believe that with the Cataclysm, the Second Cataclysm, gods leaving and returning, that the gods cannot be trusted.

In fact, a great many folk have grown wary and paranoid, believing that the end of Times might becoming soon. They think that the gods have lost too much power, and been absent too long, to continue to order the universe properly, and that soon there will come a great catastrophe, greater than either cataclysm, that will truly be the end of all things, or the beginning of the final Age that will ever be.

Still others believe that while the gods have been weakened, there might be a way to restore order to Krynn before the end comes. Only a truly strong, powerful god can keep the world from falling apart, and perhaps no existing god will fit the bill . . . but several of them, transformed into a new, more powerful god, might do so.

At the beginning of the Age of Worms Campaign there should be several rumors among the common people about the end of Krynn, about a final Cataclysm. Some will be dismissive of this notion, but it should come up often enough to set the tone of this campaign as being both very important and very grim.

NPCs in Diamond Lake (The Rival Adventurers)

Auric- Auric has been a professional fighter in Kristophan for a long time, and has won some high profile cases for those that have hired him. He is still a ranking member of one of the most prominent Champion's Guild, and he bears the Champion's Belt, a title that shows him as the highest ranking Champion of the guild, and thus able to demand more gold to defend or prosecute cases.

Khellek- Khellek worked as a lawyer in Kristophan, often times scheduling Auric for his cases. Khellek has always been interested in his magical studies, but has also been acutely aware that he requires gold to be able to continue his studies. Not wishing to sign on as an Imperial Legion Wizard, Khellek used his intellect to work with the Praetors in the Arena. Unfortunately, Khellek is afraid that he has scheduled Auric some cases that might not work out for the Champion, and so has taken some time off, delaying the cases, secretly hoping to find enough gold and magical trinkets to set up shop in Thenol.

Tirra- Tirra latched onto Auric and Khellek after Khellek convinced Auric to take a leave of absence from the Arena. Neither one knows much about her, other than the fact that she is a Silvaneas that actively avoids any other Silvaneas elves.

NPCs in Diamond Lake (Mine Managers)

Only Ragnolin Dourstone and Ellival Moonmeadow receive any special treatment in this section. The others are essentially unchanged.

Ragnolin Dourstone is a Fianawar Dwarf merchant from a settlement near the Steamwall Mountains. While he and his clansmen are well versed in determining the quality of iron ore and the like, the natural Fianawar paranoia about delving underground keeps them from mining themselves. (The cultists in the Dourstone mines managed to greatly establish themselves before Ragnolin realized what was going on, and one they were established, it was far easier for them to blackmail him).

Ellival Moonmeadow is a Silvaneas elf that has moved to the league, and is considered a full citizen. Ellival has earned a League associated name, but his elven pride keeps him from using it, and he tires quickly of the brutish minotaurs and humans at court. Ellival has a household composed of several other Silvaneas refugees, and shares the normal Silvanesti disdain for half elves. Ellival is actually an expert in this version, a natural singer and performer, and he often attends plays and operas in Kristophan, though he is usually disappointed in their quality.

NPCs in Diamond Lake (The Emporium)

Only Shag Solomon, Tom Shingle, and Ariello Klint are significantly changed, the rest are essentially unchanged.

Shag Solomon is essentially unchanged. He is still an exceptionally intelligent creature from a race of "Wild Men" from the north, but in this case, he is actually a Sasqualaminoi of truly monumental intelligence for that race.

Tom Shingle is actually a gurik cha'ahl. He is known in the Emporium as Tom Shingle, but is actually named Glenmurge, and was taken as a curiosity when an Imperial Legion detachment raided a lair that had been harassing roads. Glenmurge was sold to the Emporium once the legionnaire's curiosity about the creature was spent.

Ariello Klint is a dead serious Marak Kender sorcerer who understands theatrics and plays up his pyrotechnics displays.

Diamond Lake NPCs (The Church of Mislaxa)

The Church of Mislaxa replaces the Church of St. Cuthbert in Taladas. It has a different feel to it than the Church of St. Cuthbert does, since it has more to do with preaching to the downtrodden than browbeating those without hope.

Jierian Wierus (LG male human cleric 7), is a bit more caring than he comes across in other settings. Jeirian however, is preoccupied with convincing others that a time of accounting is coming, and that souls must be right with Mislaxa before end of this Age and the beginning of the new starts. While Jierian is good, he is so concerned with the big picture that those who come to the church often stay at arms length from the head cleric.

Hamaneezer (NG male human cleric 3) is the member of the church that tends to be a bit more accessible. While Jierian is telling the downtrodden that the end is near, Hamaneezer is tending their wounds and trying to re instill in them a sense of hope in the bleakness of Diamond Lake.

Diamond Lake NPCs (The Garrison)

This area is going to have some of the most extensive changes to the published Age of Worms adventures, since the Garrison is specifically the tie to the League of Minotaurs. Despite that, it retrains is essential function as an aloof power base for the Free City (Kristophan).

Centurion Trask Nethiskis (LN male minotaur warrior 10) is the leader of the soldiers stationed at the barracks. While he distinguished himself against the Thenolites in skirmishes years ago, his families' financial problems led to several unsuccessful bouts in the Arena, and the Centurion is forced to serve in a post of little distinction, despite being essentially well respected. Essentially Nethiskis is only concerned that the products of Diamond Lake reach Kristophan and that Kristophan has to take little notice of Diamond Lake.

(The other members of the garrison are little changed, except in relation to other NPCs that might have been altered).

The Chapel of Sargonnas

Valkus Duniskis (LN male minotaur fighter 3/cleric 7) is a valorous and brave priest. He seeks to set a good example to all of the virtues of bravery and strength, and only rarely delves into the harsher aspects of Sargonnas' faith, such as vengeance. Valkus is valued by the members of the garrison, and rarely goes out into Diamond Lake, as it greatly frustrates him to see the lack of organization and the corruption that has crept into the local government.

While Valkus agrees with Jieran Wierus' contention that the common folk must become more mindful of the gods and portents of the future, he still considers Mislaxa a weak goddess, and scoffs at the notion that helping the weak, even if they don't immediately serve a purpose for the League, as folly.

Velias and Melinde do not exist in the form of the Age of Worms, and are instead replaced by two young 3rd level minotaur clerics of Sargonnas.

Diamond Lake NPCs (Wrap Up)

• Tidwoad (Change to Gnomoi gnome, emphasize the precise tools and measuring devices in his shop)
• Golot (Change to half-ogre, change stats to NE male half ogre barbarian 2)
• Jalek (Change to Marak Kender, NE male Marak kender rogue 2)
• Purple Prose (Change to half elf)
• Members of the Greysmere Covenant (Change name to the Steamwall Clan Trading Confederacy, change all dwarves to Fianawar dwarves)

Running the Adventure

Running this adventure should be similar once within the Whispering Cairn no matter what setting the Adventure Path takes place in. The main issue with running this adventure in Taladas is to make sure to roleplay the encounters in town and the background material in a manner that puts the players in mind of the DragonLance saga and Taladas.

One issue that will come up early on is the fact that the writing in the Whispering Cairn is actually High Ogre in this case, and the descriptions of some of the carved images should be slightly different (the high ogres aren't hairless, but are unnaturally beautiful).

There are a few monster substitutions that might give some of the encounters a slightly more DragonLance type feel. Consider replacing the Mad Slashers with Horax, a native Krynn insectile lifeform found in the DragonLance Bestiary (and origination in DragonLance lore in the Time of the Dragon Boxed set).

Kullen's Stats

Kullen is a half-ogre in the Taladas version of the Age of Worms. His stats change in the following regards:

Kullen, Half-Ogre Barbarian 2 (CR 3)
NE Medium Humanoid
Init +1; Senses Low light vision; Listen +5, Spot -1
Languages Common, Giant
AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10; uncanny dodge
hp 25 (2 HD)
Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +0
Spd 40 ft.
Melee +1 greataxe +7 (1d12+6/x3)
Base Atk +2; Grp +6
Attack Options Power Attack
Special Attacks Rage 1/day
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds, potion of jump, potion of mage armor
Abilities Str 19, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 10
SQ fast movement, illiteracy, uncanny dodge
Feats Power Attack
Skills Intimidate +6, Jump +12, Listen +5
Possessions combat gear plus +1 greataxe, 3 gp

Rage (Ex): When he rages, Kullen has the following changed statistics:
  AC 9, touch 9, flat-footed 8
  hp 29 (2 HD)
  Fort +8, Will +2
  Melee +1 greataxe +11 (1d12+8/x3)
  Grp +8
  Abilities Str 23, Con 20
  Skills +14

Filge's Background

Filge works essentially the same way in the Taladas version of the Age of Worms Adventure Path version as he does in the standard version. The only thing that needs to be pointed out is that if the PCs find out anything about his background, he is actually a Thenolite renegade, a fact that will likely make him less likely to obtain any kind of leniency from the minotaurs at the garrison.

Campaign Seed: The Ebon Triad

The only thing that truly needs to be pointed out about the background material presented here is that the Ebon Triad in Taladas is composed of cultists that wish to fuse Sargonnas (Hextor), Chemosh (Vecna), and Hiddukel (Erythnul, the least well matched up of the three).

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