If you disagree with a rule here, you can talk it out with me.

Probably the most applicable rule is this : if a houserule isn't listed here, we're probably not using it. Experience isn't increased, no free expertise feats, enemies are not marked when they leave your defender aura, etc. (the last one requires a feat to be defined later)

As this game is testing the waters for an actual Dark Sun game, we're going to use some of the rules from the Dark Sun game catalogue and some from different Dark Sun rules sources. You might want to familiarize yourself with information about your race, place of origin, and power source before you make a character.

Yes, this specific game might not use all that character stuff, but it's in preparation for the next one to make sure everything works properly. If you like your character, you can reuse it in the next game (unless you do something really awful), but the events of this game will be mostly non-canon.

Making a Character

We're starting this game at level 1.

You're restricted to the following classes and their subclasses when making a character, and cannot multiclass into any class not listed. Hybrids are not allowed, and the Divine power source does not exist in this setting - anything with the Divine keyword cannot be used here. Classes such as the artificer, swordmage, and bladesinger are (apparently) setting-specific, and so cannot be used here without a good (story) reason (being transplanted from another plane does not count as a good story reason).
-Ardent
-Assassin (Executioner)

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If you disagree with a rule here, you can talk it out with me.

Probably the most applicable rule is this : if a houserule isn't listed here, we're probably not using it. Experience isn't increased, no free expertise feats, enemies are not marked when they leave your defender aura, etc. (the last one requires a feat to be defined later)

As this game is testing the waters for an actual Dark Sun game, we're going to use some of the rules from the Dark Sun game catalogue and some from different Dark Sun rules sources. You might want to familiarize yourself with information about your race, place of origin, and power source before you make a character.

Yes, this specific game might not use all that character stuff, but it's in preparation for the next one to make sure everything works properly. If you like your character, you can reuse it in the next game (unless you do something really awful), but the events of this game will be mostly non-canon.

Gameplay

Some rules won't be used in this particular game. This is just groundwork for the next one.

There is only one dungeon in this game, and it's pretty short.

Leveling up happens during an extended rest after you've acquired enough experience to progress to the next level.

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This adventure is non-canon.

Kavalar Aren, a dwarf archeologist, led a couple of dozen volunteers into what they believed to be old dwarven ruins to obtain artifacts. Several months ago, they began underground exploration operations, as well as a surface excavation for a small keep. Hearing of this development, the mayor of the nearby town of Altaruk sent two militia members to investigate. They should have returned two days ago, and the mayor is growing restless.

The representative of the merchant house in Altaruk has asked you to find out what happened to the two militia members, and those they were sent to protect.

"Most disturbing... zat could explain a few zings," Tainya replies thoughtfully, rubbing her chin as she does so. "'Er be'avior did seem a bit, 'ow you say, off. 'Ou don't suppose zat ze Basilisk's Gaze set us up?"

Once things are sorted out, Tainya approaches the resident enchanter and describes in detail the items she wants procured from the residuum they have gathered.

Upgrade from heroic/+2 to paragon/+3: Manual of Ninjutsu, Flowform Drowmesh, Deep-Pocket Cloak, Bracers of the Perfect Shot, Eagle Eye Goggles, then have the following produced: Elven Chain Shirt, Ring of Giants, Ring of Fury, and Backlash Tattoo. Once these are made should have about 100k residuum remaining of my cut, which I'll share with whoever else needs it.

Raki, huh... she was acting strangely initially.

"Gilgamesh, what, exactly, is odd about the poem?"

Kuro's exclamation causes a brief panic among the passengers, Mari hugging her daughter close in response. Tainya's follow-up causes Narerka to step forward, but before he can get a word out, he is cut off by the lady of House Phiarlan. "It would explain a lot. Leaving us to do their dirty work." Parthia shuffles her papers and poses a question, "however, they appear to have left one of their prized enforcers in the dark about it, unless you know something we don't, Mister Narerka?"

The half elf shakes his head in response. "Then they either sent an asset to its death, or they were also decieved." This seems to take the accusatory glares away from Narerka, as the party hands their prizes to Mark and asks him for enchantments. Were his jaw not properly hinged, it would likely hit the floor, then bite Gardain for killing any chance of profiting from this.

When Sophie poses her question to Gilgamesh, he stops paying attention to the pastry cart briefly to give an answer : "Well they were poems, but mostly about how she did it, or who was next. Things that only made sense in retrospect. None of this prophetic, sky-killing mumbo jumbo." He's otherwise busy trying to create goodwill, telling a story of how he defended the bridge from an attack on both sides using the pies and pastries. He makes crashing sounds as the pie pushes the rest of the food off the cart. Cooke does not express any goodwill whatsoever for this.

The rest of the trip is, barring a instances of scare tactics, mostly uneventful. The car shakes the next day after somebody attempts to disconnect it partway, but nobody takes the bluff, and the offending vehicles are hooked back together. Any sweeps done of the train reveal no new information, as though the killer had already left. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, gets away long enough to convince the Lord of Blades that the King in Red will be delivered to him at Thronehold, they just have to

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"Sure thing."
Narerka follows along the group, sticking close to Raki, his hand on his scabbard, ready to draw.

Perception check : http://orokos.com/roll/120696 (7)

"Yeah, al'right." Melech followed after Tainya and kept his guard up.

Perception check: http://orokos.com/roll/121852 (27)

Glad Tainya's taking the initiative, Sophie follows along, sticking with Melech.
"I do hope we find the killer soon, lest we lost any more lives."
http://orokos.com/roll/121864 (14)

With everybody ready, the investigation begins in earnest.

Serving Car - Literally nothing interesting here. This car probably wasn't even needed for the current trip, but was too much trouble to detach.

Kitchen Car - It's cold in here. It's very, very cold. Everyone finds the same things that Sora saw earlier. The big chests spewing out icy fog, the metal crates (full of meats and other perishables), the bottles of spices and herbs, the sacks and sacks of flour and sugar, and all the standard kitchen items. The cake beast from earlier stands docile inside its magic circle, gumdrop eyes fixed ahead. Mari refuses to go near it and has to be guided by her mother with her eyes shut.

Storage Car - No trace of the monsters from earlier. Miri was very thorough, and while the car doesn't exactly gleam, there's no trace of dirt, cobwebs, or slime that anyone can find. Inside the various sacks and crates, everyone is able to scrounge up a lot of (now worthless) pre-war bonds. Melech's keen eye discovers a false bottom in one of the crates, which contains 120 gold's worth of arcane reagents stashed away. None of the other objects share this trait.

Caboose - Lance is sleeping back here at the moment, laying on a wall-mounted cot held up by chains. The car has several wooden benches, likely to accommodate for third-class passengers. There's a set of controls back here that Kuro notes is similar to those at the front of the train, minus the eye-catching gadgetry and light shows. On opposite sides, two glass pillars glow with light from within, the personnel calling them 'back-ups'. For what, none of them know.

1st Class Cabin - In a hidden compartment of their luggage, Melech and Sophie happen to find a sending stone. Neither of them packed one, and it's unclear who this one is attuned to. Attempts to speak into it produce no results at the time.

Murder Scene - A closer examination finds the markings from earlier to be the remains of some sort of resin. The markings lead up the wall from the tub to the ceiling, and from the ceiling to the door. The markings are about arm'

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>>7
"So that means I'll be the one to do all the work basically ?"

Narerka lets out a heavy sigh.

"Well, I guess that's why I am here in the first place after all.
Is there anything else you want to add ? If not, then I'll be going."

>>8
Raki brightens considerably, giving a smile to her guardian. She thoughtfully adds, "Be discreet, and tell me if you find anything. They won't do anything until they reach their goal, since they need somebody to operate the train. Just keep this secret, though; don't let them know we're on to them or they might do something drastic." She looks sleepy again, standing up from the chair and yawning softly. "For now, I'm going to sleep. Don't wake me until there's a break in the case, please."

>>9
"Alright, I'll be going then. Take care of yourself in the meantime."

Narerka leaves with a handwave, Moris still on his shoulder sends a little meowing of departing to Raki.

"Look. I ain't trusting nobody here. I know it isn't my place to order you, but the situation requires it.
I want to see you keep close to me from now on. Don't stray away from me at any cost, and do not try to provoke anyone the way you did again, we don't want to stir up more trouble that there already is. And above all, do not trust anybody. I hope I made myself clear.
And if you got any kind of leads, clues, on what the fuck's happening and if it has any links with the assassins, inform me immediately."

Many different myths have been told about the creation of the world and the early years of Eberron. One tale, however, is widely accepted as the truth by the majority of the beings of Eberron.

Common Knowledge:At the beginning of time, called the Age of Dragons, three progenitor dragons fought. Proud Siberys was slain by dark Khyber, who in turn was bound by vibrant Eberron. The scattered remains of Siberys, the Dragon Above, became the ring that encircles the world, and its scales became the stars. The body of Eberron, the Dragon Between, formed the sea and continents. Under the surface, the bones and blood of Khyber, the Dragon Below, created labyrinthine passages.

History or Religion DC 10: Life sprang from the dragons' blood spilled in the great battle. The blood of Siberys became the dragons of the earth. Khyber's blood, oozing up from the depths of the world, became fiends and demons. These races quickly resumed the fight that their progenitors began. Eberron's children, though more numerous and varied, could not match the might of the other progenitor's offspring.

Just as Khyber triumphed over Siberys, the fiends drove the dragons away, trapping them on the land of Argonnessen. Although battles continued, a balance of power was struck, with the dragons unable to push beyond their one continent and the demons unable to crush them utterly. This stalemate lasted for a million years and is referred to as the Age of Demons.

History or Religion DC 15: The world changed when the dragons discovered what has come to be called the Draconic Prophecy and found allies - the couatls. According to legend, these celestial creatures were formed from the pure blood of Siberys before it struck Eberron. Like the dragons, they had hidden from and feared the fiends. Together, the dragons and the couatls launched a new war against the fiends.

After thousands of years, the war ended when the couatls discovered a way to imprison the most powerful of the demons: the couatls would sacrifice their spirits to form the prison. The dragons launched a final assault, incurring significant casualties to keep the fiends preoccupied wh

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The wisest dragons contend that the world was born in battle. According to myth, the emptiness before creation was the domain of three mighty dragons. Golden Siberys was the source of all magic. Gentle Eberron was the fountain of life. Cruel Khyber was the master of secret knowledge, and of the powers that lurk in the darkness. Together, they held dominion over the fate of all, and they pondered the proper shape of the universe.
In the beginning, the Progenitors worked together. They started with the thirteen planes, but as they molded reality, rifts began to form between them. Dark Khyber grew greedy, and noble Siberys responded by becoming more forceful; each sought greater influence in the work. Daanvi, Fernia, and Irian bear the prevailing mark of Siberys. Kythri, Mabar, and Xoriat show the dominant touch of Khyber. Eberron sought to mediate but could not bridge the divide.

When it came time to create the final, central plane, the tensions between Siberys and Khyber could not be contained. The dark one tore into her sibling, mortally wounding the gold dragon and scattering his scales across the sky. Although not powerful enough to defeat her, Eberron knew that Khyber could not be allowed to benefit from her deeds. The gentle one refused to fight Khyber with claw and tooth. Instead, Eberron embraced her, trapping Khyber within her smothering coils. Eberron called on the powers of life, giving birth to soil, tree, and ocean, and so transformed herself into a living prison that Khyber could never escape.

Thus Eberron became the world on which all life grew. To this day, she nurtures and sustains all. Siberys' remains became the ring around the world; his scattered scales became the stars. Khyber remains trapped within - the Dragon Below, the Mother of Monsters, the source of all darkness - forever struggling to escape and bring an end to it all.