The Borderlands Campaign - The Sinister Stone of Sakkara- Session One Report

 Go to sit in on a Castles & Crusades game of  "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" & my Dwarvian Priest PC Mikia Mechanicus  got a chance to meet up with the party outside of the Greco Roman style desert fortress of Türos Tem. The regular  merchant caravans from the nearby town of Siadanos have come under attack! And so after doing a bit of recon and shopping. We laid in for the night and got a feel for the fortress & nearby villages. And we noticed several signs of increased beastmen & Chaos activity. All of this connects up with what I wrote about on the blog here back on August 22. 
 

And it's this connection that conerns us as players & DM's. There's a threat of the Lovecraftian within the "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" that harkens around the cults of Chaos. These cults have been spreading across the world without mercy or end. There's been little to stop the corruption or the Chaos. 
And much of this connects with the musings of Brian Young's Castles & Crusades Codex Classicum which we used for gods, equipment, etc. in today's game. 

During today's game the party got caught in a sand storm and came faced to face with a party of gnolls just outside of one of the raided villages! Chaos itself is centered on destroying the pseudo-Roman empire keep in an Ancient Egyptian/Mesopotamian culture war. We were able to find this out after questioning one of the gnoll warriors that we managed to capture. 
He turned out to be one of the bodyguards of the local Chaos priests. The gnoll warrior turned on our knight of Horus The Avenger. But took him out before he had a chance to bite his throat out. We went back to the fortress to spend the night and rest up. 
We have yet to come across any sign of the copper rings from  "Stains upon the Green". 

S7 Stains Upon The Green, Adventurer, Conqueror, King Rpg, & the Borderlands Campaign - The Red Tide Comes Rolling In

 "Stains upon the Green"'s copper rings might lead to other places and circumstands. And one of these might well be into dire trouble. Imagine stepping through the rings and landing on an island someplace in the middle of nowhere. 

Back about two years ago I got deeply involved in a Red Tide campaign that DM Steve a friend of mine and fellow DM was running. Now once again I've been thinking about the Latter Earth setting from the  Worlds Without Number rpg and my recent brush with "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara".

Red Tide is a sort of a post apocalpytic island crawl, and it got me thinking about the idea that the campaign setting of Worlds Without Number is actually tied into 'Red Mist'. The 'red mist' has devoured sections of the world and what's left behind is not pretty. Now imagine for a moment that the Red Mist threatens X1 The Isle of Dread. 

Now let's take this island hopping campaign idea further afield for a moment. That only Dwarves of 'noble' linage know what's going on with the Red Mist. And this could in point of fact threaten not only this world but Earth or other plane Primes as well! 

The reed tide could potentially be the 'real threat' and the forces of Chaos know this! And they've been planning on bringing this horror rolling into the campaign world. And we've got the Dwarves who are the only ones who know a. what it is & b.what lurks in the depths of the red mist. 
And this also showcases the fact that Castles & Crusades could be used as the basis OSR system here. And it's here where the DM could turn things on thier ear by doing an island hopping campaign and have the PC's come across Dark Wizard games module number #6 The Moving Maze of the Mad Master! DW#6 is actually an island encounter with the PC's with mad master's maze infront and red mist at their backs! 
More on this one next time when we tie all of this together! 

S7 Stains Upon The Green, Adventurer, Conqueror, King Rpg, & the Borderlands Campaign - Castles & Crusades & Adventurer,Conqueror,King Rpg

 Its been extra busy at my day job and so this blog entry is a bit late today. And add to that I've had to go out as well. And this blog entry is going to pivot on yesterday's here. 

When it comes to Adventurer, Conqueror, King, Rpg the levels are similar to Moldvay/Cook. And this makes it easier to deal with when converting back and forth with Castles & Crusades. Where do I know this from Tim Brannon of the Otherside blog entry from June 12th of course; " Adventurer Conqueror King System also limits characters in terms of levels.  While AS&SH goes to 12, ACKs tops off at 14.  ACKs is also closer to my favorite version of D&D, Moldvay Basic/Cook-Marsh Expert.  In fact all three systems do work pretty well together.  In fact I tend to think of the world used in ACKs as being just a little "south" of the world in AS&SH.  I have not spent as much time with ACKs as the other games, but what I have played I do like." And all three systems work very well with Castles & Crusades. And yes, I do realize that ACKII is going be hiting kickstarer any day according to Autarch's twitter account; "A playtester of ACKS II has written a detailed write-up of his thoughts about the game. It's the sort of review that makes a game designer feel the pain was all worth it. Check it out here:

https://reddit.com/r/Autarch/comments/15xs8qm/1e2emy_experiences_so_far/?share_id=F8i8f6ms7Fa8mwGHPpaZE…" 

Back to the task at hand here, which is the fact that C&C & ACK's can work well together as an OSR combo pack. There are few factors here to consider. The levels of both games top out at about 13 or 14th.  And both games even though are OSR they have totally different end games. 
With this in mind is the fact that C&C has some excellent adventure modules that can be used with ACK's Mesopamian/Roman setting especially 

Castles & Crusades A1 Assault on Blacktooth Ridge

And this goes right into line with ACK's Borderlands campaign setting. And it comes right into play with Gry Gygax's B2 Keep on the Borderlands. A1 could be theoritically be set on the norther part of the Borderlands kingdoms. 

And the forces of A1 could well be linked as another series of agents of Chaos that have been put into play from within to destablize the Borderland kingdoms themselves. 
And this plays back into an idea that was born out  because Choas been setting this up for years now with Chaos monsters and agents endless sewing discord in the smaller hamlets and areas. Case in point is  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands. Here is where the humanoids begin to become a real issue. 

Chaos setting itself up for a protracted gorilla war within the Borderland kingdoms could in essence be the start with a huge war with Chaos itelf. Perhaps the 'abandoned'  Dwarven City in Stains on the Green is actualy a trap left by Chaos forces within the Borerlands to keep the PC's guessing or to end them or other adventurers like them. 
This harkens back to Dwarven legends from ACK's

By This Axe: The Cyclopedia of Dwarven Civilization

. 

S7 Stains Upon The Green, Adventurer, Conqueror, King Rpg, & the Borderlands Campaign - The Sinister Stone of Sakkara

 Sometimes one has to come at a campaign ass backwards. And in this case it's with "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" By  Matthew Skail, & Alexander Macris. And this picks up from here on the blog. Clocking in at eighty pages AX1 The Sinister Stone of Sakkara is an introductory adventure for the Adventurer,Conqueror, King system hearkening back to classic TSR era B/X adventures such as Keep of The Borderlands.

And it's this connection that conerns us as players & DM's. There's a threat of the Lovecraftian within the "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" that harkens around the cults of Chaos. These cults have been spreading across the world without mercy or end. There's been little to stop the corruption or the Chaos. 
Chaos grows unchecked without pattern or rhyme or so it seems and yet if we look deeper;"For over a century, the stronghold of Türos Tem has guarded the borderlands from the beastmen of the wild lands beyond. Now, despite the ever-watchful eye of Türos Tem’s guards, beastmen raiders have somehow gained a foothold in the Viaspen Forest to the north, from which they have begun striking at the nearby settlements. Local farms and hamlets have been sacked and pillaged, and entire families have gone missing." 
Chaos itself is centered on destroying the pseudo-Roman empire keep in an Ancient Egyptian/Mesopotamian culture that they have yet conquer. And the keep itself in "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" can serve as a microcosmic reflection of the themes of the decline of the Dwarves within "Stains upon the Green". 

But there's a doorway between the keeps & the power of civilization represented by the PC's through the 'Rings of Brass';" Rings of Brass, magical portals that lead to dwarven roads carved through the planes. It is specifically designed for use in bridging the Lands of Ursal in Aihrde with the Free City of Eskadia in the Haunted Highlands." And it's through the 'Rings of Brass' that the PC's are going to win! How?! 

Stains Upon The Green, Adventurer, Conqueror, King Rpg, & the Borderlands Campaign - Cults of Chaos

 Let's pick it up on the blog right from here. And we've got Europe in tatters Chaos is on the ascendency. Where does this leave the humans?! Well with one group of humanity it leaves them in Chaos's grip in this case with the cults of Chaos. Dark Albion: Cults of Chaos is perfect for this adventure inclusion especially if it's coupled with B2 Keep on the Borderland By Gary Gygax. 

We go back to 'Caves of Chaos' and instead of the usual humanoids we incorporate Chaos monsters right out of Random Esoteric Creature Generator for Classic Fantasy Role-Playing Games and Their Modern Simulacra.
These humanoids are 'charmed' by the magic of the Caves of Chaos. The second that they leave the caverns they are fully under the influence of Chaos. 

This is only the start of it as the agents of Chaos have been sewing discord across Europe. Because items and relics of Chaos have been planted in temples, shrines, etc. across the continent. This ties in with  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands. Agents causing mayhem across your campaign using either ACK's, Lamentations, or even Castles & Crusades. Eruope is literally going to be in flames at this point. Or so it seems and here's where the humanoid forces start to raid deep into Europe, France, Spain, Germany, Etc. Why?

Because they've been setting this up for years now with Chaos monsters and agents endless sewing discord in the smaller hamlets and areas. Case in point is  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands. Here is where the humanoids begin to become a real issue. 

If there are human agents within the Cults of Chaos then your going to suddenly begin seeing them surging out to help in the humanoid Chaos armies 'divine' cause. In the middle of all of this the Elven warriors, wizards and leaders are preparing the way! 

And the only hope may in point of fact lay within  the lead from Stains upon the Green's abandoned Dwarven city straight into Dark Wizard's #4 Vault of the Dwarven King. The PC's are going to have to parley with the Dwarves and thier knowledge of the rise of Chaos! 

Stains Upon The Green, Adventurer, Conqueror, King Rpg, & the Borderlands Campaign

 When it comes to 'Secrets of the Nethercity'  has some great intercity tombs & twisting dungeon halls throughout. The fact that Secrets of the Nethercity is a part of the Capital of the Borderlands seldom gets mentioned among ACK's and OSR folks. And while thier not exclusive to the use of each other in the past our group have used the Elves as a part of the head of the Chaos moment within our Borderlands campaign And this is right in the by line of the 'Secrets to The Nethercity' description; "Cyfaraun is a city of ancient lineage. The name itself is an Auran corruption of its original elven name, Cyfarawn. Evidence of elven construction is still visible in the city’s oldest district, today called Old Cyfaraun. Many city residents know that Old Cyfaraun was founded atop an earlier settlement – Ancient Cyfaraun, buried by cataclysmic ashes over 500 years ago.

Only the most illustrious sages are aware that the Ancient City was itself built over an even deeper ruin, a Forgotten Cyfaraun, a city brought low by an earthquake almost 2,000 years ago. Forgotten Cyfaraun was reduced to rubble but its lasting legacy is a hidden Nethercity, a treacherous place of twisting tunnels, dusty catacombs, and black, volcanic caves that waits, forgotten and unplumbed - until now…"

And this goes back into one of the bits about ACK's adventure modules that I love. The modular nature of ACK's as a product line. You as the DM can fit them into your campaign as you like. Alexander Marcus isn't standing over your shoulder telling you that your doing it wrong. And in point of fact encourages DM's to exclore the ACK's system at thier own pace. The Sinister Stone of Sakkara plugs into 'Secrets of the Nethercity'  rather nicely & a party could backdoor into the adventure or play through quite nicely. And here's where I'd plug in B2 Keep on the Borderlands with it's fortress and the Chaos sympathizers and turn coat NPC's. 

Run B2 with either ACK's or Lamentations of the Flame Princess as per usual with black powder weapons being rare. The Orcs might have the occasional matchlock or flint lock but thier incredibly rare. The PC's take over the keep per usual and expand into the caves of Chaos. Events take a definitely sinister tone or twist here. 
Replace the humanoids of the Caves of Chaos with Chaos monsters right out of Random Esoteric Creature Generator for Classic Fantasy Role-Playing Games and Their Modern Simulacra. Then stand back and watch the 'fun'. That hermit suddenly becomes a whole lot more important. 
This ties in with  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands. Agents causing mayhem across your campaign using either ACK's, Lamentations, or even Castles & Crusades.

And these events tie into this blog entry here & we could even use Lion & Dragon or Dark Albion to give a slight more grounded series of Chaos cults that have been going across Europe and destablizing regions to make them ripe for total Chaos to reign. 

And this goes back into  the lead from Stains upon the Green's abandoned Dwarven city straight into Dark Wizard's #4 Vault of the Dwarven King. Chaos wants to seize control of the terror weapon of the Dwarves the Lava Elemental. And for this I'd grab  Adventurer,Conqueror, King's By This Axe for all of the Dwarven details.
The PC's would really need to seize the reigns of power to steer Europe away from total collapse. 

Return To S7 Stains Upon The Green By Stephen Chenault For The Castles & Crusades Rpg - Castles & Crusades Rpg Campaign Update - Roman & Dwarven Connections

 
So this is going to picks straight up from here on our blog.  And this is going to tie directly into The Codex Classicum. 
The events depicted here are going to be taking place at the tale end of the Roman Empire.. The empire is contracting. The barbarian tribes are expanding and Chaos sees an opportunity. 

So looking over my old campaign notes for our Castles & Crusades Borderlands game adventures and  a lot of this campaign was centered around B2 Keep on The Borderlands by Gary Gygax. And one of the things that strikes me is how the humanoids in the Caves of Chaos are the makings of an army ready to strike! The forces of Chaos could well be a stand in or a disruption of the Germanic tribes who lead to the fall of Rome. And this ties into Dark Wizard Games &  my buddy Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands.

The events within Caves of Chaos set up the next round of this according to my notes. How? Well with Europe in shambles and Rome about to fall the big push here comes from the forces of Chaos. And those forces are creating chaos across the ruins of the empire. The Drow send one of thier agents to help and the Germanic tribes are not immune to the machinations of Chaos. 

Imagine if you will that  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands takes place in Germany & events of B2 trigger off the fungi and orgres of Village of the Borderlands. And this could lead from Stains upon the Green's abandoned Dwarven city straight into Dark Wizard's #4 Vault of the Dwarven King. Chaos wants to seize control of the terror weapon of the Dwarves the Lava Elemental. 

And here is where Tar Kiln comes into play because the Dwarves abandoned it for a reason. Sure they've been in steep decline since the last Ice Age as per By This Axe.I 

  wasable to  grab Adventurer,Conqueror, King's By This Axe for all of the Dwarven details. And given the Dwarves aversion to necromancy some of the reason for the Dwarves to abandoned Tar Kiln is evident.. Would some renagade tribe of Germanic barbarians try to sieze the place? 

Return To S7 Stains Upon The Green By Stephen Chenault For The Castles & Crusades Rpg - Castles & Crusades Rpg Campaign Update

 "Stains upon the Green thrusts the characters into the Tar Kiln, where the ruins of an old dwarven ring fort offers them refuge from the wilderness and its many dangers. Beyond the parapet’s walls and the ruined barbican that breaches them stands a keep, built on these borderlands long ago. Abandoned now to the wilderness, its secrets are ripe for the taking. But within it lies a secret portal that others wish to use, to bridge the gap between worlds."

"The adventure is set upon the borderlands known as the Tar Kiln, a wilderness that lies beyond the northern marches of the Kingdom of Kayomar. Here the rolling hills and mixed pine and hardwood forests give refuge to creatures great and small; boars the size of ponies, giant wolves, and massive cave bears. There are also bull headed men and long toothed tigers, grim faced giants, and trolls. They come for the hunt, for the elk and deer are plentiful and large. It is a broken country, littered with tar pits that lay in bleak silence like stains on a canvas" 

S7 Stains Upon The Green By Stephen Chenault is one of those adventures that I ran last year. And it introduced the Tar Kiln which in our Ancient Europe campaign is the ancient reigns of the Dwarven Kingdoms. For our Castles & Crusades games this is a realm scared to the Dwarves of Old. 
Now I've been invited to return to the Tar Kiln & really flesh out the ancient Dwarven holdings. And something that I did last year was to grab Adventurer,Conqueror, King's By This Axe for all of the Dwarven details. 

The Dwarves have been on a steep decline since the age of last Ice Age. And they are desparate to regain a foot hold once again. The gateway leads to unknown realms such as Clark Ashton Smith's Zothique. 
The ancient Dwarven kings preserved the old ways and this is where By This Axe  comes into play. The ancient kings preserved many of the prehistoric animals and species that made up thier diet. And lent themselves to dealing a small preserve of thier world.
And this get's deeper into some of the mysteries being woven into the tapestry of Tar Kiln itself. Where and when did the Old Kings leave? Were they killed, murdered, or did they leave the world entirely.  
With two hardcore Dwarven players in the mix things are about to heat up. And I've got a few surprises in mind. And I've already been considering mixing in a good deal of the Borderlands campaign into this. Already there's been jokes about how Egypt is the land of necromancers. And fortunately the guys over at Danger Forge hook me up with Desert Denizens.  Desert Denizens is easy to use with Castles & Crusades Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium. Even though it's gonna take a bit of work with the mythological bent or not because these will be deadly necromanctic perversions going on.