Difference between revisions of "Blackstaff Tower Timeline"

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==Year of the Arch (1353 DR)==
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__NOTOC__
===Chapter One: The Return of Demisante===
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==Book One: Undermountain==
* '''Ches 23rd:''' ''Fleetswake''. In the middle of Fleestwake, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun sends members of his household ([[Ahmadar]], [[Ciro]] and [[Glim]]) to fetch his new apprentice [[Evendur]] from the [[House of Wonder]]. He is introduced to the other apprentices (Aelandelia and Dran Wands), shown his new quarters, given the tour and then has his interview with Khelben for the first time.
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[[Image:Blackstaff-tower-B1.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Ches 26th:''' ''Fleetswake''. Blackstaff Tower is visited by an unassuming wizard who names himself simply "Im" who is a friend of Khelben's.  
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''The name of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, the Archmage of Waterdeep, is known far and wide. An ally of the Harpers and suspected Lord of Waterdeep, the Blackstaff is a force for order in the sometimes wild North.''
** As it turns out, he is Imrul Athelzedar: the Magister of Mystra. He bestows surreptitious gifts of spell scrolls on the apprentices before he and Khelben retire to catch up.  
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** In a few hours, Khelben emerges, announcing that he has to leave with Im for a tenday or so. They depart as evening falls.
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''He is also well-known as a master to a great many wizards of note in the North, including Malchor Harpell and Savengriff. His many apprentices all show a flair for magic that others can only envy, and those who survive training with him inevitably go on to excel at the Art.''
* '''Tarsakh 2nd:''' ''Waukeentide''. As Ciro attends his mother Andedda Melshimber on her first shopping excursion of the year, Dran finds him to reveal that Aelandelia has been arrested by the Watch for thievery.  
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** They fetch the others at the tower, which begins an investigation that reveals the person who actually committed the thievery was none other than the half-elf mage-thief Demisante.  
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''Mentorship with him is not easy, of course - he is often away tending to his other responsibilities and agendas. Even when he is in residence in Waterdeep, he is frequently embroiled in one task or another. Not only must his apprentices show willingness to comb through the materials he leaves them to study, but they must also demonstrate the motivation to get out and find their own opportunities to sharpen their mastery of the Art; indeed, it is no wonder that many of his finest apprentices are skilled adventurers in their own right.''
** In searching for her at the [[Warm Beds Inn]] and [[Sleeping Snake]], they run afoul of some hired toughs: a halfling named Jamis, a wastrel duelist and a pair of short-sword-wielding sailors, who are all beaten handily.
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** They track her to the [[Yawning Portal]], only to discover she is just now being dropped down the well. The group is forced to follow her into [[Undermountain]].
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''But above all, they must demonstrate cunning and resilience, for all too often the enemies that Khelben makes while tending to his interests seek to follow him home - or try to lay waste to what is his in his absence.''
** Though their travails end up in injury for nearly everyone and the actual death of Glim, they find Demisante...in the company of a dwarf named Ahkhalan who is Ahmadar's twin brother! Ahkhalan is a slaver, and his small group is being hosted by some drow in a temple to some god named Selvetarm, depicted as male and sword-wielding. He clearly expects the drow to protect him, but their leader, a priestess named Essra is infuriated that one of his have led outsiders to their temple, and so contemptuously raises the dead halfling, and rescinds the protection of her temple to the slaver and his cohorts.  
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===Year of the Arch (1353 DR)===
** Ahkhalan promises to kill Demisante for her actions, and she switches sides. The apprentices are aided by a half-elven ranger who has been hunting Ahkhalan. The slaver ends up fleeing the scene using a strange horned ring, and they are permitted by the drow to depart. Demisante leads them back out of Undermountain.
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* '''Chapter One: The Return of Demisante:''' ''Ches 23 - Tarsakh 2nd''. In which Evendur first comes to Blackstaff Tower, the apprentices meet the Magister of Mystra, and Aelandelia is framed as a pick-pocket by the notorious (in her own mind) mage-thief Demisante. They track her into Undermountain, where Glim dies (for the first time) and they encounter Ahmadar's twin, a slaver who works for their father. With some well-timed treachery (and ''raise dead'' magic) from drow, the PCs escape Undermountain with Demisante in tow (though Ahkhalan swears revenge against her).
===Chapter 2: An Absent Master===
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* '''Chapter Two: An Absent Master:''' ''Tarsakh 3rd - Tarsakh x''. In which Khelben is expected back, but does not return in time, and their aid is needed in Silverymoon. After attack by a mind flayer, they are introduced to the [[Refuge of Maldiglas]] in Waterdeep, and from there to Silverymoon to research the strange ailment that has befallen Khelben. Though forces (including dopplegangers and manticores) attack the [[Vault of Sages]] to stymie their efforts, they discover the source of the contagion afflicting the Blackstaff, allowing the Magister and Alustriel to affect a rescue by attacking the Beast Lord of Dekanter. They are rewarded with some relaxation time in Silverymoon.
* '''Tarsakh 3rd-14th:''' The students wait for more word from Khelben, which is short in coming. Evendur receives an invitation to dinner from his family, and on the 10th, the nobles celebrate Spheres in style.
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* '''Interlude: The Vintner's Crown:''' ''Greengrass''. In which the PCs are invited by House Melshimber to the great Vintner's Crown event held at the Spires of the Morn. There, they meet all manner of personages of importance in Waterdeep, including the Open Lord Piergeiron and his daughter Aleena (whom Ciro takes a liking to). While they party well into the night, skipping House Melshimber's victory party, some nefarious person steals away the Vintner's Crown from them.
* '''Tarsakh 15th:''' A family dinner thrown by [[House Husteem]] in which the apprentices were invited.
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* '''Interlude: Back In Order:''' ''Mirtul''. In which Aelandelia leaves the tower, Ahmadar finds a place for Demisante at the Tower, Glim chats with a Selûnite named Arathka at the Old Xoblob Shop who knew her mother, Ciro ignores his duties at the Plinth, and a bunch of aranea interrupt a party at the Yawning Portal.
* '''Tarsakh 16th:''' Durnan invites Ahmadar around for a chat, handing him Demisante's belongings.
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* '''Chapter Three: A Brother Taken:''' ''Flamerule''. In which Evendur's brother Olegh has disappeared, the PCs discover he was whisked away by slavers called the Steel Bracers as revenge against the actions of Orlpar Husteem, and they venture back into Undermountain with the help of Ahkhalan to take on the slavers in their subterranean lair and rescue Olegh (and a bunch of other slaves in the process, including some goodly drow faithful of a goddess called Eilistraee). Ciro is killed by umber hulks, and Ahkhalan guides them to Skullport.
** That evening, Glim meets with her old gang leader, "Uncle" Artanial.
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* '''Chapter Four: Into Skullport:''' ''Flamerule''. In which the PCs meet friendly drow who worship a moon goddess, a less-than-friendly drow druidess who aids them regardless, a friendly mind flayer cleric of Oghma who returns Ciro to life and treats him to some tea and gossip while he recovers, and Ahmadar meets his father, Ahmaergo the Horned Dwarf. The faithful of Eilistraee ask for the PCs' help in clearing out a portion of Undermountain nearby for use as a temple space, and the PCs agree, clearing out piercers, eyes of the deep, carrion crawlers, an otyugh that eats (but does not kill) Glim, mind flayers, and some myconids they convince to work with the drow.
* '''Tarsakh 18th:''' Dran receives word from the Magister via ''sending'' - the apprentices are needed in Silverymoon. Something dreadful has happened, and the Magister, Khelben and Lady Alustriel are tending to what is needed, and they need someone they can trust to do the research at the Vault of Sages.
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* '''Downtime:''' ''Flamerule - Nightal''. In which Ahmadar remains in Skullport to get to know his father and learn from a local necromancer, then spends some time in Silverymoon, helping his mother move there and settle down with some of the funds he acquired from Undermountain; Evendur is re-accepted into his family's good graces, renamed Heir, and takes a commission apprenticed under his Aunt Coremita in the field with the Thunderhelms; Ciro returns to Waterdeep's social scene and continues researching his book, continues to gain his aunt's confidences; and Glim begins her training as a Harper, accompanying Daemera of the Bow on a mission to Daggerdale.
** As the apprentices set foot outside the tower, bound for the Magister's Refuge in Mt. Waterdeep, they are attacked by a mind flayer!
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===The Year of the Bow (1354 DR)===
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* '''Downtime:''' ''Hammer - Tarsakh''. In which Ahmadar accepts an invitation to Citadel Adbar to teach some of their Thunder Children with magical potential and study with some of the elders of the Adbarrim about ancient dwarven runic magic; Evendur winters in Waterdeep, studying war magics at the Tower, and welcomes his family back from their winter; Ciro spends winter with his family at the vineyards in Scornubel, returning at the beginning of the season with a new/old love interest; and Glim returns to Hero's Rest after a long winter at the Tower brushing up on her own magics.
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==Book Two: The Magister==
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[[Image:Blackstaff-tower-B2.jpg|center|500px]]
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===The Year of the Bow (1354 DR)===
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* '''Chapter Five: At the MageFaire:''' ''Greengrass''. xxx

Latest revision as of 04:33, 20 July 2016

Book One: Undermountain

Blackstaff-tower-B1.jpg

The name of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, the Archmage of Waterdeep, is known far and wide. An ally of the Harpers and suspected Lord of Waterdeep, the Blackstaff is a force for order in the sometimes wild North.

He is also well-known as a master to a great many wizards of note in the North, including Malchor Harpell and Savengriff. His many apprentices all show a flair for magic that others can only envy, and those who survive training with him inevitably go on to excel at the Art.

Mentorship with him is not easy, of course - he is often away tending to his other responsibilities and agendas. Even when he is in residence in Waterdeep, he is frequently embroiled in one task or another. Not only must his apprentices show willingness to comb through the materials he leaves them to study, but they must also demonstrate the motivation to get out and find their own opportunities to sharpen their mastery of the Art; indeed, it is no wonder that many of his finest apprentices are skilled adventurers in their own right.

But above all, they must demonstrate cunning and resilience, for all too often the enemies that Khelben makes while tending to his interests seek to follow him home - or try to lay waste to what is his in his absence.

Year of the Arch (1353 DR)

  • Chapter One: The Return of Demisante: Ches 23 - Tarsakh 2nd. In which Evendur first comes to Blackstaff Tower, the apprentices meet the Magister of Mystra, and Aelandelia is framed as a pick-pocket by the notorious (in her own mind) mage-thief Demisante. They track her into Undermountain, where Glim dies (for the first time) and they encounter Ahmadar's twin, a slaver who works for their father. With some well-timed treachery (and raise dead magic) from drow, the PCs escape Undermountain with Demisante in tow (though Ahkhalan swears revenge against her).
  • Chapter Two: An Absent Master: Tarsakh 3rd - Tarsakh x. In which Khelben is expected back, but does not return in time, and their aid is needed in Silverymoon. After attack by a mind flayer, they are introduced to the Refuge of Maldiglas in Waterdeep, and from there to Silverymoon to research the strange ailment that has befallen Khelben. Though forces (including dopplegangers and manticores) attack the Vault of Sages to stymie their efforts, they discover the source of the contagion afflicting the Blackstaff, allowing the Magister and Alustriel to affect a rescue by attacking the Beast Lord of Dekanter. They are rewarded with some relaxation time in Silverymoon.
  • Interlude: The Vintner's Crown: Greengrass. In which the PCs are invited by House Melshimber to the great Vintner's Crown event held at the Spires of the Morn. There, they meet all manner of personages of importance in Waterdeep, including the Open Lord Piergeiron and his daughter Aleena (whom Ciro takes a liking to). While they party well into the night, skipping House Melshimber's victory party, some nefarious person steals away the Vintner's Crown from them.
  • Interlude: Back In Order: Mirtul. In which Aelandelia leaves the tower, Ahmadar finds a place for Demisante at the Tower, Glim chats with a Selûnite named Arathka at the Old Xoblob Shop who knew her mother, Ciro ignores his duties at the Plinth, and a bunch of aranea interrupt a party at the Yawning Portal.
  • Chapter Three: A Brother Taken: Flamerule. In which Evendur's brother Olegh has disappeared, the PCs discover he was whisked away by slavers called the Steel Bracers as revenge against the actions of Orlpar Husteem, and they venture back into Undermountain with the help of Ahkhalan to take on the slavers in their subterranean lair and rescue Olegh (and a bunch of other slaves in the process, including some goodly drow faithful of a goddess called Eilistraee). Ciro is killed by umber hulks, and Ahkhalan guides them to Skullport.
  • Chapter Four: Into Skullport: Flamerule. In which the PCs meet friendly drow who worship a moon goddess, a less-than-friendly drow druidess who aids them regardless, a friendly mind flayer cleric of Oghma who returns Ciro to life and treats him to some tea and gossip while he recovers, and Ahmadar meets his father, Ahmaergo the Horned Dwarf. The faithful of Eilistraee ask for the PCs' help in clearing out a portion of Undermountain nearby for use as a temple space, and the PCs agree, clearing out piercers, eyes of the deep, carrion crawlers, an otyugh that eats (but does not kill) Glim, mind flayers, and some myconids they convince to work with the drow.
  • Downtime: Flamerule - Nightal. In which Ahmadar remains in Skullport to get to know his father and learn from a local necromancer, then spends some time in Silverymoon, helping his mother move there and settle down with some of the funds he acquired from Undermountain; Evendur is re-accepted into his family's good graces, renamed Heir, and takes a commission apprenticed under his Aunt Coremita in the field with the Thunderhelms; Ciro returns to Waterdeep's social scene and continues researching his book, continues to gain his aunt's confidences; and Glim begins her training as a Harper, accompanying Daemera of the Bow on a mission to Daggerdale.

The Year of the Bow (1354 DR)

  • Downtime: Hammer - Tarsakh. In which Ahmadar accepts an invitation to Citadel Adbar to teach some of their Thunder Children with magical potential and study with some of the elders of the Adbarrim about ancient dwarven runic magic; Evendur winters in Waterdeep, studying war magics at the Tower, and welcomes his family back from their winter; Ciro spends winter with his family at the vineyards in Scornubel, returning at the beginning of the season with a new/old love interest; and Glim returns to Hero's Rest after a long winter at the Tower brushing up on her own magics.

Book Two: The Magister

Blackstaff-tower-B2.jpg

The Year of the Bow (1354 DR)

  • Chapter Five: At the MageFaire: Greengrass. xxx