The Starchildren Cometh
A new church has been spreading in Akshus since the start of the war. Promising rapture, glory and vengeance, the Church of the Starchildren is making its own dreadful mark upon the land. With strange biological, psionic and technological weapons, its power is slowly spreading as it activates old relics and unearths ancient weapon-staches. But the Church itself is merely an harbinger, as the Starchild itself is coming closer to the world. It will take the form of a dark messiah, and spreads its wicked tendrils around the world.
Themes
The theme of the Church is that people who are hurt or angry will find a way to channel that anger into something, and may be manipulated by a force beyond their understanding without their knowledge whiel doing so.
Relations
Allies
Elirdain
Elirdain is a githzherai zerth who fights to remove the Gold Empire from Akshus, but who is bound by the Prime Oath: fighting the limbo-born. Seeing that the Church of the Starchildren worship the Starchildren, he belives it likely that they are the precursor to something worse and must be stopped. He has seen that the Owls are honourable and good allies, and has decided to work with them in the fight against the starchildren. He has with him a Godsuit he will use to fight his enemies if he must.
He has also found an ally in the honourable Theowulf, whom he now works with to destroy the Starchildren. He has put himself at Theowulf's disposition until such a time as the Starchildren are defeated, trusting that Theowulf won't betray him. He is currently in the Ye'or delta, scouting out the Factory and preparing it for the attack.
Theowulf
Theowulf is the witchhunter who leads the imperial effort against the Starchildren. He is known for his ruthless efficiency, and for his pragmatism. He has recruited the Owls and Elirdain to his cause and now works to finally dismantle the Church. He is currently in the Ye'or delta, preparing for the attack on the Factory and scouting out Starchildren positions, with the intention of letting loose hell on them once the Factory has been taken and the element of surprise lost.
Elirdain is a githzherai zerth who fights to remove the Gold Empire from Akshus, but who is bound by the Prime Oath: fighting the limbo-born. Seeing that the Church of the Starchildren worship the Starchildren, he belives it likely that they are the precursor to something worse and must be stopped. He has seen that the Owls are honourable and good allies, and has decided to work with them in the fight against the starchildren. He has with him a Godsuit he will use to fight his enemies if he must.
He has also found an ally in the honourable Theowulf, whom he now works with to destroy the Starchildren. He has put himself at Theowulf's disposition until such a time as the Starchildren are defeated, trusting that Theowulf won't betray him. He is currently in the Ye'or delta, scouting out the Factory and preparing it for the attack.
Theowulf
Theowulf is the witchhunter who leads the imperial effort against the Starchildren. He is known for his ruthless efficiency, and for his pragmatism. He has recruited the Owls and Elirdain to his cause and now works to finally dismantle the Church. He is currently in the Ye'or delta, preparing for the attack on the Factory and scouting out Starchildren positions, with the intention of letting loose hell on them once the Factory has been taken and the element of surprise lost.
Adversaries
The Void Prophet
Backdrops
Locations
The Knife Temple
What the party will learn in the Knife Temple:
The Iron Temple
The Iron Temple has permanently open large portals for transportation between itself and the Star Temple. The Iron Temple is protected by many cyborgs and soldiers. The only way to access the temple is through an underwater cave system. The caves are guarded by enough Sea Cyborgs for a medium encounter. If these are alerted, the temple will be ready for fighting. The outside of the Iron Temple is a harbor for the church's submarine. There is one main entrance into the iron temple, but the Owls can find other vents and such that lead inside and use those. Inside the Iron Temple are three levels.
The first one massive construction lines and factories for producing all manner of war materiel, alongside operating rooms for creating cyborgs. As the end of the war is nearing, this level is heavily defended by starchildren in strategic positions and boobytrapped. Most of the area has also been flooded, to deny the enemy easy use of the facilities. There are also aquatic cyborgs patrolling these ares. There are massive third generation cyborgs, the only ones of their kind, here. Underwater there is a portal that was recently disengaged, that can be controlled from the third level. To use it, one would have to open up the space with aquakinetic generators, which would attract a lot of attention, getting a Medium encounter of Starchildren Troopers into the are. There are also four Third Generation Cyborgs in the area, which I will have to make rules for
The second level consists of research areas dedicated to project Avatar. There are concept designs, a few newly-designed weapons and similar things. A successful DC 20 Investigation check will reveal that all these things were recently copied onto an external data-device. The portal can be activated from here, alongside the aquakinetic generators.
The Owls can see light active in the third floor. Sulaiman is up here, force pistol in hand, ready to protect his son. In one room is Sulaiman's quarters, his personal workshop (where his son's android is) and his son's room, where the two of them are hiding.
Trying to enter the Iron Temple, one will thus:
The Helix Temple has a permanently open portal for transportation between itself and the Star Temple.
The Star Temple
The Star Temple is the largest temple under control by the Church, and the most well-protected. It is the site of the final confrontation between the Owls and the Void Prophet.
If the Iron Temple is allerted, the Star Temple's guardians will be on alert too. The Star Temple is a sprawling complex, and the Church has gathered almost all its forces here. The "temple proper" consists of several levels and battlements. As the fighting begins, the temple shakes as its levels suddenly rearrange and most of the temple moves from being underground to above ground. This happens during a combat, of course.
The portal from Iron Temple leads to a massive armoury, heavily defended by starhcildren. This was where the Church would prepare its weapons from the Iron temple.
The Owls will be tasked with finding and killing the Prophet, so they will try to get to the inner temple. Just after they get there the temple will rise from the sands, and they will feel rising into the air and vibrations as the Prophet's gunship flies.
Inner Temple
One level is dedicated to the Church's research projects, with different rooms for the different projects. In all these rooms data has been recently transferred to an external drive, which can be discovered with a succesful DC 20 Invesigation check.
Ascending from this temple one can find the Prophet's own inner sanctum. It is a strange octagonal room, cold like the void with black walls lke a dark void that seem to stretch into infinity. In the center is a great throne from where the Prophet can sit and look upon his subjects.
Ground Zero
The landing site for the starchildren vessel disguised as an meteor. This will be a crater of broken glass, warm vents, with many fire elementals climbing through the wreckage. The meteor itself will be at the center of the crater, and going insdie will reveal the astral ship of the starchild.
What the party will learn in the Knife Temple:
- The location of all major temples in the Church
- What sects they belong to and their purposes, alongside their defensive measures. In particular that the Star Temple is heavily fortified against attacks from the surface.
- That both the Helix and Iron temples have permanent portals open to the Star Temple. The Iron Temple has big portals for moving larger machines and more people at once. Ideally the party will choose to assault either one or the other to attack the Star Temple.
The Iron Temple
The Iron Temple has permanently open large portals for transportation between itself and the Star Temple. The Iron Temple is protected by many cyborgs and soldiers. The only way to access the temple is through an underwater cave system. The caves are guarded by enough Sea Cyborgs for a medium encounter. If these are alerted, the temple will be ready for fighting. The outside of the Iron Temple is a harbor for the church's submarine. There is one main entrance into the iron temple, but the Owls can find other vents and such that lead inside and use those. Inside the Iron Temple are three levels.
The first one massive construction lines and factories for producing all manner of war materiel, alongside operating rooms for creating cyborgs. As the end of the war is nearing, this level is heavily defended by starchildren in strategic positions and boobytrapped. Most of the area has also been flooded, to deny the enemy easy use of the facilities. There are also aquatic cyborgs patrolling these ares. There are massive third generation cyborgs, the only ones of their kind, here. Underwater there is a portal that was recently disengaged, that can be controlled from the third level. To use it, one would have to open up the space with aquakinetic generators, which would attract a lot of attention, getting a Medium encounter of Starchildren Troopers into the are. There are also four Third Generation Cyborgs in the area, which I will have to make rules for
The second level consists of research areas dedicated to project Avatar. There are concept designs, a few newly-designed weapons and similar things. A successful DC 20 Investigation check will reveal that all these things were recently copied onto an external data-device. The portal can be activated from here, alongside the aquakinetic generators.
The Owls can see light active in the third floor. Sulaiman is up here, force pistol in hand, ready to protect his son. In one room is Sulaiman's quarters, his personal workshop (where his son's android is) and his son's room, where the two of them are hiding.
Trying to enter the Iron Temple, one will thus:
- First have to sneak past the Aquatic Cyborgs in animated sleep and the mines in the caves into the Temple
- Then choose whether one wishes to use the main entrance or the vents. Using the main entrance would allow one greater oversight over the defenses which one could relay back to Theowulf. Using the vents will require athletics checks as well as survival checks to navigate the Temple.
- Once inside, one must avoid the troopers and make it to the second floor.
- Once there one can quite easily get to the third floor, from where one can open the portal and get the water out. One cannot open the portal with water in the area. Doing this alerts the guards that something is of. There are no guards on the second or third floors.
The Helix Temple has a permanently open portal for transportation between itself and the Star Temple.
The Star Temple
The Star Temple is the largest temple under control by the Church, and the most well-protected. It is the site of the final confrontation between the Owls and the Void Prophet.
If the Iron Temple is allerted, the Star Temple's guardians will be on alert too. The Star Temple is a sprawling complex, and the Church has gathered almost all its forces here. The "temple proper" consists of several levels and battlements. As the fighting begins, the temple shakes as its levels suddenly rearrange and most of the temple moves from being underground to above ground. This happens during a combat, of course.
The portal from Iron Temple leads to a massive armoury, heavily defended by starhcildren. This was where the Church would prepare its weapons from the Iron temple.
The Owls will be tasked with finding and killing the Prophet, so they will try to get to the inner temple. Just after they get there the temple will rise from the sands, and they will feel rising into the air and vibrations as the Prophet's gunship flies.
Inner Temple
One level is dedicated to the Church's research projects, with different rooms for the different projects. In all these rooms data has been recently transferred to an external drive, which can be discovered with a succesful DC 20 Invesigation check.
- Project Iron Wing, which contains a hololight table with all the plans for different astral ships, in particular gunship the real prophet will be flying away with.
- Project Avatar, which is a tall chamber with several half-finished warmechs. They all have different experimental weapons, though several have clearly been salvaged and removed recently. There is one avatar missing.
- Project Omega Regenesis, in which there is no information except for a cradle. A container was in the cradle, but it has been removed.
- A strategy-room with a map of Akshus and all active and inactive Church assets. Most of these have been crossed over as they were destroyed or killed.
Ascending from this temple one can find the Prophet's own inner sanctum. It is a strange octagonal room, cold like the void with black walls lke a dark void that seem to stretch into infinity. In the center is a great throne from where the Prophet can sit and look upon his subjects.
Ground Zero
The landing site for the starchildren vessel disguised as an meteor. This will be a crater of broken glass, warm vents, with many fire elementals climbing through the wreckage. The meteor itself will be at the center of the crater, and going insdie will reveal the astral ship of the starchild.
Encounters
HER KAN EG HA DEI MINDRE TINGA
Semi-random encounters:
Hunting in the mountains - Azerheim
The Knife Temple needs food and one way of getting this food is through hunting expeditions in the mountains. Such hunting expeditions travel lightly, with only small tents to sleep in at night. These normally consist of a few Starchildren Longshots and Knife disciples. They will normally lie in wait and ambush any animals come across their path. A few longshots will then lie far away and fire with their longrifles, while the knives come in close for the kill.
After the Knife Temple falls these will avoid combat if possible and remain hidden from the Owls.
Starchildren bandits attack a village - Ye'or delta
The Starchildren on occasion attack halfling or yeorite villages in the Ye'or delta. These commonly travels as warbands consisting of several Starchildren Troopers led by Telekines, though many also have cyborg support. Such bandits can either be seen in transit as they are walking towards their goal, or evidence of them can be seen from the smoke of a burning village. They rarely take halfling prisoners but often capture akshusians for forced conscription. The villages can act as interesting terrain to fight in.
Attack on a halfling village: XP budget: ~6000 Monsters: 1 Knife Trooper CR 5 1800 XP 1 Knife Sniper CR 5 1800 XP 4 Starchildren Trooper CR 3 700 XP 1 Star Engineer CR 4 1 100 XP XP used: 7500 These starchildren have attacked a halfling village and captured most of its civilians. They have begun torching the surrounding countryside and are getting ready to kill the halflings when the Owls arrive. They fear the Owls and will try to strike a deal, if they believe it to be possible. The village consists of several small houses, with a 20-feet tall watch-tower at the edge the sniper has taken up position in.
Starchildren bandits attack a convoy - Middle Akshusian desert
The Starchildren on occasion attack middle akshusian convoys travelling with spices or gold to earn income for their terrorist attacks. Such attacks often consist of Starchildren Cavalry Troopers on horses supported Starchildren Longshots in strategic positions, alongside Knife Disciples on horses. These are often led by Telekines on horses.
Attacking the Iron Temple
Når Uglene teleporterer ned til anten andre eller tredje etasje må dei skru av vatnet på første etasje og så gå nedover. Det vert ein konfrontasjon ved portalen, når fire Third Generation Cybogs aktiverar. Desse vil stoppe Uglene frå å gå inn i portalen. Etter to turer kjem det fire Starchildren troopers, 2 telekines og 2 knife troopers.
Desse cyborgsne er:
As the Owls infiltrate the Star Temple, they almost immediately come under attack by a group of 4 Knife Adepts led by 1 Knife, supported by enough troopers for a hard encounter. The Knife is the one they let go in the Knife Temple, one of the last of his kind. 4 more are with the Void Prophet as lifeguard, but this one has elected to stay behind to try to kill the Owls.
After this battle there is a great earthquake.
There are two more combat encounters, one against entrenched Troopers led by Knife Troopers (medium encounter). While this is taking place the Star Temple rises up and the battlefield changes.
After this they gain access to where the Church kept the projects and the science they did, and can investigate this.
The last encounter before confronting the prophet is against a powerful telekine (and 2 less powerful ones) supported by chuuls and other abberations kept as guard in the mind flayer fortress.
Confronting the Prophet
As the Owls ascends the stairs to his inner sanctum, they can all hear the Void Prophet in their minds:
"Deke kjem endeleg til meg. Eg har venta på deke i vekesvis, men tydeligvis har deke hatt viktigare ting å gjere. Det går fint, eg er ikkje fornærma. Eller, berre litt. Men uansett kor raske deke hadde vert, ville det ikkje vert raskt nok. Frå augeblikket eg gjekk inn i Openbaringens tempel og såg sannheten med mine eine auge, då var tiden ute for deke. Eg er berre byrjinga. Kom opp hit då, Ugler, kom opp og møt mannen som solgte verden."
Når Uglene kjem opp kan dei sjå Profeten. Han sitt med sine lilla auge og stirrer ut i mørket. Han er immaculate, perfekt klipt skjegg og vakre dyre kle (i kontrast til denne ekte han, som er eit mess). Han er smug og vil gjerne snakke med dei, vil hale tiden ut. Den første som angrip han slår rett gjennom lysprojeksjonen av han.
Så høyrer alle latter i hodene sine (tenk Superman frå DEN scena), og ein stemme: "Eg lurte på kor lenge projeksjonen kom til å vare. Deke Ugler er brutale og dødelege. Deke har drept mange av folka mine, og ein del av dei såg eg faktisk på som venner. Eg tenkte lenge over kva eg skulle gjere med deke: fange deke i dikkar eigne sinn med dikkar djupaste mareritt, ta kontroll over deke og få deke til å drepe kvarandre, eller bruke deke som mine marionetter i kampen om Akshus. Men det hadde vert poenglaust, alt dette er poenglaust. Så eg tenkte eg skulle ta noko meir passande til deke."
Han kjem ut i avataren sin.
"Kom igjen ugler. Eg tviler på at eg er mektig nok til å faktisk beseire deke, men det er ikkje poenget. Eg har allereie vunnet, sjølvom eg dør her."
Avataren er ein stor maskin med fleire deler ein kan angripe. Profeten er bak ein-vegga glas så ein ikkje kan sjå han, men han kan bruke sine telepatiske evner.
Avataren har fleire components:
Me får eit metablikk kor me ser ein haggard Profet kome ut frå å konsenterere. Han er i gunshipet med dei siste knivene, og dei er på veg med pakken frå cradlen til ein komet som har kresja inn i Glasørkenen.
Final confrontation
Uglene kjem for seint til den siste konfrontasjonen i den brennande kometen, og må slåss sin veg inn gjennom stjerneborn, eld-elementals og andre ting. Når dei kjem inn forklarer profeten at dei allereie har tapt, at mørkets messias er komt. Så sprenger han kometen.
Semi-random encounters:
Hunting in the mountains - Azerheim
The Knife Temple needs food and one way of getting this food is through hunting expeditions in the mountains. Such hunting expeditions travel lightly, with only small tents to sleep in at night. These normally consist of a few Starchildren Longshots and Knife disciples. They will normally lie in wait and ambush any animals come across their path. A few longshots will then lie far away and fire with their longrifles, while the knives come in close for the kill.
After the Knife Temple falls these will avoid combat if possible and remain hidden from the Owls.
Starchildren bandits attack a village - Ye'or delta
The Starchildren on occasion attack halfling or yeorite villages in the Ye'or delta. These commonly travels as warbands consisting of several Starchildren Troopers led by Telekines, though many also have cyborg support. Such bandits can either be seen in transit as they are walking towards their goal, or evidence of them can be seen from the smoke of a burning village. They rarely take halfling prisoners but often capture akshusians for forced conscription. The villages can act as interesting terrain to fight in.
Attack on a halfling village: XP budget: ~6000 Monsters: 1 Knife Trooper CR 5 1800 XP 1 Knife Sniper CR 5 1800 XP 4 Starchildren Trooper CR 3 700 XP 1 Star Engineer CR 4 1 100 XP XP used: 7500 These starchildren have attacked a halfling village and captured most of its civilians. They have begun torching the surrounding countryside and are getting ready to kill the halflings when the Owls arrive. They fear the Owls and will try to strike a deal, if they believe it to be possible. The village consists of several small houses, with a 20-feet tall watch-tower at the edge the sniper has taken up position in.
Starchildren bandits attack a convoy - Middle Akshusian desert
The Starchildren on occasion attack middle akshusian convoys travelling with spices or gold to earn income for their terrorist attacks. Such attacks often consist of Starchildren Cavalry Troopers on horses supported Starchildren Longshots in strategic positions, alongside Knife Disciples on horses. These are often led by Telekines on horses.
Attacking the Iron Temple
Når Uglene teleporterer ned til anten andre eller tredje etasje må dei skru av vatnet på første etasje og så gå nedover. Det vert ein konfrontasjon ved portalen, når fire Third Generation Cybogs aktiverar. Desse vil stoppe Uglene frå å gå inn i portalen. Etter to turer kjem det fire Starchildren troopers, 2 telekines og 2 knife troopers.
Desse cyborgsne er:
- Dire cyborg
- Chain Devil (ikkje animate chains) --> har fleire tau med chains rundt seg
- Horned Devil (berre hurl flame, som har +10 to hit og gjer force damage) --> vinger og forstørra hender med plass til kanoner
- Erinyes (dual-wielding fighter med vinger og psychic damage i staden for poison) -->vinger og to sverd
As the Owls infiltrate the Star Temple, they almost immediately come under attack by a group of 4 Knife Adepts led by 1 Knife, supported by enough troopers for a hard encounter. The Knife is the one they let go in the Knife Temple, one of the last of his kind. 4 more are with the Void Prophet as lifeguard, but this one has elected to stay behind to try to kill the Owls.
After this battle there is a great earthquake.
There are two more combat encounters, one against entrenched Troopers led by Knife Troopers (medium encounter). While this is taking place the Star Temple rises up and the battlefield changes.
After this they gain access to where the Church kept the projects and the science they did, and can investigate this.
The last encounter before confronting the prophet is against a powerful telekine (and 2 less powerful ones) supported by chuuls and other abberations kept as guard in the mind flayer fortress.
Confronting the Prophet
As the Owls ascends the stairs to his inner sanctum, they can all hear the Void Prophet in their minds:
"Deke kjem endeleg til meg. Eg har venta på deke i vekesvis, men tydeligvis har deke hatt viktigare ting å gjere. Det går fint, eg er ikkje fornærma. Eller, berre litt. Men uansett kor raske deke hadde vert, ville det ikkje vert raskt nok. Frå augeblikket eg gjekk inn i Openbaringens tempel og såg sannheten med mine eine auge, då var tiden ute for deke. Eg er berre byrjinga. Kom opp hit då, Ugler, kom opp og møt mannen som solgte verden."
Når Uglene kjem opp kan dei sjå Profeten. Han sitt med sine lilla auge og stirrer ut i mørket. Han er immaculate, perfekt klipt skjegg og vakre dyre kle (i kontrast til denne ekte han, som er eit mess). Han er smug og vil gjerne snakke med dei, vil hale tiden ut. Den første som angrip han slår rett gjennom lysprojeksjonen av han.
Så høyrer alle latter i hodene sine (tenk Superman frå DEN scena), og ein stemme: "Eg lurte på kor lenge projeksjonen kom til å vare. Deke Ugler er brutale og dødelege. Deke har drept mange av folka mine, og ein del av dei såg eg faktisk på som venner. Eg tenkte lenge over kva eg skulle gjere med deke: fange deke i dikkar eigne sinn med dikkar djupaste mareritt, ta kontroll over deke og få deke til å drepe kvarandre, eller bruke deke som mine marionetter i kampen om Akshus. Men det hadde vert poenglaust, alt dette er poenglaust. Så eg tenkte eg skulle ta noko meir passande til deke."
Han kjem ut i avataren sin.
"Kom igjen ugler. Eg tviler på at eg er mektig nok til å faktisk beseire deke, men det er ikkje poenget. Eg har allereie vunnet, sjølvom eg dør her."
Avataren er ein stor maskin med fleire deler ein kan angripe. Profeten er bak ein-vegga glas så ein ikkje kan sjå han, men han kan bruke sine telepatiske evner.
Avataren har fleire components:
- Kropp -- AC 20 -- 250 HP -->Avataren vert øydelagt
- Skulder -- AC 20 -- 100 HP --> Våpenet vert deaktivert
- Venstre arm -- AC 18 -- 150 HP --> våpenet vert øydelagt
- Høgre arm -- AC 18 -- 150 HP --> våpenet vert øydelagt
- Venstre fot -- AC 17 -- 100 HP --> Avatar får halv speed
- Høgre fot -- AC 17 -- 100 HP --> avatar får halv speed
- Skulder: Disintegration rifle
- Venstre arm: Tyngdekrafts gauntlet
- Høgre arm: Beam cannon
Me får eit metablikk kor me ser ein haggard Profet kome ut frå å konsenterere. Han er i gunshipet med dei siste knivene, og dei er på veg med pakken frå cradlen til ein komet som har kresja inn i Glasørkenen.
Final confrontation
Uglene kjem for seint til den siste konfrontasjonen i den brennande kometen, og må slåss sin veg inn gjennom stjerneborn, eld-elementals og andre ting. Når dei kjem inn forklarer profeten at dei allereie har tapt, at mørkets messias er komt. Så sprenger han kometen.
Subplots
Related Characters
Related Locations
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