Age of Worms: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
title of the page in italics
 
(78 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{Italic title}}
In the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' [[campaign setting]] for the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]], the '''Age of Worms''' is an age of darkness and despair heard of only in ancient [[prophecies]].
{{Refimprove|date=October 2007}}
[[Image:Dungeon AoW TSR82124 180.jpeg|thumb|Front cover of ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' Issue 124 (July 2005), illustrated by [[Wayne Reynolds]], which featured the first chapter of ''Age of Worms''.]]
 
The '''''Age of Worms'' Adventure Path''' (or simply '''''Age of Worms''''') is the second [[Adventure Path]] for the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]], published over twelve installments from July 2005 through June 2006 in ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' magazine. A campaign designed to take [[player character]]s from 1st to 20th level, ''Age of Worms'' was given an Honorable Mention in the "Best Adventure" category of the 2007 [[ENnies|ENnie Awards]].<ref>[http://www.ennieawards.com/07noms.pdf The 2007 Nominees Flyer] on ennieawards.com</ref>
The herald of the Age of Worms is said to be the undead deity [[Kyuss (Greyhawk)|Kyuss]], who is somehow involved with the [[Ebon Triad]].
 
== Story ==
==The Age of Worms Adventure Path==
The Age of Worms is an age of darkness and despair heard of only in ancient [[Prophecy|prophecies]]. According to these prophecies, the Herald of the Age of Worms is said to be the undead deity [[Kyuss (Greyhawk)|Kyuss]], the Wormgod, who is somehow involved with the [[Ebon Triad]], a cult introduced in the previous Adventure Path, ''[[The Shackled City Adventure Path|Shackled City]]''.
The '''Age of Worms''' can also refer to ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' magazine's '''Age of Worms Adventure Path''', a campaign designed to take [[player characters]] from 1st-20th level over the course of twelve issues (''Dungeon'' #124-135). Though the [[adventure path]] is best suited to be played in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'', it can be adapted to any campaign world.
 
== Setting ==
The Age of Worms adventure path was the next in succession after the [[Shackled City]] adventure path. It will be followed by a third Adventure Path called [[Savage Tide]].
''Age of Worms'' differs from the first Adventure Path primarily in its use of established ''[[Greyhawk]]'' characters, locations such as the [[Free City of Greyhawk]], and items such as the [[Rod of Seven Parts]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Baur|first=Wolfgang|date=December 2005|title=A Gathering of Winds|journal=Dungeon Magazine|publisher=Paizo Publishing, LLC|volume=129|pages=39–66}}</ref> Though the series is set in a somewhat abstracted ''World of Greyhawk'' (the Free City of Greyhawk becomes the Free City, etc.), supplements were made available online that gave conversion notes for [[Dungeon Master]]s wishing to adapt it to other [[Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings|''Dungeons & Dragons'' campaign settings]] such as ''[[Eberron]]'' or ''[[Forgotten Realms]]''.
 
==References Summary ==
''Age of Worms'' develops from a small town of [[Diamond Lake (Greyhawk)|Diamond Lake]], leads to intrigue in the Free City, and then on to a mysterious cult that serves as a front to bring about the events leading up to the Age of Worms. As the players encounter the various architects of the plot, they uncover the nature of the coming age, and battle the ultimate masterminds behind it. In the end, they face off against the two primary antagonists: [[List of Greyhawk characters#Dragotha|Dragotha]], a powerful [[Dracolich|undead dragon]], and his master, Kyuss.
*[[Wolfgang Baur|Baur, Wolfgang]]. "A Gathering of Winds." ''Dungeon'' #129 (Paizo Publishing, [[2005]]).
 
The entire Adventure Path consists of the following installments:
*Bulmahn, Jason. "The Hall of Harsh reflection." ''Dungeon'' #127 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
*Decker, Jesse. "The Spire of Long Shadows." ''Dungeon'' #130 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
|-
! width="60" | Chapter
! Title
! Authors
! Illustrators
! width="50" | Levels
! width="40" | Issue
! width="100" | Date
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 1
| "The Whispering Cairn"
| [[Erik Mona]]
| Joachim Barrum, Chad Du Lac, [[Steve Prescott (artist)|Steve Prescott]], [[Eva Widermann|Eva Weidermann]], Jim Zubkavich; [[Wayne Reynolds]] <small>(cover)</small>; [[Rob Lazzaretti|Robert Lazzaretti]] <small>([[cartography]] for entire series)</small>, [[Darlene Pekul]] <small>([[calligraphy]] for entire series)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 1–3
| style="text-align: center;" | 124
| style="text-align: center;" | July 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | A band of would-be adventurers explore a long-lost tomb near [[Diamond Lake (Greyhawk)|Diamond Lake]] and uncover a [[Necromancer (Dungeons & Dragons)|necromancer]]'s conspiracy with local merchants.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| "The Three Faces of Evil"
| [[Mike Mearls]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 3–4
| style="text-align: center;" | 125
| style="text-align: center;" | August 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | The heroes penetrate a tripartite [[cult]] operating in secret underneath Dourstone Mine, hoping to merge their three unholy deities. The name of [[Kyuss (Greyhawk)|Kyuss]] and rumors of worm-eaten dead arise.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 3
| "Encounter at Blackwall Keep"
| [[Sean K. Reynolds]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 5–6
| style="text-align: center;" | 126
| style="text-align: center;" | September 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | While seeking out a sage to shed light on their recent discoveries, the heroes come upon Blackwall Keep, an outpost beset by [[lizardfolk]], and a rescue mission ensues.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 4
| style=white-space:nowrap | "The Hall of Harsh Reflections"
| [[Jason Bulmahn]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 7–8
| style="text-align: center;" | 127
| style="text-align: center;" | October 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | In the enormous [[Free City of Greyhawk|Free City]], [[Doppelganger (Dungeons & Dragons)|doppelganger]] assassins lead the heroes to an [[illithid]] dealing in unholy relics.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
| "The Champion's Belt"
| style=white-space:nowrap | Tito Leati, Richard Pett
| J. Barrum, Matt Dixon, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; [[Howard Lyon]] <small>(cover)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 9–10
| style="text-align: center;" | 128
| style="text-align: center;" | November 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | In order to investigate Loris Raknian, the warlord who tried to have them killed, the heroes must enroll in the greatest [[gladiator]]ial tournament in the world – the Free City Games. What they end up with is an Apostle of Kyuss come to claim the blood of a champion.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 6
| "A Gathering of Winds"
| [[Wolfgang Baur]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 11–12
| style="text-align: center;" | 129
| style="text-align: center;" | December 2005
|-
| colspan="7" | The heroes return to Diamond Lake to seek out their patron Allustan and present him with all they've learned of the cult of Kyuss and their activity. When they find that the [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]] Ilthane has leveled Allustan's home, they must defeat it and re-enter the Whispering Cairn to seek out the missing wizard.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 7
| "The Spire of Long Shadows"
| [[Jesse Decker]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 13–14
| style="text-align: center;" | 130
| style="text-align: center;" | January 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | Allustan's mentor [[Tenser|Manzorian]] tells the heroes of his colleague [[Bucknard|Balakarde]], who explored the site of Kyuss' divine apotheosis. When they follow in Balakarde's footsteps, the heroes find a site with tales of its own to tell of Kyuss and his blasphemous practices, as well as the alien architect of the Age of Worms.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 8
| "The Prince of Redhand"
| Richard Pett
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 15–16
| style="text-align: center;" | 131
| style="text-align: center;" | February 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | Manzorian tells the heroes to seek out Lashonna, sorcerous advisor to tyrannical Prince Zeech of Redhand and possibly the last person to see Balakarde alive. To meet her, however, the heroes must make it through Prince Zeech's extravagant ball and be on their best behavior.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 9
| "The Library of Last Resort"
| Nicolas Logue
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann
| style="text-align: center;" | 16–17
| style="text-align: center;" | 132
| style="text-align: center;" | March 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | Once the heroes meet Lashonna, she sends them to the Isle of Last Resort, to uncover the ___location of the phylactery of Kyuss' general, the [[dracolich]] [[List of Greyhawk characters#Dragotha|Dragotha]]. A power-hungry cleric of [[Vecna]] and his minions have the same idea, however.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 10
| "Kings of the Rift"
|[[Greg A. Vaughan]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; [[David Hudnut]] <small>(cover)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 18–19
| style="text-align: center;" | 133
| style="text-align: center;" | April 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | Now that the heroes know where to find Dragotha's phylactery, they must get it. This involves infiltrating a huge fortress currently occupied by giants and besieged by dragons.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 11
| "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure"
| [[James Jacobs (game designer)|James Jacobs]]
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; Dan Scott <small>(cover)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 19–20
| style="text-align: center;" | 134
| style="text-align: center;" | May 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | With Dragotha's phylactery secured, the heroes must travel into the deadly Wormcrawl Fissure to reunite Balakarde's broken spirit and either destroy or blackmail Kyuss' dracolich general.
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 12
| "Dawn of a New Age"
| Tito Leati
| J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; Wayne Reynolds <small>(cover)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" | 20–21
| style="text-align: center;" | 135
| style="text-align: center;" | June 2006
|-
| colspan="7" | The new Spire is complete, and Alhaster is under siege from legions of Kyuss' undead minions. The heroes must battle their way through the city and fight back the darkness before confronting the Wormgod himself.
|}
 
== References ==
*Jacobs, James. "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure." ''Dungeon'' #134 (Pazio Publishing, 2006).
<references/>
 
{{Adventure Path}}
*Leati, Tito. "The Champion's Belt." ''Dungeon'' #128 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
 
{{D&D topics}}
*Logue, Nicholas. "The Library of Last Resort." ''Dungeon'' #132 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
 
[[Category:Dungeon Adventure Paths]]
*Mearls, Mike. "The Three Faces of Evil. ''Dungeon'' #125 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
[[Category:Greyhawk modules]]
 
*[[Erik Mona|Mona, Erik]]. ''Age of Worms Overload'' (Paizo Publishing, 2005). http://paizo.com/dungeon/news/v5748eaic9jzc
*Mona, Erik. "Backdrop: Diamond Lake." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #124 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
*Mona, Erik. "The Whispering Cairn." ''Dungeon'' #124 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
 
*Pett, Richard. "The Prince of Redhand." ''Dungeon'' #131 (Paizo Publishing, [[2006]]).
 
*[[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Encounter at Blackwall Keep." ''Dungeon'' #126 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
 
*Vaughan, Greg A. "Kings of the Rift" ''Dungeon'' #133 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
 
 
{{Greyhawk-stub}}
 
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]
[[Category:Greyhawk]]