Adventurer's League, Season 2 Upper Track (Part 3)

All right Game Fans, we’re continuing with our look at the 2nd season of the Adventurer’s League for Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.  Unlike last season, we’re not going to take these adventures in numeric order, but we’ve split them up into two different tracks based off of their suggested character level.  Today we’re looking at the next two adventures for the upper level track, DDEX 2-14 The Sword of Selfaril and DDEX 2-15 Black Heart of Vengeance.  Let’s dive in, and take a closer look at the next part of Season 2

DDEX 2-14 The Sword of Selfaril

All right Game Fans, Season 2 of Adventurer”s League (The Elemental Evil Story Arc) picks up with a rumor.  The legendary sword of Selfaril is loose in the world again, and it’s discovery has set off a flurry of activity in Mulmaster.  How will the Sword’s destiny affect the fate of Mulmaster.  

DDEX 2-14: The Sword of Selfaril, is designed for 5th thru 10th level characters, with an average party size of 5 suggested.  For Adventurer’s League play, the level range is a hard ceiling, and characters below 5th level and above 10th level or higher are not playable in this adventure.  This specific adventure is built to run in four parts.  Remember to bring your D & D Survival Kit with you when you show up to game.

Note 1:  This adventure is optimized for level 8 characters, so if this is your first adventure reaching level 5, be extremely careful.  The option of faction charity is no longer a viable option, so if you do die, make sure you have enough GP to raise yourself.  

Part 1: Homecoming

The adventurers are returning to Mulmaster after a long trek (and if you’re continuing from 2-13, you’ve been on quite a quest), and encounter a group of Mulmaster’s guards led by a hawk looking for a lost sword.  In the aftermath, they are approached by the head of the Brotherhood of Cloaks, who wants to enlist their aid for an undertaking that could shake the foundations of Mulmaster forever.  

Part 2: A Search for Respite

After the success of their plan, the adventurers have custody of a legendary figure from the history of Mulmaster.  While he recovers, the adventurers will have to take care of him and navigate him through the underbelly of Mulmaster.  Adventures abounds, and as much as I dislike bodyguard style missions/encounters, this one is both topical and just about the right length for a successful section.

Part 3: Strength in Unity

Mulmaster is a disparate collection of factions, all of whom want different things.  The adventurers will need to work hard to pull these disparate groups together around a strong leader to challenge the current lord of Mulmaster.  Without the support of these groups, the legend may not make it to challenge the lord…

Part 4: Legacy Lost, Legacy Reclaimed

It all comes down to this.  The adventurers have to enact their plan to seize control of the city of Mulmaster.  It will take all of their wits and all of their skill at arms to see a lost lord reclaim his throne.  New leadership could lead to new opportunities and growth for Mulmaster, or the whole thing could come crashing down around their ears.  

Aftermath:

So as a character in the adventurer’s league, you have three primary rewards you’re aiming for, and the occasional extra bit of stuff.  Let’s go over your Downtime Days, your Experience Points, Your Gold Pieces, and your renown.    If you’re not playing in an Adventurer’s League group, you don’t need to track these on your log sheet, but keep an eye on your numbers.

·         Experience Points:  For completing this adventure, your character will gain anywhere between 4,500 and 6,000 experience points, depending on how things end up going and how many people are playing.  If this is your first adventure after reaching level 5 you’re going to have between 9,000 and 12,500 experience points.  If you’re continuing from DDEX 2-13,  you’re going to have between 25,285 and 34,400 experience points.  If you’re continuing from Season 1, you’ll end up with between 45,000 and 58,500 experience points.  Playing with a brand new character,you’re either at the upper end of level 5.  If you’re continuing from the DDEX 2-13, you’re either at the or well on your way into level 7, possibly level 8 depending on how things went..  If you’re continuing from a Season 1 character, you’re sitting in level 8, and could potentially be level 9.    

·         Gold Pieces:  This one’s a little trickier, because GP is calculated based off of the number of players at a table.  There’s enough treasure available that you should certainly be able to pick up some extra supplies or replace ones that you expended during the adventure.  Keep an eye out for any handy magical items that may show up.  

·         Downtime Days:  This one’s easy.  Everyone gets 10 downtime days for playing through this adventure.  If you are continuing from The Howling Void  you should end up with 145 Downtime Days.  If you are continuing from another point, or from a character from a different season, you’ll have to calculate your Downtime Days on your own.  

Renown: All faction members receive 1 point of renown for participating in this adventure. Additional renown rewards are available, and secret missions are available for some factions, so pay close attention if they show up for your faction.

Story:  If things go poorly during the is adventure, it’s possible for characters to earn the Persona Non Grata story award, which is about as good as it sounds.  

So now that you’ve completed The Sword of Selfaril, check your character, level up if you need to, pick up additional gear and get ready for the next adventure.

DDEX 2-15 Black Heart of Vengeance

All right Game Fans, Season 2 of Adventurer”s League (The Elemental Evil Story Arc) concludes  with a call to arms.  The Risen hero of Phlan is calling in markers and offering favors to amass an army to retake Phlan from the ancient green dragon that has claimed it as a personal lair.  Something’s amiss however, and there answers that must be had before the liberation of Phlan can begin.

DDEX 2-15: Black Heart of Vengeance, is designed for 5th thru 10th  level characters, with an average party size of 5 suggested.  For Adventurer’s League play, the level range is a hard ceiling, and characters below 5th level and above 10th level or higher are not playable in this adventure.  This specific adventure is built to run in two parts, with an introduction to set the stage.  Remember to bring your D & D Survival Kit with you when you show up to game.

Note 1:  This adventure is optimized for level 8 characters, so if this is your first adventure reaching level 5, be extremely careful.  The option of faction charity is no longer a viable option, so if you do die, make sure you have enough GP to raise yourself.  

Note 2: This adventure assumes that the events of DDEX 2-14 haven’t occurred, or that the player’s efforts to unseat High Blade Drakehorn were unsuccessful.  If you’re playing after that adventure, you might need to make some changes to who’s talking at various points.  Make whatever notes you need to make.  

Part 1: Introduction

The adventurers are hired by one of the Blades of Mulmaster to figure out who’s been sabotaging their family’s holdings.  The reward offered is quite impressive, but there are strings attached.  After that meeting, the characters get personal attention from the High Blade of Mulmaster, who has a different kind of proposition for them.  Navigating the politics of a city like Mulmaster is tricky enough without having the personal attention of the person in charge.  

Part 2: Rubble and Revenge

Investigating the holdings leads to a variety of locations and the larger mystery of what’s going on.  The quakes that have been damaging the holdings are interlinked somehow, and even worse, it seems like the LIberators of Phlan are involved somehow.  There are a couple of secret missions available to the characters in this section, so keep an eye on them.  

Part 3: The Stonevault

The attacks on the family holdings have led the adventurers deep into the heart of the Zhentish Ghetto in search of the source of the troubles.  Dark truths will be revealed before all things are said and done, and the insidiousness of the Cults of Elemental Evil will be laid bare.  Secrets abound in this section, and there are some horrible things to encounter before the adventure’s end.  

Aftermath:

So as a character in the adventurer’s league, you have three primary rewards you’re aiming for, and the occasional extra bit of stuff.  Let’s go over your Downtime Days, your Experience Points, Your Gold Pieces, and your renown.    If you’re not playing in an Adventurer’s League group, you don’t need to track these on your log sheet, but keep an eye on your numbers.

·         Experience Points:  For completing this adventure, your character will gain anywhere between 4,500 and 6,000 experience points, depending on how things end up going and how many people are playing.  If this is your first adventure after reaching level 5 you’re going to have between 10,500 and 12,500 experience points.  If you’re continuing from DDEX 2-14,  you’re going to have between 29,785 and 40,400 experience points.  If you’re continuing from Season 1 with a character that’s played DDEX 2-14, you’ll end up with between 49,500 and 64,500 experience points.  Playing with a brand new character, or continuing from the lower level track of Season 2, you’re firmly in the middle of level 5.  If this is your final adventure in the level 2 upper level track, you’re level 7, but could have made it to level 8.  If you’re continuing from a Season 1 character but following DDEX 2-15, you’re sitting in level 9, and could be level 10.    

·         Gold Pieces:  This one’s a little trickier, because GP is calculated based off of the number of players at a table.  There’s enough treasure available that you should certainly be able to pick up some extra supplies or replace ones that you expended during the adventure.  Keep an eye out for any handy magical items that may show up.  

·         Downtime Days:  This one’s easy.  Everyone gets 10 downtime days for playing through this adventure.  If you are continuing from The Sword of Selfaril  you should end up with 155 Downtime Days.  If you are continuing from another point, or from a character from a different season, you’ll have to calculate your Downtime Days on your own.  

Renown: All faction members receive 1 point of renown for participating in this adventure. Harpers, Lord’s Alliance, and Order of the Gauntlet faction members can earn an additional point of renown for actions taken in this adventure by completing secret missions.

So now that you’ve completed Black Heart of Vengeance, check your character, level up if you need to, pick up additional gear and get ready for the next adventure.

All right Game Fans, that’s our review of this adventure.  Next week we’ll be back to look at the Princes of the Apocalypse hardcover adventure extravaganza.  If you need to check back on the season so far, check out: http://zardozgames.blogspot.com/p/adventurers-league-season-2-compilation.html