Shar's Offer: Save Oakenfort

[Caylin]

Caylin certainly doesn't feel good about it, but I guess I had fun, even though things would have transpired the same without me...and if it isn't over, I'm one of those that called it.

[Neleya]

You have slain my first guardian, although with the generous help of your ineptitude, the Void took its share of your living. Soon, my second guardian will be ready to face your lot. No saviours will save you then.

Thanks to everyone who came and participated in the moral dilemma. There was another moral dilemma waiting with Grip where he'd snatch the artifact and reveal that he was not actually from Oakenfort. He was being accused by Sharrans of murdering one of theirs, and had since been harassed by them with nightmares and other terrible things. They offered him a way out, however - give them the first artifact. So! You all would have been trying to talk or kill Grip down into handing the artifact over.

RIP Grip and Flora.

WILL THE ARTIFACT BE SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYED? WILL FLORA THE BLACK LAMB BE REVIVED? HOW IS THE APPROACHING DARKNESS AT OAKENFORT?

FIND OUT IN THE NEXT UPDATE OF... SAVING OAKENFORT.

[Neleya]

To thank all of you for participating in the episodes, I will be preparing three prizes, and at the end of the entire saga, I will randomly choose and announce a winner from each of the following categories:

1. Individuals who destroyed an artifact
2. Individuals who surrendered an artifact to Shar
3. Individuals who dealt the first death blow to the guardian of each episode

You can be in multiple categories, but you cannot be in the same category more than once, so do give other PCs a chance to do the deeds. I decided on random selection because choosing favourite RPers would be more unfair, I hope you guys will understand! Or, if you have a better suggestion, PM me before Episode 2!

[Neleya]

The first artifact has been destroyed. The Darkness has ceased its approach towards Oakenfort, hovering over the water in wait. Congratulations, heroes.

What happens next? Tune in to the next episode of Saving Oakenfort, same time but one day later next week!

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ ... T00&p1=%3A
http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?lid ... 3137ad2809

[Neleya]

Do be reminded that Saving Oakenfort this week is Saturday night, not Friday night (US time)!

[Neleya]

Find ye now the second artifact to be retrieved from my guardian. Gather in the plains southeast of the Queenspire where we met before come midnight.

Bring your goodies, neutrals, and evils! See you soon.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ ... T00&p1=%3A
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?li ... 3137ad2809

[Narishmar]

May I assume we are meeting at the same place again, southeast of the Queenspire?

[Neleya]

You have slain my second guardian, and coldly, one of your own. Witness how lazy your heroes were, how carelessly close you came to returning my artifact to me. Now, the third artifact awaits your bumbling attempts at destruction.

OOC: As explained on the parchment, the "nobility" of the sacrifices were pre-graded. Your choice of sacrifice guaranteed a success. However, if you chose something else, the first die roll by the party would have determined the outcome. Velgar was the first person to roll the die, and he rolled a 5.

Successful Destruction on a six-sided die:
small NPC or evil NPCs = roll a 1
other non-humanoid NPC = roll a 2 or 5
other humanoid NPC = roll an even number
unwilling PC sacrifice = roll an odd number
willing PC sacrifice = guaranteed destruction

The second artifact has been destroyed. The Darkness continues to loom ominously over the water by Oakenfort, making no approach, but inevitably begins to wear on those in its proximity.

[Rannas]

The second artifact has been destroyed. T̶h̶e̶ ̶D̶a̶r̶k̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ The Baddening continues to loom ominously over the water by Oakenfort, making no approach, but inevitably begins to wear on those in its proximity.

Thanks for hosting these!

[Neleya]

Find ye now the third artifact to be retrieved from my guardian. Gather in the plains southeast of the Queenspire to receive my instruction once more. Time is of the essence.

After two rounds of success, will the third time still be the charm? Stay tuned for the next episode of Saving Oakenfort, same time this week!

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ ... T00&p1=%3A
http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?lid ... 433b48e97a

[Neleya]

For two tendays, your morale has grown. Hope now fuels your drive. On this adventure, either yours or mine will learn that hope is inferior to simple determination. May the most worthy win this lesson. Convene at the meeting point southeast of the Queenspire. Be on time.

[Neleya]

It seems competence can be coaxed when the tardy are left behind and there is no time for blabber. With a mere hour left to spare, you have slain my third guardian and destroyed my third artifact, and I am certain the fictional neighbouring town of Oakenfort would have been very grateful.

I hope the short duration this time wasn't too underwhelming The timed challenge kinda forced the event duration today. To reveal which clue belonged to which dragon, the final dragon you slayed was the artifact.

The third artifact has been destroyed. The days grow dark and the nights grow colder in Oakenfort, but the Darkness, still, makes no further approach.

The adventurers have had a smooth time so far, but will the final attempt end their streak? Will Oakenfort ever be saved? Tune in to the season finale of Saving Oakenfort, same time next week!

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ ... T00&p1=%3A
http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?lid ... 34c523f32b

[Keltek]

This looks really awesome! I'm brand new to the game and sad I missed it, but my first char just hit level 35 so depending on when the campaign began I might be able to hop on for the last episode or two? If not I can wait til the next go-round. Hope it's been a great time!

[Neleya]

Hi Keltek, welcome, and you can most definitely join this last episode! I don't have any new ideas at the moment so this would be the last episode for now

[Neleya]

Thanks for sticking around all those hours and through the accidental PK deaths! I'll post an update as soon as I can.

And so we have come to the end of the special series. Will Oakenfort be saved? Find out soon.

[Neleya]

The fourth artifact has been destroyed. The Darkness approaches, shifting its oppressive mass over Oakenfort. The city is wholly consumed. A young red dragon circles overhead, its vengeful cry piercing the air before it soars back in the direction of the Dalelands.

Obviously. Obviously, we are grateful to you, our heroes - your faith was placed well. To my devotees, fresh and weathered alike, see how they dance for us. Let this dance stand as testament to all that can be achieved with hope, secrets, and most of all, our absence.

I can't believe it's been a month! Thank you all so much for spending your time and RP on Oakenfort over the past four weeks, whether it be during or outside the event. Some of you even tried to make it every week, and I was very moved and also honoured that you'd want to attend again.

Sorry that Shar won in the end and you got the predictable ending, but to be fair, you guys basically predicted every possible option If it's any consolation, you guys did manage to destroy all four artifacts (albeit with some nudges in the right direction and saving-the-party-from-being-completely-annihilateds).

And so the tale of Saving Oakenfort concludes. Someday, a child may ask, "What is an Oakenfort?", to which you can then smile and respond, "Again? Well, once upon a time..."

[Neleya]

The Church of Shar would like to express appreciation for the following individuals, randomly drawn from the pool of qualifying individuals in their category, for their contributions to Her cause.

To Summer Silversong, the Flamemage who took part in destroying one of Oakenfort's four protective artifacts.
To Garnet Bijoutier, who dealt the killing blow upon a guardian of one of these artifacts.
And finally, to the Witchdoctor, who played an instrumental role in attempting to slow the party down.

Your rewards will arrive through the Magical Post.

This was a truly random draw, and I wish I could give everyone something, but unfortunately I can only give you the friends you made along the way. That being said, the prizes are pretty humble

I want to thank all of you again for being so understanding, through the deaths, accidental deaths, random inconveniences, and for allowing my OOC instruction through sometimes desperate otells to fix errors in storytelling. I enjoyed many great moments with all of you, both ICly and OOCly:

I saw the naysayer, doubting every development to solving the riddle. I saw you allowing yourself to be the noble sacrifice, or being the one to heroically administer the execution. You were even sporting enough to adopt a curse/battlescar to tell everyone about, and I appreciate that in a player a lot. I saw you become paranoid ground-diggers, perfect guards that didn't move from the cave unless instructed otherwise, and even transform into expert instruction-followers, especially when on a timer. I saw your many strokes of genius in solving riddles, or in suddenly shoving a decoy egg into the dragon's den and trying to protect it like it was the real artifact (I swear that was not part of the plan). I saw you get frustrated, or impatient, or somehow adopt a zen-like attitude to being possibly betrayed by Shar. I saw you lowkey insult each other, or subtly attempt to play the evil side (it was really subtle!). And I guess most of all, I got to see all of you RP, awwww.

Thanks to the players for letting me test this event, thanks to anyone who helped me bounce ideas, and thanks to the imms for allowing Oakenfort to exist and for giving me Grip (who sadly died too young. Where was his body buried anyway? RIP kid). See you around!

[Benorf]

I've never felt so betrayed in my life. I -knew- something was wrong here.

I am simultaneously furious and overjoyed, this was an amazingly fun time RPing out.

tl;dr, Thanks, I hate it.

[Althasizor]

I've never felt so betrayed in my life. I -knew- something was wrong here.

I am simultaneously furious and overjoyed, this was an amazingly fun time RPing out.

tl;dr, Thanks, I hate it.

[Summer]

Well, damn.