Eternal Heroes Campaign

The PCs in this campaign are sort of self-resurrected heroes of a previous age.

Back story: In a previous age, a Great Evil lay waste to the world. The PCs were part of a group of mortal heroes who rose in power to become hero-deities against the Great Evil. They defeated it, but the victory cost them their lives — their bodies were destroyed in the battle.

The opening scene of this campaign: These heroes have “awakened” in a [now lost and forgotten] shrine built in their memory. They don’t know why they’ve come back, but they suspect it has something to do with the Great Evil — maybe it is coming back.

They are 1st level, and must work their way back to their near-god-like power (read: level 20+). Along the way they will quest to recover their heroic artifacts, that have been scattered about the world in the age since their first deaths.

The only power they have above normal mortals is an ability to self raise dead 24 hours after death. They have become Eternal Heroes.

I had each Player pick out their “heroic artifacts” that their character had in the previous life. They could pick three to six magic items from the DMG, valued at up to 300,000 gp total. Much of their questing in this campaign will be tracking down these items. Their choices were interesting.

The elven fighter (archer)’s heroic artifacts:

+2 composite mighty (+5) longbow with flaming, frost, shock, and holy
Celestial armor
+6 Gloves of dexterity
Scarab of protection
Ring of spell turning
Boots of striding and springing

The human cleric’s heroic artifacts:

+3 adamantine heavy mace with flaming and holy
Ring of freedom of movement
+6 periapt of wisdom
+2 buckler of reflecting
Mantle of faith
+4 belt of giant strength

The human barbarian/sorcerer’s heroic artifacts:

Broom of flying
+5 amulet of natural armor
+8 bracers of armor
Ring of wizardry I
Ring of wizardry III
+2 adamantine greatsword with holy, merciful, and spell storing

Most of these items are not surprising choices—wise choices, even. But a broom of flying? For a barbarian/sorcerer? That one makes me chuckle.

And the mighty (+5) composite longbow? The PC only has 14 Strength, so is +3 short on the power necessary to pull the bow (would give a total of -6 penalty on attack rolls using it). The Player explained that he expects to buy a +6 belt of giant strength by the time he finds the bow. I’m not sure why he didn’t just make the belt one of his heroic artifacts to find. Oh well, this was all their choices.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com