As this is a new campaign, it'll take time to determine if one or more of the players are going to write up summaries of our gaming sessions, or whether I'll be doing it. So, until we figure that out, these summaries will be somewhat dry and lacking in 'voice'. Regardless, here's how things started (the short version)...

On the appointed day (the third Void of Savorus), all the individual characters that were to eventually form the adventuring party made their seperate ways to the Civic Festhall, the Society of Sensation's faction headquarters. As to be expected, the streets in and around the building were a swirl of sights, sounds, and smells. Things only got more chaotic and festive as they approached the Festhall. However, there were no major incidents or pickpocketings to slow their entrance into the building proper.

Once inside, it took a fair amount of asking around before the PCs finally found some people who had a vague idea about Augustus and his want ad. Eventually, everyone made their way upstairs to the third floor and found the lecture room that was serving as the Sensate's base of operations. A large number of other would-be adventurers had turned out for the advertisement; a total of around 30 people were finally gathered in the room.

There was a bit of time before Augustus arrived to lay out the details of his project, so the strangers were forced to pass the time by interacting with each other. A small amount of role-play and conversations occurred, including a few small incidents that were slightly revealing about the characters involved. Since this is the short version, we'll skip over those and get to the meat of the matter.

Soon enough, Augustus arrived at the front of the room. He was an older human, perhaps in his late 50's, with short, spikey white hair and glasses. He also walked with the help of a cane as he had a pronounced limp. After getting the attendees' attention, he launched into a short speech about the point of his advertisement.

"As you probably know, the Society of Sensation believes that the only reality is what can be experienced. If a Sensate hasn't seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or felt it, it doesn't truly exist. Now, the multiverse is a very big place, and that makes it quite hard to experience everything that it has to offer. This faction has tried to solve that problem through the creation of the Sensoriums; magical plays, if you will, where a basher can experience something for himself, without actually having to experience it. But there is a problem here. Now, after centuries, most of the sensations stored here were not made by members of this faction. They have been donated by adventurers, such as yourselves. However, I feel that this makes them less valuable. They are not actual experiences, but rather memories of those experiences. Shadows of the real thing, if you will. I do not want my experiences to be shadows. I want them to be the real thing, first hand. But, as you can see, I am a bit limited by my current indulgence to sensation. I am not a patient man. So, what I am proposing to do is to gather first hand sensations. Which is where you all come in. I am proposing to send you out on adventures tailored to gather the sensations I need. While you are on these quests of mine, your experiences and sensations will be recorded by mimir as they happen. Thus, when you return to me, I shall be guaranteed of top-shelf sensations. Now, I am not a shallow man. I desire a wide range of sensations for this experiment. Your missions shall range from the mundane to the heroic, the passive to the most dangerous and thrilling. And I expect your best possible efforts."

"It's not enough to want to help me. I've found there is quite a difference between being willing and being able. So, I must arrange for a test to see how suitable you will be to assist me in my project. I really need three qualities above all others. I need those who are able to understand and carry out very detailed and complex instructions. These commands are intended to produce a very specific sensation. Any deviation from them will ruin the experience. But I do not need mindless automatons. I also need people who posses a fair degree of their own initiative. For there will be times when I give you a very general description of the sensation I want, but I leave it to your own discretions as to how to obtain it and, indeed, just how far you will go to give me a quality sensation. There is quite a difference between getting drunk on the cheapest swill in the Hive, and getting drunk on wine brewed by the bacchae of Arborea. However, these are not the most important qualities I seek, no. What I need above all else is beings who can give me truly intense sensations, those who can truly feel what it is that I have you do. Initiative and obedience are useless if you do not feel anything in the first place. So my test is designed to measure these qualities."

After this speech, a number of people left, leaving only 19 beings who were still willing to take the job. Seeing as there were still this many people left, Augustus asked everyone to drop their name into a bowl. He then pulled names at random to form three groups. These groups are as follows...

Group #1

• Reginald - Aasimar Cleric of St. Cuthbert; Dressed in pure white; very rigid and stern
• Psymon - Tiefling Monk, Member of the Xaositects; Barechested, covered in tattoos of chains; psycho
• Nymphia - Wood Elf Ranger; very pretty, scantily dressed; scimitar with wicked-looking spikes on it
• LeVar - Dwarf (Prime) Wizard, Member of the Godsmen; thick glasses and a really big book
• Morgan - Half-elf (Prime) Rogue; low-key gear; giggles constantly
• Max - Human (Prime) Fighter, Member of the Fated; Spanish w/ pencil thin mustache; whip expert

Group #2

• Tarsheeva - Aasimar Cleric of Thor; Dressed as valkyrie; large warhammer; loud and boisterous
• Malachite - Earth Genasi Sorcerer, Member of the Signers; onyx skin
• Braxalius - Red Abashi; Heavy Crossbow and Trident; covered in Baatorian Green Steel piercings
• Bjorn - Dwarf Rogue; Scottish; adventuring gear
• Sally - Human Bard; shaven head with black ponytail; lute, flute, and drum (nervously taps drum)
• Katreen - Halfling Fighter; heavily scarred knife fighter

Group #3 (all the PCs, of course)

• Rusteen - A big man with a big sword and a thing for elves, member of the Fated
• Shazarr Moon Blade - a tiefling of medusean ancestry (scales and snakes for hair), prospective member of the Athar
• Zin - a male githzerai who's just left the monastary in Limbo, big believer in fate and destiny
• Ginaea - a very odd female githzerai who like bright colors and is very friendly, member of the Sensates
• Dr. Fever - a rogue modron with an interest in what makes up a life, member of the Godsmen
• Que - a gnome wizard who seeks the strands of perfection, member of the Ciphers
• Twig - a wood genasi with an attitude and an accent, member of the Signers

Once formed, he took each group back into an office to conduct an interview, much like a judge seating a jury. Augustus asked a number of questions, seemingly at random; although towards the end he did focus on finding out what people felt was wrong. Apparently the interview went well, as the PCs were then told the nature of the test they would be taking. They would have to perform three tasks, each related to the specific qualities the Sensate was seeking.

The general task involved the party going forth and obtaining an interview with members (preferredly higher-ranked) of the following factions:

• Bleakers
• Ciphers
• Fated
• Guvners
• Sensates
• Doomguard
• Chaosmen

The party had the choice of three sealed envelopes for their specific task. The party, or rather Que, choose #2, which resulted in the following assignment:

You must run to the center of the Park of the Infernal and the Divine. From there, travel precisely 482 yards in a direct line towards the Prison. Upon reaching the destination, dig a hole precisely 3 feet deep. As the Bells toll Anti-peak, place the contents of the box in the hole and bury them before the Bells fall silent.

Finally, was the task related to intensity of emotion. Again, the party was present with three unknown choices. A choice was made the strong emotion to experience was FEAR.

After a few last minute instructions, the party was give the box for their specific task, and a mimir with which to record their sensations. (Oddly enough, it resembled a dull black, metallic coconut beset with a few glowing crystals.)

As it was now rather late at night (3.75 hours before Anti-peak), the party decided to accomplish their specific task right away. But on the way, they stopped by the Great Gymnasium to obtain an interview with some Cipher high-ups. They did succeed, but were slightly disturbed as the first thing the Master of the Spirit told them was: "Stop now. You are doing the wrong thing." Ignoring this, they obtained their interview, then headed into the Lady's Ward to find the Park and begin the task.

After avoiding a few Harmonium patrols, the group got to the Park of the Infernal and the Divine (also known as Bloodgem Park). Dr. Fever did remark that he recalled a rumor about the murder of a Harmonium officer in the park a year or two ago. The party then picked the lock on the main gates and ran to the center. After running each other over, the party was at the center and prepared to pace off the distance. Rusteen drove a dagger into the ground at the center just to make sure they started at the right place. A quick taking of bearings, and the party was off.

And promptly hit the first obstacle - the wall of the park. Since the instructions said direct line, they had to find a way to climb over the wall. A few people went straight up the wall - either by climbing it or simply using some magic slippers and walking up it. The rest made use of a grappling hook and cable. (Well, Zin decided that as long as the mimir was carried in a direct line he could take the easy way out and go around the wall.) Once over the wall, the party continued it's walk, approaching the halfway mark.

And the second obstacle. It seems their direct line would take the party straight through the main sanctuary of the Temple of the Abyss - which just so happens to hold services before Anti-peak. So, the party had to figure out how to open a portcullis, cross 140 feet in front of the main pulpit, open another portcullis, and leave the building all without attracting the undue attention of several hundred crazed worshipper's of the tanar'ri - and a few tanar'ri that were in attendence. Zin followed his usual pattern and walked around the building. Ginaea, Rusteen, and Twig simply gathered into a deep shadow and carefully sneaked across the sanctuary as Ginaea was able to drag the shadow with them. (Although Rusteen seemed a bit put out by the rather dark conditions.) Shazarr simply dropped his hood and walked across. Dr. Fever was covered with a blanket and Que sat on top, trying to look nonchalant as a tiny evil guy on top of a walking box. (With several natural 20's, he actually succeeded.)

Finally making it through the sanctuary, the party was able to contine on to its destination. Which turned out to be about 60 feet inside the walled grounds of a mansion in the Lady's Ward. Que and Dr. Fever went over the wall to do the actual digging and burying, while everyone else stayed outside and distracted the guards (i.e. made one fall of the wall, and then fast-talked the other with some good disguise skills and quick thinking) and the dogs.

Everything was going pretty well until it came time to empty the box. It seems that the contents were a rather active and nasty vine which attacked Dr. Fever, rendering him unconscious. Fortunately, Que was able to bury the vine before it could bury the rogue modron. Once buried, the party quickly vacated the premesis and regrouped on the main street.

Authored by: Ken Lipka E-mail me: krlipka@yahoo.com

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