Rift Walker Luminvale Campaign - Overview and Thoughts (Sessions 23-24)

In this post I talk through the impact of the Water temple and the Fire temple on the Rift Walkers.

Pillars of Eternity

In this adventure the group explored the Cave of The Deep ones. To get to this sea cave, they travelled with Shaggsy of Marron Town to get here. It was quite the adventure. Arriving they see an old cave with a water bound and climbable entrance, getting through, poor DJ nearly drowned, while the others were ok. They found a vending machine from the future that gave them mystical gifts at the cost of memories and stories. They came across a magical pillar that told them to get his orbs back throughout the temple to give his power back. While DJ searched for the orbs, coming across some strange mold in a cave, and a chest to pick its lock; the others encountered deep ones. These deranged fish folk attacked them and nearly send Barnaby to a watery grave. After Fish saved him, he showed his might by blocking the water pool they swarmed from. In this they came out and began bowing to him. The orb told a story of the creatures worshiping the ancient leviathan the adventurers had previously encountered. It was the protector of this temple. In the distant past, Charles, an ancient Rift Walker gave his soul to protect this cave and release the leviathan from its servitude to the temple. The deep ones wanted the beast to return as they worshipped it. The group were faced with the choice to allow the creature to return as its guardian or keep Charles here. After some discussion, they chose to keep him here while the Maestro is attacking, to protect the deep ones and not let them become a part of his army. Barnaby swore to release him after this was all over. Giving his orbs back, the group unlocked the cavern that had jewellery rack for the Seal of The Future. Fish chose to empower the spirit of protection (tree) in the Seal. Solandra and the Under King gave them a choice to attack the Maestro early, which the group declined, in order to power up their remaining seals. Using the power of a seal, the group saw that the Maestro had found a lair in the Ancient Pastures. Surrounding him was Barbaric Boris and The Soothsayer. A green crystal similar to the first Seal of The Rift Walkers glowed a soft green. They saw a map that was a battle plan to gather soldiers, a beast and questions were raised around a rift gate. What did it all mean? How would the Rift Walkers stop it?

Ding Dong The Witch is Dead

In this session, the group explored the Fire Temple. DJ had learnt this was the Kiln of the Ancients. Dorak travelled with them through Ancient Pastures and showing them the way. On arrival the group found a dungeon of many rooms and a forge that had stopped burning. Fish repowered a mechanical wind up creature named Tick-Tock who said they were the keeper of the forge. After its memory had been damaged they sought his quest to get the forge running once more. Barely baby explained who they were and the group became fast friends. Fish explored and navigated through a trap filled room of fire, to retrieve a treasure box of an old bone doll. Barnaby moved some rubble to expose a doorway, while DJ made a discovery that an old enemy, the Soothsayer had returned. Doing the bidding of the Maestro, she told them it was reluctant and she wanted to get the forge running. She had been strapped with an alchemical explosive device. The group reluctantly accepting her help, explored the many rooms. DJ and Fish used their morale abilities to reignite the souls of the large mechanical giants. The group found a library where some o their questions were answered. They found out this was a Forge of Creation, where anything could be found. In here the group found a book that told of a ritual to destroy cursed marionettes. After finding the scroll of the ritual to help the forge, the explored a lava filled hole, where fire goblins were playing with the tools of the giants. In here a sentient piece of coal was needed to rekindle the forge. The Soothsayer started to kill and flick the goblins while Barnaby directed the giants to pick up the coal. Once up there he gathered the tools from the witch. While she was coming out of the lava hole, DJ sick of her, and her evil; decided to unload the magic water of the conch, into the hole, knocking her into the lava and creating a massive explosion. Barnaby was hurt in the fight. In the end DJ went through to the sacred room and chose the protection tree element of the Seal of the Rift Walkers.

Thoughts

The exploration of the water temple was one of my favourite sessions to date. I gave them many approaches and choice, which the group agreed was one of the best parts. I am always shocked to see what the group stick to as the most engaging part. For this session, it was the choice between Charles and the Leviathan. They ached over this for ages, which was super engaging. Of course, I didn’t expect it to be so big of a choice, but that is the magic of TTRPGs. The end of the session revealing the plans of the Maestro was a great moment of tension and build up. We got to do a ‘Stars and Wishes’ moment that asked the players what they wanted from the future sessions. This was a great chance to make sure I could add in some more drama into my next sessions, and find out how they wanted to approach the battle with the Maestro. In honesty, I gave the players a choice to confront the big bad early so that they could wrap up the campaign quicker if they so chose. Even if they wanted to explore all the options in the end, giving these options to players is good to allow a check in points. This session reinvigorated my love for the campaign and the players I have. The Fire temple choice for the players fell a little flat with me. I knew they wouldn’t like the Soothsayer but it felt a little forced. I am sure the players loved it in the end, but I want to do more. I want to tray and look to how I can make the fight super engaging without needing to do heaps of damage. See, when Barnaby took 9 damage, he saved 3 of it with armour, but took a critical wound immediately. It is a sure fire way to ratchet up the tension; and it was for a good narrative reason; but I want to make it scary without just unfair. I will think on this. With the completion of the Fire Temple, the group has, 2 Temples and a final confrontation to go.