Session 01

Session 01 - Boarding the Lightning Rail

Session Keys

• Character introductions
• Introduction to the world of Eberron
• Combat?
• Starting the Journey: Travel with the Lightning Rail from Flamekeep to Sterngate

Storyline

• We will start our adventure as we board the train. Each player will introduce their character.
  • Vesryn and Thirteen already sits inside the train cart.
  • Elrath and Took soon boards the train.
  • Sarodan has a flashback to when the group of newfound acquaintances accepted the quest…See Below
  • Davira comes running, just as the train is about to leave.
• The train ride will take them about 35 hours. Stations: Flamekeep, Sigilstar, Aruldusk, Vathirond, Starilaskur and Sterngate.
• As everyone settles in, what do they notice? See Lightning Rail encounters.

Moved to Session 02

• Finally, they will arrive in Sterngate. If no delays, it’ll be morning time.
• Sterngate. They have directions to travel north until the reach a small village named Dawnhaven.
• Possible encounter on the road with Thugs/Bandits.
• If the group reach Dawnhaven, meet with Eldra. The villagers are not used to visitors as this is not a travel route.
• Here the players have a few different choices. Either engage with the villagers and find out about the Bandits troubling them, or just head towards the Monastery.

Storyline Details

Lightning Rail encounters

• Passenger Satisfaction Survey
• Brokk Stonehammer
  • “A dwarf with a bandaged wound checks it repeatedly, occasionally pouring whiskey on it and wincing.”
• Gilford Ghallanda
  • “A halfling from House Ghallanda offers food and drink to all passengers except elves, half-elves or shifters.”
• The Mischievous Changelings
  • A Chasing Encounter

Dawnhaven

• Dawnhaven Arrival

”Handout” Information

Quest from CotSF

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the worn table within the Flamekeep sanctuary. A silver-haired priest met your gaze, his eyes radiating both urgency and apprehension.

“Adventurers,” he began, his voice low and solemn, “the Silver Flame beckons your aid. Deep within the southern reaches of Breland, near the perilous Darguun border, lies a secluded monastery shrouded in silence and steeped in ancient wisdom. Within its hallowed halls rests a relic of critical importance.”

He paused, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. “Tensions have simmered between the monastery and the Church in recent years, making a direct retrieval by our templars… unwise. This is where you come in, valued allies of virtue.”

Leaning forward, the priest lowered his voice further. “Retrieve the relic and return it to Flamekeep. Discretion is paramount. Any other treasures found on your journey are yours to keep. Payment awaits upon successful delivery. Though you may not officially represent the Silver Flame,” he added, his gaze hardening slightly, “upholding its principles during your endeavour would be… highly appreciated.”

A faint hum emanated from his pendant, a symbol of the Silver Flame. The priest rose abruptly, the weight of the situation evident in his posture. “The time for deliberation is short. Will you answer the call of the Flame?”

Session Notes

Suspicion towards both Brokk Stonehammer and Agent Silas and Passenger Satisfaction Survey. Vesryn has some direct conversation to Brokk, but never in-depth or asking of names. Vesryn and the others were sceptical of Brokk. Thirteen did overhear something about “dangers” and “tomb raiding”. Agent Silas dropped in for the “Survey”, and showed specific interest in Thirteen. This caused specifically Thirteen to be suspicious and he ended up trailing Silas until he was stopped by a guard at the First Class car.

From Hanna

We begin in a lightning rail station, boarding the train to Sterngate. Epic prologue from the DM.  

Jonathan introduces Vesryn Tilrisen, a war cleric at 100-something years old. He’s been out and about for 20 years. Tilrisen is his patron. He does his best to be mild mannered and kind, taking care of people. He’s short, lean and armorless. We may call him Ves.  

Joschi introduces [[Thirteen|#13]], a Warforged, nine years old. Red crystal eyes, made of darkened and matted metal. He smokes cigarettes. He doesn’t wear clothes except a shawl around his neck. He is lean and graceful, though radiating danger and aggression. His back metal plate looks like it was melted once. Him and Ves are friends. 

Anders introduces Elrath, a young woman, barely twenty years old. She looks human, but strange. She’s dark skinned, but in a different way than usual. She gets stuck with her shield in the door and curses at it. She wears bits and pieces of well-used armor. Her weapons are ornate. She has strange scars on her neck and arms. She’s very buff and stern.  

Oscar introduces Took, a Kobold who likes salted pork. He has an oddly nice looking coat, a bit too big for him. He carries a big sack with many clanking things, and wears a bandana. He has red skin with yellow accents. He wears a piece of rope as a belt with a rapier that is also oddly nice, but dented. He has claws and horns. Apparently he and Elrath were kicked out of Thaliost. 

Johan introduces Sarodan, a shifter with catlike eyes. He’s tanned with wild brown hair. Not too tall, fairly young. He is proud. He reminisces about the moment the group received their mission.  

Hanna introduces Davira, a young gnome from Aundair, dark skinned with white hair (and a faded purple dip-dye) in dreadlocks. She’s in old-fashioned robes, with an owl sitting on her shoulder. She almost missed the train because she got distracted by an artifact.  

The journey to Sterngate will take 35 hours. Behind our car is a cargo car and a helm (at the back of the train).  

Took passes around pork. Vesryn wants to help people achieve their goals. Davira wants to collect knowledge. Elrath is hungry and has scars. Took thinks scars might help his sales. Ves] starts his two-hour stretching routine. Sarodan enjoys the lack of a crowd. There is a wounded, ragged-looking dwarf that is neither bothered by us nor bothering us. Perception roll; Davira rolls the first nat 1! Wooooo!  

The day passes. New passengers getting into the car are surprised or suspicious of the group. Elrath gets into a staring contest with a child. In front of the car is a well-dressed, monocled agent of House Cannith. His name is Agent Silas. He’s conducting a passenger survey and asks about [[Thirteen|#13]]. [[Thirteen|#13]] gets up and follows him when he leaves, getting back after some time.   ([[Thirteen|#13]] and Ves know that [[Thirteen|#13]] tried to get into the car that Silas went into, but it was guarded so he didn’t succeed.) 

Night comes. Identical twins enter the car, dressed flamboyantly. They change into a Took-like kobold and a tall elf after tripping the dwarf and stealing something from his bag. Changelings! We pursue them. Roll initiative! Sarodan manages to catch one of them.

Evaluation

I am content with the session. As I expressed to the others, I am very thankful for having a group of experienced players with me as the RP comes much more easily. That helped me as a DM since I could allow them to take things into their own hands.

I did feel that the key points I wanted in the session came out fairly well. We got an introduction of the world of Eberron and a few of the different races showed up. I think it worked out pretty well with Agent Silas too as that seemed to have piqued their interest and brought some interesting intrigue. I think he might very well be a recurring character as they delve deeper into the mysteries and House Cannith gets more involved.

Growth

• One area that I think would be fun to challenge myself in would be voice acting.
• I think I could also work more on descriptions and fleshing that side out. It doesn’t hurt to do some of that work in preparation.