Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Fighting Chance - Undead Plague by Leanne "Faelinn" Hoffman

Welcome to "A Fighting Chance".  This article series is dedicated to various threats of Realms and how you can become involved.

Threat:  Undead Plague/Grimloch Plot
Plot Masters: Christopher Marques, Tanja Johnson, Josh Learned, Tom Johnson
Plot Start: 2008

Undead have infested Grimloch for years.  It is well known that the Undead Plague was started by a group of powerful beings called Immortals.  There is a journal written by a "good" immortal which contains information about many of the towns and important locations in Grimloch.  In previous years the adventurers have visited many different towns, and have also begun to develop a cure for the plague.


The Monsters:

Many of the undead of Grimloch work a little bit differently than in other parts of the Realms due to the power of the plague.  Zombies (undead tabard) have to have their limbs hacked off first before a blow to the head will kill them.  Skeletons (skeleton tabard, skeleton mask) will require blunt weapons to smash their bones to keep them from rising.

Humans are not the only one affected by the plague.   Undead monsters, like kobolds have even seen wandering the woods.  The undead kobolds in Grimloch are very strange.  Each one is only vulnerable in one specific location.  Once struck there, they will be instantly killed.


Equipment:
The woods are full of undead.  Are you ready to fight them?

Blunt weapons such as hammers and maces are necessary against skeletons.  These weapons are usually in short supply while questing, so make sure there are plenty to go around.  

Special bone weapons have been found while questing in Grimloch.  These weapons have proven very effective when fighting any type of undead creature.  Bone weapons can be described as delivering a “poison armor-piercing” blow to any location that is stuck against an undead monster.  These weapons are rare, so keep an eye out for them.

Tactics:

While most of the undead in Grimloch seem to be slow moving, there are some that are incredibly fast and dangerous.  Many swarm their prey making it hard to get away if you aren’t paying attention to the things going on around you.

Regional magics of the land tend enhance necromancy or grant necromantic powers to those who can tap into that power.  Such powers include commanding lesser undead which can turn them against other creatures.  It is unknown if there is lasting effects to using these types of power.  Necromancy is also outlawed in Grimloch lands and the members of the nation are very strict about enforcing that law.


Who to talk to:

Want to know more about the progress that has been made so far?  The upcoming winter feasts are a great time to talk to people about this!  Make sure to talk to Ranger, Sir Aeston, or other members or Rhiassa.  They should be able to tell you what’s been going on.


Do you have a threat you want to see covered?  Let me know, so we can give other people a fighting chance.