Our Story

Sordane is a world where the peculiar properties of the cryptic crystal soralite suffuses society - audacious artificers cunningly contrive all manner of dubious devices. Noble nations vie variously for precarious power on a globe girdled with sky-paths. Our story unfolds against a backdrop of a devastated republic, an ascendant empire and a world teetering on the edge of the abyss – while a doomsday clock ticks down.

Our unlikely heroes find themselves paupers, and petitioning a less than savoury merchant syndicate for work. Their journey takes them across far-flung continents, hunting across the globe for the secrets to a long-forgotten doomsday device. Along with their wits, skills and daring, they abscond with a sky-ship of mighty power and mysterious origins.

Can they avoid the evil empire for long enough to decipher how to deactivate the deadly dwarven doomsday device?

Story Outline

The story of The Lead Zeppelin currently includes:

1. 📖#Book One - Friends in High Places - in which our heroes undertake a daring heist and earn the favour of a powerful faction.
2. 📖#Book Two - The Lost Fleet - in which our heroes embark on a perilous voyage to a lost island, and uncover the fate of a mythical fleet.
3. 📖#Book Three - The Lead Zeppelin - in which our heroes returns to civilisation and races for glory in the Ezdin Jubilee skiff races.
4. Book 4 - The Swindler's Luck - in which our heroes, beset by shadows, find harbour in the skies.

Book One - Friends in High Places

In which our erstwhile crew travel - under various auspices, principles and causes - to Sh’Reet aboard the dubious merchant ship the Ladies Luck.  Therein they are drawn into a grand heist by a powerful syndicate, and through feats of daring do liberate a maiden from her chamber.

Being the Plot

This follows closely the published module “Friends in High Places” with no major plot deviations.  The plot is outlined in the module but is broadly:

1. Chapter 1 : Earning a Place in the Sky - in which the PCs are made and offer they cannot refuse.
2. Chapter 2 : Casing Brightwood - in which the group determines the best approach for the heist.
3. Chapter 3 : The Stolen Maiden - in which the plan comes together for good or for ill.

Which occurs on or about the autumn month of Harvestfall in the year 3898 PR.

Dramatis Personae

• 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧Our heroes
  • 🚹Merrick Landon - Male - Half-Elf. Down on his luck ex-naval officer, rogue, gentleman, swashbuckler. Ships captain.
  • 🚹ChoTaan Gathakanathi - Male - Titarian. Mystic guide, navigator, and hierophant of the portents, prophecies and the stars. Ships navigator.
  • 🚹Zeke "Spanners" Bilgewright - Male? - Human? Genius engineer, drug addict and purveyor of mechanical wonders. Ships engineer.
  • 🚹Lyra du Vectari - Shard-forged. An ancient arcane pilot, attuned to physics and probability. Ships helmsman.
  • 🚹Gunter Shortreach - Male - Dwarf. Merchant marine and war-cleric. Ships Marine Officer
  • 🚹Greeco Substath - Male - Dwarf. Merchant marine and artillerist. Ships Gunnery Officer.
  • 🚹Kramram - Male - Orc. Cook and combat sommelier, with a particular set of skills. Ships Cook
• The Arrodan Syndicate; a global criminal enterprise
  • 🚹Elvar - Male - Human.  Captain of The Ladies Luck, an Arrodan Crew Chief, and smuggler.
  • Meras Unweil - Male - Umbriel Elf.  Lieutenant in the syndicate, former champion pilot of the Crimson Vanguard racing skiff, and smuggler.
  • 🚹Zalith - Female - Tiefling.  A recruiter for the syndicate, handler, and smuggler.
• The Ludain Estate; the estate of a minor lord
  • Ren Ludain - Male - Half-Elf. Grandson of Randall Ludain, and head of the Ludain family.
  • Devon - Male - Halfling.  Head butler of the Ludain estate.
  • Estate Guards - Various - Human.  Townsfolk who serve part time as town guard - well armed and on the lookout.
• The Townspeople of Brightwood
  • Celia Ludain - Female - Human. Owner of the Crystal Heart, granddaughter of Randall Ludain and Ren’s cousin.  Celia lives in the Ludain estate.
  • Corros Molbu - Male - Gnome. Enchanter in charge of the magical protections for the Crystal Maiden and owner of Corros’ Captivating Conjurations.
  • Dezack - Male - Tiltik Goblin. Owner of the Krakens Brew tavern.
  • Garlyn - Male - Human. Owner of the Skinned Skyshark tavern.
  • Grayson - Male - Human. Priest of the Eight and minister of the Octagonal Halls.
  • Mayor Lirel - Female - Elf. The Mayor of Brightwood, and distantly related to the Ludain family.
  • Ovina Broadknuckle - Female - Dwarf. Local blacksmith and owner of the Umbra Forge.
  • Jolan Thorngrove - Male - Halfling.  The sheriff of Brightwood.
  • Town Guard - Various - Human.  Townsfolk who serve part time as town guard - armed mostly with cudgels and stern looks.
• Various Others
  • Chieftain Ukla - Male - Kobold. Chieftain of the Shadow Moss kobolds.
  • Brightwood Hunters - Male - Human.  A pair of hunters who make a living from Brightwood forest.

Our Stage is Set

This book is set in Brightwood and its environs in northern Sh’Reet, including:

• The continent of Sh’Reet - one of the smaller continents, within the western hemisphere. This continent has not seen a war in the last thousand years since the Construct War; its nations all live in peace. It is located near the equator and so it has plenty of sun and good weather. It’s common for many Sordanians to move to Sh’reet when they want to do away with their old lives and settle down.
• The small town of Brightwood - home to 840 people.  It lacks the hurried pace one might expect to find in a large city like Ezdin. While it technically has a sky port, only one airship is able to dock at a time. As such, there are very few airships that pass over Brightwood, with most trade coming via the roadways branching throughout the Silvas Alliance.  However Brightwood has several points of interest, including three inns.
• The Ludian Estate - a noble manner in a quaint town, which is where the maiden lies bound.

And Thus we Begin

The adventure begins with the characters aboard one of the Arrodan Syndicates’ algor cruisers, The Ladies Luck, sitting in the operations room. There is a female Tiefling sitting in the room with them, watching them. They are there to try and prove their worth, in hopes of being recruited by the Arrodan Syndicate.

Book Two - The Lost Fleet

In which our heroes journey to Orhaz to investigate the wild claims by a scholar of an as yet undiscovered jetsteam. In so doing they embark on a perilous voyage to a lost island, and uncover the fate of a mythical fleet.

Being the Plot

This follows closely the published module “Friends in High Places” with no major plot deviations.  The plot is outlined in the module but is broadly:

1. Chapter 1 : A Commissioned Expedition - in which the PCs are commissioned on a captivating charter for clues to a curiously cursed convoy
2. Chapter 2 : The Uncharted Island - in which the group learns of a perilous predicament
3. Chapter 3 : Cadaver Canyon - in which the group faces ferocious fears with fantastic feats of fortitude.

Which occurs on or about the months of late-autumn (Emberleaf) and early winter (Frostbreath) in the year 3898 PR.

Dramatis Personae

• 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧Our heroes
• The Arrodan Syndicate; a global criminal enterprise
  • 🚹Zalith - Female - Tiefling.  A recruiter for the syndicate, handler, and smuggler.
  • 🚹Rufus du Meer - Male - Human. The captain of the merchant ship ⚓The Doubtless Drake, which transports the group from Brightwood to 🏢Orhaz
  • 🚹Leif Orren - Male - Human.  The first mate of ⚓The Doubtless Drake, and turncoat who sells out the heroes to the Empire.
  • 🚹Peyton Fenwick - Male - Human.  Boatswain of ⚓The Doubtless Drake
• The 🏢Orhaz Dwarves; a family of dwarves swept up in the adventure
  • Ves Wordtamer - Male - Dwarf. A youthful dwarven historian and patron of the voyage.
  • Gotrek Fairetching - Male - Dwarf. Ves’s father and curmudgeon.
  • Kazgar the Mad - Male - Dwarf [Deceased]. Ves’s grandfather.
  • Harok Flangebender - Male - Dwarf [Deceased]. Ves’s great-grandfather.
• The Dwarves of Clan Skarrengrim; the descendants of a lost fleet
  • Alric Strongbrow - Male - Dwarf [Deceased]. The captain of the Promise of Iron.
  • Hadra Wrenchworth - Male - Dwarf [Deceased]. An engineer aboard the Promise of Iron.
  • Grum Leafhater - Male - Dwarf [Deceased]. A leader of the 2nd generation of clan Skarrengrim.
  • Thori the Lost - Male - Dwarf. A member of the 3rd generation of clan Skarrengrim, and oldest living descendant.
  • Olka Greenfingers - Female - Dwarf. The youngest of the 3rd generation of clan Skarrengrim and herbalist to the clan.
  • Ulfar - Male - Dwarf. The clan-chief of the 4th generation - a hunter.
  • Barag Grundit - Construct. A new decrepit but once mighty war construct.
• Various Others
  • The crew of the Doubtless Drake. A small crew of “merchants”.
  • Being the Many and Varied inhabitants of the Glorious Cin’Darian City of Orhaz.
  • Being the various Fauna and Flora of the Island.

Our Stage is Set

This book is set in 🗺️Bordair, including:

• The City of 🏢Orhaz - a major Cin’Darian city located in north western 🗺️Bordair, in the fertile province of Baetica.  Orhaz is an important trade port as well as producer of luxury goods (food, wine and furniture).
• A tropical island - which has no name, appears on no charts and is a wild, untamed jungle.  Who knows what mysteries and maladies lie within.

And Thus we Begin

The adventure begins with the characters once again aboard ⚓The Ladies Luck - gathered on the top deck receiving instructions from Captain 🚹Elvar. They are told to investigate claims of an as yet undiscovered jetstream near the Cin’Darian city of 🏢Orhaz - which if found would be enormously lucrative for the syndicate. They are to board a merchant ship, ⚓The Doubtless Drake, with the Crystal Maiden under tender, and having uncovered the truth of the new jetstream, meet ⚓The Ladies Luck in 🏢Ezdin in time for the start of the summer skiff racing season (in Sunburst).

Book Three - The Lead Zeppelin

In which our heroes return at last to civilization, to report their findings to the Arrodan Syndicate, and crew The Crystal Maiden at the Ezdin Jubilee races. Amidst the thunderous roar of the competition, titanic forces collide, sending the city into chaos. Fugitives in a city ablaze our unlikely heroes race against time to find the Lead Zeppelin, a powerful symbol of rebellion. In a world on the brink, will they soar to freedom or become prisoners of destiny?

Being the Plot

This three part act consists of:

1. Chapter 1 : A Day at the Races - in which the group returns to civilisation and races for glory in the Ezdin Jubilee skiff races
2. Chapter 2 : Rise of the Empire - in which a dark force rises bent on fanning the flames of a worldwide war!
3. Chapter 3 : Unexpected Allies  - in which our heroes find help in the unlikeliest of places

Which occurs on or about the turn of summer (Sunburst) in the year 3898 PR.

Dramatis Personae

• 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧Our heroes
• Our guest stars
  • Leopold Cringewell the Third - Male - Human. Cad, man-about-town and agent of chaos.
• The Arrodan Syndicate; a global criminal enterprise
  • 🚹Evlar - Male - Human.  Captain of the Ladies Luck, an Arrodan Crew Chief, and smuggler.
  • 🚹Zalith - Female - Tiefling.  A recruiter for the syndicate, handler, and smuggler.
  • 🚹Leif Orren - Male - Human.  The first mate of the Doubtless Drake, and turncoat who sells out the heroes to the Empire.
  • 🚹Peyton Fenwick - Male - Human.  Boatswain of the Doubtless Drake
• The Arrodan Race team
  • Edmund Wheatfellow - Male - Human.  Arrondan race team sponsor and man about town.
  • Christian deGrey - Male - Human.  Arrodan race team tactician.
  • Joseph Stonesworn - Male - Human.  Arrodan race team engineer.
  • Several syndicate bodyguards.
• The opposing race factions
  • The Iron Fangs, financed by Sir Ignatius Blackthorn, an underworld boss.
  • The Cog Heads, led flamboyantly by Ben “The Baron”  Le Bairn
  • The Electrica Ingeniarium, under the brutal fist of Nail, an orc entrepreneur
  • The Westmead Hawks, financed by the Westmead banking consortium
  • Brass Coil Ventures, led by syndicate boss Nicky "The Hand".
• The opposing racers
  • Hrakk Blackfang - Male - Orc. Gangster, and pilot of the mighty Bloodstorm for the Iron Fangs
  • Arold “Ace” Rimmler- Male - Human. Student, and pilot of the Scholar's Gambit for the Cog Heads
  • Graf Gearspark - Male - Gnome. "Pilot" of the MK 7 Blendo for the Electrica Ingeniarium
  • Bobbin “Kate” Westmead. Eccentric girl genius, and pilot of the the Aetheric Phoenix for the Westmead Hawks
  • Meras Unweil - Male - Umbriel Elf. Turncoat, and pilot of the Brass Raven for Brass Coil Ventures
• The Decimus of the ⚖️Cin'Dar Senate; plutocratic rulers of Cin’Dar
• The Council of 🏢Orhaz; a group of conspirators
  • 🚹Imperator Caelius Marcellus, Impetrator (emperor) of the Imperium Aeternum
  • The lesser son of a noble family, conspirator and would-be-assassin
  • 🚹Legatus Legionis Quintus Livianus, a ruthless general who leads an an army of unstoppable cyborgs
  • A master spy, playing both sides against each other to destroy the world
  • 🚹Lucius Verus, a chief artificer, creator of the titular vessel
• The East Gate Rebels; plucky survivors
  • 🚹Centurion Julianus Cato, the captain of the East Gate rebels
  • 🚹Althalos Vostonos, a lieutenant of the East Gate rebels
  • 🚹Adelaide Zimen. an engineer with the East Gate rebels
  • 🚹Henry Commonbrook, a medic with the East Gate rebels
• Various Others
  • Being the Many and Varied inhabitants of the Glorious Cin’Darian City of Ezdin
  • The spectators, onlookers, well-wishers and naysayers of the Ezdin Cup crowd
  • Alberic Cleves, proprietor of the Bishop's Wand
  • 🚹Madame Jacqueline Vignon, a “seamstress”
  • 🚹Madame Claire Victorine, also a “seamstress”

Our Stage is Set

This book is set in the city of Ezdin, capital and “jewel” of the Cin’Dar republic, including:

• The Bishop's Wand - a tavern and the boisterous and rambunctious home to several racing teams, including the Arrodan Syndicate and The Cog Heads
• Whitestorm Manor - a wealthy home, and headquarters of the Brass Coil Ventures race team
• Westmead Manor - a rural manor, and headquarters of the Westmead Hawk race team
• Cogsbreath - a warehouse and workshop, within which the Cog Heads race holds their racing skiff The Scholar's Gambit
• Gork's Gob - a ruined cathedral, within which the Iron Fangs gang resides with their racing skiff Bloodstorm
• Tailwind Tower - a mansion, within which the crew of the MK 7 Blendo live and the board of directors of the Electrica Ingeniarium corporation meet
• The East Dregs district - a slum near the wall of the city, north of the east gate on the borders of the Tripptar District
• Madame Palmyre’s Emporium - a house of ill repute in the Dregs

And Thus we Begin

The adventure begins with the characters making their entry into the city of Ezdin aboard the Doubtless Drake, with the racing skiff The Crystal Maiden in tow. Within the city they are to make contact with the Arrodan racing team, at their headquarters in the Haggler’s Court district. It's early in the month of Warmsun (June) as summer nears its peak, only a month remains until the beginning of the Ezdin cup, and the city is already beginning to rise with excitement.