DMs Only: Gatefall

GATEFALL: The Fall of Gateway Downs

The People of the Gateway Downs have suffered greatly during the last 50 years. Some sources believe that when most of their towns reverted to gang rule and bully tactics, the Powers cursed the area with Perpetual Rains which oracles said reflected the “spirit” of the people. Some say that their suffering is a direct result of their lack of effort --that when the tough times came, most people hid in their homes and hoped it would all go away. The people themselves became known as non-aggressive in nature. It seemed that they had just given up. They didn’t even have the energy to move to a more prosperous region. They just cowered in their homes and wished it all away. Others claim that it is due to a lack of faith in the Gods and Powers. These peoples, as a whole, let their temples remain empty. Some towns even forced their temples outside the city walls when they could not pay their taxes. Temples became known as places where criminals held clandestine meetings and places to receive shelter because of the perpetual rains.

It should be noted up front that of all the peoples of the Gateway Downs, those of Threshold showed more faith than any other community and refused to be defeated by the closing of the northern trade routes during the Rainy Curse of the last 50 years. Instead, they increased their local mining efforts finding silver and diamonds east in the Krag Us Monde. These luxuries they traded south to Hook City and east into the elven lands of Dre Moria by creating their own trading lines. They spent much in manpower and effort to keep the one pass to the east open. However, even this community was not noble nor good in the eyes of their fellowman and The Powers. The considerable income that their trade efforts brought in was not shared by the citizens so that all prospered. These profits went into the pockets of a few powerful mine owners, while all around them the average citizen became poorer and insignificant.

The Spirits Decree

The Spirits therefore have determined that these pitiful souls must be tested. They have decreed that a group of adventurers will rise up from among these peoples and be designated as “children of the times” and “representatives of the people.” These would-be-heroes will be given the opportunity to affect a change in the destiny of the Gateway Downs and its citizens. If they risk all beyond all hope, even to the point of death, the region will be redeemed. The Downs of Gateway will then be renewed in the next configuration and its resident curses lifted. There will be a new beginning and a prosperous age.

The stage for this conflict will be the Demi-plane of Ravenloft: The Domains of Dread and Desire. This plane is a closed location where a group of watchers and experimenters known as The Powers tempt mortals with immortality and the granting of desire. By day the settings of Ravenloft are startlingly beautiful and seductive: the windswept heath with brambles aflame in autumn color, soaring peaks with icy summits piercing the sky. When night falls however, she cloaks the world in inpenetrable darkness. A chill rises from the soil and contaminates the air and horror of each and every type. Suddenly, “breathtaking” beauty has new meaning. Here the mighty warrior will freshly experience the sight of spilled blood. The priest will become estranged from his god. The thief will confront the evil nature of his deeds and talent. The Mage will experience the dark side of his magic. The allure of the evil part of each man’s soul will seductively call to him. The more powerful the creature or soul, the more powerfully the Demi-plane of Terror will call to him.

The redemption of the Gateway Downs will be undertaken in three stages. The first stage involves the redemption of Threshold the Jewel of the Gateway Downs. The other two stages will be revealed if and when you are successful at your first endeavor. For the first stage, you will enter Ravenloft and combat an Assassins Circle known as the Ebon Fold. The simple destruction of this nefarious evil will buy the return of Threshold and the redemption of its citizens.

The plots of the Spirits are not so simple, however. First, the destruction of the Ebon Fold will set into motion further events of horror and suffering for the poor citizens of Ravenloft. You will have to experience first-hand, with the enhanced horror of the Demiplane of Dread, how the actions of the average adventuring group will affect those poor accursed people. Second, the events when played out will affect the plots of another mortal band of adventurers and the land they are sworn to protect as they attempt to control the evil set loose upon their land by 5 artifact rings. Third and finally, these events overlay the evil schemes of an immortal who, if successful, will change the entire Wold.