Tower of Plinth

Type: Location / Chosen headquarters
Campaign: Under the Bus
Status: CANON — established through actual play
Current Status: Damaged/abandoned following the wolf attack; Chosen survivors subsequently afflicted by an unexplained sickness.

Overview

The Tower of Plinth is the headquarters and principal fortress of the The Chosen. It is located within the Gap of Otheron, approximately 1½ days' travel into the Gap from the party's initial entrance.

The "tower" is actually a fortress constructed within the surrounding mountain. The visible approach includes a massive stone lift operating on enormous chains, followed by a narrow staircase leading to the upper fortress.

The fortress was still under construction when the party first arrived.

History

According to Effron, the fortress once belonged to Correries and his allies before their ascension to godhood. It was commissioned by the wealthy nobleman Ethan Dowtry, who was a friend of Correries. After Dowtry's death, the province came under the authority of Ulanthar.

The fortress was later captured by adventurers, including the wizard Otheron, who was responsible for the creation of The Gap of Otheron.

During the early wars it served as a staging ground for allies of the good gods. It was eventually abandoned after the gods were banished. The Traveler later discovered it and offered it as the headquarters of the Chosen.

Note: This history was presented by Effron/Chosen sources and should be treated as the Chosen's historical account unless independently confirmed.

The Chosen

The Chosen organization has operated for roughly 50 years.

It was founded by nine individuals:

• Jessenth ("Uncle Jessie") — deceased
• Angar — deceased
• Stegner — deceased
• Serianne — deceased
• Samos — remaining founder; now Priest-King of Toreon
• The Traveller — remaining founder
• Effron — remaining founder, deceased as of the wolf attack
• Eritrea — remaining founder
• Quentin — remaining founder

The organization numbers more than 300 Chosen.

Major divisions include:

• Military — defense and direct action against tangible evils such as orcs
• History — research and preservation of historical knowledge
• Exploration — mapping and reconnecting the world after the Fall
• Recruitment
• Political — infiltration and influence of governments

The Chosen do not know the true origin of their powers. Their researchers have been unable to determine a consistent pattern.

Party's Arrival

The party reached the Tower after being recruited by Jayme.

They first encountered Effron, who challenged them to Battle Chess. The party lost. Effron revealed that the game was not the actual test: the real test was whether someone would step forward to become the group's leader.

Nate volunteered and became the party's designated leader.

The party then underwent the concentration test used to awaken their first Chosen ability. All members except Tammy successfully unlocked the ability to sense other Chosen.

Nate's version had an enhanced range of 60 feet.

The party subsequently joined the Chosen, receiving Chosen badges and accepting the magical restrictions associated with membership.

Training

The party remained at the Tower for several weeks and underwent specialized training:

• Nate — political leadership and maneuvering, under Quentin
• Jones — military leadership/drill training, under Quentin
• Ray — survivability, under Marcus
• Chris — general knowledge, under Brother Tomlin
• Tammy — lost Age of Wonders technology, under Brother Tomlin
• TJ — faith healing and preaching, under Tegrid
• Noel — exploration and learning through experience, under Marcus
• Haf — recruitment and brewing, within the recruitment division

Each eventually unlocked an additional Chosen ability associated with their training.

The party's rapid progress and Effron's apparent favoritism caused resentment among some other Chosen. Tensions culminated in a Battle Chess challenge against Brance. The party won and acquired their first Battle Chess board.

Facilities

The fortress contained:

• Armory and training areas
• Library
• Scrying chamber
• Ancient magical scrying pool operated by Delphi
• Combat arena
• Extensive construction/quarrying operations
• Underground mines
• Living and communal areas

The mines beneath the fortress had once been operated using slaves during Ulanthar's era and produced crystals capable of absorbing laser energy. The mines had been closed after the slaves were liberated.

Monsters, including gorillons, remained in the underground areas. An arena at the bottom of the complex may have been associated with the containment of such creatures.

There was also a guarded collection of old books and scrolls.

Pythia and the Gifts

Effron used the fortress's historical resources to teach the party about Pythia, the so-called Mad Prophet, and The Five Gifts.

The Chosen interpretation of history holds that the Gifts were five tremendously powerful artifacts created from power divided by Demmazon.

This account is not established objective history. It conflicts with the campaign's established DM history in important respects.

See: The Five Gifts and Pythia the Mad Prophet.

The Wolf Attack

Several weeks after the party's arrival, a wounded Chosen entered the courtyard warning that the fortress was under attack.

A massive force of wolves, dire wolves, worgs, and werewolves attacked the Tower.

The Chosen mounted a defense, but the attackers inflicted catastrophic casualties.

Among the dead were:

• Master Effron

• Numerous Chosen

• Gnomes operating the great lift

• Construction workers and other allies

The party pursued the attackers downward under Marcus.

Tammy discovered how to stop the lift. The party overloaded it with corpses, causing it to break apart.

At the bottom of the Gap, the party found extensive destruction and many dead. Wolf and humanoid tracks led south.

Quentin subsequently assigned the party to investigate.

Subsequent Condition

After the party's journey south and return nearly two months later, they found no meaningful reconstruction at the destroyed construction site.

Quentin reported that the Chosen had subsequently developed a mysterious sickness shortly after the party departed.

Symptoms included:

• High fever

• Disorientation

Some afflicted Chosen became so confused that they wandered from the fortress and died after falling from the cliffs.

The fortress had been locked down, with the remaining Chosen confined inside.

No cure had yet been discovered.

Current unresolved question: Whether the Tower's sickness is connected to the disease encountered at Tandar, the outbreak at Corton, or the Gauntlet of the Moon remains unknown.