Le Morte D'Bruce

Bruce had a lot of crazy plans. Stephen was incredibly tolerant of half baked plans I would come up with on a slow work week. Some of them fit in the campaign, some of them didn't. Bruce related stuff like this:

"I have decided what I want to do with the explosives that we have looted from the temple. I would like to secretly rig our new mansion to self destruct in thirty seconds (six rounds) if I ever utter the phrase "By the power of  Bruce , Harosh giveth and Harosh taketh away!" while inside the mansion. Why? Because every lair needs a self destruct mechanism! If your lair cannot explode at a moment's notice, you are doing it wrong.

Dragon Slayer
"How many of  the obscure events in history, plagues, loss of  life, destruction of  civilizations, had been done at the whim of  dragons?" -Bruce

Talaro not only insulted him with offers of  wealth and power, he never delivered on it. But what could Bruce do? They may be few in number, but Dragon's were mythical, immortal beings, supposedly invulnerable, and possessed powers that spat on the gods.Then Kyer-Ixidar. Dragons could be killed, they could be tricked, they were prone to insecurities and pride. The game could be stopped, all he would have to do: kill all of  the dragons.

Step 1: Make Dragons a commodity. Bruce began studying the body of  the dragon, absorbing every detail of  their anatomy, defenses, weaknesses. He used his friends for a series <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  experiments intended to give Draconic strengths to those strong enough to fight them. While bearing Telaro's mark, he could not tell people that Dragon parts can vastly improve the health and fighting abilities <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  warriors, or that they could be grafted to technology. But people will talk. They will see a working airship constructed from biotechnology by an earth cleric. They will see a sorceror rip dangerous beasts to shreds using powerful grafts. They will see a dragonborn given the gift <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  flight. And most importantly they will see a working graft on a non draconic creature. Everyone will want one. There are smart people in the world. We won't need to tell them we killed a dragon. Someone will just figure it out.

Step 2: Fake death. Bruce will not involve the <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales  in his plans. If his end game was ever revealed, every dragon in the Skylands would want to kill all <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  them, Telaro might even order the <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales  to stop him. Bruce has secretly combined the enchantments on his boots <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  striding and springing with his gnomish escape boots. He has already learned that the mark <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Telaro can be erased. The next time a true threat attacks the mansion he will activate the self destruct, get the <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales  out <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  the building, and dimension door outside the city to a secret excavated shaft. There will be a credible reason there is no body, and once the mark is erased, even Telaro will agree that Bruce is no more.

Step 3: Conquer Iounopolis. Bruce will secretly marshal all the forces <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  the CCC, Harosh , and Imaunte to send a crusade to Iounopolis. Without the mark <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Telaro, Bruce will be able to freely describe dragons and their unstoppable powers. Neutrality will agree that we must hunt dragons to extinction to harvest them for their power.

<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">Step 4: Upset the game. Bruce intends to breed himself an army  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> loyal dragons, dragons that won't know anything about the game. The complexity  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">dragon cloning and breeding required materials and devices that only existed in the legends  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> Iounopolis. Since I don't know if I will ever be able to return to the game, Bruce could be an NPC they meet far down the line in Iounopolis, slowly building his army  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> loyal dragon and half dragon supersoldiers in a post apocalyptic city. Whether Bruce will still be on track by then or a twisted shadow  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> what he once was is up to you.

The Last Will and Testament of Bruce
<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">I am aware that because <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">time constraints Bruce may not make it back to the mansion in time during the final session. So I will have to trust you with Bruce's gambit, going out like a champ in a fireball that can be seen from space. Bruce has left two wills in the possession <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">the mayor, one marked 'To be read in the event <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">Bruce's death, should he fall defending his friends:'

<span style="font-family:'comicsansms',sans-serif;">"My fellow heroes and heroines,

If you are reading this, then I am likely dead. My only hope is that I died cursing death, murdering my numerous enemies in an ever-expanding fireball that can be seen from space, burying myself in the dark cataclysmic quake <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Harosh's earth. I have few regrets. Mostly dying. That goes without saying. I probably would have preferred that part didn't happen. I'm looking at you Krytos. But one <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  the regrets I never had was meeting all <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  you.

Krytos, you were my truest friend. The compact between Harosh and Phol-Phoram prevented me from sabotaging the pursuit <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  your own faith. Know that were I not contractually obligated I would have stopped at nothing to turn your intuitive potential for destruction towards the power <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  making and breaking. May your wings spirit you quickly to your <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">revenge.

Acerbitox, you fulfilled my secret goal to turn someone into an unstoppable dragon monster. Your complete disregard for your own well being was a precious gift. I owe you the most <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  everyone.

Carrug, you're the only one in this party who uses an actual weapon. I always appreciated that.

Moegid, I tried to make everyone something special, you were the hardest to make for. I leave to you the S.S. Flying Brick. Though it is dangerously unfinished at the time <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  this writing, I'm sure I will have finished tuning it by the time this is read. It contains several prototypes I am confident you can fix, my blueprint sketches are in a secret compartment in the cargo hold. Your keen alchemical skills will make you a fine captain.

And Yvaine, I knew you the shortest amount <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  time. I regret never joining forces to create an unstoppable eldritch machine.

As I am now gone, the contract between the <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales  <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Justice and the church <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Harosh is  extinguished. I now return Power <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Attorney, franchising rights, distribution rights, and the rights to your likenesses that you all signed over to me in perpetuity when you signed our charter (You should probably hold onto this document, you'll need it to prove you have the right to make your own financial decisions on my behalf).

Do not be sad. I am with Harosh now in a realm <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  endless land, a world where there is no roil, only more room to explore and build. Every item I forged for you flashes with a terran prayer to Harosh when used, so know that even though I am not beside you, I'll be listening. May your forge be hot. Good ideas forever.

P.S. I almost forgot! I should probably tell you the passcode to deactivate any explosives I secretly installed just in case someone stumbles on the detonation phrases. I don't have enough time to tell you all the locations. I mean, I had a lot <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  explosives. Also I forgot a few <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  them. Just walk around town saying the deactivation password and it should probably be fine. The deactivation password is (there is a smear after this part).

The mayor will also accidentally give them a letter marked 'To be read in the event <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  Bruce's death, should his companions discover his secret plans and be forced to kill him:' Should they open and read the letter it should say:

<span style="font-family:'comicsansms',sans-serif;">Fools! So, you discovered my secret experiments and foiled my plans before it was too late! Well, you may have stopped me, but you'll never stop my <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">revenge ! Remember that ruin filled with island destroying levels <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  explosives that everyone forgot about? I didn't! Not only have I rigged the mansion to explode upon my death, I've buried explosives all over Murkheath, so perfectly that no amount <span class="il" style="background:rgb(255,255,204);">of  searching will ever detect them. They are rigged to explode when a certain uncommon word is uttered! And that's not the best part! Everything I've worked, every surgery, every magical nick nack I've ever put on your person has secretly been infused with magics and explosives, impossible to detect, impossible to remove, ready to detonate the second different pass codes are uttered. Speak softly everyone, and don't sit too close to Acerbitox ! <span style="font-family:'comicsansms',sans-serif;">Bwahahahaha!

<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">We both know Bruce would never trap his companions with explosives even if they were going to kill him. But Bruce is not above spite, and figures this will be a pretty convincing lie after the mansion explodes.

Plan B
<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">Since Bruce is a cleric  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> Harosh, he has already contacted a member  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> the CCC to be ready to kill him and breath  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> life him almost immediately after he leaves Murkeath. One  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> the benefits  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> being a member  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> a large religion is you can always reach a cleric. I have also considered the fact that Bruce would have a backup plan in the event that he is unable to rouse a large force to take Iounopolis. In either case, he would want a smaller, elite, specialized force that would protect him on his journey deeper into the techno horror island  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> Iounopolis.

<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">He would call these shadow lieutenants The  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> Vengeance. If you have no plans for them, Bruce would like to recruit Heiniken, Purrfa (if Devon is no longer in the game), Grizz , and Zorne. He'll consider recruiting Draika, but her morals may be a problem. It would be helpful for Bruce to have people he trusts, and it will satisfy a primal need to have an ambiguous party  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> antiheroes opposite the  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">Scales <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;">  <span class="il" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;background:rgb(255,255,204);">of <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;"> Justice.