Harbourtown [Archive] - Wizards Community

Harbourtown [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoriceXII
10-17-07, 07:54 AM Harbourtown is a city surrounded by cliffs and rocky beaches--it is the only good harbour area for miles. Fog and mist are regular weather conditions. Part of the city is a collection of wharves and canals that stretch into the nearby bay, while much of the rest is perched on the cliffs or the overlooking heights.

Harbourtown is part of the Republic of New Edom and is the most important port. Until recently it was occupied by the forces of the warlord Duke Anderman. General Carmel, a New Edomite commander leading a force of regular soldiers, militia, and allies from other peoples liberated the city.

I'm intending this to be a focus area for my players while they intrigue and plan efforts regarding another occupied city only a few days' journey away, the city of Glasstower.

Campaign elements I would like to develop for this area would include:
- Yuan-Ti secret intrigues
- Drow secret intrigues
- An aboleth/sea aberration led cult (perhaps occupying undersea areas nearby or local islands)
- a temple devoted to Osprem/Xerbo
- tension as the liberators consider how to deal with those locals who did business with and possible were in collusion with the occupying forces
(those who benefited from occupation are called "Viles" by the rest of the country)
- some ideas about prominent locals

Thanks in advance for any help.
Tbird
10-17-07, 07:45 PM The fate of 'the Viles' is probably unpleasant. I'd be willing to bet that the liberators (presumably Edomites?) are likely to view them as rebels and traitors and you can bet that the government (and personal enemies of those who benefited from the occupation) are going to want them stripped of any property and power they have. All for the war effort, of course.
The common folk that helped might be able to get by unnoticed by the liberators, but their neighbors will be quick to deal with them. I seem to remember that women known to have shared their beds with occupying soldiers would have their heads shaved, in some instances.

Just some ideas
taradusis
10-18-07, 05:38 PM When thinking up Yuan-ti plots I usually model them on what the "snakeheads"or chinese triads do.I would concentrate on drugs,slavery,gambling and some extortion.If you can get a drug declared unlawful the price goes up.If the Yuan-ti control a "gangbuster" and he never hits their shipments this increases profits and spreads corruptionloan a poor man 1GP and he pays you a silver each week.When he gets into trouble get him to give info or perform favors.If you loan money to people in a dockworkers union they can tell you alot about shipments and vote your way,a good way to take over a union and the docks?Run a classy casino and get members of the upper or middle class into debt,squeeze them for favors and knowledge.Basically the Yuan-ti want to control Police,Judges,union officals,Nobles,army officers etc.Hooks;have the yuan-ti take over or corrupt somebody everyday untill the PCs notice?RANDOM THOUGHTS
GoriceXII
10-18-07, 06:50 PM Thanks for the suggestions about the Viles Tbird. I'm wondering how extreme I should be for that and how the pcs could be involved as well. One of the pcs talked about how perhaps the power of the patricians should be curbed anyway--I wonder if he'd leap at a chance to be involved in something like this on the basis of accusations of treason.

As for the Yuan-Ti...I like the idea of their involvement with Harbourtown being entirely different from that going on in Glasstower. Perhaps they are gradually taking over such operations or even already have taken them over. In fact I may do that--I might like the idea that they actually have a major control over the underworld of Harbourtown.
taradusis
10-21-07, 09:41 AM I was watching Gladiator last night and saw the scene where christians were thrown to lions or bears.Suppose there was a race track or stadium the Yuan-ti or Drow could take over and start up gladitorial games?Some yuan-ti worship SETH who requires regular sacrifices,gladitorial games to the death would count.The Viles could be thrown to Bears or Lions.Most of the people who die in an arena are criminals,a chance for Drow or Yuan-ti to corrupt officials?Random thoughts.
GoriceXII
10-21-07, 10:32 AM My pcs would be outraged, but that's not a bad thing. Especially if it was done as a big popular move, say as certain public officials roused people who had felt oppressed under the previous regime.

I'm thinking of during the occupation phase of the game giving my pcs command of the town watch. I had another thread up about that but I'm focusing on it a little more here.
taradusis
10-21-07, 10:03 PM I'm wondering what the Drow want in your world?You seem to include them much more than I did.Do they buy luxury items?Do they sell/buy highly skilled slaves?Are they attempting to thwart the surface Elves somehow?I always felt the Drow had more to sell than buy?
GoriceXII
10-21-07, 11:06 PM I actually have a modified form of Drow. They only resemble regular D&D Drow.

Basically they are Dark Elves but more in the Norse fashion. They are actually paler than normal elves because they often do things underground to hide their activities. The Dark Elves are bitter towards humanity in particular but also towards humanoid races for the way in which they have changed the world, inhibited what they call the Singing. All elves and fae creatures in my homebrew world were once more prominent as races, then began to dwindle with the rise of humanity. The Singing is a magical sense of the interconnectedness of life. Elves are actually not a player race in my game because of this; they use magic entirely differently. For instance rather than cutting up wood or stone they invoke a life within it to shape it according to their needs. This requires there to be a harmony between user and object--the Singing. The activities of humanity and most humanoids rob the world of life, deadening the woods, rock, water and so on.

While most elves have simply chosen to be rather withdrawn, the Dark Elves have chosen bitter vengeance. They have made alliances with demons and other beings to try to regain the world they feel was stolen from them. They resent the other elves for either choosing to withdraw into wild areas in a form of exile (Aquatic Elves and Wood Elves) or resign themselves to dwindling and decay (High Elves) and feel these others have betrayed their kind.
taradusis
10-25-07, 10:50 PM Possible Drow plots.After every major war theres always a rise in oddball cults.The drow could foster a cult that beleives all flesh must perish?Perhaps a cult that seeks to destroy civilisation by poisoning wells, salting fields,destroying forges,killing midwives,collapsing bridges,etc.One AD+D adventure revolved around a formula for longevity potions that involved the blood of an elf?If the drow circulated a formula that said the blood of an high elf could be used and it worked this could lead to tensions amongst humans and elves?A drug that was cheap and made a person dull and listless could cause a great deal of damage to a society,especially if it increased your chances of a heart attack?Just some RANDOM THOUGHTS?
GoriceXII
10-26-07, 10:40 PM I like the Drow suggestions, they're helpful. I particularly like the lotus and potion ones for subtlty. What I might do with the nihilistic/dystopian cult is have the elves pretend to be 'normal' elves sadly telling rural folk that all hope is lost and using magic to back it up.
taradusis
10-27-07, 04:20 PM In the D20 URBAN ARCANA game drow seemed to be obsessed with controlling mass media.Suppose drow wanted to control media communications in a D+D world?Suppose every letter writer and carrier was gradually sucked into working for a drow front?Coming up with a magical way of reading letters and noting who uses the mail would be of some use to the drow?By taking over these people/things it allows you to control low level communication in town?By starting up an entertainers guild the drow could control bards,performers,writers and agents?Spread certain political messages?Statues that have a permanent Magic Mouth?Programmed Illusions?Hard to quantify?
taradusis
11-03-07, 12:50 PM Now here's a simple-minded drow plot.Suppose the Drow counted how many people were in town.The Drow then sneak in giant spider eggs,1 per citizen.The eggs hatch and rats and mice are killed by the hatchlings.Then cats and dogs start to disappear.Finally humans start to go,once spiders are in a food rich enviroment they hate to leave.You could have some spiders still lurking in alleyways and sewers for years afterwards?Imagine a trapdoor spider that pops out of a sewer and then back in using a manhole cover?
GoriceXII
11-04-07, 09:11 AM That's genuinely a horrible long range plot. It's absolutely brilliant. I like the others as well but I think somehow this one is even more fitting. I may simply describe what you say...over time vermin levels going down...then strays...then...
WotC_TomO
11-07-07, 11:03 AM Wow, that is cool. I'm going to borrow that for my D20 Modern campaign.
taradusis
11-09-07, 04:52 PM Perhaps add a note of Pathos?Have some one who lost a spouse in the war fixate on one of the Pcs and beg them to come home,help find the children,etc.How the PCs react to this crazy and distraught person will be quite character defining.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 10-17-07, 07:54 AM	Harbourtown is a city surrounded by cliffs and rocky beaches--it is the only good harbour area for miles. Fog and mist are regular weather conditions. Part of the city is a collection of wharves and canals that stretch into the nearby bay, while much of the rest is perched on the cliffs or the overlooking heights. Harbourtown is part of the Republic of New Edom and is the most important port. Until recently it was occupied by the forces of the warlord Duke Anderman. General Carmel, a New Edomite commander leading a force of regular soldiers, militia, and allies from other peoples liberated the city. I'm intending this to be a focus area for my players while they intrigue and plan efforts regarding another occupied city only a few days' journey away, the city of Glasstower. Campaign elements I would like to develop for this area would include: - Yuan-Ti secret intrigues - Drow secret intrigues - An aboleth/sea aberration led cult (perhaps occupying undersea areas nearby or local islands) - a temple devoted to Osprem/Xerbo - tension as the liberators consider how to deal with those locals who did business with and possible were in collusion with the occupying forces (those who benefited from occupation are called "Viles" by the rest of the country) - some ideas about prominent locals Thanks in advance for any help.
Tbird 10-17-07, 07:45 PM	The fate of 'the Viles' is probably unpleasant. I'd be willing to bet that the liberators (presumably Edomites?) are likely to view them as rebels and traitors and you can bet that the government (and personal enemies of those who benefited from the occupation) are going to want them stripped of any property and power they have. All for the war effort, of course. The common folk that helped might be able to get by unnoticed by the liberators, but their neighbors will be quick to deal with them. I seem to remember that women known to have shared their beds with occupying soldiers would have their heads shaved, in some instances. Just some ideas
taradusis 10-18-07, 05:38 PM	When thinking up Yuan-ti plots I usually model them on what the "snakeheads"or chinese triads do.I would concentrate on drugs,slavery,gambling and some extortion.If you can get a drug declared unlawful the price goes up.If the Yuan-ti control a "gangbuster" and he never hits their shipments this increases profits and spreads corruptionloan a poor man 1GP and he pays you a silver each week.When he gets into trouble get him to give info or perform favors.If you loan money to people in a dockworkers union they can tell you alot about shipments and vote your way,a good way to take over a union and the docks?Run a classy casino and get members of the upper or middle class into debt,squeeze them for favors and knowledge.Basically the Yuan-ti want to control Police,Judges,union officals,Nobles,army officers etc.Hooks;have the yuan-ti take over or corrupt somebody everyday untill the PCs notice?RANDOM THOUGHTS
GoriceXII 10-18-07, 06:50 PM	Thanks for the suggestions about the Viles Tbird. I'm wondering how extreme I should be for that and how the pcs could be involved as well. One of the pcs talked about how perhaps the power of the patricians should be curbed anyway--I wonder if he'd leap at a chance to be involved in something like this on the basis of accusations of treason. As for the Yuan-Ti...I like the idea of their involvement with Harbourtown being entirely different from that going on in Glasstower. Perhaps they are gradually taking over such operations or even already have taken them over. In fact I may do that--I might like the idea that they actually have a major control over the underworld of Harbourtown.
taradusis 10-21-07, 09:41 AM	I was watching Gladiator last night and saw the scene where christians were thrown to lions or bears.Suppose there was a race track or stadium the Yuan-ti or Drow could take over and start up gladitorial games?Some yuan-ti worship SETH who requires regular sacrifices,gladitorial games to the death would count.The Viles could be thrown to Bears or Lions.Most of the people who die in an arena are criminals,a chance for Drow or Yuan-ti to corrupt officials?Random thoughts.
GoriceXII 10-21-07, 10:32 AM	My pcs would be outraged, but that's not a bad thing. Especially if it was done as a big popular move, say as certain public officials roused people who had felt oppressed under the previous regime. I'm thinking of during the occupation phase of the game giving my pcs command of the town watch. I had another thread up about that but I'm focusing on it a little more here.
taradusis 10-21-07, 10:03 PM	I'm wondering what the Drow want in your world?You seem to include them much more than I did.Do they buy luxury items?Do they sell/buy highly skilled slaves?Are they attempting to thwart the surface Elves somehow?I always felt the Drow had more to sell than buy?
GoriceXII 10-21-07, 11:06 PM	I actually have a modified form of Drow. They only resemble regular D&D Drow. Basically they are Dark Elves but more in the Norse fashion. They are actually paler than normal elves because they often do things underground to hide their activities. The Dark Elves are bitter towards humanity in particular but also towards humanoid races for the way in which they have changed the world, inhibited what they call the Singing. All elves and fae creatures in my homebrew world were once more prominent as races, then began to dwindle with the rise of humanity. The Singing is a magical sense of the interconnectedness of life. Elves are actually not a player race in my game because of this; they use magic entirely differently. For instance rather than cutting up wood or stone they invoke a life within it to shape it according to their needs. This requires there to be a harmony between user and object--the Singing. The activities of humanity and most humanoids rob the world of life, deadening the woods, rock, water and so on. While most elves have simply chosen to be rather withdrawn, the Dark Elves have chosen bitter vengeance. They have made alliances with demons and other beings to try to regain the world they feel was stolen from them. They resent the other elves for either choosing to withdraw into wild areas in a form of exile (Aquatic Elves and Wood Elves) or resign themselves to dwindling and decay (High Elves) and feel these others have betrayed their kind.
taradusis 10-25-07, 10:50 PM	Possible Drow plots.After every major war theres always a rise in oddball cults.The drow could foster a cult that beleives all flesh must perish?Perhaps a cult that seeks to destroy civilisation by poisoning wells, salting fields,destroying forges,killing midwives,collapsing bridges,etc.One AD+D adventure revolved around a formula for longevity potions that involved the blood of an elf?If the drow circulated a formula that said the blood of an high elf could be used and it worked this could lead to tensions amongst humans and elves?A drug that was cheap and made a person dull and listless could cause a great deal of damage to a society,especially if it increased your chances of a heart attack?Just some RANDOM THOUGHTS?
GoriceXII 10-26-07, 10:40 PM	I like the Drow suggestions, they're helpful. I particularly like the lotus and potion ones for subtlty. What I might do with the nihilistic/dystopian cult is have the elves pretend to be 'normal' elves sadly telling rural folk that all hope is lost and using magic to back it up.
taradusis 10-27-07, 04:20 PM	In the D20 URBAN ARCANA game drow seemed to be obsessed with controlling mass media.Suppose drow wanted to control media communications in a D+D world?Suppose every letter writer and carrier was gradually sucked into working for a drow front?Coming up with a magical way of reading letters and noting who uses the mail would be of some use to the drow?By taking over these people/things it allows you to control low level communication in town?By starting up an entertainers guild the drow could control bards,performers,writers and agents?Spread certain political messages?Statues that have a permanent Magic Mouth?Programmed Illusions?Hard to quantify?
taradusis 11-03-07, 12:50 PM	Now here's a simple-minded drow plot.Suppose the Drow counted how many people were in town.The Drow then sneak in giant spider eggs,1 per citizen.The eggs hatch and rats and mice are killed by the hatchlings.Then cats and dogs start to disappear.Finally humans start to go,once spiders are in a food rich enviroment they hate to leave.You could have some spiders still lurking in alleyways and sewers for years afterwards?Imagine a trapdoor spider that pops out of a sewer and then back in using a manhole cover?
GoriceXII 11-04-07, 09:11 AM	That's genuinely a horrible long range plot. It's absolutely brilliant. I like the others as well but I think somehow this one is even more fitting. I may simply describe what you say...over time vermin levels going down...then strays...then...
WotC_TomO 11-07-07, 11:03 AM	Wow, that is cool. I'm going to borrow that for my D20 Modern campaign.
taradusis 11-09-07, 04:52 PM	Perhaps add a note of Pathos?Have some one who lost a spouse in the war fixate on one of the Pcs and beg them to come home,help find the children,etc.How the PCs react to this crazy and distraught person will be quite character defining.