Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DarthMidget 05-22-05, 11:23 AM	Greetings! Tomorrow I will start running a group in Eberron. The campaign will start out in Karrnath. Currently the group has a Warforged Fighter, a Warforged Sorceror, an Orc Ranger, and a Shifter Druid. I have a few ideas involving the Blood of Vol, the Emerald Claw, etc, but I thought I'd mine the minds of the forums for a few ideas. So, how would you start out a Karnnathi campaign? A bit of background on the characters: the Orc is a bodyguard for the Druid, who has been sent to Karrnath (I don't know why yet). The two Warforged currently hold no allegiance to anyone.
Luni 05-22-05, 12:01 PM	They could always come across a group of Valenar making an impressive deep strike into Karrnathi Territory. They could find evidence of a rogue Karnnathi Necromancer, who is digging up graves trying to build his private army of Skellies and Zombies. They could be hired by House Orien to retrieve (or guard) the fallen lightning rail stones over the bridge that was destroyed. They could be hired by Kaius III to stop a zealot Church of the Silver Flame who is trying to exterminate his army, (or people). All these ideas need fleshing out, and are dependant upon the alignment and level of the characters, but they should be a good start.
chimpman 05-22-05, 01:08 PM	Is the druid from any particular sect? An orc bodyguard makes me think Gatekeeper, but that might not be the case... The ideas above are good ones. Here are a few more generic ideas. What level will your characters be starting as? More info on the druid and the warforged (did they serve in the war, and for who? why are they with the druid now? etc...) will help us to come up with ideas more specifically tailored to your group. 1) Some Karrnathi undead were freed from their bonds when the Mournland formed. Now they are making raids through the mists, gathering more dead bodies and growing an army. Their ultimate target is a secret Karrnathi undead creation facility. If they manage to take it, then Karrnath will be in for some trouble. 2) A vampiric war between Kiaus and his minnions and the vampires of the Emerald Claw has left some casualties in its wake. With a few vampire masters slain in the conflict so far there are several newly freed vampires on the loose. Their allegiance is in question, and Kiaus (for one) doesn't want them rampaging across the countryside. His representatives may approach the PCs for help. 3) Atur is the City of Night. All sorts of 'intelligent' undead creatures may be lurking there plotting away. These plots may benifit Kiaus, Vol and the Emerald Claw, or any other group or individual. 4) One of Kiaus' old generals is itching to start the war up once more. Secretly he has sent a band of undead into Thrane to stir up trouble (and hopefully prod the Thraners into attacking Karrnath. If this happens the Last War could start up again. Hope these ideas help. I'm sure I can think of a few more given time.
Taigis 05-22-05, 03:37 PM	Ideas: 1. Herds of dinosaurs are straying out of the Talenta plains. What's driving them so far north? 2. Horrible creatures are appearing in the Cyre river. Are these from the Mourning or something more sinister? 3. Maybe one of the sects of druids is very interested in Karrn Undead. They sent the group to gather information on the animation process. This could be built into a discovery that Karrnath is continuing to build its forces. 4. The Mists near Karrn seem to be animated. Massive tendrils reach out and drive the undead armies of Karrn insane. Whipping the soldiers into a frenzy, the Mists seem to be moving across the Cyre river. 5. Secret relations between Karrn and another nation have been discovered. Your group must find out the depth of this relationship. 6. Thrane and Aundair are concerned about a concentration of Karrn forces along their shared borders. Your group must discover the cause behind this and defuse the situation before it explodes. 7. Karrn transportation networks to the rest of the continent are severely limited. The lightning rail is cut from Thrane and Cyre. Ship travel is dangerous either along the Lhazaar principalities and the Demon Wastes. Karrn is desperate to restore transportation networks as are several of the houses. Can you group help? 8. As an alternate to 7. Karrn is just happy being cut off from the other nations. It is slowly on a mission to consolidate the territories east of Cyre into a single nation. Diplomatic envoys to both the Lhazaar and Mror are received well. 9. What is that rumor about Karrn necromancers animating dinosaurs as military units? Taigis
DarthMidget 05-22-05, 04:21 PM	Is the druid from any particular sect? An orc bodyguard makes me think Gatekeeper, but that might not be the case... The ideas above are good ones. Here are a few more generic ideas. What level will your characters be starting as? More info on the druid and the warforged (did they serve in the war, and for who? why are they with the druid now? etc...) will help us to come up with ideas more specifically tailored to your group. The druid is a Gatekeeper. The Orc was a mercenary in the Last War. He has been paid by the Gatekeepers to keep their envoy safe during the journey to Karrnath. The Warforged Fighter is also a Last War veteran. He fought for Karrnath. The unit he was attached to was disbanded after the Day of Mourning. The Warforged Sorceror fought alongside the WFighter. The Sorceror is a bit insane. He has a mad theory about how warforged are reanimated artificers sacrificed to dark gods in some corrupt House Cannith creation forge. He's totally wrong, but he doesn't know that. The two Warforged are travelling together, as are the Orc and the Druid. I haven't yet decided the best way to bring them together. Right now I have a vague idea that the Druid is some sort of envoy from the Gatekeepers of the Eldeen Reaches. I also want the party to start out together. Why was the Druid sent here? Why are the Warforged with him? There have been alot of good ideas so far, thanks for the input. Anymore? EDIT: Also, all the characters are 1st level. :)
aelryinth 05-22-05, 04:36 PM	Karrnathi Warforged are considered the property of the state. I'd have them on the run from the authorities unless they have papers legitimizing their independent status. Seriously, they can merc out against the Valenar, probe the Mournlands, get caught up in Emerald Claw and BLood of Vol intrigue, help the halflings out, and beat the heck out of Silver Flamers condemning their homeland... Oh wait, you didn't say they were Karrns, did you? Heh...now you have a real problem. Every road patrol they run across is going to toss them in the brig every time they get stopped without proper papers...and that paperwork should vary widely. ==Aelryinth
DarthMidget 05-22-05, 04:54 PM	Karrnathi Warforged are considered the property of the state. I'd have them on the run from the authorities unless they have papers legitimizing their independent status. The Warforged are independant (Unless they **** me off ;) ). Oh wait, you didn't say they were Karrns, did you? Heh...now you have a real problem. Every road patrol they run across is going to toss them in the brig every time they get stopped without proper papers...and that paperwork should vary widely. I'm leaning towards making the druid some sort of official diplomatic envoy from the Eldeen Reaches on official business in Korth. Still, nothing like 'paper' hassles to up the tension.
ryanroyce 05-22-05, 05:09 PM	The druid is a Gatekeeper. The Orc was a mercenary in the Last War. He has been paid by the Gatekeepers to keep their envoy safe during the journey to Karrnath. The Warforged Fighter is also a Last War veteran. He fought for Karrnath. The unit he was attached to was disbanded after the Day of Mourning. The Warforged Sorceror fought alongside the WFighter. The Sorceror is a bit insane. He has a mad theory about how warforged are reanimated artificers sacrificed to dark gods in some corrupt House Cannith creation forge. He's totally wrong, but he doesn't know that. The two Warforged are travelling together, as are the Orc and the Druid. I haven't yet decided the best way to bring them together. Right now I have a vague idea that the Druid is some sort of envoy from the Gatekeepers of the Eldeen Reaches. I also want the party to start out together. Why was the Druid sent here? Why are the Warforged with him? There have been alot of good ideas so far, thanks for the input. Anymore? EDIT: Also, all the characters are 1st level. :) I'm just about to start a campaign in Karrnath, too. The set-up goes like this: for whatever reason, the various PCs were all passing through or living in a small rural village in the central-eastern region of Karrnath called Viiron. The citizens of Viiron worship a small god known as Viiritus, lord of truth and justice. No one outside of Viiron has ever heard of Viiritus, BTW. Anyway, the traditions of Viiron dictate that anyone convicted of a crime/felony is sentenced to a trial-by-dungeon with the belief that, if they are guilty, Viiritus will have them slain by the dungeon. If they are innocent, Viiritus will guide them out of the dungeon safely. Think of the silly "witch trials" from back in the day and you'll have a good idea about the mindset of these villagers. Regardless, each convict is allowed a suit of padded armor, a light wooden shield, a simple weapon (plus one set of ammunition, if a crossbow or sling), 5 days' rations, a waterskin, 3 torches, and a single personal possession of their choice (i.e., so a wizard can keep his spellbook, the cleric his holy symbol, the rogue his tools, etc). As you've probably figured out by now, the PCs are wrongly convicted of some crime or another and are sentenced to a trial-by-dungeon in the Maze of the Minotaur. In order to survive, the convicts/PCs must work together to overcome deadly traps, a kobold infestation, the skeletons and zombies of past convicts, and a selection of underground monsters to reach the minotaur at the end of the Maze. If they take too long, they also have to face the prospect of starvation. :) Ryan
DarthMidget 05-22-05, 05:14 PM	I'm just about to start a campaign in Karrnath, too. The set-up goes like this: for whatever reason, the various PCs were all passing through or living in a small rural village in the central-eastern region of Karrnath called Viiron. The citizens of Viiron worship a small god known as Viiritus, lord of truth and justice. No one outside of Viiron has ever heard of Viiritus, BTW. Anyway, the traditions of Viiron dictate that anyone convicted of a crime/felony is sentenced to a trial-by-dungeon with the belief that, if they are guilty, Viiritus will have them slain by the dungeon. If they are innocent, Viiritus will guide them out of the dungeon safely. Think of the silly "witch trials" from back in the day and you'll have a good idea about the mindset of these villagers. Regardless, each convict is allowed a suit of padded armor, a light wooden shield, a simple weapon (plus one set of ammunition, if a crossbow or sling), 5 days' rations, a waterskin, 3 torches, and a single personal possession of their choice (i.e., so a wizard can keep his spellbook, the cleric his holy symbol, the rogue his tools, etc). As you've probably figured out by now, the PCs are wrongly convicted of some crime or another and are sentenced to a trial-by-dungeon in the Maze of the Minotaur. In order to survive, the convicts/PCs must work together to overcome deadly traps, a kobold infestation, the skeletons and zombies of past convicts, and a selection of underground monsters to reach the minotaur at the end of the Maze. If they take too long, they also have to face the prospect of starvation. :) Ryan Hah! Nice idea.
Taigis 05-22-05, 06:51 PM	The druid is a Gatekeeper. The Orc was a mercenary in the Last War. He has been paid by the Gatekeepers to keep their envoy safe during the journey to Karrnath. The Warforged Fighter is also a Last War veteran. He fought for Karrnath. The unit he was attached to was disbanded after the Day of Mourning. The Warforged Sorceror fought alongside the WFighter. The Sorceror is a bit insane. He has a mad theory about how warforged are reanimated artificers sacrificed to dark gods in some corrupt House Cannith creation forge. He's totally wrong, but he doesn't know that. The two Warforged are travelling together, as are the Orc and the Druid. I haven't yet decided the best way to bring them together. Right now I have a vague idea that the Druid is some sort of envoy from the Gatekeepers of the Eldeen Reaches. I also want the party to start out together. Why was the Druid sent here? Why are the Warforged with him? There have been alot of good ideas so far, thanks for the input. Anymore? EDIT: Also, all the characters are 1st level. :) Perhaps the Warforged need to get into Karrnath for personal reasons. Teaming up with the Druid who will be able to extend his diplomatic status and protection to cover them. Perhaps the Warforged need to repay a debt to the Gatekeepers. Since your druid is a Gatekeeper, maybe you could include a Cult of the Dragon Below as a topic the druid must investigate. Some of the Karrn undead have been discovered with magical directives which makes them susceptible to the Cult. The druid was sent as an expert to investigate. Perhaps the Orc bodyguard has personal reasons for wanting to go to Karrn. A vendetta? A patron who failed to pay up? Rumors of a particular item of significance? Perhaps the real reason for the whole troupe going to Karrn is known only to the bodyguard who is directly serving the Gatekeeper higher powers. They don't even trust the druid. An ancient text of Vvaraak, the black dragon that trained the Gatekeepers, has surfaced in Karrnath. The Gatekeepers are desperate to get it back. Why was this druid sent to Karrnath? Maybe he has connections? Horrid creatures are raiding Karrn villages in a systematic fashion. Who is controlling these creatures, the Gatekeepers are highly interested. A manifest zone for Xoriat has been found in Karrnath. It is producing unusual effects on the Karrn undead. From the ECS: "Gatekeepers seek to defend nature against ... undead ... that have no place in the natural order of Eberron." Perhaps the Gatekeepers are sending this group to gather information and make a strike against the undead of Karrnath. Under the guise of converting people from the Blood of Vol to a more "natural" faith, the troupe travels through Karrnath. Taigis
Foxboy2000 05-22-05, 07:21 PM	Training Day The party's in Rekkenmark, home to one of the most prestigious military academies in Khorvaire. Sadly, they have been, unknown to them, marked as the objective in a "live-fire" student's exercise. On top of that, various PC's backstories are creeping up on them, tossing Houses Phiarlan and Thurranni, along with the Emerald Claw, into the mix. Five-way power struggle, anyone?
reese 05-22-05, 11:14 PM	catch them with the Royal Swords (unlicensed warforged, gave the guy crap, bad papers, whatever) and have them help track a EC terrorist trying to get into the Blood Manor (big BoV church). big fight in the street, will the church risk itself to help a terrorist known world wide? (even though they back him up). could duke it out in alleys or courts about which nation wants hime too, throw in a Citadel strike-force waiting to catch him, an changeling Royal Eye from Aundair there to make him disappear and take his place to break network, all kinds of fun. starts out as covert watching from the square, terrorist spots PC's tries to run for the church, PC's have to take him down: church tries to stop PC's or they bag the wrong guy, leading to huge scene, nation-wide scandal of discrimination against BoV. other options: druid is hunting terrorist for _________ reason, maybe he brought about some major undead mojo. crazy warforged believes terrorist destroyed the forge he was created at, now he cannot end his theory-thingy.
Naudachu 05-23-05, 06:27 PM	I'm running a campaign in Karnnath, too. Great place to be away from crushing canon. You can really carve out your own place and not have to worry about having to rewrite too much. Anyways to the ideas: Going with the Gatekeeper druid theme: - He's sent to touch bases with small group of Gatekeepers in Karnnath - They haven't been heard from in weeks - Lake Dark is a manifest zone and possible gate to Dolurrh - Madstone in Icewood Forest is a possible gate to Xoriat - Monastery to the Mockery in the woods nearby flaying animals alive - Blood of Vol is opening a portal to Mabar in Darkwood Forest - Vol herself may pay a visit to the burgeoning portal Warforged: - Since there's some funding for this operation - The warforged could have been hired or even bought from a Karrnath - Only survivors of a previous expedition left forgotten and wandering - Owned by powerful Blood of Vol or Emerald Claw member and recently escaped
Reprisal 05-23-05, 07:33 PM	One of the central tenants of the cult of the Blood of Vol is that nothing lies beyond the grey purgatory that souls go to after they die. Therefore, it is in the best interest of everyone to pursue some manner of immortality. Though the cult of the Blood of Vol was built entirely on a lie by a lich named Vol to further her own purposes, the teachings of the cult have struck a chord with many people in Karrnath. Though he remains vehemently opposed to the originator of the cult, the Vampire-King of Karrnath is strongly rooted in this material plane. In truth, it was one of the main reasons he accepted the touch of Vol and became a vampire. Not knowing what laid beyond the grey realm after death, he chose to invest his entire being on this world. Thus, Kaius the First became an immortal vampire. With the successful adoption of this cult of undeath by most of the population, Kaius now heads a kingdom of people in which many with the power and knowledge actively pursue some form of immortality. After campaigning in his own lands for a long time, Kaius has finally monopolized the best methods of achieving that immortality: undeath. The Royal Family has been secretly converted to vampires, and soon, he believes that the entire nation will be prepared to accept what he and his wife have deemed the 'dark meritocracy.' The player-characters are caught in the middle of this social upheaval of this revelation and implementation of the dark meritocracy. The noble families and rathlords have all accepted the new status quo, but pilgrims and friars of the Church of the Silver Flame out of Thrane have successfully infiltrated the downtrodden cities and raths of Karrnath and have converted a significant minority of the commoner and serf populations. Now, the player-characters must choose which side of the myriad of conflicts they are on... will they join the new vampire aristocracy, or fight against their king with those believing in the edicts of the Church of the Silver Flame. Not only is this a question of loyalty, but also one of faith. What does happen to the soul after it departs the planar waiting room? Does it indeed go to join with the Silver Flame or the Sovereign Host? Or does it instead fade away into nothingness? Without a way to prove this either way, how will the player-characters come to choose? Immortality and freedom at the price of sanctioned slavery and murder? Or righteousness and justice at the price of existence and freedom?
DarthMidget 05-24-05, 12:43 AM	I'm kind of moving in the same way with my campaign, Reprisal. However, in my game Kaius won't be openly revealing his vampiric nature to the populace. I'm going to make Kaius something of a tragic figure. A man who did a great deal to damn his own kingdom, and now working desperately to reverse what he did.
Ectoplasmoid 05-25-05, 06:55 AM	Seeking shelter from a storm, they stumble across the foreboding mansion of Count Vedik Furter ir'Olmert. Time travel, crossdressing, warforged love, and dance numbers follow.
Taigis 05-25-05, 09:23 AM	Seeking shelter from a storm, they stumble across the foreboding mansion of Count Vedik Furter ir'Olmert. Time travel, crossdressing, warforged love, and dance numbers follow. *chuckle* I didn't catch on until the comma between crossdressing and warforged love.... Furter is clearly a Kalashtar being hounded by Riff Raff and Magenta, agents of the Dreaming Dark. Taigis