Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Killer GM 11-03-04, 10:06 PM	So, I recently desided to get back into runing D&D, thanks in no small part to Eberron. So I came up with a basic campaign outline, and I thought I'd see what the experts here thought. Eberron: Midnight In The House Of Orien Background: It began, as most things do, during the Great War. One of the primary functions of House Orien is the movement of information. The Courier's Guild, while responsible for normal communications during the War, was also used to send confidential missives of the various nations. After all, it was their job to remain neutral. During this time, a high-ranking member of the Guild, Rothen D'Orien, came to an important realization: information is power. During the War, Rothen broke the most fundemental rule of the Courier's Guild, and read most, if not all, of the confidential messages to pass through his hands, or the hands of loyal subordinates. Through this, Rothen managed to get a pretty good picture of what was happening "behind the scenes" (as it were) during the War. One of the most important things Rothen learned of was a top-secret plan hatched by the nation of Karranath, known only as "Project: Siege". Karranath artificers were working in Demon Wastes, attempting to build the ultimate weapon, one that would give them total superiority over it's enemies: a worforged dragon, capable of laying waste to an entire army, or even a large city. According to the reports Rothen aquired, before the dragon could be activated, the War ended, and the dragon was to be destroyed, and the men and women working on it put to death. Unfortunatly, the dragon Siege wasn't destroyed. Rothen managed to delay vital communications that would have lead to the destruction of Project: Siege. The beast still lays dormant somewhere in the Demon Wastes, with a crew of humans, goblins, and others waiting for word from their government on what to do next. Rothen D'Orien has what is probably the best global view of the Great War out of everyone on Eberron. He knew troop movements, plans, supply information, long-term goal, and short term goals of almost every major country. He knows the locations of quite a few powerful magic items and caches. He knows the location of Project:Siege. Now, all he needs is a foundation to work from, and his plans can begin in earnest. Rothen D'Orien knows all the tactical and political mistakes that the twelve nations made during the Great War. He won't be making them himself. There is one mistake he will make, however; he doesn't think that Siege will have it's own ideas an taking over. Campaign Overview I'm kinda viewing this in terms of three overal "seasons". Season 1: Old Soldiers I'll probably start things off with "The Forgotten Forge" just to get into the swing of things. They become (somewhat freelance) agents of House Denneth, where thier contact slowly reveals info that someone in Orien may be trying something. During play, they also come in regular contact with House Orien, and Rothen, perhaps taking jobs for him as well. Rothen needs people to aquire supplies and magic items for his eventual bit for domination. PCs may end up racing Rothen's agents to get to important sites/items first. Season ends with the reveal that Rothen is the Big Bad. Overall theme: aftermath of the war, particularly in terms of small warlords, forgotten weapons, and such. Season 2: Tick Tock Once Rothen is revealed as the Big Bad, things take a more espionage/political turn as the PCs need to figure out a) what he's up to, b) how to expose him cleanly (i.e., getting proof) and quickly (he's obviously on a timetable), and c) how to stop him. Some evidence points to the PC's contacts in various houses as being in bed with Rothien. Climaxes in a chase to the project site and the awakening of Siege. When he awakens, he desides that he's not going to be ordered around by this little meatbag, kills him, and starts his own plans of destruction. Overall theme: who do you trust? Season 3: War Machines Siege is awakened, and is bent on destruction: after all, it's what he was designed to do. Siege isn't stupid, though. He's smart enough to start small and work his way up. Using agents from the project, he manages to gain control of Rothen's network in order to get information on the various nations and their defences. Possiblr sub-plot: a cult splintering off from the Dragon Below to worship Siege. Big 2-hour series finale: the PCs versus a worforged dragon. I haven't really stated up Siege (CR: lots) yet, but I have a mental image of this huge warforged dragon, with mounted balistas and siege weapons, and a small horde of goblins running around on it reloading weapons, reinforcing enchantments, and so on. Maybe also carrying a small batillion it can drop off for ground battles. So. Comments?
Save-vs-DM 11-03-04, 10:12 PM	Interesting idea with a lot of things going on. I would make one suggestion. I'd have Rothen D'Orien discovered near the end of the war and make him an outcast. He's on the run, so he's harder to find. Maybe he used magic to change his appearance. I really don't think Orien would have let this go on like this, so I'd make him an outcast. Other than that, seems like a rather nifty idea. As for the dragon, I'd simply take a dragon that you want, drop the warforged traits onto him and add +2 con and -2 Wis and Cha. That's the easy solution, anyway. Cheers! SvD
Gurv 11-03-04, 10:24 PM	Sounds like a solid campaign. Save-vs-DMs idea isn't bad, about making him a runaway, but having the backing of his House and a good reputation would be golden. Also, with all that information at his fingertips, the possibilities for blackmail are limitless! I'd figure on giving him the Mark of Passage, if you weren't planning on it already. House Orien is going to produce some of the most evasive foes in my own game because of their ability to be anywhere quickly. What plans do you have to involve other aspects of the setting? It seems to me that House Cannith would be involved in Karrnath's creation of a warforged dragon. Thus, they might be trying to recover it as well, or be able to provide some clues about it (if most of the workers were killed, only notes would remain). The Lord of Blades would also show interest in a draconic warforged design. The Dragons of Argonessen would be interested to know that someone is creating machines in their image. Thats something that might warrent a passage in a little thing called the Prophecy. And last but not least, the Lords of Dust are unlikely to notice a warforged dragon being built on their turf. So, all in all, a fun game!
Killer GM 11-03-04, 10:58 PM	Sounds like a solid campaign. Save-vs-DMs idea isn't bad, about making him a runaway, but having the backing of his House and a good reputation would be golden. Also, with all that information at his fingertips, the possibilities for blackmail are limitless! Well, here's the thing. If he's an outcast/runaway, and the PCs say "He's a bad guy!", then the response is "Yeah, thanks for the news flash.". But, if he's playing it cool and is still in the house's good graces, when the PCs say "He's a bad guy!", then the response is "Prove it." What plans do you have to involve other aspects of the setting? It seems to me that House Cannith would be involved in Karrnath's creation of a warforged dragon. Thus, they might be trying to recover it as well, or be able to provide some clues about it (if most of the workers were killed, only notes would remain). I figure that House Cannith would figure in pretty largely (they might know something was being built out there, just not what.) One of the major PC contacts will be a member of House Denieth who's starting to put clues together, but needs the PCs for legwork. I'm still not sure how to involve some of the other Houses. Rothen is going to need pretty powerful magic to cement a bid for power; plus he might want some heavy firepower to graft onto his war machine. Lots of delving in outlying areas trying to beat agents to some ancient magic dingus can lead to a good amount of world travel...which they'll need to get in touch with House Orien for. Guess who's more than willing to help with that? The Dragons of Argonessen would be interested to know that someone is creating machines in their image. Thats something that might warrent a passage in a little thing called the Prophecy. And last but not least, the Lords of Dust are unlikely to notice a warforged dragon being built on their turf. Hmmm...hadn't considered the Prophecy. I should work that in. And I think you meant they are unlikely to not notice. I didn't take them into account. I figured the Wastes would be a great place to build a top-secret death machine, outside the sponsoring nation's borders, and where most people won't look (or bother going in the first place). Kinda the equivalent of Nazi scientists hiding in South America. Maybe an...arrangement was made with the Lords... So, all in all, a fun game! Thanks!
Killer GM 11-03-04, 11:01 PM	As for the dragon, I'd simply take a dragon that you want, drop the warforged traits onto him and add +2 con and -2 Wis and Cha. That's the easy solution, anyway. Yeah, but I do want to trick this thing out. Siege weapons, warforged components, support crew running around on it during battle, the works. After all, the project's crew has been sitting around waiting for word from their bosses for a few years now. You know that at some point, someone asked "Y'know, I wonder what else we can graft onto this thing?"
Solarious 11-04-04, 10:39 PM	After all, the project's crew has been sitting around waiting for word from their bosses for a few years now. You know that at some point, someone asked "Y'know, I wonder what else we can graft onto this thing?" Lemmie give you some of the answers that may have occured to them :devil: Vents that spew out toxic gasses or your choice of hazardous energy damage (Fire, Acid, Cold, Lightning...). A Prismatic Wall-like layered defence, with barriers that protect the dragon and require some non-conventional spells to breach. Various sundry constructs for scavenging, scouting, repairs, and general harrassing of the PCs. Karranath was behind the project, ne? Well, put your trusty new Libris Mortis to use! As a country that pratically specializes in the undead, Seige should incorperate some of the country of origin's greatest strength. Perhaps all creatures killed by the breath weapon/spells/vent damage become some kind of undead, as per Fell Animate. Harvest corpses to put into tanks that eventually turn them into undead? Think creatively! :D Elemental Binding allows Artificers, Magewrights and Wizards to harrness the raw power of the composition of the universe. What would happen if they found ways to trap other kinds of outsiders in Khyber Dragonshards? I personally have always loved Nightshades. Give it a spin :schemes: Give some of those ideas some thought and tell me how Seige turns out. I love all TPK machines *utterly*. :smirk:
Wil_Hyral 11-05-04, 02:07 AM	This is the first time I've seen "campaign" typed correctly in what seems like years. How refreshing. Edit: and I'm a little uncomfortable with Karrnath being the ones who built said warforged. I was under the impression that their 'expendables' were undead, but I could be wrong on that. Anyway Cyre seems more likely but then there goes your campaign. Poof. Up to you bud.
nick012000 11-05-04, 03:12 AM	It probably wouldn't change the campaign too much. Also, House Cannith was intimately involved with the creation of the Warforged. They would know that it was being built, where it was being built, and how it was being built. Of course, those records might have been lost when the Mournlands was created.
Setherial 11-05-04, 03:40 AM	Nice idea, well written/structured overview too. I would agree that some powerfull individuals of house Orien know about rothen's betrayel but there isn't much they can do about it. First of all much of their business depends on the nations trusting their services, if word leaks of how this trust was abused during the War the house might go under. Also I like what Gurv said about blackmail. It is very likely that Rothen blackmails several individuals inside and outside house Orien. Information is his weapon so he'll use it. A cool twist is that house Orien might try to have Rothen assassinated but there should be no trails back to them in case it fails, Rothen is way too dangerous for that. So the pc's might end up rescueing Rothen from an assassination attempt before having figured out he is up to no good. Tracing the assassination attempt back to it's origin will lead to a web of corruption and complex power struggles inside house Orien. In the end someone within the house might start helping the pc's get Rothen (feed then information) but all very unofficial since he doesn't want to be discovered. anyway just some thoughts... A question : This siege engine dragon is pretty cool but how do you think your pc's are going to handle him? how strong is he and what level will the pc's be when they confront him ? Will they run into him long before they have to fight him just to give them a taste of what's to come (I see them infiltrating a cave network and spying on the goblins working on a big machine, then returning with what they found out to their employers) cheers David
ThanisKartaleon 11-05-04, 05:48 AM	It was my understanding that you needed a House Cannith Dragonmark to operate Creation Forges. What if this Dragonforged was part of an alliance between Cyre and Karrnath during the Last War? There were more than a few alliances, temporary as they might have been. And if I'm not mistaken, Cyre was the France of the Last War and was everyone's "friend" at least once. Boom. The Mourning. Trial run of the Dragonforged. Yeah, the PCs would crap themselves once they found that out.
ThanisKartaleon 11-05-04, 05:59 AM	also: Creating such a huge creature would require lots of time, energy, and *money*. Now who would have the recources to back such a project, and also be largely unconcerned with the ramifications of the result, as long as their investment paid out? Ding. The Aurum. Also, don't forget House Sivis. Those gnomes are tricky. They could show up anywhere. And if you do put it in the Mournland, then you can bring in the LoBster as well. Perhaps the real reason he's in the Mournland is he's searching for the Dragonforged. If he had that creature on his side, the world would tremble. It's a construct like him, it turns fleshies into zombies, and it's got the power to lay waste to whole countries. Not that they'd necessarily see eye to eye, of course. Oh, and there's an awesome breath weapon for you: Molten glass. Oh yeah.
Setherial 11-05-04, 07:17 AM	hmmm I like this name, DragonForged. Men tries to mimic the Dragons and the Dragons destroy an entire country to punish men.... Cyre is turned into the mournland by Draconic Magic (scary thought) Placing the Dragonforged into the Mournland instead of the wastes makes more sense to me too, it's a good reason why it hasn't been detected yet + it can survive the mournland. Also it involves Cyre in the creation of this thing, an extra twist.
Azual 11-05-04, 07:44 AM	Oh GOD i could just SEE my PC's with this tinker toy My Pyrokinetcist friend is a Pyro/Driud she has a wolf thats like Gigantic, feral, and probably going to be able to wrestle anything shot at it. MY other PC has literally a modfied Shotgun, OBLITERATES EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH! I mean goblins, xzombie, you name it this damn thing has kitled it. He once filled the damn thing wth like 10 wooden stakes for our Vampire mission. The thing was DEAD AFTER ONE HIT. Ah yes a dragonforged is going to stand up to my Players :D
ThanisKartaleon 11-06-04, 04:11 AM	Oh, one more thing. ES-CA! FLOW-NE!!! :P
RadicalTaoist 11-06-04, 07:06 PM	Oh, one more thing. ES-CA! FLOW-NE!!! :POVERLOLOAD
Xeraph 11-06-04, 08:54 PM	If Siege is to take over the operations of Rothen, if I understand it right, then Siege needs some way to get this information... I would love a dungeon crawl inside of Siege at some point... or maybe just at his forge, finding old Rothen tied into a machine of some sort (like the people in the Alien movie on the walls) going... kill me... Siege betrayed his master... Argh... PC's going ohh noo we are dooooooooooooomed. Hrm, anyways, make that Siege vile! Only being like himself doomed to be lonely for eternity and such... very mad... very bad.... my 5½ pints. Your Local Xeraphim :cloud9:
Xeraph 11-06-04, 08:55 PM	Oh yeah, the point, I forgot, he extracted the information by force... like a giant mind leech/mindflayer machine, things going into his brain and such... Goodnight.
scaryfroman 11-06-04, 09:01 PM	Actually, there are no stats for a forge written anywhere, although Keith has said that they could be eldritch machines. I don't think that you need the dragonmark, as there are connotations that the forges may have origionated in Xen'Drik, before the dragonmarks.
bliz666 11-07-04, 04:25 PM	on an earlier thread i found stats for a warforged dragon. here they are. Warforged Dragon Huge Construct (Living Construct) Hit Dice: 20d10+160 (270 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares) or Fly 100 ft. (20 sqaures) Armor Class: 28 (+20 armor, -2 Size) Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+29 Attack: Claw +22 melee (3d6+5 /19-20) Full Attack: Bite +16 melee (4d6+11 /19-20) and 2 claws +22/+22/+17/+17 melee(3d6+5 /19-20) and 2 wings +16/+16 melee (d8+5 /19-20) and Tail Slash +16 melee (2d6+16 /19-20) Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. (15 ft. with Bite; 20 ft. with Tail) Special Attacks: augmented critical, breath weapon, crush, rays Special Qualities: blindsense 60 ft., composite plating, damage reduction 10/adamantine, darkvision 120 ft., heavy fortification, frightful presence, immune to cold and electricity and stunning, low-light vision, Living Construct traits, resistance to acid 10, fire 10 and sonic 10 Saves: Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +7 Abilities: Str 33, Dex 10, Con 27, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 12 Skills: Climb +34, Jump +42, Listen +24, Search +26, Spot +24. Feats:Awesome Blow, Cleave, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Improved Natural Attack (Claw), Power Attack, Rapidstrike (claws), Weapon focus (claws) Environment: Any Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: ? Treasure: None Alignment: Usually Lawful Neutral Advancement: 21-25 HD (Huge); 26-36 HD (Gargantuan); 37-48 HD (Colossal) Level Adjustment: - A metallic dragon (literally) appears before you. His composite metallic plates end in pointed spikes and his razor-like claws and teeth gleam as it shows you its sinister grin. Combat: Warforged Dragons are not dumb, they select weak opponents often taking flight and harming spellcasters. It will use its rays to weaken to combatants and often then engage them in melee. Augmented Critical (Ex): Due to the keen edges of its body, a warforged dragons natural attacks all deal slashing damage instead of normal damage (except bite) and scorea critical hit on a 19 or 20. Breath Weapon (Su): Thanks to the bound elementals, a Warforged dragon can breathe a cone of cold 50 ft. wide (10d8 cold Fort 28 half) or line of lightning 100 ft. long (10d8 electricity Ref 28 half) A warforged dragon can breath once every d4 rounds. Crush (Ex): 15 ft. x 15 ft.; 3d6+16 reflex and prone; DC 28 half. Rays (Su): Once every d4 rounds, as a free action, a Warforged Dragon can emit a ray emanating from its body. It must make a ranged touch attack and the ray deals 3d6 electric damage and the target must make a fortitude save DC 21 or become stunned for one round. Alternatively he can emit a ray of frost, dealing 3d6 cold and slowing the target for d4 rounds. Frightful Presence (Ex): Any creature with 19 or less HD within 180 ft. of the dragon must make a will save (DC 21) or becomed panicked for 4d6 rounds. If they have 5 or more HD they are shaken instead. Heavy Fortification (Ex): Warforged dragons are immune to critical hits. Composite plating (Ex): Warforged Dragons havea +20 armor bonus to AC. Living Construct Traits: Immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, effects that cause sickened and energy drain. No natural healing. Spells or effects with the healing subschool have only half its effect on living contructs. Edit: When advancing a Warforged Dragon its composite plating bonus to AC increases by it's Hit Dice, it does not gain natural armor due to size increases. hope it helps :D
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-07-04, 04:42 PM	its CR should be about 23 since its huge, if it was bigger than give it a cr of 20. That dragon gave me an ideal for my eberron campaign. The lord of blades are trying to revive it deep in the mountains ^^
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-07-04, 04:44 PM	your description of it makes it sound chaotic evil going through the land NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE but just staring, staring with those evil eyes, why must he stare, the staring...
Killer GM 11-08-04, 09:49 PM	Thanks to everyone who's commented or given advice...a lot of it helped me understand how the various Houses and such interact with each other. And I already did come up with the idea of a dungeon crawl inside of Siege, just so I can see the looks on the player's faces. "What do you mean the bad guy is mapped out?"
ThanisKartaleon 11-17-04, 04:36 AM	so how goes it? Need any more help?
Killer GM 11-17-04, 11:34 PM	I actually haven't started running it yet...I want to get the Sharn book first, and I have to wait for the Buffy game we're doing now to end. (But seeing as how in the Buffy game we just got wrecked by about 15 dhampiers and are now facing an Egyptian goddess, that shouldn't be too far off.) I'll probably post when I do the first session, for critiqes and whatnot.