Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zuj 06-19-06, 03:28 PM	I've been running a continuing Eberron campaign for the better part of a year now, taking the PCs from level 1 to currently around level 7 or 8. Early in their career, they helped guard a Karrnathi commissioned Lyrandar ship (carrying various raw goods for the city of Korth) from the Lord of Blades. Because of their heroism, an agent of the Karrnathi crown asked them to root out a secret Emerald Claw base (near the Shadowwood) and recover an item that belonged to the throne. One member of the party located the item when his character was separated from the rest of the group. He decided that he would keep it and try to pawn it off in Sharn. Long story short, they met with the Karrnathi diplomat once more and denied finding the item (the party actually beleived it was never found, thanks to some clever RP from the thieving PC). Later that session, the PC goes and sells the item (a mask that grants the wearer various uses different charm spells and a disguise self ability) to a dwarven merchant (Aurum member). The merchant stumbled across the nature of the item and arranged a means trade it with Karrnath. Obviously, the Karrnathi diplomat is quite upset. Consequently, he works directly under Lady Mordana. My question is how far do you think the Karrnath government would go to track down the party? As of now I have said that House Tharashk has been notified and the PCs have been chased or attacked a few times. If Karrnath has gotten what it wanted, do you think they would still put a lot of effort to track the party throughout Khorvaire and even Xen'drik?
Ellorin 06-19-06, 03:37 PM	I think that the answer is yes-after all, the Karrnathi crown itself was betrayed. The question is what the punishment will be. Do they want them dead or do they still believe that they could be useful if carefully monitored (i.e. blackmailed)? Moranna might force them to "accept" an ( at least apparently) suicidal mission.
Sereno 06-19-06, 04:35 PM	I don't see the Kaarnathi government going after the party at all ... it takes a lot of resources (especially CASH) to hunt down someone as powerful as a 7th level party and they'd be doing it for what? Revenge for a betrayal? That's not a motive that governments usually work on. After all, they've gotten what they wanted, the item. However, I would certainly think that they're now persona non grata at any Kaarnathi functions. Likewise, I don't see anything stopping the Kaarnathi diplomat from spreading the news about how untrustworthy the party is ... hurting them financially (cutting them off from future missions) will be cheaper and more effective than just having them killed.
Zuj 06-19-06, 04:45 PM	Hmm...I like the idea of the "suicide mission". Lots of possibilities... Alternatively, I was thinking the Emerald Claw could catch up with them; being that the party has already been declared enemies of that nation.
Zuj 06-19-06, 04:49 PM	[QUOTE=Sereno]I don't see the Kaarnathi government going after the party at all ... it takes a lot of resources (especially CASH) to hunt down someone as powerful as a 7th level party and they'd be doing it for what? Revenge for a betrayal? That's not a motive that governments usually work on. [QUOTE] This is a very good point as well. Perhaps a small bounty, and word getting out about the party's untrustworthiness would be a good thing. And if they ever found themselves in Karrnath again, then they'd be in trouble...
Sereno 06-19-06, 04:55 PM	This is a very good point as well. Perhaps a small bounty, and word getting out about the party's untrustworthiness would be a good thing. And if they ever found themselves in Karrnath again, then they'd be in trouble... I think if they ever found themselves in Kaarnath, again ... they'd be up the creek without a paddle. They'd have NO friends ... their name (as a party or as individuals) would probably be all over as someone that shouldn't be dealt with on any government level. The EC already hates them for stealing the item and now, they've got nowhere to turn for help. Actually, having the EC hunt them down is far more likely than the Kaarn government. Hunt 'em down, kill 'em, then animate their corpses to serve Vol for eternity!! :devil: THAT sounds like the Emerald Claw!
Zuj 06-20-06, 12:00 PM	Actually, having the EC hunt them down is far more likely than the Kaarn government. Hunt 'em down, kill 'em, then animate their corpses to serve Vol for eternity!! :devil: THAT sounds like the Emerald Claw! And that is precisely what the Claw will be doing... :evillaugh
Kreistor1 06-21-06, 05:10 PM	The Karrnathi shouldn't be trying to kill the party. Attempted murder is a difficult charge to throw off politically, if your agents bumble it. Without being able to explain the actions of their agents to the Brelish authorities (they'd reveal the item in question), they're risking losing good men for bad. The players (all of them) should be made directly aware of the knowledge of their betrayal. They should be informed that they are now persona non grata in Karrnath. It sounds like all but the thief will be startled with this revelation and concerned about their destroyed reputation. They may attempt to contact the Karrnathi officials and try to clear their names. Make use of Zone of Truth or other divinitory magics. I think it would be more amusing for the other PCs to become aware of the betrayal of their companion. I generally do not let PC thieves get away with theft of this sort very often. If there is a way for it to come back and haunt the player, it happens.
Yarael 06-21-06, 05:40 PM	Does the Karnathi government know it was the particular party member who sold it to the dwarf? Do they know that the party as whole betrayed them? Is it possible to arrange it so that the Karnathi's don't know? If so, then it might be fun to have the Karnathi government contact the party and have them hunt down whomever did manage to sell the item to the dwarf. Especially if the rest of the party doesn't know it was one of them. Maybe Karnnath doesn't want anyone to know they have the item, and want to eliminate anyone who knows (party excluded, of course.... or maybe not.) Maybe the Karnathi could blackmail the party into finding this person, by holding them to blame if they don't find out who sold the item to the dwarf.
Dragom 06-22-06, 02:53 AM	The most dangerous thing would be an encounter in Xendric with a competing second Party financed by Karnath that has been kindly informed that the demise of the primary party would warrant a decent bonus. Anyone capable of seriously hampering the party would cost to much to send them to hunt down the party. You have to think a little sideways to get a decent Eberron plot line going.
Zuj 06-22-06, 03:19 PM	To clarify a bit for a few of you, Karrnath is aware that the gnome PC (the thief) sold the item to the dwarf. One other party member accompanied the theif in doing this, but was not originally a member of the thief's party when they stole the item. Since the theft and selling of the item occurred, a changeling has joined the party. I have been speaking with the player about his character becoming a member of the cabinet of faces, and he has just met all of the game mechanic requirements, except for a mission. I was thinking one of the interested groups (Karrnath or the Claw) might commission the Cabinet to spy on the group and try to determine their moves, and if they are still a threat. This would be the PC's reason for joining the party. How do you all expect that would work out?
Sereno 06-22-06, 03:54 PM	I was thinking one of the interested groups (Karrnath or the Claw) might commission the Cabinet to spy on the group and try to determine their moves, and if they are still a threat. This would be the PC's reason for joining the party. How do you all expect that would work out? To be honest ... poorly. You'd be deliberately setting up a PC vs. PC situation where the death of one or the other is likely. Unless, of course, the changeling PC is planning on betraying the Cabinet to side with the party -- unlikely, as the player wants to JOIN the Cabinet -- this is going to end in inter-party conflict. Unless you've got players who are not only REALLY mature but also comfortable with inter-party strife, I'd recommend against this. This is the sort of thing that can eventually lead to bad feelings between players (or between the players and their DM) as it's often hard to "not take it personal". I've been playing since about 1980, and I can count on one hand the number of games with party members working against each other turned out to be a fun game with no hurt feelings. A less-hostile-for-the-party idea might be to have the new player, and thus the party, assist the Cabinet of Faces AGAINST some OotEC or Kaarnathi interest, especially since they've already set themselves up as "enemies" of both groups and basically burned their bridges by betraying their original employers and stealing from the OotEC!
Zuj 06-22-06, 05:05 PM	A good point, Sereno. The group I am playing hasn't changed (except for losing one person) in the last 7 years we've played together. They tend to do very well together, and haven't had issues with inter-party conflict in the past. We all recognize it's a game, and I know there won't be any hurt feelings. The guy that plays the changeling was made aware of the negative repercussions of his character choice, and although he is an excellent RPer, he doesn't mind when his characters get killed. And no one in the party actually even knows that he is a changeling. It is actually important to note that he has actually pretended to "change characters" a few times now, and no one has really picked up that all three of his characters have had the exact same stats and class. In the end, I think it will provide for a very interesting plot twist that no one will expect. Also note that he might only be spying on them an reporting to a superior for a time; he might not even be aware who he is working for, or doing anything counterproductive to the party's goals. The changeling is good aligned, and if it unfolds that he was being employed by the "evil" Emerald Claw, he might have a small crisis of conscience. Alternatively, there could be some rivals fighting within the Cabinet that is not immediately visible. The changeling character might be working for one of these rivals, and find out his mission is counterproductive to the organization as a whole (changeling covertly battling each other behind the scenes might be interesting). He could then be justified in going against the wishes of the Claw, and taking the side of the party in the end, all the while still staying within the bounds of his PrC. Is this too convoluted? Thoughts, critiques, etc.?