Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Charles Phipps 02-02-07, 03:25 AM	I just shared an adventure I recently ran (see 35# on this adventure thread) and it occurred to me that this might make an interesting campaign. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=11362703#post11362703 Basically, I was thinking it might be interesting if the Emerald Claw tried a grass roots campaign to reinvigorate their image and overthrow Kaius under the guise of a restoration of Karrnath superiority. Instead a military coup by the warlords, a revolution from the people occurs and prepares to take over.
mahavira 02-02-07, 11:08 AM	Oddly, Karranth is the one nation least vulnerable to such a ploy. It is already a highly authoritarian state with a LE ruler who's already kind of paranoid (when you're the kind of person who murders/kidnaps his grandson to replace him, you expect treachery at every corner). If I were going to run a fascist coup in Eberron, it would be in Breland. While King Boranel is competent and popular, he is also old and there is a succession problem: he has lots of kids, none of whom have popularity or accomplishments of their own. Breland also has a more open society where public dissent is sufficiently tolerated to become popular. Germany's surrender in world war I followed a period in which the German army was doing very well, and the "November Criminals" responsible for the surrender were one of Hitler's first rallying cries. Breland was in a position to keep fighting for years and possibly even win the war outright. Some plausible conspiracy theory as to why Boranel quit could find root among embittered veterans who now think their friends died for nothing. Some new figure uses the parliament to rise to prominence, and begins a campaign of neutering the royal powers (Boranel's distaste for the minutia of government makes this easy) and accumulating them in the Chancellor/Prime Minister. To be really cruel, you could start the campaign off with suspicious activities: secret agents of the crown are drugging/charming etc. nobles to secure their support: even have the PCs 'expose this plot to erode our freedoms'.
DarkWarriorKarg 02-02-07, 02:12 PM	Well, if you want to go all the way, you can add... A "Solution" to the Warforged problem, thereby granting the Lord of Blades the status of a freedom-fighting hero, with possibly humans supporting it...
mahavira 02-02-07, 02:29 PM	Well, if you want to go all the way, you can add... A "Solution" to the Warforged problem, thereby granting the Lord of Blades the status of a freedom-fighting hero, with possibly humans supporting it... That's a possibility, but to be honest goblinoids or worshippers of the flame make a better target (IMO). Goblinoids are a longstanding underclass who are suddenly a threatening neighboring nation. Those bugbears who work for the moving company look kind of shifty (perhaps because of the bonus to move silently and favored class rogue...), maybe they're fifth columnists for Darguun. Those things never forgave us for crushing their decadent empires and bringing civilization to Khorvaire! As to the followers of the Flame, just play up the 'divided loyalties' aspect just like bigots used to do to Catholics in many countries (and to some extent still do to Jews regarding Israel). While warforges are highly distinctive and alien, they just don't have centuries of racist mythology to fall back on (and as far as anyone knows there aren't any more being made, which reduces the perceived threat).
Charles Phipps 02-02-07, 05:07 PM	and no, honestly Breland I don't see fitting the idea of it. Karrnath's high military class and large number of undead simply make it more scary. Besides, Kaius' position is utterly tenuous as has been drilled home repeatedly. He's the weakest monarch and most vulnerable to revolution right now.