Post/Author/DateTime	Post
polt 05-11-05, 09:43 AM	Well, I'm currently developing the basic plot of my campaign, and here's what I've come up with. Garrow (from Shadows of the Last War) is a BoV priest and a changeling who wants to become a vampire. He is intelligent and lusting for power. He both hates and admires Thrane. He hates the Silver Flame do-gooders and admires the military force and discipline in the nation. His goals are to become a true vampire, and to conquer Thrane. Right now he is on a hunt for an ancient Xen’Drik schema which will help him taking over Flamekeep and build a giant black floating fortress. His right hand is an inspired Psion, secretly manipulating him. The Dreaming Dark has had a hard time trying to infiltrate Thrane, and they are almost powerless in the nation. If Garrow succeeds, Flamekeep will probably be taken over for some time; a year, maybe more. With small opposing groups starting to form within the city. The Inspired will slowly help these groups, and become the saviours of the nation. Thus gaining a foothold in the capitol of the nation.
KP91 05-11-05, 10:34 PM	Very intresting, but Why do the Inspired want to control Flamekeep? Why do the inspired not just find the schema themselves?
Vharuck 05-11-05, 10:38 PM	Why do the Inspired want to control Flamekeep? They can gain influence and twist the Silver Flame to their will. Suddenly, these things that share a mind with outsiders are a danger, as shown by exposing their assassinations of Riedran ambassadors. The Flame may conduct another purge to rid the world of those tainted by possession (which is passed on genetically). Ironic, huh?
Streamweaver 05-11-05, 10:45 PM	Which part are you looking for ideas on? I would think any invasion of Flamekeep would be extremely difficult. Being the seat of the actual Silver Flame you would have every devote worshiper of the faith who can sharpen a stick marching to take it back. Flamekeep is litterally the house of their diety. There is probably a lot of story potential in the DD trying to arrange things to keep everyone else in Khorvair busy to allow Flamekeep to fall.
polt 05-12-05, 06:45 AM	The Inspired don't want to take over Flamekeep. They want to gain a foothold in every nation on Khovaire :) And they can't in Thrane atm, so they help Garrow take over Flamekeep so they eventually can help rescue Thrane from it's new enemy. A lot of the devoted Silver Flame worshippers will be busy with another part of the plot, but that's not really what I need help with yet :) Some thing I've been thinking about: What would the reaction of the other nations be? What about the part of the Flame who lives in Aundair? And remember that the flame in Flamekeep isn't the actual Flame, it's a manifistaion of it.
Streamweaver 05-12-05, 08:13 AM	Some thing I've been thinking about: What would the reaction of the other nations be? What about the part of the Flame who lives in Aundair? And remember that the flame in Flamekeep isn't the actual Flame, it's a manifistaion of it. True but I think your splitting hairs there and worshipers of the Silver Flame wont see it as only the manifestation. "Ah well, it's just the manifestation of the Silver Flame not the ACTUAL Silver Flame so whatever.... who wants mutton?" If anything that has been revealed to us in Khorvair is likely to spark a contenental religious crusade it would be the taking of Flamekeep. So I'm not sure we agree on our vision of how important Flamekeep would be in the eyes of worshipers. As far as the other nations go that's a good question and I think open to a lot of imtepretation. Honestly I don't see anyone being able to successfully invade Thrane or Flamekeep without the full might of an entire nation like Karnnath behind them. If Karnnath backs them what you're really talking about here is the restart of the war. It seems quiet clear that Kaius does not want to restart the war so I don't see this happening. If it did however I can't see Aundair sitting by, not with how much they hate the Karns. Breland is likely to get involved either to stabelize things but they could go either way. The big question to me is what woud the Dragonmarked houses do? I really don't see the Dragonmarked houses wanting a new war so would they embargo Karnnath for this? I'm actually going to stop here because I guess I don't buy the premise of the story. I don't think it's bad but since I don't see it I don't want to undermine the idea. It's a fantasy game so you could bring in many variables that could make the situation more reasonable. I think though any player who knows the world may have a hard time with believing this as well so if you think that would be a problem with your group you may want to think it out until you feel like you have your bases covered.
polt 05-12-05, 10:10 AM	I don't see taking over Flamekeep of a problem. Eldritch Machine.
Streamweaver 05-12-05, 10:17 AM	I don't see taking over Flamekeep of a problem. Eldritch Machine. I don't think it's wrong to do this because it's done in fantasy games all the time. I do think however you should realize what you're doing here. The Eldritch Machine excuse is just another way of saying "and they have a magical thing that lets them do whatever I want them to". While this is used to great effect in fantasy, it's also hard to pull off without seeming like they just had a magical machine that let them do whatever you wanted them to do. If that isn't a problem for your players or you then go for it, if it is you may want to put some more thought into it. Sure they could have an Elderitch Machine, but so what, there are probably lots of them in the world after the last war so why does one person having one let them do whatever they want to do. If you want to have them pull the lever on the magic machine and stroll into Flamekeep and own the place fine, if you don't want it to come off as that arbitrary then you have some work ahead of you.
Maklar 05-13-05, 11:55 AM	Jerusalem isn't an actual diety either but look at all the fighting that has revolved around that. I agree in that taking over Flamekeep would be hard. As for Eldritch Machine, I liken it to a nuclear weapon. Many people have them but you don't see people using them in fear of others using theirs.
polt 05-13-05, 12:01 PM	Well, Eldritch Machines are very rare in my world. So having one gives you a big advantage. But here are the way I'm imagining Garrow taking over Flamekeep. First, he's becoming a true vampire, which will give him the ability to make most of his minions vampire spawn. So if he finds a way to shade the city from the sun he'll have a big advantage. Moreover, monstrous mercenaries from Droaam will help a lot too.
Streamweaver 05-13-05, 03:47 PM	Well, Eldritch Machines are very rare in my world. So having one gives you a big advantage. But here are the way I'm imagining Garrow taking over Flamekeep. First, he's becoming a true vampire, which will give him the ability to make most of his minions vampire spawn. So if he finds a way to shade the city from the sun he'll have a big advantage. Moreover, monstrous mercenaries from Droaam will help a lot too. Sounds good. You could say they were disassembled or something after the war, or they were destoryed for the most part. Was just wondering how. Let us know how it ends up, sounds interesting.
polt 05-13-05, 04:14 PM	Well, the campaign has just started, so the whole invation of flamekeep is some time away :) Garrow also have some Emerald Claw soldiers at his disposal, and when he starts making elite soldiers into vampire spawns, it's gonna get nasty. But I think the adventures in Flamekeep when it has been taken over will be cool. The Keeper of the Flame will be placed in a tower, high enough for her not being able to use her divine powers.