No Ghallanda stuff? [Archive] - Wizards Community

No Ghallanda stuff? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bluebrush
07-21-05, 09:21 AM Philarin has it's spies and assassins, Jorasco has it's links to organised crime, Cannith has internal strife, world domination plots, ancient magic and even worship of one of the dark six. Ghallanda has... A whole load of inns. And strong links the nomads of the Talenta Plains.

Really, there hasn't been much excitement surrounding the house of hospitality, and to an extent that's understandable. Who wants to hear about halflings fluffing pillows when you could rush headlong into danger with a Half-Orc detective at your side?

So does anyone have any suggestions for interesting plots and adventures involving Ghallanda?
World-spanning conspiracies in the back rooms of the finest inns?
Cutthroat competition for the inns in Passage, city of travellers?
A wily dragonmarked heir attempting to shift the balance of power amoungst the Talenta tribes?

Could make for an interesting "Steal this hook" article.
Wyrin
07-21-05, 10:28 AM Well, there's no reason why Ghallanda cant have the same links to the halfling mobsters as Jorasco. Think prohibition style gin joints run by halflings. IMC, I had a Ghallanda innkeeper in First Tower send the party off on a wild goose chase to frame them for some murders committed by the Jungle Boys,; thereby taking the heat off his brother, recently arrived from Talenta plains and working with the Jungle Boys, who was injured and restign up in the Inn whilst the King's Rangers hunted for him. They didnt suspect Ol' Mack D'Ghallanda, no siree.

Ghallanda innkeepers are in a good position to be information brokers too. More likely to see the illicit rendezvous and bribed officials in the dark corners of a bar.

Corruption in House G could be tricky - you can only let so much poison food escape your notice and so many lords get assassinated before your reputation slips. But bribery of a taster, or blackmail, could be a means to sneak in some poisoned food or drink and get to your target unexpected.

Gatherhold (if i remeber the name right - and its a moving capital?) is also quite influential for Ghallanda - whereby the house can control the location and attitude of thousands of halfling barbarians... and if that happens to be on a border to a nation that isnt lettign the House establish as many... Karrnath might find the inocuous capital to be a sudden launching point for an attack

I could see the Keeper (Greed) maybe having a role inthe darker side of the house too
Cloud Divider
07-21-05, 10:55 AM Philarin has it's spies and assassins, Jorasco has it's links to organised crime, Cannith has internal strife, world domination plots, ancient magic and even worship of one of the dark six. Ghallanda has... A whole load of inns. And strong links the nomads of the Talenta Plains.
Well, here's a few options:

1) Ghallanda could quite possibly have an interesting intelligence network of their own. Intelligence network may be the wrong word - but they're very well positioned to know things. Your people run the bars, the hotel rooms, the feast halls. That drunken Dragonmarked Heir may just talk a little bit more than he might were he sober. Then there's that politician that's apparently having an affair - he rents out the best room in the house a couple times a month. And it seems that just about every ir'Tain gala is catered by the Shan Ghallanda to some extent. The tongue of a visitor to a Ghallanda holding is probably rather less carefully restrained than someone going to speak with the Phiarlan.

1.1) Depending on how you interpret the above, I could also imagine the Ghallanda being involved in the "Companion" business (to steal the concept from Firefly). The Ghallanda could quite possibly be the ones who run the more reputable (and legal by specific exemption) Escort Services. Note that the Companions wouldn't necessarily have to be halflings, just the management. Companionship is a form of hospitality, after all...

2) They also have a big role in providing food and other services. In the right circumstances, that can be used as leverage. Town having a drought or famine? Just think of the kind of humanitarian efforts (and the beneficial PR, favors-owed and influence that generates) Ghallanda could get by sending a team of 'Marked, who could essentially Hero's Feast every day (at essentially no cost to them). Then there's the opposite - that Army, marching on it's stomach...They may rely on a Ghallanda cook. Deciding who gets and who doesn't get this service can make for interesting political leverage. The Army with the Ghallanda is likely much faster - they don't need the supply train of a conventional army.

3) Ghallanda = PepsiCo (ie also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and so on)? Ghallanda could certainly get into the role of major food conglomerate. Manufacture (cheap-ish) canned purified food/water, Emeril d'Ghallanda brand Iron Rations, and so on. Insert subplots about the food conglomo monopolizing farmland (possibly even by intimidation) in order to grow the ingredients they require for their product. I can imagine the Ghallanda having an on-again, off-again relationship with the Vadalis...

World-spanning conspiracies in the back rooms of the finest inns?
Cutthroat competition for the inns in Passage, city of travellers?
A wily dragonmarked heir attempting to shift the balance of power amoungst the Talenta tribes?
That could all work... The second is probably the weakest of the three.
The Fireballed Mage
07-21-05, 05:13 PM Now if only someone would come up with some information on the Houses... :P

Funny you should mention this. I hear some less-than-talented hack :D is writting up his own opinions and self-done information on the Houses, an as a point of interest just happens to have done something about House Ghallanda.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=442444

It should be on the second page, but if I recall correctly there might be something there you can find a plot hook about.
Hellcow
07-21-05, 09:16 PM I think Ghallanda may surprise you, BB, though my ideas on the subject will need to wait for the appropriate time.

With that said, one may also want to look to, say, The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. There's a proud tradition of h... well, halflings who AREN'T out to conquer the world, who like their comforts, who take food seriously - and who notheless end up being caught up in world-shaking events. I had a Ghallanda player in one of my campaigns, whose in had been destroyed, who simply wanted to find her scattered family and rebuild her inn... and she was a great character as stories and RP went.

Also, have you ever read George Bernard Shaw's The Arms and the Man? I think it presents another possible view of the Ghallanda innkeeper. In an age where people are tearing the world apart for honor, greed, or the thirst for power - the person who most values common sense and tries to maintain the peace with wisdom and hospitality may be the greatest hero of all.

But as I say, it may be some time before I get my ideas out there, and I'm certainly interested to hear what others have to say.
Splendide
07-22-05, 09:33 AM Other aspects of Ghallanda that could turn into plots or characters

Hospitality = Refuge and Protection
Its all very well having nice food and a comfy, but if you are unprotected from things that would harm you while you sleep, it is a false comfort. If anyone knows this, its a halfling.

As such, Ghallanda is as much about protecting you as it is indulging you. While the barman is friendly and helpful, chances are that he is no patsy. Quite possibly he has a Rogue level - after all, there's nothing like a sneak attack with a sap to end a conflict, and they would have all the tools required for watchful observation.

I would expect House Medani to typically work quite closely with Ghallanda in securing the protection of important patrons.

Character concepts
Velvet Glove, Iron Fist - Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then someone else gets hurt.
Vigilant Protector - "Is there anything I can get for you?" *scans room while enquiring* "Very well, sir."

Hospitality = Hobnobbing
He may just be a cook, or a concierge, or a butler, but what he is is well-connected. As a regular part of keeping his patron happy, he has to have his finger in a lot of pies. He has to be able to organize transport on demand, supply manpower, source trinkets, gifts and food at short notice...what nobleman would choose to rough it when travelling, if they could have one of Ghallanda's finest accompanying him on his travels?

Character concepts
Concierge - the best source for tickets to sold out events, contacts to discrete merchants and related services. He knows a lot, because he needs to know a lot.
Batman - Takes care of all the little things for one patron. He's not a bodyguard, his patron likely thinks him far more useful and important - a bodyguard doesn't care how food tastes or looks, just that its not poisoned.

Dragonmarked House = Control
Its been noted that Ghallanda probably matches Deneith in terms of outposts and total manpower. It takes no less of an effort to maintain standards across all of this, and thats where the inspectors come in. If a bad review comes in, they're despatched to investigate. If a threat against a patron comes in, same again.

Character Concepts
The Ghallanda Inquisitive

If you're looking for a way to keep a Ghallanda marked player active, make him an inspector and you can set up anything. Perhaps Ghallanda is contracted to cater for an important event and news of one of the following happening comes to the fore

1) An infiltrator among the staff will be poisoning the food
2) An infiltrator among the staff will attempt to kill
3) An infiltrator among the staff is a spy

While it would be nice, it is unseemly and inefficient to call in outside help to settle in-house issues.

The other upside of having an inspector player is that if you have a plot aligned to another character, he can still do his regular job - inspecting inns for quality control...though who knows what he may find out?
DarkWarriorKarg
07-22-05, 09:43 AM The Ghallanda Inquisitive

If you're looking for a way to keep a Ghallanda marked player active, make him an inspector and you can set up anything. Perhaps Ghallanda is contracted to cater for an important event and news of one of the following happening comes to the fore

1) An infiltrator among the staff will be poisoning the food
2) An infiltrator among the staff will attempt to kill
3) An infiltrator among the staff is a spy

While it would be nice, it is unseemly and inefficient to call in outside help to settle in-house issues.

The other upside of having an inspector player is that if you have a plot aligned to another character, he can still do his regular job - inspecting inns for quality control...though who knows what he may find out?

On the next CSI:Ghandalla... the team investigates two seemingly unrelated cases:

Someone switched the pepperoni for salami... and left footprints behind. And a mysterious case of indigestion, not long after a new meat supplier out of Droam begins operation...

I don't have the book on me.... but isn't it suggested thate house Ghandalla might be involved with people like the Boromars?
Hellcow
07-22-05, 10:45 AM Exactly on the right track, Splendide.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bluebrush 07-21-05, 09:21 AM	Philarin has it's spies and assassins, Jorasco has it's links to organised crime, Cannith has internal strife, world domination plots, ancient magic and even worship of one of the dark six. Ghallanda has... A whole load of inns. And strong links the nomads of the Talenta Plains. Really, there hasn't been much excitement surrounding the house of hospitality, and to an extent that's understandable. Who wants to hear about halflings fluffing pillows when you could rush headlong into danger with a Half-Orc detective at your side? So does anyone have any suggestions for interesting plots and adventures involving Ghallanda? World-spanning conspiracies in the back rooms of the finest inns? Cutthroat competition for the inns in Passage, city of travellers? A wily dragonmarked heir attempting to shift the balance of power amoungst the Talenta tribes? Could make for an interesting "Steal this hook" article.
Wyrin 07-21-05, 10:28 AM	Well, there's no reason why Ghallanda cant have the same links to the halfling mobsters as Jorasco. Think prohibition style gin joints run by halflings. IMC, I had a Ghallanda innkeeper in First Tower send the party off on a wild goose chase to frame them for some murders committed by the Jungle Boys,; thereby taking the heat off his brother, recently arrived from Talenta plains and working with the Jungle Boys, who was injured and restign up in the Inn whilst the King's Rangers hunted for him. They didnt suspect Ol' Mack D'Ghallanda, no siree. Ghallanda innkeepers are in a good position to be information brokers too. More likely to see the illicit rendezvous and bribed officials in the dark corners of a bar. Corruption in House G could be tricky - you can only let so much poison food escape your notice and so many lords get assassinated before your reputation slips. But bribery of a taster, or blackmail, could be a means to sneak in some poisoned food or drink and get to your target unexpected. Gatherhold (if i remeber the name right - and its a moving capital?) is also quite influential for Ghallanda - whereby the house can control the location and attitude of thousands of halfling barbarians... and if that happens to be on a border to a nation that isnt lettign the House establish as many... Karrnath might find the inocuous capital to be a sudden launching point for an attack I could see the Keeper (Greed) maybe having a role inthe darker side of the house too
Cloud Divider 07-21-05, 10:55 AM	Philarin has it's spies and assassins, Jorasco has it's links to organised crime, Cannith has internal strife, world domination plots, ancient magic and even worship of one of the dark six. Ghallanda has... A whole load of inns. And strong links the nomads of the Talenta Plains. Well, here's a few options: 1) Ghallanda could quite possibly have an interesting intelligence network of their own. Intelligence network may be the wrong word - but they're very well positioned to know things. Your people run the bars, the hotel rooms, the feast halls. That drunken Dragonmarked Heir may just talk a little bit more than he might were he sober. Then there's that politician that's apparently having an affair - he rents out the best room in the house a couple times a month. And it seems that just about every ir'Tain gala is catered by the Shan Ghallanda to some extent. The tongue of a visitor to a Ghallanda holding is probably rather less carefully restrained than someone going to speak with the Phiarlan. 1.1) Depending on how you interpret the above, I could also imagine the Ghallanda being involved in the "Companion" business (to steal the concept from Firefly). The Ghallanda could quite possibly be the ones who run the more reputable (and legal by specific exemption) Escort Services. Note that the Companions wouldn't necessarily have to be halflings, just the management. Companionship is a form of hospitality, after all... 2) They also have a big role in providing food and other services. In the right circumstances, that can be used as leverage. Town having a drought or famine? Just think of the kind of humanitarian efforts (and the beneficial PR, favors-owed and influence that generates) Ghallanda could get by sending a team of 'Marked, who could essentially Hero's Feast every day (at essentially no cost to them). Then there's the opposite - that Army, marching on it's stomach...They may rely on a Ghallanda cook. Deciding who gets and who doesn't get this service can make for interesting political leverage. The Army with the Ghallanda is likely much faster - they don't need the supply train of a conventional army. 3) Ghallanda = PepsiCo (ie also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and so on)? Ghallanda could certainly get into the role of major food conglomerate. Manufacture (cheap-ish) canned purified food/water, Emeril d'Ghallanda brand Iron Rations, and so on. Insert subplots about the food conglomo monopolizing farmland (possibly even by intimidation) in order to grow the ingredients they require for their product. I can imagine the Ghallanda having an on-again, off-again relationship with the Vadalis... World-spanning conspiracies in the back rooms of the finest inns? Cutthroat competition for the inns in Passage, city of travellers? A wily dragonmarked heir attempting to shift the balance of power amoungst the Talenta tribes? That could all work... The second is probably the weakest of the three.
The Fireballed Mage 07-21-05, 05:13 PM	Now if only someone would come up with some information on the Houses... :P Funny you should mention this. I hear some less-than-talented hack :D is writting up his own opinions and self-done information on the Houses, an as a point of interest just happens to have done something about House Ghallanda. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=442444 It should be on the second page, but if I recall correctly there might be something there you can find a plot hook about.
Hellcow 07-21-05, 09:16 PM	I think Ghallanda may surprise you, BB, though my ideas on the subject will need to wait for the appropriate time. With that said, one may also want to look to, say, The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. There's a proud tradition of h... well, halflings who AREN'T out to conquer the world, who like their comforts, who take food seriously - and who notheless end up being caught up in world-shaking events. I had a Ghallanda player in one of my campaigns, whose in had been destroyed, who simply wanted to find her scattered family and rebuild her inn... and she was a great character as stories and RP went. Also, have you ever read George Bernard Shaw's The Arms and the Man? I think it presents another possible view of the Ghallanda innkeeper. In an age where people are tearing the world apart for honor, greed, or the thirst for power - the person who most values common sense and tries to maintain the peace with wisdom and hospitality may be the greatest hero of all. But as I say, it may be some time before I get my ideas out there, and I'm certainly interested to hear what others have to say.
Splendide 07-22-05, 09:33 AM	Other aspects of Ghallanda that could turn into plots or characters Hospitality = Refuge and Protection Its all very well having nice food and a comfy, but if you are unprotected from things that would harm you while you sleep, it is a false comfort. If anyone knows this, its a halfling. As such, Ghallanda is as much about protecting you as it is indulging you. While the barman is friendly and helpful, chances are that he is no patsy. Quite possibly he has a Rogue level - after all, there's nothing like a sneak attack with a sap to end a conflict, and they would have all the tools required for watchful observation. I would expect House Medani to typically work quite closely with Ghallanda in securing the protection of important patrons. Character concepts Velvet Glove, Iron Fist - Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then someone else gets hurt. Vigilant Protector - "Is there anything I can get for you?" scans room while enquiring "Very well, sir." Hospitality = Hobnobbing He may just be a cook, or a concierge, or a butler, but what he is is well-connected. As a regular part of keeping his patron happy, he has to have his finger in a lot of pies. He has to be able to organize transport on demand, supply manpower, source trinkets, gifts and food at short notice...what nobleman would choose to rough it when travelling, if they could have one of Ghallanda's finest accompanying him on his travels? Character concepts Concierge - the best source for tickets to sold out events, contacts to discrete merchants and related services. He knows a lot, because he needs to know a lot. Batman - Takes care of all the little things for one patron. He's not a bodyguard, his patron likely thinks him far more useful and important - a bodyguard doesn't care how food tastes or looks, just that its not poisoned. Dragonmarked House = Control Its been noted that Ghallanda probably matches Deneith in terms of outposts and total manpower. It takes no less of an effort to maintain standards across all of this, and thats where the inspectors come in. If a bad review comes in, they're despatched to investigate. If a threat against a patron comes in, same again. Character Concepts The Ghallanda Inquisitive If you're looking for a way to keep a Ghallanda marked player active, make him an inspector and you can set up anything. Perhaps Ghallanda is contracted to cater for an important event and news of one of the following happening comes to the fore 1) An infiltrator among the staff will be poisoning the food 2) An infiltrator among the staff will attempt to kill 3) An infiltrator among the staff is a spy While it would be nice, it is unseemly and inefficient to call in outside help to settle in-house issues. The other upside of having an inspector player is that if you have a plot aligned to another character, he can still do his regular job - inspecting inns for quality control...though who knows what he may find out?
DarkWarriorKarg 07-22-05, 09:43 AM	The Ghallanda Inquisitive If you're looking for a way to keep a Ghallanda marked player active, make him an inspector and you can set up anything. Perhaps Ghallanda is contracted to cater for an important event and news of one of the following happening comes to the fore 1) An infiltrator among the staff will be poisoning the food 2) An infiltrator among the staff will attempt to kill 3) An infiltrator among the staff is a spy While it would be nice, it is unseemly and inefficient to call in outside help to settle in-house issues. The other upside of having an inspector player is that if you have a plot aligned to another character, he can still do his regular job - inspecting inns for quality control...though who knows what he may find out? On the next CSI:Ghandalla... the team investigates two seemingly unrelated cases: Someone switched the pepperoni for salami... and left footprints behind. And a mysterious case of indigestion, not long after a new meat supplier out of Droam begins operation... I don't have the book on me.... but isn't it suggested thate house Ghandalla might be involved with people like the Boromars?
Hellcow 07-22-05, 10:45 AM	Exactly on the right track, Splendide.