Introducing Players to Stormreach [Archive] - Wizards Community

Introducing Players to Stormreach [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thavis
01-09-08, 11:20 PM The group I DM for is headed to Xen'drik to plunder a recently discovered site and to spite an old rival who tried to bully the group to do the same job. None of the players have been to Stormreach or the continent before, and I want the experience to showcase the sense of awe, age, and chaos of the land.

Do you have an idea for a short series of events or advice for running the players through the city that hit home the differences between Khorvaire and this city outside civilization?
ChaoticGood
01-10-08, 12:00 AM First, be sure to use the description found in Secrets of Xen'drik. It's something to the effect of, "From the ship, you can see a city of stone that appears to be in ruins. Wisps of smoke drift up from the tumbled-down walls."

Let them consider that for a moment; if they haven't read the book already, they'll probably ask a sailor (assuming they're traveling by ship or airship) about the state of the city. My response is, "Heh, first time in Xen'drik, huh? You Khorks are always worried about something, ain't ya? Well, if you must know, we're not quite as close to the city as you think we are."

... the sailor will explain that the city is built in and around the ruins of an ancient giant fortress. Most of the buildings are only one or two stories at the most, so only a few of them can be seen over the fallen walls. As they get closer to the city, they will eventually see the structures of the harbor, looking like toys beside the giant walls.

The second suggestion I have for you is to send them on some errand to the giant encampment just outside the city walls. Emphasize how downtrodden and destitute the giants are compared to the wild and lucrative frontier lifestyle of the city's smaller inhabitants. Maybe a giant craftsman will try to get them to buy a handmade trinket or some day-old jungle bread... Basically just to show how the local giants are barely scraping by, living off the wealth of the continent's new masters... That way, they might feel bad later when they have to kill some proud giant warrior who is hunting them in the jungle.

Yes, I can be a mean, emotionally-manipulative DM. :devil:
Gurv
01-10-08, 01:40 AM Do you have an idea for a short series of events or advice for running the players through the city that hit home the differences between Khorvaire and this city outside civilization?

ChaoticGood's suggestion is the one I would have made. That description of Stormreach is perfect, especially if you can put enough weight into it. Don't read it like you're just describing a town. Read it like you're telling the players that Stormreach is in ruins, that something terrible has happened. Let them think that their first adventure in Xen'drik is to discover what terrible disaster befell the city. Then finish it with the part where they see the human buildings and such. There will be relief that all is as it should be, but the lingering concern about what has happened in the past.

Once they're in Stormreach, emphasize the mentality of the people here. Even if the players are the only PC-classed people around, everyone in Stormreach is an adventurer, in one sense or another. Have the PCs see people brawling without the law being called in. Let them see the Iron Watch wreck someone for a seemingly minor crime, like selling fake cure potions, without the benefit of a trial. And don't forget the demographics: less than half the population of Stormreach is human.
Thaliost
01-10-08, 06:03 PM I would pretty much introduce my PCs with the series of quests in DDO. After dealing with the evil cleric under the tavern, retrieving the three items for someone who finally turns out to be cheating them, the fellows will learn well about this land of intrigues, and then it may be good time to work for someone in power to merely survive in this city.
Hellcow
01-10-08, 06:39 PM And IIRC, the City of Stormreach comes out next month. Perhaps too late for your purposes, but there's a lot of good stuff in it.
davethebrave371
01-12-08, 05:07 PM And IIRC, the City of Stormreach comes out next month. Perhaps too late for your purposes, but there's a lot of good stuff in it.

Unless he sinks their ship on the way there and they get captured and taken to a Sahaugain court, in which case Oceans of Eberron will be too late for his purposes. :D

(Hint, hint: That'd be a great 4e kickstarter)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thavis 01-09-08, 11:20 PM	The group I DM for is headed to Xen'drik to plunder a recently discovered site and to spite an old rival who tried to bully the group to do the same job. None of the players have been to Stormreach or the continent before, and I want the experience to showcase the sense of awe, age, and chaos of the land. Do you have an idea for a short series of events or advice for running the players through the city that hit home the differences between Khorvaire and this city outside civilization?
ChaoticGood 01-10-08, 12:00 AM	First, be sure to use the description found in Secrets of Xen'drik. It's something to the effect of, "From the ship, you can see a city of stone that appears to be in ruins. Wisps of smoke drift up from the tumbled-down walls." Let them consider that for a moment; if they haven't read the book already, they'll probably ask a sailor (assuming they're traveling by ship or airship) about the state of the city. My response is, "Heh, first time in Xen'drik, huh? You Khorks are always worried about something, ain't ya? Well, if you must know, we're not quite as close to the city as you think we are." ... the sailor will explain that the city is built in and around the ruins of an ancient giant fortress. Most of the buildings are only one or two stories at the most, so only a few of them can be seen over the fallen walls. As they get closer to the city, they will eventually see the structures of the harbor, looking like toys beside the giant walls. The second suggestion I have for you is to send them on some errand to the giant encampment just outside the city walls. Emphasize how downtrodden and destitute the giants are compared to the wild and lucrative frontier lifestyle of the city's smaller inhabitants. Maybe a giant craftsman will try to get them to buy a handmade trinket or some day-old jungle bread... Basically just to show how the local giants are barely scraping by, living off the wealth of the continent's new masters... That way, they might feel bad later when they have to kill some proud giant warrior who is hunting them in the jungle. Yes, I can be a mean, emotionally-manipulative DM. :devil:
Gurv 01-10-08, 01:40 AM	Do you have an idea for a short series of events or advice for running the players through the city that hit home the differences between Khorvaire and this city outside civilization? ChaoticGood's suggestion is the one I would have made. That description of Stormreach is perfect, especially if you can put enough weight into it. Don't read it like you're just describing a town. Read it like you're telling the players that Stormreach is in ruins, that something terrible has happened. Let them think that their first adventure in Xen'drik is to discover what terrible disaster befell the city. Then finish it with the part where they see the human buildings and such. There will be relief that all is as it should be, but the lingering concern about what has happened in the past. Once they're in Stormreach, emphasize the mentality of the people here. Even if the players are the only PC-classed people around, everyone in Stormreach is an adventurer, in one sense or another. Have the PCs see people brawling without the law being called in. Let them see the Iron Watch wreck someone for a seemingly minor crime, like selling fake cure potions, without the benefit of a trial. And don't forget the demographics: less than half the population of Stormreach is human.
Thaliost 01-10-08, 06:03 PM	I would pretty much introduce my PCs with the series of quests in DDO. After dealing with the evil cleric under the tavern, retrieving the three items for someone who finally turns out to be cheating them, the fellows will learn well about this land of intrigues, and then it may be good time to work for someone in power to merely survive in this city.
Hellcow 01-10-08, 06:39 PM	And IIRC, the City of Stormreach comes out next month. Perhaps too late for your purposes, but there's a lot of good stuff in it.
davethebrave371 01-12-08, 05:07 PM	And IIRC, the City of Stormreach comes out next month. Perhaps too late for your purposes, but there's a lot of good stuff in it. Unless he sinks their ship on the way there and they get captured and taken to a Sahaugain court, in which case Oceans of Eberron will be too late for his purposes. :D (Hint, hint: That'd be a great 4e kickstarter)