Politics & powerplay, adv. leads? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Politics & powerplay, adv. leads? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Burningspear
09-19-07, 09:41 PM ok, we have the following situation in my DM's campaign:
(note: i am not the dm itself, just a player, but i do help pitch ideas and want an active political plot)

We have an ongoing race with a BBeG through Karrnath, and the race will have an end/ showdown in the ruins of Shadukar, in Thrane, the ruins will have a bit of the feeling that that ruined city gices in Robert Jordans 2nd? book, where the whole city is seeped in evil, and all in it is 'cursed'.

Our party is now effective 7th level, consisting of:
Halfling lvl 7 rouge on St.Bernard type dog, Warforged tin can fighter 7 with 2hander, Drow wizard 5 with lvl 3 repair spell,
and me, Swashbuckler 3/cleric 1/hum.paragon 2/ half Huecuva(+1).
(i am the veteran player, thats why my char is all mixmatch and the others are just kids/ beginners)

Me and the DM try to encourage the players to roleplay more :)

The party will be ending up as i said in the Ruins Shadukar, our thoughts are that a Thranish scout will see us enter the ruins report this to his superior, who in his turn will send a sending spell to Cardinal Krozen.
This can be used by Cardinal Krozen to get his political ambitions roling.

question now is:
What would the cardinal do in order to get Karrnath involved in a plitical battle based on the previous rough info?
He'll know the party is from Karrnath and entered the ruins, though not why, he will also see them come out, what will his reactions/ plans be?
Our basic idea is that Thrane has strong scouting units around Shadukar, to keep the undead in, and any people that want to enter out, (they missed us getting in).

Thoughts please..

thanks in advance :plotting:
Alex_
09-20-07, 07:52 PM Just some clarification. When you say "get Karrnath involved in a political battle" what exactly do you mean? Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves, just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes, or further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath? Or perhaps something else altogether. What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals?

Your other idea of Thrane soldiers watching over and gaurding an area that seems to ooze Evil energy and things inside of Thrane's borders sounds great. Or they could be taking more offensive steps trying to contain/remove the Evil in the area and are studying it.
Burningspear
09-20-07, 08:55 PM Just some clarification. When you say "get Karrnath involved in a political battle" what exactly do you mean? Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves, just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes, or further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath? Or perhaps something else altogether. What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals?

Your other idea of Thrane soldiers watching over and gaurding an area that seems to ooze Evil energy and things inside of Thrane's borders sounds great. Or they could be taking more offensive steps trying to contain/remove the Evil in the area and are studying it.

Hi Alex, thanks for your interest and reply :tie:
The motivations that Cardinal Krozen has, are the actual question itself,we were wondering what ideas other ppl could come up with that would help in a pilitical dilemma when agents of one nation enter the territory of another :plotting:,

Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves
No, or not likely.

just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes
One possibility.

further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath?
I think so, as Thrane and Cyre butchered the population there in the great war.
He might be unsure of our motivations, and that might make him think Karrnath is trying to usurp the undeads in the ruins? (as an example)

What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals?
Those are exactly the questions i want you to think about, as other people might have fresh new ideas about an angle we are trying to brainstorm about (we = me and my dm)
Alex_
09-20-07, 09:30 PM Okay so just shooting ideas out there...

1. He believes that Karrnath as it is now is Evil, and that its mere existence and culture is comparable to one of the greater Evils in the hierarchy. It has to end. He wants a regime change. He wants total war, and the destruction or elimination of all things Karrnathi. Of course he hides this under the guise of a normal war, hopefully trying to get Breland on his side.

To get support for all ou war, or bring one of the other nations in on his side, he has to make Thrane look like the defender. He uses the example of the Karrnathi troops discovered in Thrane's borders (not just spies, but actual troops) as Karrnath planning something. Probably a tough sell, so he's going to have to secrely goad Karrnath into striking, or sponsor an attack on Thrane by some non-Karrnathi force and make it look like it was Karrnath. Yeah innocent Thranish people will die, but he thinks it's worth it if he can start the war to get rid of the greater Evil.

2. He's become aware of Karrnath building up their Undead forces in greater numbers. He fears an attack is imminent and wants to launch a preemptive strike. He doesn't want an all out war, but he does want to cripple Karrnath's capabilities while pulling their secret Undead production into the lime light.

He can claim the Karrnathi troops near Shadukar were looking for more secrets, and even that troops regularly venture into Thrane to kidnap Thranish citizens to turn into Undead. He just wants to take out the Undead labs, but the conflict could spiral out of his control.

3. He wants to try and promote one of his more militant/extremist/hawkish friends to a positon of power, to further enhance his own position and influence in the church, but the current political/social climate favors the moderates. If he can increase fervor and support for violent ends by fanning the flames of hate for Karrnath, getting his friends into office would be easier.

Just point to recent Karrnathi incursions into Thrane's territory, and blame it on lackluster management of national defense and border security. In order to keep those dirty Karrns out of Thrane, they should appoint his good friend, "Cardinal Jones", since he promises to do what's necessary to keep Thrane safe from further incursions.

4. He's currently under investigation for some questionable activities. He needs to create something that will distract and/or occupy everyone until it all blows over. He doesn't want all-out war.

He (and his associates) can hype up the Karrnathi troops making it into Thrane is part of a larger problem much greater than his current hearings. Maybe even assert that by questioning him, they're showing weakness to Karrnath, when they should be presenting a united front.
Burningspear
09-23-07, 12:08 AM Thanks so far for the brainwaves Alex, much appreciated.

Any more? :tie: :plotting:

;)

Its nice to give my DM some food for thought... i am seeing it as a textual kick on his ass

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Burningspear 09-19-07, 09:41 PM	ok, we have the following situation in my DM's campaign: (note: i am not the dm itself, just a player, but i do help pitch ideas and want an active political plot) We have an ongoing race with a BBeG through Karrnath, and the race will have an end/ showdown in the ruins of Shadukar, in Thrane, the ruins will have a bit of the feeling that that ruined city gices in Robert Jordans 2nd? book, where the whole city is seeped in evil, and all in it is 'cursed'. Our party is now effective 7th level, consisting of: Halfling lvl 7 rouge on St.Bernard type dog, Warforged tin can fighter 7 with 2hander, Drow wizard 5 with lvl 3 repair spell, and me, Swashbuckler 3/cleric 1/hum.paragon 2/ half Huecuva(+1). (i am the veteran player, thats why my char is all mixmatch and the others are just kids/ beginners) Me and the DM try to encourage the players to roleplay more :) The party will be ending up as i said in the Ruins Shadukar, our thoughts are that a Thranish scout will see us enter the ruins report this to his superior, who in his turn will send a sending spell to Cardinal Krozen. This can be used by Cardinal Krozen to get his political ambitions roling. question now is: What would the cardinal do in order to get Karrnath involved in a plitical battle based on the previous rough info? He'll know the party is from Karrnath and entered the ruins, though not why, he will also see them come out, what will his reactions/ plans be? Our basic idea is that Thrane has strong scouting units around Shadukar, to keep the undead in, and any people that want to enter out, (they missed us getting in). Thoughts please.. thanks in advance :plotting:
Alex_ 09-20-07, 07:52 PM	Just some clarification. When you say "get Karrnath involved in a political battle" what exactly do you mean? Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves, just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes, or further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath? Or perhaps something else altogether. What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals? Your other idea of Thrane soldiers watching over and gaurding an area that seems to ooze Evil energy and things inside of Thrane's borders sounds great. Or they could be taking more offensive steps trying to contain/remove the Evil in the area and are studying it.
Burningspear 09-20-07, 08:55 PM	Just some clarification. When you say "get Karrnath involved in a political battle" what exactly do you mean? Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves, just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes, or further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath? Or perhaps something else altogether. What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals? Your other idea of Thrane soldiers watching over and gaurding an area that seems to ooze Evil energy and things inside of Thrane's borders sounds great. Or they could be taking more offensive steps trying to contain/remove the Evil in the area and are studying it. Hi Alex, thanks for your interest and reply :tie: The motivations that Cardinal Krozen has, are the actual question itself,we were wondering what ideas other ppl could come up with that would help in a pilitical dilemma when agents of one nation enter the territory of another :plotting:, Do you mean he wants to cause dissent or infighting amongst the Karrnathi themselves No, or not likely. just start something inside of Thrane to increase anti-Karrnathi attitudes One possibility. further fan the flames burning in both Thrane and Karrnath? I think so, as Thrane and Cyre butchered the population there in the great war. He might be unsure of our motivations, and that might make him think Karrnath is trying to usurp the undeads in the ruins? (as an example) What exactly does he want to accomplish? Does he want all out war? Does he want to avoid actual war but exaggerate the situation enough to get funding or support for a particular institution or project? What are his goals? Those are exactly the questions i want you to think about, as other people might have fresh new ideas about an angle we are trying to brainstorm about (we = me and my dm)
Alex_ 09-20-07, 09:30 PM	Okay so just shooting ideas out there... 1. He believes that Karrnath as it is now is Evil, and that its mere existence and culture is comparable to one of the greater Evils in the hierarchy. It has to end. He wants a regime change. He wants total war, and the destruction or elimination of all things Karrnathi. Of course he hides this under the guise of a normal war, hopefully trying to get Breland on his side. To get support for all ou war, or bring one of the other nations in on his side, he has to make Thrane look like the defender. He uses the example of the Karrnathi troops discovered in Thrane's borders (not just spies, but actual troops) as Karrnath planning something. Probably a tough sell, so he's going to have to secrely goad Karrnath into striking, or sponsor an attack on Thrane by some non-Karrnathi force and make it look like it was Karrnath. Yeah innocent Thranish people will die, but he thinks it's worth it if he can start the war to get rid of the greater Evil. 2. He's become aware of Karrnath building up their Undead forces in greater numbers. He fears an attack is imminent and wants to launch a preemptive strike. He doesn't want an all out war, but he does want to cripple Karrnath's capabilities while pulling their secret Undead production into the lime light. He can claim the Karrnathi troops near Shadukar were looking for more secrets, and even that troops regularly venture into Thrane to kidnap Thranish citizens to turn into Undead. He just wants to take out the Undead labs, but the conflict could spiral out of his control. 3. He wants to try and promote one of his more militant/extremist/hawkish friends to a positon of power, to further enhance his own position and influence in the church, but the current political/social climate favors the moderates. If he can increase fervor and support for violent ends by fanning the flames of hate for Karrnath, getting his friends into office would be easier. Just point to recent Karrnathi incursions into Thrane's territory, and blame it on lackluster management of national defense and border security. In order to keep those dirty Karrns out of Thrane, they should appoint his good friend, "Cardinal Jones", since he promises to do what's necessary to keep Thrane safe from further incursions. 4. He's currently under investigation for some questionable activities. He needs to create something that will distract and/or occupy everyone until it all blows over. He doesn't want all-out war. He (and his associates) can hype up the Karrnathi troops making it into Thrane is part of a larger problem much greater than his current hearings. Maybe even assert that by questioning him, they're showing weakness to Karrnath, when they should be presenting a united front.
Burningspear 09-23-07, 12:08 AM	Thanks so far for the brainwaves Alex, much appreciated. Any more? :tie: :plotting: ;) Its nice to give my DM some food for thought... i am seeing it as a textual kick on his ass