War within the Calimshan [Archive] - Wizards Community

War within the Calimshan [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SornDuskryn
11-05-03, 10:36 AM Well Met,

Planning on running a brand new campaign within the Realms for a pen and paper group. Just wanted to toss my idea out there and get ideas/suggestions.

The basic idea is that a High Inteceptor of Bane within the Shining South has begun a quest to become one of Bane's Chosen Tyrants. (Since Fzoul is the Tyrant of the Moonsea area) Therefore, through his church, and other allies, the Inteceptor Tohkis Cor Marak, has begun a war campaign upon the Calimshan region. The PC's will be from a small oasis encampment at the start, but I'm picturing them eventually join the "Free" armies of Calimport, in order to try and stop this Tyrant.

Basically I'm picturing a campaign based on war, revenge, death, and hatred. I think it's going to be tough because I'm having the Tyrant's army holding a lot of the area from the start.

Any thoughts?
Morka
11-05-03, 02:42 PM If you start your PC into an oasis, that doesn't give them many freedom for their backstories. Have them start on a ship in Calimport, either as travelers or sailors. The ship is attacked by the Interceptor army, and they have no choice but to join the local militia.

Check the Character Optimization board, there is a built for a dreadmaster leading an army under the thread "An evil leader" or something like that.

Since it is highly based on revenge, have a cell of the resistance be lead by a priest of Loviatar, it could be interesting for the PC to see there is evil in both sides. A priest of Hoar might be intersting too.

In could be intersting too to see some competition between cults of Tempus, Garagos and perhaps Anhur, since you are in the south.
Vexxan
11-07-03, 11:46 PM You could have the campaign move from place to place as well. If Calimshan came under direct threat as a whole, the citystates would have to band together or fall divided.
The Tyrant would know this and would work to keep the citystates at odds with eachother.
I'd begin with PCs trying to create a cohesive unified front that could withstand the Tyrant's advances. This wouldn't have to be a long process and would allow some warm-up roleplaying and a smattering of political intrigue. Once achieved, the PCs could get deeper into enemy territory by cutting off supply lines and weakening the Tyrant's power base from the rear. Alot of heavy combat and nasty opponents here with breathing room in between to solidify the previous ruler's waning hold over their citystate.
With organized resistance in one direction and his flanks thrown into disarray, the Tyrant could be isolated within a particular citystate or ousted to some other location that he cannot easily retreat from. Climactic showdown time. You could leave mopping up the last of the Tyrant's allies to the rallied armies of Calimshan while the PCs tail the Tyrant to some other locale, perhaps across the seas into Chult. That's dangerous territory for nearly anyone.

Just some ideas off the top of my head about how the flow could go.

I also think the PCs meeting and forming a party in an oasis is very viable. With the vast expanses of open desert in Calimshan, an oasis is a logical waypoint for any travellers. While camped there, the PCs would hear rumors of the looming threat and realize that leaving Calimshan (or staying if they please) would involve them in the plot regardless. Such a folly to find oneself encircled by the rapid onslaught of tyranny where once it did not exist. You could push the PCs to a desired starting location easily by placing the forces of Bane in any direction you don't wish them to go. You could also let them roam freely from a place in the middle of nowhere. I don't see why an oasis is such a terrible place to begin.

Good luck with the campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SornDuskryn 11-05-03, 10:36 AM	Well Met, Planning on running a brand new campaign within the Realms for a pen and paper group. Just wanted to toss my idea out there and get ideas/suggestions. The basic idea is that a High Inteceptor of Bane within the Shining South has begun a quest to become one of Bane's Chosen Tyrants. (Since Fzoul is the Tyrant of the Moonsea area) Therefore, through his church, and other allies, the Inteceptor Tohkis Cor Marak, has begun a war campaign upon the Calimshan region. The PC's will be from a small oasis encampment at the start, but I'm picturing them eventually join the "Free" armies of Calimport, in order to try and stop this Tyrant. Basically I'm picturing a campaign based on war, revenge, death, and hatred. I think it's going to be tough because I'm having the Tyrant's army holding a lot of the area from the start. Any thoughts?
Morka 11-05-03, 02:42 PM	If you start your PC into an oasis, that doesn't give them many freedom for their backstories. Have them start on a ship in Calimport, either as travelers or sailors. The ship is attacked by the Interceptor army, and they have no choice but to join the local militia. Check the Character Optimization board, there is a built for a dreadmaster leading an army under the thread "An evil leader" or something like that. Since it is highly based on revenge, have a cell of the resistance be lead by a priest of Loviatar, it could be interesting for the PC to see there is evil in both sides. A priest of Hoar might be intersting too. In could be intersting too to see some competition between cults of Tempus, Garagos and perhaps Anhur, since you are in the south.
Vexxan 11-07-03, 11:46 PM	You could have the campaign move from place to place as well. If Calimshan came under direct threat as a whole, the citystates would have to band together or fall divided. The Tyrant would know this and would work to keep the citystates at odds with eachother. I'd begin with PCs trying to create a cohesive unified front that could withstand the Tyrant's advances. This wouldn't have to be a long process and would allow some warm-up roleplaying and a smattering of political intrigue. Once achieved, the PCs could get deeper into enemy territory by cutting off supply lines and weakening the Tyrant's power base from the rear. Alot of heavy combat and nasty opponents here with breathing room in between to solidify the previous ruler's waning hold over their citystate. With organized resistance in one direction and his flanks thrown into disarray, the Tyrant could be isolated within a particular citystate or ousted to some other location that he cannot easily retreat from. Climactic showdown time. You could leave mopping up the last of the Tyrant's allies to the rallied armies of Calimshan while the PCs tail the Tyrant to some other locale, perhaps across the seas into Chult. That's dangerous territory for nearly anyone. Just some ideas off the top of my head about how the flow could go. I also think the PCs meeting and forming a party in an oasis is very viable. With the vast expanses of open desert in Calimshan, an oasis is a logical waypoint for any travellers. While camped there, the PCs would hear rumors of the looming threat and realize that leaving Calimshan (or staying if they please) would involve them in the plot regardless. Such a folly to find oneself encircled by the rapid onslaught of tyranny where once it did not exist. You could push the PCs to a desired starting location easily by placing the forces of Bane in any direction you don't wish them to go. You could also let them roam freely from a place in the middle of nowhere. I don't see why an oasis is such a terrible place to begin. Good luck with the campaign.