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Story Progression Help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
patories
Jan 19, 2011 12:47:32 I currently have a group that are slaves in the Gladiator Pits of Tyr, this is happening before Kalak's death. Currently the party is fighting for their freedom, once earned they will be freemen. Party is currently 3rd level.

The current plan is to offer them a job escorting a small caravan to Gulg, and then into the Crescent Forest, to find the Temple of the Eye. Not sure what the temple is going to contain but I have a few sessions before I get there.. I am thinking of pulling a Ravenloft Domain into the Temple setting and reskinning it.

I am looking at some run in with some Halflings, undead, raiders, and other caravan guides.

Eventually the party will be offered the chance to work for the merchant caravan, and the plans are to have them build it into a new Trade House.

If I use the Ravenloft Domain it will be to set the stage for something bigger. I am thinking that when they approach it the mist will swell around, allowing them in, but they are not strong enough for the inhabitants to be concerned and ignoring them, as they progress the Master of the domain sends images, emissaries, raiding parties after the group.

Now I just need to find a good reason for the party to sign up.. I believe I can bribe them with wealth, but the party is not a "good" party.. any sugestions?

#2
big_goon
Jan 19, 2011 17:13:12 I believe Kalid-Ma is the master of a Ravenloft Domain, and a former Sorcerer King of Athas. Kalinay conveniently lies between Tyr and Gulg. Kalid-Ma would be interested in returning to Athas, and might see the players as a means to return - sending the players to collected the fabled orbs of Kalid-Ma before his high priest, Thakok-An (the one who trapped him in the Domains of Dread), finds out about the player's dealings.

Link

The orbs are powerful psionic artifacts, and might interest a power-hungry party.

Just an idea...
#3
ritorix
Jan 19, 2011 18:03:55 There's probably two ways to handle a Ravenloft domain. Kalidnay is the obvious first choice, with background material to support it if you want to read up.

You also may be able to pull off a Green Age or Red Age (cleansing wars) domain. Whatever time period your temple ruins are from, their ghosts could still exist in the domain, doing whatever they did around the time of their death and oblivious of their fate. Maybe every night they repeat the battle that killed them all, whatever. Your PCs go in, turn the tide and free them (or make them lose), and get a history lesson about the ruins and Athas's past in the process.

Either way, I wouldn't spend too much time there. Ravenloft has a very different feel from normal DS but it could be fun for a few sessions.
#4
Sysane
Jan 20, 2011 6:22:28 Put the PCs in a situation where they have to flee Tyr and that joining the caravan is their best option in order to survive the wastes.
#5
patories
Jan 21, 2011 7:53:58 Thanks for the feedback.

I revisited the idea of throwing in Ravenloft, and I have decided to hold off on that for now, until I figure out exactly what the group is wanting out of their characters.

I believe that I can convince them to take the merchants offer, pay sucks, but given transportation out of Tyr, and the fact that he is paying slightly better then the other merchants for a few armed guards should apply to their greed.... ofcourse if it doesn't they can always try to raise the money to walk out of Tyr across the long desolate expansion trying to seek riches on their own.. and then come across the burned husks of the wagons they would have protected..

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 patories Jan 19, 2011 12:47:32	I currently have a group that are slaves in the Gladiator Pits of Tyr, this is happening before Kalak's death. Currently the party is fighting for their freedom, once earned they will be freemen. Party is currently 3rd level. The current plan is to offer them a job escorting a small caravan to Gulg, and then into the Crescent Forest, to find the Temple of the Eye. Not sure what the temple is going to contain but I have a few sessions before I get there.. I am thinking of pulling a Ravenloft Domain into the Temple setting and reskinning it. I am looking at some run in with some Halflings, undead, raiders, and other caravan guides. Eventually the party will be offered the chance to work for the merchant caravan, and the plans are to have them build it into a new Trade House. If I use the Ravenloft Domain it will be to set the stage for something bigger. I am thinking that when they approach it the mist will swell around, allowing them in, but they are not strong enough for the inhabitants to be concerned and ignoring them, as they progress the Master of the domain sends images, emissaries, raiding parties after the group. Now I just need to find a good reason for the party to sign up.. I believe I can bribe them with wealth, but the party is not a "good" party.. any sugestions?
#2 big_goon Jan 19, 2011 17:13:12	I believe Kalid-Ma is the master of a Ravenloft Domain, and a former Sorcerer King of Athas. Kalinay conveniently lies between Tyr and Gulg. Kalid-Ma would be interested in returning to Athas, and might see the players as a means to return - sending the players to collected the fabled orbs of Kalid-Ma before his high priest, Thakok-An (the one who trapped him in the Domains of Dread), finds out about the player's dealings. Link The orbs are powerful psionic artifacts, and might interest a power-hungry party. Just an idea...
#3 ritorix Jan 19, 2011 18:03:55	There's probably two ways to handle a Ravenloft domain. Kalidnay is the obvious first choice, with background material to support it if you want to read up. You also may be able to pull off a Green Age or Red Age (cleansing wars) domain. Whatever time period your temple ruins are from, their ghosts could still exist in the domain, doing whatever they did around the time of their death and oblivious of their fate. Maybe every night they repeat the battle that killed them all, whatever. Your PCs go in, turn the tide and free them (or make them lose), and get a history lesson about the ruins and Athas's past in the process. Either way, I wouldn't spend too much time there. Ravenloft has a very different feel from normal DS but it could be fun for a few sessions.
#4 Sysane Jan 20, 2011 6:22:28	Put the PCs in a situation where they have to flee Tyr and that joining the caravan is their best option in order to survive the wastes.
#5 patories Jan 21, 2011 7:53:58	Thanks for the feedback. I revisited the idea of throwing in Ravenloft, and I have decided to hold off on that for now, until I figure out exactly what the group is wanting out of their characters. I believe that I can convince them to take the merchants offer, pay sucks, but given transportation out of Tyr, and the fact that he is paying slightly better then the other merchants for a few armed guards should apply to their greed.... ofcourse if it doesn't they can always try to raise the money to walk out of Tyr across the long desolate expansion trying to seek riches on their own.. and then come across the burned husks of the wagons they would have protected..