Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Karggen Sep 23, 2010 11:22:51	I'm running an Eberron Campaign set during the Last War (about 5 years before the end, but the PC's obviously don't know that).  It's supposed to be wartime and the PC's are working on getting the Breland Senate/Monarchy to secretly shift alliances to that of Cyre.  There approach is to go try to get the Senator's to vote on it, then bring the matter to the king.  Overall the campaign's going well, but I'm really looking to make the world more dark and horrible as it is set in wartime.  So, really I'm looking for suggestions on how to make the campaign darker.  What things, either large or small, can I add in to give it a darker feel, or make the PC's stare in shock.  I'm looking for ideas of surprises to throw in their way, or to make them question if there characters will survive this war.  Any input would be appriciated.
#2 Alex_ Sep 23, 2010 12:43:09	Make things personal.  It's been a long war and people have been killed on both sides.  Is the Senator whose son was killed by Cyran soldiers during the war going to prefer an alliance with Cyre?  What about some Senator from the east who has built up much of his carreer and popularity amongst the masses by preaching anti-Cyran  rhetoric.  An alliance with Cyre after all this talk of them being the devil might hurt him politically.    As or those who are willing to ally with Cyre; are their motives so pure?  Maybe one has plans to invest heavily in Cyre and desiers an alliance for no other reason other than the fact that it provides a new market for his products. Aother one seeks revenge against another Cyran noble family and the cover of a peace agreement is exactly what he/she needs to make them let their gaurd down so he can send his agents in to exact that revenge.   Also, since it is war and you are dealing with politics, an assassination or two might be in order.  Maybe a particular senator doesn't want Breland joining with Cyre and hires assassins to take out supporters.  Or maybe the senators wo favor Brelish/Cyran alliance are using assassination to take out their opponents.  How will the PCs react when the people on their side are resorting to such methods?      Have there been any war crimes?  Breland and Cyre shared a border during the time and had their fair share of fighting.  Maybe a particular Cyran commander feels strongly about Breland, wants revenge, or desperate for supplies and launches an attack on a harmless Brelish town, slaughting lots of innocents while pillaging and razing the town.  Or maybe a Brelish commander does the same to a cyran border town.  That can complicate relations.    Since the two have had some fighting, you could play up discrimination.  A Cyran ambassador comes to Breland, but is treated badly.  His personal attendents in particular are treated very poorly by the local Brelish since they don't have the kind of prominance the ambassador has. Or maybe the Cyrans come with a haughty air of superiority and treat everyone else like garbage.  They turn their nose up at the idea of dirty, boistrous Brelish with their government based on mob rule and lack of respect for royal traditions. Just because they make official peace doesn't mean they have to personally like each other.