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Brainstorm Solo Campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
weenog42
Jan 22, 2010 19:38:38 Apologies for the massive OP - this is as much for my own benefit as anyone else's. Hopefully it is entertaining in its own right.

This is a solo campaign with my girlfriend as the only PC. There's a semi-rotating cast of "co-stars" as it were, who can serve as allies and adversaries as events develop - more on each of them below. I've run two sessions, all summarized below. Please contribute - all ideas and criticisms welcome!

Background: Carleen the Tiefling Sorceror was born in Karrnath, but was forced to flee with her older brother Haruun when she was still an infant. Haruun rarely speaks of their parents, and she knows little about why they were forced to leave. They came to settle in Stormhome, where Haruun, himself a wizard, began working with house Lyrandar. He steadily climbed the ranks, and managed to marry into the house. Both Carleen and Haruun take the de Lyrandar name. Carleen hasn't conformed quite so well. She's tempestuous, fickle, and at times violent. She hates the drudgery of schoolwork, since her magical power is derived not from study but from raw talent and passion (and unbeknowst to her, the Draconic Prophecy). Our story begins shortly after her expulsion from the academy after an incident involving another schoolgirl's familiar and some Burning Spray. Deciding that she's too much of a loose cannon, Haruun sends her away to Point Verge in the Lhazaar Principalities. She is to serve under one Corin Greensail performing whatever house business he deems necessary.

Episode 1: Carleen is thrilled that she'll be leaving this hellhole for the LP (they have pirates!) and horrified to learn that she'll be riding on a sailing ship, not a galleon. She is further horrified that Haruun has assigned her a chaperone - a blademarked bodyguard from House Deneith named Keira. Onboard she meets Chaplain, a Warforged Cleric of the Sovereign Host, traveling to Point Verge on a pilgrimage. Near journey's end the vessel encounters sees a signal fire coming from a small island, where a merchant ship has been run up on the rocks. The lighthouse is dark. The ship's captain insists that they aid the stranded men. Carleen smells a trap, so she jumps in a lifeboat. Keira and Chaplain reluctantly follow. They row around the back side of the island, then sneak in closer on foot, finding a pirate camp. They ambush the pirates and take their small skiff. Thanks to some still winds and a tireless warforged at the oars, they catch up with the Lyrandar ship. Many have been killed, but the captain and a few of the crew are locked in the hold. They free them, and together they chase off the remaining pirates. They arrive at Point Verge, where Carleen reports to Corin Greensail. She doesn't mention the pirates. He tells her that her first assignment is to report in the morning to a gnome wizard named Talvash, who is conducting some kind of magical survey of the lcoal geography. It sounds intensely boring.

Episode 2: In the morning, before she can report to Talvash, Corin calls her in. Chaplain is in his office for some reason. Corin has learned about the pirate attack, and is incensed that she didn't report this immediately. He threatens to send her back to Haruun. She calls his bluff. Not wanting to admit that he didn't properly arrange for her safety, he consents to let her stay. He warns her that he doesn't think the pirates were simply plundering - he thinks they were after her, and that someone tipped them off, not ruling out the possibility that it was someone from within House Lyrandar. Upset with Chaplain for telling Corin about the pirates, Carleen leaves with Keira to report to Talvash. The survey team consists of Talvash and three assistants, and two entire wagons full of gadgetry. Talvash talks Carleen's ear off about ley lines and manifest zones and zzzz. He finally catches her attention when he reveals that he thinks most of the survey sites are bogus, and being used to conceal the survey's true purpose - performing a triangulation. Carleen convinces him to abandon the bogus survey and hunt down the triangulated target themselves. They enter a sea cave, where they encounter some Oceanic Bullywugs who have built a nest out of debris. Among the debris is a heavy oak chest. It is magically sealed, but Talvash opens it using a Knock scroll (aren't you glad I brought all those wagons?) Inside is a cloudy crystal the size of a football, with brass or copper endcaps. Talvash recognizes it as elemental binding technology, similar to the power cores used in airships. It's empty, however. They return to Corin Greensails with their find. Corin is astounded - he had no idea what the survey was really for. Carleen wonders if it couldn't have been for use in a submarine. Corin admits that he had heard rumours that House Cannith was working on such technologies before the Last War, but they were lost in the Mourning. Returning to her lodgings, Carleen is passing by the quay when a dark-haired woman calls to her. A sign above her ship reads "Dinarah's Divinations." She offers to read Carleen's fortune, but insists that Keira stay outside. Dinarah tells Carleen that "you must be watchful, for those who wish you harm have not stopped following you, not since Karrnath. They pursue you because they fear you, fear what you can become. You do not understand now, but you will. When you do, return to me, and my people can help you." She hands Carleen a locket (Lucky Charm +1). Inside is engraved a beholder.
#2
weenog42
Jan 22, 2010 19:38:47 Okay, now onto actual brainstorming.

- If you haven't figured it out, Dinarah is an operative for House Tarkanan. They're recruiting/using Carleen because she has the capacity to develop a powerful dragonmark. This is why Carleen and Haruun were forced to flee Karrnath - some group has been pursuing them, trying to kill them before she manifests.

- What is the nature of Carleen's dragonmark? It could be aberrant, or it could be the beginning of a brand new, genuine dragonmarked line.

- Who is pursuing them and why do they so desperately want to stop Carleen from manifesting her mark?

- Why did Haruun really send Carleen to Point Verge? She's been in trouble at school before - nothing this serious, but still. There are certainly safer places he could have sent her. He also has not been answering his sending stones since sending Carleen away. What's he busy doing?

- What's the deal with Keira? Is she just a loyal bodyguard, or a spy? If so, for Deneith, or for someone else?

- What's the deal with Chaplain? Why is he really in Point Verge? (It ain't a pilgrimage, I know that much). Why does he have an interest in Carleen?

- What's the deal with Talvash? Why does he serve Lyrandar? How much does he really know about elemental binding and house Cannith?

#3
Gilo
Jan 24, 2010 14:16:53 You could consider dropping the aberrant/dragonmark angle in favor of emphasizing Carlee's Tiefling heritage:
Her linage could go all the way back to the nation of Ohr Kaluun (Sarlona), her blood could be the key to some lost treasure in the war mazes.

Maybe her Karrnathi family during the time of the Last War and the plagues did a secret pact with one of the Lords of Dust and she is the payment in this demonic deal - and her brother is trying to save her from it.

Chaplain is truly vassal of the soverign host, but he is the one with the aberrant mark. House Tarkanan involvement with Carleen could be a case of mistaken identity, they know someone on the ship had an aberrant mark and mistake it to be Carleen.

Keira is a Sentinel Marshal (/agent of the twelve) she has come to Point Verge to locate and arrest members of the cult of the Storm Front (lead by Corin Greensails). It is reported that the cult is dealing dangerous forbbiden elemental weaponry.
#4
DoctorBadWolf
Feb 17, 2010 23:45:00 A new dragonmark would be interesting. Perhaps she could be the return of the lost dragonmark, on the other hand.
I wouldn't put too much focus on her heritage, unless it's something that's particularly interesting to her. Eberron is a great world in which to be a member of a given race, and have that mean next to nothing.

if you go with a new dragonmark, try to figure out some conceptual space that isn't covered by the existing dragonmarks. I know that finding and detection have some overlap, as do the applications of storms and passage, but it will probably be more interesting for the player if her dragonmark doesn't feel the same as any of the others.

for instance, Mark of Growth. Associated rituals (assuming you're doing 4e) could be Speak With Nature, Tree Stride, Bloom, Tree Shape, etc.

or, Mark of Chaos, associated with magic, ...idk not really inspired by this one

or, since you mentioned the Prophecy, Mark of The Dragon. Let your imagination run wild with this one.

keep in mind that the Twelve may consider it an abberant mark whether it really is or not.

but considering her background, I kind of like the idea of the Mark of Death. Her (and her brother?) being tieflings could be the result of magical experiments to try to bring back the Mark, and she's being hunted down not to be killed, but to be captured and studied, perhaps even forced to breed, vivisected, or both, all for the greater glory of Karnath.

The above paragraph could quite easily destroy the peace of Thronehold.
#5
robthieman
May 16, 2010 0:36:12 community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

For general advice on DMing a solo campaign with a GF. Great stuff.

Otherwise, it feels like the larger plot is being revealed too quickly. I would suggest leaving all that she knows on the table, but having things blow up and she has to leave again and travel on her own. Her current contacts already seem to know "too much." Perhaps have them killed off systematically and have her flee the relative safety to life a few adventures (mini campaign) as a pirate. She seemed excited about that. As she discovers the awesomeness of her character you can begin to let her ask the questions about her past. The hook is already there. Let the character lead you to an awesome plot.

IMO.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 weenog42 Jan 22, 2010 19:38:38	Apologies for the massive OP - this is as much for my own benefit as anyone else's. Hopefully it is entertaining in its own right. This is a solo campaign with my girlfriend as the only PC. There's a semi-rotating cast of "co-stars" as it were, who can serve as allies and adversaries as events develop - more on each of them below. I've run two sessions, all summarized below. Please contribute - all ideas and criticisms welcome! Background: Carleen the Tiefling Sorceror was born in Karrnath, but was forced to flee with her older brother Haruun when she was still an infant. Haruun rarely speaks of their parents, and she knows little about why they were forced to leave. They came to settle in Stormhome, where Haruun, himself a wizard, began working with house Lyrandar. He steadily climbed the ranks, and managed to marry into the house. Both Carleen and Haruun take the de Lyrandar name. Carleen hasn't conformed quite so well. She's tempestuous, fickle, and at times violent. She hates the drudgery of schoolwork, since her magical power is derived not from study but from raw talent and passion (and unbeknowst to her, the Draconic Prophecy). Our story begins shortly after her expulsion from the academy after an incident involving another schoolgirl's familiar and some Burning Spray. Deciding that she's too much of a loose cannon, Haruun sends her away to Point Verge in the Lhazaar Principalities. She is to serve under one Corin Greensail performing whatever house business he deems necessary. Episode 1: Carleen is thrilled that she'll be leaving this hellhole for the LP (they have pirates!) and horrified to learn that she'll be riding on a sailing ship, not a galleon. She is further horrified that Haruun has assigned her a chaperone - a blademarked bodyguard from House Deneith named Keira. Onboard she meets Chaplain, a Warforged Cleric of the Sovereign Host, traveling to Point Verge on a pilgrimage. Near journey's end the vessel encounters sees a signal fire coming from a small island, where a merchant ship has been run up on the rocks. The lighthouse is dark. The ship's captain insists that they aid the stranded men. Carleen smells a trap, so she jumps in a lifeboat. Keira and Chaplain reluctantly follow. They row around the back side of the island, then sneak in closer on foot, finding a pirate camp. They ambush the pirates and take their small skiff. Thanks to some still winds and a tireless warforged at the oars, they catch up with the Lyrandar ship. Many have been killed, but the captain and a few of the crew are locked in the hold. They free them, and together they chase off the remaining pirates. They arrive at Point Verge, where Carleen reports to Corin Greensail. She doesn't mention the pirates. He tells her that her first assignment is to report in the morning to a gnome wizard named Talvash, who is conducting some kind of magical survey of the lcoal geography. It sounds intensely boring. Episode 2: In the morning, before she can report to Talvash, Corin calls her in. Chaplain is in his office for some reason. Corin has learned about the pirate attack, and is incensed that she didn't report this immediately. He threatens to send her back to Haruun. She calls his bluff. Not wanting to admit that he didn't properly arrange for her safety, he consents to let her stay. He warns her that he doesn't think the pirates were simply plundering - he thinks they were after her, and that someone tipped them off, not ruling out the possibility that it was someone from within House Lyrandar. Upset with Chaplain for telling Corin about the pirates, Carleen leaves with Keira to report to Talvash. The survey team consists of Talvash and three assistants, and two entire wagons full of gadgetry. Talvash talks Carleen's ear off about ley lines and manifest zones and zzzz. He finally catches her attention when he reveals that he thinks most of the survey sites are bogus, and being used to conceal the survey's true purpose - performing a triangulation. Carleen convinces him to abandon the bogus survey and hunt down the triangulated target themselves. They enter a sea cave, where they encounter some Oceanic Bullywugs who have built a nest out of debris. Among the debris is a heavy oak chest. It is magically sealed, but Talvash opens it using a Knock scroll (aren't you glad I brought all those wagons?) Inside is a cloudy crystal the size of a football, with brass or copper endcaps. Talvash recognizes it as elemental binding technology, similar to the power cores used in airships. It's empty, however. They return to Corin Greensails with their find. Corin is astounded - he had no idea what the survey was really for. Carleen wonders if it couldn't have been for use in a submarine. Corin admits that he had heard rumours that House Cannith was working on such technologies before the Last War, but they were lost in the Mourning. Returning to her lodgings, Carleen is passing by the quay when a dark-haired woman calls to her. A sign above her ship reads "Dinarah's Divinations." She offers to read Carleen's fortune, but insists that Keira stay outside. Dinarah tells Carleen that "you must be watchful, for those who wish you harm have not stopped following you, not since Karrnath. They pursue you because they fear you, fear what you can become. You do not understand now, but you will. When you do, return to me, and my people can help you." She hands Carleen a locket (Lucky Charm +1). Inside is engraved a beholder.
#2 weenog42 Jan 22, 2010 19:38:47	Okay, now onto actual brainstorming. - If you haven't figured it out, Dinarah is an operative for House Tarkanan. They're recruiting/using Carleen because she has the capacity to develop a powerful dragonmark. This is why Carleen and Haruun were forced to flee Karrnath - some group has been pursuing them, trying to kill them before she manifests. - What is the nature of Carleen's dragonmark? It could be aberrant, or it could be the beginning of a brand new, genuine dragonmarked line. - Who is pursuing them and why do they so desperately want to stop Carleen from manifesting her mark? - Why did Haruun really send Carleen to Point Verge? She's been in trouble at school before - nothing this serious, but still. There are certainly safer places he could have sent her. He also has not been answering his sending stones since sending Carleen away. What's he busy doing? - What's the deal with Keira? Is she just a loyal bodyguard, or a spy? If so, for Deneith, or for someone else? - What's the deal with Chaplain? Why is he really in Point Verge? (It ain't a pilgrimage, I know that much). Why does he have an interest in Carleen? - What's the deal with Talvash? Why does he serve Lyrandar? How much does he really know about elemental binding and house Cannith?
#3 Gilo Jan 24, 2010 14:16:53	You could consider dropping the aberrant/dragonmark angle in favor of emphasizing Carlee's Tiefling heritage: Her linage could go all the way back to the nation of Ohr Kaluun (Sarlona), her blood could be the key to some lost treasure in the war mazes. Maybe her Karrnathi family during the time of the Last War and the plagues did a secret pact with one of the Lords of Dust and she is the payment in this demonic deal - and her brother is trying to save her from it. Chaplain is truly vassal of the soverign host, but he is the one with the aberrant mark. House Tarkanan involvement with Carleen could be a case of mistaken identity, they know someone on the ship had an aberrant mark and mistake it to be Carleen. Keira is a Sentinel Marshal (/agent of the twelve) she has come to Point Verge to locate and arrest members of the cult of the Storm Front (lead by Corin Greensails). It is reported that the cult is dealing dangerous forbbiden elemental weaponry.
#4 DoctorBadWolf Feb 17, 2010 23:45:00	A new dragonmark would be interesting. Perhaps she could be the return of the lost dragonmark, on the other hand. I wouldn't put too much focus on her heritage, unless it's something that's particularly interesting to her. Eberron is a great world in which to be a member of a given race, and have that mean next to nothing. if you go with a new dragonmark, try to figure out some conceptual space that isn't covered by the existing dragonmarks. I know that finding and detection have some overlap, as do the applications of storms and passage, but it will probably be more interesting for the player if her dragonmark doesn't feel the same as any of the others. for instance, Mark of Growth. Associated rituals (assuming you're doing 4e) could be Speak With Nature, Tree Stride, Bloom, Tree Shape, etc. or, Mark of Chaos, associated with magic, ...idk not really inspired by this one or, since you mentioned the Prophecy, Mark of The Dragon. Let your imagination run wild with this one. keep in mind that the Twelve may consider it an abberant mark whether it really is or not. but considering her background, I kind of like the idea of the Mark of Death. Her (and her brother?) being tieflings could be the result of magical experiments to try to bring back the Mark, and she's being hunted down not to be killed, but to be captured and studied, perhaps even forced to breed, vivisected, or both, all for the greater glory of Karnath. The above paragraph could quite easily destroy the peace of Thronehold.
#5 robthieman May 16, 2010 0:36:12	community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758... For general advice on DMing a solo campaign with a GF. Great stuff. Otherwise, it feels like the larger plot is being revealed too quickly. I would suggest leaving all that she knows on the table, but having things blow up and she has to leave again and travel on her own. Her current contacts already seem to know "too much." Perhaps have them killed off systematically and have her flee the relative safety to life a few adventures (mini campaign) as a pirate. She seemed excited about that. As she discovers the awesomeness of her character you can begin to let her ask the questions about her past. The hook is already there. Let the character lead you to an awesome plot. IMO.