Getting an Eberron campaign back on track (Mark of the Prophecy, draconic prophecy based game) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Getting an Eberron campaign back on track (Mark of the Prophecy, draconic prophecy based game)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
crimsonsun
Jun 26, 2012 12:20:24 Hi guys,

I haven't written on this board in a LONG time (wrote a really good warforged soulknife story years ago) as I've been out of the D&D loop, not running games. Recently though, I've been running a 4E game for some friends who've never RP'd before, and I could use some help.

I started with the Mark of the Prophecy adventure in the back of the campaign guide, and had planned to use that as a starting point to branch out into a game that dealt with the prophecy, the characters finding the cause for the mournland, the "tempest" being one of the Lords of Dust, and his roar being the Mournland, and eventually spreading that across the continent, the players near the end of the paragon tier stopping the mournland and reversing it, then at epic tier being fighting against the Lord's minions and eventually himself.. I hadn't QUITE figured out the link between the two exactly, and I was going to worry about that as we got closer. ...

Now, here is the problem, and it kinda relates to how my "missing link" is hurting me. One of the players was playing a bard, and wasn't really enjoying the character, so he wanted to change to a paladin. I had no issues with that, so I worked the quickest way of removing a character who's character didn't want to leave, but the player did. I pulled a Donjon. One of the other charcters though was the bard's blood brother, and dragged the party across the continent (with help from the Houses to find him) and found him in a secure location in the Mournland. The players right now are currently assembling the lock to free the bard from his prison (think magicpunk bacta tank). As soon as they decided to find him, I quickly changed my plans to suit the players whims in this case, and my end of tier encounter (level 10) will be battling a corrupted version of him and killing him.

So, here's what Im hoping you guys (and possibly gals) can help with.

1) What is the link between the Lord of Dust and the Mournland, and how can I lead my players to finding this without directly saying "HEY, THIS GUY IS THE CAUSE"

2) I'd LIKE to give each player a 'mark after killing the corrupted bard, one to signify their place in the prophecy, and because it would also really help to signify the tier change (yes, I know paragon paths do that), but I'm not sure if thats a good enough reason to cause them the 'problems' that comes with having a mark when you're not a member of a race that doesn't have them.

3) Am I aiming too high in what I'm trying to do? This is a group which isnt exactly the most... subtle when it comes to how they handle situations, and I'm kinda worried I may be asking too much...

Thanks again!
#2
mutedfaithe
Jun 26, 2012 20:05:05 1.) You can have the bard be corrupted by the power of the Lord of Dust who's your main antagonist, but instead of cackling madly and saying "I now serve the Lords of Dust!" He cackles and says "I serve Bob!" Finding out who Bob is requires them to travel to Argonnessen to check a scroll which says Bob is a scary BAMF trapped under what is currently the Mournland. Or something. Throw in red herrings like checking the Library of Korranberg. Or something.

2.) If you'd like to do it, I say do it. Have fun with it.

3.) Aim high. If they're not enjoying it, bring it down to earth a little. Who knows, they might really like what you do.
#3
Ogiwan
Jul 01, 2012 6:04:44 Well, remember how the Lords of Dust work. They have pawns, and their pawns have pawns, and their pawns' pawns have pawns, and......

Hmmmm. Lords of Dust are behind the Mourning? Why? How?
#4
Charles_Phipps
Jul 01, 2012 16:59:31 Find some documents written on human skin and penned with blood between Rival Lords of Dust which explictly show they know the Mourning was going to happen. It's not proof they were the cause of it but gives the PCs a name to monsters they should seek out.
#5
Ogiwan
Jul 02, 2012 5:07:22 Eh, that seems far too direct and....blunt to be LoD.
#6
crimsonsun
Jul 03, 2012 8:54:45
Eh, that seems far too direct and....blunt to be LoD.

Hrm.. you may be right... Also, maybe I'm using the wrong 'BBEG' with the Lords. My players are not really much on the subtle XD Any suggestions for a more active group to use?

Other than that, the ideas here are good so far!
#7
Ogiwan
Jul 03, 2012 10:00:14 Well, the best "active" group I can see would be the Emerald Claw. Its just why would they...

OH! OH MAN! So, the Emerald Claw wants to release the Overlord bound in the Mournland....and encase it in the one created for the Becoming God! So they'll have like a 100-foot-tall golum powered by a trapped Overlord! With such a force under their control, they can use it to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
#8
darkwarlock
Jul 03, 2012 16:22:05 Good stuff, Ogiwan!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 crimsonsun Jun 26, 2012 12:20:24	Hi guys, I haven't written on this board in a LONG time (wrote a really good warforged soulknife story years ago) as I've been out of the D&D loop, not running games. Recently though, I've been running a 4E game for some friends who've never RP'd before, and I could use some help. I started with the Mark of the Prophecy adventure in the back of the campaign guide, and had planned to use that as a starting point to branch out into a game that dealt with the prophecy, the characters finding the cause for the mournland, the "tempest" being one of the Lords of Dust, and his roar being the Mournland, and eventually spreading that across the continent, the players near the end of the paragon tier stopping the mournland and reversing it, then at epic tier being fighting against the Lord's minions and eventually himself.. I hadn't QUITE figured out the link between the two exactly, and I was going to worry about that as we got closer. ... Now, here is the problem, and it kinda relates to how my "missing link" is hurting me. One of the players was playing a bard, and wasn't really enjoying the character, so he wanted to change to a paladin. I had no issues with that, so I worked the quickest way of removing a character who's character didn't want to leave, but the player did. I pulled a Donjon. One of the other charcters though was the bard's blood brother, and dragged the party across the continent (with help from the Houses to find him) and found him in a secure location in the Mournland. The players right now are currently assembling the lock to free the bard from his prison (think magicpunk bacta tank). As soon as they decided to find him, I quickly changed my plans to suit the players whims in this case, and my end of tier encounter (level 10) will be battling a corrupted version of him and killing him. So, here's what Im hoping you guys (and possibly gals) can help with. 1) What is the link between the Lord of Dust and the Mournland, and how can I lead my players to finding this without directly saying "HEY, THIS GUY IS THE CAUSE" 2) I'd LIKE to give each player a 'mark after killing the corrupted bard, one to signify their place in the prophecy, and because it would also really help to signify the tier change (yes, I know paragon paths do that), but I'm not sure if thats a good enough reason to cause them the 'problems' that comes with having a mark when you're not a member of a race that doesn't have them. 3) Am I aiming too high in what I'm trying to do? This is a group which isnt exactly the most... subtle when it comes to how they handle situations, and I'm kinda worried I may be asking too much... Thanks again!
#2 mutedfaithe Jun 26, 2012 20:05:05	1.) You can have the bard be corrupted by the power of the Lord of Dust who's your main antagonist, but instead of cackling madly and saying "I now serve the Lords of Dust!" He cackles and says "I serve Bob!" Finding out who Bob is requires them to travel to Argonnessen to check a scroll which says Bob is a scary BAMF trapped under what is currently the Mournland. Or something. Throw in red herrings like checking the Library of Korranberg. Or something. 2.) If you'd like to do it, I say do it. Have fun with it. 3.) Aim high. If they're not enjoying it, bring it down to earth a little. Who knows, they might really like what you do.
#3 Ogiwan Jul 01, 2012 6:04:44	Well, remember how the Lords of Dust work. They have pawns, and their pawns have pawns, and their pawns' pawns have pawns, and...... Hmmmm. Lords of Dust are behind the Mourning? Why? How?
#4 Charles_Phipps Jul 01, 2012 16:59:31	Find some documents written on human skin and penned with blood between Rival Lords of Dust which explictly show they know the Mourning was going to happen. It's not proof they were the cause of it but gives the PCs a name to monsters they should seek out.
#5 Ogiwan Jul 02, 2012 5:07:22	Eh, that seems far too direct and....blunt to be LoD.
#6 crimsonsun Jul 03, 2012 8:54:45	Eh, that seems far too direct and....blunt to be LoD. Hrm.. you may be right... Also, maybe I'm using the wrong 'BBEG' with the Lords. My players are not really much on the subtle XD Any suggestions for a more active group to use? Other than that, the ideas here are good so far!
#7 Ogiwan Jul 03, 2012 10:00:14	Well, the best "active" group I can see would be the Emerald Claw. Its just why would they... OH! OH MAN! So, the Emerald Claw wants to release the Overlord bound in the Mournland....and encase it in the one created for the Becoming God! So they'll have like a 100-foot-tall golum powered by a trapped Overlord! With such a force under their control, they can use it to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
#8 darkwarlock Jul 03, 2012 16:22:05	Good stuff, Ogiwan!