Help with new Sharn campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 naturax Sep 14, 2008 13:39:41	Hey everyone! This is a great place for brainstorming so I'm putting this up in the hopes of getting some suggestions and input. I have an exciting overplot for the campaign, but I need help with the first couple of adventures in order to a) introduce these new players to Eberron and b) get a sense myself for where the players' interests lie. There are two players. One is a changeling artificer anarchist. He has a human guise that works for House Cannith, but the changeling's true loyalties lie with groups that are trying to bring down the Houses and the government. At the moment he is working closely, in a warforged guise, with the League of Living Constructs: a group of warforged rights activists who are trying to prevent Councilor Nolan Toranak from passing his Plan for Warforged Re-Education. The changeling wants to bring the Houses down from the inside and put the power back in the hands of the common people. The other is a crazy old halfling so hideous she could pass for a goblin. She was born to a big family in the Boromar Clan but fled the family young when she was sick of being mistreated for her looks, and now wanders the poor districts selling terrible tea, snitching on people for the Watch, and selling information. Occasionally she'll do readings in tea leaves, but these are often inaccurate, except when they aren't. I'm absolutely going to start playing up her divinatory powers as the game gets going, because it's just too cool to not use. The relationship between the characters has been established: Ogra the Tea Lady brings tea to the artificer on a regular basis and she passes messages back and forth between him and the organizations he works with. They trust each other enough to ask the other for help if needed. I need help with an intro adventure or two to give them a sense of Sharn, while in the background I can start to present the overplot of the warforged rights issue that will build into a night of riots and so on. Does anyone have any ideas? These are not your typical adventurers, so I have a hard time picturing them going for a module such as the Forgotten Forge. Thanks for your help!
#2 Alter_Boy Sep 14, 2008 15:05:23	Ogra is asked for a divination by an old gnome. Whatever Ogra says, afterwards the orc says "You're a font of prophecy, but not as good as you think." The gnome is actually a member of the Chamber, and was told by his superiors to ask a Goblin with Boromar blood in her to read tea leaves: her divination would, unknowing to her, be a manifestation of the Prophecy that would help the Dragon choose his next action. The Chamber agent is on assignment from his superiors as part of a larger mission to tend and, if necessary, prune the Dragonmarked houses. He interprets Ogra's divination as a sign that House Tarkanan could jeopardize several threads of the Prophecy. So he returns to his position as a member of House Sivis and "accidentally" alters a missive from an Aurum member to House Tarkanan, changing the name of the assassination targets to the PCs. The Agent is careful to omit certain knowledge, such as Ogra's relationship to Boromar ("A goblin seer named Ogra") and to use the Changeling's identity as a Warforged. The Agent hopes that drawing House Boromar and (after some hands-on manipulation of the Changeling) House Cannith, the abberrant Tarkanans can finally be extinguished.
#3 goblin_pride Sep 14, 2008 18:19:20	The other is a crazy old halfling so hideous she could pass for a goblin. Specieist.
#4 wymarc Sep 15, 2008 14:29:24	The changeling is at a rally when things go bad. In the confusion, he sees an assassin concealed in a window shoot the leader of the rally. The changling follows in pursuit, but finds only a token of some sort. He then recruits the help of Ogra to find someone who might know the owner. The owner turns out to be a Thuranni (or Tarkanan) assassin hired by Nolan to stop League of Living Constructs.
#5 eehamburg Sep 15, 2008 15:43:05	Specieist. kuukhaac hor gharluur tol dan, I say and to any who would understand.
#6 nerdicus Sep 15, 2008 15:48:29	Isn't Ogra the name of the old ogre lady in the Dark Crystal? :D
#7 naturax Sep 15, 2008 16:31:34	Thanks so much for the input, everyone! The changeling is at a rally when things go bad. In the confusion, he sees an assassin concealed in a window shoot the leader of the rally. The changling follows in pursuit, but finds only a token of some sort. He then recruits the help of Ogra to find someone who might know the owner. The owner turns out to be a Thuranni (or Tarkanan) assassin hired by Nolan to stop League of Living Constructs. I like this idea a lot! I can definitely use it to start introducing the key players in my overplot, which is my priority. Isn't Ogra the name of the old ogre lady in the Dark Crystal? :D Maybe that would explain the horrific picture the player showed me of what her character looked like. I wonder what her upbringing among the Boromar Clan would have been like.
#8 goblin_pride Sep 15, 2008 17:44:24	Maybe that would explain the horrific picture the player showed me of what her character looked like. I wonder what her upbringing among the Boromar Clan would have been like. The phrase "red-headed stepchild" comes to mind, but then I've seen the movie. If you haven't, you should.
#9 naturax Sep 15, 2008 22:40:07	The phrase "red-headed stepchild" comes to mind, but then I've seen the movie. If you haven't, you should. Whoa! I just watched the trailer and all I have to say to that is, "No kidding!" I'ma gonna watch it this weekend, I hope. Until then, though, I want to move forward with this game. Can you explain what you mean about "red-headed stepchild"? I've heard the expression plenty of times. I don't think this entry does the expression justice.
#10 goblin_pride Sep 16, 2008 6:48:41	Until then, though, I want to move forward with this game. Can you explain what you mean about "red-headed stepchild"? I've heard the expression plenty of times. I don't think this entry does the expression justice. That website isn't American is it? I was refering to the phrase "I'm going to beat you like a red-headed stepchild".
#11 naturax Sep 16, 2008 11:11:24	What do you think about this for the intro adventure? Ogra gets word that an anti-warforged group is going to have a meeting down in the Cogs and she figures (due to DM prodding) that the changeling would want to know about it. If it doesn't take the initiative to check it out but mentions it to the warforged, they'll ask the pair to infiltrate and find out what they are up to. Nolan will be holding a rally in the basement of the Three Demons. The bar will be closed off for a "private function" unless you bring a piece of a warforged to show the bouncer to be allowed admittance. At the rally, Nolan will be there in person (though do you think it should be someone lower down the chain?) inciting those gathered to go out and find warforged and break them. I figure they should have a couple of rust monsters with them, and maybe tie the whole lot in with a Cult of the Dragon Below why not. The Three Demons (Ashblack District, Upper Cogs) Amid the honeycomb of passages just wide enough for the carts and caravans that transport goods to and from the surface is a small establishment marked by the sign above the door with the crude image of three red imps. The heat from the nearby forges and furnaces is palpable, and smoke and sulfur scents the air. These two factors drive many a labourer to seek a cold drink at The Three Demons. The door is guarded by a burly human who holds on to any weapons potential patrons might want to bring inside. He is less than gentle as he pats you down. Once inside, the interior is a single room, dimly lit by everbright lanterns which contains little more than a few wobbling tables populated by soot- or grease-covered patrons drinking a black ale. The barkeep is Yvonne, a muscular woman with fiery red hair, known to be a magewright of some skill. She never serves a drink, however, instead there are three imp-shaped figures composed of red mist that jump from table to table serving the patrons. Yvonne takes orders and gestures to the imps and they perform her bidding.
#12 wymarc Sep 16, 2008 14:04:37	I'd wait to introduce Nolan directly. Unless Nolan is a pawn O_o In that case you can probably introduce him pretty early with the expectation that he won't be around the majority of the campaign.
#13 naturax Sep 16, 2008 14:41:04	I'd wait to introduce Nolan directly. Unless Nolan is a pawn O_o In that case you can probably introduce him pretty early with the expectation that he won't be around the majority of the campaign. No no, he should be the guy pulling the strings. He's a classic Villain with Good Publicity. So, you're right, he should have some underling working for him. Maybe someone in House Cannith, so that the changeling can try to get close to him later. Any canonical NPCs come to mind?
#14 naturax Sep 19, 2008 11:35:35	I'm still trying to come up with an NPC that a) works for Nolan by stirring up hatred towards the warforged and b) has ties to a Cult of the Dragon Below sufficient to acquire a couple of rust monsters, if not an outright member. This is the kind of NPC that would gather people together in the basement of the Three Demons for a secret meeting a la Fight Club and incite them into acts of warforged-targeted violence. Any ideas come to mind?

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

naturax

Sep 14, 2008 13:39:41

Hey everyone! This is a great place for brainstorming so I'm putting this up in the hopes of getting some suggestions and input.

I have an exciting overplot for the campaign, but I need help with the first couple of adventures in order to a) introduce these new players to Eberron and b) get a sense myself for where the players' interests lie.

There are two players. One is a changeling artificer anarchist. He has a human guise that works for House Cannith, but the changeling's true loyalties lie with groups that are trying to bring down the Houses and the government. At the moment he is working closely, in a warforged guise, with the League of Living Constructs: a group of warforged rights activists who are trying to prevent Councilor Nolan Toranak from passing his Plan for Warforged Re-Education. The changeling wants to bring the Houses down from the inside and put the power back in the hands of the common people.

The other is a crazy old halfling so hideous she could pass for a goblin. She was born to a big family in the Boromar Clan but fled the family young when she was sick of being mistreated for her looks, and now wanders the poor districts selling terrible tea, snitching on people for the Watch, and selling information. Occasionally she'll do readings in tea leaves, but these are often inaccurate, except when they aren't. I'm absolutely going to start playing up her divinatory powers as the game gets going, because it's just too cool to not use.

The relationship between the characters has been established: Ogra the Tea Lady brings tea to the artificer on a regular basis and she passes messages back and forth between him and the organizations he works with. They trust each other enough to ask the other for help if needed.

I need help with an intro adventure or two to give them a sense of Sharn, while in the background I can start to present the overplot of the warforged rights issue that will build into a night of riots and so on.

Does anyone have any ideas? These are not your typical adventurers, so I have a hard time picturing them going for a module such as the Forgotten Forge. Thanks for your help!

Alter_Boy

Sep 14, 2008 15:05:23

Ogra is asked for a divination by an old gnome. Whatever Ogra says, afterwards the orc says "You're a font of prophecy, but not as good as you think."

The gnome is actually a member of the Chamber, and was told by his superiors to ask a Goblin with Boromar blood in her to read tea leaves: her divination would, unknowing to her, be a manifestation of the Prophecy that would help the Dragon choose his next action.

The Chamber agent is on assignment from his superiors as part of a larger mission to tend and, if necessary, prune the Dragonmarked houses. He interprets Ogra's divination as a sign that House Tarkanan could jeopardize several threads of the Prophecy.

So he returns to his position as a member of House Sivis and "accidentally" alters a missive from an Aurum member to House Tarkanan, changing the name of the assassination targets to the PCs. The Agent is careful to omit certain knowledge, such as Ogra's relationship to Boromar ("A goblin seer named Ogra") and to use the Changeling's identity as a Warforged. The Agent hopes that drawing House Boromar and (after some hands-on manipulation of the Changeling) House Cannith, the abberrant Tarkanans can finally be extinguished.

goblin_pride

Sep 14, 2008 18:19:20

The other is a crazy old halfling so hideous she could pass for a goblin.

Specieist.

wymarc

Sep 15, 2008 14:29:24

The changeling is at a rally when things go bad. In the confusion, he sees an assassin concealed in a window shoot the leader of the rally. The changling follows in pursuit, but finds only a token of some sort. He then recruits the help of Ogra to find someone who might know the owner. The owner turns out to be a Thuranni (or Tarkanan) assassin hired by Nolan to stop League of Living Constructs.

eehamburg

Sep 15, 2008 15:43:05

Specieist.

kuukhaac hor gharluur tol dan, I say and to any who would understand.

nerdicus

Sep 15, 2008 15:48:29

Isn't Ogra the name of the old ogre lady in the Dark Crystal? :D

naturax

Sep 15, 2008 16:31:34

Thanks so much for the input, everyone!

The changeling is at a rally when things go bad. In the confusion, he sees an assassin concealed in a window shoot the leader of the rally. The changling follows in pursuit, but finds only a token of some sort. He then recruits the help of Ogra to find someone who might know the owner. The owner turns out to be a Thuranni (or Tarkanan) assassin hired by Nolan to stop League of Living Constructs.

I like this idea a lot! I can definitely use it to start introducing the key players in my overplot, which is my priority.

Isn't Ogra the name of the old ogre lady in the Dark Crystal? :D

Maybe that would explain the horrific picture the player showed me of what her character looked like. I wonder what her upbringing among the Boromar Clan would have been like.

goblin_pride

Sep 15, 2008 17:44:24

Maybe that would explain the horrific picture the player showed me of what her character looked like. I wonder what her upbringing among the Boromar Clan would have been like.

The phrase "red-headed stepchild" comes to mind, but then I've seen the movie. If you haven't, you should.

naturax

Sep 15, 2008 22:40:07

The phrase "red-headed stepchild" comes to mind, but then I've seen the movie. If you haven't, you should.

Whoa! I just watched the trailer and all I have to say to that is, "No kidding!"

I'ma gonna watch it this weekend, I hope.

Until then, though, I want to move forward with this game. Can you explain what you mean about "red-headed stepchild"? I've heard the expression plenty of times. I don't think this entry does the expression justice.

#10

goblin_pride

Sep 16, 2008 6:48:41

Until then, though, I want to move forward with this game. Can you explain what you mean about "red-headed stepchild"? I've heard the expression plenty of times. I don't think this entry does the expression justice.

That website isn't American is it? I was refering to the phrase "I'm going to beat you like a red-headed stepchild".

#11

naturax

Sep 16, 2008 11:11:24

What do you think about this for the intro adventure?

Ogra gets word that an anti-warforged group is going to have a meeting down in the Cogs and she figures (due to DM prodding) that the changeling would want to know about it. If it doesn't take the initiative to check it out but mentions it to the warforged, they'll ask the pair to infiltrate and find out what they are up to.

Nolan will be holding a rally in the basement of the Three Demons. The bar will be closed off for a "private function" unless you bring a piece of a warforged to show the bouncer to be allowed admittance. At the rally, Nolan will be there in person (though do you think it should be someone lower down the chain?) inciting those gathered to go out and find warforged and break them. I figure they should have a couple of rust monsters with them, and maybe tie the whole lot in with a Cult of the Dragon Below why not.

The Three Demons (Ashblack District, Upper Cogs)

Amid the honeycomb of passages just wide enough for the carts and caravans that transport goods to and from the surface is a small establishment marked by the sign above the door with the crude image of three red imps. The heat from the nearby forges and furnaces is palpable, and smoke and sulfur scents the air. These two factors drive many a labourer to seek a cold drink at The Three Demons.

The door is guarded by a burly human who holds on to any weapons potential patrons might want to bring inside. He is less than gentle as he pats you down. Once inside, the interior is a single room, dimly lit by everbright lanterns which contains little more than a few wobbling tables populated by soot- or grease-covered patrons drinking a black ale. The barkeep is Yvonne, a muscular woman with fiery red hair, known to be a magewright of some skill. She never serves a drink, however, instead there are three imp-shaped figures composed of red mist that jump from table to table serving the patrons. Yvonne takes orders and gestures to the imps and they perform her bidding.

#12

wymarc

Sep 16, 2008 14:04:37

I'd wait to introduce Nolan directly. Unless Nolan is a pawn O_o

In that case you can probably introduce him pretty early with the expectation that he won't be around the majority of the campaign.

#13

naturax

Sep 16, 2008 14:41:04

I'd wait to introduce Nolan directly. Unless Nolan is a pawn O_o

In that case you can probably introduce him pretty early with the expectation that he won't be around the majority of the campaign.

No no, he should be the guy pulling the strings. He's a classic Villain with Good Publicity. So, you're right, he should have some underling working for him. Maybe someone in House Cannith, so that the changeling can try to get close to him later. Any canonical NPCs come to mind?

#14

naturax

Sep 19, 2008 11:35:35

I'm still trying to come up with an NPC that a) works for Nolan by stirring up hatred towards the warforged and b) has ties to a Cult of the Dragon Below sufficient to acquire a couple of rust monsters, if not an outright member.

This is the kind of NPC that would gather people together in the basement of the Three Demons for a secret meeting a la Fight Club and incite them into acts of warforged-targeted violence.

Any ideas come to mind?