Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wikkin May 27, 2011 14:07:11	Starting a campaign in about a week. We're starting at level 8 and I thought about what angles to take. I would enjoy some opinions or feedback of the intro that I've sent my party. I kept it intentionally very general because many of them are still working out background details (or, heck, even what race/class they intend to play). I am open to some cool suggestions if anyone has them. I have many of the early encounters, as well as the end encounter pretty much mapped out. Any help appreciated. --- Heavy rain persists as the sun sets on another busy day in Sharn. Among the city’s sky-high towers, a group gathers in the lobby of The Purple Paradise, a luxury inn located in the upper ward Sunrise district. Unsure of why they were each “invited” to such a gathering, they can only glance at each other while they wait as instructed. The door to the outside opens, and wind blows rainwater in as a lithe human woman enters the inn. Following her, a large human holding a shield bearing the Breland seal enters and closes the door behind him. --Short roleplay opportunity. The lobby is large with comfortable couches for waiting. The desk is currently unmanned, but you were informed that there would be a wait when you arrived. You are here to meet a Brelish lieutenant, and ordered to the strictest confidence about doing so. The only occupants of the lobby are the members of the party. You know each other or not, as your backgrounds indicate. A few moments later, a door at the far end of the lobby opens. Two men enter the room. The first is a tall human warrior. He is dressed in chain mail armor, and a decorated military tabard. He wears the skin of a military veteran, his face creased and leathery. The other man wears the garb of an advisor, his long crème-colored robes, trimmed with blue appearing almost like pajamas, except for the sigil-laden shoulderpads above each of his arms. Both men pass a cursory glance at the inhabitants of the lobby. The veteran speaks. “I thank the six of you for your discretion in attending this meeting. I regret being unable to give you much information prior to this evening. Please follow me into the next room.”  The meeting chamber is dominated by a large table with several chairs surrounding it. Upon the table appears to be a tactical map of southwestern Khorvaire – including the provinces of Breland, Droam, the Shadow Marches, and the southern portion of the Eldeen Reaches. Colored wooden chits seem to depict some sort of conflict or targeting within Droam. The veteran motions for the party to sit and they do. “As you know, Droam was once part of Breland. Now, it is overrun by all manner of savage humanoids. While Breland is certainly capable of retaking Droam, to do so would require efforts that would leave us vulnerable to other enemies. No, we have no intention of conquering Droam at this time.” He pauses for a moment as he sips from the goblet in front of him. “The fact is, we have an uneasy peace with Droam, and unofficially we’re allies with the ‘government’ that the Sora sisters have devised there. However, their law is sporadic and filled with corruption. “During the Last War about ten years ago, a wealthy hobgoblin lass, the Maiden Sal’Abon, funded a spectacular operation that attacked the heart of Sharn, collapsing two of our taller towers. We believe that her intent was to evoke fear and questioning among our citizens and our military. However, the result was the opposite; Brelish patriotism had never been greater. However, despite our greatest efforts, we could not find her to bring her to justice. “Sal’Abon is very intelligent and has backed several terrorist plots throughout the five nations. Eliminating her would be a service to the entirety of the civilized beings of Khorvaire. It’s amazing to me that it’s been ten years, and she remains beyond our reach. That is, until tonight. “With the cooperation of several other nations, as well as several of the Dragonmarked houses, not to mention the use of advanced interrogation techniques, we believe that we have identified the compound in which Sal’Abon has been hiding. Tonight, we would like to send the six of you to our base here, along our border with the Eldeen Reaches.” He points to the map. “Houses Lyrandar and Cannith have worked together to devise a nearly undetectable airship, the Vors Calinn, that is being kept there in top secret. Tomorrow night, you – code named Team Six – will be flown above Sal’Abon’s location, and dropped into her compound with the intention of assassinating this world-renowned terrorist. When you have completed this task, you will re-board the airship, preferably WITH her body, and be flown safely home. “For this incredibly heroic task, you will receive, in addition to Khorvaire’s gratitude, the sum of ten thousand gold pieces from King Boranel’s personal coffers. Do you have any questions?” --More roleplay!
#2 wikkin May 27, 2011 14:30:39	Some responses already: --- "Yeah, I have a couple," responds a voice like gravestones being dragged over gravel.  The owner of the voice is, unsurprisingly, the Goliath seated at the corner.  He shifts in his seat, causing the wood to creak ominously.   "First, what happened to Teams One through Five?  Second, are you sure you want Miss Mass Murder dead?  If she's as influential as you say, she might be worth more alive.  Plus, in my experience, if you cut down a symbol for a cause, most times you only strengthen the resolve of those committed to that cause."   He lifts his arm slightly, idly scratching his ear for a second.  The sound is like sandpaper on marble.  Then he extends the arm to point at the hem of the advisor's robe.   "Last, how can I get some pajamas like that?  They look comfy." --- Excellent questions, master goliath," responds the lieutenant. "The whereabots of other operations teams is strictly confidential... plus, I do not know."   "Second, yes we need to eliminate this threat because she is extremely crafty and we cannot risk an escape. Shortly after her attack on Sharn, we had her cornered in the mountains of Borota Ra in Draguun. Crafty bitch got away, and she's been anything but idle since. No. Eliminate her, bring her body back, and we'll decide whether to bring her back for interrogation then."   The advisor pulls out a scroll from beneath one of the sleeves of his robes. A quilled pen appears in his hand and he begins writing on the scroll. --- Relaxing in the room, laying back on a comfortable couch you notice a handsom young half-elf that appears to be lazily staring up at the celing. He is wearing a long purple cloak, and powder gray padded robes, forest green pants, and brown leather boots with elvish script on the heel. He has spiky mid legnth black hair and a pair on Cannith goggles on his brow. He appears unarmed. His feet are crossed and he is casually swirling one of his feet around. Every now and then he takes a moment to glance at the other people in the room and out a nearby window. He pulls out a flask and takes a short swig. His bright blue eyes appear hazy and it would seem that he has been waiting here for quite some time. When the two humans arrive, the half elf casually gets up and follows them into the next room. He takes a seat near the advisor. While the two of them discuss the matters the half elf sits and appears almost disintrested in the discussion about Droam. But when they mention the towers falling 10 years ago the haze in his eyes seems to dissapate a little and he starts paying more attention to the veteran. The half elf raises an eyebrow at the mention of "advanced interrogation techniques". He takesa casual look at the map when it is presented. When the reward is mentioned the haze is complety gone of his eyes his pointed ears perk up and a sly smile crosses his lips. He then anxiously looks over at the other people in the room. When the goliath speaks up the half elf seems to flinch a little and look over at him, more up at him, despite both being seated. The advisor seems to begin writing on a scroll that suddenly appeared. "Thats uh...ten thousand total or for each?" the half elf slowly looks around the room. "And are there any special preperations we'd need for tomorrow?" he askes as he turns back to the vetran. "It is rather sudden, but I understand the need for the rush." --- The lieutenant chuckles, "The pot for the operatives that participate in this mission stands at ten thousand gold pieces, to be split evenly among any of you that survives the mission. If it helps, this payout will not be taxed, as this is an 'unofficial' mission, knowlege of which we will completely disavow, should it end in failure. But it won't." "Preparations? You will fly in quickly, descent, and perforate the target. Take whatever precautions you need to, but you will want to travel light." The advisor passes his hand over the table, and the sigils on his shoulderpads glow faintly in the dim light of the room. In a puff of smoke, a small potion vial appears on the table before each member of the party. The clear vial reveals a sparkly orange liquid, and a small rubber stopper. "Once you see the target, drink these. As she will undoubtedly attempt to escape, they will enhance your ability to close on her. Expect her to have many tricks up her sleeve; hopefully this will help you overcome one of them." ((These are homebrew potions of Speed. The simply give the imbiber a second move action each round for the duration of the encounter.)) --- I don't want to give away too many details of what's happening on the DM side of the screen, as I don't know who (if any) of my players read this forum.