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Running Dreaming Dark campaign, need advice

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Scrinoverlord
Apr 28, 2011 14:06:23 In my campaign arc, the PCs have to stop the Dreaming Dark from taking over Eberron and its people's dreams. Pretty standard stuff. Some other elements I want to also include, however, is political intrigue that stems from the Dreaming Dark, specifically re-igniting the Last War. One of the PCs are in House Deneith, though the player says he doesn't want to be involved in house schemes for now since he's new to the world of Eberron.

So my question is, can anyone throw me campaign ideas that involve the Dreaming Dark and plays on the theme of political intrigue? Should the campaign eventually take place in Sarlona even though my party is new to Eberron? One concrete fact I know is that the Last War will re-ignite as a direct result of the Dreaming Dark's efforts.
#2
naturax
Apr 28, 2011 15:38:05 My advice:

The real action is happening in Khorvaire, not Sarlona. Certain nations started accepting aid from Reidera during the Last War, and they have diplomats all over the place. Those are your distractions from the true agents of the Dreaming Dark that are infiltrating all of the nations, all of the houses, and all of the religions. There are the seeds of political intrigue right there.

I think that the Dreaming Dark wants war to continue so that they can take advantage of the chaos to better position themselves, with the long term goal of taking over Khorvaire just like they did Sarlona. They weren't expecting the Mourning, however, and that threw a wrench into their best laid plans. Now they are scrambling to get the Next War started, but there is plenty of room to get your PCs involved.

As for House Deneith: look up the entry on House Deneith in Sharn, the City of Towers. There is a great write-up about how they are an excellent target for infiltration by the Dreaming Dark because they are placed as bodyguards to very important individuals. You'll certainly find hooks in there for getting that particular PC involved in your plot.
#3
Ogiwan
Apr 28, 2011 18:46:38 Second the Sharn branch of Deneith. They are compromised, after all.

I'll come up with something jucy. Just give me time. What other assumptions are you working with?
#4
apparit
Apr 29, 2011 5:26:27 The Dreaming Dark are good at whispering in people's minds. Good candidates for re-igniting conflcit are Prince Adal of Aundair, who is apparently plotting anyway to destroy Thrane and re-take Thaliost with an Eldritch Machine. Then bear in mind the fact that basically every rich person in Sharn are prime targets due to their indulgence in dreamlily. Centering it around Sharn always makes a diverse campaign.

One thing I would bear in mind is those who could help the PCs while being immune to the Dreaming Dark's influence. Obviously there's Kalashatar, but who some people don't remember are the Elves, who do not dream, merely enter a trance-like state. While the rest of the Khorvaire is humming to the Inspired's tune, it could be that the Elves of Aerenal and Valenar are the only place the PCs can turn to.
#5
Scrinoverlord
Apr 29, 2011 23:26:12
Second the Sharn branch of Deneith. They are compromised, after all.

I'll come up with something jucy. Just give me time. What other assumptions are you working with?

Assumptions? If you mean what I think you mean, I also plan on having the Blood of Vol and Order of the Emerald Claw involved at some point, but I've always seen Vol as a pawn in a much bigger game of some greater evil, whether that was the il-Lashvatar or the Lords of Dust.

Actually that begs the question, can the Blood of Vol be penetrated by the Dreaming Dark sufficently enough to effectively control it, or is Vol too powerful for that to happen?
#6
Ogiwan
Apr 30, 2011 8:05:18 Yeah, assumptions is really what else you're working with. That's a start.

As for the BoV being compromised by the DD, well, why not? Hell, who's to say that Vol didn't get the idea for the BoV and EC in a.....dream?
#7
naturax
Apr 30, 2011 8:06:53 On the other hand, the undead don't dream. Maybe the Blood of Vol can be a potent ally against the DD because they absolutely cannot be compromised - but are the PCs willing to work with them? I might just steal that dynamic for my games.
#8
Ogiwan
Apr 30, 2011 8:49:08 ......it was a really special dream?
#9
Madfox11
May 02, 2011 3:15:59 One of my short run campaigns in Sharn was set around the same idea. The PCs were all working for the Boromar clan (purely coincidential, by the time the fourth PC was a shady criminal, it did not take much efford to have the fifth being a Dark Lantern infiltrating the group). Boromar had loaned a lot of money to Morgraive professor.

The first adventure was about collecting that money, but the PCs found the warehouse/laberatory raided by the gnolls and the professor missing. The kaleshtar also developed a serious headache in the laberatory. After the battle the PCs learned the professor had loaned a lot more money after having been on an expedition to Xen'drik. She had used it to craft two items, but apparently had become more and more paranoid. Later they learned the two items were a ruby golem (crystal golems are anti-psionic golems at some point in the D&D-verse) and a rod that could generate a field that blocked otherworldly possessions and dreaming (hence the headache of the kaleshtar). Both were based on designs by the giants. Obviously, the Dreaming Dark learned of this and they came into action. The professor's paranoia let her react on time, and stage her own death.

The PCs learned the death was staged, and they tracked her down. By that time though the PCs were a bit suspicious of events. The Dreaming Dark had been watching the characters, possessing people close to the professor to gather intel, and some of those were Boromar clan members. Their odd behavior was also investigated by the PCs. So by that time they found the profesor, they were paranoid enough to belief the professor was on to something and they switched sides (the big looming golem might also have had to do something with it). At that point the campaign stopped due to planning issues. I based an adventure for Mark of Heroes on the very first adventure in this campaign...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Scrinoverlord Apr 28, 2011 14:06:23	In my campaign arc, the PCs have to stop the Dreaming Dark from taking over Eberron and its people's dreams. Pretty standard stuff. Some other elements I want to also include, however, is political intrigue that stems from the Dreaming Dark, specifically re-igniting the Last War. One of the PCs are in House Deneith, though the player says he doesn't want to be involved in house schemes for now since he's new to the world of Eberron. So my question is, can anyone throw me campaign ideas that involve the Dreaming Dark and plays on the theme of political intrigue? Should the campaign eventually take place in Sarlona even though my party is new to Eberron? One concrete fact I know is that the Last War will re-ignite as a direct result of the Dreaming Dark's efforts.
#2 naturax Apr 28, 2011 15:38:05	My advice: The real action is happening in Khorvaire, not Sarlona. Certain nations started accepting aid from Reidera during the Last War, and they have diplomats all over the place. Those are your distractions from the true agents of the Dreaming Dark that are infiltrating all of the nations, all of the houses, and all of the religions. There are the seeds of political intrigue right there. I think that the Dreaming Dark wants war to continue so that they can take advantage of the chaos to better position themselves, with the long term goal of taking over Khorvaire just like they did Sarlona. They weren't expecting the Mourning, however, and that threw a wrench into their best laid plans. Now they are scrambling to get the Next War started, but there is plenty of room to get your PCs involved. As for House Deneith: look up the entry on House Deneith in Sharn, the City of Towers. There is a great write-up about how they are an excellent target for infiltration by the Dreaming Dark because they are placed as bodyguards to very important individuals. You'll certainly find hooks in there for getting that particular PC involved in your plot.
#3 Ogiwan Apr 28, 2011 18:46:38	Second the Sharn branch of Deneith. They are compromised, after all. I'll come up with something jucy. Just give me time. What other assumptions are you working with?
#4 apparit Apr 29, 2011 5:26:27	The Dreaming Dark are good at whispering in people's minds. Good candidates for re-igniting conflcit are Prince Adal of Aundair, who is apparently plotting anyway to destroy Thrane and re-take Thaliost with an Eldritch Machine. Then bear in mind the fact that basically every rich person in Sharn are prime targets due to their indulgence in dreamlily. Centering it around Sharn always makes a diverse campaign. One thing I would bear in mind is those who could help the PCs while being immune to the Dreaming Dark's influence. Obviously there's Kalashatar, but who some people don't remember are the Elves, who do not dream, merely enter a trance-like state. While the rest of the Khorvaire is humming to the Inspired's tune, it could be that the Elves of Aerenal and Valenar are the only place the PCs can turn to.
#5 Scrinoverlord Apr 29, 2011 23:26:12	Second the Sharn branch of Deneith. They are compromised, after all. I'll come up with something jucy. Just give me time. What other assumptions are you working with? Assumptions? If you mean what I think you mean, I also plan on having the Blood of Vol and Order of the Emerald Claw involved at some point, but I've always seen Vol as a pawn in a much bigger game of some greater evil, whether that was the il-Lashvatar or the Lords of Dust. Actually that begs the question, can the Blood of Vol be penetrated by the Dreaming Dark sufficently enough to effectively control it, or is Vol too powerful for that to happen?
#6 Ogiwan Apr 30, 2011 8:05:18	Yeah, assumptions is really what else you're working with. That's a start. As for the BoV being compromised by the DD, well, why not? Hell, who's to say that Vol didn't get the idea for the BoV and EC in a.....dream?
#7 naturax Apr 30, 2011 8:06:53	On the other hand, the undead don't dream. Maybe the Blood of Vol can be a potent ally against the DD because they absolutely cannot be compromised - but are the PCs willing to work with them? I might just steal that dynamic for my games.
#8 Ogiwan Apr 30, 2011 8:49:08	......it was a really special dream?
#9 Madfox11 May 02, 2011 3:15:59	One of my short run campaigns in Sharn was set around the same idea. The PCs were all working for the Boromar clan (purely coincidential, by the time the fourth PC was a shady criminal, it did not take much efford to have the fifth being a Dark Lantern infiltrating the group). Boromar had loaned a lot of money to Morgraive professor. The first adventure was about collecting that money, but the PCs found the warehouse/laberatory raided by the gnolls and the professor missing. The kaleshtar also developed a serious headache in the laberatory. After the battle the PCs learned the professor had loaned a lot more money after having been on an expedition to Xen'drik. She had used it to craft two items, but apparently had become more and more paranoid. Later they learned the two items were a ruby golem (crystal golems are anti-psionic golems at some point in the D&D-verse) and a rod that could generate a field that blocked otherworldly possessions and dreaming (hence the headache of the kaleshtar). Both were based on designs by the giants. Obviously, the Dreaming Dark learned of this and they came into action. The professor's paranoia let her react on time, and stage her own death. The PCs learned the death was staged, and they tracked her down. By that time though the PCs were a bit suspicious of events. The Dreaming Dark had been watching the characters, possessing people close to the professor to gather intel, and some of those were Boromar clan members. Their odd behavior was also investigated by the PCs. So by that time they found the profesor, they were paranoid enough to belief the professor was on to something and they switched sides (the big looming golem might also have had to do something with it). At that point the campaign stopped due to planning issues. I based an adventure for Mark of Heroes on the very first adventure in this campaign...