Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 arjomanes Oct 16, 2009 20:18:57	Ok, in my campaign I've primed the shadow war and skirmishes between the Eldeen Reaches and Aundair. Bandits led by the Baron of Moss (FoW 64) are running rampant across the Eastern Reaches and into Aundair. The Eldeen Wolves (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/2... and http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/20070604a) are raiding Aundairian villages and hamlets, and harrying troops. The ashbound druid Amleerin the Fox burnt the village of Jarran to the ground before being captured by Aundairian soldiers into the Eldeen Reaches (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/2...).  In my campaign, operatives from the Royal Eyes of Aundair paid an orc village to attack the village of Wolf's Paw deep in Reaches territory so they could raid a meeting of Ashbound leaders. The orcs, led by a mad shaman of the Dragon Below, slaughtered innocent villagers before the raiders were routed by the Wardens of the Wood. Among the Royal Eyes killed in the raid was the son of Count Tarnik ir/Weld in Windshire. Count Tarnik is a close friend of Lord Darro, and an influential hero from the Last War. Darro already wants war with the Reaches, and in his view, the Wardens of the Wood have now allied themselves with the Ashbound. The PCs know this so far: bandits are out of control in the Eastern Reaches, the Eldeen Wolves and Ashbound have ben attacking Aundair, and immolated the village of Jarran, Aundair has raided into the Reaches to catch bandits and rebels. They stumbled across the body of the Royal Eyes agent in a sewer in Redleaf, and know of the raid on Wolf's Paw, where one of the PCs has relatives. My question, however, is: will starting a war between Aundair and the Eldeen Reaches wreak havoc in a D&D campaign? None of the PCs are from Aundair, and if anything are more allied with the Eldeen Reaches. One of the PCs is a deserter from the Aundairian army. They're shifters, a Greensinger druid, an escaped warforged from Thrane, and a vagabond changeling from Cyre. The campaign so far has been set in Redleaf, but it's time the PCs move on to other regions of the world. I think if Aundair attacks Redleaf full-on it will create a nice kick in the pants to move on and also create some interesting scenes: some battles with Aundairian soldiers, skill challenge to escape the burning town, and help reinforce what the Last War was like, with refugees feeling west, Aundair's airships raining fire down on the town, arcane ballista shooting lightning, while knights on dragonhawks fight druids and rangers on griffons in the air.  How do you feel about shaking the campaign world like this? Do you foresee any problems with starting a war between the two countries?
#2 superdeadsmurf Oct 16, 2009 22:44:22	Ok, in my campaign I've primed the shadow war and skirmishes between the Eldeen Reaches and Aundair. Bandits led by the Baron of Moss (FoW 64) are running rampant across the Eastern Reaches and into Aundair. The Eldeen Wolves (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/2... and http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/20070604a) are raiding Aundairian villages and hamlets, and harrying troops. The ashbound druid Amleerin the Fox burnt the village of Jarran to the ground before being captured by Aundairian soldiers into the Eldeen Reaches (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebsi/2...).  In my campaign, operatives from the Royal Eyes of Aundair paid an orc village to attack the village of Wolf's Paw deep in Reaches territory so they could raid a meeting of Ashbound leaders. The orcs, led by a mad shaman of the Dragon Below, slaughtered innocent villagers before the raiders were routed by the Wardens of the Wood. Among the Royal Eyes killed in the raid was the son of Count Tarnik ir/Weld in Windshire. Count Tarnik is a close friend of Lord Darro, and an influential hero from the Last War. Darro already wants war with the Reaches, and in his view, the Wardens of the Wood have now allied themselves with the Ashbound. The PCs know this so far: bandits are out of control in the Eastern Reaches, the Eldeen Wolves and Ashbound have ben attacking Aundair, and immolated the village of Jarran, Aundair has raided into the Reaches to catch bandits and rebels. They stumbled across the body of the Royal Eyes agent in a sewer in Redleaf, and know of the raid on Wolf's Paw, where one of the PCs has relatives. My question, however, is: will starting a war between Aundair and the Eldeen Reaches wreak havoc in a D&D campaign? None of the PCs are from Aundair, and if anything are more allied with the Eldeen Reaches. One of the PCs is a deserter from the Aundairian army. They're shifters, a Greensinger druid, an escaped warforged from Thrane, and a vagabond changeling from Cyre. The campaign so far has been set in Redleaf, but it's time the PCs move on to other regions of the world. I think if Aundair attacks Redleaf full-on it will create a nice kick in the pants to move on and also create some interesting scenes: some battles with Aundairian soldiers, skill challenge to escape the burning town, and help reinforce what the Last War was like, with refugees feeling west, Aundair's airships raining fire down on the town, arcane ballista shooting lightning, while knights on dragonhawks fight druids and rangers on griffons in the air.  How do you feel about shaking the campaign world like this? Do you foresee any problems with starting a war between the two countries? I don't think it will wreak havok - but the other 5 nations (especially thrane) may take this opportunity of a weakened/distracted Aundair - two ways I would go about this - have Diplomats threatening alliance with the Reaches from each of the other 5 nations (maybe Droaam too) just because Aundair is threatening the Sovereignty of a Thronehold Signatory state. I can see ultimatums being made, etc. (compare to the lead up to World War 1 for inspiration) Alternate, and possibly better option, is Thrane moves in on Thaliost (and only thaliost) and recaptures it - now Aundair has to fight a war on both sides - they work out deals with Breland and Karrnath for non-agression, as does thrane, as long as they're sated with re-annexing Thaliost.   Biggest thing I think is to remember that the last war is simmering under the surface, and could boil over at any moment again, and a war with the Eldeen is just the type of thing that could do it - World War I was started on less.
#3 Ogiwan Oct 20, 2009 11:22:26	To answer your question of how it will screw up the game world, it really depends on how much you want it to screw it up. Do you want the other nations to not react? Kinda stretches belivability, but if they don't pay attention to politics, they probably wouldn't notice. Now, personally, I would try to make that part of the overarching campaign. The easiest thing I see is that the Dreaming Dark manipulated what's-his-face's dreams/plans of conquering the Eldeen Reaches to gain yet another foothold on Khorvaire, and supply Riedran troops, or at least aid, to the Reaches, just like they supply them to Q'Barra. To further complicate things, Redrian ambassadors in the courts of the other nations try to manipulate them back into war, or at least siding against Aundair A slightly more complex iteration would replace the Dreaming Dark with the Lords of Dust, and with the goal of getting the nations to side against Aundair for her unprovoked aggression. The goal, of course, would be to get Aundair to try to create magic doomsday weapons, similar to the magic defense barrier that Cyre attempted to implement, but offensive. The Lords of Dust would want these, of course, to free Rajas (or just a Rajah) from his prison. Now, of course, both those tacks are suggestions, strongly influenced by my liking for somewhat complex manipulative plots. Where do you see the campaign going? How can you use the war in Aundair to your advantage?
#4 salty1 Oct 21, 2009 23:51:28	Yes.
#5 Ogiwan Oct 22, 2009 16:19:03	Did I just make you cackle with glee and envision new ways to drive your players nuts, Salty?
#6 salty1 Oct 22, 2009 16:30:39	Cackle? Yes. New ideas? No.