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The King in The Iron Mask

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
sidrik
Nov 08, 2011 23:07:48 Hi everyone.
After watching the three musketeers i rememberd the movie "The man in the Iron Mask", and i had an idea about a new campaign.
I was thinking about running an Eberron campaign based on the "real" Kaius III. As far as i know, the real kaius is a prisoner in dreadhold. He was imprisoned by his grandfather the vampire Kaius I, so he can take the control of Karrnath as king again.
The members of the Blood of Vol (the responsibles for turning Kaius into a vampire) are not aware of the real identity of the actual King. So...they might be interested in spy the activities of the King, learning about a misterious prisoner in dreadhold.
Passing as nobles concerned about the good of the karrn nation, they manipulate the players to do the dirty work.
Eventually they end in dreadhold and seek the prisoner, discovering he is the real kaius.
So, they must take a decision. Free the prisoner, and let him take his rightful throne and.....face the consequences. Or, let the real kaius rot in the prison again, actually facing the fury of Kaius I.

Just a brief idea. I need to extend it so it can be a real campaign.

Well, i need help here, actually suggestions.
The blood of vol must be behind all this plan?
What is the true story behind the imprisonment of the real Kaius III, does he know about the nature of his grandfather?
What is the reaction of the rest of the real family. Haydeth and Moranna?
Any other suggestions are accepted.

Thanks

#2
nerraDetroK
Nov 09, 2011 9:50:07 Sounds like a fun idea for an Adventure Arc, but not necessarily as an entire Campaign.
Kaius I is, I think, about a level 15-17 creature, slotting him in quite well for mid-Paragon level. If you wanted to run a Three Musketeers type campaign, I'd introduce this Story Arc right before Paragon or right after and build it from there. The rest of Heroic tier could be building up to it.

I'd think most people would be absolutely shocked by the revelation that Kaius I is a vampire and has imprisoned the real king. Depending on how you complete the reveal of Kaius I pretending to be Kaius III, it coudl be a lot of fun to have Hayden or Moranna step in and doublecross.
If you have the players learn secretly that Kaius I is a vampire, then depose him in quiet- most likely by combat. Hayden or Moranna could show some ambition and take over, keeping the true King imprisoned or try to have him executed. You could have one of them help you work to depose Kaius I and then turn on the party at the last minute. You'll make another big enemy to deal with at the end of Paragon.

Try to have wheels within wheels and plans within plans, so that while the players think they're helping the good guys, they're really setting them up to fail or helping their enemies succeed.

Will you let the Players know that Kaius I has split from the Blood of Vol and is trying to redeem himself? That may throw another monkey wrench into things. I see Kaius I as doing the necessary evils to keep his Country from being overtaken by Erandis d'Vol much like Cardinal Krozen has taken over Thrane.

Sounds like the beginning of a great intrigue filled game.

When I start up an Eberron Campaign again, I'll have spent several months prepping the groundwork for plans within plans, probably to have few of them come to fruition, but it'll be fun to try!
#3
sidrik
Nov 09, 2011 13:48:52 Actually i was trying to figure how to let the players discover about the whereabouts of the real Kaius III.
The first time they'll spy in crownhome, posing as guards or servants they'll discover some weird things (for example the harem of Kaius). They must earn the confidence of Moranna so she will give them a quest involving the destruction of the clues about the whereabouts of the real Kaius.
This clues are hidden in the Caves of the Skeletal Hands (now taken by goblins. Actually Kaius himself gave the order of let the goblins take the caves so his secret can be perfectly hidden inside a wall or something).
The real fact is that Moranna is aware of spies in Crownhome, so she is testing the players. The real plan is execute them and put evidence against them so they'll be sent to dreadhold.
I want the players think and doubt about the relationship of Kaius with the Blood of Vol.
Haydeth has noticed something strange about his beloved brother, so she may try to help the players.
By the other hand. Gaius is in Flamekeep, maybe he returned and want the power for himself. Posing as an ally for the players and then betraying them. So he can get rid off his great grandfather and his brother all in one shot.
My first problem is:
All my players know the real nature of kaius (metagame fact).....how can i give them the sensation of mistery about that?.....no real ideas....
#4
dmnate
Nov 29, 2011 13:55:33 Tell them that not everything in the books is how "your" Eberron is. I recently told my players that the books are a good basic judge, and that most of what they say is spot-on, but that abuot a third of a percent of what's in there is incorrect. I threw out a couple of small examples (a date and some population figures for surviving Cyrans... both of which I'm using for the story) and let them know that some major stuff is different, but that I won't tell them.
Then, have them see or meet Kaius III (actually Kaius I) in broad daylight. It can be a changeling or illusion or whatever, but get their metagame wheels locking up with that. Casually throw out a few more "proofs" of his lack of vampirism (have them experience these, don't have someone tell them these things), and then lay on the intrigue thick.
#5
sidrik
Nov 29, 2011 19:24:58 Actually, i tried that (the idea of telling them my version of Eberron is not exactly like the books) with previous campaigns i mastered, but results almost impossible. But the second idea is nice, giving them false clues about the nature of Kaius can fool them enough to pay more interest in the quests and misteries.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sidrik Nov 08, 2011 23:07:48	Hi everyone. After watching the three musketeers i rememberd the movie "The man in the Iron Mask", and i had an idea about a new campaign. I was thinking about running an Eberron campaign based on the "real" Kaius III. As far as i know, the real kaius is a prisoner in dreadhold. He was imprisoned by his grandfather the vampire Kaius I, so he can take the control of Karrnath as king again. The members of the Blood of Vol (the responsibles for turning Kaius into a vampire) are not aware of the real identity of the actual King. So...they might be interested in spy the activities of the King, learning about a misterious prisoner in dreadhold. Passing as nobles concerned about the good of the karrn nation, they manipulate the players to do the dirty work. Eventually they end in dreadhold and seek the prisoner, discovering he is the real kaius. So, they must take a decision. Free the prisoner, and let him take his rightful throne and.....face the consequences. Or, let the real kaius rot in the prison again, actually facing the fury of Kaius I. Just a brief idea. I need to extend it so it can be a real campaign. Well, i need help here, actually suggestions. The blood of vol must be behind all this plan? What is the true story behind the imprisonment of the real Kaius III, does he know about the nature of his grandfather? What is the reaction of the rest of the real family. Haydeth and Moranna? Any other suggestions are accepted. Thanks
#2 nerraDetroK Nov 09, 2011 9:50:07	Sounds like a fun idea for an Adventure Arc, but not necessarily as an entire Campaign. Kaius I is, I think, about a level 15-17 creature, slotting him in quite well for mid-Paragon level. If you wanted to run a Three Musketeers type campaign, I'd introduce this Story Arc right before Paragon or right after and build it from there. The rest of Heroic tier could be building up to it. I'd think most people would be absolutely shocked by the revelation that Kaius I is a vampire and has imprisoned the real king. Depending on how you complete the reveal of Kaius I pretending to be Kaius III, it coudl be a lot of fun to have Hayden or Moranna step in and doublecross. If you have the players learn secretly that Kaius I is a vampire, then depose him in quiet- most likely by combat. Hayden or Moranna could show some ambition and take over, keeping the true King imprisoned or try to have him executed. You could have one of them help you work to depose Kaius I and then turn on the party at the last minute. You'll make another big enemy to deal with at the end of Paragon. Try to have wheels within wheels and plans within plans, so that while the players think they're helping the good guys, they're really setting them up to fail or helping their enemies succeed. Will you let the Players know that Kaius I has split from the Blood of Vol and is trying to redeem himself? That may throw another monkey wrench into things. I see Kaius I as doing the necessary evils to keep his Country from being overtaken by Erandis d'Vol much like Cardinal Krozen has taken over Thrane. Sounds like the beginning of a great intrigue filled game. When I start up an Eberron Campaign again, I'll have spent several months prepping the groundwork for plans within plans, probably to have few of them come to fruition, but it'll be fun to try!
#3 sidrik Nov 09, 2011 13:48:52	Actually i was trying to figure how to let the players discover about the whereabouts of the real Kaius III. The first time they'll spy in crownhome, posing as guards or servants they'll discover some weird things (for example the harem of Kaius). They must earn the confidence of Moranna so she will give them a quest involving the destruction of the clues about the whereabouts of the real Kaius. This clues are hidden in the Caves of the Skeletal Hands (now taken by goblins. Actually Kaius himself gave the order of let the goblins take the caves so his secret can be perfectly hidden inside a wall or something). The real fact is that Moranna is aware of spies in Crownhome, so she is testing the players. The real plan is execute them and put evidence against them so they'll be sent to dreadhold. I want the players think and doubt about the relationship of Kaius with the Blood of Vol. Haydeth has noticed something strange about his beloved brother, so she may try to help the players. By the other hand. Gaius is in Flamekeep, maybe he returned and want the power for himself. Posing as an ally for the players and then betraying them. So he can get rid off his great grandfather and his brother all in one shot. My first problem is: All my players know the real nature of kaius (metagame fact).....how can i give them the sensation of mistery about that?.....no real ideas....
#4 dmnate Nov 29, 2011 13:55:33	Tell them that not everything in the books is how "your" Eberron is. I recently told my players that the books are a good basic judge, and that most of what they say is spot-on, but that abuot a third of a percent of what's in there is incorrect. I threw out a couple of small examples (a date and some population figures for surviving Cyrans... both of which I'm using for the story) and let them know that some major stuff is different, but that I won't tell them. Then, have them see or meet Kaius III (actually Kaius I) in broad daylight. It can be a changeling or illusion or whatever, but get their metagame wheels locking up with that. Casually throw out a few more "proofs" of his lack of vampirism (have them experience these, don't have someone tell them these things), and then lay on the intrigue thick.
#5 sidrik Nov 29, 2011 19:24:58	Actually, i tried that (the idea of telling them my version of Eberron is not exactly like the books) with previous campaigns i mastered, but results almost impossible. But the second idea is nice, giving them false clues about the nature of Kaius can fool them enough to pay more interest in the quests and misteries.