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Who's your mark?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ellorin
Sep 05, 2010 12:15:53 How about a little game? This is based on an idea I'm pondering to use in a future campaign and which I'd like to present to and test on the community.

So, here's the scenario:you're an agent of House Phiarlan, a member of the distinguished line of Shol, a line of great artists, spies and assassins...and also a cursed one. 5000 years ago, a distinguished Shol warlock attempted to set a mighty demon lord of Khyber against a powerful cell of Talons of Tiamat wreaking havoc in southern Aerenal. The warlock's cunning manipulation bore fruit but it did have a dire consequence: the entire line would be cursed. All the desperate warlock could do was to influence the nature of the curse. As a result, the most prominent Ghost status agent of the line of Shol must select and perform a special assassination once in 500 years. The terms are simple:

Her target must be a leader of mortals-a king, a church leader, a baron of a dragonmarked house or a person of equal significance to Khorvairian or Aereni politics and society.

The assassination must take place on Khorvaire or Aerenal soil.

The target may not be a fiend, an aberration or a dragon.

No ressurections.

The consequences of defying this curse is nothing less but a plague which targets and will eventually kill the entire line. Through the ages House Phiarlan has attempted to break it but to no avail. Thus, the assassinations continue. Sometimes the agent chooses a target that bears a threat to the House, otherwise a leader whose demise would have the least possible effect on Khorvairian political stability.

This time, that person is you. You are currently in front of the Serpentine Table, everything in the room but yourself covered by shadows. Make your choice, explain the reasons behind it..and let's hope that you will choose wisely.

#2
jhanzur
Sep 06, 2010 11:28:07 Merrix d'Cannith. Currently, the Serpintine table is sure to know his actions in Xen'Drik and beyond, and they can surely draw conclusions on his motivations. To boot, if he is indeed creating for Warforged, he's likely creating the scout types seen towards the end of the last war, and as you could expect, they aren't exactly helping the cause of the House. Killing him will cause a power vacuum, surely, but likely strengthen the other 2 factions of Cannith, and one will finally take power of the whole house.
#3
connortheconman93
Sep 06, 2010 18:40:47 Kaius III (the vampire). Although he is running Karrnath without incident, he IS a vampire, and an evil one to boot, not to mention the whole "let's pretend I'm my great-grandson and throw him in Dreadhold spiel". For additional complexity, require that the player retrieve the real Kaius III from Dreadhold and put him in power. Boy would the Warlords be pissed.
#4
Mr._Wilson
Sep 09, 2010 5:13:02 While both choices above are good choices, I'm going in a different direction. My choice would be Queen Aurala ir'Wynarn of Aundair.

I choose Queen Aurala because she is the reagent most likely to start the next war, and thus, cause the most harm to Khorvaire.

#5
jhanzur
Sep 09, 2010 6:35:06
While both choices above are good choices, I'm going in a different direction. My choice would be Queen Aurala ir'Wynarn of Aundair.

I choose Queen Aurala because she is the reagent most likely to start the next war, and thus, cause the most harm to Khorvaire.

Except that war benefits the house. More conflict equals more jobs for spies and assasins and that means more money Phialarn coffers.
#6
Mr._Wilson
Sep 09, 2010 8:04:24 I would actually argue that a cold war situation provides just as much need for House Phiarlan's services, if not moreso, then an actual hot war would provide. After all, all the cloak and dagger of political intrigue is right up Phiarlan's alley.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ellorin Sep 05, 2010 12:15:53	How about a little game? This is based on an idea I'm pondering to use in a future campaign and which I'd like to present to and test on the community. So, here's the scenario:you're an agent of House Phiarlan, a member of the distinguished line of Shol, a line of great artists, spies and assassins...and also a cursed one. 5000 years ago, a distinguished Shol warlock attempted to set a mighty demon lord of Khyber against a powerful cell of Talons of Tiamat wreaking havoc in southern Aerenal. The warlock's cunning manipulation bore fruit but it did have a dire consequence: the entire line would be cursed. All the desperate warlock could do was to influence the nature of the curse. As a result, the most prominent Ghost status agent of the line of Shol must select and perform a special assassination once in 500 years. The terms are simple: Her target must be a leader of mortals-a king, a church leader, a baron of a dragonmarked house or a person of equal significance to Khorvairian or Aereni politics and society. The assassination must take place on Khorvaire or Aerenal soil. The target may not be a fiend, an aberration or a dragon. No ressurections. The consequences of defying this curse is nothing less but a plague which targets and will eventually kill the entire line. Through the ages House Phiarlan has attempted to break it but to no avail. Thus, the assassinations continue. Sometimes the agent chooses a target that bears a threat to the House, otherwise a leader whose demise would have the least possible effect on Khorvairian political stability. This time, that person is you. You are currently in front of the Serpentine Table, everything in the room but yourself covered by shadows. Make your choice, explain the reasons behind it..and let's hope that you will choose wisely.
#2 jhanzur Sep 06, 2010 11:28:07	Merrix d'Cannith. Currently, the Serpintine table is sure to know his actions in Xen'Drik and beyond, and they can surely draw conclusions on his motivations. To boot, if he is indeed creating for Warforged, he's likely creating the scout types seen towards the end of the last war, and as you could expect, they aren't exactly helping the cause of the House. Killing him will cause a power vacuum, surely, but likely strengthen the other 2 factions of Cannith, and one will finally take power of the whole house.
#3 connortheconman93 Sep 06, 2010 18:40:47	Kaius III (the vampire). Although he is running Karrnath without incident, he IS a vampire, and an evil one to boot, not to mention the whole "let's pretend I'm my great-grandson and throw him in Dreadhold spiel". For additional complexity, require that the player retrieve the real Kaius III from Dreadhold and put him in power. Boy would the Warlords be pissed.
#4 Mr._Wilson Sep 09, 2010 5:13:02	While both choices above are good choices, I'm going in a different direction. My choice would be Queen Aurala ir'Wynarn of Aundair. I choose Queen Aurala because she is the reagent most likely to start the next war, and thus, cause the most harm to Khorvaire.
#5 jhanzur Sep 09, 2010 6:35:06	While both choices above are good choices, I'm going in a different direction. My choice would be Queen Aurala ir'Wynarn of Aundair. I choose Queen Aurala because she is the reagent most likely to start the next war, and thus, cause the most harm to Khorvaire. Except that war benefits the house. More conflict equals more jobs for spies and assasins and that means more money Phialarn coffers.
#6 Mr._Wilson Sep 09, 2010 8:04:24	I would actually argue that a cold war situation provides just as much need for House Phiarlan's services, if not moreso, then an actual hot war would provide. After all, all the cloak and dagger of political intrigue is right up Phiarlan's alley.