I'm looking to integrate/utilize the Eminence of Araunt as a villainous organization in the campaign I'm currently DM'ing. I plan to introduce them once--very lightly/incidentally--in a session about three weeks from now, and once again in about eight more weeks I want to have a planned adventure using them as a focal point. (My "three-week" incident will be a foreshadowing event for whatever adventure I'll have for them down the line).
In any case, I'm wondering what information about the group exists beyond the mere two pages in the FRCG? Is there anything more, in fact? New or recent FR/4th edition novels perhaps? Mention or attention from other source guides?
I recall reading somewhere that they may have been derived from a group in Eberron but I don't have any of the Eberron books (though I could probably borrow them for a weekend if necessary). Who or what are they based on, even if from other fiction?
Really, I'm curious about other sources from two directions:
- First, I'm interested just so I know what sort of base they have in cannon already as I like to maintain a fairly cohesive parallel to cannon in my campaigns, if nothing else.
- Second, I'm looking for ideas and figure that source/or extraneous sources they might have been derived from could help waggle the brain for creative ideas. Maybe I'll use something, maybe not, but it couldn't hurt to pass it between the ears, ya' know?
If the FRCG is all that exists on the group to date, then wow. Because there is less than a single page of background information on them--I'll have to take the ball and really run with it, if so. That's all good, I just hate it when I spend a bunch of neurons cooking something up only to turn around and find some new bit of cannon that totally contradicts it. With so little likely forthcoming on the group, I'd like to cover my bases for anything that does exist. :P
Alright, any help or tips to set me in the right direction with this wonderfully malevolent bunch will be appreciated!
I have not personally read anything on the history of how they came about (from a design perspective) though you might try perusing the designer blogs on these forums.
Also, you can check with Rich Baker on the "Ask the Authors" thread (sticky at the top of this forum page) for guidance on who to talk to.
Just guessing here: I think Ed Greenwood did most of the design work on Returned Abeir. Do any of you Candlekeep.com forum scribes know if Ed has posted about the Eminence over on his current thread (Ask Ed 2009) or last year’s 2008 thread at Candlekeep, that you could point the OP too?
Lastly, we can always help if you want some specific encounter/design ideas. Our diverse forum members did a pretty damn good job of building on the limited information in the FRCG to name and describe the 13 Vindicators of the Ironfell Council.
Lastly, we can always help if you want some specific encounter/design ideas. Our diverse forum members did a pretty damn good job of building on the limited information in the FRCG to name and describe the 13 Vindicators of the Ironfell Council.
Oh, I have no doubt there are some keen and creative types able to do just that. I don't necessarily need help in terms of deriving specific encounters but instead I am trying to come up with the overarching plot lines that may be involved.
Let me back up a second to explain a little. When I design campaigns I generally pick three primary groups (or individuals for whom groups rise around in due course) as the prime antagonists that my players will deal with over the course of the entire (or almost entire) campaign.
One of the criteria I prefer and embrace with my primary villain groups is that they have existing natural discordance with other villains built into the setting. The more multi-faceted that competition may be, the better.
The Eminence are a natural fit in this respect as they are inclined toward conflict with groups of undead (particularly intelligent undead) whom are less than interested in joining or being buddies with the Eminence. That serves as an excellent backdrop because I can thrust my players into a dilemma wherein they may find themselves agreeing to work with some truly vile creatures in order to thwart the Eminence, forcing them to deal with the distrust and danger of such a decision every moment along the way.
My basic idea was to introduce my players to the Eminence in an upcoming session through just such a foreshadowing--the PCs will happen upon a battle (or the results of said battle) between two groups of undead, scratching their heads over what could cause such an oddity.
What puzzles me about the Eminence, thanks to the scant information available, is what their goal is beyond merely "ruling" the crypts and graveyards of the world. I mean, to what end? Do they just want to use their portals for get-togethers, passing around cocktail weenies to each other while the Monster Mash plays in the background? Just what is the ultimate purpose of their network and what would they do next if they succeeded?
If someone wants to offer suggestions as to what and why the Eminence is up to--their end game--I'm all ears. I have a couple ideas of my own but I'd never settle on what I have just yet. I always worry that my earliest ideas may end up too cliche if I don't take some time to expand them and uncover deeper and more interesting motivations for the groups and individual villains acting as nemesis to my players.
In any case, I'm wondering what information about the group exists beyond the mere two pages in the FRCG? Is there anything more, in fact? New or recent FR/4th edition novels perhaps? Mention or attention from other source guides?
-They are only mentioned in the FRCG. There was an article about them on the free DDI stuff, but it was simply a preview article, and a direct scan of what appeared in the FRCG. The FRCG is their first introduction into the setting, as it did not exist beforehand. Given that there are not going to be any more book slated for release, that is going to be their only source of information, barring any future online DRAGON/DDI articles on them.
One of the criteria I prefer and embrace with my primary villain groups is that they have existing natural discordance with other villains built into the setting. The more multi-faceted that competition may be, the better.
Agreed.
Have you settled on the other two villainous groups yet?
Hello Dereliction, Agreed.
Have you settled on the other two villainous groups yet?
More or less, yes. The group began their adventures on Alaron of the Moonshae Isles and most of the players have expressed an interest in exploring the 4th edition Isles to a large extent (our first full 4E campaign).
Somehow, we've developed a tradition of beginning the majority of our campaigns on the Isles and this time around I thought that major exploration of the Feywild--and conflict with the more hostile groups within--would serve as a fitting villain "group" to pit them against, considering the setting and native conflicts built in.
Given that the fey have their own groups and politics alongside, not to mention their own parallel plane of existence, there is a lot available to motivate and draw players via.
The second villain group is also one they've already encountered (though they don't realize it fully yet) and is related to the same threat which concerns the current King of the Isles--Amn. However, the villain group for players is more specifically the Cult of Cyric as based in Amn.
They are the second group in part because one of our players LOVES (or should I say ... loved?) Mystra and is particularly unsettled with the idea that Cyric murdered the magical lass. So, there is a built in meta-hate for the villain group by at least one of them. I'm sure I'll have little problem luring them into plots that offer the opportunity to take down a few of those despicable, murderous Cyricists for some good ole' fashion meta-revenge. And you better believe that I'll have a few instances of the cult reveling in the fact that their deity killed Mystra, just to stir the pot.
I do like the Eminence as a third group for several reasons. By all appearances they are wide open for development, which can be a plus. The other thing I like about them is that I can draw the players west across the Trackless sea, in an opposite direction from Amn and the Cyricists, adventuring to whatever extent on Returned Abeir.
For that matter, I may use the Eminence's reliance on portals (er ... deathways) as a means of being able to jaunt players to all sort of remote and unsavory locales, should they discover some limited means of utilizing the deathways.
As mentioned earlier, however, the "end game" interest of the group is non-existent in the lore and little more than vaguely fixed in my mind. While I like that the group is open for development, a bit more than a single page of background information would've been nice for an organization listed as a major "threat" in Toril. I feel a little cheated that their info was co-opted by not just one but two monster descriptions instead. A lot cheated, perhaps.