Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 stupnick Mar 12, 2009 15:07:13	Ok so I am writing this, looking for some advice to help me flesh out my campaign slightly. I have written alot, and the players have done alot, but it seems that they go through it rather quickly (content wise) but are still only level 9, almost 10. Mind you, i run a large group, 8 players on average. So the Campaign started with everyone make a level 1 4th edition character. We starting in Old Forgotten realms. The campaign started in the Shining Plains. It seems Ormath was cut off from the outside. Anyone attempting to enter or leave never made there destination, unless they were Extremely armed and prepared. Somehow the group were all hired to be guards on a caravan heading from Assam to Ormath, as they were heading to the town they were attacked by catapults and balista's, and the caravans were destroyed, the group saw there only opening as making a run for it, and took off towards the town. Since they were in a foreign town and didn't know what to do they stuck together and then decided to try to help the town out and figure out what was going on. They spent a week or so preparing to leave town and gathering information about what people know about the attackers. It seems they weren't trying to capture the caravans, just destroy them all. The group headed out as a decoy caravan, and was attacked. They figured out it was kobolds, and lizardmen, who were being led by a large black dragon (who was an illusion, conjured by Yaun-ti to control them) The yaun-ti were actually be manipulated by a maralith who was captured almost centries ago. She was using the yaun-ti to dig the entrance to her prison out. The group found this just in time (of course) and made it to the cavern. Not knowing what was being excavated, they didn't want to wait for the Yaun-ti to get it, they decided to take it for themself to use against them. They then proceeded to defeat the Maraliths guards (after the warlock made a history roll, and finding out what was in here. he didn't want to tell anyone.) who were Devils and Angels working together to contain this threat. (the group was about level 6 at this time) so they were the low level ones (CR 8-10) They then went through this portal that it opened, which happend to release the Marilith and they were captured in this realm. They finally were able to break free and come back to the known world. They realized that quite a number of years have past, and the Marilith somehow release the spellplague.... (which the group is now responsible for....) Finding that nothing was the same and almost everyone they knew was dead, they decided to head north to the nearest metropolis area, Which was Cormyr. They headed to cormyr and were assaulted by nasties on the trip, and then orcs as they were getting close to Cormyr. Once there they decided to look for work and help out with what they could. They did a few odd quests, trying to gain reputation in Cormyr. Reason #2 for going to Cormyr is that the Marilith they released used to actually be the lover of one of the ancient Netherese Wizards. The Marilith then actually went to the Anarauch Desert and began to resurrect the Netherese, by pulling them back to this plane (which caused the spell plague). So the Marilith and her lover are now ruling that area, and are pushing outwards. They group went to Cormyr to help them control the Netherese... So they finally make a name and decide to help protect the crown prince, who had a few attempts on his life. They get hired to try to track down the orcs who were attempting to kill the prince, they figure, find the prince and protect him instead. They find the cousin, who is running scared for his life. It seems the Prince and the cousin were attacked by orcs and the prince was killed. They follow the orcs and find the prince alive. they rescue him, but it seems that while they were gone, the Netherese attacked the palace. The King was killed, and the "new crown prince" the cousin, lost his arm, but was able to get away. The Netherese breached the castle, somehow. The Cousin, was upset to see the crown prince alive, and had to relinquish the crown. The prince, knowing that the attacks are going to only get worse from the netherese hire the group to head to a set of ruins below anarauch, and retrieve what is there. supposedly it is an old outpost that was used as a base camp for scavanging ruins, and has lots of powerful items and magic to assist Cormyr. Leaving Cormyr they head through the dalelands, and then are trying to stay out of notice. They do arrive at one town, where one of the group members somehow felt drawn to, where they actually find themself captives. The town it seems is surrounded by a magical force shield that prevents anyone from leaving during the day, and during the night it is attacked by Vampires. The group is currently in the middle of taking on the Vampire Lord. (will get them to level 10) From there, they will head to the ruins, 3 levels detailed with magical traps and undead. While leaving they will actually be approached by one of the netherese rules, who wants to have there help and cormyrs with dealing with the others, who he doesn't agree with. everything will continue to build, and it will grow into an all out war. I am asking for help, on how i can continue to grown this, I figure the ruins 3 levels will take them to level 12-14. and they will more than likely be 15 by the time they get back to Cormyr. Anyone have any advice on how to stretch this slightly more. or any other kind of side quests to add in there, or tie things in more.
#2 novatack Mar 13, 2009 19:37:04	Let's see. You mentioned that Angels and Devils were involved in trying to contain the Marilith, correct? So, when the Marilith escaped, and then the Spellplague happened, the Angels and Devils might step up their efforts to re-imprison the Marilith. All this attention is not going to go unnoticed, however: you can basically use the sheer number Astral creatures entering the world as an excuse for any other immortal creature to take notice and enter the world. For example, the PCs could be forced to deal with a group of Githyanki that are taking advantage of portals to the world to launch an invasion. (If you want to get really fancy, the dramatic increase in Gith activity could draw the attention of several Mind Flayers, which then become the focus of another adventure). Similarly, said Angels and Devils could blame the PCs for what happened. The PCs might have to fend off PO'd Angels and Devils and try to convince them that they're on the same side (Heck, I'm sure the Angels of Zehir and Gruumsh are pretty angry about the whole "Slaughtering Yuan-Ti and Orc attackers"). Also, you mentioned Orcs attacking Cormyr. In the post-Spellplague FR, there is a nation made up of several monstrous races. Perhaps the Orcs were serving a more intelligent master. The master may pose a greater threat and needs to be killed. Or, in a twist of fate, maybe he is an unlikely ally- if the PCs could convince him that the Marilith and the Spellplague pose a greater threat than Cormyr, that is. And of course, there is the possibilty that the Netherese "ally" is really a trap. If want the bad guys to be particularly mean, you can let the Netherese ally think his plans are secret from the others- when in reality the others are using him as a tool to draw out the PCs. They then attempt to kill the traitor and the PCs in one fell swoop.