Nine years ago, a suspiciously charismatic bugbear warlord named Kargath Doomaxe was able to unite the goblin tribes of the Plains. He used his power to dominate the local gnolls, kobolds, and other evil denizens of the Plains and assaulted the Human Lands. They cut a bloody swath through Urwood and into the human country. However, just as the goblins had almost navigated out of Urwood, King Lionheart launched a daring surprise attack against the goblins who were weakened by their trek at the border of Cotswell.
The humans were winning and it seemed that the goblins would be routed when a mysterious portal opened in the Gray Swamp to the southeast and devils aided the goblins. Defeated and wounded the humans retreated to the town of Arugal to the south, home to a powerful archmage. The Archmage informed King Lionhart of the location of the Crown of Unity, and the King sent his most trusted squad to retrieve it from the Beastlands. However, in exchanged for this information, the kingdom now owes him a favor... Meanwhile, the goblins turned around and went through the faster but longer route to the human heartland. Because of their headstart, the goblins were able to destroy a medium sized chunk of the Duchy of Harvelle.
The squad was successful, and King Lionheart (with the crown) pursued Warlord Kargath Doomaxe until his army finally caught up. The armies dueled for 8 hours. Verid Lionheart was the victor, Kargath slain, but his wounds became infected (or perhaps he was poisoned) and he fell in the same battle, and his body was never recovered. His nephew, King Brock Lemmer II takes the throne, but it is suspected that Grand Vizier Desmond holds the real power.
The aftermath of the First Great War is still felt, and goblins now have a foothold in human land for the first time in centuries. They have infested the ruins of Lordun, the old and lost capital of the humans. The Westridge area is falling under the control of organized crime. Devils roam the Gray Swamps, leading to the founding of Nethergarde, a fortress protectorate of Marthol dedicated to keeping the demons at bay. The gnolls and their shadowy leader Skarr are on the rise, and are harassing the Marthol city-state itself. Urwood, the most forested part of the human lands, has been mostly razed, and the elves have grown more isolated in their island kingdom. The Dwarves in the south are locked in a deadly Cold War with the giants and their Azer slaves, even while being overrun in the south by the trolls of Troll Valley. Glazia, the frigid unofficial vassal of the humans has grown more and more unstable with the lack of military protection, and cultists of Orcus are slowly pervading the culture and raising the dead, and they are led by Grand-Lich Zhul’Nar. The biggest stronghold in the area, Valingrad, is seeing more and more cultists pervading the populace. On the Swash coast, dirty dealings seem to be going on. During the war, the government council of the Swash coast granted aid to the nearby human duchies, but were somehow untouched by the ravaging hordes of goblins. The duchy of Kiras is having rebellious thoughts, because of lack of compensation for their contributions to the army and its technology, hatred of Brock Lemmer, who hails from a bigger duchy, and a feeling of resentment that goblins were able to destroy some of their land. The Lionheart Citadel, pride of the human empire, is getting more dangerous by the day, with unruly peasants from the ravaged eastern countryside moving there and joining gangs for protection. Perhaps most frighteningly, Corazon Island’s closed portal to the outer planes has become unstable for the first time in centuries, with aberrations coming through and slaughtering the Keepers.
It is a time for heroes for the world of Morvenn.
[thanks for your time]
[$hitty Map of the western portion: http://s557.photobucket.com/albums/ss13/senorpenor42/?action=view¤t=WesternMorvell-1.jpg ]
1. Are you planning on having a Second Great War like the title implies?
2. Do you have a plan to navigate the PC's through the world, or are you going to let them choose where they go and when (sandboxing)?
Other than that it looks awesome. Congratulations.
2. Do you have a plan to navigate the PC's through the world, or are you going to let them choose where they go and when (sandboxing)?
The pcs are all going to have been in or around Urwood during the goblin attack, and will have escaped to nearby Nerith Vale (from the DMG, they're new players so I thought I'd try out that area). I will encourage them to help out the citizens of Nerith Vale, and after they've become local heroes I'm thinking of having the baron/lord/a government official ask them to help out pushing the goblins out of the countryside, where they hear about two powerful artifacts that was lost in the battle from the survivors of a routed platoon, The Crown of Lords and the Crown of Despots, two sentient crowns that were worn by the two generals, and who were the true but little known masterminds. Then... I don't know haha, maybe switch the order and have them help out in Westridge first, who knows? But thanks for both of your support stompie and acheron.
UPDATE: forgot about question 1. Hmm, I didn't think about that, but perhaps when the pcs get to paragon tier the Second Great War can happen, with Skarr the gnoll king leading demons and gnolls and rebel humans?... it's just an idea, but the focus of the campaign will be cleaning up the mess and preventing the spread of instability in the fabric of the world later on, maybe with some mystery, rebellion, and espionage in the mix, but not too much.
Also if you have any constructive criticism I'd love to hear it!
I like the idea, but it's all bunched together and hard to read. I'd recommend spacing it a bit.
sure, 1 sec
edit: done
The pcs are all going to have been in or around Urwood during the goblin attack, and will have escaped to nearby Nerith Vale (from the DMG, they're new players so I thought I'd try out that area). I will encourage them to help out the citizens of Nerith Vale, and after they've become local heroes I'm thinking of having the baron/lord/a government official ask them to help out pushing the goblins out of the countryside, where they hear about two powerful artifacts that was lost in the battle from the survivors of a routed platoon, The Crown of Lords and the Crown of Despots, two sentient crowns that were worn by the two generals, and who were the true but little known masterminds. Then... I don't know haha, maybe switch the order and have them help out in Westridge first, who knows? But thanks for both of your support stompie and acheron.
Ok because after reading your description i was honestly amazed at the amount of history you had provided and i think this has the potential to be an awesome campaign. Starting them off small is a good place to start your campaign/adventures. I still play 3.5 so i'm not sure how powerful these twin artifact crowns are, but just be careful of where you place them. i.e. not giving low-mid level PC's sentient crowns (especially if they were masterminds behind a scheme).
UPDATE: forgot about question 1. Hmm, I didn't think about that, but perhaps when the pcs get to paragon tier the Second Great War can happen, with Skarr the gnoll king leading demons and gnolls and rebel humans?... it's just an idea, but the focus of the campaign will be cleaning up the mess and preventing the spread of instability in the fabric of the world later on, maybe with some mystery, rebellion, and espionage in the mix, but not too much.
You could take a lesson from history here. The failures after WW1 to clean up the mess in Europe, and the decision to punish Germany, lead to the greatest conflict of the century (if not ever) a mere twenty years later.
ex. Have the human lands, Urwood, the Lionheart Citadel, and the other duchies, focus on internal problems; thus allowing Skarr to penetrate slowly into the human lands. Skarr can then launch an invasion into a deceptively unified area, possibly flanking them with the destabilized portal. Just ideas.
Feel free to pick and choose, alter, or cut some of these suggestions. Just happy to help
You could take a lesson from history here. The failures after WW1 to clean up the mess in Europe, and the decision to punish Germany, lead to the greatest conflict of the century (if not ever) a mere twenty years later.
ex. Have the human lands, Urwood, the Lionheart Citadel, and the other duchies, focus on internal problems; thus allowing Skarr to penetrate slowly into the human lands. Skarr can then launch an invasion into a deceptively unified area, possibly flanking them with the destabilized portal. Just ideas.
Awesome idea! That is a great idea. Thanks for all your support, and I will be sure not "give" the pcs the crowns, but if they obtain them how do I prevent them from being able to use them?
Perhaps the Crowns have different goals than the PCs who try to use them.
Hmm... if the crowns are very powerful, and have different goals from the pcs, they can't use 'em right? But what happens if they get the evil one? It could probably annihilate them since they're good guys, and they're low level.
Hmm... if the crowns are very powerful, and have different goals from the pcs, they can't use 'em right? But what happens if they get the evil one? It could probably annihilate them since they're good guys, and they're low level.
Have the 'evil' crown realize that the PC's have the potential to become powerfully connected. the crown can exploit this, convincing the party that s/he is their friend and willing to help them' but s/he is secretly plotting a coup to take a center of power with the PC's as his/her pawns. They wouldn't expect it until the very end, and after all the groundwork has been laid out and their actions are irreversible. Now they must find a way to undo their own work and oust the crown. (Think Star Wars here: the crown is palpatine and the PC's are Anakin. They are tricked/seduced to doing the crown's will and overthrowing the government and installing the crown as the supreme despot.)
Again feel free to tweak this how you see fit. hope it helps
Have the 'evil' crown realize that the PC's have the potential to become powerfully connected. the crown can exploit this, convincing the party that s/he is their friend and willing to help them' but s/he is secretly plotting a coup to take a center of power with the PC's as his/her pawns. They wouldn't expect it until the very end, and after all the groundwork has been laid out and their actions are irreversible. Now they must find a way to undo their own work and oust the crown. (Think Star Wars here: the crown is palpatine and the PC's are Anakin. They are tricked/seduced to doing the crown's will and overthrowing the government and installing the crown as the supreme despot.)
Again feel free to tweak this how you see fit. hope it helps
Cool, cool, cool. This is good stuff. There is one more question and one issue: what is preventing the low level pcs from using and being destroyed by these hugely powerful artifacts? The issue is, there would be an army lieutenant that survived the war but was barricaded with the remnants of his squad by goblins in a decrepit army outpost with very little food before the pcs got there helping the pcs out at first, and he would immediately be able to tell which crown is which (or would he?) as a relatively high ranked army officer.
The purpose of the liutenant is as a mentor, a helper for a short time and informant (the pcs are relatively ignorant before this) for the pcs at the beginning if you're wondering.
Thanks for all the help you're giving me!
PEACH
Cool, cool, cool. This is good stuff. There is one more question and one issue: what is preventing the low level pcs from using and being destroyed by these hugely powerful artifacts? The issue is, there would be an army lieutenant that survived the war but was barricaded with the remnants of his squad by goblins in a decrepit army outpost with very little food before the pcs got there helping the pcs out at first, and he would immediately be able to tell which crown is which (or would he?) as a relatively high ranked army officer.
The purpose of the liutenant is as a mentor, a helper for a short time and informant (the pcs are relatively ignorant before this) for the pcs at the beginning if you're wondering.
Thanks for all the help you're giving me!
The crowns could underplay their powers, so the PCs have no idea how powerful the crowns can be. If they were the masterminds behind the whole war, I imagine they are smart enough to adapt any plans to the situation.
The crowns could underplay their powers, so the PCs have no idea how powerful the crowns can be. If they were the masterminds behind the whole war, I imagine they are smart enough to adapt any plans to the situation.
That still doesn't stop the pcs from using them. Hmm...
That still doesn't stop the pcs from using them. Hmm...
Can you be more specific on how the PCs would use the crowns?
Can you be more specific on how the PCs would use the crowns?
I mean, to kill stuff... the crowns are very powerful, the most dominant artifacts in the land
The crowns are sentinent right? Well, lets say a PC has the crown and wants to use it to kill something...MISS. Try again...MISS. The PC will quickly learn that the crown is causing all his attacks and actions to fail. If the PC asks the crown what's going on, the crown can make some excuse, like the PC must prove worthy to use the power, or something like that.
Yeah that makes sense, ty
ex. the crown makes suggestions that lead to the PC's finding someone or something that will further the crown's plans. if you chose this plan then you should devise the crown's general scheme in advance.
Here's a question: Does the crown have connections? If yes, then it could tap these resources to save the PC's or move them out of harms way. of course all of this would be disguised as the PC's being the ones calling the shots, but really the crown is slowing putting together an elegant plan that will put it into a position of power.
ex. the crown makes suggestions that lead to the PC's finding someone or something that will further the crown's plans. if you chose this plan then you should devise the crown's general scheme in advance.
Wait are we talking about the evil crown or the good crown? Either way, this seems like a good idea, I just don't know how sneaky the good crown would/should be.
As for connections, the crowns, as very powerful artifacts, would probably have connections, yes.
Wait are we talking about the evil crown or the good crown? Either way, this seems like a good idea, I just don't know how sneaky the good crown would/should be.
the good crown doesn't have to be sneaky. (i was referring to the evil crown btw) it can openly consult with the PC's and use them to attack evil and return a peaceful kingdom to the land. the evil crown quests to do the opposite: it seeks to place itself on the throne and rule the land. the PC's could have a choice as to which one to chose and support? they can chose to quest with the good crown or adventure with the evil crown pursuing each crown's individual goals.
How about a twist? The good crown has chosen the party (or preferably a paladin/cleric) as worthy of its presence. it will only consort with the party and protect them. the evil crown is stolen and held by a rival antagonist and/or party who are rivals of the PC's and seek to thwart the crown's and PC's plans.
its complicated but could be awesome if well done
the good crown doesn't have to be sneaky. (i was referring to the evil crown btw) it can openly consult with the PC's and use them to attack evil and return a peaceful kingdom to the land. the evil crown quests to do the opposite: it seeks to place itself on the throne and rule the land. the PC's could have a choice as to which one to chose and support? they can chose to quest with the good crown or adventure with the evil crown pursuing each crown's individual goals.
How about a twist? The good crown has chosen the party (or preferably a paladin/cleric) as worthy of its presence. it will only consort with the party and protect them. the evil crown is stolen and held by a rival antagonist and/or party who are rivals of the PC's and seek to thwart the crown's and PC's plans.
its complicated but could be awesome if well done
That does sound pretty sweet! One problem: the good pc party consists of a warden, a ranger, and a bard, so there isn't a real "goody two shoes" archetype. Still that could could be very good if I was able to pull it off.
One problem: the good pc party consists of a warden, a ranger, and a bard, so there isn't a real "goody two shoes" archetype.
thats no problem. if any of your characters are good then they get picked. if they are all good then the most 'good' is chosen. the character doesn't have to be a champion of good and a defender of the poor, just someone with a good outlook on life
thats no problem. if any of your characters are good then they get picked. if they are all good then the most 'good' is chosen. the character doesn't have to be a champion of good and a defender of the poor, just someone with a good outlook on life
Wow you are so helpful lol!
One final question for you: we have the party, we have the books, and we have the campaign setting, but none of us truly know how to play mechanically. What is the best/fastest way to learn? I'm thinking of observing games at a local bookstore, but is there a better way that you know of?
Wow you are so helpful lol!
Thanks!
One final question for you: we have the party, we have the books, and we have the campaign setting, but none of us truly know how to play mechanically. What is the best/fastest way to learn? I'm thinking of observing games at a local bookstore, but is there a better way that you know of?
yeah, you could go observe games. this will help you out the most b/c you will see how to run the game. the best way to learn for your players however, is to play. start with easy stuff. i mean EASY stuff. give them goblins (or other easy creatures less than CR 1) every once in while. learning how to play starts with knowing when/how to roll the dice, then to strategy, and finally they'll start using the rules and their intricacies. it'll take time but is the surest way to learn
yeah, you could go observe games. this will help you out the most b/c you will see how to run the game. the best way to learn for your players however, is to play. start with easy stuff. i mean EASY stuff. give them goblins (or other easy creatures less than CR 1) every once in while. learning how to play starts with knowing when/how to roll the dice, then to strategy, and finally they'll start using the rules and their intricacies. it'll take time but is the surest way to learn
You mean like use the bread and butter miniature game and then slowly add rules?
You mean like use the bread and butter miniature game and then slowly add rules?
I dont know whats in the miniature game as far as content goes. I would recommend just giving them easy monsters for them to try out their new abilities on. they're going to make mistakes and so are you, but thats how you learn
On an unrelated note, does anyone have ideas as to how I could stick The Keep on Shadowfell in here somewhere?
Is this setup any good? I hope it's not too dense! Critiques and suggestions are not discouraged, and are in fact highly encouraged if you choose to take the time.
Its a very good background for a campaign and perhaps more importantly really details the recent history of the setting for the players. A lot of more generic settings dont quite get that part right. However, you should be prepared for when your players start (and they may not) asking you about the deeper history of the setting. Nothing that you need to detail so much but if you have a history buff in your group you may get questions like how old is the kingdom? Who founded it? Are there any legends we should know? Like I said its not important, just something to perhaps give some thought to.
...but his wounds became infected (or perhaps he was poisoned) and he fell in the same battle, and his body was never recovered. His nephew, King Brock Lemmer II takes the throne, but it is suspected that Grand Vizier Desmond holds the real power.
Here is a thought that I dont think anyone else has brought up yet: If the Grand Vizier is indeed the power behind the throne, then perhaps it is he who has the evil crown? Of course that is a little obvious... Perhaps someone close the Vizier is using the crown to manipulate him? Perhaps the Vizier is loking for the crown himself and will not brook any interference from the PC's? Then again it is possible that the Vizier is just doing what he feels is best for the Kingdom. There is also the possibility that the Kingdom's forces are involved and distracted by unrest throughout the Kingdom caused by the percieved control exerted by the Vizier.
The aftermath of the First Great War is still felt, and goblins now have a foothold in human land for the first time in centuries. They have infested the ruins of Lordun, the old and lost capital of the humans.
Perhaps at some point in the campaign your players could be a part of the effort to recover the ruins of Lordun from the Goblins. From the initial scouting missions to 'special op's" style missions during the actual battles and seiges this could prove an interesting departure. Plus strictly from a rpg point of view it would be a great morale boost to the people and military of the Kingdom to recover the Old Capital from the invaders.
The Westridge area is falling under the control of organized crime. Devils roam the Gray Swamps, leading to the founding of Nethergarde, a fortress protectorate of Marthol dedicated to keeping the demons at bay. The gnolls and their shadowy leader Skarr are on the rise, and are harassing the Marthol city-state itself.
It would be possible to have Skarr be the new wearer of the crown of Evil, I suppose. But it might be more interesting to have the Vizier (or some other Big Baddie or Ill-Informed Scholar) send the PC's off to investigate the Gnoll believing that Skarr has it, when in reality he doesnt. Skarr may just be an exceptional leader is all. Of course if he is looking for the crown (why wouldnt he? If he finds out about that is) then you might have a three way race for the two crowns.
Urwood, the most forested part of the human lands, has been mostly razed... Glazia, the frigid unofficial vassal of the humans has grown more and more unstable with the lack of military protection, and cultists of Orcus are slowly pervading the culture and raising the dead, and they are led by Grand-Lich Zhul’Nar. The biggest stronghold in the area, Valingrad, is seeing more and more cultists pervading the populace. On the Swash coast, dirty dealings seem to be going on. During the war, the government council of the Swash coast granted aid to the nearby human duchies, but were somehow untouched by the ravaging hordes of goblins. The duchy of Kiras is having rebellious thoughts, because of lack of compensation for their contributions to the army and its technology, hatred of Brock Lemmer, who hails from a bigger duchy, and a feeling of resentment that goblins were able to destroy some of their land. The Lionheart Citadel, pride of the human empire, is getting more dangerous by the day, with unruly peasants from the ravaged eastern countryside moving there and joining gangs for protection.
Sounds like your Kingdom is ripe for a little Civil Unrest, rebellion, and Civil War. Maybe your players will be instumental in defeating that? Perhaps the Gnolls and/or Goblins could take advantage of the problems and forge an alliance with the Orcus worshippers as well. Just some thoughts of course. :D
And of course remember what Human history has shown us: The 'Second Great War' is always more devestating than the First.
Interesting times indeed seem to be in store for your Kingdom and the Adventurers that arise to defend her.
On an unrelated note, does anyone have ideas as to how I could stick The Keep on Shadowfell in here somewhere?
Perhaps if you feel that the Kingdom would want to recover the Old Capital then The Keep on shadowfell could be worked in as the first step in the process? It doent matter that the retaking of Lordun might not happen for a long time to come, but it could be an important first step to that goal by giving the Kingom's military a base of operations.
Other than that I have little knowledge of the particular adventure. Just thinking of how it might fit into a campaign. I do not mean to imply a military campaign here, for your PC's at least, just thinking of possibilities.
By the way, nice map.
Perhaps if you feel that the Kingdom would want to recover the Old Capital then The Keep on shadowfell could be worked in as the first step in the process? It doent matter that the retaking of Lordun might not happen for a long time to come, but it could be an important first step to that goal by giving the Kingom's military a base of operations.
Other than that I have little knowledge of the particular adventure. Just thinking of how it might fit into a campaign. I do not mean to imply a military campaign here, for your PC's at least, just thinking of possibilities.
By the way, nice map.
Well, I'm not sure the old capital is a huge concern. Since the time that it was the capital, the humans have moved west and erected the cities Lionheart Citadel, the heart of the land, Alterak, the magical center, and Mork-Ankor, the trade hub. A more pressing concern is probably the nearness of the goblins to the heartland.
Thanks for the map compliment!
On to your earlier comments, I'll reply block by block: it seems a little unlikely that people would care too much about those things, but it is possible and I could probably ad lib. I may make up some history beforehand since it sounds fun and post it though.
Civil war! awesome! I dunno if you saw but the kingdom of Harvelle was planning rebellion so that could play out well.
Like I said, the capital had been in ruins well before the goblins, and taking it back wouldn't be very strategic.
The idea of the pcs thinking that Skarr had the crown but that he doesn't sounds really good, and so does the 3 way race. However, how could the pcs compete with gnolls, devils, and their own kingdom, in heroic tier?
Civil war is always interesting, so that'll probably happen.
Indeed, and from what you've been saying, a civil war + old enemies = an even more devastating war.
Thanks!
One other thing, I crafted a starting encounter I could use, and I need feedbacks http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1190995
The idea of the pcs thinking that Skarr had the crown but that he doesn't sounds really good, and so does the 3 way race. However, how could the pcs compete with gnolls, devils, and their own kingdom, in heroic tier?
Well, they wouldnt necessarily be competing against their own kingdom per se, perhaps only against the Vizier's forces. As the Vizier is not on the throne yet, he may have to search covertly for the crowns as opposed to sending the army out in force. Think of Cardinal Richelieu and the Three Musketeers as an example here.
The King, realizing that his power has been largely usurped by the Vizier, may consider the crown of good to be his way to defeat not only the enemies encroaching from without but the threat to the throne from his own Vizier. The King, while playing along with the Vizier's plans has intermediaries contact the PC's to begin their own search. After all it is possible the PC's have proven themselves loyal to the throne.
Another option might be to have the Kings messenger traveling to a meeting with another company of adventurer's when he is ambushed. The PC's drive off the ambushers and rescue the messenger only to have him die soon after. However the PC's then discover the message and/or the messenger asks them to deliver it to the other party. When the PC's arrive to make the delivery they find that the other party has been ambushed as well. This other party probably shouldnt be much more powerful than the current PC group though. At this point the characters should decide where their loyalties lie. Hopefully they make the right decision and side with the King, continuing the quest. This has the advantage of making them relatively unknown to the Vizier and thus able to move about easier for at least a short time.
Of course all of this requires coincidence to occur on something of a large scale, but that is actually fairly common in Fantasy. After all, the suspension of disbelief to believe that you accidentally stumbled on an ambush is less than that required to think of Magic or Gods existing. ;)
Anyway, just a few ideas for how to make it work if you decide to go that route. Your group is as unique, like all gaming groups are so you will have to work details out for yourself. But the ideas should work for a group loyal to the throne, or perhaps even a group loyal only to their own self interests. :D
and second wouldn't it be hard to tone down encounters of that magnitude?
the PC's leave a trail of messy encounters behind them as they search for the crown. the vizier becomes aware that there is a third (or fourth/fifth? i lost count) party that has entered the fray searching for the crowns. he should stay a couple steps behind the PC's because of the confusion and the other chaos breaking out. he will then discover who they are, and then it's decision time.
1. does he quietly try to remove them from the picture by having one of his pawns kill (or try to kill) them?
2. does he convince and/or blackmail the king into declaring them enemies of the state?
3. does he try to bring them onto his side using some sort of false promise?
4. does he do some different and unexpected?
these options will allow for combat and some fun roleplay. plot twists abound as the PC's trudge forward, so really anything is possible
the PC's leave a trail of messy encounters behind them as they search for the crown. the vizier becomes aware that there is a third (or fourth/fifth? i lost count) party that has entered the fray searching for the crowns. he should stay a couple steps behind the PC's because of the confusion and the other chaos breaking out. he will then discover who they are, and then it's decision time.
1. does he quietly try to remove them from the picture by having one of his pawns kill (or try to kill) them?
2. does he convince and/or blackmail the king into declaring them enemies of the state?
3. does he try to bring them onto his side using some sort of false promise?
4. does he do some different and unexpected?
these options will allow for combat and some fun roleplay. plot twists abound as the PC's trudge forward, so really anything is possible
Thanks, this is really good!