Expanding the Emerlas for a campaign
by Antonio EleuteriI am thinking about running a campaign in the Emerlas, the region outlined in the module O2-"The Blade of Vengeance". I'd use the same locations, but before the events in the module. Any suggestions on low-level scenarios which might be set there?
Ideally, they (or some of them) would foreshadow the events in the module, and the characters should gain enough XPs to reach a level appropriate to face the challenges in O2 (note it will be with a small party; at least 3 PCs, possibly with hirelings, so the characters won't be as high-level as the single PC in the module.)
I have the Elves of Alfheim gazetteer, though I haven't read it thoroughly, it doesn't seem there are any references at all to O2 nor the area. Am I missing something?
Sadly, the original plan never came to fruition.
Six years later, my kids are old enough to play (11 and 7), and they (well, at least the older one) seem interested in campaign play. I think the Emerlas area is simple enough to not be overwhelming (in terms of details), and should be easily expandable if there's need.
In fact, we already run a session, which however wasn't focused on a setting. I ran the introductory solo scenario in Mentzer's Basic set as a two-player scenario (my son is playing a Ranger, my daughter a...Wolf). They got to meet Aleena and Bargle. After Bargle managed to escape, they brought the body of Aleena (I ran the fight and she still managed to die...) to the local Temple of Law. They learned that Wizards and Ghouls are Bad News
So after thinking a while whether I wanted to set the scenario in Karameikos, I finally opted for the Emerlas, and the town where they start (and where the Temple of Law is located) is Scrubton. Thinking about Scrubton, the module mentions it's a "hamlet", so given the other areas (for example Oakendale) I think 100 adults should be a reasonable figure. For Granitgape (possibly a Syrklist clan outpost interested in trading?) I was thinking 500 adults should be reasonable, and in keeping with examples in GAZ6.
Not sure whether Dorneryll would qualify as a community at all, considering it's just one extended family; though they could provide some limited services and trade with the other communities (e.g. they may make and sell short bows?) Given the position of the Emerlas in Canolbarth, I am thinking that the Dorneryll elves might be of the Grunalf clan.
In Scrubton there is a Temple of Law, and the temple sends some clerics around the Emerlas to help and proselitize; three of these we know from the module are in Oakendale (Lina Vauzel, Astra Smiemass, Ida Cutler) and they run a Shrine of Law.
In terms of racial demographics, I would think all three communities (Scrubton, Granitgape, Oakendale) count as effectively isolated. Based on their closeness, I would say:
Scrubton: 96% human, 2% dwarf, 1% halfling, 1% other (elf, gnome)
Granitgape: 96% dwarf, 2% gnome, 1% human, 1% other (elf, halfling)
Oakendale: 96% halfling, 4% human
To tie my kids' characters to the setting, I was thinking the Ranger (Cyril) might be related (son? nephew?) to Rhonda and Ragnal, the two herbalists (which I am converting to 3e Druids), and the Wolf (Daisy) might come from the same litter as the Redleaf's wolf, Rabidty. My son stated that his character was a soldier of some type, perhaps he is employed as part of the militia of Scrubton, or he is a mercenary of sort, and his first job was to capture or kill Bargle the bandit. But what is Bargle doing with Goblins? Was he looking for something in the caves near Scrubton?
So anyway, these are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Any comments, (constructive) criticism, and suggestions are welcome!