My Darksun Hook - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

My Darksun Hook

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
valeshdemon
Oct 04, 2007 23:49:34 So, I'm starting a campaign starting in Draj and going to Tyr from there.

The game begins with the party waking up about 8-10 miles from Draj, tied to the ground (using deep stakes) wearing nothing but their sleep clothing. It's around sunrise, and the characters are in a hurry to free themselves. After about an hour and a half of trying to free themselves (if they dont before then) a strange hermit comes and frees them, and tells them he saw the people who did this leave in the direction of Draj. He gives them some water, gives them a description of the people, and sends them on their way, as he gibbers off in the opposite direction. After they arrive in Draj, they have to find the people who did this and find out why...

So, that's my starting hook. Each person in the party is wanted dead by someone powerful, so this person hires an assasin, who's got more of an emphasis on style than effectiveness. So what do you guys think?
#2
thebrax
Oct 05, 2007 15:27:40
So, I'm starting a campaign starting in Draj and going to Tyr from there.

The game begins with the party waking up about 8-10 miles from Draj, tied to the ground (using deep stakes) wearing nothing but their sleep clothing. It's around sunrise, and the characters are in a hurry to free themselves. After about an hour and a half of trying to free themselves (if they dont before then) a strange hermit comes and frees them, and tells them he saw the people who did this leave in the direction of Draj. He gives them some water, gives them a description of the people, and sends them on their way, as he gibbers off in the opposite direction.

You'll need to answer some important initial questions such as do the PCs know each other, their previous backgrounds, etc.

After they arrive in Draj, they have to find the people who did this and find out why...

So, that's my starting hook. Each person in the party is wanted dead by someone powerful, so this person hires an assasin, who's got more of an emphasis on style than effectiveness.

Style is the reason that the assassin staked them out and didn't watch to make sure the job was finished? Or am I misunderstanding you?

If this was the assassin's work, and it really is near Draj, of all places, then why would the assassin not instead bribe templars in Draj or falsely plant something on the PCs to accuse them of stealing? That's how easy it is to get a bunch of foreigners sacrificed in Draj.

OTOH if one or more of the PCs is Draji, particularly noble born or a member of one of the artisan Tecpans (sp?), then staking them out might be more believable. But that's cultural background that you'd need to provide.

I think you need some reason better than "style" to explain why the assassin would resort to such a flawed method of execution. Could be that the assassin staked them out for some sort of religious purpose, e.g. sacrificing them to the sun. Or maybe staking in the sun would be part of some ritual that wipes the PC's memories, so that he could sell them as slaves while telling his employer that he'd executed them. Memory wipe would help you get away with not providing detailed PC backgrounds, and letting the players discover the world cold, as their PCs find stuff out.

Just my two beads.
#3
valeshdemon
Oct 06, 2007 0:41:44 As far as the assasin's "style" is concerned, his employer didnt pay him enough for thuroughness. The "leaving them and assuming they die" is kind of his way of saying "you should have upgraded to the platinum plan". He also assumed that the poison he gave them would make them stay asleep long enough to let the sun do the dirty work. (he's rather overconfident in his own abilities...) The PC's dont have to know eachother, but if they do, it's theyre choice. So far we dont have any Draji nobles or any merchant families, but only half of the party is finished with theyre characters.
#4
thebrax
Oct 06, 2007 2:14:59 The Tecpans aren't merchants; they are artisans, i.e. the middle class of Draj. If you're starting in that area, I'd strongly recommend CSoD for background and ideas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 valeshdemon Oct 04, 2007 23:49:34	So, I'm starting a campaign starting in Draj and going to Tyr from there. The game begins with the party waking up about 8-10 miles from Draj, tied to the ground (using deep stakes) wearing nothing but their sleep clothing. It's around sunrise, and the characters are in a hurry to free themselves. After about an hour and a half of trying to free themselves (if they dont before then) a strange hermit comes and frees them, and tells them he saw the people who did this leave in the direction of Draj. He gives them some water, gives them a description of the people, and sends them on their way, as he gibbers off in the opposite direction. After they arrive in Draj, they have to find the people who did this and find out why... So, that's my starting hook. Each person in the party is wanted dead by someone powerful, so this person hires an assasin, who's got more of an emphasis on style than effectiveness. So what do you guys think?
#2 thebrax Oct 05, 2007 15:27:40	So, I'm starting a campaign starting in Draj and going to Tyr from there. The game begins with the party waking up about 8-10 miles from Draj, tied to the ground (using deep stakes) wearing nothing but their sleep clothing. It's around sunrise, and the characters are in a hurry to free themselves. After about an hour and a half of trying to free themselves (if they dont before then) a strange hermit comes and frees them, and tells them he saw the people who did this leave in the direction of Draj. He gives them some water, gives them a description of the people, and sends them on their way, as he gibbers off in the opposite direction. You'll need to answer some important initial questions such as do the PCs know each other, their previous backgrounds, etc. After they arrive in Draj, they have to find the people who did this and find out why... So, that's my starting hook. Each person in the party is wanted dead by someone powerful, so this person hires an assasin, who's got more of an emphasis on style than effectiveness. Style is the reason that the assassin staked them out and didn't watch to make sure the job was finished? Or am I misunderstanding you? If this was the assassin's work, and it really is near Draj, of all places, then why would the assassin not instead bribe templars in Draj or falsely plant something on the PCs to accuse them of stealing? That's how easy it is to get a bunch of foreigners sacrificed in Draj. OTOH if one or more of the PCs is Draji, particularly noble born or a member of one of the artisan Tecpans (sp?), then staking them out might be more believable. But that's cultural background that you'd need to provide. I think you need some reason better than "style" to explain why the assassin would resort to such a flawed method of execution. Could be that the assassin staked them out for some sort of religious purpose, e.g. sacrificing them to the sun. Or maybe staking in the sun would be part of some ritual that wipes the PC's memories, so that he could sell them as slaves while telling his employer that he'd executed them. Memory wipe would help you get away with not providing detailed PC backgrounds, and letting the players discover the world cold, as their PCs find stuff out. Just my two beads.
#3 valeshdemon Oct 06, 2007 0:41:44	As far as the assasin's "style" is concerned, his employer didnt pay him enough for thuroughness. The "leaving them and assuming they die" is kind of his way of saying "you should have upgraded to the platinum plan". He also assumed that the poison he gave them would make them stay asleep long enough to let the sun do the dirty work. (he's rather overconfident in his own abilities...) The PC's dont have to know eachother, but if they do, it's theyre choice. So far we dont have any Draji nobles or any merchant families, but only half of the party is finished with theyre characters.
#4 thebrax Oct 06, 2007 2:14:59	The Tecpans aren't merchants; they are artisans, i.e. the middle class of Draj. If you're starting in that area, I'd strongly recommend CSoD for background and ideas.