Adventures Set During the Greyhawk Wars... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Adventures Set During the Greyhawk Wars...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jan 14, 2004 0:21:33 Any suggestions as to how I should involve my PC's in the Greyhawk Wars? Mind you, these are people totally unfamiliar with Greyhawk, even its basic concepts like Iuz or the Circle of Eight, etc.

I want very much to involve the PC's, who are from Geoff, The Principality of Ulek, Celene and the Pomarj respectively in the wars, but I'm not really sure how I should prepare. I don't want to have them sit by idly while their homelands are ravaged, but I also don't want to change the course of the war.

I figure that once the Wars are over I will probably lead them through the Against the Giants campaign, possibly using the 25th anniversary module the Liberation of Geoff. But how to get them involved? I figure that if they are willing and able to take down the Temple of Elemental Evil some of them might be given great accolades by Verbobonc, possibly becoming agents of that free city... Before the war breaks out I want to see how they fare against the original slavers (hence my post concerning original slave lords...), where will that leave the PC's? Do I try and get them involved in the search for the Blades of Vatun, letting them in on the fact that Iuz is the False Vatun? Or should I just let things disintegrate around them?

Also, are there any published modules concerning adventures in the course of the Greyhawk Wars?
#2
zombiegleemax
Jan 14, 2004 1:46:12 The best way to involve them in the wars is to involve them in the wars.

What I mean by this is that their character backgrounds should be written up to give the incentive to get involved. Discuss the characters history with the player and develop with him deep roots associated with his homeland. Make sure to develop the relationships he has with people within his homeland. Friends, family, etc. who was his mentor that he trained under? Any enemies? Use your knowledge of Celene to manipulate this history a little to include things like a bond with the Knights of Luna. Perhaps a friend is a member or the character aspires to be a member?

The more you integrate the character into the background of the setting, the easier it is for you as a DM to draw upon that background and manipulate the player.

For instance, in the above example, let's say you've suggested something along the lines of the character wanting to become a hippogriff rider in the royal companion guard of the the Fairie Queen and the player is all excited about it and can't wait to develop his character in that direction.

Have a minor adventure related to something like him having to deliver a message to the King of Furyondy. During his journey through Furyondy, he sees the horrors Iuz is inflicting upon the land. Have him be personally affected by it like maybe a cohort you roleplay as a great friend to the character, finds his family slaughtered by Iuzian forces or something. Basically manipulate the story so that he fervently becomes opposed to the fiend and all his vile ways. Then when he delivers the message to the King, he's on the sidelines whilst it's read and he sees the reaction. It was the note from Yolande refusing aid to the King!

Suddenly, the character is caught in a major conflict of interest and, lo and behold, is very much involved in the Greyhawk Wars.
#3
zombiegleemax
Jan 14, 2004 14:29:53 Your campaign seems to be set around Keoland and the South Western Flanaess. Plenty happens there during the wars. I would not try to involve your characters in the Iuz/Vatun/Barbarians part of the war. They may not even ever know about that aspect. They will be busy with the Humanoids of the Pomarj, the Giant problem and the Scartlet brotherhoods assaults on the Keolandish southern coast.

Patriots of Ulek Module WGQ1
Location Principality of Ulek
Date Completed 585 CY
Consequences Half of the Principality of Ulek was captured, with the fate of Prinzfeld unspecified. Some of the lost lands were recovered in 586 CY.
References Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, page 121

is clearly set during the wars in your area. However I believe it is for first or low level characters. It should have plenty of idea material for your campaign, even if its to low level to run as is.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jan 14, 2004 14:47:54 Thanks for the campaign ideas! Now all I have to do is hope that everyone doesn't die the next time they run across an owlbear... It seems like everyday I find out about some source material that I missed while I was out of the Dungeons and Dragons loop throughout the 90's... Time to get cracking!
#5
Argon
Jan 14, 2004 22:28:40
Your campaign seems to be set around Keoland and the South Western Flanaess. Plenty happens there during the wars. I would not try to involve your characters in the Iuz/Vatun/Barbarians part of the war. They may not even ever know about that aspect. They will be busy with the Humanoids of the Pomarj, the Giant problem and the Scartlet brotherhoods assaults on the Keolandish southern coast.

Nice suggestion Rostoff I agree where the Blades of Corusk and the whole Pomarj and Keoland area are worlds apart. You don't need to include your PC's in the entire war.

What I mean by this is that their character backgrounds should be written up to give the incentive to get involved. Discuss the characters history with the player and develop with him deep roots associated with his homeland. Make sure to develop the relationships he has with people within his homeland. Friends, family, etc. who was his mentor that he trained under? Any enemies? Use your knowledge of Celene to manipulate this history a little to include things like a bond with the Knights of Luna. Perhaps a friend is a member or the character aspires to be a member?

Not bad Delglath, yes background is a great way to get Pc's involved in the campaign.

I want very much to involve the PC's, who are from Geoff, The Principality of Ulek, Celene and the Pomarj respectively in the wars, but I'm not really sure how I should prepare. I don't want to have them sit by idly while their homelands are ravaged, but I also don't want to change the course of the war.

Involve your Pc's perhaps on the Ulek border the Pomarj forces push into the Principality and conquer some of it's territory. When the Principality is looking to get a resurgent of soldiers to their borders it might be good for the Pc's to return to Geoff and then you could run Against the Giants. If the Pc's survive the war in the Pricipality then the Ulek PC's will be indebted to his friend from Geoff and that's how he can be involved while the PC from Celene could be looking to distance himself from the Faire Kingdom and also be looking for a place to hide himself as many Ulek people will blame the elves of Celene for some of their plight.

This way you keep thing's focused on the Sheldomar Valley area and your PC's don't have to travel the length of the Flanaess for the wars.
#6
cebrion
Jan 17, 2004 2:19:54 In my campaign, the Greyhawk Wars are currently in progress.
Many of the pc's are directly involved in one way or another. One group is going through the Forge of Fury, looking for ancient caches of Dwarven forged weapons and armor to bolster the Safeton forces and Ulek states through sanctioned arms dealers. That is the newest group(with which we started using the 3e/3.5 rules). Their actions may end up affecting many groups, from the forces of Safeton and thereabouts, the Knights of Luna, the defenders of the Welkwood and Gnarley Forest, and the Ulek states. The effects of their actions will be mostly minor, but may come back to help or hurt them in the future.

One of the more longstanding groups has survived the Temple of Elemental Evil, completing a certain task(which I will not mention if anybody is yet to go through the adventure- it rocks!) which garnered the great favor of Furyondy and Veluna. One of the principle pc's(a paladin from a minor Furyondian noble family) was deeded a border keep just north of Crockport on an inlet of Whitesyl Lake. Well, while the knight was away adventuring(Scourge of the Slave Lords), the Greyhawk Wars hit the fan. The keep fell to the forces of Iuz, his family lands have fallen as well, he doesn't know the status of his family and friends and servants, AND he is now riding with a gathering of southern Furyondian lords, knights, warriors, and others to break the siege of Chendl! It would be an understatement to say that everyone involved in these events is not sucked into the action. They are even showing signs of plotting their own schemes themselves! There are lots of other pc's and npc's from my campaign involved in the Greyhawk Wars, but they are too numerous to describe here. The above examples give you an idea of how I have involved charcters in the Greyhawk Wars in my campaign.

Even the most minor adventures can be used to suck pc's into the Greyhawk Wars, simply by changing a few of the reasons that they are there, or changing a few of the villains goals or who they serve and to what purpose. Think about what is going on in the adventure and then think about how it could aid/benefit any of the various powers in the lands of Greyhawk. Then simply tweek the adventure to suit your purpose

I hope these ideas help you a bit.

---Brian
#7
carlanco
Jan 17, 2004 9:02:29 Hi all!

In our ongoing campaign, which is set in Tenh, all the characters are being affected differently by the Wars. Some losing their friends and family, others geeting sepparated from their homeland, etc.

It all begun in the north with minor adventures, but soon they were searching for the Fifth Blade, fighting for it with Iuzian agents, scouting in the Stonefist behind enemy liens, fleeing from the invading combined forces of barbarians and giants, wittnessing the fall of their homeland and more!

Now hate and revenge drive their quest to retake their homeland.

Gabriel

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jan 14, 2004 0:21:33	Any suggestions as to how I should involve my PC's in the Greyhawk Wars? Mind you, these are people totally unfamiliar with Greyhawk, even its basic concepts like Iuz or the Circle of Eight, etc. I want very much to involve the PC's, who are from Geoff, The Principality of Ulek, Celene and the Pomarj respectively in the wars, but I'm not really sure how I should prepare. I don't want to have them sit by idly while their homelands are ravaged, but I also don't want to change the course of the war. I figure that once the Wars are over I will probably lead them through the Against the Giants campaign, possibly using the 25th anniversary module the Liberation of Geoff. But how to get them involved? I figure that if they are willing and able to take down the Temple of Elemental Evil some of them might be given great accolades by Verbobonc, possibly becoming agents of that free city... Before the war breaks out I want to see how they fare against the original slavers (hence my post concerning original slave lords...), where will that leave the PC's? Do I try and get them involved in the search for the Blades of Vatun, letting them in on the fact that Iuz is the False Vatun? Or should I just let things disintegrate around them? Also, are there any published modules concerning adventures in the course of the Greyhawk Wars?
#2 zombiegleemax Jan 14, 2004 1:46:12	The best way to involve them in the wars is to involve them in the wars. What I mean by this is that their character backgrounds should be written up to give the incentive to get involved. Discuss the characters history with the player and develop with him deep roots associated with his homeland. Make sure to develop the relationships he has with people within his homeland. Friends, family, etc. who was his mentor that he trained under? Any enemies? Use your knowledge of Celene to manipulate this history a little to include things like a bond with the Knights of Luna. Perhaps a friend is a member or the character aspires to be a member? The more you integrate the character into the background of the setting, the easier it is for you as a DM to draw upon that background and manipulate the player. For instance, in the above example, let's say you've suggested something along the lines of the character wanting to become a hippogriff rider in the royal companion guard of the the Fairie Queen and the player is all excited about it and can't wait to develop his character in that direction. Have a minor adventure related to something like him having to deliver a message to the King of Furyondy. During his journey through Furyondy, he sees the horrors Iuz is inflicting upon the land. Have him be personally affected by it like maybe a cohort you roleplay as a great friend to the character, finds his family slaughtered by Iuzian forces or something. Basically manipulate the story so that he fervently becomes opposed to the fiend and all his vile ways. Then when he delivers the message to the King, he's on the sidelines whilst it's read and he sees the reaction. It was the note from Yolande refusing aid to the King! Suddenly, the character is caught in a major conflict of interest and, lo and behold, is very much involved in the Greyhawk Wars.
#3 zombiegleemax Jan 14, 2004 14:29:53	Your campaign seems to be set around Keoland and the South Western Flanaess. Plenty happens there during the wars. I would not try to involve your characters in the Iuz/Vatun/Barbarians part of the war. They may not even ever know about that aspect. They will be busy with the Humanoids of the Pomarj, the Giant problem and the Scartlet brotherhoods assaults on the Keolandish southern coast. Patriots of Ulek Module WGQ1 Location Principality of Ulek Date Completed 585 CY Consequences Half of the Principality of Ulek was captured, with the fate of Prinzfeld unspecified. Some of the lost lands were recovered in 586 CY. References Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, page 121 is clearly set during the wars in your area. However I believe it is for first or low level characters. It should have plenty of idea material for your campaign, even if its to low level to run as is.
#4 zombiegleemax Jan 14, 2004 14:47:54	Thanks for the campaign ideas! Now all I have to do is hope that everyone doesn't die the next time they run across an owlbear... It seems like everyday I find out about some source material that I missed while I was out of the Dungeons and Dragons loop throughout the 90's... Time to get cracking!
#5 Argon Jan 14, 2004 22:28:40	Your campaign seems to be set around Keoland and the South Western Flanaess. Plenty happens there during the wars. I would not try to involve your characters in the Iuz/Vatun/Barbarians part of the war. They may not even ever know about that aspect. They will be busy with the Humanoids of the Pomarj, the Giant problem and the Scartlet brotherhoods assaults on the Keolandish southern coast. Nice suggestion Rostoff I agree where the Blades of Corusk and the whole Pomarj and Keoland area are worlds apart. You don't need to include your PC's in the entire war. What I mean by this is that their character backgrounds should be written up to give the incentive to get involved. Discuss the characters history with the player and develop with him deep roots associated with his homeland. Make sure to develop the relationships he has with people within his homeland. Friends, family, etc. who was his mentor that he trained under? Any enemies? Use your knowledge of Celene to manipulate this history a little to include things like a bond with the Knights of Luna. Perhaps a friend is a member or the character aspires to be a member? Not bad Delglath, yes background is a great way to get Pc's involved in the campaign. I want very much to involve the PC's, who are from Geoff, The Principality of Ulek, Celene and the Pomarj respectively in the wars, but I'm not really sure how I should prepare. I don't want to have them sit by idly while their homelands are ravaged, but I also don't want to change the course of the war. Involve your Pc's perhaps on the Ulek border the Pomarj forces push into the Principality and conquer some of it's territory. When the Principality is looking to get a resurgent of soldiers to their borders it might be good for the Pc's to return to Geoff and then you could run Against the Giants. If the Pc's survive the war in the Pricipality then the Ulek PC's will be indebted to his friend from Geoff and that's how he can be involved while the PC from Celene could be looking to distance himself from the Faire Kingdom and also be looking for a place to hide himself as many Ulek people will blame the elves of Celene for some of their plight. This way you keep thing's focused on the Sheldomar Valley area and your PC's don't have to travel the length of the Flanaess for the wars.
#6 cebrion Jan 17, 2004 2:19:54	In my campaign, the Greyhawk Wars are currently in progress. Many of the pc's are directly involved in one way or another. One group is going through the Forge of Fury, looking for ancient caches of Dwarven forged weapons and armor to bolster the Safeton forces and Ulek states through sanctioned arms dealers. That is the newest group(with which we started using the 3e/3.5 rules). Their actions may end up affecting many groups, from the forces of Safeton and thereabouts, the Knights of Luna, the defenders of the Welkwood and Gnarley Forest, and the Ulek states. The effects of their actions will be mostly minor, but may come back to help or hurt them in the future. One of the more longstanding groups has survived the Temple of Elemental Evil, completing a certain task(which I will not mention if anybody is yet to go through the adventure- it rocks!) which garnered the great favor of Furyondy and Veluna. One of the principle pc's(a paladin from a minor Furyondian noble family) was deeded a border keep just north of Crockport on an inlet of Whitesyl Lake. Well, while the knight was away adventuring(Scourge of the Slave Lords), the Greyhawk Wars hit the fan. The keep fell to the forces of Iuz, his family lands have fallen as well, he doesn't know the status of his family and friends and servants, AND he is now riding with a gathering of southern Furyondian lords, knights, warriors, and others to break the siege of Chendl! It would be an understatement to say that everyone involved in these events is not sucked into the action. They are even showing signs of plotting their own schemes themselves! There are lots of other pc's and npc's from my campaign involved in the Greyhawk Wars, but they are too numerous to describe here. The above examples give you an idea of how I have involved charcters in the Greyhawk Wars in my campaign. Even the most minor adventures can be used to suck pc's into the Greyhawk Wars, simply by changing a few of the reasons that they are there, or changing a few of the villains goals or who they serve and to what purpose. Think about what is going on in the adventure and then think about how it could aid/benefit any of the various powers in the lands of Greyhawk. Then simply tweek the adventure to suit your purpose I hope these ideas help you a bit. ---Brian
#7 carlanco Jan 17, 2004 9:02:29	Hi all! In our ongoing campaign, which is set in Tenh, all the characters are being affected differently by the Wars. Some losing their friends and family, others geeting sepparated from their homeland, etc. It all begun in the north with minor adventures, but soon they were searching for the Fifth Blade, fighting for it with Iuzian agents, scouting in the Stonefist behind enemy liens, fleeing from the invading combined forces of barbarians and giants, wittnessing the fall of their homeland and more! Now hate and revenge drive their quest to retake their homeland. Gabriel