As many of you know, I am starting up a new D&D campaign. My players have all created their characters and it looks like it is going to be a dynamic and interesting party.
Our adventure will commence at the Keep on the Borderlands. I have been able to figure out how to get all of the PCs interested in exploring the Caves of Chaos except for one. One of my players has created a first level Magic-User who quite content with his life as a cook. Currently, this character is employeed by the military and he is responsible for making sure that the Duke's forces that are stationed at the Keep are well feed.
This character's parents were slain by Bargle the Infamous, but I don't want to play that card just yet. I am going to hold onto that little bit of information until the players are of sufficent level to do something about it.
I am trying to avoid placing a friend in peril for a couple of reasons. First, I am certain that I will want to use that old ploy at a latter date. Secondly, I need to come up with something that will force this character to leave this position forever. Naturally, I don't want to screw over the character. I just want to nudge him out the door and down the road toward the Caves of Chaos.
I could have an immortal send him a dream; however, I am planning on using that one on the party's cleric. I don't want to get repetitive.
In any event, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
Years later, the Captain returned to his bar, resuming his old role as bar owner and making his special cheese soup. But he now had found memories of adventuring, battling evil, slaying Evil Demi-Gods and saving the world...
What I usually do IMC when I have problems with players whose characters lack motivation, I leave that up to the players to come up with some ideas. Sure he can play a wizard who is happy in the village, but nothing is going on there so its gonna be a pretty boring campaign. Tell him to make up something!
Still, that could be tricky enough.
Some ideas:
a) Rescuing someone (But you didnt want that)
b) Seeking out an enemy (that one is ruled out aswell)
c) This guy is a wizard...what if he learns of an old magical item that is hidden there, or a strange creature that noone has seen or that has magical properties he can use for his research?
d) (a bit silly) What if he finds that there are special mushrooms in the cave that could really improve his recipies? ;)
Just a couple of ideas...
Havard
On the other hand, as a DM I might consider asking the player to re-think his character concept. It can be hard enough coming up with adventure ideas and hooks to draw in willing PCs, but now you have to think of stuff to pull this character away from 'normal life' every session? Consider the possibility that this character concept is unsuitable for the campaign you intend to run, and bring this up with the player. Remind him that this is supposed to be heroic fantasy. Hopefully, through good roleplay, the character will become drawn to adventures after surviving the first one, and you will not have to worry about it.
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
I like the idea of slipping in a small clue about the murder of the character's parents. The player character already knows that his parents were murdered; however, he does not know any of the details about their deaths.
Basically, I will allow a small item that was owned by the parents of the character to be discovered on the body of an Orc or Goblin that was slain by one of the Keep's patrols. The player character will spot this item on a low level fighter that is stationed at the Keep.
Another idea that I have been tossing around hinges upon the way that Player Character's feel the need to speak when it is smarter for them to remain silent.
The scene would open with the player character in the crowded mess hall of the Keep. The player character is busy making certain that food is being distrubuted to the hungry soldiers in an orderly manner.
In the middle of the meal, the Castellan of the Keep comes storming in. She is dragging along with her the dead body of a Kobold.
The Corporal of the Watch shouts, "Attention!"
All of the soldiers stand crisply, their eyes facing forward.
The Castellan lightly leaps atop the table in the center of the room. She holds aloft the dead body of the Kobold. She looks furious.
"This, for those of you who do not know, is what a dead Kobold looks like."
She throws the body to the floor with a look of disgust on her face; however, it is evident that she is disgusted by her men and not the corpse.
"All of you here have taken an Oath to ensure the security of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. In particular, we have been charged by the Duke to keep the roads clear of such vermin as this."
She points to the small, ugly corpse of the floor.
"Do you hear me?"
The fighters respond as one. "Yes, Ma'am!"
"If all of you understand our duty, then why was this Kobold slain by a Merchant from Darokin less than half an hour after one of our patrols declared that the road to Darokin was clear of any danger?"
The Castellan pauses for effect. None of the soldiers make a sound.
"Should we ask the Republic of Darokin to maintain the security of the roads of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos?"
The soldier's respond as one. "No, Ma'am!"
The Castellan gazes about the room. Her eyes narrow with rage.
"This Kobold and his fiendish fellows attacked a caravan that was no more than half a days ride from here. From here!"
She stamps her foot on the table for effect. The sound echoes about the room.
"This is completely unacceptable! I will be handing out new assignments to your Corporals. Patrols will be doubled. The Duke's Road Keep will maintain the safety and security of the Duke's Road. Do all of you hear me?"
Once more, as one, the fighter's respond. "Yes, Ma'am!"
At this point, the Castellan will depart. Corporal's will assign a couple of fighters to duty of removing the Kobold from the mess hall.
Here is what I think will happen. At some point during the Castellan's rant, the player character will feel compelled to say something. This is the worst possible time to say anything to the Castellan.
When the PC starts speaking. The silence in the room will become oppressive. The Castellan will gaze upon the PC (the Cook) with complete and utter disbelief and rage. She will not interrupt. She will allow him to say whatever it is that he has to say. Once the PC has stopped talking, the Castellan will say the following in a very cold and hard voice. "Corporal Yuri, you are the new cook. Please see to it that the former cook is escorted to the outer baily."
The assembled soldiers, about a hundred, continue to stand at attention with their eyes faced forward while the Castellan storms out the mess hall.
What do all of you think?
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
If a critical part of your adventure hinges on something the players do, you can almost guarantee that it will be the one time they don't do it. Make sure you have a plan 'B' for getting this character involved if you decide to use this approach.
If a critical part of your adventure hinges on something the players do, you can almost guarantee that it will be the one time they don't do it.
It deserves repeating. It never fails that the PCs will will do exactly the opposite of what you thought they would do. I had to "wing" a whole session just a couple weeks ago due to that and I know better. Mind you, it's what makes this game so much fun!
On an encouraging note, I really like your idea!
Thanks, all. You all brought up good points and and several good ideas.
It is possible that the PC will not say anything, in which case he will be asked to remove the corpse. At which time, he will find the clue. Thanks, tjedge1.
Still, I am willing to bet that the PC will say something.
Regards and Best,
Donald Eric Kesler
The more I think about this scene, the more I like it. I don't know if it will get the cook out of the kitchen, but it will certainly reinfoce the major conflict of B2 Keep on the Borderlands. Also, I think it will help create a sense of urgency about the infestation of humanoids to the North of the Keep.
Basically, I think I have all of the bases covered. If the cook opens his mouth during the Castellean's tirade, he will be sent down the road. If he does not, he will find the clue about his dearly departed parents and a bag of exotic mushrooms on the corpse of the Kobold.
Actually, I really like the idea of having the Black Eagle at least partially involved in the events surrounding the Keep. This will allow me to work in a connection to B10 Night's Dark Terror.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the Evil Temple located within the caves? Any ideas on how I can connect those nasty clerics to the Iron Ring and the forces of Fort Doom?
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
I have the "Eye of Traldar." It's been on my list of Karameikos adventures to re-read. I don't recall the details, but I do remember being fairly dissappointed with the lack of description of the Black Eagle Barony. But I digress.
Talitha as the Immortal Patron of the Black Eagle Barony and the Iron Ring. Hmmm. That's certainly something to consider.
I am also toying with the idea that Bargle has become aware of and is influenced by one of the Burrowers that was imprisioned long ago by the Immortals. This would add a creepy Lovecraftian element to the Barony. It would also go a long way toward explaining some of the seemingly insane actions taken by Baron Von Hendriks. Hmmm. I could even turn Fort Doom into the D&D equivalent of Innsmouth or Dunwich.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
As for which Evil Immortals being involved in Karameikos, I gave this considerable thought in my own campaign. Virtually every D&D module set in Karameikos seems to include some Chatoic Cleric, but nowhere is there ever any reference to any specific entity (immortal, demon or whater) connected to those characters.
IMC, I introduced the Unholy Trinity. The Unholy Trinity are ancient enemies of the Traladaran Three. Opposing the Three since the Gnoll Invasions, the Unholy Trinity seeks to destroy any civilization in the region and rerturn it to the rulership of Humanoids. The Unholy Trinity consist of Orcus, Demogorgon and Arik. Unfortunately, Arik, the most powerful of the Trinity, has been imprisoned. However, due to his Eye Artifacts, The priesthood of Arik still receive magic from their patron. The other two, Orcus (patron of Feral Beastmen) and Demogorgon (Patron of Lizards and Dragons) are working to aid the release of Arik.
The Unholy Trinity are also some times referred to as the Demon Lords or Demon Rulers.
There is more on Arik and Haven written by James Mishler/Mystaros in the Vaults that I used as a basis of my campaign.
As for other Entropic Immortals being involved in the region, these may be allies or rivals of the Unholy Trinity. Thanatos is certainly working behind the scenes, but has few if any visible clerics there. Talitha, as suggested, may be involved. Alphaks joins the Unholy Trinity after AC1010, since he sees Karameikos under Teraris influence as an heir to Alphatia.
I like your idea about the Dark Connection to the Black Eagle Barony. Someone wrote an article called the Curse of Halag suggesting something similar (although I cant remember the details), which is in the Vaults. Personally, I have always believed that this Dark Force, whatever it is, will ensure that evil will return to Halag, even after the Baron has been driven away from there.
Havard
I've been reading over the "Immortals of the Known World" section from Wrath of the Immortals. I came across something that I either never noticed or had forgotten.
"In his mortal life, Orcus was a devil swine (one of the more destructive types of lycanthrope) in long ago Traldara, the land which eventually became Karameikos. His hatred of all things living attracted the eye of Thanatos, the master of destruction, who sponsored him on his path to Immortality."
This places Orcus firmly in the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. I think I will use this little snippet as the basis for a mythic tale in which Zirchev hunts a mad boar that is ravaging his beloved woods.
I have been considering using Arik. I really like the Lovecraftian nature of this being. I also like the classic B3, Palace of the Silver Princess. The only problem is the name. See, my name is Eric. I don't want the players to confuse the Dungeon Master with an ancient, evil immortal. :D
Can you point me to a write up on Demogorgon. If I recall correctly, he was originally part of the Immortals Boxed Set, but was not included in Wrath of the Immortals. So, I have his stats, but I don't have any detailed information on this being.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
"In his mortal life, Orcus was a devil swine (one of the more destructive types of lycanthrope) in long ago Traldara, the land which eventually became Karameikos. His hatred of all things living attracted the eye of Thanatos, the master of destruction, who sponsored him on his path to Immortality."
Yep, Orcus has strong connections to Karameikos. I've been working on a writeup in which Orcus was in fact the Gnoll King who fought Halav during the invasions. No reason why a Gnoll couldnt also be a Devil Swine right? In the writeup I had Orcus being ressurrected, as a paralell story to that of Halav and also attain immortality after these events.
I have been considering using Arik. I really like the Lovecraftian nature of this being. I also like the classic B3, Palace of the Silver Princess. The only problem is the name. See, my name is Eric. I don't want the players to confuse the Dungeon Master with an ancient, evil immortal
Arik is at least in part based on Arioch from the Elric novels. You could use that name...
Can you point me to a write up on Demogorgon. If I recall correctly, he was originally part of the Immortals Boxed Set, but was not included in Wrath of the Immortals. So, I have his stats, but I don't have any detailed information on this being.
Demogorgon is detailed briefly in the "other immortals" section in -WotI. I have always assciated him (or her) with lizards, dragons and the like, perhaps because these kinds of creatures worship Demogorgon on the Savage Coast. Demogorgon also exists in Greyhawk, so GH sources may be used to detail this Demon Ruler if you should want that...
Havard
Originally posted by havard
As for which Evil Immortals being involved in Karameikos, I gave this considerable thought in my own campaign. Virtually every D&D module set in Karameikos seems to include some Chatoic Cleric, but nowhere is there ever any reference to any specific entity (immortal, demon or whater) connected to those characters.
There is also Leptar from Elwyn's Sanctuary (part of B9 and B1-9). I also connected Leptar to B2 by having Elwyn part of the evil temple in the Caves of Chaos.
Arik is at least in part based on Arioch from the Elric novels. You could use that name...
I never think about that, but you're right: Arik is close to Arioch. Arik is also very close to Sauron: an evil being with no material form, his symbol is a red eye, his followers consists of human and humanoid... And his trying to come back to our plane. I really like Arik since the first time I played B2.
There is also Leptar from Elwyn's Sanctuary (part of B9 and B1-9). I also connected Leptar to B2 by having Elwyn part of the evil temple in the Caves of Chaos.
I'd be interested in more information on Leptar. IIRC, WotI merely describes him as a "violent brute who wishes to hurt others". In other words, alot of room to flesh this guy out....
Havard
Slavery, of course, would also tie in nicely with the agenda of Fort Doom and the Iron Ring.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
Leptar would be interesting. I never gave him much thought, but slavery is cruel and that might fit in with his ideas of hurting others.
I like this.
Portraying Leptar as a Patron of Slavery and Torture sounds like a good concept. Perhaps he is a Protector of the Iron Ring. He might easily be sponsored by and a vassal of Orcus.
IMC the Iron Ring is a quite far reaching organization with major contacts within Thyatis (especially Hattias) and supplies many of the slaves of Thyatis.
Havard