Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 0:27:08	Hello All, Has anyone here run this module as it was originally written? I have trouble with understanding the actions of the NPCs. In the second half of the module, the 1st-3rd level party is asked by Kaerin Penhaligon and Baron Sherlane to take out a fortified keep that has been constructed in the mountains North of Penhaligon. This seems like a situation in which someone should send a courier to notify the forces stationed at the Duke's Road Keep. After all, the owner of the Keep does not have the permission of the Duke to build a fortress on this land. Regards and Best Wishes, Donald Eric Kesler
#2 spellweaver May 31, 2004 14:22:59	I never used the module because the story is kind of poor I think. You might rule that the PCs are only sent to investigate the keep and spy on the humanoid forces gathering there. Or you could rule that the forces at the Duke's Road Keep have their hands bussy watching the border and fighting other tribes of humanoids. Thus the PCs are need to boost the Duke's regular forces in the area. Plus adventurers are often more subtle than a contingent of troops and could easier gain access to the keep and investigate the evil behind it? In any case, if I remember the module correctly, the so-called "army" that the main villain is gathering with a magical blade is no more than what a 3rd level party should be able to defeat in a normal adventure. Give them time to rest and regain spells and maybe a healing potion or two and they should do fine (I think - I never played it). :-) Jesper
#3 katana_one May 31, 2004 20:48:09	Ran it as is (except for 3.0 update to all NPC and monster stats) and both I and my players loved it. Noone had a problem with suspending disbelief about the motivations of the NPCs - if I recall correctly, they wanted to keep the Duke's forces out of it to avoid any potential political repurcussions. My players bought into it without any questions, and quite a few are veteran players who usually have no problem pointing out plot holes.
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 01, 2004 1:25:25	Hello, I am pleased that it went well for you, katana_one. Still, it just does not work for me. I am just going to use the first part of this module. The party is on the way to Penhaligan. They discovered in their last adventure that the Wizard Kavorquian has vital information that pertains to their current quest. Upon arriving, they will discover that Kavorquian is dead, but he may very well have left notes about his research in that nasty workshop that he had in the cellar. Basically, I think I am just going to ditch the second half. Perhaps I will use some of the material to flesh out the Black Eagle Barony. Regards and Best Wishes, Donald Eric Kesler
#5 katana_one Jun 01, 2004 12:09:50	Do as you see fit, but the reason the NPCs send the adventuring party to do the job is because they want to keep the situation hush-hush (illegitimate children of nobles and such). Sending an adventuring party to infiltrate the keep (which is an old abandoned keep the bad guys found and are using as a base - not one that they built) and deal with the enemy leader is exactly the kind of thing that makes a good adventure. I suggest offering the second half of the module as an option to the players - they can always refuse to do the job if they don't like it.
#6 havard Jun 02, 2004 3:41:23	I used a modified version of this scenario and its companion (B11 -kings festival) in my old campaign. My interpretation there was that since Illyana claims to be another daughter of Lord Arturus, the Duke would rather that this would be handled internally since him intervening might stirr up similar situations in the other baronies. Perhaps, also the situation is more complicated because there is no male heir. My version of Karameikos is a bit more sexist than the official one, in order to give a more historical flair. Another idea about Illyana: What if she is in fact doing all of this because she has been seduced by Baron Van Hendriks. Her love for the Baron has allowed him to manipulate her into taking these extreme actions so he can stirr up some trouble in the north, perhaps to divert the Duke's attention from his own dubious schemes? Ofcourse, the Baron has left no proof that can link him to these things, once the "Queen" has been defeated. Only the brief appearance of the Wizard Bargle may give the PCs a clue about what is going on... Havard