So here's the situation. One of the PC's is an illegitimate heir to the title of the Duchy of the Reach. Duke Tyneman, the current title holder, is a carouser and drunkard and part-time worshiper of Olidammara. This is how he got all his illegitimate heirs. He has many.
Being one of the Southern lords of Furyondy, he's less concerned with the war, and more concerned with his finances and debauchery. Plus, the war bores him. At a recent orgy, he was discussing with his entourage what exactly he could do to entertain himself for the next week or two. And it was here, that he hit upon a rather wicked little idea.
The idea blossomed into a full-blown plan which he only told one person about: his long time confidant, friend and personal advisor, Pitre Longman, a studious and clever fellow who rarely indulges in the pleasures his lord offers.
The plan is to fake his own death, first of all. The setup around the death is meant to indicate an assassination. Clues are supposed to lead to a fictitious political faction within his own duchy who believe his lack of support for Belvor will be the ruin of the kingdom. One by one, all the heirs to the title will mysteriously disappear. And there are many.
But it's all a game. Tyneman is the one who is doing all the kidnapping. He's 'slumming' it with commoners, hanging around thieves dens and working in the shadows, 'assassinating' all his children. In truth, he's just kidnapping them and taking them to a holding cell. They're confined, but being treated very well.
All of this is a great kick for Tyneman. He thinks it's hilarious. He's even gotten the Countess Rhavelle (the Countess of Gold County, the only other noble he socializes with) in on the act to help him with her illusion magics. So far, only five kin have been taken, but it's already causing widespread panic througout the duchy and wild messages and rumours are flying of a coup, all perpetuated by the various clues Tyneman leaves at the last known location of the kidnapees.
The thing is, is that it's starting to become real. Tyneman doesn't know this yet, but Pitre is betraying him with the Countess, the plan being that Pitre be installed as the Count of Gold County, and the Countess becomes a Duchess, with all the extra privaledge that entails. They're sowing their own rumours and wild tales, and saying that an ancient curse is claiming the line of Tyneman, and at the heart of the curse is the oft whispered lich, Acererak.
None of that is true, but it makes it more convenient when bodies start turning up.
In addition to this, the siblings, illegitimate and no, are beginning to plot against each other, thinking that the political faction behind the murders and disappearances is a group of siblings who want the title for themselves. Thus things are beginning to really heat up in the duchy, and there's all sorts of chaos ensuing.
Now, the PC in question, is also a spy for Belvor, handpicked by Belvor's spymaster for special assignments. So not only will the PC have the motivation to look into it on a personal level, but he's also being asked to investigate on a professional level as well, and more importantly, feed back information.
The plan, is that the PC investigates the murders and kidnappings and eventually finds out that the two are related but seperate, and tracks down Tyneman and confronts him (the PC has never met his father). Upon learning that there is something horrid going on, Tyneman immediately decides the game is up and tries to sort things out, but finds that it is too late. Pitre has control of the heirs that were kidnapped and is now holding them as ransom, saying that if Tyneman reveals himself, or attempts to thwart Pitre's plans, they'll all die. This is where he requests the PC's aid in order to thwart the betrayer.
So, enough background info, what I'd like help with, is ideas for scenarios and situations and clues and developments and whatnot that work within the above framework. NPC's, encounters, general ideas on how to weave things in, or anything else you can think of would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
First of all, I would involve the Shadowclaw (described in The Marklands). The opportunity to destabilize the political authorities of the kingdom is just too good to pass up for Iuz's servants. At the very least, they'll want to blackmail the conspirators. At worst, there is no telling where they'll stop...
Second, given the Duke is a worshipper of Olidammara (and, presumably, makes gifts to the priesthood), I would involve the clergy. Olidammara's clerics and rogues (especially the infamous Temple Raiders) make for a fun kind of one-time allies (or adversaries, depending on your players).
In a war kept to shadows where the name of the game is to gather as much "dirty" info on people, Olidammaran rogues will have a field day.
Originally posted by Mortepierre
Nice background you got there!
Thanks.
Originally posted by Mortepierre
First of all, I would involve the Shadowclaw (described in The Marklands). The opportunity to destabilize the political authorities of the kingdom is just too good to pass up for Iuz's servants. At the very least, they'll want to blackmail the conspirators. At worst, there is no telling where they'll stop...
Actually, now that you mention it, I had wanted to include them but forgot all about them. I'll replace them with the fictional political group that Tyneman was going to blame for the murders. That will involve them directly and make them really sit up and take notice. In fact, I could put them in league with Pitre, although the Countess wouldn't have anything to do with them as she's not a traitor to her country, just politically ambitious.
Plus, I want them to be involved anyway due to the fact that the previous adventure involved the PC's thwarting an Iuzian priest in a small, rural town and taking knowledge from his library which pertains to the location of the Crook of Rao (pc's don't know this yet, but know the info is important). Thus Iuz's agents have put out an APB on the PC's and a 'wanted for questioning and a bit of light torture' notice.
Having them being investigated by the Shadowclaw already, and then having them thwart yet another Iuzian, chaos-causing plan (it was Pitre who put the idea of doing all of this into the duke's head, through subtle manipulation over some time), will put them up a few notches on Iuz's hit-list.
Just what I want
Originally posted by Mortepierre
Second, given the Duke is a worshipper of Olidammara (and, presumably, makes gifts to the priesthood), I would involve the clergy. Olidammara's clerics and rogues (especially the infamous Temple Raiders) make for a fun kind of one-time allies (or adversaries, depending on your players).
Not a bad idea, but the less players involved, the better, in this little scene. And Pitre would want as few people involved as possible so as to limit his opposition should things turn sour. However I can certainly see Tyneman using the church's resources in order to aid him in his endeavours.
IMC, churches of Olidammara are gambling dens and *****houses all in one where worshipers meet and enjoy music, dancing, games of skill and chance, and lots, and lots and lots of wine. I tend to ignore the 3rd ed. descriptions of the GH gods and go with the descriptions from other, earlier sources. Olidammara is not a god of thieves, really, he's more a god of wine and pranks and song. He steals for the fun of it rather than for profit, so that also means dumping PrC's that are oriented towards thievery, like the Temple Raider.
Originally posted by Iksander
I tend to ignore the 3rd ed. descriptions of the GH gods and go with the descriptions from other, earlier sources. Olidammara is not a god of thieves, really, he's more a god of wine and pranks and song. He steals for the fun of it rather than for profit, so that also means dumping PrC's that are oriented towards thievery, like the Temple Raider.
Ah but the main motivation of the Temple Raiders is not thievery. It's the thrill of succeeding at a dangerous task. They too steal for "fun".