Jürgen Hubert
First Post
My campaign has recently taken some unexpected twists and turns, and I’d like your input on how to make it even more twisted...
Here is what happened last session:
The party was on the way to Sharn from Zilargo by ship (non-elemental powered) when the ship was attacked by sahuagin. The attack left all of the crewmembers dead, and they had to abandon ship with a row boat when a giant squid wrecked it. The guy in the party who had some clue about navigation determined that they were about 100 miles from the southern coast of Breland. After rowing for a few hours, they spotted an island in the distance and decided to find some fresh supplies (especially freshwater – the only thing they had to drink was about 20 liters of exctremely cheap ale which was rapidly depleted by the party’s resident alcoholic).
They discovered that the island was occupied by a small settlement of about 25 yuan-ti (well, weird snake people – I decided that yuan-ti in Eberron originally came from Xen’drik and were fairly uncommon on Khorvaire). After capturing and questioning a pureblood women (all fairly polite for questioning, and they did let her go afterwards – although she didn’t let on that she understood common, and thus they used magic to communicate with her...), they determined that their leaders – an abomination and his half-blood spawn – oppressed them and were generally disliked by their pureblood underlings – so they decided to kill off the leaders in the hopes that the rest would be grateful enough to give them some supplies (and perhaps some gold, the universally accepted form of gratitude)...
So they did, and afterwards the remaining yuan-ti – about 10 male and 10 female purebloods, plus some children – not only were grateful, but the women they had questioned earlier told them that they wanted them as their new leaders (she also revealed to them that she spoke Common in the process)! She also revealed that this was a way station for yuan-ti spies from Xen’drik who wanted to infiltrate Khoirvaire – they arrived here with ocean-going ships and were transported to the mainland with small boats (the PCs found a small booklet with what is a list of names and locations, but it is written in Draconic which they can’t read, and the party cleric has apparently forgotten at the moment that he can translate it with magic). She also mentioned that the next ship will arrive in a month, and that it would be a good idea for everyone to leave the island until then.
The PCs accepted, and discussed what to do with their new subjects. They agreed that bringing them to the mainland and civilization would be a bad idea since they would likely be persecuted and killed as “monsters” (which is not really true – especially in big Brelish cities like Sharn they could probably fit in without too many problems, given what other creatures are running around there. But the players are used to campaign worlds with the standard “racial wars”...). So for now they decided to resettle to another island to the east, which according to the map is only 50 miles off the coast (and closer to the Sharn-Xendrik shipping lanes, but not close enough that it will see frequent traffic). They also relish the prospect of having their very own subjects also have some vague notions about making money from them by getting them to produce “native Xen’drik goods” and selling them in Sharn or something. But really, they haven’t thought about this much apart from thinking that ruling over their very own island nation sounds like a good retirement plan (well, they are war veterans)...
So, what do the yuan-ti think of all this? Well, to some degree they feel genuinely grateful to the PCs for disposing of their old rulers. But they aren’t stupid – in fact, on average they are far more intelligent than the PCs, which the PCs haven’t realized yet. And they have a host of powers (telepathic and otherwise) of which the PCs don’t have a clue, either – and they are not going to reveal them without a very good reason.
They know that they can’t return to Xen’drik – and they don’t want to, either (since they would only oppressed by the abominations again). To them, Khoirvaire is a land of opportunity – but they know little about it yet. So they are going to milk the PCs for all the information they can get. They also know that the PCs might remain useful to them in the future – after all, they have lived in Khoirvaire for all their lives, and they are more socially acceptable than the yuan-ti.
So the yuan-ti will soon peg the PCs as powerful (their fight with the abomination showed that), but not too bright – the perfect figureheads for their own schemes, whatever these might turn out to be. They are perfectly willing to let both the PCs and the rest of the world think that the PCs are in charge, while they are secretly doing whatever they want. If this means throwing some baubles, entertainment, flattery, and alcohol in their direction, then so be it...
So, where do I go from there? Well, first of all they need to settle on a new island. The yuan-ti can deal with most of the infrastructure, but they will be glad to let the PCs deal with anything truly dangerous – like exploring old ruins possibly filled with dangerous monsters and traps. Suggestions on what they might find there (and how it ties to Eberron at large) are very much common.
And after that? Well, I originally intended this whole “shipwrecked” scenario to be nothing more than an opportunity to introduce a new PC, and force him and the rest of the party to work together. I had assumed that after this they would simply continue on their way to Sharn.
However, they seem to relish the prospect of being the rulers of their very own tropical island, and I am okay with that, since it is always best if the players are having fun. Of course, ruling an island is not neccessarily going to be easy, but then again, trouble always somehow seem to find adventurers...
But how do I build a campaign from here? I’d still like them to travel to new exotic places from time to time (I haven’t showcased most regions of Khorvaire yet), though I have nothing against them using the island as a home base. And of course, somehow trouble should also be able to come to the island from time to time to liven things up there (high-stakes diplomacy with various nations and organizations? Sounds fun, but why should they bother with a tiny island)? Ideally, they should feel that their current position should be the cause of very big trouble for them – but if they manage to pull through, they might just become rich and powerful beyond their dreams (hope springs eternal...).
Apart from these, there are two more questions I have:
- Has there anything been written on the nature of yuan-ti on Eberron? For the purposes of my campaign I have stated that they come from Xen’drik, but that’s about all (and this might not even be true...).
- There is a changeling investigator PC whose player couldn’t participate in the last two sessions, and has remained back in Korranberg. Assuming the player can participate in the next session, how can I get him involved in the island adventure without blowing suspension of disbelief? After all, no one knows about the shipwreck – and even if they did, few in any position of authority would care...
Thanks in advance, and if you have any additional suggestions to make for my campaign, please let me hear them!
Here is what happened last session:
The party was on the way to Sharn from Zilargo by ship (non-elemental powered) when the ship was attacked by sahuagin. The attack left all of the crewmembers dead, and they had to abandon ship with a row boat when a giant squid wrecked it. The guy in the party who had some clue about navigation determined that they were about 100 miles from the southern coast of Breland. After rowing for a few hours, they spotted an island in the distance and decided to find some fresh supplies (especially freshwater – the only thing they had to drink was about 20 liters of exctremely cheap ale which was rapidly depleted by the party’s resident alcoholic).
They discovered that the island was occupied by a small settlement of about 25 yuan-ti (well, weird snake people – I decided that yuan-ti in Eberron originally came from Xen’drik and were fairly uncommon on Khorvaire). After capturing and questioning a pureblood women (all fairly polite for questioning, and they did let her go afterwards – although she didn’t let on that she understood common, and thus they used magic to communicate with her...), they determined that their leaders – an abomination and his half-blood spawn – oppressed them and were generally disliked by their pureblood underlings – so they decided to kill off the leaders in the hopes that the rest would be grateful enough to give them some supplies (and perhaps some gold, the universally accepted form of gratitude)...
So they did, and afterwards the remaining yuan-ti – about 10 male and 10 female purebloods, plus some children – not only were grateful, but the women they had questioned earlier told them that they wanted them as their new leaders (she also revealed to them that she spoke Common in the process)! She also revealed that this was a way station for yuan-ti spies from Xen’drik who wanted to infiltrate Khoirvaire – they arrived here with ocean-going ships and were transported to the mainland with small boats (the PCs found a small booklet with what is a list of names and locations, but it is written in Draconic which they can’t read, and the party cleric has apparently forgotten at the moment that he can translate it with magic). She also mentioned that the next ship will arrive in a month, and that it would be a good idea for everyone to leave the island until then.
The PCs accepted, and discussed what to do with their new subjects. They agreed that bringing them to the mainland and civilization would be a bad idea since they would likely be persecuted and killed as “monsters” (which is not really true – especially in big Brelish cities like Sharn they could probably fit in without too many problems, given what other creatures are running around there. But the players are used to campaign worlds with the standard “racial wars”...). So for now they decided to resettle to another island to the east, which according to the map is only 50 miles off the coast (and closer to the Sharn-Xendrik shipping lanes, but not close enough that it will see frequent traffic). They also relish the prospect of having their very own subjects also have some vague notions about making money from them by getting them to produce “native Xen’drik goods” and selling them in Sharn or something. But really, they haven’t thought about this much apart from thinking that ruling over their very own island nation sounds like a good retirement plan (well, they are war veterans)...
So, what do the yuan-ti think of all this? Well, to some degree they feel genuinely grateful to the PCs for disposing of their old rulers. But they aren’t stupid – in fact, on average they are far more intelligent than the PCs, which the PCs haven’t realized yet. And they have a host of powers (telepathic and otherwise) of which the PCs don’t have a clue, either – and they are not going to reveal them without a very good reason.
They know that they can’t return to Xen’drik – and they don’t want to, either (since they would only oppressed by the abominations again). To them, Khoirvaire is a land of opportunity – but they know little about it yet. So they are going to milk the PCs for all the information they can get. They also know that the PCs might remain useful to them in the future – after all, they have lived in Khoirvaire for all their lives, and they are more socially acceptable than the yuan-ti.
So the yuan-ti will soon peg the PCs as powerful (their fight with the abomination showed that), but not too bright – the perfect figureheads for their own schemes, whatever these might turn out to be. They are perfectly willing to let both the PCs and the rest of the world think that the PCs are in charge, while they are secretly doing whatever they want. If this means throwing some baubles, entertainment, flattery, and alcohol in their direction, then so be it...
So, where do I go from there? Well, first of all they need to settle on a new island. The yuan-ti can deal with most of the infrastructure, but they will be glad to let the PCs deal with anything truly dangerous – like exploring old ruins possibly filled with dangerous monsters and traps. Suggestions on what they might find there (and how it ties to Eberron at large) are very much common.
And after that? Well, I originally intended this whole “shipwrecked” scenario to be nothing more than an opportunity to introduce a new PC, and force him and the rest of the party to work together. I had assumed that after this they would simply continue on their way to Sharn.
However, they seem to relish the prospect of being the rulers of their very own tropical island, and I am okay with that, since it is always best if the players are having fun. Of course, ruling an island is not neccessarily going to be easy, but then again, trouble always somehow seem to find adventurers...
But how do I build a campaign from here? I’d still like them to travel to new exotic places from time to time (I haven’t showcased most regions of Khorvaire yet), though I have nothing against them using the island as a home base. And of course, somehow trouble should also be able to come to the island from time to time to liven things up there (high-stakes diplomacy with various nations and organizations? Sounds fun, but why should they bother with a tiny island)? Ideally, they should feel that their current position should be the cause of very big trouble for them – but if they manage to pull through, they might just become rich and powerful beyond their dreams (hope springs eternal...).
Apart from these, there are two more questions I have:
- Has there anything been written on the nature of yuan-ti on Eberron? For the purposes of my campaign I have stated that they come from Xen’drik, but that’s about all (and this might not even be true...).
- There is a changeling investigator PC whose player couldn’t participate in the last two sessions, and has remained back in Korranberg. Assuming the player can participate in the next session, how can I get him involved in the island adventure without blowing suspension of disbelief? After all, no one knows about the shipwreck – and even if they did, few in any position of authority would care...
Thanks in advance, and if you have any additional suggestions to make for my campaign, please let me hear them!
