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RRH1: Expanding the Iron Circle
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<blockquote data-quote="Jacob Lewis" data-source="post: 8497838" data-attributes="member: 6667921"><p>Part IV: <strong>The Ashmadai</strong></p><p><em>Neverwinter Campaign Setting</em> (NWCS)</p><p><a href="https://postimg.cc/2bRYMv7T" target="_blank"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/2bRYMv7T/4e-NWCS-25.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>So now I start looking at sourcebooks and materials that are not directly tied to the Nentir Vale campaign setting. For me, "going outside the box" means looking at other campaign settings, editions, or even game systems to find bits of useful information and ideas that can be ported over into my own personal designs and setups. Generally speaking, the farther I get from the source (i.e. setting, edition, system, etc.), the more work I'll probably need to do. But, as I've said before, I'm not afraid to do more work for better results. Lucky for me, I don't need to go too far outside the box to find what I wanted.</p><p></p><p>It is in the <em>Neverwinter Campaign Setting</em> that I found the Ashmadai, a brutal cult of devil worshipers sworn to Asmodeus. Although written for the Forgotten Realms setting (and specifically for the Neverwinter campaign), there is plenty of inspiration and information that I can transplant into this adventure. Because it was written using the rules for 4e, I can also grab some of the crunchy bits, too.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(61, 142, 185)"><em>(Sidebar: Before I get further into this, let me just say how much I love this book! It is, in my opinion, one of the <u>best</u> DM resources for a campaign setting I have ever read. It is also a great campaign, and I say that as a fan who was extremely disappointed with what happened to the Forgotten Realms in 4th Edition. This book made up for a lot of it. Well, some of it. Enough said.)</em></span></p><p></p><p>I don't want to spend a lot of energy going over all the specifics of the details and setup packed into this supplement because there is a lot. You can read up on it for yourself, if you're so inclined. So instead, I'll just boil down some of the bits and pieces that I can use for this campaign. (<em>Note: Some of the text is taken directly from pages 98-103. I just don't want to clutter up the post with a lot of quote blocks.</em>)</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Ashmadai (have been) working in the region as agents of Thay. The exact nature of the bargain between the (Red Wizards) and the cult remains unclear. What is known is that Thay’s regent possessed a powerful magic scepter that the Ashmadai consider a holy relic.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Ashmadai is split into two distinct sects. One is slavishly loyal to Asmodeus, and the other is populated by cunning and manipulative creatures who care more about acquiring power than paying homage to it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The two sects rarely interact, and most cultists don’t know members of their own branch, let alone ones in the other. However, the sect’s leaders meet often to discuss the cult’s machinations. In this way, the Ashmadai conducts its own business right under (Thay's) nose.</li> </ul><p></p><p>On the surface, it appears that the Ashmadai shares a lot of the same space in the narrative as the Fell Court. Both organizations work in secret, their members have an affinity for devils, and each has ambitions of gaining power for themselves. I could simplify the redundant elements by merging these entities into a conglomerate and avoid complexities. But I love complexity when it can be presented in an interesting way that doesn't confuse or muddle the experience. And here, we have just that.</p><p></p><p>To begin, I have identified <u>three</u> factions I can use: The Fell Court, which I described in the previous section, plus two distinct sects within the Ashmadai. The former group, led by the dwarf Favria, consists of older and less studied cultists who still serve the scepter’s holder. The less fanatical branch, led by the tiefling Mordai Vell, is responsible for the Ashmadai’s rise in the region as a shady, manipulative powerhouse. At this point, I would rather focus on their differences than unite them with their similarities. Because good stories (like most D&D sessions) revolve around conflict.</p><p></p><p>The Fell Court, as previously mentioned, operate out of the shadows of Fallcrest. They are known by rumors and whispers, but their ambitions and machinations are a secret. Its members, who are almost exclusively tieflings, share an aspiration of reviving their fallen empire and ruling the Vale.</p><p></p><p>The Ashmadai, or Messengers of the Raging Fiend, are cultists from all walks of life. They have a tendency toward arrogance, a shared faith in (and fear of) Asmodeus, and a curious mark branded on their chest, which they usually take pains to hide. Most members do not know one another on sight, and the brand is the only way they can identify each other.</p><p></p><p>In <em>Reavers of Harkenwold</em>, the Fell Court are trying to gain favor with the Iron Circle by showing their worth as a network of spies. They believe they have the advantage because they are familiar with the local area, and they share a common ground with the Circle. The Circle, however, does not seem interested and have largely ignored the Court's requests for an audience. The leaders of the Fell Court are perplexed by their rebuff and continue to strive for their attention. Here's what they don't know:</p><p></p><p>Years before the invasion of Harkenwold, the Iron Circle sent agents into the region to sow fear, discontent, and otherwise weaken the Vale before their approach. These agents were not part of the Iron Circle, but a cult of fanatic worshipers of Asmodeus known as the Ashmadai. Their efforts were effective, creating a new sect of the cult located within the very heart of the region. Fact is that the Iron Circle has no need for another network of spies because they already have one. But they can't let the Fell Court know that.</p><p></p><p>Now comes the twist. As originally written for the Neverwinter campaign, the Ashmadai have been pressured to work for the Red Wizards of Thay. The Iron Circle, however, is supported by Asmodeus. This makes it far more likely that the Ashmadai go as willing accomplices in the service of their infernal master. That doesn't mean the Iron Circle didn't make promises it did not intend to keep. Or that the individual goals and ambitions were the same. And let's not forget the two factions within the cult seem to have opposing opinions on everything.</p><p></p><p>This is all a twisted, delicious web of politics, intrigue, and suspense emanating from all the villains, and none of it is even directed at the characters. At least, not yet. The characters will discover on their own that the villains are not always on the same side. If they defeat one, will they create a vacuum of power that gets filled by something worse? Will one faction help the characters remove their rivals, only to take its place instead? And how can they tell who is an enemy in Harkenwold when anyone can be a spy, a cultist, or worse?</p><p></p><p>So this book gives me not only two well-developed NPCs to cast as villains for the campaign, but four new monsters including two level-appropriate devils:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Branded Zealot (level 4 Brute)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hellfire Warlock (level 4 Artillery)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fimbrul Devil (level 5 Controller)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Seared Devil (level 3 Soldier)</li> </ul><p></p><p>Better than that, the section gives a list of monsters from multiple 4e sources that would make appropriate Ashmadai Encounters. Most of the monsters have already been listed in this post, and it pointed me towards the Fell Court. The list goes all the way up to level 10 (Chained Cambion), which would probably be the highest creature I'd use for this module, sparingly and cautiously.</p><p></p><p>This gives me sufficient ammunition to plot out, populate, and build a meaty campaign for levels 1-5. But there's one thing left before I move on to the next post for this thread...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jacob Lewis, post: 8497838, member: 6667921"] Part IV: [B]The Ashmadai[/B] [I]Neverwinter Campaign Setting[/I] (NWCS) [URL='https://postimg.cc/2bRYMv7T'][IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/2bRYMv7T/4e-NWCS-25.jpg[/IMG][/URL] So now I start looking at sourcebooks and materials that are not directly tied to the Nentir Vale campaign setting. For me, "going outside the box" means looking at other campaign settings, editions, or even game systems to find bits of useful information and ideas that can be ported over into my own personal designs and setups. Generally speaking, the farther I get from the source (i.e. setting, edition, system, etc.), the more work I'll probably need to do. But, as I've said before, I'm not afraid to do more work for better results. Lucky for me, I don't need to go too far outside the box to find what I wanted. It is in the [I]Neverwinter Campaign Setting[/I] that I found the Ashmadai, a brutal cult of devil worshipers sworn to Asmodeus. Although written for the Forgotten Realms setting (and specifically for the Neverwinter campaign), there is plenty of inspiration and information that I can transplant into this adventure. Because it was written using the rules for 4e, I can also grab some of the crunchy bits, too. [COLOR=rgb(61, 142, 185)][I](Sidebar: Before I get further into this, let me just say how much I love this book! It is, in my opinion, one of the [U]best[/U] DM resources for a campaign setting I have ever read. It is also a great campaign, and I say that as a fan who was extremely disappointed with what happened to the Forgotten Realms in 4th Edition. This book made up for a lot of it. Well, some of it. Enough said.)[/I][/COLOR] I don't want to spend a lot of energy going over all the specifics of the details and setup packed into this supplement because there is a lot. You can read up on it for yourself, if you're so inclined. So instead, I'll just boil down some of the bits and pieces that I can use for this campaign. ([I]Note: Some of the text is taken directly from pages 98-103. I just don't want to clutter up the post with a lot of quote blocks.[/I]) [LIST] [*]The Ashmadai (have been) working in the region as agents of Thay. The exact nature of the bargain between the (Red Wizards) and the cult remains unclear. What is known is that Thay’s regent possessed a powerful magic scepter that the Ashmadai consider a holy relic. [*]The Ashmadai is split into two distinct sects. One is slavishly loyal to Asmodeus, and the other is populated by cunning and manipulative creatures who care more about acquiring power than paying homage to it. [*]The two sects rarely interact, and most cultists don’t know members of their own branch, let alone ones in the other. However, the sect’s leaders meet often to discuss the cult’s machinations. In this way, the Ashmadai conducts its own business right under (Thay's) nose. [/LIST] On the surface, it appears that the Ashmadai shares a lot of the same space in the narrative as the Fell Court. Both organizations work in secret, their members have an affinity for devils, and each has ambitions of gaining power for themselves. I could simplify the redundant elements by merging these entities into a conglomerate and avoid complexities. But I love complexity when it can be presented in an interesting way that doesn't confuse or muddle the experience. And here, we have just that. To begin, I have identified [U]three[/U] factions I can use: The Fell Court, which I described in the previous section, plus two distinct sects within the Ashmadai. The former group, led by the dwarf Favria, consists of older and less studied cultists who still serve the scepter’s holder. The less fanatical branch, led by the tiefling Mordai Vell, is responsible for the Ashmadai’s rise in the region as a shady, manipulative powerhouse. At this point, I would rather focus on their differences than unite them with their similarities. Because good stories (like most D&D sessions) revolve around conflict. The Fell Court, as previously mentioned, operate out of the shadows of Fallcrest. They are known by rumors and whispers, but their ambitions and machinations are a secret. Its members, who are almost exclusively tieflings, share an aspiration of reviving their fallen empire and ruling the Vale. The Ashmadai, or Messengers of the Raging Fiend, are cultists from all walks of life. They have a tendency toward arrogance, a shared faith in (and fear of) Asmodeus, and a curious mark branded on their chest, which they usually take pains to hide. Most members do not know one another on sight, and the brand is the only way they can identify each other. In [I]Reavers of Harkenwold[/I], the Fell Court are trying to gain favor with the Iron Circle by showing their worth as a network of spies. They believe they have the advantage because they are familiar with the local area, and they share a common ground with the Circle. The Circle, however, does not seem interested and have largely ignored the Court's requests for an audience. The leaders of the Fell Court are perplexed by their rebuff and continue to strive for their attention. Here's what they don't know: Years before the invasion of Harkenwold, the Iron Circle sent agents into the region to sow fear, discontent, and otherwise weaken the Vale before their approach. These agents were not part of the Iron Circle, but a cult of fanatic worshipers of Asmodeus known as the Ashmadai. Their efforts were effective, creating a new sect of the cult located within the very heart of the region. Fact is that the Iron Circle has no need for another network of spies because they already have one. But they can't let the Fell Court know that. Now comes the twist. As originally written for the Neverwinter campaign, the Ashmadai have been pressured to work for the Red Wizards of Thay. The Iron Circle, however, is supported by Asmodeus. This makes it far more likely that the Ashmadai go as willing accomplices in the service of their infernal master. That doesn't mean the Iron Circle didn't make promises it did not intend to keep. Or that the individual goals and ambitions were the same. And let's not forget the two factions within the cult seem to have opposing opinions on everything. This is all a twisted, delicious web of politics, intrigue, and suspense emanating from all the villains, and none of it is even directed at the characters. At least, not yet. The characters will discover on their own that the villains are not always on the same side. If they defeat one, will they create a vacuum of power that gets filled by something worse? Will one faction help the characters remove their rivals, only to take its place instead? And how can they tell who is an enemy in Harkenwold when anyone can be a spy, a cultist, or worse? So this book gives me not only two well-developed NPCs to cast as villains for the campaign, but four new monsters including two level-appropriate devils: [LIST] [*]Branded Zealot (level 4 Brute) [*]Hellfire Warlock (level 4 Artillery) [*]Fimbrul Devil (level 5 Controller) [*]Seared Devil (level 3 Soldier) [/LIST] Better than that, the section gives a list of monsters from multiple 4e sources that would make appropriate Ashmadai Encounters. Most of the monsters have already been listed in this post, and it pointed me towards the Fell Court. The list goes all the way up to level 10 (Chained Cambion), which would probably be the highest creature I'd use for this module, sparingly and cautiously. This gives me sufficient ammunition to plot out, populate, and build a meaty campaign for levels 1-5. But there's one thing left before I move on to the next post for this thread... [/QUOTE]
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