WotBS WotBS advice needed (SPOILERS galore)

Mrpereira · Oct 15, 2018

In the adventure Seaquen sends two missions, one to Dassen to get help against the Ragesian invasion and one to the Two wind monastery to investigate the storm. Your players need to know that Ragesia intends to make a deal with Dassen to travel through without opposition and conquer Seaquen and that the Elves will stay… for protection of course. If Seaquen watns to remain somewhat neutral and independent, they have to convince Dassen to say no to the Ragesians.

One clue you could leave is something that the Ragesians forgot when they left or the players could interrogate them if they catch them to let them know that Seaquen is a priority target for Ragesia (and Shahalesti).

Out of the game you could talk to your players about the structure of the adventure, because the first 4 adventures are all reactive to the world around them and about securing a base to fight back from. After that the next 4 adventures are about trying to get the upper hand, while the last 4 tie up loose ends and winning.

Tormyr · Oct 15, 2018

1. Did they came off a long rest and burn through all of their resources on the young chuul and skeletons? If so, they need to figure out how to last longer. There are several adventures in the future that stretch the heroes to the breaking point.
2. Did they go back in the fire tomb and rescue Sheena? They will need someone to provide teleportation services.
3. They should learn about the teleportation beacon, as more will show up in adventures 5 and 12.

This campaign saga does require a bit of patience on the part of the players. Questions are answered several adventures down the line rather than immediately. Simeon, their prime method of divination, is likely dead, and the Shining Light of the Shahalesti has taken over Seaquen. Times are dark indeed.
[MENTION=6781484]Mrpereira[/MENTION] gives a great breakdown of the acts of the campaign saga. If the heroes fail in Dassen, Dassen and Seaquen will both fall to the might of the 3rd Ragesian army. The heroes would then be on the run during the second act until they return to Gate Pass. Controlling Dassen and Seaquen would keep the 3rd army occupied, but Dassen not be sending any help in the future adventures.

Lylandra · Oct 15, 2018

Well, if you wish to end the adventure on a slightly higher note, you could let Shalosha use Seaquen as base for her future operation. This would give the party the opportunity to connect to the new Shahalesti rulership as she's quite a likeable character and would contrast well with Telshanth.

This also means that Lady Namin (who's a fan of the Shahalesti) might be the go-to contact in Dassen. And she'd love to be the future queen, possibly giving the 4th adventure a whole new touch.

Edit: Regarding adventures 5 and 6...
The Shahalesti will most likely send an investigation team to Ostalin once they get more information about Lee and the orb of storms. So this part doesn't need to change at all.

As we never know what happens to the other team, let Shalosha accompany the party to Magdus' encampment. They can be her diplomatic attaches. This would make the "ragesian conflict" at the end of adventure 6 pointless, but this wouldn't matter anyway as Shalosha wants to be allied with the rebels. Adventure 7 will be tough though

trencher7 · Oct 16, 2018

1. Did they came off a long rest and burn through all of their resources on the young chuul and skeletons? If so, they need to figure out how to last longer. There are several adventures in the future that stretch the heroes to the breaking point.
2. Did they go back in the fire tomb and rescue Sheena? They will need someone to provide teleportation services.
3. They should learn about the teleportation beacon, as more will show up in adventures 5 and 12.

1. No, they only rested after they retreated from the Fire Tomb. They thought that every passing minute more people will die, so they kept pushing on. In the meta- afterthoughts though the Players told me that really enjoyed being forced to retreat.
2. Whatever happenes, Sheena will be rescued from the fire tomb. Either by the PCs or by an elven entourage.
3. And so they will either find the beacon themselves or it will be brought to their attention during the council Meeting with the Elves

trencher7 · Oct 16, 2018

Lylandra said:
Well, if you wish to end the adventure on a slightly higher note, you could let Shalosha use Seaquen as base for her future operation. This would give the party the opportunity to connect to the new Shahalesti rulership as she's quite a likeable character and would contrast well with Telshanth.

This also means that Lady Namin (who's a fan of the Shahalesti) might be the go-to contact in Dassen. And she'd love to be the future queen, possibly giving the 4th adventure a whole new touch.

Edit: Regarding adventures 5 and 6...
The Shahalesti will most likely send an investigation team to Ostalin once they get more information about Lee and the orb of storms. So this part doesn't need to change at all.

As we never know what happens to the other team, let Shalosha accompany the party to Magdus' encampment. They can be her diplomatic attaches. This would make the "ragesian conflict" at the end of adventure 6 pointless, but this wouldn't matter anyway as Shalosha wants to be allied with the rebels. Adventure 7 will be tough though

Why do you think adventure 7 will be tough?

Lylandra · Oct 16, 2018

trencher7 said:
Why do you think adventure 7 will be tough?

Because they'll be sent to Ycengled by the Shahalesti who are usually more or less your opponents. There they'll witness that those people they will most likely be working for have committed real atrocities in the past and are trying to brush it under the rug. So there will be a huge moral dilemma once they meet Fayne. Freeing Liat might be easier though.

Mrpereira · Oct 16, 2018

Lylandra said:
Because they'll be sent to Ycengled by the Shahalesti who are usually more or less your opponents. There they'll witness that those people they will most likely be working for have committed real atrocities in the past and are trying to brush it under the rug. So there will be a huge moral dilemma once they meet Fayne. Freeing Liat might be easier though.

On the up side, they ought to be sure of having Shalosha on their side in the temple. Any help is welcome in that fight

trencher7 · Oct 16, 2018

Thank you so much!
I am re-reading the campaign at the moment in order to be prepared but I have just reach the end of adventure 6.
As it seems I will have to make some "slight" adjustments.

trencher7 · Oct 17, 2018

A (hopefully) rather easy question came up:

Who created the teleport beacons?
I mean did the Ragesians bring one with them to Seaquen for example? Or are they some kind of more or less unknown ancient artifacts?

Mrpereira · Oct 17, 2018

The adventure states that the Ragesians set it up underneath Seaquen, so I always assumed they brought it with them and activated it (it is 1 foot by 6 feet, so it is likely possible to break down into smaller pieces to transport it).

There is also one in chapter 5 when they teleport to Ostalin, but I always assumed that the Ragesians invented it and maybe traded it to Ostalin (or they stole the secret). Lyceum doesn't have one or know about them before the PCs find it, so it is reasonable to assume that it is a Ragesian invention.