Adv. 6 - Castle Korstull, fail to see why Shalosha is allying with the Ragesians?

[radich]

I am running the 3.5 version of WotBS, and within the next to-three gaming nights will be handling the sequence in which the party escape via the sky palanquin. But what I fail to grasp is what Shalosha and a handfull of the Shahalesti are doing alongside the Ragesians? If Shahelsti is currently being treatened on their northern border by an advancing army, and Gate Pass is the only thing standing between a clash of these two rivaling factions - why the joint-venture to Korstull?

 

[RangerWickett]

I am running the 3.5 version of WotBS, and within the next to-three gaming nights will be handling the sequence in which the party escape via the sky palanquin. But what I fail to grasp is what Shalosha and a handfull of the Shahalesti are doing alongside the Ragesians? If Shahelsti is currently being treatened on their northern border by an advancing army, and Gate Pass is the only thing standing between a clash of these two rivaling factions - why the joint-venture to Korstull?

It's been a few years since I wrote it, but I think it's General Magdus who's in charge of that army. He's not a fan of Leska, and has been stuck in Sindaire for months since Coaltongue died, not wanting to abandon the location where the Torch was last seen. Shalosha and the other Shahalesti are offering to collaborate with Magdus to get to Castle Korstull and retrieve the Torch. The deal is that Shaaladel gets to keep the Torch, and Magdus gets to be his right-hand man after they take down Leska.

The forces on the northern border of Shahalesti are loyal to Leska (or at least aren't willing to piss her off by disobeying), but Magdus is far enough away he can afford to work against her. You'll notice that Magdus's forces do not include any inquisitors.

 

[Graphil]

A follow on from that she is then leading the group going into the temple against the group. If they do manage to finish on friendly terms here why would she be attacking them at the temple? Plus if she does get killed in that fight doesn't that cause problems in the later adventures?

 

[RangerWickett]

My recollection of #7 is that the ending sees a sort of 'strange bedfellows' situation. When the Ragesians and Shahalesti learn that someone (i.e., the PCs) is close to getting their hands on The Torch, they team up so they can stop them, . . . with sort of the intention of stabbing each other in the back afterward.

And if Shalosha is good terms with the party, she probably has just agreed to work with the Ragesians so she can get on the inside and see who's going to win, then back that person. She's probably hoping it's the party.