Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormonu" data-source="post: 5759604" data-attributes="member: 52734">I was simply letting my mind wander, when this wonderous, devious idea struck my brain for a campaign premise:This scene plays out before character creation, as sort of a campaign pitch.  The players are all individuals in the employ of Lord Falicious, a tyrant of a bastard Baron-claiming-princehood who has now openly declared war against his brothers in a bid for the throne of the recently poisoned King.The characters have just retired to a semi-private room after completing their day's duty, to unwind and talk.Player 1: "When I signed up for this gig, it wasn't to get myself killed."Player 2: "By the gods, where did the Baron get these goons? - present company excluded - of course.  They're mad as hares and twice as stupid."Player 3: "Luckily, they are a hair smarter than the forces of the Princes.  We did win after all."Player 4: "Well, we wouldn't have if we hadn't been there.  Sooner or later, our luck will run out.  If the Princes ever stop their own bickering, Falicious will be outnumbered and it will be our necks."Player 1: "Then perhaps we should save our own necks."Player 2: "What? And desert?  To the other side?  Think of the gold we'd be missing and those goody-goody Princes would hang us before they took us in."Player 1: "No, we don't desert.  We turn this to our advantage.  We all know we're far more capable than the Baron.  We can pull this off where that blundering idiot will get us killed."Player 4: "But it is only us four.  Our own forces are blindingly loyal to the Baron.  As much as the Princes outnumber the Baron, the Baron's men outnumber us."Player 3: "Perhaps for now.  But I've to deliver an offer of alliance to the hobgoblins in the Low Mountains.  Unfortunately, the hobs can't read common and the terms might be misinterpreted favorable, but a bit too harsh.  Mayhaps for a few favors, we might turn a blind eye to some of the more "egregious" demands of our eccentric Baron and still forge an alliance?"Player 1: "Aye, not a bad start.  My liege has given me leave to manage the roster, I can arrange your escort as us."Player 4: "Then we are agreed to this madness?"Player 2: "Aye, 'tis better to rule in Hell than to serve, says I."------------TLDR:  The PCs decide to join together and backstab the evil lord they work for to eventually take over for themselves, using the evil lord's own forces as a cover for their activities.Adventures could include:- Raids for gear, slaves and off troops too loyal to Baron.- Quests in the name of Baron that inexplicably "fail" and empower the PCs- Manipulations and/or alienation of allies to strengthen the character's own positions- Covert removal of rivals in the Baron's own ranks to edge closer to taking down the Baron himself- Direct strikes against the armies of the Princes to weaken enemy forces- Quests to thwart the "heroes" of the Princes</blockquote>

Verification