Characters gaining fame and infamey at the same time.

[3rdedreichcommander]

Okay in my current game my players have accedently unleashed the walking mummy of a long dead Necromancer Queen, after they finish their current mission (Where they'll only meet up with one of her Commanders) they plan on leaving the Country they're on to help the Cleric on her pilgrimage, The Seven Mercies of St. Cuthbert. I plan on them spending a lot of time across the ocean and becoming famous then returning to find the country ravaged and the survivors blaming them. The Question is how soon, is too soon and how long is too long?

 

[Henry]

No less than a year, if you can "finagle" it.

However, you are better off setting a timeline, and letting the players decide if they are coming back or not. That way, it's not forced, and they can have a direct affect on the actions of the Queen, or not.

It depends on the size of the kingdom. Figure she takes some time to build forces, create devastating monsters and devices, discover, then corrupt or mind control important leaders, etc. Figure based on your campaign who the people she'd discover are the movers and shakers, and how long it would take her to get up to speed on current politics and power structures.

So set a timeline based on what you know she can do, and how much work she's got ahead:

1. Establish secure base of Op's
2. Send spies & divinations to determine power centers
3. build up war materiel (items and minions)
4. acquire any nifty evil artifacts that happen to be unused right now
5. STRIKE