GrayIguana
First Post
I'm running an Eberron campaign for two PCs and I'd like some input on my campaign plot threads. There are two PCs, a elven rogue and a human ranger, each 6th level. We've run one session and it went fairly well, so I think this may turn into a long-term campaign.
The PCs are from Aundair and once called Thaliost their home. We are playing only a short time after the Last War. They were soldier in the wary and were recently contacted to run a mission for the Royal Eyes of Aundair (They don't know exactly who their employer is, but that will come in time). I like to have several potential plot threads going at the same time and this is what I'm running so far.
1. The Thaliost Thread: The PCs still have friends and family in Thaliost. They haven't been able to get back yet, but they will soon. I'm thinking that they will meet a sympathetic paladin (or priest) of the Silver Flame who does not agree with the corruption of the current Archbishop ruling Thaliost. This contact will help them rescue a political prisoner from the city dungeons. The PCs will confront several strong-arm minions of the archbishop, but eventually they may be contacted by Throneholders who want to strike an alliance to help Queen Diani. This may lead to confrontation against Cardinal Krozen. Another idea is that the PCs may even get the chance to remove (assassinate) the Archbishop of Thaliost. His crimes will be very obvious by this point and they may be directed to remove him by the Royal Eyes of Aundair.
2. The Karnnathi Resistance: A Bone Knight has vowed not to end the war. He has been attacking patrols along the border of Aundair and Thrane. The PCs recently discovered his presence (it was believe that Thrane was attacking), but they have only been able to kill off some of his Karnathi Skeletons. He has been hiding in camps in the Silver Wood and in the Star Peaks. Since the Bone Knight escaped in the last game, I may drag this out by increasing his levels and having more Karnathi forces arrive to join his cause. Right now the PCs are stuck between hunting for him and signs of the next adversary. Because while they were hunting down the Bone Knight, they ran into . . .
3. The Cult of the Dragon Below: Aberrations have control of a several vast cavern systems in this mnt range. Cultists are being sent to find deposits of dragonshards in other remote caverns at the whims of a being called "the prophet below" (gibbering mouthers). The PCs cleared out one small mining village, but they'll soon discover the threat is much larger. I'm thinking that Dolguant monks will be some of the main adversaries, but the leader may be an independent Overseer (Lords of Madness) who is ruling small factions of mindflayers, lesser beholders, and other various aberrations.
4. The Cardinal Krozen Thread: This is the thread I'm having a hard time working out. Krozen is evil. He treats Thrane like his own personal kingdom. But he also hides out in Flamekeep like he is suffering from paranoia. I'm not really sure what he does that is evil. I only have a few Eberron books, so I'm not sure if I have the full story on him, but I'd like to use him as one of the big baddies (or at least til we learn who he serves). I'm thinking that I will somehow involve him in a plot that involves several unsavory groups in Thrane (Cult of the Whispering Flame, and Torchbearers). I may consider that he works through 4 close contacts to secretly enforce his wishes, and these 4 minions never reveal to their underlings who they truly work for. The four minions would include: the Archbishop of Thaliost (who is also a Torchbearer) who pillages treasures from Thaliost (and Crown Loyalists) and funnels a large share to Krozen. The second would be an assassin who works secretly within the Argentum. This minion serves to keep tabs on information and remove some political targets. The third would be a fanatical paladin (blackguard? and torchbearer). He goes way too far, but no one is willing to question him. Well that is until the PCs arrive. (Yes he may arrive to enforce order in Thaliost). Finally, there would be a contact who is among the Cult of the Whispering Flame. This contact may be a minor member, and another member may turn out to be a major demon. The defeat of any one of these minions may not be enough to expose Krozen, but if the PCs eventually defeat all four, they may be able to draw Krozen out of Flame Keep. I may be able to use the other 4 threads to reveal who these four minions are.
Anyway, that seems like a lot of typing. I'm sorry if this is long, but do you have any critiques, or ideas to add? Does this sound alright?
The PCs are from Aundair and once called Thaliost their home. We are playing only a short time after the Last War. They were soldier in the wary and were recently contacted to run a mission for the Royal Eyes of Aundair (They don't know exactly who their employer is, but that will come in time). I like to have several potential plot threads going at the same time and this is what I'm running so far.
1. The Thaliost Thread: The PCs still have friends and family in Thaliost. They haven't been able to get back yet, but they will soon. I'm thinking that they will meet a sympathetic paladin (or priest) of the Silver Flame who does not agree with the corruption of the current Archbishop ruling Thaliost. This contact will help them rescue a political prisoner from the city dungeons. The PCs will confront several strong-arm minions of the archbishop, but eventually they may be contacted by Throneholders who want to strike an alliance to help Queen Diani. This may lead to confrontation against Cardinal Krozen. Another idea is that the PCs may even get the chance to remove (assassinate) the Archbishop of Thaliost. His crimes will be very obvious by this point and they may be directed to remove him by the Royal Eyes of Aundair.
2. The Karnnathi Resistance: A Bone Knight has vowed not to end the war. He has been attacking patrols along the border of Aundair and Thrane. The PCs recently discovered his presence (it was believe that Thrane was attacking), but they have only been able to kill off some of his Karnathi Skeletons. He has been hiding in camps in the Silver Wood and in the Star Peaks. Since the Bone Knight escaped in the last game, I may drag this out by increasing his levels and having more Karnathi forces arrive to join his cause. Right now the PCs are stuck between hunting for him and signs of the next adversary. Because while they were hunting down the Bone Knight, they ran into . . .
3. The Cult of the Dragon Below: Aberrations have control of a several vast cavern systems in this mnt range. Cultists are being sent to find deposits of dragonshards in other remote caverns at the whims of a being called "the prophet below" (gibbering mouthers). The PCs cleared out one small mining village, but they'll soon discover the threat is much larger. I'm thinking that Dolguant monks will be some of the main adversaries, but the leader may be an independent Overseer (Lords of Madness) who is ruling small factions of mindflayers, lesser beholders, and other various aberrations.
4. The Cardinal Krozen Thread: This is the thread I'm having a hard time working out. Krozen is evil. He treats Thrane like his own personal kingdom. But he also hides out in Flamekeep like he is suffering from paranoia. I'm not really sure what he does that is evil. I only have a few Eberron books, so I'm not sure if I have the full story on him, but I'd like to use him as one of the big baddies (or at least til we learn who he serves). I'm thinking that I will somehow involve him in a plot that involves several unsavory groups in Thrane (Cult of the Whispering Flame, and Torchbearers). I may consider that he works through 4 close contacts to secretly enforce his wishes, and these 4 minions never reveal to their underlings who they truly work for. The four minions would include: the Archbishop of Thaliost (who is also a Torchbearer) who pillages treasures from Thaliost (and Crown Loyalists) and funnels a large share to Krozen. The second would be an assassin who works secretly within the Argentum. This minion serves to keep tabs on information and remove some political targets. The third would be a fanatical paladin (blackguard? and torchbearer). He goes way too far, but no one is willing to question him. Well that is until the PCs arrive. (Yes he may arrive to enforce order in Thaliost). Finally, there would be a contact who is among the Cult of the Whispering Flame. This contact may be a minor member, and another member may turn out to be a major demon. The defeat of any one of these minions may not be enough to expose Krozen, but if the PCs eventually defeat all four, they may be able to draw Krozen out of Flame Keep. I may be able to use the other 4 threads to reveal who these four minions are.
Anyway, that seems like a lot of typing. I'm sorry if this is long, but do you have any critiques, or ideas to add? Does this sound alright?
The only thing to be careful of is not confusing them too much. But if there are threads that link different elements (like the Bone Knight striking a corrupt bargain with some aberrant leader), it will certainly add to that paranoid feeling that Noir has! 
