as an idea: the orcs start to target halflings as a similar target to gnomes, possibly including some member of the clerics family. Are there diplomatic relations between the city they're in and the ogre mage? if so, diplomatic break down and/or terrorism campaign...the orcs have gun powder maybe they invent the wagon bomb for market places...take control of the thieves guild attempt assassinations of notable people requiring the PCs to be hired as body guards. The city they're in is gearing for war so the party is drafted into military as a scout group or regular troops...just a few thoughts, hope there's something of use.
Help me progress my current plot (My player's stay out!)
- Thread starter ThorneMD
- Start date
Tessarael
Adventurer
Disease.
Maybe there's a disease that doesn't affect Orcs and Ogres, or one that they have resistance to. Just a natural, somewhat deadly, disease that can be cured with Remove Disease - but there's not enough Remove Disease spells to go around. Treat it like Small Pox or something like that ... highly infectious, kills lots of people who haven't been exposed to it previously. If I had access to that disease, and my armies were resistance, I'd make sure the enemy got that disease. Historically, disease-ridden bodies were catapulted into sieged cities. This is a good war for it to start.
Trade goods.
Prices on goods, such as certain foods, weapons and armor, should sky rocket. There should also be a fair bit of black market dealing going on. High prices, plently of smugglers.
Politics.
They're in the capital dammit! What the hell are the rulers saying? Has anyone tried to assassinate a ruler? Any other political factions tried to take over? Any sympathizers with the Orcs? Anyone trying to surrender (in exchange for treasure) to save the capital from being torn asunder?
That's my 3 ideas for today ...
Maybe there's a disease that doesn't affect Orcs and Ogres, or one that they have resistance to. Just a natural, somewhat deadly, disease that can be cured with Remove Disease - but there's not enough Remove Disease spells to go around. Treat it like Small Pox or something like that ... highly infectious, kills lots of people who haven't been exposed to it previously. If I had access to that disease, and my armies were resistance, I'd make sure the enemy got that disease. Historically, disease-ridden bodies were catapulted into sieged cities. This is a good war for it to start.
Trade goods.
Prices on goods, such as certain foods, weapons and armor, should sky rocket. There should also be a fair bit of black market dealing going on. High prices, plently of smugglers.
Politics.
They're in the capital dammit! What the hell are the rulers saying? Has anyone tried to assassinate a ruler? Any other political factions tried to take over? Any sympathizers with the Orcs? Anyone trying to surrender (in exchange for treasure) to save the capital from being torn asunder?
That's my 3 ideas for today ...
Chimera
First Post
As others above, I'd have to suggest that the Halflings are next. They're just too similar in size and appearance to Gnomes. Perhaps they start this with the claim that the Halflings are purposely hiding Gnomes, disguising them as their own.
How do you get the Humans up in arms? The Orcs start killing 2-5 year old Human children on the suspicion that they could be Gnomes or Halflings in disguise. If they go through all of their conquered lands and kill every child under the age of 5 or so because they might be Gnomes in hiding, you think that might rile up the Humans and Elves???
And perhaps some Orcish thuganomics, which cause fear and spread rumors. "Shut up Human, or your people will be next!" A bit of Orcish arrogance could cause every race to begin fearing for it's future.
How do you get the Humans up in arms? The Orcs start killing 2-5 year old Human children on the suspicion that they could be Gnomes or Halflings in disguise. If they go through all of their conquered lands and kill every child under the age of 5 or so because they might be Gnomes in hiding, you think that might rile up the Humans and Elves???
And perhaps some Orcish thuganomics, which cause fear and spread rumors. "Shut up Human, or your people will be next!" A bit of Orcish arrogance could cause every race to begin fearing for it's future.
Belegbeth
First Post
Torm said:
My post has nothing to do with this campaign, but I just have to correct this grotesque historical mistake.
Britain had been at war for TWO YEARS (since Sept. 1939) before the U.S. entered the conflict. (Also, Britain entered the war not when Germany attacked her, but when Germany invaded Poland.) And the U.S. entered only after the Japanese attack on its naval base at Pearl Harbour.
Torm
Explorer
Alright, we're going to get further and further from the original topic, but....
If you've read your history, and it seems like you have, you know that American popular opinion was in favor of isolationism until Pearl Harbor. But the current theory is that American and British leaders KNEW that attack was coming, and let it happen to change that opinion.
So I guess it depends on whether you see us as entering the war when we declared it, or when our leaders decided that we were GOING to. Kinda like Sept. 11th and the war in Iraq, no?
If you've read your history, and it seems like you have, you know that American popular opinion was in favor of isolationism until Pearl Harbor. But the current theory is that American and British leaders KNEW that attack was coming, and let it happen to change that opinion.
So I guess it depends on whether you see us as entering the war when we declared it, or when our leaders decided that we were GOING to. Kinda like Sept. 11th and the war in Iraq, no?
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For the more materalistic partys consider this:
Perhapse now that the days of the Gnomes are comming to an end the Gnome Leaders have hidden a large store of gold, not only to keep it from their enemies but in the hope that one day the gold could be used to rebuild their kingdom.
The party learns of this, possibly by finding a clue (note, ect...) on the body of a dead Gnome. Setting out to find the treasure, which is now located deep in Orc territory they learn that a Gnome traitor has told the Orcs about the treasure (in exchange for not being eaten).
Another possiblity would be a "Final Weapon" that the Gnomes have developed but were unable to deploy. The final weapon could be something as simple as the plans for a gattling gun, or something more exotic (ie: Mecha or perhapse some sort of magical Nuke).
Perhapse now that the days of the Gnomes are comming to an end the Gnome Leaders have hidden a large store of gold, not only to keep it from their enemies but in the hope that one day the gold could be used to rebuild their kingdom.
The party learns of this, possibly by finding a clue (note, ect...) on the body of a dead Gnome. Setting out to find the treasure, which is now located deep in Orc territory they learn that a Gnome traitor has told the Orcs about the treasure (in exchange for not being eaten).
Another possiblity would be a "Final Weapon" that the Gnomes have developed but were unable to deploy. The final weapon could be something as simple as the plans for a gattling gun, or something more exotic (ie: Mecha or perhapse some sort of magical Nuke).
Torm
Explorer
A Gnome plague is an interesting idea. But that sort of solution isn't always available, depending on tech level and the competence of the leadership to look at subtle angles. Orcs don't seem very subtle, usually - at least to me.
Do you think that if Nazi Germany had had a bioengineered virus that would infect all but kill only Semetic people, they would have used it? I'm not sure, myself (I tend to think so, but I'm still surprised they didn't see the benefits of their jet engine program), but its an interesting, if horrible, question.
ThorneMD - speaking of the Nazi Luftwaffen, you mentioned that the Orcs had stolen Gnomish muskets and grenades. Maybe they've also acquired some sort of primitive Gnomish flying device? The party could find out about a planned aerial firebombing of the city they're in from an escaped slave (or sumtin) and have to go out to stop that? Just thinkin'....
Do you think that if Nazi Germany had had a bioengineered virus that would infect all but kill only Semetic people, they would have used it? I'm not sure, myself (I tend to think so, but I'm still surprised they didn't see the benefits of their jet engine program), but its an interesting, if horrible, question.
ThorneMD - speaking of the Nazi Luftwaffen, you mentioned that the Orcs had stolen Gnomish muskets and grenades. Maybe they've also acquired some sort of primitive Gnomish flying device? The party could find out about a planned aerial firebombing of the city they're in from an escaped slave (or sumtin) and have to go out to stop that? Just thinkin'....
Ah, I thought that Thorne just wanted to get rid of his gnomes. So I mentioned that a gnome killing plague would have been a better way if he hadn´t already started his idea of nazi orcs stomping everything into the ground.
Another way that could be part of the storyline is a magical ritual that will eradicate everyone with gnomish blood from the face of the world.
I would prefer not to start a discussion about what the nazis would have done in this forum and get away from introducing elements of WW2. Wiping out other people or subverting them totally is a time honored tradition for most of mankind. Rome vs Carthago, US against Native American, Spaniards vs Native American, Byzanz vs the Ottomans, the Barbarians vs the Roman Empire, the Huns vs Everyone Else.
Use some of these examples, they probably fit better.
Another way that could be part of the storyline is a magical ritual that will eradicate everyone with gnomish blood from the face of the world.
I would prefer not to start a discussion about what the nazis would have done in this forum and get away from introducing elements of WW2. Wiping out other people or subverting them totally is a time honored tradition for most of mankind. Rome vs Carthago, US against Native American, Spaniards vs Native American, Byzanz vs the Ottomans, the Barbarians vs the Roman Empire, the Huns vs Everyone Else.
Use some of these examples, they probably fit better.
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