King Obould Many-Arrows Invades!

[Duncan Haldane]

If I were King Obould I would make sure I didn't get killed so easily in Neverwinter Nights!

 

[Vexed]

I agree. If I ever have a character from a (novel) in a game I often up their levels to represent my perception of their abilities in the book. Having a warlord capable of overthrowing the silver marches (eventually) should be up there by the time he actually attempts this and its honestly perceived as a real threat. I would have Obould around 15-18th level by the time this happens. Possibly epic if he is the orc among orcs.(Depends on your group/level etc) I don't think he would rely solely on use of brute force, as that is what people are going to expect from a huge orc army, and (I haven't read lone drow yet) but I did read the predecessor, and he seems to be very intelligent for an orc. To stay ontop of things and stand up to the silver marches and dwarven/human cities he is going to need spell casters. Using some of the other examples given (sacking towns, cutting off supply lines, robbing merchants) he could steadily build up a stock pile of gold. I would have him enter in to negotiations with the thayan wizards, and allow the to build an enclave in his lands. Through this he could get a supply of magic items, and use them as contacts to hire "adventurers" primarily evil wizards and clerics. Not only will he be able to pay them with gold, but after assuming control over major cities he could offer areas for them to gain control over. An entire city for themselves if he had the rest of the country they could have citadel arabar etc. By doing this he could possibly get funding from their govt. even. Or very rich private investors etc. Bottom line is he is going to need powerful magic on his side, something (from the books) he is currently lacking.




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MORE SPOILERS!!!

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Seriously.

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Just using the FRCS doesn't fairly represent his current stats. He is probably right now considered a "chosen" of Gruumish or something like that. All his abilities have been jacked and he has a bunch of clerics constantly watching over him and creating things like armour and weapons worthy of their God. To quote the book "Obould is Gruumish."

The dwarves certainly pissed off the wrong God...

I would say that his CR is ~15 at the moment.

As for Alustriel not coming in to lay the smacketh down, as it were - It's not her style and right now she has no idea what is going on right now. I'm pretty sure she'll make an appearance in the finale the way this is going. There are going to be a few huge battles in The Two Swords and I'm sure at least one of them will have an army from Silverymoon involved. That is unless RAS is taking a different route than what he is foreshadowing...

 

[Decado]

I don't have anything to offer in the way of ideas but this has been a very interesting thread to read. I will soon be in a player in a solo campaign set in the Silver Marches. I will be playing a Chaotic Good 1/2 orc fighter. I am really looking forward to exploring the Silver Marches as the vast majority of my time playing in the FR has taken place along the Sword Coast. I hope you post more when your campaign begins.

Decado

 

[Corinth]

The first phase of any campaign would have to involve an assassination operation that targets the enemy's high-level spell-casters and puts them down for good. This is where the allies come into play; they are the way that Obould gets this done. Maybe some factions in the region would play Fifth Columnist if provided with sufficient motivation?

 

[Goobermunch]

Obould needs a butcher. Probably a necromancer.

That way, after he's killed all the villagers, he can have his butcher clean the flesh from the bones and then raise them as skeletons. His orcs can eat the meat, and the skeletons can be put to use elsewhere.

I've always been a big fan of using mindless undead to improve the lot of your enslaved peoples. Set the skeletons to work doing the tedious tasks that the living hate . . . tilling, harvesting lumber, etc. It also lets you leave an occupation force behind.

Thus, those towns that earn Obould's "favor" can then have skeletons to work their fields. Of course, if the locals start to stray . . . .

--G

 

[Kurzak T]

If I were a player this would bug me. Here's an answer - Obould is directing the operation from a dead magic area. He doesn't leave it ever. Therefore, magic can't find him, at least not directly. He sends out runners to give orders the old fashioned way or his clerics send orders via magical means.

Also, Obould has acquired a powerful artifact that allows his servants to summon multiple Kelevzu Demons (from MMII). The Kelevzu have been assassinating high level spellcasters in the area. Only the most brave and noble wizards are not totally preoccupied with defending themselves.

You guys are all missing the simple solution that doesn't require contortions like keeping his operation in a dead magic area....namely, Obould just has one of his priests use 'Forbiddance' in the area of his headquarters. Ouila! No teleports, plane-shifts, ethereal spies, etc. It's permanent, just requires some gold for components and an 11th level cleric.

Has the added bonus of adding a pretty significant layer of defense to his immediate vicinity in the case of any Silver Marches strike teams that may be sent to try to take him out.

And I haven't looked it up, but depending on the definition of how scrying spells work, it may even prevent the scrying sensor from being established. If not, there's other spells to take care of that problem separately.

Forbiddance is one of the best HQ-protection spells around. Every high-power leader worth his salt should have at least some portion of his home base covered by one of these.

 

[Oni]

'Forbiddance'

Never noticed just how useful that spell was until you pointed it out.

 

[Mystery Man]

Ok here is the deal. I'm going to be running a game set in the Forgotten Realms in about 6 weeks...........

So, how's this going?

 

[Taelorn76]

I am actualy starting my FR campaign in 2 weeks and I am intrducing this plot a little ways into it.
This thread is giving me some more ideas as well.

Some more spoilers.

Spoiler

Obould has allied himself with Frost Giants, Trolls and even 4 Drow, but his greatest accomplishemnt was getting all the orc tribes united beneath him. I can't recall the numbers but he has orc from all over joining his warband.

Also he has had Shamans buff him up, Strength, Wisdom, Agility you name it hes done it.

He started in the mountains and then went after Mithral Hall. (you may want to avoid that)

I like how Marimmar has plotted it out as well.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

One word... Diversions.

Send a strike force of expendable goblins against a town to the north and while the heros are busy dealing with them hit them HARD in the south. Draw them away from any target you want to hit.

Infiltrators are good too... a Doppleganger (you could also use a Succubus or Rakshasa) Sorcerer in the middle of the enemy camp would be worth 100 times their weight in gold. They could get information on enemy plans and send the orks those plans via a Sending spell. Also, a poisoned blade used at just the right time can be more usefull than all the ork armies in the world. Never underestimate the power of a Fireball spell cast inside a food storage area when someplace is under seige. In any case, finding the shapechanger would be almost impossible.