Plot ideas-Need help! (kind of long)

[Vanye]

I'm running an FR campaign at the moment, set in 1371, and these are the backstory events that I've had going on in my campaign. It's set in The North, near the Confederacy of the Silver Marches, with 6 PC's of about 10-11th level.

1) The PC's (well, some of them) way back when they were second level decided they were going to chop down the creepy tree in the Sunken Citadel module from WotC. Knowing what happens in the later modules, I decided that they had released the vampire wizard that shows up in the 5th module. Oops. In the year since that's happened, many vampire spawn have started causing problems for the region (I set Oakhurst, and thus the citadel, in the broken, hilly region east of Sundabar). The PC's had indicated an interest in stopping them, because they feel that their releasing the vampire lord and the vampire spawn infestation are related, and they feel responsible.

2) I used the old RPGA KIDNAPPED! module, revamped for the new location. The PC's rescued the kid, but the kidnappers got away. They eventually captured Clive, but the rest of them escaped. One of them has successfully raised a mercenary army, and "liberated" the Barony of Karondar, and declared itself independant of the Confederacy (PC's never followed up on the hints that were dropped about the situation)

3) PC's were also interested in going to Cormyr, via a meeting with an exiled war wizard named Amelior Aminatas, whom they did work for.

In the future was an orc invasion. It was a good 3 months off before it became a problem. PC's didn't know it was really coming, but they had an idea, due to encounters with orcs, reports of orc patrols, etc. They decided they were going to take about 2 months to craft some magical items they wanted, etc. That's fine, no problems. I informed them of other developments, such as oakhurst having not been accessible for about a week (caravans turned back, no word from the people there, etc), the barony being liberated, etc, but one of the PC's decided that he wanted to get a journeymans' badge in weaponsmithing, and the rest of the party decided to let him. Due to the crafting rules involved, it would have taken more than 30 days to make the masterwork dagger which was the first task, which brings them up to the orc invasion....


My problem is: I had stuff ready for the vampires. Stuff for the barony. Stuff for Cormyr. I never anicipated them totally ignoring all of that stuff for long enough that the orc invasion occured, so I don't have anything for that! Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to:

a) simulate the invasion
b) give the PC's adventures that deal with it? They've decided they want to do something to stop the invasion, but aside from noting there is a bounty on the orc king and his sons (10,000gp bounty for each, total of 9), and that the kings location is unknown, I'm at a loss.

I've already considered having the new baron be allied with King Obould, and having the vampire wizard ally with them as well, more to see if he can find some lost artifacts that he can use to try and bring his dark dragon lord to power as a deity in the Realms. So,I've got an overall plot in mind, but I need things to get the PC's working in the right direction. Any ideas?

Thanks, gang

 

[Piratecat]

Make them face the consequences of their actions!

I think the best way to handle this is to interweave the plots and give them some hard choices. They can protect a town, or stop a vampire from reaching one of their goals. Make them choose, and let them know that both are equally important.

Will the orc invasion mess up the vampire's plans at all? How will Cormyr respond to the orcish invasion?

 

[Maia Lythar]

I think you should run things as they will play out. The PC's will be torn in deciding which way to go and help. Creating Moral Dilemmas. Perfect plot line, I think. I agree with Piratecat, procrastination has led them to this. Let them deal with it.

 

[Mystery Man]

Perhaps a Maguffin the likes of which could be an artifact or a piece of an artifact that this trio of bad guys are rumored to be seeking. Perhaps the last words of this war wizard are "and they seek it in the castle aaaaaaaaaagh" or something to that effect.

 

[Piratecat]

I think I like the idea of intertwining separate plots more than just combining them. Seems more realistic that way.

 

[Vanye]

I think I like the idea of intertwining separate plots more than just combining them. Seems more realistic that way.

I agree, and I may do that. I may tie the barony into the invasion, at least as an ally, as the NPC in question would problably ally himself with the orcs, to get himself more power. I think I will leave the vampires separate (though the pc's may encounter some orcish based vampire spawn, heh heh heh.)

However, does anyone have any ideas for what to do about the war itself? I don't want the PC's to be the focal point of the war effort(because, lets face it, this IS the Realms), but I do want to give them opportunities to be influential in it. However, I'm at a loss as to what to do. I'd figured I'd have plenty of time to find some decent rules on running a war and incorporating it into a game (such as Cry Havoc!) with the pc's doing the other plot hooks (all of which they'd expressed interest in before. ) so I'm at a loss as to how to involve them in the war, without necessarily making them paramilitary units and assigning them missions.

Help!

 

[Valiantheart]

I find when PCs are continuously lollygaging its good idea to have the threat you wanted them to take care of kill off their friends or raze a couple of their home towns. Hurt them when they are not looking and/or are ignoring obvious plot hints usually helps them focus.

 

[Desdichado]

How to involve them? The city they're currently camped out in is in the path of the invasion, right? Go through the attack on the city! Let the PCs run through the streets trying to avoid the bulk of the orc army and get away (note: probably not a great idea if your orc army is almost completely Orc War1s...)

What kind of orc invasion is it? Does the place have a chance to withstand them, or is it a foregone conclusion that the orcs will win? Is it a "raze the enemies cities to the ground, salt their fields and kill all their inhabitants" kind of invasion, or will the conquered people be allowed to live in an occupied warzone?

I guess I'd need some more details before I could give you some specific suggestions of what to have PCs doing.

 

[Derulbaskul]

I'm currently running a similar campaign and have used a macguffin to drive part of the plot. My group also delayed to make items and generally waste time so I was left to deal with a similar situation.

Anyway, I used the macguffin of the Graybrother spear from the Silver Marches web enhancement although I made it an actual artefact/relic. Due to various prophecies from various tribal shamans of Gruumsh, the invasion has been delayed until the spear is found because only the spear will unite the orcs.

The spear is now in the possession of a Sharran hag who was disguised as Black Lorog and the party are (finally!) in pursuit. They are about to travel through the Labyrinth to Chaulssin from where the spear is will be taken to the Demonweb Pits to power a Harrowing ritual (se Dungeon 87) which will allow the Chosen of Shar to possess the slumbering Lolth... or maybe it won't.

Other groups are also pursuing the spear. Perhaps your vampire is one of them?