Prequel adventure to WotBS

[sfedi]

Now I have a much more clear idea of what I want.

I would like to run some sessions/adventures so that the group:

(in order of importance)
- Gets into the Gate Pass resistance
- Brush or at least know of the Black Horse
(the ideal scenario here is to have the Black Horse hold a grudge against the PCs, I think)
- Get to know the Shahalesti and how they feel/view about Ragesia

Optionally:
- Know the existence or have a brief contact with the Thieve´s Guild
- Know the existence or have a brief contact with the Gabal's School
- Become aware of or be introduced to any organization or NPC you think is cool this early in the campaign.

For what I read of the first adventure, this seems the best introduction for the party.

Opinions?

 

[sfedi]

An idea for an adventure

After some brainstorming I came up with the following, sketchy, idea:

The mission will take place on the weeks before the attack to Gate Pass.
A routine patrol, or clearing of nearby caves turns a typical dungeon crawl into an espionage game.

PCs clear cave.
Something of interest for the Black Horse bandits is there, and his plans are ruined by the PCs.
Elves from Shagalesti hold their own stakes at this too.
So does the Resistance.
If all goes well, PCs fight the Black Horse bandits, confront the Shahalesti elves (may be violent, or not)
And earn the trust of the resistance.

I was thinking on a cave that´s overrun by goblins, maybe connected to Ragesia, that serves as an arms depot and a guerrilla outpost for the upcoming war.
Maybe the Black Horse were planning to steal this cache of supplies.
The Shahalesti may have a captured spy on the cave? Had business with the goblins or it's leader? Mmmm...

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Shoot

 

[RangerWickett]

How about having the Black Horse discreetly abduct a city councilman, who is then replaced by a Ragesian spy. The PCs can be tipped off to the Black Horse activity by someone who will eventually be in the rebellion (maybe Rantle, so if he comes to their aid later it won't seem as Deus Ex Machina-y), and when they go on patrol they find the cave with a few of the Black Horse, the captive, and the spy, who is taking time learning his mark's mannerisms.

The cave could be a goblin cave, and the goblins have teamed up with the Black Horse, who are also storing arms in the cave. The idea is that if someone finds out the guy was kidnapped and goes looking for some human brigands, they probably wouldn't check goblin caves. This helps you get several encounters in one day.

Possible Encounters.

Maybe some goblin lookouts in the hills around the city, near the cave.

Then into the cave itself - a small maze with a few waves of goblins.

Then the deeper cave, with the black horse and the spy.

 

[sfedi]

I like that.

I'ld also like to involve the Shahalesti in some way, so the PCs have a first-hand experience with them.

Maybe the kidnapped council man was already a Shahalesti Spy, or at least a sympathizer.

So the plot would be:
- Council man gets kidnaped
- Thieve's Guild notices this
- City searches for him, but don't find him (even on Black Horse camp)
- Rantle steps in, and informs the Council
- Council, not wanting to get into more trouble with Ragesia contracts a neutral third party (the PCs) to go to the goblin cave and rescue the council member
- Party goes to Goblin caves
- Clears some goblins
- Finds the kidnapped council member, the spy and some Black Horse members, for a final confrontation

Another plot I thought of:
- Party is hired as neutral third party to clear a possible Ragesian outpost, a cave of Goblins
- A Shahalesti half-orc spy travels near the goblin cave, he acts as a Ragesian contact for the goblins, and provides support, information, etc.
- A Shahalesti scout hides near the goblin cave, waiting to make contact with the half orc spy, get the message, and return to Gate Pass and Shahalesti
- The Black Horse, who lives in the area, notices this activity and spies on the nearbies, waiting for an opporunity
- PCs get into the cave, and start the slaughter
- The Shahalesti scout gets nervous, and follows the PCs into the cave
- The Half-orc spy, doesn't confront the PCs, and hides deeper in the cave
- Finally, he surrenders, expecting to get out alive
- The scout tries to see what's going on, and perhaps interceed, or jump into the fray if the half orc spy is attacked
- Meanwhile, the Black Horse calls reinforcements and gets ready to get in the cave as soon as it is abandoned
- Except that if the PCs carry the (huge) caché of weapons, the Black Horse will attack

In terms of metagame the idea is this:
- Goblin caves: 4 easy encounters, with fleeing goblins, if they fail to corner them properly, they join forces and provide less, tougher, encounters
- Spy&Scout encounter, challenging (two lvl 3 elites) but can be talked out
- Black Horse encounter, normal difficulty, but can be talked out if they surrender the weapons caché

Now that I have your idea, and mine, maybe I can build something better.

I like from you idea Rantle's involvement, and the city involvement.
I like from my idea the Black Horse grudge that may result and the Shahalesti involvement.

A question about your plot:
- Are the Black Horse working with the Ragesians? Are they neutral in the conflict?

Thanks a lot for your post.

 

[sfedi]

I like that.

I'ld also like to involve the Shahalesti in some way, so the PCs have a first-hand experience with them.

Maybe the kidnapped council man was already a Shahalesti Spy, or at least a sympathizer.

So the plot would be:
- Council man gets kidnaped
- Thieve's Guild notices this
- City searches for him, but don't find him (even on Black Horse camp)
- Rantle steps in, and informs the Council
- Council, not wanting to get into more trouble with Ragesia contracts a neutral third party (the PCs) to go to the goblin cave and rescue the council member
- Party goes to Goblin caves
- Clears some goblins
- Finds the kidnapped council member, the spy and some Black Horse members, for a final confrontation

Another plot I thought of:
- Party is hired as neutral third party to clear a possible Ragesian outpost, a cave of Goblins
- A Shahalesti half-orc spy travels near the goblin cave, he acts as a Ragesian contact for the goblins, and provides support, information, etc.
- A Shahalesti scout hides near the goblin cave, waiting to make contact with the half orc spy, get the message, and return to Gate Pass and Shahalesti
- The Black Horse, who lives in the area, notices this activity and spies on the nearbies, waiting for an opporunity
- PCs get into the cave, and start the slaughter
- The Shahalesti scout gets nervous, and follows the PCs into the cave
- The Half-orc spy, doesn't confront the PCs, and hides deeper in the cave
- Finally, he surrenders, expecting to get out alive
- The scout tries to see what's going on, and perhaps interceed, or jump into the fray if the half orc spy is attacked
- Meanwhile, the Black Horse calls reinforcements and gets ready to get in the cave as soon as it is abandoned
- Except that if the PCs carry the (huge) caché of weapons, the Black Horse will attack

In terms of metagame the idea is this:
- Goblin caves: 4 easy encounters, with fleeing goblins, if they fail to corner them properly, they join forces and provide less, tougher, encounters
- Spy&Scout encounter, challenging (two lvl 3 elites) but can be talked out
- Black Horse encounter, normal difficulty, but can be talked out if they surrender the weapons caché

Now that I have your idea, and mine, maybe I can build something better.

I like from you idea Rantle's involvement, and the city involvement.
I like from my idea the Black Horse grudge that may result and the Shahalesti involvement.

A question about your plot:
- Are the Black Horse working with the Ragesians? Are they neutral in the conflict?

Thanks a lot for your post.

 

[RangerWickett]

My concept was that the Black Horse are evil money hungry bastard mercenaries, and so they like taking jobs from the Ragesians, but if the PCs had a few thousand gold pieces, their loyalty could be bought.

 

[sfedi]

Great, I didn't know that. Thanks.