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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 7070722" data-attributes="member: 6816692">So finally, my group almost reached chapter 3 in adventure #7 and they, as I had already guessed a few weeks ago, turned the thing upside down again. Which ist not that bad, because this time I was prepared! Or was I?Turns out that after kind-of befriending Rhuarc my party doesn't want to go to the temple first (okay!) because they want to "present" the torch to the public by bringing it back to Seaquen and demonstrate that it is inert, at least in terms of teleporting powers (umm... problem! Maybe!).Why? Well, because one of my PCs is a Taranesti with strong emotional ties to Ycengled and its people, my group right now has three main objectives:1) Keep the Shahalesti (and possibly Ragesians) from continuing their search for Phorros Irrendra/Rhuarc since the city is a) sacred and unspoiled and b) contains very valuable knowledge about Syana's and Trilla's "magic"2) Restore the torch. Eventually. Because they think they might need it intact in order to repair the planar rift which causes the Burning Sky.3) Restore the Taranesti sovereingty in Ycengled, which means getting all the Shahalesti troops out and make "Northern Shahalesti" an official Taranesti region again. What my players plan on doing is to invoke a meeting in Seaquen where they can show the malfunctioning torch (probably letting different mages "identify" it) and look for supporters of "New Ycengled". They would invoke their "we helped you now you help us" cards from Sindaire, Dassen and Seaquen and persuade Magdus' Ragesian splinter group by offering them Coaltongue's corpse (for a proper burial) and hints that "Inquisitors" were behind the assassination of their emperor by letting Rhuarc testify. Also, they would invite Shalosha who they like and who they would also support as Shahalesti's next queen and offer her a leading role in the united Resistance Forces in return.However, this all means a new mental nightmare for me (especially after having finally finished out how Shalosha and Katrina would have reacted to seeing each other in "the other fellowship") as tons of unanswered questions arise:- Depending on how they present the malfunctioning torch, who would still try to pursue it? I guess Shaaladel (+ Aurana) and Leska would be still on track, but Shalosha (who was promised to stand in the line of possible torch-bearers) would trust the party and maybe even help them in the upcoming trial of echoed souls. However, this would reduce the number of possible adversaries and possible chaos in "the other fellowship" as Shalosha might enter the temple alongside the party. - How would the continent's powers react to the Taranesti Restoration?I guess that Dassen, Seaquen and Sindaire know how valuable freedom can be, so they would support their claim as long as it wouldn't mean certin war with Shahalesti (which is unlikely since Shahalesti has two Ragesian armies deep in their own territory and the only real power left is their - intact - fleet). Magdus really doesn't mind, but he will be thankful for his liege's corpse and he knows that the party can have quite an impact. Shalosha might be sympathetic to their plan, but Shaaladel will most certainly object and I guess he has too much pride to get that he'd be isolated and might need the other countrys' support. - How would Magdus react to the fact that Seaquen might offer Coaltongue's assassin Rhuarc (if they get him to testify) immunity as he's the chief witness?My player's argument is that it could be a bigger factor that Magdus can finally get a chance to wipe out those who plotted against CT, but I don't know yet if he is level-headed enought to not demand Rhuarc's execution (or plot his murder instead).Besides all this problems, I am really not sure about how to run the Trial of Echoed Souls afterwards. Because:- They might ask Rhuarc to accompany them as he was the one who destroyed Trilla's soul shard (he did object the first time, but showing his disturbing memories could be charming)- They might ask Shalosha to accompany them, which will possibly include her bodyguard Rihalles as well. However, these two might not really get along well with Rhuarc who had tried to kill Shaaladel before. - Katrina (who has already secretly left the Lyceum and headed off to the Ragesians) is loyal to them and will betray the RagesiansThis leaves me with the following adversaries from the "original" cast: - Nahrem "the scourge" & his bone golem buddy (he's got that nickname because I made him an infamous Taranesti hunter during the genocide) who are loyal to Shaaladel and Aurana- Karedan "Red Knight of Ragesia" who might be sent by Magdus to keep an eye on the party but will switch sides to his "fellow immortal" Leska after being persuaded by Etienna- Etienna & UrsusNow, I have quickly made up some plans which might work, but I'm not entirely happy with them and also not really sure which would be the most logical and elegant way to solve the problem:1) Create a rift between Shaaladel and Shalosha. Order Shalosha back to Calanis. Send Telshanth (the arrogant wizard admiral from adventure #3) to the war council, cause a ruckus, then let him play Shalosha's original role in the "other fellowship". Let Shalosha go rogue and follow him, play the charming "maybe we'll end up queen and king" card, enter the temple with him and then switch sides. However, this would really, really damage the bond between father and daughter. Severely. Rihalles would be a wild card then. 2) Simply add more NPC. Let the party recruit whomever they want and increase the number of enemy forces on both sides. I'd most certainly add some Shahalesti spellcaster(s) and a Solei Palancis dreadnought kind of character. Maybe add a Ragesian or a Two Winds agent (Pilus doen't think that the torch is really that inert and smells betrayal) as well. The down side to this is that the new NPC are relatively blank cards and I've tried to establish all of the "other fellowship" (excluding Karedan) as cameo characters up to this point. Rihalles can still be a wild card, but I have established him as Shalosha's bodyguard and unless she is directly interfering with her father's orders, he doesn't have a reason to turn on her. Now I'd be happy if you could add your opinions on my unusual situation. What about the Taranesti Restoration? Are the plans reasonable? (and which one sounds better?) Or do you have a third/fourth plan that would be even more suitable?</blockquote>

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