Troubles in the Kingdom (My NH Players stay out please)

[MojoGM]

Hi all,

I am currently running a game in the Forgotten Realms based in Cormyr. For those of you not familiar with it, the Reader's Digest condensed version is this:

Cormyr was a very stable kingdom for many, many years. King Azoun recently died in battle against a dragon threatening the realm. His eldest daughter was killed as well, but not before giving birth to the future king. As of right now, his younger daughter is acting as Regent until the child comes of age.

Now, Azoun was well known for his, shall we say, out-of-marriage escapades over the years, and it is theorized that he has some illegitimate children floating around out there.

Normally, any claim they would make to the throne would be easily thwarted, but the kingdom is not in the best of shape. The war that involved the dragons has caused a lot of damage, orcs and goblins still threaten some areas, and some noble families are not thrilled with the way the Crown is handling things.

I'd like there to be an illigitmate son who plans to take power, at first by gaining some noble families on his side, then by discrediting the current rulership.

Any suggestions on how one would go about this would be appreciated. To keep it in the general, how would soemone go about starting an uprising? Would he have inflamatory notices posted in the smaller towns and villages to raise support? Hire bards to spread stories? Maybe manipulate some dangers himself so he can swoop in and save the day, showing the current rulership incapable of protecting the people?

Still tossing the idea around in my skull, just looking for input.

Thanks

~MojoGM (Chris)

 

[Gregor]

I had a quick thought:

I cannot recall the name of the Dale (no book here at work) but it is supposedly a place where a number of Gods met up during the Time of Troubles. It is inhabited by a large population of gnomes....

What I am getting at is I remember reading that this Dale has an alliance with Cormyr. The alliance states that if Sembia invades this Dale, Cormyr will be forced to protect it.

SO first have your usurper begin by defacing the current rulership by accusing them as war mongers. Have him move from town to town as a herald of a coming war that Cormyr cannot afford to win which will result in heavy casualties.

Meanwhile also get your usuper to make a deal with Sembia. Have him convince the Sembians to invade this dale with a promise that the war will result in the following:

- current Cormyrian ruler will lose face, dragging the nation into war at a bad time
- locals will support your usurper now seeing that his/her heralds are true and that Cormyr cannot endure another war
- that when the people depose of the current ruler, the usurper will reveal himself as a child of Azoun and will rise to its leadership
- that once the usurper is the ruler he will end the war (pre-arranged to end) and will cede the Dale in question to Sembia as a treaty negotiation.

Thus, your usurper looks good, has support and buys off Sembia. Just an idea...and I didnt really think that through so there may be some obvious plot or logic holes.

Good luck!

Cheers,


edit - idiocy

 

[MaxKaladin]

I seem to recall that some of Azoun's dalliances were with noblewomen and that there are several noble sons who bear an uncanny resemblance to Azoun. Perhaps one of these is your potential usurper. If he is already a noble, he has a lot of the resources and connections needed to rebel.

It probably wouldn't be hard to forge an alliance between several of the existing noble families to overthrow the king provided you select families led or mostly composed of people who are more concerned with furthering their own power than loyaly to the current royal family. Then you can work together to undermine public confidence in them. Culminate matters by staging some sort of crisis where you can "step in for the good of the nation" and overthrow the royals. Arrange a quiet death for them to make sure they don't meddle. If you can, arrange the crisis so you can execute them for treason. Send the infant to a distant monastery as an "act of mercy" and arrange for bandits, humanoid raiders or monsters to ambush the party taking him there resulting in his unfortunate and tragic death.

 

[Mystery Man]

Sounds like an awesome campaign. Wish I was running my campaign in Cormyr.

The claimant should be of noble birth, should somehow garner support internally either by force, blackmail, peaceful negotiations etc.

You could realistically have several claims going on at the same time.

One says the he was promised the throne as repayment for a great service to the crown.

One lays siege to outlying duchies to slowly take over territory, and working in secret using Fireknife assassins (exiled Cormyr nobles I believe) to spy and kill anyone who get's in his way.

And yet another is actually supported internally by various governing bodies within Cormyr that are trying to usurp the throne from King Azoun's son.

 

[LuYangShih]

This plot thread was actually covered in the initial book of the trilogy leading up to Azouns death. The name of the novel is Cormyr. It is very good, especially for a FR novel. Suffice to say the Obarskyrs are well aware of this threat and have taken precautions to deal with any "heirs" Azoun may have produced. I am fairly certain they know the identity of each one. Still, given the current situation, it is possible that the plan could succeed this time around.

 

[Mystery Man]

This plot thread was actually covered in the initial book of the trilogy leading up to Azouns death. The name of the novel is Cormyr. It is very good, especially for a FR novel. Suffice to say the Obarskyrs are well aware of this threat and have taken precautions to deal with any "heirs" Azoun may have produced. I am fairly certain they know the identity of each one. Still, given the current situation, it is possible that the plan could succeed this time around.

I have a special "Stick of Pain" behind my DM chair that I use on book quoters.

 

[Volaran]

I recall that in the Cormyr books, many of the noble houses of the land seem to be divided equally among those of staunch loyalty to the crown, and those simply twitching to get out from under such central authority.

One of Azoun's bastards hoping to gain loyalty of noble houses might let it be known, that as king, he'd be willing to be advised by a noble's council, perhaps even be part of a council of powerful houses, but meerly carrying more than a single vote to represent his position.

Something similar was suggested by one of the plotters in Cormyr: A Novel, I believe, but it was their intent to use one of the princesses. That failed, but with actual Obarskyr blood backing it up, and less experienced rulers to counter it, a similar position might work.

In addition, as long as this bastard is making it known that they're an Obarskyr, they might be able to drum up support from those loyal to the family, but dissatisfied with the Steel Regent and unwilling to give Azoun V time to grow up.

You may want to consider some of the families Azoun IV banished for the last round of treason as initial backers of the userper. Some of them had very deep pockets.

 

[MojoGM]

Hi all,

Lots of great suggestions.

Like I said, I'm still tossing around the possibilities in my head, so nothing has been determined yet.

I have read both "Cormyr" and "Death of the Dragon", and I do like to try to keep it consistant to past Canon, I try not to be constrained by it.

Things are so different now in Cormyr that I figure someone trying to discredit the throne and gain power would have a much easier time.

The PCs are 4th level now, and currently on their way to explore some ruins in Hermit's Woods (near Marsember) after exposing a Cyricist cabal in the city.

The party consists of: Human Paladin of Torm, Half Orc Cleric of Torm, Human Wizard, Human Rogue, Elven Fighter/Rogue, and a Human Fighter/Rogue. Currently they are operating under a charter and performing minor missions for a small town in the King's Forest.

Anyway, I'd like to start planting the seeds now as far as rumors, events, etc. and have this all start coming up later on. Then they can choose sides and maybe have an impact on it.

Two of the PCs are from noble families. The paladin is from a minor noble family (not one from the books) and the human fighter/rogue is actually a Crownsilver (one of the loyal noble houses). I figure this might set up some interesting conflicts if the Paladin's family sides with the usurper and the Crownsilvers stay true to the Crown.

Still just planning at this stage.

Please keep the ideas coming, they are very helpful.

Thanks

~MojoGM (Chris)

 

[Mystery Man]

Hi all,

Lots of great suggestions.

Like I said, I'm still tossing around the possibilities in my head, so nothing has been determined yet.

For real history inspiration you might look at what happened in England following the death of Edward the Confessor...


Norman Conquest

Another one

 

[Paragon]

as a side note and theory i really think the steel regent is losing it. things i have read in dragon and dungeon suggest that she is losing her temper more often and flying into rages.
for a real interesting campaign having the regent become a tyrant and the pretender not any better makes things interesting for everyone involved.
just some ideas