Iron_Chef
First Post
Okay, assume the following scenario is true (which it is, for my campaign), and then tell me what effects you think it will have on on the current (FRCS) situation in Zhentil Keep.
The Time of Troubles did not occur, and therefore Cyric does not exist. Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul are all alive and well.
In 1368 DR, the Zhent council of lords commissioned a security force headed by an ambitious fighter/mage who had gained much popular support among the citizenry and several of the lords. The fighter/mage was responsible for foiling an assassination attempt on Lord Orgauth (not the pit-fiend which replaced him later on), performing a daring expedition into the ruins of Myth Drannor to retrieve several articles of power for the benefit of the council members, and also prevented/outwitted the Red Plumes and Knights of Myth Drannor from stopping his quest, then committed a daring raid to free prisoners from jail/execution in newly annexed Tilverton and gain evidence of Cormyte aggression towards the Dales, culminating in the destruction of a large force of Cormyte Purple Dragons and some minor war wizards hot on his heels (thanks to a handy meteor swarm scroll Manshoon thoughtfully provided for just such an emergency). He sought sanctuary in Shadowdale and convinced the rulers there to not only grant him temporary asylum and safe passage, but to expel the Cormyte troops that rode in after him. I forget the specifics, but very little trickery was involved, it was more diplomacy playing up the Dalesmen's fears of Cormyte aggression and the fact that he had committed no crimes against the Dales and bore them no ill will (himself formerly a native of Archendale). Not that he made best friends with the good guys, lol, but his logic was sound and he only wanted to get his small, weary band home.
It was supposed to be a suicide mission to kill him off (Manshoon and Fzoul being the primary lords desirous of killing him off but in a way that would not make them look bad), but he came back more popular than ever. It was a big public relations/propaganda coup for the Keep. So they set him up as head of the Keep's political police, ensuring the will of the council was obeyed... he then drastically cut crime (not crimes committed by the lords or their allies, of course, but regular street crime) and enjoyed a remarkable period of success...
About a year and a half later, Lord Chess ended up kidnapped and the council dispatched the "great hero" of Zhentil Keep to rescue him (another chance to send him on a suicide mission). He went through the Night Below mega-campaign (ugh), slaughtering everything and then it turns out that Lord Chess wasn't even down there, LOL, but was back at the Keep... unfortunately, he was possessed or something and caused portals to open up in the city so the aboleth could send troops in while an army of frost giants, gnolls and white dragons (sound familiar?) laid seige to the city. The hero managed to seal the gates, kill Chess, and hold off the hordes outside the walls so many could flee to safety. He personally teleported several of the lords out of the keep (Lord Blackryn for one). He was appointed battlelord of the keep and given command of its armies to break the seige and end the threat to the city. This he did, but at great and terrible cost. Thus, we have Zhentil Keep pretty much destroyed just like in official FR timeline. Bane was destroyed/banished or whatever when the portals were sealed (forget the reason why, and I wasn't the DM then anyway, so maybe it never was explained). Anyway, the end result is similar to official FR history, and Bane was replaced by Xvim, then Xvim was replaced by Bane. So Bane is now back and Fzul is his Chosen.
The "hero" is LE(N) and does most of what he does out of desire for power, but he has developed a softer side to try and better life for all citizens in ZK (he likes the adoration and love of the common people and sees it as a way to differentiate himself from the other power players in ZK who are universally despised and feared). He is an imperialist, hates Cormyr and Hillsfar, and wants to see ZK become an empire through military and/or economic conquest. He wants to be a lord badly, something Manshoon promised would come in time if he was Manshoon's "eyes and ears" in ZK during the rebuilding process, LOL. He was in the process of helping draw up plans for the reconstruction, was speaking out about the folly of the old ways, and had just discovered (and narrowly escaped) from the Pit Fiend masquerading as his former friend, Lord Orgauth---that was where we left the campaign back in second edition days ('95).
I'm trying to revive this campaign in the current FR year under 3e rules and aside from the events I've mentioned, everything else is the same as described in the FRCS. How then, do you suggest I reconcile the events of my campaign with the current situation in Zhentil Keep according to the FRCS/LoD?
I have a few thoughts: Replace Scylua Darkhope with my fighter/mage. I think she's lame and ill-thought out anyway, and would get rid of her regardless. But there a few striking similarities between her role and beliefs and those of my guy, so it makes a nice fit. however, my guy and Fzoul never had much contact, despite the fact that he was a supporter and believer in the clergy of Bane (though not of its excesses), though he had a better working relationship with the clergy of Tempus and Loviatar. All these faiths were incorporated into key positions in his command structure and he had many friends among each of these faiths.
With Manshoon all messed up, Fzoul in power and blessed by Bane, and the old Council of Lords dissolved (with most members dead or in exile), what is my guy's role in the new Keep? It would seem to be shrinking as Fzoul claims more and more power for himself and the Church of Bane, and my guy's organization may be obsolete... also, many of his former friends and allies may be aliennated by the rise of Bane and thus the favoritism he will undoubtedly be forced to show to Fzoul's Banites. Fzoul doesn't like wizards much, and I'm sure my guy reminds him of Manshoon or Semmemon too much. He can't just kill him off and suicide missions don't work, so perhaps the best bet is to use a smear campaign, perform an assassination (risky) and blame enemies of the Keep to martyr him in death, or merely dispatch him to oversee the Keep's other holdings in Yulash or Voonlar? Or, since he is loyal to ZK and is good for public relations and keping the citizens happy, maybe there's no need to mess with him. Obviously, he can't take Fzoul's job and the Keep isn't completely rebuilt yet, and he takes orders from Fzoul now (as the council is dissolved). Fzoul could dismiss him from his post and dissolve his organization, but that wouldn't be popular. My guy is seen as a "moderate" by those outside the Keep (he is considered reasonably fair and honest and interested in justice and civil liberties as far as Zhents go). In the Keep, he's considered more of a "liberal", however. He had previously snookered the Council into voting a "Citizen's Bill of Rights" abolishing slavery of all ZK citizens---not that they couldn't still be conscripted, deported or executed--the effect was more for show than actual change, but the citizens appreciated it).
Any and all help is requested!
The Time of Troubles did not occur, and therefore Cyric does not exist. Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul are all alive and well.
In 1368 DR, the Zhent council of lords commissioned a security force headed by an ambitious fighter/mage who had gained much popular support among the citizenry and several of the lords. The fighter/mage was responsible for foiling an assassination attempt on Lord Orgauth (not the pit-fiend which replaced him later on), performing a daring expedition into the ruins of Myth Drannor to retrieve several articles of power for the benefit of the council members, and also prevented/outwitted the Red Plumes and Knights of Myth Drannor from stopping his quest, then committed a daring raid to free prisoners from jail/execution in newly annexed Tilverton and gain evidence of Cormyte aggression towards the Dales, culminating in the destruction of a large force of Cormyte Purple Dragons and some minor war wizards hot on his heels (thanks to a handy meteor swarm scroll Manshoon thoughtfully provided for just such an emergency). He sought sanctuary in Shadowdale and convinced the rulers there to not only grant him temporary asylum and safe passage, but to expel the Cormyte troops that rode in after him. I forget the specifics, but very little trickery was involved, it was more diplomacy playing up the Dalesmen's fears of Cormyte aggression and the fact that he had committed no crimes against the Dales and bore them no ill will (himself formerly a native of Archendale). Not that he made best friends with the good guys, lol, but his logic was sound and he only wanted to get his small, weary band home.
It was supposed to be a suicide mission to kill him off (Manshoon and Fzoul being the primary lords desirous of killing him off but in a way that would not make them look bad), but he came back more popular than ever. It was a big public relations/propaganda coup for the Keep. So they set him up as head of the Keep's political police, ensuring the will of the council was obeyed... he then drastically cut crime (not crimes committed by the lords or their allies, of course, but regular street crime) and enjoyed a remarkable period of success...
About a year and a half later, Lord Chess ended up kidnapped and the council dispatched the "great hero" of Zhentil Keep to rescue him (another chance to send him on a suicide mission). He went through the Night Below mega-campaign (ugh), slaughtering everything and then it turns out that Lord Chess wasn't even down there, LOL, but was back at the Keep... unfortunately, he was possessed or something and caused portals to open up in the city so the aboleth could send troops in while an army of frost giants, gnolls and white dragons (sound familiar?) laid seige to the city. The hero managed to seal the gates, kill Chess, and hold off the hordes outside the walls so many could flee to safety. He personally teleported several of the lords out of the keep (Lord Blackryn for one). He was appointed battlelord of the keep and given command of its armies to break the seige and end the threat to the city. This he did, but at great and terrible cost. Thus, we have Zhentil Keep pretty much destroyed just like in official FR timeline. Bane was destroyed/banished or whatever when the portals were sealed (forget the reason why, and I wasn't the DM then anyway, so maybe it never was explained). Anyway, the end result is similar to official FR history, and Bane was replaced by Xvim, then Xvim was replaced by Bane. So Bane is now back and Fzul is his Chosen.
The "hero" is LE(N) and does most of what he does out of desire for power, but he has developed a softer side to try and better life for all citizens in ZK (he likes the adoration and love of the common people and sees it as a way to differentiate himself from the other power players in ZK who are universally despised and feared). He is an imperialist, hates Cormyr and Hillsfar, and wants to see ZK become an empire through military and/or economic conquest. He wants to be a lord badly, something Manshoon promised would come in time if he was Manshoon's "eyes and ears" in ZK during the rebuilding process, LOL. He was in the process of helping draw up plans for the reconstruction, was speaking out about the folly of the old ways, and had just discovered (and narrowly escaped) from the Pit Fiend masquerading as his former friend, Lord Orgauth---that was where we left the campaign back in second edition days ('95).
I'm trying to revive this campaign in the current FR year under 3e rules and aside from the events I've mentioned, everything else is the same as described in the FRCS. How then, do you suggest I reconcile the events of my campaign with the current situation in Zhentil Keep according to the FRCS/LoD?
I have a few thoughts: Replace Scylua Darkhope with my fighter/mage. I think she's lame and ill-thought out anyway, and would get rid of her regardless. But there a few striking similarities between her role and beliefs and those of my guy, so it makes a nice fit. however, my guy and Fzoul never had much contact, despite the fact that he was a supporter and believer in the clergy of Bane (though not of its excesses), though he had a better working relationship with the clergy of Tempus and Loviatar. All these faiths were incorporated into key positions in his command structure and he had many friends among each of these faiths.
With Manshoon all messed up, Fzoul in power and blessed by Bane, and the old Council of Lords dissolved (with most members dead or in exile), what is my guy's role in the new Keep? It would seem to be shrinking as Fzoul claims more and more power for himself and the Church of Bane, and my guy's organization may be obsolete... also, many of his former friends and allies may be aliennated by the rise of Bane and thus the favoritism he will undoubtedly be forced to show to Fzoul's Banites. Fzoul doesn't like wizards much, and I'm sure my guy reminds him of Manshoon or Semmemon too much. He can't just kill him off and suicide missions don't work, so perhaps the best bet is to use a smear campaign, perform an assassination (risky) and blame enemies of the Keep to martyr him in death, or merely dispatch him to oversee the Keep's other holdings in Yulash or Voonlar? Or, since he is loyal to ZK and is good for public relations and keping the citizens happy, maybe there's no need to mess with him. Obviously, he can't take Fzoul's job and the Keep isn't completely rebuilt yet, and he takes orders from Fzoul now (as the council is dissolved). Fzoul could dismiss him from his post and dissolve his organization, but that wouldn't be popular. My guy is seen as a "moderate" by those outside the Keep (he is considered reasonably fair and honest and interested in justice and civil liberties as far as Zhents go). In the Keep, he's considered more of a "liberal", however. He had previously snookered the Council into voting a "Citizen's Bill of Rights" abolishing slavery of all ZK citizens---not that they couldn't still be conscripted, deported or executed--the effect was more for show than actual change, but the citizens appreciated it).
Any and all help is requested!
