Postmodernist
2022-05-05, 02:41 PM
(Members of Alpha Squadron, do not read further.)
Hit me with your best assassination plots!
So, I'm running a heavily adapted 5e version of EoTLQ (decribed a little here). We're about 2/3rds of the way through EoTLQ, and I need a way to wrap up roughly two years of campaign action. An offhand comment made by a player about a cheesy movie he saw gave me a flash of inspiration - connect all the enemies the players have made over the course of the campaign, and have them all involved in a plot to kill King Boranel!
Now... how to accomplish that?
Some points:
The players have been run through all of The Forgotten Forge, Shadows of the Last War, Whispers of the Vampire's Blade, and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. We're mostly through Eyes of the Lich Queen. The Emerald Claw, the Lich Queen (as they've just discovered), Garrow (dead, presumably), Lucan (reflavored as their former ally and commander, survived the events of WotVB) and a reflavored Dura (about to return as an undead enemy in EotLQ, could survive, TBD), plus some general animosity from The Lord of Blades and his warforged allies.
The players have also run Chimes at Midnight and Quoth the Raven, so Viktor St. Demain is on their enemy list. He's currently alive and held in Hell's Heart asylum. Most of his crew is dead (but there's no reason they couldn't show up as undead, given the presumed alliance with the Emerald Claw/Lich Queen).
My overall thought is: post EotLQ, the players return to Sharn. After some rest and shopping, their primary contact asks them to investigate some strange developments - maybe weird thefts, or strange political disturbances, maybe a murder or something. Alternately, the players could discover these developments themselves, or a splash of both. They investigate, revealing more than initially anticipated. They go back to report to their contact, who maybe ends up dead. More exploration results in an encounter with Lucan. Maybe a chase sequence, a fight, etc. Ends with Lucan surrendering or dead, but not before he reveals more threads of the plot connecting Karrnath, the Emerald Claw, & the Lich Queen planning an assassination of Boranel.
The usual Bond/Batman bad guy plot is hinted at - there will be explosions all over the city at an appointed time, or a visiting set of dignitaries/outsiders will appear to be attacking the king, whatever. In the confusion, the assassination attempt is made. The players are somehow led to discover that St. Demian is the mastermind, coordinating everything for revenge against the players, and maybe promises from Kaius or Lady Vol of taking down House Medani leaders and being installed as their new leader after the dust settles. Right before they extract this info, the usual "but you're too late" message happens, and the craziness ensues.
Then the characters have to save the day... um, details forthcoming?
Other thoughts:
It's an alliance of convenience. Kaius wants peace, and maybe vampiric freedom. Vol has convinced him that removing his Brelish rivals might be a means to that end.
St. Demian wants revenge and promotion.
Vol wants to restore the Mark of Death and take revenge against the dragons and elves.
So... any ideas or inspiration? Movies or books to watch? Fun set pieces are welcome, but anything you might think (dialogue, double crosses, etc.) of would be appreciated. No bad ideas here.
Thanks in advance!
Hit me with your best assassination plots!
So, I'm running a heavily adapted 5e version of EoTLQ (decribed a little here). We're about 2/3rds of the way through EoTLQ, and I need a way to wrap up roughly two years of campaign action. An offhand comment made by a player about a cheesy movie he saw gave me a flash of inspiration - connect all the enemies the players have made over the course of the campaign, and have them all involved in a plot to kill King Boranel!
Now... how to accomplish that?
Some points:
The players have been run through all of The Forgotten Forge, Shadows of the Last War, Whispers of the Vampire's Blade, and Grasp of the Emerald Claw. We're mostly through Eyes of the Lich Queen. The Emerald Claw, the Lich Queen (as they've just discovered), Garrow (dead, presumably), Lucan (reflavored as their former ally and commander, survived the events of WotVB) and a reflavored Dura (about to return as an undead enemy in EotLQ, could survive, TBD), plus some general animosity from The Lord of Blades and his warforged allies.
The players have also run Chimes at Midnight and Quoth the Raven, so Viktor St. Demain is on their enemy list. He's currently alive and held in Hell's Heart asylum. Most of his crew is dead (but there's no reason they couldn't show up as undead, given the presumed alliance with the Emerald Claw/Lich Queen).
My overall thought is: post EotLQ, the players return to Sharn. After some rest and shopping, their primary contact asks them to investigate some strange developments - maybe weird thefts, or strange political disturbances, maybe a murder or something. Alternately, the players could discover these developments themselves, or a splash of both. They investigate, revealing more than initially anticipated. They go back to report to their contact, who maybe ends up dead. More exploration results in an encounter with Lucan. Maybe a chase sequence, a fight, etc. Ends with Lucan surrendering or dead, but not before he reveals more threads of the plot connecting Karrnath, the Emerald Claw, & the Lich Queen planning an assassination of Boranel.
The usual Bond/Batman bad guy plot is hinted at - there will be explosions all over the city at an appointed time, or a visiting set of dignitaries/outsiders will appear to be attacking the king, whatever. In the confusion, the assassination attempt is made. The players are somehow led to discover that St. Demian is the mastermind, coordinating everything for revenge against the players, and maybe promises from Kaius or Lady Vol of taking down House Medani leaders and being installed as their new leader after the dust settles. Right before they extract this info, the usual "but you're too late" message happens, and the craziness ensues.
Then the characters have to save the day... um, details forthcoming?
Other thoughts:
It's an alliance of convenience. Kaius wants peace, and maybe vampiric freedom. Vol has convinced him that removing his Brelish rivals might be a means to that end.
St. Demian wants revenge and promotion.
Vol wants to restore the Mark of Death and take revenge against the dragons and elves.
So... any ideas or inspiration? Movies or books to watch? Fun set pieces are welcome, but anything you might think (dialogue, double crosses, etc.) of would be appreciated. No bad ideas here.
Thanks in advance!