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Tormsskull
2008-07-07, 12:49 PM
Hi all,

Well, it is that time again, where I am putting together a new 4e campaign for some players. I've had a few ideas rolling around my head for the type of campaign I want to run, and I thought that I would see if anyone had some suggestions on my ideas, or had some ideas of their own they wanted to share.

Here goes:

Location:

The PCs home base is a small city named Cliffsdale set near the northern border of a human former-kingdom. The borders of the old kingdom used to be strictly enforced by the local army, the Ceralon Centurians, over a hundred years ago. When the last king of Ceralon fell to a mysterious sickness, his son took his place but was never able to win over the nobles or the peasants, and small battles broke out over the country.

As of the current date, there are few resources worth taking in the former kingdom of Ceralon, and as such it sees few battles. Most city and townsfolk in the country refer to themselves by their respective city or town, not considering themselves part of the kingdom anymore. The successor to the most recent king, Lord Elgin, has been trying to centralize power but has had little success outside of the capital, Ceralon City, which is far south of Cliffsdale.

North of the old borders of Ceralon lies the realm of the Medusa Queen. She appeared out of nowhere around 30 years ago, killing off the chiefs of the local humanoid populations and bringing them under her banner. She rules her land, which is about three times the size of Ceralon, with an iron fist, slaughtering all that dare to oppose her. It is said that her throne room is littered with the statues of those that have angered her.

East of Ceralon lies the Dread Forest, named as such because those who enter the forest rarely find their way out. Its trees are older than any can remember, and their dark and gnarled bark seem to take on tortured or anguished expressions. A group of shadow elves make their home in the forest, though they keep to themselves for the most part, only venturing into the land of Ceralon to trade goods when they choose to. For the most part, the people of Ceralon treat these elves with caution, though they are loathe to cross them, for it is said that the last cityfolk that crossed the shadow elves saw their entire city vanish before their very eyes.

South of Ceralon is a fertile land of many rivers that travel a short distance before ending in the Great Sea. This land seems ripe for expansion, though it is often subject to torrential rain, tornadoes, and a lack of sunshine.

West of Ceralon lies the remnants of the Ancient Empire. It was from the Ancient Empire that Ceralon sprung, founded by human slaves of the Dragonborn who ruled the Ancient Empire. That empire lasted for over a thousand years according to recorded history, and though it has been over five-hundred years since its collapse, many ruined castles and towers have forstood the test of time. What lies in those ruins...


First Adventure:

The PCs have been sent from Cliffsdale into the heart of the Medusa Queen's territory baring the flag of negotiation. They have been sent by the elders of the town to discuss an agreement between the Medusa Queen's minions and the town of Cliffsdale, which the elders hope will spare the town any further intrusions (thus far their caravan wagons headed for other towns in the northern areas of Ceralon have come under attack).

The PCs will meet with a few hostile groups of humanoids who won't respect the flag of negotiation, and will meet a few that will. Once the PCs make it into the heart of the Medusa Queen's kingdom they will see human/elf/dwarf/etc slaves, harsh treatment as expected from an Evil ruler, and many other horrors. They will be met by an intelligent and well-educated hobgoblin female who acts as one of the Medusa Queen's diplomats.

They will be escorted inside of the Medusa Queen's castle, where they will face a skill challenge to convince the diplomat that their mission has meaning. Should they fail, the diplomat will tell them to wait in the audience room for the Medusa Queen herself, but in truth she will simply dispatch a group of hobgoblin soldiers to kill the PCs. The PCs will have a chance to notice her deceit with an Insight check prior to her leaving, and again have a chance to hear her giving the orders outside of the door with a Perception check.

This will cause the PCs to battle a group of hobgoblins, which they will be able to defeat, but they will know that more are on their way. They will then have the option of fleeing the way they came, or if they think to search the audience room, they will find a grate that can be picked or bashed open. The grate will lead them through the sewers and a few encounters with the denizens down there. If they try to make it the way they came in they will face greater opposition from the organized forces of the Medusa Queen, though will have other chances to escape.

Should they succeed at the skill challenge with the hobgoblin diplomat, she will leave and come back with the Medusa Queen and 4 of the Medusa Queen's elite bodyguards. From there the Medusa Queen will look over the PCs, and then turn her diplomat into stone for wasting her time. She will be very condescending to the PCs, telling them she takes what she wants when she wants.

Just as things will look very grim for the PCs, a second diplomat will rush into the audience chamber with an urgent message for the Medua Queen. While irritated by the intrusion, when the diplomat mentions the sharpshooters who have begun assaulting the castle she will exit quickly with her bodyguards, and send a group of hobgoblin soldiers into deal with the PCs.


Thoughts/suggestions?

Also feel free to post your own campaign ideas and maybe we can all help each other.

Starbuck_II
2008-07-07, 02:10 PM
Hi all,

Well, it is that time again, where I am putting together a new 4e campaign for some players. I've had a few ideas rolling around my head for the type of campaign I want to run, and I thought that I would see if anyone had some suggestions on my ideas, or had some ideas of their own they wanted to share.

Here goes:

Location:

The PCs home base is a small city named Cliffsdale set near the northern border of a human former-kingdom. The borders of the old kingdom used to be strictly enforced by the local army, the Ceralon Centurians, over a hundred years ago. When the last king of Ceralon fell to a mysterious sickness, his son took his place but was never able to win over the nobles or the peasants, and small battles broke out over the country.

As of the current date, there are few resources worth taking in the former kingdom of Ceralon, and as such it sees few battles. Most city and townsfolk in the country refer to themselves by their respective city or town, not considering themselves part of the kingdom anymore. The successor to the most recent king, Lord Elgin, has been trying to centralize power but has had little success outside of the capital, Ceralon City, which is far south of Cliffsdale.

North of the old borders of Ceralon lies the realm of the Medusa Queen. She appeared out of nowhere around 30 years ago, killing off the chiefs of the local humanoid populations and bringing them under her banner. She rules her land, which is about three times the size of Ceralon, with an iron fist, slaughtering all that dare to oppose her. It is said that her throne room is littered with the statues of those that have angered her.

East of Ceralon lies the Dread Forest, named as such because those who enter the forest rarely find their way out. Its trees are older than any can remember, and their dark and gnarled bark seem to take on tortured or anguished expressions. A group of shadow elves make their home in the forest, though they keep to themselves for the most part, only venturing into the land of Ceralon to trade goods when they choose to. For the most part, the people of Ceralon treat these elves with caution, though they are loathe to cross them, for it is said that the last cityfolk that crossed the shadow elves saw their entire city vanish before their very eyes.

South of Ceralon is a fertile land of many rivers that travel a short distance before ending in the Great Sea. This land seems ripe for expansion, though it is often subject to torrential rain, tornadoes, and a lack of sunshine.

West of Ceralon lies the remnants of the Ancient Empire. It was from the Ancient Empire that Ceralon sprung, founded by human slaves of the Dragonborn who ruled the Ancient Empire. That empire lasted for over a thousand years according to recorded history, and though it has been over five-hundred years since its collapse, many ruined castles and towers have forstood the test of time. What lies in those ruins...


First Adventure:

The PCs have been sent from Cliffsdale into the heart of the Medusa Queen's territory baring the flag of negotiation. They have been sent by the elders of the town to discuss an agreement between the Medusa Queen's minions and the town of Cliffsdale, which the elders hope will spare the town any further intrusions (thus far their caravan wagons headed for other towns in the northern areas of Ceralon have come under attack).

The PCs will meet with a few hostile groups of humanoids who won't respect the flag of negotiation, and will meet a few that will. Once the PCs make it into the heart of the Medusa Queen's kingdom they will see human/elf/dwarf/etc slaves, harsh treatment as expected from an Evil ruler, and many other horrors. They will be met by an intelligent and well-educated hobgoblin female who acts as one of the Medusa Queen's diplomats.

They will be escorted inside of the Medusa Queen's castle, where they will face a skill challenge to convince the diplomat that their mission has meaning. Should they fail, the diplomat will tell them to wait in the audience room for the Medusa Queen herself, but in truth she will simply dispatch a group of hobgoblin soldiers to kill the PCs. The PCs will have a chance to notice her deceit with an Insight check prior to her leaving, and again have a chance to hear her giving the orders outside of the door with a Perception check.

This will cause the PCs to battle a group of hobgoblins, which they will be able to defeat, but they will know that more are on their way. They will then have the option of fleeing the way they came, or if they think to search the audience room, they will find a grate that can be picked or bashed open. The grate will lead them through the sewers and a few encounters with the denizens down there. If they try to make it the way they came in they will face greater opposition from the organized forces of the Medusa Queen, though will have other chances to escape.

Should they succeed at the skill challenge with the hobgoblin diplomat, she will leave and come back with the Medusa Queen and 4 of the Medusa Queen's elite bodyguards. From there the Medusa Queen will look over the PCs, and then turn her diplomat into stone for wasting her time. She will be very condescending to the PCs, telling them she takes what she wants when she wants.

Just as things will look very grim for the PCs, a second diplomat will rush into the audience chamber with an urgent message for the Medua Queen. While irritated by the intrusion, when the diplomat mentions the sharpshooters who have begun assaulting the castle she will exit quickly with her bodyguards, and send a group of hobgoblin soldiers into deal with the PCs.


Thoughts/suggestions?

Also feel free to post your own campaign ideas and maybe we can all help each other.

Wait, have the PC's own people (Cliffdale) layed an ambush using the PC diplomacy as a diversion while they attack? (or are Sharpshooters from another group?)


It could be an rebellion by the enslaved people.


My own plot ideas thus far: Still need a new quest idea soon.
I decided to make it sorta like an adventuring guild type thing. They find hiring jobs at the taverns. I'm currently using the DMG town with some stuff changed.

The two jobs that my group had tried was the Kobold Hall (with altered enemies) and a Beholder cult thingie in Gardmore Abby.

The party met in the Lucky Gnome is I remember.
After some RP of getting along. The Gnome Rogue mentioned he needed money (he secretly worships Tiamat so greedy) so they should get some.

I mention that they see some job listings on one side of the bar. The two include cops need help with one or both problems and Teldorthan lost some cargo from a Kobold raid.

They talk to Teldorthan and agree to get it back. They also decide to talk to the Lord to see if he had any jobs.
He mentions how he hates Kobold and other scalling creatures including Dragonborn (I made him a racist to make him memorable). Any kobold 2 ears given as proof are worth 10 gp.
On the way out the gate to Kobold Hall: The go through the poor part of town.
On a roof Warlock is blasting townsfolk, saying, "You...you die!"
I got idea from Simpsons when Snake said that on Quicki Mark.

After defeating him (Somewhat a tough battle due to being on roof), they find a note, a map, and a ritual scroll. From what the Wizard can deciper it summons a Beholder from another realm/plane. The Map leads them to location of abby.
Note was for the Warlock: he wasn't supposed to dilly dally; they need that scroll to complete ritual.

After a days travel, they arrive at abby.
Kinda Temple-like with pillars and all. They Cultist there aren't happy that they have guests. Soon after a brief talk, battle begins.

After a couple rooms (and battles in them), they find the main stair case. Also run into Grass the Snake. He delivers a speak before teleporting them into his labotory.

One mess-up I didn't forsee, the PC Wizard didn't enter the room right away so he had to find the group.

The Lab of Grass was decently big with table seperating the room in the middle filled with glassware (beakers, vials, etc).
Grass explains how he was extracting the juices out of gnomes to create a invisibility potion. He used humans as stabilizer.

They can see a few dead gnomes and humans behind Grass. Grass's bodyguards ready their weapons as grass tells them to attack.

After his men were defeated and Grass wounded, he drunk the vial of invisibility juice and ran.

The guy was apparently too scary because the party isn't going back to that Abby till they get stronger.
Maybe I roleplayed him too well. granted, the Cultist now had time to recoup and hire bounty hunters (they need that ritual scroll). So it works both ways.

So they soon after buying supplies in town again left for Kobold Hall.
They had learned tactics by then so did really well.

Only had trouble with Dragon (I lowerd its health and defenses to Monster Manual one but forgot to change Exp/Level value) and Wyrmpriest. I switched one skirmisher in First area with a Scorpian because I wanteds to see how they fared.

If not for the rogue sneak attacking, the ranger in its claws would be badly hurt.

After reaching level 2 (barely, still should changed dragon's Exp), party is ready they think to stop that cult.

Since Beholders are high level, I am thinking that the final battle will had statues of beholders come alive (act as Beholder Minions).

Basically, they will give feel of fighting a beholder but be beatable.
However, the final battle will be first both beholder minions, 2 guards, 3 human minions.
Than as soon as defeated or before if Vashun the leader is wounded:
Second group including Vashun: Vashun (normal Human Mage), a Berserker, and 2 human minions.

Should be as tough as Solo fight against dragon, but doable.
Only diffference is more enemies instead of one super strong one.
Plus, a gloating enemy that watches his men kill the heroes instead of just helping right away is kinda cinimatic to me.
Xp value is around 575 first fight and around 375 second so while tough should be beatable by 2nd level party.


Both guards have treasure they are using so first battle might be tough: Black Iron and Guantlets of Ogre Power on a Guard each equipped.

After beating that, they should notice a chest with important papers inside: One note is written in draconic, that offers alliance from a goblin Warlord wishing to unite monsters in area against people in Fallcrest. Should give forshadowing to later threat.
Besides some gold, random stuff like details of the power that Valdun the demon will give his followers when returned to the world.


I have another quest ready as well.
If you remember back in 3.5, how commoners could be killed by cats?

Well, The quest is named A Tale of 2 Kittys in my quest page (just something to name it, party never finds out names).
Basically, a little girl named Lilly has lost her cat. They describe the cats name as Fluffy and she had fur as white as snow. It had escaped before seven months ago but returned a month later without harm appearing on it. It did have a hint of sulfur on its fur though.


Finding a lost cat seems like a mundane job, but it isn't.
There are two leads: Tower of Waiting and the sewers both are likely due to having sources of rats/mice to eat.

The Sewers entrance are located in poorer part of town. Mostly rats, rat swarm, and Carrison crawlers as enemies.
Except: A passage with a ramp leads to a door with bar window at top.
In front of door are cats.

Four new enemies I created are met in the sewers:
Kitten minions (minion, of course, represent everydat cats), Rabid Kittens (Skirmishers that have Filth fever representing ally cats with rabies), and Robust Cats (Wild feral Cats, Brutes of catkind).


In side room is are some tables with money scattered on them and 10 thugs. The Leader is Bard (someone's created monster), he just inspires his men mostly, rarely attacks directly.
He says a line before fighting, " “I see we have company, boys show him our hospitality. We have too much relying on this to lose.” "

He is in league with the Fel Cat Hrash. However, when all his men are defeated, he opens door behind him to reveal a cute little Kitten with glowing red eyes. He jumps beside Bard as a slash of its claws takes the bard out (The Bard failed the cats).
The kitten licks its paws before saying in a deep voice:
“You fools shall not stop our ascension. Soon, the army of kittens shall engulf the city. Nothing shall stand before our might. “
He too is a Fel Cat. Basically, he is an elite Robust Cat with extra demonic features like resist fire 5 and hairball like fireball (single target).

After it is defeated, the party will have to check the Tower. But before they do, the Invasion begins. An army of thousand cats attack.
The PCs will just have to take out a several groups before the army disbands luckily.

After that, the PCs can check the Tower if they didn't already. If they went to the sewers first that affects what hrash says to them as they already stooped his invasion force.

The Tower has some rats, cats, and some imps hired by Hrash. One imp has a Bracer of Mighty Striking empowering its attacks.

Eventually as they climb the tower, they enter a chamber that Hrash resides in. He has two Legion Devils, 2 Fel Cats, and a few cats minion.
Hello, we were enjoying our midday nap. But why not join us, we could use a sacrifice, right, my wonderful Fluffy.”

If went here without checking Sewers:
a. “You are too late, as we speak, an army of cats have attacked and will soon overtake the town. While the elite guards will protect some of the city, he militia men won’t hold us off for long. Now we shall kill you and conquer!
If you stopped the town’s invasion:
b. “Are you the fools who dare stand in our way? Kill them all!“

He sends the Legion Devils and some minion kittens first to see how powerful the party and sofften them up.
Then in 3 rounds, 2 Fel Cats attack.

Hrash waits till most of army defeated before attacking. When you finally beat all by but one enemy Hrash decides that he wants to joins in after saying, “Well, let me do this the old fashioned way, Brutally!”.

By Stagnating when enemies arrive I hope that the battles will be tough but beatable.


But that is all I've got so far. Well I've got a few ideas based on Raven Roost, but nothing major.
I was thinking of picking up a Module to steal ideas from/maybe run like Thunderspire (that second module that came out).

Tormsskull
2008-07-07, 03:08 PM
Wait, have the PC's own people (Cliffdale) layed an ambush using the PC diplomacy as a diversion while they attack? (or are Sharpshooters from another group?)


The sharpshooters are actually from another group. The idea behind this being that the Medusa Queen has been messing with a lot of people surrounding her land (as an overproud evil ruler, she thinks no one can stop her). The group that the sharpshooters hail from will eventually serve as possible allies to the PCs and Cliffsdale in the attempt to dethrone the Medusa Queen.



My own plot ideas thus far: Still need a new quest idea soon.


Your first spoilered idea seems very well though out. I really like the warlock on the roof encounter. When you use encounters that aren't simple hack and slash it really causes the players to think, which is definitely the most fun part of the game I think.



Well, The quest is named A Tale of 2 Kittys in my quest page (just something to name it, party never finds out names).


Haha. That is just plain awesome. Way back in the days of AD&D they used to have a thing called an elven cat. Elven cats were like normal mundane cats but they could cast a few select spells. For one adventure I had I tinkered with the elven cats spells to make a truly wicked opponent for the PCs, and it worked out really well.

It sounds like your Fel Cat adventure would be a lot of fun to play in.

BRC
2008-07-07, 03:18 PM
Idea's I have had

The Quest of Vengence

The PC's are part of a coalition army battling some a goblin horde, however, the most powerful member of the coalition betrays the others and slaughters their armies as well as the goblins, then goes on to conquer all the other now armyless nations. The sheer scale of this betrayal creates a Spirit of Vengence that chooses the PC's as it's champions, ressurects them, and grants them some special powers. They must then go and take down the traitor who has since crowned himself emporer.
First Adventure

PC's taking part in the battle against the goblin horde, holding out until reinforcements show up. Reinforcements do show up but said betrayal happens, PC's get taken down by a cloudkill spell. They then wake up after the battle seeing a flaming figure wearing armor. The figure then vanishes. A few minutes later a goblin seer shows up and explains that the figure was a Spirit of Vengence, that they are now the Spirit's champions, and what that entails.

Tormsskull
2008-07-09, 02:51 PM
The Quest of Vengence


Sounds quite interesting. It would seem that if the new emperor was a betrayor (i.e. he came to power in less that honorable circumstances) there are bound to be groups of people who are willing to revolt.

Are you planning on a hit and run type campaign, where the PCs are trying to weaken the empire little by little, or a more direct, cut-off-the-head type?