Hi there,
Righ now, I'm playing "the Demonskar Legacy" installment and there's a romour (true rumour) that Cauldron is preparing a invassion to Redgorge to anihilate a conspiracy against the Cauldron govern.
In the next installment ("The test of the smoking eye") there is no clue about this invasion, well everything is developed in another plane, ok. BUT in "Secrets of the Soul pillars" where my party of heroes return to Cauldron... nobody knows about this fact...
DOES ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT????
I want to know what I'm going to explain to my players when they reach "secrets of the soul pillars"...
Thanks in advance
Nanmaniac.
There was no answer given in the adventures as to how the invasion of Redgorge was stopped, leaving that up to the discretion of the DMs.
IMC, the players contacted Nidrama (at the conclusion of the Demonskar Legacy, before they meet Kaurophon), who then informed the Chisel and Jenya of the fate of Alex Tercival. That was the end of the PCs' involvement.
When they returned from Occipitus, they went to Redgorge and discovered that the Chisel had payed a large "contribution" to Lord Vhalantru to halt the attacks.
It is an easy answer to the situation, I suppose, but not everything has to be handled by the PCs. When I threw in the actions of the various groups (the Chisel, Striders of Fharlanghn, Stormblades) and told my players what had happened while they were out adventuring, it made Cauldron more dynamic.
Some other things that could happen:
--Lord Taskerhill funds the Stormblades to end the dispute to save his investments in the mining operations in the area.
--The invasion occurs, the members of the Chisel are arrested, and the players are (a) called as members of the jury to deliberate the law against the Chisel; (b) hired to investigate the Chisel's involvement in the tax riot; (c) asked to defend the members of the Chisel in court.
--The invasion starts just as the party returns, and they need to find a diplomatic end before anyone is killed.
Please note that the invasion is happening because Alex Tercival is challenging the sherrif of Cauldron for his position as Sherrif. It's stated in the module that is Alex withdraws his challenge, then the invasion won't happen. Well, being dead is a very good reason for a challenge to be withdrawn, wouldn't you think?
Before leaving for Occipitus, my party sent a message to Jenya, (not to mention Alex's body,) that the challenge had been withdrawn. Personally, keep in mind that there's a possible invasion. Have something in mind in case the party does nothing to stop it, but be willing to go along with any reasonable attempt by the party to halt the hostilities before they occur.
Squid
Squid makes a good point. As long as Alex Tercival's death becomes public knowledge, and the challenge is dropped, the invasion on Redgorge could simply never happen.
You can make it as involved or as simple as you see fit.
My party is currently in the middle of <i>Test of the Smoking Eye</i>, so this is something I'm wrestling with at the moment. Thus far I've come up with two options:
1) The invasion happens. Redgorge is overrun, the Chisel is wiped out, and Maavu only barely escapes with his life. I'm not a big fan of the Masons, I mean, the Chisel *cough* so I'm kind of leaning this way. The only complication is that the Chisel is one of the groups represented when Cauldron is supposed to choose a new Lord Mayor, though I'm thinking of just letting Maavu fill that role.
2) The Stormblades intervene and save Redgorge from invasion as they arrive with proof of Tercival's death. Unfortunately, Todd Vanderboren was killed in the struggle, thus setting up his death better for <i>Secrets of the Soul Pillars</i>. The information they bring about Tercival's death was gleaned from scrying, and the return of the party and confirmation of Tercival's death should put all questions to rest. This option is good because my players loathe the Stormblades and this would not only set up Todd's body in the Cathedral of Wee Jas but would also irk them as the rival party would have succeeded where they failed.
Meh, I dunno. Still deciding.
I like linking Todd's death to the invasion of Redgourge. Even if proof of Alec's death arrives in time, there is no assurance Vhalantru will listen. Any excuse to get rid of those medlesome masons and all that.
Perhaps the Stormblades aid the Chisel in escaping, rather than preventing the invasion? More of the chisel would escape and they could set up camp someplace close to Cauldron, like the lucky monkey.
That's not a bad compromise. The party will return to find that Redgorge was overrun but that the Stormblades helped Maavu and maybe one or two others escape. Todd Vanderboren dies in the escape, and his body lingers in the Cathedral while Vhalantru decides whether or not to stop the priests from raising him; after all, they did interfere in his affairs, but they are the children of influential nobles whom he would not want to tip his hand to just yet. The party returns with word of Tercival's death (and possibly his body, but with my group you never know) and so the whole thing is settled. That way, Todd is dead going into Secrets of the Soul Pillars, Maavu is still around for the council later, and the somber atmosphere in Cauldron is reinforced. Me likey!
I think I'll use that flow of events too. It's also a great explenation of why Todd hasn't been raised yet. Embryl is waiting for Vhalantru's OK. Later the PC's can raise Todd themselves. Or not...