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I posted this earlier - but for some reason it isn't posted - so if it appears twice later, I apologizie.
I'm new to the message board - but not new to either magazine (subscriber for 8 yrs now). I just bought the hardbound adventure and am looking very much forward to running it for my players. I have spent much time already sifting through so many of your wonderful posts.
This issue of the backstory has not been discussed that I could find, so perhaps someone could help explain it.
First it talks about Adimarchus being in love with a paladin Athux - but it seems they're both male which I understand there's nothing inherently wrong with that in today's age, I just wansn't prepared for such a story to be present in a Dungeon Magazine quest. Unless I'm missing something about the relationship in question...
Second, the backstory skips from that to the story of the Cagewrights. Both seem completely unrelated by just reading the backstory. Is it discussed and detailed later in the book as to the relevance behind the former story? I'm trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in my head to start planning to run it, but I can't seem to find the link yet. If it is detailed later in the book, please tell me where I can read it, so that I can better understand everything. Once I do understand it better, it would run much more smoothly I believe.
Thanks in advance for any help, and I do look forward to sharing and reading future posts about this campaign.
Robert
My memory of the backstory is that both were male, and their love was of the more platonic Lancelot-Arthur relationship rather than that of Vanyel and his bard in the Magic's Price series.
Also consider that in Life's Bazaar, one of the suggested misinterpretations of Ghelve's actions is that he's inviting one of the PC's into the back room for a little slap and tickle, regardless of age, gender, or race...
The deva is listed as a possible love interest in the story without specifying a male PC...
It would not surprise me much if there were more examples scattered throughout the book.
As far as the linking of the backstories is concerned, you are correct. The spell weavers created the pillars which can be harvested for the magical ability to open a gate to Carceri. Adimarchus was imprisoned and put in a cage on Carceri. These two things are, as I remember, only coincidentally connected via cages & Carceri.
One of my players almost had his female PC hook up with Shensen, but failed the DC 20 Diplomacy check.
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My memory of the backstory is that both were male, and their love was of the more platonic Lancelot-Arthur relationship rather than that of Vanyel and his bard in the Magic's Price series.
Also consider that in Life's Bazaar, one of the suggested misinterpretations of Ghelve's actions is that he's inviting one of the PC's into the back room for a little slap and tickle, regardless of age, gender, or race...
The deva is listed as a possible love interest in the story without specifying a male PC...
It would not surprise me much if there were more examples scattered throughout the book.
As far as the linking of the backstories is concerned, you are correct. The spell weavers created the pillars which can be harvested for the magical ability to open a gate to Carceri. Adimarchus was imprisoned and put in a cage on Carceri. These two things are, as I remember, only coincidentally connected via cages & Carceri.
Thank you, Colin, for your response. I thought perhaps I had read too much into the relationship and more arthur/lancelot was more on par, but just wanted further confirmation.
So, for the purpose of this campaign, the story of Adimarchus and Athux has no bearing on the adventure - just that there was some reference as to who was once a prisoner there on carceri?
Thanks
Robert
I wouldn't say that Adimarcus has nothing to do with the plot. It is just a bit more interwoven and complicated than something set out plainly.
So the Cagewrights want to open Carceri onto the planet and make the Prime Material an extension of the Prison plane. They are always working toward this.
Adimarcus is trapped on Carceri and should it be opened he may have a means of escape. Toward this end he begins to use what little influence he can to drive the cagewrights toward the success of their plans in such a way that it also will help free himself. The cagewrights are not aware of this influence and so know nothing of it themselves. (I believe he is the one who drove the loremaster to the soul pillars if I remember correctly and they then taught him how to open the gate to carceri).
There are other layers of self-intrested bad guys in there as well.
Why do the Ebon Triad help the Cage Wrights by making one of the cages in Flood Season? The answer to this one is that the eruption, or partial eruption as the case may be, fulfills one of the prophecies that heralds the Age of Worms as detailed in the second adventure path. In fact they are really the only ones beside the PCs who get what they want out of all this if the PCs succeed.
Why does Vhalantru help the Cagewrights? He is working for them as they have promised him dominion over Cauldron which will become a seat of power once the gate to Carceri resides there.
Anyway... that is how I see it.
Sean Mahoney
Sean is correct on all accounts. The connections are far from clear. In fact Adimarchus really plays no obvious role in the plot until the last adventure.
Adimarchus is mentioned predominatly during Chapter 6 and briefly during Chapter 7 (Fetor)and Chapter 11 but other than this the players certainly would not see him as the main villian.
Even the Cagewrights are so secretive that when the players finally face them during Chapters 10 & 11 they are mostly a series of meaningly encounters.
Vhalantru remains the most memorable villian and provides the highest climax of the campaign when finally defeated. The reason for this is obvious - the players know of him from the first Chapter and hear of him regularly for the first 8 chapters.
My advice to you is to try and do the same with all the villians. Use the Cagewrights earlier - if one or two get killed teir is still plenty left including apprentices to replace them. Thread them through adventures, have them meet the players somehow before the players know they are the bad guys etc.
The same is true for Adimarchus. Include more signs of him - use his followers (those corrupted by his insane dreams) during adventures or even change some of the minor villians of the adventures (ie Drakthar, Shaven etc) be missing an eye that they have either tatooed or painted around with smoke - Symbol of the Smoking Eye.
Have more of the Cagewrights corrupted by his dreams and fallen under his sway later. Perhaps through his dreams and his follower Fetor (discover of the ritual of planar junction) he has manipulated the Cagewrights tp choose Cauldron because they will then open the gate directly above where he is imprisioned and therefore inadvently release him.
In my opinion if the players never are aware of a villian or even their work, then when they met them the encounter becomes extremely hollow. You might as well throw any random powerful monster at them in the final chapter unless you foreshadow Adimarchus - it will have the same impact.
Hope any of this helps
Delvesdeep
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Sean is correct on all accounts. The connections are far from clear. In fact Adimarchus really plays no obvious role in the plot until the last adventure.
Thank you both Sean and Delvesdeep. Both of your responses have parted the clouds and brought light on the situation.
While reading the adventure, I will keep in mind your suggestions for getting the villain involved earlier and look for way to do so.
Thanks
Robert