I want to toss around a few ideas over here concerning The battle of Redgorge, the Cauldron’s city guard and the Blue Duke. I’ll give a short recap of the events in my game so far:
During the tax riot, the party breaks several of cauldron’s laws. Although the offences were minor, elements in the government want to make sure the party doesn’t interfere any further. Arrest warrents were issued and a price has been placed on Maavu, Alek and the party’s heads.
The players returned from Ocipitus and learn that a large invasion force is on its way to bring Redgorge to its knees. The PC’s quickly intervene by abducting Captain Skellerang. Upon Questioning him back in Redgorge, the party learns the good captain was being mentally controlled by the Blue Duke. Meanwhile, in Cauldron, the blue Duke gathers his forces and personally leads the assault on Redgorge. The party is able to infiltrate the Blue Duke’s camp and kills him before the rest of the camp is able to respond. The blue Duke’s men, now leaderless, flee back to Cauldron.
The players, in the mean time, have been occupied in Redgorge, fighting the Lord of the Demonscar and organising Redgorge. In other words, Cauldron has had some time to gather its forces.
I’m looking for the best way for the cauldron forces to organise itself. I want to know what happens to the rest of the blue duke’s men. I also want some ideas as to the best replacement for Skellerang and the Blue Duke as captain of the Guard.
I’m assuming Vhalantru or the Cagewrights will want to use someone they can trust. That rules out Skellerang or Skylar Krewis. It may also rule out members of the Stormblades (not necessarily, though)
I’m also assuming that the Blue Duke’s army falls apart. After all, there’s no clear successor, and many of his former captains would love a shot at playing general. Some factions remain in Cauldron, while others seek their fortune elsewhere.
Either way, this should be a blow to the Cagewrights and Vahlantru, so I don’t want to put in a very effective alternative captain of the guard. It’s a reward to my players for handling the situation the way they did.
So what would happen in cauldron if you were running the show? Any advice or tips?
What about Todd Vanderboren? Is he still around at that point? I was just thinking, his chaotic nature would probably make him pretty ineffective at running an organization like the city guard, and he could be co-opted/dominated by Vhalantru and/or other members of the Cagewrights.
(of course, I'm only up to Flood Season and haven't analyzed the rest of the path in excruciating detail yet, so if I'm way off base here, just ignore me...)
--Fang
Fangs idea about Todd is a good one. Todd would be an arrogant, inexperienced and ineffiectual leader who Vhalantru may be more than happy to have lead the troops. The whole Stormblades may be deputised for the invasion. Vhalantru would reason that if they succeed - he wins if they get themselves killed - he wins. If the party has made enemies of the group it would not take much for the Stormblades to join up if they knew the party were on the other side.
Another idea is to have the advanced doppleganger from Zeniths Tajectory make another appearance this time as a 'reborn' Blue Duke. Many of the half-orc will have already fled after the real Dukes death but the remainder are reunited when the Blue Duke meraculously reappears.
The reborn Duke has no idea about tactic or warfare for that matter and again proves a ineffectual leader. After a time the half-orcs grow increasingly suspicious as the new Duke is nothing like the old Duke. When the party kill or reveal the doppleganger for what it is the rest of the half-orcs would flee altogether.
As I have mentioned earlier, I would have the city forces divided into the half-orcs and the city gaurd who is lead by Skylar. If the party can convince Skylar of the truth of the invasion he will lead this contingent back to the city.
Is the demon General dead and the rest of his troops disbanded?
Did you get a chance to run any of the invasion like you hoped ie battle plans, demon raid, seige engines, battle at the gatehouse etc
Delvesdeep
I considered Todd. Unfortunately, he’s dead… in the cathedral of Wee-Jas, awaiting resurrection. I’m not sure he’s the ideal choice right now.
I really like the idea of having the guard split into factions, with skylar Krewis heading up the ‘good guys’.
Another option might be one of Lady Rhiavadi’s guests in the next chapter. Maybe one of the adventurers (what was the cleric of nerull’s name again?)
The battle of Redgorge went pretty well, all things considered. The players mashed up the babau and vrock pretty easy, and had a nice fight with Nabatheron. I ran most of the encounters as planned. In the end, though, it was pretty easy. They won without too much hassle.
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I'd be in favor of the shapeshifter (I think Goron may be his name). It would be a great way to show the PC's that they have been duped to "rescue" Zenith, if they discover a shapeshifter ru(i)ns the show, that also has a picture of "Daddy" Splintershield in his pocket.
Perhaps you could combine it. Todd is dead, Goron is impersonating him. The corpse is hidden in the lair of Goron, or in a secret room in the guard barracks, perhaps a rope trick item, stored in a portable hole, whatever. And Todd is chosen to bring the Vanderborens to Vhalantru's side in the Town Council.
If the party finds out, that Todd's been impersonated for who knows for how long, perhaps even months... it gives them a great motivation to bring the corpse to the church of Wee Jas themselves... and it would also be a good reason, that a Resurrection (or even a True Resurrection) is needed, to bring Todd back to life.