|
I have linked on my PC's (Suspiria) backstory into the Prince of Redhand. Redhand is located in the Lhazaar Principalities, a loose federation of independent city-states on the Eastern coast of Khorvaire. On her own, the player mentioned that her mother came from the Lhazaar Principalities. I just narrowed it down to Redhand.
Manzorian had enlisted the aid of two individuals who have been to Redhand to provide perspective for the party before they go there.
Princess Talulla ir'Vendyre, now Margil Talandro - Thunder Guide and adventurer, mother of Suspiria, provides some historical background:
"My part in this story begins roughly 25 years ago. Back then, I was the Princess of Redhand, daughter of the Queen and her Prince. Redhand was a thriving, prosperous state, and Alhaster was the jewel in its crown. For political reasons, I was engaged to an up and coming noble named Lord Zeech - a paladin of Dol Arrah and the Captain of Alhaster's police force.
"Unfortunately, that was when the cult arrived in town. They called themselves The Ebon Triad. Their beliefs, while a bizarre mixing of The Cult of the Dragon Below, the radicalized elements of the Blood of Vol and the necromancers of the Keeper, were no less fervent than Zeech's dedication. In fact, their zeal was considerably stronger.
"We waged a war against the triad for several years - their tenacity relentless and their numbers unending. I am sad to say that, as the war continued, I saw Zeech's descent into evil and did nothing. It was vital that we defeat the cultists, and Zeech was on the front lines of the conflict. Every cultist captured refused to break under questioning, and Zeech's methods grew more extreme. His faith in the fair and honorable Dol Arrah faltered, and he began to follow the Mockery-a belief system somewhat more inline with his view of the struggle.
"With my father's blessing, Zeech hired a sorceress named Lashonna to aid in the conflict. Her magic and Zeech's .... methods began to turn the tide. Fanatical cultists were broken and the war began to turn. Soon, our police had the Cult on the run. Alas, when their last, major temple was raided, Zeech's men found evidence of my father's involvement in the cult.
"The men doing the investigation, who found the evidence, were men of impeccable character-the absolute best inquisitives on the force. That they were the ones who just happened to be on duty at the time, for such an important discovery, leads me to believe that the evidence was manufactured. One last desperate gamble by the cult? A power grab by Zeech?
"Regardless, knowledge of the discovery leaked out within hours. Riots in the streets, anger everywhere. Zeech marched on the Queen's castle and arrested the entire royal family. My father and mother were given 'trials' but the outcome was never in doubt. The populace, fearful and angry, demanded vengeance for all they'd lost.
"Zeech approached me, where I was being held, awaiting my trial. He told me that, because of what we once had, he didn't want me to die, which I surely faced at trial. He would have me smuggled out of the city and attribute my 'suicide' to grief over my parent's death. Afraid to die for nothing and being of no use to my city, I accepted. Zeech's condition was that I never return to the city.
"After I left, I changed my name and began building a new life. Zeech took the title of Prince and rules my former city with Lashonna as his adviser, and, if the rumors are true, lover."
Zahid Basir, Sentinal Marshall and Paladin of the Silver Flame (and Suspiria's father) will provide a more contemporary summary (in a future post).
Suggestions?
Very interesting, and sure to get that PC involved in things.
One suggestion, though - in my reading of the adventure, I thought Lashonna was intentionally made to be an ambiguous figure, and not an obvious enemy. I portrayed her as a powerful sorceress who had come to Alhaster primarily because of her enmity with the Ebon Triad. It wasn't clear to the PCs whether Lashonna was cultivating much of the evil that pervaded the city, or if she was an innocent bystanded who tried to redice the worst of Zeech's excesses. I even had her portray herself to the PCs as concerned over Zeech, and convinced that some mysterious force was corrupting the "lad" she'd once served so gladly. While they didn't buy it entirely, they didn't have enough certainty either way, and so her sending them on a mission (to the next adventure) made sense.
I suggest that you change your history to have Lashonna not be part of the story until after the PC's mom departs Alhaster. That way, your PCs won't know if Lashonna is a possible ally or not.
|
|
Okay, so I never got around to posting the part about Suspiria's father, Zahid Basir. I had my session today, and here's a summary of what he said:
He explained that he was in Redhand recently, attempting to negotiate (unsuccessfully) the extradition of one Lord Raknian, for various crimes related to The Champion's Belt. (IMC, Lord Raknian escaped after his plans were foiled.)
While in reality, he was instructed by Lashonna (through dreams and Cult of the Ebon Triad intermediaries) to come to Redhand, he spun a story for Zeech that involved religious persecution in Breland (related to worship of the Mockery) and a treacherous staffer who was working with the Cult.
Zeech extended asylum to Raknian (prompted by 'dreams').
Zahid had worked with one of the player's old PCs (who was pursuing Raknian) and provided information about the current status of Redhand - including the suggestion that they not cause trouble, which they internalized to the point where the party's barbarian wouldn't rise to the insults of B'kruss.
My hope is that the PCs, knowing that Raknian is in town but unable to actually get to him (he'll even be at the Revery) will explore the hidden Shrine (if they get off their butts and find it), get the book, and use that to turn Zeech against his honored guest.