If they attack the Stormblades at the Demonskar Ball, the campaign will go horribly wrong. If any of the Stormblades are killed by the PCs, I can see all the nobles in the city ganging up on the party and destroying them.
My group had this problem. They all got drunk in a tavern, and then the Stormblades were calling them names. There was a duel in the street, and the fighter was so drunk he forgot to deal subdual damage. He ended up killing Todd Vanderboren in one swing of his greatsword. Then the militia arrested the whole party for an illegal duel, and the fighter was charged with murder. Luckily, their 'friend' Lord Vhalantru arranged for their crimes to be pardoned. Todd was raised from the dead, and actually became friends with the fighter. Even so, the parents of the Stormblades hate them to this day.
The adventures in the SCAP assume your party is on friendly terms with the city. If they are arrested, wanted, exiled, etc. it could potentially be the end of the campaign.
I would suggest you encourage your party's hatred toward the Stormblades, but remind them that suspecting the Stormblades of evil action does not entitle them to start a war. You can't kill a person just because of their alignment. They need proof of their evil before they would really be justified in killing them.
With Lord V pulling strings, I don't see it as a problem. Yeah, the nobles in the city will be about to get them, but Lord V can protect them. That gives V some leverage to make them do things that don't necessarily want to do. Sounds like fun.
Sounds like a great opportunity to have the Stormblades whip their butts and increase the antagonism EVEN MORE. Bwahahahaha!
If you are worried about the potential for outright hostilities at the Ball you could always include on the invitations or have them told by an ally that no weapons are treaditionally allowed at the ball and possession of one means automatic exclusion from the major event.
I'm sure that the party will still smuggle some items in and it certainly doesn't stop the spellcasters but it may give them the general idea that the Demonskar Ball is not the place for physical combat of any description.
If combat does occur at the ball then I fear that the party will find themselves heavily outnumbered and outclassed by the other noble guests who would see it as their duty to defend the Stormblades against assult. The Stormblades would make sure they never 'began' any physical hostilities so if the party begin any attack they will be seen as the ones to blame no matter what the circumstances.
Either way it should be an interesting night :)
Delvesdeep
The ball was written up by delvesdeep, whom I consider a SCAP celebrity. I also ran his version of the ball with few changes. The Siege of Redgorge is almost finished too, just in time for me to use that. And the halfling cleric in my party has been losing his sanity over the Dream Haunted trait... heh.
If you only run things by the book, players get bored because they can tell you're running from a book. Adding special stuff is what really makes SCAP fun. If you haven't already, check out www.therpgenius.com and grab yourself some maps/newspapers/goodies.
The ball was written up by delvesdeep, whom I consider a SCAP celebrity. I also ran his version of the ball with few changes. The Siege of Redgorge is almost finished too, just in time for me to use that. And the halfling cleric in my party has been losing his sanity over the Dream Haunted trait... heh.
If you only run things by the book, players get bored because they can tell you're running from a book. Adding special stuff is what really makes SCAP fun. If you haven't already, check out www.therpgenius.com and grab yourself some maps/newspapers/goodies.
Thanks Skyknight, that's nice of you to say. I'm glad to hear you are using and enjoying some of my additions.
I agree with Skynight about the extra assistance that the theRPGenius.com site provides. There is an abundance of excellent resources from an array of very imaginative and resourceful writers for you to use with the SCAP all for free!
Delvesdeep
Does anyone here have that tax speach?
Go to thePRGenius.com website. You will find it in the SCAP archive under chapter 5 I believe. I would link it for you but I'm not very good at such things ;(
Delvesdeep