Hey all,
I'll be running Escape from Old Korvosa next weekend. Any advice?
Create a political plot to exploit the Arkonas. I have also introduced a human Arkona (emigrant) She told the PCs that her family is rare, the Mahka’s legend, and the characters have had the opportunity to investigate and find out the secret of the Arkona family before fighting with them (sorry, James, is more logical the Arkona version of Mike in the “Guide to Korvosa” than the version of the module)
I have created a war of gangs in the district, and that has delighted the PCs, which have attempted to take over the leadership of the district.
Do not underestimate the Avidexu’s snakes : P
Sorry for my poor English :(
Thanks!
As it is, the Arkonas are very politically involved in my campaign. They are the wealthiest family in Korvosa having made a fortune by holding a veritable monopoly on exotic foreign goods.
The Queen is set to make a proclamation on how she intends to nationalize the banks, schools, and other blue collar industries. She will institute a harshly progressive income tax on Korvosa's elite in order to pay for a number of government programs she wishes to institute in order to aid the poor working class majority of Korvosa as well as her new elite military force (which have replaced the City Guard and Sable Company). She eventually hopes to dispose of her chief rivals (the nobles) by garnering the support of the working class.
To illustrate the Queen's dramatic takeover of the City's defenses, I had her failed assassination attempt occur during my Sable Company player's graduation ceremony. After Endrin gives his speech, the Queen promptly shows up with a whole contingent of Gray Maidens led by Sabina. She then asks to make a proclamation wherein she dissolves the Sable Company in order to make room for a subdivision of the Maidens called the 'Gray Riders.' Marcus is enraged and attempts to commit regicide. He fails dramatically and the Queen orders the massacre of all the assembled graduates, their friends and their families.
The PCs barely manage to escape the bloodbath and have been rescued by the resistance movement. Afterwards, they hear that the Academy was burned down to remove evidence of the murder that took place - there were no survivors.
Anyways, this brings us back to the Arkonas. Right now, the party absolutely despises the queen and views the Arkonas as potential allies against the new 'socialist' regime that is being put in place by the Queen and her cronies.
The Arkonas of course represents the worst excesses of extreme wealth. However, they have the money and the clout to directly oppose the Queen and her fledgeling army at this point. Having sequestered themselves in Old Korvosa, which is still under heavy quarantine, the Arkonas plan to secede from Korvosa proper, but only after they have brought all the rival factions in Old Korvosa under their control. They can definitely use the men :) (After all, you can only buy yourself so many foreign mercenaries)
I have created a war of gangs in the district, and that has delighted the PCs, which have attempted to take over the leadership of the district.
Please tell me about this war of gangs. I am really interested in incorporating other factions besides the Emperor and the Arkonas.
Bahor as written can really wipe out the PCs and he isn't really meant to be fought. If you change things so that he is battled, you may need to tone him down.
Bahor as written can really wipe out the PCs and he isn't really meant to be fought. If you change things so that he is battled, you may need to tone him down.
The whole "murder of the graduating class" is extremely heavy handed and I doubt Sabina would have done it. Read Crown of Fangs to understand why. The Queen is a completely immoral narcisist, but doing something so completely over the top could easily spell disastor for her growing plans. If she has any idea at all that anyone got out alive, the Mantis Assassins wouldn't rest until they were hunted down and killed. And it would likely take more than a fire to hide that many murders.
Now, Escape from Old Korvosa, as written, there is kind of a gang war there already. The Arkonas control part of town, the Emperor of Old Korvosa controls another part, and the Arkonas would just as soon get rid of him. However, given the complete lack of rule of law in Old Korvosa, there could be any number of small despots who have brought together random scum and villainy to act as their own personal army. If any vampire spawn survived the previous adventure, that could also be an added bit of fun as they seek to expand their numbers to cow the populace.Offering Glorio Arkona as a political allie is a good idea. Just be aware that in the end, he will try to control the group.