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I've had this idea banging about in my head, and although I should be sleeping because I have work in less than 4 hours, I am not.
The basic premise is a mash-up of Shackled City and Second Darkness (with perhaps some of the fun stuff from Kingmaker).
Shackled Darkness
An Adventure Path Idea
Main Villain:
Sarushanna (Elf, seeks the utter destruction of Cauldron and surrounds to destroy the Dark Elf cancer below).
Villainous Races:
Drow, Driders, Dragons, Hobgoblins, Aberrations, Demons.
Themes and Key Conflicts: Falling and Redemption. Home.
Level 1-3: Shadow Bazaar
Spoiler:
The PCs are given the deed to a series of ramshackle old buildings, which they can use to run and operate their own business from. They soon discover that beneath their very homes are a series of tunnels which lead to the Darklands themselves! The players will discover a grim market wherein the lives of those above can be bought and sold by the treacherous creatures from below. The adventure ends with the PCs dueling a Drow raiding party above a spectacular underground waterfall.
Rewards: Homes, Businesses and Noble Titles
The PCs are given the deed to a series of ramshackle old buildings, which they can use to run and operate their own business from. They soon discover that beneath their very homes are a series of tunnels which lead to the Darklands themselves! The players will discover a grim market wherein the lives of those above can be bought and sold by the treacherous creatures from below. The adventure ends with the PCs dueling a Drow raiding party above a spectacular underground waterfall.
Rewards: Homes, Businesses and Noble Titles
Level 4-6: Party Season
Spoiler:
When knowledge of the Drow beneath Cauldron becomes public, the PCs are invited to the Elven Embassy for one of the season’s finest parties. There the PCs learn of a number of problems plaguing the city at large, from an unsolved murder, to missing wands and a haunted house-party the PCs will soon learn that the Drow have more influence on the surface world than originally thought. The adventure ends with the PCs battling foes in a watchtower rolling through the streets of cauldron.
Rewards: The PCs gain some influence throughout the city and some information on the Elves of the region.
When knowledge of the Drow beneath Cauldron becomes public, the PCs are invited to the Elven Embassy for one of the season’s finest parties. There the PCs learn of a number of problems plaguing the city at large, from an unsolved murder, to missing wands and a haunted house-party the PCs will soon learn that the Drow have more influence on the surface world than originally thought. The adventure ends with the PCs battling foes in a watchtower rolling through the streets of cauldron.
Rewards: The PCs gain some influence throughout the city and some information on the Elves of the region.
Level 5-6 Echo of Evil
Spoiler:
A villain revealed! The PCs now know the Drow are behind a series of concerted attacks against their home city, worse still the Elven Enclave has been harboring extremists bent on destroying Cauldron to remove the taint of Drow evil beneath the city. The PCs will need to tread carefully and accrue political power if they wish to accuse a powerful member of the Elven council of wrongdoing without provoking a war between Cauldron and the nearby Elven population. Can the PCs gain the support of the populous, the ruling class and the city guard in time to fight back an invasion of Hobgoblins, Drow and Driders from beneath the city?
Rewards: Mass Combat! Increased titles, and when the leadership of the city dies the PCs must take up the reigns.
A villain revealed! The PCs now know the Drow are behind a series of concerted attacks against their home city, worse still the Elven Enclave has been harboring extremists bent on destroying Cauldron to remove the taint of Drow evil beneath the city. The PCs will need to tread carefully and accrue political power if they wish to accuse a powerful member of the Elven council of wrongdoing without provoking a war between Cauldron and the nearby Elven population. Can the PCs gain the support of the populous, the ruling class and the city guard in time to fight back an invasion of Hobgoblins, Drow and Driders from beneath the city?
Rewards: Mass Combat! Increased titles, and when the leadership of the city dies the PCs must take up the reigns.
Level 7-10 Rise and Fall
Spoiler:
With the Drow either repelled from or occupying Cauldron the PCs will need to deal with the problem of refugees and dispossessed (so rebuilding of some homes can get under way). Unfortunately the nearest settlement belongs to the Elven nation. The PCs will need to escort refugees across a dangerous landscape, and petition the Elven court to supply refuge for the dispossessed citizens of Cauldron. Unfortunately for the PCs the Ambassador they drove away is plotting her revenge. The PCs will have their work cut out for them especially if an Elven noble offers their lands for the PCs to use if a PC will get hitched! Also: Bear witness to the startling and terrible transformation of an Elf into a Drow!
Rewards: A bride/groom for one lucky PC and access to elven resources.
With the Drow either repelled from or occupying Cauldron the PCs will need to deal with the problem of refugees and dispossessed (so rebuilding of some homes can get under way). Unfortunately the nearest settlement belongs to the Elven nation. The PCs will need to escort refugees across a dangerous landscape, and petition the Elven court to supply refuge for the dispossessed citizens of Cauldron. Unfortunately for the PCs the Ambassador they drove away is plotting her revenge. The PCs will have their work cut out for them especially if an Elven noble offers their lands for the PCs to use if a PC will get hitched! Also: Bear witness to the startling and terrible transformation of an Elf into a Drow!
Rewards: A bride/groom for one lucky PC and access to elven resources.
Level 11-12 Flames of Redemption
Spoiler:
Convinced that the only way to rid herself of the Drow taint is to destroy her long hated foes once and for all the PC’s nemesis embarks on a mad plan to let loose an eruption beneath the city of Cauldron. The chase is on as the PCs must aid the evacuation of the city, and open the long sealed magma tubes so that the flow won’t reach the city above. The adventure ends with a BANG as they do battle with their arch nemesis, the Drow Queen, a Red Dragon inside around and above a burning Drow city!
Rewards: The end of the campaign, a sense of accomplishment maybe a lousy t-shirt. Maybe a TPK in the climactic end battle.
Convinced that the only way to rid herself of the Drow taint is to destroy her long hated foes once and for all the PC’s nemesis embarks on a mad plan to let loose an eruption beneath the city of Cauldron. The chase is on as the PCs must aid the evacuation of the city, and open the long sealed magma tubes so that the flow won’t reach the city above. The adventure ends with a BANG as they do battle with their arch nemesis, the Drow Queen, a Red Dragon inside around and above a burning Drow city!
Rewards: The end of the campaign, a sense of accomplishment maybe a lousy t-shirt. Maybe a TPK in the climactic end battle.
Let me know if you see anything like a gaping plot hole.
Next up: A Player's Guide to Shackled Darkness!