I'm taking over our Runelords game at Fort Rannick, and I'm wondering if it would be bad to start letting the players figure what's been going on. It seems we've been running around doing a bunch of "stuff" without any real reason as to why. We asume that a 'runelord is rising' somewhere because of the name, but are failing to connect with the story because it's basically passing us by. As I take over, would giving out behind-the-scenes information (through a mystic, perhaps) mess up the game down the road?
Thanks!
If the players have metagamed to catch on there's a "runelord rising", you've teased all that needs be teased. Thing is, there's no way to meaningfully go off the rails and DO anything about it. If the players have more information, they might try to say... find him and deal with him, early. The way the AP rolls things out, you slowly move up the food-chain, dealing with more and more important minions. As long as the players know it's all related, you're good.
Have an NPC come in and, let's say through a meeting, go over everything the PCs know so far (then maybe help fill in blanks that they should know and have forgotten). If they're truly clueless it's better to throw them a bone before disinterest sets in.
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Yeah, the way everything's set up, you can't jump the rails in any meaningful way. At this point, all your group knows is that while Xanesha was responsible for directing the murders in Sandpoint and elsewhere, she's far from the only operator. All indicators point towards one of the Runelords returning to the world, and the fact that they're specifically targeting greedy souls should be a big clue as to which one. I'm not certain a mystic's necessary to divulge that info, and it smacks of deus ex machine, so you might want to have a source the party trusts and likes (Brodert Quink, perhaps?) make the connection and bring that up to them. "If they're killing the greedy, it stands to reason that the minions of the Runelord of Greed stirs. Heaven help us if Karzoug the Claimer returns to the world!"