Hello All. I'm looking for some advice and critique on the first story arc for a new PF campaign I'm going to be running soon. This is my first attempt at GMing entirely separate of a published adventure in Pathfinder.
Story Background:
Long ago, a young Varisian girl named Naomi and an elderly man from a neighboring town named Karuun developed a friendship. As the relationship grew stronger, Karuun felt compelled to tell Naomi his deepest secret: He was not a man, but in fact a Dragon. Deep in the woods, he revealed his might to her as he transformed into the mighty silver beast. And instead of running, Naomi cherished him even more for it. The two fell in love.
The population of Varisia was unfriendly to the atypical romance, however, and a Dark Assassin was called to slay the dragon. In a bitter exchange, the assassin was slain--but Karuun was fatally poisoned. He could fight the disease but knew it would eventually take him.
After hearing the news, Naomi became obsessed with saving him. After long dabbling in various magical methods... she came upon a blood magic ritual that would save Karuun--or rather revive him healthily as a living dragon. She only need to perform the ritual on his gravesite... a ritual that called for her own life as payment.
When Karuun learned of the ritual she was to perform, he became angry and forbid her to do it. Recognizing he was powerless to stop her after death, he gathered all of his might and flew to a distant location. He nestled under a rocky outcropping and died, his last thoughts consumed with hope that Naomi would never find his grave.
Current Day:
The heroes are playing a misfit band of outcasts--one is a goblin, one is a Dhampir, the others are undecided... but you get the picture. They aren't necessarily evil, but they're not LG either.
The campaign opens in the Bakar Forest of Molthune, where the Ranger/Druid elements of the Molthune Imperial Army are making another raid against the forest creatures. Here, I'm hoping to introduce the characters to an equally odd oracle or sorcerer, a male. He will negotiate the heroes help in rescuing his counterpart--likely a twin brother--from the Imperial army.
The major campaign encounters will outlay something like this:
-Raid the Ranger Station to Find where Brother is being held (which is a sort of Asylum/Magic Lab where the Imperial Army seeks to militarize magic creatures it captures)
-Raid the Asylum, rescue the brother, who tells his brother and the group that he's found the gravesite (this is when the heroes will hear the tale, as well as learn that they are working for a mysterious master who has tasked them to find it).
-Fight their way to the gravesite (protected by the Dragons magic), where they can then contact their master who will teleport to them.
What I need some help with is filling in the gaps, as well as advice on what happens at the end.
Filling in the gaps:
I've only really mentioned 3 combat encounters here. I need more if I want the story arc to last longer. I was thinking that Half-Orc bounty hunters engage the group in an attempt to seize the brothers for some past heresy. I'll also trigger backstory issues as well. What else?
Ending:
I want there to be a twist. The obvious approach would be for the mysterious master to be Naomi and for the two to be reunited. I've also thought about Naomi being a total psycho, who has twisted the tale and is entirely unwanted by the Dragon--who poisoned himself and flew far away to escape her. I've thought about the master being the Dark Assassin who--in undeath--is seeking revenge for the Dragon slaying him/her. Also, how can the players PARTICIPATE in the ending rather than just observe it?
Thanks for reading. Thoughts and honest criticism--good or bad--are welcome.