A few years ago I put together a star-crossed game in Ustalav's Canterwall where the PCs were tasked with reestablishing noble rule. The PCs were making some great headway in turning Harrowstone into a formidable keep when our roleplaying group disbanded due to more pressing obligations.
Next month, I'll be starting a new campaign thereabouts, but I'm thinking this time to extend to the PCs a land grant in the currently ungoverned territory of Virlych. Now that a band of intrepid adventurers, via Carrion Crown, have laid waste to many of the Whispering Way's members therein, the Prince sees an opportunity to establish more control over the region.
Much like the Stolen Lands AP, I intend for the PCs to start making a rough map of Virlych starting from the Carabosse River and into the Ebonwall Forest (eventually drawing misfortune from the Garden of Lead). I'm sure Count Galdana would be glad to have a buffer community between his county and the Virlych proper.
With that laid out, what initial opinions do you have about the premise?
You do realize that the Way will probably start sending out hordes of ghouls, skeletons and other undead to probably kill off anything smaller than a hamlet right?
You do realize that the Way will probably start sending out hordes of ghouls, skeletons and other undead to probably kill off anything smaller than a hamlet right?
In a vacuum, sure, but Lastwall wouldn't stand for that. In fact, Lastwall would probably use that to catalyze another crusade into Ustalav proper, something no one (remaining) in the Whispering Way would want. The idea is to start something while the Whispering Way is preoccupied with rebuilding from the events of Carrion Crown. Will the Way be sending these undead legions from Renchurch? Even if Renchurch hadn't been along the CC PC's path of destruction, the Way isn't an overt society...if anything, they'd probably want to get their hooks in and use the new settlement as a way to reestablish their own holdings in the Virlych.
In a vacuum, sure, but Lastwall wouldn't stand for that. In fact, Lastwall would probably use that to catalyze another crusade into Ustalav proper, something no one (remaining) in the Whispering Way would want. The idea is to start something while the Whispering Way is preoccupied with rebuilding from the events of Carrion Crown. Will the Way be sending these undead legions from Renchurch? Even if Renchurch hadn't been along the CC PC's path of destruction, the Way isn't an overt society...if anything, they'd probably want to get their hooks in and use the new settlement as a way to reestablish their own holdings in the Virlych.
Lastwall isn't exactly in a position to start fighting a border when the Whispering Tyrant hasn't shown up yet. Plus Ustalav politics are tricky things. Not everyone in them is necessarily against the way.
Couple that with some unique undead (like awakened Demiliches, a couple frost wights and who know what else might show up.)...not seeing how the Way wouldn't respond with crushing force.
But hey, it's your game.
In a vacuum, sure, but Lastwall wouldn't stand for that. In fact, Lastwall would probably use that to catalyze another crusade into Ustalav proper, something no one (remaining) in the Whispering Way would want. The idea is to start something while the Whispering Way is preoccupied with rebuilding from the events of Carrion Crown. Will the Way be sending these undead legions from Renchurch? Even if Renchurch hadn't been along the CC PC's path of destruction, the Way isn't an overt society...if anything, they'd probably want to get their hooks in and use the new settlement as a way to reestablish their own holdings in the Virlych.Lastwall isn't exactly in a position to start fighting a border when the Whispering Tyrant hasn't shown up yet. Plus Ustalav politics are tricky things. Not everyone in them is necessarily against the way.
Couple that with some unique undead (like awakened Demiliches, a couple frost wights and who know what else might show up.)...not seeing how the Way wouldn't respond with crushing force.
But hey, it's your game.
Right, and your advice so far, from what I understand of it, is not to run the game?
Right, and your advice so far, from what I understand of it, is not to run the game?
I wouldn't run it this way, no. If I wanted to do Kingmaker type deal, there's plenty of open lands that MIGHT be willing to accommodate a PC looking to build his own township/new city, ESPECIALLY if they can prove to be able to hold it against the Way. I wouldn't do it in Virlych. I might allow or even consider heavily, the PCs getting permissions from both the Palatine governing bodies and the Crown of Ustalav, the right to help hold and defend Canterwall and perhaps set up a new fort/keep to fight orcs along with hold the border against Virlych.
Again this is just me. It's your game. You do what you want.
This isn't about what you'd do, this about helping me do what I'm doing better.
This isn't about what you'd do, this about helping me do what I'm doing better.
Well it is my advice. But since you want help I'd suggest someone else. I'm merely posting what I'd do. But if you want to do it better, then probably consider adding in more horror elements. But that's just me, again.