Hello all! As my group just have started last book of Rise of the Runelords, I started to plan our next AP - the Kingmaker. I want it to be less about the AP scenario, and more about player's agendas, ideas and their PC's stories. Yeah, I'm unleashing pure chaos upon myself, but I hope I'm really up for that challange ;]
So I told my players what we will gonna run, gave them the Kingmaker Player's Guide. And one of them started to write a really crazy backstory for his character. He got inspired by the Dark Tapestry oracle mystery.
Basically he was a warrior in heavens (propably working for Erastil or Iomedae, not sure yet) and they've lost a big battle against Asmodeus. As part of the "peace treaty", Asmodeus agreed to take some of the surviving warriors souls. One of those souls, was the PC. But during the "transfer" something got wrong - alien forces iterfered, going for a power grab, and bruteforcing the reincarnation of said PC's soul as an aasimar on the material plane. So he will be showing up at the Oleg's Tradepost infant-superman style, crashing a stable or part of the walls in his new body. The only thing he still remembers, is that he lost some big battle in heavens. But he's not sure what was that about, or who he fought for.
He will be torn between the Good and the Evil for some time because of that. But also, the forces present in the Stolen Lands will try to take him over, as a dormant celestial being could be a powerful ally. Those forces would be the fey or Count Ranalc's agents and some Nyarlathotep cultists - both of those will be the source of his Oracle Mystery until he will know the truth and decide his fate.
Count Ralnac was my idea, after he wanted to pick other Elder, but Ralnac not only fits his character, as he fits the story arc of Kingmaker.
I'm just completly hyped for what I can do with this backstory in KM. If you guys have any ideas or suggestions how to make it shine more, I'd love to hear them too :)
I just love when my players make backstories that fit the AP so well :D
Have Candlemere as a main place for Nyarlathotep's cult. As for Ranalc, I am not sure what to suggest.
I'm still reading through the AP, as I've got quite some time before we finish #6 of RotRL, but I was thinking about expanding Candlemere and putting some cultists overe there :)
Is it possible to use some parts of the Carrion Crow AP here? I don't want to read it just to find out - might play in that one someday, but I do know, that there is some Old Ones stuff in Book 4.
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This is the sort of backstory GMs love, lots of potential to work with!
I think the official Canon has Count Ranalc exiled and MIA. You may consider using the BBEG in Book 6 in his place, which might also help your foreshadowing. If you read the boards, you quickly figure out that if there is a weakness in the Kingmaker AP, it is the lack of sufficient foreshadowing of the endgame BBEG.
Definitely Candlemere as a Dark Tapestry source.
Also, you might consider Bokken's crazy relative as a Nyarlathotep tie-in. IMC, I placed him at an ancient Kellid stonehenge mid way down the edge of the Narlmarches, and had all sorts of Aklo runes all over it. This explains his insanity. When the players translated them, they talked of dark champions, prophecies, and the visitation of elder gods. Something similar might help connect the dots, and you could even put a clue leading the party to Candlemere by description. That way, when they eventually see it, they recognize it.
Book 4 of Carrion Crown might contain some stuff to steal for use in your game, but you would definitely spoil it for future play if you read it. I lifted a fair amount from that and also from Book 2(I think?) of the Legacy of Fire, having to do with the rough seed. But that only works if you have a Rovagug/Dark Tapestry connection in your game.
If my players will choose Rovagug as their Deity I might look into the LoF AP. I was running it for a while, but stopped, I don't think I will play in this one, so I'm safe.
I think I'll mix a little Church of Count Ranalc cultists and Nyrissa's fey, I'd like my players to get some of her story in the end :)
Thanks for your input!