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Alright, so here's the sitch! Spoilers below for ALL of Carrion Crown!
I'm about halfway through Wake of the Watcher, and pretty soon, we'll be entering Ashes at Dawn. My three players-a human Paladin of Iomadae, Angelo Lorrimor (will be explained below!) , dhampir Undead Sorcerer, Voltaire Lafayette, and half-elf Alchemist, Arseris Vyldiane- have absolutely loved it, as its been their first campaign, and they've really played up the roleplay part of it. I've made a handful of changes- mostly with Adivion, having him appear as early as Book 1 for Lorrimer's funeral, and Book 2 to watch the Trial of the Beast, mostly because Voltaire immediately developed romantic (and totally unreciprocated) feelings for him. Fun! Since Book 2, the PCs have been communicating with Judge Daramid, who I've made one of the highest ranking members of the Palatine Eye, as a sort of "hints for when you're stuck" thing. Any reference to AA has always been replaced by a Pseudonym, the Whispering Heir.
Now, as they approach Caliphas, I want to finalize a few planned changes, and maybe get some advice on things I should/shouldn't do in the event it improves/messes up the plot.
First things first, a list of PCs I want to have return from previous chapters, including why and how I plan to do so!
*Kendra Lorrimor. Taking a note from Ice Titan's campaign, I'll be using Kendra in place of Galdana as Adivion's planned way to return the Whispering Tyrant- one of the final two descendents of Tar-Baphon's bloodline, the other being Angelo Lorrimor, who's out of the question for this evil sacrifice due to his blood being protected by Iomadae, the very goddess who empowered the Knights of Ozem during the Shining Crusade. Why's she in Caliphas? She had an "attempt on her life" in Ravengro, and in order to evade further assassinations, took up Adivion, a close family friend, on an invitation to a masquerade in Caliphas, and maybe stay there a few days. Naturally, this was all part of his plan, and the assassins were of course WW cultists!
*Sheriff Caeller. My PCs loved this guy. Like, whoa. They still talk about him, even now- maybe cuz of the dumbass cowboy impression I do as him mixed with some of the badass stunts I pulled? On top of that, I'm toying with him falling out of love with Jominda and into love with Voltaire, who had an opaque as hell crush on him in Book 1, and I want him to have some chance of a romantic happy end when Adivion turns out to, y'know, turn into a Forsaken Lich. Why's he in Caliphas? To escort Kendra. After the assassination attempt, she needed a capable fighter to lead her out, and he proved himself more than worthy when he accompanied the heroes into Harrowstone.
*Jominda Fallenbridge. I guess for the above to work, she needs to come with him, or it'll enter adulterous territory if Caeller x Voltaire happens without them being broken up. Maybe she wasn't ever that comfy in the relationship with a hopeless romantic like Caeller? Maybe she tagged along only to see the big city? This one I need a hand with.
*Count Caromarc and The Beast. The Players really loved the Beast, and I'd hate for him to never appear again. Maybe they came to Caliphas in disguise at the request of the Palatine Eye as witnesses to the Whispering Way's b#@!@@@$tery? Again, this one needs some help.
*Rhakis Szardo. This guy appeared only briefly, and I feel he had potential. Not sure how to tie him back in, other than maybe the Order contacted him for more info on the Way's b@$+&@++.
*If I've missed any other NPCs you thought were good, remind me, and gimmie an idea how to incorporate them!
On top of that, there's a few NEW NPCs I wish to put in, due to links to character backstories. Whoop!
*A character from Arseris' backstory. Arseris' backstory is extremely well written, and she's been having quite the time lately-though after Way of the Watcher, her sanity may be a little low (I've been using my own modified sanity rules since book 1, and this book is not treating her nicely!). I do want something special for her, though- I just can't figure out what. As such, here's her entire backstory, as written by her- I'm going to need either her father, grandfather or mother back, and an explanation for where they've been for all these years, and why they're back in Caliphas now.
Arseris “Arry” Vyldiane
Parents:
Miathana Aeravir: An elven woman who left her home country of Kyonin in search of a more daring and adventurous life. However, once her family started, she gradually became more like her father: strict, pompous, and the definition of a hovering parent. AKA the reason Mia left Kyonin in the first place.
Tristan Vyldiane: Originally from Varisia, he spent almost his entire life out on the road. He and his father traveled throughout all the Inner Sea countries, as well as, the River Kingdoms, Galt, and Taldor. During this time, he learned to fight, excelled at observing people and their intentions, and was very skilled in pickpocketing for whenever someone stole from them. Although the ended up settling in Caliphas, he still assisted his father around the apothecary (mostly running down thieves) and in out of town trade deals (bodyguard, basically).
Other Family:
Arsenis Vyldiane (Paternal Grandfather): Tristan and Mia named Arry after him.
Home: Caliphas
Backstory
Age 6: Starts practicing the flute with her mother and sparring with her father (to her mother's distaste). Tristan gives her the sickle he used when he and Arsenis started traveling.
Age 8: Gains an interest in alchemy and becomes her grandfather's apprentice (again, Miathana is opposed to this). Arsenis teaches her how to make and throw bombs effectively.
Age 12: Arsenis and Tristan leave Caliphas for a couple trade deals in Vauntil and Rozenport, leaving Arseris in charge of her grandfather's apothecary. The last time she’s called “Arry” is when the two most important people in her life, leave for good.
Age 14: She receives the news that Arsenis and Tristan died on their journey back from Vauntil. A few months after mourning, Miathana tries convincing Arseris to be more like her. Arseris's relationship with her mother went completely downhill after a huge argument broke out between the two. ”It won’t do you any good to dwell on the dead.” The result was a flute cracking across Arseris’s face, leaving a scar on her left cheek.
Age 16: After years of their severed relationship going nowhere, Miathana left Arseris and sailed for her homeland, Kyonin (at least as far as Arseris knows). Arseris leaves to see if she can salvage any clues to her father and grandfather’s murder. The trail is cold. It’s been cold for 2 years.
Age 17-22: Arry switched between taking care of her grandfather's apothecary, and traveling to nearby towns for trade deals. Possibly met Prof. Lorrimer during this time (Age 17-18).
Hobbies (yes, this applies to the backstory):
Played Flute: Something her mother taught her as a child. Originally, she genuinely enjoyed playing, but after Arry picked up on alchemy, she practiced less. It also didn't help that her relationship with her mother deteriorated as time went on. After the argument that left Arry scarred, she was afraid to even look at a flute. Once Miathana left, Arry abandoned this completely.
Singing: After abandoning the flute, she channels her musical talents through singing. Never in public though... It's embarrassing… The only way to catch her is if she’s sure she’s alone.
Cloud/Star Gazing: Something she always did when she needed to escape from her responsibilities or her mother for a couple hours. After her father and grandfather died, it was one of the only things that put her mind at ease.
Two last things- I need a few ideas for 1) how to beef up Adivion Adrissant's boss battle, because Angelo and Arseris have a tendency to do RIDICULOUS amounts of damage- specifically Angelo, being a Ghost Hunter Paladin, with smites that do terrifyingly high damage and, thanks to an upcoming permenancy spell, may have a crit range of 15-20. I toyed with having Adivion be a regular boss first, and only upon being defeated in a fair fight does he down the Lich Juice, becoming a Forsaken Lich immediately (potentially going with Empowering all his spells for the first few rounds?). I also really want to avoid killing any of the PCs, unless its in a noble and heroic way.
2) What happens next? I'd like to do an Adventure Zone style thing with the players- give them a Final Offer, depending on their choices as characters, to see how they finish off their final days. I want the very end of the story to be almost tear-jerking, a goodbye to these characters we put so much work into. What's the best way to finish it all off?
Currently, I'm considering Angelo being given a high rank in the Order, maybe in an almost Inquisitor-like role, Voltaire going back to Ravengro as a deputy to Caeller, and Arseris... not sure yet. Either way, it's really important to me and my players that this story get a happy ending in the end, and I want it to be as satisfying as possible. Thank you in advance for any and all help!
...What's the best way to finish it all off?...
All these stories should always end with the cliff hanger for the next movie. Game. That.
I liked your idea with Kendra, I might actually use that. We are at the same spot as you in the campaign, and while we are a more Hack N Slash sort of group, Book 5 is going to be quality. I myself might change how a lot of the characters there are connected, especially the role of the Palantine Eye as suggested by others in this forum.