Rescuing gods and saving cities

[Relthar]

The Eldritch Blades game is a one-on-one Forgotten Realms campaign I have played/GMed since 1993. It started as a fairly typical D&D campaign, with mercenarily oriented characters and not a whole lot of continuity beyond adventures with the same characters.

Recently, though, I've tried to give the campagin more depth and continuity by taking into account past adventures, the actions of the group (the Eldritch Blades), and people they have met and befriended. This has included living through the Time of Troubles (twice), rescuing Waukeen from the Abyss, getting on the good side of high ranking nobility in Cormyr, and as of this writing, trying to retake the city of Arabel from an occupying orc army. So far it seems to be working.

The characters have come a long way and are approaching epic level. I have some (hopefully) interesting ideas for taking the characters to those world-shaking levels. More information on this campaign can be found in the Eldritch Baldes section of Realms Gate (the home page link under my avatar).

[ronjeremyjr]

Occupying orc army eh? Sounds like you and I are sharing some similar thoughts here. The 'low level Realms' I run is experiencing something similar: an army of trained, seasoned, orcs/goblinoids/kobolds are currently attacking area en masse. These baddies are currently ransacking the Cormyrian countryside and the PC's are stuck smack dab in the middle with the most recent battle esclated deep within a hidden base set up along the Thunder Peaks just outside the Kings Forest.

[Relthar]

Actually the reason that Arabel is occupied is now a part of Realms history canon. During the time the ghazneths were wreaking havoc on Cormyr, an army of orcs and goblins, assisted by the devil dragon, took Arabel. The ghazenths are now dead, along with the dragon (Azoun IV and the dragon killed each other), but the city was still occupied. The events leading up to all this were told in the novels "Beyond the High Road" and "Death of the Dragon".

Those books didn't cover the retaking of the city and it only got a small blurb in the FRCS book. Since the Eldritch Blades timeline is a year or so behind the official year of 1372DR in the FRCS, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to involve the characters in historical events since the Blades are based in Cormyr.

[Relthar]

Vince (and anyone else who might be interested), if you get the time, check this thread out on WotC's forums.

boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=430170

The thread starter has the same idea I do about epic characters and the resurrection of Myth Drannor. Some good food for thought on the subject, even if I do disagree with some of the posts. And I know I raised this as a possibility for the Eldritch Blades.

[Relthar]

OK, folks, we've had our fun. I've removed the tennis match of obsession posts, only because I could find no way to move only part of a topic thread. Take any more to the General Discussion area where they belong. If I had known a side comment would have caused a complete derailing of the thread, I wouldn't have posted it.

I was hoping for some serious responses to the idea of retaking of Myth Drannor from anyone who might have some, not just Vince. Otherwise I would simply have e-mailed the link to him alone.

[Keikan300]

The idea of retaking Myth Drannor is really interesting. All I know is that at my character's current level I doubt I'd make much of a dent on the forces that be.

Once my character reaches a high enough level, It would be interesting to make the journey to retake the city. ..

I am waiting to see how my character deals with breaking into the double digits in the character level column.

[Relthar]

No trips to Myth Drannor for the ToSC crew more likely than not. I have other plans for them.

The Eldritch Blades, after helping greatly in liberating Arabel from goblins, orcs, and demons, are now averaging 16th-17th level. They are scratching the surface of epic, but the scope of trying to recreate the dream of that legendary city, now lying in ruins, is one that requires much forethought. The thread on the WotC boards gave me a lot of food for thought. I think the biggest hurdle is likely one of politics. Like it or not, such an undertaking would attract a lot of political attention, both good and bad. Which brings up the problem that neither Vince nor I are good at creating (nor enjoy playing overly much) political adventures and plots. So this whole idea may remain just that - an intriguing idea.

[Keikan300]

You have an option there.....

Leave the politics out of the game and concentrate on the action side.. <time to clarify>

Assuming that the ruling party who were in power at the beginning aren't all dead. Your group could be asked to escort them from the safety of their hiding spot and to the ruined city.

Once at the city word could come down that there is a plot by a neighboring town to eliminate (insert ruler's name) and so you must locate the would-be assassin before they strike.

MEANWHILE: The politics of the town are going on around you and you are merely letting them do their thing.

[Relthar]

The previous rules are all dead, or in one case, missing. And the missing one took the sword that can legitimately choose the next coronal with her. Myth Drannor has been in ruins for over 700 years. Were that it was as simple as escorting exiled rulers.

A worthy idea, but it wouldn't work so well where Myth Drannor is concerned.

[Keikan300]

AH...

I guess I should have looked at Myth Drannor more beofre posting... I thought you were referring to the city that the orkies were occupying. I know I brainstormed with you on that one.

In that case I say you claim the city for yourself and kill all that oppose you!!

<Slaps forehead> I hate it when I channel Chaotic evil thoughts