| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Demzer |
Posted - 17 Jan 2014 : 16:43:23
Hello all!
The following is an account of how Cormyr in my home campaign is different from the canonical one, i'm posting it here in the hope that our resident Cormyr experts can chime in and give me advices on how to best handle situations to shape this different Cormyr with as much verisimilitude to the canonical one as possible (in regards to important figure actions, respect of the laws and traditions, ecc...).
In case someone finds all this too distasteful to bear you can find rotten cabbage ammunitions in a box near the door.
Non-negotiable difference: moving away from the canonical Cormyr i changed one characteristic of that realm that makes things very different, the War Wizards are far more fallible as a secret police than the published ones. This doesn't mean every noble family in Cormyr is in control of its house wizard and scheming against the Crown but that most of the rebellious ones are free to scheme and plot in the shadows (but don't take action because the spell-might of the War Wizards, i left untouched).
Timeline: all the following takes place between 1373 and 1375 and the war with the Devil Dragon is the last big Cormyrean canonical event that happened, so the situation is: Alusair Steel Regent since 1371, Azoun V still a child, Vangerdahast retired in 1371, Caladnei in place, Arabel reconquered, Tilverton still standing (Shade reappears in late 1375 and its attacks won't result in Tilverton's disappearance).
Main event that differentiates "my" Cormyr from the canon one: in the evening of the 23 of Khytorn 1373 DR a strike force of powerful villains wrecks havoc in Cormyr with a double attack that results in the death of Azoun V, Alaphondar, Cat Wyvernspur, an unspecified number of War Wizards and Purple Dragons and almost fatal injuries to Alusair. The strike team acted in a total of 6 combat rounds striking first at the Immersea Wyvernspur's estate (where Azoun V was staying) then teleporting to Suzail to attack Alusair while she was attending a banquet in a noble house, the attackers retreated as soon as Alusair dropped (at -6 hp) planeshifting to their demiplanar base. In case someone is wondering, the "villains" were my players, at the time epic level evil characters.
Now starts the part were any and all advice is appreciated (even "trash that s**t!" if substantiated with sound points):
Situation in Cormyr after the strike:
- Caladnei, the surviving veteran War Wizards and Highknights retreat with the injured Alusair and Filfaeril in a secret location where they spend much time fighting the afflictions of the Steel Regent (diseases, poisons, curses, Grimwald's grey mantle, vile damage, the main problem for the Queens' protectors is finding clerics and healers they can trust to heal Alusair and sufficiently skilled to overcome the spells cast on her) and planning the return of Alusair to Suzail as Queen;
- Vangerdahast exits retirement and forces himself to seek Elminster's help in devising mightier magical protections to prevent any such assaults from happening in the future;
- As word of the attacks spreads and both Alusair and Filfaeril fail to show up, the population falls in despair and some noble houses (Dracohorn, Huntcrown, Huntsilver, Illance and Wintersuns among others) start clamoring for a Ruling Council of Nobles. In response to this other families push for their bastards to claim the throne (Dauntinghorn and Thundersword among others) while Ayesunder Truesilver tries to enforce his regency until the fate of the Obarskyrs is discovered;
- With Caladnei and most veteran War Wizards either dead or injured in the assault or in hiding with the Queens the entire organization (weakened and divided after 2 years without Vangerdahast granitic discipline) is in confusion with individual War Wizards siding with this or that noble house and others fighting against various armed threats (both external and internal, see below);
- As soon as word of the chaos in Cormyr reaches the surrounding regions, Zhentarim, Cult of the Dragon and Sembia -sponsored bandits start plaguing every inch of unguarded wilderness while orcs and goblinoids pour out of their hiding places in the mountains to raid the temporarily weakened nation;
- Exiled families (Aurubaen, Bleth, Cormaeril, Dhelour and Goldfeather among others) pour money into the Fire Knives and into a mercenary army dubbed "Sons of Gondegal" to further destabilize the Crown killing officers, Lords and loyal-to-the-Crown nobles;
- Dardreth Marliir uses the "Sons of Gondegal" to try to conquer Arabel and the coup turns into guerrilla warfare in the city's streets between mercenaries and bandits and the forces loyal to Lady Lord Myrmeen Lhal;
- Baron Alexander Vytautas (third son of a minor noble family that led a life as adventurer and mercenary captain until the war with the Devil Dragon killed his father and brothers and he returned to Cormyr to help in the war and later settle in the Stonelands, building Stone Keep and earning the title of Baron of the Stonelands) enters the fray with his mercenaries, household soldiers, loyal Purple Dragons and Red Knight's temple-sponsored militias driving the "Sons of Gondegal" out of Arabel and then touring Cormyr putting down many traitor nobles and war wizards "in the name of the Crown and Queen Alusair";
Events that i plan to make happen after the attacks (but are not set in stone):
- 23 Flamerule 1373 DR: while internal strife still tears the country Filfaeril reappears under War Wizards, Highknights and Harpers protection and announces that she will not take the throne because it belongs to her only remaining daughter, Queen Alusair, injured but still alive. Loyal-to-the-Crown nobles rally to her side swayed by Ayesunder Truesilver stance of relinquishing any claim on regency and lending his full support to the Crown while on the field Baron Vytautas leads his soldiers and Purple Dragons into a bloody purge of the country's traitors (the bulk of the Purple Dragons and their commanders are still busy with goblinoids raids and foreign-sponsored bandit and mercenary activities);
- 12 Eleint 1373 DR: Cormyr's internal strife is mostly dealt with, thanks to the unforgiving and swift justice dealt by Baron Vytautas the surviving nobles have ceased clamoring for Noble Councils or bastard kings. Fearing the rising renown of the Baron and with the just few scratches left of the wounds she received, Alusair steps out of the shadows as Queen and demands pledges of fealty from all surviving nobles while Caladnei and the senior War Wizards scour their organization and whip it into shape again. Among the nobles that rush to Castle Obarskyr to pledge fealty to the new Queen, Baron Vytautas arrives with a small retinue of trusted bodyguards and still fully armored kneels to the Queen pledging his bloodstained sword in service of the Crown. In the following weeks the Baron is questioned by the Queens, War Wizards, Harpers and two visiting old sages (Vangerdahast and Elminster) until his loyalty is deemed true and sincere and as a reward for his actions he receives the titles of Warden of the Northern Marches, Lord Commander of Stone Keep and the unique non-hereditary one of Grand Duke of Cormyr, then he is sent back to his keep to cleanse the Stonelands;
- 13 Eleint 1374 DR: in a realm pacified after times of strife the Fire Knives launch a suicide attack against the Royal Family and manage to kill Dowager Queen Filfaeril and most of her bodyguards. Cormyr threatens to raze Westgate if the lords of the city don't authorize the establishment of a fortified embassy through which Cormyr can deal directly with the troublesome exiles. The spelltraps laid all over the newly built embassy quickly prove their effectiveness against Westgate's criminals and the number of active Fire Knives starts plummeting while more sensible Cormyrean exiles flee the city;
- 23 Uktar 1375 DR: Cormyrean scouts and War Wizards confirm reports of the return of Thultantar;
- 29 Uktar 1375 DR: the Shades launch a surprise attack at Tilverton but severely underestimate the might of Cormyr's defenders: the attacking force gets surrounded and slaughtered. War is formally declared between Cormyr and the Empire of Netheril.
And that's it, any comment, correction and advice is appreciated.
A couple of questions:
- Who was High Marshal during Alusair's regency? Alusair herself?
- I have it were eventually Alusair is healed of her injuries and other maladies but who would Filfaeril and Caladnei call upon to heal Alusair in such circumstances (grevious vile injuries and other ravages worked by powerful spellcasters)? Someone in particular? Or some generic High Priest of what faith? Would they call on Harpers help or search within Cormyr borders? And if they call on the Harpers, would the Harpers send someone? Who? |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| portose_sharpe |
Posted - 22 Jan 2014 : 12:37:34
i would say if you where looking pass the raise rule, it would be up to the new ruler, if they wanted to raise the old one and hand the newly gained power back to them. and also if the dead in question wanted to come back. |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 21 Jan 2014 : 23:24:10
quote:
Originally posted by Demzer
Hello all!
Non-negotiable difference: moving away from the canonical Cormyr i changed one characteristic of that realm that makes things very different, the War Wizards are far more fallible as a secret police than the published ones. This doesn't mean every noble family in Cormyr is in control of its house wizard and scheming against the Crown but that most of the rebellious ones are free to scheme and plot in the shadows (but don't take action because the spell-might of the War Wizards, i left untouched).
A couple of questions:
Would they call on Harpers help or search within Cormyr borders? And if they call on the Harpers, would the Harpers send someone? Who?
Not sure if you've read the latest Elminster books, but they definitely give me the feeling of Cormyr having fallen on hard times, its Golden Age of Azoun is past. The latest generation of War Wizards strike me as the blast with spells first, ask questions later types. Add in some classic villains of the realm and it is a perfect place for adventurers fighting to keep Azoun's Cormyr alive. Evil would thrive in such a place, as would those types of adventurers.
As far as I understood, Harpers were more of a memory than an active force at that time or at least in the Forest Kingdom.
Don't forget about Lolth's bid to take Mystra's realm of the arcane. Your bad guys could probably help the drow along as they boil out of their tunnels during that time. ;) |
| Demzer |
Posted - 19 Jan 2014 : 10:53:16
quote:
Originally posted by Dark Wizard
How rigid is the resurrection wording? Is Azoun V technically king? He's not of age, still has a regent.
Azoun V was king as far as i know and besides that it wouldn't even matter much as the barring of resurrection magic is enforced even in noble houses and for Crown Princes (think of Foril or Tanalasta), basically in all matters of inheritance.
quote:
Originally posted by Dark Wizard
Also, I'm not sure what the OP is asking. It seems the party's objective was to weaken Cormyr by cutting off the head and creating strife. That has been accomplished. Unless Cormyr factors into their further plots, what's the purpose in going into exacting detail.
It's one thing to ask for details based on existing lore, but with the caveats (actually summed up to far beyond War Wizards merely being less effective) the situation is different enough that the DM has the room to determine the outcomes as they wish. Sounds like you put enough thought into this, as long as every one is having a blast, I'd say go for it.
Sorry for being unclear.
What i'm asking is for opinions, advices and fact checking from scribes that know Cormyr way better than me and thus can say with certainty if my take on things (the reactions at the events of various important NPCs and organizations) is plausible or entirely wrong and if there's some other NPC, event or organization i may have overlooked.
The reason for all this is that we're not playing that campaign anymore but the campaign world is the same so if my players with different characters stroll into Cormyr in the 1374 or 1375 or during the civil war i need to know how things are evolving. And instead of completely making stuff up i would like my NPCs and organizations to behave like the canonical ones. Meaning, if this all happened in the canonical Realms, is it plausible Caladnei, Vangey, the Zhents and the Fire Knives and all the others would behave like i wrote above?
EDIT: also the two questions at the end of the OP still stand. |
| Dark Wizard |
Posted - 19 Jan 2014 : 03:31:38
How rigid is the resurrection wording? Is Azoun V technically king? He's not of age, still has a regent.
Also, I'm not sure what the OP is asking. It seems the party's objective was to weaken Cormyr by cutting off the head and creating strife. That has been accomplished. Unless Cormyr factors into their further plots, what's the purpose in going into exacting detail.
It's one thing to ask for details based on existing lore, but with the caveats (actually summed up to far beyond War Wizards merely being less effective) the situation is different enough that the DM has the room to determine the outcomes as they wish. Sounds like you put enough thought into this, as long as every one is having a blast, I'd say go for it. |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 18 Jan 2014 : 23:54:23
Yeah my search isn't bringing it up quick either but it should be in one of the 'So Saith Ed' threads (there's just so much to comb through). |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 18 Jan 2014 : 23:43:32
Well I could not find it quick, however the basic guidance did appear to allow resurrection if only a few knew about a death. "The King is dead, long live the King." does not work well if two days later the dead king shows up alive again, the rules of succession get very upset by such events. |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 18 Jan 2014 : 23:17:04
According to Ed, Cormyr doesn't resurrect its kings because of the (possible) detrimental effect it could have on the kingdom. They worry about succession problems and possible uprisings that could result. In short, it's deemed wiser to let the royalty pass to the afterlife rather than always bringing them back. I forget what year Ed answered this in but a search should bring it up. I'll try to find it (assuming one of the resident sages doesn't beat me to it first). |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 18 Jan 2014 : 22:50:53
Why can't a King of Cormyr be brought back? |
| Demzer |
Posted - 18 Jan 2014 : 08:36:17
quote:
Originally posted by Thorn Illance
What "proofs-against resurrection" did your players use against Azoun V?
None, he was a king and kings in Cormyr can't be resurrected willy nilly, in the best circumstances he could have been brought back as a very rich noble baby. At worst he could have been brought back as king and the Crown would have lost the support of a large chunk of once-loyal nobles, Purple Dragons and War Wizards, further worsening the realm situation. |
| Thorn Illance |
Posted - 17 Jan 2014 : 22:43:21
What "proofs-against resurrection" did your players use against Azoun V? |
| Demzer |
Posted - 17 Jan 2014 : 21:16:50
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
I'm curious, how did the PCs fit in all of this? Why did they stage their surgical strikes against the Crown? Were they hired by someone or did they intend to take over the country? I only ask because based on your writing, the characters attacked and then retreated, not to be seen again? Was their intention to destabilize the country (only to have the opposite effect)? And to what end?
The PCs were in service of a circle of fiends that spoke to them through a very powerful succubus (the demiplane was in fact her base of operation). The goal of the PCs was to destabilize various regions of Faerun to prevent them from lending a hand to a mighty crusade to the Lower Planes that their fiendish patrons had divined.
Their intention was to destabilize Cormyr and force it to spend more time recovering from yet another war, this way it wouldn't have the resources to go aiding strangers outside its own borders.
And even if the fighting was over in 3 months Cormyr was in disarray, the War Wizards needed an overhaul, the nobles were all suspicious of each other and the Purple Dragons had to be heavily reorganized due to the events of the civil war.
All this prevented Cormyr from joining the crusade, thus in that regard the players were succesful, even if Cormyr after 2 or 3 years was stronger or more solid than before (having flushed out a lot of traitors from the ranks of the War Wizards, Purple Dragons and nobles).
The players didn't come back to Cormyr because they had reached their goal and because after that and other similar (but less catastrophic) stunts in the Western Heartlands the Harpers started sniffing them each time they planeshifted in those areas and intercepted their teleport spells on a couple of occasions snatching them from their intended targets and dropping them into traps. |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 17 Jan 2014 : 20:45:39
I'm curious, how did the PCs fit in all of this? Why did they stage their surgical strikes against the Crown? Were they hired by someone or did they intend to take over the country? I only ask because based on your writing, the characters attacked and then retreated, not to be seen again? Was their intention to destabilize the country (only to have the opposite effect)? And to what end? |
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