| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| WalkerNinja |
Posted - 05 Oct 2006 : 22:34:45
Does any one have any casual ideas on what the (now) disbanded Red Plumes are up to? I know that they were originally a varied bunch of mercenary bands, do the de-evolve into their original companies and begin selling their swords anew?
I had a thought that some of them might harbor some resentment towards the Zhents (lord knows they've been fighting them long enough), and thus bolster the roster of the Knights of the North.
It also occurred to me that their dissolution will provide opportunities to create militaristic bands of adventurers and military themed characters.
Any further ideas? |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 02:00:56
Well, for the most part I just brainstormed this since my PCs were in Mistledale, and I wanted to know what would happen if they every moved into the Moonsea region after the events of the Last Mythal books. As it turns out, that group has more or less retired, but I still wanted to have a handle on how I would proceed with the area if I had to.
I think the Knights of the North would feel like they might be at at kind of crossroads. If Mordak gives them enough encouragement, they may feel that they can tip Hillsfar completely against the Zhents, but the problem is trying to figure out how commited Mordak really would be to such an endevor. It also depends on if Malthiir decides to back something, quitely, and pulls Mordak's strings to do so.
I see this region as being really fun to mess with for a while. |
| WalkerNinja |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 17:50:05
That is a very well thought-out outline KEjr! I was wondering, how much influence do you infer that the Knights of the North really wield, and how are you planning to involve them in your MoM campaign (I will be running MoM soon)
-Walker |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 04:57:06
This is what I came up with when I was brainstorming a Hillsfar campaign using information from Mysteries of the Moonsea and the information in the Last Mythal books (SPOILERS):
First off, based on Final Gate we know that Maalthiir has fled the city, the Red Plumes are going to be expelled, and a Council of Lords is in charge of the city until Fzoul appoints the new head of the city.
Castle Maalthiir is to be turned into a temple of Bane, and Fzoul is going to appoint the high preist of this temple as well.
Knowing all of this, this is how I would look at the information for a campaign run in this region taking into account the Final Gate events and Mysteries of the Moonsea.
When Fzoul decides to appoint his leader of the city, Mordak, who is now no longer being taunted by Maalthiir control, comes forward and reasons to Fzoul that he would be the natural head of the city, being the servant of Maalthiir, but having plotted for years against him. Mordak also has a history of trying to get ahold of the Zhentarim, although he has also tried to stir up issues with them to get Hillsfar more active in taking on new holdings. At any rate, Fzoul agrees, and Mordak is put in charge of Hillsfar, as the head of the Lord's Council.
All of the members of the Lord's Council are basically people granted titles by Maalthiir as a sign of favor and as a formal way to tell the Red Plumes and the Rogue's Guild to leave them alone. The Red Plumes that were working with Mordak are allowed to stay in the city, under different names, as the new city Guard. Swipe is also instructed to "loose" any members of the guild that are too loyal to Maalthiir, thus allowing more of the wererats to gain positions in the guild.
There are not enough able bodied soldiers left to form a viable city guard alone, so Zhentil Keep "graciously" lends Hillsfar more troops to supplement their own, for a slight increse in the tribute already being paid to the city. Most of these troops that are stationed here are given fine accomodations in the new Temple of Bane.
Girella has approached Mordak to gain more solid support from her guild, and in exchange, she will play up Mordak as a "loyal, good Hillsfaran" that is doing his best to stave off the influences of the Zhentarim among the members of the Mage's Guild that were actively seeking Maalthiir's removal. Mordak officially "joins" the guild as an associate guildmaster, endorsing the guild as a fine Hillsfaran institution.
Mordak continues to meet with the Knights of the North to gain information on the Zhentarim, though he is torn as to weather or not to simply placate the group and use them for information, or to try and better his position with the Zhentarim by selling out members of the group.
Tola Vrass is concerned with Mordak's endorsement of the Mage's Guild, but Mordak assures her that he values the Thayan Enclave and its trade, all the while feeding enough information to the Zhents to keep them suspicious of the Thayans in the city.
Finally, as Mordak begins to settle into his new position and enjoy the power that has evaded him for so long, Maalthiir contacts him from exile, and gives Mordak a few orders to show that he still has control over his former apprentice, and forces Mordak to send him information on where the exiled surviving Red Plumes left for, so that he might join up with them. He also promises to stay in touch with Mordak.
Finally, Mordak, as a sign of good faith to the cities and lands nearby, Mordak recinds the Great Law of Humanity, and relaxes some of the laws relating to the passes required for those that visit the city. He hopes that this will send a signal to the neighboring lands that he is not as bad as Maalthiir, nor is he completely under the thumb of the Zhentarim (though they have no problem with these changes themselves, and consider them no great concession).
Mordak himself truly does not know which way to turn. He has slightly more freedom than when he was completely at Maalthiir whim, but still fears that his former master will contact him again. He doesn't know if it would be better to slowly throw in completely with the Zhentarim, or if he really should try to be the hero, plot to free Hillsfar from all outside influence with members of the Mage's Guild and the Knights of the North, and take a gamble on truly ruling free of any subterfuge and political backstabbing.
Maalthiir, on the other hand, is in hiding with his friend Wak the Addled, and the surviving Red Plumes that he managed to find, and is surveying the balance of power in the region, and deciding if he should strike out for new lands to control, or if he should focus on creating problems for the Zhentarim and then return triumphant into Hillsfar, reminding all those within that he has freed Hillsfar from outsider influece TWICE for the good of Hillsfar.
On top of all of this, the Zhent troops treat the citizens very badly when they come into contact with them, the Arena is still open, and criminals still meet grisly ends there, most visitors, even with the relaxed rules, have City Guard or Zhentilar escorts, and those agents of the Rogue's Guild that were killed are now running loose on a crime spree.
The fun thing about the above is that its a situation that could be quickly shifted even if canon events in Hillsfar say something other than this. Its a precarious situation that can change quickly to more the city into whatever "canon" form might take shape. |
| Halidan |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 04:00:06
I gotta think that many of them will be wandering around the Moonsea and the northern dales looking either for employment or trouble (probably both).
Those that harbor resentment against the Zhents might find employment with either Randal Morn of Daggerdale or Tyran the Outlaw Prince of Teshendale. Morn has liberated his land, but probably could use more hired swords to clear out both the Dagger Hills and the Southern Border Forest. Tyran is still fighting ZK in Teshendale, so there is no shortage of Zhent throats to be slit there.
Really ambitious Red Plums might make yet another attempt to take over and settle Yulash. It's probably not the brightest idea - there's nothing left of the city but ruins. But they did manage to take it from the Zhents and hold it for a while back in DR 1369, so they know the territory and probably want it back.
Those are my initial ideas, but I suspect that there are other possibilities as well. |
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