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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Mar 2009 : 22:25:53
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Couple of questions for you all (I'm away from my books atm, so bare with me)
Firstly, where can I find information on the ruling Burghers of Harrowdale?
Secondly, which one of them would perhaps be the most likely to be secretly working with the Zhentarim? Or if none of them are, would there be any named merchants in Harrowdale who might fit that role? Thanks in advance for the help guys.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2009 : 23:28:48
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1 - Mostly The Dalelands and Volo's Guide to the Dalelands.
2 - Does it have to be the Black Network? I ask, because there's already an agent of Mulmaster secretly working among them. It's because of the mystery behind both his rise to power and the source of his wealth, that I'd say Erethun Rivenstave would be an intriguing possibility. He's widely mistrusted by the rest of the Burgher council. If it's necessary for you to use the Zhentarim though, I suppose you could easily make Rivenstave an agent of Zhentil Keep. |
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2009 : 23:36:59
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| Well, this is for my semi planned Introduction to the Realms adventure. So I'd like it to be the Black Network, if only because they are the iconic badguys, you know? Rivenstave does sound fascinating, but Mulmaster just doesn't quite inspire the same feelings as the Zhentarim. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 00:09:03
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Well, given that we don't know very much about him, I suppose you could make Rivenstave an agent of the Zhentarim. I'd imagine the Black Network would definitely have an interest in either controlling or replacing the other Burghers of the council in a secret plot to eventually subvert Harrowdale itself -- much like the intention of Mulmaster.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 07 Mar 2009 00:09:52 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 01:33:52
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I'd say go for it.
Its a great suggestion, and 'bad guys' are always switching allegiances anyway. In fact, instead of saying he switched to the Zentarrim, you could say he ALWAYS worked for the Zentarrim, and was their agent in Mulmaster. The position he rose to in Mulmaster then allowed him to act as 'their' agent in Harrowdale, but in reality he still reports back to the Black Netwrok (and uses Mulmaster's coin).
Which I suppose would make him a double-agent with mixed allegiances (with is fine for a self-serving 'climber'). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 07 Mar 2009 01:34:56 |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 04:30:23
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Rivenstave would be my choice as well. Uzzy, if you don't yet own Volo's Guide to the Dalelands, I heartily recommend getting it (and 'The Dalelands' mentioned by Sage, as well).  |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 10:17:22
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Hmm. Got a good plan now. (That PDF was very useful)
Rivenstave has a problem, due to the constantly shifting leaders in both Mulmaster and Zhentil Keep. He doesn't know if some new leader will come along and take away his gold or ruin him in some other manner. As such, he is compelled to take action to improve his magics. Luckily, some research of his has borne fruit, and he's discovered the possible location of a cache of magic wands inside Myth Drannor. One quick trip to the Fall of Stars later, and he has a cadre of adventurers up and paid to retrieve the items.
The local Harpers think this is very odd and out of character for Rivenstave, so one of the guard sergeants, who is himself a Harper, secretly (so as not to earn the distrust of Ellarian Dawnhorn) commissions the PC's to go and investigate the adventurers, which of course requires a trip to Myth Drannor. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 11:13:05
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I like it. Plus, you could take the concept further and suggest that Rivenstave's moving towards setting himself up as an independent agent. Perhaps he even has his own plans for Harrowdale that don't include those of his former masters.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 11:40:56
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-Then you can have a Zhentarim Hit Squad come a calling. Where the players fit into all of this is the fun part. 
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2009 : 15:04:53
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There's also a major Ed-post on Harrowdale here, and another on the Fall of Stars.
If your players have heard of the Zhentarim or are liable to later, it might give a more accurate sense of the Realms if you raised the spectre of the Zhents then had Mulmaster and/or a brand new organization be the really active antagonists. The Old Grey Box, with its limited space, naturally covered the organizations most active in the central campaign area, but after that, the 'iconizing' of them and neglect of all the others did the Realms harm. |
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Burghers of Harrowdale
