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SoulLord
Seeker
Mexico
62 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Jul 2004 : 17:22:48
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Im running currently an invasion campaign like the one portrayed in the ragon magazine but instead of using the githyanki im using the citadel of shade with some twists. (sorry for the references to outside scrolls)
1).- I banned all magic powder from the campaign
2).- I'm using rokugan instead of oriental adventures
3).- i'm giving the shades access to one of the fu leng dark scrolls
The way i see it according to the dragon magazine the timeline of the invasion would be with the shades in control of a major kingdom (their own they brought through the plane of shadows)
They have many spies and agents already infiltrated in major organizations.
So ive been thinking where should they focus next?
Cormyr.- they have been weakened, but dont see much use to invading there
Myth Drannor.- ancient elven secrets, phaerim to destroy and a nice base of operations for future events.
any others?
and adding to this what allies could they gather?
Halrua.- netherise decendants who hate the phaerim
Thay.- they are interested in the shadow weave perhaps enough to set up an alliance?
Church of Shar.- perhaps their priests can try to pull rank in the organization?
The players are around lvl 5 now and have run into the church of shar
expelling them from nathlek. they are currently on sembia and plan to go to cormyr.
So any toughts ideas comments?
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Crust
Learned Scribe
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2004 : 17:17:13
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Kudos to you, SoulLord! I've been running my invasion campaign since last summer, and it's been unreal. My group is currently between 15th and 21st level, and they have the githyanki city of Tunurath (sp?) awaiting them, and the Lich-Queen herself.
The campaign is set in the Dalelands, specifically Shadowdale and Daggerdale. Vlaakith struck a bargain with a trio of phaerimm sorcerers from Ooltul (they wanted no part of Evereska or the Shades), and those phaerimm amassed an army of orcs, ogres, bugbears, beholders and a number of dragons to lay seige to The Tower of Ashaba, simultaneously attacking Castle Daggerdale and Daggerfalls. Then the githyanki arrived en masse in their huge astral ships, and red dragons came when called. Randal Morn was captured, and Castle Daggerdale and Daggerfalls fell under the control of the githyanki. The efforts of the Knights of Myth Drannor and my PCs helped save Mourngrym from assassination, and the Tower of Ashaba beat back the army. This was all happening while Elminster was under the heel of Nergal. Only later did he return, and then he and other archwizard mentors of my PCs were wrapped up in spell duels against the phaerimm. It was up to the PCs to save the day.
Vlaakith's aims weren't known yet, but she was searching Faerun for the secrets of soul gems, the doorway to demi-lichdom. Should her ascent to godhood fail or take longer than expected, her transition to demi-lichdom would increase her power ten fold. Her attentions are turned toward Myth Drannor, of course. Her search begins there, but she must control the surrounding area first. She learns of a being known as Acererak, a demi-lich half-fiend who rests somewhere in the eastern Dales. The party elf wizard and gnome sorcerer cast multiple legend lores and other divination spells to learn of Vlaakith and her plans. Many Harper agents, elves, and folk of the Dales helped to gather information as well, especially those in or near Daggerdale.
The PCs dogged every move of the githyanki. They thwarted the githyanki's attempts to free the mighty Bazim-Gorag, the Firebringer (from Dungeon #101), thereby avoiding the rampage of a very powerful slaad lord. They helped beat back another attack against Shadowdale, this time consisting of not just orcs, but githyanki warriors, knights, and warlocks, reinforced by astral frigates and a few red dragons. The PCs aided Elminster in the destruction of two of the three phaerimm sorcerers. They aided in the seige of Daggerfalls and help to retake the city, killing two adult red dragons, and when the githyanki attacked again, the PCs helped defend the walls of Dagger Falls. They freed Randal Morn from the Tethyamar mines and freed hundreds of Dalelands people from the mines. They sought out and slew the great dragon Scarlagora, an ancient female red wyrm, thereby destroying another powerful githyanki ally. They led the seige of Castle Daggerdale, a seige that lasted for four 6-hour gaming sessions, slaying Kurgoth Hellspawn (City of the Spider Queen), the death knight Dhuron Ilstryn, and the commander of the Dalelands githyanki forces, Skeelthraki. The PCs are heroes, obviously.
The PCs currently seek Acererak's tomb, hoping to destroy the demi-lich before Vlaakith can claim his powers and rise further in power. The PCs struck a deal with the necromancers guarding the tomb, thereby allowing them free run of the Tomb and beyond, knowing that the human necromancers will keep the githyaki from the Tomb, as they had to do once in the past. A few radical necromancers will betray the PCs, allowing the githyanki to persue them. I'll soon be sending the group to Tunurath, and from there to Sussurus, Vlaakith's castle on the Astral Plane. Before then, however, they'll have to contend with the seneschal of Tunurath, a 52-HD advanced great wyrm red dragon named Gnarlagon.
Once (if) Vlaakith is destroyed, then the fully epic PCs will seek out the wizards who betrayed them and slay them all. That should be fun. 
To answer your questions about allies, specifically the Zhents, the Red Wizards, the Church of Shar, and Halruaa, I doubt any one of them will ally with the githyanki on a whole. Certainly, certain members of the Red Wizards might think it in their best interest to play along, but you must remember that the githyanki are limited to 16th level. Once they hit 16th level, they are compelled (and if they don't go themselves, they're hunted down) to return to Vlaakith, so they can be absorbed into her crown. This is the fate of all githyanki, and organizations like Thay would honestly stomp on the githyanki in an instant. My gamers understand this whole concept. I argue that the githyanki are so great in number that it doesn't matter. However, this level cap means that Vlaakith must tap other resources, so do that. Tap those resources like Thay, the Zhents, the Church of Shar, the Shades, the phaerimm (like I've done), the malaugrym, the sarrukh (from Serpent Kingdoms), the drow, devils and demons, and anything else you can think of. I'd leave Halruaa out. They seem to have their morals somewhat in check, and they might honestly just level the entire playing field. Literally. But use those resources. Certainly the PCs won't be fighting only githyanki in this invasion. I plan on having a collection of planar spellcasters (guests of Vlaakith's) attack the PCs with impunity once they reach the Palace of Whispers. Specifically, a worm that walks, a spellweaver, and a few others.
You're starting in the invasion early. My group was in the teens when I started the invasion. You can ease them into things the way you're running things. Have them see the githyanki in power, but instill in them the fact that they can't quite do much yet. Once they start slaying githyanki left and right, they'll feel that progression.
If you haven't done so, pick up Dungeon #100 and buy the web enhancement on Paizo.com. There is tons of information out there for you.
I love where my campaign is going. It's a real treat every week. I'm glad you're trying the invasion in your campaign.
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"That's right, hurl back views that force ye to think by name-calling - 'tis the grand old tradition, let it not down! Anything to keep from having to think, or - Mystra forfend - change thy own views!"
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet," Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
~from Elminster's Daughter, Ed Greenwood |
Edited by - Crust on 29 Jul 2004 21:27:33 |
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SoulLord
Seeker
Mexico
62 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2004 : 21:28:09
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Its very interesting to see how you have managed the invasion campaign I switched from using the githyanki to using the shades
the latest number of the dragon magazine was alsmot tailor made for my campaign :)
so my personal take on it is this
1) there are many other cities in the plane of shadows under the control of the citadel of shade
allies and enemies
phaerim enemies
zentharim allies
laerti? the lizardfolk race of anauroch i think they will be enemies
to the shades because of their alliances with the phaerim
Halrua? since the phaelrim are free even if they dont beome allies they will try to exterminate the phaerim
so far in the chronology
they just heaerd of the dissapearance of tilverton and are moving from urlamspyr towards cormyr.
SoulLord |
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Crust
Learned Scribe
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2004 : 13:53:45
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The Shades are the one race I've never used in my games. I'm not sure why. It might have something to do with the awful trilogy in which they're introduced. Perhaps I haven't really accepted them into FR just yet.
I would say that the Shades have absolutely no allies on Faerun. They're altering the climate of northern Faerun to suite their needs, and no one on Faerun would find that beneficial. Shade is just one city. I'm hoping that it is either destroyed very soon, or forced back into the plane of shadow. |
"That's right, hurl back views that force ye to think by name-calling - 'tis the grand old tradition, let it not down! Anything to keep from having to think, or - Mystra forfend - change thy own views!"
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet," Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
~from Elminster's Daughter, Ed Greenwood |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2004 : 16:24:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Crust
The Shades are the one race I've never used in my games. I'm not sure why. It might have something to do with the awful trilogy in which they're introduced. Perhaps I haven't really accepted them into FR just yet.
I think a person's feelings towards that trilogy will have some impact on whether or not shades are used in his/her respective FR campaign.
I have yet to utilize the shades and I like you, was not a fan of the trilogy they first appeared within. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2004 : 16:37:42
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| I didn't particularly like or dislike the trilogy, save for the fact that the Chosen of Mystra seemed rather incompetent... I have not yet seen a use for the Shades. |
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SoulLord
Seeker
Mexico
62 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2004 : 21:57:13
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The thing is only one city has returned so far
Perhaps they have more cities in the plane of shadow just that they are not mobile like the citadel of shade with more troops just waiting the time to be called forth and invade the realms.
The zentharim must ally with them IF they wish to continue their trade through anauroch. alternatively they could ally with the paherimmt o attack the citadel....
Thay could be very interested in the shadow weave secrets that the shades have.
Halrua could ally with them if only to destroy the phaerimm
Shar they are his followers after all.
In the Invasion timeline they are now infiltrating their agents through the realms and searching for old netherese magic while at the same time are battling the phaerimm.
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invasion campaign
