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Firhyanda
Learned Scribe
USA
108 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 16:08:16
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Greetings
Iconic Encounters in the realms? I was looking at another thread on these boards where a number of fine scribes are writing an introductory adventure for the realms. This got me thinking what are the iconic encounters for the realms, other then major NPCs. My question is what single encounter would you run at first level to define the realms for a group of new players. What are the recurring themes that are unavoidable in the realms? And finally is there some piece of magic that screams you are in the realms at first level?
Every fantasy world has its icons to me the realms are defined at higher levels of play by things like the skulls of skull port and liches and powerful lost magic’s. I wonder how many levels of play it takes to start building these themes properly; can the feel of the realms be imparted in a single first level adventure? What are the monsters that define the realms by level those, indispensable to the setting?
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 17:26:26
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The trouble with 1st level adventures is often that they could take place in almost any fantasy D&D setting, as they're fairly non-realms shaking events.
I'd say you could include commonly worshipped deities (easy to have a cleric of Lathander ask the party to rescue some minor magic item, say +1 morningstar, from a crypt that has been taken over by an evil spellcaster of Bane or something)
The Drow I think are quite realmsian too, though possibly a little high level for an encounter (maybe a half-drow would be suitable)
The other thing I could suggest is get politics/factions involved. Doing a city adventure somewhere with organisations (like the shadow thieves, night masks, harpers, zhents, etc etc) is also a good way to make it realmsian. I.e. the local guard faction (but make it a well known realmsian one, not generic) wants them to go and inspect a warehouse for signs of strange activity, where they uncover a far larger plot. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 20:17:44
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'What are the recurring themes' is about the biggest question about the Realms you could ask!
But: bandits, scheming human merchants, stirges, spies, and faerie fire (or magic mouth or a new spell) are musts. Have the characters come abruptly into a situation of conflicting power groups and have them make their own way, rather than give PCs a Traveller-style patron. Put them in tough situations where they must prove their individual and collective mettle -- thus drawing the attention of the power groups -- to overcome. I would steer clear of 'icons'. Give every character and item a distinct manner and a personal life and history outside the immediate campaign. Use Realms speech: 'Well met' and so forth. Look at FRQ1 Haunted Halls of Eveningstar for a (severely cut-for-space) example of how to do it. |
Edited by - Faraer on 16 Feb 2006 20:22:00 |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 20:27:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
'What are the recurring themes' is about the biggest question about the Realms you could ask!
But: bandits, scheming human merchants, stirges, spies, and faerie fire (or magic mouth or a new spell) are musts. Have the characters come abruptly into a situation of conflicting power groups and have them make their own way, rather than give PCs a Traveller-style patron. Put them in tough situations where they must prove their individual and collective mettle -- thus drawing the attention of the power groups -- to overcome. I would steer clear of 'icons'. Give every character and item a distinct manner and a personal life and history outside the immediate campaign. Use Realms speech: 'Well met' and so forth. Look at FRQ1 Haunted Halls of Eveningstar for a (severely cut-for-space) example of how to do it.
Thanks for the invaluable help, Faraer. |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 12:35:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
The Drow I think are quite realmsian too, though possibly a little high level for an encounter (maybe a half-drow would be suitable)
Actually, the Drow are originally designed for the Greyhawk setting.
See what Ed wrote about how his "dark elves" (as in Dragonlance's "dark-hearted, exiled" elves). It seems that when the original FR boxed set went to print, somehow these Ed's albino-skinned, black-hearted elven clans that had retreated underground were transformed into drow. |
"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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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 13:22:07
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Two memorable - if not "iconic" as such - encounters in our campaigns happened in Waterdeep.
1) The DM had a nice idea how to bring two characters "into fold", and introduce one of the major-villains-to-be in the campaign. A PC paladin (Helmite) on his way to buy more ink and parchments strolled past the walled compund of Maaril's Dragontower, and heard sounds of desperate struggle and cries for help from its courtyard. He entered through the gatehouse, and found another PC (a wild mage) fighting some zombies, and more were coming from buildings all over the courtyard (they counted thirty at least, of all races). The mage had been sent to buy some components from Phantalar Orivan, and he had told that he'd give a discount if the mage took his letter to Maaril (really a note for Maaril to pay some expensive components ;). So, the paladin took the mage to Mother Tethlorn's House of Healing, where he met my character, recovering from his "first solo adventure" wounds :) And that is how our longest-running campaign started.
2) A weeping mother was rushing through the streets of Waterdeep near the Plinth, pleading that someone would rescue her baby from some evil men who had kidnapped him. It turned out that these were Cyricists, who were going to sacrifice the baby on the top floor of the Plinth, and the PCs had to fight their way through several 'Darkness'-spells (where summoned monsters, with Blindsight-ability, were waiting) and zealous mid-level cultists. The High Priest heard the sounds of battle approaching, and realized that there would not be enough time for a proper sacrifice ceremony. Thus, he decided to drop the baby from a window to the cobbled streets below, while chanting Cyric's name fervently. Fortunately, our mage was just peering out of a lower level window, trying to listen for sounds from the top floor. He either used the 'Gust of Wind'-spell or just snatched the falling baby from midair
with his cloak (a critical 'touch attack' roll). Thus the baby was saved, and our warriors gutted the High Priest in the end :D |
"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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 14:44:32
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I think that an iconic encounter might be one that wasn't a simple straight forward encounter. For example, running into a Zhentarim patrol from Darkhold near Yellow Snake Pass, and bracing to fight, only to have a group of Red Wizard supported mercenaries attack the Zhents, and just when the PCs think they can either wait to pick off the the wounded losers or exit stage left, a group of Thaalim Torchtower "loyal" Tunlar ride in to attack from yet another direction.
Of course the above would be a nightmare to run, but it would convey the idea that there is always something going on in the Realms, and that something often concerns many different power groups, both local and broard based.
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 16:17:34
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I think that an iconic encounter might be one that wasn't a simple straight forward encounter. For example, running into a Zhentarim patrol from Darkhold near Yellow Snake Pass, and bracing to fight, only to have a group of Red Wizard supported mercenaries attack the Zhents, and just when the PCs think they can either wait to pick off the the wounded losers or exit stage left, a group of Thaalim Torchtower "loyal" Tunlar ride in to attack from yet another direction.
Of course the above would be a nightmare to run, but it would convey the idea that there is always something going on in the Realms, and that something often concerns many different power groups, both local and broard based.
Agreed, something that demonstrates the Realms is a living, complex world is possibly what would make a definitive encounter. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 17:24:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
I would steer clear of 'icons'.
I'm rather fond of the icons, but I think the key is to not treat them as such. I try to sneak them in without much fanfare, as if they were just like any other NPC in the setting. The ultimate test for me if I succeed is if the not-so-realms-savvy players suspect there is something special going on, or not. |
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Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 17:37:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Firhyanda
My question is what single encounter would you run at first level to define the realms for a group of new players. What are the recurring themes that are unavoidable in the realms?
...as usual, Faraer sums it up nicely.
- A zhentarim caravan, backed by orc slaves, some soldiers and merchants, and a low level mage.
- A group of rogues and rangers in need of aid against a lost shadovar platoon.
- A cleric of Cyric or Talos is spreading the word to the nearby countryside and are scaring the locals. The local ruler or church needs someone to investigate or possibly stop the threat.
Drow are cool (FR drow even cooler), but its kinda overdone, so I would leave them out for the first couple of adventures. Lots of folks seem to get carried away when it comes to drow (judging by message board behavior on less friendly boards), and it is better to not let them ruin your setup for future fun gaming. |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2006 : 20:01:10
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| in the 2E forgotten realms box set, there is a starting adventure in shadowdale. You could have something like this where the party at 1st level has bitten off more than they could chew, in either a dark forest region or a small dungeon. You could have elminster pop in, blast the monsters, hand the party a couple of healing potions to the almost defeated party and vanish again. This senario reminds me also of the spellfire novel, when the company of the bright spear faces off against immeasurable odds with the cult of the dragon followers. in my opinion, it is a very iconic introduction to the realms as a whole. A realms specific region, a realms iconic figure, and a popular, but under used realms organization. |
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Iconic Encounters for the realms?
