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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 15:17:58
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Hi, I'm new on this forum but I read posts since a long time!
My new campaign started a month ago and I think my players enjoyed it pretty much so far. I’m posting my design and I would like to hear your comments. I will use part of pre-made adventures & modules from Wizards and TSR. Anyway, please take a look and comment. I'd also love to hear any suggestions for possible adventure that could take place in Cormyr.
The Campaign takes place in the Forgotten Realms, around and in beautiful Cormyr. We start in 1362, Year of the Helm. Cormyr is powerful and King Azoun IV is a star. They are level 6 and are aspiring Purple Dragons and War Wizard. The other are Lightbringers (prestige class from ETCR.)
They are at Skull Crag, fighting and gaining experience against mountain monsters.
The lightbringers scout heard news about undead far in the mountain:
First Adventure: Expedition To Castle Ravenloft. (in progress)
When they finished with Strahd, they come back in Cormyr to catch the flavour and the politics of Cormyr. They are invited in Suzail for a big party.
Second Adventure: Four from Cormyr. (Bibliophile and Murder most magical)
(I will make a lot of role play with npcs in Eveningstar, Arabel and Suzail)
After years of good fortune, we jump in time and they heard of a big invasion of goblins in the north.
Third Adventure: Red Hand of Doom
I will use some ideas from it and used the big battle in Brindol (Arabel) with a few level adjustments. They will assist to the Fall of Azoun IV against the Dragon.
After weeks, I will use the first part of Into the Dragon’s Lair. Their goal is to find the lair of the Red Dragon who killed Azoun for treasures and stop powerful cultist trying to created a Dracolych from the carcass of the Dragon.
After all that, the characters become npcs and one of them will be the new Captain of the Purple Dragons in Wheelon.
1372: New characters (level 4) and we begin, in Wheelon, with the first part of the new super adventure: Cormyr: Tearing of the weave
thanks
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 16:54:14
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| I don't have much to add, it seems like a logical campaign with the adventures tied together. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 17:16:03
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Seems like a very strong chain of events to me. I also like how you plan to tie the old adventuring party into Cormyr as NPCs before starting the new group.
I'd be careful running so many prepackaged adventures designed for levels so close to one another; otherwise, things look very interesting.
Have you spoken to your players about the possible futures of their PCs? Other than your Purple Dragon captain and the War Wizard, where do the others hope their characters will end up? |
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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 20:20:51
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Thanks for the Comments. I appreciated them a lot!
The Characters are
Paladin/Purple Dragon
Wizard/ War Wizard to be
Cleric/Lightbringers for Cormyr
Ranger/Rogue/ Lightbringers scout.
More I talk about Cormyr to my players and more they love it. They are young (21-23 years old) so they never heard about King Azoun IV, and other big NPCs. This is the (King Arthur, Robin Hood and Gondor) feeling that they like the most, I think. They were tired of chaotic adventures or generic places. They don’t know very well the FR so when they are in Taverns, inns, etc, I talk about stories like Trouble of Time, The Horde and King Azoun IV, etc.
I had the idea of this super campaign back when I heard about the new adventures (Cormyr, Shadowdale and Anauroch.) But, it deals with Gods and they don’t know them.
There are so many good stories about Cormyr to be told before, that I decided to design something with the big events. So they will rise as heroes, assist to the fall of Azoun IV, tries to rebuilt the Cormyr, etc. They will be emotionally involved to the Cormyr. And after that (probably one year from now) I will start the new modules.
For ETCR, we had planned to run this before, but they enjoy it a lot. It’s so funny to see them rushing in Zombies and heard them “For Cormyr, For Azoun IV.”
So, I don’t know where the PCs will be in couple of weeks now! We will see. I like politics so maybe in Suzail or Arabel! I’m not an expert in Cormyr yet. I’ve read the source books, and one novel but I have the entire novels in my bookshelves and plan to read them in the next weeks.
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 23:25:05
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Sounds like an interesting group. I wish them and you the best of luck.
As for post-campaign plans, the cleric (of Lathander, I can only assume) can always join a temple--there are churches to the Morninglord in both Eveningstar and Marsember--or, assuming he gathers the funds and faithful necessary, found his own.
The ranger/rogue might have a promising career as a Royal Scout, a forester in the King's Forest, or even as a crown agent of some sort. With the right set of skills and focus, he may even make a fine highknight one day... |
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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2007 : 17:13:50
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Great ideas Garen, thanks
The Cleric is from Immersea because he wanted Selûne as a god. There is a large open-air shrine to Selûne there. Maybe he will found his own temple there!!!
Later in the campaign, I plan to introduce clerics of Mystra (outside Cormyr) to my wizard. With the events in Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave, it will be a perfect teaser for him/them and they won’t be surprised to see the construction of a new temple of Mystra (Shar) in Wheelon.
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2007 : 22:38:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Abulon
Great ideas Garen, thanks
Garen is our resident expert on Cormyr (and many other Realms-related subjects, too ;). I have run some campaigns in Cormyr, too, and I just have to admit that you've built an impressive and interesting campaign.  
I'd drop the adventures from 'Four from Cormyr' as they contain a lot of information that contradicts existing (and previous) Realmslore (apparently all of it from the author's campaign?). Besides, I think every DM has probably run a variation or two of the over-used "Doppleganger murders"-theme and I can't really say that the rest of the adventures would appeal to me or my players either...
Like Garen noted, using former PCs as a plot hook for the new campaign is a great idea! You could even take it further and try to hook this NPC to your PCs in a meaningful way (i.e. he might be a relative or perhaps a superior officer?). Anyway, good work, and good luck!  |
"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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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2007 : 01:10:18
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Thanks for the suggestions Asgetrion. I appreciated them a lot!
About Four From Cormyr, you are absolutely right! But I always changed stories from modules and used only what is good. In Murder most magical, my goal is to use the great ambiance from the court, the nobles, Azoun IV, etc. It will be amazing for them to be introduced in the court and meet great NPCs. I will twist the plot and probably go with my own ideas for the rest of that adventure. Four From Cormyr contain great ideas but it’s not all good either.
Thanks,
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Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2007 : 23:57:46
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I played 4 of Cormyr with my party. After changing some of the most apparent mistakes and expanding the adventures a bit they were great fun!
I combined the first 2 Adventures with another one from Shadowdale called "Revenge of the Doppelgänger" (to be found everywhere in the net) 2 of the Doppelgänger escaped from Shadowdale and moved back to Cormyr. The party chased them and thus they were plunged into the "Murder most Magical" and the one about the lich (where the Doppelgänger was trying to get rid of the party chasing him)
After those adventures, we played a lot of Adventures in Cormyr (one adventure was about preventing a sea war between Cormyr and Sembia .. a bit like JAmes Bond Tomorrow never dies). Partik Thistel also made quite a career in the meantime, he is now head of the Department of internal affairs (which means secret service). In the meantime my party is mostly tied to Cormyr and enjoys a lot of privileges (like beeing befriended with Partik Thistel)
One of the most valuable scources you can find about Cormyr is Volo's Guide to Cormyr. You can download this one at the wizard homepage. There you'll find dozens of adventure hooks, that would keep your party occupied for years, even before the death of Azoun! |
'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 00:34:50
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| Partik Thistle is one NPC that will never appear in my campaign... shouldn't his duties (as described in 'Four from Cormyr') be handled by Sthavar (Lord Magistrate of the City) or Xrorn Hackhand? |
"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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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 00:13:41
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| I've got almost all the books about Cormyr and the novels, and it's even better than expected! Their is stuff for almost a lifetime lol! We almost finished with STrahd (ETCR is an amazing module by the way) and I plan a little enconter at Eveninstar or another village with Alusair! Something like a knight Joust during a festival against one of my pcs (Knight) and they will find that the champ is Alusair, the daughter of Azoun. It will be a nice chat with her and I will used her for the next plot. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 01:03:05
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| Theres another way you could tie your Cormyr Campaign to Ravensloft. One of the Lords of Ravensloft is a revolutionary who tried to carve his own kingdom out of Cormyr he lost and disappeared into the Mist of Ravensloft I believe his name was something like Gongal |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 01:10:37
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Ed's reply to a question in his thread tied perfectly into what I would do for this adventure, if I wanted to insert it into a Realms campaign. The adventure is set about the same time as the original module (its more or less a remake, with some tweaks). According to Ed, Ravenloft isn't temporally anchored to Faerun in a stable manner, meaning that someone could be taken from the mists into Ravenloft and end up in the ETCR timeframe, and then end up wandering the mists and come out literally hundreds of years later.
Abulon, you are correct, there is a lot of great information about Cormyr, and on top of that, there is a lot that has never seen the light of day about Cormyr that I would still love to see detailed.
Gondegal was the character I think you were thinking of Dargoth, the last in a line of people to try start a rebellion centered in Arabel, although I didn't think he was actually a Darklord.
Also, Harkon Lukas was originally a wolfwere that was native to Cormyr before being trapped in the mists. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 01:13:13
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'Twas Gondegal – "conqueror" of Arabel and Knight of the Shadows.
You could also use Harkon Lukas, who grew up in Cormyr, though eventually found his way into the Dread Domains. Lukas was taken from Cormyr and placed directly into Barovia. After his meeting with the vampire lord [Strahd]... Harkon fled into the Mists. When he emerged again, he was the Dark Lord of Kartakass.
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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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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 01:59:30
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Abulon, don't forget to take a look at Ed's "Realmslore" column on the Wizards website. There you'll find lots of Azoun with Filfaeril bandinage as framing sequences for various columns, and details of protocol at the Royal Court of Cormyr. Free to read and copy into a word processing program for your campaign use, of course.
love,
THO |
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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 02:06:10
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| These are all interesting and logical suggestions! But the new Expedition To Castle Ravenloft is more like the original module by Tracy and Laura Hickman; there is no magical mists and realms, it's just a place with an enclave of undead and a Darklord. The module suggested Damora but I decided to put it near sunset montain (The Far Hills). They were all in Skull Crag when the lightbringers (prestige class from the new module) bring them news of the "enclave". So, Barovia is not so far, and they will comme back soon at Skull Crag, as Heroes! From there, my goal is to travel trough Cormyr to Suzail. Maybe they should meet Alusair north, fighting goblins and Orcs, but I like the idea that they meet at a festival, and have their butts kicked by a woman during a joust :) |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2007 : 02:21:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Abulon
These are all interesting and logical suggestions! But the new Expedition To Castle Ravenloft is more like the original module by Tracy and Laura Hickman; there is no magical mists and realms, it's just a place with an enclave of undead and a Darklord.
Oh, I know its set up more as something that you can use in an existing campaign rather than a separate setting. I read through it and rather liked it, but if I ran it in one of my campaigns, I'd still use the mists to take the PCs to the Demiplane of Dread rather than making Barovia part of the Realms, but that's just because I'm still attatched to the setting from my younger days. I was just mentioning that if you do still choose to use the adventure as an introduction to Ravenloft as a separate plane, it can be done fairly easily.
Its also great to see the enthusiasm for Cormyr. Its a great part of the setting. |
Edited by - KnightErrantJR on 29 Apr 2007 02:21:41 |
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boddynock
Learned Scribe
Belgium
258 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2007 : 08:28:58
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Expedition To Castle Ravenloft isn't bad, but it misses the style and flavor that makes the domains of dread so unique. They mentioned halfling-vistani ????? But vistana is just a gypsy race of humans, nothing more !!!.
In my own campaign my players are now in in a ravenloft-domain called Aggararath. It's the one mentioned in the forgotten realms-ravenloft crossover adventure (castle spulzeer & the forgotten terror) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2007 : 12:54:00
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Castle Spulzeer ended up in a unique domain called Aggarath.
The reason it is a unique domain is because, in actuality, the domain is a ruby gemstone just roughly an inch across, but appears as much larger once entered. We know that Aggarath was basically an empty void before the coming of Chardath... upon which it was transformed into his personal domain. The ruby itself was altered by Chardath, and his sister's arrival... so much so, that it actually divided into sections called Facets, each of which reflect aspects of Chardath's peronality and his twisted memories.
As for Halfling-Vistani... they were mentioned in 2e RL sources, as I recall.
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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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Abulon
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 18:52:35
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| Expediton is great but not perfect! There is no conclusion, too many "monsters" in the castle, the halfling vistani etc. But, It is minor things and you can easily fix it. Anyway, I never found a "perfect" module since I played dd. I always changed some things there and there to fit with the style of my players. But There is too much good stuff in ETCR to not buy it! (unless you don't like vampire and ravenloft) |
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Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2007 : 22:41:25
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just to mention, as far as I remember the story of Gondegal, after his arrival he joined forces with Vlad Dracov, but was soon apalled by the enormous evil of Dracov and changed his alignement to good and became a hero of light in the demiplane of dread. After another encounter with vampires he was level drained and thus is no longer 20th level fighter
About combining Ravenloft (RL) with FR, I suppose it's a matter of personal opinion, but I tend to think Ravenloft as some sort of interplanar prison, where nobody can easily get out. I think, if PC get into RL, they should have a hell of a time to get out - else you risk of losing the essence of RL: terror! (where would be the terror, if you get easily in and out) |
'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
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New campaign in (Cormyr) & Ravenloft
