GhostWolf69
Mongoose
Intro
"I was down on my luck, almost broke, my last silver spent on yet another fix of sand… trying to grasp happiness but it always made like the grains through my clutching hands, no metaphor had ever seemed so true. I had been without a job now for almost two weeks, spending what I earned from my last mission. Converting silver pieces to silver sand. A downward spiral spelling doom, and I knew it.
The sand joint I currently haunted was a run down and dirty establishment, most of them were in this part of town. The sand was cut, low grade and Mitra only knew what they put in the stuff to delude it. But it was cheap and so far it hadn't killed me.
The ragged curtain covering the doorway was flicked aside and for a second the piercing sunlight flashed into the gloom, when my eyes had adjusted again, I could see Ben-al-Khali standing in front of me. He always did stuff like that, showing off I guess. I didn't mind.
In good shape as usual? He asked looking at me with disgust pouring out of his eyes. He never approved of my expensive habit and took every opportunity granted to make comments like that. I never bothered to answer.
Did we get the job? I asked instead, ignoring his jives. Yes, but are you able to pull it of in this shape? I spared a glance at the state I was in… rough light boots, by the side of the filthy bed, they had seen better times, my body was covered in stale sweat, from the latest rush, and lack of a bath. My sword leaned against a chair nearby, the same chair that held my dirty cotton tunic… that more or less summed up all my worldly possessions. Man what a sad state I was in… how long had I been here anyway? Sure! I said, I've traversed the desert dunes in worse shape than this, remember? He gave a short nod and without a word he turned on his heel and left to wait outside, while I got dressed.
Outside the sun was frying humankind like it was it's god given right, relentless, unforgiving. The market place was filled with merchants hawking their wares, beggars, thieves, potential customers and victims. Whatever the difference was I lost the ability to tell years ago. The sounds and smells of a hundred kingdoms slammed into my sloshed brain like a nordheim hammer. I staggered.
You better get into shape before we meet our employer. Ben told me, slipping me yet another disdainful look. No problem. I said, but I could feel that there might actually be a problem, if my stomach wouldn't settle soon. Ben led the way through the crowd, I smirked at the fact that when I came this way a couple of days ago I had been watching my purse like a hawk, afraid of thieves and cut purses. The shifting sands of time. I'll pay for a bath, since I assume you don't have any silver left? Ben said leading on towards the nearest bathhouse. I quietly accepted."
The Mission
The players are hired by a local merchant/noble to escort his daughter through the desert to another town. The daughter is supposed to marry a wealthy merchant/noble when she arrives and her "purity" must be secured. this marriage is important in a political aspect as well since the two families have been long term enemies bordering on blood feuding. Raiding each other's caravans and such. The marriage will end all this. Along with the PC's the escort will consist of three women taking care of the bride-to-be, five soldiers from the household supplied by their employer.
Complications
The daughter in question doesn't want to be married to this noble. Since she is in love with one of the soldiers in her father's retinue. In fact this young man is one of the soldiers in the escort. They give each other heart broken looks and are currently in a state of emotional panic. They even plan to run a way in the dead of night if no other option seems available. The bride-maids know about the love between them but are doing their best to comfort her and boost her strength for the upcoming, inevitable ceremony. They don't know about their plan to run away though.
Possible solutions
There are several ways to deal with this dilemma. All of them leave openings for continuing adventure and campaign backdrop for future reference. Here are some examples:
1. The PC's find it in their hearts to let the bride go with her hearts love. They promise never to return to these lands so they will not be recognized. How the PC's deal with this in front of their employer can differ wildly:
1.a. They say a nomad band ambushed them and she was killed in the ensuing battle. This will lead to the players disgrace for failing their mission to protect her, and it will probably lead to more conflict between the two noble families as well. The PC's can easily be involved more in this conflict. In for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak.
1.b. They replace her with one of the bride-maids who really won't mind marrying a wealthy noble at all. And since this noble has never actually seen the bride he won't suspect anything. Here are plenty of intrigue options available. What happens when "her father" or anyone else that actually knows the bride, want to come and visit them?
2. The PC's stand their ground and force the bride to marriage. This could end differently depending on how cruel the DM feels.
2.a. It could lead to a Romeo and Juliet drama where the young soldier challenges the PC's to a duel for her, the PC's kill him off and the bride takes her own life in despair. For further adventure use the same option as for 1.a.
2.b. The PC's could make a deal to help the couple keep an affair going even though she is married. Lots of intrigue there.
2.c. The PC keep the bride alive and force her to marry without any pardon. They have now gained an enemy in the shape of a wealthy noble's wife… not good. She will plot to make their lives miserable.
And so on and so forth.
To be Continued...
You have just read the set up for my Conan campaign, it starts off small and will slowly escalate to more complexe intrigues. Stayed tuned.
/wolf
"I was down on my luck, almost broke, my last silver spent on yet another fix of sand… trying to grasp happiness but it always made like the grains through my clutching hands, no metaphor had ever seemed so true. I had been without a job now for almost two weeks, spending what I earned from my last mission. Converting silver pieces to silver sand. A downward spiral spelling doom, and I knew it.
The sand joint I currently haunted was a run down and dirty establishment, most of them were in this part of town. The sand was cut, low grade and Mitra only knew what they put in the stuff to delude it. But it was cheap and so far it hadn't killed me.
The ragged curtain covering the doorway was flicked aside and for a second the piercing sunlight flashed into the gloom, when my eyes had adjusted again, I could see Ben-al-Khali standing in front of me. He always did stuff like that, showing off I guess. I didn't mind.
In good shape as usual? He asked looking at me with disgust pouring out of his eyes. He never approved of my expensive habit and took every opportunity granted to make comments like that. I never bothered to answer.
Did we get the job? I asked instead, ignoring his jives. Yes, but are you able to pull it of in this shape? I spared a glance at the state I was in… rough light boots, by the side of the filthy bed, they had seen better times, my body was covered in stale sweat, from the latest rush, and lack of a bath. My sword leaned against a chair nearby, the same chair that held my dirty cotton tunic… that more or less summed up all my worldly possessions. Man what a sad state I was in… how long had I been here anyway? Sure! I said, I've traversed the desert dunes in worse shape than this, remember? He gave a short nod and without a word he turned on his heel and left to wait outside, while I got dressed.
Outside the sun was frying humankind like it was it's god given right, relentless, unforgiving. The market place was filled with merchants hawking their wares, beggars, thieves, potential customers and victims. Whatever the difference was I lost the ability to tell years ago. The sounds and smells of a hundred kingdoms slammed into my sloshed brain like a nordheim hammer. I staggered.
You better get into shape before we meet our employer. Ben told me, slipping me yet another disdainful look. No problem. I said, but I could feel that there might actually be a problem, if my stomach wouldn't settle soon. Ben led the way through the crowd, I smirked at the fact that when I came this way a couple of days ago I had been watching my purse like a hawk, afraid of thieves and cut purses. The shifting sands of time. I'll pay for a bath, since I assume you don't have any silver left? Ben said leading on towards the nearest bathhouse. I quietly accepted."
The Mission
The players are hired by a local merchant/noble to escort his daughter through the desert to another town. The daughter is supposed to marry a wealthy merchant/noble when she arrives and her "purity" must be secured. this marriage is important in a political aspect as well since the two families have been long term enemies bordering on blood feuding. Raiding each other's caravans and such. The marriage will end all this. Along with the PC's the escort will consist of three women taking care of the bride-to-be, five soldiers from the household supplied by their employer.
Complications
The daughter in question doesn't want to be married to this noble. Since she is in love with one of the soldiers in her father's retinue. In fact this young man is one of the soldiers in the escort. They give each other heart broken looks and are currently in a state of emotional panic. They even plan to run a way in the dead of night if no other option seems available. The bride-maids know about the love between them but are doing their best to comfort her and boost her strength for the upcoming, inevitable ceremony. They don't know about their plan to run away though.
Possible solutions
There are several ways to deal with this dilemma. All of them leave openings for continuing adventure and campaign backdrop for future reference. Here are some examples:
1. The PC's find it in their hearts to let the bride go with her hearts love. They promise never to return to these lands so they will not be recognized. How the PC's deal with this in front of their employer can differ wildly:
1.a. They say a nomad band ambushed them and she was killed in the ensuing battle. This will lead to the players disgrace for failing their mission to protect her, and it will probably lead to more conflict between the two noble families as well. The PC's can easily be involved more in this conflict. In for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak.
1.b. They replace her with one of the bride-maids who really won't mind marrying a wealthy noble at all. And since this noble has never actually seen the bride he won't suspect anything. Here are plenty of intrigue options available. What happens when "her father" or anyone else that actually knows the bride, want to come and visit them?
2. The PC's stand their ground and force the bride to marriage. This could end differently depending on how cruel the DM feels.
2.a. It could lead to a Romeo and Juliet drama where the young soldier challenges the PC's to a duel for her, the PC's kill him off and the bride takes her own life in despair. For further adventure use the same option as for 1.a.
2.b. The PC's could make a deal to help the couple keep an affair going even though she is married. Lots of intrigue there.
2.c. The PC keep the bride alive and force her to marry without any pardon. They have now gained an enemy in the shape of a wealthy noble's wife… not good. She will plot to make their lives miserable.
And so on and so forth.
To be Continued...
You have just read the set up for my Conan campaign, it starts off small and will slowly escalate to more complexe intrigues. Stayed tuned.
/wolf