Aholibamah
Mongoose
This is in part adaptation of other works and use of the Shadizar box set in a way I haven't managed to do yet.
This is the main backstory. Tiridates of Zamora is dead, choked on his own vomit while drunk and unconscious. His niece Jehnna is the obvious heir but is politically isolated and innocent. Various high ranking nobles are seeking to marry her and win the kingship. The problem is that they cannot agree on who.
One of these nobles, a former military commander called Duragon, has a very good chance as he is wealthy, of definite Zamoran birth and well connected. While he does intend to do what he can to eliminate rivals one of his 'platforms' is restoration of Zamoran wealth and glory.
The PCs enter via the adventure "Where Mad Things Drum" which I intend to adapt to suit Zamora. It doesn't really matter how they arrive or why they are in Zamora as long as they carry out this adventure, rescue Princess Phaedra and her sister and end the sinister threat. With this done the pcs are recognized as heroes, and Duragon seeing them honored by Jehnna forms a plan in his head. He decides they will be HIS heroes, to help him gain renown. If they fail--they are only foreigners. If they succeed it will be to his credit.
Duragon will do what he has to to gain the pcs being in his service. Whether it is promises of glory and wealth and riches or him assuring them of helping them right wrongs, whatever he has to say. Duragon is a good actor and is capable of promising anything with utter sincerity. He might even mean it if the pcs gradually gain his admiration and friendship.
The First Quest is another adaptation, from a D&D adventure called "Day of Al-Akbar" which is about a quest to get a set of artifacts called the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar. I decided to change this so that rather than being as powerful as they are that they are more important symbolically as legendary lost regalia of the monarchy. Placed in Duragon's hands it will recommend him far above the other suitors. Of course getting wind of him wanting it might provoke assassins after both Duragon and the pcs, or have other treasure hunters afoot.
As per the old module it will be in an old fortified city, possible a ruin, held by a bandit chieftain who is at present controlling part of the trade route in the area.
The Second Quest comes up when the High Priest of Zath in Yezud refuses to pay homage to Duragon or even come to the wedding. Instead he sends a group of assassins who rather than murdering simply bring a nasty horde of spiders to wreck a pre-wedding feast. In response to an attempt to punish the cult by sending a group of the King's Own to Yezud the High Priest manages to stampede the cavalry while camped at night with cat sized spiders. Then the cult calls for 'purification' and says that it will only support Duragon and his marriage to Jehnna if Zath's cult gains prominence over all others and becomes primary advisors to the monarchy. This shame cannot be borne and the pcs are requested to go to Yezud and find a way to bring the High Priest--dead or alive--to Shadizar to receive punishment.
The Third Quest Rumor has it that the Kings of Iranistan and Vendhya may go to war with Turan. If this happens then Duragon may side with them to get Aghrapur back! However he has to be sure he isn't being lured into being their cat's paw.
Here I feel that it depends on the party. An intrigue loving party might take part in a plot to implicate and possibly blackmail for information the Iranistani or Vendhyan ambassador. (or both) A more action oriented party might be asked to disguise themselves as bandits and get the information with a little less subtlty. Unfortunately in both cases the mission is complicated by bitter rivals of Duragon (and possibly nobles in the pay of Turan) who want to see this all turn ugly.
Finally if the pcs seemed up for it I was thinking of planning out the actual war to some extent, at least down to the attempt to regain Aghrapur. There are a number of possible adventures that could happen here.
Thoughts?
This is the main backstory. Tiridates of Zamora is dead, choked on his own vomit while drunk and unconscious. His niece Jehnna is the obvious heir but is politically isolated and innocent. Various high ranking nobles are seeking to marry her and win the kingship. The problem is that they cannot agree on who.
One of these nobles, a former military commander called Duragon, has a very good chance as he is wealthy, of definite Zamoran birth and well connected. While he does intend to do what he can to eliminate rivals one of his 'platforms' is restoration of Zamoran wealth and glory.
The PCs enter via the adventure "Where Mad Things Drum" which I intend to adapt to suit Zamora. It doesn't really matter how they arrive or why they are in Zamora as long as they carry out this adventure, rescue Princess Phaedra and her sister and end the sinister threat. With this done the pcs are recognized as heroes, and Duragon seeing them honored by Jehnna forms a plan in his head. He decides they will be HIS heroes, to help him gain renown. If they fail--they are only foreigners. If they succeed it will be to his credit.
Duragon will do what he has to to gain the pcs being in his service. Whether it is promises of glory and wealth and riches or him assuring them of helping them right wrongs, whatever he has to say. Duragon is a good actor and is capable of promising anything with utter sincerity. He might even mean it if the pcs gradually gain his admiration and friendship.
The First Quest is another adaptation, from a D&D adventure called "Day of Al-Akbar" which is about a quest to get a set of artifacts called the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar. I decided to change this so that rather than being as powerful as they are that they are more important symbolically as legendary lost regalia of the monarchy. Placed in Duragon's hands it will recommend him far above the other suitors. Of course getting wind of him wanting it might provoke assassins after both Duragon and the pcs, or have other treasure hunters afoot.
As per the old module it will be in an old fortified city, possible a ruin, held by a bandit chieftain who is at present controlling part of the trade route in the area.
The Second Quest comes up when the High Priest of Zath in Yezud refuses to pay homage to Duragon or even come to the wedding. Instead he sends a group of assassins who rather than murdering simply bring a nasty horde of spiders to wreck a pre-wedding feast. In response to an attempt to punish the cult by sending a group of the King's Own to Yezud the High Priest manages to stampede the cavalry while camped at night with cat sized spiders. Then the cult calls for 'purification' and says that it will only support Duragon and his marriage to Jehnna if Zath's cult gains prominence over all others and becomes primary advisors to the monarchy. This shame cannot be borne and the pcs are requested to go to Yezud and find a way to bring the High Priest--dead or alive--to Shadizar to receive punishment.
The Third Quest Rumor has it that the Kings of Iranistan and Vendhya may go to war with Turan. If this happens then Duragon may side with them to get Aghrapur back! However he has to be sure he isn't being lured into being their cat's paw.
Here I feel that it depends on the party. An intrigue loving party might take part in a plot to implicate and possibly blackmail for information the Iranistani or Vendhyan ambassador. (or both) A more action oriented party might be asked to disguise themselves as bandits and get the information with a little less subtlty. Unfortunately in both cases the mission is complicated by bitter rivals of Duragon (and possibly nobles in the pay of Turan) who want to see this all turn ugly.
Finally if the pcs seemed up for it I was thinking of planning out the actual war to some extent, at least down to the attempt to regain Aghrapur. There are a number of possible adventures that could happen here.
Thoughts?
