emeraldbeacon
Adventurer
Based on a comment that @thom_likes_gaming had in another thread, are there any prequels or lead-ins to the WotBS sdventure path proper, or does anyone have thoughts about what might happen in such a module? It could serve to introduce some of the initial lore of the world, and gauge interest among your playerbase to see if they'd want to continue a much longer campaign in that style. I could see it happening in one of two ways...
- A prologue Chapter, Levels 1-2: Life in Gate-Pass. This would help establish the heroes before the war begins, perhaps dealing with everyday life in Gate Pass. Preparations might be underway for that year's Festival of Dreams, even while reports begin to trickle in about increased Ragesian military operations. The low-level heroes would have a number of encounters whose real cause can be linked to the sundering of the Burning Torch)... there is a teleportation mishap at Gabal's School, and a missing acolyte to track down; a brute squad is attempting to clear Summer's Bluff of unwanted elvish beggars, but no one quite knows who's doing it; a contingent of Ragesian diplomats is hastily leaving town, and asks for escort. Eventually, once knowledge comes of Ragesia's approach, the Festival of Dreams is officially cancelled, and everyone reluctantly settles in for a somber new year celebration... even as a message arrives, calling the heroes to the Poison Apple Pub for an important mission.
- A direct lead-in one-shot , Level 5-ish: The Ragesian Job. As Leska orchestrates the mobilization of her forces across the nation, a ragtag group of resistance operatives learns of a plot to gather spellcasters from her own nation, and beyond... an operation seemingly code-named "SCOURGE." A well-connected gnome named Rivereye Badgerface has assembled this team (preconstructed PCs, perhaps?) within the capital city Ragos, to attempt the impossible... the heist of a key case of military intelligence, being delivered to the castle that night by Inquisitor Guthwulf. This near suicide mission needs the heroes to capture the case and deliver it to Rivereye, who has a plan to escape the city...
- An (evil?) indirect lead-in one-shot, Level teen-ish: Kill the Old Dragon. Ragesia is at its weakest point in decades. Coaltongue faces challenges to his authority in Sindaire; his lieutenant, Leska, is quietly making moves against him behind his back; and far in the east, Lord Shaladel has designs to take what he deigns is rightfully his. Perhaps the only thing that can stop all-out war is removing the most powerful piece from the table: The Torch of the Burning Sky. As you take command of a (pre-constructed) team of elite commandos, led by Rhuarc Knightsbane, your mission is simple: seize the Torch, kill the Old Dragon, and save the world from war. Simple, right?