The Vengeful

    We have to actually try to make a oneshot that doesn't take forever to run. There has to be a definite end point here.

    Players will start at level 6, by default players ought to start with a human variant. Players must consult the DM if the PCs are considering a non-human species.

    Setting

    The game will start somewhere in the island of Surrey-on-the-Brams. The exact location depends on the background and chosen faction of the PCs.

    They will eventually find themselves in the Narrows for various reasons, there they should find themselves in the company of a dying Lord Marthur Malthren, or the players may be too late, depending on the timeframe in which they arrive.

    Finally, they will head towards Surrey's Ear for the final stage.

    Inciting Incident

    News of the impending death of Lord Marthur Malthren has reached the ears of various people of import across the island of Surrey-on-the-Brams. Being the last living member of the Malthren family, his death will mean the end of his noble line. The man was the Manor Lord of the Narrows, a dirty old township tucked underneath the trees of the Keelswood, home to the many renegades and villains of the Brams. As such, many believed that the old man had hidden vast wealth in the family vaults.

    In the twilight years of his life, the man had outright refused marriage proposals to young maidens of noble families, scions of nouveau riche merchants, of rival mercenary groups, who many thought were after the man's estate.

    Famously, the man had no heirs, nor a will, and so upon his death, his estate defaults to the crown, either to keep for themselves, or to distribute to some petty nobility who had ingratiated themselves to the Dragonhearts.

    A number of local factions see this as the only moment in time where they can avoid some Dragonheart lordling from bandying their influence across the Brams. After all, while the Writ of Nobility that comes with the estate of House Malthrek only bestows a Baronetcy, it does also come with the ceremonial duties of being Thane of the Magarisok, a title that would get the holder invited into Castle Dragonheart during grand festivals.

    Peripheral Events

    Execution of the Principium Captives

    Crewmembers of the Principium have been incarcerated in the Splits for close to two years at this point. Captors have tried to break them, it's yet unclear if they have succeeded. However a public execution has been scheduled for the 15th of the 9th 1275.

    Treaty of Turain Organization Review

    The following is up for discussion in the upcoming TOTO review:

    • the status of the Apgarian La Camaraderie de la Mer as a group given letters of marque by the Apgarian Confederacy
    • the anti-monarchist Hickland for Hicks faction, and their potential connection to the Apgarian privateers
    • the resurgence of a mythical group called the Hags of Hama and their purported immense power ih the L'Illes Apgarie Demilitarized Zone

    Strange Incidents in the Gulf of Inespell

    • Ships have been uncharacteristically dumping ballast in improper locations
    • A number of thefts of anchors and iron porthole covers have been reported
    • Some ships' hulls have delaminated from their keels while sailing the Inespell

    Assassination Attempts on the King of Senera

    The King of Senera had cancelled a number of high profile appearances due to three separate assassination attempts.

    1. Two crossbow bolts shot during a tournament at Rannekford, one grazed the king's ear
    2. Unknown assailants attempted to infiltrate the King's ship cabin on a return voyage to Thantorbury
    3. a poisoning attempt during a hunting trip to the Maltrek Highlands

    The Maidenfelds denied any involvement in the attempts, but the King is not so sure. However, a group called Hickland for Hicks has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

    Volcanoes thought to be extinct show signs of activity

    1. A Volcano in the Brams River Valley thought to be extinct erupts, burying the town of Ravenford under a layer of ash.
    2. Smoke is seen billowing from the peak of the Ear's Peak.
    3. Lava flows from Mt Heg near Hegsfell

    Factions

    Orthodox Church of the Divine Masochist

    Every other month, at the insistence of Tidemark's Temple Representative, Sister Agatha Thralvig, the Church of the Divine Masochist holds a mission to the Narrows. There they feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and minister to the sick. They also hold vocational training so that the locals are empowered to support themselves. Sister Agatha hopes that by empowering the locals of the Narrows, they will be less prone to the influence of the ne'er-do-wells that populate the township.

    The Bishop of Surrey knows of this, and also heard of Malthren's terminal illness. He wishes to send for someone to convince the old man to install a pious follower of the Masochist to be his heir. So he had instructed a cadre of his loyal paladins to escort the prospective candidate to the Narrows along with Sister Agatha and her contingent.

    The player can choose to be:

    • the prospective candidate themselves. they must be a junior noble in a cadet branch.
    • one of the paladins or clerics in the Bishop's retinue.
    • a lay minister from Sister Agatha's contingent
    • a person of good will who volunteers to help the locals of the Narrows

    House Surrata-Spellvig

    House Surrata is the preeminent noble house of the Gulf of Inespell. Not only do they hold the Lordship of Surrey-on-the-Brams, the Head of the House also gains the title of Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy of Senera. However, with any prominent and storied house, there are always those junior members from cadet branches who feel that they have been overlooked for too long.

    Spurred on by his friends, Henry Surrata-Spellvig, a naval officer in training from a branch of House Surrata from the outskirts of Cape Spellward wanted to try to convince the dying Lord Malthren to name him as his heir. Henry's aide, and spy for his mother, attempted to dissuade him, but to no avail. But at the very least, he was able to convince the lad to hire a small contingent of mercenaries to protect him on his mission.

    The player can choose to be:

    • Henry Surrata-Spellvig himself
    • one of his friends who is also a naval officer in training
    • one of the mercenaries who is hired to protect Henry
    • Henry's aide

    Royal Navy of Senera

    The Royal Navy of Senera is the naval arm of the Crown of Senera. They are responsible for the defense of the Seneran Empire's overseas territories, and for policing the Seneran Seas.

    They have heard that operatives working for the Apgarian privateering group La Camaraderie de la Mer were seen in the Skelmals in the Narrows. The Admiralty beiieves that these operatives are collecting intel on captured members of the Principium. These captives are pivotal in the Admiralty's case against the Apgarians in an upcoming Treaty of Turain Organization review.

    The Admiralty would like to ensure that the captives would not be freed, or killed before they have a chance to be tried.

    The player can choose to be:

    • a member of the Royal Navy of Senera
    • a member of the Principium who overheard some rumors of the operatives' plans
    • an intel operative of La Camaraderie de la Mer

    Hickland for Hicks

    For the longest time the aristocrat pigs of Senera have been a leech on the hard work of the common man! These sons and daughters of the Kalassarian interlopers have been sucking the lifeblood of the Hicklands for far too long! That's right, the Hicklands, Erkirgral, our land! It's time we took it back!

    Old man Malthren had kept from us the legacy of the Thane of the Magarisok! At the our of that miser's death, we will claim it for ourselves!

    The player can choose to be any member of the Hickland for Hicks faction. A player choosing this option have the most latitude in character creation, so as long as they are radicalized Hicklanders.

    Outline

    1. Starting Location

      1. Port Surrey-on-the-Brams
        • Starts with some mook trying to spar with Lilya
        • Henry's aide (Kurris Wudward) is waiting at the sidelines
        • Kurris will attempt to have Lilya accompany Henry. They leave the next day
      2. Tidemark
        • Philippa wakes, her body aches as if sore from a sparring match
        • one of the sisters-in-training will remind her of today's departure to the Narrows, Sister Agatha is with the Bishop's contingent meeting the nobleman representative from House Eastonton

    2. Traveling to the Narrows

      1. From Port Surrey-on-the-Brams
        • Henry is a bit too proud of his family, this will make him a target for brigands, especially from members of the Hickland for Hicks faction.
      2. From Tidemark
        • The party will be ambushed by the Hickland for Hicks faction

    3. Lord Malthren

      1. Players will find out that Lord Malthren had regained his ancestors' sight. The power of the Malthrenok of the Magaris to foresee the future in the swirls of Vortex Cove.
      2. Depending on the PCs' actions and factions, the route to the Vortex Cove will be easy or hard. The known entrance is from the Murmals market, but the Smugglers Guild has tight control over the area.
        1. Lord Malthren may share the secret entrance to the Vortex Labyrinth, but will not have enough time to share the path.

    4. The Narrow Underground

    5. Surrey's Ear

    Big Bad

    The Big Bad is a monster from the Elemental Plane of Fire that the Elves unleashed on the Early Hicks that fought them with iron.

    A single creature with five different parts, each with its own initiative count. The fight would have 2 phases:

    • Phase 1: The creature is protected by and iron shell made from the collected iron missing from ships and other missing equipment.
    • Phase 2: Starts when all the ironclad portions are destroyed. The creature is in its true form.

    Head Chest Left Arm Right Arm Legs