So, I have a story arc that I've started to write for a player in my group. They'll be introduced to it in the next 2-3 sessions and I am looking to flesh it out a bit more, and I've hit writer's block.
Loromir spoiler:
This is going to be a journey for the group, but it'll be the Bard's arc.
The world of Loromir is young, only 920 years old after the gods have finished their war with the titans. Some of the remnants of that war are lingering in the form of artifacts, geological sites, and strange phenomena. In this case the bard is going to be given the chance to facilitate with a problem that has been plaguing the Dwarven capital that they are going to visit. There is a tear in the planar veil to the Plane of Earth, the Dwarves, Elves, and Human have worked together to produce 2 musical instruments, one is a wind instrument, the other a stringed instrument. They have imbued them with great power, after much trial and error, and have found that they resonate with the portals. However only someone who is able to attune with one of the instruments can fully utilize their power, this bard will be given a chance (and succeed) at such an attunement.
The stringed instrument will have the ability to close the tears and make the veil stronger, repairing the damages. This will make it so that the only way to travel from plane to plane will be via actual portals or spells. I'm considering some of the denizens of the Earth and Fire planes will try to stop them.
The wind instrument will have the ability to stabilize the tears, making them natural corridors between the planes. It will also start causing the planes to merge, making the elements react stronger magically. (Think Legend of Kora).
I'm wondering if there's any interesting ideas you all might toss in here, I'm looking for inspiration.
Things sound really awesome for the bard. Is this a side quest, or something more central? If the other PCs have cool things already going on, this might not be too big of an issue, but maybe there need to be some other things to motivate the other PCs to participate.
I've taken to giving each of my (6) players a story arc that touches on who/what they are.
This is the Bards story, and I do have elements of the other players' stories that will cross over here and there. This is also something that is affecting the whole world, so it's a major story as well.
As to getting the other players involved, that is not an issue, I am very, very fortunate to have a cohesive group that plays well together.
In that case, my question is who would want the bard to fail? Is there an already existing rival/enemy, or would undertaking this quest earn him/her one? Are there any specific personalities or entities that might come from the Earth or Fire planes to stop this? Is there another source of conflict that's going to make the bard "earn" this awesome accomplishment/status? Or will the bard stumble upon this position as "master of the portal instruments, and is then hounded by denizens of all affected realms to open or close certain portals on demand, or to prevent the passage of enemies? It would be pretty funny to receive constant supplications and threats as "The Gatekeeper"...
That's something I've been struggling with; I want the bard to have a choice, a moral dilemma. Closing the tear will have consequences such as making the elements more difficult to touch (druids and shamans being more and more special), and create a few upset creatures (city of brass trying to expand its influence). Opening the tear having its own problems, more volatile reactions in the area, causing stranger phenomena. Denizens starting to pour out, and having to figure out how to create harmony. Those are a few thoughts I had.
The bard earning the ability to use the instruments will be a birth right event. She believes she's an orphan, she's currently searching for a lost childhood friend/crush, and will soon find out that he was to be her husband as both were thought to have the ability to attune to the instruments. As this is revealed she'll be told the story of her birth right and the situation at hand.
That sounds cool! So it really centers on the decision of which instrument will she attune with? It sounds like they've been looking for/expecting her, or someone who feels fatefully drawn to them. What consequence is there that her childhood friend is dead? Should they then search the underworld/afterlife to bring him back? That seems a more interesting story to me, personally. Sure, she's born for one of these instruments, but she's only half of the solution, and problems will arise until the other half can be resolved. Finding him creates a nice resolution for the bard's personal story and ties strongly to the concepts of harmony. (Cue "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News).
Finding him creates a nice resolution for the bard's personal story and ties strongly to the concepts of harmony. (Cue "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News).
I already have enough random karaoke at my table...no helping!
Well, she's also the one play testing my College of Etymology class as well. The underworld quest sounds like a nice addition, and I could tie in tears for the other realms, abyss and celestial respectively. Maybe have it so both of the instruments will be needed, a form of balance?
Having them go search for their lost childhood companion through the various planes of the afterlife would be a very interesting way to have both musical instruments find those that can synchronize with them.
Another possibility, especially if after synchronizing with their weapon the Bard and party hesitate in using one instrument to perform its function, would be the fact that such powerful artifacts where the city is looking for people that are capable to use it others would inevitably appear wishing to test their ability to control it. What if an ambassador from the City of Brass was capable of using the Wind Instrument for example, to try and stabilize the portal, only to use it to help launch an attack afterwards? Or a faction that opposes or despises the elemental planes for whatever reason? If the party are allowed to take both instruments with them, perhaps these individuals would chase them through the planes, demanding the chance to see if they can synchronize with the instrument?
Very interesting campaign plot line. I love the possibilities that it could have, and the adventures that the unity of your party can bring.
Having them go search for their lost childhood companion through the various planes of the afterlife would be a very interesting way to have both musical instruments find those that can synchronize with them.
Another possibility, especially if after synchronizing with their weapon the Bard and party hesitate in using one instrument to perform its function, would be the fact that such powerful artifacts where the city is looking for people that are capable to use it others would inevitably appear wishing to test their ability to control it. What if an ambassador from the City of Brass was capable of using the Wind Instrument for example, to try and stabilize the portal, only to use it to help launch an attack afterwards? Or a faction that opposes or despises the elemental planes for whatever reason? If the party are allowed to take both instruments with them, perhaps these individuals would chase them through the planes, demanding the chance to see if they can synchronize with the instrument?
Very interesting campaign plot line. I love the possibilities that it could have, and the adventures that the unity of your party can bring.
You give me an idea where the bard's friend might be convinced by a Demon or Devil in disguise to use the instrument for nefarious deeds....I'm going to have to play with this. I really do like the idea of an Excalibur type gathering to see who can use the instruments as well.
So, I have a story arc that I've started to write for a player in my group. They'll be introduced to it in the next 2-3 sessions and I am looking to flesh it out a bit more, and I've hit writer's block.
Loromir spoiler:
This is going to be a journey for the group, but it'll be the Bard's arc.
The world of Loromir is young, only 920 years old after the gods have finished their war with the titans. Some of the remnants of that war are lingering in the form of artifacts, geological sites, and strange phenomena. In this case the bard is going to be given the chance to facilitate with a problem that has been plaguing the Dwarven capital that they are going to visit. There is a tear in the planar veil to the Plane of Earth, the Dwarves, Elves, and Human have worked together to produce 2 musical instruments, one is a wind instrument, the other a stringed instrument. They have imbued them with great power, after much trial and error, and have found that they resonate with the portals. However only someone who is able to attune with one of the instruments can fully utilize their power, this bard will be given a chance (and succeed) at such an attunement.
The stringed instrument will have the ability to close the tears and make the veil stronger, repairing the damages. This will make it so that the only way to travel from plane to plane will be via actual portals or spells. I'm considering some of the denizens of the Earth and Fire planes will try to stop them.
The wind instrument will have the ability to stabilize the tears, making them natural corridors between the planes. It will also start causing the planes to merge, making the elements react stronger magically. (Think Legend of Kora).
I'm wondering if there's any interesting ideas you all might toss in here, I'm looking for inspiration.
Thank you in advance!
Things sound really awesome for the bard. Is this a side quest, or something more central? If the other PCs have cool things already going on, this might not be too big of an issue, but maybe there need to be some other things to motivate the other PCs to participate.
I've taken to giving each of my (6) players a story arc that touches on who/what they are.
This is the Bards story, and I do have elements of the other players' stories that will cross over here and there. This is also something that is affecting the whole world, so it's a major story as well.
As to getting the other players involved, that is not an issue, I am very, very fortunate to have a cohesive group that plays well together.
Awesome!
In that case, my question is who would want the bard to fail? Is there an already existing rival/enemy, or would undertaking this quest earn him/her one? Are there any specific personalities or entities that might come from the Earth or Fire planes to stop this? Is there another source of conflict that's going to make the bard "earn" this awesome accomplishment/status? Or will the bard stumble upon this position as "master of the portal instruments, and is then hounded by denizens of all affected realms to open or close certain portals on demand, or to prevent the passage of enemies? It would be pretty funny to receive constant supplications and threats as "The Gatekeeper"...
That's something I've been struggling with; I want the bard to have a choice, a moral dilemma. Closing the tear will have consequences such as making the elements more difficult to touch (druids and shamans being more and more special), and create a few upset creatures (city of brass trying to expand its influence). Opening the tear having its own problems, more volatile reactions in the area, causing stranger phenomena. Denizens starting to pour out, and having to figure out how to create harmony. Those are a few thoughts I had.
The bard earning the ability to use the instruments will be a birth right event. She believes she's an orphan, she's currently searching for a lost childhood friend/crush, and will soon find out that he was to be her husband as both were thought to have the ability to attune to the instruments. As this is revealed she'll be told the story of her birth right and the situation at hand.
That sounds cool! So it really centers on the decision of which instrument will she attune with? It sounds like they've been looking for/expecting her, or someone who feels fatefully drawn to them. What consequence is there that her childhood friend is dead? Should they then search the underworld/afterlife to bring him back? That seems a more interesting story to me, personally. Sure, she's born for one of these instruments, but she's only half of the solution, and problems will arise until the other half can be resolved. Finding him creates a nice resolution for the bard's personal story and ties strongly to the concepts of harmony. (Cue "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News).
A form of balance also draws on the Korra references you've already made. It's just good storytelling. :)
P.S. Your subclass looks like just the kind of niche I've felt needed to be filled in the Bard options!
Having them go search for their lost childhood companion through the various planes of the afterlife would be a very interesting way to have both musical instruments find those that can synchronize with them.
Another possibility, especially if after synchronizing with their weapon the Bard and party hesitate in using one instrument to perform its function, would be the fact that such powerful artifacts where the city is looking for people that are capable to use it others would inevitably appear wishing to test their ability to control it. What if an ambassador from the City of Brass was capable of using the Wind Instrument for example, to try and stabilize the portal, only to use it to help launch an attack afterwards? Or a faction that opposes or despises the elemental planes for whatever reason? If the party are allowed to take both instruments with them, perhaps these individuals would chase them through the planes, demanding the chance to see if they can synchronize with the instrument?
Very interesting campaign plot line. I love the possibilities that it could have, and the adventures that the unity of your party can bring.