After some major re-working after a campaign that I think was too railroad, I think I've finally got the basic plot down for my first homebrew. Fenorth, a homebrew Kingdom based on my home state of Minnesota, is being invaded by the Archdevil Baalzebul, and his legion of devils and servants. Your probably wondering "How did this happen? I thought Devils are soul dealers, not conquerors." Well, here's how it happened, and where the title of this comes into play.
It all started 25 years ago, when Fenorth rose up in rebellion and drove the Empire of Enroth out, after decades of occupation after being conquered. Although the Kingdom's independence had been restored... it came at price. Emperor Roland of Enroth, reluctantly agreed to acknowledge Fenorthian independence... under one condition. His spoiled, violent, and bad tempered young daughter, Princess Catherine, would wed King Archbibald of Fenorth's shy, bookish, and timid son, Prince Nicolai, when the two came of age. Despite protests and calls for the term to be rejected, King Archibald reluctantly accepted the terms. And the Prince and Princess were married almost immediately after they came of age.
As you would expect, the marriage was very unhappy and unhealthy. Catherine ridiculed her husband's timid nature, and was even abusive. The two argued constantly about EVERYTHING, and the Princess detested Fenorth. Needless to say, she was not popular at all. Despite their mutual resentment, they did successfully produce an heir, a daughter, Princess Isabelle, who at the start of the campaign, is celebrating her 17th birthday... and is now eligible for marriage. (medieval politics)
But two months prior to the young Princesses birthday, her parents were involved in a scandal that shook the Kingdom. Catherine, found out her husband had been cheating on her with the widow of a noblemen. Enraged, she hired an assassin to kill her husband. But a spy, loyal to the Crown Prince, was able to warn Nicolai. Now having had enough of his wife, Nicolai revealed the truth of her treatment, and tried to have the church annul the marriage. But the head of the Church, was loyal to the King, and told Archibald about everything.
The King was furious at his son and daughter-in law. He had them disinherited, imprisoned them in the castle dungeons, and named his granddaughter the new heir. But Nicolai was not done yet. Driven off the deep end by his wretched life, and now furious at his wife for ruining his life, and seeing his daughter as a reminder of this, Nicolai made a pact with the Archdevil Baalzebul while in the dungeons. If Baalzebul would help Nicolai regain his position as Crown Prince, and help him get revenge on Catherine and Isabelle, he would give their souls to the Archdevil. Baalzebul accepted the disgraced Prince's offer, and under Baalzebul's forked tongue, King Archibald changed his mind, and pardoned his son, and reinstated him as Crown Prince.
But like most people who make deals with the 9 hells, Nicolai failed to read the fine print and the various loopholes and clauses in it. As such, Baalzebul acted before Nicolai was ready, and invaded before Nicolai was ready. Bugbears began attacking villages, the dead rose from their graves, and Devil portals opened, allowing armies of Devils to enter the Kingdom. Naturally, King Archibald called the bannermen, and war began. Hoping to regain some footing and cover his tracks, Nicolai tried to paint an image that Catherine, still in prison had made the deal. But when the guards arrived the disgraced Princesses cell, she had escaped. To make matters worse, Princess Isabelle has also seemingly vanished without a trace. So, Nicolai has hired the players to fight the war he started, and find his hated family... under the guise of wanting to rescue them. But in truth, he's playing both sides.
Do you think it's better to keep this secret hidden for a while? Or should Nicolai turn on the players early on?
Just FYI, the campaign opens at Isabelle's birthday birthday, and the PC's are guests. After some bander, a messenger runs in and reveals that Baalzebul's armies and servants have invaded, and the army must be mobilized. This is where Nicolai learns that his "partner" has moved up the time table and he must alter the plan.
After some major re-working after a campaign that I think was too railroad, I think I've finally got the basic plot down for my first homebrew. Fenorth, a homebrew Kingdom based on my home state of Minnesota, is being invaded by the Archdevil Baalzebul, and his legion of devils and servants. Your probably wondering "How did this happen? I thought Devils are soul dealers, not conquerors." Well, here's how it happened, and where the title of this comes into play.
It all started 25 years ago, when Fenorth rose up in rebellion and drove the Empire of Enroth out, after decades of occupation after being conquered. Although the Kingdom's independence had been restored... it came at price. Emperor Roland of Enroth, reluctantly agreed to acknowledge Fenorthian independence... under one condition. His spoiled, violent, and bad tempered young daughter, Princess Catherine, would wed King Archbibald of Fenorth's shy, bookish, and timid son, Prince Nicolai, when the two came of age. Despite protests and calls for the term to be rejected, King Archibald reluctantly accepted the terms. And the Prince and Princess were married almost immediately after they came of age.
As you would expect, the marriage was very unhappy and unhealthy. Catherine ridiculed her husband's timid nature, and was even abusive. The two argued constantly about EVERYTHING, and the Princess detested Fenorth. Needless to say, she was not popular at all. Despite their mutual resentment, they did successfully produce an heir, a daughter, Princess Isabelle, who at the start of the campaign, is celebrating her 17th birthday... and is now eligible for marriage. (medieval politics)
But two months prior to the young Princesses birthday, her parents were involved in a scandal that shook the Kingdom. Catherine, found out her husband had been cheating on her with the widow of a noblemen. Enraged, she hired an assassin to kill her husband. But a spy, loyal to the Crown Prince, was able to warn Nicolai. Now having had enough of his wife, Nicolai revealed the truth of her treatment, and tried to have the church annul the marriage. But the head of the Church, was loyal to the King, and told Archibald about everything.
The King was furious at his son and daughter-in law. He had them disinherited, imprisoned them in the castle dungeons, and named his granddaughter the new heir. But Nicolai was not done yet. Driven off the deep end by his wretched life, and now furious at his wife for ruining his life, and seeing his daughter as a reminder of this, Nicolai made a pact with the Archdevil Baalzebul while in the dungeons. If Baalzebul would help Nicolai regain his position as Crown Prince, and help him get revenge on Catherine and Isabelle, he would give their souls to the Archdevil. Baalzebul accepted the disgraced Prince's offer, and under Baalzebul's forked tongue, King Archibald changed his mind, and pardoned his son, and reinstated him as Crown Prince.
But like most people who make deals with the 9 hells, Nicolai failed to read the fine print and the various loopholes and clauses in it. As such, Baalzebul acted before Nicolai was ready, and invaded before Nicolai was ready. Bugbears began attacking villages, the dead rose from their graves, and Devil portals opened, allowing armies of Devils to enter the Kingdom. Naturally, King Archibald called the bannermen, and war began. Hoping to regain some footing and cover his tracks, Nicolai tried to paint an image that Catherine, still in prison had made the deal. But when the guards arrived the disgraced Princesses cell, she had escaped. To make matters worse, Princess Isabelle has also seemingly vanished without a trace. So, Nicolai has hired the players to fight the war he started, and find his hated family... under the guise of wanting to rescue them. But in truth, he's playing both sides.
Do you think it's better to keep this secret hidden for a while? Or should Nicolai turn on the players early on?
Just FYI, the campaign opens at Isabelle's birthday birthday, and the PC's are guests. After some bander, a messenger runs in and reveals that Baalzebul's armies and servants have invaded, and the army must be mobilized. This is where Nicolai learns that his "partner" has moved up the time table and he must alter the plan.