Next Steps
Added 2024-05-20 18:55:45 +0000 UTCNext chapter coming out later today, but I thought I’d bring out this week’s poll a little early. It’s a big one.
There are quite a few potential directions for the party to go in once they’ve left the island. Curtis will definitely leave Bonewrack eventually, even if only to bring Owlbear home. What will his mission log start demanding when he does?
Random Encounters: various opportunities for profit or fame will present themselves to Emrys; generally one for each time he attempts to travel from one location to another. Each will be a limited time mission, and frequently a real danger to him and his crew, but will serve to line his pockets and accelerate his growth if he can handle them. Things will still happen on the high seas without this, but Curtis is more likely to avoid entanglements if there’s no obvious profit in it.
Tidewater Rock: Take an island keep and defend it! Tidewater rock is an old keep that has become substantially less valuable ever since Sargava became a trading partner to the Shackles, invalidating its tactical position. However, it’s still believed to be a good luck charm for whoever owns it.
The Living God: Come into conflict with the Cult of Razmir, the living god! He’s attempting to create a foothold in the Shackles through proxy members of his cult. Note: Razmir isn’t actually a god, though he is quite powerful. Don’t avoid this one just because Emrys isn’t ready to throw down with actual gods.
Tower of the Last Baron: The Shackles have exactly one real trading partner: Sargava. A Baron in that country is flirting with Cheliax, and may give that dread empire a foothold to the south of the Shackles. After that, we may discover some of what Chelish agents are up to in the region.
Plunder and Peril: An adventure on the high seas, eventually leading to a treasure hunt for the the lost treasure of the legendary pirate Jemma Redclaw. Probably the option closest to The Wormwood Mutiny.
Down the Blighted Path: A powerful necromancer seeks to destroy Heslandaena, the Drow settlement that Emrys hails from. This adventure includes fey, undead, drow, and adventures deep underground.
Comments
Curtis has a short to-do list to take care of before he’s going to voluntarily do any more plot. Arranging for a ship that isn’t registered stolen property of a level 20 druid, getting Owlbear (and possibly others) home, and looking into prosthetic options for Rosie are the first three that spring to mind. He also intends to harvest any value he can from this island and the shipwrecks around it, according to a prior poll.
Jerky
2024-05-22 21:43:17 +0000 UTCLmao. Storm Lord isn't THAT far off from Hurricane King, if I'm keeping it a buck. I remembered the general theme at least, XD I'm not in a HUGE rush to get slammed straight into the next story beat right away either. One of the biggest advantages something like this has over playing the campaign properly is that you can control the pace a lot more, and not have to worry about the pacing being QUITE as strict. Can't linger forever either, but there's not so much pressure to go be part of the main story quest and stay hot on that trail. You can take it easy a LITTLE and focus on crafting and backstory, and vibing out in a fantasy adventure story
Silkyspectre
2024-05-22 20:34:46 +0000 UTCThis first arc has been more about acclimating to the world in broad strokes. Curtis doesn’t really have a strong attachment to the Shackles yet, it’s just where he happens to be. He will definitely end up involved in Shackles Politics and probably become a pirate lord himself. Becoming Hurricane king is far less certain, depending on how his interactions with other big names go. Both existing Lords and other people that might end up as rivals, enemies, allies, lovers, or some combination of the four. Of course, Emrys is going to need to face his past at some point. The DM has the edgy backstory document right here, and he is definitely going to use it.
Jerky
2024-05-22 16:31:11 +0000 UTCI'm indifferent on Random Encounters MOSTLY because it's pretty vague. There's not enough to really latch onto to get hype about except 'number go up, lol'. My personal dream for this story is to see him get serious about pursuing the eventual end goal of being one of those big-cheese pirate lord dudes (Storm Lords? Idk) and take an active hand in charting the course of The Shackles forward into the annals of time. That's already a MASSIVE undertaking... but you probably don't get there without getting involved in some things along the way, and looking for any opportunity to turn a situation to your advantage. They all look pretty interesting otherwise, and things that would put Emrys and his crew on the radar of the major players in the area. Dealing with another nation (even a kinda shitty one like Sargava, and indirectly opposing Cheliax, the Keep is a great tactical chokepoint if that relation ever sours... or just to cash in on economic trade flowing through those waters between the Shackles and Sargava (on top of having symbolic and historical significance for people from the area) Hunting for a treasure from a previous legendary pirate captain is just a really cool plot thread to follow, and if you can find it when nobody before you could... them's some deece bragging rights (though you probably now have to defend your prize from thieving magpies and murderous cutthroats alike!) The bit with Razmir... I'm a little less sold on this one, but it could still be interesting. Would definitely be cool to rub shoulders with the other Storm Lords who are also taking an interest in Razmir trying to infiltrate the Shackles. The Drow stuff is just cool. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know... but the Underdark is a really cool part of the world, and the Drow in Pathfinder especially have some interesting extra wrinkles people might not be expecting! Combine that with having a fair few drow waifus and a bunch of backstory stuff with Emrys (like, actual Emrys, not Curtis-as-Emrys) could make this a REALLY impactful, dramatic chunk of the story
Silkyspectre
2024-05-22 16:12:05 +0000 UTC
