Journey Into the North Discussion Thread (Old 4T thread)

Looks fine, Miss.

'Kay, thanks.

Hi guys, Hunter and I were chatting and this we had some ideas. This is an idea we had for Valin.

The idea is that Valin and the King of the Humans made a deal. In return for protecting the pioneers (and allowing them to stay in the new lands), Valin would be given military aid to assist him reclaiming the throne. This military aid could be in resources (horses, rations, etc) or in manpower. It would be at Valin's command.

This deal would include the army and all under the realms employ. Meaning the entire original group and any who sign deals with the realm.

This deal would explain many things: Valin's equality with the human King at the very beginning and it would also give him a solid reason to be on the quest in the first place.

Right now, there are several human battalions heading North. Only a company is known about, the others that are coming in by posing as "Pioneers." This way, if an army is needed, Valin can have one at a very short time.

Valin probably wouldn't use the army against the elves, since it wouldn't be politically good. There are a few possibilities on what can happen.

The first is that the corrupt elves want to take Valin out in secret, so the corrupt elves send the priests and their conspiritors to kill Valin, who in unleashes the army on them.

The second is that the corrupt elves send out their allies and the elf army to kill them. This would be more powerful and Valin might be less willing to use the army.

In the first case, the heroes and the Army would be able to destroy the enemies.

In the second, it is a bit more complicated. The priests would conjure up demons, alerting the good elves that they're on the wrong side, so they either leave, or break ranks to join the other side.

At which point the major battle can happen.

Valin would then engage the current steward in a Trial of Possession, similar to Cyrus's with the priest, minus the interference.

That would make it to the end of this storybook.

Another exchange we had was about the priesthood. They're using the elves in an attempt to gain power.

The priest have made a deal with them, saying "if you ally with us, we'll make your warriors master mages."

This would allow for elven domination. In my minds eye, a full battalion of priests managed to fight a pitched battle with an army ten times it's size at the end of Four Treasures. It would have won, had it not been for the characters present at that battle.

So, these priests are pretty darn powerful and the elven leadership want some of this power.

This is just from the discussion Hunter and I had. It isn't set in stone by any stretch of the imagination. What do you guys think?

I really think Grif and I have something awesome going in the way of the central plot. If you guys need more info, that's cool, if you just want to trust us, also cool--give us feedback yo!

What is this preist giving power to the Elven leadership thing? And whats the corrupt elves v "good" elves? I am so confused.

Truly, I agree with Sab--wtf?!

And I edited my post

I'm a bit ... meh about it all. I didn't really join this storybook for it to be about an Elvish battle. So ... yeah.

It puts too much focus on one character. I thought this was all about teamwork -- it's hardly a team effort is it? What does anybody else gain from it? Why are we doing it? Sort out motives, and maybe you'll endear me to it a little better.

I'm really not sure about it. I prefer original idea *shrugs i 'll do it tohugh if everyone else wants too.

Something extra to say.

I remember the good thing about the Four Treasures Plot was that each character was linked. They all had something important taken from them, and thus were forced together.

At the moment, there is little to nothing holding our group together. If Valin decides to fight some Elves, Henry will go off on his own. He's not a warrior and doesn't want to be killed unneccesarily. Same would probably go for a few others in the party.

What we need is something to push us together, something that will make us a group properly and then we can all go for something as a team. The Valin plot leaves little for the rest of the party (we just become "bodyguards" for his majesty) and we need more development for everyone else.

Knew you'd say that!

There's actually a reason, a motivator, for each character in the plot here.

Finn--no place to go; Sedgeley destroyed by these mysterious Priests.

Henry--I have a very specific idea in mind that I thought you mentioned, Jack, but it may have ben a figment of my imagination. Plus...the bastards destroyed Sedgeley.

Cermenia--finds out her father is among the elven conspirators who killed Valin's parents. (this is assuming she would want to make things right)

Valin--duh.

Cyrus--presence of Duregar indicates a great evil; evil dwarves that worship demons is no laughing matter. Furthermore, e understands the tentative balance between good and evil dragons in the realm, and we just can't have random people killing dragons on their morning flight. Right?

Tan'Quin--I really don't know. Trident has been MIA for a while, and the only thing I could think of is that he knows the forests, would be an excellent guide, and would want to make sure nature it preserved here, not corrupted with the presence of imps.

Sirloaz--Perhaps one of the elder priests in the priestood was the one who cursed Sirloaz in the first place (gotta run the full idea by DQ fist)

Alden--renowned hero in the realm, great sense of justice. Ulterior motives unknown.

Ursa--better think of something quick, Snoinky.

Seraph--would follow Valin to the Nine Hells and back. Plus...nobody likes a rogue priesthood roaming around, trying to make things all destroyed and stuff.

Adrian--Vows the destruction of those who destroyed Sedgeley. As a Paladin, it's as simple as that.

That's everyone, I figure.

So as to your questions/concerns:

I didn't really join this storybook for it to be about an Elvish battle.

I have an idea for this that slightly conflicts with Grif's--with the conflicting views we have here right now, I might be able to suggest something to make it make more sense.

What is this preist giving power to the Elven leadership thing? And whats the corrupt elves v "good" elves? I am so confused.

Elves are perhaps the most secretive race in the realm. They don't trust other races in their Citadels, and have incredibly good defenses. If the priesthood managed to trick the elves into believing they could benefit from a relationship with the priesthood, the elven monarchy (a false, evil one) would jump at the Op, no? Good elves = those tricked into helping the priesthood. Corrupt elves = those working WITH the priesthood, including Valin's "brother" and Cermenia's father. Savvy?

Personally, I really think this could work. I needs some fleshing out, to be sure, but I really think it works as our central plot and direction for the storybook.

A NOTE: The priesthood we have here is the one present in Four Treasures, that the party thought they go rid of. Now they're back for vengeance and all that jazz.

Grif, we gotta talk more man.

You've convinced me some. The bastards did destroy Sedgeley, and there's the whole back story about Henry not being able to save his family when his own village was destroyed (He had left his sick mother's side to go and play in the woods, and feels like if he had been there, he might have changed it). When he realises he wasn't there again to save these people, no matter if Sedgeley isn't connected, he might go a little crazy.

Works for me, if I can swing it a bit.

What's your idea for the battle/instead of the battle?

Oh...I get it now...Carmenia's father is that dude that Valin was talking to...gotcha...

Er...at the request of Jacko and Fandilocks...posting my central plot idea.

In the ending for the Four Treasures that we've established, the weave of arcane magic (the Weave) was destroyed in an epic battle between two very badass mages. Therefore creating rift in arcane magic that made it nearly impossible to use arcane magic reliably. In that same fight, most of an evil Priesthood of Bane was destroyed.

But the Priesthood is back. For two reasons. 1) to recreate the Weave, only in their image. 2) to exact revenge on those who killed their leader (Valin and Seraph are the only ones left alive of the original group). Through the remnants of their spy network, they have heard that the Elven throne has been taken over by a group of traitorous elves, he kind assassinated. So they strike a bargain with the corrupt elves (heareafter called the Council); the elves will grant them sanctuary, the Priesthood will grant them power beyond reason when they reestablish the Weave. The Council is headed by Cermenia's father, and in the Council is an elf posing as Valin's brother, who has just been killed. The Priesthood hopes to restore the Weave using an ancient Tome of Arcana, as well as the first Wizard's Blade, which they attained from a small town where it was being defended. The Tomes of Arcana are located just East of Sedgeley, in a graveyard that commemorates a battle long over. I'm thinking one of the elves that we now have prisoner could tell us that.

So now the Priesthood and the Council have the elves in their pocket. Through Propaganda, Misdirection, and Isolation, they have the elven public convinced that the humans destroyed the Weave on purpose, and that the humans are preparing a huge offensive against the elven citadel.

So, ah...yeah. That's the basic plot I had in mind. We have to go retrieve the Tomes of Arcana, and stop the Priesthood from corrupting the Weave.

I have an ending plotted out...but that can totally wait.

Grif's idea with the army would work, but I personally think the human army should just be used to distract the main force of the elven army out of the elven city, so we can get in there.

What do you think, in general?

*thumbs up!*

Where does this leave us with the pioneers and everything, though?

Officially, the group is supposed to provide security for the pioneers.

Unofficially though, the hidden army is providing security, and the group is retasked to help Valin reclaim the throne.

The reason their using the group is because the group is composed of mercenary types. Only Alden belongs to a regular unit (the Sky Rangers) but everyone else is unaffiliated with regular units.

So, if something goes wrong, the realm can deny any knowledge of their mission.