Questions about Strathon

[Laurent MEKKA]

Hello all, I'm a Khoras fan since years, I'm trying to plan a Khoras module for NeverWinter Nights 2 (I'll make another topic later about it) so after a few mails with David I decided to post some questions here.


On the Strathon pages, it is said that :
1. The High Guard is being disbanded. This is only the tip of a much larger issue... a major conflict has arisen between the King and the Church. The King is disbanding the High Guard as the first step in a major political shift of power.
2. Production of the arms and armor used by the High Guard is being moved from Stirling to Bronzedale.

Do we know more ? Why is there a conflict between the Church and the King even if "King Hosric is a staunch supporter of both the church and the High Guard. As a prince, he was a member of that elite group and the King recalls fondly his days as a knight." ?
Are both facts related ? (the conflict with the church and the move of the production of arms and armors).

Could this be related to the "Silver Hammer" adventure idea (the hammer is stolen and the city is closed by the guards until it is recovered) ?

I'd like to hear David about it and what the others thinks !

Thanks in advance !

[avisarr]

Those are just rumors. They are not necessarily true. Whether there's any validity to them is entirely up the game master.

My original idea was to have a few rumors listed for every major city and those rumors would be always changing. Some of them might even conflict from time to time. All of them would be a good place for plot hooks and lead-ins to adventures and quests. But it's up to the GM to figure out how to use them.

[Laurent MEKKA]

Here's my take on it, sorry for my bad grammar or spelling as english is not my native language !!

Mire bandits never attacked cities. Until now. They just attacked Stirling, the main smithing and metal working center of Arkalia mostly to steal weapons and armors. It seems they were pushed to do so because of a need of heavy armors and weapons for an unknown reason for now (usually bandits don't wear heavy armors...).

Grand Bishop Jon Tenral from Strathon is outraged by such an attack and blame Krokus, the god of war worshiped by the bandits (mostly Saurians).
He send a little army of High guards and King's guards to punish the bandits in the name of Barrinor, but, not well used to fight in the swamps and surprised by more ennemies than they thought, they got all killed (including Warren de Hadron, a high guard whose death will make his younger brother Hugh lose faith in Barrinor).

King Ivan Hosric III is furious that Tenral sent his men without having requested him and fears another attack from the bandits as a revenge. He thinks they should have better planned what to do together instead of running in the dangerous territory of the bandits. Tenral makes allusions about the weakness of the King and uses his faith in Barrinor as an excuse for his acts.

Just after that, Stirling is attacked again.

The King is furious and decides to move the production of weapons and armor from Stirling to Bronzedale. He orders all the smiths to move on with their supplies so attacking the city would be useless for the bandits until the King got a plan to retalliate.
Tenral is furious and considers the King is a coward. He starts a campaign in Strathon to make known what he thinks about the King and try to convert all the commoners to it's cause.

Tenral was like a brother to the King and both respected each other a lot. Anyone else than Tenral would have been killed for his acts and talks.
The King's anger goes to nearly dismantle the High Guard Guild so Tenral won't have any support and disallow him to have an army to send. He don't do it as he know most High guard will be loyal, but he's underestimating Tenral.

Tenral manages to convice half the High guard that the King is showing weakness and disrespect to Arkalian traditions of Justice and Knightly values and run away with them as renegades trying to get more followers in order to fight Mire Bandits, kill V'shang (chief of the Mire bandits) and come back to Strathon to reclaim the throne to a dishonored King.

As a mark of his power and faith, Tenral leaves with the Hammer of Barrinor.
Hosric III notice quickly what happens and decides to close the doors of the city until the hammer and Tenral are found.

The PC(s) just arrived in town before the gates were closed, and without knowing anything about this story, he's approached by a renegade High Guard trying to make   him/them allies.

[avisarr]

I love it. That sounds like a really good start to an adventure-filled campaign. I like the idea of a nation at the brink of a civil war. Combine that with the threat of a major bandit group and a missing artifact and you've got a great foundation for a good storyline.

[Laurent MEKKA]

Thanks David !
Btw have you noticed it ? 

(including Warren de Hadron, a high guard whose death will make his younger brother Hugh lose faith in Barrinor)

It should remember you something !!