Afridhi Arc Outcomes?

[Havard]

The Afridhi are a conquering people attacking Blackmoor with vast armies from the West. The typical Blackmoor campaign will have the Afridhi defeated when the PCs complete DA4 or some similar scenario. This usually marks the end of the Afridhi story arc.

Could this adventure arc be handled differently? Could you envision other outcomes which would keep the Afridhi in the game longer, preferably without the destruction of Blackmoor?

-Havard

[aldarron]

They could win..... Wouldn't that be an interesting twist.

or...

Something struck me in reading through the OD&D TotF the other day. The line was "This is the island of the frog people, who have been bred by the new rulers of the Temple of the Frog to supply a more powerful force with which to subdue the world." (p45)

I immediately thought of Saruman and his breeding of thousands of Uruk-hai.

Seems likely Stephen would have found some way to step up his breeding program in the face of an Afridhi threat, and maybe found a way to arm them with laser rifles and such. I'm thinking the Afridhi might be in for a big surprise.

One also wonders if the Egg would sit idly by while someone else marches over Blackmoor.

[Havard]

They could win..... Wouldn't that be an interesting twist.

It could be interesting. Especially if the PCs are able to escape and can plan some sort of counter attack...

or...

Something struck me in reading through the OD&D TotF the other day. The line was "This is the island of the frog people, who have been bred by the new rulers of the Temple of the Frog to supply a more powerful force with which to subdue the world." (p45)

I immediately thought of Saruman and his breeding of thousands of Uruk-hai.

Seems likely Stephen would have found some way to step up his breeding program in the face of an Afridhi threat, and maybe found a way to arm them with laser rifles and such. I'm thinking the Afridhi might be in for a big surprise.

Interesting. I assumed the passage meant that the creation of the Froglin by St. Stephen was the army. But the idea of different kinds of Frog folk does make sense. Does he have any reason to go against the Afridhi though?

One also wonders if the Egg would sit idly by while someone else marches over Blackmoor.

David Ross (Blackmoor Gazetteer) speculates that Marfeldt is secretly working to manipulate the Afridhi into attacking the Egg rather than going against Blackmoor. Whether the Egg would interfer in an attack against Blackmoor might depend on what the Egg really wants. Is Castle Blackmoor what the Egg desires, or is it more interested in the Valley of the Ancients?

-Havard

[aldarron]

Interesting. I assumed the passage meant that the creation of the Froglin by St. Stephen was the army. But the idea of different kinds of Frog folk does make sense. Does he have any reason to go against the Afridhi though?

Yeah I think its the froglin (frog men), but the point being driven home is Stephens intention to subdue the planet. Elswhere it mentions him needing to become so powerful that his superiors won't be able to recall him, when they discover what he's been up to.

The Afridhi would certainly attack him and try to eliminate his cult the moment they became aware of it, so they are a threat to Stephen, plus they would need to be conquered anyway in order for him to dominate the world. (like a classic Bond movie villan). So it would make sense for him to initiate a surprise attack, possibly just after a Afridhi/Blackmoorian battle or even during one.

One also wonders if the Egg would sit idly by while someone else marches over Blackmoor.

David Ross (Blackmoor Gazetteer) speculates that Marfeldt is secretly working to manipulate the Afridhi into attacking the Egg rather than going against Blackmoor. Whether the Egg would interfer in an attack against Blackmoor might depend on what the Egg really wants. Is Castle Blackmoor what the Egg desires, or is it more interested in the Valley of the Ancients?

-Havard [/quote]

Hmm, interesting question. I'd think Coots forces could have gotten to the VoA through the DoT if that's thier true objective, but I dunno.

[Rafael]

One of the pre-ZGG-implosion plans for a sequel to the Grim Winter was to have the Company of the Maiden explore the lands
to the west of Blackmoor, where I set a bigger Afridhi empire.

This obviously assumes the defeat of the Afridhi, and the death of Toska Russa.

I have very rough notes on the nature of that campaign only, but basically, this was the setup:

(That's really confidential info from my writing table, so appreciate it, suckers! :wink: )



Premise

One year after the events of The Grim Winter, the anniversary of the war's end.
Audi is knighted by ruling king Mordred, and made ambassador of Blackmoor in the semi-abandoned Afridhi territory,
in order to recruit soldiers for the weakened kingdom.
The Company of the Maiden accompanies him on his journey.


Episode I

Off the map!
The players accompany Audi to Starmorgan, to interrogate Afridhi prisoners.
Then, to Mondburgh, to have the oracle Dawn find Zugzul's whereabouts.
At the end of the episode, the group is captured by the Westryn.


Episode II
The group's escape from the Eaves; the group discovers that Itrian is still alive, and his story. (Still spoilerific for PL, so, hush.)
Then, a first encounter with an Afridhi town off the map - a slave colony. The group frees the slaves.


Episode III

The group, leading a rebellion in the Afridhi Empire.
A journey FAR to the west, until they find the dying god, Zugzul. (Dying, because his magic powers depend on worship and sacrifice.)
Encounter with Zugzul, result completely open.


Episode IV

The group learns from a Thonian threat on the near-defenseless Blackmoor.
Mobilization of the Afridhi in Blackmoor's aid.
The party learns about Uther being hidden in Glendon Castle, and frees him. (Very similar to PL Episode I.)


Episode V

The Valiant Legion intercepts Thonian forces in the Valley of the Ancients, epic final battle.
Ran tries to raise the City of Gods, the Company of the Maiden meets him in an epic finale in Skelfer's Lair.


Epilogue

Blackmoor (ideally) gains control of the City of Gods, and with that, begins a new era as a military superpower...



As I said, this was just an idea; I really hadn't figured out any details.

For the Afridhi empire and it's descriptions, I would likely have drawn mainly on the MERP supplements on the Haradrim.
Like most of The Grim Winter, my main inspiration was The First King of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara, though.

(Not that those thought processes would be understandable for anyone else who reads the books,
given that none of the BM standard motifs ever appear there.)