overbox | Good vs Evil

I'm going to basically just copy/paste Avshar's setting, and then update this post as people offer suggestions.

In a distant land, two kingdoms warred: Videssos and Makuran. They were very different lands, but both honorable and civilized nations. About a generation ago, however, Makuran was invaded and conquered by the barbarian nomad hordes known as Yezd. Makuran now struggles under their new overlords, who have their sights set on Videssos. The most feared general of Yezd is the Wizard-Prince Avshar, who has led Yezd's armies in victory after victory, first against Makuran, and now against Videssos in stinging raids.

The last few months have been quiet, however. Avshar has not been seen along the borders. Rather, he has been seen in Videssos's capital itself, acting as an emissary for prisoner exchanges, arguments over who owns towns on the border, and other such business. He has so far minded his manners enough that he has not forfeited diplomatic immunity, but the Videssian officers and troops are just waiting for an excuse, especially since Avshar saw fit to bring his retinue of "aids", as unsavory a lot as ever there were who are causing no end of complaints amongst the citizens.

With open war on the horizon and an ambassador who's very presence is an open insult, tensions are at the breaking point. The only question is who will snap first.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Open questions:
Are we straight up going to use Videssos and Yezd for this adventure, or do we want to make up a new place?
There was talk of the initial event that Avshar is at when shit goes down being at least partly a celebration of someone's great victory on the field of battle, probably against Avshar's forces. Do we want to do that? If we do, who should it be?
What's the opening actually going to look like?
Are we making a comm for this a la EJ?

Ichirin's Deal:
Ordinary human, probably peasantry. Parents died, was taken in by and raised by a monastery dedicated to some kind of nebulous Fantasy Buddhism. During her time at the monastery, she came across a fierce but wise air elemental. They were initially at odds, but Ichirin somehow cleverly outwitted the cloud monster, which took a liking to her and made himself her guardian.

Unzan, aforementioned air elemental, protected her from harm and taught her martial arts, but at some point Discord (?) showed up to destroy the monastery. Thanks to Unzan's protection, Ichirin was the only survivor. Now twice an orphan, she hit the open road with only a magical cloud for companionship, eventually meeting up with and travelling together with some other people who are no doubt other PCs.

Will add more here as I come to it. Will probably also adjust icons a bit.

- I was just gonna use the names of Videssos and Yezd at least, but figured that by the time all the other players had had their say, our kingdoms are gonna look pretty different from the canonical versions. And that's fine.
- My mental image was that the first event will be more or less as you described: a fancy party where everyone can do some initial mingling. After that, a log in which one of Avshar's goons tries to assassinate someone, but fails. Avshar is forced to flee the city, open war is declared, and the stage is set for various other people to do stuff. Maybe the middle section is the PCs chasing after Avshar as he heads back to Yezd and having encounters on the road with Avshar's lieutenants. Leading into some adventures in Yezd itself, then Avshar's counter attack, where he charges a big army through Videssos, ending in a bigass battle right outside of the capital itself.

I'm open to alternate suggestions for an overall plot structure though.
- Yeah we should probably make a comm

Getting Ichirin to join the quest smoothly requires one of two things: Immediate establishment of Avshar as so evil that he's worth chasing down and cloudpunching in the face, or establishment that Discord is one of his minions.

If neither of those happen, I can still wing it, but this would be ideal!