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Upcoming [Campaign Overview] The Great Burning

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
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- THE GREAT BURNING -
A Story of Empire

I'll start with saying this is a player campaign, not a server campaign (thank god), and that is is focused on and around the Kaltstaat/Kaltic Empire and the characters within it. I know how big things can get when you include people stumbling on up into it and making it larger than it is, so I'd like to say that this is limited to people actively part of this faction. Through RP I am sure others can and will be brought in if it makes sense to do so, and there's nothing stopping people from making chars for the various vassals (or the army) and partaking that way. I just can't DM for it getting bigger than what I've tried to write out is all. These people in the campaign will not be reaching out to attack other factions.

I've not actually done a player campaign before despite the DMing I do for server campaigns, but I'll be trying to make it as a 'chapter' based storyline with rumours and so on along the way. I'll also be making possibly two 'event characters' which I'll post later on. A lot of information is missing here in the interests of keeping it spoiler free for all the people partaking. I'll update this thread as it goes.

This campaign plan is intended to try and go for the gritty realism approach of war/battle/fighting etc - It will likely have a lot of combat as its focus but I will be going for atmospheric DMing with those involved and not reliant on temps/too many one on one fights.

- - -
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[ CHAPTER I ]

The Scout
Upon sightings of a man in the woods, a group from Motte Eiche sought to take chase, and bring back the possible Eberland rebel for their Lord Longtree to question. Whilst they departed as a solid group of four for one man, they have not yet returned, and it grows less likely they could survive still in these cold winter nights. A search to see what came of them is planned, a trail up into the northern forests...

With no word of the men sent out in pursuit, Peter Longtree organised a group of men to follow suit and see what became of them. Whilst he himself was unable to go, injured from an assault on the wretched dead in the far south, he granted permission for his squire Jean-Mathieu du Beaumont to lead the rest in his stead. Once ensured they were securely garbed in warm clothing for the journey ahead, the group of five moved out as one. Behind the Beaumont followed Halwyn Longtree, Richard Varyn, Reyne von Drachenhort, and Wilhelm von Conrad, all valued men of the Kaltreich.
Stepping beyond the gates, they moved to follow the rough path previously followed by the men before, hiking through snow drifts that varied from knee to mid thigh in depth. Once within the treeline of the great pines known throughout the North, they were sheltered a slight from the bitter winds moving in from the west, and the snowfall that comes with it did not manage to sting their faces quite so much. The crunching of fresh snow was all that accompanied them, as they watched their side lines and examined the trees for any trace, any sign of direction. For a time they found little, and as the dim lights of torches from Motte Eiche became more distant behind them, they found something at long last. An abandoned fabric pouch, the size of a coin purse, lay beneath great boughs of a pine tree, the evergreen bearing the weight of the snow in such a way that the dirt beneath was exposed enough to reveal a partial footprint. Someone had been here, though for how long was unclear.
Pressing onward, the group continued with renewed hope and a direction to follow, an assurance that they were headed the right way. With Jean in the lead, it was he who first glimpsed the crimson fabric in the distance. Mostly obscured by the snow under yet another great evergreen, they discovered the bodies of two men in tabards that place them as men of the Eiche, their torsos each with several arrows that were clearly the cause of their early demise. The snow brushed away from them, they were seen to be partially devoured, sections of their flesh torn away with the imprints of not the teeth of an animal, a forager, but a human. A disturbing find, and yet a discovery that brought only more questions, they pressed onward in the hopes of finding the other two, to see what had become of them.
They pressed through the snow with an air of caution, an expectation to be targeted by whatever prowled in the forests, the suspense of it made worse by the abrupt falling of a body from the high branches of a pine they walked beneath. Weapons were almost drawn for the fright of it, but it was not necessary after a moment of realisation. The sight of the third man was so grotesque that they would surely not forget it, and found it to be far more obviously the work of a beast known well to those of the North than anything else. The wind billowed, and words seemed to carry along with it, only confirming fears even without any actual sight upon it. Jean sought to press on after this, determined to find the last man of the initial four, and as they moved ever forwards they found themselves out of the treeline and in the exposed expanse before them. Nothing but snow, and the winds had little to buffet against, so strong they could hardly see as far as the man in front for the amount of snow blinding them.
Something moved, then, out there in the expanse as they scoured the lands before them. A white shape in the white snow made it hard to be seen at all, but it was movement and they were on high alert from the discovery just moments before. A large creature, its fur white and antlers great, charged forwards for them and was so quick it injured Halwyn before there was ample time to respond, raking its claws across his torso and spilling a spray of crimson upon the white snow. The men are not far behind however, and act to wound it, injure it enough to repel it before it can take away its desired meal, but not without bloodshed on their side as well. It escaped soon after into the great forests, and they took to not following it, but focusing their search on the fourth and final man of the party...
They had no luck in discovering the final man, and even when Peter returned to them, they found little. Sitting about a small campfire, they found relief as the warmth returned to their bones, their hands finding feeling once again. Here, they planned, and as one of their number came up with ample reasoning, the course was made clear once more. Richard suggested that should they kill the Wendigo, they may yet discover what happened to the fourth, seeing if perhaps he was consumed by the beast, as well as removing a dangerous threat this close to Motte Eiche. They stood, then, and with a pang of regret, doused the fire to continue their path.
Following the blood left behind from the injuries already delivered, they were lead to a large pine amongst many, and discovered it to be hiding within the upper boughs. Injured and hoping to avoid further conflict, it was brought down from its perch and slain, and once all was settled they discovered the location of the fourth man... Was nowhere to be seen.
- Written by Elz

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Pursuit under the Moon
A watchman on the walls observed a ship bearing no colours as it traversed the cold northern waters, between Meermotte and Oren and further North in the dead of night. He keeps watch for a while longer, and notes it returning to a southern direction the very same night. Upon reporting the sighting to his Lord, he swore to keep a keen eye on the waters for the next week, and several days later it made an appearance again doing much the same thing but closer to the coastline. Once could be dismissed, but two sightings prompts preparation to pursue, and see if both its origins and purpose can be discovered...

In the closing days of autumn, Conrad’s isle of Drachenhort set free a collective breath. Meer Motte stood independent of its laborous construction, and the craftspersons lay in great number upon its craggy shores. The sun shone its light favorably about the outcroppings, so much so that not a shadow might be spied among the men as they mind the year’s final, fair-weathered days.
Disallowed these comforts, a heathenous crew set about the sea with intent. The sun above set a wide birth horizontally in its set, an orange dash that bled its presence into the dull pinks and lavenders of the coming night. Summoned to Meer Motte by Wilhelm von Conrad, the Eisenhand Varyn and Warden Dugald joined he and and loyal crew, to ride a rip-tide pace for execution of Imperial command. A vessel to their bow, and the evening wind at their sails, each man felt the sea-faring effort through ragged bones and pulsing muscles. Binding the vessel to its expediated path, Wilhelm von Conrad stalked a prey whose careful path had eluded and teased his shores for weeks.
A foreign craftsman had hammered the masterwork vessel into righteous submission, and the planks cut the wake without effort. Time nor effort had yet fatigued the skeleton crew – each man sworn in oath and service to the Imperial Kaltreich, and lauded amongst its ranks as men of strength and skill. On Wilhelm’s prerogative, the men worked to prepare their cannons for immobilization – and as they neared, the vessel’s sails of green-and-white rose like phantoms to rest upon their mast. In mere moments, the Jachtschip ran alongside a mystery craft. Perched and boastful atop his vessel, Wilhelm remarked in snide and pre-eminent victory t’ward the fateful men who operated opposite, and bellowed above the winds to signal his crew.
A mighty crack resounded, and four cannons belched their steel-loads and plumes of black gunsmoke toward the kept sails. Heavy, enormous chain-shot propelled from the Kaltreicht’s Jachtschip, eviscerating mast and man alike. Wood splinters expanded from the opposing vessel’s wounds, and red mist fell about the surviving crew, like a cruel dew. The standard was set, and lethality commenced. The marauders returned their fire; Wilhelm’s crewmen fled to the deck in prone, and the abrupt shouts of agony resounded over the open sea and touched the northern shores in their desperation. Already, through thin cracks, a crimson tide washed from the decks into the frigid sea below. With combat at hand, gunfire and bowmen exchanged their volleys from deck-to-deck – and all the while, the Eisenhand Varyn and Warden Dugald grappled and bound the vessels via rope.
Another hideous crack, as the vessels bellowed together and sea rose betwixt the boats. The ocean fell over each man in downpour. Compromise to each ships’ integrity saw them pitch atop the waves, and collide angrily. As much as the men fought, the woodwork did too, and before long the Southron marauders felt the wrath of Kaltreich’s most eager men. Cruel as any, and unforgiving as sin, the trio mounted the enemy vessel and made memorable skirmish with its inhabitants. For nigh half-an-hour, the blood ran from each man in amplitudes so ludicrous that the deck had become awash with seafoam and gore. The pirates were joined by rebellious Northmen, who carried with them incredible skill and undying fierceness in the face of Imperial threat.
Not Lothaire, nor Richard, nor Wilhelm might owe their lives to themselves. At each opportunity, the men bobbed against their foe and swelled alike the tide to engage among each other. Kars, a gigantic foe of Anhalder descent, levied barbarian ferocity against Lothaire. Beaten and bloodied, yet driven by victory, the trio did gainful swordplay when it was convenient. When it was not, the men fought in gritty and unarmed violence. Veins popped, and wide eyes drilled about dying men as breath and vertebrae collapsed under incredible duress.
In the sun’s dying hour, the vessel pitched no more, and the sea fell still with slumber. Wilhelm von Conrad, Richard Varyn, and Lothaire Dugald lay in exhaustion upon a visceral deck... adorned with corpses. Victory was found, and knowledge gained from the spared crew of their opposing vessel. With exhaustion and fatigue setting about each man, the trio began their short voyage home – to relay this information in kind. They met amidst the deck in each other’s limp limbs, and broad smiles adorned their bloodied visage. A war-band, and brothers to match. The sun set on their company, and each arrived at their homes to rest battered souls and grievous wounds.
- Written by Arken

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A Northern Hunt
A hunt organised by the Kaiser is filled with hopes for bonding amongst those in attendance and the mutual goal of supplying Queensport with supplies to last with true winter arrives. Plans are made to establish a site to meet and share in some hot drinks before the hunt begins at sunrise...

This account is written by the scribe Dietrich Richardson, in the spring of the fourth year of the reign of our Kaiser Asher Varyn, long may he yet reign. The events recorded here are the honest testimony of one Olbrecht, a page in the service of the steward of Ironhaven, and who was apart of the entourage of the hunt our Kaiser embarked upon.
We are told primarily of how cold it was, that our witness is from Artois, and the foolish extravagance of our wise and noble forebears for choosing to settle in a land so cold. At the discretion of my prevailing superiors, I have been told to exclude such frivolous information from the account.
The entourage left the castle of Ironhaven before dawn, and arrived at their hunting grounds as the light was peaking over the horizon. They had all of the pages and young boys from the village beating on bushes with sticks to arouse pheasants and other fowl to take to the skies. Thence, the nobility of the entourage loosed upon them with bolt and arrow, and a few hours were spent like this.
One of the young squires who had never hunted before noticed tracks on the ground. With a cry of enthusiasm, he declared they were of larger game, and he beget forward as the Kaiser called for the entourage to accompany him deeper into the woods. The horses had to be left, and spears were taken upon.
Coming upon a boar’s den, the squire beget the boar with a bolt, but was brutally befallen by beastly tusk; he yet lived, but cast upon the floor with a spitting wound in his thigh. Our Kaiser and noble entourage dealt swiftly with the boar, though at much personal risk for some. The squire was attended to by those present, and swiftly the matter was resolved. The boar was eventually ferried to Queensport.
It came to pass eventually that strange sounds were heard in the woods. Our Kaiser, brave and with prodigious discretion, sought to let sleeping dogs lie and leave the defence of Ironhaven to the wildmen he suspected deeper within. Those others of his entourage, seeking to advise the Kaiser of their most reasonable course, convinced him such efforts would have been cowardly, and so preserved the reputation of our Kaiser.
Setting into the woods, they found and a number of undead men - who were quickly dispatched. No undead had ever been seen within the divine wards. It comes to reason that - perhaps - with the shifting of power in the court that - perhaps - it could - possibly - be that our northernmost realm has been cast out of such gentle safety as the godlier realms enjoy.
Whatever the case may be, the body was later identified as a member of our honorable Marshal’s household, for he bore the insignia of his house. It may have been a deserter, or it may have been a missing casualty, for we have heard rumors even this far from the capital that the border is unsettled at both ends.
This concludes the account, written in honor of our rightful Kaiser and Kaiserin.
- Written by blargtheawesome

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[ CHAPTER II ]

A Meeting of Peace
A letter was delivered to the hands of Peter Longtree requesting a meeting of the Northern Court to discuss terms regarding the ownership of Motte Eiche, referred to in writing as Rammbar's Motte. There was no name printed upon the bottom, no signature, and so the sender is unknown. What the men of the Motte do know is that several of them have been attacked and killed in the woods, and that this is the most solid lead to finding those responsible. The location was given: Grünmauer.

- Blurb on the scouts; Aryn and Lothaire

- Blurb on the main event, the ambush, the panic of realising it a diversion

- Blurb on the follow up to clear it
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Scouting the Woods
In the aftermath of the ancestral seat of Oren being captured, there is a handful of men dispatched beneath the purview of Lothaire von Dugald to navigate the enemy territory. They are tasked with gathering crucial information about the opposing army and reporting these findings to the Kaltreich. The party will seek to ambush a scouting patrol belonging to the usurpers and skirmish in the woods.

- Blurb on the outcome



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[ CHAPTER III ]
The Battle of Oren
The scouting party returned, but barely, and plans will have to be changed to work with what they witnessed. One thing remains the same: Oren must be retaken. The enemy must be cut down.

[Event Conclusion Here]
 
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Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
1604775006422.png
- RUMOUR LOG -
- - -
Rumours posted and minor happenings will be logged here.


10th November;
↠ Some crates of salted fish and bags of flour from the cellars of Queensport Castle seem to have vanished. Servants whisper about the head chef being responsible.

↠ More men are hired on at the border fort of Märzwache near Oren, traders searched thoroughly before being allowed through.

11th November;
↠ Rotten meat was found in the cold stores, and so with concerns to all the meat in there being bad, it is thrown out. The head chef informs the Steward of a need for a new supply of meat types to replace it all. Sizzix

16th November;
↠ A small caravan moving from Queensport to Grünmauer stops at Motte Eiche to rest, but whilst they do they mention seeing a man watching them in the woods. They say he had arrows in his chest, but it could be dismissed as a wild imagination... Sir Arc

↠ Servants in Queensport Castle whisper about someone overhearing the Eisenhand speaking to himself as if possessed by some demon. Arken

20th November;
↠ The young prince, Adelhardt, has been heard wailing into the night for a few nights now as a rash appears upon his skin. blargtheawesome Sizzix

23rd November;
↠ Many barrels are shipped into Queensport castle, considered generous donations of food to refill the lost stock.

24th November;
↠ Ahead of Versammlung, more barrels and crates are brought into Queensport Castle. Rumour has it a feast is being set up for those in attendance.

↠ A large amount of bedding and clothing mostly belonging to Prince Adelhardt have either been thrown out, burnt, or washed excessively. Furs, hides and blankets of wool are in request, as well as a tailor to be commissioned for a few sets of clothes.

26th November;
↠ Word spreads of a large explosion from within Queensport Castle during the Versammlung, many servants killed and extensive damage being done. It is rumoured to be linked to the barrels and crates of supplies brought in for the 'feast'.

29th November;
↠ The castle of Queensport is kept under high alert, individuals must have permission to enter prior to visiting.

↠ Smoke plumes from the lands of Oren, and Marzwache keeps its gate lowered to those seeking entry.


3rd December;
↠ The Kaiserin and the heir to the Empire have taken refuge in the fortress of Meermotte whilst the Kaiser remains in Queensport...

↠ A declaration is sent out from Oren; [
x ]

8th December;
↠ After an attack upon Meermotte, both sides lose ships and men alike.

↠ Trees have been cut around Oren, and lands cleared.​
 
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Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
1604775081388.png
- EVENT LINKS -
- - -
All threads for events related will be linked here and logged.

CHAPTER I
The Scout
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/the-scout-10th-november-7pm-est.50505/

Pursuit under the Moon
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/pursuit-under-the-moon-19th-november-5pm-est.50529/

A Northern Hunt
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/a-northern-hunt-21st-november-3pm-est.50591/

Following the Trail
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/following-the-trail-24th-november-5pm-est.50606/

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CHAPTER II
A Meeting of Peace
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/for-peace-26th-november-5pm-est.50566/

Putting Them to Rest
https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/putting-them-to-rest-30th-november-5pm-est.50643/

Scouting the Woods

https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/scouting-the-woods-8th-december-4pm-est.50666/

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CHAPTER III
The Battle of Oren

https://hollowworld.co.uk/threads/the-battle-of-oren-11th-december-5-30pm-est.50735/
 
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Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
A note, also: This campaign plan is intended to try and go for the gritty realism approach of war/battle/fighting etc - It will likely have a lot of combat as its focus but I will be going for atmospheric DMing with those involved and not reliant on temps/too many one on one fights.
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
I know the 'chapter' things look kinda janky, but I intended on having 2-3 events per chapter and writing them out like story pieces. Either way, I've written the first one, and I'm not that good at writing imo so maybe it'll not be that long the next time. We'll seee.
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
Rumours Added:

↠ A small caravan moving from Queensport to Grünmauer stops at Motte Eiche to rest, but whilst they do they mention seeing a man watching them in the woods. They say he had arrows in his chest, but it could be dismissed as a wild imagination... Sir Arc

↠ Servants in Queensport Castle whisper about someone overhearing the Eisenhand speaking to himself as if possessed by some demon. Arken
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
Rumour Added:

↠ The young prince, Adelhardt, has been heard wailing into the night for a few nights now as a rash appears upon his skin.

Event links added also as 'The Hunt' is organised!
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
↠ Word spreads of a large explosion from within Queensport Castle during the Versammlung, many servants killed and extensive damage being done. It is rumoured to be linked to the barrels and crates of supplies brought in for the 'feast'.
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
1606694394886.png
"Oren, Your Grace! They've taken Oren!"
Smoke plumes from the lands of Oren, and Marzwache keeps its gate lowered to those seeking entry. So begins Chapter Two.
- - -

From this point forth, Oren and Marzwache are occupied by the main enemy of the campaign, and cannot be visited or used IC - I will do events in the next week or so relating to this part of the campaign.​
 

Elz

hmm
Staff member
Admin
Very Sweet
Campaign has concluded - The final fight for Oren saw three different battles converge into one. Queensport was hit by a minor group and were swiftly dealt with by the guards of the city. Fire does rampage through several houses and the wall has taken some damage.
 

Mitch

Daydreamer
Good
HoboVigilante
HoboVigilante
Good
Truly one of the best experiences I have ever had on this server.

Thank you, Elz, and everyone who assisted along the way. Namely Cap for contributing DMing.
 

Minty

Lord of Altera
AshenWanderer
AshenWanderer
Some of the best events I've been a part of. Every event felt dangerous and DMing from Blarg, Elz, and Cap was solid considering how many people were involved.
 
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