My group returns to the Grim World of Perilous Adventure to start the Enemy Within Campaign after a hiatus, and boy are we glad to be back! After having read the campaign and been in touch with Valvorik's exceptional home-made material for the campaign I got started with what I think is perhaps the two most essential questions to a successful campaign; "Why do these characters care enough to get involved in the plot?" and "Why are these characters together"? If the answers are strong enough to create interesting backgrounds, rich sub plots, and passionate response to the campaign hook then you are looking at a successful start to a long and fulfilling campaign.
As per usual, the campaign provides the most basic of "hooks" in the form of the background cards. these are a great starting tool but for my taste they don't go far enough to provide a solid reason for getting involved.
My current roster of characters are:
A Human Fop from Averland (Gently-Born)
A Human Performer from Estalia (Battle Scarred)
A Human Bounty Hunter from the Reikland (Outcast)
A Human Gambler from Wissenland (Criminal)
To add strength to introduction I am starting the campaign at the wedding of one Kaspar Reinholt and Estelle Werner. The characters will be tied to the one of the NPC's in some way. More importantly, the Outcast will have been a former beau of Estelle and is attending the wedding as a favor. At the wedding party Estelle (and all) will witness Kaspar's inappropriate behavior with another woman. Estelle will run off into the night (and a heavy rainstorm) resulting in her capture by the Skaven agents.
After the abduction the group will find themselves in a social altercation at the Reinholt Estate where they will be asked by a begging Mother to find her missing daughter. Also, Kaspar will accuse the outcast character of foul play in her disappearance.
I used some of the background material and some of my own to strengthen the reasoning behind entering the campaign.
Battle Scarred
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You served in the 3rd Battle of Black fire pass with Kaspar Reinholt. You were injured. What injury did you sustain and how long did it take you to recover?
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You are best friends with Kaspar and are to attend his wedding on 17th of Sigmarzeit, Marktag to Estelle Werner
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You are not longer a member of the army of Averland. Why not?
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During the battle you fought alongside Marcus Baerfaust. Some say he was a hero, keeping the Averheim Greatswords in the fight. Others say he could have saved the Mad Count, Marius Leitdorf if he wanted to. What do you say?
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After your injury you spent time in a Shallyan temple hospice, where you met Gravin Clothilde von Alptraum, a noblewoman of Averheim who was donating her time and money to the hospice. What is your opinion of her?
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You spent some time in service as a guard to the gently- born characters father. Why did you leave?
Criminal
Estelle Werner's father Quentin and you go back many years after he aided you financially. Why did you need the money?
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You were arrested a few years ago by a soldier named Marcus Baerfaust. What was your crime? did you do it?
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You were acquitted of the crime based in part on the testimony of Frederick Grosz. Did he lie for you?
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Two docker gangs are at each other's throats. The Wharf Rats blame the Fish for the disappearance of Rolf Haller, a Wharf Rat. How do you feel about the possibility of a gang war? Do you favor a particular gang?
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The criminals in speak of a new boss in town, known only as the "man in the black hood". Rumor has it that people who oppose this boss are ending up dead? So you believe this rumor?
Outcast
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You were cast out of your home. What did you do?
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In your travels since your exile, you've come across a criminal, racketeer, and sometimes smuggler named Frederick Grosz. Did he help or hinder you?
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One night you nearly drowned in in a storm while on the River Aver. A fisherman named Jurgen Klinski recued you. Now his wife Olga has asked for your help finding her husband who is missing. Are you going to help her?
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Luminary Konrad Mauer, a light Wizard, is in Averheim. He has been referred to you as someone who may be able to help reverse your exile. Why? How?
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You are the former suitor to Estelle Werner who is now to marry Kaspar Reinholt. You are to attend the wedding on 17th of Sigmarzeit, Marktag as a favor to Estelle. Do you still love her? Why didn't it work out? You both met and fell n love while she was attending school in Nuln.
Gently- Born
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Your father had a business arrangement with Baron Friedrich von Kaufman. What was it? He has stake in a number of businesses including: Red Arrow Coaching Lines, Warehouses, and stockyards.
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Someone in your family proposed marriage to Gravin Clothilde con Alptraum (she declined), who? Was it you?
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It seems either the Leitdorf family or the von Alptraum family will hold the Elector's seat in Averland to replace the recently deceased Marius Leitdorf. Which family do you favour?
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You don't stand to inherit any titles or land. Why not? Are you not nobility? or is someone else in your family ahead of you?
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A spot of financial trouble recently saw you sell something to a woman on the docks named Mathilda Durbein. What was it? Does she still have it? You would like to buy it back.
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You are a cousin of Kaspar Reinholt and are to attend his wedding to Estelle Werner on the the 17th of Sigmarzeit, Marktag
Using the Reinholt Wedding as a hook an introduction to the Enemy Within:
The Reinholt Family (Gold)
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Corrine Reinholt (Mother)
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Adolfus Reinholt (Father), member of the merchants guild, wine dealer
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Harkon & Stephan Reinholt (siblings) 14 and 10
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Kaspar Reinholt 26, eldest son, groom
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Brion LeFleur (Best man, Brettonian, long time friend…family owns vinyard in Bordeloux…Reinholts sell their wine in the Empire)
The Werner Family (Silver)
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Estelle Werner (Daughter- Bride)- 18
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Gertrude Werner (Mother - overprotective)
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Quentin Werner (Father - River Boat captain "Estelle")
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Only Daughter
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Quentin is ecstatic to marry his daughter into the merchant class
Kaspar Reinholt
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Carefree soul
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Tends toward curiosity
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A dilettante
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Prone to drug use and alcohol
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Served in the Averheim military as a young man as an assistant to a high ranking captain, Baerfaust
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Life of the party
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Came home to get married
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A regular at the Upright Pig
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Acquired items from the fence
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Has become known throughout the dock district as a fun loving guy who is rich but wants to slum with the lower class
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Went missing over two weeks ago. His clothing and personal items are still in the residence of the Reinholts
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Abducted by Skaven
Estelle Werner
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Sweet, shy
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Well admired, extremely beautiful
PROLOGUE. One of Our Brides is Missing
Night of Disappearances
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A Wedding party at the Upright Pig
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A rowdy night
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A huge rain storm
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Kaspar flirts with a bar maid named Hildegard Brinn, an old flame
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Estelle slips out distraught Last seen heading together toward the river front
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Pick pocket saw her…. running towards the bridge
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Once the PC's investigate…Kaspar is distraught and brought back to the Reinholts residence by his friend Brion as the characters search?
Searching for Estelle
Estelle is abducted by the Skaven, sadly, and will not be found until the end of part one. Searching is very difficult with the heavy downpour. Let them look. One clue can be found near the docks…her kerchief.
A Social Altercation
When the heroes arrive at the Reinholt residence, they are greeted by the Reinholt footman Marcus and Adolphus.
Corrine is in the parlor with the Werner's who are weeping, looking out the window. She has been like this ever since Estelle went missing.
Two younger boys are upset and trying to be polite.
Tea is brought in as Corrine attempts to get the characters to help. Just as they agree, Kaspar storms into the room and demands to know why the criminal is here and demands to know why he abducted Estelle. He is convinced that he had something to do with her disappearance. The characters must convince Kaspar to allow them to help the family find Estelle and that the criminal is innocent of his accusations.
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Roll Initiative
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Start a 10 space tracker with event spaces on 4, 6, 8, 10
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Place a Kaspar tracker on space 1 and a PC tracker on space 1
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Quentin knows of Kaspars involvement with dock gangs and thinks that might have something to do with this
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Gertrude begs for help…only daughter, etc…
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Rumors of other disappearances and murders on the docks lately from…?.
1
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Event
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(PC Token) Gertrude feels faint and begs the PC's to help find her daughter
2
nd
Event
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( Kaspar token) Quentin accuses Kaspar of gang activity
3rd Event
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(Kaspar token) Brion takes out a pistol and tried to intimidate criminal
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Marcus steps in to conversation (which side depends on the PC's actions: too aggressive and he's against them…. if they are trying to calm the situation then he will aide them)
4th Event
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If the Kaspar token reaches 10 th space first, he orders his footman to fetch the watch to arrest the criminal. Die to all social actions with Kaspar and his allies if they helped the criminal. Orders Werners out of his house.
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If the PC token reaches the final space first then Kaspar begrudgingly resigns to let them help including the criminal
NPC'S involved in Social Brawl
Kaspar, Adolphus, Brion and possibly Marucs
PC's, Quentin, Gertrude (although the couple takes a back seat to the PC's, possibly Marcus
Mechanics
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Success advances token on either side.
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Comet advances an additional time
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Parlor location adds 1 misfortune to PC'S actions and a fortune to Reinholts
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Use Shame?
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If Kaspar's shame ever reaches threshold, skip to last event space for PC's
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A delay will result in a loss of next action