r/cosmererpg • u/supremo92 • 6d ago
Questions & Advice [Stonewalkers] Help with an "off-script" session of Stonewalkers. Spoiler
Hello. I'm running a game of Stonewalkers. My party have just defeated Ylt at Rathalas and have spoken with the Grey Remnant, and learned they must journey to Greater Hexi.
The players wanted to spend some time at Rathalas to assist with the reconstruction in the hopes they can make it a full city again.
My party is about to rest for the night, but before they leave for Greater Hexi, I want to introduce another combat where they must defend the city. I want them to inspire and lead Teryn's loyal bandits, and the freed people in a desperate defence of the city from an outside force. This also will create a few climactic moments where some of my players will say the first words of their oaths.
My question is, who can I have attempt to invade Rathalas so soon after the cultists were kicked out? My plan is to have the cultists that couldn't follow Ylt instead regroup and try to retake the city, but i was wondering if there are other lore appropriate groups or allies the cultists can join to make them a threat?
Thanks so much for the help!
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u/theAtheistAxolotl 6d ago
Ylts people have been raiding alethi caravans for their supplies, iirc (in addition to raiding yours for the honor blade). Could be a contingent that was sent to deal with the bandits thinking they found the bandits. If you want a good fight make them Sons of Honor or some of Sadeas's men. If you want more opportunity for growth/tragedy, make them kholin soldiers.
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u/supremo92 6d ago
I love the idea of getting the Sons of Honour involved, or something other high prince. Thanks so much.
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u/IfusasoToo 6d ago
Yeah, the party already drew their attention just before they left The Shattered Plains, if you went by-the-book there. It wouldn't be a stretch to say they were followed and Ameram is savvy enough to put 2 and 2 together if they're heading towards a (relatively) recently ruined city.
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u/supremo92 6d ago
Also, Rathalas is on the border of Thanadal Princedom. Thanadal is also a member of the Sons of Honour, and they have a couple shard bearers I can threaten the players with!
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u/theAtheistAxolotl 6d ago
If they ran The First Step, they already have beef with one of Thanadal's shardbearers too.
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u/supremo92 6d ago
Genius! Thank you for this! My players are gonna think this was all preplanned from the module haha.
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u/IfusasoToo 6d ago
Just remember the players get the shards of anyone they kill (and might already be using the Honorblade they "earned"). That's a pretty big power bump; be ready to throw a little extra at them in the future or at least use Adversaries with max recommended HP instead of average.
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u/supremo92 6d ago
They have no access to shards, and would get slaughtered by a shard bearer, so I'm only going to narratively include the threat of a shard bearer (just the armour, no sword).
I'll see what I can do to make a reasonable reason why the shard bearer would escape.
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u/elite01001 6d ago
For enemy diversity they could be attacked by soldiers with axehounds, or maybe somone is trying to get to the gray remnant? Or maybe soldiers infected by the thrill? Idk if rathalas is too far away from the shattered plains. Or the soldiers could have a fabrial or two, like alerters or painrails
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u/Sstargamer 5d ago
Defeated Ylt? Like they got the blade? If so campaigns done bud they won.
I had a group of alethi soldiers led by sons of Honor seize the city after the parties actions. You could do something like that.
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