Idea for a campaign

[Mr. R]

The idea here is to expand on the idea that elves and dwarves dislike each other. In fact we will go so far as to do like in Palladium and have them go to war. The reasons are unimportant as they have been at war for millenia. But in the process they have alienated, antagonised and in many cases decimated most of the races that also exist on the continent. To the extant that five races have banded together to support each other while trying to keep out of the way of the main combatants.

So for years uncounted this alliance has set up safe cities, sent parties out to get food and supplies and in some cases, where necesary, kill elements of either army to protect their secrets.

Now at this point I can see three possibilities:
1) The alliance grows in power as the two main opponents have basically worn themselves out fighting each other

2) On a Week of Fire and Shadow all the dwarves and elves die. Apparently a major ritual designed to harm the other went supercharged and killed them all. Now we have a brand new world with new power vacuums to step into it, Not to mention all those dwarven and elvish cities to explore/loot

3) As above but with the added problem that the elves and dwarves do not know they are dead. They are undead, and it will take a long time to finally subdue their restless spirits and make the world safer.

This is just an Idea I came up with and any comments are welcome as long as they are constructive.

[Asperion]

During option 1, instead of going for strictly elves v dwarves let's have a minor (slave?) race that neither side worries about. This race might act as intermediary between both sides, sneak messages that should not be seen, among other things.

[Tjack]

13 hours ago, Asperion said:

During option 1, instead of going for strictly elves v dwarves let's have a minor (slave?) race that neither side worries about. This race might act as intermediary between both sides, sneak messages that should not be seen, among other things.

   While they are actually are setting in motion the wheels of destruction to their enslavers. Get the Dwarves and Elves to engage in a war that will weaken both empires to the point that they can rise up and free themselves.

   That might be a nice long term plot thread for the players to discover.

[theinfn8]

I would combine option 2 and 3. Turn it into a world wide cataclysm that devastates the world in unpredictable chaotic ways. Huge canyons and open lava fields in parts because of dwarven cities and fortresses that were ripped out of the ground. Abnormal weather that destroyed large swathes of forest and are isolated in areas (permanent winter on one side of a line and drought and desert on the other).

 

It is the survival needs of the bunker/safe cities of the alliance that require the party to venture forth into this blasted and devastated world. Wandering in the world are shades of the former inhabitants, incapable of really communicating, but reliving their war and hatred with the shades of the other side.

 

The party will eventually come across (or be tasked with investigating) a capital of one of the sides and find a city still populated with undead of the species. Does the party find the source of the devastation and reverse the unfinished ritual before it tears the rest of the world apart and returns many of these shades back into being? Or do they complete the ritual and end both races to give the world a chance to heal?

[Spence]

On 4/20/2020 at 7:44 PM, Mr. R said:

2) On a Week of Fire and Shadow all the dwarves and elves die. Apparently a major ritual designed to harm the other went supercharged and killed them all. Now we have a brand new world with new power vacuums to step into it, Not to mention all those dwarven and elvish cities to explore/loot

 

A variant on #2.

 

As the war between the Elves ad Dwarves gains intensity, the other races withdraw deep into their territories and hunker down to wait it out.  The effects of the war rage for years, with the very world shuddering and quaking as the two race unleash titanic rituals against the foe. 

And then nothing. 

After a while the first tentative scouting parties discover that the lands have been reshaped.  The Dwarven holds buried under shattered mountains and Elven cities and forests uprooted and leveled.  But no trace of either Elf or Dwarf.

At first the races celebrated and rejoiced that the devastation and danger was ended.  At first.

But then the tainted remains of broken magics began to be felt, fell creatures and deadly blights spreading across the land.

 

 

[MordeanGrey]

On 5/9/2020 at 12:59 PM, Spence said:

 

A variant on #2.

 

As the war between the Elves ad Dwarves gains intensity, the other races withdraw deep into their territories and hunker down to wait it out.  The effects of the war rage for years, with the very world shuddering and quaking as the two race unleash titanic rituals against the foe. 

And then nothing. 

After a while the first tentative scouting parties discover that the lands have been reshaped.  The Dwarven holds buried under shattered mountains and Elven cities and forests uprooted and leveled.  But no trace of either Elf or Dwarf.

At first the races celebrated and rejoiced that the devastation and danger was ended.  At first.

But then the tainted remains of broken magics began to be felt, fell creatures and deadly blights spreading across the land.

 

 

 

I like this option if you want to have most of the elves and dwarves gone in your world. Only scattered survivors or extremely powerful/protected individuals remain of the elves and dwarves. 

 

A whole bunch of dark creatures/undead/spirits of the fallen races begin to stir and become a new threat to everyone.