View source for The Eyeblight War

== Update 4/6: The Games Begin! == 

The tentative plan for the stages of the war
(maybe one event happening every weekend or two?):
* target: spirit palace
  shuddeni fake intelligence about an assault on 
  Krilin, then attack, conquer, and occupy Spirit
  Palace. (Do something where a champion or guardian
  hears shuddenis laugh about "They think we're
  attacking Krilin!" just before the invasion, so
  they realize they were duped.) They make the 
  spirit palace their primary surface base.
* Alliance
  Important NPC leaders call for an Alliance,
  Open invitation to PC heroes to participate
  (perhaps they get assigned a squad of soldiers
  that they can position, and can choose an ensignia
  for their squad. Or something.)
* target: Aramril
  srryn are manipulated into attacking Earendam,
  so that the shuddeni can attack and raze
  Aramril without Earendam's interference. 
  The shuddeni occupy Aramril and give the scales
  of the fire demon back to [[An'akarta]]. With
  his influence, the Aaddash Sept gains control
  of the Scourge.
* target: VB
  the shuddeni want to control everything from
  the spirit palace to the Arien Plains. They
  lay siege to VB (city gates will be closed,
  alternate routes in or out made available)
* target: Earendam
  the VB seige is a stalemate. Shuddeni manipulate
  the packs on the Ryarl to attack Earendam in concert
  with the srryn. Earendam also comes under seige.
* surface alliances strikes back
  Kor Thrandir gets several earth archmages to keep the
  Seal, and sends its soldiers to help out, etc. With
  that and intervention from Calaera, perhaps, the sieges
  of Earendam and VB are broken. Arien Plains becomes
  a constant battlefield.
* Aramril & Deaths
  Shuddenis lose Aramril. War continues to rage across the
  Plains. Some important NPCs bite it, permanently (Malyn,
  Baron Krilin?), but they make important gains, and
  drive back shuddeni to the Spirit Palace and the caves.
* Eyeblight Time
  The plague is let loose in Kor Thrandir, Gaald, and
  Krilin.  This breaks the surface alliance momentum, 
  and shuddeni challenge for control of the plains again.
* VB Conquered[[/Occupied]]
  Void[[/Fire]] guild in VB betrays scholar council,
  sides with shuddenis,  helps shuddeni to occupy VB.
  VB streets run red with sacrifices, PCs higher than lvl
  20 get captured/ sent to Yithoul slave camps (just have
  to wait til the guard falls alseep, then make their way
  out of Yithoul, or some such).
- VB Reclaimed
  Shuddeni lose control of VB (titans end their noninvolvement?)
  Shuddeni go ahead and let loose eyeblight in VB and Earendam.
  They begin to win the open war on the plains, besiege Aramril.
  Lots of NPC healers in the cities to help PCs. This is the
  situation when the resolution part of the Arc starts up.


== Update 4/5: getting ready for the attack ==

 [ 59] Dovolente: Eyeblight update
 Sun Jul  2 09:57:33 2006
 To: immortal
 Neither Bjekken nor Shyrix showed for the shuddeni council.
 Cal and I decided to have some fun anyhow, and
 did some gechoing of earth shaking, tunnels becoming
 unsealed, etc, and then ran about with a chaja
 deserter and non-Yithoul shuddeni elders after him.
 We progressed on to a minor assault at the KT seal--
 lots of NPCs, 4-5 PCs helping Thrandir (and only 1
 PC casualty!). 

 Aladhi, the PC bard, wrote something to all
 about it, at Malyn's request... so things are
 starting to pick up. :)

 Now.. do we want to do a council, or just move
 on with the attack? And has anyone seen
 Bjekken or Shyrix lately--what's up with them?

 Cheers,
 Dov

 [  1] Aladhi: Shuddeni Incursion
 Sat Jul  1 14:56:06 2006
 To: all
 Dear Citizens of Avendar:

 Recently, the Ksatha Shuddeni Sept found a way to bypass the Seal in Kor
 Thrandir, and attacked the guards there.  Not a full invasion force, I
 suspect this small army was sent to test Kor Thrandir's might.  There may
 well be more attacks from them or other Shuddeni Septs, such as the Ttou and
 Aaddash, on Kor Thrandir or other locations.  Lord Protector Malyn has asked
 me to relay this information.  He bids you all to stay alert and vigilant.  

 Signed,
 Aladhi Enliaru, Historian


== Update 6/26: getting ready for the gathering ==

* Four morts got Deti's message but didn't choose to join the Scourge.

 [ 84] Steen Deti: Your Choice
 Mon Jun 26 08:27:03 2006
 To: Jinresh Tal Haglorash Skrashmanu immortal
 * This thin ethron hide has a faint greenish cast and
 smells of sharp incense. The writing upon it was done
 in blood, the penmanship bold and graceful. *
  
 It is noted that you have elected to stand against the
 Scourge. Or perhaps you think to spectate in the coming
 days? You are welcome to believe that this will be permitted.
 But should you be so foolish as to oppose us directly,
 by siding or rendering the least bit of aid to those we
 would enslave, you will be targeted first from among them
 all.
   
 Steen Deti, Voice of the Echoless Void: 
 


* Only 2 morts, Bjekken and Shyrix (chaja and shuddeni Raiders) accepted Deti's invitation to ally with the Scourge. They are invited to the first shuddeni gathering (we can do more than one, if needed, or just the one, if sufficient).


 [  0] Steen Deti: The Gathering
 Mon Jun 26 08:02:30 2006
 To: Shumkeni Chath Athaja Nashash Bjekken Charrenithiz Benuz Shunarja Narki Chithiru Yimkel Sh
 umkarja Athelict Shyrix Narrarja Ksayichi Chashect Najuz Chojurru Ytheusrg Besasstan immortal
 * This thin ethron-hide has a faint greenish cast and
 smells of sharp incense. The writing upon it was done
 in blood, the penmanship bold and graceful. *


 To Sept Leaders and those Deemed Worthy, 

 Power and wealth, and the makings of hatred, fear, and
 pain unknown in this world for centuries--these all await
 us. 
   
 The time of final preparations for the Scourge is nigh.
 We must choose from among us a War Leader to direct our
 forces, and we must finalize our strategy for the assault on
 the surface.  Therefore, we shall gather in the Room
 of the Scourge within the Yithoul Temple Prison. The
 password to bypass the guard will be "flagellation".
   
 Should you wish to claim the Leadership of the Scourge,
 be prepared to demonstrate how your vision and abilities 
 will lead us to victory, and bring suitable bribes so
 that those among us who seek plunder and riches 
 will know that you are capable of delivering such.
 
 Safety is guaranteed by the Four Septs at this council.
 No bodyguards, nor weapons common nor arcane, may be
 brought. Violators will be flayed alive, seared, and
 fed to the void in very small pieces.
   
 Steen Deit, Voice of the Echoless Void 
  
 OOC: The tentative time for this gathering is Saturday,
 July 1, at 7:00pm Central U.S.  If you won't be able to
 make it, please note to immortal with some alternative 
 times ASAP.


== Update: into the starting phase == 

For objs/mobs/rooms that are changed for the quest,
*I'll use a [[pre-arc info]] to record descs/stats
that get changed, in case we want/need to change
things back at some point.
*The shuddeni contact is Steen Deti, in room 331.
*The auctioneer's fiery dagger was changed to a 'sanative charm',
which will cure eyeblight (pox+blind) one time.




== Update: starting phase ==

* Jh'ten barrier guards give a specific warning about the Eyeblight.
* Aribban and Mofi and the srryn apoth can start selling fake eyeblight cure and charm things
* Insert some new spy-type NPCs. Maybe some a little suspicious-looking, some not. They can be used to immteract by asking questions about size of military forces of goodie/surface city areas, the leadership of those places, and especially what is going on with the houses. They won't reveal that they are gathering intelligence for the invasion.
* However, these NPCs will be progged to direct chaja and shuddeni PCs to a Yithoul NPC contact person. That contact will let them know that something big is up, and if they want to be a part of it they need to sent a note to a particular NPC. Typical threats about sending a note and then bugging out...
* We can check that NPC's note list to see who all (if any) is on board. :)
* After several weeks this time concludes, a counsel is held of those PCs on board, and the major NPCs (see [[Shuddeni Septs]] for more info), to choose a single leader (one of the NPCs) and decide on the first targets for the invasion (PCs can help influence both decisions).
* After the counsel, we are ready to move into the invasion phase.


= Basic Outline - The Eyeblight War =

 Having laid low for centuries since the War of Night, the 
 shuddeni have seen the ch'taren forces disband and disperse
 over time. Save for a few places outside the ch'taren havens--
 places such as the Spirit Palace, Kor Thrandir--the use of
 spirit magic is fairly limited. It is time to attempt
 to enslave the surface races once again.
 
 This time, they have a new weapon. Shuddeni alchemists,
 with some demonic assistance, have created a new magical
 plague (the eye blight - plague + blindness) that has
 essentially eliminated the ch'taren havens (they are
 quarintined, as Jh'ten in Alensha at present). 

 The struggle will involve the shuddeni and chaja attacking/
 besieging the surface centers of civilization (Earendam
 and VB) with lesser attacks on other good-focused areas
 (Aramril, Kor Thrandir, Spirit Palace, Krilin). I imagine
 the Houses would be involved in these ways: Shunned
 would probably be quasi-neutral (nothing great about becoming
 slaves/servants of the shuddeni hierarchy), but might choose to
 side with the Shuddeni (as the shuddeni side will likely
 be a tiny minority). Raiders would be bought by the
 shuddeni. Guardians would defend the cities, Knights would
 stand with the Champs.

 PCs of all levels and alignments will be encouraged to
 participate in different ways, but events should not become
 dependant on the participation of any particular PCs.  

 Stages of the Arc (these would go on for several RL months,
 perhaps 6-10, in all).

 1) Getting things rolling - 1-2 months. 
   See: [[Shuddeni Septs]]
   All shuddeni and chaja PCs are summoned to periodic
   planning councils in Yithoul. This would no doubt inform most of 
   the player base--IC and OOC word of mouth--that the shuddeni are
   about to rise (and this is good because trying to involve playes but
   keeping it an IC secret is impossible). Players (shuddeni or 
   goodies/surface-folk) can start to build the war element (or neutrality) 
   into their characters' roles. It might encourage more shuddeni/chaja
   PCs to stick around and develop.
 
   Planning could involve getting void/fire/rogue guilds involved, 
   obtaining srryn/alath loyalties, so as to get more PCs involved.
   Discussion of points to attack, where resistance would be most
   fierce, etc. I don't see the srryn being involved directly with
   the shuddeni, as they make for terribly surly slaves, and have
   enough smarts to realize thats what they'd become--perhaps
   the srryn might raise some havoc of their own in the unstable 
   atmosphere.
 
   Players involved in the shuddeni planning councils would be threatened
   with (and receive) serious consequences (like being demon-hunted) for
   spilling information. They  might be tempted by agents of surface/goody
   powers, or PCs who are recruited by surface/goody folk to discover more.

   Toward the end, shuddeni spy/scout (not described as such, but easy to
   infer) NPCs will being appearing in various locations on the surface.
   The Houses will receive notices/warnings from their agents that something
   is up, in case it hasn't become obvious to everyone at that point.

 2) Seige Time - 1-2 months.
 
  Shuddeni forces occupy the Arien Plains (off the roadway), laying siege to
  Aramril and restricting travel between Earendam and VB. They also take
  positions around other strategic areas (Enrien, Thrandir, etc), and prepare
  to attack.

  This could be easily done by making a bot that generates a "battalion"
  of chaja infantry with shuddeni swordmaster/templar/scholar leaders.
  Stick the bot in different spots, and you've got instant armies. These
  npc battalions would be aggro to ch'taren, champs, and spirit casters,
  and could try to press-gang chaja, shuddeni, and fire/void casters. Would
  ignore the majority, though.

  Special mobs for the quest would be of the two factions (shuddeni and co.
  vs. goodies/surface civilizations), so players could get faction 
  ratings/bonuses for participation and we could keep track of how much
  players are doing by their faction points (from actual battle against the
  various army forces, or from imm-granted faction bonuses -- these points
  could be used for knowing who to dole any rewards out to at the end of
  the arc).

  Aramril falls (seal off entryway exit) and leaves any champs homeless for
  a bit. :)  The shuddeni forces eventually lays siege to VB and Earendam.
  gatehouses get closed, for the first time in MUD history. :) PCs can
  exit/entere Earendam via the river tunnels, and pay to be smuggled through
  tunnels/over the wall from the Dretch Street area of VB to the docks.

  Periodic gate breaches with shuddeni forces entering the city and doing 
  some damage before being repelled by VB and patrician guard. Laws adjusted
  to allow for defensive of the city, shuddeni and chaja removed from protection
  by law.

  Toward the end, reps of Aramril[[/Champions]], Krilin, Spirit Palace, and 
  Kor Thrandir etc form an alliance pact and begin to organize and plan. Goodie/
  pro-surface-dweller PCs invited to get involved, report on shuddeni positions,
  skirmish their forces, etc.

  Battalions of guards/goodies start to appear in staging areas in the
  cities/spirit palace/etc.

 3) Outright War - 1-2 months.

  Goodie Gods get involved (Calaera's moment to shine in some way). With Calaera's
  intervention (or Anirim sending forces of titans or somesuch) the VB and 
  Earendam gates are secured and Aramril retaken.

  The arien plains become the central battleground. Lowbies who aren't shuddeni or
  ch'taren should be able to make it through if they stick to the road, but otherwise
  the plains are in a constant state of battle. The battle spills over into other
  areas periodically.

  The shuddeni forces start to lose the battle, for whatever reason that works with
  imm and PC involvement at that time (or they are simply running out of fresh chaja
  to send to the front lines, if lacking any better reason). 

  So, toward the end of the outright war, they turn the blight loose on the cities
  towns throughtout Avendar. If the shuddeni aren't going to be able to enslave and
  own everything, they'd just as soon everyone die.

  Wizi-plague-spreaders go wild. NPC healers (titan delegation?) show up to help 
  keep city folk alive.

  The battle shifts to favor the shuddeni forces, with the armies of the 
  surface/goodies  and army support weakened and thinned by the blight. The shuddeni
  get entrenched at the  brintor crossroads, and demonic servants of the shuddeni 
  war-leaders build a fortress of bones and skulls (represented by portal obj, 
  consisting of 5-10 rooms) at Brintor crossroads from which to command their 
  forces (PC baddies can get involved in bone/skull collecting). :)

 4) Countering the Blight - 2-4 weeks.
   This is the questy, resolution part for the anti-shuddenis (who should get 
   sick of the eyeblight plague real quick-like, and be ready for the city 
   sieges to end.)
 
   First, the anti-shuddeni alliance recruits a PC squad to raid the Tower of 
   Bones to try and find more about the plague.  (The eyeblight doesn't affect
   shuddeni (naturally eyeless) but it also doesn't affect their chaja warriors--
   apparently they've got some kind of antidote/preventative and are doling it out
   to their slave armies). 
   
   In the Tower, clues of some sort are discovered which lead players (perhaps a
   boat-ride to a tiny, remote isle on the Lidraeau -- 1 room for the boat and
   5-10 for the isle) where they can get the herb/whatever which is used in the
   antidote. 

   Perhaps it was a demon who gave the shuddeni knowledge of the herb/regeant 
   for the plague, and this demon defends the isle. There would be some kind
   of guardian to take out, anyway.

   When the herb/whatever is obtained, water scholar guildmasters/city alchemists
   are able to produce the antidote, ending the plague.

 5) Ending the War - 1-2 months.

   With the antidote, the battle swings back to the anti-shuddeni's favor.

   Ch'taren forces from the havens can now show up, with a few of their good
   old long-preserved spirit weapon artifacts. Shuddenis start getting their
   butts kicked.

   A Final Assault against the shuddeni results in the shuddeni's fortress of
   bones getting wiped out (some important NPCs falling, like Baron Krilin and
   Shilrin... time to replace them with fresh blood anyway), and shuddeni forces
   driven back underground. This is the official end of the war.

   A few more meetings--for the pro-surface alliance, discussion of rebuilding
   and which NPCs could give guidance. XP awards for participation doled out 
   (based on faction points earned, maybe), perhaps some grateful deities granting
   some traits.

   Chaja[[/Shuddeni]] PCs regain protection under law after a while. But the guards
   spit on them when they walk past. :) 

   Permanent Marks the War:
    - Guards (a aquad of Aramrilites?) would permanently be placed to watch  
     the entrance to the chaja tunnels.
    - The chief shuddeni war-leader/priest NPC would be crucified and left in
     the streets of Yithoul.
    - In arien, lots of burial mounds (and some night-time ghosts?). Brintor  
     Crossroads has ruins of the fortress of bone.
    - Jh'ten opens up (hopefully it'll be done by that time).
    - Some of the NPC participators/reps/war leaders would become permanent
     figures to replace older, eternal-seeming NPCs (retire Shilrin, promote 
    Kastan Krilin to baron, etc)
   
   Player rewards: war-participation XP doled out on the basis of faction 
   points accumulated. The players who went after the various battalions and 
   did a lot of hackslash ranking against them get rewarded, as well as players
   who got faction point bonuses for being more directly involved in the 
   immteractions/quest elements.

   For heroes, they'd get some fame. A "Chronicles of the Eyeblight War" would
   be written, recording the names of those who participated. For the anti-shuddenis,
   they'd become "friend" to all allied surface NPC factions. Chaja/shuddeni-side
   PCs could become favored by evil deities, perhaps earning some "favors" from 
   the void/demon world.

 Rooms: 10-20
 Mobs: 15-20
 Objs: 15-20
 Can use the Generic Quest Area -- plenty of spare vnums.

[[Category:Quests]][[Category:The Eyeblight War]]