Revenge of the Rat God

Last year, I ran a game at local con. The scenario was entitled "Lair of the Rat God," and it involved a bunch of level 4 PCs - a dwarf fighter, elf druid, human warden, human cleric, and human ranger. The fighter and druid were ardent 2e players who didn't care so much for 4e because the PCs could do too much. The ranger was played by a guy who hated 4e. If that guy decides to play again, I hope he feels better about the game ...

The con is coming back for its second year this weekend, and I'm running a sequel of sorts called "Revenge of the Rat God." Taking place a year later, this scenario would feature the original PCs, plus a few others, upgraded to level 11. Here's the tagline for the scenario:

It has been one year since stalwart adventurers foiled the plans of Squerrik, the odious Rat God. Those hardy souls who stood fast against the Rat God's evil have moved on to a grander stage, becoming paragons of cunning, strength, and bravery.

However, war between the hobgoblins of Tarkash and the free peoples of Rivermeet threatens to undo all that has been built. To find the means with which to best the sinister allies of Tarkash, the adventurers must delve deep into the Underdark, dare the terrors below, and avoid ... the revenge of the Rat God!

I know it's really important to be well prepared for a con game, but I've been battling writer's block for some time now. I don't have much ready for it, but finally tonight I had a breakthrough and have a much clearer path about where to take the adventure. Essentially, PCs will be sent to the hobgoblin city, where they'll have to lay low for a while, gathering intelligence about the hobgoblin threat. I think I'll steal a lot from the Suderham skill challenge in DMG2.

During their reconaissance, PCs will learn they have to delve into the Underdark, battle a purple dragon, then return and put a stop to Tarkash's aggressive ambitions.

What I like about writing this scenario up is that I'm doing a lot of incidental world building. I'm mostly throwing names onto a page, but here's a bit from my DM "intro blurb":

For decades after the fall of Nerath, Rivermeet was controlled by a succession bandit lords swearing fealty to the hobgoblins of Tarkash. That all ended just over five years ago, when an alliance led by Raelen Vistanar, last scion of the former ruling family of Rivermeet, cast out the bandit rulers and reforged the broken pact with the elves of Moonwood. With the reopening of a safe trade route through that perilous woodland realm, Rivermeet is well on the way to reclaiming its prominent role as a center of trade for the Northmarch.

But with the reemergence of Rivermeet, Tarkash has seen its once prominent role decline. Anger simmering, the High Command of Tarkash – led by the grim Overlord Belkod – have bided their time, waiting for the opportunity to exact vengeance. Hobgoblin priests of Torog, one of the patron deities of Tarkash, formed an unlikely pact with the drow of the Underdark, and Tarkash mustered troops. As Rivermeet's allies grew preoccupied with their own concerns, Belkod and his aggressive faction within High Command have determined that now is the time to strike.

I find it neat how just a few words can begin a world. Rivermeet, Tarkash, and the Northmarch could all make a neat campaign world in my opinion. Perhaps someday I'll run an actual campaign there and flesh it out some more.