Master Plot

The Sentence

An archdemon must use vassals under her control to gain enough power to walk the earth so that she can carry out a ritual by Founder's Day 1251 in order that she can be reunited with her one true love.

Expanding the Sentence

Demons have found a way to breach the worlds via Soulstone extraction.
From her bloodied throne, Azilith has discovered that by sending five of her vassals out into the world, they will establish lines of infernal power that will allow her to manifest.
Then, when she is able to walk the earth, she will be able to commence the ritual that will bring her lost love back from the dead.
The fact that all other sentient life will be extinguished in the process is but a minor inconvenience.

Prologue

• 2-3 small quests for Last Hope Mercenary Company to introduce the setting, local NPCs and themes.
• Plant seeds of Forzakk the Unyielding and Sellicine the Caresser

Act 1

• Track and defeat Forzakk
• Uncover clues leading to Sellicine's location
• Hear of seeds / clues hinting at Babaros the Whisperer's plot
• Uncover the seeds of Azilith's plot

Act 2a

• Track and defeat Sellicine
• Track and defeat Barabos at Gladheart 
• Hear of Kyrtos the Decapitator at Gyral's Hold 
• Uncover lore of Azilith at Toryl

Act 2b

• Track and defeat Kyrtos the Decapitator 
• Discover how to defeat Azilith 
• Learn of Gruhl the Defiler 
• Major calamity (destruction of Last Hope)

Act 3

• Confrontation with Gruhl the Defiler 
• Allies assemble at the Isle of Dawn's Last Light
• Showdown with Azilith 

Plot points/Scenes

Five demons, each with a particular motive.

1. Forzakk the Unyielding - to gather hearts to allow his body to be used as a vessel for his mistress
2. Gruhl the Defiler - to corrupt an island off the coast of the land to be used as the setting for the ritual
3. Babaros the Whisperer - to subdue the populace into willingly accepting their own doom
4. Kyrtos the Decapitator - to exterminate those who may oppose his mistress' plan
5. Sellicine the Caresser - to abduct the participants required for the ritual

Forzakk

Forzakk is centred around Last Hope and is likely the first vassal the party encounter.
If Forzakk is defeated, Azilith will be forced to seek another vessel, which will spawn another set of adventures.

Gruhl

News of Gruhl's activities do not come to light until the party travel to the coast as a result of another adventure.
If Gruhl is defeated, the ritual will still be able to take place but will take longer.

Barbaros

Barbaros is behind the plot within The Groaning Table.
If Barabos is defeated, the characters will have many more allies in their final confrontation with Azilith.

Kyrtos

Kyrtos has infiltrated the Makers Guild and is using automata to kill influential military and political leaders.
If Kyrtos is defeated, the characters will have many more allies in their final confrontation.

Sellicine

Sellicine is behind a string of abductions and disappearances, and the party must uncover a web of clues that lead to her lair.
If Sellicine is defeated, the ritual will have less than the required number of sacrifices, and Azilith will be weakened.

Azilith

Azilith is a never-present nemesis, although her influence can be felt and seen in various ways. She can appear in dreams, particularly those of Lyressa Bede, but also in the characters'.

Timescales

When the campaign begins, only Forzakk ad Barbaros are active. Azilith is awakening, but her powers have not yet fully returned. She has tasked Forzakk with consuming the hearts she needs to grow in power, and Barbaros with infiltrating the The Groaning Table.
Once she has grown in power, Forzakk is no longer required. She then puts in place the rest of her master plan, tasking the rest of her vassals with their own individual tasks.

Themes

Corrupt love Slavery/enthralment
NPCs who are widowed
Animals behaving oddly
Azilith the Widowmaker

Plot type

Master Plot

Subplots

• Job board quests
• On the trail of the Unbeating Heart