In message <000a01c42f18$332ca160$8dac32d2_at_vinga> "John Hughes" writes:
>
>> >1. I'm using Donald's Gatethane, Kistrald the Steady as one of the few
>> >external characters.
>>
>> At the moment he's just a name and a clan. Do you want me to write him
>> up a bit? or have you got something in mind?
>
>For the module, I need only the idea that he's powerful, influential and
>that as Gatethane he has control over who guards the wall by night and day,
>and who gets to be part of the roving hero bands that engage in combat
>beyond the walls. In that sense, whatever his political power, he is one of
>the most influential people in the city. Wall watch is deadly, defensive,
>often boring and largely impersonal, while the roving hero bands who fight
>beyond the walls win fame and glory and mead. Everyone wants to be part of
>those bands.
>
>That's the senior Rigsdali's carrot and stick: the PCs who serve well on his
>watch will be mentioned as suitable for the hero bands, who get real combat
>and glory and song.
>
>If you would like to write him up for Wiki, that would be great. If the
>module serves as a bit of a feeder, I'm sure players would like to read
>more. And for hero types, the Gatethane is a *very* important person.
I think you've upped his position a bit from my ideas. When I wrote
him he was just in charge of a gate for part of the time. He's not even
a warrior but someone with experience of taking charge and sensible
enough to be relied on to interogate and assess arrivals. I wouldn't
put him in charge of PCs but I would put them on a bit of wall near
the gate and have the people in charge ask Kistrald his opinion of
them. I don't think PCs (particularly starting ones) should jump
straight in with relationships with important people and I wanted to
give them a contact who was worth getting on their side because his
opinion is valued by important people. Or equally will cause them
immense problems if they get off on the wrong foot with him.
--
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/