Hi!
How about sending emissaries to Ralios to discover some cultists of
Arkat (the Savior/Destroyer/Deceiver/Troll/whatever) who remember the
magic that Arkat used to defeat the Bat in the first age? Then King
Broyan's (and the party's) task would be to desperately hold off the
Bat while hoping that the help arrives in time.
David.
wrote:
>
> OK, this discussion (which I unfortunately responsible for) is
> beginning to be filled with straw men and arguments that go past each
> other in the night. Here's my big-picture take on Whitewall: it is
> the Orlanthi version of Thermopylae. A handful of defenders stand
> their ground and beat back everything the Empire throws at them -
> Shargashi beserks, the Granite Phalanx, and ultimately the dread
> Crimson Bat itself.
>
> Gloranthan history being repetitive, Whitewall is an analogy to the
> Battle of the Verge - except Broyan has a plan on how to cheat the
> Empire of even Pyhrric victory. But the theme of a handful of
> Orlanthi defenders stand their grand and take on everything a hostile
> world can throw at them appears time and time again in their history.
>
> Broyan, at the time of the siege of Whitewall, is the greatest
> Heortling hero of the time. He is marked as a Kodigvari, wields the
> Sword and Helm of Vingkot, has resurrected the Kingdom of the
> Hendrikings, and is the Last Orlanthi King. He should flee Whitewall.
> He certainly should not stand toe-to-toe against vastly superior
> forces. But he does just that - and does not submit, even in death or
> in Hell, to the Empire.
>
> That's the big picture. Everything else is game style. Roderick
> wants clever and wily tactics, I want grand mythological imagery. But
> that's a stylistic difference that I am happy to respect.
>
> What my players wanted was advice on how to defeat the Bat that they
> could give to King Broyan. I am running a game and if my characters
> aren't the center of the action, I like have them come up with the
> plan for the center of action. Sure it is hokey, but I like to keep
> the camera on my players - even if they aren't the most important folk
> around. And it helps give them some ownership of the victory or the
> defeat.
>
> Jeff
>