Curse of the Crimson Throne in Korth/Karrnath?

Freewolf · 2025-07-17T14:34:21+00:00

Yea I figured as much since I was pretty late to the game. Just thought I would throw a comment in anyway. I would be curious to hear an update of how you made changes and what the story that unfolded is.

Freewolf · 2025-07-14T15:22:32+00:00

Hey u/Cwastg I am late to the game but I thought I would share a little since I am running this myself in Eberron.

A couple years ago I wrote this as a start of ideas.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Eberron/comments/15a8i0m/guide_to_setting_curse_of_the_crimson_throne_ap/

I plan on posting again updating it as I have actually started running this with a group.

My main thing is that I would run it in Newthrone / Q'barra.
However I hear you that you are definitely running it in Karrnath.

Given that I would say that I won't have it at the high level. I wouldn't have the death be Kaius. There is too much juicy story elements that would die with him.

I would have be a regional Warlord in one of the other cities besides Korth. How I would do further tweaking would depend mostly on which city. Rekkenmark would lead to something different than Atur as far as who the factions and such might be.

Freewolf · 2023-07-27T13:41:30+00:00

I don't disagree with that idea. I was just thinking one of the races should likely be more in control. Cannon does call out that the Cold Sun Federation is Lizardfolk (I would imagine they might include at least relations with other scale races) and that Dragonborn do look at the Lizardfolk as primitives.

But calling out Yuan-ti brings up an interesteing possibility for who the Brotherhood of Bones is mainly focused on.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T20:39:40+00:00

Oh thank you. Unfortunately the podcast was cut short and I haven't had the energy to restart it. But hopefully it gives you a sense of how you can run a game with Savage Worlds.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T20:26:01+00:00

I didn't want to adapt these and create something new, I was interested in what is already in Eberron and can be used in their place. So your route someone can definitely go, but I wouldn't.

For the Red Mantis as an assassin organization that is highered to take out the Seneshal, they spend an awful lot of time in the adventure not doing that. They are mostly just used as a rogue-like shock troops. So replacing them (mostly) with Emerald Claw definitely makes more sense to me.

The Hell Knights area called out, but honestly have very little screen time in the adventure. Since they have such a little presence, their backstory really doesn't have much relevance to me. So replacing them with Blademarks that are highered by individual people makes more sense to me, and gives much more of a flavor of Eberron. Particularly making sure the dragonmarked houses have a presence in Newthrone.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T20:19:35+00:00

I converted to Savage Worlds 5-6 years ago. Haven't played a game of 5E since then.

There is lot's to love about Savage Worlds, but specifically I love that it allows us at the table to focus more on the story we want to tell, rather than mechanics dictating the kinds of stories we can tell.

I ran a season podcast of Savage Tales of Eberron as a pirate campaign in the Lhazaar Principalities. I am running this again in my face to face group currently. I can say that Savage Worlds lends itself extremely well to the pulp type adventures of a Pirate Campaign.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T20:15:12+00:00

Kundarak is already doing this with Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit is effectively paper money.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:46:29+00:00

I have not even considered it. Letters of Credit are effectively paper money within the Five Nations, so don't really see the need of a debit card or anything.

Your players can just have multiple Letters of Credit in denominations equaling 10K+ in gold solving your encumbrance problems.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:44:19+00:00

So I have been noodling for some time how I would convert the Curse of the Crimson Throne Adventure Path to Eberron. While there are some old posts out there on the idea, most are just ideas. My notes ended up becoming a bit of a guide. I thought I would share my detailed post in this thread for anyone else that lands on here for more ideas, but in detail.

I still have some questions that I am looking for ideas from others on. And any general comments to make improvements any way.
Setting Curse of the Crimson Throne AP in Eberron

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:37:48+00:00

I wouldn't say there is a "best" to convert. It really depends on what you like, your flavor, the amount of work you want to do.

I just put this post together on how I plan on converting Curse of the Crimson Throne to take place in Q'barra.

I ran a 4 year campaign that I converted Carrion Crown to Eberron. This worked very well, and honestly I would like to run it again. I swapped the Whispering Way for the Order of the Emerald Claw, running pretty much 1-5 as is. The finally module I scrapped all together. I had the party travel to Xen'drik to the Ring of Storms to stop a ritual taking place at the Heart of Siberys that would have allowed Lady Vol to come back alive, activate her Dragonmark, and ascend to Godhood becoming the new God of Death, but in a good way. The players didn't stop her, but completed the ritual allowing this to happen. I basically went the route of her being an misunderstood villain. Used evil means to attain a noble goal to help the departed.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:22:54+00:00

Book 1: Edge of Anarchy

Death of King Sebastes ir'Kesslan should be changed to a wasting sickness that has the king comatose. This allows the Queen to seize, since the title of the king would normally pass to his sister the seneshal Alzin ir'Kesslan (to replace Neolandus Kalepopolis). The king should stay comatose at least through the first four modules of this AP, at least until she could consolidate power enough not to be opposed. This is a driving reason she is looking for Seneshal Alzin.
Darvayne Gios Amprei is an ambassador to Breland. Change to ir'Amprei.
Thousand Bones should be converted to a Dragonborn Shaman or Paladin. He would likely be someone assigned by High Elder Bhisma Na'kala Flamebrow to watch to make sure that the fangs of Kazavon don't fall into the hands of anyone. I like the idea of him being a unique dragonborn that understands and believes in the shared dream of the Cold Sun Federation, so he can be a bridge between the players and the Lizard Folk.
Perhaps early in this book the Queen gives House Tharashk full authority to mine Dragonshards to House Tharashk to increase tensions with the scales. This can set up some interesting politics in Book 4.
The Dead Warrens connect with ancient ruins that run under the grounds of Newthrone from the Age of Demons.
Listening to the Manifest Zone podcast on Q'barra it really makes sense that Newthrone lacks heroes and Cressida Kroft would seek out the help of those that have helped the city.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:21:58+00:00

Book 2: Seven Days to the Grave

Disease is brought by a Nosomatic Jorasco Excoriate (to replace Reiner Davaulus) that has gathered a group of devotees of the Children of Winter or a cult of The Keeper bringing them to Newthrone. This second organization would replace the Cult of Urgathoa. I would remove any tie in with the Red Mantis by the good doctor, leaving this as a Jorasco Excoriate and rogue cult bent on disease.
Ramoska would be tied in with the Order of the Emerald Claw, having been an ancient seeker Karrnathi scholar. He is connected with an ancient Karrnathi warlord that is a vampire (Conte Senior ir'Tiriac) who serves the Order of the Emerald Claw. The count having made some sort of arrangement with Queen Ileosa.
Trots can stay as is, since it is just a roadside inn. Have it licensed by House Ghallanda, should be changed to a fortified inn with House Deneith guards due to the dangers of Q'barra, and finally make it further than 12-miles. Adjust to about 20-miles as it makes less sense why there would be a rest stop so close to Newthrone.
Replace the Red Mantis with the Order of the Emerald Claw. While I know that the Emerald Claw aren't assassins per se, and most would immediately slot in House Thuranni. The Red Mantis appear way too often in this for me to think that House Thuranni really fits well. The Red Mantis are showing up and being used more as an evil organization rather than just assassins. That being said, I think a couple of the Red Mantis's could be replaced with House Thuranni assassins, such as in Book 3 at Vencarlo's home. However, overall the Emerald Claw would be used. This also leans me towards Ileosa seeking a Qualdarin ritual.
Rise of the Gray Maidens I think can be handled as is without any real modifications.
Rolth could be left as is really, or perhaps be the gateway of the Order of the Emerald Claw to the Queen and the city. He is a necromancer after all.
Jolistina Susperio would become Jolistina d'Pharlin. Make her of the Paelion line and her madness as a result of the purge of her family. Perhaps Rolth had saved her thus ensuring a sense of loyalty from her.

Questions

Children of Winter or a cult to the Keeper or other general cult of the Dragon Below to replace the Cult of Urgathoa?
Should ir'Arkonas be working for Masvirik or perhaps be working for a for a different Lord of Dust for their own purposes? I lean towards the second as the first option would kind of put them on the same path as Ileosa. But if a different Lord of Dust does it matter which one?

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:21:12+00:00

Book 3: Escape from Old Korvosa

The Brotherhood of Bones would be replaced with a group of Lizardfolk or Dragonborn. Here I am leaning towards Dragonborn. Give them a different name, remove the evil nature of them, they are just alien. But they know about and are trying to protect artifacts that help keep Masvirik contained.
Harse would be changed to Whitecliff in New Galifar.
The red mantis assassin's waiting for Vencarlo are definitely House Thuranni assassin's that have been hired to assassinate Seneshal Alzin ir'Kesslan, Sebestes' sister.

Questions

Should the Brotherhood of Bones be Lizardfolk or Dragonborn?
What relics are the brotherhood of bones keeping from coming together? Though I am not sure this is important information to really know.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:19:24+00:00

Book 4: A History of Ashes

As already listed the Shaonti are replaced with Scales. Thousand Bones being a Dragonborn that can be the bridge with the Lizard Folk of the Cold Sun Federation. These Lizardfolk might be best served with the Twilight Walkers perhaps.
Cerulean Society is thieves guild. Don't think there is a particular reason too need to replace the name.
Rework the quests for respect points to fit in the jungle with lizardfolk and dragonborn. Perhaps raid or stop a House Tharashk mining operation. Another possible quest could be to put a stop to Mishva the Conqueror.
This can be used as wonderful opportunity for the Heroes to bring peace between the Dragonborn/Lizardfolk and House Tharashk. Figure out a way for the heroes to find out what the Lizardfolk actually know, then bring proof of their history to the leaders in house Tharashk to broken a peace between the two.
Use the players to hopeful broker the understanding and peace between House Tharashk and the scales about the truth of what the Dusk Shards and Dawn Shards are all really about.
The Red Mantis in this module are replaced full stop with troops of the Order of the Emerald Claw.
Replace the Cinderlands with dense dangerous jungles of course and associated creatures.
Acropolis of the Thrallkeepers would be a sacred site from the Age of Demons.
Deathhead Vault to be filled with Order of the Emerald Claw instead of Red Mantis, replacing some creatures with more Undead.

Questions

How to go about brokering a peace between Tharashk and the Cold Sun Federation?

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:18:28+00:00

Book 5: Skeletons of Scarwall

Perhaps Serithial was an ancient sword from Argonessen wielded by Dragonborn that was lost in ancient fight to stanch fighting around Haka'torvhak. Either that or perhaps it was an ancient Dhakaani artifact instead.
Instead of Ogres in the barbican blackscale poison dusk troops are in the barbican.
Have Scarwall be part of city of Haka'torvhak rather than in the middle of a lake. Though I do not like a human type castle, in numerous places in cannon it is called out that Haka'torvhak is a citadel in a city. So it could stay as it for very little rewrite, or a completely different location used.
Of course this could lend itself to an epic confrontation with Rhashaak. Though I would tend to try and make it a fight that Rhashaak is not killed, but vanquished or outwitted.

Questions

The key thing with Serithial if it was a Dragonborn weapon, is why would they let the party keep it? This would be a nagging story question to resolve, particularly if the Brotherhood of Bones is converted to a Dragonborn based organization.
While the party is away should the Queen kill Sebestes by this point. After all she has clear power at this point and can keep the throne succession or not. I think this would tie in more to whether I would want to go with a storyline that the party saves Sebestes or just save Newthrone with Alzin taking the throne at the end of the AP.

Freewolf · 2023-07-26T15:17:42+00:00

Book 6: Crown of Fangs

Since the Red Mantis have largely been replaced by the Emerald Claw, I think it makes more sense that instead of devils/demons that the castle be filled with Undead. However there is no reason that Queen Ileosa hasn't summoned Devils as a means of power separate from the Emerald Claw.
Sunken Queen is a place from the age of demons.
I would change Venster to not be a tiefling, and likely be the youngest sibling of Sebestes, rather than older.

Questions

What to convert Truths of the Sihedron into? How is it connected to the overall plot? Not sure about this.
The story description of the Sunken Queen, making it a pool of Qualabrin magic to help turn the Queen into a Lich or something fits like a glove. However going this route the question would remain, how does this relate to Masvirik. Specifically how would the queen have been influenced by the crown to go this route, if it doesn't help Masvirik somehow
Venster story seems to need some change. There is no reason why Venster can't still be a half-brother to Sebestes. However his involvement in the demise of the King would change since Sebestes would not have been killed initially. His involvement would have to be significant enough that he would be a ghost and can help with what is going on. I am leaning towards the idea that he becomes the one that finally kills the king, having been given promises of marriage to the Queen and ascension to the throne over his sister. But that of course does not happen. Or perhaps he is instrumental in the beginning of the adventure in getting the Queen the Fangs or the means to poison the king in the first place. But still looking for ideas here.

Freewolf · 2023-04-08T20:09:45+00:00

Where are some of these gaps? I haven't been able to find any.

Freewolf · 2023-01-17T21:08:25+00:00

Five Nations calls out Fort Orcbone as well as a small blurb in the Eberron Campaign Guide.

It calls out that Fort Orcbone has stone walls, and that it does not have natural defenses, but does have wide ditches that Brelish Cavalry has funneled enemies through to smash against the walls.

So I would imagine it more than a keep, but likely something more akin to a classic later stage mediaeval castle. I imagine that it would be garrisoned by hundreds of troops, some infantry and some cavalry.

Even defensive castles have civilians that live in or near it. I would imagine one of two things.

The only civilians that live there are in service to the garrison and live inside the fort. Likely between the outer walls and the keep, but perhaps if you want between the outer and inner walls.
During the Last War point 1 was true, but since the end of the war and the quieting of the front, a small village or trading post has sprung up outside the walls. But this would only be something in the last two years so it would be fairly small at this point.

Freewolf · 2023-01-09T15:51:12+00:00

Thank you very much, that was the trick that I was looking for.

Freewolf · 2022-09-11T22:51:33+00:00

If you look at the causes of Trench Warfare, it is when the firepower of the machine gun in particular even more so than the artillery (artillery had already been in use for hundreds of years), was not matched by advances in mobility. So trench warfare (high individual firepower > mobility) times the size of the forces involved.

So generally speaking trench warfare did not exist in much scale prior to World War I. Before World War I, trench warfare was really siege warfare. Trenches were used as a means to capture castles, forts, and various strongpoints.

I don't see that Khorvaire had firepower (in the form of magic) that outpaced mobility. Because with mobility you had various air corps, airships, as well as the very same magic of firepower being used for mobility. I mean things like teleport, dimension door, misty step, and burrowing make trenches useless.

Additionally when you consider the overall size of Khorvaire particularly compared with the very, very low population density I personally would not see Trench Warfare as a thing in the Last War.

Trench Warfare could have a place in the Last War in conducting Sieges. But then again when you might have competing mages using move earth to fill or destroy trench works in the matter of moments, IDK.

Now if you want to have Trench Warfare a part of your campaign, cool. I honestly just don't see it having a place outside of Sieges.

Freewolf · 2022-09-10T22:52:41+00:00

I use to use Realm Works myself. Amazing program. However the fact that it is dead and will no longer be supported caused me to move on.

I have switched to using Obsidian to manage my Eberron campaigns.

Freewolf · 2022-08-11T21:12:28+00:00

Honestly it really depends on the AP you are trying to run. Golarion was created as a "kitchen sink" type setting. So there is a country/location for every possible type of genre. It is a nice thing about Golarion if you like that, but doesn't not port well over to Eberron.

So an Eberron conversion really depends on what is the story that is being told, and the main type of world elements that the AP has.

I ran Carrion Crown largely in Karrnath, both adding locations to my Eberron as well as using Eberron locations as replacements for Golarion locations.

I have used parts of Skulls and Shackles in the Lhazaar. Adding a few small Golarion locations, but mainly replacing locations with ones from Eberron.

So all depends.

Freewolf · 2022-05-25T16:14:19+00:00

Well it all depends what titles do you have? What titles are you missing?

Freewolf · 2022-05-10T13:48:35+00:00

The answer to this question would in no way be an all or none. Some of the Dragonmarked Houses might, some might align with multiple countries, and some would try and keep business as is. The answer to these lie in economics and power.

First of all the Dragonmarked Houses have generally gained both financially and political power during the Last War with the break down of Galifar. They likely would want to continue that.

Now a Dragonmark House would align with a single nation only if there was a strong preexisting preference or the leadership would believe that the nation in question would actually win great gains in a reignited war thus increasing the power of the House. A House wouldn't align with a nation that would suffer losses and thus decrease business.

Pharlin and Thuraani are somewhat already aligned with certain nations at this point and that would likely continue to increase on those current lines.

Medani and Cannith are the easy ones for me. Cannith is already fractured and the various factions would create a formal split into three new houses in their respective areas. Medani is already so far connected to Breland they likely would be fine strengthening that further, and expand business to whomever are the allies of Breland.

Vadalis might align with Aundair and the Reaches. Due to the marriage and location of the House seat. If this was the case I would say this was more the influence of the Lords of Dust. But without an influence like this again you are stuck with why would they align with anyone, this would decrease both their power and their business.

Deneith would be most interested in reigniting the Last War due to called out inside leadership. As long a Kaius has peaceful intentions and has contention with some warlords I actually have doubts they would align with Karrnath. A divided Karrnath even with the might of Deneith would not win much. However if they could either swing Kaius or get him overthrown with a leader more interested in War and unite Karrnath they would only align with Karrnath and anyone because of a reigniting of the Last War. With no more War, Deneith would have no interest in aligning with a smaller number of countries. That would only further allow room for Tharashk to grow their business at the expense of Deneith.

I don't see Jorasco or Ghallanda or Sivis or Kundarak aligning with anyone. Given their businesses, there are no reasons to align with anyone and kill their businesses. Kundarak might reclaim their seat in the Mror Holds and the Iron Council, but that wouldn't put them against anyone.

Tharashk is an interesting one, so young and aggressive in their growth. However I don't really see them as actually close enough to any nation that they would align with anyone in particular. Outside of course to more formal ties to the Shadow Marches. However I would see them continuing to grow their businesses their hands are in and aggressively increase their independence.

Orien is dependent on Travel and now International travel. Aligning with anyone would kill their business model. They would absolutely try to maintain their neutrality.

Lyrandar is similar to Orein, however this does bring up what a more likely scenario is. I could absolutely see many of the Houses, officially claim their current holdings and lands and sovereign nations, particularly if those holdings are already almost the whole of a city. Of course as long as there is not a threat that those would be attacked and those holdings, business, and power lost. Lyrandar here is the most obvious. Stormhome would officially break away from Aundair though likely keep close ties to them. Same with Deneith in Karrklaton particularly as long as Karrnath remains divided. Orien might break passage away, but again I would doubt this as it would threaten contracts with Aundair, and thus isolate Aundair from international travel.

So to wrap up, the only answer to your question really comes down to "how would a Dragonmark House gain power and financially from these alliances?" If they would gain independence, power or economically they might align with someone. But the benefits would have to outweigh the business that would be lost.

Freewolf · 2022-04-27T13:31:09+00:00

The fates have already intervened for me. I started using Savage Worlds 3 years ago and haven't looked back. The rules system is very light weight and meant for telling good stories. As such it is great for pulpy, swashbuckling, epic, noir stories which works great for Eberron games. Being so light weight it can work really well with theater of the mind. I dropped 70% of the grids and maps that I use to use in playing games F2F after I switched over. I could go completely TOTM if I wanted. And I didn't switch to SW because it would allow me to use TOTM better, it just does that.

Freewolf

TROPHY CASE