Campaign: The Bishop’s War
“The northerners build up many defenses against the chill of their native land, robust settlements, far-ranging ships, and stirring liturgy. Such a shame all those things are flammable… “
Setup: Far to the north, beyond the reach of kings and most erstwhile empires there is a lonely realm called Jaatibaine, ruled over by a succession of Bishop Princess, this enclave of faith is hidden in a vast heathen wilderness.
Tension between the serfs, Bishop, and warrior nobility have come to a head in recent years, resulting in a chaotic outbreak of violence and warring factions that have torn the normally peaceful and insular bishopric apart.
As armies, brigands, and worse sweep across the land, burning settlements as they go, it seems that there is nowhere safe to hide from the conflict. With winter worsening and no peace in sight, one wonders if the bishopric of Jaatibaine will survive till spring, or if something else will flower from its cold ashes.
Chaos means good profit for mercenaries, and there are riches to be wrung out of this wounded land if one doesn’t mind a bit of frostbite. One of the local countesses is looking to protect her lands with foreign sellswords that won’t be swayed by popular peasant causes or the call of faith, but that’s not to say there isn’t other work for an enterprising party spilling a little blood on the snow.
Already a danger in and of itself, a large peasant rabble has gone full marauder, striking settlements seemingly with the intent of stealing or destroying their winter stores. Are these raiders simply desperate, proxies for someone looking to accelerate the conflict, or is there something more sinister at work? Either way, the party is left with a town full of refugees and an army of marauders on the way.
Tired of the slaughter and injustice, a band of warriors has begun sheltering the dispossessed and rallying swords to their banner, loudly proclaiming their interest in neutrality and a common peace. Possibly just bandits with good PR, possibly the only sane faction in a continent full of warmongers, the party will need to decide their opinion on this warband before their allies decide for them.
blakekathryn
snowghoul
ellievsbear
tangentwithtanner
yousharknotpass
