Campaign Seed: Compassion for the Devil

The origins of the word "compassion" mean "to suffer with".

So, let's get to it. This is more a shell of an idea, a random inspiration if it is of use to anyone. Feel free to further develop it.

The campaign starts off in the early 2290s. The players are assigned to a patrol ship along the Klingon Neutral Zone, with the Organians apparently no longer enforcing the peace. Federation colonies suffer from a series of brutal raids from the Klingon Empire. The campaign begins with a couple of adventures protecting Federation outposts and should expose the characters to the savageness of the Klingon Empire, along with the deceit, broken promises, the way they exploit worlds, etc. The climax of phase one involves protecting a world, but at the cost of the characters' ship (something on the smallish side).

The season two opener involes the explosion of Praxis. While the Khitomer conference gets underway, the characters are reassigned to a vessel assigned to escort relief supplies to the Klingon Homeworld. They must deal with attempts by the Romulans to sabotage this effort - this effort to save the lives of these unworthy barbarians.

The series then continues, with the characters assigned to keep the peace in Klingon space. They have a couple of Klingon representatives aboard and they are assigned to a remote sector, bordering on Romulan Space. As part of the Khitomer Accords, the Federation is helping to preserve the Empire. An Empire which the Romulans see as ripe for the taking. The Klingon Empire is confronted by terrorism, rebelling subject states, former subjects armed by the Romulans, and the occasional Romulan raider. For good measure, many Klingon houses have "gone rogue" and there is a movement to "return to the ways of Kahless" and dismantle the direct rule by the military. Since this takes place in a remote sector, there is also plenty of exploration to be done.

Keeping things interesting is the supposed animosity the characters feel towards the Klingons. If season one is handled right, they shouldn't need much prodding. We want brutal murders by the hundred in season one. Add the fact that the Klingons do not exactly welcome help. But perhaps through Season Two the characters will find some value in the Klingons as they truly learn to work together. Season two has plenty of room for some Klingon PCs. An interesting idea for season one (which I view as a prelude) would be to alternate crews - adventure one the players run Starfleet officers, adventure two they run Klingons, etc.

Note - it should be obvious that this can be turned into a Dominion War/Post-War game by swapping Cardassians in.

Hmm. Intriguing! If the brutal murders are committed by the rogue Klingons, then make a point of having them murder in a manner that would be considered dishonourable by the mainstream. The TNG "Day of Honour" novel (can't remember the specific title) has Worf up against a group of dishonoured Klingons who work for a corrupt politician on a planet close to seceding from the UFP. Near the start of the story, they find a spaceliner where the Klingons have struck to prevent a witness escaping. The scene is... grisly to say the least. And it gets Worf worked up like hardly ever before - the thought that Klingon warriors could stoop this low...

Also, does "sympathy" have a similar meaning - I just like the idea of starting each gaming session by playing the Stones or Guns & Roses... :)

Don't forget the parts of Starfleet that would prefer an alliance with the Romulans to help them carve up Klingon space.

In fact many such factions could try to subvert this mission to start a war.

Personally I was in the 'finish them off' camp. Admirals are going to be arguing about whether to give the Klingons a hand up or a good kick while they're down.

What's the Fed policy toward the Empire's enslaved subjects? Free them all, that could be the reason we've only ever seen Klingons in TNG onward.