Gettin' Things Done in CoA
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I got asked something that is definately a good question, something that took me a while to master myself. I was asked "How is it someone goes about furthering a plot, personal goal or faction goal in the City of Arabel", and while I could give you some examples of how people have followed up on things like this in the past, instead I'll give you what (In my experience) is a guide to "How to get anything accomplished in CoA".
Firstly, regardless of what you're trying to do you're going to need a following of people willing to help you, which I believe your character has begun getting. (Which is definately a huge advantage!)
There are basically (once again, in my opinion) three ways to "get things done".
1. Completing DM plotlines: If your faction comes out on the winning end of an event, or a plot, as the driving force behind it, typically they'll be offered the chance at a reward, usually something they can choose. The larger the event or plot the larger the reward. As an example:
Say there's a DM event in which a powerful wizard is kidnapped by angry level 10 mice. After defeating the mice and freeing the wizard, the group is offered some loot and thanks from the wizard. Here's yoru chance to get something done!
If the majority of the group doing the event is in your faction, rather than accepting loot you could ask the mage for a favor. It could be something small like "Do some research for us, we want to know about evil item X". Or if it's a big plot you come out on the winning side of, for example the East Way Curse plot where the curse was broken by collecting all the pieces of the sword, the ball is in your court as to what you want. The Zhents bargained for a large chunk of the East Way to become Zhentarim lands.
The above is my person favorite method of accomplishing goals, or furthering plotlines.
2. Gain the favor of important PCs or Factions: If your faction sides with some DM faction or important PC, they might be able to wrangle up a favor. Aiding another faction in completing a plot (typically a full plot, not just an event) can have large benefits if your faction arranges for the reward ahead of time.
Say for example: Lady Lhal is kidnapped by evil level 10 mice, there's a large plot involving a mouse army and their mice-wizards that needs completion. Your faction sides with the Sheriffs, offering your support in locating and retrieving Queen Lhal from the evil Mouse King that wants to marry her. In exchange you get them to sign a contract giving your organization the authority of a peace official in all events involving mice (I'm assuming your goal somehow involves being powerhungry in this scenario). After proving that you were one of the major driving forces behind the conclusion of this plot and actively participating in not only events arranged by other factions, but arranging and creating events of your own that lead to victory, the PCs will likely honor their contract and your faction will be rewarded in what ever way you're asking for.
Another great way, in my opinion.
3. Hedge Magic: Through weeks of hard work you manage to collect or bargain your way into getting all the Hedge Magic reagents for a ritual, and through the completion of the ritual you gain some benefit for your group/individual goals through the efforts of your group.
Example: Say that your an evil level 10 mouse, and you're looking to cause harm to Arabel. So you inform the DM team of your intent, gather up your mouse minions and open up a portal to Mouse-World, battling your way through the demon-mice and besting their demon mouse Lord in combat. In exchange for his life you command him to attack Arabel with his evil level 10 mouse army.
This is my least favorite method. Although it is perfectly valid, I perfer to use Hedge Magic as part of the effort to complete either option 1 or 2.
Following this guide I've created might not be the only way to get things done, but it is a way to see your concept's goals, or your faction's goals get advanced or accomplished if you find yourself asking "I like my concept's goals, but can't figure out how to actively go about making them come true".
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4. Involving others: On CoA, it's not the goals that matter, but how you go about achieving them. Your goals can be boring, impossible or strange - if working for them makes things fun for you and for others (be they participating as allies, enemies or something in between), then you're doing it right. The more people you involve in an entertaining way, the likelier you are to get DM attention and rewards.
Not to be confused with Point 2.
Example: You want to discover the best recipe for mouse pie. For this you need many mice to experiment on, so you set a bounty on them, spurring many adventurers to go mouse hunting. The Mickey Mouse Club takes offense at the mouse slaughter and becomes your enemy, seeking to thwart you at every turn. In the meanwhile, you set out to explore ancient ruins in hopes of finding old recipes. For this you make a deal with a guy named Indiana Jones and his band of rag-tag adventurers. They help you explore the dangerous ruins and in return get all the treasure, as long as you get to keep the cookbooks.
At this point you realize that you are running out of money fast. You grudgingly make a deal with the only man who believes in your dream (and is filthy rich). Unfortunately, this man is an overly fat mage with terrifyingly low HP, and his one stipulation for sponsoring you is that he accompany you on your dangerous ruins explorations. You start hiring bodyguards like it's going out of style, just to keep your sponsor safe from the dangers of the ruins and the attacks of the Mickey Mouse Club.Sometime during all this, a DM notices that half the server is involved in your plot one way or another - and more importantly, they are having fun. The next time you explore the ruins, you find yourself fighting dozens of skeleton waiters and curst cooks. You prevail and in the end discover the ancient Cookbook of Catwoman.
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Just wanted to bump #2 again.
I can't begin to express how often I give out a task to PCs from an NPC like "Animate me an undead army", then the PCs go to every NPC on the server hoping for step by step instruction.
But when they save the Lord High-God of Necromancy from some paladins no one thinks to ask for help animating their undead army and a half an hour later they're back to asking me to possess Sanders for tips on animating undead armies.
Take advantage of the opportunities we give you!
If you're out doing interesting things with people in interesting places you're going to be given opportunities, don't waste them.
