So I'm about to start running a campaign on Fridays at my high school with some pretty experienced gamers and I'm looking to use this thread as a place to get ideas for missions rather than the campaign structure. However, all suggestions are appreciated.
The campaign takes place on an older plane that recently became inhabited. On the original plane lack of resources drove several factions through portals created by Moroden Slate, an archmage in the employ of the Lords of the Spires (the rulers of the newly created kingdom). The portals lead to a new prime material plane and no one wasted time setting up kingdoms. As it stands, there are three major factions in the world. The humans who have conquered large tracts of hills and marsh, the dwarves who control the mountains (duh), and the elves who have taken over several large island chains (think Pacific islands with cities like Mercadia in Magic). Now, after about a hundred years of squabbling and land grabbing, the humans have begun to organize expeditions into the seas.
One scout ship has reported seeing shore about 2 months away by ship, perhaps less by elven dirigible. An expedition has already set out to scout the coast and many more are already lined up to leave. The PCs will eventually end up on a ship headed to the new continent but not until they're about 5th level.
The PCs will start out in Diamond Lake and will run through a possibly abridged version of Whispering Cairn. From there they will likely travel to the large human city, Rayven. I'll keep updating this thread with additional information about the campaign. Thanks for your anticipated input everyone!
If you want the pacific island atmosphere, check out the adventures of Savage Tide. Especially The Sea Wyvern's Wake.
Good luck with the new campaign!
I'd suggest an adventure in which they have a chance to obtain a cool vessel for the journey. It's fun if they have to acquire it or the services of its crew.
Rayven is a huge city with tons of buildings and residents. Think France or Germany for atmosphere. Tons of tall towers with many bridges, gargoyles, and spires of all types. The city also has a large sewer system and many bridges between towers. Any ideas for cool encounters? Keeping with the central and western Europe feel, I was thinking of something with a springheel from Dragon magazine becomes somewhat of a hero among the poor as he kills yuppies.
Also worth mentioning are two new types of gargoyles I'm creating for this campaign. The first is the Grotesque which is a smaller gargoyle with the power to spray jets of water from its mouth. The second is the Garguile which is a smarter, angel shaped gargoyle who is proficient with several weapons and can use some spell-like abilities.
The multiverse works kind of differently in this campaign. There is no blood war. The demons makes deals with the devils who them process their souls. All the different outsiders hate each other but must work in concert to keep the multiverse running. A demon might make a deal for a mortal's soul and if that mortal doesn't pay up an inevitable will show up to force him to comply. Another note is the increase of Pazuzu's power. He is my favorite demon lord and will play a big part in the campaign. Any mortal can call his name for a wish and his cult is steadily growing. Any thoughts?
On the new continent will be a lost civilization setup. There will be a few remnants of the forgotten civilization. I'm thinking they worshiped one god with two aspects (day/night?) and a religious split kicked off a war that ended the race. Any thoughts?
Interesting settings for city backgrounds:
- China Mieville's Basg-Lag
- Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar/Newhon
- Sanctuary from Thieves World
Also try this link:
101 encounters
The above link will help you actually just take encounters wholesale, and several of them are urban encounters that I think will be helpful. I have used lythia's free downloads a lot, and actually some of the writing there is better than the published material I've paid for!
The encounters include affairs of honour, damesels in distress, mysterious cult like activity, kidnapping, guild conflict and so on. While most as mini adventures or encounters would be suitable more for low level characters in D&D there's no reason why they can't be used as npc introductions, or as hooks for adventures.
The gargoyle idea is nice. What would be kind of cool if you're using the gothic European motiff is to have them actually on the buildings and for some important or significant buildings to have the actual monsters instead of just statues. Maybe imitators want people to THINK they have gargoyles. Maybe they're even relatively rare and no one can be sure if the gargoyles are watching and listening, or if they're just statues. Or you could leave it all just a big mystery, get the pcs used to the idea of 'yeah, there are gargoyle statues on the buildings. No, we tried 'detect magic' a dozen times. It's all baloney. Hey, did that one move....?"
The gargoyle idea is nice. What would be kind of cool if you're using the gothic European motiff is to have them actually on the buildings and for some important or significant buildings to have the actual monsters instead of just statues. Maybe imitators want people to THINK they have gargoyles. Maybe they're even relatively rare and no one can be sure if the gargoyles are watching and listening, or if they're just statues. Or you could leave it all just a big mystery, get the pcs used to the idea of 'yeah, there are gargoyle statues on the buildings. No, we tried 'detect magic' a dozen times. It's all baloney. Hey, did that one move....?"
What if a council of Garguiles ran the thieves guild composed of both humans and various gargoyles (i have the book with the updated margoyles and such.) Do you know any other monsters who would fit well in the city? I'm an Irish mythology buff, not a French or German one so this is sort of uncharted territory for me.
First try at Garguile:
Garguile CR 7
Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Earth, Gargoyle)
HD: 6d8+24 (48 hp)
Init: +11
Spd: 40’, Fly (Perfect) 80’
AC: 25 (+7 Dex, +8 natural armor), touch 18, Flat-footed 17
Atk: +12 +1 keen longsword (1d8+5/17-20)
Full Atk: +12/+7 +1 keen longsword (1d8+5/17-20)
SQ: Freeze, DR 15/Magic, Darkvision 60’, Low-light vision, King of the Night, Gargoyle Lord, Fortification, Spell-like Abilities
SV: Fort +6, Ref +12, Will +7
Abilities: STR 19, DEX 24, CON 18, INT 12, WIS 15, CHA 17.
Skills: Bluff +11*, Hide +10, Intimidate +11*, Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5
Feats: Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Special Qualities:
Freeze (Ex): A Garguile can hold itself so still it appears to be a statue. An observer must succeed at a Spot check (DC 20) to notice the gargoyle is really alive.
King of the Night (Ex): Garguiles become deadly hunters at night. During the night hours, a Garguile gains a +10 bonus on Hide checks, his Darkvision extends to 180’, and he gains Fast Healing 5.
Gargoyle Lord (Ex): Garguiles are the natural leaders of the gargoyle race and as such all monstrous humanoids with the gargoyle subtype gain immunity to fear and +2 on all attack rolls and saves.
Fortification (Ex): Garguiles have thicker skin than most of their kind. When a Garguile is subject to a critical hit or sneak attack, there is a 50% chance that the Garguile will not be affected. This is similar to the immunities constructs have.
Spell-like Abilities: At-will/ fog cloud ; 1/day displacement, vampiric touch ;CL 6
If it is of any help, the french for gargoyle is Gargouille.
The name comes from the noise water is making through its throat.
From the myth, they were supposed to actually be guardians of holy sites, such as cathedrals, protecting them from evil spirits. They had ugly shapes to scare them.
If it is of any help, the french for gargoyle is Gargouille.
The name comes from the noise water is making through its throat.
From the myth, they were supposed to actually be guardians of holy sites, such as cathedrals, protecting them from evil spirits. They had ugly shapes to scare them.
That's the other kind of gargoyle i was thinking of making. Called a grotesque.