Ok so I stole this idea from an RPG.net thread titled "[4E] Chrono Trigger-ifying PoLand" specifically by a post by someone named the unconquered Shawn. Essentially I love the concept, and Am looking to expand the idea some more and build it into my own variation of the theme and wanted some ideas. Now that my premise is laid out and credit is given and everyone understands that this isn't my genious brainchild let's get to it:
Keep on the shadowfell: In episode 1, the pcs learn of an evil cult brewing in the town of Winterhaven, learn of kidnappings and the like and face cultists in the city. Learning the location of the Lair of the Cult leader they delve into the old fort where they encounter the crazed Spirit of the Knight of the keep. Eventually they descend upon the lower level and face the cultist and his dark portal only for the ritual he was casting to summon his lord to be interrupted. This causes a break in reality that sends the pcs back in time to the days of the keep, and they meet Sir Keegan and witness his descent into madness. They learn it is due to the Cult leader messing with his mind. They can stop him from becoming insane and attacking everyone and save his soul.
Thunder spire Labyrinth: They then learn the bad guy has fled to an old wizard sanctum in the nearby mountains and follow him there where he again engages them. This time he tries to lock them in a time bubble but splits himself through time and space. The pcs then must find and defeat the pcs of him in the Labyrinth.
Pyramid of Shadows: After facing his shades in the various parts of the Labyrinth they learn that some parts of him still exist back in various time bubbles. They use a ritual to recreate the portal home and seek out and destroy his incarnations… They do this with the help of a woman they encountered who worked with him but was betrayed by him and switches sides… they find that in the future she has been decapitated and reanimated and to get her help must deal with her body. Finally upon defeating the final version of the baddie they learn he was trying to summon his master to the world. The party must then deal with the unified baddie in which he is trying again to summon his boss. They defeat him again but are thrown through time again, with no sighn of their ally the woman… this time to a diseased and wasted land… use some dark sun maybe?
The pcs adventure around and figure out what’s going on and learn they are after the entity known as the Devourer has come and devoured the essence of the world. They learn that he did it in the “present” and vow to stop him they then venture into a desolate canyon of wild magic to invoke the ritual to get home.
The ritual doesn’t go as planned but instead sends them to a version of time that is futuristic, and in a steam punkish way. (Use Ebberon) and the Pcs learn that they are so far back in the timeline that they are before the first destruction of the world. They learn that the being known as the Devourer is actually a Proto-diety that exists here aswell, as evidenced by the people who worship it, the various nobles who exist… it is their worship of it that destroys their civilization when it is summoned the first time in a proto state and the pcs engage it and drive it back into the world to sleep until it is fully powered… the battle throws them into the future where they are in a primitive world full of savages and almost no magic or anything…
they learn of a woman who is a witch to her people who may be able to help them after they save a small tribe of proto elves from orcs. The woman who lives in a volcanic peak turns out to be the woman who helps the baddie then pcs later. She is here after being thrown here during their battle before. She uses the pcs magic and help to gather the stuff to go back to the present so they can throw down with the devourer who is a mighty demonic Being.
Anyway this mimics Chrono trigger pretty good overall but needs some more development. I was figuring someone might have some ideas that could really help tie it all together and any ideas for more iconic chrono trigger things that need to make an appearance. :P