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hope this is in the area.
Like the subject says, I'm the new GM. Currently, I have a group of 6 players, who are all veterans. Unfortunately, I have several problems that I need some help with.
So far, I have a kobold gunslinger, a gnome cleric, a gnome oracle, and a dwarf barbarian. There was also a bard and an alchemist that are now both dead. Right now they are being by a bard Halfling and a summoner gnome.
A bit of back story of what has happened so far in the game;
Right now, the "target" of Foxglove rage is the barbarian. Up until now I've tried to go with the book and get things rolling to start foreshadowing the horror to come, but I feel that I have not done a good job of that. Do you have any tips or hints that might help?
Also, right now the group has killed king goblin king and have burned down his fort. But in the ensuing massacre, the party were spilt apart having the cleric and the oracle was on the other side of the bridge. The barbarian, gunslinger, bard, and the alchemist had headed down the stairs do to the fire that was raging around them to the second level.
The party was not ready and both the bard and an alchemist have died, the gunslinger was saved by the oracle after the fire had smoldered out, however the barbarian was the only one that made it out alive. They only made it the second level of that part and had to run.
I think I might know how to get the character back to the fort but I’m not one hundred percent sure.
Here is my thought, I might have one of the hired hands of that (2) level get caught by Hemlock militia. They found stuff on the hire person regarding some the 3rd level, but not too much information about the layout, also I might have it were the third level is empty except for the monster. Plus, I thought to have the murder mystery kick off, and have the barbarian, who is the one who saved him in the first place, be blamed for murder.
thank you for any advice.
First off, congratulations on trying your hand at GMing! It can be daunting, but hopefully you're having fun. I see a couple issues in your post: 1) Bringing the group back to investigate the third level of Thistletop. 2) Foreshadowing what's to come in the next book of the Adventure Path.
I see a lot of options.
Hemlock could hire the PCs to recover the bodies of the dead heroes. These were heroes of Sandpoint, and they'd like to honor their dead. The new PCs will accompany the survivors back to recover the bodies of those that died at Thistletop, discovering that there is a whole floor below them.
If you've already brought back the bodies, one way that I used to get my group back to Thistletop to deal with Malfeshnekor was to tap Brodert Quink, the resident sage of Sandpoint. Him hearing that there is very likely an undiscovered Thassilonian ruin sitting underneath Thistletop will prompt him to want to explore it, immediately. Depending on your group's dynamic, he could hire them to escort him. With my group, I told them that he was going, and they insisted on going along to make sure that he was safe.
A third option, you have your Barbarian, or anyone else who's been demonstrating some wrath points start to dream about the beast below Thistletop. If they're experienced gamers, they'll understand that it's a hook. If they ignore it, you make the dreams creepier: Now there are visions of the beast released and Magnimar burning. Describe that due to the nightmares, the character wakes up fatigued and they'll definitely have incentive to figure it out.
I find that simple foreshadowing works best. Think about horror movies, the two elements that create suspense are timing, and background. Describe the fact that a cold Autumn rain has descended on the area. Everything is gray and muddy. Describe how they're drenched to their skin as they travel. Lightning and thunder. Or a fog. Think of all of the Jack the Ripper movies showing images of the cloaked man walking through the streets in the fog. Appeal to their senses.
One thing that this adventure path does well is that the Sihedron Rune does a lot of foreshadowing for what's to come. I made Brodert somewhat obsessed with the rune to make use of him as a red herring. They've seen the Sihedron on the prison for Malfeshnekor, on Nualia's necklace - which, likely, one of the party members may be wearing.
I had Sheriff Hemlock call the PC who was wearing the rune into questioning as it seemed too much of a coincidence that they were wearing the symbol that was carved into the bodies. Along with Ven Vinder accusing our rogue of befouling one daughter and killing the other, and the fact that admittedly backwoods people are starting to fear how powerful the PCs are getting, it should provide the proper motivation for them to investigate to ensure that they aren't falsely accused and strung up or burnt at the stake.
I hope those ideas help, and best of luck!!!
