Hi used in my campaign the Harrowing the flowing way:
The Harrowing replacing Wake of the Watcher
1 Hooks
This section shows how the Modules are normally connected with each other.
1.1 Broken Moon
After defeating Vrood, the characters find the Carrion Poem and some cyptic notes (Linguistic DC30) that instructs him to: “They also direct him to send the Seasage Effigy to the town of Thrushmoor as part of a trade for a second object whose nature remains undisclosed.”
In addition to that if “questioned” by the Ghost of the Inn keep they see the following Vision: “The chests are given to two riders in dark cloaks on pale horses. “Ride to Thrushmoor,” the PCs hear Vrood’s voice speak. “Our agent will exchange the Effigy for the relic we need.””
1.2 Wake of the Watcher
The Characters find the Ravens Head in G8 (Description Page 55).
The Note found with the dead rider (G11) and in his procession the letter that sais: “…join your partners in Caliphas..” and is signed A.A.
1.3 Ashes at Dawn
The PC’s are intercepted by the Headless rider that used locate Object on the Raven Head.
2 Changes to Harrowing
2.1 Summary
Adivion send the dark Rider to get the Ravens Head. The Ravens Head dosnt exist anymore in this realm but only in the stories of old. He found out that Sonnorae created a story realm and that object in that realm are real. So he came up with a plan. He knows from the stories that the Zassrion the dragon is always searching for the “Face of Dragon” (its actually Dagon in WotW) which is the Seasage Effigy (or so he hopes). He found that All-Seeing Hajeck holds the Sonnorae Deck and send a Dark Rider after her as to gain access to the Story Realm. However he didn’t realized that he Rider may not be able to get back.
Zassrion imprisoned the Dark Rider and he eventually died in his cell still holding the Ravens Head. The Seasage Effigy is still in Zassrion procession. As he is a StoryKin, he exchanged the artefact with the Dark Rider several times, however he forgot about it, leaving the Dark Rider to die in his prison.
2.2 Foreplay
To start off we will add some foreplay encounter to Harrowing to build a nice bridge. We will take the Encounter 1 from WotW and use it. As the characters arrive in Thrushmoor they will search for the Riders, and the PC’s should end up in the stables, where Encounter1 takes place. The same mods as disused in PartOne (WotW Page9 upper right) can be used to get information of the Riders whereabouts, however use the following:
DC Info
15 Two riders matching that description came through town a day or so ago, but they didn’t stay long.
20 The Riders left with different horses
25 The Riders Changed houses
After the ambush the PC’s find a Ticket to the Umbra Carnival in the pocket of Clanartus Viliras. With this the PC’s should be able to find out the following:
DC Info
15 The Carnival is a traveling show that was here but they packed up their tents some 2days ago
20 The where freaks and some funny acts, however the Harrower REALY gave me the shakes.
25 The Carnival headed west
30 I remember them saying that they were heading to Caliphas.
Award 6,400 XP to the PC’s finding the Carnival.
The Umbra Carnival can be found just half a day of hard Riding out of Thrushmore (towards Caliphs). If questioned about the Riders the Ring Master remembers that some people that match that description came to see the show, but where more interested in the Harrower (All-Seeing Hajeck).Now the rest plays out as written, with replacing Meloigne Garracy with the Dark Rider.
The Crooked Kin
Instead of using the Umbra Carnival, you can also use the Crooked Kin out of Trial of the Beast.
How they got here so fast?
Kaleb Hesse is very hesitating to tell them, but after the Trial they decided to get some magical boost to relocate instead of facing the harsh winter roads. This left them with a bit of financial problems, but they hope that they can make it good in Caliphas.
All-Seeing Hajeck
If you introduced already a Harrower to Crooked Kin then use that character, else the Kin found themselves a Harrower.
2.3 Main act
2.3.1 General
Convey somewhere to the Characters that objects exist here that are legends and either never existed in reality or where destroyed. This should make clear what the Whispering way is up to here in the Story Realm.
2.3.2 A1 – The Parade Field
Biyo Venna will tell them that the Dark Rider properly was ported directly to Zassrion in his Fortress.
2.3.3 I7 - Prison Tower
Replace Meloigne Garracy with a dead Dark Rider. The Dark Rider has starved to death as Zassrion forgot about him and the exchange. In his procession the PC’s find the Letter form WotW pointing to Caliphas as well as the Ravens Head.
2.3.4 I13- The Hoard
Add the Seasage Effigy.
2.3.5 Happy End!?
All-Seeing Hajeck will want her Deck of Cards back, if the PC’s wont give it back she threatens to put a curse on them, which is an empty thread (sense motive doesn’t work cause she believes she has the power, however she don’t). If the PC’s still don’t give it back se curses them with some wired words and the packs her thinks and leaves.
Yeah the binding is a bit flaky..same happened with mine. I traced it down to the shuffling between Maps and descriptions. Now I use a printout of the maps and that really helps.
When I was running CarrionCrown with 5 players and 25points I used to do the following EASY way to scale up the encounters.
I would MAX the HP of each creature from the average given to the max the HD can offer. Example BAYKOK (page 8) has HP97 - Looking up in Monster 3 it says 15d8+30 -> 150 HP
I made PaperMinis myself using Microsoft Visio and images from the Adventures or th Monster books, its a bit of work, but not TOOO much. Cant publish those (Copyright) but you can make them yourself with Microsoft Publisher for example.
I like the background, however its a lot of stuff for a 1st level character. I would stay simpler...or if you want check out the Ultimate Campaign backgrounds.
Yeah, it's a weird habit of mine. I try making the story of how he went from 0th-Level Investigator to 1st-Level
As far as the Palentine Eye is concerned. I like it, but I have discovered another good candidate... a follower of the Whispering Way
Yeah I get that makes perfect sense.
Whispering Way....interesting that could be very funny. "please give me MommyRot" ;) But would then an Necromancer or Cleric be much more fun?
There is a long Article about them in CarrionCrown - Broken Moon.
I have to say I'm a little concerned with the opening scene carrying a risk of mummy rot, considering that the players don't have access to Remove Curse at 4th level yet, and the city's spellcasting is reduced to only 1st level spells. Essentially the only ways of getting rid of mummy rot, unless I'm mistaken, are:
The other solution is, that IF they get MummyRot, that they find a scroll or a spellccaster (mini mission) that can help.
OR
you can fudge the Con and Cha damage rolls and just have them REALLY motivated to drop the Panic level
I like the background, however its a lot of stuff for a 1st level character. I would stay simpler...or if you want check out the Ultimate Campaign backgrounds.
The Idea of the Palantine Eye is cool, especially for an Investigator and an Osirien based Adventure. In CarrionCrown - The Trial of the Beast is a whole section about the order, you may can get that off your GM...or some of it that concerns you.
We started using the maps in the House. Really cool stuff. Looking FW to the other maps, looking at some of them...could be quite the paper war... but none the less, EPIC :)
If you dont want her executed, not to much a problem. In Empty Graved you have Encounter E (Page 19). So whats happens is that the old judge took care of her. Just add more blood, remove a dead Velriana corps, and remove an eye from the Event 5....DONE :)
Adding Details in B26:
I would add here something:
- some skeletons (dead ones) that represent some of family members that hid here
OR
- a haunt that keeps with the rest detailing that the mob caught them hiding and killed them
In my game I added the skeletons to B29, my players caught on.
Also I noticed that there are no details about the other groups second assignment (or the third for that matter).
I actually did that but forgot to post about it. On the day of the Lottery I have my group be the 3rd to come up. I described the other groups a bit. Especially the leader stepping up to the plate. This already set the tone. Then after my PC were serveed thet elected to stay around and check the other groups out.
On the way home from the first Dungeon I had them meet the Halfing part and so introduced them. They will be able to meet the other tonight. But not all of them at the same place, but they will easy find another party at one of the traders and the other if they look for them.
yes I understand that ppl have issues about a coherent vilian or thread from the start, I understand the objection that the AP is shifting gear a lot and that that the first AD is a dungeon crawl.
for me (and my players) the motivation is to get rich (PC) and have a good time (Player). This is all catered for.
I like this AP a lot as it gives me and my players a lot of freedom in the beginning to explore and define their characters and that's what roleplay is for me in the first place.
Having GMed CC before I enjoy the pace as CC didn't left much time for the PCs to domuch else then go on with it to catch up with the WW. Here the PC have (and enjoy) the ability to go after a dungeon to as bar, have a nice time...whatever
I read a lot of complains about structure and threads and motivation...and my answer is that you either motivate yourself (this AP) or you want to be motivated (other AP). however its the GM that makes the game not nesserly the AP.
without diving to deep into it, I find that a lot of ppl nowadays make them self to dependent on outside influences insted of using their own imagination, resources..etc.
have a look at some classic adventures from the 80ies...they clearly had the caption "does not include motivation"
So far this has been a great adventure. I just started a PbP. And as I drew the map they would get I realized the first tomb is on the other side of the city and there are packs of some pretty nasty individuals around the center. Not to mention the lamias right next door. Is it assumed that they would have to fight their way through to the tomb? I made a map that kind of guided them around the dangerous parts and marked off the center as death.
I wasn't exactly clear what kind of guidance the priests gave. Of course adding all those skulls just made them want to explore more.
love the map.
your right it looking at the next book there is a huge amount of problems they would to wade through, but being 1st level there is no way they would survive it. so in my view I applied a lot of gloss (gloss over). however still having at least one encounter each way, so they don't have the idea its easy.
on the way back I had my group meet the halflings....good way to introduce on of the other groups.
I also pointed out that the undead are mostly night active....(gloss)
Having DMed CarrionCrown and played Shackels (sadly not as far as I liked) I have to say Mummy Mask is so far rather good.
I agree that the first book is a dungeon crawl and that's it, however I find it's one of most worked out books in regard of information, making it an excellent start for a new DM. More experienced DMs can use the time in between to get good roleplay in.
The second Book is quite ok. I will have an opinion when I finished book 1 and start preping in detail for 2, however so far I can see some points where information is missing or too sprawled across the book. Reminds me a bit of Trial of the Beast where tons of base Info wasn't there or scattered.
Volume 3 reads FUN and I'm looking FW to DMing it. Especially the little thinks that the author snuged in (getting the hight of the tower = IndiansJones in the Maproom).
I shaved read 4 yet (Holiday) but glanced it over and it looked solid.
But thats just me.
Comparing it to CC and Shackels it seems to me that more work was put into coherentcy and mote put together.
I'm waiting until at least half is out before i run it:)
actually not. I can't remember reading it. The only way would be if the Cultist researched them self in the libraries, and there is nothing that suggest this.
if its not explained in the next volume..I will add a dead cultist to the dark library...which should explain it. Glossing over the fact that they had to get in....
I think that the PC would look to the general public and the state like the people on the street trying to convince that the Moonlanding was fake or that the state is using satellites to influence the public.
You have to find someone to belive it and who would belive it?
In Adventure 3 we have this new Feat for the Cultist (Page 19). I wonder If I should have the MAIN cultist have it already.
Meaning: MERET-HETEF and NEBTA-KHUFRE. I don't think Ekram Iffek is high enough in the ranking of the cult yet..
I know that this means I would either have to get rid of one of their feats or "illegally" overpower them a bit. Not sure yet. Bit I would think this would tie nicely in with the rest of the adventure.
Sepulcher Q4 and Q5:
Also a good place to put the library rules to use...
As in the second adventure the Auction is a way for the PC to make some money cause the market (economy) cant absorb the amount of treasure that is coming out of the necropolis, I plan to slowly introducing the this already into the first adventure.
After the first foray into the Necropolis the Merchants are excited and happy to pay good prices (the normal 50%).
After the second adventure the Merchants seam already a bit overwhelmed with Stuff and prices will be down a bit already (37%)
After the 3rd Dungeon the Merchants will be really not wanting to take more of the old stuff (cause they cant shift it off fast enough and only to reduced prices). Prices are down to 25% of Market value, making the Auction seam like an Oasis of coin.
Mumia:
I will have the rumor of the Mumia dug(Empty Graves - Page 44) already in circulation. Maybe someone will offer them to buy it after the second dungeon.
Silver Chains and Fading:
Also rumors of these gangs will be there. This might actually be quite nice if the PCs try to sell their stiff to the Silver Chains.
Sanctum Library - D9:
Introducing the amazing Library (Shifting Sand - Page 12) rules here would be cool. However properly to much, as it takes a full day of research. But Maybe the Character want to come back here between after they concluded Adventure 1, to get more info.
Library: No rules how to calculate CR.
Complexity: 10
Research Check: Knowledge (local), Knowledge (arcane), or
Knowledge (religion)
KP: 6 (as its looted)
So after reading the 3rd Adventure I plan to retrofit some of the others.
I will post what I plan to retro fit, however I'm more then happy for anyone to post and make suggestions.
After reading the full library part, I do have a slight concern. After they discover the Handout, what's the motivation to go after the Architect?
The library hunt has so far a good arc, but after the handout I fail to see (except that the library points are still not 0) the motivation to dug on. Then they get the last piese from the dark library that would lead to the last one....however why bother. they now have a location of the heart. Even if they later can get the info that someone discovered something, I miss the point why the architect is important.
some other things ...
= in the spiral library the stalkers just attack. How do curators or permitted guest get past?
= the dark library has no public access methods. How would permitted guest get past the glyp?
= after the spiral library the PC don't really need any permission s anymore
If you plan on running Mummy's Mask sometime in the future, I came across a cool soundtrack/ album on Kickstarter by the man who did the music for the video games Pharaoh and Zeus. It's called TALES OF THE SUN GOD. Check it out.
In my Carrion Crown Campaign the very shy Paladin fell in love with Kendra, I went along with the change and had Kendra kidnapped in the last book...major motivation I tell you.
So there is a Thief with broken legs at the bottom of the shaft. No problem...but WHO closed the doors? (Outside | A1 | A2)
It also says that the rope has been cut 5ft into the shaft.
Instead I will make it just 3 feet, suggesting that someone has cut it deliberately. Also they will find a knife on the dead. The story will be that some 'partners' went into the tomb. One wanted the other to die so he could have his Wife/money/camel and cut the rope letting the other fall to his death and then trow in the knife so he could finish himself.
One could also make it a mini haunt to give the players and easy into into this topic.
Fallen and forgotten CR 1
XP 400
CN 10ft around the body
Caster Level: 1
Notice: Perception 13
Weakness: Slow
HP: 2
Trigger proximity
Reset 1 day
When the Haunt is triggered the Characters hear a evil laughing and the sound of a knife cutting rope. Then a scream of someone falling. A voice from above speaks in Osiriani "Rot and be forgotten Ali". All creatures within A3 will be a target for a Fear spell (save DC 13)
Destruction: Bury him properly.
Dew Point: How DRY is it. Kharoum is mostly ok to very dry heat and sometimes to the point where its becomes so dry that feel rather uncomfortable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dew_point#Relationship_to_human_comfort
Humidity: how much water is in the air. If you go to e.g. Thailand you will see that humidity is very high, meaning you sweat but the sweating doesn't cool you down. In a dessert (or on the poles) Humidity can be very low, meaning you loose a lot of water thought sweating as it evaporates directly off, cooling you down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#Human_comfort
What is nice to see is the Visibility going down, especilly at day with high winds. This would be not sandstorms, but basically the fine sand would reduce visibility.
As for the Game. I normal go ahead a pick randomly a start date. (or as I did for CC I calculated it so that as the character get to higher levels the winter gets worse). Then I just play along what the weather forecast tells me for that day.
I find it more interesting to play with environmental input. A fight can be much more intense in rain or in the fog...
Also dont underestimate the effect of a spell caster that has to reduce his available spells cause he need his Endure Elements (for him and other) each day, or likewise the drain of $ for magic items.
Also the non-lethal damage is a rather nice addition to it and makes the whole think a lot more interesting.
As for Wati, the temperature is more or less in the first or second tier of heat problems (Core page 444). However I have to say I find the table a bit harsh. I lived long enough in Australia to know that 33c (90F) are not that problematic if your used to it. Also the base rules state for cold (page 442) that Cold weather clothes will protect you lessen the impact of the second cold tier. So I will install a house rule that will lessen the impact of the heat tiers if hot weather clothes are worn.
what speciel harrow deck Card, do the players get in the hunting of harrowstone?
The Hidden Truth Card were do the players find it or optain it?
Including Harrow in CC:
To include the harrow cards in the game, I did the following.
I had a Fortune teller turn up early. I used the Cards to hint some future events. Then after the book one she turned up again and left the card after predicting events of the next book.
She became a standard that turns up from time to time.
Thank you so much, it really did help.
The problem is that I was thinking to much table top, I read more complexity in it then there is. Its basically a slug fest...
