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Hello everyone, as the subject line said I'm looking for some ideas to build a custom adventure in the Pathfinder setting.
I am currently GMing Rise of the Runelords, and the players have just completed the Runeforge in book 5. In the Ravenous Crypts, there is a set of books that detail how Runelord Zutha escaped Earthfall. For those who are unfamiliar, he created a three volume tome called the "Gluttonous Tome" and spread the three books across Varisia. If a person were to bring the books together, Zutha would be able to return to the world of Golarion.
Why this is important: I privately told my wizard PC that while reading this tome he discovered not only this information, but also a magical process to become a lich, which he has expressed interest in doing since it was his first ever character and wanted to do something really cool.
We agreed that his character would under-go this process AFTER our RotRL campaign finishes. For the next campaign, I want to run an adventure which involves this new Lich character travelling Varisia to find these tomes, and summon Zutha. The campaign would involve the PC's trying to stop this.
The books do not mention where the volumes are hidden, so I chose for the tomes to be located in the following locations:
Viperwall: Embossed with great stone serpents, the conical roofs of Viperwall’s many towers shine in the moonlight. Avoided by locals, the structure is often surrounded by a greenish haze of poisonous gas that leaks steadily from fanged sculptures in the castle walls. (Located North East of Sandpoint).
Citadel Vraid: is the fortress-headquarters of the Hellknight Order of the Nail constructed by the city of Korvosa in an effort to successfully entice the Order to move to Varisia. It is located about 50 miles southwest of Korvosa on a narrow plateau named after one of Korvosa's founders, Montlarion Jeggare, and sits on the edge of the southernMindspin Mountains.[1](Located South of Korvosa).
Celwynvian: Deep in the Mierani forest, the ancient elven city of Celwynvian stands haunted, its verdant palaces and delicate towers locked in a mysterious conflict. The elves have tried numerous times to reclaim the abandoned city, but they are silent as to what exactly lurks in the ruins that keeps them from success. Some whisper of a strange contagion, others of dragons or demons. A few rumors even speak of drow, legendary elves from deep underground, and suggest Celwynvian is now the site of unknown dark elf atrocities that the elves themselves are loath to acknowledge, as if they were too ashamed of what their violent kin are up to. (Located North-North West of Sandpoint, near the Mierani Forest).
What do people think of this? Do you have suggestions for different locations or anything really?
I'm loving this custom campaign setting with the searching for of tomes, and rampant liches. For locations I would suggest a rich lord's estate. It's been said that he's aquired a great many books that house great power and knowledge. He is very possessive of all the books in his collection (including his mother's cookbook "God rest her soul."). Maybe he'll let the PC's trade for it. Maybe the PC's will do a little sneaky sneaky stealy stealy. Maybe the PC's will tromp right in, murdering guards left and right and snatch it right from that doddery old fellow's withered hands.
Hey thanks for the input, I really like that idea. I know one of my PC's is interested in playing the ninja/sneak type class so this could be a great opportunity to let them shine.
Perhaps this rich fellow is the leader of an undead cult as well? Maybe even has his mother as a zombie in his estate for extra creepy points!
I'm thinking that the PC's start in an undecided city, where they eventually take down this undead cult. They take out the cult, unaware that this rich lord is its real leader.
At the same time the PC's are dealing with the cult, the Hellknights are leaving Citadel Vraid, and the Pathfinder Society interested in its myth of being haunted send a group, who gets slaughtered (or something).
After the cult is dealt with, the rich lord decides to use his contact in the Pathfinder Society to convince the Society to send these PC's to investigate the disappearance of its members.This allows the rich lord to reestablish his cult in the city, and hopes that the PC's die.
There would be no Tome in Citadel Vraid, but perhaps they uncover a Catacomb similar to the Catacombs of Wrath from Rise of the Runelords.
This allows Citiadel Vraid to still be used, but also move the tome to the rich lords estate. The reason I wanna keep this dungeon is that its bio states the haunting might be related to the resurgence of Runelords, which I find ties in fantastically to the plot.
Thanks for the great idea!