I had Skaven Umbermead replace Fetor Abradius: Skaven has infiltrated the Ebon Triad and secretly worships Adimarchus. His presence eventually allows Adimarchus’ madness to grab hold of Grehlia and bring her into the fold of the Thirteen.
When the PC’s stormed the Kopru ruins, Skaven enervated their cleric out of existence. As he attempted to dimension door to safety, the gnome wizard grabbed a book that fell out of the folds of his shirt. Skaven and the gnome had a little mini-tug of war that ended with the book being torn in half. The party discovered that this journal was strangely encrypted.
Using Decipher script after they left the ruins, the party wizard was able to glean that Skaven, Triel, Tarkilar, and Grehlia were part of an organization called the Ebon triad and background information such as what happened to Tarkilar, the nature of some of the monsters in the ruins, the beholder’s involvement with, and the fact that Skaven was working for mysterious benefactors. I staggered the revelation of information throughout the AP up until the Demonskar Legacy.The journal ends with the entry:
“No one, save Grehlia, knows where my real alliance lies: With …” This is where the book is torn.
A side effect of this journal is that it was encrypted with Adimarchus’ madness. Thus, in decrypting it, the gnome wizard began to grow mad himself. He guarded the notes in a very paranoid manner, only giving the rest of the party tiny tidbits of information, such as Skaven’s name. He had terrible dreams of fire (his phobia) and desires to kill party members in their sleep. Unfortunately, this wizard (and the notes) were consumed in the lava during the final test when he was telekenesed by Kaurophon.
This wizard was replaced by his younger, lazier brother who hopefully will succumb to the same madness when the PC’s retrieve the second half of Skaven(Fetor’s) notes during Secrets of the Soul Pillars. This will reveal some of the identities and his opinions of the 13, (Grehlia and the Fish, especially some of the Fish’s background), the nature of Karran Kuraal and its guardians (as detailed in the HC) Vhalantru’s true nature (def. revealed after Oblivion). Also, it will reveal that Skaven actually worships Adimarchus (although it won't mention him by name) and similarly to how he infected Grehlia, infected some of the 13 (albeit a long time ago)All this information will be staggered and *meh* cause a little madness.
I came up with these changes before the HC was written but found Grehlia an easy connection to the 13 and used it. I like the journal concept because it allows me to reveal some of that neat background information that the players wouldn’t get to see otherwise without giving them an advantage during the adventure. Also, by replacing Fetor with Skaven, he has been a much more effective villain and one that my PC’s are definitely looking forward to eliminating.
great change. I may be able to use that myself. Thanks!