My players went to town hall to research the kidnap victims and blew all the guards away with massive Diplomacy checks, they wanted to acquire an entire list of all people missing from Cauldron in the last year, and find them.
Fool that I am, I gave them the complete list of kidnap victims (conveniently located on pg 34) as a sort of "inventory list" in Kazmojen's bedroom. Hoping to rein them in. Like so many things, it had the exact opposite effect.
Now the PCs are bound and determined to delve into the Underdark and rescue every single one of them.
Thoughts? I'm still debating whether I cater to them and create an entirely new campaign or let them find a mass grave...
My first thought is asking them how they plan on finding them in the underdark. It is unlikely they were all sold to the same slaver and are now in the same place. In fact many probably died before sale.
I would let them start coming up with a way to track these people down, but then start having them also hear rumors of other events going on. For instance maybe they have a plan, split up to each do their own research and then meet each night in the Drunken Morkoth (or where ever). Have them hear rumors of other giongs on in the city... like maybe the Stormblades collapsing the entrance from the Malachite Fortress to the Underdark to keep the monsters that were creeping up from attacking townsfolk (the Stormblades of course spread this around as having to clean up for the PCs who can't finish a job themselves).
They would also likely hear rumors of the recent rash of goblin grafitti, though it is unlikely that would be enough to divert them. Then one of those nights they receive a summons to meet with Terseon Skellerang and you move right into Drakthar's Way.
Once the entrance is closed to the underdark they will need to keep their eyes open for more ways into the underdark... let them contact people who will do the research and let them get ever closer to finding one and tracking people... say about the same time they are starting Zenith Trajectory they are told if they contact crazy old Jared he may know of a way in...
Another option would be to keep throwing them bones... have a few of the slaves be present in Drakthar's Way along with slips of sale... perhaps a few are dead (sucked dry?), but have at least one or two that they save from that fate. Maybe drop a clue that the merchant who sold them those (Pyllrak maybe) was next headed to a place where a group called the Ebon Triad was holed up. You could even use that to drop a few hints as to what the Ebon Triad is (maybe the author of the note goes off for a bit about their heinous and blasphemous ways). In the Kopru ruins they could find a couple more slaves (or bodies) and yet more clues leading them to Bhal-Hamatugn... and so on...
Far from creating a new campaign, you could be using this to keep them on track in this one. If they don't take the hook for one of the published adventures as written you have the option of a new lead to the slaves that gets them back on track.
Sean Mahoney
My first thought is asking them how they plan on finding them in the underdark. It is unlikely they were all sold to the same slaver and are now in the same place. In fact many probably died before sale.
I would let them start coming up with a way to track these people down, but then start having them also hear rumors of other events going on. For instance maybe they have a plan, split up to each do their own research and then meet each night in the Drunken Morkoth (or where ever). Have them hear rumors of other giongs on in the city... like maybe the Stormblades collapsing the entrance from the Malachite Fortress to the Underdark to keep the monsters that were creeping up from attacking townsfolk (the Stormblades of course spread this around as having to clean up for the PCs who can't finish a job themselves).
They would also likely hear rumors of the recent rash of goblin grafitti, though it is unlikely that would be enough to divert them. Then one of those nights they receive a summons to meet with Terseon Skellerang and you move right into Drakthar's Way.
Once the entrance is closed to the underdark they will need to keep their eyes open for more ways into the underdark... let them contact people who will do the research and let them get ever closer to finding one and tracking people... say about the same time they are starting Zenith Trajectory they are told if they contact crazy old Jared he may know of a way in...
Another option would be to keep throwing them bones... have a few of the slaves be present in Drakthar's Way along with slips of sale... perhaps a few are dead (sucked dry?), but have at least one or two that they save from that fate.
Brilliant idea! Even though my group was resigned to the fact that the sold slaves are gone beyond their reach, one player was particularly moved by the situation of Sondor Ironfold, the dwarven woman whose husband was sold away four weeks earlier. I hadn't even thought of it, but it would thrill this player to be able to find and rescue Sondor's husband later down the line. Consider this idea stolen! ;)
Those are totally awesome ideas! Thank you so much Sean!
Vedic, check this out: My dwarven PC is now trying to woo Sondor, playing on the angle of "Your husband may have been sold into bondage and probably enslaved for the rest of his natural life by the Duergar or Drow... but I'm here for you!"
I'm considering having Lorthan show up sometime later in the campaign, rescued by the Stormblades (just to twist the knife a little).
Vedic, check this out: My dwarven PC is now trying to woo Sondor, playing on the angle of "Your husband may have been sold into bondage and probably enslaved for the rest of his natural life by the Duergar or Drow... but I'm here for you!"I'm considering having Lorthan show up sometime later in the campaign, rescued by the Stormblades (just to twist the knife a little).
That's just... perfect. Don't you just love being the DM?
Thank you! And your welcome! It is a huge compliment that you like them.
I am really enjoying having a pre-written campaign. There is still SOOOOOOOO much rp and such that I have to come up with but knowing who is important for pretty much the rest of the campaign and working in even bit characters early is going to make the whole thing so much better... besides, it means I didn't waste all those hours reading these adventures on just enjoying them =P
Sean Mahoney
That's just... perfect. Don't you just love being the DM?
The worst part is that every DM runs the game how they think is best... the one perfect game to play in is the one you can't ever play in... your own. And what DM wouldn't give up the screen (literally a computer screen in my case since I run on OpenRPG game) to play in a game like their own?
Sean Mahoney
The worst part is that every DM runs the game how they think is best... the one perfect game to play in is the one you can't ever play in... your own. And what DM wouldn't give up the screen (literally a computer screen in my case since I run on OpenRPG game) to play in a game like their own?Sean Mahoney
Could not have said it better. ::tips his DM hat::
i have one thing not clear for me... What happens to Terrem (the little guy Vhalantru brings back to the orphanage) later? Will he dissapear from the Orphanage at one time when the Cagewrights need him? Does the crazy derro take him away? OR how is this done?
Thanks for the info in advance!
i have one thing not clear for me... What happens to Terrem (the little guy Vhalantru brings back to the orphanage) later? Will he dissapear from the Orphanage at one time when the Cagewrights need him? Does the crazy derro take him away? OR how is this done?
He is most definately taken from the orphanage when needed, though I don't think they specify exactly when this happens. At first blush, with out rereading back through everything, I would say during the confusion of the eruption would likely be the best time as it is likely to go unnoticed.
The description of the Tree of Shackled Souls (Chapter 10, C27) says that the PCs may recognize some of the Shackleborn in the thirteen soulcages, including Terrem and Zenith, etc.
Sean Mahoney
I'm thinking that he gets taken during the Flood Festival. It's all-too-common for children to be abducted during a carnival of some sorts, since there's plenty to distract both adults and kids.
Also, it would make for interesting character development to see how the PCs react when they realize that a child was stolen while they were having a good time at the fair. It will illustrate that they truly can't be everywhere nor can they save everyone.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16
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He didn't have to be kidnapped again, why make it so complicated? Adoption would be a simple and subtle way to obtain the boy without drawing undue attention.
If the PC's have close enough ties they might hear about Terrem's fortunate adoption by a "nice" family from Sasserine who learned about the boy and his while visiting the city shortly after his rescue by the PC's.
This plan would be an insideous and effective way to obtain the boy for the soulcages.
Do ye think it would be too obvious to have Terrem adopted by Thirifane Rhiavidi? Even if the PCs have never seen her before?
Terrem disappears sometime between after the PC's leave cauldron in Demonscar Legacy and when they return in Secrets of the Soul Pilars. Nice and convenient, so the PC's can't stop the cagewrights from taking Terrem.
But Rhivaldi adopting Terrem... that's just bloody brilliant. Too bad I can't use that anymore :-(