As if you need to be told… SPOILER ALERT!
My group is partway through 3FoE right now, but approached the temples out of the (assumed) intended order.
They took the bait and chased the guards to the Hextor temple first. After they cleared that temple they received the coded message and went directly to the Vecna temple next (skipping the Grimlock caves) and found the decoder to translate the Hextor message.
Once the message is decoded they know about the whole plot and about the Aspect, but it has not ascended from the pool yet because they haven’t finished (or started) with the Grimlocks.
Right now they are contemplating just leaving to have the garrison deal with the rest, which has it’s consequences of letting the Aspect mature (not sure at what rate…). However they feel they have more to deal with then the pesky Grimlocks. I’m not sure they understand the importance of dealing with the Aspect while it’s “young”. What is apparent to us is not to them.
However, my question to you… what’s the point, or motivation, of heading to the Grimlock caves? Am I missing something here or is the cave just more loot & xp. Is there a point to it?
BTW, I also used Theldrick’s henchmen that were in town to come get the dead Theldrick and sabotage the lift on their way out. It worked like a charm. They really enjoyed the note the newly rezed Theldrick left the Faceless One too (modified for my game of course). Thank you.
Let them skip the grimlocks if they want. If you push them into taking on Kur and Co. you destroy the sense of free-action that players enjoy. It's my belief that anytime a DM puts a ring through the nose of his/her party and leads them through the story they are doing a great disservice to the game.
I think the main incentive for them to tackle the Erythnuls is that there is an evil cult (or part of one in this case) operating under an unsuspecting populace. If that doesn't tickle them or if the party isn't even aware of the third part of the cult, then seriously consider just letting it go.
You would then have to decide if the grimlock's continue to flourish and add to their ranks or if they stagnate or even fall apart now that the Faceless One is gone. The good thing is, you really don't even have to decide right now. You can let the party continue down the AP and then decide later what happened to the Erythnuls.
Some things to concider: What does Kur's hallucinogenic visions reveal in the next few weeks/months? And then, does the Ebon Aspect reach maturity without the Vecna's and Hexorites? If the Aspect truly is an extension of those 3 evil faiths, I'm not so sure it would ever materialize without the other 2 that your party has wiped out. (I understand the Aspect returns in a later adventure, but I haven't read that one yet). If you decide that the Aspect finally does mature, it might be fun to have the party return from then end of the next adventure to find the Ebon Aspect on a wild rampage throughout Diamond Lake and the party comes flying into town to save the day.
My group also went "out of order", the same as yours. They're planning an assault into the grimlock's lair to figure out exactly what is going on down here. They've caught references to some of the NPC's, and they're now convinced that one of these "unkillable green worm zombies" is down here some place. They're holded up in the Faceless One's laboratory right now. While resting, Mumbles (human rogue) translated Theldrick's scroll with the code found in the lab. They figured out that something is going to happen with the pool, and they think they might have done something to make the pool angry. They were quite confused with the references to Theldrick.
Mumbles: "Theldrick? Who the heck is Theldrick?"
Quint (barbarian): "I don't know. What does that journal you found say?"
Eleshaba (elf druid): "Yeah, does the diary say 'Theldrick's diary' on it?"
Quint, OOC: "In pink glitter pen, with hearts dotting the i's?"
As they read the diary, Theldrick's references to Grallak Kur made them quite curious. They figure he's behind the third door and they should take care of them. Quint is starting to worry about how to get back up through the mine. They've managed to tie the elevator down with some pretty complicated knots and a lot of rope. It's going to be great when they come out and find all the knots have been sliced and the elevator has been pulled up. . .
Yes, I do not want to "lead them by nose rings". I just wanted to understand any real reasons for going down to the Grimlock caves. I will let the PC’s make their own destiny.
Without reasons (other than curiosity) I feel the group might instead concentrate on finding a way out of the Black Cathedral and let the town (Allustan & possible the Garrison) know what is going on down there. The lift is destroyed (courtesy of a resurrected Theldrick) but, as with most PC’s, they are a cleaver bunch.
I like the idea of a semi-matured Aspect emerging from the mine laying waste to the town, and the townsfolk blaming them for it. I figure with the death of all 3 leaders the Aspect ascends prematurely. So if 2 of the 3 are removed then the Aspect is able to gain a few more HD along the way. I wish there was a progression chart.
Wow... the possibilities of the Ebon Apect being brought up by a crazy grimlock cleric are mesmorizing.
Maybe the grimlock can escape the tunnels during the night, taking the Ebon Aspect somewhere else. His visions might persuade him that it's his destiny.
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The Ebon Aspect could mature(but not be as powerful as the one in "Prince of Redhand" and be a final encounter in "A Gathering Of Winds". When the PCs return to town after getting the fragment of the Rod Of Seven Parts, they will probably wait to heal before heading off to Magepoint. Make magepoint in a direction so that the PCs pass by the mine when leaving town. As they pass by, The EA bursts out of the mine, having just killed all the miners and guards, and the PCs will probably realize their mistake and kill it now. As another option (do this only if your PCs emerge from the Whispering Cairn fairly healthy), have the aspect go on a rampage while the PCs are still in the Cairn, as Diamond Lake is no longer part of the campaign. Allustan could also have one of those really neat heroic death scenes, particularly if he's still wounded from his trip ro the Cairn.