So I built up the random encounters for my group as they go through Fiend's Embrace. Now bear in mind the group is going through the Mistmarsh (in Greyhawk) and so the climate had to be changed and some re-rolls made (also because I don't have the climate books).
...so...needless to say I was gleefully excited when I rolled the Hydra. Being a DM for a few years I always love the encounters that keep the players on the edge of their seats and flipping their character sheets over and over again trying to find -something- that they can use for the encounter to survive.
So here comes the halfling cleric of Nerull in full-plate.
player: "I'll cast Blindness on it."
me: "Ok what's the save?"
player: "Fortitude save, 17"
me: (Hydra fails by 4) "Well this should be interesting."
players: *laughter*
So needless to say they pelt away at the Hydra, although it still chomped the fighter, ranger, and cleric rather well even with it's...condition...
The killing blow was done by, who else, the halfling using the Death Domain ability. After touching the Hydra, and watching it die, the halfling shouts:
"AND THAT'S FOR PICKING ON US SHORT PEOPLE!!"
A great encounter, made easy due to a failed save, but fun was had nonetheless.
Oh...and I hooked them into this using "Unfamiliar Ground". The greedy nature of the characters played right into it. Instead of having them fight the skeletal dragon in that adventure I left clues there that it escaped so they are also on their toes knowing that it's out in the marsh somewhere.
Just fyi...5 players...all 6th level.
Next week it's deeper into the marsh...and a run in with a barbarian, his greatsword, and the curse that binds them.
It's a great adventure...the Fingers of Iuz managed to survive the adventure (the party killed all but 2 of them, but left the bodies behind and the ones that escaped went back and raised them)...and now they're secretly tracking my players down to exact revenge and recover the fiendish cloak, which the PC's are hoping to use for a specific purpose later in the campaign.
I put the adventure in the Underdark beneath the Hestmark Highlands, so my party didn't have all the swamp encounters. I had also given Shplizzmak cleric levels to balance it out, as my group was 8th level when they went through it.
If you've upped Krudin's levels to match the party, it should be an interesting encounter, indeed. Alas, the evil Baklunag in my own campaign took the winds out of his sales when he attacked the party for taking too much interest in his sword by zapping him profusely with ray of enfeeblement spells. Hate that spell! At least when the PCs are using it ;).
FYI, the evil PCs (Fingers of Iuz) were actually the characters of my group when I ran it in my campaign. There was also another evil archer and an evil druid that didn't make it to the keep. Their counterparts also seeking the cloak were good adventurers seeking to thwart their master, Iuz.
|
After I DMed "unfamiliar ground" (lots of fun, especially the entrance with goblins firing arrows at my PCs, and the skeletal dragon that scared my players so much), they are exploring the keep.
They killed the "bathing beauty" troll, and it was very difficult, and since they are only level 4, I didn't make them meet the hydra, but they met 3 zombie-ogres, and it was quite a challenge (3 out of 7 went down below 0 HP).
Krudin is now played by a player (and they suspect something about the sword, but he told them not to bother, it's a family gift).
They've met the gnome, and an anmbush is ahead...
As Steve knows, I'm playing his story in France (running it in french).
So long,
Timothée
players: *laughter*
Yay! What a great moment.
I had also given Shplizzmak cleric levels to balance it out, as my group was 8th level when they went through it.
Oddly enough I was going to do the same thing...by adding a level or two of cleric (worshiping Iggwilv due to the cloak). Hopefully with the clues set into place, which the group will start discovering next week (when they start flipping through the wizard's journal they have from "Unfamiliar Ground") they'll get the hint that the southern parts of the Mistmarsh tend to leave people a little crazy.
I can't wait to see who takes the cloak. I have plans for whomever decides to wear it.
If you've upped Krudin's levels to match the party, it should be an interesting encounter, indeed.
Oh yeah. I just upped his level to 6th, then recalculated the Power Attack + Rage stats. YIKES!!! LOL
They'll meet him as they need to acquire a place to rest and he'll be singing loudly (and out of tune) while cooking rats.
I rolled up a rat encounter the same day and figured the two together would be far more interesting than apart.
They killed the "bathing beauty" troll, and it was very difficult, and since they are only level 4, I didn't make them meet the hydra, but they met 3 zombie-ogres, and it was quite a challenge (3 out of 7 went down below 0 HP).
Krudin is now played by a player (and they suspect something about the sword, but he told them not to bother, it's a family gift).
Zombie Ogres are some of my favorite monsters. When rolling up random encounters to the keep I rolled 2 Wights and on another one I rolled 1 Zombie Ogre...so I figured I'd put them together. Makes sense to me. :) The thing is the halfling cleric in our group can wipe out hordes of low hit dice undead quickly not even making them a challenege anymore. Guess it's time for more Zombie Ogres. :)