RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Now I basically gutted the Styes for my homebrew seafaring campaign and ran it on my PC's at about 8th level. The PC's defeated Dory but afterward turned the Journal and Unholy scriptures of Tharizdun over to my Smuggler King NPC for a Map to a distant Jungle Isle.
In the intervening month the PC's were at sea exploring the land of the lost the Smuggler King filled Dory's vacant seat and Sgothgah and his Kraken gained more power and cultists. When my PC's finally returned to port they were 13th level. Now Sgothgah shouldn't have been a match for them. I have his cultists capture some of the PC's ship crew members for sacrifice (an insult for having killed Dory) luring the PC's in to the Sunken Temple. They walk through the Skum Rogues easily enough but make the mistake of splitting up to deal with the Chuuls in the Tidal pool and the Cultists (who're coup de gracing the crew).
Sgothgah hidden in the back of the temple attacks using the tactics outlined in the adventure. Only two of the 6 PC's see through the Aboleth's illusions before I Enslave the party's engine of death (Air genasi Rgr 12/Weretiger 1) and blind two others (the monk and archer). So the now dominated killing machine starts in on his companions:
- Air Genasi Rog 6/Ftr 2/Dread Pirate 5
- Human Rog 11/Ftr 2
- Human Drd 12 (summoner)w/ Deinonychus Animal Comp.
- Human Ftr 5/OotBI 7 (archer)
- Water Genasi Chaos Monk 12
So the Summoner whips up two water elementals to kill the chuul and then subdue the Dominated Weretiger. The remaining PC's have taken the unconscious Weretiger back to the ship and placed him in the Cage constructed to hold him. It's only a few hours till he awakens and he's Dominated for another 18 hours... What to do, what to do???
Does Sgothgah observe the other PC's through my minion to learn more of them? Do I command the thrall to attempt escape (very difficult even for a weretiger)? Sgothgah is currently being sought by a contingent of sea elves (the drow/githyanki equivilent of my homebrew world... I inserted them instead of the other Aboleths) and will be found in a matter of days. The PC's hate the sea elves as much if not more than the aboleth!
I want them to track Sgothgah down to the Landgrave's Folly and fight the elves and the 1/2 farspawn 20HD Kraken (EL 16) but I have to resolve the domination first...
Does Sgothgah observe the other PC's through my minion to learn more of them?
He certainly can, as a standard action. I would think it would be a good tactical decision for the aboleth, especially if he views the PCs as the threat they are to his survival.
Do I command the thrall to attempt escape (very difficult even for a weretiger)?
That's a very reasonable command, in my opinion. Especially if Sgothgah knows the "sea elves" are on to him - he could see the weretiger as a source of protection, enabling him to get away.
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Maybe you could have the weretiger escape and LEAD them to Landgrave's folly; he could conceivably be dominated into fighting the sea elves while the party fights everybody. Then, what do they do with him? Fun little conundrum, leads to roleplaying; I'd see what they come up with.
I also think you sound like you really have a nice setup going with your campaign.
I also think the styes has a heap lot of potential.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Yeah it's a fairly interesting campaign with a simple premise. In the beginning the gods made the world (Pholtus, Beory, & Procan) and all within it. But unknown to them Tharizdun also came into the world with his Whisperers, the Aboleth. So the gods made the first races, the Titans (Giants and Dragons) who dominated the world until they started warring on each other... compliments the dark god and his agents.
So the titans faded into the world (asleep, but not extinct) and the gods opened the world up to the Twilight and the Elves. The elves made a glorious seafaring kingdom and explored the world's seas... but some elves sailed too far and ran afoul of the Aboleth who changed them in form and spirit. The new sea elves returned to their island home and found they were repulsive to their kin. Enraged they sacked their own city and forced their kin to flee back into the Twilight. Again the Dark god's hand was involved.
So the gods once more opened the world to the Aether (ethereal plane) and brought forth Nine Elemental Lords (djinn, efreet, dao, and marid) and their vassals (the Jann, Tritons, & Rakshasa) and servants (Humans, Halflings, Dwarves, Merfolk, Locathah, & Genasi). These lords ruled for a millenia until the sea elves found a way to Bind the Genies. The Sea elves craved Dominion over all the seas but left the shallow coastal waters to the other races in return for tribute.
500 years later the PC's are living in a time when the Largest human/halfling Kingdom (a theocracy of Pholtus) is at war with the Sea Elves. The Aboleth of course are behind the whole affair. They wish to break the power of the Elves (who know of their existance) so they may manipulate the surface kingdoms at will.
Other Races include the Shifters and Changelings; humans that were changed by the power of the two Moon goddesses Celene & Luna; Dromites (instead of gnomes), Hadozee, and 1/2 sea elves; a mockery of the Tribute the Elves claim (they raid and steal the youth of the surface races leaving 1/2 elf children who resemble their lost parents).
primemover003,
I like your world setup and the way you presented it. It hits the highlights well and one can almost see the ready-made adventure hooks leaping off of the page. I especially liked the tight background with the main dark forces solidly established. I look forward to seeing how the current adventure turns out.
Out of curiosity, besides The Styes, what other Dungeon scenarios have you managed to incorporate into your campaign?
Good gaming,
Mark
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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primemover003,
I like your world setup and the way you presented it. It hits the highlights well and one can almost see the ready-made adventure hooks leaping off of the page. I especially liked the tight background with the main dark forces solidly established. I look forward to seeing how the current adventure turns out.
Out of curiosity, besides The Styes, what other Dungeon scenarios have you managed to incorporate into your campaign?
Good gaming,
Mark
Thanks Mark! I wanted the campaign to have High Adventure, High Sorcery, Swashbuckling Sinbad/Conan flavor. I took aspects of Eberron and Greyhawk and smooshed them together to make up my world.
As of the last session Sgothgah used the Weretiger ranger to observe the other PC's. The Party Druid made a few Spellcraft checks and some good sense motive rolls to figure out his friend was under mental control and not just going berserk from his other condition. The Rogue went into town to find a Potion of Remove Curse (which took a few hours) while the others figured out what they would do if "Sabre" went crazy again. When the Rogue returned the Druid tried summoning an elemental to subdue the ranger so they could administer the potion involuntarily... that's when he tried to escape! Unfortunately between the Chaos Monk Flailing blows and the Rogue sapping him with sneak attack and some poor control shape rolls the Ranger went from hybrid form to tiger form and got KO'd. One potion later he was free and knew where to find Sgothgah (at Landgrave's Folly).
Before going after the Whisperer they needed some magic to fight underwater and resist the aboleth's control (Freedom of Movement and Protection from Evil). They also went back to Frother's Lamp and searched the sunken temple for the treasure they missed when they escaped last time.
The next day they sailed to the Landgraves Folly and entered the water. When they got down to the main entrance (bypassing the tower altogether) they found Sgothgah in combat with 3 sea elves (2 fighter 10's and a sorcerer 13). They completely ignored the elves at first concentrating on the Aboleth. The ranger used Listening Lorecall to gain Blindsight 15' (ad hoc underwater penalty because it relies on Listen skill) which bypassed the Aboleth's displacement and invisibility. All the PC's resisted the Enslave ability and made short work of the Aboleth. Then they turned on the elves... but were attacked from below by the 20HD 1/2 psuedonatural Kraken. Luckily for them they had freedom of movement or the Kraken would've dominated the combat. Several lucky criticals from the Ranger and the Archer (even with the combat penalties underwater) and the Kraken was no more. The elven Sorcerer dimension doored to safety leaving the fighters to be slaughtered.
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As for other adventures adapted from dungeon I've used Rana Mor(#86), Dragon Hunters(#104), & the Ring of Storms Backdrop(#122) to develop a mysterious Jungle Isle the PC's explored fighting Dinosaurs & LizardFolk (remnants of the ancient dragon armies). I'm also about to use the Prince of Redhand(#131), specifically the Party to introduce the PC's to the Councilmen of the Styes. Thornwell is taking the place of Prince Zeech and is a Vampire Bard 8/Blackguard 6 complete with Erinyes bodyguards.
I'm thinking of adapting the Library of Last Resort's Tilgos Island (#132) as the personal hunting ground of Councilman Rashlen, the most feared Hunter in the Shining Lands. He plans on challenging the Weretiger to a Hunt, the winner of which takes one of the other's magic items. Rashlen wants Windell's Mask of the Tiger (which changed him into the weretiger) and Windell will want Rashlen's Bandolier of Hate (as belt of, which doubles all favored enemy bonuses).
primemover003,
Sounds like you had another fun session there. I bet the players’ jaws dropped when that pseudonatural kraken showed up. It’s a good thing they are such a competent and effective group of adventurers, even when underwater. However, if they are anything like my players, they hate it when the magic users get away. :-)
As for your upcoming events in the campaign, it sounds like you will be getting some solid use out of issues 131 and 132. That is one thing I love about my Dungeon subscription, the scenarios are always useful. Maybe not always immediately, but eventually they work their way into my various campaigns, even if they are just as adapted ideas.
Keep up the good work and kudos to your players for rising to your latest challenge.
Good gaming,
Mark
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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When they saw the picture of the Spawn of Tharizdun they were a littl spooked, but I got a laugh out of them when I pulled out a kraken I molded out of my trusty Kneaded Eraser complete with mini d10's for eyes! LOL
Early on in the campaign the Ranger was disappointed that he didn't have enough of his favored enemies to kill (magical beasts), however he's not regretting his choices now (I ignored the Outsider aspect of the 1/2 psuedonatural template). He also chose Aberrations as his second enemy which comes in handy against the Aboleth and the Sea Elves (to which I've added the Phrenic Template)
Splendid stuff!
Rich
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Thanks Rich!
As for the Fish that got away, the PC's will have another shot at him. He's the subordinate of the special Envoy the Sea Elves have sent to the City. Basically I'm replacing Lashonna's late entrance in the party scene of the Prince of Redhand with the Sea elf envoy! My PC's will not be happy!
Thanks Rich!
As for the Fish that got away, the PC's will have another shot at him. He's the subordinate of the special Envoy the Sea Elves have sent to the City. Basically I'm replacing Lashonna's late entrance in the party scene of the Prince of Redhand with the Sea elf envoy! My PC's will not be happy!
My friend Mr Greer thinks it's his duty to make PC's lives unhappy so you're in very good company.