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Howdy. I've recently picked up the new Ravenloft book, and I was considering substituting it for some of the adventures in Age of Worms. I'm running AoW in Eberron, so I already know where I'm going to put Barovia (In the mountains between Karrnath and the Mror Holds, as the book suggests)
I'm thinking I'm either going to use the retrieval of the Tome of Strahd or saving Ashyln (Who'm I'm going to replace with Melinde from Diamond Lake - One of my PCs is a Warforged Paladin of Dol Arrah) as my hook.
Other than that, I see that as far as adventures go, the level spread that EoCL takes up roughly replaces Hall of Harsh reflections and The Champion's Belt. While I have no problems dropping HoHR, I rather like Champion's belt, and there's the problem of removing the contact with Eligos. One idea is to just bump the levels of all the AoW adventures starting with Champion's Belt... anyone have any other ideas?
I posted a similar question to the message board on 10/10, but the thread doesn't seem to interest anyone at the moment. I don't play in Eberron, but, if you're interested, I've copied the text from my original post about using Expedition to Ravenloft in my Greyhawk campaign below.
Does anyone else have plans to incorporate the new Expedition to Ravenloft adventure into their AoW campaign? My players are currently cleaning out the temple of the Ebon Triad below Dourstone's mine. I plan to drop a few clues about Ravenloft leading up to their departure for Greyhawk following the Encounter at Blackwall Keep.
I'm thinking of placing Barovia in the Valley of the Mage and substituting the new Ravenloft adventure for "The Hall of Harsh Reflections" and "The Champion's Belt," placing the clues obtained from those adventures in the hands of Strahd, who, I'm thinking once delved into the lore surrounding the Age of Worms himself and still has some of that information stored away in his library.
I was also thinking that I'd incorporate prophecies surrounding the holy symbol of Ravenkind and the Sun Sword into those related to the Age of Worms as well, perhaps as elements of the tools needed to prevent it from happening.
I've had similar thoughts, and the Descent into Madness scenario seems ready made for AoW ('Worms! Worms!'), but I am also hesitant of scrapping Champion's Belt. Can't say I have thought about it more than that at this time, however. :(
I plan on making several changes to my FR AoW campaign, and Expedition is no exception. I might not use every single encounter, but I MUST take them on the tour.
I want to merge the Vampires of Waterdeep campaign with Exp. to RL. Once the PCs finish Champions Belt (as I can't ignore that fantastic module), I'll set Dhusarra on the PC werewolf (actually a good-aligned "blackwolf" who is also a half-orc undead-hunting ranger), attacking the group who have caused the Ebon Triad and its allies so much trouble, while fulfilling the high hunt at the same time. I haven't quite decided whether or not to remove Lashonna and replace her with Strahd, or perhaps place Lashonna in Strahd's place... The scrolls possessed by Bozal could have been given to him by Strahd (as I'll be bumping his levels to suit the PCs), which might explain Strahd's undead mastery... There's a lot to consider.
Whatever the case, the PCs will be around level 11-12 when I introduce the Vampires of Waterdeep campaign arc. I'm also not sure if I want to perhaps replace Strahd with Artor Morlin from the third Vampire module. I still need to pour over those modules with these ideas in mind.
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About the Descent into Madness scenario, I agree, but it seems like if you didn't DM it just right, it turns Strahd into more of a laughingstock. Given, an insane, really strong vampire might make those statements when he's fighting more eerie than comedic (especially "It's so dark!"), but I'm leery of the situation nonetheless. I'd rather portray Strahd as in control.
I too plan to insert Ravenloft into my AoW game and i also play Eberron
My game plan is this...
We started with The Wispering Cairn as per usual and then played TFoE with the Eberron changes posted on this site...
I then used the Airship Crash adventure from Dungeon (Into the Clawmark Mines i think its called) instaid of the Encounter at Blackwell Keep (Played in before and i dont like it) but i added a cave under the waterfall inside the cave that had a Kyuss Temple manned by a Dusk Hag and Spawn´s of Kyuss made from the agents Theldrik talks about in his letters. My players decided to go back to Digs End and rest for the night after saveing the airship and as such i will introduce the spawns as attacking the town with Dolgrims in tow and then the players go up to the cave and deal with the Hag and the second egg (yes i have two eggs as the first one was used to turn the Agents of the Mockery into Spawns) This is about where we are now...
Next my players will go to Sharn and meet the guy who emplyes them for the Shards of Eberron 3 part AP that i am useing instaid of Hall of Harsh Reflection (very bad adventure in my oppinion especialy for Eberron as its not a hard task to get Silver Flame people with you to kill dopplegangers)
The first mission in Shards of Eberron is suposed to bring them to a tomb in the Talenta Plains but i am putting said Tomb in Barovia for-shadowing a trip there later to retrive The Holy Symbol of Ravenloft and The Sunsword (lets face it if im going to fight Kyuss i want thouse items at my disposal) and then they continue with the Shards AP
After the last adventure there im going to use Champions Games and after that possably a full scale trip to Castle Ravenloft...
Any comments or ideas you can give me?
Well, in my campaign, the players failed champions belt. Big ugly was released, and greyhawk is hell right now. Actually I have told the players that thick mists have surrounded the town... yep... its ravenloft. So maybe in your campaign they have to go into ravenloft to fix it? Maybe then you drop a gathering of winds.
Can you actualy drop Gathering of Winds? That leaves more loose ends then is healty for a good yarn...
I was actualy thinking that Strad might be named as a scholar of The Nethertome of Thrask and that the Tome of Strad spoke of it at great lenght? My plan is to have one page of the Nethertome on displey in a section of Morgrave or Arcanix reserved for scholars in Necromany (as one of my players is)
That might lead my players on a second trip to Ravenloft to find the Tome of Strad
Here's the narrative hook that I'm planning for the PCs in my campaign, who are currently completing TFoE. I've been building the gothic horror tone for the past few sessions now with mostly flavor stuff. They are currently preparing to re-enter the temple and the summer weather has turned strangely cold and stormy, among other ominious signs. Of course, they believe it has to do with the Ebon Triad moving toward completion of the dark ritual to raise something from the pool. But there are other plans in motion as well . . .
***
Dark storm clouds rolled across the Cairn Hills from the north, blown by cold winds and accompanied by continuous peals of rolling thunder and lightning. The inhabitants of Diamond Lake sought shelter from the storm in shuttered homes and taverns, leaving few, if any, on the streets to notice a large enclosed wagon pulled by four coal-black horses roll into town along the Vein. The wheels of the wagon creaked quietly to a stop near the center of town, its driver, a young Rhennee man with thick curly black hair escaping from beneath the cowel of his blood red cloak, looked thoughtfully at the shuttered buildings. The young Rhennee woman sitting next to him on the driver’s bench clutched her cloak close to her as cold rain began to fall from the thundering skies.
“This is it, Yuri,” she said to her companion. “See about delivering the message, and I’ll tell Grandmother we’ve arrived.”
The driver nodded his agreement, adding as he began to climb from the wagon, “She’ll know already.”
The woman smiled at her brother’s resigned remark. Yuri knew and respected their grandmother’s gift of prophecy, but it had always made him uneasy. She sees only darkness, he would often say, although never so that he might be overheard by others than his sister. Using her gift of prophecy, Madam Tavia Rasovich had led their small group of Rhennee from the forgotten county of Barovia across nearly 700 miles to an obscure, isolated mining town in the western reaches of the Domain of Greyhawk. They had been sent by their master, Count Strahd von Zarovich, to deliver a message.
The young woman climbed from the opposite side of the wagon and, tilting her head against the rain and wind, hurried to the rear of its elaborately ornamented coach. She knocked at the wagon’s small wooden door, holding her cloak closed at her throat with her other hand. The door opened to reveal an older woman, whose thick black hair showed streaks of grey and whose deep brown eyes concealed a depth of suffering little known to the other members of her family.
“Come in quickly, Illyena,” the older woman said. “It appears the master’s reach follows us to the ends of the earth.”
The young woman climbed the few steps attached to the rear of the wagon and entered the warmly lit interior. The older woman stepped aside to let her pass and closed the wagon door behind her. The air inside the coach smelled of rosemary and other herbs. Colored beads, animal charms and patterned scarves hung from the walls and ceiling. Seated at a small circular table nailed to the floor in the center of the carriage sat a weathered crone dressed in layers of brightly colored clothes and shawls. A purple and gold velvet coverlet lay draped over a spherical object resting in the center of the table. The old crone’s milk-white eyes stared vacantly into space, and her withered hands lay folded in her lap.
“Come sit down, Illyena,” the old woman croaked without turning her head to look at the young Rhennee woman. “Our journey is nearly complete. Those we seek are here, though they still face great evil that could yet destroy them.”
***
When the PCs return to Diamond Lake from the temple of the Ebon Triad and report what they discovered and defeated there, rumor spreads quickly that Madam Tavia had only recently predicted events matching these exactly. The PCs further learn that Madam Tavia gave further prophecies regarding the actions of the “Heroes of Diamond Lake.” If these clues are not enough to lure the PCs into seeking out Madam Tavia, she sends her granddaughter and grandson to deliver a cryptic message to them, alluding to their need to acquire the “Sign of the Scavenger” (holy symbol of Ravenkind) and the “Brand of Unquenchable Hope” (sun sword) if they hope to avert the “Rise of the Worms.” (letter B) Her message also states that the completion of dark events set in motion centuries ago will be renewed in a land of unending despair, where death itself cannot assuage the anguish of eternal remorse.
I've placed Barovia in the Lortmil Mountains, about 60 miles southwest of Devarnish. For those with the Greyhawk poster maps from Dungeon, you'll notice a nice unnamed patch of forest that works well for the Svalich Woods.
Sorry for the long post earlier -- I was having too much fun writing up the prologue material.
I have a request for feedback from folks reading this thread. I've been working out a way to believably lure the PCs to far-off Barovia and to weave Strahd more closely into the overall campaign plot arc. Here's the short version of what I've come up with so far. Suggestions are welcome.
- Strahd wants to extend the scope of his "connection to the land" by performing dark rituals that will allow him to dominate the entire Flanaess in the way he currently dominates Barovia.
- Strahd's motivation for this is his love for Ireena. He wants to literally "offer her the world."
- He has sent his servants in search of clues for how to do this. They recovered a copy of the Nethertome of Trask.
- A Vistani seer has prophecised the involvement of the PCs in preventing the Age of Worms.
- Strahd wants to use them to gather more information about the process Kyuss used to bind himself to the world.
- He sends a letter from the burgomaster dropping hints about the "worms" infesting Barovia and beseeching the PCs' aid in preventing their further spread.
- Strahd plans to support the PCs in their quest to thwart the Age of Worms, but only just a little. He plans to play both sides, helping the Ebon Triad stay just one step ahead of the PCs so that the PCs can gather clues without completely foiling their operations.
What I did in my campaign is change the "infected" zombies into spawn of kyuss. The mad cleric used a tome related to Kyuss turn his son into an undead. Had to fudge things a little to get it to work.
Did the same thing here. Ravenloft works surprisingly well with AoW, so much so that it just screams to get together.
"You got Raveloft in my Age of Worms!"
"You got Age of Worms in my Ravenloft!"
Here's the deal;
After returning to Diamond Lake from Blackwall Keep (and settling things very diplomatically with the Lizardfolk) the players are enjoying some rounds in there favorite watering hole, The Spinning Giant.
The misty night rolls in off of the polluted waters of Diamond Lake and the PCs decide to head home, covering their tab and leaving their favorite bar till tomorrow night. Heading home, they notice the incredibly thick mist, much thicker than normal for this time of year. They stumble about, get lost, are kind of nervous and looking around to find some way to find their way home.
They spy the Spinning Giant again. Did they get turned around somewhere? They enter, but notice that their bar is not the same. It's inhabited by quite people who won't make eye contact and gypsy-like people calling themselves Vistani.
Yes, I used the old-school, "The mist takes you" hook. Maybe it is rail-roading, but my players said they wanted to go to Ravenloft and by Gawd, I'll give them Ravenloft!!!
((It also helped it was Halloween night on our annual midnight session. Creepy music and all!)
My players are veterans and they know full well what is going on, but they keep their OOC knowledge to a minimum, acting concerned and worried about not just where they are but what the hell happened to their bar!?
A letter arrives from a wounded Vistani, telling them that the Burgomaster of Barovia needs help. The instant he mentioned 'Unkillable Zombies", "Zombie Plague" and "Worms" my players are out the door faster than you can say, "Would you like another bite, Mr. Zarovich?"
Arriving in Barovia after an attack by Werewolves, the players run into what appear to be Kyuss spawn much like the one at Blackwall keep.
(I used the Infected Zombies from Ravenloft, just changing their appearance to be worm-ridden. I made them Immature Spawn of Kyuss, hardier, but lacking the offense of their adult counterparts.)
Much like the post before me, I had the Priest Danovich change his son into a form of Kyuss Spawn, a huge worm much like a mix between and Overworm and an Ugster. Changed the abilities and named it a Worm Mother, a creature that creates Kyuss Worms like a living incubator.
Wanting to focus more on the Age of Worms than anything else, I took out the Ireena plot hook. I realize that this is sacrilege to someone who loves Ravenloft as much as I do, but it serves it's purpose and my players, veterans, were caught off guard by my including the Worms into a classic adventure they already know much about. They really don't know what to expect next, exactly what I was going for here.
The players just got their reading by Madam Eva, changed from her Hag background into something my players would feel more comfortable around.. They are notorious for killing anything that even remotely looks like a bad guy, to catch me before I can screw them over with a double-cross, so I had to be careful to portray her as a friend.
The plot is as follows; someone named Mother Maggot (You know who) has given Strahd fragments of the De Vermis Mysteriis (my campaign's version of the Apostolic Scrolls) to Strahd and offered a deal; if he begins creating Kyuss undead in Ravenloft as sort of a barracks, he will be given consideration when Kyuss takes his place in the campaign pantheon. As a God, Kyuss offers Strahd not only freedom to go between Ravenloft and the Material Plane at will, but also the chance to be his new herald (In my game, Dragotha is slowly breaking free from Kyuss' will and has proven to be a liability, much as he was when he left Kyuss' armies without a commander when his phylactery was stolen.)
I think it will fit in nicely if Strahd escapes, challenging Lashona later in the campaign with the players in the middle.
"Vampires....why'd it have to be Vampires!?"
The players must steal the fragments of the De Vermis Mysteriis (You Lovecraft people out there know what I'm talking about. Merle Prout 3:16) and ruin Strahd's plans to aid Kyuss and create an army of Spawn to overun the Material Plane with.
A far step from the classic module, but I think it works just as well given the adoptions for AoW.
So, what do you think? Hit me with your best shots, I can take it! >___<
*Golfclap* i like it sir...