Hey guys,
Well my players arrived at Ft. greenrock and found it destroied by the lizardman tribes. They became fairly angry at the savagry (there is a druid and a monk in the party) and decided to investigate further. So, since they were dedicating so much game time to it, I decided to tie this event into the savage tide mega-plot. sort of...
Here's where I'm at now.
They captured a lizrdman scout that was spying on them and through him arranged a meeting with the Priests (Tiamat) that rule the tribe. They also learned that the tribe is ruled over by a dragon who hasn't been seen in years. They got permission from the Lizardman priest to enter their lands and investigate further.
They discovered that someone (unknown badguy)set off a shadow pearl in the jungle...mutating many jungle creatures. The savage fever began to spread and before long the savage mutated creatures were attacking the lizardman tribe en masse. The Lizards managed to repress the attacks and destroy most of the mutated creatures... but this seriously depleted their food sources because there were now almost no creatures to hunt in the surrounding jungle. Thus they were "forced" to attack the fort for resources/"food" (even though that food was mainly human flesh LoL).
The PC's discovered the used up cracked Pearl, deep in the jungle at an ancient Lizardman burial ground. This was, presumably, where the pearl was activated.
I thought they would take this info, hop back on the sea wyvren, and head back on course...but that is not the case. They are going to ask lavinia to allow them to stay in the area longer so that they may further investigate the incident and uncover anymore clues.
My delima? where the hell do I lead them from here... I was thinking a Ghost from Ft. Greenrock could possibly appear to them and give them more info... but I need help adding all this up to make sense, and not give away any inappropriate info at this stage in the AP.
Anyone have any Ideas for a cool sidetrek?
Thanks in advance for reading all this and helping me out!
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Have the Sea Wyvern commandeered by a lizardman shaman and a handful of rogue warriors, presumably under direction from the same source as the Pearl. The PCs will have to return to ship and fight for the helm. Assuming PC success, and the ability to tactically question the shaman, they might learn the info needed to proceed. You can always throw in a second ship or dragon, an airship, a Tiefling or devil, etc. Have it obviously observing in a menacing manner, then escaping into the horizon, inviting pursuit.
I'm all about railroading. :-)
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PS
If you go with a plan to force the PCs back to the ship, you could always have the piracy committed by a handful of surviving humans, led by one of the store owners. The humans would normally be decent folk, but with respect to recent events they are half-mad and can think only to get as far from Greenrock as possible, and the PCs must perforce fight them or abandon the journey altogether. It might make for interesting roleplaying, and allow some atmospheric exposition if they're able to question one of the humans. Also, what have you done with Rowyn? Did the PCs find her and kill her, or was she thrown in a makeshift brig...from which she could have escaped? What does she really know. I think you know she doesn't hold any future in the AP as written, but you are the DM, and you have absolute power, mmmmyeessss!
Have them investigate further, but redirect them. Don't make it take too hard for them to find the "source" of the problem. Throw in some baddies for them to fight in whatever you have planned.
However, once they are through, leave evidence that the leader had just recently left. (Maybe because of the party). Anyway, either through a journal, letter, or partial navigational reports, show the villain responsible was heading south on a ship maybe with a day or two head start. Have a savvy sailor point out that the Blue Nixie and Sea Wyvern could possibly catchup with the villain's vessel and you have a chase on your hands.
If all goes right, they will race back to the ship and continue the voyage trying to chase the villain. From there, you can run the adventure as planned and there should be no problem letting the trail running cold.
Hope that helps.
Awesome Stuff guys... thank you so much!
As for this mystery villan that set of the shadow pearl... could it possibly be a villian from a future installment of the STAP? That way I could foreshadow a future villian? Any ideas??
Thanks again guys! ! !
Oh and in respons to the question regarding Rowan... She was captured after her antics onboard the wyvren. The heroes dropped her off witht he town guard at Ft. Blackwell. She subsequently used suggestion on the jailers there and managed to escape... her location is at this time unknown. I'm planning to have her pop up on the isle and continue her war against the PC's... possibly even hooking up with her "lost love" Vanthus eventually arrives.
Bump...
any further advice from other DM's out there?
Thanks!
Wow carborundum! Very good suggestion... I love it!
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If you go with the chase, you could have the bad guy's ship be the one they find wrecked in the Sargasso, with what clues you deem appropriate and as many bad guys missing or dead as you want.
As I don't have the adventure in front of me... is the current location before or after the blockade? one of the pirate ships could be the one carrying the leader, or there could be evidence of the leader's ship having fallen prey to the blockade, and somoene telling the pirates that two much fatter prizes were coming (a la the billy goats gruff)
Greenrock is after the blockaid...but that was still a good idea alas :)