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I was rereading the Isle of Dread backdrop and the “Torrents of Dread” adventure both from Dungeon #114 and there were a few things that I wanted to know a little more about.
In the backdrop article it mentions about how there was a war between the kopru and the ixitxachitls, and that the ixitxachitls winning said war. My question is how come we don’t see more of an ixitxachitls presence on the Isle in the AP?
One of the really cool things that I liked from the backdrop article was the mention that a bunch of kopru controlled a magical black pearl called the “Spawn of the Great One” that when used created deadly and mysterious fogs that breached the abyss and brought forth new monsters to the Isle. This operation as I remember was taking place on Taboo Island, I assume at the temple ruins yet no mention is made in “City of Broken Idols” adventure (Dungeon#145) of this at all. What happened to this artefact?
In the adventure “Torrents of Dread” at the conclusion it stats that the village of Mora needs a new Zombie Master and that the PCs could be hired to go to the Fangs of Zotzilaha where the original Zombie Master trains new protégés. Yet we see no mention of this in the AP, particularly since the PCs will need to travel to that area some time in the adventure “Tides of Dread” (Dungeon #143). Basically, a little info on what the Zombie Masters stats, (we know he’s a lich) classes, and reaction to a group of adventurers or olmans might be like. I assume that his home would be located near the southern volcano, instead of the northern one that contains the shrine of Zotzilaha.
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I think the "Spawn of the Great One" pearl that was located on Taboo Island in #114 inspired, but was replaced by, the shadow pearls being created on Taboo Island in the STAP. I think they have too much in common - kopru, the island, pearls - to use them both in the same campaign. Plus, they seem to contradict one another. In the STAP, it's implied that Khala the Two-Headed is responsible for the abyssal fogs, rather than a black pearl, since killing him causes the fogs to go away and the remaining demons to flee the island.
I'm definitely planning on adding more ixitxachitls when I run the STAP, though. I love them to death, plus I figure their appearance in the Lotus Dragons hideout might have been meant to be, like the rhagodessa, a weird creature that turns up in Scuttlecove to foreshadow the Isle of Dread. Maybe they were cut for lack of space? A good place to re-insert them would be in the wreck of the Sea Wyvern. They could replace Skephilipika, the kopru druid, or become allies of his. Maybe he was exiled by the other kopru for collaborating with their enemies?
Creative Director
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Yes. The "Spawn of the Great One" and the whole shadow pearl concept are the same, along with the kopru involvement and all that. Think of the Savage Tide version of the Isle of Dread as the newest "edition" of the Isle of Dread, if you want.
Ixitxachitls have always been associated with Demogorgon, and so it seemed a cool way to foreshadow his role in the AP for old veterans of the game. None of the other authors really picked up on the ixitxachitl theme until the last adventure, and even then they're mostly for show. Problem with them, of course, is that they function even less well than koprus when it comes to dry land.
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You mean there are ixitxachitls in #150? Be still my beating heart :)
That's interesting that they're at war with the kopru, but both races serve Demogorgon. I wonder if one is affiliated with Aameul and one with Hethrediah, and if so, which goes with which?
Thanks for the info, James!
Thats probably a safe assumption, though one that I hadnt thought of!
While the pearls maybe one and the same now, I still thought it would be cool to use the arrival of the fog as a encounter and then have the PCs discover in an alternate section of the Taboo Isalnd ruins the kopru who are in charge of this special device.
I guess Ill have to wait for 150, but I was hoping to provide more of a precense on the Isle for the ixitxachitls.
Ive actually been contemplatting an idea that involves the completion of the campaign on the actual Isle itself.Khala would and the city of broken idols would in effect be the final adventure (scaled up to 20-21st level)and I would have more adventures set on and around the isle itself (Scuttle Cove, Isle of Mist, ect.)Mostly becuase Im not a big fan of plane hopping.But Ill admit I love the wake portal and the adventures have been intersting,but I just LOVE the Isle! Theres just too many cool locations and plot ideas there to explore!
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Creative Director
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You mean there are ixitxachitls in #150? Be still my beating heart :)
That's interesting that they're at war with the kopru, but both races serve Demogorgon. I wonder if one is affiliated with Aameul and one with Hethrediah, and if so, which goes with which?
Thanks for the info, James!
No... I mean the word "ixitxachitl" appears in Dungeon #150. There's no actual ixitxachitl encounters in the adventure, alas.
But yeah, the idea between the kopru and ixitxachitl war is that Demogorgon kinda set them both against each other as a "who loves me more" type thing, and then once the war was well underway, Demogorgon kind of lost interest. He's evil that way.
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Creative Director
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Ive actually been contemplatting an idea that involves the completion of the campaign on the actual Isle itself.Khala would and the city of broken idols would in effect be the final adventure (scaled up to 20-21st level)and I would have more adventures set on and around the isle itself (Scuttle Cove, Isle of Mist, ect.)Mostly becuase Im not a big fan of plane hopping.But Ill admit I love the wake portal and the adventures have been intersting,but I just LOVE the Isle! Theres just too many cool locations and plot ideas there to explore!
At the end of "Prince of Demosns" we've included five or so Epic Adventure Hooks; ideas on how the campaign can continue into epic levels. One of those hooks involves the Isle of Dread. That's all I'm gonna say about that for now though.