Sorry to keep coming back here guys, but what else am I going to do?
What do you think Telakin will do if the party leaves the complex after trashing half of it?
Like: I'm Telakin. I've been ordered to take out the party. I have them captured by corrupt cops and taken to our hideout. They
- escape from the cells
- kill the guards
- release Cyra ir'Tarn
- discover my secret underground lair
- kill some more minions (two escape and tell me we are under attack)
- find the room where the real Jericho is being held
- kill 4 minions, including Ixixian
- then leave my complex to head back to the Crooked House to heal up
What do I (Telakin) do? Will I risk attacking them at the Crooked House? How do I (the DM) run that? What about the watch? What does Cyra ir'Tarn do?
PS: I would like to include some Kenkus, because I have 8 Kenku miniatures and only 2 Dolgaunts <g> and also to provide a clue as to why the party has been targeted by this guy.
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Howabout having Telakin and and his remaining doppelgangers set up an ambush where they least expect it? Local church, Eligos' home, or shop perhaps? Perhaps Tarquin could be replaced by Telakin. This could turn into one of those killer breakfasts, especially if your players aren't wearing their armour and gear.
I imagine that Telakin would refuse to abandon his hideout, unless he has time to move out his mind gem device, incriminating evidence, and his favourite mirror.
If you're looking to make Telakin a tougher opponent, lower his barbarian abilities to level 5 and add 5 levels of cleric so he can buff up before the fight. This won't exceed the 18 levels of class abilities he's allowed to have.
This may be trying to shut the proverbial barn doors after the proverbial party has proverbially run away like little girly-men, but assuming they are now planning to leave and have not actually left yet, I would consider not letting them off that easily.
I understand that Zyrxog is scheduled to show up with a couple of dolgaunts on the way out, yes? Why not let it happen? I think the big Z tossing off a mind blast, then turning things over to his dolgaunt minions as Telakian comes out of his lair to face the party would be about as effective a climax as the party having to charge Telakian past his traps in his throne room.
If they've already fled, you could perhaps stage another doppelganger ambush, nothing too rough, and plant in that battle the lead that sends the party looking for Zyrxog (yellow mold, perhaps some Cold Forgepaperwork) and keep Telakin in your back pocket. Wouldn't it suck if another team in the Champion's Games were doppelgangers...? (And by "suck" I of course mean "serve your players right.")
On a total tangent, I read some of your earlier logs. Sounds like a fun, swift-moving campaign. For future reference, I notice that Flash slept a couple of the doppelgangers. Check out the MM entry again - dopps are immune to sleep effects! (And console yourself in the knowledge that if a couple of players died to forgetting some of their rules, they got rid of two enemies the prior week for the same reason. The sword cuts both ways!) It happens - just like you, I forgot all about the spawns' fear aura at BWK. Alas.
On a total tangent, I read some of your earlier logs. Sounds like a fun, swift-moving campaign.
Thanks - it's nice to know peopel are reading it. The group is 4 30-40yo man with wives and jobs - and Dave, who doesn't fit the pattern - so we don't take ourselves too seriously.
I still have to write up the rest of this week. Heck, I'll do it now.
Perhaps Tarquin could be replaced by Telakin.
I like it! Come to that - why not (almost) everyone in the whole freaking bar? If I was Telakin, I wouldn't replace Tarquin. I'd just be that quiet Wizard in the corner.
Even better - half the people in the whole freaking bar! Be careful not to kill any regular customers!
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Even the barmaids could be doppelgangers. Telakin could post a doppelganger outside, disguised as a city watchman, to prevent others from entering. Keep in mind, however, that the doppelganger change shape ability doesn't allow them to change clothes or the appearance of their weapons. To circumvent the problem, I gave Telakin a homemade item, a cloak of many forms, with the ability to cast disguise self as a free action every round.