Tieing in Shackled City

[Paul Ackerman 70]

So, I'm running the Red Hand of Doom. The group is 7th level and about to descend into the Ghostlords lair. Despite urging from me they're pretty determined.

A couple questions.

1. They'll be 12th - 14th level when they finish. What would be a good entry into the SC main SL? (Adventure?)

2. With the characters I've decided to run a "dream sequence" to run a little one-shot with a SC adventure. Give them some foreshadowing via my new PCs Cleric of St. Cuthbert that is a "chosen"

This will not only give a decent little 'break' to the do or die of RHoD, but will give something for them to jump start from later in the campaign.. and! give them some much needed XP as they proceed into the Lair of the Ghostlord.

Those familiar with the Shackled City plot line I'm thinking something along the lines of when they're off to search for Alex Trevical (spelling? I've not got my books with me...)

But, nothing within the actual city. I don't want them to realize they're in the volcano city. I also ofcourse want it to be a challenge. So, tweaking the SC adventure will be needed most likely.

So, there it is. Ideas? Suggestions?

[Paul Ackerman 70]

I noticed my second question isn't very clear.

What Shackled City should I run them through for the 'dream sequence?'

Following the guidelines above.. what would be a good one?

[delvesdeep]

If your party comes into the SCAp at 12th level this would bring them in at the beginning of the Secrets of the Soul Pillars which is a great adventure.

For mine, you are basically missing out on over half the path so Foreshadowing will be crutial, interweaving it with your current adventure and clerics dreamings.

The adventures that remain at this point are -

Secrets of the Sould Pillars
Lord of Oblivion
Foundations of Fire
Thirteen Cages
Strike on Shatterhorn
Asylum

All of these adventures are excellent with the exception of Strike on Shatterhorn. I would replace this with a ramped up version of Test of the Smoking Eye, as recommended in another recent thread.

I would run an introduction to Cauldron to give the party a connection to the city before playing any of the other adventures. Run the Flood Festival with the Demonskar Ball thrown in to allow the party to both mix with the commoners, key NPCs and nobles alike.

Use as much of the resources you can find off theRPGenius.com site to assist with this introduction. Also have your cleric have the Haunted Dream trait and use dome of the suggested dreams found on the same site (also try the document called Alternative Adimarchus and the Cagewrights for a series of dreams you can use to foreshadow Adimarchus).

Good Luck its a great campaign

Delvesdeep

[Acrimonious]

If you are looking for a 1 day dream sequence, you might just take one of the better fights from the SCAP like the Temple and Aushanna from Zenith, the 3 sisters from Demonscar or even Nabbie himself.

If you meant that you want them to level from 7 to 12 in a SCAP mod then you have more work then I could give advice on. that's Demonscar plus the Test.

If you want to start the SCAP at Soul Pillars then I agree with DD. you lose a lot of feel and foreshadowing not to mention the opportunities for the party to look back and smack their collective foreheads. But you don't lose a lot of the story. Soul Pillars is the first chance the party gets to see the inside info without a ton of red herrings.

[Stile]

Thanks guys.

I will be adding SC after they finished RHoD. Which would probably be the Secrets of the Soul Pillars.

I'm going to run Demonscar as a 'dream sequence' or a more ravenloft feel. The room they're about to enter in the Red Hand of Doom is full of fog and mist.. use that to bounce them in and out.

So, this is a bit of foreshadowing to the campaign.

As far as 'players' slapping their heads - I'll still have it. Two of my players I have ran through part of SC. Actually to right after the street riot.

That campaign simply fell apart. So - as players - they'll slap their heads. I just have to weave in the rest IC.

I guess what I'm saying is - is Demonscar a decent one to use? Or should I try and tweak another adventure? Or.. what could I do to demonscar? I still want to contain whatever SC bit I use to one night of gaming.