My ST campaign is coming to a quick end due to real life related issues. The final session is the Crimson Fleet's attack on Farshore. While this is a good break point for the campaign, the players are aware that there is much more to the ST that they are missing out on. I am looking for ideas on how to incorporate some of the flavor of the campaign's grand finale with Demogorgon into the Crimson Fleet's attack.
One thought I had was for Vanthus to make his appearance in a less mutated form (i.e. drop the lemorian template) and to have him purposely use the shadow pearl to mutate himself into an avatar of Demogorgon. Complete with a second head that is still evil but is sympathetic to his sister. As to the savage tide effect of the pearl, since it is primarily being used to mutate Vanthus the broader mutation of Farshore could be reduced.
Do you have any thoughts on this change or ideas for the mutation of Vanthus?
What about other later story or encounter elements that could be incorporated to the Crimson Fleet attack?
Are there things from the CF attack that could be dropped or altered?
ttfn
Skudge
I think using the pearl on Vanthus is a great idea. I would make some of the PCs fight the off the tide--not enough to take them out of the game, but make them helpless for a few rounds to build he tensions (just in case an 8-front fight is not tense enough :) The avatar of demogorgon is going to be pretty tough on top of the whole seige thing. And your two heads idea is a good way to go as well.
I think using the pearl on Vanthus is a great idea. I would make some of the PCs fight the off the tide--not enough to take them out of the game, but make them helpless for a few rounds to build he tensions (just in case an 8-front fight is not tense enough :) The avatar of demogorgon is going to be pretty tough on top of the whole seige thing. And your two heads idea is a good way to go as well.
Thanks. One of the things I want to do with this ending is make it feel like the final resolution for the players so they see it as the real campaign end. This means pulling out all the stops and also showing in some way that their efforts will stop the Savage Tide. To do this I'm thinking that Vanthus will announce that he is not at Farshore merely to put down the upstart settlement, but to return to the Isle of Dread and transform it into Demogorgon's portal from his realm. To this end he bears not just any ST pearl, which were only tests, but the true second black pearl which will complete the islands transformation started so long ago. Vanthus could then bloody and activate the true black pearl causing the mutation of himself and activating the mutation effect of a lesser pearl. Announcing that all he needs to do is shatter the black pearl to complete the island’s transformation.
This retains the modules original threat of Vanthus of shattering the pearl and amps up the potential danger for the campaign end. It requires a bit of villainous monologing but I think it’s workable. Thoughts?
Does anyone have specific recommendations for template changes to Vanthus as an avatar?
It may work better for the original module's history if there was a way to move the final battle with Vanthus from Farshore to the central plateau. Ideas for doing so?
ttfn
Skudge
You could make him kidnap Lavinia and teleport with her to the plateau (he can teleport because he is a fiend, or he has an item).
You could make Vanthus use the pearl to become an aspect of Demogorgon. Perhaps he wants to create his gateway to the abyss on the plateau. This would be logical since there is already an abyssal influence on the island, so it would be easier. (The plateau is already attuned to the abyss).
Another option is to let him be possessed by Demogorgon. I think there is information about possession in Book of vile darkness.
Some time ago there was a "multiheaded" template on the WotC website. I do not know whether it is still in the archives.
I seem to remember that there was some information in DMG2 as well, but I do not know for sure whether it was twoheaded, or only information about extra limbs.
Good luck with your campaign ending.