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Picture this: Mammy Graul in Thistletops's Temple to Lamashtu, naked and pregnant, giving birth to monstrosities every couple of weeks. Nualia's there, chosen of Lamashtu, to nurse Mammy through this process. The PCs have to put a stop to it.
What do you think? It'd be used as a module for mid-level characters, rather than a beginning to an adventure path.
Would people be interested in having access to a quick guide for such a mashup? Would you help brainstorm and troubleshoot?
Picture this: Mammy Graul in Thistletops's Temple to Lamashtu, naked and pregnant, giving birth to monstrosities every couple of weeks. Nualia's there, chosen of Lamashtu, to nurse Mammy through this process. The PCs have to put a stop to it.
What do you think? It'd be used as a module for mid-level characters, rather than a beginning to an adventure path.
Would people be interested in having access to a quick guide for such a mashup? Would you help brainstorm and troubleshoot?
Note - Spoilers Ahead
Now that image definitely calls for a Sanity check ;PIt would be a memorable standalone encounter, to be sure. Of course, having read the AP already, I would really love to have those two get away and stage that as a sidequest between chapters...
Some questions/thoughts:
Would you advance Nualia's 'changes' or leave her as written in Burnt Offerings? If she does advance, what changes would you want her to have?
Would Mammy's current brood just be transplanted to the Thistletop area, or would there be some new children? (I ask because I just got this idea of using the Amalgam template from Advanced Bestiary to make a hybrid ogrekin/greater barghest. Let's not forget the bunyip and the tentamort either. Hmmm.....)
As always, just my humble 2cp... :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
Note - Spoilers Ahead
My bad! Any players in Runelords, or even in campaigns with Fort Rennick or Sandpoint, please read no further. All the thread is a spoiler!
Would you advance Nualia's 'changes' or leave her as written in Burnt Offerings? If she does advance, what changes would you want her to have?
I probably wouldn't advance her transformation. I just like the Beauty and the Beast image she and Mammy Graul give. Plus, it sends the message that this is about something way different than simply being ugly.
Add class levels, certainly. A cleric and a mage with minions for a final battle is a good mix.
Would Mammy's current brood just be transplanted to the Thistletop area, or would there be some new children? (I ask because I just got this idea of using the Amalgam template from Advanced Bestiary to make a hybrid ogrekin/greater barghest. Let's not forget the bunyip and the tentamort either. Hmmm.....)
I might free the barghest, however, for advancement purposes. He could replace the goblin chief, who could be in a cell, a potential ally along with the druid. Bestiality along with incest would be properly monstrous. (Barghests look like wolf-goblin hybrids to me.)
Alternatively, they could find him and harvest him for Mammy to have a little variety in between lovin' from her boys. (Note, all such things should definitely be off-screen and appropriate to your campaign's tone!)
Both options would permit your Amalgam template, certainly.
Interesting that they both have a Tentamort, yes?
I think you have to bring Mammy's brood over. They're easy to raise in level. They make thematic sense. And they give a creepy incest rationale for how Mammy keeps getting preggers. (Obviously, some campaigns may want to simply hand wave it as Lamashtu's gift if their players would be uncomfortable about that. Better safe than sorry.)
Now, clearly, we need to suss out the goals of Mammy and Nualia. Here's some options:
* Take over the world through an army of inbred monstrously birthed creatures.
* They're just doing it to praise Lamashtu.
* Revenge on Sandpoint. (Could Mammy have a connection to the town?)
* For the kicks.
* Hearing about violence gets Mammy in the mood.
* Anything else?
Why raid Sandpoint? Here's some options:
* Speed up Mammy's birth cycle?
* Something to do with the Runewell, an item with interesting feminine symbolism?
* Maybe as a diversion for them to do something else?
* Leave alone: it's just to acquire a corpse for Nualia?
* Mammy needs more zombies?
* Anything else?
I'd recommend against the raid as being to acquire more brood mothers or studs. First, there's the goblin harem and Nualia, so there's no real shortage of brood mothers. Second, it's too morally icky to RP to use. (Imagine what you'd have to RP in the rescue scene in front of your players for why.) Third, there's all sorts of studs available, including the Thistletop goblins and the barghest, if they get access to him. Lastly, it'd be a lot easier to just co-opt the weak goblin tribes than to deal with the inevitable heroes.
It might be more interesting for them to have no plans to raid Sandpoint at all. It could just be that the locals have had frequent sitings of things that just don't look 'natural', and the call goes out for adventurers to look into things. If this will not be tied to the AP at all, then there's no need for Nualia to be tied to Sandpoint.
Perhaps Lamashtu has twisted the energies of the Runewell to her own ends, and they only need to be within a few miles of it to reap the benefits (whatever those are). Leaving Sandpoint alone lets the Runewell 'hide in plain sight', at least for a little while.
I would still keep Malfeshnekor at Nualia's side though, probably as the chief of the Thistletop goblins. On that note - if the Thistletop goblins are kept around and used in Lamashtu's rites, they could evolve into a much more powerful strain in a very short time (especially given their rapid breeding cycle). I wouldn't go so far as a whole tribe of regular barghests, but at least a template to beef them up with something. This is especially true if Mammy Graul's other children are going to be included - otherwise they'd have poor odds of surviving that kind of cohabitation.
And now that I think of it - if you haven't used the Sandpoint Devil yet for anything, maybe that could be the hook to get the PCs to the region. Mammy Graul looks like she could birth something that big. Perhaps that is what Lamashtu did to the Runewell - warped it to focus on a small group of devoted 'mothers' at the temple and empower/enhance/accererate their fertility cycles. The Devil was their first success, and now she is trying to repeat it.
Apologies for rambling all over the place - too much going on while I was trying to type this... :P
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
It might be more interesting for them to have no plans to raid Sandpoint at all. It could just be that the locals have had frequent sitings of things that just don't look 'natural', and the call goes out for adventurers to look into things. If this will not be tied to the AP at all, then there's no need for Nualia to be tied to Sandpoint.
Perhaps Lamashtu has twisted the energies of the Runewell to her own ends, and they only need to be within a few miles of it to reap the benefits (whatever those are). Leaving Sandpoint alone lets the Runewell 'hide in plain sight', at least for a little while.
Awesome!
Even better: Sandpoint locals start getting a lot of Apocalypse-style birth defects. Kittens born with their eyes facing inwards. Two-headed chickens. And, if the PCs dawdle, it starts to affect human births.
That puts the onus on the players: find what's causing it (the Runewell) or go stop what's driving it (Thistletop). It also explains why the monsters won't abandon Thistletop and will fight to the last: it's the only place that they can cause so many monstrous births.
I would still keep Malfeshnekor at Nualia's side though, probably as the chief of the Thistletop goblins. On that note - if the Thistletop goblins are kept around and used in Lamashtu's rites, they could evolve into a much more powerful strain in a very short time (especially given their rapid breeding cycle). I wouldn't go so far as a whole tribe of regular barghests, but at least a template to beef them up with something. This is especially true if Mammy Graul's other children are going to be included - otherwise they'd have poor odds of surviving that kind of cohabitation.
Speeding up (d)evolution should definitely be Lamashtu's long term plan.
Now... there's very specific instructions on how to turn the Runewell off and how many spawn it creates. How do we adapt that to this concept? What turns it off? What powers it? The sin spawn are great for these "monstrous birth" purposes, so I'd like to use those, perhaps with Barbarian levels to up their EL.
And now that I think of it - if you haven't used the Sandpoint Devil yet for anything, maybe that could be the hook to get the PCs to the region. Mammy Graul looks like she could birth something that big. Perhaps that is what Lamashtu did to the Runewell - warped it to focus on a small group of devoted 'mothers' at the temple and empower/enhance/accererate their fertility cycles. The Devil was their first success, and now she is trying to repeat it.
Perhaps, but how does the DM explain the long-term stories and myths about the devil. If they had that big a success a long time ago, why aren't they further along? Did the myth precede the actual monster, making the SD a recent creation? If so, what caused the creation of the SD, instead of mutated goblins and ogrekin and amalgams?
Awesome!
Even better: Sandpoint locals start getting a lot of Apocalypse-style birth defects. Kittens born with their eyes facing inwards. Two-headed chickens. And, if the PCs dawdle, it starts to affect human births.
That puts the onus on the players: find what's causing it (the Runewell) or go stop what's driving it (Thistletop). It also explains why the monsters won't abandon Thistletop and will fight to the last: it's the only place that they can cause so many monstrous births.
I like that idea, though to keep the suspense going I would wait for the birth defects to show up until after the PCs had an initial foray into the surrounding area. Maybe even have a preliminary run-in with the bad guys. Then when they get back (thinking they've made progress), the Mayor wants to have a little chat with them about what's happened since they left...
The other point to clarify now is the order in which the sites need to be investigated. I would vote for Thistletop first, then the Catacombs of Wrath, but you could go either way with it, depending on how you want the story to flow.
Speeding up (d)evolution should definitely be Lamashtu's long term plan.Now... there's very specific instructions on how to turn the Runewell off and how many spawn it creates. How do we adapt that to this concept? What turns it off? What powers it? The sin spawn are great for these "monstrous birth" purposes, so I'd like to use those, perhaps with Barbarian levels to up their EL.
If Lamashtu has turned the Runewell to her own ends, then it should be powered by the same sacrifices she herself demands. That means either newborn creatures, or trying to get impregnated by (or just impregnate) another. I would have the Runewell no longer be harmful to be immersed in, especially if the latter fertility rites are used (since I imagine the act would have to take place in the well itself).
I would also have Lamashtu change the sinspawn to be more like the variant in PF#1 for Sorshen's lustspawn, but able to actually breed with other creatures. That would maintain their usefulness to her, and would allow for a steady source of 'homage' to fuel the Runewell.
Perhaps, but how does the DM explain the long-term stories and myths about the devil. If they had that big a success a long time ago, why aren't they further along? Did the myth precede the actual monster, making the SD a recent creation? If so, what caused the creation of the SD, instead of mutated goblins and ogrekin and amalgams?
Well, if this isn't tied to the AP, and the players have no prior knowledge of the region, you can change the timeline of the Devil's appearances. The creature could be a new occurrence in the area.
If the players have already been through the AP, or have knowledge about the Sandpoint region, you could just say that Nualia and Mammy have been working on this for a while already, and only now has the number of surviving offspring reached the level to be noticed by the locals.
Or, just leave it a mystery. The legends have been around for a while, but this creature has only been around recently. What was the original Sandpoint Devil, if this one isn't it? Why tie into that myth, if not just for the terror aspect? Looks like a hook for another adventure to me! ;P
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
Speeding up (d)evolution should definitely be Lamashtu's long term plan.Now... there's very specific instructions on how to turn the Runewell off and how many spawn it creates. How do we adapt that to this concept? What turns it off? What powers it? The sin spawn are great for these "monstrous birth" purposes, so I'd like to use those, perhaps with Barbarian levels to up their EL.
If Lamashtu has turned the Runewell to her own ends, then it should be powered by the same sacrifices she herself demands. That means either newborn creatures, or trying to get impregnated by (or just impregnate) another. I would have the Runewell no longer be harmful to be immersed in, especially if the latter fertility rites are used (since I imagine the act would have to take place in the well itself).
We've been talking about having the Lamashtu forces sitting tight, which makes a certain amount of sense. But what if we use this need for newborn creatures as a motive? The rituals could rule out newborns from Lamashtu births, as could the need to expand their forces. (Harder to take over the world through birth rate if you keep sacrificing your own newborns!)
What if we have the opening goblin raid be to snatch and grab newborns? The goblins attacking Sandpoint are so darn fun that I'd want that as my opening scene. You've got mobs of goblins trying to snatch kittens and puppies (!), which is amusing as heck until you see one of them riding a baby carriage hooked up to a goblin dog out of town. You've got the butterflies everywhere, ogrekin rampaging, goblins distracted by food and opportunities for pointless destruction...
Having to capture newborns is an excellent hook to investigate further.
As far as turning off the runewell... in the REAL Burnt Offerings, you turn it off by creating too many sinspawn and replenish it with small acts of rage. How does that work for Lamashtu? I see what you're saying, but I'm not quite getting it.
I would also have Lamashtu change the sinspawn to be more like the variant in PF#1 for Sorshen's lustspawn, but able to actually breed with other creatures. That would maintain their usefulness to her, and would allow for a steady source of 'homage' to fuel the Runewell.
Awesome.
What if we have the opening goblin raid be to snatch and grab newborns? The goblins attacking Sandpoint are so darn fun that I'd want that as my opening scene. You've got mobs of goblins trying to snatch kittens and puppies (!), which is amusing as heck until you see one of them riding a baby carriage hooked up to a goblin dog out of town. You've got the butterflies everywhere, ogrekin rampaging, goblins distracted by food and opportunities for pointless destruction...
Having to capture newborns is an excellent hook to investigate further.
As far as turning off the runewell... in the REAL Burnt Offerings, you turn it off by creating too many sinspawn and replenish it with small acts of rage. How does that work for Lamashtu? I see what you're saying, but I'm not quite getting it.
Nice - that's a perfect retasking of the Swallowtail Festival attack! :)
I think that if captured newborns are to be the 'fuel' for the runewell, then the charges should be expended by the creation of Lamashtu's progeny - both in the catacombs and at the temple in Thistletop (though I would think that most of the breeding would be focused at Thistletop).
Now, there needs to be another way to turn off the Runewell that will work for game groups with a lighter sexual tone to them. Since Desna and her church take a dim view to Lamashtu's activities anyway, let's look there for a solution (having the cathedral in Sandpoint makes this easy enough). Perhaps a symbolic gesture...
Wells can be capped or filled in to shut them down, so why not use something like that? Either have the well 'capped' with a slab of sanctified rose quartz, or have the well filled with Desna's holy water (which I believe is ground up rose quartz crystal). It can either dissipate the energy of the well, or filter it into beneficent 'fertility energy', causing a rise in the birthate in Sandpoint for a short time. The babies born from this can either be normal or have some minor blessing due to Desna's grace.
More food for thought - methinks we're on the right track though ;)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4
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Nothing incites the wrath of an entire town quite like having their pets killed, their crops trashed, and their babies carried off by goblins.
And then you've got this runewell under the city that feeds on wrath. That's a potent plot twist, because it forces your PC's to do the opposite of what they'd normally do (in D&D, anyway). They have to defuse bloodshed instead of causing it. For exampole...
- angry mob turns on the city guard ("why aren't you people DOING anything? Why didn't you stop this?")
- angry mob turns on the temples ("we trusted you! we had faith! Look where it got us!)
- militias take matters into their own hands, raiding surrounding farmhouses in case the goblins are holed up there.
- people turn on anyone whose baby DIDN'T get snatched, thinking that they might have paid off the goblins.
if the PC's stick around, the babies don't get found. If the PC's go looking for babies, the town descends into fear and anger, powering the runewell even more.
if the PC's stick around, the babies don't get found. If the PC's go looking for babies, the town descends into fear and anger, powering the runewell even more.
Hmmm... solve the magical pollution problem from eons past (the Runewell) or solve the immediate crisis....
if the PC's stick around, the babies don't get found. If the PC's go looking for babies, the town descends into fear and anger, powering the runewell even more.
Hmmm... solve the magical pollution problem from eons past (the Runewell) or solve the immediate crisis....
Another good idea. It does require a decision as to whether or not the Runewell has been altered by Lamashtu to work to her ends.
I suppose it could be modified to do both, but that might be too much for the PCs to deal with at once, as well as a chore to track on the DM side. Must ponder for a bit....
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
I think both can work.
1. The Runewell is incidental to Lamashtu's plans. Their raid, for completely other reasons, fuels it. Perhaps the quasit, who did train Nualia after all, was using her to fuel its own empire? Defusing the townsfolk, then going to the Wrath Runewell and deactivating it, solves one problem before taking on Lamashtu.
2. The Runewell has nothing to do with rage, but the townsfolk react that way anyway, perhaps fueled by their own political divisions. You have the same "defusing" encounters, but they do not lead into greater plots. Going below and "capping" the Runewell of Lamashtu (protected by the quasit)
3. Wrath is a part of Lamashtu's monstrous birth strategy. Thus, they feed off the wrath of the Runewell and capping it hampers their plans, but doesn't stop them.
Hi Charles,
I think the only reason we haven't pulled Sorshen in completely in our discussion (besides switching out the sinspawn as I suggested upthread) was to keep the scenario 'PG' enough that anyone who wanted to use it could do so. You couldn't put all of that stuff 'off-screen' without losing some of the impact of having it in the first place.
That being said, switching out Sorshen for Alaznist would be fine by me. That would definitely change the flavor of things, and make dealing with the citizens of Sandpoint that much more complicated (especially with your idea for the Swallowtail Festival - nice touch)! More importantly, it would still work in conjunction with a cult of Lamashtu, so the original adventure idea still stands.
If I took it in this direction, I would probably play up the role of Shayliss Vinder in this (and possibly her sister Katrine as well). Maybe her actions inadvertently helped in reactivating the Runewell, or maybe she had a more deliberate involvement. I don't know if I would make her a true villain in this, though - keeping her as redeemable would give the PCs more reason to engage her outside of just combat.
Good stuff! :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
I think both can work.
1. The Runewell is incidental to Lamashtu's plans. Their raid, for completely other reasons, fuels it. Perhaps the quasit, who did train Nualia after all, was using her to fuel its own empire? Defusing the townsfolk, then going to the Wrath Runewell and deactivating it, solves one problem before taking on Lamashtu.
2. The Runewell has nothing to do with rage, but the townsfolk react that way anyway, perhaps fueled by their own political divisions. You have the same "defusing" encounters, but they do not lead into greater plots. Going below and "capping" the Runewell of Lamashtu (protected by the quasit)
3. Wrath is a part of Lamashtu's monstrous birth strategy. Thus, they feed off the wrath of the Runewell and capping it hampers their plans, but doesn't stop them.
Good point - and the Runewell could either stay a 'red herring' or side-plot item, or be a seed for another adventure entirely if the PCs show interest.
I could see a short adventure arc for the area where the PCs track down other Runewells to shut down or destroy. What if there was one inside the Irespan in Magnimar, for example? Maybe there is something in the harbor beneath the Cyphergate in Riddleport as well. Hmmm... :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
For me, I think that the Runewell has to be a part of Lamashtu's strategy. It provides an explanation for why Nualia's personal revenge is getting such deific support. It's also less labor-intensive. I think the wrath generated by the raid and the reaction to it works as a synergy with the sexual energies of Mammy Graul's birthing pool in Thistletop's temple.
For me, I think that the Runewell has to be a part of Lamashtu's strategy. It provides an explanation for why Nualia's personal revenge is getting such deific support. It's also less labor-intensive. I think the wrath generated by the raid and the reaction to it works as a synergy with the sexual energies of Mammy Graul's birthing pool in Thistletop's temple.
Absolutely - and it shows that the bad guys can team up just like the heroes, and be a deadly challenge for an overconfident party. This synergy should give them pause, and make them worry about it being more than just a local happening (even if it ultimately isn't). If the PCs prevail, yet still worry about future ramifications, then you've spun a good yarn indeed! :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
There will be several changes from the canonical two modules listed here. (Others will be listed as they occur, as posts cannot be edited after a certain time period.)
The first change is that this mashup assumes a much higher level party than those assumed by RotRL 1. While the exact level has not been pinned down, assume 7th to 10th level.
The next change relevant to the prologue is that there is no Runelord BBEG. This mashup is a standalone module in which Nualia and Mammy Graul attempt to pervert and destroy Sandpoint as part of their worship services to Lamashtu.
There are Runewells, however, left over from that ancient time; they are used by our BBEGals. The Runewell beneath Sandpoint is devoted to wrath, while another Runewell has been discovered in the bottom floor of Thistletop. That Runewell is devoted to lust. In such close proximity, these two Runewells feed off each other, making them perfect birthing pools for the Mother of Monsters. (This addition to Thistletop will require some fudging of the map by the DM.)
Mammy Graul spends much of her time naked and pregnant, lolling about in the Thistletop Runewell to Lust. Her activities, faith and her prolonged exposure result in increased fertility, a radically speeded up gestation period and an increased maturation speed of her children. While the fathers included in these unholy rites to Lamashtu are best left to the darkest imaginings of your players, suffice it to say that The Sandpoint Devil was Mammy and Nualia's first "success". It was been followed by goblin snakes and goblin dogs, then by hideously deformed goblin mutants. A few of her younger Graul ogrekin boys are sprinkled in there as well.
The assault on Sandpoint uses different encounters, but its purpose remains much the same: petty revenge, fuel for the Sandpoint Runewell to Wrath and distraction. The invaders still retrieve the corpse of Nualia's father, although the purpose behind that task is, again, best left to the worst suspicions of your players. The attackers are, however, uninterested in kidnapping the citizens of Sandpoint, as they are all too normal for Lamashtu's purposes.
Yet, especially intuitive players might prepare Sandpoint for its assault. The prologue of this mashup gives the PCs access to clues that allow them to be proactive in responding to this threat, rather than reactive...
Prologue: "In which the PCs get clues which they may use to avert disaster."
Basically, this act should be used to encourage role-playing, world-building and exploration. There will be plenty of gruesome combats later. This section makes those adventures matter more. In addition, if the more puzzle-oriented players in your group start putting the signs together in the manner of the X-Files, let them. The clues should lead to the Runewell of Wrath beneath town.
What follows is not a linear module of encounters, nor is it precisely an event-based setup. Instead, think of this list as moments intended to foreshadow the adventure to come and possibly clues for your players.
These PCs, as higher level characters, are not assumed to have grown up in Sandpoint, although obviously it does no harm if one or more has. Backstory on Nualia and Longjiku can be hunted down in town documents, gathered by a skill check by a PC, featured in yarning at the Hagfish, tales at Cracktooth's Tavern or simply told to them by a relative, friend or lover living in town. One of the following NPCs might have info or stories of the town's history: Risa, Madame Mvashti, Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Hemlock, Ameiko, Cracktooth, Hannah Verelin, Volioker Briskalberd, or Abstalar Zantus.
Ancient History, or, That Town Just Ain't Right:
* Tales of the Chopper.
* Tales of the Sandpoint fire.
* Tales of the attempted genocide at the founding of the town.
Wrath/Violence foreshadowing:
* Das Korvut ranting after midnight outside the inn of one of the PCs.
* Exchange of insults between Ameiko and Cyrdak.
* Brodert Quink enraged at his lack of standing.
* Ven Vinder's obsession with his daughters.
* The trophies of the Goblin Squash Stables.
* Brawl at the Fat Man's Feedbag every night.
* Have a magic lantern show precede the play at the Sandpoint Theater. Focusing on news of the Andoran-Cheliax conflict, it spurs tensions unnaturally, causing several ejections.
Lust/Birth foreshadowing:
* Hannah Verelin telling about Nualia's stillborn as "the worst midwifery experience she's ever had."
* Gorvi bothering the ladies on the boardwalk.
* The nightlife of Shayliss and Katrine. (Given the high level of the PCs, consider running the Shayliss basement encounter before the raid.)
* The Pixie's Kitten is hiring, as they're having trouble keeping up with demand.
* Highlight the courting of Rynshinn and Belven, with perhaps a PC being necessary to step in with suitors who won't take a hint.
* A kitten is born with its eyes facing inward.
If you need to break things up a bit, consider having an attack on the markets by The Sandpoint Devil, frothing at the mouth and acting irrationally. An autopsy should give clues to its unnatural origins and that it had rabies or some other degenerative condition. (It got out of its stable on Thistletop due to carelessness on the part of the ogrekin. The goblins, of course, are petrified of it.)
None of this screams danger to the players. Combined, it might, especially if the players assume that this must be more important than local color and shore leave. For this foreshadowing to be fair, at some point, the PCs must either know, hear of, or get the dream diary of Nualia, lost and unlabeled on the shelves at The Curious Goblin. That should provide them with the knowledge that there are smuggler's caves to the south of Sandpoint. If they investigate, by all means, let them deal with the Runewell of Wrath and make it impossible for the BBEGals' to fuel it with their raid.
But if they don't act on it, that's fine. That just means that they will be caught by surprise during the Raid on Sandpoint, then investigate either Runewell.
I'm glad to see this idea is still churning along. Great stuff - I like the refinements so far! :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
Thanks! My player had her PC go off to Freeport and Falcon's Hollow, so I hadn't needed to set this up yet....
Decide where the Sandpoint Devil will retreat to after its inevitable dimension door, incidentally. If it goes back to the stable at Thistletop, decide if the players get anything more than its in a stable. Try a charisma check to see if they get valuable extra clues (sound of the ocean, goblin chatter).
This is some great stuff here. I'm thinking I may try to incorporate many of these ideas in Book 5 for my second go-around of RotRL - perhaps replace/augment the whole Scribbler episode with the dual runewell/Lamashtu angle. If anything, it will give my players a chance to re-explore Thistletop (which is one of the coolest dungeon locales I have come across)
Perhaps at each runewell, the players can gain more knowledge about the Runeforge. Maybe the waters of the runewells are the key that allows petitioners access to the Runeforge's halls. Sorry if this is a threadjack, but this idea is just too cool to ignore.