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In preparation for the Age Of Worms campaign I'm starting in less than two weeks (set in Golarion w/ Pathfinder Beta rules), I was interested in hearing from anyone who has tried to do this already - specifically how it relates to the use of Kyuss.
How does this creature fit in to Golarion (if at all). What would be his relation to the demon lords and devil lords mentioned in the Campaign setting.
Would it destroy viability of the Golarion structured timeline and history to have the events of AoW w/ Kyuss actually occur.
As an alternate - I considered using Rovagug instead of Kyuss. Anyone have any concerns for the possible rifts that would create?
Since I haven't read all of AoW yet (just reading module 3 now), I'm not really sure how best to proceed within the parameters and ancient aspects of Kyuss.
I'm setting my campaign in Varisia - and was thinking perhaps Kyuss was part of Thassilonian or Azlanti ancient civilizations and lore....
Any opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Robert
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Gonna chip in again, I seem to get first on your posts. Are you in europe, and we share a similar timezone, maybe, anyway.
I'm using Kyuss as is, a demigod seeking Godhood through the apocalyptic Age of Worms, he was originally the lord of a kingdom of azlanti survivors who fled starfall to the depths of the mwangi expanse, and there established the Spire of Long Shadows, an began his first apotheosis. After that he is easy to fit into Golarion, his origins proving the largest point of contention, his faith are little known, and considered and misunderstood as an aberration of Urgothoa, to those very few who know of it at all.
I have the ebon triad as a fushion of rovagug, asmodeus and norgorber.
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I'm actually thinking about two options (raw versions following):
The next one contains certain (slight) spoilers from RotRL, so I'm not sure If you want to know about it.
... Or you make Kyuss to Zutha and so play the AoW as another "Rise of a Runelord".
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I'm actually thinking about two options (raw versions following):
** spoiler omitted **
The next one contains certain (slight) spoilers from RotRL, so I'm not sure If you want to know about it.
... Or you make Kyuss to Zutha and so play the AoW as another "Rise of a Runelord".
Hey I actually like this one! I guess I'll have to read more of RotRL in order to fully understand the role of the 'runelord' and his rising (I know it has something to do with Karzoug; but I dont really understand the dynamics).
Regardless I'll look to see how that can play out.
I guess my first order of business will be to establish WHAT exactly is Kyuss's role in AoW (in other words - what is he trying to accomplish - what is he doing? What is his 'end-game' scenario?) once I determine this, then I can begin to work my back backwards and figure out how he fits into the campaign and work that in.
Thanks for the direction
Robert
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I hate it if I have to contradict myself but a look into the Pathfinder Campaign Setting has shown me that the information from Pathfinder #1 isn't quite correct (as I could have remembered if only I had thought about it).
According to the PCS, the region around Korvosa (including the Mushfens) has been Eurythnia, the Domain of Sorshen, the Runelord of Lust in former times, while Ghastash were located in what is now the Hold of Belkzen.
I haven't quite decided if this is a bummer or an opportunity. At the moment I've no idea if the Kyuss-Zutha-connection makes any sense under this new circumstances.
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I hate it if I have to contradict myself but a look into the Pathfinder Campaign Setting has shown me that the information from Pathfinder #1 isn't quite correct (as I could have remembered if only I had thought about it).
According to the PCS, the region around Korvosa (including the Mushfens) has been Eurythnia, the Domain of Sorshen, the Runelord of Lust in former times, while Ghastash were located in what is now the Hold of Belkzen.
I haven't quite decided if this is a bummer or an opportunity. At the moment I've no idea if the Kyuss-Zutha-connection makes any sense under this new circumstances.
A good thing about my players is that a_) they aren't intrinsically aware of all the specific cannon of the Golarion world - it's not anything that would ever need to be explained, nor would they ever see a potential breach of verisimilitude. And b_) they do not nit-pick such details even IF they noticed - which they won't.
That all being said; correct me if I'm wrong.....what difference does it make where exactly the campaign setting starts out (Diamond Lake)? The AP doesn't stay there right? In fact from my understanding by the time the AP ends, the PCs are a continent away from where they started.....?
In which case, linking Kyuss to Zutha as a "secret weapon of mass destruction" is irrespective of where the campaign setting begins - because it is mortals in the form of the Ebon Triad who are trying to awaken it - and they could be from anywhere.....
Thoughts?
Robert
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... Or you make Kyuss to Zutha and so play the AoW as another "Rise of a Runelord".
I pretty sure I'm going to use this line. It actually makes sense - the Runelords were known to command giants and dragon.....enter Dragotha (the dracolich general to Kyuss). So Kyuss I believe is simply going to be an "avatar" or other abomination that Zutha was attempting to rise as.
(in effect - Rise of RunleLords - prequel) ;-)
Thanks
Robert
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I'll come back to your other post if I've checked some facts, but as to your last question:
Actually this is why I would have preferred if Ghastash had been in the Korvosa region. Given that the Sandpoint runewell is used to create Sinspawn I had thought about the temple in TFoE being the location of another, Zutha-based runewell (this one creating the aspect). Now I simply can't imagine Sorshen approving to such a location in her own dominion, so I'll have to look for another explanation.
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That all being said; correct me if I'm wrong.....what difference does it make where exactly the campaign setting starts out (Diamond Lake)? The AP doesn't stay there right? In fact from my understanding by the time the AP ends, the PCs are a continent away from where they started.....?
In which case, linking Kyuss to Zutha as a "secret weapon of mass destruction" is irrespective of where the campaign setting begins - because it is mortals in the form of the Ebon Triad who are trying to awaken it - and they could be from anywhere.....
Thoughts?
Robert
This got me thinking about where to place Alhaster und why the Ebon Triad should operate in Varisia.
And now I cannot stop...
Think about it: Zon-Kuthon has foreseen the Rise of the Runelords and tries to make use of Kyuss to increase his influence on Golarion before this actually happens. Naturally this can't be in the interest of Cheliax (they may have learned about it through the sorcerer Kholas , member of the Umbral Court AND advisor of Queen Abrogail), so they start to plot against this development. Kholas could be Manzorian, I guess, helping the heroes shattering Zon-Kuthon's plan.
Alhaster could be Pangolais the capital of Nidal, but I'd actually prefer Nisroch, Nidal's "public face". So when the heroes win the day, they haven't freed Nidal as a whole, but Nisroch and it's surrounding (the new "nation of Redhand"). If you want to continue with this campaign this would open a lot of options for high-level-characters I guess.
Any comments?
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This got me thinking about where to place Alhaster und why the Ebon Triad should operate in Varisia.
And now I cannot stop...
** spoiler omitted **
Any comments?
Yes - alot of comments.
First: Thank you very much for musing with me on this. It has really helped.
Next: Following your line of thinking was difficult - as your use of so many proper names: I don't know who any of these people are (yet).
Nidal: I assume is a territory of Thassilon - one of the Runlelord domains?
Lashonna: ? I think I read that she is an NPC in AoW at later chapters - perhaps as an advisor of info to the PCs (sends them on a quest) dont' know anything more than that. I have just read chapter 2 of AoW so far.
Zon-Kuthon: I know him of course - but why would he be so directly linked to AoW? Including him in Ebon Triad makes sense - but I thought that the point of the Ebon Triad is to make people believe that worshipers are following these three 'known and accepted' gods as a cover-up for actually secretly worshipping "Kyuss" or whatever the entity we use - for doing so publicly would bring about more scrutiny....? If this is so - it doesn't make sense to pretend to be worshipping Z-K, so that his involvemnt is ancillary - but he's actually a main antagonist....?
Kholas , member of the Umbral Court AND advisor of Queen Abrogail: I'm guessing this person has something to do with Cheliax?
Manzorian: ?
Alhaster could be Pangolais the capital of Nidal, but I'd actually prefer Nisroch, Nidal's "public face". ? Dont know these names.
I sense that youre giving Golarion Replacements for places discussed in AoW. The problem is since I haven't yet read AoW, I dont recognize the names; but I will be reading it - I'm simply not having the time to do it all at once - still trying to lay the primer as I fully begin to understand how it fits - speicifically Kyuss - into Golarion.
I think you've provided wonderful feedback - and I'm sure it will all make sense. If you could help me by pointing me in the direction to read about all these places you mentioned (the Golarion places specifically); are they mostly in the PF 1 Burnt Offerings? I just grabbed it off the shelf this morning and intend to read it.
Finally explain my concern for Z-K being involved.
Regardless, all in all it sounds like you have an extensive lore of all things Golarion (which I'll admit I'm just now starting to learn - I've just finished Shackled City which was a two-year commitment in Greyhawk and so now I'm trying to learn a new campaign setting AND use new rules (PF), AND start a new campaign (AoW), AND try to convert it all - rules and world concurrently. Whew!
Robert
Robert
With Learning the new setting you might want to run Rise of The Rune Lords then after they get settled in and the next time you DM convert AOW to Golorain. It sounds like a lot of work to change worlds, rules set, and convert all at once
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Robert
With Learning the new setting you might want to run Rise of The Rune Lords then after they get settled in and the next time you DM convert AOW to Golorain. It sounds like a lot of work to change worlds, rules set, and convert all at once
Thanks for the feedback. I have to say I see the wisdom in that, without a doubt.
However, I'm already locked into AoW; and feel obligated to run it at this point.
1 player has joined specifically because it IS AoW and is the only of the three first big APs that he hasn't done. 2 other players dropped out of an AoW game that finished only chapter 1; but with a boring DM and indicated that they would drop out of that if I would undertake running it next. Finally another DM in our group wanted to run it - but chose to do Curse of Crimson Throne when he found out I would run AoW instead (since we share the same players he didn't want to alredy have them running in it - we are halfway through CotCT now)
I have confidence that I can pull it off - harrowing as it seems. I wouldn't do this if I was a rookie DM nor would I suggest this to a rookie DM; but I have 20+ years of DMing experience so I'm fairly confident that I can do what needs to be done - and well; I just needed some initial direction as to where to begin reading (since there's so much already out there about Golarion). It looks like I'm being led to Burnt Offerings (PF1) so I'll peruse that this weekend (one week till kickoff of AoW); and hopefully get a better understanding of what is being suggested.
Thanks again for the comments.
Robert
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Next: Following your line of thinking was difficult - as your use of so many proper names: I don't know who any of these people are (yet).
First, please take my apologies. I somehow took for granted that you had access to the Gazetteer or the Campaign book so I didn't even thought about the possibility that you wouldn't recognize those names. My bad. I didn't intend to sound like Mr. Know-it-all (which I clearly am NOT). As to your questions:
Nidal is a country directly south of Varisia. When the Starstone fell (which caused the destruction of Thassilon) it also led to Zon-Kuthon coming to Golarion (in answer to the prayers of the Nidal people). So no it's not a runelord domain, but it's in the neighborhood. It has been a Chelish colony but has gained independence in the meantime.
Instead of trying to explain, who and what Lashonna, Manzorian and Alhaster are, I'd like to link you to the Age of Worms Overload, a free download with an extensive overview of the Campaign which should cover the bases of those answers.
There are also the Online Supplements for all issues of the AoW-AP (player maps, conversion tips for Eberron and the Realms).
]Zon-Kuthon: I know him of course - but why would he be so directly linked to AoW? Including him in Ebon Triad makes sense - but I thought that the point of the Ebon Triad is to make people believe that worshipers are following these three 'known and accepted' gods as a cover-up for actually secretly worshipping "Kyuss" or whatever the entity we use - for doing so publicly would bring about more scrutiny....? If this is so - it doesn't make sense to pretend to be worshipping Z-K, so that his involvemnt is ancillary - but he's actually a main antagonist....?
This was actually just an idea. Thassilon , though it sounds like a world-spanning empire, has in fact just been covering Varisia, Belkzen and parts of Irrisen and the Land of the Linnorm Kings (which is the north-western part of just one of Golarion's continents.
So if you want to use the runelords hook, i have problems to imagine the final of the campaign in a part of the world, which actually has nothing to do with the runelord's empire. Nidal, on the other hand, has been affected by the Starfall at the same time Thassilon crumbled to dust.
By the way, the sidebar about the Ebon Triad in Dungeon #125 (Three Faces of Evil) actually states that the Triad doesn't know that they are used by Kyuss. They are thinking that the Age of Worms is part of the prophecies to be fulfilled in order to create their god. So what I'm actually doing here is replacing Kyuss by Zon-Kuthon. For the members of the Triad, this doesn't seem to make any difference.
You're maybe right though, and Zon-Kuthon wouldn't lend his name to this fraud. I'm not sure if it makes a difference with regard to the players, but probably it would make more sense to use another god instead of ZK, if one would to follow this plan.
Just forgot:Unluckily the Pathfinder Wiki's Nidal entry is just a stub at this point (If only i had more time). I'd recommend it as a source to golarion knowledge nonetheless. If you don't have access to the books (Campaign Setting, whatever) chances are that you'll find there what you're looking for.
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First, please take my apologies. I somehow took for granted that you had access to the Gazetteer or the Campaign book so I didn't even thought about the possibility that you wouldn't recognize those names. My bad. I didn't intend to sound like Mr. Know-it-all (which I clearly am NOT). As to your questions:
No worries, mate. I'm grateful that you're taking the time to help me get some ideas.
I do have access to those items.
Just forgot:Unluckily the Pathfinder Wiki's Nidal entry is just a stub at this point (If only i had more time). I'd recommend it as a source to golarion knowledge nonetheless. If you don't have access to the books (Campaign Setting, whatever) chances are that you'll find there what you're looking for.
I have subscriptions (and have every item released in each of the subscriptions) to: PF Adventure Paths, PF Modules, PF chronicles and PF Companion. So I have everything.
What I didn't have was the knowledge of what to read. I do not read what I am not intending to use - so since I wasn't intent on running the RotRL path (not yet anyway) i didnt read it. I have the Gazetteer and read most of it (when it was first released) and I have the Campaign Setting - but I didn't read about Nidal - since I wasn't using it. The point is, I can't just read everything with hopes of finding something useful and apply it - so I was needing help primarily in direction of what to read (among the vast collection I have ammasssed).
Here's what I've read in preparation for AoW, and since we began this conversation:
I just finished reading the Thassilon entry in PF 1 (pgs 72-79). It was helpful in undersatanding the role of the Runelords. Again i hadn't read it prior to our conversation because I had no reason to - because I hadn't yet thought to link Kyuss to the (which was the point of this thread - to get others' ideas and opinions).
I have read the Campaign Setting about Varisia - since I'll be setting it in there.
I read PF 2 about Magnimar since that will be the "Free City"
I read the Campaign Setting info on Ancient Civilizations to read about the fall of Thassilon.
I think what I'm going to do - is leave the ZK / Nidal connections out of it (except that Z-K will be one of the triad). It seems like that'll just be more cumbersome and cluttered than is necessary.
I'm going to use Zutha to replace Kyuss. In the description of Zutha in PF1 it said he continued to need new bodies to maintain his undead state. I'm considering Kyuss as one of the bodies held 'on ice' just in case- and the awakening of the Runewell five years ago triggered the awakening the new body of Zutha (Kyuss).
So next I'm going to read all about the RuneLords adventure background in PF1 to understand the waking of the Runelord (as it pertains to Karzoug) and relate to a similarity in Zutha (Kyuss).
Then I'm going to read the wonderful links and AoW overload info to get a better understanding of what is going to be happening and so I can start finding ways to integrate AoW into Golarion.
So my next question to you is: knowing now that I have access to everything Golarion; what else do you reccommend I read in trying to move forward with my intentions to fill in the gaps. Is there more written about the Runelords and Thassilon that I have yet to come accross (other than those I mentioned I already read).
Thanks again for all your wonderful help and suggestions.
Robert
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Some reading suggestions (slight spoilers for players of the RotRL-AP):
The Varisia Gazetteer in Pathfinder #3 has additional information about this region. PF #7 has an article about the Varisians , the Pathfinder Journal in the same issue gives some insights into shoanti culture. PF #10 has an article about the Cinderlands and one about the Shoanti, Pathfinder #11 contains an Gazetteer of the Hold of Belkzen
For Blackwall Keep (if you want to place it in the Mushfens) I'd recommend the Pathfinder's Journal in PF#2 as well as the Boggard monster entry (I plan to replace the lizards from this adventure by those Mushfen inhabitants). This is not contained in the AoW, but PF#3 has an article about "Keeping the Keep", which you could use as an option if your players like having a base for their adventures.
Dragons and Giants play a role in later AoW adventures. The dragon and the stone giant article in PF #4 provide information (especially if you follow vagrant-poet's advice and place "King of the Rifts" in the Kodar Mountains.) PF #6 has an article about traveling in high altitude in the Kodar Mountains as well as an article about Kharzoug, the Runelord of Greed
For more information about Thassilon and the Runelords I'd suggest scanning the RotRL adventures. At the end of the PF #4 adventure you'll find a bit of collected knowledge the heroes can find in a library. "Sins of the Saviors" has quite bit of information spread over the adventure and contains an article about the "Magic of Thassilon". (there's a web enhancement for this article in the Paizo Blog from January 28, 2008). You probably even could look for away to include the PF #5 adventure into the AoW AP if you want to give the heroes a chance to create runeforged weapons against Zutha/Kyuss, if you don't intend to run the RotRL-AP.
Then there is the Lamashtu article in PF#5 and the Zon-Kuthon article in PF #11. (I guess Rovagug will be covered during the LoF AP but I'm not sure about it).
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Some reading suggestions (slight spoilers for players of the RotRL-AP):
FANtastic! Thanks. I have all of those - so I'll be checking those out now.
I'll come back with any follow-up question I may have - but I think I have enough now to feasibly put the AoW into Golarion as I had hoped.
Thanks again for you help
Robert
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Okay, so I figure I'd give some info on what I'm doing with my AoW / Pathfinder Golarion game, to follow up on this great thread and all the help I received.
I still have some basic help needs that I'll solicit afterwards:
AoW campaign / Diamond Lake set in Varisia on the east shore of Ember Lake (at the base of the mountains)., and will be storied similar in theme to "Rise of the Runelords"
Magnimar is Free City.
Kyuss is an agent of the Runelord of Gluttony / prophesized to awaken in an undead monstrosity state to battle the world and vie for world domination.
The Rod of 7 parts was designed to battle the Runelords. Each part (since there are 7) was designed to combat each of the seven runelords.
Xin was a master of elemental magic / the Wind Dukes were part of his mastery over air-elemental magic. They protected the cairns near what is now Diamond Lake, and protected the crypts of mighty warriors in Xin's employ.
Ebon Triad is: Zon-Kuthon (Hextor), Urgathoa (Vecna), Lamashtu (Nerull) (one of each Lawful, Neutral and Chaotic evil). The temple of Vecna in Dourstone's mine is Urgathoa - and the whole aspect of Vecna predicting the Age of Worms etc is all transferred to Urgathoa.
Dragotha was a minion of the Runelord of Gluttony (since it is known that Runelords commanded giants and dragons).
So what I need now is some way to tie that spider creature that the wind dukes killed with their piece of the rod (that is learned in the Whispering Cairn) to that of one of the Runelords.
In order to do this properly I need to understand better the following points (and this is where I would like a little help).
What is the rod that is found in the Whispering Cairn used for in the AP? This will help me determine which of the Runelords THAT piece of the rod is tied to.
What type of creature other than that spider thing could be affiliated so strongly to one of the runelords that I could substitute. Note that the correlated piece of the rod (attuned to combat whichever of those Runelords) could help appropriately answer this question - based on the answer to the previous question.
Are any of the other parts of the rods found/used in the AP of AoW?
Finally, I have one other aspect that would need some fine-tuning, and feedback would be appreciated:
I wanted to use Mwangi Expanse for the Spire of Lost Shadows portion - it seems to make sense....
In the AP - Kyuss was a "prophet" or messiah of sorts that led many into the jungles centuries ago yada yada.
In Golarion's history of Thassilon, the runelords were circa -6000 AR. The Runelords were wiped out 700 years later with Earthfall. There weren't even a founded people and place in Garund until nearly 2000 years later.
So it seems to me that the Runelords, their minions, and their influence pretty much only stayed in Thassilon (western Avistan). How do I then tie Kyuss into the jungles of Garund where he entered and I guess became his "final resting place" where he sleeps (if that is correct).
I can fix the timeline - by moving the events and existance of Kyuss to the time of the Runelords, and can write-in that the people he led and ultimately betrayed were people of Thassilon.....but that doesn't fix the lack of proximity of Thassilon to the Mwangi Expanse - and the plausibility that people from Thassilon made an exodus for there.....
Thanks for any input and help.
Robert
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Enchantment is the school, the Runelord of Lust was specialized in, Cojuration was the runelord of Sloth's domain.
Now I haven't had the time to think about your monster question too hard, but given that the monster should probably be related to Karzoug, I'd suggest to take a look at the Harridan Lamia in PF#6. "Beautiful giantess from the waist up, hunting cat from the waist down". She's CR 12 so you'll probably want to advance her a bit. I'd suggest the Poison template from Green Ronin's Advances bestiary and the Jotunblood Giant template from the same book, which makes her CR 17 and a good replacement for Mishka the Wolf-Spider (in fact, depending on your players you could even say "the mightiest harridan lamia of old" without specifying anything).
and as for your other question:
If I think about it, this could be the reason for Ellival Moonmeadow's presence in Sandpoint. If the elves have learned of the prophecy and the reappearance of Kyuss they'd naturally feel responsible for the baddoings of their traitorous ancestors and if they've got any hint about the things starting in Sandpoint they'd probably send someone to watch the events.
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** spoiler omitted **
Thank you very much Wormy - I was hoping you were still out there lurking - you have been so helpful already before.
Okay so I have a few concerns/questions.
1) First off it seems you may be confusing RotRL story with AoW. You kept mentioning Sandpoint and Karzoug - in the AoW story I'm running, I'm using Kyuss as an extension of gluttony (Necromancy) of Gatash - and Zutha is the Runelord of Gluttony. So the lamia creature is definitely a cool idea - but I may have to go with somethinng more "Zutha" related.
2) If the PCs are to use the Rod pieces - the Age of Worms Overload document has a brief summary of chapter 7 (Spire of Long Shadow) which explains Manzorian trades other items to the PCs for it.....
3) You mentioned SC - but not sure what you mean. "Spellcaster" perhaps?
So since it seems that the Rod is suppose to play a part at least to some point to assist the PCs in the campaign - though not a specific "destiny" type of item that I initially thought it would be (kind of like specifically designed to kill followers of Kyuss or protect its user against him), what I think I'll do is change the role the piece of the rod does in the game - and have it "keyed" to oppose Zutha (and his minions). (Since I'm designing the story of the rod to have 7 parts - one part each to battle each of the Runelords) Thus the pictographs in the Whispering Cairn should depict the rod killing something that would be a minion of Zutha. And the rod that is found in the Whispering Cairn is that piece - and will then be useful in the war against Zuthas mininons - Kyuss etc. So what creature I wonder can be depicted.... Possibly a dracolich....? Do the PCs actually encounter the "wolf-spider" of chaos in teh modules?
and as for your other question:We know that the Earthfall caused the elven's retreat from Golarion as well as the decline of Azlant and Thassilon....
If I think about it, this could be the reason for Ellival...
This is fabulous concept! Ellival is Diamond Lake though. Regardless - I could totally build on this concept! Thank you for the spark - I'll see what I can generate from there
Thanks again,
Robert
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First off, sorry for the confusion, it has been a while since we last discussed this topic and as it seems, I have forgotten some of the details. This said...
]1) First off it seems you may be confusing RotRL story with AoW. You kept mentioning Sandpoint and Karzoug - in the AoW story I'm running, I'm using Kyuss as an extension of gluttony (Necromancy) of Gatash - and Zutha is the Runelord of Gluttony. So the lamia creature is definitely a cool idea - but I may have to go with somethinng more "Zutha" related.
Ok, you could take the Crag Spider from Pf #6 . They served as steeds for the Runelord's guards so the easiest solution could be to chose a human/giant necromancer who fell under the curse of Lycanthropy as his rider. Or, if you have the Tome of Horrors, you could create an advanced undead version of the Wolf-Spider therein.
2) If the PCs are to use the Rod pieces - the Age of Worms Overload document has a brief summary of chapter 7 (Spire of Long Shadow) which explains Manzorian trades other items to the PCs for it.....
In the last adventure "Dawn of a New Age", Manzorian hands them the rod back. And if they decided not to give it away, he'll even gift them with the seventh part. I'm sure there's a better solution if you want to spotlight the rod but as written in the adventures themselves he is surely not as important as you might think.
3) You mentioned SC - but not sure what you mean. "Spellcaster" perhaps?
*blushes* Actually it is the german abbreviation for "Spielercharakter", as PC is the one for player character. *can't stop blushing*
Do the PCs actually encounter the "wolf-spider" of chaos in teh modules?
I don't think so. But I'm sure that you could place it in the final chapter of the AoW-AP if you want to.
Ellival is Diamond Lake though
That's right, but as far as I know, it's never been explained exactly why he is there. So my theory goes as this:
Before Xin's death, the emperor already knew that he shouldn't have trusted his advisors (I mean the runelords) an the last thing before his death was to create the rod of seven parts as the ultimate weapon against the runelords, should their corruption make it necessary to destroy them. He hid it in a cairn near Diamond Lake and made the Wind Dukes its guardians. Unluckily, shortly before the Earthfall the Runelords learned about this weapon and cooperated in building an army to destroy the Wind Dukes. Part of this army were those traitorous elves which caused the elves of Celwynvian to aide the Wind Dukes in the battle. They won but at severe costs. All Wind Dukes died which made the elves the new guardians of the Rod of Seven Parts. Or, better, it's fragments. They chose to hide them in different parts of the world, but when they learned that the traitor-elves had fled together with Kyuss, they hid the sixth fragment in the Whispering Cairn, knowing that it would come in handy if Kyuss should ever return.
When they retreated from Golarion they chose a guardian to hold watch over the Cairns, which is Ellival Moonmeadow, who stayed when the Starstone fell and survived until today posing as a Mine Manager but in fact the guardian of the Whispering Cairn's treasure.
Hope this makes any sense and I've freed myself from this stupid confusion spell ^^.
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First off, sorry for the confusion,
Not a problem at all. I appreciate your help.
Ok, you could take the Crag Spider from Pf #6 .
Thanks for the idea. What I wound up using (we just played last weekend) was a giant Mohrg creature to replace the wolf-spider in the whispering cairn art. I figured Runelords had giants as minions; so having a giant murderer who served Zutha and who was raised as a mohrg would be quite the horror.
In the last adventure "Dawn of a New Age",Spoiler:Manzorian hands them the rod back. And if they decided not to give it away, he'll even gift them with the seventh part. I'm sure there's a better solution if you want to spotlight the rod but as written in the adventures themselves he is surely not as important as you might think.
Ah, good to know. That does clear some things up. Since I intend to have the rod be more impacting to the story (and specifically keyed to combatting of the Runelords and their minions), I may devise a better idea than what happens to the segment with Manzorian.
*blushes* Actually it is the german abbreviation for "Spielercharakter", as PC is the one for player character. *can't stop blushing*
LOL! That's too funny! No worries, friend. It explains my confusion at least! :-)
That's right, but as far as I know, it's never been explained exactly why he is there. So my theory goes as this:
Oh yeah! This is good stuff! And it will fit perfectly into some of the homebrew campaign flavor changes I've made to the Golarion world and elves in particular.
I've already got a hook in the game to get the PCs into contact with Ellival to meet him - so he won't be a surprise later if/when the PCs start to learn these facts.
Thanks for everything. I can't express enough how much assistance you've been in generating the right creativity to make everything work.
Robert