I'm looking for some help in re-tooling the encounter with the Couatl in City of Broken Idols. As I read it, I can't help but think it's lame that such grand immortals are (essentially) waiting for heroes of a prophesy, then to "qualify" as these heroes, the PC's simply have to answer a riddle. It's like a really poor Sphinx encounter...
Note: I'm running the campaign in Eberron, where the couatl are pretty important in the scheme of the world, although this doesn't really matter, it's a good fit, it simply underlines the importance for me of having a meaningful encounter here rather than just a dumb riddle for the PC's to solve. And by "encounter", I don't really mean a fight - the PC's have already encountered one couatl previously, and used diplomacy rather than pick a fight...
Any ideas on something I could use to make the encounter with the couatl more interesting, and not just solving a riddle to somehow "prove" that the PC's are "worthy"???
Run the Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad, that's full of riddles and puzzles.
You could just let them convince the couatl they are worthy of the weapon.
You could also let the couatl ask a number of important questions about the campaign so far, in order to test whether they are really the heroes of the prophecy. I did this once with another adventure, and it works nicely. Not only is it a test for the players, but they are also reminded of a lot of important events in the story so far.
Thanks. I think I've got Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad, but am trying to keep this adventure simple (i.e. smaller) as I'd like to expand the next one out more. Testing the PC's in terms of their previous exploits is a grand idea!
One thing that you may wish to try is something that I have always wanted to do (and thinking on it now may do myself for this adventure). Create a heroic, champion of good, make him either a good lich or a deathless, and have him challenge the party to "prove their worth."
Do you mean in combat? (e.g. not to the death, but some other criteria)
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Have the feathered serpents summon some big bad critter...of lvl appropriate challenge.
Then, use the riddle.
Then, give them some achievable moral quandary, something tough but not impossible. (individual rights vs. Society, or something similar )
Once they've proven body, mind, and spirit are all "good" then, and only then will the couatl fulfill their desires.
-t
Yes, I mean in combat.
My take on that encounter was nostalgia. The couatl was part of the now defunct spirit world of the civilized Olman. It is merely a shadow of its former self, and it being a little lame fits with this theme.
Not saying this is how you should play it, only that the encounter as written fit in my game.
My take on that encounter was nostalgia. The couatl was part of the now defunct spirit world of the civilized Olman. It is merely a shadow of its former self, and it being a little lame fits with this theme.
Not saying this is how you should play it, only that the encounter as written fit in my game.
I'm getting a mental image of him being a little wilted - feathers and scales faded to duller colors, plumage not exactly looking his best, eyes a bit glazed over, that sort of thing.
Thanks!
I got lucky.
Lucky in that I allowed phanatons as a player race. One player took leadership and his mate/cohort is a phanaton cleric of healing and travel. Her story is that grandpa believed in the old gods (of the Rakastas.)
Honestly, although I added the Rakasta part, that is the backstory the player came up with and those are the domains he chose.
Remember as it is written, the phanatons have old stories of the Rakastas and suggest the party seek their for aid. So the cleric did not realize she was worshiping the coatl and was awe struck to meet the rainbow serpent.
This whole campaign has been filled with that kind of serendipity! O:)
In answer to your original question maybe you can have a phanaton guide join your party to the temple.