I'm looking to start the Rise of the Runelords adventure path for my group next week, and I'm just rereading through the adventures before the start of the game. However, I noticed something missing (might just be an oversight on my part mind you), which is this:
How am I supposed to lure the players into the Catacombs? I know it's not essential for the story, but I didn't see anywhere that the players got the hint that they could head down there as well.
Anyone able to correct me, or tell me how they got their players down there?
Thanks in advance. :)
Have the mayor go, "Hey yeah, you all... um we are a bit worried about this sudden occurance... could you maybe you know be all adventury like and go figure out what this is? Maybe yeah um please eh?"
(read in your best Sarah Palin voice)
Hmm. That's certainly an idea. Your comment made me pour over it once more, and I found that the A23 tunnel leads down to the beach, where there are other smuggler's tunnels. Worst case scenario, I guess I'll have Sheriff Hemlock go "We took a look at the beach, where the goblins came through the tunnel from, and we found some old smuggler's tunnels. We're not sure, but it seems likely that the goblins came through one of those, to the beach, in which case there might be a goblin nest somewhere. It might be worth checking out. My men won't be up for it, but you seem capable. I'll even throw in a 100 gold or so, for the trouble."
My group found Nualia's journal in the observation chamber in thsitletop, and read it getting her view of her backstory as well as the details of her finding the catacombs which she just refered to as the runewell. She talks a bit about meeting the goddess' chosen (elyrium) and how much she was taught, and then mentions visions of the great beast (malfeshnor) and some vague details of her time in magnimar with her patron and the recruitment of mercs and seduction of Tsuto. towards her goals (She played on his boyhood crush) Was kind of a big reveal. So even though they were in the tunnels they know about some horrid monster spawn that lurks beneath sandpoint and feel the need to go swat it out as hero types now that they have a gps to the secret door especially.
Nice one :) I hadn't thought that they could be doing it the other way around. I was thinking of them doing the Catacombs, before heading out to face Nualia, but it does seem to make more sense that way around. Thanks for the feedback guys. :)
My group just happened across it after the glassworks, they were following the tunnel from the basement to the beach, and decided to head down the side tunnel just to see what was there.
My group just happened across it after the glassworks, they were following the tunnel from the basement to the beach, and decided to head down the side tunnel just to see what was there.
Pretty much what my players did too.
They try to explore the entire complex before moving onto the rest of the adventure.
My group just happened across it after the glassworks, they were following the tunnel from the basement to the beach, and decided to head down the side tunnel just to see what was there.
yap,same here. both of my groups couldn't resist an unknown tunnel + Tsuto's journal hinted something goes on under the town (there is an excelent pdf of the journal on this boards)
My group would have if they hadn't hit panic mode. Tsuto came up during the goblin fight and dropped the sorcerer of the group twice to negatives before realizing he was going to be outgunned and ran back downstairs. The party argued over wether they should chase him down or not seeing as he was such a bad @$$(which made me giggle). They opted to call the garrison in and by that point Tsuto bailed with Amekio in tow. They searched for him found his journal (which was a printed out copy of the one on the boards with a few of my own scribblings based on the description aswell as Lillith's very NSFW drawings which made the group very leery of Nualia (who the varisian remembered from the background they were told and immidiately put her name to face which almost never happens. As such they gave a quick look around and ran straight to Thistletop to save Amekio and stop the goblin raids....
My group would have if they hadn't hit panic mode. Tsuto came up during the goblin fight and dropped the sorcerer of the group twice to negatives before realizing he was going to be outgunned and ran back downstairs.
Am I evil because I remember the half-orc rogue making a dramatic jump check to get on top of a table as the rest of the party closed on the goblins and Tsuto ran into the room, and as soon as he jumped up there, Tsuto shot him and drove him straight into negatives . . .
Good times.
My group discovered the tunnels beneath the glassworks after dealing with Tsuto but decided to brick them up and set a watch while they dealt with the goblins at Thistletop; as exposed in Tsuto's journal.
If you want them to go in instead my suggestion is sinspawn; have one come up and wreak a little havoc in the town. Honestly, the group had no real reason to go exploring under the town prior to the trip to Thistletop even though it would have been beneficial from a mechanical point of view (more xp, loot, etc.) and even though they knew there was *something* down there that probably needed dealing with.
When they came back I had the town throw them a little street party (which is how my Sandpoint is, BTW, lots of little block parties...for no good reason at all) that got interrupted when a couple of sinspawn broke free and nearly mangled Almah Alvertin (is that right? the baker lady?) and her daughter. They had broken through the bricked up tunnel and come up to do recon for the quasit after she hadn't heard from Tsuto for several days.
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Both groups I have run through this ended up chasing Tsuto through the tunnels. In both cases, Tsuto, completely unencumbered and with at least two rounds head start, made it out and back to Thistletop. The PCs in one group, however, did manage to have some amazing survival checks to track through the tunnels and saw signs of lesser traffic leading to the Catacombs (after all, Tsuto did deliver that bottle of wine).
Also, the fact there are goblins, coupled with lack of goblin tracks outside the Glassworks should pose one means of arousing the PCs' curiosity. You could always have the mayor or other city official type ask how so many goblins could have made it into town without being seen, etc.
My group just happened across it after the glassworks, they were following the tunnel from the basement to the beach, and decided to head down the side tunnel just to see what was there.Pretty much what my players did too.
They try to explore the entire complex before moving onto the rest of the adventure.
same.
My group just happened across it after the glassworks, they were following the tunnel from the basement to the beach, and decided to head down the side tunnel just to see what was there.yap,same here. both of my groups couldn't resist an unknown tunnel + Tsuto's journal hinted something goes on under the town (there is an excelent pdf of the journal on this boards)
Yeah, that PDF handout was great. (One of my players keeps it with him) and it did help point to dangers under the town.
And the paladin was PO'd because of what happened to Ameiko. SO there was incentive to Smite some Evil...
I'm looking to start the Rise of the Runelords adventure path for my group next week, and I'm just rereading through the adventures before the start of the game. However, I noticed something missing (might just be an oversight on my part mind you), which is this:
How am I supposed to lure the players into the Catacombs? I know it's not essential for the story, but I didn't see anywhere that the players got the hint that they could head down there as well.
Anyone able to correct me, or tell me how they got their players down there?
Thanks in advance. :)
I've run this adventure twice. Both time, the group went investigating the smuggler's tunnel and both times, they just naturally wandered into the Catacombs of Wrath without any need for prodding.