This "epic" moment from my savage tide campaign I really want to share, since it was so fantastic and so typical for the savage tide.
My party defeated the emerald anaconda from the temple of the jaguar with a charm monster. They had several ways to communicate with it, and had it tail along with the party in exchange for food (which it got, in the form of all the random monsters they defeated).
So Ani the anaconda (as they had named it) was taken along to Blackfen, where they decided to defeat Burbalarg. This was sort of a priority for the group, since I had included a plot line about two bullywug tribes being in a religious war, and they wanted to help one tribe by defeating Burbalarg, so that this tribe would help Farshore against the Crimson Fleet.
This fight ended in a wonderful grappling duel between Burbalarg and Ani, while Burbalarg was blinded and slowed by the PCs. It went on for rounds and was really spectacular. I think the greatest danger for the characters was Burbalarg falling down and crushing someone.
Of course the bullywugs who saw Burbalarg as a god, decided that if Ani could defeat Burbalarg, he must be a god, too. So now they worship Ani as their new god. The charm monster is over by now, so he will be starting to eat bullywugs soon!
Cool! I just love how the Isle of Dread has so many big bad monsters to play with.
My PCs recently passed up the chance to tackle Burbalarg during a ceremonial sacrifice to him. I'm not sure if they'll be tackling him again, but since I ramped up Temahuti Tecuani to CR 15, they've been a tad cautious about trying for the Infamous Eight. (I added King Kong)
I added a "curse" from Ghorvash to my campaign (long story), that the Seven would defeat the PCs. Now they are intent on defeating and killing them all.
They still have to salvage the Sea Wyvern, and I intend to let them meet Baragrauth on the way. Such fun, this campaign!
The curse could be that the Infamous Seven are not permanently destroyable unless they are slain when in proximity to each other.
I added a "curse" from Ghorvash to my campaign (long story), that the Seven would defeat the PCs. Now they are intent on defeating and killing them all.
They still have to salvage the Sea Wyvern, and I intend to let them meet Baragrauth on the way. Such fun, this campaign!
LOL One of my players had to leave the game back in Kraken's Cove (and I needed a reason for them to leave their ship and take the Sea Wyvern) so I had Ghorvash and Vanthus slay him and leave Amella (an early into for her) for dead. They were totally on edge once she described a glabrezu to them. They know what little respect I have for appropriate CRs and encounters. They really thought they were going to have to tackle one at level 4. :-)
I am hoping that they tackle the Eight. I figure that some of them can be 'healed', like Chakaranka and Kong. Possibly brought over to the PCs side. Advanced template T-Rexes for the Vastasaurus Rex! Can Kong take on three at once with one of the female PCs in his hand?
I replaced Burbalaarg with Chakatru, my King Kong stand-in. The druid cast Awaken on it and now it is an ally of the party. It doesn't come along on adventures or anything, just a contact on the Isle. But there are worse friends to have than a huge ape.
The curse could be that the Infamous Seven are not permanently destroyable unless they are slain when in proximity to each other.
Mwahahahah...
I replaced Burbalaarg with Chakatru, my King Kong stand-in. The druid cast Awaken on it and now it is an ally of the party. It doesn't come along on adventures or anything, just a contact on the Isle. But there are worse friends to have than a huge ape.
That is cool! Pity my group does not have a druid.