RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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Okay - this is a request for a total surprise, I didn't see THAT coming look on my players faces.
The situation so far: they saved Farshore and went on a mopping-up expedition to tick off the last few plot points in the area. On the island with the 'missing' village they discovered that everyone had been killed by a rogue Zombiemaster turned lich. The lich was too powerful so they backed off... for now. They also discovered that the lich had been sending the zombified villagers to raid the nearby Bullywugs. He'd been stealing their eggs and dominating their warriors who came to rescue the eggs.
Now that the players have gone to do "The Lightless Depths" I want something to happen with the Bullywugs. The first thing I thought of was - the PCs return to Farshore to discover it's under seige by Bullywugs, forced off their own island. Or... the Bullywugs have allied with Farshore, sent the Jade Ravens in and had them captured by the lich (though that spoils Serpents of Scuttlecove - rescuing the Jade Ravens twice?).
So - I turn to you guys for a total RBDM, left field, holy crap, I never say THAT coming surprise.
Let 'er rip!!!!
Okay - this is a request for a total surprise, I didn't see THAT coming look on my players faces.
The situation so far: they saved Farshore and went on a mopping-up expedition to tick off the last few plot points in the area. On the island with the 'missing' village they discovered that everyone had been killed by a rogue Zombiemaster turned lich. The lich was too powerful so they backed off... for now. They also discovered that the lich had been sending the zombified villagers to raid the nearby Bullywugs. He'd been stealing their eggs and dominating their warriors who came to rescue the eggs.
Now that the players have gone to do "The Lightless Depths" I want something to happen with the Bullywugs. The first thing I thought of was - the PCs return to Farshore to discover it's under seige by Bullywugs, forced off their own island. Or... the Bullywugs have allied with Farshore, sent the Jade Ravens in and had them captured by the lich (though that spoils Serpents of Scuttlecove - rescuing the Jade Ravens twice?).
So - I turn to you guys for a total RBDM, left field, holy crap, I never say THAT coming surprise.
Let 'er rip!!!!
They return to Farshore to find that everything is a little bit “off.” Everyone is behaving strangely. Ultimately, they realize (perhaps just before it’s too late) that the inhabitants of Farshore are conspiring to sacrifice them to Dagon (i.e. get them into some grotto where an aspect of the creature awaits). In their absence, the entire town has succumbed to an invasion of sea spawn larvae (from the Ravenloft campaign setting. I think the book is Denizens of Darkness or Creatures of Darkness) introduced by the lich’s minions (he uses the larvae to create “living zombies”). If played out right, it should have a Wicker Man meets Shadow Over Innsmouth kind of feel to it with a strong “bodysnatchers” influence. So, they kinda don’t want to get gobbled by Dagon, the have to liberate Farshore from the parasites, then deal with the lich. (That’ll teach them to leave an enemy running around unsupervised).
Have they already defeated Burbalarg?
If not, then make that "sacrifice to Burbalarg" (keeping the bullywugs in).
The sacrifice could also be a ritual involving an arena fight with several large monsters and subsequently getting eaten by Burbalarg.
If Burbalarg has already been defeated, you could use one of the other seven (taking over the position of Burbalarg as god of the bullywugs). After all, bullywugs are not that clever and could worship just about anything. (Mine are worshiping the emerald anaconda now, whom they think is an avatar of Dagon.)
Another option: due to some foul magic there is some planar anomaly near Farshore and it now lies in the abyss (or in any other plane of choice). I once did this with the home town of the player characters and the plane of shadow, and it was great fun! They were e.g. attacked by animated buildings and ships with the shadow template. Especially the windmill with 4 attacks per round was great fun. The players surely got a scare.
You could blame the planar anomaly on Dagon or even an elder evil and perhaps link it to TLD in some way.
Just brainstorming. Hope this inspires you. And have fun.