I'm thinking about sending the PCs on a short trip to the Cinderlands at the end of "Edge of Anarchy". Yeah, they'd be third level. Emphasis on /short/.
(Why? They're a little low on xp. Also, the way I've structured the plot calls for a few weeks delay between EoA and "Seven Days to the Grave". So, a side trek. Why not to the Cinderlands? I mean, other than the TPK thing.)
Hook: they must deliver the bones of Thousand Bones' grandson to the burial grounds there. Their patron can provide one (1) scroll of Teleport; after that, they walk home. The scroll will deliver them 1-2 days away from where they need to go.
I want them to be pretty much under relentless, nonstop attack, from both monsters and the environment, from the moment they set down. The idea here is to establish that the Cinderlands are %&*#ing terrifying. Just as things seem hopeless, some Shoanti show up. The Shoanti will make it clear that this has been a stroll through one of the nicer, more civilized parts of the Cinderlands on the local equivalent of a pleasant spring day.
(One way to do this: use the encounter table from "History of Ashes", page 81, but rule that anything higher than CR 5 is seen from a distance and/or is not paying close attention, making evasion by the PCs easy if they're not stupid. So, if they encounter a Storm Roc it'll be busy swooping down on an aurochs here, the 2d6 gargoyles will be bickering over a recent kill, etc.)
The Shoanti themselves will not be particularly friendly, and the PCs may have to face some challenges. (But I'd emphasize all along that these are the mellow, kindly, tolerant Skoan-Quah, not their murderously xenophobic cousins.) In between I can foreshadow hell out of "History of Ashes" -- have them briefly meet Krojun and the Cinderlander, hear about Cindermaw and the lost temple, yadda yadda.
Right now this is just a sketch or outline -- not sure yet if I'll go forward with it. So, thoughts and suggestions welcome!
Doug M.
[sfx: crickets]
Well... it looks like we're going to try this, though it won't be for a little while yet. One player has a ranger, who's about to level up from 2nd to 3rd; I told him a desert adventure was a possibility, and he jumped on it.
I can keep this fairly simple: the PCs are teleported in, hike a couple of days, have some alarming encounters and Endurance checks and whatnot, then get picked up by the Shoanti.
But I'd be interested to hear if anyone else thinks this is a good/bad idea, and also any suggestions for making it more interesting (without necessarily killing the PCs; it's going to be dangerous enough played straight).
Anyone?
Doug M.
Depending on the time of year, it might be fun for you to have them get caught in one of the Cinderlands famous fire storms. Maybe have a stampede of Aurochs or something similar running from the fire storm first that they have to avoid. Obviously you should consider their level before you set the challenge rating for those hazards.
I like the idea but am not sold on the setup. Is Thousand Bones sticking it to them--"Your city killed my son, now you must do me this one task"--or are they trying to court his favor by offering to put Ghaeken to rest? Something else?
When the Shoanti save them, will they be escorting them back to the "border" of the Steps leading off the Plateau?
Just having a hard time picturing/processing things. The teleport scroll is throwing me, maybe. Wouldn't the patron know the heroes are heading into near-certain death?
I ask these questions because I'm genuinely interested in your set-up and how it might play out; "History of Ashes" is my second-favorite adventure in the Path (from reading, not from playing) and I, too, would like to give players a taste of it before the mid-point of the campaign.
Golbez57 wrote: I like the idea but am not sold on the setup. Is Thousand Bones sticking it to them--"Your city killed my son, now you must do me this one task"--or are they trying to court his favor by offering to put Ghaeken to rest? Something else? Ghaeken must be buried in the Callow Hills. Thousand Bones can't go home now, though -- he's an ambassador, and very busy with the diplomatic fallout of the riots. So, the Cressida Kroft figure offers the PCs the job of escorts. They can turn it down -- but my players don't tend to leave dangling plot hooks around.
The teleport scroll... you're right, that's a bit clunky. I think I'll have the Kroft figure draft a medium level wizard from the Guild to get them there. But he's a little off target. No skin off his nose; he just shrugs, says he's sure the PCs will manage, and blips home. The PCs are left a couple of days travel from where they need to be.
Golbez57 wrote: When the Shoanti save them, will they be escorting them back to the "border" of the Steps leading off the Plateau? If things go reasonably well, then yes.
Golbez57 wrote: Wouldn't the patron know the heroes are heading into near-certain death?
All the higher-level heroes are busy right now, but someone has to at least try. "We made a sincere effort, but our messengers got eaten by a bulette" is an acceptable outcome from a diplomatic POV.
Doug M.
Sounds like a fun diversion. Book 4 is my second favorite in this path (#1 being the incredible Seven Days To the Grave), and my party found the Cinderlands absolutely terrifying even at the right levels. I threw everything there is at them and they loved it. A little foreshadowing of this fun isn't a bad idea.
The only down side I can see is it might make them overconfident when they come back. They might think - hey, we survived at level 3. We should be just fine at level 9. Make sure you correct them immediately when they arrive at higher levels. Humble them and let them know that it will be no cakewalk despite having gained some XP.
sabedoriaclark wrote: Sounds like a fun diversion. Book 4 is my second favorite in this path (#1 being the incredible Seven Days To the Grave... Me, too, though the path has many of my favorite adventures, period. So much good stuff.
Thanks, Doug, for elaborating. I really dig the idea of bringing in someone from the Academae for the teleport. If a player picks and arcanist, I'm going to try to steer him or her towards being affiliated with them, so I could even use a familiar but generally grating (maybe even an arrogant, more experienced rival) NPC.
Please keep us posted on how it works out.
Golbez57 wrote: I really dig the idea of bringing in someone from the Academae for the teleport. If a player picks and arcanist, I'm going to try to steer him or her towards being affiliated with them, so I could even use a familiar but generally grating (maybe even an arrogant, more experienced rival) NPC.
I like this idea. Recurring NPC arcanist who's higher level than the PCs (though they'll gradually catch up, perhaps) and who's just a snotty, arrogant, condescending SOB.
Doug M.
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