What do I need to read to best integrate Carrion Hill into the Carrion Crown Adventure Path?

[punkassjoe]

I'm running the Godsmouth Heresy module. We're currently using the slow XP track (not that even with a nice bonus intro encounter. I've worked out some of the plot hooks for drawing the group into Ustalav and The Haunting of Harrowstone, and I'm fishing for advice since I'm planning on using Carrion Hill instead of Trial of the Beast. Of course I'm well aware I'm missing the plot points, so I'll try to catch up on those and at least read some of the Pharasma article by Sean K. Reynolds. I actually ran his Ghostwalk campaign setting in my first and only 3.5 game.

Anyway, any advice on Harrowstone, Carrion Hill or Trial of the Beast is welcome. I might try to fit in both adventures if I get up the nerve to hold the party to the slow track and modify encounters appropriately.

Mostly, I just want to know if anyone else got the itch to use Carrion Hill instead of Trial of the Beast.

I'm well aware I'm pretty much asking for spoilers, so respect there is appreciated- not that I mind too much.

[Ullapool]

Try THIS THREAD. As best I recall, it's the thread where folks talked about Carrion Hill in Ustalav.

[Rusty Shackleford]

What's wrong with Trial of the Beast? It has everything a good adventure needs, apart from an amusing allied NPC. A few very flavorful mini-encounters, a big plotty event, and a creative dungeon crawl with very memorable monsters. Like the blind flesh golem with the Seeing-eye-homuncluli.

[Spacelard]

There seems to be a natural interlude between the conclusion of the trial and going to see the Count. I'm definitely running Carrion Hill.

[Sanakht Inaros]

The interlude is no more than a day or so. Carrion Hill is located on the far side of Ustalav and the AP Broken Moon takes place as you make your way from Lepidstadt to Carrion Hill. Carrion Hill is located south and west of The Furrows, which is where the last half of Broken Moon takes place.

[Spacelard]

Sanakht Inaros wrote:

The interlude is no more than a day or so.

Can you point out where it says that?

From what I remember the PC's head that way on the behest of the Judge, can't remember any time factor included in that.

[Sanakht Inaros]

Spoiler:

It's on page 44. No matter how the trial ends, the Judge asks the PCs to meet her the next morning. That's when she asks the PCs to go to meet the Count and get her more information and relay a message. The PCs are on a time crunch, because no matter the outcome, the town is forming a lynch mob for The Beast. Given these facts, there is no way that the party can get to Carrion Hill and back.

If you try to do it after the Party deals with the Count, it would still be easier to do Broken Moon because Ascanor Lodge is roughly the halfway point between Lepidstadt and Carrion Hill. The Furrows are located on the northern side of the river and slightly east of Carrion Hill.

At that point, Carrion Hill is a very simple rewrite. You subtract a cultist and only subtract 4 from the monster stats. Then the party only has to race and find the final two cultists before the Spawn does.

[Spacelard]

Sanakht Inaros wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

She doesn't have to call them the next day...

The Mob hasn't got to be formed right then...

There is an option to put in a side adventure there IF as a GM you chose to.

[Sanakht Inaros]

Yes, there is that. But from a feasibility stand point, Carrion Hill fits better between Broken Moon and Wake of the Watcher. It flows better and doesn't need anywhere near the work that you'd have to go through. It also gives the party a taste of what's to come in Ilmarsh.

Which begs the question are you running the Carrion Crown AP? Or are you using bits and pieces from it?

[Spacelard]

Sanakht Inaros wrote:

Yes, there is that. But from a feasibility stand point, Carrion Hill fits better between Broken Moon and Wake of the Watcher. It flows better and doesn't need anywhere near the work that you'd have to go through. It also gives the party a taste of what's to come in Ilmarsh.

Which begs the question are you running the Carrion Crown AP? Or are you using bits and pieces from it?

Running...but I have about three to four months to prepare as I am finishing Runelords first. I'm planing to stick a few PFS scenarios in too. I'm planing to open the path with Hangman's Noose but set it in Caliphas.

EDIT: don't bother with XPS so we will just level up as necessary

[Sanakht Inaros]

Go with the AP as written. Like I said, and has been pointed out on the other thread, Carrion Hill will fit perfectly between Broken Moon and Wake of the Watcher.

Spoiler:

They have to pass through Carrion Hill on their way to Ilmarsh. It's the only major city where they can rest and buy new gear. Hangman's Noose would be a great way to introduce them to Prof. Lorrimer.

As for PFS scenarios, I really can't think of any that are really well-suited for Carrion Crown.

[shriekback]

I’m running a pre-quest as well. I’ve had the time table in mind for a while, which makes the integration a little easier . . .

The PCs are on a quest from the Professor to find a mysterious book (if you know Carrion Hill, you know the book.) I’ve led them to believe that the Professor will accompany them through the AP and provide guidance and firepower if necessary.

The PCs have discovered that the book has been taken by a mysterious group, and a coded message was left behind. They rightly concluded that the Professor can unlock the code.

When they go to meet Petros to give him the news they’ll discover (hopefully to their horror!) that he’s been killed in an “accident.” Coincidence? I think not! I'm sure I can impress the importance of saving Ravengro and keeping them on the AP until I want them to go to Carrion Hill. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. Or not.

Another option could be to add “Go to Carrion Hill and . . . “ to the Professor’s instructions or journal.

Hope the helps.

[punkassjoe]

shriekback wrote:

I’m running a pre-quest as well. I’ve had the time table in mind for a while, which makes the integration a little easier . . .

The PCs are on a quest from the Professor to find a mysterious book (if you know Carrion Hill, you know the book.) I’ve led them to believe that the Professor will accompany them through the AP and provide guidance and firepower if necessary.

The PCs have discovered that the book has been taken by a mysterious group, and a coded message was left behind. They rightly concluded that the Professor can unlock the code.

When they go to meet Petros to give him the news they’ll discover (hopefully to their horror!) that he’s been killed in an “accident.” Coincidence? I think not! I'm sure I can impress the importance of saving Ravengro and keeping them on the AP until I want them to go to Carrion Hill. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. Or not.

Another option could be to add “Go to Carrion Hill and . . . “ to the Professor’s instructions or journal.

Hope the helps.

I was thinking of adding Carrion Hill to the list of the Professor's Postmortem instructions, especially since one of the books involves the Dark Tapestry. I might play the shock value of his accidental death up more...the 17 days thing is a bit much even for including travel there, still courier speeds can't be that awesome, though with Kendra being a diviner and her father being a wizard, she might have magical means to send a summons.