So... I wrote in another thread (Mangrum's Legacy of Fire Conversions [and NPC Stat Blocks]) that I intended to expand the last chapter of Legacy of Fire, but because that would derail the original thread's subject, I decided to create a different thread to post my ideas. Also, if anyone has any ideas, criticisms or personal experience from your own campaigns, you'd be more than welcome to share it here!
Now, let's get down to business. First, what were the reasons for me to think that an expansion for LoF would be awesome:
1. My players have been begging to reach level 20 for a very long time. The last time we played till max level was in 2003 using WotC's published adventures for 3E (the ones that told the story of Ashardalon, or so I recall). Since then, we always stopped between mid-high level, but never actually got to 20 again. And now, with Pathfinder's new level 20 awesomeness, they're all craving for that little extra power!
2. My players, since AD&D 2E, always wanted to fight against the dreaded Tarrasque. I know Xotani isn't THE tarrasque, but it's close enough. I even think Xotani is even cooler (or hotter, some might say), and I guess my players will think it too. As a result, the idea of a Xotani revival at the end of the Final Wish is too tempting to leave aside.
That said, however, I'm a busy person (damn you, real life!), so I haven't the time nor the disposition to expand the AP for about 2 whole new levels (my players will be about level 18 after they defeat Jhavhul). So here's what I came up with:
Jhavhul will be about 1 wish short of completing the ritual. However, when he dies, his life essence will be the last drop of mystical energy required for Xotani to revive itself. I'll give my players a couple of rounds to leave Xotani's cave, but after that, I plan to have one last battle against Xotani in the heights of the Pale Mountain.
As was told throughout the AP, Nefeshti empowered the Templar's through wishcraft (which, as I understood, effectively gave them levels, among other things), so it stands to reason that she could give the player's enough power for them to reach their fullest potential (in other words: level 20). Given that Nefeshti is in part resposible for Xotani's revival, she decides to help the players, using her wishcraft to its fullest potential and thus also redeems herself (given her Lawful nature, I think that's somewhat reasonable). She dies in the process, because she's empowering 4 beings that are already strong. I'm still deciding if there will be conditions to be met for this powerup work, as she did with the Templars (they would only have power as long as they served Nefeshti).
In any case, empowered by wishcraft, the player's power level might be enough to fight Xotani. I'll probably using the updated version from the PFSRD (link), which is based on the Pathfinder RPG Tarrasque, with some modifications. However, I think I'll use some power ups for Xotani as well, upping its CR to 25. I'll post more on that later.
Well, that's it. Any sugestions?
Jhavhul will be about 1 wish short of completing the ritual. However, when he dies, his life essence will be the last drop of mystical energy required for Xotani to revive itself. I'll give my players a couple of rounds to leave Xotani's cave, but after that, I plan to have one last battle against Xotani in the heights of the Pale...
Personally, I like the idea, but I'd impliment it a little differently. Rather than have Xotani appear just two rounds after your players defeat Jhavhul, I'd give them a little break. Let them enjoy their victory for a couple of days/weeks.
Then, just when they think it's safe, have Nefeshti appear before them, fill them in on any of the history/backstory they missed, tell the players about Xotani's rise - which was (in a very small way) brought about by the PC's killing of Xotani and then offer the players a chance to become the Templar's of the modern age. Once they agree - wishcraft begins and level 20 is finally achieved.
That's my thought, for what it's worth.
Personally, I like the idea, but I'd impliment it a little differently. Rather than have Xotani appear just two rounds after your players defeat Jhavhul, I'd give them a little break. Let them enjoy their victory for a couple of days/weeks.
Then, just when they think it's safe, have Nefeshti appear before them, fill them in on any of the history/backstory they missed, tell the players about Xotani's rise - which was (in a very small way) brought about by the PC's killing of Xotani and then offer the players a chance to become the Templar's of the modern age. Once they agree - wishcraft begins and level 20 is finally achieved.
That's my thought, for what it's worth.
I think you do have a good point here. One of the things that was bugging me about my original idea was that Xotani's revival would outshine Jhavhul as the main villain too easily. This also gives the players some time to heal, enjoy their victory and (eventually) buy/sell equipment - which will be invaluable for them to defeat Xotani.
This also portrays Xotani's revival, IMO, as more as a side-effect of the Legacy of Fire than as the BBEG. One funny thing though: with this ending, no matter what the players do, they won't be able to stop Xotani's revival - they either don't stop Jhavhul and he merges with it, or they kill him and it is revived by his energy anyway. This kind of feels like a self-fulfulling prophecy. I'm not entirely sure how I fell about this, though the more I think about it, the more it tickles my fancy!