Hi, guys. My game of SS has basically died (we found campaigns we liked better). In order not to just abandon it, we a re going to play 3-4 more sessions and give it a finale. My players were currently on Book 3, having explored 4 of the 7 districts. I'm considering giving some closure to the "other castaways" NPCs while they explore the final districts, and then doing a BBEG, probably related to Yarzoth (whom I kept alive as a recurring villain). Any ideas on what this BBEG could be? They'll probably be level 11-12 by that point (I'll do a level up after each session from now on, to spice things up)
Or any other suggestions regarding this whole idea?
Thanks!
Perhaps you keep the spirit of the remaining modules intact but condense them.
- Instead of having 7 Vaults, you can have only 1 Vault. This Vault would still have the paranoia and would contain some key to enter Savith's Tomb.
- Instead of the serpentfolk gathering in Ilmurea, they are trying to break into Savith's tomb.
You can put whatever you want inside the Savith's tomb. It could be that the head of Ydersius is there. You can use one of the maps from the later modules for the tomb.
OR
Forget Ydersius. The PCs can explore the First Vault, they find the portal and go to Ilmurea. You change the underground city to be a place where the serpentfolk are gathering a massive army. The PCs are over-matched but can activate the seven spears targeting Ilmurea. The effect of the spears wouldn't be to bore holes anymore but to simply destroy the serpentfolk.
In both cases you can use the Mysteries to setup the finale
Thanks, Maplewood, nice ideas.
What I have so far is: The Serpentfolk army lies dormant in Ilmurea. Yarzoth and other Serpentfolks are looking to bring them back. Ydersius' Skull is an artifact that will allow her to lead/control said army. NO Ydersius resurrection whatsoever.
I like the idea of using Savith's Tomb, though still not sure in what capacity.
What I am still not sure is the endgame and the Spears role. I have two options:
1- The Spears are a way to reach Ilmurea, and Yarzoth needs to activate them. In this scenario, the PCs should stop the activation and destroy Yarzoth + the artifact.
2- The Spears are a way to destroy Ilmurea, as you suggest. The PCs should activate them all before Yarzoth can bring the army to the surface. I should modify the means of activating the Spears in this scenario, as per written they are a total bore ("Activate them normally, just in a special order", no fun there)
I'm still struggling to find a good BBEG, also.
I would suggest that you drop the Ilmurea plot entirely (including the Juliver / Eando Kline part). Vyr-Azul and all the rest of the serpentfolk are still sleeping, and won't wake up for a long time, unless Yarzoth or someone else wakes them up.
Kick off the Vaults adventure early but drop most of the Vaults. (I'd still use the Gorilla King encounter because it's cool.) Have M'ddegog take Yarzoth's brain and occupy her body. M'ddegog becomes the new BBEG, though an unexpected and non-standard one. Lead up with the Ivo Haigan encounter, maybe one other brain-controlled enemy, then the final Yarzoth-M'deggog climax. The closure comes from stopping Yarzoth's plot, and now the Pathfinders (or whichever faction) set up an outpost, get famous (or rich, or powerful, or whatever motivation). Mission success.
Alternatively, Sozothols (sp?), the serpentfolk ghast from the end of Book 3 makes a good BBEG if you give him a compelling personality and hone his plan a bit. (More detailed than "undead empire mwuhahahah".) If he hooked up with Yarzoth, they'd make a good team.
I would suggest that you drop the Ilmurea plot entirely (including the Juliver / Eando Kline part). Vyr-Azul and all the rest of the serpentfolk are still sleeping, and won't wake up for a long time, unless Yarzoth or someone else wakes them up.
Yeah, I have dropped that plot, technically. The threat of the sleeping army remains, as it is Yarztoh's end game, but Ilmurea will never appear in the game nor the Pathfinders.
Kick off the Vaults adventure early but drop most of the Vaults. (I'd still use the Gorilla King encounter because it's cool.)
I've actually dropping all Vaults, as I find them boring. I'll keep the Gorilla King, though.
Have M'ddegog take Yarzoth's brain and occupy her body. M'ddegog becomes the new BBEG, though an unexpected and non-standard one. Lead up with the Ivo Haigan encounter, maybe one other brain-controlled enemy, then the final Yarzoth-M'deggog climax. The closure comes from stopping Yarzoth's plot, and now the Pathfinders (or whichever faction) set up an outpost, get famous (or rich, or powerful, or whatever motivation). Mission success.
Alternatively, Sozothols (sp?), the serpentfolk ghast from the end of Book 3 makes a good BBEG if you give him a compelling personality and hone his plan a bit. (More detailed than "undead empire mwuhahahah".) If he hooked up with Yarzoth, they'd make a good team.
I don't like Sozothala as a BBEG, but M'degog could work. The other option I'm considering is using the Emperor of Scales, which has the same CR and is a bit more unique.