So my PCs cleared out the catacombs of wrath but didn't destroy the runewell. They then went to Thistletop and cleared out the first two levels. They took Lyrie and Orick prisoner and decided to return to town to put them in jail and rest/heal.
So they left Thistletop with Nualia still alive and well and doing her thing. Based on some information they found at Thistletop they think they should go destroy the Runewell to make sure no more sinspawn come out to invade Sandpoint.
My question is, how should I run with this? What would Nualia do if most everyone at Thistletop is dead of captured? Would she keep trying to release Malfeshnekor?
Just who all is dead? Who's left?
They killed Ripnugget and all the goblins. They killed Bruthazmus but captured Lyrie and Orick. They found the secret door but didn't go down to the bottom level. Tsuto is already in jail.
They killed everything in the Catacombs of Wrath but left the well intact.
Releasing Malfeshnekor could be fun, especially if the act was folly on her part and he's sufficiently cowered her. However, that could also turn out to be very deadly, as he's TPK'd many a party alone, let alone with her helping.
Here's a few ideas off the top of my head:
- She learns the secret to release Mal, but rather than risk it herself she leaves the clues for the PCs, making it sound like that room is her top secret lab where she is hiding.
- Knowing her invasion plan is toast, she instead releases Malfeshnekor and convinces him that there is power in the Catacombs of Wrath, thus unleashing him on Sandpoint (or surprising the PCs as they are trying to disable the Runewell)
- She ambushes the PCs in the Catacombs, seeking revenge for ruining her plans (with the retreat to Magnimar planned if it goes south), thus giving them a shot at fighting her.
- She sends word to the Mosswood Goblins, letting them know that Thistletop is available for new tenants. In reality, her motivation is to create another buffer in case the PCs come back, to give her time to finish her work.
- She breaks Tsuto out of jail, and he joins her at Thistletop with the goblins from above, or he helps her ambush the PCs in the Catacombs.
- She finishes her work, and you stat her out as a Succubus with some of Nualia's fighting proficiencies. Dominate a PC at the start of battle, and it should be much more interesting...
As long as the party weren't willfully being lazy, or just wildly assuming Thistletop would be in some kind of stasis while they were gone, I wouldn't worry about it too much if they delay a day or two.
However, if you think they need a reminder that the world rolls on without them:
IIRC, the AP states that Nualia is very close to figuring out how to release Malfeshnekor.
She believes she is the (or at least a) chosen of Lamashtu and is releasing one of her ancient servants. She absolutely would redouble her efforts to complete that task.
Malfeshnekor & Nualia would almost certainly join forces. The Barghest will need to "catch up" and Nualia wishes to complete her transformation.
Thistletop might make a good base of operations, but the Barghest might prefer to relocate away from it's 10k year prison. It would know all about the catacombs under Sandpoint.
Also, bear in mind the influence Malfeshnekor had over Goblins. If Sandpoint was worried about a wayward Aasimar organising the tribes, a Greater Barghest in charge should have them petrified with fear.
I'd be inclined to have the two of them relocate to the temple of Lamashtu in the Thistletop ruins within a day or two. Longer than that, and the Goblin tribes will have started to arrive, and Goblin numbers would continue to build up each day. Eventually they may attack Sandpoint so Malfeshnekor can access the Catacombs and below.
If you really want to punish the party, rebuild Nualia as a Succubus or other Demon, as a reward from Lamashtu.
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Is this their first foray into Thistletop? If so, they've done very well for themselves against the place to clear out the first two levels. I personally wouldn't have Nualia find the way past just yet. The timeline's left intentionally vague to give the DM more control over when she makes the breakthrough. As long as they're moving with purpose, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.
That said, she's not stupid, and she knows that the party will be gunning for her soon. At the same time, she's obsessed with freeing Malfeshnekor, so she probably won't leave Thistletop to go recruit more goblins until she succeeds. She's stuck with the yeth hounds she's got - if they didn't kill the ones in the chapel, then I'd say she recalls them, and has all three during the final fight. If not, then she needs to get creative.
I think she'd be aware of the shadows in the crypt, so I'd find a way to draw the party towards that, and then come up behind them in an ambush. A blood trail leading towards that door, with a bloody handprint on the door itself. If the party is tricked into going in, she attacks while they're in the corridor. Even worse, if she waits until the door is open, her yeth hound's baying might force people into the room!
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Ah, Misroi, your joyful sadism does my heart good!
So my PCs cleared out the catacombs of wrath but didn't destroy the runewell. They then went to Thistletop and cleared out the first two levels. They took Lyrie and Orick prisoner and decided to return to town to put them in jail and rest/heal.
So they left Thistletop with Nualia still alive and well and doing her thing. Based on some information they found at Thistletop they think they should go destroy the Runewell to make sure no more sinspawn come out to invade Sandpoint.
My question is, how should I run with this? What would Nualia do if most everyone at Thistletop is dead of captured? Would she keep trying to release Malfeshnekor?
I would think she would accelerate her efforts - imagine the drama of her being successful just as the PC's arrive...
If I were her, I would imagine she would return to the Catacombs to consult with Erylium. Finding everyone dead, she might begin her assault early so that at least the town that caused her so much pain will burn. I might fudge the amount of charges that the runewell had, and have her build a few more Sinspawn to help. When the party returns, I could see Brodert so excited that he starts moving on ahead of the party, rushing right into Nualia as another Sinspawn erupts from runewell. Then the PCs are rewarded with, "you were right, this runewell is bad news", and also challenged with "holy crap, she's gonna kill Brodert if we don't do something quick".
You could also have Brodert nipped up and wisked back to Thistletop by the Yeth Hounds - shades of the Wicked Witch with her flying monkeys.
