I want to run this, but I do not want a curse that would remove/kill a character from the game, at least not without sometime to be able to remove disease or curse. So, I would like some ideas on something else I could do, that would still leave the PCs wary of it.
Also, The Four Pharaohs, IMO, should be epic level not level 8/9ish. They were suppose to be super bad ass. I was thinking maybe it is actually a pyramid of faithful priests to the Four Pharaohs or maybe a child of theirs? Rivals they locked away?
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Well some curses that might be amusing are the too much a good thing curses.
One of my table group members had a character that thought of himself as a ladies man, and naturally when curses came about he worried I would change him into a female character. Instead I gave him a type of Midas touch, changing any living creature he touched into a female. Which did not go over very well at the first Tavern Fist fight when he discovered said curse. Several wives where suddenly very much not amused.
And if you thought a red dragon anger issues BEFORE a change in gender when said character was trying to sneak around and fell onto said dragon. Well... The group had issues to say the least.
Another one was the greedy character, he became cursed with unable to eat normal food, could only eat things of material value,Plantinum, Gold, Silver, Copper, EVEN GEMSTONES!
But not actual food, tended to make for a group of antsy adventurers when a friend needs a pound of valuables per meal to be made, no longer hungry.
I love the module! But when I've run it, the fear of the curse has kept the PCs from doing a lot of exploring. Keeping it from being an instant death could add some nice drama.
What about a souped-up Mummy's Curse? The PC who sees the symbols is infected with the Curse and, instead of every day, has to make a save every hour. They are slowly turning to sand and, if they succumb to the disease, turn into a mummy themselves. That way the curse is imposing, but not impossible to deal with.
Also, as for the Pharoahs, I would say 8 and 9th level is pretty bad-ass! I never saw the Pharoahs in line with the epic villains of the land - such as Spawn of Rovagug, the Runelords of Thassilon, or the like - so it felt appropriate to me. If you prefer otherwise, I would say the Pharoahs misjudged the effects of undeath, and their power is greatly diminished. If the PCs fail to stop them, however, perhaps their power would return and their threat would do the same.
I love the module! But when I've run it, the fear of the curse has kept the PCs from doing a lot of exploring. Keeping it from being an instant death could add some nice drama.
What about a souped-up Mummy's Curse? The PC who sees the symbols is infected with the Curse and, instead of every day, has to make a save every hour. They are slowly turning to sand and, if they succumb to the disease, turn into a mummy themselves. That way the curse is imposing, but not impossible to deal with.
Also, as for the Pharoahs, I would say 8 and 9th level is pretty bad-ass! I never saw the Pharoahs in line with the epic villains of the land - such as Spawn of Rovagug, the Runelords of Thassilon, or the like - so it felt appropriate to me. If you prefer otherwise, I would say the Pharoahs misjudged the effects of undeath, and their power is greatly diminished. If the PCs fail to stop them, however, perhaps their power would return and their threat would do the same.
I like your ideas. And yeah, I fear would hamper enjoyment.
Thanks for the ideas, both of you!