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I'm running Giantslayer on a fast XP track (my first time running anything on the fast track) and felt like I was finally getting the hang of how to keep the flow of the story and combat going. Now my PCs are exiting the Vault of Thorns and as I've been trying to set up how to proceed with Redlake Fort, I feel stumped. I've been trying to figure out what encounters to keep/cut and I'm at a loss since their are are two feuding sides and, as a Fort should have, a lot of enemies.
I want the PCs to still feel challenged by the Fort but I feel if I cut too many encounters, it will be a breeze for them to just walk in and murder-hobo the place. I saw in the Hill Giant GM Reference board that someone mentioned the idea of having Pappy Gutterunch be successful with the ritual and he actually summons creatures. That idea made me think he could take out some orcs/giants and partially take over the Fort, due to Grenseldek's melancholy and General Karrguk's distraction of keeping his people together/looking for an opportunity to take over. But since Pappy Gutterunch was trying to make contact with the castellan, I'm unsure of what he could "accidentally" summon. I am open to other suggestions of just cutting some encounters, but again, I don't know where to start since this is a Fort.
For reference, Ingrahild has joined the party in the hopes that the PCs will help her to find her brother. The PCs met Calrianne Blix in the aftermath of her fending off the orcs that raided her outpost and gave her the warhorse to help her get to Castle Firrine. The PCs consist of: Dwarf Paladin, Dwarf Blackblade Magus, Half-Elf Mountain Druid and Human Ranger all just hitting level 6.
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Maybe instead of making General Kargush hostile, start him off wanting to ally with the PCs, he's realised that this whole "join the giants" plan has been a raw deal for his tribe, and if the orcs can overthrow the hill giants, ogres and ogrekin then they can take Redlake Fort and potentially sue for peace with Trunau.
That cuts a massive swath of combats as the entire orc camp instead becomes a friendly location just outside the walls.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Maybe instead of making General Kargush hostile, start him off wanting to ally with the PCs, he's realised that this whole "join the giants" plan has been a raw deal for his tribe, and if the orcs can overthrow the hill giants, ogres and ogrekin then they can take Redlake Fort and potentially sue for peace with Trunau.
That cuts a massive swath of combats as the entire orc camp instead becomes a friendly location just outside the walls.
Thanks for the recommendation! I think that's a great idea and will help out a lot.