| Kinth |
So, I have to say I'm really not a big fan of Vordakai conceptually. I mean, he's got an interesting concept, but very little of it appeals to me and the story I'm working on as a GM for a new group. To reface, I am planning/using some already awesomely-nabbed stuff from here including Hargulka's Monster Kingdom and the Fey Courts. I've also started playing the newly-released Pathfinder: Kingmaker by Owlcat. ANYWAY...
So my group decided to never touch the barbarian cairn from book 1, and from the sounds of it, I doubt they are going to. In doing some minor random expanding, when they were exploring the hexes south of the Lonely Barrow they decided to find a cave to rest in overnight. In an attempt to foreshadow the Lonely Barrow (which I've tweaked a bit), they cave they found turned out to be the location of a set of crypts for 7 great Kellid warriors. As expected the group took note but was too superstitious to break into the crypts.
Moving forward, I know the story of Vanrhold, of Vordakai, and have read through all 6 books. I'd like to do a bit of foreshadowing, but also to have my changes prepared for when they finally do reach Vanrhold. My thoughts are replacing the cyclops lich with a coven of eyeless hags who use the occulus as their only means of seeing, shared betwixt the three. It's very much the 3 gorgon sisters of ancient greek myth. The general reasons for Vanhold's people vanaishing can be very much thematically the same. The hags, once powerful Kellid witches, have either been awoken, or an ancient curse binding them has been broken, hence the eventual start of Book 3. Was hoping to get some suggestions or thoughts from experienced GMs on this. If not the Sisters Three, then what might you suggest replacing Vordakai with?
As a small side note, my game is darker (more like Witcher, less like Neverwinter Nights) and I am planning to run Realm of the Fellnight queen, where Roselin is related to N. Also using ideas from things like Tales of Old Margreve.
| Kinth |
For instance, I have a really bloody-thirsty dwarf in the party who was quite happy explaining to Howl-of-the-North-Wind exactly how he was going to skin him, and ended up doing so. I plan to play off of that with the Red Riding Hood bit from Old Margreve where North Wind was not a worg but a cursed hunter. In donning the pelt, the dwarf has inadvertently drawn down the curse. Their only way of removing the curse is Challenge of the Fang, where the old Babushka is the Beldame. The dwarf himself may actually be the wolf (well, becoming the wolf) and he does not realize it, so when they do find the girl, it may be a matter of stopping their friend as much as saving the girl.