Billy Buckman |
My players didn't really pull at any of the threads presented in the Kraggodan gazetteer. The big one being the King and his firstborn son trapped in a crystalline prison. But yeah, my players don't do much meandering and are usually pretty keen to advance the main plot.
We did some shopping in the city. I described them visiting Runesmith Alley and browsing some of the various weapon and magic shops. I rolled up some items to have on display even though they didn't purchase any (they mainly just traded in loot for "Big 6" items and upgrades. Additionally, after the Long Walk and the Reliquary of Ascension, it had been about a month since my PCs had seen the sky, so I made a big deal out of them taking the elevators up to the Upper Fastness, meeting the oread general Rhenso, and observing the Molthuni troops encamped outside the citadel's gates.
I did put a little time and effort into fleshing out the Greathammer Bastion, since the PCs would end up spending the most time there while in Kraggodan. The dwarves provided lodging and food, and it's where the Even-Handed Synod takes place. I described everything as very rich and opulent. Like a perpetual glamorous night. The light is dim and sultry, an orange glow pervades over all from the lava chamber below the city. Braziers and lamps provide extra illumination which glints and glitters off of accents of precious metals and inset gemstones on the buildings.
Personally, my group got way more out of the Longshadow gazetteer than the Kraggodan one. Mainly because they spent more time in town back in Book 3.
Mathmuse |
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When the PCs in my Ironfang Invasion game entered Kraggodan via the Kraggodan's Furnace magma caverns, avoiding combat with the Einherji that guarded that entrance, they were met with suspicion by paladin Colga of Trudd and the other guards. They had come in by a lost entrance last used by a party of Molthune thieves and an army of gugs. Kraggodan was besieged by the Molthune for a stupid reason--the Kraggodan had accused the Molthunes of theft and the Molthune were offended by that--and the place was wary of spies.
Fortunately, my party had become official Chernasardo Rangers, allies of Kraggodan. They were given comfortable lodging and good food for the night. The following morning they presented their case to the leadership of Kraggodan under a Zone of Truth spell (the PCs could have made their save against the spell, but did not bother). Their goal was to investigate the Reliquary of Ascension for information about Azaersi's plans and capabilities. They were willing to clear the gugs and other monsters out of the area for the dwarves. So they immediately went to that task, accompanied by Colga and Karburtin. The two Kraggodan dwarves were supposed to help them in their battles and explorations, but they would also keep the party from looting the reliquary, as most adventurers would. They did let the adventurers loot the monsters, such as Ishgahkah.
However, once the party learned about the medusa, they quit for the day to prepare Stone to Flesh spells in the morning. That gave them time for shopping in Kraggodan. By then Colga and Karburtin trusted them and helped them tour the city. That is where the Kraggodan article on page 62 came in handy. Karburtin showed them the monuments, such as the First of Kraggodan (location 7, page 68). And they did some shopping at Runesmith Alley (location 15, page 70). The merchants there hawked their wares to the coin-laden strangers, because the siege had reduced trade. I had no organized system of shops, instead I spoke in generalities, "Potions for sale!" and offered a few specific items that I thought the players might be interested in. My inventory notes said, "At Runesmith Alley, the party purchases a Horn of Blasting for 700 gp. And a Ring of Lies for 850 gp. Cash balance was 3095 gp on the Long Walk. Got 600 gp more in Khardajeen gems. Got 380 more in melted electrum. Spent 700 gp and 850 gp. New total cash is 2525 gp. The party purchased Cloak of the Bat for 950 gp. Remaining cash balance is 1575 gp. Party spent 100 gp on Potion of Flying. Remaining cash balance is 1475 gp." My wife's character keeps track of the party funds, but she passes the actual duty to me. And I converted my campaign to Pathfinder 2nd Edition, so the items and prices are different from Pathfinder 1st Edition.
Finishing the Reliquary of Ascension finished the module, but since the party had unpetrified Molthune spy Eustatius Tondere and Azaersi's minion Dendrak they had learned more. They thought that they could negotiate peace between Kraggodan and Molthune General
Cadmius Ortho's besieging army. Once the negotiators learned the full story and received Eustatius Tondere in prisoner exchange, the Molthunes offered the party swift transportation by boat northward down the river for their next quest in the Fangwood. The Molthunes presented themselves as trying to be helpful, but really they did not want their old civil-war enemies the Chernasardo Rangers involved in the peace talks.
Thus, my players did not care about the markets of Kraggodan. They viewed the tour and shopping more as roleplaying with Colga and Karburtin.
erucsbo |
If you are looking for some crunch then you can reskin some of the Longshadow locations from Book 3. Other than that it is going to be highly dependent on what your players want their characters to do.
Remember that although they might be welcome in the city once satisfying the council and especially if they clear out the reliquary, they do not have complete freedom of the city. Karburtin can give them advice on the safe places for tourists, noting that if they venture in to other areas (that might be controlled by less reputable clans or groups) then that will be noticed and reported to the council - damaging their reputation. And as an aside it might be worth being meta with the players and requesting they don't sidetrack the game into areas that are un(der)developed. They'll have plenty of opportunity for shenanigans in Book 5 if they so desire.
My group used some of the time in Kraggodan for crafting and shopping, and those characters who weren't crafting used the time to do some retraining of hp and skills. They were given a Cook's tour of the major attractions by Karburtin, but that was it.
The clock is ticking and unless the characters are all dwarves (or other subterranean races) the characters should be well and truly be missing the open air and trees by the time they get to Kraggodan.