My D&D Group needs a really good encounter

I've recently started running my ongoing campaign once again, minor delay in gaming. The last time the group met, they were feeling pretty sure of themselves and in need of a humbling encounter.
I'd like to show them that there are other things that given the chance could kill them if paths were crossed.

The group consists of a Human Barbarian/Cleric, Human Thief/Mage, Elven Psion, Elven Bard. The average level of the part is 15.
The group is playing in a home-grown game world setting, similar to the feel of the Forgotten Realms.

I have some ideas to work some nasty encounters into the existing storyline but I'd like to hear what you would throw at this group.

I'd like to hear some of your ideas, if possible. The group will be traveling from a big city into the wilderness on a trek towards the deserts.


Thank you for your help, I value the ENworld community advice.

Hrm...
Well, I should preface this by saying that a normal random encounter shouldn't faze 15th level characters. You know, unless they're in dragon country.

If they run into something powerful enough to kill them, it should probably be part of a larger story.

That said:
I've had a lot of fun with Baatezu death squads. (This requires that the PCs have crossed someone who can cast Planar Binding or Planar Ally, and has a lot of money or influence to toss around.)

Get, say, a bunch of Barbazu and a Gelugon or Cornugon. Advance them all a few HD, maybe give them better stats than normal, some magic items - particularly something, anything that produces Deeper Darkness.

Then turn them loose on the PCs: the leader can use fly and invisibility to spy on them, and coordinate the shock troops for teleport-based raids, day or night. If they have access to Deeper Darkness, the PCs will never get a good look at them (and so they won't be able to use Scrying magics for a counterstrike ).

After about the third hit and run, the PCs will be fuming, and probably very, very weak.

Interesting thought Mordax, funny you should bring the Baatezu up. The group has been in the Nine Hells for a short stint and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a squad to be hunting them down. After all, this group has pissed off some notable people from the Nine Hells and from their own game world.

I may give that a shot, but a dragon would be a nice encounter just the same. Hmmmm, decisions I must make.

Interesting thought Mordax, funny you should bring the Baatezu up. The group has been in the Nine Hells for a short stint and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a squad to be hunting them down. After all, this group has pissed off some notable people from the Nine Hells and from their own game world.

Click to expand...

Hehehehe...
Just lucky, I guess.

I may give that a shot, but a dragon would be a nice encounter just the same. Hmmmm, decisions I must make.

Click to expand...

Well, a dragon has a certain "classic" appeal, but groups are more effective, tactically. More spells, more chances to hit.

In fact, trade the Barbazu up for Hamatula, and get those players swinging at Major Images, while a Gelugon controls the battlefield with Wall of Ice spells.

When you're playing at that level, I'dd avoid random encounters. Your players have probably invested quite a bit in their character by this time, it's a shame if they loose their character to something stupid like a rampaging squad of giants of whatnot.
Players with high level characters do have a tendency to become cocky and the suspense and story tends to benefit from a humbling experience. If this is a random encounter, players might feel that it is a machination of the game master. Remember you are playing wiht your players, not against them. I never liked a gamemaster that gave me the impression he was the one who decided what happened. I like to get the feeling that my character contributes to the story and the developements. I like to give my players the feeling they control the storyline and I just ste some parameters.
This being said (sorry if I started to rant), my advice would be to lead your players to an encounter with one of the antagonists in your campaign. Give your players the idea that they are about to force a breakthrough in the storyline, but let the events turn against them at the last moment. This will be a humbling experience, but they will realize that the world humiliated them, not the gamemaster who threw up some bad mojo.
(If you read fantasy: Raymond E. Feist does this sometimes to his characters. In one of his novels (silverthorn?) he has his powerfull, high level characters going on a raid agains an assasins guild, but in the midst of the actions they discover that the assasins are cultists in some necromantic sect and raise again after being slain. The characters manage to escape, but barely.)

A high level troll in full plate armor wielding a greatsword. They won't know he's a troll, cause you can't see his face. He'll kick lots of patootie before he goes down. Use four.

Or how about a rival adventuring band... out to make a name for themselves? Should be a few levels lower then the party, but more members. They have anways hated living in their shadows...
Or they have heard of the party's reputation, and think they are better.

Assuming you want to humble the PCs, I'd be a bit creative. Forget the dragons, liches, outsiders, and tarrasque. Those types of creatures are too flashy and "big" to be random encounters, know what I mean?

Here are some suggestions:

Have them stumble accross a wandering group of minstrels that the PCs have some incentive to join (they play really good music, have healing potions. etc.). The minstrels are all high-level bards withs levels in assassin and/or sorceror. They work as team with extreme precision to murder, maim, and/or rob the PCs.

A heavy, heavy downpour starts happening. Then the PCs are ambushed by a group of Trolls with levels in fighter and barbarian. The heavy downpour makes flame and acid less useful versus the trolls.

10-20 lightly armored Barbarian/Fighters loaded with ranged attack feats. They keep attacking with bows, the retreating and scattering. They continually repeat this process, never closing to melee. Barbarian fast movement and/or mounts help out their speed.

A rival, evil adventuring party attacks! They have the same average level as the PCs and use similiar tactics. Make most of their weapons/items unholy or evil to cut down on treasure.

Use a sorceror or wizard in conjunction with any of the above.

Well so far I like the idea of a rivaling adventuring group (Evil) or by whatever means they have decided to challenge the PC's.
I also like the idea of the heavy rainstorm and a band of Trolls. What a great idea, no fire or very little acid would help them.

I agree with you Eben, and what random encounters there are would be a cakewalk for the players IMO.

The band of Bards is a clever idea as some of the players have created lejendary weapons and stories are being told about them currently. The bards may have a nack for soothing the players with magic and music then stealing thier magic items to be sold in the city.

I completely agree that a wizard or Sorcerer needs to be part of the encounter as magic at high levels is very deadly.

Please understand that the encounter isn't just DM against the players, rather its my throwing another reality check at them through the storyline of the game.

So many ideas, so many decisions... Thanks for the ideas everyone, keep them comming, my game is tomorrow night.

to me, humbling means humiliating, or at the very least embarrassing.

I like the idea of having someone rob them, i mean strip them of everythign they own. this could lead to a side adv where they can try to get their weapons and clothes back...