First, let me say that I am using http://my-realms.blogspot.com/2014/12/starter-set-sandbox-15-leilon-and-night.html by [MENTION=87576]Scrivener of Doom[/MENTION] (how do you @ a user anyway?) as 95% of the inspiration for this campaign I am going to run. His blog is awesome, you should read it if you are running anything in the Forgotten Realms and for general insight anyway.
My adventure description (going to be running this on roll20, but still putting together the adventure itself) so far is :
The once sleepy mining town of Leilon (South of Neverwinter, south-west of Phandalin) served as a convenient resting place for travelers on the High Road. Now, the few travelers who still take this route shun Leilon, going miles out of their way to avoid even laying eyes on the town. The High Tower of Thalivar long stood as a landmark here, abandoned by a forgotten mage. For generations, the tower proved a tempting target for plunderers-and, too often, a grave for them as well. The people of Leilon knew that the tower held guardian monsters, and they were content to leave it alone. However, the Spellplague's twisted magic unleashed the creatures trapped in the tower, which quickly ravaged the helpless village. Now, the tower is a place of terror, rumors say it's magic freezes in place all creatures whose eyes rest upon it, even for a moment.
Leilon has been abandoned since the Spell Plague as far as anyone knows. Now that the Sundering has ended the Spell Plague, rumor of activity and threat can be heard from the few travelers daring to get close to it's abandoned walls. Many organizations along the Sword Coast have long waited for this chance to plunder the riches of Leilon's mines and explore it's mysterious tower, and now it seems enough time has passed that they can wait no more.
I am planning that these factions are interested in Leilon:
The Lord's Alliance and their local proxy Lord Neverember.
The Zhentarim and their local group at Helm's Hold.
The Red Wizards of Thay and their every expansionist and immoral empire.
The Abolethic Sovereignty wishes to buy any skilled slaves it can get it's hands on for proxies and to absorb their memory and hopes the coming clashes will produce them in large numbers.
The Harpers are concerned about all four groups and their existing and potential power gains from exploring and possibly ruling Leilon.
The Order of the Gauntlet awaits unjust actions by either of the Lord's Alliance or the Zhentarim with baited breath but already has scores to settle with both the Thayans and Aboleths.
The adventure hooks:
The Lord's Alliance is hiring muscle/skill in Neverwinter to march down the coast and reclaim and rebuild Leilon for all the free people of the coast (and make a few bucks doing it). They want an early strike force to disrupt existing factions already in Leilon and explore the city and what remains of it's mines.
The Zhentarim view Leilon as a new seat of power now that Zhentil Keep and the Castle(Keep?) of the Raven are no longer in their hands. If the players already view the Zhents as the bad guys, they may need little impetus to want to thwart their attempts at colonization.
The Thayans seek a foothold from which to expand their power and per usual want to use slave labor to build this new bastion for them. If you players are coming from Lost Mine of Phandelver and defeated the necromancer at Old Owl Well, they may be spooked by further Thayan activity in the area and want to investigate.
Finally, if none of the above attract them, perhaps a local elder who once lived in Leilon tells tale of fabulous riches and magic items to be had below Leilon in it's deep mines.
My problems:
It doesn't look like anyone ever mapped Leilon, there are some cursory descriptions of the city which I am already using to create my own map, but if someone has already done that labor I'd love to use it.
I'm fairly certain I will use parts of the Night Below adventure, as well as the mega dungeon being created by Dyson Logos over at http://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/ (as of Jan 10th, 2015).
What I'm really seeking is suggestions on what to do in addition to what I've described so far, any input is welcome!
My adventure description (going to be running this on roll20, but still putting together the adventure itself) so far is :
The once sleepy mining town of Leilon (South of Neverwinter, south-west of Phandalin) served as a convenient resting place for travelers on the High Road. Now, the few travelers who still take this route shun Leilon, going miles out of their way to avoid even laying eyes on the town. The High Tower of Thalivar long stood as a landmark here, abandoned by a forgotten mage. For generations, the tower proved a tempting target for plunderers-and, too often, a grave for them as well. The people of Leilon knew that the tower held guardian monsters, and they were content to leave it alone. However, the Spellplague's twisted magic unleashed the creatures trapped in the tower, which quickly ravaged the helpless village. Now, the tower is a place of terror, rumors say it's magic freezes in place all creatures whose eyes rest upon it, even for a moment.
Leilon has been abandoned since the Spell Plague as far as anyone knows. Now that the Sundering has ended the Spell Plague, rumor of activity and threat can be heard from the few travelers daring to get close to it's abandoned walls. Many organizations along the Sword Coast have long waited for this chance to plunder the riches of Leilon's mines and explore it's mysterious tower, and now it seems enough time has passed that they can wait no more.
I am planning that these factions are interested in Leilon:
The Lord's Alliance and their local proxy Lord Neverember.
The Zhentarim and their local group at Helm's Hold.
The Red Wizards of Thay and their every expansionist and immoral empire.
The Abolethic Sovereignty wishes to buy any skilled slaves it can get it's hands on for proxies and to absorb their memory and hopes the coming clashes will produce them in large numbers.
The Harpers are concerned about all four groups and their existing and potential power gains from exploring and possibly ruling Leilon.
The Order of the Gauntlet awaits unjust actions by either of the Lord's Alliance or the Zhentarim with baited breath but already has scores to settle with both the Thayans and Aboleths.
The adventure hooks:
The Lord's Alliance is hiring muscle/skill in Neverwinter to march down the coast and reclaim and rebuild Leilon for all the free people of the coast (and make a few bucks doing it). They want an early strike force to disrupt existing factions already in Leilon and explore the city and what remains of it's mines.
The Zhentarim view Leilon as a new seat of power now that Zhentil Keep and the Castle(Keep?) of the Raven are no longer in their hands. If the players already view the Zhents as the bad guys, they may need little impetus to want to thwart their attempts at colonization.
The Thayans seek a foothold from which to expand their power and per usual want to use slave labor to build this new bastion for them. If you players are coming from Lost Mine of Phandelver and defeated the necromancer at Old Owl Well, they may be spooked by further Thayan activity in the area and want to investigate.
Finally, if none of the above attract them, perhaps a local elder who once lived in Leilon tells tale of fabulous riches and magic items to be had below Leilon in it's deep mines.
My problems:
It doesn't look like anyone ever mapped Leilon, there are some cursory descriptions of the city which I am already using to create my own map, but if someone has already done that labor I'd love to use it.
I'm fairly certain I will use parts of the Night Below adventure, as well as the mega dungeon being created by Dyson Logos over at http://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/ (as of Jan 10th, 2015).
What I'm really seeking is suggestions on what to do in addition to what I've described so far, any input is welcome!
