D&D 5E Motivations for a time-traveling wizard (Manshoon)?

[Urriak Uruk]

Hi all, I'm working on extending my Waterdeep: Dragon Heist campaign, mostly because I have a party that isn't super into the dungeon delve Undermountain, but is into the mystery/intrigue of Dragon Heist.

We've finished Dragon Heist now, with the Cassalanters being the villain who were defeated. But now I'm planning on utilizing the other villains, and tying them with the great Adventurer's League that are published for Waterdeep.

There is a set of AL adventures called "The Folded Time Trilogy," where the party is investigating a "wrinkle in the weave," in the process traveling to several different points in time of Waterdeep's history.

Now I've decided to tie Manshoon into this, in that he's the one who has found this wrinkle and is twisting it to travel back in time, to get some powerful objects and bring them back to the present for personal gain (kind of what the plot of Avengers: Endgame is).

The three time periods are thus;

• The assassination of Emperor Shoon III in the Shoon Imperium.
• The Troll Wars before the founding of Waterdeep.
• Early in Waterdeep's history when Aghairion lives.

The three adventures do have magic item rewards (a ring of mind shielding, a javelin of lightning, and a cloak of protection), but I don't think these items are valuable enough for Manshoon to bother going back in time to steal.

So where I need assistance; what items would Manshoon find valuable enough to him to go back and time to steal? They don't have to be magical and can technically be anything that would help him become sole lord of Waterdeep, but they do have to be items he could conceivably find in each time period mentioned above.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I'm not familiar with the Canon, but the items should be of legendary quality and should be related to the time periods. Off the top of my head:

-Ring of Wishes
-Rod of Rulership or Rod of Lordly Might
-Book of Vile Darkness
-Mirror of Trapping containing powerful denizens he can corrupt or turn to his side by releasing them. Think of 12 enemies that the PCs might have to fight later. Or maybe only 8 because 2 refused the deal and escaped. They are dangerous and evil but might partner with the PCs. The others are still trapped for a time if the PCs ever recover the mirror. You can even have an entity from each of your time periods stuck in the mirror if they find it last.
-Something that will make him immortal

 

[jgsugden]

I'd go for the Rod of 7 Parts and have him be collecting the parts as they pass through Waterdeep at key points in time.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I'd go for the Rod of 7 Parts and have him be collecting the parts as they pass through Waterdeep at key points in time.

Oooo I like this. I may keep it restricted to him only getting three parts of the rod, as getting all 7 (and then inevitably losing it to the PCs) may break the campaign, but it really does meet the "stop villain from getting McGuffins!" that I'm looking for.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Motivations for a time-traveling wizard

Time traveling wizards most popular destination is between 2000 and 2008, to acquire overpowered spells and make magic items. Followed by 2014-present, to cast those spells spontaneously and with minimal risk.

The intervening Dark Age, of course, is shunned.

 

[Salthorae]

• The assassination of Emperor Shoon III in the Shoon Imperium.
• The Troll Wars before the founding of Waterdeep.
• Early in Waterdeep's history when Aghairion lives.

If you're going to the Shoon Imperium, I suggest the ring being one of the Qysari Rings that were made for the Shoon Emperors: Qysari Rings

Probably not the one actually made for Shoon III (ring of fire resistance + acts as a wand of fire) or maybe that one. The Annulus Qysarus Major and Annulus Qysarus Minor matched pair seem like something Manshoon would be after. They were the rings of Shoon IV.

I think Azuredge is in Dragon Heist for stats, but it was crafted by Ahghairon. Maybe Manshoon wants to get the version of it created before the Blackstaff enchanted it so the Blackstaff can scry on it and teleport the weapon away from its location, then use the axe to prop up a "Hero of Waterdeep" who he controls?

Waterdeep was officially founded as it is today in 1032 DR. Ahghairon was born in 920 and the first Trollwar was in 940. He took part in the 2nd Trollwar, but it never says anything about him with the first that I've seen. So that item really could be anything you want, but it should be something Legendary or else Manshoon wouldn't go for it specifically. It should also be something that can help him gain power or control of Waterdeep (or a portion of it) in some way I'd think.

 

[Quartz]

I may keep it restricted to him only getting three parts of the rod, as getting all 7 (and then inevitably losing it to the PCs) may break the campaign,

If you don't want the PCs using the items, why not make them the Sword of Kas and the Hand and Eye of Vecna?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

If you don't want the PCs using the items, why not make them the Sword of Kas and the Hand and Eye of Vecna?

Some of my players are Critical Role fans so I'd prefer not to retread that path.

If you're going to the Shoon Imperium, I suggest the ring being one of the Qysari Rings that were made for the Shoon Emperors: Qysari Rings

Probably not the one actually made for Shoon III (ring of fire resistance + acts as a wand of fire) or maybe that one. The Annulus Qysarus Major and Annulus Qysarus Minor matched pair seem like something Manshoon would be after. They were the rings of Shoon IV.

I think Azuredge is in Dragon Heist for stats, but it was crafted by Ahghairon. Maybe Manshoon wants to get the version of it created before the Blackstaff enchanted it so the Blackstaff can scry on it and teleport the weapon away from its location, then use the axe to prop up a "Hero of Waterdeep" who he controls?

Waterdeep was officially founded as it is today in 1032 DR. Ahghairon was born in 920 and the first Trollwar was in 940. He took part in the 2nd Trollwar, but it never says anything about him with the first that I've seen. So that item really could be anything you want, but it should be something Legendary or else Manshoon wouldn't go for it specifically. It should also be something that can help him gain power or control of Waterdeep (or a portion of it) in some way I'd think.

I really like this idea. The two rings you mention are great, but actually wouldn't exist in the time of Shoon III (they were made after), but are great items for him to acquire in the two other time periods.

As you say, Shoon III's ring is not truly powerful enough to make it worth it to Manshoon. But the ring made for Akkabar Shoon the Elder does the 6th level spell Blade Barrier, which is a pretty awesome spell (and having an extra 6th level spell you don't have to concentrate on is pretty dope).

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Beware with chronomancers and time dragons, oards (antagonists from the module "Where chaos reigns), and PCs could end in a different time sphere, or an akasha realm (a demiplane created by the collective memory of the past, something like a theme park).

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Beware with chronomancers and time dragons, oards (antagonists from the module "Where chaos reigns), and PCs could end in a different time sphere, or an akasha realm (a demiplane created by the collective memory of the past, something like a theme park).

Not really a problem, as the DM I can choose for chronomancers and time dragons and oards to not impact the story (and I don't really want them to).