yep, now that they're loaded with $$, got some sweet new magic, and all levelled up, it's time to go visit Tasha's old digs! They thought they'd get to relax and enjoy the comforts of home? HAH!! Not for long. (for helping Randall Morn eject the Zhents from his realm many levels ago, they were given land grants. He also paid to build houses on them. Now that they have oodles of gold, improvements and projects are in the works!)
Too bad their patron (Elminster/ Lhaeo) has a job for them: Go explore Tasha's old lair, and bring him the Daod's Lanthorn for study and safekeeping. Oh, and by the way, the Harpers would be delighted if you'd do this before Vaasa can- in order to preserve the fragile peace in the region. We'd be doing the King of Damara a solid, and helping prevent another catastrophic war, perhaps. And who doesn't like friends in high places?
I located it in the monster infested mountains bordering both nations, and tied it in to the 3e lore. (we're playing in that time period-ish) What nobody knew, was that the Witch King/ Lich of Vaasa- who raised a huge army of monsters and invaded Damara- was actually one of Iggwilv's regents. SHE was behind it. When adventurers slew the lich, and broke the back of the invasion the backlash caused Iggwilv to be distracted and weakened at the very worst time- and Graz'zt was able to break free of her control. Thus began the titanic battle that broke her power, and caused her to vanish.
That was decades ago. Her stronghold was abandoned, and eventually lost to memory. It has been located again- likely by some band of adventurers. The survivors told hair raising tales of the horrors within, as well as rumors of the fabulous treasures she left behind. All true as it turns out. Many bands have attempted to explore it- of those who found it, all either died or left empty handed.
These rumors made their way to the ears of the leaders of several surrounding nations- all of whom seek to win this treasure for their own nation, or failing that, to deny it to the others-esp Vaasa.
I'm adding a few encounters to the wilderness part of the adventure. The OG had 20 on the random list, while The 5e conversion has 6 or8. When I read that one of them was a Gnoll Warband- I remembered the random generator in Volo's, and cackled with sadistic glee!! I ended up with a horde of gnolls, hyenas, 6 Manes, several each of the specialty Gnolls in Volos- and led by a Flind. Total CR around 46ish- making it a hard to deadly encounter for 8 8th level characters.
The second is an Orc raiding band. Again using the extra stat blocks in Volos. Not nearly as hard. 30 orcs and orogs, a War leader, Hand of Ilneval, and Eye of Gruumsh. Herein laid the difficulty.
My copy of the 2014 Monster Manual is from a crappy print run, with the weak binding- the NPC and misc creature sections are falling out. So, to keep it from getting worse- and because they beefed up a lot of things- I've been using the 5.5 one, and the Level Up Monstrous Menagerie. AAAAAnd there's no freaking orcs in either one. Cuz random lore change. Phooey!!!! Ihad to use the falling apart book, carefully. Just a grumble from an annoyed DM...
Anyway, I figure the Orcs are scouts/raiders from Vaasa- out looking for the same goal as us- or trouble (and loot!), whichever comes first. Perhaps I could have the party encounter them ambushing a border patrol from Damara- giving the party an opportunity to save the border patrol, and thereby win their trust. (and thus gain access to the info they have)
The plot hook from Infinite Staircase, with the Agent of the kingdom hanging out at the inn recruiting adventurers works. It's just that he is ALSO a Harper Agent- and looking for us specifically. Having been informed of our imminent arrival via a portal. (working for a Chosen of Mystra has it's perks, lol)
When heat and humidity make outside work an um, no ya gotta do something.
The 5e conversion looks pretty darn good as is. Just a bit of beefing up needed, perhaps, as we are 8, not the standard 4. Likewise, the loot will need adjusting for the same reason. Nothing big, just maxing HP, maybe adding another individual here or there, and sprinkling a few more items in. ( like from the stat blocks of the original module's random encounters) And Tasha took the demonomicon with her, thank you. Not dropping that on my game!
Too bad their patron (Elminster/ Lhaeo) has a job for them: Go explore Tasha's old lair, and bring him the Daod's Lanthorn for study and safekeeping. Oh, and by the way, the Harpers would be delighted if you'd do this before Vaasa can- in order to preserve the fragile peace in the region. We'd be doing the King of Damara a solid, and helping prevent another catastrophic war, perhaps. And who doesn't like friends in high places?
I located it in the monster infested mountains bordering both nations, and tied it in to the 3e lore. (we're playing in that time period-ish) What nobody knew, was that the Witch King/ Lich of Vaasa- who raised a huge army of monsters and invaded Damara- was actually one of Iggwilv's regents. SHE was behind it. When adventurers slew the lich, and broke the back of the invasion the backlash caused Iggwilv to be distracted and weakened at the very worst time- and Graz'zt was able to break free of her control. Thus began the titanic battle that broke her power, and caused her to vanish.
That was decades ago. Her stronghold was abandoned, and eventually lost to memory. It has been located again- likely by some band of adventurers. The survivors told hair raising tales of the horrors within, as well as rumors of the fabulous treasures she left behind. All true as it turns out. Many bands have attempted to explore it- of those who found it, all either died or left empty handed.
These rumors made their way to the ears of the leaders of several surrounding nations- all of whom seek to win this treasure for their own nation, or failing that, to deny it to the others-esp Vaasa.
I'm adding a few encounters to the wilderness part of the adventure. The OG had 20 on the random list, while The 5e conversion has 6 or8. When I read that one of them was a Gnoll Warband- I remembered the random generator in Volo's, and cackled with sadistic glee!! I ended up with a horde of gnolls, hyenas, 6 Manes, several each of the specialty Gnolls in Volos- and led by a Flind. Total CR around 46ish- making it a hard to deadly encounter for 8 8th level characters.
The second is an Orc raiding band. Again using the extra stat blocks in Volos. Not nearly as hard. 30 orcs and orogs, a War leader, Hand of Ilneval, and Eye of Gruumsh. Herein laid the difficulty.
My copy of the 2014 Monster Manual is from a crappy print run, with the weak binding- the NPC and misc creature sections are falling out. So, to keep it from getting worse- and because they beefed up a lot of things- I've been using the 5.5 one, and the Level Up Monstrous Menagerie. AAAAAnd there's no freaking orcs in either one. Cuz random lore change. Phooey!!!! Ihad to use the falling apart book, carefully. Just a grumble from an annoyed DM...
Anyway, I figure the Orcs are scouts/raiders from Vaasa- out looking for the same goal as us- or trouble (and loot!), whichever comes first. Perhaps I could have the party encounter them ambushing a border patrol from Damara- giving the party an opportunity to save the border patrol, and thereby win their trust. (and thus gain access to the info they have)
The plot hook from Infinite Staircase, with the Agent of the kingdom hanging out at the inn recruiting adventurers works. It's just that he is ALSO a Harper Agent- and looking for us specifically. Having been informed of our imminent arrival via a portal. (working for a Chosen of Mystra has it's perks, lol)
When heat and humidity make outside work an um, no ya gotta do something.
The 5e conversion looks pretty darn good as is. Just a bit of beefing up needed, perhaps, as we are 8, not the standard 4. Likewise, the loot will need adjusting for the same reason. Nothing big, just maxing HP, maybe adding another individual here or there, and sprinkling a few more items in. ( like from the stat blocks of the original module's random encounters) And Tasha took the demonomicon with her, thank you. Not dropping that on my game!
