A Far(gotten) Realm(s) Campaign

[Sound of Azure]

I'm in preparation for DMing a Forgotten Realms campaign. The PCs will be adventuring in the city of Murann (in Amn), which was "liberated" from the Ogre lords by a Far Realm tainted Helmite army.

Strange things have been happening, and many of the monstrous and humanoid citizenry have since disappeared into underground prisons. It's intended for the PCs* to investigate these disappearances, all the while evading the watchful eyes of the tainted Helmites. The Helmites themselves are delving beneath Murann to reach a Far Realm cyst deep beneath the city, into the Underdark.

*A Dwarf Fighter, A Lizardfolk Druid, and a Rashemi Barbarian. There'll be a 4th PC, likely a human wizard.

I wanted to get a bit of help from my fellow ENworlders with particular flavour aspects I've been having trouble with, namely:

1->Various subtle indicators of the "wrongness" of the Helmites and their servants.

2->Sensations and signs that tainted buildings/areas could have, to indicated closeness to the cyst, and the corrupted Helmite shrines.

3-> Effects on the PCs as they near the Cyst. I'm really unsure about sanity rolls and stuff like that. Perhaps using the Taint rules? (the existing PCs are fairly robust characters, all moderate-high Con with "Good" Fort saves)

4->Finally, theres a drow city on top of the cyst (I'm culling the maps from City of the Spider Queen). It's full of pseudonatural drow, driders, and other monstrosities. Any ideas on how to make these drow disturbing and unique looking?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NarlethDrider]

I'm in preparation for DMing a Forgotten Realms campaign. The PCs will be adventuring in the city of Murann (in Amn), which was "liberated" from the Ogre lords by a Far Realm tainted Helmite army.

Strange things have been happening, and many of the monstrous and humanoid citizenry have since disappeared into underground prisons. It's intended for the PCs* to investigate these disappearances, all the while evading the watchful eyes of the tainted Helmites. The Helmites themselves are delving beneath Murann to reach a Far Realm cyst deep beneath the city, into the Underdark.

*A Dwarf Fighter, A Lizardfolk Druid, and a Rashemi Barbarian. There'll be a 4th PC, likely a human wizard.

I wanted to get a bit of help from my fellow ENworlders with particular flavour aspects I've been having trouble with, namely:

1->Various subtle indicators of the "wrongness" of the Helmites and their servants.

2->Sensations and signs that tainted buildings/areas could have, to indicated closeness to the cyst, and the corrupted Helmite shrines.

3-> Effects on the PCs as they near the Cyst. I'm really unsure about sanity rolls and stuff like that. Perhaps using the Taint rules? (the existing PCs are fairly robust characters, all moderate-high Con with "Good" Fort saves)

4->Finally, theres a drow city on top of the cyst (I'm culling the maps from City of the Spider Queen). It's full of pseudonatural drow, driders, and other monstrosities. Any ideas on how to make these drow disturbing and unique looking?

Thanks in advance!

Sounds very intresting, email me if u want some artworks for the game
NarlethDrider(at)aol(dot)com

 

[frankthedm]

1->Various subtle indicators of the "wrongness" of the Helmites and their servants.

The eye symbols of Helm on some of their number are really eyes.

Knowledge nature checks to notice the ‘feathers’ of their plumes are not from any form of life native to this world. Upon inspection of the helmets, the purple plumes seem to be growing out of the helmets.

2->Sensations and signs that tainted buildings/areas could have, to indicated closeness to the cyst, and the corrupted Helmite shrines.

Variable gravity can turn combat on it's head.

Some caverns lead to pocket dimensions or to far off underdark regions.

4->Finally, theres a drow city on top of the cyst (I'm culling the maps from City of the Spider Queen). It's full of pseudonatural drow, driders, and other monstrosities. Any ideas on how to make these drow disturbing and unique looking?

Mix and match the pseudonatural template with the Space Creature and Alien creature templates from D20 Modern. http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/msrd/FutureXenobiology.rtf

 

[questing gm]

Great to see that you are running a Realms campaign