[Forgotten Realms] Prepping a new campaign

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Personally, I'd go for a lich as the BBEG. They're great - make them high enough level to give the party a run for their money, without the frustration of getting repeated beatings from an 'uber' NPC... Even if they get lucky and kill it off, then it'll be back for more. Finding his phalectry is going to be the only sure fire way to put him down - and that is as easy as you want to make it - 9th circle of hell? Archmages tower in downtown Menzoboranzan? Etc.

Even better if he uses illusions to appear human... Someone will get a nasty suprise.


Anyway - few thoughts:
What does the BBEG want?
Is his/her first way of getting it going to be war?
Why can't they simply teleport/kill/steal their aim? - perhaps they physically can't go near it?

Some ideas:

The capital of Noble-Land has a demon prince buried under it. Wants to release him for whatever reason... Unfortunately he's imprisoned in a cathedral BBEG can't enter or affect with spells - needs to get that knocked down...

BBEG must be crowned the legitimate king of the noble kingdom as part of a prophecy. The court of nobles needs to elect him/her. If the current crop won't do it, then they need to be changed?

A little more shade of grey - perhaps BBEG was the legitimate heir to noble kingdom, but was cursed by an evil brother - the current kings great-grandfather? Maybe he needs to destroy the bloodline before he die? Trouble is, nothing he personally does can injure them. He needs an army...


A dragon could make for a great 2nd villan or 3rd force. Perhaps it's the ruler of the neighbouring lizardman tribe?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Some good ideas popped up here.

I see that non-standard foes would be a good thing, especially for the runts. A good template cna make even everdya monsters pretty amazing. It sounds like you have several resoruces to reference. Any chance of a list of some of the item's you'll be working with?

Perhaps constructs of the lower level, like those introduced in the Monster Manual II (ripped from Chainmail) might be good fooder? They're a lot like undead in that they don't need rest or food, and don't know fear or cowardess. They're also pretty stupid.

For me, the main bad guy is usually a wizard of a fighter. Clerics and rogues are great in their own way, but fighters have the hit points and staying power while wizards can do all sorts of crazy things. If you own the Monsternomicon and have never used the Iron Lich before, it's mere appearance (and the cool miniature you can get for it!), may make player's think twice about taking on the enemy.

 

[dreaded_beast]

A true and lawful heir has appeared to claim the throne of Corymr from the young regent. This heir has undeniable proof of his claim to the throne which all within Corymr must accept. Being a lawful nation, they can do nothing but proclaim this man as king.

However, this man is not all he appears. He is indeed the true heir to the throne of Corymr, however, his heart is black and corrupt. In reality, he was once a secret worshiper of Iyachtu Xvim, but with the rebirth of Bane, he discovered his true calling, as a means to bring about world domination in the name of Bane using the nation of Corymr.

Under his lawful rule, the nation of Corymr begins to mobilize for war against "enemy" nations, being all nations that do not swear to make Corymr their master. To bring this about, the new king of Corymr summons the legendary Purple Dragon, with knowledge provided to him by Bane. With the might of the Purple Dragon behind it, it's War Wizards, and Purple Dragon Knights, the nation of Corymr makes war accross the land.

The catch is that the general populace does not believe or know that their new king is evil and actually believes that what they are doing is for the "good" of the world. The PCs must stop an army of composed of good-aligned warriors in addition to finding a way to stop the legendary Purple Dragon of Corymr.

 

[Henry]

Here's another thought:

Scardale has a new ruler: The bastard daughter of Lashan, a woman named Scyulla Darkhope. She uses this to forge strong ties with Zhentil Keep, and is not-so-secretly under the control of Fzoul Chembryl, High Priest of Bane. Harrowdale is threatened, and over a short time, Harrowdale is invaded by some VERY Zhent-enforced Scardale troops. At the same time, the Shadovar have crippled Cormyr by playing on the extant political unrest caused by the death of Azoun IV. While some of the big players are involved in Cormyr and Anauroch, it's up to your PC's to put a stop to Fzoul and Scyulla's machinations. You have not ONE but TWO excellent villains - almost an Emperor and Vader combo, those two are.

Fzoul Chembryl is a Chosen of Bane, a powerful Cleric, and can raise an army of both Living and Dead to challenge the whole Dales. Without your PC's help, Zhentil Keep and Scardale, aided by the forces using Voonlar and Harrowdale as staging points, the Whole Dalelands are screwed.

 

[Derulbaskul]

My campaign is about to conclude in the Demonweb Pits where Lolth slumbers. It will be a variation of Monte Cook's excellent, The Harrowing, published in Dungeon 84.

Basically, a high level cleric of Kiaransalee (the same one from City of the Spider Queen) is going to use a ritual to steal power from the sleeping Lolth. She enjoys the support of Shar who has cut a deal with Kiaransalee that will see both gain additional followers from the drow at Lolth's expense.

Anyway, this is going to be the Epic-level conclusion to two separate campaigns, one that started in the Silver Marches where the principal threat was originally thought to be an orc horde, and the other in the Dalelands following a plot that borrowed elements from Assault on Myth Drannor and City of the Spider Queen. I'm planning on joining the two groups/nine players together for the finale over a weekend at my place.

The overall theme has become the War of the Weaves and this is the first major battle in a return to the original war that gripped Toril: Selune vs Shar. There's lots of room here for high level adventures.

 

[qstor]

How about setting it a few years back in the Realms timeline with a high level priest of Orcus controlled part of the Bloodstone lands area and the PC's need to conquor him and some of his high level creatures.

Mike

 

[thullgrim]

half-dragon lich working in conjunction with a dragon of ancient proportions. The lich is of course, the dragons offspring. Now, each has its own agenda, with the lich seeking not only power on Toril, but also wishes to be seen as a force on the planar level he has set himself up as the god of a race of created minions. He also knows of the horde of his dragon father and secretly covets it.

The dragon, after long milennia of life is really bored with his current existence. He has long dabbled in the creation strange creatures, something his offspring continues to do. Together they have created a race of creatures who serve them.-Enter the dragonkin-. The dragon knows of his sons secret desire to obtain his horde (specifically one or two items in it) and to simply bring some entertainment into his life he has these items stolen from his own hoard.

Somehome the adventurers come into possession of these items and the Lich finds out. He then sends his minions after them and the pcs learn of him and his plan to conquer a portion of Faerun with his Dragonkin army. He is working from a caste/fortress on a demi-plane in the Ethereal. He plans to bring the entire fortress into Toril and use it as a staging base for his plans of conquest.

Thullgrim

 

[Gregor]

Here's another thought:

Scardale has a new ruler: The bastard daughter of Lashan, a woman named Scyulla Darkhope. She uses this to forge strong ties with Zhentil Keep, and is not-so-secretly under the control of Fzoul Chembryl, High Priest of Bane. Harrowdale is threatened, and over a short time, Harrowdale is invaded by some VERY Zhent-enforced Scardale troops. At the same time, the Shadovar have crippled Cormyr by playing on the extant political unrest caused by the death of Azoun IV. While some of the big players are involved in Cormyr and Anauroch, it's up to your PC's to put a stop to Fzoul and Scyulla's machinations. You have not ONE but TWO excellent villains - almost an Emperor and Vader combo, those two are.

Fzoul Chembryl is a Chosen of Bane, a powerful Cleric, and can raise an army of both Living and Dead to challenge the whole Dales. Without your PC's help, Zhentil Keep and Scardale, aided by the forces using Voonlar and Harrowdale as staging points, the Whole Dalelands are screwed.

Toss in the Vhaerunian Drow invading from Cormanthor and you have yourself quite a number of enemies on your hands.

Cheers,