Help with High Level Game

[GrayIguana]

I could use some advice on a high level adventure I am working on. Typically my campaigns end before 18th level, but the story line for this campaign has made more sense, so I find myself continuing.

A Brief Campaign Background: So far, one of the PCs has become a king over 5 large city-states. The other PCs have become advisors and ambassadors of sorts, and they just finished liberating much of the kingdom. However, one very powerful enemy still exists.

The Main Villain: Gulussa, Mother of Titans
The main villain is a weakened version of a Hagunemnon (from the Epic Handbook), but I'm using only the basic stats. IMC the beast is an immortal almost demi-god, a mother of titanic monstrosities. She can be killed so she is technically not a god. I've also lowered her SR down to 35, and her regeneration to 40. I'm also debating on removing her Destabalization attack to lower her CR down to 27ish.

The Events:
1. The PCs will find out that a massive army of monstrosities is marching toward their kingdom. It won't take them long to figure out that Gulussa is behind it as they are familiar with her. The army will split in two and attack two different city-states. The PCs will basically combat the generals, elite guards, and titans that accompany the armies.
3. An immortal assassin (a Gloom) born of Gulussa will also attempt to kill the king.
2. The PCs also know where Gulussa may be, and they could decide to confront her before confronting the titan armies.

The PCs
Since I really thougth this game would have wound up, I have introduced rather powerful magic items to the PCs, so they are much more powerful than my typical campaigns. All have +6 weapons, so overcoming DR on these creatures will not be an issue. Here's a quick summary of the characters.
Ranger 19, AC = 27, Attacks = +35,+30,+25,+20,+35 (Mighty +4 Longbow +5)
Half-Celestial Fighter 18, AC = 28, Attacks = +33,+28,+23,+18 (Keen Greatsword +6)
Barbarian 11, Giant 3, Giant Paragon 5, AC = 26, Attacks = +33, +28, +23, +18 (Giant Glaive +6)
Wizard 19

The Encounters
The Assassin
Gloom = CR 25

Titan Army #1
Naga Sorceror Commander = Wizard 20
Fiendish Centaur Elite Guard = (10) CR21
Titan of Gulussa (Sirrush) = CR 24
Ruin Swarm (unleashed upon enemy fortifications) = CR 23

Titan Army #2
Ha Naga Commander = CR 22
Titans of Gulussa (4 Behemoth Apes, just described differently) = CR 19 each
Fiendish Centaur Champion = CR 20

Gates of Ashilis (the city of the enemy)
Titan of Gulussa (Tayella) = CR 24
Fiendish Harpy Champion = CR 20
This encounter can really be avoided by the party if they are thinking clearly

The Temple of Gulussa
Gulussa (slightly modified Hagunemnon as above) = CR27?
Fiendish Satyr Attendant Priest = CR 20

The Dragon Strike Force (The PCs have also made enemies with a local draconic kingdom, this pair is waiting for a chance to strike during one of the army battles)
Half Dragon Wizard = CR 19
Great Wyrm Black Dragon = CR 22

So please give me your thoughts. I've thrown what I thought were tough encounters at this group before and they've made them seem easy. I'm not such a fan of high level play, but thought I'd give it a try. I am trying to summarize, but I hope I've given enough information.

 

[Quartz]

Those characters may be offensively powerful but what about defense? With no Cleric they're going to be short on healing, too. That Gloom assassin looks like a walking TPK. If you want to challenge them right now, I'd suggest larger numbers of less powerful creatures. Or, as they're going to kill her, perhaps a mini-quest to seek the weapons fated to slay her? Something enough to make them low-Epic characters (1-2 Epic feats apiece).

With regard to the BBEG, have you considered using a Pseudonatural Titan instead?

 

[GrayIguana]

Thank you, Quartz

* I agree about the Gloom. In some ways that seems tougher than CR25 when compared to other monsters in that range. I may have to use something else there.
* The PCs do have access to healing through some NPCs, and magic items. Also I apologize as I failed to explain that the wizard does a great job of buffing/protecting the party.
* Also I should have clarified that when I say "titans" I'm referring to a more greek mythology breed of gigantic or twisted unique monsters. Not the really big giant from MM.
* I'll have to take a look at the Pseudo template, that may help me.
* I've thought of the "Quest for Weapons" route too, which would give them more power for these fights. I waffle on the idea of introducing even more powerful items in to my world, but how does this sound?

IMC history there was a battle between gods, gianst, and dragons near the beginning of the world's creation. One evil tyranical god nearly took control, but was defeated by a coalition of gods, dragons, and giants. Perhaps somewhere, the epic weapons of the defeated god and his followers are either hidden in a vault on another plane, or displayed as the prized treasures of the world's most powerful dragon. If the PCs can steal them, they can use them. At least until the gods demand that they be put back.

 

[calebw]

i like the sound of this campaign alot. as for what to do next, a quest for weapons sounds pretty neat. players love loot, and especially powerful loot.
maybe you could also have them destroy an artifact of great power to severly weaken the big queen thing. for instance, you could have them find an indestructible vase, and inside teh vase is a "insert something". the PCs have to figure out how to open teh vase/chest and destroy the thing inside within 100 ft of teh queen to put her in a weakened state. lore checks to figure this out too. just some ideas.

 

[GrayIguana]

The Results

Well, we played the game, and I thought I'd at least post how things went. I did add an opportunity for the PCs to gain a level and gain some epic items and feats before facing the Gulussa or her army. Events went quite a bit different than planned.

The PCs were presented with information about magic items of that were once owned by a god. This god had led an army of immortals and demons to destroy the world. However, he was destroyed and his weapons and armor were now the prized possessions of the most powerful dragon IMC. She (the dragon) is not only the mother of dragons, but the ruler of a very powerful draconic empire. To date, the PCs had heard of her, but never really crossed the world to investigate.

With some investigation, the PCs found that the dragon held 4 items. Two were offensive items, and two were protective items. The PCs also figured that they had two routes to obtain the items. They could either steal them, or they could ask to borrow them. Their investigations revealed that gods feared to confront this dragon directly.

So the two PCs with the most charisma and diplomacy skills traveled (magically) to the realm of the Dragon Queen. Unfortunately, neither PC was really built for negotiation. They would have been better bringing along a NPC (they do rule a kingdom). In addition, when it became obvious that she was intrigued by the situation, and that she would be willing to "rent" the items, the PCs then were a bit stingy with the gps. At the end, the dragon would part with 2 itesm only, and payment had to be made up front.

Now here I really thought that the PCs would take the defensive items, as all the PCs have significant offensive powers. Well, they took the offensive items.

Fast forward. . . . The PCs know that a massive army is marching on their cities. They have about a week's time left. So they, teleport to the lair of the demi-god Gulussa and do battle. Amazingly, the battle lasts 10+ rounds, but in the end the PCs had to flee.

Unfortunately, I decided the Gulussa had enough. I estimated how many rounds she would take to prep and attack. Then she teleported to the PCs home city and started destroying everything in sight. Now the PCs were surprised. They had enough time to heal, but the wizard was without most of his spells. Without his support, they knew they didn't have a chance. So, they left for a place where they could rest in peace while their city was demolished.

The next day, Gulussa was still reducing the city to rubble. Yet now, the PCs were ready. They attacked an immediately rolls went against them. In three rounds, two of the four PCs were dead. Then the king fell, and the game ended with the wizard plane shifting away with the remains of the king.

With that kind of ending, I thought they may want to quit. I was wrong. They want to find a patron who may wish the two dead PCs back and go for Gulussa one more time.

For myself, I'm a bit torn. On one hand, it would be nice to start over. And an empire in turmoil is a great place for new heroes to rise to the challenge. However, it will be a few months before we can get together again. Maybe, I'll let them have one more go at her. . . along with any preparations she has made.

 

[Sigurd]

Maybe your queen dragon has been watching them and is amused. She shouldn't give them anything but she may have a way for them to earn it.

She might be involved if the dead have her magic items.

 

[GrayIguana]

If the players (and I) want to continue, the dragon queen is their best hope for help. First, she would be very amused. Second, she is not a fan of the gods and seeing one destroyed with her help would give her entertainment she has not had for decades. Finally, all the fighting between epic combatants has attracted the attention of a lot of gods. In my mind at least, even the PCs own gods are now even more reluctant to act directly.

In fact, I had an ending in mind if the PC who is the king dies. If he were to fall, his god appears (materializes). Enraged and grief stricken at the loss of his champion (and the enormous set-back for the whole pantheon in power) the deity attacks Gulussa. He kills Gulussa but has made a fatal error. Other gods materialize, and a brief combat ensues, but in the end, the god is dead.

Now I'm not sure if that god's death would be permanent, but it would have some interesting effects on my game world. First, the entire empire would fracture. A couple city-states may even fall to outside forces (prime material armies, not extra-planar). The setting would be ripe for a new set of heroes to arise. They have invaders to contend with along with competition from now enemy city-states. They may even begin to quest for a way to bring the dead god's spirit back to unify the empire again.

But that is many months away. First I have to see when we can play this campaign again, and that will most likely be sometime this spring. The "king" PC can be a bit hard to get to the table due to his work. We've been running this campaign for some years now, so we just play it when we can.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Nice write-up! Thanks for sharing.

I'm looking forward to finding out what happens.