[hivemind], what does it mean?

[simmo]

But I wont let them reach the ruins just today. this will be the travelling episode But springing a direkobold might be a good plan

If you don't want them to reach the ruins today, then it's a perfect opportunity to do some 'build up' work before they get the to (direkobold -filled) ruins.

Here are a couple of ideas:
- on the way to the ruins they come across some travellers/merchants in trouble.
- before they can help, another adventuring grup turns up and saves the day
- or perhaps they work together to save the travellers
- the other adventuring group are very boastful and confident of their abilities (they are lower level than the PCs - but not a great deal)
- they are also going to the ruins, but don't want to share the treasure. They prefer a friendly rivalry to an alliance
- along the way there are several natural obstacles, such as ravines and sheer cliffs. The other adventuring group has done their homework and knows the local area, so they manage to get ahead
- just when the PCs think that they are going to be beaten to the ruins, they come across a recent battle scene
- the other adventuring party has been wiped out almost to the last man by unknown attackers, one of them got away without being involved in the fight
- the clues point to the fact that the kobolds knew some adventurers were on the way. The surviving adventurer acts in a strange manner from time to time
- can the PCs trust the survivor? Is he working as a spy for the dire kobolds? Is he a polymorphed dire-kobold? What tricks have the kobolds got up their sleeves that enabled them to quickly and efficiently wipe out most of an adventuring group in a matter of minutes?
- tune in next week for the final showdown at The Ruins of Despair.....

 

[Maldur]

Simmo: thanks good plans !!

Ill have to ponder on this

M: sorry if it wasn't clear but this session will just be travelling to the ruins.

 

[Morbidity]

Oooh would post ideas now, but would struggle to better Simmo's ideas so will remain very quiet instead.

 

[Maldur]

please post them!!

the more the merrier!!

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

I had been wondering the same thing but was too much of a wuss to ask...

How's everyone doing? I am starting yet another boring day at work...

bah

S

 

[Maldur]

I had been wondering the same thing but was too much of a wuss to ask...

How's everyone doing? I am starting yet another boring day at work...

bah

S

Welcome, I about to leave (only an hour or so to go )

But its about the time people will start to show up!

 

[simmo]

Oooh would post ideas now, but would struggle to better Simmo's ideas so will remain very quiet instead.

Please post your ideas! The more suggestions - the more choices that Maldur has to work with.

How about something of a 'side trek' adventure with a difference?

- the PCs have to travel through some lands inhabited by gnomes on the way to the ruins
- the gnomes and kobolds have been enemies for a long time and so are pleased that adventurers go there from time to time to 'clear out' the kobolds
- however, recent adventuring groups have travelled to the ruins and not come back
- this has got the gnomish council very worried and they have come up with a PLAN
- all adventurers who want to approach the ruins must pass a series of TESTs
- they have built some full scale dungeons, stocked with summoned monsters and some minor magical items and treasure
- if the PCs can pass all of the tests and make it through the dungeon without being knocked out or caught in a (non-lehtal) trap, then they are given a CERTIFICATE of ADVENTURING and are allowed to pass through gnomish lands
- if they refuse the challenges then they are plagued with illusions and practical jokes until they agree to turn back

So where is the 'evil GM' in this idea you ask?

Well, the gnomes build the 'full scale dungeon' to gnomish dimensions... which means that the PCs have to agree to be turned in to gnomes (temporarily) for the duration of the TESTs (read: dungeon crawl).

If any of the players have accounts on ENWorld, perhaps their avatars could also be (temporarily) replaced with gnomes...... Mwah ha ha ha hah! (sorry, couldn't resist evil GM laugh).

 

[simmo]

If the PCs agree to be transformed in to gnomes and go for the TESTs, then they should get bonus XP for certain well known quotes:

"I am Gulstaff Sorcerer of Light"

"Where's the Mountain Dew?"

"Are there any girls there? If there are any girls there, then I want to get some."

"No I have grey eyes"

"Roll to see if I'm gettig drunk"

 

[Morbidity]

Oooooh look fresh blood. Welcome to the Hive Djeta. I too am having another boring day at work so you’re in excellent company.

Maldur … ideas: Presume you’re wanting travel to be about 1 gaming session and then get to ruins session thereafter

If the ruins are in a nice remote area. So local people could be bigoted, suspicious … inclined to set dogs on them. Previous adventuring party through the area got in a big fight with someone and as a consequence many innocents lost their homes, crops etc … simply b/c the fight happened to occur here. Perhaps, the kobold has been in the area for some time, put some money into local economies, brainwashed some key people? – generally not done anything nasty to the people in the immediate vicinity which is all that the locals really care about. Basically give the party a nasty trip there with people viewing them as being the evil ones. Could have some good encounters with local guards who have been bought off … that sort of thing. Nice and tricky b/c adventurers never quite sure if the people they are fighting have been bought off (safely can classify as bad and can therefore kill), brainwashed (therefore innocent) or just misinformed sheep following leader (vaguely innocent).

Or … have them travel through some nice fens. Swamp creatures of various descriptions are always exciting, not to mention that travelling in a small boat through fens always makes mounts an interesting issue if any of your characters have them. Just picture adventuring party setting up camp for the night near a shambling mound – a monster I’ve recently discovered and feel compelled to introduce into a wider field of use. Opportunity to have crazy woman in middle of fens (always fun to roleplay with cool witchy voice) who may or may not aid the characters by giving them some important titbit of info about Mr Kobold.

Still think Simmo’s original idea is better though.

 

[Morbidity]

"Roll to see if I'm gettig drunk"

Was the lack of an 'n' intentional for drunken gnomish? Does being drunk make any difference? Is a drunk gnome more or less sane? These questions brought to you by someone who thinks chaotic neutral gnomes rock – drive the rest of the party insane, yes, but still rock!