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Looking for DM Idea related to Strahd & Amber Temple
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<blockquote data-quote="TheSwartz" data-source="post: 6998543" data-attributes="member: 6705091"><p>Sorry I didn't respond right away. Got busy with the holidays, etc.</p><p></p><p>These are AWESOME Ideas! Thank you VERY VERY much!</p><p></p><p>In typical fashion, I had one idea from above and was going to go straight with that, but as the PCs started doing their thing, I had to modify it a little, and so having more fodder was great to give my brain a spark to roll with it.</p><p></p><p>The group finally got back together this weekend. I'm using a few things from each of the ideas presented above. I especially love the idea that Strahd is looking for his "contract" with the Dark Powers. I changed up the info from the book, only in that it says that Strahd has come back to the Amber Temple many times. I mentioned that he has been there in a very vague way. But in my version, he has only tried to enter the temple. What he found, is that of all his domain in Barovia, the Amber Temple is the only place that is off limits to him. Both from a physical sense, but also from a scrying or any other magical sense. In this way, I imagine that the Dark Powers have "sealed away" this contract, and by extension, it's guardians are protected from Strahd. Of which, Exethanter is the primary guardian set in place by the Dark Powers. [with explanations as to why this is, etc. to be determined still...]</p><p></p><p>I have alluded during the campaign that there are two histories of Strahd, and his domain. In the common history that is told to them by the Barovians, I give them the timelines in the lore sections of the book, i.e. that Barovia has been under a "curse" for a few hundred years. However, I have had a couple other NPCs offer an alternate reality. For example, from Van Richten, or the hags. In their telling, Strahd is absolutely ancient. His origin is likely only known to the most powerful of mages within the D&D multiverse (I mean, really, whey else is Mordenkainen in Barovia??), and he is truly the "First Vampire". They speculate that his history is cyclical, which helps to merge the two versions of his timeline. (which is also alluded to in the Epilogue). In all other respects, his definite beginning (killing his brother, driving his love to suicide, etc) is accurate. It is only a matter of "when" did this really happen. 300 hundred years ago? 3,000 years? 30,000 years?</p><p></p><p>So, back to Exethanter. He is just as old as Strahd; actually, he'd have to be older. Thus, more reason for the Lich to have lost his mind by now. And, this demented lich guards something very important. Something which is ordained by the Dark Powers themselves, no less. The very artifact which curses Strahd. Binds him to Barovia. Gives him his power. Of course Strahd only tells the PC's that he wants this "book", not telling them what it is. Exethanter will have forgotten what it is. He's not even going to know it exists. Or who Strahd is. The PC's haven't met Exethanter yet, so my ideas may change and I have yet to imagine how the encounter is going to go. I'm having some mind blank right now on what to do with this guy. It should be a very important and memorable encounter.</p><p></p><p>However, they ran into the Arcanolith, Neferon, which was going to TPK them, so I had an idea in the moment which turned things around (from my recollection of how they are described in the Monster Manual, and also, I was like "why is this guy here anyway?"). He used his telepathy to communicate with the PCs, asking them to stand down and allow him to offer them an alternative course before he annihilated them. The Arcanolith had been able to enter Barovia, in search of lost Dark knowledge, rumored to be held in the Amber Temple. Only to find that once he got in, he could not get out. Furthermore, he found Exethanter back when he was more alert and more powerful, so he lost a struggle to take over the Amber Temple for his own. That was a long time ago, and he is unaware that Exethanter has become senile since then. In the stalemate, Neferon inhabited a part of the Temple away of Exethanter, who was OK with just leaving him alone, so long as Neferon stayed out of his way. During his time in Barovia, Neferon has pieced together information from the hags, Madame Eva, and previously unsuccessful adventurers (and maybe even Strahd himself) regarding the legends and connections between Strahd and the Amber Temple. Neferon (accurately) assumes that Exethanter holds a key, which could let Strahd free. And, he sees the party as a way to possible obtain that key. In doing so, he is willing to help them on their mission, because he (again, accurately) sees where this may lead (but of course does not tell the party. He doesn't "lie" about anything, but rather fully omits key information).</p><p></p><p>Of course, I may not be able to predict all outcomes, but these are the ones that I have Neferon anticipating:</p><p>1. If the party obtains the contract, and gives it to Strahd, this allows Strahd to break his curse, which also frees all inhabitants from Barovia (which would allow Neferon to escape).</p><p>2. If the party suspects that destroying this item is a good idea, he would encourage this, because this causes the events from #1 (just saves Strahd the hassle of doing so himself). And if they want to destroy it, then I think some ideas from above might give some inspirations on how to destroy an artifact.</p><p>3. If the PCs think to tamper with the contract. (I thought to describe the book as having writing on a few pages, but the last few pages are 'blank', to leave open a creative "hey.. what could I do with this?" moment), then there would be opportunities to, again, allow the release of inhabitants of Barovia.</p><p>4. If a member of the party comes up with some crazy idea where I see an opening, then maybe the artifact allows transference of the curse <em>from</em> Strahd <em>to</em> the PC. Again, maybe in the chaos of this transference, there might be an opportunity for someone like Neferon to escape.</p><p>5. There is the possibility that Exethanter kills all the PCs, and then Neferon hasn't lost anything. Maybe the fight weakens Exenthanter, allowing Neferon an opening to complete the mission himself.</p><p>6. There is a possibility that one (or all) of the PCs become new guardians of the Amber Temple somehow. Again, in the chaos of this transference, maybe Neferon could hope to find some sort of advantage.</p><p>7. Is there any downside to trying to steer the PCs to Exenthanter from Neferons thinking? Most likely not...</p><p>8. What is it that Neferon was seeking in the first place? Not sure if it matters at this point. He mostly just wants to escape by now. But there may still be some ideas there. I only said that he, too, was looking for "a book" that is guarded by Exethanter.</p><p></p><p>Again, thanks, I read these forums and am always impressed by how creative you guys are. Really makes me want to keep practicing the DM arts <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> Maybe some ideas here inspire someone else too!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheSwartz, post: 6998543, member: 6705091"] Sorry I didn't respond right away. Got busy with the holidays, etc. These are AWESOME Ideas! Thank you VERY VERY much! In typical fashion, I had one idea from above and was going to go straight with that, but as the PCs started doing their thing, I had to modify it a little, and so having more fodder was great to give my brain a spark to roll with it. The group finally got back together this weekend. I'm using a few things from each of the ideas presented above. I especially love the idea that Strahd is looking for his "contract" with the Dark Powers. I changed up the info from the book, only in that it says that Strahd has come back to the Amber Temple many times. I mentioned that he has been there in a very vague way. But in my version, he has only tried to enter the temple. What he found, is that of all his domain in Barovia, the Amber Temple is the only place that is off limits to him. Both from a physical sense, but also from a scrying or any other magical sense. In this way, I imagine that the Dark Powers have "sealed away" this contract, and by extension, it's guardians are protected from Strahd. Of which, Exethanter is the primary guardian set in place by the Dark Powers. [with explanations as to why this is, etc. to be determined still...] I have alluded during the campaign that there are two histories of Strahd, and his domain. In the common history that is told to them by the Barovians, I give them the timelines in the lore sections of the book, i.e. that Barovia has been under a "curse" for a few hundred years. However, I have had a couple other NPCs offer an alternate reality. For example, from Van Richten, or the hags. In their telling, Strahd is absolutely ancient. His origin is likely only known to the most powerful of mages within the D&D multiverse (I mean, really, whey else is Mordenkainen in Barovia??), and he is truly the "First Vampire". They speculate that his history is cyclical, which helps to merge the two versions of his timeline. (which is also alluded to in the Epilogue). In all other respects, his definite beginning (killing his brother, driving his love to suicide, etc) is accurate. It is only a matter of "when" did this really happen. 300 hundred years ago? 3,000 years? 30,000 years? So, back to Exethanter. He is just as old as Strahd; actually, he'd have to be older. Thus, more reason for the Lich to have lost his mind by now. And, this demented lich guards something very important. Something which is ordained by the Dark Powers themselves, no less. The very artifact which curses Strahd. Binds him to Barovia. Gives him his power. Of course Strahd only tells the PC's that he wants this "book", not telling them what it is. Exethanter will have forgotten what it is. He's not even going to know it exists. Or who Strahd is. The PC's haven't met Exethanter yet, so my ideas may change and I have yet to imagine how the encounter is going to go. I'm having some mind blank right now on what to do with this guy. It should be a very important and memorable encounter. However, they ran into the Arcanolith, Neferon, which was going to TPK them, so I had an idea in the moment which turned things around (from my recollection of how they are described in the Monster Manual, and also, I was like "why is this guy here anyway?"). He used his telepathy to communicate with the PCs, asking them to stand down and allow him to offer them an alternative course before he annihilated them. The Arcanolith had been able to enter Barovia, in search of lost Dark knowledge, rumored to be held in the Amber Temple. Only to find that once he got in, he could not get out. Furthermore, he found Exethanter back when he was more alert and more powerful, so he lost a struggle to take over the Amber Temple for his own. That was a long time ago, and he is unaware that Exethanter has become senile since then. In the stalemate, Neferon inhabited a part of the Temple away of Exethanter, who was OK with just leaving him alone, so long as Neferon stayed out of his way. During his time in Barovia, Neferon has pieced together information from the hags, Madame Eva, and previously unsuccessful adventurers (and maybe even Strahd himself) regarding the legends and connections between Strahd and the Amber Temple. Neferon (accurately) assumes that Exethanter holds a key, which could let Strahd free. And, he sees the party as a way to possible obtain that key. In doing so, he is willing to help them on their mission, because he (again, accurately) sees where this may lead (but of course does not tell the party. He doesn't "lie" about anything, but rather fully omits key information). Of course, I may not be able to predict all outcomes, but these are the ones that I have Neferon anticipating: 1. If the party obtains the contract, and gives it to Strahd, this allows Strahd to break his curse, which also frees all inhabitants from Barovia (which would allow Neferon to escape). 2. If the party suspects that destroying this item is a good idea, he would encourage this, because this causes the events from #1 (just saves Strahd the hassle of doing so himself). And if they want to destroy it, then I think some ideas from above might give some inspirations on how to destroy an artifact. 3. If the PCs think to tamper with the contract. (I thought to describe the book as having writing on a few pages, but the last few pages are 'blank', to leave open a creative "hey.. what could I do with this?" moment), then there would be opportunities to, again, allow the release of inhabitants of Barovia. 4. If a member of the party comes up with some crazy idea where I see an opening, then maybe the artifact allows transference of the curse [I]from[/I] Strahd [I]to[/I] the PC. Again, maybe in the chaos of this transference, there might be an opportunity for someone like Neferon to escape. 5. There is the possibility that Exethanter kills all the PCs, and then Neferon hasn't lost anything. Maybe the fight weakens Exenthanter, allowing Neferon an opening to complete the mission himself. 6. There is a possibility that one (or all) of the PCs become new guardians of the Amber Temple somehow. Again, in the chaos of this transference, maybe Neferon could hope to find some sort of advantage. 7. Is there any downside to trying to steer the PCs to Exenthanter from Neferons thinking? Most likely not... 8. What is it that Neferon was seeking in the first place? Not sure if it matters at this point. He mostly just wants to escape by now. But there may still be some ideas there. I only said that he, too, was looking for "a book" that is guarded by Exethanter. Again, thanks, I read these forums and am always impressed by how creative you guys are. Really makes me want to keep practicing the DM arts ;) Maybe some ideas here inspire someone else too! [/QUOTE]
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