Zardnaar
Legend
So thought I would run this adventure as our 1st 5.5 level 1 adventure.
It potentially has a few nasty encounters at low level. I'm generally careful with things like Wargs and Hobgoblins but potentially had a 6 person party. Had 5 turn up. Player 6 migraines. Session 0 took about 1.5 hours, just over 2 hours of of gametime after that.
I located the library in the Storm Horns north of Cormyr. Players started at Olegs Trading post. I located it west of Halfhap, SW of Tilverton Scar. 2 days travel. Olegs is from the Kingmaker AP for Pathfinder.
Added 4 factions plus NPCs to the post. Zhents, Harper's, Emerald Enclave and Purple Dragon Knights. Also added 4 puppet masters with representatives for 8 NPCs that matter.
PCs created.
Druid
Cleric
Paladin
Barbarian
Rogue
I made Myrna a Harper and Powell is a Zhent. Tied it back to NPCs at Olegs. A purple dragon knight NPC granted the charter plus quest. The library is 2 days travel away. While at Olegs they read the jobs board for 6 side quests, aquired a harterfrom Cormyr, discovered the names of two other adventuring bands. And spoke to a Ger "divner". Got a prophecy about white queen, dark queen illuminated by silver queen. They think its references to Shar, Selune, and Mystra. They also aquired a magical trinket that grants access to the shadow weave. Emera the Gur is a pawn for an "ancient king". Here mother also has the 3 cups game.
"Random" Encounters.
Day 1. Mysterious stranger. Amnesiac, erratic not stable. He was leaking spellfire and disappeared in a flash of light. 5 goblins were tracking him. PCs intimidated them to sod off. NPC is foreshadowing for later.
Day 2. Encountered a shadow storm rolling in from the north. Essentially a mobile wild magic area that lasted for 3 hours. They arrived at the end of the day and jumped straight into the dungeon late in the day.
The players cleared areas 1,2 and 8. Reached the library. Cleric is a future knowledge cleric of Jergal so loved the library.
1st room the worg managed to bite the barbarian. Granting advantage to next attack roll he was dropped by a goblin warrior archer. Extra 1d4 damage if the goblins have advantage.
Once the worg dropped surviving goblin fled using its bonus action disengage.
In area 8 crits and sneak attack dropped goblins while goblin boss was getting hit with toll the dead. Dice rolls weren't great. Surviving goblin fled when the boss dropped.
Recovered 2 named books and the enduring tome. This is the campaign to be a wizard sigh. All the players knew that as well via players guide.
So yeah they will retreat and probably long rest. Two encounters tanked them. Powell will take precautions. Plan is she will try and have the players work for Zhents.
Planning on adding an item and naming a Zhent soldier as a bandit (wanted poster at Olegs).
Rewards.
Clear level 1 hit level 2.
Finish adventure hit level 3.
Various side quests including one for the primo sanguis blade.
2 renown points for Harper's or Zhents depending on PC decisions.
1 Reknown point for any faction related side quests (find herbs for emerald Enclave Druid, apprehend a bandit PDK's)
So roughly even distribution of RP, exploration and combat.
Rough idea.
1-5 clear the Stonelands.
5th level Cormyr grants Barony, pays for a bastion (each).
Level 6, 7, 8, 9
PCs explore Netherese Ruins and remnants of Shade Empire. Blister, Anauria, Asram, Oreme. 1 location per level. Plus travel time, sidequests etc.
Level 10. Showdown at new Shade. Dead magic zones. Shaol of Thirst will double as shadowlands. Various Netherese ruins to explore first around the ancient hidden lake.
Potential events.
Time travel
4 ancient kings (surviving characters from age of Netheril)
3 Options for flying Netherese city (summoning, restoring, time travel)
Retrieving a Nether Scroll
Casting a level 10 spell (via item)
Restoring or creating a Mythallar (offending Mystra)
Second Sundering restoring a momentary god. (Really offending Mystra)
It potentially has a few nasty encounters at low level. I'm generally careful with things like Wargs and Hobgoblins but potentially had a 6 person party. Had 5 turn up. Player 6 migraines. Session 0 took about 1.5 hours, just over 2 hours of of gametime after that.
I located the library in the Storm Horns north of Cormyr. Players started at Olegs Trading post. I located it west of Halfhap, SW of Tilverton Scar. 2 days travel. Olegs is from the Kingmaker AP for Pathfinder.
Added 4 factions plus NPCs to the post. Zhents, Harper's, Emerald Enclave and Purple Dragon Knights. Also added 4 puppet masters with representatives for 8 NPCs that matter.
PCs created.
Druid
Cleric
Paladin
Barbarian
Rogue
I made Myrna a Harper and Powell is a Zhent. Tied it back to NPCs at Olegs. A purple dragon knight NPC granted the charter plus quest. The library is 2 days travel away. While at Olegs they read the jobs board for 6 side quests, aquired a harterfrom Cormyr, discovered the names of two other adventuring bands. And spoke to a Ger "divner". Got a prophecy about white queen, dark queen illuminated by silver queen. They think its references to Shar, Selune, and Mystra. They also aquired a magical trinket that grants access to the shadow weave. Emera the Gur is a pawn for an "ancient king". Here mother also has the 3 cups game.
"Random" Encounters.
Day 1. Mysterious stranger. Amnesiac, erratic not stable. He was leaking spellfire and disappeared in a flash of light. 5 goblins were tracking him. PCs intimidated them to sod off. NPC is foreshadowing for later.
Day 2. Encountered a shadow storm rolling in from the north. Essentially a mobile wild magic area that lasted for 3 hours. They arrived at the end of the day and jumped straight into the dungeon late in the day.
The players cleared areas 1,2 and 8. Reached the library. Cleric is a future knowledge cleric of Jergal so loved the library.
1st room the worg managed to bite the barbarian. Granting advantage to next attack roll he was dropped by a goblin warrior archer. Extra 1d4 damage if the goblins have advantage.
Once the worg dropped surviving goblin fled using its bonus action disengage.
In area 8 crits and sneak attack dropped goblins while goblin boss was getting hit with toll the dead. Dice rolls weren't great. Surviving goblin fled when the boss dropped.
Recovered 2 named books and the enduring tome. This is the campaign to be a wizard sigh. All the players knew that as well via players guide.
So yeah they will retreat and probably long rest. Two encounters tanked them. Powell will take precautions. Plan is she will try and have the players work for Zhents.
Planning on adding an item and naming a Zhent soldier as a bandit (wanted poster at Olegs).
Rewards.
Clear level 1 hit level 2.
Finish adventure hit level 3.
Various side quests including one for the primo sanguis blade.
2 renown points for Harper's or Zhents depending on PC decisions.
1 Reknown point for any faction related side quests (find herbs for emerald Enclave Druid, apprehend a bandit PDK's)
So roughly even distribution of RP, exploration and combat.
Rough idea.
1-5 clear the Stonelands.
5th level Cormyr grants Barony, pays for a bastion (each).
Level 6, 7, 8, 9
PCs explore Netherese Ruins and remnants of Shade Empire. Blister, Anauria, Asram, Oreme. 1 location per level. Plus travel time, sidequests etc.
Level 10. Showdown at new Shade. Dead magic zones. Shaol of Thirst will double as shadowlands. Various Netherese ruins to explore first around the ancient hidden lake.
Potential events.
Time travel
4 ancient kings (surviving characters from age of Netheril)
3 Options for flying Netherese city (summoning, restoring, time travel)
Retrieving a Nether Scroll
Casting a level 10 spell (via item)
Restoring or creating a Mythallar (offending Mystra)
Second Sundering restoring a momentary god. (Really offending Mystra)
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