Predator-like creature / DM'ing a "hunt"

[GlassJaw]

I'm working on an adventure for an upcoming session. The characters are going to be recruited by some fey to help find out what has been killing unicorns in the area. I'm trying to create a Predator-like creature that is hunting the unicorns and taking their horns for some reason (the reason isn't that crucial but any ideas are welcome).

The problem is that the characters are only 4th level (5 characters) but they will have help (a pretty powerful pixie sorc, probably around level 9 or so, and maybe some pixie allies). I want the players to be involved in the hunt itself but they won't be expected to take on the actual creature head-on.

I want a creature that's definitely alien in appearance, perhaps planar. I also don't want him to have the means to return to his native home on his own; he must contact others when his quest is complete. I was thinking about using a Kython from the BoVD with some ranger levels but I'm not sure if it would be too powerful. I could use an adult Kython that is being tested before it can become the assassin-type one (forgot the name - impaler?). Any other ideas?

I'm also wondering if anyone has any suggestions on running a hunting/tracking type quest. I want the creature to make a few appearances before the final encounter (perhaps in his makeshift cave/lair, complete with the skulls of other creatures it's hunted, Predator style ) but how can I build the suspense without just saying "all of a sudden" to initiate the encounters. I was also thinking about using an apparition of a unicorn that is "leading" the players as well but won't actually come close enough for them to initiate contact.

 

[DragonLancer]

I'm working on an adventure for an upcoming session. The characters are going to be recruited by some fey to help find out what has been killing unicorns in the area. I'm trying to create a Predator-like creature that is hunting the unicorns and taking their horns for some reason (the reason isn't that crucial but any ideas are welcome).

Good luck. I've never managed to pull this sort of adventure off myself, but I've always wanted to throw such a session together.

The problem is that the characters are only 4th level (5 characters) but they will have help (a pretty powerful pixie sorc, probably around level 9 or so, and maybe some pixie allies). I want the players to be involved in the hunt itself but they won't be expected to take on the actual creature head-on.

Ah, heres something thats not so good. Don't leave the characters as spectators. Theres no fun in that. Make it a tough monster (whatever you go with) but let the party be the one's to bring it down. The campaign is their story after all.

I want a creature that's definitely alien in appearance, perhaps planar. I also don't want him to have the means to return to his native home on his own; he must contact others when his quest is complete. I was thinking about using a Kython from the BoVD with some ranger levels but I'm not sure if it would be too powerful. I could use an adult Kython that is being tested before it can become the assassin-type one (forgot the name - impaler?). Any other ideas?

If you have access to the Monsternomicon, theres a perfect creature in there that is exactly what you are after. Its called a Totem Hunter, though sadly its CR 11 (just checked). Perhaps you could use something similar that forces the party to think rather than rely on swords and spells. Traps and such that make the the hunter the hunted.

Good luck.

 

[HellHound]

For Predator-Like thrills, I used a Cerebrelith in one game.

Scary psionic critter, it is...

 

[GlassJaw]

For Predator-Like thrills, I used a Cerebrelith in one game.

Scary psionic critter, it is...

Scary indeed. I think it's even more powerful than those kythons. [NOTE TO SELF] Unleash this creature on hapless player's in the future.[/NOTE]

Don't leave the characters as spectators. Theres no fun in that. Make it a tough monster (whatever you go with) but let the party be the one's to bring it down. The campaign is their story after all.

Very good point, I totally agree. I'm trying to finding something that they can fight but something that they'll have to realize they can't defeat by themselves.

This group is in dire need of an ego check. They charge everything. They had enough clues in the past couple of sessions that there's some very deadly in the area. I'm not out to flat-out kill the group with something out of their CR but I'm not above seriously maiming someone for exercising stupid tactics.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Maps - this is can help out a lot but is some work. What you map is the area with important sites, watering holes, lairs, paths. Now, go 3D, map is ground level, also map tree level and tree top level. you look at this as a three level dungeon, locations are rooms on each floor.

Also build a time line, x happens here, y here. What this does is tell you when the players come onto an event.

Totem hunter is a good choice, you can beef it up if needed but Cerebrelith is good too.

 

[diaglo]

how alien?

doppleganger in the form of gnoll ranger works

 

[Kormydigar]

I'm working on an adventure for an upcoming session. The characters are going to be recruited by some fey to help find out what has been killing unicorns in the area. I'm trying to create a Predator-like creature that is hunting the unicorns and taking their horns for some reason (the reason isn't that crucial but any ideas are welcome).

The problem is that the characters are only 4th level (5 characters) but they will have help (a pretty powerful pixie sorc, probably around level 9 or so, and maybe some pixie allies). I want the players to be involved in the hunt itself but they won't be expected to take on the actual creature head-on.

I want a creature that's definitely alien in appearance, perhaps planar. I also don't want him to have the means to return to his native home on his own; he must contact others when his quest is complete. I was thinking about using a Kython from the BoVD with some ranger levels but I'm not sure if it would be too powerful. I could use an adult Kython that is being tested before it can become the assassin-type one (forgot the name - impaler?). Any other ideas?

I'm also wondering if anyone has any suggestions on running a hunting/tracking type quest. I want the creature to make a few appearances before the final encounter (perhaps in his makeshift cave/lair, complete with the skulls of other creatures it's hunted, Predator style ) but how can I build the suspense without just saying "all of a sudden" to initiate the encounters. I was also thinking about using an apparition of a unicorn that is "leading" the players as well but won't actually come close enough for them to initiate contact.

As far as the actual creature is concerned, there have already been some good sugestions. Whatever is chosen, the pc's should be able to overcome-not nessessarily through brute force though. In adventures like these I will involve NPC's more as sources of vital information than help in the actual encounter. One technique that may help convince a party to think before leaping is some not so subtle foreshadowing. For example if the pc's are supposed to hunt something extremely dangerous and should get vital information before they proceed, have them find a corpse, or better multiple corpses of something they know they could only defeat with extreme luck- if at all. In the party you described, finding a couple of hung up and skinned dire bears, predator style should make them realize they may need some assistance before the hunt. In this situation, if they speak to a grizzled old hunter who might remember an old legend about the creature they are hunting and what type of tactics were used to defeat it, they stand a much better chance in combat when using those tactics. If they scream and charge, they just die. Some fleeting encounters could include arriving on the scene as the creature is leaving its last kill, avoiding a trap set by the creature, and the classic approach of the creature at the pc's campsite during the night. ( for the last type, some evidence of the creatures presence found in the morning with no one hearing or seeing anything the night before works well)

 

[GlassJaw]

One technique that may help convince a party to think before leaping is some not so subtle foreshadowing. For example if the pc's are supposed to hunt something extremely dangerous and should get vital information before they proceed, have them find a corpse, or better multiple corpses of something they know they could only defeat with extreme luck- if at all

Already did this last session. They'll definitely need some more though I'm sure. They didn't take the hint about the scary looking tree on the hill...

In the party you described, finding a couple of hung up and skinned dire bears, predator style should make them realize they may need some assistance before the hunt

I like this idea a LOT. I might add some drow too. They think they've encoutered drow in the past but weren't sure. They were pretty freaked out about it too. Now if something dismembers some drow, they should think twice.

if they speak to a grizzled old hunter

Or perhaps a local centaur who has been keeping an eye out himself for this hunter. Perhaps there will be some mistaken identity (ie, the centaur thinks the party are the killers) at first.

Great ideas!

What you map is the area with important sites, watering holes, lairs, paths. Now, go 3D, map is ground level, also map tree level and tree top level. you look at this as a three level dungeon, locations are rooms on each floor.

Hmm, sounds interesting but perhaps a little too much for what I need. Most of the terrain is pretty typical forest. I would rather the encounters be timeline-based rather than site-based for this adventure.

 

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

Excellent suggestions there Kormy

A couple of notes... If I was a GM running this and planning it out, I'd use a 'Malagrauym' (sp?) from the Monsters of Faerun book as a base, and grant it a greater improved invisibility at will. it already has shapeshift at will, and more than sufficient capacity to waste a dire bear or unicorn with only a few class levels.

This would allow me to do several things that would get into the players minds in a spectacular fashion.

I'd have the pixies be 'completely' stumped and bring in the party to see if they can come up with additional clues (precursor to rigging for a non-combat heavy series of sessions) that might allow the pixies to deal with the threat.

They would find animals that had been eaten from the inside out - with no struggle. A grizzled old hunter would remember remembering something, and advise them to return the next day. The next day, he seems much more sprightly, gives them a story of a legendary beast that stalked these woods long ago, and even a lair location. Towards the end of the story, the real hunter appears in the doorway of his shack, coughing blood and pointing at the fake one, who promptly dissappears. Some vague clues from the dying mans mouth on what he remembers would go a long way. Later, the original pixie that was their liaison seems to be trying to kill them, only for them to find out it's the monstrosity that's attacking them.

I'd have the mala 'play' with them, leaving signs of it's playing with it's food. Things like rolling the dice to see if it could spirit one of the players out and take it's place for a little while, or paralyze one at night to break it's leg.

Eventually, the players take these details to the pixies, who come up with a poison that 'should' kill it... if the party can find it. Pixies innate magic allows the beast to sense them, and avoid them, thus they 'need' the party to shed all magic items and try to dust the creature with the powder supplied ('course, how do they 'know' that the pixie explaining this really is a pixie?).


But anyway - using the malagrym and modifying it as needed would be your best for a monster. Make the odds stack in it's favor enough that it just 'plays' with the PC's (since Mala's love torture anyway) and they have to think of some 'non-violent' mechanic to defeat it... Direct attacks on seeing it result in severe harm to the attacker and not much to it (regen?).

 

[Arnwyn]

Ahhh... this reminds me of the old Dungeon magazine adventure (Dungeon #49) "The Dark Place". The adventure was exactly that - a predator-like creature stalking the PCs in a ruined village. Loved this adventure.

The creature was a Gacholoth (Yugoloth) - a fast, assassin-type Yugoloth (planar creature). Very alien looking, indeed.

(And might be updated to 3.5 here: http://www.enworld.org/cc/converted/view_c.php?CreatureID=747
It is CR 9, though...)