Lord Zardoz
Explorer
Adventures - Red Hand Of Doom, need suggestions..
Just finished running my game for the day. Due to "Human Factors", it had been a while since I was last able to run. I had fun, but I could use some suggestions on something.
Anyway, some spoilers from Red Hand of Doom may follow.
Basically, todays ended up revolving around factors independent of the adventure plot, tying back to plot points specific to my world. I am wondering how to apply the fallout from todays events to the rest of the adventure.
Aside from the events adventure, there has been a civil war going on. Here is the relevant background info. Some time previously, the players had run afoul of the recently deposed ruler, Prince Oden. The players got involved with him when they were fleeing bounty hunters hired by a the De la Roche family (they had killed a member of the De la Roche family, and learned of a sizable bounty on them). As they were trying to get out of a city and evade guardsmen looking to collect on the bounty, they stumbled into the Jail Break of a half Ogre Barbarian named Vraat. They escaped to Vraat, and later realized he served the deposed evil prince. They found themselves in Prince Odens camp, and were encouragned to pledge fealty to him, and to prove their loyalty by executing some prisoners sword to Duke Alric (the new ruler). They pledged allegiance, and arranged for the prisoners to escape. The players then went on a "Scouting mission" for him, at the players own suggestion. They then went and "Scouted" themselves right the hell away from there, and went on pursuing their own plans.
Now, the Red Hand Hobgoblins have been in contact with Prince Oden. However, Prince Oden is not aware he is dealing with Hobgoblins, due to dealing with unknown intermediaries. The Intermediaries had promised Prince Oden re-enforcements. The plan was for Oden's guerilla forces to ambush and kill any forces leaving Drellins Ferry. Once enough forces had been drawn off by the recent hobgoblin raids, Oden would invade and retake Drellins Ferry. The Red Hand agents promised re-enforcements would arrive and help Prince Oden hold Drellins Ferry. Of course, these re-enforcements would be hobgoblins, not the promised mercenaries. And they would not so much re-enforce Prince Oden as they would kill his men and take the town from them (much easier to do if Drellins Ferry had its forces further depleted by Oden's attack.
The players had just returned to Drellins Ferry from Vraath keep to get Wyrmlord Koth's notes translated, and get some re-enforcements for the attack on the bridge. That evening, an agent of Prince Oden's recognized them, and reported back to Vraat. Vraat then arranged for a mage to use the Message Cantrip to demand that the players meet him and explain why they did not return from their scouting mission. If they refused, they would pay for it. They were to meet with him at a farm outside of town. Since it was on the way, they agreed, being certain that they could overpower him.
Now, the players ended up getting into a fight. On their side, the had the following:
Human Ftr 2 / Rngr 4
Human Sorcerer 6
Human Cleric 6
Gnome Rogue 6
Captain Sorianna (Ftr 5)
10 Human Guardsmen (Cr 1/2)
Opposing them were:
Vraat: Level 6 Half Ogre Barbarian (CR 7)
Sir Osric: Level 7 Human Knight
Human Wizard Lvl 4 x2
2 Human warriors (2 HD)
This was actually a pretty fun fight. Vraat and Osric knew the players, and knew who to target. Once the fight started, Osric and Vraat took cover to drink buff potions. Vraat then did his thing, while Osric used the Test of Mettle to force everyone higher than 5 HD to focus on him, while he used Ride By Attack lance charges.
Highlights of the fight:
- One of the sorcerers had a very good hiding place, and used Spectral Hand to nail the cleric with 2 Shocking Grasps and a Darkness Spell.
- Same Sorcerer using Spectral Hand and Touch of Dispel to cancel out a Summon Monster and other key spells.
- Player Sorcerer summoning a Celestial Bison, then having Vraat drop it with +6 Power attack hits in 1 round.
- Vraat going to work with Cleave and masacaring the foot soldiers.
- All of the players + Sorianna focusing on Osric
- Osric surviving at -7 HP and fighting back for rounds using Die Hard + Combat Expertise to acheive AC 26
- Osric dropping 2 of the players with Ride By Lance Charges
- Vraat sundering the Ftr/Rngers bow
- The Ranger blowing an improved Disarm with his Dire Flail and losing it
- The Ranger later succeding in Disarming Vraat
- Vraat sundering the Dire Flail, leaving the Ranger dual weilding 2 Flails
Anyway, the players finally pulled out the win, and managed to get find out from the lone enemy survivor (the Spectral Touch mage) letting the players know that the Prince was unaware that he was working with the Hobgoblins. They then arranged for a messenger to inform the Prince of what was really happening (with some proof from Wyrmlord Koths notes). Also, because Prince Oden is a vengeful sort, he would normally seek revenge, but the message tells Oden that the players were killed (with the mage survivor telling Oden that he in turn was captured).
And here (finally) comes the part where I wanted suggestions. Prince Oden is evil, but would not choose to work with the Hobgoblins to have Drellins Ferry Massacred. The prince also see's himself as the rightful ruler of the Rhormarch, and has a reasonably effective Gurella force.
Now, since the players have brought Oden in against the goblins, how much time should that buy them?
And if any other agents of Prince Oden recognize the players, and word gets back to Oden, what should Oden do about it?
END COMMUNICATION
Just finished running my game for the day. Due to "Human Factors", it had been a while since I was last able to run. I had fun, but I could use some suggestions on something.
Anyway, some spoilers from Red Hand of Doom may follow.
Basically, todays ended up revolving around factors independent of the adventure plot, tying back to plot points specific to my world. I am wondering how to apply the fallout from todays events to the rest of the adventure.
Aside from the events adventure, there has been a civil war going on. Here is the relevant background info. Some time previously, the players had run afoul of the recently deposed ruler, Prince Oden. The players got involved with him when they were fleeing bounty hunters hired by a the De la Roche family (they had killed a member of the De la Roche family, and learned of a sizable bounty on them). As they were trying to get out of a city and evade guardsmen looking to collect on the bounty, they stumbled into the Jail Break of a half Ogre Barbarian named Vraat. They escaped to Vraat, and later realized he served the deposed evil prince. They found themselves in Prince Odens camp, and were encouragned to pledge fealty to him, and to prove their loyalty by executing some prisoners sword to Duke Alric (the new ruler). They pledged allegiance, and arranged for the prisoners to escape. The players then went on a "Scouting mission" for him, at the players own suggestion. They then went and "Scouted" themselves right the hell away from there, and went on pursuing their own plans.
Now, the Red Hand Hobgoblins have been in contact with Prince Oden. However, Prince Oden is not aware he is dealing with Hobgoblins, due to dealing with unknown intermediaries. The Intermediaries had promised Prince Oden re-enforcements. The plan was for Oden's guerilla forces to ambush and kill any forces leaving Drellins Ferry. Once enough forces had been drawn off by the recent hobgoblin raids, Oden would invade and retake Drellins Ferry. The Red Hand agents promised re-enforcements would arrive and help Prince Oden hold Drellins Ferry. Of course, these re-enforcements would be hobgoblins, not the promised mercenaries. And they would not so much re-enforce Prince Oden as they would kill his men and take the town from them (much easier to do if Drellins Ferry had its forces further depleted by Oden's attack.
The players had just returned to Drellins Ferry from Vraath keep to get Wyrmlord Koth's notes translated, and get some re-enforcements for the attack on the bridge. That evening, an agent of Prince Oden's recognized them, and reported back to Vraat. Vraat then arranged for a mage to use the Message Cantrip to demand that the players meet him and explain why they did not return from their scouting mission. If they refused, they would pay for it. They were to meet with him at a farm outside of town. Since it was on the way, they agreed, being certain that they could overpower him.
Now, the players ended up getting into a fight. On their side, the had the following:
Human Ftr 2 / Rngr 4
Human Sorcerer 6
Human Cleric 6
Gnome Rogue 6
Captain Sorianna (Ftr 5)
10 Human Guardsmen (Cr 1/2)
Opposing them were:
Vraat: Level 6 Half Ogre Barbarian (CR 7)
Sir Osric: Level 7 Human Knight
Human Wizard Lvl 4 x2
2 Human warriors (2 HD)
This was actually a pretty fun fight. Vraat and Osric knew the players, and knew who to target. Once the fight started, Osric and Vraat took cover to drink buff potions. Vraat then did his thing, while Osric used the Test of Mettle to force everyone higher than 5 HD to focus on him, while he used Ride By Attack lance charges.
Highlights of the fight:
- One of the sorcerers had a very good hiding place, and used Spectral Hand to nail the cleric with 2 Shocking Grasps and a Darkness Spell.
- Same Sorcerer using Spectral Hand and Touch of Dispel to cancel out a Summon Monster and other key spells.
- Player Sorcerer summoning a Celestial Bison, then having Vraat drop it with +6 Power attack hits in 1 round.
- Vraat going to work with Cleave and masacaring the foot soldiers.
- All of the players + Sorianna focusing on Osric
- Osric surviving at -7 HP and fighting back for rounds using Die Hard + Combat Expertise to acheive AC 26
- Osric dropping 2 of the players with Ride By Lance Charges
- Vraat sundering the Ftr/Rngers bow
- The Ranger blowing an improved Disarm with his Dire Flail and losing it
- The Ranger later succeding in Disarming Vraat
- Vraat sundering the Dire Flail, leaving the Ranger dual weilding 2 Flails
Anyway, the players finally pulled out the win, and managed to get find out from the lone enemy survivor (the Spectral Touch mage) letting the players know that the Prince was unaware that he was working with the Hobgoblins. They then arranged for a messenger to inform the Prince of what was really happening (with some proof from Wyrmlord Koths notes). Also, because Prince Oden is a vengeful sort, he would normally seek revenge, but the message tells Oden that the players were killed (with the mage survivor telling Oden that he in turn was captured).
And here (finally) comes the part where I wanted suggestions. Prince Oden is evil, but would not choose to work with the Hobgoblins to have Drellins Ferry Massacred. The prince also see's himself as the rightful ruler of the Rhormarch, and has a reasonably effective Gurella force.
Now, since the players have brought Oden in against the goblins, how much time should that buy them?
And if any other agents of Prince Oden recognize the players, and word gets back to Oden, what should Oden do about it?
END COMMUNICATION
