Scarred Lands: Ask the Sage (Going into Triple OT Folk!)

[Nightfall]

db,

You do ask for the impossible. You know that right?

Redeeming a Hag? They should hire some Madrielites for that job.

In any case it's entirely possible. My advice, have the Hedradan take a short hop over to Durrover, or sail to toward's the Gold Knights Chapterhouse there. They are good at healing and have ties to Madriel. Barring that, I guess you could always have Hedradan try to use Convert or similiar spell. Certainly it's possible to change a titanspawn over to divine...but not sure if it's possible to change from evil to good even if you're just not a follower of the gods. Still...I'd say converting/redeeming, atonement might work or even perhaps using a new miracle feat. Short of that, artifacts perhaps might work well for it.

2. Well there's still the matter of the Calastians that probably want the isle for it's stragetic use. Then there's the Blood Sea Pirates, possibly even Foamers. Heck you could even have that MORE Mormospawn want to use the power of Mormo's Tooth for their own means.

3. a) Gave you my opinion on redeeming a Hag. Short of divine intervention, using an Interrcessor or some other LN/LG type, or atonement spells/magic items, I can't think of much else. Perhaps opening a gateway or finding a portal to the Timeless Vaults or something similiar might work to get the Hag "cured" of her disease.

b) Well the quest might be the return of an Ite, a powerful holy weapon of the Asaatthi that might be of use to them. Just because they stop worshipping Mormo doesn't make them less Asaatthi than any other. Thus they could use perhaps a powerful weapon, magic item to help keep their demese safe. Perhaps even negioate with a Denevian sect to help keep their home clean and clear of the others.

c) Mm well perhaps the locations of "holy sites" of Mormo, an item of great power, some insight perhaps in poisons (and thus cures). Maybe even a long forgotten dragon lair that's now gone to dust. (The dragon, not the treasure! )

d) If the PC charge the Hags, make them feel the wrath of the Hags. A lot. Heck maybe even half some strange creatures besides the ones you mentioned (Perhaps some Hexed Creatures or something similiar that a Hag would like as bodyguards/strong protectors.)

 

[dreaded_beast]

Great ideas Nightfall!

No wonder you are the Sage of SL, hehe.

If everything goes well, I will let you know how it turns out.

 

[eryndel]

Oooh, lots of fun stuff to play with.

Some random ideas... IMO Mormo among all of the titans was most prolific in converting creatures to her cause. While titans such as Thulkas, Hrinruuk, and Golthagga actively created creatures, either accidentally or intentionally, Mormo tempted a lot of creature to her cause. Hags and Yuan-ti were both humans transformed by the service of Mormo, with some yuan-ti later being transformed into Gorgons for her purpose.

I would say that one way of unlocking the key to redemption is to have knowledge of the rituals used to create Hags. Such information would likely be in the Asaatthi library. (As a side note, asaatth liked to use magical crystals that stored the souls of asaatth historians and sages in order to record their lore. These crystals, when touched, would recite the history they knew, often with distinct personalities and indiosyncracies. There is some stuff on that in VW: Asaatthi). You could have them search the library for this ritual, bring back the relevant memory stone, and have the sages among the Hedradans determine some sort of inverse procedure.

As for the Hags, I'd prepare a battle with them which will essentially send the PCs running. Have them fight, perhaps killing a few PCs (as long as they can be raised by the Hedradans), so they recognize that perhaps an assault isn't the best plan. Just don't have the Hag's wipe them out. Once they got the message acrossed, have them withdraw, probably bored with the encounter.

As for a quest, set it up against the mountain asaatth. I don't know how set up these asaatth are, but perhaps recovery of a special artifact, maybe a weapon familiar, or one of the Neutral asaatth has be captured.

Now, to tie some things in. What if the mountain asaatthi have dug tunnels within the mountain and have dug into the core of the root. They could be enhancing their race by using the blood they are mining from the mountain. These mountain asaatthi really aren't concerned with reviving the Mother, instead using the blood to improve their own potency. The Hags have guessed that the mountain asaatthi have access to Mormo's blood (maybe recognizing the effects) and require the blood to help restore their Queen. Thus the two forces are in conflict.

The PCs find out they require some blood in order to enact the ritual of redemption. This will invariably take them deep into the hold of the mountain asaatth (Heck, maybe the hags will manipulate the PCs to fight the mountain asaatth without realizing why they want the Mormo blood). Likely, an exploration of the mountain asaatthi stronghold will reveal some truths about their little island that they would rather not have discovered.

Sounds like a fun little game you have there.

 

[dreaded_beast]

Great ideas Eryndel!

Thanks for the input!

If anyone else wants to add anything more please do. I can always use the info for further adventures.

 

[Nightfall]

db,

I try but I think Werner has some good ideas as well. So far those are my ideas. Another possibility, besides titan's blood, is perhaps the Chalice of Change from R&R1. It's appearance marks a great event, one that causes great changes and even more adventures for it. A third option for redeeming the Hag's, hire a Belsmite to convert the Hag and then try redemption. But that's a very extreme idea at the moment... I do hope Trick and/or someone else comes along on this thread for ya db.

Werner,

Regarding the "don't kill em all" yeah it's not a great idea to kill them all BUT if they are silly/stupid/not willing to think through a plan about how bad a frontal assault is in light of the fact there are THREE hags with their own personal armies, they deserve to be killed.

But your ideas for tying the Mountain Asaatthi with the Hags has a lot of good points. Plus the mine shafts could be a good way to get around some of the Hags defenses.

 

[eryndel]

You're right, Nightfall, if you make it clear that they will lose and the party still fights on, I wouldn't pull any punches. Not to have this devolve into yet another thread of "To TPK or not to TPK", but I tend to avoid TPK's for simply selfish reason. Killing my party tends to screw up my best laid plans, and dreaded beast has a great plotline going here.

Dreaded beast, do let us know what happens. It sounds like it will be fun.

 

[Nightfall]

Werner,

Dunno how much clearer you need to be. Short of carved into the mountains in big fiery letters, seems to me you got it pretty well organized. Unless they don't actively KNOW there are Hags involved. (Most adventurers with sense realize Hags rarely work alone unless they are like the Blood Crone or similiar.) But you do make a valid point my friend. Destroying your plans to prove a point doesn't really do much. Then again neither does pulling punches. But even so, think this will be one we agree to disagree Werner.

And yes db let us know how it goes.

 

[megamania]

Though I do not play SL I must say I like it the most of recent worlds. It is full of adventure, intrigue and wonder but has some very dark undertones to it. Darksun and F Realms combined in many ways.

Just thought I would say that since I know the folks behind SL will read it.

 

[dead]

Dear Sage . . .

Does any SL product show an ENTIRE world map? Or hasn't the entire world been developed yet?

Do ships from one continent travel to others?

Is the Creature Collection a part of the SL product line?

Do SL products update the campaign timeline with as much speed as the Forgotten Realms?

Do the events in SL novels officially occur in the campaign setting?

Are there uber-characters running around?

 

[Nightfall]

Though I do not play SL I must say I like it the most of recent worlds. It is full of adventure, intrigue and wonder but has some very dark undertones to it. Darksun and F Realms combined in many ways.

Just thought I would say that since I know the folks behind SL will read it.

Thanks MM. Course I feel we are better than the Realms cause we don't NEED no stinking goddess of magic. Our stuff is free! (Course if Mesos comes back that might change! )

Does any SL product show an ENTIRE world map? Or hasn't the entire world been developed yet?

It's not quite been fully developed yet. So far we still are waiting for at least two-three more continents then we'll see how it all fits.

Do ships from one continent travel to others?

Short answer: Yes. There are ships going to and from Termana to Ghelspad. Also some from Ghelspad go to Asherak. But that's all that's known so far. Blood Sea: Crimson Abyss details the travels between Termana and Ghelspad.

Is the Creature Collection a part of the SL product line?

You're darn right it is. Of course now CC Revised took that and shot gun blasted it into a lot better book. But yes, Creature Collection, Creature Collection 2: Dark Menagerie, Creature Collection Revised and Creature Collection 3: Savage Beastiary are all part of the SL line.

Do SL products update the campaign timeline with as much speed as the Forgotten Realms?

Updating the timeline/metaplot is a wrangling issue. Some of fans want it. Others don't. So they offer us a choice (with Echoes of the Past, parts of Edge of Infinity along with Faithful and Forsaken)

Do the events in SL novels officially occur in the campaign setting?

Well they have been validated in Faithful and Forsaken, but so far few of us actually use that. *prepares for Trick's rant...*

Are there uber-characters running around?

Well define uber characters...I mean my annoying counterpart, Yugman, is considered to be a very high level wizard by some. I myself prefer to think the old fart just has a nice collection lying around. Some people are just that damn lucky. Then there's Virduk, he's running his own kingdom. Not sure how good a fighter he is, but the man can run empire no doubt. Duke Travik is a gifted fighter and leader, but not sure he can do uber things. There's always rumors about powerful sorcerers of Mesos hiding out on the Planes but no idea how true that is. Planar travel isn't something I like to do that often. Uhm then there's Aasaathi, they are pretty darn good at being wizards and such. Realistically, there's plenty of forces for changes. I mean when you've had gods and titans fighting, change is inevietiable. But so far I don't think we'll see legends walking out of the mists. They all died fighting you know...