D&D 5E Sword Coast Adventurers Guide: Hidden hooks for Future Storylines?

[DEFCON 1]

It's not so apparent in the book itself, but I find it intriguing that so many of the little islands in northwest corner of the full map have one or more locations marked on them. I've never heard of Vilkstead or Ulf of Thuger before, and yet they're on the map while places like Everlund and Athkatla are not. I can't help but wonder if those islands are going to get some attention at some point. Maybe they're planning a high seas campaign. That might explain why the swashbuckler is in the book.

I just recalled that Chris Perkins mentioned in that convention panel he did that one of the preview adventures he ran (that was an extension of an upcoming AP) was the PCs dealing with barbarian ancestral mounds. Most of the Uthgardt mounds are in and around the Silver Marches, so perhaps the main AP is up there in the northwest like you said? Viking/barbarian/high seas in those northwest islands might make some sense. And if that's possibly the case, it could also push the Ravenloftish AP (assuming that is happening) to next fall for the Halloween season like several people have surmised. The Warlock's Crypt thing might be that Raveloftish horror location perhaps? Or maybe it's the entry portal into Ravenloft itself.

 

[jayoungr]

Thinking about it, Najara and the surrounding area gets a lot of detail: a Serpent Hills AP, with reptiles galore?

That could also be aimed at people wanting to expand the "Tomb of Diderius" segment of Rise of Tiamat. Or, for that matter, both.

 

[Eilserus]

It took the Srinshee blasting Larloch in The Herald and dying in the process to stop him. In 2E terms she was noted as being 54th level and he 46th. Not sure the standard 20th level party stands a chance against him. With that said, I think it would be fun to explore Warlock's Crypt and battle hordes of his lich servitors. Maybe even fight a weakened version of him as he recovers from being slapped down by the Srinshee. I don't think it would be possible to kill him permanently, he's too smart to have his phylactery just laying around for adventurers to find. As far as we know he's the most powerful spellcaster (Ioulaum might give him a run for his money though) active in the Realms to date, be a shame to permanently kill him. To each their own of course.

Something involving Najara would certainly be cool. Trashing a serpent kingdom sounds fun.

 

[Parmandur]

I just recalled that Chris Perkins mentioned in that convention panel he did that one of the preview adventures he ran (that was an extension of an upcoming AP) was the PCs dealing with barbarian ancestral mounds. Most of the Uthgardt mounds are in and around the Silver Marches, so perhaps the main AP is up there in the northwest like you said? Viking/barbarian/high seas in those northwest islands might make some sense. And if that's possibly the case, it could also push the Ravenloftish AP (assuming that is happening) to next fall for the Halloween season like several people have surmised. The Warlock's Crypt thing might be that Raveloftish horror location perhaps? Or maybe it's the entry portal into Ravenloft itself.

Well, Perkins also said that the barbarian mound thing was not the main scthick, and air ships are involved. Hartvale is right by the Silver Marches too, so maybe the Utgardht play into the Giants-Shakespeare story...? Giants and airships seem to fit.

 

[Eejit]

Pretty much every area has plot hooks, but yeah some seem more likely to tie into APs than others.

I don't think it would be possible to kill him permanently, he's too smart to have his phylactery just laying around for adventurers to find. As far as we know he's the most powerful spellcaster (Ioulaum might give him a run for his money though) active in the Realms to date, be a shame to permanently kill him. To each their own of course.

It's specifically mentioned that Larloch has started giving his minion Liches more freedom to plot as they wish. I expect if there will be an AP you go up against one of them, though maybe Larloch would still be an optional CR50 enemy.

 

[CapnZapp]

she was noted as being 54th level and he 46th

Yeah... no.

(Not as in "you're wrong" but as in "yeah, right, as if WotC will ever make the mistake of inflating the level range beyond 30 or so even for the most legendary of opponents"

Not sure the standard 20th level party stands a chance against him.

I'm pretty sure 5E will never feature a foe a level 20 party won't stand a chance against.

 

[akr71]

I'm not gonna read through the whole Chris Perkins thread again, but I recall him saying that they were working on an AP involving a creature unique to D&D. That hints pretty strongly toward the Serpent Hills and Yuan-ti doesn't it?

He also says that they'd eventually get to a giant themed AP and an undead one, so the OP could be right on the money.

 

[Eejit]

Yeah... no.

(Not as in "you're wrong" but as in "yeah, right, as if WotC will ever make the mistake of inflating the level range beyond 30 or so even for the most legendary of opponents"

But we're talking CR range, not level range.
Though I suppose much of Larloch's difficulty was also meant to come from Batman-like levels of preparedness; traps, chain contingencies, epic mooks serving him, and so on.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm not gonna read through the whole Chris Perkins thread again, but I recall him saying that they were working on an AP involving a creature unique to D&D. That hints pretty strongly toward the Serpent Hills and Yuan-ti doesn't it?



He also says that they'd eventually get to a giant themed AP and an undead one, so the OP could be right on the money.

My thoughts on that is that he might mean Mindflayer, actually: they've gone so far as to indicate a Far Realms Mindflayer AP as a "for example" when talking about how to introduce Psionics rules into the game. Gates of Firestorm Peak gets name checked multiple times in the Core books, to the extent that I had to go and look up what that was since I never heard of it before reading the PHB.

Kinda figure that, as AP after AP comes down the line, we will see in retrospect that they seeded a bunch of clues ahead of time.

 

[Mirtek]

, though maybe Larloch would still be an optional CR50 enemy.

For all his might Larloch is no deity, not even an archfiend.

Given where 5e placed Tiamat and Orcus, Larloch should be CR 21-25 in 5e

Both Orcus and Tiamat would have been bored in 2e casualy stepping on Larloch. 5e would reduce the gap between them, since it no longer has the room for the proper difference in their power