D&D 5E Tomb of Annihilation in Eberron

[CrimsonCarcharodon]

Finally got the book delivered today and I've read through the Port Nyanzaru section, plus I skimmed the rest of it. First thoughts, I'm definitely going to start my group at 5th level. That way they've got time to build contacts among the Dragonmarked Houses and other organizations.

I'm thinking I want them to really get into exploring and all the side quests, so I'm probably going to start them off with a mission from Cannith (looking for old artifacts) or Tharashk (mapping the island). Chult is, in my Eberron, an island to the west of Xen'drik.

The Red Wizards are getting replaced by the Order of the Emerald Claw, Flaming Fist is now House Deneith, there are little enclaves for most or all of the Houses in Port Nyanzaru, and tabaxi are all replaced by shifters. I'm still keeping the weretigers in, though, as the Purge of lycanthropes by the Silver Flame didn't necessarily extend to Chult. The Emerald Enclave needs a new name so as not to confuse it with the Emerald Claw, and they'll be a bunch of druids and rangers. The Harpers and Lord's Alliance, I'm not sure yet.

I'm using Artus Cimber, but he's a member of Morgave University. He stole the Ring of Winter from some of his corrupt peers at the University, and now he's off exploring Chult looking for... something. Something other than his long-lost wife. Not sure yet. No saurial, his companion will probably be a goblin.

Likewise with the vegepygmy, I dunno what I'll replace that with. I'm not a huge fan of vegepygmies. And I'll be throwing a bunch of Sulatar and Firebinder drow in there as well, at various points.

More thoughts later, as I dig deeper into the book. I probably won't be running this until maybe January, so I've got plenty of time to figure it all out.

 

[Onslaught]

Finally got the book delivered today and I've read through the Port Nyanzaru section, plus I skimmed the rest of it. First thoughts, I'm definitely going to start my group at 5th level. That way they've got time to build contacts among the Dragonmarked Houses and other organizations.

I think the adventure is most enjoyable between 1st-6th level, where exploration is indeed dangerous. When it reaches the dungeon crawl part (namely Yuan-ti Temple and the Tomb), it gets more "simple". Anyway, opinions...

I'm thinking I want them to really get into exploring and all the side quests, so I'm probably going to start them off with a mission from Cannith (looking for old artifacts) or Tharashk (mapping the island). Chult is, in my Eberron, an island to the west of Xen'drik.

Somehow I fell I'm the only one thinking about using Stormreach instead of Port Nyanzaru and use Xen'drik itself instead of Chult

The Red Wizards are getting replaced by the Order of the Emerald Claw, Flaming Fist is now House Deneith, there are little enclaves for most or all of the Houses in Port Nyanzaru, and tabaxi are all replaced by shifters. I'm still keeping the weretigers in, though, as the Purge of lycanthropes by the Silver Flame didn't necessarily extend to Chult. The Emerald Enclave needs a new name so as not to confuse it with the Emerald Claw, and they'll be a bunch of druids and rangers.

You could have a branch of the Guardians of Rushemé in your Chult, and use them instead of the Emerald Enclave (which is a terrible name of Eberron 'cos Emerald Claw)

The Harpers and Lord's Alliance, I'm not sure yet.

The Harper's purpose in the adventure is twofold:
1st) Serve as a weak link between players, Syndra (Quest giver NPC) and Wakanga (Merchant Price of Lore).
2nd) Be another faction in search for Artus Cimber

Any other faction could fit the first purpose, and the second depends on what you'll be doing with Artus.

I'm using Artus Cimber, but he's a member of Morgave University. He stole the Ring of Winter from some of his corrupt peers at the University, and now he's off exploring Chult looking for... something. Something other than his long-lost wife. Not sure yet. No saurial, his companion will probably be a goblin.

Nice idea too... the corrupt branch of Morgrave could use the PCs to find Artus. It's a nice way to go.

I also liked that I'm not the only one to dislike the Saurial companion (in Eberron at least), but I prefer a Hobgoblin instead of a Goblin, as the latter are more akin to "ninjas" and the first are more akin to "samurais", which have more in common with the Paladin feel that Dragonbait has.

Likewise with the vegepygmy, I dunno what I'll replace that with. I'm not a huge fan of vegepygmies.

There's only one section of the adventure where Vegepygmy appear interesting: when they're sacrificing the Grung-leader's child in Omu, but that is easily replaceable by Kobolds or Batari.

And I'll be throwing a bunch of Sulatar and Firebinder drow in there as well, at various points.

And don't forget Giants

More thoughts later, as I dig deeper into the book. I probably won't be running this until maybe January, so I've got plenty of time to figure it all out.

I have at least one more month to prepare... but still, the adventure demands a lot of preparation even before convertion, so...

 

[CrimsonCarcharodon]

I think the adventure is most enjoyable between 1st-6th level, where exploration is indeed dangerous. When it reaches the dungeon crawl part (namely Yuan-ti Temple and the Tomb), it gets more "simple". Anyway, opinions...

I may, in the end, drop it to 3rd level rather than 5th, but I definitely don't want to start at 1st. I want to have at least one good adventure beforehand, to establish some relationships with organizations and maybe have a character die so the curse afflicts them once I start the clock when they're in Chult.

Somehow I fell I'm the only one thinking about using Stormreach instead of Port Nyanzaru and use Xen'drik itself instead of Chult


You could have a branch of the Guardians of Rushemé in your Chult, and use them instead of the Emerald Enclave (which is a terrible name of Eberron 'cos Emerald Claw)

I like the map of Chult that's included, as well as all the stuff in Port Nyanzaru and that map. I like Stormreach, but Xen'drik itself is just too big, too vast, and it's got that whole traveler's curse thing going on. If/when I run a game in Xen'drik proper, it'll be more involved with giants and ancient warforged.

The Guardians of Rushemé may work in that role, actually. I just really, really don't want to get them confused with the Emerald Claw.

The Harper's purpose in the adventure is twofold:
1st) Serve as a weak link between players, Syndra (Quest giver NPC) and Wakanga (Merchant Price of Lore).
2nd) Be another faction in search for Artus Cimber

Any other faction could fit the first purpose, and the second depends on what you'll be doing with Artus.


Nice idea too... the corrupt branch of Morgrave could use the PCs to find Artus. It's a nice way to go.

I also liked that I'm not the only one to dislike the Saurial companion (in Eberron at least), but I prefer a Hobgoblin instead of a Goblin, as the latter are more akin to "ninjas" and the first are more akin to "samurais", which have more in common with the Paladin feel that Dragonbait has.

I'll probably be using Syndra as a Dragonmarked House member, with the connection to Wakanga as mostly a business relationship with the House. I don't know what House, exactly, but Cannith is high up on my list given their interest in lore and artifacts in Xen'drik.

I've always been a big fan of Morgrave University. I'd love to do a game where the PCs are agents of Morgrave being opposed by other agents of Morgrave from a rival, more (or less!) corrupt branch of the University.

I don't hate the Artus Cimber questline, I just need to morph him more into a less-interesting Indiana Jones type character, down to having him work for a university.

There's only one section of the adventure where Vegepygmy appear interesting: when they're sacrificing the Grung-leader's child in Omu, but that is easily replaceable by Kobolds or Batari.


And don't forget Giants


I have at least one more month to prepare... but still, the adventure demands a lot of preparation even before convertion, so...

Oh yeah, I'll probably be using kobolds as well alongside the grungs. And since it's still part of Xen'drik, there will definitely be giants. In fact, the Trickster Gods will probably be vestiges of powerful giants from back during the days of the empire before the war with the Quori.

 

[Onslaught]

I like the map of Chult that's included, as well as all the stuff in Port Nyanzaru and that map.

I know the feeling. It's the worst part of using Xen'drik, in my opinion: I won't have the right props... or it'll have to make'em.

I like Stormreach, but Xen'drik itself is just too big, too vast, and it's got that whole traveler's curse thing going on. If/when I run a game in Xen'drik proper, it'll be more involved with giants and ancient warforged.

The same thought crossed my mind... but I don't have that much available time to game, and is an excellent opportunity to explore the continent.

Moreover, the Traveler's Curse can be a blessing, as it explains in game how it took so much time to get to one place and so little to go back. Or how they reached that interesting site.

I don't hate the Artus Cimber questline, I just need to morph him more into a less-interesting Indiana Jones type character, down to having him work for a university.

If you have anything interesting, please do share!

I started this basically stealing every idea I could from other sites... and my favorite approach to Artus Cimber questiline came from another forum member as well (he as a Morgrave University agent).

On a side note:

• Included "NPC" in the first post with information on Stormlords (who they are) and how/why I'm changing the Merchant Prices from ToA
• Organized the first post in chunks using the "spoiler" feature to make things easier to find/navigate... hope it got better

 

[Onslaught]

Hello,

Based on [MENTION=6899775]extralead[/MENTION] posts in Enhancing Tomb of Annihilation, I made a first draft of the skeleton of the adventure (below)... keep in mind that the trip length seems a bit long, but heck, this (and Omu) is the most interesting part of the adventure IMHO. I'll probably change the Death Curse form -1HP each day to -1hp each 1d4 days to accomodate the "time bomb effect" for NPCs, but right now I think i'll use Find Artus Cimber as the major plot until the Curse kicks in and shakes things up.

1. Intro: Characters meet in Sharn, get motivation to travel to Xen'drik and get a Windgalleon or Wavegalleon (EHB)

• Meet with with Flamewind in Sharn (SCoT, pg. 72)
• Meet with [Patron], get [Motivation] and a letter of credit to pay for trip to Sharn
  1. Find Artus Cimber
  2. Get cure for Death Curse for [Important NPC]
  3. Find out what's happening with [Mabar Moon] being strange recently
• Meet with Captain [Joe 'd] Lyrandar at [Tavern] and get to Wind/Wave Galleon

2. Shargon's Theeth: Travel from Sharn to Stormreach, a 3-day trip to Xen'drik, during which the PC's will face a Sahuagin threat

• Day 1 (near Khorvaire): Pass by other ships in the morning
• Day 2 (Sea): ?
• Day 3(Shargon's Teeth): [Something] happens and ship must be pulled back, get attacked by Sahuagin
• Day 4: Arrive at Stormreach early in the morning

3. Stormreach (P1): Explore the city, contact 1-3 StormLords, get "Tier 1" guides

• Directed to [Specific Stormlord] and [Specific Tavern]
• Quest Seeds: Hunting Party, Snake Hunt, [adapt Save an Innocent Man?]
• Guides: Azaka Stormfang, Erag

4. Jungle (Skyfall Peninsula): First trips to the jungle to complete first quests and get some gold and get to know the perils of the jungle

• 8-day round trip: forage, insects, heat and water
• Locations: Hvalspyd (Frost Giant), Snake Hunt Location, Hunting Party Location

5. Stormreach (p2): Contact Coin Lord who has the Death Curse, get some direction towards main plot, maybe see the most common sites that are near Port Nyanzaru (?)

• [Specific Stormlord] has the Death Curse, can ask PC’s for help or know they’re asking around
• Quest Seeds: Help a Dyeing Man, Academic Errand
• Guides: Faroul & Gondolo, Shago, Ulina Pyranim

6. Jungle (Skyfall Peninsula, p2): Second trip to the jungle

• 8-to-10-day round trip
• Locations: Academic Errand Location (will point to Orolunga in the Deep Jungle to the south), Yellyark, Vron

7. Stormreach (p3): Access/approached by "Tier 2" guides, prepare to go to deep jungle passing by Last Chance

• Return from the jungle, buy stuff, contact NPCs
• Quest Seeds: Hunt Pirates, Explore Fog Lake
• Guides: Dyn’celia, Half-drow, Qwasha (now undead become a bigger threat), Salida

8. Jungle (Last Chance and Titan's Teeth): Quickly pass the Skyfall Peninsula, reach Last Chance and get across Titan’s Teeth via Traveler’s Curse to reach the South Jungle

• 20-day trip by foot from Stormreach, which is too long and dangerous
• 5-day trip by Elemental Powered Riverboat (GoEC, pg 13), but he won’t go any further, may take leverage on Stormlords or Dragonmarked House relationship
• Pass by the Zigurat (GoEC) during trip
• Quest Seeds: Escort a Priest to Camp Vengenace
• Guides: [priest from escort mission]

9. Jungle (Xen'drik – South Jungle): Explore sites that would be somewhat near from Port Nyanzaru (obs.: this is expected to start near day 30)

• 25-day trip expected
• Places of Interest: Dungrunglung, Camp Righteous, Camp Vengenace, Aataz Muhaha, Firefinger (?)
• Quests: Missing Missionaries (in Camp Righteous)

10. Jungle (Xen’drik – Down The Hydra’s Head): Explore sites that would be somewhat far from Port Nyanzaru

• 25-day trip expected
• Places of Interest: Heart of Ubtao, Kir Sabal, Nangalore, Wrek of Star Godess, Tharkgun Dhak

11. Jungle (Xen'drik – Deep Jungle): Explore sites farther from Port Nyanzaru and finish side quests before Omu

• 15-day trip expected
• Guides: Eku substitute
• Places of Interest: Oorolunga, Dragon Lair

12. Omu, Fane and Tomb: This part is more linear

Players will probably find Artus Cimber by part 10 or 11

 

[Onslaught]

Hello there,

If possible I'd like some opinion on this take on Nangalore:

• Since Medusas have a special place in Eberron as daughters of Kyber, I think this place could be better explored
• We have a nice hook with Thelanis Court (SoX, pg 65) for an encounter with a fey court of a Nymph queen from Thelanis

What about mixing those two, and maybe giving the Court a Behir to explain statues and the flesh to stone feel a medusa gives?

Plus what a better place to get the magical flower for the ritual (Black Orchid) than a Thelanis manifestation zone?

Thoughts?

 

[MetaVoid]

@Onslaught replace all sblock with spoiler and you should be fine with "hiding blocks" like this [ spoiler = This would be hidden if you add closing block ]