Rowe
First Post
I'm using the following to kick off my home brew campaign. This will take place in forgotten realms, and is the story start to a campaign that will follow a cult all over the world to gather pieces of an ancient relic to bring back the god of unlife, Thazridun (don't confuse it with the PHB god Tharizdun).
The cult can control undead using the power of Thaz. The cult is searching for fossils of Thazriduns original followers, The Nids. (I'm using tyranids from my dusty WH40k collection and building their stats up from scratch for 4E). The cultist will use the fossils to change themselves into the Nids to be able to perform the rituals to bring back their god.
Along the way the players will encounter all sorts of custom monsters, and items. The first item they will encounter is the Mark of Thaz. which is an onyx colored stone that hums with his essence. It is used by one of the cultist to farm undead. The undead in turn will be used for fuel for their rituals. etc etc etc.
Let me know what you think. I also have the Grave yard encounter down if any one is interested.
Campaign Primer – where the players start
. Role Play Info
Background of the Tavern and Patrons
Tavern: The tavern is owned by a man named John Virgil. This tavern is on a well defined and often traveled road leading to the southlands of Faerun. It used to be a trading post back when these lands were first being settled. The building is in good shape, and is well protected from the outside elements. It has had its store rooms converted into bedrooms. Because there are settlements a little further south, travelers just stay here briefly and continue on with their journey. Its called the Iron Traveler INN because iron was a major trade commodity making its way to the south.
Tavern Owner and Family
John Virgil: 6”tall human. Muscular in his 40’s.
Stout man with pleasant eyes. Been a bar owner all his life. This particular place was given to him by his father.
Marry Virgil:
John’s wife. She is a bit gruff, and is concerned about keeping patrons hands off her two daughters
Jules and Stacy Virgil:
Getty young girls who dream of getting out of the tavern business and seeing the world
Twill Threepwood:
Twill is a plucky bard that plays at the tavern regularly. Twill is a cousin of the family. Has a small place near the woods of barrows edge. Travels between the towns of the area to play at bars and make some coin. Some times has news or rumors from the area
Patrons
Group celebrating – There is a group of travelers that have decided to stop here and celebrate Justin’s birth day. They make merry, and are obnoxiously hitting on the owners daughters. They buy every one in the bar a round of drinks.
Strangers - The other patrons have their own business. They don’t offer the PC’s any advice or information.
Read the Following - TAVERN
..."A soft glow emanates from the wall sconces in this moderate sized tavern. The mutters and grunts of patrons can be over heard between the soft strums of a lute being played by a Halfling in the corner. A group of individuals are celebrating something at the bar, the other patrons are busy ordering, and flirting with the barmaids…”
Approximately 1 hour passes, and the sun sets and the PC’s are about to order their meal. Have the player characters get food, and observe the workings of the tavern. The patrons of the bar are seated randomly through out the tavern. Have the PC’s sit where ever they like except near the doors.
“The door to the tavern creeks opens as your eyes adjust to the dark figure standing in its maw. As he enters the tavern he stumbles and collapses to the wooden deck. A patron rushes over to his aid, and help him to a chair. The owner of this establishment hurries over to the man, and helps him swallow down some water."
A low rumble fills the tavern as this new patron speaks.
"Virgil. You have many for me this night”; and some words can barely be heard under his breath in a language the players cannot understand.
As the last breath left his lips, he lunges forward and bites down onto the closest Neck. The flesh seems to rot off the patron’s frame, and loud banging can be heard outside of tavern. You see the owner drop the glass he is holding, and stare blankly. John’s wife and daughter freeze as well. Their eyes take on a green haze, and they do not move.
Night of the Living Dead
20 minion zombies with 12ac 13R/W/F and 1 hp,
Their tactics are to come from every door. The zombies come in 7 at a time over 6 rounds. 1 wave every other round. If some one tries to escape through a window they get surprised attacked by a zombie. They attack the closest living creature.
Zombie Feeding Frenzy
If the zombies get a chance to attack the group of guys celebrating, they become a mixed pile of people and undead. This chance for the players to either help the patrons or face freshly fed zombies (see MM use stronger zombie template)
During Combat: Once combat begins Threepwood gets frightened and leaps through a window, and is gone. The patrons cower near the bar or try to make a break for the windows (the doors are being plugged by zombies). The owner and his family don’t move. They appear to be under a magic thrall.
DC checks.
DC: Perception check, how clear they can hear the zombies, and if they see them approach the windows 15 can hear moaning over the banging 20+ can see them at the window
DC: Religion: 15> Can tell these zombies are minion types, and not very strong. There eyes glow green. Zombie’s eyes don’t normally glow green.
DC: Arcane: 10> Zombies are under a magic thrall, instead of an unholy control.
Encounter Reward: 150xp.
After Combat
After the combat the bar is in disrepair. John and his family come out of the thrall and collapse to the floor. John gasping for breath and thirst beckons to the PCs to come over to him.
“Thank you, THANK YOU! We were under that cursed strangers spell. You have weakened his grasp but I fear I can only talk now because the power over us has wavered a bit. A cloaked man passed by 3 months ago. He said he had a business proposition for me, so after the bar closed for the night I listened to what this man had to offer. He pulled a small stone from under his robe, and said something in a language I did not recognize. Next thing I know every Saturday afterward those zombies come, My family and I cannot move, and the zombies kill, devour, and carry off the bodies. When the zombies leave we are left with the memories of what happened, but none of us can talk about it. It has been such a desire to cry for help, or give a warning, and I finally feel his thrall lifting. Unfortunately it is not over. As the days went on I felt pulled towards a location. I traveled about 4 hours south, and found an old forgotten grave yard. I could only get so close. I saw those zombies walking around in broad daylight. I climbed a tree, and I saw it. That small stone that the stranger pulled out of his robes. In broad daylight it was glowing bright green, and it appeared to leash onto the zombies walking near the graves.
PLEASE, go to this graveyard and take care of those zombies now! I will give you what payment I can. But please go! Free my family from this nightmare.
If players hesitate to go that night
Don’t wait. I am afraid if you wait until daylight the thrall will take hold again, and its master will know… If he doesn’t all ready know that something has happened.
The cult can control undead using the power of Thaz. The cult is searching for fossils of Thazriduns original followers, The Nids. (I'm using tyranids from my dusty WH40k collection and building their stats up from scratch for 4E). The cultist will use the fossils to change themselves into the Nids to be able to perform the rituals to bring back their god.
Along the way the players will encounter all sorts of custom monsters, and items. The first item they will encounter is the Mark of Thaz. which is an onyx colored stone that hums with his essence. It is used by one of the cultist to farm undead. The undead in turn will be used for fuel for their rituals. etc etc etc.
Let me know what you think. I also have the Grave yard encounter down if any one is interested.
Campaign Primer – where the players start
. Role Play Info
Background of the Tavern and Patrons
Tavern: The tavern is owned by a man named John Virgil. This tavern is on a well defined and often traveled road leading to the southlands of Faerun. It used to be a trading post back when these lands were first being settled. The building is in good shape, and is well protected from the outside elements. It has had its store rooms converted into bedrooms. Because there are settlements a little further south, travelers just stay here briefly and continue on with their journey. Its called the Iron Traveler INN because iron was a major trade commodity making its way to the south.
Tavern Owner and Family
John Virgil: 6”tall human. Muscular in his 40’s.
Stout man with pleasant eyes. Been a bar owner all his life. This particular place was given to him by his father.
Marry Virgil:
John’s wife. She is a bit gruff, and is concerned about keeping patrons hands off her two daughters
Jules and Stacy Virgil:
Getty young girls who dream of getting out of the tavern business and seeing the world
Twill Threepwood:
Twill is a plucky bard that plays at the tavern regularly. Twill is a cousin of the family. Has a small place near the woods of barrows edge. Travels between the towns of the area to play at bars and make some coin. Some times has news or rumors from the area
Patrons
Group celebrating – There is a group of travelers that have decided to stop here and celebrate Justin’s birth day. They make merry, and are obnoxiously hitting on the owners daughters. They buy every one in the bar a round of drinks.
Strangers - The other patrons have their own business. They don’t offer the PC’s any advice or information.
Read the Following - TAVERN
..."A soft glow emanates from the wall sconces in this moderate sized tavern. The mutters and grunts of patrons can be over heard between the soft strums of a lute being played by a Halfling in the corner. A group of individuals are celebrating something at the bar, the other patrons are busy ordering, and flirting with the barmaids…”
Approximately 1 hour passes, and the sun sets and the PC’s are about to order their meal. Have the player characters get food, and observe the workings of the tavern. The patrons of the bar are seated randomly through out the tavern. Have the PC’s sit where ever they like except near the doors.
“The door to the tavern creeks opens as your eyes adjust to the dark figure standing in its maw. As he enters the tavern he stumbles and collapses to the wooden deck. A patron rushes over to his aid, and help him to a chair. The owner of this establishment hurries over to the man, and helps him swallow down some water."
A low rumble fills the tavern as this new patron speaks.
"Virgil. You have many for me this night”; and some words can barely be heard under his breath in a language the players cannot understand.
As the last breath left his lips, he lunges forward and bites down onto the closest Neck. The flesh seems to rot off the patron’s frame, and loud banging can be heard outside of tavern. You see the owner drop the glass he is holding, and stare blankly. John’s wife and daughter freeze as well. Their eyes take on a green haze, and they do not move.
Night of the Living Dead
20 minion zombies with 12ac 13R/W/F and 1 hp,
Their tactics are to come from every door. The zombies come in 7 at a time over 6 rounds. 1 wave every other round. If some one tries to escape through a window they get surprised attacked by a zombie. They attack the closest living creature.
Zombie Feeding Frenzy
If the zombies get a chance to attack the group of guys celebrating, they become a mixed pile of people and undead. This chance for the players to either help the patrons or face freshly fed zombies (see MM use stronger zombie template)
During Combat: Once combat begins Threepwood gets frightened and leaps through a window, and is gone. The patrons cower near the bar or try to make a break for the windows (the doors are being plugged by zombies). The owner and his family don’t move. They appear to be under a magic thrall.
DC checks.
DC: Perception check, how clear they can hear the zombies, and if they see them approach the windows 15 can hear moaning over the banging 20+ can see them at the window
DC: Religion: 15> Can tell these zombies are minion types, and not very strong. There eyes glow green. Zombie’s eyes don’t normally glow green.
DC: Arcane: 10> Zombies are under a magic thrall, instead of an unholy control.
Encounter Reward: 150xp.
After Combat
After the combat the bar is in disrepair. John and his family come out of the thrall and collapse to the floor. John gasping for breath and thirst beckons to the PCs to come over to him.
“Thank you, THANK YOU! We were under that cursed strangers spell. You have weakened his grasp but I fear I can only talk now because the power over us has wavered a bit. A cloaked man passed by 3 months ago. He said he had a business proposition for me, so after the bar closed for the night I listened to what this man had to offer. He pulled a small stone from under his robe, and said something in a language I did not recognize. Next thing I know every Saturday afterward those zombies come, My family and I cannot move, and the zombies kill, devour, and carry off the bodies. When the zombies leave we are left with the memories of what happened, but none of us can talk about it. It has been such a desire to cry for help, or give a warning, and I finally feel his thrall lifting. Unfortunately it is not over. As the days went on I felt pulled towards a location. I traveled about 4 hours south, and found an old forgotten grave yard. I could only get so close. I saw those zombies walking around in broad daylight. I climbed a tree, and I saw it. That small stone that the stranger pulled out of his robes. In broad daylight it was glowing bright green, and it appeared to leash onto the zombies walking near the graves.
PLEASE, go to this graveyard and take care of those zombies now! I will give you what payment I can. But please go! Free my family from this nightmare.
If players hesitate to go that night
Don’t wait. I am afraid if you wait until daylight the thrall will take hold again, and its master will know… If he doesn’t all ready know that something has happened.
