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Ozreth
Learned Scribe
187 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 06:26:03
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- So the PC's heard of gold rush in Deadsnows.
- Came to Deadsnows to find it demolished by a recent Drow raid.
- Went to nearby mines where gold was found to find helpful old ladies grandchildren.
- After a trek through the mines against spiders, rats, snakes etc and crossing a giant underground lake (finding many slaughtered miners along the way) the party finds one of the children, who has be torn apart by drow.
I want the Drow to have left some sort of beast lurking and waiting for the party to confront as well as some magical runes on the walls that do something or another, and convey a message that would lead the party to pursue the Drow.
What kind of beast would drow leave to confront a party following them?
What kind of tricky message would they leave to provoke a party to follow?
I'm thinking the drow kidnapped the remaining kid because drow are at war in the underdark and are trading gold and slaves to some nearby city in exchange for weapons etc.
Thanks!
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7969 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 07:55:32
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You can't go wrong with the classics. I'd suggest some sort of nasty big spider, a silent death-from-above ambush. Glyphs of warding and magic mouth can leave very unambiguous messages.
Although you might not want the drow raiding party to have a priestess. In that case I'd suggest a couple of driders, one who holds the PC party's attention while the second one activates a trap or positions himself to strike with some sort of backstab. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 09:23:21
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What level and ruleset are we talking about here?
There is a sort of drow golem in one of the 2nd ed. Monstrous annuals (the 1st one?), but the name escapes me.
Maybe something other than a spider, just to surprise the players. If there was a worshipper of the god of slimes and jellies (I don't have the books in front of me right now, sorry)among them, then a couple of these creatures might really surprise the players and make them rethink some of their tactics. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7969 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 09:40:32
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| You might also scatter some runes, glyphs, or way-markers which warn of drow activities or territory. These could be carved, drawn, painted, or even magically constructed. They could be left by the drow themselves, or by their victims, or by local Harpers, or by anybody. Such markers are commonly used throughout the Realms and most are readily understood or deciphered by all travellers. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3737 Posts |
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Ozreth
Learned Scribe
187 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 17:14:51
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I would've probably used a giant spider if I hadn't already dropped on on them earlier in the cave :p
The Drow Golem thing sounds cool! I'll try to find that. I'm using Castles & Crusades so a monster from any edition works really. Also, the party is 1st level but I don't mind one or two of them dying, or causing them to escape :p |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 17:44:28
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And I found it. Its the Spiderstone Golem from Annual I (with a moustache, which all Drow should have). I seem to remember it having appeared in a Dragon magazine earlier, but I cant remember which.
I should mention though, that first level characters will probably all die. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Ozreth
Learned Scribe
187 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 17:55:25
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Haha damn! I don't know if I want them ALL to die ;)
I'll take a look though. Maybe I'll make a toned down one.
Or maybe the room can just have some sort of portal that teleports them somewhere crappy :p |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 22:04:14
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Or you could always have it be injured. Say have your PC's stumble into the cave and find another adventuring party completely slaughtered, with the badly-hurt golem standing over them. Give them some people to avenge, some loot to scavenge if they survive, and tone the thing down enough to give them a chance.
Though if your system includes either 2e's magical items needed to hit rule, or 3e's DR, even a badly hurt golem might be beyond the PC's power. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2012 : 02:09:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
Or you could always have it be injured. Say have your PC's stumble into the cave and find another adventuring party completely slaughtered, with the badly-hurt golem standing over them. Give them some people to avenge, some loot to scavenge if they survive, and tone the thing down enough to give them a chance.
Though if your system includes either 2e's magical items needed to hit rule, or 3e's DR, even a badly hurt golem might be beyond the PC's power.
I like this idea... The dead adventurers could have the necessary gear to help the PCs. Also, possibly, one of the prior adventurers is still alive but badly hurt -- the golem could be threatening that NPC, allowing the PCs to quickly grab up that obviously glowing sword (or whatever) and attack before it's aware they're there. After they kill it, depending on the needs of your campaign, the badly hurt NPC could give the PCs some advice/directions/whatever and then die, or they could heal the NPC and get some additional firepower/advice/fill a missing slot/whatever. |
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Kilvan
Senior Scribe
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2012 : 13:54:14
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A drider/injured drider could work too.
Edit: 1rst level party? Nevermind. |
Edited by - Kilvan on 18 Mar 2012 13:57:02 |
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rjfras
Learned Scribe
261 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2012 : 22:25:39
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check out the Nifern from Serpent Kingdoms or you can also find some info on them on various realms websites.
They are a CR 2 native to the underdark equivalent of hunting dogs and are often employed as trackers by illithids, drow and other notorious evil races.
A quadruped resembling a hairless, scaly dog with extra-large paws. Its tail curves up over its head, ending in a deadly-looking stinger.
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jerrod
Learned Scribe
157 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2012 : 23:02:24
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| It really depends on the level of the party. For lower levels an encounter with quargoths would be more ideal as far as leading the party to their drow masters. Mainly because drow do use them as slaves and fodder. Besides most drider aren't willing servants of the drow. Better yet have a drider lead the quargoths if the party is hacking through the beast too easily. Besides the drider could bargain the whereabouts of the drow for its life. |
I haven't been here in years but I used to be DARKFLAME MILLITHOR(DROW ARCHMAGE of wildmagic |
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Stuck mid session. Need your sagely ways.
