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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 00:27:08
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MY PLAYERS KEEP OUT
Well my Sword coast campaign has kicked off and its time to start fine tuning the first module.
The campaign starts in Daggerford and last session the PC where presented with 3 rumours and quests that they could undertake,
At present party includes
1st Level Bard: Rhymer to Janssen (A retired Bard living in Daggerford)
1st Level Knight: Squire to Frey Silverblade leader of the High Guards company in Daggerford
1st level Cleric of Mystra: (This player hasnt got around to making their character yet but he was talking about running a Cleric of Mystra)
The PCs decided to do a quest for Bronwyn Daggerford (The Duke of Daggerfords sister)
What the Players know
Recently some labours working at Daggerford castle uncovered an entrance to a labyrinth of tunnels. Bronwyn believes that they are likely ruins from Morlin castle which stood long before Daggerford castle was founded. She has put the word out in the towns Inns and taverns that she needs a group of adventurers to explore the catacombs and recover any relics found for future examination.
The deal is she wants first choice at any items they recover (which she will pay them for) and in exchange she will identify any items they recover and provide each party member with a Potion of Cure Light Wounds before they go in. SHe has also said that she will pay for any healing the party needs short of a Raise Dead spell
What the players will find in the Catacombs
The catacombs are small series of rooms and tunnels the main hazards will be some rats (Swarms and Dire) and disease (part of the complex has been flooded with sewerage so the PCs will have to make a few Fort saves) Rooms include a long ruined torture chamber and a small shrine to Mykrul
The big bad is a Vampire Spawn (no class levels)who wields the Sceptre of Blood
Sceptre of Blood
Appearance: The Sceptre is made of Black Ivory and is toped sculpture of a smirking young human males head. The Sceptre was created by Artor Morlin and is dedicated is considered a relic of Mykruls
Powers
+1 Light Mace
Can cast Animate Dead at will
The Curse
The Sceptre of Blood has an unpleasant curse for any mortal who handles it. Prolonged handling of the Sceptre (A day or more) activates the curse and the handler must make a DC 25 Fort save if they fail then they have contracted Vampirism and 1 month after they failed the saving throw they loose a class level and gain a level of the Vampire Template class thhe character will continue to gain Vampire class levels in this way. Once the character fails a save the Sceptre changes, a pair of fangs slowly start to appear and the smile changes from a Smirk to open toothy sneer
Making the save does not make the character Immune to the curse and if the character handles the Sceptre for another 24hrs then they must make another save.
Bronwyn will claim the Sceptre of Blood when the party returns
Coments? Suggestions?
The Vampire Spawn is probably going to be a tough fight for a 1st level party. Ive tried to alleviate this by making him use the Sceptre in any fight so there isnt any level drain
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“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 03:03:37
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For some reason Dargoth I have a tendancy to use vampires a bit early in my campaigns as well. That having been said, removing level drain from the table does definately help. What about the possiblity of a minor magic item hidden somewhere in the catacombs that might be useful for the fight as well? Nothing major, just something to quicken the fight just slightly.
Just out of curiosity, with this involving Morlin Castle and being in Daggerford, are you planning on introducing Artor, or even the Vampires of Waterdeep arc into this campaign? Obviously not at this juncture, but as a tie in at higher levels? |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 03:13:58
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Hello-
I have to say that I like your ideas here. I am not personally too familiar with the Vampire Spawn - but I will take it that it would be a difficult fight! :)
I must say - I may use something akin to this in my own game. :)
Dhomal |
I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
Edited by - Dhomal on 09 Dec 2006 03:18:48 |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 03:39:31
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| Hmmm... interesting. So Morlin ruled Daggerford at some point in time? |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 03:54:03
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Yep I plan on running Vampires in Waterdeep later in the campaign but I found Erics start to the trilogy a little to abrupt for my liking so Im going to make Artor abit more "epic" (In the sense hes someone theyve been looking for a while)
I may drop a magic item or 2 in one of the rooms
Hmm maybe something suitable for each character
+1 weapon for the Knight
Maybe Pipes of the Sewer or Sounding for the Bard
Faith Token for the Cleric......
Feel free to poach Dhomal 
Artor was Baron of Steeping falls from 133 DR to 403DR which existed where Daggerford is today. Daggerford wasnt founded until 947DR |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
Edited by - Dargoth on 09 Dec 2006 03:58:51 |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1076 Posts |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2006 : 09:16:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Victor_ograygor
Instead of Vampire Spawn use dread warrior´s ore a Troglodyte Zombie. Just a idear
Troglodyte Zombie
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/zombie.htm
Nah I want it to be a vampire so it ties in with Morlin |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2006 : 04:24:18
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| The player running a cleric went with a Human Favored Soul of Helm |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 09:48:37
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I am just wondering if there will be more adventures in the same locale. Meaning, after completing this will they be able to go back into the ruins of Morlin Castle once gain to find other magical items of old and maybe the vampire that spawned the one mentioned here?
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 11:26:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
I am just wondering if there will be more adventures in the same locale. Meaning, after completing this will they be able to go back into the ruins of Morlin Castle once gain to find other magical items of old and maybe the vampire that spawned the one mentioned here?
The Vampire spawn was created by Artor Morlin and has been there since Morlin ruled the Barony of Steeping Falls (The Spawn was trapped by a Pezults Sleep of Ages spell which PCs break when they enter the room)
As for going back to Morlin castle thats up in the air. Eric left a hook in The Fire Place level (Part 3 of Vampires in Waterdeep)theres a portal that ends in the catacombs of Morlin castle.
In my campaign the portal will have 3 potnetial outcomes
1) If Erics adds a fourth module to the Vampires in Waterdeep series then the portal leads there
2) If Morlin survives the fight and escapes the party then he flees through the portal (This new section of catacombs is seperate from the previously explored area)
3) The Portal exits somewhere in Daggerford and PCs return with Morlins severed head and destroy the Sceptre of Blood freeing Bronwyn from her Vampirism (Assuming theyve been quick enough and Bronwyn hasnt gained all 8 Vampire levels) |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 12:39:56
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One more thing - what if the party Cleric notices the (most likely) evil alignment of the sceptre and refuses to hand it to Browlyn or even worth destroys it or tries to hide it?
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2006 : 20:49:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
One more thing - what if the party Cleric notices the (most likely) evil alignment of the sceptre and refuses to hand it to Browlyn or even worth destroys it or tries to hide it?
The Sceptre cant be destroyed without killing Artor Morlin
Bronwyn follows the party with a Wizard Eye spell (hey shes CN and we all know they dont trust ANYONE)
If they somehow manage to sneak the Sceptre past Bronwyn they will wish they hadnt!  |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Into the Catacombs of Morlin Castle
