Painted myself into a corner.. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Painted myself into a corner.. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Evilmonster
10-13-06, 01:29 AM Ok, so I’ve painted myself into a corner. The last two sessions were a dungeon crawl through an ancient Dhakaan temple that was attacked and sealed away during the Age of Monsters for corruption and trafficking with the Dragon Below. In part two they were teamed up with an adventuring party from the Morgrave University and after a heart racing battle with a Goblinoid Flesh golem they found the Armor and Blade of the Bloodied One which was the key to passing the demon guardian of the Turn Stone, an artifact that seems to be the balancing point between arcane and divine magic and psionic power.

The PCs had been suspicious of the other party (who were impersonating the party actually sent by Morgrave) and when it became clear that only the Bloodied One could pass the parties’ barbarian started tossing the other members into the room! Wow I didn’t see that coming (though I suppose I should have planed for it) and there went my plan for the bad guys to betray first and take the artifact. The ranger put on the armor and carried the sword into the room beyond and retrieved the Turn Stone. In a moment of madness I had the artifact briefly possess the ranger who led the party outside where he left with the “professor” who turned out to be Lore the Outcast of Lyrandar.

So here I am, a day before the next session and I’m stuck. I had this idea of playing a villain session with the players taking the roles of another or Lore’s teams with the Ranger kinda being forced to play along long enough to foil their immediate plans and still escape with his head attached. But that’s it…any suggestions?
Thramzorean
10-13-06, 03:22 AM Nobody ever expects the Thranish Inquisition...
Ravenscroft
10-13-06, 03:57 AM Have the possessed bodies (use entity/entities of choice) of the original Morgrave party turn up to claim the Artifact.
Perhaps in the guise of "assisting" your player group.
They can loudly declaim "the imposters" who posed as them.

Three parties from Shavarath (Demons , Fiends & Celestials) also seek the Artifact.
Shady314
10-13-06, 04:05 AM I'm not sure what painted you into the corner? That the ranger was possessed and left?

That's no big deal. Just fudge him making his will saving throws for awhile.
Or have him stumble back upon the party covered in blood with no memory of how he got away. And no artifacts of course.
Or let the PC decide how he got away and/or he can work on getting back to the party at the start of the next adventure.
Have him create a new character who briefly joins with the other players to help them hunt down the ranger. A tracker of some kind would be good.
This Lore person could just let him go with a promise the party will leave him be.
goblin_pride
10-13-06, 08:03 AM Nobody ever expects the Thranish Inquisition...

I second the motion.

I'm kidding of course, but how about a party of real Dhakaani come to sweep the Daelkyr abominations from the ruin the PCs just explored? perhaps Gatekeepers come to check the seals that held the Demon bound in place? Obviously a Thranish inquisition is out, they'll be expecting it by now. The real team from Morgrave might show up now that whatever was keeping them from making any headway in their journey isn't bothering to impede them further. So many possibilities, just a matter of picking and choosing. Heck, for a giggle I'd have three or four groups accidentally converge on the ruin, that would make for a bit of a dicey situation as each side is slightly annoyed that these upstart adventurers have unleashed something they "didn't bother to research first". Could make for an amusing storyline as each group makes demands on the PCs to put things right again.

Just a couple thoughts, and as for painting yourself into a corner, it's a good thing that corner has a window on either side to climb out.
Pallin Rahl
10-13-06, 12:58 PM Come on now... EVERYONE expects the Thranish Inquisition.
;)
Evilmonster
10-15-06, 04:49 AM Well, it was "meh". We played the bad guys with the ranger starting to shake off the effects of the evil ju-ju. They had to go get a part from an odl observatory in Draguun. Not as cool as I would have liked by far, they almost got thier butts handed to them by a t-rex (CR 8 my hairy butt!) then beat up on a camp of Hobgoblins that were camped at the observatory. Got the lense and high tailed it outta there.

I was hopeing for a nifty look at life on the dark side, but couldn't come up with anything :( . Had my brain twisted by midterms, stupid real life:mad: .

But next week they will be attending a ball (can't wait to see how the half-orc will handle that!) with a murder mystery and some history of the noble's family that they had befriended. (poor guy got stuck with the knickname Col. Mustard by the halfling)

Thanks for the suggestions, maybe I'll use one or two for the reunion with teh ranger in a couple weeks.
Thanqol
10-15-06, 07:35 PM Come on now... EVERYONE expects the Thranish Inquisition.
;)

But now that they do, they won't. See?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Evilmonster 10-13-06, 01:29 AM	Ok, so I’ve painted myself into a corner. The last two sessions were a dungeon crawl through an ancient Dhakaan temple that was attacked and sealed away during the Age of Monsters for corruption and trafficking with the Dragon Below. In part two they were teamed up with an adventuring party from the Morgrave University and after a heart racing battle with a Goblinoid Flesh golem they found the Armor and Blade of the Bloodied One which was the key to passing the demon guardian of the Turn Stone, an artifact that seems to be the balancing point between arcane and divine magic and psionic power. The PCs had been suspicious of the other party (who were impersonating the party actually sent by Morgrave) and when it became clear that only the Bloodied One could pass the parties’ barbarian started tossing the other members into the room! Wow I didn’t see that coming (though I suppose I should have planed for it) and there went my plan for the bad guys to betray first and take the artifact. The ranger put on the armor and carried the sword into the room beyond and retrieved the Turn Stone. In a moment of madness I had the artifact briefly possess the ranger who led the party outside where he left with the “professor” who turned out to be Lore the Outcast of Lyrandar. So here I am, a day before the next session and I’m stuck. I had this idea of playing a villain session with the players taking the roles of another or Lore’s teams with the Ranger kinda being forced to play along long enough to foil their immediate plans and still escape with his head attached. But that’s it…any suggestions?
Thramzorean 10-13-06, 03:22 AM	Nobody ever expects the Thranish Inquisition...
Ravenscroft 10-13-06, 03:57 AM	Have the possessed bodies (use entity/entities of choice) of the original Morgrave party turn up to claim the Artifact. Perhaps in the guise of "assisting" your player group. They can loudly declaim "the imposters" who posed as them. Three parties from Shavarath (Demons , Fiends & Celestials) also seek the Artifact.
Shady314 10-13-06, 04:05 AM	I'm not sure what painted you into the corner? That the ranger was possessed and left? That's no big deal. Just fudge him making his will saving throws for awhile. Or have him stumble back upon the party covered in blood with no memory of how he got away. And no artifacts of course. Or let the PC decide how he got away and/or he can work on getting back to the party at the start of the next adventure. Have him create a new character who briefly joins with the other players to help them hunt down the ranger. A tracker of some kind would be good. This Lore person could just let him go with a promise the party will leave him be.
goblin_pride 10-13-06, 08:03 AM	Nobody ever expects the Thranish Inquisition... I second the motion. I'm kidding of course, but how about a party of real Dhakaani come to sweep the Daelkyr abominations from the ruin the PCs just explored? perhaps Gatekeepers come to check the seals that held the Demon bound in place? Obviously a Thranish inquisition is out, they'll be expecting it by now. The real team from Morgrave might show up now that whatever was keeping them from making any headway in their journey isn't bothering to impede them further. So many possibilities, just a matter of picking and choosing. Heck, for a giggle I'd have three or four groups accidentally converge on the ruin, that would make for a bit of a dicey situation as each side is slightly annoyed that these upstart adventurers have unleashed something they "didn't bother to research first". Could make for an amusing storyline as each group makes demands on the PCs to put things right again. Just a couple thoughts, and as for painting yourself into a corner, it's a good thing that corner has a window on either side to climb out.
Pallin Rahl 10-13-06, 12:58 PM	Come on now... EVERYONE expects the Thranish Inquisition. ;)
Evilmonster 10-15-06, 04:49 AM	Well, it was "meh". We played the bad guys with the ranger starting to shake off the effects of the evil ju-ju. They had to go get a part from an odl observatory in Draguun. Not as cool as I would have liked by far, they almost got thier butts handed to them by a t-rex (CR 8 my hairy butt!) then beat up on a camp of Hobgoblins that were camped at the observatory. Got the lense and high tailed it outta there. I was hopeing for a nifty look at life on the dark side, but couldn't come up with anything :( . Had my brain twisted by midterms, stupid real life:mad: . But next week they will be attending a ball (can't wait to see how the half-orc will handle that!) with a murder mystery and some history of the noble's family that they had befriended. (poor guy got stuck with the knickname Col. Mustard by the halfling) Thanks for the suggestions, maybe I'll use one or two for the reunion with teh ranger in a couple weeks.
Thanqol 10-15-06, 07:35 PM	Come on now... EVERYONE expects the Thranish Inquisition. ;) But now that they do, they won't. See?