A DM who needs some direction. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A DM who needs some direction. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ranaul
01-27-08, 04:24 PM My players and I decided we needed a second game to play when someone couldn't make it to the main Modern game we have been playing because we don't like to continue without a someone.

I thought this should be fun, so I let them roll level 10 characters in Forgotten realms and set up a gladiator tournament. I had never done something like this before so I was really interested to see how the Wizard duels would go. About an hour and half into the game we realized these fights were quite boring . So I moved into the plot. Some sort of outside power

Well what little plot I came up with since this was just supposed to be have fun and mess around type thing. They all have been having dreams of bad things happening in Waterdeep (where the tournament is). Demons and monsters running through the city, and so forth. Well after the tournament they all hear the crying of a baby, but it sounds like it is from across the city. They had a dream just like this so they went to save it. When they got there they killed the demon that was hovering over it, then proceeded to kill all the monsters that they began to see in the streets. In the dream they won by killing a lich at the top of a tower in the city. So they went and did that, hoping the city would return to normal like their dream.

Well it did return to normal, but unlucky for them it had been normal this entire time. All the monsters they had killed were actually guards and townspeople. And the Lich at the end was one of the secret Lords of Waterdeep. Obviously some outside force has messed with thier heads.

This is where I am stuck. I was surprised when all the players said they loved the twist and can't wait to see what happens next, because I don't know wwhat happens next. What kind of creature or wizard could do this? They are going to need to escape waterdeep, but after that, then what?

Any help would be great.

Oh the party is a Favored soul/10, Wizard/10, and a Monk/10
Dinin_Devilhand
01-27-08, 05:23 PM This is why you plan campaigns, not solo adventures. First of all, Waterdeep is a city where you DO NOT get away with things like that. Khelban, Force Gray, the city watch, all of them would wipe your PCs off the face of Faerun. Read up on where your PCs are a little more.

Now that you are where you are and need to recover this is my advice: Get your PCs the hell out of Waterdeep. The CR they would face as reprocussion to that will surely kill them. If they try to make amends I would use an atonement spell via the Church of Tyr or a like church.

Use an evil illusionist, mind flayers (or other psychic powered monsters) or even Halaster Blackcloak as an antagonist. This is something that is going to take several games to correct, not just the next level or so. Start giving them hints through dreams as to where they need to go, or have a powerful good NPC interviene on there behalf because the NPC knows it is a trick. Good luck.
I_roll_ones
01-27-08, 05:30 PM Nightmare spinner sounds about right with the fluff. No, the PC doesn't seem to get dream affecting spells, but...Oh well. Power of plot! (Complete Mage)Add in some Beguiler(PHBII), and you have an illusionist/dream manipulator. This sorta depends on if your PC's are willing to be good sports and wing the Nightmare Spinner to do that if it's an NPC or not.

Add in a doppelganger for more hilarity. They have telepathy, right? And the party has good Will saves, so it shouldn't be too cheesy. Or take a page out of Eberron and say it's a half-Doppelganger, half-human, with a decreased Detect Thoughts and Alter Self ability, but class levels.

Since it is a city, I wouldn't say Fey.

Yuan-ti(A favorite of mine) could work, if is it an isolated cell that is very highly guarded, using a beguiler spy to get some humans into a position that they can manipulate for their own means. (I guess get them into jail, or as a cover or as a scapegoat to murder someone)

What race is/was that Lich?

For major ebil orgaizations, either the Zhent or the Thayvans might be setting up these "heroes" to take a fall for their own murders, or so they can pose as a force of good/justice by tracking down the vile murderers and bringing them to justice. Either would work with a lich, through they might not reveal who they are right away.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ranaul 01-27-08, 04:24 PM	My players and I decided we needed a second game to play when someone couldn't make it to the main Modern game we have been playing because we don't like to continue without a someone. I thought this should be fun, so I let them roll level 10 characters in Forgotten realms and set up a gladiator tournament. I had never done something like this before so I was really interested to see how the Wizard duels would go. About an hour and half into the game we realized these fights were quite boring . So I moved into the plot. Some sort of outside power Well what little plot I came up with since this was just supposed to be have fun and mess around type thing. They all have been having dreams of bad things happening in Waterdeep (where the tournament is). Demons and monsters running through the city, and so forth. Well after the tournament they all hear the crying of a baby, but it sounds like it is from across the city. They had a dream just like this so they went to save it. When they got there they killed the demon that was hovering over it, then proceeded to kill all the monsters that they began to see in the streets. In the dream they won by killing a lich at the top of a tower in the city. So they went and did that, hoping the city would return to normal like their dream. Well it did return to normal, but unlucky for them it had been normal this entire time. All the monsters they had killed were actually guards and townspeople. And the Lich at the end was one of the secret Lords of Waterdeep. Obviously some outside force has messed with thier heads. This is where I am stuck. I was surprised when all the players said they loved the twist and can't wait to see what happens next, because I don't know wwhat happens next. What kind of creature or wizard could do this? They are going to need to escape waterdeep, but after that, then what? Any help would be great. Oh the party is a Favored soul/10, Wizard/10, and a Monk/10
Dinin_Devilhand 01-27-08, 05:23 PM	This is why you plan campaigns, not solo adventures. First of all, Waterdeep is a city where you DO NOT get away with things like that. Khelban, Force Gray, the city watch, all of them would wipe your PCs off the face of Faerun. Read up on where your PCs are a little more. Now that you are where you are and need to recover this is my advice: Get your PCs the hell out of Waterdeep. The CR they would face as reprocussion to that will surely kill them. If they try to make amends I would use an atonement spell via the Church of Tyr or a like church. Use an evil illusionist, mind flayers (or other psychic powered monsters) or even Halaster Blackcloak as an antagonist. This is something that is going to take several games to correct, not just the next level or so. Start giving them hints through dreams as to where they need to go, or have a powerful good NPC interviene on there behalf because the NPC knows it is a trick. Good luck.
I_roll_ones 01-27-08, 05:30 PM	Nightmare spinner sounds about right with the fluff. No, the PC doesn't seem to get dream affecting spells, but...Oh well. Power of plot! (Complete Mage)Add in some Beguiler(PHBII), and you have an illusionist/dream manipulator. This sorta depends on if your PC's are willing to be good sports and wing the Nightmare Spinner to do that if it's an NPC or not. Add in a doppelganger for more hilarity. They have telepathy, right? And the party has good Will saves, so it shouldn't be too cheesy. Or take a page out of Eberron and say it's a half-Doppelganger, half-human, with a decreased Detect Thoughts and Alter Self ability, but class levels. Since it is a city, I wouldn't say Fey. Yuan-ti(A favorite of mine) could work, if is it an isolated cell that is very highly guarded, using a beguiler spy to get some humans into a position that they can manipulate for their own means. (I guess get them into jail, or as a cover or as a scapegoat to murder someone) What race is/was that Lich? For major ebil orgaizations, either the Zhent or the Thayvans might be setting up these "heroes" to take a fall for their own murders, or so they can pose as a force of good/justice by tracking down the vile murderers and bringing them to justice. Either would work with a lich, through they might not reveal who they are right away.