Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 1:06:22	Hi folks,   As you may know, I am running the Scourge of the Sword Coast adventure for one of my groups. They're about to head through the Ardeep Forest near Waterdeep, and so I've been doing a bit of research about the place. There are some cool locations in the forest, like the Green Glade and the Dancing Dell. Possibly the coolest one, though, is Reluraun's Tomb.   Reluraun is described as an elf hero who turned to evil in his final battle. His tomb is now guarded by no less than three baelnorns (lawful good elven liches) because he has become a crazed undead creature.   The 2e-era Dragon issue #270 says that Reluraun is similar to a "wichtlin", an elven undead creature from Dragonlance. It includes the following passage: "More than once an insistent band of adventurers has seen the hero's blade burst through the chest of a baelnorn who's sadly remonstrating with them to be gone. Then the sword darts about flashing and stabbing at empty air, forest birds, and leaping bunnies while its insane wielder screams wildly, wordlessly, and endlessly (a faint, faroff sound that one warrior described as a 'mournfully despairing whistle, like a kettle gone mad')."   It goes on to say that "Reluraun has great strength and seems only superficially (that is, physical form only) to resemble wichtlin." The 3e-era Lost Empires of Faerûn book classifies him as a CE 12th lvl ghost fighter (while the baelnorns are LG 13th level undead wizards).   He wields a +3 frostbrand sword, and there is also an intelligent +2 dragonslayer sword lying in his tomb.   This is what Reluraun looks like in the magazine:       How would you turn this guy into a 5e foe? I thought maybe I could base him on the generic ghost, but give him some fighter abilities and a high Strength so he can wield an actual sword (and remove the withering touch and possession abilities). Anyone got any better ideas?   Also, how would you build an encounter with this guy? I like the imagery of him stabbing a baelnorn through the chest from behind as it tries to warn the PCs away, but what then happens to the baelnorn? I could say that Reluraun's surprise attack causes it to (temporarily) disintegrate into dust, leaving the PCs to deal with the ghostly fighter alone ... or should they maybe encounter him first and then have a baelnorn come to their aid? The 3e book Monsters of Faerûn states that baelnorn can turn undead as a good cleric. Maybe that's why they're guarding him?   Any assistance you can give me would be most appreciated!   Thanks, Jonathan
#2 transcendantviewer Apr 27, 2015 3:05:16	Well, does his original stats explicitly state he can't possess a target? Though keep in mind, ghosts can be obliterated, so that +3 Frostbrand Sword becomes a PC's equipment after his death. Or, if you so choose, could become a sentient weapon with the subdued remnants of his spirit bound to it? Sorry, that'd be post-encounter... Going off what I can tell from the DMG about creating monsters, a modification to an already existing ghost shouldn't be any problem. You'd basically just give them the extra Strength, more HP, the weapon, higher proficiency bonus, and that'd be about it. No removing of abilities needed, considering a Ghost isn't a remarkably strong encounter to begin with, this'd just be a hardier, angrier, less predictable ghost with a fancy sword.
#3 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 4:17:39	transcendantviewer wrote:
#4 Rya.Reisender Apr 27, 2015 5:20:31	Very hard, Reluraun is quite unique and on the whole internet you can't find any base stat block on him.   Basically he is a ghost that has skeletal arms and eyeballs.   You know what resembles him even more than a ghost? A flameskull! Except for the skull, it's arms. Of course he would rather attack with the sword than with magic.   Can he even fly or does he have to obey gravity? From the picture it's hard to tell.
#5 Noctaem Apr 27, 2015 6:35:44	RELURAUN’S TOMB  In a clearing at the heart of Ardeep Forest lies the vault of a fallen elf warrior named Reluraun (male CE moon elf ghost fighter 12), whose spirit was twisted into a mad, undead creature by evil magic during his final battle. Reluraun appears as two disembodied eyes and a pair of skeletal arms and hands that wield Reluraun’s Hoarcut, a +3 icy burst longsword. Reluraun’s tomb is guarded by no less than three baelnorns (LG moon elf baelnorn wizard 13), and his coffin floats alone in a domed, underground vault. An extremely lifelike effigy of the warrior clutches Wyrmsheart, a +2 dragon bane longsword.   He's detailed as a level 12 ghost with fighter levels.  High strength.  Seems straightforward.
#6 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 15:03:54	Rya.Reisender wrote:
#7 EmpactWB Apr 27, 2015 16:44:45	It does to me. Swap out anything you don't think makes sense or that you can't imagine him using (Possession for Action Surge, maybe) and describe him as awesomely as possible.
#8 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 17:08:30	EmpactWB wrote:
#9 EmpactWB Apr 27, 2015 18:20:03	Swap out the incorporeal for letting him move through a hostile creature's space and ignore difficult terrain because he takes up so little room and floats. Easy peasy.   As for the baelnorn, I'd have them warning creatures away as best they could, but not fighting their hero. As far as I can tell, they're trying to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone, but they aren't interested in doing harm to their hero, no matter that he went mad in death.
#10 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 18:50:37	Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Thanks.
#11 CCS Apr 27, 2015 19:46:18	What to do with the baelnorns..... I have some ideas! The 1st (of several?) could be encountered outside the tomb, on "perimeter duty". No living thing (save plants?) Is allowed within 3/4 mile of the tomb. You might want to put some kind of warning markers around the perimeter. The elven equivelant of bio-hazard markers. But something the party can willingly bypass.... When the PCS breach this perimeter they trigger a wyvern watch type ward. Everyone save vrs paralysis. This in turn draws the 1st baelnorn (roll to see how long it takes to arrive). When it arrives it attacks to subdue & remove, informing the Pcs that the living are not permitted here. If the Pcs re-enter? Then it's a fight to the death. The only way to stop this attack is to destroy it, leave the area, or enter the tomb (it will not pursue as its duty is outside) ~~~~ The 2nd BN is encountered throughout the tomb. It attacks but only to kill & will pursue. Once again, informing the party that only the dead are allowed here. Throughout the tomb the party should also learn the history of Reluraun, that he was corrupted, and interred here to be guarded forever by the BNs. Though not exactly what he's become now.... Destroy this BN or exit the perimeter. ~~~~ The 3rd Baelnorn is on duty in the actual crypt chamber, struggling to maintain some sort of ritual. It will order/beg the Pcs to leave as their presence is disturbing Relurauns' rest & that hes about to wake any moment. (You should roll to see what round that'll occur on). Of course Relurauns first action is to cut down the BN once he wakes. After that? It's truly on as a fight to the death. Reluraun will attempt to kill the Pcs just because they're alive. He WILL pursue. Any surviving baelnorns? They'll try & kill the party as well. WHY? because it's the presence of LIFE that triggers Reluraun. If there's any LIFE (other than plants) within a 1/2 mile of him he's active. There's a reason why there was no life around his tomb & that he's guarded by the dead (but most players won't think of that).... ironically the best and worst way for the Pcs to survive once Reluraun is free? Is to get the hell out of the perimeter. BEST: Because if the mad spirit thing pursues them that far it'll go nuts attacking everything else - birds, rabbits, etc. WORST : Because now, surrounded by life, it's virtually unstoppable - short of sterilizing a mile radius around the thing!
#12 pukunui Apr 27, 2015 20:47:21	Not a bad idea. The trick would be getting the PCs to go all the way into the tomb. Yes, I know most players can't resist the chance at looting a tomb, but if the first baelnorn proves too difficult, they might just leave it alone without ever encountering Reluraun himself!   I do like your plan, though. I will see how I can flesh it out more.     What do you guys suppose the "preservative and guardian spells" Elminster mentions might be?
#13 ankiyavon Apr 27, 2015 21:45:52	Into radioactive vapor.   (Sorry, all I have at the moment is one-liners, no useful advice.)
#14 Orethalion Apr 27, 2015 22:13:31	My issue with this is that if he has to be guarded by three 13th level liches who can only manage to keep him penned up, he's going to be more powerful than just a 12th level ghost with strength and a sword.  He will also probably have some unique abilities and the ability to reform himself after death.  Perhaps some madness abilities.  Possession is a good one.  Perhaps he reformes around his indestructible (without the major quest to destroy it) sword which could be a form of phylactery.  The PCs would have to face him repeatedly unless they ditch the sword, letting him loose into the world, or perform the quest to destroy it.
#15 transcendantviewer Apr 28, 2015 0:37:32	I've seen a lot of cool ideas here, though I still really enjoy the one of having the high-level PCs basically neuter him into being a crazy sword-spirit that serves whoever wields his blade.
#16 Rya.Reisender Apr 28, 2015 0:46:27	I actually understand it so that the Baelnorns don't want to destroy Reluraun. They probably could (3 CR13 vs 1 CR12, easy peasy), so the fact they don't can only make me conclude that they don't want to. They guard him so he doesn't hurt anyone.   If a group approaches them, they will most likely start to give out a warning to not come closer, because it's dangerous. If the group is then like "We want to kill that Reluraun guy", they are more likely to actually attack the group than they are to attack Reluraun.   Maybe the group could convince them with stuff like "He is suffering and we should destroy him so he can finally rest in peace", though. But I still can't imagine them actually joining the group to attack Reluraun (maybe on a crit roll on persuasion).
#17 pukunui Apr 28, 2015 1:04:01	ankiyavon wrote:
#18 ankiyavon Apr 28, 2015 1:12:59	pukunui wrote:
#19 pukunui Apr 28, 2015 1:44:31	ankiyavon wrote:
#20 Orethalion Apr 28, 2015 6:43:11	pukunui wrote:
#21 Orethalion Apr 28, 2015 6:48:52	pukunui wrote:
(Reply to #20) HermanTheWize	Orethalion wrote:
#23 pukunui Apr 28, 2015 16:05:01	Orethalion wrote:
#24 Orethalion Apr 28, 2015 18:41:31	pukunui wrote:
#25 ankiyavon Apr 28, 2015 18:55:17	pukunui wrote:
#26 pukunui Apr 28, 2015 20:04:30	Orethalion wrote:
#27 pukunui Apr 29, 2015 19:03:24	How many times do you think I could get away with Reluraun reforming before the PCs figured out that the sword is something of a phylactery? Should I make it obvious and have his essence sort of flow out of the sword as he reforms? How would they go about cleansing the sword so it no longer lets him reform next to it? (I figure I'll let them cleanse the sword but it won't completely get rid of Reluraun, who will simply reform back in his tomb and start using his other sword [the dragon slayer]).   I'm also a little concerned that once they do figure it out, they'll try and "game" the system and wait for Reluraun to show up and get him to slaughter all the bad guys for them (since he's totally insane and just attacks anything that's alive, even if it's just a little bird or bunny).
#28 Orethalion Apr 29, 2015 21:34:14	pukunui wrote:
#29 pukunui Apr 29, 2015 22:04:19	Orethalion wrote:
#30 Orethalion Apr 29, 2015 22:34:27	pukunui wrote:
#31 pukunui Apr 29, 2015 23:03:37	I was just going to say remove curse could do it but that's an intriguing idea too.
#32 pukunui Apr 30, 2015 18:40:11	Orethalion wrote:
#33 Orethalion May 01, 2015 17:39:31	pukunui wrote:
#34 pukunui May 01, 2015 17:46:27	Orethalion wrote: