Aberrations, Vampires, or...something ELSE? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Aberrations, Vampires, or...something ELSE?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
johnnyarkham
Jun 21, 2008 17:11:23 Been working with a small group and getting geared up for a new campaign.
I've been kind of leaning towards making the overriding theme Aberration-centered. There's so much to do with the Lords of Madness in the Eberron setting, after all.

But I've also been considering something to do with the Undead; vampires in particular. A couple of the characters have Last War anti-Karnath concepts, so that has appeal.

Anyone else have any 'monster-type themes' that they think might be fun for a several month campaign?

For a short version of the important bits, party consists of a Warforged Cleric of the Host, Shifter Druid, Kalashtar Telepath, Half-Elf Artificer, and an Elven Soulknife.
We're based out of Q'barra and the party is loosely tied at this point. Also, one PC inherited a small experimental ship which MAY have undiscovered abilities.

Please inspire me!!
#2
ellorin
Jun 22, 2008 8:29:18 A base in Q'barra AND a Kalashtar PC?There's a soulknife too... I think that the Dreaming Dark should affect the campaign in very short order, using its own forces or mainly through puppets(even Sebastes can be one). Furthermore, Q'barra is a good place for clashes between the Lords of Dust and the Chamber.

Beyond that, some more information about the PCs is required.
#3
skrap-san
Jun 23, 2008 7:01:07 Q'barra says one thing to me.

Here there be DINOSAURS!

Sorry just had to. Anyways, I agree, its a good place to throw in some dreaming dark. Otherwise there is the Fiendish black dragon that I can't remember the name of right now that guards a trapped Rhajara. Oooooo now I want to make a quest with that...

Basics is that the dragon is linked/bound to the place he guards. He is considered a god by the local lizardfolks, and it has gone to his head. So they give him treasure he lives in a old demonic ruin. In my head there is a demon trapped in the bottom of the ruin in a flame similar to the silver flame. And it would be wicked cool to explore said ruin and stopping a cult of the dragon below from freeing the demon.
#4
Alas
Jun 23, 2008 10:37:39 So the ingredients you've given us are:
Warforged Cleric of the Host
Shifter Druid
Kalashtar Telepath
Half-Elf Artificer
Elven Soulknife.
Based out of Q'barra
Small experimental ship

How about: Mordain the Fleshweaver has sent his minions (low- to mid-level Aberrations that can mostly pass through society) to Qbarra to fetch dinosaurs, lizardmen, and undefended people as "raw material" for his experiments. Over time, it turns out that Mordain has been sub-contracted by the Dreaming Dark to create new experimental vessels for the Quori-- Aberrations with a psychic edge! Can the party free the captives before their transformation is complete? And how will the Daughters feel about Mordain dealing on the side?

Aberrations to throw at the party could include:
Chimeric (in the sense of patchwork) dinosaurs, both terrestrial and aquatic, that assault villages in a straight-up monster fest.
Aberrant secret agents (like puppeteers and half-daelkyr) that must be ferreted out before they can sabotage events.
Sympathetic aberrations that just want to be cured or left alone.
Recurring but unstable aberrations, whose forms become more monstrous (and more powerful) each time the party encounters them.
Psychic aberrations that play literal and figurative mind games with the party and their allies.
Symbionts, organic weapons, and other Cronenberg-worthy props.

If you want to get the undead involved... just consider what happens to all those Aberrations that get "put down."
#5
mystrich
Jun 24, 2008 22:26:41 Rather than Mordain himself, I think it might work better if they actually convince the aberrations. At least, IMO, Mordain is crazy/too obsessed with his own works.
#6
nundahl
Jun 25, 2008 8:40:15
Basics is that the dragon is linked/bound to the place he guards. He is considered a god by the local lizardfolks, and it has gone to his head. So they give him treasure he lives in a old demonic ruin. In my head there is a demon trapped in the bottom of the ruin in a flame similar to the silver flame. And it would be wicked cool to explore said ruin and stopping a cult of the dragon below from freeing the demon.

I just have to chime in here, because I love this idea. So much I actually ran a group through it once, had a Rakhasa trick a bunch of Blood of Vol cultists into believe he himself was Lady Vol (tricky shapeshifters). (Fooled the PC's too, who thought they were boned with Vol then panicked even more when they thought I was throwing a Rajah at them). Long story short the Rakshasa was there to break four ancient stone seals that bound the Rajah in place. The heroes were able to infiltrate the ancient fiend ruins, battling the Lizardfolk who held guard there, got captured by Rhashaak the half-fiend black dragon, encounted the fake Vol who revealed himself in a BBEG monologue, broke out of their cells, battled some of Rhashaak's children (I used Wyverns as sort of impure dragon-like creatures Rhashaak raised as his own, but the setting material seem's to suggest half-dragons if you like cannon) and finally met Rhashaak personally and allied the evil old dragon, together taking on the Rakshasa and all of his allies.

I think the party was pleased.
#7
johnnyarkham
Jun 25, 2008 17:55:25 I am in awe of your collective creativity. Top notch, folks. Truly.
My thanks for all the inspiration!
It's looking like I'm going to, primarily, be running Eyes of the Lich Queen...but that's merely the backbone. You've supplied SO much more MEAT for the overall campaign.
Bravo!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 johnnyarkham Jun 21, 2008 17:11:23	Been working with a small group and getting geared up for a new campaign. I've been kind of leaning towards making the overriding theme Aberration-centered. There's so much to do with the Lords of Madness in the Eberron setting, after all. But I've also been considering something to do with the Undead; vampires in particular. A couple of the characters have Last War anti-Karnath concepts, so that has appeal. Anyone else have any 'monster-type themes' that they think might be fun for a several month campaign? For a short version of the important bits, party consists of a Warforged Cleric of the Host, Shifter Druid, Kalashtar Telepath, Half-Elf Artificer, and an Elven Soulknife. We're based out of Q'barra and the party is loosely tied at this point. Also, one PC inherited a small experimental ship which MAY have undiscovered abilities. Please inspire me!!
#2 ellorin Jun 22, 2008 8:29:18	A base in Q'barra AND a Kalashtar PC?There's a soulknife too... I think that the Dreaming Dark should affect the campaign in very short order, using its own forces or mainly through puppets(even Sebastes can be one). Furthermore, Q'barra is a good place for clashes between the Lords of Dust and the Chamber. Beyond that, some more information about the PCs is required.
#3 skrap-san Jun 23, 2008 7:01:07	Q'barra says one thing to me. Here there be DINOSAURS! Sorry just had to. Anyways, I agree, its a good place to throw in some dreaming dark. Otherwise there is the Fiendish black dragon that I can't remember the name of right now that guards a trapped Rhajara. Oooooo now I want to make a quest with that... Basics is that the dragon is linked/bound to the place he guards. He is considered a god by the local lizardfolks, and it has gone to his head. So they give him treasure he lives in a old demonic ruin. In my head there is a demon trapped in the bottom of the ruin in a flame similar to the silver flame. And it would be wicked cool to explore said ruin and stopping a cult of the dragon below from freeing the demon.
#4 Alas Jun 23, 2008 10:37:39	So the ingredients you've given us are: Warforged Cleric of the Host Shifter Druid Kalashtar Telepath Half-Elf Artificer Elven Soulknife. Based out of Q'barra Small experimental ship How about: Mordain the Fleshweaver has sent his minions (low- to mid-level Aberrations that can mostly pass through society) to Qbarra to fetch dinosaurs, lizardmen, and undefended people as "raw material" for his experiments. Over time, it turns out that Mordain has been sub-contracted by the Dreaming Dark to create new experimental vessels for the Quori-- Aberrations with a psychic edge! Can the party free the captives before their transformation is complete? And how will the Daughters feel about Mordain dealing on the side? Aberrations to throw at the party could include: Chimeric (in the sense of patchwork) dinosaurs, both terrestrial and aquatic, that assault villages in a straight-up monster fest. Aberrant secret agents (like puppeteers and half-daelkyr) that must be ferreted out before they can sabotage events. Sympathetic aberrations that just want to be cured or left alone. Recurring but unstable aberrations, whose forms become more monstrous (and more powerful) each time the party encounters them. Psychic aberrations that play literal and figurative mind games with the party and their allies. Symbionts, organic weapons, and other Cronenberg-worthy props. If you want to get the undead involved... just consider what happens to all those Aberrations that get "put down."
#5 mystrich Jun 24, 2008 22:26:41	Rather than Mordain himself, I think it might work better if they actually convince the aberrations. At least, IMO, Mordain is crazy/too obsessed with his own works.
#6 nundahl Jun 25, 2008 8:40:15	Basics is that the dragon is linked/bound to the place he guards. He is considered a god by the local lizardfolks, and it has gone to his head. So they give him treasure he lives in a old demonic ruin. In my head there is a demon trapped in the bottom of the ruin in a flame similar to the silver flame. And it would be wicked cool to explore said ruin and stopping a cult of the dragon below from freeing the demon. I just have to chime in here, because I love this idea. So much I actually ran a group through it once, had a Rakhasa trick a bunch of Blood of Vol cultists into believe he himself was Lady Vol (tricky shapeshifters). (Fooled the PC's too, who thought they were boned with Vol then panicked even more when they thought I was throwing a Rajah at them). Long story short the Rakshasa was there to break four ancient stone seals that bound the Rajah in place. The heroes were able to infiltrate the ancient fiend ruins, battling the Lizardfolk who held guard there, got captured by Rhashaak the half-fiend black dragon, encounted the fake Vol who revealed himself in a BBEG monologue, broke out of their cells, battled some of Rhashaak's children (I used Wyverns as sort of impure dragon-like creatures Rhashaak raised as his own, but the setting material seem's to suggest half-dragons if you like cannon) and finally met Rhashaak personally and allied the evil old dragon, together taking on the Rakshasa and all of his allies. I think the party was pleased.
#7 johnnyarkham Jun 25, 2008 17:55:25	I am in awe of your collective creativity. Top notch, folks. Truly. My thanks for all the inspiration! It's looking like I'm going to, primarily, be running Eyes of the Lich Queen...but that's merely the backbone. You've supplied SO much more MEAT for the overall campaign. Bravo!