Basically I've got this adventure idea about a wealthy man hiring a group of adventurers to check out a temple that has been found underground.
The idea is to create a mini series of adventures as the adventurers descend into a complex temple that is composed by many underground floors.
Now, how can I bring this to Eberron? Where should I put these ruins? Who could've built them... what kind of special Eberron monsters should they find in the underground?
The adventure should start at levels 1-2 and finish someplace around 5, so nothing spectacular is needed.
Any help is welcomed.
Since we're short on adventures I figured out that I could help a bit.
Hmm.
Well, there could be ancient Goblinoid temples anywhere from Darguun to the Shadow Marches, maybe even a bit farther north. But, I think they would be best places in Darguun, Breland (I think there is a ruin SE of Sharn?), Droaam, and the Shadow Marches.
Ancient Giant temples are all over the place in Xen'Drik.
Whole bunch of Dragonborn/Lizardfolk temples in Q'Barra, but that's predominantly jungle.
Last, temples connected to the Daelkyr invasion, probably in the Shadow Marches as well.
As for Eberron monsters, the only real one that would apply for would be Dolgaunts and 'grims in Daelkyr-related temples. Any other temples would have the usual denizens.
Also one of the markers of an Eberron adventure is a couple different power groups being involved. Beyond the usual "us vs. them" there's almost always a third or fourth player interested, too.
If you're going with Sharn, then Morgrave University might be intersted in any artifacts unearthed here, possibly offering to buy them. The University may have hired them to explore. In conflict with this is mainstream Dhakaani who may view this as part of their cultural heritage and lay claim to these artifacts. Then you have a more radical group in the temple trying to revive the ancient religion.
Thanks!
I'd also question the use of religion as the focus for the temple, because the goblinoids didn't start turning toward religion (culturally) until after the Daelkyr War, when their society started to collapse. The actual Empire of Dhakaan was more agnostic, but I suppose it's not impossible for a religious shrine to exist. I guess I'm just being nitpicky.
Since they were fighting the Daelkyr, perhaps they could've tried to open a gate to their dimension, trying to force them back or something (just thinking aloud in here).
Since their idea didn't work, they just sealed the place ... ages went by, and whoever found the place first just thought that it could be a temple, after all it's up to the PCs to explore the place ... where they will find themselves surprised when they realize things are not as they thought...
That gives me a good excuse to use "madness" touched creatures ... add a special debuffing madness related power here and there with the monster builder and so on...
Then the other parties interested could also be misguided ... some being manipulated by the Daelkyr into looking for places where this gates can be found ... others in here looking for treasure, perhaps even goblins looking for the emperor's scepter...
Sounds plausible? I'm worried about the Daelkyr angle though... why and how would they get some low level creatures to do their dirty work? I know they are terribly powerful creatures, so I'm having trouble figuring out how to use them ... even as background influence.
Perhaps the temple was the fortress belonging to a notable Dhakaani hero, who had won several victories against the daelkyr (possibly because he possessed a potent Dhakaani artifact that the current-day goblins are looking to retrieve). But eventully, the forces of Xoriat swarmed his home and dragged everyone in it into the horrific depths of Khyber.
As for using the Daelkyr, my advice is "Don't think about it too hard.". They're beings of madness incarnate, afterall. It's pretty much impossible to guess what their plans are using logic. :P
If that answer doesn't jive with you, though, I'd point out that Daelkyr aren't likely the ones plotting to use PCs. Daelkyrs think more like... artists. They do whatever strikes their fancy. The planners and leaders of the forces of Xoriat are the Mind Flayers (To the point where Daelkyr don't even seem that interested in trying to escape Khyber, and it's usually Mind Flayers that scheme to release them.).
And then, even below Mind Flayers themselves are the various "cults of the Dragon Below". Anyone from any level of society can secretely worship the dark forces of Khyber (The various cults aren't a unified whole, btw. Some cults worship the Demon Overlords, some serve the Daelkyr, and some are even lead personally by Mind Flayers. And even then, cults worshipping different overlords or daelkyr, or even multiple cults worshipping the same entity, might not even know the other cults exist or do and oppose them). A low-level cult could represent the "bottom rung of the ladder" concerning the Daelkyr's involvement in early Heroic tier affairs, when the Daelkyr might not even be aware of such a cult's existance, or even care if he does.
Oh, and by the way, a good twist would be to have the PCs hired by a Morgrave University scholar to explore the "temple", but have that scholar actually be a member of a Cult of the Dragon Below. So unbeknownst to the PCs, they are actually working for the "bad guys". The goblins trying to retrieve the hero's Dakhaani artifact might be the "good guys", or they might have an equally nefarious purpose for the artifact once they get their hands on it.
Time to check a bit more on Khyber I guess.
However, you can also think of Khyber as a seperate plane of existance, an entire universe within the planet. The deeper under the surface of Eberron you go, the more the natural features of the Underdark shift and warp and become Khyber. The Elemental Chaos and the Abyss are underneath everyone's feet. Realities churn within the Elemental Chaos, sometimes forming static realms like Fernia and Risia, the planes of Fire and Ice respectively.
If something like that is too daunting for you, you can always stick with the cave networks. Besides, even if you kept the planar aspect to Khyber, it would probably be difficult if not impossible for a low-Heroic party to get deep enough into Khyber (say, miles blow the surface) to start seeing planar stuff.
Thanks for the wonderful insights, I'm sure the players will be delighted. (I know I am)
Your idea got me thinking too. The "temple" that the PCs are exploring is a vast underground complex, built by that Dhakaani hero, but when the aberrant hordes came to take him and his servants, they probably breached the underground "walls" of his fortress.
When the PCs finally delve to the last level of the "temple", they'll think they're almost done exploring, and then they see the big gaping hole shattered into the "floor" of the last level. They should get a foreboding feeling as they realize they have to start exploring the twisting tunnels of the underdark.
I like the idea, in a way it has the potential to become soe sort of Undermountain for the Eberron living campaign.
Not sure if I'll be able to get that sort of interest though, but at least I know what I'll use whenever I feel like DMing
Now for the second part of this... getting some good online maps, tokens, monster templates (for the monster builder) and so on. But I guess I should take that over to another forum in here. Time to look for than.
It's been a blast, if you get some other great ideas, please give this thread a visit and let me know.
Heirs of Dhakaan
Strike Force: Dhakaan
I was just going through the old Dragonshards online here and ran across these which might help give the Dhakaani a more Eberron feel.
Heirs of Dhakaan
Strike Force: Dhakaan
Yep, that works
