So, my playgroup is rapidly closing in on the end of Scepter Tower of Spellgard, and I'm wondering what we're going to do next, when I stumble across my old Dungeon magazines, with the Chimes at Midnight inside one.
Now, I have plenty of ideas on how to convert this to the Realms setting, but I thought I'd ask you, the Realms forum, for some more.
What do you think would make this a good fit for FR in 1479 DR? Where to set the adventure, what to do about the lightning rail (since default FR doesn't have them. What would their existence change?), etc.
For those unfamiliar with the adventure, here's a review, with a small plot synopsis: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12229.phtml
Sharn is easy to convert since the adventure doesnt use its scyscraping towers. Leaving the gray vale they could head for Silverymoon, Sundabar, Waterdeep, Baldur's Gate or Amn.
The criminals are a bit weird for some cities... A gargoyle, a choker, a bugbear, a shifter and a changeling. If you want to use them as is, you can say these criminals were caught in downshadow in waterdeep. The neighborhood encompassing the sewers and the upper level of undermountain. Victor can be a freelancer working for the wealthy (merchant or noble). Many illicit goods change hands in this place, bandits working for themselves or competitors could sabotage these operations. Victor had many succeses solving these problems for his wealthy patron, Lord(baron) Trelib. Victor after all he has done for him wants to enter the high society. He's courting the baron's daughter and after his last great sucess, wants to marry her and enter the nobility. The baron refuses, victor feels betrayed and wants revenge. In this case, the 1st encounter is altered a bit. During the festival, when no patrol will search, the criminals are transferred in concealed cages to the baron's warehouse (rotten ship in mistshore?) where they will become a hearty blindfin meal. No evidence, no mistakes
I dont remember a feral celebration in waterdeep. However you can make 1 to honor malar.Or perhaps you could transform it into Liira's Night (7th flamerule) with a more hedonistic attitude.
You might prefer a more lawful backround for victor. He can work for the city watch as a local senior civilar. After his many triumphs he expected a well deserved promotion. A promotion which never came but instead was given to a foppish landless noble, Lord Trelib... In this case the criminals are transported to the Pit, cause the authorities know very well the cells will be almost full again this morning.
Im sure you wont have a problem to find an abandoned temple for the last few wncounters especially with all these dead gods during the spellplague.
I would try avoid the whole train idea keeping the encounter more or less the same. The warforged seem very programmed in this encounter anyway. Victor wants to humiliate Trelib before killing him. He sends a message to him to bring him something in a specific place. In victor's office the pcs will find the appropriate clues.
If trelib is a crime lord he is asked to bring his noble title to a shant house in Undercliff if he wants to get his daughter back. Victor has trapped the house to collapse. A collapse which will be triggered by the gargoyle which hides nearby. PCs nearing the place will have to confront the golems standing well behind the baron and his entourage and barring entry to the area to anyone else. You can place the encounter near the house but not near enough as to be seen or heard (remember the festivities) by him. The constructs could be scaladars. Artificial scorpions made by trobriand the mad mage. Victor working for a long time in undermountain has met and befriended the mage. Plus the presence of these constructs in the area would verify further the "accident" thats going to happen. Second part can be a skill challenge as the baron nears or opens the door. They can try to convince him that its a trap.
If the baron is a member of the watch, victor demands to steal Piergeiron's sword from castle waterdeep. A widely respected relic and symbol of office for every open lord. In victor's mind such an act will surely bring shame to Trelib and to all of the officials who were implicated in such a choise.
A similar plot could be placed in Amn. The monstrous criminals can easily be explained as bandits and spies (shapeshifters) of murandinn.
If you dont mind a more arabian/eastern setting you can place sharn in vaelan (durpar). Vaelan is the eastern city of spires with a hundred towers, multiheight districts and bridges. Durpar has allied with the Iron Eye goblins, so many goblinoids and monstrous creatures are citizens in vaelan. That will make the criminals in the adventure more convincing. The dragonmarked houses can be replaced by chakas (merchant families) each with its own expertise. There are the defense chaka, banking, guarding etc. Replace the tatoos the dragonmarked houses use with plangents. Each chaka can have a specific type of plangent each with unique powers if you want. I think vaelan is the perfect sharn substitute but still....no lightning rails.
Well thats about it, hope it helps ;)
FR needs a Choo-Choo. :D
I like the Lightening Rail.
FR needs a Choo-Choo. :D
ALL ABOARD.
Last stop the scenic graveyards of Thay.
Of course, the section of tracks they had already lain in Anauroch now passes through 'Shade territory', and is no longer functional. The railaway company is seeking adventurers to go in and find out whats-what.
A section of railroad that is out of operation because it passes through a large region devasted by magic - Just call me 'Mr. Originality'. :P