i have just finished writing up a campaign in undermountain for my players, 3e
however these is one thing that has been on my mind since i started.
Its whether or not i should have a halaster cameo.
Im not a huge fan of the faerun npc cameos in general and my players have never encounter drizzt or elminster etc.
Halaster however is one of my favorite character of the series, and i would love to include him in the conclusion of my campaign as a type of deux ex machina. ie as the story progress at the end the adventurers have a escape "possibility". currently it resides with a Gnome mage who has taken up residence in undermountain level 2 and offers them a way out in exchange for a quest thread.
im thinking of making it halaster instead. What do you guys think. Do these cameos spoil the game? is halaster likely to make an appearance to common adventurers on only level 2 of his dungeon? kind of thing.
Thoughts much appreciated lads
im thinking of making it halaster instead. What do you guys think.
You just said you would love to include a cameo of Halaster, so you probably should.
Do these cameos spoil the game?
No, not necessarily! If I were a player in your game, I'd love to see such a cameo. However, you know your players better than I do.
is halaster likely to make an appearance to common adventurers on only level 2 of his dungeon? kind of thing.
The guy has a twisted mind and loves toying with adventurers who come onto his turf. If you want Halaster to visit your players, then he has some particular reason for doing so.
Though in my own realms he is still very much alive... along with Mystra, Mask, and all the Chosen of Mystra.
Let's not forget that in published realms material, Halaster is dead!
And of course the OP (like yourself) is free to disregard that.
Besides, Halaster dies in 1375 DR--this particular game may predate that year anyway.ive just ordered the 4th edition rules from amazon, im not very happy that he is not in faerun anymore. but as you say i can simply put him back in.
Can you guys let me know how he died. He is like my favourite NPC from the source books.
Regardless my own adventure at present is still 3rd/3.5 so he is still Bombing around.
I think you are right Rinonalyrna Fathomlin If i really want him in then in he will go!!!!:D just hope i do him justice. Thinking up that rhyming scheme thing on the fly will be interesting!!!!
.Other than that, yes - your game, your NPCs. If you want Halaster to be in Undermountain, he will be there.
i imagine halaster as incredibly cunning with contingencies out the ying yang. Although he may be stark raving mad he is none the less and old hand at surviving the nastier things thrown at him. The ghost in the shell idea thing is pretty cool.
Which means your PCs won't be running to him for help, or going after him. He's just too... random, to really screw-up your game in any way.
So I say sure, go ahead and use him. He's probably the one big NPC I would use in one of my games (if I ever headed west, that is).
By the gods!! halaster dead? nooooo.
ive just ordered the 4th edition rules from amazon, im not very happy that he is not in faerun anymore. but as you say i can simply put him back in.
Right.
Can you guys let me know how he died. He is like my favourite NPC from the source books.
He dies in the prelude to the Expedition to Undermountain adventure that come out in 2007. The book is "generic", but the part about Halaseter was "canonized" in Grand History of the Realms. I don't recall the details about the death except that his soul is shredded to pieces and scattered.
I think you are right Rinonalyrna Fathomlin If i really want him in then in he will go!!!!:D just hope i do him justice. Thinking up that rhyming scheme thing on the fly will be interesting!!!!
That's the spirit.
But this is HALASTER we are talking about. :D
He's so nuts he confused Asmodeus!
Does halaster appear in any of the novels? or just the adventure box's and source books?
Spot on.
Does halaster appear in any of the novels?
He's made appearances in some of Ed's stories.
Two I can think of offhand are Elminster and Hell and the short story he wrote for Realms of the Underdark (don't recall the title, sorry--it was reprinted in Best of the Realms II--The Stories of Ed Greenwood).-That is a good point, though. Halaster and Undermountain are synonymous. It really isn;t one without the other...
-Its like having Peanut Butter without the Jelly! :D
18DELTA (CYRIC IS THE BOMB) :P
Halaster confusing Asmodeus is a wonderful thing. The Archfiend has probably never had a mortal do that to him before.
-Keep in mind some of the mortals, across the entire multiverse, who did and could have existed. It's got to have happened more than once. If we go on the concept that Asmodeus is the same "Satan-Evil-Devil" that exists in Judeo-Christianity, there are some people who might qualify, who lived, in theory could have lived, and/or live on Earth.
to those who know he still exists. DMs should
ensure that he remains an enigma in their campaigns;
most adventurers, even those who are brave
(or depraved) enough to call Undermountain home
should never meet Halaster, though many claim to
have seen the strange "phantoms" of an aged wizard
who observes much in Undermountain. Halaster is
mad and evil, a terrible combination when one is as
powerful as he."
Found above in the old source book on villans.
Im going to have to postpone anyway, just got the 4th edition rule books and we are hooked. Love em!!!! so, my hard work for the last few weeks has been for naught until i find a use for the maps i designed.
Ah well i enjoyed writing and designing it in any case played or unplayed
He's made appearances in some of Ed's stories.
He also made a very cool appearance at the very end of Blackstaff.
"Satan-Evil-Devil"
I need to file that word away for future use.
The_Orconian--I agree.
-Well, that wasn't supposed to be a new word/term or anything.
But it was funny.
You know - "My middle-name is EVIL!" - followed by much corny evil-villain laughter.
He's made appearances in some of Ed's stories.
"A Slow Day in Skullport". And in Silverfall.