First is an epic mage who has developed an epic spell that, if cast, will bind an incredible powerfull entity(like Orcus, Asmodeus and such) and is using him to further his own power.My problem is that of how convincing it appears can a spellcaster really bind and cotrol him or he's a devoted follower of him?I would appreciate opinions and suggestions aout what the power should be and the consequenses of that action of summoning.The mage i would like to be around around27-30 lvls with him being either a lich, a half-fiend or a combination of the two.
Second a very powerfull priest tries to reawaken a gone deity(most likely Mirkul) but in order to do that he must gather folloers spell power and recources to make a ritual.i haven't given much thought to that, to be honest.
Thirdly, a spellcaster, or a champion of some kind opens a gate to the infernal realms, with the cooperation of some evil churches and organizations, with the hopes of conquering the world.
I have not decided yet in which year i should run this campaign but it would most likely be around 1373-1375 DR.Another fact is that i'll use a wide variety of artifacts(mythallars, nether scrolls), organizations(Red Wizards, Shadovar) and NPCs.Any suggesitons advice and hints about the villains, heroes, dates and artifacts would be immensely appreciated.Thx!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try looking through Power of Faerun. Remember, by the time you reach Epic levels, you'll be one of the major "movers and shakers" of the Realms, so there should probably be a lot of political goings-on in your games, as the powers of different nations interact.
That depends how famous you became while rasing your levels. You could be 21st lvl and unknown or 10th lvl and famous.
That depends how famous you became while rasing your levels. You could be 21st lvl and unknown or 10th lvl and famous.
I generally find it difficult to believe that you could make it all the way to 21st level without stepping on any toes or getting tangled up in any sort of political game whatsoever. Sure, it might happen, but the chances of it doing so aren't very high at all.
I generally find it difficult to believe that you could make it all the way to 21st level without stepping on any toes or getting tangled up in any sort of political game whatsoever. Sure, it might happen, but the chances of it doing so aren't very high at all.
-That depends on your definition of 'The Realms'. I consider 'The Realms' all of Abeir-Toril. So, a 20th character in Osse can easily be unknown to people in Waterdeep. Even if you magnify the picture a little bit, it can still be very much possible. The guardians of the city of Mezro are extremely important, Chosen, and relativley high level (I am sure). Would a warlord in the Border Kingdoms know of them? Basically, the more magnified the picture gets, the more suspension of belief is going to be necessary.
I have the Epic Level Handbook...
-Alright, that's good. A while ago, someone asked for help about running a campaign for her (I think, since 'she' used a pinkish font color) 20th Level + campaign. When I told her to use some of the monsters from the Epic Level Handbook, 'she', asked what that was!
Basically, the more magnified the picture gets, the more suspension of belief is going to be necessary.
Somebody on the other side of Toril probably hasn't heard of the PCs unless they happen to be interested in them (or the area the PCs are in) for some reason. But that doesn't mean that other people on the same side as you are haven't heard of you, and they would have to have asked at some point for assistance, favours, aid... all sorts of political goings-on. I simply cannot see somebody reaching "Epic levels" in a vacuum where they don't interact with anybody or anything around them at all.
A 23rd level wizard (for example) entering Waterdeep (even from the aforementioned other side of Toril) would, I think, be expected to (if it's an "adventure") end up interacting in some way with the other high-level personages there. That's simply because the threats they're coming up against are simply higher, threats that other "movers and shakers" would perhaps hear of and involve themselves with. The hypothetical 23rd level wizard wouldn't be stopping by to fight a tribe of kobolds.
organizations(Red Wizards, Shadovar) and NPCs.Any suggesitons advice and hints about the villains, heroes, dates and artifacts would be immensely appreciated.
By the way, do you have Lords of Darkness and Champions of Ruin? A lot of information can be found in those.
Somebody on the other side of Toril probably hasn't heard of the PCs unless they happen to be interested in them (or the area the PCs are in) for some reason. But that doesn't mean that other people on the same side as you are haven't heard of you, and they would have to have asked at some point for assistance, favours, aid... all sorts of political goings-on. I simply cannot see somebody reaching "Epic levels" in a vacuum where they don't interact with anybody or anything around them at all.
A 23rd level wizard (for example) entering Waterdeep (even from the aforementioned other side of Toril) would, I think, be expected to (if it's an "adventure") end up interacting in some way with the other high-level personages there. That's simply because the threats they're coming up against are simply higher, threats that other "movers and shakers" would perhaps hear of and involve themselves with. The hypothetical 23rd level wizard wouldn't be stopping by to fight a tribe of kobolds.
My players ended the first chapter of my campaign at 10th lvl in Silverymoon, except for Alustriel and the leaders of the Harpers on the Silver Marches the characters are unknown, now I'm DMing CotSQ, where they'll get to 18th lvl and they'll only be known in Daggerdale. By the time they reach epic levels they'll still be relatively unknown.
Sha is a shadow adept.Do u think this is most believable a half-fiend lich normal spellcaster or a shadow weaver?Also i'm thinking of using either oe of the crown of Horns crown og Ndulhu or crown of Narfell for this campaign
-Oh, Shadow Adept. Alright, makes sense.
-I'd just go with the normal Weave. I tried incorporating something like the Shadow Weave into a campaign I ran once, and the PCs didn't get any of the hints I dropped that it wasn't normal magic. So, I just dropped it.
Two of the charecters before they were retired, were involved in the TOT (I ran the 3 modules about 5 or 6 years ago) and even they only had limited fame. The world is too big I think for any but very few to be world famous.
1. A powerful Necromancer belonging to the Cult of the Dragon has been secretly tracking down the lost phylacteries of Sacred ones who have been destroyed. He manages to track down several (including Shagrailar's). Then the year of the Rogue Dragons brought about an unexpected windfall. Dragons were dying by the hundreds, and he set out to harvest as many of the corpses as he could. Now he has several large caches of dragon corpses. His plan is to restore the fallen sacred ones, and bring them under his control. Not only do they owe him for bringing them back, but he also has control over their phylacterys. Once he has enough to form a flight, he will use them to take control over the cult, and turn it into one united force. Then he will use his army of dracoliches to conquer faerun.
Having seen what a rage of dragons can do, one can only imagine what destruction a rage of dracoliches could unleash. In that way, he will be fullfilling Maglas's prophecy, " and naught shall be left save shattered thrones with no rulers. But the dead dragons shall rule the world entire". If a sacred one should fall, it will return in but a few days. It would be a war of attrition that Faerun simply cannot win. Enter a plucky group of adventurers.
2. A Nar sorcerer stumbles across an ancient Narfell ruin, and learns of his country's past, and becomes a Demon Binder. He romanticizes his country's past, and vows to restore Narfell to it's former glory. He grows in power, and begins to unite the tribes under his banner. He eventully proclaims himself the Nentyarch. However he is plagued by constant challenges to his rule. He needs a symbol, something to legitimize his claim to the throne. So he hatches a plan to re-forge the crown of Narfell. The party learns of his ambutions, and can help stop the rise of Narfell. In the final battle, where Impiltur, Damarra, and Rasheman unite to bring down the threat, Eltab him self was set loose against them.
3. Hoar had been driven from Unther long ago. However now his enemies were for the most part dead, and he is the last remaining true Untheric diety (excluding Tiamat of course). Unther is in dire straights, with multiple factions looking to carve the nation up among themselves. Hoar decides to return to Unther to help his people take back thier nation, and gain vengenance on those who wronged them. The PC's become Hoar's tools in this endever. Part of the adventure synopsis includes the PC's tracking down Shurrapak and convincing him to become Hoar's chosen. His first task is to defeat Tzchazzar, the chosen of tiamat. This allows him to gain vengence on the slayer of his former lord, and free chessenta from Tiamats control. The PC's help turn the tide, and allow Unther to become united and free from foriegn control.
By the time they reach epic levels they'll still be relatively unknown.
But they will be known in the areas that they've been adventuring, which was part of my point. They don't exist in a vacuum.
Bonzai, i especially liked the one with the necromancer.It rocks!The other two seemed average to me.;) Ok how abou a very powerfull necromancer wishes to bring Myrkull back, so he gathers large numbers of evil humanoids and makes them to start worhiping Myrkul again.The only thing that remains for the ritual of Myrkull's return is the Crown of Horns and either the Crown of Narfell or Crown of Nduhlu.What if that necromancer was Aumvor and i'll be probalby involve both cults of Eltab, Orcus and Kiaransalee
-Give him an ego. He wears the Crown of Horns- let him have his own sentience, for a time- and fashions himself the NEW Myrkul, and forces all of the people he kidnaps and whatever to worship HIM.
-A word of advice: While this is epic, of course, don't throw in too much.
But they will be known in the areas that they've been adventuring, which was part of my point. They don't exist in a vacuum.
Barely known, as known to your co-workers in your workplace.
-Give him an ego. He wears the Crown of Horns- let him have his own sentience, for a time- and fashions himself the NEW Myrkul, and forces all of the people he kidnaps and whatever to worship HIM.
U are right, of course, Lord Karsus.Actually i thought something of this sort myself but as i told u i would like my villain to be an undaed and it will work better if a living creature dons the crown of horns.But maybe that's what i 'll do i'll make him a half fiend who steals the Crown of Horns and at fisrt he wishes to become a god but slowly the essense of Myrkul corrupts him.Maybe i'll have hiv develop an epic spell that slays all the worshipers of a certain deity(like Bane used) or massive compulsio which makes those who succumb to it to worship him instead;)
U are right, of course, Lord Karsus.
-Of course. ;)
Actually i thought something of this sort myself but as i told u i would like my villain to be an undaed and it will work better if a living creature dons the crown of horns.
-Maybe, you could have him 'Half-Undead', or something like that. He's alive and stuff, but the longer he has the Crown of Horns on, he more Undead he becomes. I don't know if there is a 'Half-Undead' template or anything, but that's easy enough to make something like that up.
Barely known, as known to your co-workers in your workplace.
Which does not invalidate my argument.
Which does not invalidate my argument.
They aren't going to be as well known as Waterdeep, that's for sure.
One as i said is a very powerful mage or priest who has summoned an incredible powerful fiend and works to bring destruction to others
The second one would be an equal powerful half-fiend tha looks for the Crown of Horns in order to become a god.
My questions would be what class do u think my second villain should be(if u like mention and my first one;) ).And if it fits all together what artifacts i might use, as well as a fiend
They aren't going to be as well known as Waterdeep, that's for sure.
And again, they won't/don't exist in a vacuum. I used the Waterdeep example as just that - an example.
To bring the discussion back to the subject.
That discussion is on your subject: it's vanishingly unlikely for an adventuring band to make it to 20th level without having made many friendships, enmities, alliances and rivalries, which are a large amount of what high-level play in the Realms consists of.
And if it fits all together what artifacts i might use, as well as a fiend
Artifacts with unknown or secret powers that allow your villains (they think) to accomplish ends they otherwise couldn't achieve; ones with cultural and historical relevance to the backgrounds and interests of your PCs, and to NPCs who may try to obtain, destroy or subvert them.
omg its an Acerak clone...... run for the hills....
you know you could use the shadowcaster, and or nar demonbinder...
as for powers, churches would, the harpers would, zhents would, you name it, they could end up being a thorn.
as for the artifacts, id use none of them, as the dmg artifacts outside the hammer of thunderbolts were all weak.
use divine relics, or create your own artifact
as for the artifacts, id use none of them, as the dmg artifacts outside the hammer of thunderbolts were all weak.
Speaking of the Hammer of Thunderbolts, I always prefer the name "Crom Faeyr". It just sounds so much more... well, "badass" is the only term that comes to mind.
I meant Fr artifacts such as nether scrolls and mythalars.
The Anauroch adventure
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features the Shadovar stealing the Quess Ar Teranthvar from Windsong Tower - the Quess Ar Teranthvar is a tree shaped by magic from the Nether Scrolls. As in, it's a complete copy of the scrolls, just altered by magic. You could use that hook somewhere if you like (as in, somebody stealing that copy of the Nether Scrolls).
Mystra. Azuth. Perhaps Larloch and Ioulam. :D
-Perhaps, no, no and nope.
I meant Fr artifacts such as nether scrolls and mythalars.As for the half-fiend tmplate as i said before i want to give him special powers and the half-fiend combined with the lich makes it very hardcore IMO;) Finally about it's class u mean Shadow Weaver, because there's a class named shadowcaster in Tome of Magic.If u mean shadow weave spellcaster i would go 4 it but Lord Karsus turned me away from it and who knows about magic better:D ?
FR artifacts?? minor or major?
and then religious or historical?
-Perhaps, no, no and nope.
I just got an odd mental image of your avatar standing up in front of his/her/its keyboard to rapidly shift and rearrange those robes and "hitch up" its trousers. ;)
the art blade( its one of the elf blades of myth drannor, mind you to use it you must be an elf and worthy of it, or return it to myth drannor)
these are two minor artifacts i can think of that are unacounted for at the moment.
there is also that corrupt moonblade sentient as hell and ought to be destroyed if found.
divine relics, most of those that are associated in the FR are listed in dragon mags.
the relics in the magic item compendium are usable
the artifacts in the dmg are usable.
I just got an odd mental image of your avatar standing up in front of his/her/its keyboard to rapidly shift and rearrange those robes and "hitch up" its trousers. ;)
-Ah, but hat makes you think my avatar is wearing pants? ;)
download Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, bunch of dope artifacts
-And, that can be downloaded for free, from the WotC downloads site.
I gaven't put really thought in the artifacys that's why i'm asking.I would say both minor and major but from both varieties
An Orb of Dragonkind (from the SRD), perhaps? There's also a couple of items from Lost Empires of Faerun that might prove worthwhile:
- The Aryfaern Kerym (Artblade of Cormanthor), which has been lost since Myth Drannor's fall. In my campaign, one of the characters has somewhat recently bonded with the blade, for which I'm intending repercussions once a bit more time has passed (after all, the blade is an intelligent one, created for a specific purpose).
- Perhaps the Imaskarcana (the first and fifth are listed in LEoF, IIRC).
Failing that, there's the aforementioned copy of the Nether Scrolls (the Quess Ar Teranthvar), and the Dragontear Crown of Sharrven (I have absolutely no idea where it is at the present time, though). Other than that, Dragons of Faerun includes a couple of artifact-level items.
-Ah, but hat makes you think my avatar is wearing pants?
Well, hitch up the belt (or whatever's going around the waist), at least. Unless you're not wearing anything there either. :P
download Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, bunch of dope artifacts
Of those items, Crenshinibon has been destroyed, the Windwalker amulet is back in Menzoberranzan, Thakorsil's Seat is in the hands of Szass Tam (IIRC), and I think a couple of others are "gone" or otherwise unavailable too. It's got a good listing, though.
Well, hitch up the belt (or whatever's going around the waist), at least. Unless you're not wearing anything there either. :P
-Eheheheh...;)
Of those items, Crenshinibon has been destroyed
What? When?
What? When?
-The novel Servant of the Shard.
it wouldnt have to be sentient, just have to be powerful than you would normally see.
(this is also why most of the artifacts in the dmg are weak, you can create items that out damage the weapon artifacts, and artifact armor, just enchant a whole set to give active enchantments when worn together, mind you it would likely take a group of arcanists with circle magic to do this)
-The novel Servant of the Shard.
Oh... thinking of the wrong artifact... :p
A recently ascended follower of Orcus has gathered an army of evil humanoids and he intends to wage war in Faerun, especially Waterdeep. He must gather allies fisrt, so he brokes a deal with Kiaranshalee(sp?) worshiping drow, Red Wizards of Thay, Shadovar, and opens numerous gates in order to bring forth demons and such from other planes.In oerder to keep appeased his allies he must reforge the Crown of Narfell and present it to the Szass Tam, recover a set of Nether Scrolls and give it to the Shadovar(or some other Netherese artifact) and provide the drow with a lost Kiira.While he does that he silmutaneously wages war on Damara, Rashemen, the new Cormanthyr, Watrdeep and the North.I plan to incorporate a lot of major Villains who have a role to play as well, such as Eltab, Soneilon, Barim Gorzag(sp?) and even Orcus steps from a gate at the climax of the adventure as his commander wishes to imprison him and gain more power.What do u think have i puted 2 much in it?Also i'm thinking i want the villain to be a 5 lvl Wiz?5 lvl Cleric/20 lvl mystic Theurge lich.Shall i give gim some other vlass.i'm thinking of Nar demonbinder, Archmage, Thaumturgist, or fiend binder(Tome of magic).What do u think about all of it?
He must gather allies fisrt, so he brokes a deal with Kiaranshalee(sp?) worshiping drow
Quick question (and my fault if this has already been asked). What year is this set in? Because in GhotR, the following is noted for 1377 DR:
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Followers of Kiaransalee cause faerzress throughout the Realms Below to affect the ability of Drow to teleport or employ divination magic. In hopes of reversing the effect, Eilistraee's worshipers launch an assault on the Crones of Kiaransalee who rule the Acropolis of Thanatos amid the ruins of V'elddrinnsshar, deep beneath the Galena Mountains. At the same time, Q'arlynd Melarn and his apprentices, employing six Miyeritari kiira, cast High Magic to strip Kiaransalee's name from the Realms. Bereft of any worshipers, the Revenancer fades from existence.
I'm gonna use this fact in my camaign but what do u think of it otherwise?Any ideas questions or corrections?In the climax i'll use this 2 make Orcus force the PC's venturing into Lolth's realm slay the weakened Kiarnshalee(she is banished only from the Realms) and he automatically gains her divinity:D
-That works, and it's a good way of incorporating those events into your campaign. Though, just so you know, usually the person who kills the deity gains their divinity.
at least in my campaign, Ao gives it to what being he deems more fitting to that role
A powerful baddie, with several generals, and a bunch of other talented people though, that make it impossible for your guys to directly deal with the problem by themselves though, should be interesting.
Have a deadline like 3 months till doom(for example), but 1 month in they may realize that they've only beaten one general, can't even directly approach some of the others, are being backstabbed by various agents of the main baddie, and overall have no way of directly opposing the forces against them... with even the allies they've acquired so far...
... I'd also suggest having the main baddie as an extra-planar character, that has a whole network outside, and in fact, possibly serves some yet higher power, who might not particularly care about this plan, but will have some interest in it, and will definitely notice your guys(among others) helping to stop it... that some of this dude's *possibly also evil* opponents also notice you might also be a good thing
Edit: On reading the rest of this topic... my ideas don't seem too far off from what the OP has decided on
Make him an Athiest, just there as initially, hired arcane might
-In the Realms, atheists are near nonexistent.
What i mean is that by adding lvls as a clr or a ftr he 'll be more potent against the players as he'll not cast only arcane spells.
-You could give him a few levels of Psion. That'd really mess the PCs up. It'd look like he's casting Arcane Magic, but he's not.
U think?
-Sure, why not. Imagine the look on the players' face when they cast Dispel Magic, and nothing happens.
-In the Realms, atheists are near nonexistent.
I know... thats the point... it can screw with them... he can carry around a whole bunch of holy symbols and screw with the PC's even more
I know... thats the point... it can screw with them... he can carry around a whole bunch of holy symbols and screw with the PC's even more
-But, asides for the "novelty" of it, it's a silly notion, anyway. It has no real impact.
Scro Invasion:AN invasion of scro. From the skies they came, carrying with them rifles, pistols, bombs, cannons and multibarrel cannons, ready to invade the realm and establish a scro settlement on it. With their spelljamming powers and technological strength, not to mention the giant galleons that fly, they can be almost powerful enough to take out an entire continent.
The Dragon's Time: A Dragon, the last of her kin that was asleep one million years ago has awakened. She find herself trapped in the core of Faerun and can't do anything except lie down on the earth and rest forever. Only problem is that she's pregnant, and she breeds hella fast. It is said that the evolution of her kind is faster than the speed of light, and when she lays her eggs, she lays a lot of them, sending them flying over Faerun from volcanoes and whatever wallabalaka method she knows.
Rafael: The Zhentarim, due to their crazy experiments have finally gone out of bounds. They have created a creature that's weird enough that it has now form and that it consumes anything on it's path, be it magic, fire or friction. And now the creature is growing so big that it has devoured Zhentarim itself, pretty soon it will grow big enough to devour the planet itself. Yeah, and it's your job to stop it....must be some kinda puzzle campaign or something.