Unfortunately im hitting a blank on what such mausoleum (which includes a crypt) could have, so im asking for ideas.
The mausoleum is in a forest in the natural world that was once inhabited by a community of eladrins, but which has disappeared long ago (result of a civil war between shadow and fey adepts), and the territory is now contested by nomad elves and goblins (Core Worlds Harken Forest, to be more specific).
What kind of traps and creatures would be appropriate to such a location?
For monsters, im thinking Twig Blights (the influence of shadow magic) and possibly an elemental.
For traps, Daggerthorn Briar and poison based traps seem ok.
I would like to avoid leaning too much on undead, since they will appear prominently in another place (it will also allow red herrings).
Can anyone suggest anything else? The party is L3, but im ok with adjusting things that may not be originally within their range (but within heroic tier).
Any suggestions are most welcomed.
Plants and other fey creatures seem appropriate
Yes, the question is what is most appropriante in this particular location.
if not a given, but I suppose the question to ask that will really determin what you need is what sort of event(s) do you forsee the PCs heading to this mausoleum to lead to? Is there an overarching plotline that your PCs are gunning towards, or is it more of a sandbox style campaign where the heroes determin what happens next?
The crypts were a sidenote in "Reavers of Harkenwold" (the adventure from the Dungeon Master Kit) that they decided to pick on, so im running with it; it isnt supposed to be more than a sidequest for now, a small break from the main plotline, although im already planning on possible consequences for their raid down the line, if they indeed go through with it.
Plants and other fey creatures seem appropriate
Yes, the question is what is most appropriante in this particular location.if not a given, but I suppose the question to ask that will really determin what you need is what sort of event(s) do you forsee the PCs heading to this mausoleum to lead to? Is there an overarching plotline that your PCs are gunning towards, or is it more of a sandbox style campaign where the heroes determin what happens next?
The crypts were a sidenote in "Reavers of Harkenwold" (the adventure from the Dungeon Master Kit) that they decided to pick on, so im running with it; it isnt supposed to be more than a sidequest for now, a small break from the main plotline, although im already planning on possible consequences for their raid down the line, if they indeed go through with it.
Well, if it's suppose to be little more than a side adventure, you could run it delve style with a Spring Nymph (MM3, pg. 151) as the boss. With her in charge, the humanoid enemies are almost limitless since she could have just charmed a bunch of people into working for her. Bloodthorn Vines (MM2, pg. 205) make good low level plant threats in addition to the Twig Blights. Boggles (Threats of the Nentir Vale, pg. 28-29) are average with the party's level, so you could throw one or two of them in the mix for an interesting encounter as well.
Happy Gaming
Well, if it's suppose to be little more than a side adventure, you could run it delve style with a Spring Nymph (MM3, pg. 151) as the boss. With her in charge, the humanoid enemies are almost limitless since she could have just charmed a bunch of people into working for her.
That is indeed a nice encounter, but im having a hard time working it into the eladrin mausoleum location/theme.
Bloodthorn Vines (MM2, pg. 205) make good low level plant threats in addition to the Twig Blights.
Nice indeed, didnt know that one, thks.
Boggles (Threats of the Nentir Vale, pg. 28-29) are average with the party's level, so you could throw one or two of them in the mix for an interesting encounter as well.
They do indeed; i had already found them, but forgot to include them in the list above.
To gather what i have so far:
- my idea for this sidetrek was to make it into 3 encounters: 1 skill challenge to represent the hardships of getting there (they have a map of the relative location), one combat encounter with the guards outside, and another inside the eladrin mausoleum.
- for the skill challenge, im thinking of adapting the one in the "Elves of the Forest" adventure of Dungeon 178; the random encounter in there (if not removed) can possibly be an encounter with a party of goblins (there was an elven attack on a nearby goblin camp, they can be runaways from that), although the nymph encounter can be made to work here.
- for the entrance guards, the Daggerthorn Briar, the Bloodthorn Vines and the Twig Blights work well
- Im still at a loss of what can guard/inhabit an eladrin mausoleum; both shadow and fey energies are present, so the boggles are a good candidate; any other ideas?
- another possibility im thinking over is add an encounter after they retrieve the goods and come outside, to be ambushed by another tomb raiding party (possibly members of the Gray Company introduced in the "Threats to the Nentir Vale" book).
Any other ideas, especially on what could guard/inhabit an eladrin mausoleum?
Well, if it's suppose to be little more than a side adventure, you could run it delve style with a Spring Nymph (MM3, pg. 151) as the boss. With her in charge, the humanoid enemies are almost limitless since she could have just charmed a bunch of people into working for her.
That is indeed a nice encounter, but im having a hard time working it into the eladrin mausoleum location/theme.
Well, to expound upon the idea a bit more, perhaps the Spring Nymph is little more than an interloper upon a much grimmer plot concerning the tomb. If shadow power has mixed with the eladrin magics, the locations could catch the eye of people from the Shadowfell who would seek such powers, particularly the shadowborn Eladrin wizard Veleris a'Lindesta (The Shadowfell, Gloomwrought and Beyond, pg. 125). Veleris could have sent troops to the location to procure some secret knowledge or object of interest from it, but his men were charmed in the midst of their search by a passing Spring Nymph into puppets to abate her boredom. You could use this idea to create more hooks for your players, and possibly make efforts to begin a full campaign to bring down Veleris' master, the god Vecna himself.
Veleris isn't picky with whom he hires so long as they don't ask questions, so a few humanoids of appropriate level will suffice for this storyline angle should you choose to run with it.
Use whatever group needs to be tied back in as the perpetrators (whether it's to get the story back on track or to expand it in another direction).
Another option would be that they're to late and the crypt has already been robbed. The Spring Nymph needs them to track down what was taken and return it (time limit) to prevent whatever was supposed to be held there from escaping.
Use whatever group needs to be tied back in as the perpetrators (whether it's to get the story back on track or to expand it in another direction).
I like that idea too