| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 06 Aug 2005 : 20:35:26
Just wondering if any of my fellow scribes have gotten this issue of Dungeon yet and read through the "Blood of Malar" adventure that is part one of the Vampires of Waterdeep campaign arc.
From a Realmslore point of view, I loved the references to Dhusarra calling on a High Hunt, and how Malar reacted to her change of rules for the ritual. I also liked the Blood Root, the pack from the Grey Wolf Uthgardt tribe, and the Death Tyrant.
Finding out that there was an advenutring company that was sponsored by a vampire in secret to take out other vampires, and that there is one "Master Vampire" in Waterdeep is a very interesting plot point.
The only quibble I have is that this really, as I see it, can't be run alone, no matter what the adventure itself says. If you run this alone, there are so many loose ends and no way to tie them up, this almost HAS to serve as the introduction to the entire arc.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this? |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snotlord |
Posted - 09 Oct 2005 : 13:29:36
This little gem finally arrived at the local gamesshop yesterday (along with some other goodies, like the Sons of Gruumsh), and I am very pleased with the way the adventure turned out.
The adventure offers a nice mix of chases, combat and investigation. It utilizes the setting well, both realmslore and realmscruch, and is not merely a gereric adventure with FR whistles-and-bells. Well done! Kudos to Mona for printing it.
In my Waterdeep game I have among others a cleric of Mask and a fighter hooked on drugs, so I should have plenty of opportunities to introduce the Vampires of Waterdeep and the noble drugdealer long before the character hit 12th level. Perfect  |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 28 Aug 2005 : 12:37:14
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Hey Eric how easy would it be to link Artor Morlin to Mykrul in some way. Im thinking it might be cool to try and link the modules with the Mere of Deadmen series or at least the Eye of Mykrul
Well, three things come to mind:
1) Artor has an interest in destroying vampiric rivals. It would not be unreasonable for him to be a secret patron that sent the PCs off to destroy the major bad guy in #4 of the Mere of Dead Men. In o ther words, Artor spreads work to Djarrus Gost who spreads word to Corinna who hires the PCs to go eliminate the threat. Then add something to #4 that makes the PCs suspicious about the motivation for their hiring.
2) I've always assumed that House Gost is a breakaway branch of House Ruldegost. You could have your players find something in the Uthtower crypt (adventure #5 of the Mere of Dead Men) that's missing it's twin. If they return to Waterdeep for divinations, such investigation might lead them to where it is hidden in the Fireplace Level.
3) Artor has an interest in understanding vampirism in all its forms. This might be broadened to an interest in undead in all its forms. The PCs might chance upon his agents in the Mere investigating what is up with Myrkul's essence, the Eye of Myrkul, or the Cult of Ebondeath around the same time the PCs arrive. This turns it into a race between two rival groups (the PCs, Artor's minions) with different ambitions. Of course, by the time the PCs conclude the adventure, they might be interested in investigating more about the goals and patrons of Artor's minions.
--Eric |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 28 Aug 2005 : 12:28:55
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Well met, Eric!
Although I have not read your adventure in the 'Dungeon', its plot reminds me a bit of one of our high-level adventures in a Waterdeep-campaign. It began when my (nobleman) character met a member of the Wavesilver family at the Plinth, fervently praying at every altar. His eyes had gone completely colorless, and (shortly put) he told that his family had been cursed with a strange illness that seemed to infect everyone, including servants and armsmen. When we researched this mystery, we found a mysterious and crumpled parchment (=hand-out) that contained one of Alaundo's prophecies. The parchment was also filled with (pencil) notes that someone (a sage?) had written about each line in the prophecy. There was also an illustration of the Claw of Malar curling around Selune's symbol, and references to 'Bloody moon', 'Listen to their howls' and 'the Yellow Owl shall fly again'.
We heard that the halfling adventurers "Buckleswashers" carried a golden necklace with the shape of an owl, that they had found in temple ruins in Ardeep forest. Eventually one of them escorted us deep into the forest, where we found a meteor crater, where a cult of elven werewolves were worshipping the Yellow Owl (a roc). These poor lycanthropes were being manipulated by an old green dragon called Srnithverd (or Sarnith Verdull in his elven form in Waterdeep).
This wyrm was behind the curse on the Wavesilver family, and had developed a potion to inflict lycanthropy (from the old meteor on the bottom of the crater - which had originally also inflicted the outcast elves). Apparently some member of the Wavesilvers had befriended the dragon in his elven form in one of Waterdeep's taverns, and thus the whole family and their servants had become suitable targets for the wyrm's "experiment". The adventure concluded with the wyrm (and the Yellow Owl) slain, but his lycanthrope "test subjects" running amok in Wavesilver mansion as our desperate characters arrived back in Waterdeep too late to prevent the "final stage" of the potions taking effect...  
Sounds like a very interesting campaign.
--Eric |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 08:25:18
Info from Dungeon 127
Dungeon of the Crypt
by Eric L. Boyd
The High Hunt leaves the streets of Waterdeep and heads beneath the City of the Dead where monstrous criminal overlords compete for the favor of their mysterious master. It will take more than skill with a blade to cut through the web of deceit and treachery that surrounds the Vampire Master of Waterdeep. Do you have what it takes to survive the Dungeon of the Crypt? A FORGOTTEN REALMS adventure for 13th-level characters
Hey Eric how easy would it be to link Artor Morlin to Mykrul in some way. Im thinking it might be cool to try and link the modules with the Mere of Deadmen series or at least the Eye of Mykrul |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 20:38:38
Hey, playing every other week as we have been, I have plenty of time to try and convince them to take a road trip once they FINALLY reach the proper level to actually play through this, so that isn't TOO big of a concern. |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 19:47:49
Well met, Eric!
Although I have not read your adventure in the 'Dungeon', its plot reminds me a bit of one of our high-level adventures in a Waterdeep-campaign. It began when my (nobleman) character met a member of the Wavesilver family at the Plinth, fervently praying at every altar. His eyes had gone completely colorless, and (shortly put) he told that his family had been cursed with a strange illness that seemed to infect everyone, including servants and armsmen. When we researched this mystery, we found a mysterious and crumpled parchment (=hand-out) that contained one of Alaundo's prophecies. The parchment was also filled with (pencil) notes that someone (a sage?) had written about each line in the prophecy. There was also an illustration of the Claw of Malar curling around Selune's symbol, and references to 'Bloody moon', 'Listen to their howls' and 'the Yellow Owl shall fly again'.
We heard that the halfling adventurers "Buckleswashers" carried a golden necklace with the shape of an owl, that they had found in temple ruins in Ardeep forest. Eventually one of them escorted us deep into the forest, where we found a meteor crater, where a cult of elven werewolves were worshipping the Yellow Owl (a roc). These poor lycanthropes were being manipulated by an old green dragon called Srnithverd (or Sarnith Verdull in his elven form in Waterdeep).
This wyrm was behind the curse on the Wavesilver family, and had developed a potion to inflict lycanthropy (from the old meteor on the bottom of the crater - which had originally also inflicted the outcast elves). Apparently some member of the Wavesilvers had befriended the dragon in his elven form in one of Waterdeep's taverns, and thus the whole family and their servants had become suitable targets for the wyrm's "experiment". The adventure concluded with the wyrm (and the Yellow Owl) slain, but his lycanthrope "test subjects" running amok in Wavesilver mansion as our desperate characters arrived back in Waterdeep too late to prevent the "final stage" of the potions taking effect... |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 19:13:06
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Well, perhaps I should say that, to my way of thinking and the way things work in my campaign, I would have to run the whole thing, knowing there is so much still looming in the story.
And as I said, its a minor quibble. I really liked it and was glad you wrote it. My only issue now is that my players are only 5th level and based in Mistledale, lol.
But thanks for the personal reply. I really appreciate it.
It may seem like a stretch, but I think you could adapt the adventures fairly straightforwardly to the underworld of a Sembian city or Hillsfar. That might make it easier to use in your campaign. You'd have to change Dhusarra's origin, but she could just as easily be from Cormanthor as Undermountain.
--Eric |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 17:01:07
Well, perhaps I should say that, to my way of thinking and the way things work in my campaign, I would have to run the whole thing, knowing there is so much still looming in the story.
And as I said, its a minor quibble. I really liked it and was glad you wrote it. My only issue now is that my players are only 5th level and based in Mistledale, lol.
But thanks for the personal reply. I really appreciate it. |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 08 Aug 2005 : 16:57:21
My intent was the adventure could be "run alone" in two ways.
1) The backstory isn't there. Dhusarra is really in Waterdeep only to stage a High Hunt and Lord Orlpar is the real target. She can't leave the city until Orlpar is dead. The adventure has nothing to do with Artor Morlin.
2) The backstory is there, but the DM only uses this adventure. Like many stories in real life, the PCs get involved in the middle and then become involved in something else before the story is resolved.
--Eric |
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