Campaign Advice for Xanxost - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Campaign Advice for Xanxost

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
xanxost_the_slaadi_dup
Dec 30, 2003 3:34:34 Hello mortals! Xanxost has a small problem with Xanxost's gaming group and would like the advice of the local bloods.

Xanxost is running a Planescape game on the internet right now, and all of Xanxost's players right now have characters of effectively level two. That's not a problem at all, as Xanxost was planning on keeping them in Sigil and the Land until they're ready to handle the big bad planes.

Unfortunately, Xanxost's players have decided to take a job that not only goes to a big bad plane (the Plane of Ash), but to a very very big bad place.
Has anyone here heard of Cavitius? Yes, that's where Xanxost's level two players are planning on going.

As much as Xanxost feels that smearing them like jam on a mephit would be appropriate, Xanxost doesn't want to end everything like that just yet. Does anyone here have any advice for Xanxost?

Details.
Characters are Human Rogue 2, Draconian Grey Elf Paladin 1, Human Wizard 2, Bladeling Fighter 1.
They took a job from a Vampire whose mistress wishes to find out what's in Cavitius by sending a scrying team (the players being decoys) into the place.
They will leave in one month game time from a bastion in the eighth circle of the Land near Fortitude, taking a very long route to the Plane of Ash, and eventually Cavitius.
Cavitius is a former stronghold of the Doomguard, then it changed hands to Vecna before the cyclops god was taken to Ravenloft. Now it's supposed to be even worse. Oh, and it predates both the Doomguard and Vecna.
Xanxost's campaign takes place about two years pre-Faction War.
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 4:37:22 Have them run into something else and go into a completely new quest. Another option would be to have them fight something small, but big enough to scare them away. If all else fails godly intervention works great =]

Good Luck.
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 5:04:01 If you're into that sort of thing, I'd reccomend a giant, whopping, purely coincidental Deus Ex Machina to both save them after they are beaten black and bloody, and to drop a giant hint that going places that are really dangerous would get them killed before they are ready to take them on. Then, if they do something similar again, just use whatever normal stuff is appropriate to the area. If they die, they die. Maybe they'll make smarter characters next time. Going somewhere dangerous could get you killed. Going somewhere dangerous without doing some research about the area, and not knowing it's dangerous, could get you killed fast. If merely researching the area could get you killed, it's best to take a different quest this time around.
#4
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 5:57:39 Here's three possibilities:

Make the whole thing an elaborate ruse. As soon as they're in an isolated area, have the vampire attack them (maybe make him a spawn rather than a true vampire).

Let them get into Cavitus just far enough to find a means of escape (say, a note on a dead adventurer detailing a nearby keyed portal) and then break out a horde of wraiths to chase them to it. More than one published Planescape adventure intended for the players to spend the climactic battle fleeing for their lives.

Have someone/something in Cavitus that's intelligent enough to see that the PCs are merely decoys. Instead of being killed outright, the party would get captured and interrogated, and then they could try to escape when this person/thing is distracted with slaughtering the scrying team.

In both the latter cases, I'd try to kill at least one of the players in the process to make sure the survivors realized just how lucky they were to have come away with their lives.
#5
primemover003
Dec 30, 2003 14:59:09 Well Xanxost it is technically your fault for throwing that hook out for them to bite on...

However, if the route to Citadel Cavitius is as circuitous as you say then you have plenty of time to level them up. Also you have a game month to prepare them. You could have a rival of the vampire's mistress attempt to glean the info on the trip out of the PC's. This can lead to a purely combat encounter OR it could end up the PC's playing two sides against the middle. The rival could be an enemy, like a zealous Inquisitioner of a LN chuch who is trying to thwart the Mistress' plans.

Have them join up with a Planar Trade Consortium caravan heading for the City of Brass or anywhere on the Inner Planes. Let them travel by way of an Astral conduit to a Prime world, then through a Vortex or Gate on said Prime. Of course the journey on the Prime will be interesting as well. Make Cavitius the end goal for their mid levels 5-8, and reaching it the low level portion... just keep them in safer area's of the multiverse till they're ready for more.
#6
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 17:59:55 dang double posts!
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 17:59:56 And don't forget to put in plenty of mephits! ;)
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2003 21:22:31 It is Xanxost's fault for throwing the hook on which they bit, but sometimes such fals hooks need to be thrown. The presence of an expedition to Ash that the PCs shouldn't be in cahoots with indicates that Xanxost is trying to create a believable world around that PCs and not with them as the focal point for every action.

You may wanna kill one or two, to teach a lesson, but a cheap resurrection may also be in order. Not too cheap, and definitely keep the level drain, but teaching a lesson need not be overboard.
#9
zombiegleemax
Dec 31, 2003 1:29:19 First one must think of the finer points, three low level characters and a death trip to cavitus. Soulutions are simple:

* kill them in route, quick to the point but it might agrivate the pc's
* reroute them, kiddnaping, arrest, or even another quest. you said that they had a month, alot can go wrong in a month.
* claim that another group of adventurers are willing to do the job for less, if the pc's aren't wise enough to back down...
* an outside party such as a chronomancer jumps in to oppose the innerworking of the head necromancer

Either way there are many options at your disposal xanost, Try not to quander on them too long, you might just hurt your little froggy mind.

Frogs taste best served on an open flame!
#10
xanxost_the_slaadi_dup
Dec 31, 2003 21:35:06 Xanxost thinks that Asherladon might be one of the players in question! Xanxost would wish to remind Asherladon that 'Chronomancer' and 'Necromancer' in these cases are to be capitalized too!

Xanxost is definately thinking of ways to keep them alive, and is so far leaning towards having them become stronger by levelling up in both the month prior to the departure, and the trip to Cavitius, which will be a rather long one. That will make it so that they have a better chance of surviving a wraith attack, which should be very common on Cavitius.

Hehe...Xanxost intends to have an Ash Mephit or two show up while they're in the Plane of Ash as well. Xanxost must remember to look closely at Xanxost's Monster Appendix III for more ideas on Ash natives.

Xanxost does realize that it is mostly Xanxost's fault for throwing that particular adventure hook out there in the first place, but Xanxost has always put all sorts of job oppourtunities up on the job boards that they check. Xanxost figures that it's the Players' responsibility to choose the ones that are suited for them. For example: There is always a Tanar'ri offer to join their armies in the Blood War, but no one is addle-coved enough to take that job. This time, Xanxost threw plenty of low-level oppourtunities, but also a few high-level ones. They just chose the worst of the bunch.
Not only did they choose Cavitius, but the wizard was fully knowing how dangerous the place is. But the wizard thought that there might be interesting things to learn in the former lair of an evil God of secrets. Most of Xanxost's blame lies on that wizard, the one member of the party who knows how bad Cavitius is.

Currently Xanxost is leaning towards having an opposing party learn of the expedition, and move in to stop it, Xanxost does like Primemover's suggestion.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 xanxost_the_slaadi_dup Dec 30, 2003 3:34:34	Hello mortals! Xanxost has a small problem with Xanxost's gaming group and would like the advice of the local bloods. Xanxost is running a Planescape game on the internet right now, and all of Xanxost's players right now have characters of effectively level two. That's not a problem at all, as Xanxost was planning on keeping them in Sigil and the Land until they're ready to handle the big bad planes. Unfortunately, Xanxost's players have decided to take a job that not only goes to a big bad plane (the Plane of Ash), but to a very very big bad place. Has anyone here heard of Cavitius? Yes, that's where Xanxost's level two players are planning on going. As much as Xanxost feels that smearing them like jam on a mephit would be appropriate, Xanxost doesn't want to end everything like that just yet. Does anyone here have any advice for Xanxost? Details. Characters are Human Rogue 2, Draconian Grey Elf Paladin 1, Human Wizard 2, Bladeling Fighter 1. They took a job from a Vampire whose mistress wishes to find out what's in Cavitius by sending a scrying team (the players being decoys) into the place. They will leave in one month game time from a bastion in the eighth circle of the Land near Fortitude, taking a very long route to the Plane of Ash, and eventually Cavitius. Cavitius is a former stronghold of the Doomguard, then it changed hands to Vecna before the cyclops god was taken to Ravenloft. Now it's supposed to be even worse. Oh, and it predates both the Doomguard and Vecna. Xanxost's campaign takes place about two years pre-Faction War.
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 4:37:22	Have them run into something else and go into a completely new quest. Another option would be to have them fight something small, but big enough to scare them away. If all else fails godly intervention works great =] Good Luck.
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 5:04:01	If you're into that sort of thing, I'd reccomend a giant, whopping, purely coincidental Deus Ex Machina to both save them after they are beaten black and bloody, and to drop a giant hint that going places that are really dangerous would get them killed before they are ready to take them on. Then, if they do something similar again, just use whatever normal stuff is appropriate to the area. If they die, they die. Maybe they'll make smarter characters next time. Going somewhere dangerous could get you killed. Going somewhere dangerous without doing some research about the area, and not knowing it's dangerous, could get you killed fast. If merely researching the area could get you killed, it's best to take a different quest this time around.
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 5:57:39	Here's three possibilities: Make the whole thing an elaborate ruse. As soon as they're in an isolated area, have the vampire attack them (maybe make him a spawn rather than a true vampire). Let them get into Cavitus just far enough to find a means of escape (say, a note on a dead adventurer detailing a nearby keyed portal) and then break out a horde of wraiths to chase them to it. More than one published Planescape adventure intended for the players to spend the climactic battle fleeing for their lives. Have someone/something in Cavitus that's intelligent enough to see that the PCs are merely decoys. Instead of being killed outright, the party would get captured and interrogated, and then they could try to escape when this person/thing is distracted with slaughtering the scrying team. In both the latter cases, I'd try to kill at least one of the players in the process to make sure the survivors realized just how lucky they were to have come away with their lives.
#5 primemover003 Dec 30, 2003 14:59:09	Well Xanxost it is technically your fault for throwing that hook out for them to bite on... However, if the route to Citadel Cavitius is as circuitous as you say then you have plenty of time to level them up. Also you have a game month to prepare them. You could have a rival of the vampire's mistress attempt to glean the info on the trip out of the PC's. This can lead to a purely combat encounter OR it could end up the PC's playing two sides against the middle. The rival could be an enemy, like a zealous Inquisitioner of a LN chuch who is trying to thwart the Mistress' plans. Have them join up with a Planar Trade Consortium caravan heading for the City of Brass or anywhere on the Inner Planes. Let them travel by way of an Astral conduit to a Prime world, then through a Vortex or Gate on said Prime. Of course the journey on the Prime will be interesting as well. Make Cavitius the end goal for their mid levels 5-8, and reaching it the low level portion... just keep them in safer area's of the multiverse till they're ready for more.
#6 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 17:59:55	dang double posts!
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 17:59:56	And don't forget to put in plenty of mephits! ;)
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 21:22:31	It is Xanxost's fault for throwing the hook on which they bit, but sometimes such fals hooks need to be thrown. The presence of an expedition to Ash that the PCs shouldn't be in cahoots with indicates that Xanxost is trying to create a believable world around that PCs and not with them as the focal point for every action. You may wanna kill one or two, to teach a lesson, but a cheap resurrection may also be in order. Not too cheap, and definitely keep the level drain, but teaching a lesson need not be overboard.
#9 zombiegleemax Dec 31, 2003 1:29:19	First one must think of the finer points, three low level characters and a death trip to cavitus. Soulutions are simple: * kill them in route, quick to the point but it might agrivate the pc's * reroute them, kiddnaping, arrest, or even another quest. you said that they had a month, alot can go wrong in a month. * claim that another group of adventurers are willing to do the job for less, if the pc's aren't wise enough to back down... * an outside party such as a chronomancer jumps in to oppose the innerworking of the head necromancer Either way there are many options at your disposal xanost, Try not to quander on them too long, you might just hurt your little froggy mind. Frogs taste best served on an open flame!
#10 xanxost_the_slaadi_dup Dec 31, 2003 21:35:06	Xanxost thinks that Asherladon might be one of the players in question! Xanxost would wish to remind Asherladon that 'Chronomancer' and 'Necromancer' in these cases are to be capitalized too! Xanxost is definately thinking of ways to keep them alive, and is so far leaning towards having them become stronger by levelling up in both the month prior to the departure, and the trip to Cavitius, which will be a rather long one. That will make it so that they have a better chance of surviving a wraith attack, which should be very common on Cavitius. Hehe...Xanxost intends to have an Ash Mephit or two show up while they're in the Plane of Ash as well. Xanxost must remember to look closely at Xanxost's Monster Appendix III for more ideas on Ash natives. Xanxost does realize that it is mostly Xanxost's fault for throwing that particular adventure hook out there in the first place, but Xanxost has always put all sorts of job oppourtunities up on the job boards that they check. Xanxost figures that it's the Players' responsibility to choose the ones that are suited for them. For example: There is always a Tanar'ri offer to join their armies in the Blood War, but no one is addle-coved enough to take that job. This time, Xanxost threw plenty of low-level oppourtunities, but also a few high-level ones. They just chose the worst of the bunch. Not only did they choose Cavitius, but the wizard was fully knowing how dangerous the place is. But the wizard thought that there might be interesting things to learn in the former lair of an evil God of secrets. Most of Xanxost's blame lies on that wizard, the one member of the party who knows how bad Cavitius is. Currently Xanxost is leaning towards having an opposing party learn of the expedition, and move in to stop it, Xanxost does like Primemover's suggestion.