I just posted a similar question on the MML, but I think this would be an interesting topic here aswell. Which module associated with Mystara do you think would make a good idea for a Return to type adventure?
Return to the Keep of the Borderlands has already been made, and I suppose Mark of Amber is sort of a Return to Castle Amber.
Any other modules particularly worthy of deserving a Return?
Havard
However, I never got it written up in a proposal form, and it would appear someone beat me to it.The Isle of Dread was another "first" of modules for those of us who started playing D&D and AD&D in the early 80's. Both me and my brother were rather young (10 and 7, respectively) so we really didn't understand the difference between the rather odd-smelling hardcovers and the nicely organized and illustrated box sets. (Plus I had nightmares after looking at the Penanggalan illustrations in the Fiend Folio.) Anyway, I remember I made my first character, I think it was a halfling, and I named him "Caco" or some derivative I created from some Spanish lessons I had. I also remember that we misread the plesoasaur entry and thought it was wearing a ring of regeneration under the skin of its hand (flipper?), which brought up the question of how it had gotten there...
Anyway, the module is definitely due for a "return". Any sequel would be a challenge, though, since the original was largely a "fill in the blanks with your own material" type of adventure, aside from the trip to Central Plateau to fight the kopru, who at this time weren't aquatic, but amphibous. I'm curious to see what they do, despite the fact its set in southern Greyhawk. At least that way they don't screw up Mystara facts...
Adamantyr
Originally posted by havard
Any other modules particularly worthy of deserving a Return?
That is a tough one, because IMO most of the old B, X, C and M modules are cool because of the characters and storyline and not so much the places they take place.
The most interesting location that I would like to see Return to would have to be the world of Eloysia from the M4 "Five coins for a kingdom" module. That was a truly weird, wonderful and epic setting! (Not that Mystara isn't but my players are there the rest of the time *LOL*)
:-) Jesper
despite the fact its set in southern Greyhawk
about The Isle of Dread.
I think you may be confusing two modules here: The Isle of Dread has always been in the known world. The Isle of the Ape was set in Greyhawk...
Originally posted by Kheldren
I think you may be confusing two modules here: The Isle of Dread has always been in the known world. The Isle of the Ape was set in Greyhawk...
I believe he means the new 3.5 E version of the Isle of Dread, which was recently or is soon to be published in an issue of Dragon or Dungeon Magazine and which - for that edition - has been relocated to Greyhawk.
:-) Jesper
Originally posted by Kheldren
Adamantyr wrote about The Isle of Dread.
I think you may be confusing two modules here: The Isle of Dread has always been in the known world. The Isle of the Ape was set in Greyhawk...
Oh, I'm not confused. The upcoming "Return to the Isle of Dread" in Dungeon magazine is NOT set in the Known World, it will be set in Southern Greyhawk. (At least, this is the rumor. I leave it to someone else to confirm or deny it.)
However, before we gather the torches and pitchforks, it's not as bad as it sounds. At least it's getting published. A solid generic module that can be run in any setting but also has sufficient depth to be interesting is a challenge. Making a module setting-centric can make the work easier, but it also reduces its value to other players who may want it in their own custom campaign worlds. Dungeon is a commerical service, after all, they have to provide material that can be used by anyone.
The only other original D&D module to be re-published was Keep on the Borderlands, which was admittedly set in a generic setting, and it actually fits in Greyhawk a little better. Plus it's amusing to see that many of the NPC's in the module show signs of having been written for a Mystara-based module; the switchover to Greyhawk must have been a last minute change. The bouncer in the tavern is one of the albino human subraces from module B4, there's a wizard named d'Amberville, and others. The only solidly Greyhawk material was the cult write-ups, something that the older setting was very weak on.
Adamantyr
Havard
Originally posted by havard
Which Ambreville was mentioned in Return to the Keep on the Borderlands? Cthulhudrew might want to include him in the "Survivors" series....
Havard
I'm at work, so I don't have immediate access to the module. I think his name was "Dubricous d'Ambreville", but the spelling of the first name is probably wrong. He is not one of the Amber family mentioned in module X2. He's got all the personality traits, though. He's an NPC who can join the party if they need a magic-user.
Adamantyr
Anyway - back to places to re-visit, I agree with Eloysia being a fun setting - but I think it's more supposed to be an example of another plane to springboard your imagination... So, what about Hule? - or more to the point the Temple of Death? So the players killed the big bad guy (Hooray) and Hule should now be a nice upstanding nation respecting the rights of Sind and Darokin... What if it isn't, and the player have to go back to seee why? This could be stopping whole council of "bad guys", but saving the "good guys" or pretty much anything - there is loads of potential for a total mess that they have to sort out, all created by killing the Master.
If I wasn't somewhat adverse to the Oriental adventure rules, I'd say it would be a great choice to do a "far east" style adventure. (My problem with them is the Wu Jen is pathetically weak, and despite their attempts to clean it up, it's still Japanese-centric in tone.)
Adamantyr
Originally posted by Kheldren
So, what about Hule? - or more to the point the Temple of Death? So the players killed the big bad guy (Hooray) and Hule should now be a nice upstanding nation respecting the rights of Sind and Darokin... What if it isn't, and the player have to go back to seee why? This could be stopping whole council of "bad guys", but saving the "good guys" or pretty much anything - there is loads of potential for a total mess that they have to sort out, all created by killing the Master.
I second that, Hule post-Master would be a great Return to module!
:-) Jesper
"The party stood quietly as Gratash, the Orcish Shaman, stealthily clambered up to the trapdoor atop the ladder. Grasping the ladder rung with one hand he tried to quietly lift the trap door but to no avail. Shifting his weight he tried again, this time using his shoulder as extra leverage, but still it would not budge. Exasperated, Gratash let out a loud grunt and threw as much weight as he could against it and finally the rusted hinges gave way - the trapdoor clattering open to reveal a pitch dark, silent chamber above.
Hearing nothing from the chamber the Orc slowly lifted himself up enough to look around. Hearing the unmistakable tightening and twang of bowstrings he instinctively ducked back down, arrows narrowly missing his head. "Archers above!" he growled and quickly dropped back down to the group assembled below. Looks of panic spread throughout the party as arrows began to rain down on them through the trapdoor and an orcish voice was heard to call for reinforcements above.
Quickbough, the Treant, immediately swayed into action, his birchlike limbs grasping the ladder as he pulled himself upwards, roaring an ancient Treant curse. Quickbough's huge form unfurled itself in the chamber above and immediately arrows began thudding into his bark as the rest of the party hustled up into the room and engaged the four Orc archers. Accompanying them in the room was the partly intangible form of a shadow wolf which snarled and lay about with inhuman ferocity..
With all of the party now able to fight the enemy the battle was quickly over, the young Nikai ruthlessly pursuing a fleeing orc who soon fell gurgling on his own blood as the viscious twin knives did their work. The party stopped to regain their breath and tend to wounds.
"No time to rest. We must move on", came the reedy voice of the illusionist Malachi skulking at the edge of the torchlight.
"Which… way… boy?" rumbled Quickbough.
"If me memory serves I reckon it's this way...", Nikai jabbed a thumb to the left, "but you can go first!" he grinned.
The heroes swiftly made their way through the upper floor of the Faerie castle guided through the shadowy corridors by the street urchin. Outside, the Fey still battled Orcs and other shadowy foes in the creeping darkness.
Retgor, Lynwyl's Dire Wolf companion sniffed the air and let out a low growl. Surely enough, as the party rounded a corner in the corridor they came upon an interesting scene. A handful of orcs were lugging sacks of precious cloths and silverware over to a window where two familiar forms stood, lowering them one at a time to the ground outside.
“Well well Duchess, look who it is”, cooed Candarella.
“Yoohoo!”, waved the other.
The befuddled Orcs, clearly under the charm of the two Fey tricksters came to a confused halt until Candarella pointed at the group and shrieked “Kill them!”.
At this cue the Orcs grunted and, drawing weapons, advanced on the party. The two groups clashed violently but it soon became clear that the Orcs were no match, dropping one by one. As the last fell, Duchess away toward the window stepping over the body of her fallen comrade.
“Wait, wait, let’s make a deal”, Duchess said, panicked, indicating the piles of loot they had accumulated.
“There’ll be no deals b1tch!”, shouted the charging Gratash, shoulder barging her out the window. “That’s dealt with her” stated the Orcish Shaman, only to be corrected by Rushdak who had joined him at the window “Look, she’s survived the fall and has buggered off!”. Peering down into the gloom below they could just make out the figure of the Fey scampering off into the shadows.
Having dealt with the Fey girls the party turned their attention to the door which Nikai insisted was the right way to continue. Quietly pushing it open and peering inside they found a large lavishly adorned bedroom, the centrepoint of which was a huge ornate four poster bed, fully enclosed in velvet drapes. Stepping into the room, Rushdak was unusually forthcoming and made his way over to the bed, whipping back the drapes before anyone could stop him. There was a sudden flurry of activity as a half dozen huge arachnoid creatures dropped down onto the hapless Halfling.
"Help!" he cried as they began leaping up at him, furiously slashing. The central body of the creatures consisted of a unblinking eye from which sprouted eight jointed legs, each ending in razor sharp talons. Immediately springing into action the rest of the party raced in to help the Hin and soon despatched the hideous creatures - Quickbough destroying three of them with one mighty sweep of his birchlike arm. The danger averted, the group proceeded to investigate the room but found little else of interest other than some old dusty tomes. "They will be of most interest to me I think you will all agree", said Malachi, swiftly taking the books from Rushdak's hands.
"Hold on a second", said the druid Lynwyl glancing around, "where are those wretched orcs?". The orcs she referred to were the captives taken on the lower floor who had been keeping a low profile and managed to sneak away during the slasher fight.
"Retgor, find them", she commanded. The shaggy dire wolf companion dutifully agreed, padding silently back out the open door. "Now, Nikai, lead on. Which way to Mirabilis' laboratory?".
"Umm, right out of here... No, left. Yes left" the boy scratched at his head, trying desperately to recall the directions given to him back at Merenethyl's glade, seemingly ages ago.
Just as the party were making preparation to continue, Retgor reappeared through the door, a severed orc hand gripped in his jaws. He dropped the bloody gift at Lynwyl's feet who simply raised an eyebrow and affectionately patted his huge wolfen head.
Moving out, the party soon came upon the laboratory. Opening the door and thrusting the everburning torch inside they saw a strange creature skulking in the centre of the room. It was a large pallid green humanoid figure hunched over with a single large red eye in place of its face. Making a strange gurgling sound it shifted its weight and advanced toward the party with a shuffling, hopping gait.
"What is it?" exclaimed the startled Nikai.
"Hmm, it is like no creature I have ever encountered", replied Malachi, "I believe it is called a Nothic. We must beware of its gaze".
"It should beware my AXE!" roared Gratash, charging in at the strange beast. The rest of the party following suit. The ensuing battle was short as the bloated creatures claws were unable to fend off the combined might of the party. As the dust settled after the combat, Lynwyl moved over to where Rushdak stood rubbing his arm.
"Let me see you arm Rushdak". The Hin dutifully lifted the arm which was covered in sores. "How did this happen?"
"That bloomin' bug-eyed thing gawped at me and this happened. Good riddance to it.", he kicked at the bloated corpse, which the illusionist Malachi was prodding with an implement he'd taken from a lab shelf.
"Fascinating. See, there are vital organs missing yet it has duplicates where there shouldn't be"
"I don't care 'bout that. We've got a job to do and we're runnin out of time", growled Gratash.
"Right, Nikai, where is Mirabilis' hidden store?", said Lynwyl, casting around with a searching gaze.
"You're stood on it!", pointed out Rushdak noticing an irregularity in the stone slab on which the druid stood.
They all gathered around and prised up the slab to find what they had been looking for. Inside the hidden underfloor compartment were a number of vials of strange liquid, one of which bubbled unnervingly.
Sensing that they were nearing the throne room the group hastened onward. Unfortunately, as they passed an adjoining corridor, they alerted the attentions of the orcish guard captain and his group which included another of the huge elephantine beasts which had nearly finished Quickbough earlier. Knowing this was too dangerous an encounter, Malachi reached out his hand and spoke an arcane incantation. Immediately the corridor became filled with thick sticky strands.
"Quickly! my spell will not hold them for long. But it should grant us some much needed time", he droned.
Running onward, they finally reached a large pair of ornate double doors. Undoubtedly these were the doors to Princess Argenta's throne room. A door behind which unknown terrors awaited them, the source of all the ills which had befallen the Fey realm. As they approached the door, a strange muffled chanting was heard from within.
Lynwyl stooped down to peer through the keyhole into the room beyond. What she saw made her let out an involuntary gasp. "It is as we feared, there is an accursed Beholder in there. Also, Nimh, poor girl, possessed by the foul ghost of Catamandus. They are chanting some sort of summoning ritual before the throne upon which Argenta is sat".
"Then there is no time to waste!" rumbled Quickbough.
"Wait. I have a plan. It's a long shot but it might just work. If I can channel my nature magic at the beast I may be able to transmute it into a creature somewhat more...agreeable". Said the druid.
"Well then try it woman!" barked Gratash.
Lynwyl closed her eyes and deep in concentration began to chant in a singsong manner, swaying slightly, arms outstretched. The group waited, breath held in anticipation. Suddenly, the droning from inside the throne room halted to be replaced by an inhuman wail.
"Damn! The spell has failed. And worse... it knows we're here".
Gratash and Quickbough immediately sprang into action, the orc pushing the door open to allow the treant to charge into the throne room. However, the second the door was opened, a hidden warding glyph was triggered, blasting all who stood around the door. The orc shaman yelped in pain but managed to shove the door open, allowing the enraged Treant to charge inside.
As Quickbough bowled into the room, everyone got a chance to properly survey the scene. As Lynwyl had warned, there was indeed a Beholder hovering some 10ft off the floor in front of the throne. To its right stood the frail form of Nimh's possessed body, arms raised, intoning the summoning chant. In front of them was the throne itself with the Fey Princess Argenta slumped unconscious on it, an evil-looking crown seemingly imbeded in her forehead. From which emanated a sickly green glow as the immortal Arik attempted to claw his way into the material realm. Just inside the doors were piles of furniture which had been hastily shoved aside. Around the edges of the room were stood many petrified forms - the former Fey court members. In one corner, one recognisable statue was that of Darusil, the Fey who had led the group to the Faerie land at Argenta's call for aid. A startled expression frozen on his face from the moment, days ago, when he had stumbled into this chamber of horror.
The Treant, charging the floating form of the Beholder, managed to strike a blow at it before it got a chance to bring it's deadly eye rays to bear, causing the monster to bellow in pain. The rest of the party immediately sprinted into the room, running to take up positions behind the cover of statues or furniture. Lynwyl threw her hands forward, quickly chanting a spell which caused lightning to arc between the Beholder and the Elf girl Nimh. Malachi also called forth his magics and a pulsating sphere of protective energy appeared to emanate from him. Gratash dropped down behind the cover of some furniture on the left. Nikai ran to the right corner but was startled to find that one of the statues was in fact a gargoyle which had been waiting in ambush.
Now The Beholder, it's central eye seemingly filled with malice, singled out targets with it's eye stalks. Rushdak, groaning in pain as he managed to fight off a sudden painful clutching at his heart. Retgor slowed momentarily but managed to resist one eye stalk's petrifying gaze. Quickbough became slowed by another of the eye rays. But worst of all was to befall the Orc Shaman. The pile of furniture did nothing to protect him against the Beholder's disintegrating ray and within an instant Gratash was gone.
The fall of their colleague spurred the party on and, as the ghost of Cathamandus departed the expiring body of Nimh, Quickbough was able to land a telling blow against the wounded Beholder which fell, dying to the floor. Momentary distraction, as Retgor and Nikai savaged the Gargoyle, allowed Catamandus to cast a healing spell on the Beholder. However, the Treant was still stood by the body which began to rise again, and was able to batter it back down again - this time for good. Cathamandus' wailing did little to protect it from the fury of the party and soon his ghost was also laid to rest.
The room quietened, the sickly green glow still emanating from Princess Argenta's forehead as a strange eye-like slit was trying to open there.
"The crown! Pull it off her forehead", called Malachi
"But it may kill her!", shouted back Lynwyl
"We have no choice, Arik is nearly here. Do it!"
Quickbough, closest of the party, purposely reached down to the princess and ripped the crown from her head, tearing her scalp badly as it came off. Flinging the crown to the corner of the room the otherworldly metal seemed to immediately crumple in on itself.
The green light died out - Arik had been thwarted. But at a cost. The battle had subsided outside but other events appeared to have taken their course. Had the Faerie valley of Haven been permanently dragged into the Plane of Shadow?"
I have just run my own "Return to the Palace of the Silver Princess". Rather than describe it all myself heres the write ups of the final two sessions as written by one of the players:
...
The green light died out - Arik had been thwarted. But at a cost. The battle had subsided outside but other events appeared to have taken their course. Had the Faerie valley of Haven been permanently dragged into the Plane of Shadow?"
Excellent. I really liked this write-up. I know this is an older post. I've been searching through posts to find some information. This was a pleasant diversion.
GW
Since I've been thinking along these lines lately, I'd like to see a Return to the Lost Valley of the Hutaaka - ("Return of a Night's Dark Terror?"). We could then see if there are some diplomatic relations between the Hutaaka and Karameikos - perhaps some initial trade agreements, with Threshold being the central trading point...of course, you'd have to do something about the gnolls in the upper Firefoam valley...
In my current version of the Valley of the Hutaaka (another project in progress), the Valley was overrun by Gnolls shortly after the events in B10. The Gnolls were then subjugated by the Iron Ring, which now controls the Valley, using it as its main base of operations ever since the Black Eagle was driven out. The Iron Ring has also been able to enlist the degenerate Traldar, using their hatred of the Hutaakans to manipulate them. The Traldar dislike working with the Gnolls, beliving them to be related to Hutaakans, but agree for now. Most Hutaakans have been killed, but some have survived going into hiding.
And it is only a matter of time before Golthar realizes that Kartoeba wasn't the only dark thing the Taymorans left deep beneath the valley....
Håvard
And it is only a matter of time before Golthar realizes that Kartoeba wasn't the only dark thing the Taymorans left deep beneath the valley....
This points out the glaring holes in my Mystara lore.
Who are Golthar and Kartoeba? ... And what other dark things did the taymorans leave beneath the valley?
This points out the glaring holes in my Mystara lore.
Who are Golthar and Kartoeba? ... And what other dark things did the taymorans leave beneath the valley?
B10 is what you need
Golthar is a wizard in command of the Iron Ring. He is most likely to die during the adventure, but IMC he survived. His second in command is also mentioned as a replacement though, but I can't remember his name right now.
Kartoeba is a Cthulhuesque creature living beneath the Hutaakan Temple in the Valley. However, he isn't _that_ dangerous (this is a b-level module afterall), so I figured this is only one of the many spawned creatures of a much bigger thing down there.
The Taymoran connection is not mentioned in the module but something that came up on the MML. IMC the Taymorans had a colony settlement in the valley and summoned the dark creature, which then killed all of the colonists.
Orcus and Ranivorous have been trying to lead the Gnolls into finding the dark Taymoran secret in the mountains for centuries, but even they didn't know exactly what or where it is. Untill now that is...
Håvard
B10 is what you need
Golthar is a wizard in command of the Iron Ring. He is most likely to die during the adventure, but IMC he survived. His second in command is also mentioned as a replacement though, but I can't remember his name right now.
Karllag is the guy I think you're thinking of. I resurrected that guy in the 1017 Almanac, where I placed him as the Iron Ring chief operative in Jaibul.
Kartoeba is a Cthulhuesque creature living beneath the Hutaakan Temple in the Valley. However, he isn't _that_ dangerous (this is a b-level module afterall), so I figured this is only one of the many spawned creatures of a much bigger thing down there.
The Taymoran connection is not mentioned in the module but something that came up on the MML. IMC the Taymorans had a colony settlement in the valley and summoned the dark creature, which then killed all of the colonists.
Orcus and Ranivorous have been trying to lead the Gnolls into finding the dark Taymoran secret in the mountains for centuries, but even they didn't know exactly what or where it is. Untill now that is...
Nice! :D
So how many of these Taymoran horrors du you think are currently living in Shadowdeep?
Which races have they come into contact with?
I see some nice companion level adventure posibilities here...
:-) Jesper
So how many of these Taymoran horrors du you think are currently living in Shadowdeep?
Yay! The Shadowdeep is back! :D