I'm looking for some ideas and suggestions.
My group has traveled to Sublevel 4 of the Black Spike in order to retrieve the talisman of pure good that Varachan told them about. Now they are back to Level 1 and thinking that they'll finish the Black Spike before heading out to the Temple. I have a few problems with this:
1. They've been through some minor battles (Yrthuk, in particular) but have most of their spells available. This isn't a problem per se, but they feel pretty buff right now.
2. In game they've been warned by Varachan that there was a time crunch, but because some in-game events happened quicker than I anticipated, they have another couple of days before Lareth will be ready to free Tharizdun.
3. I have 5 players running 7 PCs (plus they have cast atonement on Varachan and are bringing him along as well). All are at least 10th level.
Using the above information, how should I handle the Black Spike? The two half-dragon t-rex's are still on Level 1 since the rogue was able to bluff past the door and get herself and the rest of the party inside. Now that the party is back on Level 1, the door is listening in on their thoughts and will detect their lie and attack immediately. I plan to use wall of fire to section off the room and have the half-dragon's chomp through from their side of the wall. The problem with this is that the beasties won't be able to move without taking damage unless Tychon can do something for them. The door will use feeblemind on the spellcasters and fear on the fighters. I'm not sure what order these should be cast in, however. (Suggestions are welcome!)
In order to strip some of the NPCs from the party, I'm going to have Tychon use slay living and plane shift to get rid of some party members. Perhaps even Varachan, since he's outlived his usefulness to them anyway. I plan to use plane shift (Will save) on whoever is NOT affected by the feeblemind (the door can use telepathy to tell Tychon who that was) and slay living on anyone else. I figure the door can tell by their thoughts what their primary class is, so it can guess which ones to hit with Will save spells and which with Fort save spells. Obviously, it would be easier for Tychon if he had some kind of invisibility available. (Any ideas on this?)
Because of the current positioning, he won't be able to get to the half-dragon's to buff them up.
Perhaps he should cast a couple of spells, then
run away up the stairs? Any party members that chase him will be met at Level 4 with a Will save to remain conscious and 3 vrocks (they're only CR9 in 3.5
instead of the original CR13, so I'm increasing the quantity of them).
When they finally get to The First, he'll fight for a couple rounds, cackling with glee about how the party is too late to stop the cult because Imix has already been called! Then he'll word of recall to a safe haven prepared this just such a situation. Perhaps even somewhere in the Recovered Temple (but I doubt it; I think he'd leave that to The Second).
Our game is Sunday, but I don't know if they'll make it beyond Level 4 (vrocks) or Level 5 (night hags), but if you have some ideas, I'd love to hear them earlier as opposed to later! Thanks a bunch everyone!
My group has traveled to Sublevel 4 of the Black Spike in order to retrieve the talisman of pure good that Varachan told them about. Now they are back to Level 1 and thinking that they'll finish the Black Spike before heading out to the Temple. I have a few problems with this:
1. They've been through some minor battles (Yrthuk, in particular) but have most of their spells available. This isn't a problem per se, but they feel pretty buff right now.
2. In game they've been warned by Varachan that there was a time crunch, but because some in-game events happened quicker than I anticipated, they have another couple of days before Lareth will be ready to free Tharizdun.
3. I have 5 players running 7 PCs (plus they have cast atonement on Varachan and are bringing him along as well). All are at least 10th level.
Using the above information, how should I handle the Black Spike? The two half-dragon t-rex's are still on Level 1 since the rogue was able to bluff past the door and get herself and the rest of the party inside. Now that the party is back on Level 1, the door is listening in on their thoughts and will detect their lie and attack immediately. I plan to use wall of fire to section off the room and have the half-dragon's chomp through from their side of the wall. The problem with this is that the beasties won't be able to move without taking damage unless Tychon can do something for them. The door will use feeblemind on the spellcasters and fear on the fighters. I'm not sure what order these should be cast in, however. (Suggestions are welcome!)
In order to strip some of the NPCs from the party, I'm going to have Tychon use slay living and plane shift to get rid of some party members. Perhaps even Varachan, since he's outlived his usefulness to them anyway. I plan to use plane shift (Will save) on whoever is NOT affected by the feeblemind (the door can use telepathy to tell Tychon who that was) and slay living on anyone else. I figure the door can tell by their thoughts what their primary class is, so it can guess which ones to hit with Will save spells and which with Fort save spells. Obviously, it would be easier for Tychon if he had some kind of invisibility available. (Any ideas on this?)
Because of the current positioning, he won't be able to get to the half-dragon's to buff them up.
Perhaps he should cast a couple of spells, then
run away up the stairs? Any party members that chase him will be met at Level 4 with a Will save to remain conscious and 3 vrocks (they're only CR9 in 3.5
instead of the original CR13, so I'm increasing the quantity of them).
When they finally get to The First, he'll fight for a couple rounds, cackling with glee about how the party is too late to stop the cult because Imix has already been called! Then he'll word of recall to a safe haven prepared this just such a situation. Perhaps even somewhere in the Recovered Temple (but I doubt it; I think he'd leave that to The Second).
Our game is Sunday, but I don't know if they'll make it beyond Level 4 (vrocks) or Level 5 (night hags), but if you have some ideas, I'd love to hear them earlier as opposed to later! Thanks a bunch everyone!
