Dice & Drama

Unused Encounters - Underdark

So there were 3 encounters from my big Underdark adventure on Saturday that I did not use at all.  They're lower level, so I know I'm not going to use them any time soon.  So I thought I'd share.  (Details of Monster stats not given, due to Wizards copyright.)

EL 5 - 1150 XP - Kruthik Tunnels

Adventurers are going through tunnels in the Underdark, and from the South come to a 4 way T, where the path straight ahead is filled with debris.  To the West (left) is a dark tunnel that narrows, and to the East (right) is a wider tunnel that takes a corner North. 

If our Adventurers head West, they'll encounter an angry Kruthik Adult, protecting a Kruthik Young.  This starts the encounter, where then two more Kruthik Adults come around the corner from the right, and then a Kruthik Hive Lord burst through the debris in the center tunnel to attack the Adventurers.

Nature Check DC: 19  These Kruthiks seem to be scared, and protecting their young.  With the ratio of older to young and evidently in tunnels they're normally not inhabiting, you get the impression they're either running from something and scouting a new location, or their population was recently decimated.

This is a good encounter for your players to get creeped out by giant bug/reptile/things in tunnels, and to lead into a story where a big bad has taken over a new part of the Underdark, whether it's a Grell, Aboleth, Dragon, or Drow!

EL 7 - XP 1700 - Drow Basement

 

Here our Adventurers have come into a room that has a set of stairs that they can barely see in the dark.  Unfortunately, the entrance doorway is off the camera frame to the left of the picture.  When they enter, they see two Drow Workers (Drow Spiderguards I decreased to Level 6 with Adventure Tools).  They also see a monstrous thing under the stairs.  The whole area is dark, and even if the Adventurers use a sunrod or other light source, the area below will be dim light due to the Darkmantle Enveloper's aura.  Two of those are lurking below as guard dogs.  The Kruthik Hive Lord here is collared and enslaved by the Drow. 

If the Adventurers grab the Kruthik, with a minor action Thievery DC 15 or Strength DC 18 they can undo the command collar on it.  This drastically shifts the encounter, as the Kruthik will switch sides and attack the nearest captor.

This is a great backdoor entrance for Adventurers to come into.  A large spider would make a great substitution for the Kruthik, but I like the Kruthik because it ties in with the previous encounter, and I fucking hate spiders AHH!.  

EL 7 - XP 1550 - Dragon's Lair

Here the Adventurers enter from the east into a great hall, 100 feet long and 75 feet wide.  It is dark, and the torches at the entrance only light burst 3 with flickering dim light.  The rest of the cavern is dank and overgrown with moss, and the south wall of the room is cracked, and water trickles in, which over time has formed a large stagnant pool.  To the north, the Adventurers can glimpse glittering amongst a mound of rocks and moss.  A walkway through the center is defined by large columns, some of which seem like held statues that have been broken or crumbled with decay.  In the very back, there is a dark door that is grown over with moss.

This is the lair of Elebarza, a Young Purple Dragon, lvl 6 modified at (-15%) HP & (+15%) dmg with Adventure Tools.  She has a Hoard Scarab Larva Swarm that guards her treasure for her.  When not out catching dinner, she usually can be found sleeping either in the shallow pool, or hanging from the ceiling from a moss encrusted chandelier. 

I find this encounter works best if she's sleeping but stealthed, so the Adventurers need to beat a Perception DC: 15 to hear her snoring, and Perception DC: 20 to see her.

These encounters are best smooshed into a larger Adventure, and I suggest tailoring the loot to fit your plot. My suggestions are a damaged map of the upcoming fortress with the Kruthiks, a Spiderkissed Longsword on the Drow, and at the dragon's nest - a large Black Pearl (worth 500g), and Ivory Statuette of Lolth (250g), a silver necklace studded with garnets (250g), and 500 gold.

Pax East Photos

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Once upon a time

Beginnings are important.  They set the tone of what's to follow.  Whether this is a first impression interview at a job, the start of a new relationship, or when players sit down to start a brand new game of D&D.

I'm terrible at beginnings.  I always like to rush into things; I skip through some of the introduction to get to the meat of the matter.  What's worse, is I'm aware of this tendency, and I overcompensate.  This translates into a fear of commitment in relationships, and horrible railroading introductions in the games I run.  

This blogging is about sharing the horrible mistakes I make while GMing, and how I fix them.  It's about how, as a GM, to make sure both you and your players are having more fun.  It's about how, as a player, to get the most from the story and the GM.  Most importantly, it's about me showing off all the cool shit I recently did and totally nerding out. 

So, welcome!  Enjoy your stay at the tavern, and I hope you get drawn in by the obvious plot hook, and agree to brave the night, find the monsters, and search with me for fame, fortune, and the best gaming snacks.