I am currently running SDW and I noticed that the Bronze Shrine encounter seems a bit off. The encounter seems designed to push the players to combat with the insane bronze dragon- a combat that if taken all the way will most likely result in a TPK according to the module itself. The only way I can see for the players to escape this is by coming in a certain way and realizing they need to calm the dragon's emotions using a spell (that no one in my party has prepared) and kill the demon thing that's driving it crazy, which the DC to notice is 20. It seems a bit railroady and finicky to me.
How should I handle this? For DMs who've played this- how did you make it work?
I ran this for a group of 5 last year (virtual, owing to COVID). Was waaayyyy more RP than combat in our run-through.
The Scaly Eyes cultists are very much worried about their "Mother Wyrm", and - while they would defend her to the death - really want to get her help. It only takes a DC 15 Charisma check to convince them you want to help, and I played it as they were inclined to seek help from those who approach the shrine. The PCs basically gathered all the remaining cultists together, surveyed the situation for quite a while, then (with a cultist casting Calm Emotions - a "miracle from Bahamut" basically) they proceeded through the social interaction with Lhammaruntosz (culminating the the aforementioned "miracle" casting of Calm Emotions) then took out the alkilith. I ended up using some good ol' 4e Skill Challenges as the alkilith tried to desperately call to Lhammaruntosz trying to override the spell.
In the end, the alkilith was taken out, Lhammaruntosz was cured of her insanity, and the PCs got the necessary information (and thanks/goodwill of the dragon and cultists).
I am doing this very differently for the same reasons- the encounters with Lhammaruntosz and Gnawbone just seem off. Too likely to lead to a TPK and very little party agency overall in the outcomes.
lots of spoilers to follow.
I flipped the script entirely having Gnawbone seek the party out and recruit them (by threat if necessary) to remove Lhammaruntosz as Gnawbone has determined Lhammaruntosz is the core of a threat to the region and she can tell from her scrying that something has “corrupted her mentally” and she will be possessed leading to the fall of the entire sword coast north of Waterdeep. She can’t determine the details so Lammaruntosz just “needs to be destroyed” and she’s uninterested in putting herself at risk unnecessarily. She’ll also have the party capture Viantha cruelhex and bring her as a captive to her lair. (More on that below)
if the party fails to rescue Lhammaruntosz and it looks to be heading towards TPK the possession occurs similar to the one described for Gnawbone. Charsavitreol takes possession of Lammaruntosz and weakened temporarily flees. If the party rescues the bronze (which they have a lot more clues how to do now.) then when the party returns to Gnawbone she is delving the mind of Viantha and Charsavitreol crashes through her mental defenses and takes possession of Gnawbone instead. If by some miracle the party saves of kills both dragons the backup plan is to have the cultists claim Cryovain’s body and it is the object of possession.
For my campaign this just feels better- the Alkilith is connected to Ularan Morris and it makes Ularan a more intelligent, multiple backup plans type of villain. But I also have had the party dealing with Cults of Talos since the middle of Dragon of Icespire peak and even have developed some new Npcs (Anti-paladin of Talos) which keep coming back due to the buried heart trick from the lighthouse in Icespire peak.
I am currently running SDW and I noticed that the Bronze Shrine encounter seems a bit off. The encounter seems designed to push the players to combat with the insane bronze dragon- a combat that if taken all the way will most likely result in a TPK according to the module itself. The only way I can see for the players to escape this is by coming in a certain way and realizing they need to calm the dragon's emotions using a spell (that no one in my party has prepared) and kill the demon thing that's driving it crazy, which the DC to notice is 20. It seems a bit railroady and finicky to me.
How should I handle this? For DMs who've played this- how did you make it work?
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
Ariendela Sneakerson, Half-elf Rogue (8); Harmony Wolfsbane, Tiefling Bard (10); Agnomally, Gnomish Sorcerer (3); Breeze, Tabaxi Monk (8); Grace, Dragonborn Barbarian (7); DM, Homebrew- The Sequestered Lands/Underwater Explorers; Candlekeep
I ran this for a group of 5 last year (virtual, owing to COVID). Was waaayyyy more RP than combat in our run-through.
The Scaly Eyes cultists are very much worried about their "Mother Wyrm", and - while they would defend her to the death - really want to get her help. It only takes a DC 15 Charisma check to convince them you want to help, and I played it as they were inclined to seek help from those who approach the shrine. The PCs basically gathered all the remaining cultists together, surveyed the situation for quite a while, then (with a cultist casting Calm Emotions - a "miracle from Bahamut" basically) they proceeded through the social interaction with Lhammaruntosz (culminating the the aforementioned "miracle" casting of Calm Emotions) then took out the alkilith. I ended up using some good ol' 4e Skill Challenges as the alkilith tried to desperately call to Lhammaruntosz trying to override the spell.
In the end, the alkilith was taken out, Lhammaruntosz was cured of her insanity, and the PCs got the necessary information (and thanks/goodwill of the dragon and cultists).
I am doing this very differently for the same reasons- the encounters with Lhammaruntosz and Gnawbone just seem off. Too likely to lead to a TPK and very little party agency overall in the outcomes.
lots of spoilers to follow.
I flipped the script entirely having Gnawbone seek the party out and recruit them (by threat if necessary) to remove Lhammaruntosz as Gnawbone has determined Lhammaruntosz is the core of a threat to the region and she can tell from her scrying that something has “corrupted her mentally” and she will be possessed leading to the fall of the entire sword coast north of Waterdeep. She can’t determine the details so Lammaruntosz just “needs to be destroyed” and she’s uninterested in putting herself at risk unnecessarily. She’ll also have the party capture Viantha cruelhex and bring her as a captive to her lair. (More on that below)
if the party fails to rescue Lhammaruntosz and it looks to be heading towards TPK the possession occurs similar to the one described for Gnawbone. Charsavitreol takes possession of Lammaruntosz and weakened temporarily flees. If the party rescues the bronze (which they have a lot more clues how to do now.) then when the party returns to Gnawbone she is delving the mind of Viantha and Charsavitreol crashes through her mental defenses and takes possession of Gnawbone instead. If by some miracle the party saves of kills both dragons the backup plan is to have the cultists claim Cryovain’s body and it is the object of possession.
For my campaign this just feels better- the Alkilith is connected to Ularan Morris and it makes Ularan a more intelligent, multiple backup plans type of villain. But I also have had the party dealing with Cults of Talos since the middle of Dragon of Icespire peak and even have developed some new Npcs (Anti-paladin of Talos) which keep coming back due to the buried heart trick from the lighthouse in Icespire peak.
feel free to borrow this rewrite for inspiration.