Okay I've gotta write this down someplace so here we go.
Background: Our group has completed Curse of Strahd and a Spelljammer game that have loose connections and I'm next up to DM and I'm running ToA. I intend to add the following into Act 1 of ToA to connect Gadof Blinsky's unknown early 20s to an adventure that no-one ever asked about. In our games Blinsky was widely loved and one of the Dark evils in the amber temple was the Puppetmaster who offered a party member untold power if they acceptable the puppetmaster as a patron. This small story hook intends to tie the Puppetmaster Dark Evil to Blinsky's early 20s.
QUEST HOOK - Read:
A small white wolf pup playfully approaches you. The puppy wants to play. - - - Eventually the puppy guides you to a merchant stall where a man in purple and green munches on snacks as he finishes the final stitches of a marvelous dinosaur plushy. When the man sees you his face lights up and he bounces to his feet. "My friends! Welcome welcome to my small stall. I am Gadof, but you may call me GB. What brings you to Port Nyanzaru?"
Gadof Blinsky became lost when a BLUE FOG (ToA) surrounded him. When he found his baring he was in the jungle just outside of Port Nyanzaru. Since then he's spent time exploring this new place and selling his toys.
If the players explain they intend to venture into the jungle, Gadof Blinsky offers to pay for a Charter of Exploration (ToA) for them, if they are willing to investigate a small problem he's been having.
Read:
"My friends. Recently, I've heard through the merchant gossip that some of my toys are causing problems. They say that the toys are coming to life and saying things to children, even threatening parents. This can not be. I don't create monsters, I create toys. Lovable, wonderful toys that bring joy to children. Please, please, take this list of recent customers and see if they can report any of the claims I've heard."
List of People:
A) LaGora, female half orc commoner. She can be found in at her home. (The only thing she knows is that the toy often can be found outside, even though no-one took it outside. Her daughter, Vella, doesn't particularly like the plushy lion, but she doesn't say way.)
B) Alvin Gostot - local drunk. Can be found in the street gutter covered in mud. If the group finds him (DC12Investigation) they see him drunkenly talking to the toy, talking about how he misses his home, his wife and his son.
C) Ekene-Afa - Merchant Lord. Bought the toy for his young daughter Seka. The groups arrives to a scene. The house is in chaos because Seka is missing. The group investigates and if they question the toys they ALL talk to the group at the same time. The toys explain that they don't actually want Seka, they want Ekene-Afa's first born - Tiryki. The toys explain that Ekene-Afa made a deal with the Elder Fey known as "The PuppetMaster" for fame and glory and that now the payment is due. Que - combat.
COMBAT - The group will fight 5 Animated Toys, 2 possessed guards, and a frightened but possessed Seka.
Once the toys are destroyed and the guards are unconscious or dead, the puppet master releases control of Seka and says:
"Tiryki, son of Ekene-Afa will be my due payment for services rendered!" - - - If the group sticks around after combat they learn that Tiryki is a renown dino racer and that he will be racing tomorrow in the dino race.
Dino Race: During the dino race Animated Toys will attempt to jump out of nearby windows and attack riders. (DC10Acrobatics to dodge the toys during the race; otherwise the toy grapples the rider and deals 1d3 damage per round)
BOSS BATTLE: At the end of the Dino Race - no matter who wins - The PuppetMaster in full form makes an appearance. When The PuppetMaster gets below 20% health it will summon blue fog which scares all locals. Gadof Blinsky will then charge forward at the PuppetMaster pulling out a small necklace of Amber (CoS), and scream "I've got this!" as he tackles the Puppetmaster backwards into the fog.
Rewards: Charter of Exploration, Blinsky's Merchant Stall, small white wolf pup companion.
Okay I've gotta write this down someplace so here we go.
Background: Our group has completed Curse of Strahd and a Spelljammer game that have loose connections and I'm next up to DM and I'm running ToA. I intend to add the following into Act 1 of ToA to connect Gadof Blinsky's unknown early 20s to an adventure that no-one ever asked about. In our games Blinsky was widely loved and one of the Dark evils in the amber temple was the Puppetmaster who offered a party member untold power if they acceptable the puppetmaster as a patron. This small story hook intends to tie the Puppetmaster Dark Evil to Blinsky's early 20s.
QUEST HOOK - Read:
A small white wolf pup playfully approaches you. The puppy wants to play. - - - Eventually the puppy guides you to a merchant stall where a man in purple and green munches on snacks as he finishes the final stitches of a marvelous dinosaur plushy. When the man sees you his face lights up and he bounces to his feet. "My friends! Welcome welcome to my small stall. I am Gadof, but you may call me GB. What brings you to Port Nyanzaru?"
Read:
"My friends. Recently, I've heard through the merchant gossip that some of my toys are causing problems. They say that the toys are coming to life and saying things to children, even threatening parents. This can not be. I don't create monsters, I create toys. Lovable, wonderful toys that bring joy to children. Please, please, take this list of recent customers and see if they can report any of the claims I've heard."
List of People:
A) LaGora, female half orc commoner. She can be found in at her home. (The only thing she knows is that the toy often can be found outside, even though no-one took it outside. Her daughter, Vella, doesn't particularly like the plushy lion, but she doesn't say way.)
B) Alvin Gostot - local drunk. Can be found in the street gutter covered in mud. If the group finds him (DC12Investigation) they see him drunkenly talking to the toy, talking about how he misses his home, his wife and his son.
C) Ekene-Afa - Merchant Lord. Bought the toy for his young daughter Seka. The groups arrives to a scene. The house is in chaos because Seka is missing. The group investigates and if they question the toys they ALL talk to the group at the same time. The toys explain that they don't actually want Seka, they want Ekene-Afa's first born - Tiryki. The toys explain that Ekene-Afa made a deal with the Elder Fey known as "The PuppetMaster" for fame and glory and that now the payment is due. Que - combat.
COMBAT - The group will fight 5 Animated Toys, 2 possessed guards, and a frightened but possessed Seka.
Once the toys are destroyed and the guards are unconscious or dead, the puppet master releases control of Seka and says:
"Tiryki, son of Ekene-Afa will be my due payment for services rendered!" - - - If the group sticks around after combat they learn that Tiryki is a renown dino racer and that he will be racing tomorrow in the dino race.
Dino Race: During the dino race Animated Toys will attempt to jump out of nearby windows and attack riders. (DC10Acrobatics to dodge the toys during the race; otherwise the toy grapples the rider and deals 1d3 damage per round)
BOSS BATTLE: At the end of the Dino Race - no matter who wins - The PuppetMaster in full form makes an appearance. When The PuppetMaster gets below 20% health it will summon blue fog which scares all locals. Gadof Blinsky will then charge forward at the PuppetMaster pulling out a small necklace of Amber (CoS), and scream "I've got this!" as he tackles the Puppetmaster backwards into the fog.
Rewards: Charter of Exploration, Blinsky's Merchant Stall, small white wolf pup companion.