I’m approaching the end of an arc with my players. This arc heavily has revolved around the demon lord Zugttmoy, with zombie and bulzeaus attacking sites gaining materials to summon her. Players are level 4 currently. Though I don’t know the outcome quite yet (I’m assuming players will triumph with maybe one casualty), I want to start preparing for how to continue and transition to the next arc.
I’ve teased a bit an organization throughout this early arc that has caught the players attention. It’s called the Silken Ring, and it’s unknown to the world, that they worship Graz’zt. I don’t know how I can either hook them into finding this group. maybe since the group doesn’t know to much about them, they could be hired and betrayed be them at some point?
If you have any ideas of hooks, or plot devices I could include during a downtime, or any encounter ideas in general, it’d be much appreciated!
If Zuggtmoy does get summoned, or a tpk happens I do have a contingency, we’ll find out soon
That is actually a very good idea. I’m thinking maybe the silken ring will hire the party to deal with other demon incursions, so graz’zt will have less competition for the material plane. This would also set him up to be a late late game boss which would be cool
If you want to go for betrayal then make that their plan from the start - they need something done and someone to take the fall for it. Fortunately, just such a group has wandered in. However, this makes for a fairly short arc.
The idea of the cult using the party to fight demons so their demon can become powerful sounds pretty good as a basis. It might even have the opposite of a betrayal - if the party do not become suspicious, then whichever NPC they attach themselves to can turn against the Silken Ring to warn them to get out, because they have served their purpose and the Silken Ring wants them dead. The suddenness of it, especially tied to the loved NPC's tragic and untimely death (he's not dead! He's getting better!*) will motivate them well into their final fight. It also means they can learn how to fight demons, making them a tangible threat to the boss, which is why they want the party dead.
*Yes, this is a reference. It's just my.... my... (Idiom, sir?) Idiom!
I’m approaching the end of an arc with my players. This arc heavily has revolved around the demon lord Zugttmoy, with zombie and bulzeaus attacking sites gaining materials to summon her. Players are level 4 currently. Though I don’t know the outcome quite yet (I’m assuming players will triumph with maybe one casualty), I want to start preparing for how to continue and transition to the next arc.
I’ve teased a bit an organization throughout this early arc that has caught the players attention. It’s called the Silken Ring, and it’s unknown to the world, that they worship Graz’zt.
I don’t know how I can either hook them into finding this group. maybe since the group doesn’t know to much about them, they could be hired and betrayed be them at some point?
If you have any ideas of hooks, or plot devices I could include during a downtime, or any encounter ideas in general, it’d be much appreciated!
If Zuggtmoy does get summoned, or a tpk happens I do have a contingency, we’ll find out soon
Getting hired by the Silken Ring is no problem.
Why would the party be betrayed? What if they prove they are valuable to the organization? They were hired for something weren't they?
It is quite possible that the party wouldn't mind becoming followers of Graz'zt. Considering all the options, he isn't all that bad.
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That is actually a very good idea. I’m thinking maybe the silken ring will hire the party to deal with other demon incursions, so graz’zt will have less competition for the material plane. This would also set him up to be a late late game boss which would be cool
If you want to go for betrayal then make that their plan from the start - they need something done and someone to take the fall for it. Fortunately, just such a group has wandered in. However, this makes for a fairly short arc.
The idea of the cult using the party to fight demons so their demon can become powerful sounds pretty good as a basis. It might even have the opposite of a betrayal - if the party do not become suspicious, then whichever NPC they attach themselves to can turn against the Silken Ring to warn them to get out, because they have served their purpose and the Silken Ring wants them dead. The suddenness of it, especially tied to the loved NPC's tragic and untimely death (he's not dead! He's getting better!*) will motivate them well into their final fight. It also means they can learn how to fight demons, making them a tangible threat to the boss, which is why they want the party dead.
*Yes, this is a reference. It's just my.... my... (Idiom, sir?) Idiom!
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