Also, if it landed in the terrain of any organized kingdom, even if it punched through into the Underdark after landing, I would expect such kingdoms to send forces to investigate. Initially this would probably be to identify whether the item is a direct threat to the kingdom, and if it was found to not be hostile then they would try to find ways to use it, or if it was too deep to successfully mine, seal it away so as to prevent others from trying to breach the kingdom's borders to obtain it.
Depending on the "origin" of the meteorite, you might also have a large number of aberrations drawn to investigate it. Especially if this 'phazon' exudes a similar aura or energy as to their home realms or the Far Realm.
So my plan for it breaking into the underdark was that Duergar would begin mining, then steal away with a bulk of the ‘phazon.’ At some other time, a copper dragon is gonna find his way into the meteor through a hole towards the top and he will become corrupted.
When the players find the meteor, people from the kingdom will have come (absolutely accompanied by the Cabal of Wizards) to mine it out for minerals and the ‘phazon.’
They will discover that people that enter the meteor get sick, and without treatment, become corrupted and die (exploding when they do at higher levels of corruption {I have a whole thing for corruption as a condition/disease}). They need to enter the mine to find out what’s going on, as well as rescue any miners they can.
Meteors often have exotic metals in them. It could be made of adamantine (or at least someone might think it is) and that could lead another party of treasure seekers to go after it to try to recover it for sale, or perhaps they were hired to recover it by someone with plans for this exotic metal.
If it's down underground, it's also possible that this metal meteorite sets off the metal sensors in every rust monster in the area and they all made a beeline for it to feed on the best-tasting metal they've ever smelled. Rust monsters are a classic D&D foe and I don't feel like they get used nearly often enough. Radioactive mutated rust monsters... well just ask yourself when you'll have that kind of an opportunity again.
If you want some really fun ideas, there's an old 4th Ed adventure line called "The Chaos Scar" that involves a gigantic (read dungeon sized) meteor falling to the ground and causing all manner of problems for the surrounding area as monsters move in to investigate and lair in or near it. The best part about things from space is that you can incorporate a lot of aberrations and other Far Realm creatures that may have been hitching a ride on the meteor.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Could also incorporate some monstrous spell casters like Hags (maybe a coven) who see the meteor as an omen or sign, they move in closer to either take control or to use it to bolster their magics.
All kinds of doomsayers and madmen are interested too. They think its a prophecy and end of the world is coming. Some priests also believe its a message from their god which can lead to battle between temples. And ofcourse some rational wizards try to tell them its just a big rock from space.
Could have them corrupting folks in a nearby town, maybe the cult is dedicated to a Great Old One, they see this meteor as a sign of his impending arrival, so they begin securing sacrifices to insure their gods arrival. They could be led by a powerful warlock charlatan who is disguised as a friendly priest or merchant, then uses that position interacting with people to brain wash them into joining the cult.
On top of all the so called powerful groups, you will also have every con-man (or just down on his luck local) seeing this as an golden opportunity to cash in by selling what they can to hopeful adventurers.
-fake pieces of the meteor to be used for <insert scam here>
-“special” mining equipment for exorbitant prices
-fake maps of the interior of meteor
-fake potions of protection from the effects
-Inn prices are 10x than regular, supplies as well (supply and demand). If you sleep outside the local militia charges you a ‘camping tax’, etc...
*The list could be endless, makes for a very chaotic area where trust will get you killed, robbed, or just taken advantage of
**Love the rust monster idea...as a str fighter, I hated those damn things
If you want some really fun ideas, there's an old 4th Ed adventure line called "The Chaos Scar" that involves a gigantic (read dungeon sized) meteor falling to the ground and causing all manner of problems for the surrounding area as monsters move in to investigate and lair in or near it. The best part about things from space is that you can incorporate a lot of aberrations and other Far Realm creatures that may have been hitching a ride on the meteor.
The Far Realm jumps straight to mind. In earlier editions (and 5e with the inclusion of Star Spawns in MToF), the stars and space are connected to aberrations. There's actually a few epic-tier monsters in both 3e (Genius Loci [Epic Level Handbook] and Atropus, the World Born Dead [Elder Evils]) and 4e (Allabar, Opener of the Way [MM3]) which are planet-sized apocalyptic bosses. The meteor could be a cast-off bit of Allabar, who's been sending off star spawns and pseudonatural creatures to probe the planes (think imperial probe droids in ESB) trying to find a good source of life to corrupt. Atropus, on the other hand, heralds death and empowers undead.
Recreating Allabar/Atropus as a monster in avatar form is one of my current projects.
So I’m working on something now, where a massive meteor will have fallen from the sky, and was in the process of being mined out.
I’m thinking of incorporating Duergar, as he meteor may have been large enough to break into the Underdark. I’m also thinking a dragon.
The kicker here is that the meteor is going to be full of a radioactive mutagen (Phazon!) which corrupts those exposed to large enough doses.
So my question is: what other parties might me interested in investigating this meteor?
An expedition of deep gnomes that want to use it to power automatons.
A Cabal of Wizards that believe that phazon could lead in a breakthrough in spell components.
Sky's the limit!
I am interested, this will be very interesting to see what will happen to a blood hunter of the mutagen.
Elliott Neve
I was considering having the mutagen spread to the surrounding area, minorly affecting plant and animal life, so the wizard cabal would be super nifty
Also, if it landed in the terrain of any organized kingdom, even if it punched through into the Underdark after landing, I would expect such kingdoms to send forces to investigate. Initially this would probably be to identify whether the item is a direct threat to the kingdom, and if it was found to not be hostile then they would try to find ways to use it, or if it was too deep to successfully mine, seal it away so as to prevent others from trying to breach the kingdom's borders to obtain it.
Depending on the "origin" of the meteorite, you might also have a large number of aberrations drawn to investigate it. Especially if this 'phazon' exudes a similar aura or energy as to their home realms or the Far Realm.
So my plan for it breaking into the underdark was that Duergar would begin mining, then steal away with a bulk of the ‘phazon.’ At some other time, a copper dragon is gonna find his way into the meteor through a hole towards the top and he will become corrupted.
When the players find the meteor, people from the kingdom will have come (absolutely accompanied by the Cabal of Wizards) to mine it out for minerals and the ‘phazon.’
They will discover that people that enter the meteor get sick, and without treatment, become corrupted and die (exploding when they do at higher levels of corruption {I have a whole thing for corruption as a condition/disease}). They need to enter the mine to find out what’s going on, as well as rescue any miners they can.
Meteors often have exotic metals in them. It could be made of adamantine (or at least someone might think it is) and that could lead another party of treasure seekers to go after it to try to recover it for sale, or perhaps they were hired to recover it by someone with plans for this exotic metal.
If it's down underground, it's also possible that this metal meteorite sets off the metal sensors in every rust monster in the area and they all made a beeline for it to feed on the best-tasting metal they've ever smelled. Rust monsters are a classic D&D foe and I don't feel like they get used nearly often enough. Radioactive mutated rust monsters... well just ask yourself when you'll have that kind of an opportunity again.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
YES
If you want some really fun ideas, there's an old 4th Ed adventure line called "The Chaos Scar" that involves a gigantic (read dungeon sized) meteor falling to the ground and causing all manner of problems for the surrounding area as monsters move in to investigate and lair in or near it. The best part about things from space is that you can incorporate a lot of aberrations and other Far Realm creatures that may have been hitching a ride on the meteor.
Could also incorporate some monstrous spell casters like Hags (maybe a coven) who see the meteor as an omen or sign, they move in closer to either take control or to use it to bolster their magics.
All kinds of doomsayers and madmen are interested too. They think its a prophecy and end of the world is coming. Some priests also believe its a message from their god which can lead to battle between temples. And ofcourse some rational wizards try to tell them its just a big rock from space.
I was considering cultists being interested, but im not sure how to incorporate them.
Could have them corrupting folks in a nearby town, maybe the cult is dedicated to a Great Old One, they see this meteor as a sign of his impending arrival, so they begin securing sacrifices to insure their gods arrival. They could be led by a powerful warlock charlatan who is disguised as a friendly priest or merchant, then uses that position interacting with people to brain wash them into joining the cult.
Don't forget crime syndicates and people who are simply looking for riches!
-thechimericalcookie
On top of all the so called powerful groups, you will also have every con-man (or just down on his luck local) seeing this as an golden opportunity to cash in by selling what they can to hopeful adventurers.
-fake pieces of the meteor to be used for <insert scam here>
-“special” mining equipment for exorbitant prices
-fake maps of the interior of meteor
-fake potions of protection from the effects
-Inn prices are 10x than regular, supplies as well (supply and demand). If you sleep outside the local militia charges you a ‘camping tax’, etc...
*The list could be endless, makes for a very chaotic area where trust will get you killed, robbed, or just taken advantage of
**Love the rust monster idea...as a str fighter, I hated those damn things
Oh and maybe some idiots start worshipping the thing and create a weird mutation cult. With the idea that the mutations are a gift from there god.
Maybe if my players really enjoy the story, more meteors will make impact.
The Far Realm jumps straight to mind. In earlier editions (and 5e with the inclusion of Star Spawns in MToF), the stars and space are connected to aberrations. There's actually a few epic-tier monsters in both 3e (Genius Loci [Epic Level Handbook] and Atropus, the World Born Dead [Elder Evils]) and 4e (Allabar, Opener of the Way [MM3]) which are planet-sized apocalyptic bosses. The meteor could be a cast-off bit of Allabar, who's been sending off star spawns and pseudonatural creatures to probe the planes (think imperial probe droids in ESB) trying to find a good source of life to corrupt. Atropus, on the other hand, heralds death and empowers undead.
Recreating Allabar/Atropus as a monster in avatar form is one of my current projects.