I can't seem to find this anywhere. The Demogorgon has 90k xp. I ran this with 2 characters who ended up being 13th level when it got to the battle. They were higher experience than a 4 group party at the start which helped get through, and there was a lot of stealth. In the final battle, staying close and Misty Step got the wand of Orcus. And so on and so forth, and some really good rolls and the Power Word Kill helped. Voila! Demo gone. But...90k experience, when the Demo had less HP, used spells, etc. I mean, half is still 45k. The module doesn't really specify what to do with that, and it doesn't specify (unless I missed something) what to do with the Want of Orcus (which would definitely have some folks come looking for). Any idea on xp for that?
The book doesn't say because the campaign is over at that point. It doesn't matter if it's 90k experience or less. To me they deserve the entire 90k because the story is they set up the scenario where the Demogorgon is in a weakened state. I gave my player characters the next level. They ended a threat to the entire world. Their actions led to the purging of thousands of demons across the Underdark and saved ... well, everyone.
That's great advice, thanks. I think easily into the next level at least. And no way did they keep the wand! :) That would just be an endless amount of death coming their way, was they're continuing on. But I kinda looked at it all together and one ended up with a robe of archmagi and the other a watchful helm and kept a good sword. Bit of handwaving...archmage takes wand but leaves you with gift, etc. For me, it was really the 90k total. But about next level sounds good, or close to the next one. Cheers for that.
Killing a demogorgon is probably worth a blessing from the dmg. I recommend giving them one and reducing the xp if you plan to immediately continue on without any time skip or anything. I'd recommend this mainly if they are going to go after the other demon lords or the wizard who summoned them.
Otherwise do a time skip and give the full xp, so they enter the next part of the campaign as legendary powerful hero's.
There are plenty of options for epic quests after out of the abyss that would work well with a time skip
Going to the demon web pits to get revenge on lolth
Destroying the grimoire
Destroying the wand of orcus
They all require going to a demonic plane and that require time to figure out how to do
As for the wand of orcus. It's an evil sentient item that is not going to co-operate with a good aligned party. Based on dmg rules conflicting sentient items can :
Attempt to take control of the party for the wand of orcus it would be a dc 15 charisma saving throw
Suppress any of it's properties so in the case of the wand of orcus it may functionally only have detrimental properties.
Make it impossible to attune to it.
In short, the party does not want the wand of orcus. It only wants death, probably won't help them and will probably try to hurt them. At the same time giving it to Vizeran is likely to result in an undead attack on Menzobarrazen at some point in future but probably not immediately. Replacing menzobarazen with an undead necropolis on a time skip would be pretty cool.
Thanks, yeah I went the route of giving them about 1/3 of the experience but hand waved some of the things like the wand, where that was given over to Laeral Silverhand (as they are well known in that faction). It wasn't where I wanted to go and they'd been in the abyss (or rather out of the abyss) for too long and wanted something different. But they found two major magic items on the field (covered in blood and gore, but good nonetheless!) that they'd really wanted. So, it worked out well to lead into some Candlekeep adventures for a bit of fun.
I think the blessing idea and more experience is a great idea, and I didn't so much think of that. This worked though.
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I can't seem to find this anywhere. The Demogorgon has 90k xp. I ran this with 2 characters who ended up being 13th level when it got to the battle. They were higher experience than a 4 group party at the start which helped get through, and there was a lot of stealth. In the final battle, staying close and Misty Step got the wand of Orcus. And so on and so forth, and some really good rolls and the Power Word Kill helped. Voila! Demo gone. But...90k experience, when the Demo had less HP, used spells, etc. I mean, half is still 45k. The module doesn't really specify what to do with that, and it doesn't specify (unless I missed something) what to do with the Want of Orcus (which would definitely have some folks come looking for). Any idea on xp for that?
The book doesn't say because the campaign is over at that point. It doesn't matter if it's 90k experience or less. To me they deserve the entire 90k because the story is they set up the scenario where the Demogorgon is in a weakened state. I gave my player characters the next level. They ended a threat to the entire world. Their actions led to the purging of thousands of demons across the Underdark and saved ... well, everyone.
The Wand of Orcus is its own reward.
That's great advice, thanks. I think easily into the next level at least. And no way did they keep the wand! :) That would just be an endless amount of death coming their way, was they're continuing on. But I kinda looked at it all together and one ended up with a robe of archmagi and the other a watchful helm and kept a good sword. Bit of handwaving...archmage takes wand but leaves you with gift, etc. For me, it was really the 90k total. But about next level sounds good, or close to the next one. Cheers for that.
Killing a demogorgon is probably worth a blessing from the dmg. I recommend giving them one and reducing the xp if you plan to immediately continue on without any time skip or anything. I'd recommend this mainly if they are going to go after the other demon lords or the wizard who summoned them.
Otherwise do a time skip and give the full xp, so they enter the next part of the campaign as legendary powerful hero's.
There are plenty of options for epic quests after out of the abyss that would work well with a time skip
They all require going to a demonic plane and that require time to figure out how to do
As for the wand of orcus. It's an evil sentient item that is not going to co-operate with a good aligned party. Based on dmg rules conflicting sentient items can :
In short, the party does not want the wand of orcus. It only wants death, probably won't help them and will probably try to hurt them. At the same time giving it to Vizeran is likely to result in an undead attack on Menzobarrazen at some point in future but probably not immediately. Replacing menzobarazen with an undead necropolis on a time skip would be pretty cool.
Thanks, yeah I went the route of giving them about 1/3 of the experience but hand waved some of the things like the wand, where that was given over to Laeral Silverhand (as they are well known in that faction). It wasn't where I wanted to go and they'd been in the abyss (or rather out of the abyss) for too long and wanted something different. But they found two major magic items on the field (covered in blood and gore, but good nonetheless!) that they'd really wanted. So, it worked out well to lead into some Candlekeep adventures for a bit of fun.
I think the blessing idea and more experience is a great idea, and I didn't so much think of that. This worked though.