Hey, first time DMing! I decided to do Tales from the Yawning Portal for my group. It's the 2nd campaign we're doing with my group and its my turn to DM. I pretty much memorized the first story, the sunless citadel, read through the fury of the forge and skimmed the rest. Does anyone have more experience/knowledge of this entire 'campaign' and can help me plant seeds, hooks and proper links to connect each adventure to the next? I can bring the group to the Yawning Portal Tavern or hook them directly to the next adventure.
As of now, all I thought about is throwing in images of Nightscale (who appears in the 2nd story - Fury of the Forge) throughout the sunless citadel, most likely throughout the carvings/sculptures of Ashardalon. With Nightscale (or her ancestor since Ashardalon is an ancient dragon whereas Nightscale is a young dragon) fighting and battling Ashdardalon showing that they're rivals/enemies and if the draconic sorcerer in the group doesn't ask to pursue her then I'll have the kobolds prod the group to seek her out.
Any other examples? Any other advice while running it in general?
ALSO, I'm working on the rewards for the group. The book only has the unique magic items in it, is there a list online or out there that has ALL the magic items that can be found throughout the campaign (for this or even for others for that matter)?
I’m running these adventures for some friends now and found your post looking for the same kind of answers. Mostly looking for fluid ways to connect the adventures and create some role playing opportunities in between the dungeon delving.
I’m starting Forge of Fury tomorrow, I used the Baron adventure hook and made him a friend of Kerowyn Hucrele who showed up to the funeral. He has offered the task of retrieving the blades of Durgeddin for a handsome reward and is awaiting a response from the party.
I unfortunately neglected to put in mention of Nightscale it an ancestor but one of my characters did pick up the tome of dragon lore so I’ll put a link in there when he takes a closer look through the book.
The thing I am struggling hardest with is how to get the players to the start of the 3rd adventure. I’m using the forgotten realms setting so I’ll place it in Chult... but how to and why they’re there is beyond me for the moment.
Place Olman artifacts in Nightscale’s lair. Coins of chultan mint, jade figurines of dinosaurs, and a bronze plaque indicating the mound of Tamoachan. When they find it, make sure to describe it as both very ancient, and very foreign. When the party goes to sell it, normal merchants suggest either going to an antiques dealer in town, or taking it to a blacksmith to be melted down. They might get 3 gp for it. The antiques dealer has a contact in Chult whom he contacts via sending stones (He has a whole rolodex worth of sending stones in a box.) That contact agrees that it’s likely very valuable and if they’ll escort it back to Chult for his museum, he’ll give them a tour of the Shrine where it came from. Only it’s mostly a pile of rubble now. It was rumored to have housed great treasure, which is why a black dragon sacked the place long ago. (It was raiding this dragon’s lair that put these artifacts in Nightscale’s talons. And why she fled north to Khundrukar. She would be hunted down by the larger black dragon in Chult for stealing from his hoard.) When they get there, they can find the secret doors and have an adventure.
Now you have a RP and Travel bridge session. Possible sailing encounters, jungle expedition trek to even get to the shrine. May be a whole session’s worth of fun to set up the start of Shrine of Tamoachan.
So it's been a while and I was able to work out a lot of things, using player backgrounds as hooks. At the end of each adventure I have them return to Waterdeep/Yawning Portal as their hub.
I actually found a 1 shot online, free sample of 'dungeon in a box' -- The island Green. Honestly more to get my feet wet and I really liked it. HIGHLY recommending it, if not a sub to their service. Without getting too into detail a druid is trying to harness the last vestige of the plant kingdom on an island. The heroes saved the day and found black and white seeds with a note from Belak. > Lead them to Oakhurst via a dwarf & his crew at the YP who then drove them there, (TOMOACHAN HOOK -- at the church there the noble cleric who ran away from home had his mom reach out to him via sending stone that their family was cursed when they purchased rare artifact coins (Pirate of the Caribbean-esque) BUT the mom didn't know where to go, to find a lead on his own --) Had the citadel be a temple to a red dragon but all the mosaics and reliefs had it battling and overcoming a black dragon. Sort of rivals. I replaced the baby white dragon with a baby black dragon who then went to fly home to her mama (nightscale). In the citadel, they found an ancient scroll with Durgadin's mark. After the citadel, the dwarf noticed it, saying its an ancestral forge and help reclaiming it.
Took them to Blasingdell/stonetooth. all's well. (had the kraken warlock have a vision from his patron about saving him from White Plume Mountain & Gave him a tentacle rod) Had them find an old ledger with the same design as the ancient coins as a lead, maybe the dwarf knew something?
In the Stonetooth forest, the ranger met up with his old mentor who had news about Giant activity (hook to Against the Giants). giants also happened to pillage his village, killing family which is how he met his mentor. The mentor advised to meet with the Faction leader of Order of the Gauntlets who may have more info (HQ in waterdeep, also gave him an invite), after going there, the leader only has minor information but has sent scouts to the north to investigate more, once more info has been discovered, it will be given and they can then hunt them.
He didn't follow up but they went back to the YP where the Bard who was an ex-thief have someone give him instructions on a heist (it was actually the rogue from our last campaign who betrayed and TPK'd us. We still have a grudge against it. Had the player barge through my apt right at the same as the bard entered the 'bosses' room. It was great). The heist was actually retrieving an artifact from Tomoachan, along with a contact/guide through Chult. (also fun because 3 players did ToA and they were legit traumatized. Honest PTSD when I said where they had to go)
We're actually in middle of this now... so.... Here's what I have planned.
Whenever they return to the YP I have rumors available, little tidbits, advise, warnings or spoilers on the next mission (some of these are the rumors presented in the beginning of the book) but honestly, the players just barge right in and then barge right out so they haven't picked up anything, one of these rumors were some legendary artifacts have been claimed to be missing, but honestly, I doubt any of them picked up on that, let alone will remember it on their return. On their return from chult, I will be making the loss artifacts more obvious, wanted posters, etc, along with Keraptis's letters. I will have the ranger's faction; order of the gauntlet request that he & co follow up and if they can retrieve the artifacts for the nobles, (will also have Lord's alliance make an appearance and recruit a PC or 2) that would be great for their reputation. If they "don't" find anything, it would be great for the group, and even greater for the faction's treasury. Stating that they are going to white plume Mt will have the warlock run there head over heels. ( i will also have 'encounters' of other adventures trying to claim them. Have a group meet up with them as they're traveling. Have a group lay dead among some traps, and I like the illustration from the suspended platform/geyser room so Ill be narrating that group's demise as the players walk into that room. I have also made an entire DMPC group that have just struck the killing blow to the Oni at the end but before they claim Blackrazor for themselves. The DMPCs will be halfway hurt (I pretty much did a solo battle with the oni) but will defend themselves and their treasure from the group.
After that, I will have a disaster on a global scale, say like an earthquake or something that gets EVERYONE's attention. the factions will have their recruits convene and brief that it's a global attack from the Red Wizard's of Thay & the Doomvault and the city needs the group to save the day. Special mission by the factions.
Between the ranger following up with the giants and the group uncovering that the liches are in cahoots with them, leads them to against the giant adventure. Honestly haven't had a chance to think too much on it. only read the gist of these 2. too much to know.
After that, they'll be lead to Acerak's tomb, not sure if I'll for sure do it or offer it to the group as an optional harrowing gauntlet .
CAVEATS: first off, this campaign path that I created is VERY personal, integrating personal backstories and goals.
second; and this is more of how i did it but there is no overarching story, I did have a tendency to railroad the players to the next adventure, limited open world, etc. Specifically it bothered one of the players really badly that they are not enjoying themselves. Obviously we all know how linear and disconnected the 'campaign' is but my hooks and seeds were more breadcrumbs than an overarching story. No overarching villain either. Honestly I Did not think of this and as the other players didn't care, it wasn't brought to my attention until recently.
Looking back, I could have EASILY incorporated an unseen Acerak working plans through the shadow, could have had Belak (& keraptis) mention of their master. I can have the Port of Naranzyrou of Chult have a festival celebrating the destruction of Acerak (another easter egg of the group who did ToA) but then have rumors that he didn't actually die. I can have Acerak be the creator of the doomvault instead of Sasz Tam and that there are rumors of him controlling the giants. Etc. Since we're midway through Tomoachan, I plan to do a few of these connections but I just hope that I doesn't feel too forced at this point.
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Hey, first time DMing! I decided to do Tales from the Yawning Portal for my group. It's the 2nd campaign we're doing with my group and its my turn to DM. I pretty much memorized the first story, the sunless citadel, read through the fury of the forge and skimmed the rest. Does anyone have more experience/knowledge of this entire 'campaign' and can help me plant seeds, hooks and proper links to connect each adventure to the next? I can bring the group to the Yawning Portal Tavern or hook them directly to the next adventure.
As of now, all I thought about is throwing in images of Nightscale (who appears in the 2nd story - Fury of the Forge) throughout the sunless citadel, most likely throughout the carvings/sculptures of Ashardalon. With Nightscale (or her ancestor since Ashardalon is an ancient dragon whereas Nightscale is a young dragon) fighting and battling Ashdardalon showing that they're rivals/enemies and if the draconic sorcerer in the group doesn't ask to pursue her then I'll have the kobolds prod the group to seek her out.
Any other examples? Any other advice while running it in general?
ALSO, I'm working on the rewards for the group. The book only has the unique magic items in it, is there a list online or out there that has ALL the magic items that can be found throughout the campaign (for this or even for others for that matter)?
I’m running these adventures for some friends now and found your post looking for the same kind of answers. Mostly looking for fluid ways to connect the adventures and create some role playing opportunities in between the dungeon delving.
I’m starting Forge of Fury tomorrow, I used the Baron adventure hook and made him a friend of Kerowyn Hucrele who showed up to the funeral. He has offered the task of retrieving the blades of Durgeddin for a handsome reward and is awaiting a response from the party.
I unfortunately neglected to put in mention of Nightscale it an ancestor but one of my characters did pick up the tome of dragon lore so I’ll put a link in there when he takes a closer look through the book.
The thing I am struggling hardest with is how to get the players to the start of the 3rd adventure. I’m using the forgotten realms setting so I’ll place it in Chult... but how to and why they’re there is beyond me for the moment.
Place Olman artifacts in Nightscale’s lair. Coins of chultan mint, jade figurines of dinosaurs, and a bronze plaque indicating the mound of Tamoachan. When they find it, make sure to describe it as both very ancient, and very foreign. When the party goes to sell it, normal merchants suggest either going to an antiques dealer in town, or taking it to a blacksmith to be melted down. They might get 3 gp for it. The antiques dealer has a contact in Chult whom he contacts via sending stones (He has a whole rolodex worth of sending stones in a box.) That contact agrees that it’s likely very valuable and if they’ll escort it back to Chult for his museum, he’ll give them a tour of the Shrine where it came from. Only it’s mostly a pile of rubble now. It was rumored to have housed great treasure, which is why a black dragon sacked the place long ago. (It was raiding this dragon’s lair that put these artifacts in Nightscale’s talons. And why she fled north to Khundrukar. She would be hunted down by the larger black dragon in Chult for stealing from his hoard.) When they get there, they can find the secret doors and have an adventure.
Now you have a RP and Travel bridge session. Possible sailing encounters, jungle expedition trek to even get to the shrine. May be a whole session’s worth of fun to set up the start of Shrine of Tamoachan.
So it's been a while and I was able to work out a lot of things, using player backgrounds as hooks. At the end of each adventure I have them return to Waterdeep/Yawning Portal as their hub.
I actually found a 1 shot online, free sample of 'dungeon in a box' -- The island Green. Honestly more to get my feet wet and I really liked it. HIGHLY recommending it, if not a sub to their service. Without getting too into detail a druid is trying to harness the last vestige of the plant kingdom on an island. The heroes saved the day and found black and white seeds with a note from Belak. > Lead them to Oakhurst via a dwarf & his crew at the YP who then drove them there, (TOMOACHAN HOOK -- at the church there the noble cleric who ran away from home had his mom reach out to him via sending stone that their family was cursed when they purchased rare artifact coins (Pirate of the Caribbean-esque) BUT the mom didn't know where to go, to find a lead on his own --) Had the citadel be a temple to a red dragon but all the mosaics and reliefs had it battling and overcoming a black dragon. Sort of rivals. I replaced the baby white dragon with a baby black dragon who then went to fly home to her mama (nightscale). In the citadel, they found an ancient scroll with Durgadin's mark. After the citadel, the dwarf noticed it, saying its an ancestral forge and help reclaiming it.
Took them to Blasingdell/stonetooth. all's well. (had the kraken warlock have a vision from his patron about saving him from White Plume Mountain & Gave him a tentacle rod) Had them find an old ledger with the same design as the ancient coins as a lead, maybe the dwarf knew something?
In the Stonetooth forest, the ranger met up with his old mentor who had news about Giant activity (hook to Against the Giants). giants also happened to pillage his village, killing family which is how he met his mentor. The mentor advised to meet with the Faction leader of Order of the Gauntlets who may have more info (HQ in waterdeep, also gave him an invite), after going there, the leader only has minor information but has sent scouts to the north to investigate more, once more info has been discovered, it will be given and they can then hunt them.
He didn't follow up but they went back to the YP where the Bard who was an ex-thief have someone give him instructions on a heist (it was actually the rogue from our last campaign who betrayed and TPK'd us. We still have a grudge against it. Had the player barge through my apt right at the same as the bard entered the 'bosses' room. It was great). The heist was actually retrieving an artifact from Tomoachan, along with a contact/guide through Chult. (also fun because 3 players did ToA and they were legit traumatized. Honest PTSD when I said where they had to go)
We're actually in middle of this now... so.... Here's what I have planned.
Whenever they return to the YP I have rumors available, little tidbits, advise, warnings or spoilers on the next mission (some of these are the rumors presented in the beginning of the book) but honestly, the players just barge right in and then barge right out so they haven't picked up anything, one of these rumors were some legendary artifacts have been claimed to be missing, but honestly, I doubt any of them picked up on that, let alone will remember it on their return. On their return from chult, I will be making the loss artifacts more obvious, wanted posters, etc, along with Keraptis's letters. I will have the ranger's faction; order of the gauntlet request that he & co follow up and if they can retrieve the artifacts for the nobles, (will also have Lord's alliance make an appearance and recruit a PC or 2) that would be great for their reputation. If they "don't" find anything, it would be great for the group, and even greater for the faction's treasury. Stating that they are going to white plume Mt will have the warlock run there head over heels. ( i will also have 'encounters' of other adventures trying to claim them. Have a group meet up with them as they're traveling. Have a group lay dead among some traps, and I like the illustration from the suspended platform/geyser room so Ill be narrating that group's demise as the players walk into that room. I have also made an entire DMPC group that have just struck the killing blow to the Oni at the end but before they claim Blackrazor for themselves. The DMPCs will be halfway hurt (I pretty much did a solo battle with the oni) but will defend themselves and their treasure from the group.
After that, I will have a disaster on a global scale, say like an earthquake or something that gets EVERYONE's attention. the factions will have their recruits convene and brief that it's a global attack from the Red Wizard's of Thay & the Doomvault and the city needs the group to save the day. Special mission by the factions.
Between the ranger following up with the giants and the group uncovering that the liches are in cahoots with them, leads them to against the giant adventure. Honestly haven't had a chance to think too much on it. only read the gist of these 2. too much to know.
After that, they'll be lead to Acerak's tomb, not sure if I'll for sure do it or offer it to the group as an optional harrowing gauntlet .
CAVEATS: first off, this campaign path that I created is VERY personal, integrating personal backstories and goals.
second; and this is more of how i did it but there is no overarching story, I did have a tendency to railroad the players to the next adventure, limited open world, etc. Specifically it bothered one of the players really badly that they are not enjoying themselves. Obviously we all know how linear and disconnected the 'campaign' is but my hooks and seeds were more breadcrumbs than an overarching story. No overarching villain either. Honestly I Did not think of this and as the other players didn't care, it wasn't brought to my attention until recently.
Looking back, I could have EASILY incorporated an unseen Acerak working plans through the shadow, could have had Belak (& keraptis) mention of their master. I can have the Port of Naranzyrou of Chult have a festival celebrating the destruction of Acerak (another easter egg of the group who did ToA) but then have rumors that he didn't actually die. I can have Acerak be the creator of the doomvault instead of Sasz Tam and that there are rumors of him controlling the giants. Etc. Since we're midway through Tomoachan, I plan to do a few of these connections but I just hope that I doesn't feel too forced at this point.