Shadowbane
2012-01-02, 12:41 PM
So the PCs are at a large stone town/castle near the mountains. Think Helms Deep but bigger.
I've failed to plan this very well, but here's the story so far.
We have a Aasimar Paladin, a Half-Elf Ranger, a Halfling Cleric, a Demonspawn Tiefling Abyssal Sorceress and a Human Two-Handed Fighter, all level 1. They're investigating a series of murders and disappearances, originally blamed on the sorceress, who the other four found at this place. The paladin of the party helped clear her name and now they're trying to find the real murderer.
The murders are grisly and extremely violent. People are found torn apart with their hearts often missing or smeared along an nearby wall. Several have been found with their throats torn out.
What they know now is that a long time ago something very, very bad happened in this castle and whatever caused it was locked away in a massive vault underneath the castle. No one will give them any hint as to what is in there or what it did - all they know is that it was bad and quite powerful. When the paladin used detect evil it radiated evil so strong it made him vomit (he's inexperienced).
What is in the vault is what is committing the murders.
What is happening now is that a humiliated ex-knight (thrown out of his order due to his behavior towards the sorceress and the party paladin's intervention) is going to open the vault. He doesn't know what's inside either, but he's slipping and going insane - if he survives, he'll be a recurring character as an anti-paladin.
So where am I stuck?
I have no idea what's in the vault. Five ECL 1 characters with a paladin really good at fighting evil things, a cleric with the ever useful Luck and Travel Domains, a ranger who specializes in hunting orcs, a fighter who's, well, a fighter and a sorceress who summons stuff. No magic items except for a few cure light wounds potions.
What could they fight that's challenging and scary but possible?
I've failed to plan this very well, but here's the story so far.
We have a Aasimar Paladin, a Half-Elf Ranger, a Halfling Cleric, a Demonspawn Tiefling Abyssal Sorceress and a Human Two-Handed Fighter, all level 1. They're investigating a series of murders and disappearances, originally blamed on the sorceress, who the other four found at this place. The paladin of the party helped clear her name and now they're trying to find the real murderer.
The murders are grisly and extremely violent. People are found torn apart with their hearts often missing or smeared along an nearby wall. Several have been found with their throats torn out.
What they know now is that a long time ago something very, very bad happened in this castle and whatever caused it was locked away in a massive vault underneath the castle. No one will give them any hint as to what is in there or what it did - all they know is that it was bad and quite powerful. When the paladin used detect evil it radiated evil so strong it made him vomit (he's inexperienced).
What is in the vault is what is committing the murders.
What is happening now is that a humiliated ex-knight (thrown out of his order due to his behavior towards the sorceress and the party paladin's intervention) is going to open the vault. He doesn't know what's inside either, but he's slipping and going insane - if he survives, he'll be a recurring character as an anti-paladin.
So where am I stuck?
I have no idea what's in the vault. Five ECL 1 characters with a paladin really good at fighting evil things, a cleric with the ever useful Luck and Travel Domains, a ranger who specializes in hunting orcs, a fighter who's, well, a fighter and a sorceress who summons stuff. No magic items except for a few cure light wounds potions.
What could they fight that's challenging and scary but possible?