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 Need ideas on where to take party?
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Doomskull
Acolyte

USA
6 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  04:57:42  Show Profile  Visit Doomskull's Homepage Send Doomskull a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
I'm currently running a 5E game and we are close to finishing Curse of Strahd. I planned on bringing the party out of the mists deep in the Ardeep Forest. Where could I take them from here?

I ask this because I am trying to run it in a more "free roam" style for the players but have little knowledge of the lore of the area.

Where might I find information on that area and are there any interesting places around there?

I have a large over-arching campaign plot that they will kick off when out of Barovia but I want them to feel free in regards to where they want to go and plan on linking the main plot in small bits and pieces. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  12:08:05  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
These woods are also known by Waterdhavians as the Faraway Forest (see the Wiki), and was known for its damp, loamy soils and thick vegetation in which one can easliy be lost (or hidden). Lots of (faintly glowing) mushrooms, (assassin) vines, shrubbery filled glades and mistcloaked vales.

Lots of hidden elven activity can be found, from returned wood elven settlers from Evermeet, to an active Eldreth Veluuthra cell, to a secretive cult of Eilistraee (whom the Veluuthra hunt). It used to have an elven kingdom of Ardeep, complete with royal entourage and white castle (House of Long Silences), before it changed into the demihuman alliance of Phalorn. After Phalorns major setbacks due to orc invasions it was abandoned around the early half of the 14th century. A century later elves are trying to reclaim what was lost.

It has abandoned human structures too, with the Hunting Lodges of the Waterdhavian noble houses being the most sought after. The wood elves in the Ardeep are a too great of a deterrent to the nobles to claim their ancestral lodges now though.

My campaign sketches

Druidic Groves

Creature Feature: Giant Spiders
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Doomskull
Acolyte

USA
6 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  14:20:20  Show Profile  Visit Doomskull's Homepage Send Doomskull a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Thanks for the info friend. That gives me some good ideas!

Is the wiki the best comprehensive source for information or is there another, better source I should look for? Other than Candlekeep of course.
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  14:29:27  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yeah, the 3e tomes City of Splendors: Waterdeep, Lost Empires of Faerun and FRCS hold more info, as does dragon 270 (New Adventures of Volo: the Ardeep).

My campaign sketches

Druidic Groves

Creature Feature: Giant Spiders
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Doomskull
Acolyte

USA
6 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  16:28:25  Show Profile  Visit Doomskull's Homepage Send Doomskull a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Thanks! I'll give those a look.
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 21 Aug 2017 :  16:58:13  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
For more on the secretive and vindictive Eldreth Veluuthra, check out Champions of Ruin. The Veluuthra are some of the most scary opponents a realms DM has to offer.

My campaign sketches

Druidic Groves

Creature Feature: Giant Spiders
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Doomskull
Acolyte

USA
6 Posts

Posted - 22 Aug 2017 :  05:11:31  Show Profile  Visit Doomskull's Homepage Send Doomskull a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Awesome sources! Formed all kinds of ideas for the party, but here's another one for ya; Scornubel.
I run an online game also and currently they are in Scornubel and going to be going into the Crypt of the Wondermakers. I had to make up a good bit of it since I couldn't find much info on Scornubel. I plan on having them unwittingly release the nishruu. Are there any good sources for the Scornubel area?
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RDS
Acolyte

USA
25 Posts

Posted - 25 Aug 2017 :  17:38:35  Show Profile Send RDS a Private Message  Reply with Quote
You could dovetail your two group activities. One group can deal with fallout from the other groups activities and vice versa.

RDS
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Doomskull
Acolyte

USA
6 Posts

Posted - 26 Aug 2017 :  08:40:53  Show Profile  Visit Doomskull's Homepage Send Doomskull a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yes, I think I will do that. I was planning on having both plotlines wrap around each other with it culminating in a trip to Undermountain in the end. Sounds like a plan!
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