| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2016 : 13:18:36
|
So our group has gone back to our 4th edition campaign where they had defeated the corrupt cleric of Amaunator and cleansed Fort Morninglord of all evil. The artifact that is the source of corruption and evil is none other than the Crown of Horns. The essence of Myrkul still inhabits the item and uses nefarious magical powers to twist those who physically touch the item. Additionally the crown has sent out a signal to monsters close by as a clarion call to steal it away from the hands of the heroes.
The heroes and the High Observer of Elturel are at odds at how to proceed with the item. The paladins of Elturguard want to keep the crown there under their protection of the second sun. The heroes want to destroy it. While they were bickering a lower prince of shade eclipsed the Companion during twilight and attacked with a large assault of ghouls, wraiths, and two liches. The heroes drove back the ghouls but we're too late in stopping the Shade from stealing the crown and retreating back to the Shadowfell (ie. Plane of Shadow).
So now the PCs need a way to destroy the crown in a ritualistic fashion and they're going to need ingredients. This is where I need some help and Ideas. Basically I need a few things the PCs will need to get in order to destroy the crown and where to do it. Suggestions?
|
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 22 Mar 2016 22:07:19
|
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2016 : 13:50:20
|
Just as a sort of starting point, I'm thinking of having the PCs go to more exotic locales of the Realms to retrieve the special items. This not only takes them on a bit of a chase throughout the Realms but can also showcase certain areas they've never been.
So the crown cannot be touched or it's magic will automatically dominate you (acts as a cursed item, which it is). So the PCs will need to find some sort of containment or box or something that they can combine some of the other items along with the crown.
As for the items, I don't want to go with a TON of stuff so maybe like 2 or 3 at most. Currently I'm drawing a blank on how extensive these components need to be. Purified blood of a demon seems like something that doesn't really take them to another spot on Toril but to another plane but that sounds like something that would be interesting. Does anyone know of any lore surrounding the crown that might be used to destroy it? |
 |
|
|
Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6354 Posts |
|
|
Demzer
Senior Scribe
873 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2016 : 15:30:27
|
Ok so, without any solid canonical bases i suggest the following paths for items connected to the Crown:
- the James brothers adventure in Dungeon 170, "Monument of the Ancients" reveals that Myrkul was in fact "Myrkul Bey al-Kursi, Crown Prince of Murghom", furthermore we have the Drowned City of Bhaluin in Brightstar Lake (or Gbor Nor) that is a Mirkulyte stronghold as of late 1370s at least (sources The Horde boxed set pages 29-30 and Lost Empires of Faerun page 64), so in light of all this i think there may be something bound to Myrkul's mortal life worth chasing after in Murghom (that is under dragon rule in 4E, i think?);
- Tom Costa and Eric Boyd gave us the Death devil (or Jerul) in their Realms Bestiary, Volume 2, a devil type whose origin is unknown and pinned on Jergal or Myrkul and whose "mission" i to exact vengeance on the False and Faithless, the write-up says that they stick to the Fugue, unless they have to collect a debt from a bargain with a once dead mortal. So if you want pieces from an evil outsider a little more connected to Myrkul there you have it, the players may be struck protecting/escorting someone that should've been dead and it's stalked by a Jerul in order to get their devil juice for the ritual;
- we all know Laeral was under the sway of the Crown for 20 years (1337-1357) so maybe something in her possession that was used or was present when she was freed of the artifact's influence may be used to handle safely the artifact. Even if you don't want to go with fantasy classics like tear/blood/lock of hair, you can go with keyed magic items like Laeral Anklets, a nice protective item (writeup in City of Splendors: Waterdeep (3E) page 150) that for it's history may be intended to have protective powers against the artifact influence. Depending on which point of the Realms history you're in, Laeral is either walled up in Candlekeep under disguise (and the Anklets are definetely too recognizable to be kept by her, so may be anywhere in the North or fancy Moonstars hiding places) or she's ruling Waterdeep and may be persuaded to help the players in their quest;
- also regarding Laeral's history with the Crown, Champions of Ruin reveals that it was Aumvor that placed the Crown where Laeral could've found it, implying the lich had the Crown and maybe some means to control it. The big problem with going this way is that the source notes that neither Khelben nor Laeral knew of Aumvor's involvement so it's kind of hard for the players to get by this particular piece of secret information;
Hope the ramblings help. |
|
|
|
Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2016 : 16:13:27
|
While it doesn't fit with your exact scenario, I figure I should mention that in the Crown's 2e write-up, its three suggested methods of destruction were:
* The Crown must be worn by Kelemvor, God of the Dead.
* The Crown must be bathed in the lifeblood of an avatar of Garagos the Reaver.
* The Crown must be buried in the crumbled bones of 100 destroyed demiliches.
If you want to expand on that a bit, maybe the PC's need to bathe in the lifeblood of Garagos's avatar to be able to safely handle the Crown, and then something else will weaken the Crown long enough for it to be destroyed.
Personally, I like a three-step solution:
1) PC's bathe in Garagos's lifeblood to handle the Crown
2) PC's do something (cover in bones of Murghomese demiliches?) to weaken Crown
3) PC's throw Crown into volcano sacred to a deity (Geb, Kossuth, etc.) to destroy it and end with a Lord of the Rings flair.
But maybe that's just me. It's certainly a tall order. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
Edited by - Hoondatha on 22 Mar 2016 07:02:30 |
|
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2016 : 20:17:19
|
| Wow, thanks guys that relly helps a lot! The PCs are currently at 15th level so some of the suggestions would be very dangerous to achieve (what good things aren't, right?) but that gives me some great ideas to draw from. I'll work on it some and see what might be great for part 1. |
|
|
|
Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2016 : 07:02:09
|
Glad we could help.
Also, minor detail, but it's the Crown of Horns, not the Crown of Thorns. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
|
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2016 : 14:33:57
|
| Yeah I realized the mistake yesterday when I was looking at the lore. Derp on my part. Unfortunately I don't think I can edit the title o the thread :( |
|
|
|
Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2016 : 15:20:23
|
Eh, now it just means all the English will like you, since you have an excess of T.  |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36782 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2016 : 22:07:43
|
quote:
Originally posted by Diffan
Yeah I realized the mistake yesterday when I was looking at the lore. Derp on my part. Unfortunately I don't think I can edit the title o the thread :(
I think you could have done it... But I went ahead and did that for you.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
|
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2016 : 06:10:38
|
| Thanks Wooly! You da best |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Destroying the Crown of Horns
