Hey, I'm about to start my third campaign this summer, running the Blue Medusa from Zak S. I wanted to be prepared to I made some things to go with it.
The Villain
If you've read the adventure you know the most "villains" in the various rooms can actually be okay people. They're broken, yeah, but they all want something and they all have things that will set them off.
I wanted to introduce a reoccurring villain that was more animal than the rest and who would be a consistent threat throughout the entirety of the maze. So here what I did.
Pazuzu the shape-shifting demon.
No hp, no stats, no nothing. It's not something that can be defeated yet. It's a demon of limitless power. But it harnesses this power through shape-shifting into creatures. To keep it a challenge from first level to wherever, he shifts into lower cr creatures fewer times a day. When the power gets more powerful he will shift into higher cr creatres.
His aim is not to kill the party. He cares little for the party. He wants to kill the Torn sisters, the Medusa, everyone. He wants to rule the maze. He's like a "checkpoint". Finding him means the party is close to something big. He will beat them down then leave. If they beat him down he'll leave.
He doesn't want to die. That is his primary goal. Secondary goal is to rule the maze.
Here's some random tables of "what does Pazuzu turn into this time?"
CR 0-1/8
1. Blood hawk
2. Vulture
3. Hyena
4. Octopus
5. Giant rat
6. Giant fire beetle
CR 1/8-1/4
1. Giant crab
2. Mastiff
3. Blink dog
4. Boar
5. Giant wolf spider
6. Pteranodon
CR 1/2-1
1. Ape
2. Black bear
3. Crocodile
4. Giant wasp
5. Reef shark
6. Rust monster
7. Death Dog
8. Dire wolf
9. Giant octopus
10. Tiger
11. Allosaurus
12. Giant constrictor snake
As for "how many times can Pazuzu transform?", just do what's dramatic. If he drops two PCs he'll be happy and book it. If they drop two of his forms and they don't bat an eye, he'll bail. But if you want a hard and fast rule, do just three transformations per meeting. If you need to just ramp up the meeting.
Throw him into the random encounter table, and two predetermined rooms per "section" of the maze.
Random Maze Introduction
So, most of these put you in the shoes of a prisoner of the maze, but there are a few random plot hooks thrown in as well to give your character some individual motivation. (I'm working on 100, but this is what I got for now).
1. You were caught saying the wrong thing about some art piece and were detained
2. Someone didn't like you and blamed like 1d4+1 murders on you
3. You heard there was this really hot babe and she totally dates normal dudes/chicks
4. Your mother disowned you because she saw how much of a hipster you were
5. A dragon didn't like the way you swung your sword. "It's too posh, or something."
6. You were abandoned inside by your old adventuring party. Add them to the random encounters.
7. The things you think in your head got out and you couldn't catch them. Naughty, naughty.
8. First degree murder. A simpleton's crime. "Where's the passion?"
9. Your father was a coal miner. How rural.
10. The armor you wear clashes with the sword you use. There's no greater crime.
11. The time around you flows normally and thus makes you slow to the fashion world.
12. Something, something, pixie dust. Something, something, she wasn't legal yet.
13. If you're a guy, it's because you were caught thinking perverted thoughts.
14. If you're a girl, it's because you were caught NOT thinking perverted thoughts.
15. You witnessed one of the two previous and called out, "SEXIST!"
16. Wrong orgy, wrong time.
17. You were walking slow. Sorry. No excuse.
18. You bathe too often making your skin dry. It's hideous. "Look at it flake!"
19. The art school you went to was really a bard's college. "Gross".
20. Just a string of arsonies. You know, the poor man's' crime.
21. Your tan isn't fake.
22. You drink the cheap stuff.
23. Ten years a cannibal critic before you ate some of that cake at the wedding.
24. The guild found out that your parents are still alive. "Orphans only, bro."
25. You were caught with your pants down.
26. Woke up with your hands painted red. "We caught you red handed!"
27. Came in of your own free will.
28. Used the painting, like a normal fucking person.
29. Your date left this as her address. You're sure she's in here somewhere.
30. Part of your soul was put into a random room. (Roll a d100 three times or just ask your DM)
31. Your pet peed in the forest owned by some uppity druids.
32. The last attack/spell/special ability you used didn't do full damage.
33. Unwrongfully accused of mismatched socks. You would never!
34. Your armor is so last season.
35. Make up a word. Seriously. Say it out loud. Ha! Got you. Making up words is for prisoners.
36. Poor people moved in next door, lowering your property value.
37. You recieved a letter that said "yo, yo, yo. Havin' mad sex in here. Check it!"
38. Played Bach on the piano but called it Chopin. Fool.
39. Mistook a hobgoblin for a goblin and had the gull to try and argue the fact that they are "practically the same".
40. You collect the wrong kind of trading cards. The cool ones are more expensive.
41. Roll a random room, or ask you DM. You know of that room.
42. You sang out of key. Or so they say.
43. Front page of the news was a picture of your face while you slept last night. Title read: "Lazy, or just stupid?"
44. Caught with way too many pounds of Skooma for you to have been "holding it for a friend."
45. There's mad dosh in the gallery, brah. I bet you want it.
46. Slaying a lich would bring you glory, and there's at least three or something.
47. You did the fashionable thing and stole the Ashen Chanterelle
48. Came in through the stairs, like everyone else.
49. (50)Were an Oku, but something about the lifestyle just didn't click.
50. Hired by the medusa to guard a specific room (roll 3d100 or just ask your DM).
51. You were hired to go into the maze by a wealthy adventuring group (split everything 50/50, but start with gear/gold)
52. Art theif. You stole the Ashen Chanterelle on accident and "fell" in.
53. On the chopping block, someone gave you a choice and you chose death. So here you are.
54. Running-Man-Style game show. Who can survive the maze the longest?
55. Same as above, but tournament-style. Whoever collects the most gold wins.
56. Locked in random cell (roll a dice or ask the DM).
57. You're a painting yourself. Just crawled from the frame (start with 1/2 gold/equipment).
58. Sat on the Havens' Throne. Punishable by tickling or death. You chose death.
59. You were in Waterdeep with the zombie plague broke out. Now you're here.
60. Sigil, city of doors. Messed up the chicken dance that takes you to the city of brass and wound up here.
61. Hired by a dragon to go in and steal artwork (split artwork gold 25/75, start with gear/gold).
Rumors about the Maze
Everyone knows at least one rumor. (100 of these would be nice too.)
1. Dendrosathol, arch-fiend, is trapped somewhere in the maze and would greatly reward his freer.
2. The Torn sisters are scattered in the Maze and are not hostile, but still very dangerous.
3. A wedding occurred thousands of years ago and was ruined by a Lich.
4. There’s a lich that will not attack if kept laughing.
5. Three thrones unlock a secret door.
6. The water wheel is dangerous.
7. Careful of the cells. Dangerous people reside.
8. The Medusa respects 1 on 1 combat rules and will not petrify if you do as well.
9. Chronia Torn is in love with the Medusa
10. Zamia’s corpse is valuable. As is her ghost.
11. Charity is trustworthy.
12. Beware the False Chanterelle
13. Always look behind you. Chameleon women lurk in wait.
14. Do not instigate the Lion in lapis
15. Trust the ghost child.
16. Do not destroy the moons.
17. Drink the Whiskey if you’re lost.
18. Don’t flip the switch.
19. The chandelier is worth 10,000gp.
20. The swan’s the phylactery.
21. Come with riddles for the sphinx.
22. Don’t be afraid to ask the paintings.
23. Don’t get married.
24. The purple worm is not alive.
25. Tell the lich about the flower.
26. 1 to 4. 2 to 3.
27. Fumitory is safe.
28. Her beast he hides the letters.
29. The Medusa wants to fuck Chronia.
30. Remove the liches and the Medusa will pay you handsomely
31. Beware the mushroom spores
32. Stop Levelliant Green! He’ll escape!
33. Zygmunt wants to reassemble the Triarchy.
34. Zamia doesn’t like Xanthoceras.
35. If you can’t see him, just say “See-more”.
36. Sophrina Wort isn’t as bad as she seems. But she lies.
37. Don’t kill the Pharaoh. It makes him powerful.
38. Levalliant Green can be helpful. He knows everything.
39. There’s a crack in the wall. Spy on her.
40. Bring Chromia the good silk. She’s your friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment