T2 - Death Fungi Doom!

Inspiration: With thanks to Scottsz, James Raggi and Michael Curtis

I was reading scottsz' continued analysis of T1-4, in the comments of this post.

Something scottsz said in his latest, along with several other passages of his insightful commentary, set off a spark.

I had already decided that I didn't want "T2" to be a megadungeon. I wanted it to be T2, not T2-4 and suitable as a follow-up to T1. Also, T1 is taking place before the Giants/Drow modules, as those events are going to be in play, whether or not the players decide to investigate.

The Temple of Elemental Evil? It really was devoted to the Elder Elemental Eye. And Zuggtmoy? She aided Eclavdra and the EEE, in an attempt to weaken Lolth.

So, is Zuggtmoy trapped inside the ToEE? Yes. A smaller ToEE.

And, I know how she's trapped. I just need to come up with a plausible excuse, for the Druids to be banned from Nulb and the ToEE area, but still be able to operate in Hommlet. I've got a lot more studying to do and need to go back over scottsz' work, very closely. But, I know where I'm headed.

Earlier, I speculated:

Going further, Zuggtmoy might have allied herself with the EEE. How well known where the doings of the EEE cult, to Lolth Worshipping Drow? At the battle of E. Meadows, might those latter have fought a pitched battle, in the depths of the ToE, managing to imprison Zuggtmoy?

Could the whole of the surface world forces, been fighting a proxy battle, for allies unknown to any but those at the highest level of command?

I think the Druids are going to be responsible for setting Zuggtmoy's prison. I gotta work out, all those wheels-within-wheels.

Death Fungi Doom!

No, that's not quite right! All those undead wouldn't fit very well. I'd need something like...

Michael Curtis' Wrecking Crew. The Fungal Dead!

The fungal dead are human corpses whose bodies have been overtaken by a virulent strain of unwholesome fungus. These alien spores animate their non-living hosts into a nightmarish semblance of life and seek to spread the colony into new, recently-deceased corpses.

And of course, instead of a Vampire, down there, we have Zuggtmoy, needing the PC's as much as they're going to need her! And a certain bizarre, keening/humming plant creature, which puts fungi into a stasis, instead of undead. Crypts? Or, maybe thousands of dead combatants, strewn about the dungeon. Put into stasis right before the demonic fungi, was ready to activate their corpses.

Maybe old Zeke has been making forays into the place, taking out bodies one by one and burying them. Unawares, of the quiescent evil, of all that sickening growth. I might need to tweak the timeline, a bit. Maybe decide that St. Cuthbert's followers believe all bodies must be buried. An anti-cremation doctrine might fit well, with old Cugel-dudes historical inspiration.

Now, as an added bonus, I can throw a few scary undead encounters into the dungeon. :)

And a secret area, where one of Matt Finch's Shrooms, also lies in stasis, awaiting a foolhardy party of adventurers. If I get lucky, the players will never even know he exists. Until long after they've left the dungeon, that is!

Can I get a Mwahaha!? :)

Gygaxian Supernaturalism - Or, What Happens to Hommlet's Rufus at 8th Level?

The Gods are Watching You!

From T1:

Rufus Is also lawful good, and when he reaches 8th level he has been instructed to return to Verbobonc for special service in the Viscount‘s behalf.

Some Quotes from the DMG:

Page 81

Why then the increase in hit points? Because these reflect both the actual physical ability of the character to withstand damage - as indicated by constitution bonuses- and a commensurate increase in such areas as skill in combat and similar life-or-death situations, the "sixth sense" whith warns the individual of some otherwise unforeseen events, sheer luck,and the fantastic provisions of magical protections and/or divine protection. (Emphasis mine.)

Page 25

Whether or not the character actively professes some deity, he or she will have on alignment and serve one or more deities of this general alignment indirectly and unbeknownst to the character.

Page 79

By means of skill, luck, magical protections, quirks of fate and the aid of supernatural powers, the character making his or her saving throw takes none or only part of the indicated results - fireball damage, poisoning,being turned to stone, or whatever. (emphasis mine.)

There's more relevant material, such as that involving alignment languages, the penalties for changing alignment, etc. Hell, it's "passim" throughout the AD&D rulebooks!

One more quote, from Deities & Demigods, this time. Page 9:

Otherwise, the accumulation of hit points and the ever-greater abilities and better saving throws of characters represent the aid supplied by supernatural forces.

So. The supernatural realms and the relationship with deity is very, very important in AD&D. And an integral part of an AD&D campaign world.

Now, back to Rufus.

8th level! One step away from Lord. He's already gotten 3/2 attacks. Rufus is about to become a Superhero!

Rufus Is also lawful good, and when he reaches 8th level he has been instructed to return to Verbobonc for special service in the Viscount‘s behalf.

Now, Rufus wouldn't know what 8th level means. Would he? As you might suspect, I'm going to make the case that yes, 8th Level would indeed, mean something to Rufus.

Gygaxian Supernaturalism! (With Thanks to Mr. Maliszewski.) 

He might refer to it as becoming a Superhero. I don't think the text states that Rufus is a follower of the Cugel fellow, though Burne is. For the moment, let's assume Rufus is as well. It's likely, the cult of St. Cuthbert would have it's own title for 8th level. Or, maybe Superhero is more widely used.

The point is, that in a world where Leveled Characters are so closely married to the gods and supernatural powers, a Fighter as high as 8th level, especially one as well connected as Rufus, would have an idea of where he stood with his god, church and the Greater Supernatural Realm.

So, what might the Viscount have said to Rufus?

"Return, when you have witnessed the Vision of the Cugel at Noon."

Or, something.

In a world so tightly wielded to the supernatural powers, being a leveled Fighter, serving a deity, perforce, might be somewhat akin to being part of a Mystery Cult. Rufus would know when he had crossed an important threshold and we might assume that 8th level represents just that! An important threshold. Because not only is that the point at which Rufus was ordered to return, but because it was known that he would recognize his entry into 8th level. It could simply be that every level would be considered important. Or, maybe just every one above, say 5th.

At what point does a Fighter start noticing that he's a pawn of the gods?

Hell, he's probably been having dreams, nightmares and visions, sent by St. Cuthbert, and/or Planetars, lesser servants, etc., for quite some time. Not to mention nasty, demonic beings, or deliciously enticing ones, trying to make him swerve from his LG path.

The idea that the gods are giving characters all this aid, which increases at every level, yet have virtually nothing else to do with them, is rather problematic. Gods just aren't the type to be so altruistic and helpful, without ever being more noticeable. Or, demanding. Characters serving under protest, as it were, might be subject to more subtle treatment. Or, not! Those more involved with Churches and Organizations, might also only see signs of the deity, "out of the corner of their eye," as it were. Or, they might find themselves more directly put-upon.

Rufus' deity has been helping him out with Hit Points, Saving Throws, etc., to the point, where Rufus is 8th Level! He lives and moves in a supernatural reality and the gods have a vested interest, however small, in his doings. PC Level ties into this relationship directly! While it's easier to see with Clerics and MU's, as a Fighter gains levels, he's also becoming more tightly enmeshed within the schemes and powers of his deity. Whether he wants to, or not!

It makes perfect sense, that he would be able to see and track the progress of this relationship, at least somewhat. And that he would notice the effect, his relations with the divine, were having upon him. His church, certainly his deity would know!

Established signs, omens, etc., not to mention the possibility of initiatory rituals of a sort, would fit in just perfectly.

Maybe the journey to visit the Viscount is a ruse and the Powers that Be, want to get Rufus out of Hommlet, so they can test his worthiness, to operate at 8th Level.

Oh, apparently Burne and Rufus are lovers. I don't really see St. Cuthbert as the sort to have a Sacred Bander wing of his army. Further research is called for!

The Village of Hommlet

  

Ok. I love this picture. I know it's been said that it isn't Tramp's best work and I agree. But there's something just "right" about it. I think the redscale really helps bring it all together. And  everything in the picture kinda conspires to make Lareth look Badass!

All of these were Found during a Google Image Search. I like the one above. The maps all expand, when clicked. 

I love Hommlet. First Module I ever DMed. Hell, I'm pretty sure it's the first thing I ever DM'ed period. I can count on two hands, the total number of modules I've ran. The Village of Hommlet, The Assassin's Knot, TSR's first Conan module, Rappan Athuk 1-3, The Vault of Larin Karr, Larm, a little bit of Stonehell and The Swords & Wizardry Quick-Start. I think that's it. I need to run more modules. Expand my repertoire, playing around with other people's imaginings. Castle of the Mad Archmage, maybe?

I'm not so thrilled with The Temple of Elemental Evil, though.

I have no idea how closely these maps adhere to canon.

So, since I'm rebooting my campaign and decided to start over, with OSRIC, no less, the usual thought assails me. 

"Why not run Greyhawk?"

Because I've never ran a published setting, save for mini-stuff like Karr and Larm. Both of those are very good, The Vault of Larin Karr in particular. Which is probably why it costs $50+ on the second hand market. I think you can get it in PDF, though. I foolishly sold my copy, a few years ago (dammit!) I Still have my original three part set of Rappan Athuk, though. I'll never get rid of those! Besides, my wife would have my head! Heh, killed my wife's character in Rappan Athuk! But, if you're running 3.x or Pathfinder and want a ready to go sandbox/mini-campaign, then The Vault of Larin Karr is worth it's weight in Mithril. 

So, if I did run GH and Hommlet, where would I go from there?

I'm gonna print out this colorized Hommlet! 

Ooh! A Hexmap version. 

This one is kinda dull.

So, I'll end with Zuggtmoy.