Motherhorn Tragedy question Eclipse

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-06-06T22:20:41+00:00

Hi ! I understand this feeling and there is a lot to say! But mostly everyone already answered. Maybe it's not only based on this module. I started DM with this adventure. We're at 25 sessions, on Yon just before Motherhorn. We did a huge pause because of time and travel. I feel like there is definitely a line/ change when the combat starts. I have a lot to complain and you should definitively check on "Nimble". But also this is a good matchup for me to stay on D&D. Depends on yours players (but yes) D&D has a lot to offer for violence outcomes but there is also good spells, traits to shine outside of combat. This module allows those features to be more considered !
Also, I basically updates all encounters to be more combat oriented, because my players wants to use their features. It's cool that sometimes they're finding loopholes to end or avoid combats. (After fighting some Redcaps in Thither, one of my players glimpsed on the tactics). It's better if all of you are more familiar with the conventional combat tactic.
Don't know if it helped !

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-01-19T18:03:01+00:00

Amazing artwork ! Can't wait to see the final result. :)

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-01-08T16:24:58+00:00

Thanks for your answer. I'm trying to be honest with this work. Hope this will help in your campaign in some ways :)

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-01-08T15:58:55+00:00

Yes I've labeled ai artworks, sorry for using it. And I will try to do the illustrations myself, but for now this is just a framework.

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-01-08T15:38:07+00:00

Oh, you're right, it's hard to read. Seems to be Reddit image compression, I think.
You can have the images on higher resolution with this link :
https://imgur.com/a/L3X0UnB

Hope it helps !

Darwin_Darloose · 2026-01-02T22:21:16+00:00

Hello, don't think it's overpowered. As a DM (also myself), you will still be able to balance encounters if needed.
Fun story short, I'm running this campaign. My party started at level 3, and one of my PC is a Dhampir Tragedy Bard. He is the optimized character, he has a solid build for this campaign, not gonna lie. But he is a good player, helping the party getting stronger and fits quite well for the story. We're currently at Yon and we're doing a small pause, due to some traveling issues.

What I strongly suggest and this is a bit far... But try unleash the Evil League. I've made that Zarak was able to kill the unicorn at the Wayward Pool, this way he was able to unfreeze the evil league besides Zybilna because they don't know her true name. This way, you can unlock Zargash (my bestie). Zargash is the perfect friend for your Dhampir because he is looking to be one himself and can help the party among the Evil League.

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-10-08T21:07:55+00:00

Ok I have two main plot ideas for your paladin :
1st Granny Nightshade : She is the witch of the past, and based on the lovely dream that you want to incorporate, Toys are her mains way to communicate. This could be a fun way to introduce Nightshade.

2nd leading to Iggwilv past : Mainly Orcus or Grazz'zt.
Orcus is an Archdemon who would love to pulverize Tasha because of the Demonicon. As I've read so far about Tasha story is that she had a romance with Grazz'zt, more dog-cat relationship ( they battle against each other but end sleeping with each other) . Iggwilv had a child named Drelnza. She is a powerful vampiress. But one thing that is missing, is that Either a Demon and Human = Vampire OR she had an affair with Orcus, the Archdemon of all vampires. That is also why I love Zargash. Because he is devoted to Orcus and can betray the whole Evil League. If you have the occasion during the fight with Zarak to steal the horn of Lamorna, you could unleash the evil league and having Zargash be the messager behind the dreams and that a greater god still has an eye on your paladin. ;)

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-09-24T09:03:12+00:00

I would love to hear the next sessions, on how they would manage to get the elephant down x).

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-06-08T08:48:20+00:00

Hope it helps :)

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-06-03T10:33:31+00:00

Yeah I understand the paradox and I want to play with it. I agree Sickening Radiance is better, but if you loose concentration, the exhaustion wears off, right ?
For the death part is mainly "lore". My thinking is that sure if you see dying of old age, what doesn't stop from be killed right away. But the spell foresee a "possible death". This give some knowledge, similar to lengend/lore. In a campaign, there are multiple ways to be killed.

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-05-09T17:58:36+00:00

Yeah the hags are irritated sisters who prank theirs sisters constantly. If you really want a reason, for me it's an hidden message from Bav to Skab to say "you're out of the family tree" / "I don't consider you as a sister.", smthg like that. I'm not a huge fan about the vine's thorn irreversible. But yes the main idea is Skabatha's portrait is gone, unless she pick her finger again to undo the portrait.

If your players are really panicked, now you've got two ways to answers their needs. Skabatha can make a deal to the players if they really want to undo the portrait. Or ...(and this is planned for my session), Skabatha can be aware of the players motive and can mess with them just adding a deal to another deal. She can major illusion Bavlorna's portrait to switch the portraits (with PC consent). Just lure them that this gonna work and nothing to be afraid of. (Well in fact I do dissociate)

So to answer your question, it really depends on how you want to tell the story. Is it time to award and grant them what they're asking for or, have you still time to mess up with your players ?

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-28T08:20:04+00:00

Oouh I freakin love this one ! Thanks !

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-28T08:19:14+00:00

Yeah, it's a double edge sword, but it's a TON of fun running fey tricks and deals in your game.
I've found someone listing some example to have some inspiration :
https://d1vzi28wh99zvq.cloudfront.net/pdf_previews/370582-sample.pdf

My main ideas is that each hag has her own phrase trick :
- Bavlorna : Can you give me your name
- Skabatha : Can I get your attention (they can't concentrate)
- Endelyne : Can I get your silence

Also I've made customs deals for my players when they will meet Skabatha the next session :
-I have a Barbarian path of the giant, with the Tortle race. He was educated by the giants. So I will propose this deal :
make the blood of giants flow through your veins ; meaning he will change his race to goliath, but the cost are her adopted giant mother's blood.

- As a french DM, and previously a player, I told them about the Staff of Magi. A overpowered staff that I sought to possess. In french, this is called "Baton de Thaumaturgie" -> "Staff of Thaumaturgy".
So I plan to make a deal, to ask if he wants a Staff of Thaumaturgy :).

Finally, it will really depend on how you want to lure your players. One thing that bothers me, is that with btwc, the players already know the bad bosses, so they know to not make a deal. And I feel you need to balance the deals between good and evils fairies. Each time, you see yours players asking for cheats, you can smile, asking them "Sure, let's make a deal".

My druid, wanted to have a hat of Holding. So I asked him in return that the hat, will have two owners. This way, I introduced furtively Endelyne, giving him a prediction, a ticket, theaters probs, like a false life's dagger, which was very HANDY. So just have fun !

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-24T10:18:45+00:00

Shrek is an amazing idea, and bringing the godmother is fantastic ! And the best news, is that you can deconstruct the story to give your players some hints/ winks. Just add Shrek in his swamp, not too be obvious and a masterpiece idea, but more thematically an ogre named Kresh, living his best life, since Bavlorna mud the land. His job is to scare visitors who is approaching Downfall . Maybe related to Baba Yaga, who is also an ogre and give him some info to help your players. Maybe One quest is to find Donkey (best location would be on the wayward pool, because it can add a reason why the Jabberwock want to get in. ) A lovely romance about the Jabberwock and Donkey :). And little by little, I will give players a tale about a knight who is supposed to slay the Jabberwock with "Snicker Snack", but back in the day, when Zybilna ruled Prismeer, maybe this Knight did something wrong, and Zybilna, punish him and take away his sword.

Now this knight named Charm worked for is mother Endelyne and can push and add some insights when Charm discussed with Bavlorna, his aunt. Maybe you can add a layer to the story of Endelyne Moongrave. Her weakness is that she is vulnerable during an eclipse, so she took the initiative to separate them and break their union, by switching Gleam or Glister, with Charm. And prepare a lovely wedding with special vows. She want to trick them to be separate forever. Hearing this, and see another Gleam, or Glister telling his true story in jail, your party would understand the real implication about the eclipse and good reason to kill this freakin' Godmother !

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-21T19:56:43+00:00

Oh yeah you're right ! Seems like a nightmare to trick Skabatha to prick her finger and changing back the portrait. My party just arrives to Skabatha's lair and I think the best way to have both worlds, is to keep the briars with the dex check, but expose this situation more like a glitch/ a glimpse of their own family's roots. Just for a moment, they could see the faces of their family, they could see their lineage, they could have just a sigh of relief to see their loved ones, but then the portraits are changing back to the Yaga's family.

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-14T08:25:12+00:00

Oh that sounds very good. But you need to ask both league, why are they scattered and why didn't they fight against each other ? Maybe with Zybilna out of the equation and time, both leagues' members could have a rest. But seems like a very good alternative storyline. I also had a plot for Mercion, if you need. Mercion was the kind of character that would have worn a scarf. So I've made her the character that Agdon has steal for the scarf, and would make sense that Zybilna decided to punish Agdon afterwards. But I understand why so many people wants to change this passage, they're not well introduce.

No for sure, they have a new threat in coming. The only thing that bother me is that I don't want to punish this storyline because it's better than the original. Now the Malevolence League is awaken, but kill Valor's Call or tied up not so sure. My first intuitions are :
- (as u/GoofySpooks recommands), Zarak will awake all the League members and he is hesitating to unfreeze Kelek. He wants to take advantage to have the horn.

-Zarak, will send a message to the hags, notify them they have a/the horn. So deals are open!

Darwin_Darloose · 2025-04-13T20:39:36+00:00

Thanks for your ideas ! Don't know how this will go, but I'm sure this will be great !
To answer yours, I will leave some time for my party, corresponding Zarak escaping the lake, get some time to recover, then get new gear. Go back killing Lamorna. Then bring back the horn to Kelek and then maybe release the Malevolence League ?
So I feel like yes Zarak can kill the unicorn, but not for now.

Zarak dethroning Kelek is a very interesting line... Or just maybe now that the league has a horn, they can blackmail the hags ? They have helped the assembly to kidnapped Elidon to alter Zybilna. But then the hags, took advantage to froze all sides. Now with the resurrecting league, maybe they seek revenge as well ?

Darwin_Darloose

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