DM Help: Plot problem

Rigrider · Post by **Rigrider** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:58 am

K, Hi I'm new here. Hi all! Here's the skinny:

I've run into a bit of a plot problem with a game I'm running. I have a group of charater's who are looking for this Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome). What they know so far is that the last time he was seen (a year ago) he was heading to find this dragon in the spine of the world mountains (yea it's forgotten realms.)

What they don't know. The Gnome is trapped inside the dragon's layer. The dragon is dead but the cavern colapsed trapping the gnome inside.

How do I get these characters to get into the colapsed cavern when the gnome could not get out?? Oh and here are the "minor" details. The Gnome is a high powered wizard without spells or spell books. He's survived because he has magical plate that allows him to creat food and drink.
The character's are 4th level (currently, possable 5 or 6th by the time they reach this guy.

Any Idea's here would be greatly appriciated, I'm sort of stumped.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:25 am

Not a problem!

Here's what comes to my mind.

The dragon and him got in a fight. And the Svirfneblin started getting the upper hand. As a lost resort, the dragon used one all out attack (special item?) to defeat the Svirfneblin.

The magical force used in this attack caused the cave to collaps, killing the dragon under the rubble (he was near death anyway). In this attack, the Svirfneblin got:
a - trapped in a magic field or something
b - frozen in time, turned to stone or something
c - transformed into a rat

You don't even need a magical way to produce food this way.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:26 pm

My first thought was .... If the party knows of the dead dragon or similar - could they not enlist the aid of dwarves to tunnel into the cave? Maybe for a piece of the hoard?

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 8:33 am

It sounds like you need for the party to find this gnome. If so, just let them encounter it after they have wandered throught the mountains for an arbitrary amount of time. It won't make a difference.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 8:38 am

[QUOTE=Mr.Waesel]It sounds like you need for the party to find this gnome. If so, just let them encounter it after they have wandered throught the mountains for an arbitrary amount of time. It won't make a difference.[/QUOTE]

But the problem as Rigrider describes it, is how to get the party he is DMing, inside the dragons lair/cave which has caved in, trapping the Gome inside.
If the party can get in easy, the Gnome would have left ages ago, which the Gnome has not - thus the problem

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:23 am

Just put him somewhere else, and let the party think it's because of their skill they've found him. That way you don't get situations where they've failed to find the gnome and the story can't advance because of it.

Rigrider · Post by **Rigrider** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:52 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]But the problem as Rigrider describes it, is how to get the party he is DMing, inside the dragons lair/cave which has caved in, trapping the Gome inside.
If the party can get in easy, the Gnome would have left ages ago, which the Gnome has not - thus the problem

[/QUOTE]

Aaahhh, Finally someone gets it. The issue here is that 1st) The gnome HAS to be in the cave. (I don't really want to go into details here, but I will if I must.) 2)The players DON'T know the dragon is dead. (Right now all they know is that the last time the gnome was seen, he was searching for the dragon.

I have solved one problem. As of last night the character's now have a map showing the exact location of the Dragon's Cave. So they will know exactly where to go. But again, when they get there, the cave will be colapsed. How do I intice the character's to find a way inside, that dosen't leave them thinking "Why the hell didn't he just do that himself?!?!" Couple of things if this helps: 1) The gnome is a wizard/thief (high levels) The gnome is OUT of spells and has lost his spell books.

Just to clarify for everyone: This whole campaign is ment to be LONG TERM. I have a lot of well thought out and well planned encounter's and drama/intrigue set for the campaign. I'm just stuck on this one point. The gnome is an intrigal part of the campaign as his location (the colapsed dragon cave.) If I change it, it really does mess with alot of future plans.

Thanks in advance for all your help and hair pulling.

L8r

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:36 am

[QUOTE=Rigrider]Aaahhh, Finally someone gets it. <snip>[/QUOTE]

Well - it isnt *that* hard to figure out - after all, I got it

The only things I can think up, all involve the party getting help to clear the cave in, for instance to do the digging for them.
Or they enlist the aid of somebody that can cast spells either teleporting the party inside (causing all cause of problems, cause how to get out

), or using spells to clear the cave in.
Or if there is ranger/druids in the party - to enlist the aid of animals in some manner to help the story along.
I have a hard time to seeing the party on its own getting inside the caved in cave, withouth getting help from somebody.

Sorry - I can't be more help.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:46 am

The characters can find a way in through the collapsed section, they are a resorcefull bunsh you know. Let them come up with the idea's themself instead of giving it to them on a silver plate.

If this fails, have a back up plan come in action, like they are being ambushed and a part of the mountain collapses, reveiling the entrance to the cave and the gnome (in whatever state he is in).

Lost One · Post by **Lost One** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:26 am

Thing is, it's pretty hard for 4th level characters to find a way to pass through rock (the cave-in). Once they come to the location, they might hear the yells of the gnome, giving away his exact location, and I think digging is a good idea (unless it's too much rock).
A high-level mage-thief without spells in a cave-in can't really do much, except lay some traps for the players. (uahaha, just kidding).
I'd be interested in knowing how they get to the gnome...but as a DM, you can always offer them something...maybe an etherealness scroll or potion on the way, although you'd need an extra for the gnome.
If there is a deep gnome city about, or other deep gnomes, they would easily clear the way with a priest...as svirfs are very good with earth.

Halsy · Post by **Halsy** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:00 pm

How about an alternate entrance? Say higher up the mountainside around the back? A dragon lair would be pretty big so an opening in the cavern could be higher up in the cavern where the gnome couldn't access or see, but the party could enter.

Just to make it interesting there could be a smaller cavern from that alternate entrance with some beasties they need to fight to get through. Then they can lower a rope or levitate down to the gnome.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:49 am

Like both Xan and Halsys ideas.

Some additional ideas:
Alternate entrance with guardian wich gnome cant kill.
Alternate entrance with labyrinth gnome cant navigate. (lack of map perhaps?)
Gnome sick so cant clear path through rubble, while healthy larger PCs can.
Gnome sick so cant reach additional entrance. (Tricky climb)
PCs cause additional colapse wich opens way inside.
Additional underwater entrance, Gnome cant swim.
Gnome blinded and cant find his way anywhere.
Gnome placed under some curse, will die if taken outside cave. (PCs finish sub quest for him)
Gnome depressed and full of hopelessness, thinks all impossible. havnt tried find way.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:01 am

[QUOTE=Halsy]How about an alternate entrance? Say higher up the mountainside around the back? A dragon lair would be pretty big so an opening in the cavern could be higher up in the cavern where the gnome couldn't access or see, but the party could enter.
<snip>
[/QUOTE]

Much like the "secret entrance" in The Hobbit

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:11 am

[QUOTE=Xandax]Much like the "secret entrance" in The Hobbit

[/QUOTE]

LOL

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Rigrider · Post by **Rigrider** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:35 pm

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I think I'm gonna go with the additional collapse from a fight. This makes the most sense to me, and I think it'll play right into the storyline. I'll let you know how it turns out.

tirann · Post by **tirann** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 1:06 am

How about the Gnome is actually stuck in the cave still, can't get out, no secret passages, no wat out but still has his plate of food.

High level mage (and I can't believe no-one else has suggested this yet)...?

ASTRAL PROJECTION.

Can only reach a few hundred metres.

You characters don't have to 'find' the actual gnome, just the astral projection of the gnome. They just have to get close enough to be in range of the projection. The astral projection tell them where he is then they dig....

It's the only spell he has left, except for a few fire/ice spells (whatever, as long as they don't have enough power/usefullness to get him out but powerful enough to demonstrate his ability once they rescue him...)

Problem solved...no?

JugglinJuggla · Post by **JugglinJuggla** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 3:38 pm

[QUOTE=Rigrider]Thanks for all the ideas guys. I think I'm gonna go with the additional collapse from a fight. This makes the most sense to me, and I think it'll play right into the storyline. I'll let you know how it turns out.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps I'm a total newbie, but what creature could a fourth level party fight and win (or perhaps run away into the cave from) that would be powerful enough to knock out a side of a mountain?

Rigrider · Post by **Rigrider** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:40 am

Well, here's how I plan on doing it: The party reaches the entrance to the Dragons lair (which they already have a map to.) Upon arrival they find that the entrance is blocked by a rockslide. After giving them some ample time to figure out how to get in (who knows, maybe they'll figure something out on thier own) They are attacked by 1 or 2 (depending) Hill giants. Towards the end of the fight, another hill giant will appear above the entrance ready to throw a bolder down on the PCs. At this point a battlerager dwarf (who they have to meet at some point! lol) will come in and knock the Giant from his perch, creating a minor rock slide from the caved-in entrance, just enough to open up a way to get into the Dragon's layer.

That's what I got so far.....Comments? Suggestions?

l8r

drunk_monk · Post by **drunk_monk** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:52 am

I'm a fan of the tunneling-dwarves plan. Assuming you're letting such low-level characters get their hands on such treasure, there should be plenty enough to "spread the love". Or, you could have some hidden-trap-chute that comes in from the ceiling, so the wizard didn't know it was there - players could come through, thus showing him the way out.

tirann · Post by **tirann** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:15 pm

What about a side quest - to raise levels and give legitimacy to the cave story (I'm not suggesting your story doesn't have legitimacy but bare with me).

You could ahve your players enter a dungeon not far from the 'cave' which has your standard monsters/traps/storyline etc. The last room of the dungeon is a cavern with an altar etc etc etc same old evil cult storyline.

When they finally knock off the cult leader and minions and gain and few levels in the process (Giving you a more XP'd party to assult the dragon's lair with) the final cavern collapses along with the natural waterfall structure that eptied into the cavern. The passage through which the water travels is widened allowing the players to climb up the side of the waterfall and travel through the cavern to the dragons lair.

The colapse (after defeating the cult) left the dragon injured slighly (Making it slightly easier for a low-level party to defeat a dragon and knocked the dwarf mage unconcious (Hence dissalowing escape until your characters 'save' him).

Two adventures for the price of one!!!!!