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Blakey
A cup of coffee
(5/14/03 1:15 am)
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Tulian's Eye?
Sorry, I know this is a naff question, but what exactly is Tulian's Eye? Where is it to be found? And what is its significance?
I'm starting my campaign tonight (yippee!) and have a few weeks of real time till my group actually start RTtToEE proper, so I've not actually completely read every last page of the module yet. I'm assuming it's in there and I missed it in my skim reading?
My vague understanding so far (from reading on these boards) is that its a gem of some significance to the dwarves who were pushed out of the CRM. That's as much as I know.
If there's a thread on this I missed feel free to point me in the right direction.
Cheers,
Blakey
I'd rather be defenestrating Chaos Mages.
http://uk.geocities.com/homlett |
 Siobharek 
A guitar
(5/14/03 1:32 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Tulian's Eye is a huge diamond. It's located in a scret room just off the water bridge complex in the CRM. As I don't have my books with me, I can't remember if it carries any powers, but I don't think so.
As to reading the module, I'd start now - provided you have the time, of course. The more times you read it, the less the risk of messing up along the way. And speaking as one who's made his share of blunders, I strongly recommend reading it thoroughly at least twice.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Grumgarr
A boxing glove
(5/14/03 1:33 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Queen Tulian Saltheart was the ruler of the dwarves who mined the crater ridge. They unearthed an unflawed diamond of great size and named it for her - when the doomdreamers suddenly attacked the diamond couldn't be saved and was hidden away within the mines.
So yeah, it's a big ole diamond, of special significance to the dwarves. I'd give you a page ref if only I had a photographic memory - oh, if only!
It doesn't play any great part in the central plot - it's a flavourful addition, fleshing out a little of the history of the dwarves who were driven from the place. And it's worth a lot of dosh! Especially to dwarves. Dwarves love their gems...Gems! Gems! GEMS!!!!
Anyone other than a dwarf who carries it may find weird sores appearing (it's kind of cursed - though the curse is none too harsh).
Grumgarr
Edited by: Grumgarr at: 5/14/03 1:36:10 am
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Siobharek
A guitar
(5/14/03 1:37 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
That's right! I think you take 1d4 Con dmg per day if you're not a dwarf. And you get hammer-and-anvil shaped sores all over (ouch).
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Blakey
A cup of coffee
(5/14/03 1:58 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Excellent! Thanks for the answers.
I'm sure I can fit this into the plot as Torrent (the dwarven druid) was actually born in the CRM. I'm going to have to think of how I can have this link together in a cool way.
(As usual any ingenious suggestions would be welcome!  )
P.S. I promise to do my homework and read it all soon. I just got a tad bogged down in the immensity of the CRM...
Cheers,
Blakey
I'd rather be defenestrating Chaos Mages.
http://uk.geocities.com/homlett |
Trithereon
A robot with powers
(5/14/03 6:28 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
I used the whole Tulian's Eye as a plot device to introduce allies for my players. I had some grumbling among my players that they were growing frustrated with the constant dungeon crawling that they had made out of the CRM. They couldn't really help it as they refuse on principle to broker alliances with known evil (and insane) cultists. As a result, most of the encounters in the CRM have ended in violence.
My players also began to wonder why no one was helping them. When they started to consider the size and power of the CRM, as well as the potential hazard should such a group of evil cultists actually succeed at their ultimate goal, they started to expect some help. I gave them some help from their temples and guilds, but nothing spectacular. I described that either their resources were stretched thin fighting other evil cults (IMC: Iuz and Vecna have caused all sorts of trouble recently), or are just not convinced that anyone can actually release Tharizdun.
However, my players wanted a true ally. Someone who was personally involved in the situation. They found Rastor unfullfilling as I described the place as dominated by the haunted and cursed CRM - its populous resigned to hazards of living in the shadow of Mount Stalagos (wandering monster encounters a common assumption for people who go missing, but we know better - many were captured and sacraficed by cultists, or worse recruited and willing participants of evil).
I started thinking about Tulian's Eye and its impact on my campaign world. I assumed that there is dwarf clan somewhere that claims Mount Stalagos as their inheritance. The power of the Doomdreamers have kept this small clan of dwarves from reclaiming this birthright. The original clans: Saltheart, Hammersong and Deeperdark of Mount Stalagos were decimated and scattered (although some still linger nearby awaiting a sign, an omen, a portent concerning the end of the Doomdreamers).
I made the recovery of Tulian's Eye and the Temple of Moradin (and its artifact) as the omens. A player who makes its discovery known in Rastor (Rerrid is a good NPC to approach) will be generously rewarded for its recovery and may be pulled into a clandestine plot by the dwarves to then find the "Lost Temple of Moradin" which contains an important artifact. If the players find the Temple and recover the gem they might get invited to meet a clan of dwarves who have awaited this very day.
I placed this clan about halfway between Verbobonc and Rastor in the Kron Hills ... halving the time they needed to find a safe place to rest, recuperate and possibly aquire new spells, items and training. The clan has limited resources on hand (else they'd have destroyed the Doomdreamers by themselves) but might be able to pull in some favors if it seems certain that your PCs might succeed.
I understand that this may be a little more work than most might be willing to put into what in the module is just another piece of interesting treasure, but I have milked alot out of it. As soon as my players destroy the Fire Temple they will find dwarves in the Temple of Moradin. They will be happy to see their hard work going for a good purpose ...
Of course other have done this only to have Thrommel let loose by the Hedrack to turn the new dwarf colony into a vampire spawning ground. I don't think I'll do this, but it is an interesting possibility.
For what its worth,
Trithereon
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Infiniti2000
A guitar
(5/14/03 6:31 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
That's quite understandable, Blakey. If you are able, you should read the whole module at least once, and skim through it a number of times. Make sure you visit ZansForCans's site and download all the useful items there. There are maps, statblocks, and lots of other stuff. Read the sticky threads at least once.
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Blakey
A cup of coffee
(5/15/03 3:07 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Trithereon,
That's a great idea. I'm thinking of making Torrent's clan the Saltheart clan - so that would really make the CRM a cool locale for him. I'm going to shamelessly steal your idea!!
Cheers,
Blakey
I'd rather be defenestrating Chaos Mages.
http://uk.geocities.com/homlett |
blakwind
A song from the sixties
(5/15/03 10:12 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Great ideas, guys.
I also used Tulian's Eye as a major plot device in my campaign.
To break up the "kick down the next door" routine in the CRM, I gave out several personal side quests to individual characters early in the adventure. One of the characters was a dwarven cleric of Moradin (perfect, eh?). I sent him some cryptic recurring dreams as follows:
- A vision of a great diamond against a black background, with faint whispered voices saying, "The Eye of Tulian is the brightest in the world."
- A vision of the Dwarven Temple with the same voices saying, "Moradin is great."
- Fade to black, with a commanding voice echoing in the distance, "Give my people hope. Lead my people home."
The faint voices were the pass phrases to safely pass the glyphs. Nobody figured out that part -- not all puzzles should be easy! 
Twenty sessions or so later, when the heroes learned that some rebellious orcs had recently used ancient dwarven coinage to barter for food with the CRM fire bridge forces, they decided to check things out. Parleying with the orcs, they learned of the nearby temple, home to the "terrible dwarven god". At the dwarven temple -- which is a great change of pace from the elemental temples and bridge complexes by the way -- they discovered a map to the secret room of Tulian's eye.
Later, they confided in Rerrid Hammersong back in Rastor. Rerrid offered to use the Eye to inspire the scattered and demoralized remnants of the dwarven clans who once occupied the mines. Perhaps they would one day even re-occupy the dwarven temple! This set in motion a series of off-camera events that will continue for dozens of more sessions. IMC, I anticipate that the dwarves will be reoccupying the CRM at the climax of the module, providing a another venue for a big party.
Advantage of this approach:
- The personal side quests were great. By presenting the party with so many options all the time, it made them feel like they were in control -- at least until Hedrack learned of them. 
- The dwarven temple and Eye of Tulian became more than just extra pieces of treasure. In fact, the PCs in my campaign treated the temple area with great reverence and gave most of the treasure to Rerrid. He rewarded their generosity by making arrangements to have Mithral armor forged for the dwarven cleric.
- Early foreshadowing that comes to fruition half a year later can really give the adventure a feel of continuity.
Monte sprinkles cool hooks like this through out the adventure. You may want to pick out a few that you like, steal some good ideas off these boards, and really personalize the adventure for your group. Have fun!
Oh, and read the module! All of it. When you're done, read it again. You'll be glad that you did. Then read it again every few months -- you'll pick up something new every time.
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Helderik
A song from the sixties
(5/16/03 2:51 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
I truly like the ideas of giving tulian's eye a major plot concerning the dwarven temple... I've just decided that my group's dwarven psionic warrior will be "haunted" by the same dreams the next couple of nights. His clan got wiped out by mind-flayers, so I bet he will do anything in his power to restore another clan's honour...
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Blakey
A cup of coffee
(5/16/03 3:42 am)
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Re: Tulian's Eye?
Yup! The dreams are coming to Torrent, my campaigns Dwarven Druid too!
Cheers,
Blakey
I'd rather be defenestrating Chaos Mages.
http://uk.geocities.com/homlett |
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