Working on campaign centered around Atlantean Pyramid

[darthauthor]

So the group is adventuring in Arizona. The adventure goal is to build an Atlantean pyramid on a Nexus.

4th level Party includes:
1. Atlantean Stone Mage
2. Earth Warlock
3. A Native american wilderness scout guide
4. Mystic Knight or a High Magus
5. Ley Line Walker

Trying to workout their intelligent operating methods.

Also, the most likely obstacles and encounters they will have to "deal" with.

Figure after they find the nexus the next most logical step would be:

Create a defensive position, including trenches and a bunker while the wilderness scout maps everything in a 2 mile radius.

Then the Stone Mage begins their survey the area for a stone pyramid (Ley Line walker explores the line).

The 4th level Earth Warlock shapes the land for the foundation of the pyramid casting "Dig" spells until they reach the bedrock (unlimited PPE with a 100% boost thanks to the nexus)

Let the Stone mage smooth and level the bedrock foundation.

Then the Earth Warlock creates stone bricks (again powered by the nexus). While Stone Mage merges them together to form the pyramid base.

They travel light using "Sustain" (that get double duration) spells for 8 days of coverage and sleep in a "Sheltering Force" made twice as big thanks to the nexus with Watchguard (10) and one on guard duty.

Trying to estimate how long it will take the Stone Mage to build the pyramid (smallest is supposedly 100 feet tall. I assumed a 100 foot length and width because of the 100 foot height). Book of Magic says a Stone Mage can make a pyramid in several months. Tried guessing the number of bricks needed along with casting rates and breaks inbetween. Figured they would take a day off a week and work between 8 to 12 hours a day. Exclusively the Stone Mage and Earth Warlock while the others deal with everything else including buff the Stone Mage and Warlock with Superhuman Endurance every now and again. Depending on brick size, rate of casting, etc figured 2 to 3 months.

They brought a ley line walker or High Magus in case of a Ley Line storm they will cast a "Ley Line Storm Defense" over the construction site.

The two equinoxes every year: one around March 21 and another Sept 22.
The two solstices happen in June (20 or 21) and December (21 or 22).
There are zero to three lunar eclipses per year

So every 3 months there is "something" that could open up Open of a Rift wise. Could be anything.

What's left is what would come to the nexus point.

IF someone is at a nexus point constantly then they will inevitably encounter a ley line storm or Rift or others. Since the 1st two are covered that leaves "others"

Who would seak out a nexus in Arizona? What trouble could the players expect and how often? Looking for plausible reasons a monster or trouble maker would visit the nexus sight once during the 3 month period.

After that, I assumed the pyramid by itself is enough to prevent ley line storms and rifts from happening. They don't need to do anything else.

But what ought to happen after they are finished? Should they just leave the pyramid?
Go on to the next ley line they find?

OR does a pyramid need an operator or defender?

I can imagine everyone would want to check it out and some would try to use it but can't the players "lock" the door or build it without one (secret passage way inside).

Who or what would want to destory the pyramid? Why? Just because its there and they felt like smashing something.
I imagine it would be a way station for dimensional travelers and PPE power plant for spell casters beyond that I don't know. Could imagine a gang "securing" it and demanding a visiters pay a "toll"

ALL feedback and ideas welcome.

[darthauthor]

Idea #1
Man vs Nature

The spell "Sustain" provides for food and drink and different atmospheres and such. However, this could be a Man vs Nature thing where bad weather, dust storms, dust devils, heat exhaustion, sun burns, stinging insects, thieving scavengers, coyotes, and faeire food being found. An adventure of miss-adventure. Make some saves for sanity unless rest and relaxation are participated in.

Idea #2
The local native americans may be territorial about the "sacred lands." The players have to get permission from the natives to continue to build. The natives have no time to consider the players request until the tribes problems have been solved. SIDE QUESTS! Heal a few sick people without the use of magic or technology. Drive off or kill the dangers pack of predators. Rescue the lost / abducted child.

Idea #3
FEAR is the motivation of a near by clan of DBees. The 3rd generation fear what the pyramid could bring. New people who might exploit or murder their clan and take their land. The 2nd generation fear change and don't want to get involved. The 1st gen want to return to their home world and have stayed in the area in the hope a rift, like the one that brought them here, will one day open that will take them home again.

#4
Evil Ley Line Walker/Rifter wants to have fun. Why not torture the characters?
Besides, if they can't have the nexus no one can. The pyramid will bottle up the ley line's energy denying the villainous ley line walker their limitless supply of PPE and bonuses. Also, no more random ley lines storms to bring chaos and Rifts to bring new slaves to capture and mosters to fight or delight in destruction they will bring. They summon some shadow best and entities leading a surprise attack on the camp using the Ley Line. If losing they retreat but they can always spy on the camp using ley line observation ball and such. Players will have to capture or eliminate the evil casters as the only sure way to know they won't interfer again. Besides, who knows who else they told about the work the players are doing and what lies they might be. Maybe they'd tell a tale that it was the players characters who were up to no good. They are after all, outsiders, and construction a fortress, perhaps of evil. Who knows what they could do once they are finished building.

#5
Vampire's followers come around every few months to see if any new developments have been going on near the nexus. A vampire clan has plans to use it to bring their Vampire Intelligence to Rifts Earth using the nexus site and the pyramid will take the place where their "Master" was supposed to go. They have to destory or control the pyramid to ensure the location for their master. Their plan. inflitrate the camp as looking for work. Their plan, spy on the charactes and send back intel to strategies an attack at night with vampires while they sabotage the characters camp/defenses.

#6
Nearest "King" shows up with his army of 300. He claims the territory belongs to his kingdom and they have trespassed. The players have no building permint or lease. They will attempt to seize their weapons and armor. IF the players resist the soldiers have orders to subdue them and take them alive using non-lethal means.
The king's men set up a camp at the construction site. Demand the players finish the construction for the glory of the kingdom. The players are told that after they finish they will be "Rewarded" and "Set Free." For now they are under the kings "protection."
In the weeks that follow the players are tasked more and more with transforming the construction sight into a military fort in anticipation of an attack. While the king wants a throne room in his new "castle" pyramid. The days the follow bring slaves to the camp that work on the construction of the military base looking to the heroes with eyes pleading for aid and rescue. Players options are: lead a slave revolt/escape, sabotage the construction, complete the pyramid to destroy the king and his army, convert the army into the "good guys" (it would take months but so does the pyramid. The army is two-thirds conscripts armed with melee weapons and bows that are more bossed around then trained. IF anything were to happen to their bullies sergeants they would desert/loot/side with whoever is the most powerful (player characters?). Also, the players can make deals with "others" (vampire, native americans, DBees, Summon monsters using the pyramid, etc) leaving messages (magically or otherwise) to tell when to attack the king's army.

#7. Lucky number Seven!
The equinox / solstice / lunar eclipse comes and with it spell casters with big ambitions to cast a spell they can only do with the PPE of the special event. Dare the players question them and what their spell will do? Will the spell casters feel threatened by the players and begin an attack? If they talk will the players be able to smooth the caster over or figure out what the casters want?

[Curbludgeon]

A couple of years ago I did some napkin math on pyramid construction. The main takeaway is that it involves more stone than one might think. Once your party gains another level the abuseable warlock options come online, but until a major earth elemental is involved the benefits are modest. That said if people aren't sleeping then a month of effort would get one there while allowing a good buffer for potential setbacks.

[darthauthor]

A couple of years ago I did some napkin math on pyramid construction. The main takeaway is that it involves more stone than one might think. Once your party gains another level the abuseable warlock options come online, but until a major earth elemental is involved the benefits are modest. That said if people aren't sleeping then a month of effort would get one there while allowing a good buffer for potential setbacks.

Love the Math.

5th level would be better for the Earth Warlock. I guess I assumed the Warlock would cast "Encase Object in Stone" (10 PPE) at 10 foot range to just make a 5 MDC 35 lb Brick using the limitless PPE of the Nexus.

At 5th level the Warlock can create 250 lbs of clay and get "Clay to Stone" and convert the same 250 lbs of clay to stone both at a 50 foot range.
After weeks of mind numb repetition in clay and stone creation with the Stone Mage shaping it to the architecial form of the pyramid.

It really sets the stage for figure construction times by weight in pounds (lbs).

It is simpler just to GM it by time, claiming the average Stone Mage (stone or Earth Warlock being available) to finish a minimum requirement pyramid in an average of 3 months.

[Curbludgeon]

You know, I hadn't considered using Encase Object in Stone on dirt or mud. That would certainly help. The use of Sustain is nice, too. I think when I was last thinking about this I assumed the use of psionics like Resist Fatigue.

Another fun magic construction worth checking out is the Crystal Towers/Palace in DB15. They don't have any benefits for casters, but a couple of low level Crystal Mages with clay modeling tools and access to a ley line can build MDC structures like whoa.

[darthauthor]

Crystal Tower sounds cool but I'll have to read Dimensional book 15 to find out about it.

I got excited reading the New West book. Untamed terrioritory and unclaimed ley lines/nexus points. More of a wild wild west feel. Probably would be better if limited to SDC level.

I have also never done a construction campaign. Of Course, construction is not really what the adventure is about. It is more about the action surrounding the construction in the time it takes place to complete it. Continuing the construction while defending it and over coming obstacles to in on mulitiple levels:
vs Man. External conflict with an equal; nemesis.
vs Monster / supernatural. External conflict against a superior opponent.
vs Nature. Characters look at what internal strengths they have to meet the challenges they face.
vs Self
vs Society
vs Technology / Machine
With each there is a sense of identity for the characters as they are defined by their reactions and decisions in the various situations. With the likelihood of success depends on their actions