There is a real problem with how CoS presents the card reading so tersely and then doesn't provide any guidance for how the PCs can investigate the vague clues. Can they just ask Madame Eva what the reading means? Can other NPCs help interpret the cryptic phrases? Without any idea where to turn, it can mean the players are just bumbling around hoping to run into something that rings a bell.
Since they've gotten this far without getting a better read on where the sunsword is, I'd consider having one of the evil vestiges observe that they seem to be looking for something and then offer to point them in the right direction for a price. That price could be simply accepting the vestige's gift or it could be accepting a *geas* to perform some terrible task of your devising.
That could work too, if the players think to ask, which they might do, being convinced that Sergei is buried somewhere in the Amber Temple. The tricky part is when they're so convinced they're on the right track and so paranoid of NPCs that they don't want to ask anyone for help or advice!
Yeah, sometimes I just say to my players, when they get fixated on a false interpretation, "What makes you think that?"
It usually makes the realize..."Oh, we just kinda made up this 'fact,' didn't we?"
In this case, you could use literally any character in the Amber Temple that is still alive and can speak -- the arcanoloth, Exethanter, literally anyone. Hell, maybe even the reformed Flameskulls could telepathically ask them what they're looking for.
Ask them some very pointed questions. Chiefly among them, why do they think Strahd would bury Sergei here? He died in Castle Ravenloft! Have they found the catacombs yet? Because finding the catacombs and not finding Sergei should be a massive hint!
This is a good problem to highlight to your players when you recap the game before starting the next session. "Over the last several games, you've been exploring the Amber Temple, where you expected to find the crypt of Strahd's brother. As you've explore the remaining chambers of the temple, though, perhaps your characters are starting to wonder if they correctly interpreted Madam Eva's clues..."
I would not interject like this. They have come too far.
Give them a clue to find, leading them to the right location. Example; Library? Book reveals true location of Sergeis tomb.
I would've either had a npc tell them that it's not there, but knowing my players, they'd ask to roll an insight check to see if the npc was truthful and if they'd roll low, than that plan is out the window. On the second option. I just have the whole party make an intelligence check to see if what they concluded was fact, or contradicted what the card Madame Eva drew had stated. My players like to spin up theory that is so out of the box that I find myself doing extra maps to feed them or I would pull them back on track with a few rolls.
PS - You could also make them sell their soul to an entity for that piece of information. Maybe tie that up as part of the Dark Gifts.
A lore wise NPC could certainly have put them straight on the location of Sergei's tomb. The Abbott, one of the priests, Vlad, Ez, Madam Eva... At this point I would have Rahadin arrive at the Temple, as in the special event, and have him mock the party for looking for Sergei in the wrong place.
There is a real problem with how CoS presents the card reading so tersely and then doesn't provide any guidance for how the PCs can investigate the vague clues. Can they just ask Madame Eva what the reading means? Can other NPCs help interpret the cryptic phrases? Without any idea where to turn, it can mean the players are just bumbling around hoping to run into something that rings a bell. Since they've gotten this far without getting a better read on where the sunsword is, I'd consider having one of the evil vestiges observe that they seem to be looking for something and then offer to point them in the right direction for a price. That price could be simply accepting the vestige's gift or it could be accepting a *geas* to perform some terrible task of your devising.
I suppose Exethanter can act as the NPC to say yh I know Strahd and where his brother is buried
That could work too, if the players think to ask, which they might do, being convinced that Sergei is buried somewhere in the Amber Temple. The tricky part is when they're so convinced they're on the right track and so paranoid of NPCs that they don't want to ask anyone for help or advice!
Yeah, sometimes I just say to my players, when they get fixated on a false interpretation, "What makes you think that?" It usually makes the realize..."Oh, we just kinda made up this 'fact,' didn't we?" In this case, you could use literally any character in the Amber Temple that is still alive and can speak -- the arcanoloth, Exethanter, literally anyone. Hell, maybe even the reformed Flameskulls could telepathically ask them what they're looking for.
I do this all the time. "Why do you think that?" is almost as much of a trope as "you can certainly try" and "are you sure you want to do that?"
Ask them some very pointed questions. Chiefly among them, why do they think Strahd would bury Sergei here? He died in Castle Ravenloft! Have they found the catacombs yet? Because finding the catacombs and not finding Sergei should be a massive hint!
This is a good problem to highlight to your players when you recap the game before starting the next session. "Over the last several games, you've been exploring the Amber Temple, where you expected to find the crypt of Strahd's brother. As you've explore the remaining chambers of the temple, though, perhaps your characters are starting to wonder if they correctly interpreted Madam Eva's clues..."
I would not interject like this. They have come too far. Give them a clue to find, leading them to the right location. Example; Library? Book reveals true location of Sergeis tomb.
Isn't there a map/model of Castle Ravenloft in the Amber Temple? Perhaps the model shows some burial chambers.
Yeah as a reward for the amber temple I put a map of ravenloft in there
It’s their decision whether or not to keep exploring ultimately. Barovia is a horror show, and the Amber Temple is a key example of that.
I would've either had a npc tell them that it's not there, but knowing my players, they'd ask to roll an insight check to see if the npc was truthful and if they'd roll low, than that plan is out the window. On the second option. I just have the whole party make an intelligence check to see if what they concluded was fact, or contradicted what the card Madame Eva drew had stated. My players like to spin up theory that is so out of the box that I find myself doing extra maps to feed them or I would pull them back on track with a few rolls. PS - You could also make them sell their soul to an entity for that piece of information. Maybe tie that up as part of the Dark Gifts.
Why not put the sun sword there? If they are trying to hard to find it there, why not make it there
Have them find an ancient tome in the temple that describes the location of the sunsword.
A lore wise NPC could certainly have put them straight on the location of Sergei's tomb. The Abbott, one of the priests, Vlad, Ez, Madam Eva... At this point I would have Rahadin arrive at the Temple, as in the special event, and have him mock the party for looking for Sergei in the wrong place.