| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Gwenfloor |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 01:23:13
I got "Power of Faerun," and it has rules for PCs ruling their own countries and organizaations, using the Border Kingdoms as an example. One of the PCs, an Ogre Mage named Laryfon, in my new campaign, built his country in an isolated mountain valley in the Border Kingdoms, used propaganda and unique magic to block divine communication between the Deities and their servants, along with other countries. He forces everyone in the country to worship him as the One True God, and those who convert to another Deity are executed. Trade and communication is restricted with the other realms, and the mortality rate is high, due to killing any spell casters who do not pledge loyalty to the "God-King," making mundane concerns involving magic, like curing disease and fighting monsters, a nationwide problem.
Due to the large amount of souls entering the Fugue Plane, is it fair for them to end up as a living wall with the rest of the Faithless, as they were unknowingly worshiping a false deity, and did not know of the existance of the true deities?
Several dozen thousand "missionaries" of Bane, Cyric, and Waukeen arrived from neighboring countries along with merchants, seeking commerce and converts. Laryfon noticed that this would be a large concern if the foreign clerics exposed him as a fraud, so he slaughtered the lot of them and fed the corpses to the starving and malnourished populace. Among those killed was a powerful merchant from Calimsham, who was renowned for his support for Waukeen, and a Fallen under the service of Bane.
Our campaign uses all PCs as country leaders in the Border Kingdoms, and how they handle the policies and issues of their realms determine the events and plots that arise up.
When nearby Clerics and merchants questioned months later what happened, Laryfon admitted that he slaughtered the lot of them. The clerics demanded the bodies back for a proper burial. The few bodies that were not eaten, were shipped back. Unfortunately, the bodies were found to be bloated to three times their normal sizes, with oozing warts and orifices, victims of a unique magical poison.
Doubtless, Laryfon just earned the ire of three Deities and their organizations.
How does one think the religions, and their respective deities, would act in response to this atrocity? |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gwenfloor |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 21:21:31
The Goblin is Chaotic, in that he values the individual's rights more so than the typical Goblin. He is trying to draw support from foreign countries to help him, and also to convince them that he bears them no ill will, just that he wants to help his people. The other countries are not buying it, and believe that the Goblins are preparing for an invasion. However, Straveth is preparing for war, but not against the Border Kingdoms, but against the Drow. |
| Sian |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 20:46:22
personally i find that the most interesting of those characters is the goblin :P ... it would be interesting to go on the mental road of what would happen if goblins starts to get some decent civilization in terms of infrastructure, commerce and living standards ... though i can't really see where the Chaotic fits the bill when he is so interested in orginizing his people ... a (pure) N or maybe even a LN would of what your wrote fit better |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 20:05:26
I would expect plenty of missionaries from good-aligned churches who would have an interest in neutralizing (or reversing) the threat from this Ogre Mage. |
| Gwenfloor |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 18:53:53
I do like the "focal point of evil" idea, but the major problem for Laryfon is that Evil does not like to share. Auboralis will become a country fought over by the forces of evil for the resonance.
Auboralis did become haunted and evil; due to the atrocities, Auboralis has become a large focal point. The entire country has become an Evil Node. Evil Nodes can be found in Champions of Ruin.
The New Artifact taught a new Epic Level Spell, the Godless Field.
Godless Field
Abjuration (Evil)
Epic Spell Seeds: Dispel (base seed)
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 307,200 ft. at its height, 76,800 ft. now
Target: Area
Casting Time: 100 Days
XP Cost: 10,000
Spellcraft DC: 80
Special: Gradually expands every year, doubling every year, until it reaches its maximum height.
|
| Gwenfloor |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 18:28:50
To Asgetrion, yes it is a unique artifact, forged by the Netherese to prevent the Deities from gaining power over them. Of course, this did not fully succeed. It was missionaries from more than three churches, but the news of Waukeen's, Bane's, and Cyric's faithful were the first to find out what happened. |
| Wenin |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 13:20:44
I believe these souls would be of the False, while they worship something.... it isn't one of the gods. I'm not sure how Kelemvor is handling the False. While he is fair, he isn't a pushover, and would have final say over their souls. The False would likely still be False, and remain in the city. |
| Kiaransalyn |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 11:11:58
quote:
Originally posted by Gwenfloor
Due to the large amount of souls entering the Fugue Plane, is it fair for them to end up as a living wall with the rest of the Faithless, as they were unknowingly worshiping a false deity, and did not know of the existance of the true deities?
This may be a case whereby these souls go to the deity whose doctrine best suited their behaviour. My opinion on this is that they can't go into the wall of the Faithless because they had faith.
It's a great question, by the way.  |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 09:55:11
Hmmm... first of all, I'd like to know how proganda could block Deities from communicating with their followers? Is the "unique magic" perhaps some sort of epic artifact or spell?
I find it hard to believe that there would be "several dozen thousand missionaries" of only three churches in the whole Border Kingdoms.
But to answer you question, here is how I would handle this:
In my campaign this ogre mage's kingdom would probably become a very haunted and evil place. I would personally refer to the 'Lingering effects of Evil'-chapter in Book of Vile Darkness (massacre of dozens of thousands). Diseases would also be rampant (he fed all those bodies to his subjects) and people would suffer from mental illnesses (the effects of Evil). Also, no soul would find rest after death and there would be plenty of ghosts and spectres and other forms of undead. Maybe one of his more powerful subjects or emissaries found time enough to utter a Death Curse from he perished?
Demons and fiends would be drawn there, and otherplanar forces would take notice (archfiends and demon lords, for example). Every major organisation and evil faith would probably notice the birth of this new "focal point of evil" (again, such atrocities that the ogre mage has committed are very rare). Priests and more "psychically" gifted would receive visions and nightmares about a Great Darkness in a far-away land.
The three churches would communicate with their deities for guidance, and since the ogre mage prevents scrying (even that of Divine beings) they would all send high-level spies, scouts and assassins to receive more information about his defenses/weaknesses (and to kill him, if they can).
All three churches might temporarily pool their resources, at least Bane's and Waukeen's. Banites would use intimadation and diplomacy to rally other Border Kingdoms to mount a crusade. Waukeen would sponsor this war financially and major organisations all over Faerūn would send THEIR spies ;) Both Cyric and Bane would probably see this Evil Kingdom well-suited for their (and their clergies') tastes...
Tempus would probably join the cause to promote this epic conflict, and his priests would join Banites to gather holy warriors and reason the need for war with the other Kingdoms.
The followers of Bane and Cyric might even open portals to the Nine Hells and Abyss to summon demons and fiends to their cause (Abyssal Lords and Lords of the Nine would probably gladly send even some of their most powerful demons as they surely have noticed this new Vortex of Evil upon the land.)
There would also be high-level adventurers of all classes and alingments (some to vanquish this evil, some to seek profit.)
That's how I would begin handling this affair...
|
| Gwenfloor |
Posted - 04 Mar 2007 : 01:51:55
The PCs:
Alphonse Lartiquel, Lawful Neutral Human 16th level Fighter/ 8th level Noble (PC version of Aristocrat), ruler of Lartiqua, a hereditary monarchy, populated mostly by humans and moon elves. The country is renowned for its lush forests, sun-dappled hills, and pristine cities. The country's nobles hold unrivaled power, and only nobles were allowed to join the clergy of Waukeen and become wizards. Clerics of deities that do not support law, or provide free-thinking or solace to the destitute masses, are outlawed. Sorcerers are forced to renounce their talents or become imprisoned, or executed if they continue to refuse. Sorcerers among the nobility pass off their talents as Wizardry. As Sorcerers did not choose to become Sorcerers, a nationwide "purge" of Sorcerers is the country's main issue.
Laryfon, Neutral Evil Ogre Mage 9th level Sorcerer/5th level Fatespinner/ 5th level Maester. The last two classes are from Complete Arcane and Complete Adventurer. Laryfon rules over the nation of Auboralis, a "republic paradise" officially, but in reality, a totalitarian dictatorship. The major issue is the Faithful Massacre, the event described above, of the massacre of missionaries.
Lord Franzen, True Neutral Male Human, Council Lord of Maryltind, 8th level Rogue/ 8th level Sorceror/ 10th level Arcane Trickster. Maryltind is a colony of Calimsham, and Lord Franzen is part of a ten member Council of Lords, all beneath the ruler of Calimsham officially. Otherwise, they are the highest legal authority in Maryltind. The major issue the Dwarf refugee problem from the Underdark, as something is driving the native dwarves to the surface. They speak of a "rising storm" that is slowly taking over the Underdark, and will eventually reach the surface world.
Straveth, Chaotic Neutral Male Goblin Barbarian 10/Rogue 6/ Dervish 10, Warren-master of Lazgifall, a mountainous region of goblinfolk. Straveth is successfully organizing the Goblins into a stable infrastructure and economy. The nearby realms are frightened, convinced that the "savage folk" are preparing for war. In reality, Straveth merely wishes for his people to better themselves, to help them create a higher standard of living. Straveth is mobilizing his people because the Drow raiders from Altin'guitch, a Drow city-state in the Underdark, are increasing their raids, and Straveth is using advanced techniques of city-building, trade routes, commerce, etcetera in order to help defend his people. Currently, the last Drow raid was successfully pushed back. Recent agents have warned Straveth that Lolth is displeased that the 'vermin' have won, and that the Spider Queen is willing to sacrifice the entire Drow nation of Altin'guitch to take her revenge over this slight. |
|
|
