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Rudar Dimble
A cup of coffee
(5/16/03 3:43 am)
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sorry, but I keep asking questions
I thought of all what the PC's did and discover sofar and I think it is impossible not to have the obex (and Big T) being involved at this point. But then comes the next question:
if one of the PC's speak the name of Tharizdun when he stands on the obex (which I really believe they are going to do) and the PC is being cursed with the -2 penalty. Should I tell the PC that or not? If not, can he discover he has been cursed and how this curse can be removed?
I also think that the party will go to Nulb before they have found the journal of Hedrack. If they do not attack Lareth, for what price would he be willing to talk? And what does he tell?
Thanks again I guess 
Edited by: Rudar Dimble at: 5/16/03 3:44:37 am
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Trithereon
A robot with powers
(5/16/03 3:58 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
Rudar,
Asking questions, sharing thoughts and campaign notes are what this board is all about. I don't want to seem like I am monopolizing the answers here because some things are more opinions then an absolute answer. I love creative solutions to interesting questions, so I hope others will chime in when the mood strikes them.
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Should I tell the PC that or not?
If your players are fool-hearty, I mean brave, enough to stand on the symbol and speak the name of He-who-should-not-be-named and get the "You serve me now, whether you wish it or not." then they had better expect to be cursed and there's nothing wrong with describing the profane magic enveloping them and just how viloated that they now feel.
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If not, can he discover he has been cursed and how this curse can be removed?
The module specifies that the curse can not be removed with anything less then a wish, or miracle.
Regarding Lareth ... I think someone on this board had a really good idea on the price and what he'd tell but I can remember who and what they were ... so hopefully they'll read this and answer. Otherwise, I'll think about it ... as this is again more an opinion then a hard-fast answer.
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Rudar Dimble
A cup of coffee
(5/16/03 4:02 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
Trithereon,
thanks for your quick answers! I know that there are only two ways to remove the curse (wish and miracle), but do the PC's know that that are the only ways it can be done?
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Trithereon
A robot with powers
(5/16/03 4:24 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
I wouldn't think they'd automatically know that 9th level spells are needed to remove this particular curse. They'll likely try the Remove Curse/Break Enchantment methods first and then when those things don't work ... well, I think they'll get the picture.
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Andorax
A guitar
(5/16/03 6:07 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
One possability would be to give a visible clue to the presence of the curse upon the PC...have a purple obex tattoo appear over their heart, one which doesn't go away due to Remove Curse or Break Enchantment. That ought to clue them in, and creep them out...and both are good things.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
msherman
A song from the sixties
(5/16/03 6:07 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
Quote:
Regarding Lareth ... I think someone on this board had a really good idea on the price and what he'd tell but I can remember who and what they were ... so hopefully they'll read this and answer. Otherwise, I'll think about it ... as this is again more an opinion then a hard-fast answer.
IMC, Lareth's price was a bottle of whisky from the old Waterside Inn (where Lareth is very aware they'll run into Wat). It wasn't my idea, but I used it and it worked out very well. I wish I could remember whose idea it was.
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Grumgarr
A boxing glove
(5/16/03 6:13 am)
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Re: sorry, but I keep asking questions
IMC Lareth was captured alive by the PCs after he'd spoken to them and they attacked him, as he was rather unsavory and told them straight off that he knew all about the Temple of Elemental Evil and the moathouse - in fact the used to command there!
Anyway, to answer your question about price, they had him over a barrel, so to speak, and he told them that he would share with them a secret it had taken him years of bitter reflection to discover...a secret that they would never learn from their books and sages and magic...I really played up the fire in his eyes and how much he believed the truth of what he was saying...the price for this information would be his freedom - they agreed, on the condition that he leave Nulb and go into 'exile' never coming back to the area.
He agreed and he told them how the original ToEE was in the service of the Demon Queen of Fungi, Zuggtmoy, and of Iuz the Evil, a demonic demigod from another realm (my campaign is set in the Forgotten Realms) - their priests believed they served Zuggy and Iuz, and Lareth himself believed he served Lolth, but they were all of them deceived...behind them all, all their power, all their sacrifice, all their worship fuelled the Elder Elemental Eye, a god of the random, warring, destructive forces of nature...
...but the true heart of the secret (spoken only in whispers) was that the EEE itself was but another front, another dupe for the true power behind the rise of the ToEE...the darkest of gods, imprisoned since the dawn of creation by a desperate cabal of all the other gods, Dread Tharizdun, the Unmaker.
His cult cannot endure open scrutiny - every paladin in creation would rally to wipe his worshippers from the lands, but all gods measure their power in the mortal realm by the number and devotion of their worshippers, so he steals power, steals worship from other gods - their followers unaware that their spells and power come from another source - and uses these mortal tools as pawns in his timeless grand plan.
So it was with Lareth himself, and so it was with the priests of the ToEE, who even at the end knew nothing of the truth.
Dread Tharizdun, in many guises and many lands, manipulated events and mortal pawns for his own unthinkable goals.
The EEE is but one mask his worshippers wear - most of them oblivious of the identity of their true master.
So 'the price' for my Lareth was his life...he survived even thought they defeated him, and they kicked themselves hard when they later learned that he had become the Champion!
If he were in a position of greater strength he may have demanded some other tribute - one knuckle of the pinkie finger from one or more PCs? - cash? - a PC's prized magic staff? whatever. It doesn't matter what the cost, so long as the cost is not trivial to the PCs - make them earn his secret. Make them pay to learn it.
On the curse of Tharizdun - freak the player by telling them up front how the curse 'feels' - and what it entails in game terms - they'll be keen to have the curse removed. Don't tell them that the 'standard' methods don't work - let them find out when it fails...chances are a cursed character won't live through the CRM and the power of the Dark God will be ingrained in the players' minds.
Grumgarr
Edited by: Grumgarr at: 5/16/03 6:16:31 am
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