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The guy from Belgium
Sibeccai
(7/23/03 6:55 am)
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'small' problem: lycanthropy
two of my characters have contracted lycanthropy from the wererat sorcerer at the earth bridge...
(fumbled on fortitude save)
now what?
is it really necesarry for them to become chaotic evil? one is a cleric of pelor (the only surviving original character so far) and the other is a barbarian...
it would help the party occasionally if they could shapeshift to hybrid or rat... but so far, it hasn't been a full moon yet (i roll for it)...
what would happen if they were on watch and they changed into a rat for the first time... the books state that they might go on a rampage and kill sentient beings (id est: the rest of the sleeping party)
what do i do? they're unaware of the condition so far, although i've dropped a hint about the wounds still festering despite having been cured and tended to... they're starting to realise something's up...
how would you guys handle it?
Philip
http://users.pandora.be/Philip/dnd |
 Infiniti2000
Verrik
(7/23/03 7:04 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
Wow. If the group has no clue about Eeridik being a lycanthrope, this event should wake them up. Let me answer your questions quickly.
"is it really necesarry for them to become chaotic evil?" Yes.
"one is a cleric of pelor (the only surviving original character so far)" So, he loses all clerical powers. Tough break. He can recover, of course, but it will be painful.
"and the other is a barbarian..." No problems there.
"what would happen if they were on watch and they changed into a rat for the first time... the books state that they might go on a rampage and kill sentient beings (id est: the rest of the sleeping party)" Sounds like a reasonable interpretation. I'd give them a Will save, say, against DC 15 to not attempt to kill their friends and just leave. I would make it a "frenzy" though and not make them do coup de grace attacks. Just have them start ripping into the party (start with a surprise round for instance).
"how would you guys handle it?"
I would play it generally according to legend, or at least what you want the legend to be. IMO, a lycanthrope is a very dangerous disease and not one to be taken lightly. For the most part, you do not want your characters to respond, "Cool! I'm a wererat!" without consequences, so make them pay for it. Also, realize that the ECL of these characters rises until they are cured, so they will be seriously affected by it. The cleric is pretty much screwed, although you might consider letting him maintain his clerical powers until the point when he actually becomes a wererat for the first time (the babarian, too).
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Andorax
Verrik
(7/23/03 8:42 am)
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
I have one other nighttime suggestion for you.
The "First Change" isn't enjoyable nor comfortable. The rest of the party should wake to their agonizing screams of pain and torment, and see them about halfway through their first change (I'd say it takes a good minute or so, first time, during which they are "dazed").
This hands the dilema over to the rest of the party...what to do about them?
Also, I wouldn't go quite so easy on them for their frenzy...the Frenzied Berserker's Will Save to regain control from a killing rampage is DC 20, and that's how I'd rule it. You're giving the rest of the party ample opportunity to react.
If you want, you can allow the affected PCs, during the first round or two after the others awake, yell "Run...RUN!" at them, then start snarling.
Also remember, they instinctively won't attack each other, will even work together to some minor extent. Determine randomly which way they go, then let the players take back over when they smash into their first resistance (whether that's PCs or foes).
Finally, if you go by "classic" Lycanthropy, they'll wake up with no recollection of the entire night's rampage.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
The guy from Belgium
Sibeccai
(7/23/03 10:54 am)
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
my god... this is like... terrible...
yikes... so, two new characters coming up then *sigh*
ok, thanks guys, you confirmed my fears... the cleric is screwed... no other way about it!
he timing is pretty bad though, they're in the outer fanes now, about to take out thrommel for the second time around... my log is on the site... it's still updated every time after the session, but i won't bore anyone by posting it here... those who are still interested:
dungeons.sloclan.ath.cx:8080
cheers!
Philip
http://users.pandora.be/Philip/dnd |
malthazar
Human
(7/23/03 11:20 am)
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
>my god... this is like... terrible...
>yikes... so, two new characters coming up then *sigh*
>ok, thanks guys, you confirmed my fears... the cleric is screwed...
>no other way about it!
Do bear in mind, though, that Lycanthropy is not a death sentence. If the characters survive the night of their transformation and make their way back to the party, the group can rush back to Homlett and get Cannoness Y'Dey to cast a break enchantment on them the following night. They would get two chances to break it the first month, and three thereafter (when the moon is full). There is a fort save involved, or something, I forget. It's all written out in the back of the MM. (I know this because my players are escorting a Lycanthrope to Homlett for the same reason).
mal
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Infiniti2000
Verrik
(7/23/03 11:43 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
As malthazar says, it's not a death sentence. Don't give up so soon! Let the party deal with the problem and overcome it. If they need help, offer it.
I like Andorax's suggestion that the transformation take a minute the first night. That's pretty cool and will afford some good RP. It'd be interesting to see if the rest of the party will stick around. I'd bet they subdue the other party members and work to get them freed. In the future, I bet there'll be some cool stories... "Remember that time you turned into a wererat?"
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WarrenWright
Faen
(7/24/03 10:16 am)
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Re: 'small' problem: lycanthropy
Let us know how it goes, too. I love hearing after-stories.
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