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msherman
Kalkydrite
(10/30/03 8:45 am)
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Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
Here's a letter that I'm going to have in D'Gran's chamber, for the party to find. It's actually a coded message to the party.
Some background, that I (and Varachan!) hope will help them crack the code: Varachan has written the party twice so far, and both times started with the phrase "Greetings, Infidels." Also, this is the first time he's ever explicitly noted the date on a letter. Hopefully, it's not too subtle...
4 August
I send you greetings, D’Gran.
Be warned that a band of infidels approaches. Heed this warning. I hope that you can help us avoid invasion via the Fire Door. I trust you can hold the bridge secure from these most vile intruders. Do not fail in this dangerous task.
With faith,
Varachan.
Edited by: msherman at: 10/30/03 8:46 am
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Cordo Crowfoot
Cherub
(10/30/03 9:05 am)
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Re: Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
He could actually drop a hint like: "Their deaths are the top priority. If you cannot stop them from moving towards the fire door fall back to your complex. As you know the guardian of the fire door is the most formidable of all, and could easily handle them." ... which could actually help the PCs without being too obvious.
"They were immediately and absolutely recognizable as adventurers. They were hardy and dangerous, lawless, stripped of allegiance or morality, living off their wits, stealing and killing, hiring themselves out to whoever and whatever came... They were scum who died violent deaths, hanging on to a certain cachet among the impressionable through their undeniable bravery and their occasionally impressive exploits" China Mieville, Perdido Street Station |
Lunus Quelnegarde
Memunite
(10/30/03 4:12 pm)
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Re: Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
I wouldn't catch the innuendo here if I were a player.
Heck, Varachan could write them saying
"Look guys, don't go in the fire door. There's a big freakin dragon in there.
Peace - V man."
and they wouldn't listen to him. He's a cultist so of course he's going to tell them *not* to come to the outer fane.
Maybe drop a hint like
"I know you will be able to hold these infidels away from the fire door and the death that awaits beyond. My only concern is that fool Oamarthis. I pray that the northern bridge strengthen itself, and soon. If they should not, D'Gran, I will entrust that position to your lieutenant _blah_. I hope that under your command he has learned the tactics of a true leader."
Something along those lines. Probably more graceful though. If Varachan doesn't give them another option... and rather just tells them what not to do, they probably won't listen.
Well... I wouldn't. But I guess I wouldn't be looking or even considering having an ally within the Fanes.
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 Infiniti2000
Cherub
(10/30/03 7:02 pm)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
I like Lunus's version better.
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Cordo Crowfoot
Cherub
(10/30/03 11:21 pm)
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Re: Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
Quote:
If Varachan doesn't give them another option... and rather just tells them what not to do, they probably won't listen.
Well... I wouldn't. But I guess I wouldn't be looking or even considering having an ally within the Fanes.
I like your version too, but in a way the players tending not to listen is the beauty of the situation.  The point may not be to make their decision easy, but to add another dimension to make their it more complex and interesting.
Edited by: Cordo Crowfoot at: 10/30/03 11:24 pm
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msherman
Kalkydrite
(10/31/03 6:40 am)
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Re: Coded letter from Varachan to D'Gran
Well, the party is already 10th level, and very likely to hit 11th before they reach the Outer Fane, so it wouldn't be a tragedy if they ignored Varachan's warning. The next session will have an attack from an Assassin and Stalker, followed by the party attacking either the Water Temple or the Fire Gate, whichever they decide, so that should definitely suffice to bring them up to 11th. If they ignore the warning, Chymon will certainly be a difficult challenge, but they should be able to beat her, and then when they do find Varachan, they'll have one more reason to trust him since he can point out that he did try to warn them off. So, in short, Cordo's right.
However, I do like the idea of giving them a more concrete piece of advice as to where to go, rather than just saying not to go to the fire door, so here's a new version with extra advice, as well as a command to D'Gran to possibly save the party's lives if they're captured. As it turns out, taking the air bridge and heading west towards Varachan's room is by far the safest way into the outer fane IMC; Oamarthis' force is already destroyed, replaced by an expanded Water Temple who have flooded the area but are now stretched too thinly, and on the other side, one of the stalkers will already be gone at the start of the next session, and unless the party rushes into the OF on the very day they get there, Ukemil and his lions will likely be gone as well.Quote:
4 August
I send you greetings, D’Gran.
Be warned that a band of infidels approaches. Heed this warning. I hope that you can help us avoid invasion via the Fire Door. I trust you can hold the bridge secure from these most vile intruders. Do not fail in this dangerous task. All the other bridge guardians have also been so warned. Three temples destroyed; the doors to the Outer Fane must be held safer than this. As to the infidels, should you capture or even find them, send for me. Under absolutely no circumstances are you to take on a foolish air of superiority and sacrifice them yourselves. Your bridge is yours; in turn the intruders terrible fate is my own right to decide.
Yours,
Varachan
Edited by: msherman at: 10/31/03 6:45 am
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msherman
Kalkydrite
(11/14/03 11:05 am)
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Found the note
We played Sunday, and the day ended with the party defeating the WBC, and finding the note. The Cleric's player read it quickly to the whole party, muttered a curse against that two-faced Varachan for ratting them out to D'Gran while pretending to be an ally of theirs, and filed it away.
After reading the Inflexible DMs rant thread over in the DMs Only forum, I sent an email to the player of the 20 Int thief, letting him know that he noticed something strange about the note; this is the first time that he's ever seen a note in this complex with a datestamp on it. What could be so time-critical about this letter?
That's as far as I'll hint on this... if they don't get it, they can meet Chymon if they decide to cross the bridge. 3 of the 4 characters (everyone except the item-crafting Cleric) hit 11th level sunday, so Chymon should be survivable.
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msherman
Ophanite
(12/1/03 7:58 am)
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Ignored the clue...
We played again yesterday, and I let the party know about the clue (the int20 character noticing the datestamp on the letter). They completely ignored it; they thought I was trying to just put them under some time pressure. Oh well. At least Varachan will have something interesting to say to them when they finally meet him.
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