| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Adam_Garou |
Posted - 13 Sep 2005 : 19:36:24
Hello, everyone,
I have a question I'm attempting to get input on for my gaming group--a question involving the use of the clone spell from 2e. Here's the set-up (which I've actually mentioned in another forum before realizing that this is the appropriate place for it--oops!  ):
I'm running a Chaotic Neutral drow female wizard, and she's recently reached a high-enough level to cast the clone spell. Note that this is the regular, run-of-the-mill spell, not Manshoon's specialized stasis clone spell (which he wouldn't part with anyway of course).
Anyway, in the homebrew campaign world we're currently in (recently left the Realms and will probably return after this battle is tended to), our PCs have gone to seek the aid of the elvish king in a mass battle in which we'll soon be engaged. Well, after doing him a service, he's agreed to commit his people to the war, "for the good of all goodly folk."
The issue is, during the course of the mini-adventure in which we rescued him from his kidnappers, his younger brother was killed. Obviously this was a blow to the king, and nearly as much of one for us as the younger brother was the battlefield commander of the elvish army.
My question is this--how would you adjudicate the use of the clone spell in this situation? There are no clerics (all lost in battle), and none of the remaining mages can cast the reincarnate spell.
First off, in your campaigns, could the clone spell be used to create a living duplicate of the elf if the flesh sample came from his corpse? Or perhaps from some freshly spilt blood during the combat that killed him?
Secondly, what are your opinions regarding the nature of the character's soul and this use of the spell? That is, would the spell effectively reincarnate him? Would it be a separate soul that simply "remembers" everything from "his" life, due to the power of the magic? Or would it work in some other way entirely?
I'm curious to hear opinions on this, because I think the scene where the drow mage approaches the king and offers this magic as a way for him to get his brother back has a lot of poignant potential. Nonetheless, I'd like to make sure it doesn't blatantly contradict any printed material.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. |
| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Adam_Garou |
Posted - 14 Sep 2005 : 19:40:06
Hmm... good point. I suppose it might be possible to work it out if he suffered some sort of injury while he was still alive. And for dramatic impact, the idea of having the deity bless the clone and have the spell process work like a raise dead is very nice.
Any thoughts on the soul idea? Someone posted on this board not long ago about viewing each clone created by the spell as having been invested with a tiny fragment of the original creature's soul, in order to allow it to grow (then, when the original died, the rest of the soul was transferred to the body of the clone).
I know it's a metaphysical question and maybe not all that important to game mechanics... but it's certainly important to the king. |
| Fletcher |
Posted - 14 Sep 2005 : 16:44:26
I would take the following excerpt from the spell:
"To create the duplicate, you must have a piece of flesh (not hair, nails, scales, or the like) with a volume of at least 1 cubic inch that was taken from the original creature’s living body."
Well that means that if they are using the dead body, it shouldn't work, too bad. But you could always let them try and have something odd happen. Ugly, undead, twisted type odd.
Maybe if a bunch of elves prayed to Naralis Analor a couple times a day for the entirety of the growing time, it could work like a raise dead. |
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