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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 12:10:59
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I was running the final part of a campaign I've been doing for several months last night.
The PCs had been tasked with locating Asraf of Manshaka, the Moonstar Agent based in Calimport who runs operations for the Tel'Teukiira in Calimshan, who had failed to turn up to a meeting with Kyriani Agrivar. The Moonstars knew where he might be, but had decided to get the PCs to recover him for them as a test to see if they would be considered for membership.
Of course, the PCs had never heard of the Moonstars and had no idea that this Asraf guy they'd been asked to find was a vampire. They'd spent the majority of the campaign so far fighting undead and so, when they found Asraf's corpse with a wooden stake rammed through his heart, they were apprehensive.
They shoved the body in their portable hole and headed to the designated meeting point where they were met by Kyriani and Laeral. The PCs wanted to know what in the hells was going on - being noted local undead hunters, they felt aggrieved that their employers apparently wanted them to rescue a vampire and were thinking of placing Asraf's corpse out in the sun.
Kyriani (who had contacted the PCs in the first place) had not stipulated what the PCs reward was to be, and the Moonstars didn't want to give the party any information about their group until they could determine what they might do with it (secrecy and all that).
How would you, as players or DMs run this? There were six PCs and the average party level was 14th.
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When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.
Head admin of the FR wiki:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/ |
Edited by - hashimashadoo on 29 Aug 2013 12:15:48
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 13:06:49
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Any clerics or paladins who oppose undeath? If yes, it is their duty to destroy the vampire, including the consequence of angering the Moonstars. If they do not follow their dogma or conviction have them suffer the consequences by stripping of powers by the faith.
If greedy ones are among the group who care more for riches than their reputation, have them barter for the corpse, including the consequences of angering the Moonstars.
Have them further be subject to persuasive attempts of the Moonstars to "deescalate" the situation. If the attempts fail and the players get the feeling Kyriani and Laeral try to hide something from them and they want to keep a vampire out of harms way, have them suspect they may be involved in necromantic practices with the potential consequence of coming to blows and outright fighting. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Cbad285
Learned Scribe
161 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 14:45:29
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| I agree! Also - Alignments. Ask your players about any possible concerns on the simple morality of not killing a vampire when the chance arises...mind the pun |
"Beware the Dream Fever!" |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6447 Posts |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 15:48:34
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| I disagree dazzlerdal. Paladins would never "let it slide". It would be a stain on their honor and their vows if specific ones would be taken. They and clerics have to hold to standards and if those standards involve rooting out and destroying undead, then they know what they must do. Players can do what they want but it always means they need to accept the consequences for their actions, especially the bad ones if they "messed it up". |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6447 Posts |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4702 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 19:57:48
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| dazzle As real as possible in D&D is the ability to cast spells and have lost of them and atoning for errors. When a Paladin takes a voe, there are very high costs for breaking it. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 20:04:32
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| IMO, you shouldn't have to play paladins as fundamentalists. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4702 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 20:09:42
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| Caladan Clearly there are optional rules for types of Paladins, however all are subject to the bargain they make. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2013 : 06:42:32
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Anybody can be flexible, but the consequences weigh more heavily on the hearts of paladins (and monks) than for others.
If I were the player of the paladin, there would be two questions. What is the true nature of the vampire, as evidenced by its recent deeds? Good paladins turn to evil, and it follows that vampires may turn to good or occasionally accomplish good ends by accident or larger design. And just how certain am I of the ultimate Good behind the Moonstars' effects in the Realms overall and in the lives of the people affected by this particular mission?
Paladin or not, if my alignment was good or lawful I'd want to find the answers to those questions before returning to Kyriani. Less risk of getting jumped by the employer if the employer doesn't know where you are or what you'll do with their "package" if they don't play nice. |
Edited by - xaeyruudh on 30 Aug 2013 06:56:50 |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2013 : 14:41:51
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| All of the PCs were Chaotic Good or Chaotic Neutral. We did have an undead hunter, but he got caught in a nasty multiple-effect trap I threw at them while in a narrow corridor and didn't make it out. They're basically mercenaries with a reputation for killing undead, though only half of them were primarily motivated by money. |
When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.
Head admin of the FR wiki:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/ |
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A DMing conundrum
