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Mogu-sama
Acolyte
USA
9 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2014 : 00:28:49
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"The Cowled Wizards of Amn are a secret society of high-level magic users who have managed to escape the control of Amn’s government and the Council of Six. Information on their numbers, strength, disposition, and most importantly, their goals, is very hard to come by. Spies attempting to infiltrate the organization often emerge with totally different stories, testimony to the Cowled Wizards’ ability to outwit the government."
-Empires of the Sands
How can I properly display in my campaign the Cowled Wizard's ability to avoid infiltration?
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2014 : 00:46:27
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1. Membership is likely by invitation only.
2. They likely subject newcomers to extensive mind-reaming (perhaps both magical and psionic in nature).
3. Part of that process likely includes several dispel magic-type spells after divesting them of all items carried. This would also include magic to determine if they are shapechanged or under the effects of illusion magic.
4. Then there is likely a series of tests to their loyalty afterwards before becoming privy to secret information.
5. Also, those who are already vetted members most likely keep their identities secret from newcomers until they've proven themselves.
Just for the record, I don't think the CW are an 'evil' organization. Likely they are more neutral in outlook with members of all alignments available to them. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Mogu-sama
Acolyte
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2014 : 01:09:47
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I feel that mind-ream and spells like it are rather boring to use in a campaign, as it makes infiltration virtually impossible
What about "tests" that are carried out under the guise of normal adventures? |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1885 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2014 : 09:23:12
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I see your point, I just think it would be hard for them to avoid infiltration so successfully without mind-reading magic/psionics. They HAVE been infiltrated though. Two of the Council of Six are actually members (if you haven't used the official timejump in the Realms) and Shoon IV (I think it's the 4th, maybe it's the seventh...I can't recall at the moment) has become a member. He's so powerful he may have been able to foil mind reading.
I think adventuring wouldn't really be the point of tests. Rather it would be to see if the wizard would keep information secret and actually do what he/she is paid to do...the adventuring is just a means to that determination. Not all of them would be 'adventures' either. A simple courier mission from one house to another (within the same city) could be part of it. Does the prospective member look inside? If the recipient of the package opens it in front of the courier does he/she report the contents to the authorities? Does he/she tell his employer?
The ability to be discreet would be most important I think along with loyalty to the CW above all else. This could lead to 'tests' that involve the wizard's capture and some mild torture to see if they will break easily (I would assume they know that no one could be expected not to break silence under extreme torture so they wouldn't go overboard...like I said, neutral outlook rather than evil).
Then again, as your OP states, spies often emerge with conflicting stories. Prospective members can never be sure (at first) if what they are seeing is even real. Obviously they have some strong illusions in place...perhaps something that can be reprogrammed at a moments notice (or several programs that can be called up when needed as opposed to simply creating new ones on the fly). |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Cowled Wizard Secrecy
