Evil Heart in Search of Redemption- thoughts, suggestions, criticisms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Evil Heart in Search of Redemption- thoughts, suggestions, criticisms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DMEric
11-23-04, 03:43 PM Ok, so I'm going to be playing in a campaign where the group is gathering up pieces of an artifact for an epic level wizard, and the parties' reward at the end of the campaign is that he will cast Wish on every person for whatever their heart may desire. Thusly, everyone had to write up characters that needed something that only Wish or some other great magic could provide.

My character is Trayven the Mohrg.
His backstory is that he was a common thug in one of the game world's great city, cruel, petty, and thoughtless. One night he and his buddies tried to mug the wrong man, for it turned out to be a mohrg that had lured them all into an ambush. His compatriots left him behind, and the mohrg slew him and moved on. He arose from the dead a few days later, in horror to see his skin had sloughed off and tentacle-worm things crwling about his skeletal body. Rather than going completly mad with horror, Trayven instead took it as a sort of divine punishment on him for his transgressions as a mortal. The character's alignment shifted from Chaotic Evil to Chaotic Neutral(in terms of outlook), and he is despratly seeking to atone for his wicked ways. Thus, he wants the wizard to use the Wish spell to cast Atonement on him, since no member of the clergy would be willing to do so(Trayven will not approach any holy temple, in fear that his unatoned soul will be sent to the Abyss if his body is destroyed by over-zealous clerics/paladins.)

The party is starting out at aroun 4-6th level, so I'm playing him using the Morhg "monstrous character class" from the Libris Mortis(4th level Mohrg). The other PC's will not know what Trayven is, becuase he wears a mask and a fully concealing robe underneath his armour. In addition, he will inform the party that as part of his "Vow of Suffering" he does not want any curative magics cast upon him, though any Inflict Spells are welcome :P

Any suggestions on playing an undead character? What do you all think of this?
Kindren Van Dohm
11-23-04, 04:11 PM Trayven sounds really cool. I think that a really cool twist would be if trayven sees someone doing evil he should try to make him convet or try to kill him. That way this guy could have the mind set that he is stopping what he was in the world.
TheMightyMcClaw
11-23-04, 06:19 PM Cool idea. I like it.

Obviously, he'd be a very mysterious character... what with constantly concealing his identity. Perhaps at some point the other heroes could discover his tragic form?
DMEric
11-24-04, 09:08 AM My DM is going to drop clues as to his true nature as the game goes on, such as when I get critted, having the other PC's make a spot check and then passing them a note that they "could swear that Trayven was run though by that blade, yet he continues fighting as if it was merely a glancing blow" etc.
Core
11-25-04, 02:29 PM sounds pretty neat to me.

The main comment I have is that it doesn't sound like you actually have an game reason (ignoring the character reasons) for having atonement cast on you, unless you wanted to gain the aligment of the wizard (redemption or temptation) - it sounds like you already have the aligment you want, you haven't lost any class levels or abilities, the new alignment isn't being imposed on you. You don't even need it to provide a beleivable reason for an alignment shift - you've already provided this yourself in your backstory.

Obviously I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to be doing, certainly not from a roleplaying point of view, though I think that desiring an atonement would be more in keeping with a shift to good alignment rather than neutral (since you don't have any neutral beliefs, such as might be held by a druid - you're just a character with a neutral outlook).

I don't know what sort of campain you're in, or the make up of your party, but I suspect that you will be having problems with healing, turn undead etc. - maybe asking for something to help you with this aspect might be more sensible - a bonus to resist turning, ability to be healed by normal heal spells, or similar bonuses might be more in keeping with a neutral character.

r.e. overzealous clerics/paladins etc. - obviously this is a real problem, however you should be aware that slaying a neutral character, even if undead, may well be ilegal in whatever cities you visit (depending on how common non-evil undead are in your world), and a good cleric destroying a neutral aligned character could well be an evil act - a simple detect evil spell on you would determin your true alignment. Obviously this doesn't protect you from any undead harming auras or being caught in any turn undead effects, or as you mentioned, the actions of zealots, and doens't help you if you have this fear in character, rather than as a player :)

I would talk to you DM and see what sort of problems your character will face in this world, and the actual effects of atonement on you (in case he wants to give you some other benefit for atoning other than what is mentioned in the spell description).

Core
Quarterstaff
11-27-04, 09:40 AM :clap: awesome i like really good idea

as was afore mentioned atonement is one of the spells that are debateabil in dnd in my campaings it means the gods forgive the act that made you shift alighnment so if you atone for your wrongs then you will have an alighnment shift personnaly i think his wish should be used to give him his living body back if hes c-n hes out for himself not caring what others think but thats just me i love your story and your concept just make sure you articulate your ideas well in game and good luck on concealing your identity
DMEric
11-29-04, 10:17 AM Actually, what my DM and I worked out is that upon Atonement, my character is going to crumble to dust, his punishment having been meted out and his past ills washed away. He will travel to a pleasent afterlife as opposed to becoming a petitioner Darth, the Dark Pit of Despair.The actual spell is more of an RP thing then an actual game mechanic. Trayven's alignment is shifted from evil, but his sins are still unforgiven.

As far as Detect Evil etc., undead creatures in civilized places are destroyed on sight, no parley. The magelord he is serving knows of Trayven's identity, but he is doesn't care about good or ill intentions, just that the job is done.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DMEric 11-23-04, 03:43 PM	Ok, so I'm going to be playing in a campaign where the group is gathering up pieces of an artifact for an epic level wizard, and the parties' reward at the end of the campaign is that he will cast Wish on every person for whatever their heart may desire. Thusly, everyone had to write up characters that needed something that only Wish or some other great magic could provide. My character is Trayven the Mohrg. His backstory is that he was a common thug in one of the game world's great city, cruel, petty, and thoughtless. One night he and his buddies tried to mug the wrong man, for it turned out to be a mohrg that had lured them all into an ambush. His compatriots left him behind, and the mohrg slew him and moved on. He arose from the dead a few days later, in horror to see his skin had sloughed off and tentacle-worm things crwling about his skeletal body. Rather than going completly mad with horror, Trayven instead took it as a sort of divine punishment on him for his transgressions as a mortal. The character's alignment shifted from Chaotic Evil to Chaotic Neutral(in terms of outlook), and he is despratly seeking to atone for his wicked ways. Thus, he wants the wizard to use the Wish spell to cast Atonement on him, since no member of the clergy would be willing to do so(Trayven will not approach any holy temple, in fear that his unatoned soul will be sent to the Abyss if his body is destroyed by over-zealous clerics/paladins.) The party is starting out at aroun 4-6th level, so I'm playing him using the Morhg "monstrous character class" from the Libris Mortis(4th level Mohrg). The other PC's will not know what Trayven is, becuase he wears a mask and a fully concealing robe underneath his armour. In addition, he will inform the party that as part of his "Vow of Suffering" he does not want any curative magics cast upon him, though any Inflict Spells are welcome :P Any suggestions on playing an undead character? What do you all think of this?
Kindren Van Dohm 11-23-04, 04:11 PM	Trayven sounds really cool. I think that a really cool twist would be if trayven sees someone doing evil he should try to make him convet or try to kill him. That way this guy could have the mind set that he is stopping what he was in the world.
TheMightyMcClaw 11-23-04, 06:19 PM	Cool idea. I like it. Obviously, he'd be a very mysterious character... what with constantly concealing his identity. Perhaps at some point the other heroes could discover his tragic form?
DMEric 11-24-04, 09:08 AM	My DM is going to drop clues as to his true nature as the game goes on, such as when I get critted, having the other PC's make a spot check and then passing them a note that they "could swear that Trayven was run though by that blade, yet he continues fighting as if it was merely a glancing blow" etc.
Core 11-25-04, 02:29 PM	sounds pretty neat to me. The main comment I have is that it doesn't sound like you actually have an game reason (ignoring the character reasons) for having atonement cast on you, unless you wanted to gain the aligment of the wizard (redemption or temptation) - it sounds like you already have the aligment you want, you haven't lost any class levels or abilities, the new alignment isn't being imposed on you. You don't even need it to provide a beleivable reason for an alignment shift - you've already provided this yourself in your backstory. Obviously I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to be doing, certainly not from a roleplaying point of view, though I think that desiring an atonement would be more in keeping with a shift to good alignment rather than neutral (since you don't have any neutral beliefs, such as might be held by a druid - you're just a character with a neutral outlook). I don't know what sort of campain you're in, or the make up of your party, but I suspect that you will be having problems with healing, turn undead etc. - maybe asking for something to help you with this aspect might be more sensible - a bonus to resist turning, ability to be healed by normal heal spells, or similar bonuses might be more in keeping with a neutral character. r.e. overzealous clerics/paladins etc. - obviously this is a real problem, however you should be aware that slaying a neutral character, even if undead, may well be ilegal in whatever cities you visit (depending on how common non-evil undead are in your world), and a good cleric destroying a neutral aligned character could well be an evil act - a simple detect evil spell on you would determin your true alignment. Obviously this doesn't protect you from any undead harming auras or being caught in any turn undead effects, or as you mentioned, the actions of zealots, and doens't help you if you have this fear in character, rather than as a player :) I would talk to you DM and see what sort of problems your character will face in this world, and the actual effects of atonement on you (in case he wants to give you some other benefit for atoning other than what is mentioned in the spell description). Core
Quarterstaff 11-27-04, 09:40 AM	:clap: awesome i like really good idea as was afore mentioned atonement is one of the spells that are debateabil in dnd in my campaings it means the gods forgive the act that made you shift alighnment so if you atone for your wrongs then you will have an alighnment shift personnaly i think his wish should be used to give him his living body back if hes c-n hes out for himself not caring what others think but thats just me i love your story and your concept just make sure you articulate your ideas well in game and good luck on concealing your identity
DMEric 11-29-04, 10:17 AM	Actually, what my DM and I worked out is that upon Atonement, my character is going to crumble to dust, his punishment having been meted out and his past ills washed away. He will travel to a pleasent afterlife as opposed to becoming a petitioner Darth, the Dark Pit of Despair.The actual spell is more of an RP thing then an actual game mechanic. Trayven's alignment is shifted from evil, but his sins are still unforgiven. As far as Detect Evil etc., undead creatures in civilized places are destroyed on sight, no parley. The magelord he is serving knows of Trayven's identity, but he is doesn't care about good or ill intentions, just that the job is done.