Pholtan Heretic [Archive] - Wizards Community

Pholtan Heretic [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
crimsonsky
10-17-05, 04:47 PM I'm starting a campaign that will begin in the Theocracy of the Pale.

This character is actually an NPC that will travel with the party in a campaign I'm running (I only have 3 players, so this is the party's fourth).

So far I have the following character concepts from the players
A LN Cleric of Heironeous
A LG Rogue/Cleric/Shadowbane Inquisitor/Pious Templar of Pholtus
A LG Monk

I decided since the party is very lawful, I'd work the NPC into the storyline in a way that would force them into a dilemma with upholding the law and defending the truth.

Here is what I came up with for the NPC who will be a NG Bard/Cleric of Lirr

Born in the Theocracy of the Pale, Licessta was brought up in a very devout Pholtan household. Though as part of a farming family, Licessta was needed to help on the farm most of the year, she was sent to the city right before each winter to study at the temple of Pholtus until spring.

At the temple, Licessta's skills as an orator quickly gained notice by the church superiors. Sometime before her sixteenth birthday, she overheard a group that was quietly whispering their displeasure with the new church senior. He had been very vocal about rooting out heretical texts, casting any writing which did not put Pholtus first and foremost into his cleansing fires.

Outraged at their insolence, Licessta confronted them. The people, part of a secret sect dedicated to Lirr, challenged her convictions through spirited debate. At the end, she dismissed their arguments as heresy, and promptly reported her encounter to the church. The church was unable to root out the heretics who always remained a step ahead. All the while, the undeniable truth of their words bothered Licessta. Every day she would think about that conversation.

Licessta's church, seeing this as an opportunity to test her convictions, tasked her with finding these heretics again. Over the next year, Licessta spent much of her time listening for any word of their whereabouts. Though Licessta's preoccupation troubled her family, she dare not tell her father the potentially dangerous task she had undertaken. For all the ambition her father had for her future, he was still her father above all.

The following winter, after nearly a year of searching with nothing more than rumors to chase, Licessta had a chance encounter with one of the Lirran heretics. The heretic, who seemed to be the leader among those Licessta met the year before, acknowledged her with not even a hint of alarm.

Without a thought of persecution in her head, Licessta immediately began asking the questions that ate at her for the past year. Licessta was invited by the heretic to continue their discussion in a more discreet location, an invitation she readily accepted.

After their long talk, Licessta knew in her heart that the Pholtans had done so much wrong by these people. For the first time in Licessta's life, the stars in her eyes had faded and all she could see was the truth. Though Licessta thought immediately of abandoning the church, she could not bear to disappoint her family. The Pholtans would hold them just as much to blame as Licessta for her failure. Licessta decided instead to return to the church, but instead of helping to find the heretics, she would use her position to help hide them.

Thus things went for the next year, until the current troubles made it very difficult for Licessta to leave her father's farm. Now, new adenturers in town would give her the chance to finally be free. She convinced her father that it would be best for her to travel to the city with these adventurers, but with new friends to help her, she will not be going back to the church.
MSW
10-17-05, 05:13 PM I'm starting a campaign [Living Greyhawk] that will begin in the Theocracy of the Pale.

This character is actually an NPC that will travel with the party in a campaign I'm running (I only have 3 players, so this is the party's fourth).

So far I have the following character concepts from the players
A LN Cleric of Heironeous
A LG Rogue/Cleric/Shadowbane Inquisitor/Pious Templar of Pholtus
A LG MonkI'd not saddle the party with any character that doesn't worship Pholtus if gaming in the Theocracy of the Pale. They are anti-everyone but Pholtus and consider worshipers of other gods heretics. So unless the whole party are already rebels / against Pholtus, adding a NPC character that is will probably be disruptive/cause the group more harm then good.

Also, reading through the background you posted, I'm not sure that a Lawful alignment really fits the character. I'd think a Lawful character who is taught to follow Pholtus would in fact follow that teaching, even if there was some coruption with the elders.

There is a Prc in Complete Divine that might fit this character, I think it's Church Inquisitor or something. (don't have my books at the moment). Anyways, that's what I thought of when I read your background info.
crimsonsky
10-17-05, 08:49 PM I'd not saddle the party with any character that doesn't worship Pholtus if gaming in the Theocracy of the Pale. They are anti-everyone but Pholtus and consider worshipers of other gods heretics. So unless the whole party are already rebels / against Pholtus, adding a NPC character that is will probably be disruptive/cause the group more harm then good.

Also, reading through the background you posted, I'm not sure that a Lawful alignment really fits the character. I'd think a Lawful character who is taught to follow Pholtus would in fact follow that teaching, even if there was some coruption with the elders.

There is a Prc in Complete Divine that might fit this character, I think it's Church Inquisitor or something. (don't have my books at the moment). Anyways, that's what I thought of when I read your background info.

You've misunderstood completely.

1. No one begins the game knowing that the NPC is a heretic. As far as they know, she is a Pholtan, hunting heretics. (She's not a cleric to begin with; she's a bard.)

2. Being a bard, she's not lawful. She is Neutral Good. Everyone else in the party is lawful.

3. The elders aren't corrupt, just vastly intolerant as Pholtan clerics tend to be. The problem is that the NPC is thought to be a Pholtan who is actually working for the Lirrans.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
crimsonsky 10-17-05, 04:47 PM	I'm starting a campaign that will begin in the Theocracy of the Pale. This character is actually an NPC that will travel with the party in a campaign I'm running (I only have 3 players, so this is the party's fourth). So far I have the following character concepts from the players A LN Cleric of Heironeous A LG Rogue/Cleric/Shadowbane Inquisitor/Pious Templar of Pholtus A LG Monk I decided since the party is very lawful, I'd work the NPC into the storyline in a way that would force them into a dilemma with upholding the law and defending the truth. Here is what I came up with for the NPC who will be a NG Bard/Cleric of Lirr Born in the Theocracy of the Pale, Licessta was brought up in a very devout Pholtan household. Though as part of a farming family, Licessta was needed to help on the farm most of the year, she was sent to the city right before each winter to study at the temple of Pholtus until spring. At the temple, Licessta's skills as an orator quickly gained notice by the church superiors. Sometime before her sixteenth birthday, she overheard a group that was quietly whispering their displeasure with the new church senior. He had been very vocal about rooting out heretical texts, casting any writing which did not put Pholtus first and foremost into his cleansing fires. Outraged at their insolence, Licessta confronted them. The people, part of a secret sect dedicated to Lirr, challenged her convictions through spirited debate. At the end, she dismissed their arguments as heresy, and promptly reported her encounter to the church. The church was unable to root out the heretics who always remained a step ahead. All the while, the undeniable truth of their words bothered Licessta. Every day she would think about that conversation. Licessta's church, seeing this as an opportunity to test her convictions, tasked her with finding these heretics again. Over the next year, Licessta spent much of her time listening for any word of their whereabouts. Though Licessta's preoccupation troubled her family, she dare not tell her father the potentially dangerous task she had undertaken. For all the ambition her father had for her future, he was still her father above all. The following winter, after nearly a year of searching with nothing more than rumors to chase, Licessta had a chance encounter with one of the Lirran heretics. The heretic, who seemed to be the leader among those Licessta met the year before, acknowledged her with not even a hint of alarm. Without a thought of persecution in her head, Licessta immediately began asking the questions that ate at her for the past year. Licessta was invited by the heretic to continue their discussion in a more discreet location, an invitation she readily accepted. After their long talk, Licessta knew in her heart that the Pholtans had done so much wrong by these people. For the first time in Licessta's life, the stars in her eyes had faded and all she could see was the truth. Though Licessta thought immediately of abandoning the church, she could not bear to disappoint her family. The Pholtans would hold them just as much to blame as Licessta for her failure. Licessta decided instead to return to the church, but instead of helping to find the heretics, she would use her position to help hide them. Thus things went for the next year, until the current troubles made it very difficult for Licessta to leave her father's farm. Now, new adenturers in town would give her the chance to finally be free. She convinced her father that it would be best for her to travel to the city with these adventurers, but with new friends to help her, she will not be going back to the church.
MSW 10-17-05, 05:13 PM	I'm starting a campaign [Living Greyhawk] that will begin in the Theocracy of the Pale. This character is actually an NPC that will travel with the party in a campaign I'm running (I only have 3 players, so this is the party's fourth). So far I have the following character concepts from the players A LN Cleric of Heironeous A LG Rogue/Cleric/Shadowbane Inquisitor/Pious Templar of Pholtus A LG MonkI'd not saddle the party with any character that doesn't worship Pholtus if gaming in the Theocracy of the Pale. They are anti-everyone but Pholtus and consider worshipers of other gods heretics. So unless the whole party are already rebels / against Pholtus, adding a NPC character that is will probably be disruptive/cause the group more harm then good. Also, reading through the background you posted, I'm not sure that a Lawful alignment really fits the character. I'd think a Lawful character who is taught to follow Pholtus would in fact follow that teaching, even if there was some coruption with the elders. There is a Prc in Complete Divine that might fit this character, I think it's Church Inquisitor or something. (don't have my books at the moment). Anyways, that's what I thought of when I read your background info.
crimsonsky 10-17-05, 08:49 PM	I'd not saddle the party with any character that doesn't worship Pholtus if gaming in the Theocracy of the Pale. They are anti-everyone but Pholtus and consider worshipers of other gods heretics. So unless the whole party are already rebels / against Pholtus, adding a NPC character that is will probably be disruptive/cause the group more harm then good. Also, reading through the background you posted, I'm not sure that a Lawful alignment really fits the character. I'd think a Lawful character who is taught to follow Pholtus would in fact follow that teaching, even if there was some coruption with the elders. There is a Prc in Complete Divine that might fit this character, I think it's Church Inquisitor or something. (don't have my books at the moment). Anyways, that's what I thought of when I read your background info. You've misunderstood completely. 1. No one begins the game knowing that the NPC is a heretic. As far as they know, she is a Pholtan, hunting heretics. (She's not a cleric to begin with; she's a bard.) 2. Being a bard, she's not lawful. She is Neutral Good. Everyone else in the party is lawful. 3. The elders aren't corrupt, just vastly intolerant as Pholtan clerics tend to be. The problem is that the NPC is thought to be a Pholtan who is actually working for the Lirrans.