Daelkyr and insanity of their minions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Daelkyr and insanity of their minions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Melvin the Mediocre
02-06-06, 03:43 PM So I've been trying to think of a sort of master plan hidden behind the insanity to which the daelkyr drive their minions. I haven't come up with a lot so I'm looking for help here.

I'm thinking that all the lesser minions outside of rank and file armies will be severly mad. I want it to be a really creepy sort of madness. But I don't want the PC's just whacking them on discovery. I'm hoping that there will be some pity and desire to heal and redeem them.

To that end I've been trying to come up with reasons that the dealkyr drove them mad in the first place (beyond the simple things like its fun, or they are to alien to commune with, etc.) To date, my favorite plan is to have someone with a severe case of bibliomania. Within his hoard of books there should be great knowledge, some of which is vitally important to the party. The keeper of the tomes will be quite cordial and helpful until the party tries to leave (what with there spellbooks and histories and all) at which point he should become quite stressed and ineffectually try to confine them or steal their books, eventually falling on the floor scrreaming or bawling as he clutches at their heels.

Obviously, the daelkyr have givne him this mania in order to gather and control lore. Does anybody else know of bizare and or creepy mental illness that the daelkyr could use to their advantage? I'd love your input.
Rechan
02-06-06, 03:57 PM If the Daelkyr wanted to say, keep someone in a place, they could give them severe fear of open spaces. Who needs bars and locks when the person's own terror keeps them where you want them to be? Except that to express this, you either have to 1) Show that the individual hasn't been outside in years (so pale it hurts) and he's malnurished (depending on others to bring his food), or the Pcs have to try and get the guy outside in the first place.

Fear of sleep - perfect for a guard at his post. If the guy is terrified of falling unconcious, he's going to do his damndest to be alert and on guard all the time.

Inanimate object lust - the individuals could pretty much fetishize over something that needs protecting, to the point of being in Love with it. So not only are they protecting it because 'Hey man, that's MINE' or because they are ordered to, it's because they cannot be without it/stand the thought of someone ELSE having it, so they'll fight to the death.

Voyeurism - If you need a spy and scout, force someone into such mental isolation that they must watch from afar. Couple this, perhaps, with a fear of social situations/being in crowds.
darkthought
02-07-06, 09:52 AM Inanimate object lust - the individuals could pretty much fetishize over something that needs protecting, to the point of being in Love with it. So not only are they protecting it because 'Hey man, that's MINE' or because they are ordered to, it's because they cannot be without it/stand the thought of someone ELSE having it, so they'll fight to the death.

My precious....

You could look up a list of different phobias and philias and take it to the extreme. But then I've heard a quote that goes something like, "The line between genius and madness is success." You could have someone only slightly touched by madness... bent instead of broken, if you will. You could run it a little like Quori possession. They're pretty much normal most of the time, but when the "madness" is upon them, they're completely different. Kind of like multiple personality disorder. Normal personality is Neutral Good, and the mad one is chaotic evil.
Melvin the Mediocre
02-07-06, 10:28 AM Fear of sleep and lust of the inanimate are pretty good. I think I could pull the later into a good role play session. The first I'd probablly just have to relegate to background color.

Does anybody know if a really really twisted mental illness? Even if it has been dismissed by modern medicine, as long as there is info online about it and how people with it behave/behaved.
Rechan
02-07-06, 10:41 AM Does anybody know if a really really twisted mental illness? Even if it has been dismissed by modern medicine, as long as there is info online about it and how people with it behave/behaved.

Fear of sleep might also contribute to insomnia and hallucinations, being really jittery, twitchy, spacy, and such.

One thing I suggest is the use of Allips. Allips are the ghosts of those who went mad and committed suicide. They sound like a byproduct of Daelkyr processes.

As for mental illness: Lycanthropy. Not the magical disease, but an actual condition where the individual believes they are a wolf.

I personally think Post traumatic stress disorder is truelly horrible, but you don't need extra-planar beings to induce that - you got Last War vets with that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Melvin the Mediocre 02-06-06, 03:43 PM	So I've been trying to think of a sort of master plan hidden behind the insanity to which the daelkyr drive their minions. I haven't come up with a lot so I'm looking for help here. I'm thinking that all the lesser minions outside of rank and file armies will be severly mad. I want it to be a really creepy sort of madness. But I don't want the PC's just whacking them on discovery. I'm hoping that there will be some pity and desire to heal and redeem them. To that end I've been trying to come up with reasons that the dealkyr drove them mad in the first place (beyond the simple things like its fun, or they are to alien to commune with, etc.) To date, my favorite plan is to have someone with a severe case of bibliomania. Within his hoard of books there should be great knowledge, some of which is vitally important to the party. The keeper of the tomes will be quite cordial and helpful until the party tries to leave (what with there spellbooks and histories and all) at which point he should become quite stressed and ineffectually try to confine them or steal their books, eventually falling on the floor scrreaming or bawling as he clutches at their heels. Obviously, the daelkyr have givne him this mania in order to gather and control lore. Does anybody else know of bizare and or creepy mental illness that the daelkyr could use to their advantage? I'd love your input.
Rechan 02-06-06, 03:57 PM	If the Daelkyr wanted to say, keep someone in a place, they could give them severe fear of open spaces. Who needs bars and locks when the person's own terror keeps them where you want them to be? Except that to express this, you either have to 1) Show that the individual hasn't been outside in years (so pale it hurts) and he's malnurished (depending on others to bring his food), or the Pcs have to try and get the guy outside in the first place. Fear of sleep - perfect for a guard at his post. If the guy is terrified of falling unconcious, he's going to do his damndest to be alert and on guard all the time. Inanimate object lust - the individuals could pretty much fetishize over something that needs protecting, to the point of being in Love with it. So not only are they protecting it because 'Hey man, that's MINE' or because they are ordered to, it's because they cannot be without it/stand the thought of someone ELSE having it, so they'll fight to the death. Voyeurism - If you need a spy and scout, force someone into such mental isolation that they must watch from afar. Couple this, perhaps, with a fear of social situations/being in crowds.
darkthought 02-07-06, 09:52 AM	Inanimate object lust - the individuals could pretty much fetishize over something that needs protecting, to the point of being in Love with it. So not only are they protecting it because 'Hey man, that's MINE' or because they are ordered to, it's because they cannot be without it/stand the thought of someone ELSE having it, so they'll fight to the death. My precious.... You could look up a list of different phobias and philias and take it to the extreme. But then I've heard a quote that goes something like, "The line between genius and madness is success." You could have someone only slightly touched by madness... bent instead of broken, if you will. You could run it a little like Quori possession. They're pretty much normal most of the time, but when the "madness" is upon them, they're completely different. Kind of like multiple personality disorder. Normal personality is Neutral Good, and the mad one is chaotic evil.
Melvin the Mediocre 02-07-06, 10:28 AM	Fear of sleep and lust of the inanimate are pretty good. I think I could pull the later into a good role play session. The first I'd probablly just have to relegate to background color. Does anybody know if a really really twisted mental illness? Even if it has been dismissed by modern medicine, as long as there is info online about it and how people with it behave/behaved.
Rechan 02-07-06, 10:41 AM	Does anybody know if a really really twisted mental illness? Even if it has been dismissed by modern medicine, as long as there is info online about it and how people with it behave/behaved. Fear of sleep might also contribute to insomnia and hallucinations, being really jittery, twitchy, spacy, and such. One thing I suggest is the use of Allips. Allips are the ghosts of those who went mad and committed suicide. They sound like a byproduct of Daelkyr processes. As for mental illness: Lycanthropy. Not the magical disease, but an actual condition where the individual believes they are a wolf. I personally think Post traumatic stress disorder is truelly horrible, but you don't need extra-planar beings to induce that - you got Last War vets with that.