Knowledge Religion, Blood of Vol, and a roll of 35 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Knowledge Religion, Blood of Vol, and a roll of 35 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
boytbpc
03-01-06, 09:41 AM In my last game, the party was attempting to get some info on a man I called "The Vicar". I set him up as the head of acquistion in the Blood of Vol, his office being in the Crimson Monastary. Well, the Cleric of the Host in the party cast a spell (that I can't recall the name of, sorry) that gave him a +15 (I think, maybe only a 10) on his next skill check. Then he asked, what do I know about the heirarchy of the Blood of Vol, and specifically who and what is the Vicar. He rolled an 8, 12 ranks in Knowledge Religion, no intelligence modifier, +15 for the spell, yep, 35. I flipped open my handy PGtE and turned to the section The Blood of Vol and was flabbergasted that a DC 30 would tell you about Vol. That means, my 9th level party now knows that a major religion in the world DOESN'T have a deity, but is really only worshipping some lich. Well, I wasn't going to drop that without doing some major thinking, so I told them all about the BoV, I told them about the Vicar, who he is, what he is, what his job is, how he often sends the Emerald Claw on mission, etc. but nothing on Vol the real lich, but a lot on how they worship a mythalogical lich . Do you think that was right? How would you introduce something like that? Any ideas?

So, basically, what I want to know is, uh, well, I don't know. Just tell me what you think and what you would do, because, I really want to hear some other ideas to help me get out of my box.
lukelightning
03-01-06, 09:51 AM The Blood of Vol doesn't really worship the lich; Erandis D'Vol is the "secret pope" but not the focus or source of the power. Think of it like the Silver Flame: The Silver Flame has no diety either; just a mystical force, and a mortal spiritual leader who is in touch with this force.

I don't think knowledge (religion) would give much info on the Emerald Claw; despite being servants of Vol and carrying out her plans, the EC isn't an explicitly religious sect.

Personally I would say that for a non-Blood-of-Vol character, if they learn of the existance of Vol as a historical figure like a saint or hero of the past, but they may not learn the fact that she is still "alive" and active. A follower of the Blood who gets a 35 on his or her knowledge check probably would know Vol's role (remember that many members of the Blood have no idea about Vol's involvement).
the_old_noob
03-01-06, 10:33 AM Also remember that certain things, like the inner workings of the faith, aren't going to be published anywhere. Just because the person rolls a 35 doesn't mean that the information is actually available. It just means that the person knows all the information that is available. You can then feed them whatever information you want to have out in the world.

Just because someone makes an action check of 50 doesn't mean that they know your inner thoughts, what you did all alone in the dark 30 years ago, etc.
lukelightning
03-01-06, 10:51 AM I'd be sure to reward a player for such a high skill check result; even if I didn't want to reveal certain campaign secrets I'd try to give some sort of juicy info.
boytbpc
03-01-06, 11:31 AM Thanks guys, you are reinforcing my thoughts. I wanted to throw the player a bone for acheiving such a high roll, but I didn't want to be forced into revealing anything too big.
igotsmeakabob!!
03-01-06, 01:20 PM If that was done during a day where they knew they'd have combat, bravo to that player. Taking a spell slot for a knowledge boosting spell is.. so.. so.. it fills me with hope... Sorry my group is less roleplaying character more hack n slash optimized. but not to the extreme.
lukelightning
03-01-06, 01:23 PM I wanted to throw the player a bone...

An undead bone?
allenchan
03-01-06, 05:36 PM Your players are already level 9. In Eberron, they should definately know these things, imo. But maybe some way of discovering it, ie an old book, rather then "oh yea, now I remember"
talion09
03-01-06, 06:41 PM Well, not that it helps after the fact, but I believe the cleric spell you were refering to is called "Wieldskill", and it is in Magic of Faerun.

If indeed that was the spell cast, and you were worried about the cleric just spending a week of game time making knowledge checks against all topics and writing down the information... then you could always just dissallow the spell from your campaign, since it isn't even an eberron or core spell.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
boytbpc 03-01-06, 09:41 AM	In my last game, the party was attempting to get some info on a man I called "The Vicar". I set him up as the head of acquistion in the Blood of Vol, his office being in the Crimson Monastary. Well, the Cleric of the Host in the party cast a spell (that I can't recall the name of, sorry) that gave him a +15 (I think, maybe only a 10) on his next skill check. Then he asked, what do I know about the heirarchy of the Blood of Vol, and specifically who and what is the Vicar. He rolled an 8, 12 ranks in Knowledge Religion, no intelligence modifier, +15 for the spell, yep, 35. I flipped open my handy PGtE and turned to the section The Blood of Vol and was flabbergasted that a DC 30 would tell you about Vol. That means, my 9th level party now knows that a major religion in the world DOESN'T have a deity, but is really only worshipping some lich. Well, I wasn't going to drop that without doing some major thinking, so I told them all about the BoV, I told them about the Vicar, who he is, what he is, what his job is, how he often sends the Emerald Claw on mission, etc. but nothing on Vol the real lich, but a lot on how they worship a mythalogical lich . Do you think that was right? How would you introduce something like that? Any ideas? So, basically, what I want to know is, uh, well, I don't know. Just tell me what you think and what you would do, because, I really want to hear some other ideas to help me get out of my box.
lukelightning 03-01-06, 09:51 AM	The Blood of Vol doesn't really worship the lich; Erandis D'Vol is the "secret pope" but not the focus or source of the power. Think of it like the Silver Flame: The Silver Flame has no diety either; just a mystical force, and a mortal spiritual leader who is in touch with this force. I don't think knowledge (religion) would give much info on the Emerald Claw; despite being servants of Vol and carrying out her plans, the EC isn't an explicitly religious sect. Personally I would say that for a non-Blood-of-Vol character, if they learn of the existance of Vol as a historical figure like a saint or hero of the past, but they may not learn the fact that she is still "alive" and active. A follower of the Blood who gets a 35 on his or her knowledge check probably would know Vol's role (remember that many members of the Blood have no idea about Vol's involvement).
the_old_noob 03-01-06, 10:33 AM	Also remember that certain things, like the inner workings of the faith, aren't going to be published anywhere. Just because the person rolls a 35 doesn't mean that the information is actually available. It just means that the person knows all the information that is available. You can then feed them whatever information you want to have out in the world. Just because someone makes an action check of 50 doesn't mean that they know your inner thoughts, what you did all alone in the dark 30 years ago, etc.
lukelightning 03-01-06, 10:51 AM	I'd be sure to reward a player for such a high skill check result; even if I didn't want to reveal certain campaign secrets I'd try to give some sort of juicy info.
boytbpc 03-01-06, 11:31 AM	Thanks guys, you are reinforcing my thoughts. I wanted to throw the player a bone for acheiving such a high roll, but I didn't want to be forced into revealing anything too big.
igotsmeakabob!! 03-01-06, 01:20 PM	If that was done during a day where they knew they'd have combat, bravo to that player. Taking a spell slot for a knowledge boosting spell is.. so.. so.. it fills me with hope... Sorry my group is less roleplaying character more hack n slash optimized. but not to the extreme.
lukelightning 03-01-06, 01:23 PM	I wanted to throw the player a bone... An undead bone?
allenchan 03-01-06, 05:36 PM	Your players are already level 9. In Eberron, they should definately know these things, imo. But maybe some way of discovering it, ie an old book, rather then "oh yea, now I remember"
talion09 03-01-06, 06:41 PM	Well, not that it helps after the fact, but I believe the cleric spell you were refering to is called "Wieldskill", and it is in Magic of Faerun. If indeed that was the spell cast, and you were worried about the cleric just spending a week of game time making knowledge checks against all topics and writing down the information... then you could always just dissallow the spell from your campaign, since it isn't even an eberron or core spell.