Corrupting Greater Revenance [Archive] - Wizards Community

Corrupting Greater Revenance [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chronomage
05-06-04, 09:24 PM In City of the Spider Queen, Irae T'sarran is researching and will at the last stage of the adventure cast, Greater Revenance, a nigh epic spell that simultaneously animates hundreds if not thousands (max let's say 2-3,000) of revenants.

The idea in the adventure is for the heroes to stop Irae before the spell is cast. But in my campaign I want a little more risk and a more dramatic ending. So I am arranging, through a mini adventure in place of random encounters in Chapter 2: Deep Wastes, for the players to arrive on the scene with only days left to stop the wicked plan. The best they can do is get to the Undying temple a few hours before the spell is completed. I want them to have a choice between stopping Irae at the height of her power but with the spell uncast, or let her cast it and be weakened. Greater Revenance is a plot device, but there's a way to make it into a legit spell, I think.

Turn Greater Revenance into either a Corrupt Spell or an Epic Corrupt Spell. Have the spell cost gold, experience, ability damage/drain, and a special cost I call Breath of Styx. The Breath of Styx cost is a level drain, whose background is that for wresting such unholy power from the Realms of the Dead, a negative level is tied to your character for 24 hours. There is a save to get rid of it, but nothing protects you from it, including being undead or having negative plane protection. The only concern I have is what the DC would be and what ability damage/drain should be. I'm planning on asking this in the BoVD forum, too, but as it's an FR module, I figure it has a place here too.
madoule
05-06-04, 10:10 PM Personally, no spell should give you a lower level. In fact I belive that issue is specifically worked out in the DM guide. However, as a plot device, its a great one. As far as the spell is concered, its more like she is casting an epic spell (or a baby epic spell) and she is just testing out her stuff really. But I know for sure whatever the ocs do, they better be high levels in order to takle her and her minons ( I think the last battle is like CR 26) which is sure death to two party members at 20th level! but anyways, I like the ideas. But as a follow up, I would have the spell have a secondary effect, if the pcs decide to wait, not only does it rase an army of revenants, but if Irae is destroyed she cant make any more, but I would have the undead still continue to rise for a period of time even after somehow reverse or stop the effects of the spell.
Chronomage
05-06-04, 10:15 PM Good thoughts, and thanks! I was thinking that the PCs wait till after the spell is cast, the cycle begins, they destroy Irae, but the spell continues and the Undead army forms and begins marching on the fields of the Dales. The PCs (with help from the Exalted deeds) work quickly to create a counter to the dread necromancy using Irae's special items (Claw and Eye of the Revenancer) plus notes on the spell. With luck they reverse the spell and release the animating forces just as the Undead army descends and faces the first militia sent to stop them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chronomage 05-06-04, 09:24 PM	In City of the Spider Queen, Irae T'sarran is researching and will at the last stage of the adventure cast, Greater Revenance, a nigh epic spell that simultaneously animates hundreds if not thousands (max let's say 2-3,000) of revenants. The idea in the adventure is for the heroes to stop Irae before the spell is cast. But in my campaign I want a little more risk and a more dramatic ending. So I am arranging, through a mini adventure in place of random encounters in Chapter 2: Deep Wastes, for the players to arrive on the scene with only days left to stop the wicked plan. The best they can do is get to the Undying temple a few hours before the spell is completed. I want them to have a choice between stopping Irae at the height of her power but with the spell uncast, or let her cast it and be weakened. Greater Revenance is a plot device, but there's a way to make it into a legit spell, I think. Turn Greater Revenance into either a Corrupt Spell or an Epic Corrupt Spell. Have the spell cost gold, experience, ability damage/drain, and a special cost I call Breath of Styx. The Breath of Styx cost is a level drain, whose background is that for wresting such unholy power from the Realms of the Dead, a negative level is tied to your character for 24 hours. There is a save to get rid of it, but nothing protects you from it, including being undead or having negative plane protection. The only concern I have is what the DC would be and what ability damage/drain should be. I'm planning on asking this in the BoVD forum, too, but as it's an FR module, I figure it has a place here too.
madoule 05-06-04, 10:10 PM	Personally, no spell should give you a lower level. In fact I belive that issue is specifically worked out in the DM guide. However, as a plot device, its a great one. As far as the spell is concered, its more like she is casting an epic spell (or a baby epic spell) and she is just testing out her stuff really. But I know for sure whatever the ocs do, they better be high levels in order to takle her and her minons ( I think the last battle is like CR 26) which is sure death to two party members at 20th level! but anyways, I like the ideas. But as a follow up, I would have the spell have a secondary effect, if the pcs decide to wait, not only does it rase an army of revenants, but if Irae is destroyed she cant make any more, but I would have the undead still continue to rise for a period of time even after somehow reverse or stop the effects of the spell.
Chronomage 05-06-04, 10:15 PM	Good thoughts, and thanks! I was thinking that the PCs wait till after the spell is cast, the cycle begins, they destroy Irae, but the spell continues and the Undead army forms and begins marching on the fields of the Dales. The PCs (with help from the Exalted deeds) work quickly to create a counter to the dread necromancy using Irae's special items (Claw and Eye of the Revenancer) plus notes on the spell. With luck they reverse the spell and release the animating forces just as the Undead army descends and faces the first militia sent to stop them.