Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Bly2729 Feb 21, 2012 20:37:19	So, I'm thinking about plot arcs I can use for paragon and epic tier, and one thing I definitely want to do is some Sorcerer-King intrigue.  One line that's inspired me is the DSCC line on Nibenay, that he is exploring the distant past and may be seeking to bring about a new age. What do you think this could mean?  Does Nibenay seek to bend time, restore Athas to its verdant past, what does a New Age mean?  Why would he want to do this?  Could there be something benovolent about his intentions?  I'm just curious as to what people think could be done with this.
#2 waxwingslain Feb 22, 2012 19:08:13	I see Nibenay as very inwardly-focused and studious...it's why he has progressed so far as a dragon on the slow, traditional path compared to the other SKs. A good paragon-level challenge might involve the players conflicting with Dhojakt, the monstrous half-cilops son of Nibenay, perhaps as he engages in foolish and headstrong experiments in magic that his steady and measured father never would. A nice twist could have the PCs kill/defeat Dhojakt only to find that they have been agents of Nibenay all along, who worried about his son's experiments. Then for epic tier, they come into conflict with Nibenay himself.
#3 Palladinae Feb 24, 2012 11:09:41	It had been said, that Nibenay has slave-scholars, that conduct researches for him. Maybe you could explore that. If he is into time bending, what about instaling him as only sorcerer-king, while elimating others?
#4 beej_silver Feb 25, 2012 2:04:15	In my ongoing Dark Sun game, The Walker Kings, one of the PCs is a son of the Shadow King. So outside of his father's wives, his consistent power play with his brother Dhojakt is one of the focal points in his rp.  But another interesting character is Siemhouk, the 14 (?) year old templar wife of Nibenay. I've read somewhere (can't remember source) that Nibenay takes her planar-hopping to help her master her impressive psionic ability. I imagine her being tested by facing abominations or somesuch in the dead astral sea. In my game, the Shadow King dotes on her as if she were a daughter rather than as a wife. Indeed, Siemhouk herself is the daughter of a former high consort, so she might actually be a daughter of Nibenay. The struggles of the Cypher (the player character), Dhojakt, and Siemhouk make for an interesting three-way sibling rivalry.
#5 Bly2729 Feb 26, 2012 23:42:35	Definitely into Nibenay wanting to planet hop and time travel, but to what end?  It strikes me that if he's inward and studious, it isn't power for power's sake.  He will overthrow the other Sorcerer-Kings, but to remove them as obstacles to his work, not for any emotional reason.  He's becoming a dragon and meddling in all possible worlds but what's his scheme?  He's not getting Astral Plane t-shirts.
#6 Alphastream Feb 28, 2012 11:07:47	The likely most obvious paragon or Epic plot would be around Siemhouk and the changes she brings to the City-State. You can read about her and the city a bit more in the fantastic AD&D sourcebook The Veiled Alliance. I see Dregoth as the one that is planar-hopping (he has a particular artifact that allows it) and Nibenay more as exploring how the Pristine Tower might be used or how he could change the balance of power between the Sorcerer-Kings and Dragon. He could be the right SK to push for a Kalidnay or other lost-city expedition, perhaps via subtle manipulation (later revealing he was the PCs' employer and his true purpose of gaining great power).