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Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
missekat
Jul 15, 2008 12:14:51 I'm thinking about throwing a secondary plotline into our campaign, as the shifter-brothers in my group is very concerned about the future of their race, and especially their own family. (Amongst other things, the older brother keeps trying to marry off his no good druid brother to no avail).

So.. I'm thinking: Because of some of the other things I'm working up to, I've decided that there actually was good cause for the Silver Flame to purge as many "innocent" shifter villages as they did. Oh, some of them might have been innocent, but a lot of them still had their "ancestors" living with them. Pure Lycans. The actual original Lycans who interbred with humans to make shifters.

It get a bit complicated here, but the point is that IMC True Lycantropes does not age, and can only be killed with silver.

Each family had a "patron" Lycan. The root of their family tree so to speak. And weekly, or just when it was needed, they would hold a ritual where they drank a measure of the elders blood. Thus gaining extra endurance, (+1 for a week), the scent ability, and the ability to shift into their ancestor animal or a hybrid form.

This combined with the fact that the ancestor would be the one guiding the shifters and taking all the big decisions, would make the small shifter communities a pretty fould and nasty threat. (Assuming the Lycans really were evil, and I am assuming that).

Now.. most of these ancestors was killed off along with their families during the purge, but what if a few survived? Hidden away, but still heeded, by the evil shifters.. or maybe locked away and used for their blood by the good?

I'm talking about exceedingly few here, obviously I don't want to start a new purge or make all shifters evil.

My question is:

Is the powers mentioned too great? Or too puny?

I mean.. they would have to feed the beast, and keep her chained in silver chains in some remote location. They would ahve to make sure that each generation knew not to heed the mad and evil ramblings of the insane creature. And they would have to renew the ritual every time they wanted that little extra "boost".

All that.. for +1 endurance, scent and, (agreed: the pretty awesome power of), shapeshifting and a hybrid form.

All this could make a pretty neat discovery for the poor shifters in my group, who have all this "woe is us, who are so misunderstood and hunted innocents"-schtick going on.
#2
snarky_monkey
Jul 15, 2008 13:08:35 Too puny? Absolutely not. The were form alone is worth the effort of what you described. Besides, a lot weirder and more involved crap has been done for the promise of much less over the centuries, engaging in something that actually produces a result seems even more likely.

As to the benefits being too great, as long as you don't feel it will unbalance your campaign in any way, then I would go for it. I like the idea of a "dark secret", and this has the feel of a nice flavor addition to shifters in general.

As to being worthy of being purged, well, I am sure the shifters not in the know, so to speak, didn't think it all that fair. ;)
#3
missekat
Jul 15, 2008 13:13:44 Precisely.

This should shake the rightous little bleeders a bit.. when the stumble upon the last, (and first), SIlverfoot shifter in some cave. Being kept alive by an ailing old shifter.. the long lost uncle of their grandfather, or something like that.

And if they persist in thinking that the purga was unfair, then let them free the beast, or at least listen to her advise.. and see where that takes them Planning on making them join the terrorist Eldeen Wolves in their attempt to take a bite out of Aundair.

But thanks, Snarky_Monkey, for the feedback. Was a bit concerned that it was over the top.
#4
dread_lord
Jul 15, 2008 17:56:10 as long as this is only for one story arc I think it would be ok. If it were something on going the non-shifters in the group would start to feel jiped. Play it out that one way or another the were has to die or dire consistences will ensue.
#5
missekat
Jul 16, 2008 1:46:20 Oh, that is completely my intention.

She is evil, remember?

The group will almost certainly think of her as the poor decrepit familiy member left locked in the attic and forgotten, and she will be charming as hell.
And because she is the ancestor they will assume that she has the best interests of the family and the shifter race at hearth.

Wrong!

I mean, her family locked her in a cave, bound with silver! The ungrateful little ingrates! The nerve and gall of those mixed breeds!

She'll want vengance. And what better way than to get them to dig their own grave.

Eventually they'll figure out that she is evil and that she not only hates shifters but is trying to wipe the whole race from the face of Eberron.
Probably they'll figure this out sooner than I intend. They are a paranoid bunch, and pretty intelligent

And you can bet that old granny Wolf would rather die than get chained up again, and she's going to take as many with her to Dolurrh as she can!

So yeah.. they might get a boost for a time.. but at a terrible cost. And in the end they'll have to face granny, and the truth about their own ancestor, and the family that let her live.

Mwahaha!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 missekat Jul 15, 2008 12:14:51	I'm thinking about throwing a secondary plotline into our campaign, as the shifter-brothers in my group is very concerned about the future of their race, and especially their own family. (Amongst other things, the older brother keeps trying to marry off his no good druid brother to no avail). So.. I'm thinking: Because of some of the other things I'm working up to, I've decided that there actually was good cause for the Silver Flame to purge as many "innocent" shifter villages as they did. Oh, some of them might have been innocent, but a lot of them still had their "ancestors" living with them. Pure Lycans. The actual original Lycans who interbred with humans to make shifters. It get a bit complicated here, but the point is that IMC True Lycantropes does not age, and can only be killed with silver. Each family had a "patron" Lycan. The root of their family tree so to speak. And weekly, or just when it was needed, they would hold a ritual where they drank a measure of the elders blood. Thus gaining extra endurance, (+1 for a week), the scent ability, and the ability to shift into their ancestor animal or a hybrid form. This combined with the fact that the ancestor would be the one guiding the shifters and taking all the big decisions, would make the small shifter communities a pretty fould and nasty threat. (Assuming the Lycans really were evil, and I am assuming that). Now.. most of these ancestors was killed off along with their families during the purge, but what if a few survived? Hidden away, but still heeded, by the evil shifters.. or maybe locked away and used for their blood by the good? I'm talking about exceedingly few here, obviously I don't want to start a new purge or make all shifters evil. My question is: Is the powers mentioned too great? Or too puny? I mean.. they would have to feed the beast, and keep her chained in silver chains in some remote location. They would ahve to make sure that each generation knew not to heed the mad and evil ramblings of the insane creature. And they would have to renew the ritual every time they wanted that little extra "boost". All that.. for +1 endurance, scent and, (agreed: the pretty awesome power of), shapeshifting and a hybrid form. All this could make a pretty neat discovery for the poor shifters in my group, who have all this "woe is us, who are so misunderstood and hunted innocents"-schtick going on.
#2 snarky_monkey Jul 15, 2008 13:08:35	Too puny? Absolutely not. The were form alone is worth the effort of what you described. Besides, a lot weirder and more involved crap has been done for the promise of much less over the centuries, engaging in something that actually produces a result seems even more likely. As to the benefits being too great, as long as you don't feel it will unbalance your campaign in any way, then I would go for it. I like the idea of a "dark secret", and this has the feel of a nice flavor addition to shifters in general. As to being worthy of being purged, well, I am sure the shifters not in the know, so to speak, didn't think it all that fair. ;)
#3 missekat Jul 15, 2008 13:13:44	Precisely. This should shake the rightous little bleeders a bit.. when the stumble upon the last, (and first), SIlverfoot shifter in some cave. Being kept alive by an ailing old shifter.. the long lost uncle of their grandfather, or something like that. And if they persist in thinking that the purga was unfair, then let them free the beast, or at least listen to her advise.. and see where that takes them Planning on making them join the terrorist Eldeen Wolves in their attempt to take a bite out of Aundair. But thanks, Snarky_Monkey, for the feedback. Was a bit concerned that it was over the top.
#4 dread_lord Jul 15, 2008 17:56:10	as long as this is only for one story arc I think it would be ok. If it were something on going the non-shifters in the group would start to feel jiped. Play it out that one way or another the were has to die or dire consistences will ensue.
#5 missekat Jul 16, 2008 1:46:20	Oh, that is completely my intention. She is evil, remember? The group will almost certainly think of her as the poor decrepit familiy member left locked in the attic and forgotten, and she will be charming as hell. And because she is the ancestor they will assume that she has the best interests of the family and the shifter race at hearth. Wrong! I mean, her family locked her in a cave, bound with silver! The ungrateful little ingrates! The nerve and gall of those mixed breeds! She'll want vengance. And what better way than to get them to dig their own grave. Eventually they'll figure out that she is evil and that she not only hates shifters but is trying to wipe the whole race from the face of Eberron. Probably they'll figure this out sooner than I intend. They are a paranoid bunch, and pretty intelligent And you can bet that old granny Wolf would rather die than get chained up again, and she's going to take as many with her to Dolurrh as she can! So yeah.. they might get a boost for a time.. but at a terrible cost. And in the end they'll have to face granny, and the truth about their own ancestor, and the family that let her live. Mwahaha!