Help The Dragons of Argonnessen Kill My Character - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help The Dragons of Argonnessen Kill My Character

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
JonnyT_
Jan 26, 2011 17:06:13 The dragons of Argonnessen want to kill a character in my campaign (he is thwarting the Draconic Prophesy). Since the player has laid many preparations, I want to actually test him. But I know too much. Which is why I need your help. I need you to kill him.

I originally posted this on the DM advice group, so I'll just add a link to that post.

community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...
#2
Alex_
Jan 26, 2011 22:06:54    Dude, it's the prophecy and the mage a mere mortal. He's only seeing a fraction of the picture, compared to dragons that have been devoting their entire life to its study for thousands of years. They're a child trying to play with the big kids. Of course they'll outsmart him.

If they have access to all the Dragonmarked abilities, then they must have the Cataclysm Mage prestige class. That should make them a central part of the prophecy.

I would personally just play with the prophecy itself. He thinks he's avoiding the "destruction" of the world. What exactly does this "destruction" entail? The end of how things are as he knows it? The world will survive, heck, it will likely be better off compared to alternatives.

Maybe by preventing the fall of Khorvaire in the next 100 years, he's actually allowing for an invasion by Redria that will plunge the world into twenty five thousand years of nightmare. People will *wish* he had just let the world end.

   My preventing the rise of this Overlord, he has shown the enemy the error of their tactics, forcing them to actually use BETTER ones next time, with even more disastrous results.

Whatever he's doing, he's actually making things WORSE. And it will become apparent that the only to resolve things is to sacrifice himself heroically.

And the dragons laugh to themselves as he does so.

Maybe in his thwarting of the prophecy, the only way to stop the alternate path he's started is to sacrifice himself.
#3
Ogiwan
Jan 27, 2011 8:58:51
  Maybe in his thwarting of the prophecy, the only way to stop the alternate path he's started is to sacrifice himself.

This.

Also, remember that if he is truly a threat to the world, like the Giant Empire was when they decided to use the magic that shattered the Quori Invasion for the second time, well, the dragons will unite and crush them. I mean, they crushed the Giant Empire. If they want to go for the "mailed fist" approach, flights of dragons will do him in.

However, I prefer Alex_'s suggestion.
#4
JonnyT_
Jan 27, 2011 12:28:53 Interestingly enough having him "thwart" the prophesy by discovering a new/true/hidden meaning of it, quite similar to what you suggest, was my original plan. I really enjoyed Storm Dragon, and thats what _I_ had in mind. But the player and character considered this unsatisfactory, and set out ot thwart that new meaning. He really wants to thwart it, so I will allow it. But Argonessen will not.

His main advantage is that this has all come as a surprise to the Dragons, who assumed (as you did) that the prophesy was unthwartable (but PCs always manage to do the impossible, now don't they?). Plus there are contingents who are laughing assuming he can't suceed. But some dragons believe he can (and they HATE him for it, because it should not be POSSIBLE for some petty mortal to threaten them and their prophesy - but he is - ARRRGH! Congnitive Dissonance!!!). But they are not ready and mobilized, because this caught them COMPLETELY off guard (not being part of the prophesy, after all).

The key is, the character fully expects to be killed by dragons, but he will consider it a victory as long as it happens AFTER he seriously thwarts the draconic prophesy. And that will happen soon, before all of Argonessen can mobilize. So, for the moment, only a few dozen dragons are prepared to eliminate him before its too late.

On another note, yes, he is a Cataclysm mage (although a slightly hacked-up houseruled one). He originally started studying the prophesy to understand it and where it is going, but has decided it only leads to the destruction of civilization over and over again (hence the cataclysms). Thus, he has gone rouge and has decided to use his power to thwart the draconic prophesy.

Anyway, he has become (perhaps irrationally) obsessed with this now.   Maybe he will make things worse, but the key is that its won't just be a redefinition of the prophesy. The prophesy is going compeltely off the rails if he succeeds and NO-ONE will know what is coming next. Maybe it'll be worse, or maybe better, but it is unknown. Maybe a new prohesy will arise, or maybe the draconic prophesy will be OVER, no one knows. Maybe the dragons won't be able to sit back and arrogantly laugh at petty humans any more, no one knows.

And THAT, is why he must die.
#5
Ogiwan
Jan 27, 2011 19:49:05 Well, another question is....does he know all of the prophecy?

It can manifest anywhere at anytime. For all he knows, there are verses talking about how he'll mess up the prophecy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JonnyT_ Jan 26, 2011 17:06:13	The dragons of Argonnessen want to kill a character in my campaign (he is thwarting the Draconic Prophesy). Since the player has laid many preparations, I want to actually test him. But I know too much. Which is why I need your help. I need you to kill him. I originally posted this on the DM advice group, so I'll just add a link to that post. community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...
#2 Alex_ Jan 26, 2011 22:06:54	Dude, it's the prophecy and the mage a mere mortal. He's only seeing a fraction of the picture, compared to dragons that have been devoting their entire life to its study for thousands of years. They're a child trying to play with the big kids. Of course they'll outsmart him. If they have access to all the Dragonmarked abilities, then they must have the Cataclysm Mage prestige class. That should make them a central part of the prophecy. I would personally just play with the prophecy itself. He thinks he's avoiding the "destruction" of the world. What exactly does this "destruction" entail? The end of how things are as he knows it? The world will survive, heck, it will likely be better off compared to alternatives. Maybe by preventing the fall of Khorvaire in the next 100 years, he's actually allowing for an invasion by Redria that will plunge the world into twenty five thousand years of nightmare. People will wish he had just let the world end. My preventing the rise of this Overlord, he has shown the enemy the error of their tactics, forcing them to actually use BETTER ones next time, with even more disastrous results. Whatever he's doing, he's actually making things WORSE. And it will become apparent that the only to resolve things is to sacrifice himself heroically. And the dragons laugh to themselves as he does so. Maybe in his thwarting of the prophecy, the only way to stop the alternate path he's started is to sacrifice himself.
#3 Ogiwan Jan 27, 2011 8:58:51	Maybe in his thwarting of the prophecy, the only way to stop the alternate path he's started is to sacrifice himself. This. Also, remember that if he is truly a threat to the world, like the Giant Empire was when they decided to use the magic that shattered the Quori Invasion for the second time, well, the dragons will unite and crush them. I mean, they crushed the Giant Empire. If they want to go for the "mailed fist" approach, flights of dragons will do him in. However, I prefer Alex_'s suggestion.
#4 JonnyT_ Jan 27, 2011 12:28:53	Interestingly enough having him "thwart" the prophesy by discovering a new/true/hidden meaning of it, quite similar to what you suggest, was my original plan. I really enjoyed Storm Dragon, and thats what _I_ had in mind. But the player and character considered this unsatisfactory, and set out ot thwart that new meaning. He really wants to thwart it, so I will allow it. But Argonessen will not. His main advantage is that this has all come as a surprise to the Dragons, who assumed (as you did) that the prophesy was unthwartable (but PCs always manage to do the impossible, now don't they?). Plus there are contingents who are laughing assuming he can't suceed. But some dragons believe he can (and they HATE him for it, because it should not be POSSIBLE for some petty mortal to threaten them and their prophesy - but he is - ARRRGH! Congnitive Dissonance!!!). But they are not ready and mobilized, because this caught them COMPLETELY off guard (not being part of the prophesy, after all). The key is, the character fully expects to be killed by dragons, but he will consider it a victory as long as it happens AFTER he seriously thwarts the draconic prophesy. And that will happen soon, before all of Argonessen can mobilize. So, for the moment, only a few dozen dragons are prepared to eliminate him before its too late. On another note, yes, he is a Cataclysm mage (although a slightly hacked-up houseruled one). He originally started studying the prophesy to understand it and where it is going, but has decided it only leads to the destruction of civilization over and over again (hence the cataclysms). Thus, he has gone rouge and has decided to use his power to thwart the draconic prophesy. Anyway, he has become (perhaps irrationally) obsessed with this now. Maybe he will make things worse, but the key is that its won't just be a redefinition of the prophesy. The prophesy is going compeltely off the rails if he succeeds and NO-ONE will know what is coming next. Maybe it'll be worse, or maybe better, but it is unknown. Maybe a new prohesy will arise, or maybe the draconic prophesy will be OVER, no one knows. Maybe the dragons won't be able to sit back and arrogantly laugh at petty humans any more, no one knows. And THAT, is why he must die.
#5 Ogiwan Jan 27, 2011 19:49:05	Well, another question is....does he know all of the prophecy? It can manifest anywhere at anytime. For all he knows, there are verses talking about how he'll mess up the prophecy.