Time Travel in Eberron - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lockdar Apr 27, 2009 16:50:05	Before I begin my explanation and question a warning first for any of my players that might read this, you know who you are, don't do it. Now to the dilemma at hand. I've taken over an Eberron campaign several months ago and slowly but steadily I've been taking it to an end point. This will happen in any of the coming sessions, there is just one point that's been nagging at the back of my mind. Spells to travel through time exist, but they seem out of place for Eberron considering the average level in the world. After some searching I came across the Prestige Class the Planar Shepherd. These men and woman are able to create a 'bubble' around themselves and thus duplicate some of the effects of their chose Plane. To propel my players through time I decided to use two Planar Shepherds that manifest the traits of Xoriat and Dal Quor (both influence time) in overlapping bubbles, at this overlaping point an Eldrich machine will warp this field and allow them to travel. Now, I've always been a DM for Forgotten Realms campaigns where the world of filled with magic and mighty wizards work the fields on their offdays. I'm worrying that I might be overdoing it and creating something that might be hard to believe for the players. My question for you is, is this believable? Or am I going to much over the top with this? Thanks in advance!
#2 bwcmd1 Apr 27, 2009 17:29:52	What exactly are you trying to attempt with the time-travel thing? Because while some group could certainly have a number of high-level casters available, many normally would not--after all, something like that is probably more suited to an epic-level range. On the other hand, if it's just a plot device to get them to the past, and you don't really care who does it, it can always just be some weird magical remnant, especially well-suited for Xen'drik. And a wonderful thing about eldritch machines is that you don't have to have any detailed explanation for how it does what it does (planar linkages to multiple planes, etc)--just say that the eldritch machine cases them to go back in time, and that's it.
#3 lockdar Apr 27, 2009 18:17:00	The group is starting to reach level 15 and is actually one of the better known adventuring groups in our campaign, they have already changed the political landscape of Khorvaire several times. The campaign so far has been a mix of several things although the Mourning has always been a central element to it. After months of adventuring the group has uncovered the reason behind the morning, the group responsible for it (Aurum) is actually trying to reverse what they did. They need people to go back in time and actually change the past to prevent the Mourning, the only group capable is our party. The real reason for them to go back however is not the Mourning, it's to prevent the Lord of Blades from becoming what he is in the present (this they haven't figured out yet). It will actually be the end of the campaign arc, failure or not. The ones sending them back in time have possession of the machine and the people needed to do it, the players don't have to come up with this themselves.
#4 Gilo Apr 27, 2009 20:59:53	I've recently used a different way of time travel, the basic idea is getting the PC's minds into the Dal Quor dreamspace: Lets say some powerful Quori (maybe Tratai herself) loyal to the concepts of the Path of Light is hidden from the Dreaming Dark somewhere in the outer rhyme of the the Dal Quor or in some pocket of Dreamspace. This place is so remote that the psionic pulse of the Dream of the Age doesn't not reach it. As a side effect - time is not linear here the dreamers come from different prime-material-times. This Quori can then shape the dream, sending the PCs mind into someones else body, effectively controlling (linking) another body in the past (while meanwhile the present-day PC's bodies are controlled by the minds of others from the past - optional for evil DMs ). The dream itself is a projection of the way the PCs view himself (race, gear etc) and as IRL dreams sometimes do - the dream compensate for any discrepancy like language, look or gear (so mechanics wise there is no need to use another character sheet - tho this is an option too). For example a PC mind may travel back to become a member of Tira Miron's group as she attempt to stop the demon in 299 YK. From the dreaming perspective of the PC he sees himself wielding his favorite holy avenger sword. but in historical reality on the other time line Tira is watching him holding a rusted dagger.
#5 JohnLynch Apr 28, 2009 1:08:25	I've got time travel in a possible adventure my players might take (if they don't take the hook, they won't have time travel). I'm just using a giant artefact. No-one in modern times knows how it works. Although I have written up who made it, why they made it and what happens. The way I've got it working is: Show it looks like a pillar. if you touch it, you're transported to that spot in the past. Side-effect: The pillar was created by the giants to escape the Dragons during the Giant-Dragon War. The pillar transports people back in time to a time when the Dragons don't exist. Also because it was meant as an escape route, its a 1-way trip. A big part of the adventure is going to learn about what happened to these giants that managed to escape the devestation of Xen'drik. The other big part will be working out how to get back to the present.
#6 lockdar Apr 28, 2009 1:39:20	I like the idea Gilo, there is a background of trouble with the Quori so there might actually be a good use of the bodies once their minds have traveled through time. The only problem I have is actually getting them in the Planes since they have avoided them like the plague and things like the Path of Light and Sarlona are foreign concepts to the characters. But that, of course, is only part of the challenge. You idea is sound aswell John, unfortunately it can't be a one-way trip, they have to return to the present.
#7 JohnLynch Apr 28, 2009 4:35:58	You idea is sound aswell John, unfortunately it can't be a one-way trip, they have to return to the present. Well in reality you get to put the "way home" wherever you like (typically after the players have done whatever part of the plot you want them to do ;)).
#8 Gilo Apr 28, 2009 6:38:56	The only problem I have is actually getting them in the Planes since they have avoided them like the plague and things like the Path of Light and Sarlona are foreign concepts to the characters. But that, of course, is only part of the challenge. Same was true from my PCs. But they don't need to physically travel to the Dal Quor (thanks to the Giants - they can't), they just need to go to sleep (I didn't even wait for that, just used some awaken plant linked to the Quori which induce a kind of a mind seed on the PCs without there consent). One minute they were on a river boat in Wroat , and the next the were in a canoe steered by a local shifter toward the Rhiavhaar shoreline in -212YK. The PCs found themselves wearing Edgewalkers uniforms (which like everything else in Sarlona didn't really mean anything to them) while the dwarf PC was in chains. There is actually an interesting story related to the party's Warforged PC going on (which the players haven't figured out yet) ... I'll just say that for him this is not a dream (he might be a bit older then he thinks. he is there ticket to getting the new magical items they earned back to there own time/place). Somewhat like Quantum Leap figuring out where,when they are, why they got there and how to go back is part of the adventure plot.
#9 Amaril Apr 29, 2009 8:37:50	The Forge of War introduces some ideas regarding time travel for the purpose of the PCs going back in time to specific moments during the Last War.
#10 Gilo Apr 30, 2009 0:09:31	I use the "Unbroken Flow" approach to time travel, the PCs can't change any major event ("Footsteps in the sand, leading me on..." -for anyone who read the Dragonlance Legends). The PCs just live (or die) through those events. What they do gain from the experience is knowledge that they can utilize back in the present where a difference can be made. One such knowledge they may accidentally gain is the current identity of a Lords of Dust Rakshasa which have made the mistake of using the same disguise (an NPC the PCs meet) on both sides of the time line.
#11 lockdar May 06, 2009 3:24:27	The Unbroken Flow is something I'm mostly using, they can't directly change the major events from happening. They will however be able to influence the events, but just ever so slightly. The most important things they can do is influencing the people involved in such events, this might actually give them a tremendous advantage in the future they are returning to. The stage has been set for my players, last session they triggered the event that will eventually put them in the past several days before the Mourning. They managed to defeat Erlomel d'Tharask (leader of the Circle of Mourning) and lost 2 party members, this will only give me more leverage as one will return as a psionic and by using the tie in to Dal Quor I can actually give them more leads to this event.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

lockdar

Apr 27, 2009 16:50:05

Before I begin my explanation and question a warning first for any of my players that might read this, you know who you are, don't do it.

Now to the dilemma at hand. I've taken over an Eberron campaign several months ago and slowly but steadily I've been taking it to an end point. This will happen in any of the coming sessions, there is just one point that's been nagging at the back of my mind.
Spells to travel through time exist, but they seem out of place for Eberron considering the average level in the world. After some searching I came across the Prestige Class the Planar Shepherd. These men and woman are able to create a 'bubble' around themselves and thus duplicate some of the effects of their chose Plane. To propel my players through time I decided to use two Planar Shepherds that manifest the traits of Xoriat and Dal Quor (both influence time) in overlapping bubbles, at this overlaping point an Eldrich machine will warp this field and allow them to travel.
Now, I've always been a DM for Forgotten Realms campaigns where the world of filled with magic and mighty wizards work the fields on their offdays. I'm worrying that I might be overdoing it and creating something that might be hard to believe for the players. My question for you is, is this believable? Or am I going to much over the top with this?

Thanks in advance!

bwcmd1

Apr 27, 2009 17:29:52

What exactly are you trying to attempt with the time-travel thing? Because while some group could certainly have a number of high-level casters available, many normally would not--after all, something like that is probably more suited to an epic-level range. On the other hand, if it's just a plot device to get them to the past, and you don't really care who does it, it can always just be some weird magical remnant, especially well-suited for Xen'drik. And a wonderful thing about eldritch machines is that you don't have to have any detailed explanation for how it does what it does (planar linkages to multiple planes, etc)--just say that the eldritch machine cases them to go back in time, and that's it.

lockdar

Apr 27, 2009 18:17:00

The group is starting to reach level 15 and is actually one of the better known adventuring groups in our campaign, they have already changed the political landscape of Khorvaire several times.
The campaign so far has been a mix of several things although the Mourning has always been a central element to it. After months of adventuring the group has uncovered the reason behind the morning, the group responsible for it (Aurum) is actually trying to reverse what they did. They need people to go back in time and actually change the past to prevent the Mourning, the only group capable is our party. The real reason for them to go back however is not the Mourning, it's to prevent the Lord of Blades from becoming what he is in the present (this they haven't figured out yet). It will actually be the end of the campaign arc, failure or not.
The ones sending them back in time have possession of the machine and the people needed to do it, the players don't have to come up with this themselves.

Gilo

Apr 27, 2009 20:59:53

I've recently used a different way of time travel, the basic idea is getting the PC's minds into the Dal Quor dreamspace:

Lets say some powerful Quori (maybe Tratai herself) loyal to the concepts of the Path of Light is hidden from the Dreaming Dark somewhere in the outer rhyme of the the Dal Quor or in some pocket of Dreamspace.

This place is so remote that the psionic pulse of the Dream of the Age doesn't not reach it. As a side effect - time is not linear here the dreamers come from different prime-material-times.

This Quori can then shape the dream, sending the PCs mind into someones else body, effectively controlling (linking) another body in the past (while meanwhile the present-day PC's bodies are controlled by the minds of others from the past - optional for evil DMs

).

The dream itself is a projection of the way the PCs view himself (race, gear etc) and as IRL dreams sometimes do - the dream compensate for any discrepancy like language, look or gear (so mechanics wise there is no need to use another character sheet - tho this is an option too).

For example a PC mind may travel back to become a member of Tira Miron's group as she attempt to stop the demon in 299 YK. From the dreaming perspective of the PC he sees himself wielding his favorite holy avenger sword. but in historical reality on the other time line Tira is watching him holding a rusted dagger.

JohnLynch

Apr 28, 2009 1:08:25

I've got time travel in a possible adventure my players might take (if they don't take the hook, they won't have time travel). I'm just using a giant artefact. No-one in modern times knows how it works. Although I have written up who made it, why they made it and what happens.

The way I've got it working is:

Show

it looks like a pillar. if you touch it, you're transported to that spot in the past.

Side-effect: The pillar was created by the giants to escape the Dragons during the Giant-Dragon War. The pillar transports people back in time to a time when the Dragons don't exist. Also because it was meant as an escape route, its a 1-way trip.

A big part of the adventure is going to learn about what happened to these giants that managed to escape the devestation of Xen'drik. The other big part will be working out how to get back to the present.

lockdar

Apr 28, 2009 1:39:20

I like the idea Gilo, there is a background of trouble with the Quori so there might actually be a good use of the bodies once their minds have traveled through time. The only problem I have is actually getting them in the Planes since they have avoided them like the plague and things like the Path of Light and Sarlona are foreign concepts to the characters. But that, of course, is only part of the challenge.

You idea is sound aswell John, unfortunately it can't be a one-way trip, they have to return to the present.

JohnLynch

Apr 28, 2009 4:35:58

You idea is sound aswell John, unfortunately it can't be a one-way trip, they have to return to the present.

Well in reality you get to put the "way home" wherever you like (typically after the players have done whatever part of the plot you want them to do ;)).

Gilo

Apr 28, 2009 6:38:56

The only problem I have is actually getting them in the Planes since they have avoided them like the plague and things like the Path of Light and Sarlona are foreign concepts to the characters. But that, of course, is only part of the challenge.

Same was true from my PCs.

But they don't need to physically travel to the Dal Quor (thanks to the Giants - they can't), they just need to go to sleep (I didn't even wait for that, just used some awaken plant linked to the Quori which induce a kind of a mind seed on the PCs without there consent).

One minute they were on a river boat in Wroat , and the next the were in a canoe steered by a local shifter toward the Rhiavhaar shoreline in -212YK. The PCs found themselves wearing Edgewalkers uniforms (which like everything else in Sarlona didn't really mean anything to them) while the dwarf PC was in chains.

There is actually an interesting story related to the party's Warforged PC going on (which the players haven't figured out yet) ... I'll just say that for him this is not a dream (he might be a bit older then he thinks. he is there ticket to getting the new magical items they earned back to there own time/place).

Somewhat like Quantum Leap figuring out where,when they are, why they got there and how to go back is part of the adventure plot.

Amaril

Apr 29, 2009 8:37:50

The Forge of War introduces some ideas regarding time travel for the purpose of the PCs going back in time to specific moments during the Last War.

#10

Gilo

Apr 30, 2009 0:09:31

I use the "Unbroken Flow" approach to time travel, the PCs can't change any major event ("Footsteps in the sand, leading me on..." -for anyone who read the Dragonlance Legends). The PCs just live (or die) through those events. What they do gain from the experience is knowledge that they can utilize back in the present where a difference can be made.

One such knowledge they may accidentally gain is the current identity of a Lords of Dust Rakshasa which have made the mistake of using the same disguise (an NPC the PCs meet) on both sides of the time line.

#11

lockdar

May 06, 2009 3:24:27

The Unbroken Flow is something I'm mostly using, they can't directly change the major events from happening. They will however be able to influence the events, but just ever so slightly. The most important things they can do is influencing the people involved in such events, this might actually give them a tremendous advantage in the future they are returning to.

The stage has been set for my players, last session they triggered the event that will eventually put them in the past several days before the Mourning. They managed to defeat Erlomel d'Tharask (leader of the Circle of Mourning) and lost 2 party members, this will only give me more leverage as one will return as a psionic and by using the tie in to Dal Quor I can actually give them more leads to this event.