Yes, I know, he already exists, so it's not so much "designing" as it is "filling in the blanks". And, ah, he's imprisoned in the Supreme Throne for about a thousand years, so I have to get around that little issue. I think I have just the thing.
In this campaign, Cyric is not out of the picture. Yes, he is imprisoned in the Supreme Throne, but his fellow deities failed to account for the extent of his might. In slaying Mystra, Cyric actually absorbed her essence, along with her portfolio of magic, making him that much stronger. In the ensuing years since the Year of Blue Fire, he has plotted how to exert himself once more. I get the impression that his insanity knows no bounds, so I thought it would be fitting if he made the Spellplague a major threat again, entirely because 1) part of his portfolio is strife, and 2) absorbing Mystra gives him an inherent connection with it. Why not let it run rampant through all the Planes, then show up and begin manipulating it? Supreme divinity indeed! THEN who will be the overgod? (hint: he doesn't think it'll be Ao).
So, the idea is that he can funnel a portion of his divine essence beyond the Supreme Throne to communicate with people on other planes. He can't himself leave the Supreme Throne, at least not yet, but that just makes it all the more difficult to pin him as the mastermind behind the problem. He contacts his most devoted followers and gives them a portion of his divine essence, which now contains part of Mystra's self. The idea is that when this divine essence comes in contact with areas of Spellplague, it causes the Spellplague to grow rampantly. Since the Spellplague is no longer a major threat to the world (it's "there", but your average citizen doesn't think about it on a daily basis), few people will be prepared to step in to stop it.
Beside his own followers, Cyric takes on the Fomorian King, Thrumbolg, the Lord of Mag Tureah, as an ally. He grants Thrumbolg a respite from his madness, enabling Thrumbolg to act without the crippling restraints that normally keep the Fomorians from being the ultimate threat (this explains the incredible competence of Thrumbolg explained on page 44 of Manual of the Planes). In exchange for this boon, Thrumbolg agrees to use the many portals in Mag Tureah to transport the Spellplague Catalyst. It works out well for both of them. Thrumbolg foolishly supposes its an equal bargain, unawares that at any moment, Cyric might take away his gift.
The adventure itself has already begun. The Spellplague is spreading across the world, Cormyr is rumored to have been destroyed (I'm planning on making this at least partially factual; its destruction causes tremendous political ripples throughout the world), and the adventuring party is trying to get on the trail of Thrumbolg (having yet to identify exactly which evil fae are wrapped up in the scheme).
I'm not quite sure how I want to envision Cyric himself. I sort of see him as a particularly tall, bewitchingly handsome man wearing royal lavender and crimson robes. Perhaps he has a second mouth in the back of his head, only shaped like the ravenous maw of a monster, to represent the hidden evil. I figure him as charismatically well-spoken and civil, but when tested, it breaks down and he reveals himself for a raving lunatic. I thought about him possibly being a bit "loony" in demeanor, but I think a comical approach would be a horrible disservice to a villain whose entire appeal actually is psychological. I suppose he needs a divine weapon of some sort: i thought about a dagger, for some reason, although this feels a tad cliche. A scepter is probably more appropriate for one who considers himself the ruler of the gods.
I was also thinking about his avatars and possible exarchs. I was thinking that, in a twist of irony, he might actually have an exarch with a seemingly incompatible portfolio, like peace, although this might be a bit too deep; perhaps Cyric really is meant to be a loner.
I'll have to get around to statting him out sometime. I was thinking of an aura called "The Voice of Madness", but I'll have to get to that later.
Hm, well, the plot seems "okay", although I'm concerned that it still sounds a bit too cliched as the "I want to rule/destroy the world!" sort of plot. Yet, this is sort of what Cyric IS. He killed the god of magic, and must've known what that would do. And he actually DOES think of himself as the supreme god of gods. Perhaps the simple motivation of, "I want to spread the Spellplague, cause strife, absorb my created Spellplague to enhance my own might, create my own Weave, and then go crush Ao beneath my bootheel," is deep enough for such a madman.
I'll also have to think about how the other gods get involved in this. One of the current players is an invoker of Jergal. It's kind of curious, since Jergal desires the end of the world, but he also does not like Cyric. I'm sort of puzzling over how to safely expand on this conflict, possibly even get Jergal a bit more involved (through the Invoker, of course).
And then there's Ao. I wonder if the overgod would actually deign to intervene a little if every plane in existence is going to be destroyed. Not come down and fix things himself, obviously, but... no, that doesn't work at all. I suppose the gods are on their own with this one. I'm guessing you couldn't get Ao's attention unless everything in existence was about to end AND there was literally no other way to stop it other than to petition to him for interference. And even then, I don't know.
Hm, as for the Spellplague's spread, I'm figuring it might take up to ten years for it to run rampant through the world. Gives the party plenty of time to adventure, roam from place to place, maybe even set up a plan that might take some time to execute. And, of course, nobody's going to be able to step in to stop it. The only ritual that can interfere with it is epic tier, and, even then, it's expensive, won't clear the world, and I doubt enough people would know how to cast it anyway.
So, those are my thoughts so far. I'm still new to Forgotten Realms, and this is my first time DMing (been going strong since November and loving it! Party's level 7). So, I'm still a newbie, but I'm hoping to do some great things with this storyline.
Thanks for reading and I welcome your thoughts.
That CENSORED dope.
I'm also planning on having that one holy area... gah, I need to look up the name, the city of a thousand paladins, start up an inquisition. Bring us your Spellplagued... and by Spellplagued, we mean anybody who could have any sort of deformity whatsoever... kill them all, can't take any risks.
Yes, this adventure is going to get increasingly dark. Strife, madness!
You can't be this intricately involved without it. Nor could you be so enthusiastic about it.
-I've never pictured Cyric as insane, per se, but more...heartless. Something to that effect. He has full control of his wits and whatever else, but he has no problem using everyone and everything to his own ends, has no problem "breaking the rules" to get what he wants, and going "outside the box" to do so.
So you're saying he's "evil" huh?
So you're saying he's "evil" huh?
-If you consider all of that evil, sure. By the books he is, anyway. And, I agree with them. I would say he might also be schizophrenic. Awesome. I spelled that right without using Spell Check. But, yeah, I think that better explains my previous post. To everyone else, he might seek wacky and crazy, but there's activity in that proverbial brain. It's just..."different".
of course, because he is trapped on the Supreme Throne, he can't contact his people or harm anyone.
of course, because he is trapped on the Supreme Throne, he can't contact his people or harm anyone.
-He can contact his people. If Cyric totally went silent, his church would have disintegrated. But, it continues to exist to 1,479 DR, and one might say that it's stronger than ever, with it's "consumption" of the Zhentarim.
-I've never pictured Cyric as insane, per se, but more...heartless. Something to that effect. He has full control of his wits and whatever else, but he has no problem using everyone and everything to his own ends, has no problem "breaking the rules" to get what he wants, and going "outside the box" to do so.
I would agree with this prior to his creation and reading of the Cyrinishad. After that, things went a bit deeper, though he was able to conceal a bit better after he was "healed" or whatever.
And, to Drizztmanthingy's point, a hundred years of solitude can completely CENSORED you up--regardless of who you may be talking to at a distance.
I would agree with this prior to his creation and reading of the Cyrinishad. After that, things went a bit deeper, though he was able to conceal a bit better after he was "healed" or whatever.
-He was "healed" though. But, yeah, maybe going temporarily insane does do something to you permanently.
-He was "healed" though. But, yeah, maybe going temporarily insane does do something to you permanently.
That's a point in itself, but I would wonder that he wasn't even "healed" in the first place. Books actually tend to suggest that, really.
I had thought that @ the beginning of "Crucible" that Cyric had claimed the sphere of insanity(madness) to add to his portfolio "before" the Crynishad was completed.(it was mentioned during the debacle at Candlekeep battle). If he does own that sphere then shouldn't he be a little insane all the time?
As being one of the "older" CENSORED around here, I don't believe that being the case at all.
Insanity wasn't introduced to his portfolio until after the Crucible. It was a retrofit thing for 3e.
As being one of the "older" CENSORED around here, I don't believe that being the case at all.
Insanity wasn't introduced to his portfolio until after the Crucible. It was a retrofit thing for 3e.
Ok you are probably right when it comes to it being added to his portfolio. But it WAS mentioned by two of his priests in "Crucible" that Cyric had "claimed" he was the god of insanity as well.
From Crucible: (paraphrased of course)
Priest 1: Bah you're as mad as this spy(Refering to Malik)
Priest 2 : You make that sound as it is a bad thing priest 1
For it is common knowledge among Cyric's followers that their Lord has claimed to be. God of Insanity as well.
(sorry can't remember their names)
Ok you are probably right when it comes to it being added to his portfolio. But it WAS mentioned by two of his priests in "Crucible" that Cyric had "claimed" he was the god of insanity as well.
From Crucible: (paraphrased of course)
Priest 1: Bah you're as mad as this spy(Refering to Malik)
Priest 2 : You make that sound as it is a bad thing priest 1
For it is common knowledge among Cyric's followers that their Lord has claimed to be. God of Insanity as well.
(sorry can't remember their names)
You misquote, my dear 712 year old foster child.
Those refer to his actions at the time--which everyone thought was quite insane. He, himself, never claimed such thing--in his own mind, he was correct and precise.
Yes, the quotes you set down may be the precursors to the arrival of such, but, at the time, they were spoken on the fly.
What we have here is Ted Bundy with godhood, born to a prostitute and whoever ran out the back door....
Cyric, as presented in novels and other books, has always seemed no better than one of those Spiderman villains back on the old TV show Electric company: Supervillain X went the route of evil because someone stole his candy as a child.
The more that Cyric's featured, the less it seems like FR to me. At least with the ToT I could ignore that whole RSE, but with 4E he's a prominent fixture.
Cyric, as presented in novels and other books, has always seemed no better than one of those Spiderman villains back on the old TV show Electric company: Supervillain X went the route of evil because someone stole his candy as a child.
The more that Cyric's featured, the less it seems like FR to me. At least with the ToT I could ignore that whole RSE, but with 4E he's a prominent fixture.
CENSORED!! Whine about everything, don't you?
EDIT:
"ORCS!!
Meet me in the playground! 3:00--my time, not yours.
I'm going to punch you in the butt and make you scream Martha Stewart!!!"
This gets you banned, people!! DON'T do it.
-He can contact his people. If Cyric totally went silent, his church would have disintegrated. But, it continues to exist to 1,479 DR, and one might say that it's stronger than ever, with it's "consumption" of the Zhentarim.
can he contact his people? i was under the impression that he can continue to grant spells, but not send messages.
This gets you banned, people!! DON'T do it.
Physical threats against WotC employees - even in jest - will not be tolerated.
I know someone who was permanently banned for making comments like that... in a PM!
can he contact his people? i was under the impression that he can continue to grant spells, but not send messages.
Yes, he can contact his people, direct his motive's, etc.
His point for being locked up was so he couldn't make a move against the gods themselves.
Little punks.
Physical threats against WotC employees - even in jest - will not be tolerated.
I know someone who was permanently banned for making comments like that... in a PM!
Are you CENSORED kidding me?
I'm calling that CENSORED number. This is CENSORED CENSORED.
Yes, he can contact his people, direct his motive's, etc.
1 His point for being locked up was so he couldn't make a move against the gods themselves.
Little punks.
2 Are you CENSORED kidding me?
I'm calling that CENSORED number. This is CENSORED CENSORED.
1: Wait, why wouldn't the [other] gods cut off his connection to his clergy? If he can contact his doods, he can still plot against you. Is it just me, or are the good/neutral FR gods like Simple Jack? Why are all game/world designers ofthe opinion that good = stupid?
2:
JD, you are hilarious. The stuff that you type has me laughing my ass off all the time.Cyric, as presented in novels and other books, has always seemed no better than one of those Spiderman villains back on the old TV show Electric company: Supervillain X went the route of evil because someone stole his candy as a child.
The more that Cyric's featured, the less it seems like FR to me. At least with the ToT I could ignore that whole RSE, but with 4E he's a prominent fixture.
A spider-man villain might be a good fit for Cyric. Like Norman "Green Goblin" Osborn. He is calculating and devious, but with a sense of insane paranoia and bloodlust which might fit with Cyric.
Another villainous fit would be Joker. He is cunning and complex, but bat nuts. One writer even described the Joker as supersane. Basically his mind and personality changes to fit with the day and the circumstances. One minute he's the clownish prankster from the 60's Batman series, the next he's Heath Ledger in a bad mood.
Possible mining source for Cyric building.
You misquote, my dear 712 year old foster child.
Those refer to his actions at the time--which everyone thought was quite insane. He, himself, never claimed such thing--in his own mind, he was correct and precise.
Yes, the quotes you set down may be the precursors to the arrival of such, but, at the time, they were spoken on the fly.
While Cyric claiming himself to be the God of Insanity in the Crucible is up for debate( I willl give you the benefit of the doubt because A. You've been here longer and have more knowledge perhaps about this. B. I can't find a copy of the book anywhere).
However the above conversation between the two priests DID take place on the eve of the battle against Candlekeep. And One of them DID believe that Cyric was the God of Insanit
can he contact his people? i was under the impression that he can continue to grant spells, but not send messages.
-The Church of Cyric wouldn't really survive without Cyric guiding it, via his Chosen, his various high priests, whatever. They need to have some indication of what he wants, what he likes, and so on, otherwise they'd all just do whatever they want. I mean, look at Christianity- there isn't a clear entity guiding all of the various sects and churches, so you end up with what we have today: various sects and churches who all claim to be doing it "right".
He spent most of his mortal life as a thief on the streets of Zhentil Keep. Through happenstance, he found himself entangled with Kelemvor and Midnight (who would later become Mystra) during the time of troubles.
During this entanglement he learned about the Tablets of Fate, and secretly plotted to steal them for himself. He eventually ascended to godhood on Marpenoth 15, 1358 DR after slaying a number of deities.
Although Cyric was betrayed as a stupid buffoon in the novels, this was due to TSR's policy on evil, which stated that evil must never win or be shown to be desirable. As a result of that policy the views of Cyric by many are tainted.
If you cleave somewhat to cannon, Cyric is certainly a tad bit insane, and some of this is likely due to him being the god of strife. However, being the god of strife does not make him the god of stupid.
If you want to play up the insanity element, think about Hannibal Lector. He is philosophical, brilliant and methodical. They say there is a fine line between genius and insanity, and Cyric could walk that line like a tightrope.
He could possess the charisma of Charles Manson, yet the unshakeability and brilliance of Hannibal Lector. His view on the world and the actions of those in it are philosophical. He is vain, intensely so, but is aware of it.
When playing or getting into the head of Cyric, it might be wise to try and imagine insane things seeming sane. Have a reason for every action.
You could turn strife into a virtue: without strife there would be only stagnation. Only through strife can you grow and become stronger.
So on, and so forth.
Oh and Cyric was freed from Thrym the frost giant by Kelemvor while the former was a slave and the latter was on the quest for the ring of winter
THAT IS ALL CARRY ON
various sects and churches who all claim to be doing it "right".
Which is actually what Cyric's church has always been about even when Cyric was directly telling them what to do :D
I think it's part of the deal with the portfolio of strife. When Bane still was god of strife he also had to have his own church divided and didn't unite it until after he lost said portfolio.
IMO the divided nature is one of the greatest strengths of Cyric's church and what makes it one of the most powerfull churches in the realms. A united church is not only more vulnerable, it also doesn't bring any benefit for a deity like Cyric
Which is actually what Cyric's church has always been about even when Cyric was directly telling them what to do :D
-And imagine how crazy it'd be without him doing just that!
He's his own worst enemy.
I think the comparison towards the Heath Ledger version of the Joker is a fairly apt. Some one who is interested in formenting Chaos simply for the thrill of watching the world burn. Yes he is mad, but there should always be a method to his madness. Who knows, Masks recent fate could have been Cyric's doing. It could have been his price to Shar for offing Mystra. Now two of his enemies are gone, and Kelvemor will be next, once he gets out of time out. lol.
to be honest, Cyric might have been sequestered on the Supreme Throne to keep Kelemvor from killing him... who knows what demipower would have emerged to fill the shoes of the Prince of Lies?
1: Wait, why wouldn't the [other] gods cut off his connection to his clergy? If he can contact his doods, he can still plot against you. Is it just me, or are the good/neutral FR gods like Simple Jack? Why are all game/world designers ofthe opinion that good = stupid?
It doesn’t work that way. They can have his clergy snuffed, but they have no direct power to do it otherwise—his faithful cannot be denied to him.
2:
That’s just great.
Now stay away from me, before I call the cops.
A spider-man villain might be a good fit for Cyric. Like Norman "Green Goblin" Osborn. He is calculating and devious, but with a sense of insane paranoia and bloodlust which might fit with Cyric.
Another villainous fit would be Joker. He is cunning and complex, but bat nuts. One writer even described the Joker as supersane. Basically his mind and personality changes to fit with the day and the circumstances. One minute he's the clownish prankster from the 60's Batman series, the next he's Heath Ledger in a bad mood.
Possible mining source for Cyric building.
Are you kidding me?
While Cyric claiming himself to be the God of Insanity in the Crucible is up for debate( I willl give you the benefit of the doubt because A. You've been here longer and have more knowledge perhaps about this. B. I can't find a copy of the book anywhere).
However the above conversation between the two priests DID take place on the eve of the battle against Candlekeep. And One of them DID believe that Cyric was the God of Insanit
My man, I don’t doubt the conversation, simply doubt Cyric’s claim on such a title. I can easily see the conversation taking place.
“And One of them DID believe that Cyric was the God of Insanity”
(added the “y”)
In the midst of insanity, what the hell are you going to say?
I’d call Bejebuz CENSORED nuts if he was bringing his largest stronghold down about my head.
Thanks for the spell check
From what I recall, Cyric had gone so bat CENSORED that everyone was questioning what the hell they were doing at that point.
Need to reread it all again, myself.
Anywho, the idea of comparing him to the Joker did spring to mind, and I've toyed a bit with it. I don't think it's quite the direction I want to go, but it's a useful building tool. I hadn't thought about the Spider-Man villain connection, but I suppose Marvel's approach to humanizing villains is a good rule of thumb if , indeed, I want to make Cyric retain some of his humanity.
That's kind of the pressure issue, I suppose. Is Cyric relatable? If so, then he can be understood, maybe even pitied in his madness. This makes for a good morally gray game, where fighting Cyric is fighting, in a sense, the broken remains of what he once was when he was mortal/sane. It's a great way to make him a compelling villain.
On the other hand, by playing up his madness, including his destructive nature and his delusions of ultimate grandeur, I can simply strip out the humanity entirely and keep him as an archetype. It makes him all the more easily despised, and in the final confrontation, the party can focus on fighting him in all his mad cackling glory without worry about the details.
The eternal pull between the two sides is problematic: if I make him so archetypal, he might come across as a shallow villain (the hooting, hollering Joker of the 1950's, or the "embodiment of evil, oooh, scary" of so many videogames). But the more attention I put on him, the more depth I give him, the more that draws away from the glory of the players in my game, and it also threatens to bore them.
Obviously, I can have as much as I want in the background. It's just a question of how it manifests in what the players see. In the end, the game is really about them; the villain's role is to make their triumph as impressive as possible, and how the villain fills that role is important.
After reading what people have said so far, I've come to some conclusions...
I can see him as a man who had an impressive run of luck, achieving godhood, and has mistaken that luck for divine right. In other words, he believes his own propaganda now. So I'd say he's egotistical. He's also power-hungry; it's in his nature, and he has no intention to stop gaining power until he topples Ao. I imagine him as intelligent and clever. I see him as sinister, cruel, and (obviously) selfish. Not a manic loon. I see his madness as more of a quiet thing; he's a sociopath who thinks the rules of the gods don't apply to him and he cannot see others as equals or superiors. Of course, when HE says something is the way it must be, it only makes sense to him that things WILL be that way; he isn't accustomed to failure or being ignored. Ironically, he doesn't take advice well, and he tends to ignore others. This makes it possible for him to be deceived; sometimes he literally cannot focus on a hole in his schemes because it means admitting he's imperfect. That said, his schemes are usually very good ones, as his track record proves.
Hm, now we're talkin'!
Hm, now we're talkin'!
And a lot, evidently.
But you do use paragraphs, which I just think is wicked and awesome. ;)
Have them witness or experience certain key turning points in Cyric's mortal and divine life. These experiences could bring them closer to their goal, but also help bring understanding to why Cyric is the way he is... why is Cyric insane and why is he evil?
Along the way, there could be tests and trials for the players. Perhaps through experiencing or knowing what Cyric endured to make him into what he is... they also are tempted to follow down similar paths.
But can't we just kill him without cause?
I mean, CENSORED that guy.
The party just completed the Tower of Strife I crafted. They did very well. Even encountered the personification of the tower.
They got a chest with an artifact of Cyric locked inside of it. I need to decide what's in it and when they'll open it and its ultimate purpose. I'm thinking perhaps Cyric's dagger from mortal days, and I don't know of any other artifacts that might be his. Then I need to determine its properties. They're heroic tier but I'm sure the item will be paragon or epic. I imagine it being useful for gaining entry somewhere or its destruction abating the Spellplague. Hm, perhaps it opens a path to the Supreme Throne.
Any ideas?
They got a chest with an artifact of Cyric locked inside of it.
-Some kind of rubix cube thing somehow related to his mind (and how cluttered, layered, complex it is). Perhaps, as you said, it acts as a key- but only when it is solved. Only those who truly understand Cyric can "survive" in the Supreme Throne.
What about the two broken halves of Godsbane?
-Hey, hey- My first D&D NPC, Dagnirion, has, and reforged Godsbane! And, he was a Sharran! I was ahead of my time!
Is there nothing on Faerun that doesn't have the taint of her on it ? A follower of Shar (which is what I assume you meant by Sharran?)has Godsbane????
-I was ahead of the Shar-and-Mask-are-interrelated curve. By like four years.
Is there nothing on Faerun that doesn't have the taint of her on it ?
-Would it make for feel better or worse if I told you he was a Drow?
-Would it make for feel better or worse if I told you he was a Drow?
Dantrag-clone!!!!
;)Dantrag-clone!!!!
-A Drow magician.
-A Drow magician.
Ah, From your earlier entry I thought your NPC had it reforged for his personal use by a magician/cleric/priestess/god/demi-god/scroll.....you see where I'm going right?
Very well then Gromtrag-clone!!! (A Gromph/Dantrag combining similar to when DC/Marvel merged to form Amalagram(spell?) comics )
;)That is an excellent idea. I'll try some variation of them witnessing his mind or his past.
The party just completed the Tower of Strife I crafted. They did very well. Even encountered the personification of the tower.
They got a chest with an artifact of Cyric locked inside of it. I need to decide what's in it and when they'll open it and its ultimate purpose. I'm thinking perhaps Cyric's dagger from mortal days, and I don't know of any other artifacts that might be his. Then I need to determine its properties. They're heroic tier but I'm sure the item will be paragon or epic. I imagine it being useful for gaining entry somewhere or its destruction abating the Spellplague. Hm, perhaps it opens a path to the Supreme Throne.
Any ideas?
Hi myrmidon333,
I really like what I'm reading about your campaign. I have previously tried to use Cyric and his church as the villain of my campaigns, but I have not felt that they where that great campaigns. I really would like to get more information about your campaign - what hooks have you used; how have they found the Tower of Strife, and where have you placed it.
Personally I instantly thought of Cyric, when I saw Heath Ledger's performance in Dark Knight - watch the world burn because of the unrest it creates. I do however have this idea that Cyric could turn away from some of his madness and mount a serious campaign on Bane and Shar.
It began with the Scepter Tower of Spellgard adventure. I altered the ending so Lady Saharel had been ritually bound and the party freede her. They learned that Lady Saharel kept some fragments of Mystra's power sealed literally in the tower walls (and herself). She said that agents of the Fomorians had engineered a ritual to violently release the magic, kill her, and in effect create a new Plagueland. She had capacity as an oracle and knew that Cyric was unleashing Spellplague across the realms. He was employing some fomorians to carry out the plot. The ritual severely weakened her, so she had to leave this plane and release the energy safely. She told them to seek the "perverse sage" in Loudwater. (Originally, a loner Shadar-Kai was trying to perform a ritual to imprison Lady Saharel, who just never bothered to try stopping him, and make himself a mighty tyrant. And she was a mighty wizard/oracle/lich/ruler who spoke in rhymes. Great way to confuse and lose the credulousness of your players if you tell that original story.)
In Loudwater, they spoke with Curuvarn (from the FR Campaign Book). He was called the "perverse sage" because he studied the Spellplague in his youth. He told them that there was a college of people who study fae matters to the south. They'd find out exactly which fomorians were involved and which fae trod to take to meet them, or at least get a lead on where to go. The party decided (on their own) that Baldur's Gate would be a great place to ask about the college's exact location.
There, they found Candlekeep closed, the Keeper of Tomes reputedly missing, along with the High Priest of Ioun. A mentor of one of the party members was also missing, and they found letters of correspondence between him and the two other missing people. He was going to lead them through the sewers below Baldur's Gate, into the Underdark, and to the Wizard's Cave (described in FR Campaign Guide). They suspected that something there was causing chaos in the city above, as well as interfering with the high priest's divine magic and turning people in Candlekeep into paranoiacs.
So the party went after them to find out why they hadnt returned. They found the Tower of Strife there. Its my own invention. A Tower of Strife is a refuge for Cyricists, powered by a divine spark and blessing. Its bizarrely shapen with no internal structural logic. When people enter, it sends them into nightmares, one by one, where they face whatever illusion is most likely to make them commit suicide or become loyal Cyricists. Failing at that, it generates artificial landscapes and creatures to attack the party each time a nightmare fails. Such apparitions are, for all intents and purposes, real and cannot be dispelled.
The tower never lets somebody leave and it punishes people who opt for extended rests on "safe" or "cleared" floors by compelling them to consume all their food, hurt themselves or each other, or just sending a very nasty monster in after the rest to undo their work and worse.
Summary of hooks
1) An oracle says that Cyric is consuming the world with Spellplague and using the Fomorians to execute the scheme by proxy
2) A sage knows where to go to find out more about the Fomorians
3) The people who have all the knowledge resources need to be rescued
4) Surprise! Artifact: Stick with the plan or investigate this first?
I recommend tossing in other things. like rumors of major cities being destroyed and then showing people getting desperate; refugees, cults in the open, inquisitions - so the party keeps the threat in mind.
Ah, From your earlier entry I thought your NPC had it reforged for his personal use by a magician/cleric/priestess/god/demi-god/scroll.....you see where I'm going right?
-He did, though he was the one who did the reforging.
That being said, take a diety like Cyric. He represents Evil, Chaos, Murder, Lies, Strife, Deception, Illusion, and Madness. Now imagine some one tapping into the soul energy associated with those portfolios. All the most horrific murderers in history, mad geniouses, anarchists, etc... all empowering them, wispering dark secrets, and urging them on to greater acts of depravity. It would be enough to shatter the mind of a normal person. So enter the Ebon Dawn. The Ebon Dawn is a militant order fanaticly devoted to Cyric. They are composed primarily of Soul Borns, though a few priests, warriors, rogues, and mages round out their ranks. It is only through thier complete and utter devotion to Cyric, that they are able to focus their minds and withstand the terrible onslaught of voices and urges the soul energy brings. Even still, it is a constant strugle for them, lest they fall into utter depravity and madness.
In my campaign, Cyric learned of Incarnum and thought to use it as a hedge against Mystra. He remembered well when Mystra cut him off from the weave, and her absolute power over arcane and divine magics. This soul energy was not a part of the weave, and therefore not something she could deny his followers, as it flowed directly from his realm. (in hindsight, it wouldn't disapear with Mystra's death or the destruction of the weave either). So he created the Ebon Dawn as his first attempt to harness this power. Eventually a powerful soulborn became the Patriarch of the organization, and it's numbers began to slowly grow. Their mission was to forment strife, spread chaos, and to strike at his enemies.
The Ebon Dawn eventually developed a ritual that would flood a person with Cyric's incarnum energy. Most would buckle under the onslaught and become Lost (a template from MoI). The lost were then used as shock troops to bolster their army. Those few that survived with their minds more or less intact, became the newest initiates in the order. From their base in Southern Narfell, they struck out through a mountain pass into Northern Impilture. There they sacked whole villages and took them prisoner. Those unfortunates were subjected to the ritual and further swelled their ranks. Hobgoblin mercenaries from the giantspire mountains were also recruited to round out their forces.
Impilture was slow to respond to the threat. The year of Rogue Dragons had caused them heavy losses. The following Rain of Fire had left much of the populace hungry, and in a state of unrest. The Zhents were always waiting to attempt to sieze their valuable ports and take control over the Moonseas. The Impiltarian forces were stretched thin, and most of the sacked towns were atributed to hobgoblin raids from the mountains. The Ebon Dawn had a firm foothold in the North before they were aware of what was going on. That is where the players came in. They helped to stop the Ebon Dawns advance and contribute to their ultimate defeat.
Overall it was a fun campaign, and I will be keeping the Ebon Dawn as a resource for the future. Future incarnations will form small cells, and be attempting to destabilize countries and forment chaos and strife.
The treasure chest is an unaligned artifact that gained intelligence from long-term exposure to the item within: the shattered Godsbane. It opens, and loses its properties, when someone needs to kill an immortal being. The godsbane fragments have a shattered personality, rendering them unusable (or as dangerous as they are powerful). They can be reforged by a exposure to either the Cyrinishad or The True Life of Cyric, either of which will recolor godsbane’s personality and properties. Once reforged, it will render Cyric killable, as it thirsts for the death of gods, especially the one that betrayed it.
Sound good?
I need to decide whether to make its usefulness an immediate hook. And how to stretch out the progression over the whole game. But I’m kind of lost in that regard, since artifacts are only to remain for 3 levels or so. Any ideas?
I'm set in the 4th Ed. timeline. I was under the impression that the physical blade suvived, although no longer technically Mask.
-The blade may have remained behind after the Time of Troubles- as I mentioned, I went along with the same reasoning. With Masks's recent demise, that would have some kind of impact on the weapon, I would think, since he was the one that empowered it, by using it as his avatar.
Actually meant to make a post with the same sentiment earlier, but got dragged into another PC problem at work.
What Shar doesn't know about Mask can be anything at this point.
What Shar doesn't know about Mask can be anything at this point.
-Hmm...You know, now that he was subsumed by her, maybe she is him, now. Will people have as much of a problem with Shar if it's actually Mask? People seem to like him...There's questions abound...
-Hmm...You know, now that he was subsumed by her, maybe she is him, now. Will people have as much of a problem with Shar if it's actually Mask?
Yes, it's still FUBAR.
-Hmm...You know, now that he was subsumed by her, maybe she is him, now. Will people have as much of a problem with Shar if it's actually Mask? People seem to like him...There's questions abound...
That's a very CENSORED valid point!!
The question is: what and how does he become Shar?
What about this, When Godsbane is reformed the "divine sparks" of the former god Mask are taken away from the current owner of said "divinity sparks" to form the sentience of the sword and recreates the "god killing" power of said blade.
And again.
Yes, it's still FUBAR.
Not if done right, my dear.
That's a very CENSORED valid point!!
The question is: what and how does he become Shar?
-I don't know...He "takes her over from the inside", since she absorbed him. Or, taking a page out of Cyric's proverbial book, Shar now has two distinct personas within her that vie for control- Shar proper, and Mask. Who knows?
Yes, your former point is the key here.
-I don't know...He "takes her over from the inside", since she absorbed him. Or, taking a page out of Cyric's proverbial book, Shar now has two distinct personas within her that vie for control- Shar proper, and Mask. Who knows?
But would Mask have the power to battle Shar from within? I would assume that the distnce of power would be similar to the distance between AO and any single greater deity right? Being that all Mask was was a incarnation of Shar. And not to mention that's if Mask is fully whole to begin with. Who knows if he even has sentience with what was taken from him. No I don't think we'll be seeing Mask again for awhile nor will Shar easily relinquish any power that she has. She will prob need it for the upcoming conflict if and when Cyric is released.
Power Grubbing Harlot
But would Mask have the power to battle Shar from within? I would assume that the distnce of power would be similar to the distance between AO and any single greater deity right? Being that all Mask was was a incarnation of Shar. And not to mention that's if Mask is fully whole to begin with. Who knows if he even has sentience with what was taken from him. No I don't think we'll be seeing Mask again for awhile nor will Shar easily relinquish any power that she has. She will prob need it for the upcoming conflict if and when Cyric is released.
If such a thing was to occur, it would be slow and gradual.
Not to mention that it would take a bit of intrigue.
I mean, Shar doesn't even realize she is becoming Mask until she is Mask!
I don't have the Scpter Tower of Spellguard adventure, so I cannot comment on that. I does seem to me that your adventure focuses as much on investegation and a psychological journey as straightforward adventure with encounter.