I want to have a lunatic escape from there.
Faiths and Pantheons mentions that Shar has a great deal of worshippers among the deranged (tying into the loss of their minds). This would make Selunites actively seek out and contains or destroy the deranged. The Sharrans will want the secrets of the deranged protected... and build fortified asylums to foster the mad insights of the nutters protected from persecution.
The idea for an adventure is to get one of my PC's to become slightly deranged, getting flashes of insight and some corruption powers. This will make the Sharran clergy interested in their visions, and get Ningals attention along with several Selunite assassins. The location of a Sharran asylum might best be secret (as the rest of her clergy), but that wont work as smoothly in my campaign.
Ilmaters clergy might be interested in caring for the deranged but I don't think they view the mentally deranged as suffering as much as those who have physical ailments. Liera might work, emphasizing the dreaming illusory visions the nutters get are the work of Liera.
Also, lots of ex adventureres of powerful figures that somehow get mentally unstable are very scary indeed. A physically weak but mentally deranged psion or wizard cant be easy to contain, and might lash out at help offered with mindblasts or memory wipes instead of feeble struggles.
Depending where you are at, I imagine you could modify a church so that it has an "asylum" for such people. Illmater would be ideal, I think.
Or Cyric. Not the *healthiest* type of Asylum, ofcourse... would make for an interesting plot....
Ow. I call dibs!
That rubs me the wrong way for some reason.
And maybe not use the word "nutcase" to describe mentally ill people?
That rubs me the wrong way for some reason.
Noted. I blame dutch television for that I used that word. Can't really distinguish the nuiances between some of the words anymore...
Cyric himself was mad.. but putting them together in a well of place seems not the style for Cyricists, they wont create strife with that much... unless (enter DM plot).
Selunites would make the best places for really healing the disorders and their usual serene locations surely help ease the mental anguish they might have. Would Selunite go in conversation with the truly deranged however? I think Selunites could actually behave quite harshly against the mentally ill that dont show improvement or seem beyond salvation. This will depend on the clerics in questions own experiences and methods but slaying or containment wont be taboo. Escapees would in turn lead to inquisition like groups intent on keeping the mentally ill in containment, or spotting them early.
The mystery of prophesy in dreams in the realms is prolific... but false prophesy is at least as interesting. The road to damnation is close as great madness and brilliance can be quite close as well.
Suin, do you want me to make the Black Diamond Syndicate for this or should I just make it for my own game?
By all means, go ahead. I like the affilition designs of the PH2, you are familiar with that format? Oh, and can you make some NPC's personalities I can steal?
I found the info Stigger pointed out about that Rademar monasteries layout will fit perfectly as a location for my side adventure. I only want to add some nice criminal minds alongside those npcs.. and replace the ilmaterians with perhaps your Black Diamond organisation.
Isn't Selune a protector of the mentally ill (hey, Rhee, I didn't say nutcase)
Nothing in her portfolio for it. Though I would think that any god(dess) covering domains of good, protection or healing would be an ideal candidates for this.
Nothing in her portfolio for it. Though I would think that any god(dess) covering domains of good, protection or healing would be an ideal candidates for this.
I believed its mentioned in her description perhaps in the 2e book
Isn't Selune a protector of the mentally ill (hey, Rhee, I didn't say nutcase)
It's not a big deal, I just think the stigma against mentally ill people is unfair, and it's best to be sensitive to that.
Nothing in her portfolio for it. Though I would think that any god(dess) covering domains of good, protection or healing would be an ideal candidates for this.
Well, Selune is the moon goddess, and there is plenty of mythology regarding the full moon's ability to affect people's sanity (of course, there's no ironclad evidence that that happens in real life, but the Realms is a place of myth and fantasy). By the same token, Selune is associated with the feminine mystique and, according to Ed, the menstrual cycle (although again, there's no scientific evidence in the real world that the moon affects that, either).
pg 55 of Faiths & Pantheons refer to the clergy of Selune as (among other things" "caretakers of lunatics and the infirm"
Well, Selune is the moon goddess, and there is plenty of mythology regarding the full moon's ability to affect people's sanity (of course, there's no ironclad evidence that that happens in real life, but the Realms is a place of myth and fantasy). By the same token, Selune is associated with the feminine mystique and, according to Ed, the menstrual cycle (although again, there's no scientific evidence in the real world that the moon affects that, either).
What's funny is that I was going to say that almost verbatim, but thought that you or another female presence might might find it offensive.
My basic premise for believing she would be good for the role is the werewolf deal. If they OK, why not those truly afflicted.
I know my gal, Selune
pg 55 of Faiths & Pantheons refer to the clergy of Selune as (among other things" "caretakers of lunatics and the infirm"
Right on the money.
What's funny is that I was going to say that almost verbatim, but thought that you or another female presence might might find it offensive.
Why so? Menstruation is just a part of life.
Why so? Menstruation is just a part of life.
as a married man, I do a lot of planning based on it:D
Why so? Menstruation is just a part of life.
Certain people are touchy about certain things. I didn't want to get the whip by suggesting that such a concept could be inherent in the subject matter.
as a married man, I do a lot of planning based on it:D
Life sux. I know.
Yeah, was thinking on making an organisation that tries to find prophets and wisdom from studying with the deranged. I think an openly sharran clergy would make the best fit.
Faiths and Pantheons mentions that Shar has a great deal of worshippers among the deranged (tying into the loss of their minds). This would make Selunites actively seek out and contains or destroy the deranged. The Sharrans will want the secrets of the deranged protected... and build fortified asylums to foster the mad insights of the nutters protected from persecution.
That is a terrific idea. Nothing like sorting through the random ramblings of a raving lunatic to really perk you up! And lord knows, there are many fantasy tropes of the mad having some amazing insight, or just accidentally channeling the truth of the cosmos. Course realizing there is truth in there is a whole 'nother matter.
The idea for an adventure is to get one of my PC's to become slightly deranged, getting flashes of insight and some corruption powers. This will make the Sharran clergy interested in their visions, and get Ningals attention along with several Selunite assassins. The location of a Sharran asylum might best be secret (as the rest of her clergy), but that wont work as smoothly in my campaign.
I forget where, but there is a Sanity mechanic for d20. Course, you could always go to Cthulu d20 for that. There is also the Madness Domain for how crazy can be used to some advantage.
Ilmaters clergy might be interested in caring for the deranged but I don't think they view the mentally deranged as suffering as much as those who have physical ailments. Liera might work, emphasizing the dreaming illusory visions the nutters get are the work of Liera.
Well, I think Illmater would view suffering as suffering and not worry about source or degree. After all no one is expected to suffer as much or just like Illmater. Besides it would give a little "two front war" to this whole thing. I would think Illmater's clergy would be interested in alieviating the sufferring and not necessarily documenting what the derranged said. So they could be "destroying" sources of information the PCs need to solve the big picture (and free their friend from the Shaarans).
Also, lots of ex adventureres of powerful figures that somehow get mentally unstable are very scary indeed. A physically weak but mentally deranged psion or wizard cant be easy to contain, and might lash out at help offered with mindblasts or memory wipes instead of feeble struggles.
Nothing worse than a crazy mage. Never know when or where he'll break out fireball!
It's not a big deal, I just think the stigma against mentally ill people is unfair, and it's best to be sensitive to that.
While, the stigma shouldn't creep into our views, in all fairness it would be understandable in the Realms. After all, when there really is Demonic Possession and you have to be "weak" or make really dumb choices to be possessed (read fail your Will save or invite possession), it makes sense there is some stigma to behavior that looks like possession. Slap on the lack of understanding of why such conditions arise (the illness not the possession) and you have a culture ripe for prejudice.
Having said that, historically there have been numerous views on insanity, ranging from ostracism to holding them as sacred. Depends on the culture really... and the form of looniness the nutjob in question actually had :P ;). Big difference between something like bipolar and, say, MPD, and it would probably be treated pretty differently. Just a thought.
While, the stigma shouldn't creep into our views, in all fairness it would be understandable in the Realms. After all, when there really is Demonic Possession and you have to be "weak" or make really dumb choices to be possessed (read fail your Will save or invite possession), it makes sense there is some stigma to behavior that looks like possession. Slap on the lack of understanding of why such conditions arise (the illness not the possession) and you have a culture ripe for prejudice.
I wasn't talking about views in the Realms, but views in the real world (that this thread exists in).
Life isn't fair...
Having said that, historically there have been numerous views on insanity, ranging from ostracism to holding them as sacred.
I've heard of such opinions, yes, strange (and IMO ridiculous) though they might be.
Well, I think Illmater would view suffering as suffering and not worry about source or degree.
I agree with you on that.
People fear what they don't understand for the most part... and either try to worship it, or they try to destroy it. Kinda one of those weird quirks of human nature as best I can tell...
That explanation makes perfect sense to me.
People fear what they don't understand for the most part... and either try to worship it, or they try to destroy it. Kinda one of those weird quirks of human nature as best I can tell...
Which is why you are neither a god, nor dead. Count yourself lucky for the moment. ;)
I've found no official mention of Ilmater's or Selune's presence in Chessenta though. But that doesn't mean you can't put them in, of course.
And don't forget the Selunatics. :D They're an order of insane warriors dedicated to Selune, seen in the old comic strip series.
Selune has some influence in Unther through the resisitance movement led by Ningal. I think she has no known base though.
Luthcheq of course! The Karkanoks themselves are quite zany. Hmm... got quite a lot ways to go from here...
So proper clergies are those of Ilmater, Cyric, Selune, Shar, Entropy (Tiamat and/or Tharizdun in my camnpaign), Liera, perhaps even Finder Wyvernspor and Oghma.
People fear what they don't understand for the most part... and either try to worship it, or they try to destroy it. Kinda one of those weird quirks of human nature as best I can tell...
I'm reminded of the World of Darkness: Changeling trilogy (Toybox and the two others I don't remember). The group ends up going to Hawaii for something. The local spirits/changelings revere the Pooka as a Kahuna or wiseman because everything he says must be interpreted. Pookas can't tell the truth without a supreme effort of will and so you always have to sift through what they did say to get what they mean. So these guys figured he must be a wiseman. Course his own family beat him on a regular basis for lying in an attempt to get him to stop. Something he can't do without, quite literraly, killing his soul.
Life isn't fair...
Having said that, historically there have been numerous views on insanity, ranging from ostracism to holding them as sacred.
Muslims actually, in the Bimartisans, which are hospitals, in Medieval Times would care for the mentally unstable. So they did neither.
Note the wording of 'ranging from'...
Oh, didnt see that there.
-Anyway, I recall there is a sanitarium in Waterdeep, if that helps. It was featured in Vampire of the Mists.
-Adon was also sent to an insane asylum, though, I don't believe it was that particular one.
Selunatics.. Brilliant!!
-Selunatic is a poster here, you know. Been running a 1e game since...