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Need advise on Halaster!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
biablo
Apr 12, 2009 11:05:46 Hi

I am in a middle of an Adventure that i created in Undermountain (party is levels 12-13), the Adventure is an envolvement of Halaster (playing in 3.5ed) that lured the PC in there, if they reach the final destination will it be wise for him to reveal himself as the mastermind or impostor as someone else?
#2
markustay63
Apr 12, 2009 11:11:58 Halster is all about mis-direction, so I doubt he would ever be very forthcoming with 'his plans'. Also, he has absolutely NO NEED to brag (when you are that cool, you don't need to), so he wouldn't do the usual arch-villain monologuing thing that BBEG's are known for.

Leave it mysterious - he may have use for them again. ;)
#3
biablo
Apr 12, 2009 11:38:50
Halster is all about mis-direction, so I doubt he would ever be very forthcoming with 'his plans'. Also, he has absolutely NO NEED to brag (when you are that cool, you don't need to), so he wouldn't do the usual arch-villain monologuing thing that BBEG's are known for.

Leave it mysterious - he may have use for them again. ;)

He will use them, he will enslave them for a few years, here is another question: is he a type that will reward them for doing stuff for him or he won`t really care?
#4
markustay63
Apr 12, 2009 11:41:29 Actually, he would reward people who did him a service, even if they were unaware they were doing so.

Halaster isn't evil - just secretive and insane.
#5
lord_karsus
Apr 13, 2009 10:17:13 -This belongs in the Realmslore section. It'll be moved.
#6
lord_karsus
Apr 13, 2009 10:18:30 -Like MT said, Halaster is secretive and insane (mostly). There are adventures that have featured him in the past interacting with the PCs, and some can be downloaded for free from the WotC website as .PDF files. I'd advise downloading those (and all of them, truthfully. Free is free).
#7
yakman
Apr 13, 2009 14:00:58 yup. in fact, Halaster could have lured them into the dungeon to foil one of his own plans, and after they've killed something that took him decades to make, buy them a beer at the local pub.

he's crazy, he's dangerous, and he's totally unpredictable.
#8
JudgeDookie
Apr 14, 2009 21:45:25 Let's not forget that he will as easily punish them as he will reward them for any act.

He is insane, after all.

I prefer the two-step approach--get and receive. PC's get it handed to them in an "Oh, did I do that?" sort of thing by Halaster that completely screws them, then reward them by surprise thereafter with an "Oh, Bejebuz--'That's so powerful!'" type of thing afterwords when their spirits are down after losing it all.
#9
markustay63
Apr 15, 2009 15:49:27 However, IMHO, Halaster is far more likely to be 'lenient' to those of absolutely no threat or consequence to him (which is nearly everybody),

He would probably destroy another archmage or any powerful being that stepped onto his turf, but when it comes to 1st-level PCs, he's far more likely to appear and point to their equipment and say "YOU, are down here, with THAT?", and then laugh hysterically and teleport away (in a dramatic fashion, of course).

He considers most adventutrers "good entertainment". :D

I had postulated about Halaster over at CK, and I made a comment (about him, and his 'connection' to Larloch), and I was told by a certain person who knows the realms BETTER then just about anyone that "I hit the nail on the head". Halaster is the only being in Realmspace that makes Larloch nervous.

And if you consider how powerful Larloch is, and how insane Halaster is, thats a VERY scarey thought...

Szass Tam brow-beats gods.
Larloch frightens Szass Tam
Halster fills Larloch with dread...

Scarey indeed.
#10
lord_karsus
Apr 15, 2009 17:26:08 -Meh, Larloch is only a 26th Level Lich, so sayth Lords of Darkness. Moving right along...

-I am wholly against the "Boogie-Manification" of Larloch. And Szass Tam. I would say Halaster, but he never was really Boogie-Manified, because of his craziness.
#11
markustay63
Apr 15, 2009 23:50:02 Halaster was Ed's ULTIMATE balancing factor, since no-one knew who's side he would take, most uber-powerful types were afraid to start any sort of 'major rukus' in the North (Halaster has portals to just about everywhere).

He was the being that arch-liches and Chosen found 'unscrutable' - you can't make plans around a madman. And since he worked for the furthering of magic (in his own weird way), and was "Shar's creature" (Elminster in Hell), it meant he was just about the only being I can think of that BOTH Mystra and Shar had a 'hands-off' policy with for their followers.

Halster didn't take sides - he's his own side, all the time - thats what makes him so cool.
#12
krownhunter07
Apr 16, 2009 0:04:45 So powerful he blew himself up...

yeah...

#13
_jarlaxle_
Apr 16, 2009 6:40:12
Halaster is the only being in Realmspace that makes Larloch nervous.
[...]
Halster fills Larloch with dread...

Well making someone nervous and filling him with dread are two diffrent things imho.

But wasn't it said somewhere that Halaster in his insanity sometimes just could ignore spells cast at him so they didn't have any effect?
This would be a pretty good protection when true.
#14
markustay63
Apr 17, 2009 12:26:59 Thats called the 'Thomas Covenant Effect', which was also used in the Sword of Truth novels as well. Basically, you get to treat every spell as an illusion, with a chance to disbelieve.

Halaster is/was so crazy that he not only believed in his own personal reality, but he was mentally (and magically) proficient to actually enforce his version of reality onto the RW. There was a character in one of the Michael Moorcock stories that was similar (he had to be killed, because he was mentally 'erasing' everything by not believing in it).

Very cool concept, and it shows you just how scarey he really is. He can simply pretend you don't exist, and there's actually a chance it will become fact. Its reminds me an Elven High-Magic ritual, without having to cast a spell (or be an Elf for that matter) - truly Epic guy.
#15
lord_karsus
Apr 20, 2009 23:51:09 -It's only all those Wizard Levels that "allow" him to do that. If he wasn't a Wizard, but instead was...A Barbarian, and was equally as crazy as he often is, he wouldn't be nearly as feared, and powerful. What's that adage about leaving a gun in a crazy persons hands? That.
#16
markustay63
Apr 21, 2009 15:49:48 More like a crazy person with a boatload of Nukes...

Hmmmm... reminds me of the Reagan years.... :P
#17
lord_karsus
Apr 21, 2009 15:57:52 -Yeah, that was the one I was thinking of, whoops.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 biablo Apr 12, 2009 11:05:46	Hi I am in a middle of an Adventure that i created in Undermountain (party is levels 12-13), the Adventure is an envolvement of Halaster (playing in 3.5ed) that lured the PC in there, if they reach the final destination will it be wise for him to reveal himself as the mastermind or impostor as someone else?
#2 markustay63 Apr 12, 2009 11:11:58	Halster is all about mis-direction, so I doubt he would ever be very forthcoming with 'his plans'. Also, he has absolutely NO NEED to brag (when you are that cool, you don't need to), so he wouldn't do the usual arch-villain monologuing thing that BBEG's are known for. Leave it mysterious - he may have use for them again. ;)
#3 biablo Apr 12, 2009 11:38:50	Halster is all about mis-direction, so I doubt he would ever be very forthcoming with 'his plans'. Also, he has absolutely NO NEED to brag (when you are that cool, you don't need to), so he wouldn't do the usual arch-villain monologuing thing that BBEG's are known for. Leave it mysterious - he may have use for them again. ;) He will use them, he will enslave them for a few years, here is another question: is he a type that will reward them for doing stuff for him or he won`t really care?
#4 markustay63 Apr 12, 2009 11:41:29	Actually, he would reward people who did him a service, even if they were unaware they were doing so. Halaster isn't evil - just secretive and insane.
#5 lord_karsus Apr 13, 2009 10:17:13	-This belongs in the Realmslore section. It'll be moved.
#6 lord_karsus Apr 13, 2009 10:18:30	-Like MT said, Halaster is secretive and insane (mostly). There are adventures that have featured him in the past interacting with the PCs, and some can be downloaded for free from the WotC website as .PDF files. I'd advise downloading those (and all of them, truthfully. Free is free).
#7 yakman Apr 13, 2009 14:00:58	yup. in fact, Halaster could have lured them into the dungeon to foil one of his own plans, and after they've killed something that took him decades to make, buy them a beer at the local pub. he's crazy, he's dangerous, and he's totally unpredictable.
#8 JudgeDookie Apr 14, 2009 21:45:25	Let's not forget that he will as easily punish them as he will reward them for any act. He is insane, after all. I prefer the two-step approach--get and receive. PC's get it handed to them in an "Oh, did I do that?" sort of thing by Halaster that completely screws them, then reward them by surprise thereafter with an "Oh, Bejebuz--'That's so powerful!'" type of thing afterwords when their spirits are down after losing it all.
#9 markustay63 Apr 15, 2009 15:49:27	However, IMHO, Halaster is far more likely to be 'lenient' to those of absolutely no threat or consequence to him (which is nearly everybody), He would probably destroy another archmage or any powerful being that stepped onto his turf, but when it comes to 1st-level PCs, he's far more likely to appear and point to their equipment and say "YOU, are down here, with THAT?", and then laugh hysterically and teleport away (in a dramatic fashion, of course). He considers most adventutrers "good entertainment". :D I had postulated about Halaster over at CK, and I made a comment (about him, and his 'connection' to Larloch), and I was told by a certain person who knows the realms BETTER then just about anyone that "I hit the nail on the head". Halaster is the only being in Realmspace that makes Larloch nervous. And if you consider how powerful Larloch is, and how insane Halaster is, thats a VERY scarey thought... Szass Tam brow-beats gods. Larloch frightens Szass Tam Halster fills Larloch with dread... Scarey indeed.
#10 lord_karsus Apr 15, 2009 17:26:08	-Meh, Larloch is only a 26th Level Lich, so sayth Lords of Darkness. Moving right along... -I am wholly against the "Boogie-Manification" of Larloch. And Szass Tam. I would say Halaster, but he never was really Boogie-Manified, because of his craziness.
#11 markustay63 Apr 15, 2009 23:50:02	Halaster was Ed's ULTIMATE balancing factor, since no-one knew who's side he would take, most uber-powerful types were afraid to start any sort of 'major rukus' in the North (Halaster has portals to just about everywhere). He was the being that arch-liches and Chosen found 'unscrutable' - you can't make plans around a madman. And since he worked for the furthering of magic (in his own weird way), and was "Shar's creature" (Elminster in Hell), it meant he was just about the only being I can think of that BOTH Mystra and Shar had a 'hands-off' policy with for their followers. Halster didn't take sides - he's his own side, all the time - thats what makes him so cool.
#12 krownhunter07 Apr 16, 2009 0:04:45	So powerful he blew himself up... yeah...
#13 _jarlaxle_ Apr 16, 2009 6:40:12	Halaster is the only being in Realmspace that makes Larloch nervous. [...] Halster fills Larloch with dread... Well making someone nervous and filling him with dread are two diffrent things imho. But wasn't it said somewhere that Halaster in his insanity sometimes just could ignore spells cast at him so they didn't have any effect? This would be a pretty good protection when true.
#14 markustay63 Apr 17, 2009 12:26:59	Thats called the 'Thomas Covenant Effect', which was also used in the Sword of Truth novels as well. Basically, you get to treat every spell as an illusion, with a chance to disbelieve. Halaster is/was so crazy that he not only believed in his own personal reality, but he was mentally (and magically) proficient to actually enforce his version of reality onto the RW. There was a character in one of the Michael Moorcock stories that was similar (he had to be killed, because he was mentally 'erasing' everything by not believing in it). Very cool concept, and it shows you just how scarey he really is. He can simply pretend you don't exist, and there's actually a chance it will become fact. Its reminds me an Elven High-Magic ritual, without having to cast a spell (or be an Elf for that matter) - truly Epic guy.
#15 lord_karsus Apr 20, 2009 23:51:09	-It's only all those Wizard Levels that "allow" him to do that. If he wasn't a Wizard, but instead was...A Barbarian, and was equally as crazy as he often is, he wouldn't be nearly as feared, and powerful. What's that adage about leaving a gun in a crazy persons hands? That.
#16 markustay63 Apr 21, 2009 15:49:48	More like a crazy person with a boatload of Nukes... Hmmmm... reminds me of the Reagan years.... :P
#17 lord_karsus Apr 21, 2009 15:57:52	-Yeah, that was the one I was thinking of, whoops.