Lolth and the Temple of Elemental Evil (my players out!) [updated 11/29]

[MENTION=9327]Halivar[/MENTION], your players don't do subtle do they <evil grin>. That is a great way to get killed in this adventure.
LOL needless to say, the old "just wear their robes" trick will not work on any level of the temple, now.

And yes, many many PC & henchmen deaths so far.
 

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Updated Nov. 29th

So, I need some advice on how to handle a couple new situations that arose.

About two months ago, the party butchered a a group of guards in the ToEE after casting sleep on them. Two paladins in the party did not participate, but still had repercussions: Angelica, paladin of Heironeous, was warned on no uncertain terms that she was to tread carefully. Davos, paladin of St. Cuthbert, was stripped of his powers. He was informed that St. Cuthbert would not hear his prayers unless he 1) had attonement cast on him or 2) performed an act of "supreme sacrifice" (this option being available due to the complete unavailability of attonement at the moment).

This is an important story because it sets the stage for something else that happens.

The party last week entered the second dungeon level after clearing the first completely. The party stumbled into the fire temple's headquarters right off the bat. The high priests had warning, and used silence, hold person, and a scroll of flamestrike to neutralize half the party and outright kill 3 henchmen and a PC, a fighter/ninja (One-armed Bob).

Now, One-armed Bob's corpse was taken back to town, and a raise dead was cast on her. She rolled a 99. No resurrection possible. At this point two simultaneous, but mutually unknown events occurred in the party that have sent my game into a tailspin.

First, one of the players decided that his henchmen (over which I give the players full RP control), a 12-year-old thief named Scabs was so despondent over the death of One-armed Bob that he did something quite precipitous. He entered the shrine of Lolth, and pledged himself to the Spider-Queen in return for power to exact revenge upon Zuggtmoy. The response from Lolth, "Power you shall have, Champion."

Second, and without knowledge of this event, Davos the fallen paladin entered Canoness Y'dey's chambers where Bob's corpse lay, and beseeched St. Cuthbert to exchange his own life for Bob's. I decided that constituted an act of "supreme sacrifice." I ruled that St. Cuthbert finds this sacrifice acceptable. Also, however, he is keen to counter the balance of Lolth on the party by choosing a champion of his own. Bob awoke next to Davos's dead body.

Bob's character knows that St. Cuthbert has raised her from the dead, and is keen to reform. She feels that her character would dedicate her life to Davos' principles and his mission in advancing St. Cuthbert's cause.

A couple questions:

1) What happens to Scabs? What should I have happen with him? Should I "steal" him from the PC's control? What are his new powers?

2) The player is very keen to take up the mantle of a paladin by dual-classing, but she does not meet the minimum requirements. How can I help her reflect her new mission?
 

Well, first, COOL story/adventure! Your players sound like they're having a great time.

A couple questions:

1) What happens to Scabs? What should I have happen with him? Should I "steal" him from the PC's control? What are his new powers?

Seems pretty straight forward.

Scabs becomes a paladin of Lolth. I don't think taking him away from the player is necessary. Just give them paladinic powers.

Which edition is this again?
Well, in general terms (mechanically tweak it however you need for your system. I'm sure this has been created somewhere before...but since I don't know about it, off the top of my head...):
Paladin of Lolth
Detect Good (natch).
Lay on Hands, as normal.
I see no reason a paladin's aura of protection can't work just fine, just that it only works against demons that are NOT on Lolth's side/her control. Maybe an extra penalty for demons working under Zuggtmoy's?

Doesn't turn undead but turns (and extra damage to) fungoid creatures?

Spider Climb seems a legitimate power at some point.
Speak with Spiders.
"Sacred Mount", when she gets that far, giant spider, obviously.

2) The player is very keen to take up the mantle of a paladin by dual-classing, but she does not meet the minimum requirements. How can I help her reflect her new mission?

Well, Lolth said, "Power you shall have, Champion."

Sounds like Scabs has the requirements now. ;) Bump her stats to the absolute minimum required. Pal. level 1 and off you go.

Of course, as soon as she does the slightest thing against Lolth's wishes, back to non-paladinny Scabs it is.

OR, just turn her into a drider. :devil:...drider paladin (i.e. no more thieving for Scabs)?

--SD
 

Which edition is this again?
First.

Scabs becomes a paladin of Lolth. I don't think taking him away from the player is necessary. Just give them paladinic powers.
I definitely think that can work. I'll try it out. Love the mechanical suggestions!

Sounds like Scabs has the requirements now. ;) Bump her stats to the absolute minimum required. Pal. level 1 and off you go.
Oh, that one is for Bob, the fighter-ninja who died. In her case, it turns out that she does qualify for the kensai out of Oriental Adventures (since she's already a ninja out of that book). She's dual-classed, so she loses her fighter-ninja powers for the time being and is a level 1 kensai, fighting in the name of St. Cuthbert. Her alignment has changed from CN to LG, and we'll be roleplaying that out at the table.
 

Lolth was supposed to have a more prominent role in the tToEE...but by the time Mentzer had finished adapting it, she was out.

Similarly, there are links with the Drow and the elder elemental god, and other drow dieties, and non-drow followers for Lloth (I mean all in the original Gygax, or direct interpretations there of, not talking about what came later). Again, I am sure there is an excellent summary out there.

This is also what I recall (dragonsfoot.org I am sure). The discussion came down to it seemed better that Lareth be allied with the Elclavdra types (Elder Elemental god) and be working with the folks in the Temple itself. Gives you a decent hook to move to GDQ once ToEE is completed as well.

I replaced Lloth with Elder Elemental God in the module and it makes more sense.
 



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