The Fleshweaver & my PCs (ideas requested)

MY PLAYERS STAY OUT!

And for anyone reading my Story Hour, this post will contain spoilers covering the next 3 updates.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

During the last session of my Eberron campaign (see sig), the PCs visited Mordain the Fleshweaver, an ancient elven spellcaster (possibly the most powerful arcanist in my campaign) who has separated himself from society, lives in a hall in a barren area of a nation of monsters (Droaam) and focuses on experimenting with different methods of changing a creature's structure and creating new species and hybrid monstrosities (hence, the name).

The PCs were there to try and learn about the unique magical condition of one of them (an alienist called Nameless), having been picked up while he was dead and his soul was floating around on Xoriat (equivalent of the Far Realm in the Eberron cosmology) and hanging out with a Great Old One. The condition piqued Mordain's interest, especially since it apparently threatened life as we know it on Eberron, and he helped the PCs by finding out as much as he could about it. A significant discovery he made (and told them of) was that Nameless being in the same place for more than 2-3 weeks or so would trigger the problem inherent in his condition, as would Nameless' death.

Having communicated this information, Mordain asked the PCs if he could take samples from each of them, and on being refused - and getting a little bored with the conversation - he knocked them all out. The next session is going to begin with the PCs waking up, being released and asked (politely, of course) to leave without bothering him. What I'd like are some ideas for is what he might have taken from and done to them in the interim.

Mordain definitely is not going to kill them, since he can't afford to either slay Nameless or keep him, and realizes that the other PCs are needed to keep Nameless alive. He, however, has absolutely no sense of morality, so he would have no issues with experimenting on, taking parts from, and doing all sorts of things to the PCs. He'd also be quite interested in ensuring that they don't bother him again, preferably in the long term but esp. in the short term.

For the record, Mordain is an 18th lvl wizard with a 30 Int, focused on transmutation, with illusion and necromancy banned, though he can cast spells from each school via Limited Wish and Wish. He has access to every spell in the PHB and will have some from the Spell Compendium. He also has a LOT of extra XP to play around with if needed and significant cash resources. The PCs are all 12th level and turning 13th at the beginning of next session. They consist of the alienist (human, originally, but now counts as an aberration in type), a human Clr/Pal/Exorcist of the Silver Flame, a shifter druid, a warforged fighter/scout, and an orc druid/hexer.

Some of the potential ideas I have in mind are:

* Making Simulacra of all the PCs
* Using Probe Thoughts (SC) to learn about them
* Using Geas to force them to leave as soon as he frees them
* Using Modify Memory to change what they recall
* Using Probe Thoughts (SC) to learn everything about them and also change memories
* Modifying their physical makeup in some ways, perhaps even including benefits (Mordain: "Aren't you happy? I improved you!") so that they can look after Nameless better.

Any and all ideas welcome.

I'll get the obvious question out of the way early; are the players going to feel hosed? Doing this will guarantee that Mordain rises to the top of their "we have to kill this guy and stamp up and down on his head" list.

That being said, I've always been fond of the independent third arm that the player doesn't actually control.

You may get your best results if later on, his creations start exhibiting signs of the PCs. They'll freak out the first time someone who fought Mordain's newest monsters recognizes the heroes in a bar!

Piratecat said:

That being said, I've always been fond of the independent third arm that the player doesn't actually control.

Click to expand...

I've always had that problem.

Piratecat said:

I'll get the obvious question out of the way early; are the players going to feel hosed? Doing this will guarantee that Mordain rises to the top of their "we have to kill this guy and stamp up and down on his head" list.

Click to expand...

Possibly, though I'm trying to strike the balance of screwing with them and still keeping it fun. And I think it's safe to say that Mordain has gone right to the top of their kill list, partly because the shifter druid player/PC (both of whom have huge issues with someone else, esp. an NPC, controlling them) is definitely out for blood now.

You may get your best results if later on, his creations start exhibiting signs of the PCs. They'll freak out the first time someone who fought Mordain's newest monsters recognizes the heroes in a bar!

Click to expand...

Nice!

hong said:

I've always had that problem.

Click to expand...

shilsen said:

Some of the potential ideas I have in mind are:

* Making Simulacra of all the PCs
* Using Probe Thoughts (SC) to learn about them
* Using Geas to force them to leave as soon as he frees them
* Using Modify Memory to change what they recall
* Using Probe Thoughts (SC) to learn everything about them and also change memories
* Modifying their physical makeup in some ways, perhaps even including benefits (Mordain: "Aren't you happy? I improved you!") so that they can look after Nameless better.

Any and all ideas welcome.

Click to expand...

Re Geas> I always forget...when do the penalties take affect? Are they immediately when they violate the terms or at the end of the day? If it is at the end of the day, then they could still attack and then leave.

re Simulacra> I like it. I'd prefer imperfect copies or improved copies. Maybe ones with the morality of their creator except loyal to him.

Also, I'm partial to the spell mindrape. What is not to like about rewriting someone's memories in one action? Use on the Simulacra or the players (if you really want to tick them off)

I think just leaving the players in a neutral spot with nothing around would be better than risking the confrontation with the fleshweaver.

Of course if there was some way to put a tracker on the pcs...that would be fun...say have map with lots of glowing dots on it...all the creatures he has modified....including the players.

Have you looked at the various grafts from Magic of Eberron? I'd imagine that Mordain could have some fun with a few of them. Your players shouldn't be complaining if he's giving them magic items for free!

...or for more fun, some Daelkyr symbionts, although those are somewhat less permanent.

purely on the experimental side of things...

shifter - 1) remove one of his forms (the transmuter has removed this trace, put it into a small animal form. Just to see if it can be seperated).
2) introduce a whole new shift-form, something unique (splices in a new were type)
3) enhance one of the shift forms, moving a step nearer to the were form. Gradually introduce a regression to feralness for this form only (so if he has a wolf shift, make this form nearer to werewolf, but slowly transform alignment, mental states when in this form only).

druid - 1) merge the orc with his companion animal (or its type). This is perhaps too similar to the shifter....
2) add a plant template with an extra weakness like placing roots in soil every night.
3) remove part of his, splice into a new abomination that will feel lost and track after the greater part of itself.
4) Mars Attacks! head swap with familar/companion!

warforged - 1) graft on an organic bit, see if it can take. Wizard of Oz/Tinman like.

I have no idea what the exorcist represents. Possibly re-mold him, heightening the chr, lowering dex (or whatever you feel appropriate). Have the chr boost be temp and need something odd to revitalise.

Is there something like a control bug (think Babylon 5) that can be placed inside them each to stop them returning to hassle him. In fact, get a wierd thing, geas them. Lie to them "One of these is inside each of you. If you approach within 10 feet of me, or dare to draw a blade, these will hurt you. Try it, now" so the geas or some other spell kicks in, queue stun. "Next time, it will be worse, now leave". He gets his own way, he out smarts them, they can actually resolve this block.

Well, what did he want those samples for in the first place? Your group has a variety of interesting folks in it:

-A warforged is always going to be of interest to someone mucking about with natural life;
-A never-was-a-paladin with a connection to the Silver Flame, something that the elf may be interested in tapping into;
-A shifter whose mutable nature is emphasized by wildshape abilities -- the ability to change form is likely something that intrigues a fellow such as him;
-An alienist, with all the Xoriat-related goodness that entails.

Nevermind the other folks, whom I'm sure all had something they could contribute.

With some effort, he could now engineer an artificial life form with the ability to gain and discard attributes as needed, with a connection to both a strong source of mystical power (the Silver Flame) and a plane that operates on entirely different rules from our own (Xoriat.) This could be a great achievement in and of itself... but it could be an even greater receptacle for his own spirit, as even elves can die of old age eventually.

And of course, if he does build something along those lines, there's always the danger that whatever it is that Nameless has carries over to this new body as well without his realizing it.

Give em all Aberrant Dragonmarks. This gives them a mechanical benefit as well as a curse.

A Silver Flame Exorcist and an Alienist in the same party...must make for some good interparty discussion

A good old fashioned brain swapping. That's the way to go!

Realistically, that's much too evil. Not that this has ever stopped you before, but still.

For his own use, a Chimerical clone. Take the most interesting bits from each of the PCs, and integrate them into a single clone. One that can change its face to look like any of the original "donors". The capabilities of this monstrosity are best left to the DM's twisted imagination, but it's not too difficult to guess that it would *hate* its "parents" beyond the bounds of reason. Having this...thing stalking them, killing off people close to them and casting suspicion on *them*? Evil indeed.

For self-protection, Geasing them to never bother him again seems best. Simple, effective.