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The God, the Sword and My Empty Head (Help)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lackhand" data-source="post: 3094162" data-attributes="member: 36160"><p>What are gods? Are we presupposing that Azrai is statted up per a dread wraith, so the PCs can win just by playing smush the shadow, or that he's a GOD, and thus the PCs had better spend their attention trying to find/break the sword? (you mentioned Azrai should be slain in the climax -- maybe just set back?)</p><p></p><p>One idea is that the sword is not actually a sword, but a metaphorical one, which Azrai seeks to control. Seed the adventure constantly with references to the Sword (I'll call it Aeshatter, 'cause I'm a Phillip Pullman phanboy); they know that he seeks the Godslaying Sword to end the god of the elves.</p><p>Only, in the end, it's not swords they should fear, but words; Aeshatter is a scroll of wish tuned to 'commit genocide', killing off all the elves at once (and thus mortally wounding their god), or a gate spell which Corellon can't avoid, or Corellon's truename, or something similar.</p><p></p><p>One idea is that the sword he seeks doesn't exist, so the party is relatively safe.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Dressing on the plane of shadow:</p><p>It's obvious that everything is evil and twisted. The guardians of Aeshatter should be Shadar-Kai, or Drow, or Driders; something which evokes elves and-or fey, but is also shadowy and corrupt.</p><p></p><p>Use lots of environmental effects, esp. fog (night so black even light can't completely erase it), prolonged exposure to cold, and uneven surfaces (night so thick it clutches at your limbs).</p><p>It might be fun to have areas that are suffocating in shadows, which one has to hold ones breath to cross, or to have Aeshatter act as a lighthouse, causing the darkness to stream away from it (acting as very high force winds!).</p><p></p><p>Packs of shadow mastiffs or Yeth hounds *in the distance*, unrelated to the party, howling.</p><p>Endless flocks of ravens wheeling in bleak skies above.</p><p></p><p>Trees, of course, wave in a wind the players cannot feel, their dry branches clinging to the players as they pass.</p><p>The landscape as a whole, actually, shifts and flows in relation to some force the players cannot perceive.</p><p></p><p>Actually, it might be fun to have some area warded by a bunch of the really classic riddles with negative answers -- maybe even with the puzzle already disarmed and the answer obvious, like</p><p> Riddle: It cannot be seen, cannot be felt</p><p> Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.</p><p> It lies behind stars and under hills,</p><p> And empty holes it fills.</p><p> It comes first and follows after,</p><p> Ends life, kills laughter.</p><p></p><p> Answer: Darkness.</p><p></p><p>Riddle: I'm that which is seen only in darkness,</p><p> Swiftest of all, and near as old as time;</p><p> Day's distant brother; fire and faintness,</p><p> I light without shadow — can you solve this rhyme?</p><p></p><p>Answer: Starlight. (this is especially good as a ward over the sword itself, if it's a single point of light on the sea of shadow)</p><p></p><p>I exist but sometimes ignored.</p><p>I am forced to live on the floor.</p><p>I cast an image, though dark,</p><p>and follow my owner and leave no mark.</p><p>I disappear when the sun sets</p><p>And never be caught in any nets.</p><p>I will always forever lie,</p><p>Can you tell me what am I?</p><p></p><p>Answer - Shadow</p><p></p><p></p><p>Only one color, but not one size; stuck to the ground, yet easily flies. Present in sun, but not in rain; doing no harm, and feeling no pain. What is it?</p><p></p><p>(Shadow, of course)</p><p></p><p>And so forth.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lackhand, post: 3094162, member: 36160"] What are gods? Are we presupposing that Azrai is statted up per a dread wraith, so the PCs can win just by playing smush the shadow, or that he's a GOD, and thus the PCs had better spend their attention trying to find/break the sword? (you mentioned Azrai should be slain in the climax -- maybe just set back?) One idea is that the sword is not actually a sword, but a metaphorical one, which Azrai seeks to control. Seed the adventure constantly with references to the Sword (I'll call it Aeshatter, 'cause I'm a Phillip Pullman phanboy); they know that he seeks the Godslaying Sword to end the god of the elves. Only, in the end, it's not swords they should fear, but words; Aeshatter is a scroll of wish tuned to 'commit genocide', killing off all the elves at once (and thus mortally wounding their god), or a gate spell which Corellon can't avoid, or Corellon's truename, or something similar. One idea is that the sword he seeks doesn't exist, so the party is relatively safe. Dressing on the plane of shadow: It's obvious that everything is evil and twisted. The guardians of Aeshatter should be Shadar-Kai, or Drow, or Driders; something which evokes elves and-or fey, but is also shadowy and corrupt. Use lots of environmental effects, esp. fog (night so black even light can't completely erase it), prolonged exposure to cold, and uneven surfaces (night so thick it clutches at your limbs). It might be fun to have areas that are suffocating in shadows, which one has to hold ones breath to cross, or to have Aeshatter act as a lighthouse, causing the darkness to stream away from it (acting as very high force winds!). Packs of shadow mastiffs or Yeth hounds *in the distance*, unrelated to the party, howling. Endless flocks of ravens wheeling in bleak skies above. Trees, of course, wave in a wind the players cannot feel, their dry branches clinging to the players as they pass. The landscape as a whole, actually, shifts and flows in relation to some force the players cannot perceive. Actually, it might be fun to have some area warded by a bunch of the really classic riddles with negative answers -- maybe even with the puzzle already disarmed and the answer obvious, like Riddle: It cannot be seen, cannot be felt Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter. Answer: Darkness. Riddle: I'm that which is seen only in darkness, Swiftest of all, and near as old as time; Day's distant brother; fire and faintness, I light without shadow — can you solve this rhyme? Answer: Starlight. (this is especially good as a ward over the sword itself, if it's a single point of light on the sea of shadow) I exist but sometimes ignored. I am forced to live on the floor. I cast an image, though dark, and follow my owner and leave no mark. I disappear when the sun sets And never be caught in any nets. I will always forever lie, Can you tell me what am I? Answer - Shadow Only one color, but not one size; stuck to the ground, yet easily flies. Present in sun, but not in rain; doing no harm, and feeling no pain. What is it? (Shadow, of course) And so forth. [/QUOTE]
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