Alignment task challenges. DM needs some help.

[iriskm]

Hi all! I'm hoping the brilliant minds here can throw me some ideas for the end of my current campaign setting. Here's the deal-

My players are are trying to save the material plane from being merged with the plane of shadows, thanks to the machinations of the god of insanity. In order to do this, they are making their way towards a shrine that holds in stasis a mortally wounded dragon goddess. If they can free her from her sarcophagus, the energy being used to hold her in stasis will be released, and will heal the planar breaches (its complicated).

Anywho- in order to get to the shrine, they have to pass 4 guardians, each one an advanced Great Wyrm dragon that represents one of the alignments. Each guardian presents a test, which the players have to satisfy, in order to get past them, and continue their journey.

So far they have managed to pass the first test- a maze full of the spawn of the first guardian (A NE rainbow chromatic).

But I'm stuck. Next they will face the test of the Lawful dragon- a LN Iron (As presented in the dragon magazine). I'm not sure what the test should be though! It should be something that proves to the Iron that they abide by the tenants of honor and contract, but still be challenging to my players- who are vets and way too smart/knowledgeable for their own good!

Any ideas what I can throw at them???

 

[Greenfield]

Consider a variation on the Green Knight's challenge.

It's a simple contract: You cut my head off, and then I cut yours off. Once this is done, you may proceed.

In Arthurian mythos, several knights accepted the challenge, thinking that the Green Knight was a fool. He'd be dead once his head was cut off, wouldn't he? Of course, he picked up his head and promised to be back in a month to collect his half of the deal. And, of course, the knight who took the deal was nowhere to be found.

In the Arthurian version, a young squire was knighted specifically so he could face the challenge. And to the surprise of everyone he was there when the time came. Then the Green Knight found himself in a quandry. He'd been searching for a truly honest and honorable man, and he'd finally found one. And at that point he had to admit he'd been bested, for he himself was the one who couldn't keep the bargain. He couldn't bring himself to kill the only honest and honorable man he'd ever found.

Of course, the LN Dragon need not have any such issue. You want to save the world, you have to pay the price.

 

[kitcik]

Have the dragon split them up and offer them each individually copious riches (gold, magic, etc.) and safety from the upcoming disaster in exchange for foregoing their quest.

Actually split up the players so they can't see each others' decisions.

If anyone agrees to take the riches, have the dragon kill them and bury them with their riches. They will not be effected by the disaster.

 

[iriskm]

That's an excellent suggestion Greenfield. However, its a bit too close to the Good dragon's challenge: Proof of benevolence through willingness to accept self sacrifice. Basically in order to succeed, the group will have to be willing to put their lives down to save a group of innocents from destruction. (Which is ultimately of course, what we ask them to do on a regular basis anyhow! lol)

Kitick- I like the idea of splitting the group up. But unfortunately the nature of the challenges is such that although one group member is responsible for the success of each of the challenges (Each in turn, so no ones left out), they all can help to achieve that success as a group. So I cant really seperate them all. Or not in the way that you suggest.

 

[ahayford]

1) Perhaps give them a complicated logic problem like they give for the Bar exam or GRE.

2) Have them show that they are capable of eliminating emotion from their decisions. Give them a rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few type problem.

3) Have them serve as they arbiter on a series of "court" cases and determine their outcome given a set of "laws" that you write up. In order to pass the challenge, the PCs decisions must follow the letter of the law. In doing so, they will be forced to make several uncomfortable rulings. IE, let a murderer go, kick a family out of their house, send a debtor to prison etc.