Are you good with words? I need some help!

[Oryan77]

Months ago, I posted asking for advice on whether or not I should allow a PC to find the pieces to a magical sword that he shattered and left behind. You convinced me to let him find the pieces, but do it as a sort of side quest where he finds each piece scattered across the lands.

So I came up with a way to do this and I think the player is intrigued. I won't bore you with details (unless you ask), but the gist of it is sort of like the Rod of Seven Parts adventure. Various NPCs discovered a piece of the blade and kept it. The PC has the handle/hilt section of the sword which directs him towards each piece of the blade.

But when he finds a piece, he can hear a whisper in his head that speaks 4 phrases. There are 13 pieces to be found. I'm trying to do a '7 Deadly Sins' type of theme where the 4 phrases would relate to one "sin". It doesn't have to be a "7 Deadly Sin", I'm just using that as a guideline. The 4 phrases all relate to restoring the sword and it providing some sort of reward to entice him. For example:

Wanting Lovers & Admirers:
"When whole, allies will worship your greatness; enemies will die by it."
"Together we can make women swoon, but queens will be in ecstasy."
"My power can earn you great admiration."
"As we accomplish great deeds, they will see you as a great leader."

My problem is that I'm running out of ideas for phrases. So I'm hoping maybe people that are better at this kind of thing than I am could help come up with some sayings. Here are the "sins" that I've come up with that I need 4 phrases for:

Wealth
Wrath
Envy
Vanity
Greed
Pride
Gluttony
Sloth
Despair
Lust

I have written several phrases, but I'm thinking people could come up with better phrases than what I've written.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I'm not sure how much time I will have to give some of this a whirl, but just in case I would like some clarification.

Are these phrases meant to be enticing to the PC? The example phrases you gave seem to indicate this, but I'm not sure how to take it when some of the "sins" are things like Despair.

Also, Wealth and Greed are pretty similar. If the sword is promising to make the PC wealthy, is it also promising to make him greedy?

 

[Oryan77]

Are these phrases meant to be enticing to the PC? The example phrases you gave seem to indicate this, but I'm not sure how to take it when some of the "sins" are things like Despair.

Yeah, the phrases are supposed to entice him and get him thinking, "Oh, I definitely want to find these pieces and reconstruct the sword!" I was using the sins as an example mostly. I was hoping people might come up with an ideas for additional "sins" as rewards. The Despair doesn't really work, but I thought it might give ideas for something that might. These ideas are not set in stone, so please offer alternatives if you have any ideas.

Also, Wealth and Greed are pretty similar. If the sword is promising to make the PC wealthy, is it also promising to make him greedy?

I was trying to split some of the sins up into sub-categories so I can get 13 sets of 4 quotes. So I was thinking 4 phrases would offer material wealth, for example, "Kings & Nobles will shower you with riches to gain your protection.", and 4 phrases that relate to greed in general, such as, "There are no limits to the power that I can provide you."

 

[MortalPlague]

Despair
"Our enemies will wail at our coming, throwing down their weapons before us."
"No hope or quarter will be afforded to our foes."

Shamelessly stolen from Conan:
"We shall crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentations of their women."

 

[Oryan77]

Despair
"Our enemies will wail at our coming, throwing down their weapons before us."
"No hope or quarter will be afforded to our foes."

Those are exactly the type of things I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[coyote6]

You could rip off lines from Fred Saberhagens Swords of Power books:

For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
and
Vengeance is his who wields my blade (paraphrased)

My point's the fount of orphan's tears,
My edge the widowmaker.
(That could be one or two lines.)

 

[cmrscorpio]

"Fear not Death chasing at our heels. He comes for our enemies."

"The loins of maidens quiver at our approach."

"It is not cowardice to know fear. It is cowardice to let fear rule you."

"Fragmented, we were nothing. Together, our power grows."

"Skies darken and blackness grows. Now is the time to shine our light."

 

[TarionzCousin]

Shamelessly stolen from Conan:
"We shall crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentations of their women."

Which was taken from a book by Harold Lamb.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Genghis-Khan-Emperor-All-Men/dp/B001OVGRRY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270004466&sr=8-4"]Link[/ame].

One day in the pavilion at Karakorum he [Genghis Khan] asked an officer of the Mongol guard what, in all the world, could bring the greatest happiness.

"The open steppe, a clear day, and a swift horse under you," responded the officer after a little thought, "and a falcon on your wrist to start up hares."

"Nay," responded the Khan, "to crush your enemies, to see them fall at your feet -- to take their horses and goods and hear the lamentation of their women. That is best."

 

[Zinovia]

Here's a few for each of the sins. Some of the statements could be used for other aspects, since there's a fair bit of overlap between them. Hopefully this is the sort of thing you had in mind.

• Wealth
The wealth of nations will be ours for the taking.
Gold and gems will be showered upon you by those who fear our power.
Gold-chased armor, brocaded silks, and the finest jewels will adorn you.

• Wrath
Great kings shall hasten to do your bidding, lest our wrath fall upon them.
We will smite those who dare to oppose our will.
When your hand is raised in anger, all will cower before your might.

• Envy
All who see you will desire the greatness that is yours.
The richest of merchants will weep in envy when they see your sumptuous attire.
The hearts of men will burn with jealousy as their women flock to you.

• Vanity
You will be acknowledged as the greatest of leaders.
Powerful men will curry favor with you.
Beautiful women will vie for your attentions.

• Greed
Whatever you desire shall be within your grasp, none may say you nay.
The treasures of great wyrms will be as naught to that which you shall possess.
None shall possess a thing that we cannot take from them.

• Pride
We will become legendary throughout the lands.
All will bow before our great might.
Our power will surpass that of the greatest of emperors.

• Gluttony
The rarest of wines, the most savory of spices, the most delectable fruits, and the tenderest of meats will adorn your table.
The greatest of feasts shall become your everyday fare.
The scraps from your table will surpass food served in the royal courts of kingdoms.

• Sloth
A thousand handmaidens will be eager to do your bidding.
You shall rest from your labors amidst silken sheets and feather pillows.
You need never bestir yourself to labor again.

• Despair
The hearts of your enemies will quail in despair.
Foes seeking mercy will receive none from our hands.
When we are united, the toppling of kingdoms shall become our pastime.
The great and mighty will tremble in fear at our power.

• Lust
Nubile women will be eager to lie with you.
The eyes of all women will be ever upon you.
The most beauteous of courtesans will tremble with desire for you.

 

[Herobizkit]

I would actually roll with the Seven Deadly Sins idea. Perhaps what the PC doesn't realize is that he is not rebuilding the sword that he so desires, but an evil artifact. Each piece of the sword tries to appeal to his baser natures and corrupt him.

Flipped to be a "good" sword, the taunts are a way for the sword to test its potential owner. Each time that the PC resists the sword's urgings, perhaps the artifact unlocks a power or enhancement.