Atonement in a desolated zone

[Egres]

One of my PCs, the cleric, is found with the party in a desolated zone, and from days it has lost its powers because of an (intentional) evil act. How could he atone and regain his powers in such a hostile and difficult environment, with no people except for monsters? (for those of you who play in Eberron think about the Mournland or the Demon Wastes)

 

[Hypersmurf]

One of my PCs, the cleric, is found with the party in a desolated zone, and from days it has lost its powers because of an (intentional) evil act. How could he atone and regain his powers in such a hostile and difficult environment, with no people except for monsters? (for those of you who play in Eberron think about the Mournland or the Demon Wastes)

What level? Is there an artificer?

-Hyp.

 

[Wolfwood2]

One of my PCs, the cleric, is found with the party in a desolated zone, and from days it has lost its powers because of an (intentional) evil act. How could he atone and regain his powers in such a hostile and difficult environment, with no people except for monsters? (for those of you who play in Eberron think about the Mournland or the Demon Wastes)

Have you started off by asking your DM? Perhaps a way will be provided.

The Rules forum should be your last resort here. Even though clerical powers technically have specific games rules attached to them, this is the area where most DMs will have a lot of leeway for their personal interpretation on things.

Do you need the Atonement spell? The rules say yes, but RPing some weeping and gnashing of teeth and (if necessary) threatening to just dump the character are likely to get you where you want faster than rules lawyering.

 

[rgard]

Have you started off by asking your DM? Perhaps a way will be provided.

The Rules forum should be your last resort here. Even though clerical powers technically have specific games rules attached to them, this is the area where most DMs will have a lot of leeway for their personal interpretation on things.

Do you need the Atonement spell? The rules say yes, but RPing some weeping and gnashing of teeth and (if necessary) threatening to just dump the character are likely to get you where you want faster than rules lawyering.

I'll agree with most of what Wolfwood wrote; there should be a roleplaying method of getting out of this. To differ slightly, I personally wouldn't do the 'dump the character' act.

So for roleplaying:

Assuming the cleric is good and still has access to 2nd level spells, build an altar, cast Consecrate centered on the altar and pray for the entire duration of the spell (2 hours per level.) Promise not to do a similar act and think up some attainable good act for atonement. Maybe sacrifice some valued magic item on the altar to the cleric's god.

Ok, with no access to any spells...do the above, but leave out the Consecrate spell.

My 2 cents,
Rich

 

[Egres]

What level? Is there an artificer?

-Hyp.

Nope.

The only caster besides the cleric is a wizard. (party's medium level is 12)

Have you started off by asking your DM? Perhaps a way will be provided.

The Rules forum should be your last resort here. Even though clerical powers technically have specific games rules attached to them, this is the area where most DMs will have a lot of leeway for their personal interpretation on things.

Do you need the Atonement spell? The rules say yes, but RPing some weeping and gnashing of teeth and (if necessary) threatening to just dump the character are likely to get you where you want faster than rules lawyering.

Well...I'm the DM.

It seems that I have posted in the wrong forum.

Maybe Hyp or someone else could teleport this thread elsewhere?

I'll agree with most of what Wolfwood wrote; there should be a roleplaying method of getting out of this. To differ slightly, I personally wouldn't do the 'dump the character' act.

So for roleplaying:

Assuming the cleric is good and still has access to 2nd level spells, build an altar, cast Consecrate centered on the altar and pray for the entire duration of the spell (2 hours per level.) Promise not to do a similar act and think up some attainable good act for atonement. Maybe sacrifice some valued magic item on the altar to the cleric's god.

Ok, with no access to any spells...do the above, but leave out the Consecrate spell.

My 2 cents,
Rich

Alas, he has not spells at all, but your idea is not bad.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The only caster besides the cleric is a wizard. (party's medium level is 12)

Hmm... if the wizard has access to Limited Wish (13th level? Scroll?), he could emulate Atonement. Strictly, of course, it should be cast by a cleric or druid of the same deity.

I'll move this to General for you.

-Hyp.

 

[Tewligan]

I'd say he couldn't. He'd better gird his loins, take up his mace, and rely on his non-divine skills to see him through until the party gets to a more hospitable area. Maybe he'll think twice about committing intentionally evil acts next time!

 

[Jesus_marley]

There is always the sackcloth and ashes route.

simply put, have the character re-dedicate themselves to their deity. Without any directions on how to atone, the character is basically going to fumble around trying anything to get their deity's attention.

An interesting way to roleplay this might be to have the character "relearn" the ways of being a cleric. While the character maintains their effective Character level, you could maybe have the character slowly regain their cleric abilities one level at a time (although naturally faster than normal leveling) based on various acts of the character in their quest to atone.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I'd say he couldn't. He'd better gird his loins, take up his mace, and rely on his non-divine skills to see him through until the party gets to a more hospitable area. Maybe he'll think twice about committing intentionally evil acts next time!

If you and your players are up to this (ask beforehand!), do this route for a while. Then, if things become dire (i.e. the cleric and the party *REALLY* suck), the cleric should try to repent - and gets his complete spell assortment back at once.

Sort of redemption when the cleric realized the full folly of his deeds. Or say the deity wanted to "teach him a lesson", but this doesn't mean the deity wants to see him killed.

Or, in different terms: The need made the character realize what he has done and he is faithful once more.

How you're exactly doing this, may also depend on your view of deific interaction with the world.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Uzzy]

Give him a suitable quest, perhaps with a bit of divine help. His god could send him a dream vision of something he has to take from the desolated area to civilisation, perhaps. Which god does the cleric in question follow?

The games I play I treat Atonement as an Official Sanction from the Church that says 'Yes, he is in our good books now too.' A character can atone on his own if he is truly repentant, and performs suitably penitent acts.