BBEG and his plot to die.

[painandgreed]

Any thoughts and ideas to make this bbeg work? whats a good way to structure a campaign were the bbeg is only seen through events he has put into motion, but only actually seen untill the very end?

He's cursed. Immortality comes from the curse or being possessed by some other creature that is evil and seeks to live forever. His good side, the original side that allowed this to happen, no doubt for some tragic reason, is not strong enough to kill himself or directly cause his own demise. His only chance is in brief periods of lucidity, he commits acts that will not awaken the evil sprit inside of him and stop him from doing so. Thus his plan for suicide comes from an elaborate scheme of neutral or evil deeds that does not arrouse suspicion in the possessing being.

PCs could start out beleiving he is the BBEG, only to learn his tragic story as they work their way to taking him down or perhaps not till his death. Only then will it become apparent that he placed a clue there and a helping hand someplace else and they only brought him down due to the help he gave them.

 

[jefgorbach]

Immortality takes its toll gradually - perhaps the Protector himself never even realized his actions to protect the people/land becoming more and more tyrannical over the eons until his efforts to maintain the peace he established had trapped those governed in an unending static society ... surrounded by those continuing to evolve/growth who could one day threaten his protectorate.

Seeking information on one/more of those future threats, he sends the PCs to investigate - during the course of which, they become familiar with how those outside culture(s) live and view their own homeland. In doing so, they gradually realize the "evil" his rulership has become and strive to overthrow thier past ally and friend. (think Hitler, who led a minor polical party into power to bring the floundering German nation back from the brink of economic/physical collapse, only to begin annexing the surrounding nations "for their own good" so they could share in the good fortune enjoyed under his rulership.)

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

A different direction might be to make him a more Christ like figure. Make im the truest sort of good, a truely lovig person/archon/god, whatever power level you want. Perhaps he was even the god that created the world. His deepest desire is to see his creations rise above themselves and start striving twards divinity themselves. The problem is is that his very pressence coaxes worship and followers, not leaders and independant thinkers. Imagine our own world if there was an undeniable god roaming around.

So, to set his desired spiritual evolution on track, he sets up the PCs to be tried and tested, along with many others. As they progress in power (levels), they begin to come closer to him, and he eventually tries to force their hand into killing him, to "free" the world of the chains that his pressence places upon the worlds inhabitants. His death would be the ultimate expression of love. He would die so that others may not just live, but grow.

To pull this off, you would have to make him a true friend to the PCs. Make it painful for them to follow thru on the act. And naturally, his death may not be as real as he leads everyone to belive.

 

[Ferrum]

The artifact that gave him immortality is also a terribly powerful weapon of destruction.

The artifact can instantly kill any one the operator designates, at the cost of a humanoid life, currently attached to the artifact. If an immortal is attached, however, it is only extremely painful to the immortal.

Your Good BBEG realizes it is only a matter of time before a real BBEG discovers this takes the artifact by force, and imprisons the Immortal, using him to destroy entire kingdoms at no cost to himself. Finding the party and believing them to be true of heart and capable of the task, he lets slip the location of the artifact, and allows it to be stolen. Without telling the party the whole story, he tasks them to retrieve it.

Now, The Good BBEG tries to remain hidden, and may or may not be successful. When all the cards are on the table, the Party must face the fact that the artifact is too dangerous to allow to continue to exist. Destroying the artifact kills the Immortal. The Immortal could not destroy the artifact, because it was tantamount to suicide. Allowing the PCs to make the judgment for him was the only way he could die an honorable* death.

*He leaves behind a sizable treasure, and instructions to raise any innocents who were killed as sacrifice or target of the artifact.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

Thanks for all your help everyone. You have all thought of things I would not have, and thats a very good thing.

 

[Nifft]

Unrelated thought: imagine that he was a good person who wanted to die -- but couldn't commit suicide, as that would send him to some prison plane -- so he turned himself into someone who needed killin'. Of course, that made him evil, so when he dies... he goes to some prison-plane. Thus, it's more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than a curse.

Cheers, -- N

 

[William drake]

Ok. I had this idea but i was unsure of how to execute it and make it seem believable. I wanted to make a bbeg that would be immortal (ether just to time or true imortality. He would live forever.

At first he would be good, and a protector of the lands, but over time is immortality would weigh heavily. Why not take his own life? well here is the trick, i wanted to make it so that if he kills himself or directly orders someone to kill himself, he would go to hell or some plane of torture etc... I also thought an artifact could solve this problem. That maybe he just couldnt die in general

What i want

I want him to set up a long chain of events to create circumstances that would create heroes willing to dispatch him. In order to do this must suffering must occur.

It would only be until the end of the campaign that the pcs figure out its their friend or strongest allie that is the one behind the evil itself.

My problem

I really like this idea, but i cant quit get it to work... I need for their to be some way that if you distance yourself from a chain of events that you are no longer participating but still somehow creating this chain of events so you know the outcome.

In other words, at what point are you not committing suicide? How many steps from a chain of events must occur before its not suicide? Many people die through unfortunate choices, but how indirect can a willfull want to die be something other then suicide?

I had a an idea that their could be an artifact that could destroy him but he could not use it on himself, nore could he order someone to use it on him. But if he created a chain of events were someone would willingly use this artifact on him then it would free him.

Why do this?

well i liked the idea of having the bbeg be someone that no one suspected without being suspected because he is the one no one suspected.

It would also put the pcs in a position were in order to kill him, they are committing an act that he desperately wishes to them to commit.

I dont know what the pcs will do honestly. It could go ether way. They could do what he wants, or they could leave him to his eternal pain.


Any thoughts and ideas to make this bbeg work? whats a good way to structure a campaign were the bbeg is only seen through events he has put into motion, but only actually seen untill the very end?

My answer: Read DUNE. The main character, can't kill himself, is able to see into the future, and shapes the world into a particular view. Once there, he sees that it was wrong, and leaves society since they've turned him into a god. later, he returns, *hiding who he really is* and speaks out about HIMSELF...and forces the people to kill him. His son, also falls prey to this, its a great book.

Game On

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Another reference would be Shivetya, from the latter Black Company books.

Spoiler

There are indications in the last book that he's been behind pretty much everything...just so the Black Company could come south and let him die.

Brad