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<blockquote data-quote="Grogg of the North" data-source="post: 6255862" data-attributes="member: 6682960">Well it sounds like you've actually got a decent outline in your head.&nbsp; So there are a couple of questions I guess you need to ask yourself.&nbsp; What are the PCs doing when they come across the first stone?&nbsp; Why do they trust the cult leader to begin helping him?&nbsp; Do you have any back up plans if the party just decides that the cult leader is up to no good and attempts to hack him into little bits?&nbsp; The first one is easiest to deal with.&nbsp; Perhaps the PCs are off investigating local goblin trouble and come across the stone while seeking shelter from a storm.&nbsp; The fire is warm, the cult leader is nice enough and maybe (s)he even helps them fight off a goblin raid.&nbsp; Pleasantries are exchanged the next morning and the cultist offers them employment in helping him with a research project.&nbsp; &quot;Just come see me after you're done with the goblin mess.&quot;&nbsp; If the PCs bite and they start visiting all the different locks, I would allow the PCs to choose which lock they visit in order.&nbsp; To not make it completely obvious that their new leader is evil, try and play up that they're against a hard time limit before something bad happens.&nbsp; Even have him lament that no one at the Arcane University / Church Temple believes him and he needs to do this to save the world and vindicate himself.&nbsp; &nbsp;Will the weakening of each lock provide a clue as to what's really going on?&nbsp; If they tamper with the Earth lock, are there quakes?&nbsp; Powerful storms from Air or Water?&nbsp; Some players may realize what's going on pretty quickly.&nbsp; Others can be thicker than mud.&nbsp; Or purposefully turning a blind eye to it.&nbsp; But a little foreshadowing never hurt.&nbsp;&nbsp; Does that help?&nbsp; The more details you can pass along the better.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Grogg of the North, post: 6255862, member: 6682960"] Well it sounds like you've actually got a decent outline in your head. So there are a couple of questions I guess you need to ask yourself. What are the PCs doing when they come across the first stone? Why do they trust the cult leader to begin helping him? Do you have any back up plans if the party just decides that the cult leader is up to no good and attempts to hack him into little bits? The first one is easiest to deal with. Perhaps the PCs are off investigating local goblin trouble and come across the stone while seeking shelter from a storm. The fire is warm, the cult leader is nice enough and maybe (s)he even helps them fight off a goblin raid. Pleasantries are exchanged the next morning and the cultist offers them employment in helping him with a research project. "Just come see me after you're done with the goblin mess." If the PCs bite and they start visiting all the different locks, I would allow the PCs to choose which lock they visit in order. To not make it completely obvious that their new leader is evil, try and play up that they're against a hard time limit before something bad happens. Even have him lament that no one at the Arcane University / Church Temple believes him and he needs to do this to save the world and vindicate himself. Will the weakening of each lock provide a clue as to what's really going on? If they tamper with the Earth lock, are there quakes? Powerful storms from Air or Water? Some players may realize what's going on pretty quickly. Others can be thicker than mud. Or purposefully turning a blind eye to it. But a little foreshadowing never hurt. Does that help? The more details you can pass along the better. [/QUOTE]

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