Exatled Afflictions that control the people

[Crothian]

In the Book of Exalted Deeds there are Afflictions. Afflcitions are like diseases except the only effect evil creatures. What if a populace is effected by these afflictions on purpose knowing that they will only effect the evil people? The populace would not really have to know that they are carriers of the afflictions and they can spread them to other kingdoms through travel and interaction. Also, if one of the carries starts to become evil the affliciton would start to effect them. By the book it doesn't seem that Affictions or really even diseases work this way. Interesting idea? Able to be done? Huge holes in my thinking?

 

[Piratecat]

What a fun plot hook.

Sure, I can see this; the big flaw is that non-evil people wouldn't be carriers necessarily, and so they'd tend to die off in a mostly good country. I love the idea of a relic-like object that spreads an affliction throughout a country's borders.

Hmmm. The adventure possibilities are manifold.

 

[Crothian]

A relic could be interesting becasue the people who have the relic could very well not realize that the relic spreads the affliction. So, then the priest and servants who work at the church or place of honor for the relic are the first to carry the afflcition. If the relic has just been recovered, or has a certain holy day that exists around the history of the relic; then during this day there could be a special ceremony for the relic and many people would come by. The ceremony could use the relic to bless holy water that is passed out to all the people, or the people are brought up to pray in front of the relic, etc. It would be a way for many people to come in contact wityh the relic and thus start carrying the afflcition. From there the people go about their daily routine and the afflcition spreads more and more. Then when it starts to get to the merchants and other travlers (and the pilfgrims who travel from far and wide to see the relic) the affliction spreads even more.

Through out all this you have a mysterious illness striking the evil people. At first I can see the illness not being that big of concern since it would start in the so called bad parts of town. Sooner or later people will notice that it only effects people of evil inclinations and there could be a huge up swing in the people flocking to the good gods to protect them from this Afflicition.

THis could be very interesting......

 

[Darkness]

Huge holes in my thinking?

Not really, but if you're using a lethal one (i.e., Con damage - e.g., raging desire), risking the lives of people whose alignment has been magically altered against their will is kinda non-good. And if you're spreading it all over the place, you can't really avoid that.

Not to mention... Trust me, if I was an BBEG and this stuff was set loose, I'd use a helm of opposite alignment on a (good-aligned) relative of a prominent member of society in no time flat.

Also... If you're using a lethal one, it's kinda non-good in any case. Or do you think a paladin running around, detecting evil at random, and slaying anyone who shows up as evil is really good? 'cause this is what this plan amounts to if you're using Con damage.

Knock yourself out with non-lethal ones, though. It could become a warning parents give their children: "Don't be naughty or consuming passion will make you dumb!"

 

[Crothian]

That's why I like the Holy Relic idea. It's not the Good people purposely spreading and killing the evil. But an ancient relic who is doing this. THe relic can have some vague warnings that it is "the greatest destroyer of evil" or something like that. It could actually have many afflcitions that it spreads to just increase the chances that it gets the evil doers.

I like the idea of changing alignments of the good people to inflcit them, that's clever and can just be used to complicate things farther.

 

[Piratecat]

I definitely wouldn't want it to be a lethal illness. . . but something that causes odd behavior (a giving virus that causes generosity!) or one that disfigures the "evil" could create some very interesting social dynamics.

 

[Crothian]

I definitely wouldn't want it to be a lethal illness. . . but something that causes odd behavior (a giving virus that causes generosity!) or one that disfigures the "evil" could create some very interesting social dynamics.

Would the disfigureing be cured if the person became non evil? Or would it lesson some but remain as a mark of the person former evil ways? THe social dynamics are much better with a non lethal afflcition, you are right there.

 

[Darkness]

By the way, it's a ravage rather than an affliction, but I really like the Touch of Golden Ice feat. Great to punish annoying pickpockets with, too, as it does Dex damage.

I really need to build a Vile version one of these days, if there isn't one already.

 

[Darkness]

Would the disfigureing be cured if the person became non evil? Or would it lesson some but remain as a mark of the person former evil ways? THe social dynamics are much better with a non lethal afflcition, you are right there.

Cha damage heals eventually. Unless you change it to Cha drain, of course.

 

[Crothian]

Cha damage heals eventually. Unless you change it to Cha drain, of course.

I was actually thinking of making it cosmetic. Cha damage does not have to effect how one looks. Pride in Vain, the cha damaging afflciction, doesn't atler the way the poerson looks just how the act.