Lords of Dust vs. Daelkyr

[RealAlHazred]

Originally posted by Hellcow:

The specific events called for in the prophecy could be the direct cause of the Rajah's release as they break that little part in the prophecy which holds him there.

This is essentially the way I see it. The Prophecy is a map of the paths the future can take. There exists a possible future (or more than one) in which the bonds holding Overlord X will weaken such that he can slip through them, or conversely that his power will suddenly surge to such a level that he can break the bonds. A huge ritual, eldritch machine, planar alignment, or combination of all of these could be involved. But each Overlord is different, and it may not be necessary. Tiamat's power is a reflection of the evil in the hearts of dragons (and vice versa); if enough dragons turn to darkness, she will find the power to break free. The idea that Katashka could rise if Erandis was restored and than slain could be a reflection of an imbalance in the forces of life and death - a vacuum that calls to Katashka. As a spirit of madness, the Voice in the Darkness could be strengthened by the actions of the daelkyr. The Prophecy shows those who understand it the dominoes they need to set up to create such a cascade. The warforged army idea you describe above is a fine concept for the release of an Overlord. But they are semi-abstract entities in the first place, and as such their paths for escape can be equally abstract... as opposed to the daelkyr, who are physically present and active in the depths, held at bay by the Gatekeeper seals.

Again, this is a key as to why the Lords of Dust don't all work together all the time - because the needs of their Overlords are quite different and possibly even directly opposed to those of other Overlords. It may be that Rak Tulkhesh needs empires to fall to fire and sword to escape, while the Oathbreaker wants a cold war filled with opportunities for deception and betrayal.

But the short form is that the key to release could be almost anything, so run with what works best for your campaign. Personally, I like the Chamber and Lords of Dust as the ultimate schemers, who have been fighting their shadow war over the Prophecy long before humanity, daelkyr, Erandis d'Vol, or the Inspired entered the picture... and that any of these could in fact be unwitting pawns OF the ancient forces. The Prakhutu of the Voice in the Darkness could have raised the beacon that drew the daelkyr to Eberron in the first place... which might result in a Chamber agent or even another prakhutu assisting the PCs in dealing with the daelkyr.

 

[RealAlHazred]

Originally posted by Gurv:

Indeed. I think it's more likely that a Lord of Dust would assist the daelkyr in secret than actually engage in diplomatic relations with them. There's no reason a rakshasa can't appear to be, say, a mind flay - so what APPEARS to be a daelkyr cult (even to its members) could actually be serving the interests of both daelkyr AND LoD.

And you've revealed the greatest conspiracy of all- there are no daelkyr, and no mind flayers either! The fall of Dhaakan was caused by the Lords of Dust, who disguised themselves as invaders from Xoriat! The actual natives of the Plane of Madness are actually just harmless crackpots, crazy wizards, and eccentric millionaires.

The Fall of an Empire was foretold to herald the rise of a great Rakshasa Lord imprisoned beneath the mountains of Purple Iron- but only if the People of that Empire dug deeply enough. Only the Great Frog of Death can seal the breach once it is made, but the Great Seals barring his arrival can be forged with the Knowledge of the Pine....

Sorry.