malarkey as magic

[alsih2o]

i have an idea for a character (npc?) who constantly survey innards or bird flocks and other protents for divinations of the future.

like most diviners he is actually full of malarkey. (s)he has no real power ot divine the future, and is just a charlatan, possibly even one who really believes in what they are predicting.

such a person could be fun as a pc, but i am thinking it might be a real rat bastard way of getting under the pc's skin.

any ideas?

 

[Enkhidu]

Make him be right.

That ought to confuse 'em.

 

[Kugar]

Spouting random "Weal"s and "Woe"s while covered in chicken entrails might be enough to get some (read a certain green paladin) to buy into your cause, but the truly wise man relies on the fact that most prophesies are self-fulfilling. The truly rich man makes sure they are.

 

[diaglo]

picture this.

the party is finished having breakfast or other meal at a campsite. they are just about to scatter the "evidence" of their presence.

when this mad man appears telling them not to disturb the ashes. he needs to read them for a sign.

of course, the players will think it a plot hook.

 

[Rel]

A guy in our game group played a Rolemaster character like this one time. He was always making up little rituals that would supposedly "pacify the local spirits" or "appease the gods". I remember him walking backwards around an obelisk that we came across and saying, "There, that ought to do it." Next character to touch the obelisk: BAZOTT!!

When he was asked about it, he said something like, "Well, I tried to satisfy the obelisk, but you are obviously so far out of harmony with the local spirit world that it zapped you anyway. Smoke this and you'll feel more in tune."

The pinnacle was when he peed on the Dwarf's armor. "You know, to purify it."