Need some plot help (yea, again)

[der_kluge]

Some random stuff:

What's in the castle. Fully corrupted demons?

Basically.

I'd consider making the 'uber demon' afraid of the god blood... he presumably knows how it corrupted the others. Perhaps demons are particularly prone to the taint? Perhaps 'like calls to like' and their chaotic natures react to it in some way. Basically, the beast has no desire to get 'hands on' in this situation - it needs some patsies to do its work - hence the Slaad.

Excellent suggestion!

Would it be possible for it to convince the players to work for it in some way as 'part of the greater good'. Would they enjoy this? Could they find out what it really wants?

This just gave me another great idea - the demon could appear to the PCs as a celestial, and ask that they retrieve the gem so that he can destroy it. PCs acquire the gem, the celestial shows up, thanks them, laughs maniacally, and teleports away!

If it isn't set in stone then making the big demon actually a devil could be intriguing - a lawful (and very evil) beast trying to harness the power of chaos... If not, then it might be worth considering if any devils have noticed the 'powerplay' by this demon?

Interesting you should say that, because the Hellstone Deep module is based on Devils doing all this. I may still go with devils, but I've been kind of flopping back and forth on the idea.

Have any lawful forces (Inevitables?) heard about any of this? If I were a PC, confronted with all this rogue chaos, I'd consider telling those guys... they might be able to help? (possibly leading to a later adventure - I've often considered Pure Law every bit as 'bad' as Pure Chaos!)

I love Inevitables. This might be the excuse I need to include them.

I think Stone Angel's idea for payment is really good. Offering rapid advancement is something I can see Slaad going for - perhaps it works by the demon channeling pure chaos into them?

Yes, I liked that as well. I should apply "relentless" to a death slaad and see how nasty it come sout.

 

[der_kluge]

How about this:

- the demon disguises himself as an angel and charges the PCs with a quest to gather the shards of the gem.

Simmo

That's just uncanny! Are you a psionicist?

(read my last post)

 

[simmo]

That's just uncanny! Are you a psionicist?

Nah, evil minds think alike

The problem with the idea is that the players might realise what is going on. This is just the kind of b*strd thing that a DM would do. So to add an extra twist how about including this idea:

- the demon who has disguised himself as an angel was in fact an angel at one point
- not only that, it was the angel who broke the gem in the first place
- since then it has become obsessed with possessing the gem for itself but is forbidden to collect the pieces
- the angel fell and has been plotting its revenge ever since
- once the (former angellic) demon has the gem re-assembled it will be able to ascend the Heavens and complete its plans for revenge

- if you want to add an even more twisted plot to the adventure then you might consider hinting at the fact that the demon can be redeemed
- either this is something that is actually possible for the PCs to achieve
- or it is something that the demon hints at in the final confrontation so that the PCs think that they are doing the 'right thing' by handing it the gem. I.e. they are convinced by the demon that by giving it the gem the fallen angel can redeem itself

- another different take on some of these ideas is that the angel who shattered the gem was trapped in the different parts (it carried out the task knowing the sacrifice that it involved)
- when the gem is finally completed and the demon gain possession of it the angel breaks free from the gem and with the help of the PCs manages to vanquish the demon.

Simmo